Preview: Scottish Pre-65 Trial
By John Dickinson on 1st May 19
One of the highlights of the Classic Trials year is right upon us now as this Friday-Saturday (May 3-4) will see the Hope Technology sponsored Pre-65 Scottish Two Day Trial once again pre-empt its big brother Scottish Six Days Trial which of course follows, beginning on Monday, May 6.
The Pre-65 will, as usual, be based on the remote village of Kinlochleven nestling right at the end of the picturesque long, narrow sea loch. And the area is steeped in Scottish Six Days history with a whole plethora of legendary sections which are still used in the Pre-65.
Names such as Pipeline, Mamore, Caolasnacoan, Blackwater, Cnoc a Linnhe, Loch Eilde Mor, Callert and Pap of Glencoe are all part of Scottish Six Days folk lore and its still a thrill to ride or even spectate at these iconic sections. Guest of Honour this year is well known Scot Jock McComisky.
Jock was a well-known boisterous figure in his inevitable Saltire riding shirt giving his Triumph twin big licks and he was also an integral part of the Two Day committee before a well-earned retirement in 2015. But Jocks back to flag competitors away and back this year as well as to present the awards come Saturday evening.
And theres a new award up for grabs this year, the Edgar Brothers Trophy which will be presented for best performance on an original machine from a shortlist provided by the Eligibility sub-committee.
On the rider front, a total of 300 entered hoping for one of the 200 spaces up for grabs and so a ballot was necessary. And there is a really good mix of makes and capacities, it isnt all about new-build Bantams and there are around 50 machines over 350cc.
The club tell us that ALL the riders on the official reserve list have made it into the trial as others have had to drop out for whatever reason. There may even be the odd space for riders who are prepared to turn up at Thursday scrutineering with bikes prepped ready to go.
Basically, each day comprises a large off-road loop out over the famous moors, supplemented by a spur run down the south road from Kinlochleven taking in groups both on the way out and back. The day will comprise over a dozen different groups with 30 sections in total.
The real draw is that each days big off-road loop is completely different.
2015 winner James Noble
Friday will see riders take in Loch Eilde Burn in Kinlochleven before heading up Pipeline and then out onto the moors which will take them across the front of the Blackwater reservoir and then right out to go round remote Loch Eilde Mor before returning back to Kinlochleven. That is quite a run out and riders will earn their post-trial pint!
Saturday will see a similar spur up the road as well as a totally different loop. This time the field will head up the Mamore road and then take in groups as it heads west until it reaches Callert and then it is down the very steep hillside before returning to the finish by road.
This is of course just a basic outline to whet your appetite, if you are heading up there the official programme has detailed maps and route cards to keep you right. Start time will be 10am both days, Friday from the Alcan car park and Saturday from Kinlochleven school.
Dont forget to support the school and take advantage of the excellent refreshments provided like the all day breakfasts and tea and cakes.
RIDERS
Just as we did last week for the Six Days, heres a potted run through the (current) entry beginning with Murray Whittaker who has the No.1 plate on his Cub. Murray is followed by 500 Triumph-mounted John Charlton who won last years inaugural Leven Valley Two Day run by the local Kinlochleven club so will be looking for a two-day double.
Duncan MacDonald, manufacturer of REH forks will be testing his own product on his Ariel while George Emmott has been getting in plenty of practise doing Northern centre trials on his Pre-65 Triumph.
Colin Bailey and pal Nev Pybus will circulate on Ariel and Triumph twin respectively while Carl Batty will take his very smart 500 Norton for a gallop.
Paul Bennett will be out on Peter Salts Francis Barnett, while Clive Dopson brings a similar mount after 30-odd years on his rigid Nortons, Clive having taken his punishment like a real man.
Finn Juha Himmanen brings a 350 BSA while local lad and dad Tyler and Martin Murphy get to ride round their magnificent back yard together.
Regular visitor Dennis Sweeten once again represents the USA, on the BSA he leaves here ready to use! Scots Grant Adamson and Grant Smith join forces yet again while Yorkshires Dan Clarke is a former winner back for another go. Rival Lancashire lad Ben Butterworth is gunning for his first victory in the event on his potent Ariel which he rides just like a modern machine!
