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8th September: In association with American Car Imports we are in place at Santa Pod Raceway to bring you all the news from today's (Wednesday's) Pro Peak Performance Day, the last chance to test before the FIA European Finals.
Our coverage will consist of frequently-updated reports on the on-track action throughout the day, and a photo gallery at the end of the day. The Webster Race Engineering/Nimbus Motorsport webcam will be streaming live video and trackside audio (not commentary) whilst the track is open. Incidentally if you were one of the 222 people who tuned in yesterday to watch the live stream of an empty track then you are very sad but we do appreciate your dedication to Eurodragster.com.
Click here to view our Pro Peak Performance Day coverage, or click on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Stanley's Stocker.
8th September: As well as Sampsa Palos another Pro Stock racer will be making his competitive début at this weekend's FIA European Finals: former UK National Super Gas Champion Conrad Stanley, who is the first UK racer in FIA Pro Stock, made a successful set of first licencing passes at VEIDEC Raceway in Malmö last week.
"It was an excellent experience", Conrad told Eurodragster.com. "This was the second time I have been to Malmö this year; the first was the Wednesday before the Veidec Festival Mantorp when I travelled down with Tommy Leindahl and his team to test their car. The track is a very well-prepared eighth mile although narrow, and both Pro Stock and Pro Mod have been laying down some very stout times there.
"The new car arrived on the Friday evening and we set about familiarising ourselves with it. It soon became apparent that whatever routine we had with the Firebird was of little use to us and so began a very steep learning curve for all the team in both servicing and driving .The team worked under the watchful eye of Tommy Leindahl and his crew Kenta and Rikard who were very helpful and worked tirelessly on both the Grand Am and on Tommy's Cobalt.
"When the car was prepped and ready I was introduced to Conny Christiansson the FIA referee who was there to observe my licencing runs. My first task was to show him that I could pack the parachutes. That done we headed down to the start line. My next test was to do two burnouts one after the other and then drive down the track and wait on the return road still strapped in.
"The first burnout certainly woke me up! I loaded the rpm to 5000, dumped the clutch and hit the throttle...wow, that needle moves quick on the tach in these cars. I went through the gears, released the line lock and rolled out in a controlled burnout. Reversed and same again, stopped on the track then pulled away going through the gears to the return road. Conny arrived at the return road and I then had to an evacuation from the car in under ten seconds. This done I was then blindfolded and had to show that I could reach all the safety devices and exit the car. For my next pass I was told to drive out 100 metres under full power and deploy the chutes at the eighth mile. Watching the video I knew it had gone well as I could hear cheering and clapping after the pass. On Saturday evening we serviced the car ready for Sunday's eighth-mile pass.
"On Sunday the weather was not good to us and even though I was told more than once that in never rains in Sweden, we had the cover on the car three timed in the fire-up road. With the portaloo full I strapped in for the fourth time and carried out my final pass, with a bit of tyre shake and the car moving about I got to the eighth mile, put he chutes out and coasted to the return road. Then I had the longest wait in the world for Conny to turn up. With a smile and a handshake it was happy days. 1200 miles drive back home? Who cares!
"With Conny's signatures on my licencing form it's now back to Santa Pod today to make full quarter mile pass and then wait till Friday for qualifying, gulp!
"Thank You to Lynda for everything, Anna and Rob for flying the flag at Shakey while we were away, Tommy Leindahl for the invitation to come and be a guest with his team for the whole year, to Kenta, Rickard and Stig, to Jimmy Ålund Michael Malmgren for their support and advice at Malmö, and to all the other Pro Stock drivers who have welcomed us."
Krivan's return.
8th September: The 25th NitrOlympX at Hockenheim was a success for returning Top Methanol Funny Car racer Dezsoe Krivan and the Krivan Drag Racing team:
Despite the loss of our data logging system we got through to the semi-finals before the technical gremlins hit us again. But we showed our opponents and spectators that the Krivan Drag Racing Team is still a force to be reckoned with after thirty years! Drag racing is full of ups and downs. At the 2002 FIA Main Event at Santa Pod I ran my first five-second run, then in 2003 the building in which we were based burned down taking our whole operation with it and we had to start from scratch. But nothing beats this high adrenaline sport!
At the beginning of 2010 I became the offical European distributor for DJ Safety USA with the rights to distribute their products in Europe. DJ Safety.eu is an internet-based shop for Motorsport safety equipment. Shortly we will be able to offer recertification of DJ Safety products to SFI specification from our facility in Switzerland.
The Krivan Drag Racing Team is looking forward to the Finals at Santa Pod and we are happy to be back fighting the field of Top Methanol Funny Cars and to welcome our friends and fans in England.
Bad Manners.
8th September: Ex-pat UK Top Alcohol Dragster racer Michael Manners of Eurodragster.com sponsor Cosmo Residences says that his US Nationals weekend went from poor to bad:
We ended up qualifying twelfth after two more qualifying attempts when we smoked the tyres. The first time we didn't know why but we made a few adjustments. When we put the car on nitro after starting it to make our fourth and final qualifying pass the crew knew we had a problem - too much nitro was being blown out of the #7 cylinder. They let me do the burnout and launch in the hope it would work out but fluid on the tyre resulted in smoking the tyres again.
Back in the pits we found an injector stuck open. We replaced it and later in the day went up to make our first elimination round. Again when we put the car on nitro it was obvious we still had problems and we smoked the tyres again.
On Monday we went through the motor again found a few more small things that need some attention and then fired it and ran it on nitro on the jack stands. At least with the limited amount of load we could put on the motor it looks like it may now be OK. This weekend we head for Epping in New Hampshire where we hope to increase our lead of the 2010 IHRA Pro Fuel Championship.
You can check out an IHRA.com article featuring Mike at www.ihra.com/article/6633.html and a great video of a race with Bill Evans at www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDr8A6sKqoA.
Swift snippets.
8th September: The post-Open Sport Nationals points standings in the ACU UK Drag Bike Championships are now available on the King Racing web site at www.kingracing.com.
The official entry form is now available for the final round of the CC Medical Services Junior Drag Bike Championship, which takes place at Shakespeare County Raceway's Family Fun Weekend/Public Track Day on 2nd-3rd October. You can download the form from Shakespeare County Raceway's web site at www.shakespearecountyraceway.com or from the APIRA or Junior Drag Bike Facebook pages. "With the prospect of an even bigger field of Junior bikes the Championship finals has the potential to become a real nail biter!", says Jerry Cookson.
The Dutch Hot Rod Association will again to run their King Street final at Drachten next Friday (17th). "Racers will be racing for a spectacular trip to Vegas to attend the Vegas Nationals and to be treated like a VIP there", says Maikel Gloudemans. "The day will start at 15:00 with regular Run What You Brung and test runs for King Street competitors to set their indexes. The contenders then have to participate in the King Cruise, a streetability test of some twenty miles through the lovely city of Drachten. At 20:00 the King Street eliminations begin and they will continue until dusk (or maybe a little beyond if the schedule demands it). Me(n)tal Enterprizes will try to webcast this event with timing details at www.doyousee.me/DHRA. Text services will also be available for drivers."
VP Racing Fuels' UK distributor and Eurodragster.com sponsor Lee Child will be attending this weekend's FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway. Lee will be walking the pit area and delivering fuel from the Pod Shop to racers' pit areas. "We have C12, C14, C16, SV05, Methanol, Q16, VP Import and C23 in stock", says Lee. "If you need NO2 then the deadline is this evening (Wednesday)". You can call Lee on 07771 590176 or E-Mail laracingparts@gmail.com.
Thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for sending us Version 7 of the official entry list for the VP Racing Fuels National Finals, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-26th September. You can check out the entry list by clicking here. Normal price entry is now closed, entry if accepted will be subject to a penalty fee. Entry forms can be downloaded from the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.
