big john

Tell us more Ross! Did you set fire to Joanna Lumley's shoes then? Big John

Yip I totally agree, observers being lenient and interpreting the rules for themselves doesn't help on bit! I don't ride BTC or the SSDT, but as I'm charged (at the moment) with others to govern the sport up here in Scotland, I think I have earned the right to comment? Big John

Actually, I understand what the DBF is getting at...he has a point! One sport - One set of rules? Pity the FIM don't read this lot! Question: Is the sport of trials really a spectator sport? - It never really has been - perhaps never will! (Big John, 2012) Big John

Ken Stott will play my character in the film of my life story! Big John

There is a solution! Big John

If observers applied the "no-stop" rule correctly, fairly and across the board - you wouldn't need sections with this severity! Big John

Bottom line is this: Willing seller wants £15,000; willing buyer pays £15,000 - deal complete! How do you value such a machine? - see above Big John

I make that a five for everyone of them! Phew! Big John

Cabestany got a big shock when he didn't win in 2010, this year, Jack Challoner did not adapt well to no-stop either, a lacklustre performance in the SSDT from an otherwise very talented rider. Big John

A short History lesson! The Highland Classic Two-Day Trial originally started as a one day Pre-65 trial at Alvie Estate back in 2004. It was the brain-child of club chairman, Malcolm Smith to ensure that riders had something special to ride at Alvie, rather than just another modern bike event. Malcolm had purchased the ex-Mick Dismore James 250 (286 FON) from friend Trevor Butts, a machine which had been ridden in the SSDT in 1963, when Dismore enjoyed support from Comerfords of Thames Ditton, Surrey. Smith was keen to ride it more often and Alvie was just the place to do this. After two years of running a one day event, it was decided, after talking to competitors from south of the Scottish border and spurred on by Jock McComisky, that a two-day event would be more worthwhile. The club were keen to encourage our friends from further afield to compete on our wonderful course. Originally, there had been a Highland Two-Day Trial back in the 1950’s and early 1960’s. This event was well supported and organised then by the Highland Car & Motor Cycle Club (now the Highland Car Club). As a tribute to the original event which was once won by motorcycle dealer Tom Ellis from Ripon riding his factory supported BSA 500cc Gold Star in the mid 1950’s, it was deemed a good idea to partially resurrect the name and modify it slightly, hence the addition of the word “Classic”. As a matter of interest, Ellis put his factory BSA on the train and had it carried in the guard’s van up to Inverness railway station. In those days the event started at the Drummossie Hotel, adjacent to the old A9 trunk road and covered quite a distance from it’s Inverness base. After his winning ride, he popped the bike back on the train and went back down to his native Yorkshire. A few years ago, the trial’s format had been re-worked to attract a larger entry by opening it up from Pre-65 machines to include twin-shock machines up to 1983, before the advent of the mono-shock machinery. The club are ever grateful to owner, Mr. Jamie Williamson and factor, Mr. David Kinnear of Alvie Estates Ltd for their kind permission and assistance in allowing the trial to make use of their ground. Alvie is a hunting and activity estate and we are very lucky to be able to compete on this ground. It lies but 4 miles south of the holiday town of Aviemore which has ample varied accommodation to suit all needs and pocket. Alvie and its’ associate estate, Dalraddy, support many local businesses including a caravan and camping park along with cottages for holiday lets, pony-trekking and quad biking tours; so we have to be aware that the ground is used for other activities and not just trials. The Inverness & District club work very closely with Alvie’s owners and tenants to achieve this harmony. The course itself covers around 5-6 miles of a lap, taking in around 18 sections per lap. This is done twice on the Saturday and with some over-night adjustments, a similar two lap course on the Sunday. The going is varied with some traditional Scottish style sections in the river and some dry-land rock going, with a little variation high up on the tree lined hillside. The event is a no-stop in keeping with classic trials and most, if not all, classes are catered for. We run a dual route, with A or “Red” being aimed at twin-shock and B or “Blue” route for the Pre-65 machines and riders who don’t want too much of a challenge. The sections don’t look hard but they can be long and need sustained concentration otherwise marks can be lost. We usually aim to present the awards no later than 3.30 pm on the Sunday, allowing long distance travellers to set off home down the A9 which is only a mile from the start area. So far, the Highland Classic has been host to quite a few of our Spanish trials friends including Carlos Casas; Angel Magrina (Delay trials shop owner) regulars’ Javier Cruz of Sotobike Club, Madrid and Alicante based hotelier, Carlos Bosch as well as some trials past masters, such as Peter Salt (former Cheshire Trials Champion); Mick Wilkinson (former Greeves factory rider) and former Vulcan bomber pilot, Wing Commander (rtd), Jonathan Tye. The Inverness club have run trial events at Alvie since 1981 and we hope to be able to do so for many years to come. It is well worth the long haul up into the Scottish Highlands to ride what has become known as “The Friendliest Classic Trial in Scotland”.

