Northwich Town Centre - Sunday May 7 - 2006
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This year, we have had a fantastic amount of media coverage and so we thought you might enjoy reading the many different views of the Thundersprint. Here they are, exactly they have appeared in the various newspapers and magazines. We've just added a few pictures here and there to add some extra flavour to the text.
THE OLD BIKE MART
THUNDERSPRINT 2005 – A MONSTER Compiled by Nigel C. Clark Words Michael Kirk Pictures Julie Wheeler
It's been growing for years but this year’s Thundersprint was the biggest and best yet! Not only was there a host of genuine Grand Prix, TT and classic racing stars but also one of the top British Superbike teams and a double Olympic gold medallist, all gathered together for what is becoming one of the world’s greatest motorcycle events – and all based on a town centre car park! Add to that a funfair, Morris dancers, a cavalcade of more than 200 race and road machines, scores of trade stands and even an aerial demonstration by a Spitfire, and you’ll get some idea why an estimated crowd of 100,000 flocked to the Cheshire town of Northwich on 8 May.
Organisers Carol and Frank Melling pulled out all the stops to attract Olympic rowing gold medallist James Cracknell, a keen motorcycle enthusiast, to take a guest ride on one of the Vivaldi Superbike team’s 200bhp Kawasakis – perhaps not the ideal tool for the tight but exacting supermarket car park circuit. The whole Vivaldi team joined in the spirit of the occasion, with Tristan Palmer taking the top time in the celebrity class, and Ben Wilson and Ollie Bridewell all enjoying what must be for them a rather unusual experience. Fourth rider Aaron Zanotti sportingly stood down to allow a Daily Telegraph competition winner a ride on his team bike.
Bridewell’s weekend was topped by meeting former six-times
world champion Jim Redman, and the cheeky 19-year-old even managed to scrounge
a ride on Redman’s mount in the cavalcade, a CR750 Honda belonging to the Historic
Endurance Team.As expected, young Ollie was as high as a kite, proclaiming the
weekend ‘just awesome’. 
Ollie Bridewell became an instant Jim Redman fan and spent most of the weekend with his hero. Jim was just as impressed with the young Vivaldi star.
Vivaldi team rider, 22-year-old Ben Wilson, led the cavalcade on a couple of laps around Northwich town centre – closed roads allowing pukka raceware on the public highway – with the pavements lined eight-deep by spectators all the way round. His riding partner was Mortons Publishing Director and former TT and short-circuit ace Malc Wheeler, riding his own immaculate ex-Derek Woodman Seeley G50. The duo’s partnership had a special significance as Ben’s father, Richard, who manages the Vivaldi team, was Malc’s TT sponsor almost 20 years earlier.
Although it is a very affable and sporting event, naturally on the track everyone goes for it to the best of their ability. Even Jim Redman, with a previous best Thundersprint finish of second, confessed to really wanting the number one spot in the Masterclass, but this year he was up against high-class opposition and was forced to settle for third place as Wheeler was in fine form, blasting to a clear win with almost a second in hand over runner-up Melling on the Historic Endurance team’s 900cc Moto Martin.
The Thundersprint was packed with film crews. Here, one of the TV crews films Frank Melling, seen with a camera pack on his back, who is filming for a second TV crew - whilst in the background, a further crew films the other two crews doing their filming!
Working out who was in the film and who was doing the actual filming became a real challenge.
If the packed grandstands were impressed by Vivaldi rider Tristan Palmer’s 21.52sec time, they were speechless at the fastest time of the day. Unassuming classic race ace Jason Caunce, aboard his trick 1972 K4 Honda, scorched round in an amazing 21.13 sec. Sometimes 200bhp isn’t such an advantage. When scrutineering began at 6.15am(!) the sky was overcast. The showers came and went, along with Melling’s frown, and the rest of the day went as smooth as silk. The weary organiser said: "The day ran faultlessly, with no accidents either on or off the track. Vale Borough Council and our sponsors are delighted. Overall it was a perfect day.”
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
THUNDER ENLIGHTENING - by James Cracknell
Having been to Northwich before, I admit I was sceptical of the anticipated attendance for a cavalcade through the town and a sprint around a car park that included a warning of a sharp right-hander at Marks & Spencer.
