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Speed Track Tales

~ A history of the International Six Days Trial and Welsh Motorcycling

Speed Track Tales

Monthly Archives: January 2013

ISDT Centenary Rallye & Ride – Carlisle 2013

28 Monday Jan 2013

Posted by Highwayman in Enduro, England, Europe, Gelände Sport, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Motorcycling, Motorsport, Regolarità, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux, UK

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Carlisle, Centenary, ISDT


Latest news release has just landed

rally&ride sticker

January Press release.

TOURATECH CENTENNIAL RALLY NEWS

Britain’s biggest rally event is set for August. What has been termed as the Festival of the International Six Days Enduro is in fact a celebration of the hundred year history of the ISDT/ISDE. It will be the most important event in the UK off road rally calendar in 2013.

Touratech the World’s largest manufacturer of Adventure Touring equipment is backing the event and will be present at the Carlisle start and finish area.

The first ISDT, later changed to the ISDE, was held in Carlisle in August 1913, one hundred years later Carlisle welcomes rally competitors to the city centre start area for a four day event. There will be a three day forestry rally in the Kielder & Kershope forests with each day starting and finishing at Carlisle Castle. A celebration programme is being produced by Carlisle City Council which has recognised the importance of this event.

On the last day, which is exactly the same day of the month as the first day of the first ISDT, one hundred riders will ride the same course as the original first day. The Centennial Ride competitors will have lunch at Keswick where the old timers dined.

The Centennial Rally has classes for adventure, genuine trail, sports and classic ISDT/E type bikes. The course will be three days of forestry tracks, two days of which will be three laps of a challenging course, the other day will be a single one hundred mile lap, the longest rally lap in Britain. Total distance is around four hundred miles.

The Centennial Ride which follows the original one hundred and twenty mile gravel roads, now surfaced, will include machines and riders that have a connection with the history of the ISDT/E.

No celebration of this type would be complete without a get together and this will take place on the Saturday evening at the Swallow Lynton Hotel, where bargain price accommodation is available, the hotel is a short distance from the start and finish area.

There will be plenty to see near the start and finish arch where manufacturers and traders will have displays of their latest products. Further information is available at www.bigbikerallychallenge.co.uk where the regulations and entry form will shortly be posted. Go to touratechuk.co.uk for information or to request a catalogue.

ISDT 1954: Controversial Jury decision strikes out the British Trophy Team’s win

26 Saturday Jan 2013

Posted by Highwayman in Czechoslovakia, Enduro, Gelände Sport, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Motorcycling, Motorsport, Places, Regolarità, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux, Wales

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1954, FIM, ISDT, Jury


Common knowledge recognises that with a long involvement with the ISDT and ISDE including its founding in 1913 at an event in Carlisle Britain has won the International Trophy the most of any nation. However it is popular belief, held with some disappointment in Britain, that the last time Britain won the Trophy was way back in the ISDT 1953 held in Czechoslovakia. The following year they lost it in Wales, handing the Trophy back to the hosts of their victorious event in the previous year. However a question remains that was ’53 the last year. Many at the time held out the vbiew that Britain should squeeze an extra year of glory if the decision of the Jury about an accident on the route had not reinstated a Czechoslovakian rider, who many felt should have been excluded for breaching the rules. Below is a picture of the first and second team in the Trophy from Motor Cycling and below that is the text of the editorial that appeared in the post ISDT 1954 issue of Motor Cycling which explains the reason why British Riders and supporters were unhappy about the final result.

Image

Photo of the Victorious Czech ISDT Trophy Team and the second placed British Trophy Team at ISDT 1954

Continue reading →

The price of fame: Steve McQueen and the ISDT

23 Wednesday Jan 2013

Posted by Highwayman in Book, Enduro, Europe, Gelände Sport, Germany, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Media, Motorcycling, Motorsport, Photography, Places, Regolarità, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux

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Barbour, international, ISDT 1964, Steve McQueen


Steve McQueen‘s ‘star’ shines as brightly as ever these days, and the man is still relevant some 30 years after he left us. You will see his image on the pages of glossy lifestyle magazines promoting sunglasses, wristwatches, jackets and motorcars. Steve’s fan base is global and we know this from experience: when great McQueen property is offered, the telephones light up from Japan to Australia, from Britain to the United States.

