john collins

Neat reply Jimmy

Nice to have be able to have a non- ACU reply. As previously stated on most Yams there is an internal stop which prevents the shaft turning two far. However over the years I have found ( especially on mono's and TY175 ) so presume same on 250 TS -that as age takes its toll - no matter how right you think you have lined it all up and re-assembled etc very soon the k/start is back hitting the case. Many times this has happened and I have usually traced the problem to the actual k/start shaft and stop plate. The actual metal stop plate/arm - for want of a better word is actually " swaged" onto the k/start gear shaft - and this can come loose and turn slightly. If you hold the shaft carefully in the vice - with stop plate against the vice jaw - obviously with the kickstart fitted onto spline you should not be able to move shaft ? Often however you will find that you can ie the stop and shaft are " slipping" and the swage or splined way of holding the two together is not holding. This means however you set it up - after a few kicks it is all to hell. New k/start shaft is answer - although I have brazed a few with varying sucess. John Collins

As I think I may have already indicated - there are now a group of people designated to work on this in 2007 - so that hopefully we will at least make progress. I know there was a meeting last week - which was I think combined with environmental matters - as soon as I get some feedback or report I will be better placed to answer.

RE

Hi Vaughan. Will try to clear this up for you quickly. As you say - it is possible for a rider over 16 to ride as an Adult or Youth - and actually swop back and fro for different trials ( except British Solo Champ) This is really because we have no clear cut off date for a Youth - so that he gets thrown out of a particuloar Youth Champ he may be contesting on his 16th birthday - so he can actually ride as a Youth until the end of the calander year he reaches 17. So - Any Youth riding in a Youth class must adhere to all th Youth rules re - capacity and which Class Youth they are as per book. If they have passed 16 - they may choose to ride as an adult - and if they are riding as an adult - the Youth capacity class ( 125) would not have to apply. So Youth A - max 125c If same rider is over 16 and chooses to enter as an adult - yes they can ride a 250

Cannot ( or should not) add a lot on this one - as I just do not have the knowledge. I do know that the ACU did some work or ran a seminar for Clubs/Centres on this - last year I think - and I know our Centre discussed it after this. I would suggest those club members who posed the query just ask their Club/ Centre to write or email Gary Thomson, General Secretrary , ACU and ask him if he can send them details /printed dociuments that I am fairly sure were available. Possibly some other Centre Sec's reading these posts may also have them.

As I stated - I would try to give some indication of what the ACU had been involved in regarding the Bill in querstion. Dave Luscombe is employed by the ACU and part of his many tasks include dealing with Govt, Industry and local Authorities. He jhas had countless meetings with various parties including Govt ministers etc as well as numerous MP's. Lobbyst's and so on. This Bill is of course just another instance of legitimate motorcycle sport getting caught up in the ills of society so to speak. I think we all recognise that the huge influx of cheap Chinese imports sold to anyone and his dog has had a detrimental effect on us - frankly people have become fed up to the teeth with riders hare assing around everywhere and causing mayhem - and consequently we all get tared with the same brush. Anyway - enough from me. I contacted dave yesterday after readin OTF post and asked if he could send me a very brief synopsis of what the ACU were about and if they had an input into all this. There is a lot of paperwork - so bvecause time is more than a littel pressing I have merely cut and pasted the initial reply Dave has just sent me to my request. I have not opened the link to Hansard - I will leave you bods to try to make sense of all this. Will try to give more info as it is available etc - but hope this atr leat gives you some insight into the fact that then ACU are active and are trying to keep their eye on the ball John Collins Hi John Sorry not to get this too you sooner

