Have a very merry Christmas and look forward to 2026!
We have some good articles planned over the next few months, the first being the Saracen Motorcycles Story with help from people who rode them for the manufacturer and worked at the factory. Plus comments and anecdotes from the second owner of Saracen, David Brand no less!
Founder of the company, Ron Goodfellow tests one of his creations with the German Sachs engine. Photo: Saracen Motorcycles
We have had a great year bring you as much trial history, online and for free! Articles like the Dalesman Story for example:
We don’t charge a penny for what we do, all you do is look in and search our comprehensive indexes. It’s simple, easy to use and is all catalogued so you can find it easily. People, events and history at the touch of your mobile screen!
The VIP awards will continue for a while longer! Originally to celebrate the 10 years of the website in 2024, it has been so popular and well received we decided to do a few more for people that have contributed to our sport of trial!
The Trials Guru VIP Club was launched in September 2024, the Trials Guru VIP caps have been transported to 25 countries across the world of Trial.
The VIP cap in red was released just prior to the formation of the VIP Club to celebrate ten years of the Trials Guru website which began in March 2014.
The three main super enthusiasts at ‘Trial-Club.com’ – Pascal Bénis, Eric Frugiere and Jean Finiels, are all Trials Guru VIPs!
Special white ‘VIP Winners’ caps and light grey ‘VIP Trial Legends’ cap were launched in limited numbers, ten of the white and twenty-five of the light grey.
The VIP cap acknowledges not only top riders, but also those who have held office in clubs, officiated at events or promoted the sport in some way. The caps have been warmly received across the world.
Have a look at the VIP Club and see who are ‘DEDICATED TO TRIAL‘
Just so readers know, we will shortly be making a few changes to the Trials Guru ‘Menu’.
Currently there are three drop down menus entitled: ‘Photographers’; ‘More Photographers’ and ‘Even More Photographers’. These will be removed as the contents are now merged into the ‘Trials Photo Archives‘ as they are already listed in that feature and are alphabetically listed.
None of the photographers work will be adversely affected and it will tidy up the main menu to make things easier to locate and enjoy!
In the meantime feast your eyes over the wonderful trials images supplied free of charge by our worldwide photographers!
Since June 2024, Trials Guru has been shipping out the now famous Trials Guru VIP caps across the globe and we also created a celebratory ‘VIP Club‘ on the website.
There are three types of VIP cap, the red VIP cap; the white VIP Winners Cap and the light grey, VIP Trial Legends cap!
Only one person in the universe owns all three, none other than Trials Guru contributor, the 1979 World Trials Champion, Bernie Schreiber!
1979 FIM World Trials Champion and 1982 SSDT winner, multiple AMA National Champion – Bernie Schreiber
Bernie is a true ambassador for the sport of Trials and also an ambassador for the Trials Guru website.
The VIP cap in all styles has now become a collectors item. Not everyone who owns one wears it, they have it on display in their trophy cabinet or den. That isn’t a problem, they were commissioned to bring enjoyment to their chosen owners.
The VIP cap is not sold anywhere at any price, they were commissioned by Trials Guru and distributed free of charge. Truly a unique form of headwear for people who are ‘DEDICATED TO TRIAL’ across the world.
The now well known ‘Trials Guru’ logo, which has been in existence for ten years, is now a Registered UK Trade Mark with the Intellectual Property Office of the UK Government.
The registration process completed on 28th March 2025.
This means that the ‘TG’ logo shown below, and it’s design, must not be used in any publications, periodicals, advertisements, written material including articles, clothing or accessories of any manufacture, items of event or any other promotion or graphic designs without the prior written permission of the Intellectual Property Owner, which is John Moffat who operates this website, Trials Guru.
Whilst Trials Guru is not a profit making entity, the trade mark logo is now protected by UK law, thus protecting the brand, and will result in legal action if used without the owners’ written permission. The website remains unchanged in that it will continue to be free to view.
This logo is the Registered Trade Mark of John Moffat / Trials Guru. Unauthorised use of which, may result in legal action.
As well as sending our Trials Guru ‘VIP’ caps across the globe, we have also been sending out some of our new style Trials Guru stickers (or decals if you prefer!)
Here we have two Vintage Trial, enthusiasts from Kansas in the USA, proudly displaying their decals with their Yamahas.