While many of his contemporaries slip into obscurity, why does McQueen continue to hold our interest? Well, he starred in some of the most memorable movies of the Twentieth Century, he was an accomplished racecar driver, he was a great shot, he flew vintage aeroplanes, and he was also something of a hit with the ladies. McQueen could ride a motorcycle too; in fact he was bloody good — so good that together with pals Bud and Dave Ekins, Cliff Coleman and John Steen he represented the United States of America at the 1964 International Six Day Trials (ISDT).

the ISDT 1964 would take place in the Communist Eastern bloc during the height of the Cold War. On September 5, 1964 in a packed hall in Erfurt, East Germany complete with a large picture of Walter Ulbricht the then leader of the German Democratic Republic, McQueen — in what has been reported as one of the proudest moments of his life — carried the ‘Stars and Stripes’ for the US team at the opening ceremony.

I’ve got a box full of my old outdated racing licenses probably worth a grand total of £0.00 but Steve’s license a folded piece of card the size of a cigarette packet, Steve’s sold for US$ 42,700 …. the price and value of fame eh!

Photo of Steve McQueen's FIM race license from 1964 (Courtesy Bonhams)

Photo of Steve McQueen’s FIM race license from 1964 (Courtesy Bonhams)

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2013 ~ 80th Anniversary of the First ISDT to start in Wales

20 Sunday Jan 2013

Posted by Highwayman in Enduro, Gelände Sport, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Motorcycling, Motorsport, Regolarità, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux, Wales

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events, ISDT, Llandrindod Wells, mid Wales, Motorcycles


In the year where we see the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the very first ISDT. For many, especially in Wales, it is also going to be noted as the 80th anniversary of the fifteenth ISDT event which took place in Llandrindod Wells, Radnorshire, now Powys in 1933. We have a page dedicated to each year the ISDT took place but also its another anniversary as the ISDT changed its name in 1981 to the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE). In 1983, 30 years ago this year, the ISDE rolled back into Llandrindod Wells / Builth Wells, the last time the Six Day spectacular has occurred in Great Britain. During this year I hope to produce a page to commemorate the 1983 event, of which video clips of a Welsh Language TV Show on S4C can be viewed in our ISDT Tube page.

Originally the awarding of the following years event was an honour bestowed on the National Governing Body for the country of the sport whose team won the trophy. However this became increasingly difficult because of the limited number of countries eligible to compete for the International Trophy, which could only be won by a team riding on motorcycles made in their own country. Later on the cost of this restriction limited the number of potential host nations and finding a host with adequate suitable terrain and resources became harder. The Trophy requirements were abandoned teams could ride on what they wanted, and it was later opened up to parties to bid for the rights to hold the event rather than winning the right.

The history of the Welsh Events in 1933, 1937, 1938, 1949, 1950, 1954, 1961 can be followed on their own pages.

As part of the 1933 celebration we have purchased an original copy of the ‘Motor Cycling‘ report on the week long event which we will be making available on the 1933 page. Below are a couple of images from that report and an extract from the editions forward piece on the ISDT of 1933.

Photo - ISDT 1933 (from Speetracktales Archive)

Photo – Victory and vanquished, the German and English Trophy teams get together for a friendly chat after the speed test. L to R, Stelzer, in white suits, Rowley seated on BMW, Tetstall Bradley’s passenger, bo-peeping over Rowley’s shoulder; Mauer-Mayer’s passenger; Bradley seated; Mauer-Meyer; Perrigo and Ernst Henne ISDT 1933 (from Speedtracktales Archive)

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Happy Birthday Jim Alves – 2nd January

10 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by Highwayman in Enduro, England, Gelände Sport, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, Photography, Regolarità, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux

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Alves, Jim Alves, Royal Enfield, Triumph, Velocette


With all the hoopla of Xmas, New Year and the acquisition of Jim Alves’s ISDT Gold Medal from 1953 I somewhat overshot publishing an article I had planned for 2nd January because it was the day after New Years Day in 1916 in Glastonbury that saw the arrival into the world of Percival Harold Alves.

To celebrate I am publishing in our Folks ‘n Motors section an article that was published in ‘the Motor Cycle’ of May 30th 1946 reviewing the career of Jim, as he was better known, at the published date in 1946. At 30 years old Jim had already had many of the best results possible in Britain and within the next 10 years would set his mark as one of the worlds best Trials riders and in particular as a British Trophy Team rider of the ISDT

Jim Alves being interviewed by the journalist 'Torrens' of 'the Motor Cycle'

Jim Alves (on the right) being interviewed by the journalist ‘Torrens’ of ‘the Motor Cycle’

Jim Alves’s 1953 Gold Medal saved from anonymity.

08 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by Highwayman in Czechoslovakia, Enduro, Gelände Sport, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Regolarità, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux

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1953, British Team, Czechoslovakia, Gottwaldov, ISDT, Triumph, Trophy


A lucky Google search in 2012 identified friends of the late Jim Alves were selling off a number of his ISDT souvenirs. Photos of a number of these can be found on this blog but of particular interest was the FIM Gold Medal Jim won at the ISDT in 1953.