The latest spy picture to arrive at our office in Race Control at Santa Pod (below left) came with the words "What's going on here then?". If you know more, or if you would like to send your own spy picture, then drop us a line at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com.
Santa Pod Raceway's racing surface has been scraped for the majority of its length in preparation for the FIA European Finals. The last piece of scraping was for a few feet forward of the bleach box (above right) and was carried out by Oggie and Darren of Santa Pod.
Nick Griffin's beautiful red Southern Belle1963 Chevy Malibu will be doing double duty at Santa Pod this weekend. Nick G will be racing the car in Super Gas and he will be sharing his pride and joy with returning long-time racer Nick Curtis - best-known for his wild twisting Team Lawbreakers Chevy Bel Air - who will be racing it in Pro ET.
Ian and Laura Turburville are headed for the FIA European Finals with the Help 4 Heroes Junior Dragster and can bring any parts if asked. "I have a brand new MT slick for Top Fuel Bike or Supertwin, Nitro helmets, Diamondback helmets, visors, helmet gaskets, balaclavas, TF gloves, driving shoes, lots of Simpson stuff to clear at half price from CarbonX tops to T-shirts, sweats, mechanics' gloves, ACF50 for winter protection of your chassis, Innotec easy gasket (miracle stuff), SureShot sprayers, rolling suit and helmet bags etc", says Turbo. "We will be pitted at the very far end of the pits next to the tech sheds. Hoping for a dry and exciting event!"
Nobby Hills Racing have announced that Nobby's restored Houndog 1 is to be on static display at the NSRA Hot Rod Drags at Shakespeare County Raceway on 17th-19th September.
King Racing press release.
8th September: Despite providing support crew and tuning advice during this season to the new owners of the former King Racing Puma the team's first foray on track as a competitor took place at the world famous NitrOlympX event at Hockenheim, Germany on the ex Brian Johnson / Jimmy Brantley record breaking and renowned Imperial Wizard Puma (whilst the current owner seeks a new buyer - contact ian@kingracing.com for details).
Despite the Imperial Wizard's proven low six second potential the machine had not turned a wheel in anger for a number of years and was sporting a
different and less aggressive state of tune than when in the possession of its previous owners. So it was with great pleasure that the team recorded a fine
6.84-second pass off the trailer, defying those who thought that almost a year off a race bike, an unfamiliar machine and very soft clutch and fuel settings
would conspire to prevent rider Ian King showing anything like competitive potential.
What was more impressive, however, was that a seized oil and fuel pump drive meant that the historic machine was coasting for more than a third of the run. A full pass would have seen a mid six second timing ticket; so much more was to come. After repairing the damage caused to the engine due to oil starvation after the pump failure the team suffered the misfortune of a random occurrence of a burst blower panel in the burnout for the next run in the Night Show, and subsequent inclement weather meant that was their final chance to run over the weekend.
Despite the early curtailment of the event the team were pleased with their first time out on track with the bike and in recording the quickest Top Fuel Bike run in competition there.
However, the lack of track time at the event meant the team took the decision not to take part in the eighth-mile sprint event scheduled at Mosten Raceday in
Denmark and opted for the Test and Tune day at Santa Pod Raceway, UK on 4th September. With fine and sunny weather the team took to the track with some
confidence and King chose a check out half pass after some concerns with braking efficiency discovered during the burnout. The second pass was on the money
although an aggressive clutch tune for the track conditions saw King on quite a ride as the tyre spun and slewed sideways at mid track. Despite the wild ride King
carded a 6.69/214 to record low ET and highest speed of all vehicles (Pro Cars and Bikes were attending the Test Day).
The team look forward to the FIA/UEM European Finals this weekend where the cream of European drag racing comes together to fight it out on track for the last international event of the season.
King Racing is proud to be associated with the best companies in the business and would like to thank them for their invaluable support and quality products:
MTC Engineering - Supplier of Top Fuel Clutches for the fastest TFB in the world
APE - The world's most innovative manufacturer of aftermarket parts for drag bikes
Worldwide Bearings - The premier source for high performance ceramic bearings
JE Pistons - The world's premier manufacturer of high performance forged pistons
Kibblewhite Precision Machining, Inc - the highest quality valve train components on the market
Image Custom Design - The UK's leading artists in stunning custom paint and murals
Goedhals - Precision specialist gear cutting and engineering
Mickey Thompson Tyres - The best drag race tyres in the world bar none
Goodridge UK - The original and the best in fluid transfer systems
Gates - The world's most trusted name in drive belts, hoses and hydraulics
Vanson Leathers - 30 years producing the best quality track tested motorcycle apparel
Craft Safety Helmets - produce the ultimate helmets for safety and uniqueness in design
Performance Machine - The leader in after market custom wheels, brakes and components
Kent Cams - Specialists in motor sport camshaft manufacture, short runs and one-offs
Pro Alloy - UK's leader in fabrication of alloy racing tanks, intercoolers and radiators
Puma Engineering - Manufacturers of the world's most powerful motorcycle engines
PsycleWorkz - The UK's best custom and race fabricators and innovators
House of Kolor - Manufacturers of the world's most stunning specialist paints
Zodiac - Europe's largest supplier of performance and aftermarket HD parts
MRE - Leaders in trackside support for drag race components and air shifting systems
Customize - Premier sign makers and vinyl sign and design services
NitroShutter - The combined efforts of ace photojournalists Ivan Sansom and Rose Hughes
Outlaws in VW Action.
8th September: The six Supercharged Outlaws who contested the weekend's VW Action at Santa Pod Raceway racked up seven Personal Bests between them, writes Roy Wilding:
Paul Watts ran three PBs and Brian Gandy's best ET went from 8.382 to 7.524 and a best speed of 182.3 mph. Also Sam Freeman ran a 7.638 in Vic Hammond's slingshot, and Ian Hanson ran a 7.330 which is the new class record. Well done Ian. There were also good performances by Lee Gallimore and Dave McKenzie. Well done lads, brilliant show.
The winner at VW Action was Paul Watts, second was Sam Freeman and third was Lee Gallimore. The overall point standings are as follows:
- Paul Watts 140
- Lee Gallimore 125
- Sam Freeman 120
- Dave McKenzie 94
- Brian Gandy 92
- Ian Hanson 87
- Alec Coe 70
Web site updates.
8th September: Our good buddy Jon Spoard has updated his UK Drag Racing Nostalgia web site with pictures from the Mopar EuroNats at Santa Pod Raceway. You can check out Jon's shots at www.ukdrn.co.uk.
Eurodragster.com Photo Editor Roger Gorringe has finally found the time to post a NitrOlympX gallery onto his Nitro Exposure web site at www.nitroexposure.co.uk together with a gallery from the Open Sport Nationals. Both galleries contain many images not published in the Eurodragster.com event coverage. Roger managed to squeeze in the updates in between putting the FIA European Finals event programme to bed, after a marathon rush to finish it since returning from Germany, and getting ready for the event itself.
Eurodragster.com News Editor Tog has updated his Fotopic gallery with the complete set of pictures from the weekend's Run What You Brung, Peak Performance Day and VW Action at Santa Pod Raceway. You can check out Tog's shots at eurodragster.fotopic.net or www.togsdragracing.com.
Bike Weekend update.
7th September: Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall has been in touch to remind racers that Friday of next week, 17th September, is the official closing date for entry to the Extreme Performance Bike Weekend which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 9th-10th October. Entry after Friday 17th, if accepted, will be subject to a late entry fee.
The official entry form can be downloaded from the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.
You can check out Version 1 of the official Extreme Performance Bike Weekend entry list by clicking here.
UEM racers anticipate the Finals.
7th September: With the FIA European Finals only a few days away, Speedgroup and Eurodragster.com approached Pro racers to get their thoughts about the forthcoming race. Yesterday we brought you the thoughts of a number of FIA European Championship racers, and today it is the turn of the UEM European Championship racers.
