The Westmorland Motor Club, established in 1910, which makes it one of the oldest clubs in North West England, will be out in force at this year’s Telford Off-Road Show (17/18 February) at the International Centre (TF4 8RH).
The members will be promoting the ‘Bultaco Revival Nostalgia’ trial which takes place on 16th June at Holme Farm Sedbergh, Cumbria, a week after the Highland Classic Two Day which is already a sell out.
Guest of honour this year is Alan R.C. Lampkin, better known perhaps as ‘Sid’ Lampkin, former Bultaco works rider who was a winner in the SSDT and Scott Trials in 1966 on a works BSA C15T.
Alan Lampkin (325 Bultaco) – Photo: Mike Rapley
This year there will be team awards for teams of three riders competing for the Martin Lampkin memorial award.
Also attending is American Bernie Schrieber who won the World Trials title in 1979 on a Bultaco. Bernie now lives in Zurich but is really looking forward to riding in Cumbria.
The main sponsors are Coniston Brewery, BMW – Lloyd South Lakes and LSS Waste Management. The prime mover is once again Peter Remington who rode a Sapphire Motorcycles sponsored Bultaco back in the late 1970s.
Event Secretary is Mike Rapley and the forms are now released, with the entry limited to the first 120 places.
Last year was the inaugural event and was a great success, raising money for cancer charity.
There are many classes at the event which is not solely for Bultaco machinery, albeit that is the theme.
The annual Off Road Show at Telford is here again.
Over the weekend of 17/18th February the International Centre at Telford (TF3 4JH) will once again host a mouth-watering display of off-road motorcycles along with on-stage interviews and more parts and accessories than you can see in one day!
Many of the show-goers are repeat customers as it has become one of the most popular shows in Europe and it is also a huge social gathering.
Originally hosted by super-enthusiast Alan Wright or ‘Wrighty’ as he is known to all, he sold on the rights to Mortons Media some years ago, but he still attends with his own stand.
This year there are some new Scottish based events being promoted at the show, the first being the Drumlanrig ‘Scottish Grand National Two Day Scramble’ which will take place at the majestic Drumlanrig Castle in Dumfriess-shire, near Thornhill. This will be promoted by the re-formed Galloway Motorcycle Club on 14/15 July.
The club will have a stand in Hall 3 Stand A34.
Later in the year, a new Pre’65/Twin-shock trials event is planned for Kinlochleven in Argyll. This event will be promoted by the reformed Kinlochleven & District Motor Cycle Club, whose chairman is the well-known local businessman, Martin Murphy, who spoke to Trials Guru.
Murphy: “I am delighted to announce the new Leven Valley Two Day Trial on 29/30 September. Many people have been asking for such an event and it will be run by local villagers as was the norm back in the 1970s.
It has been a long time in planning, but our club has affiliation to the Scottish ACU and full permissions received from the local landowners and SNH who control the Leven valley SSSI.
The event being run in the late summer presents no issues for the other three national events held in the area, the largest being the Scottish Six Days of course.
We have been working closely with members of our neighbouring club, the Lochaber and representatives form the Edinburgh & District.
We aim to satisfy the demand for a good long trial for twin-shocks which are seen by many as the class to take over the reigns from Pre’65. Many of the twin-shock bikes are over 40 years old now, so it seems a natural progression.”
Trials Guru will be at the show, but not with a stand, John Moffat will be there all weekend chatting to friends and enthusiasts from both trials and motocross, he aims to be on the Galloway stand on Saturday for a while, meeting up with their members and main sponsors, AMD Contract Services from Dumfries.
Author Ian Berry will also be there promoting his new biography, ‘Jeff Smith – Trials Master, Motocross Maestro’, Jeff Smith will be there signing copies, so look out for him too!
Ulf Karlson (Montesa 348) in 1975 at the German Round of the World Championships at Gefrees – Photo Rainer Heise
It is with sadness that we report the death of the 1980 World Trials Champion, Ulf Karlson aged 65 years.
It is believed that he fought a battle with cancer and passed away on 6th February 2018.
Born in Alvangen, Sweden on March 6th 1952, Karlson will be always associated with the Montesa brand to which he gave the Barcelona company their first World Championship victory in 1980.
Ulf was winner of fifteen trial Grands Prix, his first was in 1974 when it was still a European Championship and was on podium forty times during his European/World series career, which began with the then European Championships by winning his native Sweden round at nineteen years of age in 1971, on Montesa.
