Marvellous Martin! Chaddesley Chaser Grasstrack – Race Report, Results and Interviews

After holding their inaugural event in 2023, the Chaddesley Corbett Grasstrack club were back for more last Sunday. And on a redesigned, wider, faster and smoother circuit, the action served up was to be simply superb with numerous exciting races and very close finishes!

Race Report and Images by Mike Wood

The only downside was to be a nasty injury suffered by Youth Junior rider Kane Newby which meant a rather lengthy delay as he received medical attention, get well soon and a speedy recovery Kane! Unexpected hot weather also saw dust become an unwanted menace and required the club to regularly put moisture back into the surface. However, there was plenty more positives than negatives so it’s a massive well done to Chaddesley Corbett.

Thomas Vinning(55) on his way to another Youth Intermediate victory.

Featuring racing for Youth Autos, Cadets, Juniors and Intermediates, it was the youngsters who got the programme underway. Heat one was a Youth Autos clash which saw Alfie Shipp take the win. Alfie was also victorious in the third and final Auto race but after non-starting the second heat it meant that he missed out on the overall verdict. So, it was Albie South topping the podium ahead of Levi Collins and Marley Mears. Although Shipp missed out on that Autos top slot, he certainly made amends by winning all three Youth Cadets heats and lead home Charlie Dowd and Daisy Torres. Copying Shipp’s maximum score was the Youth Juniors victor Finley Theobald. In super form, Finley was dominant as Ryan Curl, Archie Whitelam and Brayden Blyth provided the main threat. The last Youth class was for Intermediates and heat one was simply superb as eventual winner Thomas Vinning, Dylan Amies and Liam Cox took it right down to the chequered flag.

Finley Theobald the Youth Junior winner.

What a day Ricky Scarboro was to enjoy at Chaddesley winning both the 250cc and Pre-75 classes. After fighting off Graham Thomas in the opening 250cc heat, Ricky then won both of his remaining two races. Thomas was to go onto earn a deserved 2nd overall as Aidan Arthur took 3rd despite a fall on the final lap of his last heat. With maximum points in the 250cc competition, Scarboro then repeated the feat by producing a classy display and three heat wins in the Pre-75 event. Joining him on the podium in the Pre-75 was Phil Kynman and Martin Adams whilst one of the expected favourites, Dave Hammond missed out after being excluded in his opening heat for pegging!

Ricky Scarborough the 250cc winner leading Graham Thomas

In a competitive 350cc solo contest, Buxton based Jack Roberts took the win as John Cox, Liam Ashcroft and Steve Garside produced some great entertainment in the battle for the remaining podium places. The quality of racing on offer was typified by a stunning pass produced by Cox as he rounded Garside on the last turn of heat three. One of the major stories from Chaddesley was provided by Martin Williams. Coming back to the sport, Martin reeled off three stunningly quick starts and very controlled rides to bag maximum points and with it the Noel Clark Memorial Trophy in the 500cc class. Although Jack Roberts pushed him hard in this one, after earlier taking 350cc success he had to settle for the 500cc runners-up slot with James Theobald in 3rd.

Liam Ashcroft(83) going around the outside of Steve Garside in a 350cc battle.

Both the GT140’s and Upright classes were settled by one off finals. After dominating the GT140’s heats, Ian Clark then became the chaser in the all important final. For three laps he stalked the fast-starting Kevin Gwillam before cleverly making the all- important pass and snatch the win. Taking 3rd was Mark Scopes with Wayne Broadhurst in 4th. Over in the Uprights, three times British Champion Tony Atkin was in majestic form. Comfortably winning his heats, Tony then dominated the final by leading from gate to flag as Jason Prynne and Scott Ryan chased him home.

GT 140 winner Ian Clark

As Mark Courtney/Leon Torres bagged maximum points in the Old and New Sidecars, his rivals were hitting problems! Incredibly in heat two, Courtney was the only finisher as Sam and Guy Jacobs, Marianne Walford/Barbara Springall and Dillion and Neave Newton all failed to finish due to mechanical issues. Eventually in this one, the Jacobs were to finish as overall runners-up. Only completing two points scoring rides after a crash halted heat three, Phil and Tom Rowlands won both 500cc Sidecar clashes. Taking 2nd place on the podium was the pairing of Nick Bull/Sam Hall with Mike and Louis Skelding in 3rd.

Paul Whitelam(92), Michael Austin(991) and Mark Cossar going for it in a 1000cc sidecar battle.

So, to the 1,000cc Right-Hand sidecars and typifying the fantastic spirit that exists within the grasstrack fraternity, the day had started with a terrific gesture from Joe Mogg handing over his outfit and standing down to thus allow Dean and Liam Kitchker a chance to ride. Earlier in practice the Kitchker’s had blown the engine on their Old and New Sidecar and although they did not figure in the 1,000cc results, they did still have a whole lot of fun at Chaddesley. In the 1,000cc heats there was plenty of great racing with Paul Whitelam/Richard Webb appearing to be often involved. After having a super scrap with Neal Owen/Jason Farwell in heat 2, Whitelam then led Mark Cossar/Carl Blyth for a lap in heat 3. Thanks to his super efforts, Whitelam qualified direct to the final along with Cossar, Terry Saunters/Liam Brown and Michael Austin/Wayne Rickards.

