Tuesday September 20, 2011 at 9:26am
Round 7 of the Darley Moor Motor Cycle Road Race Club’s Championship provided something for every motorsport fan with machines spanning a thirty year period competing in the Thunderfest Time Trial, machinery from the 90’s through to modern day competing for the regular two and three wheeled Darley Championships and, of course for fans of four wheeled motorsport there was the Long Circuit Kart Club competitors.
From the very first race spectators knew they were in for another superb days racing after the combined Lightweights/Steel Framed 600 and Pre Injection 600 race produced a superb battle at the head of the field. Jon Skelson managing to hold off a challenge from Chris Sammons who has been absent since recording a win at the first round. In their second race Sammons showed the field that he had certainly not forgotten his way around the circuit, taking the victory by over 10seconds and moving too 4th place in the Steel-framed standings. Gavin Salt was the 2nd Pre-injection machine home in the first encounter, but turned the tables on Skelson in the second, maintaining his 10 point deficit in the standings. Unfortunately, Ben Godfrey could not hang onto his Lightweight Championship lead, Rob Hodson beating him to the line on both occasions. Chris Spooner followed the pair across the line in both races and cemented his 3rd place in the standings.
Hodson and Spooner also battled it out on track in the combined Formula Darley and Pre 98 races. With Anthony Porter needing just 4 points to secure the first Formula Darley title he did enough by finishing 4th and 5th in the two races. Hodson had to hold off Gavin Heath (Leek) each time, on a Pre98 machine, to take both race wins and putting him up to 2nd in the standings, whilst Spooner finished 3rd rider home on each occasion and slipped to 3rd in the Formula Darley Championship. Wez Pearce (Derby) secured the smaller Pre98 (upto 500cc) Championship after extending his Championship lead to 25 points.
In the second race of the day Shane Pearson (Derby) pipped Jim Hodson (Wigan) to the line by just 0.11sec, in a race long Peak Cup battle. Just behind these two, Richard Wardle (Stoke on Trent) and Danny Smith (Rugeley) were having their own battle for 3rd place, Wardle crossing the line less than 0.3sec ahead. The second encounter wasn’t quite as close, but Pearson could not get in front of Hodson this time and had to settle for 2nd place in both the race and the standings, whilst Wardle and Smith’s positions were repeated, mirroring their Championship places.
With Hodson not coming to the grid for the first Open Solo race Pearson was able to take his second win of the day, but the pair continued the battle in the second, Hodson taking both the race victory and another championship title.
With just 3 points separating Hodson from Wardle at the head of the Formula 600 standings and Smith in 3rd place, you could guarantee that these races would also be frantic. However, it wasn’t Hodson that almost stopped Wardle from taking another win, Smith led for the first 5 laps before Wardle caught and passed him, finally taking the win by just 0.5sec. There was to be no repeat in the second race, leading from the flag Wardle took the win with Smith following him home for 2nd, with Hodson failing to finish it leaves Wardle with just 2 points to get at the Final Round to secure the title.
In the combined GP125 and Formula 125 races Ricky Tarren secured a victory in the first race, by almost 8seconds, but couldn’t repeat it in the second having to follow championship rival Andrew Fisher (Kettering) home by just 0.24sec! The gap between the two in the standings remains at 13points, but with championship leader Jamie Hodson absent this weekend his lead has been reduced. In the Formula 125 class Asher Durham recorded two 4th places which has moved him into 3rd place in the Championship standings.
With the ages of machines taking part in the Thunderfest event ranging from 25 to 55 years old, a race is obviously going to favour the more recent machinery, but the winner of Thunderfest didn’t have to be the fastest. The winner was the competitor who, after a practice session and one 8 lap ‘race’, could predict their own race speed for ‘Race 2’ which was a 16 lap session. Amazingly, Frank Jones on a 1969 Triumph was within 0.05sec of his prediction. Local competitors Tony Head and Martyn Hartshorne were 8th and 9th respectively, 0.39sec and 0.57sec away from their prediction.
