Report: Perce Simon Trophy Trial
By Andy Withers on 9th Nov 16
One of the countrys oldest national trials, The Perce Simon Trophy Trial served up tremendous action, some trials royalty and an array of exotic machinery to justify its place in the national calendar.
This national trial was first held in 1936 by the Ringwood Motor Cycle and Light Car Club as a road trial across the New Forest. This year there was some road work between the two sets of 10 sections at the excellent locations of Hamer Warren and Lord Normanton's Somerley Estate on the edge of the forest.
The focus of the action was the penultimate round of the ACU Sammy Miller Trials Championship.
The Twin-shock sidecars provided early drama, on section three one of the favoured crews Paul Fishlock/Debbie Merrill had a start to forget, firstly tipping their Ariel outfit over damaging the brake lever, then developing clutch slip.
Paul Randall/Richard Webb led the way through the first series on their Triumph, however on the fourth section a tight turn between some trees drew some spectacular acrobatics but with handlebars on the ground and sidecar wheel up the tree truck it was a five.
Series leader Lee Granby with Lee Ashby in the chair on the BSA was determined to meet the challenge – ‘course it's wide enough just put the handlebars through first' .
Despite this announcement they also became wedged between the two trees, all crews taking a five on the first lap.
At the end of the lap Granby/ Ashby led by four from Randall/ Webb with Fishlock/Merrall a distant third.
The lower-powered Montesa and Suzuki outfits of Larry Gartside/Joe Waldron and Henry Gaunt/Judith Waldron struggled on the climbs leaving the three British-powered outfits to lead the way.
The second lap saw a charge from Fishlock/Merrell, cleaning 17 of the 20 sections to finish third but only five points behind Randall/Webb. Granby/Ashby showed their championship winning form with a 13-point victory.
Competition in the Rigid class was fierce, route three was challenging but ideally suited to the machinery.
Matchless-mounted Steve O'Connor, John Cull and Gavin Shaw vied with Graham Howes on his BSA for top spot needing to avoid any lapse of concentration.
O'Connor and Howes held their nerve taking only one dab each over the 40 sections, O'Connor took the victory by virtue of being ‘the furthest clean'.
John Cull took two dabs, both on the tight section seven, while Gavin Shaw put himself out of contention for top spot with a five on the same section to finish on eight.
The British Twin-shocks included some exotic machinery.
Ian Peberdy has been having problems with his BSA Bantam so he borrowed a beautifully prepared James belonging to Geoff Minshall.
After jumping on the bike for the first time the morning of the trial it took the first lap to get used to the different power delivery of the Villiers engine, losing nine marks to BSA-mounted Tim Blackmore's one mark.
Paul Anstey was also in the hunt losing six on his James.
On lap two Peberdy got the best out of the James, matching Blackmore's three marks lost which was enough for Peberdy to take second by a mark from Anstey but not enough to catch Blackmore.
Trials royalty George Greenland announced his retirement part way through this trial.
On lap two the recently rebuilt Dot went bang in section five, the engine was revving but the bike was going nowhere.
Catching up with 84 years young George after the push across the field with the chain over the handlebars, he announced his retirement.
Retirement specifically from pushing bikes across fields and also from bikes breaking down!
George is looking forward to a return to the Talmag in January after a two-year absence with no breakdowns!
Steve Allen riding a Royal Enfield Bullet ran out winner in the British Twin-shocks.
An excellent lap two dropping just one mark wrestled the victory from Jonathan Souch and Keith Gardener.
Allen had not ridden for seven weeks after breaking a collarbone on a modern bike (with traction control!).
Back on the classic he produced an excellent performance despite the sore shoulder.
In the Pre-86 Twin-shocks, Honda TLRs ruled the class with competition from an array of Fantics.
Ian Cobb on his Fantic cleaned the first lap and looked to be heading for victory but two dabs late on allowed the flamboyant Matthew McDonald on his Honda to sneak the victory after only losing a mark on the second section of the day.
On route two Michael Jarrett used his local knowledge and a good eye for economic routes within sections to good effect to lead on both laps, finishing on 11 marks.
Kevin Stannard finished second to keep his championship hopes alive as he goes into the last round in two weeks time at the North Berks Club.
Results
Class 1 - Rigids: Steve O'Connor (Matchless) 1, Graham Howes (BSA BB32H) 1, Jon Cull (Matchless) 2, Gavin Shaw (Matchless G3) 8
Class 2 - Twin-shock sidecars: Lee Granby/Lee Ashby (PK BSA B44) 25, Paul Randall/ Richard Webb (Triumph) 38, Paul Fishlock/Debbie Merrell (Ariel HT5) 43
Class 3 - British Twin-shock Pre 1975: Tim Blackmore (BSA Bantam) 4, Ian Peberdy (James) 12, Paul Anstey (James) 13, John Chatto (James) 48
Class 4 - British Twin-shocks Pre 1975: Steve Allen (Royal Enfield Bullet) 9, Jonathon Souch (Triumph Cub) 12, Keith Gardener (Triumph Cub) 14, Gary Fleckney (Dot WR) 16
Class 5 - Twin-shocks Pre 1986 Route 1: Matthew McDonald (Honda TLR) 1, Ian Cobb (Fantic 240) 2, Martin Gilbert (Fantic FM350) 10, Robin Sherlock (Fantic 200) 11
Class 6 - Twin-shocks Pre 1986 Route 2: Michael Jarrett (Honda TLR) 11, Kevin Stannard (Fantic 240)16, John Long (SWM TL) 23, Mike Smallshaw (Fantic 200Pro) 24
Non Championship: Ben Harrison (Gas Gas) 5, Richard Elliott (GasGas) 12, Tony Chalk (Beta) 15, Andy Gates (Montesa) 16
