1979 Dave Rowland National Trial

The event attracted a massive entry of 113 solos and 30 sidecars; Dave Rowland was a popular guy. Staged in the Derbyshire hills to the west of Buxton, it started at the Duron Brake Lining factory. Norman Eyre was a manager at the factory and secured the use of the start area, canteen and an office to run the event from. The course consisted of a massive 41-mile lap containing 41 solo and 30 sidecar sections. Famous hazards were included such as Hawks Nest, Hollinsclough, Washfold and Booth Farm. The event had an international flavour with riders entered from as far away as New Zealand, America and Belgium. With a topclass entry, Yorkshire’s Malcolm Rathmell won the event on the prototype Montesa Cota 349 from Peter Cartwright on the Italjet. The sidecars were won by the Sheffield pairing of Adrian Clarke and his passenger Mick Bailey; also Montesa mounted. The event is still running to the present day in the same format on its midsummer date and still proves as popular as ever. SOLO: 1: Malcolm Rathmell (Montesa) 14; 2: Peter Cartwright (Italjet) 16; 3: John Reynolds (Beamish Suzuki) 19; 4: Martin Lampkin (Bultaco) 19; 5: Nigel Birkett (Montesa) 27; 6: Norman Shepherd (Comerfords Bultaco) 27;

7: Chris Clarke (Paul Ludlum Motorcycles Montesa) 31; 8: Mike Skinner (Berm Montesa) 36; 9: Tony Calvert (Comerfords Bultaco) 38; 10: Nick Jefferies (Bultaco) 42; 11: John Hulme (Town and Country SWM) 46; 12: Colin Boniface (Comerfords Bultaco) 46.

SIDECAR: 1: Clarke/Bailey (Sandiford Montesa) 37; 2: Gaskell/Wood (Beamish Suzuki) 39; 3: Dommett/Clift (Comerfords Bultaco) 42; 4: Pallas/ Croome (Montesa) 44.

Classic Trial Magazine would like to acknowledge the support of the following for their help in the generation of this article: Manchester 17 MCC and its many members, Ken Roberts, Scott Rowland and Mick Bowers.

Thirty, yes, 30 sidecars were entered in the 1979 Dave Rowland, won by Adrian Clarke and Mick Bailey on the Montesa.

1979: Good open hazards such as Cheeks Hill attracted the sidecars. The class was dropped some 20 years ago.

1979: A regular visitor to see his friends Norman and Janice Eyre, Tony Davis drops the Bultaco into the river at Robinsons Rocks.

1979: Bob and Kath Sherras entered trials on their Kawasaki before gaining support from Fantic. Seen here on the left, they speak with Jack Mathews.