Tommy Robb on the electric powered Triumph in 1971
Here is a photo of well-known factory Yamaha, Honda and Bultaco road racer Tommy Robb back in 1971 on an electric trial bike at the Earls Court motorcycle show.
Tommy wonders if this was the first ever electric trials bike that perhaps inspired the current trend towards electric power?
If it isn’t, then it’s a great old photo to see how the future was shaped.
It appears to be based on a Triumph 250 Trophy chassis with an electric motor and a battery bungee tied into the frame. Compare it to the current electric bikes that are now on sale to see how technology has progressed in the last 45 years?
‘Magical’ Mick Andrews is the guest of honour at the Highland Classic 2016 on 11/12 June – Photo copyright: Rainer Heise, Germany
The Inverness & District MCC have announced that their special guest of honour for the 2016 Highland Classic Two Day Trial on June 11 & 12 – ‘THE YAMSCOT EDITION’ will be former Yamaha factory trials rider, MICK ANDREWS. They will be paying homage not only to the ‘YamScot’ effort from the mid 1970s by Shirlaws Motorcycles, but also to the rider who won five Scottish Six Days Trials, two of them Yamaha mounted. Having moved from the Spanish Ossa factory, Andrews rode special factory OW series machines, which led to the development of the production TY series twin-shock bikes that were used by ‘YamScot’ riders in Scottish events. Shirlaws’ owner Leslie Shirlaw formed the YamScot team to promote Yamaha machines in Trials, Motocross and Road Racing. Mick Andrews will enter into the spirit of the trial by riding a suitably prepared Yamaha machine at Alvie. – Entry forms will be released and available on 20th February, 2016.
Mick Andrews was a factory rider for Yamaha Motor Co on their factory ‘OW’ series machines which were reserved only for contracted to factory riders. Seen here in the SSDT on the OW11 – Photo: Rainer Heise, Germany
The Highland Classic was started in 2004 as a one day event for pre’65 machines at the highland shooting estate, Alvie. The second year entries were increased by the addition of twin-shock classes and finally in 2006 it was extended to a two-day event. The event has gained popularity, but entries became very sought after from the 2013 event, with the introduction of the special guest of honour feature, which is very popular with riders and the estate management who always have a representative present for the ‘address of the trial’ with some short introductions and speeches led by a welcome from the owner of Alvie & Dalraddy Estates himself, Laird Jamie Williamson. The event has been over-subscribed since 2013.
Previous Highland Classic guests of honour include Yrjo Vesterinen (2013); Dave Thorpe (2014) and Bill Wilkinson (2015).
Entry forms and regulations will be released by event secretary, Rick Lound on Saturday 20th February. Last year’s competitors will be sent forms by post, but they will also be available at Telford on the Classic Trial/Trial Magazine UK stand, The Putoline Oils stand and the Inverness & District club website (www.idmcc.co.uk).
The Highland Classic 2 Day Trial 2016 event secretary is Rick Lound, seen here on his Yamaha Majesty
Support for the event has been promised by both Classic Trial Magazine and Putoline Oils UK.
Classic Trial Magazine is supporting the Highland Classic 2016Putoline Oils are supporting the 2016 Highland Classic 2 Day Trial at Alvie in JuneStudy of Mick Andrews, former Ossa and Yamaha factory rider – Photo copyright: Claudio Trial Pictures
A popular brand even although it has suffered financial hardship, Gas Gas are set for a return. The new Gas Gas TXT 300 Racing, the model most awaited by the fans of Trial and two-stroke engines. The new models of the Gas Gas TXT 300 Racing will begin production in March in the renovated facilities in Salt under strict quality standards of both manufacturing and of components, as the Girona factory emerges with this strong commitment in the manufacturing of all products.
2016 Gas Gas Racing 300 – Photo: Gas Gas Motos
Highlighted by a sincere commitment to quality and for constant improvement of its TXT 300 Racing model, next week, we will reveal this new flagship of our brand in the sport of Trial, at which point full details will be available with specifications of this new model in which Gas Gas has devoted a special dedication of attention to every detail.
Also Marc Colomer has joined the Development Team at Gas Gas Motos.
Gas Gas relaunch in Gerona 2016 – Photo: John Hulme/Trial Magazine UK
Something different for Trials Guru readers. We occasionally collaborate with other trials enthusiasts and here is something special for you.
Ulf Karlson on ‘Pipeline’ in the 1975 Scottish Six Days Trial – Photo copyright: Rainer Heise/TRIALSPORT
Not a lot has been written about the 1980 FIM World Trials Champion, Swede, Ulf Karlson. However that has changed recently when James Brown of the ‘retrotrials.com’ website went across the sea to Sweden to interview Ulf at his home.
Read about the quiet man of trials who let his results do the talking for him.
Ulf Karlson captured by Rainer Heise/TRIALSPORT in 1975 at the SSDT
Karlson was faithful to the Montesa brand throughout his career.
Read about his achievements and what happened to him when he disappeared from the trials scene.