We are always up to something here at Trials Guru, even though we are linked to the past!
The Trials Guru VIP Club just keeps growing, even although the initial idea was to celebrate ten years of the website, it has continued a little longer.
Important announcement being made towards the end of March 2025, watch this space!
TRIALS GURU, the only trials website to create VIPs in the sport – DEDICATED TO TRIAL
In mid 2024, Trials Guru website began to distribute the now world famous ‘VIP’ red cap to people in the sport of trial. These were very well received and not available to purchase. In short the bright red ‘VIP‘ caps were a unique promotion, to celebrate the first ten years of this website!
The highly popular red Trials Guru ‘VIP’ cap has been shipped all over the world – Photo: René Opstals.
We also set up a special page on here for photos of those who were lucky enough to receive a cap, this also has gone viral online – The VIP Club, VIPs were created across the globe amongst trial enthusiasts.
Then we had commissioned ten white caps, individually numbered, called ‘VIP Trial Winners‘ and these were sent to selected individuals who had special merit.
The limited edition ‘VIP Winners’ cap, only ten ever made, each one individually numbered.
Now we are commencing sending out a light grey cap, called the ‘VIP – Trial Legends‘ specially commissioned and in very limited quantity.
The time is right to begin to announce these ‘VIP Trial Legends’ across the globe and through time, add them to the list on our ‘VIP Club‘.
Here is the list of Trials Guru – ‘Trial Legends’:
Jeff V. Smith MBE – Winner of the 1955 SSDT, holder of eight Gold ISDT medals and two times 1964-65 World Motocross Champion.
Jeff Smith on his factory BSA C15T (XOJ809) at the 1960 British Experts Trial – Photo: Mike Davies
Jeff Smith MBE and Irene Smith (nee Draper) – Photo: Chris Smith.
Arthur J. Lampkin – Born in Kent in 1938, but raised and resided in Silsden, Yorkshire since 1941, the eldest of the three Lampkin brothers who were at the top level of the Off-Road motorcycle sport from the 1950s to the 1980s. Arthur was a factory BSA and Cotton rider, Scottish Six Days Trial and Scott Trial winner and TV scrambles star. A.J. Lampkin was also a podium finisher in the European Motocross and World Motocross championships.
Arthur Lampkin on his ex-factory BSA Gold Star 500 on Loch Eild Path during the 1984 Pre-65 Scottish Trial – Photo: Colin Bullock/CJB Photographic
Dave Thorpe – Former Triumph, Ossa, Bultaco and Yamaha trials rider. Winner of the first round of the inaugural World Trials Championship in 1975.
Dave Thorpe on the 325 Bultaco – Photo: Mike Rapley
Jon Stoodley – From Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA, a life-long motorcycling enthusiast and trials rider. A clever engineer and engine builder and tuner.
325 Bultaco Sherpa mounted, Jon Stoodley at the British-America Cup trial around 1974
Toshiki ‘Toshi’ Nishiyama – From Tokyo, Japan. The first Japanese rider to compete in the SSDT (1971) former ISDT rider.
Toshi Nishiyama (Montesa Cota 247) on ‘Pipeline’ in the 1971 SSDT – Photo: Toshi Nishiyama, Japan Private Collection
Oriol Puig Bultó – Development rider, team manager, trials, motocross and enduro rider for Bultaco Motorcycles and FIM official.
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.
Pere Pi Parera – Spanish offroad motorcycle pioneer, motocross rider 1960-66 and development rider for Permanyer SA, on the Montesa Cota project from 1966-71. Father of top cycle trial rider Ot Pi.
Pedro Pi, puts his route card into his Barbour jacket, ready for the first day of the 1968 SSDT at Edinburgh’s Gorgie Market. – Photo: Bob May, Edinburgh
James Dabill – Junior World Trials Champion in 2005 and the European Champion in 2006. His other achievements include winning the Scottish Six Days Trial three times and the Scott Trial four times. He has been the British Trials Champion eight times.
James Dabill (Vertigo) – FIM TRIAL 2016 Cal Rosal, Spain – Photo: Mario Candellone
Nigel Birkett – Well known in the trials world, from Cumbria in North West England, he was a former Suzuki, Montesa, Kawasaki, Fantic and Yamaha development rider, who also rode an Ossa in 1974. He is the current importer of Scorpa motorcycles at his Broughton-In-Furness base.
