A sun-drenched Brands Hatch welcomed the Lansdowners for round four of our championship. Such an iconic venue that's dripping in race history of which 50s and 60s machines like ours were a big part of. The hosting NG club’s format includes a 10-minute practice, followed by the usual qualifying and with a dry track we were all chomping at the bit to pull out a competitive lap time. All the classes were well supported which made for some real tasty competition throughout the field.
The championship riders were all so close with less than a third of a second splitting the top four with Mark Taylor grabbing pole from Glen English, Dan Jackson and Mike Smith with the rest not far behind. Of the super competitive 500 Clubmen Harry Cole was flying taking P9 on the grid ahead of Stefan Radakovic in P11 on his pre-55, Goldstar. Richard Dawson and Seb Perez are regular top runners in the clubman class, Dawson just pulling out the odd tenth to snatch P11 from Perez with yet more hungry young pilots in the shape of Martin Thrower and Alex Williams right on their case in P13 and 14. Stuart Tonge rode hard to P15 and happy to be in the mix of Clubmen with a chance to bag a good haul of points in his championship charge, especially as Clubman title leader Angela Cragg was well crock with a busted knee, but she is a tough cookie and after much physio from the healing hands of Dad, managed to endure enough laps to get a time!!. Jack Hebb ruled the 350 grid spot positions heading young Seb Perez Jnr who improves every time he swings a leg over his bike. Steve Higgins put a fair bit of muscle to use stretching the ‘go’ cable of the big Vincent taking 2nd Pre-55 and P18 on the grid ahead of Paul Stephen’s fresh engined Norton International.
Race 1.
Mark Taylor made the hole shot as the local lad gave it his all into the hideously fast, positive cambered, Paddock Hill bend, his competition just holding onto his coat tails, as a collective stampede, we drive hard into the Suspension flattening Hailwood’s Hill, leaving the braking for Druids bend until the very last second, jockeying for position, the field finds its competitive pockets of fired up pilots. Up front lap times are almost identical for the first three Taylor, English and Jackson with English showing his experience and talent to take the win from Mark Taylor and Dan Jackson, Graeme Higlett rode a smooth race into into forth ahead of current champion, Tony Perkin and a very under the weather Matt Hebb from Luke Bailey. In eighth overall Seb Perez was on fire in the 500-clubman class as was Stefan Radacovic first of the Pre- 55 in ninth. Richard Dawson had Harry Cole breathing down his neck (I’ve heard he quite likes that? ) though managed to hold on past the flag for them to take second and third Clubman and class trophies. Stuart Tonge took a nice pile of points fourth in class with young whipper-snappers Alex Williams, Martin Thrower and Simon Hocking ready to pounce if Stuart so much as blinked after a great battle. Paul Stephen’s was very happy with his machine, pushing hard he couldn’t quite match Steve Higgins big v-twin Vinnie the pair accepting the Ian Bain handmade Pre-55 trophies with Brian Riley not far behind after posting some cracking lap times on his Dommi. Jack Hebb once again kept his competition at bay with another textbook performance in the 350 class from Cliff 'twinkle toes’ Ransley and Big Seb's ‘mini-me' Seb Perez Jnr in third.
Race 2.
On Sunday with an oil spillage taking an age to clear up, we had one twelve lap race. Another clean start had the field pushing hard, jockeying for position, English, Taylor and Jackson nailing 55 second laps, one after the other, not a lot between them all race, a real treat for the fans enjoying the spectacle and soaking up the rays on the banking around the track. These three once again took the top positions at the flag whilst Graeme Higlett and Mike Smith were a fraction from challenging them, which was incredible for Mike as he had come from last position on the grid at the start. Seb Perez in the clubman 500 was in no mood to be caught and kept a safe gap from the chasing Richard Dawson and Harry Cole, the three keeping those positions over the finish line. It was good to see Nick Bedford have a good steady race after launching his TZ 350 earlier in practice! Nick was unscathed but understandably not firing on all cylinders. The same could be said for Angela Cragg, who was definitely not firing on all cylinders, she was green with Pain after crossing the line 7th clubman, Dad John had a bemused expression, he knows how determined Angela is. Stuart Tonge made hay whilst the sun shone, reaping many points and with it the Clubman title lead. Steve Higgins had another storming ride on his Vincent beast, another Pre-55 second place though he complained he was held back by the almost total lack of brakes, a complaint Paul Stephen also echoes but we never listen - Ha-ha as he took another super third in class.
Great to see Derek Bunning still loving my jokes at the presentation and with Ken Perch still putting together some good races and long may it continue.
A special mention in despatches for the heroic efforts made by Angela Cragg keeping her championship hopes alive, with an impressive number of ointments, tablets, bandages, vibrating tools (easy tiger) and a massive bottle of bloody-mindedness all administered by the physio and Dad John! Matt Hebb was another who looked like death warmed up and should have stayed in bed but insisted on knocking out the laps, even when coughing all kinds of body fluid onto the inside of his visor!! A real test of endurance that earned him the Norton Rider of the day. Also of note was the collective help from many after the unfortunate Alex Williams had his exhaust downpipe shear, it was a terrific collective muck in to get another pipe repaired, modified and fitted, teamwork makes the dreamwork!
To finish, a great show from the Lansdowne collective, Glen English was the real class act even though Mark Taylor and Dan Jackson kept him honest, superb racing and sportsmanship shown throughout the field and whilst Brad Pitt filmed his latest movie about Formula one on the back half of the racetrack, I think we had more fun doing our stuff? One of our favourites Cadwell Park next, can’t wait, get your entries in now, yes NOW! We will deffo be having the big B-B-Q in action on the Saturday night.
Words: Tony Perks , Pictures : Colin Hill: hairybeastpix@hotmail.com