Trials Australia Forums

Looking back through old scrapbooks I have come across photos of some of the great riders of the 70's. I am curious to know where they are now and what they are doing. It would be great to hear from any of them or someone else who knows them.

Back in that era, the majority of the good riders were from Victoria, such as Ian Gaff (my first trials hero), Alan Kerney, Roger Bowden, Steve Johnson, Don Pangbourne, Barry Barton, Paul Symons, and the list goes on. The rider I believe had the biggest influence in the early 70's on trials was Chris Leighfield. He came to Australia in 1972, riding to a higher standard than we had seen before. It made everybody improve their skills to try to catch him. I learned everything I knew about riding in the mud from him. I used to travel to Victorian trials regularly to improve my skills by competing against the best riders at that time.

There were also a lot of good riders from other states back then. Names that spring to mind are Ross Grimsey, Trevor Bennett, Howard Wallace, Joe & Mick Hedrick, Frank Hull, Ross Grimsey, Steve Holshauser, Peter Luscombe, Mal Robinson, Greg Nordsvaan, Dave Pinkerton, Tim English, Jeff Gough, Craig Gillies, Dave Goldsmith. Special mention of a great guy, Geoff Owen, who I started trials with.

There were many, many more great riders whose names names elude me at the moment, but I would be more than happy for other oldtimers to add to these names and get the ball rolling.

Looking forward to hearing info about other old trials riders.

Hi Peter,

I am not sure about Jeff but Jeff's nephew Justin still rides in Qld. I believe he rides sidecar, use to ride A grade for quite some time

Dave Goldsmith returned a couple of seasons ago and was riding in the veterans and masters classes. I last saw Craig Gillies spectating at the 05 Aussie titles at Canungra.

i seen chris leighfeild riding a very nice cub at oakleigh club around 2 years back! he is getting on, but he still kicked my ass! far as i know he is still a member.

Trango wrote:I last saw Craig Gillies spectating at the 05 Aussie titles at Canungra.

I was an observer at the 2005 aussie Titles and there were a few faces from old getting around that weekend Didn't see too many spectators though as dad and i (who were observing the same section) were up in the hills quite a walk from the carpark.

cheers

HI, Paul Symons is Living in Tauranga New Zealand, he is currently riding his Yamaha TY350 that he won the 1984 Aust champs on and is undating it with a disc front wheel from a pinky at present.

In Queensland two men that were always ready to get you were Denis Madeo when he made the trip down from Prosterpine and the other was Neville Derick, others were Mick Campbell, John Davies on their Bultacos, Neil Jesburg and Shane Grant.

In the Trans Tasman of 1978 Peter Grinter was the reserve for NZ and won the first round of the series, is he still about. The other name that comes to mind was the NZ trials coordinator for that series Ivan Ace, love that name !!

Steve Holzhauser wrote:In Queensland two men that were always ready to get you were Denis Madeo when he made the trip down from Prosterpine and the other was Neville Derick

Neville was still a fierce competitor in the late 80's. At the 86 titles the property owner offered a $50 prize to the first rider who cleaned the extremely difficult section 10. Neville came away with the cash ahead of Shane Mitchell, Craig Gillies & Steve Hope.

Heres another Peter Paice trials school photo. Taken at the Grid Property, Lacey's Creek Dayboro and I think it was 1977 maybe 1978. The rider is Dave Batterham.

Ross grimsey is still around lives in s.e qld still own's a bultaco 350 sherpa but has not riden it for a while