2025 – Scotland post 1
Thursday evening, May 1.
The programme for the Pre 65 trial which starts in the morning was printed some days ago so the posted entry list is inaccurate as several of the riders still on the reserve list up until the final few days before the trial takes place have now been offered a ride. Two (at least) from the Northern Centre have accepted a ride over the past few days with Erik Buckley taking his long awaited ride – on dad Neil’s Bantam – and Peter Blowers who has kept saying he wasn’t going to Scotland, took an offered ride a day or so after Erik, so will be campaigning his own machine this time rather than the borrowed bike he took around in 2024.
The anticipated parking problems because the smelting works parking area is not available this year, has not materialised – at least not today, and I rather fancy that it won’t be a problem on Friday and Saturday as there seems to be plenty of available space. So if you are considering a trip to the trial but fearful of parking issues, I reckon it is well worth coming up (or down if you live northwards!).
Signing on by riders and the examination of machines has gone smoothly and observers have been given a very smart rucksack by the sponsors of the observer corps, Kia Motors, in fact the pre 65 trial is very well backed by various companies who have a special interest in the event.
This first report can only say that machinery is looking superb in most cases with some fantastic preparations that are a real credit to the engineers who have produced them.
More news tomorrow all being well, from an observers point of view with myself and Neil Buckley managing the single section at Sleubhaich off the Mamore Road on Friday and section 3 at Cnoc a Linnie on Saturday.