Gaby Mohr Memorial Car Trial

Event Report

The downpour a couple of days before this event certainly added to the administrative and logistical burden on the organisers with them having to change the access point for the venue, but come the trial day there was scarce sign of it. Furthermore, the threatened rain during the trial came to a few spots and probably didn’t make a material difference.

After the pre-event briefing the 22 cars headed for their respective hills and comprised the usual mix of cars with the added interest of Chris Valentine’s Porsche 924 and the welcome return of Steve Courts in his customary Imp. With the further relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions, we probably saw a few more passengers out on this trial. There were 5 cars in Class 1, 8 in 2 and 9 in 3; the mix of cars and drivers made for a healthy competition and an unpredictable event winner. Also seen during the day were our News editor Jenny Wardle seeing at first hand what Car Trials is all about and our President, Mike Broad.

In Class 1, all eyes were on our reigning champion Trevor Moffatt (Corsa) and Rupert North with his much lower-powered Suzuki Alto. Round 1 gave nothing away as they were equally matched on a modest 7 points, with Tim Beard (Ka) 20 adrift in 3rd position. Rupert suffered a setback in round 2 with an expensive 4-wheels-out penalty but clawed most of them back with a superb climb on hill7 in which a very awkward lump cost many of us a 9 or 10. However, this fortune was reversed in the 4th round and the class win went to Trevor.

Over in Class 2, the orange-wheeled Saxos are never to be under-estimated, but neither is Simon Harris (Golf GTi) and this day pretty much went exclusively Simon’s way, finishing 11 ahead of Phil Buckle (O-W’d Saxo). Also noteworthy was the emergence of Eileen Hilleard (Peugeot 106D) as a driver, keeping Peter company from a different perspective!

Steve’s Imp wasn’t alone in Class 3, with Richard Tompkins to keep it company, but neither were competitive enough to match the kit cars of Barrie Parker (Liege), Kevin Roberts and Nigel Jones (Dutton Phaeton) and last year’s winner Dick Glossop (Liege). Barrie didn’t have it all his own way but ultimately secured the lowest points in class and the lowest on index, giving him another event win this year in his Reliant-engined Liege. It seems that Barrie and Rupert have been studying the same advice about power not being the be all and end all.

Another fine event from the crew at Wolverhampton & South Staffs Car Club.