WHO IS STILL RIDING THEIR ORIGINAL BIKE ?

[Gary B]

Peter,
Great to see some input from you on the TA Website.
I have to contradict you though.
I'm sure it was Clive McDonald that built the "TY Special" engine.
He worked at Kevin Cass m/c in Wollongong for years and Clive is one of those rare engineering magicians that can make something, not just replace or bolt on a part.
When I stopped riding Trials in the mid 80's and went road racing Clive used to rebuild the Cranks & even manufactured a clutch basket for my TZ Yamaha.
Clive knew of my love for Trials & was very happy to tell me all about the work that went into your engine.

Very glad to hear its still about & hope to see you at an event sometime.

Regards,
Gary Boniface.

[Peter Paice]

Hi Gary

Great to hear from you. I remember you and your dad well. It is good to see you have a son riding as well now. Do you still live on that magic property overlooking the ocean at Kiama?

You may be right about the engine builder. I got the engine back with Kevin Cass’s name engraved on it, so assumed he did it. No engine before or since has pulled that strong! Clive was obviously a genius with motors as nothing has ever gone wrong with it in 31 years. Please thank him for me if you still have contact with him. If obstacles stopped front wheel, the back wheel just kept digging a hole until it hit the axle. Sidecar a little worse for wear, but engine still going great. I would consider restoring it one day, but never sell it as it is so unique.

These days we live in Singleton. I’m sure you remember Di. Our son Michael and daughter Angela and their families live in Singleton area as well. A friend has 3 Montesa twin shocks and has just taken up trials with great success, and rides at Denman club days. A few other mates have brought old trials bikes and I have had a couple of trials school days to give them the basics. I’m sure you can remember how well twin shocks were ridden in the good old days without new style riding.

I watched a Denman twin shock trial and fear that beginners are learning bad habits, trying to utilise modern monoshock techniques which are unnecessary for twin shock bikes.

Nice to hear from you, Peter

PS Have some really old Wollongong photos of trials you would remember, but quality is extremely poor so I can't scan and send.

[Peter Paice]

Hi Ian

Good to hear from you. I will mention you to Michael the next time I see him – he has a good memory for names. Michael stopped riding trials in 1988, raced gokarts for a quite a few years, went overseas for a year, then rode trials again in the mid 90’s. He can still handle a trials bike well as shown at a couple of recent muck around days with my friends. The trials bug never totally leaves you, so maybe he will take it up again some day.

Cheers, Peter

[Steve Holzhauser]

Well well well, look who has joined Trials Australia.

Your attached pics of you riding that sidecar outfit shows exactly why you were such a revered competitor, the eyes tell the story, and even your grandson has the focus of that next challenge of the section you are about to tackle.

You still are looking good for an old fella Peter, I hope all is well with Di and the family.

Look forward to your participation in the forum.

Im certain there are many riders from the seventies that are tickled pink that you have joined and hopefully you can share many stories and pics of the era where you were untouchable.

For the younger members Peter was Mr Trials Australia awhile back, and had the nick name of Peter Perfect even before racing car legend Peter Brock was given that title.

It was not only for your remarkable riding ability but also your generous nature of giving freely time and guidance to any rider that asked a question, that made you stand alone in many peoples memory.. Even to this day your ability to comunicate with people and your uncanny ability to teach novice and skilled riders is still talked about by many that had the opportunity to attend your trials schools.

Start riding Twinshock class with a licence Peter and Im sure there will be a great influx of new entrys in that grade pretty quick.

It is good to hear from you,

Regards

Steve.






.

[Peter Paice]

Great to hear from you Steve

Thanks for the accolades – you are embarrassing me, but don’t stop!

For those who don’t know, Steve (always a gentleman) Holzhauser, attended a trials school I ran for the local Yamaha dealer in Kyogle in the early 70’s. He stood out above all the other riders as he was desperate to learn, paid attention to every minute detail and was willing to try everything I told him. He went on to become a star rider through every grade. He was successful due to his calm temperament, great determination and shared my philosophy of never letting the opposition know how hard you were trying, ie. always try to make it look easy. Trials can be a very easy sport if you keep it simple. The right attitude is always more important than raw natural ability.

