Mont Ventoix 2015 – Jordi Tarres (SWM), Phillipe Berlatier (Bultaco) & Steve Saunders (Honda) – Photo: Claudio Trial Pictures
Our Index page was used extensively, which shows there is a lot of interest in our archive material, free to use at any time. We pride ourselves at Trials Guru in that we don’t manage forums which distract from the real meaning of Trials Guru, to preserve trial history and celebrate all the great riders and events from all over the planet.
AGBikes, Low Row, Richmond, Yorkshire receive free publicity on Trials Guru. The firm is family run by a rider/enthusiasts.
We run without subscription and income from adverts. All the businesses featured on Trials Guru are featured here only by personal recommendation and they pay no advertising charges for space on our Useful Links page. That is the unique way we work for the true trial enthusiast.
Trial Magazine and Classic Trial are both recognised publications of quality by Trials Guru and receive free publicity on this website, read about Debbie Evans-Leavitt story on Trials Guru – find it easily on our ‘Index‘ page
We hope to bring you more photos, more articles, more facts about the great sport of motorcycle trial here on Trials Guru throughout the year.
Bultaco publicity photo of Martin Lampkin on his factory Sherpa T model 92 – Image courtesy of the John Hulme Catalogue Archive/Trial Magazine UK – Read the Bultaco -Spain page on Trials Guru
Guru – The syllable ‘gu’ means darkness, the syllable ‘ru’, he who dispels them, Because of the power to dispel darkness, the guru is thus named.
Bultaco publicity from 1975 showing Manuel Soler and advertising that Bultaco Motorcycles and Soler were Spanish Trials Champions.
Bultaco trials motorcycles now have their own page on Trials Guru!
EAA60D, Sammy Miller’s 1966 Sherpa T, is now owned and been restored to its former glory by Yrjo Vesterinen – Photo copyright: Neil Sturgeon, Darlington
It was always the intention to have a page on the site to celebrate the brand, but due to other articles taking precedence, it has only been possible to do this now.
Charles Coutard with his 1977 factory Bultaco Sherpa – Photo Copyright: Claudio Picture
This particular page will be modified and expanded through time, so please keep checking back for new items going forward!
Back in 1977, having previously acquired the tooling and stock of the BSA competition shop at Small Heath, Alan Clews decided to create a trials machine. It is believed that Sammy Miller had already approached Clews to supply him with BSA motors to power a trials machine of Millers own design. Clews’ CCM (Clews Competition Machines) brand was by then already well established, having risen from the original ‘Clew-Stroka’ motocross concept from 1971, by using BSA B50 motors as the power-plant, but with the capacity increased from 498cc to 600cc.
CCM had built their motocross brand from the 1971 concept of ‘Clew-Stroka’ which at heart was an uprated 498cc BSA B50 motor – Photo: Justyn Norek, Turin
Clews had built a reputation of making high quality motocross machinery which performed as well as they looked. In the hands of Lancastrian, Bob Wright; Cumbrian Mick Barnes and later Vic Eastwood and Scot, Vic Allan, the CCM was a serious racing motorcycle.
1978 CCM 350T MKII – Photo: Justyn Norek, Turin
Based in Bolton, Lancashire, England the company had grown considerably from modest beginnings. Mike Eatough made the frames, before setting up his own venture called EMC.
There seemed to be a market for a four-stroke trials machine and Clews was eager to fill the void and to produce one, Made in Britain! Honda had already launched their TL125 and for the US market, the TL250 trials models, developed with the help of Sammy Miller and the company’s ‘Bials for Trials’ programme.
Drive side shot of a 1978 MKII CCM 350T
The eventual CCM production run of their 350T machine was very modest, with just over 100 machines ever produced by the factory. It utilised a variant of the BSA B40 – 343cc unit single, which CCM claimed the capacity as 345cc by using a bore of 79.25 mm and stroke of 70 mm, with compression ratio as 6.2:1.
Original sales leaflet for the MK1 CCM 350T specification from 1978
Quality components were sourced from European manufacturers, From Italy, Marzocchi supplied both front forks and remote reservoir rear shocks, German ‘Magura’ controls, the Italian, ‘Grimeca’ hubs and brakes and gold anodised Spanish ‘Akront’ wheel rims. With American-made Preston Petty motocross red plastic mudguards also fitted front and rear. This particular combination, with the chromed chassis made for a ‘good looking’ machine, this in itself did not make a 100% competitive trials machine however.
