SPORTING ACTION FROM WET WALES AND DRY SCOTLAND NDISSUE
DIRTb bike e CLASSIC
Forty-three Summer 2017
#43
Macdonald M d ld th the e First! Fi t!
MAART’S BEThEEZER he third
STAR WARS Suspension
La ampkin C15
CHENEY GOLD Sandiford’s
grows
Triumph
CLASSIC Telford tops DIRT BIKE SHOW W the lot AN HOUR WITH...
PLUS
...SWEDISH SWEDISH LEGEND LEG OLLE PETTERSEN
CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE SHOW // TECH TALK // MONTESA COTA // HUSQVARNA HAPPENING
IN BALANCE
A momentous occasion It is the aim of all trials riders to go clean…
… and record the perfect score, of course the better the rider then the more chance there is of this happening. As I was busily writing this column or, to be more correct sitting staring at the computer screen and wondering what I could write about, news came in of Dougie Lampkin equalling Gordon Jackson’s ‘one dab’ win in the SSDT. Immediately the focus of this issue’s column changed and the similarities between the two ‘one dab’ wins became apparent. First off, though the event has evolved considerably since Jackson’s win in 1961, it is still a long, tough event in 2017. It may not start and finish in Edinburgh anymore and those who rode in the days when it did may make comment about how short the trial is now. Don’t forget, though, the Scottish was considerably longer than its contemporary trials in 1961 and as all trials are shorter these days the Scottish of 2017 is still longer than any other trial. The terrain too is still the unforgiving highlands of Scotland, which can catch out modern riders just as easily as it did 56 years ago… or indeed any year from the event’s inception in 1909. Yes, we know the majority of even works prepared machines in Jackson’s era were not that far removed from their roadster stablemates and in these days of ultraspecial single purpose machines there are no road equivalents. To view sections of more than half a century ago with modern eyes and motorcycles is unfair, as in their day those sections were the top test of a rider then, as are modern sections today. Though the British factories had a roadster
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range to publicise and wanted their top man mounted and winning on something which at least resembled a road bike from their range, AMC did concede the sport was changing and had allowed their comp department to build a bike to Gordon’s taste and needs. The Vertigo which Dougie rides was conceived solely as a trials bike, there’s no – to my knowledge at least – Vertigo Cruiser or Kneedown sports bike. Okay, the riders, both Lampkin and Jackson are multi-winners of the Scottish – four for Gordon and an incredible 11 for Dougie – and at the time of their win neither was in the first flush of youthful ability. Gordon for instance would soon retire from top line two-wheeled sport in favour of his farm and the odd-ball sport of car trials. Dougie on the other hand seems to be powering away despite being over 40 and there is little sign of him retiring. If anything, this almostclean Scottish is more than likely to fire him up for next year as he came so close to a completely clear run in 2017. Though Gordon went on to make his indelible mark in car trials when his twowheeled career was over, he had also competed in scrambling and enduros for AMC, though modestly claiming to be more of a trials rider than anything else he was certainly good enough to win at all three disciplines. Dougie Lampkin doesn’t restrict himself to the feet-up side of the sport either, as he is a noted extreme enduro rider and has recently completed a nonstop wheelie around the Isle of Man race course… all 37 and a bit miles of it. Just to backtrack slightly to this car trials
lark, in case you didn’t know, the sport has similarities to the two- and three-wheeled version we’re familiar with. There is a course, with a varied terrain and it is divided into sections where spindly, lightweight machines attempt a clean run through. Marking differs as there is little chance to dab with your foot in a car so the section markers are graded, rather like graded hill climbs in two-wheeled trials, the markers passed depict the driver’s score. The skills required to take a car around a trials course are quite similar to those needed to take a motorcycle round and centre on weight distribution and finding grip. These are the skills Messrs Jackson and Lampkin have in bucketfuls so maybe there’s a challenge for Dougie… Okay, back on to motorcycle sport. Riding kit for the two lads has changed a bit and while a flat cap, Barbour suit – its pockets bulging with tools and spares – and possibly ex-fire service boots was the trials rider’s chosen wear for Jackson and his contemporaries in 2017, even Pre-65 riders wear more modern gear. It seems as though every rider these days has a back-pack stuffed with all sorts of tools and equipment, plus a water carrier for essential hydration. It is possible the waxed cotton generations would have appreciated the drinks carrier… however there is one final similarity between Gordon and Dougie’s one dab win…both dabs were caught on camera and it remains to be seen if the ‘Lampkin Dab’ becomes as famous as the late Peter Howdle’s shot of the ‘Jackson Dab’ on Grey Mare’s Ridge high above Kinlochleven in 1961.
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If anything, this almost-clean Scottish is more than likely to fire him up for next year as he came so close to a completely clear run in 2017
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Copyright Mortons Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher.
