THE SOMERSET SCATTER

This event is set up to be an enjoyable motor experience. It will be as competitive or as laid back as you choose to make it. This could be your first ever motor sport event or you are at the top of your tree. The format is such that it will not disappoint and accommodates all.

The event is run upon one of the longest days of daylight in the year. The first half takes you over Exmoor, with fantastic views and traffic free roads. The daytime event will take competitors to places they did not know existed, with views only seen upon a calendar. If you wish to challenge yourself and your machine, come along. If you want to remember something that you have done, years later, this is it. Those that have previously taken part acknowledge that currently, there is no other event of this standard (see reviews below).

Current members of The Motor Cycling Club. Current members of the TRF who hold an ACU licence have been allocated invitations for 25 night time and 60 day time entries. In addition, invitations have also been sent to some of our local supportive motor clubs.

It is open to motorbikes, combinations and cars of any age. None of the following vehicles are permitted: any 4×4 type vehicles or one that looks like one, quads or commercial vehicles. Somerset lanes are narrow, and a large vehicle is unsuitable.

The event is in two halves and you may enter either or both, this being the full event. The first half starts at midnight and finishes for breakfast at 7am. The second daytime half, starts at 9am and finishes at 4pm.

All of the event is upon public metalled roads. The object of the event is to accumulate as many points as possible by visiting various locations scattered over the county of Somerset within a set time frame. It is not a treasure hunt. The “Controls” that competitors may choose to visit have landmark features which have to be noted down, as proof of having been visited. It is up to every competitor to decide upon the number of locations they will visit and the route to be taken. Locations have different points values so part of the skill is planning your event prior to the day. Ten days before the day of the event each competitor will receive a list of the location of the controls to be visited. This will be presented in the form of O.S. six figure map references. Prior to the event and during the event you may use any form of computer plotting aid and navigation aid you like.

Each competitor`s performance is calculated and there are Premier Awards and individual performance Certificates issued to each competitor.

Your vehicle must be road legal. Cars however require a Motor Sports Association specified fire extinguisher and a spill kit. Fast road type tyres are not recommended upon motor bikes.

This is not a speed event or a race. At all times the Highway code rules and all mandatory speed limits MUST be adhered to. Any vehicle with a loud exhaust will not be allowed to take part.

The event stops at a country pub for an all you can eat big breakfast and returns for an evening meal – should you wish to. Time is allocated for lunch at your chosen location. You get to talk to like-minded people and chill out.

This is what some of our past competitors had to say...

Mike Boggis did the day section only: “We took part in the daytime part of the Scatter and, despite finishing well down the list, we weren’t bothered because it was an absolute delight! Our congratulations and thanks to all the team, and particularly to Jonathan Laver for pioneering a fresh concept and for taking us to parts of beautiful Somerset which looked fantastic. The important point of this for me is that it is a non vehicle breaking event and, as I don’t like bashing up motors on rocks, it was one I was happy to enter. In case purists think this was a dawdle in the country – think again!”

Bill Rosten should know, he runs the Lands End! “I think it was brilliant success. Jonathan and Ann have put in a lot of work to make an event that is easy to run and great fun for the competitors. It is as challenging as you want to make it, with 2 sets of co-ordinates to visit in approximately 7 hours each. In some ways, it sets a task that is as hard as the trials. We covered around 300 miles in the competition in the Dellow with not far short of that getting to and fro. It’s ideal for cars like mine that are no longer competitive in the sections, but still fun to drive. Like all MCC events, there were plenty of opportunities to have a pleasant chat to other competitors. The officials were friendly as always. This is a worthy addition to the 3 main trials.”

Paul Khambatta sums it up: “What a brilliant event the Scatter Rally turned out to be. The night run was like one of my favourite parts of a classic trial, chasing your headlight across Exmoor and negotiating narrow lanes with a host of stones, mud and grass on them, but this time on a road bike with more ‘umph’ in it than my usual trial bike. Ecstasy. The day run was just as enjoyable with some roads on the Somerset levels being close to a section when taken at speed. In my opinion, the Scatter Rally was superior to the annual ACU National Road Rally (NRR) that I have competed in for many years. For comparison, the two stages of the Scatter Rally required up to 60 locations to be visited in about 300 miles over 14 hours; whereas the NRR only requires 24 check points to be visited in about 500 miles, but 20 hours. The Scatter Rally required a much higher level of navigational skill, concentration and physical demands. As to an advantage for any particular class of vehicle, I think it was a bit of swings and roundabouts. A quick bike could cover the distance faster, but a car had the advantage of a navigator who could call out directions and write answers on the move. Mark me down for next year.”