jon v8 Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Hi, Another Ci5 in action, this time Tony James from Devizes riding in a Bath Classic trial in 1999. Enjoy. That's Tim James,still riding with us - but now on Villiers powered machines.His wife Sandy is an absolute star,along with Nichola Ratcliffe and Wendy Miller,who do all the signing on and scoring for Bath Classic - without their help our trials would grind to a halt. Thank you,Sandy,Nichola and Wendy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laird387 Posted February 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 Hi, Tom Ellis was a BSA dealer in Ripon - close by the Catterick army complex where, for many years, army despatch riders were trained, and skilful riders joining the army often found themselves a 'niche' as instructors. Works riders doing National Service tended to end up at Catterick......... Being a nearby dealer for BSA, Tom kept a look-out for talent, and several riders owed their introduction to BSA by Tom over the years. Tom himself was a keen and competent rider, here he is seen smiling as he emerges from the top of 'Underbanks' in the 1957 Scott trial with his 500 Gold Star. Enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laird387 Posted February 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2014 Hi, In early 2000, midlander Mac Price was busy creating an interesting special for classic trials. Here are the details he gave to ORR. Essentially the Bantam uses all parts from the 1960s. The cycle parts comprise D10/14 frame with the bottom tube cut out and integral bash plate used, Bantam hubs and C15 forks (Bill still uses Bantam forks!). The engine is repositioned to give better weight distribution and chainline. The rear swinging arm is lengthened and cut away to give improved tyre clearance to avoid clogging. The subframe is lowered to give us verticaily challenged mortals a sporting chance of good footing performance. The clutch is a direct operating mechanism as the original scroil type seized at the first sign of mud. The ignition has reverted to flywheel magneto like the original Dl, although this version comes from a little farther east than the WIPAC mag from Bletchley. The motors are relatively standard using D10 barrels to give good bottom end performance, but helped by a little judicious work with the Dremel (we have some further developments in the pipeline on the engine front!) The downside is that Bill rides so well that that all the local lads want the special tuning goodies in the hope that their Bantams will be as competitive as ours, which detracts from the time he has to spend fixing my old cars! (Mac and Bill restored Austin Sevens). The good news is that it keeps our mates out riding when they would not cope with some of the big heavy old four strokes. Enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laird387 Posted February 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 Hi, And now, as they say, for something quite different! Spotted in the 1970 Perce Simon trial, Don Rickman with his 500 BSA Victor-Metisse. Few are aware that both Rickman brothers rode in trials in the winter to keep fit - and even tried their hand at sidecar trialling occasionally. Enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laird387 Posted February 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 Hi, Another day, another BSA! Proving that the coloured frames are not just an isolated trend, Jon Corin with a fetching red ensemble on his BSA trialler! Spotted in 2000. Enjoy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laird387 Posted February 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 (edited) Hi, In the British Bike Bonanza at Sallywood in August 1997, Alan Wright rode the ex-Bonky Bowers BSA Bantam, in the trial - then scrambled his BSA Victor on the Sunday. Enjoy. Edited February 9, 2014 by laird387 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laird387 Posted February 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) Hi, Fun in the 1997 Reliance round of the Sammy Miller series, young Chris Smith finds his BSA Bantam has more than enough power for Hawks Nest. Enjoy. Edited February 13, 2014 by laird387 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laird387 Posted February 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2014 Hi, Very definitely a different BSA! Tom Ellis with the interesting BSA A7-based 500 twin, seen here in the 1957 British Experts. Enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laird387 Posted February 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 (edited) Hi, Doug Theobald with his 175cc BSA Bantam special, seen in the 1970 John Douglas trial. Looking at these images of BSA Bantam triallers reminds me of an historical detail given to me by the late Dave Rowland, not long before he passed away. He recounted the time when BSA were in severe problems and, as Dave so aptly put it, "Rushing around Small Heath like headless chickens." He received a 'phone call early on the Monday morning of the week that the Scottish was about to start in Edinburgh at the weekend. "There's a new bike for you to ride in Scotland - it's a lightweight - we'll deliver it to you early tomorrow." Early next day a BSA lorry pulls up at his home and the driver unloads a wooden crate and trundles it