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Introduction 25th ISDT 1950

25th ISDT this year held at Llandrindod Wells, Radnorshire, Wales 18 – 23 September 1950

1950 ISDT programme carries the picture of Fred Rist in 1949 Event on his 500 BSA, believed to have been taken between Ystradfellte, Deganwy & Crai.

There is no copy of the above available at the FIM if you know of a copy we would be grateful for a scan or photocopy to use or share with site visitors.

This SILVER JUBILEE event began in torrential gales & rain, the event marred by withdrawal of the highly competitive Czech team, rumours & conjecture became rife re whether it was political or marketing product forces which brought this about.   The Czech Trophy team with two Vase teams was not to compete!.  There remained 2 Trophy teams to test Britain, one From Italy on 3 125cc MVs, a 250cc Moto Guzzi plus a 250cc Sertum, plus the Austrians with those powerful split single Puch machines of 125cc & 250cc capacities.   Britain’s 2 Silver Vase team trios however faced seven ‘Overseas teams’ Austria had 2 250cc Puchs plus a 500cc BMW, two Italian teams as always mounted on their own country’s machines, then a Dutch “B” team on three CZs with their other trio on Ariels & BSAs as were the teams of Sweden & Ireland.   A total of 26 ‘known’ makes were entered predominantly British factory products AJS, Ariel, BSA, DMW, Douglas, James, Matchless, Norton, Panther, Royal Enfield, SUN, Sunbeam, Triumph, Velocette, Vincent plus H J Harrison’s “Rovil” – a 1925 Rover fitted with a Villiers motor. ‘Foreign’ machinery had CZ, Jawa, Gilera, Guzzi, Lambretta, Mondial, MV, Sertum, Puch, DKW, BMW & Zundapp.
Described as being as strenuous as the 1948 ISDT in Italy plus as wet as the 1927 event in the Lake District, from 16th to 23rd of September, over 1306 miles Britain’s Trophy team did not lose one single mark!, a three way tussle with Austria & Italy, The silver Vase contest had 9 teams from 6 different countries. Britain’s Vase ‘A’ Team of D S Evans (500cc Ariel), A F Gaymer (500cc Triumph) & E Usher (350cc Matchless) were ‘pushed hard right up to the final day by the Swedish side when H Danielsson (500cc BSA) retired, he and his two Ariel mounted compatriots B Mattsson & B Strandberg had provided really determined competition.

The one in the foreground has been identified by Jan Melssen of Netherlands as the ‘Anelays Challenge Trophy’… So few of us recall.  Prize giving this year was at the Grand Pavilion & delayed for the first time due to engine stripdowns & measurements being required for the first time.

British team manager was Len Heath, he had the delight of watching team Captain Fred Rist (500cc BSA), W Jack Stocker (350cc Royal Enfield), Peter H Alves (500cc Triumph), B Hugh M Viney (350cc AJS) & M Ray (500cc Ariel) gaining the coveted International Trophy.  Prize giving had been timed for 8.30 pm however it was delayed & took place an hour later. Llandrindod Wells Town Councillors plus local dignitaries attended with F.I.M Secretary-General T W Loughborough plus leading Motorcycling Personalities of Federation Internationale Motorcycling.  Professor A M Low was in the Chair, calling a number of speakers inc. Major Loughborough & acknowledged “father” of the I.S.D.T. Peter Nortier, President of Commission Sportif Internationale plus F.I.M Steward, & Dutch countryman G M Bruinsma. Count “Johnny” Lurani, of Italy then Major H R Watling, director of the Manufacturer’s Union. Suggestions were made for the “International” to be held in Italy or Sweden the following year, plus return to Wales in 1952 was suggested by several.

A great many of the 1950 Pics are by courtesy of George Smith who saved a great many pictures from the stores of MUNDAY the great Sidecar people. Thanks George! for putting them to disc. Jan Melssen to the rescue!! identifying this as the DUTCH B-team. CZ machines from the left Piet Besterbreutje (lost 38 marks), Jaap Haaker (lost 17 marks) and Cees van Rijssel (lost 0 marks).  Behind them left J.Sjouw (General Manager) right Maarten Flinterman (Team Manager). The van behind is the service car of the Dutch Federation KNMV {Koninklijke Nederlandse Motorrijders Vereniging}.

