‘People’ Scottish Six Days
The Scottish Six Days Trial holds a special place in the heart of many people in the trials world. For some, the opportunity to ride is ‘Living the Dream’ as they have nurtured this craving for what many still consider the ultimate test of man and machine from a very young age. Entries in 2018 were still highly cherished, as it was once again oversubscribed with the dreaded ballot having to come into play. While we were looking at statistics on the event, we noticed that some leading lights in the trials world had ‘racked up’ some records, and most importantly were still very much a part of the six days trial. Here we have a quick look at the years in the event of Nigel Birkett, John Shirt Jnr and Dave Thorpe. Nigel has ridden every year since 1971, John since 1988 and Dave rode from 1966 until 2003 — he missed out twice due to his back and neck problems — giving him a total of 34 rides. Would you believe that they have ridden in 110 Scottish Six Days Trials between them and covered around 65,000-68,000 miles! Of the three, we think Nigel has ridden the most of any competitor in the history of the event, and they have all been consecutive; it’s been the same with John since 1988. Dave’s last ride was in 2003, but he is still very much involved in the event with his son Dan, who just happens to have ridden 22 times, once again all consecutive.
Nigel Birkett: SSDT 1971-2018
It was while talking to my good friend Brian Holder that it dawned on me just how long Nigel Birkett had been riding in the SSDT when he sent me a superb picture from 1971. In Brian’s words, it captures the true spirt of this iconic event for the first-time rider living the dream on a motorcycle in the most famous trials event of them all. That rider was Nigel Birkett, and yes it was 1971! The Cumbria-based rider has ridden in and finished every event since that very first ride on the Suzuki ‘Special’ he built while serving his motorcycling apprenticeship at Eddie Crooks Motorcycles.
As with all the riders featured here they did not compete in the 2001 event, which was cancelled due to the Foot and Mouth epidemic. That gives Nigel 46 rides in the ‘Scottish’ to his name. Now at the tender age of 64 years old, Nigel can still impress the younger riders with his skills as his experience in the Highlands can be seen on occasions when he shows them a thing or two in the hazards and over the tough moorland crossings.
Over the years Nigel would be in a position to challenge for the win, with his highest finish coming in 1977 when he was third on the 325 Suzuki RL. In 1981 on the Fantic he amazed the crowds by taking the 156cc engined Italian model to sixth against a very strong entry that was all mounted on much more powerful machines.
During his 46 attempts at the event, he would ride a wide variety of machines after making his debut on the ‘home brew’ Suzuki. These machines would be Ossa, Suzuki, Montesa, Fantic, JCM, Gas Gas, Yamaha, his very own Yamaha powered Birkett Special, Yamaha again, Scorpa-Yamaha and Ossa, before moving back to the new generation Scorpa. He is still very much involved with the event, not just as a rider but also as an importer and sponsor of his many riders.
Who knows how much longer he will compete in the event but one thing’s for sure, he is still enjoying the event as much now as he did all those years ago when he started out on the annual trip to the event to compete back in 1971. We reckon that Nigel has covered around 27,000 miles in Scotland.
John Shirt Jnr: SSDT 1988-2018
As I have been friends with the Shirt family for the best part of forty years, I can remember John’s passion for the sport from a very early age and recall many of his rides in question first hand. It was while his father developed a very busy Majesty Yamaha project that he first heard about the event from Mick Andrews. Mick would spend many hours with John Shirt Snr and all his son wanted to do was ride in the event, having visited it on many occasions as a youngster since 1978. He would have to wait ten years to make his debut in 1988, as is documented elsewhere in this issue. Apart from the first year on the Honda John Jnr is unique in that all he has ridden in the event is the Spanish Gas Gas machine for which he is also the UK importer.
He has also won the Best Newcomer award, Special First Class awards on all occasions, and as a sponsor, he has won the event with Steve Colley. His best individual performance was in 1992 when he was second. Having watched his commitment to the event over the years, I can also tell you that he has used 180 rear tyres and 90 fronts. On average he has covered around 18,000 miles, all on Michelin rubber.
Dave Thorpe: SSDT 1966-2003
The career of Dave Thorpe started back in 1966 on a Triumph Tiger Cub. At the last minute in 1967, he was moved to the number two Triumph works team and rewarded the British manufacturer with a sixteenth position. He would then move to the developing Spanish Ossa brand for a few years, before finishing runner-up on a Bultaco in 1975 and 1976.
In 1979 he moved to the CCM brand to become the last rider to finish the event on a machine manufactured in Great Britain. Despite the frame breaking, the fuel tank splitting and setting on fire and carrying a back injury, he finished 95th. He was dismissed by the factory after the event with a letter outlining his lack of effort!
A move back to Bultaco in 1980 had Dave back to his enjoyable days at the event riding Yamaha, Beta and Gas Gas machinery before his last ride in 2003 resulted in his only retirement. Dave’s total mileage is around the 20,000 mark.
Dave can still be seen at the event passing on his words of wisdom and encouragement to his son Dan, who has just finished his 22nd consecutive SSDT.
JOHN HULME: “While generating this article and speaking with the three riders what came to light is the appreciation they have for everyone who makes the event happen. They have asked us to thank on their behalf every one of those people involved in allowing them to compete in this iconic event.”
Do any of you wonderful readers have any interesting SSDT stories? If it’s a yes, please contact us, we would love to hear from you whether you have been a rider, official, observer or spectator.