Wow! what a fantastic weekend at the Bob Mac memorial meeting at East Fortune. Our first visit to this amazing event proved to be a real hit with both riders, supporters, spectators and the hosting ‘Scottish Classic Racing Motorcycle club’.
Whilst the Scottish weather either fried, drowned or blew our wigs off, the welcome from everyone was warm and enthusiastic with the organisers professional and slick even arranging a track walk. Thanks Steve Mason for pointing out many of the mistakes you made or have seen made in the past as a racer, hoping we don’t follow suit! No chance 🙂
The paddock was buzzing with Lansdowne folk doing what Lansdowne folk do, riding well and playing well, surprising many with our speed and racing prowess (felt myself swell with pride for you lot) Doh!
The superb Team Oakland big cheese Andy Astley won the prize for laughing and then his rider Kermit doing the business. Chief chuckle brother Mark ‘Kermit’ Taylor when not pole dancing led the fantastic banter from dawn till dusk abetted with Neil Allman and then scooped pole on the grid, absolute superstars and a pleasure to be around.
Champ Dan Jackson once again led his team from the front, so fast and loving the circuit, based in the Jacko ‘big top’, Jake Dettloff and Simon Hocking made it work. In fact, such was the love in the paddock Jake and Kermit could be seen showering in their budgie smugglers for all to see, with Lili holding the… shower head! Sandwiched between Jacko and Kermit was Tony Dunnell’s man, Graham Higlett, sporting the brightest under garments this side of a Maccy D’s advert. Higgy was flying, a real contender always in the thick of it on track and always wearing a smile in the paddock.
It was so good to see a few of our friends get on track including Luke Bailey, who’s haul from Penzance was rewarded with mechanical gremlins but in true spirit of Lansdowne he was able to race on a borrowed bike and showed us he has lost none of his speed. Out to enjoy some quality racing was Andy Molnar on his rapid MPL Manx 350. Andy said some kind words at the presentation and was stocked with a lot of the quality parts we need to keep racing, look at the Molnar Precision Ltd website for advice and an amazing array of parts.
Mike Russell is always a good bet for being at the pointy end and was in fine form both on and off track, feeding Alex Williams’ endless thirst for race knowledge. He’s getting notably faster just lately so obviously taking it in, with the very quick Seb Perez having his work cut out to keep Alex in check. Race machine Guru Stuart Tonge with Callum Lockie and Richard Dawson had ‘The Gordon Russell rejuvenated missile’ to contend with! Gordon’s retirement plan put on hold once again as he showed just what fifty odd years of racing looks like on track…ruddy fast.
Now then, imagine working hard all week then entering four different classes on four different bikes and still be at work early Monday morning. Take a bow Angela Cragg, Lansdowne Clubman Champ and super-fast racer, Angela was very involved in making this event happen, thank you. A few stayed at Angela’s on the Thursday night and were treated by a ‘spirited’ car trip to the pub and narrow lanes. Angela didn’t spare the horses leaving Richard Hann to boil the brake fluid in the chase and turn his passengers pale, Derek ‘Biggles’ Bunning not short on comments when destination reached, so funny.
A couple of our Pre 55’s had an interesting weekend, both Paul Stephen and Brian Riley caught out by low-speed corners with ground clearance a problem although the sight of Paul’s chicane highside resulting in an inflated air-suit was right up there with spectator entertainment. Luckily both riders were able to make repairs and were out racing again. Paul once again providing musical entertainment at the B-B-Q knocking out the tunes with his fellow warblers.
Nice to see Sam Rhodes out again, always fast especially in dodgy conditions, the trials man not adverse to a bit of slipping and sliding, also Daniel Pritchard on Terry Spencer’s Manx. An off early on saw Clubman contender Justin Keene a bit crock, missing the first two races, then racing Sunday was always going to be a tough ask, but he’s a competitive chap and will be back fast at Donny the next round I’m sure.
Our super 350 runner Jack Hebb was on fine form mostly keeping Ken Perch, James Hathaway, Young Seb Perez and the incredible Mark Harrington honest. Mark, a real hero and through his charity fund-raising, actually had a Hospital ward named after him. We are very proud of you Mark, top man.
