WTRA News

WTRA RoD(Wales) 3rd to 7th May 2002

More pics from the WTRA Ltd Rally of Discovery (Wales) here ....

2002 Cambrian Rally Route Report

On Saturday 23rd as it was snowing hard over the Eppynt MOD ranges and things didn't look good for the planned ride around the Cambrian Rally course on the Sunday. By Saturday afternoon however the torrential rain had got rid of most of the snow and things looked marginally better so three of us, Bob Perring (TTR250), Peter Brookes (KTM400) and me on the BMW1150GS decided that we would have a day out.
I rode the 1150GS the 50+ miles to Sennybridge, glad of the heated jacket and gloves, to meet the other two (who were in their cars) at the guard room of the Sennybridge Training Camp to get our range passes. Having been warned of low flying helicopters, free-range tanks and numerous troop movements (non of which we saw all day - the weather was awfully bad) we were free to roam. A short trip down the A40 to Llandovery so that Bob P and Peter could swap the warmth of their cars for the pleasure of their bikes and we were ready to go. At this point I had to forego the heated jacket (so I could stand up) and change to MX gloves (so I could "feel" the bike) and I was forced to rely solely on the heated grips for warmth - they weren't enough. By the time we got to the start of the Cambrian Rally course, I couldn't feel my fingers, the wind was at gale force and the rain/snow/sleet was torrential and horizontal, it was going to be an interesting day.

I reset the GPS and off we went, after about 200m of gravel road the course climbs a slight grassy hill, first problem, even with about 1/3 worn TKC80 tyres I have virtually no traction on the sodden grass, I persevere and eventually get to the top but I wouldn't want to follow me, a 50ft rooster tail follows me all the way! A short off camber on the grassy field is fun and is followed by the drop down the grassy field to the road. Even in first gear with the throttle shut I pick up speed as the weight of the bike takes over and I slid to the bottom of the hill, all the time waiting for it to go horribly wrong and sideways. More by luck than skill I get to the bottom without any drama, we've only travelled 700m and found the first "iffy" bit for the big bikes (if the weather is as bad on the day we'll let the big bike by-pass this bit). The next few km are on road/gravel before the course crosses a flat grassy area, no real problems apart from lack of traction making things slow, to the start of special stage 1, the off-road driver-training course. This is essentially the same stage we have use in all previous Cambrian Rally's, it starts up a short rocky gully before turning right over a cattle grid onto a gravel road. After a few km it leaves the forest over a cattle grid, turns right up a gravel road and right again onto the driver-training course proper. Some of the puddles are long and deep but a steady approach sees the 1150GS through to the end of the stage without problem. The course follows a short section of road to the start of "Route 60", a long gravel road with a bend that "Crasher Cornish" of TBM made famous by throwing a Honda 650 off at high speed. Along Route 60 there's a ford to cross and later a short rocky track with an exit between some big rocks which are only marginally further apart than the width of the GS cylinder heads, we will have to make the gap a little wider for the event. After Route 60 is a very short road section leading to another flat grassy bit (traction the only problem) and another short road section to a gravel road. This leads to another flat grassy bit that then goes off-camber and downhill into a small valley, across a ditch and then off-camber and uphill out of the valley, all was well until the uphill bit - no chance. It took about 15min and a lot of revving and swearing to get the GS out of the valley, fortunately there is an alternative route that we will use in the event. Once out of the valley there is a series of long downhill grassy fields, steep with zero grip, this time I wasn't waiting for the inevitable and laid the bike on it's side twice as the speed began to build just to steady everything and make sure I got down in one piece, the other two were very impressed by my "controlled crashes", at least they were once they'd stopped laughing. The course then crossed a "tank bridge", crossed a short flat field and continued along a sunken rocky track back to the road. Crossing the road leads to the start of "Druids Way" a very long track that resembled two streams running side by side with a few deep puddles to keep things interesting. We all made it through without any problems and crossed a road into another forest block for a ride around the gravel roads to the start of the second stage. This is a completely new stage, although a few bits of it have been in the route in previous years. It starts as a gravel road before turning right into an off-road section and right again back onto the gravel road, through an MOD depot and out onto the moor (from here on traction was a problem), across a flat grassy bit to turn right and join a track called "Journey's End" to the end of the stage. The course then continues along Journey's End through innumerable deep puddles (we will have to divert the course around some of the bigger ones) back to the where we started from, a total of just over 56km. I got the GS around without any damage or help, it was a struggle in a few places but the only real problem was a lack of traction. The weather was the worse it could possibly be, the weather for event itself can only be better so those on the big bikes should stand a sporting chance of success, as long as they have good condition and suitable tyres such as the TKC80's.

