LOCKDOWN BRIEFLY EASED – SOCIALLY DISTANT ACTION HAPPENED! ISSUE Fifty- seve
DIRTbike CLASSIC
n Winter 2020
#57
TRACK TIME le Westmorland Scramb
AP ition G P O T S ia trans April
Starmaker
Star performer
PLUS
Bolton Blaster
Big build beauty
DALESMAN MXER TINY HONDA ISDT ARCHIVE VINDURO ACTION
IN BALANCE
Flawless perfection If only the title were true but, just like our motorcycles, we too have idiosyncrasies… usually where those motorcycles are concerned.
I
have a character flaw, well several really, and the actual number depends on who you talk to at any particular time – in this case though it is to do with motorcycles. I’m sure there will be enthusiasts reading this who also have their character flaws pointed out regularly, either by those who share their lives or those who share an interest in all things motorcycle. In the former group, sentences such as “you’re going to do what?!?” or “It’s just scrap…” are occasionally heard as our latest idea for exploring the world of dirt bikes becomes known, or a rare and valuable and needed part has been unearthed from an autojumble, acquaintance’s garage or some such source. The latter group, those friends who also suffer their own idiosyncrasies, will be equally incredulous at your chosen make of motorcycle or branch of the sport, if only because it differs from their true path. Returning to my own character flaws, as they’re the only ones I am qualified to discuss here, I can allow the trait of fancying a go at a certain aspect of our sport is more curiosity than a flaw. A long time ago I realised perhaps it was unlikely manufacturers would be beating a path to my door with offers of works contracts but this wouldn’t stop me enjoying a variety of motorcycle sports on the principle of ‘just to see what it was like.’ The character flaw in this comes, so I’m told, when a suggestion is put forward to try something and it appears saying ‘no’ never occurs. This is one reason why my Can-Am has sprouted an extra wheel and the prospect of trying an enduro and a long-distance trial with three instead of
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❝It doesn’t help the situation when even the other occupant of the household exclaims “just get an electronic ignition and be done with it…”❞ two wheels is featuring highly in the future. There are few tasks which need doing to ensure the bike will be correct for the job, but it’s an old motorcycle and such things are understood. Alongside this Can-Am is the bones of a Triumph which I’ve been hauling around workshops and garages for donkey’s years, it’s done most of its travelling in boxes though now can roll on wheels. For some reason unbeknown to anyone, I decided it would be a great idea to see if this bike could be assembled using bits I had, could trade for and that sort of thing. A unit Triumph is a nice looking motorcycle, in standard form a lot of them have the panelling which Triumph’s MD Edward Turner decided the chaps who bought motorcycles needed, in order to remain clean and respectable on their way to work. It’s true, they did want to remain clean but most bought a Mini rather than a motorcycle. I digress, along with the panelling, Triumph unitised their engines, starting with the 3TA, the basis of my project, and also introduced more modern electrics with an alternator, powering a coil and feeding a distributor. This distributor has been causing some issues, they’re mostly detailed in the workshop section of this issue but caused the editor to muse on his character flaws. Using a distributor was common on British motorcycles of a similar to my Triumph, in some it replaced the magneto, whereas others were designed around this type of ignition. In order to have this bike fire up it needs a spark and there are many fine ignition kits on the market, none of
which are difficult to fit and all seem to work exceedingly well. However, I wondered if the electrical bits I had on hand could be persuaded to fire the bike up as Triumph intended… well I say ‘as Triumph intended’ but actually mean my version of it. The wiring diagram of such a motorcycle is complex to the likes of me whose thought process goes on the lines of ‘I’ve an alternator feeding a rectifier which sends power to a capacitor and coil then on to the distributor’ or at least I reckon it should. I don’t want the multitude of switches and relays built into the bike originally, all I want is the blue spark at the end of the plugs with no fuss. Yes, electronic ignition will do this, but and here’s the character flaw, I’m curious to see if I can make the distributor thing work. To this end I’ve gone way past all reason checking this and testing that as power seems to vanish at the distributor. To be honest I should have called a halt to this a long time ago, but there’s something in my psyche which makes me want to find out why something happens, or doesn’t happen. It doesn’t help the situation when even the other occupant of the household exclaims “just get an electronic ignition and be done with it…” I have to find out why the bits, which all produce power on their own but not when connected, are frustrating me before I invest in a simple-to-fit electronic kit and then have a life again. WINTER 2020 | 3
Regulars 03 In Balance
Where character flaws and lovable traits are discussed.
