Issue 65 Winter 2022

Classic Dirt Bike

The magazine for fans of classic and twinshock trials, motocross & enduros

Classic Dirt Bike4 min read
End Of An Era
It can’t have escaped the notice of anyone in the UK there has been an ending to an era this year… actually this ending is probably recognised worldwide too. The particular era I’m referring to ending is the second Elizabethan era which happened on S
Classic Dirt Bike2 min read
Classic Dirt Bike Show, backed by Hagon Shocks, 2023!
Get ready! There’s only 14 weeks to go until the Classic Dirt Bike Show – backed by Hagon Shocks – opens on February 11, 2023 in its traditional home at The Telford International Centre, Telford in Shropshire. Yes, it is almost here, the biggest and
Classic Dirt Bike1 min read
Island Adventure Beckons
Incredible as it may seem, the island of Jersey – nine miles at its longest and five miles at its widest – hosts an excellent two-day trial. It's organised by the Jersey Classic and Modern Trials Club and 2023 dates are March 18/19. There are groups
Classic Dirt Bike1 min read
Entries Open!
If you’re planning on riding the Pre’65 Scottish Trial in 2023 you have until 3.30pm on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 to have your entry on the event secretary’s desk. Of course, cutting it so fine as the last minute might not be a good idea because t
Classic Dirt Bike1 min read
Fancy A Project For The Winter?
As the dark nights draw in and there’s just nothing on the telly whatsoever then thoughts turn to a project for the shed. It is just possible there could well be something suitable in the HJ Pugh two-day auction of classic and vintage motorcycles and
Classic Dirt Bike1 min read
Moving On
When CDB chatted to Vic Allan at Drumlanrig as we photographed his beautiful MV, he let on the bike was up for sale. “I’ve enjoyed building it and the challenge of creating a trials bike from such an unlikely start but I have to admit it’s probably t
Classic Dirt Bike1 min read
The Artist Named…
…Mike Harbar has again supplied the excellent line and colour images for Andy Tiernan’s Air Ambulance calendar in our products pages. An industrial designer by training, Mike’s passion is drawing all things automotive, be they for the land, sea or ai
Classic Dirt Bike1 min read
Vintage ISDE
With a history going as far back as 1913 it was almost inevitable there would be a clamour for a veteran and vintage class at the super-tough six-day enduro once known as the ISDT (but since 1981 it has been the ISDE). It was tried pre-Covid and deem
Classic Dirt Bike1 min read
Workshop Planner
Planning a workshop is a sensible idea and professional garages plan their layouts to save time and money. But, as far as we know, until now there’s not been a DIY workshop/garage planning facility. Well thanks to Sealey – the tools and equipment spe
Classic Dirt Bike1 min read
A Cracking Easter Celebration
Red Marley Freak Hill Climb was such a feature of the West Midlands sporting scene from the Twenties to the Sixties that local coach companies would ferry enthusiasts to the village of Great Witley where the famous hill was located. Being on the door
Classic Dirt Bike1 min read
Diamond Geezers And A Far-sighted Council
Just sneaking this into 2022’s news, it seems incredible that Runnymede Borough Council has been supporting off-road motorcycle sport for 60 years… yes, the far-sighted council got involved with motorcycles at the height of the rocker era when anythi
Classic Dirt Bike8 min read
Race Bred
These days it seems almost any comp bike an enthusiast could want is available simply by walking into your dealership or checking its website and handing over the cash. This wasn’t always the case and I’d go so far as to say it wasn’t until the Spani
Classic Dirt Bike7 min read
Winning Combination
For most classic MX aficionados the Rickman frame is forever associated with saving the last gasp of the big British bike. The two brothers initially wanted little more than to improve their own bikes yet created a legend in their Metisse models. In
Classic Dirt Bike8 min read
A Momentous Day
Were you there!? Did you see it? Such questions are asked after the fact when some extraordinary sporting achievement goes down in history. It doesn’t matter what sport is being talked about when these questions are gasped out by incredulous enthusia
Classic Dirt Bike8 min read
Six Days of Adventure
