All posts by bigjohn2014

Retrotrials.com

As regular readers of Trials Guru will already know, we support other ventures and web-based trials information sites.

Retrotrials, run by trials enthusiast James Brown is a website we have been viewing over the past six months and we believe is operated in a similar spirit to Trials Guru.

Retrotrials specialises in 1980’s and 1990’s trials and machinery.

You will now find a link to Retrotrials.com on our ‘links’ page and indeed on our Mick Andrews article, penned a couple of months ago, a direct link to a very well researched article which was produced as a direct interview with Mick at his home in Derbyshire.

Here is a link to Retrotrials website to view now… Here

Retrotrials - logo

The Lampkin they call ‘Sid’

Words: John Hulme with Alan Lampkin, with full co-operation from an article which first appeared in Classic Trial Magazine – Issue 11.

A.R.C. 'Sid' Lampkin seen here with John Moffat (Trials Guru) in November 2014.
A.R.C. ‘Sid’ Lampkin seen here with John Moffat (Trials Guru) in November 2014.

The three Lampkin brothers are Arthur, Alan and Martin, the youngest, have been part of the motorcycle trials scene for such a long period of time that they are etched in the history of the sport forever. Alan – or ‘Sid’ as he is better known – was the one in the middle; imagine having Arthur as your older brother and Martin as the youngest? He was a very successful Scrambler during the ‘Golden Years’ of British domination and won both the Scottish Six Days and Scott Trials in 1966 for BSA; throw in some ISDT Gold medals and in 1974 winning the first ever American ‘World’ trials round. A very popular character, he received factory support along the way from BSA, Cotton Suzuki and Bultaco. He can still be found on the Trials scene today though, as a spectator on his annual holiday to the ‘Scottish’ or at the Scott, or many of the Classic events. The years may have passed by but one thing that has never gone away over the years is the warm welcome and the smile whenever you come into contact with Sid.

Alan Raymond Charles Lampkin entered the world on April 7th 1944 in Silsden, Yorkshire, as the younger brother to Arthur John who was born in 1938. Harold Martin Lampkin would come along later, at Christmas in 1950. The Lampkins had moved from Woolwich Arsenal, London, in 1940 to get away from the London Blitz. Their father, Arthur Alan, was a Foreman machine turner and he opened his precision engineering business shortly after his arrival in Yorkshire. He used an old side-valve BSA as his transport and so the boys were soon around motorcycles when they were born.

TV Time

Arthur had quickly shown a keen interest and at the age of seventeen became the youngest ever member of the mighty ‘Works’ BSA off-road team after some inspiring results. Alan soon wanted to watch his elder brother in action and remembers watching him at the 1959 Ilkley Grand National where he was allowed to ride without competing, and he loved it. They had no television in the early days at the Lampkin household and they often went around to the next-but-one neighbour to watch Arthur on it in the TV scrambles.

Alan's older brother, Arthur J. Lampkin, seen here in the Pre'65 Scottish on his Gold Star BSA in 1984 was a guiding influence on his younger brothers. Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.
Alan’s older brother, Arthur J. Lampkin, seen here in the Pre’65 Scottish on his Gold Star BSA in 1984 was a guiding influence and mentor to his younger brothers, Martin and ‘Sid’. Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.

The Lampkin entertainment got even better when Alan started to compete. It was trials riding which first attracted him though and he could not wait to compete in the tough Scott Time and Observation Trial. He joined Arthur in the entry in 1960 for his first event. It was a tough day and one he did not finish, but when elder brother Arthur was announced the winner he set his sights on emulating his brother with a win of his own, after finishing the event! After finding his feet in 1960 with tastes of both trials and scrambling on BSA machinery he started to enjoy the rigors of the off-road action. He picked up a finisher’s certificate at the 1961 Scott and soon began to get noticed by the factory teams and, most importantly, the competition team managers.

He was drafted into the factory BSA team alongside such great names as Bill Nicholson, Fred Rist, David Tye, Brian Martin, Jeff Smith and John Harris – and, of course, his big brother Arthur. He acknowledged the support and delivered the results when in 1963 he won his first National trial, the Travers. Then he was picked by the team selectors to represent his country in the International Six Days Trial to be held in Czechoslovakia. In those days the event covered near-on 1,000 miles during the six days of competition and Alan did himself proud before disaster struck on the fifth day, Friday.