06 News and views
Lots of ‘will it, won’t it’ news about shows, events and gatherings in the off-road world.
40 Subscribe
Find out how to have your copy of CDB drop on your doormat on a regular basis.
58 Dicko’s view
A surprising revelation from our man this issue… what did he do? Why did he do it? Read the column.
72
Dirt Talk
The dirt bike world has a lot of views, this where you can air them.
82 Moto Memories
Traditionally this is ISDT time, so we found a photo from the ISDT for our Moto Memory.
11
Events 54 Showground showcase
As pandemic restrictions were easing so sporting action briefly returned and Westmorland MCC arranged a scramble at the county showground – we went along.
60 Vinduro Hare and Hounds
Like other organisers Vinduro NE inspected the regulations and found they could run a Hare and Hounds if they met the regs. We were there.
On the cover Classic action at Westmorland Showground as Ian Buchannan and Lewis Bell dice for the lead in Westmorland MCC’s August scramble.
4 | Contents
65
52
Features 11
20
30
Twinshock stopgap
Aprilia tested the trials scene with a twinshock bike before launching their monoshock in the UK.
Greeves intermediary
When Villiers launched their Starmaker engine Greeves built it into a bike, but their Challenger was already on the drawing board.
Realising the ideal
Is there an ideal ISDT machine? Maybe, maybe not, but the thinking behind creating one has remained remarkably consistent since 1913.
52
65
74
Little Honda…
…don’t worry we’re not breaking into the Beach Boys but rather featuring a neat little TLM from Honda’s immense stable.
Yorkshire’s finest
With Villiers no longer able to supply engines to a UK industry, makers had to look elsewhere, for Yorkshire-built Dalesman this meant Austria.
Bolton bolide
The story is familiar, can’t buy what you want, so make it…Alan Clews’ CCMs were born of a desire to race works BSA B50s.
74 WINTER 2020 | 5
DIRTNEWS
Classic Dirt Bike Show 2021 Keep eyes peeled for Telford news Generally speaking, and in a ‘normal’ world, this part of the news pages would be full of juicy bits and pieces about the Hagon Shockssupported Classic Dirt Bike Show at Telford. In this space would be information about our guests and bits about the bikes already lined up to come. We’d have comments from stall holders, press releases from clubs as they told us the details about the forthcoming year. Then of course there would be the prize presentations of various trials and MX series which would have been running through the year… But it’s not… for the simple reason that although at time of writing our colleagues here are planning that the show is on, we are all realistic and know the rug could be pulled with just a few days’ notice. The global pandemic which has played havoc with life in general around the world has hit sports and events particularly hard and the question asked of the editor
6 | Dirt news
at the few events which have happened in 2020 has run along the lines of “Is Telford on then?” The show is such a part of the off-road life it has become recognisable to us all by only that one word… ‘Telford’ and any classic enthusiast talking to any other classic enthusiast only has to say “going to Telford?” and all know what is being referred to… A typical reply may well be “oh aye, got a pile of bits I need before the season starts…” or “Yes, my mate’s going too and we only
ever see each other at the show being as he’s at t’other end of the country now…” None of us can make any assumptions from one day to the next let alone for an event nearly three months away. Even in recent weeks, there were signs of a return to sporting events and a light at the end of a horrible tunnel then, the light winked out as the UK was plunged into a month long lockdown. So, to the ‘will it, won’t it’ question has no simple answer. The show is traditionally in the early part
of the year for a very good reason, once March arrives, events will be on every weekend and as this scene of ours is a rider/competitor orientated one we will be keen to get back on bikes and do what we do. So … keep looking at the events and shows website for the latest information www.mortonsevents.co.uk Meanwhile here’s some pics from the thousands of images we’ve taken at Telford, just to keep you on the boil for whenever the show can happen.
Pre65 Scottish
Planning for 2021’s Pre’65 Scottish Trial (due for April 30 and May 1), has been going on in the background over the past few months in these very uncertain times. With no knowledge of what restrictions will be in place by then, planning is continuing on the assumption that things will be as near normal as they can be under the circumstances. The committee will be constantly reviewing all information that comes from discussions with the sport’s governing body and other key groups. Following the cancellation of the 2020 Trial, all the riders were given the choice to have their entry and fee retained by the club to secure their place into the 2021 event. In total 197 riders chose this option with only three
riders choosing to withdraw their entry and receive a full refund. All riders are reminded that they need to keep the secretary informed of any changes to their contact details, i.e. address, email address and phone numbers. Current contact details are essential to ensure receipt of information and instruction for the 2021 Trial. This reminder also applies to those who chose to remain on the Reserve List. The club is aware that many are already thinking about travel or accommodation, however, it is recommended that cancellation options are considered before finalising any bookings. Updates will be published via the trial’s website www.pre65scottish.com and facebook pages as more information becomes available. In the meantime, the committee hopes everyone is staying safe and well.
