big john

The late Dave Rowland (Factory BSA Bantam) Pure Class! Big John

Either of the clubs above should fit the bill! Also for additional information: http://www.sacu.co.uk Big John

Peter Pykett worked for Rickman Brothers at New Milton. He specialised in AMC machinery and went into producing AJS & Matchless trials replicas using a variety of parts mainly sourced from road machines as many standard parts were used in the competition models. He tended to produce bikes that resembled the factory produced 'comp' models, but used fibreglass fuel tanks as the original alloy comp tank was highly sought after and in short supply. I can't remember how many replicas he produced, but he did make a number of alloy competition type cylinder barrels, sadly some of these were substandard and leaked oil as they were reputedly porous. From memory originals were made by Wellworthy, but don't quote me on that! But they have a series of relief pattent numbers on the cylinder base which I don't think the Pykett ones had. Be aware that Pykett machines are certainly not genuine factory 'comp' models as the engine usually was a modified road model set of crankcases and in this particular example the magneto is Lucas standard road, not the genuine 'wader' type competition or racing magneto with the waterproofed end cap. The genuine comp model would be a 16MC not a 16MS (road machine) as shown on e-bay. Big John

I had a go in a sidecar (twice) once was in the chair with a guy called Derek Green (Leatherhead clubman) and the other was a road going 500/4 Honda combination belonging to a guy called Davie Fletcher (Loch Lomond clubman). Couldn't get on with either, stuck to solos. My friend was a good sidecar pilot, Graham Smith (Hawick). Big John

I'm almost 100% certain all the Saracens used a 18 inch steel rimmed rear wheel probably Dunlop WM3. 19 inch tyres were getting very rare by 1968 as everyone had moved over to 18 inch rears by then. I used to have an original Saracen brochure from around 1970/71 when they had red glassfibre fuel tanks and side panels. Jon Bliss rode for them at one time, might be worthwhile contacting him as he definately rode the SSDT on Saracen along with Jack Galloway. Big John

Interesting point: Just heard today that some insurers are not happy to insure van drivers under 21 years of age! Worth checking this out if you are under 21 and thinking of buying a van. I've just had the renewal for my van with son as named driver and the premium has shot up a staggering 52% on last year's premium and that is with no claims whatsoever!!! Big John

I should have stated that the very first Dalesman Puch trials did have the Puch moped front hub and forks, however the MX version had the heavier alloy REH hub and heavier duty forks. My actual 1969 bike was a 'hybrid', being part trials and part MX model to cope with the requirements of the ISDT which was it's intended purpose at that time. In 1969 the frame colour was definately green. The reason that Dalesman bikes were exported to the USA is quite simple, American finance backed the small company in Otley, Yorkshire! I also remember Joel Robert tested the first of the MX machines when he was contracted to CZ. Big John

Sorry Guys, 1970 was a long time ago and I got my first Bultaco in 1974 so I had actually forgotten that the Dalesman was a 4 speeder! (SHAME ON ME!). The bike I had was one of three prepared by Dalesman for the 1969 ISDT at Garmisch Partenkirchen (Bavaria). For information: my bike (PSG 565H) was ridden by Ernie Page; my mate John Hodge's bike (PSH 564H) was ridden by Ian Miller and the third (never knew the reg number) was ridden by Scott Ellis. They had 20 inch front wheels, 18 inch rear fitted with Dunlop Sports MX tyres. Bing carb. A centre stand was fitted along with Wico Pacy lights front and rear. They had the MX still air boxes made in Glass-fibre. Seat was a short similar to the BSA Victor style. Front forks and hubs REH; Puch QD rear hub (sprocket carrier remained 'in situ' when rear wheel was removed). Big John

The fork yolks are exactly as the ones I had on my Dalesman which was a 1969 machine. Frame colour was a mid-green and the front hub is an R.E.H (Robin E Humphries) Yolks could be REH or MP, I can't remember who made them, but I can honestly say they are as fitted to my bike. Rear Hub is Puch M125 and is also correct as is the swinging arm, but someone has fitted snail cam adjusters whereas originally they were bolt adjusters similar to the Puch road bike. Tanks were made by Wassell as they used the same tank on their bikes with Sachs motors. I always thought the 125cc Puch motor was a five speed gearbox and the 169cc (175cc) motor had the six speed as used in the Greeves Pathfinder? Big John

First motorcycle I ever had was a Dalesman Puch. It was used by Ernie Page in the 1969 ISDT. I've seen parts on e-bay before now. Jim Lee (Mick Grant's sponsor) built the frames originally. Would like to see a photo to see what model it is you have Ianashdown. Big John

Yes Trialero, Sad news indeed. Ally's funeral was on Monday at Dundee Crematorium. There were many faces there from the world of trials to pay respects to him and his family. Ally Finlay was one of the good guys and it was a pleasure to have known him. Big John

That's good enough for me! Thanks, Big John

OTH, The method recommended to fit the HEBO brand auxiliary tank is across the front forks by wide cable ties, would that be sufficient for scrutineering? Big John

At first I thought it was my driveway!!! Big John ( BIKE SALE!)

