West Coast Branch

Rosco Sporting Trials held on 18th June 2023Report and photos Zoe Gough

Getting prepared and our and at

The weather could not have been better for this years Sporting Trials held as previous years at Rosco’s Yard Reefton.

Line up for first test..

The numbers of competitors was down on last year but those that did enter showed great determination and enthusiasm in what proved to be a very hard course over very rough farm land which, was made more difficult at the start of the competition by the moistness of the ground.

Oops not that easy (many failed this it was quite steep, slippery tight turns as well as clumps of reeds) fun to watch frustrating to have it happen as these snaps show.....

Peter Thwaites & “Cockroach” reverses out after elimination

Allan moves marker as Dave Bright reverses after elimination

The “cockroach flounders” sort of got stuck on the top! This mound on the second trial caught a few out. Avon Hyde (last 2 previous years winner looks on).

John going to the ‘mound’ ...plenty of welly

Concentration navigating the trees and markers and bumps, go Dick (Anderson). Dick built this car, sold it and the present owner let him drive it for the day.

The Quarry trial with steep drive down, tight turns and climb out the other side caught many out.....

Oh heck “cockroach” failed again looked on by John (R) one of the days marshalls

“Keep her going John nearly there?”

Brent capturing the final push.

Brent’s turn to get to the top ...

Waiting to take part in the “water Trial’.......

I wonder if this is the best bit of the day ... driving through muddy water and making a splash?

I think Allan is enjoying this!

Break for lunch Allan is giving Bruce a lift!

As there were only a few entrants it was decided to run a second round of the trials after lunch. By now the course had dried out which made the going slightly easier in some of the trial areas but it still caused drivers difficulties. It was a very challenging course.

A different mound on the 2nd trial (the coppice) caught out Dave Bright – he was the first of the day to need a tow...

Lester and Allan look on

The same mound caught Dave Palmer

All over the cars are all washed and loaded ready for home

I bet Allan is telling Bruce and John that this is an easier way to travel.........?

We all gathered in the workshop where a BBQ, tea, coffee and lovely cakes awaited us.

Prize giving with Nick doing the presentations

First place for the third time was Avon Hyde from Christchurch in his Austin Special with a A35 engine fondly named Doris II (Avon built this car plus several others here on the day.)

Second place - John Fowler from Greymouth in his Austin 7 Special Third place - Griffin Tucker from Greymouth driving Allan Giles’s car an Austin Special (sadly Griffin’s own car took fright at the course and broke!)

We were pleased to welcome two first timers to this event held in Reefton, Chris Mc Sherry from Westport driving a Special and Robert Trumpetter all the way from Dunedin with his Austin 7.

I am sure all competitors will have gone home sore but elated.

Thanks go to Rosco for allowing us an excellent venue once again, Nick Harrison for organising the trials, BBQ and prize giving, Tom Griffin who checked all the vehicles, all the helpers who gave their time and donned appropriate warm gear, foot wear and set about marking the course, spotting, pushing stuck vehicles, scoring, encouraging, cooking the BBQ and to the recovery vehicles manned by Tara and Ian who had to tow a few that got stuck on earth mounds. To the ladies Lyn Rothery and Nola Weir who drove Nick’s Landrover, ferrying folks, first aid kit and so on as well as taking down the scores AND supplying lovely baking for lunch and the BBQ.

For me it was my full first time at a trial event, I was astounded at the beating these vehicles took, as well as the drivers (no power steering on these girls) and found it enjoyable, of course the participants aided to this as well as the event itself.

The Fair Es(sex)

My honeymoon experience - as recalled by Iris Lawrence

We got married in May 1966 and decided to split our honeymoon. I week in the Isle of Wight and a one week in the Isle of Mann. The International 6 day Trials was being held there in September.

We booked onto the midnight ferry from Liverpool. Its 6pm and Norm is still working on the bike. I think it was a Mark 3 Douglas. We got away soon after and headed for the motorway North.

Not long before we reached a stop we had a puncture. Fortunately for us a fellow London Douglas member came by and took Norm to get it fixed. Back on track to Liverpool we went like the clappers to make it on time.

