john collins

Re: Master Class. We had quite a lot of good sensible debate on this topic in Nov - and I explained in detail etc how it was formed - its intended purpose and the fact that a decision would have to be taken. I note from the latest posts that as few people are disappointed - and I certainly echo that view. I still believe the Master Class was a good stepping stone - as well as allowing the Clerk of Course a little flexibility. It will as - someone else has said be introduced into Welsh Champ this year - and reports are that it is good. The trouble is with any further debate on the matter is that we shoot off on a tangent about the pro's and cons of the whole Champ format - and while that is in itself perhaps an interesting debate for future posts - but is not really here and now. I will therefore try to just give a few facts in relation to present position. As stated in Nov - it was apparent that a Master Class of perhaps 2 or 3 riders was not really achieving the intended result. SO - it was decided that unless 10 realistic names came forward - we would reluctantly drop it. Note: A good point was made by Chris - on Nov 30th - that 10 names would obviously not mean 10 riders - and that to be realistic we should have around 15-20. I acknowledged this. Also note - that year after year - we get names - who though certainly eligible - and would make the Class quite good - they then do not ride - or certainly only ride in perhaps the one local event. Also - Obviously in Championship Class - you only accept riders of some proven record/ability - and equally - in the Master Class - we really only wish to see riders who have a proven record/ability in the Expert Class - or some sort of past ability which can be validated i.e. - it is not sensible or desirable - to take someone straight into the Masters class - he/she should have some experience lower down - this is not going to change. So - To run Master Class in 05 - we stated we required an absolute minimum of 10 riders. Now where I object strongly - is to a post such as "trialsboy" - who having far more information and knowledge than a poor soul such as myself - regards the fact that 10 riders did not apply as

Jeez guys - this is turning into an epic debate! I will try once more to answer a few points so that we can all settle down to our Xmas pud. First some facts - and when I tell you some figures - these ARE the figures - no point querying about

Re - posts SACU and ACU. Don't criticise the Scottish system without some thought. Unusual for people to think that ACU ofers better value - but I have to tell you all it is merely a different way of collecting in the revenue. In Scotland you pay a one off licence fee - in the same way you do with ACU for Enduro, MX, Grass Track etc etc. This year ACU licence fee's will be

Thanks BDMC - I think you have illustrated a problem which I have been loathe to air - but I think we can be sure others are aware of it.

Fair point Chris 10 registered may not mean 10 riding as you say - we will look at it again it may need 15 - 20 registered to gaet a worthwhile entry. John Collins

Reply to last post - re Master class We decided that we needed to cater for what the rider wished ( who said we have no original thinking)? Seriously though - when riders are asked to register - there will be a sentance explaining that the Master class will only be run if the riders wish to take it up. If 10 eligible riders register for it - it will run . Less than this number we will revert back to just Championship & Expert classes. So it is really now up to the riders to decide if they want/need this stepping stone - I still think it is desirable - but it is now a question of demand

I always seem to be asked to clarify te difficult ones ! When will someone ask me about oil in a Bultaco - or how to time the thing? Back to Insurance - although we have been here before and it is probably archived somewhere. To tax your bike and use it on road - you need RTA ( Road Traffic Act ) cover - law of land - full stop. This may or may not include theft cover - depending on price and cover you can find. Traditionaly I think most policies always said in small print - not to be used for racing, speed testing etc - but is this did not aply to Trials - we were basically OK travelling between sections. A few years ago - some companies Norwich Union in particular inserted the added into trhe exclusion clause that use in trials were also excluded ie the RTA bit when on the road between sections falls outside the cover. Now we all know if you are out as someone says just going to Sainsbury's or tootling around the countryside on your machinme - no real problem - that choice is yours. The ACU went to fairly extensive lenghts to try to arrange a RTA policy - where the companies knew what was what and accepted the situation - but quite frankly they did not want to know. It is not even that they were afraid of Trials - it was just - as in many cases we get caught up in other things - and much of new legislation about being insurered in Public places ie Tesco car park and so on just frightened them off - and they just decline the business. Literally months and months have been spent on the case - and a few times we have got close - especially with a weekend policy ( & Scottiosh 6 Day) - but at last minute they always decline. The increase theft of off-road machines has also made them very wary - but again we have tried to just cover third party - and perhaps the rider could arrange for theft cover elsewhere. I am afraid the answer has usualy still been no. Some riders - especially if old and valued customers of a company did manage to get their own policies changed - but this was very much in the minority. It seems that some have managed to find a policy that does not actually state - not for use in Trials - and have been glad to accept this. From ACU point of view - the best we could arrange ( and that was not easy) was to arrange a 1 off cover for each event - so that when on Public Highway - at least all was legal and General. It was

