Trials Australia Forums

Hi John and everyone else, I agree with your list of genuine Pre 65 trials bikes apart from the Sprite. Frank Hipkin only started the original kit form trials bike in mid 65, they would be a welcome addition to the Pre 68 ranks that I am proposing with the Villiers motor and easy availability of spare parts.

I don't see too much of a problem fitting 4/5 TS/Classic only events into the Qld calenda, OK, maybe include the existing semi exclusive events run by MTCQ and WDTC and if guys want to do the travelling, CQTC.
The problem is who is going to run the other three or four events,,,,,,, which is the reason I have been seeking expressions of interest from guys to start a TS/Classic trials club in the SE Qld area

Somebody said "we don't need another club" but with all the posts on this subject and the replies I have been getting I've firmly got the impression that these bikes would turn up to specific TS/Classic events,,,, at which we spell out the eligibility rules in the supp regs.
Food for thought
Cheers
Galps

Roger, I was going to delete Sprite from that list, but tho't I recalled something on TC forum so I checked. There's compelling documentation that's emerged on a couple of threads there indicating Sprite trials kits/bikes were available in 1964 - ie copy of dated Commerfords magazine ad advertising sale of 1964 model Sprite trials bikes; copy of dated 1964 magazine ad for Sprite trials kits/bikes showing pic of the bike, & copy of dated Sprite sales docket from Nov 64 for trials kit bike #23, signed by Sprite boss Frank Hipkin. Another source shows copy of published article from 1979 indicating Sprite sold dozens of Trials kits in 2nd half of 1964.

Not that it matters a whole lot for the Oz scene, but it appears the Scottish organisers are correct in allowing Sprites into their pre65 event - at least the early Villiers-engined ones.

I have added Wasp to that list of trials models above that were available pre65, as they were available from '63
(They were of course better known for their sidecar MX machines).

I have no idea how good/bad the Sprites were but, like others in that list it seems, they were competition bred, not just street-bike derived. eg Wasp, Greeves, DOT, Cotton, FB & James

If there is documentation that Frank was selling them in late 64 then thats probably more accurate than my memory John.
I know I owned one for a while but the early ones had a frame problem that tightened the chain enormously when the suspension was compressed and during the time i owned it I broke two gearbox mainshafts, needless to say it didn't stay in the shed too long after repairs.
Galps