At first sight James thought it wasn't possible to go very fast in a car park. Later on in the day, he had a change of mind.
I
clearly wasn’t the only one lacking the necessary vision: Anne Bingham-Holmes,
Chief Executive of the borough council involved in the Thundersprint, admitted
she had agreed to Northwich town centre being used to host it in a moment of weakness.
Persuaded by Event Director Frank Melling’s enthusiasm in a frozen car park on
a cold February evening, she was convinced he was dreaming when he said 100,000
people would turn up.
Melling’s aim is to recreate the golden age of bike racing between 1930 and 1973, when public roads were used as tracks and events were a feature of the community. Most of the bikes entered in the Thundersprint are from this “classic” period of motorcycle racing.
James
bond
s
with the Vivaldi team who were his hosts for the weekend.
Before being given my racing wristband, I had to walk the car-park track. The course consisted of three short straights, two 90-degree bends and a 180-degree hairpin. There was little sign of an opportunity to generate any real speed.
By mid-morning, the crowds were starting to arrive, the trade stands were doing good business and the burger van already had empty shelves. There was free access to all areas but the racetrack, so the spectators could come and look at the bikes and talk to the riders. The range of machines and riders was vast. South African Jim Redman, six-times Isle of Man TT winner, was riding a 1971 CR750 Honda.
James May of Telegraph Motoring and Top Gear fame, on the other hand, was riding a Moto Guzzi T3 California that was built more for comfort than speed. It was found abandoned in a shed.
Then there was the Vivaldi British Superbike team on their £60,000 Kawasakis, one of which was lent to me. Queuing with the other bikers to get out of the paddock, I felt like the guy with all the gear and no idea. I was also hampered by the fact that I had no visor, after a vicious and unrelenting attack on my helmet by an 18-month-old the night before.
First up was the masterclass. Watching Redman throw his bike around the circuit dispelled my belief that it would be impossible to get up much speed (and that Jim was actually 74 years old). He was beaten by Malc Wheeler, who launched his 1970 496 Seeley Matchless around the track in less than 24 seconds.
My class consisted of modern bikes and
“motorcycling personalities”. The Vivaldi Superbike boys had been told to take
it easy. Some chance. Having watched Tristan Palmer rocket away from the starting
line on his Kawasaki, I ran through the course in my mind. Nail it off the line,
up into second, sit up, change down and round the right-hander, accelerate up
to second, tap the brakes, then round the hairpin, accelerating on to the short
straight, brake, change down to first, round the left-hander and through the line.
Simple. 
James in action on Ollie Bridewell's British Superstock bike.
Each rider had three attempts, and boy did I need them. First run: I underestimated the power of the brakes as they parachuted me to a standstill before the turning point for the right-hander. Frustrated, I accelerated too hard for the second and had to brake hard into the hairpin, and the less said about the left-hander the better. Second run: much better on the first corner, then I got excited and mucked up the hairpin, and was still angry when it came to the left-hander. Third run: the first two sections were smoother, but I lacked the confidence really to throw the bike into the final bend.
The truth is that despite having ridden bikes for more than 10 years, I have much to learn. There is a huge difference between riding a bike quickly and having the ability to put it where you want, when you want to, on a track. I knocked seconds off my lap times as I got used to the bike and track, but that did nothing to console me for having my hide tanned by most people out there, especially when I was on the best bike. Lance Armstrong’s words rang in my ears: “It’s not about the bike.”
The huge crowds created a phenomenal atmosphere and all credit to Vivaldi for bringing the Superbike team here on a weekend off and letting the spectators see their bikes close up. It was appreciated almost as much as the team’s free goody bags, which included 5lb of potatoes. One punter asked if they made good chips. He was honestly informed that they were delicious boiled, roasted or mashed, but not chipped. “What kind of potato is that?” he asked as he handed back his bag.
With the domination of football in the media, it is easy to forget the massive following and passion behind motorsport in Britain. Events such as the Thundersprint illustrate this perfectly. With so many young kids there last weekend, perhaps a future British Moto GP winner was inspired to get on a bike. Or at least, try boiled potatoes instead of chips.
THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE JULY 2005
THUNDERSPRINT SUCCESS - by Malc Wheeler
An estimated crowd of more than 100,000 packed the centre of Northwich for the 2005 Thundersprint. The unique spectacle that has current racers and past masters racing around a town centre car park alongside media celebrities continues to catch the public’s imagination.
This year’s sponsor, Vivaldi Racing, who run a team of young riders at top-level British Superbike events, couldn’t believe their eyes when they caught first sight of the sprint track, but they all entered into the spirit of the occasion. And Vivaldi, who grow quality potatoes, captured the imagination of the huge crowd by handing out goody-bags of their products.
Malc Wheeler, Publishing Director of Mortons Motorcycle Media, who own "The Classic Motorcycle", and Vivaldi's Ben Wilson round the "Bullring" corner in unison. Ben's dad, Richard, used to sponsor Malc and now manages the Vivaldi Race Team. Who said motorcycle racing was a small world?
On the track, times were tight, with the best of the race stars, young Vivaldi rider Tristan Palmer posting a 21.52 - second time to top his class. But it was unassuming classic race ace Jaeson Caunce, aboard his 1972 K4 Honda, who had the honour of best time of the day at an amazing 21.13 sec.
Away from the competition, for many the highlight of the day is the two-lap cavalcade around the town centre, when unregistered, unsilenced race bikes follow a convoy of police motorcycles, much to the delight of the huge crowd that lines the pavement.
Organiser Frank Melling’s early morning frown, caused by a couple of sharp hail showers, quickly turned to a grin when, by lunchtime, the sun had put in an appearance and the local police estimated the size of the crowd.
Frank said: “The day ran faultlessly, with no accidents either on or off the track. Vale Royal Borough Council and our sponsors are delighted. Overall it was a perfect day for the organising team”.
by Malc Wheeler
TWIST AND GO MAGAZINE
SCOOTER BEATS SUPERBIKE AT THUNDERSPRINT - by "Iggy"
It's not often us mere mortals get to rub shoulders with legends, let alone be invited to race against them, but I was recently given that chance at the Northwich Thundersprint. The annual event is a 450 -yard twisty sprint in the centre of the ordinarily sleepy market town in Cheshire. As well as the race action there is also plenty of street entertainment, sideshows and a funfair so there's plenty to keep the whole family amused throughout the day.
Around 75,000 spectators lined every spare inch of grass and pavement last year and this year promised to be even bigger. The prospect of being the first ever scooter to compete in the event was a bit daunting to say the least and led to many a sleepless night.
The majority of machines are classic bikes and it attracts an impressive line-up of riders, including six times world champion and multi TT winner, Jim Redman. There was also a class for 'Motorcycling Personalities' which I somehow found myself in, according to Andy Pearson "one out of two isn't bad!"
Other riders in my class included Top Gear's James May, Olympic gold medal winning rower James Cracknell, Men & Motors 'Dr' Rod Gibson, various bike journalists and the Vivaldi British Superbike team who were riding 200bhp 1000cc Kawasakis…
I'd arranged to borrow a PSN Scooters 'Delirium' tuned Dragster for the event, which caused a few sniggers in the paddock as I wheeled it down for scrutineering. The track is on a large car park, which is fenced off and has a few strategically placed hay bales to hide the trees and lamp-posts. It's not an ideal surface, with bumps, drains and potholes on the racing line, but it helped to even the competition out a bit.
Morning practice started at 8.40 and the track was still slightly damp from an earlier shower. To make matters worse I'd never sat on the scoot before, let alone raced it! Luckily it was a bit down on power and was 'only' kicking out 32bhp on the dyno. I lined up on the grid and waited for the lights to go green… and I was off along the 100-yard straight, around the tight right-hander (carefully avoiding the pothole on the apex) wide into the disabled parking bays and quickly into the fast, but narrow, sweeping right-hand bend before powering along the next straight, across a dodgy section of tarmac into a quick left flick and across the finish line.
