Category Archives: Enduro

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

20 Sunday Apr 2014

Posted by 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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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

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ISDT Videos: British Pathé now on Youtube

18 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by 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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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]

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ISDT 1939: The Six Day Affair

10 Thursday Apr 2014

Posted by 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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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.

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ISDT 1939: can any reader help answer this question?

09 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by 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, Uncategorized

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Maybe you or some of your readers can help me, re the 1939 ISDT please?

I’ve read that Bert Perrigo, BSA Competition Manager, travelled over to Austria in his BSA saloon car with the Army convoy. (This was in addition to Tom Davies accompanying the BSA Team.)

However, when did Perrigo return to England?

Was it early Friday morning, together with the great majority of the competitors, support crews, spectators, with Vic Brittain in the passenger seat of his BSA car, leaving his Norton behind? (as his son, Johnny Brittain says today, and who also says that Allan Jefferies told him he’d seen Vic’s Norton in Austria after the war…..

or

Was it late Friday evening, after the day’s competitive riding, when “…Perrigo waited for the riders to return, filled their tanks and sign off for good, while Lt.Col.Bennett dealt with the administration.” from p46, Walker & Carrick’s ISDT history Col.Grimm & Col.Bennett then led the three Army teams, together with Cottle, Edge, Sim, Sanders and TSRs and spectators, to the Swiss Border.

Any hard facts re this would be much appreciated, as I’d hate to promulgate false ‘facts’ in my forthcoming book.

John Bradshaw
http://www.jrbpub.net

Mapping the ISDT: Original British ISDT course marker’s maps

09 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by in Deryk Wylde, Enduro, England, Gelände Sport, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Map, Motorcycling, Motorsport, Regolarità, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux, UK, Wales, Welsh Borders

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With much thanks due to Deryk Wylde the ISDT historian and classic off road motorcycle journalist I have now taken ownership of the original Clerk of Course OS 1″ maps used by the route markers. Hopefully apart from now being preserved for ever they can help update the course mapping we have and be shared with ISDT historians

20140409-194348.jpg

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ISDT 1939: the event report ‘Motor Cycling’ 30 Aug 1939

05 Saturday Apr 2014

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

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Prior to the handing–in we gained a very definite impression that the organizers themselves were surprised that the event was actually to take place

Many readers of this blog contact me with their thanks for providing what is the non existent ISDT reading room in the National Motorcycle Museum or even the Auto Cycle Union Six Days Archives. Such praise is often only due to the work and help of many readers who are ex riders or the family of ex riders who are willing to share, at no charge, their family material so as to help others who may not be so lucky to be able to recall past exploits of favourite relatives so easily to supplement my otherwise meagre budget to purchase important relics which may appear on eBay from time to time..

No more so are these gifts welcome than a recent contact from Susan Coates now based in the USA but from a British Motorcycling family who she found a collection of old magazines on a recent visit. Amongst this collection was an original copy of the 30th August 1939 edition of ‘Motor Cycling‘ with a full report of the ISDT 1939 which she rapidly sent me a scanned copy to be able to share with others through the site.

Let us hope that peace will prevail and that the 1940 event will take place under happier auspices.

Here is the Editorial article which started each issue of ‘Motor Cycling‘ and provided a useful summary and opinion on the events of 1939. In a forthcoming blog I will be reproducing the latter part of the report ‘The Great Retreat’ which is the story of the riders evacuation from the festering world war about to commence in mainland Europe. I have included in the article the images from the actual report and you can read a copy of the original report at our issuu.com library here

Editorial

An Unhappy Coming-of-Age

WHATEVER the future may hold in store for the International Six Days’ Trial, the 21st event of the series will go down in history – so far as Great Britain is concerned – as the trial which never finished. In the early hours of Friday morning it was decided to withdraw the entire British entry, and it is fitting, therefore, that the facts underlying that decision should be recorded before they become distorted with the passage of time.