This was a I.S.D.T. when 213 started, 81 finished!, 38 gained Gold Medals, 16 gained Silver Medals with a loss of under 11 marks, plus 12 who had incurred less than 51 marks obtained Bronze Medals.  Manufacturers Teams were set 10% Higher tests & faster times, 15 manufacturers teams were entered, 30 Club teams too, only two of these went through the 6 days unpenalised, The Newport & Gwent Team trio of  D J Redmore (500cc Triumph) L G Wedgbury (350cc BSA) & T Hawkins (350cc AJS) lost only one mark! in winning the Anelay (of Blackburn) Challenge Trophy Cup.

Big big thanks to GEORGE SMITH once again for solving!, This is the Italian Trophy Team, with their eventual Competitors numbers #4, #25, #31, #53, #86.

Which team & machines eh? had previously been asked here, George Smith had faded pencilled writing to work on & it took high levels of flowing tea, late night magnifying glass work to identify easiest they are Puch machines prior to the weighing in & Competition numbers allocation, Austrian Trophy Team, the only team to place their number plates over machines headlamps, presumably to keep h/l glass clean, unbroken, white rim around number plates are also distinctive. Centre pic. is a 248cc Puch Reg. No. G 25 330, team mate to left probably G 25 329 from the pencilled writing studied by George, far right aft of the portly chap we need identity of is one of 2 124cc Puchs, reg. No. G 7-492, another 124cc Puch is in the pic. with reg. G 7-493. The third from right chap ‘against the van rear’ with tousled hair rode one of the 248cc’s.  Austrian Team members names seem to be J. Trammer, E. Beranek, S. Cymral (of whom George teasingly enquires whether he was a Welsh Austrian team member!) J Weingartmann & H Walz compile the listed team.  A Lucas chap in the snowy white overalls is obviously attending other than non Lucas fitted Puch machines electrics.

A mention of Gold Medal winner Fitzroy Allen is deserved here, anyone with a photo of him especially at the huge Dinas Rock section, after all he was using a BSA 123cc Bantam, thanks to A. Williams for pointing this out.

Next & at last, DULAIS VALLEY MOTOR CYCLE CLUB  Clubman Fitzroy Allen & that machine which also had BSA works assistance in preparation, Fitzroy took that little machine proudly to 1951 ISDT Gold, at the Italy event, a point or two from overall winner, he took most small machine events in Wales & UK after returning. Here he is with an array of prizes, the machine here is not this pic equipped with lighting required for 1950 ISDT, Fitzroy continued after competing to help younger riders & running the club itself.

[BSA Bantam enthusiasts will note the Cylinder head shape & we could appreciate data on this. Arthur Williams has come up with an observation that it does look remarkably like a George Todd Bantam head & thanks to Arthur, it does too. A check thru the 1950 ISDT Official programme had no mention of Fitzroy Allen, I was mistaking the year until Arthur Williams came to the rescue with 1951!, Arthur also recalls Fitzroy’s machine being exhibited in Kenny Roberts Motorcycle Shop at Newport Gwent.]

More of the ladies of the sport, George Smith points out Miss Lloyd’s BANTAM 123cc Reg Number [KOP 587] is only one away from the BSA works numbered BANTAM machine ridden by George Pickering, [KOP 586].  It looks VERY MUCH as if this is actually in the same Team, I had missed that so thanks to George Mithe.

G Pickering’s BSA 123cc (BSA works) Bantam, the one away registration of [KOP 586] gets the link for those visiting the site. my apologies for missing the connection.  Big thanks to Joe Brown of BSA works testing team for advising I had wrongly been using B with Pickering rather than the correct G for George, corrections always appreciated by all, (you cannot do this editing on books!)

Norman Vanhouse on the Works Team Ariel with oil famped rear Plungers Suspension , siamese exhaust system with undersump guards, tyre inflation cylinder, spare control cables etc, the biz!

