Sand Racing Report 1^st August 2015

For the first time in decades the bike boys had a longer race then is programmed for the car competitors when the Pealing Carey Trophy was turned into a 30 lap race for the MX Class & to add to the complications this was run on an amended version of the twisty track. Their first 3 championship races were run over the full twisty course which included an infield section which missed out the seaward straight and a section to the outside of the oval course along the top straight. Winning the first two races was Billy Russell riding 2 different bikes a Honda 450cc followed by the smaller 250cc version before Billy Rive got into his stride by winning the 3^rd race besides making is debut on George Van Der Tangs spare 500cc slider in that class. For the 30 lapper the infield section was missed out so making the race that much quicker though the top straight kinks were still included. Here the Rive twins got the 2 top places as Billy Russell pulled out so leaving Paul Le Messurier to gain a 3^rd place spot (he enjoys the quicker course’s as can be seen by his 2^nd place when racing on the full oval course, does not like the twisty bits)

Dan Winterton got the upper hand over Anthony Bougourd in the first slider race but from then on Anthony showed his mastery of the sands by winning the remaining 4 races. Dan got a couple of 2^nd places whilst George Van Der Tang & Rob Teed gained one 2^nd place each. Moving up to a 500cc machine for the first time Billy Rive did gain two 3^rd places whilst his brother Ricky made his debut in this class on his 250cc machine before concentrating on the MX class.

For one race the 3 sidecar outfits all managed to start & finish but it was only Clint Blondel/Ross Young who managed a full programme of 5 races whilst Pierre Rive/Ian Le Boutillier& Bill Cohu/Jason Carre both had problems that kept them in the pits for some races.

The cadet class is showing an improvement in numbers with 7 young males & females out for this meeting. Though it is a given that Dan Clark will almost lap the whole field in these short races there is competition between the other riders. Harry Ogier who is back on his own bike after having to borrow one of Dan’s old bikes was showing much more speed after the long layoff from their previous meeting & having seen her brother enjoy himself Erin Ogier was a newcomer on the beach riding a Keyway 125cc slider machine. There was a great tussle between the MX mounted Ben Le Prevost &Kieren Bennett for third & fourth spots whilst Jack Bougourd& Luke Bush just seen a little too large for the bikes they have to ride but they still are out there for every race. Jarrod Carrington being the only Intermediate rider has to take to the track alone & can only wait for the day he can move up to the MX class.

Only two classes of cars for this meeting with the 2 buggy type racing cars of Gary Duquemin& Clint Blondel (yes he does also ride a sidecar)& 7 production saloons 1401 to 1800cc. Clint took the win in the first race but from then one it was all Gary’s way winning all scratch races & coming from the back of the field to win the Metro handicap trophy. Eric Trump had electrical problems in a couple of races which caused him to retire & lose points for various trophies but this did mean that other drives got top 3 finishing places including Guernsey Kart Club president Karl Marshal making a return to the beach in a Mazda saloon.

Paul Stanford

Paul Stanford