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The Rob Edwards Story – Part Five

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Rob Publicity Montesa
Montesa recognised at an early stage that Rob Edwards was a most suitable rider to promote the brand worldwide. (Montesa sales brochure from 1971)

Hi Again,
Many thanks for all your comments, I feel very honoured that so many of you have remembered me. Leaving Cotton Motorcycles was a necessary move if I was to improve, but I will always be grateful for the support Norman Crooks gave me.
I knew exactly what I wanted to ride… a Montesa!
Plucking up courage, I telephoned Montala Motors in London who were the UK importers at that time. I told them my name and some of my results.
I asked if there was any chance of riding for them?
I was told that they simply had no vacancies. Montala’s ‘dream team’ being Gordon Farley, Lawrence Telling and Don Smith. However, I asked that if a ride became available I would like to be considered. I had set my heart on riding for Montesa but as this was a no-go, I would have to try elsewhere.
Montesa Cota Prototype
An early Cota Prototype. Development work by Christian Rayer (France) Pedro Pi and Don Smith ensured that Rob Edwards had a well-proven machine when he switched camps to Montesa (Permayer S.A.)
The only other top bike in my estimation was a Bultaco Sherpa, so I took a sharp intake of breath and phoned up Comerfords in Thames Ditton, Surrey, the Bultaco importers. Most of the male employees who worked at Comerfords were trials riders. So much to my delight, things started to look a lot better.
Having a bike could be sorted immediately and they were sure that Bultaco Spain would give me a contract. “We will be back in touch as soon as we hear anything”, were their parting words.
I put the phone down and gave a big sigh of relief, things were really starting to move. Then the phone rang, but this time it was Montala Motors boss John Brise. Apparently seconds after I had talked with them, Montesa Competitions Manager, Alberto Mallofre phoned them. Unknown to me, it appeared that Alberto had been a fan of mine for a long time and he had wanted me on a Montesa.
I don’t think John Brise really knew anything about me and was being polite when I phoned him, but the factory did and that was the break I needed!
Montesa Trial prototype n1( 67)
The prototype Cota from 1967, you can see the similarities to the British built Cotton Minarelli. Rob decided that his bike of choice in 1969 would be Montesa.
It seemed that everybody knew about me at Montesa, they had been keeping an eye on my results.
They said everything was in hand, so don’t look elsewhere! Alberto was on the phone to me the next day asking me to go to the Spanish round of the European championships in Barcelona.
While I was there, he had a few things he would like to talk to me about.
I traveled there with fellow Montesa riders Charlie Harris and Ian Haydon.
Now that things were up and moving I was back on the phone to Comerfords to offer my thanks for trying so hard for me. I take this opportunity to thank everyone at Comerfords back then, even although I made the move to ride for Montesa. – Rob
Trials Guru: Montesa, by 1968, had made serious in-roads into the UK trials market with their Cota 247 Mk1 model. It was becoming a very popular machine which would allow British riders to make a name for themselves in national events. Rob mentions the Montesa ‘Dream Team’ and that is correct in that Lawrence ‘Sparky’ Telling, Don Smith and Gordon Farley had all left the Greeves marque for Montesa. Charlie Harris was effectively a development rider in the Uk for the Cota.
Alberto Mallofre, the competitions manager at Permanyer S.A., the company that manufactured Montesa, was a forward thinking individual. Don Smith was a well-known extrovert on the UK trials scene and promoted the Cota successfully from 1967-70. However, he became frustrated with the lack of development progress and quit the team in 1970 to develop his own machine called the Don Smith ‘Stag’. Utilising his own ideas and a Montesa Cota 247 motor with the ‘M’ symbol carefully removed from the crankcase covers, Smith entered the 1970 Scottish on the black and white machine.
Montala Motors ‘Montesa Dream Team’
L Telling - PB - SSDT crop
Lawrence Telling pictured here in the 1969 SSDT – Photo Courtesy, Peter Bremner, Inverness.
Gordon Farley - PB - SSDTcrop
Gordon Farley – 1969 SSDT – Photo courtesy, Peter Bremner, Inverness
DR Smith - PB - SSDT crop
Don ‘D.R.’ Smith – 1969 SSDT – Photo Courtesy, Peter Bremner, Inverness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Montesa ‘Ambassador’ Rob Edwards:

RE2
The beginning of Rob Edwards’ role as Montesa Ambassador. Seen here at a trials school in Spain, Rob (holding loud-haler) addresses the crowd, on his right are Alberto Mallofre and Pedro Pi. Photo courtesy of Luis Munoz, Madrid.

 

 

To Be Continued …

Copyright:

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

Acknowledgement: Peter Bremner, Chairman Edinburgh & District Motor Club Ltd. For Montesa Photographs used in this article.

