Stan sent me some cuttings from the old Off Road Mag that was printed in Kelowna a few years ago ( Not the Dirtco one) - We used to supply the Editor with coverage of a lot of local events and it was quite good. Unfortunately like at least 50-60 % of all new mags, it did not survive.
This clip is interesting because it shows the first Expert section in the Kelowna National that I mentioned yesterday - the rider is Francois -from Winnipeg who brought a team out from their “Take Five” trials club. - ( now also defunct) - I think he entered the wrong class !! -Â not sure who took the pic.
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I saw this pic posted and it reminded me of a funny story from back in our Cross Country racing days -we were at the first ever Elkford BC Cross Country and as always were camped out in the wilds - John Arcand (RIP) decided to sleep on the picnic table near the campfire ( after the usual late night) -he told us the next day, that he awoke to find a black bear sniffing his face !! so in true Canadian style - John punched it on the nose and it took off !! - - John never stopped talking about this for a very long time.
That was also the race that I was leading on my TY 250 by a long way, only to have a big crash when the organizers forgot to put danger markers up where the old rail road track crossed a creek - that the bridge had been removed. -I was tapped out in top gear on the Yam which I figured would be around 60mph - Another lucky escape for me with cracked ribs and concussion - but the poor Yamaha Motor Canada bike had to be completely rebuilt. ( I had a lot of explaining to do)
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The Moto GP season gets under weigh this weekend - it will e interesting to see how things go - Also the F1 fiasco begins - but I’m afraid that I’ve lost all interest in this since Hamilton became so vocal about his black heritage.
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I often wonder when seeing adverts for Trials bike like this - For Sale -Beta Factory 300 - ridden by novice rider!! - Of course we see other similar advts for other top of the line models, the question is of course what were these people thinking, when they bought these high powered bikes - when they are novice riders? - was it an honest mistake? or did some salesman push them into it.?
Over the years, we have sold dozens of slow throttles to new riders, who have found themselves in this situation, but sadly I’m sure we lose a lot, because they give up, thinking the sport is not for them, having scared themselves to death.
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I’ve always said that - If a bike “Looks right” then it probably performs “Right” - Just look at this old road racer from back in the day ( Ok the fish tale pipe is a bit odd but seems they worked well)
I find the same thing applies to Trials bikes - first impressions, should not be ignored - ( as when I first saw the Yamaha TYZ - and recently the god awful looking Yamaha Factory 4T with the backwards exhaust etc) - Yes it’s true that Expert riders can do wonderful things on inferior bikes, but for the mass public, having it “Right” when it comes out of the box is the answer.
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Only Harlow Rankin guessed the MX pic quiz on Thursday - It shows World Champ Rolf Tibblin on a Husqvarna
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Two of the Greatest Trials riders in the World. - Dougie on Sam’s Ariel and Sammy on his BSA 250
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Many will recall  the posts and pic we posted of Emily out enjoying a ride with us on Trials bikes - nice to see this post. - She is one of a kind. Here is her story >
I came across this photo my mom had proudly posted of me and thought it fitting to share as it’s now been ten years since my very first motorcycle trip.
When I was 18 I rode my Suzuki Gladius 650 from Ontario to Alaska and back. When I first left Ontario I didn’t know where I’d end up, but my bike just kept rolling; and I along with it.
Over the course of three months I hit a deer, got tattoos, broke down (a few times), ran out of money, ran out of rubber (three times) and had to mushroom pick and work at the Calgary Stampede to make enough money to make it back to Ontario to start college.
After writing a story about my trip I had received the Rider of the Year award. I never thought what I did was out of the ordinary, just something that felt right to me. That eye-opening trip made me realize how incredible Canada, motorcycle travel, and getting lost can be. I’m lucky enough to have almost 80,000km on my Gladius now.
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You know, When I came to Canada in 1965 - I was amazed at the vastness - after living in a small Country - the fact of driving out on a Sunday and covering mile after mile of gravel roads - with everything seeming to be the same was hard to take - Slowly I came to understand - and enjoy the great outdoors - I remember there used to be a program on TV called - Keith McCall and the great Outdoors- I watched it often and took up fishing for a while, before I met Terry Porter and the Calgary Motorcycle Club - and the rest is history.
The pic below shows a Paddle Steamer on the Columbia River South of Revelstoke. What a trip that must have been.
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This morning I’m off to the Shuswap to deliver Ross his nice new 2021 Beta Evo Factory bike - I’m sure he will be impressed.
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