THE PERFECT TRIAL




Perhaps as close as it gets Donner

 What makes for a perfect trial? ..... and can one ever be designed and laid out to please everyone?
Probably not, but one day I would love to give it another try.

 What are the basic ingredients for this mythical beast?  Is it possible to get them all colocated? So
let's look at the basic requirements for this recipe.

 Location, Location, Location!



What a gorgeous setting, the top of Donner



1. Perfect terrain to encompass all of the classic trials "treasures" Mud, rocks, water, roots, banks &
climbs, fallen trees, sand and any combination of all of the above.
2. A navigable "loop" to get everyone round safely and for easy spectator and checker access.
3. Porta-potties
4. A large start area that allows for big rigs to get in and out of and preferably level and on hard ground.
5. Local town or accommodation within 5 miles.
6. Handy venue, or on site bar/restaurant for the social side.
7. No fire restrictions.
8. Practice area.
9. Power and water.
10. Dedicated Trialsmaster and team of helpers.

 Looking at each one of our requirements in order the No 1 item is terrain and permission to use it.
A lot to ask to find an area that has a piece of everything as usually the area determines exactly what
you get so some venues will be predominately rocks or at the opposite end sand, sand and more sand.
Still as a trials rider you should be able to ride all obstacles even though techniques may vary. I can think
back to my youth and remember several riders who were brilliant in the sand of Weaver's Down in
Southern UK, but take the same men to Scotland and they were all at sea. As a general concept the
sections need to present a challenge to the class of rider and the machine being used. Going back to
the early days when no allowance for ability or bike was in question you just did whatever you could to
get through "it". if you were an Expert you might clean it but if you were a beginner then you just did your
best! Now of course we tend to pander to age of bike and 3 different ability levels and even have a
beginner line for those that in some cases can only just ride a motor cycle let alone off road and in
competition. But, let's remember we all started somewhere.

 So our "perfect sections" should take into account the capabilities of the machines and the riders using
them. 4 lines for the classes, each with their own series of challenges, maybe 3-4 hazards on each line
with ample recovery areas to get back in control and its no bad thing to have at least 1 "gimmee" on each
line as a confidence booster.




The best we could find at the new Perris





Something different a Graded Climb





Classic woodland sections, running water, trees, roots, mud and rocks




Water from a natural spring in "cow pasture" grass, could have been a GREAT section had it been
made a bit tighter



 

MUD, MUD glorious mud! ...... what gear?...... what line?




Will it get impossible?





Another "black stinky hole"




Classic grippy rocks in woodland setting, beware the pine needles




Downhill drop offs





Multiple Log Crossings, but make sure they can't move or its not a "fair" section





Ultra tight turns





An uphill "S"







Mud, rocks, more mud, big step, rocks







Riding through ruins can be great fun






Rocks and rivers and slippery banks

Currently there is a lot on discussion on TC reference the severity of the loop, and in our "perfect trial" this
should not be an issue but sometimes in order to get to the next section there may be some tougher or
tighter areas to negotiate, if this can't be avoided then it should be noted, any alternative planned for a
change in weather and conditions, suitably briefed at the rider's meeting and if necessary have a couple
of volunteers at the critical point to help the lesser lights. In my experience in most cases this sort of
problem can be avoided.

 Porta-potties, self explanatory, an inconvenience without!

 The large start area can be a problem in this age when trials, especially  AHRMA  and other Nationals
require riders to travel long distances in RV's and Motorhomes. A 60' rig needs a lot of room to get in and
out and to this end soft ground that will support the standard pick up will be a deathtrap for the 20 ton rig.
Also if there are going to be a lot of RV's a hard standing park is better and saves all that mud from being
carted inside which as we know will not please "her indoors". 




STUCK for TWO DAYS!






The near "PERFECT" start area


 For those travelling without all the luxuries of the RV a local town should be within easy travel distance
with reasonably priced hotels or with "special rates" for the event.

 Having ridden most riders like to relive the sections over a few beers, especially if they are overnighting
for a 2 day event and therefore an on-site bar/restaurant would enhance the day and fall into the "perfect"
class.

 Well if we haven't got an on-site bar let's have a decent campfire with maybe a few songs to round off the
day.



 

The start of what will be a GREAT Fire, started by the landowner

Assuming a lot of riders will arrive the night before, and in a lot of cases people like to come a day early
and get out and look at the sections and of course get a bit of practice in on similar terrain to that being
used. In the USA with vast altitude differences a bit of carb and jetting work may be required to get the
wondertoy to run just right for the competition.

 Power and water, now this is the "icing on the cake" for the RV man as running generators can be
expensive and noisey. Water and a wash area would also add to the perfect weekend.



50 amp power and water at Diamond Don's



 Finally a dedicated Trialsmaster and team to layout a safe, fun and competitive trial whereby if the
sectionsdon't change due to weather then each class leader should lose somewhere between 5-20 with
20 being the aim. A good briefing at the riders meeting stressing the fun aspects and also the safety
points of 2 way traffic, narrow paths and hazards on the loop. Also in here we can add a possible Trials
School for beginners and also a Checkers School with some demos and dummies for the checkers to
see some of the problems they may encounter. The trialsmaster or his team should ride around the event
to check on section ridability and have goodies and drinks for his checkers. Likewise send off a
backmarker to close the trial so that no one is left wondering when the event will finish.

...and finally, you organized it, you had the results at the prize giving, so please, Oh please, don't keep
them a secret and let everybody else know who did what.


Tony Down