What have you done today with your Austin Seven

[Steve kay]

It was very interesting watching a YouTube video of cars on this year's MCC Exeter Trial attempting the Simms section. Many modern cars with loads of horsepower failing, then a Frazer Nash and an Austin Seven RTC romping up! You might find that you will do better than you expect.

I have to admit the Liege is often beaten by Austin 7s. I am always amazed by the skill employed in finding the grip with their skinny tyres plus negotiating the ruts with their narrow track.

The video of Alan Bee on Simms last year is inspirational. If you can find it, it is well worth watching.

Is this the one you mean? An Austin 7 saloon at about 15:40 goes straight up more or less:




Either way, very amusing film. I think in a lot of cases a limited slip diff would help! It must be very stony there? To get that much smoke off the tyres on mud and there also seems to be a sign stuck to a tree warning about flying stones. 

Simon

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And for those other filthy colonials like me who have no clue what the Exeter trial is this explains it pretty well.

Limited slip diff sir, why,  that's cheating! Sometimes before the start and sometimes at random at the foot of hills, scrutes will produce rollers and ask some or all competitors to spin a wheel. There were people caught some years ago, no guilty party was driving a fwd post 1945 Citroen. Anyone these days would be in utter disgrace, refused service in the bar at Shelsley and every pub in Presteigne. Solid back axle cars of course do well, Nashes, GNs and even Trojans. The sight, sound and smell of a Trojan slowly but surely making its way up a hill, accompanied by spluttering two stroke sounds and in a gently swirling  cloud of smoke is splendid.