a revealing Interview with Mecatecno and Montesa Rider
Ronald Garcia
An interesting hard hitting, controversial and no holding back interview with Ronald Garcia.
You can't have helped but notice that the marque Mecatecno holds a special place in the heart of the author. In reality, the birth of my interest in this brand and my subsequent adventures, travelling, collecting and recording all of the information on this website was sparked by the man in the photo beneath. His name is Richard Pelling and sadly he's not alive anymore. He's survived by his wife Sally, son Robert and daughter Louise.
A revealing interview with Mecatecno and Montesa Rider
Ronald Garcia
Richard rode for fun and relished riding something different. As the years clocked on Richard rode less and his interest turned to running a small South of England team of local riders in team "Pelling Electrical". From memory this team included the committed and strong rider "crasher" Graham Arnold as well as the gifted and highly vocal Wayne Holdsworth ;). It's fair to say that Richard was kept busy rebuilding the bikes by Graham and especially Wayne, whose speciality was snapping the Skywalker's crankshafts. Whilst all this was going on Richard visited the Mecatecno factory in Spain with Welsh dealer and wonderful character Brian Griffiths. Richard had dreams of taking on the UK importership, but it never happened. Richard also started to design his own bike. He spoke about his dreams often, but it was all hindered by not enough time and cash. Sadly Richard passed away from a rare illness, however when I had the opportunity to buy the last remaining Skywalker in bits, it came with lots of factory and importer paperwork which got my mind wondering and ultimately set me on a journey, which ultimately started this web page.
And of course being heavily influenced by OCD, curiosity and passion, this led me on the route to tracking down the Mecatecno family. The more astute of you will have noticed that Retrotrials has managed to track down (some almost impossible) most of the Mecatecno riders, however a number were still missing .....and I was very aware of it.
One was Ronald Garcia. He was a Montesa and Mecatecno factory rider, yet only 2 or 3 photos exist of him on the internet. There is no information on him, no social media accounts, no LinkedIn page ...nothing. Ronald was off the internet grid and my leads were dry for several years, until recently.
One day the last piece of the jigsaw fell into place as a friend of a friend gave me his telephone number. Calls were made and a meeting was set up in a small Catalonian town. As usual, Josep accompanied me to this small town for the meeting and I have to say that we were both excited.
And of course being heavily influenced by OCD, curiosity and passion, this led me on the route to tracking down the Mecatecno family. The more astute of you will have noticed that Retrotrials has managed to track down (some almost impossible) most of the Mecatecno riders, however a number were still missing .....and I was very aware of it.
One was Ronald Garcia. He was a Montesa and Mecatecno factory rider, yet only 2 or 3 photos exist of him on the internet. There is no information on him, no social media accounts, no LinkedIn page ...nothing. Ronald was off the internet grid and my leads were dry for several years, until recently.
One day the last piece of the jigsaw fell into place as a friend of a friend gave me his telephone number. Calls were made and a meeting was set up in a small Catalonian town. As usual, Josep accompanied me to this small town for the meeting and I have to say that we were both excited.
A revealing Interview with Mecatecno and Montesa Rider
Ronald Garcia
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A revealing Interview with Mecatecno and Montesa Rider
Ronald Garcia
|
Josep and I arrived at the agreed location of the town square and waited. Ronald was running a bit late, so Josep and I overdosed on strong Spanish coffee. Now Josep knows when to stop, but I don't and by the time Ronald arrived I had fireworks going off in my head ...but I had to keep myself in check. I was representing the UK and had to behave accordingly with a super strong upper lip.
Finally just as the fluid around my eye balls was turning brown with caffeine poisoning, Ronald arrived.
Finally just as the fluid around my eye balls was turning brown with caffeine poisoning, Ronald arrived.
Welcome Ronald Garcia.
Ronald Garcia was a talented Catalonian rider who shone in the early to mind 1980's. Ronald won the Spanish Junior Championship and went onto his highest ranking of 5th in Spanish full blown adult rounds. Ronald rode the World Championship circuit and was invited to many indoor trials throughout Spain , particularly Barcelona. Although Ronald's placings were admirable and a dream for all but the best , mostly his positions warranted no decent sponsorship and money to continue. Money was tight . Stress ,sports natural and inevitable disappointment were never far away. Unfortunately it seems Ronald became disillusioned with certain elements of the the sport and certain characters who had influence over him. Ronald uses his voice via Retrotrials to hit back hard at those he believes greatly upset his chances and changed the course of his career. A problem shared is a problem halved :).
A revealing Interview with Mecatecno and Montesa Rider
Ronald Garcia
It was great to meet the smiling Ronald. He's a tall, well groomed and what my mother would say "charming man". I felt a sense of ease knowing my mission was almost at it's conclusion and knowing I could geek out on Mecatecno without anyone thinking I was strange :).
As Ronald sat down he asked me if I wanted a coffee and I nearly fainted. We settled for Cola and sat down in this dark town square, outside a small and quiet cafe. It was a nice setting and just perfect for the moment.
As Ronald sat down he asked me if I wanted a coffee and I nearly fainted. We settled for Cola and sat down in this dark town square, outside a small and quiet cafe. It was a nice setting and just perfect for the moment.