Re - These posts. Instead of one of my lengthy replies - I will try to clear this one up fairly qickly - or at least get the correct info. It is fair I think to ask what the ACU is doing about this - or more to the point what has it been doing? - this is after all the sort of thing - where people like myself keep telling you - is so often the time and money is spent. Many of my past arguments have indicated that the ACU as Governing body should be representing our interests - and this of course costs - and this is part of where our money ( licence & registration go). It is not valid for a few bods to " assume" that the ACU has done nothing or is doing nothing. Ask by all means - make un-informed decisions helps no-one. So- I can categorically say that a lot of time and effort and meeting with poliitical bodies etc has taken place. I am sure there will have been visites to London & Gov't Rather than me trot out my same old opinion - I think it best if I get Dave Luscombe - the man at the ACU who has been extensively dealing with all this to write out a sort of diary/report of events. I have pages of it - but I think Dave will probably give us a more readable account. I have just phoned Rugby to instigate this - but find that he has crashed while riding yesterday and has gone for medical examination etc. By tomorrow - I should now the score - and if he is off work - I will personally wade through all the paperwork myself and give you an update - that is a promise - and then he can bring us all up to speed later. I am faily sure I have already seen an article somewhere - it may have been T & MX ? Anyway - I know a huge amount has gone on - I will get the details - however long it takes me. Before I sign off - as this Bill will effect all Off Road sport - including H & H, Enduro, MX etc - would it be too presumptious of me to ask anyone who rides in any events under different organisations to the ACU - what efforts they have beeen making?

It was a bit of a mod back in those days to change the 78 on airbox from one from a 75-76 which has a fixed side to the right - and a large chrome screw to remove the left hand side. The idea was to be able to quickly remove the filter should it get doused etc - and also the actual airbox has a greater capacity. You may find that in some cases when somone fits the later box they may have lopped off the original ( rather flimsy) brackets that were used to hold the 78 on panels - unless you are willing to make/weld/braze some new brackets you will not be able to revert to the original airbox/sidepanel set up - something you certainly need to consider before you powder coat the frame. If you do stick to the large 75/76 box - throw the gauze/filter in the bin - and use a filter with hose combined set up which are available from Sammy Miller and probably Dave Rehnham or even myself

I now confirm that due to the recent change by the FIM of the date of the Japanese World round - the following dates have be changed. The new dates are: June 3rd Cumberland County MCC - Alan Trophy Trial - Novogar June 10th Lighweight MCC - Colin Appleyard - British Solo Trials Champ The T & E wish to particulary thank both clubs for being so flexible and resolving a very difficult sitaution and ensuring that riders were still able to compete in these events. I hear the Alan is going to have a bumper entry - so get your entries in early ( wish I were younger)

Following concerns expressed at the recent British Trials Champ meeting where the T & E were asked to be more selective in the choice of eligible Youth riders, and also due to the fact that in 2006 there were two A Class Championships running in parallel, riders eligible for the Youth Class in the British Championship will be decided after the first 2 rounds of the 2007 A Class Youth Championship. Any Youth rider wishing to be considered and who has not already applied should do so by contacting the Trials & Enduro Committee, ACU House, Wood St, Rugby CV21 2YX. This must be done by Monday 5th March. Those who have already applied need not do so again as their details are already held on file. A list of 5 confirmed riders plus the reserves will be decided at the discretion of the Trials & Enduro Committee

As you may or may not be aware the FIM changed the date of the World Trials in Japan last week

The Alta Suzuki was produced by the Taylor family and I am fairly sure the business was situated in Swansea, S.Wales. I think I rode in a Sammy Miller round somewhere this year where someone was riding one around? I seem to think it was it was the Greensmith ? Further to the query in one of the early posts on this subject as to trials bikes made in Wales - I am sure the HRH or HJH was made in Neath - not far from start of St Davids and I am also fairly sure Rob Griffiths - the Welsh Scottish Six day stalwart may have ridden one at some time

The issue of delay is one with the handbook - and there are so many factors which vary. There is now really no point in changing the licence issue structure as it is working very well and except for the glich mentioned that some renewal forms may go astray I personally think we should leave the system well alone. I do not really know why some licence renewal forms go astray - I must say I received mine fairly early. To my shame I must also admit that my Enduro licence was not issued on my first atempt - becasuse I had filled in the form incorrectly ! Once I put that right ( I got mixed up by forgetting it was an Enduro licence I was applying for and not Trials registration) it was back within two days - so I had no problems. Incidenatally talking to the licence dept it appears that the vast vast majority of forms that have to be sent back is almost always due to the rider not getting the signature of a Club secretary?

