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Here is a very nice Ossa Cantilever - built by Eric Cheney back in the day - lots of people experimenting  with various things at that time - before Yamaha came out with the first production TY 250. This pic courtesy the Trials Guru site.

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Another trial that Craig and his family have made the journey to in preparation for the 2019 SSDT! Thanks to all the organisers and observers for their effor…

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Although we see a lot of this type of thing in modern Hard Enduros - this was the norm back in the 70’s when I rode Moose Mountain in Alberta - A good Trials rider could pass a lot of guys in those spots.

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Anybody interested in the new 2020 TRS Clothing??  Special order only .

Still on the TRS subject - We did the set up on a new 2020 Xtract 300 E start Tuesday  and could not resist giving it a go around the yard  - really neat bike !!!  Check out the video >
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When I first arrived in Canada, back in 1965 - I was told that the only Competition in the area for Motorcycles was Hill Climbing - and the bikes used chains on the back tyres for traction !!  So !! not seeing myself getting involved in this - I took up fishing for a few years. !!

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We had a visit with Jay Colley late yesterday as he stopped by to return one of my Trials books - We had a good chat about the sport and the general Trials events upcoming this year.

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UPDATE:  Adam Raga has been in for knee surgery - seems he has been riding the last couple of X Trials with a  Torn ligament -Amazing he did so well.

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I came across one of my old business card files, while looking for something else - As you can see a lot of the Japanese Yamaha guys I met back in the 70’s - These were good times to be working for Yamaha, as I was able to get involved in many other projects, as well as covering Alberta, Northern BC, and Northern Saskatchewan - looking after & setting up the dealer network.

One such program, was traveling across the Country, with some design guys, to visit dealers and come up with ideas for the planned big touring bike. - Interestingly, Toshi Shimizu  worked for a design studio in Tokyo, and he told me he was also involved in designing the first Mazda RX7 sports car, which was expected to retail in the USA for $5,000.00 !!!!! -

One of the best Japanese staff I ever met - was Ben Watanabe ( now dead) - President for a few years, before being shipped off back to Japan, another was Mike Shibuya - who was happy to hear my ideas on the development of the IT Series  ( He sent photographs of my YZ 250 Walt Healy Special to Japan) - He also gave me a bottle of Johny Walker Red Label for one of his buddies when I first visited the Factory in 1976.  - Mick Kato decided to leave Yamaha, when they told him he had to return to Japan, his family loved Canada, and he stayed in Toronto. ( Another really good guy)
A lot of the Japanese, were given a 30day course on the English Language, then shipped off to Vancouver - I would get a call to pick up one of them. and take them on a tour of the dealerships.

As you can imagine, this was quite a challenge  - firstly, most of them smoked, and as a non-smoker I had a sign up on the passenger side which clearly stated this. - Unfortunately, the language difficulty proved to be a real problem for some, and I literally  had to take cigarettes out of their hands and chastise them like school kids.

The next thing that I had to explain, was that Canada was a very big Country, and we would sometimes drive for 4 hours between dealer calls. - All very hard for them to understand. - Of course we had a lot of laughs along the way and some of them became good friends.

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Another great pic from the Telford show in the UK - this one is of the fantastic 1957 Moto Guzzi 500cc V8 road racer, ( I saw two of these racing in the Isle of Man in 1957)   Sammy Miller has this one in his Museum and had it on display. ( without the fairing)

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We spent a nice Family day up at Silver Star - with our Daughter & Son in Law - lots of people up their enjoying the Sunshine - We checked out the Ice Sculptures before heading in for nice lunch. We noticed an absence of both Japanese or Chinese Tourists, but quite a few from OZ.

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Today I go in to get the stitches removed from the places I had the bit of surgery a short time ago - not sure what the rest of the day will bring, but the snow is slowly melting!!.

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Brett Clark was the only person to correctly identify the famous Trials riders in the pic we posted from the Telford Show - they were John Lampkin, Yrjo Vesterinen, Nigel Birkett, Bernie Schreiber, and Sammy Miller.

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More news as it happens.  >>

Another pic from Telford - ( Not sure who took it)  Can anybody name these stars of yesterday?

Another puzzle ! Can anybody guess what they used to sell at this store?

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Yesterday was another “Golf Watching” day - in fact I didn’t go out the door - Nice of Roger to send a pic from Victoria of all the trees in blossom and mention he cut his lawn !!

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Happy Family day to everybody - Rumor is that we will be heading up to Silver Star to look at the Ice Sculptures  !!!! Weather looks quite nice out the window.

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Steve Saunders, Heath Brindley & Bernie Schreiber at the Telford bike Show

A blast from this day 6 years ago - a shot of Matt at Bear Ridge - I’m sure this spot is still very much snowed in this year.  I recall we had a great day out there, with me having a lot more energy back then, riding my favorite Evo 200.  I remember I was pulling 4th gear most of the time in the snow.    ( I think I have a video of that someplace)

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I took time to catch up on some of the stories in the latest issue of Trials Mag; UK yesterday  - I thought the comments by Tony Bou regarding the Sheffield Indoor and in particular Martin Lampkin, were very well said - As the absolute Champion in  the Trials World at the moment, I think Bou shows a lot of class.

