Classic Motorcycle Racing Club - Round 1 - Spring Classic Meeting - Darley Moor

Report and Images by :DEEGEE: Motorsport Photography

Sunday 9^th April 2023

My first non-rally event of 2023 was the second day (Sunday) of the opening round of the Classic Racing Motorcycle Club’s 2023 Championship, held at one of my favourite UK circuits which I had penned into my Diary many months ago.

Darley Moor is a relatively short circuit, tucked away in the Derbyshire Dales near Ashbourne, based on the site of a former airfield, as are many UK tracks.

It has been run and operated by Darley Moor Motorcycle Race Club since 1965.

With its unique layout of the starting grid formed just off the main track, it allows racing to run almost continuously. With a lap length of just 1.5 miles the bikes and outfits come thick and fast once racing gets underway.

The lack of any real left-hand bends and no access to the infield does restrict the range of shots available, but there is a refreshing lack of safety fence which makes it well worth visiting for motorsport photographers.

Classic motorcycle racing remains very popular I am pleased to say and close racing, full grids and friendly race paddocks are guaranteed at CRMC events. Last weekend’s atmosphere was great with racers and spectators alike eager to get the first round of the club championship underway and the season started.   

Amongst a crowded entry list were a number of familiar faces, most notably star performers Mark Cronshaw (#8), and the sidecar pairing of Kieran Clarke and Andrew Johnson (#9), captured here in action at Cadwell Park last year. Clarke and Johnson were virtually unbeatable in the three-wheeler class in 2022.

With Joe Barton (#106) plus one or two new racers taking advantage of the club’s Novice Rider Programme. This entitles a rider to one free set of races at an event during the season, which is a great idea to bring new blood into club racing. 

At each meeting there are generally a number of ACU Championship races and twenty-nine further classes for riders to compete for in the CRMC Championship, including four for sidecar crews so there really is something for everyone.

This was the first of seven rounds planned this Summer,  with visits to Pembrey, Cadwell Park, Snetterton, Donington Park (for the Classic Racing Festival), Anglesey and Croft (which will include the Race of the Year), also on the programme.

An early start from home was needed to reserve the best of what are limited trackside viewing spots and with my wife coming along for the day we were well catered for with a spot overlooking the Hairpin. The trackside parking allowed us to stay close to the warmth of the car during the morning action, as it was decidedly cool despite a promising weather forecast.

Having chosen a scenic route through Matlock to Darley we were to find it disappointingly shrouded in fog. To make matters worse, the road south of Matlock to Ashbourne was quite frankly in awful condition, with a series of bone jarring potholes littering the surface.

After the inclement weather of the last few weeks it was dry but not as warm as forecast as racing got underway promptly at 10 am in front of a good crowd.

For the very first time since the CRMC was formed, racing started at a meeting with lights as opposed to a flag. Whilst it was sad to lose the traditional way of starting, I guess safety, which formed the reasoning behind the change, must take priority.

Disappointingly, both Mark Cronshaw, who suffered a nasty fall in the second 350 classic race after winning the opening race and the sidecar partnership of Clarke, and Johnson whose outfit blew the engine on Saturday, were non-starters on Sunday.

As a consequence, Joe Barton (#106) was left to dominate most of the larger capacity solo classes, including the bill-topping ACU races held over the weekend. Joe Woodward (#46), Will Loder (#21) and David Tetley (#99) all had the opportunity to stand on the top step of the podium and weighed in with some very useful points in the championship opening round.

Ant Hart (#75), Symon Woodward (#157), Arnie Shelton (#34) and Oliver Cooper (#10) all recorded good wins in their class races too.

Taking advantage of Clarke and Johnson’s enforced non-entry, Bob Dawson and Matt Sims (#97) won three of the four sidecar races on their BMW outfit.

The fourth sidecar race proved to be the race of the weekend.  With Dawson and Sims non-starters, Danny Quirk and Dylan West (#11), on their Vincent outfit, led home Jack Gristwood and Alice Smith (#5), who recorded four runner-up spots over the weekend, by just 0.093 of a second.

After a very successful 2022 campaign, PistonClick’s adopted “grass roots” rider Mick Pennell, was keen to make a good showing at the season opener.

Starting his tenth season of racing, his newly liveried gold and white Yamaha FZ600 was soon in action as he was contesting the Classic F750/MotoSuperbike/ PC750/PCS Stock 750 class, which started proceedings on both Saturday and Sunday. Also starting in the Production/Superstock 400 class, Mick competed in a total of eight races over what was a busy weekend for both rider and machine. 

Fuel starvation and gearbox problems hampered Mick’s efforts on Saturday, but despite this he recorded a pair of creditable 5th’s in the 750 (Class 8c) races and two 9th’s in the Production (Class 8e) races. 

On Sunday he was once again rewarded with two 5th’s in the Class 8c races, and with his mechanical problems resolved, rode to a superb 4th in the first Production (Class 8e) race, recording 7th overall.

A real ”grass roots” issue raised its head prior to his last race of the weekend when Mick was faced with the dilemma of whether to replace a wearing back tyre.

Mick chose to save a new one for his efforts next week at Mallory Park and suffered slightly in the second Production race, nonetheless coming home in sixth place in his Class and just outside the top ten, in eleventh place overall.

Mick went home a happy man, with the bonus of a new rear tyre to look forward to next weekend at Mallory Park.

From a personal point of view it was nice to re-visit Darley Moor (my last visit was in 2020), although the current financial climate seemed to be taking its toll on some of the facilities, not least the access roads around the circuit which are in need of some remedial work.  The weather, forecast for 16C and bright sunny conditions, unfortunately never materialised. Therefore, top coats to offset the cool wind and leaden skies were a necessity throughout the day. 

The photography, however, was a bonus as it’s very easy to get close to the action at this homely venue, and the bacon buns on offer come highly recommended.

Next weekend :DEEGEE: Motorsport Photography will be covering the British Historic Racing motorcycle meeting at Leicestershire’s Mallory Park when Mick Pennell will commence the defence of his 2022 Over 50’s Championship title.