News and views

Classic Dirt Bike Show 2022

The timelines in magazine production can throw up some quirky situations such as this being written a couple of weeks before the Hagon Shocks-backed Classic Dirt Bike Show at the Telford International Centre, yet it is likely you could be reading it after the show when the magazine drops through your letterbox. Of course, you could have picked it up at the show, attracted by the KTM GS250 Enduro on the cover and actually in the metal on our stand and are reading it while enjoying a cup of coffee in the halls.

After the pandemic-induced uncertainty of the last couple of years, when shows were postponed, events cancelled and not just our sporting life disrupted there were glimmers of hope of some normality.

The first sign was confirmation that the show was actually going ahead which even up until Christmas just gone wasn’t certain. Hoops were jumped through, regulations met and conditions agreed for the indoor gathering to happen, then the regulations were relaxed a bit to allow a bit more freedom but the advice still is to stay safe.

Okay, what is there to see or what did you see? Did you catch the presentations for the CDB/AMCA MX championship on stage? Or were you there when Arthur Browning and Derrick Edmondson were

See our stunning cover bike on our stand then read about it in the mag.

being interviewed about their incredible off-road careers at the top end of motorcycle sport?

Perhaps the packed trade area was your reason for being at the show and you were scouring the stands for something vital to ensure your season – be it trials, enduro or MX – gets off to a fine start. Did you see the incredible find of genuine Eighties trials gear on former show owner Alan Wright’s stand? Rooting about in his attic Alan found a box… peeked in and there were brand new Ellegren riding shirts and orange and lemon Fantic trials helmets! Did you part with the asked-for amount for a piece of history? Rumour had it Wrighty was going to part with them for the original Eighties price…

It could be you’ve been inspired by past shows and determined to have your rebuild on show in the private entry lineup where all sorts of competition bikes are on display, their owners hoping their efforts will catch the judge’s eye and be deemed Best in Show.

One of the best things about the show though is just catching up with mates you only see at the show. This will be much more poignant in 2022 as the gap since the last one is almost two years.

All change

The Toughsheet National Twinshock MX Championship moves into its 30th anniversary year, with a few changes. Chloe Hudson has taken over the reins as co-ordinator following the retirement of Geoff Shuttleworth and she has come up with a six-round series with a couple of new tracks on the calendar.

As usual there are classes for all Twinshock riders, plus Evos, Super Evos up to 1996, and the ever popular Vets Over 40/50 on modern bikes.

Registrations are now open to everyone, and you can get your form and IOPD licence form from Chloe by emailing chloehudson11@ hotmail.co.uk

Payments can be made over the phone by calling 07887 407590 after 6pm weeknights. Alternatively please visit the National Twinshock stand at the Telford Show in Hall 3 to get all your relevant paperwork.

The six rounds are as follows: April 17 Cumbria Twinshock at Polesworth, Staffs. May 8 Durham & Northumbria at Schoolhouse MX, Consett, Durham. June 4 (Sat) Nottingham Twinshock at Bevercotes, Notts. July 16/17 Cumbria Twinshock at Pontrilas, Hereford. July 31 Cumbria Twinshock at Bassenthwaite, Keswick. September 18 Cumbria Twinshock at The Grange, Tern Hill, Shropshire.

The Cumbria Twinshock Club is also hosting the King of the Castle at Farleigh over the weekend July 2/3, and you will be able to enter when visiting the Telford Show.

Changes at the Twinshock series, but the racing remains as exciting as ever.

Drumlanrig Offroad Motorsport Festival 2022

The Galloway Motorcycle Club is pleased to announce the launch of its Drumlanrig Offroad Motorsport Festival 2022 and delighted to confirm that guests of honour will be three motocross legends: Roger De Coster, Brad Lackey and Heikki Mikkola.

The festival starts with a road run of 75 miles or so on Thursday, June 16 and funds go to Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.

Friday, June 17 There is a 50-mile run in the morning for classic bikes before Friday evening entertainment starts with a pipe band to open the event. Motorcycling action starts with a grasstrack. The cut and thrust of short, sharp heats and finals are popular with both riders and spectators and provide some close and thrilling racing.

