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Introduction
The 13th International Six Days Trial took place in Merano, Monza, Italy in 1931 over the 30th August to 4th September with nearly 100 starters.
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We are again short of material on this ISDT and would welcome any images or scanned programmes that can help us discover the venue and route of this event. The FIM have been generous again in providing scanned copies of the official report and results for the event.
Image of scanned cover of of Official Report and Results ISDT 1931
The International Trophy was won by the Italian Team of L Gilera, M Maffeis and R Grana with 2nd Germany and 3rd Great Britain. Five countries competed for this trophy. The International Silver Vase was won by the Holland A team of D H Eysink, G Bakker Schut and A P van Hammersveld following them in 2nd Italy B and 3rd Germany. 9 teams competed for this trophy.
Photo of the winning Italian Trophy Team l-r #19 Luigi Gilera 600cc Gilera sc, Miro Maffels 500cc Gilera, and Rosolino Grana 500cc Gilera ISDT 1931 (image Morton’s Archive)
By the end of the second day only the German and Italian Trophy Teams had not lost points, France had lost 103, GB 200 and the Belgians had abandoned although 54 riders completed day 2 without loosing marks. The win was awarded to the Dutch A team over the Italians on the basis of Art 37 of the rules which meant the Dutch riders having amassed a total of 44.06km in the final Speed Test over the Italians with 20.421km. L A Welsh of the British ‘A’ Vase team fell but was not badly hurt as did British Woman Miss Foley. Later in the week Welsh again crashed but this time had to be taken to be treated by medics. The British again provided the only women riders in the event Lermitte (Gold) , Herbert (Silver), Cottle (Gold) and Foley (Bronze) all finishing with medals.
On the Map!
The course was considered quite hard with many injuries occurring. The route took riders over the Stelvio Pass at 9,042ft
Image – scanned copy of original route map for the ISDT 1931
Image – scanned profile of the entire course of the ISDT 1931
Not much content yet but here we have a picture from the Hulton Picture Library of Film star like Marjorie Cottle embarking on her trip to Italy from King’s Cross
Photo: 25th August 1931: Motorcyclist Marjorie Cottle and a porter load her motor-cycle into a goods wagon at King’s Cross Station, London, bound for Merano, Italy, to compete in an International Six Days Trial. (Photo by J. A. Hampton/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images) ISDT 1931
I am very grateful for the supply of the below images by our special Europe correspondent ‘STB’
Photo – British Competitors including Jack Williams, WT Tiffen and Tim Robbins preparing machines at Merano ISDT 1931 (Image Morton’s Archive)
Photo – Start at Monza ISDT 1931 (Image Morton’s Archive)
Photo – British Competitor Miss Herbert on Calthorpe Pass Check ISDT 1931 (Image Morton’s Archive)
Photo – British Competitors Miss E Foley on Gilera ISDT 1931 (Image Morton’s Archive)
Photo – Henne BMW of German Trophy Team with on left Kroth the president of ADAC ISDT 1931 (Image Morton’s Archive)
Photo – Mittenzwei Zundapp sc of German Vase Team ISDT 1931 (Image Morton’s Archive)
Photo – Hieronimus Zundapp and Steizer BMW of the German Vase team ISDT 1931 (Image Morton’s Archive)
photo – An Italian soldier giving Henne the ‘all clear’ as a danger point in last year’s trial. ISDT 1931 (Image Morton’s Archive)
Photo – GB Trophy Team L to R, Bert Perrigo (BSA Sloper), Harry Perrey and Passenger, Eric Pearson, with the Ariel Square Four outfit and George Rowley with the short-lived AJS 496cc transverse side-valve twin. ISDT 1931 (Courtesy Deryck Wylde collection)
The above images were made available by Deryk Wylde. : Images in this section are protected with a digitally embedded watermark. Copies, without the watermark, may be available – please contact ‘offroarchive@gmail.com’ for details.
Photo – Winning Italian Trophy Team #21R Grana #20 M Maffeis #19 L Gilera all riding Gilera with Sinistra ISDT 1931
Photo – Dasx, V Fieschi (Bianchi), M Maffeis, Cavallieri – ISDT 1931
“RUDGES AND TRIUMPHS PERFORM FLAWLESSLY IN INTERNATIONAL SIX DAYS’ TRIAL— HAILED AS THE MOST TERRIFIC WEEK IN ANY TRIALS RIDERS MEMORY OR EXPERIENCE.
Rome.
The International Silver Vase was won by Holland (Rudge team). Britain’s big honors came with the 500 c.c. contest for the F.I.C.M. Gold Medal (Manufacturers Teams Prize), the Rudge team — Williams. McGrecor. and Miss Lermitte — losing no marks. Rudges also won six gold medals. At the completion of the Trial. J. Williams (Rudge) completed the Monza speed section at over 80 m.p.h. yet was a gold medalist for reliability. He lost no marks. was a member of the winning manufacturer’s tream, completed the 1.200 miles cf road including Italian alpine passes, totalling 30,000 feet of climbing; numerous twists and turns, rain, snow and sleet, without a flaw, and again proved the magnificent all-round reliability of his Rudge. TEAMS’ PRIZE TO TRIUMPH The Italian team on “NT’ Triumphs tied with the Rudges in the Manufacturers’ Teams’ Prize event. Only three entries, and gained three gold medals. At the concluding test on Monza Sneedway.’ says ‘Motor Cycle.’ ‘the chief glory rested with the Italian team. Opessi, Berardi, and Marin. riding British Triumphs. Not one had dropped a single mark all the week. They circled Monza in line abreast, two yards apart, as if attempting the perfect dirt track start.’ So the world’s greatest trial concludes with Rudge and Triumph again up holding British honors.”
What the Papers Said!
‘the Motor Cycle‘ of August and September 1931 carried a number of articles covering the event as the British Team prepared, and for the duration of the event. These pages have been compiled into on online document that can be read at our issuu.com library by visiting this blog post
Image of scanned news article from Nottingham Evening Post 1 Sept 1931
Image of scanned news article in the Western Daily Press 4 Sept 1931
Image – article appearing in ‘the Brisbane Courier‘ Queensland, Australia 22 Oct 1931 ISDT 1931
image – scanned article in ‘the Advertiser‘ of Adelaide, advertorial from Lenroc, the Australian importers reporting on the success of the Rudge and Triumph Makes at the ISDT 1931
The Final Score: Results
The International Trophy
- Italy (0) penalty points
- Germany (6)
- Great Britain (600)
- France (803)
- Belgium (R)
The International Silver Vase
- Holland A (0) Penalty Points
- Italy B (0)
- Germany (35)
- Holland B (94)
- Great Britain B (200)
- Great Britain A (500)
- Italy A (641)
- Czechoslovakia (662)
- France (803)
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. Download a copy of the original Results and Stewards Report at the link below.
Download Stewards Report for the 1931 ISDT here
We are currently creating content for this section. In order to be able to keep up with our high standards of service, we need a little more time. Please stop by again. Thank you for your interest!
Speed Track Tales 
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