Scottish Six Days Trial: Difference between revisions
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* [http://dougielampkin.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=99&Itemid=77 2008 winner Dougie Lampkin] |
* [http://dougielampkin.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=99&Itemid=77 2008 winner Dougie Lampkin] |
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* [http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=D2A8p3FCLAA Video of 2002 SSDT competition] |
* [http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=D2A8p3FCLAA Video of 2002 SSDT competition] |
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* Archive film from the SCOTTISH SCREEN ARCHIVE (National Library of Scotland): [http://ssa.nls.uk/film.cfm?fid=3062 HAUD FORRIT: The Scottish Six Days Reliability Trial (1925)] |
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Revision as of 08:03, 6 October 2011
The Scottish Six Days Trial is an internationally recognised Motorcycle trials competition, which has been running since 1909 (with breaks for the two world wars) making it the oldest motorcycle trials event in the world.[1][2] Motorcycle riders from all over the world compete in this extreme sport, covering as much as 100 miles a day on road and off-road routes around Lochaber on each of the six days. The event is a trial of the skill, consistency and endurance of the riders, as well as a test of the specialised motorcycles used.
History
The first Scottish motorcycle trial was held in July 1909.[2] Originally, the trial started in Edinburgh, going to John O'Groats before returning to Edinburgh.[2] It aimed to be the most challenging motorcycle trial ever held. By 1912 the event was known as the "Scottish Six Days Open Reliability Trial" and by 1914 rules were agreed together with a marking system and time penalties for machine faults. The outbreak of the First World War halted competition but the Six Days Trial returned in 1919. Problems with following the route were solved by marking the course with yellow ochre from a barrel mounted on a car (a system which stayed in place until the mid-1970s, when the present system of marker arrows and orange flags for off road sections was introduced). The scoring system was updated in 1926 to allow for condition, hillclimbing and brake testing but the event was still a test of motorcycle reliability. From the 1930s factory teams became more prevalent and in 1932 the results system was further amended to identify an outright winner. In 1938, Fort William was chosen as the central point of the trial although, it still started and ended in Edinburgh.[2] The outbreak of World War II stopped competition until 1947, when 108 competitors took part. In 1977, the event broke its link to Edinburgh and the event started and finished in Fort William.[2] During the 1970s and 1980s, the Scottish Six Days Trial grew in popularity and was established as the most important event for trials motorcycles.[2]
The club
The Edinburgh & District Motor Club is based in Edinburgh and was formed through the amalgamation of several motor clubs in 1911. It is the organising body for the Scottish Six Days Trial.
The AJS Works Team
The rugged and reliable AJS Model 16 was ideal for the Scottish Trial, with modifications including upgrading the frame to a welded duplex tubular frame with an engine cradle to reduce weight and redesigned exhaust and footrests to improve ground clearance. In 1957 it was further redesigned to increase clearance from 7 inches to 10 inches. Hugh Viney led the AJS works team in the post war years and won the challenging 1947 Trial on an AJS 16MC at his first attempt - then repeated the achievement the following year and made it three in a row in 1949. In the 1950s this record was beaten by another AJS Works Team rider Gordon Jackson, who won the Scottish four times. [3]
Present day
The "Scottish" is now based out of Fort William and is so popular that there are usually over 500 entries for the 270 places available.[2] Of the 270 places, 30 are reserved for factory teams and a further 50 for allocation by the Club. The remaining places are allocated through a draw. The future of the SSDT was at risk in 2008 when the Army were no longer able to provide a refuelling service. The SSDT was still able to continue through 2008 although the army couldn't offer refuelling services.
