Anthony Ayrton’s 2RT Montesa. Photo: Barry Robinson
We have a breeding programme around Barnoldswick (Barlick to the locals in Lancashire).
Montesa 315’s are being caught and put into quarantine. Those are refurbished but some, Anthony Ayrton’s 4RT, had a blown engine so costly to ‘fettle’ that they are cannibalised. The 4RT frame requires some modifications to slot in a 315 engine, radiator etc. The 4RT air-box is utilised. The 315 forks fit. The end product is a responsive good handling trialler that will not wear out. As it is breeding season in the Pennine regions any lurking Montesa 315s are being trapped by the Yorkies crossing the border without a permit. At least twenty such machines are nesting in the hills above Barlick. It’s that old Yorkshire/Lancashire rivalry again!
Nathan Wrigglesworth and Anthony Ayrton. Photo: Barry Robinson
Saturday 3rd January saw Moto Trial NI host the 3rd round of our winter series at John White’s Farm in Newtownards. An absolutely fabulous day it turned out to be, there were 158 competitors who turned up and the weather was as good as you can expect in winter with bright sunshine all day!
Of the 158 riders there were 45 youth competitors which was very heartening as it shows trials are starting to generate new competitors into the sport. There was also a very healthy amount of older bikes from air cooled monos, through 70/80s twinshocks right back to a beautiful Matchless, and at the other end lots of new bikes and the ultra modern electric bikes for the kids!!!
Davy Mulholland
In the A grade there was a bigger than usual entry of 34 riders! And there were quite a few in with a shout of the win!
At the halfway point a slack two mark penalty dropped Ken Perry down to second only one mark behind former GP MX star, Newtownards’ own Gordon Crockard!! Four riders finished the first card within three marks of Crockstar, so the battle and pressure was clearly on for the final two laps!
Crockard held his nerve though to post a faultless second card to finish the trial on only one mark lost!! This give him the win over Ken Perry by one mark who beat Sam Hampshire by a further one mark! In fact both Ken and Sam matched Crockstars clear second card, so it was a real nail biting finish!! Phillip Morrison was next a further point back while Gareth Mackey was fifth on five marks lost.
In the grade A aircooled group Aaron Smyth ran out winner, while in the grade A twinshock group Kyle Turner ran out a clear winner from Stuart Hanlon.
Paul Harvey
Onto Grade B, and again there was a healthy entry of 35 riders.
At the halfway stage there was a three way tie for the lead, Paul Harvey, Ray Adamson and Alan Young all on three marks lost!! Again the pressure was on for the final two laps and Paul showed the experience gained over many years to post a faultless card for the final two laps to give him the win on three marks lost! Ray was second three marks further back, Alan took third one mark away from Ray with Johnny Russell forth on eleven, one better than John Tweedie in fifth!
In the twinshock group Geoff Hillis came home in first place and in the Pre 65 group Chris Hampshire made the trip from over the border worthwhile by winning on his BSA Bantam!
The largest grade of the day was Grade C with 45 competitors, three riders posted faultless first cards with numerous riders within reach of them a few marks further back!! Davy Mulholland held his nerve and returned a faultless second card to end the four laps of ten sections without any marks lost all day!! A fantastic ride!! Next home was Ray Harper on one mark, Ray Mason was third on two marks one ahead of Eric Davidson in forth with Tom Conlon fifth on five marks lost!
In the twinshock grade David McGaughey was the winner on his Ossa!
Onto the youth grades and in youth A Josh Hanlon fought off all the others to take the win. At the halfway mark he only had a narrow lead from Alexander Lennox but Josh held his nerve to post a faultless second card to extend his lead and take the win on four marks. Alexander had to ride well to hold off Ross Pyper for second, while Ross in turn just held off George Taylor by one mark for third! Jack Waring took fifth place.
In youth B Robbie Dugan showed how well he has progressed recently by taking the win on five marks lost from Campbell Baillie who posted a score of ten, next was Jordan Nixon on twenty, with Matthew White a further three marks further back in forth. Callum McAllister was fifth home on thirty six marks.
Grade C youth is separated in two, one group riding the adult course and one on a smaller course.
On the big course Ryan Thompson and Peter Molloy tied on ten marks lost, but Ryan took the win having gone further than Peter before losing any marks! Next was Morgan Steele on nineteen, followed in forth by Tim Davidson on twenty four with Aaron Lappin fifth on twenty six.
On the smaller course Dylan Smyth was first, Matthew Lockhead was second with Ross Allen third.
