Issuu

• MOTORCYCLE • CYCLE • SIDE-CAR • CLASSIC • COMPETITION • FEATURES • www.trialmaguk.com

Issue

PRE-65

SSDT LEGEND

ULF KARLSON 1988 SHIRT JNR SUMMER 2018 Issue 25 • UK: £6.25

OPPORTUNITY

LEGEND

PRE-65

FLASHBACK

SSDT 1978 1978 JOHN HULME FIRST TIME SSDT

FLASHBACK

FIRST TIME

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Picture: Ulf Karlson (Montesa-SWE), 1978 SSDT Credit: The Nick Nicholls Collection at Mortons Archive

Cover Photo: John Shirt Jnr (Honda-GBR) 1988 SSDT Picture Credit: Eric Kitchen © 2018 CJ Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication, even partially, may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publishers. All copyright of images/content remains that of its photographer/author. Every effort has been made to gain permission to publish copyright material however, where efforts have been exhausted, we have published on the basis of ‘Fair Use’ to comment factual based material where by its use is not central or plays a significant part to the entire publication but to act as an aid for historical and educational purposes only. This publication is offered as a limited print run. Great care is taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of this publication, but neither CJ Publishing Ltd or the editor can be held responsible for its contents. The views expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the Publishers. Documents submitted for publication will not be returned. The editor reserves the right to modify documents accepted for publication.

contents REGULARS News �� 6 Editorial �� 8 Paddock �� 10 Shopping �� 14 Subscribe �� 46 Poster �� 49 Shop �� 60 Back Issue �� 88 Parts Locator �� 90

FEATURES Traditional �� 16 Pre-65 SSDT

Classic Competition �� 24 1978 SSDT

Opportunity �� 36 John Shirt Jnr

Legend �� 54 Ulf Karlson

Profile �� 62 The Lucketts

Sport �� 74 Kia Championship

International �� 80 1978 World Championship

My First Time �� 86 SSDT John Hulme

Executive Director: Philippe Benhamou

Photographers: Barry Robinson , Malcolm Carling, John Shirt Snr, Colin Bullock, Cyrille Barthe, Eric Kitchen, Alan Vines, Toon van de Vliet, Mauri/Fontsere Collection and the Giulio Mauri Copyright, The Nick Nicholls Collection at Mortons Archive, Don Morley, Motorcyle News.

Editor: John Hulme, england@trialmag.com

Advertising Manager: Lisa Reeves, lisa@trialmag.com

Editorial Staff: Jean Caillou, Matthew Heppleston, Heath Brindley, Justyn Norek Snr, Justyn Norek Jnr, Nick Shield.

Proof reading: Jane Hulme, Davina Brooke

Mail order: www.trialmaguk.com, www.trialmag.com

Webmaster: Heath Brindley, www.trialmaguk.com

CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY CJ PUBLISHING LIMITED 48 Albion Road, New Mills, High Peak, Derbyshire, SK22 3EX. UK Telephone: 01663 749163 Email: england@trialmag.com CJ Publishing Limited is a Company Registered in England Number: 5947718

Co-Managing Directors: John Hulme and Charles Benhamou

ISSN: 2049-307X

Design and Production: Dean Cook, The Magazine Production Company Printing: Buxtons Press

NEWS

JEFF SMITH: TRIALS MASTER, MOTORCROSS MAESTRO

Ian Berry's much anticipated official biography of motorcycling legend Jeff Smith, which includes more than 390 pictures illustrating the life and times of this off-road legend, was released at the Telford Show in February where the man himself was happy to sign books. At approximately 470 pages this massive bio features Jeff's story from his early years in Lancashire, through his learning phase riding his father’s motorcycle on WWII rationed petrol, to his meteoric rise within the British and European trials and motocross professional ranks. After leaving BSA in the early 1970s he continued his association with motorcycles via Can-Am and AHRMA and remains to this day an avid motorcyclist, engineer and mechanic. Price: £60 + P&P. The book is available on: www.amazon.co.uk

TELFORD 2018: HAGON SHOCKS Thousands of off-road fans descended on Telford’s International Centre for the Classic Dirt Bike Show sponsored by Hagon Shocks for Europe’s largest classic off-road event. The halls were filled to the rafters with some of the very best off-road machines from numerous clubs and private restorations while the outside autojumble focused on off-road sport was also busy. The star guests – Gerrit Wolsink, Colin Dommett, Peter Duke and Alf Hagon – caused a stir as they spoke about their career exploits on stage with Jack Burnicle. Jeff Smith MBE also made the transatlantic journey to sign copies of his new book at the show. The coveted Best in Show prize was awarded to a stunning 1969 Jawa 420 motocross bike owned by Bill Henson. Other weekend winners included a 1967 250 Greeves Anglian, which won Best Trials, and the Westmorland Motor Club, who won the Best Club Stand. Event planner Andy Catton said: “The standard of machines on display during both days of the annual show was again excellent. I would like to thank everyone who attended the show including all our traders, guests, exhibitors and our loyal sponsor, Hagon Shocks, who brought an impeccable Dave Cooper collection of historic Hagon bikes!”

LEVEN VALLEY TWO DAY TRIAL 2018 The recently reformed Kinlochleven & District Motor Cycle Club – affiliated to the Scottish ACU – were proud to announce a new event to take place in autumn 2018. The event, entitled the Leven Valley Two Day Trial, will take place on the weekend of September 29th & 30th based around the Highland village of Kinlochleven. Catering for Pre-65 and Twin-Shock motorcycles, the entry limit of 180 riders was filled within the first week of the entry forms being made available. Based on the fact that there has been a healthy demand for an event to cater for the above-mentioned machines the club had asked locally about the idea of the event, which was met with resounding support from local landowners, businesses and agencies to organise the event on their ground. The event will encompass areas such as the Mamore Road and onwards to Loch Eilde. The course will be completely offroad using estate roads, paths and open countryside. Competitors’ machines do not have to be road legal. John Hulme – Classic Trial Magazine: “This is fantastic news for this superb area in the Highlands which has such a strong sporting heritage associated with motorcycle trials. I remember first visiting the area in 1977 for the Scottish Six Days Trial watching my heroes Mick Andrews and Martin Lampkin, who won on his Bultaco, and I have been coming back for over forty years such is the attraction. We will be attending the event to give it the coverage in the magazine it deserves; a new event in the calendar. Imagine re-living a ‘golden’ era for motorcycle trials, as that is what it’s aimed to replicate”. Check out the club’s website for current information: www.kinlochlevenmcc.co.uk

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07761408060 CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE 2018 • ISSUE 25

TRIALS GURU JOHN MOFFAT

The main man, Jeff Smith.

