House on Fire! Drumlanrig Offroad Motorsport Festival – Race Report & Results
The Galloway Motorcycle Club pulled off their most ambitious event so far with their Drumlanrig Offroad Motorsport Festival, sponsored by Fraser Dykes AMD Contract Services and Event Scotland.
Report by Geoff Shuttleworth – Images courtesy of Graham Milne and Raymond Thomson Madmaxmedia
The four-day extravaganza was set in the stunning grounds of the Drumlanrig Castle estate, and event director Kenny Harper, said afterwards that the response from riders and spectators was absolutely worth all the effort and work that went into organising such a huge event, and paid tribute to the massive team of helpers and sponsors that were either front of house or behind the scenes to make the event such a success. In fact, it was probably the largest MX gathering since Scotland hosted their only ever Grand Prix at Kilmartin back in 1978.
There was just so much going on over the four days, that it was difficult to take it all in. Thursday and Friday saw well-attended road runs from the castle esplanade, plus an enduro loop and rally enduro taster session. On Friday the three Guests of Honour, former World MX Champions Roger De Coster, Heikki Mikkola and Brad Lackey led the pipe band down from the castle to the opening ceremony, watched by a huge crowd, and then spent the whole weekend signing posters and taking selfies on the Club stand. Riders brought all sorts of their gear to sign, including a Suzuki petrol tank to be signed by the man De Coster. This was probably a once in a lifetime experience, and the interviews with the three legends plus late arrival Graham Noyce on Saturday night with John McCrink, went down a storm, especially with Heikkis one-word comical answers. Noycey was on form too and got Roger and Brad going by reminiscing about their great battleswhen he was a young upstart, especially at Namur, Hawkstone and Farleigh. It was truly an amazing experience and one never to be forgotten.
The Classic Bike display had over 50 bikes, which was very popular, and there was even a small trials arena where you could have a taster session. The farmers market and Cocktail hour were packed and really added to the tremendous feel-good factor of the event. There were even two grandstands located at either side of the circuit where you could rest your weary bones.
On the Friday evening there was even some lawnmower racing on the infield oval, just before the Fun Grass Track, which saw some tremendous battles from the 60 riders in various classes. The Classic Pre 68 class had a very tight finish with Fergus Moodie pipping Peter Hollinshead on the line in a photo finish. Wayne Partington on his CZ beat Ian Stainton on his CCM in the Pre 78 class, and the 8 lap Pre 84 class final went ballistic as the six riders fought around each corner, with Mark Fulton coming out on top from Brad O’Leary and Paul Johnston.
There were then two days of tremendous action at the scramble track with over 300 riders, and the Sunday trial organised by Derek Porter attracted an entry of over 100, with Bill Wilkinson the former Greeves rider who was guest of honour. Former Scottish and British MX Champion Vic Allan rode out on his beautifully prepared Agusta and enjoyed his single lap around the hills and hollows on the estate.
The lush green grass or ‘green ice’ greeted the Scramble riders on Saturday morning, and the club came up with a cracking idea for the Classic riders by easing the track slightly giving them an easier route that didn’t get as rough as other parts.
In the Pre 68 class it was good to see the return of Cecil Pearson’s Jap team from Northern Ireland, and James Thompson led the way winning four out five races and took the Stuart Miller Memorial Trophy for Rider of the Day. Liston Bell must have thought he was in the middle of a Jap sandwich, finishing runner up from John Griffiths and Harry Stitt.
Allen Waring took the Pre 75 class on a tie break from Kevin Murray, with three race winner Kris Winder in third.
Late entry Brian Wheeler enjoyed his first ever twinshock race but had to use a borrowed bike after problems with his Suzuki and was later found to be ineligible, so the win was taken by another Suzuki rider Jonathan Cowgill with three wins. Second went to John Eardley, a point ahead of Sam Sibbald, and fourth was Barry Smith.
The Pre 84 Clubman class was dominated by Steve Morgan on his Maico, and he took four wins, only beaten by race one winner Andy Barnes. Jim Colligan was a fast starter and led most of the races, before succumbing to Morgans pace, but still took the runner up berth, in front of Neil Jones and Davie Watson.
Trevor Calderwood led nearly all the races in the Pre 84 Over 60 class but each time the Cheshire Charger Pete Mathia hunted him down and made last lap passes to take four wins and the overall victory. Second overall went to race five winner Mark Geadhill, with Scottish legend Paul Chiappa third from Calderwood and Martin Snape.
