SPRINT record-breaker Dick Craven is definitely one of those in the age doesn't matter camp.

The 60-year-old from Stockton on the Forest races vintage bikes in the thrilling National Sprint Association championship.

He returned to the adrenaline-fuelled sport three years ago after a break of 30 years. Last season, he broke the classic section record in seven consecutive meetings as he romped to victory and was only denied the overall championship after being stripped of points due to a technical irregularity.

And this year he is hoping to go one better when the new season gets under way.

He said: "I came back to racing for the challenge. It's something to do. You get older and you think 'I'm running out of time'. People say they are going to do this or that but if you put things off, you never will."

Sprint racers reach speeds of up to 115mph by the time they cross the finish line after setting off from a standing start a quarter of a mile earlier.

"My record is 11.5 seconds," said Craven. "You just get used to the speed. You would be better off doing 200mph - speed is nowt these days. You can get cars that do more than 115mph.

"Sprinting is all about setting off. It is won and lost on the start lane. You have got to have a good starting technique because if you don't start well you have got no chance."

The seasoned competitor even shrugs off the danger.

He said: "As long as you know what you are doing, you're all right. It does cross your mind and that's why I've gone back to sprinting rather than road racing or grass track racing because I know if I did that going up hills and all sorts I'd definitely fall off.

"With sprinting, at least it's all in a straight line."

When he's not racing, Craven can be found fixing cars at his garage or doing up classic bikes for his prized collection which is open to the public and has it's own supply of star attractions with several vehicles often used on location for 60s dramas Heartbeat and The Royal.

And his racing bike is one such labour of love. It's a 1953 engine in a Vincent frame and runs only on leaded Bayford fuel.

Craven said: "That engine is the same one I used back in the 1950s on grass track sidecar racing. My passenger then took it and when he got killed, someone else had it and I managed to get it back a few years ago.

"Last year I won the championship but they won't give me it because I had some things in the shockers which should not have been there. I've still broken all the records and I've still got the class win, but they won't let me have the overall one.

"The classic section is for all bikes made up to 1975 so when you consider that Vincent went bust in 1955, I have been giving away more than 20 years to the others! But I have proved you can do it because I have beaten them all.

"This year I will go into the Vintage class which is for bikes up to 1960."

The new season gets under way at Easter when just 11 meetings will be standing in the way of Craven's third title attempt.

Updated: 10:11 Saturday, March 06, 2004