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THE TEAM Co-Managing Directors John Hulme & Charles Benhamou Executive Director Philippe Benhamou Editor John Hulme
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Advertising Manager Lisa Reeves lisa@trialmag.com Editorial Staff Matthew Heppleston, Heath Brindley, Justyn Norek Snr, Justyn Norek Jnr, Nick Shield and John Moffat. Photographers Barry Robinson, Malcolm Carling, John Shirt Snr, Colin Bullock, Cyrille Barthe, Eric Kitchen, Alan Vines, Toon van de Vliet, Mauri/Fontsere Collection and the Giulio Mauri Copyright, The Nick Nicholls Collection at Mortons Archive, Don Morley, Motorcycle News and Brian Holder. Proof reading Jane Hulme and Davina Brooks Design and Production Dean Cook The Magazine Production Company www.magazineproduction.com Printing: Buxtons Press © 2022 CJ Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publishers. Great care is taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of this publication, but neither CJ Publishing Ltd or the editor can be held responsible for its contents. The views expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the Publishers. Trial Magazine is published by: CJ Publishing Limited, registered in England Number: 5947718. Trial Magazine: ISSN: 1753-0040. 4
Front Cover: 1972 SSDT Winner, Mick Andrews (Ossa) • Credit: Eric Kitchen Summary Picture: 1964 SSDT – The Greeves of Don Smith • Credit: Mike Rapley
Spring 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
Welcome • Classic Trial Magazine
WELCOME
FEATURES
TRADITIONAL
16
PRODUCT FOCUS
28
SPECIAL BREW
34
OLD GOLD
42
VINTAGE VINES
48
REFLECTION
56
RAPLEY’S REWIND
66
MEETING
74
INTERNATIONAL
86
REVIEW
92
1972 SSDT
REH Suspension
Beta – Dan Clark JES Majesty Alan Vines
John Hemingway 1964 SSDT
Colin Dommett Luxembourg 2021 Rockshocks 2021
REGULAR SECTIONS NEWS TRIALS GURU PADDOCK SHOPPING SUBSCRIBE POSTER SHOP
Classic Trial Magazine • Spring 2022
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News • The world of Classic Trials
CLASSIC DIRT BIKE SHOW 12-13 FEBRUARY 2022
BERNIE SCHREIBER – FIM LEGEND
Still, the one-and-only American rider to win an FIM Trial World Championship title, the 62-yearold Californian Bernie Schreiber, was honoured when the FIM family came together at the Salle des Etoiles of the Monte-Carlo Sporting complex in Monaco for an extra-special awards ceremony in December 2021. The evening celebrated the achievements over the last two seasons of the greatest motorcycle sporting stars on the planet. Schreiber received an FIM ‘Legends’ award alongside road-racing hero Franco Uncini, rallying heavyweight Cyril Despres and speedway superstar Greg Hancock. Schreiber, who now calls Switzerland home, has joined an exclusive club of FIM Legends from the sport of trials, including Yrjo Vesterinen, Dougie Lampkin and Sammy Miller. He won the TrialGP title in 1979, went on to finish as vice-champion on three occasions and won 12 more TrialGP rounds before retiring from top-flight competition in 1987.
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This is the place to kickstart the off-road season, with a weekend at the Classic Dirt Bike Show, sponsored by Hagon Shocks at the Telford International Centre on February 12th & 13th, 2022. Easy motorway access in its central location of the country makes it an excellent venue for friends old and new who can reminisce and enjoy the superb ‘show’ atmosphere. Revel in off-road machinery as far as the eye can see whilst stocking up on all the tools, parts, clothing and accessories to prepare you for the season ahead. You can also purchase copies of your favourite publications, including Classic Dirt Bike, Trial Magazine and its sister publication Classic Trial Magazine from the many trade stands that will be in attendance. You will be able to dig out classic dirt bike machinery galore, see fascinating clubs and private off-road machines, bag a bargain at the autojumble and see off-road legends interviewed on stage over the weekend. The show will again draw in the biggest names on the scene, with special guests Derrick Edmondson and Arthur Browning on hand, where you can find out more about these off-road riders. The outdoor autojumble will be opening at 9.00am both days before the show doors open at 10.00am.
CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE: HALL 2 STAND B64
We will be in attendance in Hall 2, on Stand B64. Please come and say hello; we will be more than happy to see you. We will have the latest copies of the magazine and the very popular ‘Binders’ to keep your collection safe along with other back copies etc. You will also be able to renew subscriptions or start new ones. John Hulme: “If you have any interesting photographs or motorcycle trials sales brochures, please bring them along; we would love to see them.” So, set your ‘sat nav’ to TF3 4JH and get yourself along to the 2022 Classic Dirt Bike Show, sponsored by Hagon Shocks; it’s the place to be! www.classicdirtbikeshow.co.uk
Spring 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
THE CHOICE OF CHAMPIONS
TONI BOU 15 x FIM X-Trial World Champion (Indoor) 15 x FIM Trial World Champion (Outdoor)
To discover the MICHELIN Trial range visit: www.michelin.co.uk/motorbike
Shopping • What’s new
WHAT’S ON YOUR SHOPPING LIST? BULTACO SHERPA ‘T’ BOOK The Full History Web: www.inmotiontrials.com
REH ‘VRS SYSTEM’ Front suspension upgrade. Web: www.rehforks.com
BULTACO PURSANG BOOK The Full History Web: www.inmotiontrials.com
TRIALENDURODIRECT MOTS HELMET Go ON2 various colour ways. Web: www.trialendurodirect.com
IN MOTION YAMAHA PARTS
TY 80 Model Chain Guard. Web: www.inmotiontrials.com
MOTOREX OILS
2T Cross Power Web: www.bickers-online.co.uk
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APICO FORMA ‘BOULDER’ BOOT Black or brown. Web: www.apico.co.uk
REH FRONT SUSPENSION Upgrade components. Web: www.rehforks.com
Spring 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
What’s new • Shopping
S3 HYBRID JACKET
Web: www.trialendurodirect.com Web: www.s3parts.com
S3 ANGEL RIDING SHIRT Various colour ways. Web: www.trialendurodirect.com Web: www.s3parts.com
HEBO TECH KIT
Shirt and Pants. Various colour ways. Web: www.apico.co.uk
Classic Trial Magazine • Spring 2022
TRIALENDURODIRECT MOTS KIT STEP6 various colour ways. Web: www.trialendurodirect.com
COMAS RACE SERIES JACKET Various colour ways. Web: www.comastrial.com Web: www.camiomoto.co.uk
S3 ICE NANO GLOVES Web: www.trialendurodirect.com Web: www.s3parts.com
COMAS RACE SERIES GILLETTE
Various colour ways. Web: www.comastrial.com Web: www.camiomoto.co.uk
COMAS RACE SERIES KIT Shirt and Pants. Various colour ways. Web: www.comastrial.com Web: www.camiomoto.co.uk
15
Traditional • 1972 SSDT
SSDT 1972
MAGICAL MICK Putting the green four-leaf clover of the Ossa into the history books was 27-year-old ‘Magical’ Mick Andrews. He made it a record-breaking three consecutive wins (1970–1972) for only the second time in the history of the Scottish Six Days Trial joining Hugh Viney (AJS) (1947–1949). Off the back of Mick’s two previous victories and the new Mick Andrews Replica Ossa launch, the Spanish motorcycle manufacturer was on a roll. The hugely successful Spanish Armada started by Bultaco still led the way, but Ossa had overtaken Montesa in the winners of the muchtreasured Special First Class Awards. The once-mighty Great Britain had no machines to challenge the Spanish, and for the first time in so many years, Greeves did not have a manufacturer team or riders present. Would you believe that the great names BSA and Triumph had no machines in the top-class awards; times were changing. Words: Classic Trial Magazine and Mick Andrews • Pictures: Eric Kitchen and Duckhams
Mick Andrews: “It’s hard to believe that it is 50 years since Ossa last won the Scottish Six Days Trial. A river had burst its banks near the factory in Spain, which delayed production of the new MAR Replica, but by late 1971 they were coming off the assembly line at the rate of 200–300 each month, much to everyone’s relief, mine included. I had pushed the factory to listen with the new trials model, and when it arrived, it was a huge hit; I was very happy with it. “My new 250cc Ossa, to be ridden in the SSDT, arrived in earlier in the year, giving me plenty of time to get it sorted for the six days. I did the usual checks on the machine and fitted my favourite Renthal aluminium handlebars, 16
now in red, and a pair of the new Vacuum Formers black plastic mudguards and arrived in Scotland well prepared; a key factor if you are looking to win! “We had the new Ossa for the event, and I could see that Bultaco had the new 325cc model, in the hands of three of the Spanish riders and Martin Lampkin, who had already been using it in the UK. Times were starting to change in the trials world as the more top-level riders wanted more power, whilst Montesa was looking the other way. It had introduced the Montesa Cota 123 at the event, and this was very much a machine to get younger riders into trials as they also had their Cota 25. Having won the event in 1970 and 1971, also on
the Ossa, I would be looking to make it three consecutive wins in 1972. “The week started well, and I planned to keep within touch to the top spot all week. It worked as I had intended by the close of action on Wednesday. I knew that the time limit would be difficult on Thursday and decided to take some calculated risks to stay on time. I also had my only problem with the Ossa when a spring broke in the engine shock absorber; it was like riding with six feet of slack in the drive chain, but by keeping the engine pulling hard, I could learn to ride with it. I took the lead on Thursday, and the last two days worked out well. It is just what Ossa needed with the launch of the new model!” Spring 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
1972 SSDT • Traditional
Mick Andrews (Ossa): A master in action on Laggan Locks.
On the ‘Star Hills’, marked with a huge orange star at the entrance, the riders would be observed 0, 1, 2, 3, and 5, this section is on Ben Nevis.
Classic Trial Magazine • Spring 2022
Mick endorsed the winning oil he used, Duckhams.
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Traditional • 1972 SSDT
Mick Andrews (Ossa): Styling it on Laggan Locks.
SSDT 1972
THE PLACE TO BE As was usual for any motorcycle trials enthusiast, in 1972, the place to be the first week in May was Scotland for the Six Days Trial. In 1972, the annual ‘Weigh-In’ would be on Sunday 30th April when riders would have their machines scrutineered, and parts marked so they could not be changed during the six days of competition which started on Monday 1st May. In addition, to increase spectator interest, new daily awards and ‘Star Hills’ were introduced by the club. Daily awards would be given to riders with the best performance on each of the six days, with ‘Star Hills’ found on each of the day’s six routes marked with a huge orange star at the entrance where riders would be observed 0, 1, 2, 3 and 5. All other sections would still be observed by the 0, 1, 3 and 5 marks for a stop. The six-day route for the event would very much mirror the previous year’s, though, with no significant changes. Words: Classic Trial Magazine and Mick Andrews • Pictures: Eric Kitchen (colour), Alan Vines (black & white)
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Spring 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
1972 SSDT • Traditional
Alan Lampkin (Bultaco): This was a good solid result from ‘Sid’.
