In February 2024, I received a letter from Moosen am Simssee, not far from Rosenheim. While researching for a book, Manfred Mayr had come across a mention of a bicycle trial in Kiefersfelden in 1966 (more on this later in a separate topic). At the end of the letter, he mentioned almost casually: ‘PS. When I was 10 years old, I organised a bicycle trial for my friends in Moosen (...) it must have been around 1966. Of course, we rode standard bicycles. Wonderful forest sections!!’
That was exciting, of course, because I am familiar with the name Mayr from the time when bicycle trials were expanding and then a German championship was created in 1982... I have been planning a story about that for far too long, but it will soon be available to read on this page! Then suddenly the letter arrived. So I followed up and, thankfully, received a lot of interesting information about his bicycle trial in Moosen in 1966.
Trialsport was still in its infancy in Germany at that time – the first motorcycle trials took place in 1955 and the first German championship in 1960. The Motorsportclub Rosenheim (MCR) held its first trial in nearby Moosen as early as 1962. Heinrich Mayr, an older brother of Manfred Mayr, was probably the reason for this – he was active in the MCR and his name appears on the announcement for this first motorcycle trial in Moosen. Heinrich Mayr, who competed in motorcycle trials until 1982, took part in the very first trial of the RTC Traunstein in 1957, which attracted 1,000 spectators at the time. In 1962, he competed with a licence for the first time in the trial in Holzkirchen and finished ahead of Jacky Ickx, who became Belgian trials champion a year later and later became famous as a Formula 1 driver. Another of Manfred Mayr's brothers was also an active motorcycle trials rider: Helmut Mayr, who competed for the first time in 1962 in the MCR trial that his brother had brought to Moosen and won in the moped class.
Manfred Mayr was ‘infected with the trial bug in 1962’ through his two older brothers and the MCR motorcycle trials in Moosen, as he writes. "In 1966, my brother Heinrich organised the first Alpine Cup round in trials history. We children were suitably motivated. My brothers gave me a small trials bike with a Sachs engine for Christmas, which I used to compete in Traunstein for the first time in 1967 at the age of eleven. Of the participants in our bicycle trials, only one later competed in motorcycle trials (Karl Neumayr in the Alpine Cup)." Manfred Mayr and Karl Neumayr had also set the sections together and were in the lead in their small trial. ‘Bicycle trials didn't return until 1981.’
One must think of Ebstorf in this regard, as in both cases the enthusiasm and example of older brothers for the booming sport of trials carried over to a younger brother, who then organised a bicycle trials event for his friends in the village due to a lack of other options. However, in Moosen it remained a one-off event, as Manfred Mayr rode the aforementioned (presumably 50cc) Sachs Trial from 1967 onwards. And just as in Ebstorf (see ‘Fahrrad-Trial-Club Ebstorf’ 1961-1964), the bicycle activities came to an abrupt end when the protagonist switched to motorcycles.
Let's hear from Manfred Mayr about his 1966 bicycle trial in Moosen:
`(The participants) were just my friends from Moosen (about 10 starters). We marked out the sections with scrap wood and rode together. Everyone had a points card – I think we got surplus cards from the Rosenheim Motorsport Club, which my brother Heine (Heinrich) kept.
As far as I can remember, we did without A (Anfang) and E (Ende) signs. Everyone was judged together. The sections were thoroughly prepared/cleared out so that everyone had the same conditions. I think there were about 10 sections. Everyone trained on their own. Unfortunately, there are no photos! Manfred sent a few photos of the MCR motorcycle trials that had motivated him at the time, and I have added the best one above. This gives you an idea of the conditions. ‘They were all forest sections (including roots and narrow passages) that you could just about ride. However, some of the front wheels had already been offset! Everything was rideable. Each section had zeros and fives. The award ceremony took place at the Neumayr inn in Moosen (which is unfortunately no longer in operation).’
Even though it is already clear from the second sentence above, given that the two bicycle trials in Moosen and Kiefersfelden took place at the same time, it should be emphasised once again: ‘We knew nothing about the Kiefersfelden bicycle trial at the time, and the Kiefersfeldeners knew nothing about us. We were inspired to organise a bicycle trial solely by the motorcycle trial events in Moosen. We didn't have mopeds yet...’
It's been 58 years since all that happened – and Manfred Mayr still competes in veteran trials.