Heavy lightweight

The owner of this month’s test bike is Stuart Wigmore, a locally well known and highly respected off-road enthusiast, who, alongside his friend Mike David, was the founder of Somerton Classic MCC in early 1992.

Stuart’s BSA C15T – wearing the registration number of FNA 617C – has been owned by Stuart for 20 years, and, as history records, is one of the last trials irons to roll out of Small Heath in the final year of their production in 1965.

Thanks to farmer Dave Burdge, I was able to test the bike on his land at Lambs Lair, situated high upon the Mendip Hills in Somerset. But before we kick the quarter-litre single into action and tackle the limestone rocks that typify the sections found there, we’ll reflect on some of the memorable rides by the Small Heath works riders during the trials model’s eight years of production.

Although the official launch and manufacture of the C15 roadster commenced in September 1958, in the hands of the works rider – and later comp-shop manager – Brian Martin, the prototype trials iron recorded its maiden