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Speed Track Tales

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

Speed Track Tales

Monthly Archives: April 2014

Speedtracktales and the history of the Reliability Trial

25 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by Highwayman in Media, Motorcycling, Photography, Trials, UK, Wales

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Triumph


In this post to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of Speedtracktales V2, I’m going to admit that I promised the site would not just cover its core topic of the International Six Days Trial (ISDT) but would delve into the history of the ‘Reliability Trial’ which for the english riders was the origin of events was later re-named ‘Enduro’. ‘Observed Trials’ developed from another discipline the ‘Sporting Trial’

I am in particular keen to ensure the history of Welsh based Reliability Trials such as the Liverpool MC organised ‘Reliance Trial’ survives as a public record. These events were often the means by how the going for the ISDT was discovered and brought together the skilled teams of route markers and travelling marshalls.

During May I will be featuring in the STT Blog full original magazine reports on both the 1934 ((to come) and the 1935 (here) edition of the Reliance Trial, as well as a number of articles written from the period about the development of both branches of the trials sport.

This will also include a long forgotten road test of the 1934 Model 5/5 500cc ohv and Model 6/1 Twin ohv Triumphs which was undertaken over much of the North Wales section of the ISDT 1933 route including Allt y Badi, Hirnant, Eunant Pass and the Bwlch y Groes and other classic mountain roads of the time which can be read here.

Photo Riders on the final Section of the Reliance Trial 1934 p Blonde Ethel

Photo – Riders with spectators on the final section of the Reliance Trial 1934 on ‘Blonde Ethel’

The winner of the 1934 Reliance Cup was none less than ISDT stalwart George Rowley riding a 560cc AJS, with the BSA team of Perrigo, Povey and Ashworth picking up the team award.

Continue reading →

Mapping the ISDT: 1951 Italy

23 Wednesday Apr 2014

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

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Bosco Valtravaglia, Como, ISDT 1951, Maggiore, Monza, Porta Valtravaglia, San Pellegrino, Sesto Calende, Varese


Image - scanned map of course ISDT 1951

Image – scanned map of course ISDT 1951

Image - scanned course map of ISDT 1951

Image – scanned course map of ISDT 1951

This list of places along the route was released in an article in ‘the Motor Cycle‘ 19 July 1951.

THE MOTORCYCLE, 19 JULY 1951

International Six Days’ Trial  September 18 to 23

Routes for the International Six Days’ Trial have now been issued. The event is to be held in Italy from Tuesday, September 18, to Sunday, September 23, with Varese as the headquarters. On the fourth day, the Friday, there will be a night run, just over 100 miles in length. Total mileage of the route will be approximately 1,220 plus the high-speed test, which will be at Monza autodrome.

Continue reading →

Mapping the ISDT: 1952 Austria

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

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

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ISDT 1952, map, mapping


We now have a map … not sure when I will have time to start making a digital version. Let me know if anyone has any better information please.

Image - The routes followed in each of the six days of the trial. The numerals indicate the particular sections used on individual days. ISDT 1952 (Speedtracktales Collection)

Image – The routes followed in each of the six days of the trial. The numerals indicate the particular sections used on individual days. ISDT 1952 (Speedtracktales Collection)

 

ISDT 1952: Bad News from Bad Aussee for Great Britain

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

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

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ISDT 1952


So read the title of the editorial in ‘Motor Cycling‘ in the issue of 25 September 1952 in a report covering the ISDT 1952 that had recently taken place at Bad Aussee in Austria. You can read a copy of the Cyril Quantrills report on the event at our issuu.com library of old ISDT magazine reports and programmes here.

“Bad News From Bad Aussee:

THOUGH these words are being written while we still await the final confirmed results of the International Six Days Trial it seems evident that things have by no means gone as planned by Great Britain. Until our representatives return home it will not be possible to establish a clear picture of what went wrong and, In any case, this is not the moment to conduct a post-mortem. Rather is it one to congratulate the winners on their success, to compliment the organisers on what seems to have been a difficult yet fair trial and to commiserate with those who found that their luck was Out.”

Photo - Conditions at the start of Saturday's run are depicted above. Reflected in the waterlogged ground, spectators and officials see the riders off on their third day's journey ISDT 1952 (Speedtracktales Collection)

Photo – Conditions at the start of Saturday’s run are depicted above. Reflected in the waterlogged ground, spectators and officials see the riders off on their third day’s journey ISDT 1952 (Speedtracktales Collection)

Continue reading →

Historic Film: Rock, Moorland & Rain 1951

21 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by Highwayman in England, International Six Day Trial, Media, Trials, UK, Video

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Allan Jeffries, Bradford, CH Wood, Rock Moor and River, trials


Flicking through an issue of ‘the Motor Cycle‘ 19 July 1951 I spotted this article which drew my mind to a video I had seen on Youtube and thought I had featured it in a previous Blog here.

