Yesterday, Sunday, a number of us took part in the Beamish Reliability Trial, a 143 mile run across some of the steepest and most difficult terrain that County Durham and North Yorkshire has to offer. Around 150 vintage vehicles, mostly cars and motorcycles, took part, leaving Beamish at staged times and completing a large figure of eight taking us as far south as Hawes before heading north back to Beamish for an afternoon/teatime finish. This was my first run, driving the 1933 Morris Commercial with director Richard Evans. Ian Bean and Jim Pattison took the 1927 AJS motorcycle over the route. Brian Williams and Andy Martin provided support with the Museum transit van – a prudent step in light of what was to come, and also to provide a seat for the resting motorcycle rider. At the lunchtime stop Anthony Gales and Phil Telford from the Attendants team had taken the Ford T van and some Beamish promotional material to meet the arrivals.

Below: Andy had fixed a camera to the AJS and is hoping to produce some time lapse material of part of the trip – here is the brilliant view of the AJS following the Morris.

Below: Departing the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, one of the check points.

Below: A few views taken out in the wilds after the lunch break.

Below:A terrific view at Tan Hill. Here we had paused as a worrying wheel wobble had developed. Brian, fully equipped for such a situation, had the Morris lifted, wheel off, wheel bearing identified and all back together for us to be back on the road within ten minutes, the situation much improved. The Morris climbs hills superbly, though the brakes are of the period and reliance has to be placed on the gears when descending – it took the trip in its stride however!

Below: The team, back at Beamish – left to right: Andy, me, Richard, Brian, Ian and Jim plus the Morris Commercial and AJS.

Below: And this is what we look like in ‘formal’ black and white! All very well pleased that we had completed the trials and both vehicles had made it 78 years old and 84 years old respectively!