2003 Club Diary
Saturday
16 th August 2003
Race Day
At last the day we had
all been waiting for had finally arrived, the sun was shinning and the
spectators were arriving in their thousands. All the preparation was complete
and everything was set for a super days racing.
For those of us who
were lucky enough to be at Dundrod we witnessed a fantastic day of fast and
furious competition, lap records were broken it seemed in every race with speeds
getting ever faster. Adrian Archibald set new lap record of 128.20 mph.
Unbelievable stuff.
The event passed of
with no serious incidents and everyone was full of praise for the race
organisers the Dundros & District Motorcycle Club. It was evident that all
their hard work and safety improvements to the course had indeed been well worth
the effort.
You can see all the
results on the results page found in the History section of this site.
Here are a selection of photographs taken by Popeye of the days happenings.
Enjoy.
Roll on
2004
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Thursday
14 th Practice Day
With the sun beaming
down on the Dundrod Circuit the large field of competitors got ready to go to
work.
Unfortunately I was
also at mine and stuck in the stuffy office, however thanks to a few friends I
was kept up to date with text messages and the odd phone call.
By all reports it was
a super days practice with all the top riders in each class setting fast times.
Roll on race day this Saturday only 36 hours to go.
Here are a few photo's
taken by club member " The Nook " as usual they are great shots of our
many hero's.
If you fancy a mounted
copy of any of the photographs The Nook will be only happy to oblige for the
usual modest fee.
Don't forget that you
can also pay a visit to www.digitalroadrace.co.uk
for a chance to view all our local hero's in action throughout the racing
season.
What more
could you ask for on Practice Day
Super
crowds, Super Weather and Super Speeds
Pure Heaven
Wednesday
night 13 th August 2003
They are
coming to Drundrod from all over and its getting bigger by the hour.
We are in
for a super practice day folks
See You
There
Tuesday
night 12th August 2003
Yes folks it's
started, at last the waiting is over and the show is on the road.
People are
already starting to arrive for the best road race of them all.
The Ulster
Grand Prix.
Ye ..
Ha
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UGPSC
Superbike Race
The Ulster
Grand Prix Supporters Club will sponsor the 2nd Superbike Race at this years Anniversary
Ulster Grand Prix around the famous Dundrod Circuit.
UGPSC Chairman
Desmond Stewart stated that the decision to sponsor a race at the event was a
milestone in the history of the Club.
The 2003
Ulster Grand Prix marks the Fortieth anniversary of the Club and with this in
mind the Committee decided it would be a fitting way to end our year long celebrations.
They say that
life begins at Forty, so we could not miss the opportunity to start the next
decade in our history with a first for the club.
Tuesday 5
th August 2003
The Dundrod &
District Motor-cycle Club hosted the final press conference before the Fiftieth Anniversary
running of the Ulster Grand Prix around the world famous Dundrod circuit in the
Ballymac Hotel.
Club Secretary Leslie
Moore welcomed everyone and announced the new event title of the event. The 2003
Prix would officially be known as the:
" Stannifer/Snoddons
Ulster Grand Prix in association with the Northern Ireland Events Company "
Mr Moore also
announced the new sponsor of the Production 600 Race and stated that he was
delighted to welcome Mr Sammy Hartin of SBE ( Safety Barrier Erection ) as official
sponsor of the 6 lap race.
Darran Lindsay will
team up with the IPS Team at the UGP and will ride their 600 Honda machine in
the Supersport 600 Class.
Last years " Man
of the Meeting " Ian Lougher is fairly confident that he can
retain his
title. Ian says, " Both my 600 Hondas have been updated since the North
West 200 and TT Events and I recently won races at Aberdare with one of them.
The Production 600 machine is now modified to the Irish Supersport trim and is a
completely different machine to what I rode at the Dundrod 150 meeting. As for
the Suzuki Superbike it has received new chassis parts, in a longer swinging arm
and front forks plus we have added a new quicker-shifter, so it's as competitive
as anything else in the race. So I see no reason that I cannot win three races
again at the Ulster Grand Prix. "
To celebrate fifty
years of the Ulster Grand Prix at Dundrod there will be a two lap parade which
organiser Adrian Craig has brought together almost 75 famous riders and exotic
machines from around the world, including Phil Read, Ralph Bryans, Chas
Mortimer, Kent Anderson, Tommy Robb, Jim Moodie, Charlie Williams, Frank Perris
and Raymond Mc Cullough.
After last years
traffic congestion around the grandstand area, new traffic measures have been
introduced for race day. Traffic will be directed into new FREE car parking
areas adjacent to the grandstand area and the DDMC will be appealing for the
public co-operation with this new system on race day. VIP and Privilege pass
holders will proceed as normal to the existing area behind the grandstand.
Mr Moore reminded
everyone that the roads will close for the Practice Sessons on Thursday 14 th
August at 10.30am and reopen again at 5.30pm, with roads closing at 9.30am
reopening again at 6.30pm on race day Saturday 16 th August.
Club
Chairman Announces 2003 UGP Funding.
