scorpa3

Every car manufacturer does the same thing and there is a huge market for it. Alloy wheels, rev counter, leather seats and it's a sport model worth thousands more. For those customers who want to save some money theres always a base model with steel wheels, no glove box lid or CD player. It still does the job but image counts for a lot. Well done to the trials bike manufacturers for doing the same thing... remember, no one forces people to buy the flashy version. They do because they want one.

At this moment I don't know if we are likely to re-schedule this trial. Swifts farm is particularly difficult to set out if wet. It really does need to be a dry weather venue. I'll post on TC as soon as I know if we're running it on another date.

During practice week at the Isle of Man, I told the pit crew that I was going to do one lap on the 600 then come in and do two on the 750. At the end of the first lap, I forgot which way around I was going to do it and stayed out for another lap on the 600.... which, ofcourse only had enough fuel to get half way around the next 37.73 mile lap..... durrrrrr!

Chances are that you actually made a Blakes 7 transporter bracelet and not a base gasket at all. With 25th Century technology on the CG you'd expect it to get you to work!

The Stratford-Upon-Avon club have cancelled their evening trial which was due to be held on Wednesday 4th July at Swifts Farm near Halford. The venue, which runs along side the river Stour, is water logged. Appologies to those who were planning to enter. Pete Stratford-Upon-Avon MC&LCC

Yes, sorry, I meant to type 18 inch.

Sorry, didn't think of that. I just wanted to share the news.

I've got a bead braeker and a compressor, but even then it can be difficult to get the tyre to seal enough to re-seat on the rim. Especially new ones which are still stiff. Steve Saunders gave me an invaluable tip for helping with this. He suggested using a 14 inch push bike inner tube to take up the gap whilst inflating. Simply get the new tyre positioned, slightly inflate the push bike inner tube and push it between the bead and the rim. As the tyre inflates you can gently ease the inner tube out. Well worth the

On my Scopra I run 5psi front 4psi rear unless it is a very hard event, then I go up another one. I clean my air filter with hot soapy water (never petrol) every 2nd trial unless it is very dry and dusty then I clean it every time. I use filter oil lightly rubbed in with a pair of rubber gloves, just enough to make it tacky. Gearbox oil every six or so events, again; this is more often when I do road trials. One other thing on a Gas Gas or Sherco ( speak from painful experience,) is to keep the rear suspension linkage well greased. If it starts to squeak it's virtually too late. Do it before it grinds apart. There will be lots of other good advice, but this is a start. I hope it helps.

Rossi took the win at Assen with Stoner runner up and Hayden third. Well done Valentino!

Came accross this Steve Saunders video on Youtube which is well worth watching. Here

It would be easy to 'shave' some weight of it.

Wouldn't be much good down here in the Midlands, we only see one rock a year... and that's always the same one!

I think that it is important that every rider who enters an ACU event has been given access to the rules which apply to the discipline and also the rules of the ACU (the sporting code.) If we then choose to throw it in the bin then that's our choice; the fact still remains that the ACU have made a reasonable effort to inform each of us as to the rules we must follow. But, whilst I applaud the ACU for trying to give out information in the magazine, I personally feel that it is a waste of time and would happily choose not to recieve it. Sorry, I hate to be negative but that's how it is.

Crikey!!!

You are probably spot on. I don't think the 2-stroke gets used anywhere else, other than by Scorpa. Given the engines age, there are probably tooling issues, etc. that require ongoing investment for a relativly small run of engines. But, as you say, the 4-stroke shares the majority of it's components with the current YZ & WR engines. The costs are spread across a lot more units, and shared by Yamaha for use in their models. The financial difference, to Scorpa, between the 2-stroke & 4-stroke is probably significant. Prior to the 2007 models, I know that the distributors were asked if they would "like" to continue the 2-stroke for "one more year". I don't have any insight into what was communicated this year. Do Scorpa make their engine components in-house?

The Stratford-Upon-Avon Club trial at Saintbury Quarry was won by Chipping Campden rider Liam O'Reilly who used his local knowledge to master the wet conditions. Dropping 55 marks, Liam narrowly beat Richard Dunsby who only really struggled on the very narrow wet rooted climb of section four to finish just six marks adrift. Third place went to Justin Howells riding his new Cabestany replica with 67 marks lost, who together with Richard were the only two riders to clean the massive hill climb of section nine on all four laps. As round of the Midland Centre Youth Championship backed by Homemaster removals, there were no A class youths but on the less severe B route, Youth B championship contender Ben Millichap put the adults in their place with a measerly seven mark score. three better than clubman rider Stefan Walters. Top Youth C was Connor Evans who also topped his route beating all of the adults with just two marks lost, first adult was lady rider Jennifer Crabtree who finished on a respectable score of just ten. Special thanks should go to the observers who braved the very wet conditions and also to the owners of Saintbury Quarry who allowed the club to move the trial from the water logged Top Farm venue at short notice. Pete Barnett Stratford-Upon-Avon MC&LCC

Echo those sentiments, many thanks to all the observers, to John and Justin for helping me set out and a big thank you to everyone who turned up to ride, we even had a TY80 on the D route which made it worth setting that out (just the one!) Most people had heard of the venue change, so swapping to Saintbury from Top Farm caused very little hassle. Nick & Penny from Top Farm came along with their burger van and reported that the track past their farm leading to the planned car park field was fast flowing water at 8am this morning. A special thanks should also go to the owners of Saintbury Farm for allowing us to use the quarry at such short notice.... it saved the day. I'll post the results shortly. Pete

Good point! Should go back to the old days when you rode your bike to the event (Before my time of course ) on another point, the reason I believe Catalytic converters will be expensive for trials bikes is they don't make enough of them to make it worthwhile to gear up mass manufacturing and keep the cost's down. Another other issue which gives me casue for concern is; without the catalytic converter fitted, BOTH two stroke and four stroke engines give off some very nasty fumes. Don't ever breath in the exhaust gas from any engine using unleaded fuel unless it's got a working, warmed up cat fitted. Always re-fuel in a well ventilated location. Avoid contact with the skin. And never, NEVER, wash any parts in unleaded petrol.

Section seven for tomorrow as used in the Sammy Miller round in 2003.... my god was that really four years ago?

You won't. It's the riders responsibility to make sure they are affiliated...... remember the trials affiliation is not actually a licence.

The sections are plotted for Sundays trial at Saintbury Quarry. We have marked the trial out as if it is going to be wet, so if it doesn't rain it'll be a fairly easy ride around. The big climbs for the A route have plenty of run up!

It's a bit like car insurance/licence/mot; to be legal and covered by insurance you have to have them but most people are never asked to show them... apart from taxing the car, which you can now do on line anyway. But what happens when you find yourself involved in an incident? You damn well need them then don't you! Well being affiliated to an organising body (the ACU in this instant) gives you that important cover. The onus is on the rider to be affiliated... you're the one who will be liable. Remember also; someone is paying for the necessary organisation which is running the events that you enjoy. If you don't pay then you're taking advantage of all those people who do. How do you think 'we' would all feel about that? Pay the tenner, it's very good value for money.

Sammy Miller Dates: Here

Sounds like the best idea mate. Assuming you are an ACU licence holder look in the handbook for the dates and venues I'm afraid that you won't find the dates in the handbook. If you look on the ACU website the info is there.