It is with great sadness that we report the passing, in the early hours of Friday 14th November, of John Raymond ‘Ray’ Sayer of Bellerby, North Yorkshire, aged 90 years.
Ray Sayer (199cc Triumph) on ‘Foyers’ in the 1961 Scottish Six Days Trial – Photo: OffRoad Archive.
Ray Sayer should not need any introduction to those of an era when British factories ruled all forms of motorcycle sport. Ray was an accomplished trials rider, who rode the factory Triumphs in national, Scottish and International Six Days Trials. He also rode a two-stroke AJS in the 1969 SSDT, a 125cc Dalesman Puch in the 1970 Scott Trial and rode a Gaunt Suzuki in 1968 for Suzuki GB.
Ray’s best placement in the Scottish Six Days was third in 1963 on the factory Triumph Cub.
Ray Sayer tackles ‘Edramucky’ in the 1969 Scottish Six Days Trial on OWS12G, one of three AJS 37A-T machines built by Edgar Bros. Photo: OffRoad Archive.
By profession he ran the family coach business of Sayer’s Coaches, he was the son of the local farmer.
Triumph factory photograph shows Ray Sayer, second from left, front row – Photo supplied by J. Ray Sayer
A very reserved, quiet man who had incredible knowledge of the sport and gave all the other top riders a run for their money every time he threw his leg over a competition motorcycle. Ray was a highly respected rider by his peers and his local townsfolk. It is safe to say that Ray Sayer was a gentleman.
Ray Sayer (199cc Triumph) tackles ‘Glen Ogle’ in the SSDT a first day hazard – Photo: OffRoad Archive.
After his competitive days were over, Ray would attend the annual Scott Trial in his local area and also the Reeth Three Day. He was also a Jaguar car enthusiast.
Ray Sayer on his factory Triumph Cub UNX51 at the 1960 British Experts Trial – Photo: Mike Davies
Our sincere condolences go out to his widow, Carol and the extended Sayer family at this time.
Ray Sayer’s funeral arrangements: Tuesday 2nd December 2025 at 1pm at Bellerby Church, Church Street, Bellerby, Leyburn DL8 5QL, then from 2pm at Tennants Garden Rooms, The Auction House, Harmby Road, Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 5SG.
With assistance from: Kerry Greenland; Karen and Neil Clarke.
Photos: Colin Bullock; Jean Caillou; Mike Rapley; Alistair MacMillan Studio, Fort William (Permission by Anthony MacMillan); Ray Biddle; SpeedTrackTales (ISDT website); Derek Soden; Salisbury Journal; Greenland Family Archive. (Main photo: Mike Rapley).
Most people that have been around the Pre65 trials scene for some time, will have heard the name or have met George Greenland. But George has been around a long time, a very long time in fact!
This article has been written with the full co-operation of George and his family. In truth, it doesn’t begin to cover everything he was involved with, or all of his adventures, but it gives the reader a fascinating insight into the life and times of a man and his love of motorcycles and the sport of motorcycling.
George Greenland on the 500 Ariel on Callart Cottage during the 2006 Pre65 Scottish Trial – Photo: Jean Caillou.
The thing that you experience when you meet George Arthur Greenland is his ‘schoolboy enthusiasm’ for the sport of motorcycling, that he hasn’t lost since he was a youth. Here we find out more about the trials rider, sidecar trials driver and five times British Enduro sidecar champion.
George Greenland with passenger Nick Moores, 1981 Welsh Two Day action with the Norton Wasp outfit carrying the number 1 plate – Photo: Colin Bullock
Early Days:
George was born on the 7th July 1932 to parents, George Arthur Hughes Greenland and Annie Gertrude Greenland, at North Middlesex County Hospital.
The family lived at Prairie Farm, Carbon Hill, Cuffley, Herts and George attended the local school in Newgate Street. He was the youngest of four children with three sisters, Glad, born in 1915; Pad, born 1920 and Olive, born 1930.
George and Olive grew up during the second world war at Prairie Farm, which was a small poultry farm. George aged thirteen and sister Olive then moved to Salisbury, Wiltshire in 1945 to St. Martins Terrace in the city. By this time both his elder sisters, Glad and Pad were married and stayed in and around the London area.
George attended St Thomas Boys School, St Thomas Square, Salisbury and left school in the July of 1946, aged fourteen.
George’s first interest in motorcycles started that same year when he was walking home from school, he would pass a chap washing his motorcycle which was covered in mud. After a few weeks of this, George’s curiosity got the better of him and he had to find out how it got so muddy!
On leaving school, George’s first job was at Avon Motors, which was a Rootes Group garage. He used to walk past the garage on the way home from school and decided to go in and ask for a job.
Sid Clark, who owned the business, asked George why he wanted to work there? George replied “When I walk past, everyone is so happy and I would like to work in a happy place.” So Sid took him on, but George wasn’t able to start his apprenticeship at age fourteen, so worked there until he was sixteen years of age and then started his five year apprenticeship.
Having found out why the chap’s motorcycle was always covered in mud, George went to see a local trial on his push bike. He liked what he saw so much that he just had to have a motorcycle himself.
It was Fred Pendle who started George’s motorcycle enthusiasm, Fred had a friend with a 250cc Royal Enfield, a 1935 genuine trials model, with foot change and girder forks. It had been used by factory rider, Arthur Ellis. George purchased it in 1948, now aged sixteen, from Arthur Beeston for £35 complete with a spare engine. With a little the help from his Dad, George bought it. From then on there was no stopping him, the die was cast!
George Greenland sits astride his first motorcycle, a 1935 250 Royal Enfield trials model in 1948. – Photo: Greenland Family Archive.
By 1946, George was friendly with Maureen’s brothers, Brian and Dick Barber at the time but Maureen was of the same age, fourteen, so he was unable to date her until she was sixteen, they were all good friends so ideally, George saw a lot of Maureen.
George Greenland and his 500T Norton. Photo: Greenland Family Archive.
George started riding a 500cc Norton 500T in 1950 and notched up his first win on this bike at the Ernie Britton Trial.
Victory Trial action in 1950 with George on the 500T Norton – Photo: Ray Biddle
Most weekends, George was riding to events with girlfriend Maureen as pillion passenger. He would drop her off at a section with the lights which he had removed from his bike, compete in the trial and then pick her up, refit the lights and the pair would ride back home.
Get some in:
National Service was of course a feature of life in these days, and in 1953 at the ripe old age of twenty-one, George was called up and joined the R.E.M.E with a posting to Kent.
May 1953 with George Greenland aboard the 500T Norton during the Welsh Two Day Trial – Photo Ray Biddle.
George was competing on a twin cylinder 500cc Trophy Triumph in 1953, which he used as a road bike and trials machine. It was this machine that created the attachment between George and Triumph engines later on in his trials career.
George on the Triumph Trophy competing in the November 1953 Perce Simon National trial – Photo: Ray Biddle
The following year, George was using the Army supplied Matchless G3L in all major road trials London to Landsend; Hampshire 100; Sunbeam 200 and London to Exeter. He was the best army rider in all these events. His collection of trophies then started to grow considerably.
Army Days:
George on a standard army issue 347cc Matchless G3L, riding in a long distance event during his National Service in 1954.
During his army National Service, George rode an Army Matchless G3L in many events and was eventually invited to go to the selection events for the International Six Days Trial in 1954.
Photo credit: Speedtracktales (ISDT website)
He was selected as first reserve for the British Army team for the ISDT. This was held in Wales in the September of 1954 and George was supplied with a BSA Gold Star. The army team consisted of Captain Betty; Captain Fred Miles; Captain Eddie Dow; Cumbrian, Eddie Crooks; Staff Sgt. Nicholson; Corporal Mick Waller. The British Trophy team won this year’s ISDT, captained by Hugh Viney of Associated Motorcycles.
George takes up the story: “Eddie Dow once asked me during our training sessions in Brecon, why do you always ride at the back? I said well, if one of you comes off I’ll make sure I get a place in the team. After that he pulled rank and rode behind me.”
