Squelch – squelch! whose idea was this to come to Darley Moor on a Friday evening? Rain mixed with half the surrounding field produced a paddock better suited to winter motocross. Hardy folk ploughed through the muck to get their bikes scrutineered whilst others bantered how grippy the track is even when wet. A flick at the weather forecast promised improvement, but no one could have predicted that such a big hot ball of loveliness would appear overhead and reward us with such a cracking weekend.
Up and at em? Saturday qualifying brought out some great times with Matt Hebb, taking Pole position from Dan Jackson and Tony Perkin, Andy Glasgow had a cracker taking seventh position, first of the clubman 500 from Nick Bedford and Angela Cragg. Stefan Radacovic lead the pre-55 class in 11th place with the nearest challenger Paul Stephen, in 15th. Of the 350 class, young Sebastian Perez took 16th place literally a blink of an eye in front of Jack Hebb.
Race 1
Matt Hebb and Dan Jackson lead after the first lap and pulled away from Tony Perkin in third as Graham Higlett settled into his ride, acclimatising to drum brakes for the first time, before drafting past Perkin, and quickly dispensing with both Hebb and Jackson to take a terrific win. In the clubman 500 class Angela Cragg had her competitive hackles up snatching first from the determined duo of Nick Bedford and Andy Glasgow in the other podium places.
Photo © PJ Motorsport Photography
Of note, Clubman, Ian Austin and Gordon Russell, who both started at the back of the grid ploughed through the field finishing 13th and 15th overall. In the 350 class, young Sebastian Perez went back to school, taking a masterclass from Jack Hebb soaking up 350 race craft as in the pre-55 class, Stefan Radacovic took the win with cracking race into 11th overall with Paul Stephen on his Norton Inter second from Brian Riley.
| British Championship | Clubman 500 | |
| 1st – Graham Higlett | 1st – Angela Cragg | |
| 2nd – Dan Jackson | 2nd – Nick Bedford | |
| 3rd – Matt Hebb | 3rd – Andy Glasgow |
| Clubman 350 | Pre 55 | |
| 1st – David Hebb | 1st – Stevan Radakovic | |
| 2nd – Sebastian Perez | 2nd – Paul Stephen | |
| 3rd – Brian Riley |
Race 2
Dan Jackson was not going to be denied, a well-deserved win after getting a right wiggle on, especially through those dreadful chicanes as early pressure from Matt Hebb could not be sustained, Jackson pulled away, then, with one lap to go the rampaging Higlett, snuck through to take second at the flag from Hebb, Perkin and a closing Ian Bain. Angela Cragg’s form continued over from the first race taking clubman 500 honours from the stylish Nick Bedford, followed by young Sebastian’s father Seb Perez, not at all confusing, but whilst on the subject, young Seb had a very slow get off his 350 leaving Jack Hebb to cruise home for max points. In the pre-55 Brian Riley kept his Domi racer green side up to take the win as his other class competitors both suffered DNF’s.
Photo © PJ Motorsport Photography
Saturday evening had the usual presentation malarkey / jokes making smiles also encouraging rapturous applause presenting the amazing Ian Bain hand made trophies. Then followed by a terrific team effort B-B-Q. With no reports of food poisoning the tactic of cremating the sausages / burgers and anything else that moved must have worked with folk digging deep to donate a few quid to our crook riders, thank you for that, very generous. Ian Bain’s performance producing ready to cook charcoal in minutes from a magic sustainable clear fluid was a master-stroke then with bellies full and a good night’s sleep we were really blessed awaking to Sunday which really was a Sun-day!
| British Championship | Clubman 500 | |
| 1st – Dan Jackson | 1st – Angela Cragg | |
| 2nd – Graham Higlett | 2nd – Nick Bedford | |
| 3rd – Matt Hebb | 3rd – Seb Perez |
| Clubman 350 | Pre 55 | |
| 1st – David Hebb | 1st – Brian Riley |
Race 3
Matt Hebb, this time made the running for the first couple of laps before being overhauled by that man Higlett, who, after passing Jackson laid down a few very fast laps to take Hebb and the lead which he held to the flag. Hebb once again, held off Jackson as long as he could, before relinquishing second position but holding off a determined Ian Bain to keep the last podium position. Mark Taylor deserves mention for fifth overall after making up 15 places from his last position start.
Photo © PJ Motorsport Photography
In six overall and first in class was clubman 500 supremo Angela Cragg who once again did enough to keep Nick Bedford, Andy Glasgow and Stuart Tonge at bay. In this very competitive Clubman class, Ian Austin rode really well to keep Seb Perez, Gordon Russell and Simon Hocking behind, one of many tight little groups throughout the field. The 350s once again had Jack Hebb give young Sebastian Perez valuable riding instruction as once again Brian Riley took the Pre-55 maximum points.
| British Championship | Clubman 500 | |
| 1st – Graham Higlett | 1st – Angela Cragg | |
| 2nd – Dan Jackson | 2nd – Nick Bedford | |
| 3rd – Matt Hebb | 3rd – Andy Glasgow |
| Clubman 350 | Pre 55 | |
| 1st – David Hebb | 1st – Brian Riley | |
| 2nd – Sebastian Perez |
Race 4
Fast gating Ian Bain had a flyer from the start but Dan Jackson had other ideas, slipping past an ailing Bain as his overworked wrists cried enough! Jackson then dialled in a fast rhythm leading to the flag rounding off another cracking weekend for the series points leader. Higlett must be chuffed as he once again rode his heart out but this time Jackson had this one in the bag, although Graham’s weekend brought him a very healthy haul of points.
Photo © PJ Motorsport Photography
Matt Hebb should be really pleased with himself as once again the current 500 clubman champion showed he has British championship pace with classy safe fast riding display. Nick Bedford finally got his reward for some great rides, taking the clubman 500 honours from Seb Perez in second with a battered and bruised Angela Cragg in third – Angela knocking herself black and blue on her new Honda two-stroke NSR in a previous race and to actually be out walking wounded and racing with us merited her the ‘Norton rider of the Weekend ‘ award. In the 350 class, young Sebastian Perez took another lesson from wily old fox, Jack Hebb, although the ‘pupil’ is getting closer and Jack better watch is back from now on!
| British Championship | Clubman 500 | |
| 1st – Dan Jackson | 1st – Nick Bedford | |
| 2nd – Graham Higlett | 2nd – Seb Perez | |
| 3rd – Matt Hebb | 3rd – Angela Cragg |
| Clubman 350 | ||
| 1st – David Hebb | ||
| 2nd – Sebastian Perez |
To summarise
I don’t think any of us expected much from Darley Moor, but the Lansdowne community is a tight knit group that in the face of adversity made the most of what could’ve been quite a lacklustre meeting turning it into one of the best. With a few of our regulars off injured the slightly reduced grid produced some great racing and some great socialising. The next meeting is at one of our favourite circuits, Donington Park, and so I feel it would be rude not to include another barbecue but this time you’ll have to bring your own food. Finally thanks go to the CRMC, marshals and medical staff at Darley Moor on for their professionalism and keeping us safe. See you at Donny.
