big john

Found it, entry form posted (Pre65 not SSDT) I'm not daft! I'll just sit back and see if I get a ride come May. Big John

Unfortunately the link doesn't work HL! Big John

Why the interest in swinging arm length, is there a problem? Big John

I did not infer any such thing! The ACU and AMCA regularly review their business partners like most businesses. Locktons are not an "insurance company" they are specialist motorsport insurance brokers! Previous brokers acting for ACU/SACU have been CT Bowering Muir Bedall; Marsh MacLennan etc, it has not always been Lockton's. Big John

Paul, don't keep up this "Oh Big John doesn't like me" carry on... Locktons ARE the ACU and AMCA insurers (for the moment...) but the policies provided are not the same for both! Write a letter to Dawn Luby and ask her, that's what to do! Big John

Hello Baldilocks, Sorry we couldn't make it this time, lad has been busy setting up his business and I had a "holiday clash" I'm afraid. I know how much work you guys have put into this event, well done chaps. See you soon. Big John

As far as I'm aware, pistons are a real problem for the 125cc Sherpa, forks are smaller diameter. The frame is duplex so remember the exhaust of the 250/350 model comes out right hand side biased, the 125 was a central exhaust port so the exhaust exits between the twin downtubes! I have two such 125cc Sherpas, a later model and a M156 I bought for parts. Your M159 looks a fine machine as is, pretty original kit in my opinion! Big John

Try "Munch" at M-Sport in Stevenage, google it - he knows a thing or two about the Montesa Cota - 4-Stroke Racing Trial! (4RT) Big John

John Collins makes some very interesting and well thought out comments (as usual may I say). I think the fact that he regularly contributes to the debates on here, show that he is far from being a "suit"! He is quite right in taking exception to those remarks, I would as well! I probably wear one of the darned things more often than he does anyway! JC also eludes to another matter that I have stated many times on here. The real place for debate is at meetings of the ACU (or whatever organisation you or your club belong to), but of course people don't attend such meetings and seminars, they would rather snipe from the side-lines, which in reality produces very little action. Big John

Woody, In Scotland we still have a "licence" same as the road racers and motocrossers and enduros, SACU is self-funding, it is not funded in any shape or form by the ACU. SACU are not a centre of the ACU. The ACU did away with the trials "licence" but they still had to have an ID card as the licence acted as ID. In Scotland the licence has name and address and photograph of the rider. What I was saying was there is a clause in the ACU handbook that states that it is the responsibility of the clerk of course to confirm the identity of all competitors in all disciplines. We have had several occurences of riders turning up at events in the past stating that they were Joe Bloggs, but had forgotten the licence, when the real Joe Bloggs was working off-shore and his pal had taken over the entry but didn't even have a licence. That is why we invoked the search fee some years ago. Technically the club is quite within their rights to refuse a person a ride if no valid ID is forthcoming. Hope this clears it up. Big John

OTF, stop trying to blame other people for your own club's failures and shortcomings, I don't prescribe to the let's pass the buck malarky! I think you should look inward if your club has a problem? That's like a businessman who has had a long line of loss making years' pointing a finger at his bank manager and saying, "its your fault you pulled my overdraft out from underneath me and I have now filled for bankrupcy". Was it all the banks' fault? - really? You honestly believe that it's the ACU's fault that a club fails? - really? No, there are always mitigating factors, loss of land, change of committee members and direction, rider's preferences changes, standard of riding going up or going down; new people wanting to do things differently etc... etc... etc... etc...zzzzzzzzzz! We all know about the "recession", but you seem to moan about a

