Time to take the high road
By TMX Archives on 27th Apr 07
Anticipated trials of the year takes place next Friday and Saturday (May 4/5). It is of course the Scottish Pre-65 Two Day event which will take place entirely in the Kinlochleven area of the Scottish Highlands.
The event is a unique mix of nostalgia and the current Pre-65 scene, with a bit of undefinable extra magic thrown in that attracts more spectator interest than the Six Days that follows!
No other trials event, modern or classic, attracts the sheer number of entries that the Pre-65 Scottish does which, sadly, the organisers have to slash to a ‘mere' 180 starters and if you get one of those slots you are very lucky indeed.
This year, the favoured 180 contains no fewer than 14 different nationalities including riders from France, Spain, Holland, Sweden, Germany, Belgium and two riders from Poland (riding Polish machines) plus the various UK nations. It's an impressive line-up.
And even more impressive is the line-up of different makes of machines. Modern riders who are stuck with an unvarying five-way choice between Gas Gas, Sherco, Beta, Montesa and Scorpa will be amazed that a quick count of the different marques entered in the Pre-65 comes to a total of 25, incorporating the odd special.
This goes a long way to accounting for the huge spectator interest. There are big-banger four-stroke singles, small four-stroke singles, four-stroke twins - even a couple of side-valve motors to add extra interest - and of course a whole host of variations on single cylinder two-strokes, all in a variety of engine sizes, tune and chassis.
In amongst the plethora of British bikes - mainly well-known but including a Panther - there are two Polish WSKs, French Motobecane and Rhone machines and a Belgian-built FN. Variety or what!
For full story and pictures see T+MX NEWS, Friday, April 27, 2007