Motorcycle Trials

Chelmsford & DAC currently runs five trials per year, two of which are Regional Restricted events. Of the other three trials, two are run in the summer and the other is our long established Boxing Day trial. Subject to the approval of the Eastern Centre, the club has always reserved the right to organise further trials depending on approval from our landowners, the availability of manpower and demand from riders. However, any additional trials would normally be Restricted Invitation events which means that as well as ourselves, the club can invite members of up to ten other Eastern Centre affiliated clubs.

This trial is our main trial of the year generally run in November and, as its name implies, it is a trial primarily for novices. The trophy was donated by Mick Denny a top rider of his time and a former club member. This was at a time when the club had several hundred members, and the trophy was donated in an attempt to encourage the novices within the club. Although Mick is still around, he has long since given up riding and is no longer associated with any club. Unfortunately, since its inception, as has happened with many other clubs, the number of club members has reduced noticeably. Nevertheless, the trophy is still competed for annually and awarded to the best Chelmsford novice rider.

Over the years we have gradually come to accept Intermediate and Expert entries to this trial on the understanding that they ride whatever is laid out for the novices – although we do generally try to lay out an Intermediate route. This trial also often forms part of the Sidecar and/or Pre-70 Eastern Centre Championships; it has also included a round of the Novice Championship although these days this is a rare occurrance. However, we continue to live in the hope that it may again form a round of the Novice Championship on a more regular basis in the future.

The Gobernador Trophy Trial is held at the beginning of each year, i.e. in late January or early February. The trial takes its name from a trophy donated by Eric Oliver, a well known road racer of many years ago who was kind enough to donate one of his trophies to our club. It is awarded to the best Chelmsford club rider overall, whatever the class. The trial is open to all classes of riders, including experts.

In addition to our two main trials above we also run three other events. Currently these comprise a Boxing Day Trial to work off the effects of Christmas pud and to get a little fresh air and exercise over the Christmas period; another two trials are run during the summer, one in May and another in early to mid-August. Currently, other trials are also run by the Braintree, Great Dunmow and Southend clubs which together makes up a series of trials over a period of four months during the Summer. These events are generally intended to be easy fun trials, ideal for all classes but particularly suitable for the beginner to get the hang of things or for returning riders to get into things again. All such trials are Saturday evening events and enter on the day, normally with reduced entry fees compared to our main trials. They draw varying numbers of entries but have been known to get entries of from 28 to 80-90 riders.

For many years now, our trials have been held at Mid-Essex Gravel Pits courtesy of Mr Tony Stubbings, the pit owner. Sadly, until recently, this is the only piece of land we have had. Recently, however, we have secured land at Little Baddow. Nevertheless, we are ever grateful to Mr Stubbings for the use of his land.

This is our main trial venue and we do consider ourselves very lucky to have any land at all as suitable venues in this part of England are pretty much at a premium; there’s not much of it around. We would dearly love to have another piece of suitable land but finding it and then getting permission to use it, is pretty tough going – so if you know of any available land, please let us know.

Mid-Essex Gravel Pits are located off Essex Regiment Way, the ‘new’ road north of Chelmsford going towards Great Dunmow (A130). It is directly opposite the gravel pit and just a stones throw from the Channels Golf Course and Water Park. Mid-Essex Gravel Pits comprises hills, woodland, water, large gravel

The land has quite a variety of possible sections and more are gradually becoming available. However, it is a small piece of land and as such, up to a few years ago, we were somewhat limited in the number of sections we can lay out. Now, however, we believe have a fair selection to pick from.

Unfortunately, we are half expecting to lose the land to developers in due course. There have been a number of articles in the local papers about it but currently we are OK. Nevertheless, we are very aware that we could lose the land at any moment.