Alan 'Sid' Lampkin with the Comerfords - Bultaco Ford Transit van in 1975. Rob was a frequent travelling companion even although he rode for rivals, Montesa. Photo: Rob Edwards Private collection
Alan ‘Sid’ Lampkin with the Comerfords – Bultaco Ford Transit van in 1976. Photo courtesy: Rob Edwards’ private photo collection

He was still ‘clean’ and on course for his first Gold Medal when he crashed and, suffering from heavy concussion, was forced to retire much to his disappointment. BSA though had much faith in him and after recovering he was moved into the number two BSA team for the Scott, where he collected a Scott ‘Spoon’ after finishing in the top twenty-five. By the mid-sixties he was acknowledged as one of the new young riders making headlines in the sport. Riding for BSA he mixed both trials and scrambling with much success. It was a fantastic season scrambling as he took in many of the established events with some impressive results, including some top-five finishes in the BBC Trophy races at Ripon and Durham on the BSA 440 cc, second in the Lancashire Grand National and a third in the Cleveland Grand National. On the trials scene he was a regular winner and top-five finisher in the British championship events, but 1966 was going to be his year.

All Rounder

It all started with a win at the opening scramble on January 1st at a frozen Hatherton Hall in Cheshire in the 500 BBC Trophy race. It was sheet ice everywhere and his trials skills certainly helped and he felt very confident; he can still remember the look on Jeff Smith’s face as he passed him on the start/finish straight, it was great day and one he remembers like it was yesterday! Jeff Smith had been 500cc World Motocross Champion in 1964 and 1965 and is a very good friend of the Lampkins even to the present day. He then won the prestigious Bemrose Trophy Trial before preparing his 250cc BSA C15 for the Scottish Six Days Trial in the May. At the last minute he was moved into the BSA works team as Dave Rowlands was asked to stand down in case he was called home to attend a court hearing as a witness to a murder. On the first day Alan parted with no marks along with Mick Andrews (Bultaco) – Paul England (Triumph) – Peter Fletcher (Royal Enfield) – Sammy Miller (Bultaco) & Stan Cordingley (Bultaco). Tuesday was a long, tough day taking in 15 sections including Loch Eild Path above Kinlochleven.

Delay built up at the Caillich group of six sections and many riders lost marks on time. Wednesday took in eight sections at Laggan Locks, taking two marks from trials leader Alan Lampkin. Lampkin still held the lead on Thursday. Lampkin nearly lost the trial on the steep rocky hazards at Caolasnacoan when the crowd thought he had stopped, but the official observer recorded a three-mark penalty, giving the trials lead to Sammy Miller. It was on the sections at Leiter Bo Fionn though that Miller went to pieces and parted with a dozen marks whilst Lampkin kept his score down to four to move back into the lead. The final scores were Lampkin on 23 with Miller second on 27.

The 1967 SSDT programme cover featured the 1966 winner, Alan Lampkin on his factory BSA 748MOE
The 1967 SSDT programme cover featured the 1966 winner, Alan Lampkin on his factory BSA (748MOE)

This would be the last win for a British manufactured motorcycle using a four-stroke engine until James Dabill on the Montesa in 2007. Later in the year he would take his first ISDT Gold on the BSA in effect a TriBSA 504cc in Sweden when he was Great Britain’s best performer with a clean sheet, with the team finishing third overall.

Arthur had won the Scott Trial again in 1965, setting the quickest time as well, and both brothers went to the 1966 event as members of the BSA team along with Scott Ellis, with both wanting to win – the outcome would be very memorable. Alan would win, with Arthur setting the quickest time in 4 hours, 18 minutes and 55 seconds which was a similar time from 1965, but the secret to Alan’s win was his observation score which put him in front of Sammy Miller who was desperate to give Spanish Brand Bultaco their first win in the event. The weather was beautiful, with massive crowds. Alan had shown good form early on with one of the few cleans at Hell Holes up the big step. At Washfold the Green Dragon Public House was hard to find due to the large number of spectators who had all turned out to see the dramatic battle unfold. The day after the event he was part of the winning Yorkshire team in the Inter Centre Team Trial.

