page 6 2014 Bernie Schreiber feature interview
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Was that a trail bike or road?
It was a trail bike with a gap at the front between the front wheel and the front fender . The exhaust pipe just came straight out and it was pretty simple. It had foot pegs at the front and foot pegs at the back. I used to go out into the desert and ride around a little bit you know. I was a little bit small for the size of this bike. My father had a very close friend. When I was born at the apartment I’ve told you about , we lived above and our friends lived below us. This is how we got to know each other. They had a child who was just 6 months older than me. Later they moved to the same district and we all stayed friends. My parents still have contact with the father to this day. One day , back then they invited us out to the desert to go riding . He had his motorcycle a Bultaco Lobito and he was riding round just in this circle and going up the hill and back down. |
Bernie with his Lobito.
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo bernie schreiber
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Where he was riding around there was like grooves in the dirt which was quite surprising. I thought what is he doing . I was really interested in what he was doing . He kept standing up and going round in a circle, back up and down. I asked him “What’s that?” and he said “That’s trials, you’ll have to come out to a competition”.
So how come you chose trials over doing something fast like a lot of kids want ?. Why didn’t you want to do jumps and get air time?
So how come you chose trials over doing something fast like a lot of kids want ?. Why didn’t you want to do jumps and get air time?
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Saddleback Park has long been a favourite place for Californians to Free ride.
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview
Well, I think I’d never really seen the jumps. I mean, you had to go to those parts and those competitions where those events were happening, you know. Later, I went out to the Saddle Back off road park and competed. They had MX tracks out there and stuff like that. This was my first event, like in the kids class. I did really well for the first time, especially as I didn’t have the best equipment. |
The amazing Pere (Pedro ) Pi - competition manager + development for Montesa actually at Saddleback. Pedro Pi's fellow Montesa competitor Rob Edwards from the UK also came to Southern California for a trial and school with Pedro.
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo pedro pi
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Being such a vast place, the US had back then a good array of riding areas. Here are some 70's photo of the American trials scene.
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Thanks to Mitzi Hodges for these photos
Do you ever remember going to a trials school with Mick Andrews at Saddleback ?
Yes. I just about remember that.
And do you remember going to Pedro Pi trials school at the same place ?
Yes, he was with Montesa, I think it was Saddle Back, yes. That’s where most of them were.
Was this a huge park that you could ride in?
Yes. It was a big park that had all different types of events at . Mini bike races, MX races, trials events or you could just go out there and just ride around. It was just a big motorcycle park.
Yes. I just about remember that.
And do you remember going to Pedro Pi trials school at the same place ?
Yes, he was with Montesa, I think it was Saddle Back, yes. That’s where most of them were.
Was this a huge park that you could ride in?
Yes. It was a big park that had all different types of events at . Mini bike races, MX races, trials events or you could just go out there and just ride around. It was just a big motorcycle park.
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo Bernie Schreiber
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2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo Bernie Schreiber
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Did you get lots of support from your parents to ride bikes or not?
I think they didn’t really know too much about it. Later , actually when I got more involved in it so did they. Trials became for both of them a social opportunity cos it was very family orientated. The parents would come out and the kids would come out, it was a real social environment but perhaps not so much for my sisters. Other than this it was more my father and I going to smaller and then bigger events. The whole family would come sometimes.
Did you have a big truck to get your bike there?
My father had a truck. He still has a pick-up truck today. He had a Ford pick-up truck and I remember in the 70’s, no earlier than that, we had the big crisis, the big slump. At this time he downsized to a smaller one, from a Ford to a Datsun but it was still a pick-up truck, which I eventually bought from him after that. My father always had a pick-up truck. We had several pick-up trucks over the years.
Which club did you belong to out there, what was the name of the club?
The first one was called VOTE, Valley Observed Trials Enthusiast.
And what age would you have joined that at?
I think it was maybe 11 or 12. This was one of several clubs that belonged to the Southern Californian Trials Association SCTA. Under this organisation there were several different clubs.
I think they didn’t really know too much about it. Later , actually when I got more involved in it so did they. Trials became for both of them a social opportunity cos it was very family orientated. The parents would come out and the kids would come out, it was a real social environment but perhaps not so much for my sisters. Other than this it was more my father and I going to smaller and then bigger events. The whole family would come sometimes.
Did you have a big truck to get your bike there?