Kia National Twinshock series Since its launch the Kia-backed National Twinshock trials series has grown at a great pace, tapping into the bikes of the Seventies and Eighties in the way the pre65 scene did a few years before. There were great hopes for 2020 but sadly this was not to be and this theme is running through the rest of the news items too, Covid virus has changed everyone’s plans. Still, 2021 is on the horizon and Kia organisers are full of hope for the coming year. The series has retained Kia sponsorship and word from the top is they would like to set dates for next year’s series – Covid and clubs permitting. In 2021 the intent is to run the series planned for 2020. Those organisers signed up to run events are being asked to confirm they can run them, though it is all dependent on how the pandemic develops. We’re told Dave Woods has joined the organisation and is developing a much improved website, so keep an eye out for it. Also comments on possibly renaming the series to reflect changes in the scene for example as the Kia Classic Championship. At the moment following dates are pencilled in.
Suggested Dates
Twinshock events planned It was really encouraging to see so many Classic and Twinshock clubs hosting Covid secure MX events since the spring lockdown. Events were held by Somerset, Yorkshire, Cumbria and Westmorland, just in time before the Tier 3 regulations came into force. And as long as the organisers fill out the correct paperwork and stick to the rules, there is no reason why this can’t continue into 2021 and beyond, as after all it is an outdoor noncontact pursuit, where social distancing can be maintained.
With 2021 in mind, most of us are planning our dates in the hope that normality will be back with us by Easter at the latest, but who knows. Quite a few organisations have carried their registration and licences over to next year, including the Toughsheet National Twinshock Championship and their provisional dates are: April 4 May 9 May 30 June 13 July 31/Aug 1 Aug 29/30 Sept 18/19
As you can imagine, there may be changes in the months to come depending on whether tracks are available, and what local restrictions apply, but it is hoped they will be Polesworth, The Grange, Bevercotes, Astbury, Pontrilas, Hawkstone and Culham. Most of the Evo and Vets classes are now full, but there is still space in the Twinshocks, if anyone would like to ride. For further info check out www. nationaltwinshock.co.uk
CWA. 23/2 Bootle. 14/3 Sheffield & H. 18/4 Aqueduct. 16/5 Devonport. 19/6 West of England. 20/6 Yeadon Guiseley. 25/7 Richmond. 12/9 Breakheart. 17/10 Congleton. 31/10 For more information go to www. twinshockchampionship.org.uk
Top tank In our letters page Tony Proctor mentions having a glassfibre petrol tank made in resin capable of coping with ethanol petrol. It was made by Roger Ennis who is the man behind the glassfibre on Adrian Moss’s Rickmans to drop one name. Roger is a skilled worker in the glassfibre medium and should you need a tank in such stuff then he’s your man. Contact Roger on 01594 562361.
WINTER 2020 | 7
Dates planned in twinshock world Cumbria Twinshock has had to move its traditional date for the King of the Castle back a week to July 10/11 due to a wedding in the village. Entries for this will hopefully be available at the Telford Show. This year's event in September ran perfectly, with the best entry for years, as riders wanted to get out on their bikes and enjoy the fresh air. The Galloway Club is still planning to run the Drumlanrig Castle event on June 19/20 and will be having a meeting with the castle estate to thrash out a plan for the gathering. So, there will not be an early entry form made available for this again until the Telford Show. Yorkshire Twinshock, having successfully run two events at the popular Monkton Shooting Grounds near Beverley, is upping the ante and is looking to have a two-day festival in early May for both Classic and Twinshocks. Westmorland Motor Club also ran two events in August and September at the Westmorland County Showground, and is planning a couple more in 2021, with maybe a two-dayer included.
