ClassicRacer 77
“Wethoughtthe biggestchallenge would
be finding30RD250LCs, but in fact that was
probablythe easiestbit.Turningthemfrom
piecesof crap to something that looked pretty
muchbrand-newwas the hardbit. We’reabit
analaboutit, with greatattention to detail,but
we wantedto keep everythingauthentic.”
Fast forward afew weeks and running
identicalYamaha RD250LCs,as opposed to
theoriginal 350ccversion, the original event
waswon by Niall Mackenzieahead of Andy
Muggleton and CharlieCornerin astrung-out
affair that sawanumberof ridersfail to see
thechequeredflag.
Theexercise wasrepeated againatthe
British GrandPrix of 2016,with victorygoing
theway of Muggleton,who led home Corner
withDaleRobinsonclaimingthefififinalpodium
placeaffttterred-hotfavouriteMackenziewas
forcedoutonthewarm-uplapinthedamp
anddismalconditions.
Theweatherconditionsmeantalapofthe
3. 66 - mileSilverstoneGPtracksawtheageing
machinesandevenolderjockeystakeover
three-and-a-halfminutestocompletealap
withtheshortenedsix-lapracetakingover
21 minutestocompleteandthreeminutescovering the15riders who finished –proof
if everitwas needed that Silverstonein the
wetisnot conducivetoresurrecting the
halcyonglory days.Manypeople thoughtthat
mightbeitfor theproject, untilthe idea of
an inaugural Anglo-Scottish Challenge was
mooted as part of theMCE BSBprogramme
at Knockhill,againthe brainchild of ex-MCN
reporter and HRCemployeeHerring.
Covertlyworkingwith British Superbike
boss Stuart Higgs–likeHerring asucker
fornostalgia having beeninvolved with bike
racing allhis life–the twoofthemhatched
aplan on aslightly smallerscalethan the
Silverstone races, but one as equally exciting
in itsown right. Aslot wasfoundinthe
increasingly busytimetableand with the
supportofffKnockhillEventsDirectorSSStuart
Gray,aplanwasformulatedtopitcheightof
thebestScotsagainstasimilarnumberof
Englishridersinaone-offrace.
Eligibilitywassimple–ifyou’dracedin
theoriginalPro-Amseries,itwasabonus,
especiallyontheScotttttishsideofthefence,
butmoreimportantlyifyou’dbeenfamousin
aformerlife,orperhapsevenknewsomeone
whowas,youwerein.Herringset aboutappointing twocaptains,
bothof whomwere actually original Pro-Am
competitors and very muchlegends in their
ownright. Although domiciledin Englandfor
the past couple of decades, formerGP ace
and tripleBSB champ Niall‘Spuds’Mackenzie
wasordered to digout his kilt andlead the
Jocks, whileformer teenage prodigy and
French 250cc GP winnerAlan ‘MightyMouse’
Carter wastofront the Sassenachinvasion.
Mackenzie roundeduphis bunchof
Bravehearts,whichincludedformerPro-Am
menDonnie McLeod andJoeToner,bolstered
by anumberofaces who had no experience
of the originalseriesatall. WorldEndurance
champion andTT winner Brian Morrison,
doubleBritish Supersport champion John
CCCrawffford,BritishProductionchampandTT
winnerIainDuffus,ThunderbikeandBSBrace
winnerIainMacPherson,aswellasScotttttish
championSandyChristie,wereallseconded
intotheScotttishteamandproceededto
borrowbikestodovarioustrackdaysat
Knockhill,allegedly.
Carter,meanwhile,drewonhisexperience076 Pro Am_SEP.indd 77 27/07/201709:08:08