Category Archives: Wales

Our results round up service…..

15 Saturday Dec 2012

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

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We have been diligently, with the help of many supporters, pulling together the images of the ISDT in a hope to protect the history of the event and convey how the changing century imposed its standards on the attire, machines and attitudes of those riding. However our most frequent request from readers is to see copies of historic results looking for the names of family members, history of bikes or other studies of the riders and venues for the events. I made an appeal to our faithful supporters to help to bring together the results of the event as it seems many national governing bodies no longer hold these in their archives.

The original emblem of the FICM

The original emblem of the FICM

Thanks to the efforts of our secret agent in Germany, the FIM itself has stepped in and has scanned and provided all the remaining copies of Final Results and Stewards Reports they hold. The collection is substantially complete and and we will be releasing these as pdf files, hopefully with some analysis of the material they contain on the event pages. Speedtracktales wishes to thank Marc Pétrier of FIM Information Resources who has facilitated the scanning of the FIM archive of ISDT results material and is allowing us to make it available here as a public service. You will be able to download a copy of the original Results and Stewards Report.

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The Peoples Collection – P. B. (Percy Benzie) Abery – Photographer, 1877-1948

29 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by in Enduro, International Six Day Trial, ISDT, Photography, Wales

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I was lucky to find the Geoff Charles collection whilst browsing the National Library for Wales Online Photo Collection where I also found these images.

Photo by P B Abery titled ‘Motorcycle racing in Rhayader on the old road to Aberystwyth’. The image may be from the ISDT 1933 with riders #124 A P Van Hamersveld 499cc Rudge Holland - Rtd #128 J Moejas 597cc Ariel Holland - Silver #129 H Kelly 497cc Ariel GB - Rtd. (Image Courtesy of the P B Abery Collection, National Library of Wales)

Photo by P B Abery titled ‘Motorcycle racing in Rhayader on the old road to Aberystwyth’. The image may be from the ISDT 1933 Day 1 with riders #124 A P Van Hamersveld 499cc Rudge Holland – Rtd #128 J Moejas 597cc Ariel Holland – Silver #129 H Kelly 497cc Ariel GB – Rtd. (Image Courtesy of the P B Abery Collection, National Library of Wales)

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ISDT 1958 ACU Qualifier: Welsh Three Day Trial

30 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by in Enduro, International Six Day Trial, ISDT, Media, Motorcycling, Motorsport, Photography, Wales

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The most famous and longest established event in the British Reliability Trial / Enduro in Great Britain is the Welsh Two Day Trial and has often been used to decide on the selection of British Team riders for the ISDT. Originaly a three day trial it is organised by the Mid Wales Centre of the Auto Cycle Union. Taking place in Llandrindod Wells it has undoubtedly influenced the venue for the ISDT when it has been held in Wales.

In 1958 the event was used to select the British Team for the ISDT 1958 in Garmische and the event was reported in the ‘Motor Cycling’ paper of 26th June 1958 by Norman Sharpe. The whole text of the article is reproduced below as are the images.

Photo – Written wherever Motorcycles are ridden: Services Cup winner #44 Sgt D ‘Bill’ Booker (500 BSA) follows outright victor #14 Cfn. Pat Brittain (250 Greeves) past “Motor Cycling’s” staff Reliant on the Esgair Gelli to Ffair Rhos section WTDT 1958

Thanks to Chris Goodfellow for this note on Bill Booker – Sgt.D.Brooker is better known as Bill , later to be the Competition Manager for Greeves Motorcycles , Bill is still in the land of the living , aged 87 , and only recently stopped riding in one day trials .

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Appeal: Help us find the Pre War ISDT BSA’s

26 Wednesday Sep 2012

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

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I can thank Dave Giles from the VMCC for providing all the content for this Blog which is very much an appeal for help in trying to locate any of the team or other BSA’s that were ridden in the immediate Pre-war period.

Photo of British Army Team Motorcycles #156 Sgt O. Davies Matchless 350cc #113 Pte. JL Wood BSA 496cc [EOG 22] #75 Cpl A C Doyle BSA 496cc [EOG 20]  #68 Lt. J. F. Riley with Norton 500cc at ISDT 1939

I have been provided with a list of the last three events of the ISDT prior to the outbreak of WWII in 1939, an event which for the second time interupted the ISDT. If anyone is able to help us identify any of these bikes by providing a registration or other ID and if they are aware if any collectors have one of these bikes kept under wraps somewhere we would be grateful if you could contact us here by messaging on this post Continue reading →

MCC of Wales at the ISDT

05 Sunday Aug 2012

Posted by in Enduro, ISDT, Wales

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With so many of the British hosted ISDT’s being based in Wales, it’s no coincidence the landscape of Wales offers perfect terrain for the event. Associated to this little Principality of the United Kingdom with only 2.5 million is the sport is popular with its residents and often punches above it’s weight in national standing for its sports men. With great Trophy Team riders like Dai Jeremiah in the 70’s was the introduction of ‘national’ club teams in the ISDT by the MCC of Wales. Three of the great managers in this period were Arthur Brick, Elwyn Price and Kenny Williams. For more details check out the web site dedicated to recovering the details of the Welsh national team by former manager in the ISDE era Jeff Edwards

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First 2 weeks update of progress STT

25 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by in Enduro, England, Photography, Trials, Wales

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Firstly I really have to add 6 photographs I found recently and share, not of the ISDT, but from the same era, they are too good to be let slide by un-noticed. They fill me with the spirit of hope and optimism that surrounded the British Motorcycle scene in the early to mid 20th Century when motorbikes and motorcycle sport were part of the nations psyche and to be a motorcyclist made you fairly mainstream rather then an extrovert alien on the fringes of civilisation. Motorcyclists went to war and died saving this country and the nation was grateful to those who served its needs.

Bill Martin, Flat Cap, Goggles and Barbour International Jacket blazing the trail in the Welsh Two Day Trial 1954

If there was ever a picture would be the caption for my joy for riding a motorbike, this is it, taken at the Welsh 2 Day back in 1954. Featuring the young Bill Martin, who was a great rider of the South West Centre, and here he is a a young man on the same bike he is later seen riding the Scottish Six Day Trial on, doing what is needed. No matter what else is said, this is the image that draws the line for me when I face the often crass uninformed prejudice of self appointed busybodies, nobodies and over zealous council clerks who feel obliged to classify off road motor sport as being an anti social activity and aim to wipe it off the hills and valleys of mid Wales along with the people that are associated with it. Continue reading →

Geoff Charles & Roy Evans: The Oswestry Connection

19 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by in England, ISDT, Photography, Scrambling, Wales, Welsh Borders

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The development of off-road motorcycle sport has formed a key part of the social history of the Welsh nation, and it’s English Borders. The first popular affordable vehicle for many of its people, also provided mobility in rural areas and led to many owners taking bikes up for recreation uses from which developed competitive riding. Wales’s abundance of natural rugged terrain also meant the motorcycles were often used in challenging conditions. This gave rise to the earliest development of trials, scrambles and their in-between relative, the Reliability Trial which is today goes by the name Enduro.

With all social history the legacy can often be best appreciated through the archives of the work of the professional photographers of the time. Geoff Charles was one of the most important photo-journalists active in Wales at the time covering all aspects of life, political, sport and culture. He was a professional Photo-Journalist working most of his life in Welsh Speaking Wales. Born in Brymbo Wrexham 1909, he obtained a degree in Journalism from the University of London.

The Geoffrey Charles Collection and Archive at the National Library for Wales

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