In youth D Stuart Lappin was first closely followed by Shannon Smyth.
There were two grades for electric bikes and in the E1 class Harry Smith won while in the E2 grade Ben McCosh was the winner!!
Speaking immediately after the event the winner Gordon Crockard said “I would like to thank Moto Trial NI for putting on such a wonderful event, it was a great day! The best thing though is having an event within 800 yards of my front door!!!!”
Moto Trial NI would like to thank John White, John O’Hara, Andy McCracken, Leslie and David Wright for the use of their land, we would also thank the residents for their patience in having us there and Phillip Hanlon for the photographs and lastly but as important thanks too to the observers Brian, Blossom and Kenny, Phillip, Gordon, Davy, Dougie, Clive, Mervyn, Emily and Nikkie for giving their day to allow us to put on such a great event!!
Finally thanks to all the riders for turning up in such numbers to compete.
Results Grade A
1. Gordon Crockard 1
2. Ken Perry 2
3. Sam Hampshire 3
4. Phillip Morrison 4
5. Gareth Mackey 5 Aircooled
Aaron Smyth Twinshock
Kyle Turner Grade B
1. Paul Harvey 3
2. Ray Adamson 6
3. Alan Young 7
4. Jonny Russell 11
5. John Tweedie 12 Twinshock
Geoff Hillis Pre 65
Chris Hampshire Grade C
1. Davy Mulholland 0
2. Ray Harper 1
3. Ray Mason 2
4. Eric Davidson 3
5. Tom Conlon 5 Twinshock
David McGaughey Youth A
1. Josh Hanlon 4
2. Alexander Lennox 14
3. Ross Pyper 16
4. George Taylor 17
5. Jack Waring 36 Youth B
1. Robbie Dugan 5
2. Campbell Baillie 10
3. Jordan Nixon 20
4. Matthew White 23
5. Callum McAllister 36 Youth C big course
1. Ryan Thompson 10 – furthest clean
2. Peter Molloy 10
3. Morgan Steele 19
4. Tim Davidson 24
5. Aaron Lappin 26 Youth C small course
1. Dylan Smyth
2. Matthew Lockhead
3. Ross Allen Youth D
1. Stuart Lappin
2. Shannon Smyth E1
1. Harry Smith E2
1. Ben McCosh
Hi Everybody!
Thank you for all your comments and good wishes. I hope you all have A Happy New Year?
My favourite Christmas present was an e mail from Alberto Mallofre, formerly of Montesa Motorcycles.
He is struggling with a few health problems, but he sends his best wishes to all.
Unfortunately ‘Guru John’ wants me to write a few pages telling you some of the things that have happened along the way.
I am happy to do this as I didn’t want to finish on the dismal subject of health!
So here we go with ROB’s ‘ BITS ‘n BOBS’….
Thorpey, Nige, Sid and I were passing through Austria on our way home from a European Trials Championship round.
Mart was at the wheel and as usual we weren’t hanging about – in an effort to catch the ferry to Dover.
Suddenly, an Austrian policeman walked into the road in front of us holding up a lollipop stop sign.
We knew straight away that we must have gone through a speed trap. Leave this to me said our driver and wound down the window. Marts plan was to use the old ‘no comprende’ trick.
As the bobby put his head through the window he was greeted with an ‘all right pal no comprende’.
“Ah” said the bobby, “thank you for being concerned about my well-being, however you have just passed through a speed trap at almost twice the legal limit and you must pay me x number of Austrian schillings“.
How unlucky could we be he spoke perfect English!
Mart changed to ‘Plan B’. “Look pal we haven’t any Austrian money at all“.
“Oh that’s okay” he said. Had we got away with it?
Pointing up the road he said: “do you see that blue sign?“
“Well that is a bank you can change money there and when you give me the right number of schillings I will give you back your ignition keys“.
The time had come to admit defeat!
At the risk of sounding like an agony aunt, Simon Valente asked me if I could suggest any modifications to the 250 or 348 Montesa?
Well, I was constantly doing small mods to tailor the bike to suit me like popping the fork stanchions through the top yoke by 6mm.
I also made up footrests that were 6mm down and others that were 6mm back.
This way, I could test the position without grinding off the footrest mountings.
Talking as we were about modifications, I remember going to Jim Sandiford’s at Bury to pick up my new bike.
Jim came up to me in the yard as I admired my new machine.
He put a fatherly arm around my shoulders and said to me quietly: “Rob please promise me that you will ride it before you modify it?” Fingers crossed I agreed.
