MOTORCYCLE • SIDECAR • CLASSIC • COMPETITION • FEATURES
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43
TRADITIONAL
SCOTT TRIAL MACHINE
WINNER
Winter 2022
ISSUE 43 • UK: £6.99
SWM 350 1982 BRITISH JUMBO EXPERTS MACHINE
WORKSHOP
WINNER
Classic Trial Magazine • Welcome
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Front Cover: 1982 Scott Trial Winner Martin Lampkin (SWM) • Credit: Eric ‘EK’ Kitchen Summary Picture: 1981 Scott Trial Winner Martin Lampkin (SWM) • Credit: Eric ‘EK’ Kitchen
Winter 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
Welcome • Classic Trial Magazine
FEATURES PREVIEW
10
TRADITIONAL
18
MACHINE
28
WINNER
42
INTERNATIONAL
53
SIDECAR
61
WORKSHOP
66
SPORT
76
VINTAGE VINES
92
Classic Dirt Bike Show 1982 Scott Trial SWM Jumbo
1982 British Experts 1982 FIM World Championship – Part two 1982 Inter Centre Team Trial Gori Rebuild
Leven Two Day — Rockshocks Championship 1972 Trials Review
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Classic Trial Magazine • Winter 2022
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News • The world of Classic Trials
APICO AND MOTOVERDE CLEANING PRODUCTS
Apico Factory Racing is proud to announce it will distribute the full offroad range of Motoverde cleaning and care products to the UK dealer network. The company’s original salt-free motorcycle wash has a unique selling point, as it can be used to clean your riding kit as well. Motoverde has a full range of complementary products that cater to different areas of your machine, available in various sizes, ranging from 125ml chain lube through to the workshop 25L concentrated motorcycle wash, snow foam and after-shine products. With a well-supported rider social programme, the range of Motoverde products should complement Apico’s existing stable of brands very well. In addition, there is the opportunity for dealers to top up their regular Apico parts orders with single quantities of Motoverde products, something that other off-road distributors do not currently offer.
2023 ROCKSHOCKS CHAMPIONSHIP
After another successful year in 2022, the series that was the brainchild of three riders, Gerry Minshall, Alan Wright and Peter Salt, way back in 2014, looks forward to another good year in 2023. In 2015, series sponsorship was secured from KIA, a partnership that continued until 2020 and whose support enabled the cash prizes from the observers to draw at each event and the provision of quality awards for class winners. In 2021, KIA departed from their role as sponsor, and the series gained new sponsorship from Rockshocks courtesy of Gary and Caroline Fleckney. The series concept is a simple philosophy: to provide events for riders that enjoy riding classic motorcycles in traditional type events rather than the modern stop-and-hop style and runs under the no-stop ruling. Keep your eyes on the superb website: www. rockshocksclassictrialschampionship.com, which supports the series for news on the 2023 championship. Take note when entering to make sure you are in the relevant class.
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ROBREGORDO 2022 The two international days of trials at Robregordo 2022 coincided with the last round of the Spanish Cup of Classic trials. As a result, they have been able to see amazing riders in this Spanish championship, including Jaime Subira, Miquel Cirera and Mariano Gomez, the father of Alfredo and Sandra. The tears for Manuel Soler in 2021 became the sun of hope in 2022. We must never forget Manuel because his life goes on in the classic Miquel Cirera (Montesa-ESP) trials. In the six categories of this championship, they all had to fight for their wins, with many going right along to the last section on day two. Everyone would like to thank club members who make this event happen every year for their hard work and commitment. The 2022 Robregordo had more than 110 riders, and the winners were: Manuel Soler Cup: Enrique Romero (Honda); Yellow Classic: Paco Antolin (Fantic); Pre-75: Jose Maria Marinez (Montesa); Green Classic: Bertrand Martínez Penalver (Honda); Pre-80: Roberto Mendibil (Bultaco); Trialer’s: Mariano Gómez (Merlin); Experts: Diego Urreta (Fantic/Montesa);. Picture Credit: Alberto Rodriguez, Soy Motor, Fili Images
CLASSIC DIRT BIKE SHOW 2023
Once again, we will be a part of the Classic Dirt Bike Show, sponsored by Hagon Shocks, at the Telford International Centre over the weekend of the 11th and 12th of February, 2023. We can be found in our regular show position in Hall 2, stand number B64; look out for the flags. On the stand, you will find the latest copies of Classic Trial and Trial Magazine, along with a selection of back issues. If you are looking for a particular back copy of both magazines, please contact us at the office first so we can check our stock. We will also have protective binders to secure your magazine collections. If you wish to pre-order yours, please do so. We will also be selling an excellent selection of trials books; some are rare, but this will be on a first-come, first-served basis, so be there early. You can also take out a new subscription or re-subscribe on the stand. We look forward to meeting you.
