BIKE (UK)

‘He burned out and the back motor grenaded’

- Pip Higham

‘In 1979 ‘Big’ Carl Ahlfeldt came over with his bike, The Orange Crush, to race at Santa Pod. Carl had tried a few jockeys but nobody could ride it. Kenny Annesley asked Carl, “what’s the problem, I could ride that?” Bear in mind this was a double engine Kawasaki with a big nitro methane habit that had already sent a couple of guys back to their trailers shaking. ‘Kenny ‘The Stump’ rode it and dominated Top Fuel Bike, but the Pod was different. On his first qualifier he burned out and the back motor grenaded. No matter, Carl had a spare bullet and within an hour the bike was ready to go. Unfortunat­ely the next qualifier went the same way as the first one, exit motor number two. ‘I was pitted a few yards away and had followed their exploits in America – I desperatel­y wanted to see this bad boy kick ass, as I believe they say over there. I did what I could to organise tools and Carl soon had the two broken motors in pieces and with lots of help he built a good ’un. With the set-up backed off Kenny qualified in top spot and went on to beat Marion Owens (Big Carl’s brother in law) in the final round. I stayed friends with Kenny and his wife Lois and later on that year watched him at the World finals at Gulfport Mississipp­i. “Bring your leathers over Pip,” Kenny barked down the phone, “Y’all don’t mind ridin’ my little Kawa B Gasser do ya?”’

6 9 Sept (FIA European Finals) santapod.co.uk

Ride it yourself (on a Run Wot Ya Brung): Buy horsepower, get straight, clean the tyre, synchronis­e everything, smooth but brutal, head down, feet in, and stay clear of the limiter. What could possibly go wrong? And be prepared for a time ticket at least 1.5 seconds slower than you reckoned. Or you could always go on the Santa Pod website and just buy a ticket.

 ??  ?? And that’s just his qualifying run
And that’s just his qualifying run

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