Page under construction always…

To show how machinery had developed since the first Six Days Trial in 1913, here is the Phelon & Moore of Cleckheaton first P&M (Panther Team)

Introduction 24th ISDT 1937

The 19th ISDT took place on the 12 – 17th July 1937 and was held in Llandrindod Wells which had been the host town for the first Wales based ISDT of 1933.

An electronic copy of this programme can be viewed on our issuu.com library via this article on the route of the ISDT 1937 (Please note requires Adobe Flash capable browser which unfortunately excludes many mobile devices)

With 220 entered riders 213 riders found their way over the start line on day 1 with only 44 retiring. Of the 169 that finished 126 achieved gold with 21 silvers. This had the tightest finish of all ISDT Events, just 10 Seconds in Speed Test Riding brought Honour in the International Trophy to Britain – V Brittain, G Rowley and W S Waycott after Britain & Germany who had no penalty points at all & contested times on a wet circuit at Donnington on tha 6th Speed Trial Day. Czechoslovakia were 3rd with only three teams competing for the trophy. In the International Silver Vase Holland A – Moejes, van Hamersveld and Bakker Schut were 1st and Germany’s B than A team taking the top spots from 10 teams.

After the British Team won the event in 1936 entitling them to hold the following years event there was a reluctance by the ACU to accept the invite and the reasons why and why the event did come to Britain is provided in an article that was found in ‘the Advertiser‘, Adelaide, South Australia

“Following a special appeal by British motor cycling traders and clubmen. the A.C.U. of Great Britain has decided to undertake the organisation of the 1937 International Six Days’ Trial, and conduct the event in Wales. Following England’s victories in the 1936 event which was decided in Germany, England was entitled to conduct the following year’s fixture, but the A.C.U. felt that it could not organise the event on similar lines to the German authorities as that body had the assistance of the military and police to perfect its organisation. It is suggested that Llandrindod Wells, Wales, be the centre of the trial and the final speed tests to be conducted at Donnington.”

Llandrindod Wells, Vic Brittain’s 348cc Norton at rear of Ireland’s B Stronge & his 250cc Matchless, ahead of them is Frank Whittle & his 600cc Pather Sidecar outfit.

Thanks to New Orleans based welshman Dave Martin for picking this picture up and sending it out way. German bikes #2 E Barth DKW 98cc and #7 H Klopfer DKW 98cc await the curse of the scrutineer

I have managed to turn up 3 photos of the works DKW bikes from 1937 on the http://www.vintagebikes.co.uk website. The images are credited to Wiebe Brouwer and are taken at scrutineering before the 1937 ISDT in Wales. The pictures show the bikes belonging to two Dutch teams. They consist of three DKW RT 98cc, prepared by the Dutch importer, in front and three Dutch build 125 Eysink’s with Villiers engines.

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.

George William Pratchett had in the 1920’s been the head of the German FN motorcycle Racing team, leaving in the late 1920’s to become the head designer at Jawa.

‘Motor Cycling‘ on the 14th July did a two page feature on the Trophy and Vase teams which is shown below. The article notes ‘Unfortunately the Swiss team were incomplete and could not compete’

Trophy Teams

Vase Teams

Registration [IV-22756] then from Saxonia / eastern Germany, where DKW was located in the town of Zschopau, works support! Has this works DKW survived in the hands of a collector?

A request to identify this rider has been hopefully resolved by A Halthaus who suggests it is Mrs Ilse Thouret however with no date or location sent we dont yet know which event it was. We know the bike is a 250cc DKW. George Todd has come part of the way to rescue us by advising HH 2100 is a Hamburg registration mark, (Hansa Hamburg), many thanks to George Todd. After checking our 1930 results collection #34 is not listed as being Ilse. Obviously if anyone can help us pin this picture down to a specific ISDT or other event will be one of our saviours.

Clicking on the above image should enlarge it to full size.

Torrens of ‘the Motor Cycle‘ also wrote a review of the Works BMW and Jawas which were fitted with front and rear suspension which can be read here

What the papers said.

