The contenders in our two-stroke, post-classic motorcycle racing series crossed the Severn and entered Wales for Round Two. As we knew it would be, it was a small grid by our standards before we move on to the big hitters of MSV. However, a quick scan of the entry list promised a weekend of high-quality racing.It’s a long drive for many to the ‘grassroots’ circuit; the start of TT practice and bank holiday family duties signal a tug-o-war for time and commitment. Don’t stall, get your entry in today for round three.
Stress relief
With NG Road Racing as our hosts this weekend we were well looked after in every respect. We enjoyed the luxury of reserved garages, power and plenty of track time. Our own Reg and Jean scrutineered our bikes efficiently in situ, even finishing off any late arrivals on Saturday morning. A perfect set-up to keep us all as stress-free as possible.
A testing Friday
Friday’s test went ahead under blue skies and sunny conditions with healthy numbers but comfortably uncrowded sessions. Following a long drive from North Yorkshire, Phil Stead set about learning a new track. As always, Steady was eager to throw an XL pink and sky-blue gauntlet at Phil Atkinson in the Cooper Buckley supported 350 Championship. Having solved a suspension conundrum, he began to enjoy the fast-flowing left handers. But disaster struck and he was down and out for the weekend, graciously accepting his own oversight that caused the crash. We were all disappointed to see him out as he looked very fast, roll on Brands for the next instalment.
Andy Taylor gave Julie some extra work to do with a test day tumble at Brooklands Hairpin. The team got cracking and they were fixed and ready for action come Saturday morning.
Glasgow to Cardiff
Andy and Carol Glasgow had rocked up in a small van with their TZ350 and 5KE squashed in, their usual roomy motorhome was languishing at Paul Ricard, broken down from the previous weekend. Lady Luck was certainly not smiling early in warm-up as Andy suffered a heavy fall at the fast Woodlands kink. Proceedings paused as the air ambulance whisked him off to Cardiff with a broken femur. He is in good spirits under the circumstances, and we are all sending him our very best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Quali-flying times
The NG team did a slick job of making up time and we soon had our own dedicated qualifying session underway. The sun was out and the grippy track was ready to receive.
Phil Atkinson banged out an impressive 1:02.563 on his 4th lap of nine to take the 350 Motocarb MotoPole and £50 to spend on Welsh cakes. This lap time had already limboed under his own current lap record and ultimately proved to be the fastest of the weekend. Next up was Josh Wainwright on the 2nd Chris Rose TZ350 at 1:04.085, resplendent with wire wheels and shod with Continental Tyres. Roy Chapman, also on the Contis, delivered his best qualifying in 3rd overall and 1st of our fast AD Modular supported Masters in 1:05.577
Roy topped the Masters sheet after 11 laps of qualifying, Glen English was a mere 0.184 adrift and just off the front row. 3rd Master and Motocarb Motopole 250cc £50 winner was Grant Goodings at 1:06.422 from fellow 250 and Masters rider Mark Linton at 1:07.009. Siân Brooks was 3rd of the Maxton Suspension supported 250s at 1:08.333
The Hunt is on
Simon Hunt is the busiest man in the paddock with a 5KE ACU250 ride and both sons out on GP 125s. Just in case he didn’t have enough to do he lined up on our grid for his first TZ350 GP Originals experience. Simon made an impressive second row start – all this with a heavy row of stitches in his thumb (Note to self: keep digits out of the chain when starting a 125 on the back wheel!).
At 15:12 the lights went out and a stream of post-classic, two-stroke Yamaha TZ 250s and 350s charged in to the ultra-tight Hatchets Hairpin. Phil Atkinson arrived first by a hair’s breadth from Josh Wainwright who had three fired-up Masters close behind in the shape of Higgins, English and Bolsover. Hunt and Taylor took a tight line to try and squeeze underneath, a tactic that worked well for Hunt as he latched onto Bolsover’s rear Continental.
As they entered Spitfires, Higgins slotted in behind Glen with a plan to follow the former Classic Bike World Champion through. With a further exchange at Brooklands Hairpin, Wainwright patiently settled into his ringside seat as English and Higgins chased down Atkinson. The fast Woodland kink promptly claimed its second victim as Higgins brought out the red flags. Thankfully Darrell was up and walking but had taken a very heavy fall.
A tidy restart
A short delay and we were back out again for the restart, our 12 laps now down to seven. We all got away cleanly, and the racing commenced. Simon Hunt was quick to master the launch on a new machine, nudged ahead off the lights. Glen, Josh and Phil all line astern. Josh made it to the hairpin first with Glen on the attack up the inside, Phil’s wider sweep from the outside pushed Glen into 3rd by mid turn. Bolsover also made a great start with Taylor, Linton and Hunt looking to make up ground on the exit. Both masters, Roy Chapman and Nick Williamson, gave themselves work to do as they mirrored each other’s struggle to keep their front wheels down.
