We recently had some fetching caps made to specific order celebrating ten years of the Trials Guru website and also our connection with 1979 FIM World Trials Champion, Bernie Schreiber who is celebrating 45 years since his historic win.
These caps have been sent to the USA; Australia; New Zealand; Switzerland and Spain. So they are now with Trials Guru VIPs the world over!
Are you a Trials Guru VIP? then write and tell us why, and you may be lucky enough to win one of these exclusive caps. They are not available to purchase!
The 1975 348 Montesa Cota prototype, ridden exclusively by Malcolm Rathmell has today gone on sale on the worldwide auction sute, e-bay with a reserve of £12,500.
With information provided by Tim Britton Media Ltd, details of the historic machine are now online and the reserve of GBP 12,500 has been stated as ‘realistic’ given the bike’s original condition and historic significance in the trials world.
Trials Guru’s John Moffat said: “I have known since October 2022 that Malcolm wished to sell on his collection of his former factory trials machinery, he and his wife Rhoda discussed the matter with me in private at the Scott Trial presentation that year. I would say that the reserve is not at all unrealistic given the historic significance of Malcolm’s machines, but I doubt the run-of- the-mill trials enthusiast will fork out that kind of money. It is more likely to go overseas to a private collector or conglomorate of collectors. When you think that Ariel HT5s with no factory history or significance or status are changing hands at that sort of level, a prototype factory bike will no doubt be highly valued by those who have the funds, and disposible income to buy such motorcycles.”
World Champion and Scottish Six Days Trial winner Bernie Schreiber conducted his ‘ZeroBS two-day Masterclass’ on June 1st & 2nd in Newark, Ohio at Hangers Trials Facility.
Schreiber, being the most successful Trials rider ever from the USA, shared his wealth of knowledge and experiences overseas with 34 participants attending from five nearby States. The event was supported by Trials Inc, a 50-year-old Trials club founded in 1973 and well-known across the USA.
The Masterclass was open to all skill levels from novice to expert and vintage. The weekend was designed for adult riders, and supported next generation youth riders who received an exclusive session by Schreiber on Saturday afternoon. Schreiber said, “Teaching American youth riders from a young age to set goals and create a plan to reach those goals will pay off for many years to come.”
The weekend event raised $4,200 and all proceeds will be donated to Next Gen MotoTrials Corporation managed by co-founder Adam Blumhorst.
Schreiber treated the 34 participants and 8 youth riders to his structured Masterclass based on lessons learned in becoming a World, National, and Scottish Six Days Trials Champion, but also basic techniques from his book “Observed Trials” by Len Weed.
Sports such as golf were used to benchmark, where direct comparisons become involved. Mastering the sport, hands on riding and the all-important mindset were covered in great detail.
Schreiber said, it’s not just skills and hard work. Everyone at the top level has great techniques. Your mindset is what makes you the winner or the loser. That’s the only difference.
Learning to ride a Trials bike, is not the same as learning to ride Trials was repeated as he continued to focus on competition successes and practicing with purpose by design.
The best way to practice is to prioritize on the things you need to practice, and knowing which tasks should get top priority, then act to get maximum returns.
The sit-down morning sessions began first before feet on the pegs riding, by covering the most important aspect of motorcycle trials and the proper stance.
Motorcycle trials has always been a very unique form of off-road riding which requires certain techniques that do not always apply to riding a “normal” dirt bike, especially when it comes to the fundamentals. Many aspects were demonstrated during what Schreiber calls “Impact Zones” throughout two full days of instruction.
Schreiber also covered what gave him an advantage over his rivals, that being the technique which he introduced and perfected, the floating front wheel turn. Also known as the “Pivot turn”, Schreiber used this to great effect in winning the 1979 World Championship and showed exactly why this technique is just as effective today.
During each day of the school, each individual student was given one on one instruction on the techniques of this challenging sport and an insight into what actually makes a World Champion, with attention to detail, leaving no stone unturned.
For more information contact Adam Blumhorst at: adam@nextgenmototrials.com
Over the past ten years Trials Guru has accumulated many articles, photos and information on the sport of motorcycle trials, and made it available to our readers absolutely free of charge!
Martin Lampkin gives son, Dougie a lift in the car park at the finish of the SSDT in 1982, he came 4th on 131 marks. Photo: Glenn Carney
There are no subscriptions to pay, no adverts forming part of the trials experience – and there never will be!
