Speedtracktales V2.0: 1 year old April 2013

06 Saturday Apr 2013

Posted by Highwayman in Austria, Czechoslovakia, Enduro, England, Europe, Gelände Sport, Germany, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Isle of Man, Italy, Manufacturers, Media, Motorcycling, Motorsport, Places, Poland, Regolarità, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Wales

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Map of Speedtracktales V2.0 readership for first year

It was over a year ago whilst searching for some ISDT specific archive photo’s I was given a number of photos I had no need for. Such things are not items you can simply fling and I looked for a home to donate them to. I was pointed to Speedtracktales but on arriving found the site had gone, unknown to me the originator had come to the end of his ability to sustain the costs with maintaining the url and servers for a labour of love. Luckily some persons had sidled it away onto a free site where the contents could be seen. Eventually finding Taff Issacs who was the originator he had no way to edit further and my photos were not of much use. After a bit of correspondence I agreed to set up a new website and rehouse the collection so that it could be easily accessed by persons wishing to research the historic years of the International Six Says Trial before it changed its name to International Six Days Enduro in 1981.

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ISDT 1937: The German Army came to Wales

24 Sunday Mar 2013

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

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German Troops, ISDT 1937, Southampton

“Have you seen about 140 Germans with motorcycles”

“No Sir, and if I did I’d run like ‘ell”

After recovering and reading old material on the many ISDT before the Second World War it is evident that any average Britiah person who read the national or local newspapers, went to the Cinema or listened to the radio (BBC was the only choice) would have been aware the ISDT had been competed whether it was held in this country or abroad. The media of the day heavily featured it in sports reports and on news reels. Like todays Formula 1, even if you were not fussed about it you would know it was on.

In 1937 after 3 years on the continent , Germany being precise, the event returned to the UK in July 1937 and like 1933 it was held in Llandrindod Wells in Radnorshire, Mid Wales. The Germans having hosted the event had perceived it to be both an important sporting event that winning satisfied their self-belief of superiority and also provided worthwhile training for military motorcycle specialists.

Photo – The German’s have arrived! three of the German Contingent for the International Six Days Trial landing at Southampton last week. The two leading machines are BMWs and the third on the gang plank is a Zundapp. On the exterme right is a popular ‘International’ figure – the interpreter. ISDT 1937 (Speedtracktales collection)

As a result it sent a huge team with helpers over which was reported by the editor of Motor Cycling in person visiting the docks in Southampton to greet them. The story told was that arriving at the docks they met an immense Policeman his breast a glitter with War medals, The editor asked “Have you seen 140 Germans with Motorcycles”
“No Sir” he replied politely, adding, after a contemplative pause “and if I did I’d run like ‘ell”

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ISDT 1938 – The rains came down like there was an Ark needing to be floated.

09 Saturday Mar 2013

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

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1938, Motor Cycling

Illustration Motor Cycling 20 July 1938 (Speedtracktales Collection)

Great Britain wins the Trophy and Germany wins the Vase, Hühnlein and Bowmaker Team awards – A Difficult and Arduous Trial described by –

A Harvey Pascoe

The ISDT 1938 was again, like in 1937, held in Wales and was based on Llandrindod Wells in the County of Radnorshire now part of Powys.

Image – scanned cover of Motor Cycling 20 July 1938 ISDT 1938

‘Motor Cycling‘ were part sponsors of the ISDT in 1938 and their coverage was spread over two issues. We have the main issue of the 20 July 1938 which resumes the coverage of the first day from the 14th July issue. as well as covering the results and the awarding of the Trophies which this year the ACU had arranged its National Rally to coincide with the ending of the ISDT near Donnington Race Circuit at which the Trophies were awarded before a large crowd of motor cycle enthusiasts.

Read a copy of the 20th July 1938 issue at our library at issuu.com below (requires Adobe Flash support)

Graham Walker the father of the famous sports journalist Murray Walker summed up the two events as follows:

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ISDT 1965: Yes Minister – it was a wash out!

06 Wednesday Mar 2013

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

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1965, ISDT 1965

The 1965 ISDT was the event’s return to the UK since it’s visit to Wales in 1961. Any reader doubting of the significance of the event in the national sporting calendar at a time the national motorcycle industry was a key player in the economy can be reassured by the official visit of Denis Howell MP, the British Government’s Minister for Sport, who crossed the Irish Sea to watch what became a wash out.

Photo – seeing the ISDT for himself is Denis Howell MP, Minister of Sport (in light raincoat) with behind him Hugh Palin IA Director and Peter Fraser. Mr Howell recommends Government grants for sport…. Rider is John Lewis (AJS) [BCG 980 B] of the British Vase ‘B’ team ISDT 1965 (Speedtracktales Collection)

‘the Motor Cycle‘ report said “In the toughest, roughest, most demanding International Six Days Trial in memory – probably ever – East Germany repeated last year’s victory by taking home the Trophy and Silver Vase. Their six-man Trophy team and four man Vase team were all MZ mounted. They led in both contests by devastatingly big margins. What is more, their teams were the only ones to finish without any retirements.