Desmond
Stewart Chairman of the UGPSC announced that the club will be sponsoring the
2003 Ulster Grand Prix to the tune of £ 17,000.
Speaking at a
press conference for the launch of the 2003 event held in the Lisburn Island
Center on Tuesday 8 th July, the chairman said that the Supporters Club
were delighted to be in a position to offer the Promoting Club (DDMC) this substantial
amount of money.
He
congratulated the committee for their dedication to the event and went on to
thank the current membership for their continued support in this our Fortieth
year.
The Chairman
thanked all the sponsors for their involvement and wished the Dundrod Club and
spectators an enjoyable and save day's racing.
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Tuesday 8
th July 2003
Lisburn City Council
hosted the launch of the 2003 Stannifer & Snoddons Ulster Grand Prix, which
takes place on Saturday 16 th August.
Alderman Ivan Davis,
Chairman of the Council's Leisure Services Committee welcomed competitors,
sponsors and officials to the launch of this year's event and spoke of his
delight that the Dundrod & District Motorcycle Club had been successful in
its bid to promote this year's Ulster Grand Prix ensuring the continuation of
this prestigious event at the Dundrod circuit.
"
I am delighted that the Council
has taken the decision to support this famous road race. I have no doubt that it
will be an overwhelming success. I am please to see that the level of
involvement and the numbers of sponsors at this year's event has increased, this
can only be good for the event and goes a long way in keeping it one of the
premiere motorcycling events in the Province " said
Mr Davis.
Speaking on behalf of
Stannifer and Snoddons, Mr Sam Harris, said:
"
This is now our third year as overall sponsor of the Ulster Grand Prix and I
would just like to say how pleased we are to be able to continue our support
this year.
This
is undoubtedly one of the most prestigious events in the world road racing
calendar and it is our privilege to be able to work alongside Lisburn City
Council as part of an event which every year seems to go from strength to
strength.
We
wish everyone a very safe and enjoyable day's racing "
Sefton Thompson,
Dundrod Chairman, thanked both the Ulster Grand Prix Supporters Club and the
Dundrod Ulster Grand Prix Supporters Club for Pledging their support for this
years event.
"
I am particularly looking forward to this year's Ulster Grand Prix which will be
my first year as Chairman of the Dundrod Club.
We
already have a tremendous line up of riders coming to Dundrod and we hope to
have even more signed up in time for the event "
Highlighting the
improvements made to this years circuit, Noel Johnston, Clerk of the Course
said:
"
Thanks to the grant of the Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure and the
work carried out by our hard working club members, major safety improvements
have been carried out around the seven mile circuit this year ", he said.
" So we all hope we will have a great day's racing free from major
incident. "
Outlining this years
prize fund, Race Co-Ordinator, Leslie Moore, said;
"
Thanks to all our sponsors, we are in a position to once again promote one of
our province's biggest sporting events, the Ulster Grand Prix International
Motorcycle Races. Our Prize fund stands at almost £ 38,000 ( £ 37,445 ) which
is helping us to attract some of the best racers from around the world to race
at Dundrod.
New
Zealanders Bruce Anstey and Shaun Harris, who both recently won TT races, will
be taking on our own TT hero and British Isles Lap Record holder, Adrian
Archibald "
"
Also in our efforts to break the Team Suzuki stranglehold in road racing, we
have persuaded Yamaha Motor (UK) to make their first official entrant at the UGP
since the Formula One era in the 1980's. "
"
Former lap record holder and four times UGP winner Jason Griffiths will race a
special hand built machine in the Yamaha colours during both Superbike races of
which Jason is confident of doing well at the fast flowing Dundrod
circuit."
"
Our emphasis this year is not only attracting the top riders but also major
teams back to the UGP and I am confident in the forthcoming weeks there will be
more interesting " pairings " of riders and teams."
"
Tonight I am delighted that Stannifer & Snoddons, Lisburn City Council,
Northern Ireland Events Company and the Ulster Grand Prix Supporters Club are
joined with BBC Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Road
Racing Ireland, Stena Line, Dundrod Ulster Grand Prix Supporters Club, A Run For
Your Maun, Rea Sawmills, Loanends Club and Solitude Motors, in helping us
promote this great family sporting occasion. "
This year's event is a
seven - race programme.
1.
Production 1000 Race - 7 laps
2.
Production 600 Race - 6 laps
3.
125/400 Race - 5 laps
4.
UGP Superbike Race - 8 laps
5.
Supersport 600 Race - 7 laps
6.
Classic Forgotten Era Race - 5 laps
7.
Open Superbike Race - 7 laps
To celebrate fifty
years of racing at Dundrod, there will also be a series of special
anniversary
parade laps, attracting famous riders from all around the world. These will
include former world champion Kent Anderson, Phil Read, Charlie Williams, Brian
Reid and Ralph Bryans,as well as former world championship race winners John
Weeden, Eric Saul, Sammy Millar, Tommy Robb,Raymond McCullough and Frank Perris.
Entry Forms for the
Ulster Grand Prix are available from Leslie Moore, Telephone 07831 465676.
