The Sporting
T S I L C Y C R O T MO
..published monthly
orting motorcycling
News for social and sp
April 2020
Enduro, Grasstrack, Motocross, Road Racing, 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
APRIL 2020 VOL. 20 ISSUE 4 PUBLISHED ON THE 1ST OF EACH MONTH
All material for TSM should reach the editor by the tenth day of the month preceding publication.
Cover Photo: Melbourne Raceway action Photo by: Mike Burrowes
FROM THE EDITOR'S CHAIR n By Bob Twigg
It's Spring time! The Classic Dirt Bike show at Telford in February went off well. The last time I went there a few years ago I felt sorry for the exhibitors who had to display their wares (careful) outside the main hall. I gather that this year the windy rainy spell caught them out again. Who remembers Nik Fisk doing interviews of riders and ex riders there? Nik always had some amusing lines, he was really good at the job, apart from being a very keen motocrosser as well. RIP mate, keep them interested up there! There was a nice bit in Beth Hogarth's youth column back in Febs' TMX. The OSET electric bike man Ian Smith said that ten years ago the first OSET event in Yorkshire attracted eight riders, fast forward a decade and 2020 will see a dozen OSET cups attracting upwards of eight hundred riders. The events will cover the whole country from Scotland to Cornwall. A great achievement, I must confess that when they first came out I was doubtful about their success, but I was wrong. There are many young riders in the South Midland centre getting good results on them, some of them are sons of centre "aces"! I wish they made more noise though, but that is just an "old codgers" thoughts! Lionel Cox of the Berkhamsted club is "pioneering" an electronic marking system for observing. Each observer is handed a mobile phone sized device, as the rider enters the section the observer types in the riders number, when he exits the section his score is put in and that is transmitted automatically to the secretary back at the start and his score goes onto the results sheet. When the trial is finished the observers hand their "phones" back in and the results are available soon after the last rider. Lionel is confident it will help clubs and I am sure that if any club is interested he will be very pleased to demonstrate it. As a "PS" I will say that if I have to use it I will need several "training days", I'm not very good with these modern devices! All the best, enjoy your Spring riding, Bob. Andy Wood writes: Obviously the Covid 19 situation is having an effect on all motorcycling activity. All events taking place in April have been cancelled but regulations do appear in this issue for events taking place in May. On a positive note we hope the current situation will resolve to allow your motorcycling activity to resume during the summer.Â
Contributions in this issue: Alan Turner, Neil Emmott, Bob Twigg, Fraser Law, Mick Auger, John Sapsard, Tom Grimshaw, John Bramall, Colin Nunn, Andy Withers, Richard Thomas, Les Batten, Liam Seamer, Lionel Cox, Graham Arnold, Jerry Cookson, Nigel Cooper Would you like to contribute? Please send to the editor, contact details on page 3.
