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
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.
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 (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.
Trials Guruhas 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.
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:
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’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 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.
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.
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!’
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
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
Trials Guru talked with Derek Cranfield, a trials rider who recently rode his sixtieth anniversary trial with the Witley MCC and who began his life in motor cycling when called up to do two-years national service. Here is his story:
On the 197 OEC, Derek’s first trials bike
“I was called up for my National Service, I went eight miles from home to learn to drive lorries and tanks, when I passed I was sent to Germany and when I got there, usual army thinking, no position, but would I like to ride a motor cycle?”
“I had never been on one, so I became a police rider and then company dispatch rider, doing thousands of miles throughout Germany. When I was demobbed, I bought a little James 125 and joined the local motorcycle club, the famous Witley MCC which I have now been a member for the last sixty-four years. After a couple of years observing, I decided I could ride better than some of the riders, so I sold the James and bought a trials 197 OEC“.
Scrambling a very special Francis Barnett with Norton forks and other special modifications. Photo taken at Trafalgar Farm, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth (Gosport Club)
“One of my first events being a complete novice going down a steep slippery slope, both brakes full on I tried to turn left the front wheel wanted to go straight on, off I came, when up-right the handle bars where straight the front wheel forty-five degrees to the right.
The stanchions were still bent when I exchanged the bike for a James Commando, rigid rear end. I used this machine for a few years in trials and scrambles, my next bike was a 250 BSA with the outside distributor. This was a terrible starter when hot until I put a separate earth-wire from distributor to the frame.
Derek bought this DOT in 1961
“Next came the DOT 250, I bought this in December 1961 and in January probably had one of best wins when I won the 3 Musketeers trial near Reading. It was then a regional restricted trial and in the entry list were people like Peter Stirland; Mick Dismore; Gordon Farley; Bill Faulkner and the great Johnnie Giles. The following week I won the 250 cup in the Dunlop Trophy trial in Kent followed by a group trial win“.
Culross, Fife in the 1965 Scottish Six Days
“These wins got me a bit of support from DOTs for the Scottish Six Days. I rode the Scottish eight times, getting a Special first and seven First class awards. Not too bad for a south-east sand and ‘mud-plugger’!
I then started working for Comerfords, the biggest sporting dealer in the world. At one time, we had twenty-two of the staff all riding trials, scrambles, road racing or speedway. On the staff we had people like Bert Thorn; Don Howlett; Jock Wilson; Dave Thorpe snr and of course my great traveling friend Reg May. We traveled together all over the country to all the nationals“.
Foyers, South Loch Ness in the 1965 SSDT on the Greeves.
“At Comerfords, I had my Bultaco and Greeves machines and it was at Comerfords that I met some wonderful people from all over the world like Bud Ekins and Steve McQueen, when the USA ISDT team came down to part prepare their machines.
I left Comerfords to join Len Savage motorcycles in Farnborough as a director, the first day Len had a heart attack and so the firm became my sole responsibility. The bikes I had there were Fantic, Yamaha, SWM and Gas Gas, or what was in the shop. After I sold the firm I have had Yamahas, Gas Gas and now Beta. My current machine is a Beta 200, a little beauty. My favourite trial was the Scottish Six Days, when I stopped riding it in 1978, I have been up to spectate every year since until three years ago“.
‘Creag an Eillen’ A section used up until 1967 on the Rothiemurchus Estate near Aviemore this photo was taken in 1965 with Derek Cranfield on the Greeves in the Scottish Six days.
“Another great trial down here is the ‘Greybeards Trial’ started by the great Ralph ‘Rafe’ Venables. I started when I was about forty-seven I have won this trial five times, the last being in 2001. This trial is on a Sunday and the Bognor club started up the ‘Bluebeards Trial’ on the Saturday to make a weekend of it. I won this trial, five or six times and up to about 2001, I was the only person to have won both on the same weekend“.
Derek on his TY250R Yamaha.Thames Valley Trials Combine Trial 2015 – Sixty Years on and still riding! – Derek Cranfield. Photo: Dave Renham, Bultaco UK/ In Motion
Copyright: John Moffat/ Trials Guru 2024
Photos: Supplied by the Derek Cranfield Archive; Dave Renham, Bultaco UK/InMotion 2015
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