Percy Tawn Memorial Pre 60 classic scrambles championship
Championship Co-ordinator: Dave Saville
Welcome to the Percy Tawn Memorial Pre 60 Championship section of the website. The Pre 60 championship
is run for the club chairman, Ray Tawn, and his son Steve and in memory of Ray's father, Percy.
Pre-60 Championship Rules
Championship Rounds
Pre-60 Championship races will be held at each pre 65 motocross club meeting.Except the 4th of april and the Christmas scramble. These races may, at the discretion of the meeting secretary, be combined with another class. In which case non pre 60 riders will not affect the points awarded to other competitors.Only your best two results will count when there are more than two championship races at any meeting.
Registering for Results
If you would like results sent to you after each meeting you can register by supplying me with an email address,12 first class stamps or £5.00 cash,for me to buy the stamps.(Some may think,there are only ten meetings,Why supply 12 stamps.The extra stamps are to send results to trophy sponsors and lap scorers).If I already have your email address from 2009,there is no need to register for 2010. My email address is pre65dave@ntlworld.com
Anybody that enters and finishes a race will get championship points (no entry form required)
Classes for trophies
| A. Overall | Percy Tawn Trophy | One trophy for overall winner |
| B. 4Stroke twin | Bowman Trophy | 1st, 2nd and 3rd place trophies |
| C. 4stroke single | Jim Aim Trophy | 1st, 2nd and 3rd place trophies |
| D. 2stroke | Trophy | 1st, 2nd and 3rd place trophies |
Note--- Points for class trophy's are different to Overall Percy Tawn Points
Bowman Trophy
The Bowman trophy is being presented in memory of my uncle, John Adamson. John, who sadly passed away in November 2006, was one of the three Adamson brothers. He was best known for riding Bowman Tribsa's in the 1960's.
Machine Eligibility
All machines must comply with pre 65 club rules.
All machines including 650cc are eligible for championship points.
All pre 60 machines are automatically entered into the race, and will score points as long as they finish the race.
Riders may change machines during the season, if this means changing classes then points will be added up separately.
If you enter at any meeting more than one bike, eligible for pre 60 points, and you do not tell me what bike you are racing, points will be awarded to the lowest amount.
Overall championship points - Percy Tawn Trophy
1st = 25 pts, 2nd =22pts, 3rd = 20pts, 4th = 19pts, 5th = 18pts, 6th = 17pts, down to 20th = 1 pt
Class trophies - Bowman 4stroke twin - Jim aim 4stroke single - 2stroke
1st = 20pts, 2nd = 17pts, 3rd= 15pts, 4th = 14pts, 5th=12pts, 6th =10pts, 7th = 8pts, 8th = 7pts-down to 14 = 1pt
Bonus Points
Bonus points are awarded on a race-per-race basis and only to overall championship points (Percy tawn trophy)
Bonus points are awarded only to riders who finish race
Bonus points are awarded for each category, machine qualifies as follows:
- Pre 55 machines = 2 pt
- Single cylinder = 1 pt
- Rigid rear suspension = 4pts
- Side valve engine = 4pts
- Girder forks = 4pts
How the Pre-60 Championship began
Steve Tawn is the grandson of Percy Tawn and he explains the background to the championship.
The
year 2000 hosted the first championship for Pre 60 machines
under the banner of Percy Tawn Memorial Pre 60 Cup.
The trophy is in honour of my grandad. I wasn't fortunate
to know him due to his early death in 1966. But he is
responsible for the Tawn family tradition of motorcycling.
Jesse Percival Pickering Tawn, to give him his full
title, was born 1908 in Tottenham. Having served an
engineering apprenticeship with Shell he become a foreman
fitter at the tanker repair centre in Fulham. Unfortunately
his engineering skills seem to have skipped a generation
reference a certain chairman’s smoke generator. When
Fulham closed after the war Percy became a tanker driver
based at Corringham in Essex.
Motorcycling was a big part of the Tawn Family. Older
club members may remember my Nan Winnie coming to pre
65 Club meetings up until about ten years ago. In earlier
years she was always by my Grandad’s' side or should
I say behind him as she was normally perched on the
pillion seat. In later years there was Ray tagging along
as well in a sidecar.
They were members of the Mont Cristie MCC based at
the Woodbine Cafe near High Beach, Chingford. The club
was a sporting and light car club which organised road
trials, gym kanas and trials in the south Midland centre.
They were also members of the Grasshopper MCC who's
home was Bobs Cafe at Gallows Corner, Romford. As an
eastern centre club he competed in trials, grass tracks
and scrambles.
In the 1930s Percy rode in trials aboard a 350cc
AJS being suitably dressed in cloth cap and plus fours.
In the 40's Percy advanced from the girder forks to
teleforks to compete in grasstrack and scrambles, however
the rigid rear end remained. Also during the 1940's
the family, Percy, Winnie and Ray would arrive at scrambles
aboard a 500cc Matchless Jampot complete with Watsonian
sidecar and the front end of an Ariel 350cc Colt bolted
in the middle with the rear wheel dragging behind. Not
recommended as on one occasion the Ariel dropped into
gear and started, making stopping the whole contraption
a bit of a handful.
In 1958 came the arrival of the 197cc James Captain
which done the task of commuting to work. The Tawns'
can however boast of having one of the first cars in
the street. The only other car at the time which was
parked down the road fell victim to a young Ray Tawn
who somehow manage to cycle into it on his push bike.
Some of the courses he rode at were Lambourne End
and Wakes Colne in Essex, Canada Heights and Pirbright
in Surrey and Abridge in Essex for Grasstrack meetings. 
Motocycle buddies included Monty Banks, Sam
Smith, Sony Absolum, Tubby Proir, George and Bill Corley,
Arthur Lyons, Ernie Wiffen and Gabby Cooper with whom
Percy passengered for in sidecar trials.
Percy's enthusiasm for riding bikes and being involved
with motorsport took him and family aboard the Matchless
all the way to Liverpool to catch the ferry to the Isle
of Man. 
He was the mechanic at the Manx TT races for
Bill Corley who rode a 500cc Goldstar and Robin Sherry
who actually won the 1952 Manx TT Senior aboard a 650cc
triumph trophy.
As Ray progressed from riding a tricycle to motor
bikes, Percy was there wielding the spanners for Ray
to compete in school boys events. Even when Ray was
out on the town on a Saturday night, Percy could be
trusted to have the Greeves ready for Ray to race the
following day.
Percy unfortunately died at the age of 58. I'm sure
he would have been pleased to see the popularity of
the pre 65 movement and would have been proud of his
son Ray being the Chairman of the Pre65 Club. I'm not
so sure he would be proud of his son and grandson making
fools of themselves in a sidecar outfit but I'm sure
he has a good laugh.