Who's Who of Trials

[Ji Gantor]

The last posting was of a guy from some where else, this time this bloke is one of us.
Image by Ron Vietheer F98

Who Am I ?

[pmc57]

I'm going to take a stab at this one.
Looks to be seventies era going by the fashion on the crowd, he's wearing the #1 plate so he's gained an OZ Champion title, he looks very young, in fact could be a junior....
I'd say Craig Gillies.

[Ji Gantor]

Great reasoning !
Very impressive.
Your on the right track.

But that is not our mystery man

[David Lahey]

Ji Gantor, am I allowed to answer this one or do you want it to run a bit longer?
This person was a local rider in Bulimba, Brisbane who practiced trials in bushland near my parent's house and watching him practice was one of the main reasons I got into trials.
He successfully campaigned on TY250A (as you can see in the photo), TY250B, TY175C (or JC can't remember) and KT250.
He and the KT250 achieved legend status for me at least at a NDMTC Open trial at Lacey's Creek when after bending a shockie and not being able to get it moving freely again, just left it off the bike and finished the trial riding with one shockie - and won A grade to boot. I can still remember the way the bike went over the muddy uphill climbs over rocks with the rear suspension bottoming out repeatedly and harshly but he held his line and cruised through, and the swingarm still looked straight at the end of the trial. I guess that has something to do with the bike being made by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and mystery rider being only about 65kg.
And for pmc57, mystery rider is 3 years older than Craig Gillies.

[Phil]

Based on his body english and look of steely determination I reckon it's "Rampaging" Roy Slavin on the Bianucci 200 at the The Lithgow Slagheap Trial circa 1972. Legendary "Mr Smooth", Warren McVie can be seen in the background, sucking on his customary pre run Winfield blue and checking out Roys line before donning his famous 'tam'o' shanter and cleaning the section on his Peter Gaunt framed Jawa Californian, relegating Roy to an unacustomed second place overall, and costing the big guy yet another championship.

[Ji Gantor]

Hi Feetupfun,
That is the perfect hint for all those Grey beards. Both Ron and I are amazed at your memory of the old days. May be you should post a whos who with your pin up girl, I reckon that will not take long for someone to guess. It should not take to long now for someone to guess who our mystery rider is.

Thanks mate
Ji

[Ji Gantor]

Hi Old Phil,
No that is not our mystery rider.
Great guess and I love the story.
Keep at it, Feetupfun has nailed it.

[David Lahey]

Hi Feetupfun,
That is the perfect hint for all those Grey beards. Both Ron and I are amazed at your memory of the old days. May be you should post a whos who with your pin up girl, I reckon that will not take long for someone to guess. It should not take to long now for someone to guess who our mystery rider is.

Thanks mate
Ji

Ji
I posted my Brisbane trials pinup girl on the trials site forum a while back (same photo I sent you), and not one person remembered her even after I eventually disclosed who it was.
Yes I reckon I should give it a go.
David

[pmc57]

My second attempt... Geoff Gough

pmc57

[Ji Gantor]

Hi PMC57,
Your banned from further participation.

Well done.

[pmc57]

I must confess I had some inside help. When I didn't get it on my first attempt, of which I was sure it was a young Craig Gillies, I rang Craig to run it past him. He gave me a few names but when one of the clues was this man rode a KT as well, that sealed it.
Craig doesn't read this forum, in fact he doesn't even have a computer or internet access, but he still likes bikes and has quite a collection of twinshock trials and enduro bikes, some going some not. He keeps saying that he'll ride a Qld or OZ twinshock title event again oneday, but who knows when.
Keep your eyes open at CD6 as he said he may take a couple of bikes along.

[Ji Gantor]

I don't care how you got the answer, well done.
We should still hold these individuals in high esteem.
They gave Australia the great name we have today in bike riding.
We should be talking about them like the yanks talk about De Coster, Bailey, Johnson and Pomeroy...
The organisers of bike events should try and get them along so their fans can see them again and never forget them.
Look at Jeremy McGrath, his fans have not forgotten him, even the ones here in Australia. I took these images at the Super X in Brisbane last year. Jerry was so friendly, signed a lot of stuff and kept Chad behind him for a few laps.
Come on lets all talk to the state and national champions that we know and see if we can get them to come to CD6. May be their old sponcers are still around and it would be good for them to be there as well.

[Ji Gantor]

Jerry.

[Ji Gantor]

Jerry and Chad.

[Ji Gantor]

Does anybody still speak to Anthony Gunter.
What a legend, I saw him contest the Mr Motocross series in the seventies at Tivoli. Anthony and Stephen Gall certainly were riding for sheep stations back then. If someone does know Anthony can they ask him if he could make it to CD6, may be we can all throw in some money for a plane ticket.