Nigel Birkett (Fantic) on Mamore in the 1981 SSDT – Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven
Nick Jefferies – Of the world famous Jefferies dynasty of Allan, Tony and David, Nick was a great all rounder, one minute racing a full factory Honda GP machine or on their factory trials RTLs. Nick Jefferies was capable of winning a trial or the TT or the Manx GP. He is of course a TRIALS GURU – Trial Legend!
Nick Jefferies aboard the factory RTL Honda at the 1977 SSDT – Photo: Iain Lawrie
From the world of sidecar trials, but also an accomplished solo rider, Adrian Clarke from Sheffield is a Trials Guru – Trial Legend! (Photo: Mike Rapley)
A classic shot of Adrian Clarke with passenger, Mick Bailey – a star turn on their Montesa/BKS outfit – Photo: Mike Rapley
Mick Wilkinson – Former James, Greeves and Ossa rider, sidecar driver and ISDT Trophy Team member from Kettlewell, Upper Wharfedale, Yorkshire is a Trials Guru – Trial Legend.
Mick Wilkinson on the 250cc Ossa at the 1973 Inter-Centre Team Trial at Rochdale. Photo: Barry Robinson
Bill Wilkinson – The last man to win the Scottish Six Days Trial on a British built machine, Greeves, 1969 – Former Greeves and Ossa works rider who won the British Experts and Scott Trials, Bill is a Trials Guru – Trial Legend.
Bill Wilkinson turns on the style on the Greeves Anglian (WWC169F) that took him to his SSDT win in 1969 – Photo: Barry Robinson
Rob Shepherd – Former Montesa and Honda factory rider, who was British Champion, four top ten positions in the World Trials Championships and a Scott Trial winner, this Yorkshire farmer is indeed a Trials Guru – Trial Legend.
Rob Shepherd (Honda 306) at the 1978 SSDT – Photo: Glenn Carney
Richard Sunter, former Kawasaki and Montesa rider from Healaugh, North Yorkshire is a Trials Guru – Trial Legend. Sunter was one of those riders who competed with the very best of that era, which included the Lampkins, Rathmell, Hemingway, Edwards, Andrews, Shepherd and just about anyone else who made up the who’s who of trials in the days when British riders were the force to be reckoned with in European and then World class events.
Richard Sunter aboard the works Kawasaki in a typical Yorkshire Centre event – Photo: Barry Robinson
Christian Rayer – French National Trials Champion, Montesa and Yamaha development rider is a Trials Guru – Trial Legend.
Christian Rayer (Montesa) at the 1968 Scottish Six Days Trial
The 1933 Scottish Six Days Trial – Photo courtesy: OffRoad Archive
It is with pleasure that we announce that an agreement has been reached between Mr. Deryk Wylde of Off Road Archive and John Moffat of Trials Guru website, that will allow accessibility and continuity for the information collected by Deryk over the years on the Scottish Six Days Trial. This will eventually be entrusted to the Trials Guru website so that generations of trials enthusiasts may continue to enjoy seeing the information, completely free of charge.
John N. Clarkson from Skirling, Biggar, seen here on his Matchless on Devil’s Staircase in the 1953 SSDT – Photo: Ray Biddle, Birmingham
John Moffat said: “I have known Deryk Wylde since the 1990s when I wrote some Scottish based articles for his magazine, Off Road Review. I then wrote the book ‘Scotland’s Rich Mixture – Motor Cycle Sport in Scotland 1945-1975’, which Deryk published under Nostalgia Publications in 2005. It is primarily a custodianship exercise as Deryk is now well into his eighties, and we are all faced with mortality at some stage. It was only proper that contingencies be made, so that the material is freely available and when the time is right, the passing on of the baton. Other aspects of Deryk’s work will be similarly attended to. Deryk Wylde has amassed a massive collection of SSDT information over the years and it is important that this is preserved and made available in accordance with Deryk’s wishes.”
We will announce when material has been transferred and how it will be displayed so that readers can access it.
As has been said previously, Trials Guru is a free to use facility and is not for profit and never will be.
Trials Guru believes that the best way to record the history of the sport is by a dedicated free facility, worldwide.
The Premier Trial Website – Recording the History of the Sport 'Established 2014'
TRIALS GURU - DEDICATED TO TRIAL 