The Auto 66 UK Northern Clubmans Championships come to Donington Park on Sunday June 2nd. This Championship includes all race classes, but unfortunately the meeting clashes with the Isle of Man TT where a lot of members are competing, especially the sidecar competitors, which has resulted in the club deciding not to run the Sidecars at Donington. However the circuit will see some special action, with three races devoted to the Superkarts, with over 40 competitors in each race. Action at Donington commences at 9.00am with practice, with the first of 16 races at approximately 11.00am.
In the big race Keith Pringle looks favourite on his 1000cc BMW but will no doubt come under pressure from Mick Goodings on the 1000cc Honda CBR, another man to watch at the event is Hill climb specialist Dave Ward on his 1200cc Kawasaki
Oliver's Mount is the next stop, with the Barry Sheene Race Festival on 15th & 16th of June. This meeting caters for modern racing machines as well as Forgotten Era and Classic machines.
There will also be parades on both days organised by the Benelli owner Club, who will provide a good display of machines, also the Yorkshire Coast British Motorcycle Club.
The main parades of the weekend will be the Auto 66 race machines which include the 1974 ex Phil Read GP winning 500cc MV Agusta, the machine is now owned by Dave Bedlington, who is no stranger to Oliver's Mount Circuit, Mick Grant will wheel out his ex works Suzuki plus a number of local riders from the past including Dave Davies from Beverley, John Mould from Hull, Dave Kenyon from York and ex sidecar Mick Hudson also from York, all of whom were very well known in the old Carnaby Raceway days. Mick will turn his hand from sidecar to solo to ride his beautifully prepared 1964 Honda RC164. In the older machine category, the Rhodes family will be on hand with a good selection of Velocette machines
The parades are well over subscribed and the club are still sorting through the entries as we go to press
The modern race classes are designed to encourage newcomers and give the normal mid field riders a chance of appearing on the podium, Riders include Jamie Coward, Dave Bell, Mike Minns, Jamie Hamilton, James Cowton, Phil Harvey, Mick & Mark Goodings, Keith Pringle, just to mention a few.
Gates open at 8.00am each day with practice from 9.30am followed by 2 parades before lunch with the first race at 1.00pm both days. Admission is £20 each day for adults, accompanied children 15 and under and parking is free.
The Benelli and Yorkshire Coast Club will have displays in the Bikers Village area of the main car park. The bar in this area will be open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights where there will be a disco on Friday and live music on Saturday, this facility is open to race weekend ticket holders only. Tickets can be purchased on the gate on arrival as can camping and caravan tickets.
Further information is available on the Auto 66 website: www.auto66.com.