Yorkshire Classic heads for the hills - report
By Team TMX on 1st Feb 19
After a dry week 35 riders approached the Nab End quarry venue above Sowerby Bridge, Caldervale, West Yorks, to be greeted by a sunny but icy day.
Disappointingly only a handful of riders turned up on Pre-unit machinery at the Neil Anderton and Mick Culf-set course as several club members had made their way south to the Talmag Trial.
Johnny Cooke took advantage on his excellent Ariel and took top spot with a brilliant ride to top the blue riband Pre-Unit Springer class, losing only three marks.
The just for fun Non-competitive class saw several experts turn up with Rob Shepherd (Bantam), Tony Calvert (Cub) and Robin Luscombe (Cub) all staying penalty free.
As always ties go in favour of the oldest rider giving Rob the win. Steve Thomas, Nick Jefferies and Lee Sagar on their Bantams lost only one mark apiece and the tie was again used to sort the finishing order.
The first two sections were old favourites. A steady uphill approach crossing over and between large rocks didnt trouble the Experts and sole Rigid Machine rider Ike Myers (AJS) did well to drop just two dabs here.
The smaller rocks on the camber of section two took more marks as it was exposed to gusts of wind. The more sheltered section three looked harmless enough, but the succession of climbs and drops took its fair share of marks.
Section seven turned out to be the biggest mark taker of the day: starting on the coal debris of a recent Bronte film set, the riders headed across rocks to a sharp downhill left turn that dropped them to a sharp right over more jumbled rocks.
The run to the exit over a deceptive slab took more marks and Paul Jackson was lucky not to damage himself or his Velocette when he took a heavy tumble. Cooke lost the first of his three here and Thomas his sole dab.
The weave through the big rocks at section nine is always treated with great respect and the start climb past a sharp boulder took several dabs.
The drop to the finish needed special care as Phil Kendrew found out when his handlebars twisted forwards causing the engine to rev and Phil to be deposited in the adjacent heather having missed the ends cards.
RESULTS
Class A - Pre-Unit Springer: Johnny Cook (Ariel) 3, Geoff Walker (Ariel) 24, Paul Jackson (Velo) 30.
Class B - Pre-Unit Rigid: Ike Myers (Ariel) 22.
Just for Fun (Non-Competitive): Rob Shepherd (Bantam) 0, Tony Calvert (Cub) 0, Robin Luscombe (Cub) 0, Steve Thomas (Bantam) 1, Nick Jefferies (Bantam) 1, Lee Sagar (Bantam) 1.
