The second round of the ACU Championships was held at Shakespeare County Raceway over the spring bank holiday weekend, with dry weather over the three days.
Funnybike
Headlined the meeting and Gary Jones ran a superb 7.230-185.55 (top speed of the meeting) having fitted a M/T rear tyre (taller and narrower) which improved the grip. Dave Peters was another rider who fitted a M/T tyre after having problems on Saturday The last qualifying session Peters ran a personal best ever of 7.277-183.77. Frenchman Eric Richard was making his first ACU race at Shakespeare County and qualified third with 7.660-180.22. Dale Leeks was next 7.897 Jiri Lukes ran a personal best of 8.289 and Harold Wolfenden was getting better with his new bike 8.565.
Best race of the day was in the opening round of the eliminations with Richard beating Leeks by a margin of 0.291 with a time of 7.516 to Leeks personal best figures of 7.533-172.22. Jones ran low et of the event 7.216 to knock out Wolfenden. Richard beat Peters in the semi-final with a time of 7.406. Jones had a mis-fire and Richard went on to win his first ACU event.
Comp Bike
Once again Allan Davies led the field after two days of qualifying with 7.609 (low et) -175.21. Phil Crossley was just behind with 7.723. Tony Clark was third but torched his cylinder head after a nitrous blew the carbs off. Newcomer Steve Moor had clutch problem and didn’t qualify.
Davies and Kevin Osman had bye runs to the semis. Phil Crossley join them when he beat Dave Batcheler who had finally found a set up for his clutch and ran 8.754. Davies beat Osman in the semi-final 7.611 with a p/b speed of 175.98. Osman ran top speed of the meet 179.89. Crossley put a holeshot over Davies off the start line and then at mid-track he was fighting to keep the bike from crossing the centre line Davies took the win with 7.625 to Crossley 7.761.
Super Street Bike
Dave Thomas parted company from his bike just off the start line in qualifying. Thomas was ok. Graham Balchin faced Chris Reed in the final. Reed got a slight advantage off the start line (rt134 to 137) but it was Balchin who took the win light with 7.611-193.74 to Reed 7.760-184.08.
Report by Steven Moxley.