3
Cambridge Matchless MC - The Brian Stonebridge Trophy Trial
such a success.Â
Q  By Colin Nunn Photos by Peter Rank Cambridge Matchless Club's premier event, the Brian Stonebridge Trophy Trial, incorporating a round of the ACU South Midland Intermediate and Novice Championships attracted a full entry of 120 competitors. The 12 mile single lap course of 38 sections starting from Hadstock airfield was a real challenge made worse by torrential rain at the start of the event. These conditions did not bother best expert Tom Moss who recorded just 2 failures and the only rider on the white route to clean section 9 at the Pheasant Pens. His total of 20 was half that of runner up Dan Greeves. Scores were closer for the intermediate class riding the 50/50 route. Ian watts losing his only five on section 8
9 and recording all cleans at Chesterford Park Farm and finishing seven clear of Colchester rider Tom Norman. Riding the yellow route it was the sections at the Pheasant Pens that took most marks from the novice, clubman and twinshock classes. The only rider to c lean section 10 was John Holdsworth but this was not enough to overtake Bob Devereux and Paul Gobey at the top of the novices. Twinshock rider Chris Collins dominated this class recording cleans on 27 of the 38 sections and finishing 11 clear of Tim Blackmore. With only three clubmen managing to reach the ends cards on section 10 best was runner up Kevin Miller with 2 dabs with best overall Stephen Wells and Tim Bird legging it out. Certainly a testing event for all concerned particularly the observers who braved the biting wind to make this unique event
Experts Tom Moss Dan Greeves Joe Collins Gus Oblein James Yearley James Arden
20 40 49 58 71 79
Intermediate Ian Watts Tom Norman Mick Marshall Chris Ryland Mark Banham Fraser Arden
37 44 50 52 54 60
Novice Bob Devereux Paul Gobey Nick Ogden John Holdsworth Sam Mansfield Simon Hawes
39 44 53 55 68 71
Clubman Stephen Wells Kevin Miller Peter Rushbrook Gary Gladwin Tim Bird Tim Masterson
34 40 52 55 57 66
Twinshock Chris Collins
25
Tim Blackmore Nigel Allen Steve Peak Martyn Rushbrook Geoff Muston
36 44 50 56 63
Youth A Alfie-Ray Turner Youth B George Clark Liam Waby
Sophie Humphrey 105 91 94
138
Next event: Cuckoo Trial - 10th May at Rectory Farm, Brook Street, Elsworth CB23 4HX. See cambridgematchless.co.uk for more details.
Calling all OSET and Youth Riders to Waterside JMCC
Q By Andy Withers Waterside JMCC have been asked to run an "OSET" series in the South. The club has a long tradition of encouraging new riders into the sport and they have been asked by OSET to run a series at Bransgore in the New Forest. Targeted at youth riders
with an ACU License riders can ride on Osets or petrol trials machines up to 80cc. The series to be known as "Oset Cup New Forest" will be run over four rounds on Saturdays 18th April, 20th June, 18th July and 15th August all at Harrow Wood Farm, post code BH23 8DB.
Start times will be 11.30 a.m. and entry fee per round will be £15. There will be four routes and five classes providing a challenge for youth riders of all abilities. Further details can be found on the Waterside JMCC website.
9
Rotrax-JAP with multi-World Champion Ove Fundin's seal of approval – his signature is on the mudguard just behind the oil tank
What Goes Around Speedway Anniversary, Speedway Museum, Broxbourne, Herts - 23rd February, 2020
Q  By Alan Turner
It may be hard to imagine that at one time speedway was the second biggest spectator sport in the country. However, dig long enough among the crammed-to-the-rafters artefacts in the Speedway Museum at Paradise Park, located in its own building in the Hertfordshire zoo owned by former rider Pete Sampson, and you'll find plenty of evidence. If not, try any of the purveyors of memorabilia plying their wares in the marquee that's used for the annual Anniversary event. Magazines and programmes record that most towns had a stab at offering speedway as entertainment, with peaks of 28
interest in the decades either side of WWII. But there's very much a live element to the day. A few modern teams keen to reveal their fixture lists, then
enthusiasts and collectors with displays of bikes, many with interesting history. Andy Day had discovered a ComerfordJAP, a bike that came from speedway's earliest days, when
Classic Hagon-JAP, behind, the ESO that soon evolved into Jawa and ended the British manufacturers decades of dominance
The Vintage Motor Cycle Club (Grass Track and Speedway Section) attracted plenty of interest at Paradise Park Comerfords (one-time major dealers at Thames Ditton, Surrey) were among the first to produce specialist speedway frames, but the engine predated the dedicated JAP Speedway engine and the bike had a Sports 350 unit. With restoration completed, Andy's hoping to give it some laps at the Isle of Wight speedway this summer. Elsewhere, there were a few examples of the Rotrax-JAP. For some, these are the peak, not just of speedway bikes, but of any competition machinery. When they were launched, the construction method was really cutting-edge. Finished in chrome plate and bright alloy they are utterly functional and punching out around 45bhp in a bike that weighed 77kg (170 pounds) acceleration was on the shoulder-wrenching side of rapid. One collector had a Polish copy, badged FIS, built when the Cold War made it almost impossible for British bikes to be sold in Eastern Europe. From later eras, Weslakes, Jawas, Hagons were all there to be admired. Every hour, on the hour, a
