Meet the team

Editor: Gerard 'Gez' Kane

Mad keen on all forms of off-road competition and a recent convert to twinshock scrambling. Trials history includes making the finish of both the Pre-65 Scottish and the Classic Manx Two Day Trial in reasonably good order, though he has previously hospitalised at least one colleague with an illadvised foray into sidecar trials.
Mind you, he can be relied on to get the magazine out if everybody else is in plaster. He might be slow, but he’s rough.

Likes... Twinshock Hondas (owns a 1977 Miller/Honda TL150 and a 1977 CR125) and anything else that he wishes he had been able to afford when he was a lad.

• Read Gez online, at his regular page HERE

Deputy Editor: Tim Britton

Once, long ago, our strapping Geordie lad was a half decent trials rider. These days, a fondness for red wine, a decent steak and a weakness for rattly old Triumphs and BSAs has cramped his style a bit.
Tim firmly believes in the old adage; ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’ but goes one step further. Even if it is broke, Tim doesn’t usually bother to fix it, believing it’ll probably last another lap or two. His trials B40 is testament to this philosophy. A major competition comeback is on the cards. Training starts tomorrow.

Likes: Bultacos (he has owned his 1980 Sherpa from new) and Brit iron – though anything with two wheels and knobbly tyres gets him going.  

Contributors:

Dave Gittins

Classic Dirt Bike’s very own Welsh bard is a man who puts his money where his mouth is. Dave organises the British Classic Scrambles Championship (supported by The Classic MotorCycle magazine) and is passionate about the sport. Wherever you find a classic scramble, you’ll probably find Dave.

Likes: proper old fashioned Brit bikes and proper old fashioned riders. A classic purist perhaps?

Mick Andrews

Needs no introduction – but gets one anyway. One of the all-time greats of the off road world, Mick is a former European trials champion and five times winner of the Scottish Six Days Trial, as well as being a successful scrambler and ISDT rider.
Despite his superstar status, Mick retains his infectious enthusiasm for all forms of off roading and is an active competitor in both pre-65 and twinshock trials, as well as classic scrambling. He also runs internationally acclaimed training schools worldwide and is one of the nicest guys the CDB crew have come across.

Likes: riding bikes – oh and just the occasional glass of red wine (just a small one mind).

• Read Mick online, at his regular page HERE

Andy Westlake

West countryman Andy is one of the classic scene’s rising journalistic stars. He attended his first scramble in 1961 and it’s all gone downhill from there.
Andy started riding trials back in 1972 – so he’s clearly very old indeed – and has owned all manner of trials irons from Greeves to Suzuki. Currently competes in long distance trials aboard an ex- ISDT Cheney Triumph and has just bought a Greeves Pathfinder for classic and twinshock trials. He’ll learn.

Likes... Triumph powered Metisses, TriBsas, Greeves and twin-port CZs – and, it would seem, endlessly fettling Puch engines.

Chief Photographer: John Wilkinson

A real pro – and with such a fierce stare that none of us quite dare take the mick out of him – John has been snapping the world’s top riders for various motocross mags for the past 25 years. Now though, he has seen the light and joined us to take pictures of real bikes at long last.
Knows all about light meters, f-stops, shutter speed and all that kind of thing – but just wait ‘til we get him on a Jawa Metisse or something…

Likes: Eccles cakes.

Photographers:

Nick Haskell:

Classic Dirt Bike’s very own handy, pocket-sized photographer, Nick’s passion is motocross and he’s been snapping away at meetings for more than four decades.
Remember that photograph of Jobe making that huge double at Hawkstone Park? That’s Nick’s.
A big fan of the 500cc class, Nick was on hand to record Graham Noyce and Dave Thorpe’s world titles and still contributes to a number of magazines worldwide.

Likes: Motocross – oh and having a box to stand on at the bar.

Nick Nicholls:

One of the most prolific and well respected motorcycle photographers of the past 50 years, Nick knows everyone in the classic off road game – and everybody knows him. His extensive back catalogue of photographs is safely stashed in the Classic Dirt Bike vaults and will be regularly featured in the magazine.

Likes... The finer things in life – trials, motocross and road racing. Makes a very fine smoked salmon sandwich too, I happen to know.

Gordon Francis

I hope Gordon won’t mind me describing him as a veteran, but he’s very much part of the off road scene – and has been for years. Cracking action shots are Gordon’s hallmark and we’re glad to have him on board.

Likes... The people of the classic era. Gordon’s an off-road man through and through and is just as happy at a trial as a scramble. Claims to drink Coke in the main but admits to a fondness for a decent brandy or single malt Scotch. I’ll bring the Coke and you bring the brandy, Gordon.

Read more from these pros and more in the first issue of Classic Dirt Bike

Available quarterly from WH Smith and secure online from Mortons Media Group - www.classicmagazines.co.uk

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