A revealing Interview with Mecatecno and Montesa Rider
Ronald Garcia
What I didn't realise at this stage, was what Ronald was about to tell me. Ronald didn't hold back telling us about his times in the motorcycle business. Clearly he had some good times, but he is also very vocal about the bad times and the people he feels are responsible for this. It was definately information he wanted to air and not something we asked for in the slightest. This interview gives a good insight into the areas of the trials industry and the side perhaps the factories don't want you see.
This is the interview with the illusive Montesa and Mecatecno factory Ronald Garcia.
As always, all remember that Retrotrials interviews are recorded and typed up word for word. They are not played around with, edited and altered. What you are about to read is exactly how the interview proceeded. This is the only trials/industry magazine/ newspaper/website in World that still does this. Everyone else is bound by limited space or lack of time. Retrotrials gives it to you unedited and straight from the source as if you were right there. The interview is in black text, whilst any editorial is in blue.
Having said that, there is one caveat in this interview. Ronald makes such strong comments regarding a time in his career. Some of the comments are corroborated by other people that retrotrials has met. The person did not reply to communications from Retrotrials on this subject. The removal of names connected with allegations of criminal offences has been completed. Strong opinions and the dislike of another person are life and acceptable !
This is the interview with the illusive Montesa and Mecatecno factory Ronald Garcia.
As always, all remember that Retrotrials interviews are recorded and typed up word for word. They are not played around with, edited and altered. What you are about to read is exactly how the interview proceeded. This is the only trials/industry magazine/ newspaper/website in World that still does this. Everyone else is bound by limited space or lack of time. Retrotrials gives it to you unedited and straight from the source as if you were right there. The interview is in black text, whilst any editorial is in blue.
Having said that, there is one caveat in this interview. Ronald makes such strong comments regarding a time in his career. Some of the comments are corroborated by other people that retrotrials has met. The person did not reply to communications from Retrotrials on this subject. The removal of names connected with allegations of criminal offences has been completed. Strong opinions and the dislike of another person are life and acceptable !
The opinions here are of Ronald Garcia.
What year were you born in ?
1964.
Please tell me how you started riding ?
I started riding at 15 years old.
Was this because your family were involved with motorcycles ?
No, my father ride bikes, but street bikes. When I am little I see the bikes. When I am little, I start to ride trials after I'm introduced to it by my big brother and his wife. My brother rides trials and I see it and I like it and I begin when I'm 14 or 15 and go with him to the trial. I was actually riding motorbikes at home from 10 years old, but started riding the trial when I was 14 or 15. Although my father was interested only in the street bikes, he sees that I like the trial and he buys me at this age a Cota 247. In fact he buys it for himself, but after a few times on the bike he does not like riding in the mountains and the bike is not used, so I say to him can I have this bike for me and I begin with this, with this Montessori Cota 247. At this age I am not big enough to start the bike, so my brother start the bike every time for me, once my big brother has started the bike I go.
1964.
Please tell me how you started riding ?
I started riding at 15 years old.
Was this because your family were involved with motorcycles ?
No, my father ride bikes, but street bikes. When I am little I see the bikes. When I am little, I start to ride trials after I'm introduced to it by my big brother and his wife. My brother rides trials and I see it and I like it and I begin when I'm 14 or 15 and go with him to the trial. I was actually riding motorbikes at home from 10 years old, but started riding the trial when I was 14 or 15. Although my father was interested only in the street bikes, he sees that I like the trial and he buys me at this age a Cota 247. In fact he buys it for himself, but after a few times on the bike he does not like riding in the mountains and the bike is not used, so I say to him can I have this bike for me and I begin with this, with this Montessori Cota 247. At this age I am not big enough to start the bike, so my brother start the bike every time for me, once my big brother has started the bike I go.
Ronald Garcia was a very promising rider in the early to mid 80's and competed alongside the best riders in Spain in addition to riding the World Championship.
A revealing Interview with Mecatecno and Montesa Rider
Ronald Garcia
|
A revealing Interview with Mecatecno and Montesa Rider
Ronald Garcia
|
Did you live in the town or in the country ?
I lived in Barcelona, but at the weekends we come here where my father has a place, this is the place where I began. There are a lot of mountains and the hills around this place and is a great place to ride trial I could ride trial all day and often did. I would go to school and then immediately afterwards go off riding.
What did your mother and father do for work ?
My father has a little factory and my mother help him.
So, you started riding the trial, when was it that somebody noticed you for the first time and said ‘hey, this boy is good’ ?
When I started to ride this Montesa, I enter many many competitions for many years, as I got more confident I started to ride trials in other areas and further away, little bigger competitions.
I lived in Barcelona, but at the weekends we come here where my father has a place, this is the place where I began. There are a lot of mountains and the hills around this place and is a great place to ride trial I could ride trial all day and often did. I would go to school and then immediately afterwards go off riding.
What did your mother and father do for work ?
My father has a little factory and my mother help him.
So, you started riding the trial, when was it that somebody noticed you for the first time and said ‘hey, this boy is good’ ?
When I started to ride this Montesa, I enter many many competitions for many years, as I got more confident I started to ride trials in other areas and further away, little bigger competitions.