With permission, exclusively on Trials Guru, we have assembled the Glenn Carney Collection for your online enjoyment.
Manchester based trials enthusiast and former rider, Glenn Carney has taken fantastic photos of the sport over the years. All photos in this collection are the copyright of Glenn Carney.
Jump straight to the collection HERE
2024 marks ten years of the website Trials Guru which was launched with the technical assistance of Heath Brindley in the March of 2014.
So, to mark this milestone, we are changing the remit of this now world famous website, one of a few that do not charge to see photographs and articles written by enthusiasts for enthusiasts!
We are now running the website as a knowledge base and historical records facility. We have ceased reporting events, unless they have special merit. We have ceased allowing free advertising to commercial ventures including magazines. We are concentrating on our core objectives of storing records, historical data and results and of course the photographs of our benevolent photographers of which they are many world-wide.
The website remains privately funded with no subscription fees payable by our viewers. Trials Guru is not an income generation website, never has been and never will be, simple as that.
In time, we may change the layout and presentation, but that will be considered in the future.
We have already introduced the ‘Rider/People Index’ to make it easier to find the people who have been associated with the sport of trials.
Recently a number of articles have been released and this has been extremely well received by our readers, aricles such as ‘Comerfords Look‘; Walther Luft; Don Smith; Joe Wallman and many more.
So it’s business as usual, we remain ‘DEDICATED TO THE SPORT’
Photos: © Illawarra Mercury/ACM; Mike Rapley, Carnforth, England – Main Photo
Back in 2017, Trials Guru ran an article under the AJS/Matchless Trials machines in which we described the AJS of Mick Andrews from 1961 which had been registered by the factory as a Matchless, which was quite normal for AMC to do at the time.
The machine emigrated from England to Australia around 1971 and found its way to its present owner Rob Farnham in Queensland, who has owned 644BLB since 2008. The last UK registration tax disc was dated 1970. Rob bought the historic machine from Noel Shipp and has now decided that he has enjoyed owning this piece of world trials history and perhaps the time is right to move it on to someone else who can treasure it and give it a run out now and then.
The difficulty is with these machines is how much are they worth? Recently, an ex-Hugh Viney Matchless (OLD865) sold at auction for around £4,000 which in the wider scheme of things was pretty low. But given that many countries are in recession, maybe that’s a sign of the current climate.
Rob would let the machine go for 20,000 Australian Dollars. It is an ex-factory machine with history, it set Mick Andrews on the road to bigger and better things, with five Scottish Six Days Trial wins and two European Championships to name but two of his many successes in a very successful career.
But Rob is a realistic person and may negotiate the price if he is convinced that it is going to a ‘good home’ and will be well looked after.
Trials Guru is always interested to hear of such stories, and we are sure that readers of this website are too.
Here is a direct link to the original article on 644BLB.
Words by Matt Liberatore
Former World Trials Champion and Scottish Six Days Trial winner, Bernie Schreiber will return once again to the USA in 2023 to conduct another ZeroBS Master Class two-day trials school on May 13/14, 2023 in Tulsa Oklahoma.
The event will be hosted by one of the oldest clubs in the USA, the North Eastern Oklahoma Trials Team, founded in 1969 by one of the legendary names in US trials history Mike McCabe, who became the first American competitor in the Scottish Six Days Trial in 1972.
In 2022 a very successful ZeroBS trials school was held in Montana hosted by Rich Hilbun. This celebrated the 40th anniversary of Schreiber’s double US National Championship victories in 1982. For 2023 the school will be held in Tulsa, Oklahoma where it will be more central and accessible to students from across the USA.
This venue became a reality after conversations with Dr. David Klein of Texas at the FIM Vintage Trial Trophy in Monza, Italy on September 24, 2022. Klein put Schreiber in contact with his long-time friend, another US trials legend Kirk Mayfield of Oklahoma who competed in the 1973 Scottish Six Days Trial on one of Mick Andrews factory Yamahas. Mayfield and Schreiber competed together in the Turkey Creek US National in September of 1975, an event that included many of the best riders in US history.