Race 1 Results
| British Championship | Clubman 500 | |
| 1st – Mark Taylor | 1st – Jake Dettloff | |
| 2nd – Mike Russell | 2nd – Seb Perez | |
| 3rd – Dan Jackson | 3rd – Calum Lockie |
| Clubman 350 | Pre 55 | |
| 1st – Andy Molnar | 1st – David Hebb | |
| 2nd – Angela Cragg | 2nd – Brian Riley | |
| 3rd – Mark Harrington | 3rd – Richard Hann |
Race 2 Results
| British Championship | Clubman 500 | |
| 1st – Dan Jackson | 1st – Jake Dettloff | |
| 2nd – Graham Higlett | 2nd – Seb Perez | |
| 3rd – Mark Taylor | 3rd – Calum Lockie |
| Clubman 350 | Pre 55 | |
| 1st – Andy Molnar | 1st – Richard Hann | |
| 2nd – Mark Harrington | 2nd – David Hebb | |
| 3rd – Seb Perez Jnr | 3rd – Brian Riley |
Race 3 Results
| British Championship | Clubman 500 | |
| 1st – Mark Taylor | 1st – Jake Dettloff | |
| 2nd – Graham Higlett | 2nd – Justin Keen | |
| 3rd – Mike Russell | 3rd – Seb Perez |
| Clubman 350 | Pre 55 | |
| 1st – Andy Molnar | 1st – Richard Hann | |
| 2nd – Seb Perez Jnr | 2nd – David Hebb | |
| 3rd – Mark Harrington | 3rd – Alex Williams |
Race 4 Results
| British Championship | Clubman 500 | |
| 1st – Dan Jackson | 1st – Calum Lockie | |
| 2nd – Mark Taylor | 2nd – Seb Perez | |
| 3rd – Graham Higlett | 3rd – Jake Dettloff |
| Clubman 350 | Pre 55 | |
| 1st – Seb Perez Jnr | 1st – Richard Hann | |
| 2nd – Mark Harrington | 2nd – David Hebb | |
| 3rd – Neil Allman |
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Through the visor guest Seb Perez Jnr.
After missing the previous round at Pembrey and being in the run for the championship, I made the rather bold decision to bin off a holiday to compete at the famous Bob McIntyre memorial, a decision which I am extremely glad I made in the end.
Race 4
A very nerve-racking start to my first ever fully wet race after just coming round to form up and start, and then suddenly having the famous Scottish welcome send us back off the grid. When eventually we formed back up and ready to start, I didn’t really know what to expect. As we set off, I realised a tinted visor wasn’t the best option in the wet as it felt like riding through a car wash, and even worse down the straight into turn 2. As the barrage of spray hit me, Mark Harrington was still wearing the orange vest, so that was my reference into the end of the straight, where my only thought was making sure I’m ahead into it, which somehow worked.
As the pack started pulling, I had to keep reminding myself that the track will be wet and not to get too eager chasing 500s, which didn’t stick. Trying to stay on the tail of Richard Hann, I was suddenly woken back up to the sight of the front wheel of Mark’s bike on the inside going into the fast right hander of the second esses.
The battle was on once again, and as he got ahead into the hairpin, and all I could do was shake my head at my woeful defensive lines. Trying to stay calm and not lose focus, I stuck tucked in right behind Mark, and for the next couple of laps, I would get him on the inside of the 2nd corner, with him out-braking me into the last hairpin. This dance got quite interesting with Richard Hann in the mix, and at this rate knew that I’d struggle to get across the line ahead.
With the quick lads lapping us, I knew I had one more go at staying ahead through the last chicane. With Mark in front, my eyes glued to the orange vest, I once again went in front through turn 2 and from there, I just kept thinking, hold the line, hold the line. As we approached the hairpin, I went for the inside line, with Mark flying in round the outside. It was all on the exit now.
I focused on getting a good exit, Mark went out wide as I sat the bike up and grabbed a load of throttle and saw the opportunity. Side by side up to the chicane, remembering no heroics, I just pipped him on the brakes into the left hander, and kept it on the grey stuff across the line. I couldn’t help but smile under the helmet after another very close exhilarating race, right to the end.
Another fantastic weekend of racing with the best club around, and was very proud to be presented with the David Swallow Memorial trophy for most impressive rider under 30, by Bill Swallow himself, and the Newcomers cup for most impressive new comer to the circuit.
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Thank you Seb, a great insight into your race.
Well Guys we did it, a great event and one I’m sure we would like to re-visit, they loved us, and we loved them, what’s not to like?
For many Lansdowne members this event was made economically possible encouraging a superb turnout for this our fly away event with a cash back incentive from our headline sponsor Norton Motorcycles Ltd, thank you for supporting us and well done to Simon Hocking for being awarded the Norton Rider of the weekend receiving the Ian Bain handmade trophy for your determination, enthusiasm and results, congratulations.
Next up we have the Shelsley Hill Climb to give Norton a plug, in front of a different audience, Then it’s back to the championship at the superb Donington Park, get yer noisey pipes on and let’s show them what we do on the most glorious ribbon of tarmac on the calendar.
See you there!
Perky
