Shelley Lifts the Curtis Milner Trophy

Thursday May 10, 2018 at 12:34pm

The weather certainly turned up for Round 2 of the Darley Moor Motor Cycle Road Race Club Championship, providing an absolute scorcher on Bank Holiday Monday, 7th May 2018.

The spectators and Darley Moor Track Marshals required their share of sun cream, or at least a way of keeping in the shade. However, whilst the spectators could take in the sun and have a wander around the Marshals were kept extremely busy with an unusually high number of incidents out on track. Many of those incidents requiring Circuit Ambulances to head out of the circuit and to local hospitals, throughout the first half of the programme. Understandably, once the circuit drops below the minimum number of ambulances on site, then no racing can take place as competitors’ safety is paramount. One incident even required the attendance of the Air Ambulance. Thankfully none of the incidents were deemed life threatening and it was purely the nature of treatment required that could not be given trackside.

Due to time constraints the regular championship classes only got to race once this Monday, but the Thunderfest riders were able to complete their event. Thunderfest was open to any motorcycle, road or race, built before 1978, from 50cc through to 990cc and with almost 40 riders registered there was a huge selection of machines out on track. After practice, the riders set their own target speed and attempt to lap the circuit for 20 minutes, plus 2 laps, as close to the time as possible, the rider nearest to their target wins. With the huge variety of ma-chinery on track at the same time this requires a high degree of riding skill and concentration. This year’s winner Alain Marie (Halesowen) was able to lap with a difference of just 0.03mph, closely followed by Michael Tyrrell (Lancaster) with a difference of 0.04mph! Of the local riders Brian Glover (No Mans Heath, Tamworth) and Phil Bootherstone (Burton on Trent) finished 9th and 10th respectively.

The opening championship race was for the Classics and Formula 125, Mark Brailsford (Chesterfield) got off to flying to start on his Classic 500, but David Bradley (Matlock) was able to overhaul him, on his Classic 1000 machine, by the end of Lap2 and held the lead until the chequered flag. Brailsford clung onto 2nd place until the flag, but a 10sec penalty for incorrect grid position dropped him down to 3rd place, promoting Mike Harding (Haslington) up to 2nd place, but Brailsford still took the Classic 500 victory. Geoff Hadwin (Cumbria) was the first Classic 250 home, 6th overall, whilst McAuley Longmore (Willenhall) was the highest placed Formula 125 machine home in 8th.

The result of the Curtis Milner Trophy, in memory of a young Darley Moor racer who lost his life in a road accident, was decided on the day’s Formula 600 race. Lloyd Shelley (Burntwood) made his intentions clear from the opening lap, finishing the lap with almost a 2sec advantage, extending it to over 8sec at the flag to lift the Trophy. However, behind him there was a hard-fought battle for the Runner-up place. Rich Baker (Crewe) held 2nd place until Lap4 when Jamie Pearson (Derby) passed him, after being 6th at the end of the opening lap.

Pearson held on to 2nd until the flag, but Baker dropped to 5th after Matt Zschiesche (Biddulph) took 3rd and Scott Stevens (West Yorkshire) 4th on the final lap.

Prior to claiming the Curtis Milner Trophy Shelley had recorded a rare victory, for a Formula 600 machine, in the Peak Cup class, although it certainly was not an easy victory. Although he had lead across the line after each lap, Ben Scranage (Bolton) was chasing him down for the opening 3 laps, until he failed to finish the 4th lap. Harry Jackson (Mansfield) was also lapping quicker than Shelley and took up challenge of closing the gap to the lead, although having to settle for 2nd place, after running out of laps, but had closed the gap to just 1.2sec at the flag. After being overhauled by Jackson for 3rd on Lap2 Richard Eglin (Derby) held onto 3rd to the end.

Jackson and Eglin took the honours in the Open Solo class, with Jackson taking the victory by over 5sec.

