MAN IN BLACK SUPPORTS GUY MARTIN SPEED RECORD ATTEMPT

Top truck racer, Dave Jenkins, will feature in Channel 4’s Christmas schedule as he and his “MAN in Black” take part in a new programme called “Speed.”

Filmed over the past year, Dave appears in episode one of a new series featuring daredevil motorbike racer, Guy Martin, who tackles various challenges aimed at breaking a series of speed records.

The first episode, to be broadcast on December 29, will highlight the challenge to beat the current British record for a push bike of 110mph

This attempt involved Guy Martin riding the bike close behind the Dave’s racing truck looking to reach a speed of over 120mph on the famous Pendine Sands in Wales.

For Dave and his Jenkins Motorsport team, which are sponsored by Shrewsbury-based Morris Lubricants, this involved a series of engineering challenges. This included altering the MAN truck’s gearing and the addition of an aerodynamic device to the rear of the vehicle. This was to create an area of low pressure for Guy to pedal within to help him go faster.

The first test of their system took place at Bruntingthorpe testing ground in Leicestershire. The former airfield is where another of Dave’s sponsors, ATE Truck and Trailer Sales, part of the AAL Group of companies, has a sales depot.

The result of the very first run left the team thinking the record was definitely on but also showed how dangerous the attempt could be.

Dave said: “I got a call out of the blue one day from a researcher asking if I knew anyone who had a truck capable of doing 120mph, who had engineering experience and who could drive the truck. I explained I could tick all three boxes so then found myself meeting up with Guy Martin who then explained what he was trying to do. It sounded fun and I’m always up for a challenge so we thought we’d give it a crack.

“It’s been educational and exciting to take part and not without some risk. I was also conscious of what could happen if things went wrong with someone cycling so close to the rear of the truck.

“I suggested the historic Pendine Sands for the record attempt and as the programme will show that was a very emotional day. Did Guy break the record? All I’m saying is the programme is worth watching to see the final outcome.

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“Would I try it myself? Definitely not, I prefer driving at 100 miles an hour than attempting to pedal that fast.”

The episode for the programme took 12 months to film and as a result Dave’s truck is seen in two different liveries, all silver at the beginning before being transformed into the “MAN in Black” when the record attempt is made.

Dave was runner up in this year’s British Truck Racing Championship and Champion driver in 2011 season.