Scottish Pre-65 Preview

By John Dickinson on 15th Mar 23

News Trials Scottish Six Days Trial

The 2023 Scottish Six Days Trial (May 1-6) is rapidly approaching – and we'll bring you a full preview soon – but leading us into this, as it has for 40 years now, is the Scottish Pre-65 Two Day Trial on Friday/Saturday, April 28/29.

First introduced in 1984, the one-day event was originally run on Tuesday and intended to draw spectators away from the Achlain group of sections where police weren't happy about increased roadside spectator parking.

It was aimed at a nostalgic gathering of former SSDT riders and drew the likes of legends such as Sammy Miller, Jeff Smith, Arthur and Alan Lampkin, Bill Wilkinson and many others who made Scottish Six Days history what it is.

The trial soon took on an identity all of its own though and increased rider and enthusiastic spectator interest saw a move to a two-day format and entry numbers allowed increased to an eventual 200.

Entries have of course vastly exceeded 200 on most occasions (sometimes almost double) resulting in the need for a ballot, dreaded by riders as consequently many lose out on a ride!

This year around 280 hopefuls sent in their entry forms and those that lost out in the ballot went onto the reserve list. The organisers want to start with a maximum of 200 so if any entrant has to drop out they are instantly replaced by a hopeful reserve.

This year there is the usual mixture of serious contenders, going all out for the prestigious Premier trophy or other major awards although the vast majority are club riders aiming to beat their pal, or previous best finishing position – or maybe just hoping for a finish.

The Pre-65 Scottish has always been based in Kinlochleven, an area steeped in SSDT history and littered with famous observed sections on the steep-sided hills surrounding Loch Leven like Mamore, Pipeline, Blackwater, Callart, Cnoc a Linnhe and Caolasnacon.

Last year the organisers switched from a figure of eight route with the entry split into odd and even numbers, to a conventional system with every rider following the same route. This proved a success with the main benefit being a shorter day out in the elements for observers. 

The 2023 entry is headed by last year's winner, hometown boy Gary Macdonald. Gary was riding Davy Stewart's immaculate Tiger Cub but his one-mark score over the two days was matched by Cumbrian first-timer Joel Gowan on a BSA four-stroke and Lancastrian Ben Butterworth on his favourite Ariel. The outcome of the premier rested on rider age.

Other past event winners in the entry include Rob Bowyer, Scott Dommett, James Harland, Paul Heys, James Noble and Dan Thorpe. Dan is the younger half of the only dad and lad pairing to have won the event, dad of course being Dave Thorpe.

Three-time Trial World Champion Yrjo Vesterinen is in there with pals – former sidecar trials supremo Robin Luscombe and road race legend Mick Grant – all on their personalised Bantams.

Trial sponsor, REH boss Duncan MacDonald, will ride his special Tiger Cub, Scott Dommett travels up from the West country, Nigel and Chris Greenwood ride as dad and lad. It is an event with plenty of family connections and local cousins Calum and Tyler Murphy will both fancy their chances of a top finish.

With 200 competitors competing in a fabulous location on a variety of mainly historic British machines, there's no wonder this event is the enduring success it has become.

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