Very good areas!
It is very complex to explain the situation but in simple terms it would be like this: I idolized him more than I knew him.
It all started a long time ago, it was the 70’s and a man, with a strong and robust build, experienced in me a strong impulse of sympathy and admiration. His name, Martin Lampkin, his profession, Trial World Champion.
Harold Martin Lampkin (born 28 December 1950 in Silsden, West Yorkshire) is an English footballer.
Lampkin was European Trial Champion in the 1973 season and won the first Trial World Championship in 1975. He won the Six Days of Scotland three years in a row (from 1976 to 1978), the Scott Trial four times (1977, 78, 81 and 82) and the British championship three times.
Martin is the third brother of one of the most famous families in the world of motoring in the 60s in the United Kingdom. His brothers Arthur and Alan were official test riders for BSA motorcycles and with them they achieved great success in motocross, trial and enduro. Thanks to their triumphs, they were promoted by the BBC as role models and this made them very popular for several years.
Martin Lampkin started competing in several disciplines at the same time, until he specialized in trials. Endowed with great corpulence and with a height of 1.87m, his piloting stood out for its impetus and recklessness. In fact, Bultaco developed the new Sherpa T 325cc, as its 250cc predecessor was too small for it.
He retired from professional competition in 1983. From then on he was a successful businessman, running, among others, a pub, a restaurant, a car dealership and a newsagent.
He has a nephew, John Lampkin who also excelled in international competitions in the 80s, and is currently the importer of Beta for the United Kingdom.
Married to Isobel, they had two sons, Dougie and Harry. Dougie followed his father’s tradition and although he only managed to eclipse him with titles (7 World Championships), they never failed to prove that the Lampkin family and trial are the same.
I had the honour of being able to chat with him briefly on the centenary of the 6 Days of Scotland in 2011, answering two brief questions I asked him to publish in the trial book I am writing. These were his words:
1.- What did the trial mean to you?
Trial was a sport for me to go out, see the world and share it with my whole family.
2.- What does trial mean to you?
Now it means being able to enjoy friends, not losing touch with this magnificent sport and above all the continuity of the Lampkin family within the world of trial. What every grandfather would be happy about, that his son and grandchildren continued with their favorite sport.
April 2, 2016, I received the sad news that he passed away at the age of 65 after a year’s battle with cancer. I didn’t expect it, nor did I deserve it, but life, sometimes, is that unfair, so I only have words of encouragement for his family.
Rest in peace!
David has provided the means to channel any comments, but if you want to make it more personalized, you will always find me at bonaigua@bonaigua-trial.com
Lots of zeros!
Victor Martin
“Bonaiguá”
