DINNETRIME

A big part of the show weekend is always the Saturday evening dinner, where the guests are expected to sing for their supper, so to speak.

With Jack Burnicle as MC, the guests were in safe hands this year and tales were told of their life and times. Jack thanked show sponsors Hagon Shocksand Mortons, then introduced Bryan'badger' Gosswho entertained with tales of his early exploits as a grasstrack and speedway racer before he settled on scrambling.

From his early successes on Cotton, to becoming part of the Greeves team, then on to Husqvarna for his championship before becoming Maico's importer in the UK and on further with other marques, Badger had a fund of stories to tell.

Once the main course was served and enjoyed, it was time for Bernie Schreiber to let us in on how a teenager from California - a state not known for trials riding - came to Europe and rocked the top stars of the day by winning the world title. Throughout it was clear Bernie had a determination to succeed and even a set-back such as a DNF in the first round of the 1979 series, when he bent his front forks so badly in Ireland he had no option but retire, was dealt with and overcome. To date Bernie is still the only American world trials champion.

Like many fellow enthusiasts I had a shopping list and even managed to buy some bits on it too, so home with me came a carburettor, some fork seals and engine seals. What I didn't find, or rather didn't get time to look round for, were the fittings for the oil tank I'm making. This is the problem with Telford, there are so many people to chat to and catch up with that often complete aisles are missed or only given a cursory glance.

The show does have attractions in the form of special guests and for 2020 champions from either end of the Seventies were on hand to be interviewed by Jack Burnicle on stage. Bryan 'Badger' Goss won his British Scrambles championship in 1970, thus heralding in the new decade. The Yeovil-based rider, dealer and importer had, for years, been classed as a 250 man, yet dominated the 500cc championship on a privateer Husqvarna prepared by Triss Sharpe before taking up the Maico gauntlet and becoming the importer for the German maker.

Signing out the decade was Californian Bernie Schreiber, who burst on the European trials scene in 1978 with some great wins for a teenager, then dominated the 1979 series despite Bultaco having troubles which would see them go under. Bernie is

still the only American rider to win a trials world championship. Both champions were popular with showgoers and their autographs were in high demand.

The show always attracts riders of all calibres and alongside club riders were works riders and former works riders all proving the dirt bike world never really lets you go, nor are there any support groups which will help you deal with the addiction ... actually having written that I realise there are support groups to help, only they won't cure you but encourage you to embrace the addiction. Take the lads on the Sportax stand opposite the Cdbstand ... all sorts of Rotax engines ... "that your Can-am? When you want to make it go faster and squeeze a bit more power give us a call ... "

I doubt I'm alone in not seeing everything I wanted to see or meet everyone I wanted to meet, but that is the nature of this show ... roll on 2021.

8: Did you seethe stunning display of Montesas in the foyer?there were all sorts of fabulous machines from the early Mxer of Charlie Harris through to Yrjo Vesterinen's Ssdt-winning 349. 9: Ariel originally intended the HTSTO be rigid, then the world went swinging arm and a hasty redesign was needed. It's reckoned there were about 20 of the rigids made, can anyone confirm this? 10: Iwasgoing to say something like 'the long and the short of it .. .' but will settle for Bernie on the REH stand with Judy Macdonald OFREH.

Bernie Schreiber holds court in the dinner speeches, Dave Austin listens as does compere Jack Burnicle.

One of those hold-the-camera-up-high-andsee-what-you-get shots: Jean Caillou gives it the thumbs up,alan Wright isfinding something funny, Mortons' events manager Nick Mowbray in full conversation.

"It's like this, sonny... in our day.. .''Jackburnicle listens intently to Bryan Winston Goss.

"You seeyou youngsters had it easywith all that suspension travel .. .'' Badger Gossseems to be saying to Nick Mowbray. Nick raced in the YZ490/RM500 era.

1: Three top trials stars, Bernie of course, Dave Thorpe and Peter Salt, the two on the left are Bultaco while Peter was part of the Kawasaki team and is now one of the founders of the Kia series. Frank Hipkin was a man designed by nature to be a motorcycle manufacturer, his Sprite marque launched many a rider's career. His sons Stephen and Phil put on a great display of the marque.

3: Sammy Miller was checking Billy Bishop's Ariel over and was happy to have his photo taken byit. 4:Normandymcc'sdisplay included Paulfishlock's Ariel outfit that we featured ages ago. On hand were 1-rnik Everitt, Graham Hill,davewiffin and John Webster. They even gave me a hat!

exhaust.

5: Project Can-am... The Sidecar! What have we done ... ? 6: Northern Britishbike Championship stand with Mick Dawson, Markfrancis,mikegallagher and Graham Dawson standing while Billybishopand Jim Hough think they're out of the shot. JP Custom Components had this superb Tymono and ... 8: ...SWMON their stand. 9: Kriswinder isthe current Pre-74 Classicbritishmxchamp and willtake his Elsinore74 Honda into Europe this year to take on the best Europe can field. 10:Just a few of the private entries in the show. 11: Nigelallenwith the Kia'do it for Dom' cheque. Welldone to allwho supported the charity fund raising. 12: Twotalented all-rounders, Sammy Miller"onlything I'venot raced in is speedway, didn't do it in Northern Ireland... "and Arthur Browning,who has raced in everything.