The World of Autojumbles at your FIngertips

out and about: Thunderfest 2011 Another resounding success

With bikes ranging from early 250 Hondas to late post classics, there was a great display of biking nostalgia in the Darley Moor paddock. The riders were equally diverse with current classic racers and hillclimbers mixing it with gentleman riders who had very limited track experience.

In fact, one of the attractions of Thunderfest is that participants don’t need an ACU road race licence but can ride with a sprint, hill climb or one event licence purchased on the day. After two, long, free practice and qualifying sessions, it was time for riders to declare their target speed for the 16 lap Thunderfest.

At one end, there were the optimists led by Frank Melling on his Matchless G50. Frank said: “I had managed a few laps at over 71mph in practice so I thought that a 70.01mph average was achievable – but I didn’t take account of the reverse grid on the start which puts the fastest riders at the back – and with a lot of passing to do.” As things turned out, Melling was far too hopeful and was 0.74mph adrift of his declared time – and that is forever in Thunderfest terms.

By contrast, the slowest time was declared by Brian Jackson, on his lovely little Honda 50, and he was just 0.10mph faster than his target – which gave him the class B win. But the true Thunderfest master was ex-racer Frank Jones whose super smooth and accurate riding on his 1969 Triumph Bonneville production racer saw him just an incredible 0.05mph from his declared time – and that with a speed of over 60mph too.

Frank was delighted. He said: “It’s been a long time since I’ve been on the top step of the podium but the Bonnie ran really well today and I felt total confidence in it. For me, and lots of other riders, Thunderfest is the perfect compromise between flat out racing, which I don’t want to do any more, and parades which lack the competitive edge. Thunderfest sits right in the middle and the amount of track time that we get is enormous. I am already planning on being here next year.” For more information on next year’s event contact Frank Melling on 01928 740498 or email info@thundersprint.com