Nick Bowers and Pete Batt are the 2013 SMCA British Clubman Sidecar Champions. Nick had a little help from Michael Franks at the last round at Frome as passenger Pete was unavailable. Nick and Pete team had decided to hang up their boots at the end of this season and what a better way to bow out especially taking the title at Nick’s local track!
The good old English weather played its part in curtailing the last block of racing at this the final round at Asham Woods when heavy rain lashed the track. With the dry weather of late the rain washed away the top layer of wet soil leaving rocks and slate exposed which in the experienced Clerk of the Course’s view would be a danger to riders. Jim Webb has been with the Frome MCC for well over forty years and in all that time the club have rarely cancelled any meetings but unfortunately this season has been one which will be remembered as one of those times. This final round of the championship was a replacement for the meeting at Easter which was also cancelled due to a waterlogged track and pits. Jim had to make the decision to cancel the last block of racing although he did give the riders the chance to have their say and if enough wanted to go out then he would allow them the chance but not enough spoke up in favour and the day ended early. This didn’t change anything at the top of the standings however as after race 2 Bowers/Batt couldn’t be caught.
Bowers/Franks got a quick start for race 1 taking the holeshot but Steve/Chris Pannell, as second in the championship going into the day’s event and with points to make up, were close behind them. It didn’t however look like it was going to be their day once again when they went missing on lap one. It transpired they had clipped the back of Paul Pelling/James Georges and unfortunately the bike stalled and it took them some time to restart. It wasn’t long before Pelling/Georges caught and passed Bowers/Franks; from there on they didn’t allow anyone to get the better of them and crossed the line as winners. Behind them Jonathon Pannell/Darren Bishop began to chase bringing Stephen Parr/Josh Haynes and Arthur Walton/Faye Barnes with them. A battle ensued between the three before some of the non-clubman riders came into the mix. Rob Oldfield/John Murch, Ross Bowers/Guy Eastman and Andy/Tim Breacher, none of whom were eligible to score points, split the trio with Chris Etheridge, who had borrowed Jack’s bike and passenger, Scott Grahame, on the back of them. The next clubmen were Wayne Delves/Darren Elcocks and with only one point separating them from the clubman team ahead, Walton/Barnes, were desperate to catch and get by but it wasn’t to be. Pannell/Bishop briefly disappeared but came back into sight and finally finishing sixth.
Race 2 saw Bowers/Franks once again in the lead rounding the first corner with everyone very close behind them. Pelling/George slipped into second with Parr/Haynes in third and Pannell/Pannell in fourth. It wasn’t until lap 4 that the lead changed when Pelling/George finally made their move to take the front spot and on lap 6 Parr/Haynes bumped Bowers/Franks down to third. Disaster struck once again for Pannell/Pannell when they were forced to retire with a puncture. Pannell/Bishop and Walton/Barnes were split by Breacher/Breacher and Etheridge/Grahame but weren’t too worried knowing the other teams couldn’t score any points! Etheridge/Grahame moved themselves up passing the two clubman teams ahead but couldn’t quite catch Team Breacher. Delves/Elcock had the same determination as in race 1 and this time made sure they overtook Walton/Barnes. Both teams however got the better of Pannell/Bishop on the last lap to take fourth and fifth places. Behind this group Roger Blackman/Eric Maguire moved their way through the pack to finally cross the line as seventh clubman having passed the young brothers team of Danny/Lewis Gray and began to pull away. Out front Pelling/George once again took the flag as winners with Parr/Haynes second and Bowers/Franks in third. Third was no disappointment to Bowers as by then he knew his lead in the championship was unassailable and the title was his and Pete Batts.
The rain then made its move by lashing the track and spectators! The second twinshock sidecar race got underway during the deluge and it was a surprise that that the lap scorers could read anyone’s numbers! The competitors finished the race reporting that the bottom of the track was dangerous where the rain had washed away the soil and polished the rocks. It was at this point that the decision was made to abandon the second block of racing.
Report and photos
Ann Reynolds