Grasstrack

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500 cc Grasstrack bike

Motorcycle Grasstrack is a form of motorcycle racing which typically, in its current form, takes place on a flat track consisting of two straights and two bends usually constructed in a field. Mountain and hillside tracks are also common in the UK, creating more technically demanding circuits. It is one of the oldest types of motorcycle sports in the UK with the first meetings having taken place in the 1920s. Postwar grasstrack circuits included "permanent" venues such as Brands Hatch and Mallory Park which were not simple oval shapes, although solo motorcycle races were run in an anti-clockwise direction. Later, these were converted into tarmac circuits with races using the more common clockwise direction associated with modern roadracing. Competitors of the postwar era included now-famous names such as Bernie Ecclestone and Murray Walker. In the modern era, it is generally similar to Speedway with races usually taking place over 4 laps from a standing start. Unlike Speedway, which has 4 riders per race, Grasstrack racing can have many riders in each heat and the circuit is normally longer allowing higher speeds. Grasstrack has three solo classes, 250 cc, 350 cc and 500 cc together with three sidecar classes; left-handed 500 cc and 1000 cc (turning left) and right-handed 1000 cc (turning right).

Many famous Speedway riders such as 1976 world champion Peter Collins started their racing careers in Grasstrack. Some Speedway riders continue to take part in national Grasstrack meetings when their schedule permits.

The British Grasstrack season usually starts in early spring around the Easter holidays and runs through the summer/autumn months. More spectacular racing takes place at larger roped tracks including the Poacher and ASTRA Champion of Champions and Grand Slam meetings in Kent and in particular the most exciting meeting of all at the famous Rhodes Minnis circuit.

The pinnacle of the domestic Grasstrack season is the British Masters Championships. This official ACU championship is where the British champion is crowned in the mainstream 500 cc solo and 1000 cc right hand sidecar classes. The current British Masters champions are Andrew Appleton (500 cc solo) and Mark Cossar/Carl Blyth (1000 cc RH Sidecar).

In Europe the same sport is often called Long Track racing. This is exactly the same setup as British grasstrack which has tracks normally around 600–800 meters in length, but is held on the continent with tracks up to 1000–1200 meters in length and with speeds reaching 90 mph – 100 mph. The machinery used is the same as are the riders.

Grasstrack Motorcycles

Grasstrack racing motorcycles look quite similar to Speedway machines but there are different engine capacity limits for each class. In the UK there are classes for 250 cc (normally 2 stroke engines), 350 cc and 500 cc bikes (usually 4-stroke engines). Unlike Speedway bikes which have no gears, Grasstrack bikes usually have a 2 speed gearbox. Both Speedway and Grasstrack bike have no brakes. The only other main difference is that speedway bikes have no rear suspension and are shorter in length, usually by around 10–12 inches.

Also there is a class called Pre-75. These are bikes that have been made before 1975. The three classes in Pre-75, are 250, 350 and 500 cc.

As well as solo racing, sidecar racing is also quite popular and often very spectacular. There are mainly three recognised classes, 500 cc (using solo 4-stoke engines) and two 1000 cc classes (using stock road bike engines). Again, they all run on methanol, and the 500 cc class and the 1000cc Lefthand sidecar class run anti-clockwise around the oval track, and the 1000 cc class clockwise. The reason behind the difference in direction is often asked, the main reason being the origin of each class. The 500cc sidecars having been developed in mainland Europe, where drivers drive on the right of the road. The 1000cc sidecar has been developed in the UK where road users drive on the left. Therefore, the sidecar wheel is always found on the nearside of the vehicle.

The fastest recorded oval lap record is held by UK's Kelvin Tatum MBE at Rastede (1000 m Grass/Sand surface) in Germany at an average speed of 144.31 km/h.

Junior Grasstrack racing

Riders can start in Grasstrack racing at a young age (6 years old in the UK). Junior Grasstrack clubs cater for riders with motocross bikes as well as Grasstrack machines.

Organisation

Whilst there are several Grasstrack racing clubs in the UK, the sport is regulated by the governing body of British motorcycle sport, the Auto Cycle Union (ACU) who organise an annual British championship.

