Red hot racing at Cadwell
Through the visor of Tony Perkin
Now thats what you call a race weekend! Being blessed with fabulous weather, great company and super competitive, courteous racing is why we do this sport. It had it all.
NG Road Racing put on a well oiled meeting at the superb Cadwell Park circuit with Lansdowne the premier, pure 4-stroke classic series providing thrilling racing.
Qualifying
The midday sun saw the mostly black clad pilots swelter in the holding area. Again, the thunderous noise stimulates the senses as we prepare to test our talent against the Cadwell asphalt.
Released, we filter on to the track and for a lap. Acclimatise, test the Avon’s grip, find position and build speed. Mike Russell used his 250 TZ to sharpen up his riding on the Friday test day then hatched down a pole setting lap to head his nemesis, Sam Clews. Next was an ‘arm pump’ afflicted David Tetley who’s design of muscle wrap would make a Maori warrior envious! Fourth on the grid and heading the Clubman class was a bucking wildebeest in the form of Fernando Mendes. He had a heck of a time controlling his Beeza off the mountain every lap, much to the concern of the marshals and to the joy of the spectators. Spectacular stuff from this fantastic rider who’s character matches his yellow and blue leathers.
Fifth on the grid was George Thomas, back from injury and getting right in the mix at the sharp end. Next up is Matt Hebb on Geoff Leather’s Manx for the first time and looking real tasty. I took seventh placed next to Lansdowne stalwart and my former Goodwood partner Robin Stokes who was really fired up for the weekend. A class rider and always up for a good scrap on track and trustworthy at race speed. ‘Cool hand’ Luke Bailey slotted in next on his G50, smooth and quick as always just ahead of Andy Hornby who always likes to get his money’s worth bossing his Manx about and putting it where it doesn't really want to go. The big man somehow always makes it fit, great to be racing him again.
Ian Bain is always good value on his Manx and what with forgetting his contact lenses and a limp motor that refused to run sweet, he still managed to qualify eleventh. Current Clubman’s champion Chris Bassett struggled a bit with form due to work demands but could still motor on, no doubts that he would be proving his speed later in the weekend as he steadies the ship.
Mike Farrall, once again, left folk disbelieving his performance booming the girder fork Rudge around this superb course belying the need for both suspension or modern day electro-wizardry. Farrall, took thirteenth and first of the pre-55 class having wily old clubman Ian Lucas the filling in the pre-55 sandwich between Fazzer and this year’s adversary Ben Kingham on his gorgeous Vincent Black Shadow – a sight and sound to behold.
Richard Hann was hot on the heels of Fazzer and Ben on his Triton keeping the class varied. Steve Parrott, Stuart Tonge, Harry Cole, Richard Dawson and Andy Clews all rode within a whisker of each others lap times. In the 350 Avon class David Hebb just held off John Cragg and set the 350 shootout scene for the weekend. Angela Cragg bossed Roger Munsey’s Norton Domiracer to slot a grid position next to her Pops. Ken Perch held off the immaculate long stroke Manx of Jimmy May, the ever jolly Derek Bunning and the wonderful Cliff Ransley.
Race one
Mike Russell was pumped, sharpened by that TZ injection and the appetite was back! On the back of his Mallory win in the last round David Tetley had the confidence but with a slightly sick motor they were both thwarted by ACR’s Super Sam Clews who rode skilfully but hard even being hampered by the extra weight of the rubber mark left on his silencer by Tetley’s front tyre.
Sam and Mike eventually gapped David they swapped paint all race long crossing the line a massive 0.18 of a second apart at the flag. Superb.
Tetley was third with super-starter George Thomas fourth and first Clubman, gliding his Tony Dunnell Manx home whilst Tony stayed home awaiting a hip op. Get well soon mate. I, meanwhile came home fifth after a real tussle with Matthew Hebb. He was all over me on the last lap forcing me on the rumble strip up the mountain as I was just able to hold him off to the flag. It was thumbs-up to Matt over the line as it would have been easy for him to push me onto the grass – typical of the Lansdowne spirit and ethos.
