The Sporting
MOTORCYCLIST News for social and sporting motorcycling
..published monthly
June 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)
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
FROM THE EDITOR'S CHAIR n By Andy Wood
As we move towards the second half of the year the range and frequency of motorcycle activity increases. Whether watching or riding there is something to see or do. Evening trials appear regularly in the calendar this time of year. A couple of hours riding after work on a summer evening seems to appeal to an increasing number of riders, making it all worthwhile to for clubs to organise such events. Road runs and shows also present motorcycle riders the chance to get together and socialise. One such event is the Bike Night run by the Sidcup club which this year takes place on the first day of next month at the Canada Heights venue. Past events have seen as many as four hundred bikes, sidecars and trikes turn up to enjoy the simple pleasure looking and chatting with like minded people and partake of a little refreshment. Another event a little later in the year The Edenbridge Motor Show is keen to attract more motorcycle interest. Make it part of a club ride out or if you have something to show the organisers will be pleased to see you.
Anmar Printing Services, Edenbridge, Kent
If you are organising such an event we will be happy to advertise in future issues.
JUNE 2022
A successful two day grass track event was run in the middle of last month, see a report in this issue. Perhaps this may herald a different approach to running race meetings, assuming your near neighbours are tolerant.
VOL. 22 ISSUE 6 PUBLISHED ON THE 1ST OF EACH MONTH
The Grass Track Sidecar Association are also planning to run a similar event over the first weekend of October. There will be a Solo Saturday with classes for 250, 350, 500, Upright & GT140 and a Sidecar Sunday for Left Hand, Right Hand, 500 sidecar + Old & New. It sounds an imaginative promotion we wish them well. Before that of course this enthusiastic team will be running the 2022 British Masters on Sunday 31st July. Preparations for that event are now well underway. All meetings to be held on the spectacular Dig Dog track at Frittenden. Contributions in this issue: Alan Turner, Rob Dyer, Jim Connor, Jerry Cookson, Mike Wiseman, John Sapsard, Neil Emmott, Mandy Frearson, Peter Burrell, Bob Brown, R Mark Ridge, Roger Brown, Fraser Law
Cover Photo: Alfie Bowtell fully sideways at Iwade Photo by: John Retter Photography
Would you like to contribute? Please send to the editor, contact details on page 3.
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STRAIGHT TALKING
Simon 'Crofty' Havercroft's Blackjack Suzuki set FTD BlackJack! The quarter mile sprinters returned to Devon's Dakota Raceway on Saturday for round two of the National Sprint Association Championship. Although the predicted warmer weather scheduled for the day didn't really materialise its self until later in the afternoon no less than 6 riders braved the somewhat drafty conditions 12
to bombard the timing sheets with several high to mid nines as the day wound down. Quickest, as well as being the fastest over the Smeatharpe Airfield strip, was Simon Havercroft's "Blackjack" Suzuki GSXR1000. Converted from an ordinary road bike several seasons ago "Crofty" has been developing this now fully prepped race bike to
compete in the 1000cc class and with assistance from the guys at JHS Racing, from the 6 programmed rides every run completed was in the high nines until the bike finally dealt out its first 9.576s later in the day. A former drag racer in the NDRA days at Long Marston Crofty also ran mph figures of 148.92 mph adding extra kudos to the machines personal best performance. Pete Ford's "Blackdragon Motorcycles" 750cc Suzuki Bandit certainly carried on from where it left off in March when he turned a 9.752s into a 9.677s to win the 750cc Racing class. The NSA's quickest OAP certainly has no fear of the Smeatharpe surface as the blown Bandit flew down the quarter to a terminal speed of 140.97 mph. Also in repeat performance were the Hayabusa's of Ian Wicks and Steve Everett. Competing in the Unlimited category "Wicksy" not only threw out a couple of 140 plus mph tickets but also won the class with an ET of 9.786s to stay ahead of Mark Taylor's bigger capacity Suzuki (1428cc) which netted a 9.903/135.15 mph. Also Hayabusa motivated, but running in the Over 1000cc Road Legal class was former class champion and Airbus Engineer Steve Everett
n Words By Jerry Cookson, Photos by Carol Jenkinson & Jeremy Cookson
who registered a couple of high nines with the best being a 9.851/137.19 mph. Commiserations in this report are extended to 2021 250cc Champion Stuart Buchanan who, after vaulting one of the finish line marker boards on his lower than low Honda 250 drag bike, came to a safe stop. Although Stuart was up and about the bike faired frontal damage resulting in a busted front wheel. Former SCR Triples Challenge racer Kerry Phillips now knows what it's like to freefall backwards at speed when his H1 500 Kawasaki reared up on the launch, not once but twice, tipping him off just past the 60ft timing cells. Thankfully Kerry got up unaided minus a few broken plastic body parts that Gorilla Glue can fix! Thankfully both riders were passed fit but probably sore in parts the next day! Having picked up a silver award at the previous weekend's Land's End Trial after being bounced about in a 600cc Yamaha sidecar John Young opted for his two traditional TriJap sprinters for the day's adrenalin rush resulting in two class wins in the Pre and Post 1946 Vintage classes. Quickest classic went to Southern Champ Jasper Joy whose 973cc T160 Triumph
