Stairway to Devon
By TMX Archives on 14th Mar 11
The second round of the Luscombe Suzuki Leeds British Sidecar Trials Championship was held on Saturday starting from The Welcome Stranger Inn, at Bickington, near Newton Abbott, in cloudy Devon, organised by the West of England Motor Club.
Pictures: Terry Crabtree
After a frosty start the sun soon broke through onto the 21 Sidecars. Robin and Sam Luscombe, Peter Dale/ Barry Pocock and Ali and Amelia Haigh had a good start at this first round on the mainland, as the opening round was held on the Isle of Man where all three classes were won by Manx Crews, the only Mainland Crew to get a 20-point start were newcomers David Nourish/ Andy Wright on their ex-Walter Bullock 270 Yamaha.
This year was the second time the Andy Cheeseman Trial has been run as a British Sidecar Championship and at 10am the first riders, David Nourish/ Andy Wright, were away on their Yamaha followed by the first of the Clubman riders Paul Churchill/ Kevin Parnell.
The first group of four sections were at Rentor which didn't seem to cause any problems.
The second group at Downclimb were as the name suggests, steep climbs and drops, the first double sub here was hard for the early numbers, but got harder still when the leaves were moved leaving the section offering no grip.
Sections seven and eight here took fives, again with lack of grip. David Nourish/ Andy Wright, the first crew through, did manage to find some grip when they did not need it, looping the bike and snapping the back mudguard. Andrew Jewell/ Shane Sandercock also had a five in the same place as did Allistair Allan/ Nick George.
The second part of this section took marks on a gripless climb out of a leafy bowl, here fives were recorded for Karl Jarvis/ Bob Chapman and Michael Jewell/ Graham Clark.
The last section in this group also took a five off David Tuck/ Steven Chandler.
After Downclimb came Wooton with four sections and six sections at Torenewton where Andrew Jewell/ Shane Sandercock retired when the frame of their Gas Gas broke.
Section 23 saw a good ride from David Tuck/ Steven Chandler which very fast down the second part of it. Section 24 saw good rides and cleans came from Phil Sparkes/Roger Tuck, Mick Treagus/ Steve Gould Ali and Amelia Haigh, and Mark Kemp/ Ian Allaway but the best ride down the hill on two wheels came from Daryl Dale/ Harriet Shore.
Section 25/26 was a very tight section between trees and up a rocky climb, with fives for all the Intermediates Class riders.
In the Expert Class Robin and Sam Luscombe looked to be the best on three marks, until Lee Granby/ Les Ashby arrived. Lee's long legs spun the bike round to get out for just two dabs, then the last crew through Rupert and Chris Kimber also managed a two.
Sections 26, 27 and 28 were relatively easy compared to the rest, but fives were recorded on section 28 for Tristan Jenkin/ Carl Jenkin after they tried to ride it solo and it failed. The other five was Lee Granby/ Les Ashby, after a good ride on section 25 Lee and Les stalled on the level.
The next groups were Oxenham's, Holbeam, Vaughts and just four sections at Sam's Pit, all four steady sections taking very few marks.
A good trial organised by clerk of the course Andy Cheeseman and his team.
With two British Sidecar Championship Trials in two days, some bike maintenance had to be carried out on Saturday night ready for the Colin Dommett Trial on the following day starting at the Star Inn, Vogue, near Redruth, Cornwall, organised by the Camborne and Redruth MC.
The weather for the second day was cold and cloudy but no rain. At 9.30am the list of 26 starters were away, first away again was the only Newcomer David Nourish/ Andy Wright on their 270 Yamaha.
A cold four-mile ride down the road led them to group one, where six sections awaited on a cold windswept hillside of gorse, rocks and bracken, where most of the riders sat in a hole out of the cold wind.
While waiting their turn, sections one and two was a tight right round a rock, over more rocks, a sharp right, then more dry rocks.
Numerous riders had fives on the first two sections, then newcomers David Nourish/ Andy Wright struggled through for a five and a three, then Clubmen Michael Jewell/ Graham Clark managed a one and a five. Paul Churchill/ Kevin Parnell were the first riders to clean both sections.
Sections three and four on the same hillside turned out a little easier for the Clubman and Intermediates with the first double cleans coming from Phil Sparks/ Roger Tuck, Michael Jewell/Graham Clark and Mark Kemp/ Ian Allaway. The same section for the Experts caught Rupert and Chris Kimber for a five and a clean, whereas Robin and Sam Luscombe and Lee Granby/ Les Ashby had no such trouble.
