It is with regret that Vic Allan MBE is no longer able to attend the Classic Dirt Bike Show at Telford this weekend due to family health reasons. Vic was very much looking forward to the event, particularly the opportunity to catch up with old friends and rivals, and to appear on stage alongside fellow motocross great Roger Harvey to share memories from their racing careers.
While Vic’s absence is disappointing, he is pleased that a close friend, fellow Scot, and long-time rival Jimmy Aird has agreed to step in as a special guest. Having raced against one another many times, Jimmy will be well placed to recount stories of their on-track battles and the era they helped define.
From Scottish Champion to Motocross Mainstay
Jimmy Aird, originally from Kirkcaldy in Fife, established himself as one of Scotland’s standout off-road riders during the 1960s. A three-time Scottish Scrambles Champion, he made a significant impact by winning televised scrambles events on his home territory near Kirkcaldy in 1967 and 1968, competing against some of the strongest scrambling talent in Britain at the time.
Recognising that progression in professional motocross required a move south, Jimmy relocated to Barnard Castle in County Durham. This proved to be a defining decision in what became a long and successful professional career.
A Career Built on Big Bikes and Big Style
Over the years, Jimmy Aird rode for and was supported by many of the most prominent names in British motocross machinery. His career included rides on Dave Bickers-supplied CZs, factory AJS Stormers, Montala Motors Montesas, Bryan Goss Maicos, Comerfords KTMs, and notably the factory four-stroke CCMs for which he is perhaps best remembered.
Jimmy’s spectacular riding style, combined with the distinctive sound and presence of the large CCM four-strokes, made him a memorable figure wherever he raced. That combination became one of the defining sights and sounds of British motocross during the period.
Beyond the Professional Years
Even after his main professional career, Jimmy continued riding and winning twin-shock events on his own CCM until relatively recently. Whether or not those appearances marked the end of his competitive outings remains open to speculation — but his legacy on and off the bike is firmly established.
Away from racing, Jimmy went on to found SCOTT Leathers after earlier working with Len Thwaites at TT Leathers in Barnard Castle. SCOTT Leathers has since provided protective equipment for a wide range of riders across disciplines including road racing, enduro, motocross, speedway and supermoto, with its products also used by police forces in the UK. Production has remained based in Barnard Castle, using local skilled labour.
A Worthy Stand-In
While Vic Allan MBE will be missed at this year’s show, Jimmy Aird’s presence ensures that visitors will still hear first-hand accounts from a rider who competed at the highest level of British motocross and shared the track with many of its most respected figures — Vic Allan MBE included.
Show tickets and more information here: https://www.classicbikeshows.com/telford/
