CROWDS FLOCK TO FESTIVAL OF SPEED

09:00 - 22 June 2006
It was a chance for thrill-seekers to open the throttle and push their machines to the limit - with not a single traffic police officer in sight. Some 200 motorcycle and car enthusiasts descended on RAF Portreath over the weekend to roar down its runway during the traditional Run What You Brung festival of speed.

Watched by big crowds, many of the adrenaline junkies topped 150mph while one dragster nudged 200mph, the fastest time at the event.

"It was fantastic - the exhilaration, the smells, the speeds - it was just like being a kid again," said the Rev Mike Firbank, a curate at Illogan, Portreath and Pool who enjoyed the racing with his wife, Kathryn, and their family.

Sitting astride a 1,450cc Suzuki dragster, Keith Bowden, formerly of Helston and now living at Plymouth, clocked 154mph during a series of runs on Sunday.

"It's like riding an exocet missile with a feeling of, please let me get to the end," he said. "I starting drag racing in the 1960s when we used to go to Santa Pod. It's fantastic to have this opportunity to do the same thing at RAF Portreath."

His brother, Phil, who reached 148mph on his Suzuki GSX R1000cc, agreed. "The buzz is the speed and the great atmosphere that is always generated here," he said.

Dominic Gallagher, also from Helston, summed up the appeal of the event after tearing down the runway at 160mph on his Honda CBR 600cc: "It's a complete feeling of freedom and adrenaline."

The two-day spectacular, organised by the Celtic Marauders motorcycle club, attracted drivers and riders from all over Cornwall and further afield, including a 10-strong group of bikers from Surrey.

Club spokeswoman Glynis Barrington-Smith said the twice-yearly event continued to grow in popularity and added: "There's nowhere else in Cornwall where bikers can go and make these runs in such a safe environment."

She thanked all those who had helped the event run smoothly, including personnel from RAF Portreath.

Adam Smith, the base's liaison officer who took charge of his ninth Run What You Brung, said: "This is a unique occasion which has exceeded a lot of expectations. People who come here want to have a good time and that makes a real difference. The grins on their faces make it all worthwhile."