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ISDT 1952 – The Beezer Bantam that came in from the cold.

18 Tuesday Sep 2018

Posted by in Austria, Enduro, Gelände Sport, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Mezinárodní Šestidenní Soutěž, Międzynarodowa Motocyklowa Sześciodniówka, Motorcycling, Motorsport, Photography, Regolarità, restoration, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux, Wales

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Fitzroy Allen’s original BSA Bantam from the ISDT 1952 has been recovered recently from a garage by reader of our facebook page. After put into storage in 1953 this immaculate original ISDT bike was recently brought from the Fitzroys’s family and now resides in comfort in South West Wales. The new owner is keen to share it’s history and would welcome any advice or guidance from any ISDT fans about how best to restore this bygone classic….. am I envious.. you better bet.

The bike was shown at the recent Swansea Classic Motorbike show and attracted a lot of interest including a number of people familiar with its history as a unique one off bike built by the BSA Works factory race shop to be campaigned by Fitzroy Allen. All images are copyright Steven Beavis the lucky owner of this rare gem from this history of British Motorcycle manufacturing.

Photo – Fitzroy Allen’s Works BSA Bantam at Swansea Classic Bike Show Oct 2018

Bike detail images

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam – Quick release front wheel axles

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam – front brake lever

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam Twin cable clutch lever

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam handlebar mount and steering damper

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam clock with 10,431 miles recorded

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam – Fuel Tank

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam – Tool bag and map / check card holder

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam Spark plug and decompressor

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam – Engine

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam – Compressed air bottle

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam Quick release rear wheel axles and suspension

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam – rear number plate

Fitzroy in the ISDT

Image: Clipping from US ‘Cycle’ Mag from 1951 featuring gold medal winning Fitzroy Allen on his BSA Bantam

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam #30 ISDT 1952

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA BantamWelsh Three Day Trial 1952

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam #31 ISDT 1954

Photo – Fitzroy Allen BSA Bantam #31 ISDT 1954

 

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Long live Bill Kershaw 1925 – 2018

20 Tuesday Mar 2018

Posted by in International Six Day Trial, ISDT, Wales

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It is with extreme sadness tonight I have to report the passing on of Welsh Enduro legend Bill Kershaw in the early hours of the 18th March. Bill was one of the main characters of the Enduro scene in Wales where from his Newport home he was one of the driving force in the Welsh Trail Riders Association, organisers of such classic events as the Snow Run and Beacons Enduro. However not only was Bill a legend, as well as his wife, in their own right, his father Bert Kershaw had been a rider of national importance for Britain in the 1920’s and 1930’s

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Photo – ISDT 1954 Wales Bill Kershaw is seen checking over his bike. Bill was to become a stalwart of the ISDT scene in Wales and later the Enduro events run by the WTRA

I knew Bill many years mostly from his work helping to protect our road network from the continual sibling that was reducing the availability of routes. Whilst at one public enquiry faced by an aggressive local authority solicitor intent on stopping motorbikes from continuing to use an ancient road he was asked to explain how good his memory was by a comparison with his understanding of the route by his recollection fo the traffic light system in Newport. In the kind of inconsequential way Bill would reply to such questions having confirmed he knew the traffic light system exceptionally well he added that has Director of Highways at Newport Council he clearly has good reason to have a good understanding of it. At that moment the wind seemed to drop out of the solicitors sails and he clearly conceded what ever cheap point he was about to make was going to only confirm his own stupidity. His loss is very personal to me as I was a great admirer of the man who gave me significant guidance on many matters that have added to my life’s successes.

1938 NSU OSL 251 Sport

26 Sunday Nov 2017

Posted by in Enduro, England, Europe, Gelände Sport, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Motorcycling, Photography, Regolarità, Reliability Trials, restoration

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H & H are holding their beloved auction at the National Motorcycle Museum on the 9th December 2017.

A number of worth period pieces for the inter war years can be seen including a BMW R35 from 1939 and a Velocette MOV from 1938 which appears to have had only two owners since new.

1938 NSU OSL 251 Sport lot33

photo – NSU OSL 251 Sport 1938 – (HH Auctions)

My attention was however drawn to Lot 33, this delightful German NSU in the above photo and very much a dream ISDT machine of the inter war year German motorbike industry. From Germany there is little detail of its heritage but it clearly could have given a good performance in the ISDT with an estimate of £7500 – 8500 with bidding starting at £3750 I can see it being a popular piece for any off-road heritage collectors

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ISDT 1925: Miss L Ball & MissE Foley at Brooklands

31 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by in Enduro, England, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Media, Mezinárodní Šestidenní Soutěž, Międzynarodowa Motocyklowa Sześciodniówka, Motorcycling, Motorsport, Photography, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux, UK

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I am grateful to our readerStewart Ellison who drew my attention to this excellent photo taken of #52 Miss E Foley with her Triumph 499cc ohv alongside #64 Miss L Ball James 499cc.