Mick Wilkinson on the factory Greeves Pathfinder at the 1971 Bemrose Trial – Photo: M. Carling, courtesy of Nick Haskell
Much easier to find information online with indexes of the website and photos, unlike magazines and periodicals, where you can search for stuff for days and still not find what you were looking for!
Don Smith at the final machine examination of the SSDT at Blackford Hill, Edinburgh in 1969 – Photo: Bob May, Edinburgh
So have a look either in our indexes, or the search facility for what you crave!
Trials Guru – Dedicated To The Sport – Independent and Free!
With permission, exclusively on Trials Guru, we have assembled the Glenn Carney Collection for your online enjoyment.
Jaume Subira working on his 159 Fantic at the 1980 SSDT, he was 5th on 114 marks – Photo: Glenn Cairney
Manchester based trials enthusiast and former rider, Glenn Carney has taken fantastic photos of the sport over the years. All photos in this collection are the copyright of Glenn Carney.
1979 FIM World Trials Champion at the 1982 SSDT, which he won on the SWM – Photo: Glenn Carney
This article has been amended and adapted by Dave Cole from one that was originally written for the South Western Centre Gazette in 2007 by Mike Naish, with the assistance of Brenda and John Luckett.
Brenda, John and Mike are thanked for their help and kind permission in allowing us to share this piece of South West trials history on Trials Guru.
John Luckett from Devon is a well known Cotton and Ossa rider and was always a serious contender in the ACU South West Centre for many years. He is of course a Trials Guru VIP.
Words: Mike Naish & David Cole
Photos: Mike Rapley; Ken Haydon; Luckett Family.
John Luckett (Ossa) – Photo: Mike Rapley
John Luckett was born in 1946 at West Bucks, North Devon, to a father who loved bikes and motorcycle sport. His dad took him to watch many motorcycle sporting events but one competition and one rider in particular stuck in his mind. That memorable event was a trial in the late 1950’s when John was so impressed with the performance of John Giles, on a Triumph twin, he never forgot that day.
“Gilo” rode up a steepish gully with a step in it with so much ease, he took the section at real pace, seemed to simply lift the front wheel at the step and carried on to clean the section, a section that no-one else was managing to get up, the sound of the exhaust note and the applause from the crowds of spectators was magnificent.
It wasn’t long before John learned to ride himself, the practice bike was a friends old Excelsior which was ridden up and down a “green lane” beside his house. Dad’s A.J.S. road bike was also ridden around the local fields.
On leaving school John went to work for his father who was an agricultural contractor. Dad bought him a 250cc Ambassador twin. John’s first trial was the 1965 “Lands End Trial”, a long distance competition, one of the true classics run by the Motor Cycling Club. For this event he rode a 500 Triumph twin but was sadly forced to retire with mechanical issues.
His second event was the “Lyn Traders Trial”. Once again he rode the big Triumph twin to the start and wondered why all the other riders were looking at him and his bike with a shake of their heads, John, of course, knows now what they were thinking. When he saw the size of the rocks and the river beds, then tried to ride them he realised it was a ‘bridge too far’, he retired after 40 miles.
At this time John owned a 250 Royal Enfield Crusader Sport road machine but the bug had now bitten and he traded this in for a, Villiers 32A engined, Cotton trials machine with leading link forks.
Signing up as a member of the Torridge and District Motor Club, John next rode an Exmoor Club trial where he finished sixth from last but was happy to just to complete the event.
The next trial for John was a Moretonhampstead Club event which was won by Roger Wooldridge, followed by an Exmoor Club event in October 1965 where he proudly won the “Best Novice” Award.
Soon after this the bike was traded in for another Cotton, this time choosing a machine fitted with a Villiers Starmaker motor. John rode the bike in both local trials and in the 1966 M.C.C. “Exeter” Long Distance Trial. In the local one-day events John was now winning Non-Expert Awards.
John Luckett in an MCC Exeter Trial in 1966.
An ex-Malcolm Evely four-speed Bultaco was the next bike to join the Luckett “stable”, it really transformed John’s riding and he entered the Scottish Six Days Trial. The long journey North (no motorways in those days) was made by four riders from the South West that year, John was joined by Ian Haydon, Mike Sexton and Mervyn Lavercombe. John was forced to retire on the Wednesday, he broke the gear shaft when he hit some rocks then, determined to finish, decided to continue with third gear alone. Scheduled to go over the Corrieyairack Pass, John was a little worried with everyone passing him, he then found the Pass to be closed due to the bad weather and the competitors being diverted the long way around. Eventually the engine seized, obviously over worked and overcooked, due to the lack of gears.
