DAMP and overcast conditions failed to deter the competitors at the Rabey’s Commercial Vehicles August Bank Holiday Hill climb at Bouley Bay with several records and personal best times recorded.
Starting in miserable conditions the rain eventually ceased and with the course drying out after the practice runs a good size crowd waited in anticipation.
Amazingly, records did fall with the first being quite an achievement.
Steven Jeanne, the record holder in the 125 cc and 250 cc motorbike classes, has now added the 200 cc class to his name after taking 1.5 seconds off Martin Mitchell’s best time recorded 12 years ago.
Jeanne lowered the record throughout the day to 47.03 seconds on a borrowed KTM from young Aaron Baudin who raced for the first time on Monday, when he clocked 56.21.
The second record went on the second official run and it fell to seasoned campaigner Kevin Rault driving the giant killing Mini Cooper. Rault drove brilliantly to shave seven-tenths off the rally cars up to 1400 cc record which had stood since 1999.
The new time of 52.30 embarrassed a lot of competitors in the rally car section as their more powerful machinery was beaten by the 1293 cc mini.
Carl Vardon took the third record on his Yamaha Quad Bike. Vardon had returned earlier in the year to try and lower his record but was unsuccessful but, undeterred, he vowed to return again and he achieved his sub 50-second time on the 1,011-yard course.
On his second official run, Vardon mastered the unyielding 2 stroke machine to record an amazing 49.20, knocking over a second from his 2004 record.
Pictured: James Le Sueur was quickest in the 1,000 cc bike class
Article posted on 29th August, 2008 - 3.26pm
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