'LEE MOORE BRINGS VINTAGE TRACK RECORD TO UNDER ONE MINUTE'
Who would have thought that more than 120 competitors would have ventured north to Ashton-in-Makerfield in the midst of a fuel crisis to race on the twisty short track of Three Sisters. But the overwhelming passion and comradeship of the members of the VMCC Racing Section brought them together for a fine and full weekend of spills and thrills.
This was the penultimate meeting and a place to seriously review championship positions. Old Bike Mart Championship leader Ian Bain was sitting pretty as the leader well ahead of 2nd placed Ian Cramp and 3rd position Toby Smedley. Bain comfortably maintained his healthy lead but Cramp failed to keep a grip on his postion as both Smedley and Mike Farrell scored high points and changed the face of the leader board. Merv Stratford and his 1937 250cc Rudge gave Bain a hard time as he chased in the first race early on Saturday, Stratford fresh from the Manx had the bit between his teeth but Bain's 500cc Works Norton snatched the flag .3 of a second ahead of his rival.
Merv was not to be out-done and in the second race sometime later that day he waved the tail-end of the Stratford Rudge at Bain and claimed the line and fastest lap of 1min.o6.4secs. Sunday dawned and sadly Merv Stratford had, on Saturday, taken a nasty fall at the decent from Cowards Summit when chasing for the lead in a 250cc race.
Bain now had to contend with Smedley and Terry Williams on his 1933 500cc Cotton Python; the third race began in a cloud of smoke and Bain emerged first over the hill down and round Paddock Bend, but Smedley was all over him by the tight left at the hairpin. The chase was on and Williams and Farrell were closing up. As Bain dropped down and through the Esses on the second lap he checked over his shoulder, he was just pulling away from Smedley's 1934 580cc Sunbeam. Farrell's 1928 Rudge was close in behind this leading pack but couldn't summon enough power to take third from Williams. The might of the Works Norton was sufficient to keep the pack in order, on the long straight it pulled out yards and Bain knew that a cool head would ensure him the chequered flag. In a great surge of energy Williams' Python streaked past Smedley and only by a small fraction of a second was he eventually short of Bain on the line.
Smedley went on to win the final OBM race of the weekend in a tight battle with Bain. The Championship might be won but the battles still count. Solo No1 plate holder Lee Moore dominated the Dresda Autos Championship by taking three consecutive wins, there is little doubt that he would have would have taken the fourth race had it been run.
Unfortunately the last three races of the meeting were cancelled due to a nasty cocktail of oil and water liberally spread all round the track. Rightly so the riders had decided amongst themselves that to spoil such an excellent weekend by attempting to ride, on what was effectively ice, would be foolhardy.
Lee Moore had in the course of the weekend repeatedly broken the Vintage lap record with a final fastest lap of 59.9secs. recorded whilst in the process of winning one of the GB Motor Companys Championship races. Richard Adams had not travelled up to Three Sisters and was in danger of loosing his lead in the Dresda Autos Championship as second placed Velocette rider Cliff Ransley was ready to reel in those vital points. With only 14 points difference he was well in with a chance of taking advantage, but sadly things didn't work out, he took 2nd place in the first race which greatly narrowed the margin but he failed to salvage any more points during the weekend.
So it is all to play for at Cadwell Park where it will go right to the line. Over the course of the weekend Seeley Weslake rider John Butcher dominated the Bennett Associates Over 500cc Specials races by keeping a large gap between himself and Graham Williams' Triton. Williams, who as yet still wears the novice riders bib, is pushing hard but not hard enough to give Butcher a great course for concern.
Mike Kemp and his 650cc Dominator slid into 2nd place in the first of the big specials races on Sunday morning beating Williams by .8 of a second. Williams came back in the final race taking 2nd place followed by fellow novice rider Daniel Toone.
The sidecar duo Nick Weston and Kerry Williams held onto the treasured Eric Oliver Trophy early on Saturday when they returned to the track in a blaze of glory to beat the current Championship leaders to the chequered flag. This trophy is awarded annually to the winner of a one pre-selected race, Nick keen to keep his hands firmly on the silverware rode like a demon, beating the field by a clear margin.
The Solo Champion of Champions race, which is sponsored by Pertemps Recruitment Partnership, took place mid-day Sunday. A relatively large grid sat waiting for the handicap flags to drop, as one by one the smaller slower bikes made a desparate bid for the lead in the arduous 10 lap dash. But for the Manx of Lee Moore right at the back of the grid, the last solo off was a 197cc Greeves riden by local racer Mark Sharrock. With only a handful of seconds between them Moore and Sharrock systematically carved their way through the field.Nortons and Velos, Bantams and a Benelli all reeled in. Sharrock used the field as a shield to keep Moore behind him, passing on the outside of the bend through the Esses and all the way round Lunar, he knows this track so well. The power of the Manx kept forcing onwards but Sharrock was just too sharp into the bends and unbelieveably swift over the mountain and round Paddock. The whole race circuit was brought to a holt with this remarkable effort by Wigan's own wonder. On the line Sharrock knew he had done it, beaming he shot past the flag .7 of a second clear of the shadow of Moore.
This weekend was definately one of the finest and the club officials would like to thank all those riders and marshals who made the event possible in spite of the previous weeks feul shortage.