BHGPC Cadwell Park 22nd/ 23rd May 2010

The 3rd round of the British Historic GP Championship ( aka "The Lansdowne") took place at this picturesque circuit where we were again providing support races for the British Superbikes. In 25 years of racing at Cadwell I have never seen the place so full - mapproximately 25,000 spectators around the 2.2 mile, narrow circuit and race trucks as far as the eye could see. Good job it was dry, because most had to park on the grass, and dry it certainly was. Red hot for the spring in the UK - 27c shade temperature, almost unheard of.

Our team was again a little diminished, this time due to Nick Roberts being obliged to work, but it was good to welcome back chief mechanic Harry! Vanni Jenson was back too, but due to the no score from Oulton, was obliged to start from the back of the grid ( which is formed on championship position not qualifying times), a real handicap on this narrow circuit. Andy was leading 350, but failed to capitalise on that, getting swallowed up by the pack on the first lap and struggling to finish 3rd 350. Not a good result. Vanni fought well to end up 8th overall.

In the second race Andy made a much better start and led the 350 class for several laps, until Andrew Taylor again slipped by on his MPL AJS 7R. Cadwell is Andrew’s home track & he was riding superbly - get you back at Silverstone! Vanni again was 8th 500 and Lee Moore was again 3rd on his dads 500 Molnar Manx

CRMC Darley Moor 15th/16th May 2010

Not the most exciting of tracks, and with very little facilities, it is Steve Tomes' "home" track and also we wanted to go and support one of our Australian customers Neil May. Neil has one of our standard 86mm 500cc Molnar Manxes and an ultra short stroke 350 and it was the 350 that he had brought back to the UK to spend a few months with his family touring the UK classic race events. Darley was Neil's first UK event and he had some good rides though he slipped off at the hairpin whilst lapping a slower rider.

Steve kept us busy, trying lots of different set ups over the weekend. We ended up with 2 wins' 3 seconds 2 3rds & 2 4ths.  No crashes and no mechanical mishaps - and we were the only top runners to be able to say that!

CRMC Mallory park 2nd May 2010

Returning "old boy" Steve Tomes reminded the field of his class & the competitiveness of the Molnar Manx by winning the first 2 races on the ultra short stroke T3 350 and the 95 bore 500, breaking the lap record in the process. Andy wobbled round on his standard unfaired 350 beating 75% of the 350 Hondas. A good, if cold, day!

Oulton Park 17th April 2010

The sun was shining on this beautiful circuit in the middle of Cheshire. Unfortunately it was not shining for Vanni Jensen who was stuck in Denmark due to the Icelandic ash cloud. So it was a diminished team that took to the (overflowing) grid. Nick Roberts continued to build his confidence and circuit knowledge with a steady ride to 10th and 7th places. But Andy was on fire after the disappointments of Brands and absolutely blitzed the 350 class winning both races & finishing 8th and 9th overall. He now has a small lead in the 350 championship.

Brands Hatch 4th/5th April 2010

Our season started at bitterly cold & windy Brands Hatch where the Lansdowne boys were putting on a couple of support races for the British Superbike meeting on the very short “Indy” circuit. All our team member felt woefully underprepared with all of us out on track for the first time, not having had any pre season testing. First race was particularly difficult for Vanni Jensen whose footrest fell off after he had done some last minute adjustments (!) & Nick Roberts on his return after serious injury. Andy had a half decent race, but lost out to the evergreen Tim Jackson (7R) by just 0.005 seconds on the line. Second race was significantly better for the 500 boys, but Andy did not manage to up his pace sufficiently and ended up 2nd again. Must try harder!!

Molnar/Walmsley G50 wins at Goodwood 19/20th September 2009

Wayne Gardner & co-rider John Leigh-Pemberton took a stunning victory at a sun blessed Goodwood Revival meeting in front of over 40,000 spectators. Going into the 2nd leg of the two day event on Sunday, the duo trailed Michael Rutter/Mike Russell by over 15 seconds. Although John did his best, he was handicapped by lack of time on the bike & at the handover, the ex-world champion Gardner had a lot to do, though he was helped by some slick pit work. “I knew I just had to hunt them down” said a beaming Gardner at the end “I didn’t have too much to drink at the party last night(!), watched my pit board & let the bike really have it-and it never missed a beat.” The crowd were on their feet as Gardner gradually caught and passed Rutter to take the aggregate win. The bike is an absolutely standard G50 to 1961 specification right down to 19” wheels. Built entirely from components manufactured by Molnar Precision and built by Fred Walmsley.

For more information:
MPL: sales@manx.co.uk
FWD: fred@fredengines.co.uk

Molnar Manx wins Belgium 500 Authentics Championship 29/30 August 2009

Veteran English rider Tony Raynor wrapped up the CRMB 500cc Authentics Championship on his 7 year old standard 86 bore Molnar Manx at Gedinne on Sunday. This series requires the bikes to be to original bore & stroke & limits modifications to quite strict regulations. It is run on a number of street circuits around Belgium. “Going into the final race I had a small points lead” said Tony “and I only needed to finish 3rd to be certain of the series win. I was so nervous, I spent most of saturday night checking absolutely everything, But I need not have worried, the bike ran faultlessly as usual!”

Tony Raynor

Molnar Manx 90 bore at 2009 Manx Grand Prix.

