After the great success of the 2nd Night of the Knobbly Tread event last October, regular Mountain Bike promoters the West Drayton MBC have confirmed the event is back again for 2013 thanks to the kind permission of Bucks County Council and is to be held on the 19^th October.

This event has really taken on, filling a gap in the market as most of the traditional night time events are usually long Endurance event but this is a short night time cross country race featuring both a fun event for those yet to sample the intense buzz of racing in the dark and an open event for those experienced night time racers. With the races being close to Halloween, in addition to the prizes for the first across the line and age related prizes there will be prizes for the riders sporting the best fancy dress.

This year in addition to the two cross country races the evening entertainment is going to start with a night time Dirt crit eliminator race, this will be held close to the event HQ on a small tight circuit, the format being that after one warm up lap, the last riders over the line every lap are eliminated until the bunch is down to 4 riders when it will be time to sprint for the all important podium places.

The team are still in negotiation with sponsors but can announce that Party Lights , www.kingwilliamthefourthguesthouse.co.uk and long term club sponsors Beyond Mountain Bikes are supporting the event so those on the podium should be going home with some nice goodies.

Race distances are 15miles for the open event and 9 miles for the fun race, the circuit is  a fast twisting 3 mile circuit that will be a mixture of wide forest tracks and tight single track. Good lights are required!

 Richard Sawkins managing director of party lights states ‘this race gives our company an ideal opportunity to support local sport and also allows us the chance to show of some of the products we can supply to those looking for lighting at special events and we are looking forward to once again helping to run such a popular event

Jackie Roberts Owner of Beyond Mountain Bikes states,”The buzz at this short distance race is incredible and the feedback from participants last year was tremendous and we are glad to support the event and are looking forward to it immensely.

For those looking for a weekend of racing the following day the club promote the Black Park Off Road Duathlon.

As last year plans are underway for free hot dogs and drinks being handed out to all competitors at the prize giving. 

Race HQ-Black Park Country Park, Black Park Road SL3 6DS

Race Distance Fun-3 laps of a 3 mile approx cct, Open-5 laps x 3 mile approx cct.

St times Dirt Crit Eliminator  7 p.m. Fun 7:25 p.m. Open 8:15 p.m.
Hard standing car park.
Proper Toilets.
Good lights required.
Entry fee includes free hot drink and Burger

Circuit open for pre-riding from 6 p.m.
No licence or club membership required.
Prizes-Open event- 1st 3 male riders, 1st 3 female riders, 1st 3 Veteran riders, 3 best fancy dressed riders subject to 6 riders in each category.
Prizes-Fun event, 1st 3 male and female riders subject to 6 riders in each category.
All prizes will be presented at the end of the open event

Race HQ-Black Park Country Park, , Black Park Road, Bucks, SL3 6DS  | ViewRace HQ-Black Park Country Park on a map >> 

www.blackparkraces.co.uk/

3RD EXPOSURE LIGHTS NIGHT OF THE KNOBBLY TREAD RACE REPRORT

 The West Draytons Exposure Night of the Knobbly tread again produced some quality racing, going against the usual format of long endurance racing this was short, eyeballs out top speed racing with the fun riders facing 3 laps of the 3 mile course and the open and vets facing 5 laps. As a new idea to start the nights proceedings there also featured an eliminator race round the start/finish area with Matt Craner Beyond Mountain Bikes/WDMBC taking the first victory of the night as he beat team mate Reg Pay into 2nd.

Next up it was the fun event with Party Lights supporting the event the first 100 metres of the start straight was a sea of illumination as a big field got under way, West Drayton riders made up a proportion of this field and having benefited from some training on the course they took full advantage of their inside knowledge with Sam Jacobs leading the charge from the line. The pressure of leading got to him though and he was the first of  a number of riders who slipped on the roots in the dark , his misfortune lead to race organiser Chris Denman taking over at the front, using his local knowledge to good effect,  sticking like glue to Denman's wheel was another WDMBC rider Marcin Kunecki and just when it looked like it might be a sprint finish between the two with half a lap to go Denman took a heavy tumble. Kunecki took full advantage to take the win with Graeme Taylor and Nicholas Try competing a West Drayton/Beyond 1,2,3 on the podium and the recipients of the Exposure goodies handed out the winners.

Also in this event was the winner of a special prize a free nights accommodation at the King William Guest House in Settle this prize going to Darren Hickman.

In the Ladies event it was another close call but in the end it was Shari Pay taking the honours from Karen Sawkins.

In the open and vets events there was some real quality riders facing the 5 laps, including leading under 23 rider, Isaac Pucci, Vets champion Lewis King and former vets Ladies champion Jackie Roberts. Pucci  had shown his intentions by joining in a training session round the course the previous week as having finished behind King last year he was desperate to reverse the position this time around.

The field blasted away down the start line and it was not long before the crowd saw the eventual winner come through, despite the dark Pucci was flying and had already pulled a minutes lead on the second placed rider , Lewis King who was another 30 seconds up on the 3^rd place rider Stefano DeTomaso. Although King and Pucci were flying solo at the front of their respective categories further down the field it was all bumping and barging as riders fought to get to the single track first .As the race wore on Pucci and King extended their leads with the younger rider Pucci opening the gap every lap on King but further back all the podium positions were still in dispute until the final metres of the race with local rider Paul Miller coming strong at the end taking second in the open class and Gabor Doroghazi 3^rd just 4 seconds adrift of Miller. In the vets competing the podium were Steve Jones  and Matt Craner 3^rd and Grand vet Rob Jackson was an excellent 4th ,

In the ladies open event Leona Kadir took the win from Agata Downey whilst in the veterans ladies a close tussle saw Cat Ross take the honours from Jackie Roberts the leading ladies being rewarded with prizes from Artistry by Amrita as well as Exposure.

Info for Riders

Entry fee includes free hot drink and Burger. Circuit open for pre-riding from 6 p.m. No licence or club membership required. Prizes-Open event- 1st 3 male riders, 1st 3 female riders, 1st 3 Veteran riders, 3 best fancy dressed riders subject to 6 riders in each category. Prizes-Fun event, 1st 3 male and female riders subject to 6 riders in each category. All prizes will be presented at the end of the open event