Because every DTRA race event has been cancelled this year, and I couldn't/didn't want to travel out of the country to race, this year's dirt track riding had been limited to a couple of practice days at Greenfield. When the DTRA's Amman Valley round was cancelled at the last minute (due to you know what) a few UK riders committed to going to Krowdrace at Parchim in East Germany. I was told about the chance to race a lot closer to home, at a small meeting shared with a speedw

August meant Redcar, the most northerly track the DTRA visits. A lovely 300m speedway track with wide, long, banked turns and decent trackside facilities. We had an added incentive to make the long journey up country with a Friday evening show of 'sickle & surf film shorts put on by DTRA photographer and film maker Tom Bing and his pro surfer partner Sally, in a fine old Victorian Lifeguard museum on the coast at Tynemouth (see the blog post). On Saturday evening we were trea

Photo: Nick Clements I've spent a lot of time with John Harrison over the last few years. He's a very latecomer to motorcycle racing, competing for the first time on two wheels, at a DTRA race just three or four years ago, and already into his 50s, and with children older than some of the people he was racing on track. I watch him on track when I can, if I'm not in the holding area for my own heat races, and if I think I can give him pointers, I do, though I'm not expert. Any

After the huge entry of round 2, Peterborough, there was a reduced entry of 12 bikes for round 3 at Redcar Speedway. The track is the closest thing to a Lodi-style bowl that the DTRA visit, with wide and well banked turns. With glorious sunshine and an evening program we were in for a good time. Last year's champ, Gary Birtwistle #11 was back out on his Cheney BSA with a rebuilt motor, and for the first time this year Ross Jackson #130 joined in on his DT 400 Yamaha. With bot