ON Saturday, November 27, the 22nd Gold Medal Trial, the annual motorcycle rally of the Wairarapa branch, Vintage Car Club of New Zealand, was held. Open to all classes of motorcycle to within 30 years of the current year, this event is based on the pre-World War I style of motorcyclerun held in England, where emphasis was placed on machine reliability and rider endurance. Nowadays, with tarsealed croads and some gravel surfaces, the "trial" is somewhat easier than those far-off days. However, unseasonal weather can find weaknesses in machines, especially ignition systems. Thankfully this year's 21 starters, which included four sidecar combinations, had only the wind to cope with and all riders completed the approximately 116-mile course which organisers Howard and Marion Sims had marked out. Starting from Clareville, the run travelled sealed and gravel roads to Featherston, skirting Carterton and Greytown, thence via the Western Lake road and up over the barrage gates. Past the Ruamahanga River and on to Kahutara, where the CWI provided lunch. The afternoon ride took us to Martinborough and down to the Te Awaiti-Tora road and across gravel roads to intersect the Longbush and Hinakura road. Through Gladstone and Lees-Pakaraka Road, to refuel at Tom's Autos before returning to Clareville. Time is strictly observed and with tight schedules to maintain there were few medals awarded. Gold this year went to Peter Wright, of Wellington, Bruce Hill, of Masterton, Willis St Clair, of Masterton, and Will Holmes, of Greytown. Silver medals: Gail Menzies, of Wairoa, Glyn Clements, of Hastings, Tony Bernstein, of Lower Hutt, and Peter Groves, of Masterton. Other club trophies awarded were: K.L.Bull Memorial Shield for best overall performance, Will Holmes; best vintage, Tony Bernstein; best post-vintage, Will Holmes; best post-war, Willis St Clair; best sidecar, Neville Warren, of Masterton.
