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I have just sent the finalised dates to the office at Rugby and they should be on the ACU site very soon. It has taken until now to get the last few dates sorted out due to clashes, land availability and requests to change. Whilst we do not anticipate any further changes, they certainly can't be ruled out. We like to get everything finalised before the dates are published but it has been very difficult this year due to late applications, late announcements of the FIM dates and staff changes at Rugby at a most crucial time for the Trials and Enduro committee. There is a committee meeting very soon and once the dates have been agreed by the committee I hope to put them on this website.

The ACU committee does listen to comments made by riders with regard to all the championship events the ACU promotes and in the case of the Normandale series, quite a few riders over 50 found that the 50/50 mix for their class, where they had to ride some hard sections and some of the easier sections, proved to be too difficult for many of them. It needs to be borne in mind that there can be a big difference between the abilities of a rider aged just over 50 and one about to turn 60. As a member of the older category, believe me that whilst the mind may well consider that you still have the ability to tackle a particularly hard section, the body frequently finds things differently. Of course, there is no compulsion for a rider over 50 (or 60) to ride in that class. They can ride in the Over 40 class if they so wish, as can a rider over 60 take part in the over 50 category. But the main point is that the committee wanted to ensure that entries remained strong in all three classes and to make the series even more attractive, there is the new for 2017 Air cooled monoshock class, on the easier route, for riders of any age.

For those interested, a good friend from the club who investigated on my behalf a couple of days ago, found that the 12 pin connector under the tank, which, when assembled from new, one main pin had not successfully mated with the female pin and had pushed the feed wire back out of the plastic fitting a short way, and was showing signs of arcing. Once reassembled correctly all the power was back and the lights now work as intended. So many thanks to David.

I have a 2014 Beta Alp 200 and for some reason the dipped headlamp beam does not illuminate nor does the main beam. The sidelight bulb illuminates and the main beam illuminates with the main beam flasher but I cannot understand why the dipped and main beam will not illuminate when the engine is running. It's a new problem that showed up for no apparent reason as it was fine before. I have tried new bulbs, I have dismantled the left side switchgear and re-assembled, but still no light. Is there a fuse that could have blown. Getting desperate now as the bike is due an MOT soon and no lights will fail it.

Try stripping and cleaning the carburettor first, but a nightmare to get at. Bet the Arab kids haven't attacked it.

Don't you know that a flask keeps hot things hot and cold things cold, so tomorrow I shall be taking hot tomato soup and an ice lolly in mine to the trial.

The full list which includes numerous changes is expected to be released about the end of this week, it's being held back as we, the ACU, still do not have the full, confirmed FIM world championship dates.

Good company Wulfsport, owned and managed by Bill Brown, a genuine motorcycle sport enthusiast, good rider and nice guy.

I have already sent my letter by e-mail and had an acknowledgement.

Wheel bearings from a trials dealer under the Apico brand will be quite sufficient - fairly cheap probably less than a tenner the pair, knock old ones out, clean up spacer, pick off seal, pack new ones with clean grease replace seal and tap in. Easy job and will last for a couple of years hard use.

Clubs nationally really need to get their act together to publicise events. TMX is no longer the answer because few trials riders that I know now buy it. That's not a criticism, it's a fact. Likewise, the use of social media, Facebook etc whilst great for some is not suitable for all. The older generation will not use it for its well publicised negative effect, whilst Trials Central, which is tightly moderated should well be the perfect answer for all clubs to publicise their events. And people who expect the ACU to be their publicity vehicle are living in a dream world. The ACU is the GOVERNING body of ALL motor cycle sport, NOT a publicity body. They ACU issue permits, provide the insurance, make the rules and regulations just like all other sport's governing bodies. You don't look on the Football Association's website to find out if South Shields Rangers are playing Northallerton United on Saturday, you would look at the club websites to find those details. Get my point. TC is the best vehicle we have for publicity followed by individual club websites, some of which are brilliant and some are useless.