Ulf Karlson was not a flamboyant character, but was one of the quieter riders who merely got on with the job in hand without fuss. He was regarded as a true professional rider who, like many learned their craft in their domestic sport before launching onto the European and then World stage of trials sport.
Karlson retired from top line trials in 1983.
Miquel Cirera Lamarca, Team Manager of the Montesa/HRC Trials Team stated on the HRC website: “Today, all the Montesa family are in mourning. We have lost a great friend, an athlete and a great world champion. We are really sorry for the loss of Ulf Karlson, who had a long-lasting professional relationship and friendship with us for many years. We send our deepest condolences to the family and all the friends in the world of trial. Rest in peace.”
Ulf was eight times Swedish Trials Champion and twice Scandanavian Trials Champion.
Trials Guru conveys sincere condolences to the Karlson family.
Photos copyright:
Rainer Heise, Germany
Toon van de Vliet, Netherlands
Ulf Karlson was the 1980 FIM World Trials Champion – Photo: Toon van de Vliet
The film crew charted Ross Noble’s first attempt at the 2017 SSDT – In the background are Nevis Radio’s John Weller and Trials Guru’s John Moffat (on microphone) before one of the daily runs. – Photo courtesy of Trials UK Media
Trials Guru features a local radio station that covers the Scottish Six Days Trial and is the only media radio station to do so – Nevis Radio, Fort William
Nevis Radio is a community Radio station based in Fort William in the Highlands of Scotland. It has been operating for 25 years and started out by giving ski report information for the Nevis Range Ski Centre. Over the years the output grew until it had a full time schedule without needing a service from Inverness based MFR and in turn became its own entity.
Nevis Radio has two staff, one full time, and one part time, with everyone else including the board of directors being volunteers. With this in mind, the stations’ drive and overall output is driven by a passion for what they do.
Did you know … Nevis Radio was one of the first UK radio stations to broadcast on the internet? Because they love what they do, they are always looking for new ways to raise the bar in how they work – with everything.
In recent years – Nevis Radio have covered the SSDT with a four hour show daily. One year they added global streaming, and then added the ability to chat to the studio in real time. They also tried to live stream video from the SSDT Parc Ferme which proved a hit. So much so they have worked hard every year to improve this option and always try to bring along something new every year to enhance what they can offer.
2018 will be no exception with ideas currently in testing. NR are proud to say last years’ result of a fully streamed Video service on ‘youtube’ and online listener figures as well as FM output exceeded 250,000 people which by any length is an amazing achievement for a small team.
They have also covered other events in the area like Christmas festivals, live music events and farm shows all with varied content and their own challenges but the main aim is to give a window on the event to the people of Lochaber or wherever anyone is tuned in online. The sense of achievement to hear feedback on their efforts is immense as 90% of the External events is generally produced and run by a team of three or four people at most – even of that three of those people are generally volunteers with no ‘professional’ experience.
Despite the tags of ‘Volunteer’ and ‘professional output’, NR always do their very best to give the best output they believe they can offer which has been noted on many occasions, even by others in the television and radio industry. Recently being involved in the ‘Biggest Little Railway’ on Channel 4 and more prominently on Ross Noble’s OFF ROAD SSDT effort on the Dave channel. Both production crews were suitably impressed with what a small station and a handful of dedicated people could achieve.
To listen on the good old wireless – You can get NR across Lochaber on 96.6, 102.3 and 102.4. They have never managed to get an accurate idea of listener figures but they were given an estimation in the region of 12,500 daily from others in the industry, however NR have no way to say if that is accurate or not. In terms of the content they listen to, they are open to everything and anything as they don’t have a larger corporate network to follow! Anything from bikes, to fitness and wellbeing, farming to getting the best of your technology – as long as it’s interesting Nevis Radio will take a look. This also applies to music with a fully independent playlist containing music from today’s top forty, a number of other not so well known popular tracks, upcoming and independent artists and they always support local artists too. Because of this approach to cater from anyone from the age eighteen to eighty, Nevis Radio are a very diverse station who like to cater for everyone in our community.
Looking at the SSDT Coverage – this will be the second year the current team have done this using this format:
Studio Anchor: Simon Abberley known as ‘Sy’ aka ‘Biscuit Boy’, plus other varied names.