Have you a chainguard bracket fitted to the swinging arm? I made a tensioner, copied in steel from a Scorpa and fitted it with a bush to the chainguard bracket and used a coil tension spring clipped to a small hole in the guard bracket. Works a treat! However SM uses a TY175 tensioner on their own widened swing-arm which has a strange fit for the tensioner spring. Big John

The photo of the parc ferme excites me! Big John

This guy makes them to order for Scottish clubs! Graham Allan, 01463 761378 Tell him 'Big John' sent you! Big John

Well, I was in a sign company today and they handed me a sample of 1mm thick white plastic sheet to which they can print anything. I'm getting prices from them and a few other companies at the moment! I have asked them to quote on A5 size (that's A4 folded in half) using a logo top and bottom (but upside down in relation to the top logo) with coloured arrows in four colours. Big John

I'm almost certain that it was in the ACU handbook some years ago, there was mention of the 'imaginary line' in the description of an observed section. It suddenly 'disappeared', please don't ask me which year, for once I can't quote chapter and verse! We have had this very arguement up here in Scotland at events and club meetings. Personally I would have liked to see it re-introduced, but maybe John Collins will remember when and why it was removed. Big John

Quite simple really, we agreed there was a problem, no-one could agree as to which colours to use for what route so the decision was left unsolved, the problem wouldn't resolve itself so it called for a decision to be made and this is what we have now! Having seen the Spanish system in operation and having the requirement to cater for a variety of classes, it seemed quite easy to copy "A-B-C-D" or "Very Hard - Not So Hard - Easier - Simple" (whatever it is called) to a simple colour system: Red-Blue-Green-Yellow. Any more than 4 routes and the Clerk of the Course is struggling anyway. There is still scope for a club who isn't running a particular class on the day to drop a colour for an event e.g. Red;Green & Yellow when the Blue route isn't needed at say a club trial for instance, but the severity mapping still holds! If they only cater for three routes, they only use three colours that event. Up in Scotland some clubs run a Masters and a separate Non-experts route, now all they need to do is run the masters on the Blue route and the Non-experts on the green. Both types of rider get a day out and go home happy with their score, more riders out on a Sunday maybe? Sometimes the simple solution can be the best solution. I agree final instructions are important but if a universal system is used, people get used to it like Blue cards on the left; red on the right which was absolutely fine in the days when we all rode the same route. To make it easy for the observer, the punch card of the rider should match the route they ride, i.e. Red punch card = Red Route. Big John

Hi Pete Scorpa, The posting about the SACU colour coded marking system wasn't intended to stir anything up, we were just responding to many requests from riders and officials to have a standard section marking system up here. The hope is that once it gets underway, people will get used to it and it will ease the current confusion. We found in Scotland that clubs had already set up a system of their own for club trials with multi routes but we really needed to make a decision about a standard system so that you can go to any trial in Scotland and be met with the same coloured set up. The easy yellow route we hope will not only be used for Youth C but also rookies, to encourage riders to take up trials and ease them into riding easy sections. They can progress up to the Green route when they have ridden say a couple of trials. Nothing wrong with that? For sure it will take a while to bed in, but it was felt that we do this right away and get the wrinkles ironed out early on, so that it is established for future seasons. I did send a copy of my briefing note to my friend John Collins of the ACU who will be also aware of the SACU system (when he opens his e-mail!) Big John

Too late a set up to be a 'Stag' as the bike developed by Don Smith with a Montesa motor was ridden by him in the 1971 SSDT, the motor is a much later model. Don then developed the Kawasaki after that around 1972/73. Big John

OK Matt, sorry, you didn't say on your first post that you had changed the spark plug for a brand new one. However, what position is your fuel tap in, it should be set so that the long plastic tip is pointing down as per the manual. I have heard of some who are riding the bike with the fuel tap set wrongly. Big John