Midland Centre Autumn Trial - September 2025
Sunday 21st of September dawned bright and sunny, revealinglush dewy grass across East Lodge farm’s scenic, undulating pair of hillside fields that have been appreciated by our competitors for some 10 years. Saturday’s set up team had laid out 6 sporting sections and 2 timed tests, CoC Adrian Tucker-Peake seeking new routes for our oldhand regulars, plus a couple of practice sites for the apprehensive Taster newbies. They presented a fine challenge for the capacity entry of 34 cars, from the Chatto’s 1930’s M Type to Jimmy Milligan’s ZR, and from Saxo’s to Smart cars. As triallers had returned from their summer holidays, a welcome late flurry of entries, boosted by Stroud club members, gave Secretary Tony a full In-Box.
It was good to see so many family crews competing: Midland Centre MG Car Club president Martin Price arrived to watch son David and grandson Gethin in Dudley Sterry’s iconic blown J2, Chris Morison all the way from Edinburgh shared his AX with grandson Sam Murray from Leicester to compete in the Taster. Also on parade were Dave Middleditch and son Sidney in their Dutton Melos, while young Frances Chatto, first time driving on grass, was to give dad Derek a run for his money! Several of these cars appeared the following weekend on the MCC’s night and day epic Edinburgh classic trial. Our event offers a good shakedown for that challenge, continuing the trend that started at our earlier venue, Burton Dassett down by Gaydon. Dave’s Melos did experience a mechanical malady towards the end, though far better to suffer at Bromsgrove near a trailer than out in the Derbyshire Dales.
The morning session proved tricky on the steeper hills and abundant dew, with skilled car control needed in both the climbs and the reversing down manoeuvres. Those in the know found the grass had a tad more grip than the mud, and light touch throttles paid dividends. The recovery team kept busy, resorting to winches where grip was scant. After lunch the splendid sun got to work and with some of Adrian’s tricky restarts and deviations to add spice we closed for a prompt finish at 15:30, enabling Roger King, Centre Chairman, to present some of the awards.
Best overall and winner of the Autumn Cup was sublime maestro Mark Hobbs in a Saxo with just 10 marks lost. It doesn't seem to matter what he drives, a couple of years ago it was his Troll that won, this year his borrowed front wheel drive Saxo found grip right from the off. The Autumn Cup is a much-cherished trophy that goes back to 1958 when the Autumn Trial resumed post-war, having first run in 1938. Warren Blain in his well-developed 1500 Midget won the Allen trophy for the best MG with 31 lost, and he was out next weekend on the Edinburgh. The Allen trophy dates from 1950 when it was contested on the Welsh Rallye, back then a brisk competitive road challenge.
Paul Watson in one of two AX’s was first in Class 1 losing 25 marks, while Nigel and Portia Williams gained first in Class 2 in their nimble 1000cc Austin 7 losing 44. The utterly relaxed and seasoned campaigner Steve Courts’ 998 Imp chugged to 1st in Class 4 dropping 27. Jim Jennings with father Bob in the bouncer’s seat of their sparkling aluminium Dellow swept to second overall and 1st in Class 5 with a score of 23. A much-travelled gang from thenorth east, Keith Dobinson and Alan Bruce in a Suzuki X90 were second in Class 5 on 52 lost. Class 7 was a ding-dong all day between J2 driver David Price on 46 and Ian Nute in another Dutton who came out on top with 45. David was treating his outing as a test session having tracked down a previous trial retirement to fuel blockages from an aging tank.
We welcomed 6 entries for the Taster, all with no prior experience but very keen. After practice on gentler slopes with our loyal coach Ian Williamson, our one-time marshals Mike Dinsdale and Robin Wilson who shared Adrian’s MGF got into the swing of things and had a great time… always more pressure when you both share one car! Richard Grindrod and Alex Stallard urged their Peugeot 106 cleverly to come out best of this bunch with 53 marks lost.
The tie decider tests always generate interest: quickest time in the morning on Test 4 was shared, 25.2 secs for Warren Blain and Dave Middleditch, while Taster competitor Mark McCann in a Mini Cooper pulled some fun handbrake turns to chip in with a 25.4. Test 5 was blitzed by Warren again with 19.3 secs.
Maggie at the farm always makes us welcome, Ellie and family fed us with excellent affordable burgers, baps and a luscious crumble fromt heir hog roast, while £71.30 in donations was generously raised for the Midlands Air Ambulance.
As we cleared away, reflecting how it takes 5 hours to set up yet just ½an hour to pack up, it was pleasing to collect in a full complement of our bright new ‘electric fence’ fibreglass poles that proved very resilient tobeing driven over, a great modern replacement for the brittle and heavy old broomsticks.
Like all clubs and organisers, we need the support of other local club members to compete in this trial, they always come up trumps and we are truly grateful for their continuing enthusiasm. Officials, Marshals, Scrutineers, Photographers and the Set-up team all played their vital roles, oiling the wheels of another extremely successful day.
Adrian & Tony