The importance of the 1953 win was that despite the British Team being, what Americans describe as the “winningest” when it come to the International Trophy, this event marks the last year an ACU team won it. Maybe this is one of the visual milestones that pointed towards the end of domination of British Motorcycle Brands. For another 10 or 15 years individual British riders imposed there brilliance on the ISDT results but by 1970 this was either on non British machines or custom workshop handbuilds like the Cheney or TriBSA

For now the 1953 we had never had it so good and this was our last best win of the ISDT, with the team now gone this is an important piece of the tale of the legend they left.

20130108-134513.jpg

After brief negotiations the vendors were very keen to ensure the medal remained connected to the ISDT and agreement was quickly made for its acquisition by Speedtracktales. The collection grows.

ISDT Heritage Highways – Allt y Bady, Llangollen, Wales

04 Friday Jan 2013

Posted by Highwayman in Book, Enduro, Gelände Sport, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Motorcycling, Motorsport, Photography, Regolarità, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux, Wales, Welsh Borders

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Allt y Badi, Llangollen, North Wales


Back in 1933 the International Six Days Trial (ISDT) first visited Wales and in a report in the ‘Western Daily Press‘ of the event, the course was described as requiring competitors each day to ‘ride over the most difficult and dangerous roads in the British Isles‘ this was Britain between the wars with little need to travel to far off countries for excitement and adventure. The ISDT started in 1913 and much of its course followed tracks that in pictures appear they were made for farm carts yet, today, many of them are surfaced ‘A’ class roads.

Gallt y badi

Hyll, du, budr, yw Allt y Badi; – un serth,
Mae’n hawdd syrthio arni;
Pe syrthiwn ar ei serthni;
Yn ’sgyrion hollt â’i’m hesgyrn i.

The fact was the nation’s road network  had been a considered such a national disgrace in the 1800’s that it required a Parliamentary Commission to fix, this ultimately led to the decision when establishing the new County Councils in the mid 1800’s for them to take over managing main roads. By the 1927 Local Government Act, what roads were left being managed by the District and Parish Councils were passed over the the County Councils. This was at a time there was an increasing demand by the public for the metalling of highways with the increasingly popular Tar Macadam to provide a level all weather surface better suited to the needs of motor cars.

Not a problem then worrying the ISDT organisers, who knew that many of the rural roads were still unmade and which, occaisionally, might only be treated to heaps of crushed rock to fill up holes to ensure the carts full of farmer’s turnips could be safely wheeled to market towns for sale. The roads of the early ISDT years were sufficient for their intended purpose to test motorcycle reliability. Although some private land was available for events, with heavy bikes with little or no suspension the public road network, as it was then, was more than adequate for the job. Local communities were also keen to see the event come though their area, both for the people it bought in and the distraction from the daily norm it gave to those in rural areas long before the distraction of TV or radio became popular social barbiturates.

In the Heritage Highways features we will try to examine a bit more about Roads that hold a particular iconic legacy for the event. If you have a candidate highway let me know, this is the first edition which is the ‘Allt y Baddy’, near Llangollen, Denbighshire. The earliest written reference to the road is found in a poem published in 1878 by the Welsh poet Ioan Myllon which is as follows

Gallt y badi

Hyll, du, budr, yw Allt y Badi; – un serth,
Mae’n hawdd syrthio arni;
Pe syrthiwn ar ei serthni;
Yn ’sgyrion hollt â’i’m hesgyrn i.

in english it reads

Gallt y badi

Ugly, black, dirty is Allt y Badi – so steep
It’s easy to slip on her
If I fell on her steepness
Wholly splintered my bones would be