Winter 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
on stage with commentator John McCrink
Spectacular collection of classic off-road machines Hundreds of trade and outdoor autojumble stands Cracking club displays
SAVE £2 IN ADVANCE! Discounted advance ticket: £14 Under 16s go FREE *Discounted tickets close 8:30am Monday, February 6, 2023.
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Preview • Showtime
SHOW PREVIEW
2023 CLASSIC DIRT BIKE SHOW
The UK’s biggest classic off-road show, The Classic Dirt Bike Show, sponsored by Hagon Shocks, will be back at Telford International Centre, Shropshire, TF3 4JH, over the weekend of February 11th and 12th, 2023. The annual off-road show is known for attracting the biggest names in the scene, and next year is no exception — three-time world champion and ’80s and ’90s racing icon Dave Thorpe has been confirmed as the star guest. As Britain’s most successful motocross racer with three FIM 500cc World Championships, a Veteran’s World title and multiple ACU British Championships to his name, Thorpe is the last British rider to have won the premier division of world motocross. Words: Mortons Media • Pictures: Mortons Media, Gary Chapman
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Winter 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
Showtime • Preview
T
horpe began his successful career in the UK Kawasaki team before moving to the HRC Honda racing team in 1983. The switch saw his first Grand Prix win come in 1984, and he gained his first FIM world title the following year, which he retained in 1986. His third world title came in 1989 following an ongoing, thrilling battle against Belgian motocross legend Eric Geboers. Thorpe’s career highs and lows will be revealed to visitors as commentator John McCrink quizzes the motocross star when they take to the stage at Telford. Between being entertained by Thorpe’s motocross memories, you can admire hundreds of beautifully prepared off-road machines from clubs and private owners. It’s not often you can find some of the UK’s finest machines under one roof, and please make sure you stick around for the awards on Sunday and find out whose machine has won Best in Show. If you have a stunning off-road motorcycle you’d like to display, or your club has a selection of machines to show off to fellow enthusiasts, head to the Classic Dirt Bike Show website for more information on how to apply; you
Classic Trial Magazine • Winter 2022
could go home with an award! You can also get stocked up for the season ahead as hundreds of traders will offer a broad spectrum of goodies ranging from spares, parts and accessories to riding gear and even project machines if you’re up for a challenge. You can also pick up some pre-loved parts in the autojumble, starting at 9.00am on both days, and get your hands on an off-road bargain. Event manager Nick Mowbray said, “The 2023 show is shaping up to be the best yet. We are thrilled to have Dave Thorpe as our guest for the show and have no doubt visitors will thoroughly enjoy hearing tales from his successful motocross career. It is the event of the year for classic offroad enthusiasts, and we look forward to welcoming you.” Gates to the 2023 Classic Dirt Bike Show sponsored by Hagon Shocks open at 10.00am on both days, but you can go for a rumble in the autojumble from 9.00am before the show halls open. Save £2.00 when you buy your ticket in advance for just £14.00. Under 16s go free. For more information about the show and to get your tickets, head to the website: www.classicdirtbikeshow.co.uk
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Traditional • Scott Trial
1982 SCOTT TRIAL
MART ON A MISSION In October 1982, Martin Lampkin was approaching the end of his hugely rewarding career, having won virtually everything put in front of him. Anyone who knew Martin knew it would be no light-hearted effort. It would be full-on attack mode from a man well-respected by everyone for his sheer drive to win. One of life’s true off-road characters, it would have been a brave man to bet against him winning; he would be going for gold, as they say; Mart was on a mission. Words: Trials Media • Pictures: Erik Kitchen
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A confident Malcolm Rathmell (Montesa) clears the step at Washfold.
Winter 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
Scott Trial • Traditional
100% concentration from John Reynolds on the Montesa.
A
cold, fresh autumn morning with the sun trying to shine through greeted 134 riders to the start field for the 1982 Scott Trial at Marske, high above the market town of Richmond. As always, this ultimate test of man and machine had a buzz around the start area; it was motorcycle trials at its best. No messing — a combination of speed and a good observation score would be rewarded with the much sought-after Alfred Scott Memorial Trophy.