To read all of Rob Edward’s story of his life in trials click… here

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Rob Edwards – Part Four – The late 1960’s

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Cotton - Rob
Rob testing the Cotton Minarelli 170cc trials machine in 1968. Italian Minarelli motors replaced the 37A Villiers powerplant.
Hi Reader and thanks for your support.
I am enjoying it and I hope you are too?
Having ridden a 250 Bultaco in the 1966 Scottish, I moved on to ride Cottons and rode a 250 Villiers powered bike in the 1967 & 1968 events.
1968 SSDT on Foyers with the 37A Villiers powered Cotton. Rob was fourth in the event.
1968 SSDT on Foyers with the 37A Villiers powered Cotton. Rob was fourth in the event.
In the late sixties Cotton changed from the 250cc Villiers 37A motor to the Italian made 170cc Minarelli engine. I was given a large gearbox sprocket to carry in my pocket.
The idea was to fit it when we were due to do long stretches of road work.
The problem was, I was always so late on time I didn’t have the time to swap it!
On the final days’ lunch check, the thought of doing 30 miles an hour back to Edinburgh was very daunting indeed. It wasn’t helped by seeing the works Greeves fitted with minute rear sprockets.
Their cruising speed was around 70mph. Bill Brooker was the Greeves competition manager and he really had his finger on the pulse.
On more than one occasion he went out of his way to help me. My idea of a true sportsman and excellent competition manager.
It was short on ‘flywheel effect’ inertia and dreadfully low geared. Thanks to my pals at Head Wrightsons, a brass band was machined to fit onto the flywheel.
This made a big improvement to the engine characteristics, wheel grip and so on.
Entered by Norman Crooks Motorcycles, I rode with this modification in the 1969 Scottish and won the best up to 200cc class.
Rob Edwards in 1969 on the Cotton at Coalasnacoan in the SSDT on his way to win the 200cc Cup.
Rob Edwards in 1969 on the Cotton at Coalasnacoan in the SSDT on his way to win the 200cc Cup.
To solve the low top speed problem, I had sent Cotton a drawing of my flywheel modification but had heard nothing back. I wasn’t surprised when one week after the SSDT there was a half page advert in the Motor Cycle News, telling riders how good the modification was and how much they would sell you one for. I was gobsmacked!
However, I didn’t receive any thanks for the 200cc cup win or flywheel modification!
After winning the Alan Jefferies Trial, I decided to treat the Minarelli to a set of piston rings. I rang the Cotton factory up and in due course they posted them to me.
Unfortunately you’ve guessed it – I broke one when fitting them.
I rang Cottons for another set. Two weeks later they still hadn’t arrived.
When I phoned them, the top man answered the phone. ‘Mr. D’ said that he wasn’t going to send me anymore rings until I explained exactly what I had done with the others.
It was then I decided it was time to move on.
When Pat Onions was in charge of the competition shop there was never a problem.
Things were changing and it was time to abandon ship.
But where to? – Rob
Rob Cotton - Workshop
1968 – Rob Edwards (centre) discusses the Cotton Minarelli with Cotton’s competition manager, Pat Onions (left) and frame builder Eric Lee. The photo was a factory publicity shot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rob Cotton - Wheelie
Rob testing the Cotton Minarelli 170 a bike which he made some modifications to make it more competitive.

 

To Be continued …

 

 

 

 

 

Trials Guru: The factory Cotton Minarelli that Rob Edwards rode was to become the production Cotton ‘Cavalier’ which was produced at around five machines per week. Supplied to customers in ‘kit’ form to avoid purchase tax. The 1969 Scottish – Rob Edwards came home in a creditable tenth position and another Special First Class award on 59 marks on his 170cc Cotton. The eventual winner was Yorkshireman, Bill Wilkinson who was to be the last British rider to win on a British built machine, a 250cc Greeves (WWC169F).

1969 - SSDT - Prog - R Edwards - Cotton
1969 SSDT Programme with a 1968 photo of Rob Edwards on the 250cc Cotton on Glenogle section on the first day.

 

 

Rob remembers! : Isn’t it always the way? You start writing about one thing and another one pops into your head! Anyway, here is something I remembered about my Cotton days.

I traveled a lot with Brian Hutchinson. The problem was that Brian worked on the family farm. I would be at the farm at 4.30pm but it would be 6.30 pm before we started our journey.

One time in particular we set off for South Wales with light snow falling.When we reached the M1 motorway, the traffic was almost at a standstill. This didn’t bother ‘Hutch’ – he went straight across into the fast lane that nobody was using because the snow was too deep.

No problem! he had the Austin A55 pick-up to 80mph in no time and we had the fast lane to ourselves all the way to Sheffield!

 We finally arrived at Merthyr Tydfil at 1.30am. No bed and breakfast or anywhere was open. It was freezing cold – you know its cold when your breath freezes on the windscreen. Close to death, we drove to the railway station and as luck would have it there was a gas heater on the wall.
You had to reset it every minute but this was the Ritz compared with the pickup. We took turns pressing the start button.
Unfortunately one time it didn’t ignite. I was woken up by the smell of gas and a hissing sound. The next second, there was a tremendous bang and the heater left the wall it was on and splattered against the opposite one.
We were last seen running flat out along the platform with the station master in hot pursuit shouting: “I’ve rung the police boyo you’ll not get away”.
It was back to the “pickup hotel” after that! – Great memories – Rob
1969 programme front
The 1969 SSDT Official programme front cover, the year Rob Edwards came home 10th and won the up to 200cc cup on the Cotton Minarelli.

