Snetterton race report

Whilst England basks in the long awaited sunshine and ‘normal ‘ folk expose parts of their bodies not seen in months amazed at how quickly they redden! the sensible Lansdowner heads to the distant Eastern circuit of Snetterton to don his black leathers and thrash his cherished thumper on one of the fastest circuits we visit courtesy of BEMSEE. 

High ambient pressure played havoc with the bikes jetting, we increased ours from 430 to 480 yet others came down on their jets ...uh ! 

Chris Firmin’s motor seized at the end of the very fast start finish straight and he was lucky to sustain just bruising after having the handlebar thrust into his neck and his thumb bent back.

 Portuguese Jerome Chevalley and his Swiss wife brought a foreign flavour to the meeting initiating the Lansdowne latest ‘three kiss’ greeting when collecting trophies, Dean leaving his mark on her cheek after his numerous pecks with his three day old facial shadow !

Saturday qualifying

The timing sheets found Stimpson narrowly ahead of Russell, Firmin, Clews, Clive Ling then WRR runner Seb Perez occupying the first two rows of the grid, further back saw luckless Keith Clarke with two sick engines reduced to a spectator for the weekend. 

Saturday race 

 In the Main Championship class Sam Clews took a low speed tumble at the hairpin out-braking both Dean and himself ! More damage to his points haul for the championship than body or bike, leaving Mike Russell to challange on Richard Adams Manx but there was no catching Deano, with Clive Ling on Tony Dunnel’s Manx collecting third. From my view the lights go green, Seb Perez to my right is swallowed up as his G50 gulps, George Thomas's racing snake profile flies past, a guy definatly not on ‘Greg’s’ the bakers Christmas card list ! as we charge for the first very fast right corner as everyone is careful not to make contact as that would really spoil your day, through there we charge at the hairpin knowing that’s the most efficient way to make a few places, unfortunatly we all think the same, hold your breath and were through. Up and away, next comes the tightening left hander Palmer which needs caution as its easy to run on to the rumble strip or beyond. Before I know it Seb sneak’s past, I know Seb has good pace so latch on to his tail hoping to learn some quick lines but he is riding well going around Coram’s tramping past at least two riders in front of me using his circuit knowledge to great affect before somehow slowing for the sharp left in a lovely block pass, great safe riding mate. With Seb set about charging after Chris Bassett and Peter Crew who together had a right battle to the finish with Peter taking the WRR win a knat’s whisker in front of Chris and Seb third, whilst I had George and Andy Hornby right up my chuff across the line with three of us split by half a second. Harry Cole could not handle Richard Hann’s pace but held off Stuart Tonge’s borrowed Manx charge by a couple of feet at the line. Next up had pilot Jerome Chevalley on his lovely origional Manx riding well and enjoying the British weather and hospitality keeping Tim Jackson and Roger Ashby’s AJS beauties at bay, followed by Tony Raynor.

Race 2 

Dean just took off, knocked out another fastest lap for the hell of it leaving Clewsy to lead Russell by a nose at the line whilst Ling held off Firmins G50. In the WRR Bassett turned the tables on Crew by a hairs breath at the line with Seb ready to pick up any pieces equally close behind. I had Thomas’s engine tanking  alongside me with Andy Hornby behind up to the finish line after a race long tussle between the three of us, great fun especially watching Big Andy muscle his Manx across rumble strips, dirt, grass and still the throttle stayed open.   Jerome Chevalley held off Tim Jacksons 350 with Tim taking the Avon class win.

Sunday Race 3

A beautiful morning greeted all, so with a fairly late start Mike Russell made a plan to oust Stimpson which nearly worked as he knocked two seconds off his lap time only to have Deano up the anti once again setting yet another lap record a second better than Mike... what do you have to do, still there is the last race? Clewsy took third ahead of Ling staying away from the battling WWR trio of Thomas, Crew and Perez again amazingly close at the line the front two a tenth of a second apart whilst I had that irritable rash call Hornsby and Richard Hann pushing me all through the 7 laps.

Race 4

Dean who was almost in a different race as he set about challenging the lap record again, Mike finished second again from young Clewsy in the Bonhams Championship whilst WRR riders Chris Bassett put in some very quick laps to deny Peter Crew and a charging George Thomas took the leading places leaving me to have my excursion to the grass on the last lap allowing Andy Hornby through to fourth. Tim Jackson again took the 350 Avon class. 

Summary

Dean Stimpson back from success racing in Ireland was on fire, simply stunning right from the get-go firstly breaking Spike Edwards lap record, then each subsequent race he broke his own lap record again and again finishing in this the last race over three seconds better than Spikes previous best time with a 2;12.839. There was no answer to this very talented riders pace even if Mike Russell tried his upmost posting a 2:14.114 in race three really pushing himself.

Next up for the Lansdowne is Mallory Park where we look forward to riding the old circuit without the Bus stop and Edwina’s which should be real fun. Thanks must go to Bemsee for hosting a typically well run meeting and mother nature for offering us such great weather for the weekend………..

Tony Perkin 

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2018 calendar

April 6–8 Silverstone International
May 12–13 Donington Park
May 19–20 Snetterton 300
June 10 Mallory Park
July 7–8 Pembrey
August 3, 4 & 5 Donington Park
October 6–7 Cadwell Park
October 19–21 Portimão Historic Festival