westyfield

..A late call to anyone locally, invite to a bit of open practice at "Cookes Wood", Youlgreave. We will be there anytime after 2pm tomorrow, (Saturday 29th Aug) for a few hours, mark out a few sections, have a natter between the showers.. Andy

..the barrel on my Cheetah is a regular source of discussion when first viewed, with opinions varying from a machined down Greeves Anglian to a special Parkinson barrel and even DMW... Could it be one of the specials produced by Mick Whitlock?? It would be interesting to know. I have a picture of it in the "tc garage" if anyone would like to view and comment.. http://www.trialscentral.com/forums/index....item&CID=83 Andy

...I believe that Fitforx are only able to "service" complete forklegs... seals, cleaning, gaitors etc, (and they did a good job on two pairs of MP600's for me) but any work on the stanchions such as straightening or rechroming is carried out by others for them so expect a slight time delay due to delivery etc. HPC straightened, re-chromed and re-ground a pair of stanchions for me perfectly which Fitforx had said couldn't be done. I delivered and collected them personally and paid

Hi, I am in the process of rebuilding a couple of Saracens also and have, as yet, not found new engine spares in the UK. For the few bits I have needed I found the "Penton Owners Group" web site useful and sourced spares from http://www.pentonpartsusa.com/ in the USA Andy

Hi Charlie, Pat has emailed me and I do have the very MCN of Nov 16th of 1966. A photo of Pat is on the front page at the Earls Court Show. I quote.. "The Golden Touch.. Gold medallist in Sweden's ISDT, riding a Victor, BSA's Pat Slinn poses with "Goldfinger girl" Caron Gardner and the new 440cc Victor roadster" Another interesting "nugget" of front page news of interest to readers on here reads.. "A highly secret jet-engined torprdo with RAF trials rider Jon Tye at the controls may attack the motorcycle world speed record in the Middle East towards the end of 1967".... "with a jet it should be possible to reach 500mph!" Could this explain Jons lack of and greying hair these days I wonder??

Hi, ....the Saracen would undoubtably have had an 18" rear wheel. have a look at the the 1980 and 84 bikes I have put on the TC Garage forum under my profile. I have the older one rebuilt now, but suffereing a clutch problem, and the later one is just about ready to be reassembled. If you can get hold of a book called "Motorcycle Competition" edited by Deryk Wylde and published by Ariel Publishing (fax 0159 7870652) there is a 14 page article on the "Saracen Story" with a couple of good photo's of the early iron barreled bikes. Ironically it was a mix up on specification of iron / alloy barrels on a shipment to the USA importer that eventually took the company down. The book I mention above also has a full colour front cover showing the 1971 Scottish Saracen team of Jack Galloway, Steve Wilson and Jon Bliss with their bikes. Andy

Hi Pat, I probably have a copy in a big plastic box in my garage... Does it have anything in particular you are looking for? I'll have a search through at the weekend. Andy

Hi Ian, I have original pages of "Motorcycle News" from 1969 with full page tests and reviews of the Dalesman. The first from July '69 reporting that the first batch of 50 had been sold and a second batch was being built. The other is from October 69 exclaiming the virtues of a new frame for the 1970 model. If you pm me with your address I could loan them for copying if interested. I was considering a new bike in 1969 and eventually settled on a Sprite with the 125 Sachs engine... just like the one waiting for completion behind two Saracen 125's in the far corner of the garage! Just how competitive they will be in the modern classic world I'm not sure. Not quite a twin-shock in the Fantic/TY mold but neither classic pre-65/70 two-stoke.. Incidentally, I have most MCN's from late 50's 'til late 70's boxed up in the garage! I try to sort them out occasionally but soon get enthralled at reading them and often amazed at how regular winners back then are still around doing the same today... Andy

FORK OIL.. for info, on the '07 175 with hydraulic clutch.. RH leg.. 370cc. LH Leg.. 350cc of 5W oil Fantastic little bike that this is I have decided to pass it on and return to my faithfull Fantics! Having ridden twinshock and pre-65 for so long I find the techniques required to ride a modern bike a step too far. Something about old dogs and new tricks maybe! Check it out on Flebay! (am I allowed to say that??)

