Not an Ariel this time, but Alan Morewood riding solo, this time in the Ilkley Grand National, a Scott-type trial.
It has been mentioned in another post about a film in Yorkshire where there were deep bogs - well here is Alan 'sampling' just such a bog in that actual event, this is the Derncombe Bog, and the offroadarchive photograph was taken by Barry Robinson.
Enjoy.
That's an old photo. Looks like his Villiers engined bantam.
Yes that's correct. Think it was 75. It was the last year it started at the cattle market in Edinburgh. Yes he then purchased it off Ray and that's the bike in the photo.
It's not the full SSDT as he has a normal card number on and in that era it was metal number boards with a black background and yellow numbers. Definitely the pre 65 SSDT prior to 1985
OTF, i would say Peak classic trials venues are hard to compare with the pre 65 scottish sections plus Davy has ridden in the ssdt for years as well as the pre 65, I hope he has kept his feet on the pegs today too. If he can win his dad will be very proud!
Steve,
F
He's kept his feet up again today so at last he's won it after a few near misses.
Yes Dad is very proud. Just need Adam to have a stormer at biketrial national tomorrow now and that will make it a mega weekend.
What do Tone Bou, Albert Cabestany, Jeroni Fajardo & Takahishi Fujinami have in common?
Well apart from being top world trials riders they all made there name in winning world biketrial championships before they moved to the motorized variety.
They have managed to transfer the skills they learnt on a bicycle with balance and hopping onto the motorbikes with great success.
In both Spain and Japan the sport of biketrials is big and is bringing new riders through all the time for a future on the World trials circuit.
Britain has a small dedicated biketrial following and maybe can do the same in future being a stepping stone into motorbike trials.
Currently we have three biketrial world champions with Jack Carthy, Charlie Rolls and Adam Morewood and who knows whether any of these will transfer the skills and be the next Toni Bou.
The final Tyketrial club event is this weekend, 6th November, at Branshaw Quarry, Oakworth, Near Keighley. Why not go along to see the three world champions and the other competitors or dig out your bicycle and helmet and have a go yourself. Entries can be taken on the day but the organizers would be most grateful if you get in touch prior to the event.
It got changed from a monocoque to a traditional tubular frame.
Even though the swinging arm pivot was same axis as the gearbox shaft giving consistant chain tension I remember a tensioner was still added as it seemed to make the bike smoother on low revs as it kept the tension more consistant.
My brother rode it in an A & B natioanl at Brimham rocks. Must of been about 1981.
The gearbox was the best. 4 gears + high and low ratio giving a total of 8.
Was great for those sections where you thought 'I need second and a half' select 2nd gear & high ratio and bingo!
The problem is in the east midland centre is that the club running 4 trials in 1 month is running approx 22 trials next year, it may be more. The people that run the club are also the permit secretaries for the centre. The trouble is with the centre is that it covers a vast area and each area has its own set of riders as such. Many riders would travel from Derbyshire to Lincolnshire regularly to compete and vice versa but the trouble is is that there are far too many trials on. Surely it would be better to have a 3 lap 15 section trial with 15 observers and 100 riders than 5 clubs having 5 trials each with 20 riders and 2 observers each resulting in riders having to observe themselves. It isnt a case of having the product that people want whatsoever. I know that peak classic and midland classic clubs cater for the old bikes. No problem but they dont cater for anybody else other than old bikes. The clubs that are in question are the clubs that cater for everybody and not just old bikes so I dont see that Old trials fanatics view is very relevant at all. The fact of the matter is that in the centre there could be 5 trials running on the same day within 20 miles of each other. If this is limited and everybody gets a fair bite at the cherry then its more fair. After all, trials is never going to make any money, its a participant sport not a business although some seem to see it as a business!
Have to agree with you there.
It would be better to have less events and then allow clubs to run 'quality' trials with a full quota of officials.
As for the Old Trials Fanatic statement of give the riders what they want then the rule will go someway towards that.
Presently clubs cannot get a good date when all officials are available and it doesn't clash with nationals that the good centre riders go to as certain clubs 'own' certain dates in the calender and run 12+ events per year.
Make it fair for all clubs.
It would be impossible for a new club to start and get any dates at all unless they specifically catered for a specific class such as pre65 / twinshock only.
Who are the current sidecar Champs in UK. Is there a World Champ series in either the UK or Europe ?
Anyone have any footage of current worlds best in action.
Current British Champions are Jon Tuck / Matt Sparkes (Beta).
There isn't a world or european championship at present. For a few years in the 90's there was an FIM Coupe that was always won by riders from the UK.
I think 1996 was last time it was run and Robin Luscombe won it & me and my wife were secend.
Last time we rode in France was about 3 or 4 years ago and the Pernoud brothers on the Sherco in the video were our closest rivals but I think we loast abour 20 & they were on about 50.
Most riders in the british championship do the front wheel hopping, it's not that difficult.
Sidecar trials in the UK is still alive and kicking.
We have a nine round British Championship with four difernet classes Expert, Master, Clubmen & newcomer.
Approx 50 different crews have competed in the championship this season and the Manx 2 Day you mention on the Isle of Man gets an entry of 40 every year!
Ariels In Scotland
in SSDT Chat
Posted
That's an old photo. Looks like his Villiers engined bantam.