Results – Cadwell Park Festival – Cadwell Park, United Kingdom 25-26 July 2015

Set in the rolling Lincolnshire Wolds, sometimes nicknamed the ‘mini Nürburgring’, Cadwell Park is close to the hearts of many race fans. . The splendid and daunting full circuit.with its fearsome and photogenic mountain feature, grew to its current 2.2 mile layout in 1962, although narrow in places, it is a magnificent riders track, twisty and undulating in nature it winds through open park and woodland, and is one of the best circuits in the country. Once discovered, it is often a firm favourite amongst many who visit, whether as a spectator or participant.

Report by Graham Boothby A week after the sunny Belgian road circuit of Chimay, the IHRO Continental Circus moved on to the lovely Lincolnshire Wolds for a meeting at the race track jewel which is Cadwell Park. The circuit was in excellent condition and the management had even provided generators to permit the use of mains electricity in the paddock, a first for a classic meeting at Cadwell. After the 2 previous events with temperatures of 37 and 32 degrees, the local ambient of 16 was a big difference, as were the showers which served to dampen things, happily not during the time that we were on track. 18 riders took to the first practice grid, and it was inevitably riders who had ridden there before who dominated proceedings with Nigel Palmer on his Ducati clearing off by 3.5 seconds from IHRO debutant Richard Molnar on his Manx on the track which was still drying out from the overnight rain. Sam Clews another IHRO debutant was third on his Manx just a second behind Molnar. Alain Vandriessche on his Paton was first of the newcomers and first IHRO2 machine in 8th place, 14 seconds behind the flying Ducati.

The second session saw 20 riders on the grid and this time it was Alex Sinclair on his Egli Grey Flash who set the pace 3 seconds ahead of Palmer with Luke Notton on his Seeley 7R in third and Joe Akroyd on his Bultaco a fine 4th, it was left to Raf Blanckaert on his Paton to head the IHRO2 class. The first 9 lap race on the Saturday afternoon was a real cracker with Sinclair and Molnar having a fine scrap at the head of the field, Molnar on an unfaired bike felt that he was just sufficiently disadvantaged by the lack of a fairing to permit the very rapid Egli to just edge away for the win. Notton was third overall and first 350 well ahead of Bruno Leroy on his standard framed Vincent Grey Flash. Raf Blanckaert was IHRO2 victor ahead of Vandriessche with Roel Pasop on his glorious sounding Triumph 3rd in category. The Sunday program was shortened to try to avoid the threatened weather front which was due to arrive after lunch, the IHRO race was the last event before lunch and the last event held in the dry. Molnar and Sinclair set off as in the first race but Sinclair retired on the second lap, apparently gifting Molnar the race, but 3 laps later Molnar was obviously in trouble and retired with a flat front tyre. This left it open for Notton to win overall on his 350 with Palmer in second, Leroy was third. The IHRO 2 race finished the same as in the previous race, but only after Paul De Doncker had to drop out while lying third with 1 lap to go. Local man Ian Steltner had a fine battle with Vandriessche, passing him going into the mountain for the last time, but a momentary fuel starvation allowed the Paton to regain the lead which it maintained to the flag. A good event seriously spoiled by the weather, we hope the circuit will run it again next year, meanwhile IHRO moves on to the wonderful Gedinne circuit in 3 weeks time.

Results Results for this event are available from TLS Timing Solutions

Photographs by Rob Savage.

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