British Championships

The British Grasstrack Championships take place at two separate events. The 250 cc and 350 cc solo, 500 cc sidecar and 1000 cc Left Hand sidecar championships take place at the ACU British National Championships. The 500 cc Solos and 1000 cc Right Hand Sidecar Champions are decided at the ACU British Masters Championships. Qualification for the National Championships are by way of a National Gradings List. There is a British Masters Qualifying event held to determine qualification for the British Masters Final event.

The current ACU British Champions are Harland Cook (250 cc Solo), Richard Smith (350 cc Solo) Andrew Appleton (500 cc Solo), Shaun Harvey/Danny Hogg (500 cc Sidecar), Dave Penfold/Richard Webb (1000 cc Left Hand Sidecar) and Mark Cossar/Carl Blyth (1000 cc Right Hand Sidecar). The ACU British Under 21 Champion is Tom Perry.

The British Championships are important events, particularly for 500 cc solo and 500 cc sidecar riders. The results of the championships determine who is to represent the nation on an International level for the FIM World Longtrack Championships and the UEM European Sidecar Championships. More recently a World Championship has emerged for 1000 cc Right Hand sidecars. Qualification is determined on results from both the British Masters event and the British Sidecar Speedway Championships. Many 500 cc solo riders race Grasstrack for their profession, therefore a good result in the British Masters is essential.

