With news breaking late December 1970 that Sammy Miller would be retiring from mainstream trials meant there would be one less potential winner for the 1971 Scottish Six Days Trial. He would still be at the event but in the capacity of team manager for Bultaco. With six riders in two teams, he would have his hands full mind. In the Bultaco A-team were Geoff Chandler, Paul Dunkley and Malcolm Rathmell, and Alan and Martin Lampkin joined by Jim Sandiford in the B-team. Both teams would be riding the new 250 ‘Slimline’ Bultaco Kit Campeon models, apart from Paul Dunkley on the Sammy Miller-inspired machine. With no official entries from the once-mighty BSA, Mick Bowers and Ross Winwood rode their own machines. Also on show for the first time in the UK was the new Cota 25 model which was used by ‘Ace’ cameraman Nick Nicholls as paddock transport. Team Saracen had three riders proudly displaying its 125 model in its bright red colour scheme. What was missing from the Gorgie Cattle Market in Edinburgh was the lack of four-stroke noise; they were rare among the entry of 246 riders. Words: Classic Trial Magazine • Pictures: Brian Holder. Classic Trial Magazine would like to acknowledge the Trial Guru, John Moffat, for his input and assistance to help generate this feature.
It’s a ‘White Out’ as the sheep invade the Gorgie Cattle Market in Edinburgh during the Weigh-in for the 1971 Scottish Six Days Trial on Sunday the 2nd May 1971. The day was enjoyed in the spring sunshine as friends old and new reunited for this annual highland event.
Pictured is the Bultaco A team of Geoff Chandler, Malcolm Rathmell and Paul Dunkley with Sammy Miller second from right. Miller won this great event in 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967 and 1968 and, along with James Dabill, are the only two riders to ever win the event on two and four-stroke machines; Miller on Ariel and Bultaco, and Dabill on Montesa and Beta.
Some of the SSDT committee members, Kevin McColm, Jim McColm (SSDT Secretary), George F Simpson (E&D Chairman) and Geoff Smith (Clerk of Course) talk about the trial as the week progresses.
Yes, it’s a UK manufacturers’ team entry from Saracen. On the left is Steve Wilson, team owner, David Brand, Jack Galloway and the ever-smiling Jon Bliss.
Would you believe it, Sammy Miller, on an Italian Ducati at the Scottish Six Days Trial? This superb machine was the work of the late, great Peter Gaunt, a master engineer and fabricator when it came to producing trials specials.
This is the Bultaco B-team, with Jock Wilson on the left and the riders Alan and Martin Lampkin joined by Jim Sandiford. All three riders had ridden fourstroke BSA machines at some point in previous events with Alan ‘Sid’ Lampkin the 1966 winner.
The late, great and well-respected cameraman Brian ‘Nick’ Nichols carries the number One plate as the Montesa Cota 25 makes its official UK debut. It was the start of the official production of a machine to cater for the younger rider. The Cota 25 very much mirrored its bigger brother, the Cota 247.