23 Saturday Nov 2013
#3 in a series is still on the drawing board to be started when 1933 is finished. This post is for now just to put online the maps and check details should anybody be curious enough to wish to give it a go.
Route Maps and Check sheets:
Image of scanned Route Map from event programme ISDT 1937
05 Tuesday Nov 2013
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Bidno Bridge, Bwlch y Groes, Carno, Cemmaes Road, Denbighshire, Dolywern, Hirnant, ISDT 1938, Llandyrnog, Loggerheads, Minera, Pont Ysgadan, Wales
I can recall whilst out trail riding in the Clwydian Hills in my teens during the late 70’s when one of the old blokes pointed into a hedge (they said it was a track, but you could not get into it to stand and look.. it was a hedge) and that once the ISDT had gone up there…. I knew the event and it filled my head with images of far off exotic trails in wild forests. I had never even heard of the ISDT in Wales although I knew that once the Tour of Wales Enduro had come these ways it had not done so for years, the only active local off road competition were the Scrambles at Bodfari, the Fosters Cup an observed trial run by the South Liverpool Club and local observed trials organised by the Denbigh and Mold MCC. Even so that story stuck in my head and everytime i drive past this hedge I think the ISDT went there once.
Image – Scanned copy of course map as published in either Motor Cycle or Motor Cycling for the ISDT 1938
08 Tuesday Oct 2013
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We have been provided with a scanned copy of Colin Moran’s appointment letter to the ACU’s British Trophy Team for the ISDT 1959 held in Czechoslovakia.
Image – scanned copy of Colin Moram’s appointment letter to the British Trophy team ISDT 1959 (Colin Moram collection)
also appearing in tonights swag are these images from the various ISDT
06 Sunday Oct 2013
“Spring~Framed Foreigners” proclaimed the main title of an article written by the famous writer of ‘The Motor Cycle’ in an article he wrote in the issue of the 29th July 1937 in a series called ‘Workshop and Open Road Part 162’
The article proclaims the arrival of rear wheel suspension, we now can enjoy nearly a full foot of rear suspension travel and if you are under 30 may not remember less than that unless you rode trials. Here we read about the introduction of rear suspension in the ISDT 1937 and the experience that was made of this ingenious development in motorcycle racing. It also provides another genuine excuse to post a picture of an original BMW R5, still in the writers opinion one of the most visually appealing of all the historic ISDT mounts.
“Torrens” Tries Out Two Interesting “International” Mounts- the BMW and the Jawa.
Photo – One of the Special Spring Frame BMW’s ISDT 1937
30 Monday Sep 2013
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The Speedtracktales Archive has seen the arrival of two original issues of ‘the Motor Cycle‘ from 22nd and 29th ISDT which will be covered by two separate reports. This one covers the full report issue of the 22 July 1937.
Photo – The Britain v Germany race begins. On the right is the smoke from the maroon. Note how No 193 J Stelzer (BMW) has been caught with both hands in the air, adjusting his goggles while the remainder are in the act of starting up and getting under way. The Trophy team men (left to right are Stelzer, VN Brittain (Norton) G meier (BMW) GE Rowley (AJS) L Kraus (BMW sc) and WS Waycott (Velocette sc) ISDT 1937 (Speedtracktales Collection)
In the issue editorial the merits of the organisation of the event , the location and requirements for such events are raised by the Magazine’s editor. This discussion was not new nor did it stop about the ability of Britain to deliver an ISDT event that met the increasing demand for more technical courses better suited to the modern lightweight motorbikes that the British Motorcycle Industry were….. not yet producing!!
Image – scanned cover from the Motor Cycle 22 July 1937
“EDITORIAL OPINION
A fine Achievement
Britain’s Success in the International Six Days Trial: The A.C.U. ‘s Handling of a Very Difficult Task
Once again a thrilling road race has decided the destiny of the International Trophy. In the high-speed test at Donington that concluded last week’s lnternational Six Days Trial two Trophy team started level with not a point lost – those of Germany and Great Britain – and the question was which team would gain the larger number of seconds over its set schedule. As will be seen from the description of the event on pages 112-122 Britain won by the narrow margin of ten seconds and thus retain the International Trophy.
27 Friday Sep 2013
It came as a bit of a shock to realise that this important ISDT is missing a vital component. The Official Results sheet is missing .. or nobody can trace a copy. Initial Enquiries of the British governing body the Auto Cycle Union drew a blank and an approach to the FIM recovered advice this set had gone missing. It has often seemed strange to me that Taff Isaac’s original Speedtracktales web site collection of images I had collected includes a photo of the original cover of the ISDT 1954 results but he has no idea who supplied this photo, where it was or how I could get hold of them.
