Bike drag race
London City Airport, 24th July 2004

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Motorsports Promotions' latest event in their 2004 schedule was a bike-only sprint which took place on the single runway of London City Airport. As LCA is a business airport it is closed to air traffic from Saturday lunchtime to Sunday afternoon and the airport management are glad to hire the facility.

Due to the vagaries of air traffic in the middle of summer the runway closed at 1:00 pm instead of the scheduled 12:00 pm. This was of course completely beyond the control of Motorsports Promotions but their reaction as soon as the plane left had to be seen to be believed. As soon as they were given clearance the crew leapt into action, literally running to set up crowd control barriers, set up the strip, and install the PA system. Spectators were allowed in within forty minutes of the last aircraft leaving, and the first pair of bikes left the start line at about 3:00 pm. Action then continued until 7:00 pm with one brief break for a charity presentation.

London City Airport is ideally-placed for such an event, being minutes from the middle of London by public transport and easily accessible by car. The runway, reportedly the best part of a mile long, allows plenty of hard-standing space for pits and trade stands as well as strip and shutdown area. The surface is concrete with grooves which was to cause problems for a number of racers when they tried to pull burnouts, but there was grip enough for most competitors even without any track prep, which of course could not be carried out on an active runway. Landing aircraft had left a fair amount of rubber on the surface and the track crew had inspected the runway for fluids or other foreign objects before opening the track.

The only concerns for any of the racers were light-hearted. Firstly the runway is on what used to be a dock and so is surrounded on three sides by deep water, including at the end of the shutdown area. Some racers viewed this prospect nervously but they quickly found that the shutdown area was plenty long enough. Secondly the start system was a single traffic light with a fair delay between amber and green rather than the brief flash of amber to which racers are used. But everyone very quickly got used to it and worked out exactly when to go up on the revs.

Although the event was officially a sprint, organiser Terry Homan had invited a number of racers to make demonstration passes, and several racers had also entered the sprint. Eurodragster went along to London City Airport to see how they fared.

2003 ACU UK Top Fuel Bike Champion Steve Woollatt's Dealer TFB was sporting its new titanium exhaust system, a new engine plate, and a new front wheel, all part of Steve's project to cut the weight of the bike. The bike is also running new gear ratios and Phil Baimbridge said that he was in attendance "because I'm the only one who can fix it if it breaks!".

Steve's first run of the day turned out to be his only pass. The bike was reluctant to light the tyre on the burnout but on the green the tyre started to blaze. Steve's years of experience showed as he balanced the throttle and the bike shot down the track. Suddenly near the finish line there was a flash of metal, something flew across the track and the engine revs briefly shot up. Despite an early shut-off Steve clocked 7.31/186 but back in the pits there was a lot of concern about possible damage.

Phil Baimbridge explained that the primary belt had broken and the engine had over-revved. "Steve got off it very quickly", he said. "The computer showed that he was on the throttle for six seconds so to run a 7.31 even shutting off early proves that the bike was really moving. I always like to come to events like this and put on a good show. I used to enjoy doing it with my own bike."

"We might have to have the motor out to check it", said Steve. "I've only got two weeks before my next date".

Fellow Top Fuel Bike racer Steve Carey was content with his run of 9.23/129.1. Steve pulled a nice burnout and then just as with Steve Woollatt the rear tyre went up in smoke off the line. Steve feathered the throttle a couple of times and then got off the throttle in the second half of the track.

"We've not done as much as we wanted, but we got some more data and that's always valuable", said Steve afterwards. "This is the first time I have ever run on a track like this, there isn't a lot of grip. But it's good to come along and show the bike because it gets people interested. Also I had John Mann of my sponsor Mobil Oil here today and he enjoyed it very much."

Steve's next development on the bike is a new blower pulley to give more boost, which will be installed in time for the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. The Purple Princess has another date in the interim as Steve will be appearing at the CSMA show in Eastbourne showing off new sponsor Weruwise Doors and Windows. "I must say thank you to Steve Bennett and Steve Higwill of Weruwise", he said.

Steve confirmed that he will be contesting the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod after the Allstar Nationals. "I am looking forward to both races", he said. "If I can get a six, or very near a six, this season then I will be very happy."

Supertwin racer Bernie Hepworth shook the ground impressively with his ARE nitro twin. This was Bernie's first run with his new clutch and a throttle-feathering and early shut off 9.6 was not to Bernie's satisfaction although the spectators were very appreciative. Unfortunately Bernie was just pulling out of the pits as we arrived for a word, but it transpired later that the new clutch had failed.

On show in the pits was Rod Pallant's new LA Hooker Top Fuel Bike. Rod had put the bike together himself as a project after breaking his leg in an accident in 1998, planning to ride it himself. Although obviously a TFB on the current model, Rod had gone to a lot of trouble to make the bike look as much as possible like his previous LA Hooker. Rod eventually decided to sell the bike after he realised that although his leg was recovered, it was not quite up to the stresses of riding a TFB. The bike has now been purchased by Super Street Bike racer Dave Newbery and you can read full details about the deal on Eurodragster News of 25th July.

Legendary UK Fuel bike racer John Hobbs put in a couple of passes on his immaculately-turned out Hobbit. John's first pass was an 8.99/162.7 and all the more impressive since that included a fair amount of wheelspin for the first couple of hundred feet. John's next pass was curtailed when he shut off after the burnout; after some checks in the start area the Hobbit was taken back to the pits not to return.

