ISDT 1937: Long lost newsreel rediscovered

22 Saturday Mar 2014

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

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ISDT 1937, Llandrindod Wells

On our latest trawl of the internet mining resources I am certainly pleased to have found this short item of a newsreel produced by Movietone news. Apart from some fantastic footage of the entrants set in the vastness of the beautiful remote Welsh Countryside whilst friendly and keen locals look on supporting the riders. We also get to see the final speed test that took place at Donnington. More videos from this and other years can be viewed on our video gallery.

1937
ISDT from LLandrindod Wells

Firstly a short ‘Movietone News’ news reel with sound in fairly good quality.

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ISDT 1937: Images from event report ‘Das Motorrad’ 24 July 1937 Issue 30

19 Sunday Jan 2014

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

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Das Motorrad, ISDT 1937, Photography., Photos

‘Need a job done go find a busy man’ so the old maxim goes and like rust we never find time to sleep at Speedtracktales. Just before Xmas as the project of mapping the routes began an original copy of the German Motorcycle Magazine ‘Das Motorrad’ was obtained for the 24th July 1937 which covered the 19th edition of the event held in Wales. Working on it was put on hold until now and whilst we negotiate / await a translation of the article to extend the available knowledge of the 1937 ISDT I have posted the images with the original captions in German, on the basis I have sadly not got the faintest clue what they may be saying. However I have tried my best second guess in the text underneath. it is likely this may be one of the first times these images have been seen in the UK since 1937.

Photo – An einer Kontrolle des 2. Fahrtages. Der deitsche Zündappfahrer Schäfer (nr 215) gibt gerade seine Kontrollkarte zum Stempeln ab. Links neben ihm der englische BSA-fahrer Cartwright ISDT 1937 (Speedtracktales Collection)

At a checkpoint with #214 HD Cartwright 348cc BSA who finished with a gold medal and #215 NSKK entered E Schaeffer on a 493cc Zündapp of the German ‘A’ Vase team that came 3rd in the Silver Vase competition and who also finished with a Gold Medal hands his time card to a checkpoint official.

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Mapping the ISDT: Wales 1937

23 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by Highwayman in Enduro, Europe, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Media, Motorcycling, Motorsport, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux, Wales

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ISDT 1937, maps, route

#3 in a series is still on the drawing board to be started when 1933 is finished. This post is for now just to put online the maps and check details should anybody be curious enough to wish to give it a go.

Route Maps and Check sheets:

Image of scanned Route Map from event programme ISDT 1937

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ISDT 1937: The Spring Classics – motorcycles of the time

06 Sunday Oct 2013

Posted by Highwayman in Europe, Gelände Sport, International Six Day Trial, Internationale Sechs Tagefahrt, ISDT, Manufacturers, Motorcycling, Motorsport, Photography, Sei Giorni Motociclistica Internazionale, Six Jours Internationaux, Wales

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BMW, ISDT 1937, Jawa, R5

“Spring~Framed Foreigners” proclaimed the main title of an article written by the famous writer of ‘The Motor Cycle’ in an article he wrote in the issue of the 29th July 1937 in a series called ‘Workshop and Open Road Part 162’

The article proclaims the arrival of rear wheel suspension, we now can enjoy nearly a full foot of rear suspension travel and if you are under 30 may not remember less than that unless you rode trials. Here we read about the introduction of rear suspension in the ISDT 1937 and the experience that was made of this ingenious development in motorcycle racing. It also provides another genuine excuse to post a picture of an original BMW R5, still in the writers opinion one of the most visually appealing of all the historic ISDT mounts.

“Torrens” Tries Out Two Interesting “International” Mounts- the BMW and the Jawa.

Photo – One of the Special Spring Frame BMW’s ISDT 1937

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ISDT 1937: Editorial and report ‘the Motor Cycle’ 22 July 1937

30 Monday Sep 2013

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

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ISDT 1937, the Motor Cycle

The Speedtracktales Archive has seen the arrival of two original issues of ‘the Motor Cycle‘ from 22nd and 29th ISDT which will be covered by two separate reports. This one covers the full report issue of the 22 July 1937.

