NEWSLETTER
Hi everyone, this is just a very quick reminder to let you all know that midnight this Saturday 4th July 2026 is the official closing date for our meeting with BHRC at Darley Moor on the 18th & 19th July 2026. Unfortunately after this date if there is room on the grid there is a late entry fee charged.
I thought I'd just remind you all due to it being so close to our meeting at 3 Sisters this Sunday.
Darley Moor does look like being a very well attended meeting once again for the Earlystockers especially if transponder hire is anything to go by with 11 requests for them but just 7 Earlystocks Club transponders available 🤔 forcing me to carry out the names out of the hats draw later tonight. Many Thanks to our sponsor for Darley Moor who is Alec Gilfillan.
On the subject of transponders if anyone has an AMB transponder either the TRAN X260 or TR2 versions not direct powered ones & preferably non subscription that they would like to sell to the Club then please let me know asap as we are on the look out for an additional one to add to our current stock as they are being booked up all the time now.
For those of you who may not be aware sadly Sun 30th Aug will be the last ever meeting at Tonfanau. 😭For those of you who have not been to this circuit I really do urge you to enter this meeting. There will not be another race circuit like it, it really is unique & it's very rare that you get a chance to ride at a circuits last ever meeting.
The beauty of Tonfanau is that you can arrive at the Tonfanau Circuit on Friday afternoon & then don't have to leave until 11am on the Bank Holiday Monday, so gives you a great weekend. For the Earlystockers Saturday usually involves a trip on the train (train station is at the entrance to the circuit) to Barmouth for a visit to the Chippy & then of course a visit to a pub. 😃😃If this is not to your liking then there's always a walk to the sea front. 😀
I have also attached to this email the Lydden, Cadwell & Pembrey Race reports for you all to have a read of. These have been very kindly completed by # 75 Keith Cotgrove to whom we are very grateful & who has put a great deal of effort into these reports & they are a great read. Some great photos are also amongst them.
Hopefully we'll see a good number of you at 3 Sisters on Sunday even if you're not competing.
That's it for now folks,
Regards,
Regards,
Cass Beardmore
SecretaryEarlystocks Racing Club.
Knockinaam Wood Cottage,Portpatrick,Stranraer,Dumfries & Galloway,DG9 9AG.
Tel 01776 820827 or 07710998216
RACE REPORTS
Pembrey Serves Up Sunshine and Superb Racing
Pembrey is often known for throwing every type of weather at competitors, but for this BHR and Earlystocks meeting, Wales was on its best behavior. Riders, teams and spectators were treated to warm sunshine and blue skies throughout the weekend, creating perfect conditions for four excellent races around one of Britain's most enjoyable circuits.
The paddock was busy from the outset, with a healthy entry across the classes and a fantastic atmosphere that remained throughout the weekend. As always, Earlystocks delivered exactly what it is renowned for: close, competitive racing combined with a friendly and welcoming environment both on and off the track.
At the front of the field, Martyn Cooper enjoyed an outstanding weekend aboard his Honda VFR, producing a faultless performance to take four victories from four starts. Ashley Wilkinson, Paul Johnson and John Adamson also enjoyed strong weekends, providing some excellent battles and maintaining an impressive pace throughout. Gavin Bird as usual, looked impressive on his RD350.
Across the grid, there was plenty of action for spectators to enjoy, with battles developing in every race and riders often separated by only hundreths of a second after several laps around the fast and flowing Welsh circuit.
The GPZ500 Funderbike Championship riders were once again part of the action, continuing to demonstrate how affordable and accessible racing can still be. The class is steadily growing and provides an excellent entry point for both new and returning racers. Local racer Andrew Burscough excelled on his GPZ500 with three out of four wins in class 1 and impressive lap times of sub 1.11 with Mark Bostock close behind. New racer Dean Clegg on his GPZ550 impressed, mixing it with the faster GPZ500’s.
Sunday's final race was unfortunately brought to an early conclusion following a tumble from Ivan Childs on his GSXR750, with the result declared after seven laps. Ivan was checked out at hospital and thankfully ok. Despite the interruption, the meeting concluded successfully and brought another excellent weekend of racing to a close.
Away from the racing itself, the paddock once again highlighted what makes BHR and Earlystocks such a special place to race. There was no shortage of helping hands, shared tools, borrowed parts and friendly advice throughout the weekend, with competitors always willing to support one another.
A huge thank you, as always, goes to BHR, the marshals, medics, officials and volunteers whose hard work allows these events to take place safely and successfully.Pembrey has once again delivered a memorable weekend, and with the season continuing to gather momentum, everyone will already be looking forward to the next round.
Four races, fantastic weather and another excellent advert for Earlystocks racing.