Hans Olav Olstad (below left) is third in the UEM European Supertwin Championship and is one of three riders with a chance of the Championship:
At Hockenheim we found that the datalogger showed inproper exhaust temperature, so we checked the spark plugs to get some evaluation. We have changed the exhaust temperature sensors and will test before the European Finals at Mosten, Denmark, which attracts many other Supertwin teams. The Championship is still open. With just six points between the top three drivers it's impossible to tell who will be the Champion. The only thing I can promise is we will do our best in the battle for victory. I hope we will be able to finish the race completely and especially that the final round will not be rained off. My toughest competitors in the Championship battle and for the event win are Job Heezen and Lorenz Stäuble and in addition Per Bengtsson for the event win.
Per Bengtsson (above right) was UEM European Supertwin Champion in 2009 and is currently ninth in the 2010 Championship.
How are you preparing for the European Finals?
Per Bengtsson: We are giving the bike some extra attention and checks just as a precaution. In addition the tuning strategy we have planned in advance is based on what we have learnt this season and from our experience from Santa Pod as a track.
What do you hope for performance-wise at the European Finals?
Per Bengtsson: We hope to set a new European record, quicker than 6.45 sec and win the event as a bonus. And of course we wish to outrun the new Champion!
Any major changes to the bike since the last race?
Per Bengtsson: No.
Which riders in your class do you consider the strongest competitors to win the event at Santa Pod?
Per Bengtsson: Lorenz Stäuble is always fast at Santa Pod! It is exciting to watch who will take the title from us. I think it would be fun to have a first time Champion - that is Olstad or Heezen!
Team mates Svein Olav Rolfstad (above left) and Jan Sturla Hegre (above right) are eleventh and seventh in the UEM Supertwin Championship. Our questions were answered by Rolfstad Pro Dragracing team manager Pål Magnussen.
How are you preparing for the European Finals?
Pål Magnussen: Svein Olav and Jan Sturla will participate at a local event in Denmark the weekend before the finals and gain some confidence with good results there.
What do you hope for performance-wise at the European Finals?
Pål Magnussen: Svein Olav's goal is to get some good runs and hopefully to get some answers to all the problems we have experienced with the bike. This is very important for us since it is the last race of the season and we don't want to take all the worries with us into the off-season. Jan Sturla has no worries and just wants to do his best and maybe that will result in a fine overall standing in the UEM Championship.
Any major changes to the bike since the last race?
Pål Magnussen: We have made some changes to the compresor on Svein Olav's bike to see if that makes the bike rev a bit higher. No major changes on Jan Sturla's bike.
Which riders in your class do you consider the strongest competitors to win the event at Santa Pod?
Pål Magnussen: It seems like Olstad, Heezen and Stäuble have what it takes this season, so hopefully it will be a race to the end for the Championship.
Ulf Ögge (below left) is most likely the 2010 UEM Pro Stock Bike Champion, needing only to pass scrutineering at Santa Pod to take the title.
How are you preparing for the European Finals?
Ulf Ögge: All is ready...we are just waiting to leave!
What do you hope for performance-wise at the European Finals?
Ulf Ögge: Our goal is a six-second run - it would be a great end to the season.
Any major changes to the bike since the last race?
Ulf Ögge: Maybe!
Which riders in your class do you consider the strongest competitors to win the event at Santa Pod?
Ulf Ögge: There are seventeen riders on the entry list, almost all have a good chance to be in the final on Sunday!
What are your thoughts on the Championship win?
Ulf Ögge: We look forward to scrutineering and when that is finished the team shall enjoy an ice cold Coke in the bus.
Fredrik Fredlund (above right) is third in the UEM Pro Stock Bike Championship with a chance to end in runner-up spot.
How are you preparing for the European Finals?
Fredrik Fredlund: The PAF Dragracing Team have been going through the bike trying to locate an electrical problem with which we have been struggling the whole season. We hope that we now have figured it out and that is an important factor for us to be able to perform well at the Finals.
What do you hope for performance-wise at the European Finals?
Fredrik Fredlund: We know that we have a strong bike and we can put up some strong numbers. We will definitely go for the win but you never know in this strong field of competitors.
Any major changes to the bike since the last race?
Fredrik Fredlund: Nothing major, only regular service.
Which riders in your class do you consider the strongest competitors to win the event at Santa Pod?
Fredrik Fredlund: Anyone can win this race! You can't count anyone out. We would like to thank our sponsors and our fans out there for supporting us.
Gert-Jan Laseur (below left) is sixth in the UEM European Pro Stock Bike Championship and has a slight chance to finish higher:
After Hockenheim I had a bad feeling about the bike. The datalogger showed that everything was good, but the numbers weren't so good and we slowed down almost 10 kmh for the second run. In the third run there was no timeslip and the logger showed an even slower speed. I took the engine out and the front rod was not good. We changed the crank and all the bearings. Also we found a crack in the gear on the crank and we are changing it. We also did the heads and changed valve springs. We studied a lot on the clutch and the injection and hopefully we made some progress there. Also we changed some ratios in the gearbox and sprockets to make more rpms on the finish line and be faster between 100 and 300 metres. The sixty foot was there, and the speed, but we lose it somewhere in between. The goal for every event is as always, we come to win; we don't mind losing, but in the end we all want to win. Nobody is coming to the Finals and hoping for second or third place, at least I am not. The main thing for me is to leave get out of the 7.3s and go 7.2 or hopefully even faster. In Pro-Stock bike everybody can be the winner, but it seems that Ulf Ögge is very fast and consistent this year. But what about Kenneth Vik, Kalle Lyrén, Anders Abrahamsson, Fredrik Fredlund, Jesper Thiel, Dave Beck, Stavros Svrachnos and many more, they all go faster and faster! Time will tell...
Dave Beck holds the European Pro Stock Bike record and is currently eleventh in the UEM Championship. He won the last ACU UK Championship round at Shakespeare County Raceway:
It's always good to win, but to win with good numbers is better. There was a 10 mph head wind on race day so running a 7.23 into that was very pleasing as all the other bikes were strugglling for speed. We have a good tune-up now to start off the European Finals off, but we will have to go some to beat our first pass at last year's event (7.16). We will try. We now have the new bike all sorted and the motors fresh and we have high hopes for good performance!
Text and translations prepared by Åsa Kinnemar. Pictures courtesy and ©Speedgroup and Julian Hunt
Swift snippets.
7th September: UK Pro Mod racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Graham Ellis will be racing his recently-acquired 'Cuda at this weekend's FIA European Finals after it arrived in the nick of time. "The car turned up on Friday morning", Graham told Eurodragster.com. "We have worked sixteen hour days on it and it should be ready enough. Thanks to Andy Robinson Race Cars for making me a propshaft same-day as well as sorting out other parts to make it possible".
Carole Ismail of Santa Pod Racers Club has asked us to stress that visitors to the commentary team or Eurodragster.com's office at this weekend's FIA European Finals should use the stairs at the spectator bank end of Race Control. Please do not use the stairs at the pairing lanes end of Race Control.
Thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for sending us Version 6 of the official entry list for the VP Racing Fuels National Finals, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-26th September. You can check out the entry list by clicking here. Normal price entry is now closed, entry if accepted will be subject to a penalty fee. Entry forms can be downloaded from the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.
Present and correct.
7th September: UK Wild Bunch racer Chris Hartnell was the recipient of a very special 50th birthday present from partner Claire Meaddows at the Open Sport Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway: a framed painting of their Backdraft slingshot commissioned from drag racing artist Paul Whitehouse.
Paul's latest work depicts Backdraft in a characteristic wheelying pose, but with a bit of artistic licence as Claire had asked for the background to represent Santa Pod Raceway in the early 1970s. "Chris was over the moon with the painting", says Claire. "He loved all the detail, and the light and shading effects, as well as the accuracy of the portrayal of the car. It is already on display in pride of place in our living room.