One of the ‘Famous Four’ Richardson brothers, Les, finished behind brother Gerald in 11th position.
Classic Trial Magazine • Winter 2022
Returning to ride a section he had missed near Whaw Bridge cost Nigel Birkett valuable time.
PAST WINNERS
The entry included no less than four past winners: Malcolm Rathmell led the way, having won in 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1979 and 1980, followed by Martin Lampkin in 1977, 1978 and 1981; Rob Shepherd had won in 1972, and Rob Edwards in 1974. Much to their delight, they had won the one trial everyone wanted to put a claim to. Rathmell and Lampkin had endured many years of fighting for the win. Both enjoyed the
fruits of their rewards with years at the very top of their chosen profession but were approaching the end of their careers. 1982 would be a pinnacle year as, at the close of it, Lampkin and Rathmell would retire from their commitment to the FIM World Trials Championship, which Lampkin had won in 1975 — the first year the series was granted FIM World Championship status. But, in truth, in 1982, the sport was in crisis. The mighty years of domination by the big
The 1972 winner Rob Shepherd takes a steadying foot on the Bultaco.
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Machine • SWM
SWM
A JUMBO DISASTER
The creator of so many pictures in Classic Trial Magazine, the late Giulio Mauri testing the ‘Jumbo’ in Italy.
In 1982 the motorcycle trials world was going through a rapid shift in manufacturing. Winning power dominated by the once-mighty big three from Spain, consisting of Bultaco, Montesa, and Ossa, slipped into decline under a heavy burden of financial pressure. A new, younger generation of riders was taking over from the old school of FIM World Champions who included Martin Lampkin (1975 Bultaco), Yrjo Vesterinen (1976–1978 Bultaco) and Ulf Karlson (1980 Montesa); the only survivor would be Bernie Schreiber (1979 Bultaco). In a short space of time over the following few years, both Bultaco and Ossa would be gone. In contrast, Montesa went through a lean time but ultimately survived and went on to greater success – dare we mention Toni Bou in Classic Trial Magazine? New machines had appeared on the trials scene, and the Italian manufacturers led by Fantic and SWM had made considerable inroads into the sales charts with their winning riders, including Gilles Burgat, the 1981 FIM World Trials Champion on the SWM. We even had a new machine from the UK with the Sammy Miller-inspired Hiro-engined CCM. As the 1982 season closed, Belgium’s new FIM World Trials Champion Eddy Lejeune led the way on the four-stroke 360 Honda; it would be the first of three consecutive world titles as he fought off both Burgat and Schreiber. With the Italian manufacturers chasing the power of the 360 Honda by investing and developing new engines of a higher capacity for their works riders, at Fantic with the 300 and SWM with the new Jumbo 350, they took their eyes off what the vital buying public could actually ride. As they threw their Italian Lira at rider contracts and machine development in the quest to catch Lejeune, they found out too late that they were ultimately going down a path that would prove to be their downfall. By the end of 1984, Fantic would be in a huge financial hole, one it would ultimately come out of and go on to further success; however, for SWM and the Jumbo, it was a disaster as the Italian manufacturer closed its factory doors in the mid-80s. Words: John Hulme, Danilo Galeazzi, Bernie Schreiber, Mike Rapley Pictures: Eric Kitchen, Alan Vines, Toon van de Vliet, Mauri/Fontsere Collection and the Giulio Mauri Copyright, SWM, Raffiel Gallieni
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Winter 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
SWM • Machine
This is the first picture of the machine in Italy, prepared for either Bernie Schreiber or Martin Lampkin to ride in the 1982 SSDT.
A
s it happened, it would be the Japanese manufacturer Yamaha who would come straight out from under the radar with one of the most closely guarded secrets ever in the trials world, the monoshock Yamaha TY 250, in the summer of 1983. This new model forever changed the face of motorcycle trials and made the twinshock machines a thing of the past overnight.
Easy to ride, the Yamaha turned a good club rider into a good centre rider with its easyto-use power and incredible rear suspension. Also gone were the days of worry about crash damage with the two vulnerable rear shock absorbers. This revolutionary, groundbreaking trials machine would put the final nails in the coffin of many well-established brands, including SWM. Fantic had proved
its worth with the superb 200 model, which sold so well, but as with SWM, the request from the top riders of the time for more power took them in the wrong direction. As the motorcycle trials world went into meltdown over this new rear-shock trials motorcycle revolution, some were too slow to react to the impact on sales, as we are about to find out.
Laid bare, the new 350 Rotax engine can be clearly seen.
