The IHRO Continental Circus made its third visit to Belgium for 2008 with races at the picturesque Gedinne circuit in the Ardennes.

As last year, the hard working members of the CRMB, very ably assisted by visiting riders who were enjoying a ‘holiday’ between events, produced a wonderfully prepared circuit which was a great credit to all concerned and a tribute to the international cooperation possible when people have a joint aim.

As if to reward their efforts, the sun appeared on Saturday morning and the riders and spectators were treated to a glorious late summer weekend. Good weather, beautiful scenery, Belgian frites and beer and Classic Racing on a fabulous road circuit as well, how much better could it get?.

In the 250/350cc practice session, Ives Glauser staked his claim with the fastest lap but only 0.7 second separated him from 3rd place Mike Edwards on his first visit to the track and his first ‘road’ race for 13 years, Luke Notton was second. In the 500cc class, the first and third were again the same men, but this time Jarno Jonker was in second place.

There were races for each class on each day starting with the 250/350 race on Saturday afternoon, and in this first event Luke Notton was in determined form, stamping his authority on the race from the first lap, Luke looked to be by far the smoothest and most polished rider on the circuit all weekend, his treatment of the chicane after the start was pure poetry attracting the admiration of all who were watching, all the more creditable as this was Notton’s first visit to the circuit. Despite having been pushed in the early stages by Ives Glauser, Luke won by 10 seconds from Mike Edwards after Glauser had a ‘moment’ which dropped him to third place. Peter Branton caught and passed Martin Hudson to grab 4th on Bob Rowe’s Norton. Ela Heck won the 250 class after Mick Nash de Villiers’s Bultaco shed its primary chain on the first lap.

For the 500 race Notton did not have a 500cc machine so it was a different set of riders chasing Glauser. This time it was Mike Edwards who had a ‘moment’ while leading, remounting to finish 6th, Mikes spill elevated Marc Michot, who was taking a few minutes off from meeting organisation to have a ride, to 3rd place. Jan-Frank Bakker recoverd from a poor start to finish a fine 5th on his first IHRO ride of the year, a mere 3 seconds behind fellow countryman Ton Groot on his Tickle Manx. Glauser also posted the fastest time of any class for the weekend in this race setting a new classic circuit record at 129.994 kmh, lapping the 5.5km circuit in 2.19.853 seconds.

Sundays 350 race was again a Notton benefit, but only after Glauser had fallen off on the 3rd lap spoiling what promised to be an excellent race. Branton was second some 39 seconds down on Notton with IHRO resident wine expert Martin Hudson achieving his first IHRO podium finish in 3rd place. Mike Edwards was suffering from a sore neck after his spill the day before and elected to give his sponsor Vanni Jensen a ‘Masterclass’ which managed to knock over 2.5 seconds off Jensen’s time in this race and the following 500 event. Battle of the race was for 6th place which went to way of Ray King who managed to yet again beat his run of bad fortune in IHRO events, hopefully this will now signal the end of this dry spell for Ray. Behind him were Leo Smids who had a very closely contested race with Joss Sassen, finishing a mere 0.03 of a second in front at the line, Alex Siertsma was a mere 1.5 seconds behind his battling countrymen.

The second 500cc race was won buy Mike Edwards who had managed to ease his discomfort after the 350cc race and lead from the start from Peter Branton who was having his first outing on Bob Rowe’s 500 Manx after he had blown up his own Seeley in the 500 practice on Saturday, and the hard charging Jarno Jonker on the Beck’s BMW, Jonker was another rider who delighted spectators through the chicane, belying the BMW reputation for ‘unusual’ handling characteristics, he was fast, smooth and perfectly positioned on every lap. Ives Glauser’s Seeley was taken over by his father Franz as Ives was absent following his 350cc spill, Franz finished a fine 8th place on his first ride on the bike for a while.

The meeting was judged to be a success by all present, it is a tribute to this demanding, but fascinating natural road circuit, that so many first time riders did so well at the event in all classes, obviously riding ability is important, but the circuit is so flowing and inviting that it is difficult not to enjoy it if you are a ‘roads’ rider.

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