Sand Race Report July 2nd 2011

For the first time this season there were more cars racing then senior bikes with 2 newcomers to Vazon & a total of 5 new cars to the beach. Faye Downs was on her own in the production class up to 1400cc & the class for 1401-1800 production cars saw only 2 entrants in Karl West & Vienna le Cheminant. 3 of the new cars made up the class for over 1800 production the first time this class had been contested this year, with Darren De Carteret moving up into this class with a Hyundai 2000cc but finished the meeting with no clutch. Newcomer to Vazon Paul De Jersey (a Chouet racer) brought down a 2200cc Honda Prelude but ended his day with overheating probably caused by a blown head gasket & unluckiest was Karl Marshall in a 2 litre Toyota Celica who ended his day after the first race with no electrics. If these 3 can get their cars repaired before the next meeting they should have some close competition.

The racing car class consisted of all grass track cars with 4 of the regular drivers being joined by Nigel Ozanne in a yellow 1100cc Grass tracker which proved to be tough competition for the other cars, though misted up goggles & no fuel in the tank meant he missed out in the championship races. Most interesting car was that of Gary Duquemin who after 25 years of hill climbs though it was time to give sand racing a go, his car was fitted with a 2 litre Vauxhall motor & was named Dave (after the original builder). Gary did find that his vision was impaired with the sand & spray from the other cars & unfortunately running wide out of the slip bend in the final race did not see Simon Carre’s car on his right when he came back onto the track causing the only accident of the day, Simon got away with a bent side bar whilst Gary broke a drive shaft.

The first 2 senior bike races were dominated by Anthony Queripel but a blown motor at the end of the 2^nd race ended this domination but not his racing as he was given the opportunity to ride Paul Van Der Tang’s 250cc 2 stroke slider for the rest of the meeting, getting as high a 5^th place in later races. This 250cc slider should be out again from next meeting in the hands of Paul’s son. The remaining races were then dominated by Martyn Guilbert from a consistent Dave Cleal & fine races from both Dave Patten & Jamie Thompson. The road bikes were to be given there own races for this meeting but only 2 of the 3 entrants took part. Their first race was stopped when Nick Russell lost his fuel cap & had fuel being sprayed up into his face, a replacement was found for the 2^nd race in which Nick with over a years experience on this bike easily lapped Lee Luxton who was out for only his 3^rd meeting. Unfortunately Lee’s bike broke after this race so Nick continued the afternoon riding with the sliders.

Paul Van Der Tang sand race chairman came up with a different approach for the junior riders with 3 of their championship races in the normal bike direction of anti clockwise & 2 in a clockwise direction, the first time this has happened. The longer dry track suited Alain Bronquet as he took the 1^st race win from Billy-Reece Rive but when they changed direction for the 2 clockwise races he was in his element as a motocross rider he was use to riding in both directions & quickly pulled out a good lead from the other riders as they settled into riding this way round. Once back into their normal direction Billy-Reece made sure he won the final 2 races. Josh Lambourne picked up a string of 3^rd places whilst Billy Russell, Ricky-Lee Rive & Jarod Carrington battled for the remaining places.

In the cadet class it was probably a day Barnaby Queripel will gladly forget as he took 4 tumbles from his bike, each time being able to get up & walk away un-injured & his bike still in one piece, he still managed 2 wins to Daniel Clark’s 3 wins.

Paul Stanford