Alan helped locate this 1950 ISDT Triumph Team related Gold medal for us to feast our eyes upon, currently up for Auction in EBay!

Deganwy & Crai is well worth a club run to see this area, just ask for directions from here? This is the Background View used on the Actual ISDT Medals presented. Worth mention too is that the road below faces Brecon & A. Williams & many more used this point as Army RV point, ‘still used as such too.

Arthur Williams who knows these places better than most suggests Taff got the wrong place here and this photo was taken near the top of the ‘Gap Road’ between Ponsticle and Cantreff

The DMW man Smokey Dawson who even when in difficulties when running his DMW concern did me a great favour which let me get tubes to let Owen Greenwood build the Grass Track outfit, ‘yet to be repaid.

Dutch entry #213 H Pelikaan on a JAWA,  #219 J R Halden 500cc Triumph, #220 D Stokes 350cc BSA, 218 Capt. D G Miles 500cc Triumph. #217 is the Ariel Works rider C M Ray who had just won the Victory Trial this year on a 500cc Ariel.

These images above come from a pamphlet about the ISDT produced by Royal Enfield in 1953 which can be read here.

D D Jones, Is this Douglas Jones ?, great defender of human & animal rights, fair play and natural decency too, few could remember Douglas Jones is the chap who brought ball end levers to be mandatory on competition machines, despite ACU’s Harry Baughan’s initial opposition.

E G Jones we believe to be Douglas Jones’s late brother, the chap at his elbow is Harry Baughan of ACU competitions fame!

We were advised in print that this is Ithon Valley Club teamster J A Bates.  APOLOGIES, I AM TOTALLY TOTALLY WRONG, Anne Bates kindly advised us via GUEST BOOK that he was a Proud member of Rhayader M.C. & L.C.C. Long may that be recorded!, I had to join them to ride at an event there, similarly with Builth Wells to ride at the Royal Welsh Show event.

On the right is Eddie Stephens Ex Racer & 1937 ISDT Competitor, this time organizing & he became the man behind Eppynt TT Races after Charlie Rossiter’s initial idea of having racing there.

L G Wedgbury’s card, he carried this on to Gold Medal plus with his Newport Gwent Anelay Cup winning side at 1950 ISDT.   Now LGW has past on, his son Steve Wedgbury kindly sent this on here.    Filled in by whom?, carried around the course plus knowing what resulted makes peering at an ordinary website just that little more definite.

& the Sprung Hub <dreaded by some!

D R (Des ) James who ‘went to Gold’ in 1949 on a scarce Royal Enfield 250 Clipper, this time his Triumph’s rear hub gave out 6 miles rom the finish & Des had to ‘make do’ with Silver!  a great all round competitor who at one stage rode Harry J Hulsman’s HJH.  Des is still a great man of Talybont!!!

The late great Jim Kentish, who had his first licence in 1933 is here on a Works pre Production Matchless 500cc Twin, ‘someone’ had altered the direction signs & points loss incurred saw him gain only a Bronze Medal, there was and became a lot more to credit Jim. Many thanks for the pic. Jim also rode a 348cc BSA #200 in 1949 ISDT then I have on record Jim riding 1954 ISDT on a 225cc James 2 stroke which is recorded as desperately trying to fall apart throughout the event, Jim persevered & emerged with a Silver Medal. (We have been sent a pic listed as the Welsh International Six Days Trial showing AA Saunders, Jim Kentish plus Ron Woolaway as the Sunbeam MCC Club Team, ‘more info required’)  Jim obtained the 27th Vincent HRD Rapide ‘A’ off the Works Production System in 1937 V1021 frame & DV1522 Motor, he won 2 1938 races at Brooklands Circuit (which as many know is located at Weybridge) on that machine plus obtained his Cherished GOLD STAR award for a Lap of 106.65 MPH.

Just as an excuse I shall add this pic of the Ship’s Bell of the Vessel,  S.S. Weybridge a Trading Ship Vessel owned locally, I obtained this in the start of the 80’s, on a stopover Trip from Dubai to Pakistan renewing my UAE VISA, my wife Janet & I paid for the item and had doubts about it reaching our home at Dubai, a great surprise when a couple of chaps turned up at our home & unloaded our Bell & some other ship artifacts from a rickety handcart after a Dhow voyage. S.S. Weybridge was dismantled at Gadani Beach, 40 miles from Karachi.