.. thanks for all the input people. I have ordered a 10t gearbox sprocket (original was actually 11t, sorry) Not sure of the exact model I have so a call to messrs Birkett when they re-open after the classic dirt bike show is next to help sort out which forks are fitted. I wanted to get the oil changed changed for Sunday but will wait and see how it goes. A new air-filter delivered this morning after a telephone order to Pennine TS at only 4pm yesterday! New IRC fitted at B&S in Kirkby today.. thanks Brent, saved a struggle! Andy

This has probably been asked but can someone tell me the weight and quantity of oil for the Paioli forks on my '07, 175? Also, has anyone found the standard gearing a touch high? The sprockets are 57/14 The bike I have just aquired from "Graham" up in Chorley I'm told was a Birkett demonstrator and has a few scuffs to show for it but everything seems to work and run as it should. A new rear IRC and a run out in the Peak Classic trial at Youlgreave this weekend are planned. Not strictly in keeping with the intended air-cooled mono class way of thinking I know but we will see how it goes..

...like several of you guys I started off with a the 125 Sachs engine, firstly in a Sprite (

Hi Glen, I used 35:1 with ordinary mineral two-stoke oil at that time but I now use 50:1 fully synthetic in the Villiers in my Cheetah. It would be interesting to hear what others think and use in theirs...

Hi Glenn, I've just realised you have acquired the bike I bought about three years ago from a chap in Droitwich and which I then passed on to "Keith" in Clay Cross early last year.. from whom you bought it? But how it got to Devon I don't know! Not long after buying it I came across the Cheetah I now ride... When I acquired the Sprite the motor was very poor and my friend, former Centre rider, Howard Doncaster, spent a long time setting it up and testing the carb, Nametab ignition and compression ratio until it was an absolute "gem"... but I think Keith altered it! I know Keith also altered the head angle to make it turn tighter. I did not recognise it at first as Keith has also replaced it's former alloy tank with his steel "SWM" tank! The main alteration I made was to have the steel rims replaced with new alloys and to polish up the "British" hubs. I also fitted new dampers, NJB, I think. Apart from practise I never rode the Sprite "in anger" but remember the motor to be very "soft" and the steering quite heavy and tending to push in corners with a strange over centre "caster" effect!! Maybe Keith sorted that with the head angle alteration? Maybe catch you at Midland Classic, Peak Classic? Next run out is at the Man17 "Easy" trial this next Saturday I think.. Andyrew

RENISHAW HALL Nr Chesterfield / Worksop A bit off topic but I'm guessing that if you are into Classic Trials you are into Classic bikes and cars too? Next Wednesday night is the yearly classic car/bike meet organised by the Chesterfield Rotary in aid of Sheffield Weston Park Hospital at Renishaw Hall. http://www.sitwell.co.uk/calendar.php I have been along couple of times and there are hundreds of car and bike enthusiasts displaying on the lawns. I will be taking along my Grinnall Scorpion 3-wheeler (it's bright mettalic red) so if you see me there please stop by. It's on from 4pm til 9pm and there is a cafe, shop etc as well as the house and grounds to explore and well worth a visit if you can get. Not far off J30 of the M1 which is the Chesterfield and Worksop turning at Barlborough. Just follow the A6135 towards Sheffield for about 2 miles and you are there! Andyrew

Hi Rhino, Much like myself, I got back into things after a 20 odd year break a few years back.. and amazingly I found its's still a lot of the same lads doing it now that were doing it back then! If you were "expert" in your time, you will be very much the "novice" now.. bikes have improved immensley, BUT if you want to ride "twinshocks" or older, as you probably did , try these clubs.. http://www.midlandclassic.co.uk/ http://www.poacherspre65trials.co.uk/ http://www.peakclassic.co.uk/index.htm Otherwise, IMHO, you couldn't go wrong with the Derby Pathfinders at Clifton, their Saturday night series starts a week on Sunday Andyrew

While you're all on the clothing subject, what about "trousers"? I just wouldn't look good in Lycra and can't find any that are plain red fabric without any advertising or flashy stripes and logo's. Is there such a thing? Came across some JT-X ones on eBay at the mo but at just 28" waist they ain't going to fit! Have done a google of JT-X but no result. Anyone any ideas?