Luckily a number of pre war copies of the Motor Cycle magazines of the time survive and find their way onto auction sites such as eBay. Because of their importance as a record I have been endeavouring to acquire as many as I am able to find to share. Any readers with copies they are willing to make available as scans please make contact us and we are grateful to Morton’s Archive for their consent in reproducing the material from these publications in this article.

‘Motor Cycling‘ July 14th 1937

At the beginning of the event describes the arrival of the teams and the first two days riding.

You can read the article of this issue of ‘Motor Cycling‘ on this site in our feature “The German Army came to Wales”

‘the Motor Cycle‘ 15 July 1937 – ‘Club news’

The event’s first three days are covered in ‘the Motor Cycle‘ issue 15 July 1937

You can view a copy of this issue at our online library at issuu.com

An embedded readable copy of the issue can also be found here in this entry on our site

You can view a copy of this article here at issuu.com

The Motor Cycle 22 July 1937

The full review and results of the ISDT appear in this issue which is featured in this speedtracktale post

The final part of the review in ‘the Motor Cycle’ appeared in the issue of 29th July 1937

read this article at issuu.com

Image of Scanned copy of report in the Motorcycle 16th December 1937

The above magazine is currently on sale on eBay at Pook’s Motor Books store

On the Map

1937 Course, you will see the pics at Pontargothi further on [Ed. – I am going to be forever grateful to Michael Ryan who not only provided the above improved scan of the original map but will be copying his ISDT programme collection for the benefit of visitors to the site]

Thanks to site supporters we have an online copy of the ISDT 1937 Programme which can be viewed in full detail here.

The German team having lost the Trophy in 1936 in Germany, an all out effort seemed to be imminent at Llandrindod Wells in 1937. German teams from branches of Military personnel amounting to 79 riders with a 60 strong back-up team arrived in Britain into Southampton (they wanted a prominent presence on arrival) by sea aboard the Steamship SS Europa.

Leading this group of the boat is #103 E Hainz, a military rider of the SS, who finished with a Silver Medal followed by #149 L Patina also of the same SS team who finished with a Gold medal. The last bike #215 is E Schaeffer on a 493 cc Zundapp riding for the NSKK who also finished with a Gold medal.

This ship, a 4 propshaft Blohm & Voss built sister ship to SS Bremen, almost 50k DWT. SS Europa became a vessel so significant, adorned superbly within, intended to be part Officer Invasion Admin.  a large part of HQ plus transportation to be a main Organizing section of Germany’s Operation Sealion Victory fleet planned to conquer & occupy Britain with almost 600 first class accomodation plus almost 500 2nd Class.  It was run by NDL, Nord Germanischer Lloyd and was in German Military hands during WW2. Briefly Post Axis hostilities it was used as an American Troop tranport but it was sunk in shallow water at New York after being formally given to France. It was immediately renamed Liberte but suffered a fire plus mechanical damage during a refit, & after striking the sunken French vessel, (of all wrecks), SS PARIS ! Now SS Liberte the vessel had initially been an immigrant transporter and Post WW2 saw it return to those same duties, being refitted in 1950 then in service until lay up in 1961 & final scrapping in 1962.  Far more than was even guessed in 1937 ostensibly bringing a German Military team with support force to the ISDT, Europa’s previous Master, Kapitan Sharfa helped with Post WW2 Refurbishment & extensive Swastika Insignia & Official Embellishment of staterooms & main quarters were more than just prominent, a ship always has stories if you search for them.

(This vessel pic was sent in, whilst if this is offends copyright anywhere it will be immediately removed) there are a number of pics with which we can replace it.

In spite of the mass German arrival, recce parties had preceded this & practice commenced well prior to other teams, German teams wore incredibly thorough riding leathers, Field-grey of normal army units, Light brown one piece suits of Storm troopers teams plus SS teams had their expected black leathers.

Contrary to its normal September time this event had been brought forward to July! & tourist holiday traffic with roaming sheep confrontations predicted! plus competitors ‘were wary of each other’.

