Rob Edwards – Bits ‘n bobs – Part Two

January 11, 2015 bigjohn2014 Leave a comment

Martin Lampkin could be saying: 'Have you lost your licence again Rob?' — Martin Lampkin could be saying: ‘Have you lost your licence again Rob?’

Hello Everybody, here are more of my Bits ‘n Bobs, I hope you will enjoy them.

My next tale happened in France.
Malcolm Rathmell, Martin Lampkin and I were travelling to the French round of the European Championship. We stayed the night at a hotel that was about 20 miles from the Trial start.

First thing next day we set off in the direction of the start. As soon as we got going, we rummaged about to find the regulations for the event. These stated that the start was at ‘Le Mari’. We still had a fair way to go, so we could relax and keep one eye on the map. Suddenly Malc bellowed: ‘LEFT, LEFT, LEFT‘ and sure enough as we broad sided into this rather grand gateway the sign read ‘Le Mari’.

Almost in harmony we said ‘bloody hell! this looks a bit posh for a Trial?‘.

At the end of the drive was a magnificent French Chateau. Still the sign said ‘Le Mari’ so we must be right.

We parked in front of the Chateau and Mart and Malc set off up the stone steps. Says Mart: ‘Come on Rob what are you piddling about at?‘

I said: ‘I cant find my Passport or my money and my international trials licence’.

It was at this point Mart washed his hands of me.

Mart: ‘Every time you put your documents safe you forget where you have put them’.

‘Anyway’ said Mart, ‘I am not even going to help you look for them, you won’t have lost them look in all your pockets’.

Mart said: ‘Me and Malc are off to sign on you can catch us up’.

Sure enough I found my documents and set off in hot pursuit. The lads were on their way back down the stone steps.

Malc said: ‘Up the steps Rob, oh have you got your international Trials licence they wont let you sign on without it. Go through the glass doors and up the staircase in front of you at the top turn right go down the corridor and into the third door on the right’.

I opened the door and walked in expecting to see three or four people waiting to sign competitors on. Instead the room had about thirty people seated around a huge oval table all looking a bit bemused. It didn’t take me long to realize that I had been set up by the lads but not before I had got half-way around the table shouting in my best pigeon French Allo Allo sign on for ‘Trieeaal‘.

The look on their faces said it all and I beat a hasty retreat back through the door and off down the corridor.

Once outside I saw Mart and Malc laid on the ground with tears rolling down their cheeks. ‘Did you get signed on Rob?‘

‘No I bloody didn’t!’ was my reply.
We learn’t later that every town and village had a ‘Le Mari’. This is not maybe how to spell it but roughly translated it means ‘Town Hall’.

No wonder the people in the board meeting thought that the village idiot had popped in!

Bye for now – Rob

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Montesas new breed!

January 7, 2015 bigjohn2014 Leave a comment

News flash from Yorkshire – Writes Barry Robinson

Anthony Ayrton's 2RT Montesa. Photo: Barry Robinson — Anthony Ayrton’s 2RT Montesa. Photo: Barry Robinson

We have a breeding programme around Barnoldswick (Barlick to the locals in Lancashire).
Montesa 315’s are being caught and put into quarantine. Those are refurbished but some, Anthony Ayrton’s 4RT, had a blown engine so costly to ‘fettle’ that they are cannibalised. The 4RT frame requires some modifications to slot in a 315 engine, radiator etc. The 4RT air-box is utilised. The 315 forks fit. The end product is a responsive good handling trialler that will not wear out. As it is breeding season in the Pennine regions any lurking Montesa 315s are being trapped by the Yorkies crossing the border without a permit. At least twenty such machines are nesting in the hills above Barlick. It’s that old Yorkshire/Lancashire rivalry again!

Nathan Wrigglesworth and Anthony Ayrton. Photo: Barry Robinson

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MotoNI News: Crockstar tries Trials!

January 6, 2015 bigjohn2014 Leave a comment

Saturday 3rd January saw Moto Trial NI host the 3rd round of our winter series at John White’s Farm in Newtownards. An absolutely fabulous day it turned out to be, there were 158 competitors who turned up and the weather was as good as you can expect in winter with bright sunshine all day!