WEIGH-IN
Rob Edwards (Montesa): A winner of two Best Daily Performance awards on Wednesday and Saturday.
As the organising Edinburgh and District Motor Club took over the Gorgie Market in the Slateford area of the city, it was very evident that the Spanish manufacturers were out in force. In the event, Bultaco had four of its prototype 325cc machines, ridden by the youngest of the Lampkin brothers, Martin, and Spanish riders Fernando Munoz, Ignatio Bulto and Jaime Marques. It was a total reverse of engine sizes at Montesa. It introduced its new Cota 123cc, ridden by Great Britain’s Tim Brise (son of the UK importer, John) and Spanish riders Jorge Permanyer, Javier Blanc and Leopoldo Mila. As opposed to the ‘Beefy’ 325cc Bultaco, the Cota 123 looked quite fragile to be ridden over six challenging days in Scotland. As a film crew arrived from Honda to film the event, the talking point was when the Japanese big four — Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha — would arrive on the trials scene.
Rob Shepherd (Montesa): ‘Shep’ put in the best daily performance ride on the Friday.
Classic Trial Magazine • Spring 2022
Malcolm Rathmell (Bultaco): Costly time penalties on the Thursday kept him away from challenging for the win.
Earlier in the year, Sammy Miller re-signed for Bultaco for three years, having turned down an offer from Yamaha to develop a new 360cc trials model. For the first time, the event had a Japanese rider, Toshiki Nishiyama. He competed on an Ossa. On the Japanese theme, Peter Gaunt was more than happy with his latest creation — a converted Suzuki TS 125 trail model into trials trim. Innovation had been applied by removing the oil tank and putting the vital lubricant into the frame tubes. Trials tyres were fitted and a 21” front wheel, new sprockets, seat and handlebars. Backed by Ray Dell Motorcycles, the machines would retail at £200. Six manufacturer teams were entered: two from Bultaco, Montesa and Ossa, together with 21 club teams. For the first time since the first ‘Six Days’ in 1909, there would be no manufacturer team from Great Britain; the last was in 1971 with Greeves and Saracen.
Geoff Chandler (Bultaco): A punctured chain-case on the Friday spoilt a good week.
Gordon Farley (Montesa): It was a poor week in Scotland by his high standards.
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27
Product Focus • R.E.H. Forks
R.E.H. FORKS
A VERY BRITISH BRAND
Time flies when you’re trialling, but still, it’s hard to believe that it’s eight years since British brand R.E.H. Forks was brought back to life by engineer and trials rider Duncan Macdonald. From his workshop in North Yorkshire, Duncan has worked tirelessly to push the brand into the world trials spotlight through innovative thinking, top-class manufacturing and a strong team of test riders. Created by Robin Humphries in the 1960s, R.E.H. was a powerful presence with front forks and wheel hubs, including being specified as original equipment on Sprites, through the 1970s. But when Humphries ceased manufacturing, the brand quietly faded — that was until 2012 when John Bull, who was the owner of Rockshocks, suggested Duncan picked up the baton. It was time to find out more, so we spoke with the main man, Duncan Macdonald — a lifetime friend of Classic Trial Magazine’s editor, John Hulme. Words: Classic Trial Magazine with Duncan and Judy Macdonald Pictures: Trials Media, Judy Macdonald, Claudio, Neil Sturgeon
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More than 525 pairs of ‘new’ R.E.H. Forks are on motorcycles worldwide.
Spring 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
R.E.H. Forks • Product Focus
R.E.H. Forks was brought back to life by engineer and trials rider Duncan Macdonald.
R
ecognising the need for homologation for the Pre-65 Scottish two-day trial, Duncan was determined to maintain the exact silhouette created by Robin Humphries. He also knew it was vital to future-proof the internals so that any part of the fork could be quickly replaced in the event of wear and tear or damage. After two years of development, testing, and tweaking, the company was officially launched on 1st February 2014. The first forks were sold in July that year, fork REH-001 going to Alan Brown in Essex for his Armac Triumph Tiger Cub trials machine. Along with the new front forks, Duncan developed a raft of essential bolt-on parts to include yokes, spindles, clamps and more. The initial two lengths on offer became three and then five with the addition of half-inch top nut extenders. R.E.H. Forks quickly became the front suspension of choice for top riders in Britain and Europe. In 2022 and with more than 525 pairs of ‘new’ R.E.H. Forks on motorcycles worldwide, Duncan is about to launch a major and unique component: the VRS System. Before we get into the detail on the VRS System, how are you dealing with the supply chain problems affecting so many businesses in the trials world? Duncan: “Because R.E.H. Forks, Yokes and Options are made in Britain, we have not been affected by Brexit or the delays with international shipping caused by Covid. We also decided to carry high stock levels, so we are less affected by the material shortages that are causing problems for many others. For example, a hike in aluminium prices is currently our biggest headache. However, because we have invested heavily in stock, we can still supply as and when orders are placed, absorbing the long lead times from our CNC parts suppliers.” Classic Trial Magazine • Spring 2022
Mick Grant (BSA Bantam/R.E.H. Forks).
Because R.E.H. Forks, Yokes and Options are made in Britain, they have not been affected by Brexit or the delays with international shipping caused by Covid.