Joel Corroy simply broke the rules and went the wrong way, he rode the wrong course. Apparently he hurt his knee and wanted to ride with a friend who was doing the opposite lap. It was a misunderstanding, but he accepted the exclusion and put in no protest. As for bike specification/compliance, it will be tightened up considerably in 2013, this was a warning shot by the organisers this year. Big John

I think John Collins just about covered every angle there in his comments. Debate is a good thing but it is tiring when comments come from people who were not even at the Scottish round of the BTC and of course have all the answers...NOT! Big John (aka John Moffat)

Get the word spread! Wrighty is a self-publicist anyway...he usually puts something in Trials & Motopcross News but its usually the edition that everyone misses as they are heading north to Fort Bill. I have missed the talk night for some years now, last one I was at was Bill Wilkinson and he was ace! before that I was at the one he did with Jeff Smith of BSA fame, it was excellent too. Big John

9/10 June 2012, Alvie Estate, 3 miles south of Aviemore, Highlands. Nearest Airport: - Inverness 42 miles approx from the event. As its June its the start of the summer holiday season so things can get busy, so best to book accommodation asap. Big John

Oh God, this could (and probably will) go on forever! I am beginning to realise that there is no real solution to the low entry at the British Championships. And anything that is done is going to be argued and argued and argued. I have heard talk about a special championship of invited UK riders with mega sections. OK that might suit the top ten riders in the UK, but as it's been said many times before, can clubs (and the ACU) really be bothered putting on a trial for 10 or so riders? Hmmm... I'm not so sure. Big John

I saw the photo you refered to DBF, it was posted on facebook a couple of nights ago by Alan Stay, assuming it was taken during the Sunday and not during the Saturday practice, James was being pulled out of the section by two spectators. Warning: No disrespect whatsoever to James Dabill intended: How come James didn't win the trial after cleaning 35 of the 36 sections? Answer: Because two other blokes posted scores lower than his 5! Brown on 3 and Macdonald on 4. I said earlier I would not get too embroiled in this debate or thread, but I am concerned that the ACU are coming under attack from all sides over the TSR22B - "No-stop" policy at BTC. Please remember this, the Trials & Enduro committee is staffed by volunteers, elected ones at that. They put in a lot of work over the season to make sure events happen. They have a huge responsibility, it is not an easy task. If you don't believe that, get yourself elected and try it yourself! I've also heard all the chat about breaking away from ACU to form a Trials Only organising body, hmmm... yes until the sport comes under governmental pressure and then we shall see why it is a good thing to be united with other motorcycle sports...divided we fall as they say! Big John

I do!... he rode for BSA in sidecar trials, PM me and I'll give you what information I have on him. His outfit was registered XJO 277 I think form memory. Normally "ACU Gold Stars" were awarded to British Champions, not just trial winners! Big John

