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44th DAVID BELL MEMORIAL ROAD RACE
THE Classic Monument in Scottish Cycling
The 44th Edition of the classic David Bell Memorial Road Race will take place on the 20th June 2009. As usual the race will tackle the fearsome hill roads of South Ayrshire, with surfaces to make the Northern Classics look easy :-)
The main race will cover 70miles and feature two ascents of the feared Nic O the Balloch. As in recent years, there will also be a supporting event aimed at 3rd/4th cats.
Full entry via www.EntryCentral.com available NOW. Any further questions should be directed to ayrroads@gmail.com
Gary Hand wins the 43rd David Bell and £500 first prize. photo care of Granite City RT
The 44th edition of the classic David Bell road race takes place on the 20th June 2009.
As you see from the route profile, its deserves its reputation as the toughest race in Scotland!
The route is the same as that used for the 2007 Scottish Road Race Championships, but as in 2008 it will cut out those torturous finishing circuits. We still promise you a fast descent down 'The Screws' into Barr, a quick sprint up the 'Nic o the Balloch' pass, followed up be a wee dander over Tairlaw Summit. No other race promoter in Scotland offers you as much climbing per £1!
2008 Results
With a superbly timed effort, Pedal Power's Gary Hand outsprinted York Cyclework's Alistair Kay to win the £500 first prize in the 43rd edition of feared David Bell Memorial Road Race. Taking in the hill roads used in the Girvan Three Day, including Nic of The Balloch and the Screws, the Davie Bell is arguably Scotland's hardest single day road race. The 43rd edition was no exception and thanks to the £500 first prize incentive offered by the promoting club's sponsor, Harry Fairbairn BMW, it was a superb field the participated.
Straiton 21st June 2008 11.00 am Commissaires: John Davies David Miller
Organiser: John Mason Catering: Beryl Lowther
1 Gary Hand Pedalpower.org.uk/ Endura RT E
2 Alistair Kay York Cycleworks E
3 Scott Macrae Pedalpower.org.uk/ Endura RT 2
4 Michael Nicolson Glasgow Wheelers 3
5 Callum Wilkinson Bicycleworks.com 2
6 Gordon Murdoch Pedalpower.org.uk/ Endura RT E
7 Philip Brown Velo Ecosse 1
8 Collin Humphrey Activcycles/ corbridge 1
9 Paul Rennie Dooleys RT 1
10 Colin Ash Anderson Racing 1
11 Alister Watts Granite City RT V1
12 Daniel Smith Team Lacuna 1
13 David Robinson NFM RT 2
14 Keith Smith Glasgow Wheelers 3
15 Stephen Russell East Kilbride RC 3
16 Niall Aitken Pedalpower.org.uk/ Endura RT 3
17 Steven Dunn Falkirk BC V2
18 Alan Thomson Glasgow Courier 2
19 Jason Roberts Glasgow Nightingale CC 3
20 Euan Pope Glasgow Couriers 3
21 Neil Cameron Falkirk BC 2
22 Kevin Barclay Pedalpower.org.uk/ Endura RT 1
23 Ben Abraham Velo Ecosse 3
24 Paul McInally EK Road Club
25 James McPake Falkirk BC 3
26 Eddie Cowle Stirling Bike Club 3
27 Kenny Armstrong Ayr Roads CC / Harry Fairbairn 3
28 Ray Turner Activcycles/ corbridge 3
29 John Brown Activcycles/ corbridge 3
30 Ian Willcox Unattached 3
Nic of the Balloch Prime
1 Neil Cameron Falkirk BC 2
2 Daniel Smith Team Lacuna 1
3 Colin Ash Anderson Racing 1
Sprint
1 Kevin Barclay Pedalpower.org.uk/ Endura RT 1
2 Michael Nicolson Glasgow Wheelers 3
3 Philip Brown Velo Ecosse 1
The Lagg Prime, in an edition of the Bell Memorial Race held a few years ago. A certain Robert Millar sprints to 2nd.
The David Bell Memorial race is run in honour of former club member, David E.T. Bell, aka 'The Highwayman'. He, probably more than anyone else, sowed the seeds of cycling interest in local people's minds from 1931 until his death in 1965. Writing under the name 'The Highwayman', he described countless scenes and wrote of thousands of incidents which make up the cyclist's day in his weekly column in the local paper, the Ayrshire Post . Since 1966 the club has held an annual road race in David Bell's memory. The course takes in Rowntree Toll where a monument stands to David Bell.
David Bell with Harry Fairbairn's Van
It is still possible to read about the exploits of The Highway Man through a collection of his work: The Highway Man In it you will discover startling accounts of post war cycling. Bell records his fears of how the new Forestry Commission will spoil the many wonderful views of the Coast and Galloway, images many current riders are finally enjoying for the first time. Although focusing on riding, his is a fantastic historical account of the period, in which Bell finds good fortune in someone willing to trade a replacement tyre on the Sabbath. A trained botanist, Bell had a great eye for natures detail. Perhaps best of all though are accounts of his curiosity, and adventures with his bicycle. Surely there is scope to call him Scotland's pioneering mountainbiker with his trips up Ailsa Craig and the Merrick accompanied by his steed. And this is not to mention his treks into wilderness to explore the names he has found on his 'Survey Map'; the Wells of Ree, the Deil's Dyke and so on. And can you believe it; in Bell's day the Fullarton Wheeler's were the strongest racing club in Ayshire
In recent years great Scottish Champion Cyclists including Evan Oliphant and the late Jason Macintyre have ridden to glory in the event
Mrs Bell at the David Bell Memorial unveiling
 Full event details can be found on BritishCycling.org.uk webpage.
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