The Sporting
T S I L C Y C R O T MO
..published monthly
orting motorcycling
News for social and sp
May 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
Printed by
Anmar Printing Services, Edenbridge, Kent
MAY 2020 VOL. 20 ISSUE 5 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 n By Bob Twigg
A lay off! A shame that the Coronavirus has closed down so many sporting events. Those who remember the foot and mouth outbreaks and cancellations due to various animal diseases will understand the "boredom" they brought on. Of course it was nothing more than boredom for us but a disaster for the farmers who lost so many valuable cattle. My South Midland club were allowed to run a trial in November, but visitors to the venue had to wash their boots and footwear when entering the trials area. That reminds me of an old happening at a much used farm where a rare plant had been discovered. This colourful "thing" was very rarely seen in the South East and the "greenies" (as they were then) got quite excited and as a result the area around the plant was fenced off denying us the use of some good sections! Believe it or not they also put some steps down for people to gain access to the "weed"! I'm not going to tell you where the venue is, but at a later date I found another odd looking plant there whilst laying out a trial, I'm afraid I didn't turn into a greeny that day, the rare plant developed in a new planting area! The plant had obviously been transferred to the venue from Wales where it obviously lived happily , probably sticking on a trials tyre or on some Welsh mud. It was in the days when riders often rode in Wales and thereabouts as an adventure. The fence is still there as well as our lovely lost sections, oh dear! Lapsing into old memories again. In a South Eastern centre gazette from 1968 when there was a foot and mouth ban, the mag' advertised a "Grand Dance" at the Surrey Tavern, tickets were ten shillings (that's 50p for todays "snowdrops") and dress and lounge suits was the order. I was told not to laugh at the price by my wife as she reminded me that at the time my wages were less than ÂŁ100 a week, we had two young kids and had just moved to a larger house. My "pristine" trials bike was a rather old 197 rigid Norman, (I didn't have many cleans on that)! Any way that was me told! I wonder what my Mum would say today if she found out I had to pay a pound for a Mars bar. The first round of the British trials championships has taken place at Hook Woods and it went off well, Well done Jim and crew, I hope we can get back ASAP to all our championships.
Cover Photo: James Hillier Photo by: Andy Withers (Awsportsphoto)
Get the bike clean, do all the maintenance, polish it and look forward to the resumption of all our sports. All the best, Bob. PS. Keep taking TSM!! Continued overleaf 3
C
O N T E NTS
Club Profile: Normandy MCC
Grass Track
When Was It? - Or Wasn't It?
Road Racing
Top Racer and Top Man
Speedway Kent Kings
12 16
Centres Officials
Chairmen South Eastern: Roger Brown Tel: 01273 563931 South Midland: John Coles Tel: 01865 361735 Southern: Bob Hewson Tel: 023 9259 2919
8
Secretaries
9
South Eastern: Peter Burrell Tel: 020 8300 5572 40 Annandale Road, Sidcup, Kent, DA15 8EL email: pj.burrell@btintternet.com
Trials
Norton Still In Business 6 Waterside Presentation Evening 10 Calling all OSET and Youth Riders to Waterside JMCC 11 Rider of the Day 14 Half Way There - All To Play For 15 Southern Centre Trials Sub Committee Meeting 27 Southern Centre Trials Championships 27
South Midland: Terry Golds Tel: 01582 455714 Mobile: 07747 855264 21 Buckingham Drive, Stopsley, Luton, Beds, LU2 9RA email: terrylgolds@ntlworld.com Southern: Chris Fletcher Tel: 01256 242214 1 Fairclose, Whitchurch, Hampshire, RG28 7AN email: chris-fletcher@tiscali.co.uk
Permit Secretaries South Eastern: Inquiries to Peter Burrell South Midland: Ian Reynolds Tel: 0208 9079856 Mobile: 07803766314 186 Regal Way, Harrow Middlesex, HA3 0SQ email: reynolds.russell@virgin.net Southern: Claire Ballard Tel: 0118 981 2595 26 Droxford Crescent, Tadley, Hampshire, RG26 3BA email: ballardclaire@hotmail.com
Benevolent Fund Representatives South Midland: Dave Porter Tel: 01582 651189 22 Belper Road, Luton, Beds, LU4 8RG Southern: Terry Graves Tel: 02380 643503 13 Locksley Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 5DX South Eastern: Hazel Collins Tel: 01189 421534 14 Brookside, Calcot, West Berks, RG31 7PJ
Rights of Way Officers South Eastern (Sussex): Bevis Billingham Tel: 01243 585128 182 Elmer Road, Middleton on Sea, Bognor Regis, PO22 6JA South Eastern (Kent): Steve Neville Tel: 01797 458939 26 Donsmead Drive, Northiam, TN31 6EQ South Midland: Chris Hurworth Tel: 01494 446198 23 Cambridge Crescent, Totteridge, High Wycombe, HP13 7NE Southern: Martin Down Tel: 01264 365084 18 Barcelona Close, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 1JQ. email: martin.down1@gmail.com
Regulations Trials
Waltham Chase, 28th June
28
Entry Forms
29
FROM THE EDITOR’S CHAIR (Continued)
Andy Wood writes: Of course this enforced layoff has caused some considerable disruption to the routine of everybody. No doubt some will have used their time to tackle the "put off" long forgotten jobs and perhaps some of the machinery will bear evidence of this when we are able to resume our motorcycling activities. This current situation has caused a minor explosion of activity on social media with digitised versions of old
pictures and programmes reviving memories for the old and perhaps curiosity and some interest for the young. Motorcycling social or competitive involves people, it's the people we enjoy it with as much as the activity itself. When we can return to some normality in our daily lives, perhaps many will do well to give this element a higher priority by helping to organise and provide enjoyment for others as well as just taking part.
