This was the season finale for BHR with both the 250 specials and Ducati championships still to be decided.
250 and 350 Specials in the collecting area
Our first outing was the combined 250/350 Specials race. Stu and Andy both got the good starts they needed as the 250's started a few rows behind the 350's. At the end of lap 1, Mark Capewell led on his Aermacchi 350 with Stu 4th and Andy 6th, already well ahead of the other 250's. By the third lap Stu had taken the lead with Andy 4th, but on the final lap, Andy put in the fastest lap of the weekend for either of the Steelcraft riders (1minute 56.18 seconds) to take the win from Stu
The Ducati class was mixed with the 500 class, mainly Manx Nortons, Matchless G50's and so on.
In the first race, the first Ducati home was nine times Manx Grand prix winner, Bill Swallow on his 350 (2nd overall to Austin Kear, 500 Manx), Andy was 2nd (5th o/a) and Stu 3rd (7th o/a), 4th home was Craig Ridgley (350)
Bill Swallow at the Mountain
The second 250/350 race was pretty much a repeat of race 1, but this time Andy and Stu were first and second overall by lap 2, it was also a repeat run in the second Ducati race, Bill 1st then Andy, Stu and Craig.
This video shows some typical 250/350 specials action, it took Stu a while to get through to 2nd place - It's worth a "double click" to view in larger window.
In the first 250/350 race on Sunday Stu finally got the 250 class win coming home 2nd overall to another Manx GP regular, Mark Herbertson on his AJS 7R. Andy was pipped to the line by Ian Cramp (Greeves Special) for second.
Mark Herbertson 7R
Ready to go for the next race alongside Susan Gunson (250 Monza)
The first Ducati race reverted to type, Bill then Andy then Stu but with Charles Davies (250) beating Craig to 4th
350 Ducati's of Irish guest riders Bill Smyth and Peter Simpson
In the final 250/350 race Stu retired on lap 2 with a vibration from the rear wheel (yet to be diagnosed). leaving Andy to take an easy class win and second overall to a fine ride from Mark Capewell after a fast engine change to his bike, his "spare" engine was obviously pretty good
Not eligible at BHR but a nice example of a Benelli 2C currently for sale, yours for £2500
Ariel Arrow takes no notice of the Cadwell Park rules
The final Ducati race was another win for Bill Swallow, Andy second and with Stu absent, Charles Davies took a good third
Bill's 350
All this meant that Andy had sewn up both the 250 Specials and Ducati championships
Andy at the Mountain
That's the last outing of the year for Stu, but Andy hopes to ride at Snetterton with the CRMC in early October
After Andy had a run out on a two stroke at Mallory Park with the inevitable seizure, he was pleased to be back on the Ducati.
The Nurburgring is a new track to Steelcraft Racing and with its fast flowing turns over 5.137Km, Andy wasn’t sure how suited it would be to the 22 BHP Ducati. This was the spare engine as the quick motor was still not finished due to broken bones hampering garage time.
The weekend was an historic racing festival incorporating the ADAC Eifelrennen and the Jan Wellem cup, with cars and bikes dating from the 1920’s
There was a nice selection of Italian singles including Ducati, Motobo ,Morini and Aermacchi
As is quite usual on the continent meetings of this nature are called regularity runs with trophies going to the most consistent lap times. Steelcraft were there to race and so it seemed were most of the others.
Practice was a very wet affair as you would expect with the track nestling in the Eifel Mountains. This was no barrier to good lap times and saw the Steelcraft Ducati on pole for the “race”
An interesting Ducati Fairing
Gilera Saturno San Remo
We thought Sarolea made cakes
The Ducati was Third overall on track and first in class (250cc 1950-1967) Lap times on the dry track were steadily increasing so put the score down to 20th in the regularity Andy had an excellent race with a 250 Aermacchi swapping places every lap with the final result coming down to who got through the backmarkers best and as Steelcraft take no prisoners Andy was first to the flag.
Some clips of solos, classic F1 and sidecars from the ring
Sunday was also a dry race and slight gearing change saw the lap times drop again finishing with a best lap of 2.53.2
This shot is worth a "double click" to see it full size - see how many famous names you recognise
All together a superb weekend well organised and with an amazing variety of historic machines at an iconic venue definitely one for next years calender.
British Historic Racing made their second visit to Mallory on September the 4th. Sadly, neither of the Steelcraft 250's were racing due to more engine work on both bikes. Grids were again a little low, more evidence of the financial climate, but a number of Ducati singles still made their presence felt in the Ducati, 250/350 specials and 250 pre-1963 classes.
First out on a damp grid were the specials, featuring Ducati's, Aermacchi's and an MV. It was Mark Capewell on the Aermacchi who took the win in the 350's and Rob Butlers Ducati in the 250 class.
Start of the 250/350 specials - eventual winner Mark Capewell centre of the front row
Mark was also to take the win in race 2 ahead of similarly mounted Nick Bedford with Craig Ridgely's Ducati 3rd, Rob Butler again taking the 250 honours
Rob Butler - 250 Narrowcase
Ahead of Geoff Mills
Mills on his Spondon framed 250
In the Lacey Ducati championship, Rod Graham led on his pre-1963 spec 250 but Craig Ridgely was closing fast until, while flat out in top gear exiting Gerrards bend, his swinging arm spindle made a bid for freedom, happily he stayed on board and cruised to a halt, waiting for his heart rate to slow down.
This left Rod Graham to take the win, the first time he had taken the flag despite previous class wins.
Rod Grahams 250 in pre-63 spec- no fairing, early type Gardner carb, early forks etc.
Craig Ridgeley's widecase 350 after the swinging arm pin was re-fitted
Rod also took the win in race 2, Craig again failing to finish, not a great day for Craig but another good showing for the Ducati's at BHR