Sy Abberley doing what he does
Sy is the Sustainability and Business Manager at Nevis Radio, in short the man behind the plan. In charge of all things technical and admin, Sy also creates the audio parts used and adverts for the station when he’s not on air broadcasting or coming up with another grand plan of how to enhance the service in some way. Sy has been with Nevis around ten years and started as a volunteer. He has a background in DJ’ing which is where the passion started for the music and as time passed it was noted he had good skills in all things technical and dabbled in production. After seven years of being the Production Manager at Nevis Radio, Sy undertook the transformation into the Sustainability Manager in January last year to steer Nevis to new heights in the 21st century with new ideas and take what Nevis can offer to the community.
On site Presenter: John Weller known as ‘JW’ aka Mr. Weller / Security.
John Weller (Left) is the lead presenter at the SSDT Nevis Radio outside broadcasts – Photo: John Hulme/Trials Media
John is a dedicated volunteer to Nevis Radio. Currently hosts four shows, is a Director and chairperson of the company, and also is the Head of Music. John has always been keen on the music and preents varied shows through the week of differing styles. But has always shown a keen interest in other events such as the SSDT. In previous years John has done the camera work, also assisted in getting information for presenters such as John Moffat – our ‘SSDT Guru’. And last year hosted the SSDT coverage alongside John Moffat.
John Weller has always assisted Sy with his ‘wonderful’ ideas and supports where possible, John is very much an essential member of not just the ‘SSDT Team’ but of Nevis Radio.
The 2017 SACU Scottish Trials Champions – Photo: Lorna Brackenridge
The Scottish ACU held their 2017 Trials Championship awards evening at Grangemouth, near Falkirk on Saturday 20th January.
Trials Guru’s John Moffat was there as Guest Presenter.
A one minute silence was obeyed in memory of Dalmellington’s Michael Anderson who passed away recently.
Trials Guru’s John Moffat with 2017 Scottish Premier Trials Champion, Criag Houston. Craig is the first Ayrshire born winner in the history of the series which began in 1955. Photo: Lorna Brackenridge
Brian Payne on his AJS 16C in the 1964 SSDT – Photo: Brian Holder
Words: Neil Anderton
Brian ‘Tiger’ Payne was a founder member of the Yorks and Lancs Classic Bike Club in 1982 and subsequently appointed an honorary life member of Yorkshire Classic Motorcycle Club.
Tiger was always passionate about motorcycling and spent part his National service with the RAF laid up with a broken leg as a result of a motorcycle accident. He became interested in trials riding and rode his first Scott Trial in 1958, his start number was next to Arthur Lampkin. Once the flag dropped Tiger never saw Lampkin again. Tiger rode the Scott many more times, and then took up an observer’s role every year right up up to 2017 with his son John.
He rode the International Scottish Six Days trial from 1961 to 1966. Starting in Edinburgh and covering a 1000 miles in the week. 1964 brought one of the wettest trial in its long history. The second day crossed Rannoch Moor, a most inhospitable place and a little river crossing they normally splashed through was a raging torrent and impassable. Sammy Miller tried to jump it and failed landing in the water and drowning the bike. So Tiger and his mates Arthur Lampkin, Bill Wilkinkson, Blackie Holden and Ray Sayer formed a chain gang and standing waist deep in the water manhandled every bike across one by one. Ironically on the final day he broke down only a few miles from the finish in Edinburgh with a cracked piston, a huge disappointment and spoiled one of his best ever rides. Made of stern stuff, he once rode his AJS from home in Burnley up to Edinburgh, did the trial and rode home again.
In those days, socialising was a big thing at the Scottish Six Days and no opportunities were missed to enjoy themselves. Drinking and trials riding don’t go well together but even though he took the trial seriously the daily lunch stop wasn’t complete unless he could find a pub for a pint with Billy Gray and Jim Wallace his north Yorkshire Mates who were similarly minded, they were then set up for whatever the afternoon could throw at them
He was a good Pub singer and raconteur, his famous renditions of ‘Eskimo Knell’ and ‘A Fine Old English Gentleman’ would keep everybody well entertained into the small hours particularly if Dickie Davies (the competition manager from Dunlop) was there on the piano.
He loved Trail riding and often had trips with his friends Blackie Holden and George Slinger visiting his old trials stomping grounds and then trail riding in the Torridon region of the North West Highlands. Following his retirement, he used to have an annual pilgrimage to Crete where he would hire trail bikes and in lovely warm weather explore the mountainous regions of the island.