 

Copyright:

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

To read all of Rob Edward’s story of his life in trials, click… here

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Wilkinson to be 2015 Guest of Honour

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HCTDT 2015

Yorkshireman, Bill Wilkinson, the last British rider to win the Scottish Six Days Trial on a British machine, will be ‘Guest of Honour’ at next years’ Highland Classic 2 Day Trial. Organised by the Inverness & District Motor Cycle Club, this will be the ‘Tenth Edition‘ at the popular and picturesque Alvie Estate near Aviemore on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June 2015.
“Bill Wilk” rode his 250cc Greeves to victory in the SSDT in 1969, tipping Sammy Miller (Bultaco) into third place and Mick Andrews (Ossa) into runner up, when Wilky cleaned Pipeline on the final day of the trial. Bill lost 30 marks to Andrews 34 and Miller 35.
Entries will open on 20th February, 2015 and limited to 130 competitors.

1969 edramucky
Bill Wilkinson on his 250cc Greeves (WWC169F) seen here on Edramucky, near Killin, on his way to winning the 1969 Scottish.

 

Entry forms will be available on: http://www.idmcc.co.uk

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The Rob Edwards Story – Part Three – 1965

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Rob - JOM John Hulme credit
Pictured at the Scott Centenary Re-Union in November 2014, Rob Edwards and ‘Trials Guru’, John Moffat try the 1912 Scott “AK222” and James Dabill’s 2014 Scott winning Beta Evo 300 for size. Photo Copyright, John Hulme/Trials Media 2014

The 1965 Scottish: A few weeks before the ’65 SSDT, I had an out-of-the-blue phone call from Hugh Viney, the competitions manager at Associated Motorcycles (AMC) who owned the AJS & Matchless brands; wanting to know if I would ride in the ‘works’ team in the forthcoming Scottish – WOULD I?

It seemed that they wanted Mick Andrews to either go scrambling or ride the 250cc James, which AMC’s also owned.
And so it came to pass that I became the third member of the AJS factory team.
However, there was no time for them to prepare me a bike and Mick’s bike 644BLB wasn’t available for some reason, so I needed to ride my own Ajay – not a problem!
Both the ‘Gordons’ – McLaughlan and Blakeway, had put my name forward to be in the team to Hugh Viney, so a big ‘thank you’ to them both for that gesture, which I have treasured all my life since.
My week was going well, I was clean on the Tuesday.
Later in the same day, we were looking forward to riding the new section ‘Pipeline’, introduced the previous year.
There were so many stories about ‘Pipeline’ that I wasn’t really sure if it had been cleaned yet or not.
I had teamed up with Alan Chant from Bexley-Heath who was on a 350 Matchless.
In those days all the ‘big bikes’ were grouped at the back of the field.
As we rode up to ‘Pipeline’, the spectators were all heading back into Kinlochleven.
Alan and myself walked the hill and both agreed on bottom gear.
Alan went first and he cleaned it.
I went next and after a bit of a shaky start, by trying to go too fast too soon.
I settled down and at the right speed things were a lot easier and guess what, I cleaned it.
I bet the spectators who left early were a bit peeved!
On the Thursday, I parked my bike close to the first section on ‘Mamore’ and went off to view the sections.
When I returned to my bike, there was a large pool of oil on the floor underneath!
A stone must have flicked up from the front wheel and hit the small alloy casting that the oil feed to the cylinder-head connects to and smashed it.
There was no way of fixing it, so I set off free-wheeling down to the road, expecting to retire from the trial.
I was sitting by the road side at the gate, that is the entrance to the famous Mamore path, when a car and trailer pulled up.
“Whats up Rob” the chap shouted over, I explained my plight.
“No problem mate, give me two minutes and I will take the one off my bike” he said.
In all the confusion and despair, I hadn’t noticed that the bike on the trailer was a 350 AJS, what a stroke of luck – for me anyway.
The engine had ‘gone bang’ and the fellow had retired from the trial.
You don’t have to be good with luck like that!
He got me going and I forget the lads’ name but I am indebted to his sportsmanship and generosity that day.
On the sixth day, we did Town Hall Brae in the centre of Fort William.
We were then faced with the long ride back to Edinburgh.
For me it had been a great week thanks to Gordon Blakeway and Gordon McLaughlan. – Bye for now! – Rob.
1965 SSDT Programme
Front cover of the 1965 SSDT official programme.

Trials Guru: 1965 was the effective beginning of the end for the ‘big bikes’ that Rob talks about. Sammy Miller had been victorious for the last time on his 500cc Ariel (GOV132) and had moved over in late 1964 to the Spanish Bultaco, the creation of Franciso Xavier Bulto.

Miller brought the 244cc Sherpa T (669NHO), home to victory in the 1965 Scottish losing 29 marks, the first win on a foreign machine in the trials’ history.

Second was Arthur J. Lampkin on his 249cc BSA (XON688) losing 33 marks and third was Mick Andrews, 250cc James (307AKV) on 37 marks.

It wasn’t all to go Miller’s way though, a year later, arch rival Alan ‘Sid’ Lampkin was to snatch victory from Miller’s grasp on his 249cc BSA (748MOE).

In the ’65 trial, Rob Edwards rode number 207 as part of the works AJS team comprising of Edwards, Gordon S. Blakeway (No. 178) and Gordon O. McLaughlan (No. 177).

Rob rode his own machine registered 970PL with many of the works style modifications.

