Beni Giles takes you through one of the earliest forms of motor sport.

Seeing a vintage motorcar parked up outside a country pub on a Sunday afternoon or elegantly sailing past on a quiet high street always brings a smile to the face of onlookers. Its warm, thumping engine sound, its soft, dynamic curves and on closer inspection, the comforting and unmistakable 'old car' smell from the worn leather upholstery and oily engine.

Personally, I am filled with a sense of nostalgia and history - the golden age of motoring preserved by passionate enthusiasts and their tools. When you see a vintage motorcar, you probably don't know that some weekends of the year, there is a good chance that it is being precariously thrashed up muddy hills in the competitive motor sport known as trialling.

Classic Trialling began in the early Twentieth Century. It was started by the Motor Cycling Club in order to prove to the public that motorcycles could go anywhere that horses could. Trialling is like a hill climb but not
against the clock, and certainly not on tarmac. Instead, there are a number of hills, all different lengths, gradients and slippery surfaces that have markers running up to 25. The competing car must get as far up the track as possible and is awarded points according to the last marker past. Most hills are extremely muddy and cars have a tendency to get stuck! Drivers solve this by lowering their rear tyre pressures and having 'bouncers', who are essentially just passengers that have to bounce in time both with each other
and the car's own unpredictable movements.

Last weekend (13-14th Oct 2007) was the Vintage Sports Car Club's Welsh Trial, one of the biggest events in vintage motor trialling. For this particular trial, the only stipulation for entry is that one's car must be pre 1931 (i.e. 'vintage') and, on the first day of the trial, it must have been driven at least 100 miles to the venue - cars are not allowed to arrive on trailers. The Trial is held in and around Presteigne, it is in a beautiful setting of rolling countryside and stunning, mysterious forests. The first day concludes with jollities in various pubs on the picturesque little high street, laden with muddy vintage cars. Friendly, contented faces sip away at a refreshing and well-deserved pint as they make the final adjustments for the next big day and discuss the day's various goings-on with fellow participants.

The turnout is not, as one might expect, a profusion of motor anoraks, but a diverse and interesting crowd from all over. It is very much a family event, with people of all ages taking part. People come from all over the UK in cars of varying power, rarity, cost and originality. Some compete very seriously and some just want to have a bit of fun in their old car, I think most do a bit of both!