Stuart Waycott’s Velocette outfit motor had been made larger capacity & spark plug had to be reached via a tube through its petrol tank.  Vic Brittain’s Norton 350cc had an ohc motor, & the trio which was made up again by George Rowley’s AJS was the type which post WW2 became the 7R Boy Racer to compete for the Trophy against Stelzer &  “Der Gusseiserne Schorsch” Ironman George Meier on 500cc BMW’s with Kraus to drive the 600 BMW sidecar outfit, he replaced Henne of 1936 team who had been injured in car events, 213 riders prepared for the ‘off’..

• upper pic. showing British winners of the Trophy 1936 in Germany. from left G E Rowley, V N Brittain, W S Waycott & sidecar passenger E Belsten.
• The lower pic. shows British winners of the Silver Vase in Germany in 1936. From left first we see Graham Walker, Murray Walker’s dad who was team manager, then riders, R McGregor, J A McLeslie, & J E Edward.

First day only was heavy rain affected & at 6 am machines were collected from parc ferme, Dutch Harley Davidson sidecar entry H M Persoon recorded the first ‘bump’ striking a wall on a r/hand bend & his passenger suffered a bad cut above his eye, a quick check up & they continued.  Allt y Badi the first tough climb followed by difficult Dol y Wern.  Press became impressed over Klopfer’s performance on the 98cc DKW, Harold Tozer overturned his BSA outfit & retired & naturally special attention was paid to ladies efforts, Marjorie Cottle on the 250cc BSA plus Frau Thouret on the 245cc DKW had made praisworthy climbs. This picture in the Archive at Llandrindod’s National Cycle Museum is marked 1938, however the flag mountings were far different [we would appreciate a few more eyes scanning this pic for ID of this chap plus Nationality.]

A trip to the Barbour

Wondering where & when the Barbour suits emerged?, in 1937 Submariner Capt. George Phillips took command of the ‘URSULA’ & found the Royal Navy ‘issue’ wet weather clothing useless. He noticed a crew man wearing one of Barbour’s one peice waxed cotton waterproof coveralls that he and a crewman visited the South Shields Barbour factory & using their own finance arranged for Navy issued apparel to be made by converting the one piece into a 2 piece suit with elastication at the waist, after 1937 each British & many other teams wore Barbour suits which became renamed the ‘International’!! I hope that solves a mystery. The man in the suit is Capt George Phillips. (Our thanks to Barbour, South Shields, for the Disc of their advertising images they allowed us to use)

Photo kindly provided provided by Swansea Motor Club Historian Mike Evans.

At the weigh in [FO3547] is Gold Medal Winner, Arthur (Archie?) Colcombe, (the dad of the late Austin Colcombe, an old friend from Builth Wells who was riding plus making superb Grass Track Machines at his motorcycle Shop in Builth a 250 BSA version of which he allowed me to ride at Llanbadarn in an early 60’s event to compare it with my 500cc GP Triumph 500cc powered BSA framed scrambler.)  That  New Imperial on the left has P C Sivell & far right with the Ariel is Gorseinon man & Swansea Clubman E G Bennett a superb ex Sand racer whose pictures you will see in Oxwich & Aberavon Sand Races Section http://www.sandspeedwales.co.uk has the other Ariel.

please note:- John B now is rebuilding that very same Ariel 350cc, [FO3547] here held by Arthur Colcombe then of Franksbridge, Hundred House Nr. Builth Wells, he had Gold in 1937 ISDT and like perhaps ALL others did not get reported as a finisher in the 1938 ISDT listed to have been curtailed at 3 days mark. The machine was transferred from Radnor to Brecon CC on 30/1/39 and then back to Radnor 8/12/1955, [does anyone have anything to help us fill in any happenings to the machine during that period?]. Percy Sivell’s 250 BSA machine of the 1938 ISDT is now owned by John Harding, the ‘Pistons’ man who is a store of brilliant data on long past Trials, I should have a pic. shortly.

Six Bells  tavern in Crickhowell which sold G E Watkins’s Home Brewed Ales somehow gets central focus in this pic as George Wolsey takes his 500cc Ariel throught the Village what better venue for Lunchtime as a photographer.

