Donington Classic Festival

The CRMC Classic Festival is always a cracker and this year’s event did not disappoint, we had it all. The upcoming Goodwood Revival bikes were out in force for their final shakedown, so with an entry of 37 riders the scene was set.

Friday qualifying

Mike Russell topped the table with new Dad Glen English runner-up. Of note was WRR jockey Peter Crew nailing sixth overall.

To the sights and sounds of the various machines in the paddock barking some fabulous tunes, we prepared for our first race. Five litres of propellant will give race range and a bit, a quick check of the fasteners and I’m nearly ready. I suffered chatter from the front, so on advice from Andy Clews, reduced the rebound a fair bit then added a couple of PSI to the front tyre… sorted! The high track temperature will give the Avons incredible punishment so those WRR lads with the soft option rear tyres will have some sideways fun to contend with.

Close racing and a large grid for the Donington Park Classic Festival ©sport-pics.co.uk

Race one

The Union flag drops to the cacophony of tortured clutches and thrashing engine internals as the brawl ensues. A clean start has the pack charge to the first right bend with normal fixed braking markers changing as obstacles come into view. Senses alive as machines come at all angles, we all all try to ‘make it fit’ then get on the gas to drive into the Donington signature section called Craner Curves which calls for mucho big cahooners to hold the taps open as a massive amount of bar pressure flips rider from right to left giving the Avons their first big test. Then drop downhill into the Old Hairpin, a great overtaking spot but requires commitment, this leads into a rider favourite double left to the feared McLeans off-camber right. On to Coppice, the blind entry, patchy surfaced flat right took full tilt, then catapult on to the back straight, nose buried in the tank. Click through the gearbox and hold the throttle on the stop, over the slight rise with 8,100rpm on the counter. Hit the anchors for all your worth then flop into the Roberts chicane pinching a bit of rumble strip and then nail it to the line. It’s a cracking track.

A clean start saw the usual suspects up the pointy end pushing each other to lap records, with Mike Russell setting a new event record at 1:21.248. Lady Luck saw Mike DNF leaving Dean Stimpson to take the flag from Bonhams sponsored Championship leader Sam Clews and Glen English in third, a nose ahead of Chris Firmin. Fifth overall and first in the National Motorcycle Museum sponsored WRR class was Pete Crew enjoying a right purple patch this year. Ian Bain then Chris Bassett took the other WRR podium places. I broke my black flag ‘duck’ when for some reason there was two #22s circulating, with the marshall wrongly flagging me in? I stopped off track and was then told to carry on – a right t’do but it could have been an oil leak or worse? So I feel it was right to stop, then I put the hammer down riding like a right motocrosser at times and found it funny later when Sam Rhodes thought I was leading the race and had lapped him… I left it a while before coming clean about what really happened. Rhodes blitzed the Classic Motorcycle magazine sponsored TCM class on Graham Austin’s Velo ahead of new boy Charlie Mason on Mike Farrall’s Rudge thumper (I was surprised Farralls Goodwood partner Charlie Williams did not show to keep his hand in). ‘Silver fox’ Cliff Ransley took the 350 class from Mick Baldwin then Jimmy May.

Thrills and spills ©sport-pics.co.uk

Race two

Saturday is another scorcher and small relief that we have an early race. Bikes prepped, we head to the assembly area and tuck in to any available shade. A short wait sees us out to our grid positions then a warm-up lap has the Avons up to temperature. Stimpson took a comfortable win from English and Clewsy as the luckless Russell slid off at Redgate. Mike Smith came through the pack to take a superb fourth. Fifth has that man Pete Crew taking WRR honours as Chris ‘Bertie' Bassett chucked it away allowing George Thomas to take second by a whisker from Ian Bain. Usual front runner Duncan Fitchitt was giving the Andy Savage long stroke Manx a run, I had him on my tail for a few laps before he drifted past me into the Old Hairpin and once through Fitchett touched his rear seat for me to tag on, which I duly did and owe Duncan for the benefit of his knowledge especially through Macleans. Meanwhile Rhodes once again trounced the TCM class, with Mason second and Kevin Rushworth third on his Triumph. The 350 class had the same result with Ramsey show them who’s The Daddy.

Race three

Stimpson took another comfortable win between parading Nick’s Rotary Norton, whist Russell held off Glen English, leaving Clewsy to take good points ahead of Keith Clarke just 0.2 of a second the difference. Fitchitt had a nasty tumble and was rewarded the biggest lump on his elbow since Daffy Duck ‘nearly’ dodged a hod of bricks from a great height in one of those great cartoons!! Pete Crew once again put many years of racing knowledge to good affect ahead of a startling ride from George Thomas with Ian Bain not far behind. TCM class positions remained the same as Rodeo Rhodes is so quick around here. Adam Wilson back from injury enjoyed himself mid-pack with old war horse Derek Bunning and Mark George keeping him honest. It was great to see Robert Lusk out on his G50 again and quick enough to keep ahead of the 350 group, who had their own battle with Ransley leading home Roger Skipp from Jimmy May.

George Thomas on the Tony Dunnell Manx ©sport-pics.co.uk

Race four

The gloves are off, prize money on offer from a kind undisclosed benefactor, the pointy end looks feisty! Glen English fancies some lolly and leads from the get-go, the peloton looked menacing, so let battle commence…. English holds off Stimpson till lap four, Dean is through but as they pull a small gap on the others these two swap paint corner on corner before the minute tolerance between them is reduced. They both fall, allowing Russell, Clewsy and Keith Clarke to charge for the flag, that being how they finished. Ian Bain had a cracking race finishing top WRR and forth overall in front of ‘Mad Dog’ Andy Hornby, George Thomas and a super ride from Richard Hann. Meanwhile the mid-pack battle between Steve Parrott, Stuart Tonge, Mike Farrall, Harry Cole and Roger Munsey entertained the great sun-drenched Donington crowds. A cracker of a meeting.

The last UK round will be at Cadwell Park and then on to Portimão for the Algarve Classic Festival which although is not a Championship round it will be fantastic, I hope you can make it.

English and Stimpson go head-to-head ©sport-pics.co.uk

Clive Ling

I’ve not been in a situation during my 5 year racing career where we lose a fellow racer in tragic circumstances so thinking a sombre atmosphere would shroud this fabulous meeting but how wrong could I be. Clive Ling was such an integrated member of the Lansdowne family we joined together in a celebration of Clive’s racing career to put on a show of superb classic racing, just as Clive would have wanted it. Clive’s sponsor and close friend Tony Dunnell displayed his Manx in the team tent all weekend, with riders giving their prize money and donations from around the whole paddock amounting to over £6,000 for his wife Donna shows just how much love and respect we all have for this very fast classy rider and his wife. To our friend Clive Ling, Rest In Peace.

©www.sport-pics.co.uk

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