This Is Guernsey

By Nick Mollet

New GMC&CC sand track committee chairman Mike Clarke still mixes it with the younger riders at Vazon, having first rode 38 years ago. (Picture by Andrew Le Poidevin. 0536683)

SAND track racing organisers are planning to create fresh impetus and extra excitement for competitors and spectators at Vazon Bay this season. The 2008 season looks set to see the continued growth in popularity of the sport through events organised by the Guernsey Motorcycle & Car Club.

With a revamped programme for bikes consisting of two team and two handicapped meetings, the King of the Beach meeting and five championship rounds, this year looks set to provide some fast and close racing.

Handicaps will be calculated in a similar way to golf, with faster riders starting without points and others being awarded points prior to the event based on previous results.

The club will also once again be running the extremely competitive Condor Ferries Sand Ace, with top national and international grass-track and long-track riders challenging the locals for honours and prize money on 7 June. It has become one of Guernsey’s premier sporting events.

‘We wanted to make the racing as exciting as possible for both competitors and spectators.

‘We have shortened some of the bike races to four laps in line with speedway and grass track, introduced the team events and removed any races from the programme that didn’t count towards the result of the day,’ said new GMC&CC sand track committee chairman Mike Clarke.

‘We are receiving some great sponsorship from Guernsey companies but still need more sponsors as we obviously can’t charge admission.’

He believes the Sand Ace meeting in early summer is a great opportunity for companies to get involved in a prestige motor-racing event and is urging potential sponsors to contact the club for details.

Local ace Anthony Bougourd will be campaigning to retain his 500cc motorcycle championship title for a record six times. He will be riding his JRM-powered track bikes and it is rumoured that he has a special Ted Leasing-tuned motor for the Sand Ace meeting.

His cousin, Anthony Queripel, who has developed into a fast and very competitive rider after having gained experience on UK grass tracks, will challenge him this season.

Another rider who has had success on the UK grass-track scene is Simon Cohu, whose flat out leg-trailing style is thrilling to watch. Although it sometimes results in him coming off, he will also be a challenger for race wins.

One of the UK’s top grass track riders, Daniel Winterton, is hoping to compete in most of this season’s meetings and will be keeping a bike here and flying in to race.

The ex-Sheffield Speedway star is the current King of the Beach and will start as one of the favourites to win the championship.

Veteran Clarke will also be in the hunt for race wins using his JRM bike powered by an engine acquired from the world number-two speedway rider, Leigh Adams.

Along with fellow competitor Dave Cleal, Clarke first rode at Vazon 38 years ago and both can still mix it with the younger riders.

The junior bike classes look set to increase in number this season, with a number of motocross riders keen to compete on the much faster sand track. Alderney’s Dean Chandler will once again be the only junior riding a slider.

This season he will be on a new, slightly larger bike purpose-built by his grandfather, Glyn, who will have used his knowledge gained as a Cradley Heath speedway rider during the 50s and 60s.

Production car classes are expected to be as competitive as ever and with the racing cars set to increase in number, this is tipped to be a class that will provide some thrilling racing.

Ozzy Ozanne will be campaigning the monster supercharged V8 single seater that he shares with veteran racer ‘Noddy’ Le Prevost.

Both are expected to face some stiff competition from Ben Batiste in his grass-track car powered by a Kawasaki ZZR and Ian Shorto is rumoured to have a brand new grass-track vehicle powered by a 1,300cc Suzuki Hayabusa motor.

Trevor ‘Billy’ Le Page has also fitted a Hayabusa engine into his grass tracker and Graham Carrington has upped the power in his Jaguar Special by fitting the latest V8 supercharged power plant fitted to the XK8 Jag.

The first meeting takes place on Saturday 22 March at Vazon starting at noon and admission is free.

Any body or company who wishes to sponsor any of the events is urged to call 720022 or 07781 103760.