Upavon is now Ludgershall

New Venue for Winter Racing in the South

Upavon cycle races series organiser, Darren Clarke, is dissappointed to report that cycle racing will not be taking place at Upavon for the 2011 Winter series and probably not for the rest of the year. Military building work is the reason for the cancellation. With the increase in the use of Salisbury Plain for pre Afghanistan military training, Upavon has borne the brunt of the developments and is unlikely to be raced on the same as it has in previous years.

Darren has secured an alternative site utilising the REME test track at Corunna Barracks, Ludgershall. The site is only six miles east of Upavon and just two miles North of the popular Thruxton circuit for the same race dates.

The Ludgershall circuit is a grippy 0.9 mile long with a mild drag each lap that is sure to eventually split up the race. The circuit requires some work to get it up to standard but Darren is certain that this will be completed by the original Upavon start date of Saturday, 8th January. Whether the race actually goes ahead will be weather dependant. To describe the circuit it would be a mix of Eastway and Eelmore.

See British Cycling online calendar for all event dates/details which run weekly from 8th Jan to 19th March

Due to the site being a secure MOD area, riders who wish to take part in the series must email their rider details and vehicle registration number to darrenclarke30@hotmail.com to secure entry to the site. Ludghershall is on the A3026, just west of the village centre. Postcode for the venue is SP11 9RP and there will be ample signage around so that all find the circuit.

Unfortunately there are no toilets on the circuit at the moment and portaloos will be the best facilities available. Riders should understand that this is a military base and when arriving to race should proceed directly to the car park, race and then leave, anybody found not complying with this advice will be banned!

As ever, all races are £10 (no cheques please) with EOL only. The format for the racing will be as follows:

09.30: 4/L 30 mins +2 laps
10.30: 3/J 40 mins + 2 laps
11.30: E/1/2/3 45 mins +2 laps