Sat/Sun June 18/19 Saturday and Sunday will see the TwoDay Classic/Twinshock Scramble. A full race programme of classic and twinshock competitors with up to 40 riders at a time battling for honours on a superbly laid out circuit in the shadow of Drumlanrig Castle. Riders come from all over the UK and Europe as well as South Africa, Australia and elsewhere. The track location and

Galloway charity 2022

The Galloway MCC chooses a charity each year to benefit from its fundraising and for 2022 Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance will be the beneficiary. Funds will be raised at all the club’s events and a JustGiving page makes it easy to support the charity: www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/GallowayMCC22 layout allows spectators a good view of all the action. You can witness some of the best riders in the sport (many of them exchampions) doing battle on a wide array of classic bikes which reflect the golden age of scrambling from the late 50s right up to the early 80s.

Sunday, June 19 Sunday also sees a first for the event with an Open to Scotland Trial. Drumlanrig will provide fantastic and varied terrain to challenge these feet-up specialists.

Sections will be laid out as Pre65 and Twin-shock friendly with three routes of varying difficulty so riders of all abilities can challenge themselves.

Trials enthusiasts will be pleased to know that Scottish Six Days Trials legend Bill Wilkinson will be the trials guest at Drumlanrig this year. He will be joined by Vic Allan, multi British Motocross champion and Grand Prix runner who will be riding his fantastic home designed and built 175 MV Agusta trials bike.

For those taking a break from the cut and thrust of the motorcycle action there will be lots of other activities from farmers’ markets to arts and crafts for younger visitors… watch this space! Per person

One-day pass £20; Early bird £15; Event pass £35; Early bird £25; Camping £10 per pitch per night.

For Drumlanrig information

Event director: Kenny Harper 07778 912305 clubgallowaymcc@outlook.com Scramble entries secretary: Geoff Shuttleworth geoff.shuttleworth121@outlook.com Sponsorship enquiries: John McCrink 07379 379278 clubgallowaymcc@outlook.com Trials section: Derek Porter 07768 243000 gmcctrials@outlook.com Scramble/motocross section: gmccmotox@outlook.com Road run section: Crispin Bardsley gmccroad@outlook.com Membership secretary: Jim McMeeken 07850 038953 clubgallowaymcc@outlook.com Press officer: Sue Grant 07749 060285 suegrant23@me.com

Ready for action at Drumlanrig – be there or be square.

Northern British Bike Championship

For fans of the way trials used to be in the days when Pre65 trials bikes were new and we had a bit of roadwork in each event there is the Northern British Bike Championship. A seven-round series in the Lincolnshire/Derbyshire/ Yorkshire and North Wales area with sensible sections and a good ride out to boot. The event dates for 2022 are confirmed and are as follows: March 27 Poachers Bag (Lincolnshire Wolds) April 10 Derbyshire Trial June 5 Reliance Trial – Buxton (Peak District) July 10 West Riding – (Bronte Country) Yorkshire August 13/14 Croesi’r Ddyffryn Dyfrdwy October 23 Red Rose Bowland Classic (Forest of Bowland)

The organisers would like riders’ feedback to see if they would like both days to count towards the championship at Llangollen. If so, they reckon the best six scores out of the seven rounds could count. Contact them on their Facebook page.

Jersey cream For such a small island it seems incredible the Jersey Classic and Modern Trials Club can fit a two-day trial on it but it can, has and will do in 2022. After an enforced layoff while the world dealt with a pandemic, motorcycle sport is back on track and the Jersey International Classic and Modern Two Day Trial will take place on March 19/20, 2022. Though entries are closed now CDB says keep this event in your diary for next year. Regs and entry forms available on the website www.ji2d.com, as is more information.

Pre2000 fledgling series

Market Drayton Motorcycle & Light Car Club enjoyed wall-to-wall sunshine as its new trial for Pre2000 bikes burst on to the feet-up scene at Bourne’s Farm in Shropshire last October. Losing out a little to the Pre65 and Twinshockbased trials the late air and early watercooled trials bikes now have their own series. So far the fledgling series has three dates for 2022 so if Pre2000 sounds your thing and you want to get involved details are available at marketdraytonmcc@gmail.com Latest news from Pre65 Scottish Trial HQ is it is now all systems go for 2022 as it looks like they will be able to go ahead with the event this year. All the work in the background has been stepped up a gear or two with just three months to the trial kicking off.

