Round 5 2025 – Donington

If Carlsberg made race meetings they would copy our Donington meeting ! What a corker.

Always a Lansdowne favourite, the Donington Festival hosted by the CRMC was a belter with our’s a full grid of forty pilots, good weather and a great atmosphere, what’s not to like?

Open pipes an option ensured noise a-plenty together with hard fair racing provided a stunning spectacle for the sun-drenched fans. 

The troops assembled ready to post a qualifying time in the combined practice session, Mark Taylor set out his stall a whisker ahead of a very determined Mike Russell 0.02 of a second between them as Jake Dettloff and Justin Keen continued their battle for the 500 Clubman honours Jake a smidge ahead on time to take P6 with Justin P7. The 350’s saw Seb Perez Jnr continue his improvement over Mark Harrington and the entertaining Torsten Busch. A large Pre-55 contingent had evergreen Richard Hann blasting his Triton into P20 followed by BSB pilot Luke Hedger P25.

Down to business…

Race 1

Mean green Mark Taylor with no messing led from start to finish, Russell gave his all for 5 laps sniffing the green man’s hydrocarbons before the relentless pace or monoxide poisoning was too much, the lead stretched to the flag. Numero uno Dan Jackson gave his best as always but it wasn’t Dan’s weekend and he had to settle with a classy third. The scolding hot Clubman competition between Keen and Dettloff continued with Keen riding his socks off after a poor start with a couple of laps to go to get past hard riding Robin Stokes, then pass Glen English and Dettloff on the last lap was a seriously good ride with Stokes taking third. Seb Perez Jnr just held off Torsten Busch at the line, Torsten made his way through to finish literally a cat’s whisker behind Seb but was more than happy to collect the runner up trophy at the presentation with the ever-smiling Mick Baldwin in third pretty much the polar opposite on the podium (see photo) :). Top of the Pre-55’s was Sam Bennett on his Wonderful Norton International, a real hard ride saw Sam improve by eleven places and land on top step of the podium from ex motocross nutter Richard Hann with Stevan Radakovic keeping the Goldstar name shining bright in third. Derek Bunning and Brian Riley has a good battle and were hard to separate at the finish, wily old fox Derek just ahead at the flag.

Race 2

Is there no stopping Taylor? Mark’s dominance this year has been so impressive, and he’s so nice with it, with Russell again giving chase but to no avail the spoils once again to Kermit Taylor! Just behind Tony Perkin was embroiled in his own battle with Jake Dettloff and Glen English, Jake and Perky throwing hand gestures at each other mid battle, I indicated he was going to finish second whist he indicated I was going to finish first?  I out-braked him into the last corner and held it to the line! I took third whist Jake took the Clubman win. Keen took second from gorgeous Alex Williams, he of the warbling tonsils. Of note, Seb Perez Snr had a cracking ride making up eleven places just in front of Luke Bailey who made up twenty seven places ! that’s some going by both of them. The 350’s was also oh so close, young Seb is getting good at doing just enough to get over the line a fraction ahead of Mark Harrington and Torsten Busch making for the most popular podium poser’s photo’s of the weekend. Sam Bennett had a right battle with Simon Hocking, Richard Dawson, Jimmy May, Richard Hann and Stuart Tonge, this little pack traded places through the race and reminded us all why we do this mad sport, a great demonstration with Sam taking Top Pre-55 spot once again from Hunky Hann and the delightful Harry Cole placed third on his Triumph T110.

Race 3

This time Mike Russell was determined, all those years’ experience would be thrown at this one, the Kermit’s going to be put in his place! Mark Taylor took the hole shot, Mike was on him, lap two Mikes past but Mark is right with him and never more than a spit behind, Mark lines him up on the last lap and like a shot he’s past, a last push to the finish has the preverbal fag paper between them, what a race, terrific skills on show. Just behind I’m having my own battle with that man Jake and BSB Super-stock rider Max Symonds, a tight move by Max into Macleans got my gander up and after catching a good draft down the back straight into the last corner I hauled the brakes on at the last minute, literally and sailed past them both just holding the line and bouncing valves to the finish it was close. Jake was happy with first Clubman from Robin Stokes and Seb Perez who was involved in the cracking Angela Cragg, Alex Williams, Richard Dawson, Andy Glasgow and Stuart Tonge fisticuffs’ mid pack! Welcome Mr Hose pipe, Mike Hose once again enjoyed riding in the Lansdowne, a classy rider much missed of late.

