Norton Still In Business

By Bob Brown Photos by Richard Thomas

The Thames Motor Cycle Club had a massive entry for the second round of their club championship at Hungry Hill Aldershot on the last Sunday of February who had to tackle 3 laps of 12 sections set out by Martin & Rupert Kemp and Jeff Morgan on the rooty banks of this popular venue.

Richard Vockins proved thatTom McCabe

Nortons are still in business by taking Julian Wigg's machine round the entire course without penalty, Tony Henbest took second place with Jonathan Bannister third and CoC Martin Kemp in fourth place. On the easier route Mick Clarkson was victorious on his B40 loosing just two dabs on the exposed pipe at section twelve watched over by stalwart observer Paul Sims, Jim Oppen on his sweet sounding Triumph was second with Nick James third and course plotter Rupert Kemp in fourth.

The experts had a tough day on sections eight, nine and eleven with lots of full houses recorded, club champion Richard Tickner triumphed but it took a tie breaker to decide runner up James Grist was cleaner than Jack Taylor with Tom McCabe a further dab behind in fourth. On the same route Bailey Tidbury was out on his own but rode well with wheel perfect rides at section four.

Colin Allsop took honours in the Inter class keeping his scores in single figures, Stefan Walters claimed runner up spot from Reynard Norris, Stefan managed feet up rides through section six which took marks of the other Inters. Over 40 winner was Alex Taylor with John Dismore taking second, Richard Talbot third and Dave Dale fourth, again section six proved decisive with Alex loosing just four. Jake Bush won Youth Inter from Willoughy Finn and Toby Mason, nice cleans by Jake at section one with John Hawyes taking scores.

Adam Grosch won a low scoring battle for victory in the novice class with Mick Treagus (without a third wheel) taking second and Stuart Smith third. Chris Guppy was best Over 50 from Simon Dowling and Nigel Hains, nice cleans from Chris at section four. The sidecars were out practising for the following week's National, Kevin Nolan and Karl Jarvis took the win from Jake Pope and Harriet Shore, good rides from Kevin on the steep sandy banks of section eleven. SPJ boss Paul Ray was best Twinshock with Mick Ratcliffe second and Adrian Mountain third, Paul lost a meagre dab at section eight but was otherwise wheel perfect. Rowan Stewart won Youth Novice by just three dabs from Oliver Hill with Jake Smith taking third, Mason Tidd rode very well on his Oset to take fourth, feet up rides by Rowan on the steep climbs of section ten Ron Walters was best in the Sportsman class with Nik Everitt second and Arthur Frearson third, section twelve stumped all the riders at least once. Ian Ballard was out on his own in Over 65 with inch perfect rides at section three. Riding buddies Rufus Greenslade and Marley Lowman shared the win in Youth Sportsman with Stanley Head in third and young lady rider Ella Barron in fourth, as it was Rufus's birthday we will award him the win!

The club would like to thank everyone that supported the trial, we were overwhelmed and under prepared! Full results can be found on the club's website www.thamesmcc.org.