Flickr introduced a guy in France only known to me now as Spriet Hugues who points out the van marked a service vehicle is a Chanard & Walcker

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On the Map!

Next & last for the tired men & machines to keep set speed, the formidable Eppynt which unlike other circuits never took a racer’s life & has an immense ARCHIVE in www.silverdragons.co.uk  just click on the address to see a 6 year pic with cine film record too.

Nearest Camera is Kenniwell Dixon on the 350 Velocette at 1950 Eppynt TT Races, which he brought into second place on that same 5.2 Miles per lap Circuit used in ISDT,  to his right is the man who became many times World Champion for MV Agusta Moto Guzzi plus Mondial Italian teams, Cecil Sandford with his customary handkerchief in place, this time riding for Arthur Taylor Stourport tuner & development man for Velocette, aft on the balloted grid is “A” moustachio’d character & publican Ron Rudge and his 350cc Douglas, 50 marks another 350 Velocette of George Morgan of Wallasey. This pic kindly supplied by Brian Jones of Newtown from his family collection, his father had frequently attended Eppynt & passed down the stories to Brian

The Welsh Flag flutters from that Marquee, obtained sorted plus erected & cared for by Noel Knight Senior of a family heavily involved in racing plus supporting Carmarthen Motor Club, number 52 is Syd Barnett’s Bates tuned Norton which in this race took the Lap record at Eppynt into the 70’s, ahead of him 56 is the famous  Les Graham on a Works 350cc AJS, we would love to know the rider of that machine to the lower right of the pic, some say it is one of the Jaynes of Brynmawr on a Royal Enfield, research goes on. So many riders arrived at the hilltop location with nowhere to stay & the Marquee became  a hostel by night! the barren Hilltop leading to BBC’s commentator  entertainer Alun Williams attracting droves of riders mechanics stewards et al down to long remembered by all evenings entertainment of jokes & story telling plus music in the Castle Hotel Llandovery (Another great storytelling picture from the Brian Jones of Newtown family collection kindly supplied to publish here)

Here they await the 6th Day speed trials over 1500 ft up in Eppynt Mountain on the largest, 5.2 Miles TT Circuit on Mainland Britain. Certainly Ariel, is it Works team members? left on #217 is C M Ray #229 Norman Vanhouse & who is on that twin Ariel on the right, it looks very like Works man D S Evans?, fruit of their labours added below. Mist shrouded Dixie’s Corner Buildings can be seen in the background.

Here is what kindly reached us from Michael Martin, definitely worth printing in full. :-

Michael Martin

01/17/2009
23:16h Hi, I contacted you a couple of years back; I was Bill Howard’s sidecar passenger in 1954.
I am now looking at the picture of the Ariel team in the 1950 ISDT. The team is Bob Ray, Norman Vanhouse and certainly on the right it is Don Evans. The gentleman between Bob and Norman is Ernie Smith. Ernie being Ariels Competition Manager of the day. He was himself a fine competitor between the wars but is best known for the fact that he prepared the 600 cc dope burning Ariel that Len Heath used to set up the record climb of the Red Marley hill climb in the 30s and which stood for years and years. This Ernie Smith has no conection with another Ernie Smith who was Comps Manager for a time with Francis Barnett. The FB Ernie Smith did ride in some ISDTs himself.

Many thanks to  Michael

Actual 1950 ISDT Trophy Team consisted of Frederick Maurice Rist, B Hugh M Viney, P H Alves, W J Stocker, & C M Ray.  Silver Vase also came to Britain thanks to D S Evans, E Usher, A F Gaymer.

Mountain Mist at Eppynt, named so after the Pagan Goddess Epona & where the term ‘PONY’ is derived!. & where Welsh Cobs  are said to have bred since time began, the English translation of Epynt is “The Haunt of the Horse!” here we see it moody in early low cloud morning & in the next pic cleared of cloud.  The above pic shows BSA works organised progress , you can faintly see buildings to the right of this pic.

How quickly Eppynt weather changes, 57 years later, ‘still the same moody place, this pic taken by Jan Isaac November 2007 From the rise you can see in the start below, you can see the Dixie’s corner joining yje Straight at the FAR SIDE of the Buildings, The buildings then there were the Admin, pits Paddock & the view is from aft of the balloted starting Grid for the TT Races there

Overcast but strangely clearing at where the TT would start on Eppynt 5,2 Miles per lap circuit #195 is L G Wedgbury of the Newport team  on his 350cc BSA, #185 N S Harries on a Royal Enfield 350cc, (almost watching the works man), then W J Stocker on that Works 350cc Royal Enfield & almost riding with him is #156 J Wright on the 350cc BSA. Those who have not visited Eppynt Mountain itself can seldom believe how quickly & extensively it’s weather can change, here is an example, one moment you can be in low cloud, next? clarity.

Printed after the 3 Days Stage 3 Clubs teams only had lost no points, at the end Newport & Gwent’s Team emerged as the Best and took the Trophy seen being awarded.  After being winner of the Barrat Trophy in the Mitchell Memorial Trial at Merthyr in the company of celebrities of their era, Olga Kevelos (Norton) & (BSA’s) Bill Nicholson, L Wedgbury took the Barrat Trophy & customary plaque when the Trophy is returned for the next year.

After L.G.’s Performance & Gold Medal in 1949 (ACU) East South Wales Centre’s Newport & Gwent Club were delighted to enter plus help support via Entry fees and such to have him ride for their WINNING team in 1950.  Here is the Award such a bond has been commemorated by, a superb well earned & well justified piece to be proud of.  FOR THOSE LIKE ME WITH AILING EYESIGHT! IT READS:- EAST SOUTH WALES CENTRE, A.C.U. TO COMMEMORATE THE SUCCESS OF THE WINNING NEWPORT & GWENT CLUB TEAM, INTERNATIONAL 6 DAYS 1950, L WEDGBURY.

Here is that winning team L G Wedgbury centre with his distinct Welsh flag coloured helmet those other 2 of Newport & Gwent team #104 Triumph 498cc D J Redmore with T Hawkins #223 348cc AJS. (behind them #181 is Triumph Team man A F Gaymer on a Works Triumph 498cc  This pic is at Eppynt TT Circuit ready for the 6th day speed Trial, the ‘shed’ behind is at Dixie’s Corner, a similar building is still there 

Thanks to his son Steve’s efforts I can identify the Chap in the Pin stripe suit, about to receive the Cup is L G Wedgbury who took a Silver Medal in 1950 after his Gold in 1949.  The actual Cup being presented is the Anelay (of Blackburn) Challenge Trophy, the team was Newport and Gwent Club, Jan Melsssen of Holland helped us identify this Cup in that window display of trophies at the head of this 1950 ISDT page. Possibly in the background are those other 2 of Newport & Gwent’s team D J Redmore with T Hawkins.  That same Cup was finally passed to Maico team of Frankfurt in the 1954 ISDT.

Rear View could not be left out

L WEDGBURY’S ACTUAL MACHINE, 1949 BSA ZB 32 Gold Star, bought new through Jayne’s Garage in Brynmawr, with an undertaking that he would ride it as a private entrant in 1949 ISDT.  LW had seen the machine at the previous Earls Court Show!, where he had been told that delivery was very restricted.  ‘Machine came with documentation stating it’s full performance details along with several sheets detailing adjustments and modifications to enable the machine to be Road Raced and Scrambled. My thanks to Leonard George Wedgbury for proudly achieving the chronicled data on the BSA Gold Star EU 9915, I have just placed it on record with the aid of Steve Wedgbury & his family.

Extra Photos

Arthur Williams suggests this river crossing lies on the Gap road.

(I used one in a Tribsa!)

What the Papers Said!

We have the following reports from motorcycling magazines of the time

‘the Motor Cycle‘ provided a report on the opening days of the ISDT in its issue of the 21st September and we will be providing a copy of that report in our issuu.com library shortly.

