South Yorkshire Times, March 12th, 1960
Conisbrough, Doncaster Riders in 1,000 miles, Six days Trial
More than 1,000 miles in six days…. struggling to control a mud-spattered bucking machine…speeding up and down hills, through streams and between boulders in one of the toughest motor-cycle trials in Britain.
To the majority of people this would present an extremely dismal picture of strain and discomfort but to two adventurous members of Mexborough and Don Valley Motor Club however, May 2nd – the start of the Scottish international motor-cycle trials – is a date that cannot be missed (comments Harry Cooke).
Among the few Yorkshire competitors in the trial, which attracts entrants from abroad, will be Roy Bibby (29) of Athelstane Road, Conisbrough and Ron Law, of Doncaster.
Roy told me this week “We hope to travel to the trials in Ron’s car taking our machines with us. The course will be over 100 miles a day – between Edinburgh and Fort William – and although the trial will not be all that grueling physically, it will be a tremendous strain on the machines.”
Wear and Tour
Despite the obvious wear and tear on every vital part and mechanism, none of the 180 motor-cycles will be touched during the whole of the six days. As Ron put it “If something goes wrong with the machine you are out, that’s all there is to it.” Roy, employed by a construction firm, is married with three children. What does Mrs. Ann Bibby (25) think of the sport? “She is quite happy as long as I am enjoying myself,” said Roy.
He added “Some people have the impression that riding in trials is highly dangerous. It isn’t. I have been riding for more than four years and during that time I have seen only one accident.
Many Awards
Roy has done extremely well during his membership of the Mexboro’ and Don Valley Motor Club, and has won many premier awards in their trials. He has a cabinet full of trophies – the Woodhead Trophy, the Clubman’s Trophy, and the Novice Cup among them. He has also been placed in many County and National trials, including a second-class award in the national Ben Rose Trial.
What will their chances be in the Scottish competition? “We are hoping to be highly placed, of course,” said Mr. Bibby. But, he added, that will be no mean achievement I can tell you. You get a prize if you manage to complete the course.”