However, history records that it was Triumph that won the 1965 Manufacturers Team Prize, the Blackford Challenge Trophy.

From the Official Results of the 1965 Scottish Six Days Trial:

Award 16 – For the best performance by a competitor on a solo motor cycle from 251-350 c.c. – R. Edwards (A.J.S.).

In the 1965 Scottish, Rob lost 63 marks and gained a Special First Class Award, just 6 marks behind his friend Alan Lampkin who went on to win the following year.

LEP - 1964 - Holder Photo
1964 shot of Rob on his own 350 AJS, the one he rode in 1965 as part of the factory team. Part of Rob’s personal collection of photos. This is the top of Loch Eild Path. Photo: Brian Holder, Teddington, Middlesex.

Rob on AJS:
When the SSDT started and finished in Edinburgh, on the sixth day after the lunch check at Crianlarich there were no more sections until the Royal Observatory on Blackford Hill in the city. This was purely to see if your clutch still worked. You had to stop between two yellow lines and when the official dropped his flag you could move on – simple.

When you passed a third yellow line, that was the end of the observed hill. The path was so flat, nobody actually treat it like a section. However, I did see a rider who when the flag dropped he picked up the front wheel and tried to wheelie to the ends cards unfortunately he tipped his bike over backwards and his score went up by five points.

After Blackford Hill was the final scrutineering test when you wheeled the bike onto a wooden workbench for inspection.
The AJS had one big problem, the swinging-arm bushes, they wore out at an alarming rate!
1964 - Cleveland National - Best Perf - Best 350 - One make team - E Yorks Rider - Middsb member
Rob seen here at the 1964 Cleveland National which he won on his AJS 16C. Swinging arm bushes were this models ‘achilles heel’. The swinging arm was a two piece unit held in place by a cotter pin, the bushes wore out at an alarming rate.
If the scrutineer thought that there was excess movement in the bushes, your score could go up by five marks.
I can still see my Dad, Bob at the bottom of Blackford Hill, with a cup of tea in one hand and an industrial grease gun in the other.
After my cup of tea, I pumped the swinging arm full of grease. It only lasted for 100 metres, but it was enough to get through scrutineering!

 

To Be Continued …

Copyright:

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

Photos:

: Copyright: John Hulme/Trials Media – photograph at Scott Re-Union Dinner 2014.

: Edinburgh & District Motor Club Ltd for the use of the 1965 programme cover.

: Rob Edwards for the 1964 photo of Loch Eild Path. Brian Holder Photo.

To read all of Rob Edwards’ story of his life in trials click … here

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Pre’65 Scottish Book – Still available!

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Tommy Sandham, author of “Four-Stroke Finale, The Honda Trials Story”  and “The Scottish” books, has produced a bespoke book on the Pre’65 Scottish.

Released in 2010, the photographs are all in colour, featuring the work of Colin Bullock, Donald Young and John Moffat to name but three with a full set of results, year by year included in this fine publication.

Tommy has some future work planned and needs the space, so he has reduced the price to sell the remaining stock.

Once they are gone – they are gone! He has no plans to re-print this book.

Copies are available direct from Tommy Sandham:

http://www.tommysandham.name/working-on-pre65.html

At the new low price of £5.99 per copy! Get yours ordered now to avoid disappointment.

pre-65scottish-cover

 

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Scott Trial Re-Union Dinner 2014 – A Reet Good Do!

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Scott Trial Centenary Re-Union Dinner 1914-2014

– Saturday 15th November 2014 –

Scott Mortons
Scott Re-Union Dinner Banner Auction – Photo Courtesy Mortons Motorcycle Media (All Rights Reserved)

Many years ago, the late Tom Ellis, Ripon motorcycle dealer and BSA works trials rider was responsible for organising the Scott Trial Re-Union Dinner at the Ripon Spa Hotel.

Tom was a highly respected rider and event organiser who, after he ceased competing, put a great deal of effort back into the sport he loved. Ellis was a stalwart of the Ripon Motor Club, which was founded in 1909. Tom had contacts throughout the trials world.

The dinner wasn’t just for riders past and present it was open to anyone who had helped the event become a success over the years.

Of course funds were raised on these evenings, held five years apart. for the famous Scott Trial charities. 2014 was to be no exception.

The event organisation was taken over some years past by Alan R.C. Lampkin known of course universally as Sid Lampkin, former BSA & Bultaco factory rider who himself won the Scott in 1966 on his works BSA (748MOE).

Sid - JOM - John hulme credit
John Moffat congratulates Alan Lampkin on organising a fine evening at Ripon. On the left is James Lampkin, Alan’s son, one of the many younger generation who are taking an interest in the five yearly event which will ensure its continuation into the future. Photo Courtesy, John Hulme/Trials Media

 

The event returned to the ever accommodating Ripon Spa Hotel in Park Street, Ripon as the hotel was able to accommodate at least 100 guests with ease.

The guest list was a veritable ‘Who’s Who’ of motorcycle trials over the years.

Sid opened the proceedings by giving the assembled guests a run-down of the itinerary for the evening. He read out the apologies, which included past winners: Bill Wilkinson, Sammy Miller, Malcolm Rathmell, Graham Jarvis and the well-known Gordon L. Jackson who couldn’t manage along this year, but had the courtesy to write to Sid with their apologies.