Telford Show title sponsor Hagon celebrated 60 years of trading in 2018. Ian Berry and Jeff Smith sign the new book.

John Lampkin on his father’s BSA Gold Star.

BLETHERING WITH FOLK

The early part of the calendar is usually taken up by going to various motorcycle shows. It’s the precursor to the sporting season and isn’t a new phenomenon, and it’s good to meet up with old friends when you have a bit of time to chat and talk about motorcycles. The Telford OffRoad show is definitely the number one for those enthusiasts who are interested in scrambling and trials, be that twinshock or Pre-65. A couple of years ago my old friend Alan Wright sold the Telford show rights to Morton’s Media and the tongues started wagging that it wouldn’t ever be the same. How wrong they were! Wrighty was retained in a consultancy role, and

that made sure that the tradition was maintained. I have to say that I wouldn’t miss Telford, although I rarely see all that the show has to offer as I am usually blethering with folk and miss quite a lot, when I think about it. But does it matter? Not a jot, how else would I get information for my website and meet up with friends in the sport? Morton’s have thankfully held on to the ‘spirit’ of Telford and resisted the temptation to alter it to include more racing exhibits as the clientele is very much offroad enthusiasts. Change that and then the spirit would have a different flavour! I was very fortunate to purchase a copy of Ian Berry’s fantastic biography of Jeff Smith. I had been conversing with Ian

for a couple of years on social media and Telford gave me the opportunity to meet him in person, and I think we hit it off really well. We both have a lot in common, we both like motorcycles especially scrambles and trials; what could be better than that? We also write a lot about the people who competed, Ian about scrambles and motocross and myself on trials. Oh yes, almost forgot, I also met Jeff Smith, had my copy of the limited edition book autographed by the man himself and met his daughter Chris, who is herself a motorcyclist and has a great knowledge of the sport. Motorcycle shows? Yes, they sure do have their place, and pre-season they get everyone in the mood.

CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE 2018 • ISSUE 25

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CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE 2018 • ISSUE 25

TRADITIONAL PRE-65 SCOTTISH

MY RIDE

Mike Rapley

CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE 2018 â€¢ ISSUE 25

TRADITIONAL PRE-65 SCOTTISH

It was the afternoon of April 30th, 2016, at the conclusion of the Scottish Pre-65 Trial at Kinlochleven, where I was chatting with my good trialing friend Tony Swidenbank who had just completed the trial on his Drayton Bantam. "It's your seventieth next year isn't it?" said Swinny, "you should be riding this trial, so how about if you put in an entry and you can ride my Cub as a birthday present?" That seemed a pretty good idea, so come the following October when the regulations and entry forms became available I slipped up to Kendal to take pictures of his very smart Cub and duly sent off my entry form — only to learn that I failed to make it through the ballot. Twelve months later exactly the same scenario was played out, "It's your seventy-first next year, blah de blah de blah", but come October, I thought can I really be bothered to go through all that palaver just to ride a trial? — and it is a palaver, what with all the special requirements needed to simply send off an entry. No other trial in the world demands such a performance, so I really couldn't be bothered. Pictures: Eric Kitchen and Yoomee

ome a very late November, when 'Swinny' says "have you entered it yet?", which pushed me into getting my act together and I duly sent off the entry with just a few days left before entries closed. Convinced I would never make it through the ballot, I thought no more about it until I was driving home from my last ACU Committee Meeting at Rugby when the phone rang just as I was at a service station having stopped for fuel. It was Tony, "I'm going to have to get this Cub fettled for you now aren't I!" "What on earth are you on about?" says I, "Well now that you're in the Pre-65 you'll need to have a couple of rides before to get used to it" he said.

Delighted

I have to say I was delighted with the news as I finished my journey back home just a few days before Christmas and less than three weeks before my 71st birthday. So seven weeks before the Pre-65 at Kinlochleven was due to take place, I took delivery of Tony's very smart machine and rode it in the Poacher's Bag Trial in Lincolnshire. It's hardly the best venue of woods and tight turns to prepare for the big rocky streams of Scotland, but hey, with 55 years of trialling experience any ride is good enough to get the feel of a strange machine! I didn't ride it well but did thoroughly enjoy the event, and then just two weeks before the trip up to Scotland I rode again in a Yorkshire Classic Big Bike Trial in which other Pre65 machines could compete, and went round clean. On to Scotland, and here's where it all goes wrong. Scrutineering — no problem. Riders' parade — no problem. The first section, a big five, simply out of touch with the machine; but at least the first five is out of the way, and I followed it up with three very tidy cleans on what were quite difficult sections, which took me to the bottom of Pipeline. I walk the hill, doing the usual bit of chit-chat, and return to my bike to join the queue, then when it comes to my turn next to ride the machine simply will not start. Half an hour later, having exhausted every option open to me on the hill, having been given lots of help by Paul Baddeley, there was no other option but to return down the hill to the car park.