“Burton the Bread”, delivery lad has his delivery bike leaning against parapet of Crickhowell Bridge as P Oettinger takes his NSU Sidecar outfit over.  (left of the bicycle with a ‘Dai Cap’ leans the lad himself.)

First Day was the 12th August with a stop for “Replenishment” at Clyro, next Lunch was taken at Crai Village Hall, after this came “Replenishment” once more somewhere between Dinas Rock and Crai, one of these is perhaps the location seen on this picture kindly sent by Reinhard Waschneck whose friend owns the Works entered Velocette #169 ridden here by (Billy) W.T. Tiffen Jnr.  His father W.T. Tiffen Snr. is also in another part of this website in the 1932 part of the 1913 onwards section with a Dolomites Backdrop and another pic appears of Jr. unidentified German rider is to the right with AJS entered G Povey sitting on #168, the AJS Factory entered OHC 350cc early 7R machinery.  With Karpol Polish KLG plugs advert, a fabulous photograph of The International Six Days Trials which took place in Llandrindod Wells in 1937.  The back of the photo states 12/7/37,  taken outside a garage where the advertising is really clear for Firestone Tyres and Karpol Car Polish. [PLEASE CAN SOMEONE IDENTIFY THE LOCATION FOR US?, plus the 2 European riders, we would love identified in the pic below, military insignia visible on them.]

There was also a lunch stop at Llangollen

In the foreground are #115 H Evans (348 Norton), #120 H. McKee (498 Levis), #128 J.S. Arthur (346 AJS), #122 J. Moes (494 BMW) and #119 T. Mooney (499 Royal Enfield) ISDT 1937

I am quite certain this is the old garage on the Berwyn Road (A5) in Llangollen next to the Smithfield Arms, It has now been demolished and turned into housing however it could still be seen in Google Streetview in 2012.

A limse of one of the many time checks. The riders are JG Heusden (98cc DKW) M van d. Berg (248cc Puch) GW Sannes (122 Eysink) and W Zylaard (98cc DKW)

[Who are these German Military Entered riders?]

The Lake at Llandrindod Wells, machine #176 of K M Hurst British Entrant 496 Levis stands there, next to T N Blockley’s #183 350cc BSA, that chap broke his leg in the aborted 1939 ISDT event in Austria.   Further left we see #177, the 500cc BMW of A Scholte from Germany shielding #186 W N Clarke’s 500 Vincent HRD,  #193 is parked there too, the Works BMW entry of J Stelzer., #190, another 500 Vincent HRD ridden by W H Cooke. [Ed. – was this the parc ferme of the event?]

[ Identities & data to follow] At the start alongside the boating lake at Llandrindod Wells, #25 is BSA Cycles Ltd entrant Marjorie Cottle on a 250cc BSA, #27 alongside is Czechoslovakian private entry R Protiva on a 250cc Jawa, both in the ‘A’ Class of entries.

(The findings to follow are thanks to Chris Stevens of Surrey & Isle of Man Historian & Author, David Wright.)

H Fruth on a BMW 500cc, again of the ‘Brownshirts’ as German Military ‘National Socialist Motor Corps‘ or NSKK came to be termed, #122 However was Dutchman Moejes on a 500 BMW, a civilian Association for riders in Netherlands, European riders seemed unsure what exactly RAC men were engaged upon.
NB  The Storm Troopers term emerged from WW1 and from officially being formed from 1st April 1930 duly became formed into a Paramilitary Motorised arm of the Nazi Party. NSKK is for National Sozialistisches Kraftfahrer Korps, a required racial doctrine membership seemed to apply and be needed along with Aryan qualities.  I could never really confirm it’s background to be actually bad, It did however become a Condemned Organization at the Nuremburg Trials because of its association with the Nazi Party and having promoted Aryan values.

#31 is Austrian W V Millenkovich in Class A on a 250cc Puch, #30 is a German RFSS/SS.-Hauptamt(16) entrant H Steger dressed also in the customary SS riders uniform, riding a 250cc DKW in Class A.

