A full grid of classic bikes on the original Mallory Park layout

• Through the visor of Tony Perkin •

The wettest Summer on record rang true as wind, rain, and cloud cover with low temperatures heightened our trepidation on Saturday evening as we approached Mallory Park for The Lansdowne Classic Series Karl-Heinz Trophy meeting.

We joined the BRSCC car folk for this super little one day event on the ‘old’ Mallory Park layout – no Edwinas or Bus Stop chicanes. With one eye on the weather we set up the Lansdowne tent and facilities, all very posh and welcoming. A Saturday evening barbecue raised our spirits and we were all pleasantly surprised to see a dry track come race day.

Saturday evening relaxation prior to the serious racing on Sunday © Richard Adams

Qualifying

Mike Russell claimed P1 in qualifying hoping for an end to his luckless year in front of his a long time sponsor Richard Adams. It was great to see Duncan Fitchett giving Andy Savage’s long stroke Manx an airing. Fitchett was immediately on the pace, qualifying 3rd just behind Chris Bassett, the leading WRR runner, who has really upped his game this season.

Current Bonhams Champ Sam Clews danced his ACR Manx through the traffic on track to pocket P4 just ahead of myself but crucially in front of next man up, Peter Bardell. The Ripley Land rider suffered a locked gearbox and fall approaching Gerard’s Bend at some rate of knots, sliding on the green stuff he was lucky not to injure himself. I did that once and whilst looking for sympathy the ex-racer marshal told me “we have our own caretaker to mow the lawn”… once a racer always a racer!

In P8 was the incredible Gordon Russell applying all 50 years of race experience to head many quality riders. Also of special note were TCM runners Fernando Mendes (BSA Goldstar), Mike Farrall (1933 Rudge TTR) and Steve Pond out on my Velo for the first time. These three claimed P10, P12 and P14 respectfully. Confirmation that you don't need a Manx to be competitive.

David Hebb stoked the coals on his 350 Manx to lead Cliff Ransley and gentleman Roger Ashby in a great Avon Tyres class entry.

Duncan Fitchett in the Lansdowne Paddock © Roger Barrett

Race one gets underway

Peter Bardell is charming all in the paddock with his easy manner but his race-face is pretty fierce. Beasting the Ripley Land G50 he worked his way to the front ahead of some very determined and talented Norton pilots including team ACR’s Sam Clews who put in the fastest lap at 53.873.

Third was another former Lansdowne Champ Duncan Fitchett. His Norton placed just ahead of a marauding pack of WRR pilots comprising of Chris Bassett, ‘Tony Dunnell’ supported George Thomas and the hard charging Pete Carr.

I had my own little battle after wheelieing off the start and not being able to tag on to the pointy end runners with lap times so close. I can recount one lap, when having just touched the rumble strip, I was more than a little surprised to see the Gold Star front wheel of Fernando Mendes the smiling assassin on the other side of the strip giving it full welly on the grass – he just wont shut off!

Bonhams rider Luke Bailey took 8th place on his G50, with Gordon Russell staying out of trouble in 10th ahead of Stuart Tonge. Stuart had a rampaging 1933 Rudge being well a truly thrashed on his shirt-tails finishing a wheel behind.

The National Motorcycle Museum’s WRR runner Harry Cole carried on his paddock style out on track to keep just ahead of Sian Brooks on Farrall’s Manx as Roger Munsey held off Ken Perch. In the 350 Avon class David Hebb confirmed his qualifying position to take a class win ahead of the wonderful Cliff Ransley and Crasher Ashby.

The Classic Motorcycle ‘TCM’ class win went to the aforementioned Mendes, 2nd Mike Farrall on his Goodwood winning girder fork Rudge, ahead of virgin Lansdowner Steve Pond on my Velo MSS.

Sam Clews and Peter Bardell go head-to-head © Roger Barrett

Steve Pond swaps two-strokes for four on the Geartech Midlands Velocette @ Roger Barrett

Final race of the day

With the clouds forming we once again took our qualifying positions on the grid. A clean start saw the front runners really pushing on and none more so than Clews. He was not going to be denied in this encounter with Ian Garbutt’s G50 pilot Bardell. This left Fitchett, Bassett and Thomas to battle it out in the early part of the race. Fitchett drew away from the pack and closed in on Bardell at the flag.

The WRR championship leader Bassett threw away points in a fall on oil at the hairpin, simultaneously taking out the unfortunate Harry Cole which allowed Thomas to take maximum points. 2nd was Geoff Leather’s rider Peter Carr ahead of that man Russell Senior.

Stuart Tonge had another strong ride overtaking me as my Manx lost rpm and gained an awful lot of vibration? When removing the oil catch tray afterwards the fault was revealed as it contained half the engine mounting bolts. Doh!

Behind me, Farrall’s Rudge thumped to the TCM top step as the Mendes Goldie suffered a holed piston. This left Derek Bunning to take 2nd ahead of the excellent Triumph of Kevin Rushworth.

The Avon 350s had a war of attrition with David Hebb keeping things together ahead of Jimmy May whilst the others hit problems. It was great to see Tony Hazeldine on his Norton Dominator get to the flag in both races as his bike evolves into a race machine, well done mate. It was also good to see Adam Wilson back on track enjoying himself.

We would like to thank the BRSCC, Sally and Gordon Russell for organising this meeting. Team Lansdowne for all their behind the scenes work with new team tent fixtures. The marshals, helpers and riders sponsors and last but not least our series sponsors: Bonhams Auctioneers, The National Motorcycle Museum, Avon Tyres and The Classic Motorcycle Magazine.

Dry racing conditions under moody skies © Roger Barrett

The Lansdowne delivered a full grid at Mallory Park © Roger Barrett

A friendly Lansdowne gathering the night prior to racing © Richard Adams

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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