We’ve now received quite a few pictures from this years 1000 Bikes which are all displayed on-line HERE Thanks to Alan, Ian and Tim - who kindly forwarded images - what would we do without you guys?

As for our short report on the event, suffice to say the 2010 Festival of 1000 Bikes lived up to all expectations. Fun, safe and another enjoyable social gathering for lovers of bikes doing what they were designed to do - run!

Focusing first on what was new for us this year in the sprint section, Maurice Brierley’s Methamon (pictured above and below) ran for the first time in 45 years, Graham Sykes SYKO sprinter did a demonstration run along with a very spirited performance from crowd favourite John Hobbs on his ‘HOBBIT’.

Methamon running for the first time in 45 years - Purple Princess Drag Bike Demo

Star of the sprint demo was Steve Carey who demonstrated the 2010 Top Fuel Puma drag bike “Purple Princess”. As has become somewhat of a tradition, Steve followed in the hard to fill wheeltracks of previous displays from drag racers Steve Woolatt (The Dealer - 2008) and Ian Turboville (Mr Spokehead - 2009). Steve did us proud with another crowd pleasing and expertly laid line of thick black rubber that stretched nearly the full length of Mallory’s start and finish straight!

Thanks Steve - Great Job! We can again look forward to watching the ‘hooligan strip’ on coverage of the superbikes at Mallory next weekend.

Saturday was the day when the sprint bikes were there to be on show and not go (as racing machines are restricted to Sunday only), but we achieved another great line-up to give visitors a taste of our Sport.

Highlights amongst them, this year were Bill Braggs trio of Iconic Triumph Sprinters, Yellow, Red and (supercharged) Blue Peril’s - seen looking resplendent together for the first time in some 30+ years.

Seen together for the first time in 30+ years - Bill Braggs restored trio of ‘Peril’s’

Other machines on display that held World / National Records or a place in sprinting legend included V-Twin JAP - Thor, Pegasus, The Bishop and Dr Joe Bayleys Douglas to name but a few.

“Thank you to all who were involved with Mallory, for another brilliant weekend, it get's better every year, and long may it last.”

Jack Graham

Long time sprinter and sidecar road racer Sheilagh Neal demonstrated how ‘back in the day’ she passengered Maurice on Methamon, clearing up several questions that had remained un-answered throughout the re-build.

Sheilagh Neal  : “This is why you couldn’t work out why the handle faced back’!

Maurice was a keen exponent of keeping as much weight over the back wheel as possible at the start of a sprint, and in the early years he prefferred Sheilagh to lie backwards (with her head to the rear) as opposed to the traditional face forward approach. Handle positions clarified - it was interesting to see (and imagine) what this disconcerting position must have felt like at full tilt.

A brace of Vintage finery, Leigh Rudges, Mackleton, Brough Superior, Triumph

The 1000 bikes is never a timed event, instead we revert to the traditional (if not entirely practical for modern purposes)  flag and handicap method of starting. Long may this continue as it gives the crowd an excellent spectacle and is hugely enjoyable for riders who come along for the love of their sport and to have a bit of fun in getting to the checkerboards first.

The Flag start!: Old timers trick - “look for a twich of the belly button and you know the flag will soon follow” Phil Manzano

Alan Tinion’s ‘Frankie’s Monster’ featuring the (very fast) ex Steve Webster (sidecar world champion) Krauser motor and Jack Graham’s Yamaha TZ

Tom Standing and Simon Rees - Only one is wearing ‘appropriate headgear’  :-)

If you’re reading this for the first time as someone who’s always fancied a visit to the event, you missed another treat of a year. The weather was fantastic all weekend and despite competition from the World cup final, the British Grand Prix and an airshow at Duxford crowds turned up in their droves.

John Hobbs guns his famous ‘Hobbit’ in the end of the day demo runs

We only write up the sprint news, but there were numerous other attractions in 2010 which included special Brooklands feature showcasing 20 machines used in competition at Brooklands, Genuine ex works Rotary Race bikes piloted by their original works riders, ‘fast Freddy’ Spencer, Carl Foggarty, Mick Grant, Sammy Miller OBE, Niall Mackenzie, Stan Woods, John Cooper, Nick Jefferies and Maria Costello MBE amongst many others all riding on track.

We’ll be there again next year - do join us!

If you’re a sprinter and want to participate in the 2011 Sprint Demo - please be advised that competition for a place is always stiff and driven primarily by the conditions that govern all our ‘open to the public events’. These being:

1. 1)Regular attendance at our other events
   

2. 2)Having a machine of historical or public interest
   

3. 3)A quick response when we post notification that entries are open. (To give everyone a fair number of runs, we now limit entries to Mallory at just 40 riders.)
   

Long may the sun continue to shine on Mallory - see you again in 2011

www.vmccsprint.co.uk