Let’s look at the concept behind the International Six Days Trial. In the pre-First World War era there were a good number of long distance trials in the UK and elsewhere too. Many of these events were run over five, six and even seven days and had o
Classic Dirt Bike7 min read
‘Hello’ To Dirt
I guess I’m not the typical Classic Dirt Bike reader as I’m in my sixth decade, have been riding motorcycles since my teens yet have virtually zero experience of riding off-road. While I’ve been riding on the road for many years, and have had a yearn
Classic Dirt Bike5 min read
Enter The Superhero…
Superheroes come in all shapes and sizes, their superhero skills are equally varied but one thing remains constant… they’re only needed infrequently, to save the day when all normal things fail. What I mean is you don’t call in your superhero of choi
Classic Dirt Bike5 min read
Dirt Products
Although this calendar is not strictly a dirt bike thing the proceeds from it go to a worthy cause – East Anglian Air Ambulance. Like all such safety things it’s something we’re all glad is there but hope never to need. Andy Tiernan, a name well know
Classic Dirt Bike6 min read
Estate Worker
Take a look at this PW80 Yamaha. It’s no different from many other PW80s: yes it’s a bit worn, frayed round the edges but it still serves its purpose and fulfils the brief it was given. It’s in the mag because it was there when I came out of my works
Classic Dirt Bike1 min read
Fabulous Foxhill
EVO 125 OVERALL 1 Neville Bradshaw2 John May3 Jim Davies EVO OPEN OVERALL 1 Brad Anderson2 Ben Gillett3 Alex Hornsby EVO OVER-50S OVERALL 1 Kurt Nicoll2 Brian Wheeler3 Doug Dubach EVO PLUS OVERALL 1 Josh Spinks2 Jake Shipton3 Alex Snow EVO TEAM R
Classic Dirt Bike4 min read
Wise Words
When CDB's dashing editor Tim barked his usual exasperated, Geordie-laden (use your imagination!) last-minute deadline plea for this latest column's words he actually suggested "words of wisdom". Ha Ha! Sorry Tim, but I am living testament that age d
Classic Dirt Bike2 min read
See You In Kinlochleven
First staged as recently as 2018 by the re-formed Kinlochleven MCC, the Leven Valley Two-Day Trial – restricted to twinshock, drum-braked machines – has very quickly become a must-ride weekend in the classic calendar. This year’s event, run on the we
Classic Dirt Bike2 min read
The Baa – modern
In the old days – we’re talking the Seventies here – trials, like hair, were longer and up in the North East Centre there were several events which were 20 miles or more over one lap. As such courses were the norm then, we youngsters had only one sou
Classic Dirt Bike1 min read
Farleigh Vets 2022
EVO 250 OVERALL 1 Jamie Skuse2 Lewis Abbott3 Steve Bixby SUPER EVO OVERALL 1 Brad Anderson2 James Barnwell3 Paul Burn ALL 125s OVERALL 1 John May2 Tom Church3 Ben Griffith EVO OPEN OVERALL 1 Broc Tickle2 Michael Ogden3 Paul Johnston TWINSHOCK OVE
Classic Dirt Bike2 min read
Mechanically Speaking
One of the best things about the classic scene in general is the variety of machines which come under its remit and it is true to say no two enthusiasts will have exactly the same tastes. For one enthusiast who will gush excitedly over a particular m
Classic Dirt Bike4 min read
Dirt Talk
Write to us at: ClassicDIRTbike, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6LZ. CDBeditor@mortons.co.uk Although I was not involved with the Cheney BSA, I may be able to shed some light on how it came about. The clue is in the Army registration it stil
Classic Dirt Bike1 min read
CLASSIC DIRT bike
Editor: Tim Britton cdbeditor@mortons.co.uk 07739 615605 Columnist: John Dickinson Contributors: Tim Britton Media Ltd, Nick Haskell Photographers: Fiona Watson, Nick Nicholls Collection at Mortons Archive Production editor: Pauline Hawkins Art edito
Classic Dirt Bike5 min read
Mellow Yellow
Suzuki’s relationship with trials has been interesting to say the least. Its early ventures into the sport were with a series of mini-bikes or modded road and trailsters before the RLs were introduced in the mid-Seventies. There were some excellent m
Classic Dirt Bike2 min read
Back To British
In the exciting and often brutal world of sidecar MX the attributes of power and flexibility are two of the main aims when choosing an engine to fit in the chassis. The make of engine tends to be less of a concern – though sidecarists were often work

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