The Lansdowne Classic Series No Images? Click here Pembrey Race ReportMaking the most of the continued tropical weather we head to Pembrey circuit for another round of the Lansdowne Classic Race series sponsored by Bonhams, Avon Tyres, The Classic Motorcycle Magazine and National Motorcycle Museum. “Where are all these folk going?” is asked for the umpteenth time as over four hours of our life is taken from us by the Friday traffic. Then the mood lifts as we spot our racing family in the paddock. Richard Adams, sporting de-rigour Lansdowner long shorts and lily white legs, directs us in with his version of semaphore. The pitch is coned off and our weekend home is set, the wonderful evening temperature encourages banter and one or two snifters. On trackSaturday at 7:30 and I don my ‘boil-in-the-bag’ black leathers then push the Manx to scrutineering. The heat is already oppressive but it’s all good and we prep the bikes for qualifying. The track was in fairly good nick with a few new patches of tarmac sporting very dubious white lines – obviously painted after last orders at the local! Mike Russell carved a 1:06.396 lap on Richard Adams’ Manx to take pole from young ACR charger Sam Clews with Mike Smith third. Pete Crew lead the WRR class from Chris Bassett and Andy Hornby. Pembrey Circuit, Carmarthenshire Red hot racingRussell and Clewsy had all three races covered and swapped paint at every encounter. Clewsy just pipped Russell in the third by the proverbial gnat’s knacker (0.1 of a second)! Mike Smith joined us for yet another round to deliver a superb treble third place set of results and obviously enjoys stuffing his Smiffs Garage Manx up the sharp end of the field. Top WRR honours were divided between Series’ leader Pete Crew and Chris Bassett, both having a purple patch at the moment with Crew taking the first race and Bassett the second. More impressively Chris took the third, also scooping fourth overall. Great racing boys, all very close but safe. The effervescent Derek Bunning on his lovely Lynx Garage Matchless G50 is a real stalwart of the Lansdowne Series. He still knows how to twist the throttle and kept Mike Farrall honest as Mike fights back from his broken pelvis, testing his pain barrier to keep just ahead in all three races. Finding the limitA quick mention of Tony Dunnell’s other rider, Clive Ling, who after problems in qualifying started at the back of the field on his 350 Manx riding in the Bonhams class. After giving his all he was finally pushed over the limit in the last race, sending the machine cartwheeling down the track and reducing it to nearly it’s component parts. Luckily Clive was OK but Tony will have his work cut out. The Saturday evening had the BBQs lit and a fabulous Côte-de-Sur evening ensued. Through the smoke from the various delicacies the banter was as raw as some of the chicken kebabs! One of the less intelligent riders caused unrest amongst the ladies – I only mentioned washing up and cleaning and the ‘Bird’s’ can do it! Jean Adams led a chorus of wine fuelled beautiful ladies to point out the error of my ways? As penance the riders are to make cakes of their own design for the Donington meeting with the best effort winning a race tyre from Jean. So all’s well that ends well I’d say. Thanks to the NG Road Racing club, Marshalls and Medical staff for a cracking meeting. Tony Perkin © Roger Barrett 2018 calendarApril 6–8 Silverstone International |