Photo – The Britain v Germany race begins. On the right is the smoke from the maroon. Note how No 193 J Stelzer (BMW) has been caught with both hands in the air, adjusting his goggles while the remainder are in the act of starting up and getting under way. The Trophy team men (left to right are Stelzer, VN Brittain (Norton) G meier (BMW) GE Rowley (AJS) L Kraus (BMW sc) and WS Waycott (Velocette sc) ISDT 1937 (Speedtracktales Collection)

In the issue editorial the merits of the organisation of the event , the location and requirements for such events are raised by the Magazine’s editor. This discussion was not new nor did it stop about the ability of Britain to deliver an ISDT event that met the increasing demand for more technical courses better suited to the modern lightweight motorbikes that the British Motorcycle Industry were….. not yet producing!!

Image – scanned cover from the Motor Cycle 22 July 1937

“EDITORIAL OPINION
A fine Achievement

Britain’s Success in the International Six Days Trial: The A.C.U. ‘s Handling of a Very Difficult Task

Once again a thrilling road race has decided the destiny of the International Trophy. In the high-speed test at Donington that concluded last week’s lnternational Six Days Trial two Trophy team started level with not a point lost – those of Germany and Great Britain – and the question was which team would gain the larger number of seconds over its set schedule. As will be seen from the description of the event on pages 112-122 Britain won by the narrow margin of ten seconds and thus retain the International Trophy.

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ISDT 1937: The German Army came to Wales

24 Sunday Mar 2013

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German Troops, ISDT 1937, Southampton

“Have you seen about 140 Germans with motorcycles”

“No Sir, and if I did I’d run like ‘ell”

After recovering and reading old material on the many ISDT before the Second World War it is evident that any average Britiah person who read the national or local newspapers, went to the Cinema or listened to the radio (BBC was the only choice) would have been aware the ISDT had been competed whether it was held in this country or abroad. The media of the day heavily featured it in sports reports and on news reels. Like todays Formula 1, even if you were not fussed about it you would know it was on.

In 1937 after 3 years on the continent , Germany being precise, the event returned to the UK in July 1937 and like 1933 it was held in Llandrindod Wells in Radnorshire, Mid Wales. The Germans having hosted the event had perceived it to be both an important sporting event that winning satisfied their self-belief of superiority and also provided worthwhile training for military motorcycle specialists.

Photo – The German’s have arrived! three of the German Contingent for the International Six Days Trial landing at Southampton last week. The two leading machines are BMWs and the third on the gang plank is a Zundapp. On the exterme right is a popular ‘International’ figure – the interpreter. ISDT 1937 (Speedtracktales collection)

As a result it sent a huge team with helpers over which was reported by the editor of Motor Cycling in person visiting the docks in Southampton to greet them. The story told was that arriving at the docks they met an immense Policeman his breast a glitter with War medals, The editor asked “Have you seen 140 Germans with Motorcycles”
“No Sir” he replied politely, adding, after a contemplative pause “and if I did I’d run like ‘ell”

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ISDT 1937 Wales: Route description

19 Tuesday Feb 2013

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

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ISDT, ISDT 1937, Programme

The route description below is the one provided in the official programme accompanying the event which can now be viewed on this site in its full booklet form via our issuu.com library. More information can be found on the 1937 ISDT event page including detailed mapping from the programme of the actual route taken.

THE ROUTE OF THE 1937 INTERNATIONAL SIX DAYS’ TRIAL

COMPETITORS in the International Six Days’ Trial who took part when the Trial was previously held in Wales in 1933, will find the course this year fairly reminiscent of the earlier event, as a great many of the sections used in 1933 are again included. Indeed, it would have been impossible for the organisers to do otherwise in such an area, which, to those used to the space available on the Continent, must appear somewhat prescribed. Main roads with heavy traffic such as one encounters to the north and south, and in the coastal parts of Wales must be avoided, and, as far as possible, those small towns and villages, where” thirty mile per hour” limits exist have also been left severely alone. Briefly, the plan which appeared best to fit the conditions involves a series of five overlapping loops.