Classic Trial Magazine • Winter 2022
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Winner • 1982
1982 BRITISH EXPERTS
STEVE SAUNDERS It can be quite interesting what stimulates the good-old brain mass; this time, the superb Trevor Kemp article in the last Classic Trial Magazine on Steve Saunders and the Honda years had me rooting into my trials archives. It reminded me that it was 40 years ago that Steve had recorded his first notable adult trials win at the 1982 British Experts Trial on Saturday, 13th November. Off the back of winning the ACU Youth A Class British Trials Championship from 1979 through to 1981 on the Comerfords-supported Bultaco, it was time for Saunders to start mixing it with the big boys. In 1979 he attended a training day with the FIM World Trials Champion Bernie Schreiber from the USA while in the UK. Bernie had a new style of riding, which Steve studied and then practised; he knew he had to be ready for the adult world, and he was soon perfecting pivot turns and bunny hops. He transitioned from the youth classes to the adults at the end-of-season 1981 Knut Trial, which he had lost by a single mark. 1982 started well with his first National win at the Southern Trial in February. A week later, he finished second in the opening ACU British Championship round, the Colmore, beaten by a certain Yrjo Vesterinen by just a few marks. Words: Trials Media • Pictures: Alan Vines, Yoomee Archive and Erik ‘EK’ Kitchen
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Winter 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
1982 • Winner
L
Steve Saunders won the ACU Youth A Class British Trials Championship from 1979 through to 1981 on the Comerfords-supported Bultaco.
ooking forward to his FIM World Trials Championship debut in Great Britain in 1982, Saunders had a small crash on his road machine just before the event, breaking his collarbone, so it was aborted. It was a slow recovery, and he made his first appearance after the accident at the Scottish Six Days Trial, finishing 20th. The majority of 1982 was spent working at BVM Motorcycles in Stroud and gaining as much experience as he could, practising and competing at every opportunity whilst also learning all about life.
HAWKSTONE PARK
So many off-road motorcycle enthusiasts can relate to the world-famous Hawkstone Park, first used for off-road competitions in 1938 when the venue ran a hill climb. After the Second
World War, Scrambling competitions were held there, and over the following years, the sport evolved into motocross. It gained a reputation as a tough, demanding track to race on. Loose sand, gritstone rocks, and so many steep climbs into the wooded hills that hang above in the surrounding area from the start field down below would test a rider’s stamina to the limit. Hawkstone Park is located near Market Drayton, north Shropshire. The circuit is arguably one of the world’s most famous motocross, having staged many Grand Prix and international events from the 1950s until now. The British Experts had first been held in 1929 at Bewdley when a certain Albert Perrigo won; he was a British engineer who was a successful motorcycle trials rider before becoming Competition Manager for BSA motorcycles. His ideas influenced the design
At the opening ACU British Championship round, the Colmore, Saunders was beaten by a certain Yrjo Vesterinen by just a few marks.
of many of their best-selling motorcycles when Great Britain once ruled the off-road scene. The event’s only interruption since 1929 had been for WW2, and it was classed very much as a ‘Blue Riband’ event in the motorcycle trials calendar — the one to win. After Bewdley, it moved to Stroud for many years before being passed about to other centres that ran the event, before finally finding a home in mid-Wales at Llandrindod Wells up until 1972. The event went through some difficult years with time problems and the severity of the sections and was again passed about before it was moved to Hawkstone Park in 1981. With its central location in the country and its motocross facilities, it attracted a good crowd in the first year as Peter Cartwright won on the Italjet, the first major UK win for the green Italian manufactured machines.
In the background Martin Lampkin watches the John Reynolds, on the Jim Sandiford-supported passage of Saunders through the tough section four. Montesa, took the runner-up position.
Classic Trial Magazine • Winter 2022
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1982 FIM WTC • International
PART II: 1982
FIM WORLD TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIP With the 1982 season starting in February in Spain and finishing in Poland in late September, the riders competing in the FIM World Trials Championship had a long and varied season. The riders would compete in 12 rounds, with Spain as the opener, followed by Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Canada, the United States of America, Finland and Sweden before concluding in Poland. With ten rounds in Europe and the trip across the water for the long-haul flights to Canada and the USA, it was very much a true world championship. Words: Classic Trial Magazine • Pictures: Mauri/Fontsere Collection and the Giulio Mauri Copyright On paper, everyone expected the year to be a fight between the defending champion Gilles Burgat (Fantic-FRA) and Bernie Schreiber (SWM-USA). Still, over the 12 rounds, the sheer consistency of Eddy Lejeune (Honda-BEL) gave him the title. Winning eight of the 12 rounds, he had dominated the season and, in doing so, had achieved what no one would have ever expected; he won it on a four-stroke in a two-stroke-dominated motorcycle trials world, which was also a first for a Japanese motorcycle manufacturer, Honda. The remaining four world-round wins in 1982 went to Schreiber and Burgat, who won two apiece. As 1982 closed, it opened the door to a new era of riders who were now pushing out the old guard of the former FIM World Trials Champions.
