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Introduction 1st ISDT 1913

The first event of the FIM, or FICM as it was then known was the ISDT which was held 18 – 23rd August 1913 and based on Carlisle in Cumberland part of a region of Great Britain popularly known as the ‘Lake District’ The event was the 11th such  6 day trial event held by the Auto Cycle Union, which had held the first one in the year of its foundation 1903. Having decided to hold the trial as an international event in 1912 the ACU held a test event in the Lake District in autumn 1912 and you can learn more about that, here , on our blog

Included in this page are extracts of the original programme for the event which has kindly been provided to Speedtracktales by our European Correspondant STB. If you wish to reuse this material please contact us for consent.

Read the 1913 ISDT programme at our Issuu.com library (requires flash)

The International Six Days’ Trial – original official name “the First International Touring Trial’, which has nothing to do with observed Trials, was practically born together with the FIM, because during the reconstitution of the FICM by the Englishmen in November 1912 in London, the delegate J.R. Nisbet, (Vice President of the ACU and an ACU Steward at the first event), proposed the organisation of an annual international contest between the various bodies forming the Federation. At the following Congress, in Paris in December, it was decided that this contest should take the form of a Six Days’ Reliability Trial.

There is a helpful article on the event on the FIM website on the history of the 1913 event

The FIM article originally appeared in the FIM magazine ‘Ride with Us‘ which can be viewed online at issuu.com

The other ACU Stewards  were Rev E P Greenhill, the Chairman of the ACU’s Competition Committee and G Stanley Carter the Vice Chairman of the Competitions Committee

This press cutting from the Derby Daily Telegraph in the ‘Car & Cycling Notes’ by R Seyeford expresses the purpose and general form that the first International Trophy event. Interestingly considering the fame of the Women riders in the event during the 1920’s and 30’s, women were barred from the first edition.

I am exceedingly grateful for the endless detective work of ‘STB’ who has been uncovering so much original material it makes it almost possible to feel like you were there

In the following year, in 1913, the British Cycle and Motorcycle Manufacturers and Traders Union presented a permanent Trophy for this competition. The first Trial, still called International Road Trial, was held in and won by England in 1913. At the Paris Congress on October 25, 1913, it was agreed that the 1914 International Trial should be held in France and the 1915 Trial in Germany. The 1914 Trial was on the eve (Vorabend) of the start when the First World War broke out. The following Congress was held in January 1920 in London, where it was decided that the International Trial of that year be logically held in France. Originally, the International Trial was open to “motor bicycles, motor bicycles with sidecars, and cyclecars, conforming to the regulations of the (Federation Internationale des Clubs Motorcyliste) FICM “. As the first international competition organised between clubs members of the FICM, the idea was to test one a year the capacities of the riders and machines on a reliability, but also endurance test over a long distance, plus a speed test on the last day . The rules of the first years stated that “the route must consist of roads that are practicable in all weathers for every type of motor-cycle.

Here, from the FIM web site article, are a few extracts of what were the first sporting rules in the FIM history, which received some amendments during the meeting held on 25 October 1913 at the Automobile Club de France in Paris.

“A Motorbicycle is defined as a vehicle comprising a frame, two wheels and a suitable engine. Motor vehicles with more than two wheels, and weighing without oil, fuel and water, less than 300 kg, are included in the term Motorcycle. The divisions and classes into which motorcycles are divided by the FICM are as follows (cylinder capacity not exceeding – minimum weight without oil or fuel):

Division 1: 250cc – 40 kg; 350cc – 50 kg; 500cc – 60 kg; 750cc – 70 kg; 1000cc – 80 kg” (a minimum diameter for tyres is established for each class).