J Williams here is riding a works Norton and was a member of the Great Britain A Vase Team, the only one to finish without penalties and a Gold medal. Tom Norton owned the largest  sales & development premises for Cycles to Aircraft in Llandrindod Wells & it is now the National Cycle Museum & really well worth a visit.

#180 is M Greenwood on his 496cc New Imperial, #184 is R Seltsam of the NSKK Brownshirts (Storm troopers?) Motor. Divn. Germany.

[ONE HECKUVA LOAD OF ARTHUR WILLIAMS’S KINDLY RECOVERED IMAGES USED WITH MANY THANKS HERE!]

Two German riders with problems at the base of Bwlch y Groes, #85 J Forstner collides with 250 DKW rider #60 T Feischmann. Both went on to finish with a gold medal each.

Tregaron Pass water crossing was thought to be too deep by ACU & a temporary crossing seen here was used.

Cometh a horrible WW2 & machinery developed in separate ways as we see in 1940

Norton here shown as a Bren Gun Carrier in 1942, is rather cruder, by quality & performance I think I know which machinery is the better built.

#154 is Welshman Eddie M Stephens of Carmarthen on a 350cc Triumph in Class B, #155 NSKK’s German entry A Drax on a 500cc BMW in Class C, #156 is Zundapp Ges. m.b.H works entry German rider G Heimbucher on a 493cc Zundapp in Class C.

First wet day passed without major mishaps & huge force of helpful police directed competitor plus tourists traffic along with carefully advising controlling spectator volumes. Course route markings inevitably came in for complaint too which seems par for the course wherever the ISDT takes place, second day press turned to passing comments on the weather & scenic aspects of the event whilst by the thirds day the people seriously in with a chance had begun to emerge.

#77 is British entrant P. Head in B Class on a 350cc Royal Enfield, #79 is the famous George Meier from Germany, entered by Versuchs Abteilung Wunsdorf in C Class on a 500cc BMW and a member of the second place German Trophy Team.

Superb Picture Section follows kindly contributed from the Richard Clare collection, Grandson of the great Mumbles Photographer M A Clare who used to cycle to his photo shoot locations. several others of Richard’s Collection will follow.

A closer look at what is stated on the building itself, above the lamp & how apt for British & German Army members shortly to go to war once more.

The Irish Vase ‘B’ Team by Thursday had seen Stewart became lost but returned to forfeit points for his mistake & Doc Galloway similarly got lost but returned to course without points loss & Vivtar of the Czech Trophy Team became lost & ran out of petrol before he could return to the route. Dust tiredness & low cloud on areas they travelled on higher mountainous routes. Dutchman Eysink on his own 122cc Villiers engined Eysink machine had frame breakage to retire.   Tommy Meeten who in 1935-6 took over the initially Len Vale-Onslow designed & produced  172cc SOS retired after a heavy tumble.(Tommy by this stage had taken over all to do with SOS & many thanks to Colin Atkinson of the British Two Stroke Club for sorting this out for me!)
Returning to Llandrindod Wells the BMW of Stelzer had its tyre changed spectacularly & speedily using the detachable rim flanges used by several of the German team.  Irish Vase ‘A’team consisting of R C Yeates on a ‘push rod’ Norton & H L Archer whom we take to be Les Archer Snr unexpectedly on an Ariel not a Velo! along with C W Duffin on a Matchless had lost no marks entering the lat days & maintained their nothing lost rides to the finish.

In this photo are two well known Welsh riders of the time,’Archie’ Colcombe of Builth Wells & Gordon Bennett of Swansea/Gorseinon

#186 is Briton W ‘Bill’ Clarke on his Vincent HRD 499cc & #187 NSKK entry German W Gabriel on a 493cc Zundapp, both in Class C.  That Bill Clarke was actually a Director of Vincent HRD plus a backer moneywise, sadly Bill Clarke as a Squadron Leader went missing in action in WW2 flying a Stirling Bomber, many thanks for that sad piece of info to Dave Martin.

The rider to left could again be Marjorie Cottle on her works 250cc BSA with Czech Protiva & Jawa in the background. – Clearer pic below sent by Dave Martin.

