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Setting the record straight

You may recall some years ago a correspondence about the Royal Enfield endurance machine AFO 81D and its owner/rider Billy Mills. This machine has recently been acquired by Hitchcocks Motorcycles and, interestingly, its engine number follows on in sequence from the two ISDT (International Six Days Trial) works bikes (one ex-Johnny Britain), also now in the custodianship of our company.

The subject of the correspondence was ambiguity as to the status of the award credited to Billy in the 1967 ISDT. The status of Billy’s achievement has been the subject of confusion, with a couple of varying accounts of his ride and final placing and whether he secured silver, or as his wife said, gold.

Certainly, Billy was the only British privateer to win a medal. Controversy has rumbled on over his final placing. Having been docked points, Mills was credited with a silver. An appeal was launched on the claim he arrived ‘early’ at a check point. The appeal found the clock at this check point was slow and the points were returned to Billy’s score, which then totalled 260.31, qualifying him for gold. This version of events is given by Billy’s son Chris (ref: Speed Track Tales website) who was at the event in Poland and has a filmic record of the start.

An alternative explanation has been offered by