Hut n Cold
By Nick Haskell on 1st Feb 13
Competitors at this years Talmag Trophy Classic Trial faced some difficult challenges, after the atrocious weather that has blighted much of the country leading up to Sundays event.
Despite that, almost 140 solo riders and 25 sidecar crews from as far afield as Belgium, France and Germany braved the elements, to compete in this year's annual British four-stroke-only event.
Despite the unprecedented levels of rainfall the sandy MOD terrain at Hungry Hill, near Aldershot, provided the riders with some interesting, yet tough sections.
Exactly how tough could be highlighted by the fact that not a single rider completed the event with a clean score-card, as has been the case in recent years.
Both Len Hutty and Roger Higgs – two of the pre-event favourites and previous winners – had costly dabs as early as section two.
But it was local man and last year's winner, Hutty who emerged as the clear leader on his 410 Matchless, after completing the remainder of the opening lap clean. Meanwhile, his nearest rival Higgs, from Rayleigh in Essex, had a further two dabs.
French regular Joel Corroy finished the opening lap a further two marks adrift back in third spot, but still very much in contention on his 500 Ariel,.
Lap two was almost a total disaster for sandmaster Hutty, after he collected a five at the difficult section six – a section he had cleaned earlier on in the day – while his Ariel-mounted rival, Higgs, escaped with a single dab.
The unfortunate Higgs, though, lost a further three marks between sections three and eight – where Hutty remained clean – leaving Higgs trailing his Matchless rival by a single mark at the end of the day.
FOR FULL REPORT AND PICTURES SEE TMX FEBUARY 1
TALMAG Classic TROPHY TRIAL
Hungry Hill, nr Aldershot, Hants (Talmag MCC)
CLASS A – Under 300cc: Gary Marshman (1958 - 199 Triumph Cub) 4 marks lost, Ian Peberdy (1963 - 197 Triumph Cub) 8, Shane Stalker (1959 - 250 BSA) 10, John Dismore (1962 - 199 Triumph Cub) 11, Colin Sadler (1964 - 248 Royal Enfield) 51 (ST: 24.8), Anton Ferris (1960 - 199 Triumph Cub) 51 (ST: 25).
CLASS B – Over 300cc Rigid: Mark Watmore (1964 - 410 AJS) 23, Steve Scott (1952 - 500 Triumph) 29, Clive Dopson (1949 - 500T Norton) 34, Adrian Mountain (1958 - 350 AJS) 43, Steve Allen (1951 - 350 Matchless) 46, Ian Watkins (1952 - 350 AJS) 55.
CLASS C – Over 300cc Springer: Len Hutty (1958 - 410 Matchless) 6, Roger Higgs (1958 - 500 Ariel) 7, Joel Corroy (1958 - 500 Ariel) 11, Nick Woolley (1957 - 500 Ariel) 22, Paul Ray (1957 - 410 Matchless) 23 (ST: 22.6), Geoff Herbert (1956 - 500 Ariel) 23 (ST: 23.5).
CLASS D – Clubman Over 300cc: Paul Farley (1950 - 350 AJS) 15, Paul Casling (1960 - 350 Matchless) 15, Rob Smart (1957- 500 Ariel) 25 (ST: 23.8), Simon Ferris (1960 - 350 Royal Enfield) 25 (ST: 26.6), Henry Gaunt (1954 - 350 Panther) 25 (ST: 28.5), Neil Osman (1964 - 350 Royal Enfield) 27.
CLASS E – Girder Fork: Andy Abraham (1930 - 350 Levis) 44, Dave Blanchard (1938 - 500 Ariel) 56, Paul Balmain (1929 - 250 Ariel) 57, Peter Smith (1939 - 350 Ariel) 66, Pixie Briggs (1935 - 350 AJS) 69, George Smith (1938 - 350 Royal Enfield) 75.
CLASS F – Over 65 Solo: Dougie Williams (1958 - 200 Triumph Cub) 11, Mike Palfrey (1959 - 250 BSA) 26, John Pym (1953 - 350 Trifield) 27, John Foot (1962 - 250 BSA) 29, John Eckhart (1955 - 500 Triumph) 33 (ST: 25), Joan Westbrook (1964 - 250 BSA) 33 (ST: 28.7).
CLASS G – Sidecar: Lee Granby/ Rupert Kimber (1960 - 250 BSA Special) 20, Paul Fishlock/ Debbie Merrell (1954 - 500 Ariel) 22, Mark Kemp/ Bob Chapman (1957 - 500 Ariel) 28, Pete Pesterfield/ Graham Smith (1958 - 500 Ariel) 33, Mark Hancock/ Steve Kirwin (1962 - 500 Triumph Tiger) 34, Bernie Chambers/ Adam Allaway (1959 - 500 Ariel) 42.
