Calvert's classic
By TMX Archives on 11th May 07
TONY Calvert, at 51, became just the 13th winner from the 23 Scottish Pre-65 events, when the 2007 edition was staged last Friday and Saturday at Kinlochleven. He put in a near-perfect ride on John Holmes' expertly prepared Cub. Tony achieved his victory with a single dab ride on the opening day and a faultless clean ride through Saturday's 30 sections to lift the Challenge Trophy.
As ever in this event, it was an incredibly close affair with no fewer than nine riders managing to keep their losses in single figures after 60 sections over the two days.
Last year's winner Neil Gaunt was one of the pre-trial favourites and Neil did not give up his trophy without a fight.
Clean on Friday, without so much as a wobble on his custom-built Ariel, Neil looked to be well on the way to joining Sammy Miller, Dave Thorpe, Mick Andrews and Stig Karlsson as a back-to-back winner in this prestigious event.
But it was red-hot behind Neil with Calvert, Channel Islander Graham Du'Feu on his big Ariel, Davy Morewood on the 250 Enfield, popular Catalan Carles Casas and Les Winthrop on Cubs all on a single dab apiece. Les was in position to be the first Scot to take the Premier in the Two-Day.
And just behind, on two, was the irrepressible Dave Thorpe, six times the event winner. And joining Thorpey in a very crowded leader-board was Len Hutty, Paul Heys and BSA-mounted Spaniard Joan Rovira.
The Pre-65 has become incredibly popular with the Spaniards and as well as a whole host of Catalan riders there are even more of their friends coming to watch year on year.
Friday's route, completed in glorious weather, comprised two loops, with odd riding numbers heading one way and evens the other.
One loop took in a trip up and down the main road, taking in some of the old-favourite sections like Cnoc a Linnhe and Caolasnacoan. But it was the run out round the moorland loop that provided the value for money but which proved a major workout for the big bikes, and there was an increase in the heavy metal rigids this year and their riders deserve maximum respect.
Charles Preston on a Panther, Ian Barker on a 600 Norton, the 500 Nortons of Richard Griffiths and Clive Dopson and a host of big singles and rasping twins kept the spectators Entertained and that's with a capital E.
There were simply too many cracking performances to mention. But what about 70-year-old Derek Brooks going round for just eight, and fellow septuagenarian, Peter Gaunt, who dropped just nine in the sections before three were added for time faults. And then there's Jill Driffield, putting the guys to shame with a superb 15 for the day.
Saturday's route was again split. There was the trip up and down the Kinlochleven to Glencoe road with more famous hazards like Garbh Bheinn and Cameron Hill, while the alternative was the ride down Mamore road as far as Sleubhaich and Callart.
It was another hard day in the saddle, especially for the rigid jockeys and also the older riders who can handle one day fine but a second often proves a bit much. Maximum respect though.
Up at the sharp end though there was no let-up with the slightest mistake or misfortune hitting hard.
Les Winthrop lost just one mark on each of the two days and ended up fourth, behind Gaunt and Morewood, on tie-breaks and how hard is that?
Graham Du'Feu, second last year, was philosophical after finishing sixth this time around. As he sportingly congratulated Tony Calvert he said: I guess I'll have to come back again. I've ridden pretty well considering I don't really see rocks all year apart from up here. It is such a good trial.
Said Neil Gaunt: That's the last time Calvert's coming practising with me! Seriously good on him, it's a different winner and that must be good for the trial. I'll be back to take it back off him next year!
TONY CALVERT...
TONY Calvert, known to many as Sam' is a Yorkshireman who rode regularly in the northern centre in his day and was a former sponsored National regular back in the 1970s and early 80s on Bultaco, Crooks-Suzuki and Ossa, before retiring in 1987.
He made his comeback ride in the Scottish Two-Day in 2000 and this is his fifth attempt at the Classic Scottish.
John Holmes offered me a ride on his special Cub and I have ridden Cubs for him in this event ever since. I was on a good ride and looking like cleaning a day last year when I melted a piston. I really wanted to win this one. The big moment this year was when I saw Neil drop a mark on one of the sections out on the Mamore road and I thought, Whatever happens, I am up here, and I was. It takes some doing to clean a day in this trial and I am chuffed to win, for John as much as myself.
PIPELINE - FRIDAY...
THE action at that favourite Pre-65 section Pipeline that shoots straight uphill half-a-mile above the old Aluminium works (now a hydro-electric power station) in Kinlochleven was as good, if not better than ever, on the opening day.
The sun was out, the spectators lined the loose, rocky path and the section was in fine form, ready to trap the unwary but equally willing to give-up cleans to the deserved.
With the ground being so dry the loose rocks were set in powder-like earth which was keen to be churned between spinning wheels.
Early arrivals often get the best deal, before the rocks get on the move and that was the case this year. The first two riders to arrive, big Geordie-lad Steve Maxwell and tough Tyke Brian Irwin both had the skill and determination to take their chance and bag their cleans, on a 250 Triumph and 350 BSA respectively.
After that, the cleans came as and when the riders rose to the occasion, irrespective of the state of the section when their time came. Les Winthrop was first Scot to master it and Stonehaven's Murray Whittaker was every bit as impressive.
One of the best early cleans was undoubtedly that of super-consistent Channel Islander Graham Du'Feu who used a high gear to great effect on his big Ariel.