Nick Jefferies on his factory CCM 350T in the 1978 SSDT at Altnafeadh on the first day of the event – Photo: Jimmy Young Archive on Trials Guru
The B40 motor was treated to an Amal MK2 concentric carburettor and a revised primary drive alloy casing, finished in black with the CCM motif in relief, with a novel little oil breather/catch bottle fitted to the nearside crankcase. But at heart it was still a BSA B40 which had been developed from the 1959 C15 design.
Given the more modern riding position, the gear pedal was fitted in such a way that it was accessible by the rider standing up on the foot-pegs. The gear pedal passed behind the kick-start lever.
Backed by Castrol Oils UK, riders of the caliber of Dave Thorpe, (who left Bultaco to ride the CCM prototype) and Nick Jefferies were employed to develop the CCM 350T for the factory.
Jefferies entered the 1978 Scottish Six Days Trial riding number 220 on the 400cc CCM prototype, backed by Castrol, but failed to finish the event.
Thorpe entered the 1979 SSDT on the 360cc CCM factory machine with riding number 250, with Thorpe shadowed most of the week by motocross rider, Dick Clayton whose riding gear had been rumoured to be literally stuffed with spare parts.
Private owner, Mel Ross from Monifieth, Dundee on his CCM 350T at a Dunfermline Trial in Scotland in 1978 – Photo: Jimmy Young Archive on Trials Guru
Dave Thorpe did finished the 1979 SSDT in 95th position on 397 marks lost, which was not a good day at the office for him, having been 11th position the year before on a Bultaco!
V. R. Moyce from Wickham rode a production CCM 350 in the 1979 SSDT and finished in 190th position on 597 marks lost.
The late Willie Dalling, former clerk of Course for the SSDT riding a borrowed CCM 350T in 1978 at the Aberfeldy Two-Day Trial in Scotland – Photo: Jimmy Young Archive on Trials Guru
Many of the Bolton built CCMs were bought by private riders who wanted something different.
Lancashire’s Eddie Smith on a Sandiford CCM 350T in 1978 at the Aberfeldy Two Day Trial – Photo: Jimmy Young Archive on Trials Guru
In 1979 Honda launched their own British built four-stroke trials machine, the TL200E (the ‘E’ stood for ‘England’) made by Colin Seeley in England, but ‘adopted’ by Honda UK as their own model and marketed through their comprehensive motorcycle dealership network.
The production MKII CCM 350T of 1978
The frame was made from Reynolds ‘531’ tubing, argon brazed and finished with chrome plating to both frame and swinging arm.
The wheelbase at 51.5 inches followed almost the same dimensions as the Bultaco Sherpa it was designed to beat in competition.
A fairly original October 1978 registered CCM 350T MKII, all except for the two-tone coloured seat and red handlebar grips
Whist the CCM 350T was never destined to become a trials ‘world beater’, the machines did sell reasonably quickly. They were not produced in significantly high numbers, hence now they command extremely high prices for their rarity value alone.
CCM later became part of the ‘Armstrong-CCM’ brand, but that is another story!
Three legendary drivers Bultaco together on this photo: Yrjo Vesterinen , Manuel Soler, and Charles Coutard (in action) – Claudio Picture
Trials Guru is proud to announce a new page featuring the work of freelance photographer, Claudio from France.
Claudio attended the 2013 Highland Classic Two-Day Trial with his Andorran friend Joan-Pere Santure and enjoyed the experience, meeting Trials Guru representative, John Moffat at the event.
So please have a look at Claudio’s page for some fantastic photographs of people from the sport of trial.
The triple world champion Yrjo Vesterinen was able to arrange the Bultaco trial team for the Highland Classic 2 Day Trial, which took place on the 8/9th of June, 2013 in northern Scotland on the Alvie Estate. Oriol Puig Bulto Side-car,from the left: Yrjo Vesterinen, Ignacio Bultó, Manuel Soler and on the right Juan Oliver, Jaime Puig, Charles Coutard, and on the far end Javier Cucurella. A great picture to remember a great event – Claudio Picture
The late Willie Dalling (Montesa Cota 348) at Scottish Experts & National Trial, Achallader, Bridge of Orchy 1978 – Photo: Jimmy Young
If you haven’t been here before, you are in for a surprise. We have been putting articles, photo collections and information from the world of trials together for about two years now. Trials Guru is free, no subscriptions to pay, no membership fees, it runs for free!
Trials Guru is here to promote the sport of motorcycle trials throughout the world.
