McNAMARA Park was a hive of activity on the weekend, with a senior’s race meeting held to cater for motorcycle riders over 45 years of age.
The event was open to all other clubs in the country, with 120 riders registered across a wide variety of categories.
The weather had little effect on the outcome, with minimal rain Friday, which cleared further for Saturday, leading to a perfect day on Sunday.
Club committee member Justin Elliot said the popular weekend went off without a hitch.
“The whole weekend is about enjoying each other’s company,” he said.
“We have a meal and sit around the fire, with the stories improving as the night goes on.
“And of course the racing is competitive.”
Despite the laid-back style of racing, Elliot said competitors were still keen to chalk up a win, despite some of the machinery worth big money.
“The quality of racing was excellent, but we had no major issues with accidents,” he said.
“Some of these guys have been doing it for a long time.
“They are a bit more settled than some of the younger riders and their bikes worth a lot of money, so they take a bit extra care.
“But if there is a chance to win, they will have a go.”
That scenario played out when Rusty Crane and Brendan Greene came head-to-head in a 45 to 55 years race.
“Brendan is a fast rider,” Elliot said.
“Rusty was really pumping the air when he went around him.
“The racing was tight enough that if guys have half a chance, they will have a crack.”
In one of the handicap races, David Short started from the back of the field on a 125cc machine, with the first bike down the end of the back straight before he headed off.
Short – a former track cycling gold medalist – was up against much bigger machinery, but his 125 was certainly up to the challenge.
With just four laps to run, he had passed all competitors late in the final lap, but unfortunately blew a hole in his piston and did not finish the race.
Overall Elliot said the event ran as expected, with a good time had by all.
Several one-off Cup races were held over the course of the weekend, with the combined sidecars an exciting spectacle.
The team of David Jones and Tom Jeffree claimed the honours on a Suzuki 1000cc outfit, just three seconds clear of Mark Leigh and Ian Robertson on the same type of machinery.
Adrian Van Uitert and Mark Holloway rounded out the placings on a Suzuki 1166cc machine.
The “plus” cup races saw the age of rider and bike combined, with some close tussles throughout.
In the 45+ category Greene brought his Yamaha 1000 home 10 seconds ahead of Crane on a Honda 1000, but Crane was just two seconds clear of Kym Bolto on a Honda 1000 in third place.
The 70+ cup race was a reasonably close affair, with John Snoad on a Suzuki 1000 five seconds clear of Robert Ruwolt on a Kawasaki 750.
Dean Castleton came home in third on his 1100 Suzuki, just a further two seconds adrift.
The margins in the 90+ race were a little wider, with Denis Ackland crossing the line first aboard a Kawasaki 1260, ahead of Allan Elder on a 250cc Suzuki, with Neale Weddall rounding out the placings on a Yamaha 500.
The 110+ category saw some stunning machinery on track, with Darren Trotter first to greet the chequered flag aboard a Manx 650.
Dan Gleeson rode his 750 Norton to second place, ahead of Otto Muller aboard a 350 Yamaha.
The top two runners in the Period 2 Cup race saw a tight finish, with less than a second separating Paul Dempsey on a Triumph 500 from Chris Lang aboard a BSA 635.
Trevor Henderson rounded out the placings on a Bultaco 125.
Lang set the fastest lap of the race on lap two, more than a second quicker than Dempsey’s best effort.