Two real vets follow on with Mick Grant, who has fought back from an ankle injury to ride his Bantam and the legendary multiple winner of this event, Dave Thorpe and the inevitable Triumph Cub. Daves lad Dan follows, still hoping to nail a win in the event to show dad!
And theres more lads and dads with Sam and Chris Clarke while Aberdeens Duncan Mitchell gives his much missed dad Peters BSA B40 a rest with a Triumph twin outing.
Davy Morewood is another rider who has seen the top spot in this event while Sam Sharp represents title sponsor Hope Alan Chips Crayk is always worth watching on his 250 Cotton while Twinshock specialist Richard Allen rings the changes on a 350 Velocette.
Yrjo Vesterinens daughter Hanna will be out on a Vesty-built Bantam. Prestons Kiaran Hankin is also Bantam rigged and must be a challenger for a top spot.
North east pals Ossy Byers and Butch Robson, on Dot and Cottom respectively will undoubtedly have fun while Jamie Reid comes off a win in the recent Kinlochleven club trial at Chairlift. KIA Twinshock kingpin Gerry Minshall is out on his Francis Barnett while ACU committee man Anthony Rew comes up from Devon with a 400 Triumph.
Ed Dobson and Andy Bingley will dazzle with a pair of matching hand-built 500 Ariels while Irishman David Coughlan brings a 350 AJS this year. Its triple world champ Vesty himself riding with pal, former sidecar trials supremo Robin Luscombe, Yrjo on his favourite Bantam and Lusky Cub mounted.
American Dennis Sweeten is back
The effervescent Donna Fox will brighten up the dullest day while fellow Yorkie Pushrod Palmer takes on the Two Day on his Velo before going on to really celebrate his 60th birthday with a Six Days ride!
Gary MacDonald has won for the last two years and the pressure is on for a hat-trick while Nigel Greenwood is a stalwart of the event and if he doesnt make the ballot is happy to assist the organisers. Local Calum Murphy is well capable of hitting the top spot and Nick Shields Triumph will hopefully make all the right noises and stay in tune while David Dench and Barry Burton both know what trials are all about.
Nick Jefferies makes a more than welcome trip to Kinlochleven. Back in trials for fun Nick has a fabulous pedigree having been a works rider for Honda in both trials and road racing. Arguably the greatest ever all-round motorcyclist, Nick won the Manx Grand Prix, the Manx Two Day Trial and amassed 40 TT Silver Replicas plus a victory back in the Isle of Man. Good to see him back.
Nick will ride a Bantam along with pal, the ever enthusiastic Norman Shepherd.
Gritty Scot Neil Dawson could make his way round blindfold, British Clubman ace Darren Wasley dips his toes into the Classic scene on a Cub while finally Cumbrian Chris Myers turns out on probably the rarest machine in the trial, a Bantam fitted with a 250cc twin cylinder four-stroke Triumph Tigress engine, built by his cousin Jonty.
Garys up for a triple whammy!
Gary MacDonald, born and bred in Kinlochleven, took a tremendously popular victory in the Pre-65 Two Day Trial when he entered and rode it for the very first time in 2017m on a BSA Bantam provided by local businessman and trials enthusiast Martin Murphy.
Gary was, of course, a regular Six Days competitor, narrowly missing out on victory several times, and decided to have a go in the Two Day as a bit of fun to relieve the pressure of the Six Days.
Of course, this merely transferred the level of expectation a bit closer to home but he showed no nerves to become the first Scot to win the event since its inception in 1984. Even better that he was a local lad!
Then of course Gary repeated the victory last year when mounted on a totally different machine, another Martin Murphy offering in the shape of a mighty 500 Triumph twin. What a contrast from the little Bantam two-stroke to the beefy, snorting, rasping twin.
Said Gary on the Friday evening: Im only a wee man and to be honest it was taking me for a ride this morning and I was really just hanging in there at times. But I got on top of it as the day went on and I was really enjoying myself. It just sounds so good when you wind it on!
So it follows that 2019 sees Gary in line for a rare hat-trick of victories and once again he will be mounted on another different bike, this time a beautiful 250 Triumph Cub built by David Stewart.
It is so beautiful it won Best Trials Bike at the big Stafford Classic Show in 2018.
Can Gary nail a hat-trick? It wont be for the want of trying as he always gives his best. Well find out soon enough...
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