Round 1 of the ’24 Season – Pembrey

Through the visor of Tony Perkin

The winter hibernation behind us, blood coursing through our veins, machines lovingly prepared as once again we are blessed to be racing. Pembrey may have played it’s part as home to Spitfire squadrons during World War 2, so must welcome the sound of our thoroughbred British machines. With a field of 32 riders entered, faces familiar and new, all are up for the challenge of both the circuit and the weather!

Practice

Practice brings slightly damp conditions in different parts of the course, conditions that Dan Jackson found much to his liking as he headed the field ahead of Mark Taylor and Graham Higlett. Jamie O’Brien was first of the Clubman with an outstanding ride to position himself on the grid ahead of ex-champion Mike Russell. 500 Clubman champion Matt Hebb took sixth ahead of current 500 champion Tony Perkin, riding against doctors orders with a crock shoulder. 

Race 1

Riders funnelled into the hairpin, Clubman Jamie O’Brien snatches the lead and heads the field for the first three laps before a broken exhaust relegates him to 3rd at the flag. Dan Jackson takes up the charge at the front with a hard charging Mike Smith coming through from last on the grid to sniffing Dan’s exhaust over the line. Matt Hebb muscled his way up to 4th ahead of Ian Garbett’s latest recruit Graeme Higlett after a right ding-dong battle. Mike Russell with a sick gearbox still showed his class with Mark Taylor on his coat-tails holding sixth to the flag and Tony Perkin keeping green side up and taking no chances in seventh. Second of the hard fought Clubman class with a super ride by the charming Steve Parrott, leading Justin Keane and Mike Farrall in a tightly fought battle. Andy Glasgow is getting to grips with his Manx with a steady ride into fourth in class ahead of Gordon Russell and Stuart Tonge.

Richard Hann proved to be a class act in the pre-55 class on his Triton finishing ahead of an Angela Cragg’s ailing Manx and evergreen Ian Lucas. Jack Hebb rode the wheels off his 350 Manx to stay ahead of Jimmy May on his lovely pre-55 500 Manx with Paul Stephen taking the final podium position in the pre-55 class, and Derek Burning rounded out the finishers.

British Championship		Clubman 500
1st – Dan Jackson		1st – Jamie O’Brien
2nd – Mike Smith		2nd – Steve Parrott
3rd – Matt Hebb		3rd – Mike Farrall

Clubman 350		Pre 55
1st – David Hebb		1st – Richard Hann
		2nd – Jimmy May
		3rd – Paul Stephen

Race 2

There’s something guttural about a big British racing single on full chat, dumping the clutch from the start, pulses racing we thunder towards the first gear hairpin, senses heightened we hunt for clear track as dry tarmac allows riders to stretch their throttle cables through the gears into the sinuous second corner, with traction compromised holding a tight throttle cable is not for the faint hearted. Mark Taylor was proper on it, holding off a determined group comprising of, Dan Jackson, Mike Smith, Jamie O’Brien, Matt Hebb and Graham Higlett, a fag paper between them throughout the shortened race, a red flag shown when the unfortunate Archy Walker literally created a Bow-wave of mud having out cornered himself and being in an compromising position just off the track safety must come first. The race was reduced and we all hoped Archie cleaned the shower afterwards as dad Patrick looked for his Dommi under the mud.

Angela Cragg took the Clubman win a fraction in front of a super competitive group featuring Mike Farrell, Andy Glasgow and Martin Thrower. Simon Hocking kept his nerve and finally ditched his orange bib watching a great dice between Steve Parrott, Andrew Jones and the superb Richard Hann as he clocked up another Pre-55 win. Jack Hebb once again showed a good few 500’s the way home on his 350 for another class win as Jimmy May took second Pre-55 from a delighted Derek Bunning taking third.

British Championship		Clubman 500
1st – Dan Jackson		1st – Jamie O’Brien
2nd – Mike Smith		2nd – Angela Cragg
3rd – Mark Taylor		3rd – Mike Farrall

Clubman 350		Pre 55
1st – David Hebb		1st – Richard Hann
		2nd – Neil Allman
		3rd – Jimmy May

Race 3

It was all action at the front with the top suspects, Mike Smith, Dan Jackson and Graham Higlett all vying for the top spot hoping for one of Ian Bain’s fantastic new design trophies. Jamie O’Brien continued his terrific form with another class win in fourth overall whilst Andy Glasgow was well chuffed to scoop second Clubman ahead of super stylish Angela Cragg. Mike Farrall once again put in a classy performance loving his wonderful G50 Matchless just ahead of Stuart Tonge’s Manx as Stuart’s confidence gathers momentum. Richard Hann scooped another class win this time from Derek Bunning bagging big points for second. Jack Hebb took the class haul of max points staying ahead of 500 mounted Clubman Neil Allman. At the front there was no stopping the spectacular ginger bearded Mike Smith, a BSB BMW 900 series rider, he rode superbly, though Jackson and Higlett really did keep him honest. 

British Championship		Clubman 500
1st – Mike Smith		1st – Jamie O’Brien
2nd – Dan Jackson		2nd – Andy Glasgow
3rd – Graham Higlett		3rd – Angela Cragg

Clubman 350		Pre 55
1st – David Hebb		1st – Richard Hann
		2nd – Neil Allman
		3rd – Derek Bunning

Race 4

One of the last races of the day with the threat of high wind and rain led to a depleted but talented field. Mike Smith led from start to finish loving the difficult conditions , with Mark Taylor and Jamie O Brien also up for the challenge but they had no answer to Smiffy’s display of wet weather artistry. Dan Jackson can be pleased with his weekends work taking the lion’s share of the available Championship class points, even though Jamie O’Brien’s four class wins must be pretty ominous for the other Clubmen in this super competitive class. Andrew Jones had a cracking result second clubman and fifth overall keeping the Matt Hebb, Graham Higlett battle behind him. Andy Glasgow again did the business to keep Angela Cragg at bay as Neil Allman fought off a late challenge from anther max point class winner Jack Hebb. Paul Stephen’s perseverance with the Dommie paid off taking some valuable championship points in the Pre-55.

British Championship		Clubman 500
1st – Mike Smith		1st – Jamie O’Brien
2nd – Mark Taylor		2nd – Andrew Jones
3rd – Dan Jackson		3rd – Andy Glasgow

Clubman 350		Pre 55
1st – David Hebb		1st – Neil Allman
		2nd – Paul Stephen

To round up for what was predicted to be a total washout. We were very lucky to catch the odd dry spells and see some terrific duels. Thanks go to the organisers CRMC, the marshals and first-aid staff. Get your entries in for round two at Darley Moor for more competitive fun and frolics.

Finally we’d like to extend a huge thank you to our numerous sponsors this season.