The Pre 84 Mixed Over 50/60 Class saw Neil Eardley take all five wins to stand on the top step, with his nearest challenger Shaun Muir in second. Robbie Allan had some great rides in third from David White and Brendan Rowett.
The Pre 84 Over 50’s had some really blistering action as Terry House, Willie Burgess and Mark Fulton banged bars in every race, but it was the sheer pace of Terry House who reigned supreme. He found outside lines that other riders couldn’t and made passes at crucial times to win four from five. Mark Fulton had quite a few issues over the weekend and slipped down the leader board, but Willie Burgess stuck at it and eventually won race five to take second overall. David Salkeld had great pace in third from Gordon Morrison in fourth.
The Pre 84 Under 50’s had a fantastic line up of some of the fastest twinshock riders in the UK and they didn’t disappoint.
Graeme Riley started at the front and took two wins, but several slips on the grassy circuit and an injury put paid to his weekend. This left Brad O’Leary to take the laurels, and also two race wins, showing his consistency and speed over the five-race programme. Richard Mason was also in the mix and took second from David Houston and Ryan Ireland. Paul Johnston had an up and down weekend but took the final race win.
Kyle McClure and Steve Folland took the wins in the Grand National non qualifier races.
James Thompson completed his weekend with a win in the Classic Grand National from Allen Waring and Kris Winder.
The final race of this mega weekend was the Pre 84 Grand National, and once again Brad O’Leary showed his class by beating Paul Johnston and Richard Mason in the six-lap thriller.
Plans are already afoot for the 2023 event. Can’t wait.
Results
Grass Track
Pre 68; 1 Fergus Moodie, 2 Peter Hollinshead, 3 Peter Jerred, 4 Craig McCoo.
Pre 78; 1 Wayne Partington, 2 Ian Stainton, 3 Andy Farr, 4 Ivan Carr, 5 Peter Maxwell, 6 John Fleming.
Pre 84; 1 Mark Fulton, 2 Brad O’Leary, 3 Paul Johnston, 4 Willie Burgess, 5 David Loudon.
Scramble
Stuart Miller Memorial Trophy Rider of the Meeting; James Thompson.
Best Newcomer Trophy; Terry House.
Pre 68; 1 James Thompson, 2 Liston Bell, 3 John Griffiths, 4 Harry Stitt, 5 Ryan McMaster, 6 Peter Hollinshead.
Pre 75; 1 Allen Waring, 2 Kevin Murray, 3 Kris Winder, 4 Andy Hinchliffe, 5 Wayne Partington, 6 David Stockdale.
Pre 78; 1 Jonathan Cowgill, 2 John Eardley, 3 Sam Sibbald, 4 Barry Smith, 5 Chris Woodward, 6 Peter Williamson.
Pre 84 Clubman; 1 Steve Morgan, 2 Jim Colligan, 3 Neil Jones, 4 David Watson, 5 Andy Barnes, 6 Callum Sangster.
Pre 84 Over 60’s; 1 Pete Mathia, 2 Mark Gleadhill, 3 Paul Chiappa, 4 Trevor Calderwood, 5 Martin Snape, 6 Jon Wood.
Pre 84 Over 50/60 Mixed; 1 Neil Eardley, 2 Shaun Muir, 3 Robbie Allan, 4 David White, 5 Brendan Rowett, 6 Mike Dowson.
Pre 84 Over 50’s; 1 Terry House, 2 Willie Burgess, 3 David Salkeld, 4 Gordon Morrison, 5 Mark Fulton, 6 Craig Smith.
Pre 84 Under 50’s; 1 Brad O’Leary, 2 Richard Mason, 3 David Houston, 4 Ryan Ireland, 5 David Alderton, 6 Paul Johnston.
Classic Non Qualifiers; 1 Kyle McClure, 2 Carl Hodgson, 3 Harry Stitt, 4 Jess Yates.
Classic Grand National; 1 James Thompson, 2 Allen Waring, 3 Kris Winder, 4 Liston Bell, 5 Ian Buchanan, 6 Jonathan Cowgill.
Pre 84 Non Qualifiers; 1 Steve Folland, 2 Paul White, 3 Will Mee, 4 Graeme Farrish, 5 Martin Small, 6 Kevin Allan.
Pre 84 Grand National; 1 Brad O’Leary, 2 Paul Johnston, 3 Richard Mason, 4 Ryan Ireland, 5 Logan Wilcox, 6 Terry House.
