Geoff Taylor Sporting Trial

With another storm due, the crews were keen to get the 3 runs done asap. It was a two horse race with Richard & Joe Sharp taking an early lead before Josh Veale & Jim Lewis got the lowest round score of the day, on the 2nd pass, to take a 1 point lead into the afternoon. With just 1 point separating the top two it was hill 5 that proved crucial as Veale scored a 5, with Sharp clearing the hill. In the end Sharp took victory by 2 points with Veale 2nd overall. Bob Packham & Mark Tallon just held on to 3rd overall, after a high scoring 3rd round almost cost them dear.

BTRDA Sporting Trials, Gold & Silver Star Championship

Back down to Crewkerne for the 2022 Gold & Silver Star championship and the opening round of 9 hills saw Thomas Bricknell & Lester Smith take an early lead, with 6 points scored. Peter & Liz Fensom were 2nd with 9 points and there were a further 4 crews all on 10 points. Round 2 saw Simon Kingsley & Beth Carroll score 9 points as they went into the final round tied for the lead with Bricknell. The final round saw Kingsley score just 5 points, which was enough to secure the Gold Star Championship. Bricknell was 2nd, just 2 points behind with Ian & Keil Wright jumpin up to 3rd overall, after being joint 7th after 2 rounds.

Plum Pudding Historic Sporting Trial

There was another inter-Christmas and New Year event back on in 2021 as we attended the Plum Pudding Historic Sporting Trial, near Buriton, Hampshire. The entry had been reduced somewhat but a total of 42 crews tackled the 6 hills, being run 3 times. As usual there were two classes and Simon Kingsley took the historic section whilst Ian Wright took the historic class. Another good day out and it was great to get back to some end of year sporting normality.

Gloucester Sporting Trial

After missing out in 2020 it was back to Frocester for the Gloucester Sporting Trial. With 6 hills only the crews would tackle them 4 times as they look ahead to the championship finals, due in January. A total of 34 crews started with all the main contenders present. The conditions remained fairly consistent all day and once again it was another great days motorsport.

Mercian Sporting Trial

Back to Long Compton for the Mercian Sporting Trial and it was victory for Thomas Bricknell & Dave Kimberley (Crossle). They set the standard in the 1st round of hills scoring only 9 points, leading from Josh & Tristan Veala (Sherpa) by just 3 points. They extended that lead on the 2nd pass, before lunch, with the final run seeing them take victory by 5 points from the Veale’s. Mike Salton & Martin Wilson (Hamilton) set the lowest score of the whole event with a 5 on the final loop of hills, which was enough to secure 3rd overall.

Ferrari Days

In a break from the norm we went full spectator mode as we attended, for the first time, the Ferrari Racing Days at Silverstone. There was a mixture of action on track but it was more than just that with track sessions for Ferrari owners and sales opportunities for new models. Combined with displays of past competition cars it was a weekend devoted to the prancing horse.

HSCC – Plashes Farm

It was a welcome return to Plashes Farm for the 2021 running of the HSCC trial, on Frank Lyons farm. As always a bumper entry was present which had the knock on effect of taking its time for the crews to complete the hills, spread across the estate. Only two runs were able to completed thanks to this but the action was still good and it was great to be out trialing once again.

British GT – Snetterton

In race one 2 Seas Motorsport’s Jack Mitchell and Jordan Witt became the seventh different winners in as many Intelligent Money British GT3 races this season at soggy Snetterton this morning, while TF Sport’s Jamie Caroline and Dan Vaughan now lead the GT4 championship on their own after scoring a first class win of the year. A race that began behind the Safety Car also witnessed a remarkable stint from Sandy Mitchell who took second from Optimum’s McLaren – shared by Ollie Wilkinson and Lewis Proctor – on the line.

British GT – Donington

Sam De Haan and Patrick Kujala recovered from a spin on the opening lap to claim RAM Racing’s first Intelligent Money British GT Championship victory of the season at Donington Park earlier today. Meanwhile, HHC Motorsport duo Jordan Collard and Patrik Matthiesen got their GT4 title bid back on track with a composed GT4 win. Barwell’s brave strategic call helped Adam Balon and Phil Keen finish second overall and ahead of Jenson Team Rocket RJN’s James Baldwin and Michael O’Brien on a day when erstwhile GT3 championship leaders Sandy Mitchell and Rob Collard were compromised by a slow puncture and 20s Success Penalty.

Tour of Cheshire

Another weekend out in Cheshire and this time it was for the Tour of Cheshire where just under 80 crews took the startline. There were a range of tests and we caught them at Oulton Park in the morning and afternoon with a trip to Booth Park sandwiched in between. Nick Bloxham & Niall Frost (Escort MkI Mexico) had been due to start at no.7 but brake problems saw them start as car no.77, following agreement from the other crews. They then stormed through and took the win in dominant fashion.