Two days of fine weather started with a slight delay on Sunday due to the early morning rain but by the afternoon there was a strong headwind and a decision was made to run the bikes over the 1/8mile course.
Top Fuel Bike
Chris Hannam enter this event on his blown V Twin, but Neil Midgley had been testing the bike the day before the event and a crankshaft oil seal failed, so Hannam was unable to compete, it what would have been his final race of his career.
In the opening qualifying session Reigning ACU Top Fuel Bike Champion Rene Van Den Berg and Steve Woollatt got the meeting off to a great start with 6.332-188.20 to 6.306-185.84. Woollatt ran a personal best 6.194 in the final session, which was quicker than the Championship et record 6.208. The final was over the 1/8mile and who ever won the event would be the 2016 ACU Top Fuel Bike Champion. Berg team had to rebuild the motor and finished 2.00am Sunday morning. Woollatt got out the gate first and Berg went into tyre shake and then smoked the tyre at the 60ft mark. Woollatt took the win 4.029-180.52.
Funny Bike
Kars Van Den Belt ran a personal best on his Honda powered Funny Bike 7.137 to take number one spot just ahead of championship points leader Phil Crossley who also ran back to back p/b 7.189 and 7.139. Dale Leeks was doing some testing at the event and he also ran a p/b 7.265. Pete Le Gros was on the bump spot of the seven-second field with 7.931. At the semi-final stage the bikes were racing over the 1/8mile. Belt motor sounded like it had a misfire but he held on to beat Eric Richard on a holeshot 4.749 to Richard 4.725. In the other semi Crossley knocked out Leeks 4.543 to 5.121. Belt was a no show in the final and Crossley extend his lead in the championship and has almost won the championship.
Pro Stock Bike
Reigning ACU Pro Stock Bike Champion Alex Hope had a fuel issue and managed to qualify in number one spot 7.352 with Len Paget 7.409 and Mark Smith 7.638 p/b. Pro Stock Bike eliminations were run over the 1/8mile. In the semi-final Paget red lit against Smith. In the final Hope led from start to finish over Smith and claimed his third ACU Championship.
Comp Bike
Championship points leader Eddy Smiley damaged a conrod in testing the day before the event and Ian Chrichlow loaned his bike to Smiley, who qualified on the bump spot 8.526. Sean Mills was the number one qualifier 7.721 just ahead of back in form Paul Hambridge 7.808. Dave Batcheler ran a personal best of 8.297.
The final was Mick Winyard against Hambridge and Winyard’s better reaction on the tree won him the event 5.395 to Hambridge 5.520.
Super Street Bike
Steve Venables ran 7.06 off the trailer, which was under the championship et record of 7.07. In the final qualifying session Venables reset the et record with 6.998. He now holds both et records in ACU and FIM Championships. Graham Balchin ran a personal best of 7.116 as did Rudolfo Maduro 7.414-189.01. Maduro was on the bump spot of the quickest ever eight-bike field.
Venables beat Pete Field in the semis and Balchin ran another p/b 7.106 in his semi-final win over Garry Bowe.
Venables put a holeshot (078 to 090) over Balchin who powered around Venables to take the win light 4.682 to 4.816.
Report by Steven Moxley.