"Chris would like to thank Paul for a fantastic painting, and highly recommends his work if you are looking for something a bit special and unique. You can contact Paul at pwhitehouse3@aol.com and he will gladly send sample images of his drag racing artwork. Alternately you can telephone Paul on 07813 579876 to discuss your requirements."
Chris was also presented with a handmade metal sculpture of Backdraft which Claire commissioned from Elaine Southworth, of Daddy Cool Racing fame. "Elaine's company is called Cool Engineered Art and it certainly is that", says Claire. "The sculpture depicts a wheelying “Backdraft” in cartoon form, complete with a unique interpretation of the car's canopy, and with valves as the front wheels.
"If anyone is looking for an ultimate birthday or Christmas gift then I recommend that you contact Elaine, as she has loads of incredible ideas and a great sense of humour to interpret a bespoke design, as well as some ready-made sculptures using a variety of engine parts and other metal parts. The quality and detail is amazing. Elaine's web site is at www.coolengineeredart.co.uk. We would like to thank Elaine for the fabulous sculpture, which is now residing in our living room."
Web site updates.
7th September: In the latest instalment of his exclusive Racer Blog presented in association with Alamo Rent-A-Car, Pro Stock Bike racer Kalle Lyrén of the VEIDEC PSB team tells a tale of two gearboxes. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Alamo Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
FIA European Finals racer update.
6th September: Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for forwarding details of the arrangements for this weekend's FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway:
Santa Pod Raceway's gates open at 15:00 this Wednesday (8th). Racers entered for the Pro Peak Performance Day will of course be able to get in earlier.
Signing-on is open between 15:00 and 20:00 on Wednesday, and then from 07:00 on Thursday.
Scrutineering for Sportsman cars commences at 15:00 on Wednesday. Scrutineering then starts for all cars at 07:00 on Thursday and for UEM bikes at 09:00 on Thursday.
The provisional running orders are now available here on Eurodragster.com by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page and selecting the FIA European Finals. Please note that as ever the running orders are provisional and subject to alteration due to weather or track conditions or for any other reason deemed necessary by race officials.
Following the introduction of the Moment of the Day award at the FIA Main Event, Santa Pod Raceway commentator Colin Theobald will again be giving away a bottle of champagne on each day of the FIA European Finals. "We will present the champagne for whatever or to whoever fellow commentator Darryl Bradford and I see from the commentary box as worthy of the prize", says Colin. "As before no rules apply, it could be anything really, but it should be memorable in one way or other. The FIA Main Event winners were John Sleath, Graham Ellis, Johan Lindberg and John Bradshaw, but who will be the lucky - or unlucky - winners this time. Nominations will be announced as they happen, with the winner being announced and presented with the bottle at the start of the following day. The final winner will be announced at the trophy presentation on Sunday."
FIA racers anticipate the Finals.
6th September: With the FIA European Finals only a few days away, Speedgroup and Eurodragster.com approached Pro racers to get their thoughts about the forthcoming race. Today we bring you the thoughts of a number of FIA European Championship racers, with those of UEM racers to follow tomorrow.
Micke Gullqvist (below left) leads the FIA European Pro Modified Championship. He and Johan Lindberg both have 329 points but Micke leads courtesy of a win over Johan:
We had a great event at Hockenheim, sorting the '57 Chevy out and getting it up to speed. After qualifying in second place with a 6.10 after R2B2 teammate Mel Troxel, we cut through the field in eliminations taking out Kuno in first round on Saturday with a 6.11 and the Lindberg Brothers, a very important race for Championship points, with a 6.12. In the semi we had Mats Eriksson, who ran a fine 6.09 in the quarter finals. We knew that anything less than a 6.0 was not going to get the job done, so we just had to step it up. Mats cut a great light, but I felt the Chevy pulling harder than ever when it started to get out of shape and I was pretty much sideways for a while. I saw Mats on my right side and for a split second I was thinking of getting out of it, but then it started to straighten and I was able to pass him just before the finish line running a 6.04 to his 6.08. That was one of the most exciting races in a long time for me.
We are now preparing for the finals by just going over things and checking the equipment. As it looks, we will race the Lindberg Brothers for the Championship at the European Finals, but anything can happen of course. Meanwhile check out our R2B2 team mates, Melanie Troxel, Ray Commisso and Roger Burgess who are racing at the US Nationals at Indy.
The Lindberg Brothers (Johan above right) are second in the FIA European Pro Modified Championship on equal points with Micke Gullqvist. Crew Chief Jonnie Lindberg answered our questions.
How are you preparing for the European Finals?
Jonnie Lindberg: We have renovated the engine which broke in Hockenheim and we have gone over the car so everything is in the best possible state. "We love this shit" as we are used to saying!
What do you hope for performancewise at the European Finals?
Jonnie Lindberg: Our goal is a five-second pass. 5.95 would be nice!
Any major changes to the car since the last race?
Jonnie Lindberg: A completely renovated engine.
Which drivers/riders in your class do you consider the strongest competitors to win the event at Santa Pod?
Jonnie Lindberg: Melanie Troxel, Micke Gullqvist, Urban Johansson and Mats Eriksson. We will just go for it. We feel we know the track at Santa Pod well and so we can win, but we have tough competition from many other teams so it is not going to come easy!
Eurodragster.com sponsor Marco Maurischat (below left) is currently fourteenth in the FIA European Pro Modified Championship:
This time we will do nothing special to the car or the engine before the Finals. We prepared the engine like we do every time coming home after an event. We took everything apart, if needed change parts, order some stuff from the USA etc. This year we have done some promotions and exhibitions here in Germany for NGK. For this, everything had to be back together last weekend where we had the car on display near Rostock.We had to perform some fire-ups there, so everything had to be ready to fire up the engine. Now the trailer is loaded and we are getting the Wednesday ferry from the Netherlands to England.
So far our season has not been as good as we hoped for. After our good first year in 2009 with a 6.19 at the European Finals at only our fourth race weekend and eleventh place in the Championship, our goal was a top ten finish in the Championship in our second season. Things have progessed the other way round so far and we have had many gremlins in the engine this year, and that has kept us from running better numbers. Things changed a bit on Saturday at Hockenheim where we were running better ETs for the first time. We did four better runs in a row with a losing 6.26 in the first round against Andy Robinson.
To get back into the top ten could be unrealistic, but hopefully we can go a round, set a new personal best and, most important, have good weather and have some fun! Right now for me there are four racers who could win the Finals. In the end, anything can happen but I would say Melanie, Michael Gullquist, Mats or even Andy could be the winner on Sunday. Or maybe I will storm through the field?
Peter Schöfer (above right) is currently fourth in the FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Championship but has a chance of third place. Wolfgang Schöfer answered our questions on Peter's behalf.
How are you preparing for the European Finals?
Wolfgang Schöfer: We are working on our car to make it as good as possible for the Finals and doing work for customers. We do our best to prepare the car but there is no fuel check, blower overdrive check and so on at the race track. We would welcome more rigorous checks to ensure that all the cars are OK according to the rules.
What do you hope for performance-wise at the European Finals?
Wolfgang Schöfer: We want to get as many points as possible and to do as little damage as possible to our car.
Any major changes to the car since the last race?
Wolfgang Schöfer: It's hard to make major changes on a tight budget.
Which drivers in your class do you consider the strongest competitors to win the event at Santa Pod?
Wolfgang Schöfer: Everyone.
Esko Raisvuo (below left) is ninth in the FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Championship, but is leaving his car in Finland and flying over to watch the race.
How are you preparing for the European Finals?
Esko Raisvuo: The plan is to fly over and consult, since our own stuff is parked more or less temporarily.
What do you hope for performance-wise at the European Finals?
