The Herald - The Herald Magazine
Scramble for Grand National
TAKE an impressive castle with imposing driveway, in its shadow create a 1.5-mile scramble track, have 40 races with hundreds of riders, offer four-day camping pitches for £10, schedule evening activities involving exworld champions . . . and you have the recipe for what is becoming one of Scotland’s most popular racing events – the Scottish Classic Grand National Scramble at Drumlanrig Castle near Dumfries.
The Galloway Motorcycle Club organised the weekend of scrambling last year and, building on its success, the club has introduced new features and attractions for the event on July 14 and 15.
The weekend of racing will be preceded on the Friday evening with grasstrack races, building up to the Saturday and Sunday when 20 races will take place each day. Classes covered will be bikes up to 1968; 1975; 1978 and for the 1979-84 category when suspension, disc brakes and engine cooling were introduced entries will be further filtered to consider age of rider and power of bike.
Riders, whether individual or in teams, have committed their support from all over Europe with a star contestant being an entry from Graham Noyce, the 1979 motocross world champion. Also significant will be the presence of guest of honour, ex-world champion Brad Lackey, who was the first American to win the 500cc world championship. Lackey will not be riding but an attraction will be the interview with him and ‘trials guru’ John Moffat that takes place in the marquee on Friday evening. Moffat will feature again on Saturday evening when he will be hosting a gathering of past scramble legends.
Paul Bird of the Be Wiser Ducati team will be a major cause of interest. The team competes in the British Superbike Championship and the race truck with Ducati bikes and team member, Glenn Irwin, who had the best finish of the day at Snetterton in June will be on hand for autographs or photographs.
Camping facilities are available and caravans, motorhomes and tents will be charged £10 per pitch from Thursday to Monday. Although the first race on Saturday is at 10.30am, gates open for the pubic from 9am. One day costs £10, and it is £15 for a weekend pass.