Of the 158 riders there were 45 youth competitors which was very heartening as it shows trials are starting to generate new competitors into the sport. There was also a very healthy amount of older bikes from air cooled monos, through 70/80s twinshocks right back to a beautiful Matchless, and at the other end lots of new bikes and the ultra modern electric bikes for the kids!!!

In the A grade there was a bigger than usual entry of 34 riders! And there were quite a few in with a shout of the win!
At the halfway point a slack two mark penalty dropped Ken Perry down to second only one mark behind former GP MX star, Newtownards’ own Gordon Crockard!! Four riders finished the first card within three marks of Crockstar, so the battle and pressure was clearly on for the final two laps!
Crockard held his nerve though to post a faultless second card to finish the trial on only one mark lost!! This give him the win over Ken Perry by one mark who beat Sam Hampshire by a further one mark! In fact both Ken and Sam matched Crockstars clear second card, so it was a real nail biting finish!! Phillip Morrison was next a further point back while Gareth Mackey was fifth on five marks lost.
In the grade A aircooled group Aaron Smyth ran out winner, while in the grade A twinshock group Kyle Turner ran out a clear winner from Stuart Hanlon.

Onto Grade B, and again there was a healthy entry of 35 riders.
At the halfway stage there was a three way tie for the lead, Paul Harvey, Ray Adamson and Alan Young all on three marks lost!! Again the pressure was on for the final two laps and Paul showed the experience gained over many years to post a faultless card for the final two laps to give him the win on three marks lost! Ray was second three marks further back, Alan took third one mark away from Ray with Johnny Russell forth on eleven, one better than John Tweedie in fifth!
In the twinshock group Geoff Hillis came home in first place and in the Pre 65 group Chris Hampshire made the trip from over the border worthwhile by winning on his BSA Bantam!

The largest grade of the day was Grade C with 45 competitors, three riders posted faultless first cards with numerous riders within reach of them a few marks further back!! Davy Mulholland held his nerve and returned a faultless second card to end the four laps of ten sections without any marks lost all day!! A fantastic ride!! Next home was Ray Harper on one mark, Ray Mason was third on two marks one ahead of Eric Davidson in forth with Tom Conlon fifth on five marks lost!
In the twinshock grade David McGaughey was the winner on his Ossa!

Onto the youth grades and in youth A Josh Hanlon fought off all the others to take the win. At the halfway mark he only had a narrow lead from Alexander Lennox but Josh held his nerve to post a faultless second card to extend his lead and take the win on four marks. Alexander had to ride well to hold off Ross Pyper for second, while Ross in turn just held off George Taylor by one mark for third! Jack Waring took fifth place.

In youth B Robbie Dugan showed how well he has progressed recently by taking the win on five marks lost from Campbell Baillie who posted a score of ten, next was Jordan Nixon on twenty, with Matthew White a further three marks further back in forth. Callum McAllister was fifth home on thirty six marks.

Grade C youth is separated in two, one group riding the adult course and one on a smaller course.
On the big course Ryan Thompson and Peter Molloy tied on ten marks lost, but Ryan took the win having gone further than Peter before losing any marks! Next was Morgan Steele on nineteen, followed in forth by Tim Davidson on twenty four with Aaron Lappin fifth on twenty six.
On the smaller course Dylan Smyth was first, Matthew Lockhead was second with Ross Allen third.
In youth D Stuart Lappin was first closely followed by Shannon Smyth.

There were two grades for electric bikes and in the E1 class Harry Smith won while in the E2 grade Ben McCosh was the winner!!

Speaking immediately after the event the winner Gordon Crockard said “I would like to thank Moto Trial NI for putting on such a wonderful event, it was a great day! The best thing though is having an event within 800 yards of my front door!!!!”