Sections five and six saw a one, five for Lee Granby/ Les Ashby and a clean and a two for Robin and Sam Luscombe and Rupert/ Chris Kimber.
Sections 27 and 28 at group four were relatively easy, crossing the stream, then a muddy climb, most riders had cleans except for Mick Treagus/ Steve Gould who stalled on the level, then Tony Crabtree/ Jamie Howe who hit the bank hard with the sidecar wheel lifting the back wheel off the ground for a five.
Sections 29 and 30 at the same group, saw a clean-three for Ali & Amelia Haigh on the tree roots but the majority had cleans.
Then at the last group which had nasty rocks in a quarry bowl, fives were recorded for Daryl Dale/ Harriet Shore with Harriet being catapulted down the bank. Cleans were recorded here for David Tuck/ Steve Chandler, and a three and a clean for Mick Treagus/ Steven Gould.
The last two double subs here were a different kettle of fish with high scores, Daryl
Dale/ Harriet Shore had a five on both 37 and 38 as did Tristan Jenkins/ Carl Jenkins, but Mick Treagus/ Steven Gould got two cleans.
Peter Dale took a five in section 37 getting his leg trapped between a rock and the bike then cleaning section 38.
On the hard route Steve Radford/ Mike Redston struggled for a two-one, Tony Crabtree/ Jamie Howe took a five when dropping the back wheel into a hole then took a dab in section 38. Rupert and Chris Kimber also had a five-one then Robin/ Sam Luscombe and Lee Granby/ Les Ashby both had a three on section 37 and a one on section 38.
It was another brilliant day for the Colin Dommett Trial, and the Cambourn and Redruth MC.
Thanks must go to Robin Luscombe and Luscombe Suzuki Leeds for helping the clubs who try to promote Sidecar Trials.
The fourth round of the Luscombe Suzuki Leeds British Sidecar Championship will be the DK Mansell Trial on April 2.
LUSCOMBE SUZUKI LEEDS BRITISH SIDECAR TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIP
Rd 2 – Andy Cheeseman
Trial (West of England MC)
CHAMPIONSHIP SIDECAR: Robin Luscombe/ Sam Luscombe (290 Craigs Beta) 7 marks lost, Rupert Kimber/ Chris Kimber (Beta Stick) 8, Lee Granby/ Les Ashby (300 Gas Gas) 38.
SERIES STANDINGS after 2 (of 10) rounds: 1 Luscombe/ Luscombe 37 points, 2 Kimber/ Kimber 32, 3 Knight/ Molyneux 20, 4 Granby/ Ashby 15, 5 Adi Smith/ Aar Smith 13, 6 Kelly/ Baxter 11, 7 Flowers/ Smith 10.
INTERMEDIATE SIDECAR: Peter Dale/ Barry Pocock (270 Beta) 6 (fc) marks lost, Steve Radford/ Mike Redston (250 Beta) 6, Tony Crabtree/ Jamie Howe (TrialsOutlet Sherco) 18, Daryl Dale/ Harriet Shore (300 Gas Gas) 24, Tristan Jenkin/ Carl Jenkin (270 Beta) 49.
SERIES STANDINGS after 2 (of 10) rounds: 1 P Dale/ Pocock 32 points, 2 D Dale/ Shore 30, 3 Radford/ Redston 20, 4 Bimson/ Owen 20, 5 To Crabtree/ Howe 15, 6 Owen/ Caine 13, 7 Jenkin/ Jenkin 11, 8 Lace/ Lace 11.
CLUBMAN SIDECAR: Phil Sparkes/ Roger Tuck (300 Wessex Beta) 7 marks lost, David Tuck/ Steven Chandler (300 Wessex Beta) 13, Mark Kemp/ Ian Allaway (250 JAM Scorpa) 18, Ali Haigh/ Amelia Haigh (250 Montesa) 21, Chris Guppy/ Sara Carter (Sherco) 23, Mick Treagus/ Steve Gould (Gas Gas) 28, Mike Jewell/ G Clarke (270 RCM Beta) 31, Andy Scrivens/ Martin Lawford (Montesa) 40, Paul Churchill/ Kevin Parnell (270 Treen Beta) 42, Karl Jarvis/ Bob Chapman (JAM Scorpa) 43, Alistair Allan/ Nick George (250 Beta) 68.