His knowledge of the Yorkshire Dales became second to none over the years. He once organised a three day off road endurance event for the Army Dispatch riders from Catterick Camp all in the Yorkshire Dales. In 2016, Tiger laid on a couple of organised runs in the Dales for the York Classic club.
He was also an active member of the New Imperial Club frequently riding with them on the organised road runs with John going along as well to help with a bike that was often a difficult and reluctant starter.
As well as being an enthusiastic observer in recent years, he put in many hours laying out our trials at Rogerham Gate the moorland venue which became synonymous with Tiger. He loved to go to the Rogerham Gate Inn after the trial to chat about the day’s events.
Although he retired from closed venue trials over ten years ago, he continued riding his favourite event the annual Beamish Trial run organised by the Vintage Motor Cycle Club. He rode this event over twenty times winning it in 2011 and finishing every time .His final Beamish was in September last year. The weather turned bad, the last hour was ridden in torrential rain. Without doubt a major personnel achievement on his old rigid and girders Triumph Tiger 80 for someone battling a debilitating illness and yet he still won a first class award.
Tiger wasn’t a one trick pony he enjoyed many things. Not confined to two wheels he once had a go partnering his friend Peter Roydhouse as passenger in his trials sidecar outfit in the Ilkley re Union trial.
Away from Motorcycling, depite never learning to swim he was a keen sailor and in his youth, a completive rower. He was also an accomplished crown green bowler.
Yorkshire Classic club trail rides in the future will be Tiger’s Legacy and Rogerham Gate will always be our Remembrance Day.
RIP Tiger, you couldn’t have achieved more.
Neil Anderton is the Yorkshire Classic Motorcycle Club President
Post script: Tiger’s AJS YNC526 ended up in the hands of Scottish Six Days assistant Clerk of Course, Alex Smith who rode the 1965 SSDT on the machine. It eventually ended up in Rogart, Sutherland owned by the local postman, John Macdonald.
John Macdonald, the local postman on his ex-‘Tiger’ Payne AJS 16C (YNC526) on ‘Sonnys’ at Rogart, Sutherland – Photo Grant Family Collection, Rogart
Bob MacGregor (Rudge) in the 1939 SSDT, a trial he won twice (1932 & 1935) and remains the only Scotsman to have won the SSDT in the events 109 year history
The annual Bob MacGregor Memorial Road Run takes place on Tuesday 1st May at Killin.
Organised by Westmorland Motor Club it is open to motorcycles and has a loop of around 139 miles in rural Perthshire.
Mike Anderson (left) pictured here with Sammy Miller MBE during a family visit to Sammy’s museum at New Milton in summer 2017
The Scottish trials community was saddened to learn of the death of Dalmellington club stalwart and keen trials rider, Michael Anderson on Monday 8th January, he was sixty years of age. He had been bravely battling cancer for some time, but throughout his treatment remained cheery and positive and continued to ride a motorcycle whenever possible.
Living at Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, he was originally from Bishop-Auckland in County Durham. Mike as he was known to all, never lost his North-East accent. He was a trials fanatic and amassed a collection of machines over the years. He rode a Royal Enfield many times in the early years of the Pre’65 Scottish Trial and a BSA Bantam and was delighted when his trials riding son, Michael junior was successful in gaining an entry to this years’ Scottish Six Days Trial in May. An event the whole family looked forward to, as well as their annual visits to the Scott Trial in the October.
Mike was married to the hard working Dalmellington club secretary, Heather Anderson and father to daughter, Coral who has been involved in the sport as an observer for many years and latterly an official at the SSDT. He made his living as an opencast mine machine operator.
Funeral arrangements are as follows:
Tuesday 16th January at St. Brides Church of Scotland, Sanquhar, at 12.30 pm, 1:00pm at the graveside, thereafter to the Sanquhar Community Centre for a funeral tea where the family would like to invite all friends to join them.
Mike’s daughter Coral spoke to Trials Guru and said: “We have been overwhelmed with all the supportive messages, visits and flowers that we have received. It is so comforting to know that my Dad was loved by so many people”.
Trials Guru conveys condolences to the Anderson family at this sad time on behalf of the wider Scottish trials community.
Mike Anderson on his BSA Bantam in the 1997 Pre’65 Scottish on Loch Eilde Path – Photo: Iain Lawie, Kinlochleven.