Esko Raisvuo: I think if weather is OK and the track prep is superb, someone will run 5.2 in TMD - possibly Fred Hanssen.
Any major changes to the car since the last race?
Esko Raisvuo: Our car is race ready, but parked because I am worried about the rule changes about which we were informed at the Main Event. These rule changes about fuel percentage mean that it is not possible to run our engine combination any more with the idea of getting into the top of a tight field. After all, I'm there to win rounds, not struggle with the bump spot. 94% nitro means that we must buy all new engines and the latest evolutions from USA at a very high cost.
Which drivers/riders in your class do you consider the strongest competitors to win the event at Santa Pod?
Esko Raisvuo: Timo will win the Championship. Dennis made the mistake of all time at Hockenheim with a deep stage.
Arvid Grødem (above right) is currently third in the FIA European Top Methanol Funny Car Championship.
How are you preparing for the European Finals?
Arvid Grødem: We are not making any special preparations for the European Finals as such other than the usual things we normally do prior to a FIA round. Saying that we plan to change back to our primary set of cylinder heads when we get to Santa Pod as one cylinder head was damaged at Hockenheim and was sent for repair with the Lindahl twins. We have experienced a lot of valve train problems this year culminating in two valve adjustment screws breaking straight off at the Hockenheim race causing severe damage to the motor and to the body (again...third time this year). The Sunoco/Westside Racing crew did a tremendous job to get everything back together in order to be ready for Sunday's eliminations. Hopefully, we have sorted the mechanical problems now and then it is just down to the pilot to put some great numbers on the scoreboards at Santa Pod.
What do you hope for performance-wise at the European Finals?
Arvid Grødem: Performancewise we know that we can put on far better ETs and speed than we have been able to show so far this season. When - hopefully at the European Finals - we can get the Sunoco Express Mustang to go the entire 1320 under full power, we should be able to better our PB which is 5.80/397 km/h. The ultimate goal is always to win!
Any major changes to the car since the last race?
Arvid Grødem: No major changes other than changing what was damaged at Hockenheim.
Which drivers in your class do you consider the strongest competitors to win the event at Santa Pod?
Arvid Grødem: I would say that our good friend Dan Larsen must be first in line when the favourites are listed. However, strange things have happened at the Finals before so the win is up for grabs by most of the drivers in the class. In the Championship Dan Larsen and Jürgen Nagel are in front of me so I guess the chance to be the overall Champion is more of a theoretical exercise. Saying that, I can repeat what I said above, strange things have happened at the Finals before.
Dan Larsen (below left) leads the FIA Top Methanol Funny Car Championship by two points from Jürgen Nagel.
How are you preparing for the European Finals?
Dan Larsen: We will test run at the Pro Peak Performance Day.
What do you hope for performance-wise at the European Finals?
Dan Larsen: As it has been a strange season without Ulf Leanders and Leif Andréasson, a weak field in Finland and rain interrupting several events, the most important to us is that we run consistently and in the low 5.70s close to the 5.60 barrier. Winning the Championship does not feel as important as running quickly.
Any major changes to the car since the last race?
Dan Larsen: No changes since Hockenheim.
Which drivers in your class do you consider the strongest competitors to win the event at Santa Pod?
Dan Larsen: Actually all the drivers in the class have potential to run quick, so it can be anyone really.
Michael Malmgren (above right) holds a 76-point lead over Micke Callin in the FIA European Pro Stock Championship.
How are you preparing for the European Finals?
Michael Malmgren: By testing some last weekend at Meca Raceway, so that we have a good set up for the Finals as usually the track at Santa Pod is good. We also try new stuff in the hope of improvements. Why go testing when we only need to make a good qualifying run at the Finals to gain enough points to be out of reach and take the title? We want to go to Santa Pod and be fast, and show we are worth a top spot or even better the title of Champion. Some say it's a done deal but it's not; anything can happen, but we hope to have closed the door on Friday night after the first day of qualifying. By testing there is always a small risk something can happen, but I feel confident with my car and team and even if we didn't go testing we still had some sponsor obligations for Lahega with passenger runs on Wednesday. So we will work very hard to the very end, as we have the whole season, and it has paid off with very good numbers and consistent runs at every race - something we didn't have last year. Records don't win Championships but consistent runs do, but of course it's the icing on the cake to take the record which right now is held by Jimmy Ålund and that is stout, hard to beat!
What do you hope for performance-wise at the European Finals?
Michael Malmgren: I hope we can run our first 6.6 run at over 330km/h. We know we have the power to do it, it's just a matter of how well we can take care of that power.
Any major changes to the car since the last race?
Michael Malmgren: As Hockenheim had a very bad start line it did require a different set-up from Santa Pod, so we are changing quite a lot on our Bickel GTO.
Which drivers in your class do you consider the strongest competitors to win the event at Santa Pod?
Michael Malmgren: Anybody, as everyone is running fast and there are no slow cars any more in Pro Stock. But if I have too pick the most likely then of course Jimmy ålund who I know will give everything to make up for his semi-final defeat at Hockenheim, but Micke Callin can also cause an upset.
Jonas Engdahl is contesting his first season in FIA Pro Stock and is currently ninth in the European Championship.
How are you preparing for the European Finals?
Jonas Engdahl: I am preparing mentally, and we also discussed what was good and bad about the last race in Hockenheim.
What do you hope for performance-wise at the European Finals?
Jonas Engdahl: To be the first Mopar Pro Stock in Europe to run a six and, naturally, to win the race.
Any major changes to the car since the last race?
Jonas Engdahl: We have gone over the car, focusing on everything pretty much.
Which drivers in your class do you consider the strongest competitors to win the event at Santa Pod?
Jonas Engdahl: Jimmy Ålund.
Text and translations prepared by Åsa Kinnemar. Pictures courtesy and ©Speedgroup, Julian Hunt, and Peter Schöfer Racing
Post-Finals FIA/UEM prizegiving.
6th September: Speedgroup and Trakbak Racing are pleased to announce that there will be an FIA and UEM prize-giving party immediately after the FIA European Finals this Sunday (12th September). Racers, their teams and race and club officials are all very welcome and the ticket price has been set at a very reasonable level.
The party will take place in the VIP marquee next to the fire-up road at 20:00 with the trophy ceremony to commence at 21:30. Trophies will be presented to the Top Three in the FIA and UEM European Championships.
Tickets, which include a buffet but not drinks, are £10 per person and must be ordered in advance of the evening. They cannot be bought at the door. To order your tickets please E-Mail Speedgroup Co-ordinator Åsa Kinnemar by tomorrow evening (Tuesday) with your team name, number of tickets you wish to order, and a mobile phone number. Alternately from Thursday morning tickets can be bought from the Pod Shop in the pits where pre-ordered tickets should also be collected and paid for by Friday evening.
If you have any queries then you can ask in the Pod Shop or contact Åsa on-site at Santa Pod in Micke Gullqvist's/Melanie Troxel's pit or call +46 705 315 332).
Hall of Fame to present on Sunday.
6th September: There will be another trophy ceremony at this weekend's FIA European Finals as the British Drag Racing Hall Of Fame in association with US Automotive will be concluding this year's inductions into the Hall Of Fame on the start line at Santa Pod during Sunday. Two 'Bootsie' awards will be presented, one to Harold Bull and one to Al O'Connor.
"What can you say about Harold Bull", says BDRHoF Chair Stu Bradbury. "A brilliant engineer who campaigned his Mini-engined Stripduster slingshot from 1965 to his retirement in 1974. Built completely from scratch, the car went from mid-sixteens at 80 mph to low nines at over 150 mph. Harold won over forty trophies and broke several world and strip records in the UK, Germany and Sweden. To get an idea of Harold's expertise in engine building take a look at his web site at www.stripduster.co.uk.
