It’s all uphill from here

And so we approach the tail-end of the season. Unlike circuit racing, late autumn still brought two more trials to tackle, even if they would be the last trials until the new year. First up was the Lakeland Trial in Cumbria, which brought a different kind of challenge for me. Due to a last-minute decision to go, I ended up taking a back seat as a ‘bouncer’ in a Ford Model A owned by Dougal Cawley (MD of Longstone Tyres).

The Lakes has to be one of the most beautiful trials of the year, with the opportunity to drive and see places you’d never normally have access to. In true Cawley fashion, we had a relaxed approach with an obligatory lunch stop. The biggest accomplishment was (and always is at the Lakes) reaching the top of the infamous Drum House at Honister Slate Mine.

A fiercely steep and long hill, it’s all or nothing as Dougal and I decided never to lift off. Around tight bends the power of the mighty Ford kept chugging on. Making the turn round the last corner, it was touch and go whether we were going to make it, but thanks to Dougal’s right foot we crept our way to the top to be met with wonderful views.

The end of the Lakes always brings everyone together at a local pub to share tails of the day over a pint. We’d had an ace experience; however we’d missed two hills (possible due to our important lunch stop), which popped our chances of an award.

The Cotswold Trial was the following weekend. Bess would be back out with my sister, Jessica, and two friends who were completely new to trialling as bouncers.

It was a washout, with rain for several days before and during. Despite intentions to get round early, it was disaster after disaster before we even got to scrutineering at the Bugatti Owners’ Club – maladies included a leaking bathroom at home, a forgotten map and then an exhaust manifold clamp coming loose due to a lost bolt. Big thanks to Julian Wilton for fixing the manifold so we could get going.

Our first hill, The Park, was a wet-grass meandering around trees and then up a slight incline to a stop-restart. Not that we’d see that as we failed to get round. The second hill, Parklife, was a struggle to even get to the start line, which should have been warning enough: we got zero. Again, sadly not the last time we’d see a zero on the day.

The Cotswold’s highlight always comes at the end of the day at Prescott Hill Climb (Bugatti Owners’ Club) where there are three hills and many spectators. If you fancy coming along to see what it’s all about, get it in the diary for next year. This time a particularly tricky stop-restart was placed at the bottom of a steep downhill. Despite our best efforts, the weight of the Model A and the mud meant we ploughed past the line and scored 13.

New this year was a Sunday Trial, purely for novices. With a full entry, it was a fantastic opportunity for rookies and, possibly, bouncers from the previous day to get behind the wheel. A great success.

So, the first half of the trials season is over, with the next event at Exmoor in February. I’ll have some time to consider which to do in 2024. Maybe even taking the back seat as my sister has purchased a Model A Phaeton and hopes to be out competing in her own car soon.

Next month: ending the year at the Bicester Driving Test