Recently we came across a tranche of old photographs taken at the Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) in the early 1950s.
We couldn’t find out who took them, so we used the power of social media to try and find out the source.
During these enquiries, we were contacted by Mayanne Macgregor of the Isle of Skye who thought they may be those taken by her father, Rory Macgregor. However, this turned out not to be the case, but Mayanne and her father, Rory gave us permission to publish the photos they have kept in an album since 1959.
Rory Macgregor worked for the Forestry Commission at Inchnacardoch forest around 1958/59 which allowed him to take some shots of the SSDT, mainly at ‘Foyers’ (South Loch Ness) and ‘Auchterawe’ (Fort Augustus) sections.
We are grateful to the MacGregor family for the exclusive use of their photographs.
Foyers lies above the south shores of Loch Ness in Inverness-shire. It was used by the Scottish Six Days Trial many times in the 1950s and early 1960s – Photo: Rory MacGregor
…
A rare sight, a Lambretta scooter in the Scottish Six Days, ridden by Geoff Parken as part of a three man team in the 1959 event – Photo: Rory MacGregor.
…
Close up of Lambretta team member, Alan Kimber pushing his mount up the section, on Foyers in the 1959 SSDT – Photo: Rory MacGregor
…
Close up of mother and son pairing on a 499cc BSA outfit for the 1959 SSDT. Mrs. Oliver and son Jackie on ‘Foyers’. Mrs Oliver was 70 years of age at the time. J.S, Oliver was fourth placed in the sidecar class in this event – Photo: Rory MacGregor.
…
Runner-Up in the sidecar class in the 1959 SSDT was R.T. Williams with his 497cc Ariel outfit, seen here on ‘Foyers’ collecting maximum marks – Photo: Rory MacGregor.
…
AJS team member, Gordon McLaughlan on his 350 AJS on Foyers on the south side of Loch Ness, which you can see in the background. Gordon was eighth placed on 43 marks and a Special First Class award – Photo: Rory MacGregor.
…
John Brittain (346cc Royal Enfield) tackles ‘Auchterawe’ in fine form in the 1959 SSDT, he was fifth in the event on 32 marks- Photo: Rory MacGregor
…
John Brittain (346cc Royal Enfield) on ‘Foyers’ 1959 SSDT – Photo: Rory MacGregor.
…
Pat Brittain, the younger brother of John also rode for Royal Enfield, seen here on his 346cc Bullet on ‘Foyers’. Pat came home in tenth position on 48 marks lost and a Special First Class award – Photo: Rory MacGregor.
…
Lochaber man, Hugh McDonald from Fort William on his 346cc Royal Enfield ‘Works Replica’ cuts a fine dash on ‘Foyers’ in the 1959 SSDT. Hugh finished in 120th place on 250 marks – Photo: Rory MacGregor.
…
Used as our main photograph, an uncharacteristic position for Ariel factory rider, Gordon S. Blakeway, having collected the maximum five marks of Foyers with his 497cc Ariel. Gordon finished in fifteenth position in the 1959 SSDT – Photo: Rory MacGregor.
…
Ron Langston on his 497cc Ariel powers up ‘Foyers’. Ron finished in eleventh position overall on 53 marks – Photo: Rory MacGregor.
…
Close friends and rivals, Sammy Miller MBE (Ariel) and Gordon L. Jackson (AJS) weigh up the section at ‘Foyers’ during the 1959 SSDT – Photo: Rory MacGregor.
…
Sammy Miller MBE riding ‘Foyers’ in 1959. Sam came home in third position on the 497cc Ariel (GOV132) losing 22 marks – Photo: Rory MacGregor.
…
Gordon Jackson tackles ‘Foyers’ on the factory AJS, he was runner up in the 1959 SSDT losing 20 marks – Photo: Rory MacGregor.
…
Gordon L. Jackson (347cc AJS) on ‘Auchterawe’ in the 1959 SSDT, Gordon was runner up to Roy Peplow on the 199cc Triumph Cub – Photo: Rory MacGregor.
…
Arthur Lampkin on his 249cc BSA on ‘Auchterawe’ in the 1959 SSDT, he was out of luck along with the BSA works team that year when all the new C15T factory machines went out with engine trouble – Photo: Rory MacGregor.
‘Rory’s SSDT Selection is the copyright of Trials Guru and Mr. Rory MacGregor.
Apart from ‘Fair Dealing’ for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright, Design and Patents Act, 1988, no part of this article may be copied, reproduced, stored in any form of retrieval system, electronic or otherwise or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrical, mechanical, optical, chemical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the author as stated above. This article is not being published for any monetary reward or monetisation, be that online or in print.
Discover more from TRIALS GURU - DEDICATED TO TRIAL
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
TRIALS GURU - DEDICATED TO TRIAL 