By kind permission of Ms. Catherine Hunter of Fort William, niece of Hugh Hunter, we are able to show the small collection of SSDT photographs taken at the 1951 and 1953 events in Fort William.
This collection shows many of the trials stars of their era and have only recently been discovered. Most of the photos were taken in or around the town of Fort William. The famous section in the middle of the town, ‘Town Hall Brae’ was always known locally as ‘Rocky Brae’.
Hugh ‘Shugs’ Hunter was brought up in Fort William’s Lundavra Road, accepted into the Royal Air Force for his National Service and went to work for Westclox at the Vale of Leven factory near Glasgow before moving to Kent to live. He ended his days in Culloden, near Inverness. His daughter is Katie Hunter the BBC Scotland Televison reporter/presenter.
BOB RAY (ARIEL)
Ariel factory rider Bob Ray in Fort William’s Gordon Square – Photo: Hugh Hunter Collection
TOWN HALL BRAE
A healthy crowd watches a rider attempt ‘Town Hall Brae’ -Photo: Hugh Hunter Collection
1952 SSDT – B.F Rowbotham on his 350cc BSA tackles ‘Town Hall Brae’ – Photo: Hugh Hunter Collection
JOHN BRITTAIN (ROYAL ENFIELD)
Johnny Brittain works on his factory Royal Enfield – Photo: Hugh Hunter Collection
BILL LOMAS (JAMES)
1952 SSDT, World Motorcycle racing champion, Bill Lomas on his factory James in Gordon Square, Fort William – Photo: Hugh Hunter Collection
JOHN DRAPER (BSA)
1951 SSDT winner, John Draper working on his factory BSA Gold Star – Photo: Hugh Hunter Collection
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1951, trial winner, John Draper redies his BSA Gold Star after leaving the SSDT ‘garage’ to tackle ‘M&D Hill on a cold engine – Photo: Hugh Hunter Collection
GORDON JACKSON (AJS)
1953 SSDT, Gordon Jackson on his factory AJS in Gordon Square, Fort William – Photo: Hugh Hunter Collection
BERT GAYMER (TRIUMPH)
1951 SSDT, A.F. ‘Bert’ Gaymer on his factory Triumph Trophy – Photo: Hugh Hunter Collection
BOB MANNS (AJS)
A study of AJS works rider at the 1951 SSDT in Fort William, S.B. ‘Bob’ Manns who later became Competitions Manager at Associated Motor Cycles – Photo: Hugh Hunter Collection
JIM ALVES (TRIUMPH)
Triumph works rider, P.H. ‘Jim’ Alves at the 1951 SSDT – Photo: Hugh Hunter Collection
NIPPER PARSONS (ARIEL)
Ariel factory rider, ‘Nipper’ Parsons in Gordon Square outside the Grand Hotel at the 1951 SSDT – Photo: Hugh Hunter Collection
TRIALS GURU 