Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

Trials specialist Ian Wright has put together a new ‘arrive and drive’ package for Historic Sporting Trials Association events, enabling enthusiasts to simply turn up and take part in this increasingly popular form of motorsport. Wright’s team will take care of the entry paperwork, transport the car to and from the venue, and provide insurance cover. A professional instructor will act as a passenger, too, so drivers with little or no experience will be able to benefit from their knowledge and have a mentor on-hand for the whole day.

Wright – a multiple BTRDA and MSA trials champion – will provide an 1172cc Ford-engined Cannon, which will be professionally prepared at his Kent base. As well as competing, Wright’s company has restored a large number of cars for HSTA competitors, and also builds new continuation cars. For many years, he’s designed and produced modern trials cars under the Sherpa name.

The HSTA series has gone from strength to strength since being jointly founded by Wright and fellow trials stalwart Martyn Halliday in 2012, and now attracts entries of more than 50 drivers. The Historic class in which the Cannon will run caters for cars built to the RAC National Trials Formula between 1953 and 1970.

‘Arrive and drive’ packages can be tailored to the individual, depending on their ability level, as well as to the specific trial. Prices start at £500 plus VAT.

The first Historic Sporting Trials Association event was held in 2012 at Long Compton in Warwickshire. Entry numbers have almost tripled since then, and the schedule includes events in – among others – Gloucestershire, Kent, Hertfordshire, Hampshire and Northamptonshire, plus a two-day meeting on the Isle of Wight. Entrants are split into Historic (1953-1970) and Post Historic (1971-1978) classes, and tackle a series of defined off-road uphill sections – the idea being to get as far through them as possible without coming to a stop.

Mike Cannon moved from Tasmania to the UK during the 1950s and subsequently became involved with trials. He went on to build more than 100 of his eponymous cars, which used Ford and BMC mechanical components and dominated the trials scene throughout the 1960s. Graham Hill, Colin Chapman and Stirling Moss all took part in trials aboard Cannons.
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[D4B]

Is there a website showing upcoming events?

Thanks

[Riley Blue]

http://hsta.org.uk
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

[alastairq]

I have one of those Cannons....albeit it is now road legal.

[as in, 1996 road legal, not pre-1959 road legal]...it arrived in my ownership with a BMC A-series..although all the mounts were sidevalve Ford..adapted.
I believe it might have had an autocross history...as well as sporting trials.
Ford Y-type front axle, pre war Morris Minor front brakes and hubs [6 bolt wheel fixings] Austin [8?] rear axle,Ford front axle radius arm welded to it, attached under gearbox...front axle radius arms were again Ford, but bent at an angle to meet the axle, after starting out under the chassis [on each side, mounted on a trackrod end] , parallel... Hydraulic front brakes....rear brakes operated individually via tow levers [fiddle brakes] in very nice alloy trunnions..Steering box mounted sideways on in chassis...with arm poking out the side of the body, vertically. Not sure of origins of steering box...possibly Standard? Drag link travels straight forwards to a large U-shaped bracket, attached to the right hand brake back plate/hub .....

Much had to be altered to make it meet C&U regulations...and, make it driveable about 25 mph....

Separate steering arms might be Colin Chapman items....
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Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
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Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.

[D4B]

[consul 57]

i have watched a ferw of these events and the cars will go a lot farther than you think, being only 2wd.
always fancied having a go, done motorcycle trials for years so a natural progression.

[alastairq]

An old [in both senses] mate of mine spent a long time building his own sporting trials car to the Northern trials regs.....a nice bit of workmanship too....As he finished, the rules made a change which meant he couldn't compete.....although in his 80's.....the rule that ruined his prospects was....every driver had to 'walk' each section, before driving it. He was physically unable to 'walk' up the steep slopes...although he was perfectly capable of driving up.
A sad day for him!
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Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
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Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.

[consul 57]

sad story
we are supposed to walk the sections on motorbike trials but as i have a bad back i cannot always walk the steep hill sections so i just drive it blind, with lots of gas!

[Rick]