The History of the Levis Cup Trial

By John Walter

The original Levis Cup Trial was first held on 4th October 1913. The premier award for this classic event was the magnificent cup donated by Butterfields Ltd., the makers of Levis Motorcycles. The road trial was organised by the Sutton Coldfield and Mid Warwickshire Auto Club and started close to the main Post Office in Birmingham City Centre. It ran to Ludlow and back, a distance of approximately 100 miles and included some stiff hill climbs and the very unusual flexibility test. The first trial was won by Leslie Guy riding a Scott. A Gold Medal was awarded to Geoff Davison on a two speed Sunbeam. With the outbreak of the first World War the event lapsed until 1919 when it was won by Albert Milner on a Levis. Soon after this the event lapsed again and the Levis Cup became the trophy for the best performance on a single speed machine in the Colmore Cup Trial. This was also organised by the Sutton Coldfield Club, by then known as SUNBAC.