Yesterday me and Nev were out competing on Slaters Trial which is a Production Car Trial(PCT).

What is a PCT?

These events take place on grassy slopes where a number of “hills” are laid out with pairs (“gates”) of 12 canes each 4 metres apart.

The object of the competition is, from a standing start; get as far up each hill as possible. The more gates you pass through then the fewer penalties you get – getting through the “1” gate gives and “clean” and no penalties. Five or six hills are set out by the organisers and cars tackle them usually twice before the courses are altered. During a typical event up to 40 hills can be attempted and the driver with the lowest score is the winner. There are classes for different types of car. A passenger is compulsory and these can “bounce” vigorously to assist the cars passage.

Due to the mini currently being in 'forest' trim ready for next weekend we decided in our wisdom to use Nev's wifes Rover 214.

On this competition there were 8 hills with four runs up each one through the day. After walking the first hill I wasn't sure how we'd get beyond the first gate let alone higher up the hill. We were doing a shared drive so Nev was driving with me as passenger and me driving with Nev as passenger. We set off up the first hill with me bouncing up and down and got through three gates and then got stuck. After swapping over I only made it through two gates and I thought this would be how the day went on. On the second test Nev got through four gates but I managed to clear the test so was well chuffed.

The day continued like this with me getting less points and the two of us spending most of the time laughing like mad men.

At the end of the day I had come 8th in class and 18th overall with Nev 10th in class and 22nd overall.

The little Rover faired okay apart from the cat shield coming off, a huge dent in the fuel tank and me boiling the coolant.

All in all the day was huge fun and fantastic value for £18

is that the thing where they also use special kit cars which have two handbrakes which independantly operate each rear wheel so they can go round really tght bends on a slope??

Kind of but they're just called car trials. these are only open to 2wd non traction controlled cars.

The tests are just the same and with use of the hand brake and spinning the wheels you can get round really tight corners with practise.

Fiat Pandas do really well in them.

LOL! I did my last one of them in an Uno

LOL! I did my last one of them in an Uno

Fantastic fun - I spent most of the day PMSL.

The Pandas did really well, seemed to get traction everywhere and have loads of suspension travel. The big indicator of their reliability was the fact that they all arrived and left on trailers:rofl:

Female passengers are good to watch to;)

Kind of but they're just called car trials. these are only open to 2wd non traction controlled cars.

The tests are just the same and with use of the hand brake and spinning the wheels you can get round really tight corners with practise.

Fiat Pandas do really well in them.

I used to do that in my panda when parking in tight spaces.

You could put the handbrake on , turn to full lock and then wheelspin.

The car would pretty much pivot around the rear wheels.