Fantastic, I've been waiting for this opportunity - I'll do it! But, myself and my immediate family will own 100% of the company that will run the organisation plus the promotions company that underpins it. I will accept remuneration i.e. a salary of £50,000 per annum plus expenses plus Directors fees. I will hand pick the management team (formerly called ACU Trials Committee) and the company will formulate the rules with the assistance of importers and riders from a variety of abilities. Observers and officials will still run the clubs for no payment , staff events as before and who will subscribe to the new organisation and pay the company a management fee/subscription. Sounds like a great plan (to me anyway!) Big John (Moffat Racing Inc. - owners of UK Trialsport)

Don't know about Sheppard...Challoner, think he was in Italy, Jonathan Richardson was at the event and rode in practice but he wasn't happy with his knee which he has had operated recently so didn't ride the Sunday. Big John

Hi Baldilocks (see you in a few weeks no doubt?) Trials folk - buy bikes, clobber, helmets, parts - pay money to see trials riders perform? (err....let me think about this..no not really, main exception is Sheffield, world round at Fort William you paid, but levels were quite low and in Europe not all venues charged to get in to watch) Motocross folk - buy bikes, clobber, helmets, parts - pay money to watch them race - yes you bet, folk do every weekend! Road Racing folk - buy bikes, clobber, helmets, parts - pay money to watch them race? - you bet, folk do every weekend! Motocross/Racing = spectator based sport Trials = for enthusiasts only, don't really want to pay to get in to watch, pay grudgingly when they do and moan about the expense for weeks after. Been tried many times, usually failed over time. Motocross/racing = expensive to take part Trials = not so expensive to take part All equally enjoyed by all who do take part and are part of it. Let's all hope they all continue...hopefully we are not all banned for doing it (like fox-hunting!) Big John (I'll shut-up now!)

I'm tending to take a back seat in debates on here nowadays, but I do agree with Chewy, lets face it once and for all - trials is not going to be a real spectator sport like rallying; formula one or MotoGP, its been tried to death. Secondly, if trials bikes are not sold to participants, there will soon be no factories to support top riders, its a delicately balanced pyramid wide at the base, narrow at the top - always has been and (perhaps) always will be! Big John (oh yes, it's only my personal opinion remember!)

Personally I intend to resist the temptation of getting into a stop vs no-stop arguement, I have made my opinions known often enough and been abused in the process (ho yes, it is a sad day indeed when fellow "sportspeople" slag you off, use profain language and cast doubt on one's parentage on open websites!).. I would just like to comment however on the fantastic job Ally Morrice and his very small team did at the weekend. This event wasn't thrown together prior to last Saturday/Sunday, far from it. To get permission from the Nevis Range management and Rio Tinto Alcan is no mean feat, I know this from first hand experience. It is a fantastic place to stage a trial in this day and age, with a choice of two places to have a cup of coffee and something to eat, toilet facilities and showers for the riders on the day. No doubt there will be those who will say its too far to travel to, but hey-ho, you can't please all of the people all of the time. Other than that, I'll keep my observations, opinions and preferences to myself, well I'll reserve them for my SACU internal report on the event. So whichever your preference, be it Stop or No-Stop, I hope it works! Big John

I certainly did... PSG 565H - Dalesman Puch 4 speed 125... and Naichuff...you ran the bike in for Ernie Page prior to the ISDT at Garmisch Partenkircken, Bavaria! You stated at the time the gearing was too tall and it was geared down by a larger rear sprocket being fitted! Big John

67 entries at a British round, now you're talking! Can't wait for the practice tomorrow, best trials ground on the planet... Fort Bill here I come! The breakfast at Myrtlebank (good old Rodger) is to die for, bring it on! Big John

http://www.naturalen...esignation.aspx It's not just Lochaber that have SSSI's of course, above gives some idea as to why they are created down in Englandshire! There are restrictions placed on the landowners who can't do with their own property what they wish. http://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-nature/protected-areas/national-designations/sssis/sssi-management/ Above link for SSSI info in Scotland Big John