Some fair points and we will look at them - but I still have to say that the Master class for just a couple of riders is doubtful. I am certainly for it - and we will actually introduce the idea in Welsh Champ next year - not the same I know - but we still see it as a chance to let riders "dip toe" in water of hardest route - wthout having a hiding all day. Real reason why I have replied however is on the idea of " making" people upgrade after they have won this or that - Please be careful - not only in Brit Champ - but even at the lowest level I have always been very concerned about making someone ride a hardr route - this actually means you are making them ride a route which they may ( or could later say) they were not accomplished enough to ride. I am very dubious about this - and my own view is you must never force anyone on to a course unless they do not wish to ride it. The easy method of course is to make a rule that anyone who wins this or that in one class - must upgrade to win awards/points etc - but can still ride in the lowere class if they wish - but on np points/award basis. We did look at this for Expert class before - and wil look at the idea again

Re - Masters Class. We have not yet finalised the format. The T & E Committee meet on Nov 27th and will finalise dates/Championshi[ps etc - we usually then try to arrange a meeting with the Championship orgainisers and discuss things. I have to say the Masters class does at present look very doubtful. We had thought it was a good stepping stone - and sort of intermediate course for those who did not wish to tackle all the Championship sections - but wished to try some. Equally those Champ riders now getting older - or not wishing to tackle big steps etc because perhaps they do not ride/train/practice so often - would have a good class to drop down into. I actually thought it would be a good competative class with those moving up -or down fighting it out in the middle! - but it has not worked out this way. Also as someone has just correctly stated the danger is you will just have a very large Expert Class - with the top half dozen good riders clogging up the top end and taking the awards BUT it has to be admitted that the Masters class has nor received anywhere near the support we thought - and if riders have voted with their feet - ( or backsides) we will have to take notice - and if the class is not needed - so be it.

Re - British Trials Championship. Please note that as stated these are PROVISIONAL rounds & dates - and will not be confirmed until Nov 27th. The list that Gary has sent in is correct at present BUT the Mitchell is missing which is provisionally on May 29th. The dates and Championships rounds are obviouisly later than desired - but there are now a lot of World & especially European Rounds to be taken into account - and of course a scheduled World round in Uk John Collins

I confirm that the British Teams for the 2004 Trials Des Nations in Spain are as follows Men: Dougie lampkin Graham Jarvis Steve Colley Sam Connor Women: Becky Cook Maria Conway Donna Fox Res- Katy Sunter John Collins

As stated the left hand gear lever appeared on herpa in 75 - with gear shaft running right through the cases - spline protrudes each side - so you can choose if you wish gear lever left or right. This arrangement continued right through till the end. Also correct that steel gear lever gives far better feel than the rather springy alloy one - however - when you inevitably clout a large rock - the rather long/curved left hand lever - unlike the alloy one -it usually does not bend or break - but it is quite common to actually bend the the gear selector shaft. If you do find the gearchange rather stiff on any Sherpa after 75 - this shaft is well worth checking - fairly easy to remove from clutch side - and can usually be straightened in a press ( check on lathe or with clock beteeen centres) Once the gear lever went to the left - there was of course the problem of getting the brake cable over to that side - and the solution of an up and over cable was not really that good. You do need to keep a good - well lubricated cable - to have even the slightest chance of a worthwhile/feel ok brake. The Sherpa never had the arrangement of brake drum on right - they achieved it with Pursang & Frontera by use of a mighty big hub - which would take the sprox on either side - but this large hub is not realy realistic for trials - so you are stuck with the right brake - horrible cable set up.

