Rain disrupted the running of the event over the two days, reducing qualifying to two sessions. There was also so a few incidents which delayed the running on Sunday and with curfew at 8.00pm some finals were not completed.
Top Fuel Bike.
Coming into the event Reigning Champion Steve Woollatt had a slim lead over Neil Midgley. Midgley ran a personal best of 5.858 and then ran 5 963 to set a new ACU ET record (5.963). the big news during qualifying was Al Smith on the three cylinder powered fuel bike recording 5.936 at 230.08 (top speed of the meet). The only three cylinder in the world, recording the first five-second and 230plus mph. Woollatt ran 6.239. Chris Van Nimmen ran a personal best figures of 7.005-192.10. Rene Van Den Berg damaged his transmission on test day.
It was a close race between Woollatt and Smith with Woollatt taking the win light 6.102-225to Smith who had a piston issue, but still ran 6.173-208. Midgley eased passed Van Nimmen 6.098 to 7.376.
So to the final and the winner takes the title. Midgley takes the win 6.020 against Woollatt 6.133. Midgley said the team are very happy with the progress and of Neil riding a four cylinder fuel bike, taking the title in the first year with the new bike. Midgley becomes the second rider to have ACU Championships in three different classes (Super Street, Funny Bike and Top Fuel Bike) the first rider was Kevin Charman (Comp Bike, Funny Bike and Top Fuel Bike). These riders have achieved this, when there was only five classes in the ACU, before Junior Drag Bike became an ACU Championship class and Louis Davies has three different class championships (Junior Bike, Comp Bike and Funny Bike).
Funny Bike.
With Louis Davies crowned the 2022 ACU Funny Bike Champion the race was for second place. Lorcan Parnell led the field 6.847-179. Davies was next 7.1s. Roger Moore had major engine damaged when he attempted to do his burnout (rod broke) Dave Peters damaged a selector for third gear.
Parnell had a bye to the final in the other semi Davies engine blew at mid-track with Peters going to the final. Parnell was a no show and with the weather and time Peters broke the beam to win the event.
Comp Bike.
Chris Neary won the ACU Comp Bike Championship with a personal best qualifying run of 7.551-197.19. John McLean Sr had a meeting to remember with his first seven-second pass 7.845 with a personal best speed of 171.11. Mick Winyard was also having a good event 7.922-180.69. Newcomer Jacky Olie-Zijlstra parted company from her bike and was injuryed, she is recovering back in Holland
The sad thing was that both finalists Jordan Kenway and McLean Sr were hoping for their first ACU event win. But the track curfew took their chance away from them.
Super Street Bike.
Reigning FIM Champ Daniel Lencses was the number one qualifier 6.718 ahead of Steve Venables 6.774-221. Mark Hope ran a personal best speed of 210.11 and Steve Wood ran a personal best of 7.753 for the bump spot. Garry Bowe and Dave Smith were the surprised non qualifiers. During the eliminations Mark Dainty engine let go and oiled the track (rumoured to be racing in Comp Bike 2023). Venables claim the ACU Super Street Bike Championship and was due to race Alan Morrison Jr in the final, but race curfew stopped the event.
Congratulations to the following ACU Champions
Top Fuel Bike Neil Midgley.
Funny Bike Louis Davies.
Comp Bike Chris Neary.
Super Street bike Steve Venables.
Report by Steven Moxley