Scottish Six Days Trial


The Scottish Six Days Trial is an internationally recognised Motorcycle trials competition, which has been running since 1909 making it the oldest motorcycle trials event in the world. Motorcycle riders from all over the world compete in this extreme sport, covering as much as 100 miles a day on road and off-road routes around Lochaber on each of the six days. The event is a trial of the skill, consistency and endurance of the riders, as well as a test of the specialised motorcycles used.

History

The inaugural Scottish motorcycle trial was held in July 1909 and was a five-day event devised by Campbell McGregor of the Edinburgh Motor Cycle Club.
Originally, the trial started in Edinburgh, going to John O'Groats before returning to Edinburgh. It aimed to be the most challenging motorcycle trial ever held. The Edinburgh & District Club organised the event from 1911. Prior to that event the organisers were a combination of local clubs in the Edinburgh area.
By 1912 the event was known as the "Scottish Six Days Open Reliability Trial" and by 1914 rules were agreed together with a marking system and time penalties for machine faults. The outbreak of the First World War halted competition but the Six Days Trial returned in 1919. Problems with following the route were solved by marking the course with yellow ochre from a barrel mounted on a car. The scoring system was updated in 1926 to allow for condition, hillclimbing and brake testing but the event was still a test of motorcycle reliability.
From the 1930s factory teams became more prevalent and in 1932 the results system was further amended to identify an outright winner. In 1938, Fort William was chosen as the central point of the trial although, it still started and ended in Edinburgh. The outbreak of World War II stopped competition until 1947, when 108 competitors took part.
In 1977, the event broke its link with Edinburgh and the event started and finished in Fort William. This was due to the Gathering of the Clans taking up a sizeable amount of accommodation in the Capital. The organisers were forced to move the start and finish to Fort William, but it proved very popular move, as it assisted the logistics of the trial for both competitors and officials. During the 1970s and 1980s, the Scottish Six Days Trial grew in popularity and was established as the most important event for trials motorcycles.

The club

The Edinburgh & District Motor Club Ltd is based in Edinburgh and was formed through the amalgamation of several Edinburgh based motor clubs in 1911. The headquarters of the Edinburgh & District Motor Club Ltd and hence the SSDT was at 28 Nelson Street, Edinburgh until 2001 when the premises were sold for redevelopment. It is the recognised organisation responsible body for the Scottish Six Days Trial. The club decided to celebrate 100 years of the event in 2011, this resulted in a massive over-subscription of the trial. Since the 1940s the event has been known as "A Sporting Holiday in The Highlands" but in reality it is a truly competitive event.

The 1950s and 1960s

Over the years particular makes of machine appear to have dominated the trial. One such make was the AJS. Manufactured by Associated Motor Cycles in Plumstead, South East London, England, the rugged and reliable AJS Model 16 was considered ideal for the demands of the Scottish Trial, with modifications including upgrading the frame to a welded duplex tubular frame with an engine cradle to reduce weight and redesigned exhaust and footrests to improve ground clearance. In 1957 it was further redesigned to increase clearance from 7 inches to 10 inches. Hugh Viney led the AJS works team in the post war years and won the challenging 1947 Trial on an AJS 16MC at his first attempt – then repeated the achievement the following year and made it three in a row in 1949. In the 1950s this record was beaten by another AJS Works Team rider Gordon Jackson, who won the Scottish four times, in the 1961 event he won the trial losing only one mark. The SSDT, up until 1976, started on the Monday morning from the Gorgie Cattle Market and finished on the Saturday at the Observatory at Blackford Hill, Edinburgh. The event being based at Fort William during the week.

