charlie prescott

Hi Guy's. Hi Deryk and Spen.. I have put a page up on my website "The Works Ariel Colt trials bike". With the help of the Ariel Owners magazine of 2000, And we now know there was a page in ORR about the machine too. Nov-Dec 1993? Deryk I will look. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Deryk the frame used on the Geoff bike was a lot lighter than an HT, and not the same shape, but probably had the same angles. BSA Forks and wheels. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Hi Spen. Geoff Duke had a Factory one, there was a write up in one of the Ariel owners club Magazines. I will see if I can find it and put it onto my web site with a page about it. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Spen , Wraggs of Sheffield, were the long time sponsor of "Moon Eyes" John Cooper, first on BSA Goldie engined bikes, and then Manx Norton's. from 1960 to 1966. including the TT. Being a BSA dealer at the time would mean that they would have probably had trials riders they would have been helping to,and the local clubs. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Hi Pete. Is there an entry list? I have looked on the Stratford MCC web site and nothing? I would like a route map too, or am I being greedy in this day and age of Communication? Thanks for your information Pete anyway. Regards Charlie ~Oo>

Hi Guy's Hi Andy. I have known people use Lamb Castrating rubber rings. ~Oo>

Hi Guy's. Bob and I are looking for the whereabouts of any information regarding ELstar Trials bikes of the sixties. Bob has one to restore and I have a ELstar page on my site that I would like to update with as much History on the breed that I can lay my hands on. What we do know that there is only a very few still about, well Bob has one and that is it. We know Steve Wilson rode one at the time before he built his own trials frames,and later became more famous for building some of the very first in this country BMX frames. And our friend "Classic Rider 444" rode one of the first. Is Steve still with us? I know he is said to have moved to Cornwall? Well Guy's any information would be better than nothing, Bob wants to rebuild his bike like it was in the first place, and I need more history for you guys to use when I am gone! So it is down to you. Regards ~Oo>

Hi Guy's. Hi Mark. This looks like one of those "Hens-Teeth" situations. Has I said the K7C was in fact the Cotswold scrambler and not the trials bike which was K7T, and although Bill Lomas fitted Hydraulic damped forks onto his works bike from 1950, the production James trials never had damped forks until 1955. Most people fitted BSA forks to there James trials bike and I remember Bob Cooper doing just that on his works James at one point. The James trials forks were reinforced with an "H" section between the yokes to stop them twisting, but I don't think it helped that much. I tried fitting"Teledraulic" forks to my James at the time, but made the big mistake of trying to use the yokes as well, no good at all, the Billet boys of today would have solved the problem. So you see where this type of modification started. I will update my site on the Don Morley page with any other information I come up with. Regards ~Oo>

Hi Guy's Hi Jc2. Look thanks for that, So there is like you say more than one in OZ. I would still like the story of the Faber framed one and some pictures if your friend has time to send them me ,on the "Otter" site. And I am sure Howard would also be interested. Thanks again Good Work. Regards ~Oo>

Hi Guy's. Hi Jc2. Ally Clift always told me there was a Foster "Otter' that went to Australia , And I also remember the late Chris Leighfield talking to me about one. But at the time it just passed me by. I would love a photo of that bike and any other information about it. Good Work thanks. another myth broken. Regards ~Oo>

Hi Guy's. Hi Will, Harry Foster , was one of those guy's that left this planet to early. He would not describe himself as anything but was meticulous at any thing he did. I am only glad that I have been able to bring a bit of recognition to the work he carried out putting his interpretation into the forward thinking and simple design for a trials frame to achieve a winning formula, started by Scott Ellis and his father, then aptly improved and adapted by Harry Foster, and also given a name that has stood the test of time , that is the "Otter". The frame and Harry Foster in my mind are "Legends". Regards ~Oo>

Hi Guy's. Hi Deryk. I have just found out you were right, It was Tom Seward that had the first BSA engined Foster "Otter" and he lived and still does in Trethurgy in Cornwall near the Eden Project. A book has been written about Trethurgy using photos and cuttings that Tom and his wife saved over the years and Mabel his wife helped write the book. Tom was also one of the founding members of the Cornwall Branch Vintage MCC and there 50 th anniversary was last year 2015. Still need all the information I can get about "Otter" trials bikes Old and New. Regards ~Oo>

Hi Guy's. Hi OTF. Back in the eighties this was known as the "Kit Car syndrome". Mind you every other garage had one in, but not many were ever finished. Perhaps a Drayton is an easier option, and to be honest, Jim's grim look has turned into a smile. Regards ~Oo>

