Road Races
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Full grids expected for
Blackford’s Classic TT Road Races
With less than a fortnight before entries close, those received from competitors for the 2008 running of the Blackford Financial Services Pre-TT Classic Road Races indicate that there will be full grids for each of the races, when they get underway on the Billown Course in the south of the Isle of Man on Monday 26th May, with practice taking place on Friday evening 23rd and Saturday afternoon 24th May.
Since Regulations and Entry Forms were sent out, there has been no delay in the eagerness of would be competitors returning their entries to race secretary, George Peach.
The six race programme caters for 250cc & 350cc single cylinder machines; Lightweight (250cc); Junior (350cc); Senior (500cc); Unlimited; (850cc); Post Classic Superbikes and of course the ever popular Sidecars, is one of the most prestigious classic road races on the annual calendar, which is now in its 20th year.
The Southern 100 Racing organisers are looking forward to welcoming back most of the previous year’s race winners, including double victor for the last two years, Chris Palmer returns to the meeting on Fred Walmsley’s prepared machines.
Notably absentee last year, thirteen times
winner, and the man who took the 2006 Singles laurel wreath, Bill Swallow, makes
his promised return to the Billown Course, whilst his son Chris makes his debut
on Ducati and Manx Norton machinery.
Other previous winners returning to the
popular ‘Southside’ venue are, Alan Oversby, Bud Jackson, Terry Kermode and
Rich Hawkins.
Many regulars are once again making
their annual visit to test their skills around the 4.25-mile course, including
Les Cross, Peter Wakefield, Allan Brew, Danny Pullen, Les Trotter, Bud Jackson,
Ian Rycroft, Tony Cawte Tony Russell to name but a few.
Entries in the ever-popular Sidecar Class is
headed by last year’s winners, Nick Houghton and Paul Thomas and includes Eddie
Toombs and Bob Dowty, Ian and Debbie Salter, Mike Barry and Alun Thomas, Lenny
Pallister and Ian Marriner, Albert H Price and Dicky Gale, Charlie Cope and
daughter Louise Nichol, Dick Hawes and Tim Dixon, along with French regulars,
Bernard Collonge and Fabrice Durantet.
The ‘three-wheeler’ class has also attracted
four crews from Holland, all making the debut, Kobus Bouman and Sam Kiers;
Hendrick Jonker and Clara Spoorenberg; Richard Pouwels and Kim van Loon along
with the all female team of Anja Braas and Diana Bouman.
The Singles Race is due to get the meeting started
at 3:00pm on Saturday 24th, with the other six races being held on
the Monday 26th May commencing at 9:30am.
The open air Prize Presentation and Concours
d' Elegance will take place on Tuesday 27th in Castletown Square
commencing at 2:00pm.
Be sure to be one of the many around the
Southern ‘100’ course and soak up the atmosphere, enjoying the sights and
sounds of the cream of the classic racers and take in the aroma of Castrol ‘R’
– there’s nothing like it!
Ends
24th March 2008