List of British Grasstrack Champions

Year	250 cc Solo	350 cc Solo	500 cc Solo	500 cc Sidecar	1000 cc Sidecar	LH Sidecar
2013	Harland Cook	Matt Etherington		Josh Goodwin/Liam Brown		Will Penfold/Adrian North
2012	Harland Cook	Andy Mellish	Cameron Woodward	Shaun Harvey/Danny Hogg	Mark Cossar/Carl Blyth	Dave Penfold/Richard Webb
2011	Craig Drury	Jason Handley	Andrew Appleton	Josh Goodwin/Liam Brown	Rod Winterburn/Liam Brown	Dave Penfold/Richard Webb
2010	Harland Cook	Richard Smith	Andrew Appleton	Shaun Harvey/Danny Hogg	Mark Cossar/Carl Blyth	Dave Penfold/Richard Webb
2009	Harland Cook	Jason Handley	Lewis Denham	Nick Radley/Abi Radley	Mark Cossar/Tom Cossar	No Winners
2008	Paul Cooper	Richard Smith	Jason Handley	Shaun Harvey/Danny Hogg	Rob Bradley/Shaun Simpson	Terry Nicholas/Michael Raymond
2007	Paul Cooper	Jason Handley	Glen Phillips	Shaun Harvey/Danny Hogg	Colin Blackbourn/Paul Whitelam Jnr	Terry Nicholas/Michael Raymond
2006	Neil Taylor	Jason Handley	Andrew Appleton	Shaun Harvey/Danny Hogg	Rob Bradley/Shaun Simpson	Martin Cuff/Steve North
2005	Lee Street	Jason Handley	Paul Hurry	Shaun Harvey/Danny Hogg	Rob Wilson/Ian Whale	Tony Penfold/Steve Fish
2004	David Knowles	Lewis Denham	Paul Hurry	Shaun Harvey/Danny Hogg	Paul Whitelam/Kevin Jones	Tony Penfold/Carl Bell
2003	Adam Shipp	Paul Cooper	Joe Screen	Lester Goodwin/Andrew Stevens	Rob Bradley/Tristan Winterburn	Hywel Phillips/Aled Thomas
2002	Adam Shipp	Jason Handley	Paul Hurry	Lester Goodwin/Andrew Stevens	John Halsey/Jason Glenie	Terry Nicholas/Mike Harrison
2001	Paul Cooper	Jason Handley	Kelvin Tatum and Glenn Cunningham (shared)	Lester Goodwin/Andrew Stevens	Rob Bradley/Tristan Winterburn and Gary Jackson/Carl Pugh (shared)	Hywel Phillips/Aled Thomas
2000	Lee Street	Tony Atkin	Kelvin Tatum	Lester Goodwin/Clive Goodwin	Rob Wilson/Tony Miles	Martin Cuff/Jason Relf
1999	Mark Wadsworth	Tony Atkin	Kelvin Tatum	Lester Goodwin/Clive Goodwin	John Halsey/Jason Glenie	Hywel Phillips/Jamie Moss
1998	Richard Smith	Jason Handley	Rained off-No Champion	Lester Goodwin/Clive Goodwin	Rained off-No Champions	Martin Cuff/Jason Relf
1997	Jason Stott	Tony Atkin	Paul Hurry	Paul Miller/Dave Collin	Gary Jackson/Mick Stace	Barry Geer/Robin Geer
1996	Mark Wadsworth	Jason Handley	Kelvin Tatum	Paul Miller/Dave Collin	Gary Jackson/Mick Stace	No Winners
1995	Carl Wilkes	Paul Hurry	Joe Screen	Paul Miller/Lester Goodwin	Roger Measor/Shane Lapham	Neal Owen/Andrew Evans
1994	Mark Wadsworth	Tommy Palmer	Simon Cross	Kevin Leide/Dick Oldroyd	Roger Measor/Shane Lapham	Luke Patcholl/Julian Browning
1993	Graham Thomas	Tony Atkin	Mark Loram	Brian Palmer/Scott Dunn	Ivor Matthews/Peter Jones	Bill Penfold/Nigel Shaw
1992	Graham Thomas	Andy Riley	Joe Screen	Kevin Leide/Alan Pithouse	Ken Lane/Mark Edwards	Tommy Penfold/Liam Chivers
1991	Mark Wadsworth	Andy Riley	Mark Loram	Cecil Taylor/Ian Thompson	Richard Piggott/Martin Bailey	John Fish/Gary Moore
1990	Mark Wadsworth	Andy Riley	Simon Wigg	Carl Squirrell/Lyn Green	Steve Smith/Keith Wall	Terry Patcholl/Luke Patcholl
1989	Mark Wadsworth	Joe Screen	Simon Wigg	Cecil Taylor/Alistair Haggarty	Steve Dewison/Dave Ward	Dave Penfold/Keith Miles
1988	Andy Phillips	Andy Phillips	Steve Schofield	Cecil Taylor/Tex Goodwin	Steve Dewison/Dave Ward	John Fish/Martin Smith