The combined Steel Framed 600/Pre-Injection 600 race was won by Dace Marsden (Birkenhead) with a start to finish victory, although a shortened four lap race, on his Steel Framed machine. Andrew Lowe (Stone) was the first Pre-Injection machine home in 2nd place, but he had to fight his way through after finishing Lap1 in 7th place. Andrew Scanlon (Thatcham) and Tim Walsh (Buxton), on Pre-Injection machines, finished 3rd and 4th respectively, but the pair crossed the finish line at the same time, Scanlon taking 3rd place after putting in a faster lap time during the race. Runner-up in the Steel Framed class was Ant Porter (Chesterfield) who pipped fellow Steel Framed runner, Dean Ephgrave (Hucknall) on the final lap.

The result of the combined Pre-Injection (up to 1300cc) and Mini Sound of Thunder race was given after just 3 laps. Jamie Pearson taking the victory after leading across the line after each lap, although with Anthony

Froggatt (Worksop) just 0.7sec behind, both riders on Pre-Injection machines. Eliot Williams (Flintshire) was the first Mini Sound of Thunder competitor home in 8th place.

Chris Moore (High Peak) took his Lightweight machine to a start-to-finish victory in the combined CB500/Formula Darley/Lightweight race, finishing almost 14sec ahead of the Runner-up place. However, that Runner-up spot certainly entertained the spectators, after a race long battle John Bolsover (Chesterfield) finally took the 2nd place, on a Formula Darley machine James Ford (High Peak) taking 3rd place overall, on the second Lightweight machine, with Martin Robbins (Worcester) 4th, the second Formula Darley machine. This trio being split by a little under 2sec, following those home was the first CB500 machine of Daz Bellworthy (Derby), 5th Overall.

The final championship race of the day was that of the Sidecars and the first lap was headed by fast starters Gary Wilson/Mark Griffiths (Blackpool), but they were passed on Lap2 by eventual winners Macclesfield’s Open

Sidecar team, Dan Knight/Matthew Rostron. On Lap3 Roger Stockton/Bradley Stockton (Winsford/Crewe) passed the pairing into 2nd place on their Formula 600 outfit.

Hopefully, normality will resume for Round 3, on Sunday 17th June, and everyone enjoy a full day, uninterrupted racing with similar weather conditions

Practice should start at 10am, with the first race scheduled to start at 11.30am; the cost of adult admission to Darley Moor for all meetings, except the end of season Stars at Darley meeting, is £12.00 per day, children under 16 are free, and Senior Citizens are £8.00. Parking and Paddock Transfer is free and a programme costs just £3.00. Adult admission to the Test Days is £6.00, Senior Citizens 65 and over £4.00.

For the Stars at Darley event on 9th October the adult admission price is £16.00 and Senior Citizens £10.00.

Advance Tickets at discount prices are also available on-line just visit the Darley Race Shop for full details - http://www.darleymoorstore.co.uk/.

There is ample room for spectators to camp and caravan at Darley Moor over the race weekends. The cost is £5.00 per unit per night. Camping will normally be available from 4.00 pm on the Friday evening until 10.00 am on the day after the meeting or by special arrangement with the circuit management – Call 01335 343833.

Darley Moor is one of the few circuits in which dogs are welcome, provided they are kept on a lead at all times during race day and the owners act in a responsible manner.

2018 Championship standings

Peak Cup

1st Harry Jackson, 21pts; 1st Lloyd Shelley, 16pts; 3rd Jim Hodson, 15pts;

Open Solo

1st Ben Scranage, 18pts; 2nd Harry Jackson, 18pts; 3rd Richard Eglin, 9pts;

Open Sidecars

1st Gary Knight/Dan Evanson, 18pts; 2nd Anthony Eades/Keith Box, 16pts; 3rd Roy Tansley/Chris Judge, 15pts;

Formula 600

1st Lloyd Shelley, 27pts; 2nd Jamie Pearson, 15pts; 3rd Matt Zschiesche, 12pts

Formula Darley

1st Martin Robbins, 21pts; 2nd Tony Griffiths, 18pts; 3rd Alex Roberts, 7pts;

Formula 125