Yet again the IHRO races were blessed with sunshine after a tempest swept through the paddock on the wednesday before the event, destroying awnings, knocking bikes of their stands and generally causing mayhem and localised flooding. Happily after that, things improved and normal Chimay weather returned.

First practice was for IHRO1 and here it was Phill Sharp who set the pace on Tony Dunnell’s Manx, 2 seconds ahead of long time sparring partner Luke Notton on his 7R, Lea Gourlay was making his first appearance with IHRO for this year on Roger Winfield’s Manx, but with the transponder not working, his times were not recorded. The only other person under 2 minutes in this session was Ton Groot on his Tickle Manx but lower down the grid, Martin Hudson on his Seeley 7R and Rich Hawkins on his Ducati continued where they had left off at Mettet and less than half a second separated them.

Sharp also headed the first IHRO2 session ahead of Jonker and Branton, again Gourlay’s times on the Paton were not recorded due to transponder failure.

For the second, qualifying, IHRO1 session on Saturday morning, Gourlay had a working transponder which showed that he was second behind the flying Sharp who was tucked in behind the fairing so well as to be almost invisible as he came up the start and finish straight. This session saw a welcome return of Frenchman Bruno Leroy on Patrick Godet’s Manx after a few years away from IHRO competition, Bruno showed that he has lost none of his skill by qualifying 10th in his first outing. Jos Sassen on his Ducati and Rob Den Tieter on his Seeley 7R were again only 0.03 seconds apart promising to continue their battles of the last 2 years.

The qualifying for IHRO2 saw Gourlay on the Paton 4.5 seconds ahead of Jarno Jonker on the Becks BMW with Sharp a mere 0.01 seconds behind the flying BMW.

The first race was on Saturday afternoon for the IHRO1 class and it was Gourlay who passed and pulled away from fast starting Sharp to win by 3.6 seconds, Branton, Groot and 350 class winner Notton, had respectively lonely races albeit with a mere 3 seconds separating them at the line. Leroy, Alan ‘Bud’ Jackson on his Manx and Peter Tanner on his Seeley G50 had a good race which was spoiled on the last descent of the hill when Tanner’s chain snapped leaving him to coast in over the line just behind the second place 350 of Hawkins and 3rd 350 James Walker on Denis Gaskin’s Aermacchi. Best scrap of the race was between Jan Brouwer and Jose van Meurs on their Seeley BSAs and Alan Windsor on his Seeley G50, the result going to Brouwer by 0.5 seconds. Des Wootton was the sole 250 rider, and thus won the class.

Gourlay on the Paton was the unsurprising winner of the First IHRO2 race held on the Sunday morning, he dominated the race to pull away from the following Sharp and Jonker by over 20 seconds in the 6 lap race. Reinhard Neumair on his Manx pulled through to catch and pass Hans De Witt on his wonderful sounding Konig to take 6th place with Paul De Doncker on his Honda just behind.

The second IHRO1 race was the main event of the weekend. The Martin Orgee Memorial Trophy being awarded to the overall winner for the first time. The Chimay organisers worked hard to make this a memorable event by providing a podium ceremony and laurel wreath for the winner in honour of Martin’s memory. I have been to all of the Chimay Classic events, and this is the first time this has ever been done, so it was a wonderful mark of respect from the Chimay Club. Gill Orgee was present along with many of Martin’s family to present the trophy, a fabulous sterling silver salver which had originally been given to Gilbert Smith of Norton in 1939 to celebrate his being appointed as President of the B. C. & M.C.M.T. Union 1939. This was very kindly bought by Bob Rowe to be awarded annually in Martin’s memory, unfortunately Bob missed the presentation as he had fallen in the first practice on Friday afternoon, we wish him a swift recovery.

In the race again it was Sharp who took the early lead but by lap 3 Gourlay had fought past and went on to win by 3.7 seconds, the pair were 25 seconds ahead of Branton in 3rd. Graham Wade on John Oldfield’s Seeley G50 was a good 4th ahead of Groot with Leroy a distant 6th. Hawkins got the 350 class result ahead of Walker with Marc Michot on his Aermacchi the 3rd 350 home. Brouwer and Jose Van Meurs continued their first race scrap with honours just going again to Brouwer by 0.12 seconds. Sassen again got the better of Den Tieter and we look forward to many more battles in the remaining races of the season. A fitting race for this special occasion.

The second IHRO2 race was almost a repeat of the first but this time Niek Leeuwis was riding Willem Van Kooji’s Suzuki after his own bike broke. Paul De Doncker broke is run of bad luck and managed to complete both races with a creditable 7th in this one.

A successful event from almost everybody’s perspective, the organisation at Chimay had changed this year and many things were improved but it still had the same friendly familiar atmosphere which so many people enjoy. The IHRO Continental Circus moves on to Oschersleben for its first race at a new venue this year.

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