It's Dead

Back in the car park two Dutch guys offered help and encouragement as we tried to locate the reason for no spark. The tank was off, spark plugs were tried, plug cap removed, side case removed; but it was totally dead. Somebody suggested that I go and see Albert Bergada, who, I confess, I didn't know

CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE 2018 • ISSUE 25

from Adam, but then I'm not a Pre-65 aficionado. What a wonderful guy! He's a Spanish enthusiast who apparently goes to all the big classic trials with a van full of everything and anything that the Pre-65 scene riders might need. He immediately set to work on the machine, checking and testing everything, only to declare it was dead. Yes, I know! "So do you want me to make it go?" Albert dived into his van and produced an entire PVL ignition system for a Cub and proceeded to remove the old one and fitted the new. Obviously the job took him some time, and all I could do was hang around like a spare *****, as my engineering knowledge is, to say the least, limited! However, the Cub did eventually fire back into life and I was able to complete the second loop of the day, having had to forego the Blackwater loop. Shame that! At this point let me say that all was not yet over. Hot, sweaty, agitated, overweight, unfit — I was never going to be a star that afternoon. If there was a hole to fall into, I fell into it. If there was a slippery rock to take a dab on, I used it and took it. The new ignition was too advanced and to start it every time took dozens of kicks, which made my dodgy right knee look like a swollen melon — and as it was a bit like riding a cruise missile my abuse of the clutch, holding it in check, overheated it which resulted in me and the Triumph being stranded down by the loch-side and having to push it to a stream to kick water over it to cool it down! Then the swinging arm nut obviously took a disliking to me, preferring to spend the rest of its life nestling in the Scottish bracken somewhere.

Time to Call it a Day

Despite my well-known enthusiasm for motorcycling in general, and trials riding in particular, I have to say that I had experienced enough for my twelfth Pre-65 Scottish and reluctantly decided to call it a day, preferring instead to mount my e-bike on Saturday morning with friends and ride the Mamore Road to see the Callert sections. I sincerely thank Tony for the loan of his precious steed and to Albert for his enthusiasm, knowledge, ability and van full of Pre-65 bits to enable those of us who ride such events to be able to carry on when all else appears to have failed. I know that I failed miserably and on reflection perhaps should have retarded the ignition on Saturday morning, found a nut for the swinging arm and taken a gallop round Saturday's much easier course. But hey, it's only a trial, there's plenty more to come, but maybe not a Pre-65 in Scotland. Getting through the ballot was the first step, which proved to be the easy bit!

FLASHBACK 1978 SSDT

Lampkin's well-earned treble

If you ever put the late great Martin Lampkin in a difficult situation on a motorcycle, you could guarantee you had a fight on your hands if you were chasing a victory. Never, ever one to give in, he made his 1978 Scottish one very much to be remembered. Winning the 1975 FIM World Championship on the Bultaco had given him a whole new world of self-belief, and you could tell. The SSDT adventure had started in 1967 with the Best Newcomer award on the BSA but the elusive first victory would have to wait until 1976, and then again in 1977 when he destroyed the opposition. His winning score in 1976 had been 37 marks lost, and in 1977, 27 marks lost with Malcolm Rathmell next on 57 and Nigel Birkett on 60. The event's severity was about to change in 1978 as you are about to find out. Yes, Lampkin still won but parted with 99 marks lost! Words: John Hulme and Morton's Archive â€˘ Pictures: Andy Gregory, The Nick Nicholls Collection at Morton's Archive, Iain Lawrie and Yoomee Archive

he 1978 FIM World Championship battle was at its height as Martin Lampkin and the reigning champion from 1976 and 1977 Yrjo Vesterinen were treating it like a world heavyweight boxing match! Both Vesterinen, from Finland, and Great Britain's Martin Lampkin were Bultaco factory riders. At the opening two rounds in Northern Ireland and Great Britain Vesterinen had won and taken a small advantage from his British rival. Lampkin had come fighting back with a win in Belgium before taking second place behind the American Bernie Schreiber in France. It was now time for a break in the championship, with neither Vesterinen nor Schreiber at the Scottish; would Lampkin have enough in reserve to take another win?

CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE 2018 â€˘ ISSUE 25

FLASHBACK 1978 SSDT

Mick Andrews (Ossa): Starting the week looking very much a winner, the change from his regular Yamaha to the Ossa must have affected his riding. Never one to complain he welcomed his friend Martin Lampkin as the third member, along with Hugh Viney, to the exclusive club of three consecutive SSDT winners.

DAY 1 Sections: 34; Mileage: 85; Daily Award: Mick Andrews (Ossa), 5.

Rob Edwards (Montesa): One of the first riders to congratulate Martin Lampkin on his win; he knew he had been beaten by a better rider. Having finished second in 1970 it was another case of so close but so far for the Montesa man. John Reynolds (SWM): This was a superb result for John. SWM were very new to the trials world but his machine never missed a beat all week, and it was a jubilant Cliff Holden who shook the hands of his young star.

Having won the SSDT from 1970-1972 for Ossa before his move to Yamaha which gave the first wins for a Japanese manufacturer in 1975 and 1975 Mick Andrews would make his attempt for victory back on an Ossa in 1978. On a day when he did very little wrong and was the sole rider to part with no marks on the difficult Callart Falls' eight hazards 'Magical' Mick held a clear lead at the close of the day's action. In contrast, the 1976 and 1977 winner Martin Lampkin was in trouble very early in the day. He made a schoolboy error on the 4th and 5th hazards at Callart Falls when he mistook the section begins and ends, and realised it too late as he pulled the clutch in to have a five-mark penalty added to the observer's scoreboard. In excellent dry trials riding weather, it was the ex-British Youth Trials Champion Chris Sutton who was the surprise package. He had an excellent day on the Beamish Suzuki to finish in front of the vastly experienced Rob Edwards. Sweden's Ulf Karlson on the prototype full 350cc Montesa was well on the pace, followed by Rob Shepherd and Martin Lampkin as the only riders recording sub-twenty scores. RESULTS: 1: Mick Andrews 5; 2: Chris Sutton 13; 3: Rob Edwards 14;

4: Ulf Karlson 16; 5: Rob Shepherd 17; 6: Martin Lampkin 20; 7: Jaime Subira 23; 8: John Reynolds 23; 9: John Metcalfe 24; 10: Brian Higgins 24.

Mick Andrews (Ossa): Flat tyres are always an unwanted problem for riders at the SSDT. Here Mick changes the rear innertube on his Ossa at the roadside on the Wednesday in the rain.

CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE 2018 â€˘ ISSUE 25

OPPORTUNITY JOHN SHIRT JNR

Decisions

Imagine having a father who is internationally recognised as one of the best development engineers in the more recent times of the trials motorcycle. John Shirt Snr developed and built a machine with Mick Andrews that would win a world round — the Majesty Yamaha in Great Britain 1980; some accolade you may think, but then it got even better. Shirt Snr then went on to help to develop the sport-changing mono-shock Yamaha, which changed the development of the trials motorcycle forever. His son, John Shirt Jnr, grew up around and witnessed first-hand all these changes, and he had a very successful schoolboy career. During that winning period, he had always ridden two-stroke Yamahas built and developed by his father. He was now riding what many would term the 'Ultimate' single-shock Yamaha. The engine internals was very much produced by his father, who was never frightened to push into new areas with his design ideas. The frame had been given more ground clearance — I could write a book on it! The phone rings and John Shirt Snr takes the call from HRC Honda trials mechanic Derrick Edmonson: "Honda works rider Eddy Lejeune is moving from the team at the end of 1987, and I have permission from my bosses in Belgium and Japan to run a young rider on the 250 Honda RTL. Would John Jnr be interested?". It was time for decisions. Article: John Hulme • Pictures: Eric Kitchen, Toon Van De Vliet, John Hulme, Yoomee Archive, Snr and Dennis Fowler

As with many young riders the adventure into off-road motorcycle sport started with the good old Yamaha TY80. This is the Majesty version built by John Shirt Snr.

he story starts back in July at the FIM World Championship round in Austria where HRC Trials Team boss Francois Deley announced that the threeyear contract term for Belgium's Eddy Lejeune would run out and not be renewed. The three-time world trials champion for Honda from 1982-1984, Lejuene accepted the decision and would eventually move to the Spanish Merlin team for 1988. This decision would also make his mechanic and minder Derrick Edmondson redundant.

CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE 2018 • ISSUE 25

OPPORTUNITY JOHN SHIRT JNR

John Jnr, seen here in his early years with his very proud mother Margaret. She was very instrumental in the business she and John Snr built between them. She sadly passed away in 2004.

John Jnr with the Yamaha Mono-Shock his father was so involved with developing into a machine which changed the face of the trials world forever, after the earlier Yamaha trial involvement with the Majesty project. Seen here in this picture is a very young Robert Crawford at Hawkstone Park.

John Snr and Jnr in 1984.

It was a fully loaded Talbot van seen here on route to the opening round of the World Trials Championship in March 1988. This picture is at the French border crossing on the way to Spain.

Schoolboy Talent

Practising on the RTL at Sant Llorenc De Morunys in the spring sunshine in Spain.

CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE 2018 â€˘ ISSUE 25

Derrick had joined the team with Steve Saunders in 1986 and was a mine of information on the four-stroke trials machines from Japan. The machines were very much his 'babies'. He had nurtured them through the development period with both Steve Saunders and Eddy Lejeune, and he was very well respected by his Japanese employers. After speaking with HRC in Japan and Francois Deley, they both agreed that they would send the 270 disc-braked development machine back to Japan at the close of the season but keep the three drumbraked 250cc machines which had been at the disposal of the team. He had been watching the progress of the best Youth A class riders in the UK and John Shirt Jnr in particular. The Shirt and Edmondson families had been friends for many years, and Derrick soon realised that it was the choice of 'Shirty' Jnr that he would take the ride on the Works 250cc RTL Honda. With his world championship commitments over, Derrick spoke with John Shirt Snr about his 16-year-old son, also called John, riding the four-stroke machine in 1988. Derrick would remain very much involved with trials as the mechanic/minder for Steve Saunders with the Fantic for the 1988 season. Father and son agreed it was too good an opportunity to turn down and Derrick prepared a 250cc Honda for Jnr to test. This happened in late November 1987 at Hawk's Nest with Derrick in attendance to explain the machine and how it worked at its best for John. The test went very well despite the fact that Jnr had been getting very good results on the two-stroke Yamaha his father had developed and he felt sure he could soon adapt to the attributes of the single cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke machine. Derrick explained to Jnr that all he wanted him to do was enjoy riding the machine and he would note his progress. The deal would be the use of the machine and a supply of the spares he had left over from his three years with Lejeune. He then dangled the 'golden carrot' with the parting words: "If your results are good I could always call Japan and see if they would release the development 270 disc brake model for you to use".

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LEGEND ULF KARLSON

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In the 1975 Scottish Six Days Trial on the Montesa Cota 247.

CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE 2018 â€¢ ISSUE 25

LEGEND ULF KARLSON

Ulf Karlson on the left with fellow Swedish rider Benny Sellman in 1974 at the Italian European round. They enjoyed many good trials battles.

I can proudly say that I rode in the same team as the late great Ulf Karlson. In 1982 I had a contract to ride in Halvarsson clothing as they tried to break into the European trials market - I still have the contract — and Ulf was in the team. My first sight of Ulf was at the 1977 Scottish Six Days Trial when I was a youngster watching the trial and 'snapping' away with my little Kodak camera. He looked a very tough, determined competitor, to put it mildly. Wind the clock forward to a few years ago when I spoke to him at the Swedish world round in 2015 and, in truth, he still looked very much the same — just a little older. His passing was a shock to the trials world as he was quite a private person who lived a very normal life after the winning years in trials. His values on life regarding loyalty would see him ride for just one manufacturer during his successful trials career, Montesa. I have some very good friends in the trials world, and one of the most enduring relationships is with Toon van de Vliet, who I first met at the 1978 SSDT. Toon knows so many people from the trials world in particular, from during their winning years, Yrjo Vesterinen, Bernie Schreiber and of course Ulf Karlson. It was Toon who I turned to for some memoirs of the late great Ulf Karlson. Words: Toon van de Vliet and John Hulme • Pictures: Toon van de Vliet, Yoomee Archive, Rappini/Comment, Eric Kitchen, Mauri/Fontsere Collection and the Giulio Mauri Copyright, Iain Lawrie and Eddie Karlsson Family

he loss of a unique motorcycle rider like the Swedish 1980 FIM World Champion Ulf Karlson was a big shock for the world of trials and those special people who met him during his career. His fellow competitors and the great number of supporters he had will never forget him and his great style of riding and handling of an off-road motorcycle. He was dedicated to the Spanish manufacturer Montesa for his whole career and the only ever rider to win the world championship for them on a 100 per cent Spanish born-andbred Cota model. In 1975 he was kindly rewarded by the Montesa factory with his own Ulf Karlson Replica Cota 247 when he finished second in the European Championship competition in 1974.

CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE 2018 • ISSUE 25

1975 in the Italian world round.

Something Different

Ulf Karlson was born in Alvangen, Sweden, on the 6th of March 1952 and started trials riding on an air-cooled Puch 50cc moped from Austria. Aged 15 he was attracted to trials just to do something different from the much more popular motocross sport in Sweden, which had a much larger following. When he turned 18-years-old, he bought his first Montesa and started as a Junior rider, and was very successful. He achieved Senior status very quickly and also got a little support from the Swedish Montesa importer. Karlson had to go to other countries to develop his riding and started to go to trials in Belgium, Spain and some events in Great Britain too. At first, he was travelling with some friends and, together with Bennie Selman, drove a Volkswagen Beatle because he had to pay for everything out of his pocket. Working from a very young age as a painter he had to fund everything himself after his father died who was just 50-yearsold. Ulf was just 18 and he had to stand on his own two feet. He worked very hard for his money. Travelling abroad was expensive but necessary because Sweden is covered in snow for more than a half the year, making it difficult to pursue a career in motorcycle trials! But the strong Scandinavian sportsman would aim to become a champion at all costs. Helped by his wife Ewa and with his will to succeed he did that in a more than glorious way! In the early seventies as his career was still in its infancy, he had to contest with three other fellow Swedish riders Benny Sellman, Tore Evertsson and Bo Nilsson. They all carried the same traits as Ulf in being very strong and determined competitors. They had some great battles to win the National Championship as both Sellman and Evertsson shared the honours until Karlson made the breakthrough in 1976.

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04 Spanish Trials Machines

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01 20 YEARS OF TWINSHOCK TRIALS, VOL. 1 02 20 YEARS OF TWINSHOCK TRIALS, VOL. 2 03 20 YEARS OF TWINSHOCK TRIALS, VOL. 3 04 SPANISH TRIALS MACHINES 05 A COMPLETE GUIDE TO MOTORCYCLE TRIALS 06 MOTORCYCLE COMPETITION SCOTLAND 1975-2010 07 LOCHABER SSDT 1909–2011 08 PRE-65 ‘SCOTTISH’ 2018 DVD

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06 Motorcycle Competition Scotland 1975–2010 100 pages covering all aspects of the motorcycle sport in Scotland. The book is A4 size and comes in the semi hardback landscape format from the Trials Guru, John Moffat.

07 Lochaber Scottish Six Days Trial 1909–2011 Yoomee produced this superb collection of over 200 images with over half in full colour. The book is A4 size and comes in the semi hardback landscape format.

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PROFILE THE LUCKETTS

A husband and wife team In a tucked away corner of the UK there is a thriving trials community with a range of territory that some organisers would die for. Riders in this community sometimes venture out into the wider trials world to compete, do well, and then slide off back home to their ground again. They have formed into teams that have ventured up North to beat the Yorkies on their home territory in the Inter-Centre Team Trials, and have taken them on and beaten them when visitors have ventured into these nether lands. Within this community is a husband and wife team who have supported trials since the early sixties in the training of youth riders and novices to realise and extend their potential in the sport for nearly 25 years. The husband has been a works-supported rider who is still riding with success, and his wife, who has supported him and their family and been the organising and driving force in the trials school they have run for local riders and the wider trials community. I wish to introduce you to a very well-known duo in the South West of England, the Lucketts. A husband and wife team who on their land in North Devon ran a trials school and three or four trials a year. Brenda's Trials School was as well known as her husband's enthusiasm for trials, but some riders may not be so familiar with John's record of achievements. Words: Mike Naish, Trials Guru â€“ John Moffat and Dave Cole Pictures: Alan Vines, Mike Rapley - Brian Holder, Malcolm Carling and Mike Naish. We are not able to give credit to photographers due to the passing of time, but please feel free to contact Classic Trial Magazine if by mistake we have used an image without permission.

John, how did you become interested in motorcycle trials?

I was born 1946 at West Bucks in North Devon. My father was always interested in motorcycling although he was more into road racing. He gave me an interest in all motorbikes, which has lasted to this day. He had a Triumph Trophy, and he used to take me to see road races, which sometimes were quite a distance from North Devon like Oulton Park in Cheshire. One day in the late 50s he took me to see a trial which was run quite locally. I remember watching this section with crowds of people on it. It was a climb up a steepish gully with a step in it, and simply nobody was getting up it at all. Then there

CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE 2018 â€˘ ISSUE 25

PROFILE THE LUCKETTS there was nothing coming the other way and then we could use the full width of the road. One day one of the lads went out without a lookout; he took the bend and hit an ice cream van. He went one way, and the machine ended up underneath the van. We had to jack it up off the machine to get it out. The strange thing was the driver took it very well, and after that, he used to come in every Sunday where we gathered and sold us ice creams! When did you start in trials?

Brenda Luckett in her younger days.

was a ripple of excitement, and I could hear this twin-cylinder machine coming up fast. The rider approached the step and was over it clean to great applause; it was Johnny Giles on his Triumph. I used to ride a push bike, like all the lads, but I kept on to my father to buy me a motorcycle. One day he said okay, and we went to look at a DMW locally, and I liked it, but by the time we went back with the money the bloke had sold it to someone else. The strange thing is — as we established years later — it was Brenda's father! Later on, my father bought me an Ambassador with the Villiers engine. Who taught you to ride?

