Roy Peplow was a former Triumph factory rider in trials, scrambles, and the ISDT. He passed away peacefully on March 26, 2017 aged 80 years. During his career he achieved remarkable success with small capacity machines and campaigned on Triumphs in trials events for many years.
Roy was a firm choice for many British Trophy teams for the annual International Six Days Trial (ISDT), always Triumph mounted. His knowledge of the event was second to none and his machines bristled with all sorts of special modifications learned from practical experience in the gruelling event.
In 1959 he won the Scottish Six Days Trial (SSDT) on a works prepared 199cc Triumph Tiger Cub RUE 923. This was the first time that a small capacity machine won the SSDT and heralded the end of the ‘big bike’ dominance at the event.
In 1964 Roy met Steve McQueen whilst competing in the ISDT of that year. He was also used by Barbour in a marketing campaign for its jackets.
Roy was a member of Great Britain's Trophy team in the '66 ISDT, held that year in Sweden, the remainder of the Trophy team comprising Johnny Giles, Arthur Lampkin, Ken Heanes, Ray Sayer and Sammy Miller. Roy and all the others in the team won the Gold medal but although they were one of only two teams to be unpenalised at the finish, the GB team came second to East Germany. Roy's machine from that trial still exists.
Roy was instrumental in assisting Sammy Miller when he first went to Bultaco and accompanied Sammy for secret testing of the Spanish machine at Bultaco’s ranch, ‘San Antonio’ when Miller was still contracted to Ariel.
His funeral service is to be held at St. Peter's Church, Kinver on Tuesday, April 18, at 12.30pm, followed by Burial in Comber Ridge Cemetery.