 

image - main report illustration 'Motor Cycling' 30th August 1939 ISDT 1939 (Speedtracktales Collection)

image – main report illustration ‘Motor Cycling‘ 30th August 1939 ISDT 1939 (Speedtracktales Collection)

Image left – A wonderful view of the Grossglockner Pass .The leading rider is L/Cpl A.C. Doyle BSA of the War Office ‘A’ Team, centre – This picture gives a good idea of the interest villagers took in the trial, the rider is again L/Cpl A.C. Doyle (348cc BSA), right – A group of NSKK officials operating a time check at the top of the Grossglockner Pass during Wednesday’s run . The riders are  #165 E Eisenmann (346 NSU) and #166 Colin Edge (347 Matchless) who, despite carrying on against doctors orders, did not lose a single point up to the time he withdrew with the other British Riders.

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ISDT 1964: Happy Birthday Steve McQueen 24 March 1930

24 Monday Mar 2014

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

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The pages connected to the ISDT 1964 produce heavy traffic for the site.

Photo of Steve McQueen ISDT 1964(Courtesy FIM / Paris Match)

Photo of Steve McQueen ISDT 1964(Courtesy FIM / Paris Match)

Never more so in Hollywood did an actor maintain a loyal fanatical following as Steve. Not because he was particularly cookie or that his Shakespearean appearances were milestones. Its because for all the hype most stars get nobody knows who the heck they are off set. They lock themselves away at night in Beverley Hills and do what? we don’t know but Steve… he was a racer he raced anything if it had a motor, he collected it if it had a motor, he hung out with guys who dug motors. Steve was a Petrolhead and so much so he allowed his passion for motors flow into his work. The passion he had for his stuff makes his films stand out. It’s a bizzare coincidence that his birthday falls within a day of the anniversary of the break out in the real great escape, the film he piloted one of his beloved Triumphs to do many of his own stunts in the film not just relying on the great Bud Ekins to do his stunts and one of his hallmark pieces.

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ISDT 1979: BMW Works ‘Enduro’ team and GS80 works motorcycle

22 Saturday Mar 2014

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

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Here at Speedtracktales the uncovering of the ISDT history has very much raised the editorial opinion on the legendary brand of BMW which included some of the most beautiful works of design artistry as well as playing an important role in the sports development, no more so than the sudden unexpected blip in activity by BMW at the very end of the ISDT period with its Works bikes that led to the cult GS80 trail bike. This blog recalls the launch of the famous works team of 1979 and the bike featured in an article here

BMW In Off-Road Motorcycle Sport

In the final analysis, motor sport participation is a question of available means. In addition there are such abstract terminology concepts as “group-orientated goals” and “product philosophy” and, in the end, common sense.

Thus BMW never even debated developing a machine for Grand Prix racing from the available products. A four-stroke , two-cylinder, boxer engine could never achieve the performance of a highly developed, two-stroke engine. Laws of physics see to that.

Photo - Works BMW Enduro Team for 1979 that competed in the FIM World Enduro Championship rounds (Left to Right) Rolf Witthöft, Laszlo Peres, Dietmar Beinhauer (Teamchef), Kurt Fischer, Herbert Schek, Richard Schalber

Photo – Works BMW Enduro Team for 1979 that competed in the FIM World Enduro Championship rounds (Left to Right) Rolf Witthöft, Laszlo Peres, Dietmar Beinhauer (Teamchef), Kurt Fischer, Herbert Schek, Richard Schalber

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ISDT 1937: Long lost newsreel rediscovered

22 Saturday Mar 2014

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

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On our latest trawl of the internet mining resources I am certainly pleased to have found this short item of a newsreel produced by Movietone news. Apart from some fantastic footage of the entrants set in the vastness of the beautiful remote Welsh Countryside whilst friendly and keen locals look on supporting the riders. We also get to see the final speed test that took place at Donnington. More videos from this and other years can be viewed on our video gallery.

1937
ISDT  from LLandrindod Wells

Firstly a short ‘Movietone News’ news reel with sound in fairly good quality.

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