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After early morning downpours looked like putting a damper on the 2007 Kent Kracker,the skies brightened and the sun shone all day.The rain making racing conditions absolutely perfect.On the largest track the club had ever layed out on their Biddenden track,with a new style of "Off Track" starts for the Solos and 500cc Sidecars.
It turned out to be one of the best meetings ever held at this venue.
Lewis Denham showed real grit and determination as he took the scalp of Paul Hurry at Maidstone Aces Kent Kracker National.Hurry and Denham were unbeaten in their first 2 legs.Then the big clash clash came in the 3rd leg.Denham trying out a different machine made a dreadful start,whilst Hurry was away in the distance.Denham did the best he could by making his way through the field,but by this time it was too late,and Hurry took the win.
Back on his quicker bike for the Final,Denham made a terrific start,with Hurry hot on his heels.Going into the pit bend Hurry was right on the inside of Denham.But Lewis was not going to give up the lead lightly,and showed real determination in keeping Hurry at bay.Showing his obvious delight with his win over Hurry,Denham delighted the crowd with his usual wheelie's down the straights.This was the end of a great weekend for Lewis,as he stole the hearts of thousands of French supporters on Friday night with a superb victory at the famous Marmande circuit in the support class for the World Longtrack Final.
There was some close and hard racing in the 500cc Sidecars.With Shaun Harvey/Danny Hogg,Nick Radley/Andy Colvin.But it was surprise package of Barrie Bennett/Eifion Hughes who gave the usual suspects a real run for their money.In the first leg it was Harvey/Hogg who took the win,with Radley/Colvin in 2nd and Bennett/Hughes a very close 3rd.But the 2nd leg saw the placings reversed,with Bennett/Hughes taking a hard fought win from Radley/Colvin,with Harvey/Hogg having to settle for the 3rd position.
Leg 3,and this time Harvey/Hogg made a great start,followed by Lester Goodwin and Anthony Stevens,with both Radley/Colvin and Bennett/Hughes missing the start.Bennett worst of all being right at the back.And despite all his efforts after battling with Tony Cook and Gary Southgate,he could only get up too 5th position.
The final leg saw Harvey/Hogg again make the start,followed by Radley/Colvin.This time Harvey stamped his authority on the race and took over all victory in the class.2nd going too Radley/Colvin,and 3rd Bennett/Hughes.
Without doubt the closest racing of the day came in the RH Sidecar class.In the first set of heats there was 2 tremendous races.The first was in the second heat with Whitelam/Elliott against Bradley/Simpson.Whitelam making the start,but being chased down by Bradley,who eventually got by on lap 2.But Whitelam clung on like a tiger trying to re-pass.But Bradley/Simpson just held on for the win.
Then heat 3 Rob Wilson with stand in passenger Carl Pugh had another titanic battle with crew of the season so far,father and son crew Rod & Gareth Winterburn.Wilson made the start,with the Winterburns looking determined to take the win.With no more than a bikes length between the two crews for the whole four laps,it was the Winterburns who just took victory.This set the scene for how the RH Sidecar racing was to be all day.It was real top draw stuff.
Race 14 saw the coming together of the three W's.Wilson,Whitelam,Winterburn.It was Whitelam who trapped first,with Winterburn right on his rear wheel going into turn one.And closely followed by Wilson.This was looking like it was going to be one of the races of the day.Exiting turn one the Winterburns shot through the inside of Whitelam to take the lead.Wilson the tried the outside route on Whitleam in the pits turn,bith closing down on the Witerburns.But the outside route is a tough on with the pits turns adverse camber.All three outfits close together in the next turn and the Winterburns seem to lock-up coming out the turn.Whitelam sees this and he to locks up to avoid Winterburn,which lets Wilson up the inside.Winterburn then picks up a rear wheel puncture as Wilson charges through the inside.Whitelam the passes the Winterburns taking the last lap flag.Rod clearly frustrated with his misfortune.With one lap still remaining Mark Warren also got by the Winterburns.Disaster for them.
Onto the Semi-Finals,and Colin Blackbourne & Paul Whitelam jnr who had been pretty quiet most of the day.Although having carb problems in one heat,finally made there customary quick start.Followed by Whitelam senior and Rob Wilson.Whitelam dived underneath of Blackbourn on lap two going into the pit bend.With Wilson in close attendance.Whitelam took the win,with Blackbourn just hanging on to second place from Wilson/Pugh.
The second Semi-Final saw Peter Lloyd/Nick Wilson make the start,hotly pursued by the Winterburns,with Bradley/Simpson a close third.The Winterburns charged through the inside of Lloyd entering the pits bend,with Bradley edging closer.Going up the start/finish straight Bradley closed right down on Lloyd.They got very close in the bend and Lloyd locked up.Bradley swiftly took avoiding action only to spin off into the centre green and out the race.
The Final line-up was Wilson/Whitelam/Winterburn/Bradley/Warren,and Blackbourn.Everyone took a deep breath as the tapes went up.Who would make the important gate?It was local man Wilson who entered turn one first.But only just.Closely followed by Whitelam/Elliott and right alongside them was the Winterburns.This was going to be a Kracker.Wilson just in front exiting turn one.They go down the hill into the pits turn,and the Witerburns are determined to get the second place from Whitelam.They lock together in the turn.The Winterburns force Witleam to go wide.They in turn clash with Wilson/Pugh.The Winterburns dive through the inside to take the lead,followed by Whitelam/Elloitt.Wilson/Pugh pulling off the circuit with Pugh unable to carry on.The winterburns then pull out with mechanical problems on the following lap,and with Whitelam so close behind,Whitelam runs into the back of their outfit.And lucky to stay on.This allows Bradley/Simpson and Blackbourn/Whitelam junior through the inside.Could anything else possibly happen in the most eventful race? Answer! Yes! Whitelam also breaks down on the last lap.Then the race is on to push up the hill too the finish between the Witerburns and Whitelam/Elliott.They both sprinted up the hill,but it was Whitelam/Elliott who won the particular race.As not only were the Winterburns without their helmets,they were also a lap down on Whitelam.But it was great entertainment for the crowd.
A thrilling end to a thrilling 2007 Kent Kracker.
Classes: 500cc Solos & 500cc & 1,000cc Sidecars
Running Time: 206 minutes
Race Location: Biddenden,Kent,UK
Number of Races: 31
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