Summer Trial 2011

A fantastic turnout for the IV HERO Summer Trial & Tour

The route survey for the Summer Trial has now been completed and the route passes through some of the best scenery the South of England can offer.

Scrutineering and documentation will be carried out at the Yacht Haven in Cowes on the Wednesday, in the heart of the Panerai regatta village, to be followed by a welcome dinner at the exclusive Royal Yacht Squadron.

The ceremonial start will take place at the haven and will be followed by a driving test in front of the main regatta marquee. Regularities and road sections will bring the crews back to Cowes for further tests and lunch at the regatta village. Day one will conclude at Osborne House prior to the ferry crossing to Lymington.

The first night on the mainland will be located at the Careys Manor Hotel and Spa in the heart of the New Forest. The hotel offers three different restaurants to cater for all tastes – fine dining, a French Bistro & Bar and Thai.

The event will restart on the Friday morning from the Beaulieu Motor Museum, with driving tests on the main arena and time for a quick look around the museum. HERO is grateful to Lord Montague and his staff for permission to be the first organisation to be allowed to carry out a timed section inside the grounds of Beaulieu.

Friday and Saturday evenings will be spent at the Goodwood Hotel.Friday and Saturday will include the usual regularities plus tests at Thruxton and Goodwood before the awards presentation on Saturday Evening at a dinner to be held in the grounds of The Spread Eagle Hotel & Spa, a Jacobean building in Midhurst.

The fourth HERO Summer Trial will take place between July 21st and 23rd.

 In 2008, the Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation promoted the inaugural Summer Classic Reliability Trial and Tour, an event intended to appeal to crews new to classic events, or to people who had limited free time – whilst still maintaining a strong enough competitive element to ensure the Summer Trial had plenty to offer experienced crews. The concept was a clear success and each year the event has attracted people new to the sport.

Having been based in Worcestershire for three years, the format and location of the event will change in 2011 as HERO takes advantage of the invitation to attend the Panerai British Classic Week, taking place in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Panerai are sponsors of the foremost series of classic yacht regattas in the world and HERO are privileged to be the first classic car event promoter to be invited to be involved with one of their regattas.

Open to cars built before 1984, the 2011 HERO Summer Classic Reliability Trial and Tour will spend day one on the Isle of Wight before crossing to the mainland to complete days two and three in the South of England. As in previous years the route will include regularity sections and driving tests without any navigational trickery or night-time driving.

A qualifying round of the HERO Cup, the 2011 Summer Classic Reliability Trial and Tour will follow the popular and successful format of other HERO events with crews competing for gold, silver and bronze medals as well as for individual class and team awards. Finishers’ medals will also be awarded to all those crews that complete either Trial or Tour.

The fee includes entry for a crew of two, four-nights' shared accommodation (single rooms are available on payment of a supplement), welcome and prize-giving dinners, lunch on the three days of the event, detailed Jogularity style 'Tulip' roadbook for Trial entrants, rally and door plates, event souvenirs, finishers’ and other awards. As with all HERO events, mechanical assistance and support will be provided by the HERO Assist on-event mechanics.

Open to cars made before 1st January 1984, vehicles entered in the Reliability Trial will be classed according to age, engine size and body type. Later vehicles of special interest or rarity may be accepted on the Tour. The Classic Tour is intended for those who want a more leisurely drive whilst still experiencing the pleasures of classic motoring.

Entrants on the Tour are provided with a Road / Mapbook giving details of the suggested route. This will show the locations of the main controls, and Tourers may check in at any time the control is open. Start, finish and lunch halts will be the same for Trial and Tour in order for crews on both events to be able to stay in contact with each other. The Tour is not a competition and you are free to deviate from the suggested route to visit places of  specific interest to you. Entrants on the Tour are eligible for Concours, and Spirit of the Rally awards, as well as finishers’ medals.

Scrutineering and documentation will take place on Wednesday 20th July on the Isle of Wight at the Cowes Yacht Haven established for the regatta, where owners of classic yachts and cars can rub shoulders and share their mutual love of all things classic. That evening everyone will gather for the welcome black-tie dinner at the exclusive Royal Yacht Squadron before the competition starts in earnest the following morning, Thursday 21st July, with a driving test at the Haven Village. Three days of classic motoring will conclude on Saturday 23rd July with a black-tie presentation awards dinner in the Goodwood area. No formal dining arrangements will be made for the evenings of 21st and 22nd July as we know that crews enjoy the freedom to explore local restaurants, or to dine quietly in the hotel.

Entry fee

Entry now closed

The entry fee is £2,317.  Premier Members get a 10% discount on the entry fee.

PLEASE CALL US ON 01656 740275 OR E MAIL US TO CHECK WE STILL HAVE SPACE BEFORE YOU SEND YOUR ENTRY IN. Due to the availability of

hotel accomodation in the area of the start and finish we are limited to the number of cars we can run.

HERO can even help if you don’t have a suitable car, through the HERO Arrive and Drive scheme.

See the latest entries received

Click here for full details.

HERO Premier Members are entitled to 10% off the standard entry fee. A Saving of £232.