By now I was soaked through from a combination of sweating and my "Guaranteed Waterproof" waterproofs having given up the unequal battle with nature. I still had the 50+ miles to ride home, water had got into the switch for my heated jacket and gloves and they weren't working, it was a matter of grinning and bearing it and passing as many cars as possible all the way home to keep myself entertained! Is there anything better that a long hot bath at the end of a cold wet day?

During 2001 WTRA, after a gap of almost 20 years, returned to the Cross Inn, Gabalfa, Cardiff for their club nights (the club meets at 9pm on the 2nd & 4th Thursday of every month).
The long time Club Secretary, Steve Williams, read the minutes of the 2000 AGM before Bob Jeffries, as Club President, gave a report of the year's activities.
The club had started the year with a very successful "Snowrun Enduro" before the F&M outbreak put an abrupt stop to off-road motor sport. Many local club member had used the enforced break from off-road riding to organise runs on their road bikes and some members went overseas for their "fix". Bob also thanked the outgoing Chairman, Bob Mullins, for all his help over many years and for all the work he had done for the club, WTRA wishes him well with his new club at Caerphilly.
Keith Davies had taken over, from Derek Barton, as Treasurer during 2001. Thanks were given for all Derek's work in the past and for Keith's during 2001. The club had increased its savings by almost £2,500 during the last year, going some way to making up for the loss of £3000, on the Beacons Enduro, in 2000. Midway through 2001 it had been decided to reintroduce a £5 membership fee for 2002 and this was now in place.
The Sports Secretary, Peter Brookes, reviewed the club's only successful event in 2001 and thanked everyone for their efforts. The start of the 2002 Snowrun will be in a new location, near the "Culvert" and all arrangements are proceeding well. The Cambrian Rally will be back to its tradition day, Easter Sunday, and the entry is already full at 330 riders. The club is running a new event in 2002, the Rally of Discovery (Wales) over the early May Bank Holiday. The Eppynt 2 Day Enduro will start in the FIBUA on the Army range. Another new event, the Bob Perring Enduro, is due to be run in October/November and a completely new location is being considered.
Ian Preece, the Membership Secretary, reported that the club had only about 70 registered members in 2001, partially due to not running events and partially due to free membership resulting in few people bothering to actually join. It was decided that to speed up membership applications each entry secretary would be allocated a range of membership numbers and cards to issue to riders who join as part of an event entry and Ian would co-ordinate all membership issues.
The Social Secretary/Liaison Officer, Chris Lee, gave a summary of 2001 activities and outlined a number planned for 2002. Initially the club have video of the "Purple Helmets" at the club night of the 24th Jan and will hold a "pub quiz" on the club night of the 14th Feb with an FIM Enduro tyre as first prize and a bottle of spirits for the runner up. Additionally it was decided that the club would ask the landlord of the Cross Inn to supply light refreshments at future club nights.
The Safety/Environmental Officer, Russell Preece, had an easy year in 2001 but the position will be a particularly important one in 2002. Environment issues are extremely important for the continued use of land for sporting purposes and safety is becoming a critical issue. To this end is was agreed that safety and environmental issues would be rigorously enforced at the Snowrun Enduro and the issue of riders speeding in "Blue Tape" areas (10mph limit) would be dealt with severely.
Any other business: A number of club members will be attending a licensing meeting at the ACU in Rugby on the 19th Jan. It was noted that Bob Jeffries has been elected to the ACU Trials and Enduro Committee.
The meeting then moved to elect club officials for 2002:

The meeting was declared closed at 10.30 and the members present enjoyed a superb buffet. - Bob Jeffries

July 2001 Club Meeting (12 July 2001)

At their last club night (12 July 2001) the members of WTRA discussed, among many other things, the possibility of running an enduro during November 2001 and proposed events and dates for 2002.