Paddock: Sweden
1982 FIM WORLD TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIP
Paddock: Poland
POSITIONS: 1: Eddy Lejeune (Honda-BEL) 182; 2: Bernie Schreiber (SWMUSA) 129; 3: Gilles Burgat (Fantic-FRA) 126; 4: Toni Gorgot (Montesa-ESP) 77; 5: Thierry Michaud (SWM-FRA) 49; 6: Danilio Galeazzi (SWM-ITA) 47; 7: Ulf Karlson (Montesa-SWE) 44; 8: Charles Coutard (Bultaco-FRA) 24; 9: John Lampkin (Armstrong CCM-GBR) 23; 10: Yrjo Vesterinen (Bultaco-FIN) 23; 11: Jaime Subira (Fantic-ESP) 21; 12: Martin Lampkin (SWM-GBR) 12; 13: Scott Head (Italjet-USA) 8; 14: Fred Michaud (Bultaco-FRA) 7; 15: Juan Freixas
Classic Trial Magazine • Winter 2022
(Merlin-ESP) 7; 16: Manuel Soler (Montesa-ESP) 6; 17: Renato Chiaberto (OssaITA) 4; 18: John Reynolds (Montesa-GBR) 4; 19: Gianni Tabarelli (Fantic-ITA) 4; 20: Bernard Cordonnier (SWM-BEL) 3; 21: Peter Cartwright (Italjet-GBR) 3; 22: Timo Ryysy (Fantic-FIN) 3; 23: Jean Marie Lejeune (Montesa-BEL) 2; 24: Malcolm Rathmell (Montesa-GBR) 2; 25: Gabino Renales (Merlin-ESP) 2. MACHINES: Montesa 6; SWM 5; Fantic 4; Bultaco 3; Italjet 2; Merlin 2; Armstrong CCM 1; Honda 1; Ossa 1. NATIONALITIES: ESP 5; GBR 5; FRA 4; BEL 3; USA 2; ITA 3; FIN 2; SWE 1.
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1982 • Sidecar John Gaskell-Harry Wood (Suzuki)
1982 INTER-CENTRE TEAM TRIAL
MIDLANDS MASTERS It is possibly hard to believe, as we witness the decline in sidecar trials in the modern world, that there was an Inter Centre Sidecar Team Trial in 1982. It was held on Sunday, 4th April, the day after Saturday’s ACU British Championship round, the Mitchell trial, won by John Gaskell and Harry Wood (Suzuki). The competition involved 12 centre teams; each should have consisted of four sidecar pairings. Assembling at Lansdown and Langridge Village Hall, near Bath, at 10.00 am, the event, run by the Bath and West of England Motor Club, would use parts of the national Knut Trial course taking in two laps of 20 sections. The weather was ideal, providing some early spring sunshine, as 47 riders and passengers headed off from the start to begin the sidecar action. Words: Classic Trial Magazine, Mike Rapley and Barry Watson • Pictures: Alan Vines and Yoomee Archive
Bruce Melville-Chris Lambe (Gori)
Classic Trial Magazine • Winter 2022
The previous day’s Mitchell Trial had been quite difficult in the fight for the ACU British Championship points. It affected the Inter Centre Team Trial as one of the leading riders for the East Midlands team, Geoff Gadsby, broke the frame on his four-stroke CCM, ruling him out of the event. The pre-trial favourites had been both the East Midland and the North West teams, but with Gadsby unable to repair his broken frame, he was a non-starter. As the teams’ best three scores counted in the fight for the win, his team would have to rely on good rides from Bruce Melville/Chris Lambe (Gori), Bill and Kath Sherras (Fantic) and Walter Bulloch/ Brian Pearce (Suzuki). For the North Western team, the loss of Malcolm Ellis/Frank Griffiths in the event on the 360cc Montesa with electrical problems was another blow to a potentially winning team. Fortunately for the Yorkshire team, the pairing of Barry Watson and Ronnie Suttill riding the new Italjet had been allowed to start. At the Mitchell the previous day, they were excluded from the results as the tax disc for the machine had not arrived. Presenting the tax disc on the Sunday allowed them to be included in the results as part of the fifth-place finishing team.