up the drive where Dave and wife, Doreen, watch - baffled. "The box wasn't big enough to fit a bike in...........", explained Dave. When the tools came out and the box was opened he found he had been wrong - the box was not big enough to fit an assembled bike in........... It is Tuesday - he has to be in Edinburgh, 300 miles away, ready to ride at the weekend - and he has a kit of parts that possibly will assemble into a bike. It would have been - had the factory not forgotten odd items, like a saddle, for instance............. Panic set in - Dave started putting together his kit of parts - then dashing round local dealers to find the odd bits that were missing. Yes, the story had a good ending, Dave did get it all put together - even had an hour spare to get it started and dash round a few of his local Chapel-en-le-Frith sections, before the mad dash to Edinburgh. And you all thought life as a factory rider was easy!!! Enjoy. Edited February 19, 2014 by laird387 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laird387 Posted February 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 (edited) Hi, Are you sitting comfortably? - Then let me tell you a story................. In 1956 there was a little known experiment by BSA with leading link forks. The culmination of the programme was in the first leg of the Hawkstone Park Grand Prix where Geoff Ward, Brian Stonebridge and Brian Martin each spent twenty-eight racing minutes testing them. In true scientific style they were then replaced by conventional BSA Gold Star front ends for the second leg. Strangely they were never seen again in spite of the fact that as Mr Murphy and Mr Sod studied the results of the test they seemed not to notice that all three riders put up their best performance in that first leg with the leading links fitted! Can anyone think of a reason why???????? Enjoy. Edited February 23, 2014 by laird387 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b40rt Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 Ugly as sin ? Had the track deteriorated ? How much faster was the first time ? If only slightly they may be figured that if it was marginal, being less fresh the second time ment they were equal or better. Lots of variables ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie prescott Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 Hi Guy's . Hi Deryk. With these front forks fitted, the only way you could make them steer would be to keep the front end has light as possible. there fore you would need to keep the power on? Why ? because there is no brace between the two leading arms. and the wheel would tend to lean to one side or another with any pressure on them. These could have been made by Rynolds, but not designed by them???? Regards Charlie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laird387 Posted February 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 (edited) Hi, The original machine on which the BSA B40 ‘Otter’ specials are based, here is Scott Ellis on his last BSA C15T, BOK 228C, on which the bottom frame loop was removed and the engine lifted to give improved ground clearance. It used chromed BSA Bantam hubs, the rear one with a distance piece inserted between the spoke flanges to spread the centre and take a full 4in trials cover. Note that it did not have the later Adventurer-type forks. Scott was photographed by Malcolm Carling on 'Hawk's Nest' section, sadly I do not have a note as to which event, but judging by the misty scene it looks very much like Northern Experts weather to me. Enjoy. Edited February 25, 2014 by laird387 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laird387 Posted February 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Hi, I often hear the comment, "Yes - but the old sections have been worn out over the years - so nowadays they are much easier to ride......" Well, that may be true of some places - but you would be surprised at the number of times I can spot 'the' rock that always gave problems in the old favourites. Here is an example - the image of Scott Ellis above was taken round about thirty uears before this image of Andy Littler making a spirited attempt on the very rock that Scott is riding round. Scott was successful - Andy was spectacularly 'unlucky'....... Enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie prescott Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 Hi Guy's Hi Deryk. BOK228C in its last guise, was a bit more than removing the bottom frame tube! this could be misleading to viewers. The frame was based on a cross between an Ariel HT frame and the grass track Elstar that Scott used to ride. With the top and down tube in 2" 531 tubing. The swinging arm was from a Triumph Sports Cub, and the sub frame was from a similar model. Front forks were the ones being developed for the WD BSA B40's. The bike that Scott and his father Seth, could have based there frame on, was the one built in 1964, in the BSA Comp shop ( where Scott's father worked) This was built by Pat Slinn, who went on to do most of the development work and test riding of the development WD BSA B40,Also riding one in the ISDT. Much more information about the model on my web site, take a look. Regards Charlie. www.bsaotter.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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