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Season Opener - Dakota Raceway, Smeatharpe Airfield, Devon.

The National Sprint Association began their 2023 championship campaign in mixed conditions for this time of month down Devon way at Dakota Raceway’s Smeatharpe Airfield last Saturday. Although the day began early with heavy downpours in the early hours the surface quickly dried out for the NSA sprint, and the drifting to begin, writes NSA commentator Jerry Cookson.

A mixed entry of some 60 riders populated the streamlined classes for 2023 and with no less than 7 tracks records being reset or established, the performances gained from winter rebuilds were quite something given the days conditions.

With all the runs counting towards the overall class results FTD went to Unlimited Racing class champion Mark Taylor with a rapid 9.147s to the Suzuki’s credit. Also in with a shot but eventually ended up second quickest was Steve Everett’s Road Legal Hayabusa at 9.923s while looking to close the margin slightly was Paul Hayman’s 1000cc GSXR Suzuki with a rapid 10.096s for third although on a couple of occasions Paul had to fight to keep the front end from rearing up a 100 ft out from the start line.

500cc Racing class champion Peter McGuinness carried on from where he left off by resetting the class record previously held at Neill Curtis. As the day wore on Pete’s Kawasaki H1 got progressively quicker to block out Neill’s previous 11.086s and replace it with a 11.058s. However, it wasn’t all plain sailing for fellow Kawasaki racer Kerry Phillips who’s brightly painted green and orange H1 ended up in the adjacent field after its 12.894/110.66 mph tank slapper at the top end. Although battered and bruised, and now needing a new set of leathers, Kerry was up and alert much to the relief of wife Samantha. It will take more than a roll of green and orange gaffer tape to fix it this time but says he will be back!

The Vintage guys were also in record form as Richard Morgan established a new Vintage up to 350cc class record of 16.768s on a 1929 Rudge while in the Unlimited Vintage class John Young rode his 1936 500cc Tri/Jap to a 12.810s although couldn’t quite get to the 106 mph track speed record for the class. Maybe next time John!

The remaining four records were established in the relined Junior classes going to Jorja Cleall who was taking part in her first ever sprint with her Peugeot 125 while being shadowed on every run by dad Paul’s Kawasaki ZX9 (34.590s), Max Curtis on a 125/250 4 stroke single (21.630) while elder sister Libby ran in the 18s to a best of 18.035s. This left last year’s 125cc Junior champion Chloe Hayman to set a new class record for 125 GP/350 4 stroke single at 20.484s.

Top Scooter racer of the day was ‘Mr Greenlight’ Adie Horrocks over Chisel Speed’s Mike Pacey. With winter cylinder head mods carried out by Dave Bristow on Adie’s 149 FRT/BFA Vespa had worked out well with best being a 13.648s against Mike Pacey’s Lambretta mounted 14.205s. Others running in the class were the newly built Lambretta’s belonging to Shaun Nickells and Paul Gurney, and Nigel Howard with the Greenlight renta 144cc Quattrini.

From the 25 cars registered for RWYB the quickest and fastest car of the day was a 3.8 ltr McLaren 570s driven by Matthew Wilson and from the 17 or so runs made the McLaren supercar finally managed a best of 10.565 at 139.66. Almost matching the 570s’ pace was a RS6 Audi driven by Lukas Debrowski with a 10.802/130.91 mph to its credit followed by Nick Martin’s 4 litre AMG E63s Mercedes with an 11.097/128.14 mph ticket.

The next Drag ‘N’ Drift event at Dakota Raceway takes place on Saturday 22nd April for another round of the National Sprint Association championship and open RWYB. For information and bookings, go to straightliners.events.

Photos courtesy Carol Jenkinson