Timber Woods Long Distance Trial - 2003
Sunday 20th July 2003
The fourth "Timber Woods Long Distance Trial", named in honour of our late Chairman and President. This year the trial will be starting from the Gliding Club at Challock, near Ashford and use 100 miles of roads, tracks and by-ways in East Kent. The event attracts 100 riders on enduro, trail and trials bikes, both modern and pre-1967.
Reports
Report 1 - By Jamie Clarke
The Sidcup & DMCC ran its fourth annual long distance trial that is named in honour of the club's late president.
The event took place in east Kent, starting at the Kent Gliding Club at Charing near Ashford. The route consisted of approximately 90 miles of country lanes and green lanes with 10 sections and a special test.
Club member John Barrett on a 250cc Maico produced the best result, winning the B class (250cc to 400cc) and the overall on the day. Jon Davis closely followed him on his 250cc Honda of another local club, 96 Trials. In the A class for under 250cc, Keith Bloxham from the Bristol Phoenix club on a 199cc Honda won, and was closely followed by event first timer Alastair Brown from Brighton who has only just started riding on the road with "L" plates. Joan Westbrook riding a 250 BSA won the British Bike class. A special award called the spirit of Timber Woods was awarded this year to Dave Blanchard for riding his 1938 Ariel - with a seat cushion "borrowed" from the lounge, he also rode quite a way home from the event on the same bike.
The Sidcup Long Distance Trials is the opening round of a series of 3 events in the South Eastern Centre, with the next round being run by the OWLS club near Maidstone in August and the final round by the Witley club in October.
Report 2 - By Karl Mumford (from Rides.org.uk message board)
An excellent day out on some beautiful Lanes, mostly very easy in the dry conditions but the trials sections added a great challenge to it. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys trail riding and wants a days riding around an area you don't know. It's ridden using a road book which was a novel experience but dead easy to follow. The whole thing was very laid back as evidenced by the large numbers of competitors bikes parked up outside the pubs en-route.
Despite there being 120 riders I was surprised how often I was riding alone (yeah, yeah, I know it's a personality thing) but for a while I rode with a 350 BSA (1931), a 350 Enfield rigid-back-end and a 525 KTM (me on my XL185) - how mixed is that! I was impressed by the speed and handling of the old bikes in clearly expert hands. Highly recommended.
Report 3 - By Dave Blanchard (from Motorbiketrials.com)
It was Sunday 20th July 2003 6.30 am with a lovely sunny atmosphere dampened and fresh from the previous days rain. I had prepared my Ariel during the previous week so it was just a matter of tickling the carb to richen the mixture, throw a leg over the saddle, kick the bike into life and head for the Kent Gliding Club near Ashford.
As I was going down the Gravesend Road into Strood Town Centre the old engine was running really well in the cool damp air. It sounded like music to my ears so I decided to join in. So there we were in harmony together, "Oh what a beautiful morning", clatter clatter, "Oh what a beautiful day", clatter clatter, but by not having any mirrors on the bike I failed to see the 'early morning shift' Police Patrol car glide in alongside me. The young schoolboy in uniform wound down his window and said, " Excuse me sir, stop singing and concentrate on the road! Or I'll 'ave you for disturbing the peace"! Funny though, cos' he was the one doing all the shouting? "But Officer I'm on my way to the Timber Woods Trial and he was a Policeman you know"! His expression changed immediately and he said. "OK sir, follow me". He switched on the blue flashing lights and the 'Nee Nahs' and went speeding ahead to clear the way for me. He escorted me up City Way and out of Rochester to the top of Blue Bell Hill, then with a cheery wave he peeler'ed off into a slip road.
I continued on down Blue Bell Hill almost flat out at about 28 mph, my vocal chords now silent. Several cars came rushing by me doing at least 80 mph. God! I thought, if they were to run into the back of the 'Old Ariel' they would be killed instantly! The mass and weight of those early malleable iron lugged frames is incalculable and by golly don't I know it! Anyhow without any more incidents worthy of mention I arrived at the Gliding Club at 7.30 am. But! I was the only one there. Was it the wrong day? No, because I could hear snoring coming from the caravans parked there. So there was life on earth after all.
