Thunder in the Tron

Petrolheads and lovers of all things mechanical came to Hamilton to crank their engines for the 2019 Frankton Thunder.

Now in its fourth year, the event in Commerce St attracted a wide range of classic and modern bikes, cars, steampunk and military vehicles.

There were also a wide range of events including the Thunder Ink Tattoo Show, burlesque, Miss Frankton Thunder retro fashion, live music, stalls and the Ulysses Motorcycle Club child cancer charity run.

Standing out among the machinery was Chris Minnee’s Triumph motorcycle. The Cambridge man installed a Rolls Royce Allison gas turbine engine – more commonly used to propel helicopters – into the bike.

It turned the 140 horsepower motorcycle into a 420Hp,104 decibel monster. The bike, which can run on both aviation fuel or diesel, is not certified to ride on the road and can only be shown at events like the Thunder, he said.

‘‘It’s just a project that I did because I could,’’ Minnee said.

It was not just modified bikes on display. There was also a $1 million Britten motorcycle used by retired GP rider Andrew Stroud from 1994-1997.

Thunder organising committee member Alan Thoresen said the festival’s aim was to raise Frankton’s profile with all money

Crowds, left, flocked to the 2019 Frankton Thunder. Steampunk, right, was a new addition to the Frankton Thunder. Pictured are: Donna Smith, left, Dee Nichols, Trixie Teardrop-Malone, Charmaine McMurchy, Viveke Time and on the stilts is Sandra Jensen.