29
Special Brew • Beta
BETA TR 240
ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Ideas and inspirations to build your dream machine come from many areas. It can be a light bulb moment or from years of planning. In many cases, it’s a flashback to a youthful time of what you had when you were younger, and you wanted to reminisce, or you could not afford what you wanted; however, as life became kinder, funds were more readily available! The love for a particular motorcycle manufacturer can be infectious. I only have to speak with my good friends Yrjo Vesterinen and John Moffat concerning the Bultaco name; it is scary. When I attended a recent machine test with the official Beta UK importer, John Lampkin, and Dan Clark as the rider for our sister publication Trial Magazine, alongside the 2022 Beta EVO machines on test and, at my request, Dan also brought along his twin-shock Beta. I wanted to find out more about the Italian special he had built. I love music, and it was whilst riding back to my base in New Mills, Derbyshire, and I had some Johnny Cash music on (yes, I know…) that the title of this article came to me. The particular track I was listening to was ‘One Piece at a Time’ from his days working on the Cadillac assembly line in Detroit building the iconic American cars – listen to it when you get the chance; it is so good. In the case of this special build, Dan’s love of the Italian machines goes right back to his first Beta; a 1989 125cc TR34 stripey model purchased second-hand in 1990 at 11 years old. Words: John Hulme, Dan Clark, John Lampkin • Pictures: Trials Media and Mauri/Fontsere Collection, and the Giulio Mauri Copyright
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Spring 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
Beta • Special Brew
Old meets new: Beta 1982–2022.
M
y first trip to the excellent Costa Brava Two-Day Classic Trial held in Spain was in 2016. It opened my eyes to what the classic trials scene had to offer in Europe. The standard and variety of machines were incredible, unlike anything I had ever seen before. Soon I would realise that so many of the machines from my childhood days had survived and were in good condition and, more importantly, still being ridden! It was also, unbeknown to him, the place that would relight the fire in the belly of Dan Clark for his beloved Beta trials machines. Dan Clark: “I love motorcycle trials, be it classic or modern. It is a sport that has played a huge part in my life and one I continue to be a part of. I am very competitive by nature, and the 2016 Costa Brava Two-Day Classic Trial had opened my eyes up to just how much this side of the sport had developed. I was riding a very ‘trick’ four-stroke Triumph Tiger Cub but what caught my eyes was a very nicely updated twin-shock Beta TR 240. It set me thinking that maybe that was something I could replicate or even make better. I love to collect and own Betas, but I did not have a TR 240 in my collection. If I am honest, it was not really a machine I would have even considered if I had not had the love for the Italian machines. “After making a few enquiries, I found out a rider I knew, Ali Haigh had one for sale priced at a very reasonable £300 – very shortly the money was parted with, and it would be in my possession.”
BETA TR 240
After the initial move by Beta into motorcycle trials in 1979, Spain’s Pedro Olle joined as a development and test rider in late 1981. The twin-shock TR 240 model was born after a period of riding the TR 125. As with any manufacturer, Beta valued the exposure of putting their machines through the ultimate test of the Scottish Six Days Trial. In 1982, Pedro Olle finished in a very encouraging 21st position on the TR 240. The power plant of the 240 model was the superb air-cooled reed valve induction single-cylinder 196cc engine with a bore and stroke of 68mm x 54mm. Housed in a lightweight tubular steel frame, it’s interesting to note that the front and rear suspension came from the Spanish manufacturer Betor. With six gears and a claimed weight of Classic Trial Magazine • Spring 2022
For sale, priced at a very reasonable £300.
One owner, really!
85kg, Pedro Olle would score the Italian manufacturer’s first FIM World Trials championship points in Great Britain in 1983. Dan: “From the start of the build-in 2017, it has been modified constantly over the years right up until the present day. The only part I have retained is the frame, as the majority of the other parts have been modified or replaced. I already had a complete 1989 260cc Beta in bits, and, to my surprise, after some quick checks with the tape measure, the engine went straight into the frame using the same mounting points; would you believe it! I knew that this would significantly improve the performance from the 196cc it had started with and benefit the extra power from the full 260.7cc. This 1989 engine also had a heavier flywheel, and I would later be able to fit a flat-side Keihin carburettor. As I have already commented, the machine 35
Old Gold • Majesty
OLD GOLD
THE ULTIMATE MAJESTY Undoubtedly, John Edward Shirt has been one of a few innovative engineers who contributed so much to the design of the modern-day trials motorcycle on an adventure that started back in 1977 with his first Yamaha conversion kits. The story began in late 1976 when the Ossa he was riding was traded in at MacDonald Motorcycles in nearby Macclesfield, who supplied the new Yamaha TY 250. It came via Barrie Rodgers Motorcycles in Derby, who were a main dealer for Yamaha. On his debut on the new machine at a local Macclesfield Club trial in January 1977, he finished ninth. During the year, he started to modify the machine. He made parts available to the buying public, beginning with removing the oil tank, feed and pump setup for the two-stroke oil. In turn, he allowed the new slimline cover to be fitted, which he could also supply. He then started to supply a heavyweight chain conversion kit, which was soon followed by the repositioning of the rear suspension dampers. The next step would be a conversion to what would eventually become the Majesty Yamaha. Words: John Hulme with JES Pictures: Shirt Family Archive, TMX, Barry Robinson
42
John E Shirt in action on the Majesty at the 1982 Dave Rowland national trial.
Spring 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
Majesty • Old Gold
“The majority of the Majesty was in in good condition and I had it powder coated locally. It was the same with the fuel tank, this was also painted locally. I took my time with the rebuild and in truth I am very happy with the final result.”
Before John stripped it down, he ran the engine, which was fine.
This Majesty was ridden in anger was at the 1995 Scott Trial by Mick Andrews.
