 |
 |
 |
|||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|||
|
|
|
|
The biggest entry for many years combined with the same perfect track layout as last year, together with plenty of spectators and unbelievable luck with the weather (the forecast was terrible with thunder and lightning and it was raining heavily in Annan and in Biggar) was the recipe for a superb Thornhill and so it proved. It was great to see that the revival after several years, of the Saturday evenings fun was such a success, with the marquee being absolutely full together with just as many people outside where the bar was situated. There was a quiz as well as a film show and the night was enjoyed by everyone incuding star rider Tim Manton who was reputed to have drunk four bottles of red wine, but still showed no ill effects the following day where he rode like an absolute hero. Long travelled visitors such as Tim and his friend Rob Griffith (he of the wig and the sheep!) certainly added to the meeting with their superb riding skills and their big personalities. Back to the meeting itself where the Twinshock boys put on a display of very quick racing with an absolutely brilliant John Stokes winning from the four stroke of Simon Watson with stylish Cumbrian Gary Sowerby third. Simon also came second to the majestic Tommy Anderson in the Pre 75 up to 300cc Class and local man Scotty Maxwell wrapped up the bigger pre 75 Class on his thundering CCM while comeback kid Michel Houston came a tremendous second to Tim Manton in the pre 65 over 300cc Class after an enforced layoff of three years from a very badly brocken leg-Wecome back Michael !.Steve Dent had a good day in winning the smaller pre 65 Cass as well as coming second to the flying Colin Barrie in the Pre 70's. The age related races after the interval saw CCM victories for big Ken Soutar in the over 50's and Robert Kennedy in the under 40's from Andrew Alston from Dumfries who also got third in the Pre 75 up to 300cc Class.It was nice to see the very original DOT of Andrew Johnson come third in the under 40's while the Maico man from Dunoon Grant McClure was unstoppable in the over 40's from the Bulto and Kawasaki of Derek Macauley and Ian Stainton respectively. The last race of the day saw success finanally come to ex. AMCA Champion Gary Parker from Preston who ripped through the field from the back riding Colin Wilkinson's CCM for the first time, to take the lead on the final lap-Great stuff! Thornhill is a social gathering as well as a very competitive Scramble and this year the biggest Classic meeting in Scotland was simply superb in every way. Roll on next year. Richard Winn. RESULTS PRE 1960 1) PETER JACKSON 2) ROB GRIFFITHS 3) COLIN JACKSON PRE 65 UP TO 350cc 1) STEVE DENT 2) ADAM PURDHAM 3) MALCOLM SIMMS. PRE 65 OVER 350cc 1) TIM MANTON 2) MICHAEL HOUSTON 3) DONALD PENRICE. PRE 1970 1) COLIN BARRIE 2) STEVE DENT 3) JOHN McCRINK PRE 75 UP TO 300cc 1) TOMMY ANDERSON 2) SIMON WATSON 3) ANDREW ALSTON. PRE 75 OVER 300cc 1) SCOTT MAXWELL 2) ROBERT KENNEDY 3) IAN ROBERTSON. TWINSHOCK 1) JOHN STOKES 2) SIMON WATSON 3) GARY SOWERBY OVER 50'S 1) KEN SOUTAR 2) ROB GRIFFITHS 3) STUART STAINTON OVER 40'S 1) GRANT McCLURE 2) DEREK MACAULEY 3) IAN STAINTON UNDER 40'S 1) ROBERT KENNEDY 2) ANDREW ALSTON 3) ANDREW JOHNSON HANDICAP WINNER-GARY PARKER MAN OF MEETING-ROB GRIFFITHS |
|
|
|
Some pictures from practice |
||
|
|
|
 |
 |
||
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
||
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
||
|
|
|
|
 |
||
|
|
|
 |
||
|
|
|
 |
||
|
|
|
Things were going so well for Graham Bell |
|
|
|
 |
||
|
|
|
Until |
|
|
|
 |
||
|
|
|
Back in the pits |
|
|
|
 |
||
|
|
|
The good news, we found the bolt that fell out. |
|
|
|
|
|