Atkinson led to the flag and claimed the first 25 points, Wainwright took 2nd spot from Taylor who overhauled Chapman and Bolsover after the three enjoyed some close combat. Chapman eventually finished 4th ahead of Master rivals Bolsover and Williamson. Goodings was just 0.453 down giving him 1st 250, Simon Hunt passed an ailing Linton in the closing stages who just about made it across the line as Brooks took 3rd. Now sporting a trustworthy Michelle Carthy crank, the freshly rebuilt TZ350 of Vanderplank finished well following the disappointment of Snetterton. Sadly, Glen retired early with a slipping clutch denying Josh of the anticipated battle.
Our newest recruit Stuart Rankin had only entered on Thursday with his former Charlie Williams Maxton 350. With minimal testing he soon discovered the timing had slipped and roasted his pistons during qualifying. All hands-on deck went to try and get him out there – with a little encouragement (i.e. bullying) he was persuaded to clean up the barrel, install donated part-used pistons provided by Roy alongside various other offerings from Glen, Chris Rose and Mark Linton. With expert assistance from Paul Willis, they did it and were ready to join us on the Sunday. Excellent effort by all and we received this great feedback from Stuart after the meeting:
“I just wanted to drop a quick note to say how great it was riding and meeting up with all the GP Originals gang at Pembrey, I can honestly say I was blown away by the friendliness and help everyone gave me at my first outing on the TZ”
Turning up the heat
The rain started after racing had finished on Saturday with a dreary and wet Sunday on offer. This was a lesson in never believing the forecast! With only a light shower early on and just a few minor damp patches to navigate during warm-up we enjoyed another sunny and dry day of racing on Sunday.
John Bolsover’s TZ had experienced a water leak on Saturday and the team decided to call it a weekend at that. We look forward to the Dannisport supported rider giving it his all at Brands Hatch for Round Three.
Just gone 10am and we were ready to go again for 10 hot laps. Glen English was on a mission circulating half a second quicker than Josh in 2nd. The front pair both demonstrated that traditional wire wheels can also handle fast laps, relegating Atkinson to 3rd at the first pass of the stripe. Atkinson made the move on Wainwright and began to chase down English, relieved to be back out in front by lap three circulating in consistent 1:03s. He took the win from English with Wainwright just 0.572 behind for 3rd. En route English secured a new GP Originals Masters lap record at 1:04.656 and a victory in the over-55s class. Chapman took 4th on-the-road at one point calling on long forgotten off-road skills as he briefly exceeded track limits onto the soggy grass at Honda and kept it pinned! No long lap penalty served here ;)
Andrew Taylor was 0.8 behind Chapman splitting the Master’s to Williamson who had the revvy 250s of Goodings and Linton right up his pipe at the line. Siân made one of her fast starts from the fourth row, slipping past a couple of 2nd and 3rd row sitters to the hairpin and keeping Linton at bay for the first three laps. The Hugh Jardon sponsored rider Linton, soon rose to the occasion by posting the Staffordshire Honda fastest 250cc lap of the weekend at 1:05.192 as he chased down and engaged in fisticuffs with Goodings. Close but not quite close enough to topple Gary Vines’ 250 lap record. Linton only just missed out on the green plated honours by 0.164. Brooks, Linton and Goodings all took a turn at the top of the fastest lap chart.
Simon Vanderplank headed Stuart Rankin who felt victorious in a race finish on that Maxton that had lain dormant for 18 years. Simon Hunt was feeling the pressure as his stable of pedigree race bikes delivered various mechanicals for his team to deal with, but another successful finish was in the bag.
The field may have been reduced but the same standard of close racing was felt throughout. 4th to 8th were all circulating in the 1:05 bracket.
The final
With excellent timetable slots all weekend we were back out on track for another 11 laps just before 2pm, great for those with a long drive home.
Josh and Glen took to the front from the start. By the third lap Atkinson had made a pass to split the pair. Wainwright led for four laps to Atkinson’s seven as they shared the fastest 350 lap charts. Mid race Atkinson dipped into the 1:02s replenishing his current Pembrey lap record with 1:02.619 and the Staffordshire Honda supported fastest 350 lap £50 reward. Glen collected 3rd spot on the road and 1st of our Masters, giving new sponsors Melbray London their first taste of TZ success at GP Originals.
RBM’s Nick Williamson was the next fast Master on the move as he engaged with long term rival Roy Chapman. The pair crossed the line with just 0.049 separating them, this time in Williamson’s favour.
The TZ250L of Mark Linton came through only a second behind the 350 Masters. Mark enjoyed a breather from the attentions of fellow 250 mounted Master Grant Goodings, who was next but out of striking distance. Siân followed Simon Hunt’s 350 home to take 3rd 250 as Simon Vanderplank completed another solid finish.
Andrew Taylor was forced to retire with a failing coil and Stuart Rankin managed another five race laps before his clutch rivets took leave resulting in a DNF. Stuart thoroughly enjoyed is first outing with GP Originals and is keen to be back for Brands Hatch in June.
If you are waiting in the wings, please consider that this is the only place to race these special machines on a dedicated grid amongst a competitive field. We urge you to get your entries completed and keep the wheels turning.
Words by: Sian Brooks
Photos : Paul Korkus pkphotomedia@btinternet.com and
Christopher Price : chris@pulsepm.com