Drumlanrig Offroad Motorsport Festival – Race Report & Results

The fifth annual Drumlanrig Offroad Motorsport Festival took place last weekend in the grounds of Drumlanrig Castle, just north of Dumfries, hosted by the Galloway MCC, and nearly 300 riders arrived via the stunning Castle esplanade.

Report Geoff Shuttleworth – Pictures by Graham Milne and Raymond Thomson

As usual the club had put so much effort into the organisation, and the event included two days of trials and scrambles, plus a fun grass track, road runs, youth trials try-outs, lawnmower racing, a classic bike show, funfair, farmers market and entertainment.

Neil Hudson, our only ever 250 World MX Champion was guest of honour and was interviewed by John McCrink on Saturday evening in front of a packed house, with cameos from Graham Noyce, Mark Fulton, Billy Edwards and Graham Milne.

Kenny Harper, the Event Director came up with a stroke of genius by creating two separate tracks, one for the Classics and one for the Pre 84’s, which was widely acclaimed as perfect by all the riders. There was a new section of woodland steps, resembling Farleigh Castle, which were complimented by some fast straights, so a bit of everything to test the riders. Personally, I have never seen bikes going at the speed some of them were going, and a late wild card entry from former British Champion Brad Anderson, with his first ride on a Twinshock loaned by Clark Davidson, certainly added to the buzz in the large crowd.

The Classic classes were first out onto the grassy one-mile-long track, and as per previous events was dominated by the Irish JAP contingent on Cecil Pearsons bikes, with James Thompson being fastest rider on track taking all five wins in the Pre 68 class. Harry Stitt, on another JAP managed to fend off Andy Hinchliffe to take second, and Scotland’s Liston Bell was fourth.

The Pre 75 class was a good watch as well, with three CCM’s battling it out up front, which was something that hasn’t happened since the days of Wright, Banks and Eastwood. Ben Butterworth, who was due to go in the trial, was enjoying himself so much he ended up doing both days, and won four from five, with Nathan Jones in second from Keith Barnes in third. Each rider took turns at the front, but Ben stole the limelight towards the end of each race.

In the Pre 78 class John Eardley was another rider on top of his game, and reeled off four wins to take the overall, but Sam Sibbald on the big four stroke managed to win race five to take second. Pete Williamson on Maico took third from Jeff Shaw and Steve Morgan.

There were two Clubman classes this year, and in Clubman 1 Clark Davidson took the overall on his Twinshock debut, but it was his race five win that clinched it on a tie break from double race winner Robert Smith in second. Tim Cole had some great rides to take third from Neil Jones and Adam Tabrett. Double race winner on Saturday was David Loudon, but he was not riding on Sunday.

Clubman 2 was another close affair, with consistent riding from Gavin Lowes winning the overall by just a couple of points from Luke Turner, who but for a race 2 DNF, may well have stood on the top step of the podium. Third went to Herefords Daran Williams, from Irelands Simon Spendlove and Mark Dean.

From hereon in the racing got even more spectacular, and fast, very fast, even in the Over 60 class, as in each race Irelands Trevor Calderwood seem to hit the front flying. But the shear speed and lines of Alan Bott and Italy’s Massimo Signorin saw the lead change hands regularly. Alan ended up the victor with a clean sweep of five from five, whilst Massimo edged into second overall by just three points from Trevor. Chris Woodward in fourth was always in contention and led a few laps over the weekend, and the wily Paul Chiappa seemed to get faster with each race in fifth.

What battles there were in the Over 50’s as Willie Burgess seemed to be on a mission as he passed riders coming out of the wood by sending it full throttle onto the long fast straight, but his weekend was not to be as he had machine gremlins whilst winning and ended in seventh after two DNF’s.

Mark Fulton was never more than a couple of yards in front or behind Willie, and still has that raw speed that served him so well in his professional career, and he ended the weekend on the top step by winning three races and two seconds. Gordon Morrison was the only other rider to keep pace with Mark and Willie, and fully deserved his second overall. Isle of Mans Dave Salkeld took third, but only on a last race tie break with Craig Smith.

