Report: British Classic Motocross Championship - Blencarn
By TMX Archives on 29th Jun 16
The competitors for round three of the British Classic Motocross Championship journeyed north to Blencarn, near Penrith, on Sunday.
The occasion; the revived Cumberland Classic Grand National meeting organised by the go-ahead Cumbria Classic MCC. The rain, forecast for late afternoon, duly arrived but not in great quantities. The entry of 120-plus solos included most (but not all) of the leading contenders for the series.
Aaron Graves made his long journey from rural Essex well worthwhile by winning both Pre-65 championship races. The brothers Bell from Scotland proved to be the main opposition and kept in contention throughout, with Chris Colins having his best ride in the series so far not far adrift.
The first Pre-74 race was a really tight affair between Tim Dallaway and Kris Winder. Cumbrian Winder was conceding at least 250cc to the dashing Devonian Dallaway, but they were separated by just a few lengths throughout the race. Winder got by on one occasion, but made a mistake and Dallaway, using the superior power of the BSA wisely, retook the lead never to be headed again.
The second Pre-74 race had drama right at the start.
Going into the first corner Dallaway crashed heavily. By the time he was up and ready to race the pack had disappeared. Cue a marvellous comeback by Tim – he remounted and in a really determined ride was soon mopping up the back markers.
At the end of the 15-minutes plus 1-lap race he was up to third place but Keith Rice and Kris Winder were a ‘bridge too far'. Winder was comfortably in charge, and Rice, another long distance traveller from Essex had his best ride to date, chalking up the fastest lap of the day in the classic contingent.
Mark Fulton stamped his class on the Twin-Shock (Pirates) line-up. He recorded three wins from three starts. Gary Parker, Alan Bott and Paul Chiappa gave him a run for his money but there was no doubt about who was in charge.
Among the Twin-Shock (Bandits) only Rod Spry could claim the required consistency. Gordon Forbes won the first leg but thereafter he failed to finish.
Greg Speed also chalked up a hat trick in the Pre-68 Up to 350cc class with local club stalwart, Steve Dent, second on each occasion. And Kris Winder nearly managed the same feat in the Pre-75 Over 250cc class with a 2-1-1 card to put him top of that particular pile.
Aaron Grave and Liston Bell rejoined their championship rivalry in the Pre-68 Over 350cc class. This time Liston came out on top with two wins and a second place (57 points) to Aaron's DNF, a second and a win (37 points).
Splitting them was yet another Essex man and Aaron's travelling partner, Nick Archer, who popped up with a consistent second place and two fourth places (43 points).
The Cumberland Grand National – open to Pre-65, Pre-68 and Pre-75 machines – run over six laps for the Mike Barnes Shield, was a slightly depleted event.
By this time the drizzle had set in, time was winding on and many riders had started their long journeys home. Local man, Kris Winder, was not one of them and he took the award and the cash. Neither was Aaron Graves, Liston Bell and Keith Rice, for they filled the next three places.
Results
AMCA CDB British Classic Motocross Championship
Pre-65 – Race One: 1 Aaron Graves (500 BSA), 2 Liston Bell (650 Triumph Metisse), 3 Chris Collins (500 BSA), 4 Lewis Bell (600 Jawa), 5 Graham Miller (500 Triumph) 6 Mike Barnes (500 BSA).
Race Two: 1 Graves, 2 Lewis Bell, 3 Liston Bell (500 BSA), 4 Collins, 5 John Pickering (500 Jawa), 6 Steve Dent (350 BSA).
Pre-74 – Race One: 1 Aaron Graves (500 BSA), 2 Liston Bell (650 Triumph Metisse), 3 Chris Collins (500 BSA), 4 Lewis Bell (600 Jawa), 5 Graham Miller (500 Triumph), 6 Mike Barnes (500 BSA.
Race Two: 1 Aaron Graves, 2 Lewis Bell, 3 Liston Bell (500 BSA), 4 Chris Collins, 5 John Pickering (500 Jawa), 6 Steve Dent (350 BSA).
Twin-Shock Bandits: 1 Rod Spry (500 CCM), 2 Paul Layland (250 Husqvarna), 3 Adan Hodgson (250 Maico).
Twin-Shock Pirates: 1 Mark Fulton (480 Honda), 2 Gary Parker (???), 3 Alan Bott (490 Maico).
Pre-60: 1 Steve Jackson (650 Tribsa), 2 Mike Bell (500 BSA Gold Star), 3 Robert Twigg (650 Tribsa).
Pre-68 Up to 350cc: 1 Greg Speed (350 BSA), 2 Steve Dent (350 BSA), 3 Josh Hulbert (350 BSA).
Pre-75 Up to 250cc: 1 Keith Murfin (Suzuki), 2 Ben Weaver (Honda), 3 Derek McCauley (Bultaco).
Pre-78: 1 Carl Hodgson (440 Maico), 2 John Iddon (250 CZ), 3 Chris Woodward (250 Honda).
Pre-75 Unlimited: 1 Kris Winder (250 Honda), 2 Keith Rice (380 CZ), 3 Jacob Isherwood (360 Bultaco).
Pre-68 Over 350cc: 1 Liston Bell (650 Triumph Metisse), 2 Nick Archer (500 BSA), 3 Aaron Graves (500 BSA).
Clubman: 1 Dave Godley (600 MABSA), 2 John Fullerton (500 Yamaha), 3 Richard Hulbert (250 Greeves)/
Cumberland Grand National (Mike Barnes Shield): 1 Kris Winder (250 Honda), 2 Aaron Graves (500 BSA), 3 Liston Bell (500 BSA), 4 Keith Rice (380 CZ), 5 Jacob Isherwood (360 Bultaco), 6 John Fleming (380 CZ).
Twin-Shock Handicap (Mike Tallentire Shield): 1 Ryan Glendinning (490 Maico), 2 Terry Kennedy (500 Rotaco), 3 Euan Johnson (490 Maico), 4 Trevor Guy (490 Maico), 5 Gary Parker (???), 6 Lee Bateman (500 Honda).