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Workshop • Gori
GREEN IS GO GORI
A Gori trials model was not high on my list of desired motorcycles, but when looking for a project to keep myself busy on the dark winter nights, my good friend Tony Swithenbank said he had something lurking at the back of his shed, and it was green. He had taken the aforementioned motorcycle as payment for a job he did for a north Yorkshire farmer who had used it to round up his sheep until it stopped running. It was then thrown in the barn in the mid-80s, where it stayed until Tony rescued it from certain death. The intriguing part was that the farmer had said he bought it from Tony Calvert. Tony had ridden for the then Gori UK importer, Jim Jones, in 1982, taking in a full season of ACU British Championship rounds, including the Scottish Six Days and Scott Trials. It was now a non-runner, and despite it all looking complete, it was in a very poor, neglected state. My initial thoughts were to see if I could get the engine to start so I would then know what we were dealing with. Armed with a soldering iron and a new coil, it was put back together. The points were cleaned, and some fresh petrol was put in the fuel tank. I fitted a new spark plug and started with a few steady pushes on the kick-start lever to turn the engine over, and with one extra-strong push, it fired into life. With it, it started to produce a large amount of smoke, which soon cleared. We had a running motorcycle! Words: Nick Shield • Pictures: Shield Media, Eric Kitchen
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Winter 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
Gori • Workshop
Before: The sight of the sorry Gori made me realise it would not be a quick fix! 22: 1979 and the new Gori trials model would be named the MT 325.
I
have carried out many motorcycle rebuilds on various machines, and in truth, I like a challenge, but the sight of the sorry Gori made me realise it would not be a quick fix. I would suggest to anyone taking on a similar type of project that you should make as many notes as possible before you start. It’s also worth taking some pictures to note cable routes etc., as once you begin to pull your project motorcycle apart, it’s surprising how quickly you forget so much. Also, be completely honest with yourself about how much of the work you can do yourself and make a rough note of what you will need to replace. A cheap purchase can soon turn into a very expensive rebuild.
A RUNNER
As I have already touched on, one of my first jobs when purchasing a rebuild project is to try and get the machine into life. Once the machine is running, you can find out so much more about what you are dealing with. Does it have any serious engine noises, does the clutch work and, very importantly, can you select all the gears; these are all good indicators. With a quick twist on the throttle, it was not the most responsive motorcycle I had heard, but when I took the carburettor to pieces, I could see why; it was full of what looked like pond water! The clutch was heavy, but that was expected of the Rotax engine anyway. Fortunately, all six gears were there. Classic Trial Magazine • Winter 2022
After: As a project I have ended up with a nice-looking Gori.
Mechanically, it sounded well. I may have detected a little piston rattle, but then again, so many machines of that era were not the sweetest sounding. With no knocking or rumbling of bearings, I made up my mind that I would not strip and rebuild the engine. Air-cooled Rotax engines
have always had a strong reputation for reliability. I am well informed that they were built with very strict engine tolerances, hence the reliability. There must have been plenty of oil about in the engine as it was put in the barn back in the days when we mixed at the ratio of 25:1 or 32:1 if you were brave. 67
Sport • Leven Valley Two-Day Trial
LEVEN VALLEY TWO-DAY TRIAL
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Scotland in September; what a beautiful thought for any motorcycle trials enthusiast! This was my road trip destination as I headed north for the 2022 Leven Valley Two-Day Trial, organised by the Kinlochleven & District Motor Cycle Club over the weekend of the 24th and 25th of the month. The words on the programme cover: ‘An Alternative Scottish’, referring to the Scottish Six Days Trial as this area of outstanding beauty around Kinlochleven has hosted motorcycle trials since the early 1900s. Attracting a full house of 250 riders to compete over the two days, it was a super ride from Sheffield-based Sam Clarke (Bultaco), who completed the two days and 55 sections with his feet firmly on the footrests to record a clean, no-mark-loss victory. Article: John Hulme
Winter 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
Leven Valley Two-Day Trial • Sport
Second Best Performance: Andy Hipwell (Honda)
Third Best Performance: David Coughlan (Triumph)
The organising Kinlochleven & District MCC is not a new club — originally founded in the 1930s as the Kinlochleven & District Light Car & Motor Cycle Club. It enjoyed a few successful years before World War II’s outbreak, bringing it to a premature close. The club was revived in the years following the war, and various events were regularly held in the village, but the club was finally wound down in the 1980s. Reformed in 2017, the club is now affiliated with the Scottish ACU and, thanks to the suitability of Kinlochleven and nearby Glencoe as two great venues, it has witnessed a growing demand for more events in the area, which the enthusiastic club has duly delivered. Attracting motorcycle trials riders to this area to compete has never been a problem; the sections themselves may not look too demanding, but it is the challenge of the surrounding terrain linking them together that tests both the riders and the machines. So in 2018, the idea of a new event, titled the Leven Valley Two-Day Trial, came to life, supported by a hearty group of local motorcycle enthusiasts. They could provide their knowledge of the surrounding area to bring the event to life, and, as they say, the rest is history.
