Chris Oliver who has had a long association with The British ISDT effort writes for Trials Guru:
Ian Driver first became involved with the International Six Days Trial in 1971 when it was run on the Isle of man by the ACU.
With his infectious enthusiasm and passion for whatever he undertook, he soon became the British Vase team manager.
He had a canny knack of making things happen and it wasn’t long before the ACU promoted him to the rank of British Trophy Team Manager where he fostered a fabtastic team spirit.
Ian was able to ensure that every rider knew what he had to do to achieve his riding time.
Past team members will no doubt mourn Ian’s passing.
The Bultaco Revival NOSTALGIA trial set for June 17 this year has had another boost. After 30 years in the back of his workshop, Alan ‘Sid’ Lampkin has pulled out his works Bultaco and after a couple of kicks it fired up. Sid said: “… mains were rumbling so I’ve fixed that and now it’s good to go.”
Sid’s son, James Lampkin is going to give it an airing at the event and will be raising money for Cancer Research in remembrance of the late Martin Lampkin who passed away last year.
Any body who is wishing to donate and ride under the Lampkin banner at the Nostalgia Trial should get in touch with Sid or myself.
100% of money donated will go to Cancer Care Research. Sid’s contact no is 07761 073368. Peter Remington: 01539 560695.
The Westmorland Motor Club are proud to be involved.
Trials Guru isn’t a website compiled by a just a writer, Trials Guru is compiled by a trials rider with a lot of help from his friends and likes to ride trials whenever time and opportunity arises.
John Moffat on his BSA at Castle Carr – Barry Pickard Photo
Photos courtesy of Barry Pickard
John Moffat writes: Back in January, I received a note from fellow enthusiast Steve Rayner when I put out an appeal for suggestions of where to compete on my BSA C15. Steve suggested that I should try the Yorkshire Classic MCC ‘Captain’s Trial’ held on the Castle Carr Estate, near Halifax. I was intrigued, I hadn’t ever been to Halifax before, now was my chance!
I had rarely ridden down south so I set about and filled in my entry form and posted it to event secretary Barry Pickard, not realising the popularity of the event, I was delighted to be quick enough to have my entry accepted. This was after forgetting to put my cheque in with the entry so that cost me the price of two first class postage stamps!
I travelled down on the Saturday and stayed over with my friends Nigel & Jill Greenwood at Huddersfield as it was around a half hour drive to the venue and Nigel insisted that I spent the night at his house.
When we arrived at Castle Carr, I wondered what kind of place it was as we drove through the arched gate-house and along the narrow estate road to the reservoir and the start area.
Speedway ace, Eric Boocock on his Triumph Cub at Castle Carr – Photo: Barry Pickard
All I can say is what a superb place to have a proper Pre’65 trial, sensible flowing sections and a very nice route. I caught up with Mick Grant, Eric Boocock and Robin Luscombe, plus a whole host of others I only see at Telford show or in Scotland around SSDT time.
I had entered in error on the hard route, but a quick phone call to event secretary Barry Pickard relegated me into the clubman category, as I was just out for a bit of fun and give my BSA a good airing after its winter slumbers.
Huddersfield’s Chris Haigh on his 350 Velocette gets stuck in – Photo: Barry Pickard
The weather conditions were atrocious, but that didn’t dampen my spirits, my bike ran faultlessly although I had noticed a weep from the fuel tank as I loaded her in my van on the Friday evening, other than that, no issues. The tank is now off and away for repairs and a re-spray.
The course consisted of three laps and was a great days sport; I cannot compliment the organisers enough. Folks back home that had ridden previously said that I would love this event and sure enough, I did. To the point that I can see me going back there next year if I get my entry in on time. It’s close to a 500 miles round trip, but it was well worth the effort.
Robin Luscombe on his Triumph Cub – Photo: Barry Pickard
To sum up, the Captain’s Trial is what a good Pre’65 trial should be, fair sections that cater for all comers, nothing daft, a nice run out on the machine and a friendly atmosphere at the catering wagon.
Ian Myers – Photo: Barry Pickard
I can safely say that Pre’65 is alive and well in Yorkshire!
News has reached Trials Guru that Roy Peplow, former Triumph factory rider in trials, scrambles and the ISDT has died.
R.S. Peplow was a firm choice for many British Trophy teams for the annual International Six Days Trial, always Triumph mounted. His knowledge of the event was second to none and his machines bristled with special modifications learned from practical experience in the grueling event.
