Pre-70 Inter Centre Trial
By TMX Archives on 5th Dec 07
THE BMCA (British Motor Cycle Association) created a major upset at the 2007 ACU Pre 1970 Inter Centre Team when the tight-knit AMCA squad trumped all the ACU teams in the annual British Bike fest!
A total of 15 teams entered, with a total entry of 90 riders, for this Congleton club promotion which was re-scheduled from earlier in the year.
The event was centred on Congleton's infamous Mow Cop venue although the start was down the road at Bay Tree Farm, Newbold, Astbury and conditions were far from easy in thisweather-hit event.
Despite a horrendous forecast, conditions weren't too bad as the Congleton stalwarts marked out their ambitious single lap course, taking in no fewer than 35 separate sections spread through eight road-based groups. But monumental overnight rain obviously put a different slant on matters and Peter Salt and his gang were out, while it was still dark, easing the hazards, although it was difficult to imagine how the weather would turn and how it would affect the sections.
General opinion was that it ended up on the hard side with a few moans, although others reckoned it had been a real test. There were three sections which proved nigh-on impossible but apart from that there was plenty of opportunity for riders to show their skill.
Alan Nicklin, a member of the winning team, posted the lowest score on the Hard course on just 20 with team-mate Robert Bowyer right behind on 21 with evergreen Dave Thorpe of the second-placed East Midlands squad 23 and sharing the honours round the country, south coast man Len Hutty was next on 26.
The highly fancied Yorkshire squad was in trouble right from the off when Mick Grant suffered a nightmare start with four fives in the opening five sections. The bankings were very slippery and the fourth hazard was the toughest with only Nicklin, Hutty and Paul Bennett beating a three mark loss on just two apiece.
There was another stunner round at Higher Whitemoor Farm which offered some excellent rocky sections. But the steep hillclimb, which comprised the 25th hazard, was just too much for virtually everyone with the best rides being for three.
Organiser Salty rode a friend's unfamiliar Velocette special to best performance on the Easy course on 29 marks lost and helped his Border Classic 2 squad to sixth place overall, while Steve Davies rode Pete's Francis Barnett on the Hard route. Given that there was a wide variety of skills on display from National trial
winners down to club riders, Congleton put on a proper trial, spoiled only by the weather.
Speaking on behalf of the beaten Yorkies, Neil Gaunt commented, tongue in cheek, ''I've lost more marks today than I've lost in total all year!''
Pre-70 Inter Centre Trial
Mow Cop (Congleton & DMCC)
1: BMCA - Alan Nicklin (Greeves) 20, Robert Bowyer (Triumph) 21, Chris Denny (James) 32, Keith Gardner (Cub) 56 - Total 129 marks lost.
2: East Midlands - Dave Thorpe (Cub) 25, Chris Milner (Cub) 34, Simon Chell (Triumph) 42, Mick Thurman (BSA) 40 - Total 140.
3: South Eastern - Len Hutty (Matchless) 26, Colin Mote (Ariel) 31, Richard Whitebread (Cub) 39, Ken Ward (BSA) 50 - Total 146.
4: Yorkshire - Neil Gaunt (Ariel) 37, John Maxfield (Cub) 37, Mick Driffield (Bantam) 46, Richard Thorpe (James) 44 - Total 164.
5: Midlands - Mick Chapman (James) 64, Andy Paxton (BSA) 32, Alan Wright (James) 30, Dave Wood (BSA) 41 - Total 167.
6: Border Classic 2 - Steve Davies (Francis Barnett) 28, Peter Salt (Velocette) 29, Paul Bennett (Greeves) 34, Phil Alderman (BSA) 86 - Total 177.