2015 Dragstalgia featured two iconic bikes from the pass in the historic marquee. The beautiful Pegasus fuel bike of Derek Chinn and Ian Messenger. Messenger spent two weeks cleaning and polishing the double engine Norton for the event. The other fuel bike was the double engine Norton of TC Christensen Hogslayer.
The event also marked fifty years of racing for UK bike legend John Hobbs who also celebrated the fortieth year of the double engine Weslake the Hobbit. Jonny Munn rode it for a few years and he flew in from Australia to celebrate the occasion.
On display in the pits was the unique machine of Clive Waye’s blown Volkswagen powered Drag-Waye, which is in the process of being restored.
The weather was glorious on Friday and Saturday and there was a big crowd on Saturday. Sunday the rain came at lunch time and brought an end to a wonderful weekend.
Holland Jan Honee had his 500cc single cylinder Jawa rebuilt by Ian King crew-chief Marius Van De Zijden. It was the first time Honee had ridden the bike for 19 years, last time was in the States. Were he ran 8.19 on a 100% nitro. Honee had clutch issues and ran 9.32 on 94% nitro. There were three generations of the Norman family, Dennis Stormin Norman his son Gary and his grandson Matthew riding the twin-engined Triumph.
On the track Ray Law ran 10.112 on his 1000cc Triumph. Martin Wilmott ran mid 9 secs on Sunday.
Jeff Byne had his twin engine Triumph (1500cc), Dave Clee on Shotgun and Graham Martin on Pegasus Reborn (998cc) with Chinn and Messenger crewing. There were many more on the track and on display. But the highlight on the track was the race between Hobbs on Olympus and Munn on the Hobbit on Sunday just before the rain fell. It is 30 years to the month since Munn last rode the Hobbit. Hobbs put a holeshot on Munn on the start line, Munn powered around to take the win 9.243-142mph to Hobbs 10.664-125mph.
NSA Shootout final between John Hobbs and Justin Newell didn’t take place due to the rain. Hobbs took the winners trophy by running the quickest et of the meeting (8.83) riding the Hobbit.
Rumour in the pits is the Brachtvogels Quarter Scorcher 3 is being restored for next years Dragstalgia.
Report by Steven Moxley.