In the 350’s Seb Perez Jnr once again showed a dominant performance riding at a pace unmatched by second placed Mark Harrington as unfortunate Torsten Busch was involved in a start line mishap that saw our very likeable German friend on the sidelines. The Pre-55’s was without Sam Bennett as his gearbox decided to return to its individual components at the start line incident, both riders ok. This left Harry Cole to take the honours from Jack Hebb and the wonderful Neil Allman. Of note, it was great to see Andy Glasgow out on his 4 stroke again after racing abroad for most the season on his two strokes and getting right in the middle of the action like he’d not been away.

Race 4

Rarely, every blue moon somebody special comes along with drive and natural talent, He really knuckles down, trains, loses weight, studies the tracks over and over, he’s hungry to win and he’s backed by a fantastic enthusiast in Andy Astley, Mark Taylor is that man and he’s going to be hard to beat and so it turned out in the final race, we are all going to have to up our game next season to stand a chance, but for now it is just great to witness and well done Team Oakdeane.

In second after a trademark strong race was Glen English, a top class rider who also praised Mark Taylor for his pace ahead of third overall and first clubman Mr Jake Dettloff who had Max Symonds and myself breathing down his neck, with Robin Stokes and Seb Perez filling the next two Clubman podiums. Flying round on his pre-war Norton CS1 was Ian Bain, an incredible bike and rider surprising many on his girder fork wonder bike. Richard Ellis and Sam Rhodes were having a great weekend sorting out machine gremlins, NOT ! but as  frustration turned to fun they both put in strong performances in the end. The 350’s Dominant force was Young Seb Perez, bravo ! Seb pushed on for another win leaving Mark Harrington to scrap with Ken Perch a manageable gap behind. Richard Hann put together another great ride to take the pre-55 win from Harry Cole and Jack Hebb.

Today’s through the visor; Dan Jackson’s perfect lap:

Redgate (Turn 1) The lap starts on the main straight. I’m braking hard for Redgate, the slowest corner on the lap. I use the pit lane exit as my visual marker, but the real key is a late apex. The goal isn’t to be fast through the corner itself, but to get a great drive out. A good exit here is crucial for the fast section that follows.

Hollywood and the Craner Curves (Turns 2-3)  This is the best part of the track. You’re heading downhill and the bike feels like it’s taking off. It’s a high-speed, right-left-right sequence that demands total commitment. You have to be incredibly smooth on the throttle and with your lean angle. Oxford English dictionary states ‘screen-biter’= a rider who keeps the throttle cable stretched from top to bottom of Craner Curves ! Get it wrong, and you’re off the track and inducted into the “Craner Club.”

The Old Hairpin (Turn 4) After the rush of the Craner Curves, you’re still on a downhill section heading into the Old Hairpin. This is a quick right-hander. The challenge is to not run too wide on the approach, which would kill your momentum. I aim for a late apex so I can get on the power early and carry my speed onto the next straight.

Starkey’s Bridge and McLean’s (Turns 5-7) After a short straight, you’re at Starkey’s Bridge, a flat-out kink to the left. This leads into the blind, uphill right-hander of McLean’s. I use a marshal post as my turn-in reference point. It’s easy to overshoot the apex, so a good line and an early turn-in are vital. A strong exit here sets you up for the run up to Coppice.

Coppice (Turn 8) Coppice is another corner that’s crucial for a good lap time. It’s an uphill right-hander with a blind entry, so you have to know your line perfectly. The apex is late, and getting on the throttle early is key to maximizing speed onto the long back straight.

Goddards (Turns 9-10) The final corner, Goddards, is a tricky chicane. I brake hard after the long back straight and turn in just as the circuit crests. The trick is a tight first apex and a shallower second one. This sets me up for a perfect drive onto the start/finish straight, and a good exit here is essential for a fast lap time.

Donington Park’s National Circuit is all about elevation changes, contrasting corners, and the thrill of getting the Craner Curves just right. It’s a track that rewards precision, commitment, and a smooth riding style ideal for our 1950/60s Grand Prix machines.

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What a great event, thank you to all involved in making this happen both on the track, at the B-B-Q and live music night. To the CRMC for their professional performance, the medical staff and Marshalls we salute you. A massive thank you to Andy Astley and Neil Allman for dragging the hospitality trailer around and Mark Harrington for servicing it. Special thanks to Sally and Gordon Russell, Andy and Sheila Reynolds for looking after us. Louise Perkin and Gill Tonge for just loads of stuff. Last of all a great big hug to all the sponsors of Lansdowne and individual riders… We need you! See you at Brands, let’s finish this season with another big entry on the re-surfaced Brands Hatch, entries are open now,

Cheers

Perky