John Luckett (Bultaco) on Grey Mare’s Ridge, SSDT 1968.
In 1969 John purchased a new Bultaco which he rode to a trouble free Scottish gaining a “Special First Class Award” (All-in-all John rode the Scottish Six Days Trial nine times, retiring twice and gaining “Special First Class Awards” in the remaining seven). At Crediton, on this Bultaco John also won his first Premier at an Open-to-Centre trial. He had by now started to enter and ride the Nationals, the Greensmith, Hoad, Perce Simon, St.Davids, Dulis Valley, Victory etc, not forgetting the West of England of course; he was runner-up to Sammy Miller in the Lyn National.
Sammy Miller, centre with Brenda Luckett and Jenny Haydon at the Gorgie Market, Edinburgh at the 1969 Scottish Six Days. Miller finished third this year.
The next move of machine was to the Cotton factory for a 220cc Minarelli powered machine. He had agreed a sponsorship deal which involved a cut priced machine with the supply of free spares plus a second bike free of charge.
John Luckett on the 220cc Cotton in 1970
John was to receive £3 for an Open-to-Centre win, £12 for a Regional Restricted and £25 for a National win. John rode the Cottons for two years and secured some very decent results.
Brenda Luckett enjoys the Scottish sunshine during the 1971 SSDT.
1970 was also a great year for South West trials enthusiasts as our team in the Inter Centre Team Trial broke the domination of the Yorkshire Centre in this event. It was the first time the ‘Yorkies’ team had been beaten for quite a number of years, our team being John Luckett, Ian Haydon, Brian Higgins, Alan Dommett and Ian Blackmore. The Team Manager was Jim Courtney.
1970 ACU Inter-Centre Team Trial Winners – S.W.Centre – Ian Blackmore, Brian Higgins, John Luckett, Jim Courtney (Manager), Alan Dommett, Ian Haydon.
In the 1971 Scottish John was ninth on the leader board and only lost four marks on the Thursday. He even had a crack at the tough Scott Trial and was happy to pick up a finishers award. John was also runner-up to his local rival, Brian Higgins, in the Victory Trial the year that Brian won it, either 1971 or 1972.
John Luckett with his father at Edinburgh’s Gorgie Market for the 1972 Scottish Six Days Trial – Photo: Ken Haydon
In the 1972 Scottish John thought the engine was tightening so was taking it easy, then when he looked down at the rear wheel he realised that the frame was twisted, the rear brake was mangled and the rear hub appeared to be cracking up. By the time John reached ‘Pipeline’ he was fifty-nine minutes behind time, just one minute to spare as sixty minutes behind schedule meant that you were out.
At the end of the day a wheel was borrowed from a Northern dealer, this wheel was used by John all week before swapping back to his re-built original (complete with the correct rim paint) before the finish in Edinburgh – He finished that event with a special First Class Award.
At the end of 1972 John wanted to finish with Cotton as he felt the bike was less competitive, the Managing Director of Cotton, Reg Buttery, tried his hardest to keep him, he even suggested that John take the bike to California to demonstrate it. John thought a lot of Reg Buttery and didn’t want to let him down but after a lot of thought and consideration, taking into account matters like family and family business commitments etc he decided that the time had come to move on and handed his bike back to the Cotton factory. Martin Strang went ‘over the pond’ to California for Cotton in place of John.
John Luckett – even the best don’t always get it right.
Bob Gollner became John’s next sponsor, for Bob, John rode a Mick Whitlock framed Ossa, after which he again changed camps riding this time for Ossa U.K. which was run by Roger Holden. Ossa were very supportive and, from 1974 on, John had a new bike every year. He recorded many successful rides and enjoyed the bikes except for the 350 when it was launched. John was supplied with a 350 but it wasn’t long before he handed it back and returned to a 250.
Brenda and John, who had first met in 1967, were married in 1974, John’s best man being his good friend and rival in sport, Ian Haydon.
South Western Centre Team Trial Team 1975 – Brian Higgins, Ian Haydon, Alan Dommett, John F. Luckett & Martin Strang.
Amongst his many memories, John remembers riding the notorious Scott Trial for a second time, this time he finished within the first ten on observation but lost a lot of marks on time. Also etched in his memory is the climax of the 1974 season when he and Brian Higgins were neck-and-neck going into the last round of the South Western Centre Trials Championship, at the final section of the day John needed a ‘clean’ to pick up the title, sadly he had an unlucky ‘three’ forcing him to accept, once again, the runner-up spot.
