Racing classic motorcycles with the Lansdowne
Classic racing at Combe
Through the visor of Tony Perkin
Castle Combe is a Lansdowne favourite, more of a ‘scream if you want to go faster’ type of track and I love it! Apart from the last chicane of course. With the added pressure of some close positions in the respective championships, points could definitely mean prizes.
As guests of the CRMC, Team Lansdowne made camp in the adjoining field to the main paddock. Base set up and the new monitors assembled in the Lansdowne tent marks a great improvement in communication of results and live timing, well done Mike and Elaine Farrall. Andy Reynolds beavered away scrutineering the 31 bikes and kit entered, and with the weather set for rain, a drying track welcomed the riders to their combined practice / qualifying session. The track surface afforded more grip than expected and some fairly decent times were recorded with Peter Bardell taking P1 from myself then Luke Bailey, with David Tetley, Steve Parrott and the superb Ben Kingham in P6 cracking the whip on his leggy Vincent.
‘English beef’ Andy Hornby was up next ahead of racing snake George Thomas in P8. Mike Russell out on Richard Adams’ 11d class Velocette fired to P9 ahead of a returning Duncan Fitchett, then a resurgent Mike Farrall placed a gnat’s todger ahead of his long time sparring partner Ian Bain. Of note, Richard Hann secured P15, still not 100% after landing on his bonce at the last meeting.
Northerners John Cragg was first of ’t-11c 350 class in P16 just ahead of ’t- Angela Cragg. It was great to see Adam Wilson return after doing himself a power of no good at Oulton Park.
Race one
Bardell and Tetley tore strips off each other from the word go but on each lap Tetley just held the advantage where it mattered and that was how they finished. I did my best to keep them in sight and felt strangely comfortable with the pace, which was enough to keep the rampaging Thomas behind, so we were first and second Clubman. I was possibly helped by Andy Hornby showing George a wheel at every opportunity, like he does. Andy took the last podium spot in the GP championship.
Luke Bailey meanwhile had a resurgent Ian Bain hot on his heels, Ian upped his pace after eye surgery and was resplendent in his new lenses. It’s amazing what a bit of vision can do. Robin Stokes climbed to eighth place from a P15 grid spot to claim third Clubman, just in front of the mightily impressive Ben Kingham on the Pre-55 Vincent bomber who once again took maximum points in the 11d class from Stevan Radakovic’s Goldie and Richard Hann’s Triton.
David Hebb had a cracking ride moving past John Cragg on lap three and holding a small gap to the flag in front of a great little scrap between Richard Dawson, Ken Perch and Jimmy May, absolutely nothing between them at the flag. Third in the 350 Avon class was the immaculate Crasher Ashby who was ready to pick up the pieces of the three ahead if the argy-bargy ended sour.
Race two
Leading a Lansdowne race for the first time I had the feeling of the film Jaws. The Assassin, Tetley and the rest breathing uncomfortably down my neck made for chilling but intoxicating brew. It lasted nearly a lap but that nectar sure tasted good!
Bardell out-braked me into the last chicane and burst my bubble even though I wasn’t finished and managed to keep him in sight. By lap four the charging George Thomas caught and passed me. We then traded places corner-by-corner allowing Dave Tetley to join the party. On the last lap George lunged into the last chicane, nearly parked his front wheel up my ’arris and had to take avoiding action across the grass allowing a smiling Tetley through. Rodeo-George kept the bike green side up and crossed the line taking second Clubman.
Following our to-do was Duncan Fitchett out to get in some Goodwood practice and taking a great third in the GP class. Third in the Clubman class Mike Farrall was really feeling the love for his Manx and was another rider coming to form in time for Goodwood. Kingham again dominated the pre-55 class, leaving Hann to the runner up spot from May.
Mid-pack action saw Perch, Harry Cole, Jimmy May and Dawson in a right ding-dong, the final positions could have gone to any of them. In the 350 class John Cragg was in a determined mood easing out another impressive win leaving Hebb and Crasher to knock spots off each other, crossing the line a fag paper between themselves.
Robin Stokes added his name to the unfortunates who succumbed to the treacherous left exiting the first chicane. The resulting pirouette in the middle of the track caused more damage than could be sorted in the paddock so it was game over. Robin was ok, just his pride battered.
A nice touch was at the finish was when George rushed round to see me in the paddock to dish out high fives and very manly cuddles on a great race. Ahh! Top bloke.
Race 3
A cracking start again, all very even between Bardell, myself and Tetley. Along the start straight at the first kink, one metre the filling between them. I inched back on the throttle not wanting to go surface-to-air, but that was all that was needed for them to pull a gap and allow George to inch past. Our two little battles ensued, nowt dangerous just good competitive racing and boy was it good fun.
David Tetley took the lion’s share of points in the championship from Peter Bardell and even though I was gutted that George did pull past me on the last lap a few corners from home, it was a well deserved top Clubman win from Tony Dunnell’s man.
Duncan Fitchett again took third spot in the GP class from Andy Hornby’s Manx. Matt Hebb landed third and final Clubman podium ahead of Mike Farrall who pushed on staying clear of the battle behind involving Richard Hann, Steve Parrott and Nick Bedford. All crossed the line in that order with nothing between them. Hann took the pre-55 win, whilst just behind them Jimmy May and Richard Dawson had Ken Perch all over them like a rash. He held his nerve and claimed second in class though there was nowt between the other two
John Cragg again, gorged himself on 350 class points ahead of a real class act, Tim Jackson, a smoother rider you will not see and great to see him out again. Third 350 was the ever-jovial Cliff Ransley from Mick Baldwin’s AJS.
To sum up, a great meeting, all races dry even though threatened by rain with a real monsoon on Saturday night yet dry by morning. Great banter, great atmosphere and it epitomised why we race, fantastic effort everyone. The Lansdowne phenomena rolls on to Croft for the final round and I for one, cant wait! Cheers Tony
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