Division 2: Motorbicycles with sidecars: 350cc – 80 kg; 500cc – 100 kg; 750cc – 110 kg; 1000cc – 120 kg. All vehicles in division 2 must be fitted with a clutch or other “free engine” device

Division 3: Cyclecars: all three or four wheeled motor vehicles other than motorbicycles with sidecar, carrying one or two persons and of a maximum weight of 300 kg (without liquid): 750cc – 150 kg; 1100cc – 175 kg. All vehicles in division 3 must be fitted with a clutch or other “free engine” device, and with a change-speed gear.

The minimum weight for any driver or passenger carried by either a motorbicycle or any other class of motorcycle, is uniformly fixed at 60 kg. This weight may be made up, if necessary, by ballast”.

Auto-Cycle Union of Great Britain took the initiative of calling a meeting which was held at Olympia in London on 28 November 1912. Delegates from Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands and the United States were present. The FICM was re-established in order to control and develop the sporting and touring aspects of motorcycling and to assist motorcycle users in those fields. Two weeks later, a Congress was held in Paris in which – beside the countries already mentioned – Germany, Austria and Switzerland also took part. These ten countries are considered as the official founder members of the FICM. The Marquis de Mouzilly St-Mars was elected Patron and the Honourable Sir Arthur Stanley MP President. The following year the first international event held under the aegis of the FICM took place: the International Six Days Reliability Trial.

France, racing with blue colours – Entrant: Union Motocycliste de France
M. Guilloreau on a Clement-Gladiator 350cc, twin cylinder, 2,75 HP
M. Gabriel on a Clement-Gladiator 498cc, twin-cylinder, 4 HP
M. Bourbeau on a Bedelia Cyclecar 1100cc, twin-cylinder, 8 HP

Great Britain, racing with green colours – Entrant: Auto Cycle Union
W.B. Gibb on a Douglas 349cc, twin-cylinder, 2,75 HP
W.B. Little on a Premier 499cc, single cylinder, 3,5 HP
C.R. Collier on a Matchless with Sidecar, 964cc, twin-cylinder, 8 HP

Thanks again to our special european agent “STB” who can be relied on to find the best ISDT archives in Europe.

Above is the Bedelia, produced at Bourbeau et Devaux Co. Paris. Competitors were weeded out wholesale and broken springs in Cycle cars, damaged frames, and gear and tyre troubles were commonplace, whilst some competitors had to abandon their motor cycles or cycle cars and return to Carlisle by train. The French team contesting for the International suffered complete decline and the British team were not immune from numerous delays.  All the competitors are hardened riders, but as a protest to the officials against what they call “motor obstacle racing, many of the survivors have decided, it is stated, to retire from the trial.For the first 30 miles the route, of which Shipton was the extreme limit, was quite easy wrote correspondent of the “Yorkshire Post” a comment that after passing Penrith it turned into a track that went sharply up into the hills.  This surface strewn with stones and rocks very clearly shook the riders off _”buckjump-ing” they called it.  Passing through a country upland there was a gradual descent through gullies and a few of the competitors had to stop to mend punctures.  At the bottom a small brook flowed over a stony bed.  Some riders sped across, the water splashing over them; others more cautious, waded across with their machines, so losing marks.  Next the course ran through narrow country lanes leading miles across country, and here one man retired (more anon)

Day 1

Route Map

Course Gradient Profile

Route Description

Images from Day 1

Day 2

Route Map

Course Gradient Profile

Route Description

Images of Day 2

Day 3

Route Map

Course Gradient Profile

Route Description

Images of Day 3

Day 4

Route Map

Course Gradient Profile

Route Description

Images from Day 4

Nothing yet confirmed

Day 5

Route Map

Course Gradient Profile

Route Description

Images from Day 5

Day 6

Much of this article relies on information from news articles of the time. If you wish to read the report of the event in Motor Cycle of August 1913 we have now got it available to be read online here: report on ISDT 1913 in Motor Cycle

the Motor Cycle 21 August 1913

the Motor Cycle 28 August 1913

List of Starters and Results

Pictures always wanted……

Further Reading and Links

Wikipedia ISDT 1913 (German)