Frank Melling

Frank Melling
Occupation Motorcyclist & Journalist
Genre Non-fiction history and technology
Subject Automotive and motorcycling

Frank Melling is an English motoring journalist and author, based in northwest England. He is an accomplished motorcyclist and motorcycle racer who has competed in motocross, enduro and road racing events. He rode an exhibition lap at the Isle of Man TT in 2008 aboard a modern Ducati Classic.[1]

Melling is the author of books on, among other things, motocross and enduro. He was the motorcycling contributor to the Saturday Daily Telegraph's Motoring section for a number of years, but was succeeded by Kevin Ash, who later died in a motorcycling accident.

The Thundersprint

Melling has organised a number of racing events and he is currently noted as the man behind the Thundersprint, an annual two-day event to celebrate motorcycling.[2] The Thundersprint started in Lancashire but moved to Northwich, Cheshire, where it stayed for ten years. There was some time-trial racing which took place in a car park, and a Cavalcade through the town in which over 150 race and road bikes paraded on closed roads. It attracted big names such as Giacomo Agostini, Sammy Miller and Jim Redman. Spectator attendance was huge as there was no admission charge. By 2013, the organiser found it too difficult to continue hosting a town-centre event and the Thundersprint moved to Anglesey's "Mona" circuit but it was not a great success there because of adverse weather and the distance from the Midlands.

The 2014 Thundersprint was held at Derbyshire's Darley Moor circuit. Despite heavy rain throughout the weekend, the event was a success.

The Thunderfest

For 2015, the event, renamed Thunderfest, returned to North Wales. Once again with an entry-fee, it was held in late May at the Welsh venue of Mona Circuit at Anglese.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Telegraph, July 2008: TT demonstration - On a lap of the Gods by Frank Melling. Retrieved 2014-06-02
  2. ↑ "The Thundersprint - Europe's Biggest and Best Motorcycling Festival". thundersprint.com. Retrieved 2014-09-03.
  3. ↑ Thunderfest 2015 Real Classic, 12 June 2015, Retrieved 4 October 2015


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