He won the 1959 Scottish Six Days Trial on his works-prepared 199cc Triumph Tiger Cub RUE 923 and was the first small capacity entrant to win the SSDT, which signaled the end of the ‘big bike’ dominance at the event.
Roy was instrumental in assisting Sammy Miller when he first went to Bultaco and accompanied Sammy for secret testing of the Spanish machine at Bulto’s ranch, ‘San Antonio’ when Miller was still contracted to Ariels.
Midlands based Peplow had a liking for Jaguar cars and was seen years after he stopped riding competitively at the SSDT in a fine example of the Brown’s Lane, Coventry built vehicles.
Past SSDT Secretaries, the late Ally Findlay (1997-2000) left with Trials Guru’s John Moffat (2001-2002) seen here in 2001 – Photo: Colin Bullock/CJB Photographic
Trials Guru has had a long association with the annual Scottish Six Days Trial as the site owner, John Moffat has been an observer, rider, event secretary and most recently guest commentator on ‘Six Days Radio’ hosted and supported by the local radio station, ‘Nevis Radio’ based in down town Fort William.
This year, 2017 Trials Guru website has gifted special decals to be given to all competitors and officials at the signing on formalities on Sunday, April 30th at the Ben Nevis Hotel.
Over the next few weeks, Trials Guru website will be counting down to this most famous of all motorcycle trials, which of course can trace its roots back to 1911 when the Edinburgh & District Club took over the running of the event.
Remember the ‘Trials Guru SSDT 2017’ decals are only available to 2017 SSDT riders and officials at Fort William and will not be available otherwise, so if you are riding the SSDT this year, keep the decal safe as it is unique!
As for the radio coverage, the only main media to cover the whole event, this will be every morning commencing at 07:00 GMT until 11.00 GMT (www.nevisradio.co.uk) and will be compared by Trials Guru’s John Moffat and Nevis Radio’s John Weller and Simon Abberley.
It is hoped that a roving microphone can be used to do some interviews at the afternoon sections with riders and spectators, so keep an eye out and of course listen in to all the action as it happens during the week from ‘Parc Ferme’ to ‘Section’.
Don’t forget to have a look in at our SSDT special section on Trials Guru: HERE
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Eddie Dow. Those in the BSA fraternity will, perhaps, be familiar with the name, since Eddie was synonymous with the marque, both as a factory rider during the 1950s, and also for his development work for BSA through into the 1960s.
However, it was as leader of the British Army motorcycle team during the immediate post-war period that Eddie first made a name for himself, winning many medals, not only individually, but also for the squad in International and National trials events.
From this he developed a close association with BSA, and found success and fame as a works rider through the 1950s, winning the Senior Isle of Man TT in 1955 just two years after a near-fatal crash. By profession, Eddie was an engineer, having been an apprentice to Rolls Royce during the War.
He used this knowledge to good effect, working with BSA to perfect the Gold Star, and ultimately being responsible for creating the Rocket Gold Star in 1962.
He opened a motorcycle dealership specialising in BSA, and continued to use his racing experience to develop after-market parts that significantly enhanced the performance of the bikes – often supplying them back to BSA who adopted many of his ideas.
When British motorcycle manufacturing hit hard times in the late 60s, Eddie’s dealership moved to four wheels; MG, then Renault, and finally to Volkswagen. He sold the business in 1991.
Aged 67, Eddie lived out a busy and fulfilling retirement both as a keen skier, a hobby he pursued until the age of 88, gardener and irrepressible motorsport enthusiast.
He died on Friday 17th March, and is survived by his wife, Diane; daughter Franca, and grandchildren Justin, Kate and Joshua. The funeral will take place on Monday 3rd April at 12 noon at Banbury Crematorium. Family flowers only.
– Trials Guru wish to pay respects to the immediate Dow family at this time.
On March 14th 2014, Trials Guru was created on the internet and social media (facebook and twitter) so it’s a BIG Happy Birthday to us here at Trials Guru and a BIG HUGE THANK YOU to you for reading this, the premier website which showcases the sport of motorcycle trials!
Trials Guru – The Premier Trial Sport Website for photos, articles, news and the history of motorcycle trials
Peter Miltenburg (Sherco) on Kilmalieu in the 2016 SSDT – Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven
We are always looking for something different here at Trials Guru and our good friend and contributor, Toon Van De Vliet from the Netherlands has submitted this article from the Netherlands.
