THE PLACE TO BE
As was usual for any motorcycle trials enthusiast, in 1972, the place to be the first week in May was Scotland for the Six Days Trial. In 1972, the annual ‘Weigh-In’ would be on Sunday 30th April when riders would have their machines scrutineered, and parts marked so they could not be changed during the six days of competition which started on Monday 1st May. In addition, to increase spectator interest, new daily awards and ‘Star Hills’ were introduced by the club. Daily awards would be given to riders with the best performance on each of the six days, with ‘Star Hills’ found on each of the day’s six routes marked with a huge orange star at the entrance where riders would be observed 0, 1, 2, 3 and 5. All other sections would still be observed by the 0, 1, 3 and 5 marks for a stop. The six-day route for the event would very much mirror the previous year’s, though, with no significant changes.
WEIGH-IN
As the organising Edinburgh and District Motor Club took over the Gorgie Market in the Slateford area of the city, it was very evident that the Spanish manufacturers were out in force. In the event, Bultaco had four of its prototype 325cc machines, ridden by the youngest of the Lampkin brothers, Martin, and Spanish riders Fernando Munoz, Ignatio Bulto and Jaime Marques.
It was a total reverse of engine sizes at Montesa. It introduced its new Cota 123cc, ridden by Great Britain’s Tim Brise (son of the UK importer, John) and Spanish riders Jorge Permanyer, Javier Blanc and Leopoldo Mila.
As opposed to the ‘Beefy’ 325cc Bultaco, the Cota 123 looked quite fragile to be ridden over six challenging days in Scotland. As a film crew arrived from Honda to film the event, the talking point was when the Japanese big four — Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha — would arrive on the trials scene.
Earlier in the year, Sammy Miller re-signed for Bultaco for three years, having turned down an offer from Yamaha to develop a new 360cc trials model. For the first time, the event had a Japanese rider, Toshiki Nishiyama. He competed on an Ossa. On the Japanese theme, Peter Gaunt was more than happy with his latest creation — a converted Suzuki TS 125 trail model into trials trim. Innovation had been applied by removing the oil tank and putting the vital lubricant into the frame tubes. Trials tyres were fitted and a 21” front wheel, new sprockets, seat and handlebars. Backed by Ray Dell Motorcycles, the machines would retail at £200.
Six manufacturer teams were entered: two from Bultaco, Montesa and Ossa, together with 21 club teams. For the first time since the first ‘Six Days’ in 1909, there would be no manufacturer team from Great Britain; the last was in 1971 with Greeves and Saracen.
ALL ACTION
Under overcast skies, the action on day one was thick and fast on the 160-mile route from Edinburgh to Fort William, the base for the trial for most of the week.
On the new 325cc Bultaco, Martin Lampkin had just crossed the Forth Road Bridge when the engine seized solid on the Spanish machine as the main bearings failed. The men on form riding the 250cc Bultacos were Malcolm Rathmell and fellow Yorkshireman Alan Lampkin, who had lost one mark each amongst the boulders in the river at Edramucky just after the lunch check. However, they would remain feet-up for the rest of the day — including the tough Rannoch Moor crossing — before the day closed in Fort William. The marks lost were very close, with the top ten covered by single marks, including Mick Andrews, who had lost three for the day.
Day two would have the action taken over the Mamore road to the hills around Kinlochleven for its 65-mile route. After the many miles spent on the road on day one, the second day was very much offroad on the many tracks and trails. Geoff Chandler would be the best, losing just three marks on the Bultaco as Malcolm Rathmell held on to the lead with a total of five, one better than Alan Lampkin. With Chandler on a total of seven next and Bill Wilkinson on nine, Mick Andrews was in seventh on 14.
Wednesday would be another long day with no let-up where riders would cover 127 miles. The day would include Laggan Locks followed by the cold, wet ride up to the snow line at the Corrieyairack Pass. At the fuelling stop near Spean Bridge, 1969 winner Bill Wilkinson encountered engine failure on the Ossa. It would force him out of the top five and out of the event.
The rolling rocks at Laggan Locks were in an evil mood, and only Mick Andrews and Rodger Mount, on the Montesa, cleaned the entire hill. Keeping him in contention for the win, the trial leader, Malcolm Rathmell, parted with just a single mark, as did Rob Edwards and Sweden’s Thor Evertson (Ossa). After three days and with just a single mark again separating Malcolm Rathmell (Bultaco) with 11 marks lost and Geoff Chandler (Bultaco) with 12, the fight for the victory was still very tight.
Thor Evertson (Ossa-SWE): A very worthy winner of the Best Foreign Ride award.
TIME GENTLEMEN
Very close to the top spot on the first three days, Mick Andrews made his move for his third consecutive victory on a long, hard Thursday made worse with mechanical problems as well as an enforced tight schedule to keep the riders moving throughout the day.
At the Bay Hill sections in the morning, the transmission shock absorber in the rear hub had broken, leaving a huge void between the turning of the throttle to the back wheel turning. With no chance of effecting repair, he soon learned to enter
the sections with the engine pulling hard to keep the ‘slack’ in the transmission to a minimum. He was one of 68 riders who made the lunch check at Salen on time, like many other leading riders, including Malcolm Rathmell, who lost 20 marks on time along with Geoff Chandler on 17 and Rob Edwards on 11.
Rathmell had also hit trouble with a flat rear tyre and then a broken security bolt which added to his problems. As the arguments over the time went into the night, the club stood their ground, stating that 68 had made it in on time, so the penalties would remain.
