Monday September 10, 2012 at 4:44pm
The penultimate round of the Darley Moor Road Race Championship takes place on Sunday 16th September 2012, in addition to the regular action on two, three and four wheeled modern machinery there is the added attraction for fans of classic machinery when the Thunderfest machines take to the track, near Wyaston, Ashbourne.
Thunderfest is open to any motorcycle, road or race, built before 1978, from 50cc through to 750cc, with almost 40 riders registered there will be huge selection of machines out on track bringing the sounds of the past back to life. Although there will be a ‘Le Mans’ style start, with riders running across the track to their machine, it is not a race. After practice, the riders set their own target speed and attempt to lap the circuit for 20 minutes, as close to this time as possible, the rider nearest to their target wins. With the huge variety of machinery on track at the same time this requires a high degree of riding skill and concentration, last year’s winner managed to lap within 0.05mph of his target! Just looking through the list of local riders gives an idea of the array of machinery that will be on view;
Dan Leatherland Honda 250 Chaddesden, Derbys
Dennis Price Velocette 350 Nottingham
David Clarke Honda CB175 Halesowen, West Midlands
Martin Head Norton/BSA 650 Cotgrave, Notts
Robert Head Norton/BSA 740 Cotgrave, Notts
Tony Head BSA A65 740 Cotgrave, Notts
Phil Bootherstone Triumph 490 Burton on Trent
Rick Quinlan Honda 900 Glossop, Derbys
Martyn Hartshorne Honda 500 Swadlincote, Derbys
With free entry to the paddock there is sure to be an opportunity for fathers and grandfathers to relive the past. Of the 15 classes of machines in the Darley Moor Road Race Championship and two rounds remaining, only 4 have been decided; Jim Hodson is the Peak Cup and Open Solo Champion; Ricky Tarren, the GP125 Champion and David Carson, the Formula 125 Champion.
Amongst the remaining 11 classes there are many local competitors in with a chance of lifting their respective titles; Adam Hoare has a 30 point lead in the Lightweight Championship and needs just 7 points to ensure he cannot be caught.
Richard Wardle holds a 36 point lead in the Formula 600 class and only requires 1 point to make it mathematically impossible for Jim Hodson to tie on points.
Gary Dangerfield holds a 24 point lead in the Formula Darley category over Phil Johnson, just 13 points will hand him the Championship this weekend. Both riders are in the same position in the Mini Sound of Thunder class, but Ben Crowe also has a slim chance of this Championship, if his two rivals suffer bad luck at the remaining rounds.
Dean Ephgrave holds just a single point advantage over Steve Price in the Steel Framed 600 class, whilst 3rd place Ben Hunter is 25 points adrift of the lead and will also need both to suffer bad luck.
Anthony Porter enjoys a 22 point lead over Jon Skelson, who will need to win and Porter suffer a non points scoring ride to be able to challenge for the title at the final round. Stu Riley (Worksop) is 29 points behind in 3rd place.
One of the tightest Championships is the Sound of Thunder class with just 4 points separating Craig Gardner, 1st; Martyn Green 2nd; Steven Hill, 3rd Robert Garmory holds a 9 point advantage over Tim Sayers in the Pre98’s Up to 500cc class, whilst Ian Morgan enjoys 27 point lead over Paul Townley in the Up to 1300cc category.
How many of these local riders can secure their Championship this weekend, or will they need the final ‘Stars at Darley’ Round before they can celebrate?
The day’s action will get underway when Practice starts at 10.00am and the races due to start at approximately 11.30am. Adults £11.00, Senior Citizens £6.00, kids under 16 free, parking & paddock transfer free, with Programmes £3.00. 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 6 Rounds)
Peak Cup
1st Jim Hodson, 108pts; 2nd Danny Smith, 37pts; 3rd Richard Wardle, 29pts;
Open Solos
1st Jim Hodson, 88pts; 2nd Danny Smith 42pts; 3rd Jamie Pearson 30pts;
Open Sidecars
1st Anthony Eades/Iain Greensmith, 81pts; 2nd Ray Thomas/Neil Aslaksen 70pts; 3rd Kenny Howles/Marc Maier, 6pts
Lightweight
1st Adam Hoare, 54pts; 2nd David Taylor, 24pts; 3rd Rob Hodson, 18pts
GP125
1st Ricky Tarren, 69pts; 2nd Lee Shallcross, 31pts; 3rd Steven Lawton, 30pts
Formula 600
1st Richard Wardle, 75pts; 2nd Jim Hodson, 39pts; 3rd Phil Gibbon, 38pts
Formula Darley
1st Gary Dangerfield, 85pts; 2nd Phil Johnson, 61pts; 3rd Ben Crowe, 20pts
Formula 125
1st David Carson 81pts; 2nd Keenan Armstrong, 39pts; 3rd Jordan Rushby, 37pts
Formula 600 Sidecars
1st John Shipley/Ian Cunliffe 70pts; 2nd Simon Horton/Melvin Gasson, 38pts; 3rd Roy Hanks/Julie Hanks-Elliott 22pts;
Steel Framed 600
1st Dean Ephgrave 72pts; 2nd Steve Price 71pts; 3rd Ben Hunter 47pt
Pre Injection 600
1st Anthony Porter 71pts; 2nd Jon Skelson 49pts; 3rd Stu Riley 42pts;
Mini Sound of Thunder
1st Gary Dangerfield 71pts; 2nd Phil Johnson 55pts; 3rd Ben Crowe 37pts
Sound of Thunder
1st Craig Gardner 49pts; 2nd Martyn Green 47pts; 3rd Steven Hill 45pts;
Pre 98’s (up to 500cc)
1st Robert Garmory, 60pts; 2nd Tim Sayers 51pts; 3rd Wez Pearce 26pts
Pre 98’s (up to 1300cc)
1st Ian Morgan 75pts; 2nd Paul Townley 48pts; 3rd Alex Gallemore 25pts