I taught myself, as most people did in those days. I used to go to a friend's house whose family had an old Excelsior with a hand change. We used to ride it up the green-lane by the side of his house. It got us used to the twisting the right hand and letting the clutch fingers in and out with the left-hand clutch/ throttle combination. Also, my father had an AJS road machine, and we used to push it down the road

to a field to ride it around. One day the sergeant was on the road with a new police officer, and I could see that he was telling him to come and talk to me as part of his training on the beat. He told me that as I was underage, I couldn't push a motorcycle on the highway, so that was the end of that because we respected the law in those days! When I left school, I went to Barnstaple Technical College. My father was a one-man band at that time, running a business as an Agricultural Contractor, and as the business grew he asked me if I would like to come and join him to which I said yes. I initially went to Tech to learn that sort of trade. I used to ride there on a Monday and lodge there all week, then ride back on a Friday night.

I used to go and watch the Lands End Trial on my bicycle. I'd be out to the section called Darracott at 8.00am and stay there all day, so then I thought I would give it a go. My first trial was the 1965 Lands End, and I rode a 500 Triumph to Lew Down to start. I had a few clutch problems, but I remember having a good go at 'Beggars Roost'. Unfortunately, I hit a rock halfway up the section, did a pivot turn and started powering down the section — a scary moment! I retired. My second trial was the Lyn Traders. I rode the big Triumph to the start and wondered why all the riders were looking at me with a shake of their heads. I know what they were thinking now. When I saw those huge rocks and river beds and tried to ride them, it was a bridge too far. I retired after 40 miles. I had the bug though and swapped in my Royal Enfield locally at Bideford for a Cotton with a 32A Villiers motor with leading-link forks. I joined the Torridge Club, and I rode in an Exmoor trial. I finished 6th from last, but I finished. Dave Chick was another newcomer, and he and I made friends who have lasted to this day. My next event was a Moretonhampstead trial that Roger Wooldridge, the Centre Champion, won and then I won the best Novice at an Exmoor trial in the October. This was in 1965.

What came next?

What did you think of the Cotton?

A 250 Royal Enfield Crusader Sports. A few of us local lads set up our sort of club, and we used to go racing on a Sunday afternoon — on the A39. We had a long straight and then a left-hand bend. We used to post somebody on the bend to make sure

I liked it although it was better in straight lines; I never liked 'Up the bank and around the tree' nadgery sections — I still don't, it's my weak point. I was soon off to Collins of Truro where I swapped it in for an ex-works Cotton Starmaker. Melroy

In the early days.

In the Exeter Trial 1966 on the ex-works Cotton Starmaker.

CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE 2018 • ISSUE 25

On an early ‘Radial’ cylinder head four-speed gearbox Bultaco in the 1967 Lyn National trial.

SPORT KIA Twinshock Championship

First visit

When I first heard about the 'New' Kia Twinshock Championship at the back end of 2013, it sounded too good to be true. A small group of motorcycle trials enthusiasts with so much knowledge and enthusiasm amongst themselves that they decided to bring to the sport a championship that they wanted to ride in and, most importantly, enjoy! When I started to publish Classic Trial Magazine in 2011, I was told by a negative few that it would not work. Really? When I was informed about the new Kia Championship and who would be involved in getting it off the ground it was quite obvious that with their knowhow it would work; give people what they want, and they will take it, as with the magazine. I had known Peter Salt and Alan Wright for many years and along with Gerry Minshall and his wife Fredina the series came to life. It has proved in its short life to be a very competitive series enjoyed by all who want to enjoy and reminisce about their life and times that they enjoy in trials. Young and old, it's there to be ridden in, and policed by sensible machine eligibility rules it continues to thrive year on year. With this in mind, on a cold and icy February morning, I found myself heading into North Wales for round one of the 2018 series for my first visit to the Kia Twinshock Championship. Words: John Hulme â€˘ Pictures: Yoomee and John Wilkinson

or some reason or other I had never attended a round of the championship, but with a break in FIM X-Trial indoor series, it was the ideal time. I have travelled to North Wales for trials since I977, and the terrain is fantastic. The venue for the Aqueduct Classics Trial which was the opening round took me down the A483 and onto the B4579 between Selattyn and Glyn Ceriog, and then to PlasOnn Farm. This was instantly recognisable as Lomax Trial country, still one of the best road-based National trials in the calendar. Well organised and with a warm welcome it was like rewinding the clock to what trials used to be. Despite the very cold weather, I had a very enjoyable day taking in the spirit of the event. One thing is for sure; the Kia Championship ticks all the boxes for me. Here we take a look at the 2018 championship after the third round had been completed.

EXPERT CHAMPIONSHIP Twinshock

Showing superb consistency with two wins and a second place puts Richard Allen at the top of the pile. The points advantage may look good this early in the season, but he knows that with the round two winner Chris Forshaw (Honda) and Roman Kyrnyckyj (SWM) tying on 45 points each and Olly Wareing (Fantic) just a couple of points behind it will only get more competitive. In round one Allen had a clear winning margin but in round two he lost the win by a single mark. At round three it was a collection of too many 'fives' that stopped Kyrnyckyj from challenging for the win. These two were head and shoulders above the rest of the entry and well clear of third-placed Chris Forshaw.

CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE 2018 â€˘ ISSUE 25

SPORT KIA Twinshock Championship

Chris Forshaw (Honda)

Roy Palmer (Kawasaki)

Historic Spanish & Pre-78 Twinshock

Having typed out the results, I still cannot believe that this class does not attract more significant entries. Steve Bisby on his Orange Ossa 'Gripper' leads the championship despite the fact he has only won one round. In Wales, it was the one-time world championship points scorer Cumbrian Chris Myers who took the win on his Bultaco, and in round two it was fellow Bultaco rider Gary Younghusband who won. Let's hope we can see some more of the Spanish and Italian machines and maybe some Majesty Yamahas and Beamish Suzukis in this class as the year progresses.

Monoshock

I for one expected this class to be dictated by the legendary monoshock Yamaha, which changed the face of the trials world when it was introduced in 1983. This is not the case though as we see superb examples of the two-stroke Honda TLM models and now some air-cooled Gas Gas and Beta machines. This certainly adds to the attraction of this class. It is a Yamaha that heads the class in the capable hands of Steve Bird, followed by Dean Devereux on his rather nice Honda TLM. It was good to see young Chris Alford out in the final round as the series continues to attract younger riders looking for a really good day's motorcycle sport.