The sidecar outfit appears to be the Fabrique des Armes Ing. F Janecek entry of a 598cc Jawa ridden by Franta Juhan in Class F. Franta was a superb & well respected rider on GP IoM Speedway & Dirt bike Circuits & Competitions prior to establishing his own Jawa CZ & Motor car business in 1938.

In 1948 Franta Juhan & family arrived in Vancouver to start HONDA Centre there & he continued to race & with his family became parts of a successful venture, a picture similar to this appears in Honda History section with “year & location not known” well look again at the number etc, this was him at the 1937 ISDT out of Llandrindod Wells we believe near the Crai Reservoir/village.  Arthur Williams (who knows this area really well) has identified this to be travelling in to Crai from Trecastle, right by the outof view Crai Church, in the top right distance Dixie’s Corner building can be spotted with Penyfai Hill in between. Arthur was a Military ‘spotter ‘ in that area!, Big thanks.

#107 is E G Rowley, a winner in the 1936 event & entered by AJS factory on a 350 in Class B. #14, a significant machine of that SOS marque Len Vale Onslow initially produced, after acquiring control of SOS in 1935/36 that 172cc SOS is ridden by SOS’s total OWNER Tommy Meeten, (is that Trevor’s dad?). #105 is John Ashworth’s 500cc BSA in Class C.  #106 W James on his 346cc New Imperial in Class B.  behind him is KNMV Dutch entry W Zylaard on a 122cc Eysink.

#118 is Velocette Ltd works entry W S Waycott another 1936 winner & here on a oversize 595cc Velocette sidecar outfit in Class F. For more information on this bike and rider check out the dedicated page in our ‘Folk’s & Motors’ pages

The Oversize VELOCETTE of W S Waycott, look at the access to Sparking Plug tunnel just ahead of the knee rubber, it could be changed without even moving from the seat.

#10 is KNMV’s Dutch entry listed simply as Heusden on a 98cc DKW in Class 4, #9 is Auto Union’s German entry W Fahler on a 173cc DKW in Class 6. #103 is RFSS/SS, – Hauptumt rider E Hainz, naturally in immaculate black leathers with SS insignia,  on a 494cc BMW in Class C. #102 Enfield Cycle Co Ltd works rider J J Booker on a 350cc Royal Enfield.

This looks again like a (from left) W James – New Imperial 346cc, E G Rowley GB Trophy Team & John Ashworth BSA 500cc line up.

Kraus was part of the German Trophy Team that came second and he gained a Gold medal.

(NSKK was the Motorised Brownshirts’ in Germany)

#186 W. Clarke again on his 500cc Vincent HRD read about him around another picture of him a few pictures prior to this one.  Sad to learn that men here competing with each other were at war 2 years later.

#181 whose rider A Fritsch you will see further back entered by  Versuchs abteilung Wunsdorf  on the 730cc BMW in Class G.   Thanks to Glynneath ISDT Historian & enthusiast Roger Simon we are able to note that this commercial media cum maintenance & caravan & escorts had to be fed each day & at CRAI Village Hall constructed in 1935 was used to feed rest, check in & report to the world on that first day & ISDT events since!.

Crai Village Hall & Post Office received entrants with an enthralling range of differing languages, machinery, diets & customs, they paused at Crai then and at subsequent pre & post WW2 International Six Days Trials events.   Soup made in a type of boiler with a gas ring beneath it coped with providing a nourishing soup to precede the main course, behind much of this was Mrs Sally Lewis of the shop in Crai. The shop remains much the same to this day in 2004, we sat actually discussing the ISDT events in Welsh in Spring 2006.

Crai Telephone Kiosk as soon as it became installed there became proudly maintained by Postmistress Sally Lewis, Windows plus surfaces polished & even with a seat plus carpet inside, it was an example of Village pride & Norman Burns of Cwm Dulais Historical Society could vouch for that pristine condition continuing at least to seen here at the end of June 1980, Norman & his late wife pose at that Crai (Cray) kiosk which impressed so many users.

