Editorial
a point of booking a few For many years now I have made
Scott Trial in glorious days off to go south to the annual
trial of the year; it is truly Swaledale. For me it is the best
can be lost – except of unique, time and observation marks
that sets standard time. course if you are the fastest rider
the Thursday and get myself I try to get down in the area on
on the Friday morning; over to Ronnie Bailey’s at Grinton
the road crossings and I get signed on to help set out with
as well as making myself direction signs. Its real good craic useful supporting the event.
in 1974, the year when My first Scott as a spectator was
on the Montesa Cota my friend Rob Edwards was victorious
a 13-year-old schoolboy to 247. It was a real treat for me as
the Scott. We positioned be taken by my late father to watch
described as the highest ourselves at ‘Windegg’ which was
to watch all the great point of the course. It was fantastic
against a very tough riders of the day pitting their skills
in the press of being a course. The Scott had a reputation
the BBC filmed the Scott, motorcycle wrecker. That year
to watch a re-run of the and I was excited beyond belief
home a few months event on the family television back
the helicopter circle later. I vividly remember watching
off to film the riders go directly overhead before peeling across the Grouse Moor.
straight after the trial Rather than head north homeward
of awards at the my father took me to the presentation
a brilliant end to the day King’s Head in Richmond. It was
Rathmell, Thorpe, to be in the same room as the Lampkins,
whose name was on the Andrews and just about every rider
the glorious seventies. lips of trials enthusiasts back in
sold in their This was a time when trials machines
I know then that many years thousands in the UK. Little did
field commentator at later I would be the start and finish
a pity I never had a go at this most famous of all trials. It’s
in life. the Scott, one of my big regrets
Scottish trials friends In later years I attended with some
Valente and Dave Mowat; Graham Smith, Peter and Simon
we went to watch at we all went down to watch. In 1978
squeezed into Peter’s Tottergill, Surrender and Clapgate,
on thefactory CCM, Renault 5. I remember Nick Jefferies
miles from the finish, who had suffered a rear puncture
Clapgate with the wheel but he managed to ride through
this is the Scott: do or die spinning inside the rear tyre! But
says on the BBC film stuff. As mygood friend Sid Lampkin from 1974: “It’s a man’s trial”.
from the officialstarter It was heartening to learn direct
of Richmondshire Councillor John Blackie, leader
been granted planning District Council, that the Scott has
Let us hope there are permission for the next five years.
Blackie on the local more like the enthusiastic Councillor
that way the event’s future council for many years to come;
Scott! would be secure. Long live The