TRADITIONAL ARBUTHNOT TRIAL
A very English day
Waiting for scrutineering are Kev Alexander’s 1937 350cc Panther, Paul Farley’s 1948 410cc AJS and Simon Hodder’s 1950 BSA.
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n the regulations riders are instructed:- 'The Arbuthnot is not supposed to be a Sunday afternoon stroll, but a hard day's ride which will leave competitors tired but satisfied that they have achieved a tough goal'.
The Machinery
Tim James’ 1956 Dot gets the once-over at scrutineering.
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Rigid machinery is given priority of entry, and this year 90 solo and sidecar entrants took on the enjoyment and challenge of the event. Machinery ranged from the 1929 250cc Ariel Colt of Paul 'Weasel' Bahmain to the 1966 solo 650cc Triumph Metisse of former sidecar ace Dick Ramplee, with every British manufacturer represented including rare Sunbeam, Excelsior, Ariel, Panther, Dot and Cotton machines. Machines are divided into ten different classes, including separate classes for machines with Girder forks and those with tele forks, Pre-65 preunit four-stroke, Pre-65 two-stroke sprung frame machines, Pre-75 twostroke and Pre 75 two-stroke sprung, and also sidecars. All machines have to be British, and they are scrutineered prior to the event for authenticity. Machinery is pretty standard with little of the 'trick' machinery found in some classic events.
CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE 2018 • ISSUE 24