Mornin’ bloggers – with quite a lot of Bultaco news posted lately thought I would show this old pic of me, from 1970 at a Trial in Lethbridge AB – my very first event on that Ex Terry Porter bike – it took some getting used to after riding British bikes -shifter on other side etc – not sure how I did that day. -I think John Whitby took that shot on a steep cambered section. – As I recall the club used brown ‘Binder twine” to mark the sections which in the brown grass made it interesting!!
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Answer to the last quiz – Don Doerksen on his Majesty at a Greenstone Mountain Outlaw trial – nobody got it all correct – but close.
Quiz today – guess who and what is that bike?
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To any newcomer who watches a Trial on You Tube etc – the sport must seem very strange, and they would be quite right to wonder, how the winner is figured – is it the guy who falls off the least? –
Well not to stir things up too much – I would mention though, that all these latest events that are supposed to promote the sport, simply do not work!! – The average spectator, might think Wow look at that!! amazing what those guys can do. – However, they certainly are not going to dash out and buy a Trials bike the next day – or maybe ever.
Not that putting on a show was always a bad idea – check out this pic from a Kelowna demo held at a home show, in 1985, with star riders, Stan and Steve performing stunts which at that time, were really dazzling AND it did promote sales of TY Yamahas ( I know this for a fact as I worked for Yamaha Canada) – However, these days, the average spectator watches the You Tube videos ( unless they click onto traditional Trials events) and thinks – “I could never do that”.
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In the meantime, all we can do is try to promote our sport as a “Family Affair” and try to get more people to give it a try especially if they have youngsters ( better than have them riding an e scooter)
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Below is a report on how Motorcycle competition used to be ( including in my younger years) – everybody rode converted street bikes which were likely used as every day transport. – I know my bike was. – Often riding it 50 miles on the road to start a Trials event, which would then be another 50-60 miles – we used to take the lights in a backpack to fit for the ride home usually covered in mud.
Now it seems everything has become very “Specialized” you even have to wear the correct clothing at these events !!! and heaven forbid you don’t have all your sponsors decals plastered all over!!
With that in mind I can tell you that one famous road racer had a different set of spark plugs in his Yamaha, than what the advertising label said on his helmet!! Shhhh!
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This might be why our Outlaw trials are so popular – it isn’t just the event – its a weekend of fun around the camp fire. – ( Yup that is Pete on the fiddle) – If you want to know more about the sport – give us a call, it won’t cost you anything.
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