Trident went 12.746/102.10 mph while over in the Scooter class Adie Horrocks had a much better day in the development of his 149 Vespa sprinter. After much tweaking and revving, Adie finished up with
weekender at "WZ" otherwise known as Westonzoyland Sprint Strip. With the old wartime airstrip in prime condition for another seasons worth of unprepped eighth mile sprinting as the
Jonathan Deacon's GSX 1100 Turbo. JC Photo a 14.169s. With just a week's grace in between rounds the NSA moves over the county line into Somerset to the club's oldest sprint strip at Westonzoyland airfield located just south of Bridgwater for the first two days (Sat/Sun) of racing against the clock over May Bank Holiday NSA riders set records frenzy at WZ sprint Sprint riders from the National Sprint Association gathered on mass for the first two day
afternoon progressed to its final conclusion no less than eight class track records had been reset or established. But, the high's quickly turned to low's as by early dawn rain of the more persistent variety had arrived in the county to put an end to everyone's bank holiday Sunday playtime without a wheel or engine being allowed to turn over in anger. With a revised race format in place where all runs/times Continued overleaf 13
by Paul Heron and Gary Grundy: Mark lost most of his marks on the tricky steep climbs of section 2 but cleaned it on his last visit. Riding the same route and riding round together the three youngsters had a cracking day with Kai Fisher equalling the score of the best adult inter, he was followed home by William Sparks and Mason Tidd. There were nice feet up rides from Kai over the tractor tyres of section 3. Neal Walsh led home Terry Tidbury in the novice class, they were both troubled by steep rooty climbs of section four. John Reeves, Mark George and Daniel Sibbick shared the same score in Clubman C, Daniel took third place with less cleans but the other two could not be separated and shared the win, Nigel Hains was a dab behind in fourth; inch perfect rides by John log hopping on a shallow bank at section 8. Tom Frearson rode the mighty Triumph twin
Thomas Tidd
Beaven In Heaven
Q By Bob Brown Photos by Richard Thomas A pleasant spring May Day welcomed the 45 riders to Quarry Trials at Betchworth for the Joint Club Trial, courtesy of the Normandy with Thames clubs where they had to tackle 4 laps of 10 sections set out by Mick Auger and his team. Most of the sections were sited on the very dry, rooty and tree lined banks with some tractor tyres and tree stumps to spice up the course. Daniel Beaven aced the expert class loosing a meagre 3 marks on the steep chalky climbs of section six but was otherwise wheel perfect. Just a few dabs separated Richard Tickner and Lennie Tidd in the battle for runners up spot with Gary Brown a distant fourth. Mark Ward took honours in the inter class followed home 20
Lennie Tidd
to victory in Pre 67 C, Martin Kemp took second mounted on much more sedate Greeves. It was nice to hear the Triumph on full chat as Tom climbed the chalky banks of section 7. Nick James was the only rider to stay clean all day to take honours in Pre67 D on the yellow route, John Johns lost a solitary dab on the shallow banks at section 5. David White was Best Sportsman with Graham Tickner some distance behind in second, feet up rides from David on the chalky ridge of section 9. Nik Everitt was out on his own in Twinshock D. It was nice to see a sidecar entered with Luke and Woody Reynolds getting some practice for the upcoming Nationals. Tiny Thomas Tidd did well to attempt and succeed at the daunting climbs and was Best Youth Beginner with inch perfect rides snaking amongst the trees and stumps of section 10.
William Sparks (Beta) Mason Tidd (Beta)
16 24
Novice Neal Walsh (Montesa) Terry Tidbury (Scorpa)
18 38
Clubman John Reeves (TRS) Mark George (Yamaha) Daniel Sibbick (Montesa) Nigel Hains (Beta) Jason Warren Simon Dowling (Beta) Kevin Fishlock (Beta) Mick Auger (Beta)
9 9 9 10 13 14 17 95
Pre 67 C Tom Frearson (Triumph) Martin Kemp (Greeves)
3 75
Expert Daniel Beaven (Montesa) Richard Tickner (TRS) Lennie Tidd (Beta) Gary Brown (Beta)
Pre67 D Nick James (DOT) 3 John Johns (Greeves) 12 Sportsman 16 David White (Gas Gas) 36 Graham Tickner (Gas Gas)
Inter Mark Ward (Montesa) Paul Heron (Ossa) Gary Grundy (Beta) Oliver Dyne (TRS) Oliver Hill (Sherco) Paul Robey
9 14 18 20 44 48
Youth Inter Kai Fisher (TRS)
clean 1 15 41
Twinshock D Nik Everitt (Yamaha)
17
Sidecar Luke/Woody Reynolds (Montesa)
16
Youth Beginner Thomas Tidd (Oset)
31
9
Barham Charity Trial
Q By Mark Ridge
Barham & DMCC will hold their Charity Trial on Sunday 31st July at Wingmore near Elham, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 6LT. This is in aid of The Pilgrims Hospice in Canterbury and Ashford. We will have four routes, White, Blue, Red & Yellow, and we welcome Twinshock and Pre 67 and the routes will be set out accordingly. Regs will be in the July issue of TSM or you can enter online at www.ride-acu.uk.
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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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