Peter Salt sailed-up beautifully on his nice Greeves as did southern ace Len Hutty on his immaculate 410 AJS.
The cleans rolled-on - John Maxfield fought his Cub all the way - brilliant - JCM instigator Joel Corroy, former runner-up (this was written before he went one better) Tony Calvert and former winner Scott Dommett, popular Spaniard Carles Casas, Davy Morewood, Martyn Wilmore to name a few. And PJ1 man Richard Thorpe was delighted to claim his first feet-up attempt after years' of trying!
Saving the best until last, what chance a father and son double? Well, it happened, with defending champ, Neil Gaunt, and his famous dad, Peter.
First, Neil blasted up on his special Ariel like only Neil can. Line-perfect, nice speed, just the right amount of aggression and all when the hill was not in a nice state to ride. Peter followed later, following at least three ciggies as he inspected the hill! What followed was like turning back the clock a full 40 years, a typical delicate dancing ride from Peter, easing his 250 Enfield over the rocks at exactly the right speed before flicking through the ends cards to a roar of applause.
Absolutely, unbelievable stuff from a man turned 70 - it was a pleasure to be there.
2007 SCOTTISH PRE-65 TWO-DAY TRIAL
Best Performance on First Day - The Challenge Trophy: Tony Calvert (199 Triumph) 1.
2nd Best Performance - Duncan Smith Trophy: Neil Gaunt (500 Ariel) 2.
3rd Best Performance - Ralph Venables Trophy: Davy Morewood (250 Royal Enfield) 2.
Best Foreign Rider - T Arnott Moffat Trophy: Carlos Casas (199 Triumph) 6.
Best Newcomer - Willie Pitblado Trophy: Gunter Ruttloff (240 Jawa) 14.
Best Scottish Rider - Eileen Randall Trophy: Leslie Winthrop (250 Triumph) 2.
Best Rider Over 60 - Nick Nicholls Trophy: David Thorpe (200 Triumph) 10.
Best Trade-Supported Rider - Motorcycle Trader Trophy: Lluis Diaz Bedate (200 Triumph) 24.
Best Rider on a Rigid Machine - Mick Andrews Trophy: Gary Marshall (500 Triumph) 77.
Best Woman Competitor- Joan Westbrook Trophy: Jill Driffield (175 BSA) 32.
Best Over 350cc - Bob Patterson Trophy: Graham Du'Feu (500 Ariel) 6.
Best 251-350cc - John Draper Trophy: Joan Rovira (350 BSA) 8.
Best 201-250cc - Lampkin Trophy: Murray Whittaker (250 Triumph) 8.
Best up to 200cc - Allie Cameron Trophy: David Postlethwaite (199 Triumph) 9.
Best Performance on First Day - Bob Adamson Trophy: Neil Gaunt (500 Ariel) clean.
SPECIAL FIRST CLASS: 4 Leslie Winthrop (250 Triumph) 1+1=2, 5 Carlos Casas (199 Triumph) 1+5=6, 6 Graham Du'Feu (500 Ariel) 1+5=6, 7 Joan Rovira (350 BSA) 2+6=8, 8 Murray Whittaker (250 Triumph) 5+3=8, 9 David Postlethwaite (199 Triumph) 7+2=9, 10 David Thorpe (200 Triumph) 2+8=10, 11 Stephen Collins (Triumph) 4+6=10, 12 Steven Maxwell (247 Triumph) 4+6=10, 13 Len Hutty (410 Matchless) 2+8=10, 14 Paul Heys (230 Triumph) 2+9=11, 15 Alan Crayk (246 Cotton) 3+10=13, 16 Joel Corroy (350 Ariel) 4+10=14, 17 Gunter Ruttloff (240 Jawa) 3+11=14, 18 Scott Dommett (270 BSA) 7+9=16, 19 Alan Wright (250 James) 9+7=16, 20 Martyn Wilmore (500 Ariel) 8+9=17, 21 Dave Wood (250 BSA) 7+11=18, 22 John Maxfield (199 Triumph) 7+12=19, 23 Chris Gascoigne (???) 7+13=20.
FIRST CLASS: 24 Mick Grant (500 Ariel) 8+13=21, 25 Jose Buixo (350 BSA) 9+13=22, 26 Bruno Mortet (410 Matchless) 6+16=22, 27 Peter Salt (246 Francis Barnett) 7+16=23, 28 Lluis Diaz Bedate (200 Triumph) 9+15=24, 29 George Emmott (500 Triumph) 10+15=25, 30 Manel Jane (200 Triumph) 7+19=26, 31 Mark Quinn (199 Triumph) 8+19=27, 32 Francesc Carbonell (200 Bultaco) 8+20=28, 33 Angel Magrina (350 BSA) 9+20=29, 34 Mike Rapley (250 James) 12+17=29, 35 Darren Palmer (250 BSA) 13+17=30, 36 Matthew Neale (199 Triumph) 13+18=31, 37 David Emmott (500 Triumph) 9+22=31, 38 Colin Bell (250 Triumph) 9+23=32, 39 Jill Driffield (175 BSA) 15+17=32, 40 Patrick Pissis (249 Triumph) 14+19=33, 41 Richard Thorpe (250 James) 4+29=33, 42 Guy Favre (350 BSA) 20+15=35, 43 Malcolm Cocking (349 Triumph) 14+21=35.