Storm ‘Dave’ provided the Arctic winds whilst Lansdowne action warmed the heart — a great spectacle with so many true classic machines being ridden as designed. The weather cutting short the Saturday action only hardened the spirit. What a great weekend’s racing.
Who is going to spoil the Mark Taylor dominance of the championship class? Mike Russell and Max Symonds have been the closest — the Oakdene Norton rider is some boy and a real asset to Lansdowne with the target on his back getting bigger, his speed and style encouraging others to up their game. An exciting season ahead.
Jake Dettloff has been asked if he would like the lawn cutting job at Cadwell having made such a good job of trimming the start/finish edging! Max Symonds took time out from British Superstocks to join us again, his all-action style and speed perfectly suited to our series — he says he’s looking forward to joining us for a couple more events when his diary allows. Max had a small off when the throttle cable jammed, laying the bike down — strong competition for the job offered to Jake? Both OK.
Mike Smith is a name familiar with classic and BMW cup racing and is super quick — hard to keep behind, as I found out in Race 2!
Mike Russell led for the duration of Race 2 only to totally lose the front on the last lap, last corner, showering Mark in sparks, only to just save it and nail it to the line missing the win by .004 of a second. Mike has since moved his transponder from his frame to his fork leg!
Great to see so many new faces, with Dorian Eardley showing the Clubman class he means business — taking three from three wins in super style.
Another shocker was Graham Buller, who I first locked horns with in my BHR days on a pre-war Rudge — a proper jovial character who shocked many with his 350 Manx speed. Graham also taking all three wins in class.
Visiting us from his usual camp at BHR was Mike Kemp who gave Richard Hann a run for his money in the 11d class. Mike taking a very close first race from Richard then they split the next two race class wins.
Andy Glasgow had his first outing on his Rudge — a few teething problems which I’m sure he’ll get sorted halted his Sunday races. Been there! Andy also had the oldest bike on the grid with his 1930s Rudge 500, showing there is a place for bikes on our grid with a set of girder forks and solid back end. Great fun.
Race 1 Results
| British Championship | Clubman 500 | |
| 1st – Mark Taylor | 1st – Dorian Eardley | |
| 2nd – Mike Russell | 2nd – Calum Lockie | |
| 3rd – Dan Jackson | 3rd – Seb Perez |
| Clubman 350 | Pre 55 | |
| 1st – Graham Buller | 1st – Richard Hann | |
| 2nd – Mark Harrington | 2nd – David Hebb | |
| 3rd – Andy Glasgow |
Race 2 Results
| British Championship | Clubman 500 | |
| 1st – Mark Taylor | 1st – Dorian Eardley | |
| 2nd – Mike Smith | 2nd – Calum Lockie | |
| 3rd – Max Symonds | 3rd – Steven Radakovic |
| Clubman 350 | Pre 55 | |
| 1st – Graham Buller | 1st – Richard Hann | |
| 2nd – Mark Harrington | 2nd – David Hebb |
Race 3 Results
| British Championship | Clubman 500 | |
| 1st – Mark Taylor | 1st – Dorian Eardley | |
| 2nd – Max Symonds | 2nd – Nick Bedford | |
| 3rd – Mike Russell | 3rd – Alex Williams |
| Clubman 350 | Pre 55 | |
| 1st – Graham Buller | 1st – Richard Hann | |
| 2nd – Mark Harrington | 2nd – David Hebb |
Lansdowne supporters Dave and Jackie Myerscough stepped in to help when we found ourselves short of supplies — even trying to buy me some skiddies (pants) as I had forgot to pack them. Luckily you can get 4 days out of a single pair.
Andy Astley again went above and beyond to sort getting the hospitality trailer to and fro, helping riders, and dipping into his pink birthday cake every now and then — a great Lansdowne supporter, even supplying a free tyre at each meeting, this one going to one of our aces Dan Jackson.
Massive thanks to Jamie at Windy Shed for supplying a free Conti tyre and being on hand to fit. Jamie and his team were cruelly robbed at the meeting of stock which is truly shocking.
Andy Reynolds reports that the standard of machine preparation had the scrutineers full of praise — a superb effort by one and all, which tied in nicely with the standard of racing and behaviour on and off the track as commented by the CRMC team. You are all a credit to the Lansdowne series. Except the one with the scuddy underpants.
I heard many encouraging comments from our new recruits who loved the racing and the friendly, helpful banter in the paddock. We are so lucky to have the Hospitality trailer — such a good hub, and you get free drinks! The new merch is close to being finished and hopefully will be at Pembrey. I might suggest Lansdowne pants — I can just picture a pair of budgie smugglers with a Lansdowne logo on the front and an exhaust at the back!!
Pembrey entries are open — just visit either the Lansdowne site for the link or go straight to the CRMC site. There will be a £100 cash-back for all riders that enter the Lansdowne races! Thank you sponsors.
The superb Bob Mac fly-away meeting is also open for entries — this will also be a cash-back event to the tune of £150. A cracker of an event and worth making a small break of it, staying over being close to Edinburgh and much more, with the Air Museum next door being well worth the visit.
The presentation trailer was like a scene from a David Attenborough Arctic film where the penguins stood huddled together on the windy swept icy tundra — a beautiful sight, but not a night for a BBQ!
Thank you to my sidekick Thomas Jackson whose jokes are apparently funnier than mine.
Thanks to the Medics, CRMC staff and Marshals, and Andy Molnar for trying to get Jake back on track.
See you all at Pembrey for Round Two.
Cheers Perky
