The Bob Mac
Lenny Hartley has been trackside to capture the rigours and results from the 2019 edition of this landmark race event. Here’s his report on who was particularly fast, or not.
The SCRMC recently served up a full card of classic racing at the East Fortune circuit, for the traditional Bob Mac meeting. Against the backdrop of the former First and Second World War airfield, there was some real-life flying action around Scotland’s fastest road race venue, which has been in existence since the very early Seventies.
The Bob Mac meeting gives fans and riders alike a true sense of what classic racing is meant to be, with plenty to hear, smell and vibrate through the feet over the course of two days. This year proved to be a very special occasion as Bob’s daughter Eleanor was in attendance to present the prizes; also in his honour a clutch of his bikes took part in the parades, including a delicious four-cylinder 500cc Gilera which Eleanor had sourced from Remo Venturi. With riders assembled from all over the UK and Ireland as well as a healthy smattering of Continental charioteers participating in the International Florian Camathias Cup races, the Scottish Classic Racing Club should be very proud that it can attract such depth and variety to the East Lothian circuit, as they
continue to pay homage to that ‘Great Scot’ Bob Mcintyre, who himself made his racing debut at an airfield venue, albeit the Ballado circuit on the outskirts of Kinross. The two-day event for this year was blessed by decent weather, and the organisers and track staff managed to put together a very slick programme. Race action was provided all the way through the field, with all the main two- and four-stroke protagonists in all classes not only fighting for wins, but, as is the essence of the event, for any place, whether it be at the sharp end or rear-guard action. The beer tent and presentation area were rammed to the rafters with fans and racers old and new wishing to pay respect to both Bob and his daughter, as well as pick up the silverware on offer from the organising Scottish Classic Racing Motorcycle Club.