"Al O'Connor started drag racing in 1970 and from his first appearance on the famed Santa Pod quarter mile became an instant crowd favourite with his wild runs and wheels-up launches. As we all know Al continuescampaigning his Chevy-powered Pop Al's Gasser to this day."
You can find out more about the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame on its official web site at www.britishdragracinghof.co.uk.
Cannon digs deep.
6th September: After the SPRC Summernationals UK Supertwin racer Chris Hannam and his team went through his run data and decided that he needed to invest again:
After numerous discusions we have updgraded our Mallory mags with state-of-the-art MSD Harley ignitions. This in its self was a major task for space alone with the added problem of needing a bigger battery pack which we did not need with the mags. On top of this we have a new 18 gpm Waterman pump with a new style BDK valve. The BDK will be controlled by an AMS1000 to start with but discussions are underway with Sebastian Domingo at NLR to get the latest AMS2000 when it is released at the PRI Show in December. To say that I have been busy machining is an understatment. We have another rear drive pulley and top hat, new fuel distribution blocks, mounts for the MSD etc. It has been a big task and we weren't sure if we were going to make it to the track. Well, I can confirm that the super team has delivered and we will be at Santa Pod.
Most of this I have to say is down to Neil Midgley for getting the motors rebuilt and fitting and wiring the full bike. Thanks also go to Roger Upperton for modifying the liners and for machine work to the valves and pistons, and lastly to Mike Vickers for the loan of the AMS1000 and Al Smith for the normal input and parts etc.
So we are almost ready to go to the track for the biggest meeting of the year and to see all of our friends who have been having fun racing round Europe while we have been busy in the workshop. Let's see if we can put a tune-up in all of these new parts and finally realise the potential this bike has to offer; it now has the best of everything and only knowledge stops us from ripping off some good six-second passes so let's hope for good weather and a bit of luck.
Finally I would like to anounce that we will be assisted at this event by Lucas Oil Products and we hope that we can carry this on to next year too. Whilst talking to Andy Cater at the Main Event and telling him of our bearing issues Andy gave us some Lucas oil to try. This turned out to be a good step forward as we did see better results from this oil and special additive. We met with Les Downey of Lucas Oil UK and Tom Bogner of Lucas Oil in the USA. Tom is the guy who actually blends the race oil so talking to the main man was a great insight. Tom and Les were very interested in our development and they could see the results, we kept in touch with them all weekend and from this Les has kindly agreed to support us this weekend. So at the Finals we will we will be wearing the shields of Lucas Oil Products and we thank them for their valued support and of course Andy Carter for the introduction.
Mott comes out on top.
6th September: UK Supertwin Gas racer and Open Sport Nationals winner Chris Mott said that he had a real up and down weekend which ended on a high point:
First qualifying session of the weekend and a good launch but the bike seemed to loose boost at about 330 feett and ended the run on a 9.97. In the second and third qualifiers the bike still seemed flat, resulting in high nines. After checking the boost recordings we could see that pressure was down so we pulled apart the intake side of the turbo looking for leaks, nothing to be found. After a bit more head-scratching we took then exhaust side of the turbo off and noticed that the waste gate wasn't sealing properly. So after a few modifications, with thanks to Pete Harrison for his help, we managed to get that sealed. Ran the engine up Sunday night to test it and the front exhaust header pipe snapped! After a quick scoot round the pits we found that Jerry Collier had his welding kit with him. So at eight o'clock on Monday morning Jerry made a great job of welding the pipe back together for us, thanks Jerry (his Pro Stock Bike is looking great in the new Projoint colours too).
So Monday morning and the bike all back together in time for the first round, we got a 1.31 sixty foot and a 9.12 ET, both bests for the bike since fitting the turbo! A 9.25 in the semi and a 9.26 to win the final was a great finish to the weekend.
Thanks to John and the crew at Shakespeare County Raceway for the track prep and to my Super Crew of Yvonne and Gavin Cupit for all their hard work. A final thanks to Keith Baker at Classic Cycle Works for another great paint job this year (it got some people thinking) and to Steve at Motorshack for his help with the fuel.
Alamo JD Challenge standings.
6th September: Thanks to Andy Wheeler for passing us the post-Open Sport Nationals standings in the 2010 Alamo Rent a Car Junior Dragster Challenge, which will award the best combined RT/against-index packages at the end of the season:
For more information about the 2010 Alamo Rent a Car Junior Dragster Challenge, check out our news item Alamo backs Junior Dragster Challenge of 1st April.
©Eurodragster.com
Don't forget that Alamo Rent A Car are offering 10% off car hire plus an additional 5% discount on pre-pay. By using a special web link, cars can be hired at a preferential rate from any one of 8,800 worldwide locations. So whether you are a racer needing a hire car for the FIA European Finals, an official headed for a meeting overseas, or a fan going racing in the USA then this deal is for you. As if that wasn't enough Alamo Gold, available on all rentals in the USA and Canada, includes everything you need for a stress-free rental and only costs from £30 per week on top of the fully inclusive rates. Alamo Gold includes unlimited mileage, Collision Damage Waiver, Liability Protection ($1 million liability coverage), airport fees, state/local taxes and surcharges, a tank of fuel, and additional drivers.
For more details, check out the Eurodragster.com News update of Monday 22nd February, or to book your discounted hire car check out www.alamo.co.uk/dragster.
Pre-Finals Test Weekend coverage.
5th September: Eurodragster.com will be at Santa Pod Raceway this weekend to bring you coverage of the pre-FIA European Finals Test Weekend in association with American Car Imports.
The plan is for end-day reports and end-day galleries on both days. In addition the Webster Race Engineering/Nimbus Motorsport webcam will be streaming live video and audio on both days so long as the track is open.
Click here to view our Test Weekend coverage, or click on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
A Syko in Belgium.
5th September: Graham Sykes has been invited to take his nine-second Syko V8 drag bike with a twist
to the Eurodrag Full Throttle Internationals at Brustem in Belgium on 25th-26th September. The unique bike, including the
carbon fibre bodywork, was entirely put together by Graham who together with wife Diane also crews on Roger Goring's
Firestorm Jet Funny Car. "It's going to be real fun taking Syko to put on some demonstration passes at this
landmark meeting", says Graham.
"Syko is an old girl really. She has been kicking about since 1995 having made its début in a drag racing demonstration on the Douglas seafront on Mad Sunday at the Isle of Man TT. Since then the bike has mainly run at NSA sprint events. It has had many guises with several engines, the biggest being a 5000 cc, 450 bhp V8. More recently the engine has been downsized to a 4000 cc TVR Tuscan engine with mainly Small Block Chevy aftermarket internals giving 400 bhp on Avgas.
"The bike made its début on three wheels three years ago having had a complete rebuild after a comprehensive engine blow-up - the only engine part to come out unscathed being the carburettor. It was back in action after the lay-up at the Festival of 1000 Bikes at Mallory Park running a couple of demos alongside Steve Carey on the Purple Princess, John Hobbs on the Hobbit, and Chris Illman on the Methamon outfit.
"Erwin Raets, the organiser of the Brustem event, says that the European fans love to see anything different and the Syko is certainly that!"
Swift snippets.
5th September: UK Funny Bike racer Steve French tells us that he is rebuilding his Kawasaki head and cannot find his pack of shims. "Does anyone have a collection of Kawasaki Z or Vortex shims which I can use to get the head finished?", says Steve. If you can help then please drop Steve a line at steve@frenchinjection.co.uk.
Thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for sending us Version 5 of the official entry list for the VP Racing Fuels National Finals, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-26th September. You can check out the entry list by clicking here. Normal price entry is now closed, entry if accepted will be subject to a penalty fee. Entry forms can be downloaded from the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.
We have two spy pictures for you today. The first (below left) came with the words "Another Nostalgia flopper in progress?"...
...whilst the second came with the words "Cheers dad". If you know more, or if you would like to send your own spy picture, then drop us a line at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com.
