Jack Thompson British Bike Trial

Sunday 2nd December 2007

Over 100 trials riders on British bikes built before 1967 - Matchless, Ariel, Greeves, many more. Riders come from all over England to ride a classic trial named after a Bexleyheath Club rider who was a wizard at building and preparing 4-stroke trials bikes. Free admission and program.

Photos

Rob Fleet (Motorbiketrials.com) has photos here

Page 1 of photos by Jamie Clarke

Anyone with any more can you please email me (photos or links to photos online, I can host if hosting is an issue)

Results

Overall (31kb PDF)

Section Breakdown (140kb PDF)

You will need Adobe Acrobat Viewer to view this file

Reports

Jack Thompson Trial by Dave Blanchard

I was talking to John Excell the other week and we were wondering where all the wet weather trials of a few years ago had gone. We had not seen or ridden in a real old fashioned mud-plug for ages. Well, we must have been overheard by Mother Nature as she duly obliged us on Sunday the 2nd of December, in what can only be described as a monsoon attack half way through the trial. The torrential rain was going horizontally across Canada Heights in great watery sheets as it yielded to the strength of gale force winds. No patch of ground was left dry anywhere and riding conditions became very difficult as the ‘old fashioned mud plug’ was reborn. But, this did not detract from the enjoyment of the Jack Thompson although it did make a mess of my new riding trousers and trials helmet. After a couple of offs, my old Elgren jacket had changed colour to a sort of army camouflage, muddy brown, and for the rest of the day I must have looked like a slithering ‘Chamelon.’ My new trials helmet did help a little because it has an aerofoil shape at the back of it. The theory is that the faster you go through a section, the more downforce it will generate. This extra pressure on the rider is transferred through his muddy boots to the footrests and from there to the back tyre giving much more grip in the mud. I guess I was going too slowly for it to take effect, so next year I will increase the surface area of the aerofoil and get even more downforce on the rear tyre. Or perhaps I have got the science wrong and downforce means flat on your back in the mud?

If it was a ‘back to the elements’ kind of a day for the riders then it must have been an extreme day to remember for those brilliantly hardy and willing observers. Hopefully your ‘muck and bullets’ medals are already in the post? Sue was observing on the day, but her section was several miles away in the new 17.5 acre field that the Sidcup Club have just purchased. Her section, number 17, was not as lonely as it looked because she had a little volunteer helper to keep her company. His name was Roland and he was continuously running along the edge of the field, from one end of the section to the other. The poor little mite was unclothed and soaked through to his skin looking very much like a drowned rat. In fact it was a rat! But in those sort of conditions anyone is company I suppose? He might even have sensed that Alan Brook was on his way with the hot soup for all brave souls who were observing and though he had better form his own queue. Sue did say that at one point in the trial (just after the deluge) he was sitting on his haunches with arms crossed and laughing at funny people covered in mud, riding around on trials bikes. Historically (and affectionately) that section will always be known to us as ‘Roland’s Gulley.’ Geographically, I am not sure whether Roland was a ‘Rat of Kent’ of a ‘Kentish Rat’ but he was good company and we will look for him next year. Hopefully, ‘Head Chef’ Alan Brook will remember to bring some extra soup for Roland next time, because he’s worth it!

My ‘Man of the Match’ was undoubtedly Vince Cottingham. Our friend Vince was riding his Girder forked Matchless, this is by no stretch of the imagination a lightweight. I have sampled the heavy steering and can liken it to piloting a HGV vehicle without hydraulic power assistance! Vince rode the socks off all those other Girder fork riders with a determination and calm not often seen. Close friends know that it wasn’t just the muddy sections that were challenging to Vince on the day, because he is gallantly fighting other problems too. Very well done old mate! We are all in awe of your performance in the Jack Thompson Trial.

Many thanks to the Sidcup Club and all the hard working volunteers.

I enjoyed the whole day and honestly believe that if Gene Kelly had been there, he would have been proud to give a spontaneous rendition of ‘Singing in the Rain’

Yes I know it’s an unusual report but it was an unusual day!

Preview

With the picturesque woodland surrounding the "Canada Heights" International Motocross course bathed in a profusion of winter colour and smelling of leaf mould, its that time of the year once again to enjoy the smell of Castrol "R" and the bark of Big British fourstroke trials irons on full song.

Time again to re-wax the "Barbour Suit" and clean the "Dunlop Wellies" for the Sidcup Clubs popular "Jack Thompson" British Bike trial on Sunday the 5th of December.

Now in its sixteenth year, the event continues to be very popular, with riders coming from far and wide to compete on their cherished classic machines. The trial is open to anyone riding a pre-67 British machine and affiliated to the ACU, however this can be arranged on the day.

If you are traveling a distance and hardy enough, you can stay overnight at the venue. There is electricity on site, plenty of flat parking space, catering and toilets.

Due to the dark evenings the kick off will be 9.30am with machine examination starting at 8.45.

To make the trial more interesting for everyone the club would like to run at least twelve to fifteen sections which will need observers, so we would like to hear from not only our usual loyal band of enthusiasts, but also from anyone else prepared to help.

A light lunch will be provided for observers and hopefully some mulled wine, so if you are at a loose end on Sunday the 2nd of December come along for a pleasant day in the chestnut woods and watch, or better still observe (see Peter Burton under Who to Contact).

Directions to Canada Heights can be found here.