Racing classic motorcycles with the Lansdowne
Festival Fever at Donington
Through the visor of Tony Perkin
It was festival time again at Donington Park as the Lansdowne pilots landed equipped with their cream of the crop classic racing motorcycles. The paddock overflowed with all types of rare machinery but the Lansdowne stand was head and shoulders above all, a great effort from the team.
Qualifying
Team ACR runner, Sam Clews, once again found himself in top slot after the relentless Clubman championship chaser George Thomas pushed him all the way only 0.2 of a second behind at the flag!
Current champ Peter Bardell kept his powder dry, cruising to third with superstar guest Richard Cooper out for a taste of Norton Manx magic in fourth. Our resident Māori (Yorkshire version) David Tetley settled into fifth a fraction ahead of myself with Ian Bain equally close behind in seventh. That man Matt Hebb again looked comfortable posting another cracking spot in eighth ahead of Steve Parrott’s Manx who held off Andy Hornby all so close.
Eleventh place saw Fernando Mendes wind up his Goldie, holding off another guest Adam ‘Chad’ Child who was getting in some Goodwood training on Stuart Tonge’s Manx. Sian Brooks found her Team Respro® loaned Manx to her liking keeping the wonderful Nick Bedford just behind, again a fraction of a second the difference.
It was fantastic to see John Cragg lead the 350 charge ahead of Jack Hebb and Roger ‘Crasher’ Ashby. Jimmy May again took top banana in the Pre-55 ahead of Richard Hann.
Race one
Nigh-on perfect conditions welcomed the riders to the grid, with the drop of the union flag we charge into Redgate. The thunderous four-strokes raising the blood pressure of the Lansdowners and the spectators alike.
The pointy end of the field was as huddled up as a bunch of scouts singing ging-gang-goolie on a frosty November camping trip! Racing snake Thomas took the holeshot although the ‘Silent Assassin’ Bardell lead the first lap with Clews snapping at his heals. Thomas a smidgen behind being harried by Tetley, Bain and myself, with the pace hot throughout the field as the Avons afford more grip now as up to temperature we push harder.
Clewsy pushed just too hard after recording the fastest lap time 122.920 and escaped unhurt after losing the front then ploughing the horrid limestone gravel which must be the best shot blast material going as it ruins bikes! Bardell took the win in the GP class from Tetley and Bain. In the mix were our guest riders who joined us for some up-coming Goodwood Revival practice, Richard Cooper from BSB and our good friend Adam ‘Chad’ Child, both fast and having fun, good to see you.
The Clubman class makes up most of the entry, it’s wide open, even though Thomas is in a purple patch at the moment taking the win from Me then Matty Hebb. In the 350 class John Cragg was flying obviously finding Donington to his liking with Jack Hebb not far away taking second ahead of Ian Austin’s little Goldie. Talking of Gold Stars, in the Pre-55 class Stevan Radakovic was the class act, eleventh overall and ‘on it’, great ride Steve. Further down in second was Jimmy May on his long-stroke Manx and third Roger Munsey with his Triton, Mike Farrall’s Rudge was in sparkling form, just a pity his magneto wasn’t. One lap in BTH’s best cried enough. Another DNF came from Robin Stokes who shredded his primary belt, lesson learnt – check yer belts!
Race 2
Again conditions were on our side and again, the clean start saw close action into Redgate. With gravel looming we all somehow bottleneck into file for the apex with slippery Sam Clews heading the GP class charge. Bardell took the lead on the second lap with a right royal battle ensuing right to the flag. Sam held onto the Silent Assassin’s shirt tails over the line with ’nowt in it but the records will show Bardell took the win with Dave Tetley bagging healthy points in third.
Thomas again took the lion’s share of the Clubman class points from Mendes and myself in third, whilst Steven Radakovic once again had serious pace on his Goldie to take a deserved maximum points in the Pre-55 class and 12th overall.
John Cragg didn’t mess around in the 350 class, passing a few riders in the closing laps taking top dog points from big Jack Hebb in second enjoying a real battle with Roger Ashby, a fag paper between them at the flag with Jack taking another of Ian Bain’s runner-up trophies
Race three
Ripley Land’s ‘Head Honcho’ Ian Garbett knows a bit about classic racing, signing the Silent One was a canny move and so it panned out, leading from start to finish, text book, nuff said.
Clews had to fight back after having to start from pit lane take best lap time and second in the GP class. The same in the Clubman class, Tony Dunnell signed up George Thomas and is now paying dividends. The racing snake bagging top points finishing second overall, from Matt Hebb and Fernando Mendes. I had a ’mare mistaking a yellow warning flag for the last lap flag sitting up losing three places!
Guess who took top spot in the 350s? Yep, that man John Cragg from Jack Hebb with ‘Crasher’ Ashby not quite so close behind. Jimmy May took the Pre-55 top slot after Radakovic retired on the 4th lap.
Race four
Four races. Four wins. Stand up Peter Bardell. George Thomas and John Cragg, what a weekend for you all with an incredible display of how to race these iconic classic bangers.
This last race was another cracker as Bardell grabbed the lead and held that position to the flag again pushed all the way by Sam as Tetley again swelled his points haul with a fine third.
Thomas was again mixing it with the GP boys finishing third overall and first Clubman. I took second to boost my championship points ahead of Steve Parrott in third getting the better of Matt Hebb this time round.
The irrepressible John Cragg again showed his mastery of the 350 class from Jack Hebb and Ian Austin in third. Pre-55 runners Radakovic and May once again raced to those finishing positions enjoying a good weekend’s solid performances mixing with the Clubman class jockeys.
A great weekend’s racing with plenty of banter, free beer courtesy of Richard Adams and Team Lansdowne. A cracking display of period bikes on our stand, close action packed racing throughout the field and good weather, what more can you ask for?
Next up is Castle Combe, entries are open, another great track and no doubt another great weekend. Thanks to the CRMC for inviting us to the Donington Festival again. To the marshals, scrutineers and Team Lansdowne helpers. Last but not least, Happy Birthday to Lansdowne supporter and nine times TT winner Charlie Williams.
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
