Sand Racing Report 22nd July 2017

Sand Racing Report 22^nd July 2017

The miserable weather & a completely sodden track did not dampen the spirits of the competitors as they return to Vazon sands after a six week break to begin the second half of the season. The clerk of the course’s decision to amalgamate the racing cars & saloon cars into one race instead of separate races was fortuitous as by the end of practice Craig Addlese’s racing car was retired, quickly followed by Andrew Henry at the start of the second race leaving Billy Le Page as racing car leader as Gary Duquemin’s car had a persistent misfire all afternoon. When he was racing Karl Marshall was the leading over 1800cc production car but the main battle was between the brother-in laws Paul Buckingham & Eric Trump who were racing so close to one another that they were scrapping paint off each other’s cars & Eric even went home with a dented front nearside wing. Paul Helyer led the smaller engine class but there was very little distance between the 4 cars running. Matthew Board once again managed to keep ahead of the 6 car field for the handicap race though he was overtaken by Paul Helyer& NeilBourgaize when they went wide on the wet bend Matthew slipped up the inside to regain the lead he was not to lose as the cars came over the finish line in the closest race finish.

The traditional slider bike class again only had 3 competitors with the Teed’s not present the field was made up of regular rider Dave Cleal who was joined by Billy Rive, who was competing in both bike classes & won eight out of nine races & making what could have been his last ride as a solo rider Bill Cohu as he soon reaches his 70^th birthday. Unfortunately a loose swinging arm on his bike meant he had to use a spare bike which was Colin Teed’s but as Colin is a little taller than Bill he had problems mounting & cornering the bike. With the wet weather the MX riders decided to put in a simple sweeping right hand bend into the infield so as to make faster racing & kept the field more tightly bunched together. With Billy Rive leading the way the main contest was between Mark King & Jarrod Carrington for second spot whilst at the back of the field it was good to see Ian Le Messurier battling away with Kevin Rumens & Marcus Crittal not to be last man home. With Clint Blondel/ Kev Bennett the only sidecar on the beach they went out for what was 4 demonstration races, hopefully Bill Cohu will be back in action for the next meeting.

Two new youngsters Corey Le Friec& Charlie Bougourd joined the cadet class which had some strange results with either bikes failing or riders heading back to the pits after the last lap flag & not the chequered flag. Thomas Vining was fortunate to have a spare slider as his original bike was one to fail & Gemma Le Page was so pleased with her new Kawasaki slider that after three races she moved up to the junior class, having to learn a new start procedure with the tapes, a new longer course, so longer race distances & keeping the throttle open for longer. In the junior section even when he gives himself a handicap by stalling on the start line Dan Clark does not getfazed as he shows his speed to get back to the front of the field leaving Luke Bush & Patrick Le Friec to do battle for second spot. Hopefully the knowledge they are gaining now will continue with them as later they move into the adult classes. Only incident of the day was when Erin Ogier parted company with her bike on the slip corner & just as a precaution was taken up to the hospital by her parents, lucky no injuries were incurred &hopefully she will be back riding at the next meeting on August 12^th at 2.45pm.

Paul Stanford