Winton 2 + 4
The longest continuous running event on the Historic Racing calendar, the annual Winton 2+4 looked doubtful for the bikes until the “club” (original) circuit received its MA track licence at the last minute. Both committees of the HMRAV and Austin 7 club put in the hard yards to ensure that the meeting ran like clockwork, it did not disappoint in any area. The bikes ran their usual classes from pre war (P2) through to Forgotten Era P5 (1980) in solo and sidecar mounts. Spectators and competitors alike all agreed on the great spectacle that was seen, great close racing in the individual classes. Plenty of eye candy with the bikes and cars in the pits and the display areas outside. Garth Francis and his 1962 Norton Atlas established himself as the quickest man in Period 3, winning both his starts on Saturday but suffering a fall on Sunday which also brought down Phil Paton’s Bultaco. John and Chrissie Clancy were the class of the Sidecar races, taking three wins from as many starts, while Roger Gunn and his Suzuki GSX1100 similarly dominated the P4/P5 Unlimited races. The big race of Sunday was The Ken Lucas Trophy, a six-lap handicap. Scratch men Keith Campbell and Bob Rosenthal staged an entertaining dice as they ploughed through the field to finish in that order, with Ryan Francis on an 820 Triton in third. As ‘seventies star Bob Rosenthal put it, “A great weekend’s racing on a classic “scratcher’s” track. It hasn’t changed over the years and everybody had a ball. Hopefully this event will continue next year. Thanks to HMRAV and the Austin 7 Club for all the work.”