In the 1975 Scottish Six Days, I stopped to talk to Bill Wilkinson at the top of the Black Water sections. When we set off to cross over Black Water moor Bill went first and I followed behind.
I’ve crossed dozens of moors with Bill but he was going slower and slower. Eventually feeling very embarrassed I overtook him. I gave him a wave and shouted “see you later“.
I couldn’t help thinking poor old Bill. Once in front I set too to make up lost time.
The course went close to the reservoir for sometime then turned hard left and we went up a steep hillside.
I was enjoying the scenery. About three quarters of the way up the hill I spotted another rider who I presumed must have a puncture. When I got close I could see the rider was laid in the heather eating a topic bar. It was bloody Bill Wilkinson! From the grin on his face it was obvious that I had been set up. So much for me feeling sorry for him. For years now I have tried to get the story out of him to no avail – one to you Bill!
Bye for Now! – Rob
Rob Edwards on a 348 Montesa – Santigosa Three Day Trial 1977. Photo: Rob Edwards Private Collection
Francisco Valera who was universally known as ‘Bambi’ was an employee of the Bultaco factory. Not just any employee on the assembly line, he was a factory technician or mechanic, who had input to the development and servicing of the factory bikes for racing, motocross and trial. ‘Bambi’ started working in the racing department at the Bultaco factory in the early 1960’s before a dealership network had been formed. ‘Bambi’ worked for Bultaco until the factory closed in 1984. In 1960 he rode in the 24 Hour race at Montjuich with another rider nicknamed ‘Tiger’ on a Bultaco ‘Tralla 101’ model winning their class and the Endurance Championship of Spain.
‘Bambi’ competing on a Bultaco ‘Tralla’ 101 race machine in the 1960 24 hours race at Montjuich circuit in Spain. His co-rider was another Bultaco employee nicknamed ‘Tiger’.
‘Bambi’ was a well known face at International motocross and enduro evnst over the years and knowing Bultacos inside out, so to speak, he knew all the tricks of how to make them more reliable and faster.
Grenoble, 1965 – Oriol Puig Bulto on a Bultaco Sherpa with ‘Bambi’ Valera watching. Oriol was a nephew of Snr. Bulto, the Bultaco company founder. Photo: Cristina Valera Fandos Archive.
Setting individual machines up to individual factory riders specifications for not only handling but also carburation and overall performance.
1970 at the ISDT at El Escorial, near Madrid. here we see ‘Bambi’ with Bultaco works riders, Fernando Munoz and Jorge Capapey
Now retired, ‘Bambi’ encourages his Grandson Oriol to ride motorcycles as much as possible and has a very nice Bultaco Chispa for him to ride.
‘Bambi’ with his grandson, Oriol Marse Valera and the Bultaco Chispa 49cc‘Bambi’ with Narcis Casas, the Bultaco factory rider, who went on to develop the Gas Gas trial and Enduro machines. Seen here with a Bultaco Frontera 360 Enduro machine.‘Bambi’ with former Spanish Motocross Bultaco rider, Domingo Gris
‘Bambi’ also rode Bultaco machinery during his time at the factory.
Francisco on an early Bultaco Sherpa, the model N which was the precursor to the Sherpa T. Here ‘Bambi’ is riding in the company trial on the ranch owned by F.X. Bulto called San Antonio.‘Bambi’ indulges in some trick riding on Bultaco Mercurio road bike near the factory at San Adrian De Besos, Barcelona, Spain.‘Bambi’ warming up a Bultaco racing TSS with Marcel Cama at the San Adrian De Besos factory.‘Bambi’ with a Bultaco Pursang rear wheel at an International motocross around 1972.Photo from the experimental and competition department at the Bultaco factory taken in 1975, with Yrjo Vesterinen’s Bultaco Sherpa model 133, a very rare machine, very few produced. The person nearest the camera is ‘Bambi’ Valera – Photo courtesy of Yrjo Vesterinen, photographer unknown.Some souvenirs of Bambi’s from the 1970’s (Horst Leitner was Bultaco importer for Germany & Austria)Always a Bultaco man, Bambi Valera pictured here in 2015 on a Bultaco, of course! – Photo: Cristina Valera Fandos
With many thanks to Cristina Valera Fandos for her assistance in providing information and photos for this short article on her father and special thanks to former World Trials Champion, Yrjo Vesterinen for his co-operation and assistance in preparing this article.
Text Copyright: Trials Guru/John Moffat – 2015.
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