Report & Gallery: Bainbridge Hill Climb
By John Dickinson on 3rd Aug 16
BAINBRIDGE MCC staged their now annual off-road hill climb last Wednesday evening having revived the once mega popular event circa 1960s - four years ago.
The hillclimb used to run in conjunction with the Bainbridge Sports but is now a popular stand-alone event and run at nearby Aysgarth, nestling deep in the Yorkshire dales.
The event attracted close to 150 riders and, while the hill is only short in length, it is steep and the head-to-head races provided another evening of fast-moving action with the slickly run races seemingly never-ending!
The large crowd had little idea of who was who or what class was running, with no entry list or timetable available, but it mattered little with DJ Wilko providing his own manic brand of commentary. He shouted over a driving rock soundtrack, as sampled when one competitor looped and bit the dust in spectacular, not to mention painful, action, Wilko enthused: "Oh man, did you see that, he got it right in the conkers!”
With many classes from Pre-65s, through Twin-shocks, Specials, Trials bikes new and ancient and, of course modern MX, the event rattled along on a knock. At the culmination, all class winners then faced each other in a series of run-offs to determine the overall and we think that the winner was Ian Ashby on a 450 KTM but apologies if that isn't correct.
Will Brockbank won the trials section and was second overall on a brand new 300 Sherco Cabestany that was certainly run-in by the end of the night and he gave the winner a real run for his money.
John Gornall topped the Pre-65 trials class on Mike Batty's immaculate 500 Norton while Chloe Richardson was also flying and took quite a few trials scalps as she wheelied her Beta up the hill.
Trials ace Ben Butterworth turned out on his Grandad's potent sounding and immaculately turned-out BSA scrambler to win the Pre-65 MX.
All present were thrilled that 23-time TT winner John McGuinness turned-up for a blast up the hill on his 450 Honda. John has always been a keen off-roader and has one or two nice old ‘crossers hidden away.
The Morecambe Missile won a couple of early rounds before being pipped by a delighted Austin Gregg!
With a pronounced lip at the summit of the hill there were several spectacular over the bars prangs during practice before riders got the message to either back off at the top or pre-jump the lip that was kicking rear wheels over the front.
Another lively moment was when club member Max (as in Mad Max) had his Honda CX500 rat bike (which made it up the climb several times) set on fire in the holding pen.
A dousing in water spread the flames before they were extinguished and amazingly the duo were back in action a short time later.
All-in-all it was just a great night, almost like turning the clock back 50 years, something obviously appreciated by a whole lot of people...