I
n this ‘Old Gold’ article, we look at his renovation of what many would consider the ultimate Majesty — a one-off special that John built and developed himself. It was a strange set of circumstances that would bring about the build of this ultimate Majesty.
GOOD FRIENDS
During 1977 he would also help prepare a 250cc Yamaha for his good friend Mick Andrews to ride in the SSDT. After the event in June, Mick was informed that Yamaha, after fives years, had finished with the research and development of the trials machines. The TY range of machines was still available, with the 250cc priced at £700. In 1978 Andrews moved back to live in the UK permanently and, in April, returned to his first love, Ossa. During the summer months, and with the Yamaha modified parts beginning to sell well for John, news was announced in the press that Mick Andrews would start to build ‘Works Replica’ machines with a 320cc conversion on them. It was also stated that the work would be carried out in Buxton with John Shirt instrumental in the project. Andrews gave Shirt a modified 320cc cylinder barrel that had not worked as expected, but with his expertise and a few modifications, he fitted it to his own modified TY 250cc. The results were very encouraging. Classic Trial Magazine • Spring 2022
It was during the Covid-19 lockdown that John made the decision to make a very sympathetic renovation of the Majesty.
MAJESTY YAMAHA
Off the back of some serious hard work and long working hours, in a short period of time, the Majesty Yamaha project turned into a huge business success as John worked all the hours under the sun to keep up with demand and the development of the new trials machine. Mick Andrews won the 1980 FIM World Championship round in Devon on the Majesty in the early part of the year, but the celebrations were short-lived as one week later, the winning machine was stolen in Belgium at the world round. Did rival manufacturers want to find out about the Majesty and its winning pedigree? We will never know, and the machine disappeared forever. As John surrendered his own Majesty for Mick Andrews to ride, he was running out of machines. After the SSDT in May, John received three special engines from Japan, all OW10 – the code name for factory engines arriving in the UK via the European Yamaha headquarters in Amsterdam. 43
Remembering • Vintage Vines
ALAN VINES REMEMBERING
1944-2021
The passing of Alan Vines on the 21st October 2021 came as a shock. He had not been well for some time, but when I called to speak with him, as I always would, I knew when his younger brother Derek answered the call that it was not good news, he had passed away the day before. The tears in my eyes told their own story. Alan had been a good friend and a supplier of superb high-quality pictures for the magazines. Our shared enthusiasm for off-road motorcycle sport, and trials riding in particular, led to endless hours on the phone enjoying our reflection of the past. Alan’s cousin Tony Slater contacted me and, as a fitting tribute to my friend Alan Vines, I felt it would be only fitting to put his Eulogy into the magazine. I thank Tony so much for this, so in his own words, enjoy the life of a great man and fellow motorcycle enthusiast. Words: John Hulme; Eulogy: Tony Slater • Pictures: Alan and Derek Vines
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Spring 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
Vintage Vines • Remembering
Motocross
Roger De Coster (Suzuki-BEL)
H
ow do you sum up a person’s life in 10 minutes or so? We are here to remember and give thanks for the life of Alan Vines, brother, nephew, cousin to a fair proportion of those gathered here. Alan was an ordinary man who lived an unexceptional life, but all of us have good memories of him.
THE BEGINNING
Alan was born on 9th January 1944 in Tetbury maternity hospital. He was premature and fairly poorly, but a healthy five pounds reported his maternal grandmother writing to her eldest boy, Jack. She said she delayed sending the news in case Alan did not make it. But he did, the first-born of his generation in his maternal family. As such, he was a much-loved baby; Aunty Amy was apparently especially besotted with him. He grew up and spent almost the whole of his life at Longtree cottages, other than a few years at the old police station in Avening, purchased by Uncle Jack so that Lucy could look after their Classic Trial Magazine • Spring 2022
Motocross Suzuki
ageing parents. Longtree is a set of barns and two tied cottages and belonged to Mr Laurie, the owner of Church Farm in Avening, for whom Alan’s father, George, worked most of his life. The cottage has a large garden which was the pride and joy of Alan’s parents, but its tending was mostly left to parents and brother Derek; Alan did not inherit the gardening bug. Like most country people, the Vines always had a dog, and Alan took his share of walking these four-legged members of his household and loved them dearly. Alan did well at junior school, passed the 11+, and moved on to Tetbury Grammar School, following the example of Uncle Jack. In more propitious times, he could almost certainly have gone on to further education, but he left at 16 years old to find employment. Home life was not always easy as his mother had a fiery temper, and by his teenage years, Alan could fight back. I well remember one Christmas at the police house when an altercation with Lucy led Alan to run away from home. He was missing for hours before he was eventually found.