We reached Liverpool about 11.45. Could not find where the ferry was. We were going round in circles. We have driven around these gas works twice now I said. To be told that the round building was the New Liverpool Cathedral. At last we found our way only to see them about to pull up the gang plank. “Quick they shouted get up there we will push your bike up”.

Once on board we met up with other club members. What a night raining lots of wind and a very choppy sea. I passed out sea sickness tablets to everyone to find none left for me. Funny enough I was the only one not to be sick. The trip took twice as long to get to the island. Once there we were looking for somewhere to get out of the weather and to get a hot drink. We spotted a light in a cafe so knocked on the door. A guy opened and we asked if we could come in for some food and drink. He looked at Margaret and I the only two girls and asked is if we would help with the drinks he would open up. Thank goodness as we were all cold and wet. Then off to find our digs.

Each day the Trials were held in different places. Great watching the skills of the riders. One afternoon we decided to go for a drive around the TT course. We ran out of petrol on the mountain. No one in sight. Then a car pulled up it was a local who took Norm to get petrol. That evening we had dinner in town with our friends Trevor and Margaret. It was so busy that we didn’t finish dinner to around midnight. Walking back we stopped to look in a jewellers shop. I spotted a charm of the Laxey Wheel. Norm said if the shop was open he would buy it for me. With that the door opened and a guy said please come in. I still have got that charm on my bracelet today.

On our last night there Trevor said that his cousin has invited the Douglas Club members for a drink at a hotel. When we arrived there Trevor introduced us to his cousin who happened to be Geoff Duke it was also his hotel. Great way to finish off a holiday.

The ferry back to Liverpool was like a mill pond a much quicker trip back.

Still raining glad to get back home. Our luggage was all wet as the pannier bags were canvas.

A great week so glad that we did it.

Thank you Iris for sharing this with us and for the being the first to contribute to the Fair Es(sex) ladies section.

Editors note - Interesting points in Iris’s article......

The Laxey Wheel is built into the hillside of the village of Laxey in the Isle of Man. It is the longest surviving working waterwheel in the world. Designed by Robert Casement, the wheel has a 72 foot 6 inch diameter, is 6 feet wide and revolves at approximately three revolutions per minute. Geoff Earnest Duke OBE was born in Lancashire was a British multiple motorcycle Grand Prix road racing world champion. He raced several brands of motorcycles, Norton, Gilera, BMW, NSU and Benelli. After retirement from competition he was a businessman based in the Isle of Man.

Bit of background on Iris.....

Iris and Norm moved over to Auckland in 1974. Iris trained as a kindergarten teacher and has many talents, dressmaking (especially theatre costumes), cooking, home craft and so many other talents as “she likes to keep busy”! It was Auckland’s loss when her and Norm moved to Greymouth

(especially on the theatre front) and our gain. Iris’s handiwork has been seen at many theatre productions at the Regent Theatre – her most recent “The Little Mermaid” Sadly Norm passed away not long after they moved here. Iris has her son and 2 small grand children living close by and often goes up to stay at her daughters (in Auckland) who has a daughter. Needless to say Iris is a loving mum and grandma, with the local ones benefitting from her crafting skills not only in eating or wearing but also in learning how to do them.

Iris is one of the Shanty Town coffee morning crew, and keeps us amused with her tales. I am also trying get her to contribute a recipe or two to the ladies section especially, cake in a plant pot, chocolate and orange sweets and Bailey to name a few!!

Thank you again Iris

Small space filler

I have an old “home made wine” book and it has this small interesting recipe (which will fill the gap in the newsletter). I have not tried it yet, but it sounds quite nice.

Pineapple Brandy

Ingredients – Fresh ripe pineapple, peeled and cut into small pieces, some powdered sugar candy and a good brandy (powdered sugar candy is confectioners sugar or icing sugar - thanks Google!)

Method - Weigh the pineapple and to every pound of fruit allow half a pound of sugar candy (icing?). Put the fruit and sugar into a wide- mouthed jar so that it is 3 parts full and fill up with brandy. Cover closely and allow to stand for 78 weeks. Strain the liquid carefully and bottle. Use as required.