John Luckett on his Ossa in 1973.
Next came the ‘mono-shock’ versions, although John found them a bit heavy he continued to ride for Ossa until 1978 before handing the bike back.
John Luckett on the Ossa – Photo: Mike Rapley
By this time John had been married to Brenda for about four years, son Nick had been born the year before and the business was very busy. He decided that it was time to stop riding the “National’s” and next bought a 325cc Bultaco from Alan Dommett. Family life and business commitments led to John giving up riding altogether in 1980, this was also around the time that daughter Charlotte was born.
Brenda and John were also blessed with the birth of a second son, Martyn in 1986. Business commitments forced John’s continued retirement from trials until 1987 when he returned with a Triumph Tiger Cub competing in Pre’65 events. He immediately started producing some magnificent results, his performance in the Exmoor Three Day Trial that year was a good example.
1988 saw him with more great results, which included winning both of the two major West-country classics, the Exmoor Three Day Classic Trial (a two day event these days) and the Dartmoor Two Day Classic Trial.
In the early 90’s John won the Pre’65 Championship with son, Nick, winning the Twin-shock Championship the same year. He also rode twice in the Pre’65 Scottish Trial on the Cub, the second time he finished second to Dave Thorpe and always remembers a really good clean of ‘Pipeline’.
Although only a rare Pre’65 rider these days John does continue to turn out and enjoy long distance road trials where you can be sure his name will be placed well when the results are published. These days John’s time is spent tending his sheep, helping son, Nick, with his business and, with Brenda, running the farm which includes holiday accommodation that includes plenty of trials practice area within their 20 acres of woodland.
John Luckett’s South West Centre Solo Trials Championship History:
John, a quiet and capable man, who was a superb rider, was just, more than a little, unlucky as far as the South Western Centre Solo Trials Championships were concerned, he never did manage to win the Championship but it wasn’t for the lack of trying, he was always a close contender finishing each season as follows:-
These are, without doubt, really impressive placings due to the fact that he competed for the Centre Championships during an era when he had some really brilliant riders as opposition, the likes of Roger Wooldridge, Ian Haydon, Brian Higgins, Mike Sexton, Martin Strang, Ian Blackmore, Mike Rapley, Ivan Pridham, Alan Dommett, Allan Baker, all competing on their top form.
Brenda’s Trials School –
“Brenda’s Trials School”, as it has become known as, was developed from the training weekends first run by Elaine Baker and Rob Doran of the Lyn Club. When problems with land were encountered, the Luckett’s offered to run the event from their Lower Wembsworthy Farm. ACU Centre Official, Malcolm Redstone, suggested to Brenda and John that if they applied for a grant from the South Western Centre, the ACU would probably match it. The successful application was made via the Torridge Club in 1992.
Over the years the training school has gone from strength to strength and been lucky enough to have seen many of the country’s top trials riders attend as instructors, one regular instructor these days is of course Joe Baker, 15 times South West Centre Champion, who was himself one of the very first pupils of “Brenda’s Trials School”.
Originally the proceeds of the training school went to the charity CLIC because Brenda had a friend whose child had Leukaemia. This continued until 2005 when, following the sad loss of their own son, Martyn Luckett, who passed away suddenly in his sleep, Brenda and John decided to split all money raised with the charity CRY, Cardiac Risk in the Young.
As Martyn died very suddenly of Myocarditis, a heart condition undiagnosed at the time, his Memorial Fund now raises money to hold screenings in the North Devon area. Six screening sessions have been held to date, three in Bude, one in Bideford, two in Barnstaple. John and Brenda have raised a lot of money since losing Martyn, their hope is that the hard work and effort that they put into this project will try to stop losses, similar to theirs, happening to other families.
Martyn was a lovely guy, full of fun and a fabulous rider who quickly and easily gained Expert status, had he not passed away at the tender age of 19 he would surely have gone on to make a real name for himself in the world of trials.
The trials school started with 8 or 10 riders (Joe Baker included) and is now so popular that it caters for an entry in excess of 70 with entrants coming from as far away as Yorkshire. The weekend provides top class and valuable instruction to the entrants, plus raises a lot of money for the Martyn Luckett Memorial Fund (probably near to £3,000). John and Brenda are ever thankful to the trainers who attend along with their regular loyal band of helpers who put so much into helping to ensure the success of the weekend.