ARTISTIC SKILLS
A great skill inherited from his father was as an artist, and he was able to draw pen and ink sketches of animals and portraits of people brilliantly. Marilyn still possesses three sketches of birds and a portrait of her beloved Cliff Richard, which Alan drew for her. He was therefore advised to seek work as a technical draughtsman and was appointed to such a post at the long-established firm of Redlers in Stroud, where he remained until early retirement was forced on him as the firm struggled to maintain profitability. Employment provided sufficient income for him to begin engaging his interests and hobbies. First amongst those was motorcycling, and he was immensely proud of his scarlet BSA machine featured on the front cover of the service paper. He went to motorcycle meetings all over the country, taking his camera with him to take action photographs of the riders. He was as good a photographer as he was an artist. He also collected and made scale models of motorcycles, one of which adorns the flowers 49
Reflection • John Hemingway
REFLECTION
MICRO MAN
It can be quite surprising what catches your eyes when you are younger! In the late ‘60s, I was intrigued at just how good the smaller engine-capacity trials machines were. A cottage industry of innovative motorcycle engineers had risen from the ashes of the rapidly declining motorcycle industry in Great Britain, and new brands were starting to appear. Having ditched the ageing twostroke engines such as Villiers, by utilising the available foreign engines, these machines came to be a force to be reckoned with in the trials world. One such machine was the Sprite, and the rider, who would become well known on the smaller-capacity machines, was John Hemingway. From the early Sachs engined 125cc Sprite model through to the introduction of the Montesa Cota 123 in the early ‘70s, John Hemingway’s name was always there, hence the nickname I gave him at the time, ‘Micro Man’. Words: John Hulme and John Hemingway • Pictures: Alan Vines, Yoomee Archive, Hemingway Family, Barry Robinson, Eric Kitchen, Brian Holder and Iain Lawrie.
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1966: On the Greeves at the Northern Experts Trial on Robinsons Rocks.
Spring 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
John Hemingway • Reflection
1968: Riding with a bent con-rod would make for a busy week on the Sprite in the first SSDT!
Y
orkshire is more commonly known as the home of motorcycle trials, dating back to the early days of the Scott machines, and in the late ‘70s, there was no better place to be introduced to the world if you wanted to be a trials rider. Born on the 27th June 1948, John Hemingway was the son of Maurice and Marion. He also had two sisters, Elizabeth and Isobel. Off-road motorcycling would soon become a staple of life for them, as you are about to see, as Isobel would go on to marry the late, great Martin Lampkin.
1968: Riding number one at the British Experts Trial, John’s result in the Scott helped to put the Sprite name in the headlines and sales were good.
Classic Trial Magazine • Spring 2022
1968: After the success in the Scott Trial it was a return to normal pace at the Bemrose.
FARMERS
Maurice and Marion Hemingway were pig farmers based in North Yorkshire, where the family grew up in a happy and busy, hard-working environment. As you can imagine, vehicles need to be driven on any farm, and John would be introduced to working machinery at a very early age. Attending the local school, John, along with so many other young Yorkshire children, had a keen interest in Rugby, but soon it would be an introduction to two wheels that would become so much a way of life. As part of the everyday transport, on the farm was an old two-stroke James. Soon John would be using it on every occasion to enjoy riding it on the banks and climbs in the surrounding area.
1969: John started to turn heads on the Sprite in the national trials in early 1969 and looked forward to the challenge of riding the new 125cc in the ‘Scottish’.
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Rapley’s Rewind • 1964 SSDT
1964 SSDT
RAIN MASTER
100% at all times: the rain master Sammy Miller (Ariel) uses his body lean to the limit on Foyers. He also won the award for the best performance on a machine over 350cc.
MILLER Back in 1966, when I moved away from the family home in Slough to go and live in Devon, I took with me five boxes of colour transparencies, and deeply regret leaving a large pile of monochrome negatives that featured trials, grass tracks and scrambles meetings of the early to mid-60s. Inevitably, whilst the transparencies had been ‘saved’, the negatives were eventually lost when my widowed mother moved home and had a clearout — sad, but true. I knew that amongst those transparencies were a number of photographs from the 1964 Scottish Six Days Trial, and it’s the best of those that are now reproduced here. I guess that colour pictures from the 1964 event are few and far between, so they are a rare insight into the trial held 58 years ago. It’s only now that I have the kit, the software and the enthusiasm to work on them that I am able to transform them into reasonable shots. As it happened, I was also able to witness the ‘Rain Master’ Sammy Miller take the last win on the worldfamous Ariel GOV 132. Words: Mike Rapley and John Hulme • Pictures: Mike Rapley • Picture Captions: John Moffat
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Mike Rapley
Spring 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
1964 SSDT • Rapley’s Rewind
B
efore I reveal how the visit to the trial happened, I will say that all the pictures were taken with a Baldamatic, German-made rangefinder camera, mostly on Agfa colour transparency film. I began my working career in a Dixons camera shop and bought the Baldamatic second-hand, which was a trade-in. It suited me well, as I couldn’t afford a decent single-lens reflex camera back then, and the Baldamatic had a 1/500th-second shutter speed and an f2.8 lens, both ideal for motorcycle photography in those far-off days. Younger folk need to understand that colour film in the mid60s was expensive, so for me to take two cassettes of Agfacolor film to Scotland was a significant investment for a lad earning less than £5 per week!
1964 SSDT: Bert Rapley, John Lee and Mike Rapley look over the Butler trials machine.
ROAD TRIP
I rode my first trial in December 1963, so come the 1964 Scottish, I was very eager, along with my dad and his friend Mid Bucks MCC trials secretary Maurice Everett, to visit Scotland and see the trial. I had passed my driving test about seven weeks earlier and dad reckoned it would be good for me to help with the drive north — no motorways back then, of course. We failed to understand that none of the pretrial action would happen before the Sunday morning and set off from Slough for Edinburgh on Thursday, desperate not to miss anything and so, of course, when we reached the Geordie cattle Market, it was devoid of trials life. However, come Sunday morning, everything roared into action, and we had a great time looking at all the machinery and speaking with the riders and enthusiasts in Scotland for the same reason as we were.
He must have been serious: Don Smith (Greeves) on Foyers and, for once, not smoking a cigarette!
