Spitfire Display at the Thundersprint

Spitfire fans will have the chance to see this magnificent aircraft display in a unique setting right on the edge of Northwich, Cheshire, on Sunday May 9.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire will perform in one of the most evocative settings in the world. Displaying right on the edge of this pretty market town, the Spitfire gives a true feeling of what it must have been like to see these iconic aircraft in action 70 years ago. The Thundersprint’s arena setting captures, and amplifies, the growl of the mighty Merlin in all its glory, rather than have it dissipated in the wide open spaces where Spits normally display, and there is not a dry eye amongst the thousands of cheering spectators.

As the tension builds for the start of four hours of non-stop racing, the BBMF Spitfire roars across the sky in salute and the thunder of the mighty Merlin engine echoes from Marks and Spencer’s store wall! Truly, an experience not to be missed for any fan of classic aircraft - and one which is absolutely unique to the Thundersprint.

The Thundersprint is an incredible mix of classic motorcycle racing, street entertainment and fine food which takes over Northwich during the second weekend in May.

The Thundersprint festival has free admission, free parking and free grandstand seating. There is a full programme of entertainment for everyone from hard core petrol heads to Mums and babies looking for a relaxing day out. In fact, there is something for the whole family.

Spectator entry to the Thundersprint is free, as is parking, but arriving early is recommended because Northwich gets very busy.

For more information visit www.thundersprint.com or 01928 740 498.

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Top Manufacturers Display at the Thundersprint

There will be one of the best displays of new bikes in Britain at this year’s Thundersprint which is to be held in Northwich town centre, in Cheshire, over the weekend of May 8/9.

All the major Japanese motorcycle manufacturers will be represented with the latest machines from Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki.

Rob Ocego, Sales Manager at Wigan Yamaha who are bringing Yamaha’s giant Thundertruck display unit to the Thundersprint, said: “Having attended the Thundersprint for the first time last year, I was amazed with the level of foot fall.

“It was a really successful event for ourselves, and Yamaha, and now we want to build on this success with an even bigger presence featuring some brilliant bikes.”

As well as the mainstream Japanese machines, motorcycling’s exotics will be out in force too with Millenium Motorcycles’ huge, 300 sq. metre display featuring Aprilia, Victory, Moto Guzzi and the iconic MV Agusta

Alan Pollard, Millenium’s Dealer Principal, said: “We know that we are going to get a huge audience drawn from all over the North-West of England - and the rest of the country too. The Thundersprint gives us a unique opportunity to show bikes which will make any red-blooded motorcyclist weak at the knees.

“I can promise you the best range of exotic bikes in the world ranging from Victory’s world-beating v-twin cruisers to the super sports bikes from Aprilia and on to the latest MV Agusta hyper sports bikes. And they will all be there, in the flesh, along with our knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff.”

Thundersprint organiser Frank Melling said: “If you want to see virtually every new bike on sale in Britain in one place then the Thundersprint will be the place to be. We will have bikes from every sector of the market place from cruisers to sports bikes - and everything in between. And with free admission, free parking and free grandstand seating you won’t be paying a fortune in entry fees to decide on your next, new machine.”

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Northwich Town Centre May 8/9

Free Admission and Free Parking

www.thundersprint.com







Thundersprint 2010 Race and Cavalcade Entries Open



Entries are now open for Thundersprint 2010. This year’s event sees a new addition to the Thundersprint races which are held on a tight, twisty track right in the town centre of Northwich. As well as the traditional, and much loved, classes for motorcycles made before 1974 there will be a Post Classic Class for more modern machines. This is open to all motorcycles of any age but priority will be given to machines of mechanical interest.

Racers get two practice runs during the morning of the Thundersprint and three race runs in the afternoon.

The Thundersprint track is slightly over 440 yards in length - 400m - and has three corners. The longest straight is just over 110 yards in length and the whole track surface is excellent for racing. The track is easy to ride slowly - and vastly more difficult the faster one goes. Any time under 25 seconds is seriously quick.

The quirky town centre course is safe for “gentleman racers” - whilst still being a real challenge for fast riders

You don’t have to be a superstar to ride in the Thundersprint. Rather, we are looking for riders with a spectator friendly attitude who like showing off their bikes.

Racers get two practice runs in the morning of the Thundersprint and three race runs in the afternoon.

Entry to the Cavalcade is included in the race entry fee.

Racers do not need an ACU sprint/race licence to compete in the Thundersprint but this is desirable.

If you do not have a licence, it is possible to purchase a one-day ACU licence at the event.

Despite increases in the cost of insurance, entry to the Thundersprint races still costs £55.00 – including participation in the Cavalcade.

Entries to the Thundersprint Cavalcade are also available at a cost of £20. Riders cruise round three, 2 ½ mile, laps of Northwich under Police escort whilst tens of thousands of cheering fans line the pavement for what is one of the great experiences in motorcycling.

To receive an invitation to participate, send a large (A4) self-addressed envelope, carrying five first class stamps, to: The Thundersprint, Manley Lane, Manley, Cheshire WA6 0PB. Mark it either THUNDERSPRINT RACE or THUNDERSPRINT CAVALCADE in very large letters.

