San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO
The Who’s Who Of International Trials And A Walk-Over (Of Sorts) For Bob Bailey.
Ivan J. Wagar
TWO YEARS AGO, CYCLE WORLD reported on the unusual observed trials hosted by Sr. F.X. Bulto, chief of the Bultaco factory and father of the Spanish Trials bike industry. The previous report told of the invitational aspects of the event at Mr. Bulto's beautiful 300-acre "San An tonio" farm south of Barcelona. At that time we told of the young jet set guys and dolls, friends and relatives, close business associates and long-time Bultaco riders that have made this trials the friendliest motorcycle event in the world.
I received an invitation this year because Mr. Bulto has decided he can no longer carry on with El Trials de San Antonio. As he explains, “What started out ten years ago to be a fun weekend, has turned into a Frankenstein monster.” Mr. Bulto is quick to admit that the monster is his own fault. Each year as his circle of friends grew, so did the entry for the trials. Dealers here, distributors there, and people like Claude Peugeot, heir to the French auto concern, who loves Bultaco Sherpa Ts. Thus, the warmth of this fine gentleman created the doom of San Antonio Trials.
Mr. Bulto is quick to point out that he would very likely make the same mistakes if he had the opportunity for a second try. He is a person who likes people, and he likes people to like him. So it is not surprising that this year’s event had more than 150 entries, and possibly 600 friends spectating.
San Antonio will probably continue to be held, but not in the manner it was originally intended. Next year it may be limited to children; and possibly the year after that, to all of the National trials champions throughout the world that ride Bultacos.
But this year it was the grand finale. The event featured the Who’s Who of the trials world, and only Gordon Farley and Mick Andrews, because of their factory contracts, were absent from the star-studded roster. Entered, but a nonstarter because of flu, was the brilliant young French Champion Claude Coutard, a disappointment because San Antonio features some arduous sections and Coutard is pretty brave.
The course this year comprised of 29 sections which had to be lapped twice. The mildest section was up to European championship standards. Even the great Sammy Miller admitted that it was too diffcult for him.
It is all the more surprising then that the hero of the event was a 14-year-old Spanish schoolboy. Not in the final results, because he is too young to qualify for international status, but the brilliant young Manuel Soler, son of Bultaco’s sales executive Juan SolerBulto, finished only one mark down on second place finisher Sammy Miller.
Miller, Ignacio Bulto (son of Mr. Bulto) Fernando Munoz and another Spanish factory rider all had the new 325cc Sherpa Ts. Munoz, in fact, was the only rider to clear the very difficult Section 24, where even Sammy went down with a complete fiasco both laps. The section started in a creek bed, turned right over a 6-ft. bank, about 60 ft. up a grassy bank to an almost impossible little rock niche, and then onto an even steeper rock face. Miller made it over the top on the first lap, but only after stopping and running alongside. Miller was the only rider to get over the top on the first lap. To put it another way, the section caused 150 riders to lose five marks each (maximum penalty).
On the second lap the crowd was astounded when young “Johnny” Regas (interpreter for the English-speaking brigade) bombed through the section with a single dab, and on a standard 250 at that.
It was apparent when Munoz made his second attempt that the new 325 is going to be an interesting tool for the feet up folks when it becomes available in the summer. Munoz approached at a fairly moderate pace, well on line as he cleared the notch, and then gassed it hard. The big-displacement engine smoked the rear tire over the rock face as the rider wiggled from side to side to maintain balance.
RESULTS
Shortly after, winner Martin Lampkin, on a 250, charged the hill with what appeared to be complete abandon, but kept the thing moving for a three; that is the complete list of conquerors of section 24.
Our own Lane Leavitt, who won an expense-paid trip from Mr. Bulto by winning the trials of Spain in California a couple of months ago, rode brilliantly in the top half dozen until he struck trouble. Handicapped by a standard Spanish Firestone trials on the rear, Leavitt dropped only three marks on Miller (the yardstick) halfway through the first lap. At section 21, however, he suffered ignition trouble and lost too much time to continue the event.
It is a shame that Leavitt did not get the chance to ride the new 325 that had been made available for the non-appearing Coutard. He undoubtedly is the best in this country. Even veteran Canadians (they took their own Dunlop 2-ply rear tires) John Jones and Bill Sharpless admitted that Leavitt could win up there. Three years ago, Sammy Miller predicted that it would take the Americans five years to catch up to the Canadians. This new, friendly trials rivalry is going to make better riders from both countries and, hopefully, teams for the Scottish Six Days.
The Spanish riders are terrific, especially the youngsters. As my old Irish friend Harry Lindsay said, “These boys have become so good so quickly that I can’t believe it. You know, it’s like what happened to the standard of riding in England after we sent Sammy Miller over there.” Harry, the Bultaco importer for Ireland, rode again this year to make it his sixth San Antonio, and remembers when he used to finish near the front. Now he is lucky to make it through the sections.
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Because of the seriousness and length of this year’s San Antonio, the activities by the beautiful young girls on the hillclimb at the end of the event had to be cancelled.
An impromptu event did take place that was even more breathtaking than the special events of the past, and it involved our own Gary Bailey. Gary felt out of place all the time, anyway. Spaniards generally are short. Gary makes a six-footer look short, so he spent all the time all slumped down in restaurants in an attempt to fit in.
To make matters worse, Gary didn’t do too well in the trials. At one point, in fact, I think I saw him dab from the opposite side of the bike, just before he threw the bike over his head and down a hill.
But Bailey saved the day during the special events. He rode up in front of about 200 people, put the Alpina in neutral, killed the engine and started to walk all over the motorcycle for about five minutes. I should mention that he did not use the sidestand nor did he put his feet down.
After considerable gyrations, Gary finally made it out to stand on the front wheel. With his feet wedged between the forks to act as a brake, he stood straight up and spread his arms. Loud oooos and aws.
Then he proceeded to go back to the riding position and, after getting his feet back on the pegs he reached down and folded out the kick starter pedal. Very loud oos and aws.
Then Gary fired up the Alpina, put it in gear and drove away. Up to that point you could hear a pin drop (except for oos and aws at critical points), but after that he was king. He was “matador.”
So there it is, the last San Antonio. The event where, for 10 years, Bultaco took every place in the results. Not because all of the riders were Bultaco riders, for, regardless of your brand, if Mr. Bulto liked you, and if you were a real motorcyclist, he was always happy to loan a new Sherpa T.
This year, even our old friend Hank Sleggers turned up with his lovely wife, Irene. It was Hank’s 50th birthday and more than 300 people sang you know what. And Mr. Bulto bought dinner for 300 of his friends as he gave away awards to more than a hundred riders. Thank you, Mr. Bulto.
