Mike Clarke came eighth out of 25 in his first season competing in the European Veteran Long-track Series. (0536683)

MIKE CLARKE has completed his first season of European long-track racing competing in the European Veteran Long-track Series, which is held over six rounds.

The veteran track racer, who is 56, started his racing career on Vazon in 1970 and still competes at local sand race meetings.

The first meeting in Parchim, Germany got off to a good start with a second and two thirds in the heats.

However, Clarke had to pull out of the final due to illness.

The second meeting at Marianske Lazne in the Czech Republic got even worse.

Machine problems meant that he scored nil on the super-fast 1,000m track.

However, it was at the Czech meeting that Clarke was offered the use of new machinery by Kent building company Woodcock & Son Ltd.

The new equipment was ready for round three in Dramen, Norway, but the meeting clashed with the Condor Ferries Sand Ace at Vazon so it was decided to use the Sand Ace as a test for the new bike thereby scoring nil in the third round of the series.