By Wet weather, damp conditions, persistent rain, heroic feats, true grit, productive pragmatism were just some of the terms that sprung upon me when reflecting upon the 68th Scarborough Gold Cup.
I think most of all though, the one word for me that describes the first Gold Cup meeting in two years is character.
As at the Barry Sheene Classic, the event organisers had certain specific problems to deal with but they kept their cool and maintained a dignified professional approach.
You can’t heap enough praise on the One Nine Four Six Marshals Association and the Two Four Three Road Racing Association, without whom road racing at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough would no question in my opinion no longer exist.
The standard of racing at the 68th Gold Cup meeting, in spite of the inclement weather, mixed course conditions throughout was of a very high quality.
Lee Johnston added his name to the Steve Henshaw International Gold Cup, Ian Lougher jumped his overall Scarborough wins tally to 140! Whilst various racers joined the Gold Cup winners circle for the first-time which included Justin Collins, Richard Telford and Mark Purslow.
Although the overall event entry which neared the 100 mark, wasn’t perhaps of the same overall quality as at previous Gold Cup’s but it didn’t dim down the quality of the racing, plus allowed the thousands of fans venturing to Scarborough to witness the exploits up close of many a talented next gen UK roads talent.
The only aspect of the entry that concerned me was the lack of Sidecar entrants, which by the time competitive action began on Saturday, stood at just nine.
There was reasons for this, specific meetings clashing with the Gold Cup been one but it was just a shame to only see nine outfits sampling the fabled Mount course.
Sidecar racing at Scarborough is something unique, spectacular, different, non-distilled, pure racing in it’s absolute essence.
Hopefully at next year’s events at Oliver’s Mount, entry numbers will rise and rise as I know three wheeling action is a huge favourite for many who make the trip to every Scarborough meeting.
On the whole though a very positive Gold Cup meeting for the event organisers, who without as aforementioned we wouldn’t have racing on mainland UK shores.
Long live racing at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough, roll on the planned four meetings in 2020, beginning with the Spring Cup which is hoped to run from the 25th-26th of April.
Words by Stevie Rial
