Report: Red Marley Hill-Climb
By TMX Archives on 30th Mar 16
Overnight Easter Sunday and Monday the West Midlands was battered by Storm Katie. Gale force winds, heavy rain and snow combined to turn parts of Walsgrove Farm, Great Witley, the home of the Red Marley Classic Hill-Climb, into a quagmire.
However, by the time racing started the storm had passed and the course was beginning to dry out. Not enough to break Carl Pope's hill record, but sufficient to guarantee some close racing. And best of all was local man, Tom Crump. Tom, aboard a functional Jawa was outstanding, winning everything except the All-stars Invitation. He was a reserve for that class because a trip to Australia made him a late entry.
This year regular Up to 350cc class winner, Ian Bain, was promoted to the All-Stars. In his place came Paul Munslow. Second in the class last year, Paul made no mistakes this year winning every climb convincingly.
In the final he had keen opposition from Mitchell Harris, Colin Hickie and John Dallaway but the latter's day ended in a crash at the top of the hill.
The Over 350cc class (excluding riders invited into the All-Stars) was a Tom Crump triumph. No drop-outs from the All-Stars so Tom was confined to the class and he made the most of it, going through to the final unbeaten from the bottom half of the draw, while John Cash and Alan Harris did likewise from the top half.
In Crump final he won convincingly from classic scrambler John Cash, George Newman and Alan Harris, aboard one of the few two-strokes to make it all the way to a final.
Ever-ready to make the programme more competitive (and interesting) the Red Marley club introduced another innovation this year. The Allcomers class (including those from the All-Stars) was split between Under 50 and Over 50, with each group having its own final. After the age-related finals were run, the first two riders in each competed in the grand final for ‘King of the Hill'.
In the Under 50 class, Tom Crump and Richard Williams made it through to the final from the top half of the draw – Tom unbeaten, while Richard had to give best to Ricky Pedder twice along the way before winning the decisive semi-final.
The bottom half of the draw had Jim Shand and Ian Bain victorious, but they were no match for the Crump and Williams expresses in the final.
The Over 50 class, Red Marley regular, Carl Pope, and Maico-man Mark Grinnall made it to the final from the top half of the draw, with record holder Carl unbeaten.
In the bottom half, despite the best efforts of Steve Dent on his 350, a couple of veterans went through to the final – Phil Edwards and Roger Dunford. Edwards won twice along the way but Dunford had the upper-hand when it mattered.
Into the Grand Final with four riders whose ages extended from 21 to 66. On this occasion the youngesters, Crump and Williams prevailed.
The All-Stars Invitation class looks destined to be a Red Marley feature for the future.
Popular with most (but not all) it pits 16 riders with the best Red Marley records against each other.
Each rider is drawn against his rivals at least once, giving a total of five rides with points awarded, three for first place, two for second and one for third.
The top eight go through to the semi-finals. They were:– Tim Dallaway, Richard Williams, Ricky Pedder, Carl Pope, Jim Shand, Dean Howells, Keith Barnes and Leigh Owen.
Tim Dallaway and Carl Pope (in that order) emerged from the first semi-final. And Richard Williams and Ricky Pedder from the second. No Tom Crump, but plenty of talent to make real competition.
Richard Williams and Ricky Pedder had several close finishes with Williams usually getting the upper-hand when it mattered. However, this time Pedder, aboard the Phil Edwards Triumph Metisse, made it count. Just 1.07-secs separated the four riders – the closest finish of the day and the second fastest climb.
The winner received the SB Trophy, a huge cup awarded for the first time. Such an expensive piece of silverware, it remains with the club alongside the other historical awards that commemorate a great event – one of the best in the classic calendar.
Results
Up to 350cc: 1 Paul Munslow (BSA), 2 Mitchell Harris (BSA), 3 Colin Hickie (BSA), 4 John Dallaway (BSA).
Over 350cc: 1 Tom Crump (500 Jawa 21.29 secs, 2 John Cash (500 BSA) 23.81, George Newman (600 BSA) 24.13, Alan Harris (380 CZ) 24.62.
Allcomers Under 50: 1 Tom Crump, 2 Richard Williams (500 BSA), 3 Jim Shand (600 BSA), 4 Ian Bain (345 Greeves).
Allcomers Over 50: 1 Carl Pope (600 BSA), 2 Roger Dunford (500 BSA), 3 Mark Grinnall (400 Maico), 4 Phil Edwards (650 Cheney Triumph).
Grand Final (Allcomers combined): 1 Tom Crump 20.91, 2 Richard Williams 21.35, 3 Carl Pope 21.81, 4 Roger Dunford 24.50.
All-Stars Invitation: 1 Ricky Pedder (650 Triumph Metisse) 20.79, 2 Richard Williams 21.08, 3 Carl Pope 21.67, 4 Tim Dallaway (500 BSA) 21.86.
Winner Len Vale-Onslow Trophy (King of the Hill): Tom Crump.
Winner Silver Helmet (fastest time on day): Tom Crump 20.72 secs.
Red Marley HCC (Trial)
The build up to the Red Marley Hill Climb revolves around Sunday's trial, which this year attracted around 70 entries.
There was a course of 15-sections, which had to be ridden three times and the hazards were spread around the venue in three different groups.
Although they were in different classes, three riders were in contention for the premier award – Ben Butterworth, Chris Collins and Ben Millichap.
They were all riding very different machines; Butterworth a 500 Ariel; Collins a 270 BSA; and Millichap a 185 Bantam.
Ben Butterworth went and grabbed the win, losing 12-marks even after losing a five on the last hazard of lap one. He stong armed the HT5 around some of the twisty subs and found plenty of grip in the muddy hazards alongside the road.
All three roders had comfortable class wins with Kevin Taylor runner-up in the Pre-Unit class on his Royal Enfield. Jack Butterworth was second in Class B and Martyn Stanistreet likewise in Class A.
Obviously a good day for the Butterworth brothers, with Jack's Triumph sounding a treat on then hillsides.
The Clubman's class was well supported and the overall scores looked as if the sections were spot on.
Section ten was one which caused a few problems, however. A long wining ditch followed by a rutted climb at the exit. If riders got drive out of the stream it was OK, but if not they had to prepare for a bit of legging.
Mick Parkes was actually best here with two cleans and a dab but overall Mick had to settle for third in the class. Paul Houghton grabbed the win from Steve Gollins. Both lost 19 marks but Houghton won by virtue of the most cleans.
RESULTS
Class A: Ben Millichap (BSA Bantam) 18 marks lost, Martyn Stanistreet (James) 38, Colin Leese (BSA Bantam) 43, Nigel Randall (BSA Bantam) 45, Alan Miles (BSA Bantam) 75, Darren Cooper (James) 76.
Class B: Chris Collins (BSA) 16, Jack Butterworth (Triumph) 46, Gary Hawkins (BSA B40) 68.
Class C: Paul Houghton (Triumph Cub) 19, Steve Gollings (Villiers) 19, Mick Parkes (BSA Bantam) 22, Peter Hampton (BSA Bantam) 26, Phil Clarkson (Triumph Cub) 26, Mick Clarkson (James) 30.
