The Twinoaks race track near Bickliegh in Devon is always a popular venue and ASW made good use of the plentiful woods and fields, to layout a safe and easy track designed especially for novices, but which also allowed better riders to shine.

As it was the Weston Beach race weekend ASW organiser Kevin Butt thought it would be good to provide an alternative for those who would rather stay local and race, than travel just to be a spectator. …and the gamble paid off with a 108 riders entering in total, 32 youths and 76 adults.

Adrian Heard showing the style that made him a winner.

The weather was sort of variable - well it went from downpour to wet, to downpour, then finally eased back to drizzle as the day finished!

The 1.5 hour youth race got underway as I got my car stuck down the only hole in the farmyard!!! So sadly, no pics for that one - but a big thank you to the kind people - including the farm owner, who all helped get me out !

It was a bit dark but still great fun along this trail through the woods.

Josh Coles in the youth 125cc 2 Stroke class rode really well to put in 12 laps for a win over Adam Butt who came second with 11 laps. Also on 12 laps was Robert Cross who won the 85cc class - awesome! Kieran Hole in the 110cc-150cc 4 Stroke class won his group with 9 laps under his belt.

When the championship race was flagged off, Adrian Heard No3 stormed away at the start, closely followed by Shaun Dayman No60 and Mat Ward No24.

...but not everyone could master this off-cambered turn!

The drizzle and mud made visibility with and without goggles very difficult (see formula below).

• Rain on goggles = Can't see!
• Mud in eye = Can't see!

Most riders seemed to be circulating well until later in the day when a steep downhill in the woods got very slippery, deeply rutted and intimidated many of the novices. So the wood was quickly by-passed and riders diverted.

Wet and slippery, with the odd puddle or two here and there.

Adrian Heard just kept pushing on without easing up - other than a few emergency stops to grab fresh goggles - and took a well deserved 1^st place trophy home. Gary McCoy No8 came through with a big charge to take second place. Just ahead of Danny Thomas and Matt Ward in 3^rd and 4th.

Mark Beer was the top Novice and Elliot Waldron won the Sportsman class.

238 - one of the few who new how to ride slick turns with class.

All marshals worked so hard to keep the day running smoothly. Although wearing waterproofs, after standing in the drizzle and rain all day, they were very wet through and through - but amazingly all happy.

…. And so were the riders who all seemed to have a great time. Dare I say like pigs wallowing in mud!!!

There was plenty of good race action at many 
vantage points to entertain spectators.

In all fairness the weather was no ones fault and through shear hard work the ASW team and band of willing helpers did a fantastic job to ensure everyone had a good day's racing.

... and some were more entertaining than others!!!

A message from the organisers:

We are sorry to say that due to the extreme conditions at Twinoaks last weekend some of the Adult results are incorrect.

The rain was so bad that rider numbers were falling off & twice the track was changed due to the safety of the competitors.

Whilst we tried to take care in preserving the front runners' positions, I fear some riders further back the field would have lost parts of their lap time.

It may have been wet and muddy, but it was still a superb novice track.

The priority of the day was rider safety, second was keeping the race going for the two hours that you paid for. Not a perfect day, but as near to it as we could make it.

Also a special mention needs to go to 'Lexi' on a YZF250 who worked so hard all day - many thanks.

Kevin Butt - Clerk of the course.

...and you didn't need to be on a 60bhp superbike to get around well.

In view of the muddy wet conditions that occurred at Twinoaks during this event, an ASW committee meeting was held with a view to how things could be further improved if these conditions happen again in the future.

After much discussion it has been decided that for next year, each riders class will carry their own number sequence, this will help with both safety and lap scoring.

These gals deserve a special mention too - for all their efforts, as 
they nearly froze their hands off in the cold water used to help try 
and keep race numbers legible for lap scorers.

So next year riders can sign up for a permanent race number and newsletter - which will contain all event details, etc. (this will incur a very small fee to cover postage/costs, but well worth it.)

Also on the cards for next year is a Team Event, a 2 Day Fun Event and possibly a Timecard Enduro!

Don't Forget: Still on the cards for this year is the 16^th December X-Mas Party - to include a Disco, Draw and hopefully a Rodeo Bike !!!

A great place to race...

Well that’s all folks - hope you enjoy the photos, it nearly killed my camera getting them!

Report and Photos - Adrian Harris