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VSCC John Harris Derbyshire Trial
© Peter McFadyen VSCC John Harris (Derbyshire) Trial & VSCC Herefordshire Trial.
By Peter McFadyen.
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Matt Price in his left-hand drive Ford Model A Special going well in Derbyshire. Photographer Dennis Rushton is on marshalling duty fourth from left.
© Peter McFadyen
The VSCC’s trialling season is reaching a climax with the most recent rounds being the John Harris (Derbyshire) Trial based at Ashover and the two-day Herefordshire Trial which, as always, has its HQ at How Caple Court near Much Marcle. In Derbyshire, competition could hardly have been closer, not least for overall victory as well as class honours among the short wheelbase modified and special cars of Class 1b where the top seventeen award winners were covered by just 19 points, the winning score of 342 points going to a delighted Stewart Rich and Francine Pimperton in their Austin 7. Nor had their win
Hamish Monro’s Riley 9 in the mud
Despite the cold breeze, the sun shines as William Marsh brings his Austin 7 to the start line
Dennis Bingham’s Riley went well in Derbyshire but suffered gearbox failure just before the Herefordshire Trial
William Marsh’s bouncer in the Austin 7 has mud in her eye Marshals work to get Jeremy Holden’s Vauxhall A-Type safely back down the hill at Clough Wood which nobody managed to climb all day
been without its struggles after they broke a spring on one of the hills. Fortunately local resident and fellow VSCC member David Marsh was able to lend them a spare which was fitted at his home to enable them to continue. One point behind the winners was 14-year old Rufus Flann in the Austin 7 Ulster which, with his father Jeremy’s guidance, he began restoring at the age of six. Rufus is also a keen kart racer and clearly one to watch for the future. Winner of the long wheelbase classes was Steve White driving a Ford-engined Riley special while Steven Smith won the standard LWB class in his Ford Model A Tudor Sedan. David Johnson (Austin 7 Chummy) won the SWB standard cars class.
Jim Wood points the way to driver Richard Houlgate in their Austin 7 A remarkable performance by 14 year old Rufus Flann, guided by his father Jeremy, finish with the second highest score overall only one point behind the winner of the Derbyshire Trial
Don Skelton (Austin 7 Sports) went on to claim a 1st Class award in both trials
© Peter McFadyen
Andy Johnson’s spirited driving in his 1924 Bugatti Type 13 brought him a 3rd Class award in Derbyshire
