rhayaderman

Sadly the enthusiastic Bates family have cancelled the above event that was going to run this Saturday 22nd October due to lack of entries-just 20 entries recieved that would have run on sections used pre 65 for the British Experts Trial.

Back in the early 60's I used to meet up with my mates,Gwyn Chambers,Gordon Samuel and Dave Thomas and on many Saturdays we would ride from Brecon to the top of Penyfan which as many of you know is just a little lower than Snowdon.It would take us about 30 minutes for the journey and on one of the days,we stopped to talk to a group walking to the summit.One asked me how long the chains lasted on our bikes.Although we regularly cleaned them and boiled them in "LINKLIFE"they rarely lasted more than a month.One of the party started writing his name and address and told me to send him a postal order for a few pounds and he would send me a couple of chains that would last a lot longer.Appaently he worked for a company making chains near Newport in South Wales.Now those chains certainly were good-but what were they? We found many sections on the way to the summit and Brecon Motor Club ran several trials there prior to the area being made a National Park.

Somewhere I have the programmes for the 1963,64 and 65 Scottish Six Days in which I rode.I will check,but I am sure that there were no Bultacos in the 1963 event.Possibly one 200cc ridden by a Spaniard in 1964 and a few in 1965. I had a new TFS Greeves for 1965 from Don Smith in the April but he was expecting a few Bultacos pre May 65 which would have been the first time they would have been available to the public.What a shame the Bultacos are being allowed into the trial.I remember a few years ago when I rode my Ariel in the event that a fellow competitor with a Sprite was told it was ineligible-he did not bother to ride the second day.However I was allowed to ride a Mick Mills B.S.A in the event a few years ago but was told not to bring it back again.I wonder how many "pre 65"people are now left on the organising committee.

I rode my Mick Mills framed C15 in Scotland a few years ago and was allowed to ride but was told not to take it back again.The following year we had to send in pictures of the bike we intended to ride.

Great bike - hope Steve gets a ride in Scotland on it!

Sadly not run due to lack of helpers.Ashfield still available for use by Rhayader club but Mr Price passed away several years ago.Yes Deryk,I well remember you,me and Malcolm Bates setting out the first one.

Saw Dick Sutton a few weeks ago on his way to Aberaeron for lunch.He is quite a remarkable character still going out trail riding and appearing to be very fit.He always has great tales to tell of how things were in the good old days.Yes he still resides near Penybont.

Malcolm Bates informs me that it is Caban Dam.Incidentally the"Classic Experts" will be run by the Bates Family on 11th October this year.Mike.

I will 'phone a man who may know and get back to you!

Pete Reed?-B.M.C.A. coordinator.

Sorry,Bill Bourne?

FrankBourne.

The track is still there but no longer open to motorized vehicles.I regularly ride down it on my mountain bike with probably more suspension than on the James!