Phil Smith at Rendlesham 2010

The Eastern Fourstroke Association (ACU affiliated) & it’s sister club the Anglian Classic Trials Club (AMCA affiliated) are probably the foremost Pre’65 & Classic trials clubs in East Anglia.

Our members, old and young alike, have an enthusiasm for classic trials bikes and the type of trial that used to be held in the 1950's & 1960's in the spirit of fair competition, the enjoyment of taking part and the achievement of finishing. Our principal objective is to cater for people interested in Pre 1970 motorcycle trials albeit our club trials are also open to later twin-shock machines as well.

Our main event, held in November, is the Thumpers National Trial for Pre’65 solo and sidecar motorcycles which is also part of the ACU Eastern Centre Pre’70 (C) Championship.

We also organise, throughout the year, several other ACU regional restricted, closed to club and AMCA ‘open’ trials held at a number of venues throughout north Essex and south Suffolk under the umbrella of the ACU and AMCA. The main trials of these being the Roger Birch Trophy trial and the Bromley Brook Charity trial.

Clive Dopson at the 2010 Thumpers Trial

The club has its own magazine called Trials & Tribulations which is published on a monthly basis in time for club night held on the first Tuesday of the month at The Alma pub in Copford near Marks Tey, Colchester, Essex. You can also find on the Trials & Tribulations page some 100+ past copies of the magazine, back to 2002, which were produced and edited by the previous editor, Jim Woodmason, who retired from the editors post on his 200th edition in December 2010.

Sgt. Harold Cook, Greeves Anglian, 1968/69

The 'Keeping Tracks' contains dates for many near and far trials which may be of interest and suitable for the older motorcycle.

Keeping Track

Club trial locations can be found on the Maps sub page.