Scrutineering was done, road book attached and off I went. Well it wasn't my fault I got lost in the first ten minutes. We couldn't find the first section anywhere, although to their credit some riders did. Going down the first track outside the Gliding Club I met two lady horse riders coming the other way. Stop immediately kill engine. "Good morning" I said "What a lovely morning and what beautiful horses you have". We exchanged some more pleasantries and they said they were sorry that I couldn't afford a new bike like the others. I carried on still unable to find the first section, so did an about turn and came upon the horse riders again. " Hello again" I said. "Look I'm ever so sorry about this but I'm having a little trouble with my eyes, they are quite old you know". I looked up at the beautiful horses once more and said; " Lovely graceful animals aren't they"? Off I went up to the main road doing several miles just to confirm I was going in the 'wrong' direction before turning back towards my horse riding friends once more. "Sorry" I said, repeating myself for the third time. But I just didn't know what else to say! "Beautiful creatures aren't they". Well they were! But by now the lead horse was blushing with my excessive compliments and the trailing horse had his right hoof in his mouth and was trying to puke. But I will never forget those graceful fetlocks, the superb firm silky flanks and the way those saddles moved from side to side! Oh! If only I was 40 years younger, I could take up horse riding, or something?
At box number 105 in the road book I had to take on petrol. I pulled in behind many more riders who were already taking a break. Petrol tank brimming and I went in to pay my money with a 'Switch Card'. It was when I tried to sign my name that the trouble began. On taking off my trials glove a gnarled looking claw appeared! The cashier screamed and jumped back in fear! I thought quickly and reacted instantly by pulling my Belstaff sleeve up to my elbow (which was none too pretty) just to show the startled lady that the hand was still attached to my own arm. This calmed her a bit whilst I tried to grip the biro. But! I couldn't grip it properly and made futile attempts to match the signature on my 'Switch Card'. I then found myself apologising to the petrol lady for my disgusting scribble who had by now realised I was suffering from a bad dose of 'Trials Riders Arm'. She then did and said something funny that I am still puzzling over. Taking a long close scrutiny at the signature on my card and then my grubby little face, she said. "Well you look like your signature anyway so I guess it's OK". Many thanks kind lady, I think? Before firing up to get on with the trial I decided to have a bite of what the wife had packed for me? I picked out a small pack of biscuits wrapped in a bright red packaging. Yes, you've probably seen them in the shops labelled 'Blue Parrot'! Now I'm as confused as you readers are but its true, Blue Parrot biscuits come in red wrappers. The marketing mind just boggles these days doesn't it? Next job, use the claw, flex biceps and break biscuits in half, then devour in macho style. Start bike and take off under full acceleration, extending front forks by half an inch as the power band kicks in. I look down at my cycle computer speedometer and see 57mph! By jove! That was some petrol! Then just as quickly 43mph appeared then 28 and back to 57mph in the blink of an eye. My diagnostic brain went into overdrive as I realised that I had either a serious misfire, or my cycle computer had picked up some weird virus? After doing a melt down check on it (it's a trade term) I thought the battery might be going flat. Never mind, I had been lost many times during the day so this would be my excuse from now on. Old people like me are used to navigating by rule of thumb, only problem is I only have two bruised ones left.
Whilst queuing for one of the sections a younger rider asked if I had thought about getting a modern bike with springs on or "don't you like them", he said. "Oh yes I think they are really really lovely, but I haven't worn this one out yet"! I thriftily replied. When I eventually came to Margie Clarke's section I was telling her about the trouble I had trying to sign the petrol receipt. She told me that's what 'Motocrossers' call arm pump. "No Marge", I said, "I call it Arthritis". Anyway, last section done and back for the special test. Great test 'Sidcup Club' I enjoyed it. A quick fill up with petrol for the ride home, empty bladder on the way out in case of abnormal accidents (which I'm not insured for) and ride like hell for home. You know what? I didn't take one wrong turning on the way home. This just goes to show that practice makes perfect!