Tim Britton Member of the Periodical Publishers Association
Independent publishers since 1885
Contents
Features
03 In Balance
40 Subscribe! Subscribe! Subscribe!
10 The winner…
06 News, views and reviews
52 Dicko’s view
27 Husky happening
71 ’Cross words
34 Long travel time
The fluid and volatile world of dirt bikes is food for thought as the editor looks back 56 years as Dougie Lampkin equals Gordon Jackson’s one mark win.
Our regular look at what’s happening in the off-road world, events to go to, series updates.
16 Original and unrestored
Sometimes a bike just manages to survive in an untouched state as events surrounding the owner mean they don’t use it in anger – such is this 310 Cota.
18 You need…
...a sidecar trials bike in your life, yes you do, you may not realise it but you do and this is where we tell you why. Feel free to disagree.
22 Super profile
The world yelled ‘lightweight’ the British said ‘Cheney dear boy’ and created a legend in ISDT, we look at the ex-Jim Sandiford 504cc ISDT Gold Medal winner.
Events 54 Sporting world
From a gaggle of SWMs in Wales, through the best of Stafford show to the ultimate Pre-65 trial in Scotland… CDB is out there.
62 The Classic Dirt Bike Show
We were at Telford with the best of the classic, twinshock and Evo world on display, with bits and bobs and bikes and blokes too, oh and a dinner as well.
How to 44 King of the IT crowd
Assembly progresses as a problem is solved and more information comes the editor’s way.
48 Dirt Products
Got something to help the off-road world go faster, keep their feet up longer or remain more on time in an enduro? Tell us, we’ll put it in this bit.
50 Tech Talk
We know your bike should be reliable before starting the event but what happens if there’s an incident? That’s when you need your ‘on bike’ tools.
As CDB is subscription only in the UK you’ve either subscribed, nicked a mate’s copy or seen us at a show. If it’s one of the latter two… subscribe here.
More from the all encompassing eye of one of the off-road world’s most senior journalists, always thought-provoking, always interesting… what says you?
An arch scrambles enthusiast suddenly notices some off-road riders go slower than others and don’t put their feet down as much, it’s called trials riding Ian.
72 Dirt Talk
What’re you talking about in the CDB world? All sorts of things as it happens, bring it on we say.
82 Moto memories
It’s 1972, the Japanese have arrived and MX is shooting up a gear. Roger DeCoster is in the ascendency at Suzuki and showing he’s a winner.
…or one of them at least. Liston Bell won the Pre-65 part of our classic scrambles championship, John McCrink went to see him.
A slight tweak to our archive bit this issue as Norm DeWitt went Husqvarna crazy and infected us too, great meet, great bikes.
For years scramblers had only a few inches of suspension travel at either end of their bikes… then came long travel and the world moved on.
On the cover 67 An hour…
…with Olle Petterssen. To be at your height in racing and the factory say ‘you know what? Don’t need you’ could be a downer, but not for Swedish legend Olle Petterssen.
74 Mart’s Beezer
Youngest of the Lampkin brothers, Martin began his competition career in 1967 on a C15 similar to those used by his elder siblings Arthur and Alan.
For more than 30 years it has been the aim of a Scottish rider to win the Pre-65 Scottish. It nearly happened last year but Gary Macdonald has done it in 2017. The lad from Kinlochleven kept his cool and took the top spot. CDB were on hand to get his Bantam for a feature – see the next issue.
On the contents page Take a selection of Eighties SWMs, a bunch of riders determined to enjoy them and some dampish scenery in Wales… yes it’s the Old Knobblies on tour. See our sport feature for more.
News 6
DIRTNews
Oh so close… When Gordon Jackson took a steadying prod as he ascended Greymare’s Ridge in the 1961 SSDT, little did he realise the ‘one dab’ win would be a record which stood unequalled, let alone beaten, for 56 years. Fast forward to 2017 when current superstar Dougie Lampkin set off from Fort William in this year’s SSDT. Dougie, a previous winner – as indeed was his dad Martin and uncles Arthur and Alan – was one of the favourites to win. However, Lampkin is not one to be fazed by pressure and as day one ended he had gone clean, the story was repeated on days two, three, four and five… surely the 56-year-old record was to be beaten this year as Dougie Lampkin looked to be on track for a completely ‘clean’ Scottish. Day Six though and Lampkin needed a steadying prod in a section on Mamore on his way to his 11th SSDT win. We suspect he will return in 2018 fired up to go clean.
