17/10/06

The final outing of the season for the Stratford-Rudge team was at the VMCC season finale at Cadwell Park over 30th September and 1st October. This saw a first outing for Merv's 250cc Aermacchi and also the Stratford-Rudge '261'. Saturdays weather was kind with the rain staying away until late in the programme, allowing for some good racing.

Merv's first race on the programme was on the '261' in the 350cc class. Saturday's racing was on the woodlands circuit so it was a scramble for the hairpin on the first lap, and saw Merv leading at the line. However at the end of the six lap dash he brought the Rudge home in fourth behind the AJS 7R of Tim Jackson, Graham Buller (Manx) and Nigel Lines' Velocette.

The First race for the Aermacchi in the 250cc class had Merv in fourth place at the end of lap one. By the end though he was down to sixth. as the race went on he had gear selection problems, so no top gear. The Race win went to Mike Smith, out for the first time on a Greeves, Followed by Nigel lines (Velo) in second, Classic entrant Steve Mason, on Cleve Brightman's Aermacchi third. Miki Sprosen brought the ex-Tim Johnson Rudge home in 13th and Ian Whitehead took 18th on his Rudge.

In the second 350cc race Merv again took the Rudge to fourth. This time the win going to Buller after Tim Jackson was involved in a first lap incident with Trevor Johnson which brought the Red flags out, however both riders were ok. Nigel Lines took second and John Mac (Manx) third. The Second outing for the Aermacchi proved worse as now it didn't on occasions want to come out of first, as well as not want to go into top!!  In the end Merv managed to bring it home in ninth, position that is, not gear! Greeves mounted 'Smithy' again took the win this time followed by another classic rider, James DeRave (Ducati) and Stu Noble (Ducati) in third. The Rudges of Sprosen and Whitehead took 16th and 18th respectively

Saturday evenings Aermacchi gearbox investigation found nothing that we could fix in the paddock, so it was put back together, with just the rear sprocket altered for Sunday's Full circuit action.

The rains had come over night and Sunday started with a damp track, and plenty of damp races! The rain held off for Merv's first race on the 261. He took a fifth place in this one, with classic Goldstar specialist Mark Woods taking the win ahead of Jackson and Lines third.

A heavy downpour before the 250 race, made Merv opt not to ride after a few slides on the sighting lap. The Aermacchi having some 'past their sell by date' tyres on it, inherited from the Greeves! The race again saw Mike Smith take another win, this time with the Brightman Aermacchi of Mason in second having led all the way until the line. Nigel lines took a fine third. A good Rudge battle took place further down the field with Terry Williams on his 4-valver, Miki Sprosen, Phil Betty and Ian Whitehead all on 2-valvers in what must have been the most 250 Rudges in one race for years. 12th went to Williams, Betty 13th, Sprosen 14th and Whitehead 16th.

Due to the Weather and lack of time, the organisers made a decision to only run the following races which would alter championship positions. This left us with one more ride in the 350cc race, with the Rudge. At a reduced race distance of three laps, Merv took another 4th place and Tim Jackson took another win, followed by Woods and Lines.

Other Rudges Out in force at Cadwell were Mike Farrall's 1930 Ulster, Terry Williams' Cotton-Python, Robert Rushton's '32 Ulster and Don Ellis on his '37 Ulster. Trevor Johnson was also due to ride Derek Leigh's '302', but problems in practice made him switch to his Velo instead.

Well that just about wraps up the season, Now its time to sort that Aermacchi gearbox and rebuild some neglected Rudges from the past couple of seasons!

Roy

4/9/06

Having now returned from a successful outing at the Manx Grand Prix (full report available at www.greeves-racing.co.uk ), the season now is drawing to a close with just three meetings left on our calendar. The next being the CRMC Snetterton meeting on 16th/17th September.

