Category Archives: Wales

Welsh Theme

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.

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.

Reliability Trials: Liverpool MC Trial 1926

09 Saturday May 2015

Posted by in England, Magazine, Motorcycling, Motorsport, Reliability Trials, UK, Wales, Welsh Borders

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This report appeared in the December 1926 issue of ‘Motor Sport‘ of a Sporting and Classification Trial held by the Liverpool M.C in North Wales starting from Chester. This trial shows that the riders by even today’s standards rode for a considerable distance on machines that today many would be surprised to find out how versatile these machines were.

Photo - BSA S26 500cc 4.95Hp 1926 still going and ridden in VMCC Trials similar to the BSA ridden by J B Donaldson 1926

Photo – BSA S26 500cc 4.95Hp 1926 still going and ridden in VMCC Trials similar to the BSA ridden by J B Donaldson 1926

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Reliability Trials: Hill Cup Trial 1924

05 Tuesday May 2015

Posted by in England, Magazine, Reliability Trials, UK, Wales

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This report of the Hill Cup Trial, a reliability trial organised by the Sale and District MCC was found in the December 1924 issue of ‘Motor Sport‘. There are no images available with this report. The event is quite an epic starting in South Manchester. The ‘Colonial Sections’ were public road where a low speed average was maintained due to frequency of other traffic) A number of riders appear mentioned here also featured in contemporary event reports.

“SALE & DISTRICT MOTOR CYCLE CLUB.

This Club’s Annual Hill Cup Trial was run off recently, in an interesting way, on lines which the Committee of the Club have found to be most generally acceptable to the average member. There were no checks on those portions of the route which ran along good main roads. There were some stiff hills to be observed and some short stretches of colonial section had to be traversed in order to reach them. Checks were instituted over the Colonial Section and hills only. The route led over Helsby Bluff and Glyn Ceiriog, and lunch was taken at Llangollen. After lunch Allt-y-Bady had to be negotiated and the run home from there was comparatively easy.

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ISDT 1925: event notes from ‘Motorsport’ magazine

02 Saturday May 2015

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

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Information about the ISDT 1925 is rather sparse. The event started at Southampton before heading for the first time ever to Wales. We recently discovered that an article published in Motorsport was available online and we reproduce that article below. The auto magazine Motorsport has an immaculate online archive with every article in every issue since 1924 available to be read.

Photo - #57 on Middle Down Hill - first severe hill of the ACU Six Days Trial - ISDT 1925 ( Motorsport)

Photo – #57 on Middle Down Hill – first severe hill of the ACU Six Days Trial – ISDT 1925 ( Motorsport)

“NOTES ON THE A.C.U. INTERNATIONAL SIX DAYS’ TRIAL.

ALTHOUGH not a “sporting event” in the strict interpretation of the term, the International Six Days’ Trial calls for more than passing comment as being one of the most strenuous events organised up to the present time.

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ISDT History – Post War Welsh ISDT events remembered in OffRoad REVUe #14

21 Wednesday Jan 2015

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

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BwlchyGroes-ISDT1954

Photo – Climbing Bwlch y Groes between Dinas Mawddwy and Bala, which was the lunch stop on the Friday. #161 S Keepence on the 250 Triumph Special chases #159 H Tanner on a 250 Jawa. Bwlch y Groes is now a tarmac road – ISDT 1954

So after a great xmas you are all tooled up… leather driving gloves from the sister in law, Top Gear aftershave from the kids and a Barbour manbag from the wife… as the novelty wears off why not treat yourself, if you have not already to Deryck Wylde’s great issue fourteen of OFF ROAD REVUe which is now online. Unique and notable articles is a feature on the post war Welsh ISDT events and as with anything coming from Deryck the images are not only great a number are originals unlikely to have been seen before.

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Heritage Highways of the ISDT – Bwlch y Groes, Eunant and Hirnant

27 Saturday Dec 2014

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

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The Bwlch y Groes (Pass of the Cross) and its side road Bwlch Eunant probably have a history as a road that lies back in the dark days long before things were ever thought of being recorded as existing. The road summit at 545m, (1788ft) is often claimed to be the highest public road in Wales, however, as far as surfaced roads go, that honour is held by the Bwlch yr Efengyl (Gospel Pass) 549m, (1801ft) in the Black Mountains of South East Wales also used by the ISDT in Wales although its approach is not as steep as the Bwlch y Groes. The unsurfaced Bwlch Llandrillo in the Berwyns, also used in the ISDT, crosses the 580m 2000ft contour at the summit of the pass. The ISDT, when on the Bwlch y Groes, never crossed the high summit as detoured to travel to Bala via the gnarly old tracks through the Euanant and Hirnant valleys. History paints a picture of the route being in use by religious travellers passing between the early Celtic Christian sites and the many Monasteries, Abbeys, Friaries and Priories the church of Rome had established at Welshpool, Llangollen, Llanrwst, Holywell, Flint, Denbigh, Llaneltyd before the reformation. But it was mostly motorsport rather than tourism that rediscovered the opportunities the then many unsurfaced road provided in the early development of motoring on public roads.

C Smiths map of England and Wales 1806 clearly shows the route of the Bwlch y Groes and the Bwlch Eunant long before the construction of the Reservoir on the Vyrnwy by the Liverpool Corporation.

C Smiths map of England and Wales 1806 clearly shows the route of the Bwlch y Groes and the Bwlch Eunant long before the construction of the Reservoir on the Vyrnwy by the Liverpool Corporation.

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ISDT 1961: Old 16mm film footage re-discovered on youtube

20 Saturday Dec 2014

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

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I would like to thank Jay Fichialos a follower of this site from Utah in the USA and who is a keen ISDT Collector and historian who found this video posted on Youtube by a Triumph fan who holds the original 16mm film which appears to be a collection of Triumph orientated material possibly originating from the factory which has now been added to our ISDT Tube page of event videos found on the internet.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiXryx56yTo]

Our thanks for this video goes out to Keith Cockayne a member of the Manchester branch of the Triumph Motorcycle Club for sharing his original 16mm home movie film taken in the early 60’s at the Triumph Motorcycle factory in Coventry featuring original shots of classic motorcycles and cars of the period including Edward Turner with a group of riders on their Bonnevilles in front of the factory.

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ISDT 1954: Images of WT Howard

07 Sunday Dec 2014

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

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Taff Isaacs, Site founder has passed on these images he recently acquired from a reader in Shropshire of the ISDT 1954 mostly featuring popular Birmingham motorcycle dealer sidecar jockey W ‘Bill’ T Howard (1914 – 1992). I would strongly recommend before reading any more of this page you check out Taff’s own web page dedicated to WT Howard and featuring these images and more as well as his Trophy Collection at his own website ‘taffthehorns‘

Photo - #50 WT Howard on the works entered BSA 350cc Sidecar outfit in Llandrindod Wells ISDT 1954 - (speedtracktales collection)

Photo – #50 WT Howard on the works entered BSA 350cc Sidecar outfit in Llandrindod Wells ISDT 1954 – (speedtracktales collection)

Pat Slinn advises that the passenger is none other than Michael Martin the brother of Brian Martin of BSA

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