Track Preperation at Tory Hill

The first meeting of 2009, Danebury’s ‘Burnfield New Year Spinner’ saw a number of notable performances. Cornish boys Phil Syms & Gareth Bemister took the Right-hand Sidecars in front of Neal Owen & Kevin Colborne. Also in the Right-handers Paul Whitelam Junior made a driving debut with brother Ben in the chair.

Allan Morgan & Jenni Cossar take the honours

The 500cc Sidecars saw Bridgnorth based Allan Morgan & Jenni Cossar take the honours. Jenni’s brother Mark was another driver who took to the chair and also to the Open Solos. The Open solos saw both John Jeffries and Dan Berwick unbeaten in the heats with Jeffries taking the final. Other winners on the day saw Lee Cutler, Craig Drury, Darren Dew, Callan Phillips and Tom Brennan win there particular youth events with James Shanes and Ashton Webb sharing the juniors. Roger Windebank took the Quads.

March saw the Formula Club open up their season with Wrekin Speedway Challenge at Stoke’s Loomer Road. Tom Perry, Steve Mildoon, Michael Guest and Peter Boast took the four classes.

The Full Grasstrack season started a week later as Bristol hosted at St. Quinton. Tim Nobes took the Open Solo’s and Tom Perry took his second victory of the season leading Andrew Whitacker home in the 350 class. Dave Hammond had a double success as he took the Pre 75s and the Uprights.

A week later all eyes were at Somerton & District as they opened up their season. The Right-handers got their season under way with Myles Simmons & Kevin Woodley taking first place and Robbie Wilson & Colin Hill making a welcome return to the sport taking fourth spot. Other senior winners on the day were Charlie Saunders, Lewis Leah, Craig Drury, Calvin Palmer (winning both Uprights and Pre 75s 500 class) and Chris Mackett. In the Youth’s Daryl Ritchings, James Shanes, Edmund Best and Henry Atkins took the honours.

The inaugural British Track Racing Championship took to the track on 4th April at Scunthorpe’s Eddie Wright Raceway.  Victory went to Mark Cossar & Andi Wilson with Gary Jackson & Carl Blyth following them home. Ivor Matthews & Rick McAuley took the other podium place with Rod & Gareth Winterburn being the other finalists.

Cornwall hosted the following day at St. Erme with Phil Syms & Gareth Bemister once again taking the Right-handers. Jason Prynne took the Open Solo’s with Wolverhampton’s Tom Perry taking his third victory in this early part of the season.

Three meetings took place the following weekend. On Sunday Swega hosted at Harvest Hayze and Wainfleet held their first meeting of the campaign at Irby-in-the-Marsh with the Robert Chatterton Trophy and the ‘Junior Poacher’. On Easter Monday Maidstone Aces returned to Otford with ‘The Bandit’. The Swega meeting saw Rod Melksham take the Open Solos and Phil Stoneman & Roland Broomfield take the Right-handers.

Wainfleet saw Colin Blackbourn win his home meeting passengered by Shaun Simpson. Alan Morgan & Jenni Cossar took the 500cc Sidecars and the individual Solo’s went to Jamie Rodgers, Tom Perry and Adam Ship. The Junior Poacher saw victories for Oliver Greenwood in the Intermediates, Jack Cornes the Juniors, Edmund Best the Cadets and Jake Willis the Autos’.

The Bandit saw the seasons opening for the Left-hand Sidecars and Dave Penfold & Paul Randall took victory. Martin Cuff & Steve North took second with Will Penfold & Adrian North completing the podium. Other victors on the day were Tim Nobes, Bob Dolman, Gary Wells and Chris Mackett in the Solo’s. The Right-handers went to Myles Simmons & Kevin Woodley with Youth event’s being taken by Lawrence Barber and Luke Harris.

The Second Round of the Track Racing championship was ran at Plymouth the following Friday and Matt Tyrell & Mark Courtney took the honours. Paul Whitelam & Alan Elliott took the Runners-up spot with Rod Winterburn & Gareth Winterburn completing the podium.

