Croix, in Northern France, is a unique piece of real estate.
Sure, it’s reminiscent, in parts, of Pembrey, Brands Indy, Lydden, and Anglesey, and yet it has a character all of it’s own.
For a start, the paddocks virtually enclose the track, which gives an unusually intimate feel to an event, and gives those with a tent or caravan a fantastic view of the action.
This, in turn, means that family and friends, who often get a poor shake at British race circuits, become an intrinsic part of the weekend.
A relaxed atmosphere pervades, and the ozone layer trembles at the onslaught of a myriad of barbies, impromptu, strangely competitive, ‘games’ of rounders, and much carousing into the wee small hours, discussing Sartre, Descartes, and how a nation that has championed red wine and pate, and co-produced something as stunningly beautiful as Concorde, could fail so woefully to understand the principle of clean, working toilets.

Wet, he was a star…

Very little gladdens the heart more than the sight of a regular club racer, one who extracts maximum satisfaction merely from the joy of going round and round in circles, year after year, than the sight of said weekend hero clutching a well-deserved trophy.
At the Bemsee Croix weekend, Bruce Munro pedalled his sidecar, with Carol McBride as active ballast, to two victories in appallingly wet conditions in Sunday’s races.
His first two wins, backed by fastest laps in each race – you’d have had to nail the corners of his mouth to the ground to stop him smiling…and Carol worked her socks off to get him there, leaving her aching in every limb, as this was her first racing in a while.

Fuller fun!

Another rider happily clutching silverware was Dan Fuller, who backed a fighting third in the first of Sunday’s Minitwin races, with a maiden win in the afternoon.
This was a superb ride by Dan, and a thoroughly deserved first victory, equalled in determination only by Peter Molloy, who, despite the pain from his smashed right ankle, re-took the championship lead with a win and three second places.

Hot Toddie…

Another podium virgin seduced in the rolling hills above the Somme was MZedder, Todd Brown.
Superb, race-long duels with Mark Jones resulted in a couple of pots for third for Todd, an achievement that gave great pleasure to his fellow competitors, and to the paddock in general.

Going Green…

Richard Green had to have serious surgery on his arms, after his race-stopping crash in the Triumph Triple Challenge, at Cadwell Park, just a month ago.
He’d suffered injuries that might sink many a Rookie, but young Richard is made of sterner stuff.
He entered the Rookie 600 races in France, looking for mileage and muscle build-up.
I had a chat with him on Saturday evening, after his two races resulted in a fall, and a fourth. Determined not to be disheartened, he promised me he would do better the next day.
Two third-place trophies on the Sunday speak volumes for this tough little competitor…

Phil his boots…

The all-new, one-off Vyrus, was ridden to a superb win in the second Thunderbike race on Sunday, by Phil Read.
Seven major manufacturers were represented, but the Vyrus beat them all, and there could be many more victories to come for Phil, as he develops this lovely looking machine.