After trying all their patience, drawing both blood and gasps, the strength-sapping 35th International Six Day Trials (ISDT) race at Bad Aussee in Austria comes to an close.
After 1200 miles through swamps, streams, rockbeds and forests, the six-day race against time known as the "Olympics of Motorcycling" comes to a close.
England's hard-riding ISDT legend Eric Chilton straddled, stood on, pushed and pulled his Triumph to a Gold Medal as member of the British Trophy Team.
Eric Chilton, "A quiet man from the south Midlands" rode in the ISDT from 1954 to 1965 winning five Gold Medals, one Silver and one Bronze. The first three years as a privateer then riding for Great Britain from 1959 to 1965.
The biggest yearly event in Bad Aussee occurs on Faschingsdienstag (Shrove Tuesday), when the Flinserln dress up in sequined costumes and parade through town to announce the coming of spring. Children recite old rhymes to the Flinserln and are rewarded with nuts or sweets. The Flinserln are accompanied by the Zacharin, who keep spectators in line by waving pig bladders on sticks and occasionally rapping people on the head with them. The celebration is rounded off by the Trommelweiber (Drum Women). The Trommelweiber are a group of men dressed in women's nightgowns, who go from inn to inn banging on drums, pots and pans, and enjoy the free food and beer. Really.
Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk
