ANDREWS ARRIVES

2020-02-01 - Words: Classic Trial Magazine and Mortons Archive • Pictures: Brian Holder

It was a case of ‘when’ not ‘if’, Derbyshire’s Mick Andrews would eventually take his first Scottish Six Days Trial victory as he out-pointed Rob Edwards (Montesa) to take a very popular win in 1970. In 1961 Andrews’ natural talent on an off-road motorcycle was spotted by the AMC Competition Manager and former three-time Scottish Six Day winner Hugh Viney. With an excellent eye for future champions, he had witnessed the young Andrews enter into the trials world and saw his early success. After speaking with Tom Andrews, Mick’s father, Viney, offered him a factory-sponsored ride with AJS. He made his debut in the Scottish Six Days Trial on the 350cc four-stroke AJS in 1962 as a member of the factory-supported team.

In 1963 he would take the runner-up position behind Arthur Lampkin (BSA) and again in 1964 behind Sammy Miller (Ariel). He would drop to third in 1965 on the James and again in 1966 on the Bultaco. The move to Ossa, where his future would lie, was made in 1967 but his efforts on the early trials model resulted in his retirement when rear-wheel problems forced him out. He was back on track in 1968, finishing third before moving to second behind Bill Wilkinson (Greeves) in 1969. At 25-years-old Mick Andrews had arrived as a true legend of trials, and soon the success with the Spanish Ossa manufacturer would continue.

The question on everyone’s lips was could Sammy Miller (Bultaco) take another win in the Highlands? He had been victorious on five previous occasions – the last time in 1968 — and he had dominated the ACU British Trials Championship from way back in 1959!

At 35-years-old he was leading the British Championship and had just won the European Championship, was he on course to add a SSDT win? The win by Bill Wilkinson the previous year on the Villiers engined Greeves had ‘parked’ up the ailing British manufacturers, and they were now history in the trials world, despite launching a new model using a foreign engine. Seven manufacturers’ teams were entered, with the Spanish Montesa and Bultaco names leading the way.

Earlier in the year, the huge sporting dealership near London, Comerfords, had been awarded the official franchise for Bultaco and, along with Montesa, had two teams entered. Dalesman Puch Ltd and Suzuki (Great Britain) Ltd had three-man teams, with the Suzuki having the two Lampkin brothers, Alan and Martin, and John Hemingway while Greeves had their team all riding the new Puch engined Pathfinder model. A total of 65 newcomers had also entered for the Highland challenge.

For the first time in the event’s long history, the riding-number ballot had been applied all the way through the entry. In previous years, the smaller-capacity machines had started at the front of the entry. The Edinburgh and District Motor Club Ltd had a strong final entry list, presented by the Secretary of the meeting Jim McColm, of 220 riders supported by 17 club teams. Comerfords and Greeves Motorcycles had loaned machines to the committee for official use as the event started from the Slateford Cattle Market in Edinburgh on 4th May 1970. As it turned out, with nonstarters, the final entry of 210 riders headed out from Edinburgh for six days of trials action to be based around Fort William on the shores of Loch Linnhe before the trial returned to Edinburgh on the final day.

MONDAY, DAY ONE: 145 MILES, 28 SECTIONS

Despite the talk of snow on the higher ground, it was warm and sunny weather that greeted rider number one Ted Breffitt Jnr (Ossa) who led the way, following a family tradition as his father Ted Breffitt Snr had carried the same riding number in 1954. The early hazards all proved very rideable and, at the end of the day, it was Sammy Miller who was happy to report a ‘Clean’ feet-up day.

The iconic Pipeline would be ridden for the first time on Monday, and this fearsome steep climb up the side of the huge water pipes produced just six feet-up rides. The first came from the youngest of the three Lampkin brothers Martin on the Alta Suzuki, with a confident Lawrence Telling (Montesa) second followed by a very happy Terry Wright who kept the English-built Dalesman powered by the Austrian Puch engine on-line all the way to the top. Riding quite close together Sammy Miller, Rob Edwards and Malcolm Rathmell kept the Spanish machines in control to go clean. Second-placed Rathmell had lost his single mark on Mamore, and third-placed Edwards had single-mark losses at Altnafeadh and along with Rathmell at Mamore.

Many riders complained that the time allowance had been difficult to adhere to due to the queue that had built up at Pipeline. So the organisers had removed any time penalties the riders had incurred in the latter part of the day.

As is usual, the opening day had the top 12 positions covered by just six marks. The long road run covering 145 miles had seen seven retirements on the first day, but the contenders for the top spot were all intact as they turned their lights out for a good night’s sleep in Fort William.