Believed to be “Johnny” Laurani the Italian FIM chief can anyone confirm please?

Many of the below images are from ‘the Motor Cycle’ of 15th July 1937 from the Speedtracktales own collection. Much of the article featured images taken on the Allt y Badi near Llangollen on the second day an article on the history of this track can be seen here

#83 H Zurr (494cc BMW sc) finds a 1 in 31/2 gradient too much for the available “horses”

Image with gear lever snicked home in bottom, #40 W. Krabiell (562cc NSU sc) Germany, makes a determined onslaught on Allt-y-Bady, followed by #23 M. van d. Berg (248cc Puch), Holland.

Image – Although there are no observed hills in the International, there are plenty of steep hills on the course. Here is #62 H.W. Croucher (598cc Panther sc) leading W. v. Millenkovich (248cc Püch), Austria, up the 1 in 3 1/2 gradient of Allt-y-Bady.

image #8 L.W.C. Hall (499 Rudge sc) out to defeat the wheelspin bogey, has his passenger on the rear mudguard.

The majority of the under – 100 cc machines found Allt-y-Bady too much for them. W. Zylaard and J.G Heusden walking up alongside their D.K.W.s

F. Juhan (598 Jawa sc), of the Czechoslovakian Trophy team, in action. Note how the acrobatic sidecar passenger hold onto a strap.

We have an article in German that originally appeared in ‘Das Motorrad‘ 24th July 1937 which we will be having translated to appear in a blog. In the meantime the article’s images can be viewed here

The above scene from the event at Allt y Badi appeared in the event report in the ISDT 1937 in 24th July 1937 issue of the German motorcycle magazine ‘Das Motorrad’.

Friday again saw no mighty casualties & British along with German Trophy Teams remained unpenalised, plus the British Vase ‘A’ team Ireland’A’, Holland ‘B’ team and the two German teams, all was to be settled at Donnington Park.

This photo was taken on the very steep Devil’s Staircase on which the riders are seen descending leading to the Tregaron Pass. In the distance can be seen the temporary bridges over the deep fast waters that the ACU constructed.

The following images appeared originally in ‘the Motor Cycle’ issues of 22 and 29th July 1937 you can read more about the 22nd September report here

Competitors left to Donnington Park Circuit where many machines failed on the steady flat circuit, one to blow at the halfway stage was Marjorie Cottle’s 250cc BSA but she still had a Bronze medal,  Five ‘clean’ teams fought out the Vase prize throughout the Speed Test, German army A team dropped their BMW’s at Coppice but still took the flag after remounting.  A protest from the Dutch team uncovered that lap scorers had missed lap 12 out for Moejes & Holland proudly won the Vase.  Trophy Speed test had the 500cc BMW’s called on to complete 19 Laps against 18 required of the British 350cc’s. Racer George Meier kept his BMW ahead for most of the duration but George Rowley & Vic Brittain stayed within sight of him to win The Trophy by just 10 seconds.

The late stage of that huge effort, at Donnington, Coppice Corner sees F Tragner 250cc DKW leading Harold Flook 590cc OHC Norton, then Jack Williams and Vic Brittain heading for the Maker’s Norton Team’s award.

Britain’s  Trophy Winning Team after one mighty speed test. from Left:- George Rowley 348cc AJS, Centre #70 Vic Brittain 348cc Norton & Stuart Waycott on that specially enlarged Velocette of 600 cc with Vivian Mundy in the chair.

What the Papers said! Pt 2

Vic Brittain George Rowley & W S Waycott captured the Trophy for England & A P van Hammersveld, G Bakker-Schut & J Moejes took the Silver Vase to the Netherlands

‘Motor Cycling‘ dedicated a significant part of the weeks issue after the event to deal with rounding up on the event. Below are the pages of a 3 page article looking at the bikes and new technology seen during the week

‘Motor Cycling‘ magazine’s writer ‘Cyclops’ also provided an insight into the politics and wisdom into staging such an event, resources and courtesies to foreign competitors.

A copy of this German report has been acquired and is on the way ( Dec 2013) can anybody help with translating the review from German into English?

