big john

Very good buy Snr Greeves, worth the Euros! You can ride my Yamaha anytime you want! Big John

Not sure mate, the organisers used to "buy" a tanker load and it was transported to where the Army boys added the 2T oil, not sure what the proceedure is now or if they have the fuel yet as there is still over a week until it's really needed. The main problem up here is that folks have been being daft by filling up every single day...daft morons. If they would just draw fuel normally rather than just topping up their tanks daily, there would be no crisis. The UK has stocks for 70 days which is well within the tolerance of the strike (2 days) and the re-booting of Grangemouth refinery (1 month). However, many stations today up here have run low or out of Diesel, Unleaded still available, I got my supply (as I do normally about now) for the 2 Pre-65 bikes we are using in a weeks time, rather than risk trying to get fuel next week at the Fort. Big John

It's certainly fire damaged and of course George Morton's bike had that happen last season, could be it. Is that a registration number chalked on to the exhaust tail pipe? Big John

I actually live in the North of Scotland and have just completed a trip tonight from Newcastle to my home. I fuelled at Bedlington last night, because I had to, no queues at all, the pump attendant wondered what I was talking about! My company Mondeo diesel does 650 miles on a tank, I run it for 600 miles and fill it up to the brim, run it for anoyther 600 and do the same again, when it needs it! Sure, panic buying has prevailed in towns like Inverness, people have the mentality of sheep, if you told them there was going to be a shortage of condoms the damned things would sell out in an afternoon!... Morons! There is no need to panic and certainly no need to fit a bigger tank on your bike! If everyone would take a "chill pill" there would be absolutely no problem. Slapshot is right, there is plentiful reserves but if the halfwits keep filling their bloody fuel tanks every night on the way home from work there will be a shortage and road blocks outside petrol stations. Panic...we don't need it! Big John

Yes, I have seen several Motobecanes in the Pre65 trial at Kinlochleven. Some mates of Stuart Brown brought them over from France a few years ago, they were quite functional tidy motorcycles. Very nice to study on the Friday morning as they had a good few technical details which I found very interesting. There is also one being ridden in this years' Pre65 Scottish trial by Spaniard Manuel Casado from the Madrid area, watch out for it! 235cc I think. Big John

It was tried just a few years ago as an experiment that no closed to club permits were issued on the same day as a Scottish Championship status event, however it made no difference to the entry level at the national. Sure it is difficult to fit everyones' requirements into a busy calendar. What we do now is to try an ensure that there is an appreciable distance between the two events. For example a trial in Lochaber on the same day as an Ayrshire trial would be acceptable. The SACU have no control over any AMCA events being run. Where are the two closed to club trials being held on the same date of the Dalmellington trial? You do not mention this. Big John

Hmmmmm, maybe, except I know that guys were selling old bikes years ago for sweeties and look at their prices now. Example, my Dad sold his ex-works Matchless for about

The other bike with Puch engine is a 1970 Greeves Pathfinder. Correct 169cc Puch six speed motor. I can't quite make it out, is the registration YSC if so it came from Edinburgh area! Big John Edited to add: had another look no it's YBC index, so not a Scottish number!

When these seats were new, they seemed to be stuck down with an impact adhesive like Evo-Stik. Remember to let the glue (spread evenly on both the surfaces to be stuck together) almost dry before fixing together. Lots of folk still apply the glue and immediately fix together, result is it doesn't work that way, hence "impact" adhesive! Big John

I cannot comment on the condition of any particular motorcycle advertised for sale whether that be on e-bay or elsewhere, however the Seeley Honda Trials 200 (TL200E) produced by Colin Seeley International was indeed sanctioned by Honda UK. Honda Racing Service Centre (RSC, now HRC) provided a fair number of components to allow Seeley to produce the machine. The frames and swinging arms were made in England and a set of "state of the art" Marzocchi forks and yolks were used. A substantial proportion of the completed product was Honda. It of course is a fair arguement, is a Seeley really a Honda, well as it was agreed that a Honda trials bike was too much hassle for Honda to do themselves, why not contract it out to Seeley to do the job for them? I would say it is a worthy component of Honda trials history, can't ignore it! Edited to add: Colin Seeley himself told me last year that the company didn't actually make any money on the sale of the Seeley Honda trials machine, I think the list price was about

No wetfeet. I was asked to write a book on the SSDT, but I politely declined as I felt it had been done before, however I did write a book on Scottish motorcycle sport (1945-1975) back in 2005 called "Scotland's Rich Mixture", I think there are a few copies still available from The Magazine Man. We did 1000 copies only, once they are gone that's it! http://www.themagazineman.co.uk Look under the nostalgic publications section, also there are copies of Ed Stott's book on the SSDT called "Lochaber Rich Mixture" Big John

Two actually! Felix Krahnstover had a KTM trials bike as well as Walther. Spot on about the build quality 2/4! Big John Edited to show photograph: Found it! I knew it was in the batcave somewhere... 31 year old number plate, 1977 SSDT as per the photo of Robert little. I see I didn't even bother to remove the old fashioned cable ties from it. The scrutineers stuck a Shell Racing Service label on the front plate as indication that the machine had been examined for the trial.

Absolutely OTH! It's a long way from Edinburgh to Fort William just to do the sections at Culross and Mamore plus Town Hall Brae (that's the Rocky brae to local folks) Big John

It was a Bultaco Sherpa model 80 with the later front wheel, later piston, clutch casing and timing set up and the one piece Homerlite tank/seat unit fitted, but it was the larger capacity unit 1.5 gallons, I think. I bought all the parts through our friend Jock Wilson at Comerfords. The major fettling was done by a guy called Derek Green. The rest I did myself including making the number plates and sign-writing them. As for waterproofing, I had just discovered silicon sealer and put some on the wires from the motor as it exits the casing. Twin condensers under the tank and a spare HT coil in my Bultaco bum-bag. When it went under the water, she just kept on running because the air box was just under the seat and it was much higher than todays' modern bikes. A drain plug on the bottom of the mark 1 concentric Spanish Amal was easily accessable to drain the float bowl of any water ingress. Tyres were "Dunlop Trials Champions". The bike would run for about 50 miles on a full tank and refuelling was done from a one gallon can taken round by my father in the pannier cases of his Honda CB750 F1. Worst thing about it was the TT Leathers Vystram trials suit, I rode the whole six days with the one suit and wellies! I didn't have enough money to buy a second suit and the old man said "I've given you enough money for the entry and petrol, the rest you do yourself"! You didn't question the old man's finance!!! I wonder where OSB 391K is today? ... and no I don't want to buy her back! Big John

Absolutely true! That was the final sub at Edramucky, near Killin. One of the very few days without rain, a fantastic run down from Achallader. I cleaned the blasted thing and I wondered what the sound was when I went out the section ends cards, it was the spectators clapping, that really made my day, only 31 years ago come May!!! Big John (number 216, 1977) Edited to add: Robert Little, the photographer is father of Mike Little current trials rider from the Scottish borders, I had not seen that photo before tonight, even although I have known Robert Little since I was a kid! Nice one Bob! Big John (ps. I still have that front number plate in the batcave!)

Absolutely spot on Trickymicky, Thorpy and Nick Jefferies (now there is a really knowledgeable guy) did ride them for Alan Clews's CCM concern back in the later 1970's. Thorpey had Dick Clayton virtually follow him round the SSDT (on the road, I would imagine) with another CCM with parts shoved up his riding jersey! I wonder why? I asked Mick Grant last year sometime if I should buy one and he said quite categorically to keep my money in the bank account! They were a bit special and to answer Majestyman340, yes I had ridden two in my past, one belonging to Mel Ross Snr from Forfar and the other a guy called Dougie Watson from Airdrie. Both had them brand new and I doubt if either of these chaps kept them longer than about 9 months before moving them on. I have to admit, I liked the CCM, but I have to admit it would not have been a match for my then new 325 Bultaco mod.199. In saying that from a rarety value, yes I would have one, but not at such steep prices, I don't reckon (IMHO) they are worth paying much more than 3K GBP in any condition. But as I say that's my opinion, I know they are all now going for double that amount. Big John

Yip, I confess that I considered buying one last year, but decided to walk away from the CCM 350T, I have bought three other bikes since then... Big John

Yip you said it. I used to use a solvent based cleaner, had 5 litres of it back in 1974, cleanred things a treat, didn't waer gloves, then discovered years later it was really strong nasty stuff, should have worn gloves and probably breathing apparatus! I won't let my kids handle anything that is remotely connected to petro-chemicals! Big John

...or as the Americans call it..."Body English"! Big John

Oh my God! My Geraniums!!!!!! Big John (I don't have a single flower in my garden!)

Well, I actually assist the presenter David Ogg (Nevis Radio, Station Manager) on the morning show at the parc ferme. Big John

It's a difficult one. I don't want to be a kill joy...but... The bikes taking part have to be "road legal", the Main Street in Fort William is a public road albeit now part of the town's pedestrian area the public have access to it. If there was to be an accident involving a child or a member of the public (...heaven forbid let's hope there never will be) the proverbial stuff would most definately "hit the fan". Is it not enough for the kids to simply watch Dad ride past? The Police are well within their rights to remove kids from a machine designed to take one rider without passengers. A trials bike is hardly equipped to accommodate the rider let alone a passenger. It's all very well until something goes wrong. I would rather see the parade continue without kids than to have no parade at the SSDT at all. It creates a good feeling for the start of a great week. Big John

Malcolm Rathmell once said "Riding with gloves was like washing yor feet with socks on!" However - Careful, no-one should handle modern "petrol" with bare hands nowadays, well known fact, it is carcerigenic (cancer forming) and is absorbed through the pores of the skin. Not recommended! Handle fuel and lubricants with extreme care! Also youth riders must wear gloves when riding at trials (ACU handbook TSR 15 - Clothing) Big John

Last I heard he was living overseas, but I can't remember who told me or which country it was. Could have been Toofast Tim? Big John