big john

Jimmy Girvan was into rallying in a big way, but being a local restaurant owner in Inverness, I got to know Jimmy quite well over the past 15 or so years. I have to say it was a pleasure to have met and got to know him. He was an exceptionally talented driver and a genuine person who will be missed not only in rallying circles but in the Inverness community. Big John

If you are talking about the Scott, that is an exceptional case, like the Scottish Six Days, they have one route and the old system of Red on the right and Blue on the left still applies! It's the multi-route system that is the problem. Big John (Please don't elect me for anything!)

I've already had a word (or two) with ACU committee guys in private over the last 12 months on this matter, they are for the idea of standardisation, but they need the support of the centres to make it happen...over to you guys! Don't forget the people on the ACU Trials and Enduro committee are all enthusiasts and ex-current riders, they do listen to what is going on! Big John

ATF by Castrol is fine, use 300cc for Bultaco primary chaincase. Big John

8 stone beginner...get a 200..no bigger. If the rider later craves for more power, shift up to a 250. It's like horses, you can be "over-biked". Motto: "walk before you can run". I've seen hordes of people over the years who have had big road bikes try trials on a 270 or 290 (when I was young it was always a 325cc Bultaco that went whistling past the oberver without the rider on board!) and they get mighty brassed off and quickly because the bike is too much of a handful, they end up giving up. The last thing they want to do is admit defeat, but until they have mastered the basics, a small capacity trials bike is just the job! Big John

Yes, that is the problem, in Scotland we did have a problem, too many variations with clubs doing their own thing, there was no control... it was broke and it needed a quick fix, it wasn't too popular when it was announced, but the riders wanted a simple system and one that everyone could grasp quickly. It was formulated from rider opinion gathering. For sure, there were minor teething problems with riders occassionally going off on the wrong route, then it settled down and surprisingly quite quickly and one year down the line and those problems are no longer an issue. I think there were more objections from the clubs than the riders to be honest about it. Some officials were a bit stuck in the past like: "the reds and blues on either side of the section have worked fine for as long as I can remember, why do we need to change?" The objections turned out to be false, its in place now and the riders would probably not relish a return to the old system... if it was offered. I think the ACU would like to introduce a unified marking system, but there are so many centres to gain committment from. In Scotland it was a dictatorial situation when it was introduced, harsh medicine, but it worked! Big John

It doesn't make things easier to lay out an event, but it does give the riders of differing abilities a challenge, without the need to ride a hard route or more to the point, one that is way beyond the competitors abilities. Scottish clubs have begun to follow the championship lead by replacing their existing markers with new ones as they become due for renewal. Big John

Yes the Scottish ACU does have a standardised system. Up to 4 routes can be accommodated if required. The easiest route is dropped if not required, for simplicity. Usually most events in Scotland use three routes. In order of severity: Red Route - Hardest (Premier Championship) Blue Route - Sportsman Championship slightly easier than Red Route Green Route - Clubman Championship (Standard Route for most) Yellow Route - Beginners, non-championship and Youth D - Cadets Started as an experiment in 2009, used exclusively with minor hiccups in the 2010 Scottish Championships. Scottish ACU use cards either side of the section with coloured triangles on front and same coloured circle on reverse so riders have no doubt as to which direction they should be travelling. It has worked well the past two seasons overall. Hope this helps. Big John

Always read the instructions and ingredients! I think the name is a bit of a give-away..Castor!!! Big John

Yip, looks like a rear end shunt to me! Big John

Safe Mode or Limp Mode, whatever you want to call it, is when the machine automatically shuts down to a low rpm, its basically a "get back to the van" setting having detected a malfunction. This can be caused by several situations occuring. Best person to contact on here is "Munch" who has a good working knowledge of the Cota 4RT. Big John

It wasn't big-end failure was it? Big John

I thought Maxima Castor 927 was a CASTER-based semi sythetic oil, not an ester-based full synthetic! Castrol A747 is caster-based semi-synthetic too and available in the UK from a variety of outlets and from Castrol Classic - Promapac. Big John

Like Castrol A747, caster based semi synthetic at 40:1. That's 125cc per 5 liters of fuel! Big John

As far as SACU trials are concerned, it has remained steady for the last 5 years or so, according to both the issuance of competition licences and actual entries going by the returns from clubs when they pay the insurance premiums. I cannot elaborate because the information is not made public, so it would be very wrong of me to do so. The accounts of the SACU and the ACU are available for a fee through Companies House but they are not broken down to reveal such data. It was anticipated that the "credit crunch" or recession whatever you choose to call it, would cause riders to compete "close to home" which has happened in many cases. Riders seem to prefer travelling shorter distances to events, which is fine, but it could result in venues close to large cities becoming played out over a short period of time. The SACU Trials Championship events could be better supported and it is down to the individual clubs to "set out their stall" as to the severity of these events to help attract more riders. Combining events in the future is certainly worth considering. But again that is down to the committees of the clubs to decide what they want to do. It is my personal opinion (see signature below for disclaimer!), that you must cater for the bulk of the entry, not primarily the riders at the very top of their game, it is the bulk of the entry that creates the numbers and fills the paddock area. More people on bikes... that is what it is all about! Many people think it is all down to the relevant organising body (be that SACU; ACU or AMCA) that creates such issues. The respective organising body is merely representing the affiliated clubs, it is truly down to the individual clerks of courses with the backing of the club committee, to lay out an event that caters for all, not just some, of the entrants. Most of the riders I have the pleasure of talking to at a trial will agree that they want to ride their bike on a Sunday, come home, wash the bike and their clobber and go to work on Monday morning. Taking marks off the top guys without routing a course for the lesser lights just makes for a miserable day for most and maybe a sicky on Monday morning, which is not what its all about. That's my personal view at this time. Big John (Edited for spelling)

No Willie, that was a Scottish case you stewarded at, where the rider recieved a "suspended sentence" but wasn't actually banned, the one I remember happened in England some many years ago, hit the headlines big time! Big John

Oh yes, there have been a couple, but I can't remember a fisty cuffs ban, the punch card issue was in ACU territory and I remember the culprit well, a very good rider that didn't need to alter his card, stupid mistake which has been a stigma for years! He's actually a nice guy all the same. Big John

Welcome on board. Age isn't a barrier to trials anyway! Big John

2.7mm BTDC anyone? Big John

I would have thought AMCA would have a rule book like the ACU handbook? Contact the AMCA HQ, sure they must have rules, maybe not identical to ACU, but there are probably similarities for settling disagreements? Big John

Nice one! Just go and enjoy the sport! Big John

Hi Ian, You can get info on the sacu website. http://www.sacu.co.uk/ There is a club called Perth & District, its been around for 100 years! Big John

Not bought one, I have bought two! They are perfect, straight fit, no modifications to fit 199A & 199B frames! Holes lined up perfectly! Worth the investment, proper alloy and gives much needed protection to those oh-so valuable casings! Big John

No, it was written after the Kawasaki effort, Don (D R) was developing the Fantic 156. Many of the photos feature Colin Boniface (formerly of Comerfords). Some nice shots of Bultacos in their hey-day! Big John

I can't remember selling coveralls???!!!! I remember KSI (Knobby Shop Int) They built the KSI Thumper MX bike. I remember Maurice Arden sold "Big John" boots back in the early seventies tho' I have all those books, Bernie's book as above, the Len Weed book MotorCycle Trials Techniques & Training jointly with Lane Leavitt, the one before the Bernie book which had Lane Leavitt on the cover; "Trials Riding" by Max King (several editions) Don Smith's "Ride it" and "Trials Riding". Must sell some one-day! Big John