It may worry some that it is not "cost effective" to send out card and licence together - but perhaps memories are short? Also I think a visit to your local P.Office may show you that the issue does not merit the comment " cost effective and ACU are you joking". It was only the year before last I think that the issue of licence was chaotic to say the least. Read back through these posts and you will see the complaints. People asked for it to be sorted out - that was given priority and by and large we receive our licences or registration cards quite quickly . Licences have certainly been going out for weeks - I had mine several weeks ago - surely we should not go back to holding them in a big pile ubtil the handbook is ready? The licences are produced and issued in house at Rugby. The machines, envelopes etc are an automated system - look at the envelope your renewal form comes in and then the envelope the licence comes in - as I have said a standard system - not designed to take a book The Handbook is not produced at Rugby. It is contracted out and the firm concerned obviously prints it and then it gets sent out. This is common business practuice for many firms sending out literature/ books. The handbook gets delayed - usually because of last minute changes and waiting for details from one source or another - and as the rules are finalised in Oct / Nov , after previouis season is finished etc Officials are confirmed in Nov - and then these can be added. There are always last minute changes to Championship Conditions/Regs etc. There are alwayas mistakes found in early drafts and these are corrected ( hopefully) Then we find ourselves in the season of Santa Claus - which coupled with the New Year these days seems to mean most things tend to shut down for about 2 weeks. This means that the book is printed in early January - and hopefully sent out before end of January. If this happens - I for one will be delighted - as it has been a lot later than this in years past. If we tried to couple it with the licence system, it would probably balls that up - and now it is working we would not wish to do that. It is a nusance for licence seminars etc in early Jan to have to use the 06 book, but in reality I am afraid I cannot see all the rules , regulations, Centre and Club details ( may do not appoint officials till later in year) as well as any FIM/UEM influnces that may dictate discipline changes all happening by about Aug/Sept which would be time scale needed for book to be produced before XMAS.

Sorry - should have mentioned - only Championship riders and top placed Expert riders ( as per final standings) probably got the letter. I doubt if the youth riders were written too as of course there were no final standings as the Youth element part of the BC is not a Champ and is restricted to a limited number of top Youth riders. In hindsight perhaps they should have been written too - but I have to say that in the past - there has been some opinion ( possibly daft I know) that these top youth riders should not have been included in BC - and there has been some critisiscm that it is their prescence that has influenced format somewhat ( no roadwork etc). I am fairly confident of what Alexz's and other top youth riders reply reply would have been - but I will try to make a point of speaking to Alexz and some other top youth riders before the meeting