Per their policy of selling what they have used successfully, Eurodragster.com sponsor Andy Robinson Race Cars are dealers for Jeff Burnett's JBR carbon fibre blower hats (below left). "At the moment we have a couple in stock, one suitable for Pro Mod and one suitable for PSI blowers on Funny Cars", says Bob Roberts. "Since we'd rather sell them than have them in stock over winter we're offering a well discounted price so call Kate on 01256 880589 if you're interested. We can bring them to the Finals next week. We also have in stock some S + J storage units for nozzles and injectors (below right). They are remarkably easy to lose or damage and these storage blocks make organisation and preservation easy. There are two different blocks, one for jets and the other for nozzles and the are £30 each or £50 for a pair. Once again we will have them at Santa Pod next week. Of course we will be racing at the Finals although Andy tells me that he will be taking it easy to get to the end of the season without the damage we've seen at earlier meetings. I guess that will last until the first stage light goes on."
Rhonda Cohen, who is writing a PhD about thrill-seeking, would be pleased to hear from any racer who would be willing to undertake a Reaction Time test on her laptop at next week's FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway. "I plan to be at the Finals on Friday and Saturday", says Rhonda. "If anyone is interested then please E-Mail me at r.x.cohen@mdx.ac.uk". There is also still time for racers to take part in Rhonda's questionnaire about thrill-seeking which you can reach via Rhonda's web site at www.sportpsych.co.uk.
End of season review.
5th September: UK Pro ET racer Paul Baynton says that his season went up in smoke in his first pass at Shakespeare County Raceway last weekend:
We scored no points at Easter, but then we came back with three finals in a row reaching the rained off final at the Springspeed Nationals and winning the FIA Main Event and Summernationals, which put us on top of all three Championships. I felt we were on a roll but I soon came down to Earth with a bang.
At the end of the first run at SCR the Capri filled up with oil smoke. I coasted to the top of the track and parked awaiting a tow back to the pits. Angie Hudson very kindly towed me back with their quad. Initially we couldn't see anything wrong but finally found a small piece of valve seal on top of the head. I put a call out for some valve seals and received a couple of sets from Malcolm Motler and Jon Turner. Rick McCann and Carla Pittau lent me a valve spring removal tool and we went in search of the broken seal. Unfortunately what we uncovered was a broken valve guide and our weekend was over.
When I got home on Monday evening I started to strip the motor until it got too dark to see. I pulled the head off Tuesday morning only to discover the guide had broken in two. The valve had made a mess of the seat and the two halves of the guide had made a good job of beating up the head. The next thing I looked for was a reason why. Much swearing and cursing followed when I discovered three out of four pistons on that bank were in the wrong cylinders! The intake valves lined up with the exhaust cut outs on the pistons and therefore the valves had been digging into the tops of the pistons. When I lifted the other head off one piston was in the wrong cylinder. I bought the engine second-hand and trusted that it had been freshened properly, a mistake I will never make again. The problems I had at Easter unfortunately did not highlight the problem as the heads did not need to be removed therefore the issue went unnoticed.
My 2010 season is over. I need a new Brodix head and will likely need to replace lifters, push rods and rockers as well as having the pistons checked and repositioned. As soon as I can afford it I'll be passing the engine to Dave Milam, an engine builder I trust; at least this time I know the motor will be right. Thanks to Rick and Carla for their offer which I had to turn down and to everyone else who offered help.
Palos holds Osterberg's seat.
4th September: Mikko Osterberg writes that the Osterberg
Racing Pro Stock will have a new driver at next week's FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway:
"Sampsa Palos will be driving our Jenkins-powered Cobalt in his first FIA Pro Stock race", says Mikko. "His outstanding performance at the DEFA FHRA Finals convinced us that we should travel to England and check our performance against the top European racers.
"Special thanks to those who helpped us to make it possible - Richard Sundblom, Eero Knihtila, Toni Nystrom and Tami Brander - and of course thanks to our sponsors elsamar.com, T-Taxi, TorreTeam, Meidan Costa Blanca, KPJ-Kone, CC-Company, Stenstrom Oy, J-Force, Sisuste.fi, Vamos Oy, JJ-Putkigroup, Hiekkaharjun Kuormaus, Tammer Diesel Oy, AA-Speedshop, Taxi J.Sampi, Taksiautoilija J.Orre!"
Swift snippets.
4th September: Ex-pat UK Top Alcohol Dragster racer Michael Manners of Eurodragster.com sponsor Cosmo Residences says that day one of qualifying at the US Nationals was a high and low. "We qualified second in the first session with a 5.369", says Mike. "We ran after Top Fuel for our second session. The air and track were killer; most cars stepped up, some big time. We didn't, we lost a cylinder at the hit and it stayed out till half track. We slowed to a 5.41 but increased our speed due to the car hauling on the top end. We are now tenth. We are scheduled to run in the heat of the day today but we hope to pick up a spot or two" You will be able to stay in touch with Mike's progress courtesy of our Drag Race Central colleagues at www.dragracecentral.com.
Gibb's bit of Rough.
3rd September: It has been nearly two and half years since Dave Gibbons returned the Rough Diamond altered to the UK from Austria. Its return to the track has taken much longer than intended but things are now taking shape at a pace.
"We made a good start initially, but soon after we got the car home my wife Alli was diagnosed with breast cancer", says Gibb. "Needless to say priorities were somewhat changed at that point! Thankfully Alli has made a full recovery but the episode made a huge impact on our time and finances, subsequently funds became tight and I soon realised that while I could finish the chassis I wasn't going to be able to afford a motor for it and my enthusiasm dwindled. Fortunately help was waiting in the wings.
Dave and Alli compete in sprint racing, currently in a Formula 3 Dallara, and have enjoyed a great relationship with Paul Marston since meeting him and
his team at the Brighton Speed Trials. Paul's licence wasn't accepted for sprints, Dave was in the right place at the right time with the right licence, he
jumped in the saddle of Grumpy's Dodge and has been a small part of PMR since. Dave told Paul about his engine dilemma, and before he knew
it Paul had delivered all the parts to build a 468 ci Big Block Chevy to Dave's workshop with the instruction "Put it together and you can borrow it". This
was the spark needed to get the project back on track.
Paul Marston adds "Dave Gibbons is one of drag racing's true gentlemen with integrity, passion, dedication and bravery. Previously we have been honoured to have both Dave and Alli drive Paul Marston Racing cars at both the Brighton Speed Trials and in the UK National Drag Racing Championship. To help him complete his journey to recreate his awesome altered Rough Diamond is a way of repaying just some of the selfless acts of help which Dave has given PMR over the years. Everyone at PMR cannot wait to see Dave make a pass again."
Initially the plan was to restore Rough Diamond to its original self, but it soon became clear that so much work would need to be done to the frame to make it pass tech that it was easier to build a duplicate which Dave has done and, at the suggestion of Jon Webster, in chromoly to Funny Car spec. While the original car ran a small block on nitrous, this was not going to be the best way to go to be competitive in Super Comp or Super Pro ET. As Dave points out, "The car was always going to have to be as quick as it was when I last raced it in 1984, but racing has changed. A Small Block on nitrous isn't consistent, so to go Big Block was the only common-sense choice". Consequently, Rough Diamond is going to be like the broom with two new heads and three new handles, so rather than a restoration it's now more of a recreation. "Our approach is now to imagine how the car would have evolved had I continued to race it", says Dave. "Race cars change over time and this is probably how it would have come out, but I'm using as many parts from the original as possible. Some compromises have to be made of course; for instance, in order to use the original air box I'm using a 4150 carb rather than a Dom."
