charlie prescott

Hi Guy's Be as you guy's seem to want to know for sure if the Sprite was before the silly date or not. I have just sent a mail off to the man himself for a answer. So if Frank returns the mail with a Date that will be it, end of story has they say. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's, Well this is the last bike that Chris built, and only finished a couple of months ago. VIBSA (3). And what a credit to his workmanship, it is!! Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's, Hi OTF, You never know you could be right,(i will have to get the information to confirm this though)!!!! -17 it must be cold in Derbyshire? only -6 here. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Vibsa Collection (2). This is the second VIBSA that Chris built. Note BSa D3 frames. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. I have just had a PM from Jonah, to confirm that the statment I made last about "Sprites" Was corect. I must say it is brilliant news that I can now contact,Jonah, (and I will), And I might add that I am so pleased that Chris Leighfield, was able to get in touch with Jonah before his sad passing, as they were best mates and travling companions in the sixties. any more information I get i will pass on. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Vibsa Collection. I will have to put them on one at a time as file is to big. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Chris has lost his long 14 year battle with cancer and sadly passed away yesterday. Out thoughts are with his wife and daughter Sarah, who has kept me informed over the last few weeks since Chris was unable to mail me, has he did on a regular basis. Chris was one of the stars of Midlands

Hi Guy's, Hi Trevor. If you are making a new GF tank, use Crystic 199pa resin or similar and the tank should then be OK. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's, Hi Monty Jon. Not having a go at you!! But there always has been this doubt about when the kits were available to the public. The one for sale in the add, Could have been a bike built up with a frame for assessment by Comerfords, or one of the modified Cottons, with Sprite badges, but there really is no proof. It really does not matter to me, as you know what I think of the Pre 65 argument!! PS, Have just picked up a Motor Cycle dated 20 April 1967, to check that I spelt Comerfords right, and there is a 1964 Sprite 500 scrambler listed, and a 1965 Sprite scrambler, also a 1959 Ariel HT 500, price

Hi Guy's. You could always ask Frank?? I have is e-mail address!! Denis Jones, rode a Cotton with modification up and till the Scottish of 1965. And he was the Sprite Works,Trials rider at the time!! Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Hi Greeves. Look what you are saying has nothing to do with what we are trying to push forward! And reading through it most of it is wrong anyway,but I am not going to get draw into this. You are just one,of the people that can not see the wood for the trees. You have your opinion, and I have mine. But which one of us is trying to promote and sustain the British trials bike scene, by trying something new, before it is to late, and all British trials bikes die along with us. If we can't get new blood into the sport, and this could be the way??? Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's, Hi Will. Welcome to TC. I have finished the frame work for the Kendell replica sidecar, to fit to the Ariel HS frame, has I am building that up as a replica of the outfit that Dan Shorey and myself used to ride. But I have a BSA, frame C15T WD type, and have pulled the seat tubes in, this frame is now redundant has I have pinched the WD B40 motor for another project. So what sprung to mind was to put a chair onto this, has I am building up a 300cc BSA engine unit, and this would make a good test bed. So any information about 70-80 ies type chair's dimensions ETC would be more than welcome, Will. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's, Look most of you guy's seem to be missing the point entirely! The idea of a British Twin-Shock class , is not trying to step on the toes,of the so called Pre65 bikes, far from it, if you want to build a bike for this class,and have the funds,(because most will want to build them "Trick") good luck to you. And I for one have no intentions of not building another one of these,(engineering marvels) because I will? why? because I love engineering, and fortunately have the skill to carry out most tasks to build one of these bikes. But most people who would love to own and ride one of these bikes, just do not have the Skill,money, and especially time, and the facilities to build such a bike. So what I thought was lets make the task of owning a "Brit-Shock" bike simpler! and affordable, with someone who has the adequate skill to build a bike up at home for this class, and it wont cost a fortune. So you glean the parts from e-Bay etc, local bike scrap yards, and ask your mates if they have any spare bits lying around. First off buy a British engine that is suitable, then a frame, that will fit the bill,then a set of Spanish,Italian or Japanese,forks with a front hub to suit, would seem like the best bet. Something like a Pit bike rear hub would suffice, if you could not find a Cub-Bantam one to hand. or better still a complete wheel from a trials bike.A tank that looked British would be best, a seat you could make yourself, (I made one out of plywood in the sixties), The rest of the bits you would have to get as you could afford them from someone like Trials-Bits. When the bike was finished you could enter one of these new Brit-Shock classes, without any fear of ridicule. and have a right old time with your mates, on a Sunday morning. This was the idea and nothing more sinister. Regards Charlie. PS, you now have one of these trials to enter if you wish!!!