The biggest track side crowd appeared every time the Under 50’s came to the line, and the question was could debutant Brad Anderson live with the regular Twinshock stars Graham Riley, Paul Johnston and Brad O’Leary. Well, he answered it by winning all five races, but Graham Riley led the way in each one, and but for two machine failures, may well have beaten Brad in a couple. I say it again though, I have never seen twinshock bikes going that fast ever. Local rider Paul Johnston had the crowd behind him and put in some scintillating performances to take the runner up berth, with Brad O’Leary in third from Kris Winder and Michael Smith.

The final four races were the Grand Nationals, and the non-qualifiers were won by Riley Copeland and Peter Graham.

James Thompson rounded off a fine weekend by winning the Classic Grand National, and once again Brad Anderson beat Paul Johnston and Brad O’Leary in the Pre 84 Grand National to scoop the big money prizes.
All in all it was a terrific weekend supported by a lot of riders and spectators, and our thanks go out to all the club, helpers, marshals, medics and sponsors.

Results

Grass Track

Pre 68; 1 Peter Hollinshead, 2 David Wilson, 3 Martin Kemp, 4 Peter Jerred.

Pre 78; 1 Ben Butterworth, 2 Ian Stainton, 3 David Lawson, 4 Jeff Shaw, 5 Peter Maxwell, 6 Dave Ellis.

Pre 84; 1 Willie Burgess, 2 Mark Fulton, 3 Alan Bott.

Scramble

Stuart Miller Memorial Trophy; Alan Bott.

Best Newcomer Trophy; Clark Davidson.

Pre 68; 1 James Thompson, 2 Harry Stitt, 3 Andy Hinchliffe, 4 Liston Bell, 5 Adrian Lappin, 6 David Wilson.

Pre 75; 1 Ben Butterworth, 2 Nathan Jones, 3 Keith Barnes, 4 John Layton, 5 Andy Malloch, 6 Craig Hunter.

Pre 78; 1 John Eardley, 2 Sam Sibbald, 3 Peter Williamson, 4 Jeff Shaw, 5 Steve Morgan, 6 Steve Riley.

Pre 84 Clubman 1; 1 Clark Davidson, 2 Robert Smith, 3 Tim Cole, 4 Neil Jones, 5 Graeme Smith, 6 Adam Tabrett.

Pre 84 Clubman 2; 1 Gavin Lowes, 2 Luke Turner, 3 Daran Williams, 4 Simon Spendlove, 5 Mark Dean, 6 Eddie Hampton.

Pre 84 Over 60’s; 1 Alan Bott, 2 Massimo Signorin, 3 Trevor Calderwood, 4 Chris Woodward, 5 Paul Chiappa, 6 Jim Grieve.

Pre 84 Over 50’s; 1 Mark Fulton, 2 Gordon Morrison, 3 David Salkeld, 4 Craig Smith, 5 Mark Kenny, 6 Kevin Butcher.

Pre 84 Under 50’s; 1 Brad Anderson, 2 Paul Johnston, 3 Brad O’Leary, 4 Kris Winder, 5 Michael Smith, 6 David Houston.

Classic Non Qualifiers; 1 Riley Copeland, 2 Johnny Walker, 3 Patrick Brown, 4 Albert Britton, 5 Dale Moreton, 6 Martin Kemp.

Classic Grand National; 1 James Thompson, 2 Harry Stitt, 3 Andy Hinchliffe, 4 Liston Bell, 5 Sam Sibbald, 6 Nathan Jones.

Pre 84 Non Qualifiers; 1 Peter Graham, 2 Mark Glegg, 3 Matt Wells, 4 Sean Meighan, 5 Mike Dowson, 6 Paul White.

Pre 84 Grand National; 1 Brad Anderson, 2 Paul Johnston, 3 Brad O’Leary, 4 Michael Smith, 5 David Houston, 6 Craig Smith.