Moto Trial NI would like to thank John White, John O’Hara, Andy McCracken, Leslie and David Wright for the use of their land, we would also thank the residents for their patience in having us there and Phillip Hanlon for the photographs and lastly but as important thanks too to the observers Brian, Blossom and Kenny, Phillip, Gordon, Davy, Dougie, Clive, Mervyn, Emily and Nikkie for giving their day to allow us to put on such a great event!!

Finally thanks to all the riders for turning up in such numbers to compete.

Results
Grade A
1. Gordon Crockard 1
2. Ken Perry 2
3. Sam Hampshire 3
4. Phillip Morrison 4
5. Gareth Mackey 5
Aircooled
Aaron Smyth
Twinshock
Kyle Turner
Grade B
1. Paul Harvey 3
2. Ray Adamson 6
3. Alan Young 7
4. Jonny Russell 11
5. John Tweedie 12
Twinshock
Geoff Hillis
Pre 65
Chris Hampshire
Grade C
1. Davy Mulholland 0
2. Ray Harper 1
3. Ray Mason 2
4. Eric Davidson 3
5. Tom Conlon 5
Twinshock
David McGaughey
Youth A
1. Josh Hanlon 4
2. Alexander Lennox 14
3. Ross Pyper 16
4. George Taylor 17
5. Jack Waring 36
Youth B
1. Robbie Dugan 5
2. Campbell Baillie 10
3. Jordan Nixon 20
4. Matthew White 23
5. Callum McAllister 36
Youth C big course
1. Ryan Thompson 10 – furthest clean
2. Peter Molloy 10
3. Morgan Steele 19
4. Tim Davidson 24
5. Aaron Lappin 26
Youth C small course
1. Dylan Smyth
2. Matthew Lockhead
3. Ross Allen
Youth D
1. Stuart Lappin
2. Shannon Smyth
E1
1. Harry Smith
E2
1. Ben McCosh

Photo credits to Philip Hanlon.

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Rob Edwards Story – Bits ‘n Bobs – Part One

January 5, 2015 bigjohn2014 1 Comment

Hi Everybody!
Thank you for all your comments and good wishes. I hope you all have A Happy New Year?
My favourite Christmas present was an e mail from Alberto Mallofre, formerly of Montesa Motorcycles.

He is struggling with a few health problems, but he sends his best wishes to all.
Unfortunately ‘Guru John’ wants me to write a few pages telling you some of the things that have happened along the way.

I am happy to do this as I didn’t want to finish on the dismal subject of health!
So here we go with ROB’s ‘ BITS ‘n BOBS’….
Thorpey, Nige, Sid and I were passing through Austria on our way home from a European Trials Championship round.

Mart was at the wheel and as usual we weren’t hanging about – in an effort to catch the ferry to Dover.

Suddenly, an Austrian policeman walked into the road in front of us holding up a lollipop stop sign.

We knew straight away that we must have gone through a speed trap. Leave this to me said our driver and wound down the window. Marts plan was to use the old ‘no comprende’ trick.

As the bobby put his head through the window he was greeted with an ‘all right pal no comprende’.

“Ah” said the bobby, “thank you for being concerned about my well-being, however you have just passed through a speed trap at almost twice the legal limit and you must pay me x number of Austrian schillings“.

How unlucky could we be he spoke perfect English!

Mart changed to ‘Plan B’. “Look pal we haven’t any Austrian money at all“.

“Oh that’s okay” he said. Had we got away with it?

Pointing up the road he said: “do you see that blue sign?“

“Well that is a bank you can change money there and when you give me the right number of schillings I will give you back your ignition keys“.

The time had come to admit defeat!

At the risk of sounding like an agony aunt, Simon Valente asked me if I could suggest any modifications to the 250 or 348 Montesa?

Well, I was constantly doing small mods to tailor the bike to suit me like popping the fork stanchions through the top yoke by 6mm.

I also made up footrests that were 6mm down and others that were 6mm back.

This way, I could test the position without grinding off the footrest mountings.
Talking as we were about modifications, I remember going to Jim Sandiford’s at Bury to pick up my new bike.

Jim came up to me in the yard as I admired my new machine.