Roy

9/5/06

The Stratford-Rudge had its second outing of the season at the VMCC's Oulton Park meeting on the 6th of May. This was the VMCC's first meeting at Oulton since way back in 1989. Merv opted to miss out the pre '34 unlimited races, just running in the 250cc class. The meeting had a fair few CRMC members participating and putting in a bit of practice as their meeting at Oulton is in a couple of weeks. This also bulked up the 250cc race too. The first race saw Merv in a race long battle for third with Andy Hunt (Royal Enfield), at the end of the four laps Andy just took the third place after Merv's last lap charge put him just six hundredths of a second behind. The win went to Mark Sharrock (Greeves), with Graham Rickman (NSU) in second. Rudge Mounted Ian Whitehead took 22nd place.

The second outing for the 250's saw a similar battle for third but this time it was a three way scrap as Stu Noble (Farrar Ducati) joined in too. The result was the same however with Andy taking third from Merv by nine hundredths of a second, with Stu in 5th. Sharrock and Rickman were again first and second, and Ian Whitehead 18th.

Other Rudge action was in the Pre '48 and '34 races with Mike Farrall and Don Ellis in action. The first Pre '48 race saw a Win for Paul Dobbs on the 640cc Scott, Emilio Toone (660cc Triumph) second and Mike Third on his 1930 Ulster. Don Took 12th on his '37 Ulster. The first pre' 34 was a also a win for Dobsy with Mike taking second just .18 of a second behind. Grant Sellars (500cc Norton) was third.

The second pre '48 went the way of Emilio Toone with Dobsy second, John Mac (580cc Triumph) third and Mike fourth, with Don Ellis taking 13th place. The Pre '34 was a repeat result of the first with the 1,2,3 of Dobbs, Farrall and Sellars.

Roy

11/4/06

The CRMC season opener at Mallory Park on 9th April had all four season's worth of weather in one day. The day started out dry but cold with the sun breaking through in the early morning. Merv took the Rudge out for this meeting, for it's first outing of the season. The opening 250cc race was the first on the programme, the random grid selection saw Merv on pole position, although he did not make the most of it dropping back a few places at the start. Dave Whitehouse on his Greeves Silverstone took the lead on lap one with Mike Hose (Ariel Arrow) second, the Ducatis of Mike Smith and Alan Witt 3rd and 4th, and Merv in 5th. At The end of the Six Laps Mike Hose took the win, with Smith Second, Witt 3rd, Tony Hierons (Saxon Ducati) 4th, Whitehouse 5th and Merv 6th.

By Lunchtime we were in the Middle of a Hail Storm, followed by more rain. The second 250cc race was delayed because of a huge oil spillage in the 1300cc National race after a Trident blew up. Whilst the clear up was in progress we had more rain followed by sleet. When the 250s got underway at around 4pm the races had been reduced to 4 laps to try and save time. This time Merv had a better start off the second row of the grid and was 4th at the end of lap one, with Hose and Smith at the front Lap two he was up to second after taking Witt at Gerard's. The last lap looked as though he would get second after Almost passing Smith at Gerard's, but for a back marker to be in the way. However by Edwina's Merv's race was over as he crashed out after loosing the front end, fortunately he was ok although the bike sustained some minor damage, as the end of the timing cover was broken off. Again Hose took the Win with Smith second, and this time Tony Hierons 3rd.

Next Meeting is at Lydden over 29/30th April with the Greeves.

Roy

7/2/06

The 2006 season starts in just about two months time with the first meeting of the CRMC calendar at Mallory Park on 9th April, preceded by the annual VMCC practice day at Mallory Park on Friday 24th March. This will no doubt be full due to the recent modification to Gerards, by the adding of yet another chicane.

We have been busy over the Christmas period working on a new project for this season, which will leave the Stratford-Rudge with limited outings in 2006, one of which could well be the Bob Mac meeting at East Fortune. The Greeves too will have a few less meetings too this coming season, although they will certainly be the weapon of choice for the Southern 100 Pre TT classic and Manx GP.

We will be holding an 'open house' this year (17-24th May) for Rudge club members and friends, in conjunction with the Golden Jubilee Rally. (See 'Radial' for full Details)

Roy.