RULES AND REGULATIONS
MCC events cater for a range of vehicles and classes and are operated within professional sporting guidelines.
Our events are run in accordance with the Standing Supplementary Regulations (SSRs.) Each event also has its own Additional Supplementary Regulations (ASRs), which can be found with the details for each event.
Our rules and regulations are quite long, but don't let that put you off. Once you understand how your class operates it's fairly straight forward.
If in doubt ask. You can ask questions via our Facebook Group or the contact page. At an event, if you’re unsure of anything ask an official or fellow competitor. Everyone is very friendly.
Here's a quick guide:
1. Make sure that you have entered the event in the correct class for your vehicle.2. Read and comply with the ASRs for the event.
3. Make sure your vehicle has the correct tyres. There is a list of permitted tyres in section 4 of the SSRs.
4. The rules for motorcycle tyres are defined in the SSRs with additional rules here.
5. Make sure that your vehicle is fully road legal.
6. Follow the instructions in the event route book, available online before the event starts.
7. Comply with the instructions of club officials.
Vehicle classes
Cars must be two-wheel drive, non-commercial and fitted with road tyres from a prescribed list. Most motorcycles and sidecars are required to be fitted with trials tyres front and rear, though there are exceptions to this for certain classes.
Good vehicle choices are hotly debated by club members – some will recommend the thrill of bouncing up slippery hills using horsepower whilst others will advocate lightweight vehicles with superior tractability and manoeuvrability. Increased ground clearance and protection for exposed parts are popular modifications for competitors driving our classic trial sections.
Vehicle classes are intended to serve as a handicap system for drivers and riders of vehicles deemed to have an advantage over a typical road going vehicle. Drivers of front-wheel powered cars can expect no handicap, whilst drivers of rear-wheel drive ‘trials special’ cars with rear-mounted engines can expect to compete under the full weight of class eight.
Motorcycle and three wheel vehicle classes
CLASS A - Single or multi cylinder solo motorcycles manufactured before 1st January 1970, (engine and frame) and Enfield Bullets manufactured in India.
CLASS B – Single or multi cylinder solo motorcycles up to 450 cc excluding 411 cc Enfield Himalayan
CLASS C – Single or multi cylinder solo motorcycles over 450 cc including 411 cc Enfield Himalayan
CLASS D – Motorcycles with touring or trials side-cars, (scooter side-car outfits are not eligible)
CLASS E – Three-wheelers, which must comply with the following requirements:
a) Seating must be side by side. Passengers must remain within the seating accommodation of the vehicle.
b) Must have a floor of metal or other substantial materials and be surrounded by body sides to a minimum height of 305 mm (12 in.) above the uncompressed seat cushion.
c) The drive may be either shaft or chain, driving one wheel only, or two wheels via a differential which is not a torque biasing device.
d) Engine capacity is limited up to 1300 cc.
e) Must be fitted with a towing attachment, reversing light, fire extinguisher and spill kit.
f) Three-wheelers will be placed in the running order of the event with the car classes, to assist with recovery.
CLASS F - Adventure motorcycles manufactured from 1980 onwards, with multi-cylinder engines and a capacity above 470 cc.
CLASS S - Step-throughs and scooters, which must comply with the following requirements:
a) The machine must originally have been manufactured as a step-through or scooter.
b) There must be a nominal gap between the seat and the headstock (or bodywork at the headstock) of at least 250 mm.
Additional information for motorcycle classes:
a) Any competitor in Classes A to D and F who elects to compete on standard road tyres, front and rear, and states this on their entry form may run with concessions, which will be shown in the Final Instructions.
b) Machines in Classes A, B, C, D and E must conform to category as defined in the ACU National Sporting Code latest issue.
c) Classes A to F, are hereinafter referred to as the motorcycle classes.
d) All the above motorcycle classes must use tyres as defined in these SSR’s. See Section 4, Permitted Tyres.
e) All competitors in the motorcycle classes, including passengers, are required to hold an ACU Trials Registration Card.
Car classes
CLASS 1 – Front engine, front wheel drive production cars, including those fitted with torque biasing or limited slip differentials
CLASS 2 – Production cars originally manufactured prior to 1941 and the MG TC; Morgan 4-4 Series 1; HRG 1100 and 1500; Dellow Mks 1 to 3; Allard (all sidevalve models); Buckler Mks 5 and 6, and Type 53; Ford models (upright models to 1959) - EO4A; E494A, E4930A/B; E93A; E493A and 103E. Cars holding a current VSCC Buff Form. Vehicles built from pre-1941 components individually approved by the Club’s car regulations subcommittee.
