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The 9th and I0th rounds of the championship were held at the weekend meeting at Darley Moor on the 31st July and 1st August and got an entry of 25, the best we have ever had for a Darley meeting. The first race was 6 on the programme and when it got underway it was the 1300 class machines of Steve Cave, Clive Wadey and Rob Eley who soon pulled clear, eventually finishing in that order. This being his fist time out using what was essentially a standard GSX1100 motor after having had so much trouble with the highly modified motor he had been using. In 3rd it was the first 750 of Michael Baillie just ahead of Barry Swailes both on GPZ750, Following them it was the CB750 of Andy Charlesworth. Pete Boyles followed him on the GSX750 that he had recently acquired from Keith Chambers and he was in turn clear of Steve Cundell. This was Steve's first meeting of the year after having a bit of a problem getting weekends off work a problem eventually solved by changing jobs. Following him it was Chris Lynas who was out with us for the first time with us on a GSX1100. This looks like he won't be doing any more meetings with us and for everyone's information didn't score championship points as he's not a paid up member of the club. Paul Sperry was the next to finish just ahead of Terry Davies both on GPZ750s. Following them it was the first production machine, the X7 of John Turner followed by the production GT500 of Rob Thorpe. Cass followed him home she finding it very difficult to put any weight on her left hand, a bit awkward with the amount of braking from high speed needed at Darley. Rob Patterson was close behind her and he was followed by Richard Insall who was still having problems with his RD250, it having the somewhat annoying problem of the ignition just randomly shutting down. The cure being to just hit the kill switch off and on which appears to reset the system. Mind you he nearly didn't get out in the Earlystocks race as somehow he had managed to enter the forgotten era event. Luckily they let him change to the Earlystocks event and even change his race number to his usual 261. They did however make him go through scrutineering again. Pete Mabberley was the next to finish he being ahead of John Hardwick. Phil Underwood was the next to finish he being ahead of Peter Gnosill who was followed by Richard Digby and Darren Wood who were both out for the first time on Suzuki 750s. Darren was on a GS while Richard was on a GT750. This clearly had a more than a few teething problems including dare I say it a water leak that were to keep him busy over the weekend. The second race was 18 on the programme and as it turned out for a lot of people it was a repeat of the first race. Clive Wadey got the better of Steve Cave this time but behind them the first change from race one was Terry Davies finishing in 9th. Behind him it was Chris Lynas followed by Paul Sperry. The GT of Richard Digby was running a bit better this time and he was next to finish. He was followed by John Turner, Cass and Richard Insall. Rob Thorpe followed them home and he was in turn just ahead of Rob Patterson. John Hardwick got to the finish this time he being ahead of Phil Underwood and Michael Burrows. He was in turn ahead of Peter Gnosill and Darren Wood. On Sunday the weather was still holding out, just like Saturday, but there were a few changes to who were running. Chris Lynas had gone home while Richard Insall had intended to head off home early on Sunday. It was a bad move to stay on the Saturday night and it was gone dinner time before he could even think about heading home. Taking their places were Adrian Sanders and Colin Young. The first race was as regards the first seven finishers the same as race one on Saturday. Adrian Sanders had been up there until his RD400 seized just as he shut off for Paddock corner so it was left for Terry Davies to make the first change from Saturday as he took 8th place. Colin Young followed him home and he was followed by Paul Sperry and Cass. Just behind her was John Turner followed by Pete Mabberley and Rob Thorpe. Rob Patterson was once again less than a second behind him and he was followed home by John Hardwick. Phil Underwood was the next finisher he just getting the better of Michael Burrows following Michael it was Pete Gnosil and Darren Wood. Sometimes it is difficult to remember exactly who didn't finish and why but one that 1'm quite sure about is Steve Cundell who had quite a spectacular off exiting Paddock bend. It wasn't as bad as it looked and in fact he managed to get out for the second race. In the second race it was the 1300s of Clive Wadey, Steve Cave and Rob Eley who took the first three places in that order but then there was a bit of a change as in 4th it was the Suzuki GT750 of Richard Digby who had started at the rear of the grid having failed to finish the previous race. It's performance made quite a few sit up and take notice especially those in the 750 class. Perhaps other circuits would make more demands on its unbraced frame 19 inch 90 section front tyre 130 rear and single disc, they hope so. Then came Barry Swailes, Mick Baillie and, following an engine change, Adrian Sanders. Andy Charlesworth followed him home and he was in turn ahead of Pete Boyles, Terry Davies and Colin Young who was in turn just ahead of Steve Cundell After them came Paul Sperry followed by Cass and John Turner. He was in turn followed by Rob Thorpe and John Hardwick who were ahead of Pete Mabberley. Phil Underwood was the next finisher just clear of Alan Butler behind him was Rob Patterson whose RD400 decided to play up. Rob was in turn ahead of Pete Gnosil and Darren Wood. Steve Bailey. |