6/6/05

Greeves 1-2-3 at Southern 100 Pre TT Classic

The 2005 Blackfords Southern 100 Pre TT classic at the Billown circuit on the Isle of Man was held over the 27,28th and 30th May in mixed weather conditions.

The combined 250cc and 350cc singles race was held on the 28th, a rather windy Saturday afternoon, however the 250s produced an incredible Greeves 1-2-3 !! Paul Coward took the win after a couple of years of failed attempts through retirements, and was followed up in 2nd place by David Spencer on Ron Leighton's Silverstone. Last year's winner Mervyn Stratford took the final podium step with his water-cooled model and Jeff Bing making his debut on the Billown circuit took an excellent 5th position. In the 350's John Loder was the lone Greeves contender, and he brought his Oulton home in 4th place, with the win going to Aermacchi mounted Bill Swallow.

Monday proved a better day with some good sunshine. The opening race was the 250cc open class, just two Greeves in this one Jeff and Merv. Jeff's race ended on lap four with retirement, with suspected piston failure, although later investigations suggest it may not be as serious as first thought. Merv's race was going fairly well, holding on to eighth position for most of the race, however on lap seven it almost ended as Merv dropped it at Ballabeg hairpin after leaving the braking too late. Luckily he was ok and only minor fairing damage to the bike, so he was allowed to continue, only loosing 2 places. At the end of the race he ended up 9th as Tom Jackson dropped his Suzuki at Cross Fourways on the last lap. Suzuki mounted Roy Richardson took the win.

The open 350cc class saw John Loder once again in action. Unfortunately his race also ended with retirement on lap three, with a broken gearbox main shaft.

Greeves 1-2-3, 1st Paul Coward (74), 2nd David Spencer (79), 3rd Mervyn Stratford (76)

RS

10/5/05

CRMC Lydden 7th & 8th May

The CRMC held the second round of their championships at Lydden over the the weekend (7th & 8th May). A good entry of nearly 250 solo and sidecar competitors filled the paddock for what was a weekend of mixed weather conditions. Saturday saw everything from brilliant sunshine to hail!!

Greeves action was in the 250cc Euro races with Chris Maggs, Clive Adley and Dave Frost in action. The first race started in the said brilliant sunshine but ended in showers, which caught a few of the riders out. Chris Maggs put up the best Greeves showing taking 5th place with his Silverstone. Dave frost took 13th on his RAS with Clive Adley in 14th. The race win went to Mike Smith (Ducati) from Graham Wade (Ducati) and Merv Stratford (Rudge).

Race two saw Chris take 6th place with Dave and Clive again in 13th and 14th respectively. Smith again took the win with Tony Hierons (Saxon Ducati) second and Stratford third.

Sundays racing saw a more stable weather pattern, with proceedings getting underway at 12:30, due to circuit regulations.

Chris Maggs again proved top Greeves taking 7th place in the opening 250 event, Dave Frost took 14th and Clive Adley 16th. The win went to Graham Wade from Smith and Stratford.

The final 250 race saw a repeat performance from the first three with Greeves man Chris Maggs taking eighth, and Frost and Adley 15th and 16th respectively.

Look out for the Pre TT Classic coverage here soon, with a good entry of Greeves riders including John Loder, Mervyn Stratford and Jeff Bing who will be making his debut on the Billown circuit, we should see some good racing

RS

23/4/05

Wirrall 100 Club Oulton Park 16th April

The Wirral 100 Club held a meeting at a very cold and damp Oulton park last weekend. Greeves were represented in the classic races with Mark Sharrock on a 1966 Silverstone and Stu Melling on a 1967 Oulton.

The first race saw Mark finish a creditable 8th overall and 3rd among the 250's on the Silverstone, utilising a new nova 6 speed gear cluster behind the Honda and Yamaha of Mike Hose and Terry Kermode. Stu Brought the Oulton home in 14th place and 6th 350cc machine. Greeves regular Dave Whitehouse was also in action on his newly acquired Petty Manx and finished in 11th position and 3rd 500.

Race two again saw Mark taking 8th, but this time 2nd 250 with just the Honda of Hose in front. Stu took 13th and 5th 350 machine. Dave finished in 18th with the Manx.  Mark felt this was the best he and the Greeves had gone yet, being spurred on by the larger machines!!

Both Stu and Mark were also in action in the Forgotten Era races, with Stu on his Montesa and Mark on his Seeley G50. The first outing saw Stu finish a good 17th in a field of a lot more modern machinery, however Mark's race on the G50 didn't prove as good. " I had problems on the warm up lap when the throttle stuck open approaching Shell oils bend, I stayed on as the gravel stops you instant."

The second race saw Mark with much better fortune claiming 10th on the G50, but no result for Stu as he sat this one out.

Many thanks to Mark for the main basis of this report, cheers Mark

RS

11/4/05

CRMC Mallory Park 10/04/05

The CRMC held their first meeting of the season at a bright and sunny Mallory Park at the weekend. A good crowd turn't out to see the action at the popular Leicestershire circuit. Five Greeves Silverstones were entered for the Lightweight races in the hands of, Clive Adley, Norman Baker, Jeff Bing, Mervyn Stratford and Chris Maggs.

Norman Baker's meeting unfortunately finished early as his rear brake plate disintegrated during practice!, Race one saw the remaining four Greeves line up on the grid. As the flag dropped the usual roar of Ducatis took to the front, by lap two Merv was up to 3rd on his water-cooled Greeves with Chris in seventh. However Merv's jumped out of gear through Devil's Elbow, and three riders came through. At the end of the Six laps the first five places were taken by Ducatis, with Graham Wade taking the win from Tim Oliver and Mike Smith. Merv was first Greeves in sixth, with Chris seventh, Jeff twelfth and Clive in 19th.

Race two featured the same Greeves line up, but with a reduced race distance to five laps because of earlier delays due to incidents. Ducati mounted Graham Wade took a repeat win, but this time with Merv in second and the Ducati of Nick Roberts third. Jeff improved also, taking eighth place with Chris in ninth and Clive 17th.

Next Race is at Lydden 7 & 8th May

RS

26/2/05

The start of the 2005 season is fast approaching, so keep a check here for future race reports. See the News archives for previous seasons action.

RS