Super series round 1
May 5th-7th 2001
Shakespeare County Raceway
Long Marston
Stratford upon Avon
The first meet of the Super Series 2001. Wow it was cold in the stands! The sun was out but it has been so long since the last time it's forgotten how to be warm. This didn't stop the drag racing supporters turning up for a great opening event. To make things more exciting there where a few new cars and bikes for us all to marvel over.
I was lucky enough to have a pit lane pass for this meet. It didn't however come with free ear plugs So camera in hand, driver nicely framed and then ROAR click! Nice photo I assume of either the sky or the track I'm not really sure. So I beat a hasty retreat and got some ear plugs, probably too late as the damage will have been done.
A special mention has to go to the most radical "Chopper" I've ever seen. I am so jealous of the owner of this bike...
The burnouts are what adds to the spectacle of drag racing, the engines roar (your ears bleed!!!) the tyres smoke, and sometimes bang no race. The noise is unbelievable I can not describe to anyone who's not experienced it how load it is. You jump in your seat when the top fuelers rev, it makes it difficult to keep a steady hand on the camera. The stands shake and your heart races, imagine how the guy sat either in front or just behind the 5-6000 bhp engine must feel. I know how I feel after a good thrash on my bike, but I bet the buzz is infinitely more.
Supertwin's are slightly different when they burnout or rev:- Your ears still explode but your chest pounds with the force of the massive cylinders firing. The ground pulses as the tick at the line, this builds to a minor earthquake as the launch at the lights. I would recommend ear plugs to anyone who wishes to keep there hearing for any length of time.
I'm no expert but Supertwins would appear to be dominated by two types of bike, the huge 2 litre plus Harleys and the tiny RD two strokes. The first being a thunder machine and the later sounding like a giant wasp in jam jar being amplified through one of Metallicas amps. Below is a picture of one off the many two strokes.
The Super series has many characters some are indeed larger the life, meet Cannon.
Cannon in the far lane qualified as fastest in his class. His machine was imported from the states for this season as a 7 second machine Cannon has ran 8's but watch this space. Incidentally he does say he's fat but fast. But as the next picture proves the first meet is always difficult. Lots of machines failed to get off the start line. I guess it's because of all the new parts and set ups the teams do to get that extra thousandth off their times. Below Cannon and the long walk to the pits for some frantic repairs.
The four wheel machines are always impressive, bigger engines, louder pipes, more horses and a lot more room for paint...
Mind you some bikes go for it on the paint stakes...
The races were exceptional for round 1. The efforts of the pit crews and drivers could be seen by all, so a round of applause to everyone who set of entertain us and beat there own goals.
I have my own favorites, the hot rods. If I couldn't ride a bike I'd have one of these baby's. Street legal but as fast as @hit off a shovel...
What about my old mate Rush ? Well his bike "Whiplash" was looking and sounding great. It launched well etc... But in the final against the new bike X.Terminator ridden but Dave Witt. Rush left him at the line and everything looked like a win for the Whip but something happened the engine stopped and he was coasting. X.Terminator was catching him and at the line Dave Witt and the new bike got the decision by one thousandth of a second. Imagine that one thousandth of a second.
The upshot was one melted engine and a couple of weeks hard graft to rebuild the Whip for round two. Good luck Rush and well done to Dave Witt (Thanks for the tickets and pit lane pass Dave.) I will be at round two ( Hopefully on my rebuilt looking o-so good Z1300.) See you there... and see the site for a review. (19th and 20th May)