Two days later The First European Solo semi-final took place took place at Roden in Holland, but the three British Boys Paul Cooper, Mitch Godden and Phil Ashcroft all failed to qualify for the Finals. The event was won by Germany’s Matthias Kroger

Charlie Saunders took the 500cc class

The Worcester club hosted at their new venue of Claydon. In difficult conditions Neil Taylor took the 250s, with other class winners being Dave Norris, Ian Dudley, John Jeffries, Charlie Saunders took the 500cc class. In the two Sidecar classes, the Right-handers again saw Myles Simmons & Kevin Woodley take he honours with Dave Carvill & Carl Webb taking the 500s. The Previous day had seen the Youth running at Clayton with John Dingle, Luke Harris, Edmund Best (with a double), Tom Brennan and Jake Skinner winning the respective classes.
Lancashire club were running their First Round of their club Championship at Much Hoole near Preston. Tony Atkin made another welcome return to the sport and took the 500cc class. Other senior victors were Andrew Mellish, Mark Williams and Colin Gregson. The Youth class saw Sam Stewart, Joshua Rockley, Jack Parkinson-Smith and William O’Keefe. Tim Greig, Loris Hunt and Daniel Van der Hoeven took the MX classes.

The Eastern-Centre Championship First Round was hosted by Woodbridge at Brightwell and Dave Mears the reigning champion took the 500s Solos with Richard Smith taking the 350s and Adam Shipp the 250s. Baker lead Arnie Fenner home in the Uprights and Lester Page & Steve Slaney took the Right-hands from Shaun Beaney & Dave Vidler.

The Wrekin club hosted the Formula Championship First Round at Malpass on 25 April. Seniors saw Steve Carvill take the top prize with Adrian Guest and Len Sanders finishing second and third. The Youth events saw Rocco Casale and Harry Slack top of the pile.

The following day Astra ran the ‘Champion of Champions’, Ledbury the ‘Spring Classic’ and Yorkshire ran at Upper Cumberworth with their usual eleven class event and Norwich New Stars ran a youth meeting at Frettenham. The ‘Champion of Champion’, incorporating the ‘The Phil Ambrose Trophy’, as usual ran at Swingfield, but on a slightly altered track with a tight pits corner and a wide bottom bend. The result was some close and exciting racing. Paul Hurry back after injury and on his home track took the 500 Solos with Jason Hilliard and Dewis Denham another back from injury running him close. The 350s went to Dave Mears with Richard Smith and Mark Giles also on the podium. The 250s saw some great racing with Georgie Wood coming through the pack on a couple of occasions but having stalled on the line in the final Adam Shipp took it from Paul Simmons and Paul Cooper.

Rob Bradley & Shaun Simpson

The Right-hand Sidecars saw Myles Simmons & Kevin Woodley beaten for the first time this season. Rob Bradley & Shaun Simpson ultimately took the event with Steve Smith & Dave Hogan taking with local crew Rob Wilson & Terry Saunters completing the podium. The 500 chairs was a four leg event and the father and daughter team of Nick & Abi Radley took three heats wins with runners-up Shaun Harvey & Danny Hogg taking the second round. Third on the day were Gary Southgate & Adam Young.
The Upper Cumberworth meeting had William Bratley, Anthony Worrall and Peter Wyldebore taking the seniors whilst Michael Neale, Joe Young, Edmund Best and William O’Keefe took the youths. In the four MX classes Tim Greig, James Kellett, Loris Hunt and Edmund Best led the way.

The Ledbury ‘Spring Classic’ at the Stall House went the way of Rob Finlow in the 500 Solos and led home Phil Ashcroft and Mike McLuskey whilst brothers  Mark and Neil Taylor  lead the way in the 350 and 250 classes respectively. The 500 Sidecars was again won by Alan Morgan & Jenni Cossar with Peter Lloyd & Nick Wilson taking the Right-handers. The Quads event was again taken by Roger Windebank