melling has organised a number of racing events and he is currently noted as the man behind the thundersprint, an annual two-day event to celebrate motorcycling. the thundersprint started in lancashire but moved to northwich, cheshire, where it stayed for ten years. there was some time-trial racing which took place in a car park, and a cavalcade through the town in which over 150 race and road bikes paraded on closed roads. somehow, it attracted big names such as giacomo agostini, sammy miller and jim redman. spectator attendance was huge as there was no admission charge. by 2013, the organiser found it too difficult to continue hosting a town-centre event and the thundersprint moved to anglesey's "mona" circuit but it was not a great success there because of adverse weather and the distance from the midlands. the 2014 thundersprint was held at derbyshire's darley moor circuit where, despite exceptionally heavy rain, the weekend event was a success.