Schoolboy Scramblers
SCHOOLBOY SCRAMBLERS
COMPETITION
Team Jennings Is the Terror Of the Miniscule Motocross
MAX KING
JOHN MANN-quiet, slim and unassuming-a Dorset boy of 16, was crazy about trials and scrambles! He had no bike of his own then, so now and again, I let him have a go around the house on my BSA. The knack soon came, but one day he became over confident, lost control and went straight through a hedge. John and the bike were intact, but I wheeled away two barrow loads of hedge!
Time passed, John decided to become an architect, and went off to the University of Bath. Meanwhile, he bought himself a secondhand DOT trialer, which he spent more time taking to pieces than riding. He showed promise as a rider, but his real aptitude was for the engineering side. His opportunity to put this to good purpose came in an unusual way.
John took lodging with the Jennings family whose home is in the country, near Bristol. The three Jennings boys-David, aged 10, Chris, 9, and Andrew, 7, became very interested in John's antics on the DOT. They were hopping up and down in their anxiety to try their hands, but the bike was too big and too heavy for them. So a mock trials course was concocted and the boys started trials using modified push bikes. This helped teach them the basic techniques, but it was not the answer-they wanted power!
Fortunately, the lads' parents were cooperative; they liked the idea of the boys finding a hobby of this sort. Encouraged by this and raring to get down to building a boy-sized scrambler, John got busy. First he drew out the basic design, then set to work on a shoestring budget!
By good luck, he got hold of a 50-cc NSU moped, which a friend had dismantled for overhaul and then lost interest in. The price, $1.20! The most difficult problem was to tailor the machinery to a child, but this was essential.
The main frame turned out to be a combination of the original pressed steel moped spine and parts of an old pedal cycle frame. As a small engine was to be used, the power-toweight ratio was critical, if performance were to be adequate. Some amazing techniques were used to keep weight down. As an example, the rear fork was pivoted from what was originally the pedal spindle of the moped engine. The entire job was founded on improvisation. Wheels were a combination of NSU hubs, some old clutch plates and pedal cycle rims! The twist-grip gear change was converted in a most unorthodox way to foot operated mechanism. The net result of John Mann's enterprise was quite a potent miniscrambler and the total cost-$ 14.50. Specifications of the finished product were wheelbase 37 in., saddle height 22 in., footrest height 9 in., wheel diameter 12 in., and weight 75 lb. Top speed with scrambles gearing was 40 mph.
The boys had their first rides on a football field-the largest open space that could be found! The change from pedals to power presented little difficulty and-taking it in turns—they were soon buzzing around merrily. From the self-preservation angle, though, this was the worst moment. The difference between just riding a motorcycle, and riding one quickly over rough terrain was tremendous. Growing confidence, and a natural exuberance had to be tempered! In applying the necessary discipline, John emphasized, time and time again, that to ride fast required precise skill. It was not just emotional courage.
As the weeks passed, increasingly difficult techniques were developed gradually. The boys learned how to tackle bends, ascents, descents and so forth. They were taught the art of braking, accelerating, and of feeling for the power band of the engine. This was not an easy thing to teach, however. It was more the development of a sense-something abstractand it came easier to Chris, who was more mechanically minded than the other two. (All three have it taped now.)
It was at about this stage of their training that the Jennings boys read about Schoolboy Scrambles, and soon became keen to try their luck! They were given every encouragement by John Mann, but even with parental backing, this was quite a responsibility. On the first outing, it was, he admits, with some apprehension that he swung his Hillman Imp into the pits with the little NSU Special slung across the back seat and its three riders packed in around it. The paddock seemed to be writhing with pint-sized competitors, looking for all the world like animated crash hats as they chased one another in and out of their carrier vehicles. Fathers were busy wielding wrenches, and trying hard to appear relaxed. But tension was mounting-there was no doubt about that!
In fact, the tension was such that Andrew-7 years old at the time-looked around at the start of the first race, pale faced, nervous and declared, "John, I don't want to go!" But almost before he could finish the sentence, the flag was up and young Andrew found himself among the pack roaring into the first bend. Things went well, fortunately; he finished 4th and has not really looked back since!
