Trials Torque: It’s time to unlock KIA!
By John Dickinson on 22nd Feb 17
THE waiting is over and the eagerly awaited 2017 KIA National Twinshock Trials Championship gets under way this Sunday, March 26.
The nine-round series begins with the Comgleton club's event which will take place as usual at the excellent Lime Kiln Farm venue at Mow Cop, Congleton, ST73PP.
This is the fourth year of the series, devised and nurtured by the triumvate that is Peter Salt, Alan Wright and Gerry Minshall and all efficiently administered in the nicest possible way by Gerry's better half Fredina.
Those involved don't need me to tell them how successful the series has become.
So let's just stick to the facts, and they are that last year the average entry was – and you better believe it – 129. Now that is a succesful trials series!
And who knows what that average will be this year with the opening round having hit the 150 limit within three days.
And there's also a strong reserve list praying that they get the call-up.
Mow Cop has become the traditional series opener but it is due to take a rest next year as the organisers plan to ring the changes to keep the series fresh. So enjoy it this year although I'm sure it will be back!
The venue offers a bit of everything really with some good undulating banking sections and a selection of deep, sometimes narrow rocky stream gullies.
There's even some good old-fashioned mud to have a blast in. Two laps of 20 sections should keep the ball rolling.
With such a large entry riders are requested to start at different sections in order to keep any queueing to a minimum – although no-one minds a bit of a queue as it helps get the old breath back!
As ever with the KIA series there will be a huge selection of machinery on offer as that is exactly what the series was hoping to achieve.
The classes are basically Classic Spanish plus Pre-78 Twinshock, Open Twinshock, Pre-72 British and Air-cooled mono.
Then there's Expert and Clubman routes to suit virtually all ages and abilities.
The sections aren't meant to be stoppers, just an enjoyable day out on your Twinshock.
So the original Bultacos, Montesas and Ossas rub shoulders with Fantics, Hondas and various combinations of Yamahas and everything in between including Triumph singles and twins, two-stroke and four-stroke Beesas and a hatfull of Villiers engined hardware.
And keep your eyes open for the unusual, as there's always something different turns up.
The KIA series looks after its observers too with an observers draw at each event where the first three prizes are cash to the tune of £100, £50 and £25 which is not to be sneezed at.
So that's it folks, the 2017 KIA Twinshock back with a 150 rider bang – 10.30am at Mow Cop.