Due to the immense amount of work involved in organising and running the annual weekend John and Brenda, after a lot of thought and soul searching, have sadly decided that next year will see the final ‘Brenda’s Trial’s School’.
During the time the school has been running so much good has been done with the money raised and so many riders have received some of the best possible training that is available in the country.
We can only sincerely thank the Luckett family and their band of helpers for all they have done, sometimes under very difficult circumstances, and wish them the very best of luck and happiness for the future.
Copyright: John Moffat/Trials Guru 2024
Photographic Copyright: Held by all photographers named in articles or in captions.
Apart from ‘Fair Dealing’ for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright, Design and Patents Act, 1988, no part of any article may be copied, reproduced, stored in any form of retrieval system, electronic or otherwise or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrical, mechanical, optical, chemical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the author as stated above. All articles are not published for any monetary reward or monetisation, be that online or in print.
Ten years ago, Trials Guru was launched and to celebrate, the website has been updated to become the ‘go to’ facility to look back over the history of motorcycle trials, both solo and sidecar – world-wide.
We can boast an extensive readership, far greater than magazines, because Trials Guru is only available online. And it’s all here at your fingertips, where you want it, when you want it!
Over the past month or so, articles have been tidied up and new ones added. We have ceased reporting on current events and event promotions except if they are significant.
John Reynolds (Suzuki) was 11th on 133 marks in the 1981 SSDT – Photo: Jerry Hawker.
We have added more photographs, thanks to the ongoing co-operation of the photographers, both amateur and professional, who have supported Trials Guru over the past 10 years.
Toni Gorgot (Ossa) finished in 7th position on 120 marks in the 1981 SSDT – Photo: Jerry Hawker.
So have a look at the following pages and postings that come together to bring you a vast encyclopaedia of motorcycle trials, covering the world of trials.
Don Smith, immaculately dressed at the start of the 1978 SSDT, Fort William on the 125 Fantic – Photo: Jimmy Young, Armadale
Trials Guru is free, no charges, no subscriptions. Click on the ‘green links’ to open up the world of Trials Guru!
Use the two Indexes, ‘Rider Index‘ and general Index to find what you are looking for, or the ‘Search’ facility at the top of this page – Go on, try it!
2024 marks ten years of the website Trials Guru which was launched with the technical assistance of Heath Brindley in the March of 2014.
So, to mark this milestone, we are changing the remit of this now world famous website, one of a few that do not charge to see photographs and articles written by enthusiasts for enthusiasts!
Our new style Trials Guru decals
We are now running the website as a knowledge base and historical records facility. We have ceased reporting events, unless they have special merit. We have ceased allowing free advertising to commercial ventures including magazines. We are concentrating on our core objectives of storing records, historical data and results and of course the photographs of our benevolent photographers of which they are many world-wide.
We no longer write articles for commercial magazines, even although these were done previously for no monetary consideration, reward or fees.
We will through time republish some articles as these remain the copyright of Trials Guru and John Moffat the website operator.
The website remains privately funded with no subscription fees payable by our viewers. Trials Guru is not an income generation website, never has been and never will be, simple as that.
In time, we may change the layout and presentation, but that will be considered in the future.
We have already introduced the ‘Rider/People Index’ to make it easier to find the people who have been associated with the sport of trials.
Recently a number of articles have been released and this has been extremely well received by our readers, aricles such as ‘Comerfords Look‘; Walther Luft; Don Smith; Joe Wallman and many more.
So it’s business as usual, we remain ‘DEDICATED TO TRIAL’
Joe Wallmann in 1969 – Photo: Kamarad, TrialMuseum, Ohlsdorf.
Words: John Moffat
Contribution and information: Hartwig Kamarad; Alfred Wagner.
Photos: Rainer Heise; Iain Lawrie; Malcolm Carling by permission of Nick Haskell; Harry Leitner; Hartwig Kamarad; Photo Collection Giulio Mauri Fontsere; Erich Diestinger.
Born in Berndorf, near Salzburg in 1948, Josef Wallmann, known simply to all as ‘Joe’, would take up motorcycle trials riding at the ripe old age of twenty, which is quite late for this type of sport. This was in 1968 at a trial organised by ARBÖ at Bad Goisern, Gmunden in Upper Austria. In this event he competed with a home-modified Puch moped on which he won the trial. Not bad at all for a beginner, but Joe was hooked and of course wanted to carry on winning.
