Sand Racing Report 30th August 2014

The penultimate meeting of the 2014 season was held under grey August skies with the course laid out further towards the rocks at the southern end of the beach as a row on stones below the slipway precluded using much of this end. There was a disappointing turnout of competitors in the 2 traditional classes i.e. sliders only 3, cars only six but the newer classes of cadets, juniors & MX made up the numbers. For the cars they would face their greatest challenge of the season, the gruelling 20 lap Victoria Trophy handicap, but even before we got to that race we were down by 1 car as another returnee Richard Valpied (away from beach for 31 years)had clutch/gearbox problems with his smartly prepared Ford Puma & Clint Blondel only got to the start of this race after returning home for some parts to fix a stretched chain on the Purple Dragon. The race became a battle of the production cars of Andrew Robilliard, Eric Trump, & Wayne Martel & Kevin Rumens out in Gary Duquemin’s Honda Special which had had an extra fuel tank fitted for this meeting, it was Kevin who won the battle.

Sliders were down to just 3 with Anthony Bougourd leading all the way except when he let Dave Cleal take the first scratch race win whilst Bill Cohu was doing double duty in the early races as he was also riding Billy Russell’s Honda 250cc in the MX class which had a twisty course but no jump. To return this favour when Tony Duquemin had problems with his MX bike he went out for the first time ever on Bill’s slider for a couple of races with no problems of keeping in going in the right direction.

MX class dominated by Billy Russell taking all race wins even overcoming the handicapper as the majority of previous leaders in that race either fell or had mechanical problems which delayed them. Battle for the minor placings were fought out by a number of riders by it was Paul Le Gallez who gained the most points. In their final race over the oval course Billy Rive took over the Honda 250cc of Billy Russell & showed his speed by taking 2^nd place.

In the Intermediate’s Billy Rive almost took 4 wins but trying too hard in the wet bend on the final lap of their 2^nd race dumped the bike on the sand. The battle for 2^nd place in the first 4 races was intense & was often decided on the finishing line. The final 2 races were contested by the 3 MX style bikes & again there was very little time between them.

Having had bike problems on his 65cc bike all season Kieran Bennett moved up to his new 85cc machine but this did require the use of 2 blocks of wood, in the pit holding area & on the start line as his little legs were not long enough to reach the ground on this bigger bikeso use these blocks to stop him toppling over. Rode cautiously in the first race but then found the speed down the straights thought having to ride sensibly in the corners so had good battles with Ben Le Prevost. Jack Bougourd on only his second meeting is enjoying racing so much that he wishes he could race each weekend & is disappointed there is only one more meeting this season, wants to know when 2015 season starts.

Final Meeting of 2014 Saturday 27^th September at 1.30pm.

Paul Stanford