Answer to the last quiz – – Bernie Schreiber at the 1981 FIM trial at Ioco – correctly got by Neil and Stan and Brett -they added some interesting notes.
Quiz today – guess who
==========================================
The last weekend, (weather very hot) we clicked onto both the golf from Scotland – where the weather was again really nice – ( not at all like Scotland) – Rory managed to ‘blow’ another one. !! we then watched some Itchy boots videos – with some from when she started, these included “Learn to ride” days at first the Moto GP circuit in Holland, followed by a Trials day – then Moto X and finally Flat track. – All very interesting. – The one thing we did pick up on in the Trials School, was that the Instructor stressed the fact that – if you learn to ride a Trials bike well!! you can ride anything. ( A Sammy Miller saying)
However we later found an Enduro lesson she went to and I think that was probably the best training for all the world adventures she went on later.
Clicking on further, I watched the BVM video of the Dave Rowland Trial in the UK – a long one loop 40 section event held around the Buxton area of Yorkshire and featuring not only great natural sections – but also showing a lot of the loop in between – much of which could also have easily been taped as sections. – To me this is what the sport is all about.
==========================================
While the World exploits posted by Itchy boots are really fantastic – lets not forget that a few brave adventurers did this in the days when bikes were not like today, and there was no GPS etc. – This is a shot of Rob Fulton, who went around the World on his Douglas in the 1930’s
========================================
Naturally, when I watch the itchy videos – it reminds of when Babs and myself did the Euro trip back in 1963 – nothing by comparison to these other World travelers, but it did require a great deal of planning – this included having the Norton completely serviced by local mechanic and buddy Don Morris -( I had two Norton Dominators at that time the other one had a dolphin fairing – but I decided to take the one fitted with high compression pistons ) – then loading all the gear on it for a test ride – back then the best “Panier” bags were made by an English company called Avon. – I then mounted a wooden box on the rear carrier to hold all our cooking stuff – our tent (complete with poles) and other gear was piled on top with a tarp strapped on to hold everything in place. – Then I did a “Test ” ride – Holy Moly – the bike handled like a Camel !!!! –
I can’t remember exactly how I planned our route South to Dover to catch the ferry – but I know I made a wrong turn in London and ended up going around by Trafalgar square with 3 wide traffic ( Also did this in Milan having to mix with all the bikes and Fiats!! – absolutely crazy)
The Trip through France ( avoiding Paris) went smoothly, and we met up with another couple on a Norton on the top of the Simplon Pass in Switzerland – they turned out to be Swiss and promised to guide us through to the Italian Customs. – Of course their bike was not loaded like our Norton, so trying to keep up with him blasting down the other side of the Alps ,through snow sheds with my overloaded bike was a challenge. ( And likely quite scary for Babsy)
Looking back at this adventure, I can’t heap enough praise on Babsy, for believing we could do this ( Not many grandmothers can boast of sitting on the back of a Motorcycle for over 3,000 miles) and yes we certainly had a great time, with no issues at all with the bike or customs etc. – Lots of untold stories.
The pic below was taken somewhere in France – Babs had her hair cropped short for the trip.
Below is Babsy posing by Lake Geneva in Switzerland. – a lovely day.
==========================================
Anyone looking for a great deal on a Beta Trials bike ? we have quite a few to offer at huge savings. Call us for info. – Below is a pic of our 2023 Evo 200 demo – dressed up in Factory plastic. -very low hours and it’s for sale.
==========================================
We see a lot of hard enduro video posted these days – but I came across this pic of me at the finish of the 1973 Moose Mountain Cross Country – ( A time when this event was notoriously tough-two 50mile loops that day ) you can see by my face and drooping arms that I’m absolutely knackered – Babsy is happy that I finished 3rd when 170 started and only 10 finished. ( Check out those bars!!!)
============================================