Totalshell, I remember riding in the 1978 Alan trophy Trial near Carlisle on a 325 Bultaco, I'm almost certain it was some form of championship event, anyway all the top riders were there, I queued up behind: Martin Lampkin; Derrick Edmondson; Nigel Birkett; Malcolm Rathmell and a few more, I was in very distinguished company in that orderly queue. Without a word spoken EVERY ONE of them produced their ACU licence, the secretary of the meeting did not ask any of them to "show me your licence" they did it automatically. Now then, if it was good enough for those top rate guys back then, then why are Joe Bloggs and Co not keen to "flash the card" now? Just try not showing your licence to Highland Lassie at teh Scottish Six Days Trial, you will be told to go home, no licence no ride! They will not take any risks and they don't know everyone who enters! Rules are rarely made just for a bit of something to do, like petty officialdom. Believe me the ACU card and SACU licence are identification medium to protect your club officials, who do everything for FREE and could loose the shirt of their back because of mindless numbnuts who should grow up and act like sensible human beings and stop whinging! Big John

2/4 makes very valid and legal points above, OTF, you are actually well off the mark, yes I know you don't like the ACU or Scotland, that is evident from your previous posts, you are of course entitled to your opinion, but...! It has been long debated by the ACU/SACU/MCUI with their insurance providers and advisers that clerk of courses and secretaries have a duty to check the ID of riders, its all in the ACU handbook and has been for years. Heaven forbid if a non-licenced bloke turns up just for a bit of fun, says he is someone else, but hasn't brought his licence, is allowed to ride and then (God forbid this never happens) runs into and kills someone, perhaps a small child who was spectating, think of the sports' reputational risk and seriously the court action and law suit that would most certainly follow. It just doesn't bare thinking about, and if you don't think that would ever happen, don't be too sure. I personally have seen photographic evidence of this in the last 18 months, but I certainly won't go into detail on an open website! And if you think I'm just being my usual kidding self, can I just mention one famous persons' case that is still ongoing, sure the bloke was a great driver, he actually started off in Scottish youth in trials - Colin Macrae, look what has happened there! That case is still ongoing. He took off just for a short trip in a helicopter with a friend, his own son and a school pal of his son, Colin was a very accomplished pilot, now the pursuers agents are claiming his paperwork wasn't in order, that included his flying licence. Just a thought...? (Sorry if this looks as if its from a Scots perspective, but the principles apply throughout the land) Big John

No the model 199A was always: blue frame no under motor frame rails, alloy sump shield, tank, side panels, swinging arm, blue plastic Gonelli mudguards; Black engine, fork sliders, wheel hubs. The previous model 199 was silver frame with frame rails and swinging arm, early ones had polished alloy hubs with brake area in matt black, black engine, fork sliders. Red tank and side panels, with Red Gonelli mudguards. Big John

This is the way to do business...acknowledge there is a problem and fix it! Big John

We are currently experimenting with a PHBL26BS Dellorto on a model 199A (325cc) at the moment! Big John

Its all a wee bit confusing, did they mistake "trials" as some sort of "war crime trials" or something? Who knows... Big John

Very good! Big John

Darn it, well I can't find any on there! Big John

It's all "top secret" stuff on there! Big John

Yes, but I don't have the facility to post them here and our hard working secretary is back to his day job, I know that Chris Gascoine won his class, but you will have to wait for the rest to be posted later! Big John

Thank you for coming Snr. Greeves. It was agreta weekend, fantastic weather and very rideable sections. I think it was just spot on this year. Now I will begin the rebuild of the BSA and get all the things done that I have planned, in the meantime it will be Bultaco power! Thanks to all who came from many different parts of the UK to join us at the Inverness club for the friendliest Classic trial in Scotland! ALVIE ROCKS! Big John

Sadly thats' it over for another year. I think that was the best one yet. Riders got a souvenir number plate, dated. A car sticker or two to take home, cheese and wine and soft drinks and some beer after they finished on both days. Many thanks to those guys who travelled sucha distance to be at Alvie and enjoy "the Friendliest Classic Trial in Scotland". I think the option to ride either Red (Hard) or Blue (Softer) route on Pre65 or twinshock was just right. Keep a note in your diary for the 2012 edition! Highland Classic Two-Day Trial 2012 - be there! Big John