1971 KICKHAM MARTIN WINNER LAMPKIN (250 BULTACO)

Now more focussed on a trials career in the off-road world than scrambling, Yorkshire’s Malcolm Rathmell had won the opening round of the 1971 ACU British Trials Championship at round one on the new ‘Kit Campeon’ slimline Bultaco. Believe it or not, Rathmell and the 1970 ACU British Trial Champion Gordon Farley (250 Montesa) both dropped 23 marks and had to be separated on the best time in the special test, which Rathmell won. Round two, the Colmore Cup, would be another battle for supremacy between these riders. Run by the Sutton Coldfield & North Birmingham Automobile Club, it would take an entry of 73 solo riders around its single-lap course to take in 40 hazards and the special test. Starting just outside Moreton-in-Marsh in the northern Cotswolds, the single-lap course would take the riders into the area in the Evenlode Valley to find a winner of the 48th running of this competition for the Colmore Cup.

This Wessex Centre event attracted a strong entry of 75 riders, who assembled on Saturday 13th March to compete over 40 sections and the special test over a 33-mile single-lap course based around the old coal-mining town of Radstock in Somerset. A new ‘Micro’ trials model had arrived from Dalesman, and Suzuki UK had introduced the aluminium monocoque model with John Hemingway riding it. Very much focussed on a scrambling career Malcolm Davis, who was also an excellent trials rider in his own right, had moved from AJS to Bultaco and was in the entry along with his older brother Tony. Even though Gordon Farley on the Montesa was the defending champion, Bultaco still headed the sales charts with its introduction of the new model 80 ‘Kit Campeon’. With its red and silver aesthetics, slender looks and slimline appearance, it was classed as ‘the machine to have’ as the demand for UKproduced trials machines fell further into decline.

SPRINGTIME

As the first few days of spring opened out, the riders headed from the start to enjoy a little sunshine in-between the intermittent cloud for the day’s action. A wide variety of streams, rocks and wooded climbs welcomed the riders with Dave Thorpe (Ossa),

the earliest of the fancied winners, riding number nine, followed by the previous round winner Geoff Chandler (Bultaco) at number 12.

Located close to the start, the early hazards at Radford in the steep gully did not trouble the championship contenders, who all had relatively early riding numbers. However, the marks started to be lost as the riders moved to Woodside; the whole entry struggled as the hazards got even more difficult at Midway with its tight runs and climbs.

Gordon Farley was already in trouble as the Montesa started to have gear selection problems that would worsen as the day progressed. Close to him with the next riding number was Tony Davis, who was having a very steady start to the day, which just got better. With the new Bultaco, he was looking very confident.

After the first two rounds, Championship leader, Malcolm Rathmell, was also having a good start to his day on the Bultaco. Riding behind Farley, he could watch his rival attempt the hazards before making his move.

FARLEY IN TROUBLE

It was a fight for survival for Farley. He hit more gearbox trouble with the Montesa jumping out of gear at a critical time when he was on course for the first feet-up ride up the rock-filled muddy gulley at Foxcote. In a split second, he stamped on the machine’s gear lever, but it was too late — the feet went down to try and rescue the situation.

As the trial progressed, it was Rathmell’s turn to hit trouble as he went through a difficult patch of riding, parting with more marks than he would have wanted, which pushed him down the final results. Whilst all this was going on, Martin Lampkin was doing his own thing with his brother Alan as they rode around together. In a low-scoring event, every mark counted, and Martin knew that he was slowly edging in front of his brother.

As Martin Lampkin took his first BTC win, the fight for second position involved two riders, Tony Davis and Geoff Chandler. In the end, after the special test, it was a very happy Davis who took the 12 points home.

Coming home in fourth and just three marks behind for the win, Jon Bliss had worked wonders on the 125cc Saracen as Jack Galloway had done in the previous championship round. Farley rescued the day to finish fifth with a sick Montesa

RATHMELL LEADS

With Paul Dunkley, Alan Lampkin and Dave Thorpe finishing in front of Rathmell, he still held the overall championship lead by just one point from Farley.

Once again, Mick Bowers had used all his riding skills to the limit on the 175 BSA Bantam to try and get into the championship points, only to miss the last one by just three marks. Malcolm Davis showed his trials skills were still excellent with a good 16th place.

As Martin Lampkin celebrated with a full house of 15 championship points, he moved up into fourth position overall. Would he become a contender for the title? It was all very close at the top after just three rounds..

1971 KICKHAM TRIAL

SATURDAY 13TH MARCH

RESULTS: 1: Martin Lampkin (250 Bultaco) 23; 2: Tony Davis (250 Bultaco) 25; 3: Geoff Chandler (250 Bultaco) 25; 4: Jon Bliss (125 Saracen) 26; 5: Gordon Farley (250 Montesa) 27; 6: Paul Dunkley (250 Bultaco) 28.

FIRST CLASS AWARDS: 7: Alan Lampkin (250 Bultaco) 28; 8: Dave Thorpe (250 Ossa) 30; 9: Malcolm Rathmell (252 Bultaco) 31; 10: Mark Kemp (250 Bultaco) 34; 11: Mick Bowers (175 BSA) 37; 12: Don Smith (250 Montesa) 42; 13: Ken Brooker (175 Greeves) 42.

SECOND CLASS AWARDS: 14: Lawrence Telling (250 Montesa) 45; 15: Rob Edwards (250 Montesa) 48; 16: Malcolm Davis (250 Bultaco) 48; 17: Brian Hutchinson (175 Cotton) 50; 18: Karl Rowbotham (250 Bultaco) 51; 19: Derek Adsett (175 Greeves) 53.

MACHINES: Results: Bultaco: 9; Montesa: 4; Greeves: 2; BSA: 1; Cotton: 1; Ossa 1; Saracen: 1.

BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS: 1: Malcolm Rathmell (252 Bultaco) 29; 2: Gordon Farley (250 Montesa) 28; 3: Geoff Chandler (250 Bultaco) 28; 4: Martin Lampkin (250 Bultaco) 25; 5: Alan Lampkin (250 Bultaco) 20; 6: Tony Davis (250 Bultaco) 12; 7: Dave Thorpe (250 Ossa) 10; 8: Jon Bliss (125 Saracen) 8; 9: Ian Haydon (250 Montesa) 7; 10: Brian Hutchinson (175 Cotton) 6.

Geoff Chandler (250 Bultaco): Looking very confident on the muddy banks and climbs, he would hold third place in the championship.

Tony Davis (250 Bultaco): Immaculate as ever, man and machine as they should be presented.

Dave Thorpe (250 Ossa): An early riding number for the only Ossa rider in the awards. Ossa were still struggling with the supply of new machines.

Jon Bliss (125 Saracen): This was a fantastic effort from Jon to keep the British flag flying in the face of the Spanish machines.

Alan Lampkin (250 Bultaco): No doubt it was always very competitive, as the two brothers were in close company all day.

Gordon Farley (250 Montesa): Gear selection problems with the Montesa cost the defending champion dearly.

Lawrence Telling (250 Montesa): ‘Sparky’ was always a good bet to get in the awards.

Karl Rowbotham (250 Bultaco): Along with his wife Anne he was a regular on the national scene. They were also the proprietors of a trials shop.

Malcolm Davis (250 Bultaco): Swopping scrambling for trials riding for the day, a strong leg is needed for the single dab.

Rob Edwards (250 Montesa): If in doubt get both feet down, as Rob struggles up one of the many muddy climbs.

Brian Hutchinson (175 Cotton): Looking very at home on the small-engined machine.