To propose the “Toast to the Scott Trial” was Sid’s nephew, 12 times FIM World Trials Champion, Dougie Lampkin M.B.E. Doug is of course a multiple winner of the event.

IMG_2165
Doug Lampkin on his feet addressing the 100+ guests at the Scott Centenary Re-Union Dinner. Photo: Trials Guru

 

Arthur Lampkin had a few comments to make of his own, his usual ‘dry sense of humour’ shone through, which raised a chortle from the gathering!

IMG_2168
Senior Manx GP & F1 TT winner, Nick Jefferies entertains the audience with his Reply to the Scott Toast. In the foreground listening is Norman Shepherd. Photo: Trials Guru

The “Reply” was given by the very competent and knowledgeable guest, none other than former Senior Manx GP & Formula 1 TT winner, Honda factory star, Nick Jefferies. His knowledge of the sport and the Scott is un-paralleled. He took us through a little bit of the trials’ history eluding to great names of the past, made in the old ‘formal style’ by their initials and surname as they appeared in ‘official results’ and the press reports of the day. Such notables as: B.H.M. Viney; G.S. Blakeway; S.H. Miller; J.V. Brittain to name but a few.

IMG_2160
The 1912 Scott “AK222” beside James Dabill’s 2014 Scott winning Beta Factory 300. Photo: Trials Guru

As far as machines were concerned, the 1912 Scott of Clerie Wood of C.H. Wood of Bradford Film-makers fame was there sporting it’s famous AK222 registration number and loaned specially by the fabulous Bradford Industrial Museum for the occasion. David Wood, Clerie’s son was also a guest and instrumental in gaining the museum’s permission to display the Scott.

The other machine to keep the Scott company, was this years’ winning bike, the factory Beta Evo 300 of James Dabill, still sporting its 200 number plate which in itself was significant for Dabill as his win being the Centenary Scott to go with his Centenary SSDT win in 2011. The machine was loaned by Beta UK boss, John Lampkin.

The guest list was extensive; here is a short summary of some of those present, firstly the ten former winners who attended: Philip Alderson; Nigel Birkett; Johnny Brittain; Rob Edwards; Arthur J. Lampkin; Alan. R. C. Lampkin; Dougie Lampkin; H. Martin Lampkin; Gerald Richardson & Jonathan Richardson.

Scott Winners
The Scott Winners line-up: Philip Alderson; Gerald Richardson; Rob Edwards; Jonathan Richardson; Nigel Birkett; Alan R.C. Lampkin; Dougie Lampkin; Martin Lampkin and just out of shot was Arthur J. Lampkin. Photo: Trials Guru

 

Other notable riders were: Tony Davis (BSA); Gordon Blakeway & Gordon McLauchlan (AJS); Pat Brittain; Tony Bingley; Peter & Neil Gaunt; John Metcalfe & Mick Wilkinson (Ossa); Norman Shepherd (Comerford Bultaco); Tony Calvert (Gori & Ossa).

A fair number of the Richmond club came by Harkers Coaches as the firms’ owner is Paul Terry, an active current rider and club worker.

Many present agreed that Sid Lampkin had put together a fantastic evening with excellent speeches and memorabilia on display, provided by Chris Wallis, Trial Secretary; Eric Kitchen, the doyen of trials photographers; John Hulme of Trial Magazine & Classic Trial and Tim Britton of Morton’s Motorcycle Media. David Wood supplied a selection of Scott videos that were playing in the ante-room and enjoyed by all.

Borrowing Sid’s gavel, Hulme made special photographic presentations to Dougie Lampkin and John Lampkin accepted a photograph on behalf of James Dabill, this years’ centenary victor.

John Moffat was both surprised and delighted, to be presented with two special photographs for his assistance and promotion of the Scott Trial over the past few years. Moffat, having been the most recent auctioneer at the trial awards evening, then proceeded to auction off the special “Scott Centenary Dinner banner” donated by Mortons, duly signed by everyone who attended, for the generous sum of £350, which of course tops up the Scott Charities pot.

IMG_2163
The doyen of trials photography, Eric Kitchen (left side standing) brought a fantastic display of Scott photos. BSA works rider Tony Davis on the right, listening intently.

 

IMG_2161
The dinner guests assembled at 6.30pm for a fine evening at the Ripon Spa Hotel.

 

 

IMG_2166
Dougie Lampkin (12 times FIM World Trials Champion) proposed the toast to “The Scott Trial” in fine style. Photo: Trials Guru

 

IMG_2172

IMG_2173
Arthur Lampkin, centre the eldest of the Lampkin brothers enjoyed his evening. Photo Trials Guru

 

 

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TrialsGuru – Comments – If you like, make your mark!

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Trials Guru

With most websites, it is usual to have ‘forums’ and similar features for discussion. Unfortunately due to other committments, we don’t have forums on Trials Guru. Besides, we feel it distracts us from the real job of sourcing more material from the sport and the Guru’s contacts to bring you more aspects of the sport.

However, if you have enjoyed an article or a series of photos of the wonderful world of trials, feel free to leave a comment, either below the article where it says “Leave a Comment” or post one on our “About” page.