Iggy searches for grip in practice
After my two practice runs it was back to the paddock to await the results - I was quite chuffed to be able to say that I beat Vivaldi Superbike rider, Ben Wilson with times of 28.16 and 27.45 compared to his 29.72 and 27.51 - roll on the races this afternoon!
The town was starting to really fill up by 11am and it was a welcome sight to see the Northern Scooter Club lads arrive, especially Earl who lent me his scooter, so that I could take part in the cavalcade through the town centre without burning the clutch out on my race bike.
The rideout covered a full two laps of Northwich, with thousands and thousands of cheering spectators lining the route. The thrill of riding on public roads with 100 noisy race bikes and another 100 or so classic machines really was very special. After fighting our way back through the crowds to the paddock, it was time for the Spitfire aerobatic display and the most embarrassing part of the day - a walk around the track waving to the crowd, while following a group of Morris dancers, with our intrepid photographer sticking his camera at me from every angle like some crazed Paparazzi hounding a superstar!
Super-duper
scooter star Iggy enjoys the walkabout
I'd just bought a new set of Texport leathers and a Schwantz replica, Arai helmet so I was pleased to see the rain holding off - I didn't want to test their protective powers by sliding across the tarmac today.
My class were called to the holding area and we lined up in number order, I was behind Top Gear's James May and 'Dr' Rod Gibson. The Vivaldi lads and bike mag journos went first and posted some pretty fast laps. Before too long it was time for me to get my lid on and kick-start the PSN Scooters' machine into life to get it warmed up.
The crowd around the track was absolutely massive and the adrenaline was beginning to flow as I lined up at the timing lights. The lights went green… I put my weight as far forward as possible and nailed the throttle, the front end was still trying to lift as I got on the brakes and muscled my way around the first bend. I managed to pick up a bit of time around the right-hander then got a bit out of control on the last section, but luckily managed to keep it on track for the finish. By the time I lined up for my second run the commentator had warmed to me and whipped the crowd into a frenzy.
Iggy masters the challenges of racing in a car park
I felt a bit more relaxed this time round and thought I heard him announce a 25-second lap as I crossed the line. I waited eagerly in the queue, wishing I could get a bit of heat into my rapidly-cooling tyres. The pressure was on for my third and final run, do or die! The lights changed and I hung on for dear life as the scooter accelerated like a missile, I could hear the cheers above the noisy two-stroke as I flew around the fast right-hander, which was only a couple of feet from the eager crowd. Throttle held wide open on the exit and the brakes on as late as possible for the final bend, cold tyres squirming on the tarmac. I felt the rear end come round a bit and go light as I braked and was later told the back wheel had been off the floor and it looked a bit out of control (you should have felt it from where I sat!) I crossed the line and the crowd went wild, Mexican waves, air horns, fireworks, topless fans - OK I'm getting carried away and there were no topless women.
Back in the pits, and the weirdest moment of the day for me - Olympic gold medallist and MBE, James Cracknell came and grabbed my hand to congratulate me for beating him on his borrowed Vivaldi machine. His fans waited patiently for him to stop chatting to me so he could sign autographs for them!
A young lad came up to the PSN van and said "Was it you riding the scooter, you were class." After doing an interview for Men and Motors, it was time to pack up and head home, my day as a celebrity was well and truly over!
Hopefully the event will have helped to open the eyes of a lot of motorcyclists. Who says scooters are slow?
Thanks to Thundersprint organiser, Frank Melling for inviting me and organising a superb event; Andy Pearson for lending me his race bike; Richie Lunt for taking the photos and the scooter riders who turned up. I hope to be back there next year, possibly riding something which will handle a bit better than a Dragster - maybe a Piaggio Zip or group four Lambretta…
If you like the thrill, smell, sound and atmosphere of a race circuit and want to rub shoulders with stars from the past, present and future put the Thundersprint in your diary, it's a fun-filled day out and the best of all it's free.
THE NORTHWICH GUARDIAN
THUNDERSPRINT ARRIVES IN NORTHWICH - by Emma Cameron
The long awaited Thundersprint finally arrived in Northwich on Sunday and not even the rain could dampen the spirits of more than 100,000 spectators. There really was something for everyone as the motorcycling extravaganza wheelied its way into town with live street theatre and music accompanying the racetrack action.