Editor: Tim Britton cdbeditor@mortons.co.uk 01507 529289
Circulation manager: Steve O’Hara
Columnists: Ian Berry, John Dickinson
Marketing manager: Charlotte Park
Contributors: Norm DeWitt, Birger Tommos, John McCrink
Commercial director: Nigel Hole
Production editor: Sarah Wilkinson Senior designer: Kelvin Clements Designer: Libby Fincham Publisher: Tim Hartley Photographers: Fiona Watson, Nick Nicholls Collection, Bill McKeown, Terry Goode Picture desk: Jonathan Schofield, Paul Fincham Advertising representative: Helen Martin HRMartin@Mortons.co.uk 01507 529574
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Publishing director: Dan Savage
Archive enquiries: Jane Skayman jskayman@mortons.co.uk 01507 529423 Editorial address PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ. General queries and back issues 01507 529529 24hr answerphone help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk
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Issue 43, 2017
ISBN 978-1 1-9 909128-8 87-3 3
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CLASSIC DIRT BIKE (ISBN:978-1-909128-87-3) is published quarterly by Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ UK . USA subscriptions are $50 per year from Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. Periodical Postage is paid at Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Postmaster: Send address changes to CLASSIC DIRT BIKEw, c/o Motorsport Publications LLC, 7164 Cty Rd N #441, Bancroft WI 54921. 715-572-4595 chris@classicbikebooks.com
Bultaco Nostalg gia
Westmorland Motor Club’s Bultaco orientated Nostalgia Trial on June 17, 2017 is gathering pace. As well as a number of trials stars associated with the Bultaco marque – Yrjo Vesterinen and Charles Coutard to name two – also over will be Oriol Bulto who as well as being a talented rider, was team manager for Bultaco’s sporting achievements in their glory years. UK riders aren’t forgotten at the event, to be held at Sedbergh, Cumbria, as representing the Lampkin family will be James Lampkin who will be on his dad Alan’s works Bultaco, being prepped for the event as we go to press. James will be riding for Cancer Research in memory of his late uncle Martin – first world trials champion. Anyone wishing
to ride under the Lampkin banner can and all funds will go to Cancer Research. Latest news to squeak out of Westmorland is very tasty indeed, on the Sunday morning there will be an interview session with all the guests, conducted by John Moffat, then afterwards three-times world champion Yrjo Vesterinen will host a teaching session on the sections used in the trial. There will be a concours competition for all sorts of bikes, though likely the accent will be on competition machines. Earlier in the week there will be a nostalgia road run hosted by Pete Remmington for pre74 bikes mainly, for details call 07891 076320. For information on the trial, call Mike Rapley 07788 161929.
Power station powerhouse News items arrive via many different ways, email is by far the biggest provider, then there’s the phone and of course traditional letter post still works, but just occasionally things are handed over personally. Graeme Hogg did just such a thing at the Pre-65 Scottish a few weeks ago. Graeme is on the hunt for a bike he built in 1978 while working in the atomic energy industry. The Cumbrian lad had it in his head to build a motocross bike as a one-off, just to see if he could, and what a great job he did of it. The resultant machine – using a Greeves QUB engine and a cantilever frame of his own design – was featured in the weekly press of the day and Graeme wonders if it’s still out there, maybe tucked away in a shed somewhere?
Cumberland County Motorcycle Club are holding the first Northern Classic Experts Trial at Newcastleton on August 13, 2017. There will be two routes – expert and clubman – and no entries on the day. Secretary of the meeting is Roger Kenyon roger.kenyon@yahoo.co.uk There will be free camping in Newcastleton village and live music at the Grapes Inn on Saturday night after the charity fun trial.
Veloce catalogue g Veloce Publishing is noted for its automotive and motorcycling books and here at CDB we’ve reviewed a fair few of them over the years. There’s even one in our product pages this issue. Along with it they sent a 136-page catalogue with a rundown of all their current titles. For Luddites such as the editor who much prefer a paper publication to this web lark, the catalogue is great. Visit www.velocebooks.co.uk to view their titles and maybe order a catalogue.
Offensive behaviour If you know of it, or can shed light on what happened to it after Graeme moved on, then please let us know and we’ll pass the information on to him.
ECMO 2017 Emma Deer tells us the three-round ECMO European Classic Championship is under way and the first round – May 5, 2017 in the Czech Republic – has already happened. The
Northern Classic Experts Trial
next rounds are in quick succession and are as follows: Round 2 – 03/06/2017 – Germany Round 3 – 17/06/2017 – Netherlands
A recent item in the ACU magazine highlighted incidents of offensive behaviour to observers by some elements in the trials world. Quite rightly so, the ACU – and no doubt other governing bodies in our sport – take a dim view of this behaviour. The situation is covered under ACU Standing regulations in the handbook and penalties are there for those who do act offensively. There is no excuse for being rude or abusive to volunteers, without whom our sport could not run.
