As the flag is about to drop on another season for the Darley Moor Motor Cycle Road Race Club (DMMCRRC), not just any season, but the 60th for the Club and to highlight the many changes over the years the ‘Motor’ has recently been dropped from title of the venue, now the Darley Moor Sports Centre, near Ashbourne, DE6 2ET (or What3words: bounty.behalf.charm). Not just a name change, but also a new website, www.darleymoorcentre.co.uk, for everything away from the motorsport side. However, this is about the new motorsport season and the original website, www.darleymoor.co.uk, is still running for everything relating to the motorsport meetings, from competitors and spectator entries, timetable, results, Marshals and Officials information, the Darley Moor store and image gallery.
This weekend’s meeting is a very special one, marking the 60th anniversary of the very first race meeting held on Good Friday, 16th April 1965. Within this weekend’s race programme there will be a copy of the very first programme cover.
Saturday, 13th April will see a Test Day for all classes from 10am, whilst Sunday 14th April will see Round 1, of 6, get underway with Practice, from 10am with the first race scheduled for 11.30am. Already there are a sizeable number of entries in, including the majority of 2023 Champions and Runners-Up. Whilst there are just 6 Rounds to this year’s Championship the DMMCRRC have made a change in how the points awarded at each Round. Previously, just 1 of the 2 races, each day, would be awarded Championship points, but for this year both races will carry championship points, effectively making this a 12 Round Championship.
The solo Formula 600 class has now been renamed the Open 600, which now allows riders the option of using slick tyres.
A brief run down of the Champions and Runners Up already entered include:
Howard Baker/Mike Killingsworth (Sutton Coldfield/Lincoln) - Formula 600 Sidecar Champions
Matthew Bell (Sheffield) – Ben Godfrey Trophy and Open Solo Champion is entered on 600cc machine to defend the Ben Godfrey Trophy and in the Formula 600 class
Mark Brailsford (Chesterfield) - Forgotten Era & Classic 1300 Champion
David Carson (Northwich) – Darley Cup, 700 Twins Champion and Formula 600 Runner-Up
Nick Clare (Winsford) – Runner-Up Pre-Electronic 600/750 Champion
Iain Davis (Ashbourne) - Forgotten Era & Classic 250 Champion
Peter Fell (Burton On Trent) – Wilson Trophy and Lightweight Solo Champion
Mark Goodings (Doncaster) – Formula 600 Champion and Ben Godfrey, Open Solo Runner-Up
Dan Knight/Ben Hughes (Congleton/Northwold)– Formula 600 Sidecar Runners-Up
Mike Lees (Congleton)- Forgotten Era 500 & Classic 500 Runner-Up
Kyle McKinna-Brown (Stockport) - Lightweight Solo Runner-Up
Jordan Poole (Stoke on Trent)- Honda CB500 & Suzuki Bandit Runner-Up
Steve Price (Stockport) - Forgotten Era 500 & Classic 500 Champion
Adam Sheriff (Barnsley) - Pre-Electronic 600/750 Twin Champion and Forgotten Era & Classic 1300 Runner-Up
Steve Thomas/Danny Lewis (Wirral) – Open Sidecar Champions
Keith Waddington (Barnsley), Open Sidecar Runner-Up, with new passenger Hannah Brunton (Salford)
Ben Wilkinson (Birmingham) – 700 Twins Runner-Up
Matt Zschiesche (Stoke on Trent) – Honda CB500 & Suzuki Bandit Champion and Wilson Trophy Runner-Up
Spectators, especially those that choose to camp over the weekend (on offer from Friday night through to Monday morning, for just £7 per night, or £6 if booked in advance) will be able to benefit from some of the ‘upgrades’ that the traditional closed season Work Party have been busy with. The old Darley Diner, situated in the Paddock Area, has had a huge refit, now known as the Chequered Flag Café, open to all, every weekend, but with longer hours on a race weekend (Friday 2pm – 8pm, Saturday 8am – 8pm, Sunday 8am – 6pm) and already receiving plenty of praise. If your favoured vantage point is at the opposite end of the circuit, no need to worry, you do not have to trek across to the Paddock as there is now a catering outlet at the Hairpin, open all day on Sunday.
The action on track is due to begin at 10am, with the first race scheduled for 11.30am. Advance tickets at are available now, just visit www.darleymoorstore.com: Saturday Adults £7, Seniors £5 and Sunday Adults £13, Seniors £10 (Sunday On The Day prices of £16 and £12, respectively).
The remainder of the Championship season will be as follows:
Test Day & Round 1(with Superkarting UK) 13th & 14th April
Round 2 (with Superkarting UK) 16th June
Round 3 (with Superkarting UK) 11th August
Round 4 (with Superkarting UK) 8th September
Round 5 & 6 (including Richardson Stars at Darley) 5th & 6th October
Preview by Brian George Photography/PR