Hot News

For Sale: Beta 270

2008 Beta Rev 3 270 for sale in full Top Trial team colours, good condition, road registered and taxed, ready to compete on at any level. Genuine reason for sale - Ł1850. For more information contact any of the Welch gang on 01989 750298 [on 6Jul10]

Zona 1 prizes

Zona 1 have come up with a sensible way to get round the problem of awards cluttering up the house, and clubs trying to distribute them - winners can choose a voucher to put towards trials kit, free entry next time, or if you really want one, a trophy. "We are giving all riders except youths an option on awards, and options are on the entry form," says Rob Workman. "There are normal trophies, or vouchers to the value of Ł10.00 with BVM or SXS, or free entry next time. Please indicate on the entry form. We are trying this because trophies are difficult to distribute." The club's next event is the John Workman Trial on July 25 - regulations and entry form are on the calendar. Check out the club's website too for more info. [on 21Jun10]

Stolen - 125 Gas Gas Pro

Karl Linney and his son have been hit by thieves - his son's 2008 Gas Gas 125 was stolen last Friday lunchtime, 4th June from Chipping Campden. "Thieves (I am being polite) broke into my son's workshop in our garden and stole his bike, as you can imagine he`s gutted," says Karl. "If anybody is offered or has any information regarding a bike with the frame number VTRGG1202J0180302 then please contact me on 07717833355 or 01386 840698." Sad news indeed and a reminder to us all to be ever aware of security. [on 8Jun10]

For Sale: 09 Gas Gas 300 Pro

2009 Gas Gas 300 Pro. Very, very good condition, road registered, taxed till Nov, maintained regardless of cost, head spacer to give soft usable power, new grips, well loved bike which is only being sold due to a serious shoulder injury, used twice in last 6mths, very competitive, runs lovely. Wants for nothing. Ł2,950 ono. Contact 07855 772 189 or 01594 544 186. [on 31May10]

CHG Trials

Cheltenham Home Guard MCC have confirmed venues for its next three events. There will be a Centre Championship Round at Langley Hill on June 20, followed by a trial at Farmcote on September 5, and the John Draper Trial on October 31 at Langley Hill - this will also be a round of the Centre Championship. As ever with Langley, the trial is dependent on the car park being usable, so keep an eye on this website for any breaking news on this front. The Farmcote Trial has run successfully before as a non-Expert trial but a final decision has yet to be made on whether it will be this year. Whatever, this promises to be an event for a wide range of abilities. The club's August 1 date has been dropped. Check out all the changes on the updated calendar. [on 30May10]

Clerk of Course Seminar - 8PM START

The only Clerk of Course seminar for the next three years in the Centre will be held on June 14 - lapsed CoC licence holders are urged to attend. The venue is The Tufthorn Inn at Milkwall near Coleford and all participants must “enter” by contacting Trials committee secretary Tom Welch on 01989 750298 before 10th June. There are “NO ENTRIES ON THE NIGHT” and this is the only proposed Trials seminar for the next 3 years. [on 26May10]

Getting your Regulations online

Most of the centre's hard-working event secretaries already do this but there is a quicker way to get your all-important event regulations online. Basically, you can send a copy of the regulations and permit application form to Permit Secretary Roy Savery and at the same time send another set of regulations to Ben Falconer, the editor of this website. As soon as Roy has given the regulations a permit number, he will email the number to Ben - who will add the permit number to your regulations and put them online. Read more about it at the updated Mike Gunn's Idiot Sheet, which is a valuable checklist for organisers. [on 24Apr10]

Paul Fry

Sad news - Grasstrack and Speedway star Paul Fry has died. He was 45. His passing will sadden many in the Western Centre, where he was born, bred, and raced very successfully. A comprehensive rundown of his illustrious career is on the Swindon Robins Speedway site, and more information can be found on the BBC. Many will have a favourite "Fryer" moment on and off the track, over a career which began in the 1980s. We extend our sincere condolences to his family. [on 5Apr10]

New Venue for Oxford Ixion

Oxford Ixion trials are popular with many Western Centre riders, and Ken O'Brien has found a new venue not too far away from our Centre... "We have been lucky enough to get a new piece of land for trials use in the Chipping Norton (Oxfordshire) area and will be running The Oxford Ixion charity Trial on Saturday 24th of April at 2.30pm," says Ken.