The bonus with a Beta is that spares, sensibly priced, are readily available from John Lampkin the Beta importer, whereas quite a lot of spares for the Montesa 315 are now difficult to obtain. Of course the bulk of the spares you are likely to need are available by most dealers from after market suppliers.

There is now only one type of licence, which is now called a Trials Registration Card. You join a club, they issue you with a Unique Number which registers you to that club, and you then apply on-line to acu.org.uk and the licence department will issue you with the card which enables you to ride in any ACU event.

The programme doesn't go to press until October so there's no chance of knowing the entry much before the second week of October at the earliest.

Sorry to learn of his passing (I presume as that has not been said directly); as Sunt has said, he was a great character, very disabled, but that didn't stop him getting around as best he could in his car. I always stopped for a chat, particularly in the Cleveland where he was always at the same parking area next to a bridge. Condolences to those close to Peter.

Lanyards are only required in UK trials for youths and sidecar drivers - at least for 2016 - can't say for 2017 onwards.

All machines are weighed at the pre-trial inspection and having been at an inspection, I can categorically state that the Montesas are not the lightest of the bikes tested. But more to the point, ALL sports have rules and regulations, and whether you agree with some of them is never the point. The point is that when you sign up to take part, then you also agree to follow the rules. Those who only want the rules that suit themselves are looking for an obvious personal advantage and typical of the attitude of so many people in today's society. Sure, I feel sorry for those who find they have been disqualified for breaking rules, almost certainly because they were unaware of the situation, but that doesn't make it a bad rule or one that should be broken. The reason that there is a minimum weight is precisely to stop the wealthier organisations developing machines and materials at vast cost that would not be available to other less wealthy companies. It's called a level playing field folks!!

Yes, I can relate a tale. When I was with Trials and Motocross News, I went to the last ISDE held in Britain, based at Builth Wells. For my accommodation that week I rented a caravan near Crossgates. I enjoyed a passing acquaintance with Eric, then the Rock Oil rep who were good enough to sponsor me with lubricants during my sidecar championship chasing years, and also Jack Mathews, who taught me how to ride a sidecar in trials. Eric and Jack were great pals, and for some reason, known probably only to them, they decided to spend a very long afternoon and evening, before the ISDE started, chatting about old times whilst enjoying regular brews in the caravan I had rented. There was obviously a significant age difference and to be honest, I was totally lost during most of the conversation, but after several hours, they upped and left with a "thanks for the brew Rappers" leaving me bewildered as to why two "old" gents should have chosen to spend a significant amount of time in a chiilly caravan prior to the Six Days with me, barely half their age and with absolutely no connection to the times they were chatting about. But it has left me with an abiding memory of two grand characters, now much missed by the off road scene.

Such a machine is ridden regularly in Lancs County trials by either Ben Hanson or his dad Peter.

Fantastic, makes you proud to be British.

What you need to understand is that every time you start it the first stroke of the lever primes the electrics/fuel and the second stroke starts the engine. Everything is done gently, just stroke it through.

Your road race licence covers you for trials.

Riding trials teaches throttle control and good throttle control will enable you to race faster. In addition many top racers from all disciplines ride trials in the winter to stay bike fit. Ian Hutchinson, 11 times a TT winner and the only man ever to win five TT races in a week was out at the Yeadon Guiseley trial on the Monday after Christmas. Learn from the best.

The fuel tap on my 2015 Evo became so stiff it wouldn't turn. Having removed the carb, I removed the fuel tap, stripped it, greased sparingly the rubber washer, reassembled the tap (now turns smoothly) and refitted the tap to the bike. However, there is now a leak of fuel which appears to be coming via the male boss on the frame and the tap nut which tightens on to it. I removed it again, put some PTFE tape round the boss and reattached the tap, but there is still a leak. The nut on the tap is a double thread, right hand onto the frame with the tap itself featuring a left hand thread. Suggestions please as to how I can get it to seal. There seems to be a point where the nut has to be at a certain position on the tap to allow it to tighten fully. I've spent all afternoon on it and am no further forward. Thanks

I am!!