He put a fatherly arm around my shoulders and said to me quietly: “Rob please promise me that you will ride it before you modify it?” Fingers crossed I agreed.
In the 1975 Scottish Six Days, I stopped to talk to Bill Wilkinson at the top of the Black Water sections. When we set off to cross over Black Water moor Bill went first and I followed behind.

I’ve crossed dozens of moors with Bill but he was going slower and slower. Eventually feeling very embarrassed I overtook him. I gave him a wave and shouted “see you later“.

I couldn’t help thinking poor old Bill. Once in front I set too to make up lost time.

The course went close to the reservoir for sometime then turned hard left and we went up a steep hillside.

I was enjoying the scenery. About three quarters of the way up the hill I spotted another rider who I presumed must have a puncture. When I got close I could see the rider was laid in the heather eating a topic bar. It was bloody Bill Wilkinson! From the grin on his face it was obvious that I had been set up. So much for me feeling sorry for him. For years now I have tried to get the story out of him to no avail – one to you Bill!

Bye for Now! – Rob

Rob Edwards on a 348 Montesa - Santigosa Three Day Trial 1977. Photo: Rob Edwards Private Collection — Rob Edwards on a 348 Montesa – Santigosa Three Day Trial 1977. Photo: Rob Edwards Private Collection

Bultaco

BULTACO – The tuners who made them GO!

January 4, 2015 bigjohn2014 2 Comments

Francisco ‘Bambi’ Valera

Francisco Valera who was universally known as ‘Bambi’ was an employee of the Bultaco factory. Not just any employee on the assembly line, he was a factory technician or mechanic, who had input to the development and servicing of the factory bikes for racing, motocross and trial. ‘Bambi’ started working in the racing department at the Bultaco factory in the early 1960’s before a dealership network had been formed. ‘Bambi’ worked for Bultaco until the factory closed in 1984. In 1960 he rode in the 24 Hour race at Montjuich with another rider nicknamed ‘Tiger’ on a Bultaco ‘Tralla 101’ model winning their class and the Endurance Championship of Spain.

24 Hores de Montjuich 1960 — **‘Bambi’ competing on a Bultaco ‘Tralla’ 101 race machine in the 1960 24 hours race at Montjuich circuit in Spain. His co-rider was another Bultaco employee nicknamed ‘Tiger’.**

‘Bambi’ was a well known face at International motocross and enduro evnst over the years and knowing Bultacos inside out, so to speak, he knew all the tricks of how to make them more reliable and faster.

Grenoble, 1965 - Oriol Puig Bulto on a Bultaco Sherpa with 'Bambi' Valera watching. Oriol was a nephew of Snr. Bulto, the Bultaco company founder. Photo: Cristina Valera Fandos Archive. — **Grenoble, 1965 – Oriol Puig Bulto on a Bultaco Sherpa with ‘Bambi’ Valera watching. Oriol was a nephew of Snr. Bulto, the Bultaco company founder. Photo: Cristina Valera Fandos Archive.**

Setting individual machines up to individual factory riders specifications for not only handling but also carburation and overall performance.

Bambi y Jorge Capapey i Fernando Muñoz — **1970 at the ISDT at El Escorial, near Madrid. here we see ‘Bambi’ with Bultaco works riders, Fernando Munoz and Jorge Capapey**

Now retired, ‘Bambi’ encourages his Grandson Oriol to ride motorcycles as much as possible and has a very nice Bultaco Chispa for him to ride.

Bambi Valera & Oriol Marse - grandson — **‘Bambi’ with his grandson, Oriol Marse Valera and the Bultaco Chispa 49cc**

Bambi y Narcis Casas — **‘Bambi’ with Narcis Casas, the Bultaco factory rider, who went on to develop the Gas Gas trial and Enduro machines. Seen here with a Bultaco Frontera 360 Enduro machine.**

Bambi y Fernando Munoz — **‘Bambi’ with former Spanish Motocross Bultaco rider, Domingo Gris**

‘Bambi’ also rode Bultaco machinery during his time at the factory.

Bambi Sherpa N — **Francisco on an early Bultaco Sherpa, the model N which was the precursor to the Sherpa T. Here ‘Bambi’ is riding in the company trial on the ranch owned by F.X. Bulto called San Antonio.**

Bambi & Mercurio tricks — **‘Bambi’ indulges in some trick riding on Bultaco Mercurio road bike near the factory at San Adrian De Besos, Barcelona, Spain.**

Bambi y Marcel Cama — **‘Bambi’ warming up a Bultaco racing TSS with Marcel Cama at the San Adrian De Besos factory.**

Bambi & Pursang wheel — **‘Bambi’ with a Bultaco Pursang rear wheel at an International motocross around 1972.**

Bultaco mod.133 - YV — Photo from the experimental and competition department at the Bultaco factory taken in 1975, with Yrjo Vesterinen’s Bultaco Sherpa model 133, a very rare machine, very few produced. The person nearest the camera is ‘Bambi’ Valera – Photo courtesy of Yrjo Vesterinen, photographer unknown.

Souvenirs - Bambi — **Some souvenirs of Bambi’s from the 1970’s (Horst Leitner was Bultaco importer for Germany & Austria)**

Bambi Valera - 2015 - CV — **Always a Bultaco man, Bambi Valera pictured here in 2015 on a Bultaco, of course! – Photo: Cristina Valera Fandos**

With many thanks to Cristina Valera Fandos for her assistance in providing information and photos for this short article on her father and special thanks to former World Trials Champion, Yrjo Vesterinen for his co-operation and assistance in preparing this article.

Text Copyright: Trials Guru/John Moffat – 2015.

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Rob Edwards – Part 16 – Light at the end of the tunnel

December 31, 2014 bigjohn2014 Leave a comment

Part Sixteen:

Light at the end of the tunnel.

Rob on his 400cc Triumph in the Pre'65 Scottish in 1993. Photo copyright: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven — Rob on his 400cc Triumph in the Pre’65 Scottish on Loch Eild Path in 1993. Photo copyright: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven

Hello Readers,
I hope you enjoyed the Festive Season? We are cruising towards a gradual finish now. I mean surely nothing more could happen to me? Well actually yes – just for a change, I had an epileptic fit! I was fitting so badly I had to be put into an induced coma.

I must have been enjoying it because they couldn’t wake me up. The good news is I only had one of these.

However, I did have another stroke which effected my speech, balance and I couldn’t write. Now for the good news all these problems are in the past.

I think its something to do with having a competitive spirit and a lot of luck.

I promise I will not talk of illness ever again! My miracle recovery occurred when I stopped taking the pain killer fentanyl. It took me a year to get it out of my system but it has transformed me.
Don’t expect me to be riding in the SSDT again but I hope to be spectating. From now on this is a stroke-free zone!
To cheer you up the next part of my story is a number of things that I had forgotten about but thanks to doing my story with Trials Guru, I have remembered some. I hope you find them amusing.
Best Wishes To All and Thank You – ROB

Guisborough - Tocketts Mill trial on a borrowed Triumph Cub. Photo Courtesy: Neil Sturgeon, Darlington — Guisborough – Tocketts Mill trial on a borrowed Triumph Cub. Photo Courtesy: Neil Sturgeon, Darlington

Trials Guru comment: We are indebted to Rob Edwards for explaining exactly why he disappeared off the trials scene some years ago. It is now made crystal clear by the man himself exactly how his health issues were considerable and very serious and limited his lifestyle and activities. For many years there was a genuine mistaken belief that Rob had picked up some germ or bug when he was on his South American travels promoting with Montesa, now we know the true story about his Churg-Strauss Syndrome. This is not the end of Rob’s story, he will continue to share excerpts of his life in trials for a little longer. Remember the complete story is available on Trials Guru, just click on the button: Rob Edwards Story

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Jitsie – Crash & Fun 2014

December 30, 2014 bigjohn2014 Leave a comment

Happy New Year from JITSIE…

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‘A guid ne’er tae ane an aw’ – Have a good one – Trials Guru

December 30, 2014 bigjohn2014 Leave a comment

One of the first images we used when Trials Guru was a fledgling facebook page. Jordi Tarres (Beta) at the World Trials Championship round at Glen Nevis, Scotland in 1992. Photo: Iain Lawrie, kinlochleven. — One of the first images we used when Trials Guru was a fledgling facebook page. Jordi Tarres (Beta) at the World Trials Championship round at Glen Nevis, Scotland in 1992. Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.

