F.S.R.A. / Wintec Pre-Injection Sidecar Championship Round Three Report – Cadwell Park Sidecar Revival

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Words – Marianne Walford

In contrast to the previous weather at Anglesey, the weekend was warm and dry throughout – too warm at times.

F2 crew Liam Saunders / Ben Stell topped the leaderboard after qualifying, a second and a half ahead of Andrew Bingham / Steve Dalton, also F2. Three F1 outfits followed closely, with one F2 before the next three F1s.

The first race was held in the late morning sunshine, and Saunders / Stell made the most of their pole position. They held the lead until the last half lap, when a very determined move at the chicane saw Bingham / Dalton take the lead and keep it for the last half lap. Behind them, lots of shenanigans were happening all down the field. The F1s of Gary Fairhurst / Billy Andrews and Mark Burns / Steve Winfrow swapped third and fourth places, with Fairhurst / Andrews finishing just under 3 seconds ahead of Burns / Winfrow after the six laps. Guest riders Tony and Neil Wheatley on their immaculate TZ750 prepared by Peter Wheatley held a constant fifth place, while behind them Simon Horton / Jordan Forrest made places to finish sixth after being left on the line at the start. Wesley Pettman / Tom Dawkins fought with Dave Tibbles / Raitch Greenwood, Dave Crawford / Maverick Davies and Derek Salleh / Jack Fairhurst but eventually they spread out a little and finished in that order. Salleh / Fairhurst had an interesting grass excursion at the bottom of the mountain! Suzuki F1 rider George McMahon / Doug Ross, Billy and Aidan Pearson on the only Formula 350 outfit, guests Richard Butler / Joanne Thomas, Jan Tyrrell / Lewis Kemp were all finishers, but Steve Brooks / Sarah Hulme failed to finish. Gerald and Dave Williams pulled in after the sighting lap – Dave had a previous injury which was exacerbated.

The second race was carried over to Sunday morning and was shortened to 5 laps. The Hodgsons didn’t make the holding area, and Horton / Forrest, the Wheatleys, Pettman / Dawkins and Salleh / Fairhurst came in after the sighting lap with mechanical, clutch and brake issues.

Saunders / Stell got the holeshot and held it all race. Burns / Winfrow held second for the first couple of laps but a mechanical issue forced retirement on the fourth lap. Stephenson / Ranson also pulled up on the fourth lap. Bingham / Dalton took second place at the flag, followed by Fairhurst / Andrews, Brooks / Hulme, Tibbles / Greenwood, Crawford / Davies, the Roberts, McMahon / Ross, the Pearsons, Butler / Thomas with Tyrrell / Kemp bringing up the rear.

In the second race of the day, the non-starters were all back on the grid for the seven lap race. Brooks / Hulme took the lead but by the end of the first lap, Saunders / Stell were back in front and extended their lead. Behind them the F1s of Brooks / Hulme, Fairhurst / Andrews and Burns / Winfrow had a good battle, with Fairhurst gaining 3 seconds on Brooks by the finish and Burns / Winfrow dropping back to sixth. Steve Dalton had an injury and was unable to take part in further racing, so Kenny Cole accompanied Andrew Bingham to a fourth place. From fifteenth on the grid, the Wheatleys made good progress to finish eighth. Gerald Hodgson was out with his son Daniel as stand-in passenger, and finished behind Salleh / Fairhurst and Butler / Thomas who were chasing Bill and Nick Roberts and McMahon / Ross. Stephenson / Ranson and the Pearsons went out after one lap.

It seemed a long wait in the sunshine until the third race of the day, as it was last in the programme. Kenny Cole was not available so Andy Haynes was in the chair for Bingham. Brooks / Hulme shot into the lead but were penalised ten seconds for a jump start, and were also overtaken by Saunders / Stell on the first lap, who had achieved a long lead by lap three. On the fourth lap, Crawford / Davies had a sprocket fall off and chain jam up which left the outfit in a dangerous position so the red flag came out. While they were being recovered, and the majority of the outfits were in the holding area, most were in favour of calling the race result after the three laps completed. As well as Crawford / Davies’s breakdown, Burns / Winfrow and McMahon / Ross also pulled off with mechanical issues, and the finishing order behind Saunders / Stell was Fairhurst / Andrews, Bingham / Haines, Horton / Forrest, the Wheatleys, Pettman / Dawkins, Brooks / Hulme, Tibbles / Greenwood, Roberts / Roberts, Salleh / Fairhurst, Butler / Thomas and Tyrrell / Kemp.

After the washout at Anglesey Jan Tyrrell and Lewis Kemp were pleased to have completed all four races without any problems and made significant improvement in their lap times.

Results Saturday:
F1 Fairhurst / Andrews, Burns / Winfrow, guests Wheatley / Wheatley, Horton / Forrest, Tibbles / Greenwood,
McMahon / Ross
F2 Bingham / Dalton, Saunders / Stell, Pettman / Dawkins, Crawford / Davies, Salleh / Fairhurst,
Pearson / Pearson, guest Butler / Thomas, Tyrrell / Kemp

Sunday Race 1:
F1 Fairhurst / Andrews, Brooks / Hulme, Tibbles / Greenwood, McMahon / Ross
F2 Saunders / Stell, Bingham / Dalton, Crawford / Davies, Roberts / Roberts, Pearson / Pearson, Butler /
Thomas, Tyrrell / Kemp
Race 2:
F1 Fairhurst / Andrews, Brooks / Hulme, Horton / Forrest, Burns / Winfrow, Wheatley / Wheatley, Tibbles /
Greenwood, McMahon / Ross
F2 Saunders / Stell, Bingham / Dalton, Pettman / Dawkins, Crawford / Davies, Roberts / Roberts, Salleh /
Fairhurst, Butler / Thomas, Hodgson / Hodgson, Tyrrell / Kemp
Race 3:
F1 Fairhurst / Andrews, Horton / Forrest, Wheatley / Wheatley, Brooks / Hulme, Tibbles /
Greenwood,
F2 Saunders / Stell, Bingham / Dalton, Pettman / Dawkins, Crawford / Davies, Roberts / Roberts, Salleh /
Fairhurst, Butler / Thomas, Hodgson / Hodgson, Tyrrell / Kemp