Foreign Machines

The demise of the once mighty motorcycle industry in Great Britain has been well documented but it also forced the top riders of the time to move to foreign manufacturers. Alan had remained loyal to BSA but had not continued to enjoy his earlier success. 1967 was a bleak results year. At the ‘Scottish’ and riding the BSA C15T the week had started very cold and wet, and on the Tuesday the rear wheel collapsed. He changed the wheel but was removed from the results when he was found to have swopped the marked part by the organisers, forcing him to retire from the event. He was also hugely disappointed at the Scott when a split rear tyre forced his retirement. On the scrambling front he was still riding well and getting some good results. 1968 was pretty much the same as the BSA support in trials was not the same, although in scrambles they still had a winning machine. Many riders including Alan began to took to other machinery for trials and it was the ‘boom time’ of the micro-light machines.

He was offered the opportunity to ride the new 118cc Suzuki powered machine along with Arthur and Martin for the 1969 season. These were fun times in trials and in 1969 and 1970 he finished in fourteenth position on the Suzuki at the SSDT despite struggling at the event with many problems including a broken frame.

He was still contesting scrambles on the BSA and had some good results including top-five placings in the BBC Grandstand Trophy races before moving to a Husqvarna. The Spanish Armada of trials machines was now in full flow and along with many riders the Lampkins left the cottage industry of small-capacity trials machinery in the UK and went on to Bultaco, Montesa and Ossa, in Alan’s case Bultaco.

Scott Trial action from Sid in 1974. Photo Alan Lampkin Archive.
Scott Trial action from Sid in 1974. Photo Alan Lampkin Archive.

At the 1970 Scott he set the quickest time on his way to a top-ten finish on the Bultaco as Sammy Miller took the last of his seven wins. The Bultaco was a breath of fresh air and in 1971 he would finish tenth in the European Championship, once again set the quickest time at the Scott Trial in a team with Martin and Jim Sandiford and finish fifth in the British Trials Championship.

At the year’s ISDT he would also take another Gold medal, this time on a Bultaco. He quickly became a member of the Spanish works Bultaco trials team and with it the added support.

Justifying his works status he finished a fine second in the 1972 SSDT.

In 1973 he made his final appearance in the ISDT mounted on a Triumph, taking yet another Gold medal, with the trophy team taking second place.

Sid, fourth from the left at the ISDT in the USA in 1973, Triumph mounted that year.
Sid, fifth from the left at the ISDT in the USA in 1973, Triumph mounted that year. From left: Ken Heanes, team manager, Lofty Lucas asst manager; Jim Sandiford; John Pease; Sid Lampkin; Arthur Browning; Malcolm Rathmell and Ernie Page.

The development of the Sherpa T range had moved on after Sammy Miller had moved to Honda, with more responsibility on the shoulders of UK based Bultaco riders, including Alan and Martin Lampkin. The sport was also moving from European status to be named the World Championship. Before the move, and with the sport expanding, a ‘World’ round would be held in America. After many problems, including the press thinking it was Martin who had won, a happy Alan was named the winner!

World Championship

With the move to the FIM World Championship in 1975 the factories were very keen to take the first title, including Bultaco. Along with Alan his younger brother Martin would contest the whole 14 round series, but with only the best 8 scores counting the championship would turn into a three-way fight with Finland’s Yrjo Vesterinen and Malcom Rathmell.

Alan abandons ship in the 1978 SSDFt on Grey Mares Ridge on his 3250 Bultaco, a machine that bore Barcelona registration numbers! (Photo: copyright Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven)
Alan abandons ship in the 1978 SSDT on ‘Grey Mare’s Ridge’ on his 325cc Bultaco, a machine that carried a Barcelona registration number! (Photo: copyright Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven)

Alan supported his brother as much as he could, finishing the year in ninth with his best result a third at his home round, as ‘Mart’ won the title by one mark from Vesterinen. The Bultaco team and the Lampkin brothers remained at the cutting edge of the championship right up until 1980, when Sweden’s Ulf Karlson on the Montesa stopped the trend, but by this
time Alan had retired from the World Championship.