It’s just over eighteen months since Trials Guru started off as a page on facebook and nine months as a stand alone website.

We are pleased to see so many enthusiasts of the sport of trial taking a keen interest in what we do.

There is more to come in 2015 with perhaps some more southerly photos of our sport from a well-known writer and journalist from the off-road world of motorcycle sport.

In the meantime have a good new year from Trials Guru – ‘Dedicated to the sport of Motorcycle Trials World-wide’.

All written material Copyright: Trials Guru / Moffat Racing, John Moffat

Photo copyright: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.

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Rob Edwards – Part Fifteen – Making Progress?

December 30, 2014 bigjohn2014 Leave a comment

1978 - Rob receives his award at the Scottish Six Days. He came second to Martin Lampkin. Photo Copyright: Mike Rapley — 1978 – Rob receives his award at the Scottish Six Days. He came second to Martin Lampkin. D.K. Laing and Bob Adamson (centre) look on. Photo Copyright: Mike Rapley

Hello Everybody,

I must apologise for my rather morbid last episode. I think I answered the question as to where I went to some years ago. Unfortunately I am not out of the woods yet but I will return to less miserable times before we bid each other farewell, but not just yet.
Having survived my perforated bowel the next problems were the various things that can occur with this type of operation. First of all the eight inch scar on my stomach wouldn’t heal up. Typical of me I had managed to get MRSA, oh and sepsis as well as a fungal infection in my blood, but apart from this things were going great!
I then had another suspected mini-stroke and had a brain scan just to check. This didn’t show up anything that wasn’t expected apart from an aneurysm at the base of my brain. Knowing the size of my brain I was sure it would only be a small one!

Back in hospital again it is then. The surgeon told me that if I moved I could be paralysed or it could be fatal, but I still decided to go ahead with the operation.

This involves passing technical gear into an artery in the groin up to the brain. When I was taken to have the operation I began to wonder if I was doing the right thing? The operation was not supposed to take long but it was six hours before I arrived back to the recovery ward. I must admit that I was relieved that the operation was now behind me! I bet you are waiting for something to go wrong? Well you wont have to wait that long. A nurse would check for bleeding every 15 minutes. At 3am I had to press the emergency button because of a very strong pain in my thigh. Two nurses came straight away and checked the sheets for blood but I wasn’t bleeding externally I was bleeding internally. When the equipment was removed after the operation they had nicked an artery in my groin. The blood was filling my thigh to the point where it was twice the diameter of the other before the flow of blood was stopped the swollen side had almost burst open. The pain was horrendous and the blood that was in the wrong place had to come out in its own natural way, bruising. I was black from the tip of my toes up my back and across my shoulders. I now had to have regular blood transfusions. You will like this next bit. Three days later I was visited by my specialist. At first I thought I had not heard him properly. Excuse me I said but did you just say I didn’t have my operation? Yes he said it was not accessible, sorry. In fairness to my surgeons they didn’t risk anything that could have caused me serious damage so I am very grateful for that.
When I picked up after this latest episode I was glad to get back to my workshop. I now make models out of scraps of aluminium. I was working away then all of a sudden I had no idea what was happening I didn’t know where I was, totally confused. We rang the doctor and he was here within minutes. After a few basic tests like putting on my coat and shoes I failed hopelessly. He said I had suffered a stroke and rang for an ambulance. On arrival at A&E I was checked over and was told I hadn’t suffered a stroke and the confusion was called by the antibiotics I was taking. I was sent home despite the fact I couldn’t even dress myself properly. I put my jumper and trousers on back to front anybody passing must have thought the circus was in town. After a dreadful night at home walking into door frames and not being able to tell the time we rang for an ambulance first thing. By now I was beginning to wonder who was more confused me or them? A scan revealed I had suffered another stroke. It had also effected my peripheral vision. This usually effects vision in one eye but I had it in both eyes well I would wouldn’t “eye”. Bye for now – Rob

Copyright:

Words: Rob Edwards/Trials Guru, John Moffat 2014.

