The Sporting
T S I L C Y C R O T MO
..published monthly
orting motorcycling
News for social and sp
December 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
FROM THE EDITOR'S CHAIR n By Bob Twigg
John Bramall
The report about a motoball match at Brooklands featuring the Hayes and Southall club was interesting. Colin Sweby of grass track fame has been the wheel in the Hayes and Southall club for many years apart from doing much good work for the centre and in "high positions" at Rugby. The club is still active in the motoball world and the article by Ray Attewell is much appreciated.
Editor
Nigel Hains, a very keen Intermediate trials rider is active in the motoball world as well. I musn't mention his trials riding!
Bob Twigg
With Christmas almost upon us thoughts of the many lost meetings this year spring to mind, all disciplines suffered there. Some motocross, trials and enduros have returned in a limited way, often as closed to club events. Some trials have observers (I managed to observe at one) and also some with riders observing in groups, not ideal I know but better than nothing.
Editor
(ACU Southern Centre) 16 Gifford Close, Fareham, Hampshire, PO15 6PJ T: 01329 823282 E: johnbramall246@btinternet.com
(ACU South Midland Centre) 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
DECEMBER 2020 VOL. 20 ISSUE 12 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: Paul Jay
Keith Bester, a onetime secretary of the Meteor Group and Farnham Royal stalwart makes some good and often amusing comments on Facebook. He has a great sense of humour often a bit wicked! A few years ago at a Meteor group meeting a delegate was bemoaning the fact that he could not get the regs; for a certain trial, Keith replied that perhaps the regs; were too close to the bar, wicked but correct! Let us all hope that when our sport gets back full time we will still have all the circuits, sections and land that we had before the covid restrictions. The restrictions at Dews Farm at the moment are well controlled, many cheerful security chaps and after showing I wasn't an HS2 protester by producing my ACU licence I was allowed in! Many thanks also to Julian Wigg who very generously donated a trophy to the Kenton and Kingsbury club in honour of Bryan Messenger, a lovely thought. The May Meteor group trial will now be the Bryan Messenger trophy trial, for us to remember all the work Bryan put into trials and motorcycling in general, many thanks "Jules"! A Happy Christmas all, please keep sending your reports and articles for this Hallowed mag! Aah, Happy New Year too. Andy Wood writes‌ This year has proved a difficult time with so little going on, clearly reflected in the thinner issues each month. The Sporting Motorcyclist needs your news of all your events and articles of interest to keep people informed, the future of this publication lies in your hands. Thankyou to all those who have kindly supplied all the news and various interesting articles throughout the year. Looking forward to a healthier, virus free year ahead for us all.Â
Photo by: Robert Ferris
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My Rollercoaster Year Q  By Alicia Robinson In 2019 I had my personal best season. After having a rocky start to the year with a 6th in Portugal and 9th in France. This left me to play catch up at the last round in Spain. After a hard few months training I finally felt like the hard work had begun to pay off when I took my first career World Round victory. Taking the win not only finished my season off well, but it was a very proud moment for myself, my team and family. This left me in 5th position overall for 2019. 2020 has been a rollercoaster of a year already, with things not going as expected and Covid-19 creating a global pandemic, this meant all trials events were cancelled. For many athletes this was horrendous news because they were restricted during lockdown, meaning they were unable to train and consequently a lot of time has been lost not being able to ride. Therefore lockdown saw a lot of riders spending time at home, however this was not the case for myself – as I have a part time job at my local Tesco store so throughout the duration of lockdown I have been working to help keep the shelves stocked, and provide the essential items to those in need. As lockdown rules were eased and athletes were able to return 10
to training, I spent as much time as I could within the gym and on my bike. I have been training tremendously hard and continuing my work to help the local community amidst the pandemic. In August the FIM announced that they were going to run the 2020 TrialGP World Championships after a delayed start due to the Covid-19 pandemic, ensuring that safety precautions are in place, this would allow athletes to get back into action. The opening round to the series was held at Isola 2000, France, which would see a two day event followed consecutively by a weekend in Spain and Andorra. I finished fourth both days at the opening round and
came away from France looking to get myself onto the podium in Spain and Andorra. In Spain I had a much better weekend as I managed to get myself onto the podium and claim some important championship points. I was riding very well, finishing in second position on day one and then taking the victory on Sunday, standing on the top spot. Onto Andorra, Saturday proved to be rather difficult as I suffered a puncture and weather conditions were imperfect but I was still able to bag myself two more second positions. This was enough for me to claim second overall in the Trial2 Women's World Championship 2020.
Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum - Events List 2021
Every Tuesday morning - Motorcycle Ride In Friday 1st January New Year's Day Ride In 11am – 2pm Sunday 25th April Adventure Bike Ride In Royal Enfield Ride In + BMW Day Sunday 6th June Vintage Japanese Bike Day Morris Minor Annual Meet Sunday 20th June Rickman Enthusiasts Day Sunday 27th June Honda Owners Club (GB) Classic Show Sunday 4th July Italian Bike Ride In
Sunday 11th July Sunday 25th July Sunday 8th August Sunday 15th August Sunday 22nd August Sunday 5th September Sat 1st Jan 2022
Spyder Ride In Goldwing Gathering Harley Ride In Scooter Ride In Smokin' to Sammy's Two Stroke Meet British Bike Day (Triumph, Norton) Café Racer Rendezvous New Year's Day Ride In 11am – 2pm
Auto Jumble dates to be advised - please check our website before you set out - please check event is still on! For information on any of the above events please call 01425 620 777 - Museum, 01425 616 644 - Office. Bashley Cross Road, New Milton, Hampshire BH25 5SZ. www.sammymiller.co.uk.
