ANDREAS RACING ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIPS - JURBY AIRFIELD 17th SEPTEMBER
The final round of the Andreas Racing Association Road Racing Championship was held today at Jurby Airfield in blustery but dry conditions. All the Championships were up for grabs on this final days racing for 2000, and racing got underway just after 1 o'clock.
The first race of the day was the penultimate round of the Center Championship, were ex-double Manx Grand Prix winner Richard Quayle led British Production Championship runner Chris Heath by five points. Heath stormed away from the line, and was never to be caught. He won the race with what looked like a comfortable performance from Milky Quayle, with slow starting Paul Hunt third. Juan Kinnish took fourth position ahead of fellow Laxey resident, Nigel Beattie who was fifth.
The second and final installment of the Center Championship was stopped twice due to two separate crashes. When the race was restarted for the final time, it was again Heath, who led the way, although Quayle looked much more determined this time out, and was on his tail. Mid-way through the race, Quayle managed to pass Heath, and from then on both riders swapped positions until the chequred flag, where it was Quayle who was first at the line. Paul Hunt, Juan Kinnish and Nigel Beattie again filled the other leader board positions.
This victory should have gave Richard Quayle his first Center Championship title, but at time of going to press, RACE had been informed that Heath's team had lodged a protest with the organizers, regarding a passing maneuver made by Quayle on Heath. So as I write, it is unknown, who is the 2000 ARA Center Champion. All we can do is speculate that the club will make a decision to uphold the protest and investigate the matter further. This one may take some time to sort out!
The rest of the day was filled with action packed racing in all classes. In the Sidecar events, regular TT passenger, Nicky Crowe was the star of the day, this time driving with work-mate Darren Hope in the 'chair'. They won three races, with reigning Center Champions, Brian and Neil Kelly, claiming the other victory
In the Restricted License Holder events, Juan Kinnish swept to a clean sweep beating Tom Clucas and Ballaugh's Rob Sells each time. Kinnish rode well in every race he entered infact, and must be a contender for the Man of the Meeting Award.
James Broughton and Norman Kneen won the concurrently ran Forgotten Era and Single Cylinder Race's respectively, both riders coming under very little pressure from their rivals. Broughton found the going a lot easier without current Championship leader, Brian Kneale, who is still recovering after his Manx Grand Prix accident.
The 400cc Race saw a close scrap between Chris Grose and Manx Grand Prix rostrum man, Paul Corrin, with Corrin aboard a 400cc Kawasaki ousting the more experienced Grose on his 125cc Honda.
There were also victories for Nigel Beattie in the Formula 600 Class and Chris Heath in the Champion of Champions Series.
The Andreas Racing Association did a great job organizing today's action, and we all wait with interest, to see the outcome of the Center Championship debate. RACE would like to thank Peter Cain, Chris and Carol and Malcolm Macdonald for their co-operation with ourselves today and I would personally like to thank 'The Lurch' for lap scoring form me.
For full race reports and results from today's racing, go to Chris Grose Racing and/or Andreas Racing Association.
Paul Phillips
