Sand Racing Report 25^th August 2018

This was the penultimate race meeting of this season & as it was in August that meant the most prodigioushandicap trophy was going to be up for grabs for the car boys as it was time to run the 20 lap Victoria Trophy. Having already completed 2 championship & 1 trophy race it was time to face the handicapper’s timings, letting the slowest car away first the remainder of the field had to sit on the start line awaiting their turn to be sent away at timed intervals with the last cars to leave already 2 laps behind. Though none of the other saloons were catching Jamie Lucas in the Nissan Almera at a quick enough pace to take the lead there was one car that was doing surprisingly well. Having broken the chain linkage on his racing car at the first car race start Mark & Lisa Le Page had not completed any running except for practice but had got the car fixed for this race as they had purposely fitted a larger fuel tank for this meeting. Lisa was really flying over the course but for a fluffy gear change the race win would have been hers so Jamie took his 3^rd handicap race win for this season by less than the length of his car.

On two wheels the MX class finally got the chance at the third attempt (due to incidents at the previous 2 meeting the race could not be run) to get to race for the Thoumine Handicap Trophy on the oval track. Having had only one other race on this course the handicapping’s a little less sophisticated it that the riders are lined up in the reverse order they finished the previous race & then sent away with slight gapes between each rider. This produces a wild charge as each rider is trying to gain the lead & win with middle field rider Marcus Crittall just holding on to take the spoils from last man away Billy Rive whist one of the lower placed riders Luke Bush held on to third spot. The 3 earlier races on the twisty course got 3 difference winners as the racing at the top of the field was extremelyclose. For the final scratch race a number of riders came out on different bikes, Kevin Rumens on Stephanie Best’s, whilst Billy Rive took out Ben Le Prevost’s 100cc bike & did not come last.

Once he got the feel of the beach there was no stopping young UK rider Arron Butcher from leading virtually every lap of the 6races for the 500cc slider class, this left Robert Teed to continue his friendly rivalry with Jersey man Jordan Noel though Robert did slip up in the second race where dad Colin pipped him to 3^rd place. Only 3 intermediates were entered for this meeting but by invitation Ben Le Prevost also joined this class but though shown in the results was unable to take any points as he is not yet of the age to join this class. Having a new engine in his bike there was no stopping Dan Clark from winning all races but Stephanie Best had to fight hard against Ben who was determined to show that his smaller engine bike could go as quick as hers. Unfortunately Jack Bougourd just did not have a good day as his bike was off song all afternoon. To make things more interesting in the final scratch race Stephanie took out Kevin Rumens Yamaha 250cc machine to see how she coped with the larger bike. With Ben moving classes Thomas Vining had no one chasing him as closely in the cadets/juniors but this did not stop him pushing as hard as ever in each race till the fifth race when the motor blow up off the start line. Gemma Le Page showed she has improved & has got use to her new bike as she was never lapped & took 2^nd spot whilst Lewis Le Blanq&GiloRobilliard on their identical KTM’s were battling for 3^rd& 4^th with Charlie Clark & Jack Pollard dicing for the 5^th& 6^th places.

Final meeting of this season is at 11am on Saturday 8^th September.

Paul Stanford