Tom Ollerton at Gorgie Market, Edinburgh in 1962 when competing in the Scottish Six Days Trial on his Bultaco when he worked at Anelays Motorcycles. This was the first Bultaco to be ridden in the SSDT.
It is with much sadness that Trials Guru brings the news of the passing of Tom Ollerton at the age of 91 on Christmas Day, 2017.
Ollerton was an active member of Darwen Motor Cycle & Light Car Club (now Darwen Trial Club) in Lancashire, being at one time their club secretary. Tom had the accolade of being the very first rider to compete in the Scottish Six Days Trial on a Bultaco in 1962. The Bultaco machine he rode was a 196cc ‘Sherpa S’ registered in Blackburn, Lancashire as PBV700, his riding number was 8 that year.
He worked at Anelays Motorcycles in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire who were the original importers of the Bultaco brand in the UK and had racing connections. However having ridden the modified Sherpa S in the 1962 Scottish Six Days and again in 1963 riding another Bultaco Sherpa of 155 cc capacity under number 18. Tom was joined in 1964 by Oriol Puig Bultó from the Bultaco factory who provided him with a factory prepared prototype machine riding number 40.
Tom Ollerton on his factory prepared prototype in the 1964 SSDT, tackles ‘Glen Ogle’ on the first day.
Oriol who is the nephew of Senor F.X. Bultó the founding father of the marque, was very impressed by the modifications that Tom had carried out to the standard, dual purpose ‘Sherpa N’ and Puig Bultó set about altering his own factory machine to a similar specification. Oriol was a very competent international motocross rider as well as being an expert trials and ISDT competitor.
It could be said that Ollerton was the fore-runner/creator of the machine that was the basis for Sammy Miller’s ‘Sherpa T’ of November 1964, the model with increased capacity to 244cc, that literally changed the world of trials forever.
Trials Guru’s John Moffat who has followed the history of the Sherpa since childhood said: “Tom Ollerton’s involvement with developing the ‘Sherpa N’ to close to ‘Sherpa T’ specification has all but been forgotten except for a handful of enthusiasts. Tom Ollerton has been the ‘missing link’ in the Bultaco Sherpa story, my aim is to put that right. Tom Ollerton’s contribution to the Sherpa’s development was significant in nature, having competed in the toughest trial in the world three times on the brand. I wouldn’t take any credit away from Sammy Miller of course, but the trials Bultaco had been in a constant stage of development before Sammy did his secret testing sessions in company with Roy Peplow in the October of 1964 at Senor Bultó’s ranch, called San Antonio.”
Moffat continued: “Sammy Miller’s development work on the Sherpa which eventually became the production Model 10 is well documented, but Tom Ollerton’s contribution to the Bultaco Sherpa, less so.”
Moffat also said: “Having got to know Oriol Puig Bultó very well over the past few years, we have discussed this many times in conversation. He told me that in 1964 he drove a small Fiat 500cc car with a trailer carrying two Sherpa prototype machines, one for himself and the other for his friend Tom Ollerton to ride, all the way from Barcelona to Edinburgh in Scotland for that year’s SSDT. I know that Oriol held Tom Ollerton in high regard, I am certain he will be much saddened to hear of Tom’s passing.”
Our sincere condolences go to the Ollerton family.
Tom Ollerton’s funeral service will take place at St Anne’s Church, Turton, BOLTON, Lancashire BL7 0ER at 1.30pm on Monday, January 8th 2018, followed by cremation at Pleasington, Blackburn, Lancashire BB2 5LE.
Oriol Puig Bultó wrote on 3rd January 2018:
“I am very sad today by the news of Tom Ollerton’s passing.
This brings my memory back to May 1964, when I drove all the way from Barcelona to Edinburgh taking on my trailer two Bultaco Trial prototypes prepared at the factory for the SSDT, one for myself and the other for my team mate Tom Ollerton. The experience we gained at that event helped us to further develop the Trial model towards the Sherpa T. My sympathy and condolences to Tom’s family.”
Coming on to the bookshelves in February 2018 is a new biography written by Ian Berry on Jeff Smith, a man who really should have no introductions, he was of course not only World Motocross champion but also was a very good trials rider, who won the SSDT (1955) and Scott Trial (1954 & 1959).
The book, which is hardback and has 450 pages will be published by Motorsport Publications LLC and Ian hopes to have copies available for the Telford Off Road Show on the weekend of 17/18 February. Price to be announced shortly.
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