Thundersprinting-tastic

Take one Motor Muppet; a car park; some straw bales and several hundred men in leather. Toss together liberally with equal parts of Northern hospitality and bikes, lots and lots of throaty growling gorgeous vintage motorbikes and you come up with the biggest free motorcycle sporting event in the country.

Once a year the Thundersprint turns the humble Cheshire town of Northwich into a motorcycle enthusiast’s idea of heaven. The Thundersprint is a classic motorcycle sprinting competition. Motorcycle sprinting involves competitors racing against the clock to record the quickest time. The Thundersprint organiser Frank Melling explains further “Courses vary in length from 220 yards to over a mile. Classic sprints are different from modern sprints and drag racing because they are often far from straight. More traditional sprints are run by the National Sprint Association and the "Straightliners" organization. Their events are run in straight lines with the emphasis being purely on acceleration. By contrast, in many of the classic sprints the fastest, or most powerful, machine will not necessarily win. To succeed in a classic sprint, the bike needs to stop and handle too…This means that you don't have to spend a fortune on a super-duper replica Grand Prix racer”

The Thundersprint start line - begging for action

If you should happen upon a meeting with a regular Thundersprinter they will always talk about the atmosphere, which is actually quite difficult to describe. I think everyone has their own take on it but all are influenced in a very similar way, it’s quite bewitching. I’ve been for the past two events and both have been very different but the atmosphere and the enthusiasm of the crowd is unequalled by any other motorsport event I’ve attended.

preparations in the paddock

I popped my Thundersprint cherry last year. Being a lass who grew up a couple of miles down the road I’d heard many a story amidst the biking fraternity, curiosity got the better of me and I decided to try it out for myself - I did and was in motorcycle overload. Vintage Ducati’s, Norton’s a-plenty, hundreds of Hondas, Royal Enfields, Velocette’s, BSA’s, MV Augusta’s and Triumphs, something for everyone really. Admittedly I developed a fascination with seats or ‘saddles’ on the shiny metal horses, they ranged from big and comfy bum huggers to something not that dissimilar to the boneshaker I saw in Brooklands museum! And yes for reference I am firmly in the bum hugger camp.

Another aspect of the Thundersprint I really like is the fact the vast majority of competitors wear clothes akin to the era of their bikes, a bit like punters at the Goodwood Revival. Now that is a sight to behold, I am partial to a male bottom in leathers and well vintage leathers just seem to fit that bit better.

classic bikes and leathers in the cavalcade

is this a bike? well it has a bike engine - answers on a postcard

Motorcycle people are a very friendly welcoming bunch. At Northwich you’ll find no VIP enclosure, no laminate passes, no miles of barriers blocking your view, no pushy promoters - it’s open to all and all are part of the in your face action. You can very easily get to meet your biking idols from veteran biker Jim Redman, Top Gear’s James May to Olympic Gold medal winning rower James Cracknell.

Mr May & Muppet. James entered his 1979 Moto Guzzi California, not the quickest entrant but certainly very popular

I went alone last year and luckily I did meet a work colleague who was kind enough to decipher a little of what was going on, answer my constant questions and put up with my imposition - which was fantastic and I vowed I would come back again this year.

And so armed with a much better knowledge and despite sadly not having the company of my favourite erudite guide this year, being whipped by the wind, rain and chills I made the pilgrimage back to Northwich this weekend. I wasn’t disappointed. From the classic car led cavalcade around the streets of Northwich which, with that many bikes in one place produces the sweetest most awe inspiring heart racing sound, the beautiful Spitfire display at lunchtime to the sprinting itself. It was satisfaction guaranteed what with a handful of vintage cars, all those bikes and a spitfire; this event was almost tailor made for Muppet. Compared to last year there were a lot more competitors so there was just one run of three sprints per rider but enough action to fill the afternoon.

My only grumble however was that there was not one lady competitor this year. That’s such a shame and all too evident in many motorsport events, I am sorely tempted to get myself a basket case classic motorcycle and prime it for competition next year. Jokingly someone did suggest that to me last year. Us ladies should be represented and I think I could cut a fine figure in a nice vintage race suit and some goggles.

So should you happen to be in Northwich in May 2006, which frankly you really should be for this fantastic event keep an eye open for a bumbling young lady on nice comfy seated Vincent…well maybe.

that comfy seated Vincent...looks simple enough...doesn't it?

http://www.thundersprint.co.uk