My father had a truck. He still has a pick-up truck today. He had a Ford pick-up truck and I remember in the 70’s, no earlier than that, we had the big crisis, the big slump. At this time he downsized to a smaller one, from a Ford to a Datsun but it was still a pick-up truck, which I eventually bought from him after that. My father always had a pick-up truck. We had several pick-up trucks over the years.
Which club did you belong to out there, what was the name of the club?
The first one was called VOTE, Valley Observed Trials Enthusiast.
And what age would you have joined that at?
I think it was maybe 11 or 12. This was one of several clubs that belonged to the Southern Californian Trials Association SCTA. Under this organisation there were several different clubs.
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Did you find that a lot of the skills you learned on the push bike transferred over onto the motorbike at all ,or not really?
Yeah, I think it did. I mean there’s no doubt about balance you know. I learn that on a cycle. The cycle I liked best was the stingray bicycle . It had the big seat and the sissy bar on the back. The all American Evil Knievel styles Sting Ray cycle
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview
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Did you zoom up the Trials classes pretty quickly?
Yeah, I think I advanced pretty soon. If I recall correctly I had to go from the Kid’s class to the Novice class then to Amateur. Then they had, like Expert class and a Master class. I think I was in the Master class by the time I was 14 years old. Bernie - 14 .Having reached the master class
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo bernie schreiber
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Was that unusual at the time?
That was pretty unusual, there were just one or two of us, Whaley and myself. We were the ones that got there real quickly.
Was he a similar age to you?
Yeah, a similar age, maybe a little bit older. He was probably the biggest rider from that small community.
What was your first serious trials bike you got?
I had a Lobito 125, but I wouldn’t consider that a serious trials bike. It was very heavy and a big yellow bumble bee, not something that I felt was for kids.
That was pretty unusual, there were just one or two of us, Whaley and myself. We were the ones that got there real quickly.
Was he a similar age to you?
Yeah, a similar age, maybe a little bit older. He was probably the biggest rider from that small community.
What was your first serious trials bike you got?
I had a Lobito 125, but I wouldn’t consider that a serious trials bike. It was very heavy and a big yellow bumble bee, not something that I felt was for kids.
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A new Lobito sales brochure.
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo bultaco
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Montesa at that time had their small Cota for kids. Now that was really nice. The Bultaco came out later and I went straight for a Sherpa T and this was my first serious trials bike way back in 1974.
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo bernie schreiber
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Do you ever remember training with Rob Andrews in the UK at all?
I think I’ve trained with all the British riders of the time.
Who first noticed that you had potential to actually do well and how did that come about?
Every year, they have this El trial De Espania.
Every year, they have this El trial De Espania. It started off when all these great riders would come over. Sammy Miller came and this was the first time I’d ever seen him. It was the first time I’d ever seen Mick Andrews. If I recall correctly, the trial was used to raise money which they would donate and help riders go to the Spanish World round. It was because of these donations and money raising that I went to the World championship.
I think I’ve trained with all the British riders of the time.
Who first noticed that you had potential to actually do well and how did that come about?
Every year, they have this El trial De Espania.
Every year, they have this El trial De Espania. It started off when all these great riders would come over. Sammy Miller came and this was the first time I’d ever seen him. It was the first time I’d ever seen Mick Andrews. If I recall correctly, the trial was used to raise money which they would donate and help riders go to the Spanish World round. It was because of these donations and money raising that I went to the World championship.
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo bernie schreiber
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2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo bernie schreiber
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You see ,they would send young riders to experience the World Trials scene. Many people went on the trip to look after the young riders as well. My first time was in 1973. It was all about sending young riders out there to experience the bigger trials World. Although I couldn’t compete i won my place to go and watch the World Trials Championship. So , whilst I was out there I got to visit the Bultaco factory and try some of the bikes. I went riding out riding out there. There was Oriel Bulto, Manuel Soler and Vesterienen. It was mainly Bultaco riders I rode with and experienced at this time.I still have a super 8 video of that day. My parents still have it.
Back in the late 60's and early 70's in Los Angeles Trials was much more of a family sport, with more women and girls who rode. Bernie's kids class included motocross superstar Jeff Ward who made his TV debut as the wheelie kid in the original "On any Sunday ".
Back in the late 60's and early 70's in Los Angeles Trials was much more of a family sport, with more women and girls who rode. Bernie's kids class included motocross superstar Jeff Ward who made his TV debut as the wheelie kid in the original "On any Sunday ".
