Dec 08 Adelaide Equity Café Racer Club Championship

The last thing anyone expected for the 2008 Café Racer Club Championship at Mallala on December 14th was a torrential downpour in the morning. 40 degree heat or a howling Northerly were far more likely, but rain it was. By the time morning warm up commenced the weather had abated to intermittent showers and it stayed that way through until the lunch break, clearing to fine conditions for the afternoon's finals. Unfortunately, the inclement weather kept the spectators away, despite an intensive radio advertising campaign, but it was pleasing to see the corporate facility oversubscribed to the extent that the area had to be extended.

The Café Racer Club Championship events were dominated by Billy McConnell on the Adelaide Equity Honda CBR1000RR, displaying the skills he has picked up competing in the British Superbike series. 2009 British Supersport Champion, Glen Richards, and fellow British Superbike competitor, David "DJ" Johnson took notes from the spectator area as McConnell showed them what they can expect next season, with an awe inspiring passing move on Coast Yamaha R1 mounted Adam Christie around turn 2. Christie and Sean McKay (Kessner Suzuki GSXR1000) tried hard to take the challenge to McConnell in the 3 x 3 lap format, but McConnell's fast starts and ability to drop into the 1:09's at will ensured his position on the top step of the podium. Ultimately mechanical failure took Christie out of the final race. Final positions were 1st McConnell, 2nd McKay and 3rd Christie.

Simon Chapman, Race Bike Services Ducati 1098S, came into the final round of the Steve Martin Cup with a strong points lead. Nearest challenger, Paul Radford, missed the restart of the first race after it had been red flagged due to a heavy fall of rain. Steve Leach didn't contest the final round, choosing to focus his efforts on the Reece Bancell Trophy, and a family trip to the UK saw Graham "Graceful" Snaith also miss the round. There were a number of strong performances in the field, notably Chas Hern who had trekked across from Victoria with the Underground Designs Suzuki GSXR600 challenging Adam Christie (Coast Yamaha R1) in the final race, his efforts praised by the assembled international riders. Dave Anderson looked like he is coming grips with his new Kawasaki ZX10, finishing 3rd and 5th outright in the combined Unlimited field. Final series positions were 1st Simon Chapman, 2nd Paul Radford, 3rd Steve Leach.

The hotly contested Reece Bancell Trophy Series presented strong fields to the club's special guest Dave Bancell. Steve Leach (Ace Web Design Suzuki GSXR1000), Ben North (Suzuki GSXR1000), Ashley Manuel (Coast Yamaha R6) and Michael Lawrie (Suzuki GSXR600) fought it out at the front of the quality field. In the end it would be Steve Leach, with 2 second places and a win in the final race who won the Reece Bancell Trophy for 2008, with Michael Lawrie 2nd having overtaken his cousin Scott Lawrie (3rd) in the final round points chase.

Greg Kennedy took out the Historic Group 1 round on a Matchless G50, followed by Les Bell and John Whallin. In Historic Group 2 Paul Walker had a clean sweep in 1st place (Yamaha R5), followed by Ray Avery and Terry Mader.

The Auldana Foundations Limited Solo class was won by David Healey (Yamaha TZ250) with 3 first places. With 2nd place for this round, Sandro Malatesta (Ducati 695) won the 2008 Limited Series. Third place in the round went to Sam Watson (Aprilia RS250).

With a damp Bracket Division 1 qualifying, most of the field qualified slower than Division 2. As the weather looked to be variable it seemed safer to leave the division groups essentially as they were and remove the break-out times. Bracket Division 1 was won by Paul van der Heiden (Suzuki GSX-R1000).

The Café Racer Club thanks its special guests for the weekend, Fox Sports commentator, World Endurance Championship competitor, Steve Martin, Reece Bancell Foundation representative, Dave Bancell, 2008 British Supersport Champion, Glen Richards, 2008 FIM Superstock Cup winner, Brendan Roberts, British Superbike Competitors Billy McConnell and Dave Johnson. Our very special thanks to Café Racer Club Championship sponsor, Adelaide Equity Partners and series sponsors, Steve Martin, Race Bike Services, Steve Cramer Products, Sonnex Laser, Bridgeland Motorcycles, Shingleback Wines and Auldana Foundations.

Round report coming soon.

Due to timing computing problems, electronic copies of the results are not available for this round. The series points have been updated

February in South Australia is renowned for scorching temperatures. A race meeting at Mallala on the 3rd of the month held the promise of extreme conditions. Despite the potential weather, and early start to the season, a strong field of over 80 entries was listed for the meeting. As it happened, the action on the track was hotter than the day itself. Most riders reported slower times than Saturday’s practice in the 35 degree humidity, but the competition on the track was as close as it has ever been.

