pete_scorpa3

I'd have thought the trials bike would be fine but you will probably need to carry some fuel with you. Is there any reason why you can't use the bigger bike? It does seem to be a more comfortable alternative.

Had one go on a Techno many years ago. They are an arm and a leg to buy, luckily I had an old fan kicking around from a Honda NC30 race bike so I used that. A pal also had one go on a Techno and he bought a little 12v from a model car shop and fitted that for a fraction of the price of a Beta one. Hope this helps Pete

If anyone ever did a proper Risk Assessment for a trials event, trials would be finished! Imagine marking every hazard with the correct BSI approved sign.

The next thing the EU will specify is compulsory permanent hard standing with dust extraction, heating/aircon and toilet facilities........ for every observer!

Dave, the link to the results works ok for me, but as you say things may still need to be sorted out. Thankfully that job does not fall to me but I will update this thread if I hear more. The provisional award winners are: Union Jack Trophy Brad Jones 175 BSA The Sam Cooper Trophy Mick Grant 500 Ariel Englebach Trophy Barry Stephens 350 BSA Two-stroke Cup Peter Gaunt 175 BSA Shell Cup Mike Barton 500 AJS Sidecar Cup Mark Kemp/Bob Chapman 500 Ariel Ralph Varden Shield Peter Dale/Barry Pocock 500 Triumph Twin shock Sidecar Darren Dredge/Gary Hewlett 300 Fantic Twin shocks Philip Wiffen 300 Fantic Trail bikes Rob Faulkner 175 Yamaha

All of the clubs you mention put on a sensible easy route. The Stourbridge team in particular can be relied upon to cater for newcomers. Pete

Results HERE.

The Stratford Club, Evesham & Leamington Victory Clubs all run trials within sensible distance of Oxford.

I've seen the provisional results and it looks like tow riders have cleaned the easy route and six have cleaned the hard route...... all on Twin shocks, so I guess the severity was about right for the Classics and perhaps just a little too easy for the Twin shocks. We are just double checking the different classes and the results will be available shortly. Pete

I've always used them on my Scorpa and not once had a problem, I guess it is a recent issue. Certainly not acceptable unless it is a one-off!

I agree if it is a warm day I find no problem just having wet feet but when it is cold I do suffer, so I use British Army surplus waterproof socks when it's cold. You will find some new on e-by-gum for around

It's good to hear that he's getting on with the new bigger bike ok. My eldest daughter who's five, has a 12" and recently tried out her mates 16", although she could ride it ok (she's had her bike for two years now) she commented that it was harder to ride so I'm going to hold off upgrading her for another six months or so. She does look a bit big on the smaller machine but I don't want to push her and put her off riding. I agree that they are fabulous machines and it has been money well spent. The Middle sister is two and a half and she can ride it on stabilisers (and slow speed) already, the upgrade will come when they start fighting over the 12"

That looks like a fabulous opportunity for a local club and at that price is genuinely affordable.

Pump up the tyres and check the wheel bearings and spokes too.

Entry list HERE

Below I have copied some extracts from an email which I received today from Nick Bridges which may interest followers of this thread. Nick is a long serving member of the Stratford Club as was his father Dennis, and is a far better authority on the subject of the Union Jack Trial than I. Interestingly, Mick Ash rode the very first UJ in 1979 and has been one of a select band of those who still ride having competed in the very first. Also, I was tidying up a bit over the weekend and I came across a program from the first event. And from memory, in that first running of it, there included a really wide selection of machinery that would be worth a small fortune now - and a large number of machines covering the majority of the popular British Bikes, not just the one or 2 types we see today. On the day, we had a scrutineers award that Ron Morris handed out (that was given to an immaculate and very original 350 AJS). Talking of original, the biggest modification on machines for that first event was the changing of the four ply Dunlop tyre ! In setting out those early trials, they were always made with the bike bikes in mind and the simple question of whether they could get round a tight corner or over a root or step -and often involved quite a few visits upto glorious Camp. The bottom line was if the pre unit bikes couldnt get round or over then it didnt go in - or instance, the section up Camp ditch, was literally that, just straight up the ditch, no fannying in and out ! I think that early premise stood the test of time and made the trial and the club the success it deserved. I would also add that pre65 trials changed with the increasingly popularity of the Scottish as it become essential to have a trick bike to be at the top end of results, and this ambition to win 'at all costs' filtered through to other trials and suddenly those on more standard machines were being left behind by 'modernised' machinery.

Just out of interest the past winners of the SCUJ read a bit like a who's who of classic trials. I don't know what the classes were, but Jon Bliss won the first Union Jack Trophy in 1979. Mick Ash won the Englebach Cup and J.Delahay the Two Stroke Cup. The Sam Cooper Trophy was introduced in 1990 and was won by Terry Savery. The Sidecar Cup was won by J.Budgen/J.Dummer and the Specials/Twinshock by B.Messenger. In 1992 the first trail bike win was taken by Mark Kemp. Certain names keep appearing on the winners lists, often in different classes. M.Ash - Nine times P.Robson - Six times N.Draper - Five times T.Davis - Five times D.Sherbourne/S.Sherbourne - Six times G.Howe - Five times R.Percival - Five times A.Taylor - Five times Plus a number of other past winners like. S.Saunders M.Grant J.Wigg R.Faulkner P.Gaunt P.Carson C.Dommet D.Spurgeon M.Wilmore

I came across this listing for a Sherco on ebygum. The seller seems to be doing thier best to insult as many possible bidders as possible whilst selling a very unusual item. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SHERCO-SERIES-05-290...=item2c548f85e7

Yes, I'm not sure what has happened there, I have a feeling that there has been a clerical error with the classes and I appologise if that is the case, I will speak to the powers that be and get back to you. If you feel that you have entered in the wrong class for any reason, it is a simple case of calling Richard the secretary and he will make the necessary changes prior to the entry list being published. I hope this helps. Pete

Yes it nearly did me in, I was the Clerk of the Course and opening the course, (and riding the sections for no award) on my DRZ400. Due to the heavy rain I eased 20 or more sections as I went around. I was completely shattered by the end of the day. I'm setting a few out this year, I spend more time thinking about the sidecar route than anything else. Can they get through that gap? Do they like to go up to the left or to the right? Will they stop at the bottom? Fine weather makes it so much easier to set out.

Well it lookslike being a full house 120 for this years event, I hope the weather is ok! http://www.stratford-upon-avonmcc.org.uk/page4.html

And I wonder who you are trying to wind up there?

Stuck/bent/very tight valve maybe?

It looks like the entries are now almost all in, there are half a dozen sidecars and a good list of fun easy route riders on various machines. 102 in total with a few days still to go. We must be doing something right to attract so many, it's just a shame that there are so few clasic machines. If you take a look at the entry list, the classes have been juggled around slightly. If you are riding, please let me know what you think to the event, we welcome any feedback on all of our trials, remember YOU are the customer, we want our trials to be right for you if possible. Pete