Testing times down at BVM
By TMX Archives on 18th Nov 10
Editor JD joined the trials importers last week converged on BVM in Stroud for their eagerly awaited annual test day...
Went to the annual BVM trials bike test day last Thursday, the only time each year when all the trials importers gather to let the general public, ie me and you, loose on their latest offerings. It is several years since I last ventured down to this unique Gloucestershire-based event, so thought it was time I dreamed up an excuse to go and see Mark Kemp and how the trials scene is standing up in these strained financial times.
That excuse turned out to be the British premier of the all-new Ossa trials bike. It is, believe it or not, exactly 12 months since the trials world was stunned by the appearance of a radical new model bearing the legendary Ossa name at the Milan Show and they promised production in a year. This seemed pretty far-fetched at the time and I for one simply didn't believe it. There was seemingly just too much that was different about the bike compared to established thinking. The engine with its reverse cylinder cylinder inclined steeply rearwards, the fuel tank replacing the front down-tubes, the radiator hiding in behind relying totally on the electric fan to draw in cooling air, and then of course the ground-breaking (for a two-stroke) electronic fuel injection.
All this just seemed too much to sort out in such a short time span. This isn't Honda we are talking about with a hundred R and D guys detailed to sort it all out, or any of the other industry giants come to that, it was a new-start company, operating out of a hastily fitted-out industrial unit in Gerona, Spain. I bet the whole staff doesn't run to double figures yet. So how were they going to sort all that out in 12 months flat. Specially taking into account Spain's manyana lifestyle, numerous Saints day's to take-off plus the annual month's holiday off work in August - and no recession on earth will affect the August holiday in Spain! A production Ossa in 12 months was never going to happen.
But somehow a minor miracle has indeed been performed and the re-born Ossa is on the production line as you read this. An amazing effort.
The Ossa may have been the prize draw at the BVM bash but there was just as much interest in the 2011 wares from the establishment. Gas Gas and John Shirt were centre stage as usual while John Lampkin, on his own, gave himself a day's hard work trying to keep-up with no fewer than five Beta's - three strokers and two thumpers. Watching John juggle test tickets (it was all remarkably controlled by Mark on the day) while re-fuelling all the bikes and hanging-on to his awning that was threatening to take-off and take his van with it, would have made Gary's and Griffo's (left to look after John's Beta UK Silsden base) day. The famous YooMee and myself took pity on Johnboy and attempted to look after his pitch while he went for a tea and a burger but he obviously didn't trust us not to screw-up (he wasn't wrong!) and soon raced back to restore order in the Beta corner of the paddock!
Martin Rathmell with Sherco and Chris Pidcock and his Montesas of many hues also shared a quiet corner, and Birks also had a couple of 2011 Scorpas to look after - and all were busy from 9am until dark. When time was finally called - and time really does fly when you're enjoying yourself -and as dusk descended on Gloucestershire you wouldn't believe how fast so many bikes could be thrown in vans while cab heaters were run-up to full bore...
Back home late on Thursday night there was only just time for a couple of hours at work on Friday morning before hot-footing-it to Barrow in Furness for the memorial service being held for Eddie Crooks, legendary rider, Suzuki dealer and my former employer for some three years back in the last century, the late 1970s to be vaguely precise!
Eddie was what used to be called a Rider Agent, which meant he did the business for six days a week and rode himself on the seventh. Very successfully as his three ISDE Gold medals, his Senior Manx Grand Prix win and numerous other achievements - including a 24 hour world record which stands to this day - is ample proof.
When I was doing my stint at the Crellin Street premises the Suzuki MX scene was flat-out and we were building-up and sending-out RMs as fast as they arrived. They were simple air-cooled, twin-shock bikes that were so easy to work on - and so quick on the track. Eddie was a fabulous boss who, as long as the work was being done, never questioned what we were doing. And sometimes we were doing some crazy things, testing MX bikes through the back streets of Barrow with angry housewives trying to hit you with brushes! Or barrelled-up vast quantities of home-brew in Ed's office while he was on holiday - because it was the only room permanantly heated. And he really wasn't impressed that it stank like a, well a brewery, on his return.
Eddie retired from the business and moved back to the Isle of Man in the 1990s but son Martin keeps the Crooks Suzuki business cranking along. The church was full to overflowing last Friday as friends and family met to to reflect on a lifetime of good times. RIP Ed.