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Thundersprint 2009 - Sponsored by Cheshire West and Chester Council and eBike Insurance

James Toseland, twice World Superbike Champion, and current MotoGP star, walked round the Thundersprint track, smiled and shook his head when he was told that the fastest classic racers were going to get round the 447 yards of turns, twists and trees which comprise the Thundersprint track in under 25 seconds. “You would have to be mad to ride a classic round here at that speed.” said the affable superstar. As things turned out, there were a lot of mad classic racers at Thundersprint 2009.

Leading the mad men in the Masterclass was Tony Hudson on his wailing Honda in a strong sub-25 second time, battling it out neck and neck with TT star Keith Heckles and his mighty Manx Norton. Chasing them hard were World Champions Jim Redman and Sammy Miller on another pair of immaculate Hondas with displays which had the crowds on their feet and the air horns filling the natural arena right in the centre of Northwich.

The Motorcycling Personalities class saw an incredible mixture of pure show business and breathtaking riding.

Showing just how fast it’s possible to ride one of the toughest tracks in classic racing, Phil Read Junior knee scraped the Alto Performance, hub-centre Vyrus round in a breath taking 21.05 seconds.

Just as spectacular, but in a completely different way, were James Toseland and HM Plant Honda factory rider Steve Plater. James and Steve stunted their way round the course and drove the crowd wild with delight.

Thundersprint sponsors eBike were down on the track in force to see their man Mark Kemsley bring the immaculate eBike back safe and sound after three quick runs.

Just as impressed were the new Cheshire West and Chester Councillors and Officers who struggled to believe their eyes. A twice World Champion stunting it up in the new Authority’s best car park? The grins told the story: it was great!

But this was just the start of what was to be three and a half hours of action packed racing. Geoff Steele was neat and elegant on his 350 Velocette and Graeme Hardy, better known as “Forge Formby” on the Shuttleworth Snap, managed a magnificently slow 43.32 seconds - and was nearly deafened by the cheers. Sheer speed and Hollywood entertainment side by side - that’s what the Thundersprint is all about.

Oliver Presswood was superb with his mighty Velo in the Golden Age class and probably the neatest rider of the day was 250 class winner Peter Jordan with his home tuned 250 Royal Enfield. Peter’s time of 24.20 meant that he could have won most of the other classes - he was that fast!

Another ultra quick rider was Jaeson Caunce who threaded his Honda round the three corners, ten trees and 100 yards of stone wall of the Thundersprint speed bowl in a breathtaking 22.7 seconds. Almost as quick, but so smooth he made the job look easy, was Howard Ostle and his crackling BSA B.50.

The fences echoed to the sound of really heavy metal - and not the punk version of the Thundersprint’s Morris Men - when the Classic Unlimited class came to the line. Brian Glover was imperious with his 928 Weslake engined Norton but Mick Rooney - who brings half of Yorkshire as cheerleaders - was a sound second on the 750 Triumph Bonneville.

The engine notes shifted from bass to soprano with lightweights and ultra lightweights. Phil Bootherstone, and his ex-works Triumph Cub, just squeezed out German star Joerg Trautvetter who had driven 826 miles from the Sachsenring circuit just to race at the Thundersprint. The gap was just 0.11 seconds to the determined Brit.

The precision pilots of the Thundersprint in the 50 class fought tooth and nail with only 3 seconds separating winner Raymond Dennerley - Honda CR110 - from Brian Jackson’s lovely little Minarelli in sixth place. A special mention must go to David Clarke who rode the wheels off his original Itom to finish second.

The crowd were still packed tight into the grandstands for the finale of racing: the sidecar class. Londoner Dave Goddard slid his Suzuki engined hill climb special to the narrowest of victories over Graham Hilditch and Tony Dalton with just three tenths of a second splitting the two crews.

Thundersprint Cavalcade Sponsored by Sunwise Sunglasses:

With over 220 race and road bikes strutting their stuff over three 2 and a 1/2 mile laps of Northwich the Thundersprint Cavalcade has got to be one of the great spectacles in the motorcycling world. That it can take place at all is a huge credit to Cheshire West and Chester Council and Cheshire Police who spend countless hours on the planning and execution of it and to Sunwise Sunglasses who supported the show.

An estimated 100,000 cheering spectators packed the pavements as the battle cries of howling Honda fours and mighty Manx Nortons bounced off the walls of Northwich Police Station and the Magistrates’ Court. And you don’t see that very often.

The atmosphere was electric, the crowds wildly enthusiastic and the good done for motorcycling was immense.

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South Thanet MP, Stephen Ladyman, has completed his ride at this year's Thundersprint. He was riding a 200bhp Kawasaki MSS Colchester Ninja Superbike in the event in Northwhich, Cheshire to raise money for C.A.L.M, a charity that tries to prevent young men from committing suicide.

"Thanks to Kawasaki, Arai who provided a motorcycle helmet for raffle at the event and Thundersprint who hosted us we have raised over £4000 for CALM and more is still coming in. More importantly we got the CALM message that 'being silent is not being strong' over to tens of thousands of young men and if just one picks up a phone when he is in crisis then everything will have been worth while."

"Riding a Kawasaki Superbike was an amazing experience. Opening the throttle of a bike that can do 130mph in first gear, when the green light comes on at the start line, is quite unforgettable. I thought my teeth were flying out the back of my head on the first practice lap."

Read more at ThanetOnline.

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