It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Lane Leavitt, former Bultaco factory trials rider who passed away on May 16th aged 74 years.
Lane Leavitt on his 325 Sherpa ‘Dual Tank’ in the 1975 Rhode Island event.
Lane was AMA trials champion on three occasions and was a world championship contender, who competed against the Lampkins, Rathmell, Schreiber and Whaley. He switched to Montesa, when the Bultaco company hit financial trouble in 1979.
His achievements were: three times US National Champion; five times California Champion; twice Oregon Champion; he rode in the SSDT four times; USA ISDE Team Member; AMA Sportsman of the Year and inducted to the Trials Hall of Fame of the AMA in 2006.
Lane wrote a book on observed trials with photojournalist Len Weed entitled ‘Motor Cycle Trials – Techniques and Training’.
Lane Leavitt on the 349 Montesa on Ben Nevis section, SSDT – Photo: Jimmy Young, Armadale
He married his teenage sweet-heart, Debbie Evans, herself a well known trials rider and stunt performer. Lane set up his business with Debbie, called Leavittation Inc., based at Santa Clarita, California, which arranged stunt work for the movie industry. He turned to professional stunt performing in 1980 on the ‘Fall Guy’ TV series.
Lane Leavitt from the USA (Montesa) on Cnoc-a-Linnhe in the SSDT – Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.
1979 World Trials Champion, Bernie Schreiber wrote on learning about Lane Leavitt’s passing: “A unique individual in his own way, but a true friend who always brought his honest opinions on all topics. He was innovative, passionate and constantly in search of a better motorcycle, better trials events and better results. His opinions on trials events, motorcycles and riders development were direct and honest. He enjoyed pushing the envelope in Trials and all facets of his stunt work in an industry he loved so much.“
Trials Guru sends sincere condolences to Debbie and the Leavitt family at this difficult time. The trials community of the USA have lost not only a champion, but an enthusiast of the sport.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of George Arthur Greenland. George was attending a trial in Belgium with his family and passed away in his sleep.
George A. Greenland – Photo: Colin Bullock
He was an accomplished trials rider, sidecar driver in trials and enduro and organiser of the Enduro Du Super Mare. He developed the Wasp 1,000 twin cylinder racing engine with Robin Rhind-Tutt.
George discusses the Wasp 1000cc engine with Robin Rhind-Tutt in 1983. Photo: Salisbury Journal
John Moffat of Trials Guru said: “I got to know George Greenland through competing in the Pre65 Scottish Trial at Kinlochleven back in the mid 1990s. I interviewed him quite a few times at the presentation of awards. He was such a knowledgeable and friendly gentleman. He once fetched a Honda RTL engine back from Belgium for me and refused to take anything for his trouble, he said: ‘I was going there anyway and it’s only a little engine’. It was a great honour and priviledge to be able to tell George’s story on Trials Guru website. He was a ‘one-off’ character who will be sorely missed in the trials world, and I mean world, at events in Europe and the annual get together at Telford show. George Greenland was truly a Trial Legend.”
George Greenland with Trials Guru’s John Moffat at the 2012 Pre65 Scottish Trial – Photo: Jean Caillou.
We send our sincere condolences to the extended Greenland family.
George A. Greenland’s funeral and celebration of his life will be at The Stones Hotel, High Post, Salisbury, SP4 6AT on Friday May 30th, 2025 at 11.30.
You can read part of George’s story on Trials Guru HERE:
Don Howlett, former director of Comerford’s Ltd of Thames Ditton, the Bultaco importers and multi-franchise motorcycle dealers has passed away, aged 91 years of age.
Howlett was a major player in the importation to the UK of the Spanish brand of off-road motorcycles from 1972 until 1984.
Don was a keen scrambles rider and also rode in trials. He competed in the 1963 Scottish Six Days on a Greeves. Comerford’s motto was ‘Ride them on Sunday, sell them on Monday’ which reflected the sporting involvement by most of the employees.
After the demise of Comerfords as a motorcycle and car dealer, he formed ‘CI Sport’ with Stuart Miller, this business was the importation division of Comerfords, originally called Comerfords International, hence the ‘CI’.
Don Howlett had been ill for some time, his funeral took place on Tuesday 3rd December at St. John’s Church, Old Malden, Kingston Upon Thames.
He leaves a widow Chris, son Paul and daughter, Louise.
The Comerfords riders and supporters in the 1963 Scottish Six Days Trial, Don Howlett is on the far right of the photo.
It is with sadness that we announce that the former AJS factory trials rider, Gordon O. Mclaughlan has passed away.
