With one of wettest winters and early springs for many a year this must be one of the latest starts to Clubman Championship ever! Round 1, scheduled to have taken place on Easter Monday, was cancelled due to wet weather but now the wait is finally over. Diss MCC are hosting what is now the first round of the championship at Wattisfield Hall on 19th May.
For the last few years this championship has produced some exciting close racing with the title not being sealed until the final round. The entry list of 26 sidecar teams for this round include six out of last years top ten finishers. The other entries include some experienced teams, some with a change of passenger but there are also some novice riders for this year and others who are unknown quantities!
So far this season there has only been four other events where the teams could have competed and not everyone has been able to take all those opportunities for a variety of reasons. So on paper it looks like the title could be taken by anyone but Nick Bowers and Pete Batt, who finished runners up last season, will have their sights on the top spot. Both are experienced, having ridden for many years, and are starting their third season together. Third place went to the Pannell brothers, Steve and Chris, who narrowly missed out on the runners up position due to mechanical problems at the final round and will undoubtedly be aiming for the title. Arthur Walton took fourth place last year and with his new passenger Faye Barnes will be endeavouring to climb higher. The other 3 teams from last years top ten have not changed. Dave Millard with Paul Bishop in the chair, Wayne Delves and Darren Elcocks who are making the long journey up from Cornwall, and Stephen Parr and his young passenger Josh Haynes. All three will be hoping to move up the standings this season and there will be no lack of trying of any of them.
The action starts with practice at 10.30 and racing gets underway at noon. The programme not only includes the British Clubman Sidecar Championship, incorporating the Eastern Centre Taffmeister Sidecars but a round of the solo NGR series and solo Allcomers classes. All this can be seen for £7 with OAPs and children only £3.
The track at Wattisfield Hall, Wattisfield is approx 10 miles from Diss; post code IP22 1NX
See you all there for some exciting sidecar action.