Hi Guy's It has been suggested to me this afternoon, that the only ruling for a "British Twin Shock" would be, that the engine was British, and the brakes were single leading drums, and it had two rear shock-units. and was fitted with trials tyres, and that would be the only ruling for the class. I think it is a bit drastic, I would add "Keeping it looking British",with a sensible seat height, but,if these four rules only applied it would solve the problem to the class in one. The bike would not be trying to be Pre65. It was also suggested that this would help clubs sort out the classes to put bikes in better, as at the present it is just a nightmare. There will be a "Brit-Shock" class at the Classic Trials Show this year, for just such bikes, and the sections will be "Easy" for this class. (if I have my way), and you enter? (The same bike ruling as last year will be applied to the rest of the classes) Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's. Can I say more?? You decide!! Jack--- Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Hi OTF,Woody, For a minute I thought that was "Barry and Alan" doing the backing music!!! not, Steve Gibbons Band, "Ridin on a BSA" 1981 which it was, ay Pitley, Edit Band Name, Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's, Hi Totalshell, Look I did this exercise last year,Just take a look at "Otter On The Cheap", on my web site. www.bsaotter.com And you will see it does not work out like that. The only thing I may have got down slightly cheaper was the engine unit, but there again I know this is a good unit, and if I had to build one out of bits it would cost at least as much. The Bantam you have put on, from E-bay, will probably go for

Hi Guy's Even the picture of Neils bike is old hat(like the coments Greeves). I think you will find the bike is a lot more "Trick" now. We know it will be a fight because people Don't want to except change, But do we want the sport to GROW or DIE????? This Brit-Shock class we are promoting is only one way that people on a low budget can get into the sport sencibly. A few encouraging words from the ACU-AMCA would not come amiss?? Regards Charlie

Hi Guy's. Seriously.Brit-Shocks is the way to go. With the sort of format we are suggesting. This will only help to encourage new blood into the Classic British scene. If you can put together a bike cheaper using the parts suggested, turn up to a trial, and enjoy the ride on the bike you have put together without any hassle,riding along side similar machines, of similar build you would be encouraged to turn up at the next event. No doubt you would see improvement's that could be made to your machine, and you would in time probably make these! or not! but it would be up to you. And you would not have the pressure of trying to find another trial within a sensible traveling distance,who would except your bike for what it is! and not stick you in the "specials class" along with all the trick bikes? This is if a Brit-Shock class was universally excepted. It is time to make a stand for this consideration ,don't you think?? Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's This is what we mean. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's, Hi Greeves, We are not saying if you want to build a bike back up to how it came out of a British factory, there is anything wrong with that, I have done it myself. But really what we are saying is,that there should be an alternative to,what is mostly built and named Pre65 because most of these bikes, are modern engineering marvels ducking under this tab.these bikes should not be labeled Pre65 because they are not!! Putting them aside for a minute, If someone wants to build a bike with the parts we are suggesting to make a bike that is basically British, But using other parts that are available a lot more cheaply than the billet parts,etc and do not hide parts that we all know are there, and has cost a lot of money to hide. They should be allowed to compete on these "Brit-Shock" bikes without the stigma,of being told [You cant ride that mate them forks are not allowed] ETC. Just because the guy who built the bike has not got a bottomless pocket. Do you see where we are coming from? Edit Spelling! Regards Charlie.

Hi Guys, OTF, I totally agree what you say about forks, I was just trying to clear a point up why I have 38mm forks in my rules, this would only be allowed with standard movement, and not motoX, enduro,8" movement forks. But I see your point this would open up a new ball game. And I agree every thing should be done to keep the cost down on a build, if you have just not got money to burn and want to build a Brit-Shock to ride. Same goes for the stupid yokes argument, does it matter where the clamp bolts are???. As I have said, Just build the bike up so that it looks "British" in most parts, as for rims they have always been mostly foreign from when we started using alloy rims, and valanced are more expensive now. And we know all the trick bikes use tubeless rims, so why bother what anyone uses as long, as it keeps the tyre-tire on. Although they are frowned upon in some circles.(Why)? I still think that If you want to build a decent Fourstroke Brit-Shock bike up a "Otter" framed bike is the best bet and you can build one to the formula that OTF has started for around about £2000, has I have proved. And it could be cheaper if you could get a good BSA or Triumph engine for less than £1000 or rebuild it your self. (I did build my own frame though for this build)Faber frame I think about £585. Let's Just get out there and RIDE!! ((if you can). edit! forgot words. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Hi OTF. Nice one, at least I have someone on my side at last. It Should be "British Twin-Shocks", from now on then, and roughly the formula that you have started. I only included 38mm fork legs as Max in my rules, as If you need a cheap pair of forks for a bike classed as, before that dreaded date, you can pop 38mm fork tubes straight into Norton sliders. did'nt you realise that?? Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's Hi Jon, Thanks for that mate, if you bump into either of them ask for me, I would like to know. Regards Charlie.

Hi Guy's, Makers pointing in, a good idea. What you seem to be missing (Tree Wood senario) is the obvious way to finance new markers for a club in this modern world!!It is to get a sponsor's name put onto these, little objects, every photo of every machine would have the sponsor's name on it somewhere, agreed? You used to see Dunlop on every thing at one time. Regards Charlie.