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#52 Miss E Foley 499c Triumph with #64 Miss L Ball James 499cc [DM4687] at Brooklands circuit ISDT 1925

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The Lancashire Lampkin’s and a charity ride Santander to Colne May 2016

21 Sunday Feb 2016

Posted by in England, Reliability Trials, restoration, Spain

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The famous Lampkin dynasty of off-road stars will be known to nearly all readers of this blog, all of them famous far beyond their home in Yorkshire. The family also has connections over the border in Lancashire.

Photo - Graham Lampkin and BSA in 2014 ridden to Lerwick, Shetland and back from Colne Lancashire

Photo – Graham Lampkin and BSA in 2014 ridden to Lerwick, Shetland and back from Colne Lancashire

Graham Lampkin is one of the less well known Lancashire Lampkins and a regular classic bike long distance trailer and in 2014 undertook a ‘there & back’ ride to Lerwick in Shetland on a favourite BSA to raise funds for Cancer Research.

On 24 May 2016 he is planning to head to Santander in Northern Spain by ferry from Plymouth then will head back home in Colne via the Picos de Europa, Pais Vasco and Rioja then crossing the Pyrenees  heading up France to cross the channel in Brittany. As much of the route as he can do will be off surfaced highways. Rather than choosing the soft option of taking along one of those plush BMW or KTM adventure trail bikes, he’s decided to go a bit ‘off-grid’ by taking a 500cc Royal Enfield he rebuilt himself along with Chris Nutter on an ex-WD BSA B40.

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ISDT 1953: Hugh Viney’s works 498cc AJS

30 Saturday Jan 2016

Posted by 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)

Photo – Works AJS 498 of Hugh Viney ISDT 1953 (Courtesy Bonhams)

read the article here in our Folk’s and Motors section

Merry Xmas 2015 – snowy trials scene, Loggerheads Inn, Denbighshire 1938

24 Thursday Dec 2015

Posted by in Enduro, Gelände Sport, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, Mezinárodní Šestidenní Soutěž, Motorcycling, Regolarità, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux, Trials, Wales

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Photo - South Liverpool Cup Trial start at Loggerheads Inn 1938 (courtesy SLMCC)

Photo – South Liverpool Cup Trial start at Loggerheads Inn 1938 (courtesy SLMCC)

In the distance are the famous cliffs at Loggerheads, at that time a Tea Garden owned by Crosville Coaches who ran regular trips from Liverpool. The Tea Gardens featured in pre war ISDT event in Wales where they were the most northerly point and served as the venue for lunch stops. The petrol pumps have long gone and there is still a petrol garage in Loggerheads despite their demise in many areas of rural Wales.

Thanks to al those who made the trip to these web pages in 2015 and also contributed material and comments to the work so far. Although the stats show a lot of readers across the world out there, it is very nice when we get comment, feedback and corrections to show our audience is active.

ISDT 1971: Event report AMA News Nov ’71

15 Tuesday Sep 2015

Posted by in Enduro, Europe, Gelände Sport, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Isle of Man, Magazine, Mezinárodní Šestidenní Soutěž, Motorcycling, Regolarità, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux, UK

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Thanks to the marvellous resource of Google Books I have been able to find the Nov 1971 issue of the American Motorcycle Associations AMA News which includes a 20 odd page report on the ISDT 1971 written by US motorcycle journalist Ed Youngblood, giving as good a history of the Isle as a report on the racing.

Image - cover Nov 1971 AMA news with review ISDT 1971

Image – cover Nov 1971 AMA news with review ISDT 1971

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ISDT 1975: A personal view from a member of the organising team

03 Thursday Sep 2015

Posted by in Enduro, Gelände Sport, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Isle of Man, Mezinárodní Šestidenní Soutěž, Motorcycling, Regolarità, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux, UK, Video

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From my early days riding in events, Dot and Jim Jones have always been an important part of the UK enduro scene both as riders, helpers and often importers of motorbikes most notably Moto Gori.

Dot and Jim who were responsible for organising the ISDT centenary Rally held in 2013 in Carlisle to celebrate the 100 years since the first ISDT have attended many ISDT events and are most familiar to UK team riders for their support to British National and Club team riders. Dot gathered a lot of unique material she had collected and recently produced a movie of her experiences at the ISDT 1975, which held in the Isle of Man. In addition to a lot of home movie footage Dot has added a very informative commentary detailing the background to the event, the persons involved in running it and other details of many of the local riders I knew as a youth around the North Wales and Merseyside area. Hopefully Dot will make more of her memories of the event available for the world community of ISDT fans

ISDT 1928: Riders autographs from Harrogate

01 Tuesday Sep 2015

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

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I am grateful for the recent contact from a new reader to ask about persons appearing on a list of Autographs he had acquired that was signed during the ISDT 1928 in Harrogate. I am grateful for the further generosity in sending and allowing us to publish the image and would welcome anyone’s help in putting names to the undecipherable ones. I have endeavoured to put a name to each, although hard to read, the missing ones may be sidecar passengers not listed in the programme which can be checked here.

The owner of the document has indicated a willingness to sell this to any ISDT collectors and if anyone is interested let me know and I will pass your details on.

image - event autographs p1 ISDT 1928

image – event autographs p1 ISDT 1928

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