“Eddie Dow and Eddie Crooks were both on BSA Gold Stars and were unhappy that mine seemed to go much better. I had to admit that I had taken the compression plate out from under the barrel. So, that evening, I had to work on two more Gold Stars to remove their compression plates.“
“Thirty or so years later at a reunion, Eddie Dow asked me, would I really have run over him if the opportunity presented itself? I had to say at the time most probably.”
It was now 1955 and George left the army as his National Service had come to an end, so it was back to ‘civvy street’ and a job with Smallshaw Brothers and Andrews Garage in Bournemouth. BSA had also loaned him one of their 350 Gold Stars to continue competing. However, his freedom was short lived as George was recalled by the Government in June due to the Suez Crisis in 1956. This was a joint operation by British, French and Israeli forces, invading Egypt, thus regaining access through the Suez Canal. George and Maureen had only just got married on the 2nd of April that year, so things were a bit hectic.
George astride the BSA Gold Star, loaned by the factory in 1955, note the works Royal Enfield – HNP332. Photo: Greenland Family Archive.
Back again:
George Greenland on the Smallshaw Special Triumph in 1958 – Photo: Greenland Family Archive.
Demobbed once more, George resumed his trials riding activities, this time on a special Triumph, called the ‘Smallshaw Special’ in 1958. Using a Triumph Cub engine, with James hubs and AMC front forks, it was registered 28EFC, built by Des Smallshaw who had built special trials bikes previously.
At this time, George made the move to work for a very large company, Morris Motors, shortly to become the British Motor Corporation with the merger of Austin and other car brands, this was at the Cowley plant in Oxfordshire. BMC was the largest motor manufacturing company in Britain at that time. George was to be employed there until 1965. His main job was that of a trouble-shooter, being part of a specialist team that rectified faults when vehicles were being assembled on the Cowley production lines. His team worked very closely with designers and vehicle production staff. Some faults were rectified on the production line, with others out in the field, post-production.
During George’s time at BMC, Maureen gave birth to three daughters, Katrina Jane, born 1958; 1959, Karen Ann in 1959 and in 1961, Kerry Lyn. All three daughters took up motorcycling, with Karen taking it up competitively.
George Greenland in 1961 on the factory supported 250cc DOT – Photo: Greenland Family Archive.
In 1961, a trials bike was despatched from DOT motorcycles in Manchester. This machine was entered for that year’s Scottish Six Days and George rode two Scott trials on this machine, earning himself a coveted Scott spoon in the process.
In the mud on the home made Triumph in 1964 – Photo: Greenland Family Archive.
George got the urge to build his own trials bike, a Triumph Special, registered AEW176A, with a 350cc engine which he upgraded to a 500 in March 1964, using an engine from a crashed road bike. The Triumph was fitted with Norton Roadholder forks and a James front hub. He purchased some tubing to rebuild the frame for trials use. He had been told it was Cold Drawn Steel tubing, whereas it turned out to be mild steel, which would later cause problems! He loved the bike, but after a while the wheelbase started to lengthen by itself, so he rode it until late 1965. By then, he had left the BMC to move back to Salisbury with Maureen and their three daughters. He formed a partnership with his brother-in-laws, Dick and Brian, called R.D. Barber & Company at Milford, Salisbury. They were in the business of repairing damaged cars and fabrication work, but also did some outsourced work for the BMC rally teams.
Rhind-Tutt Wasp:
GG: “l moved back to Salisbury in 1965, and went to see Robin Rhind-Tutt at Wasp Motorcycles at Berwick St. James, and asked him to build me a trials frame as I had now obtained a Triumph 500 engine. This he duly did, and the following year I had a second bike built, it was very similar to the first Wasp. I ran SU carbs on both these bikes. In 1966 I didn’t get to ride any trials, I spent all of my spare time on building our new house at Potters Way and building up the car repair business.”
Although known as ‘Robin’, ‘Robbie’ or ‘Rob’, Rhind-Tutt’s actual name was Charles Norman Rhind-Tutt and he became known throughout the world as the ‘go to man’ for competition motorcycle sidecars. Wasp outfits literally dominated the world of sidecar motocross in the 1970s. That first 1965 Triumph Wasp set the scene for many years to come, as George would not only build bikes for himself, but for other riders as well. Although well-known in the sidecar motocross market, the Rhind-Tutt connection would eventually pull the Wasp frame manufacturer more into trials, with a neat Bultaco powered example appearing at the 1970 Scottish Six Days, in the hands of Arthur Headland and a German rider, Wolfgang Zahn. The first solo trials frame had been made as early as 1963 and Geoff Chandler used a 250 Bultaco powered Wasp ‘RT4’ in 1968.
The Wasp frames were well built and finished in bright nickle plating. Later, the Rhind-Tutt/Greenland friendship would branch out into enduro.
Bike builder! Two of George’s Triumph engined Wasps, the one nearest the camera is the 1971 machine fitted with Rickman hubs – Photo: Greenland Family Archive.
GG: “In 1969, when building another Wasp framed bike, I actually built two, one for me and one for Arthur Dovey, who rode it very successfully. My own bike had Rickman hubs fitted.“
George on his Triumph Wasp – VMR3K in 1972 – Photo: Greenland Family Archive.
A group photo taken in 1971. Mick Noyce on the left, Brian Williams, George Greenland on the Triumph Wasp (VMR3K), Dick Ramplee, Keith Mitchell and Arthur Dovey. – Photo: Greenland Family Archive.
“I built another 500cc Triumph Wasp in 1971, which was registered as VMR3K. The following year I built a third 500cc Triumph Wasp, registered CAM56L the one which I rode in the 1973 Scottish Six Days. The start was still in Edinburgh at that time and I won a First Class award.“
On the 500 Triumph Wasp during the 1973 SSDT – Photo: Alistair MacMillan Studio, Fort William.
“I was disappointed that I didn’t win the best 500 cup, my bike had the largest capacity in the event, but Kawasaki had entered bikes in each capacity to get all the capacity classes covered. Later, Don Smith told me if he had known, he wouldn’t have done it.”
History records that Richard Sunter on the 450cc Kawasaki factory prototype picked up the over 350cc cup in the 1973 Scottish, finishing in 20th position on 137 marks. George Greenland came home in 99th place on 355 marks on the 498cc Triumph/Wasp.
CAM56L is still being ridden in competition with son-in-law Neil Clarke on board, seen here at the 2024 Pre65 Scottish Trial.
GG: “Of all the bikes I built, the last 500cc Triumph twin with Wasp frame, CAM56L is probably my favourite. I have still got that bike. It has done a lot of work. I did all the Southern centre time trials in the 1970s, the odd Euro championship round, the Scottish Six Days, the Scott trial and many Pre65 Scottish Two Days and quite a few trials on the continent.”
CAM56L being ridden in the ‘Greybeards’ trial in 1981. Photo: Greenland Family Archive.
George went two-stroke again and purchased a new 325 Bultaco Sherpa in 1973, but initially was disappointed with its performance.
On the 325 Bultaco Sherpa, bought from Comerfords in 1973. Photo: Greenland Family Archive.
GG: “I bought the new Bultaco from Comerfords, it ‘pinked’ all the time on acceleration. I saw Reg May at a trial, he told me to bring it back to ‘have a look at it.’ When I got it back a week later it was transformed after Reg set it up properly.”
The Bultaco Sherpa that George bought was one of the early 325cc models imported by Comerfords into the UK and they were jetted on the weak side. This was remedied by changing the slide in the 627 AMAL carburettor and also the needle jet.
In 1972, George had turned forty and effectively moved over to ride sidecar trials on a 500cc Triumph Wasp. His first passenger was Dave Lane, who remained so from 1973 through to 1977.
2 Day Enduro in Germany, 1975 with Dick Ramplee as passenger aboard the Norton Wasp. This was to be the first of five trips to ride in Germany.
This was to become an interesting and exciting time for George, experimenting with a variety of engines in Wasp chassis. This ranged from Triumph through to Kawasaki, CCM and Suzuki. It was also a springboard for George’s foray into enduro racing.
With passenger, Dave Lane on the Kawasaki engined Wasp outfit – Photo Greenland Family Archive.
GG: “Mike Guilford, the sidecar cross British Champion, said he was building a trials sidecar but was unsure about preparing a Triumph engine for trials, so I got involved. When it was completed Mike suggested a test day. My mate Dave Lane had passengered at grass track, so he came along as ballast. Neither of us did very well. Then Mike decided it was not for him, so told me that I could use it if I wanted. So that was my first trials sidecar.”
Their first trial was The Jack White at Brice’s Farm. The going was dry with lots of grip, but it was not a fairy-tale debut as George and Dave finished last. The following week, they rode the Wessex Centre trial, it was very wet and muddy, they won on the Triumph and the die was cast.
GG: “Dave Lane and myself decided to have a crack at the Welsh Two Day on the trials sidecar outfit, but we were very disappointed we lost the win, by clocking in one minute early.“
Riding in the 1974 Welsh Two Day with passenger, Dave Lane and the Triumph Wasp outfit. Photo: Derek Soden.
“Dave however wasn’t too keen on the Enduros, so Dick Ramplee was to become my regular passenger from 1973 -1980.”
George Greenland and Phil Whitlock on board the 250 Kawasaki Wasp outfit were 5th in the 1978 British Experts Trial – Photo: Mike Rapley.
The continent was calling in the late 1970s and that was an expensive time for sidecar crews as outfits are much bulkier than solos. George set about finding a solution and came up with the ‘double-decker’ trailer. This carried three outfits on one trialer.
Greenland’s ‘double-decker’ trialer, George’s 500 CCM powered Wasp outfit is nearest the camera in this photo – Greenland Family Archive.
George won the inaugural but as yet, ‘unofficial’ ACU British Enduro sidecar championship in 1980 and he went on to win a further four times when the ACU incorporated the championship into the sporting calendar. His passenger from 1980 until 1982 was Nick Moores.
Friend Dick Ramplee was passenger to George Greenland in enduros, but was also a sidecar driver in his own right. Seen here on a 360 AJS outfit.
By 1980 George was still working at R.D. Barber full time and spending every evening working on the outfit for the next enduro. All events during George’s riding career were attended by his wife Maureen, who loved to travel. Many times she drove round the countryside to find the next check for refuelling. In 1981, George purchased a 207D Mercedes van so that Maureen could have a bit of comfort to travel to enduros and holidays abroad, this was built by George in between events.
George adapted this Mercedes for travelling to events in the UK and the continent. Photo: Greenland Family Archive.
GG: “At the Natterjack Enduro in the November of 1981, my regular passenger Phil fell off his Moto Guzzi and broke his wrist, so couldn’t make it, so at the start Roy Humphries volunteered. On the first day he was shattered, everybody including his father said I would need a new passenger for the second day, but Roy turned up and we went well all day until the gearbox failed.”
Competing in a Natterjack Enduro on the Norton Wasp with passenger, Nick Moores. George was sponsored by Tsubaki chain and Silkolene Lubricants at this time.
Out of the seven times riding the Natterjack Enduro, George won five events with passengers Nick Moores, Phil Whitlock and Neil Clarke.
George discusses the Wasp 1,000cc engine with Robin Rhind-Tutt in 1980. Photo: Salisbury Journal.
Rhind-Tutt decided to design and build a bespoke double overhead cam 998cc Wasp engine/gearbox unit in 1980. The engine was a twin cylinder, eight valve configuration and a four-speed gearbox with dry sump lublication. It breathed through a pair of MK2 AMAL concentric carburettors. This took nearly three years to develop and George was heavily involved in the project. This involved development and getting the prototype built and tested. Approximately fifty machines were built, an early version of which George rode to victory in enduros. This package was capable of transporting rider and passenger, fully loaded at speeds up to 100 miles per hour.
1982:
1982 was to be a very busy year for George. In February, the 1,000cc Wasp engine had its first real outing at the Enduro Le Touquet, the famous beach race in France. He was passengered by Nick Moores, but the engine seized up on the long straight at mid race.
GG: “I blamed Silkolene oils, but they insisted I should have used their caster based oil called ‘Pro4’. Mr. Brooks from Silkolene came down from Buxton to have a look at the Wasp and said it was a ‘racing engine’, so I needed to change the oil over to caster base which is ‘Castorene’. There were no more problems after that, and we were best sidecars in 1984 and again in 1985.“
George now in his 50s and his new passenger was to be Neil Clarke from 1982 through to 1985 in trials on a 250cc Suzuki. George and Maureen’s first grandchild was born, Ellie MacQuarrie. Their eldest daughter, Katrina married sidecar passenger, Phil Whitlock – as if George hadn’t scared him enough! At the 1982 SETRA Enduro at Tidworth, George had used one of the prototype twin-cylinder 1,000cc Wasp motors.
Enduro du Super-Mare:
From 1983 to 2001, the Weston Beach Race organisers were George, Jack Mathews, Eddie Chandler and Dave Smith, culminating in eighteen years of running Weston.
GG: “We were coming back from the Le Touquet beach race, Jack Mathews, Eddie Chandler and myself had all been competing in the sidecar class, it was our first time at the event.”
“On the ferry crossing, we were discussing what a superb event it was and bemoaning the fact that there was not a similar type of event held in England. During the two-hour crossing, we had decided we would try and organize and run our own event. Many venues were thought of and finally it was left to me to approach Weston-Super-Mare council to obtain there help and permission to use the beach.“
“During the following week I was able to contact Weston council and make an appointment to meet the council members responsible for outside events. I took with me photos of the Le Touquet newspaper that had a full report and picture. After much discussion and deliberation, the decision was ‘sorry but NO’ as they already had a scooter rally on the seafront in the September. I had mentioned this to Mannix Devlin of Trials and Motocross News as to what we were hoping to run at Weston-Super-Mare. The following Friday TMX carried a paragraph about our meeting with Weston and the result that we were turned down. A week after this, I received a telephone call from a resident in Weston he asked if I was the same George Greenland that rode trials with him in the 1950s. I confirmed that yes I was, he said his name was Tony Jones and he said he thought a Beach Race at Weston would be good for the town. If he could arrange another meeting with the Council would I be prepared to come down again? So once again I’m at a council meeting, the same people agreed they had a re-think and their outside events officer would give us every assistance, but it would be a one-off event only! The event officer was a young lady, Carol Ridge, she immediately arranged for the three of us would-be-organisers to go to Weston to discuss our and their requirements. Carol turned out to be the most helpful and efficient member of the whole council. Eddie, Jack and I got together to discuss what we needed as a plan of action. We realised that we would need someone to help with organising the paperwork, licences, insurance, and so on. The only person we could think of was Dave Smith who we all knew, he was into organisation and also had many contacts in the Motocross world. We phoned Dave and talked him into meeting the three of us with a view to joining the team. We arranged all our meetings in a pub in Swindon as we could all get there in about the same time from our respective homes. Jack from Chester, Eddie from Newberry, Dave from Birmingham and myself from Salisbury. Dave agreed to join us, so our first meeting with Weston events committee included the four of us calling ourselves ‘Enduro Promotions’ as we had decided to run the event as an Enduro to be called ‘Enduro du Supermare’. The Council agreed that they would make their loading shovel and driver available, to move sand as we required. We were also introduced to the council yard manager, Geoff Tucker everybody was keen to help. We needed a A.C.U. permit for the event, so we approached Jim Webb of the Frome & District M.C. & L.C.C., he was really helpful. Not only did he arrange the permit, but got most of the club helping. I think Jim was responsible for getting all the clubs in the Wessex Centre to help out. We had quite a few meetings during the following months mostly with Carole Ridge and St Johns Ambulance, although the Police and the Fire Service did briefly make an appearance to find out what the format was. As all the event was taking place on the beach and the lawns they considered it did not affect them a great deal. We got tide timetables and advice on the best weekend to have the event the 29th and 30th October were agreed upon. At this stage we had suggested to the council that we would expect about 150 riders and hopefully 2 to 3,000 spectators. There was no charge to watch the racing, the only money coming in was from the riders’ entry fee and trade stands. On the weekend before the event, we all arrived in Weston to build up the course. Just four of us, Jim Webb loaned us all the ropes that he used for building the scramble course and also the posts. We marked out the course and started putting in posts, by hand. As it was a school holiday, we had many youngsters watching the proceedings. We explained what was going on and had offers of help which we gratefully accepted. What started as twenty helpers soon dropped to about eight, but these continued to help all week and most of these lads came back year after year. Meanwhile, the entries kept rolling in from solos, sidecars and trikes.“
“As the weekend got closer, people started to arrive in their thousands, it was winter and everything was closed down, over 10,000 people turned up and they ran out of food, all roads to Weston were blocked before, during and after the event, all the accommodation was full.“
“The police were tearing their hair out, it was total chaos. People were parking everywhere. The first year the start of the event was from a flare, which the lifeboat people provided, I was standing in the digger.“
“After the event, the meeting with Carole, the police and the Ambulance, they all said that we needed to be better organized for the following year. They said they would fence it and charge spectators, so another event was planned.”
George Greenland’s daughter, Karen in sidecar enduro action. George instilled enthusiasm for the sport in his family. Photo: Greenland Family Archive.
Maureen Greenland:
Sadly, Maureen Greenland passed away on May 14th 2024, George and Maureen had been married for 68 years and she was a big part of this story.
Karen Clarke: “Mum was such a major part of all our lives, she even stood in the Wasp outfit when Dad did test runs with it, now that is above and beyond the call of duty!“
George Greenland BSA 285cc C15 mounted – Photo: Colin Bullock
Many a lesser mortal would have by now said ‘enough is enough’ and hung up their boots as far as taking part in trials is concerned, but not George Greenland. George continued to ride in events both in the UK and in Europe for many years thereafter. He was a regular competitor in the Pre65 Scottish Trial at Kinlochleven on his special BSA C15 and Ariel HT5. George has ridden in most of the European classic events over the years and has, as a result, met many new friends in the sport.
There cannot be many riders who can boast that they have ridden in eight decades!
Super-enthusiast, trials rider, trials and enduro sidecar driver, George Greenland is very much a Trials Guru VIP.
Trials Guru comment: George Greenland is an inspiration to us all. He has maintained such enthusiasm for motorcycles and the sport for so long. He is simply unique. He talks, sleeps, eats and breathes the sport and has such a depth of knowledge. He is always willing to pass on his vast experience to others.
George Arthur Greenland left us on Monday, 21st April 2025, aged 92 years while holidaying with his family in Belgium. He left the trials world with some great memories.
George Greenland with Trials Guru’s John Moffat at the 2012 Pre65 Scottish Trial – Photo: Jean Caillou.
‘George Greenland a life in the sport’ is the copyright of Trials Guru & George Greenland – 2024.
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TROPHIES, TIGERS, LEOPARDS AND JAGUARS– The RAY SAYER Story
For many months Richmond trials enthusiast Barry Watson nagged Trials Guru mercilessly to pen an article on an unassuming gentleman who is well known in the Yorkshire trials world. And so, eventually, we thought it only right and proper to oblige. This would not be a straightforward task as we had met the gentleman on quite a few occasions. We knew full well that this is a very modest, reserved individual who would much rather talk about his contemporaries than himself! Our first approach to write about his motorcycle riding career was met with the reply: “I wish you wouldn’t”. Perseverance is a useful attribute though, and finally we wore him down. This feature spotlights the most respected of trials riders, who has lived in the village of Bellerby, near Leyburn, North Yorkshire most of his life, even though he avoids spotlights like the plague! Son of a farmer, John Raymond ‘Ray’ Sayer was born in November 1935 and was to make a name for himself on the national trials scene in a riding career that spanned three decades, starting in the early 1950s.
Words:Trials Guru; John Moffat; Bill Wilkinson; J.R. Sayer
Photos: OffRoad Archive; Claudio Picture/ Jean-Claude Commeat; Malcolm Carling, by permission of Nick Haskell.
The eldest of three children, Ray Sayer effectively put the Richmond area on the trials map by his name regularly featuring in the motorcycle press, which followed his career in the sport of trials. Pick up an old copy of the ‘Motor Cycle’ yearbook and the name J.R. Sayer appears regularly. Sayer, who was a national trials winner and ISDT team rider, rode factory Triumph motorcycles for most of his riding career which spanned almost three decades. His many Triumph contemporaries of the era included John Giles, Roy Peplow, Gordon Blakeway, Gordon Farley, Ken Heanes, and Malcolm Rathmell. Giles, Heanes and Peplow were selected many times for the Great Britain International Six Days Trial World Trophy team, an event which Sayer would eventually compete in three times on Meriden-prepared factory Triumphs. Although his name will be forever linked with the Coventry marque, Ray Sayer was not always Triumph mounted, as we shall learn later.
A ‘local’ Yorkshire event:
Sayer’s first trial was the Scott, on a 197cc DOT which had been purchased from a local businessman called Sylvester ‘Syl’ Palmer from nearby Leyburn. Palmer had ridden the machine in previous Scott Trials, he had also been the event clerk of the course and received support from Francis Barnett.
Ray Sayer: “My first Scott Trial was on 14th November 1953. It was also my first ever trial, and there was a very good reason for that. At the time I worked for my father, who was a farmer and a Methodist. In those days Sundays were for attending church and definitely not for having fun on a motorcycle! As the Scott was run on a Saturday, this allowed me to enter and compete in my very first event. Needless to say, I did not do too well on the DOT. The course back then consisted of two laps plus one leg out and one back in, and I had to retire after the first lap. The following year was very wet and what had been a stream became a large torrent at ‘Dicky Edge’. This wasn’t a problem for the more experienced or factory supported riders but I tried to jump it, and ended up in the middle with a drowned machine!”
Trophy Time:
Ray Sayer: “The 1955 Scott was a much better year for me, having bought a 1951 500cc Triumph Trophy by trading the DOT in to Duplex in Darlington; this became my all-time favourite motorcycle. I was fortunate to secure some valuable help with spare parts from Allan Jefferies and this time I had a really good ride. The Trophy was eventually converted to swinging-arm rear suspension using a McCandless conversion, which increased the ground clearance to nine inches and steepened the steering. It became a beautifully handling machine after that. My best performance in the Scott was third place in 1964 but I did win the 200cc cup and Best Yorkshireman awards on quite a few occasions. In the years that I rode the Scott, when it was held in the November, it was invariably cold and wet; conditions which really suited me. There was always the possibility of some snow though, and the trial was eventually brought forward to the October. I also had support from Pete ‘Eddy’ Edmondson on the Puch engined Dalesman which was a 125cc six-speeder and was a quick machine on the rough. I rode the Dalesman in the 1970 Scott Trial.”
A one off ride on the 125cc Dalesman Puch in the 1970 Scott Trial – Photo: Malcolm Carling.
Sayer achieved his first Scott Trial finisher’s certificate in 1955 and amassed a total of 13 coveted ‘Scott Spoons’ from 1956 onwards which effectively placed him in the higher echelons of this famous event’s records.
Wedding Bells and Trials – 1960:
Ray married Carole in 1960, when they advanced their betrothal plans due to her father being a high-ranking officer in the Royal Air Force with an imminent posting to Hong Kong. They tied the knot a couple of years earlier than originally intended. Carole always refers to her husband as ‘Raymond’ and they will soon celebrate their Diamond wedding anniversary. She attended most of the events Ray took part in and has a good knowledge of the sport and the riders of the era. The Sayers had two children, daughter Alexandra and son Gavin. Alexandra has three children, making the Sayers grandparents. 1960 was a good year for Ray: Carole accompanied him to most events, he was Best Up To 250cc class winner in the Alan Trophy Trial and was a member of the Club Team Award for Ripon & District with Tom Ellis and Stan Holmes. A fortnight later he was second in the lightweight class and part of the Triumph manufacturers’ team award winners with Artie Ratcliffe and John Giles in the Belgian Lamborelle Trial.
A Triumph works photograph with Ray Sayer, second from left, front row – Photo supplied by J. Ray Sayer
The Travers Trial held in the April saw Ray again as part of the Triumph manufacturers’ team award winners, with Artie Ratcliffe and Roy Peplow, and club team for Bradford & District MCC with Stan Holmes and Ratcliffe. In the May Sayer collected a Special First Class and the Jimmy Beck Trophy at the SSDT, but the icing on the cake came in the July that year when Ray won the Allan Jefferies Trial outright, beating the legendary Sammy Miller (Ariel) by 13 marks. He rounded off the year by coming fifth in the British Experts on the 199cc Triumph Cub. Sayer was the 1964 winner of the national Victory Trial and he attended the Victory Trial reunion dinner organised by Tony Davis at the Manor Hotel, Meriden in 2007 as the Guest of Honour.
Ray Sayer (199cc Triumph) on ‘Foyers’ in the 1961 Scottish Six Days Trial – Photo: OffRoad Archive.
Sayer Talks Triumph:
“I rode as a works-supported rider for Triumphs for 11 years, and my final few seasons was as a privateer on a 250cc Ossa Mick Andrews Replica purchased from Norman Crooks at Northallerton for £270.00 in 1972, which I rode in that year’s Scott Trial and again in 1973. I had gone back to riding on my 500cc Triumph in 1969, registered GNR923, which I built myself and is now owned by Bill Hutchinson.”
“The registration number is now on his motor car and the Triumph has been restored to a high standard. I had first used this registration number on a 1961 Triumph Trophy and I transferred the registration number to my self-built Triumph. All my factory supplied Triumphs are still in circulation, which is nice to know. I enjoyed and appreciated the support that I received from Triumph, especially Henry Vale for having confidence in me.”
Scotland:
The Scottish Six Days has always been an important event for British trials riders and Ray Sayer was also keen to ride in Scotland.
Sayer: “In 1957 I rode in my first Scottish; it was all new to me and we covered almost 1,000 miles during the week! It would be my most enjoyable as I had a really good time and a clean sheet on the Tuesday, losing no marks at all.”
This sparkling performance caught the attention of Triumph’s Henry Vale, the Competition Manager.
“Mr Vale offered me a factory machine after the SSDT, the Tiger Cub, which I rode for nine years. It was registered UNX51 and I believe it is still owned by the Crosswaite family. This was a competitive machine and one on which I rode in all the national events. But I have to say the Trophy would remain my favourite Triumph, I had a soft spot for that machine.”
Ray’s factory Triumph Cub UNX51 registered in May 1956 had been on loan from Henry Vale during the 1957 SSDT to 17-year-old Mike Hailwood, who went on to become a highly successful GP road racer and multiple TT winner, entering the Scottish as his first big competitive event. Factory Triumphs were regularly stripped down, checked, refurbished and rebuilt by the competition department at Meriden, under the watchful eye of Henry Vale, so this necessitated transport between Darlington and Coventry by train in the Guard’s van.
Ray Sayer: “I would get a phone call from either Dick Fiddler or Henry Vale at Triumph to say my machine was ready. Carole and I would go over to Darlington railway station to collect it in time for the next trial. I also rode the Highland Two-Day Trial at Inverness in Scotland a few times, and when I was on my own Triumph the secretary of the Highland club, Bob Mackenzie, was so impressed with my machine that he kept pestering me to sell it to him!”
History records that Ray was third in the 1963 ‘Scottish’ on the 199cc Tiger Cub, beaten only by Mick Andrews (AJS) and the eventual winner, Arthur Lampkin (BSA). This was to be Ray’s best performance in the annual Highland event. For the 1968 Scottish the British Suzuki concessionaires had entered Ray with his close friend Blackie Holden along with Peter Gaunt as a manufacturer’s team on the 128cc machines with Gaunt taking home the 150cc capacity class award. However, Ray’s little Suzuki did not stand up to the rigours of the SSDT that year and he was forced to retire from the event. The machine went back to Suzuki GB headquarters in the Midlands transported by Dennis Jones, who later worked for the company. The following year Ray was back on another two-stroke at the Scottish; this time it was the Villiers powered 37A-T model AJS for 1969. The AJS was courtesy of Norman Edgar of Edgar Brothers in Edinburgh who had close ties with the AJS factory, being Scottish agents for the marque.
Ray Sayer tackles ‘Edramucky’ in the 1969 Scottish Six Days Trial on OWS12G, one of three AJS 37A-T machines built by Edgar Bros. Photo: OffRoad Archive.
“Mr Edgar contacted me after learning that I had entered on my 500cc Triumph and suggested that I might have an easier time riding the lighter two-stroke AJS. They seemed keen to push the AJS trials machine. However, the AJS did not have sufficient steering lock and to be honest I really was more a four-stroke man so unfortunately it didn’t suit me too well at all.”
These particular AJS machines were not built at the Andover factory but their components were transported to Edinburgh in early 1969 in crates, and they were assembled in the workshop of Edgar Brothers under the supervision of Frank Edgar and further developed by Norman’s son, Derek Edgar. The batch of the 246cc bikes were consecutively registered OWS 11–14G, Edinburgh registration marks which are dated to May 1969, just prior to the SSDT. Derek rode OWS11G with his elder brother Norman Edgar Jnr on OWS13G. Ray was issued with OWS12G for the SSDT, riding under number 93. Having been supplied with an early model production 37A-T machine (NFS21G), Norman Edgar Jnr decided to improve the batch of Edgar-built machines for the SSDT by fitting the motocross AJS Y4 ‘Stormer’ front forks and alloy conical hub, and also the conical alloy rear hub from the motocross machine. These were lighter than the British Hub Company components that the production models had been fitted with. This was a radical departure from both the production 37A-T AJS and those supplied by Peter Inchley to the other supported riders, Malcolm and Tony Davis. Ray now thinks the fork assembly from the motocross model could have explained the restricted steering lock on his machine. It was not plain sailing for Sayer however, the gearchange pawl broke on his AJS on the Wednesday resulting in a mid-week DNF for 1969. So it was back to the old love, his own 500cc Triumph Twin for the 1970 Scottish, finishing in 58th position. His last Scottish was in 1972 on the outdated GNR923, which had been treated to a more modern set of MP telescopic front forks and an alloy conical front wheel. Unfortunately, history records that he did not finish his SSDT swansong but he switched to the Ossa later that year and continued to ride trials for a few more seasons, which included two more Scott Trials.
Leopards:
In a plan to make some more money, Ray sat and passed his PSV driver test and started earning more income by driving a bus in Wensleydale for a local coach hirer. When the coach operator decided to retire, Ray formed a partnership with his younger brother Ken to operate ‘Sayers Coaches’ in their hometown of Bellerby, utilising a variety of purpose-built coaches. This included popular models such as a Leyland Leopard and Bedford YMT, retaining local school runs as part of their business.
ISDT:
Sayer rode in three International Six Days Trials. His first was the 1964 event at Erfurt, East Germany on the factory 490cc Triumph ‘Tiger 100’ (106CWD) and of course the movie actor, Steve McQueen, also rode a Triumph at the same event. Being English spoken, McQueen socialised with the British teamsters attending that year.
Sayer: “Steve McQueen was quite taken by our factory Triumphs as they were much lighter and sported alloy fuel tanks, whereas McQueen’s was a fairly standard road model conversion, much of it undertaken by Reg May at Comerfords. I think he would have finished on gold medal standard if he had not spent so much time playing to the gallery, he was a typical show-off! He would keep pulling wheelies all over the place and crashed out quite a few times. He was very much an American style of rider, but quite a pleasant individual and very enthusiastic.”
Ray gained the first of his three gold medals at the Erfurt ISDT with 609 awarded points and ninth place in the 500cc class. The following year he rode the works 350cc ‘Tiger 90’ model Triumph (105CWD) in the Isle of Man in the GB Silver Vase team, having a clean sheet and gaining another gold medal as part of the best British manufacturers’ team – Triumph (Great Britain) with Ken Heanes and Roy Peplow. This was a difficult event held in atrocious conditions, and Ray’s experience of harsh North Yorkshire going gave him a distinct advantage, securing a gold – one of the few awarded that year. A truly gritty performance. In 1966 the event took place in Sweden at Villingsberg, managed by Jack Stocker. Ray was back on a factory 350cc Triumph, this time the ‘Tiger 90’ registered HUE252D in the GB Trophy team consisting of Ken Heanes, Roy Peplow, Sammy Miller and John Giles all on Triumphs, and Arthur Lampkin on a TriBSA. The team lost no marks and were credited with second place in the World Trophy competition, with East Germany taking top honours. Ray gained his third gold medal, having attained 600.04 bonus points. All the ex-factory ISDT Triumphs Ray rode are now in the custodianship of Triumph super-enthusiast Dick Shepherd in Essex.
Bill Wilkinson on Sayer:
“Ray Sayer must be one of Britain’s most underrated trials riders. I travelled many thousands of miles with him over the years when we rode in trials and the ISDT, so I got to know him very well. He never pushed himself forward, he is not that type of bloke; but make no mistake, he was a determined competitor and earned the respect of all the top riders of his era. My nickname for him is ‘Swing’ – not a lot of people know that! Ray was a very capable rider and was capable of much more. When you look back at results of national and international trials, you do not have to look far to see the name of J.R. Sayer. He won the Victory, the Allan Jefferies nationals at a time when any 20 of the top riders of the day could have won. His rivals were all very capable riders in their day. Ray was simply brilliant, I think we hooked up around 1961 and we hit it off really well. I have a lot of time for him.”
Jaguars:
Having owned a succession of Austin and Wolseley motor vehicles Ray had a soft spot for Jaguar cars. He claims never to have bought a brand new one but he has owned several XJ series ‘Big Cats’ over the years. Ray Sayer never lost his interest in trials and has been a regular spectator at many Richmond Motor Club events over the years, his dark blue Jaguar XJ6 being noticeable parked at Reeth for the Three Day and at Richmond for the Scott. For the uninitiated, the slim, Barbour jacketed, silver-haired gentleman quietly watching the performances of riders usually goes un-noticed. Only those who know their British trials history can spot Ray Sayer in a crowd. And only those who know their history would have the thought, “…now there is a man who can ride a trials motorcycle!”
Sadly, Ray Sayer passed away on 14th November 2025, aged 90 years.
‘Ray Sayer’ article is the Copyright of Trials Guru 2025
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Continuing our series of articles of Scottish off-road personalities ‘Great Scots’, we now are pleased to bring you the story of Tommy Robertson.
Tommy Robertson (200 DMW) on Inshriach (also known as Creag An Eilein) in the 1953 Scottish Six Days Trial. A section that Robertson himself helped discover and was put in the event.
Tommy Robertson is a well-known name known to many of the more senior competitors and enthusiasts in Scotland.
He was a time-served joiner by trade and worked most of his life with D. B. Gunn (Builders) Ltd of Edinburgh, which was established in 1949, rising to ‘foreman joiner’ with the firm.
He was a life-long member of the Edinburgh Southern MC, a club that was established in 1924 and met in ‘The Southern’ bar, a public-house in 26 South Clerk Street in Edinburgh’s South-Side, hence the name.
Tommy Robertson on his AJS 350 16MC at a trial at Westfield near Bathgate, West Lothian around 1951.
Tommy was not only a keen trials rider and no slouch on a scrambles machine either as he was runner up in the Scottish Championships in 1954 to Ludo More.
Tommy Robertson scrambling an AJS
He also rode in road hill-climbs which were popular just after the war.
Tommy Robertson on his Triumph Twin at the Bo’ness Hill Climb on 9th August 1947, the helmet is the Edinburgh Southern MC which was worn by club members in ‘speed’ events.
Thomas Robertson served in the British Army during the Second World War in India and Burma, but it was never a subject that he could be drawn on to discuss in conversation, this may have been due to the senseless atrocities that occurred on the so called ‘Burma Railway’.
Tommy Robertson on Kinloch Rannoch in the 1953 Scottish on his Edgar Brothers supplied 200 DMW
Robertson’s peers were many of the best Scottish riders of the era, Geoff Smith; Jimmy Hutchins, Jackie Williamson to name but three.
A life-long sporting motorcyclist, Tommy’s favourite event was without question the Scottish Six Days Trial and indeed Tommy was a club scout, who investigated sections for the Edinburgh & District organising club.
Tommy on his 350 AJS in the 1951 Scottish Six Days on his AJS. This is ‘Kinloch Hourn’, no longer used, it was a long climb into the hills from Loch Hourn down in the valley. A breath-taking photograph.
In the 1970’s Tommy Robertson was the ‘number-plate official’ for the event, He issued the riders’ metal number plates at the weigh-in at Gorgie Market and took them from the riders at Blackford Hill, returning their deposit at the event finish, up to 1976 when the event moved to Fort William the year after and riders had to make their own numbers.
Arthur Lampkin gets his 250 BSA ‘weighed in’ at the 1961 SSDT. Tommy Robertson is on second from the right, looking down examining paperwork.
Tommy was also a machine examiner, who painted the daubs of special paint on the sealed items for the SSDT at the Gorgie Weigh-in.
In fact Robertson was one of a team of section scout riders who discovered and reconnoitered ‘Inshriach’ , also later known as Creag An Eilein near Aviemore on the Rothiemurchus Estate which was used from 1953 to 1967 before National Park status for the area forbade it’s future use.
Tommy Robertson (AJS) on the famous Devil’s Staircase at Lochailort in the SSDT
Tommy served for many years on the management committee of the Scottish ACU and being a tradesman, in those days who had no pay when off work due to a sporting injury, was the prime-mover to get rider’s insurance cover as part of their entry fee established with the then specialist motor-sport insurers brokers CT Bowring & Muir-Beddall.
Tommy and his wife, Mary had a son, Ian Thomas who also rode in trials, and was also a member of the Edinburgh Southern MC, like his father before him. The family home was at Bonnyrigg, near to Edinburgh in Midlothian.
Tommy Robertson was a very quiet, reserved individual with a commanding knowledge of the sport in Scotland. It is safe to say, when Tommy Robertson spoke, people listened to him carefully. One of the old-school competitors and officials who said little, but knew a great deal!
Tommy at home on his vintage AJS in the 1980’s, the bike still owned by his son Ian.
Trials Guru wrote: Many riders were encouraged to join the Southern and take up either scrambles or trials and in fact my late father T. Arnott Moffat was one of them.
Peter ‘Jock’ Wilson … a great friend … a great man ~ By Renee Bennett.
Jock Wilson on ‘Cheeks’ at the Clayton Trial in 1962 on his specially built ultra-short-stroke AJS 350. (Photo supplied by Patricia Wilson)
When I think of Jock Wilson, it reminds me of the fantastic Thames Ditton motorcycle dealers, Comerfords, AJS trials machines, Bultaco, the Scottish Six Days and a top Home Counties based trials rider who went on to take charge of the British International Six Days Trial Trophy Team for nearly 20 years.
Peter Cameron ‘Jock’ Wilson was born in Scotland on 12th January 1934 at Oakbank, Bridge of Balgie, Glen Lyon, Perthshire. The Scottish Six Days was practically on his doorstep as the ‘Meall Glas’ section was only ¾ mile from his front door.
Jock on his short-stroke AJS in a Sidcup 60 Trial. Comerfords Sales manager Bert Thorn is following in the background.
There is the main reason he was such a good trials rider ~ with all that practice ground, he just had to be good!
‘Jock’ as I’ve always known him, started his working life as a lumberjack, then a spell in the British Army doing his national service at Aldershot, then marrying his wife Pat and moving to London to live permanently.
At Aldershot, Jock was in the Royal Army Service Corps or RASC for short, his commanding officer was Captain Eddie Dow, but he also met many of the factory trials and scrambles stars of the era who were also doing their national service. Riders such as Roy Peplow, John Giles and many more.
He took up employment at Arthur Cook Motors in Kingston-Upon-Thames and then the well-known motorcycle dealership, Comerfords based in Portsmouth Road, Thames Ditton, Surrey which he joined in 1957.