From Thornaby on Tees, North Yorkshire, Mclaughlan was one of the ‘Three Gordons’ AJS factory team comprising of Gordon Mclaughlan, Gordon Blakeway and Gordon Jackson. he was a motor dealer and owned Gordon Mclaughlan Motors, BMC and British Leyland agents.
AJS teamster Gordon McLaughlan seen here on his factory AJS 164BLL at the Colonial Trial in 1963 – Photo: Charlie Watson, Hull
Gordon was a member of the Middlesbrough & District Motor Club, a keen Scottish Six Days and Scott Trial competitor in the 1950s and 60s.
His last motorcycling event was the Scott Trial Reunion dinner, hosted by Sid Lampkin at the Kings Head Hotel on November 9th 2024, where he sat at the top table and conversed most of the evening with his friend, Arthur Lampkin.
A Brian Holder photo of Gordon Mclaughlan in the 1960 SSDT on Devil’s Staircase. Watched closely by SACU official Jim Birrell ( standing with camera) and Ralph Venables (seated, top left) – Photo couresy of Ian Harland
Gordon Mclaughlan’s funeral will be held on Friday, 20th December 2024 at 11:00 in St. Bedes Chapel, Acklam Crematorium, Middlesbrough, TS5 7HD and at Middlesbrough Motor Club thereafter.
It is with sadness that we intimate the passing of Scottish trials and scrambles rider, Robert ‘Bob’ Ashenhurst.
Bob was a well known rider in the late 1950s and through the 1960s who rode a variety of machines which included BSA Gold Star, Greeves in scrambles and an Ariel HT5 in trials. The Ariel was registered NWS405 and had belonged to multiple Scottish scrambles champion, George Hodge from Abington when new and ridden by Hodge in the 1955 SSDT.
Bob’s first scrambles event was at Crichton Castle, Gorebridge in the late 1950s.
Scottish scrambling in the 1960s with 297 Jimmy Stuart; 11 George Hodge and 22 Ernie Page. All these riders raced with Bob Ashenhurst over a number of years.
Ashenhurst was a member of the Edinburgh Southern MC which ran many scrambles and trials events in Scotland. Bob usually wore his ‘Southern’ crash helmet which was a mid blue colour with white wings, many riders of the club used these helmets in the early to mid 1960s.
One of Bob’s contemporaries was double British Motocross Champion, Vic Allan seen here on his factory Greeves in 1970 – Photo: Justyn Norek
Ashenhurst’s scrambling contemporaries were: The Sandercombe brothers, Cliff and Robin; Ernie Page; Melville Hume; the Allan brothers, Jim, Robbie and Vic; George Hodge; Jimmy Stuart; Jackie Campbell; Johnny Davies; Bert Jamieson; Willie Edwards; Bob Eyers; George and Iain Shearer, to name but a few.
Jimmy Stuart was just one of the Scottish scrambles riders who raced and knew Bob Ashenhurst, seen here at Brighton in 1973 on his CCM.
Bob worked for many years at Edinburgh Airport, known then as ‘Turnhouse’ and also had a small holding croft at Mannerston, near Linlithgow. His local track was ‘Hillhouse’ just outside the town of Linlithgow in West Lothian.
The Edinburgh Southern MC, the club which Bob Ashenhurst raced under and had his competition licence through his racing career.
For many years, Bob was usually accompanied by his younger sister, June who acted as his ‘mechanic’ at scrambles across Scotland. June married John Malcolm who rode in trials and scrambles with the Lanarkshire MCC and had two trials riding sons, Graham and Sandy, both encouraged at a very early age to take up trials. In later years, Bob would be seen at the SSDT and the Pre65 Scottish trials spectating, maintaining a close interest in the sport long after he stopped competing himself. He was also a guiding influence when his nephew Graham’s son took up motocross and Graham took up Supermoto.
Bob took part in the 2021 T. Arnott Moffat Memorial road run at Inverness on his Honda WR400, having known SACU Secretary, Arnott Moffat all his racing career.
Bob Ashenhurst on his 500cc Ariel HT5 – NWS405 taken around 1960
Bob Ashenhurst died on Friday, 23rd August 2024, aged 87 years and was a life-long motorcycle enthusiast who competed against the best in Scotland and occasionally beat them all. Some of the riders called him ‘Bert’, but he was universally liked and more to the point highly respected as a competitive motorcyclist by all who knew him.
Bob Ashenhurst’s funeral will take place on Wednesday, 11th September at Falkirk Crematorium at 10.45am.
Gordon L. Jackson, the AJS factory rider who won the 1961 Scottish Six Days Trial on one solitary mark, has died aged 92 years of age, on Sunday 7th July 2024.
Gordon had endured a period of bad health and passed away in the South Charente area of France, where he had lived for many years.