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Scott 2014
Photo Courtesy: Trials Media/Trial Mag 2014

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  • Provides help for ACU Members and their families in times of extreme difficulties
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Aid from the fund can be obtained via ACU Affiliated Clubs through the ACU Centre Benevolent Fund Officer (CBFO) and the claim for assistance will be considered by the Benevolent Fund Committee.

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In very special circumstances the Committee has the power to make emergency payments pending full information.

The Committee has to exercise extreme caution when deciding what help is applied since the Fund is entirely reliant on donations from members and other fund raising sources. Some of these grants were one-off payments and others were for longer periods. You will see from that the fund needs all the support it can get from it members, after all, there may be a time when you or a member of your family may need help.

Grants are not restricted solely to the competitive members and officials, other club members may make a claim if they are in hardship.

Contact Us

The Auto-Cycle Union Benevolent Fund
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Phone: 01788 566400
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Email: dw@acu.org.uk

 

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The Rob Edwards Story – Part Two – 1964

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1964 SSDT Programme
Front cover of the 1964 SSDT official programme, with Rob’s great friend Gordon Blakeway on the ex-Gordon Jackson AJS (187BLF) in 1963. The bike carried Jackson to victory losing one mark in 1961.

By the time the 1964 Scottish came around, I had got over my previous year’s disaster, this time I was allocated number 210 on an AJS 350 bought from Comerfords, this time entered as a ‘privateer’ and riding for the Middlesbrough & District, my home club.

The event still started and finished in Edinburgh. On the Thursday, we went over the Corrieyarrick Pass.

I think I had been following behind Peter Gaunt and what happened next I wasn’t to find out until sometime later.

I found myself sat on a banking at the side of the Pass, which is an old General Wade military road.

I had no idea at all how I came to be sitting there.

Alan Morewood from Sheffield who became a top sidecar driver, came along on his 500 Ariel as he was number 205 that year, he stopped and asked if I was Okay? ‘Yes, fine’ I said, ‘Bye’ he said and rode off.

A couple of minutes later and Alan was back. ‘Rob, are you sure you are al-right, you look dazed?’ said Alan. ‘No problem’ I said and off he went again. Somehow I managed to get back to Fort William to finish the day’s run.

The first person I spoke to asked what I had been doing to scratch my face? Then someone said, ‘never mind his face, look at the back of his bike!’

The rear end was totally out of line. I then realised that I must have hit a pothole in the road with the front wheel over Corrieyarrick, cartwheeled and that explained my rest on the bank.

We pulled the bike back into line with a length of pipe that we found. Apart from a bit of a headache, it was back to business as usual.

Rest of the week was not as eventful and had a good old needle match with my mate Sid Lampkin who was on a factory Cotton that year. For the next year, I had bought another AJS from Comerfords, Thames Ditton built by Jock Wilson. I’ll tell you about that ride next. Bye for now! – Rob

Rob 1964
Rob on his 350 AJS at Achintee Farm, Ben Nevis, in the 1964 Scottish. The AJS supplied by Comerfords, hence the Surrey registration number 970PL. If you look closely the front wheel spindle nut has the ISDT type tommy-bar, obviating the need for a spanner. It also has the works style prop-stand tied to the front downtube by rubber bands and a small spigot mounted on the lower-most engine bolt and the attachment spigot mounting on the magneto mounting plate. Photo supplied by Rob Edwards. Photo copyright: Brian Holder.

Post Script by Rob Edwards: I’ve just been looking again at this fine Brian Holder photograph of me on the AJS on ‘Ben Nevis’ in 1964. The chap directly behind me is Mick Ward from Scarborough.

He built a bike especially for this event. He had the novel idea of taking the exhaust through the back frame loop to save a bit of weight.

However, when he got stuck, the ever helpful spectators would rush to his aid, not realising the exhaust was the rear frame loop and severely burn their hands in their quest to assist! I’m sure the A&E at Fort William were extra busy that week with burns!

I bet Mick never thought that one day Valentino Rossi would copy his helmet design! – Bye for now! – Rob

 

PCW AJS 1962
Comerford’s employee, Peter ‘Jock’ Wilson with one of his creations, an ultra short-stroke AJS 16C, photo taken at the back of Comerfords workshop at Portsmouth Road, Thames Ditton.  Jock was brought up a mile from the old SSDT sections at ‘Meall Glas’ in Glen Lyon, Perthshire. Photo Copyright: Don Morley, Reigate, Surrey

TRIALS GURU: – 1964 Scottish Six Days, this edition was won by Sammy Miller riding the much modified and much weight reduced, Ariel HT5. This would be the last time he would do so on the British four-stroke, Miller had already been secret testing the 200cc Bultaco Sherpa which he was later to develop to an increased 244cc and thus created a world beating machine with the San Adrien De Besos factory.

From the 1964 Scottish Six Days Trial Results:

No. 210. R. Edwards, Middlesbrough & Dist. M.C., A.J.S. 350 c.c. …. 124 marks S F C (Special First Class Award)

Ron Thomson 1964SSDT Achintee
1964 SSDT another Achintee photo taken the same day as that of Rob Edwards. Here we see the late Ron Thomson a great character originally from St. Andrews who made his home in Inverlochy, Fort William. Seen here on his 500cc BSA Gold Star. Ron called this bike the ‘Stone Crusher’ and was later owned by Billy Maxwell of Newcastle. Thomson and Ali McDonald were great friends. Photo courtesy: Mrs Ron Thomson, Inverlochy, Fort William.

