SPORT Etiquette
As always it’s good to see friends, and that was the case at the Telford Classic Show. Ken Roberts and I go back a long way. He is heavily involved with the Manchester 17 MCC Ltd, and while we were talking one day, Ken produced a brochure on the subject of etiquette at motorcycle trials. The said brochure is a real club effort, with Rick Stewart, as always, doing the most significant part of the generation of it and who deserves mention over everyone else, including the other club members who contributed. The idea came from the ‘Dead Easy’ team lead by Roger Townsend who often gets real ‘never been to a trial before’ riders taking part in a Dead Easy beginners’ event. The missing ‘thanks for observing’ and other niceties started to come up too often and so the idea of an etiquette leaflet was born at one of the beer-fuelled, so-called trials committee meetings. Why someone who had never even been near a trial should know stuff like queuing, score checking, not putting your score down etc. All the members contributed to put something in, and Rick Stewart made sure it made some sense.
The Manchester 17 Motorcycle Club began in 1935 when two groups of motorcycle enthusiasts in suburban Manchester got together and decided to form a club. The club’s name comes from the number of riders at that first meeting. Since then they have been involved in most forms of mainstream motorcycle activity from road runs and training to televised scrambles, from speedway to touring, rallies and road racing. John Hartle, from Chapel-en-le-Frith and the second guy to lap the TT Course at over 100mph, was a club member and rode trials as well as racing at international level.
The club now runs more than a dozen trials every year, ranging from the ever-popular Dead Easy trials to the national Dave Rowland Trophy and Northern Experts trials, as well as two rounds of the Cheshire & North Wales Centre ACU Championship, The Fisher Trophy Trial and the Hipwell/Hartle Trial.
Everyone starts somewhere, and for many, their Dead Easy trials are where it all began — or what they come back to. Riders can be anywhere between six and 70-ish years old. Some riders are already experienced motorcyclists, who then turn up at their first trial having ridden road machines or motocross for years. But often it’s the first time they’ve found themselves face-to-face with a Section Begins card. And it can be a little bit bewildering — even scary. It’s at that point that many start to find out just how different riding a motorcycle off-road and in a competition is from anything they’ve done before; so many new things to do and learn. Rules and regulations, licences and then the riding itself, where to go and what to do? And what not to do!
The purpose of this guide is to give a gentle nudge in the right direction and help you get started the right way. Remember, the idea of it all is to have fun and make new friends — and trials are great for both of those. On behalf of everyone at Manchester 17 MCC Ltd, welcome to Trials; the friendliest and most social motorsport there is. Thanks to everyone who helped bring this guide together. Find out more about the club at www.manchester17.org.uk
A Beginner’s Guide to Trials Etiquette at Motorcycle Trials
DOGS ARE GREAT: We love dogs, and a trial venue can be an excellent place for them to have a bit of a runaround. The trouble is, sheep and other livestock may not be so keen on them, and nor will some of the local wildlife such as ground-nesting birds. If you bring a dog with you to a trial, make sure it’s under control. No, properly, really, really under control and on a lead if needs be. Don’t let it be your dog that causes trouble and maybe costs us the use of the land.
HORSES ARE GREAT TOO: Many trials areas are used a lot by trekking groups, and some folk you’ll see in those groups may be only sat on a horse the first time some half-an-hour ago. Horses are not daft, and they know when a rider is nervous, think about that. You’ve probably noticed this, but horses are bigger, stronger and probably faster than you and have the equivalent of a steel lump hammer at each corner. Plus teeth, big teeth! Some of them are okay with motorcycles, but many aren’t. They don’t understand what motorcycles are and can easily be spooked. Think about being on one when that happens. If horses come near, stop! Stop moving and stop your engine. Acknowledge the group’s leader and the riders. Wait until they’re well clear before starting up again. If you have to pass them, then do so slowly and well away.
OTHER USERS: There’s a chance that, somewhere around the trial route, you’ll come across other people nothing to do with the trial. Whoever they are and whatever they’re doing — family groups, dog-walkers, Sunday strollers, hardened hikers, birdwatchers, mountain bikers, residents etc. — be friendly and show them respect. It’s their leisure time too! If you get the opportunity and they’re interested, maybe explain a bit about what a trial is and isn’t — it’s not a race, there’s hardly any noise and most of the time you’d never know we’ve been on the land.