Schreiber said, “I’m excited for this opportunity in 2023 to teach, ride and encounter friends again in such a memorable place. It really is an honor to host a school with Kirk Mayfield after all these years and he is someone that many people do not realize was such an excellent rider in the history of US trials. To revisit the famous Route 66 or Mother Road is always a special experience as well. Looking forward to meet many club members and current NEOTT President Jason Shackelford who leads one of the oldest Trials clubs in American history.”
Mayfield, who is one of only six riders to have been granted life time membership in the NEOTT Said: “We have hosted many prestigious events here at our club in Tulsa, but it is such a privilege to host the USA’s only World Trials Champion and my friend for so many years here in Tulsa. Everyone is really looking forward to this, because we can share all our experiences from riding overseas and have Bernie’s instruction on how he became a world champion!”
For information about the Schreiber Masterclass on May 13 & 14, 2023 contact: Kirk Mayfield at: kirkmayfield@gmail.com
Note: Limited Spaces Available.
Quite simply the biggest celebration ever staged of all things retro in the wonderful world of trial, we’re less than two months away from the inaugural FIM Trial Vintage Trophy which is scheduled to take place at the legendary Italian venue of Monza on September 24, 2022.
Trial fans from across the planet are invited to attend and it doesn’t matter whether you’re a rider or a fan, a feet-up ace or an also-ran – you will be assured of the warmest of welcomes!
Master of ceremonies will be the original American Idol and 1979 TrialGP World Champion Bernie Schreiber.
Still the only rider from the USA ever to achieve global domination, the charismatic SoCal superstar will oversee the day’s action with a packed programme of interviews with our sport’s historic heroes and major players.
“I’m excited,” said Bernie Schreiber. “This is going to be an amazing day and I can’t wait to meet up with my old rivals and friends and fans from back in the day as well as new, much younger enthusiasts. Vintage trial is booming at the moment and this is the event we’ve all been waiting for.”
Bringing old and new together, the FIM Trial Vintage Trophy will be staged over a course of two laps of 12 sections on the same weekend as the FIM Trial Des Nations. On top of this there will be an exhibition of classic trial machines at the Autodromo of Monza which will also be the base for a reservation-only Trial Des Nations and vintage cocktail dinner on Saturday after the TDN presentation.
Dinner reservations will soon be available at https://trialgp.com/2022-trial-des-nations-italy/
“Trial has such an illustrious back-story,” added Bernie, “and I’m delighted that the FIM wants to celebrate it in this way. It really is a must-not-miss weekend that encompasses the complete history of the sport we all love.”
The FIM Trial Vintage Trophy will play an integral part of the 2022 FIM Trial Des Nations so whether you’re a competitor or a spectator you’ll be given a never seen before, opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the greatest athletes this sport has ever produced.
There will be two main bits of silverware up for grabs – for best performance on a vintage motorcycle and best performance on an authentic vintage motorcycle. There will also be a support class that will compete over easier sections.
Entries will close 21 days before the event and you can register now at https://www.trialgp-registration.com to be part of this historic event.
The action kicks off at 9am on the Saturday with the start of the FIM Trial Vintage Trophy with official TDN practice getting under way one hour later. The following day the latest generation of trial heroes, both male and female, will showcase their sublime skills and bring you bang up to date starting from 8.30am.
Monza is situated around 10 miles north of Milan. There are three airports within 40 miles and road links are excellent.
For the full timetable and more information: https://trialgp.com/2022-trial-des-nations-italy/
For more practical information download the CTR Info letter 02 Trial Vintage available at the TrialGP Noticeboard.
Source: FIM Press Office
New, for the trials enthusiast, a forty years celebration since the only American to win a Trials World Championship, won the Scottish Six Days Trial, Trials Guru will present a new venture online!
“I’m very excited about this new venture in 2022 and you’ll hear untold stories with GLOVES OFF. I’ll be expressing my thoughts about the sport then and now.” – Bernie Schreiber
‘GLOVES OFF – Bernie Schreiber’, will launch in 2022 on TRIALS GURU as a regular and exclusive column in the news feed, and will be archived on a page for trials enthusiasts.
Gloves Off Archive link: WATCH THIS SPACE!
