Catalunya, in the south-east of Spain has long been a hotbed of trials activity. And that latent passion is preserved for classic and twinshock fans by some fairly hardcore talent. CDB meets some of the men behind the thriving Spanish twinshock scene…
It’s been the usual budget airline trip so far. First, there’s a blast down the motorway on bank holiday Monday in time to catch a jam-packed airliner at one of the less glamorous UK airports. Naturally, the flight is at a time calculated to decant me at Girona airport at an un-godly time of the night. Then there’s a gritty-eyed, 70-mile trip in the cheapest hire car I can find to locate my hotel in the Catalan town of Sabadelle and a tortuous descent into the bowels of the hotel’s underground car park via the narrowest of corkscrewed ramps. The hotel bar is closed and the minibar in my room contains just two bottles of beer, which I demolish before finally hitting the sack at about 2.30am. There’ll be time in the morning to find out just how over-priced they are.
But things are looking up. I’m waiting outside the hotel to hook up with Mick Andrews and his pal, Blai Jove, to start a lightning tour of Catalunya’s alternative tourist hotspots – the wonderful world of Spanish twinshock trials. I can’t wait.
Of course, this being Spain, I can – and indeed, I have to. Mick and Blai have been enjoying the delights of the local piano bar until an unsuitable time of the morning and are a touch late hitting the road as a consequence. No matter, it’s a fine morning and I enjoy the sights and sounds of Sabadelle until Mick’s Espace swings into view and we’re ready for the off.
The plan for today is to meet some of the guys who keep the twinshock scene ticking in this corner of Spain. I’ve been promised a look at some mouth-watering bikes, top line restorations and some genuine characters – oh and there might even be a bit of lunch and a beer or two. That long trip yesterday is forgotten. This is the life.
The specialist: Angel Magrina
Martorelles, where Angel’s Delay products outfit is based, is only a short hop from Sabadelle and it’s our first stop in what promises to be a very busy day. Although Delay is a well known supplier and manufacturer of modern trials parts, accessories and clothing, our main interest in Angel is the fact that he also specialises in Fantic twinshocks and British pre-65 machines.
Delay holds impressive stocks of Fantic parts and Angel also manufactures tanks – including a lovely carbon fibre version – seat units and side panels for the Italian marque. He also prepares twinshock Fantics and pre-65 machines to order and carries out specialist repairs in his well-equipped workshop. And if the workload gets too heavy for one man, Angel can call on the services of ex-Derbi race mechanic and former Mecatechno and Gas Gas employee, Joan Ruiz, who has his own workshop just up the road. This area is crawling with trials men and is the centre of a classic trials cottage industry that clearly flourishes in Spain.
Fantics aren’t the only thing in Angel’s trials life though – not by any means. His BSA B40 means a lot to him too and is clearly the product of a lot of hard work and development.
Angel is a first class rider too. He’s ridden in the Pre-65 Scottish Two Days Trial, is a regular in the Spanish pre-65 championship – and has won it in the past – and has just returned from clinching the pre-72 class in the Robregordo Trial. And he doesn’t mind pitting his B40 against modern bikes either, often riding in modern trials if there isn’t a classic event for him to enter.
But Angel’s passion for all things Fantic is always apparent as I look round his workshop-cum-warehouse. And, before we leave for a look at some of his private collection, he shows me his piece de resistance – the prototype, 1998 Fantic show model – a machine that never got put into production. Angel designed the bike and still has all the moulds and patterns for it. Sadly, Fantic folded before the bike went into production, but it’s fitting that the man who designed it not only still owns the only example in existence, but is also doing his bit to keep older Fantics on the go too. “It’s the bike that never was,” says Angel with a rueful smile.
But if there’s a hint of sadness in Angel’s voice as he tells me about the ill-fated 1998 model, the happiness returns as we head up to the farm where he keeps the rest of his trials collection. It’s awesome with everything from SWMs through Derbis and Garellis to the inevitable ranks of Fantics. This place warrants a visit in its own right, but that will have to be another time. Today, we’re on a tight schedule and it’s time to enter the den of ‘The Puma…’
The restorer: Jose Luis Rodriguez – alias ‘The Puma’
‘The Puma’ is a legend in Spanish twinshock circles – and his reputation is starting to spread outside his native country too. As the big Spanish events like the Robregordo and Cabrianas trials attract more and more overseas riders, more riders have had the chance to see the Puma’s handiwork for themselves. And make no mistake, it’s very, very special.
Jose has an impeccable pedigree in trials. He worked for years at Isern – a very big trials and enduro dealership, before becoming the co-owner of his own bike shop. He started riding trials in 1969 and still rides indecently well today. Now though, he’s given up the shop and is more than content to produce exceptional trials machinery in the workshop next to his home.
Such is ‘The Puma’s’ reputation, customers often have to wait for over a year to take delivery of their Puma Racing machine. Indeed, the beautifully finished Bultaco undergoing final assembly on one of the benches today has been here a year and is due for delivery to its patient new owner tomorrow – lucky man. And the workshop is packed with 50-60 bikes waiting for Jose’s magic touch.
The Puma treatment is much more than a restoration – it’s more top of the range competition preparation for twinshocks. Although ‘The Puma’ will take on just about any twinshock, he specialises in Bultacos. A typical ‘Puma’ specification will include a modified steering head angle, machining the brake drums out, pressing in a liner, fitting a cranked kick-start to clear the widened and lowered footrests, cylinder porting, modifications to the clutch to give a smooth, predictable and light one-finger action and completely reworking the exhaust internals and re-packing the silencer.
Naturally, Jose shaves as much weight as possible off while he’s at it and has his own design of tanks and seat units manufactured to help the process along. The result is a unique machine with a distinctive exhaust note, that works significantly better than any brand new Bultaco (or Ossa, Montesa or whatever) has any right to do. Our guide, Blai, has one of his own Ossas in for some work, which is recommendation enough for me – on top of the chance to see first hand the quality of Jose’s work. Believe me, if my lottery numbers come up, I’ll definitely be treating myself to some ‘Puma’ magic – even if I do have to wait a year.