Alan Lampkin on Blackwater sections in the 1978 Scottish, note the Barcelona registration on his 325 Bultaco. Photo copyright: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.
Alan Lampkin on Blackwater sections in the 1978 Scottish, note the Barcelona registration on his 325 Bultaco. Photo copyright: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.

With the glory years of the Bultaco brand over he would ride his last Scott Trial in 1980 and his last Scottish Six Days Trial in 1982 on an SWM. With a young family to provide for he continued to work in the engineering business started by his father many years before but, as with all motorcyclists, if it’s in your blood it’s hard to get rid of!

The Lampkin brothers still had some of their old works BSA machines and these were brought out of retirement for the new Pre-65 SSDT introduced in 1984. These were fantastic times not just for the brothers but also for the spectators, as they came out to witness them in action once again on the world famous ‘Scottish’ hazards such as Pipeline. Good friend Jeff Smith came over from Canada and it was a very happy reunion.

Sid's younger brother, Martin enjoys a gallop on eldest brother Arthur's BSA C15T (XON688 in 1984 on Blackwater. Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.
Sid’s younger brother, Martin enjoys a gallop on eldest brother Arthur’s BSA C15T (XON688) in 1985 on Blackwater. Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.

Alan would ride in the event on a few more occasions over the years. Son James is the youngest of his three children, he also has two girls Sarah and Nina, who is the eldest, and James soon became interested in trials riding giving Alan a new interest along with his Golf.

Alan's son James Lampkin seen here at Inversanda in the 2006 SSDT. Photo copyright ~ Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.
Alan’s son James Lampkin seen here at Inversanda in the 2006 SSDT. Photo copyright ~ Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.

James went on to have his own successful trials career which included an Expert British Championship title and a third position in the 2004 SSDT.

Sid on Coalasnacoan in 2000 on Arthur's BSA (XON688) Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.
Sid on Caolasnacoan in 2000 on Arthur’s BSA (XON688) Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.

James put his own career ambitions as a trials rider on hold as he supported Cousin Dougie Lampkin to his seven world championship titles. Alan is now semi-retired, working just three days a week at Lampkin Engineering, and still enjoys his motorcycling days and his annual holiday in the Highlands, accompanied by his wife Eileen and usually a gang of grandchildren who will no doubt carry on the Lampkin legend.

Copyright:

Words: John Hulme with Alan Lampkin

Pictures:

Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven

Rob Edwards, Middlesborough, Cleveland.

Trials Media/ John Hulme

With many thanks to Classic Trial Magazine for their kind permission to reproduce this article from Issue 11 – Classic Trial.

For more articles like this one, be sure to subscribe to Classic Trial Magazine … Here

Coming Next – The Jimmy Young Archive

JY - H&S

Scots photographer Jimmy Young and John Moffat (Trials Guru) have been friends for over forty years, but only recently Jim has unearthed his treasure trove of trials photographs.

A plant technician to trade, Jim spend many years of his life in Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia in the Mufulira copper mines servicing caterpillar and other heavy machinery in the deep mines.

He also worked with Liebherr GB and Burnthills Demolition as a service technician.

It gives Trials Guru great pleasure in sharing Jim’s photos with readers of Guru. A Trials Guru exclusive!

As always, please be considerate, the photographs are the legal property of Jimmy Young and should not be displayed unless accompanied by the wording: ‘Copyright: Jimmy Young, Armadale’. Without this addition, any images broadcast or displayed are in breach of Jimmy Young’s copyright.

Link direct to: The Jimmy Young Archive

© – All text copyright: Trials Guru / Moffat Racing, John Moffat – 2015.

© – Images Copyright: Jimmy Young, Armadale – 2015.

