Round sEVEN - cROFT
d.L.c.c.
24th - 25th august
Supported by 1st Call Refrigeration
Words – Tave Tibbles (F.S.R.A. Press Officer) / Photographs – Haydn Wyatt
SATURDAY 24TH
Qualifying:
All trying for race grid positions, trying particularly perhaps a bit too hard was team 11, Ciaran McVey/ Bryn Rooney 1100 Suzuki Derbyshire Bandit. After hitting a neutral going into turn one, this resulted in a visit to the gravel trap and a check over at hospital. Both OK but battered and bruised with a damaged machine unfortunately ended their weekend.
Race 1
In the F2 class team 56 Redd Gilroy/ Taylor Oldroyd Windle Thundercat who have been the dominant team this year took first place. Team 16 Derek Salleh/ Zac Andrews Ireson Thundercat were second. Third were new team 52 just joining us Jim Noble/ Abi Caiger on their Hayes Thundercat. Number 908. Steve Woolcott/ Tom Saville Derbyshire 600 Honda consistently having good finishes taking fourth with ladies team 156 Jan Tyrell/Joanne Thomas fifth.
In the F1 class, the already 2024 champions, number 9 Gary Fairhurst/Billy Andrews Windle Kawasaki ZXR900 continued with their dominance taking first place. Second the other long wheeled based F1, the LCR 1000 Yamaha number 14 of Mark Burns/Jack Fairhurst. Third team 127 the Shelbourne 1100 Suzuki of George McMahon with Mick Fairhurst. Dave Tibbles/Raitch Greenwood team 181 DDR 1100 Suzuki Bandit fifth.
14 Burns/J Fairhurst 56 Gilroy/Oldroyd
Race 2
Due to delays during the Saturday, race two was carried over to the first race Sunday and because of the local noise agreement racing could not start until 12 o’clock, so silently the PI teams were all ready to get on the track and race at midday.
F2 class Gilroy/Oldroyd claim another win with Noble/Caiger second after Salleh/Andrews got involved with a racing incident making them a DNF with Woolcott/ Saville third. Crawford/Baxter getting this time the F350 to the chequered flag for their first finish in fourth place with Tyrell / Thomas fifth. F1 class ended with only three finishers; Fairhurst/Andrews first but after both Burns and McMahon spinning at Tower bend this promoted Tibbles/Greenwood to second. Burns retired however McMahon recovered to take third.
F350 the two Daves Crawford and Baxter
SATURDAY 25TH
Race 1
This was actually the PI’s second outing on the Sunday and another seven laps of the 2.125 miles of the old WW2 RAF bomber airfield circuit. F2 first was Gilroy, Salleh repaired second with Noble third, Woolcott and Tyrell fourth and fifth. The F1 class with no Gary Fairhurst appearing on the grid left the F1 championships second and third placed teams to battle for the points. Burns took the win with McMahon second Tibbles third.
156 Tyrell/ Thomas, 127 McMahon M Fairhurst
Race 2
It is the last race of the meeting, grey clouds are coming over and rain is a possibility. A mechanical gear change issue ends McMahon’s weekend, the grid was well depleted and as the red lights went out for the start of another 7 lapper the rain also started with the teams on slick tyres. The F2 class managed three finishers Salleh, Woolcott and Tyrell. With the only one F1 finisher Tibbles, after Burns spinning off twice and not finishing.
As we all progress to the final round at Knock Hill, the 50th Anniversary of the Scottish sidecar Festival on September 21/22, the runner up places in both F2 and F1 classes are to be decided. Congratulations to Redd Gilroy and Taylor Oldroyd F2 winners and Gary Fairhurst and Billy Andrews the F1 class winners.
Thank you to the Darlington and District motor club with the NEMCRC for putting on a great weekend of racing. Thank you to 1st Call Refrigeration and the FSRA for the sponsorship and support of the Preinjection Sidecar Championship.
Total points after 7 rounds
F1 | TOTAL | F2 | TOTAL | |
G Fairhurst/B Andrews | 550 | R Gilroy/Taylor Oldroyd/A Ludlow | 520 | |
D Tibbles/R Greenwood | 365 | S Woolcott/T Saville | 384 | |
M Burns/J Fairhurst | 338 | J Tyrrell/J Thomas | 294 | |
G McMahon/M Ranson/M Fairhurst | 320 | G Knight/S Knight | 154 | |
C McVey/ B Rooney | 168 | D Salleh/Z Andrews | 146 | |
W Pettman/ D Salleh/Moss | 136 | J Noble/ A Caiger | 128 | |
D Crawford/T Oldroyd | 11 | D Williams / C Parry | 98 | |
J Chandler/D Salleh | 20 | |||
D Crawford/D Baxter | 13 | |||
G Hodgson /D Hodgson | 0 |
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