European Ladies Cup 1 Laia sanz - 20 2. Iris Kramer - 57 3. Maria Conway- 68 9 Donna Fox - 97 11 Becky Cook -99 16 Katie Sunter - 106 International Ladies 1. Rebeca Rennison - 66 2. Kathryn Wardle - 70 3. Paul;ine Scmitt - 71 4. Lucy Payne - 74 10 Emily Payne - 89 11 Carli Sherwin - 93 12 Kayleigh Price - 95 13 Nicola Foote - 97 14 Nikki Wraight - 98 15 Jennifer Archer - 100 European Youth Cup 125cc 1 Alex Wigg - 21 2. Matteao Grattarola - 34 3. Loris Gubian -36 8 Ross Danby 49 15 Jack Challinor - 67 European Youth Cup 250cc 1. Christian Kregeloh - 64 2. Lee Sampson - 71 3. Eddie Roberts - 78 4. Sam Haslam - 83 Sunday: International UEM Cup 1. Chris Pearson - 22 2. Dan Farrer - 37 3. John Sunter - 42 4 Ashley Smith - 43 5 Michael Brown -m 45 European Championship 1. Tadeusz Blazusiak - 15 2. Ian Austermuhle - 18 3. Michele Orizio -21 4. Mikka Vesterinen - 21 6 James dabill - 26 8. Michael Phillipson - 29

Youth: 1. East Yorks -21 2. South Eastern -25 3. Midland -29 4. Yorkshire -37 5. East Midland - 46 6. Northern - 54 7. North Western - 55 8. Cornwall - 57 9. Ulster -58 10. Southern - 60 Adult: 1. Yorkshire - 69 2. South Eastern - 129 3. South Western - 166 S/car ( results in car -& wife has cleared off in it) but definitely 1. East Midland and I.O.M were 3rd

I tried quite a few of the Maplins ones on my KTM 200 Enduro - but could not get enough volume - although the size and price of things was good! Best bet I have found for trials machines - are the small battery ones sold in push bikes shops for around

Agree with Nigel - always best to turn the tap around - try to remember on/off is opposite way - before you head hell for leather up a big hill! Re - repair. I usd to make a plate - to fit into inside out of metal about 3mm thick. Cut and file slot in middle to allow tap centre/filter to pass through - Drill 2 6mm holes in screw position - and then either tap 6mm - or better still braze 2 6mm nuts ontop of holes. You should now be able to attach your tap to your plate and see if everything lines up - and screws thread in correctly - use slightly longer screws. To fit plate I used to attach it to a welding rod - lightly - and then use the rod to manouvre it inside the tank - until it lined up with holes etc - I aslo made a gasket to fit on outside ( you could use O rings - but I prefer gasket and some sealer. Once lined up - insert and tighten screws - then wiggle the welding rod which will soon snap off plate - and job is done. Lately Y kave had a few problems with Gas Gas tanks - but have not tried the above on them yet - but fear it may be soon

Nice for a change not to be replieing on ACU matters. perhaps I should concentrate more on things like this. I have specialised in ecerything Bultaco for some 30 +years re - plastic tanks. Paint : Some of he guys I sell Bultaco bits for in Australia tell me that the trick is to coat the inside of the tanks with one of the resin basd products ( not sure which one - will try to find out) - that are used mainly to stop leaks. This then sort of seals the tanks - and the spray job on outside works far better. I have several of these tanks - all blue)- do not really wish to sell the good ones - but may have a few with the tap damage that Nigel reffered too. Will try to have a sort out soon ( sounds easy but we have literally tons of Bultaco spares) I too spent many an hour fixing these - and eventually came up with quite a good method. I do have one I would sell - but the idiots remedy for tap repair was to cut out a large ( and I mean large) section of the bottom of the tank. i put it to one side in case a welding technique ever came up to repair ( about 6 inch by 1 inch cut out) Will post some info when I have seen exactly what we have.