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**
New Dundrod Circuit Lap Record **
Ballymoney rider
Adrian Archibald has increased the Dundrod lap record to an amazing 128.504 mph.
Riding the TAS 1000cc
Suzuki at the recent Dundod 150 Adrian not only holds the Dundrod lap record but
also the British Isles fastest lap record which was previously held by Ian
Lougher at 127.820 mph.
Race fans attending
the Dundrod 150 races shook their heads in disbelieve as the timekeepers
announced his fantastic achievement.
Fans will be looking
forward to the Ulster Grand Prix this August for the chance to see Adrian
Archibald display his riding skills once again.
UGPSC meet
with DDMC
In June the
club held a meeting with the Dundrod & District Motor-cycle Club, the
official promoters of the Ulster Grand Prix 2003.
Both clubs
were represented by a good turn out of committee members.
It was agreed
that the UGPSC would continue to raise funds to support the "Ulster"
and that the aim of both clubs was to ensure that this famous event remains at
the Dundrod circuit.
The Ulster
Grand Prix Supporters Club would like to wish the Dundrod & District
Motor-cycle Club every success for the 2003 Ulster Grand Prix.
The Fortieth Annual General Meeting.
Close to 100 members
turned up at the Lisburn Island Center on Wednesday 2nd of April 2003 to attend
the fortieth annual general meeting of the Ulster Grand Prix Supporters Club.
As every member had
received a copy of the Secretary's annual report no one was in any doubt of the
troubles that had fell upon the club since the 2002 Ulster Grand Prix.
Sadly it was announced
by the Club President Norman Morrow that the Club Chairman Norman Windrum, the
Club Secretary Desmond Jardin and the Club Treasurer Tommy Price would be
standing down from their office positions.
Every member of the
Ulster Grand Prix Supporters club knows that these men have been the backbone of
the club for a number of years. In fact too many years that they care to
remember.
Norman Windrum has been
Club Chairman since the mid nineties and has steered the club through many
difficult times. There is no better person alive to provide you with accurate
detailed history of the "Ulster" and every true UGP Supporter
remembers his fantastic 1979 publication on the history of the "Ulster
Grand Prix"
Tommy Price joined the
Supporters Club in 1964 and has been the club Treasurer since 1971. Some people
say that Tommy was a wee bit "Tight" but thankfully the committee way
back then recognized that this was an absolute requirement for a Club Treasurer.
Tommy has controlled the club funds for over thirty years and nobody can deny
that he has done a fantastic job.
Desmond Jardin Has been
Club Secretary since 1963, indeed Des formed the Ulster Grand Prix Supporters
Club. Anyone who has watched the "Ulster" since that date can thank
Desmond for the wonderful experience, without Desmoid's determination it is safe
to say there would not be an Ulster Grand Prix today.
Everyone attending the
meeting applauded these three men for all their dedication and wished them well
for the years ahead.
The membership at the
AGM then set about electing the following members to these Office Positions:
Club
President: Norman Morrow.
Club
Chairman: Desmond Stewart.
Vice
Chair: Valerie
Miskimmon.
Hon
Treasurer: Pual Mc Govern.
Asst
Treasurer: Andy Pinkerton.
Hon
Secretary: Chris Mc Donald.
Asst
Secretary: Billy Middleton.
A number of new members
we elected to the Management Committee and a full list of Committee members will
be listed in due course.
The Club President congratulated
everyone on their election and expressed that with this new team in place the
Club would continue to flourish and continue to support our one aim "The
Ulster Grand Prix"
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The
Ballymoney Motorcycle Show
28th February
& 1st March 2003
The Club was delighted to
once again be represented at this years Ballymoney
Motorcycle Show.
Mrs Linda Dunlop opened the show on
Friday afternoon and visitors found all
the usual exhibits ( Boots, Helmets, Gloves, Clothing and Spares)
There was also
a display of the famous Armoy Armada Racing Bikes along with Road Bikes and Vintage Bikes.
The Club stand was kept
busy with all reports indicating that this was a record year for Memberships at
this well attended show.
As usual the Maghermorne
Hillbilly was on hand to tempt all visitors to sign-up and as always he was ably
assisted by the beautiful Trudy.
Andy, Paul, Barry and
Popeye also dropped by to give support and a great day out was enjoyed by all.
A special thank you goes
to
Davy Louden for the invitation to attend.
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Ulster
Motorcycle Show
The Odyssey
Arena, Belfast
The Club decided to
attend the Ulster Motorcycle show which was held in the Odyssey Arena.
The Club stand was open for business over the three days, visitors
were able to join-up and
receive the Special 2003 Anniversary Badge.
The response was way
beyond our wildest dreams, every visitor to the stand offered their support to
the club and agreed with the stance we have taken in not supporting the race promoters
while certain people remain involved.
The decision to attend
this show was only made a few weeks ago and all credit has to go to
everyone who helped make it all possible in such a short space of time. We
have proved once again that we have a super team of workers within the
committee.
Well Done the
Workers........ Over 600 members signed up.
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