Legendary Malcolm Smith easily cleaned this section an d many others on a 1991
Husqvama 250WXC. He scored the win in the Balls class.
This wasn't one of Dallas Baker's better
sections. He finished second overall.
Former factory BSA motoerosser Chuck
"Feets" Minert prepares for battle.
•
Smith (left) presented former speedway racer Bill Manley with the number-one trophy.
Manley was also the only rider to crest the mountain in the hillclimb contest.
•
Let the fun begin- agaIn
By Kit Palmer
Photos by Kinney .jones and Palmer
"F
38
SAN BERNARDINO, CA, DEC. 4
un. That's what the Laugh-In
Trials is all about," said organ,
izer Gary LaPlante during the
riders' meeting at the 13th running of
the Laugh-In Trophy Trial at Glen
Helen OHV Park. "If you're not having
fun, then 'tell us and we'll change it.
Rememb er, this is • social event where
the emphasis is on relaxed , fun-loving
participation and good, old-fashioned
bench racing. Now, go for it!"
After a nine year hiatus, the LaughIn Trophy Trial has been revived
thanks to the efforts of the American
Trials Association (ATA)and LaPlante.
The Laugh-In Trophy Tria l was
created for members of the motorcycle
industry, including dealers, manufacturers , distributors and the press. Not
only was the event designed to be fun,
but it also raises funds - via the $60
entry fee - for the National Motorcycle
Safety Fund.
According to Joe Parkhurst, LaughIn Trophy Trial co-founder and
publisher of Motorcycle Business
Newsletter, "The event started in 1970
at Saddleback Park and ran until 1982.
The first one attracted more than a
hundred competitors, including Roger
DeCoster and Dav e Bickers, who
worked as checkers. Mike Jackson (at
that tim e sales manager for Norton/
Villiers-Triumph Co.) and I got the
idea from an event held annually in
England known as the Press and Trade
Trials. We designed it (the Laugh-In
Trial) with a simple and effective
handicap system so it wou ld be very
difficult for an expert to win it, and
average guy s-usually take the overall."
When asked why the event disappeared, LaPlante replied, " I really
don't know. It just stopped, but we're
trying to bring it back."
Perhaps the most unique aspect