More Rob Edwards – ‘Bits n’ Bobs’

More Rob’s Bits n’ Bobs!
Rob (Centre); Brian Hutchinson and Kipper Herrington at the SSDT.
Rob (Centre); Brian Hutchinson and Kipper Herrington at the SSDT.
When I thought I was slowly drifting towards a finish, things keep jogging my memory – so off we go again. My friend Trials Guru says I can keep going as long as I want! – Thanks Guru!
The photo of ‘Hutchy’, Kipper Herrington and myself, taken by Don Crosby at the Scottish above  made me realise what a scruffy lot we were. I suppose that because everybody else dressed the same we just blended in.
Footwear in those days was usually Fireman’s boots. The stitching would rub against the frame leaving a big hole into which the footrest usually found its way in. The rest of the section was spent trying to get the footrest back out.

Mick Wilkinson pioneered a great idea for keeping the draught and the rain going through the zip of your Barbour jacket. Take one old Barbour jacket and cut a large D shape out of the back this makes you a large bib. Fasten a length of elastic to it to fit around your neck. Along with my Barbour mittens these were stored in a safe place until the next SSDT!
The guru has also put a picture of me on a 250 Cotton riding ‘Foyers’ and the neckerchief can be clearly seen. Not very trendy – but it kept you warm.
After the Fireman’s boots came the ‘Wellies’. The lads at Mile End Motorcycles in Newcastle were the first to come up with this idea. They were actually Coal Miners waterproof boots and were affectionately known as Mile End wellies. They were followed by Dunlop rubber boots.  At first people laughed at the thought of riding in wellies but I must admit it was great to have dry feet. – Rob

Rob Edwards’ – Bits n’ Bobs

More Bit’s n’ Bobs!1968 SSDT - Hutchinson

Rob Edwards (centre) with Brian Hutchinson (right) at the Scottish in 1968, showing what every discerning trials rider wore under their Barbour suit back then!

– I recently noticed a comment from a fellow Thornaby lad, Ian Instone. Ian remembers me as being a good friend to his late father in law Jack Russell.
Jack had a small Motor Cycle Shop in Thornaby, the like of which we will never see again.
He was a main agent for Villiers engine parts.
If it was a motorbike a lawnmower or concrete mixer or whatever Jack could fix it or supply the necessary spares.
I cycled past Jacks shop everyday on my way to Head Wrightsons where I was an apprentice.
We became great pals and the friendship lasted for years. Many people will remember seeing him around Thornaby on his motorbike and sidecar.
The sidecar had been removed and its chassis had been adapted to carry a motorcycle or anything that had been dumped that he could make a few shillings from.
My first bike was a 197cc Dot and I desperately wanted a longer throttle cable.When I turned the handlebars from lock to lock the engine revs went up and down, but finances couldn’t stretch to a longer cable.
One evening I was on my way home from work and I called in for a chat with Jack. He gave me a bag and when I looked inside,yes it was an extra long throttle cable.
“You can pay me for it when you have finished your apprenticeship”. – “Now in the meantime off you go and get some Trials won!”
Jack built a Motorcycle especially for speed events on Pendine Sands in Wales.
The cylinder liner was a piece of cast iron drainpipe that he machined to size in his lathe.
The bike was considered a bit of a joke but he set a time at Pendine sands that wasn’t beaten for years.
He was probably what we might call eccentric today and I am proud to say that we were friends.
Thanks to Ian for jogging my memory. – Rob

Trials Guru – Forums? – No Sorry!

Trials Guru has been asked recently to provide a ‘forum’ facility for trials enthusiasts.

We apologise, but our view on this matter is that forums on any sport tend to become counter-productive over a period of time.

They also require careful moderation for legal and other reasons, which we simply do not have the free time to do.

As a result, Trials Guru has no plans to introduce this facility, however, we are able to bring you some facts and stories on the great sport of trials worldwide ~ with the assistance of our contributors and photographers ~ all with the free promotion of the sport.

Trials Guru – Dedicated to the sport of Trial!

Year?

‘Retrotrials’ – Keeping alive the 1980’s and 1990′

Retrotrials - logo

 

Retrotrials.com

Is an independent site aims to remember the trials motorcycles and top riders of the 1980’s to the mid 1990’s, as well as celebrating the Catalan motorcycles of that era. Many of these manufacturers have long since disappeared.

Most of what is featured in the site is linked to the Spanish machines, which are the speciality of Retrotrials. The Spanish  have been very influential in the history of motorcycle trials since the 1960’s. This rise in fortune followed the British motorcycle industry’s decline.