1987	Mark Wadsworth	Simon Cross	Martin Hagon	Cecil Taylor/Tex Goodwin	Steve Dewison/Dave Ward	Barry Huggett/Nigel Shaw
1986	Mark Wadsworth	Steve Schofield	Simon Cross	Nick Radley/Shaun Harvey	Roger Measor/Dave Harris	Ernie Penfold/Dave Apps
1985	Mark Wadsworth	Steve Schofield	Simon Wigg	Nick Radley/Chris O'Connell	Roger Measor/Dave Harris	Dave Penfold/Tom Penfold
1984	Mark Wadsworth	Steve Schofield	Martin Hagon	Nick Radley/Chris O'Connell	Alan Blewitt/Barry Metcalfe	Ernie Penfold/Dave Apps
1983	Mark Wadsworth	Steve Schofield	Simon Wigg	Cecil Taylor/Mal Goodwin	Steve Smith/Trevor Pye	Barry Huggett/Nigel Shaw
1982	Mark Wadsworth	Steve Schofield	Simon Wigg	Nick Radley/Chris O'Connell	Ted Tucker/Dave Ward	Jim Penfold/Steve Dempsey
1981	Dave Baybutt	Steve Schofield	Simon Wigg	Clyde Cardy/Allan Morrison	Dennis Teasdale/Keith Chapman	Mick Turrall/Tony Strivens
1980	Jeremy Doncaster	Steve Schofield	Trevor Banks	Steve Smith/Trevor Pye	Steve Smith/Trevor Pye	Ernie Penfold/Nigel Shaw
1979	Dave Baybutt	Clayton Williams	Trevor Banks	Clyde Cardy/Allan Morrison	Dave Heath/Ray Andrews
1978	Mark Wadsworth	Gerald Short	Brian Webb	Rob Stoneman/Rowland Broomfield	Steve Smith/Trevor Pye
1977	Mark Nicholson	John Britcher	Chris Baybutt	No event	Ken Smith/Mick Burr
1976	Chris Baybutt	John Britcher	Brian Maxted	No event	Ted Scott/John Atkinson
1975	Dave Brown	Chris Morton	John Britcher	No event	Alan Artus/Graham Higgin
1974	Chris Baybutt	Gerald Short	Chris Baybutt	No event	Ted Scott/John Atkinson
1973	Dave Baybutt	Stan Luck	Brian Maxted	No event	Steve Smith/Roy French
1972	Chris Baybutt	Peter Collins	Don Godden	No event	Cecil Taylor/Brian Knight
1971	Tony Black	Peter Collins	Brian Maxted	No event	Roger Measor/Trevor Bullock
1970	Mervyn Price	Chris Pusey	Chris Pusey	No event	Gerry Wheeler/John Holt
1969	Dave Baybutt	Chris Pusey	Brian Maxted	No event	John Miell/David Miell
1968	Chris Stewart	Bill Bridgett	Andy Ross	No event	Dave Hunter/Brian Cox
1967	Fred Watts	Chris Stewart	Don Godden	No event	Mick Webster/John Justice
1966	Don Godden	Tony Black	Tony Black	No event	Mick Webster/John Justice
1965	No event	Tony Black	Don Godden	No event	Dave Hunter/Ivan Kitching
1964	No event	Alf Hagon	Reg Luckhurst	No event	Bryan Rust/Dave Heath
1963	No event	Alf Hagon	Reg Luckhurst	No event	Nigel Mead/Dave Hunter
1962	No event	Alf Hagon	Alf Hagon	No event	Bryan Rust/Dave Heath
1961	No event	Alf Hagon	Denys Goodacre	No event	Bill Evans/Ian Paskin
1960	No event	Alf Hagon	Austin Cresswell	No event	Bill Evans/Ron Jones
1959	No event	Alf Hagon	Alf Hagon	No event	Freddie French/Gordon Wosley
1958	No event	Murray Briggs	Murray Briggs	No event	Chris Vincent/Ivan Kitching
1957	No event	Martin Tatum	Martin Tatum	No event	Bill Evans/Ron Jones
1956	No event	Austin Cresswell	Alf Hagon	No event	Bill Evans/Ron Jones
1955	No event	Denys Goodacre	Martin Tatum	No event	Bill Evans/Ron Jones
1954	No event	Alf Hagon	Alf Hagon	No event	Bill Evans/Ron Jones
1953	No event	Sid Mintey	Austin Cresswell	No event	Derek Yorke/Jim Green
1952	No event	Sid Mintey	Austin Cresswell	No event	Derek Slate/AN Other
1951	No event	Sid Mintey	Dick Tolley	No event	Cyril Smith/AN Other