RESULTS: 1: Sammy Miller (Bultaco) 0; 2: Malcolm Rathmell (Bultaco) 1; 3: Rob Edwards (Montesa) 2; 4: Martin Lampkin (Alta Suzuki) 3; 5: Dave Thorpe (Ossa) 3; 6: Lawrence Telling (Montesa) 4; 7: Mick Andrews (Ossa) 5; 8: Gordon Farley (Montesa) 5; 9: Geoff Chandler (Bultaco) 5; 10: Terry Wright (Dalesman) 6;

11: Jack Galloway (Saracen) 6; 12: John Luckett (Bultaco) 6.

TUESDAY, DAY TWO: 107 MILES, 33 SECTIONS

This is the first day based around Fort William and surrounding areas. The ride to Kinlochleven was carried out in fine weather as the riders then faced the climb up to the heights of Grey Mare’s Ridge. This long climb high above Kinlochleven in the moist air twists and turns up a very slippery, rock-filled track. The man on super form in front of a large, enthusiastic crowd was Montesa team rider Rob Edwards as he, along with Malcolm Rathmell and Mick Andrews, cleaned the whole group of eight hazards. Another notable ride came from Dalesman rider Paul England who cleaned the very top hazard. The first-day leader Sammy Miller was having a nightmare and, as the day continued, he would finish with a total of nine marks lost.

After passing through the other groups of hazards, including the exposed ones at Pollock Way and Blackwater, after the lunch break, the entry headed over to the small village of Fersit before crossing Roy Bridge, Inverlochy and then on to some new hazards at the base of Ben Nevis. This is the highest mountain in the British Isles, standing at 1,345 metres above sea level in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands and close to the trials headquarters in Fort William. The rain had moved into the area and the final hazard produced marks from the entire entry apart from the on-from Edwards and John Hemingway on the little Alta Suzuki. As Ireland’s Billy McMaster hit rear-chain problems with his Montesa, he eventually ran over the time limit. He was excluded, putting the Montesa B team out of the manufacturers’ team contest.

With two days of the six now under their belts the retirements had risen to 23. Seven marks separated the top five, leaving it still all to play for.

RESULTS: 1: Rob Edwards (Montesa) 2; 2: Malcolm Rathmell (Bultaco) 6; 3: Mick Andrews (Ossa) 8; 4: Sammy Miller (Bultaco) 9; 5: Geoff Chandler (Bultaco) 9; 6: Martin Lampkin (Alta Suzuki) 16; 7: Dave Thorpe (Ossa) 16;

8: Gordon Farley (Montesa) 19; 9: Lawrence Telling (Montesa) 20; 10: John Hemingway (Alta Suzuki) 21; 11: Jack Galloway (Saracen) 22; 12: Peter Gaunt (Gaunt Jawa) 24.

WEDNESDAY, DAY THREE: 151 MILES, 39 SECTIONS

The reliability and time element of this six-day trial takes no prisoners and day three is possibly the most unrelenting. The most challenging hazards were the three at Edramucky, a short ride after the lunch check at Crianlarich. Much to the crowd’s delight, the first-ever clean ride of Edramucky was achieved by Malcolm Rathmell. Showing excellent technique and superb throttle control he took the Bultaco through feet-up. By the close of the day, he would find himself in the lead after three days of riding. Ian Haydon also guided the Montesa through for a single-mark loss.

Other single-mark rides included a very impressive Geoff Chandler (Bultaco) who tied on three marks lost with Rathmell for the best daily performance, as pre-event favourite Gordon Farley (Montesa) and leader-board man Miller both stopped. Realising that time was going to be a commodity Miller had jumped to the front of the queue to set off over the testing Rannoch Moor to the final hazards of the day at Ghuanach Gorge.

It was out on the moors that the wheels came off Rob Edwards’ challenge as he drowned the Montesa. Rathmell stopped to help, and they both incurred time penalties at the end of the day.

A massive 38 riders failed to finish the day for one reason or another, pushing the retirements for the three days up to 68! The gearbox on the Don Smith ‘Stag’ special using the Montesa engine had broken. Reg May on his 250cc four-stroke Comerfords Triumph special was also out, as he had damaged the oil-retaining frame and the engine had seized up. Riding the experimental BSA Bantam Mick Bowers was forced out towards the close of the day with a seized big-end in the little two-stroke engine.

RESULTS: 1: Malcolm Rathmell (Bultaco) 15; 2: Sammy Miller (Bultaco) 16; 3: Mick Andrews (Ossa) 19; 4: Geoff Chandler (Bultaco) 19; 5: Rob Edwards (Montesa) 22; 6: John Hemingway (Alta Suzuki) 28; 7: Gordon Farley (Montesa) 30; 8: Dave Thorpe (Ossa) 32; 9: Lawrence Telling (Montesa) 35; 10: Martin Lampkin (Alta Suzuki) 40; 11: Ted Breffitt (Ossa) 48; 12: Peter Gaunt (Gaunt Jawa) 51.

