Trial – a look into the past
Today, the only thing that machines have in common with those of yesteryear is the name motorcycle. Correctly graded transmissions, tyres with unlimited grip, high ground clearance and a vehicle weight of less than 90 kg create conditions of which nobody would have dared to dream at the beginning of the trials in Germany. You don’t have to tinker and screw to be able to drive at all, and there are enough dealers who can immediately satisfy the desire for a competitive machine that can be driven without conversion.
But how did the trial sport actually develop in Germany, when were the first trial-infected and what else happened? Let us remember with a look back.
In 1955 Rot-Weiss Essen becomes German football champion, 82 spectators die at the 24-hour race in Le Mans and in the equestrian city of Verden/Aller the first real trial in Germany is organized together with the British Dragon Division stationed there. The course is 3.5 km long and is spiced with slopes, sand pits and ditches. The winner is Kenneth Slaughter on a Matchless 350 ccm.
In the same year the Motorsport Association is founded in Nuremberg with the 1st chairman Carl Jurisch, who already participated in the Scottish Sixdays in the pre-war period as a successful motor sportsman and was infected by the trial bacillus.
In 1957 Sputniks fly into space and the first event of the MV Nuremberg requiring approval is announced as a trial competition. Through the participation of the ZÜNDAPP factory drivers in the Belgian Trial Lamborelle, valuable information reaches Nuremberg, which is incorporated into the event.
1959, the revolution under Fidel Castro in Cuba is victorious, the Deutsche Trial Sport Gemeinschaft (DTSG) is founded in Uelzen, which has made it its business to overcome the disinterest of the ADAC and OMK and to establish a trial championship, which, after some difficulties, succeeds.
Two main trial areas are created in Germany, one in the north in the Lüneburg/Uelzen area and the other in the south in the Nuremberg area. A few events become many, the German motorcycle industry discovers trial and above all ZÜNDAPP pushes the development of competitive two-stroke motorcycles with engine displacements from 50 to 250 cc. So it is not impossible that the factory riders win national titles like in subscription. Günter Sengfeld, Andreas Brandl, Lorenz Specht, Siegfried Gienger, Josef Wolfgruber and many more determine the events in the sections, and a European Championship title is also awarded to Gustav Franke. On the other hand, the works commitment also has an inhibiting effect on the desired development towards mass sports, so that the industry in Germany is withdrawing from the trial and leaving it to others.
The heavy four-stroke motorcycles of British origin (AJS, Ariel, BSA and others) are replaced by agile and light two-stroke motorcycles, with Spanish, and later also Japanese and Italian models setting the tone. As an outstanding driver, Felix Krahnstöver has dominated the trial scene for years with his skill and personality since the early 70s, winning 10 championship titles.
Today an acrobatic driving style is required, which cannot be realized by the amateur without immense training efforts. Meanwhile, a season lasts 12 months, at least a plus for the spectator, who can follow his beloved trial sport without a break weekend after weekend.