sparks2

Hi Does anyone know any details of the Taylor Suzuki ?? Looks to be a specially built frame. Neater than the Gaunt I would say. Regards Sparks

Hi Good post SteveM, I wouldn't disagree with anything. Woody is correct about the M198B / M199B tanks. They were different to earlier (M198A / M199A) tanks and constructed in a different way -- more welded sheets than the pressing and shaping of the earlier tanks. On mine though, the welded seams were very vulnerable to leaks and cracks, especially the seam just above the tap. Has yours been so repaired Woody ??

Presumably not riding nowadays. Would you have thought his paratroop training could have helped his riding career ?? I think it could well have.

Hillary - Great spotting again !!! Ian Haydon's mum is an 8/10 But Ian Haydon's parent's DOG is full marks !!! I think this spot (the dog that is) should be independently verified before the award of marks. Not that I doubt your word or memory, you understand. Over to the SW stalwarts. Did you know that Ian Haydon's father was a pre-war (1939 to 1945 that is) trials rider of some note. Yours, not too seriously, Sparks

Spectator spotting again :- Laurence (Sparky) Telling and Geoff Chandler in the background.

Hi Ian Haydon (with tea cosy) (and don't ask what a tea cosy is)

Look closely, it's the speedo cable. I had a new 6 speeder in 1970, a bit of a disaster area really.

I once bought an ex-Bill Yates Sprite. Does anyone know if he is still around.

Whatever happened to (ex-paratrooper) Jack Galloway

Not really, there was the Sherpa N, more a trail bike than a trials bike. The Sherpa N was developed into the Sherpa T by Anelays, SHM, Dan Shorey and no doubt others were involved in Britain and Spain. The Sherpa T was the first Spanish trials machine to be regarded as such in the UK The colour picture of Tom Ollerton at the '62 SSDT shows a Sherpa N modified and prepared for trials (as we know one day trials) but only as one off. For instance, I think it's fitted with Norton forks. But as you can see it wasn't a giant leap to the production Sherpa T a couple of years later. Regards Sparks

Charlie The reg was DOT 289D, the year was 1966, MA was riding for the Rickmans - a Metisse in scrambles and a Sherpa T in trials. In 1965 MA was still on the James. Regards Sparks

Thanks Charlie So Bulto wanted a 'Name' in the Scrambles world AND Rickman frames (hence the Bultaco Metisse) and, I believe, the early purely Bultaco scrambles frames were influenced by the Metisse design. And a 'Name' in the trials world, Sam the Man, to launch the Sherpa T. Sam the Man would work nominally full time for the Rickmans but would become a full time trials rider. Bultaco would sell lots of machines and engines for Moto-Cross and Karts. Everyones a winner, except Anelays !! Am I about right ??---------------- Thought so. Kind Regards Sparks

Woody My best guess would be that the Dommett Starmaker Cotton was supplied with those MP forks. But lets not get started on pre-65 etc etc, I'm sick of it.

We agree in some areas, Will have to agree to disagree in others.

Paul Dunkley it ain't -- sadly. Am I right in saying that Jack Anelay was a dealer from Blackburn Lancashire?? Am I right in saying that Anelay's did a lot of the development work to the Sherpa N (pre- Sherpa T) --- witness here in the 62 SSDT ?? And yet when the Sherpa T appeared in 64/65, the Rickmans were the importers and Anelays were never mentioned again and very rarely today. What's the story ?? Charlie P. must know something more. Regards Sparks

Thanks Charlie

Deryk How remiss of you - you've missed Ed Stott -- left of centre -- Ray Sayer photo

No, sorry it's a very young Geoff Chandler. What's the head and barrel on the B/W Roy Trump picture above??

Woody My best guess would be that Max King was testing the new model of Cotton for one of the weeklies and that would be in late 1966. I know, I know, 'where's the D suffix to reg number' ? I can only assume that who ever was putting the sticky numbers on ran out of space and time was pressing. Or the D suffix sticky number came unstuck and from the camera angle you just can't see the space left. I don't think, at the time, number plate snobbery had had sufficient time to develop to the extent it has today. Anyway, it could only have had a 'D' , 'E' , or 'F' suffix. That model Cotton had an interesting colour scheme - green frame, red tank. The second Domment photo shows a Starmaker powered Cotton with a suffix 'B' reg. My best guess would be that this was taken 1964 / 1965 when the bike was nearly new. The Starmaker was not a success as a trials engine. Hope this helps. Kind Regards Sparks

Woody I think most / all Cota 247 history charts (including Don Morley and all internet) now seen are basically wrong in parts. I don't think even most / all modern Spanish commentators now know the exact Montesa model sequence. I have peiced some information together because I have a collection of MCNs and MCs from the late sixties / early seventies and have been able to follow the model evolution through the contemporary photographs and dealer adverts. Also I was a Montesa operator at the time and now own one of the early 247s (Mk2) It would be nice if someone could come up with a definitive sequence / list but I don't think I have seen it yet - far from it. All the above -- subject to my opinion of course. Regards Sparks

The bike Max King is testing was the last of the Villiers powered Cottons (1967/1968). And very well regarded today. Villiers 37a engine Heavyweight MP forks

Don Smith (colour pics) is on the Mk1 Don Smith (B/W) could be on the Mk1 or Mk2 (can't quite see) Jim Morris is on a Mk5 Rappers is on the Mk 4B

Caban Dam ???

Hillary -- Great spot (if it's correct). I, personally, prefer spectator spotting to the bikes and riders, which we've seen all before anyway. And much less controversial than crankshaft balancing (you don't win any friends with that one). Deryck - less runners and riders -- more spectators, please, but no more trickery where you crop out the named watcher. Regards Sparks

Woody - I would have thought he would have been running his own top quality frame pretty early on , as a one (or two) off. A direct copy of the production frame of course. But I'm guessing.