The B.T.D.A. Trials Championship "Star"

Few people seem able to recall the conditions governing the “Trials Star” which the British Trials Drivers’ Association would have awarded at the close of the 1939 season if the war had not intervened. Consequently, we asked J. A. Masters, Secretary of the Association, how this Star was to have been awarded and whether it will be awarded for this season. Mr. Masters has replied that the B.T.D.A. anticipates that the Star will be revived for this season’s trials, and that a list, of those events for which points will be awarded will soon be issued.

The marking system was tested out by reference to certain 1938 and 1939 trials and was to have been introduced with the 1939 Land’s End trial, and to have terminated at the end of that year. It is based on the principle of giving most marks to events with the biggest entries, and to give drivers competing in a few events a chance against many-event entrants, while checking “pot-hunting” for points. To this end, contenders for the Trials Championship may claim on their performances in any ten trials in a list of approved events. The season is to be January 1st to December 31st, and it is to be hoped that the B.T.D.A. will, by now, have issued its list of approved 1947 trials, and that this will include some classic events aleady held.

Marking is as follows: Where the regulations provide an award for best performance irrespective of class and determined by order of merit, one mark is counted for every starter, less one mark for each competitor placed above the claimant in order of merit. Where 1st and 2nd class awards are given irrespective of class and no order of merit is published, 1st class award-winning claimants take marks equalling the percentage of starters not gaining 1st class awards, divided by two. Second class award winners take marks equalling percentage of starters not taking 2nd or 1st class awards, divided by two, and likewise for 3rd class award-winning claimants. Trials which cannot be marked thus will either be marked specially or struck off the B.T.D.A. list of approved events. Bonus marks will not be given for Trophy or Team Award winners. etc., but marks can be doubled for the Experts’ Trial.

Claimants must be members of the B.T.D.A. and should submit claims based on their ten best performances to the secretary at the close of the season. It was the intention of the association to maintain interest by issuing a provisional analysis periodically and we hope this will be instituted throughout this season. Membership applications to the B.T.D.A. should be sent to J. A. Masters, 26 ,
Bloomsbury Way, W.C.1.