Tony Morris has also been an integral part of getting Rough Diamond racing again. Tony bought the car from Dave in 1984 and campaigned with it
across Europe; he now lives in Florida where he works for carburettor specialist BLP and continues to race a dragster. Tony, along with sister Andrea Kloss, were
instrumental in finding the car languishing in Austria. Tony visited Dave's workshop recently and says "It was great to see Rough Diamond coming back
together during my visit. After I bought the car from Dave in 1984 he helped me to run it, carried out chassis upgrades, and built me an alcohol injected motor.
We had a lot of fun with that car and a lot of success in Europe. I'm really pleased to be part of its return and I can't wait to see it run again". Tony's drag racing
experience now substantially outweighs Dave's and he will help out in an advisory capacity as well as in the carburetion department.
While Rough Diamond won't now be out in anger until next season the frame is nearly done, the motor is built, the body is painted and the lettering perfectly recreated by Pro-Sign's Neil Melliard. "Dropping the painted and lettered body back on the frame for the first time was a surprisingly moving experience", says Gibb. "It was like stepping back twenty-seven years."
Alongside Paul Marston Racing, Rough Diamond will be enjoying support from Cygnet Business Solutions, vehicle turntable specialists Hillis-Frader and wheel furniture specialist Mister Tee's Nutz 4 U. There will be a new Rough Diamond web site soon, but in the meantime footage of Rough Diamond in the early 1980s can be found on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdZXshiTyaE.
Dave would like to take the opportunity to thank Paul Marston, Tony Morris, Crew Chief Dick Hogben, Maurice Takoor, Neil and Mandy Melliard, Andrea Kloss, Jon Webster and Alli Gibbons for their advice, help and encouragement.
Arise, Sir Michael...
3rd September: Ex-pat UK Top Alcohol Dragster racer Michael Manners of Eurodragster.com sponsor Cosmo Residences, who runs in NHRA and IHRA in the USA, has been fighting tyre shake this season but some work on the chassis has done wonders:
We sent car to be back-halved as we knew it was twisted. We were told the front half was worn out so both were done and we have basically a new chassis. Since the chassis renovation we have competed in Pro Fuel at two IHRA Nitro Jams which each consist of two races.
We had no chance to do any shakedown passes prior to the first race and blew the tyres off at both hits. On day two we won the Ironman. On day one of the second Nitro Jam we set low ET for the class at 5.29 and were runners-up in the Championship round. We did not back up our low ET record but Bill Evans backed up his run, and he went to bed with a new IHRA record of 5.30. On day two we again lowered our ET and with the 5.29 as back-up reset the Pro Fuel record at 5.27 together with a new speed record of 275 mph. We went on and won the Ironman. You can see a report at www.ihra.com. We are now #1 in the IHRA Championship by nineteen points - their web site is missing the twenty points for a record. We could end up IHRA Pro Fuel Champion for the year. Can you put a good word in for me to Charlie and Liz? I wouldn't turn down a knighthood, after all they give them out for things like cycling and swimming don't they.
Our last three outings have netted us a divisional Wally and two Ironman trophies which makes me feel good about our prospects in Indy this week. It looks like the air will be good at Indy this weekend so fingers crossed that not only will we make the final as we did last year but that we will actually bring home a big Wally.
Top Alcohol action starts at Indy today; you will be able to stay in touch with Mike's progress courtesy of our Drag Race Central colleagues at www.dragracecentral.com.
Straightened out by an Eriksson.
3rd September: Lena Perés writes that one of FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Championship leader and Eurodragster.com sponsor Urs Erbacher's chassis is undergoing surgery at the Borlänge workshop of ME Racing Service:
This is how LG treated Urs Erbacher's chassis today and what now is left of it. LG was very happy afterwards: "It was fun to destroy" was his smiling comment. And he did look satisfied. But nevertheless it's a good feeling that the top driver in Europe prefers to use our knowledge here in Sweden instead of handing over his kit to the USA. Thanks very much for that confidence Urs, it makes us proud.
The part which is now gone wasn't pretty. One side was winding like a snake and the front end was off-centre by several centimetres. No wonder that that car didn't behave at the track. Hopefully that is all going to be fixed in the next few weeks. But before then we have a race meeting to attend so we'll see you all at Santa Pod and we wish everyone there good luck.
Shamus heads for the sevens.
3rd September: After a long lay-off, UK Supertwin Fuel racer Shaun Rodman and the AFB Racing team arrived at Shakespeare County Raceway at the weekend full of anticipation. The clutch had undergone some major surgery and fears of a leaking rear cylinder appeared to be put to bed. Team member Nick Saunders writes:
Things didn't get off to the best of starts with a primary drive belt breaking on the first run of the weekend, and the rear cylinder appeared to be showing signs of a leak. The rest
of Saturday was then spent leak down testing and investigating the broken belt. Both issues were solved and we were ready for Sunday. The weather was the winner on the Sunday,
with a very windy start to the day. We finally made it to the pairing lanes at around midday. Around ten minutes before we were due to run, the heavens opened and we found ourselves
seeking refuge in a forty-foot container behind the start line (thanks to the crew for that). Once the weather cleared up we returned to the line, the result being a great launch but tyre went
up in smoke at around 300 feet.
On studying the video footage, along with discussions between Shaun and the team, it was decided to take some weight off the clutch and soften things up for on Monday so as not to overpower the track. The result on Monday was a first run of 8.50/160 followed by an excellent one-hour turn-round by the team and an 8.32/155. Back-to-back runs have given Shamus and the rest of the crew a lot of confidence coming into the National Finals. Hopefully the power taken out of the bike this weekend can be reinstated to get the bike well down into that low seven-second bracket. See you at the Pod!
Euro Serie Top Gas review.
3rd September: The penultimate round of Euro Serie Supertwin Top Gas
took place last weekend at the Drag Day Finals at Hoskovice in the Czech Republic, writes event winner and Champion-elect Herman Jolink:
The track is an airfield forty kilometres north-east of Prague, with fine concrete and a lot of good traction. We had some raindrops now and again but the concrete dried quickly in the sunshine. After three rounds of qualifying:
- Otto Knebl CZ on 1400 Kawasaki with NOS 8.393/263
- Herman Jolink NL on Ducati 1198 RS (1266) 8.507/256
- Jan Kouba CZ on Susuki with NOS 8.677/251
- Milos Bernatek CZ on Suzuki with NOS 11.864/194
- Pavel Bajer CZ on Suzuki with NOS 25.106/25
Final: Herman Jolink NL 8.362/258 beat Otto Knebl CZ no time - shut off before crossing the centre line. RTs Jolink 0.112 and Knebl 0.246.
The final round is an eighth-mile sprint at this weekend's Mosten Race Days in Denmark. If all goes OK at Mosten then Herman Jolink will be European Champion in Euro Serie Super Twin Top Gas for the first time in his thirty five-year drag racing career, always on Ducatis.
Swift snippets.
3rd September: Thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for sending us Version 4 of the official entry list for the VP Racing Fuels National Finals, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-26th September. You can check out the entry list by clicking here. Normal price entry closes today; entry forms can be downloaded from the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.
Fifteen days and counting before the NSRA Hot Rod Drags at Shakespeare County Raceway, the organisers are seeking nostalgia race cars and bikes for display on 18th-19th September. "Last year there was quite a good turnout including a Top Fuel Dragster, the restored 1980s A/Modified Roadster Mr Shifter and the TR8-bodied altered Vicious Trait", says Jerry Cookson. "It would be nice if we could see one of the Allard dragsters at the track as well as the restored Houndog 1 if you're reading this Nobby! The invitation is also open to National Sprint Association and VMCC bikes". If you are interested or if you have a restored dragster, altered or doorslammer for show then please get in touch with Jerry on 01789 720180 or E-Mail details to enquiries@shakespearecountyraceway.co.uk.
Also on the subject of Shakespeare County Raceway, Wayne Schreier got in touch to ask us to wish his wife and APIRA Chief Timekeeper Janet Schreier a Happy Birthday for Wednesday. