The Yamaha ‘Magical-Chase 220’ – Photo: Ricky Wood, Derbyshire
Mick Andrews will debut a Yamaha ‘Magical-Chase 220’ at the Inverness & District MC Ltd, Highland Classic Two-Day trial at Aviemore on 11th June.
Former European Trials Champion and multiple SSDT winner, Mick Andrews will be guest of honour at the Highland Classic 2 Day in June 2016 – Photo: Ricky Wood
The bike has been developed by Colin Leese with direct input by Mick Andrews and now owned by Derbyshire rider, Ricky Wood who will also take part in the annual classic trial on Alvie Estate on the Saturday and Sunday 11/12th June.
Mick told Trials Guru that the machine has been built with ideas that were used on his factory 0W10 machines from the mid-1970s when he took the honours twice at the SSDT.
Andrews: “We have put a lot of effort into this little bike which runs very well and the first to ride it was its owner, Ricky Wood who has allowed me to ride it competitively at the Highland Two Day. Colin Leese of ‘Chase TY’ has done all the hard work with my advice and guidance. He builds the TY220 to order and there is quite a waiting list”.
Based loosely on the factory oW10 concept, the Yamaha ‘Magical-Chase 220’ looks purposeful – Photo: Ricky Wood
Mick Andrews is this year’s guest of honour, a feature of the Highland Classic which now boasts 150 riders competing on a shooting estate which lies four miles south of Aviemore.
Mick Andrews samples Colin Leese’s handiwork in a pre-season testing session – Photo: Ricky Wood
The theme this year is ‘The Yamscot Edition’ which not only pays homage to Magical Mick Andrews when he rode for the Japanese company, but also Shirlaws Motorcycles of Aberdeen which used the ‘Yamscot’ moniker back in the 1970s to promote the Yamaha off-road and racing brand in Scotland.
Mick Andrews puts the Yamaha Magical-Chase 220 through its paces – Photo: Ricky Wood
Photos courtesy and copyright of Ricky Wood, Derbyshire.
‘Magical’ Mick Andrews is the guest of honour at the Highland Classic 2016 on 11/12 June – Photo copyright: Rainer Heise, Germany
The Inverness & District MCC have announced that their special guest of honour for the 2016 Highland Classic Two Day Trial on June 11 & 12 – ‘THE YAMSCOT EDITION’ will be former Yamaha factory trials rider, MICK ANDREWS. They will be paying homage not only to the ‘YamScot’ effort from the mid 1970s by Shirlaws Motorcycles, but also to the rider who won five Scottish Six Days Trials, two of them Yamaha mounted. Having moved from the Spanish Ossa factory, Andrews rode special factory OW series machines, which led to the development of the production TY series twin-shock bikes that were used by ‘YamScot’ riders in Scottish events. Shirlaws’ owner Leslie Shirlaw formed the YamScot team to promote Yamaha machines in Trials, Motocross and Road Racing. Mick Andrews will enter into the spirit of the trial by riding a suitably prepared Yamaha machine at Alvie. – Entry forms will be released and available on 20th February, 2016.
Mick Andrews was a factory rider for Yamaha Motor Co on their factory ‘OW’ series machines which were reserved only for contracted to factory riders. Seen here in the SSDT on the OW11 – Photo: Rainer Heise, Germany
The Highland Classic was started in 2004 as a one day event for pre’65 machines at the highland shooting estate, Alvie. The second year entries were increased by the addition of twin-shock classes and finally in 2006 it was extended to a two-day event. The event has gained popularity, but entries became very sought after from the 2013 event, with the introduction of the special guest of honour feature, which is very popular with riders and the estate management who always have a representative present for the ‘address of the trial’ with some short introductions and speeches led by a welcome from the owner of Alvie & Dalraddy Estates himself, Laird Jamie Williamson. The event has been over-subscribed since 2013.
Previous Highland Classic guests of honour include Yrjo Vesterinen (2013); Dave Thorpe (2014) and Bill Wilkinson (2015).
Entry forms and regulations will be released by event secretary, Rick Lound on Saturday 20th February. Last year’s competitors will be sent forms by post, but they will also be available at Telford on the Classic Trial/Trial Magazine UK stand, The Putoline Oils stand and the Inverness & District club website (www.idmcc.co.uk).
The Highland Classic 2 Day Trial 2016 event secretary is Rick Lound, seen here on his Yamaha Majesty
Support for the event has been promised by both Classic Trial Magazine and Putoline Oils UK.
Classic Trial Magazine is supporting the Highland Classic 2016Putoline Oils are supporting the 2016 Highland Classic 2 Day Trial at Alvie in JuneStudy of Mick Andrews, former Ossa and Yamaha factory rider – Photo copyright: Claudio Trial Pictures
Tommy Robb was a keen trials rider in his youth and also in later life as a racer to keep fit over the winter months
Tommy Robb is a well-known Ulsterman who rode for Honda, Yamaha, Seeley, Bultaco and a whole host of private sponsors, including Terry Hill in a career that started in 1950 and went on until the mid 1970s.
Tommy Robb’s first ever trophy, won on 3rd November 1951 a time trial in Ireland
In 1962, Robb was the first non-Japanese factory rider to be signed by Honda, the year he was runner-up in the 350cc World Championships. He is a five times winner of the North-West 200 and has won the Lightweight 125cc TT in 1973.
Tommy Robb in the Hurst Cup Trial of 1953 on his DOT
He wrote an autobiography called ‘From TT to Tokyo’ a fascinating recount of a works riders life on the ‘Continental Circus’
From TT to Tokyo – Tommy Robb’s autobiography
Tommy been friends with Trials Guru representative John Moffat for some years now, having been interviewed by Trials Guru at the Scottish Motorcycle Show near Edinburgh.
Part of Tommy Robb’s impressive collection of trophies, yes those are Isle of Man TT replicas! – Photo copyright: Tommy Robb
What is not generally known is that Tommy was also a keen trials competitor both in his youth and in later years to keep fit when not travelling the world racing motorcycles.
Tommy Robb on a Bultaco Pursang in 1967 at an Irish International motocross event – Photo courtesy: Tommy Robb Private Archive
Recently Tommy had a very pleasant surprise and contacted Trials Guru.
Here is what Tommy sent Trials Guru:
“Hi Big John, – A very happy New Year to you, your family and Trials Guru’s everywhere!
I thought the attached Certificate (Factory Rider) would be of interest to you. This arrived on the 2nd January 2016, from the DOT Motorcycle Club, whilst all the major personalities were getting their Knighthoods, MBE’s, and OBE’s I was delighted to receive this award, from 1954 -1958 and inscribed:
‘Special Award made to Tommy Robb, from the DOT Motorcycle Club in recognition of your Achievements as a rider representing the DOT Motorcycle Factory in the Golden age of British Motorcycle Competition’.
This, believe it or not, dates back to the mid-fifties when I rode factory 196cc and 250cc DOTS in grass tracks, scrambles (in those days) and trials in Northern and Southern Ireland. When Burnard Scott Wade was the MD of the Company.
It was a pleasure to receive this recognition some 62 years after the period concerned when I was 18 or 19 years old at the time. To have it in my trophy cabinet at 81 years of age, amongst my TT Replicas is indeed a surprise and an honour”.
The certificate presented to Tommy Robb by the Dot Motorcycle Club in 2016
We are always looking for something different, special or unusual at Trials Guru, so we thought Trials Guru readers would enjoy this.
Trials Guru’s John Moffat (left) with great friend, Tommy Robb at the Scottish Motorcycle Show at Ingliston, Edinburgh – Photo: Trials Guru/Jean Moffat
Words – Copyright: Trials Guru & Tommy Robb – 2016
Yamscot was the Competition and Racing section of Aberdeen’s Shirlaws dealership in the 1970’s.
The annual Highland Classic Two-Day Trial for 2016 will be held on 11/12 June and will pay homage to Yamscot, the competition part of Shirlaws Motorcycles, Aberdeen back in the 1970’s.
The brainchild of the late managing director, Leslie Shirlaw, it was created to promote Yamaha off-road and racing in Scotland. At the time Shirlaws were a Yamaha dealer, nowadays they are main Kawasaki dealers.
It is hoped that a glittering display of Yamaha trials machines will be at the event as well as some of the original Yamscot supported trials riders.
Yamscot were involved in trials, motocross and racing over a ten year period.
The event, promoted by Inverness & District Motorcycle Club Ltd will be held on the Alvie Estate, near Aviemore and the identity of the Guest of Honour will be announced nearer the event.
The trial itself was over-subscribed in 2015 and entry forms will be released for the 2016 event on 20th February.
2016 will be the 11th time the event has been run as a two day trial, the first year, 2004 was a one-day affair.
Previous Guests of Honour at the Highland Classic include Yrjo Vesterinen (2013), Dave Thorpe (2014) and Bill Wilkinson (2015).
The event is open to ACU,SACU & MCUI trials licence card holders and cater for both Pre’65 & twin-shock trials machines.
Stop Press: 2016 Guest of Honour – MICK ANDREWS
Roddy Taylor’s generously sponsored Yamaha TZ racing machine from 1987 (Yamscot) | Photo copyright: Ronnie Weir, Edinburgh.
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