Classic Trial Magazine • Spring 2022
Mick Andrews’ factory AJS sporting the ivory tank finish for the 1964 SSDT, seen here at the Gorgie Market weigh-in. Andrews and AJS would win the award for the best performance on a machine from 251cc–350cc.
A superb off-road specialist in both trials and scrambling, Malcolm Davis (Greeves) on Loch Eild Path. Malcolm won the award for the best performance on a machine from 201cc–250cc.
67
Meeting • Colin Dommett
COLIN DOMMETT
A CORNISH GENTLEMAN At Classic Trial Magazine, we had a note on our radar was to look into the two- and three-wheeled life of Colin Dommett. Being reminded, while talking to Andy Westlake, he had enjoyed a nice afternoon in the company of Colin and his wife, Greta, in December 2008. These are Andy’s words, with the story brought up to date by Classic Trial Magazine contributor Mike Rapley in 2021. Words: Andy Westlake and Mike Rapley with Colin Dommett Pictures: Alan Vines, Brian Holder, Colin Bullock, Yoomee Archive, Andy Westlake Collection, Michel Decorte, Dommett Family
1965: Riding Hollinsclough in the Clayton Trophy Trial on the Cotton.
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Spring 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
Colin Dommett • Meeting
1966: Cottons supplied Colin with the machine and spares but the whole place was run on a shoestring.
C
olin Dommett was a Motorcycle News reporter who was barely out of short trousers, a works Cotton trials rider by the age of 20, an expert scrambler, ISDT Gold medallist and British and European sidecar trials champion, he was them all; a very good all-round motorcyclist. More than 50 years after he rode in his first event, he can still show the younger brigade a trials trick or two, and it was great to meet up with him at his West Country home to relive some of those halcyon days.
1966: Enjoying some winter action.
Classic Trial Magazine • Spring 2022
1967: Colin soldiered on against the tide of Spanish two-strokes until the winter of 1966/1967. On the Cotton in the Greensmith national trial.
Today, Colin is a regular sight and sound around the Pre-65 scrambles and trials scene, but, as he recalled, if it hadn’t been for summer holidays spent on his cousin’s farm at Axminster, he might never have become a motorcyclist. Colin Dommett: “My father was a farmer and never had any interest in motorcycles, but as a child, I used to spend all six weeks of the summer holidays at my uncle’s farm near Axminster in Devon. My cousins, John and George Rutter, both had motorcycles, and one
summer evening, when I was about 11, John asked me if I wanted to go and watch Exeter speedway on the back of his BSA Star twin. Of course, I jumped at the chance and remembered vividly the thrill of watching the riders tearing around a sweeping left-hand bend; it was great. I decided there and then that I would get a motorcycle when I was old enough. “John had ridden a bit in trials and scrambles, so they started taking me to watch both scrambles and road racing at places like Blandford and Castle Combe, and I absolutely loved the sights, smells and excitement of it all. Of course, there was no schoolboy sport in those days, so I couldn’t compete myself, but when I was aged about 14, Cyril Quantrill started Motorcycle News, and somehow I managed to get the position of their sports reporter for Cornwall. We were then living near Truro so, to get to the events, I either cycled or stood out on the A30 until I hitched a ride from someone like Ally Clift who was driving past on his way to compete!” When Colin started riding himself, he would often be pictured in the Blue and Green motorcycle papers, but he recalled that his photo first appeared in print in the November of 1955. Colin: “Because it was Remembrance Sunday, there was no sport that weekend, so to fill space MCN ran a feature on all of its contributors, including me and photographer Gordon Francis, who was also just getting started. I would continue to author reports for MCN until 1964, but by then, I was an established trials rider myself, an adventure that had begun in the autumn of 1957. “On leaving school, I’d worked for a while on a farm and then got a job at WH Collins’ motorcycle shop in Truro. I was originally taken 75
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Spring 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
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The current model range includes Honda, Montesa and Ossa. More models are lined up for the future. Sold as display models for the collector, they make the perfect gift for the motorcycle trials enthusiast. Get yourself along to the website: www.yoomee.co.uk and start collecting these exciting models or call: 01663 749163 for more information. Each model is priced at £69.99 including FREE P&P.
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International • Dudelange Two-Day Classic
LUXEMBOURG 2021
DUDELANGE TWO-DAY CLASSIC TRIAL A relatively new two-day classic trial took place in Dudelange, Luxembourg, during October 2021 after Covid-19 restrictions were eased. Given the country has been my home for the last 30 years, it seemed a good time to reveal its secrets. Luxembourg is a small country (999 square miles) located in the heart of Europe, with Belgium, France and Germany as neighbours. As befits its location, it is incredibly multicultural, with 50% of the population of 660,000 being foreigners such as myself. However, it does have a small and thriving trials scene and was host to many world championship rounds between the 1980s and 2000s in Warken, to the north of the country. Words: Matt Heppleston • Pictures: Aenders Brepsom Matt Heppleston (Yamaha)
For this trial, however, we find ourselves to the south of the capital city and not far from the French border in the town of Dudelange for the two-day classic trial hosted by the Motofreen Diddeleng club in the Cloos Quarry. The land is pretty unusual in that the quarry has been filled with a massive amount of metal slag, a waste product from the once vibrant iron and steel industry, which has faded away over the years to leave this industrial heritage which Mother Nature is slowly reclaiming. The sections were divided between the two types of terrain available on the site. The first few were on the loose rocks and climbs in the quarry bottom where there is always a massive amount of grip as the slag deposits are incredibly abrasive – no need for new tyres here – and the other sections were plotted on the loose soil to the eastern end of the quarry. Thankfully it remained dry and offered up the bankings in a benign state with plenty of grip to be had with a delicate throttle hand. It promised to be a low-scoring weekend. Both the Saturday and Sunday were treated as separate days so that the scores were not cumulative over the weekend. This also meant that you were free to change classes for Sunday if you found the Saturday route too hard or easy. A new innovation was that scores were recorded in the British style, on observer boards, to minimise interactions between riders and observers; normally, a punch card system is used. The Sunday trial was also a round of the Belgian Classic Championship (CBTA-BCOT, www.trialclassic.be).