November 200:1 Forest Enterprise has given provisional permission for an enduro to be run over the weekend of the 3rd and 4th November. This weekend was planned to be the revised date for the “Beacons” British Championship Enduro, however the ACU refused to give permission for a change of date for the “Beacons”.
An alternative plan to run a one-day clubman event over the same weekend was considered by WTRA. However, after considering the latest ACU F&M guidelines and the restrictions and additional work that would be necessary and the possibility, even though very slight, of worsening the continued F&M situation in the area, it was decided that WTRA would not run any further events in 2001.
WTRA has received tremendous support over many years from the local communities, farmers, landowners, the MOD and Forest Enterprise in and around the Llandovery area where the events are run. WTRA are not prepared to jeopardise the future livelihoods of the community and the goodwill they have shown by running any event whilst there is any risk, however slight, of worsening the F&M situation in the area.

Events for 2002: The following events and their dates are provisional.
1. 03rd February The “SNOWRUN” Enduro A traditional Clubman level forestry enduro.
2. 31st March (Easter Sunday) The “CAMBRIAN RALLY” (Note 1) The original Trail Bike Rally.
3. 04th, 05th & 06th May (New Event) The Rally of Discovery (Wales) (Note 2) Navigation Scatter Rally.
4. 24th &25th August The 2 Day “EPPYNT” Enduro (Note 3) British Solo Enduro Championship Enduro.
5. 20th October The “BOB PERRING” Enduro (New Event) (Note 4) A traditional Clubman level forestry enduro.

Notes:
1. The Cambrian Rally will have a revised format for 2002. There will be a different start area that will also be the refuelling area, less forestry roads will be used, a shorter lap with different types of special stages will be used and more riders will be permitted.
2. The Rally of Discovery (Wales) will be a limited entry navigation rally based on the original Rally of Discover devised and run by Phil Gunn of the Irish SMAC Club.
3. For 2002 the “Eppynt” Enduro will become a 2-day event. Although an application will be made to the ACU for it to be a round of the British Solo Enduro Championship the only real change, other than the extra day of superb riding, will be additional special tests. To keep everyone happy there will also be one-day entries for those who feel that 2 days of pure pleasure will be too much!
4. The “BOB PERRING” Enduro will be a new event to celebrate the contribution that Bob has made to UK off-road motorcycling and enduros’. It will be a traditional Clubman level forestry event that even Bob Perring should be able to complete with ease!
Finally. You will note from the above that the "Beacons" Enduro has been dropped. It was felt that as both the traditional format and date of the event was no longer practical then the idea of keeping the name for purely traditional reasons was a nonsense. The "Beacons" has gone!

The WTRA Beacons cancelled (21 June 2001)

The ACU Trials & Enduro Committee issued the following memorandum on the 19th June: "Due to the situation created by the Foot and Mouth epidemic, the Trials & Enduro Committee have decided that for the benefit of sport at Centre level and to remove all uncertainty for organisers and riders, Championship events which have been cancelled due to the outbreak will not be rescheduled. Events which take place on their original dates and at their original venues will be the only ones which count towards any of the Championships. For all Championships, all rounds held in 2001 will count". Therefore the WTRA Beacons 2 day Enduro which was rescheduled for 3rd & 4th Nov is cancelled & the 2001 ACU Enduro champion will be the winner of the Natterjack.

