1948 pt8. ISDT selection trial

That same race day, over in Llandrindod Wells, despite haranguing criticism, ‘Government Officials’ had reduced a permitted level for Britain’s ISDT Team selection trial. They were being described as being so lacking in imagination they would jeopardise success of a National Team in an International contest by forcing a stern 2 day Test to reduce an allowed fuel quantity by more than half!.

A revolution seemed imminent, at least in the press!, a Ministry of Fuel and Power official had reduced the amount of Fuel that A.C.U. had applied for, to hold a rehearsal for selecting International Six Days Trial teams. (Sacrilege?)

Speed tests were to be held on Eppynt course Tuesday, this time with ‘crash hats’, and a forecasted whiff of petrol, though strangely, nobody is actually reported as having run dry. The ‘black market’ saw us right!!.

This Mid Wales location had been selected directly since many sections still remained of the 1938 I.S.D.T. which had been held there&ldots; course plotter! - H.P. Baughan, the very man that built his own Trials sidecar outfit, with a Stephens motor and called The Stag, Dave James recalls had been instructed to plan a course to find weaknesses in men or machines, now bearing things like improved suspension layouts, WD type air cleaners. Jack Stocker’s rigid frame Royal Enfield ‘J’ model type now seems to have been a link with the past. Neat Triumphs, plunger Ariels, Alloy engined BSA, Pre-featherbed framed OHC Nortons, Batteries to help lighting, KLG plugs expert Rex Mundy was present plus Dunlop tyres man Dickie Davies. Even a Manufacturer’s Union Director, Major H.R. Watling was prominent, ACU’s Harry Cornwell too. Private entries included Miss Olga Kevelos, 347 AJS. Australian D. B. Williams on a 498 AJS. Plus a 3 man B.A.O.R. team all on 498 Matchless, Sgts. A. Hanson & J.W. Ward, plus Pte. J. Hall.

A STOP PRESS report on the selected teams – after a ‘late-night deliberation’ by the A.C.U. committee, terminating at 2.30 am Tuesday morning showed the teams as follows, reported by telephone, called in from "Mercury".

TROPHY TEAM

A. Jefferies, Capt. 498 Triumph.

V.N. Brittain, 346 Royal Enfield.

C.N. Rogers, 346 Royal Enfield.

B.H. Viney, 498 AJS.

J. Williams, 499 Norton.

VASE"A"TEAM

P.H. Alves, 498 Triumph.

C.M. Ray, 497 Ariel.

J. Stocker, 499 Royal Enfield.

VASE "B" TEAM

J. Blackwell, 499 Norton.

A.F.Gaymer, 498 Triumph.

F.M. Rist, 348 BSA.

RESERVES

E.J. Breffitt, 348 Norton.

G. Eighteen, 498 Matchless.

T.U. Ellis, 346 Royal Enfield.

Thus passed 1948!