Location: Oliver's Mount, Scarborough
Event: 31 August 2013
Returning for its third year, the Festival gives two days of racing at the iconic Oliver’s Mount Motorcycle Circuit that overlooks the seaside town of Scarborough. The event is being run by Scarborough Council and its many cycling partners along with help from Scarborough Paragon CC, Malton Wheelers, the West Riding Track League, British Cycling Yorkshire and BC Regional Events Officer for Yorkshire, Pete Sutton
Saturday sees a second year of grass track racing on the grassed area inside the top loop of the circuit and includes for the first time, the North of England Championships. Both fixed and freewheel competitions will run during the meeting, which starts at 11am for come and try to 1pm for the main event.. The day is sponsored by Vertex-Ride Cycle shop of Armley, Leeds.
Out of local roads, Scarborough Paragon Cycling Club are running a 10 mile Time Trial at Burton Fleming.
Sunday sees racing on the closed roads around the Mount, more used to the fast and furious speeds of the faster two wheeled world of competition motorcycling. It does however give cycling the chance to use the same roads for a ‘quiet’ day of racing in a traffic free environment and on a circuit far removed from that usually found for racing. Whilst the top 1.3m loop is used for the 4th Cat only and Women Only races along with the U8, U10 & U12 National Youth races, it will be only a starter for the Regional A, National B and U14/U16 races. It will then launch riders onto the full 2.4m circuit which would be more at home in the French Alps. You would think it was not for the feint hearted but in reality, it is what makes the circuit so attractive and with 250 Youth riders already entered, it shows the attraction for something a bit different. The day will see the Regional A race sponsored by CB Precast Flooring of Denby Dale, West Yorkshire, the National B as the Dave Rayner Memorial RR (Sponsored by the Dave Rayner Fund), the U14 Boys race as the Adam Everingham Memorial RR (Sponsored by Richardsons Cycles of Scarborough) and the U16 Boys race will be the Lewis Barry Memorial RR.
The legend that is Brian Robinson, President of the Dave Rayner Fund and the first rider to compete for Team GB in(1955) win stages in (1958,1959) and finish the Tour de France(1955) will be in attendance with the Rayner family to present a trophy in honour of Dave and no doubt be on hand to watch a fantastic day of races that may bring back memories of his great feats?
Finally there is BMX madness at the Hairy Bob’s Skate Park and BMX track on the North promenade as tricks and stunts get prizes in a full on day at the popular concrete bombholes that are busy summer and winter.
Both days also see KMX Karts racing on the Grass Track. See it on YouTube to see what it’s like!
There will be Camping, Motorhome and Caravan spaces on the grass within the top circuit on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights so you know where to be before the kids go back to school.