Thousands of miles have been travelled in collecting this information. Sit back and read what you have not seen before.

Trials Guru recommends that you explore the web site and you will find:

  • Exclusive Motorcycle model history
  • Exclusive Bike videos
  • Exclusive interviews with the top riders
  • Exclusive Factory photos
  • Exclusive Factory map Locations
  • Exclusive Factory video tours
  • Exclusive interviews with the manufacturers
  • Exclusive Memorabilia

Link to RETROTRIALS

Renee Bennett – East London’s Lady Trials Rider

Renee Bennett – By her daughter Julie Powell:

Cover photo - Renee Bennett

My mum was a name known to all in the motorcycle trials world, she was born in East London’s Canning Town.

From humble beginnings she emerged as Britain’s best known lady rider in a career spanning a quarter of a century.

Renee in Action!

Renee’s interest in trials riding began watching father ‘Wag‘, an East London nickname for ‘Charles‘, riding motorcycles around the docks near his cycle and motorcycle shop. Renee’s parents were hard working East Londoners. They opened their first shop in the late 1920’s in Victoria Dock Road.

The popular shop hired and sold cycles, and the name Wag Bennett has been carried through to successive generations.

All during World War II, Wag and Esther Bennett remained in Canning Town, running their shop, keeping the dockworkers going with cycles and motorcycles, and staying open late til 11.00am waiting for the last shift of workmen to pass the shop.

Renee stunt doubling
Renee stunt doubling

Renee stood on a box at the counter, testing bulbs and batteries and giving the customers their change, by candlelight. She recalls she was about 4 or 5 years old.

In 1939, Wag was picked for the British ISDT Team, held that year in Nazi Germany.  He shook hands with Hitler, unaware of the gathering storm then, quite suddenly, the team was ordered to leave Germany immediately WWII had begun!

The old shop was a target in the blitz being so near the docks, and eventually took a bomb, as did every other shop and house around it. Almost blown to smithereens, the bedroom ceiling was somehow held together with cycles magazines and newspapers. The whole shop was supported by a few wooden beams, keeping it standing.

PICTURE OF MUM ON GREEVES

Buckets were strategically placed on the bed to catch water, which poured in every time it rained.  As a child, this was normal daily life for Renee and her brother, Wag jnr.

At night, they watched the ‘doodlebugs’ the V1 flying bomb, on their way to decimate the London docks and surrounding area.

Standing outside the shop every night, one of these unmanned rockets, would suddenly stop, drop, hit it’s target and blow the shop windows out.

During these blitzes, the family would hastily run to the nearest underground station or the Anderson shelter behind the shop, where they would remain until an ‘All Clear’ siren sounded.

Getting through the war was a daily struggle for survival.  The harshness of life though at least prepared Renee for the tough sport of motorcycle trials that was to come.

After the war, Wag sold Ariel motorcycles;  strong serviceable machines they were used thoughout the war, by soldiers and civilians alike.  He worked all hours repairing and selling them to the dockers and factory workers.

Renee left school at 15, and went into the family business.  It was now well known, a beacon for all the major British bikes:  AJS, Matchless, Ariel, BSA, Triumph, Panther, James, Velocette, Frances Barnett, NSU ‘Quickly’ to name but a few.

Around this time, Renee began riding in earnest on a James Captain 198cc, but at only 7 stone and of slender build the skill of trials riding was not easy to master.

In her own words: “Why I never got killed I’ll never know, I was useless!

Wag Bennett jnr. also worked in the shop, but diversified into bodybuilding.  He would train every night in the hope of becoming Mr Britain.  He eventually opened his own gymnasium training some of the greatest names in bodybuilding including Arnold Schwarzenneggar, who lived with him and wife Dianne for a few years. Wag was instrumental in teaching Arnie to pose to music.  He won every title in Wag’s shows and soon became a household name.  Arnie remained a lifelong friend of the family and invited Wag & Dianne to his Hollywood wedding to Maria Shriver.

In the mid-50s Renee met husband Howard Powell through her brother’s bodybuilding connections. Howard won many titles throughout the UK including Mr. South East Britain and Mr. Navy.