At the Movies:

In addition to the press articles and pictures we have a few video clips of this event here also for other events for you to enjoy on our video gallery.

Team Jaguar appeared as seen here in the 1937 Wales Rally, [ID needed & Location has been confirmed to be Column Road outside University of Wales Cardiff], this is another from the Dave Martin Collection no wonder Jaguars were so much admired.  Please stop by again. Thank you for your interest!

The Final Score: Results

International Trophy

Great Britain (0) Penalty Points
Germany (0)
Czechoslovakia (300)

International Silver Vase

Holland A (0) Penalty Points
Germany B (0)
Germany A (0)
Ireland A (0)
Ireland B (19)
Great Britain B (45)
Holland B (135)
Great Britain A (223)
Czechoslovakia (300)
Austria (669)

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 1937 ISDT here

Collectables

T C Whitton’s son David kindly allowed us to place a pic of his father’s 1937 ISDT Medal, the awards he had won were impressive. he became a top rider in Trials Scrambles & Grass Track events. A west countryman, ‘Tom Whitton’, T.C.Whitton won that Devon award , The Patchquick Trophy when presented for the very first ever time on a 350cc Velocette in 1934, & later became an AJS team man.

We also include the Scottish Six Days award of ‘1939’ when the Austrian round of the ISDT in Salzburg came to cancellation & British ISDT guests of the German Army were advised by the British Consul to ‘leg it home’ via Switzerland, Petrol was provided by their hosts to help this, any further info on this would be appreciated (more about this on the ISDT 1939 page). FIM logo, ACU logo are shown high, plus Welsh Mountains view from the high course corner at Ystradfellte background with the LEEK of WALES shown to the right of the  World Symbol with an English rose to it’s left. (Go to Glynneath, turn off there, on the road past the Golf club, take the only back road to Crai & you will come to the corner mentioned and you will see that very on course mountain view which was used) Tom became a Post WW2 motorcycle dealer with premises in Exmouth and Plymouth but like so many had tales to tell:  He joined the Royal Artillery as a gunner and when German Army advance in Europe became ‘unstoppable’ his second bid for freedom on a motorcycle came when Hazebroek became surrounded & Tom found his way through to Dunkirk Beaches then back to Britain where he was transferred to the Royal Signals Divn. training the ‘source of many great post War riders. He was transferred to R.E.M.E. promoted to Captain & made a War Office Inspector of vehicles. (the tale stems from Colin Edge who was also a Competitor in the 1939 ISDT, Colin actually was one of a few and perhaps even the only Competitor that brought his machine back, his straightest route actually cut through Germany itself & where he was able to gain a Gestapo escort from the Frontier to cross an actually at War Germany!, the Colonel Grimm responsible for it could have been script written.) Colin & his wife Peggy were highly popular joint Presidents of Chester Motor Club.

Ladies & Gentlemen took part in this after 1937 ISDT event banquet, the ISDT Banquet Menu gives an insight to the stars & talented folk involved. All is kept in these hues & sizes to prevent these items being copied from the web, in fairness to Thomas.  an absolute record of a time pre WW2 when all was well when compared to the mayhem to follow.

Another Award anyone would be proud of.

Pontardulais & Dist. M.C. & L.C.C. the sort of title emanating from the 20’s into 30’s when this region supplied competitors & marshals to all events.  This was located by Top Trials man plus racer, rallyist & Owner of Pontarddulais Tyre Centre where every day bikers assemble!. With thanks to Trevor Richards!, (Disputes over the true spelling of ‘Bont will continue long after I shall be pushing up daisies.

Where are they now.

The below images were found on a recent updated Flickr album

Eric bought this in 1938. It had been ridden in the 1937 ISDT by Fred Rist. The bike was stripped and rebuilt at the factory. His dad paid £45.00 for it. He won the Halford Cup in 1938 but said to his son he didnt like the bike as it was heavy.

This image from Mark Stevens Flickr Album and is believed to be taken near Glyn Ceiriog in North Wales close to the Allt y Badi

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