CADWELL PARK
Cadwell Park served up a proper Earlystocks classic across the weekend, with close battles, fast Hondas, hard-charging Kawasaki’s and a few riders steadily finding form as the meeting unfolded. The sharp end of the field became a four-rider scrap between Martyn Cooper, Allan Hoyland, Ashley Wilkinson and Paul Snell, with honors shared across the four races.
Race 2 opened the weekend with Martyn Cooper taking victory aboard the Honda VFR after a race-long fight with Ashley Wilkinson, the pair split by just 0.63 seconds at the flag. Allan Hoyland completed the podium, while Paul Snell set the fastest lap of the race with a blistering 1:44.80.
By Race 10 the battle tightened even further. Allan Hoyland edged Martyn Cooper by only six tenths of a second after seven frantic laps, while Wilkinson and Snell remained firmly in the hunt. Robert Chambers again impressed on the Kawasaki Z750, comfortably leading the Class B runners and mixing it with the quicker Class D machinery.
Sunday morning’s Race 18 produced another superb contest, with Hoyland once more coming out on top ahead of Paul Snell and Ashley Wilkinson. Cooper was only just behind in
fourth after another fast and consistent ride. Chambers continued his strong weekend with fifth overall and fastest Class B lap honours.
The final encounter, Race 26, finally swung back in Martyn Cooper’s favour. Cooper inherited the lead after Ashley Wilkinson retired from a commanding position and went on to take victory from Hoyland and Steve Hampton. Wilkinson’s pace before retiring showed just how competitive the front-running VFR pack had been all weekend.
Further down the field there were strong performances from John Adamson and Ivan Childs in Class C, unfortunately Mark Daniels GSXR750 had major engine failure in lap 1 of race 1. Gavin Bird on his RD350 led the GPZ500 contingent and all enjoyed some close racing of their own. Keith Cotgrove, Nicholas Burgar and Mark Bostock all traded places and improved lap times as the meeting progressed. Burgar in particular steadily chipped away at his times across the weekend, eventually dropping into the low 2:00s by the final race.
Cadwell once again delivered its usual cocktail of bravery, rhythm and organized chaos, with the Earlystocks paddock producing close racing throughout and setting the scene nicely for the next round.
If any BHR riders out there are looking for a cheap extra class then why not consider getting a GPZ500 for a few hundred quid and join in the fun..
LYDDEN HILL
Lydden Hill Launches 2026 in Style Round 1 at Lydden Hill delivered a full weekend of close racing, big battles and plenty of drama across all classes.
Saturday kicked things off with John “Nig” Nicklin leading early in Race One, before the VFR riders fought their way to the front. James Jackson joined the battle on the big GSX, while Steve Hampton held strong under pressure from Ash, Martin and Jackson to take the win.
Race Two followed a similar pattern, with the VFR machines and Jackson at the front. This time Jackson made it stick, taking victory after a hard-fought race. In the GPZ500 class, Dougie took the win, followed by Prof. Cotgrove, with Nick Burgar impressing on debut to take third on his 20th birthday.
Sunday turned up the intensity, with constant position changes making both races difficult to call. The VFR riders again led the way, joined at the front by a striking Moto Guzzi, while Jonathan Power stayed close on his FZ750. Behind them, Adamson, Cooper and Bird battled hard in a two-stroke scrap.
Race Three brought late drama in the GPZ class. Dougie led early, but Bashar Bostock’s charge ended in the kitty litter at the final corner. Prof. Cotgrove inherited the lead, only for Burgar to pass him after a missed gear and take a remarkable debut win. Race Four saw Bostock bounce back to take a Class 1 win, underlining a determined weekend. Despite some mechanical issues across the field, Round 1 proved one thing… the 2026 season is well and truly underway.
About Us - Production Based Classic & Post Classic Machines
About our Club
Earlystocks Racing Club. ( Classic, Post Classic and Modern Classic Racing Motorcycles).
This is a club for those of who remember when bikes were bikes and not all covered in plastic.
Catering basically for road based production machines manufactured pre 1987. Air cooled engines with carburettors, twin rear shocks. Old school technology where spanners count for more than computers.
Monoshock machines also now catered for.
We allow some modifications to make it easier to get better tyres than the old canvas things they used back then.
Tuning the supension and engines to give more power and handle better than they were built to back in the day.
Being one of the cheapest forms of racing it is becoming more popular, especially when compared to the cost of racing a supersports or superbike, where the price of a weekends tyres for a superbike would cover about a 3rd of a seaons racing on and Earlystocker.
The racing on track is just as good but back in the paddock it is more social and everybody will help you if you have a problem.
If you've ever said to yourself "I'd love to have a go at racing" come on and give it a go or come along to some of the tracks and talk to us.
You'll be glad you did.
Like Classic Bikes ?
Want to race on a lower budget without having to purchase a full Race Frame & Tyre Warmers etc, then look no further.
Earlystocks is a Club run by Racers for Racers.
Championship Classes
Four Championship Classes for 2025
500cc Twin shock
Class 1
Class 2
Class 3