Scottish Six Days shot of Rob Edwards. the late Jim Sandiford and Martin Lampkin in 1975 – Rainer Heise Archive
It is supported by an enthusiastic band of photographers, these people own the legal rights to these photos, they are not the intellectual property of Trials Guru unless indicated as such. Please be respectful of the photographers copyright which is clearly marked either on the image or in the captions.
Rob Edwards in 1971 at Edramucky on the first day of the SSDT – Photo: Mick Illing
No copying of images is allowed for any other website unless permission is sought from the photographer.
Tirials Guru is easy to use, just click on the headline titles which take you to various pages. There is also an ‘Index‘ page which is arranged alphabetically.
The festive season is now with us, so why not catch up with Trials Guru? There has been a veritable heap of articles and photos added during 2015 with more to come next year, all being well.
We were very fortunate to secure the services of Germany’s Rainer Heise and the UK’s Mike Rapley during the year, which has brought even more pleasure to trials fans world-wide.
Mike Rapley
Compliments of the season from Trials Guru – Dedicated to the sport of trials.
2015 Bob MacGregor Memorial Run near Killin with Trials Guru representative John Moffat enjoying a run on his late father’s 1951 AJS 16MC.
A ‘This is Your Life’ style interview will take place with Pete Edmondson and Jimmy Aird at 11.00 am on 2 January, 2016 at the Crooklands Hotel. Kendal, Junction 36 M6 motorway.
Kirkcaldy born, Jimmy Aird was a multiple Scottish Motocross champion who moved south to live near Barnard Castle and contested the British championships for CZ, AJS, Montesa and CCM when these marques were at their height. He later became a director of TT Leathers with Len Thwaites and set up Scott Leathers which he still runs to this day.
Pete Edmondson is a Yorkshireman who produced the Dalesman motorcycles from a church in Otley. Machines which had the input of world motocross champion, Joel Robert.
Also coming along to join in is journalist Frank Melling to promote his new book, “A Penguin in a Sparrow’s Nest”.
Dave Thorpe (325 Bultaco) was the first rider to win a World Championship round, seen here competing in the World Championships at Bristol in 1975 – Photo Copyright: Mike Rapley
18 December 2015 – Trials Guru and all it’s readers, supporters, contributers and photographers would like to wish Dave Thorpe, former Ossa, Bultaco and CCM works rider all the very best on his seventieth birthday!
Happy Birthday, Dave Thorpe
Dave Thorpe (325 Bultaco), in the ‘West of England’ national trial of 1977 – Photo: Mike RapleyBlackwater Dab from Dave Thorpe in 1977 – Photo copyright: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven
Dave, Bultaco mounted in the 1980 Loch Lomond 2 Day Trial – Photo: Jimmy Young, Armadale
Guy Martin, star of the film ‘TT3D – Closer To The Edge’ and various television series is to ride a 350cc Ariel in the 2016 Pre’65 Scottish Trial on Friday 29th and Saturday, 30th April, 2016. He will also undertake duties as the official guest of honour for the event which takes place around the village and hillsides of Kinlochleven, Argyll.
Trials Guru’s John Moffat (left) with Guy Martin (centre) and George McCann at the Bon Accord Grampian Motorcycle Convention at Alford in 2011 where he was guest of honour – Photo copyright: Jean Moffat/Moffat Racing
The Pre’65 trial secretary, Anne Gordon added: ‘We are delighted to announce that Guy Martin, Motorcycle Racer and TV star has agreed to be Guest of Honour for the 2016 event and has also entered the trial to try his hand at Pre’65 trials riding. It is a great honour for us to have him at the trial and we would like to thank Simon Sharp and Owen Hardisty at Hope Technology (our Saturday Day Sponsors) for helping us to get Guy to the event after we approached them at last year’s SSDT. We are really excited to have such a celebrity at our event and hope he enjoys taking part. I don’t think there will be many people who have not heard of Guy, as he is well-known through his very illustrious motorcycle racing career as well as his many film and television shows that have us all enthralled with his very hands on and down to earth approach’.
The Pre’65 Scottish is always massively oversubscribed with over 150 potential entrants disappointed at not getting through the inevitable ballot of competitors. However it should be clarified that Hope Technology are the event sponsors and as such, are entitled to what is effectively a ‘wild-card’ reserved entry as part of their sponsorship deal, which in this case has been granted to Guy Martin for 2016. The appearance of Guy Martin at this event, both as a rider and guest of honour can only be good for the sport of trials and the ever supportive inhabitants of the town of Kinlochleven.