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Also in this Issue - a report by Albert Cabestany posted his thoughts on the current “State of the Sport” - And Bernie Schreiber now has a regular column, which also gives his thoughts on the subject,

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Toby Martyn gets a full 4 pages with great pics on his rise through the ranks - he has had support from Beta, Montesa and Vertigo, before signing for the TRS Factory.

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There is also coverage of KTM’s involvement in Trials  which took place in the  the 1970’s - Of course KTM wanted to buy the Beta Factory many years ago - but the Italian family said “No Thanks” - Another article on the rise and Fall of Gas Gas is interesting, especially as it pertains to the John Shirt story..

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It’s a long weekend for us - with “Family Day” tomorrow - but the weather doesn’t look too promising.

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BETA FACTORY TRIAL TEAM 2020
Beta is proud to announce its Factory Team that will race with the colors of the Tuscan brand in 2020 national and international competitions.
For this season, the team will count 4 riders: a new member, Matteo Grattarola, joins the team along with the reconfirmed James Dabill, Benoit Bincaz, and Luca Petrella.
James Dabill and Benoit Bincaz will not only take part to the TrialGp Outdoor World Championship, but also to their respective national championships. The British pilot will compete in the Top category of the English league, while Bincaz will fight to defend his first place in the French Elite category. Moreover, the French rider will also race in the Indoor World Championship, while Dabill will compete in the Scottish Six Days and the Scott Trial.
Luca Petrella and Matteo Grattarola will line up in the Trail2 category at the Outdoor World Championship, in addition to taking part in both the Outdoor and Indoor Italian Championships.
The Beta Factory Team will debut during the first round of the Outdoor World Championship taking place in the Czech Republic on May 23rd and 24th

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Meanwhile in Canada, Sam King is being sponsored by Beta Canada this year to do demos and promote both Trials and Enduro bikes. - As most people know, Outlaw sponsored Sam for the first few years after he came over from Oz - He’s a great lad with lots of Talent so be sure to try and hook up with him if he is in your area.

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Not sure who took this excellent pic in the Classic Scottish, but what a wonderful setting. ( Think it came up on the Trials Guru site- so a big thanks to the photographer)  Check out that rear tyre !! The best improvement you can make to any old Trials bike, is fit modern 2 ply Tyres. ( BTW Tyres are spelled Tyres not Tires !!) to Tire is to get weary !!

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As the 2020 Cabin Fever rolls along.t was nice to get this Mag in the mail today - It has fantastic content, as well as quality photographs and stories - I urge all Trials enthusiasts to subscribe to this UK Publication.

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Just a year ago, and we were out for the first time on the neat TRRS 125 - I feel that these small bikes are often overlooked when people are shopping, especially for teenagers - they have a lot of endearing features ( this one in particular which is sold) and as we have quite a lot of experience in both riding and setting up the “Tiddlers” - the TRRS provided us with lots of fun ( we later improved the performance with Boysen reeds and jetting changes !!) We still have a Beta Evo 125, which again is brilliant and the price is right while the snow is on the ground!! or How about a Beta Evo 80 -? we have one in stock blowing out at $3,999.00 !!!  Better be quick if you want a deal because when the snow melts, so do the great prices.

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And now for something really crazy !!  Steve Day  ( say no more)

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Happy Valentines Day to everybody - especially to my Babsy - We’ve traveled a long road together since I met this Welsh beauty back in 1959.

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Anybody who has been involved with the Motorcycle Industry, knows just how it is - “A way of Life” is how I’ve often described it. - However, it’s also a very hard way to make a living - especially for the enthusiast dealer.  ( The buddy system doesn’t always pay the bills)

It’s always sad to see a great shop close the doors, especially if you know the people involved - I thought our readers would like to see this article from our friends South of the Border.

Dear Skagit Powersports Friends and Customers,

As you’ve probably heard the dealership is closing in the near future. We’ve moved into the warehouse with everything in the showroom and are operating out of there. We will be open every day just as we were in our other building.

Anybody remember the Ariel Arrow?  - quite a revolutionary bike back in the day - one of the Photographers from the Newspaper Plant I worked at had one, and said I could take it for a ride !! Now being young and super mad about road racing at that time - I jumped at the chance, and took it for a quite long zip around the Country roads in the Oswestry area. - However, this could have turned ugly, as when going flat out in top gear, a pigeon flew across- hitting me in the face - fortunately I managed to survive, although the pigeon wasn’t so lucky. ( And I managed to return the bike intact)  - A guy by the name of Peter Inchly tuned one for the 250 TT in the Isle of Man  which went well as I recall.
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When I first saw this pic, I thought it was Swampy at one of the Stan Bakgaard Stunt shows, but this was taken in the UK, and Stan’s Scaffolding was about three times this high - amazing how Swampman never got hurt especially at the BC Place event.
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Hard to believe that this pic was taken in January or February last year !! - What a different story this year with all the snow. Shane & Chris plus Dale Wellborn and his son were out with us that day.

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A sad memory today as it was 8 years ago that the Trials World lost the great Italian rider Diego Bosis at just 44 years old, from a heart attack.

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Today is also the birthday of John Dearie  who lives on the West Coast, but was in Kelowna for many years.  John holds the dubious record of taking the longest time to fix a flat on a Beta rear wheel - I think it’s about ten years !!

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I think it’s also Sam’s birthday today - I took this pic of him the first year he came over from OZ - only took him a few sections to modify the Outlaw Beta rear fender ( But if I showed you the section - you would understand why!!)   Anyway Happy birthday buddy.

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