THURSDAY, DAY FOUR: 114 MILES, 31 SECTIONS

Looking good for a top ten finish, John Hemingway had moved up the leader-board as the highest placed small-capacity machine as the riders headed out for a day consisting of 114 miles around the Moidart Peninsula. The needle-match for the victory was now getting closer as five riders still had their sights on the victory. Both Mick Andrews and Rob Edwards made their intentions clear, losing just one mark each, as Miller parted with a very cautious two.

Rathmell had suffered with his feet down earlier, and on the aptly named Devil’s Staircase, under the eyes of the Bultaco ‘Boss’ Senor Bulto, he had to once again get his feet down to maintain forward motion.

Despite the problems of a front tyre puncture on the Ossa Mick Andrews maintained his challenge with just a single loss on Camp Hill as Geoff Chandler parted with four marks lost. For the first time in the week, the Bultaco A team overtook the Montesa A team, mainly due to the efforts of Paul Dunkley. Having repaired a broken frame on the previous day, Martin Lampkin remained in the top ten. It’s quite funny how stories come out of this event, and one for the book came from Roy Peplow, the winner in 1959 on a Triumph Tiger Cub. After 14 years of competing in the event, he parted with marks for the first time ever on the famous Devil’s Staircase as he reminisced with the officials and spectators at the top of the hill.

As for Peter Gaunt on his 98cc Jawa engined Gaunt special, he was one of two retirements for the day as he was thrown from the machine close to the Glen Finnan memorial on the ride back to Fort William as the gearbox seized up. Also out with engine problems was Jack Galloway on the new Saracen trials model.

RESULTS: 1: Sammy Miller (Bultaco) 18; 2: Malcolm Rathmell (Bultaco) 20; 3: Mick Andrews (Ossa) 20; 4: Rob Edwards (Montesa) 23; 5: Geoff Chandler (Bultaco) 23; 6: John Hemingway (Alta Suzuki) 35; 7: Gordon Farley (Montesa) 36; 8: Lawrence Telling (Montesa) 42; 9: Dave Thorpe (Ossa) 42; 10: Martin Lampkin (Alta Suzuki) 43; 11: Ian Haydon (Montesa) 51; 12: Ted Breffitt (Ossa) 55.

FRIDAY, DAY FIVE: 132 MILES, 32 SECTIONS

With the marks so close, it was always going to be tense day for the leading riders. It was a welcome dry ride as the riders arrived at the first hill of the day, Laggan Locks. Very steep and demanding with the ever-changing moving rocks, the hazards can be challenging to negotiate even after a rider inspection.

Producing the only feet-up ride was Malcolm Rathmell, followed by single-dab attempts from the trial leader Sammy Miller, Mick Andrews, Rob Edwards and a very impressive John Hemingway, who fought the Alta Suzuki all the way.

At Bradileig on the huge flat rocks, a 17-year-old Rob Shepherd had his moment of glory on the Montesa with a superb clean ride. After careful inspections, all the top riders cleaned the hazards as Mick Andrews lost a one, but Rathmell was in trouble. He clipped a rock and closed the throttle on the Bultaco to regain control and, in a freak of nature, the two-stroke engine ‘coughed’ and ran backwards, and a ‘quick’ five-mark penalty was recorded.

Sammy Miller was also in trouble during the day as he recorded a loss of ten marks made up of three three-mark penalties and a single-mark loss.

Carrying his good form from Laggan Locks John Hemingway was in superb form with a loss of just two marks for the day, an incredible achievement on such a small-capacity machine. The previous day he had incurred an unexpected stop when the chain jumped the sprockets on the Suzuki and the five-mark penalty that went with it.

As the riders arrived back in Fort William for the final time Mick Andrews held a five-mark lead from Sammy Miller; could Andrews take his first win?

RESULTS: 1: Mick Andrews (Ossa) 23; 2: Sammy Miller (Bultaco) 28; 3: Rob Edwards (Montesa) 29; 4: Malcolm Rathmell (Bultaco) 32; 5: Geoff Chandler (Bultaco) 34; 6: John Hemingway (Alta Suzuki) 38; 7: Gordon Farley (Montesa) 49; 8: Dave Thorpe (Ossa) 51; 9: Lawrence Telling (Montesa) 56; 10: Ted Breffitt (Ossa) 71; 11: Ian Haydon (Montesa) 72; 12: Martin Lampkin (Alta Suzuki) 77.

