Sand Racing Report 15th April
2017
An impressive turn out of car drivers,
riders & passengers assembled on Vazon beach for the 1stof the
9events making up the 2017sand racing championships in 8 different classes
together with various other trophies to be won in other scratch or handicap
races. The 13 cars entered were the first onto the sand but a blown clutch on
Clint Blondel’s Purple Dragon racing car in practice put an early end to his
defence of one of the two championships he won last season so he could
concentrate on his sidecar outfit, thus leaving Billy Le Page & Gary
Duquemin to contest this class. The three drivers with over 1800cc production
cars had a slight advantage over those with engines up to 1800cc engines as
they started with the racing cars ahead of the smaller saloons but it was not
long before these smaller engine cars were up there racing with the larger
models making for some exciting racing. Most of the saloon competitors from
last season were back again with the same or new cars whist Wayne Martel having
taken last year off was back but with a Toyota MR2 in place of the MG. The only
driver making his Vazon debut was a very familiar face from the motor sport
scene, that of sports car sprinter/hill climber Mark Scott making use of Karl
Marshall’s Mazda for last year, as Karl had moved up to a Renault Clio & it
was Mark that won the first trophy of the season when he took the car handicap
race win. A trend started by Paul Helyer last year by driving his car to/from
each event has spread to 4 car drivers doing the same thing for this meeting.
On to the bikes & the lowest entries
were in the sliders & sidecars where only 3 competitors contested these
races. Rob Teed should have taken a clean sweep of wins on his slider but
failed to finish the 3rd race leaving dad Colin to pick up maximum
points whilst veteran rider Dave Cleal was chasing Colin all the way to the
flag. Clint Blondel with new passenger Kev Bennett showed his supremacy of the
sidecar class whist Bill Cohu/Jason Carre found that they had competition from
James Queripel/NatahanBaudains when their bike was running. Whatever the track
twisty or oval, whatever the race championship or handicap no one could stop
Billy Rive from winning all 5 MX races. In the championship races Jarrod
Carrington was 2nd in every race whilst 3rd place was
more hotly contested but when it came to the oval courseMark King was the man in
2nd place.
6 cadets on their little 50 to 70cc bikes
raced on their own small oval course using the slip bend & part of the
infield. GiloRobilliard, Thomas Vinning& Gemma Le Page all having ridden at
some time last season were already showing speed improvement were joined by
newcomers Charlie Clark, Casey Gallienne& Charlie Walker. Casey managed to
win their last race so this class should prove to be very competitive, Charlie
would have received advice from his brother Dan on how to race whilst Charlie was
the first to take a tumble though this did not put him off as he was gradually
getting quicker. With Dan Clarke away racing this left the Junior/Intermediate
class open for someone else to take the honours & this fell to Luke Bush
who was chased by Patrick Le Friec both riding MX type bikes whilst first on
the sliders was Harry Ogier. Joining him on sliders were his sister Erin, Sam
Walker & Jack Bougourd who did not race last season. By the time the
majority of these cadets & juniors return to the beach they would have been
away to the UK for some speedway track training so this should help them in
their race craft & speed.
Paul Stanford
Paul Stanford
Paul Stanford
Paul Stanford