Paddyfork Trials 2000

Bob Watts about halfway up the hillclimb at Paddyfork Farm

Early in September this year, the Ohio Chapter of the New England MG T Register presented an event in the spirit of a vintage English motoring trials. Named for the local farm which hosts the off-road driving tests, the Paddyfork Trials were headquartered in Roscoe Village (near Coshocton), Ohio. Twenty cars, MGs ranging from a 1933 L1 Magna through rubber-bumpered MGBs, entered the competition, which consisted of a two day regularity trial (mild Time-Speed-Distance rally) interspersed with driving tests including two gymkhanas and a hillclimb at the Paddyfork Farm. Eleven teams were entered as Solo competitors, and three clubs sent three-car Club Teams for the inter-club competition.

Field of twenty competitors lined up for the Start on Friday morning, in front of the Roscoe Village Inn.

Competitors and event Marshals gathered on Thursday, September 7, for registration, distribution of route books, and the usual pre-rally gum-beatings. Friday morning, Steward and experienced vintage navigator Dallas Smith presented a brief Rally School for novice TSD rallyists. Later in the morning, competitors lined up in front of the Roscoe Village Inn in anticipation of a two day, 200 mile drive over twisting and winding eastern Ohio roads. First car out was at 1:01 pm for the 60 mile first day drive. Halfway through the first day’s drive, competitors arrived at the Paddyfork farm for their timed run up the hillclimb. A zig-zag course had been laid out up a fairly steep pasture. Most found that first gear wasn’t quite tall enough for the straights but second gear was too short for the hairpin turns; very few of the cars have synchros on first! Typical times for the run up the hill were around two minutes; Bob Watts turned an impressive 1:51 in his TC, with only a couple of the MGBs barely faster up the hill. Following the hillclimb, competitors ran through the first gymkhana before resuming the regularity run. First car returned to Roscoe Village around 5:30 pm; the Inn’s pub was busy that evening with competitors swapping tales from the first day’s happenings.

Saturday started with First Car out at 9:01 pm. Several checkpoints and one driving test (the "MG Limbo") were encountered before an early afternoon arrival at the rest halt in Zanesville. A vintage ice cream shop was the venue for the 45 minute rest and re-grouping of the rally. Competitors ran one more leg up the legendary 666 back to Paddyfork Farm for another, and quite long, mega-slalom gymkhana in the grass. A number of entrants made quite good showings, with Gordon Bird nailing down Fast Time in his MGA after a very impressive drive. A DIY leg brought competitors back to Roscoe Village by 6 pm, where the Awards Banquet was held later in the evening.

Competitors studying the gymkhana course before running, at Paddyfork Farm

Individual competitors took home medals based on their overall performance. Gordon and Tracey Bird (MGA), and Ron and Meghan Domeck (TD) turned in Gold Medal class scores in the Solo competitions. The Central Ohio MG Owners club team beat the MGs of Baltimores and the Ohio Chapter T Register team to capture the Club Team prize.

By all reports the Paddyfork Trials was a success. Event Stewards Tom Baumgardner, Jim Pesta, and Phil and Dallas Smith met with several interested competitors, including experienced rallyists Eric Jones, Len Picton, and Bill Potvin, to discuss the future of this form of vintage motorsport. It is hoped that the Paddyfork Trials experience will encourage other clubs to organize similar vintage events in the future.

Phil Smith

Event Steward Phil Smith takes the unofficial Fast Time on the hillclimb in his ProRally MGBGT