NEWS
Return of the VSCC Trials Season with our historic Welsh Weekend
Friday 09 October 2015
As the Club’s Race and Speed Calendar comes to its conclusion – notwithstanding our Autumn Sprint finale at Goodwood on 24 October – attention now turns to the ever-popular Trials Season, which returns with our historic Welsh Weekend, based once again in the Welsh Border town of Presteigne, Powys this weekend.
The Trial takes the traditional 2-day format, with a capacity entry of over 100 Pre-1931 Vintage cars arriving at the weekend’s spiritual home at The Radnorshire Arms in Presteigne on Saturday, having visited one of the three Scrutineering Filter Points en route.
The afternoon will see Competitors tackle five sections, including the famous ‘Smatcher’ – first used by the Club in 1939 – and a new section at nearby ‘Badlands Farm’ before a return to Presteigne for the evening’s time-honoured social gathering. An early rise on Sunday for the morning’s seven sections follows before the day’s final three challenges at Cwm Whitton to determine the final standings.
Having triumphed at three of the four Trials in the early months of the year, David Golightly will certainly be amongst the favourites for overall victory again in his Ford Model T Special with Don Skelton, winner of the season-opening Exmoor Fringe Trial, a likely challenger in the Austin 7 Sports in the Short Wheelbase Class, with David Johnson’s Austin 7 Chummy the only previous ‘Standard’ Class winner this year taking part. Presteigne local, Gareth Graham will be keen to repeat his Long Wheelbase Class victory from last year, one of five Bentleys in the line-up, whilst Dennis Bingham will be difficult to beat amongst the ‘Standard’ cars, having topped the ‘Standard’ Class in his Ford Model A on multiple occasions.
This year sees a new addition to the celebrated weekend with Saturday’s Welsh Marches Tour, kindly organised by Club Member, Tom Pellow (author of the Club’s new book, ‘A Portrait of the Vintage Sports-Car Club, 1934-2014’), with an eclectic line-up of over 30 Pre-war cars due to take part.
Designed to provide a road based event for those Club Members who wish to take part in the weekend but without the pressures of competition, the run will start from Presteigne, with the route of approximately 80 miles taking participants north towards Montgomery through deeply rural countryside and uplands, with many memorable views and a number of fascinating stops recommended along the way, including two museums and three Norman castles.
Spectators are most welcome to attend the weekend’s celebrations and are kindly to observe all Safety notices and obey all requests from Event Marshals.
Although not traditionally ‘Spectator’ events, we welcome the public to come and watch the Trial at ‘Smatcher’ and new section ‘Badlands’ on Saturday (open 12.00-5.15pm) and the three sections at Cwm Whitton on Sunday (open 12.30-4.00pm), Parking, toilets and refreshments are available at all three venues.
For more details, including full time and location information and Provisional Entry List for the Trial, download a copy of the Spectator Information (CLICK HERE).
Spectators are also welcome to attend the Tour start venue at Went’s Meadow in Presteigne on Saturday morning, with cars due to depart from 9.30am.
The afternoon will see Competitors tackle five sections, including the famous ‘Smatcher’ – first used by the Club in 1939 – and a new section at nearby ‘Badlands Farm’ before a return to Presteigne for the evening’s time-honoured social gathering. An early rise on Sunday for the morning’s seven sections follows before the day’s final three challenges at Cwm Whitton to determine the final standings.
Having triumphed at three of the four Trials in the early months of the year, David Golightly will certainly be amongst the favourites for overall victory again in his Ford Model T Special with Don Skelton, winner of the season-opening Exmoor Fringe Trial, a likely challenger in the Austin 7 Sports in the Short Wheelbase Class, with David Johnson’s Austin 7 Chummy the only previous ‘Standard’ Class winner this year taking part. Presteigne local, Gareth Graham will be keen to repeat his Long Wheelbase Class victory from last year, one of five Bentleys in the line-up, whilst Dennis Bingham will be difficult to beat amongst the ‘Standard’ cars, having topped the ‘Standard’ Class in his Ford Model A on multiple occasions.
This year sees a new addition to the celebrated weekend with Saturday’s Welsh Marches Tour, kindly organised by Club Member, Tom Pellow (author of the Club’s new book, ‘A Portrait of the Vintage Sports-Car Club, 1934-2014’), with an eclectic line-up of over 30 Pre-war cars due to take part.
Designed to provide a road based event for those Club Members who wish to take part in the weekend but without the pressures of competition, the run will start from Presteigne, with the route of approximately 80 miles taking participants north towards Montgomery through deeply rural countryside and uplands, with many memorable views and a number of fascinating stops recommended along the way, including two museums and three Norman castles.
Spectators are most welcome to attend the weekend’s celebrations and are kindly to observe all Safety notices and obey all requests from Event Marshals.
Although not traditionally ‘Spectator’ events, we welcome the public to come and watch the Trial at ‘Smatcher’ and new section ‘Badlands’ on Saturday (open 12.00-5.15pm) and the three sections at Cwm Whitton on Sunday (open 12.30-4.00pm), Parking, toilets and refreshments are available at all three venues.
For more details, including full time and location information and Provisional Entry List for the Trial, download a copy of the Spectator Information (CLICK HERE).
Spectators are also welcome to attend the Tour start venue at Went’s Meadow in Presteigne on Saturday morning, with cars due to depart from 9.30am.