The Unlimited Solo events were dominated by Stephen Liddicoat on the Suzuki GSXR1000, realising the potential of the work he put in at the close of the 2007 season. Yamaha R1 mounted Michael Blunden and Ian Andrews on his Supersport Suzuki GSXR600 were left to battle for the minor placings, Blunden dipping into the 1:09’s in the chase. The major points for the round of the Steve Martin Cup, run within Unlimited Solo, were taken by Blunden with 3 wins, from Aprilia Tuono mounted Paul Radford with a third and two seconds. Graham Snaith brought the “Hyosung” R1 home in second place in the first race but failed to start in the subsequent events, leaving Ben North (Honda CBR954RR) to take third on the day with a fourth and two thirds. Unlimited Twins class points went to Paul Radford (Aprilia Tuono) from Steve Millar (Suzuki SV1000) and Alister Gosse (Honda VTR1000 SP1).

The Reece Bancell Trophy events saw battles within battles as the lead C & D grade riders swapped fastest laps. “Hyosung” R1 rider, Graham Snaith won C Grade and narrowly, overall points for the day, from D Grade winner, Suzuki GSXR mounted Steve Leach. In the first race they crossed the line separated by less than half a second, then both riders dipped into the 1:11’s in the second race. Second place in C Grade went to Justin Kelly (Yamaha R1) from Scott Lawrie (Suzuki GSXR 1000). Michael Lawrie finished 5th after 2 strong second places, when he DNF’d in the final. Ben North (Honda CBR954RR) put in a solid performance to take second in D Grade from Steve Millar (Suzuki SV1000).

Limited Solo provided some of the tightest racing seen in recent times as Michael Brenton, Tim Inkster and Paul Murray fought tooth and nail on the Michael Hewitt prepared Suzuki SV650’s. All three riders lapped consistently in the 1:18’s, dropping into 1:17’s in the final race. At the presentations, accepting first place with two wins and a second place, Brenton clarified his December retirement, as “retiring from Superbike”. Inkster picked up second with two thirds and a win, Murray third with two seconds and a third. The competition behind the lead three was every bit as hot with Ryan Seaman (Honda RS 125) and Brett Metcalf (Honda CR500) swapping places, Kim Angel (Aprilia RS250) showing improvement in her return to racing and the flock of Yamaha RDLC’s squabbling behind.

In Historic Group 2 it was all out war between the RDLC’s with Brett Metcalf coming through as the winner with a second, two wins and a third over the four heats. Newcomer Vlasta Krejcir served notice on the established contenders, taking second place with a fifth, two seconds and a win. Regular contender Richard Carter had to settle for third place, followed by Chris Pash (Suzuki T500), Paul Langbein (Yamaha RDLC) and Andrew Bannerman (Yamaha RD400).

Division 1 Bracket Racing saw club treasurer, Shaun Casey (Yamaha Thunderace) take the row one win from secretary Andrew Haworth (Honda CBR600) and club sponsor Kym Davey (Honda CBR600). The last man on the front row, Sam Brenton (Honda CBR954RR) had a day to forget with a series of problems which started with a failed fuel pump and finished with a suspected blown head gasket. Row two was won by Alister Gosse (Honda VTR1000SP1), Row 3 by Steve Kerr (Triumph TT600), Row 4 by Martyn Hockham (Yamaha 660 Special) and Row 5 by Ben Kruger (Suzuki GSXR 600).

In Division 2 Brackets, club president Chris Peake (Suzuki GSXR1000) took the row 1 win after Gary Harman-Hobbs (Buell XB12R) broke a drive belt in the final race and Jon Falzon broke out. Committee member Brian Rosser (Ducati 520), won Row 2, Michael Bell (Kawasaki ZX9R) Row 3, Rob Nash (Honda CBR600RR) Row 4 and Alex Hill (Suzuki GSXR600) Row 5, showing the diversity of machines running in the class.

Round 2 of the combined Sonnex Reece Bancell Trophy and Race Bike Services Steve Martin Cup series will be held at Mallala on June 15th, with practice on the 14th.

The Café Racer Club thanks its series sponsors, Bridgeland Motorcycles; Ducati Adelaide; Hood Sweeney Technology; Race Bike Services; Show & Go Motorcycles; Sonnex Laser; Steve Cramer Products and club supporters Brit Bikes; Neville Lush Racing; Red Knot Wines; Underground Designs; Top Coat Motorcycles for their continuing support of this exciting series.

We also thank Bills Motorcycles; Bridgeland Motorcycles; Coast Yamaha; Ducati Adelaide; GC Motorcycles; Japanese Motorcycles and Dismantlers; Yamaha World for their combined efforts to provide partial tyre sponsorship to all of the competitors. This assistance to the riders helps us to help them keep on racing.