The Putoline Telford Classic Twin Shock Road Racing and Off-road Show 9 / 10 February 2013

21 Friday Dec 2012

Posted by Highwayman in Enduro, England, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Motorcycling, Motorsport, restoration, Scrambling, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux, Trials

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classic, motorcycle, show, twinshock, vintage

News of a show in Telford this coming February featuring ISDT related memorabilia and bikes – dont miss it especially the following of interest to the history of the ISDT.

In 1975 the ISDT was run in the Isle of Man. The 6 man UK trophy team was, for the first time, to ride Jawas supplied by the uk importer Bickers, under the management of Ken Heanes and Chris Oliver. Ken and Gold medallist Dave Smith have now died whilst Ernie Page is now in America but at the Telford show the remaining team members Mick Bowers, Jon May, Dave Jeremiah and John Pease will meet up again for the first time in 3 decades. Dave Bickers will also be there and will be bringing along two of the bikes actually used in the event. Chris Oliver and ISDT legend Arthur Browning will add to the entertainment as the team is interviewed on stage by compere Colin Dommett .

Our results round up service…..

15 Saturday Dec 2012

Posted by Highwayman 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

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 Highwayman in Enduro, International Six Day Trial, ISDT, Photography, Wales

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Aberystwyth Mountain Road, Allt y Badi, Enduro, Geoff Charles, ISDT, Motorcycle Trials, National Library of Wales, PB Avery, People's Collection

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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DVD REVIEW: THE 21ST INTERNATIONAL SIX DAYS 1939

23 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by Highwayman in Austria, Enduro, Europe, Gelände Sport, Germany, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Motorcycling, Motorsport, Places, Regolarità, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux, Video

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Austria, ISDT 1939

I recently had a chance to review a copy of what for many in the UK is unknown film footage of the ISDT. This video is available by internet order from Audi’s online shop in Germany.

Filmed for a patriotic German Audience it gives a good overview of the preperation for the event and scrutineering. You can’t avoid the ever present Nazi troop regalia as the German Army was heavily involved in running the event as well as competing. There are several shots of great British riders such as Marjorie Cottle fettling her Triumph in Sunday best as the Trophy Team Nortons. The other bikes are often NSU, a company part of Audi, and BMW’s . There are sections featuring the German great riders of the time, there is also a section where the German head of the motorcycle sport Adolf Huhnlein gives his presentation , presumably at the event opening, in a manner you may be similar to seeing many of the senior Nazi personalities in news reels of the time. Continue reading →

Armistice Day 11 November 2012

10 Saturday Nov 2012

Posted by Highwayman in Motorcycling, Motorsport

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Armistice Day 2011

There was a time that motorcycle dispatch riders proved a critical and very vulnerable link between the Brains and Fist of an Army in War. My particular wishes go out to the families of those peace time competitive motorcyclists who stood up to fight for their country but never returned from duty or were seriously injured and unable to return to their normal life.

Remembering those who gave their lives and health to protect their country

I have always strongly supported the Auto Cycle Union in the UK position in observing the importance of Armistice Day and that, in respect for our fallen colleagues, the sporting calendar is suspended for the day. The British Forces have long been a key supporter of Motorcycle Enduro Sport in the UK. As an international sport many of the competitors have had to take up arms for their country and motorcycle riders, more used to competing with each, had no choice but to taking up arms against each other. The resulting tragedy of the loss of life is as great in all nations I would like today to share my respect with all people of all nations who have lost family and friends as a result of war and grieve for your loss with you.

Celebrating one hundred years of the ISDT

06 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by Highwayman in Enduro, England, Gelände Sport, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Motorcycling, Motorsport, Regolarità, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux

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Latest news update from Dot Jones.

Photo of day 5 at Kirkstone Pass with #124 F.A.Applebee on Scott #147 C.R.Collier on Matchless Sidecar at ISDT 1913

Details for the four day ‘Centennial Rally‘ are being finalised and the regulations will be available on line shortly. The response to these celebration events has been amazing with riders from across the world coming to the UK to help mark this landmark in off road motorcycle sport.

