Armoy road races this weekend

I don’t have an entry list, but I do know that Ryan Farquhar and Keith Amor will go head to head in both the Supersport and Superbike races. A prospect that makes going to the meeting very attractive!

On Friday roads will close at 2.30pm, with the first session due away by 3.15pm. There are 53 circuit newcomers this year, and they must all do a lap in the newcomers bus along with some of the most experienced riders, to make sure they know where to turn!

On Saturday, roads will close at 10am, with the first race of 10, the Junior Support, away at 10.45am. Prizegiving will be in the signing on marquee 45 minutes after racing ends. Not everyone’s cup of tea, admittedly, but the club have installed a chicane just after the start-finish area, before McCaughans Corner.

It blends in with the rest of the track, and will have the effect of slowing the riders on the approach to Deans Rise, scene of the terrible accident that left a spectator dead last year.

The paddock area has also been upgraded, and some more safety bales bought. There have also been a number of removable fences installed at certain sections of the course.

I’m looking forward to the Armoy meeting. It had been one of the best last year, until a blight was put on it by the tragic death of Mr. Hill McCooke. Hopefully they can get this years meeting through incident free. I wish Bill Kennedy and the rest of the Armoy members well with it. We will have a full report in next week’s Times.

CLADY VINTAGE RUN

The traditional Clady Vintage Motorcycle Club have asked me to bring your attention to a change of venue for the start of this year’s Annual Vintage Run, held on the 13th of August.

In recent years it was started at Killead, but this year the start will move to Loanends Church car park, on the Seven Mile Straight. The Church is about halfway along the straight, and the starting time will still be from 6.30pm.

The nominated charity this year will be the Waveney Cardiac Support Group, in Antrim Area Hospital. Entries will be 7, which will include refreshments afterwards.

Roy Adams