Wheel Building Services (SM Pro Dealer) • 07595913214 • neameracing@gmail.com • neame-race-engineering.webs.com 11
A 7R symphony as throttle cables were exercised in the former Woolwich Arsenal grounds
Being Heard In The City Q  By Alan Turner In recent years, London's love/hate relationship with the internal combustion engine has generated comment and reports that have probably covered more than an acre of newsprint. The days when Britain's capital hosted so many well-supported speedway teams there was a London League are a longdistant memory. Yet competition activities were not even confined to speedway, as London also had its own road race circuit, the atmospheric Crystal Palace. The south London track hosted its last major meeting in 1972 and many photos often reveal its daunting and unforgiving nature. This was the cause of its eventual demise as changing safety demands would need much investment and, sadly, this was not forthcoming. With the exception of speedway, where silencing had a few more years before it became mandatory, it appeared that other unsilenced race engines would never again be heard in the metropolis. It turned out to be a premature prospect, although it did take 32 years for it to happen again! By that time, speedway in the city had ended when Wimbledon closed in 1991, but following a monumental effort by supporters, it resumed for the 2002 season. Two years later, Motorsports Promotions offered a totally different race experience, with a sprint at London City Airport. For bikes only, at this most unlikely of venues, this had all sprint and drag race 30
classes even including the awesome Top Fuel. Steve Woollatt, riding 'The Dealer' made a single, seven-second run to establish a track record at the expense of engine damage. Although repeated the following year, there were fewer high-profile riders as the concrete runway surface offered tricky conditions for the more powerful bikes. With the finish of Wimbledon's speedway team that same year, it seemed racing was finally over within Greater London. Yet, 38 years after the track finished, Crystal Palace was back! In 2010, Sevenoaks & District Motor Club bravely took on the task of organising a sprint. This was far from easy as much had changed after the circuit closed. A course was established using a combination
A line-up of lightweights at the second Motorsport at the Palace event as two-wheelers were recognised as an important part of the circuit's history
of previous track layouts. For the first year, this was for cars only, but subsequent events have seen bikes gradually become more prominent. There should have been a further meeting this year, but coronavirus put paid to that. But back to 2010, and London City Airport was not the only unusual London location to play host to racing motorcycles. The year marked the centenary of the first AJS motorcycle. The manufacturer originated in Wolverhampton and for the next two decades it produced machinery that was often innovative and at the high end of the market. Just the sort of thing not to be producing in the Depression years and by 1931 it was game over and what was left was absorbed by Matchless, eventually creating Associated Motor Cycles (AMC) followed by years of success for both marques at Plumstead before the whole conglomerate entered a sad and dramatic decline by the sixties. However, the AMC brands are well supported by the enthusiastic AJS & Matchless Owners Club and the centenary was marked by a weekend rideout from the old Wolverhampton factory, stopping overnight at Guildford then continuing to arrive at Plumstead the following day. With the old factory long since gone, the run organisers managed to negotiate the site of Woolwich Arsenal, on the opposite side of Plumstead Road, as a venue for a day of centenary celebrations. It turned out to be an ideal venue and a warm, sunny July day added to the mix. While there were plenty of bikes on static display, there was enough space to make an impressive straight for demonstrations of the factory's legendary racing products. As a demonstration, it sidestepped the usual restrictive rules on circuit race silencing and once again the 350cc 7R 'Boy Racers' on open megaphones could bring back the memories. The demonstration featured four such examples. It was also a reminder of why so many who watched a day's racing at any of the major short circuits in earlier years, when a full grid might be 30 or more, now suffer impaired hearing! Even if you have no enthusiasm for British thoroughbred machinery, it's hard to deny the 7R, finished in class-exuding black and gold, is not one of the best looking motorcycles ever. The occasion also brought luminaries such as Sammy Miller, riding the supercharged four
A line up of some true classics. Nearest the camera is a Matchless G45, a twin-cylinder 500 that was soon out-classed by the G50 single. on which Walter Rusk became the first rider to establish a 100mph lap at a Grand Prix, the Ulster of 1939. Colin Seeley, a long stalwart of AMC in various capacities, was also out having a canter. He bought the rights to continue production of the 7R and the 500 version, the Matchless G50. In truth, the bikes were close to obsolescence, but privateer racers had little choice with the Japanese still to offer production racers and a limited supply of alternatives from Italian manufacturers. A number of other riders also demonstrated their Seeley machinery. The use of the Woolwich site was strictly a one-off, as house building has continued making a repeat performance impossible. For students of racing history, a lockdown permitted exercise walk around the old Crystal Palace circuit is an interesting journey of discovery. Older track layouts, as well as the final version, are easily followed, although the Terrace Straight, location for the start and finish, has been grassed over. Other features have been landscaped and some altered quite dramatically. On the other side of the Thames, London City Airport remains, but a walk around there is about as likely as a further sprint event, however London obviously has the ability to spring unexpected surprises. A return of race engines to the capital?: 'Never say never' might be worth bearing in mind.Â
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The Sporting
MOTORCYCLIST
A monthly publication written by enthusiasts for enthusiasts
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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