Fitting tribute

This replica of the 1970 and 1971 British ISDT Trophy team machines is a testament to their creator, Eric Cheney.

- ANDY WESTLAKE

By the late 1960s, the days when an unmodified road bike could be fitted with knobby tyres and be called an International Six Days Trials (ISDT) machine were long passed – it called for something specialised to match the Eastern bloc two-strokes.

The British squad bosses were keen to keep the Trophy team mounted on home machinery, but the choices were few and what remained of the British industry showed little interest in competing in the motorcycling Olympics. Apathy might have ruled in the boardrooms at Small Heath and Meriden, but, thanks to the determination of multiple six days gold medal winner Ken Heanes, the Trophy team did compete on British bikes in the 45th International in Spain, in 1970.

The team’s Cheney Triumphs were arguably some of the most beautiful machines ever to compete in the strength-sapping, bike-breaking marathon. The late Heanes explained how motorcycles were readied for the 1970 (and 1971) ISDTs:

“I was keen to keep the flag flying and I managed to persuade five other large dealerships in the form of Elite Motors, Comerfords, Bill Slocombe, Jack Williams and Allan Jefferies, plus myself, to fund our [Britain’s] efforts for the 1970 International.