Wednesday May 24, 2006 at 12:00am
Along with the Worcester club, Leamington are heading for a revival of big time grass track in the Midlands which at one time was hot bed of talent and good quality events.
The club is predominately renowned for its trials events – dominating the Midland Centre Trials competition for the last few years. The club is being careful to find their feet before getting too ambitious but after the purchase of the venue want to ensure that it is utilised for the benefit of grass track in general.
The Best Pairs is a unique grass track event when teams of two solo’s or sidecars compete together and this year it has attracted a quality entry. 1000cc Right Hand sidecar class - defending champions Rob Wilson and Nick Owen team up with Myles Simmons and Kevin Woodley in an all Suzuki powered pairing. They will receive tough competition from other fast teams of drivers like Duncan Tolhurst and Paul Whitlam, Ivor Matthews and Gary Jackson, Colin Blackbourne and Rod Winterburn, Rob Bradley and Peter Lloyd. The “Young Guns”, drivers Matt Fumarola and Mark Cossar with passengers Andy Wilson and Hayden Bend make up a very good team.
Both crews started the season well at this venue and will be hoping to cause an upset amongst the more experienced competitors. International 500cc sidecar class - current British champions Shaun Harvey and Danny Hogg team up with Nick Radley and Craig Mathison. Local crew of Tony Starke and Peter Bell from Malvern partner Scott Francis and Paul Fisher from Worcester and will make a strong local challenge.
Francis and Fisher were in the runner up team at last years championship. Lester Goodwin many times a British champion has Anthony Goodwin in the chair and joins with Shaun Chick and passenger Neil Pocknell for his attempt to win the 2006 Best Pairs title. The defending champions Tony Cooke/Terry Greenfield return with Simon Beard/Stuart Supple to defend the Best Pairs title, which they won together in 2005.
In addition to the sidecars all classes of solo are catered for, 250, 350 & 500 cc in this ACU Championship. 250cc Solo’s - defending pairs champion Adam Shipp from Diss returns with a new partner this year making a formidable pairing with York’s David Knowles. 350cc Solos - has some up and coming talent with Andrew Whitaker and Michael Faulkner together as a pair against another youngster Charlie Saunders with Martin Williams.
As ever the fast 500 solos has attracted a number of very evenly matched pairings.
The venue, Victory Field, Banbury Road, Ashorne, Near Warwick, CV33 9QL, (OS Grid Ref SP315 591) is adjacent to B4100, one mile from junction 13 of the M40. If travelling from the North the M40 needs to be exited at junction 14.
First Race is scheduled for 1.00 p.m. with practice at 11.00 a.m.
Dawn Edwards, Leamington Victory MCC, 01277 632249, mobile 07778 178774 or e-mail Dsykesxxx@aol.com.
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