Brian Hodges
We are very sorry to record that Brian Hodges, a long standing member of the OWLS club, passed away on 15th April following a long illness. Brian with his cheery face, was such a character with a great sense of humour and will be sorely missed in the trials fraternity. He could always be found taking videos at various trials taking place in the South East. He was a regular contributor to TSM for many years and his humorous style of reporting is much missed. We send our condolences to his family especially as this has happened at such a difficult time and there will only be a few close family to be allowed to attend his funeral. However, perhaps we can all get together for a memorial service or an event to remember him by at a later date.
Contributions in this issue: Alan Turner, Neil Emmott, Bob Twigg, Bob Brown, Andy Withers, Lionel Cox, Nigel Cooper, Bob Adams, John Bramall, Mike Wiseman Would you like to contribute? Please send to the editor, contact details on page 3.
Take part in discussions about motorsport in your centre and post reports for publication. facebook.com/thesportingmotorcyclist 5
Club Profile: Normandy MCC
Q  By Andy Withers
Affiliation: ACU Area: South Eastern Centre Key Contacts: Richard Thomas/ Mick Auger Email: info@normandy.co.uk Website: Normandymcc.co.uk Motorcycle Disciplines: Trials, Sidecar Trials, Enduro History:
The club takes it's name from the village of Normandy near Guildford in Surrey. The club was formed by E Coy a local Home Guard Despatch Rider towards the end of the Second
World War. The first meeting of the club was in October 1944 and the first club held a scramble on War Department land near Normandy after the war. Within three years the club had 160 members and they organised scrambles, trials and enduros. In the 1960's a club motorcycle display team performed at village fetes (See photos). In more recent history the club has organised trials events and from the mid eighties enduros. 2019 was the 75th Club Anniversary. Club Membership: The club currently has 12 life members, 88 members and 7 social members. Riding members include adult and youth members.
Displays at Village Fetes 12
Prominent Members: In 2019, Shane McKane, Steve Vass and Elliot Davies took part in the
Ian Peberdy ISDE, the first ever Normandy Team to enter this event. it was a steep learning curve with many challenges but the team finished 89th out of 124 club teams with Elliot Davies achieving a silver medal. Youth rider Jack Dance is destined for the very top after finishing a close second in the 2019 European Youth Championship. At home in 2019 he was a creditable seventh in the main expert class at the
Links: Normandy have made strong links with groups and other clubs. Since the early 1960's they have been part of the Thames Valley Trials Combine, giving members access to trials events organised not only by Normandy but also Hookwoods Trials Club, Surrey Schoolboy Trials Club, Twickenham and District MC and Witley and District MCC. As part of the South East Enduro Combine they link with clubs throughout the South East to provide a programme of "Hare n Hounds" and Enduro events. This year they shared the organisation of "The Hampshire Enduro" first round of the ACU Michelin Continued overleaf
Elliot Davies Southern Experts Trial. The Wiffen and Peberdy families are stalwart members of the club. The current generation of top riders Phil Wiffen is a modern expert, but Phil and Ian Peberdy are regular top classic riders including the Scottish Two Day and Talmag Competitors. Phil and Dad Dave both campaign immaculate Matchless G3C's in the Talmag. Ian Peberdy took his Drayton Bantam to the 2019 Pre72, Britshocks Experts championship The club boasts a strong sidecar contingent, regular national runner Paul Fishlock has teamed up this year with veteran Pete Pesterfield a highly successful rider in his own right. Graham and Beth Thomas, Richard and Miles Gilham and expert newcomers Elliot and Richard Tickner are all members.
Phil Wiffen 13
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 Action photos
• • • •
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AWSPORTSPHOTO - Still open for business Make use of the lockdown time - why not look at and order some photos! Photos from 2015 - 2020 - including those seen in The Sporting Motorcyclist, Classic Bike, Classic Trials Magazine, The Classic Motorcycle, Classic Dirtbike, Trials Magazine, Bike and TMX of trials, motocross, enduro etc are posted on awsportsphoto facebook or why not ask for the photos I have of you to be posted as a set, either on facebook or emailed to you. The photo labs remain open for prints and digital images can be sent by email prices are posted on facebook or feel free to message or email for information. Digital images, prints of many sizes including poster prints and canvases, photobooks etc all available - if you have won an event or a championship why not have a special print watermarked with your name and achievement. Contact can be made through email to awsportsphoto@gmail.com, by message on facebook awsportsphoto or by phone 07445251429.Â