British Historic Racing Championship – Final Round - Cadwell Park
Report and Images by David Gowshall of DEEGEE: Motorsport Photography
24 - 25th September 2022
British Historic Racing (BHR) has organised vintage races for almost 70 years, and full Road-Race meetings for over 50 years.
An integral part of the Vintage Motorcycle Club, BHR’s foundations are based on 1930’s, 40’s & 50’s race machines both 2 and 3-wheel, which provide such an incredible spectacle and insight into yesteryear’s motorcycle machinery for riders and spectators alike.
As the years have passed the BHR has actively evolved to encourage wider opportunities for “like minded folks” to participate.
The introduction in the 2019 season of pre-1990 “Eighties Sports & Superbike” Classes for stock and street-based specials means that the British Historic Racing organisation now offers a wide range of race categories.
This includes solo and sidecar machines from Pre -1948 to the1990s.
This weekend’s final round involved all these machines throughout the two days of racing in which all the championships were decided. The on-track action was intensely competitive with the battle for the final crucial points being fought for in every race.
For both days we were blessed with some pleasant autumnal sunshine but the track temperatures were cool. This caught out more than one competitor as the days programme progressed.
Two riders who particularly stood out for me were Aaron Staniforth and 15-year-old Kelsey Carter, who both ironically carried the #17 plate in their respective classes.
And, as always, the scooters, who I believe are unique to the BHR race programme. The sidecars, particularly the BEARS outfits, provided lots of entertainment.
Success story for PistonClick’s adopted “grass roots” rider
Competing in his first season in the BHR, Pistonclick’s adopted “grass roots” rider Mick Pennell arrived at Cadwell Park, his local track, having sealed the Production Class - Supersport Aircooled 600 championship at the previous meeting held at Darley Moor.
This was his first championship win in the nine years he has been competing, with high hopes of further championship honours in the all-comer’s, and highly sought after, Over-50’s Championship.
Mick’s success in the Production Class class and his opportunity to win the Over-50’s championship and with it the prestigious Bonhams Auctions Trophy, has been built on solid and consistent performances aboard his reliable “steed”. His beautifully turned out 1986 Yamaha FZ600 was acquired specifically at the start of the season for this purpose after a brief fling with sidecar racing in 2021. The FZ600 has a dual role, to compete effectively in both the 2022 BHR and Classic Racing Motorcycle Club championships.
The BHR Over-50’s season has taken in 6 meetings beginning in April at Mallory Park, and included two visits to the principality of Wales (Pembrey and Anglesey). A trip to Darley Moor followed in late Summer and two further outings at Cadwell Park.
Each meeting has consisted of 1 round, with the 6th and final round being competed for at the mini-Nurburgring situated in the Lincolnshire Wolds last weekend.
The Over-50's Championship is based on a series of "Timekeeper Handicap races", which normally end the meeting on Day 1 of the two-day meetings at each venue.
A time handicap, calculated using a complicated and seemingly top-secret equation known only to the timekeepers, is applied per rider based on performances over that weekend. This considers qualification, lap times and what class the rider has competed in.
It is one of those rare occasions in your life when you wish you had listened to your maths teacher all those years ago, when he was teaching you that dark art known as algebra!
A non-finish at Mallory Park, the season opener, due to fuel starvation issues, and 10th place in the next round had initially put Mick on the back foot. A series of excellent performances including two 1st places and a second place, after the handicap had been applied on each occasion, put Mick just six points ahead of his nearest rival Mark Fairweather, before the final event of the season.
Since the Darley Moor meeting Mick has been planning his visit to Cadwell with military precision, trying to second guess any potential issues. This has included taking time off work to make the long trip to York for his mechanical guru Barry to do some final checks on the bike, and acquiring a bright yellow 600FZ “back up” machine, albeit for this one occasion, should his current machine let him down.
Having sealed the Production Championship at the last meeting ,Mick was safe in the knowledge he didn’t need to push too hard in the two races earlier on Saturday. This gave him the opportunity to use both his “spare” bike and his race bike in what were in effect “test runs” to iron out any problems and ensure both bikes were set up correctly for the main event.
However, due to delays during Saturday’s programme the Over-50’s race was postponed to Sunday morning, just adding to the tension, and the nerves were showing when Mick took up what was his first ever pole position, as championship leader, on a grid containing 22 other riders.
The nerves soon evaporated as the race got underway, and Mick settled into fourth place pushing hard throughout. He stayed in fourth for all of the six nail-biting laps keeping his nearest rival, riding a much more powerful machine, in his sights, and recording a new lap record for his class in the process.
But as he returned to the Paddock Mick knew he now faced an anxious wait to allow the results to be recorded and checked before he knew if he had done enough to seal the championship.
The delay in announcing the final results was a very tense period of time, with all involved on tenterhooks.
Finally, after almost half an hour, news came through that Mick had been allocated 1st place in the race on corrected time, and in doing so had sealed the BHR Over 50’s championship.
Congratulations were extended from all around the paddock and from Mick’s supporters who had gathered, and the tears flowed briefly. “Grass roots” racing involves an awful lot of work, a huge commitment and ups and downs during the season, which in Mick’s case had started with a non-finish this season, but his efforts had been rewarded.
His final two rides of the meeting on Sunday afternoon, were as a double champion, finishing a highly creditable 10th overall in the final race of the day.
Mick’s first 2022 British Historic Racing season has been one I’m sure he is immensely proud of and I’m confident he’ll be back in 2023.
Mick, like all the riders, fully appreciate the contribution of all the volunteer officials who make club racing possible, including the “Orange Army” of marshals, the recovery crews and emergency service crews who were there when needed over what was a very busy weekend. A special mention must go out to the commentators, Jono and Rusty, who provided the spectators with an endless flow of information and humour.
You can see more of David’s work on his website.
You can find out more about the British Historic Racing Championship and the club here.
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