Rain and a couple of incidents disrupted the running of the Springspeed Nationals. Only two of the six qualifying sessions were completed over the two days. Rain in the afternoon on race day brought the event to a closed.
Funny Bike.
Phil Crossley ran a personal best ever of 7.328-180.53 to lead the field. Eric Richard had a problem with his clutch in the opening session and then ran 7.500-177.23 for number two spot. Allan Davies had his big motor (1500cc) fitted in the frame and ran 7.659-177.94. Pete Le Gros ran a personal best speed of 173.34mph during qualifying. Crossley ran another personal best of 7.281-181 in round one of the eliminations when he beat reigning ACU Funny Bike Champion Dave Peters. Richard 7.454-180 beat Jiri Lukes best run of the weekend 8.54-159.77. Davies ran 7.576 with a personal best speed of 179.43 over Le Gros who ran personal best figures of 8.05-175. Only the first round was completed before rain stopped the event.
Comp Bike.
Mark Hope got his first ever number one qualifier spot 8.108-175.50 ahead of Mick Winyard 8.238-181.63. Eddy Smiley was just behind with 8.278-165.83. Reigning ACU Comp Bike Champion Kevin Osman had a billet gearbox fitted to the motor and had a soft set up to check things out 8.389-173.15. During Saturday’s qualifying Tanya Hardy parted company from her bike after a huge wheelie just past the xmas tree. Hardy broke her wrist and was taken to hospital.
The top four qualifiers went through into round two of the eliminations. Smiley ran low et of 7.912 and Winyard had the top speed of the meeting 182.92.
Super Street Bike.
Steve Venables just edged Nigel Barker for the number one qualifying spot with 7.9202 to Barker’s 7.9209. Chris Reed was next with 8.264. Venables had a bye run in round one of the eliminations. Graham Balchin did some clutch tuning for the eliminations and beat Reed with his best figures of the weekend 7.766-187.99. Barker ran his best to date of his new combination for the bike of 7.810-188.93 (top speed) to beat a tyre spinning Alex Hope.
Report by Steven Moxley.