THE SCOTTISH SIX DAYS TRIAL DIARY – FROM ‘PM TRIALS’
Words: Toon Van De Vliet & Peter Miltenburg
Photos: Peter Miltenburg; Toon Van De Vliet & Iain Lawrie
‘PM Trials’ is a synonym for ‘Peter Miltenburg’ also known to his friends as ‘Pim’, the Sherco and Scorpa importer in the Netherlands. From his last participation (2016) he made a diary to try to make an explanation of what this phenomenal extreme event is. Seen through the eyes of a real trials man and a lover of the countryside.
Peter Miltenberg no.125 represented the Netherlands in the 2016 SSDT
Monday:
Heavy rain on the first morning. I start with the number 125 in the third group, nicely in the middle. At the start, I get the message some of the hills can’t be ridden because of the high water! There is so much water in the sections that all signs and arrows are no longer visible.
We can ride the route as normal and when I pass this first hill I indeed come to see thundering roaring water under a wooden bridge by flows. Further on the route we can do some sections. Here too a lot of water, but these sections I ride quite well, the beginning is there in any case. Then continue by the Moors. We are today on Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland, where snow is still at the top which is melting hard. This means that besides the abundant rain water also melting snow from the hills is coming down. In addition to the usual water and mud channels now also extra water gullies with extremely unreliable bottom. Usually I come pretty well through, full throttle in fourth gear but a number of times I got stuck in the mud – Up to the petrol tank in to it! Hard work you get it out and continue the route. I ride alone so I have to do this all by myself. The sections ride well despite the amount of water and the fact that you do each time to get used to the large smooth boulders and required type of riding. On Ben Nevis we need a river crossing of about 40 meters wide, the water hurling down from the mountain with a depth of about one meter. On the other side are five other riders with the bike upside down to pump the water out the engine, so better not cross here? I try downstream find a better place, I see a spot with at least ten large stones on the bottom. I manage standing next to the bike in the ice cold water to hops the bike from stone to stone with the engine running in second gear and after at least half an hour I got to the other side. But I can go on! Lost a lot of time but do to the ‘’missing’’ sections we could not ride I’m on time in and can do a little work to get prepared for the next day.
A steady ride, PM looking good!
Tuesday:
First day with more than 180 km. Drive went better than Monday, the Moors were better to do because this route is on another mountain and there is no additional melt water in the rainwater. Long hours on the bike working out. Few times bad luck in the sections with a kinked throttle cable that stuck and the stop magnet shoot lose on a big step. On three quarters of the day the clutch hose damaged, no clutch of the rest of the day. These last four hills, I had to ask for five penalties, too bad. I try to phone my followers and at least it works in the middle of nowhere and they provide a clutch hose and a throttle cable as well. Upon entering I deliver my time card in at Rhoda Rathmell (Sherco England) she counts than how much time I have left. The right parts are there and I start in the pouring rain to replace the damaged cables. Rhoda comes along with the card and I see I still have 25 minutes to do the job… I get everything back neatly mounted and deliver the bike on the minute. Pfff…only now just rest! Looking further back had a nice day with plenty of rain, sunshine and sun again. Tasty!
You have all to do it yourself.
Wednesday:
Today early start; at 07.50 I am allowed to go. Twenty minutes before starting time, I am allowed in the Parc Ferme to do some work on the bike. I only need to replace the air filter and that’s a quickie to do. At the first sections on Ben Nevis again I have some dirt in the gasoline and a jet is clogged. The Army refuels your all week, but they often are standing in muddy places and sometimes there can be an unlucky moment for them, but now it’s me…I parked the bike on a big rock. I have the carburetor adjusted that I can turn it a little so I can get to the main jet. Special drill (made at home) through it and off we go! The effort of the previous days are coming out now, no spirit left and I feel empty. So at the next stop I need a refueling for myself too. Grape sugar like Dextro Energy will help a lot. Today most beautiful sections can I reasonable do. At the beginning it is dry, later plenty rain again. On Monday I found on the route a client of mine with his wife in the middle of the Moors walking for some hours to see the sections, just for free! That’s the real spirit. Today on time within, new tire, brake pads, chain and air filter again. Sherco okay. I start in the last group tomorrow so only then at 8 a clock I’m off to go.(the riders rotate every 48 numbers, the first day number 1 at first, second day 49 and so on).
Rhoda Rathmell controlled Peter’s card so time to chat.
Thursday:
The ‘Longest Day’! At the end of the day eventually 212 km on the counter and the tongue on the boots, it was the most beautiful SSDT day so far and risen to place 186. For a change no rain, beautiful sections. A lot of heavy moors in the route that don’t get any better after the passage by 250 riders. I get the ‘reading’ of this landscape better and better in control. Fewer failures in the sections but in the last hill no rear brake left, the disc is bent. A lot of other riders are late, but my bike is already prepared for the next day and back in the parc Ferme.
