Snetterton 200 and the final round of 2019

• Through the visor of Tony Perkin •

The East of England in late September can be a weather lottery. As always the Lansdowne Classic race was guaranteed to be exciting and the final round of the 2019 season did not disappoint.

Qualifying

Mike Russell was in the mood to race Richard Adams’ Manx hard and threw down the gauntlet to Bonhams British champion-elect Peter Bardell on the Ripley Land G50. Russell took pole by over a second in Saturday’s dry conditions.

Peter Bardell and Mike Russell fighting for position. © PJM Photography

Feeling a bit crock, I hurried through qualifying to secure my best ever P3 grid position then headed straight to the loo! Meanwhile the lads swapped paint for the top positions. The National Motorcycle Museum sponsored WRR boys pushed hard, lapping just off the best overall times and knowing all available points were worth fighting for. Many threw caution to the wind hoping to eke out any advantage when the race flag dropped.

Me ol’ mucker Robin Stokes took 4th and afterwards revealed that he had not realised we were using the 200 course. He admitted having to dive left just after the hairpin, well and truly testing his Avon’s mud-plugging capability on the corner exit. He was saved by wild body antics to keep him green side up!

Our ‘roads-racer’ Keith Clarke showed good form in P5 with Chris Bassett nestled in just next to his WRR Championship arch rival George Thomas on the Dunnell Manx. In 12th position the enigmatic Fernando Mendes headed up the Classic Motorcycle Magazine TCM class on his Beeza Goldie ahead of Mike Farrall’s Rudge and Steve Radakovic’s Gold Star.

Tim Jackson, an ex-Bonhams champion, headed the Avon Tyres 350cc class in 20th. If you are a new rider and want to learn how to ‘flow’ a race bike around a track, Tim is the man to follow – a real class rider is Tim. Jimmy May did a great job of holding off Cliff Ransley in 22nd and 23rd respectively.

Tim Jackson gives us all a lesson in smooth riding © PJM Photography

Race one

The expected duel between two very stylish riders played out as expected as Bardell and Russell set to it hammer and tongs. Russell was fooled into thinking the deed was done with one corner to go, only to have the ‘smiling assassin’ Bardell pull off an outrageous move. Deep into the bend he had the drive to accelerate towards the flag and snatch the win.

Keith Clarke took a classy third ahead of those squabbling WRR boys who were pushing the limits. George Thomas rode the wheels off his Dunnell Manx only to have Chris Bassett just hold on past the flag by a cat’s whisker! (Note; I measured Tiddles’ whiskers and it did equate to a .014 second distance!)

Third WRR was Robin Stokes who narrowly missed me when my Manx cried ‘enough!’ down the straight on lap five. The following crew of Steve Parrott and Pete Carr, plus the incredible Gordon Russell – who did actually witness Gods dog being born! Whilst the dog is now pushing up the daisies Gordon is having his second wind and racing motorcycles very quickly. Also of note and going very well was Adam Wilson on his Manx.

The 350 class saw Tim Jackson lead young Jimmy May with Cliff Ransley keeping out of trouble in third. In the Pre-55 TCM class former two-stroke expert Fernando Mendes was getting to grips with his Goldie, slotting in some great lap times and mixing it with the WRR. Mendes finished just ahead of the incredible pre-war Rudge of Mike Farrall who after many years campaigning this machine in historic racing events can coax it to pick up it’s skirt when required. Kevin Rushworth had a great time on the only Triumph in the series to round out a classy third place.

Keith Clarke gets back in the short circuit groove © PJM Photography

Race two

Sunday morning had the track pounded by the expected autumnal rain and low temperatures but the brave took to their grid positions.

From the off Mike Russell didn't fancy a dirty visor so opened a small gap on fast starting Thomas after the first lap . Bardell was not enjoying the conditions and fell into the clutches of Clarke and Gordon Russell. Lap three had Chris Bassett power through on Bardell and then Gordon Russell whose race was run and did not finish the lap.

The top six held their positions to the end. Stuart Tonge had the bit between his teeth and with his lap times tumbling, he took seventh after a battle with Steve Parrott. Steve Radakovic was snapping at Parrott’s heals after working his way through the field and securing the top TCM position. Robin Stokes, Peter Carr and Ken Perch rounded out the WRR contenders.

WRR in combat – Bassett and Thomas with Clarke on their tail. © PJM Photography

The final race of the season

With conditions deteriorating beyond even the hardiest riders the organisers decided to cut the meeting short. The protagonists who led their respective championships before this finale sealed the deal and none can deny they were worthy winners.

We move on to the presentation dinner on 9th November where next year’s meetings will be confirmed and we can look forward to the 2020 season being another cracker.

Thank you to the CRMC for organising this event, the orange army of volunteer marshals, the medics and Lansdowne team for their hard work. Thanks extend to all the sponsors and to Donna Ling for presenting the trophies at this the Clive Ling Trophy meeting.

Mike Farrall enjoying the rain on the Rudge © PJM Photography

Russell vs Mendes © PJM Photography

©www.sport-pics.co.uk

Dinner and awards presentation

November 9th The Manor Hotel • Meriden