The Sporting
MOTORCYCLIST News for social and sporting motorcycling
..published monthly
January 2022
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
JANUARY 2022 VOL. 22 ISSUE 1 PUBLISHED ON THE 1ST OF EACH MONTH
FROM THE EDITOR'S CHAIR n By Bob Twigg
Whilst looking through my collection of South Midland Reviews (hidden in the shed, my wife doesn't like them) I saw some interesting comments by the then editor. He mentioned the HM government were looking at an "inspection of vehicles" order. Nobody wants vehicles which are unsafe on the roads he said, this obviously was well before the days of the "ten year test". He wondered who would do the tests and he was doubtful that it would work. So much for that, the tests at the moment include many things that have been added over the years, I could not understand why they took the security of the battery requirement away from the test, a loose battery could be a nightmare situation I think. If you have something on your car or bike that doesn't work you could be in trouble today. He also told of the government thinking about parking meters, today of course all of the above are now with us. My "collection" of SM Reviews were kindly given to me by the late Reg' Goodrum. Reg and his riding mate Ron Baker seemed to be in trials awards every week years ago. Ron of course was the father of the Baker "trials clan". His boys Gary and Andrew ran the Weller Cup trial back in December '21 and a great event it was. Gary has won awards in the SSDT and many other National trials. Ron used to "recover" me from underneath my Royal Enfield Bullet which I never managed to control properly as a puny 18 year old (why am I telling you this)! In the Weller cup it was nice to see Tom Grimshaw (a much appreciated TSM contributor) along with Dad David. David unfortunately was still suffering pain from a recent motocross injury, a dislocated shoulder, no joke that get well soon Dave. Tom is looking forward to the 2022 motocross season with Chambers Racing on a well prepared Husqvarna. OK, now TV watchers, who is the road racer in the Voltarol advert? The picture at the start looks like Derek Minter, I remember seeing him in a handicap race at Brands Hatch, an exciting man on the cold hard road! All for now, Happy New Year all. Andy Wood writes… In this issue there are calendars of events for the year which hopefully will be free of any restrictions. As mentioned before in these pages, your news of forthcoming events both sporting and social planned for the year is always most welcome; we all enjoy having things to look forward to. From TSM we wish you all, safe and enjoyable motorcycling activity for the year ahead.
Cover Photo: Southern Expert Winner Alex Wigg Photo by: Andy Withers
Contributions in this issue: Alan Turner, Mike Wiseman, Neil Emmott, John Eckhart, Bob Brown, John Sapsard, Andy Withers, Peter Burrell, Jim Connor, Geoff Young Would you like to contribute? Please send to the editor, contact details on page 3.
3
Robert Head/Aron Jacobs (500 CCM) unfortunate retirements after a good first lap result
Tradition is Served (Jack Thompson Classic Bike Trial) Q By Alan Turner First Sunday in December? Yes, the Sidcup & DMCC's Jack Thompson Trial returned at last to its regular date and we were served up with the 32nd rendition of this evergreen off-road institution. This is encouraged by the club, making the trial something of a cult. Number-crunching regarding the event that can be accessed on the club's up-to-theminute web-site. For instance, 23 riders have ridden in 20, or more, Jack Thompsons. Not a lot of people know that. As always, the venue was Canada Heights (and why not?) and offered the usual pleasant prospect of classic-era motor-bicycles being persuaded to do awkward things by their riders with varying degrees of success. The terrain may have been familiar but many of the sections made a different use of it this time. A common theme was a combination of gullies, trees (around, or in between, hopefully avoiding) and climbs and drops. So far, so good, until the morning of the trial when the forecast gentle rain actually delivered an aquatic onslaught. By the 9-30 start time, the rain had stopped, 14
Tim Streatfield
but the ground was decidedly slippery in places. Two laps, each of 20 sections and three route choices of varying severity. The trial's eponymous trophy goes only to a non-unit four-stroke over the White (hardest) route. There were contenders here with previous form, but this soon settled into a duel between threetimes winner Philip Wiffen (400 Matchless) and one-time victor Daniel Carter (500 Ariel HT). The experienced Colin Mote (500 Ariel), winner last year, was also in the frame. The first lap scores saw a pattern emerging. Section 1 was an old favourite, not far from the start, near the top of the Heights. In and out of a gulley, but with a tricky climbing hairpin exit that took many a mark through the day. Phil Wiffen lost two, Daniel Carter three, but Colin Mote and Mark Baldock (350 Ariel) both came away clean. Section 15 saw Messrs. Wiffen and Mote both add fives while the other two were clean. After completing their laps, Philip Wiffen led proceedings on nine, while Daniel Carter's 10 was certainly not distant. Mark Baldock was not out of touch on 13, but Colin Mote's 20 gave him a lot to do. Conditions had dried for the second lap, which left no room for error. Philip Wiffen responded by not making any. His first lap nine became his final score. Daniel Carter fell foul of a really tricky gate between tree trunks on section 17 and needed a prod to see him through. His runner-up place was assured as Mark Baldock added a further 17 for a total of 30, while Colin Mote finished on 46. There were two very notable performances on the White Route for the Unit Four Stroke Class B. Antony Martin (350 Triumph) had lost only two singles by the end of the first lap, Philip Wiffen (400 Matchless)
Mark Watmore (Triumph) but regular JT campaigner Steve Monk, on his 350 Royal Enfield, had got round the first lap for the loss of just a single mark on one of the twisty slaloms down the sandy slopes and around the birch trees on the west side of Canada Heights. On the following lap, both riders maintained consistency by repeating their performances, although both lost their marks on different sections. Third went to Scott Dark who dropped 18 (10/8) on his Tiger Cub. In the Two-Strokes, Bryn Matton (a veteran of the very first Jack Thompson) continued his winning ways on his 246 James with a four mark loss. Another exceptional ride, but runner-up to Bryn was Chris Collins (200 Bantam). His first lap was blighted by a five on Section 1, which could possibly have cost him the premier as he lost just one more mark for the entire lap. Again, both riders completed their second laps for a loss of one each. The Red and Yellow routes avoided many of the White route nasties, but there were close battles in several of the categories. In Class B, Alan Brown (350 Triumph) and Andy Healey (350 Tri-Greeves) tied on 16, but the former rider had gone clean two sections further to take the top award. Mark Chapman's unusal combination of Greeves and 250 BSA engine was pursued over the Red route by James Cammack's Tiger Cub, with just a mark separating them at the finish. The Sidecars in Class H had an entertaining day. Pauls Fishlock and Randall are both recorded as multiple winners, but could any of the other crews spring a surprise? Paul Fishlock Continued overleaf 15
The Sporting
MOTORCYCLIST
A monthly publication written by enthusiasts for enthusiasts
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