The Sound of Thunder machines returned the track action back to normal and with Jamie Medhurst still absent through injury James Ford wasn’t quite able to clinch the Championship title this weekend. After leading throughout Ford was passed on the final lap by Steven Hill and beaten to the line by just 0.2sec. Ford made sure the same did not happen in their second encounter taking the victory by over 7 seconds and putting one hand on the Championship. Just 1 point in the Final Round will prevent Medhurst from finishing on equal points, if he returns. Being the first Mini Sound of Thunder machine home on each occasion Anthony Porter extended his Championship lead beyond the reach of Gary Dangerfield who took advantage of his rivals absence at the previous round.
With 14 points separating the Allan Schoefield/Steve Thomas sidecar pairing from the top of the Open Sidecar Championship table they certainly showed their intentions to make it a battle to the end by beating current leaders Anthony Eades/Iain Greensmith by over 30seconds in both races! Roy Hanks/Julie Hanks Elliott ensured there was some excitement on track, their smaller 600cc outfit pushing Eades/Greensmith all the way in the second race, finally finishing just 0.5sec behind at the flag, in 3rd place.
As always the final round will be the Stars at Darley meeting on Sunday 2nd October, with Practice on Saturday, 1st October and with Keith Amor, Barry Burrell, Richard Cooper, Ian Lougher and John McGuinness already confirming their attendance it will certainly be very special. Saturday Practice will be between 10.00am – 5.00pm, with an Untimed practice for Stars competitors between 2.00pm – 3.00pm. On Sunday practice will start at 10.00am, with Timed practice for the Stars races scheduled for approx. 11.15am and the first race at 12.00 noon.
Entrance admission on Saturday; Adults £6.00, Senior Citizens £3.00, kids under 16 free. Sunday admission; Adults £15.00, Senior Citizens £8.00, as always parking & paddock transfer free, with Programmes £3.00.
Advanced tickets are available from www.darleymoorstore.co.uk at a special rate of £13.00 (Senior Citizens £7.00) for the Sunday, £5.00 (Senior Citizens £2.00) for Saturday
Food is available throughout both days at the ‘Darley Diner’.
Camping and caravanning is available from Friday night through to Monday at a cost of £5 per night.
For further information please log onto the Club’s website www.darleymoor.co.uk where you can also listen to live commentary direct from the meeting if you cannot attend.
Championship Standings (after 7 Rounds)
Peak Cup
1st Jim Hodson, 114pts; 2nd Shane Pearson 66pts; 3rd Richard Wardle 43pts
Open Solos
1st Jim Hodson 108pts; 2nd Shane Pearson 66pts; 3rd Lee Vernon 26pts
Open Sidecars
1st Anthony Eades/Iain Greensmith 80pts; 2nd Allan Schoefield/Steve Thomas 72pts; 3rd Ray Thomas/Neil Aslaksen 48pts;
Lightweight Championship
1st Rob Hodson 83pts; 2nd Ben Godfrey 78pts; 3rd Chris Spooner 65pts;
GP125
1st Jamie Hodson 78pts; 2nd Andrew Fisher 71pts; 3rd Ricky Tarren 64pts
Formula 600
1st Richard Wardle 89pts; 2nd Jim Hodson 72pts; 3rd Danny Smith 49pts
Formula Darley
1st Anthony Porter 95pts; 2nd Rob Hodson 68pts 3rd Chris Spooner 66pts;
Formula 125
1st David Carson 114pts; 2nd Jordan Rushby 54pts; 3rd Asher Durham 37pts
FII Sidecars
1st Roy Hanks/Julie Hanks Elliott 87pts; 2nd Christopher Schofield/Daniel Schofield 28pts; 3rd Dean Banks/Kelly Lewis 27pts
Steel Framed 600
1st Steve Price 102pts; 2nd Dave Thomasson 49pts; 3rd Dean Ephgrave 43pts
Pre Injection 600
1st Gavin Salt 91pts; 2nd Jon Skelson 81pts; 3rd Daniel Pritchard 38pts
Mini Sound of Thunder
1st Anthony Porter 108pts; 2nd Gary Dangerfield 88pts; 3rd Alex Woodhouse 29pts
Sound of Thunder
1st James Ford 90pts; 2nd Jamie Medhurst 72pts; 3rd Chris Gardner 45pts
Pre 98’s (up to 500cc)
1st Wez Pearce 96pts; 2nd David Carson 71pts; 3rd Robert Garmory 29pts
Pre 98’s (up to 1300cc)
1st Kev Cooper 84pts; 2nd Gavin Heath 55pts; 2nd Jon Skelson 43pts