Readers with browsers supporting flash can view the whole ‘Motor Cycle‘ article via our issuu.com library below

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ISDT 1933: The Official Programme of the first ISDT to be based in Wales

28 Thursday Feb 2013

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1933, Llandrindod Wells, Programme

With much thanks to reader Michael Wryan we now have a scanned copy of his original programme for the ISDT of 1933. This event which has it’s 80th anniversary this year was held on the 20th anniversary of the first ISDT in Carlisle in 1913. The event founded in Britain had not taken place on English Soil for 5 years despite the British team being often victorious and earning the right as winning nation to hold the event the awarding of the event was passed to other nations. An explanation of this is provided in the introduction to the programme feature in this Blog post. You can also read (if you are using a flash supporting browser) a copy of the programme online at our issuu.com library. We have added the images of the maps to the ISDT 1933 page

Image of scanned cover of the 1933 ISDT Official Programme

The introduction of the Programme contains a useful resume of the history of the ISDT since 1913 and the previous years conclusion and provides an interesting insite into the background social conditions impacting on traffic and landuse that even then impacted on the organisers ability to hold this event to provide a credible event.

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ISDT 1930: Event report in ‘The Motor Cycle’ 7 August 1930

23 Saturday Feb 2013

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

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1930

We have been lucky to uncover a copy of the 7 August 1930 edition of ‘the Motor Cycle‘ that now resides in our growing ISDT collection of original archive material. Such copies of the magazines for the inter war years are getting increasingly difficult to find and when they turn up their owners normally expect substantial amounts of cash before they part with them.

The magazine has been scanned and the images are now placed in the ISDT 1930 page and is the first substantial find of material on that event was based in Grenoble then moved across Southern Central Europe criss crossing wild Alpine passes.

If you are on a device that supports Flash’ you can view the pages here at our issuu.com powered library:

We are always grateful for any offers of scanned articles from original copies of the old magazines which not only inform visitors to the site but assist in historical research into the sport of motorcycling and the ISDT

What year did Steve McQueen start the International Six Days Trial (ISDT)

21 Thursday Feb 2013

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

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Barbour, Competition, Steve McQueen

Stange title for this blog .. surely we all must know by now, but I have noticed in my site stats, the search engine query list keeps showing ‘What year did Steve McQueen Race the ISDT’ is a common search and is bringing a lot of visitors to the site and the Steve McQueen pages are getting a lot of action so I decided to google the search phrase to see what’s up?

it was then I discovered this year Barbour are running a promotion on the back of it’s Steve McQueen Limited Edition collection to win a trip to this years ISDE in Sardinia, this year is the 100th anniversary of the first ISDT. So not to let anyone else miss the chance to have a go at this wonderful opportunity to experience and ISDE wearing one of Barbour’s iconic ‘International’ motorcycle off road jackets here is the competition. If you don’t win and want to know a bit more about the ISDE and ISDT why not catch up with the Anniversary event being held to celebrate the centenary of the holding of the first ISDT in Carlisle in the English Lake District in August 2013

If you came here looking for the answer it is here ISDT East Germany and here is a page covering more about Steve’s exploits at the ISDT of that year

Barbour competition to visit the ISDE Sardinia 2013

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Reginald and Denise Wagger – ISDT regulars 1949-53

20 Wednesday Feb 2013

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

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There is little doubt that the ISDT is far far, in its reality of a motorcycle event, more than a picnic with a club motorcycle run thrown in for good measure. It has proven serious training for Britain and Germany’s Regular Army. The event did not earn the nickname in the 1930’s of Motorcycling’s Olympics without good reason, it broke bikes and men. It has always been hard and expensive to compete. But for all the great works riders with full factory support the event has maintained a healthy number of keen sporting motorcyclists willing to pay the price of taking part in such an arduous event on man and machine.

A few weeks ago we had a post from a reader who saw his parents photo on our 1952 event page. They were racing their outfit and were regular competitors. After an offer of a selection of family photos from the event I was pleased in this mornings e-mails to get a note and a link to download a treasure trove of an archive of photos from not only the ISDT but also the Welsh Two Day and many of the still classic long distance trials from the time. I will feature some of these in future blogs, especially those of the Welsh Two Day but for now I am happy to share the photos of Reg who rode both as a solo and then on a sidecar which for a few years was passengered by his wife Denise.

Photo – Reg Wagger on his BSA Bantam 125cc [KPX 970] ISDT 1949 (Images STT Archive / Geoff Wagger)

We do not yet have a results sheet for the 1949 event but Geoff, his son, tells us he thinks he won a Gold Medal.

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ISDT 1937 Wales: Route description

19 Tuesday Feb 2013

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

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ISDT, ISDT 1937, Programme

The route description below is the one provided in the official programme accompanying the event which can now be viewed on this site in its full booklet form via our issuu.com library. More information can be found on the 1937 ISDT event page including detailed mapping from the programme of the actual route taken.

THE ROUTE OF THE 1937 INTERNATIONAL SIX DAYS’ TRIAL

COMPETITORS in the International Six Days’ Trial who took part when the Trial was previously held in Wales in 1933, will find the course this year fairly reminiscent of the earlier event, as a great many of the sections used in 1933 are again included. Indeed, it would have been impossible for the organisers to do otherwise in such an area, which, to those used to the space available on the Continent, must appear somewhat prescribed. Main roads with heavy traffic such as one encounters to the north and south, and in the coastal parts of Wales must be avoided, and, as far as possible, those small towns and villages, where” thirty mile per hour” limits exist have also been left severely alone. Briefly, the plan which appeared best to fit the conditions involves a series of five overlapping loops.

image of pictorial diagram of the route of the ISDT 1937

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ISDT 1928: Official ACU event Programme rediscovered.

17 Sunday Feb 2013

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

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1928, Harrogate, Yorkshire

The 1928 ISDT was the last time the British event was held in England. A Speedtracktales reader told us he had a copy of the programme and agreed to scan it to let us share it with those interested in the events history.

Image of scanned programme cover ISDT 1928

You can now read a full copy of the programme by visiting our issue.com library or reading the below embedded view which will work if you are able to access Flash.

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