Posted 23 March 2010 - 06:30 PM
Hi Charlie,
Thank you for putting together the "Otter" web site. Not only is it explaining the history of the Otter, but it reminding me, at least of some of the history of our sport. During the 60's & 70's the trials scene in the Midland centre where I lived was very vibrant and together with the many national trials and trade supported trials you could ride nearly every weekend, sometimes on a Saturday and Sunday, and Until S.H.M. joined Bultaco nearly everybody rode a British made trials bike. many of these bikes were modified in some way or other by their owners, remember there were not the specialist trials component suppliers around then, if you needed, for example a modified pair of footrests you had to make them. If you wanted a frame with, let's say more ground clearance you modified the original frame or made a completely new one to your own design. Friends of mine, the Winwoods, Mike and Ross, remember them ? were not happy with their standard BSA C15 frames so together with their dad they set to and made their own frames, known as Walwins, does anybody know where these bikes are now ?.. Remember Dennis Jones ?, (Johna), he modified a standard James trials frame ( I think), used a modified Villiers engine and called his bike, if my memory serves me correctly a D.J.S. "Dennis Jones special." Dennis used this bike and won many Midland centre, and some National events on it. I believe he was on the leader board at the SSDT. There were many people about who were very inovative, we made mistakes, but we learnt from these mistakes, we went back to the "shed" and made another one untill we got it right. These bikes with their home made, but engineered parts and components are part of our heritage and history, and should not be forgoten. I believe that the frame that Scott Ellis and his dad made has disapered, that is such a pity, that was history, our sports history. The comp shop at BSA made and modified trials frames, and suspension and I suspect that many, if not all these have now been lost. Please keep up the good work Charlie, and I am certianly looking forward to the "express trial" and exhibition in August.
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charlie prescott, on Mar 23 2010, 08:58 AM, said:
