THAT TWINSHOCK CLASS ?





SWM in action in Canada

 Once again over the Donner weekend there is a fair bit of discussion over whether AHRMA should
add another class to encompass the "Last of the Twinshocks". I know it has been discussed by
many and has been rejected by AHRMA on several previous attempts to get them included. Of
course not being at the meetings it is difficult to know the reasoning for not letting these machines
in.



A Fantastic Fantic in Spain

 Over the last few years many National events must have run at a loss through lack of entries and
with fuel costs where they are today I'm sure many more will be in the same boat this year.

 It would seem the membership, in the main, are for the inclusion of these machines yet we hear
that "the powers that be" continually reject the proposal as it will need another line? Personally I
would have thought that 4 lines are enough. The newer machines 1980-1985 can quite happily
run on the 1,2 and 3 lines for their 3 groups and would therefore not cause any friction from riders
competing in the other designated classes. There are many trials that already run this class calling
it "Modern Twinshock" and indeed they swell the numbers at the event but of course are not
competing for any National Championship.



The Montesa 330 with that supersoft Clutch

 Maybe there is some conflict of interest out there? Surely anything that is done, or proposed is
there for the good of all and the sport in particular. There will come a time when there are NO
more Ariels to rebuild, NO more Cubs and Villiers engined machines. We can't all own one, and
many do not want to.  However, there are a large group of beautiful machines out there rotting
away with no place to ride and they are currently being treated like illegal immigrants!



Another SWM

 It can also be argued that we have a Girder Class and again three skill levels within that. Just
how many Girder machines are still out there, and how often do they ever compete on a
head-to-head basis? We have riders joining us and competing on our given lines riding modern
monoshocks and enjoying their own competition. Of course our sections are not as challenging
as those laid out for a modern trial, nor would we want them to be but that doesn't decrease
the enjoyment for the competitors who are riding much more capable machines. It may just be
that some of those riding a modern monoshock may buy or build and older machine and
compete in one of our given classes.



Modern Riders in AHRMA Sections at Donner



If only it had a Flywheel!


 Another area of friction, and again as a competitor rather than organiser, is the clash between
AHRMA and ITSA which seems a little childish to me. The ITSA style trials of course are 10 sections
for each class with no splits so none of those annoying "5's" for missing a split. Each class rides
it's own "tough" 5 sections and also rides the next 5 sections from the next lower group. A lot of
work for the organisers maybe, or is it ? It might be just as quick when you consider the number
of cards, stakes, stapling and writing that is involved trying to find 4 appropriate lines in one given
section. But the big difference seems to be in the cost of entries at these co promoted events and
what your entry fees give you in respect to Championship Points. Seems the 2 factions should be
working closer together in this area to please all.



Another Fantic in Canada

 So back to the main thread, ITSA allows machines of this given period in and AHRMA doesn't.
Surely ITSA cannot expand it's area of operations and grow if it doesn't support the AHRMA
memberships wish to include these machines. If they are given the new "Class" then they are
elligible to ride in both competitions and may encourage riders to support both bodies in their
endeavors to increase entry size and increase the popularity of the sport.



A Late model Majesty in Canadian action


 Let's have that "New Class" and argue over what to call it later, but let's see the last of the
Bultaco's, Montesa's TLR's, Cagivas, SWM's and Fantic's all out there competing ....... as at the
moment it's a crimal waste of some beautiful machines which are sitting idle.



 Do we really want them to rot away?

 When all is said and done these are the last machines of an era, and maybe the best there ever
was. It's only a 6 year time frame so why, oh why, is there so much resistance to recognizing the
last stepping stone to modern monoshocks in our trialing heritage?


 Tony Down ...... in shock...... TWINSHOCK!