Local Face: Jack Nelson

Longtrack and Grasstrack rider Jack started his racing career as a Longtrack Grasstrack racer when he was only 9 years old and was attending Wendover Junior school.

Longtrack and Grasstrack are the fastest off road sports in the world, they are run over 4 laps of an oval track made up of mud, grass and shale all mixed together, then graded flat. The races are short and fast and very exciting to watch. The bikes range from 85cc, up to 500cc which Jack is now racing, fuelled by methanol and go from 0-60 in under 3 seconds. They can reach 130 miles an hour and have no brakes – you use your skill and slide the bike broadside around the corners, the fastest man out of 12 wins.

When Jack first started at the age of 9 he struggled at first with other bikes and riders. All his bikes have had to be specially built for him as he was always small for his age, so when he first rode he was only on an 85cc whilst the other boys were racing 100cc, but he soon progressed to another hand built 200cc Honda four stroke, which brought him his first major trophy at Bridgewater in Somerset. Jack then was in the top 6 at nearly every meeting.

It was when we built a one off special 250 JRM that Jack really started to shine. He moved up a class to the inters in which he won the Champion of Chalfont with five straight wins. Next up was the Swindon South of England Championship which he finish 2nd overall for the year. People then started taking note of his skill and speed on his bike and in 2011 was chosen to represent his country in the world championships in Tayak France, up against the best in the world. Jack finished 9th in the world, a great achievement for his first race abroad. He was also picked to ride the world championships the following year. This time it was Vechta Germany; the conditions were appalling and Jack crashed in qualifying injuring his shoulder and arm with a very sick bike and a stay in hospital his world championship was over.2012 started on a very positive note finishing in the top three nearly everywhere he rode. He qualified for the British championships but was the dark horse to win which he duly did with a fantastic 4 out of 5 wins and a 2nd in the last race. He was crowned Senior A Youth British Champion 2012, where he was awarded a cheque for £100 for him to give to the school he attended at that time which was the John Colet, Wendover. Jack was given another opportunity by being invited again to ride for his country where he finished 9th.

Winning the British Championships gave Jack a wild card entry into the British Adult Championships where he made the final but was unable to catch the much faster wiser riders with no less than 6 former British Adult Champions in the Field. A great achievement in his first year’s riding with the adults, and still on his ¾ length hand built frame as he was still not tall enough for a full size frame. 2014 was another good year for Jack, now an established rider in the 250 Adult class. He is ranked no 6 in the country and has some great wins notably the Winbourne Whoppa National meeting, second at Somerset and third in the end of season showdowns.

In 2015 Jack is moving up to the 500cc Adult class which is the premier class of the sport, so another new frame a GM engine. He will try to establish himself in the sport at a higher level, racing at the end of April in Shwarme Germany, where crowds abroad can reach up to 50000 plus, and he is still only 18.

Jack would like to thank all the people that have helped and sponsored him as he couldn’t have done any of this without them: Mick Surman Motorcycles Aylesbury who have been there from the beginning; Sam Arnold Electrical Aylesbury; Timo UK; Rip n Roll; K&B Family Butchers Princes Risborough; Morris oils; BAT Tuning; Rickon Handle bars; FB Raceplates. We would also like to thank the Lionel Abel-Smith Trust which has helped with Jack’s Race Suits in the past. There is a local meeting 26 July at Rectory Farm Puttenman

If anyone would like to Sponsor JNelson Racing we have a package available. For information call 07810 698431.