Who the hell started all this anyway? I think it is fairly easy to see that while principles are fine - in reality one can see from just the diversity of opinion shown ( and some of that has changed fron one post to another) that it is complicated matter. Also I am afraid we tend to be looking for a simple answer to the problem and there ain't one. Someone posted that at present - Trials in the UK are strong - and this is very true. It is land issues and a whole lot of other things that are more likely to balls this up than any marking system - so we should put this into perspective. For the last few years at least we have worked with two sets of rules - there have been no real problems - I know people keep harping on about confusion - but has actually been the case? Other than for Championship events - every Club/Centre can determine what suits their riders/observers/ and particulary their venues - and choose one of the marking methods - I do not see that there is a big problem with this. Certainly total No-Stop is the system is the system I grew up with - and if I ride in a Sammy Miller or Classic trial this is the system that everyone wants - and will therefore be maintained - no problem. If organisers of events fior modern bikes wish to adopt this system - absolutely no one is stopping them and if this is what their riders want - no problem. Where it all goes pear shaped in my opinion however is when people wish to convince/influence everyone else by decrying those events who choose to run under TSR 22 - which was after all introduced when the FIM decided to move away from the " hopping & bopping - anything goes system". When the FIM decided to change back - it was not at all clear that they would remain with the system - and so in the UK - after deliberation we stayed with the TSR 22. At this time - as I have said before - the FIM were still talking about a return to full no-stop , but it appeared this would only happen if a device could be developed to take this decision away from the observer ie an electronic light to tell observer when wheel stopped. Lots of money/development went on and a device was produced. Dougie was asked at the TDN to demonstrate it - idea being that as all countries were there - and could be suitable impressed. It was about as much use as a choclate teapot - so back to the drawing board. After more development - apperently a device was perfected - and the FIM wrote to Federations - obviously including the ACU - asking that if they returned to full No-Stop in World Champ - would we consider also returning to no - stop - we relied that yes we would. Since then - to the best of my knowledge - there seems to be no desire from FIM - at present at least- to change the format they have now. Will there be change in future - your guess is as good as mine Someone asked about individuals influencing FIM - answer is really no - I think riders in WC have a chance to do this, certainly manufacturers/importers have things to say - but at end of day it is the CTR ( FIM Trials Commission that make rules - and this is correct and only way it really ever can be) And so we know that certainly for 2007 - the FIM system will be same as last year. I am afraid OTF is way off mark in determining FIM have any influence over home federation Championships - it is of no concern, responsibility or probably interest to them. Their responsibility is to set the method of marking for World and other FIM Championships. In fact the UEM could in theory have their own set of marking rules for the European - but of course they do not and mirror the FIM - which is sensible as not only are the events often on consecutive days ( that really would cause confusion !!) but also of course a feeder into the World Championship. Incidentally - in Enduro - until know there have been quite large differences including penalties between FIM and UEM Championships - and while the gap is now closer - there still will be quite a few - it has cased no real problems - but we are bringing the two closer together to try to ease the riders path into the WC However where OTF is correct is that if we wish our Brit Champ to be a feeder into the European and World - then there is a strong case for following their rules - hence the change in 2006. I have already explained in detail why it was an experimental year. I am afraid I cannot agree with the view questioning why should it have been an experiment - why not fixed ? To run a BC you need organisers - and for these organisers to adopt this system there were question marks - as some have pointed out - how would observers get on with clocks etc. To run a British Champ - you must have riders , you must also have organisers - the two go together - and so while many of the posts are quite clear in their view as to what they wish to see - if they are not actually organisers themselves - there may be things they have not thought about. This is the reason why for the BC - we consult with the organisers themselves - and always have done- at leat since I joined T & E. We have always invited riders to the meeting - frankly with the exception of a small few they have rarely attended - and this is why this year at least we have written to them to obtain their clear view. So there you have it. There is nothing wrong with the time scale of all this at all. The BC organisers know the score - and of course there are many many other things we all discuss at the meeting - not just marking. Sponsorship, promotion, practice, number of rounds to count, results etc are all on each agenda and are fully debated each year. To sum up: No- Stop trials are popular - and there are many who would like to see a return to this system for all trials - personally I beg to differ that they are " easier to observe" - but perhaps thats just me - but as a rider and observer under this system I am not at all convinced a " 5" is given for a moments stop - and the Observer is far more likey to give a 1 ( buts that another debate I know) If you accept the merits of Non Stop - but also then wish to allow the vast majority who ride Novogar and all the other Centre/Club events quite happily - and as people have said - trials are strong at present - then you cannot possibly under any logical train of thought advocate 1 set of marking rules. As far as the BC is concerned - if there is a strong case ( and if the Organisers/Observers agree) and the riders prefer it - I can see no reason why FIM rules should not be maintained . It must be wrong for those who do not organise or observe a BC to explain how difficult it is or how it could effect this or that ? At present it effects nowt but the BC. The organisers of BC know the score and are fully involved - they know what their observers want. Those who ride in it know the score - and they register for the Champ - if they wish. I just cannot for the life of me see why everyone is so worried about there being 3 sets of rules - when in all probablity the FIM one is not at present going to affect them in any shape or form ?

