The Scope boys are following in dad’s footsteps, riding classic Brits
“They’ve all stuck with it, it was ingrained in ’em.”
Isherwood himself first got into motorcycles after leaving the army in the late ’50s and bought his first Ariel from Jim Sandiford senior, a bike which trials legend Jim Sandiford junior had previously competed on. Although Harold never competed professionally and didn’t have a lot of money to invest in the sport, he thoroughly enjoyed the life of a club rider. “In those days you had to ride to trials; only well-off people had a pickup, so you were filthy when you came back and your tyres were flat, but it was a good life – it was brilliant!”
So when the boys started to express an interest in pre-65 trials and doing the Scottish Six Days, Harold was well placed to tell them how to do it: “You wanna do that on an Ariel – they were monsters, they were dinosaurs!” Ben was first to get his Ariel, a HT5, though only after hounding then-owner Neil Gaunt, who’d previously ridden it to success at the Scottish pre-65.
“Everyone I knew said buy that bike,” says Ben –and in 2013 he finally got his hands on it. “We had to change the exhaust on it, lower the suspension dramatically and then it was ready to ride. In full it’s a short-stroke 500cc engine with a Burman gearbox housed in a replica HT5 frame, running REH Forks and Rockshock rear shock absorbers. Because grandad rode an Ariel back when he was younger, he always said he
‘GRANDAD USED TO RIDE AN ARIEL, AND ALWAYS SAID HE’D LOVE US TO RIDE ONE’
wanted us to ride a pre-65 bike – and he always said: ‘I’d love you to ride an Ariel’.” Then, two years later, after scouring the internet, Jack and Harold came across a scruffy-looking 1958 HT500. They had to have it. “We bought it as a rolling wreck from Wales and brought it back – it was all rusty. Then grandad worked his magic and made it all nice and polished. We had a new frame for it – more of a trick frame, but the engine and gearbox were all there – they’re the hardest parts to find. All the Rockshocks and everything are off the shelf, made to suit your bike and bodyweight. The forks are special REH trials forks. It took about two years; I think it was completed in 2017. It took a while to get it done, but he [he points to his grandad] was in the garage every day doing it.” It’s also worth mentioning that
Raysons Exhausts of Rochdale built Jack’s exhaust, with Ben Hardman providing a top service in the workshop.
Jack and Ben happily spend the rest of morning bouncing the Ariels from rock to rock in the quarry, providing plenty of photo opportunities, meeting every suggestion I have with an unquestioning nod of the head and twist of the wrist. The bikes work perfectly, the only mechanical slip-up occurring when Jack, jumping into the air on his brother’s bike, suddenly finds the yoke has let loose, leaving Jack to steer thin air with the bars. The initial response is hilarity, although they soon have the yoke back in place ready to do some wheelies. The machines run perfectly and sound fantastic, testament to Harold’s skills as a mechanic.
At one point during our visit, Harold grabs the
chance to have a quick go on Jack’s Ariel – and clearly relishes the opportunity. He looks smooth and right at home, with his grandsons quick to point out the best lines as he weaves a trail over loose stone and slate.
Having broken his back in two places eight years ago while riding his BSA, Harold has taken more of a back seat when it comes to riding – except for special occasions, of course. He’s now much more happy to spend his time working on his bikes, keeping them in perfect working order for his two grandsons. In fact he doesn’t even expect Jack to bring his back washed after competitions: “I tend to find that young ’uns, when they bring bikes in and they’re all filthy, they just blast ’em with water, so there’s water getting in everywhere! I always say: ‘Just leave it, bring it back, I’ll do it!’” Ben and Jack have clearly got a sweet deal going on here!
Harold beams with pride when talking about the lads. It’s a win-win situation – he gets to work on bikes he’s dreamed of owning and at the same time gets to see his grandsons putting them through their paces, often beating the competition.
As the day winds down we slowly make our way out of the quarry, with Ben and Jack dropping off rocks on their way, throwing in the odd flick turn and wheelie, always happy to keep going. “Shall me and Jack ride up that steep stream for a good photo?” “Er, yeah alright!” I respond. Ben and Jack’s enthusiasm for riding is limitless. But why wouldn’t it be? It’s in their blood.
‘GRANDAD WORKED HIS MAGIC WITH THE BIKE’