Through the Key hole...
By TMX Archives on 4th Jun 09
TROPICAL temperatures and an entry of 120 riders, including most of the best on the classic scene, greeted visitors to the second of the Bath club's classic scrambles of the current season at Yatton Keynell.The occasion - the first round of the Classic Dirt Bike' British Classic Scrambles Championship which also included round two of the Pat French Memorial Cup for Pre-60 and Pre-Unit machines. Not for the first time Andy Roberton dominated affairs, although he had his work cut out in the two championship races when the combined efforts of Adrian Cox and Carl Pope made for some tremendous racing which the large crowd applauded generously at the end of the Championship event, the origins of which came at the start of race one.
Andy Roberton got left at the start of race one, victim of a gearbox that kept slipping into neutral. No problems for Carl Pope, Dave Bell and Ady Cox, though. They set the early pace with Carl in command and looking unbeatable.
Ady Cox moved into second place on lap three of the ten-lap race sitting just behind the leader. And Scott Hayworth, seventh at the end of lap one, moved up to grab third place from Dave Bell on lap six.
Further back, the large crowd were watching the progress of Andy Roberton who had been caught up in a first lap skirmish on a particularly grassy corner.
Laying 23rd at the end of an eventful first lap was the cue for another amazing Roberton recovery. At the end of the halfway stage he was up to seventh place and at the finish fifth, with the BSA still popping into neutral at the most tricky times.
There was no stopping Ady Cox, however. Getting closer and closer to leader Carl Pope he timed his move to perfection.
Starting the last lap Ady passed Carl on the outside with a tremendous surge of speed - barring accidents, there was only one winner now.
Race two had three different leaders and Andy Roberton on his 350. Carl Pope led for the first four laps, Ady Cox for the next two. Then, for the final four, most important circuits, it was Andy Roberton in charge.
Elsewhere in the programme the Pat French Memorial Cup contest was a triumph for Phil Edwards. Second to Dave Bell in the first leg, he won the second leg, with Dave in second spot, to get the verdict. Current leader Martin Coleman was third overall.
Dave Bell had the satisfaction of winning the Pre-60 class from old rival Martin Coleman and newcomer, David Dunn. Bell aced both legs, while Messrs Coleman and Dunn shared second and third places, Martin getting the nod by virtue of a better second leg result.
Andy Roberton continued his winning ways with both legs of the 350cc class. Tim Dallaway did likewise in the Unit class in the absence of Ady Cox and Carl Pope.
Steve Slade did full justice to the Fluff Brown Cotton to take both legs of the 250cc class and Rich Warner was much too rapid for a big Pre-74 field, winning both legs and then adding the Under 40 race to his spoils.
The long, hot day was rounded off with Andy Roberton (still on the 350) winning the Grand Slam. By then many (riders and spectators) were heading for home but the charity of choice for the club, the Dorothy House Hospice, will have done well from the proceeds.
2009 British Classic
Scrambles Championship
Rd 1 – Yatton Keynell (Bath Classic MCC)
British Classic Scrambles Championship Race One: 1 Adrian Cox (500 Avery BSA), 2 Carl Pope (500 Cheney BSA), 3 Scott Hayworth (500 Cheney Jawa), 4 Dave Bell (500 ABS Jawa Metisse), 5 Andy Roberton (500 Cheney BSA), 6 Tim Dallaway (500 BSA Victor), 7 Barry Jukes (500 BSA Victor), 8 Chris Collins (500 Cheney BSA).
British Classic Scrambles Championship Race TWO: 1 Andy Roberton (350 Cheney BSA), 2 Adrian Cox, 3 Carl Pope, 4 Scott Hayworth, 5 Barry Jukes, 6 Tim Dallaway, 7 Dave Bell, 8 Paul Lippitt (441 BSA Victor).
Pat French Memorial Cup: 1 Phil Edwards (650 Triumph Metisse), 2 Dave Bell (500 ABS Jawa Metisse), 3 Martin Coleman (650 MT Tribsa), 4 Ady Matthews (650 Triumph Metisse).
Pre-60: 1 Dave Bell (650 ABS Tribsa), 2 Martin Coleman (650 MT Tribsa), 3 David Dunn (600 Royal Enfield).
Pre-68 Unit Construction: 1 Tim Dallaway (500 BSA Victor), 2 Roger Dunford (350 Faber BSA), 3) Richard Toghill (500 Triumph Metisse).
Pre-65 up to 250cc: 1 Steve Slade (250 Cotton), 2 Daniel Welsby (250 Cotton), 3 Richard Hall (250 CZ).
Pre-65 up to 350cc: 1 Andy Roberton (350 Cheney BSA), 2 Roger Dunford (350 Faber BSA), 3 Mick Beech (350 BSA).
Pre-74: 1 Richard Warner (380 CZ), 2 Gerard Copping (250 CZ), 3 Andy White (500 BSA).
Clubman: 1 Gordon Adsett (380 CZ), 2 Dave Simpson (650 Triumph Metisse), 3 Jeremy Winn (400 Suzuki).
Workers Race: 1 Richard Toghill (500 Triumph Metisse), 2 Luke Winn (500 Triumph Greeves), 3 Steve Salmon (250 Greeves).
Riders Under 40: 1 Richard Warner, 2 Scott Baker (441 BSA Victor), 3 Daniel Welsby.
Riders 41-50yrs: 1 Rupert Copping (360 CZ), 2 Mike Hill (441 BSA Victor), 3 Tim Austin (650 Triumph Metisse).
Riders Over 51-yrs: 1 Andy Roberton, 2 Phil Edwards, 3 Martin Coleman.
Grand Slam: 1 Andy Roberton, 2 Phil Keen (380 CZ), 3 Scott Baker.
Roger Powell resorted to a sidepipe 380 CZ – his normal mount, a 250 Twinport, in pieces in the garage.