Below are the images from that article

in the 5th October 1950 issue of ‘the Motor Cycle‘ George Wilson penned a summarising report on the success of the British team and the article will shortly be available through our issuu.com library and has also been released with the full text on this blog ‘Six Thrilling Days‘

Below are the images from that article

This is possibly one of my most favourite images of the six days of that time. The eclectic audience with motorcycle enthusiasts wearing the long coats, boots (often waders) and flat caps of the time exemplified by the young boy stood on the bank, probably by his dad, and they sit in front of a more formal crowd showing a healthy mix from both sexes with some ladies dressed for Motor Cycling whilst others clearly reflect popular fashion of the day, one is wrapped in a fur coat and another holds a baby. Quite how in more recent times we have allowed some people to tarnish the image of the faithful followers of Enduro as some kind of rabble of Anti Social disorder is something needing redress.

The Final Score: Results

Speedtracktales wishes to thank Marc Pétrier of FIM Information Resources who has facilitated the scanning of the FIM archive of ISDT results material and is allowing us to make it available here as a public service. Download a copy of the original Results and Stewards Report at the link below.

Download Stewards Report for the 1950 ISDT here

Artefacts and Collectables

here is the Competitor’s numbered badge fpr #195 L G Wedgebury, he still retains & kindly scanned in then emailed here by his son Steve Wedgbury. My thanks to Steve & L.G. Wedgbury himself.

Signed by the same Stan Huggett who signed my own National one in 1965! (Says Taff Isaacs).  This little section of 1950 ISDT covers so much of the personal aspect., Big Thanks again to Len Wedgbury & son Steve for bringing a more completely human feeling to a Chronicle of an extraordinary Event.

The Sort of collection which brings the past to view as reality, another little Badge worn by his dad & found plus image kindly sent in by Steve Wedgbury for the 25th ISDT Event, so significant to family plus enthusuasts nowadays, big thanks to a proud Steve. (It Chuffs me too, I had no intentions of grasping other than a spot of winnings, hopefully in cash to get enough juice to get home, & I’d love to see provenant relics now)

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Where are they now?

Ted Breffitt’s Douglas

Eddie is the owner of Ted Brefitts’s original machine pictured above negotiating the Abergwesyn watersplash in 1950, well here is the machine so superbly restored, again at an identifiable spot it passed 55 yrs or so ago!. Many thanks to Eddie Turner and the Douglas Club

#159 George Brookes’e BSA Goldstar [KON635]

Superb survivor : Bombadier George Brooks’s KON635
– Another Goldie which competed in 1950 ISDT as #159 has survived, now owned by Julian Edwards, this KOV635 was ridden in 1950 by Bombardier George W Brooks in a team which included Captain David Miles on KOV633, plus the other machine KOV634 along with it was returned to BSA Factory for refit after damage in the event, this and the other 2 had rear suspensions modified by Bill Nicholson to be oil damped. The machine was purchased without refit by Bombardier Brooks & whilst Julian has restored using a Red tank, what the heck, he likes it like that.

Bombadier George Brooks’s KON635 has appeared on an undated and withdrawn for sale notice on the web site http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C261793

This is the only remaining description the photo is no longer available

ISDT GOLD MEDAL WINNING BSA For Sale (1950)

Here is an opportunity to own a piece of English heritage with wonderful provanance. This splendid machine is not a ‘show dolly’ and is in ‘used’ condition. It most certainly is in fine mechanical working order as the previous owner completed a major rebuild shortly before selling to me. Please phone to discuss, but serious inquiries only. For your interest……………….. The 1950 event included a team from the 31st Royal Artillery Training Regiment, riding specially built, factory prepared Gold Stars provided by Bert Perrigo. The team included Bombardier George Brookes riding KON 635. Whilst his team mates fell by the wayside in appalling conditions, Brookes carried on, riding brilliantly, to earn himself a Gold Medal. These works prepared bikes were fitted with experimental oil damped units for the plunger rear springing, but these were not successful and were subsequently discontinued. After the trial, BSA agreed to sell David Mills and George Brookes the bikes that they had ridden. David Mills later gained a Gold Medal on his machine in the 1952 Austrian ISDT.