They married and in 1956 I came along.  Renee juggled motherhood with helping Howard run their  motorcycle shop in London’s East Ham, the first of five.

Determined to follow in the footsteps of her father, a factory supported rider for Matchless, Renee rode daily on wasteland nearby, and competed every Sunday in Kent and Surrey in timed trials along with husband Howard, also an avid trials rider.

By this time, and winning several awards in open-to-centre trials, Renee was riding a Greeves 250cc slimline, alloy frame, perfect for her.  They were made by a small factory at Thundersley, Benfleet, Essex.

Renee was ready for the challenging Scottish Six Day event, following in her father’s footsteps.

Renee’s entered the Scottish Six Day Trial in 1961. The first of many.

She finished the event, earning her an award and a myriad of bruises all over her body!

The Welsh Three Day Trial featured prominently in Renee’s riding career as she says:  “My favourite, fast and furious!”  Renee rode a Bultaco 250cc with a Wasp frame for that event.

Her son, my brother, Charles was born in 1964.

But that wasn’t all, she was much in demand as a motorcycle stunt double, known by all in the film and TV business as The Girl On A Motorcycle.  Renee also enjoyed a successful modelling career, advertising everything from make-up to Ovaltine.

Renee in black leathers

In the early 1970s, Renee switched to riding a Bultaco Sherpa 250cc, which she still has today along with her Greeves, Bultaco Enduro (used in the Welsh Three-Day) and the much-loved James 198cc.

In 1973, Renee competed in the Scottish Six Day Trials on the Bultaco.  The 6th so far.

At around here, she converted one of her East London shops into a motorcycle competition centre.  “Renee Bennett’s East London Sportman’s Centre”, which became a beacon from as far afield as Europe and the USA. Customers visiting the shop immediately asked for ‘Renee Bennett!’

IMGlamour shot

Renee and Howard became known for sponsoring many up and coming young trials riders in the 80s, kitting them out with helmet and suits, their own name signwritten on the petrol tank, and cheques sent when they had won the event.

Renee’s competitive spirit continued well into the 1980s.  She ran a popular trial of her own:  The Renee Bennett Sunbeam Novice Trial, which became a much awaited event each year.  Every finisher received a scrolled certificate, adorned with red ribbon.  It is still talked about today in vintage trials circles!

Howard, being into health and fitness since his time as a bodybuilder, set up a gymnasium above one of the shops. They trained daily, and Renee found the toning and strengthening a big help when dragging her bike out of the mud!

Howard, who sadly passed away in 2003,  was a talented amateur film maker, often being invited to the premieres of the top films of the day.  He counted among his friends actors and top stunt men from all the Bond films.

Renee recalls meeting the movie stars of the day like Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen, who was over from the states for the ISDT in 1964.

Now a grandmother but still with an interest in motorcycles, Renee continues to run her busy motorcycle shop in East Ham, the first one she and Howard acquired some 58 years ago.

As if that is not enough, she is very ‘hands on’ in her property renovating company assisted by son Charles.

Grandchildren have come along, my daughter Sophie, nearly 16 and a three-times published author! Oliver nearly 12, and young Charles, 22, who runs his own foreign exchange business.

Film on Renee Bennett by British Pathe on YouTube: HERE

Renee’s mother died only recently in 2012, aged 103!   Father Wag died in 1989.   As Renee says:  “Perhaps I’ll live to be a ripe old age… see you around!”

This recent comment on a trials forum site sums up the amazing Renee Bennett : “Well.. Renee Bennett,. what can I say..!  I think my old man had a fancy for her!  I remember her riding the SSDT on a Bultaco in 1973.  All the lads were fighting over themselves to help her when she got into difficulty.  Her shop was called ‘Renee Bennett’s East London Sportsman’s Centre’.  – Anyone know who wrote that?

Julie Powell

Rene Bennett photographed in 2013
Renee Bennett photographed in 2013 by daughter Julie Powell

Article Copyright: Trials Guru/Julie Powell

Photos: Julie Powell

Renee Bennett in Spanish! – Todotrial website Article:

Javier Cruz from Madrid has taken the Renee Bennett story to Spain, read about it: HERE

Website: www.reneebennett.co.uk/