Close action and friendly, but fierce-rivalry are the watch-words at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough next weekend, Saturday and Sunday 12th & 13th July for the annual Cock o’the North Road Races with perhaps two of the most experienced ‘pure’ road race competitors, Chris Palmer and Ian Lougher, who have 174 victories between them at the North Yorkshire venue, once again taking up the challenge of the 2.43-mile hillside course, known to many as “The Miniature TT Course.”
Ulster based Welshman Ian Lougher has four machines at his disposal from the single cylinder 125cc bike up to the 1000cc four-cylinder Superbike, as ex-Cumbrian Manxman Chris Palmer has his 125cc, 250cc and 600cc machines to ride at this prestigious meeting.
Whilst these two ‘veterans’ of the tarmac may have numerous race wins at the Mount, they certainly won’t be allowed to run away with yet more victories without taking into consideration the formidable opposition, who will be wanting to claim the silverware on offer by the organising Auto 66 Club.
Sowerby Bridge man Ian Armstrong has taken up an offer to rider the fast A.I.R. 600cc and 1000cc Kawasaki’s, whilst Doncaster’s Mick Goodings, no stranger to taking the chequered flag at his ‘local’ circuit will have his 400 and 600 mounts at his disposal.
Mark Buckley makes the trip from Loch Lomand, having made his debut at Oliver’s Mount at this meeting last year and does not intend to return home to Scotland empty handed. Mark will also out on the ultra fast Stewart Smith Racing 250cc Honda for the first time.
David Bell has a brace of green machines supplied by his regular sponsors, Kawasaki Newcastle. Another Scarborough regular, Peter Wakefield from Sandbach, Cheshire, again used to success, will have Ultra-Lightweight and Lightweight Hondas, ready to mix-it with the other two stroke specialists over the two-day meeting.
Turning to the Sidecars, Nigel Connole and passenger Jamie Winn claimed the chequered cloth in three of the four races they contested twelve months ago riding the Screwfix Honda outfit and once again will be wanting to repeat their successes of last year, having made a mad-dash from the Southern ‘100’ Road Races in the Isle of Man, which finishes on Thursday evening. Nigel has 13 wins to his credit so far and will be up against Leeds motorcycle dealer Eddy Wright who has amassed some 21 victories around the popular circuit and his regular passenger Martin Hull.
Another regular Tony Thirkell and passenger Nigel Barlow will also be wanting a share of the silverware, as will Dougie Wright and Dipash Chauhan on their 600 Shelbourne Honda.
The racing action gets underway at 1.00pm on both Saturday and Sunday with practicing commencing at 9.00am on Saturday and 9.30am on Sunday. Saturday sees a total of eight races, and Sunday nine, including the feature event for the prestigious Cock o’the North Trophy and title - certainly a meeting not to be missed, the competition will be hot, close and fast over the two days!