British Bike

Roman Kyrnyckyj (SWM)

CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE 2018 â€˘ ISSUE 25

Many of the machines in this class are a credit to their owners. Using modern materials and machining skills such as in the BSA Bantam, they show just what could have saved the ailing, once-proud and great motorcycling production facilities in the UK. Giving Ian Peberdy the advantage with, by his standards, a poor performance at the opening round three times world champion from Finland Yrjo Vesterinen has pulled himself back into contention with a win at round two and a second place at round three. Ian holds the advantage as he has shown more consistency on his Bantam as this championship looks very much like being a twohorse race.

TRIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 1978 Yrjo Vesterinen (325 Bultaco-FIN).

It's wide open It was all about Bultaco at the top of the FIM World Trials Championship, as three of their riders had been drawn into a titanic fight for the right to wear the coveted crown pronouncing them as the King of Trials in 1978. At the head of the championship was Finland’s two-time world champion in 1976 and 1977 Yrjo Vesterinen, who had managed to edge out a small points advantage over Great Britain’s Martin Lampkin, who was the first winner of the FIM series in 1975. With nine rounds contested of the twelve-round series it was advantage Vesterinen on 98 points playing Lampkin on 91. Both had won two rounds each but for Finland’s trials superstar his third win in Austria at round nine and Lampkin’s poor sixth position had pulled him ahead in the championship, leaving it all to play for in the final three rounds. They were both under pressure from the young American rider Bernie Schreiber. After a very poor start to the series which included a DNF in Belgium he had found the form in his new dynamic riding style to take four wins! He was moving up the championship like a steam roller and closing in on both his fellow Bultaco riders at an incredible rate of knots. He knew the championship title was still a big ask but when you are young anything is possible. The championship was still wide open in the American’s eyes, and he really wanted it. Words: John Hulme, Motorcycle, Morton’s Archive and Motorcycle News Pictures: Toon van de Vliet, Yoomee Archive, Rappini/Commeat, Eric Kitchen, Malcolm Carling, Honda, CCM, Mauri/Fontsere Collection and the Giulio Mauri Copyright

Martin Lampkin (350 Bultaco-GBR): Riding with a new-found confidence after his SSDT win, ‘Mart’ was in a very determined mood to add the 1978 crown to his first one from 1975.

A dive into the trials archives would reveal an interesting championship where it was a case of the ‘Old Guard’ challenged by a new rider and his riding style which would change the direction of the sport forever. In the first two rounds of the series, covered in issue 24 of the magazine, Vesterinen boasted a full house of wins. His two adversaries Lampkin and Schreiber would come back with a clear message: if he wanted to make it three consecutive world titles he would have a fight on his hands to achieve it. Simmering just behind these three was Sweden’s ‘Lone Wolf’ Ulf Karlson, who would show his worth as the championship unfolded. These four riders were head and shoulders above the remaining riders in the championship.

CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE 2018 • ISSUE 25

TRIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 1978

Watched here by ‘Vesty’, on the left, and Charles Coutard in Italy, Martin Lampkin (350 Bultaco-GBR) has the ‘Bulldozer’ chin out; I would defy anyone to get in his way when he was in attack mode!

Bernie Schreiber (Bultaco-USA): As the youngster in the dominant Bultaco squad the American soon turned his talent to winning world rounds.

ROUND 3: BELGIUM

ROUND 4: FRANCE

As expected, Lampkin came out fighting and in a real gutsy performance he took the ‘Bulto’ by its horns and took a well-deserved victory. The event at Bilstain had a very ‘English’ feel to it with its rocky muddy banks. Lampkin was in attack mode all day, and in his favour fellow British rider Rob Shepherd on the four-stroke Honda took the runner-up position from Vesterinen on the tie-decider as they both parted with 68 marks lost. The biggest loser in the championship was American Bernie Schreiber who finished out of the points down in 15th position after an eventful day. Living not far from the venue was home rider Jean Marie Lejeune, who came home 4th. He is the eldest brother of three in a trials riding family and was followed by Eddy who competed on a no-awards basis as he was too young to score points and the youngest brother Eric.

Showing no signs of the pressure of being ‘On Trial’, with the future of his time as a Bultaco supported rider being determined in a further seven days, Bernie Schreiber was in excellent form. Classed as ‘crazy’ by many of the riders, the time limit was extended after the first lap by an extra thirty minutes as the organisers were faced with making mass exclusions when only Martin Lampkin and Mick Andrews were able to keep to the time limit. Lampkin would go on to finish one mark in front of Vesterinen to close the gap in the championship chase, as Andrews had a massive crash between the hazards when he plunged off a ledge and fell down, twisting the frame and bending the front forks on the Yamaha. Despite the pressure of the time limit Vesterinen finished 3rd as he held onto his championship lead. With no financial support from Yamaha, Andrews was contemplating his next move to continue in the championship.

SOMMIERES: 5TH MARCH 1978

BILSTAIN: 26TH FEBRUARY 1978

RESULTS: 1: Lampkin 60; 2: Shepherd 68; 3: Vesterinen 68; 4: Lejeune 72; 5: Colson 73; 6: Karlson 75; 7: Andrews (320 Yamaha) 85; 8: Rathmell 98; 9: Birkett 109; 10: Claude Goset (Montesa-BEL) 110.

CHAMPIONSHIP: 1: Vesterinen 40; 2: Lampkin 35; 3: Karlson 22; 4: Andrews 22; 5: Shepherd 22.

RESULTS: 1: Schreiber 125; 2: Lampkin 127; 3: Vesterinen 128; 4: Subira 133; 5: Karlson 138; 6: Shepherd 141; 7: Andrews (320 Yamaha) 142; 8: Gorgot 145; 9: Rathmell 150; 10: Joaquim Abad (Ossa-ESP) 157.

CHAMPIONSHIP: 1: Vesterinen 50; 2: Lampkin 47; 3: Karlson 28; 4: Shepherd 27; 5: Andrews 26.

