What have you done today with your Austin Seven

[Roger Goldthorpe]

Thanks Simon
I don’t enjoy mechanical torture of anything, and many of the cars seemed far too precious for such antics. I would have thought dabbing the clutch would be more effective than blue smoke.
Questions for all.
What tread pattern is allowed at the start? Are split handbrakes etc allowed?
What powers the Seven saloon? Many Sevens would struggle on that grade dry! Any theories for its success other than weight distribution and narrow tyres? Is the diff locked? The reaction of the children is priceless. Austin could have sold tens of thousands of cars new with that sequence.
When riding in Sevens easy to get the impression the springs do not do much. Trials pics certainly dispel that notion.

 
Yes Simon that’s Alan Bee at about 15:40
 
The ACTC have a list of approved tyres and in addition
‘any “Summer” tyre with a max tread gap not exceeding 8mm may be used.
Purely circumferential gaps can be ignored. A tyre will be deemed to have a block gap not exceeding 8mm if when fitted to a rim and inflated to 25psi a 8mm round bar will stick in the gap when horizontal.’
 
Split hand brake in classic trials not allowed.
 
The trials lads and lasses I am sure will comment on tweeks.
 
Diff lock not allowed.
 
 
 

[Chris KC]

He certainly weed all over the competition!

[Bob Culver]

I have watched the Seven section several times. I cannot recall when I last viewed anything so cheering. A marvellous tonic. The children really catch the spirit. I trust the clip has had wide circulation. Far more exciting than F1.The driver hunched over the wheel as though urging it on adds to the effect. As far as I can see there is one passenger, but seated where exactly? With cars being campaigned like that it is little wonder they are so sought after in the UK. That quick steering has its uses.

[Duncan Grimmond]

What a way to spend a day! I'm seriously impressed by Alan Bee. When I started playing Austin7s a fellow Pembleton builder said I had to come and meet his brother-in-law who was a 7 specialist. I went and had the pleasure of meeting Alan and seeing his workshop and collection of cars. He was helpful and I was pleased to find someone so enthusiastic.

Pardon my igorrancy, what is a Liege?

[JonE]

Fab! Thought that lady was going to knock herself unconscious bouncing under a rollbar!
ok... so (after also watching Sevens at Cold Turkey), was wondering what the theory of it all is. Would Alan Bee do EVEN better if that Austin 7 had less weight, or are cars loaded up with tyres for a reason? Do they store iron weights for instance?
Most of the successful ones seem to carry momentum all the way up the hill with a lot of revs, whereas only a few are low revving and finding grip.
What would the perfect spec be for an austin 7 trialler?

---

https://youtu.be/7EgGzjH6u-o?t=531 2019 seems to be a Seven in too!

[Chris KC]

I know b all about trialling but I would guess more weight on the drive axle is more grip between tyre and 'road'.

Seems to me you want the minimum possible drive torque that will get you up - once your wheels are spinning it doesn't seem to get better. Thus revving in first may not be the best.

Mere speculation - would be delighted if someone who knows what they are talking about would correct me!

[Alan]

All sorts of different things work, that’s the skill in trialling. Sometimes you do need minimum drive torque, sometimes you need to build up momentum on a grippy bit to carry you through the next bit, and sometimes under the mud there’s a hard surface, if you can get to it. Narrow tyres and wheel spin help here.

[Ruairidh Dunford]

Alan Bee is my new Austin Seven hero - very clever driving, superb.

[JonE]

was he the same chap who was in the nice dark green Chummy at Tulleys after Xmas? I see from pics online he is also linked to that car by some photographers.

[Austin Carr]

Pardon my igorrancy, what is a Liege?

Serious design work started in the late 80's and a prototype took shape in the mid 90's built round the drive train of the small Reliants (Robin and Kitten) using the 850cc, OHV, aluminium wet liner engine and the aluminium gearbox, retaining the traditional rear wheel drive layout. He designed a new A-frame chassis with a live rear axle and swing arm front suspension, which was clothed in a curvaceous fibre glass body tub with cycle wings. The swing arm front suspension was changed to a double wishbone set up before production and early cars used a modified Reliant back axle. The latter did not prove satisfactory, so most cars now run with a modified Bedford/Suzuki axle.

More information and photos here:-

https://www.liegecars.co.uk/