THE organising club outlives the format by about six years, but sand racing at Vazon dates back very nearly 90 years.
An old taped interview with veteran campaigner and former States deputy Bill Green, paints a picture of the sport in its early days on the sands when thousands would flock to the beach to see the action.
It was probably 1921 when the first meetings were held but a decade or so later it had grounded to a halt like a misfiring engine. Before he died Green, one of the greats on two wheels, recalled the early races.
‘There was Kenny Bell and Harold Le Parmentier, I remember that well, Tim Thoumine, and that’s probably it as far as the actual riders, at that time.’
He also recalled stories of an earlier racer, Freddie Priaulx. Green was the youngest competitor when he skipped lessons at the Intermediate one Thursday afternoon in 1922 to go racing.
On the start line for the 10-lap motorcycles race featuring No. 2 Bill Green. 0603260
‘I discovered there was no check as to who was there, so playing truant was no problem you see.
‘I went motor-cycle racing with my little two-stroke Royal Enfield, took the silencer off – it made a lovely noise – fell off the darn thing and the Press publicised this, because I was the youngest rider at that time.
‘Of course, Freddie Fulford, my headmaster, discovered where I’d been and in fairness to him, he was very kind about it. But I was very nervous getting back to school the next day.’
It seems the inter-island races started in 1926 and on occasions there were even endurance races of 80 laps.
But in the 1930s, the recession played its part in the club’s financial difficulties and, for a while collapsed. They were racing again before war erupted again: proof being the fantastic 1937 Easter Monday meeting images.
Release from The Occupation gave motor-sport enthusiasts and the public the thirst for a full revival.
It took more than two years to clean up the beach, but by 29 July 1948 it was ready and, by now under the banner of the Guernsey Motor Cycle and Car club, sand racing returned.
The one shilling programme reveals a fairly small entry of just 12 cars and nine bikes.
Old Bill, by now referred to as a veteran, was still there racing his 1925 AJS 349cc.
Among his rivals now was the great ‘Jigger’ Giles.
Article posted on 12th July, 2008 - 9.29am
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