Always a few controversy

Risk Assessment. Ok

Apologies guy's for setting a ball rolling and then not making comments. I forgot I was off to Sheffield - and today probably like everyone else it is back to work time and trying to clear backlog of emails etc. Promise to try to make a few points about Risk Assesment in next day or two at most

I must admit to being bored. I canot believe that everything in the ACU garden is rosy - never has been- never will be - but there are so many items for discussion and debate - and yet np posts? I never came into this for an easy time - so lets get some issues going - even if I live to regret it

Thanks Bikespace - I think you speak for all of us Welsh riders. I have sent out an official ACU announcment and I have placed some words in T MX. A sad week for Welsh MotorCycle Sport

Rule at present is: To be eligible for Novogar points - A Rider must not in the past 3 years have finished in the top 10 places of the final standings of Brit Solo Champ, or won the Brit Expert Solo Champ or won Novogar Champ more than once in the previous 5 years

It is still the intention to try to be able to provide ACU members with an annual policy - which cocerd them on the road, enables them to tax bike etc. One would think it should be easy - but unfortunately it is not - especially when you start to read the small print on the policies. My own Insurance was keen enough to take my money - and assured me I would be covered when on the road part of a Trial - my policy states things a little differently. The whole thing is on going and hopefully there will be an annual policy soon - as someone else has said however the price is a big hiccup as it needs to be competative

Definitely not against riders like you being able to ride - and definately not against anyone scoring points - if they are not deemed to be ineligible because of their performance in higher Championships. We are not actually adverse there being a separate Expert Championship - this can certainly be discussed for 2008 - what we are absolutely agains however is trying to turn the Novogar into it. If I remeber - this thread started by asking about two routes - and now we are talking about it becoming an " Expert " Championship ? I retain my view that the Novogar Championship is not for this. If it is deemed there is a need for a separate Expert Championship - so be it - but it needs a lot of discussion - if only from a point of trying to squeeze even more Championship events into an already heavily overcrowded calander. It is also more valid I think if the argument is based on your point of the Experts having a separate Championship dedicated to them - but can this argument be made without a diversion off into the " marking rules" which then cloud the issue? If an exert Championship is needed - then it is needed regardles of rules. There well may be an argument - in the same way that I indicated the Clubman would be regarded as an " add on" to say the the Experts are an " add -on " to the British Championship - I could accept this argument as it may well be valid - and this should be tha starting point. What is certainly not valid is for those who do not like or agree with the current British Championship - basically because they will never accept anything other than full no-stop rules , to constantly rubbish it and decry the efforts of those who work very hard to put it on. Most of these organisers regard the British Expert Championship - as exactly that - an Expert Championship. Contrary to some views they are not just keen to run the Brit Champ for the stars - if for no other reason than many of their own Club members or riders from that area can compete in it - and others in the club can associate with them - not always the majority case in the top class if you are not from Yorkshire Certainly - in contrast to some of the piffle spouted by a few - there are usually quite a few Experts who wish to contest it - and figures show that the number of Experts who compete is on the increase - although it is accepted that they do not all contest all of the rounds. We also heard at its concept - strangley at times from people who now like to decry the Brit Champ format - that Britain should follow suit of other countries and allow our best Youth riders to compete on the Expert sections and be able to judge their performance accordingly? With a separte Expert Championship - presumably incorporating road events - this goes out the window? A few months ago I read with interest - again from a few Brit Cham knockers - and without making comment myself - how the current British Championship would never get TV coverage ? I also read with interest how the ACU needs to promote Trials etc. After a little work - and yet more time by a few of us - TV coverage took place at the last Brit Champ round - and I hope for more of same in future. I have not yet been able to find the post from the people who deemed it would never happen stating the they may have been wrong. If we are honest - we know that the number of riders who contest the top class of the Brit Solo Champ will be limited - no question - and not particular to just our sport. If we are honest we have to admit that it needs the Expert Championship as part of it. If we are honest - we must remeber that the current Brit Champ was also seen as a way of giving those who intended to contest the World and UEM events a first step on the ladder - and certainly some of the Youth and Expert riders have moved up the ladder. It has to be admitted however that equally quite a few move down - but is this not the way in all sports? Would the Champ run in its present format just catering for the Champ class - almost certainly not - again back to the numbers game - and again not particular to our sport. So - if we wish to harp on about how bad the Brit Champ is - and if we wish those who would like to see its demise so they can get their way - be default in my opinion - fine - this could well hapen - for I know for sure many of the Organisers are sick to their back teeth of the critisicm and carping of a few. All this can be done - but let none of us have the hypocrisy to think we are doing it for the overall good of the sport other than for our own ends.