In difficult conditions, burly Scot Wattie Brown rode his Molnar Manx 90 bore to 2nd place at this years Manx Grand Prix. Although there was no way that the 2 valve single could challenge the multi valve multi cylinder Paton and MV for absolute speed, Wattie kept the wire pulled tight and as the others gradually fell by way ride the 90 bore ploughed on and climbed up the leader board. An excellent result for Wattie, mechanic Gary and owner Hans-Georg Stutz and a reminder again of the strength of the Molnar Manx 90 bore which stunned the classic racing world on its MGP debut in 1997 and won the MGP in 2002.

Whilst we were getting drowned and blown away on Anglesey, Mark Sharrock took Molnar Manx number 001 to the first Lansdowne event at Oulton Park.

Meantime, across the Irish Sea, a couple of hundred miles west of Anglesey, Wattie Brown took Hans-Georg Stutz's 90 bore to a comfortable victory on the roads in the classic race at Cookstown.

I was quite nervous with this meeting, the first round of the Championship, but looking forward to a good result.

Went through scrutineering with no problems and then signed on, got my programme to check out the competition and list of entries, good grid of 30 riders with the majority being on 500's. Practice went well with no major problems (other than the swing arm being loose!!) anyway I was fastest by 0.1 of a second, taking pole position with championship favourite, Duncan Fitchett on the second row.

Race 1
The flag drops, I'm second into Old Hall corner to Nick Roberts, got good drive down the Avenue and took the lead round Island bend but I knew both Duncan and Nick were on my tail. Stayed in the lead for the opening lap and held it to Clay Hill when Duncan came past. I stayed with him for a lap and he gradually moved away, the bike was behaving strange I tried to close the gap but it was just not handling. I managed 2nd be it 4.5secs behind. On return to the paddock I realised the problem (another broken Falcon rear shock unit!!) Between races we jetted down, managed to source some old NJB units from the most helpful guy in the paddock (Dave Birkinshaw), with a bit of work we got them to fit.

Race 2
The flag drops, I'm second into Old Hall corner to Nick Roberts again, got good drive down the Avenue and past him (back end feels soft but ok) again both Duncan and Nick were on my tail, stayed in the lead for the opening lap and held it again to Clay Hill when Duncan came past. I stayed with him and could tell he wanted to put a quick lap in to break me, it didn't work I stuck with him for all six laps but couldn't quite get him it was 0.8 of a second over the line, both Duncan and myself were 12 secs clear of 3rd.

I don't think it's going to a one horse race as people may suspect (Old Faithful will surely be there abouts come the end of the season).

Roll on Brands.

Mark

The club had booked the new Ty Croes coastal circuit for a practice day on the Friday, this being the CRMC's first ever visit to this circuit on the Isle of Anglesey. This would give team Molnar Manx the opportunity to test some setup modifications to suit team new boy Mike "spike" Edwards

Warm Up

Unfortunately Friday dawned wet and windy fit only for ducks so we learnt very little other than it's always cold in Wales.

Assemble Area

Saturday race day started off, dry, with Mike taking an emphatic win on the 350, team mate Vanni 4th and my old man having a wobble round 6th in class. The 500 was not so successful 3rd for Mike as we experimented with the setup. Then the heavens opened leaving the rest of the weekend wet, not that this bothered Mike and Vanni who had a 1st and 3rd. The 500 race got a bit exciting when the unfortunate Alan Oversby slid off infront of Mike who tried evasive action but couldn't help running over Alan's legs on his way to a bit of grass tracking. Now towards the back of the field Mike produced the ride of a lifetime with some adrenalin pumping overtaking moves passing people on the corkscrew but ran out of laps before he could close down eventual winner Lee Gourlay. We had a good night in the pub afterwards!

Tactics

We awoke on Sunday to constant drizzle but at least the wind had died down. The team had a stunning 1, 2 in the first 350 race with Vanni beating Gourlay to second place. Unfortunately the success went to his head and he binned it in the 350 National which Mike won as well as the next 350 race with Vanni going down again! The 500 National was a real thriller with Mike and Gourlay having a right good ding dong never separated by more than 3 meters until Gourlay lost the back with 2 laps to go. This time round Vanni not crashing. The final race was a Molnar Manx demonstration of pure class with Mike easing it into first with Luke Notton second on Brian Camp's 95 bore.

Quick Talk

So Mike goes to the next round at Lydden (luckily not in Wales) leading all the championships he is competing in on a Molnar Manx.

Word: Richard Molnar
Pictures: Jennifer Edwards

Classic Club - Pembrey 22-23 March 2008

Andy Molnar and Mike Edwards

Team Molnar Manx 'new boy' Mike Edwards started his classic racing career with a bang, taking the lead from Lea Gourlay at the end of the first lap of his first ever classic race. Although Gourlay went on to regain the lead and ultimately narrowly win the 1st race, Edwards showed that with the 95 bore Molnar Manx, he will certainly give the established classic stars a run for their money.

Talking Tatics

Mike enjoyed riding the ultra short stroke 350 even more than the 500. The weather conditions were atrocious with freezing temperatures gale force winds then heavy rain!

Bad weather

Suffice to say Mike found the limit of adhesion of our Avons, and then went a little too far......! He ended the weekend with 2 wins 7 seconds and a crash. Not a bad start.

Grass tracking

Team mate Vanni Jensen had some good results too with a couple of 3rds and other top 6 placings plus a collection of the best welsh mud when he slipped of his 350!

Vanni Jensen

Roll on Anglesey 26-27th of April. It must be warmer there.

Word: Richard Molnar
Pictures: Jennifer Edwards