HAPPY VALLEY
Finding myself decidedly un-bike fit prior to this year’s Leven Valley Two-Day Trial at Kinlochleven, I reluctantly withdrew my entry. However, I assured the event secretary David Dougan that I would attend the trial to spectate both days and perform my invited duties as the ‘emcee’ at the post-trial awards presentation. So on the Saturday morning, I left home at dawn on my new KTM 690 Enduro and rode to Kinlochleven, which eventually put 180 miles on the clock, thus helping it nearer the first service interval. I parked it up in the paddock, my intention being to walk up to ‘Pipeline’ to see the field through.
Joint Guests of Honour this year were Yrjo Vesterinen and Charles Coutard, whom I spotted in the start area and, as usual, had a lengthy chat with them both. Needless to say, they were both in top form. ‘Charly’ had opted to ride Vesty’s 125cc Bultaco Sherpa, and Vesty rode his incredibly special 280 Sherpa. I left them both to wind each other up mercilessly and get prepared for the day’s ride.
I proceeded up the Dam Road to ‘Pipeline’, which was plotted quite far up the hill to avoid lengthy queues, and it worked well.
After chatting to friends at this iconic section, I noticed Vesty parking up to walk the line. When the time was right, he shot up the section like a much younger rider, but the Bultaco faltered, and he was desperately slipping the clutch to maintain forward motion when, to my surprise, the motor died completely! Yrjo held up his hands in absolute horror. It was the first time he had ever failed Pipeline! Later I discovered the cause was aluminium debris in the carburettor filtration system, thus cutting off the fuel supply.
It was then Charly’s turn on the 125 Bultaco; he attacked it with panache and cleaned the section in fine style. More to the point, two of my boyhood Bultaco heroes had, in their twilight, tackled a very tricky section. One was let down by a mechanical issue, the other overcoming small-capacity machine limitations to conquer the Pipeline. It just doesn’t get any better than that!