OWLS MOTOR CLUB
About us
The OWLS Motor Club was founded in 1926 as the Oxted, Westerham & Limpsfield Motorcycle & Light Car Club and later incorporated Sevenoaks. Hence the OWLS Motor Club was formed. It was later made into a limited company for the security of Committee members.
Prior to the war it was a very active motorcycle grass track club and was part of the Grass Track Combine at Brands Hatch before it became a road racing circuit. This continued until the 1980's when more members became interested in competition trials riding and this became the main sporting activity in recent years for both adults and children.
However, we have members involved in road racing, trail riding, long distance trials and classic motorcycles.
Our club is based in Kent and we run regular club competition trials for adults and children from six years of age (see information on trials riding below). Monthly trial results are reached from the News link on this page and are updated regularly.
Apart from trials we also hold occasional road runs, trail rides and an annual Fun Day for all the family. Some members even indulge in continental touring.
There is an active social calendar with various monthly meetings at the Ightham Club in Ightham village where we have Quiz nights, Darts, Cribbage, Treasure Hunts or Fish & Chip evenings. We also hold events at other venues such as Steak & Kidney nights, Curry nights, Boules and our Christmas Dinner in December.
See our Calendar page and News page for details and venues.
See our Officers and Committee members on our OWLS Contact page
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One of our long standing members
the late Ray Denyer
Trials riding
As a rule motorcycling has a name for being fast and noisy but competitive motorcycle trials are neither. There is no speed involved and the machines are very quiet compared to motocross or racing. The bikes are very low geared and it is the skill and balance of the rider which plays the greatest part.
We are one of several clubs around the country associated to the Autocycle Union (ACU) and Amateur Motorcycle Association (AMCA) catering for riders from the age of six up to about seventy years of age or more and of all abilities from novice to expert. Competitions are run on private land and there are usually about fifteen 'sections' marked out in woods, through streams, over logs, up banks and rocks etc. The riders attempt to ride through these, between markers, from the 'Section Begins' to the 'Section Ends' cards without putting a foot down or stopping. There is an' observer' on each section who give penalty points for this and the rider with the least marks in his ability class at the end of the trial is the winner of that class. There are various routes in the section marked by different colours ranging from very easy to expert.
Clubs such as ours usually have several friendly landowners who let them use their land once or twice a year. However, we are always on the lookout for more land so if anyone out there has a piece of rough ground we can use please contact us. Please do not ride on any public ground, see our Trials Training page for information on Training and Practice. We are also one of a group of clubs in North Kent who take it in turns in running Beginners & Wobblers’ trials
If you require advice on the type and size of motorcycle most suitable to you there are some specialist trials motorcycle shops around who would advise you on this and the type of clothing you require. The essentials are boots which cover the ankle with commando style soles, an open face helmet and gloves.
Youth rules and classes
Youth Classes will be as per current ACU handbook
See ACU trials regulations here for more information and engine capacities and wheel sizes for youth riders
NOTE: Class D Youths must ride the yellow route in Club Trials until they attain the age of 8 years unless the Parent/Guardian requests otherwise and this request has been approved by the club committee.
(Youths of 8 years and above can, of course, continue to ride the Yellow Route if they so wish).
Electric bikes can be ridden from 4 years of age
SUPERVISION: A Parent/Guardian must countersign the Signing-on Sheet when a Youth signs on at the start. For all Youth Classes a Parent/Guardian must remain on site during the trial, generally supervising the Youth(s) for whom they are responsible.
Class D Youths must be supervised at all times whilst riding, by a Parent/Guardian or another adult authorised to do so by the Parent/Guardian.
Please view the ACU website