South West series meeting at Tiverton Moto Park halted after accident

Following a string of event cancellations after six months rainfall in six weeks, racing in the Chard club’s round of the South West off-road motocross series at Halberton near Tiverton on Sunday had to be curtailed because of dust and what could easily have been a tragic accident.

A tractor and bowser dowsed the Tiverton Moto Park after the first few races, but when attempting to repeat the process later in the meeting the tractor and bowser overturned close to a safety fence.

The water bowser on it side in the midst of watering the track at Tiverton. Photo by Dave Rich
Michael Rich from Taunton gave his all in the Junior Open class and took fifth overall on the day. Photo by Dave Rich

This resulted in a stake entering the cab and missing the driver, who did not wish to be named, by inches.

Wisely, the organisers then decided to delete the last block of seven races.

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Wayne Shimmel led the first experts race for a brief period before brilliant Devon teenager Bill Farleigh broke through.

By the half way stage, he looked to have the race in his pocket, but a last lap spill almost cost him the race and Shimmel and Jamie Skuse were just over a second in arrears at the finish. Ryan Allen set the pace in the second race, but within a lap Farleigh was in front.

James Kensington was his closest rival for several laps but he lost places to Steve Holcombe, Tom Harvey and Skuse as the race progressed.

Matt Holcombe won the first senior race by 13 seconds and Somerton veteran Steve Locke the second by a similar margin. Luke Chandler, Gary Jones and Andrew Sheard dominated the three junior events.

Four times winners of the British sidecar trial championship, Jon Tuck and Matt Sparks, showed that they have not lost any of their former skills by winning the title class in a one-off comeback in the seventh round of the current series in the BSSA organised event in the Chew Valley.

They finished ten marks up on Rupert and Chris Kimber after a total of 36 sections at Beaconsfield Farm, West Harptree, Malthouse Farm, Chelwood and Fry’s Bottom near Clutton.

Phil Sparks and Roger Tuck increased their advantage in the clubman’s class with a four mark win over Paul Churchill and Kevin Parnell, but with Tuck moving to Greece to live, Sparks will have to seek another partner for the last three rounds.

Barry Varndell from Fareham in Hampshire returned the fastest time of the day in the National Sprint Association’s Quarter Mile Championship meeting at Westonzoyland near Bridgwater, despite a head wind.

Sixty-three high ranking competitors from many parts of the UK took part in the first local meeting of the year. Twelve others reached speeds of more than 100 miles an hour at th event, including Plymouth’s Fred Granger and veteran sprinter Henry Body from Biddisham on his Kingswood-built Douglas.

Chard MCC South West Off-Road Motocross at Tiverton – Experts first race: 1, B Farleigh 2, W Shimmel 3, Jamie Skuse 4, T Harvey. Second race: 1, G Farleigh 2, S Holcombe 3, Harvey 4, Skuse.

Seniors first race: 1, M Holcombe 2, M Ferris 3, L Veale 4, S Locke. Second race: 1, Locke 2, Ferris 3, Holcombe 4, S Richards.

Juniors Group One, first race: 1, L Chandler 2, J Hellier 3, C Hill 4, L Dyer. Second race: 1, Chandler 2, B Morrison 3, C Page 4, J Bovey. Group Two, first race: 1, G Jones 2, L Atwell 3, S Loxley 4, M Bate. Second race: 1, Jones 2, Atwell 3, M Yelland 4, I Bailey. Group Three, first race: 1, A Sheard 2, L Barfoot 3, R Harris 4, J Twentyman. Second race: 1, Sheard 2, L Barfoot 3, Harris 4, Twentyman.

Inter Juniors 9-13 years, first race: 1, B Cooper 2, J Harris 3, C Warren 4, M Treen. Second race: 1, Cooper 2, Harris 3, Warren 4, Treen. 14-17 years, first race: 1, D Simmons 2, T Parker 3, L Parrish 4, B Gibbins. Second race: 1, Simmons 2, Parker 3, Gibbens 4, Parrish.

National Sprint Association Quarter Mile meeting at Westonzoyland, Somerset – racing class 250cc: P Sanchez (Suzuki) 14.6 sec, terminal speed 94mph. 400cc: C Fellowes (Suzuki) 12.94, 110. 500cc: N Law (Godden) 11.26, 115. 750cc: S Rees (Triumph) 11.41, 109. 1000cc: A Lodge (Suzuki) 9.73, 146. Unlimited: T Hicke (Suzuki) 10.61, 140. Racing Class – 250cc: E Parkinson (Suzuki) 14.02, 103. 400cc: B Layzell (Yamaha) 13.21, 106. 750cc: R Fellowes (Yamaha) 12.25, 114. Unlimited: F Granger (Suzuki) 10.56, 134. Super Street: B Varandell (Kawasaki) 9.36, 147. Vintage pre 1946: 350cc R Siddall (JAP) 15.50, 81. 500cc: P Benge (JAP) 14.29, 86. Unlimited: H Body (Douglas) 12.52, 100. Classic Non Japanese: D Joy (Triumph) 12.76, 104. Japanese: R Broom (Yamaha) 12.16, 101. 500cc sidecar: H Body (Douglas) 15.01, 86. Scooter: B West (Lambretta) 15.44, 82.

BSSA (Wessex) British Sidecar Trial Championship, Round 7, West Harptree – Championship Class: 1, J Tuck, M Sparks (Beta) 23 marks lost 2, R & C Kimber (Sherco) 33 3, R & S Luscombe (Beta) 34.

Intermediates: 1, P Dale & B Pocock (Beta) 40 2, T Crabtree & J Howe (Beta) 47 3, S Radford & M Redston (Beta) 48.

Clubmen: 1, P Sparks & R Tuck (Beta) 31 2, P Churchill & K Parnell (Gas Gas) 35 3, P Fishlock & D Merrill (Ariel) 37.