"All the details will be on our website very soon and also in TMX and Trials Central all proceeds will be going to the Mind charity.

"I will be hoping to cut some exciting new sections as there are various types of going including rocks cambers banks ditches and the such like.

"The event will will be signed off the A44 near Little Compton opposite the land fill site and is called Newmans Quarry.

"I will be plotting three routes and all classes will be catered for including youth abc and d. "This piece of land will be especially suited to Pre 65 machines and Twinshocks.

" We are hoping for a good entry to boost the pot for this very good cause.You can contact Ken O'Brien on 07917302011 or 01865 717977."

[on 30Mar10]

British Championship Pre-75 Grasstrack

The 2010 British Pre-75 ACU Grasstrack Championship is coming to the Western Centre on August Bank Holiday Monday (30th). The Ledbury club is running the event, which takes the place of its Peterchurch Show meeting, which was originally set down for the same weekend. Keep an eye on the calendar for details nearer the time. [on 19mar10]

Enduro, trials and grasstrack date changes confirmed

Date changes to several meetings were approved by the Western Centre board on March 8. They are:

Ledbury, Grasstrack on Saturday June 12. (Spring Classic April 25, and Peterchurch Show August 30 both Cancelled).

West Glos, Trail Bike Trial, Saturday May 1 (changed from May 15).

West Glos, Enduro, Sunday July 18 (changed from August 22).

Wye Valley, Non-Expert Trial, Sunday May 9 - provisional. (changed from February 21)

Check out the up to date Calendar. [on 9Mar10]

For Sale: red frame Yamaha

Red frame Yamaha, with new clutch, new chains and sprockets, new brake shoes, forks serviced and new seals fitted. Tidy condition, make a great yellow route, or field bike. Ł500.00 ono. Contact Andrew Luff 01454 260509, 07712 666449. [on 16Jan10]

Audrey Jones

Audrey Jones, past member of Gloucester and Cotswold and Severnside Clubs passed away on 12th July 2009. Funeral at St Helen's Church, Alveston on 24th July at 1.00pm [on 18Jul09]

3 wheels good for Saunders?

As it turned out, not bad at all...See more on YouTube [on 9Jul09]

Brian Lethbridge

Sad news: Brian Lethbridge has died at the age of 72. Brian was a one-off who will be very much missed and we send our sincere condolences to his family. He was an expert on Triumphs and won one of the first Sammy Miller series titles aboard an outfit. Brian's funeral was held at noon on Monday, June 22 at Cheltenham Crematorium.

Many Western Centre faces, past and present turned out to support Brian's family. In an excellent and well-researched eulogy, Centre chairman Tony Noel took the congregation back to when he and Brian met, in the early 50s as schoolboys at the grammar. Brian and he both lived in Prestbury, and were attracted by the sound of scrambles motorcycles up at Draper's Farm. Tony explained that they soon joined up with the Cheltenham Home Guard, as membership ensured free entry to the scramble!

All manner of machines were altered for off-road use but Brian really found his metier with Triumphs - the only machine he said he really understood. He excelled with sidecars but most of all he was a man of generous spirit, humour, and forthright opinion. He also wrote the definitive article on the great John Draper's life, published in Classic Motorcycle. He will be very much missed but not forgotten. A superb picture, which sums up Brian will is on the West Glos site. [on 22Jun09]

Ray Gerring

News has reached us of the sad death of Ray Gerring. Ray was very well known and liked in the Western Centre and only last week was enjoying a day out at an Oxford Ixion Trial. You can read a little more about Ray on the West Glos site. The funeral will take place at the Oxford Crematorium on Friday 20th March at 12.45pm and Ray's son Harry says "Everyone that knew our dad and is able to join our dad on his final journey from our home would be greatly appreciated. He will be leaving our home address at 12.10pm". The funeral will be followed by a send-off at the Cumnor Cricket Club. Everyone will be made welcome. [on 15Mar09]

Rachel Clarke Wins Observer's championship

Rachel Clarke has won the 2008 Centre Observers championship prize of Ł50 by observing more Championship rounds than anyone else. It is always a pleasure to see Rachel’s smiling face, and she is always a willing “volunteer”. I am sure all the COC’s, and riders, will join me in saying a big “Thank you”. Tom Welch (Trials recorder) [on 6Jan09]