Thunderfest
organised carol frank melling thunderfest companion event nowdefunct thundersprint halfway house fullon racing parading thunderfest time trial aimed primarily rider thundersprint twoday event celebrating motorcycling held annually second weekend may event comprised track session sprint race cavalcade trade stand funfair attraction first thundersprint held hoghton tower near blackburn moved wigan southport manchester eventually northwich cheshire grew size thundersprint stayed ten year northwich promoted organised motorcycle journalist frank melling unusually motorsport event thundersprint northwich aimed much family hardcore motorbike fan according report commissioned cheshire west chester council thundersprint attracted visitor brought £ million local economy figure made thundersprint one largest motorcycling event world term attendance significant economic importance area highlight spectator display raf spitfire heart event sprint race class mainly classic motorcycle moremodern bike race attracted entry list notable star including jim redman giacomo agostini sammy miller recent rider including james toseland cal crutchlow ryuichi kiyonari chris walker also top gear james may olympic athlete james cracknell ridden thundersprint sprint race cavalcade northwich time trial took place small town centre car park scope racing somewhat limited even spectator attendance large entry cost event held appeal family day organiser found difficult continue hosting towncentre event event moved anglesey trac môn circuit north wale mona thundersprint great success torrential rain remote location midland thundersprint moved derbyshires darley moor circuit time intended become event’s permanent home despite exceptionally heavy rain throughout weekend event success mona darley moor venue changed event attractive accessible free family event northwich somewhat standard paytoenter motorcycle race meeting mellings announced iconic event take place adding final analysis two person business can’t continue risk built last seventeen year bet good weather frank melling confirmed running thundersprints companion event thunderfest first held event generally took place darley moor took place anglesey circuit event regularity trial rider declare target speed ride minute plus two lap attempt achieve closeness target actual speed deciding factor example rider could declare target mph achieve mph would beat rider declared mph managed average mph lead situation rider smaller slower bike beat bigger faster machine time trial demand high degree skill without intensity flatout racing event attracted number classic bike proved popular spectator cal crutchlow danny webb giacomo agostini james toseland james may jonathan rea jim redman leon haslam ryuichi kiyonari sammy miller thundersprint website