By the end of the 1968 season, he became the 100cc Austrian champion. Joe continued to use his Puch until the end of 1970 when it was replaced by a 100cc Zundapp, again a bespoke machine, not factory built. Zundapp made enduro type machines as opposed to trial motorcycles. Joe was by profession a bricklayer and this employment kept him physically fit.
Joe Wallmann on a Sachs powered machine in 1970.
Wallmann continued to win his class at trial events and was by now fast catching the acknowledged King of Austrian trials, Walther Luft, who up until then, was virtually unbeatable. For sure, in this time period, Walther was the man to beat in Austrian trials.
On the twenty-fourth of September 1971 at the Alpenpokal Trial at Rosenheim in Bavaria, Joe was able to defeat Walther Luft in competition for the first time.
Walther Luft (left) and Joe Wallman (right) discuss trials – Photo: Alfred Wagner.
Bultaco time:
In the autumn of 1971, Joe purchased his first Bultaco Sherpa 250, four days later Wallmann was able to defeat Walther Luft again at the ‘Graz Trial’. Joe instantly gelled with the Bultaco, a brand he would remain loyal to until the end of his trials riding career in 1982.
Contacts:
In 1968 at the ARBÖ Trial in Bad Goisern, Joe had become friends with riders from Motor Sport Club – Gmunden. It was at that time, one of the few trial clubs in western Austria to also make a name for itself as a promoter of the ‘International Voralpentrial’. In 1970, Joe’s friend, Hartwig Kamarad, was approached by Motor Sport Club Rutzenmoos, the most successful motorsport club in Austria at that time and finance was readily available. The MSC Rutzenmoos tasked Kamarad with forming a trials team, with Castrol Austria providing start-up assistance and also financed the purchase of a Ford FK 1000 transport bus for Joe and Hartwig. The ‘Autoladen Vöcklabruck’ paid for insurance and taxes and took care of tyres and spare parts. Joe had arrived in another world, and the leap into the international trial scene was now possible. In order to finance the expensive trips to international trials in Italy, France, Finland, Sweden, the three remaining seats in the bus were made available to other Austrian competitors and could thus travel cheaply all over Europe.
Former German trials rider Max Braun from Munich said: “It was for me a great time together with Joe Wallmann, he is a gentleman and also his wife Hedwig is a very smart Person. He is a very fair Sportsman and a excellent Rider.“
For many Austrians such as Franz Trummer, Gottfried ‘Friedl’ Engstler, Hubert Erbler, Max Hengl and some others. This was the opportunity to get a taste of international trial events.
1978 – Austrian, F. W. Trummer (325 Bultaco) on Loch Eild Path, SSDT – Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.
Gottfried ‘Freidl’ Engstler from Austria (325 Bultaco) on ‘Pipeline’ in 1978 SSDT – Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.
F.W. Trummer on the 300 Puch Yeti in the 1978 SSDT on ‘Blackwater’ – Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.
International:
In the autumn of 1972, Joe’s international participation in trials really got going, he finished in third position in the Lans en Vercors trial near Grenoble in France. His talent for trial ‘shows’ was already evident, and Joe drove cars for the first time at a racing exhibition of the MSC Rutzenmoos at a folk festival in Vöcklabruck.
From 1973 Joe worked as a salesman and as a ‘celebrity trials trainer to Austrian ski legend, Franz Klammer and many more. This was with the Bultaco importer for Germany and Austria, Horst Leitner, who also provided him with a Bultaco complete with spare parts, free of charge and paid success bonus.
Left to right: Horst Leitner; Niki Lauda; Nina Rindt & Joe Wallmann – Photo: Harry Leitner
Leitner was the first Austrian to compete in the Scottish Six Days in 1961, later he emigrated to the USA to develop a range of off-road motorcycles under the ATK Leitner brand.
The 250cc ATK Leitner made in the USA by Horst Leitner
Leitner’s Austrian headquarters were based at Bruck an der Mur in Styria, Austria and imported the range of Bultaco motorcycles for the country.
Joe Wallmann’s increase in performance was meritorious, he took part in many International Trials and European Championship competitions. This resulted in second places in Pinerolo, Italy; St.Leonard de Bois, France; Trial Beutal, France; International Clubman Trial at Aywaille, Belgium.
Joe and Hartwig had by now changed clubs again and now run under the AMC Attnang banner and were supported by the US oil company, Pennzoil. The trial ‘shows’ became more and more robust with Joe riding his Bultaco across cars and at the town hall square in Attnang-Puchheim also over the roofs of moving cars.
