Straight outta Lockdown
As soon as restrictions for motorsport events lifted, Staffordshire & Shropshire Land Rover Club sprung into action
HAVING had a long hard winter in lockdown Staffordshire & Shropshire (S&S) Land Rover Club were relieved to hear of the restrictions for motorsport events were being lifted at the end of March. And it wasn’t long before the club decided to organise an event for the Easter Saturday.
As overnight camping was still not allowed, they chose to run a single day Tyro (Try Your Rover Offroad) Trial. One of the club’s favourite sites is at Stone, as someone local is able to set up on the day and it is central and accessible to many of the members. After the long lockdown lay off from trialling, a Tyro Trial aimed mostly at novice or beginner drivers (Tyro is actually Latin for learner) seemed an appropriate event to run, as it was considered some competitors would appreciate a gentle trial to get their skills back. There was one setback, which was the news one week before the event that Motorsport UK, following Government covid guidelines, would not allow passengers in any vehicles until mid-april. This in turn meant a few people who had booked would not be able to drive, as they were unlicensed drivers or they wanted to enter in order that their family could also sit in. Unlike in RTV and CCV trials, in a Tyro Trial you don’t need a driving licence to compete and girls and boys as young as 13 can drive with supervision and also more than one passenger is allowed. It wasn’t to be for this trial however. Nonetheless on the day the club had 15 entrants, all S&S members except one who was from the Discovery Owners Club.
Father and son duo Roger and Callum Edge set the event out on a very cold morning, accompanied by daughter and sister Millie (and Nick) Izzett, who had never trialled before and was keen to learn. Seven sections were set out ready for the 12 noon start and the sun had even come out for a lovely afternoon – sadly no spectators were allowed due to restrictions.
The variety of vehicles that turned up was impressive, including a Series II, IIA, and III, a Range Rover Classic, a host of Discoverys, three Defender 90s and a 110. The mix of drivers was also wide from regular Tyro entrants to complete novices, and even a few regular comp safari drivers taking the opportunity to come out for a relaxed day of motorsport.
Section one was a learning curve, not just for the novices but for the experienced comp drivers, who seemed to have forgotten how to drive a trials section. All good fun though, even if some needed reminding they were aiming for the lowest score and not their age! There was a tie for the top spot between new member Kane Williams in his 90 and veteran S&ser Robert Walker in his Disco 2, with just one penalty point each right up to the last section, when Rob hit the 10 gate which dropped him down to joint eigth place with Simon Cooper. This led to Kane winning the event with just one penalty point closely
followed by Dan Thorley in his Range Rover Classic with just two points and Ryan Mansfield in his Disco 4 in third place on five points. Alex Cooper came last giving the excuse that the 90 was not as manoeuvrable as the Disco 4 she last used to enter in Tyros.
All in all, it was great to be out in the fresh air with friends and family with the same interest, and the club cannot wait to be out again for a full program of motorsport for the remainder of 2021. Details of all S&S LRC events can be found on the club’s website and Facebook page.