fire-up paddock brought a crowd to hear 500cc singles on open pipes distribute the heady mix of 'dope' (methanol fuel) and castor oil. Former riders wander the crowd, readily signing autographs, and posing for photos. They meet former team-mates and opponents and reminisce over former races and rivalries. As well as the Hagon family, it was great to see Sam Norris. A very talented young rider, a big accident at Glasgow left him in a very poor state of health. Not only has he recovered, but is keen to ride again! He has been helping his father restore some Weslake track bikes and he wants to find out what they were all about. The occasion is also the transfer of the chain of office of the President of the World Speedway Riders' Association. The honour has been passed to many of speedway's leading lights. Last year, it was Mike Broadbank, who had enjoyed a long career with Swindon, but his final duty was to hand over the chain to the new incumbent – Egon Müller. Egon's track career spanned
the seventies and eighties. While his speedway results were uneven, he scored a maximum in 1983 to become the only German (so far) to win the World title, contested as a single event at the time. His real strength was in long-track racing, where he achieved numerous honours, especially using engines prepared by Hans Zierk, a former long-track ace. His appearances at UK grasstrack were rare, but when he did, rivals generally saw his rear wheel vanishing into the distance. In parallel with track racing, he was also a singer and show business personality. His acceptance speech of his latest honour was delivered in perfect English and he seemed to be genuinely touched by the recognition. He may have retired from track racing almost three decades ago, but there was no shortage of fans queueing for his autograph. Continued overleaf
Egon Müller rarely looked this sombre. He wears the World Speedway Riders' Association chain of office 29
The Sporting
MOTORCYCLIST
A monthly publication written by enthusiasts for enthusiasts
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MXGP Top Thirty is the Target
From Tom Grimshaw courtesy of Sean Lawless. Hawkstone - The whole Chambers Racing Husqvarna team turned up on a nice Saturday afternoon- however only three of the five team riders were in action as injuries had taken their toll on Ben Franklin and Arron Mc Carrol, so it was left to Jake Millward, Jay Hague and myself to fly the flag. There was a storm brewing and we awoke to strong winds and then the heavens opened. The track didn't exactly look inviting, but the show went on. There was a good crowd watching but many good riders got stuck! I recorded 17th and 13th finishes for 14th overall- and a lot of cleaning to go with it. The wet sand got into everything so Dad stripped the bike and engine to clean it. Not much riding between Hawkstone and Matterley Basin and the weather hasn't been very kind to us. A wet and windy start to the British motocross
GP but the show once again went on and the track was in prime condition for Sunday's racing. In qualification I struggled a bit with my front forks which gave me arm pump and I qualified last. I doubted that I would last the full 35 minutes at such a high pace but some improvements to the bike made it better, though I rode a little tentatively in the first race. The second moto was better and I had some great battles but faded a little towards the end. My goal at the moment is to finish in the top 30. Not get lapped and with a good tailwind get a 20th place for my first World championship points. It's all done in small chunks with me to progress and I am looking forward to it. The following weekend was the Dutch GP at Walkenswaard and guess what. it rained and rained again! I qualified 29th overall after a big crash in qualifying, I really enjoyed myself in the races coming in 25th and 27th which I was stoked about- however I did get lapped, but we are going in the right direction and learning so much so I can't wait until the next GP. At the GP's you have to wash the bike in the designated areas, Dad said "if you think racing is hard, try fighting for a hose point"! The first round of the British championship was cancelled, a pity, but the conditions in the pits were rather muddy, They tried really hard to make it work but it wasn't the case after it was voted to abandon the event due to more rain coming in the morning. Many thanks for all your kind messages that I receive via social media and at the track, I really appreciate your support.Â