SSDT winners
(No outright winners were identifiable prior to 1932)
| Year | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1932 | Bob MacGregor | Rudge (First Scot to win the SSDT) |
| 1935 | Bob MacGregor | Rudge |
| 1938 | Fred Povey | |
| 1939 | Allan Jeffries | Triumph works team |
| 1947 | Hugh Viney | AJS Model 16 |
| 1948 | Hugh Viney | AJS Works Team |
| 1949 | Hugh Viney | AJS Works Team (First SSDT "Hat trick") |
| 1950 | Artie Ratcliffe | 350cc Matchless |
| 1951 | John Draper | 350cc BSA |
| 1952 | John Brittain | Royal Enfield |
| 1955 | Jeff Smith | 500cc BSA Gold Star |
| 1956 | Gordon Jackson | AJS |
| 1957 | John Brittain | 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet |
| 1958 | Gordon Jackson | |
| 1959 | Roy Peplow | 199cc Triumph Tiger Cub (First time a small capacity motorcycle won). |
| 1960 | Gordon Jackson | 350cc AJS |
| 1961 | Gordon Jackson | 350cc AJS |
| 1962 | Sammy Miller | 500cc Ariel |
| 1963 | Arthur Lampkin | Factory 250cc BSA |
| 1964 | Sammy Miller | 500cc Ariel |
| 1965 | Sammy Miller | Bultaco two-stroke |
| 1966 | Alan Lampkin | 250cc BSA |
| 1967 | Sammy Miller | Bultaco two-stroke |
| 1968 | Sammy Miller | Bultaco two-stroke |
| 1969 | Bill Wilkinson | 250cc Greeves Anglian |
| 1970 | Mick Andrews | Ossa |
| 1971 | Mick Andrews | Ossa |
| 1972 | Mick Andrews | Ossa |
| 1973 | Malcolm Rathmell | 250cc Bultaco |
| 1974 | Mick Andrews | Works Yamaha |
| 1975 | Mick Andrews | Works Yamaha |
| 1976 | Martin Lampkin | Bultaco |
| 1977 | Martin Lampkin | Bultaco |
| 1978 | Martin Lampkin | Bultaco |
| 1979 | Malcolm Rathmell | Montesa 310 Cota |
| 1980 | Yrjö Vesterinen | Bultaco |
| 1981 | Gilles Burgat | 280cc SWM |
| 1982 | Bernie Schrieber | 280cc SWM |
| 1983 | Tony Gorgot | Montesa |
| 1984 | Thierry Michaud | Fantic |
| 1985 | Thierry Michaud | Fantic |
| 1986 | Thierry Michaud | Fantic |
| 1987 | Jordi Tarres | Beta |
| 1988 | Steve Saunders | Fantic |
| 1989 | Steve Saunders | Fantic |
| 1990 | Steve Saunders | Fantic |
| 1991 | Steve Saunders | Fantic |
| 1992 | Steve Colley | |
| 1993 | Steve Colley | |
| 1994 | Dougie Lampkin | |
| 1995 | Dougie Lampkin | |
| 1996 | Dougie Lampkin | |
| 1997 | Steve Colley | Gas Gas |
| 1998 | Graham Jarvis | Bultaco |
| 1999 | Graham Jarvis | Sherco |
| 2000 | Steve Colley | |
| 2001 | No SSDT | Due to Foot and Mouth Disease the Scottish Six Days Trial was suspended |
| 2002 | Amós Bilbao | Montesa |
| 2003 | Joan Pons | Sherco |
| 2004 | Graham Jarvis | Sherco |
| 2005 | Sam Connor | Sherco |
| 2006 | Graham Jarvis | Sherco |
| 2007 | James Dabill | 300cc Future TRW Montesa (First four-stroke win since Alan Lampkin in 1966) |
| 2008 | Dougie Lampkin | Factory 270cc Beta Rev-3 |
| 2009 | Dougie Lampkin | machine |
| 2010 | Alexz Wigg | machine |
| 2011 | James Dabill | Beta |
See also
References
- ^ Baumann, James (May 13, 2005). "The road not taken". The Press-Enterprise.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Scottish Six Days Trial" (PDF). ssdt.org. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ Currie, Bob (1993). Classic British Motorcycles. Chancellor Press. ISBN 1 85152 250 6.
External links
- The official SSDT web site
- 2006 winner Graham Jarvis
- 2007 winner James Dabill
- 2008 winner Dougie Lampkin
- Video of 2002 SSDT competition
- Archive film from the SCOTTISH SCREEN ARCHIVE (National Library of Scotland): HAUD FORRIT: The Scottish Six Days Reliability Trial (1925)