Jock started at Comerfords as a motorcycle mechanic in the workshops, soon progressing to workshop manager. When he became bored with that, he moved into sales under Sales Director, Bert Thorn.
1965 Scottish Six Days on Callert, riding the ex-Sammy Miller Ariel 786GON, which Wilson owned and rode for several years. The machine is now in Italy.
Jock’s specialty was modifying AJS trials bikes, cleverly making them lighter and more powerful. Gordon Jackson, Gordon Blakeway and Gordon McLaughlan rode AJS machines as a team in those days and Jock even named one of his sons after the trio.
Gordon Jackson of course won the 1961 SSDT on his factory AJS (187 BLF) with just one ‘dab’ ~ Amazing!
Jock went on to manage the British International Six Days Junior Trophy and Trophy teams. His knowledge gained by riding in the ISDT many times himself on AJS and Triumph machinery gave him a valuable insight into this part of off-road sport and was a very highly thought of manager by the riders and the ACU. He actually cut his teeth initially by managing the Scottish ACU squad in Sweden in 1978.
A Scottish ACU presentation of awards ceremony at Perth in 1980. From left: Margaret Allan (SACU Chairperson); Ron Wright (SACU Trials); Alex Phillip (Clubman TT winner 1948); Robbie Allan; Charlie Bruce (former Scottish racing champion); Tommy Milton (SACU official); Anne Allan (wife of Vic Allan) and Jock Wilson, ISDT Team Manager.
When Comerfords eventually took over the importership from Rickman Brothers of the Bultaco brand, Jock was soon in charge … supplying dealers and operating a first class spares service.
When Jock left Comerfords, some many years later, he started his own business importing the Italian SWM trials and enduro macinery in partnership with Mick ‘Bonkey’ Bowers, which became equally as good as the Bultaco brand and very popular.
Jock and Bonkey set up a countrywide dealer network which included former World Trials Champion, Martin Lampkin.
After SWM stopped producing motorcycles, Jock went self-employed working from his home in Tolworth, fixing and tuning bikes and repairing damaged wheels, as he is an ace wheel-builder.
Nowadays, Jock is retired but still works a little on classic bikes in his spare time. I speak to him regularly and it’s always a pleasure.
Jock has always been a friend to me, to my late father Wag Bennett, and to my children Charles (who runs a busy London motorcycle shop) and my daughter, Julie.
I owe Jock a debt of gratitude for the support and help he gave me over twenty five years of trials riding.
Thank you Jock Wilson … Renee Bennett, Plaistow, East London.
Trials Guru: Jock Wilson, so named because this was common place for a Scotsman living and working in Southern England at the time, became one of off-road motorcycle sports’ most respected characters. Jock was a very competent mechanic and a serious trials competitor. When he was with Bultaco UK, he was responsible for setting up the contracts with the Comerfords supported riders in both motocross and trials. Wilson was mentor to Greeves rider and fellow Scotsman, Vic Allan when he moved from Aberdeenshire to Thames Ditton to ride for Comerfords in 1967. Allan then went on to ride for BSA briefly, during which time he crashed heavily at the Italian GP on his factory BSA breaking his hip and was sidelined for several months, during which time BSA closed the Small Heath competitions department. Allan then reverted to race for Comerfords on the Spanish Bultaco and became British 250cc and 500 cc Motocross champion in 1974, riding the Pursang models in both classes.
Words: John Hulme with Alan Lampkin, with full co-operation from an article which first appeared in Classic Trial Magazine – Issue 11.
A.R.C. ‘Sid’ Lampkin seen here with John Moffat (Trials Guru) in November 2014.
The three Lampkin brothers are Arthur, Alan and Martin, the youngest, have been part of the motorcycle trials scene for such a long period of time that they are etched in the history of the sport forever. Alan – or ‘Sid’ as he is better known – was the one in the middle; imagine having Arthur as your older brother and Martin as the youngest? He was a very successful Scrambler during the ‘Golden Years’ of British domination and won both the Scottish Six Days and Scott Trials in 1966 for BSA; throw in some ISDT Gold medals and in 1974 winning the first ever American ‘World’ trials round. A very popular character, he received factory support along the way from BSA, Cotton Suzuki and Bultaco. He can still be found on the Trials scene today though, as a spectator on his annual holiday to the ‘Scottish’ or at the Scott, or many of the Classic events. The years may have passed by but one thing that has never gone away over the years is the warm welcome and the smile whenever you come into contact with Sid.
Alan Raymond Charles Lampkin entered the world on April 7th 1944 in Silsden, Yorkshire, as the younger brother to Arthur John who was born in 1938. Harold Martin Lampkin would come along later, at Christmas in 1950. The Lampkins had moved from Woolwich Arsenal, London, in 1940 to get away from the London Blitz. Their father, Arthur Alan, was a Foreman machine turner and he opened his precision engineering business shortly after his arrival in Yorkshire. He used an old side-valve BSA as his transport and so the boys were soon around motorcycles when they were born.
TV Time
Arthur had quickly shown a keen interest and at the age of seventeen became the youngest ever member of the mighty ‘Works’ BSA off-road team after some inspiring results. Alan soon wanted to watch his elder brother in action and remembers watching him at the 1959 Ilkley Grand National where he was allowed to ride without competing, and he loved it. They had no television in the early days at the Lampkin household and they often went around to the next-but-one neighbour to watch Arthur on it in the TV scrambles.
Alan’s older brother, Arthur J. Lampkin, seen here in the Pre’65 Scottish on his Gold Star BSA in 1984 was a guiding influence and mentor to his younger brothers, Martin and ‘Sid’. Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.
The Lampkin entertainment got even better when Alan started to compete. It was trials riding which first attracted him though and he could not wait to compete in the tough Scott Time and Observation Trial. He joined Arthur in the entry in 1960 for his first event. It was a tough day and one he did not finish, but when elder brother Arthur was announced the winner he set his sights on emulating his brother with a win of his own, after finishing the event! After finding his feet in 1960 with tastes of both trials and scrambling on BSA machinery he started to enjoy the rigors of the off-road action. He picked up a finisher’s certificate at the 1961 Scott and soon began to get noticed by the factory teams and, most importantly, the competition team managers.
He was drafted into the factory BSA team alongside such great names as Bill Nicholson, Fred Rist, David Tye, Brian Martin, Jeff Smith and John Harris – and, of course, his big brother Arthur. He acknowledged the support and delivered the results when in 1963 he won his first National trial, the Travers. Then he was picked by the team selectors to represent his country in the International Six Days Trial to be held in Czechoslovakia. In those days the event covered near-on 1,000 miles during the six days of competition and Alan did himself proud before disaster struck on the fifth day, Friday.
Alan ‘Sid’ Lampkin with the Comerfords – Bultaco Ford Transit van in 1976. Photo courtesy: Rob Edwards’ private photo collection
He was still ‘clean’ and on course for his first Gold Medal when he crashed and, suffering from heavy concussion, was forced to retire much to his disappointment. BSA though had much faith in him and after recovering he was moved into the number two BSA team for the Scott, where he collected a Scott ‘Spoon’ after finishing in the top twenty-five. By the mid-sixties he was acknowledged as one of the new young riders making headlines in the sport. Riding for BSA he mixed both trials and scrambling with much success. It was a fantastic season scrambling as he took in many of the established events with some impressive results, including some top-five finishes in the BBC Trophy races at Ripon and Durham on the BSA 440 cc, second in the Lancashire Grand National and a third in the Cleveland Grand National. On the trials scene he was a regular winner and top-five finisher in the British championship events, but 1966 was going to be his year.
All Rounder
It all started with a win at the opening scramble on January 1st at a frozen Hatherton Hall in Cheshire in the 500 BBC Trophy race. It was sheet ice everywhere and his trials skills certainly helped and he felt very confident; he can still remember the look on Jeff Smith’s face as he passed him on the start/finish straight, it was great day and one he remembers like it was yesterday! Jeff Smith had been 500cc World Motocross Champion in 1964 and 1965 and is a very good friend of the Lampkins even to the present day. He then won the prestigious Bemrose Trophy Trial before preparing his 250cc BSA C15 for the Scottish Six Days Trial in the May. At the last minute he was moved into the BSA works team as Dave Rowlands was asked to stand down in case he was called home to attend a court hearing as a witness to a murder. On the first day Alan parted with no marks along with Mick Andrews (Bultaco) – Paul England (Triumph) – Peter Fletcher (Royal Enfield) – Sammy Miller (Bultaco) & Stan Cordingley (Bultaco). Tuesday was a long, tough day taking in 15 sections including Loch Eild Path above Kinlochleven.
