The Charlie Williams Trophy meeting

Through the visor of Tony Perkin

August is the annual pilgrimage to the Donington Park classic motorcycle racing festival, organised by the CRMC. Lansdowners swarmed to the famous circuit for the Series’ fourth round titled The Charlie Williams Trophy Meeting.

Team Lansdowne were rewarded for their hard work with a full grid of 40 bikes plus reserves of talented riders on thunderous singles. The ethos of this very competitive series is to balance the fun of racing iconic motorcycles combined with high standards of preparation. These bikes must meet strict rules to ensure competitive, period focussed machinery.

From the back to the front, battles on-track are hard fought; combatants unravel the Donington track foibles to their own advantage. Choose your line through the Old Hairpin to gain a faster run up through to McLeans… to sum up Donington, it's all about piecing together groups of corners. All part of the track craft that is practised by all. Let the fun begin.

Qualifying for grid positions

Sam Clews secured P1 on his ACR Manx ahead of Donington specialist Mike Russell on the Richard Adams’ Manx. Russell Jnr just held off the hard charging Andy Hornby on his 500 Manx Norton. Hornby is another rider who has been getting quicker week in/week out with plenty of riding under his belt this season.

Next up is this year’s top WRR runner Chris Bassett, a fraction ahead of Duncan Fitchett’s beautiful ‘Savage’ Manx, followed by Richard Hann who was also going very well.

Bonhams British Championship series leader Peter Bardell suffered bike problems and had to settle for a 15th grid slot for the weekend.

Ripely Land’s Peter Bardell © PJM Photography

First race of the weekend

Sam Clews led the dry race from start to finish whilst Russell had a rampant Matchless mounted Bardell to contend with. After a lightning start the G50 man was not to be denied runner-up spot.

Next up Duncan Fitchett was really pushing on in an effort to keep a cushion between himself and Ian Bain. Ian is another old sweat capable of being on the pace despite not having raced for months. In the latter part of the race Bainey had to screw every last drop of syrupy original Manx torque from his machine just to keep Chris Bassett's beautiful Norton at bay. The pair crossed the line a mere whisker apart.

The National Motorcycle Museum WRR challenger George Thomas made serious progress on Tony Dunnell’s immaculately engineered 500cc Norton Manx to take 7th. On his tail was Hornby who was, in turn, shadowed by Robin Stokes at the flag.

Nick Roberts made progress up the leader board taking 11th but the big WRR mover was Seb Perez who made up 11 places. Guest class rider Angela Cragg screamed her Aermacchi way ahead of Mick Baldwin’s AJS 7R. Meanwhile Cliff Ransley just nipped in front of Jimmy May in the battle of the Avon Tyres supported 350cc Manxs.

Smiling assassin Fernando Mendes found his BSA Gold Star wanting amongst the Classic Motorcycle Magazine supported TCM class machines as Mike Farrall closed in on the final laps. Farrall worked his Rudge and it’s girder forks way past their design brief, thumping along to within a gnat’s todger at the line!

Jimmy May on the 350cc Manx Norton © PJM Photography

Race two

The event organisers unexpectedly changed our grid positions but it was too late to make amends as we awaited the starter’s flag.

Clews narrowly held off Bardell for the Bonhams’ win with Russell in third. Bassett slipped past Bain on the fourth lap to take a terrific 5th overall finish and first WRR yet again. Just behind, George Thomas had Andy Hornby in a clinch, crossing the line split by just .001. Was it the drag from Andy’s beard making the difference?

Further down the field many individual battles were also very close. Richard Hann took 2nd WRR from the very amicable Robin Stokes. Another super ride by Steve Parrott next in line. Off the back of this group Gordon Russell was enjoying a battle royal with the charming and super talented Charlie Williams. The TT star flung a leg over Mike Farrall’s Manx for the first time this year. Williams demonstrated his vast experience with a superb performance, showing the regulars that he still has pace. This particular veteran tussle saw Williams pip Russell by a nose.