Why cancelled?
Friday:
Just a heavy Friday. Sections are very difficult today but I was able to ride them all quite well ‘just be or just not results. Less moors on the route many miles on the road but the Sherco picked up a lot of dirt and at the end of the day the bike must have been 10 kilograms heavier. It still runs well. Only my own battery is nearly empty! Where is the end?
Old Dutch together! Peter has a chat with Mieke De Vos, Secretary of the Trial.
Saturday:
Were normal Monday and Saturday what easier, after the ‘’Killing Monday’’ on the last day were certainly no presents given away. After the second Hill I ’landed’ on my left hand. Could no longer operate the clutch handle as I’m used to do. And suffered on in the technical sections with some fives.. Uphill went better, no problem.
Lower Mamore in the 2016 SSDT – Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven
Again I’m happy with my bike preparation in advance; I ride with a small extra petrol tank to be sure that I always get the regular tank stops. Today I saw at least ten riders suffering without patrol on top of a mountain, not that nothing happens, also in the mountains I get lost on the route with a couple of Danes . Together we find finally the ride track. My followers, supporters and family are on top of Pipeline waiting for me. The first subs I do well. For the last sub section we have to start from the side. A rider in front of me advised to use third gear. He managed to go to the top, but not ‘without dabbing’. I’m not should have used second gear the bike runs out of stem – so do I. Pipeline is at the end of the trial, but the organizers decide that we had to do the sections on the Hill Monday were impossible. That’s really heavy stuff for me. Town Hall Brae in the middle of Fort William is for me the nicest thing to do! The end of mine third SSDT Second Class Award, place 179 at least 100 riders behind me in the results.
Thanks to all who helped me coming to the end of this really hard Six Days.
Thanks to my wife Marjan, she said; ‘Next year we go again!’.
Peter Miltenburg
With thanks to journalist, Toon Van De Vliet for supplying Trials Guru with this article and to Peter for his reminisces at the 2016 Scottish Six Days Trial.
Photos: Copyright: Peter Miltenburg; Toon Van De Vliet & Iain Lawrie
Abbreviated to ‘2DGT’ the Two-Day Group Trial is set for the 22/23rd of July 2017 at Dudwood Farm & Burycliffe Quarry, Matlock, Nr Derbyshire, with the valued support of Mr. Barry Burton (YMSA) Regulations will be posted on the facebook group (Hard To Find Twinshock Trials & Aircooled Monos) along with all relative information on the weekends activities within the next 10 days for all those interested in entering what is becoming a not to be missed annual event.
This will be a great weekend for all ,with the added bonus of a 50/50 route this time round.
Entries will be limited to the following classes :- Twinshock; Aircooled Mono; Pre’65 with Clubman; 50/50 and Expert Routes available.
As previously, Mick Andrews will be setting out the courses at both venues, and will be in attendance on both days to offer his invaluable support and experience to all.
Camping / Motorhome accommodation is available, and evening entertainment, along with Clay Oven Pizzas and Beers a plenty!!
Trials Guru’s John Moffat (right) with John MacGregor of Glencoe with a copy of the magazine which has the ‘Full Circle BSA’ article. MacGregor is a subscriber to the excellent magazine.
For anyone that regularly reads ‘Classic Trial Magazine’, the finale to the story ‘Full Circle BSA’ was the delivery of the Trials Guru’s John Moffat BSA B40 to its ‘new’ owner, John F. MacGregor, the first man to lay out the course of the Pre’65 Scottish Trial in 1984 in company with the late Johnnie Graham.
Classic Trial Magazine Issue 20 carried the ‘Full Circle BSA’ article
The story started when Moffat was unsuccessful in obtaining an entry in the 2017 Pre’65 Scottish and this prompted him to review his collection of trials machines. The B40 was purchased from MacGregor by Moffat in 2004, MacGregor having bought it from Scarborough’s Gordon Jackson in 1999.
John MacGregor competed in Scottish trials from around 1971 to 1977 on Bultaco machinery and thereafter took an active role in course plotting for the Scottish Six Days Trial. He married Pamela, the only daughter of Ian Pollock the man who discovered many of the sections around Kinlochleven that are still used to this day.
John MacGregor and Pamela (formerly Pollock, daughter of Ian Pollock) – Photo: Sharon Smith, Fort William
Pollock was always referred to as ‘our man on the spot’ by the SSDT committee as he lived and worked in Kinlochleven in the Aluminium factory. MacGregor’s parents ran the small caravan site at ‘Narrach Bridge’ near Kinlochleven.