Many thanks Sidcup Club for running 'THE TIMBER WOODS LONG DISTANCE TRIAL'.
Results
Timber Woods LDT 2003 Full Results
This is in PDF format - that means you need Adobe Acrobat to use them. The advantage is that the printed version looks correct rather than a HTML version and it avoids the virus and compatibly issues that are associated with DOCs. This means you will need Adobe Acrobat (click on the link to download it).
You may want to "open in new window" or "save as" to view these files.
Team Results
Full team results to come latter.
1st Team Tortoise
|
42 |
John Eveson |
7 |
|
43 |
Clive Boughtflower |
4 |
|
44 |
John Barrnett |
0 |
Total lost = 11
Joint 2nd Team Effort
|
30 |
Roger Brown |
12 |
|
31 |
Alastair Brown |
0 |
|
32 |
Alan Clarke |
2 |
Total lost = 14
Joint 2nd Giblets
|
82 |
Jon Davis |
0 |
|
83 |
Robert Smith |
6 |
|
84 |
Adam Marshal |
8 |
Total lost = 14
Photos
Peter Burrell - Photos of Dave Blanchard getting his "Spirit of Timber Woods" award at the OWLS LDT.
Location
This year the event is starting at the Charing Gliding Club, to allow us to use a more off road and unsued route than the area round Canada Heights.
The site has an excellent Clubhouse with bar and café. Non-riding people coming with you may like to arrange an 'Air Experience Flight' or Trial Lessons with the Gliding Club - call them on 01233 740274 or see their website www.kent-gliding-club.co.uk.
Road Book Holders
A bit of discussion on on the Rides List.
I've been told that "Halfords do a map-holder for less than a tenner that velcros to your handlebars - designed for maps but holds A4 no problem. You do have to stop and change pages so it's not as good as a 'proper' roadbook holder, but then not as pricey as them either" by Adam Buttery on the Rides List.
Liam Humberston says this :"You might want to try one of these. I used one for the Northumbrian rally, still have to change pages, but it's still an improvement over the loose-leaf map holders: http://www.oldbikeshop.com/detail.asp?ItemCode=ROUTEH"
Liam Humberston also says this :"For anyone unsure whether to do it, the Timber Woods LDT is a top day's trail riding in some lovely countryside. Not to be missed, makes me wish I still lived in the south east." - well what better kind of recommendation can we get?
Pre Event Info (by event secretary Peter Burrell)
The fourth running of the Timber Woods Long Distance Trial will start and finish from the same place as last year, the Kent Gliding Club at Challock, near Ashford, Kent. The route is basically reversed, but will include some byways and Roads Used as Public Paths (RuPPs) we did not use.
The ACU top brass, led by Eddie Bellars of the Kingston Club and an ACU Director has managed to re-negotiate the one-day Road Traffic Act insurance cover that will be available to riders on the day for the cost of £7.50. Please do not include this cost with your entry fee for the event - pay it in cash when you sign on.
What you will need to take part is a road legal, taxed, insured trail or enduro bike that is well silenced. There are many 'anti-bikers' in east Kent, so all riders must be on their best behavior. You will need some means of displaying the Roadbook which is about ten sheets of A4 with diagrams of all road junctions. We are not trying to get you lost - the last thing we want is bikes tearing all over the place as that will really upset the locals! I have prepared an information sheet on how to read the Roadbook - if you want one, please say so with your entry form.
Spread round the route will be about twelve trials sections, which will not be too difficult, but you do not get the opportunity to inspect before you ride them. The main aim of the event is to enjoy a run through the Kent countryside both on as many unmade public roads as possible.
The Kent Gliding Club has a good café which will be open when you arrive and during the day for you and anyone coming with you. While you are riding, your 'works team' could be flying above you as the Kent Gliding Club offer trial flights and lessons. For information, see their website www.kent-gliding-club.co.uk.
Enough from me - get entering, as it's the first 120 who send correctly filled completed entry forms and two s.a.e.'s who get in. Definitely no more than 120 as that's the number already declared in our application to the Motor Sports Association!
Regs
Sorry the event is now FULL.