As Friday morning broke, it was announced that Mick Andrews was leading the trial on 30 marks, three in front of Alan Lampkin, who last won in 1966 on the BSA. Andrews knew it was his opportunity to make a push for the victory and rode a wellcalculated day to open up his advantage over Alan Lampkin to 10 marks at the close of the day. Unfortunately, for the Southern Centre rider, Geoff Chandler, his day turned into a nightmare as he punched a hole in the primary side case on the Bultaco and struggled to continue, losing more marks in the process to push him down the leader board.
A CLASS ACT
One last check was needed on the Ossa for Mick Andrews as he left Fort William for the day’s final 150-mile ride back to Edinburgh. A class act at all times, Magical Mick made no mistakes to ride a well-calculated last day to finish nine marks in front of Alan Lampkin. Better known as ‘Sid’, the middle of the Lampkin brothers had been close to winning all week, but he was more than happy to shake hands with the winner Andrews.
Once again, many motorcycle enthusiasts who made the annual trip to the ‘Scottish’ had not been disappointed with the week’s action. The new daily awards had been a hit for both the riders and spectators, who followed the results so closely. The Spanish manufacturers had dominated the event, and it was a thrilled Montesa who took the manufacturer’s award.
As the doors closed on 1972, the event would face many new challenges in 1973 as the event continued to grow in popularity. The dreaded ballot would be introduced, and for the first time, the event would not carry ACU British Championship status.
1972 SCOTTISH SIX DAYS TRIAL SPECIAL FIRST CLASS AWARDS
RESULTS: 1: Mick Andrews (Ossa) 49; 2: Alan Lampkin (Bultaco) 58; 3: Rob Edwards (Montesa) 60; 4: Malcolm Rathmell (Bultaco) 69; 5: Rob Shepherd (Montesa) 71; 6: Geoff Chandler (Bultaco) 74; 7: Gordon Farley (Montesa) 78;
8: Mick Wilkinson (Ossa) 84; 9: Jack Galloway (Montesa) 89; 10: Dave Thorpe (Ossa) 90; 11: Paul Dunkley (Bultaco) 98; 12: John Hemingway (Montesa) 102; 13: Thor Evertson (Ossa-SWE) 104: 14: Brian Higgins (Bultaco) 106; 15: Richard Sunter (Ossa) 115; 16: Mick Bowers (Ossa) 117; 17: Derek Adsett (Ossa) 121; 18: Ian Haydon (Montesa) 123; 19: Jim Sandiford (Bultaco) 139; 20: Rodger Mount (Montesa) 139; 21: Peter Gaunt (Suzuki) 142; 22: Arthur Lampkin (Ossa) 143; 23: Billy McMaster (Bultaco) 151; 24: Steve Wilson (Ossa) 151; 25: Ted Breffitt (Ossa) 152; 26: Maurice Newsham (Ossa) 152; 27: Ken Fleming (Ossa) 157; 28: Brian Shuttleworth (Bultaco) 158; 29: Walter Luft (Puch-AUT) 164; 30: David Jerimiah (Bultaco) 166; 31: Fernando Munoz (Bultaco-ESP) 169; 32: Ignacio Bulto (Bultaco-ESP) 169; 33: Mick Barnes (Ossa) 169; 34: Oriol Puig (BultacoESP) 173; 35: John Hayton (Bultaco) 174; 36: Karl Rowbotham (Bultaco) 174; 37: Chris Watts (Bultaco) 175; 38: Dave Smith (Bultaco) 179; 39: Arthur Browning (Bultaco) 183; 40: Charlie Harris (Montesa) 185; 41: R Treserras (Bultaco-ESP) 189; 42: M Brown (Ossa) 194; 43: Nick Jefferies (Bultaco) 195; 44: John Luckett
(Cotton) 197; 45: Paul England (Montesa) 200.
MACHINES: Bultaco 19; Ossa 14; Montesa 9; Cotton 1; Puch 1; Suzuki 1.
DAILY AWARDS
MONDAY: Malcolm Rathmell (Bultaco) and Alan Lampkin (Bultaco), 1 Mark Lost.
TUESDAY: Geoff Chandler (Bultaco), 3 Marks Lost
WEDNESDAY: Rob Edwards (Montesa), 1 Mark Lost.
THURSDAY: Mick Andrews (Ossa), 11 Marks Lost.
FRIDAY: Rob Shepherd (Montesa), 7 Marks Lost.
SATURDAY: Rob Edwards (Montesa), 4 Marks Lost.
CLASS AWARDS
MANUFACTURERS’ TEAM: Montesa: Rob Edwards, Rob Shepherd, Gordon Farley
BEST NEWCOMER: Richard Sunter (Ossa)
SECOND BEST NEWCOMER: David Jerimiah (Bultaco)
BEST FOREIGN RIDER: Thor Evertson (Ossa-SWE)
BEST UP TO 150CC: Peter Gaunt (Suzuki)
BEST UP TO 200CC: Walter Luft (Puch-AUT)
BEST UP TO 250CC: Mick Andrews (Ossa)
BEST UP TO 350CC: Fernando Munoz (Bultaco-ESP)
BEST UP TO 500CC: R Haines (Triumph)
ACU BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP
POSITIONS: 1: Malcolm Rathmell (Bultaco) 43; 2: Alan Lampkin (Bultaco) 36; 3: Martin Lampkin (Bultaco) 30; 4: Gordon Farley (Montesa) 25; 5: Mick Andrews (Ossa) 21.
From a programme entry of 241, 224 started, 186 finished with 38 retirements.