661 Mini Downhill at PORC - Penshurst Kent.

Looking to get in racing Downhill? This is where you should start then. Chris Roberts has got the ball rolling here in the U.K and is taking racing to the masses in all corners of this isle. This time we were south of the big smoke that is London. PORC - Penshurst Off Road Club near Penshurst in Kent.

Read on to see how it's done and hopefully to get some inspiration to put this kind of race on at a hill near you!The 661 Mini Downhill does exactly what it says on the tin. The only downside for this one was having to negotiate the M25 that is a motorway/freeway ringroad that encompasses the rat race that is London. Opened in the 80s by Margaret Thatcher it now resembles a car park.


Once we negotiated the above, we landed in a nice part of the world that is the quintessential village of Penshurst in Kent. Time for a swift half of lemonade and a pub dinner before we headed up to the track.

Practice started just after 09:00 and most managed 5-6 runs in the sweltering heat. The blue skies above interrupted by charter jets as we were under Gatwick Airports main flight path.


The track itself should have started on the 12ft tall start ramp, why didn't it? Instead we perched ourselves on a large table top which really should have been the first obstacle on track. Instead we were treated to a huge raised sandy mound with a naturally developed berm cut into it was ace to lean into and shoot out of. The cameras should all have been here, capturing the roosts kicking up into the sky.


Plenty of twists and turns into a well worn track with a few tricky berms and lines to learn as every inch counted on this track which we knew would be sub one minute. A few cheeky drops and two small jumps all added to the fun with no real need for chicken lines or as they should now be called, "Alternative Routes". The course flowed nicely except in a few places, you know the sort, you rail a corner expecting to fly out one way only to be met by a tree or course tape. Best get local boy Harry Molloy loose with the tape next time me thinks.


The walk up wasn't even too bad, 5 minutes on the calves isn't the end of the World, just the heat and burning sun that us Brits aren't too used to. I wasn't complaining though, were you?

With almost three hours of practice we were then treated to two timed runs, best one counts. Unless you messed up most went around one second faster come runs two and according to Extreme Medics no real injuries.

Rippers:
Johnston Harry 00:59.9
Hooper Rhys 01:05.8
Whapshott Matthew 01:08.0
Miller Jack 01:09.0
Newham Reace 01:09.8

School holidays are all about this

Juvenile:
Davies Elliot 00:49.6
Ingham Conor 00:52.4
Walsh Stan 00:52.6
Sheppard Harvey 00:53.0
Meade Jordan 56:55.8

This fella was Keen

Youth:
Love Brandon 00:46.5
Chapman Jack 00:46.7
Mundy Isaac 00:48.1
Jones Matthew 00:48.2
McGowan Liam 00:48.5

Full Tilt from this pinball wizard

Junior:
Hammond Ross 00:44.3
Reynolds Sam 00:48.1
Storey James 00:48.2
Lenthall Max 00:49.4
Vials Joe 00:49.4

Willz

Senior:
Wilkins Olly 00:45.8
Jones William 00:46.0
Marshall Chris 00:46.5
Hibberd Andi 00:47.5
Wright Billy 00:47.6

Vials, Bubba scrubbin

Masters:
Harland Russ 00:46.9
KEMP TIM 00:48.1
Hatcher Christian 00:48.3
Paton Si 00:48.9
Borham Chris 00:49.1

Christian Hatcher

Vets:
Molloy Paul 00:52.9
Jones Lars 00:53.1
Jenkinson Eddie 00:55.3

Old skool BMX tuck

Ladies:
Love Katie 00:58.8
Diwell Renee 00:59.3

Not everyone got dressed for the occasion.

Pro-Am:
Molloy Harry 00:44.2
Vials Nathan 00:44.5
Russel Dale 00:45.8
Evans Will 00:46.0
Cambel Jenner Pat 00:47.2


For more info on Mini DH racing in the U.K please click here.

Next weekend the 22nd and 23rd of August we are at the Caersws Cup Rd 4.


Always clipped in...

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