GUESTS OF HONOUR
The 2022 event had two guests of honour. The first was the three-time FIM World Trials Champion for Bultaco from 1976–1978, Yrjo Vesterinen, who was also celebrating his win in the 1982 ACU British Trials Championship – 40 years ago, would you believe? He reminded me that he had also won the 1980 Scottish Six Days Trial, albeit on a Montesa. He would be joined by his good friend, Charles Coutard from France, who was riding one of the many Bultacos that Vesterinen has in his collection. Coutard had a superb trials career, riding for Bultaco, SWM and Montesa before a return to Bultaco. He was the French national champion from 1971 through to 1977 on Bultaco before winning it one final year on an SWM in 1979; he also has four FIM world round wins to his name. Despite celebrating his 70th birthday in November, he is still a more than competent rider, as many will have witnessed in Scotland. Run as an entirely off-road competition, and such is its reputation, the event is gaining in popularity. The entry included many Spanish riders, including the father-and-son team of Joan and Nils Comas. They are part of the successful team that organises the Costa Brava Two-Day Trial in November in Spain. Restricted to air-cooled twin-shock machinery, the event assembled a wide selection of machines at the start. They ranged from the original to the highly modified Pre-65 machines from before the invasion of the Spanish manufacturers before the Italian and Japanese two- and four-stroke machinery joined the sport.
Classic Trial Magazine • Winter 2022
Best Twin-Shock up to 201cc: Lewis Byron (Honda)
Diego Urreta (Fantic-ESP)
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Sport • Rockshocks Championship
ROCKSHOCKS CHAMPIONSHIP
SUPER SHOCK SERIES James Postlethwaite (Yamaha)
As a stand-alone British Trials Championship, the Rockshocks series continues to deliver quality events at various venues. Since its inception in 2014, the championship has travelled the length and breadth of the country, and the 2022 series was no different. The ten-round championship took in the following venues: Breakheart, Dursley; Parkwood, Bradford; Kirton Off Road Centre, Gainsborough; Vale of Towy, Carmarthenshire; Whitegate Farm, Holmfirth; The Baa, Consett; Wye Valley, Herefordshire; Central Wales Auto Club, Powys; Sedbergh DMC before concluding in the north of the country at Fell Green, Cumbria. Despite a troubled year of high fuel costs, the riders kept entering, keeping the championship very competitive. Each event continues to provide an Expert and Clubmen class with a choice of three classes on each route. Words: Trials Media Mike Rapley Rockshocks Championship Pictures: Trials Media
Martin Gilbert (BSA)
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From left: John Hulme, Eric Kitchen and Mike Rapley
Winter 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
Rockshocks Championship • Sport and single shock has found a class where the competition is equal, at least with machinery, if not riding ability.