European and World Championships

The FIM, the World's motorcycle racing authority run a World Longtrack series as well as a World Team Cup. Although both events are named 'Longtrack', they often are competed for on Grass. The World Longtrack series competitors must qualify through a series of Qualifiers. Riders must be selected by their nations motorcycling authority. Riders then must compete in Qualifying rounds and hotly contested Semi Finals before reaching the World Longtrack series proper. The World Team Cup involves each team consisting of 3 riders racing each other for points. The top team at the end is the winner. Germany have won this event both times it has been run.

The UEM hold a European Grasstrack championship, where qualification is similar to the World Longtrack. However, the competition culminates in a one-day event. The UEM also holds a European Championship for sidecar competitors. 500 cc sidecar machines from several countries compete in 2 semi finals, and the championship is decided on a one day final.

List of World Longtrack Champions

European Individual Championship (1957-1970)

Year	Solos
2013	Joonas Kylmakorpi
2012	Joonas Kylmakorpi
2011	Joonas Kylmakorpi
2010	Joonas Kylmakorpi
2009	Gerd Riss
2008	Gerd Riss
2007	Gerd Riss
2006	Robert Barth
2005	Robert Barth
2004	Gerd Riss
2003	Robert Barth
2002	Robert Barth
2001	Gerd Riss
2000	Kelvin Tatum
1999	Gerd Riss
1998	Kelvin Tatum
1997	Tommy Dunker
1996	Gerd Riss
1995	Kelvin Tatum
1994	Simon Wigg
1993	Simon Wigg
1992	Marcel Gerhard
1991	Gerd Riss
1990	Simon Wigg
1989	Simon Wigg
1988	Karl Maier
1987	Karl Maier
1986	Erik Gundersen
1985	Simon Wigg
1984	Erik Gundersen
1983	Shawn Moran
1982	Karl Maier
1981	Michael Lee
1980	Karl Maier
1979	Alois Wiesbock
1978	Egon Muller
1977	Anders Michanek
1976	Ivan Mauger
1975	Egon Muller
1974	Egon Muller
1973	Ole Olsen
1972	Ivan Mauger
1971	Ivan Mauger
1970	Jon Odegaard
1969	Don Godden
1968	Manfred Poschenreider
1967	Manfred Poschenreider
1966	Manfred Poschenreider
1965	Bjorn Knutsen
1964	Kurt W Petersen
1963	Bertil Stridh
1962	Bertil Stridh
1961	Timo Laine
1960	Josef Hofmeister
1959	Josef Hofmeister
1958	Josef Hofmeister
1957	Basse Hveen

List of European Grasstrack Champions

Year	Solos	Sidecars
2012	Stephan Katt	Tommy Kunert/Markus Eibl
2011	Martin Smolinski	William Mattijssen/Nathalie Matthijssen
2010	Andrew Appleton	Tommy Kunert/Markus Eibl
2009	Stephan Katt	William Mattijssen/Nathalie Matthijssen
2008	Stephane Tresarrieu	Tommy Kunert/Markus Eibl
2007	Theo Pijper	William Matthijssen/Nathalie Matthijssen
2006	Stephan Katt	Tommy Kunert/Bernard Kreuzer
2005	Paul Hurry	Sven Holstein/Desiree Daubert
2004	Theo Pijper	Tommy Kunert/Bernard Kreuzer
2003	Gerd Riss	Tommy Kunert/Hermann Bacher
2002	Sirg Schutzbach	Josef Onderka/Martin Wamprechtshammer
2001	Maik Groen	Tommy Kunert/Marco Hundsrucker
2000	Zdeněk Schneiderwind	Josef Onderka/Martin Wamprechtshammer
1999	Bernd Diener	Tommy Kunert/Hermann Bacher
1998	Zdeněk Schneiderwind	Josef Onderka/Uwe Kuhberger
1997	No Event	Josef Onderka/Uwe Kuhberger
1996	Steve Johnston	Tommy Kunert/Marco Hundsrucker
1995	Kelvin Tatum	Tommy Kunert/Wolfgang Maier
1994	Robert Barth	Marco Glorie/Harry Drenth
1993	Richard Musson	Karl Keil/Joachim Reeg
1992	Anne Van Der Helm	Josef Onderka/Wolfgang Huber
1991	Rif Saitgareev	Josef Onderka/Richard Wolf
1990	Robert Barth	Josed Onderka/Richard Wolf
1989	Robert Barth	Josef Onderka/Josef Feigl
1988	Frank Kehlenbeck	Karl Keil/Joachim Reeg
1987	Roman Matousek	Josef Onderka/Frank Onderka
1986	Simon Cross	Josef Onderka/Frank Onderka
1985	Clayton Williams	H. Pagel/J.Zaddach
1984	Martin Hagon	Michael Datzmann/Robert Datzmann
1983	Christian Brandt	Michael Datzmann/Robert Datzmann
1982	Jeremy Doncaster	Michael Datzmann/Robert Datzmann
1981	Neil Farnish	Michael Datzmann/Robert Datzmann
1980	Willi Stauch	Oliver Bauer/Paul Steiglbrunner
1979	Gerald Short	No Event
1978	Chris Baybutt	No Event

External links

Official website Auto-Cycle Union

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