In an open letter issued on Monday 27th September, 2021 to Croft Trials Club and local enthusiasts of the sport, Croft Club Chairman, Bob Pickersgill has made an appeal following action taken by a neighbour who lives near the AMCA affiliated Croft Club’s trials ground, who is obviously opposed to the sport of trials.
The implications could be far reaching if the requirement for planning permission to change the layout of sections is imposed country wide.
Pickersgill’s open letter urged members to take immediate action and read as follows:
“Dear Member and supporter of Croft Trials Club,
You may be aware that the Club has been on the receiving end of a number of complaints, primarily from our neighbour at Clervaux, Mrs Sarah-Jane Burns.
Since she moved in about 6 years ago, she has been haranguing members, telling us that we wouldn’t be riding there much longer, and making numerous vexatious complaints to Richmondshire Council, the Environment Agency, the Public Rights of Way Officer, the Parish Council, the Police, the Woodland Trust etc. She even attempted to take possession of the land and caused criminal damage in doing so, to which she admitted and settled out of court.
Because of this, the Club has now been required to formally apply for Planning Permission for the creation of four new sections and the maintenance of the existing sections. If not granted, the facility could be under threat. Any support would be much appreciated. Supporters have until Friday 15th October to email: planning.enquiries@richmondshire.gov.uk or write to the Planning Manager at Mercury House, Station Road, Richmond, North Yorkshire DL10 4JX.
Please see below suggested points, but submit in your own words.
Croft Trials Club has been established in its location at Dalton Woods for the past 40 years. At its inception it was granted a Certificate of Lawfulness from Richmond District Council. – It is an important facility for members of all ages from 4 to 70+. There are more than a dozen female riders and many family memberships. It is one of few locations in the north east to offer off-road practice for youngsters who might otherwise use unauthorized public grounds. All riders must display their photo ID cards on their bikes and are fully aware of the need to respect our neighbours, not ride their bikes outside the grounds or run them in the car park. The club is fully regulated and affiliated to the AMCA, and is one of hundreds of clubs in the UK. – Trials riding is a popular low-speed motorsport which requires dedication, balance and skill, and enables its participants to spend time outdoors with their families and meet other riders. – Indeed, Yorkshire has produced the 8-times World Champion, Dougie Lampkin. The world champion female rider, Emma Bristow, who started riding at the age of 4, has been champion since 2015. – The Club is seeking approval for four new sections, out of more than 100 existing sections in its 66 acres. It is the only club in Yorkshire (and probably the UK) to be required to apply for planning permission for the creation of new sections with natural rock, which blends perfectly with the naturally occurring rocky sections already existing in the grounds.
Many thanks for your support.
Bob Pickersgill – Croft Trials Club – crofttrials.uk “
Following on from the UK departure from the European Union in January, the trials world woke up to the fact that transporting a trials machine to overseas events just took a leap forward in cost.
It was known that leaving the EU would bring new challenges, but few realised that it would bring higher costs as well. It is rapidly turning into a head-scratcher. It was universally known for some time pre-Brexit, that travelling overseas from the UK would require the obligatory ‘green card’ insurance document which can be obtained from the vehicle owners’ insurance company. There is also a requirement to purchase an International Driver’s licence from the Post Office to compliment the DVLA photocard driver’s licence scheme.
However, carrying additional vehicles inside a van or on a trialer, along with tools and equipment such as portable generators and spare parts poses new challenges for overseas competition plans.
This week the Auto-Cycle Union announced plans to try and smooth the process of taking competition machines over to European events.
Many argue that trials bikes are not ‘racing’ machines, but of course the word ‘racing’ is regularly used in place of the phrase ‘competition’ by the European countries. The terminology can cause concern amongst the trials fraternity and has done for many years. This has been increased over the years with trials motorcycle manufacturers utilising the word ‘Racing’ to promote higher performance or higher specification models for instance.
Given that trials machines can have a value of multiple thousands this could require a deposit of around £2,000 refundable after the machine has been repatriated to the UK after the event.
Most trials machines are no longer registered for road use, except for the Scottish Six Days and a handful of road based events which have been in decline since the 1990s.
