Pre'65 Scottish 2 Day Trial 2012
Words by Ben Falconer. Photos by Tony & Ben Falconer
49 years ago, two works Scorpion trials bikes competed in the Scottish 6 Days Trial.
This year, the marque returned to the Highlands, in the hands of something less than a works rider.
This was my first pre-65 outing, on a bike I'd ridden for 15 minutes, with the gears and back brake the "wrong" way round, so I was well prepared for the biggest pre-65 trial of them all.
A serious amount of work had been put in to getting the Villiers-powered, monocoque-chassis bike ready but I had visions of losing over 100 a day – IF it kept going.
Having watched the event for the past 3 years I knew how tough it is on bike and rider. Sections like Pipeline, Camas Na Muic and Caolasnacon are enough of a proposition on a modern bike, nevermind a pre-65.
Having failed to get an entry for 2 years, just reaching the start ramp was a plus. And it was nice to see the bike spark so much interest. Everywhere it went, questions were posed, pictures taken. Some more senior members of the sport's cognoscenti even knew what it was.
Now I had to ride it.
As an odd number, Pipeline could wait until the afternoon, and I did the run of sections on the Ballachulish road first. Unbelievably, I cleaned the first section – there's not much point describing them all as they are all fantastic rocky gullies. Then it got quite a bit harder!
Pipeline 1 was OK but I wasn't carrying enough speed to clear the step at the start of Pipeline 2. A few tidy rides at the Aluminium Works and Chiarain Burn followed, then an extreme climb up to Loch Eilde Mor, which resulted in looping the bike and breaking the clutch lever clamp. Luckily a zip tie fix had me back on the road.
A few others came to grief here, including David Eeles, who suffered a breathtaking crunch, if you get my drift.
Clean on time, I thought I'd lost over 100 so 77 was a pleasant surprise.
Day 2 was spent riding with Keith Wells (rigid DMW 250), Peter Collins (500 Ariel) and Ian Wixon (350 Triumph Twin) and the occasional crossover meeting with David Eeles, who was looking to bring in a score of less than 47, and record less than 100 for the trial.
Glos and the Western Centre personalities were in force, and Craig Talbot and Becky Cook were taking in Garbh Bheinn, which the Scorpion romped up. Pipeline's first step was cleared, but then I grounded the bike on the only bit of wood on this legendary section – a tree stump.
Just as I was starting to really get in to the swing of it, things started to unravel. I only realised on returning to Kinlochleven that the back brake arm had been wiped out (fixed with more zip ties), then at Mamore the other rear shock seal went. Effectively I rode a rigid for around the last dozen sections. Shortly after, the kickstart broke, so I bumped started it on the military road and did all those sections unsighted.
And the small matter of getting it down the mountain with not much in the way of brakes provided some entertaining moments.
I wasn't really able to dazzle the crowds on the last 2 section groups on the old Kinlochleven road, as the bike was really hanging on by then.
Will I be back? Ballot permitting, you bet.
Many thanks to Edinburgh &DMCC for a magnificent event.
Thanks to Dad (project manager and sponsor), Stan (workshop facilities, engineering skills), Pete N (loads of welding, quite a few times), Paul Powell (Villiers guru, brilliant job), Goff (offer of the Ariel if the Scorpion didn't make the start line), Dave Hammond (wheels trued at very reasonable rate!), Western Centre trials personalities (moral support and advice), Haines & Co Motorcyles and BVM Moto (all sorts of bits – and in stock).