1967 RED ROSE
The North Western Centre holds a good reputation for putting on excellent events, and the National Red Rose is one of them – with a long sporting history. In May 1967 Sammy Miller was riding at possibly one of his best periods during his career, having just won the Scottish Six Days Trial from Dave Rowland on the little 174cc BSA Bantam. He was well aware of the attributes the Spanish Bultaco had to offer after he had joined them from Ariel in 1965, and was full of confidence. He had won the Red Rose before from 1964 – 1966 and wanted to continue beating the Northerners on their home patch with another win. He lined up on the 14th May at the start area, at Green Haworth alongside the A667 Haslingden to Blackburn Road, with the other 94 competitors and in a determined mood. In very wet conditions he knew he was in for a tough day of competition if he was to win and taste the Lancashire Hot Pot at the end.
Riding number thirty-two Miller knew that the secret of success over three laps of the fifteen-mile course was to press on, as the bleak moorland going and the tough hazards with mud and rocks on offer would only get worse as the day wore on. All the sections marked out were brand new, which Miller saw as an even playing field as his northern rivals would have no advantage over him.
The majority of the action would take place in the old mine and quarry workings around the course and were marked out on a tough but sensible basis by the enthusiastic centre.
The toughest of these unused sections were at Walmden Quarry, which was in a wet and foul mood as the rain continued to pour down on the riders. The opening hazard in Walmden Quarry was tough to say the least. It was a steep incline covering massive rock slabs which were pointing out at difficult angles, making them awkward to ride over, and then doubling back on itself. The top riders tackled it with much determination but when Miller took a five as he slid sideways on the Bultaco it looked almost impossible as his rival at the SSDT Dave Rowland came the closest to taking the BSA Bantam up the hazard using plenty of leg work but failed within inches of the section ends cards, much to the applause of the small crowd of spectators who had waited in the cold wet conditions. This section was eased for the second and third laps by the organisers, who accepted it had been too difficult on lap one.