Guy Martin picks up his 350 Ariel that he will use in the 2016 Pre’65 Scottish Two-Day Trial on 29/30 April from Hope Technology’s designer Owen Hardisty – Photo courtesy of Hope Technology.
Who is Guy Martin?
Born in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England in November 1981, Guy was the central racing character when supported by the Irish-based Wilson Craig Honda team in the docu-movie, ‘TT3D – Closer to the Edge’ which was filmed during the 2010 TT races and screened in 2011. This set Martin on the road to a lucrative television career having competed for many years at the Isle of Man TT with success, but so far no outright TT win to his credit. He has ridden for AIM Yamaha, Relentless/Tyco Suzuki and Hydrex Honda teams in the past.
Martin is interested in all things mechanical, his main occupation is an HGV mechanic with an independent truck company in Grimsby Lincolnshire, which specialises in the maintenance of Scania trucks. His father Ian who also ran a similar business is also a former motorcycle road racer who retired from racing in 1988 after an accident at Scarborough’s Oliver’s Mount.
Martin has been the central character in several television documentaries which has taken him half way around the globe to India and most recently to Latvia in a Chanel Four production in which he retraced the life of his late maternal grandfather, Zanus ‘Walter’ Kidals in the war-torn Baltic state of Latvia which saw occupation by both German and Russian troops in the second world conflict. His grandfather was a displaced person known as ‘DP’ arriving via Hull where he met an English girl, married, settled and worked in Britain.
By coincidence, the town of Kinlochleven saw many DPs, like Martin’s grandfather; arrive from war-torn Europe and the Balcan states of Poland, Latvia and Lithuania as there was work available at the North British Aluminium Company smelter in Kinlochleven. One such man was Lithuanian born Paul Kilbauskas, who arrived in 1947 and found employment at the aluminium works and with co-worker and friend Ian Pollock discovered the many paths and sections that are still used by both the Pre’65 and Scottish Six Days events that make use of the Leven Valley in early May. Kilbauskas later became a ‘Tunnel Tiger’ working on the large hydro-electric schemes in the Scottish Highlands.
Guy has harboured a desire to compete in Pre’65 trials since 2011, but television and racing commitments rendered it a ‘back-burner’ for a few years.
The Pre’65 committee having secured sponsorship with Hope Technology which has an association with Guy through his interest in mountain bikes and eventually Simon Sharp and Owen Hardisty made the approach to see if Martin would be Guest of Honour at the annual event, now in its thirty second year.
Guy Martin has turned his skilled hands to many things in front of camera, including a two-year restoration of a Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft which had been buried in a French beach since the second world war; a rebuild of a narrow-boat called ‘Reckless’ and much more; including riding a hydroplane motocross bike across a lake and setting a speed record for a pedal-cycle. He was even fortunate enough to be allowed to work on the last flying Vulcan bomber aircraft XH558 during preparations for its final flight in 2015.
Guy’s Ariel:
On loan specially for the Pre’65 Scottish Guy will be riding a 350cc Ariel HT3 which used to belong to Lancastrian ace, Chris Gascoigne who campaigned the machine for many years and has been a winner in Chris’s hands many times over.
Added attractions for the 2016 Pre’65 Scottish from 1966:
The 1967 SSDT programme cover featured the 1966 winner, Alan Lampkin on his factory BSA 748MOE
There will also be an appearance of the 1966 Scottish Six Days winning BSA C15T of Alan ‘Sid’ Lampkin. Registered as 748MOE, it will be ridden in the Pre’65 by Alan’s son, James Lampkin to celebrate 50 years since Sid’s SSDT victory on the very last British four-stoke machine to win the Highland classic. This will be James Lampkin’s first pre’65 Scottish although he has competed in the SSDT for many years.
James Lampkin: “Dad realised that it would be 50 years since the BSA won the Scottish in 1966 after he bought the bike back again in October 2014. It is very original having passed through quite a few owners since it was sold off in 1967. Although he doesn’t ride trials himself anymore, he was very pleased when I agreed to enter on the BSA. I’m really looking forward to it”.
1966 SSDT winner, A.R.C. ‘Sid’ Lampkin seen here with John Moffat (Trials Guru) in November 2014. James Lampkin is visible on the left of the photo – Photo courtesy: John Hulme/Trial Magazine.
The Premier Trial Website – Recording the History of the Sport 'Established 2014'
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