CLASS 3 – Front engine, rear wheel drive production saloons not fitted with torque biasing or limited slip differentials (or any device that is designed to achieve the same result).
CLASS 4 – Rear engine, rear wheel drive production saloons up to and including 1300 cc (except vehicles in Class 7).
CLASS 5
b) Approved vehicles built mainly from pre-1941 components.
c) Vehicles listed for Class 2, but running on radial tyres.
CLASS 6
b) Front engine production cars fitted with torque biasing or limited slip differentials (or any device that is designed to achieve the same result) as original equipment.
CLASS 7
b) Rear engine production cars fitted with torque biasing differentials as original equipment.
c) Front engine cars manufactured on a limited basis, conforming to accepted specification.
Burlington Arrow, Rickman Ranger, Dutton Melos, Phaeton, Sierra R.L.T. Husky, Fergus Mosquito, Siva Edwardian Ranger, Jago Jeep, Spartan Roadster Mks 1 to 6, J C Midge, Teal 35, Liege R & S, Tempest 850, Marlin Roadster T, M and TM versions, Vincent Brooklands and Vincent MPH, NG TA and NG TF YKC Roadster, conforming to Marlin specification Racecorp LA.
A Class 7 kit car must complete a declaration form stating the specification of the car and the completed form must be carried by the competitor, or uploaded into the MCC online entry system. The requirement for a declaration form is a regulation of the Association of Classic Trials Club (ACTC). Copies of the agreed specification for each car listed in Class 7 are obtainable from the ACTC. Variations to these specifications may only be made in compliance with the Motorsport UK Technical Regulations T10 to T10.14.5. The list will be kept under review and other cars may be added after a submission by the manufacturer, owners club or any owner to Motorsport UK.
CLASS 8
b) Rear engine cars (except vehicles in Classes 4, 6, and 7a and b)
c) Front engine cars manufactured on a limited basis (except those in Class 7c)
CLASS 90 - Suzuki X-90 vehicles, running with the original engine block. Vehicles in the class must comply with regulations for Class 5.
Additional information for car classes
A production car, which includes production saloons and production sports cars, is any car that is or has been on sale in a catalogue as a completed, road going vehicle, and is or was available through normal retail dealer outlets. A production car, or variants or copies thereof must not at any time have been available as a kit car. The MCC reserves the right to reclassify any make or model of car, although meeting the above criteria, into a non-production or modified class. Four-wheel drive vehicles are not permitted. Any two-wheel drive vehicle from a range that includes a fourwheel drive variant on UK general catalogue sale may compete provided either (a) the vehicle construction is of purely monocoque design, i.e. there is no chassis or (b) the vehicle has a wheelbase of less than 2225 mm.
Mixed classes
Class O
a) Any vehicle is eligible (subject to acceptance by the Clerk of the Course and complies with item d below).b) Run on a modified course of a less damaging nature.
c) Vehicles and entrants must comply with the SSR. d) For practical reasons, the number of entries in this class may be limited.
Classic Road Trial (Class R)
a) A test of hill climbing ability, navigation, and timing.b) Run on a route with non-damaging surfaces, the majority on sealed surfaces.
c) Open to any road legal motorcycle or two-wheel drive motor car, subject to the Clerk of the Course’s decision on eligibility/desirability of any vehicle.
d) Fitted with road legal tyres. Tyres to be E marked and not marked for competition use only.
e) Competitors will not be eligible for any Premier or Annual award.
f) Motorcycles to comply with ACU regulations.
g) Cars to comply with Motorsport UK regulations.
h) With the exceptions of the above, vehicles and entrants must comply with the SSR. 3.4
Navigation The club uses a written roadbook method of navigation which usually necessitates a passenger (car drivers) or a roadbook holder (motorcyclists). GPS is welcome as an aide-memoire, but given that our routes vary from year-to-year (and power supplies can fail) this should not be relied upon as a primary method of navigation.
A typical instruction might read: In 0.3 miles at X L DP Sutcombe. In 1.1 miles L at X DP Holsworthy (QQ). Which translated, is understood to instruct: In 0.3 miles at the cross-roads, turn left onto the road where a direction post reads ‘Sutcombe’. At the cross-roads in a further 1.1 miles, turn left onto the road where a direction post reads ‘Holsworthy’, and proceed very quietly. Small (c.5-inch), square direction signs are used at some junctions in rural locations to assist with navigation. These will usually read ‘L’, R’, ‘SO’ or ‘QQ’ as required. Roadbooks are printed in A4 size and are made available to competitors up to two weeks before. They also contain important information concerning restarts, observed tests and essential final instructions required to keep competitors safe and organised.