SERIES STANDINGS after 2 (of 10) rounds: 1 D Tuck/ Chandler 27 points, 2 Haigh/ Haigh 24, 3 P Sparkes/ R Tuck 20, 4 Haynes/ Haynes 20, 5 Treagus/ Gould 18, 6 C Baxter/ Caine 17, 7 Kemp/ Allaway 15.
NEWCOMER SIDECAR: David Nourish/ Andrew Wright (Yamaha) 130 marks lost.
SERIES STANDINGS after 2 (of 10) rounds: 1 Nourish/ Wright 40 points.
NEXT ROUND: March 6 – Colin Dommett Trial (Camborne Redruth & DMC).
LUSCOMBE SUZUKI LEEDS BRITISH SIDECAR TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIP
Rd 3 – Colin Dommett Trial (Camborne=Redruth & DMC)
CHAMPIONSHIP SIDECAR: Robin Luscombe/ Sam Luscombe (290 Craigs Beta) 16 marks lost, Rupert Kimber/ Chris Kimber (Beta Stick) 37, Lee Granby/ Les Ashby (300 Gas Gas) 59.
SERIES STANDINGS after 3 (of 10) rounds: 1 Luscombe/ Luscombe 57 points, 2 Kimber/ Kimber 49, 3 Granby/ Ashby 30, 4 Knight/ Molyneux 20, 5 Adi Smith/ Aar Smith 13, 6 Kelly/ Baxter 11, 7 Flowers/ Smith 10.
INTERMEDIATE SIDECAR: Tony Crabtree/ Jamie Howe (TrialsOutlet Sherco) 22 marks lost, Steve Radford/ Mike Redston (250 Beta) 25, Peter Dale/ Barry Pocock (270 Beta) 38, Daryl Dale/ Harriet Shore (300 Gas Gas) 39, Tristan Jenkin/ Carl Jenkin (270 Beta) 45.
SERIES STANDINGS after 3 (of 10) rounds: 1 P Dale/ Pocock 47 points, 2 D Dale/ Shore 43, 3 Radford/ Redston 37, 4 To Crabtree/ Howe 35, 5 Jenkin/ Jenkin 22, 6 Bimson/ Owen 20, 7 Owen/ Caine 13, 8 Lace/ Lace 11.
CLUBMAN SIDECAR: Phil Sparkes/ Roger Tuck (300 Wessex Beta) 2 marks lost, David Tuck/ Steven Chandler (300 Wessex Beta) 5, Gareth Andrew/ Keith Morcom (JAM Scorpa) 11, Ali Haigh/ Amelia Haigh (250 Montesa) 19, Shaun Jenkin/ Phil Highland (320 Gas Gas) 20, Chris Guppy/ Sara Carter (Sherco) 29, Paul Lawer/ Carl Jenkin (280 Gas Gas) 31, Mark Kemp/ Ian Allaway (250 JAM Scorpa) 32, Paul Churchill/ Kevin Parnell (270 Treen Beta) 33, Mick Treagus/ Steve Gould (Gas Gas) 34, Mike Jewell/ G Clarke (270 RCM Beta) 45, Alistair Allan/ Nick George (250 Beta) 48, Colin Lawer/ ??? (250 Beta) 50, Andy Scrivens/ Martin Lawford (Montesa) 52, Karl Jarvis/ Bob Chapman (JAM Scorpa) 67.
SERIES STANDINGS after 3 (of 10) rounds: 1 D Tuck/ Chandler 44 points, 2 P Sparkes/ R Tuck 40, 3 Haigh/ Haigh 37, 4 Treagus/ Gould 24, 5 Kemp/ Allaway 23, 6 Guppy/ Carter 21, 7 Haynes/ Haynes 20, 8 C Baxter/ Caine 17, 9 Scrivens/ Lawford 16, 10 Andrew/ Morcom 15, 11 Bedford/ Bedford 15, 12 M Jewell/ Clarke 14, 13 Churchill/ Parnell 14, 14 Moore/ Davidson 13, 15 Jenkin/ Highland 11.
NEWCOMER SIDECAR: David Nourish/ Andrew Wright (270 Yamaha) 132 marks lost.
SERIES STANDINGS after 3 (of 10) rounds: 1 Nourish/ Wright 60 points.
NEXT ROUND: April 2 – DK Mansell Trial (South Birmingham MC).