1983 and 1984 Transatlantic Drag Bike Races at Long Marston Raceway
Photos © original photographer, and reports © Keith Lee (1983); Pip Higham, Tony Huck, Robin Jackson, R. Leigh-Davidson and Jim Reynolds (1984)
1983 race After no race being held in 1982, the 1983 running of the Transatlantic Drag Bike race sadly became a victim to rain. There were American racers present however none had the impact of Bo O’Brochta from 1981.
The Superbike field was headed by Stefan Reisten from Sweden with a 7.43 on his Yamaha, the quickest bike time ever recorded in the UK (he had recently clocked a 7.30 in his native Sweden). He was followed by Jos Smit’s 7.69, with fellow Dutchman Henk Vink at 8.32 and Swede Lennard Olofsson on 8.35. Rod Pallant banged the blower on a 8.50 and bump spot was a 8.61 by John Clift. A surprise non qualifier from the US was Jon Baugh who suffered a broken turbo on a 8.8 riding Jack O’Malley’s pioneering Orient Express Funny Bike.
Harry Fitzpatrick qualified number one for Top Bike riding a 750cc Triumph. Floridian Pro Stock veteran ‘Superbike’ Mike Keyte did qualify number one with a 9.12 but German rider Jorg Huesmann was not far behind at 9.14. Erik Bauer went 9.18 and Paul Andrews 9.20, with a bump spot of 9.37. In practice on Sunday morning Huesmann ran 9.04 and Andrews 9.12 setting up a potentially very exciting contest.
But with the track soaking after a lunchtime shower, NDRC officials called off the race at 2pm without a single elimination race being run. The announcers promised the race would return bigger and better in 1984. And it did. 1984 race
Super Bike The coup by the NDRC of booking Elmer Trett for the 1984 TDBR was masterful. After many years racing Harleys he decided to switch to Yamaha in 1982. He had an engineering advantage by having a car engine specialist constructing the bottom end of the 1327cc Yamaha engine and placing it in a bullet-proof custom-built crankcase. The proof of this was clear, no broken engines in the entire 1983 season and an average terminal speed of 195.4mph over all the races he competed in in that year. He had a family crew, wife Jackie and daughters Gina and Kelly and they had won the Professional Mechanics of the Year at the National Motorcycle Racing Association of America. His best time in 1983 was a 7.16/201.34, a new strip record at Indianapolis Raceway Park. To prepare for the 1984 Transatlantic Drag Bike Race Elmer had match raced Stefan Reisten the previous weekend at the Ultimate Street Bike championship run by Superbike magazine, also at Long Marston Raceway. At the 1984 Transatlantic Drag Bike Race, however, he faced a field of eight bikes.
Eliminations (extracts) Round 1 Elmer Trett 7.27/193 def. Graham Nash Semi-finals Elmer Trett 7.24/196 def. Jan Janssen 8.85/150 Final Elmer Trett 7.30/193 def. Stefan Reisten 12.32/64
Stefan Reisten’s engine had suffered some burnt pistons in the semi-final forcing the team to replace them for the final. Pip Higham, writing for Superbike magazine, recalled ‘Stefan tried to stage – he couldn’t as the lights flashed off and on a dozen times. Then with his engine sounding sicker and sicker Stefan trailed way behind Elmer as the green light flashed on. Elmer’s family leapt about, Stefan’s wife turning a little dejectedly back to the pits. She’d missed her holiday, but they’d get him next time’. Certainly, no other rider came close in terms of performance – and Brian Johnson was racing in the US championships at the time and therefore unable to compete. Sadly Elmer Trett who got his bike to a best of 6.06, lost his life in a racing accident at Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1996.
Pro Stock Bike (Class 1) Andy Capper (UK, VBS Suzuki Suzuki 1260cc) qualified no.1 with 9.1s time, but red-lit in the semi final. Pip Higham (UK, VBS Katana Suzuki 1260cc) was in the no.8 bump spot as Paul Andrews (UK, Crusader Kawasaki 1327cc) failed to qualify for the quick eight with ignition problems. Final: Joerg Huesmann (Germany, Speed Products Suzuki 1200cc) 9.31/146 def. Dirk Huesmann (Germany, Speed Products Suzuki 1260cc) 9.35/144 Pip Higham, writing for Superbike magazine, said ‘Joerg’s Speed Products catalogue is 120 pages long…In the final he just pipped (oops!) Dirk but then again Joerg would be foolish to let bro junior get too many good bits, now wouldn’t he?’
Pro Stock Bike (Class 2) Final: Paul Andrews 9.34/123 def Tom Perry (UK, Trub Suzuki) 9.53/142 DQ red As in 1981, the sheer number of entries in the class forced the organisers into having a second field of bikes. Paul Andrews ran a 9.09 in his semi-final. Other riders of note in Pro Stock were Nick Pepper (Suzuki GSX - out with gearbox problems), Paul Mayhew (UK, Highway Hawk Kawasaki 1385cc – Best Appearing Bike award), Al Ward (UK, The Beast 1285cc Suzuki), Alan ‘Grandad’ Nash (UK, Grandad’s Place Suzuki GSX 1325cc) and Pip Higham himself, double entered again in Top Bike with his Kosman and his Suzuki Pro Stock Bike.
Top Bike Final: Pip Higham (UK, Suzuperbike Suzuki turbo 1176cc) 8.78/152 def. John Lloyd (UK, Freight Train triple Kawasaki 2250cc) 9.71/132
Senior Bike Final: Dany Dieudonné (France, La Licorne Kawasaki 1200cc) 9.79/126 def. Paul Willis (UK, Nocturnal Pleasure Kawasaki 1066cc) 10.90/126 Dany Dieudonné was seven times champion in France, and in 1986 acquired the legendary ‘Big Spender IV’ twin Kawasaki from Henk Vink Middle Bike Final: Final: Martin Newton (UK, Triton Triumph 750cc) 10.74/133 def. P Scott (UK Blow Pipe Kawasaki 1198cc) 10.86/128 Martin Newton had his fuel line break in the semi final and after rival Brian Smith red-lit, Martin had to push his bike to the finish and he accomplished an ET of 2m 45.6s for his trouble. Junior Bike Final: Dave Rogers (UK R.R. Special Rogers 550cc) 14.42/91 bye Street Bike (Class 1) Final: Alan Jackson (UK, Alacrity Kawasaki 1325cc) 10.13/138 def. Mick Beaumont (UK, Eliminator Suzuki 1325cc) 10.73/133 Mick Beaumont had earlier set a new track record of 9.88. Street Bike (Class 2) Final: Tony Middlehurst (UK, SuperBike Suzuki/VBS 1176cc) 10.49/135 def. Lee Marsden (UK, VM Suzuki Suzuki 998cc) 11.32/121 Exhibition Henk Vink took his rocket-powered bike to a best time of 7.05/181 with the assistance of Sammy Miller. It was the quickest run outside of the US at the time. Henk would subsequently get his rocket bike times down to 6.56, a feat which undoubtedly would inspire Eric Teboul to take on the mantle of rocket bike rider.
We thank drag racing historian and British Drag Racing Hall of Fame director Jerry Cookson who has kindly provided copies of the material used in this feature.
1983 Event programme (7 Mb pdf file)
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