SOMETHING TO DO WITH CHICKENS AND HATCHING
(The Story of the 1974 Welsh 2 Day)






 The joke Minarelli Cottons that we were forced to ride have thankfully been disposed of or given
away to some poor unsuspecting souls, may have even been given to Shepherds to round up their
flock although I'm not sure they could keep up.





 Imagine my surprize when in late March of 1974 we are told we will have the Monark 125 with
the 6 speed GS motor in a true ISDT bike.  They had been ridden the previous year in the ISDT
and I personally didn't ride that year so I hadn't seen one of these machines in the flesh. It
arrived (not cleaned) so it was stripped a bit for cleaning and general knowledge as during these
crazy events you must know exactly how to change all the components that the rules allow. NB:
if you want to get into the team, you must be able to change a tube and be on your way in FOUR
MINUTES!





 Things you notice immediately about the bike are the massive fins on the engine, that would
make Jaws jealous,  and the diddliesquat 3.50 rear tire. Nice seat and good position on the bike
both sitting and standing.

 Very little time to practice as the Scottish Six Days is taking priority so the Monark is sidelined as
the Yamaha needs all the attention. Post the SSDT it's time to take Sweden's answer to the KTM
out for some green laning ...... man it's 'king QUICK!


 June finds us in Llandrindod Wells, and this year it has been raining (it always rains it's Wales)
but the forecast is bright and sunny. ..... and so it was. The thing about the Welsh is the wide
variety of ability levels of the riders ranging from World Class Enduro Champions, members of the
British Team, fast "balls out" motor cross men, good trials riders "having a go", local clubmen,
green laners (this should be easy) to rank novices and complete beginers!

 Well we all started somewhere but this is not the place to have a go as these boys mean
business.


 Day 1 and lots of riding on this wonder bike and after about the first hour we stop using the
clutch as the tendons in the back of my wrist are begining to ache from all the gear changing.
Got to keep this little baby on the "bugle" especially with that little back tire in deep mud.





On the "Bugle" in the Mud



Power Slide coming on in the Special Test

 On time everywhere and the 2 or 3 special tests are great fun. Difficult to describe the
differences from previous machines other than the Cheshire Cat Smile! Night one and the
Doctor's advice is followed to the letter! The results are in around 10 p.m. and we have just
about a clean sweep

 Class Leader                                                  Ted Thompson                    RAF      125cc Monark
 Best One Make Team                                     Monark
 Best Services Team                                        R.A.F         
 Best Club Team                                              R.A.F.M.S.A.





Some Big Holes in the Heather

 Day 2 things go well and no problems at all, no "moments" that I can remember other than a
self plucking chicken that tried to run through the front wheel and missing a falling tree in a logging
area, I thought they were urging me on rather than slowing me down ...Oh well, it missed.






Welsh ACU Marshal  at the Start of the Last Special Test


 About 3'ish in the afternoon I'm heading westbound towards the final check about 3 miles from
the start and as I climb this big, big hill on an open sheep track there comes a snatching sensation
from the back wheel, like the suspension is locked and the wheel is hopping. I remember turning
round and seeing bits of rubber and alloy flying out of the hub in a cloud of silver and black! ..........
not NOW!...... I don't 'king believe it!!!

 I try and stop but it's too late all the internal splines have been chewed out of the hub, the rubber
cush spider is no more..... all gone and now the wheel won't go round. Take the chain off and toss
it, then start pushing, but sods law, this is like Everest! One eye on the watch and the other full of
sweat I try running ,pushing, crawling, anything to get to the top of this hill.

 Finally at the top with 45 minutes of the 1 hour allowance gone it's now downhill to the check, so
freewheel downhill and now there are some real "hairy moments" and at last out on the road
leading back to civilization and without the constant laughing sheep, baaa.... baa ..... Haaaa! Haaa!
...   bbaaa..... 




 Running up the road with helmet in hand and flat soled motorcross boots the watch tells me that
the WAR is over, but knowing that sometimes organizers scrub the timing on certain stages the
punishment continues and I arrive at the end of the event 1hour and 20 minutes over my time.

 No such luck today and I join the ranks of DNF!  So close and yet so far......... what was that
about not counting chickens?........ as it's Wales just count SHEEP!





 Now as a final note and one that "Shade Tree" would use, if you have a crap design rear wheel
then carry a bundle of cable ties as had they been available back in 74 I could have lashed the
sprocket to the spokes and made it to the finish............ baaaa! 





A Sheepish     TONY DOWN