Gordon Jackson. 347cc AJS – Newcastle Motor Club, Allan trial, Alston. 1953 – Photo courtesy of Tommy Reynolds, Ashington
A ‘Kentish Man’, born on the north side of the River Medway, he was a farmer by profession and became a full factory AJS supported rider in 1953.
He won the SSDT four times (1956, 58, 60 & 61) and the ACU British Trials Star twice, in 1955 and 1958, the equivalent of the British Trials Championship.
When Jackson won the 1961 SSDT on 187BLF, Bert Thorn of Comerfords, Thames Ditton, immediately ordered 100 replicas of Jackson’s AJS, a factory order that remained unfulfilled, much to the disappointment of Gordon and AJS customers.
Gordon lost his single dab in 1961 on the top sub-section of Grey Mare’s Ridge, in more recent years the section became known as ‘Jacksons’ in his honour. Mortons Media own the image taken by Peter Howdle which is one of the most famous trials photographs in the history of the sport.
Gordon presenting trophies at John Luckett’s trial in Devon.
His wife Peggy pre-deceased him some years ago, Gordon leaves two sons, Drew and Ross and grandchildren, Lynn and Catherine. He was highly respected by his peers which included, Sammy Miller; Roy Peplow; Johnny Brittain; Gordon Blakeway; Gordon McLaughlan; Peter Fletcher; Geoff Ward; John Giles and Jeff Smith, to name but a few.
In his days with AJS, Gordon also competing in scrambles both in Britain and in France, as well as representing Britain at the International Six Days Trial.
Gordon Jackson with his famous AJS 187BLF on which he won the 1961 SSDT on one solitary mark! (Photo: Trials Guru)
Gordon Jackson on his factory AJS (TLP686) on Kinlochrannoch in the 1957 Scottish Six Days Trial.
John Moffat of Trials Guru said: ” I feel that this is the end of an era, Gordon Jackson was one of my heroes and was truly a legend in the history of motorcycle trials. G.L. Jackson excelled at motorcycle trials and when he retired from the sport, he took up car trialing and became British Champion in that sport also. I got to know Gordon in the late 1990s and we used to speak to each other by telephone over the years. I spoke very little during our chats, as he was such a wealth of knowledge, I enjoyed listening to him. I was truly saddened when I took the phone call from Drew Jackson to inform me of his father’s passing this morning. Gordon Jackson was a gentleman and a highly respected one at that.”
SSDT Centenary 2011 – Two of the most famous trials machines, of all time – 187BLF (350 AJS) which won the 1961 SSDT ridden by Gordon Jackson losing only one mark. GOV132 (500 Ariel) Sammy Miller’s famous machine that won the SSDT (1962 & 1964) – Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven
Gordon Jackson’s famous AJS (187BLF) now fully restored is displayed in Sammy Miller’s museum at New Milton.
Five giants of off-road motorcycle sport: Left to right – Jeff Smith OBE; Peter Fletcher; Gordon Jackson; Alan ‘Sid’ Lampkin & Arthur ‘Ping’ Lampkin – Photo courtesy of Colin Bullock/CJB Photographic
Gordon Leonard Jackson 28 December 1931 – 7 July 2024
Tributes to Gordon Jackson:
Nick Jefferies: “Very sad news. You couldn’t wish to meet a more decent bloke. One of the true greats of motorcycling.”
Tony Davis: “Very sad news indeed. I had the pleasure of riding around the SSDT when he famously lost just one dab, what a brilliant ride that was. The sport has lost another great ambassador.”
Bernie Schreiber: “Trials Legend. R.I.P.”
Jeff Smith: “Very sorry to hear this. Gordon was a great rider and a gentleman.we had wonderful battles In 1950s .Rest In Peace old friend. See you soon!”
George Greenland: “So sorry to hear about Gordon he was a very pleasant and friendly person.”
Gordon McLaughlan: “Sorry to see my old team mate passing, he was a colossus in our time together. We will not forget his riding style.”
Tommy Sandham: “An all time great. He wrote a Foreword to my first book about the SSDT and made me feel like a millionaire! Condolences to the family.”
It is with great sadness that we have learned that former Triumph factory scrambles, ISDT and trials star, John Giles has passed away aged 93 years on 11th September 2023.
The news was relayed by telephone by close friend, Gordon Jackson who now lives in France.
John Giles, know to many of his friends as ‘Gilo’ competed in many International Six Days Trials when supported by the Triumph factory, his last being the 1970 event at El Escorial, Madrid when he rode one of the UK dealer sponsored Cheney Triumphs. John’s first ISDT was 1952 at Bad Aussee in Austria on a factory prepared 500cc Triumph TR5 Trophy.