Angela Cragg was not in the mood to be bettered and once again steered her Aermacchi to the first of the 350 finishers but David Hebb and Jimmy May were edging closer. The TCM class saw Steve Pond making much better progress with the MSS Velocette. But, there was no catching the Goldie of Mendes or the super quick pre-war, four valve Rudge, piloted by Mike Farrall.

Russell, Clews and Bain make haste in the early laps © PJM Photography

The final race

Defending Bonhams Champion Sam Clews was in a fighting mood this weekend. His 2019 nemesis Peter Bardell was put back to his qualifying grid position of 15.

Ripley Land Racing’s Bardell soon carved through the pack and arrived on Sam’s tail, moving past on lap eight of this extended race. Under a yellow flag Peter got the ‘rub of the green’ by race control and collected the lion’s share of a surprise cash bonus. This one-off award was donated by an anonymous sponsor to be awarded to the top three in the final race.

Ian Bain rode in that easy style of his to take his cut of the dosh in third. Chris Bassett was not far behind whilst George Thomas and myself enjoyed a bit of paint swapping. If I may. I would like to take you through the last few laps:

“It felt like I had the mental retention of a fairground goldfish trying to remember the damp places altered lap by lap on the drying track. George kept showing me his wheel on the various sweepers and tricky, off-cambered turns that identify Donny Park as a world class track (one of Rossi’s favourites). George squeezes through into McLeans. I sit in close behind knowing I can out-brake him at the end of the straight and we swap places half a dozen times.

Last lap… the red mist builds through the last few corners as my eyes track the rear end of George’s bike like a film star stalker. It was pretty lairy but I was heading to the chicane having lost ground down the straight. I have to make up the ten foot deficit on the brakes. I sailed past the back markers; past George; past the apex; past the rumble strip… and deep into the green run-off with my inside boot keeping the three points of contact needed!

I got round and hammered to the finish line behind my target. Not good enough that day but great fun, just wait till next time George.”

Just behind us Charlie Williams and Gordon Russell were again inseparable and saw the flag barely a lip-stick smudged fag paper between them.

Roger Munsey found these tricky conditions to his liking ahead of Farrall’s flying Rudge. An inspired Angela Cragg scalped Mendes on his freshly-built Goldstar. In fact, Fernando deserves a medal for the sheer amount of hours he twirled spanners on his bike changing basically everything to get to the grid. Fantastic effort mate.

Ken Perch had a cracking ride leading home Steve Pond and the ever colourful Adam Wilson just ahead of Derek Bunning and Roger Skipp on their G50s. Cliff Ransley had a perfect view of the raging battle between 350 mounted May and Hebb. Young rider Jimmy May saw the flag first but only by a hair’s breadth. 

Charlie Williams enjoying racing at Donington once again © PJM Photography

Continued success for the Lansdowne Classic Series

The huge effort being put in behind the scenes by Team Lansdowne is certainly paying dividends. The Series’ profile has expanded with a professional presence online and in the paddock. The fully branded awning area enjoyed a constant stream of enthusiasts taking advantage of our hospitality. Racing families are getting involved and sponsors can see their logos in a prominent paddock-central position.

We are all looking forward to Snetterton on 28th-29th September. The competition, the banter and the barbecue, whatever the weather. Don’t be a reserve, get your entries in today.

We would like to thank all riders, organisers, helpers and our series sponsors: Bonhams, The National Motorcycle Museum, Avon Tyres and The Classic Motorcycle Magazine.

Cheers
Tony Perkin

© PJM Photography

2019 calendar

May 3–4 Pembrey • Chas Mortimer Trophy
June 1–2 Cadwell Park • Stan Woods Trophy
June 16 Mallory Park • Karl-Heinz Trophy
August 3–4 Donington Park • Charlie Williams Trophy
September 28–29 Snetterton 200 • Clive Ling Trophy