ISDT 1954: Images of WT Howard

07 Sunday Dec 2014

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

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BSA, BSA 350cc Sidecar outfit, Classic Motorcycles, ISDT, ISDT 1954, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, T Howard, WT Howard

Taff Isaacs, Site founder has passed on these images he recently acquired from a reader in Shropshire of the ISDT 1954 mostly featuring popular Birmingham motorcycle dealer sidecar jockey W ‘Bill’ T Howard (1914 – 1992). I would strongly recommend before reading any more of this page you check out Taff’s own web page dedicated to WT Howard and featuring these images and more as well as his Trophy Collection at his own website ‘taffthehorns‘

Photo – #50 WT Howard on the works entered BSA 350cc Sidecar outfit in Llandrindod Wells ISDT 1954 – (speedtracktales collection)

Pat Slinn advises that the passenger is none other than Michael Martin the brother of Brian Martin of BSA

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ISDT 1938: the International and the weather

24 Wednesday Sep 2014

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

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ISDT 1938, Llandrindod Wells, mid Wales, Powys, Radnorshire

The following blog is in two parts featuring two articles, one the editorial and the other jottings and commentary from the Motor Cycling journalist ‘Cyclops’ that appeared in the 13th July 1938 issue of ‘Motor Cycling‘ which covered the initial few days of the ISDT 1938 held in Llandrindod Wells which was the 20th edition of the event.

Photo – GB Trophy Team on 350’s GE Rowley (AJS) #120 J Williams and #167 VN Brittain (Nortons) and #84 WS Waycott (598 Velocette sc) with V Munday – ISDT 1938 (image courtesy Morton Media)

The initial article discusses the strategy of the British and German entries in the wildly different choice of bikes for the event, the benefits and disadvantages and ends reming the reader of the importance of winning the event for the British home motorcycle industry in supporting its export market.

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Powys Enduro at 40 years old 2014

03 Sunday Aug 2014

Posted by Highwayman in Enduro, Europe, International Six Day Trial, International Six Days Enduro, Media, Motorcycling, Photography, UK, Video, Wales

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Carno, Dyfi Forest, Powys, Powys Enduro

I have today been proud again to step into the shoes of the Clerk of the Course for the Powys Enduro which ran today for the 40th time since 1974. This event remains an almost unique classic unequalled in the UK Enduro Scene not just by its age but that it rides in one big 120 mile loop which features some of the greatest typical Enduro suited terrain that is found in Wales and possibly Europe. The event started back in the day of the ISDT and parts of it still follow or cross sections of the old route of past ISDT’s. Entry numbers are limited to the 180 max set by UK Law that controls Motor Sports events on highways and entries still sell out in a matter of days. Most of the UK’s great Enduro riders can trace this event as part of their early career and it still attracts many riders who keep this as one of the events they have to fit in a years calendar. Now sponsored by National Logistics company Cadwallader Limited a company whose directors regularly ride in the event and pick up trophies as well as medals. I hope this event can find a way to steer itself through the increasing constraints of legislative change to give future riders a chance to test their skill against often the worse that nature can throw at them.

Photo - A rider competing in the Powys Enduro crosses the road from Llanwrin to Machlwyd at Aberangell, part of the route past ISDT's took to reach the Bwlch y Groes which is a couple of miles away

Photo – A rider competing in the Powys Enduro crosses the road from Llanwrin to Mallwyd at Aberangell, part of the route past ISDT’s took to reach the Bwlch y Groes which is a couple of miles away

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ISDT 1961: Wales – the arrival of the Special Test

10 Saturday May 2014

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

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ISDT 1961, Llandrindod Wells, Powys

If you were to ask many current followers of the ISDE what part they might take most interest in.. it will be the ‘Special Tests’ usually one Cross Country and one MX style each days is designed to sort out the wheat from the chaff of the sporting elite off-road motorcycle racers. Back in the early days of the ISDT the to hell or glory race was on the last day and if your national squad got through 5 days unscathed it would be the speed test, usually on a road race style circuit that the race was decided.

Back in the 1950’s it was clear the sport splitting from its roots of being an event to determine the greatness of the bike as the European Nations became more interested in the quality of the riders. However the paymaster of the event, the Motorcycle Industry, wanted to maximise the marketing value of winning the event. However as the global dominance of the British Bike industry started to wain, it was recognised for the sport to thrive required a new objective which was to measure the rider rather than the bike. The drive to this were the european nations however the greatest act to confirm this shift was from Britain’s Auto Cycle Union who supported the need to provide daily tests to identify the best riders as the event progressed.

Photo – “International” spirit: Welsh children cheer #225 J.H.L Lewis (246 Greeves) as he climbs a rocky section near Llandrillo on the fourth day. ISDT 1961

In 1960 the ISDT in Austria trialled a British idea of having two special tests a day to examine which riders where performing best rather than who was able to hang in to the pace set by the organisers. The trial worked and in 1961 the F.I.M introduced two mandatory special tests a day for the ISDT 1961. The fact this was driven by the British for a British hosted event where the home nation failed to excel is one of the most obvious milestones marking the ultimate demise of the British Motorcycle Industry within 15 years as this editorial from ‘the Motor Cycle’ of the 12 October 1961 alludes to.

“IT made a welcome change to be writing in the sunshine and among the mountains of Wales instead of in the office. Yes, I was having a few days on the “International” and enjoying every minute of it.

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ISDT 1938: Official Programme for the 20th ISDT Llandrindod Wells, Wales

10 Friday May 2013

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

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ISDT 1938, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, Radnor

I am really grateful to reader M Ryan who has been generous in taking the time to scan and send us his own copy of the ISDT 1938 Official Programme which can now be read on this post thanks to our library of documents at issuu.com