Hi Guy's. The age thing is not a problem. If you look most of the riders in the trial were Forty somethings. which is good because it means that most of them grew up when there fathers were still owners of the bikes we love. "Made In Britain". But they only ride in this one trial and for the rest of the year ride modern machines or do something else like perhaps a professional stunt man for instance, and only borrow a British bike for this one event. If we did not have clubs like the BMCA and a few more in Yorkshire ETC. the sport would be forgotten about until this time next year. Most of the best British bikes are just left in storage for there owners that have earn't a bob or two to look at them now and again . but they will never see the light of day again unless we have a simple class to encourage them back out into the playing field. History is a bore to most younger folk's, but most of then don't know what they are missing, until it is to late. Get out an Ariel HT and a Bultaco Sherpa and a Gas Gas. blast them up an hill and see which gets the most interest. Regards ~Oo>

Hi Guy's. Hi Deryk. I think "OTF" is still the holder of that trophy. But "Old Age has taken its toll, and he seems to have mellowed very well. But would give a young upstart a run for his money any day. Regards ~Oo>

Hi Guy's What gets me about Guy Martin, is like Deryk says his persistence to carry a Job through. That trial must be gruelling and hard with all of those rocks and this "Our Guy", Broke nearly every bone in his body last year. Well Quote:"well theres fractures in your spine, your sternums broken , this is broke that is broke, asking about his hand with bones stuck up. A Metacarpal was broken. and that had to be pinned. Back injuries were the worst with T4 to T9 vertebrae broken so locked with metal rod as was the hand. ribs also had gone. and this was last August 2015. And you know what he has done so far this year, and what he has still to do. "Our Guy" wants more than a medal, and should be the Spirit for us all to follow how hard the going. Well Done. Best Regards Charlie ~Oo>

Hi Guy's. Hi Andy. Have you seen the amount of work we have had to do for the Rio games then? Every thing has a knock on effect. Regards ~Oo>

Hi Guy's. There may not have been a film crew with Guy Martin. But any mention in any press will help the cause, And by golly we need it. But I am sure there will be a chapter in his next years book about the ride, and this is where the general public get a taste of the situation. And Just Like "Odgies" book, anything Guy Martin writes in a book you have got to read it to the end. Anyway Well done to all of those who competed and don't forget Richard Vockins charity. Best Regards ~Oo>

Hi Guy's. Hi Andy, When you doing the wall of death then? (or the 2000 mile bike ride) Publicity mate and we need it big time. Good luck all of you. Kind Regards ~Oo>

Hi Guy's. Thanks Rich, Looking forward to the Information and I bet Jim will be pleased. Good Cause mate, bin there. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Rich. The video is now on BSA Otter 2016 News page . We could do with a bit of history about the bike? I have just done a page on Jim Susans "Noriel" Builds and you are in the right area. contact me please. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Hi OTF. Just for you I have updated the "British Rival" page on my web site, with a load of pickies of said bike. Enjoy. ~Oo> Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Oh for the simple days when it was all about making progress, one dab, one point, two dabs or as many as you needed, three points and if the front wheel spindle stopped moving forwards, five. Sections had as many routes through them as you could find, you'd make your own decision which part you thought would be the best bit to get you through, no flags of various colours pinning you in. Walking the section and picking the route you deemed the best, learning from the better riders what would afford you the best grip..... it was the best of times. You are so right. Charlie ~Oo>

Hi Guy's. Hi TRF, Do you recon the "Kyffin Sapphire" "Red Rose" Trials. could be the New Drayton Bantam? I bet it would ride better than a "James". Regards Charlie. PS and the forks would be cheaper. ~Oo>

Hi Guy's Hi TRF. There must have been that one! but like you say how many were built or sold? And did they have only one machine on the stand at the "Big" motorcycle show? Deryk the Trials bike frame as TRF says looked very much like a Bultaco copy , And even the forks look like they are leading axle of some nondescript type Enfield perhaps? It was another of the case of the Villiers 37A motors running out I think, because the bike looked very ridable apart from the tank. But all prototype "British" Two strokes that came out of the woodwork at the time seemed to have bulbous GF fuel tanks without any style. But most were quickly changed to one with more style. Good Fun this delving lark. You should see how Roger got the Triumph engines until Triumph twigged what was happening. Regards Charlie.