No Limits...the 2014 Brighton Speed Trials

Motorcycles and cars give it their all

John Newman

• SpeedRecord
• JohnNewman
• events
• speedtriials

In the lively and cosmopolitan seaside town of Brighton riders and drivers are confronted on roads by large white circles with the figure 20 inside; the almost universal speed limit. Often not necessary during the day as congestion and traffic lights keep engine driven progress at a slow pace already.

But on Saturday 5th September a motorcycle was measured at 160mph along a seafront road!
This was the terminal speed for Phil Wood riding his turbo charged Suzuki Hayabusa on Madeira Drive, which had been turned into a quarter mile sprint course for the cars and motorcycles entered in the Brighton National Speed Trials. A motorsport event that has run for over a hundred years, attracting thousands along the seafront road to thrill at the site, sound and smells of burnt fuel, hot engines, and hot rubber pushed to the limits.

It almost didn't happen; following a very unusual crash in 2012 when a sidecar passenger was killed. Brighton and Hove Council wanted to use this tragic pretext to withdraw permission for the event to take place again. Fortunately pressure in the form of a multi thousand signature petition, and lobbying from motor sport supporters and publications has seen the speed trial reinstated.  

The motorcycle section of the competition is organised by the Vintage Motor Cycle Club (VMCC) Sprint Section, and entries were down this year probably because of a significant hike in the entry fee due to a change in the way the event is financed. It's £100 to enter a bike or sidecar, and for this you get a practice run and two timed runs - if you happen to be one of fastest six over the course, there's an additional run off to determine the eventual winner – but it's an expensive day's sport.
There were only two sidecar entries this year because the local authority have now banned passengers, and the machines have to carry ballast in their place. A bureaucratic reaction to the 2012 crash showing no understanding of speed sport and why we like to engage in it, despite the risks.

The motorcycle paddock is a conglomeration of delights. Immaculate and well worn vintage bikes alongside each other. Well polished road bikes – several competitors rode their machines to the event. Ingeniously engineered one offs and the specialist sprint bikes that topped the results table at the end of the day.
Where else could you see a forty year old Honda Gold Wing modified as a sprinter...I kid you not. There was a lovely little MZ two stroke that gave a good performance on the strip.

A 1928 Douglas, and a beautiful Egli Vincent that topped the table in its class on each run.

Among the specialist bikes, husband and wife 'team' Dave and Jayne Glover had brought their well crafted 996 Ducati special 'Cunning Plan' and a Triumph Daytona. There was an elongated BMW S1000RR that posted the third fastest time of the day, and a bevy of Hayabusa engined sprint bikes that regularly compete in the Straightliners national sprint series. This engine is by far the projectile of choice for those who want to set the fastest times.

On the face of it launching a motorcycle (or car) as fast as possible along a straight quarter mile course might seem easy. But the expertise and concentration required to balance the power and clutch to gain maximum traction, and then shift expertly through the gears to retain maximum speed is no easy thing. Fluffing the clutch, spinning the wheels, or not maintaining peak revs means precious seconds and multiples are wasted. And after spending time in the photographers box watching the lead bikes and cars wrestle their machines down the strip at phenomenal speed. I was impressed by the skill and experience needed.



For motorcyclists that appreciate engineering and race craft, the car paddock was certainly worth a slow stroll through. Everything from enthusiast built Minis and Cortinas, and big US saloons,  through to vintage Bentleys and race machinery that command serious money to purchase and keep running. My favourite was a massive Allard called 'The Old Fella'. Powered by a Chevy V8 engine, it was the second fastest four wheeler.  


At the end of the days racing motorcycles easily posted the fastest times. The power to weight ratio giving them an advantage over the cars. Especially the aforementioned Hayabusa powered bikes.

But looking down the result list it was pleasing to see the road-going Triumph Speed Triple, ridden to the event by Paul Bonham, getting down the strip in a comfortably faster time than the Lamborghini Aventador Roadster which had set someone back £288,840. A new Speed Triple will extract about £9,000 from your bank account. Nuff said.

You can view the results and times at www.brightonandhovemotorclub.co.uk
Roll on 2015!    
John Newman
for Wemoto News
If you went along let us know if you enjoyed it [email protected], and here are the rest of the pictures...