By When reflecting on how Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough newcomers performed at the 69th Gold Cup meeting, you can’t but not showcase 10 times TT winners Ben Birchall/Tom Birchall.
The four times World Champion’s in spite of multiple technical problems, still illustrated their undoubted calibre.
Absent from qualifying sessions due to engine issues, the opening six lap Sidecar encounter saw the Mitchells of Mansfield supported Birchall’s take third close behind fellow Mountain Course stars Conrad Harrison/Andy Winkle.
Along the way close to recording a sub 1 minute 57 seconds lap, this lap mark was soon surpassed in the following three wheeling race stint, which would see the modern era Sidecar greats in contention for race victory before more engine gremlins struck.
Prior to retiring, they had set an impressive new PB lap time of 1 minute 55.276 seconds, which incredibly makes them already the eighth fastest driver/passenger partnership in Oliver’s Mount history.
Solo newcomers wise, Kingston Upon Hull’s Richie Welsh quietly impressed recording three successive top eight finishes within the 2&4 Stroke races.
Others taking in England’s only closed roads course for the first time included Nick Colley and team mate to Craig Robertson, Andrew Hoare (Living The Dream Racing/Meala Racing Development).
Words by Stevie Rial