Present day

The "Scottish" has been completely based at Fort William since the 1977 event and is so popular that there are usually over 500 entries for the 275 places available. Of the 275 places, 30 are reserved for factory teams and a further 50 for allocation by the Club. The remaining places are allocated through a ballot system. Following a period of private refuelling services and the increase in health and safety regulations, the British Army were invited and made use of the SSDT as a live refuelling exercise called 'Operation Highland Trot'. The future of the SSDT was put into temporary jeopardy in 2003 when the Army reluctantly announced in late 2002 that they were no longer able to provide a refuelling service. However, the SSDT was able to continue through 2003 with another branch of the Army taking over the refuelling services. Since the 1960s it has been customary for a Scotsman to be allocated the riding number 1. The trial celebrated its 'Official Centenary' in 2011, 100 years since the 1911 event, which was the first organised by the Edinburgh & District Motor Club Ltd. The majority of the event takes place on private ground, connected by public highway. Following the event by motorcycle on private land is strictly prohibited, as permission for the competitors and officials is only granted under this caveat. Spectators at observed sections are welcome, but those spectating are asked to park sensibly at or near sections. Observing these requirements will thus ensure the future of this prestigious event. The trial organisers work very closely with landowners and government agencies to ensure that the environment is protected during not only the event itself, but the preparations prior to it on an annual basis.

SSDT winners

YearNameNotes
1932Bob MacGregor499cc Rudge
1933Len Heath497cc Ariel
1934Jack Williams348cc Norton
1935Bob MacGregorRudge
1936Billy Tiffen343cc Velocette
1937Jack Williams348cc Norton
1938Fred Povey348cc Ariel
1939Allan JeffriesTriumph
1947Hugh VineyAJS Model 16
1948Hugh VineyAJS
1949Hugh VineyAJS
1950Artie Ratcliffe350cc Matchless
1951John Draper350cc BSA
1952Johnny BrittainRoyal Enfield
1953Hugh VineyAJS
1954Artie RatcliffeMatchless
1955Jeff Smith500cc BSA Gold Star
1956Gordon JacksonAJS
1957Johnny Brittain350cc Royal Enfield Bullet – HNP 331
1958Gordon Jackson350cc AJS
1959Roy Peplow199cc Triumph Tiger Cub
1960Gordon Jackson350cc AJS
1961Gordon Jackson350cc AJS
1962Sammy Miller500cc Ariel – GOV 132
1963Arthur LampkinFactory 250cc BSA
1964Sammy Miller500cc Ariel GOV 132
1965Sammy MillerBultaco two-stroke
1966Alan Lampkin250cc BSA
1967Sammy MillerBultaco
1968Sammy MillerBultaco
1969Bill Wilkinson250cc Greeves Anglian
1970Mick AndrewsOssa
1971Mick AndrewsOssa
1972Mick AndrewsOssa
1973Malcolm Rathmell250cc Bultaco
1974Mick AndrewsYamaha OW10 Yamaha
1975Mick AndrewsYamaha
1976Martin LampkinBultaco
1977Martin LampkinBultaco
1978Martin LampkinBultaco
1979Malcolm RathmellMontesa 310 Cota
1980Yrjö VesterinenMontesa
1981Gilles Burgat280cc SWM
1982Bernie Schreiber280cc SWM
1983Tony GorgotMontesa
1984Thierry MichaudFantic
1985Thierry MichaudFantic
1986Thierry MichaudFantic
1987Jordi TarresBeta
1988Steve SaundersFantic
1989Steve SaundersFantic
1990Steve SaundersBeta
1991Steve Saunders260cc Beta
1992Steve Colley260cc Beta
1993Steve Colley260cc Beta
1994Dougie Lampkin250cc Beta
1995Dougie Lampkin250cc Beta
1996Dougie Lampkin250cc Beta
1997Steve Colley270cc Gas Gas
1998Graham Jarvis250cc Scorpa
1999Graham Jarvis250cc Bultaco Sherco
2000Steve Colley280cc Gas Gas
2001No SSDTDue to Foot and Mouth Disease the Scottish Six Days Trial was suspended
2002Amós Bilbao249cc Montesa
2003Joan Pons290cc Sherco
2004Graham Jarvis290cc Sherco
2005Sam Connor290cc Sherco
2006Graham Jarvis290cc Sherco
2007James Dabill300cc Future TRW Montesa
2008Dougie Lampkin270cc Beta
2009Dougie Lampkin290cc Beta
2010Alexz Wigg290cc Beta
2011James Dabill290cc Beta
2012Dougie LampkinGas Gas
2013Dougie LampkinGas Gas
2014Dougie LampkinDL12 – Gas Gas
2015Dougie LampkinVertigo
2016Dougie LampkinVertigo
2017Dougie LampkinVertigo
2018Dougie LampkinVertigo
2019James DabillBeta