Rob’s eventful Scottish ‘Thursday’ was May 7th 1964. The route was as follows, let’s follow where Rob went that day: Start, Fort William; Inverlochy; 2 sections at Annat; Banavie; Gairlochy; 8 sections at Laggan Locks; Corrieyarrick Pass (where Rob has his big off!); Melgarve; Laggan Inn; Roy Bridge; Inverlochy – Lunch control; Glen Nevis; 4 sections at Ben Nevis; Fort William – Down Ashburn Lane; Onich; Kinlochleven; 1 section on Pollock Way; 8 sections at Leitir Bo Fionn; Down Loch Eild Path; 8 sections at Mamore; Check at top of hill; Mamore Road; 2 sections on the Town Hall Brae and Finish of day. Total Mileage 132 miles. 33 sections.

A Macdonald 1964SSDT THB
1964 SSDT shot of the late Ali McDonald, a Fort William man, on his Ariel HT5 on Town Hall Brae in Fort William. Photo courtesy: Mrs. Ron Thomson, Inverlochy, Fort William.

SSDT Point of interest: The number plates you see in the SSDT photos were issued to riders by the organising club. The rider paid a fee of ten shillings and forfeited the deposit if they didn’t hand the plates back at the end of the event. In 1964 the number plate official was Bob Adamson who later was to become SSDT Assistant Secretary and Secretary of the Pre’65 Scottish Trial.

1964 - Blackie Holden at Achintee
1964 Scottish at the same section group, Achintee, Ben Nevis that we saw Rob on his AJS, here we have the late Blackie Holden from Bradford on his works Cotton. Blackie Holden junior supplied this photo and said: “My Dad rode with Rob Edwards many times and considered him a true gentleman of the sport”.

 

Copyright: Rob Edwards/Trials Guru, Moffat Racing (c) 2014

Acknowledgements:

Don Morley, Reigate, Surrey for permission to use the photograph of Peter ‘Jock’ Wilson for this article.

Edinburgh & District Motor Club Ltd for the use of 1964 programme cover.

Rob Edwards for the use of the Brian Holder photo.

Blackie Holden Junior for the photo of Blackie Holden Snr in 1964.

Mrs Ron Thomson, Inverlochy, Fort William for the photos of Ali McDonald & Ron Thomson.

To read all of Rob Edwards’ story of his life in trials, click … here

 

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Rob Edwards – Part One – The 1963 SSDT

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1963, Monday May 6th. Rob Edwards leaving the start of the SSDT, riding number 168 on the Doug Marshall supplied 250cc Cotton. (Photo courtesy: James Young, Armadale, Scotland.)
1963 – My Disastrous First Scottish!
Back in 1963, the Scottish Six Days, the most famous of all trials, started in Edinburgh and we rode up to Fort William on the first day from where the event was centered until the following Saturday.
Almost all the opening day was by main road. From just leaving the start at Gorgie Market, it rained and rained and more rained. I rode the 250cc Cotton that year, which was supplied by my sponsor, Doug Marshall Motorcycles from Marske-By-The-Sea, North Yorks.
By the time we reached Rannoch Station I was very numb,
but at least we were about to do a bit of cross country to warm us up a bit.
We  couldn’t have been going for more than a mile when we came to a river that could only be described as a raging torrent.
You know things are bad when you see groups of maybe six riders up to their waist carrying a bike aloft then going back for another.
One person looked as though he had the job sussed it was Peter Gaunt.
After walking along the riverbank he had found a boulder that was part submerged in the mud. “That’s my launch pad!” he said. Peter jumped on his bike and disappeared.
When he returned, I estimated his speed at around 30-35 mph. Gaunt hit his ‘launch pad’ spot on, but due to a slight miscalculation instead of flying horizontally across to the far bank, he went straight up in the air, finally about mid-stream he plummeted into the river in a huge cloud of steam. Peter soon joined the ranks with their spark plugs out trying to dry out their engines.
I was sat wondering what to do next, when a farmer and tractor appeared out of no-where! “Two bikes and two riders at a time”, he shouted. He had a trailer, the type you would carry milk churns in.
We were a lot further down stream when we got to the far side. At times it felt as though the current was going to tip us into the drink.
In the meantime it was still pouring with rain.
When I finally got to Fort William I handed in my route card. “You have not done the two sections at Ben Nevis”, the official told me. “Give me my card back and I will nip back and do them”, I said. “Sorry!”,  the official said, “If your card is handed in, there is no getting it back, so I am afraid you are out of the Trial, rules are rules”.
I was bitterly disappointed to hear this, but I had to accept it. Many riders had traveled to the finish of the day in Fort William on the West Highland Railway with their bikes for company.
As well as this, they were allowed to get their bikes started and continue with the Trial.
And they were not penalised for missing Ben Nevis!
I was told I could ride with a R plate meaning retired, but that was not for me.
My dad Bob, came up by car and trailer, so we loaded up and I went home, feeling rather sorry for myself and back to work at Head Wrightons.
Ah well, never mind it happens I suppose … roll on next years’ “Scottish” … Bye for now, ‘Moaning’ ROB EDWARDS!
TRIALS GURU: The 1963 Scottish Six Days – The eventual winner was Arthur Lampkin on his factory 250 BSA C15 ‘XON688’ a machine that Arthur still owns to this day.
Alan Lampkin'00 Caolasnacoan
Arthur Lampkin’s factory 250 BSA (XON688), the bike that won the 1963 Scottish, seen here in 2000 in the capable hands of Rob Edwards’ good friend, Alan ‘Sid’ Lampkin (Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven, Scotland)
The details that Rob gives us are very true in that it was a wet week generally and many rivers were in spate. Missing a section or group usually meant instant exclusion in 1963, as having failed to complete the course. Nowadays, riders are awarded extra penalty marks for missing sections, within set limits in the regulations, but rarely excluded.
Rob would have ridden the following first day route to Fort William:
Start, Gorgie Market (now called the Corn exchange); Kincardine Bridge; 2 sections at Culross in Fife; Blair Logie (Check point); Braco; Comrie; Lochearnhead; 8 sections at Glenogle Hill;
Killin SSDT
Killin, Perthshire with riders making their way to Fort William on the first day of the Scottish. The village looks similar to this photo even now.
Killin; Bridge of Lochay (Petrol & Lunch control); Bridge of Balgie; Innerwick; 8 sections on Meall Glas; Dall; Rannoch (where the riders met with a raging torrent!); Fersit; Roy Bridge; Inverlochy; Glen Nevis; 4 sections at Ben Nevis; 2 sections at Town Hall Brae, Fort William.
Total mileage Day one: 170 miles; 24 sections for the day. The route-markers over Fersit was most likely to have been Johnny Clarkson from Skirling, Biggar and Bob Paterson from Airdrie, both former Six Days riders in the nineteen fifties.
SSDT PR1963
Front cover of the 1963 Scottish official programme, Rob Edward’s first SSDT attempt.