Museum recognised Sammy Miller has added another trophy to his collection, this time for his successes with the Museum Trust. He was shortlisted in two separate categories in the 2020 Historic Motoring Awards: personal achievement and museum/collection of the year. The world Historic Motoring Awards were organised by Octane magazine and the online presentation took place on the evening of October 22. The ceremony started with presentations from Derek Bell, US comedian and talk show host Jay Leno and the editor of Octane James Elliott. The evening was hosted by racing driver and presenter
Amanda Stretton. The 22 judges included Bell and Leno amongst journalists, magazine contributors and notable people who are connected in some way to motoring. Sammy won the personal achievement award against nominees Daniel Geoghegan of Bicester Motion, Peter Mullin of The Mullin Museum, Mark Perkins of Historics and Phil McGovern of Caffeine & Motion. Nominees in the Museum/ Collection of the Year included Hagerty, The Petersen Museum – winners of this category, Brooklands Museum, The Mercedes-Benz Museum and Auto & Technik Museum Sinsheim.
Classic cake Whenever there is cake to be had, a magazine editor isn’t far away… if the cake has a pic of a motorcycle on it then so much the better. At the recent Westmorland scramble John Fleming grabbed the CDB editor and said come see Norrie’s birthday cake. Norrie Pattie was instrumental in engineering John’s CZ which was our cover bike in issue 56. The local supermarket does a cake printing service and Norrie’s birthday treat was sorted. Through muffled mouthfuls of the tasty stuff we gather Norrie is 21ish…again.
8 | Dirt news
Highland entries held over
Entrants who have had their entry for the postponed 2020 Highland Classic Trial – Edition Fantic are still entered for 2021. It is hoped the Covid pandemic will have subsided by then and some form of normality can be expected. The Inverness DMC club appreciates riders' circumstances may have changed due to the pandemic and riders may withdraw their entry and have a full refund of their entry fee at any time up to two weeks before the event in 2021.
Finally, the club will require a fresh entry form from riders, to cover the legalities of a 2021 entry.
This will be sent out in February and must be returned to the company via a PO Box in Inverness.
Bonhams winter sale The Competition Collection of trials bikes is headlined by the Ex-Works: Ron Langston 1958 ISDT Ariel HT5 (£10,000 – £15,000), a class-leading heavyweight trials iron and a gold medal winner at the 1958 ISDT. The Winter Sale
will be a live and online auction, with an auctioneer at the rostrum, with bids accepted online, by telephone or by absentee bids. The sale will be on view in the 50,000 sq ft former RAF Bomber Station hangar at Bicester Heritage,
with pre-sale viewing between December 3 and 5 by appointment only: Thursday, December 3 09:00 – 17:00 Friday, December 4 09:00 – 17:00 Saturday, December 5 09:00 – 17:00
This will be the method by which future entries for the Highland Classic will be administered.
Classic Calendar For a number of years Andy Tiernan has through his business instigated the printing of a classic calendar. It is there to raise funds for a good cause which we hope never to need the services of but is there just the same, the East Anglian Air Ambulance https://www.eaaa.org.uk His previous calendar raised £2022 to help keep them flying. The calendar features images by Mike Harbar https://classiclinesartist.com Postage price is : United Kingdom – 1 calendar including 2nd class postage is £11 European Union – 1 calendar including European postage is £17 Rest of the World –1 calendar including Overseas postage is £20 For further details please go to the website calendars page www.andybuysbikes.com/Calendars/ Calendar%20page.html
WINTER 2020 | 9
APRILIA TX300
Italian Job… Of the many reasons to select a motorcycle to join your garage, “because I’ve never owned one before” is as good a reason as any... Words and Pics: Tim Britton Media Ltd
Above: A nice clean and tidy looking motorcycle. Left: Grimeca hub is laced to an early Akront tubeless rim, the snail cam has a slot in it for a lever to go in which helps with adjustment.
12 | WINTER 2020
T
he Italian renaissance had as big an effect on the trials world of the 1980s as the Spanish industry had 15 years before. In the same way the Spanish filled the vacuum left by the turmoil in the British industry, so the Italians were there to provide the next generation of trials bikes to a market desperate for something to buy. It wasn’t quite as instantaneous as such a statement makes it sound, but nor did Spain oust the British manufacturers overnight, however there is little doubt for the Eighties the new accent was Italian. In truth, the Italian makers had been around the trials scene for quite a while, Fantic for instance had no less a rider than former European champion Don Smith mounted on one of their tiny machines in the Scottish Six Days Trial of the late Seventies, and SWM had secured French champion Charles Coutard to develop their machine in that same period. One of the issues faced by the Italian industry was to do with their machine capacity, in a world where bigger was seen as better, the smaller bikes were ‘toys’ or ‘mopeds’ and not for real riders who obviously needed bigger machines. Neither of those statements are accurate as trials riders might think they need the
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