David, 10 at the time, found he had the bike in neutral at the start of his first race. Selecting gear when everybody had gone, he held the throttle open into the first bendmore in fright than by design-and was lying 2nd when he came out! He eventually finished 5th-as did Chris, aged 9, in his debut.
With appetites well whetted, there was tremendous enthusiasm in the Jennings camp-even among the parents. Father hunted down an old scooter tire, and after some complicated surgery this was fitted to the rear wheel. This gave more grip, albeit with a marginal loss of power. In fact, most of their initial worries were removed and even Mrs. Jennings managed to relax.
The standard of organization at Schoolboy Scrambles was high; the undulating grass circuit was carefully marked with breakable orange colored tape. The start was wide and well defined. Flag marshals were positioned at all awkward cambers and tricky bends. All machines were carefully examined. Although racing was fast, the riding was competent, not reckless as might have been expected.
Riding styles were as varied as the machines. And, odd as it might seem, one appeared to influence the other considerably. Many of the bikes were home built, incorporating engines such as the 98-cc Villiers, the 50-cc Honda, the 50-cc Suzuki, and the 70-cc BSA Dandy.
As to garb, two-piece PVC riding suits were the most popular, but a lot of riders sported denims and colorful jerseys, especially in warm weather. A few were fortunate enough to have leather riding boots, but the majority wore rubber boots. Gloves and helmets, of course, were mandatory.
It was fascinating to watch the kids in action. Some rode with chins out, shoulders hunched, leg trailing. Others were poised almost nonchalantly on the footrests, bodies swaying with expertise! The Jennings boys each had different techniques. Andrew leaned in farther than the bike on bends with his knee cocked out. Chris leaned out with foot well forward, chin out and throttle screwed on!
Although riding styles varied a great deal, each seemed successful in its own individual way, once the basic principles were mastered. John Mann is convinced that even with youngsters, style plays an important part in the art of riding fast and safely.The advice he gives his schoolboy scramblers is that if they can model their technique on that of Don Rickman, they will not go wrong. Good guidance this is, because Don rides with a determined, relaxed precision that is a joy to see.
In order to put the Jennings' style to the test, John got them to practice 20-lap races of 25-min. duration. Their lap times were plotted on a graph to determine fatigue spots. However, much of the effect of this drill was lost because the longest race in schoolboy scrambles was only six laps. The courses, too, were simplified, with the result that the emphasis tended toward speed, rather than riding skill. Team Jennings, evidently, had been coached with an eye to Grand Prix motocross racing!
During the two years the little Mann/NSU has been raced, it has been developed in tune with the riders' skill. To reduce weight even farther, the frame now is riddled with holes. A new barrel and piston have been fitted, the head milled, and the gearing raised. To improve steering, the forks were lengthened. To stop whip at the rear end, the frame was braced.
This sort of development stemmed mainly from reports by the riders who are sound and reliable critics. Although very much a team effort, the boys now are achieving the success they deserve. In their last three meetings, Andrew picked up 21 1st places and leads the club championship chase. Chris was graduated to the 11-16 age group and won a 3rd spot first time out on his newly acquired 125 Bantam.
John has plans afoot for a 98-cc Villiers engined special to give Andrew additional power-now that he knows how to use it. For the moment, though, he must battle on with the NSU while Chris' Bantam is fettled.
During the last competitive year, Team Jennings had its moments! There was the time in the British Championship meeting when Andrew struggled home In 3rd place minus the fuel cap-which meant that for the last five laps the machine had to be eased over the bumps to save fuel. Then there was the panic in the Carnival Trophy when the rear wheel started to collapse and John had to brace it with wire between races!
Training these embryo scramblers has involved a lot of work, but John Mann maintains that it has been well worthwhile. "I get a tremendous kick seeing the kids handle the machinery expertly. What's more, they enjoy the thrill of competition and the camaraderie that exists between riders," he says.
Many more hard races lie ahead, and a lot of effort will be required all around. "But," says their patient, painstaking tutor, "we like to look at it as a team effort from the drawing board to the checkered flag." Not a bad maxim this, and one that, gradually, is bringing its reward, for already Andrew is within sight of the top in Schoolboy Scrambles.
