The VMCC Sprint Section Historic Sprint Demonstration/Practice and Sprint Marquee 2012:
Photo credit: Alan Turner
Well how time flies, here we are again back at the Festival, no sooner had last year’s event finished that we were planning for this years, the 2012 VMCC Sprint Section Historic Sprint Event which has become such an important part of the Weekend.
This year we have two father and son teams running in the Sprint, our Sprint Section Chairman, Chris Illman and his son Mark who is our sections Web guru, also Andy Bush with his immaculate 1930 350cc AJS R6 and his young son Sam, ridding a race prepared 70cc Honda X8R.
If there is one thing that that has been common among the Sprinting fraternity over the years it’s the fact Sprinting runs through the family;
I should know as it was my late father’s influence, Phil “The Old Fella” Manzano, that has me here again today organising and running the Sprint, as well as other events that the Sprint Sections runs over the course of year, like the oldest motorsport event in the country, the Brighton Speed Trials. Cheers Dad!
Among our riders today we have John Renwick with his 1650cc V-Twin Vincent 3-wheeler, Epimetheus, which has been much modified over the years. One modification being the addition of ‘giggle gas’, better known to most as Nitrous Oxide, which now makes the machine capable of some 180 horses. At our season opener John managed a few shake down runs, his best being 10.68 seconds with a terminal of 127mph over the quarter mile, not bad for a 50’s v-twin!
To give John a little competition, Maurice Brierley’s Vincent V-Twin, ‘Methamon’, the very machine that Maurice took a number of Records with in the 60’s, with Chris Illman at the helm and Colin Jefferies doing the hero bit, is making a welcome return. Chris managed to secure the Manzano Top Speed Trophy in 2011, with a best terminal speed of 114.5mph, upon ‘Methamon’ no less. So the gauntlet has been thrown and battle will commence between the two at our timed events over the season to see who takes the trophy home this year?
Now, at this point in time all I can say is that if all has gone to plan, then A.N. Other will be possibly giving both John and Chris a run for their money, with a fully restored 3-wheeled record breaker from the 60’s and 70’s. Let’s hope all has been completed in time for today, as I know a lot of midnight oil has been burned this past winter to try and have it completed for this event. If not then I’m sworn to secrecy, on the pains of nasty things happening to certain parts of my anatomy, as all will be still kept under wraps till later in the year when all will then be revealed.
John Hobbs is here again today, not with just the Hobbit but a with his newly built Triumph
That machine is Olympus, a lovely and well-crafted replica of his 1968 World Record holding machine, for both the Standing Start Quarter Mile and the Standing Start Kilometre set back in 1968 at RAF Elvington, may I add, at the grand old age of 21! John will be out on both machines today for you all to see and hear.
So folks, please find time during the lunch break to make your way to the Start/Finish straight, as here you will be able to see and hear these and many other wonderful Sprinters taking part in the VMCC Sprint Section Historic Twin Lane Sprint Demonstration/Practice.
Also over the Weekend, please take time out to visit the Sprint Marquee located in the Race Paddock, as here you will be able to get up close to these machines and talk with the riders as well.
Juan V Manzano – VMCC Sprint Section
Solo Machines
Bob Anderson JAP - V-Twin Replica "Sprinter" 1000 1964
Derek Fox Norton-JAP "Thor 998 1959
Dave Allman Greeves "Silverstone" Ex works 250 1965
John Young Tri-JAP500 1936
Nigel Fox Norton "Titch Allen Wicksteed" 528 1947
Andy Forward Triumph "Sprint Special" 500 1964
Ian Dentith Triumph "Grand Prix Replica" 500 1948
Len Wallbank Velocette KTT/KSS Special 350 1931
John Brent Velocette "The Ironing Board" 248 1970
Bob Horton Greeves "Oulton" 350 1964
Mark Illman Rudge "Leigh Special" 636 1930
Alan Tinnion Krauser "Frankies Monster" 500 1980
Ron Phillips Honda RSW 125 1986
Stuart Kirkpatrick Mitsui Missile Yamaha 350 1974
R. Hollingshead Suzuki GSX 1100 1100 1979
Martin Newton Triumph 750 1972
Mick Collins Triton 750 1952
Clive Hurst Kawasaki H1 500 1974
Victor Aldous Lambretta SX 200 1967
Ron Cheesman BSA 650 1963
David H. Smith Velocette MOV Sprinter 248 1933
John Hobbs Triumph "Olympus" 498 1956
Graham Vickery Ariel Red Hunter 347 1946
Chris Layzell Yamaha FZR 399 1987
John Taylor Honda CB500T 498 1975
David Hall Suzuki GSX 'R' 1100 L 1216 1990
Andy Bush AJS R6 350 1930
Phil Steele Rouge et Noir II 750 1975
Junior
Sam Bush Honda X8R 70
Sidecars
John Renwick Vincent Sidecar Special 1665 1951
Ballast "Slimlead Ed"
Trevor Duckworth Ariel 500 1938
S. Walker
Dave Woodard Suzuki Superside 1500 1984
Darren Saunders
Chris IllmanVincent "Methamon" 1963
Colin Jeffries
Mark Whittaker BSA Road Rocket Sidecar 650 1957
Sue Whittaker
Exhibition Runs
John HobbsWeslake "The Hobbit" 1700 1974
A. N. OtherSidecar 1000 1966
Photo Credit : Alan Turner
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