Rain disrupted the opening round of the 2021 ACU Championships. Only two qualifying sessions were completed over the two day event and after the second session on Sunday afternoon the event was called with rain falling.
Top Fuel Bike.
Neil Midgley led the field with 6.771-155mph and was pleased with his new prime drive system. There was new bodywork on Al Smith fuel bike and a bigger fuel pump has been fitted. After Saturday’s pass the team changed the short motor (crankshaft may have been damaged) and transferred the cylinder head etc onto the spare motor. Smith ran a best of 7.165. Allan Davies was another rider with a lot of new parts and had some fuel issues, looking for a baseline and ran a best of 14.671. Reigning ACU Top Fuel bike Champion Steve Woollatt didn’t qualify, having missed the first session then had a fluid leak after him burnout and was told to shutdown.
Funny Bike.
Stuart Crane ran a jaw dropping career personal best of 6.667-205.17mph straight out of the trailer. It was Crane’s first 200plus mph run. Len Paget was the only competitor entered for Pro Stock Bike, so he raced in Funny Bike and was second with 7.614. Lorcan Parnell was sporting a new front wheel fairing and was number three 7.975. Dave Peters had an electrical problem in the first session, which blew the carbs and had a small fire, which the top end fire crew putout. Tony Clark has sold his Outlaw bike and was renting Phil Crossley Funny Bike. Jiri Lukes and Mark Smith both had problem runs.
Comp Bike.
Reigning ACU Comp Bike Champion Louis Davies ran a personal best of 7.234-178.54mph to led the small field. Sean Mills was next 7.993-168.55mph followed by Chris Neary 8.238 and Phil Leamon troubled 9.912.
Super Street Bike.
Mark Dainty has done a lot of work to his bike over the winter and was rewarded with his first number one qualifier spot 7.443-185mph. Newcomer Alan Morrison Jr has bought Richard Stubbins bike and ran 7.744-183mph for number two spot with Stubbins tuning the bike. Reigning ACU Super Street Bike Champion Steve Venables struggled with a few new parts and ran 7.809-189mph. Mark Hope was just outside the sevens with 8.048. Stephen Mead, Dave Smith and Alex Hope all struggled over the w/end.
Report by Steven Moxley.