USCRA Vintage Trials, Gunstock HN

USCRA Gunstock

Page 1 of 3

USCRA Vintage Trials Doug Hunter's report from 2003 USCRA North American Vintage Trials Championship Gunstock Recreation Area, Gilford, New Hampshire June 7, 2003

For a couple years I had been hearing great things about the new NAMU North American Vintage trials Championship held at the Gunstock Mountain ski resort near Laconia New Hampshire, at the start of the famous motorcycle week there. A big professional but fun event at a great facility seemed to be the constant theme. 2003 marked the 40th anniversary of the last road race held there on the actual roads and the United States Classic Roadracing Association (USCRA) organized a vintage roadrace on the original course for Sunday June 8th, with the classic trials now in it's third year, run nearby on Saturday with help from the New England trials club.

Ottawa area CVMG trials riders Yves Doyon (1967 Triumph Tiger Cub, lightweight vintage) Mike O'Reilly (1976 Yamaha TY-175, classic twin shock class) and myself made the scenic 6 hour drive down through the Green Mountains of Vermont and the White Mountains (also green!) of New Hampshire to the beautiful Gunstock facility. Having just sold my trusty Honda TL-250 after many years of ownership, I was committed to riding my newly completed and somewhat untried 1956 Ariel HT5 in the heavyweight (bike not rider!) vintage class. With the bike still looking pretty new and shiny, I was starting to question my decision after being asked for the fifth time, " Are you really going to ride that in the trials"?

Yves and I scouted out some sections ahead of time, just to see what was "do-able" and what lines we thought we could ride. Eight sections were laid out over a beautiful 2-mile loop. Section one was the "stadium section", a man-made area of big logs, rocks and even a teeter-tauter, offering maximum spectator appeal near the pit area and rally grounds. Section 2 was an obstacle filled gully further up the ski hill, while sections three to seven followed the local river gorge, offering a classic rocky river bed, muddy banks, with steep hill climbs and descents threading through the trees. Section 8 was at the top of a big climb up the ski hill, offering a scenic view over Lake Winnepesakie and a good workout for the smaller bikes!

Three lines were offered in each section; expert intermediate and novice. Yves, a former Quebec trials champion wished for a moment he had brought his 1980's SWM, as the (1) line expert sections were challenging for classic bikes, but finally agreed he could probably ride the intermediate (2) line. He commented that the sections were very similar to previous CMA events he had organized at Edelweiss Valley near his Wakefield P.Q. home. In fact, Yves is always impressive on the little Cub, and frequently takes it places only other experts on much newer bikes dare. Mike would also ride the #2 line with

file:///C:/Users/Doug/Documents/Articles/USCRA%20Gunstock.htm

22/11/2012

USCRA Gunstock

Page 2 of 3

the TY. I was faced with a dilemma; preserving a brand new and unproven classic pre-65 heavyweight bike vs. riding the more challenging line I probably should be on. After being asked yet again if I was "really going to ride that bike in the trials?", part of me was wished I had my trusty Honda along!

While there are numerous classes run based on machine type for overall scoring, line selection was strictly based on skill level, thus an "intermediate" rider with a rigid framed Norton would technically run the same line (2) as an intermediate early 1980's Fantic two stroke! Of course, there are so few older heavyweight bikes around that this really hasn't been an issue, and it wouldn't be this weekend either. Lining up for registration with the only other rider in my bike class, (Ron Gluck with a beautiful 1957 Matchless) it was quickly determined with the organizers that the heavyweight bikes would ride the (3) line. Cries of "cherry-picking" etc., were heard from my cohorts, but this wasn't the time or place for me to push it!

Everything was very professionally done, from the custom number plates and scorecards handed out, to the FIMtype rider's vests. A host of volunteers were there to help out, from the numerous section checkers, to the scorekeepers and other officials. The hospitality our small contingent received was incredible, with organizers and fellow riders alike genuinely glad to see us make the trip down there. After hours many new acquaintances were made around the campfire, pits, or watching indoor trials and Isle of Mann road racing on a portable TV! Several of the New England trials riders also had their modern bikes along, which they put through the paces for those in attendance Saturday after registration and the riders meeting were complete, almost on cue a light rain started and persisted through the day, tapering off to a drizzle at times. Classic trials bikes, sections and now classic trials weather!

How fitting. Different classes started at various sections in order to ease congestion. Despite the measures, with 70 odd riders, there was a substantial cue to enter some sections. However, this provided additional time to socialize with riders, answer questions about the bike and pose for pictures‌scenes I haven't experienced at a trial for a long time! More opportunity to chat and socialize arose, and amongst many others I found myself talking with roadracing star Dave Roper, slumming it with the trials crowd prior to his upcoming races!

I hooked up with Ron on the Matchless for the first loop as we represented the pre-65 (again, bikes not riders!) contingent and posed for yet more pics. The classic riverbed sections were great for the old bikes, safe yet reasonably challenging. Hearts stopped momentarily as Ron went down in a flurry of splash and steam. 5 points lost but fortunately no damage to Matchless or rider. This was definitely the place to get it right, as it was the prime spectator area along the road course, with hundreds of people out, even in the rain! With all the people around and camera flashes going off it felt more like a world trials round then a typical CVMG section trial back home with a bunch of lumpy old trials bikes (and riders!) riding through the bush! Many were amazed as Bob Manifold and Bill Hass came through on their Fantic sidecar rig, with full body English being employed by rider and passenger alike. I heard one spectator, not noticing the chair, proclaim, "that guy is riding on his buddies back"!

The untried Ariel was working pretty good, steering well, soaking up the bumps, clearing obstacles and hooking up great thanks to new Pirelli radials and two eight inch flywheels. The old 500 single was really inhaling the hills too! Re-starting was difficult for the first while, and was required at every section initially due to waiting time. Ever notice how your bike's ability to start is inversely proportional to the size of the crowd gathered? Nothing like a full-blown ski hill to help bump starting though! Still, over the course of the day starting got better and better...perhaps my improving technique and experience with the bike, or maybe the fresh motor starting to loosen up a little.

About mid-point in the event the bike suddenly started to load up and sputter. One occasion was actually in a section, causing a costly "five". Another occurrence was half way up the ski hill, conking out, instead of it's customary "snorting" up the hill, leaving me in a precarious position on the hillside for a moment! Jetting obviously still required some sorting and a pit stop revealed a very black spark plug. With a fresh plug and a little more running, things improved well enough to finish the event‌ a very satisfying feeling considering the question marks that had proceeded. Having lost seven points I probably could have ridden a more challenging line.

However, I did what I came to do, demonstrate and sort out the bike while not damaging it. Losing a tank decal to the pressure washer back home after the event was the extent of the wear and tear!

At the end of the day it was a pretty good showing for our little contingent. Yves won his class and I won mine. In other words, I beat the Matchless! Mike O'Reilly put in a great effort to finish fourth in the highly competitive intermediate classic class for the later model bikes. Monster sized gold cups were awarded along with a host of additional prizes. Mike had to ward off a bit of cup envy with his smaller award, but could take some satisfaction in that he had to beat a lot more bikes! Again, the hospitality was incredible with many great compliments and requests to bring an even bigger Canadian contingent next year. With a little luck we hope to do just that, and with an event this professional, and more importantly, fun, who can resist?

file:///C:/Users/Doug/Documents/Articles/USCRA%20Gunstock.htm

22/11/2012

USCRA Gunstock

Page 3 of 3

Last Updated: 3/10/04

file:///C:/Users/Doug/Documents/Articles/USCRA%20Gunstock.htm

22/11/2012