Round eight of the Yorkshire Classic Pre-Unit Championship was held in Dave Pickles' back yard near Bingley starting in light drizzle for the thirty seven riders. Owen Hardisty on his sparkling Ariel was best of the pre-units losing only six, one ahead of Paul Jackson on his home build Velo.
Top of the rigids was new dad Gary Marshall campaigned his side valve Triumph TRW twin losing ten with Steve Cordon six behind on his immaculate barking AJS.
John Patefield headed the twins with an excellent ride losing sixteen.
Sections 1 and 2 were again the gully. The rocky streambed with a narrow exit took more marks than any other section with the only Pre-Units of Paul and Gary going clean on every lap. The down stream second with 3 lines available took marks off all the pre-Unit springers but surprisingly four of the rigids remained clean here.
The rocks in section 6 made life difficult becoming slippery as the tacky mud spread on the key turns. Of the competitive class riders, only winner Owen and John went clean as the tricky exit extracted the dabs. Darlington's Alan Smith took a different line on the exit hooking his front wheel at head height in the adjacent tree. Thankfully help was at hand to extract man and machine from the dilemma.
Section 7 was new to the club and downhill loop looked innocent enough but the rock step back at the top soon became bigger as spinning wheels removed the lower soil. Only three pre-units went clean.
The rock strewn ridge of section 8 took fewer marks than expected as the rocks settled but the climb needs concentration to avoid a slip to a five.
Lightweights
As usual the riders on lightweight machinery joined in the fun and Steve Thomas (Bantam) lost only 1 to beat top Cub rider John Maxfield who won the older rider tie with similarly mounted Tony Davison on 2.
With two more rounds before the class winners are decided, there's still chance to take the honours with only the 7 rounds to count.