SATURDAY, DAY SIX: 150 MILES, 18 SECTIONS

The word on every one of the top rider’s lips was Pipeline. This intimidating steep climb was the one where the trial could be won and lost. Well, clear of the rest of the field the top four were made up of Mick Andrews, Sammy Miller, Rob Edwards and Malcolm Rathmell.

The crowd edged forward in an atmosphere that had everyone in silence as Miller attacked first, but soon he was footing after the front wheel caught a wayward rock and six marks were added to his score. Next up was Rathmell who parted with three marks, made up of solitary dabs. Looking every inch a winner, and with so much crowd support, Andrews replicated Rathmell and on exiting the top hazard knew he had one hand on the winner’s trophy. Rob Edwards was the last of the top four contenders, and he was in superb form, parting with just a single mark, and the appreciation from the crowd produced a huge cheer.

As the rest of the entry made a failed attempt one after another, it was the 1966 winner Alan ‘Sid’ Lampkin who equalled Edwards’ earlier single-mark effort. For his younger brother Martin, it was heartbreak. Struggling with a broken frame from the middle of the week, he had tried in vain to keep the Alta Suzuki in the event, but with a seized gearbox, and a machine in two pieces, he had to retire on the final day after all his efforts.

The news that at last Mick Andrews had won the ‘Scottish’ was very well received by all. It was the start of a long line of success for Andrews as he was named as the ‘Monarch of the Glen’ – a fitting tribute to this trials superstar.

SCOTTISH SIX DAYS TRIAL 1970

RESULTS: 1: Mick Andrews (Ossa) 26; 2: Rob Edwards (Montesa) 31; 3: Sammy Miller (Bultaco) 34; 4: Malcolm Rathmell (Bultaco) 36; 5: Geoff Chandler (Bultaco) 50; 6: John Hemingway (Alta Suzuki) 51; 7: Dave Thorpe (Ossa) 55; 8: Gordon Farley (Montesa) 63; 9: Lawrence Telling (Montesa) 65; 10: Ted Breffitt (Ossa) 81; 11: Ian Haydon (Montesa) 82: Paul Dunkley (Bultaco) 84; 13: Brian Hutchinson (Sprite) 94; 14: Alan Lampkin (Alta Suzuki) 94; 15: Scott Ellis (Greeves) 104; 16: Bill Wilkinson (Greeves) 108; 17: Gerald Rathmell (Sprite) 108; 18: Charlie Harris (Montesa) 114; 19: Jim Sandiford (Bultaco) 115; 20: Derek Adsett (Greeves) 118; 21: Karl Rowbotham (Bultaco) 119; 22: Terry Wright (Dalesman) 125; 23: Stan Cordingley (Bultaco) 126; 24: Allie Cameron (Montesa) 126; 25: Paul England (Dalesman) 136; 26: John Luckett (Bultaco) 139; 27: Dave Rowland (Bultaco) 140; 28: Dougie Bald (Montesa) 142; 29: Derek Edgar (AJS) 148; 30: John Hayton (Bultaco) 149; 31: Roy Peplow (Bultaco) 150; 32: Archie MacDonald (Bultaco) 151; 33: Brian Hutsby (Bultaco) 159; 34: R Walker (Montesa) 159; 35: Howard Doncaster (Bultaco) 161; 36: Rob Shepherd (Montesa) 164; 37: Roger Mount (Montesa) 173; 38: John Kendrew (Dalesman) 174; 39: M Barnes (Bultaco) 175; 40: G Best (Bultaco) 175; 41: Alan Morewood (Bultaco) 181; 42: Ernie Page (Bultaco) 186; 43: Steve Wilson (Montesa) 186.

MACHINES: Bultaco 18; Montesa 11; Dalesman 3; Greeves 3; Ossa 3; Alta Suzuki 2;

Sprite 2; AJS 1.

TEAM: Montesa: Rob Edwards, Gordon Farley and Lawrence Telling

BEST NEWCOMER: Gerald Rathmell (Sprite)

SECOND BEST NEWCOMER: Terry Wright (Dalesman)

BEST OVERSEAS RIDER: Walter Luft (Puch-AUT)

BEST UP-TO 150CC: John Hemingway (Alta Suzuki) – 6th

BEST UP-TO 200CC: Scott Ellis (Greeves) – 15th

BEST UP-TO 250CC: Mick Andrews (Ossa) – 1st

BEST UP-TO 350CC: Sammy Miller (Bultaco) – 3rd

BEST UP-TO 500CC: Ray Sayer (Triumph) 58th

BEST PRIVATE OWNER: Dave Thorpe (Ossa) 7th