Ian Pollock is remembered by the renaming of the Lochaber club’s ‘Spring Trial’ as the ‘Ian Pollock Memorial Trial’ an event he used to organise and is still regarded as a ‘shake-down’ event in the March for those riding the SSDT in the following May.
Looking good! Gordon Jackson from Scarborough on 946ERH (The Full Circle BSA) back in 1984 on Pipeline when the Pre’65 Scottish was originally created for ‘pure’ machinery by John MacGregor and Johnnie Graham.
Moffat: “I was mildly disappointed at not gaining an entry in the Pre’65 Scottish, but as I had ridden the event 23 times previously I wasn’t really too concerned as there are plenty of other events that were not on my ‘radar’ during the year. I decided that I had too many pre’65 machines, the AJS & Matchless bikes that I own are far to original to use nowadays and I had already bought the ex-Gerry Minshall BSA C15, so the B40 would have to go to a new home. The result was a nice story about my machine that almost went back to it’s builder, Gordon Jackson, but it was thwarted when I telephoned John MacGregor who jumped in and bought the bike there and then! John Hulme asked me to write the story for Classic Trial Mag and it seems to have been well received by motorcycle enthusiasts”.
…
John MacGregor gives the 1962 BSA a quick test near his Glencoe home – Photo courtesy of Sharon Smith, Fort William
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The ‘Full Circle BSA B40’ which was last used in the Pre’65 Scottish in 2015 has now been sold to previous owner, John F. MacGregor
Moffat continued: “To be quite honest I have to admit to becoming more interested in what we now call the ‘twinshock’ trials classes as that is what I started out on in 1974, a 250cc Bultaco. I took up Pre’65 riding at aged 34 and I had bought my very original Matchless G3C which was once owned by Cliff Clayton, the AJS works rider after he had stopped riding for the AMC factory and my late father had ridden AJS and Matchless in trials back in the day. My son David rode the very same Matchless in the 2016 Pre’65 Scottish, maybe that will be our last to ride together as father and son in the annual event. The Pre’65 Scottish has now become far removed from what it originally was designed for, as many of the machines that are now entering and being accepted by the organisers bear no resemblance to real Pre’65 bikes that I remember as a child. That is a pity really. Many enthusiasts keep asking why the Bultaco Sherpa T (Model 10) is acceptable when it wasn’t commercially available until 1965? The Pre’65 movement was created to allow old bikes to re-surface from sheds and garages, but many, like my own have gone back into museums and garages as they are no longer the tool for the job. It’s a bit like history repeating itself.”
Moffat’s father, T.Arnott Moffat rode this AJS in the 1953 and 1954 Scottish Six Days Trial, seen here on ‘Weem’ in a wet 1954 SSDT. Moffat still owns this motorcycle, but few of these machines appear in Pre’65 events now.
The Inverness & District Motor Cycle Club of which Moffat is both company and general secretary created their Highland Classic 2 Day Trial initially for Scots riders who were unsuccessful in gaining a Pre’65 entry, that was 13 years ago.
Moffat: “The Highland Classic was the idea of our highly respected Club Chairman, Malcolm Smith. He felt that there should be more than one Pre’65 style event in Scotland. however because there are few Pre’65 riders in Scotland, we included twinshocks in the first two day event and the trial has now become very popular, because of its relaxed atmosphere and friendly welcome by Alvie Estate owner, Laird, Jamie Williamson. It just goes to show, if you build it properly, then people will come. I have taken up the challenge of becoming more involved in our local motor cycle club this year, so I actually have a lot less time on my hands now”.
Still riding when time allows, but preferring twinshock nowadays, Trials Guru’s John Moffat on one of his Bultaco 325 Sherpas in action at the very popular Highland Classic 2 Day Trial, June 2016 – Photo: Bill McGregor, Bon Accord.
This year, the 2017 Highland Classic is called the ‘Honda Edition’ and has attracted a bumper entry of 150 riders with six Guests including Guest of Honour, Rob Shepherd. The event takes place on June 11/12 followed on Monday 12th with a memorial road run around Loch Ness.
Moffat ended by saying: “I’m not completely leaving the Pre’65/Britshock scene behind, plans are already well advanced for the building of a Drayton framed BSA B40 as I had a spare engine and wheels left over in my store, maybe I’ll ride it or perhaps have a supported rider on it -so watch this space!”
Article made possible with the co-operation of Classic Trial Magazine – Available HERE
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