Joe Wallman in 1975 at a World Championship round at Gefrees in Germany. – Photo: Rainer Heise.
Around this time Joe travelled to events in a blue Hanomag van with a rather amusing large decal on the rear doors. It was a sitting bulldog with its paw raised in a ‘thumbs-up’ pose with the text ‘Bultaco-Bull’ underneath.
Joe in VW Beetle action in 1979
As early as 1977, an Austrian motorcycle trade magazine commented on Wallmann’s skills: “soon Wallmann will drive a figure eight on the roof of the car and a hairpin bend in the interior of the car.” At World Championship events, Joe was more and more often in the top ten and thus points and advanced to the best German-speaking trial pilot in the World Championships. He was able to finish other International Trial Classics such as the Trial in St.Martin, Belgium and the Tatra Trial in Poland taking top honours.
Scottish Six Days:
Joe Wallmann on the 325 Bultaco rides ‘Laggan Locks; in the 1975 Scottish Six Days – Photo: Rainer Heise.
At the Scottish Six Days in 1975, Joe entertained spectators during the machine examination at Edinburgh’s Gorgie Market with an impromptu display, by riding his Bultaco up to a brick wall, landing his front wheel on the wall, then static balancing before flicking the bike off the wall, feet securely on the footpegs. His first appearance at the Scottish Six Days, was financed by ORF (Österreichischer Rundfunk), the Austrian national public broadcaster.
In 1976, Joe took part in the prestigeous TT Leathers sponsored ‘Superstars’ trial in England at Pately Bridge, Yorkshire. The event attracted the best trials riders in the world at that time.
1976 TT Leathers ‘Superstars’ Trial at Pately Bridge – Joe Wallmann on the 325 Bultaco – Photo: Malcolm Carling/Nick Haskell
Reflecting in conversation with A-Trial, Joe Wallman said: “I experienced my personal highlight in 1977, on the Thursday of the Scottish Six Days Trial. It was problems all day. I had to change the wheel bearing and mend a plate and then continue. At stake was with a day victory with 4 marks and the tenth place in the six-day final results. But the fourth place at the World Championship run in Kiefersfelden, almost on my doorstep, in 1980 was also very nice.”
Joe Wallman was best on day on the Wednesday of the 1977 SSDT jointly with Martin Lampkin, Marland Whaley and Rob Shepherd, winning the ‘Comerfords’ trophy. Joe was tenth overall on 93 marks.
Multiple SSDT winner, H. Martin Lampkin (325 Bultaco) on ‘Blackwater’ in the 1978 Scottish Six Days – Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.
In the 1978 Scottish Six Days, Joe was again riding the 325cc Bultaco and was positioned in 19th place on 195 marks, in this year, Martin Lampkin won the trial on 99 marks, the event was now taking more marks from riders than before. At the 1978 SSDT, Wallmann was also part of the Best Foreign team, ‘Team Austria’ which consisted of Joe, Walther Luft, Freidl Engstler and F.W. Trummer, winning the ‘Scotia Trophy’.
Joe Wallmann and his wife, Hedwig ‘Hedi’, have two children, Josef and Anrea.
At the World Championship trial in Kiefersfelden in Germany, Joe achieved a fourth place finish. This would be his best individual result at World Championship level. In the meantime, Horst Leitner had expanded his importership activities with Bultaco and became importer for the German market. Joe started riding in the German Trial Championships to help promote the Bultaco brand. However, due to the financial collapse of Bultaco in 1979, Joe then switched to the Italjet, developed by Bultaco mounted 1979 World Champion, American, Bernie Schreiber in 1980.
Bernie Schreiber who developed the Italjet in 1980, seen here in Sweden, round 10 of the World Championships – Photo Collection Giulio Mauri Fontsere.
Werner Linz in later years took over the import company and dealership. Joe became three times German Vice Champion and three times South German Champion.
Wearing a body-belt to help his back, Joe Wallmann on the T350 Italjet tackles a VW bus.
Joe’s first attempt at a record for an entry into the Guinness Book of Records was in 1980, at an event of the Motorclub Laakirchen when he rode across a VW bus, his record thirst for the Guinness Book was not yet quenched, and in 1983 he drove across a larger coach bus of the post office in Laakirchen on the occasion of the market celebrations of the town, it even brought him a dinner with the the then Federal President Dr. Kirchschläger, who was on site for these celebrations.