Copyright: Rob Edwards/Trials Guru, Moffat Racing (c) 2014

With acknowledgement to Trial Magazine UK/Classic Trial Magazine UK for their assistance with this series of articles.

To read all of Rob Edwards’ story of his life in trials, click … here

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The Rob Edwards Story – The Introduction

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After meeting up with Rob Edwards at the Centenary Scott Trial, Trials Guru decided it would be of interest to our supporters to learn more of the Thornaby lad who went on to become a factory Montesa rider during the golden era of the Cota.

Here is the introduction in Rob’s own words:

Hi Reader
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
My name is Rob Edwards. I was born back in 1945 in Thornaby and from a very early age I was desperate to be a trials rider.
Although my dad was not a trials rider, he was involved in the organising & observing side of things.
Tony Clarke, a fellow Thornaby lad, would get to our section and say: ‘come on lad I’ve had enough for today’… handing me his 250 BSA, I was off!
I was 14 years old at the time. ‘Don’t forget, I’ve to ride home and the bike has no lights’.
For the next 2 hours or so I was in motorbike heaven.
Until I was sixteen, Tony did this dozens of times and if I
ever win the lottery, he will be top of the list. Cheers Tony! and many thanks.
Rob early days
One of the earliest photos of Rob Edwards at an event, that’s him second from the right, spectating at a local Middlesborough trial around 1948. His Dad, Bob Edwards is the observer with the clip-board. Rob was at many trials as an observers’ apprentice until he took up riding at 16 years of age. Photo: Rob Edwards Private Collection.
My first job was an apprentice fitter and turner at Head Wrightsons, Teesdale Works.
My main interest was trialing not industry. Head Wrightsons were not at all sympathetic towards sports especially motorbike sport. However my doctor was and every year when I came back from the SSDT they knew where I had been as our local paper had done a daily report on it. Thanks to Dr. Kaye who had given me a sick note for the week and as I hadn’t claimed any money there was nothing they could do.
Eventually it did come to a head and we said goodbye.
I was sorry to say goodbye to my friends, but not the management.
Hope you will be here next time when we will be getting into my move to Montesa & the unbelievable life change that was about to happen.
Bye for now…
ROB EDWARDS
RE1
Rob seen here on the Montesa Cota in Spain demonstrating the art of trials riding to a gathering of Montesa owners at a 2 day trials class held in Cerro Alarcón, Valdemorillo (Madrid, Spain) in 1971. Photo Courtesy of Luis Munoz, Madrid.

Trials Guru: Rob gained an apprenticeship as a fitter/turner at Head Wrightson, a major employer and large heavy industrial firm based at Thornaby-on-Tees. They specialised in the manufacture of large industrial products such as fractional distillation columns that needed special transport to get them to site. Its products, which were made of cast or wrought iron, were used for boilers, railway chairs, naval ships, and many bridges across the world.

Rob having served his apprenticeship, rarely did any overtime or weekend working for one very good reason; that would have restricted his trials riding activities. One day a manager, called Jack Welham said to him in front of a number of his workmates, “Robbie, you have got to make up your mind, do you want to be a fitter or a motorbike rider?” As Welham turned and began to walk away with a smug smile on his face, Rob shouted back at him: “I have made up my mind Jack; I’m going to be a motorbike rider!”

To be continued …

To read all of Rob Edwards’ story of his life in trials, click … here

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