The penultimate round of the Darley Moor Motor Cycle Road Race Club Championship, on Sunday 16th September, had an additional sparkle last weekend with several National Superstock and Grand Prix stars mixing it with the regular competitors. Team Green Kawasaki/G&S Racing competitor Jonathon Howarth and Buildbase BMW rider Lee Jackson were getting in some additional practice in readiness for the forthcoming ‘Stars at Darley’ meeting on 7th October 2012. Former Sidecar World Champions Ben & Tom Birchall used the Practice session and first sidecar race to ‘run-in’ a new engine in their outfit.
The first race of the day was the Peak Cup, with Howarth taking the victory from Danny Smith 2nd, 2012 Champion Jim Hodson 3rd and Jackson 4th. In the second encounter the regular Darley competitors showed they were not going to be upstaged by their National Championship rivals, Hodson leading from the flag with Smith in close pursuit. While Hodson was able to stay out front, Smith succumbed to the pressure from Howarth mid-race, but managed to overtake him again on the final lap to take 2nd place, with Jackson 4th.
All four riders were also involved in a thrilling Open Solo battle Hodson, Smith and Howarth separated by less than 1 second throughout the first race. Ending with Hodson taking the win, from Smith 0.3sec behind, Howarth a further 0.6sec back in 3rd and Jackson in 4th. The second race was only slightly less frantic, Howarth taking the win from Jackson, who had a race long battle with Smith, who lead in the early stages, but had to settle for 3rd at the flag. Hodson was left watching the action after he failed to finish lap 1.
Gary Dangerfield staked his claim on the Formula Darley title this weekend taking ‘flag to flag’ victories in both races. It may have gone down to the final Round after Phil Johnson finished 2nd in the first encounter, but after not making the start of the second, Dangerfield’s victory took his points tally out of reach.
Racing alongside the Formula Darley machines Jordan Rushby and Keenan Armstrong continued their battle for 2nd place in the Formula 125 class. With Armstrong taking the class win on the final lap in the first encounter, but Rushby was able to keep him at bay in the second to ensure the Runner-Up spot in the Championship will be decided at the Final Round.
In the ‘Up to 500cc’ class Tim Sayers had an excellent meeting, mixing it with the larger machines and taking two comfortable class victories, whilst Robert Garmory could only manage 3rd place in both, allowing Sayers to go to the head of the Championship, by just 1 point.
Richard Wardle took victory in the first Formula 600 race and with it the Championship title, but only after Rob Hodson, who had lead on track, was given a 10sec penalty for jumping the start, which dropped him back to 4th place. Brother Jamie was elevated to 2nd and Phil Gibbon (St Helens) 3rd. The closest finish of the day was in the second Formula 600 race, Rob ensuring he made a clean start and taking the win by just 0.25sec from Gibbon, with Jamie in 3rd.
In one of the closest Championships, the Sound of Thunder class, the top 3 were separated by just 4 points going into this round. Steve Hill was another rider to take flag to flag victories, taking him from 3rd in the standings to the head of the table. Original leader, Chris Gardner took two 3rd places, behind Neil Addy on both occasions, dropping him to 2nd, whilst Martyn Green failed to finish the first race and was 8th in the second, dropping him down to 3rd in the standings.
Racing alongside the Sound of Thunder machines and with the absence of his nearest rival, Gary Dangerfield was able to claim his second title of the day in the Mini Sound of Thunder class, taking both class wins on his machine and 5th place in the combined results. Ben Crowe was the second ‘Mini’ machine home on both occasions, which takes him closer to the Runner-Up spot in the Championship.
Anthony Porter lifted the Pre Injection 600 class title, although there was a determined challenge from Jon Skelson. After following Porter home in the first race, Skelson needed to win the second and his rival suffer a ‘dnf’ to be in with a chance of the Championship going down to the final Round. He sealed the required victory, by a comfortable 12seconds, but Porter suffered no bad luck and came across the line in 3rd place.
In the Steel Framed 600 class Dean Ephgrave and Steve Price were separated by just 1 point at the start of the meeting. Championship leader Ephgrave was forced to settle for 2nd place in the class, after Price showed his determination by taking the win. It went from bad to worse in the second encounter with Ephgrave failing to finish Lap 2, allowing Price to capitalise and take a second victory, which hands him a 10 point lead.
As could be expected Grand Prix stars, Ben and Tom Birchall took victory in the first Sidecar race, lapping over 2secs quicker each lap than the rest of the field. Anthony Eades/Iain Greensmith on their 1000cc outfit were 2nd, whilst Howard Baker/Mike Killingsworth, the first of the 600cc machines, 3rd and Roy Hanks and Julie Hanks-Elliott, 4th on another 600cc outfit. With their engine run-in the Birchall’s did not take to grid in the second race, leaving Ray Thomas/Neil Aslaksen, to take the race win ahead of Eades/Greensmith, 2nd, getting the better of Baker/Killingsworth, on the first 600c machine and Hanks/Hanks Elliott, 4th once more. Lionel Sifleet took victory in both Long Circuit Racing Kart Club races, with son Aaron taking 7th in the first and 3rd in the second encounter.
With the huge variety and age of machines entered into the Thunderfest event a race is obviously going to favour the larger more modern machinery, but the winner of Thunderfest doesn’t have to be the fastest. The winner was the competitor who, after a practice session and one 8 lap ‘race’, could predict their own speed for ‘Race 2’ which was a 17 lap session. Amazingly, Rick Quilan on a 900cc Honda was within 0.21sec of his prediction.
Also taking flag to flag victories in both Pre98 races, Ian Morgan lifted the ‘Up to 1300cc’ class title. Jon Skelson finished 2nd in both races and with the absence of Paul Townley and Alex Gallemore, it then The final Round of the Championship will be the Stars of Darley meeting, on Sunday 7th October 2012, with a practice day on the Saturday.
Saturday Practice will be between 10.00am – 5.00pm, with an Untimed practice for Stars competitors between 2.00pm – 3.00pm. On Sunday practice will start at 10.00am, with Timed practice for the Stars races scheduled for approx. 11.15am and the first race at 12.00 noon.
Entrance admission on Saturday; Adults £6.00, Senior Citizens £3.00, kids under 16 free. Sunday admission; Adults £15.00, Senior Citizens £8.00, as always parking & paddock transfer free, with Programmes £3.00.
Advanced tickets are available from www.darleymoorstore.co.uk at a special rate of £13.00 (Senior Citizens £7.00) for the Sunday, £5.00 (Senior Citizens £2.00) for Saturday. As always, there will be plenty of space for camping/caravanning over the weekend, from Friday afternoon through to 10.00am Monday morning at just £5.00 per night.
Championship standings (After 7 Rounds)
Peak Cup
1st Jim Hodson, 123pts; 2nd Danny Smith, 52pts; 3rd Richard Wardle, 35pts;
Open Solos
1st Jim Hodson, 97pts; 2nd Danny Smith 57pts; 3rd Jamie Pearson 30pts;
Open Sidecars
1st Anthony Eades/Iain Greensmith, 96pts; 2nd Ray Thomas/Neil Aslaksen 79pts; 3rd Kenny Howles/Marc Maier, 6pts
Lightweight
1st Adam Hoare, 54pts; 2nd David Taylor, 24pts; 3rd Wez Pearce, 19pts
GP125
1st Ricky Tarren, 69pts; 2nd Kane Hudson, 36pts; 3rd Lee Shallcross, 31pts
Formula 600
1st Richard Wardle, 84pts; 2nd Phil Gibbon, 48pts; 3rd Rob Hodson, 45pts
Formula Darley
1st Gary Dangerfield, 103pts; 2nd Phil Johnson, 67pts; 3rd Ben Crowe, 30pts
Formula 125
1st David Carson 81pts; 2nd Keenan Armstrong, 54pts; 3rd Jordan Rushby, 52pts
Formula 600 Sidecars
1st John Shipley/Ian Cunliffe 80pts; 2nd Simon Horton/Melvin Gasson, 48pts; 3rd Roy Hanks/Julie Hanks-Elliott 40pts;
Steel Framed 600
1st Dean Ephgrave 86pts; 2nd Steve Price 76pts; 3rd Ben Hunter 47pt
Pre Injection 600
1st Anthony Porter 84pts; 2nd Jon Skelson 64pts; 3rd Stu Riley 42pts;
Mini Sound of Thunder
1st Gary Dangerfield 89pts; 2nd Phil Johnson 55pts; 3rd Ben Crowe 49pts
Sound of Thunder
1st Steven Hill 63pts; 2nd Chris Gardner 57pts; 2rd Martyn Green 48pts;
Pre 98’s (up to 500cc)
1st Tim Sayers, 69pts; 2nd Robert Garmory 68pts; 3rd Wez Pearce 29pts
Pre 98’s (up to 1300cc)
1st Ian Morgan 93pts; 2nd Paul Townley 48pts; 3rd Jon Skelson 30pts