The British squad bosses were keen to keep the Trophy team mounted on home machinery, but the choices were few and what remained of the British industry showed little interest in competing in the motorcycling Olympics. Apathy might have ruled in the boardrooms at Small Heath and Meriden, but, thanks to the determination of multiple six days gold medal winner Ken Heanes, the Trophy team did compete on British bikes in the 45th International in Spain, in 1970.
The team’s Cheney Triumphs were arguably some of the most beautiful machines ever to compete in the strength-sapping, bike-breaking marathon. The late Heanes explained how motorcycles were readied for the 1970 (and 1971) ISDTs:
“I was keen to keep the flag flying and I managed to persuade five other large dealerships in the form of Elite Motors, Comerfords, Bill Slocombe, Jack Williams and Allan Jefferies, plus myself, to fund our [Britain’s] efforts for the 1970 International.
“Each dealership would put up the money to sponsor one bike powered by overbored Triumph twins, which Eric Cheney would build into one of his tried and tested motocross frames. I got the motors straight from the production line at Meriden and stripped, balanced and rebuilt them, and, as with all of my Triumph engines for previous Internationals, I changed the gearing to include a low first and then a jump to the close ratio three other gears, which gave a top speed of around 100mph on the road.
Denne historien er fra December 2020-utgaven av The Classic MotorCycle.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 2020-utgaven av The Classic MotorCycle.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Runs should be fun
The club run is an integral part of the old motorcycle scene. During 2020, a variation on the usual theme emerged, enabling people to ride in the company of like-minded souls.
Hybrid chicken
BSA Bantams come in many forms, and the ability to interchange parts between different models permits an almost endless number of variants.
Green WITH ENVY
Life aboard a 1950s 350cc British single is perhaps as good and as uncomplicated as it can get.
Worth the wait
Captivated by sight of one as a small boy, finally our man has the chance to try an NSU Max.And a ‘Spezial’ one at that…
The Motorcycle: DESIGN, ART AND DESIRE
The concluding part of a two-part feature, in which the history of motorcycle evolution is examined and a new book’s author interviewed.
Cream rises
There were several ‘star performers’ at Bonhams’ winter sale, as the choice machines achieved huge sums.
The Giant of Provence
With so few events to report from, it’s time to look back over a spectacular French event and look forward to its hopeful resumption.
Store cupboard special
A big box of presents? Must be Christmas! More deliveries keep the project on track.
By 1929, CJP Dodson was a bona fide top level road racer, pretty much unbeatable on the sand, too.
The diminutive Charlie Dodson was the last man to win a TT, the 1928 Senior, on a ‘flat-tank’ machine, then the next year became the first (and only) winner of a TT on a saddle tank Sunbeam, as well as recording the last ever success in the Island for the Marston maker.
Cassandra the Canadian Commando
After landing a new job and with time on his hands, a young man in Vancouver decided to restore a British motorcycle considerably older than him.
