HISTORIC HELMSLEY

Yorkshire Off Road Club are the latest group to test their mettle at this legendary venue

Over the years some off-road venues become a tradition, and for a number of northern clubs “t’ site above Helmsley” is one of them. Originally used by now long-gone North Yorkshire & South Durham Rover Owners Club, today other Land Rover and 4x4 clubs frequent the venue, including the Yorkshire Off Road Club (YORC).

It’s also a personal favourite site of mine. In fact, this visit to the YORC trial for RTVS (Road Taxed Vehicles) marked 30 years to the month that I first went to a trial there. It’s a great site – not the most extreme or largest – but has lots of lumps and bumps and some water and mud. It’s enough to test the driving ability of any driver without damaging their vehicles.

It’s also very scenic, with great views over the North Yorkshire Moors. Many clubs camp on site, while others use a local caravan site, turning their visit to Helmsley into a long weekend away, as the YORC cub members did for it’s first site visit.

Around 20 had entered the trail and despite the fact the YORC trials are open to all makes of 4x4, all the entries bar one were Land Rovers. There was a good cross-section of modern vehicles – mostly 90s, but also two 110s, three classic Range Rovers (one bobtailed), a P38, a Discovery 4 and a 100 inch hybrid. Sadly, there were no Series models.

There should have been a Discovery 1 competing, but it suffered a mechanical failure en route and a split header tank then forced them to retire before even starting.

The most modified 90 was the challenge truck driven by Matthew Sykes and Tim Frankland; both well seasoned triallers and challenge competitors. Tim concluded the day on zero points and won overall.

Most encouraging was the presence of several new club members, entering their first trial. They thoroughly enjoyed it and by no means embarrassed themselves. All went away promising to be back for the next club trial. Hopefully the club will grow and prosper.