In the meantime to discover a full list of entrants check this sheet Start sheet ISDT 1954
Image of Cover of Original Stewards report with results for ISDT 1954
As it is highly likely a copy of this document still sits in a ISDT collectors stash who seeing this might be prompted to quickly scan or photocopy a set and pass them onto Speedtracktales.
In the meantime I have been able, with the assistance of my great freind ‘STB’ to pull together a results sheet for the riders who finished the ISDT and the overall event statistics and major trophy and award winners.
This data has come from the original event reports from 1954 in ‘the Motor Cycle’ and Austrian ‘Motorrad’ magazine reports. UNfortunately the individual rider details are sparse we have no rider plate numbers nor do we have any details on those riders who did not finish the event. My final plea is for anyone who can help fill the information gap on the 1954 event by supplying the official results.
In the mean time here is my prepared copy of the 1954 results.. enjoy!!!
Download a copy of the Speedtracktales exclusive set of Results at the link below.
21 Saturday Sep 2013
Posted in Enduro, International Six Day Trial, ISDT, Motorcycling, Motorsport, Places, Trials, UK, Wales
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The British Army’s presence has been one of prominence in the UK enduro scene since as long as I (new editor) became involved in it since in the late 70’s. At that time Service teams were both prominent with a long legacy of support for the sport including help for non service participants, certainly since the 1930’s. Not only did the service teams take part in events but without access to the British Army’s greatest training areas in the Brecon Beacons National Park it may have been difficult for anyone to have organised the several ISDT events that took place in Wales. The British Army Motoring Association has overseen motorsport within the army since 1960.
I even recall being told that when British Parliament introduced legislation limiting participants in road going motorsport events to 180. As a result of British Army interventions to government, both the ISDT and the Welsh Two Day Trial were given exemptions because of their importance in the Service training regimes so that they were able to get sufficient entries for service teams without it being at the expense of civilian competitors.
Photo – British Military Two Day Motorcycle Trials Championship 1960 – The timed section near the Horseshoe Pass, Llangollen, first in the waiting queue is individual winner W.O II A. Timms (BSA) (Speedtracktales Archive)
15 Sunday Sep 2013
It’s always extra special when an email brings in some news of bygone ISDT events that took place in Wales and today our European correspondent sent the official ACU results and stewards report for the 24th ISDT which was held in Llandrindod Wells, the first event to be held in Britain after the break forced by the war. Thanks to the FIM for scanning this set for us from their own ISDT archive collection.
You can get to see a copy of the report in full on our page dedicated to the ISDT 1949 and below you will find a summary of some of the event stats
29 Thursday Aug 2013
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PPPP = preparation prevents pisspoor performance
In the 20th January 1966 issue of the popular motorcycling magazine ‘the Motor Cycle‘ is an article written by Peter Fraser and covering the plans of the newly appointed British Team Manager and ISDT medal and trophy winning Stalwart Jack Stocker and his deputy Eric Davey.
Photo – Jack Stoker
Age 49, first rode in the ISDT 1937 on a sidecar outfit; member of British teams from seven years from 1948 to 1954, won a gold medal on every occaision. Was factory supported by Ariels from 1935 to 1948 and Royal Enfields from 1948 to 1954. Rode three-fifty singles, five hundred singles and twins and seven-fifty twins in the isdt. Following illness in 1955 assisted with organization until 1961. Well known as a successful one-day trials rider and scrambler on both solos and sidecars.
Photo – Eric Davey
Age 42, joined the Royal Artillery in 1937, transferred to REME in 1943, became manager of Army motorcycle team for 1961 for the ISDT in Wales, has become well known to riders at ISDTs since. Noted for his capabilities in the organizing sphere, knows the terrain in Sweden, scene of this year’s trial. Eric is a regular soldier with the rank of Major, at the Army MT school, Bordon, Hants.
10 Friday May 2013
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I am really grateful to reader M Ryan who has been generous in taking the time to scan and send us his own copy of the ISDT 1938 Official Programme which can now be read on this post thanks to our library of documents at issuu.com
Cover of ISDT 1938 Programme
You can read the entire programme cover to cover here.
We always welcome the generosity of readers wishing to share their collection of old ISDT programmes or other printed matter
Speed Track Tales 