The first International Six Days Trial started in Carlisle, Cumbria, England on 18^th August 1913 when one hundred and sixty one competitors tackled a one thousand mile course.

One hundred years later, 100 riders will ride the very same route as the first day of the first ISDT. On Sunday 18^th August 2013 starting and finishing in Carlisle. Continue reading →

Future SpeedTrackTales Features

04 Sunday Nov 2012

Posted by Highwayman in Austria, Czechoslovakia, Enduro, Europe, Gelände Sport, Germany, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Italy, Poland, Regolarità, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux, Spain, Sweden, UK, Uncategorized

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SpeedTrackTales

Approaching the end of the first 9 months after taking over and updating Taff Isaac’s old ISDT site I have mostly focussed on consolidating and correct the errors in the material as well as start filling some of the years missed. I have been able to re-discover some rare archive material. For the first anniversary I am hoping we can start to create new original material that adds to the understanding of the ISDT rather than just gathering old archive material to allow SpeedTrackTales to become more of a publication, although always free to anyone wanting to read.

I have been looking through the Search Terms that have driven visits to the site and looked in particular at those search terms I think we might be deficient in that appear high in reader search terms. I am proposing over the next year 3 months to prepare articles on the following and would encourage anyone who can help me with material or copy to make the articles from.

Photo of Brit Trophy Rider Ken Heanes looking happy in ISDT 1961

Zundapp Motorcycles
Ken Heanes
BMW R67
BMW R68
MZ
Cheney Triumph
Triumph Trophy
BSA Empire Star
Georg Meier
Marjorie Cottle

As a post script to this post I must sadly add that i have just discovered of the recent passing away of Ken Heanes in October 2012. Another great loss to the community of the ISDT and hopefully we can ensure his achievements can be preserved here for future generations of Heanes family members to discover.

http://www.classicmotorcycle.co.uk/news/2012-10/obituary-ken-heanes-mr-isdt

ISDT 1958 ACU Qualifier: Welsh Three Day Trial

30 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by Highwayman 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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The Birth of the ISDT

11 Thursday Oct 2012

Posted by Highwayman in Enduro, England, Gelände Sport, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, Motorcycling, Photography, Regolarità, Six Jours Internationaux, UK, Video

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ISDT

The following post is from an article in a 1984 edition of Classic Motorcycle written by well known Lake District Historians Percy and Margaret Duffy, the prints coming from a collection of antique magic lantern slides:

Photo – With his 750cc Rudge Multi outfit, W.D.South corners at Tow Top in the 1912 One-Day Trial

THE urge to demonstrate in some practical fashion the advantages of one particular machine over its rival came very early in the life story of the motorcycle, and it was in 1903 that the newly formed Auto Cycle Union adopted the idea of a Six Days Reliability Trial involving a series of daily tests, the event to be run annually. When it became known that for the Eleventh Annual ACU Six Day Trial, in 1913, the Lake District was being considered as a venue, the ACU made contact with the two local club – Westmorland CC, and Cumberland County MCC – with a view to electing suitable hills.

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ISDT Centennial Rally: Sunday 18th August 2013 Carlisle

03 Wednesday Oct 2012

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Hot on the heels of our announcement for the Launch of a campaign to create events to commemorate the centenary of the ISDT next year, which first took place in August 1913, has taken a major step with news just in from Jim Jones, one of the bedrocks of the Enduro and Big Bike Rallye scene in the UK.

The event will cover four days and on one day will follow the original route of day 1 of the first ISDT. There will be classes for the usual big trail bikes and also off orad bikes that are road legal and classes for classic bikes. The event has the support of the Carlisle City Council who are producing a commemorative program and I am sure if any readers of this have any memorabilia of the first ISDT then I am sure they would like to be able to feature it. You can enter as a solo or in a team of three for motorcycle clubs or trade teams.