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo - Bruce Brown productions
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2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview
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Back in his early days riding his Bultaco , Bernie was still small as you cqan see in these photos. He was fondly referred to as "The World's most agile midget" and was like a mighty mouse. Pushing through deep mud would be a problem for Bernie. In 1974 Bernie rode his World World trial at Saddleback. He was only 14 and rode with the 6 month older Marland Whalley. They were both strong competitors of each other for many years. They were both so young that they couldnt ride for an award and had "X" marked on their riding bib.Only 11 riders finished and Bernie was 7th , although his score didnt count. This was a great moral boost.
Two photo of Bernie at the Trial de Espania trial in 1972 The Trial de Espania continues to this day
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2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview
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In 1974 the funds raised from the Trial de Espania paid for Bernie to be sent to Spain. He went with other riders of note to watch some the World round. Bernie thought they were hard, but possible. He knew he had to practise more.
Back in the USA Bernie was being paid $100 a month along with a bike and parts. Not bad for a 15 year old. He had been campaigning in the master Class in California and had won the Championship. When Bernie returned home from Spain he found Bultaco International had sent him a cheque for $1000 to say well done.
Back in the USA Bernie was being paid $100 a month along with a bike and parts. Not bad for a 15 year old. He had been campaigning in the master Class in California and had won the Championship. When Bernie returned home from Spain he found Bultaco International had sent him a cheque for $1000 to say well done.
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Francisco Bulto - photo taken from the Retrotrials tour of the Bulto home San Antonio
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo ignacio bulto
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Do you remember Ignacio Bulto and did you ever meet him?
Yes, all of the Bulto’s were there. I think Ignacio, Oriel Bulto, Manuel Soler and Vesty were all out there. Martin and Coultard they were all on this demo day as well. It was always something they did when they wanted to test new ideas and new parts from the factory. And what year was this? 1973. In 1973 you first went out to the factory, what do you remember of Paco Bulto? Of Mr Bulto, I only remember positive things. He was very warm, very open and always there to help. I will always remember him. It didn’t matter if you won the event or finished 7th, he would always be there to help you. I remember having not such a good result the first time I rode. I think it was 1977 and I finished 7th. |
I remember him coming to see me and saying “Is there anything I can do to help?”. He was always seeing if there was anything he could do to help. He and the whole Bultaco family and team were very supportive of my whole family. It was really like a big family of trial.
When you went over to Spain would your parents come with you or would you just go out with the other riders?.
No, just with the other riders. My mother came on my first trip with me, to Barcelona. She couldn’t ride so she was a spectator but she was out there and had her camera and we visited the factory and went out to the World Championship Trial. I think that was the first time I was exposed to the World Trial sections. I was only like 13 and I remember all I want to do is trials. I wasn’t scared at all.
So, you were out there, aged 13 and you went over to the World Championship having won this placing on the Trial de Espania?
Yeah, I was one of the young ,up and coming who they wanted to be exposed to that.
So you were taken out there to be inspired?
Yeah, exactly. And I think this was also thanks to Martin Belairs father, Fred Belair, who started Trial de Espania. He had a vision of this all and also to help promote Montesa because he was a Montesa importer.
When you went over to Spain would your parents come with you or would you just go out with the other riders?.
No, just with the other riders. My mother came on my first trip with me, to Barcelona. She couldn’t ride so she was a spectator but she was out there and had her camera and we visited the factory and went out to the World Championship Trial. I think that was the first time I was exposed to the World Trial sections. I was only like 13 and I remember all I want to do is trials. I wasn’t scared at all.
So, you were out there, aged 13 and you went over to the World Championship having won this placing on the Trial de Espania?
Yeah, I was one of the young ,up and coming who they wanted to be exposed to that.
So you were taken out there to be inspired?
Yeah, exactly. And I think this was also thanks to Martin Belairs father, Fred Belair, who started Trial de Espania. He had a vision of this all and also to help promote Montesa because he was a Montesa importer.
Bernie won the Trial de Espania for the first time in 1975
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Fred Belair, the founder of the Trial de Espania showing us his skills.
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo martin belair
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Fred's son , US Montesa importer and successful rider Martin displaying the lightweight Montesa 315r.
2014 Bernie Schreiber Interview photo martin belair
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