Kickstart - Getting The Ball Rolling

[blocky]

I've been thinking (yeah.. it doesn't happen often) about the TV series kickstart and how in an earlier post so many of you were keen to see it on TV again.

Who actually organises the uk indoor round of the wtc?

Who provides the equipment?

If it were possible to organise something like kickstart again... what sort of level rider would it be targeted at?

Should it be split into groups... aka.. pro, junior, women?

How would it be organised? How was it organised? Did a club from each region take it on or what?

Anyone know anyone who would be interested in taking this idea further?

[gizza5]

Anyone know anyone who would be interested in taking this idea further?

Peter Purves

[Andy]

It's a fantastic idea and I don't want to rain on your parade, but I can see two potential problems -

1) The BBC still own the rights to Kickstart and presumably the name is their copyright too. Calling it something else might work, but the Kickstart name would be what you really wanted - that and the theme tune are what invokes the memories.

2) Back in the Kickstart days there were far fewer tree-huggers. Trials is not looked on in the same light as it was back then.

What I think COULD be very successful would be a series of "Urban Trials" - like the Red Bull event Jake organised a few years back in Manchester. I wasn't there myself due to SSDT commitments at the time, but by all accounts it was highly successful. I know it's not REAL Trials - sorta more an Indoor Trial outdoors, but you just have to look at the success of Sheffield every year to see that taking Trials to the people rather than expect them to stand about on a cold moor is the way to spread the word.

Just my 2p worth. :hat:

[telecat]

Crosser is running the big bike event at the Yorkshire Showground but It clashed in 2005 with Hawkstone I think. Perhaps the potential is there if it does not clash in 2006???

[crosser]

A few years ago when men and motors did the "teen trials" cock-up ,me and Wayne Kershaw who was working for men and motors at the time contacted granada and asked them if they wanted any help with the programme. We beleived we had the venue, sections ( sheffield and X-treme trials) and a good front man/presenter who understands trials riding in Wayne. We were willing to work for free just becouse we belived we could make a good programme that would be good for our sport.

Then to be told you lost out to an ex-gladiator and a production team that didnt even know what a trials bike looked like was a little upsetting!and sure enough it didnt do well in the ratings and was dropped.

I have tried since but I carnt find a production company who is willing to have a gamble! (they do not think a tv station would buy it!)

[bigwig]

Peter Purves told me at the terrible Men & Motors gig at Preston that he thought Nick Britain still owned the Kickstart name and idea. He also would like to do it again with the old foremat but was very unhappy about the M&M product.

[perce]

An idea I had some years ago was to have an arena type championship staged at the agricultural shows that are on in every area of the UK during the summer..most counties have their own show ... at least the people that see it may be the sort of people that would consider some land use in the future once they see it isn't too noisy and not racing based.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Our club ran a lot of these events in the 80's & 90's, they were good fun to ride in but a hell of a lot of work for those who had to build the sections.

I think insurance is a problem now & as far as I know they have to double rope the perimetre of the ring so it's more work for the show organisers too.

We did try something from the past at our 3 day trial this year

[telecat]

Well how many Motorcycle shows are there in the UK and how many have "Demonstration" rings suited to this type of event? Like I said The Great Yorkshire Bike show(apologies Crosser if I have got the name wrong) did have Crosser and Dan doing their thing last year(as well as Crosser organising it). It was a great success and was part of a bigger bike show. Are there any others like it thoughout the UK?? If they can be organised and sanctioned by the ACU it might get somebody interested.

Edited December 13, 2005 by Telecat

[the artist formerly known as ish]

Finding an angle to interest the viewer is what makes anything like that fly.

Kickstart was close to trials but a little different, I think some of the things from kickstart carried over to what is now the indoors.

What if it was celebrity sports/trials rider teams, the trials rider does his stuff then has to compete doing what the celeb from another sport does, like wise the celeb has to compete against other celebs on a trials bike obviously on a course that didn't kill em.

Or balance beam suspended a foot above water, the other riders can try knock em off with space hopper type balls on a long rope, more of a lottery to win than just skill, also gives the spectator a laugh.

This gets people who follow other sports watching the trials

Edited December 13, 2005 by ishy

[bikespace]

You're starting to remind me of Alan Partridge now Ishy

They do a charity trial up near Buxton every August bank holiday. I think a combination of Macc Trials, Manchester 17 and maybe Staffs Moorlands (sorry if I missed someone).

Probably not many places that suit it, but it's a great day out. A country show with a real trial at the side of it. Half arena sections right next to the show, and half real sections just off the side of the hill.

Usually do an easy trial in the morning, followed by a harder trial in the afternoon.

Public can see the experts AND the wobblers ride real trials plus cars and arena based rocks. AND they associate us trials riders with a country show!

[gasserboy]

We and a few others are trying to promote trials in our area. Seems to be fairly popular with the public and show organisers. Even bikespace has rode one and he loved it!!!

total trials