Classic Motorcycle Racing CMRC – Darley Moor - A Family day out in Derbyshire

Photography by Lauren and David Gowshall

Report by DEEGEE: Motorsport Photography

25 Aug 2020

COVID -19 had made sure our annual three-day pilgrimage to Cadwell Park’s BSB “Party in the Park” was a non-starter for 2020 and finding a substitute event for this weekend was not an easy task.

After some discussion, my Wife, youngest daughter and I set off very early on a family trip, having settled on the latest round of the CRMC championship, to Darley Moor, in Derbyshire, hoping, with the weather forecast warning of heavy showers during the afternoon, to secure a trackside viewing spot, just in case.

I’m pleased to say the early alarm call, which didn’t go down too well with everyone, provided a positive result as we pulled the car into the last available spot overlooking the Hairpin. 

First impressions on arriving at this former airfield circuit, situated just south of Ashbourne, were good as we enjoyed an unobscured panoramic view from raised banking around the outside of this tight 180 degree corner.  With base camp established I set off, before racing got underway, on a walk around the parts of the circuit available to spectators, to be pleasantly surprised at the options available for photographers.

With only low tyre walls around the extremities of the track and raised banks for those viewing the action there are endless opportunities to catch the bikes and outfits from all angles in around the vicinity of The Hairpin.

My reconnaissance exercise also revealed plenty of panning opportunities on the long straight linking Townleys with Park Corner

which also provides the opportunity for some on-coming shots as competitors make the charge down from the start line.

Racing got underway promptly at 10 a.m. and with 21 races (two carried over from the previous day) to squeeze into the programme it was non-stop action all day.

The morning races took place in bright sunshine and with the track dry the riders provided lots of easily accessed “knee down” and passengers over the rear wheel action at the Hairpin, which, as my daughter, who is a complete photography novice proved, are easily accessible with a steady hand and a 70-200mm zoom lens. 

What’s more, the relatively short length of a lap (1.5 miles) meant all races comprised of at least eight laps so there were plenty of opportunities to snap away.



The afternoon was interspersed with the accurately forecast heavy showers, although canny spectators keeping their eye on the distant hills, which disappeared about ten minutes before the rain descended on the circuit, had a useful pre-warning of their arrival.

The event was superbly organized, with COVID restrictions well applied,  and the unique Paddock access road / off-circuit grid and  external service road, allowing non-finishing bikes and outfits to be recovered and returned to the paddock in complete safety, meant the transition between each race was absolutely seamless

As a consequence, it was, apart from a half hour break for lunch, non-stop action.  A good day out, enjoyed by all I’m pleased to report and the verdict “we’ll be back”



You can see more of David’s work here