Trials Australia Forums

1970 Byford (WA) Trial on ABC2 tv Friday 16/3/07 11.00pm

It was on TV last night, didnt know it will be repeated again. Well worth watching or taping.
I saw this posted late last night on a vintage site, and managed to tape all of it bar the first few minutes, due to frantically looking for a tape!

Is all in black and white glory, commentated by Jim Fitzmaurice on location by ABC TV. Vision and sound is quite good.
4 sections were filmed in total at Byford WA.
Section 1 - a muddy left turn bank and around out right.
Section 2 - a drop into a muddy right turn and out.
Section 3 - drop into a stoney creek and up a bank out.
Section 4 - up a rocky creek with 3 steps and turn before a waterfall.

Now remember this is non-stop rules, no helmuts and 3" of suspension travel. To watch the riders master twinshock/classic bikes is quite artfull, a lot different to modern trials. Look for the young Mike Thorpe!

I gleaned this below after watching it again, and would have to watch it again to get the scores correct.
Sorry if any mistakes here, notes only was from the commentary:

1. Ian Ludgate - Ossa - Narrogin
2. Neville Purvil - Sprite
4. Allan Burns - Bultaco
5. George Lee - Dot?
6. Geoff Young - Bultaco
10. Vic Richardson - Sprite
11. Dave Hurst - Montesa - then current Aust Champion
12. Ron Gordon - Dot
15. Mike Thorpe - Triumph
16. Brian Mitchinson - Bultaco - ex UK rider
17. Des Noble - Bultaco - speedway rider - look for tail light and numberplate!
18. Bill Young - Bultaco - won this trial the year before - noted top Aust rider
19. Dave Nargle - Dot
21. John Burn - Ossa
22. Ron McGill - Ossa
23. John Cockram - Ossa
24. Terry Oakes - Royal Enfield - 14y.o. rider!
28. John Burden - Ossa

Won by Geoff Young with father Bill Young equalling on points on countback for 2nd, with Dave Hurst on 3rd I think.

Also after on the ABC2 program LATE NIGHT HEROES is the 1971 Australian Scramble Championships at Clarendon SA.
This is worth watching too, featuring the Junior Sidecars, and the 500cc Australian Senior Solo.
Set on a natural terrain track, the 500cc action see's NZ rider Ivan Millar blitz this race on a 396 Husqvarna, with UK rider Randy Owen 2nd - Husqvarna, Garry Flood (VIC) 3rd Husqvarna, and Dave Basham (SA) CZ.

Thanks for the heads up, SUBANATOR. Those old films were fantastic last night.
I was amazed that there were more OSSA Plonkers than Bultaco M27 and M49 Sherpa Ts. Maybe the popularity of OSSAs was a local WA thing in 1969/1970?
It was also interesting to see how the British bikes there like the Tiger Cubs and the DOT really copped a flogging by the Spanish bikes. The Sprite looked pretty good but it may have just been the rider. It appeared to me that the Bultacos in particular had obviously superior front suspension to the British bikes which made a big difference in the wet rocky sections.
Great to see.
Thankyou SUBANATOR and Auntie ABC

David, thanks for correct model identification, I wasnt so sure.
What you said is interesting about the marques around then, European influence and before the Japanese marques (soon to follow!)
Does make you wonder where all these old bikes are now!
What engines did the DOT and Sprite have?
You left out the only Montesa, and that was an eastern state bike and rider anyway, it seemed to go pretty good too.

Have to keep an eye out for more if they are televised.
Cheers,
Roger