Photos: Eric Kitchen – All Rights Reserves

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Barry Robinson – He’s been around a while!

December 28, 2014 bigjohn2014 Leave a comment

Barry Robinson from Ilkely, West Yorkshire has been taking photographs professionally for over 57 years. He started and has never really stopped! A proper enthusiast of our sport his images of trials, scrambles, quad racing and road racing have graced many periodicals and national newspapers. A member of the National Union of Journalists, Barry was a close friend of Eric Rathmell, Malcolm’s father and their wives were very close friends too. He got to know Eric way back in 1953 when he rented a cottage in Otley at that time.

A very private person, Barry told Trials Guru: “Not a lot of people are aware of my long connection with the Rathmell family or that I actually rode trials, as an expert; scrambles, as an idiot, or was a Yorkshire and Lancashire champion grass track sidecar passenger and rode televised scrambles as a solo and sidecar passenger”.

BR Velo1960-1 — “This Doug Todd picture was taken in 1960 and the blonde boy in the background is one Malcolm Charles Rathmell, now aged sixty, or more. The other is brother Gerald and Eric is ensuring I tie the Velocette on correctly. The haircut, by the way is courtesy, of a ex Royal Air Force barber who never forgot his basic training. The Velo is a 250 MOV with a spring frame built by Eric Rathmell. The engine kept dropping an exhaust valve, probably due to being over revved”.

Barry has also ridden many of the factory trials prototypes over the years, purely because he accompany and take photos of the Yorkshire based factory riders when practicing. We are proud to be able to show you a small selection of Barry’s photographs with his permission on Trials Guru, some of his images have never been seen in public before. Barry was a photographer with weeklies, Motor Cycling and Motor Cycle News. He still covers events and reports regionally for Trials and Motocross News.

A Barry Robinson photo of Malcolm Rathmell. Barry has had a long standing friendship with the Rathmell family since the early 1950's. Photo Copyright: Barry Robinson, Ilkely. — A Barry Robinson photo of Malcolm Rathmell back in the 1970’s. Barry has had a long standing friendship with the Rathmell family since the early 1950’s. Photo Copyright: Barry Robinson, Ilkely.

Robinson knows most if not all the Yorkshire riders in trials and scrambles back to the days when Arthur Lampkin was racing a Gold Star BSA.

Malcolm Rathmell in the 1975 Jack Leslie Ellis Trial on the prototype 348 Montesa. Photo copyright: Barry Robinson.

We hope ‘The Maestro’, will be taking even more photos for years to come.

One of the factory prototypes that Barry has swung his leg over - Malcolm Rathmell's Montesa 349. (Photo Copyright: Barry Robinson) — One of the factory special prototypes that Barry has swung his leg over – Malcolm Rathmell’s Montesa 349. (Photo Copyright: Barry Robinson)

Text: Trials Guru / Moffat Racing, John Moffat 2014.

TRIALS GURU – DEDICATED TO TRIAL

Rob Edwards – Bits ‘n bobs – Part Two

Montesas new breed!

MotoNI News: Crockstar tries Trials!

Rob Edwards Story – Bits ‘n Bobs – Part One

BULTACO – The tuners who made them GO!

Rob Edwards – Part 16 – Light at the end of the tunnel

Jitsie – Crash & Fun 2014

‘A guid ne’er tae ane an aw’ – Have a good one – Trials Guru

Rob Edwards – Part Fifteen – Making Progress?

Barry Robinson – He’s been around a while!

The Premier Trial Website – Recording the History of the Sport 'Established 2014'