World Championship action in 1976 at Gefrees, Germany – Photo copyright: Rainer Heise/TRIALSPORT
Ulf Karlson’s story is exclusive to retrotrials.com, read the Ulf Karlson interview:HERE
Terry Hill on his Bultaco at the Dublin University Club’s Grafton Trial on Old Boleys section on 5th February 1966 – Photo courtesy of Pat Ewen, Dublin
Just opened, a special Trials Guru ‘section’ for trials in Ireland.
Alan Lampkin aboard his historic factory BSA C15, on which he won the 1966 SSDT and Scott Trials – Photo: Fiona Watson
If you haven’t had a look at our special ‘ section’ on the Lampkins, have a look!
Recently updated, there is an article on Alan ‘Sid’ Lampkin and some information provided by one of the Lampkin sisters.
Motorcycles were always a part of Lampkin family life. This is Arthur Lampkin’s factory trials BSA Gold Star, but who are the three riders? See Lampkin of Silsden for the answer! – Photo courtesy and copyright – Janet Pawson
Of course we are not finished yet, there is still more to come.
Here at Trials Guru, we are always trying to bring you something interesting from the sport of trials across the world.
Gordon Farley with a photo of him on the works Montesa Cota in the SSDT – Photo: John Hulme/Trials Media
Recently we have collaborated with two other websites and two media organisations to enable our viewers to access interesting material, some of which has only been available in magazines by subscription.
John Hulme, Editor of both Trial Magazine and Classic Trial in the UK has generously made available articles on Yrjo Vesterinen, Gordon Farley and Eric Kitchen to name three personalities from the sport. As has Sean Lawless of Lawless Media UK – Trials Guru is very grateful for this level of support.
Eric Kitchen with Mike Rapley at the World Trials Championship in Spain in 1984
Photographs are sourced from a wide range of photographers and again we are very grateful to these photographers who are credited on each photograph and in the end credit listings of any articles or features. Please respect their copyright as we do.
We know from feed-back, comments on the articles and our ‘Contact’ page that you are enjoying the experience and we thank you for letting us know.
Here is a message direct from Rob Edwards, former Montesa factory rider.
Hi Everybody!
Thanks for the great support you have given me throughout our story on the Trial Guru website.
The ‘Trials Guru’ whose idea it was for this story is more than happy for us to continue until we all get our fill.
I am honestly amazed at your response. My only problem is that I would like to thank each and everyone of you for your response but of course that’s not possible, but the one person I can thank is ‘The Guru’.
When he said that he was interested in me doing my story back in October 2014, I wasn’t sure if we had enough material to keep you occupied. I now know there was!
The response both locally and overseas has been fantastic. The fantastic Thornaby gang who have followed the story from day one. There has been a list of riders who during my riding career I used to see most weekends but since then we went our separate ways.
The group would have in it is Steve Robson, Chris Griffin and Mick Illing who keeps us stocked up with yesteryear’s photos, thank you very much indeed.
Thornaby’s Tony Clarke’s three pictures of his drowning Dot. These are fitted in among the various stories by The Guru, John Moffat.
As 16 year olds, we used to ride in the woods from morning till dark.The woods at one time were part of Thornaby Airfield.
In one section we dropped down into the beck, turned across a large piece of wood and back up the bank. It was years later that we discovered that the wood was the propeller off a Spitfire aeroplane. It has since been retrieved, renovated and is on the wall of the Spitfire Public house. – Rob Edwards
You can ‘search’ Trials Guru to find articles and features two ways!
Either use the ‘Index’ feature, located on the home page … or simply type in keywords into the search box located on the bottom right of the home page menu where it says ‘Search…’
From our ‘Rob Edwards Story’ – 1975 in Germany – Dave Thorpe; Alan Lampkin & Martin Lampkin – Photo: Rob Edwards
For many trials enthusiasts, Trials Guru is becoming the ‘go to’ website for the history of the sport.
We didn’t set up Trials Guru to be a reference work, but given that we speak to many of the sports former riders, sponsors and journalists it was inevitable that we are a place for more than just looking at photographs.
From our Honda Trials ‘section’ – Eddy Lejeune in 1984 on his RS360T Honda – Photo copyright: Colin Bullock/CJB Photographic
We have set up a variety of ‘sections’ on Lampkins, Sammy Miller, Yrjo Vesterinen, Bultaco & Honda motorcycles and much much more. Still more to come when time allows.
We have also directly collaborated with trials websites: todotrial in Spain, retrotrials in the UK and The Honda Trials Story to bring you a variety of information, photographs and articles from the world of motorcycle trials.
We have brought you archive material with the express permission of Mike Rapley; Colin Bullock; Iain Lawrie; Jimmy Young; Rainer Heise; Kimages; Heather Mead; Justyn Norek and many more.
So sit back and enjoy Trials Guru … Dedicated to the sport – free of charge!
The Premier Trial Website – Recording the History of the Sport 'Established 2014'
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