Trialling Jowetts

[James Baxter]

We had a great time today on the Butts Quarry Trial in Derbyshire.
We didn't trouble the engravers, but we had a great time. The Short 2 performed well and sustained no damage. It did need a very good wash afterwards.

[Chris Spencer]

James - Great to see a Jowett doing something a little different - could you please keep us all updated on your trialing through Jowett Talk

Regards Chris

[AlanBartlett]

Those pictures look very fun indeed. And to hear the jowett performing faultlessly is also great. Is there much preparation that goes into a trials car any specific setup? But id imagine a vscc event to quite up on orginality and all that?

[James Baxter]

This was a Prewar Austin Seven club event and quite relaxed and low key. A perfect starter event as indeed it was for Ken who was driving his first ever trial!! Mainly Austins competed but an invitation class included VSCC type cars.
I'm much more familiar with VSCC events. Your Jowett must be vintage is the chief criteria. They accept other later cars of more "sporting" makes.
If the Jowett is standard, you can enter the standard class. Ours yesterday is a standard car because the sandracer has traceable history back to early years. Otherwise standard pretty much means as the factory made it. Permissible modifications in the modified class are wide ranging, and too numerous to mention. But the competition is tougher too. Children under 13 must be strapped into a saloon, hence my other thread. I plan to enter KP196 soon (see other thread), my absolutely standard 1927 Short 2
You have a wide choice of tyre, but they must not be knobblies, or have a continous groove from one side to the other. Hand cutting of tyres is not allowed.
Jowett clutches can be a problem, so either a grabbing or slipping clutch can inhibit progress. Ignition and carburation must be in good order as you do need at least moderate power. But to be fair you are unlikely to ever win in a Jowett, especially when up against Brescia Bugattis in the same class. But the milestones sure become smilestones as the slogan goes. The elation of scoring 25 on one particular hill was enormous. The finish line marshal scoring our card enquired whether it would have been such fun with 2 more horsepower, and Ken and I laughed and agreed that it wouldn't quite. That said we never ran out of power, only grip. Our engine was built some years ago by Bob Buttle so has later followers and slightly higher compression. It did have a small high rev mis-fire which limited our momentum through the sticky bits at times.
Having a car well screwed together and working properly is a much more important criteria than being modified.
Keep the questions coming! Also put March 2nd in your diary if you live near Derbyshire and want to see some Jowett Trialling.

Flat nose Morris and Model A await their turn.
This picture by Peter McFadyen. Google him, his website is great.

[AlanBartlett]

Oh, ok so basically yours is all standard factory spec, just driven on road/off road during the trials. Although Vscc are main body for these events, from what you have said other clubs also run similar events. So its mainly for veteran/vintage cars then? Its not so much the competition that interests me but the taking part, tackling that challenge in ones car and getting through it. Especially in older cars like this.

[george garside]

Great stuff James. I would rather see one Jowett doing its stuff like this than ten concours cars parked in a field! ( with apologies to the concourss buffs).

I am sure Allen Brierley would be happy to publish a feature on the history of your car together with a photo or two as it would be of interest to most members, many of whom still do not tread in the direction of electronic fori. Allaans contact details are inside front cover of Jowetteer.

george

[Jack]

Hi James,

Quick question - looking at the photos, the prospect of getting stuck seems fairly likely. Do they have 4x4s to drag you out, do people wade in and push you, or is there some other method when you just don't have the traction to get going again?

I think this would be something that the wider membership would be very interested in - could you write up your experience of a day trialling so that we could publish it in the Jowetteer with one or two photos? It might inspire a few fellow members to join you at an event or two, and it is good to hear about a car getting out there are doing something a bit different, particularly during the winter months.

Jack.

[James Baxter]

They get you out, most often by you reversing out, or into a turn around area. Sometimes they push you out at the top. In rare cases they pull you up on a winch or with modern 4x4. All depends on the hill and weight of the stricken car. They are interested in clearing the hill for the next man, so its in their interest to get you on your again.
The VSCC run 7 trials each year. The hills, usually about 12 or 13 are scattered around a 20 miles radius (ish) and you visit them as you wish throughout the day. All the cars are prewar.
Each hill scored 1 to 25, get as high up as you can.
Some are bumpy, most are muddy. If they get rough for you, you just slow down. But the serious boys just keep it lit (full chat) all the way, conditions permitting.
VSCC.co.uk shows you a lot.
I do all my trialling and other speed events in the VSCC so this is my preferred club.
The PreWar Austin 7 club run the Butts Quarry one – I’m not sure if others too?
The Clee Hills trial is good I hear in South Shropshire, but I’ve not done it yet.
The MCC do 3 trials each year. Theirs are pretty tough. They cater for prewar up to modern cars.
The Sandracer has climbed the Drumhouse (with previous owner) which is a slate quarry road rising up Fleetwith Pike from the top of the Honister pass in the Lake district.
Descent of Drumhouse is on a tow rope for 2 wheel braked cars such as a Jowett, as the drop off into the valley is a little dangerous.

Concours in a field has its place, trialling too.
I plan to turn up in a standard car, very close to factory specification, and bimble round and have a jolly time. Most trailer their cars there, but for me, if the event is close enough I plan to drive there too.
I also do speed hillclimbing in another type of prewar car and take that very seriously indeed.
Different strokes for different folks and all that.

[AlanBartlett]

Every picture you've posted so far, just keeps adding to how much fun it looks. I'm down in the somerset area, and Im pretty sure there a few events similar to this. Just looks a very fun aspect of vintage motoring.

[Peter Holden]

Alan
Look at YouTube there are various films shots of the VSCC Welsh and Cotswolds trials and if you look around there will be others. It is also worth looking at the hill climbs events.
I personally would not recommend you tried trialling in your 7. You will end up breaking the body. Too much twisting of the body and chassis! Your best bet would be to build a vintage special as James has done. You will get covered in mud, but then you are used to that.
If you are interested in competing, in your car, then I can recommend the driving test with the inter register club and some navigational rallies, reasonable travel from your home. You could get Ken to navigate!

[AlanBartlett]

Peter,

I do very much agree with you on that one about not using mine for trialing use,I wouldnt want to personally. Although the scatter rallies you mention may also be worth a look at too. But I think later option of building a car for the purpose I think I should start to look into that perhaps. I just like the kind of feats they seem up against and the rough terrain they encounter and manage to get through the course. Will look into the events in this area and pop along and have look.

[James Baxter]

Its the VSCC Derbyshire trial on Saturday!
Ken Hawes is entered in his Sandracer, and I will be along to spectate in my Short 2.
If you are at a loose end please come along to support!
The trial starts and finishes in Ashover. If you need more details either e mail me, or go to VSCC.co.uk
My favourite hill is Beeley, where you just park and follow signs from the village of Beeley imediately south of Chatsworth.
Bring a big coat and a (hip) flask!

[Forumadmin]

Please take some pics or video and post on here or the Gallery! Wish I was there.

[James Baxter]

The Sandracer didn't trouble the engravers on this occasion, infact retired at lunchtime with a slipping clutch.
A handfull of Fullers earth may have done the trick, but none to hand at the crutial moment.
The passenger was none other than Michael Kock-Osbourne!

Our Short 2 had a good trip out, just spectating, but a 100mile round trip all the same.
This was slightly spoiled by a speeding fine I got in the post this morning.

You can't very well explain to an un-manned camera that you were trying to preserve momentum ready for the next hill uphill, can you?
Or that you have skinny tyres and no front wheel brakes so struggle to slow down at all............

[James Baxter]

And one of Harry's party with 17 children on board.