Billy Winterburn and Thomas Newton in typically spectacular 1000cc sidecar action.

The last two places for the big chair final were to be decided by a last chance ‘B’ qualifier. With Austin then having to withdraw and relinquish his ‘A’ final spot due to mechanical issues the available places for the ‘B’ lads were upped to three! Immediately increasing the ‘B’ intensity, Clint Blondell/Connor Measor and Kieran Hicks/Frankie Courtney then collided on turn one. Thankfully both crews somehow managed to remain upright and were officially allowed into the rerun. Although Blondell was unable to make that restart due to a damaged outfit, Hicks was back on the line only to again suffer in a very tough opening turn! Forced very wide by Will Offen/Ricky Pay, Hicks was down in 4th and seemingly out of contention until Offen got it all wrong on the pits turn! Locking up, Will got out of shape but somehow remained onboard before ending up on the centre green thus handing 3rd and an ‘A’ Final spot back to Hicks!

Terry Saunters and Liam Brown(24) leading Mark Cossar in the 1000cc sidecar final.

In the main ‘A’ Final, Hicks day was then completed as his outfit refused to leave the start line. Making a superb getaway though was Terry Saunters, leading the drag race into turn one he forced Cossar to go for the outside line. On the dry, slick surface there was simply no grip available though! From here onwards Cossar then hounded leader Saunters who rode a wheel perfect race and take the win. Ending his day in style, Whitelam came through for a well-deserved 3rd as Owen was 4th just ahead of the entertaining Billy Winterburn with Thomas Newton in the chair.

500cc Sidecar winners Phil and Tom Rowlands

Results

Auto Cadets 1st Albie South 32 Points 2nd Levi Collins 3rd Marley Mears 25 4th Alfie Ship 24.

Cadets 1st Alfie Shipp 36 Points 2nd Charlie Dowd 30 3rd Daisy Torres 18.

Juniors 1st Finley Theobald 36 Points 2nd Ryan Curl 29 3rd Archie Whitelam 26 4th Brayden Blyth 23 5th Will Offen 20 6th Rex Austin 16 7th Chloe Davis 15 8th Kaylem Bourne 11 9th Kane Newby 10.

Inters 1st Thomas Vinning 34 Points 2nd Dylan Amies 30 3rd Liam Cox 28 4th Jacob Phillips 25

250 Solo 1st Ricky Scarboro 36 Points 2nd Graham Thomas 28 3rd Aidan Arthur 21 4th Shane Knight 28
5th Tim Greig 20 6th Austin Riches 20 7th Max Derrick 18 8th Bradley Phillips 14 9th Harrison Rogers 11 10th Steve Brook 3 .

350 Solo 1st Jack Roberts 34 Points 2nd John Cox 31 3rd Liam Ashcroft 27 4th Steve Garside 25 5th George Pardoe 18 6th Will Thurlby 17 7th Tim Neal 16 8th Tom Davis 7.

500 Solo 1st Martin Williams 36 Points 2nd Jack Roberts 30 3rd James Theobald 26 4th Ryan Ashcroft 22
5th Luke Tuck 18 6th Jordan Derrick 17 7th Jordan Noel 11 8th Jamie Fenn-Smith 7.

Pre 75 1st Ricky Scarborough 36 Points 2nd Phil Kynman 28 3rd Martin Adams 23 4th John Priest 22 5th Dave Hammond 20 6th Steve Dowling 18 7th Geoff Urban 10 8th Graeme Brown 9 9th Rob Snow 9 Points.

Uprights – Straight Final 1st Tony Atkins 2nd Jason Prynne 3rd Scott Ryan 4th Dave Hammond 5th Eddie Rouse 6th Luck Tuck 7th Alan Brook 8th Max Dent 9th Mick Topliss 10th Peter Dugdale.

GT 140 Straight Final 1st Ian Clark 2nd Kevin Gwillam 3rd Mark Scopes 4th Wayne Broadhurst 5th Luke Wicks 6th Mark Chessell 7th Mark Collins 8th Adam Hawker 9th Murrie Collins 10th Matthew Klassen.

500 Sidecars 1st Phil Rowlands & Tom Rowlands 14 Points 2nd Nick Bull & Sam Hall 10 3rd Mike & Louis Skelding 8.

Old & New Sidecars 1st Mark Courtney & Leon Torres 21 Points 2nd Sam & Guy Jacobs 14 3rd Marianne Walford & Barbara Springall 10 4th Dillon & Neave Newton 9.

1000 Right Hand Sidecars Straight Final 1st Terry Saunters & Liam Brown 2nd Mark Cossar & Carl Blyth
3rd Paul Whitelam & Richard Webb 4th Neal Owen & Jason Farwell 5th Billy Winterburn & Thomas Newton.

Typically close GT140 race action