The Sporting
T S I L C Y C R O T MO
..published monthly
orting motorcycling
News for social and sp
March 2020
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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MARCH 2020 VOL. 20 ISSUE 3 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
March "gossip" The reports of the Dakar rally came in with the very sad news of two deaths at the event. Both riders gave their best to take part in a fantastic competition, RIP to both of them. With hundreds of miles to cover it is amazing to me that the riders can cope with it. Plus they are sleeping out in the deserts at bivouacs, not very comfortable I would think. 114 riders and 23 quads started the first day, quite a spectacle I bet. The winner American Ricky Brabec said after the deaths, "A sad day for people who support cross country rallies, the race stages don't mean anything anymore, It's secondary, life goes way beyond sport". Well done to all who took part, any rider who is fit enough to ride has a lot to be proud of. Returning to the trials scene, the photos sent in by Sliders photography man Gary Dowzall are great, many thanks for attending "Gazza"! We look forward to seeing your "piccies" in both TSM and TMX. The Watford camera club came to Dews Farm a couple of years ago and took some nice photos, though I did have to tell them where to stand, some took on precarious positions in the sections . I wouldn't like to have seen their expensive gear damaged by a wayward bike! It was interesting to read an E mail the other day about people complaining about both the Lakes district and Snowdon, the famous Top Gear presenter said that the Ramblers were the worst of the moaners and the other chap said someone had asked why the path up Snowdon didn't have wheelchair access or a nice cafe half way up! Words fail me. The American motocross season has started, though when I see some of the photos I wonder about spectator safety, maybe I am getting picky now! The enduro season has also got under way with some good results from the UK chaps, maybe they were just good trials riders and have moved on! Some of the hazards look frightening, not just the lorry tyres but some of the climbs look rather steep, someone said once to me that an enduro bike can do anything a trials bike can. I'm not sure of that one, some of us with Ronnie Corbett size legs might find it difficult, those bikes have high seats! All readers.. if you have anything you would like put in TSM please Continued overleaf
Cover Photo: Ben Putman - Canada Heights action
Contributions in this issue: Alan Turner, Neil Emmott, Bob Twigg, Mike Wiseman, Fraser Law, Mick Auger, John Sapsard, Jim Connor, Mandy Frearson, Roy Piles, Tom Grimshaw, John Bramall
Photo by: John Powell
Would you like to contribute? Please send to the editor, contact details on page 3.
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Part of the future? The GT140 class always guarantees close racing as the bikes are so evenly matched.
Grass Roots - Support Needed ď Ž By Alan Turner Nostalgic motorcycle sport must be one of Britain's growth industries. Road racing, motocross/scrambles and trials, to name just three, have expanded to create such a demand for machinery that there are, for example, probably more Manx Nortons racing now than were ever built by Bracebridge Street and Plumstead. There's one sport that seems to have unfortunately bucked the trend and that's track racing. Even more surprising when the south-east of the country, in its broadest sense, was once a hotbed of the sport. In theory, that should leave an abundance of obsolete race bikes that could be relatively cheaply prepared to buy and race once more. But where are they? The clubs have tried hard. Instituted some years ago, the 'Upright' class was deliberately left as open as possible, to determine races out on the track, rather than in the reading 10
of the small print of the rule book later. It has been successful as championships have now risen to national status. However, this did not lead a clamour of would-be riders with other old bikes, perhaps enough to see entire meetings given over to vintage and classic bikes. The Vintage Motor Cycle Club has a Grass Track and Speedway section that has also been organising events country-
wide for many years. Suitable tracks are available, but a lack of entries has been matched by the lack of those prepared to officiate at such events. Calendars were prepared, but meetings were often cancelled. Linking with junior riders helped boost numbers and provide support, but there are few prepared to take over those allimportant organising roles. Race entries for some classes
A typical Vintage field at the short Ugley track – two meetings scheduled for the vebnue this year.
have also dwindled. There is little support for the true vintage class, the province of mainly JAP or Rudge engined bikes. Although there are survivors, most seem to be in museums or private collections. No longer viable? Perhaps surprisingly, and depending on precise model, most, sometimes all, engine parts are still available. The 500 Speedway JAP, or the 350 Grass Track version, may have dominated the sport for decades, but are an all-too-rare sight nowadays. There are classes for various years and capacities. The Jawa that eventually supplanted the JAP in the sixties can still be found at a reasonable price for a competitive machine. The 250 class regularly turns back the clock to when the BSA C15 and its successive incarnations remained competitive for many years. Seventies bikes, even the later four-valves, the club will always find a category for anything that conforms to the
Remember this? A typical seventies sidecar heat – except this was Swingfield in 2019! general VMCC rule of at least 25 years old. Excepted from that are the junior classes and that ever-popular GT140 class, where brand new bikes can be bought for less than the price of many a second-hand grass-track machine. The club is also hoping to entice sidecars back after a complete absence in recent years. An interesting formula will permit certain modern engines to compete against more traditional powerplants, but the outfit should
Extra TVTC Trial on 15th March ď Ž By Jim Connor
The event will be held at Mountain Wood Farm (a nice name) Mountain Wood, signed off Green Dene, West Horsley, Surrey. KT24 5TA. Mountain Wood is only half mile from Hookwood as the crow flies and the venue is compact with good parking. The land is sandy in places with a big bomb crater (a German bomber crashed there in WW2
and bits can still be found to this day). The owner Andy Todman is a friend of mine and with his late Father was one of the early Thames MCC members riding a TY175. Andy expressed interest to have a couple of Trials on his land and with the help of Thames members: Bob Brown, Paul Sims, Peter Steer and wife Pam and several others, a few
look period correct. So far, it has produced results from some close racing. So what's it all about? Find out at the first meeting of the year at Ashorne, Warwickshire on 29 March, later there are two meetings at Ugley (not far from Stansted Airport) on 28 June and 23 August for the pre-75 Championships. Other dates at Chalfont, Bucks, and Southend are still to be confirmed.
work parties were carried out to enable Hookwood Trials Club to run the first event in 2018 (a youth only event) This went very well and next events to run were Surrey Schoolboys and the Thames club. All events went well and its a nice bit of land to ride on. Look forward to seeing riders at the Trial there on 15 March. All classes youth and adult catered for.
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Arthur's Charity Trial - Sunday 5th April ď Ž By Mandy Frearson
This Year our Charity Trial is for Canine Partners, we have decided on this charity as we have a couple of Ladies known as the The Cake Ladies, who come to every Star Group Trial and Observe, and bring with them the most delicious cakes. This charity is one they support, so we thought it would be nice to show our appreciation and support their charity, this is a little bit about it. Who we are Canine Partners is a registered charity that transforms the lives of people with physical disabilities by partnering them with assistance dogs.
tasks. This can be anything from fetching the newspaper, to helping someone get out of bed and dressed in the morning and even paying for their shopping. Our assistance dogs are trained to meet the needs of individuals with even the most complex physical disabilities. We currently help adults aged 18 and over (both civilians and former service personnel) who have a physical disability or condition that affects their daily life and limits their independence. Please note although it is a Star Group Trial TVTC are joining us so all welcome.
What we do Our amazing dogs bring a greater independence and quality of life to their partners, offering security, companionship, and practical help with everyday household
SE Pre-67 & Twinshock Championship Double Five Kent will be running a round of this championship on Sunday 3rd May. This will be held at Chads Farm, Chapmans Hill, Near Meopham where a course of ten sections is planned with three routes. Regulations appear in the next issue and On Line. On the day entry will also be available. Spectated at a motorsport event recently? Post a report for publication.
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The Sporting
MOTORCYCLIST
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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
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