Continue reading →

Contents of Pages

  • About
  • General History of the ISDT 1913 – 1979
  • INDEX of ISDT Events
    • ISDT 1913 – England
    • ISDT 1914 – France
    • ISDT 1920 – France
    • ISDT 1921 – Switzerland
    • ISDT 1922 – Switzerland
    • ISDT 1923 – Sweden & Norway
    • ISDT 1924 – Belgium
    • ISDT 1925 – England & Wales
    • ISDT 1926 – England
    • ISDT 1927 – England
    • ISDT 1928 – England
    • ISDT 1929 – Mid Europe
    • ISDT 1930 – France & Italy
    • ISDT 1931 – Italy
    • ISDT 1932 – Italy
    • ISDT 1933 – Wales
    • ISDT 1934 – Germany
    • ISDT 1935 – Germany
    • ISDT 1936 – Germany
    • ISDT 1937 – Wales
    • ISDT 1938 – Wales
    • ISDT 1939 – Germany
    • ISDT 1947 – Czechoslovakia
    • ISDT 1948 – Italy
    • ISDT 1949 – Wales
    • ISDT 1950 – Wales
    • ISDT 1951 – Italy
    • ISDT 1952 – Austria
    • ISDT 1953 – Czechoslovakia
    • ISDT 1954 – Wales
    • ISDT 1955 – Czechoslovakia
    • ISDT 1956 – W Germany
    • ISDT 1957 – Czechoslovakia
    • ISDT 1958 – W Germany
    • ISDT 1959 – Czechoslovakia
    • ISDT 1960 – Austria
    • ISDT 1961 – Wales
    • ISDT 1962 – W Germany
    • ISDT 1963 – Czechoslovakia
    • ISDT 1964 – E Germany
    • ISDT 1965 – Isle of Man
    • ISDT 1966 – Sweden
    • ISDT 1967 – Poland
    • ISDT 1968 – Italy
    • ISDT 1969 – W Germany
    • ISDT 1970 – Spain
    • ISDT 1971 – Isle of Man
    • ISDT 1972 – Czechoslovakia
    • ISDT 1973 – USA
    • ISDT 1974 – Italy
    • ISDT 1975 – Isle of Man
    • ISDT 1976 – Austria
    • ISDT 1977 – Czechoslovakia
    • ISDT 1978 – Sweden
    • ISDT 1979 – W Germany
    • ISDT 1980 – France
  • Folks ‘n Motors
    • Brian Nash’s 1955 ISDT 1953 Royal Enfield 700cc Meteor Trials Combination
    • European Enduro Championships 1968 – 1981
    • ISDT riders : 1934/35/36/37/38 John ‘Jack’ Andrew McLean Leslie
    • Herr Scholte’s Album of 1937
    • Bob Ray – Team Ariel ISDT Ace of the ’50’s
    • The Women at the ISDT
    • The German Enduro all-rounder: Rolf Witthoeft
    • Herbert Schek: a giant of the German ISDT scene
    • The ex-Phil Pike, ISDT 1926 Norton 588cc
    • Tommy Meeten and the Francis Barnett 1927
    • Unknown 488cc Royal Enfield Press Fleet Motorcycle ISDT 1929
    • Road Test: Production 1932 Norton 500cc ‘International’ – the Motor Cycle
    • Silver Vase winning DKW 246 ISDT 1935
    • Percy Sivell’s 1938 ISDT BSA JB25 Empire Star Competition
    • Stuart Waycott’s 1938 ISDT 600 Velocette Outfit
    • Jim Alves’s early career in Motorcycle Trials
    • Arthur Merrett’s works Vincent-HRD 998cc Series-B Rapide 1948 ISDT
    • BSA Gold Star and the ISDT
    • 1951 BSA Bantam D1 – 125cc
    • Georg Meier’s works German Trophy Team BMW 594cc R67/2 ISDT 1953
    • Hugh Viney’s Works AJS 498cc – ISDT 1953
    • Francis Barnett Manufacturers Team Bikes ISDT 1954 & 1955
    • Jim Alves’ 1954 ISDT Triumph 650 twin
    • Unknown 1955 Ariel ISDT bike
    • 1961 Jawa 250cc Type 553 ISDT
    • Arthur Lampkin’s 1965 ISDT TriBSA 502 GOB657D
    • Ken Sedgely’s Suzuki 124cc ISDT 1965
    • Roy Peplow’s works, 1966 ISDT Triumph 490cc Tiger 100S/C
    • Dick Sutton’s 1968 ISDT Cheney Triumph 500 Twin
    • ex British Trophy Team 1968 ISDT 500cc Cheney Triumph
    • Ivor Smart’s ex factory Bultaco 175cc Matador 1970
    • Jim Sandiford’s 1970 ISDT Cheney Triumph 504cc Tiger 100C
    • Bryan Cowshall’s 1972 ISDT Works Cheney BSA 441cc 1969
    • Ken Harvey’s – Team USA Triumph TR5T 500cc ISDT 1973
    • Puch: Austrian Trophy team’s Johann Sommerauer’s works Puch MC 175 ISDT 1973
    • Steve Tell: Monark ISDT team rider
    • Rolf Witthoeft’s 1980 ISDT Works BMW GS 900
  • Miscellaneous ISDT features
    • Mapping the ISDT: Original British ISDT course markers maps recovered
    • Heritage Highways of the ISDT
    • Mapping the ISDT
    • Promotional Material for ISDT
    • ISDT Motorcycle Adverts – 1920’s
    • The Motorcycle Show
    • Miscellaneous Images
    • Miscellaneous Images 2
    • Other Images
  • Artefacts
    • the Speedtracktales Library
  • ISDT tube
    • ISDT History – A video collection
  • ISDT Links
  • Contributors
  • Guest Book

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