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Martin Gilbert (BSA)
Spring 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
Dudelange Two-Day Classic • International
Ossy Byers (DOT)
Bernd Kaefer (Bultaco)
Leo Goergen (Honda)
Olivier Semes (Yamaha)
DAY ONE
Day one was a bit of a warmup to the main event, with only three laps of five sections to be faced. However, given the lack of machine time that most people have had, maybe it was a sensible option so as not to wear out our ageing muscles! Nevertheless, a healthy turnout of 65 riders took the start and, under some sunshine, had an easy enough day, with many zero scores being had and, overall, a low-scoring day. Then it was down to the serious club business of having a few beers and a sausage sandwich round the campfire.
DUDELANGE TWO-DAY CLASSIC TRIAL
DAY ONE: SATURDAY 16TH OCTOBER 65 RIDERS
Eric Xemard (Fantic)
Classic Trial Magazine • Spring 2022
PRE-65 EXPERT: 1: L Frannesjo, 10. PRE-65 GENTLEMEN: 1: M Gilbert, 0; 2: 6 O Byers, 1; 3: M Debucquoy, 1. PRE-65 RANDONNEUR: 1: C Thibaut, 0; 2: S Grinter, 0; 3: U Grützmacher, 1. PRE-78 EXPERT: 1: V Poirier, 12; 2: G Slama, 18; 3: M Baatz, 18. PRE-78 GENTLEMEN: 1: O Semes, 0; 2: S Goergen, 2; 3: JP Deremarque, 4. PRE-78 RANDONNEUR: 1: Q Renaud, 0; 2: B Kaefer, 5; 3: R Monnet, 8. TWIN-SHOCK EXPERT: 1: L Goergen, 1; 2: K Windels, 2; 3: C Daleiden, 2. TWIN-SHOCK GENTLEMEN: 1: Eric Xemard, 1; 2: L Ashby, 4; 3: F Hartmann, 4. TWIN-SHOCK RANDONNEUR: 1: JL Gosset, 0; N Mahy, 0; K Nimax, 0.
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Spring 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
Find your local dealer • Locator
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Classic Trial Magazine • Spring 2022
91
Sport Review • Rockshocks Championship 2021
FULL HOUSE ROCKSHOCKS CHAMPIONSHIP
With machines varying from the weird and wonderful through to the ex-works and exotic specials found at these events, the 2021 Rockshocks British Championship has once again been a huge success in a season affected by Covid-19. A full ten-round championship, giving good coverage of the country, kept the riders entertained on a wide variety of terrain with sections to suit the machines and the level of rider ability. With six classes now available, three on the more challenging Expert route and three on the easier Clubmen route, the organisers have now found a format that appears to suit everyone. 2021 was a challenging year but, credit where it’s due, the ten clubs which ran the championship events all did themselves proud with a total of 277 riders scoring points over the ten rounds. This 2021 review was held back so that we could include the later events, so here we have a look back at the classes during the whole season. Words: Trials Media • Pictures: Trials Media, Colin Bullock, Millie Duval Gary Fleckney (Honda)
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Davy Morewood (Yamaha)
Spring 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
Rockshocks Championship 2021 • Sport Review
Peter Ruscoe (Honda)
Thomas Mills (Yamaha)
Gary Fleckney – Rockshocks: “I want to thank absolutely everyone who has been involved in the 2021 Championship. I, as well as the clubs, organisers, observers, riders, caterers, spectators, photographers and, of course, partners and supporters, have thoroughly enjoyed this year. I am so glad to have been able to get involved in such a successful format; I only wish I could have spoken to more of you. Again, congratulations to the new champions, all well-deserved; let’s keep the good times going!” Reader note: 2021 Rockshocks British Championship points total is calculated after dropping the rider’s three lowest scores, including zero scores.
EXERT: AIR-COOLED MONO
Matthew Jones (Fantic)
As the eventual top two finishers, Davy Morewood (Yamaha) and Peter Ruscoe (Honda), contested eight of the ten rounds. The championship decider went to the final round, and it was a jubilant Morewood who came out on top in the battle of the Japanese machines. Thomas Mills contested the whole ten rounds, and his consistency gave him the final position on the podium. Davy Morewood also recorded the most round wins, followed by Ruscoe on two wins and eventual fourth-place finisher Chris Garlick on two round wins, though he did not contest the whole year in this class. CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS: 1: Davy Morewood 124; 2: Peter Ruscoe, 117; 3: Thomas Mills, 82; 4: Chris Garlick, 68; 5: Luke Hora, 68; 6: David Carter, 65; 7: Andrew Paxton, 48; 8: Rob Faulkner, 43; 9: Reece Morewood, 39; 10: John Bannister, 32. WINS: Davy Morewood, 3; Peter Ruscoe, 2; Chris Garlick, 2; David Carter 1; Joel Edwards, 1; James Williams, 1. 23 Points Scorers in Total
William Tolson (Fantic)
Keith Burgess (Yamaha)
Ian Peberdy (BSA)
Classic Trial Magazine • Spring 2022
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