The poster for the 1983 Guinness Book of World Records attempt at Laarkirchen.
About twenty years ago, Joe became interested in Classic Trials, mostly riding on a Bultaco, he won the A-Cup title, the Classic European Cup taking place in Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Austria with four victories, but his great love belongs to the 2-day Trial des Vestiges in Moudon, Switzerland. Now living with his wife, Hedwig at Obertrum, near Salzburg.
2011, with Joe having fun on the 199A Bultaco at Colico – Photo: Erich Diestinger
The Salzburg daily newspaper, Salzburger Nachrichten reported in 2012: – Health problems in the form of severe back pain and also the time strained by family and profession, forced Wallmann to hang the sport on the nail in the mid-1980s. About ten years ago, the upper centre finally found a chiropractor who redeemed him from his pain. “It was incredible to suddenly be pain-free after more than 30 years,” the now 64-year-old remembers. However, Wallmann did not return to the trial. “The independence of self-employment simply demanded a lot of my time,” he says. It was only two and a half years ago that his long-time friend and trial colleague Hartwig Kamarad put him on a machine again when Wallmann felt the old enthusiasm flare up again. And since then he has won. The most tough competitor is almost 30 years younger. In the 2012 season, Wallmann won the overall ranking in the international classical trial Alpine Cup and also in the Austrian classical music A Cup. His toughest competitor Markus Adamec is almost 30 years younger. “I just enjoy getting around with the old machines,” Wallmann says modestly. In the classic competitions, exactly this is possible, after all, the trial vintage cars with around 90 kilograms weigh more than those of the current professionals. “And with participants between 30 and early 70, the age range is probably a slightly different one,” laughs Joe Wallmann, who will now remain the trial even longer. [1]
Joe Wallmann when riding competitively was very much an ‘old school’ rider, when the motorcycle and rider stops, then that is five marks of a reward. Wallmann did not take to the new way of allowing stopping in a section, which was pioneered in Spain.
Joe Wallmann: “I stopped competing in competitive trials in 1982. In 1980 Ulf Karlson became world champion. It was the last title for a driver from my generation who still drove without using the clutch. There was no problem with standing still. After that, the new driving style prevailed, which came from the young people of the time like Eddy Lejeune. For trial events up to class three (yellow route), the ‘non-stop rule’ is the most sensible rule anyway. The riders jump around in places where ‘driving’ would be much better and more successful. However, they would then have to learn and master basic techniques, such as correct loading and unloading.” [2]
In the Austrian trial website, A-Trial, they asked Joe: Aside from tables and rankings, what other fond memories do you associate with trial sports? Joe replied: “In 1972 we were in Finland for the first time to take part in the World Cup races there and in Sweden. Suddenly none other than Yrjö Vesterinen appeared. Yrjö took us to the most beautiful places, we were able to drive freely and collected cranberries during training. Walther Luft fried the mushrooms he found. It was this community that brought a lot of fun!” [3]
Three times World Trials Champion, Yrjo Vesterinen (325 Bultaco) on ‘Ben Nevis’ 1978 SSDT – Photo: Iain Lawrie
Joe is now 75 years of age and has a knee prosthesis and a new heart valve, but his goal is to start in Moudon at the age of 80!
Joe can still fit inside his 1980 riding clothes, he is a fit man! Photo: Erich Diestinger.
It proves, you just can’t keep a good guy down, but that’s Just Joe!
In August 2025, John Moffat of Trials Guru website travelled to Ohlsdorf in Upper Austria and met with Hartwig Kamarad, the curator of the 1st European Trial Museum to present Joe Wallmann and Walther Luft with their special edition ‘Trial legend’ caps by Trials Guru. Only 25 of these caps worldwide as a special honour for the recipients.
Trial Friends at Ohlsdorf, Austria in August 2025. Hartwig Kamarad; Walther Luft; John Moffat and Joe Wallmann. Photo: Alfred Wagner
Austria Trial Champions:
1969 – OSTG Trial Cup: 100cc – Joe Wallmann; 200cc – Walther Luft; Over 200cc – Walther Wolf.
1970 – OSTG Trial Cup: 100cc – Joe Wallmann; 200cc – Walther Luft; Over 200cc – Walther Wolf.
‘Six Days in May’ – Twenty Five Years of the Scottish Six Days Trial 1970-1994 – Jim McColm (1995).
Article copyright: John Moffat/Trials Guru 2024
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