30 Saturday Jan 2016
Posted in Czechoslovakia, Enduro, England, Europe, Gelände Sport, International Six Day Trial, International Six Days Enduro, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, Media, Mezinárodní Šestidenní Soutěž, Motorcycling, Motorsport, Photography, Regolarità, restoration, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux
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I’ve been lagging with a number of articles needing posting but here I’ve now put up a short article on the ISDT 1953 winning 498cc AJS ridden by Hugh Viney which turned up in auction in 2015 after its long term owner passed away.
Photo – Works AJS 498 of Hugh Viney ISDT 1953 (Courtesy Bonhams)
read the article here in our Folk’s and Motors section
29 Thursday Oct 2015
These images are part of a 1000 image library of ISDT images from the 1952 ISDT held in Austria taken by Artur Fenzlau and were the photos featuring the British entrants both Factory, Military and privateer teams. Please enjoy….
#57 Olga V Kevelos, Birmingham. Parilla 150 (entered as Italian) abandoned day 2
photo – #57 Olga V Kevelos Barilla 100 at the start venue ISDT 1952 (© Artur Fenzlau/Technisches Museum Wien)
14 Wednesday Oct 2015
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Tomas Melander bought this Monark 125 in 1974 and promptly parked it hence its exceptional condition. Who would not want a gem like this.
photo – RH front view of Tomas Melander’s unused 1974 Monark GS125 ISDT (Courtesy vintagemonark.com)
14 Saturday Mar 2015
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Thanks to Brian Catt who has provided this course detail from the event programme.
image – Map of course days 3 and 6 ISDT 1966 (Courtesy Brian Catt)
01 Thursday Jan 2015
Posted in Enduro, Gelände Sport, International Six Day Trial, International Six Days Enduro, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Manufacturers, Media, Motorcycling, Motorsport, Photography, Places, Regolarità, restoration, Scrambling, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux, USA
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It’s that time of the year, the first 2015 from Bonham’s, this time in Las Vegas 8th January 2015, which for any grown kid with a love for heritage motorcycles is the biggest candy store of all time. Often with prices so high it is an insight into what the multi-millionaries of the world like to do with their small petty cash.
image – cover auction catalogue Bonham’s Motorcycle Auction, Bally’s Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas 8 January 2015
As ever there is a wide range of quality Indians, Harley’s including Dirt trackers and other American makes but like always there is a very strong showing of quality British Classic hardware especially from Triumph but including Vincent, Brough, AJS and Matchless.
02 Tuesday Sep 2014
News recently came in of the long awaited release of the book about the ISDT 1974 that was held in Camino, Italy
Image – book ISDT 1974
“I had ridden several Italian events and I knew the Trial would be hard….It was!” Thus quoted John Pease, British Trophy Teamster.
On the 40th anniversary of the 49th International Six Days Trial. held at Camerino, Italy, we are proud to announce that we have published “ISDT1974”
This book contains results, maps, drawings, classifications, interviews and full background information as the result of many years of research.
This volume of 352 pages contains over 500 photographs, many previously unpublished and includes a complete English translation booklet in the same manner as it’s sister publication “ISDT 1968” After the publication of that book and the “ISDT 1970” book by Javier Benito, this volume adds an important new chapter in the history of this event now with over 100 years of tradition.
More information can be seen on www.mgpublishing.ch
Authors Marcello Grigorov and Roberto Biza.