Giles was regarded as an ‘all-rounder’ the label given to sporting motorcyclists who took part and excelled in more than one discipline, John was a force to be reckoned with in scrambles, trials and ISDT events.
John wasn’t a firm favourite of the 199cc Triumph Cub that was enevitably issued to works supported riders, prefering the twin cylinder 350cc trials machines.
Considering that John Giles had sight in only one eye, he had a remarkable career in motorcycle sport. He overcame the disability and was a determined and forceful rider in scrambles and the ISDT, but also had the ‘gentle touch’ when it came to reliability trials, representing the Triumph manufacturer many times at the annual Scottish Six Days Trial.
Said Gordon Jackson: “John and I first met in 1948 and have remained close friends ever since, even although we rode for rival factories, we travelled thousands of miles together to national trials and the ISDT when I rode for AJS and John rode for Triumphs. We had the utmost respect for one another and we had some real fun times.”
John Giles’ funeral arrangements are: Tunbridge Wells Crematorium on Monday 23rd October 2023 at 10.45am. Then the wake afterwards is at The High Rocks, Tunbridge Wells.
Tim Pritchard of Westbury Motorcycles in Bristol has sadly passed away at the age of 93 after a short illness.
Tim built a very large business in the off road world in the 60s and 70s and was probably the largest trials and scrambles supplier in the country at that time, when he shipped bikes to all parts of the country and had a very busy comp shop at Westbury on Trym.
He sponsored many up and coming riders. Tim leaves a widow Margaret, three sons, a daughter and step-daughter.
Tim Pritchard’s funeral will take place on Wednesday, 20th September at 11.45am at Rowberrow Church, near Churchill, Somerset (1/2 mile off the A38).
It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of photojournalist, Barry Robinson of Ilkely, West Yorkshire today, Sunday 26th February 2023.
Barry Robinson tests the factory Bultaco Sherpa of Malcolm Rathmell in 1974. This is the rare Model 133 of which there were only 13 ever made and were supplied to factory riders only. Photo: M.C. Rathmell
Barry was one of the first to report for the fledgling Motor Cycle News in 1957. Barry became a member of the National Union of Jounalists (freelance division) and reported on many trials and scrambles events over six decades for the daily newspapers as well as the motorcycle press. He also reported on the many Yorkshire trials for Trials & Motocross News from 1977.
Barry Robinson, John Moffat (Trials Guru founder) and Eric Kitchen, shortly after Barry’s 90th birthday at the Scott Trial.
In a statement issued by his daughters, Liz and Sarah on social media, it read:
“Barry Robinson – FINAL POST – In true “Robbo” style, “I am not retiring” was his most recent post. True to his words he did not – Barry’s last parting words from this mortal world were “bring me a notebook and pen when you visit tomorrow in case anyone rings with results” from his hospital bed at Airedale.
Unfortunately this is the one deadline he will never make!
Barry Robinson NUJ 19-Oct-1931 to 26-Feb-2023. RIP Dad – we love you and you will be missed by your family, friends and the motorcycle community which you served for 64 years.”
Trials Guru send sincere condolences to the Robinson family at this difficult time and thank the late Barry Robinson for the use of some of his photographs since the website was formed in 2014.
Barry Robinson’s Funeral Arrangements:
The funeral of Barry Robinson will be held on Thursday, 23 March 2023 at 12.30pm at Skipton Crematorium with refreshments at Herriots, Broughton Street, Skipton thereafter.
We have learned from Trials Guru reader, Geoff Bridgwater that trials sidecar designer and competitor, Barry Kefford from Sutton Coldfield, has passed away recently. Geoff was Barry’s passenger during the period between 1967 and 1972 when they were successful in sidecar trials. The pair also did sidecar racing and sprints.
Kefford will be remembered by many as the brilliant designer of some of the earlier lightweight trials outfits known as BKS, which influenced many other competitors and won British Trials Sidecar titles. The earliest example was a BSA B40 powered outfit which used Reynolds 531 tubing and clever triangulated framework, later moving onto the BSA 440 victor and eventually a lightweight Kawasaki KT250.
British Sidecar Trials Champions, Adrian Clarke & Mike Bailey on their Honda/BKS outfit. BKS stood for Barry Kefford Sidecars – Photo copyright: Mike Rapley
Barry Kefford was also a brilliant engineer who built scale model traction engines and a scale steam lorry and later went into building steam trains.
BKS chair in action with the Clarke/Bailey pairing using a 349 Montesa
Barry Kefford’s funeral will be at Sutton Coldfield Crematorium Wednesday, 15th March 2023 at 3.15pm.
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