Wily old fox Robin Stokes managed to keep Andy Hornby honest, as Luke Bailey headed Chris Bassett over the line by a gnat’s nadger (.048 of a second). Ben Kingham showed a clean pair of heels to many on his mint Vincent, throwing the British iron V-twin around the sinuous curves with aplomb and easily taking the pre-55 honours ahead of Richard Hann’s Triton. Hann had his hands full with Mike Farrall’s amazing Rudge four valve thumper. David Hebb had a cracking ride on his 350 Manx to beat John Cragg into second in the Avon series.
Race 2
Blasting off the line had the usual culprits up the pointy end. Diving into the fast, first left-hander, Coppice and slotting into formation for Charlie’s as slow-starting Fernando Mendes somehow found a gap between me and the grass to slip through with the pack hot on our heels.
Sam and Mike continued to tear strips off each other all race, each having full confidence in each other swapping places all race with Sam once again just taking the spoils. David Tetley bagged another third whist George Thomas eased another class win, I had a battle royal and again enjoyed last lap shenanigans this time with Andy Hornby as a bit of deja vous up The Mountain on the last lap again accelerating up the rumble strip with Andy inches from my side.Gulp! Commiserate with ‘Dive bomb’ Mendes who’s Beeza brakes had cried enough which allowed us to pass him whilst he inspected the grass at the hairpin just two corners from home.
Mike Farrall hammered the Rudge home this time ahead of Richard Hann’s Triton With Jimmy May closing out the Pre-55 podium. Ben Kingham suffered a DNF when a missed gear saw a valve kiss the piston calling time on Ben’s fun in the sun.
David Hebb showed his liking for first Avon 350 placed ‘Ian Bain made’ trophies and Avon tyres as he scooped a new tyre in the raffle. John Cragg once again claimed second. Another great race and one that saw just how hard these old machines are pushed. Matt Hebb ‘snapped’ the top fork mount which was such a shame as Matt looked well up for a good result. Robin Stokes had his chain snap and wreck his rear drum.
Race three
The heat was on, both Russell and Clews were pumped. Last race and it was anybody’s guess as they both had the pace. And, so it panned out, swapping places lap after lap, times quickest of the weekend, teeth and nails were fought, and the flag was gorged by a triumphant Russell. Again, a fraction of a second at the finishi – 0.001. Terrific action from the pair to the applause of the marshalls and Covid-limited fans.
Third once again was that man Tetley whilst George T rounded out a fantastic triple of Clubman class wins, a full house and a superb performance. I was really happy to take my third trophy for second place from a closing Chris Bassett in third. Ian Bain placed fourth in the championship class between Chris and me as he found time between fixing other folk’s broken bike bits to sort his carburation and immediately found the great pace we know he has. How he found time and energy to ‘enjoy’ a run with his daughter after racing on Saturday I will never know?
In the pre-55 class Richard Hann was in no mood for Farrall’s Rudge as he spanked the Triton comfortably ahead this time around and took a creditable ninth overall and the class win with Jimmy May bagging another third. The 350s saw David Hebb as the only finisher in class but enjoyed jostling with the 500s all the same.
To conclude, my rider of the meeting is George Thomas for smashing the starts and taking all three wins in the Clubman class. A classy ride from the Dad-to-be (don't worry, your life wont change at all when the little-’un shows up). A job well done and congratulations to both you and Abi.
Thank you to Team Lansdowne, NG Road Racing, staff, marshals and our family and friends for a great meeting. See you at the next round at Donington Park for another enthralling episode.
Cheers Tony Perkin.
2021 calendar
7–8 May • Oulton Park
13 June • Mallory Park
16–18 July • Cadwell Park
31 July–1 August • Donington Park
21–22 August • Castle Combe
2–3 October • Croft
20 November • Awards Dinner & Presentation