Up until 2020, the process of loading up bikes in a big panel van and driving to Andorra or Costa Brava was very popular with British enthusiasts, but that has changed since January, not just because the Covid pandemic has closed borders and travel routes.
The realisation that expensive ‘carnets’ will be necessary and with border controls even more stringent, this means more expense and increased time spent at border crossings while paperwork is checked and perhaps machines are off loaded for inspection.
In short, a carnet is a customs permit allowing a motor vehicle, be that car or motorcycle, to be taken across a national border for a limited period of time.
Over the last month, the online social media chat rooms have seen increased traffic on this thorny subject with opinions traded like confetti.
In short the concessus appears to be that the cost while not totally prohibitive, may in fact limit the volume of riders prepared to shell out hard cash of several hundreds of pounds to allow them to ride abroad.
The ACU issued a statement on 10th January, the contents are reproduced below.
It will be interesting to see whether the costs really curtail British riders to compete on a more domestic level in future.
“On 31 December 2020, the temporary transition arrangements in place between the EU and the UK expired, affecting the movement of motorsport vehicles and equipment to the EU. Following advice, The Auto-Cycle Union understands that an ATA Carnet will be required to temporarily move motorsport vehicles and equipment across to the border. An ATA Carnet is an international Customs document that operates like a passport for your goods. It allows the temporary importation of goods into countries that are part of the ATA Carnet system (the EU and 40+ additional countries) and avoids you having to pay unnecessary taxes or duties. ATA Carnets cover all goods that are leaving the UK and returning within a 12-month period. They do not cover disposable goods (oil, fluids) that will be used while out of the country or items that will not be returning to the UK. The ATA Carnet simplifies the customs procedure into a single document and makes the importation process much quicker and easier to handle. To avoid unnecessary border delays and customs checks the carnet should be acquired in advance of travel. There are two parts to the carnet:
Source: Auto-Cycle Union
Due to the ongoing restrictions that limit sporting activities in Madrid, Spain due to Covid-19 pandemia, the Madrid based Federacion Madrilena de Motociclismo (FMM) has designed a new ‘local’ trials combined championship for modern and classic trials.
However, the go ahead ‘Moto Club Sotobike’ wanted to continue with some trials only for classic bikes with classic rules, as a result they will arrange for a new ‘Triangular’ trophy for classic trials.
The dates selected are 2 & 3 October, the Robregordo Classic and the 28th November for the ‘La Caleriza’.
This classic triangular series will also pay tribute to the memory of the club’s good friend and Robregordo competitor Manuel Soler, that passed away on 20th January.
The Auto-Cycle Union have pulled all permits and thus cancelled all their events in England and Wales, the Isle of Man and Channel Islands are unaffected but can only be run with caution.
In a statement issued by their Trials and Enduro Department on social media page on Tuesday 5th January, 2021 they stated the following:
“Coronavirus (Covid-19): PM Boris Johnson announces new national lockdown in England –
Boris Johnson has announced that England is to enter its third national lockdown, which means the government is instructing everyone to “stay at home”. The national lockdown is immediate, as of today 5th January and the Prime Minister also said in a televised address last night, the “weeks ahead will be the hardest yet”.
The announcement comes as government figures on 4th January revealed the UK has reached another record daily high of 58,784 new coronavirus cases, making it the seventh consecutive day in a row where there have been over 50,000 new Covid cases across Britain.
So, for motorcycle sport it is quite simple. Any planned ACU event in the next few weeks in England and Wales is now unfortunately cancelled.
SACU licence holders should follow the instructions issued by the Scottish Government and any information issued by the SACU. For those resident on the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, you can continue with ACU activity but follow any instructions issued by your independent administrations. Please adhere to and respect the UK Government advice and stay at home. Continue to support the NHS and follow the instructions issued by the Prime Minister.
There is light at the end of the tunnel in the form of the two vaccines which are now being administered in a planned UK Government vaccine programme, the Pfizer vaccine announced a few weeks ago and the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine which was rolled out today (4th Jan), but for the time being it is very important we do our bit to support the NHS. Do not do anything which may put motorcycle sport in a bad light. Further updates on when ACU activity can re-commence will be issued following further updates from the UK Government.“
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