20140421-192814.jpg

Image – clipping from ‘the Motor Cycle‘ 19 July 1951

After being unable to find it, I presumed it must have been posted on the Speedtracktales facebook page, so I retraced my steps and found the movie on Youtube. Although dedicated to the Observed Trials events held in the mighty Yorkshire Centre of the ACU, it has links to the ISDT through the many Six Days riders who competed well at a national level in Observed Trials and Reliability Trials. None more so than the narrator of the film Shipley man, Allan Jeffries, who apart from wins in the Scott, Scottish Six Days and British Expert Trials was a well-respected and regular ISDT competitor and who captained the successful winning British Team in the ISDT 1948. The film called ‘Rock, Moorland and River‘ was professionally made, with its own soundtrack medley of Yorkshire Aires played by a Brass Band and received a World Premiere 22 July 1951 at the Victoria Hall, Saltaire, Yorkshire.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-Jdnb2Gz3c]

The Bradford Club deserves the nations thanks for the effort in making the original film which is a factual and informative historical insight into motorcycle sport in the heyday of Britain’s national love and obsession with the Motorbike before the car became common place in our streets and roads. Also our gratitude for subsequently the digitisation and restoration before loading for public enjoyment on Youtube.

 

Auction News: H and H Classic Car Auctions Duxford Sales – 24 April 2014

21 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by Highwayman in England, Manufacturers, Media, Motorcycling, Motorsport, Photography, restoration, Trials

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Auction, Classic Motorcycles


Image - Catalog cover H and H Classic Car Auction, Imperial War Museum 24 April 2014

Image – Catalog cover H and H Classic Car Auction, Imperial War Museum 24 April 2014

H and H Classic Car Auctions Duxford Sales – April 2014 – Digital Edition.

Limited ISDT interest again however of interest to many may be this Ex Works BSA XB31 Trials bike of 1947 ridden by Irishman Terry Hill to victory in the 1949 British Experts Trial.

Photo - Ex Works BSA XB31 Trials Bike 1947

Photo – Ex Works BSA XB31 Trials Bike 1947

further details here

My personal favourite from the auction, but judging by the guide price I am not alone in considering the bike is from possibly the greatest motorbike builders in the interwar years who were able to use great engineering tools and design to focus on the future rather than concentrating on building ontop of existing traditions and reputation. Although they may no longer be making Motorcycles the parent company remains at the forefront of the Motor Industry.

Photo - DKW SS250 Split Single 1938

Photo – DKW SS250 Split Single 1938

Auction News: Bonham’s Spring Stafford Sale 27 April 2014

20 Sunday Apr 2014

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

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Auction, Automobilia, Bonhams, Classic Motorcycles, ISDT, Sale, Stafford


And Christmas v2 for the Classic and Vintage Motorcycle lover has arrived early in 2014.. around Easter time at the Staffordshire County Showground.

Bonham’s Spring Stafford Sale

Bonham's Spring Stafford Auction 27 April 2014

Bonham’s Spring Stafford Auction 27 April 2014

Apart from a few attractive lots of prewar copies of ‘the Motor Cycle‘ or ‘Motorcycling‘ bundled with a few programmes or photos of interest to ISDT collectors. Of motorcycles a few nice pukka trials bikes and a few road trim Tiger Cubs, but the most obvious item is this rather nice Ariel Red Hunter although no evidence of it having been used in the ISDT.

Download the programme as pdf here

Continue reading →

ISDT Videos: British Pathé now on Youtube

18 Friday Apr 2014

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

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British Pathe


This week ‘British Pathé‘ archive was officially released on Youtube. This famous news reel archive that would have been the main feature of cinema visits in the past includes short articles for news features of the time on the ISDT.

Not many seem to exist and I hope more are subsequently found and released

1926

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGfB5o3mSUM]

Continue reading →

ISDT 1939: Post-Academy Awards Special Backmarker: The Colonel’s Motorcycles

16 Wednesday Apr 2014

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

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1939, ISDT 1939, Salzburg


Bikewriter.com: Post-Academy Awards Special Backmarker: The Colonel’s Motorcycles.

ISDT 1939: The Six Day Affair

10 Thursday Apr 2014

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

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ISDT 1939, John Bradshaw


We have just received advance news of a new book to be published this coming Spring that may be of great interest to many Speedtracktales readers.

In late August 1939, Hitler’s armies were poised to invade Poland, while in Austria the International Six Day Trial was underway.  The trial was dubbed ‘The Motorcycling Olympics’, where the crème de la crème from five or six nations competed in six days of hard riding.

Image - Cover for new book 'The Six Day Affair' ISDT 1939

Image – Cover for new book ‘The Six Day Affair’ ISDT 1939

Following the Olympics in Berlin just three years earlier, the ISDT was seen by Hitler as being another opportunity for Nazi dominance – and the event was unexpectedly held in occupied Austria!  Half way through, riding through the mountains surrounding Salzburg and with the British teams once again doing very well indeed, they received a telegram from the British Embassy telling them to get out immediately.   WWII started just a week later.

The story of how the British competitors and spectators successfully made it away through Switzerland with the help of their German escort has so far only been mentioned in magazine articles and websites, but extensive research has revealed much new material about this fascinating and exciting event in history.

Continue reading →

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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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