The WTRA Eppynt Enduro - Canceled

Peter Brookes & Bob Mullins of WTRA attended a meeting of motorsport organisers arranged by the Army on 4th June at Sennybridge to discuss the re-opening of the Eppynt Ranges. The South West quarter of the range - which includes the Eppynt Enduro Special Test - has been used for the disposal of F&M infected carcasses & remains out of bounds. The rest of the land was available but the Eppynt - planned for 19th August - would have been restricted to defined tracks with no offroad riding. WTRA therefore decided to cancel the event & free the dates for other tarmac based sports. The Commanding Officer apologised for the situation which was beyond his control & looked forward to 2002 when the Eppynt Enduro will hopefully be a 2 day event.

TBM Letter

I've generally got on OK with Si Melber and Paul Blezzard of TBM, that is until a few months ago. Four unnecessary words "and member of WTRA" in an article by Paul Blezzard in last months magazine have changed that.

The four offending words linked WTRA, the club I have been involved with for over 25 years, with illegal riding and although the person accused was neither a member of WTRA, nor as it turns out was he riding illegally, Si Melber refused to print a correction. Instead he chooses to print a "last resort" letter by Bob Perring and a reply that is offensive to those who know the true facts of the issue.

Bob's wrote his letter after phone calls to Si had failed to get an agreement, for Si to then suggest that a phone call would have been more appropriate is twisting the facts to fit his "rant". Si then suggests that it was the fault of the police and didn't matter anyway, which shows how little Si cares about the continuation of off-road motorcycle sport.

WTRA knows that Forest Enterprise staff read TBM as we've taken flack for other Paul Blezzard "words of wisdom" in the past (they threatened the future of the Cambrian Rally). To then wrongly link WTRA with illegal riding is irresponsible, to refuse to correct the error shows a complete lack of understanding of the problems facing off-road motorcycling. Si Melber will not print any critical letter without editing it so that the person writing it is seen as the villain and he and TBM the innocent, it's the "it's my ball" syndrome - sad really.

P.S. Be wary of inviting TBM to your club, it may be you next.

Steve & Chris's WTRA's "Welsh National Rally" Rideout

May 12/13 2001

As the Welsh National Rally had been postponed due to the F&M outbreak Steve Williams and Chris Lee arranged a WTRA road ride to West Wales. On a beautiful Saturday a group of 9 bikes, 4 with pillions, rode North from Cardiff to meet with a few more at the West End Café in Llandovery.

After breakfast we headed West to St Clears and then followed the coast as closely as possible visiting Laugharne, Pendine, Amroath and stopping in Saundersfoot for lunch (a nostalgic moment for me as I spent my honeymoon there a few (!) years ago). After lunch we headed South to Tenby before continuing West through Haverford West, Newgale (topless sunbathers), Solva and into St Davids for a refreshing drink in the only Pub open (on a Saturday afternoon - obviously the F&M isn't hitting tourism too hard in West Wales). Fully refreshed we headed North through small lanes, just to please Alan who's Aprilla RSV Mille was not at it best at low speed over rough tarmac, to Fishguard where Steve and Chris had found us a very good Hotel. There was an un-gentlemanly rush not to share a room with Pancho and I luckily managed to avoid it this time. A shower and change and Phil Wilkinson and I were first down to the bar. A good evening was made better by the appearance of two coach loads of girls/women on a hen night and then a very good curry, all accompanied by good company and good beer.

Sunday morning came too soon for a few and some desperately required Anadin sandwiches. We had a short ride North to a viewpoint above Dinas Cross to take a few pictures of the view and the Seacat leaving Fishguard for Ireland before moving on to Newport Beach to take the air and have an ice cream. Chris then took us to Cenarth before he left for home, the rest of us continued on to New Quay for lunch. After lunch Steve and Cathy left for home, a few stayed for an extended lunch and five of us continued North to Aberystwyth and on to Devils Bridge. Here we took the mountain road to Rhayader which was another road that Alan and Keith's didn't particularly enjoy, the Aprilla RSV and Honda Fireblade didn't seem to like the narrow rough twisty road half as much as Gadget, Phil and I did. At Rhayader Phil headed North for home and the rest of us headed South for home -I got myself and the bike in the garage about 5 seconds before it started raining.

