Richford Vintage Trials Centre
Mini Scott Trial
September 26th
The British make of Scott motorcycles were a long way ahead of their time, beating Suzuki to the liquid cooled two stroke by over fifty years. Another area where Alfred Scott was ahead of his time was in his attitude to his workers. Among other things there was a works outing and picnic every year, and of course everyone came on their motorcycles. Soon a little competition began, at first just a reliability trial i.e. can I get my bike from point A to point B without it breaking down. As the bikes became more reliable the route became rougher, and soon an iconic British trial was born, The Scott.
Comprising one loop over the spectacular and rugged moorland of North Yorkshire this trial was described by Arthur Lampkin as "A man's trial, not a boy's". One loop of sixty five miles with sixty sections in the rocks and streams of the moors. The Scott is a timed trial where the first man home sets Standard Time. Every minute longer than this that a competitor takes to finish the trial adds a point to his score. The big question is always 'do I try to clean a section and save observed points, or do I just get through as quickly as possible and save time points'. To list the Scott as one of your triumphs has always been a mark of honour to all British trials riders.
Now a mini Scott comes to New York State. This year the Richford Vintage Trials Centre will host a round of the New York Air Cooled Trials Series in a Scott format. Though not a timed trial, there will be only one loop with forty sections. The trial will be open to all vintage machines and specials that are aircooled, drum braked with twin shocks. This will be a true vintage trial with sections designed for vintage rules, No Hopping, No Stopping. Competitors are going to have to RIDE their bikes through the sections. This is a motorcycle trial, not a circus show.
There will be food, some great bikes to look at, a video of the actual Scott Trial from the mid seventies and lots of gossip.
DON'T MISS IT