A brief history of the Isle of Man Sheepskull Enduro Riders and the forming of the Purple Helmets display team

 BC – Before Coats:

 The Isle of Man Sheepskull Enduro Riders was informally formed in 1991 when a small group of Manx enduro riders competing in the British Enduro championship thought it might be a laugh to strap a sheep’s skull to the front of the bike and enter a team as the ‘Isle of Man Sheepskull Enduro Riders’. There is no shortage of sheep skulls on the tracks and hills around the island, so it seemed appropriate at the time. Later that year, a group of six lads loaded their bikes into the back of a van and headed off non-stop to Czechoslovakia, as it was then, to watch the International Six days Enduro (ISDE) and support the Manx and British riders. Lots of brilliant tracking and a few beers to help talk about it. 1992 saw the ISDE, or ‘Six day’ as it is often referred to, take place in Cessnock, Australia. This was seen as a real challenge for three of the ‘Skullers’ who decided to enter and ride the event themselves. All finished with medals and a small number of the lads also got out to support and spectate.

 The beginning of an era:

 The following year saw the first proper ‘Sheepskull’ trip to the ISDE in Assen, Holland. Armed with the famous white skulled black T-shirts, some dubious machinery and two or three of the first big coats, nine skullers made the trip in a couple of small vans. On the way home, after a fantastic time, the lads were reflecting on what a good time they’d had and discussed the possibilities of the next trip! The next years ISDE event was to take place far away in Oklahoma, America, and was thought too far to travel but 1995 was the year for Poland, the first big adventure – Coats, a Double Decker Bus and Honda C90’s all came out of the ridiculous conversation. 1994 was the turn of the USA to run the six day event. Again, the event was seen as a challenge to two of the skullers, who decided to ride the event. More medals and a few members travelled to support them. The troupe is made up of blokes with various careers and backgrounds. There are engineers, firemen, steel erectors, construction workers, etc. Most have ridden or still ride Enduros, Motocross or Trials to various levels. A total of seven members have gained medals riding in ISDE’s from as far back as Wales in 1983.

Bus trip to Poland:

This was the big adventure. Two years of planning came to fruition for the trip to the ISDE in Jelena Gora, Poland 1995. Now with member numbers increased to twenty, we drove a 1963 AEC ‘Regent 5’ double decker bus through England, sailed over the channel to Hamburg and drove down through Germany into Poland on the 1500 mile round trip. Armed with 20 big coats and 20 Honda C90’s (commonly known as ‘Flappers’) this is when the whole real concept of what it is today began.

The World Famous Purple Helmets Display Team forming:

During preparations for the Poland trip (May 1995), a local Manx motorcycle club member asked if we could put on a bit of a show during TT week to ‘fill in’ for Trials exhibitionist Steve Colley. A small group of about nine got together and tried a few basic stunts reminiscent of those performed by the Royal Signal’s motorcycle display team. The rest, as they say, is history, and since then the three or four displays we do every year seem to get bigger and better. You could say that the Purple Helmets are the display team of the Sheepskull enduro riders.

More ISDE trips:

 Since Poland we have made it to nearly every Six Days: Finland 1996, Italy 1997, Portugal 1999, Spain 2000, France 2001 and Czech Republic in 2002, Brazil 2003, Poland 2004, Slovakia 2005 New Zealand 2006 and just last year Chile. As a team we have only missed 1 event in Australia in 1998 and even then 1 member went to the event to support the British team.

 Today:

 Our prime objectives are to have a laugh and a good time, bring out the humorous side of motorcycling and support all the Manx, British and Irish riders - and do a bit of tracking and racing at the same time.

 The Future: