Bernie Returns in June

1979 FIM World Trials Champion, Bernie Schreiber, the only American to win the championship, makes a welcome return to the Highland Classic and Alvie Estate this year!

Bernie is celebrating 45 years since his history changing win, having defeated 3 times world champion, Yrjo Vesterinen, also a former guest of the Highland Classic.

Bernie stated on his facebook page: “I am delighted my entry has been accepted to ride the 2024 Highland Classic Two Day Trial – BSA/Triumph Edition.
This will be my third attendance since 2019 on an SWM, 2023 on Bultaco and a BSA for 2024.
Thank you to John Moffat for the opportunity once again to ride one of your unique machines.
My thanks also to the Inverness & District Motor Cycle Club for organising the The Friendliest Classic Trial in Scotland. – See you in Scotland!”

Entries open on Feb 1st

The entry forms for the 2024 Highland Classic Two Day Trial – BSA / Triumph Edition will be available from 8pm on Thursday 1st February.

This year we will keep the entries open for a week, so that everyone that would like to take part can submit their entry. No payment at this point is required, entry fees are collected by bank transfer when the entries are confirmed direct to the entrant.

The entry fee has been increased a little this year due to insurance premium increases and it will be £75.00 per rider.

Over-subscription:

In the event that the trial is over-subscribed, a ballot of 160 places will be undertaken.

New for 2024! There will now be an overall winner of the Highland Classic. This will be the best performance on the A route of a competitor, over the age of 35, entered on either of the following classes:

Winner Classes:

1. Pre’65 Four Stroke*; 2. Pre’65 Two Stroke*; 3. Pre’72 Twinshock*; 4. Pre’77 Twinshock*; 5. Post’77 Twinshock*; 10. Best Britshock* A route.   (* Riders Over 35 in either of these classes 1,2,3,4,5 & 10, riding the A Route, achieving the lowest score over the two days will be declared overall winner of this event, subject to any tie-breaks).

Riders in the following classes will be awarded class wins only:

6. Under 35 Pre’65; 7. Under 35 Twinshock; 8. Best Special (for modified machines out of class – riding for NO AWARD); 9. Best Female Rider; 11. Best Britshock B route.

New Trial Partners for 2024

The Highland Classic has a history of working with our ‘Trial Partners’ who help make the event a success.

This year we celebrate the BSA / TRIUMPH Edition:

This year we welcome back Moto SWM who were our partner for the 2018 SWM Edition.

And welcome on board for 2024, Hodge Plant Ltd:

Along with 7even Construction of Aviemore, a local business near to Alvie Estate:

Plus our existing Partners:

Rockshocks who will supply some prizes.

Highland Temporary Works who provide the display centre at the Trial HQ.

REH Forks Ltd, provide a prize for the best perforamce by a rider using REH forks.

Gavin Cairns Roughcasting who this year will supply the number boards for all the riders and officials.

RAD Decals who provide the event stickers:

and InMotion the Trials Specialist, prizes for the event.

Ray Sangster Trophy

It’s that time of year when motorcycle clubs start making plans for the sporting season ahead, Inverness & District are no different!

We are making some detailed changes to the Highland Classic BSA/Triumph Edition for next year, the main one being that we will have a new trophy to present, named the ‘Ray Sangster Memorial Trophy’ for the best performance in the trial – yes, that’s right an overall winner!

The winner will be the competitor who competes on the A Route and on a Twinshock, the rationale being that Ray Sangster was a founder/member of the Inverness & District club and rode such machines as Moto Gori, Bultaco, hence what we now refer to as ‘twinshocks’.

Ray was also the person who approached Laird Jamie Williamson to run motorcycle trials on Alvie Estate, so we have a lot to thank Ray for.

We are currently discussing the way to address any over-subscription for the entries for the 2024 trial, it may be that we now try the ballot method as we have relied on a ‘first come, first served’ method since the trial became a two day affair many years ago. This would mean that entries would open online at 8pm on Thursday, 1st February as planned and close 14 days later, to give everyone sufficient time to apply.