Organiser Frank Melling was delighted with how the third annual event turned out. He said: "I am extremely satisfied. It was absolutely brilliant and I just want to extend my thanks for the hard work that an awful lot of people put in to making it the success it was.
"Vale Royal Borough Council and Cheshire Police were fantastic and supported the event tremendously, and of course we couldn't have done it without our sponsors."
Everything ran as planned at the event and Frank was happy there were no casualties. He said: "There was not a single accident, which was fantastic and I managed not to damage the bike I was riding which was great news too.
"It was a £100,000 one-off, French Moto Martin vehicle so I was nervous about getting into any scrapes." And Frank, who finished second in the Masterclass category, was not the only one afraid of falling.
Top Gear presenter James May said: "I've been okay in practice so I'm just hoping that everything is fine in the real thing. I've been busy filming in Iceland for the past four days so I'm very tired and just hoping to make it through in one piece."
James won an award for 'most entertaining ride' and was proud of this achievement. He added: "I'm riding a Moto Guzzi T3 California, which is one of three bikes I own but I chose to ride on this classic for novelty value. I wanted to give everyone a good laugh."
And a good laugh was had by all but now Frank has to deal with the very serious business of planning Thundersprint 2006. He said: "I've already had 28 requests for entry for next year and lots of feedback about how much everyone enjoyed themselves. "This is Northwich, a small town, not some big metropolitan city, and seeing so many happy people this weekend, because we've pulled off this show on such a grand scale, gives me a real sense of pride."
NORTHWICH CHRONICLE
NORTHWICH IS THE WINNER AS EVENT DRAWS 100,000 - by Paul Brown
Organisers of the Thundersprint are hailing Sunday's biking extravaganza a success. Tens of thousands of people converged on Northwich town centre and thoroughly enjoyed the show.
Riders on classic bikes of all shapes and sizes demonstrated their stuff, both in a series of races around a special quarter-of-a-mile track laid out on Baron's Quay car park, and in the event's popular Cavalcade, which saw around 200 vehicles parade around the town centre. Local artists provided free entertainment, while there were stalls and circus tricks to keep visitors entertained.
The main event, the high speed biking, was boosted by a repositioning of the track in the weeks running up to Sunday. Previously it would have run along a straight track down Leicester Street, and as it would then have been on public roads the event could not have been 'raced' in the form of a time trial. But council bosses hurried along mine stabilisation work at Baron's Quay car park, so the area was able to host a circular track as it had done in previous years and riders could be timed.
Spirit of the Thundersprint. Pensioner Bryan Heap flat out on his BMW.
Organiser Frank Melling said: 'We were delighted about that. I went on to the spectators' bank to see what the view was like and it was really good, no argument about it, and from the riders' point of view it was excellent.'
Mr Melling said as many as 100,000 people came into the town at one point or another, and added: 'We were really pleased with the way the whole event went. The only complaint we had was that it was too crowded, but that is a sign of the success of the event.'
Andrea Peattie, tourism manager for Vale Royal Borough Council, was delighted with the way it went. She said:' It was hard to judge the attendance, because it was a very roving crowd with people coming and going, but the word that's being banded about is 100,000.
'Certainly it was busier than the previous year and it's a growing event. We had more attractions over a bigger area, with the farmer's market and events like that there for the first time.
'It will have a big impact on the local economy, because there are not that many times you get 100,000 people in Northwich - last year we estimate it brought in £1.5m, and we believe it would be in excess of that this time.'
Attention is now turning towards next year's event, Mrs Peattie added: 'The council is very keen to support events which attract people into the area, and this fits the bill.' Mr Melling said: 'No contracts have been signed but we would like the event to go ahead in 2006, and that's the track we would like it to be raced on.'
Cllr Keith Musgrave, leader of Vale Royal Borough Council, said: 'Vale Royal Borough Council was delighted to welcome so many visitors to Thundersprint 2005. It was a fabulous spectacle with something for everyone.
'The economic benefits of the Thundersprint to the town are vast.
'It was a good free show for the people of Vale Royal and it was great to see so many people enjoying themselves despite varying weather.'
Contact us at: info@thundersprint.com
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