With the 100th anniversary of the holding of the first International Six Day Trial less than 1 year away, as the event was hosted by the ACU in England before becoming one of the most truly international of top class motorcycle events. Which, with the toughness of the six days of effort quickly saw the event being likened to the ‘Olympics of Motorcycling’ a name that has stuck with it ever since as it has been hosted on most of the worlds continents.

I have made contact with both the ACU and FIM to discover what they will be doing to mark the centenary and how riders can be involved. Two options being discussed are to commemorate the ISDT with both old vintage machines and more modern competative off road vehicles that featured in the later ISDT events. Obviously the difference for both kinds of motorcycles will means the kind of event for either groups need not necessarily be the same.

With the cost of putting on a bespoke ISDT reunion event, land access issues and the ability to fit into a busy calendar one obvious solution might be to shoehorn a class into an existing event but doing so the event need be one which is not impossible for some of the collectors bikes to complete. As one of the organisers of the Powys Enduro which now remains in the UK as last single lap event run over open roads and country in one single lap that is possibly closest to traditional ISDT going. We will consider adding an ISDT Centenary class to the 2013 event which takes place on the 1st Sunday of July. This class would be open to just bikes that are ex ISDT or were production models that would have been able to pass scrutineering to attend an ISDT. The course would follow the ful lPowys event which attracts riders on the latest models of Enduro machines and in some places minor alternative routes may be available. We would hope that this event could be open to overseas riders and will ask the ACU to discuss how permitting avoiding the complication of FIM permits can be avoided, we have previously had German Sidecars competing in the Powys which was a round of the British Sidecar championship. As the event is being organised this event will certainly run next year and I hope we get an interesting field of yesterday’s classic enduro and ISDT bikes entered. There is camping in the start field and plenty of near by bed & breakfast and Inns to serve food.

The other opportunity would be for the Vintage and Veteran ISDT bikes, mostly of the pre-war era, that are unlikely to be suited to the partial or  full distance of the Powys that during late August, riders organise a show and rally for these older bikes to take place in Carlisle and to include a non damaging road tour of the passes in the Lake District. As I am personally unable to arrange this I have made a suggestion to contacts at the VMCC that they may wish to lead on such an event. If this materialises into anything I will be sure to post details here.

If you are reading this and either are keen to take part and wish to be personally notified of any information please add your details here, if you might be aware of any sympathetic motorcycle industry bodies or other who would be able to help fund bespoke ISDT centenary merchandising, awards or other promotional items for the event please could you let us know.