News 8
CDB Classic Championship Words and pics Andy Withers at AW Sportsphoto
The Classic Dirt Bike sponsored AMCA British Classic Motocross Championship got off to a cracking start at Yatton Keynall near Bath on April 23. The Pre-65 and Pre-74 classes were run as one race which produced close racing throughout, particularly in race one. Kris Winder on his 250cc Elsinore Honda won both Pre-74 races after battling with 2016 Pre-65 champion Liston Bell riding a Triumph Metisse who took both Pre-65 races. Tim Dallaway, the 2016 Pre-74 champion changed classes to the Pre-65 on his
ex-Roger Neale Triumph Metisse but his challenge was hampered by a misfire however he did claim Pre-65 second places. Glenn Davey on his CZ claimed third overall as runner-up last year Lewis Bell lost his chain twice in race one to restrict his scoring. In Pre-74s, Winder pulled out a big lead in race two but was chased home by a host of CZs in the hands of Keith Rice, Keith Best, Andy Stanton and John Littler. The series is set up for some exciting battles in Pre-65 between Bell and Dallaway, and in Pre-74 between Winder and the CZs. The next round is on May 14 at Acorns Newcastle Under Lyme.
Kris Winder in action
Results PRE-65 Liston Bell (600 Triumph Metisse) 20+20 = 40 Tim Dallaway (500 Triumph Metisse) 17+17 = 34 PRE-74 Kris Winder (250 Honda Elsinore) 20+20 = 40 Keith Best (380 CZ) 15+13 = 28
9
Team Bell 10
Anatomy Words: John McCrink Pictures: John McCrink and Eric Miles
65 part of our What does it take to win the Pre -6 sponsored scrambles series? John McCrink investigates.
First you need a bike...
of a winner
Team Bell 12
Then you need a rider and a track...
W
hen Liston Bell won the Scottish Classic Racing Motorcycle Club’s Pre-65 Over 350cc Scrambles Championship back in 2011, everyone agreed that the lad could really ride a bike. However, two particular onlookers who had watched his progress with interest were none other than the late John Bethell and Malcolm Bell. These two guys knew an awful lot about the classic scrambles scene across the UK and both agreed that Liston really should venture south of Hadrian's Wall and try his luck against the cream of not only English scramblers but the Welsh boys as well. He had already made a big impression at meetings in Cumbria and achieved some excellent results at that most demanding of circuits and the spiritual home of British scrambling, namely Hawkstone Park in Shropshire. But what John and Malcolm really had in mind was that Liston and his young brother Lewis should have a real go at the increasingly popular and hugely competitive British Classic Scrambles Championship, started a few years back by Dave Gittins. It wasn't until 2013 that Liston competed in the championship proper and what a first season it was with him finishing a creditable
second. He did exactly the same again in 2014 mounted as usual on a real man’s machine, a rip-snorting 750 Triumph Metisse no less! Hoping for third time lucky, 2015 was actually less successful due to machine problems and some bad luck as well but he still managed to finish a respectable fourth overall in the championship. 2016 was the real defining year for Liston in the British Championships but we’ll get to that later. Liston is a modest, quiet and unassuming lad who likes to do his talking on the track. To see him on the big Metisse at full pelt is a joy to watch. The rorty sound of that massive 750cc Triumph Twin on full song is nothing short of music to the ears of all classic scrambles fans. Incredibly, in spite of all that horse-power available to him, Liston still seems to be trying to squeeze that wee bit more out of the motor whenever he can. So-called experts have always reckoned that a big twin is no use on a wet, muddy track, well nobody bothered to tell Liston. From what I've seen, both spectating and being passed by him (several times) in practice, he’s even quicker in the wet! Some of his controlled slides are great to witness and the uncontrolled ones even better! Perhaps the best compliment I can pay young Liston is to compare him to fellow Triumph Metisse
rider, elder statesman, scrambles legend, three times Classic European Champion and maestro himself Terry ‘TC’ Challinor. Perhaps Liston’s natural ability on a bike is ‘in the genes’ as they say. After all, his dad Mike is a very able scrambler and both his grandfathers Ian Bell and Willie Dalling were most accomplished competitors in trials and scrambles. Indeed, Ian was multi Scottish Scrambles Champion in the Fifties and carried on competing late into life. Willie did the same and chalked up numerous trials and scrambles wins over many, years. So with such a pedigree in the family it’s little wonder that Liston and his younger brother Lewis feel that they’ve got a lot to live up to. Early in 2016, Liston’s bike was being made ready for another attack on the British Championships in the hope that he could go that little bit further and actually clinch the title. The bike wasn’t being prepped by himself but by Lewis no less, not only his mechanic but one of his closest rivals for the championship itself. This must surely be a great example of true brotherly love when you’re prepared as Lewis is to make one of your nearest rival’s engines as quick and reliable as possible. Mind you, to watch the brothers racing each other out on the track, it’s pretty obvious that they are both hugely