Your first trial
You have arrived at your first trial, unloaded your machine and got your riding kit on so what’s next? Find the Secretary of the Meeting; he will love you for it. It’s not just you they are sorting out though, so be patient.
FILLING IN THE FORM: write clearly, then check it: You do want us to get your name right in the results, don’t you? The same goes for Membership Forms too, please. If you’re not sure about something, ask.
DON’T BE A CARPARK HERO: Wheelies are fun, and you’ve waited all week to ride but cars and folk are expensive to have dents taken out of, and you’re responsible for any damage you — or your kids — cause. Please don’t ride around the car park.
SILENT ZONE SIGNS MEAN JUST THAT: If there’s a Silent Zone sign, then there’s no riding before the start. Don’t even start up the engine until start time, please! ATTEND THE PRE-START BRIEFING: It’s how we let you know important stuff like where all the sections are, where the route goes and the number of laps you’ll be doing. And the niggly bits — like any potholes, cliff edges and other little things you might want to know about!
DON’T BE A BLOCKER: Walk up the section first, then back down it until you know where you want to go. But don’t get in the way of someone riding it or block the observer’s view.
QUEUING IS PART OF TRIALS: Be sociable and have a chat with your fellow competitors. But don’t queue jump or push in, don’t. It’s not nice. After all, you wouldn’t like it if someone did to you.
MAKE SURE YOUR NUMBER IS VISIBLE: No number equals no score. Can they see the back one too? If you are given number bibs, wear them correctly. IF A SECTION IS TOO HARD, IT’S OKAY TO ASK FOR A FIVE TO BE MARKED DOWN: Don’t be afraid to ask the observer for a five. It’s sensible, and everyone’s done it at some time.
THE OBSERVER IS YOUR FRIEND: Ask him about the section, how it’s riding etc. if you want to give it a go but don’t know how.
WAIT TO BE OBSERVED: Don’t ride the section until the observer indicates they’re ready. They might miss that perfect clean. DON’T ARGUE WITH THE OBSERVER OVER A SCORE: What they say goes, end of, and it’s in the rule book too for your clarification on the ruling.
WHEN THERE’S NO OBSERVER DO YOUR SHARE: Park up at a suitable spot and hand the board to the next rider after writing down their score.
NEVER OBSERVE YOURSELF: Never put your score on the observer card; it’s just not cricket.
LAPS: Do each section once per lap. If you don’t, it’s cheating. The only exception is if you’ve had a problem and are running very late or young inexperienced riders accompanied by their parent/minder. Ask the Observer first, of course. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MARKED COURSE: Hidden holes and quarry faces add to the fun. Also, that grass you’re on is how the farmer earns his living, so we’ve marked you through where they want you and not where they don’t. Don’t mess it up, please: “Abuse it, we lose it, simple as that!”
LITTER — DON’T LEAVE ANY: And if you see any, please pick it up and take it home.
DON’T MITHER THE OBSERVER: Checking your score and that they’ve got all your laps down is fine, but don’t waste their time or interrupt them when they’re observing someone else. While you’re doing your thing in a section, you want the observer to watch you, don’t you? So does everyone else!
SOMEONE BROKE DOWN: If someone has broken down or is stuck, check they’re okay. It might be you next time. Maybe offer to take a message back to the Start.
DON’T HANG AROUND: If you’re almost last, don’t hang around. The observers might pull the sticks and go before you finish. Remember, they’ve been there all day. THANK THE OBSERVERS AFTER YOUR LAST LAP: It’s polite, and you need them more than they need you. PULLING UP THE STICKS: After it’s all over, offer to help pull up the section/s or carry THE FLAGS/BAGS: It may be a long walk back to the start, and you’re the one with the engine! BE SAFE: Don’t do anything daft that might endanger yourself or someone/something else. IF YOU’RE NOT IN THE TRIAL, YOU CAN’T RIDE THERE: Only those entered in the event or involved with organising it can ride on the land. Full stop, no exceptions. No, not even you! Most
venues aren’t available for practice at other times either. Don’t go there without specific permission. GET STUCK IN — AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS
TOO: Even if you’re enjoying your trials, you’ll find you enjoy it more and get to know who’s who and what’s what sooner if you get involved and maybe find out when the marking-out team are going to set the next trial up. Go along and do what you can to help. You’ll be glad you did, and so will we! Trial Magazine would like to thank ‘Team Manchester 17 MCC Ltd’ for the opportunity to generate this article.