Hi David, If you can pm me with your your email I can send you all the info I have collected on them recently. A Villiers Cheetah was my first ever trials bike back in 1969 when just 17 and I came across another on eBay, not far from home, a couple of years ago now. It has proven to be a useful aquisition and as competitive in it's original form as many of the newer James it competes with nowdays. Not genuine pre 65, as they were mainly '67 vintage I believe, but accepted in todays pre70 Two-Stroke class. Andyrew

What a good turnout for a cold, foggy day.. must have been over 80 riders on everything from modern mono's to 60's classics. ..don't know if you made it today "Spikeyone" but if you did I hope you had a good ride. I had the cold discomfort of observing on No 5 today for a change to normally riding. I can thoroughly recommend a go at observing, it's such an eye opener to what a wide variety of abilities a course setter has to cater for. Section 5 had just a couple of tight turns to catch the unwary but nothing that required a hop, maybe those that did hop were just practising for when they really need to? Interestingly only three or four riders spotted the easy line to avoid the slippy bit on the first couple of laps.. all old hands! I have never ridden a modern mono and I couldn't understand today why you all, almost without exception, needed to slip the clutch so much. Are they so high geared they won't turn without it? The riders I spoke with afterwards all enjoyed the event and, but for cold feet, I enjoyed the observing.. Next trial at Clifton.. January 6th 2008!

.. I should think one of your nearest events would be The Pathfinders and Derby Clubs Winter Trophy Trial at their Clifton, Ashbourne venue on Sunday 23rd December.. .. and then you've a choice of Stafford or S****horpe, Sheffield & Hallamshire nr Chesterfield or Teversal nr Mansfield on the 26th (oh the mud!)..

Hi Dave, My "Nametab" system has been giving a bit of trouble too of late and having asked all and sundry the best way to go I am still no wiser! However, I have had a long chat with the chaps at "Norton Villiers" in Manchester and they have developed a system especially for trials.. Have a look at this link.... http://www.nortonvilliers.com/villiers_spares.htm

Following the next event, which is a Championship trial, at Biscathorpe on Nov. 18th, the club are offering free entries to encourage the riders of "big bikes" and rigids to get their machines out of mothballs for the Beniworth Haven trial on December 2nd. For more info check out the web-site here http://www.poacherspre65trials.co.uk/

The closing laps of the Lincolnshire POACHERS PRE-65 TRIALS CLUB event came to a sticky end at the historic wartime airfield venue of Wickenby on October 28th. Heavy showers made the already nadgery sections a bit more tricky for both riders and those observers unlucky to be without cover. Although the course was set with big bikes in mind the more agile two-stroke riders also needed concentration to keep their scores down. Most successful Premier Route route rider was Mick Ash together with Clubman Alan Hunt- both going clean all day. The simple twists of section 8, through a shallow gully took marks off everyone else except pre-unit winner Matt Mison. (95) With just 8 sections of adverse cambers, muddy and rocky turns run over 5 laps, the 42 entrants had a busy time and with scores ranging from "clean" to 69 a good cross section of abilities were on display. Following the next trial at Biscathorpe, the club are offering free entries to encourage the riders of "big bikes" and rigids to get their machines out of mothballs for the Beniworth Haven trial on December 2nd. RESULTS Premiere Route, Two-Strokes: Robin Cobb (James) 1, Mark Spencer (BSA) 5 Units: Mick Ash (Triumph) 0, Tony Bilton (BSA) 4 Pre-Units: Matthew Mison (AJS) 1, Tony Sullivan (Matchless) 6 Specials: Jeff Elliott (BSA) 69 Intermediate Two-Strokes: Mike Gallagher (James) 11, Mick Nicholson (BSA) 14 Units: Paul Kirby (Triumph) 14, Peter Banyard (BSA) 26 Pre-Units Trevor Taylor (RE) 13, Dave Richards (AJS) 18 Clubman Route Two-Strokes D. McGregor (Greeves) 4, Roy Bibby (James) 8 Units Alan Hunt (Triumph) 0, John Garrod (BSA) 2 Pre-Unit/Rigid Martyn Calcott (AJS) 9, Pete McDowell (Matchless) 17

I am off to the Lincolnshire Poachers trial at Wickenby Airfield in the morning and just Googled "Wickenby" to check where it is when I came across this poignant reminder of our recent history. Now just described with a few statistics this airfield is lost in our memory but with Remembrance Sunday just around the corner it seems fitting to remember all those lost in war to give us the freedoms we now enjoy.. ""300 wartime operations were flown from Wickenby with 160 Lancasters and 6 Wellingtons Lost. The memorial at Wickenby commemorates 1,080 aircrew who lost their lives flying from here. From September 1942 to September 1945, "12 Squadron Bomber Command" with Wellingtons, converting to Lancasters winter 1942/43 flew from Wickenby. From November 1943 to October 1945, 626 Sqn formed and eventually disbanded here. From October 1945 to November 1945, 109 Sqn were stationed here with Mosquitos, then the Station was closed to flying. The airfield was then used for bomb storage until 1956 and is now used for private training.""

Hi OTF, you have a PM