The Sporting
T S I L C Y C R O T MO
..published monthly
orting motorcycling
News for social and sp
October 2019
Enduro, Grasstrack, Motocross, Road Racing, ing,, Speedway, Sprinting and Trials news
CONTAINS OFFICIAL EVENT ENTRY FORMS
The Sporting
MOTORCYCLIST
is published monthly and is available through your Clubs or by direct subscription
Editor (ACU Southern Centre) John Bramall
16 Gifford Close, Fareham, Hampshire, PO15 6PJ T: 01329 823282 E: johnbramall246@btinternet.com
Editor (ACU South Midland Centre) Bob Twigg
2 Harwood Close, Welwyn Garden City, Herts, AL8 7SN E: bobtwigg@ntlworld.com
Editor & Advertising and Distribution (ACU South Eastern Centre) Andy Wood 30 Westways, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 6AA Tel/Fax 01732 865380
E: anmarprintingservices@gmail.com
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Anmar Printing Services, Edenbridge, Kent
OCTOBER 2019 VOL. 19 ISSUE 10 PUBLISHED ON THE 1ST OF EACH MONTH
All material for TSM should reach the editor by the tenth day of the month preceding publication.
FROM THE EDITOR'S CHAIR ď Ž By Bob Twigg
A very interesting article from Giulio Greco about the Laverda factory. Back in the days of long distance racing, like those at Thruxton and other circuits the bike to have was a Laverda Jota, a super fast reliable racer. I remember reading that the British importer lent a Jota to a motorcycle magazine so that they could write a report but they were dismayed that when it was returned the back tyre was bald from the "enthusiastic" use of the throttle by the writers. They vowed not to lend one out again to that mag (no names no pack drill)! When I was a mechanic for the "fuzz" we were lent an SF2 to try, a nice bike with a good finish but we bought the ill fated rotary Nortons instead. That's a story for another day. Giulio spent a lot of time looking at the history of Laverda, many thanks for that. The trials season will now be in full swing, riders sitting in queues waiting at sections and the smell of leaves and mud burning on exhausts, a lovely "pong" to my mind! Tom Grimshaw is improving fast, beginning with a near factory ride at the Lommel MXGP, since then Tom has been given the chance to contest all the remaining MXGP's as a factory rider, well done mate. In the MX "closed season" he should get out on the trials bike over the Winter, you know it makes sense, no block passing in trials though, but it does improve throttle control, watch Chris Koch in either a trial or motocross and you will see it! Mixed news about the future of trials at Dews Farm, a brilliant venue that's been used since before the war. The hopeful news is that we may be able to use it at certain times, the bad news is the possible demolition of the lovely Tudor farmhouse owned by Ron and Anne Ryalls, at the moment I am struggling to understand the logic behind a very expensive project HS2. Should we have referendum on it (perhaps not)! Many thanks to Graham West of Midhurst who reinforces the opinion that George Greenland came out with some time ago, he said that "trials experience is good for enduros, but enduro experience is of little use for trials ". Come on you enduro chaps, you must say something about that! TSM needs more articles and comments, agreeing or not! At a recent trial some club members had heard that the ACU don't approve of riders in trials wearing push bike crash hats. The current ACU handbook says "trials riders must wear a suitable road legal helmet". I think that wording is a trifle ambiguous, it doesn't say those helmets are banned.
Cover Photo: Tom Penfold & Will Naden Photo by: Alan Turner
Remember when we were forced to wear helmets, there were an amazing array of different head gear worn, though of course we all know it makes sense to wear a decent hat! Keep on riding, all the best. 3
Challenging Combine
a tree too tight catching a loose boulder up the bank causing him to take a tumble. Max Amis with a much better line and made it look easy and went on to take the top award in his class. Tree roots were the main obstacle in the third section and it was here that expert Phil Wiffen lost his only mark of the day when he momentarily lost concentration. He was followed by Richard Tickner looking superb stylishly exiting the section on his rear wheel for a clean. Next door was number four over a clump of tree trunks and here Novice winner Stuart Packham had a unfortunate five on his first lap whereas eventual runner up Steve Cozens
Richard Tickner (Experts) ď Ž By Shaun Fowler The Normandy club's Brian Fowler trial held at Faygate near Horsham,was the latest round of the Thames Valley Combine championship. The clerk of the course set out eight very challenging sections around the wood using the banks, tree root cambers and logs. Section one started across a small log into a chalky bomb hole with the exit up a loose bank. Thomas Packham riding in the Youth Novice class didn't have the best start to his day when he took the turn around 26
Rowan Stewart (Youth Novice)
Luke Batten (Youth Beginners) managed to keep going for a three. The fifth section was at the bottom corner of the wood climbed the bank towards the road then along the top of the bank with a downhill adverse camber to the ends. Elliot Tickner riding the experts needed a dab on lap one and an unfortunate dab on his third lap for a third place finish at the end. On the easier beginners route Luke Batten was very unlucky on his first lap loosing a five but had four cleans later in the day. Freddie Amis riding the same route was riding well requiring a dab on his final lap but not enough to threaten his first place finish by the end. Section seven was a slippery
climb over logs and a big fallen tree at the top of the bank. Samuel Meeten aboard his Oset rode the bank too slow and needed a dab going across the log. Hannah Moore and Daniel Dabreo were able to use more power floating across the log to record a clean. The bank of massive tree roots at the last section required the riders to make sure they were quick enough to avoid coming to a sudden stop. Dave Wiffen got caught out on the roots losing a dab but class winner Terry Tidbury blasted up the bank on his four stroke Scorpa feet up and clean. Rowan Stewart riding the youth novice route got all twisted up with his front wheel and was lucky to escape with three marks. A challenging but excellent group trial from the Normandy team. Experts Phil Wiffen Richard Tickner Elliot Tickner
1 7 12
Inters Steve Moore
23
Novice Stuart Packham Steve Cozens
24 58
Sportsman Terry Tidbury
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Trials Clerk of the Course Seminar ď Ž By Jamie Clarke
Sunday 10th November (Remembrance Sunday) Once again the South East Trials Combine is running a trials clerk of the course seminar at West Kingsdown Village Hall (TN15 6EZ) Sunday 10th November (Remembrance Sunday). This
is for both renewals and first time applicants. The course is modular with presentation, group discussion and multiple choice short question papers. ACU Handbooks will be available if you haven't got one. We'll break for a minutes silence and later for refreshments. If
Dave Wiffen Beginners Nike Everitt Norman Capstick
17 15 142
Youth Inter Daniel Dabreo Samuel Meeten Hannah Moore
2 11 30
Youth Novice Max Amis Thomas Packham Rowan Stewart
22 45 58
Youth Beginners Freddie Amis Luke Batten Kareem Capstik Coben Brand
30 51 104 125
Stuart Packham (Novice)
individuals and/or clubs could contact me with candidates so I can provide sufficient paperwork (and cake!). Contact me on 07709 699 092 - jamie_ clarke28@hotmail.com.
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The Sporting
MOTORCYCLIST
A monthly publication written by enthusiasts for enthusiasts
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The Sporting Motorcyclist Contains: Entry forms and regulations for Motocross, Trials, Enduro, Grasstrack events Information on the management of the sport in your centre Previews and reports on events
Official news from the ACU and over 160 clubs in the Southern, South Eastern and South Midland Centres Fixture lists / championship tables Social events Your contributions?
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