BEC at Brooklands

Bike Engined Cars were out in force last weekend at the home of motor racing, Brooklands in Surrey

By PH Staff / Wednesday, 27 March 2002 / Loading comments

Bike Engined Cars are proving a huge hit with performance enthusiasts wanting a large bang for their buck. Using the basic principle of low weight to make the most of moderate power, the screamers we saw at Brooklands last weekend more than ably demonstrated that track day cars can be phenomenal fun without breaking the bank.

The Bike Engined Car email list hired the runway at Brooklands for a get together and an informal blast. The Surrey venue still boasts a few small sections of the banked circuit that made it famous, but it was the old (potholed) runway that was providing the circuit for the antics on Saturday.

The gravel and puddles didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the assembled throng however, as owners wound up their engines to over 12,000rpm and hooned around the hastily prepared circuit. The squeal of tyres could just be heard above the screams of the high-revving engines - a sound unique enough to bring out spectators from round and about.

Driving straight into an abandoned Portaloo isn't recommended

The business end

From Hayabusa powered Westfields, via Fireblade powered Furys to twin engined Tigers there was a great selection of cars being tested. Variations on the theme included Trevor Philips' Cosworth powered Sylva Fury boasting 235bhp in a car that weighs little more than a damp teabag.

Richard Long sheepishly pointed out the string holding on the nitrous injection system on his Fireblade powered Westfield. Having worked loose on the way to the meeting he wouldn't show us the means by which he finally secured the system but assured us that it still worked. Armed via a flick switch on the dashboard, the nitrous is triggered via a pressure switch under the throttle. Put your foot to the floor and press a little harder and whooooosh!

Z100

The less subtle approach to shoehorning more power under the bonnet could be seen with Simon Ranson's Tiger Z100. It boasts 1800cc, but in the form of two 900cc Kawasaki ZX9 engines. Combined to produce over 300bhp it's less of a car and more of a fairground ride. Squeezing my ample frame into the narrow passenger seat I strapped myself in, ready for quick demo around the circuit and back for a cup o' tea.

Simon started up one engine, then the other and we inched away. The whole frame of the car resonated with an exciting buzz as we inched towards the track. Then he nailed it! We screeched away up the gravel strewn surface and within seconds I was staring at the tyres marking out the first bend (this car can reach 60mph in 3.11 seconds!). Fortunately the brakes were up to the job too and the speed disappeared faster than it was gained. Even on the tiny course laid out before us, Simon was into fourth gear and hitting 12,000 rpm as I braced myself in the tight cockpit.

I found myself strangely fascinated by the car's twin revcounters as my body was subjected to G forces normally reserved for pilots. It's an incredible car perfectly suited to a small circuit requiring huge chunks of acceleration. The problem of course is that there's no upgrade path - what on earth would you buy after owning a car such as this!?

Performance enthusiasts can't ignore the Bike Engined phenomenon. Next time you're on a track day, watch out for the clever little chaps in their flying machines having as much fun as the other assembled exotica but at a fraction of the cost.

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