I’ve not yet seen the book yet but if the content matches the work done on the 1968 and 1970 books do, and I’m told this is certainly the case. If I had a 5 star review series for books this like the other two would get a 7 star award…
03 Sunday Aug 2014
Posted in Enduro, Europe, International Six Day Trial, International Six Days Enduro, Media, Motorcycling, Photography, UK, Video, Wales
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I have today been proud again to step into the shoes of the Clerk of the Course for the Powys Enduro which ran today for the 40th time since 1974. This event remains an almost unique classic unequalled in the UK Enduro Scene not just by its age but that it rides in one big 120 mile loop which features some of the greatest typical Enduro suited terrain that is found in Wales and possibly Europe. The event started back in the day of the ISDT and parts of it still follow or cross sections of the old route of past ISDT’s. Entry numbers are limited to the 180 max set by UK Law that controls Motor Sports events on highways and entries still sell out in a matter of days. Most of the UK’s great Enduro riders can trace this event as part of their early career and it still attracts many riders who keep this as one of the events they have to fit in a years calendar. Now sponsored by National Logistics company Cadwallader Limited a company whose directors regularly ride in the event and pick up trophies as well as medals. I hope this event can find a way to steer itself through the increasing constraints of legislative change to give future riders a chance to test their skill against often the worse that nature can throw at them.
Photo – A rider competing in the Powys Enduro crosses the road from Llanwrin to Mallwyd at Aberangell, part of the route past ISDT’s took to reach the Bwlch y Groes which is a couple of miles away
18 Sunday May 2014
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Recently arrived at the Speedtracktales Checkpoint central was the two issues of ‘the Motor Cycle’ of 16th and 23rd September 1948 with a full report on the opening of the ISDT 1948, which was held at San Remo, Italy.
The British Trophy Team. Left to right: C.N. Rogers (346 Royal Enfield); Allan Jefferies (498 Triumph), captain; J Williams (499 Norton); B.H.M. Viney (498 AJS); Vic Brittain (346 Royal Enfield) ISDT 1948
You can read both of the articles by following this link to our issuu.com library.
16th September 1948 – ‘the Motor Cycle‘
23rd September 1948 – ‘the Motor Cycle‘
The following summary of the event appeared in the editorial of ‘the Motor Cycle‘ 23rd September 1948
10 Saturday May 2014
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If you were to ask many current followers of the ISDE what part they might take most interest in.. it will be the ‘Special Tests’ usually one Cross Country and one MX style each days is designed to sort out the wheat from the chaff of the sporting elite off-road motorcycle racers. Back in the early days of the ISDT the to hell or glory race was on the last day and if your national squad got through 5 days unscathed it would be the speed test, usually on a road race style circuit that the race was decided.
Back in the 1950’s it was clear the sport splitting from its roots of being an event to determine the greatness of the bike as the European Nations became more interested in the quality of the riders. However the paymaster of the event, the Motorcycle Industry, wanted to maximise the marketing value of winning the event. However as the global dominance of the British Bike industry started to wain, it was recognised for the sport to thrive required a new objective which was to measure the rider rather than the bike. The drive to this were the european nations however the greatest act to confirm this shift was from Britain’s Auto Cycle Union who supported the need to provide daily tests to identify the best riders as the event progressed.
Photo – “International” spirit: Welsh children cheer #225 J.H.L Lewis (246 Greeves) as he climbs a rocky section near Llandrillo on the fourth day. ISDT 1961
In 1960 the ISDT in Austria trialled a British idea of having two special tests a day to examine which riders where performing best rather than who was able to hang in to the pace set by the organisers. The trial worked and in 1961 the F.I.M introduced two mandatory special tests a day for the ISDT 1961. The fact this was driven by the British for a British hosted event where the home nation failed to excel is one of the most obvious milestones marking the ultimate demise of the British Motorcycle Industry within 15 years as this editorial from ‘the Motor Cycle’ of the 12 October 1961 alludes to.
“IT made a welcome change to be writing in the sunshine and among the mountains of Wales instead of in the office. Yes, I was having a few days on the “International” and enjoying every minute of it.
08 Thursday May 2014
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Hot news – ISDT 1948 Gold Medal rescued from Flea Bay. Unfortunately no information exists as to who the person awarded the medal was.
Photo – Gold Medal (front) ISDT 1948
Photo – Gold Medal (rear) ISDT 1948