Entry fees will be due whenever the rider’s entry is accepted/confirmed and is very likely to be £70 – £75 as we have not increased the entry fee since Covid in 2020.
Full details are, as usual be announced on the event facebook page and this website, links as attached below.
Kind regards and have a super festive season when it comes!
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/HighlandClassicTwoDay

John Moffat Entries Secretary – Highland Classic Two Day Trial 2024 – The BSA/TRIUMPH Edition – 8/9 June
“The Friendliest Classic Trial in Scotland”

2023 Winners get their awards

Back in the 1950s and 1960s, class winners at the Highland Two Day Trial received pint tankards made of pewter to commemorate their win.

This year we replicate the awards, but this time, made of glass, being a pint tankard, fully engraved with the Classic Two Day Trial logo and on the other side, the class and the winner’s name, for posterity.

These awards will soon be shipped to each class winner for them to keep as a momento of their victory at the Highland Classic Suzuki Edition.

2023 Over and Out

Well, that’s the Highland Classic over for another year and it just goes to show that you don’t need to travel to Costa Brava or Andorra to get sunshine, you can drive to Aviemore and get a nice trial and good weather too!

A few comments were raised as to why we don’t have the cheese/wine/beer stop nowadays. Quite simple, there are licensing issues dispensing alcohol and the risk that if anyone had too much and was involved in a subsequent RTA, the club could be under scrutiny, so sorry about that. I’m sure you all enjoyed the catering laid on by our friends at Ness Highland Catering, headed by Samantha.

Next year we are planning some improvements to help increase competitor enjoyment, so watch this space. AND… we will host the BSA/Triumph Edition with guests who rode for these factories! I can’t thank enough those who were involved, the Trial Partners, suppliers, the observers and anyone who helped make our event a success.

Thanks go to NIGEL BIRKETT who was a terrific Guest of Honour for the Suzuki Edition and won his class too!

Last but not least, Laird Jamie Williamson of Alvie & Dalraddy Estates Ltd and his team for allowing us to carry on even after they suffered a major fire just 4 days beforehand. We also hope to use the Trial HQ again next year as it ticked all the boxes.

Finally! We will be sending out a questionaire to all participants by e-mail, be sure and reply with any constructive comments please.

Yours in Sport, John Moffat Entries Secretary HC2DT and IDMCC Ltd, General Secretary.

(Photo Credit: Scottish Enduros/Charlie MacKenzie)

The Suzuki Edition Provisional Results

Here are the Provisional Results of the 2023 Highland Classic – Suzuki Edition…

Results of the Observer’s Prize Draws 2023:

Saturday:

1st – £100 – Martyn Pratt

2nd – £50 – Kyle Neill

3rd – £25 – Jamie McLean.

Sunday:

1st – £100 – Lynda Macdonald

2nd – £50 – Neil Macdonald

3rd – £25 – Ross MacDonald

The winners will be contacted and the prize sent to their bank account or by cheque from Inverness & District MCC Ltd. Well done to all who won and special thanks to all our observers.

2023 Observer’s Prize Draw sponsored by HIGHLAND LEISURE SPORT, Invergordon,

RemInders 2023 HC2DT

Just a couple of days now until the Highland Classic kicks off on Alvie Estate!
Some important reminders:

  • NO CAMPING OVERNIGHT on Alvie Estate.
  • Please be prepared to be parked by officials upon arrival
  • NO bikes to be ridden until AFTER the briefing meeting at 10:45 Saturday.
  • Signing on will commence at 08:30 and the catering unit will be open from 09:00, the catering and the toilet facilities are located at Trial HQ.
  • All riders must WALK from their vehicles to and from the Trial HQ via the taped walkways, this is due to restricted access caused by the recent fire on the estate and to avoid customers of the Zip Wire adventure area.
  • Riders will be able to ride their bikes to the start area only and DO NOT USE THE QUARRY AREA AS A PRACTICE ZONE!

Please adhere to these simple requests to ensure a flow of traffic safely, pre-event.

MIEKE DE VOS – Event Secretary

Promoted by: Inverness & District Motor Cycle Club Ltd