Scott to be a record for Jarvis
By TMX Archives on 23rd Oct 08
GRAHAM Jarvis went into the record books on Saturday by becoming the first person to take eight Scott victories in this historic event that goes right back to 1914 when Frank Philip won on a Scott. And Graham, mounted on a two-stroke Sherco this year, has set Standard Time on four occasions.
Previous record holder was the great Sammy Miller who recorded seven victories between the years 1958 and 1970, including four on the trot from 1967 to 1970 on Bultaco. Sam rang the T+MX office on Monday, after returning from a Bultaco reunion in Barcelona, and offered congratulations to Graham. "It's about time someone broke my record, it's stood for long enough!” said Sammy.
Malcolm Rathmell, Graham's long-time mentor, scored six wins between 1971 and 1980 while Bill Nicholson logged five in the immediate post Second World War years. Arthur Lampkin bagged four for BSA in the 1960s while in more recent times, local ace Phil Alderson is also a four-time winner. Phil completed his 25th Scott last Saturday on a Gas Gas and reckoned that it had been "...a tough one.”
We'll never know how many Dougie Lampkin might have won because after winning in 1994 with Standard Time, Doug stayed away while concentrating on accumulating his seven World Championships but returned in 2006 and 2007 to take both wins with Standard Time. Going for a hat-trick this year, Doug got no further than the fourth section when the Beta stopped – proving that you need a bit of luck as well as skill in this unique event.
All riders have their dodges when preparing for this event. Some use mousses in their tyres, some go for a few pounds more air pressure. I know that Wayne Braybrook had a pretty trick set-up in his rear wheel – a cut-down front mousse in the back – plus a few pounds of air. Not an easy mod but it just shows how serious some of these lads take the trial. The MRS crew possibly overdid it on Graham's bike, waterproofing the Sherco's airbox so well that it was struggling to breathe when given a big handful. It wasn't only watertight it was airtight as well.
James Duxbury was possibly the unluckiest rider at this year's Scott. Due to start at number 148, James was having a practise the previous week when he dislocated his shoulder – without even crashing. James was out watching though, with his injured arm in a sling.
Scott top three: James Dabill (2nd), Graham Jarvis and Ian Austermuhle.