Thundersprint 2005
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Well, we'd heard that
the Thundersprint was an excellent event, and true enough it's a belter.
Superb atmosphere and enthralling racing with that wonderful touch of
nostalgia. Truly memorable! And a chance to see Jim Redman,
James Cracknell (the Olympic Gold medalist), Steve Swan (MCS&L
journo), James May (Top Gear journo on a Guzzi), Ollie Bridewell the
'Milky Bar Kid', the 19 year old local biking prodigy, amongst many others
who were seen up close both on their feet and aboard their bikes.
But the day started with us meeting up with Chimes (Simon & Debbie) and Chalkie (another Simon) before nipping the couple of miles to junction 10 of the M60 where we waited fruitlessly for Coggy and Gail to arrive. What happened guys? So, after waiting until 09:20 we set of on the marathon 27 mile run down to Northwich! |
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By just after 10:00 we'd parked up in the High
Street precinct and made out way up to the track in the car park behind
Marks & Spencer and found a spot to watch the 'sighting runs' that
were then in progress. What a wonderful array of machinery, solos
and sidecars, of many different eras from the '30's to the '70's.
There are very few racing events where you can get just a few feet from the track like this and it really became mesmeric just watching the machines and riders hurtle by. And the NOISE! Pure bliss :-) |
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At 11:00 we awaited Silverone (John & Dawn) and Canary (Rob & Julie) outside McDonalds. Unfortunately Roxxo (Paul) couldn't make it because of a problem at work, Punchy (Roy) because he'd been late back from a week away on work, Olkno9 (Ian & Linda) and Mark were also unable to join Canary & Silverone on the Saturday camping over. | ||||
After meeting up it was a walk back through the precinct to see the cavalcade of bikes. Here we have Chimes & Debbie, Kit, Julie & Dawn and Chalkie making their way past..... |
.....a collection of very small bikes!!! By now the town was really filling up with visitors and the place was beginning to feel very crowded, making the atmosphere even better. |
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After the close of the sighting runs all the
machines, plus a number of vintage cars were got ready for the cavalcade
that was to be run through the streets of Northwich. A chance to see
some rare and interesting bikes up very close, all made possible through
the excellent and professional support of the Cheshire Police.
The sightings runs had been noisy but the massed bikes hugely surpassed them - you could feel the noise through your feet!. |
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The cavalcade was quite short, it just being a small
circuit of the town centre so the mass of bikes were back in short shrift
ready for the start of racing. But before racing got under way our
wait was very well filled by an informative commentary detailing the
results of the earlier sightings runs, some history about the
Thundersprint event and an explanation of the events, the machines and the
competitors. There was also an aerobatic display by a Spitfire.
The racing, when it got started about 13:00, was very engrossing and a pure delight. Seeing so many machines of such age doing exactly what they were designed to do was immensely better than seeing them polished up and unused in a museum display. Seeing them in motion complete with the sound and smells was very memorable. This event will definitely be going onto the Cloggers Diary for next year. |
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The following report and photos have been submitted by Silverone, who says "If the cap fits wear it like an idiot!". |
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Well, we got off to a
bit of a late start on Saturday due to the youngest pranging his car
the night before. I went to recover it with him on Saturday morning
and all was going well until the front wheel fell off leaving it
stuck in the middle of the road (anyway, that's another story). So
we (Rob & Julie, Dawn & myself) finally got off, Dawn & me in
our waterproofs that turned out to be a good decision as we rode through a
hailstorm & torrential rain, especially around the Buxton area (Hi'
Hi' He'). So, to cut a long story short we had a top night in Northwich.
Most pubs were geared up with bands and Julie only fell down
twice, which took the pressure off Dawn a bit. It chucked it down
most of the night but the tents held up, as did my bladder.
Next morning we packed up, had breakfast in town (market), met up with the gang, got lost, bought some cut price bike goods, then we got a good seat in the grandstand (under cover) with a top view of Clive and the rest on the opposite side of the track all stood up in the rain (LOL). All in all, a top night and day. Don't miss it next year. ''U've been warned''. No-showers: Ian & Mrs (no baby sitter), Mark (cam chain probs, but it's now solved as he got both his bikes nicked on Sunday night out of his garage). |
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I had one of those! |
So where exactly do the panniers fit? |
Our tent and Canary's windsock! |
Chimes! You kept that quiet mate. |
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Be rude not to. |
Hair today, gone tomorrow! |
It's amazing the friends you make when you go to Spec Savers. |
Took 'em three weeks to get there! |
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The things they do just to get us to go shopping!
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Just chimed it right!
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Page Updated
01/03/08 17:15