steve fracy

Very cool! A nice find for sure! I bet the motor is spectacular.... I got to ride a bike that was left in the US in 87 that was ridden by Mr. Saunders. Aluminum sub-frame and motor was much better than stock. Can imagine that the bike you have there is very nice!

Well I can only really speak on behalf of the Fantic 300 as i worked for Fantic in the US. At that time in period, it was considerably heavier that the bike it replaced, the 240. As we were inching towards monoshock bikes back then, in fact Fantic team riders were competing on this bike against guys on Yam 250 monos, it was a huge dis-advantage. Not to mention that I have now owned a 240, then a 300, and now a 200. I can honestly compare all of them. Although slightly underpowered, but very capable with a little clutch work, the 200 has the best geomotry and is by far the lightest and easiest to ride. I should have clarified....obviously light when compared to pre 65 bikes and such, but, much heavier than other bikes of there era that were made a few years before....

Wow! possibly the two heaviest trials bikes ever made.......and someone who is from a town just an hour north of me! Nice!

Actually the biggest difference about my bike in the mud versus modern, it has real fenders, especially the front one and no mud gets on the motor!

Great event Hugh! Most fun I have had riding in years....thanks for your efforts! Cheers, steve

Well, decided to ride my little 156 Fantic for only the 4th time since getting it in our last club trial of the year! Decided to jump up a class from the usual vintage and ride the Sr. Intermediate lines for the challenge and to be able to ride with two of my good buddies! The p****** down rain changed the sections after the first loop and made them pretty challenging on a modern bike! My two good buddies usually battle it out in that class for the win, and we had a very fun time. I was blown away with the bike, and how well it worked. I had never ridden it in mud before. Just felt so comfortable all day on it. A couple sections on the last loop were so slippery that my mates did not even get through them... I have owned a 240, then a 300 and now the little 156. To be honest, it has taken me till now to really appreciate this bike. It has by far the best geometry of all three. At times I have thought it to be underpowered a bit, but in reality it just needs to be ridden a bit different and it works amazing. It is so light for a vintage bike and suspension works great. Was chuffed to have loop scores of 2-5-0 for a total of 7 to take the win against all the modern bikes! Something special about having that much fun on a bike that was built in 1982!

Also, the Enduro tire is THE best....can get one as soft as a trials tire. Dont last too long though!

We have had a set on my son's bike for couple months now....Goldentyre sponsored for 2014. These tires are made in Italy! thus the reason for TTT to be involved too. The rear Gecko is a good tire. Different than Michelin. Stiffer side walls, knobs seem a tad taller, and very soft! Lower pressure recommended. The sidewall certainly does break in a bit after a few rides. Other thing with both the trial and enduro tires we have used, easiest tire I have ever mounted. They come shipped with cardboard spreaders inside which help keep the tire the shape it will be when mounted and I didnt have to use any foam mounting mouse or anything for that matter, just inflate. Only downfall is that we in Canada seem to have received a bad batch, and some of the rears start to have some serious cracking all the way around the sidewall. Goldentyre here is looking after a new batch. It grips well, and yes way cheaper here than Michelin which just went way up in price!

Thanks for your enthusiasm Micheal! In my opinion as I have stated to you, there is only one path. We are too big a country and too small of a sport to have any fragmentation.

That is correct! AC Delco Dextron VI. But the new Amsoil super shift is just as good if not better.

have you tried going to the website www.discountramps.com ?? I'm just over in Victoria and they shipped right to my door, very reasonable. I have a double bike rack, but the singles are very nice too. A few people around here have them. Steve

If this is true, I could see something like this coming.....in Rally cars, they restriced size of engines, In Dakar they did the same. F1 racing also had to start with some restrictions too. Its all in a ploy to level the playing field. We will see what happens

We have been using D6 for two years with very good results. Now using Amsoil super shift which is their equivalent to that product, and works as good or better!

There IS a big shakeup in trials in Canada in motion. More announcements ARE on the way, so as the CMA is the only official sanctioning body recognized by the FIM, that is news. I have received more well wishes after this appointment than I ever expected, and it has shown me that there is still a motivation by the riders to be united. In the next week, the members of the committee will be announced and it will be clear that all involved are the most experienced and motivated people for the job.

Can anyone tell me what the discussion at the NATC meeting was about the implementation of No stop rules, to fall in line with what the FIM is doing? steve

We have just received and now tested in a trials, the new Goldentyre Gecko trials tire and quite impressed. Knobs are a bit taller and softer than others, sidewall is similar to Dunlop. Give em a try, They about $100 cheaper than a Michelin here.

The amount of damage that a 4wd ATV can do to the environment is astounding too! Keep trying to educate people though, its the only way to distingquish ourselves from all " dirtbikers".

Would be greate PR for your club and the sport to carry a Go-pro to film all of it and put something on Youtube! Good luck in helping out!

Where in BC are you?

Chuck: Your comments are spot on, and in my opinion apply to all the classes, except Pro. Wish I knew Playwithgravity's name so I dont have to use that handle to address you. I agree with you to a certain point too, but, Pro is Pro and sometimes an organizer does not get it ALL right. It happens in WTC still too....its really just the way it goes sometimes! Entries being down is a worldwide epidemic, not exclusive to the NATC Nationals. Its NOT because the sections are too hard, I think its much more complex than that. Steve

Lots of great points guys! with the Pro class, that's a tough one. While attending my first Nationals since the early 90's this year, I was really shocked at the small entry in the Pro class, but very impressed with all of the riders who rode it. Its a far cry from the years when I rode, and to be in the top 10 was considered good! ( sorry for sounding like an old man....but I am one now!) If you are a rider, and you are riding the Pro class, this means that you are considered the elite of your country. It might also mean that you have aspirations to go ride in Europe ( like Bryan and Karl) . You have to expect and demand that the top class is at least helping you build the skills necessary to hold your own in a World Round. NATC has always followed FIM in order to keep in line there ( not opening up the latest can of worms either with no stop rule). So now its a catch 22 situation with being able to get enoughriders back in the Pro class with slightly easier sections,and be able to challenge the top guys too! Thing is, the same things is going on everywhere, even in World Rounds. The top 5 or so are another level above the rest....entries are down from historical numbers. Wish I had the answers, but one thing for sure, we all volunteer our time effort and $$$$ because we love the sport!

In case you wondered Dabster....he's ignoring you!

One of the most unique and fun events in North America. ONe that should be on every trials riders bucket list! I am very proud of my Ute Cup rugs.....and a clean day on day earning best performance on Sunday!

I will agree with that!