Riders on the current entry list should have had their new 2022 paperwork in December and should have returned it by February 7, 2022 to ensure their place is secured. If you opted to carry your entry over from 2020 and have not received a letter, please get in touch – sec@pre65scottish.co.uk as soon as possible. There are no new open entries for the 2022 trial as there is still a reserve list.

A couple of changes will come in for 2022 with the biggest being the route will no longer be a dual-route figure of eight but a single lap with riders all going the same way. The club is aware that there will be challenges to overcome and has ideas on how to minimise the impact.

One major advantage is for observers who will not have such a long day out on the course if the weather is bad. Second change is the start time, which will be 9am each day and the route will pass through the village to give riders the opportunity to refuel.

The organisers advise us they’re still needing observers so, if you are interested in helping out, please get in touch with Sally Burton, observer co-ordinator – sallyburton5@live. co.uk or pop along to their stand at the Classic Dirt Bike Show on February 12/13. Come along and see us for a chat and perhaps treat yourself to some new Pre65 Scottish Trial merchandise.

Latest news from the Rockshocks Classic Trials Series HQ is the events list for 2022. The popular series begins at the end of February and finishes at the end of October and to ride every round you’d have to be up and down the country like nobody’s business. Worth it though, as there are some great events to take in. So, here is the list, the organiser details and entries will be on the Rockshocks Classic Trials Series Facebook page.

Pre65 Scottish changes

Rockshocks series

Back for 2022, the Pre65 Scottish. Will Jose Moreno and Danny Littlehales be in the entry?

February 27 Breakheart Community Project March 20 Spen Valley April 10 Scunthorpe tbc May 15 Vale of Towy June 19 Huddersfield Falcons July 10 Castleside July 24 Wye Valley August 14 Central Wales Auto Sept 18 Sedbergh & District October 30 Yeadon Guiseley

Out on the Peninsula

Organisers Andy Johnstone and John McCrink are pleased to announce the 11th Moidart Peninsula Classic Motorcycle Road Run will take place on Thursday, April 28, 2022. Trials riding legend Sammy Miller will be guest of honour at the run and also at the main event of the weekend, the world famous Pre65 Scottish Trial. The sad news is entry for the Moidart is already full as all entrants from the two Covid cancelled events have carried their entry over for 2022. The Moidart Run has become the traditional opener to a great weekend of motorcycling in and around Kinlochleven and we can all look forward to the usual, warm welcome from the people of Lochaber. As always, riders on an impressive array of old bikes will be taking part which this year includes a genuine 1925 BSA

John McCrink and Andy Johnstone persuade Sammy Miller to be guest at the Moidart Run. and some original ex-works Greeves ISDT machines. Of course there will be the usual, impressive display of vintage and classic machinery assembled at The Viaduct car park, Kinlochleven, ready for the off, with riders all anticipating the spectacular scenery they will encounter on the Road to the Isles. All being well, the first rider will depart at 10am.

This superb looking AJS is on Car & Classic website.

Editor: Tim Britton cdbeditor@mortons.co.uk 07739 615605 Columnist: John Dickinson Contributors: Tim Britton Media Ltd, Andy Withers Photographers: Fiona Watson, Nick Nicholls Collection at Mortons Archive Production editor: Pauline Hawkins Art editor: Kelvin Clements Designers: Charlotte Fairman, Tracey Markham, Tim Pipes Publisher: Tim Hartley Group advertising manager: Sue Keily

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CLASSIC DIRT BIKE (ISBN:978-1-909128-87-3) is published quarterly by Mortons Media Group Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ UK

Car & Classic

This stunning AJS caught our eye on the Car & Classic auction website www. carandclassic.co.uk – seems the classic scene is on the up. A recruitment drive by Car & Classic that will see its team double to 120 members over the next year highlights the breadth of new skills needed in the classic sector. With eight current vacancies spread across technology, marketing, sales and support roles, Europe’s largest classic and specialist vehicle marketplace is seeking expertise both in the UK and internationally. Recently, Car & Classic has appointed two new marketing assistants, who join a team of seven, and is still recruiting for three software engineer roles, legal counsel, product managers and – in line with the company’s international expansion – multi-lingual negotiators. A career page can be found here: https:// careers.carandclassic.com

For overseas subscription packages please visit www.classicmagazines.co.uk/cdb-overseas

Copyright Mortons Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher. spring 2022 | 9