THE REFRESH
People don’t like change, it’s a fact; it unsettles them and takes them out of their comfort zone. But there are others who embrace change and compartmentalise their lives accordingly, never looking back. Some champions are like that for example. In a recent phone call with my friend Ernie Page we were talking about championships; he was Scottish Scrambles Champion in 1967 and would have been Scottish Trials Champion the same year except he concentrated on the scrambles crown. He said: “Is it so important, when all is said and done, there was probably an archery champion 500 years ago; can I name him? No I can’t, so is it so important?” I disagreed, saying one of the reasons I set up my website: TrialsGuru was an attempt to keep the memories alive. After all, winning any championship is important at the time of the endeavour.
So I was faced with a dilemma, as my website was set up with the help of another friend Heath Brindley as he had much more knowledge of websites than I did and was also a knowledgeable motorcycle enthusiast. That was in 2014 and things had remained static as far as the ‘look’ was concerned, and so I thought it was time for a refresh. I went for it, hoping that it was not too revolutionary and that people would still look at it. After all there is a lot of information on there about the sport and the people that make it happen. I need not have worried because two days after the refresh the viewings actually increased; what a relief! Nothing stands still, especially in sport, so why should a website be any different? The content was the same but it probably rejuvenated Trials
Guru a little, and perhaps captured a few new readers in the process. As for 2018, apart from in March it signalling four years of TrialsGuru, I find myself with even more tasks on my hands. I have become the editor of three major trials’ official programmes and I am discovering more, not less, information from trials events in the past, so a slowing down of activity is not on the cards. Coupled with specifically planned outings on my BSA and Bultaco at events dotted around the UK, 2018 looks to be a busy year ahead. I wouldn’t have it any other way!