Thanks to Steve Williams and Chris Lee for sorting the weekend and getting us out on our bikes. Pics

Beacons 2001

The Welsh Trail Riders Association & Forest Enterprise have agreed to reschedule this year's Beacons Enduro to the 3rd & 4th November subject to an improvement in the Foot & Mouth epidemic.

Pancho's North Wales Rideout April 7/8th

With no off-roading Pancho Poulson arranged a WTRA road ride to North Wales. On Saturday our small group rode North, up through Brecon, Rhyader, Llanidloes, Staylittle, Machynlleth, Corris, Dolgellau, Trawsfynydd and Blaenau Ffestiniog for an overnight stay at Betws-y-coed. We had a few showers and dense fog on the way but not too bad and the forecast for Sunday was better!!
Sunday morning began with bright sunshine, looked like we were going to have a good day - a few more friends joined us and off we went. Capel Curig, Beddgeler, Porthmadog, Criccieth, Nefyn, (the rain began) Aberdaron, (the rain got heavier) Llanbedrog, Pwllheli, back to Porthmadog (serious rain) and the A470 all the way home.
The whole trip was 435 miles, tank full at the start 19L added at 235 miles and 4 bars on the RID at the end. My new Hein Gerike jacket and Frank Thomas trousers were 100% waterproof, my Gortex glove liners, KTM motorcross gloves and wax cotton overmits 90% waterproof, my leather boots 0% waterproof but Gortex boot liners (a bargain at £20) 100% waterproof.
A little rain(!) (and snow over the high point of the A470 between Ganllwyd and Dolgellau) made my first proper ride on the 1150GS a good test, but both man(!) and bike pulled through. The bike didn't miss a beat, no fuss no fettling just ride it, but I needed a hot bath and serious pampering when I got home. Pics

WTRA's response to the ACU canceling the 2003 ISDE in the UK

Peter Brookes and WTRA have responded to the ACU's contemptible decision to cancel the 2003 ISDE in Wales by preparing to apply to run the final 3 day round of the UEM European Enduro Championship in 2003.

As Peter had completed so much of the planning and course work in preparation for the 2003 ISDE it was agreed that WTRA will submit an application to run this UEM event at the time we should have been running the 2003 ISDE. Other than actually getting approval to run the event the only other major obstacle could possibly be the ACU - they will have to sanction it!

With the experience of running a very successful round of the FIM World Enduro Championship in 1999 WTRA is confident that it can run a successful UEM event without the financial support or any other assistance from the ACU. This will give WTRA the opportunity to show the ACU what a group of true enthusiasts can do, and without it costing a small fortune.

A start area and a number of special tests have already been agreed, as has the basic routes of each of the three days. Detailed planning will start immediately so that the best possible application can be forwarded to the UEM to have the 2003 event in Wales.

2001 Cambrian Rally CANCELLED

Following the outbreak of Foot & Mouth Disease throughout the country, the Commander of Army Estates has placed a quarantine on all Army land in Wales until 1st May. As the majority of the 2001 Cambrian Rally course - planned for 16th April - utilised the Eppynt Army ranges, the event has been cancelled.
Entry fees will be returned less £2 admin. The Welsh Trail Riders Assoc. has developed a good relationship with the community in Mid Wales over 25 years & sympathises with them at this difficult time.
Bob Mullins - WTRA Chairman
It will not be possible to run the Cambrian Rally later in the year as event are planned at least a year in advance and there are no spare dates available. WTRA will be writing to all riders as soon as possible and will be refunding entries, less a £2 administration fee as soon as we can - PLEASE bear in mind that preparing and despatching over 200 cheques will take time!!!. We are as disappointed as the riders will be.
Bob Jeffries - Entries Secretary

2001 British Enduro Championship

Only 3 clubs have confirmed they will be running ACU British Enduro Championship rounds in 2001: Diss MC (Breckland), WTRA (Beacons) & the Army MC (Natterjack).

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