I notice that some of the old pupils from those early trials schools are still successfully riding in masters, as are other good riders from that era. It is great to see that one of my fiercest rivals from those early days, Frank Hull, is also still riding and enjoying the sport.

I would love to get together some of the new enthusiastic twin shock riders and maybe help them with some of the basics. I’m sure you know what I mean Steve. My son-in-law has a large property with suitable terrain here in Singleton where basic techniques can be developed. I still have a great love for trials, but at my age, with worn out body, it would be hard to come back and compete at a level that would satisfy me. The competitive nature never goes away!

I have been following this forum for a long time, but seeing some of the old names and reference to old bikes that I had, prompted me to join. I didn’t realise that people would be interested in stories from an old-timer like me. Modern riders probably don’t realise how big the trials scene was in the mid-70s. There were so many TYs being sold that you would quite often come to a section and see 70 or 80 TYs parked, and have trouble finding your own bike. In 1976 I rode 30 open trials in the year – some indication of the popularity of the sport. Being sponsored by McCulloch Yamaha at the time, I used to travel all round the country running trials schools for Yamaha dealers who had riders queued up wanting to learn.

Looking forward to reliving the old days.

Cheers, Peter

PS Couldn't attach photo as per "Sorry, the board attachment quota has been reached."

[Stu]

Peter,
Congrats to getting onto the site. I'd like to know when will you be doing anymore trials schools for the older bikes? I have Mal Chapmans old TY250a I bought it ages ago, still going strong too!

[scrivo]

Well well well after only 12months of pestering and Peter finally puts finger to keyboard!! I even had to fix his computer so he had no excuses

I was at the fun day Peter mentioned when the photo of he and his grandson on the sidecar was taken. A number of us had an introduction to twinshocks under the guiding eye of Peter that afternoon. I can honestly say he has lost none of his patient, calm and soothing tutoring technique. I somehow ended up upside down under the Montesa 349 in a gully full of water ! Peter calmly walked over and asked without even breaking into a smirk "what are you doing!!!" followed by (while I was still under the bike) "you need to work on your commitment when attempting those step ups. Try to launch yourself and meet the bike at the top". I gurgled out Thanks Peter I can see my error

I also watched his son easily step back on a trials bike after many years and show that he would take very little time to be very competative again. 10 minutes after getting on the bike it looked like he had rode every day for years .

I can remember watching Peter during the '70 and thinking he doesn't even seem to be trying. I have enjoyed a few sessions of 'follow the leader' on a couple of my bikes and our agreement was that he made the wheel tracks and I followed making the foot prints but I am getting better .

Listening to some of Peter stories is always great and I hope he shares some with everyone. If anyone from Motorcycling Australia is listening how about a trials rider in the hall of fame?? I think few people contributed as much to Trials during the 70's as Peter not only in his riding success but particularly his commitment to developing other riders.

[Peter Paice]

Peter,
Congrats to getting onto the site. I'd like to know when will you be doing anymore trials schools for the older bikes? I have Mal Chapmans old TY250a I bought it ages ago, still going strong too!

Hi Stu

I would be happy to do a trials school going back to basics for the old bikes if you can get about 10 people together at a venue preferably north of Sydney, or in Singleton at my son-in-law's property. Let me know if you have a venue in mind.

Cheers, Peter

[Stu]

Peter, I going to the Summer Jam at Pacific Park this weekend with my TY, so I'll see if there is enough interest in a basic Trials School. How close to Sydney are you willing to come?

[Starky]

I was brousing my collection of VMX Magazines last night. In particular Issue 18 as I wanted to refresh my old memory of their write up on the TY175.

To my surprise Peter Paice featured very strongly in the article.

I am relatively new to trials so it was great to join all these peices of information and achivements together.

Well done Peter for a career that I envy.

Starky