BSSO Scooter Racing 2008

Scooter Racing returns to Three Sisters


Twelve years ago the tight and twisty kart track at Three Sisters, near Wigan, hosted its final scooter race, but the BSSO have just been back to the popular circuit and there was as much fairing bashing, panel scraping, Tarmac surfing action as there was in the good old days…

The two day meeting brought a few old faces out of retirement, including Lambretta riders, Tim Simpson and Andrew Sharkey, plus Zip rider Will Reber. Friday’s wet practice session saw Tim being the first to sample Wigan’s finest Tarmac – after the first lap. Welcome back!
As well as top class racing from the scooters and bikes present, there was also a stunt show during the lunch break and the event was captured by Channel M for their Biker Show on satellite TV. The sun even put in a rare appearance, well for Saturday at least!

Saturday
Race one saw a great three-way battle for the lead with Zip rider Jon Uffindell scrapping with Charlie Edmonds and Stuart Day. The tight track was perfectly suited to the little Piaggios and the two leading Lambretta riders were forced to ride the wheels off their more powerful machines to stay in front.
Jason Metivier suffered a front wheel blowout on the first lap and took a spectacular tumble; he also took out Steven Conneely who couldn’t avoid the stricken rider. Both riders walked away battered, but otherwise unhurt and were out again for the second race. Stuart Day took the well-deserved win, followed by Edmonds and Uffindell.
The second race saw three autos taking the podium places; ‘Elbows Uffy’ won the race, followed by fellow Zip rider Bill Douglas and Gilera Runner rider, Eddie Goode. Charles Edmonds looked like he might win the race, but he pulled off two laps early, thinking the seven lap race was over. After realising his mistake, he rejoined and finished in 12th place.
Prior engagements meant I missed Sunday’s racing and after seeing the weather I was quite chuffed. It slung it down from dawn till dusk and claimed a few casualties, as you’d expect. In fact there were no fewer than nine riders parting company with their machines during the two races. It was a good day for John Woods though; he enjoyed taking his first 70cc class win after making a canny tyre choice just before the final wet race. New boy and fellow Zip rider, Will Reber made his presence known during the weekend. He mixed it with the big boys to finish in the top six, in all but the final race.
By the time you read this you’ll have missed the next round at Anglesey but you can catch up with all the action at Lydden on 1-2 September and Cadwell Park on 29-30 September before the series final at Three Sisters on Sunday 14 October.

Iggy