If it looks like a Twinshock, and smells like a Twinshock, and sounds like a Twinshock, it has to be scored like a Twinshock?
Questions Arising:
So when is a Twinshock not a Twinshock? Some of the most prized Twinshock bikes of the era are modified bikes, such as the Beamish Suzuki, Yamaha Majesty, Sammy Miller Specials and numerous Honda specials to name a few.
Should the rules for twinshock go purely production based? Which would mean that the above mentioned “modified bikes” can’t be included in the Production Twinshock class.
Do we score Production Twinshock on non-stop rules and Modified Twinshock on modern rules?
So if I wish compete in Production Twinshock, do I need to remove my Sammy Miller brake lever from my Fantic and do I put the metal back in were I have drilled holes for lightness?
Should TY80’s be in their own “Mini Twinshock” class etc.etc.
What’s next, ensuring that all observers are dressed in the fashions of the era!
Twinshocks use only leaded petrol of the era.
Twinshock riders can only wear rubber boots and don’t have to wear helmets as per the era!
Twinshock competitors can only be Clubman standard riders of the era!
OK, Lets have a reality check at this point.
The Post-Classic class encompasses 20+ years of evolution, there is always going to be disparity between the bikes.
There is always going to be disparity between riders abilities what ever they ride.
There will always be a higher grade rider at some time wanting to “have a go” at Twinshock.
I have witnessed a number of high caliber riders such Kale Reed, Richard Kent and Brendon Hornsby to name a few, on twinshocks and it was awesome to watch them show us just what can be done on/with a twinshock, if you have the skills. (check the names on the WDTC Twinshock Masters Trophy).
Personally I found watching these guys riding a Twinshock more entertaining than seeing them on modern bikes.
Now from an event organizers point of view;
In case you haven’t noticed Trials in Australia isn’t going ahead in leaps and bounds (pardon the pun).
We are not in the UK were there is a Twinshock shop on every second corner and a pre-65 shop on the other.
We simply can’t support the whims of every class or specific class events as in the UK or local VMX events.
Example; MTCQ’s Easter trial, 6 Twinshock out of 75 entrants!
VMX have the support for 18-20 different classes, multiplied by 6 age groups, Imagine buying the trophy’s for that lot, it would out weigh the entry fees for one Trial!
However, the most difficult part of any event is gathering willing (or not so willing) observers so that you guys can ride.
We will always have a huge disparity in observers from the experienced to first timers, young to old and differing levels of care factor, sometimes based on the conditions they are requested to endure, rain, mud, sun and dust.
For example, on the Easter week end we had a couple of lads brought along by their ex-riding Uncle to help observe, neither have ever ridden a bike them selves, we can not expect them to be able to know the difference between a twinshock and a modern bike.
To make it even more confusing, there is always a number of twinshocks entered in clubman, we have pre 65’s entered in twinshock, a twinshock in mini-bike and a twinshock entered in C-grade! And may I add, he’s on a un-modified TY175! (He can’t afford to stop!)(Go Daniel)
So the last thing we need is to is to be telling Observers there is TWO sets of rules, Or there won’t be any observers. Who was it who suggested TWO sets of observers? Good luck with that one!
Hey Roger, you didn’t ask me my opinion on the weekend, a fellow twinshock rider, (after all you did sell me the Fantic) But I guess I was a bit hard to catch up with, as I was moving around to score at different sections covering for a lack of observers and delivering lunches to those that we had.
Personally, I believe the current “Aust Trials Rules” to be a fair compromise between new and old.
I recall the change back to non-stop in about 2000 from the “anything goes” rules. (now known as Super trials)
It was brought in to hurry up the upper level riders and prevent them from rolling or hopping backwards and having 37 attempts at every rock in the sections and holding up the works.
As most of these riders could perform nose wheelies, side hops and air turns this brought about a new scoring problem for the poor old observers, “The Dynamic Stop”!
“That wasn’t a stop, it was a dynamic stop, my suspension was still moving!”
Let’s not go back to that! Not that I can picture to many twinshocks doing air turns, (go for it Tony) but you get the picture, especially as the emphasis of concern seems to be persons riding twinshocks in a non-twinshock like manner, eg; hopping the front and back around on their highly modified twinshock!
The current rules allow you to balance while stopped, (and good luck to you if you can) but they prevent you from going backwards to gain an advantage. So like I said, a fair compromise.
My whole point being, we can’t afford to make the running events any more difficult than it is, we need to make it as easy as we can, we simply do not have the ground swell of support, be it either riders or club members/workers to manage and run the events as it is, without making it more complicated.
All clubs have plenty of external influences to contend without adding to it from within.
So, Nice idea guys, but there is life after 1985!
At the end of the day, it is a balance and skill sport, the most skilled rider will win on the day, regardless of which rules, which bike or which sections!
Now, about this 23yr old air cooled mono-shock sitting in my shed, and no class to ride it in except against modern bikes???
And an enormous THANKYOU to our Observers at Easter!
Cheers
Don Rolands
MTCQ Comp Sec.
Errrrrr OK what exactly is your point? Do you dislike Classic and twinshock bikes or did you have a bad day? Maybe you could have read the previous replies first 