Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125661
Hear About It From Northern Champ' Vic Boocock By Lyn Jensen When did you first start riding trials? I rode In my first rials when I was 18. This was back In England. I rode a 4year old Greeves and decided then that I wanted to get more Involved In it. I soon switched to Bultaco and have been with them since. ~ t.:I When you first meet Victor Boocock on a trials course YOU'll notice his t.:I serioUsness. Between sections he'll joke ...:J and laugh, but when studying the sections ~ he's all business. That's what it takes to U be the Northern California Trials Champion for the past five years. Twenty-seven year old Vic came here from England six years ago and has been In the winner's circle ever since. He was one of the founding members of the Pacific International Trials Society the dynamic Northern California clUb' which got its start fiVe years ago: Mounted on Bultaco's 250cc Sherpa T Vic can make anyone marvel at the overwhelming grace with which he controls his machine. In his case there is absolutely no doubt as to who is the master. ~ \Thy did you leave Britain? I was getting restless and decided to go out on my own and do some traveling. San Francisco seemed like a good place to start. lIow did VO'l get to be the too trials rider here? Soon after I cam to the San Francisco area I became friends with the riders here. I practiced with some of them, and especially George Heln, an excellent trials rider, nearly every day fer two years. That, I think, more than anything, was the experience that has paid off the best. •• . -: r t·· ,,,t;· ~ .' 0 , ~ . • One of America's leading trials exponents, Victor Boocock puts his Bullaco throlllh Its paces. Vic's first love is trials riding, buthe is also a mach1n1st, an Inventor of mctorcycle accessories, an accomplishea pUot, and an enthusiastic girl watcher. Are you sponsor..d by Buitaco? Yes, I get assorted goodies from them and the latest Information from the factory. Weren't you ever interested in riding in other types of motorcycle competition ? Yes. I've ridden motocross and hare scrambles, but I like the friendly atmosphere of trials better. When we practice, everyone goes out together and has a good time helping each other with the difficulties we have. Trials in Britain and Europe are much more difficult. aren't they? Yes, def1nlte- COTTOM IS BACK! FOR TRAILS OR TRIALS ly. They've been riding trials many more years than Americans and its aprofessional sport there. Here trials is more like a Sunday family outing. In England you need special licenses to participate and they have many extra tough trials only for the best experts. Tell us about the Scottish Six Da.vs Trials which you tackled last year? Last year Bultaco American backed and the Rickman Brothers supplied me with 'a Sherpa T for the Scottish. I was the only one from the U.S. there. My aim was to be among those who finished, which I did. I came In 4200 place out of 155finishers and took a First Class Award. The week before had been spent preparing the bike at SuPer Sam's (Sammy Mlller, the Wor!d Champion Trials Ri~er). In the Scottish you get loll at 6:30, start riding at 8, and finish for the day at 5, after covering more than H·(, miles and usually 20 or more sections. After six days of that you're really worn out. If I hadn't done some running and weight lifting here beforehand I doubt if I would have been able to finish. But I enjoyed the competition and hope to ride In it again. Did you know Sammy Miller before you came to San Pranclsco? No. I met him here when he came to teach a trials school a couple of years ago. Is there any tyne of terrain you like best? Well, yes. I like lots of rocks and creek beds best. I don't like it when a section has very tight, man- made turns. Trials is more of a sport when the sections are untouched, natural terrain, with only dangerous tree branches and other grave hazards removed. What do you suggest that the novice riders do to improve their skill ? The most important thing is to practice. If you practice only once a month you'll never get anyv;here. It helps if you have a natural talent for this type of riding; if you do, it will come to you easier than the others, but you'll still need to practice as much as possible. lIow much do you practice? I knew yOU'd ask that. and I'm afraid some people will be dtsappotnted, Right now I practice every Sunday when there isn't a trials and at the trials before the Experts run. That's all? Right. Maybe you should tell the readers that I practice every day and run 3 miles each morning, but I don't. Right now I don't seem to need anything more than that. Do you always evaluate the section beforehand ? Yes. That is a mostimportant factor. Novices would do much better if they would evaluate the section for maximum traction. They should look over the section, watch a COuPle riders go through, and then choose an imaginary line 'that they should follow. After choosing this line they should stick to it unless they get Into trouble. But if you choose a line and change your mind when you get to it, you're almost always In a bind. Youhave to think things out before hand and know what your moves will be when you actually ride the section. Also, if you can place 1 dab where it could get you out of a slide or help you pivot around a corner you're saving 2 points Instead of getting a 3 if you hadn't been so careful. 'PATR O AC HI-PERFORMANCE EQUIPMENT BRAKE HORSEPOWER DYNO BUILT BY PATRACO FOR MOTORCYCLE TUNING. ACCURATELY MEASURES BHP CURVES WITH ENGINE IN FRAME. COMPLETE DYNO WITH ACCESSORIES TO FIT ALL MOTORCYCLES. BHP READING IS MADE AT GEAR BOX DRIVE SPROCKET. DESIGNED FOR RACE TUNING. PATRAC O MARK I DYNO-$29S.00 SATISFACTION GUARANTEED. SEN DCH EC K M . ORPURCHASE ORD . .D ERTO PATRACD. P.O B . OX2611 PA LOS VERD ESPEN CA 90174 CA F. RES. AD OS'. SALESTAX ' . LI DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED MADE OF FIBERG LASS Strong, sim p le a du r able. EASY, QUICK TO INSTALL ~ Waterproof! AVAILABLE ~ I,I I : • r• I I I AT Y DUR I: r ~ nI: I II You said earlier that tbere are some Experis who have the potential to be winning now. \That do you believe is hanging them up? Some riders get panicked when looking at a hard section. When I come to a section that looks had I try to keep calm and cooI. You have to keep a rein on yourself all the time. Don't let anything rattle you. If you do, you're sure to mess uP on that section and perhaps even blow the next few sections because you're any at yourself. If you do mess uP on a section don't let it get to your heard. Maybe get off by yourself to cool down and forget it. Do you work on your own bike ? Of course. I do all my own work. That's just a part of being a rider. If I didn't do my own work I would not know the capabilities of my machine. Do you have any special maintenance tips you could pass on? There are all sorts of little tricks you can do to take care of your bike. After every trial I almost completely disassemble my bike and put It together again like new. This way I know what condition everything is in. I safety wire both my exhaust pipe and the sprocket. With so much jarring you never know when essential parts are going to come loose. If you get your bash plate bashed In be sure to bend it back to the or1glna1 so It will give your engine protection the next time. To help preserve your chain soak It In otl, Check all nuts and bolts and tighten them if necessary. Don't forget to dry out the brake drums and check them for wear. Give your bike a thoroUgh top to bottom checkuP each time and remember to carry your tools with you always. It your bike Isn 't In Its prime .conditi on for a trials you're starting out with a great handicap. Do you think these hikes under 250cc we've seen at trials lately will give the 250's a run for the money? I personally don't think so. There are, of course, certain rlders who can do marvelous things on them, but if they were mounted on a 250 they'd be doing evern better. In tact I . wouldn't mind seeing even bigger displacements - like a 350 trials bike, which used to be the king. lias trials grown in the U.S. since you' ve been here? on, yes. Things are really picking uP here. When I first came here there were 2-3 trials a year. Now In Northern California alone PITS and other motorcycle clubs put on about 20 a year• In Southern California there are even more. Trials is catching on, probably because it is a novelty from any other kind of motorcycle eve nt. Also the kids Involved don't need racing cards since it isn't a speed competition. 1I0w do you think trials will grow in the . future? I would like to see it become a real competitive sport. It we became more professional everyone could work harder at getting better and our sldll would grow. Then we could possible host the Europeans over here and vice versa. Something like the Inter-Ams we now have for motorcross. Without a doubt Americans want to get together with the Europeans In competition. The !SOT of last year showed the U.S. Interest In International competition when 27 Americans showed uP to ride. I figure that In three years we will be at the European, and especially the English level of professionalism and sldll. This is what I'm really looking forward to since I'm one who loves any kind of competition. -\ py ,jimSUddenly e ichrom Sblnes ."" 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