ROUND 5: SPAIN

MATADEPERA: 12TH MARCH 1978

Ulf Karlson (310 Montesa-SWE): Using his home-grown mechanical knowledge Ulf would fine-tune his own machine on many occasions.

CLASSIC TRIAL MAGAZINE 2018 • ISSUE 25

Ulf Karlson (310 Montesa-SWE): This picture from the Italian world round shows Ulf with the development Cota 348 that had the tubular frame rails under the engine removed to be replaced by an aluminium sump guard, which gave the machine more ground clearance.

With a new three-year contract tucked under his belt Bernie Schreiber showed the Spanish manufacturers Bultaco that he was the ‘Real Deal’. Riding a very standard-looking Bultaco, he fitted his favourite rear shock absorbers and handlebars and took a confidence boosting win over Martin Lampkin. The star of the show though was Mick Andrews. After making a last-minute deal, supported by the UK importers the Holdens, he rode a new 310cc Ossa onto the podium in 3rd place and the patriotic crowd loved it! The event was not a good one for Vesterinen though, as he lost further ground in the championship to Lampkin after losing yet another tie-break with Rob Shepherd. Riding the only other four-stroke machine in the trial Nick Jefferies made some very brave attempts at the steep unforgiving hazards on the Britishbuilt CCM. With an entry of 68 riders, Spanish machines continued to dominate the trials world.

RESULTS: 1: Schreiber 32; 2: Lampkin 37; 3: Andrews (310 Ossa) 37; 4: Karlson 47; 5: Shepherd 55; 6: Vesterinen 55; 7: Colson 57; 8: Birkett 63; 9: Gorgot 70; 10: Coutard 73.

CHAMPIONSHIP: 1: Lampkin 59; 2: Vesterinen 55; 3: Andrews 36; 4: Karlson 36; 5: Schreiber 35.

MY FIRST TIME 1978 SSDT

A Highland Adventure

In my mind’s eye all I could see heading north up to the Scottish Six Days Trial was vehicle after vehicle, vans, pick-ups, cars with trailers, you name it, all motorcycle related with one destination: Fort William. This was the dream in my mind as I sat in my father’s Renault 12 with the trailer on carrying my pride and joy, my SWM. With my mother and older brother Alan, plus all my riding kit and some spare parts we were well loaded up as we started on what would be a ‘Highland adventure’ that would turn into an addiction that lasts to the present day.

Words: John Hulme • Pictures: Andy Gregory, The Nick Nicholls Collection at Morton’s Archive, Iain Lawrie, Yoomee Archive, SWM, Trial Magazine France, Martin Matthews and www.motoswm.com

his particular article does hold a place in my heart, as it was generated way back in late June 1978. I was at Stockport Technical College where I was serving my City and Guilds apprenticeship as a welder pipe fitter. Part of the course included the generation of an article on your chosen subject; mine was my new SWM and the 1978 Scottish Six Days Trial. And it has stood a few house moves, a divorce and a flood! In the first part of this article, we will look at the new SWM trials machine before we move into part two and my first SSDT.

Part 1: SWM arrives in the world of trials

In late 1977 the Italian name SWM would enter the world of trials after making a name for itself in the tough world of Enduro. A small motorcycle and moped manufacturer, its sporting heritage in building good quality off-road machines had been endorsed and rewarded in Enduro. The trials models would use the air-cooled Austrian Rotax engine with its Rotary Disc Valve Induction system which was new to the slow-speed world of trials. Here I take up my introduction to the Italian machines.

Ossa Moto UK

The 1978 SWM 320TL. When the new machine was seen in the flesh it looked stunning.

It may sound strange to introduce this story with the name Ossa, but the Spanish brand was imported into the UK by Cliff Holden and his son Roger, based at Ferndown in Dorset in the South of England. By importing the SWM machines into the country, they would become the first dual importer of trials machines in the UK with Ossa and SWM. When this joint import venture was announced, it was also the sign of the first trials motorcycle into the UK to be priced at more than £1,000. Based on the exchange rate the eventual price tag would be £1,048, some £200 more than

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MY FIRST TIME 1978 SSDT

A strong sporting heritage from the Enduro world paved the way for a full-on off-road attack from SWM seen here in this publicity poster.

It was at the Milan Show at the end of 1977 that the first showing of a new range of models from SWM came to the notice of the trials riding world.

the winning opposition such as Bultaco and Montesa. After deciding to enter the 1978 SSDT, I approached my sponsors Town and Country Motorcycles run by Gordon Ruffley and Dave Lawson. Gordon had first sponsored me on an Ossa in my schoolboy riding days and supplied me with the Spanish machines as I moved into adult trials. I had a new 250cc Ossa on order for the approaching 1978 season. A good friend of the Holden family, Gordon contacted them to enquire about the new SWM. With Ossa, I would receive everything free apart from the spare parts, which would be at a discounted trade price. Town and Country Motorcycles would pay my entry, and when Gordon called to speak to my father, he came off the phone with some excellent news. The SWM would be at a discounted trade price but all my spares, tyres, chain, etc., would be free of charge. Even better was the news that I would receive free fuel and oil at the Scottish. Having sold my Ossa, Gordon loaned me one until the new SWM arrived. Well known for its quality and reliability attributes the trials models would use the tried and tested air-cooled Austrian Rotax engine with its Rotary Disc Valve Induction system. This type of inlet induction was new to the slow-speed world of motorcycle trials.

Production of the new SWM trials models started in Milan, Italy, in early 1978.

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It's SWM time

The pre-production models arrived on Saturday the 28th January earmarked for John Reynolds, new signing Colin Bell and Team Manager Sammy Miller. Despite the fact that Miller had won Honda its first British Trials Championship in 1977 with Rob Shepherd they did not renew his contact and he had moved to

Times were changing in the trials world and along with SWM other manufacturers including Italjet, Garelli, Aprillia and Fantic all wanted to be part of this new trend of trials models from Italy.

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w w w. a p i c o.c o.u k Image credit: Eric Kitchen