A CHALLENGING LOCATION
Will Tolson (Fantic)
BOOTLE TRIAL
Riders from all parts of the country descended on Fell Green, Bootle in Cumbria on the last Sunday of October for the tenth and final round of the 2022 Rockshocks Classic Trials Championship. In a howling gale with rain drifting horizontally across the exposed Bootle Fell, 74 riders started the two-lap 20-section course, predominately based on the high fells which, on a clear day, overlook the Isle of Man across the Irish Sea. Fantics are the popular choice in the Twin-Shock
Chris Garlick (BSA)
Classic Trial Magazine • Winter 2022
category, with TLR Hondas also well represented. In the British Bike Class, various themes on BSA Bantams are the favourite, with a few Triumph Cubs and the occasional BSA four-stroke making an appearance. Those riding the Air-cooled Monoshock class generally favour Yamaha TY 250s with the occasional early Beta and Gas Gas seen in action. The series has developed considerably over the past decades and has now reached a situation where just about any motorcycle pre-water-cooling
The finishing scores for most of the class winners and top riders in previous rounds have tended to be in the single-figure area, but that was never going to be the case when the series landed at the final Bootle club round of the series. The Fell Green venue, which has been used for trials for well over 45 years, by its very nature, is a challenging location. Add in torrential weather, as was the case on Halloween Eve this year, and the carefully planned sections by local Pre-65 rider Joel Gowan (he of the joint top spot in the Scottish Pre-65 Trial) changed considerably. Finishing, wet, bedraggled and looking much the worse for wear, of the 46 riders who completed the two laps of 20 sections, the top men over the two routes were from either end of the UK. Local Expert James Postlethwaite (Yamaha) topped the TwinShock Expert route, and Devonian Martin Gilbert (BSA) claimed the Clubman course overall win in the British Bike category. Gilbert, riding his Bantam in the British Bike class, was able to claim the lowest score of the day with 14 marks lost on the Clubmen route, whilst Expert course rider Postlethwaite, on his dad’s TY 175 Yamaha, needed the loss of 23 marks before he arrived at the finish. The closest to toppling Gilbert from the win was Jake Gowan, brother of Joel, who had set out the trial. Jake rode his brother’s four-stroke BSA to great effect, and only an unexpected five prevented him from matching the Devon rider’s excellent score of just 14 marks. In second place behind Gilbert on the Clubman course, it was James Williams (Honda) who won the Twin-Shock class from Chris Tolson (Fantic), whilst Mark Jenkinson (Yamaha), on 31 marks, headed the Clubman course Air-cooled Mono-shock category.
Paul Dennis (Triumph)
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Vintage Vines • 1972 Review
Mick Andrews (Ossa)
1972
LITTLE & LARGE As the production of trials motorcycles in a once-proud off-road world dominated by Great Britain declined further during 1972, the strong production of Spanish motorcycle manufacturers faced a power struggle in quite a different way. You could argue that the majority of riders preferred a good 250 engine size, but the manufacturers wanted to offer more options to open up the market. In the case of Montesa, it wanted to attract more riders with a wider range of engine sizes, including a 125 model. Bultaco was in pursuit of the ultimate trials motorcycle though, with the arrival of the 325 Sherpa T. In the latter part of the year, the Japanese would arrive with Don Smith and the Kawasaki as Mick Andrews opened talks with Yamaha. Times were changing. Words: Classic Trial Magazine • Pictures: Eric Kitchen, Alan Vines, Malcolm Carling, Yoomee Archive
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Malcolm Rathmell (Bultaco)
Winter 2022 • Classic Trial Magazine
1972 Review • Vintage Vines
Martin Lampkin (Bultaco)
H
Rob Shepherd (Montesa)
ere we take a quick spin at what made the trials headlines during an entire 1972 season of action from January through to December.
JANUARY
Derry Preston Cobb, the Greeves founder, was awarded the MBE. A small batch of the long-awaited Mick Andrews Replica Ossa machines arrived at the London Show. Northern-based trials dealer Jim Sandiford liked the looks of the new Ossa so much that he ordered a batch of 15 and announced he would sponsor young North-Western centre Clive Smith on one. In the South, Bob Gollner Motorcycles matched the order. Midlands-based motorcycle manufacturer Wassel started to build 100 BSA Bantam trials frame kits priced at £175 for a complete machine as Ross Winwood joined them to start work on a Sachs-engined model for the future. Despite a rumoured offer from Yamaha to develop a new 360cc two-stroke trials machine, Sammy Miller signed again for Bultaco. Having previously ridden a Montesa for the UK importer John Brise, Yorkshire rider Peter Gaunt moved to a Suzuki TS 125 he had converted into a trials model. Backed by Ray Dell Motorcycles and Suzuki UK, they planned to market the machine at £200 as the Bultaco importers Comerfords held the price of the Bultaco 250cc Sherpa ‘T’ at £319 in kit form. Three new prototype 325 Bultacos appeared in the entry at the opening round of the 1972 European Championship in Belgium, ridden by the Spanish riders Fernando Munoz, Ignatio Bulto and Jaime Marques.
WINNERS VIC BRITTAIN: Malcolm Rathmell (Bultaco) BELGIUM EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP RD 1: Mick Andrews (Ossa-GBR)
Classic Trial Magazine • Winter 2022
Dave Thorpe (Ossa)
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