Riding the 1935 Sidcup Sixty Trial
at the start of the run. Many thanks are due to "Jason Kluger" of "MotorSport Vision" and his valiant team for granting our unusual request. Our crazy mission was due to kick off on Sunday 28th February 2010 barring a snow storm or torrential rain and flooding! There was no snow storm when Sunday dawned although temperatures were only just above freezing. But! The torrential rain and flooding that was abundant on the day was some of the worst ever seen in Kent! All the weather reports leading up to our Sunday jaunt Q  By Dave Blanchard the going a bit on the "easy" advised people to stay at home! side, as was duly reported in the My friend and VMCC member So did we cancel? Certainly not! 1935 October 31st edition of George Smith had acquired an the "Motor Cycle" magazine. What are pre-war trials bikes for original programme plus the To keep the current public and if not for tough conditions? The rider's instruction "road book" bikes had enthusiastic riders to for the "1935 Sidcup Sixty Trial". ramblers contented only four It was this programme that gave riders would take part in this re- guide them through the worst of natures hazards, so it was all enactment. Riding the original birth to an idea to re-enact this go for a soggy, cold and very route on period machinery successful annual trial that is still muddy ride in near freezing being run today by the Sidcup & was essential! This part was temperatures. easy as we are all modern day District Motorcycle Club. We all assembled at Bob Pre-65 "Girder Fork" trials bike The 1935 event was held on Onley's Bungalow in West riders. Our leader and planner Sunday 27th October way back Kingsdown at the back of the George Smith would be on his in the days when motorcycling Brands circuit for the start of 1937 Royal Enfield 350 G2. apparel would have been a flat The Velocette expert amongst our adventure and were under cap, plus fours and a tweed way at 10:00am. Soon we us was Bob Onley riding a jacket. The organisers had to arrived at the security gate at 1946 350 MAC. Roger Beale an cope with a massive 152 riders ex-Staff-Man of Motorcycling/ the Brands Hatch main entrance. on two and three wheels. Motorcycle from the golden age The guard instructed us with a Twenty one observed sections pleasant smile and added that of British engineering would had been laid out around the ride his 1945 350 Ariel single. we must all be "stark raving Kentish lanes with a special test mad" to ride on a day such as The fourth rider was yours truly at the end of the day to decide this! We unanimously agreed Dave Blanchard piloting a 1938 any ties. The start was at the we were, but believe this is an Ariel 500 Red Hunter special, famous Brands Hatch with the "essential asset" when you are originally built by Ray Blackwell. first seven sections arranged keen motorcycle enthusiasts? After George had completed within the Brands Hatch Estates. his planning I contacted Brands We negotiated the puddles Although the event had many around the perimeter road and Hatch for permission to enter observed steep and rutted the circuit and requested access lined up at the hairpin for our climbs along the route the photo shoot. Just two pictures weather had been dry and made to the area at the back of the were taken when we realised hairpin for our photo shoot 22
