Veteran to Classic - Exeter Trial Table

“Going for Gold” in the 1925 MCC Exeter Triall

The table shows cars which gained gold medals, in relation to number of starters, in a typical London-Exeter-London Trial of the vintage years.

Make – Starters – Gold Medals
AC – 4 – 1
Alvis – 7 – 4
Amilcar – 4 – 3
Ansaldo – 1 – 1
Aston Martin – 1 – 1
Austin – 4 – 1
Bently – 1 – 0
Chrysler – 1 – 1
Deemster – 1 – 1
Darracq – 1 – 1
Delage – 1 – 1
Frazer-Nash – 7 – 5
Humber – 3 – 1
Jowett – 5 – 1
Lea-Francis – 7 – 2
MG – 2 – 1
Oakland – 1 – 1
Phoenix – 1 – 1
Rhode – 3 – 1
Riley – 20 – 1-3
Rover – 4 – 2
Salmson – 4 – 4
Senechal – 2 – 1
Surrey – 1 – 1
Vauxhall – 1 -1

152 cars were entered, 134 started. Of the finishers, those not listed above won Silver or bronze medals, except for an Alvis, an Auburn, a DFP, a Morris, a Metallurgique and a Talbot which finished but with no award and an Amilcar, an AV, two Frazer Nashes, a Gwynne, a Rollin, a Rover and a Stellite, which retired.Some Hills Used In Exeter Trials Up T0 1939

Salcombe – 1233 yds., 1 in 5.

Peak – 567 yds., 1 in 4.

White Sheet – 1320 yds., 1 in 5.

Harcombe – 1760 yds., 1 in 3. Loose surface at S-bend near top on steepest part.

Ibberton – 880 yds., 1 in 4½. Sharp turns at start.

Meerhay – 1320 yds., 1 in 4Y2. Rocky surface with out crop on 1 in 4 ½ section.

Fingle Bridge – 1760 yds, 1 in 4

Bridge – with ten hairpins on 1 in 5.

Simms – 200 yds., 1 in 2414 with bends on 60 yds, of 1 in 3½ . This observed section stopped 212 out of an entry of 296 in 1934.

WB