Delay built up at the Caillich group of six sections and many riders lost marks on time. Wednesday took in eight sections at Laggan Locks, taking two marks from trials leader Alan Lampkin. Lampkin still held the lead on Thursday. Lampkin nearly lost the trial on the steep rocky hazards at Caolasnacoan when the crowd thought he had stopped, but the official observer recorded a three-mark penalty, giving the trials lead to Sammy Miller. It was on the sections at Leiter Bo Fionn though that Miller went to pieces and parted with a dozen marks whilst Lampkin kept his score down to four to move back into the lead. The final scores were Lampkin on 23 with Miller second on 27.
The 1967 SSDT programme cover featured the 1966 winner, Alan Lampkin on his factory BSA (748MOE)
This would be the last win for a British manufactured motorcycle using a four-stroke engine until James Dabill on the Montesa in 2007. Later in the year he would take his first ISDT Gold on the BSA in effect a TriBSA 504cc in Sweden when he was Great Britain’s best performer with a clean sheet, with the team finishing third overall.
Arthur had won the Scott Trial again in 1965, setting the quickest time as well, and both brothers went to the 1966 event as members of the BSA team along with Scott Ellis, with both wanting to win – the outcome would be very memorable. Alan would win, with Arthur setting the quickest time in 4 hours, 18 minutes and 55 seconds which was a similar time from 1965, but the secret to Alan’s win was his observation score which put him in front of Sammy Miller who was desperate to give Spanish Brand Bultaco their first win in the event. The weather was beautiful, with massive crowds. Alan had shown good form early on with one of the few cleans at Hell Holes up the big step. At Washfold the Green Dragon Public House was hard to find due to the large number of spectators who had all turned out to see the dramatic battle unfold. The day after the event he was part of the winning Yorkshire team in the Inter Centre Team Trial.
Foreign Machines
The demise of the once mighty motorcycle industry in Great Britain has been well documented but it also forced the top riders of the time to move to foreign manufacturers. Alan had remained loyal to BSA but had not continued to enjoy his earlier success. 1967 was a bleak results year. At the ‘Scottish’ and riding the BSA C15T the week had started very cold and wet, and on the Tuesday the rear wheel collapsed. He changed the wheel but was removed from the results when he was found to have swopped the marked part by the organisers, forcing him to retire from the event. He was also hugely disappointed at the Scott when a split rear tyre forced his retirement. On the scrambling front he was still riding well and getting some good results. 1968 was pretty much the same as the BSA support in trials was not the same, although in scrambles they still had a winning machine. Many riders including Alan began to took to other machinery for trials and it was the ‘boom time’ of the micro-light machines.
He was offered the opportunity to ride the new 118cc Suzuki powered machine along with Arthur and Martin for the 1969 season. These were fun times in trials and in 1969 and 1970 he finished in fourteenth position on the Suzuki at the SSDT despite struggling at the event with many problems including a broken frame.
He was still contesting scrambles on the BSA and had some good results including top-five placings in the BBC Grandstand Trophy races before moving to a Husqvarna. The Spanish Armada of trials machines was now in full flow and along with many riders the Lampkins left the cottage industry of small-capacity trials machinery in the UK and went on to Bultaco, Montesa and Ossa, in Alan’s case Bultaco.
Scott Trial action from Sid in 1974. Photo Alan Lampkin Archive.
At the 1970 Scott he set the quickest time on his way to a top-ten finish on the Bultaco as Sammy Miller took the last of his seven wins. The Bultaco was a breath of fresh air and in 1971 he would finish tenth in the European Championship, once again set the quickest time at the Scott Trial in a team with Martin and Jim Sandiford and finish fifth in the British Trials Championship.
At the year’s ISDT he would also take another Gold medal, this time on a Bultaco. He quickly became a member of the Spanish works Bultaco trials team and with it the added support.
Justifying his works status he finished a fine second in the 1972 SSDT.
In 1973 he made his final appearance in the ISDT mounted on a Triumph, taking yet another Gold medal, with the trophy team taking second place.
Sid, fifth from the left at the ISDT in the USA in 1973, Triumph mounted that year. From left: Ken Heanes, team manager, Lofty Lucas asst manager; Jim Sandiford; John Pease; Sid Lampkin; Arthur Browning; Malcolm Rathmell and Ernie Page.
The development of the Sherpa T range had moved on after Sammy Miller had moved to Honda, with more responsibility on the shoulders of UK based Bultaco riders, including Alan and Martin Lampkin. The sport was also moving from European status to be named the World Championship. Before the move, and with the sport expanding, a ‘World’ round would be held in America. After many problems, including the press thinking it was Martin who had won, a happy Alan was named the winner!
World Championship
With the move to the FIM World Championship in 1975 the factories were very keen to take the first title, including Bultaco. Along with Alan his younger brother Martin would contest the whole 14 round series, but with only the best 8 scores counting the championship would turn into a three-way fight with Finland’s Yrjo Vesterinen and Malcom Rathmell.
Alan abandons ship in the 1978 SSDT on ‘Grey Mare’s Ridge’ on his 325cc Bultaco, a machine that carried a Barcelona registration number! (Photo: copyright Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven)
Alan supported his brother as much as he could, finishing the year in ninth with his best result a third at his home round, as ‘Mart’ won the title by one mark from Vesterinen. The Bultaco team and the Lampkin brothers remained at the cutting edge of the championship right up until 1980, when Sweden’s Ulf Karlson on the Montesa stopped the trend, but by this
time Alan had retired from the World Championship.
Alan Lampkin on Blackwater sections in the 1978 Scottish, note the Barcelona registration on his 325 Bultaco. Photo copyright: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.
With the glory years of the Bultaco brand over he would ride his last Scott Trial in 1980 and his last Scottish Six Days Trial in 1982 on an SWM. With a young family to provide for he continued to work in the engineering business started by his father many years before but, as with all motorcyclists, if it’s in your blood it’s hard to get rid of!
The Lampkin brothers still had some of their old works BSA machines and these were brought out of retirement for the new Pre-65 SSDT introduced in 1984. These were fantastic times not just for the brothers but also for the spectators, as they came out to witness them in action once again on the world famous ‘Scottish’ hazards such as Pipeline. Good friend Jeff Smith came over from Canada and it was a very happy reunion.
Sid’s younger brother, Martin enjoys a gallop on eldest brother Arthur’s BSA C15T (XON688) in 1985 on Blackwater. Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.
Alan would ride in the event on a few more occasions over the years. Son James is the youngest of his three children, he also has two girls Sarah and Nina, who is the eldest, and James soon became interested in trials riding giving Alan a new interest along with his Golf.
Alan’s son James Lampkin seen here at Inversanda in the 2006 SSDT. Photo copyright ~ Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.
James went on to have his own successful trials career which included an Expert British Championship title and a third position in the 2004 SSDT.
Sid on Caolasnacoan in 2000 on Arthur’s BSA (XON688) Photo: Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven.
James put his own career ambitions as a trials rider on hold as he supported Cousin Dougie Lampkin to his seven world championship titles. Alan is now semi-retired, working just three days a week at Lampkin Engineering, and still enjoys his motorcycling days and his annual holiday in the Highlands, accompanied by his wife Eileen and usually a gang of grandchildren who will no doubt carry on the Lampkin legend.
Copyright:
Words: John Hulme with Alan Lampkin
Pictures:
Iain Lawrie, Kinlochleven
Rob Edwards, Middlesborough, Cleveland.
Trials Media/ John Hulme
With many thanks to Classic Trial Magazine for their kind permission to reproduce this article from Issue 11 – Classic Trial.
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