On Bank Holiday Sunday May 1st the newly formed Dalton Grasstrack Club are hosting The Barracks Bonanza and the eagerly awaited return to the sport’s iconic venue of Dalton Barracks near Abingdon, Oxfordshire.
For many years, the North Berks Club held annual events there attracting large crowds enjoying some thrilling racing, until sadly the last one was run there back in 2001. Many of the country's current top riders are entered and there will even be a handful or so that were racing at that 2001 event. There are three classes doing battle, 500cc Solo’s, Upright Solo’s and also the 1,000cc R/H Sidecars.
Amongst the 500cc solo’s entry is a new name to many but local lad Nathan Stoneman will be known to the avid speedway followers, and he will be joined on the grass by another Oxford teammate Arran Butcher. Zach Wajknecht, James Shanes, and the experienced pair of Andrew Appleton and Paul Hurry who have thirteen British Masters titles between them will start as the favourites and the young stars Chad Wirtzfeld and Jake Mulford are certainly going to push them hard, plus there are many others capable of winning on the day.
The Upright solo class always produces close racing and there are 18 starters. Worcestershire’s Tim Curnock will no doubt feature well, but the likes of Tony Atkin, Mark Taylor, Jason Prynne and Australia’s Rod McDonald will also have aspirations. Atkin also competes on a 500cc solo and is one of those who rode there in 2021.
The third-class racing is the mighty 1,000cc Right Hand Sidecars, ‘The Big Chairs’. 18 of these will fight it out for the honours. The reigning British Masters champions Mark Cossar/Gareth Williams from Rugby will be the obvious candidates for top spot, but they won't have it all their own way. Colin Blackbourn/Carl Pugh, and Rob Bradley/Hayden Maude will no doubt have something to say on who stands where at the end of the day. You can also add the young pairings of Cornwall's Thomas and Dillon Newton, Kent’s Robbie Simmons/Bradley Atkinson, Matthew Fumarola/Andi Wilson and Paul Whitelam/Richard Webb. Clint Blondel & Jordan Smith are making their way over from Jersey again hoping to show well. All of the outfits should relish the big track. The club’s founder and Chairman Mike Austin and his passenger Vinny Branch will be hoping to continue their improving results this season.
Trackside parking is available, and there is hot & cold food, a public bar, and toilets on site. Entry is £18 for adults, with kids 16 and under in for Free! Free camping is available on site after 3pm on April 30th only. Practice is 10.15, Riders Parade 12.15 and the first race is at 12.30. It’s a great day out for all the family for what should be a fantastic spectacle of powerful and exciting entertainment.
Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead at all times.
The entrance gate for the event is off Honeybottom Lane, Dry Sandford, Abingdon, OX13 6BX. Follow the orange signs from all the major routes. Note this is not the entrance that was used back in the day. There are other things happening at the MOD base on the day, so the public are asked to please stay within the area's allocated for the Grasstrack only, there is more than enough space for plenty of parking. Thank you and please enjoy your visit and the days racing.
Photos courtesy of Mark Mitchell