Archive • ACU Trial British Championship 1972-1992
ARCHIVE: 1972-1992
ACU TRIAL BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP My interest in motorcycle trials stretches back to my earliest memories, in 1967 and the great Sammy Miller. He was the ACU British Trials Champion from 1962 on probably the best-known trials motorcycle in the world, the Ariel 500cc, registration number GOV 132. Despite the switch from the Ariel to the Spanish Bultaco in 1965, he continued to dominate the championship until 1969. His great rival, Gordon Farley on the Montesa, took over as the champion when he dethroned Miller in 1970 to then retain the title in 1971. I started taking an interest in the championship table many years ago. Still, it was only over the 2022 Christmas period that I could finish my full table of events and champions and record the ACU Solo British Trials Championship. With so much documented before my time, I focussed on the periods from 1972 until 2022, where I could compile a comprehensive chart. I believe I am the only person who holds these records, which I wanted to share with the readers of Trial Magazine. In this first part, I will look at the years from 1972 until 1992 in this reflection on our sport. Words: John Hulme • Pictures: Heath Brindley, Colin Bullock, Allen Collier, Eric Kitchen, Iain Lawrie, Montesa, Don Morley, Mark Weston, Alan Vines 86
1983: Steve Saunders (Armstrong)
April-May 2023 • Trial Magazine
