Classic Competition

1969 Scottish Six Days Trial

The 1969 trials season looked, on paper, to be the final nail in the coffin for the ailing Greeves brand in trials. With an outdated machine using the old Villiers engine the new, more advanced reliability and performance of the Spanish machines from Bultaco, Montesa and Ossa were taking over. Still very much considered the home of motorcycle trials, the ever-defiant small cottage industry of manufacturers in Great Britain produced a wide variety of machines which were also proving very popular, using small capacity engines from Europe and Japan. Many riders remained loyal to the once mighty motorcycling culture in Great Britain as they watched the Spanish start the invasion that would eventually change the face of the sport forever. But, in truth, many of the riders knew the industry was in decline and that it would only be a matter of time before they would make the switch and jump on board the Spanish Armada. On paper, the 1969 season looked like the Spanish machines would dominate it, but no one had taken into account the ‘Bulldog’ spirit of the British riders who would remain loyal to the bitter end. Before we move to the Scottish Six Days Trial in the May, we take a brief look at what was happening on the run-up to the world-famous event. Words: Yoomee with support from Motorcycle/ Morton’s Archive and John Moffat, Trials Guru Pictures: Brian Holder, The Nick Nicholls Collection at Morton’s Archive, Bultaco, Greeves, DOT and Eric Adcock

The year was opened in January with the news that the famous London motorcycle dealership Comerfords would be producing a 250cc Triumph Trophy Trials model conversion. In the seasonopening national Vic Brittain trial, with a low entry of just 56, blamed the ACU for the delay in issuing new licences, the new Montesa team rider Gordon Farley took a narrow victory from Mick Andrews (Ossa). It was Farley once again who would steal the glory in the first international event of the season at the St Martin Trial in Belgium, but it was fellow Montesa rider Don Smith who was the real victor over the weekend as he took the European Championship win at round four in the Dison Trial held near Verviers, Belgium. It closed the gap on the leader Dennis Jones (Suzuki) to a single point. One week later Sammy Miller gave the Bultaco a win at the European Championship round, also in Belgium.

It was also announced that Montesa would be having two factorysupported teams at the SSDT. The A team would be Gordon Farley, Don Smith and Lawrence Telling; with the B team consisting of French champion Christian Rayer, Charlie Harris and another rider, yet to be named.

Having stayed loyal to BSA, Scott Ellis moved to Dalesman to help with the development of the 125cc Puch engine machine. Greeves revealed their works-supported team of Bill Wilkinson, Derek Adsett and new member Mick Wilkinson. Malcolm Rathmell would also ride selected trials as the manufacturers wanted him to concentrate on motocross.

February was a winning month once again for that man Gordon Farley. He took the Montesa to victories at the Colmore Cup but more importantly put a stop to Sammy Miller’s winning ways at the Knock Club’s Hurst Cup. DOT motorcycles unveiled their latest trials weapon, which used the Italian 170cc Minarelli engine priced at £208 in kit form.

The battle between Sammy Miller and Gordon Farley continued with Farley winning in France at the Clamart Trial and Miller the St David’s in Wales.

With everyone’s eyes on the fast-approaching Scottish Six Days Trial, Sammy Miller was moving closer to his best form, with wins at the Victory Trial and the British round of the European Championship the day after at Sevenoaks in Kent as Don Smith moved into the lead.

At the Cotswold Cup, Don Smith (Montesa) was victorious, with Miller back on form at the Kickham trial. The secretary of the SSDT Tom Melville announced that with the entries to close on the 1st March they were still ten riders short of the 200 target. It was rumoured that this was partly due to the severe moor crossing on the Blackwater crossing on the second day and the economic situating in the UK.

As the ‘Scottish’ approached, picking a winner would be based on the present form, point towards a Spanish domination, but as you will find out one experienced Greeves mounted rider had other ideas!

Gordon Farley having now made the move from Greeves to Montesa, he was showing excellent early season form on the Cota 247 putting some international and national results under his belt.

This was now the machine to have if you wanted to win. The 250cc Bultaco Sherpa ‘T’ designed and developed by Sammy Miller. Titled the Model No: 49 it was available from 1968–1971 with 4,706 machines produced.

Well on top of his game, Sammy Miller and the Bultaco were always immaculate but the season had not started so well. At the back of his mind would be the SSDT and the three consecutive wins to match Hugh Viney from 1947–1949.

Making a mark on the trials scene was the new Montesa Cota 247. They had made an impact at the 1968 SSDT and Don Smith wanted to be the first rider to give the Spanish manufacturer a win in 1969.

As the once mighty machines from Great Britain struggled, DOT motorcycles unveiled their latest production trials model for 1969 which used the Italian 170cc Minarelli engine, priced at £208.00 in kit form.

There was no new trials model from Greeves for the 1969 season. Supported riders would be using this 1968 Anglian model and the ageing, unreliable Villiers engine.