2003 ACU UK Super Street Bike Champion Graham Dance was one of a number of SSB racers who had made the trip to London. Although the racers viewed this as a fun event Graham was still taking it seriously enough to make changes to suit his bike to the track. "I've lifted it and put smaller jets on", he said. "We'll see how that works. The main thing is not to break it before I go to Hockenheim with Pete Bellenie". Dancey was accompanied by regular partner-in-crime Mark Pointer whom he claimed to have dragged to London "kicking and screaming". The Hooligan had not brought his own SSB as he said he had not been able to get it to start.

Graham's first run of the day was an instant FTD, Mark Pointer jumping in the air as an 8.88/157 was announced. A few changes and Dancey returned, running even quicker at 8.78/158. This stood as the FTD by any non-exhibition bike although Brad O'Connor on the Big CC SSB took the speed honours at 169 mph on a 9.65 pass. Matt Nixon told us that he had calmed down the Viagra Express. "Of course I'll still probably blow it to pieces!", he said. Matt's last run of the day was his quickest at 9.04/162. Dave Smith smoked the tyres of his SSB 'Busa on the couple of runs which we saw, a couple of ten-second passes with a big 148.9 the highest speed.

"We're blackstriping all the way down the second eighth", Graham Dance said before his final run of the day. "I've changed the rear tyre but I think that 8.7 is as quick as it will go. It's really good fun though!". I asked Graham how he thought the event had been run. "Well, we went into three different holding areas on the way in but that was because the planes were late", he said. "But it has been well-organised and everyone is happy. I'd definitely come again!"

SSB racer Shaun Jones said that it was very difficult to pull burnouts on the concrete. "The bike hooks up OK!", he said. "I'm looking for an 8.9 and then I'll pack up and go home happy". Shaun said that his Fosters Bandit was getting a reputation as a rib killer. "I've broken three ribs on this thing this year coming down off wheelies", he said. Shaun's last pass was a 9.48/150, which included a wheelie at about a hundred feet although he wasn't clutching his chest on his return, although he had run a quicker 9.35/148.31 earlier on.

9.90 Bike racer Dave Hall managed a number of passes, a 9.88 the quickest we saw. 9.90 Bike racer 'Fast Harry' was also in attendance, also clocking a best of 9.88 at 142 mph. Before his last pass Harry told us that he was going to pull the biggest burnout of the day and it was certainly an impressive effort, Harry and the start area disappearing in a cloud of smoke. 10.90 Bike racer Nick Holland clocked an 11.2/122 on his last pass of the day.

The Hyena Drag Race Team was out in force with Paul Coombs, Steve Coombs, Martin Walker, TJ O'Brien, Wayne Hobbs and Dave Baker all in attendance. Steve Coombs led the march to the nines with a 9.76/147.8 whilst Martin Walker wasn't far behind at 9.85/149.4. TJ and Wayne Hobbs had some problems with their Comp Bikes, but in the spirit of the day neither seemed too worried and were still sporting big smiles.

9.90 Bike racer David Warren was running bang on his index even on the LCA surface, a 9.93/142.2 his first run of the day before he cut loose and ran as quickly as a 9.74/147.8. "The bike reacts better on this surface", said David. "I prefer tracks like this, because you learn how to ride the bike. I wait for it to come up and then punch the gear".

Pro Stock Bike racer Paul Watson said that he had considered bringing his PSB but had instead settled on his street 'Busa. "I stalled on the first run, and then I ran a nine", he said. "This has been a different event, unique, very laid-back. Those start lights take a long time to run though!"

Amongst the sprint, street and historic bikes taking to the track were the Brutus II which ran into the tens, and a Hagon bike which ran in the elevens. You can see pictures of both in our Photo Gallery.

The sole race car on the facility was Paul Harvey's Mailkey and MHF Travel-sponsored Super Pro ET dragster. "I had to come here", said Paul. "I've been to Elvington a few times for the Straightliners events so I called Terry Homan and offered to come along. The dragster has one more outing, the Northern Nationals at York, with its Cleveland engine before the new engine is fitted. "We've got dyno time booked after the Northern Nationals and the engine will be in the car for the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway", he said. The plan for Paul's two booked runs was "A few burnouts, a lot of noise and I hope I stop before the end! I'll go all the way down wondering 'Did they pull the pin on the chute?'!".

Paul's crew emptied a bottle of water in front of and onto the slicks before the first pass but the grooved concrete surface was very uncooperative. Paul had two attempts at a burnout, the tyres just about spun but would not light up. His first pass was a very solid 9.52/144.8. "It feels weird out there", Paul said subsequently. "It's a similar surface to Elvington. Despite what we all thought there is actually plenty of run-off area, I didn't feel I had to use the chute."

For the next run Paul and the team changed the headers on the car. "The new headers were affecting the tune-up", he said. "In any case these will be louder and that's what we want!". On his second run Paul again struggled to light the tyres but put in an impressive, quicker pass with a 9.33/147.8.

The event ended slightly early as Dave Bell took a spill in his Lover Boy Racing trike. Dave was not badly hurt but the trike was damaged and the track crew had to go over the track with a fine toothcomb to ensure that nothing was left on the runway to cause problems for aircraft.

Every racer to whom I spoke was very happy with their day at London City Airport. Most had managed to make several runs, and all complimented the organisers on the way in which the event was run and said that they would be back in 2005.

We took a number of other pictures at London City Airport which you can view by clicking here or by returning to the Event Index page.

For their help at London City Airport yesterday we would like to thank Terry Homan of Motorsports Promotions and Steve Woollatt. A big Thank You as ever to the all of the racers and their teams for giving us so much to write.

This report has been brought to you in association with American Car Imports.