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Answer to the Sunday quiz -  Tommi Ahvala on the Aprilia - who won the World Championship in  either 1992- or 1993  - Brett was the first in with the correct response. followed by Pete Varey.
But This one is difficult - a blast from the past - rider and machine please - I will tell you it’s at the Scottish, and this guy later rode for the Royal Enfield Factory Team.

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Now this is a good looking 1937 Norton.

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A great shot of Steve McQueen at the 1964 ISDE in Germany - he failed to finish after a big crash. - did you know that World MX Champ Joel Robert also rode this event? Steve and Joel became friends and Joel  later got to keep Steve’s Helmet .

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We now have the results from the  - TRS Trial at Ioco from a couple of weeks back   - and it was certainly a good day for the Spanish bikes with Alex Walton (TRS)  taking Expert with 21 points  ahead of Sean Bird (Scorpa 23 followed by Kirk McDowall  40. They had 10 riders in this class  very good turn out.

In other classes - Ted McDowall (TRS) took the Senior 45 and it was a TRS sweep in the Sportsman with the Clark bros one & two followed by Tom Hillman. -  Full results are on the CPTA site - Thanks to  Don Doerksen for the results.

Yesterday they held a Ladies event at Ioco and it appears this went well - with our own Vernon rider Katie McG (Beta) finishing runner up in the Inter class to Karaleen Gidia, followed by Lisa Rae (TRS) - In Junior it was Amanda Porsild followed by Sarah Detour and Britt Lee Koeler - Jaclyn Delacroix rode as an exhibition rider. - We look forward to hearing all about this event when we see Katie later today.

(Note!  the results don’t show what bikes for many of the riders)

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Quiz - Who is this rider and what is the bike?

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Meet Jim Groat  from Blairmore Alberta, who just picked up one of the gorgeous new Beta Evo 300 SS models. - Although Jim owned a TY 175 many moons ago - he has been riding other big bikes for the last several years, so he is looking forward to learning all about the new techniques and will enjoy riding the local trails in the Crowsnest Pass area.

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Anybody who remembers the old practice days in the Okanagan, can relate to this great pic of Steve Colley showing perfect technique as Barry used to yell “ARM UP LEG OUT”

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The Super Enduro Championship is now over and here are the top three - Billy Bolt ( Husky) Jonny Walker (Beta) Taddy Blazuek  ( GG)

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Team Scotland all ready for the 2 Day Jersey Trial, with Harry McKay (#10)  -That will be some trip for sure.

Here is a great shot of young Harry Hemingway at last weeks very difficult British Championship event, both Harry and his brother George are two of the brightest hopes for UK Trials success in quite a while. - The Hemmingway family have a long history in the world of Trials, being related to John Lampkin the Beta UK Importer, means they get very good support. However, I wonder if Honda already have these lads on their “Shopping list”

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A couple of really nice old Bultacos - post says they are located in Vctoria.

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We came across this old Sammy Catalogue  - We used to buy quite a lot of spares from Sammy back in the day.( Then he sold up)

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And here is a pic that shows modern World Trials - Yes it’s a different sport - should be called Stunt Trials

And this is why they used to call the English Trials riders - “Mud-pluggers”

The most notable thing about this date for us -  is that - back in 1959 , Babsy and myself met at a local dance, and started dating. - I guess if we weren’t Welsh - you could call it the “Luck of the Irish” - We were married in 1962.
Later when we came to Canada, I was a bit surprised to see all the celebrations including Green Beer etc. - no I have never been to Ireland, although Babs visited there before we met.

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We now have Katie all fired up to promote Vernon Trials ( We will help when we can)

I must say that it’s very  exciting to see the new renewed Trials interest in Vernon. - We held a lot of events up on Vernon Mountain in the 1980’s - then the access land was sold and a new development was planned, but this never did go head.

We have been riding up there quite a few times but not much in the last few years. - We know of  Lots of neat sections.

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Thinking about our sport of Trials - I saw an article posted on Trials Guru by Bernie Schreiber on Practice.

As I have mentioned before, my introduction to the sport was by reading a book on Trials technique by Max King - the ONLY one available at that time in the 1950’s -At age 15 - I read it from cover to cover over and over - taking in all his advice on everything to do with Trials, but mainly as it pertained to different sections.

The book covered a lot about terrain from deep mud, slippery leafy cambers, big steep climbs etc etc. - and yes I  later tried to remember this while out on a Saturday practicing. - I listened and watched the older club riders, and learned from the experience.

Fast forward to the modern era, and yes things are different - but while I have little interest in all the hop & bop - the same practice ethics are required, and instead of reading a book - new riders have been able to study video tapes. ( In fact one of the very best tools for learning technique - is to have a buddy video tape you riding various sections  - study these tapes then do the exercise over and over until you get it right - funny thing is that when you do manage this - it feels so simple!!)
The one common item with this regard - is that  a new rider, needs to learn ALL the basics, from how to set up the bike, to standing correctly -   using the controls  smoothly. AND don’t forget that if your bike is not set up correctly or running good - then clean rides will be a LOT harder.

DO NOT PRACTICE what you find easy !!  Practice the harder stuff - but don’t get frustrated by failing over and over - stop and think about the section and break it down into parts. - Better to move on to easier stuff rather than get mad.
Over the years - we have seen a lot of changes - both with bikes and events - ( Not all to my liking) - but the one thing that has remained the same, is that riders who listen and practice technique, not only enjoy the sport more, but are more likely to succeed.

To ride a Trials bike “slowly”  over difficult terrain, is far more difficult than twisting the throttle wide open   and dazzling your buddies on a smooth parking lot.

( But don’t think that as a young 16 year old - I did everything right!!  Riding through the deepest mud holes I could find and jumping as high as possible !! Because that’s what you do when you’re a kid!!)

One final note .  Taking in a Trials training school can be a big help ( but sometimes expensive) The main thing is that if you don’t later practice things you have learned - over and over - then you have wasted your money.
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Answer to the last quiz Heikki Mikkola  - only Cam Wiffing got this. but thanks to all who send in emails

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The sun is a shining to welcome the day !!! Anybody remember the movie this song was in??

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Not much news to report today, although there are plans to host some weekly  Tuesday night Trials training/fun evening rides at Vernon - later when the snow clears - We will post more details on this later when we have details.  ( Katie is the one in charge of this)
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Here is an old pic taken by Florian prior to the WTC National at Revelstoke a few years ago - wonderful scenery up on the loop.

We always hoped this area would become a Trials “Mecca” - as it had really good potential , but like they say, “Sometimes things just don’t work out”

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I have posted this super pic from a bygone era, to show the great - “panning” effect - something that  only Photographers from back in the day will both remember and understand - but who is the Yamaha rider?

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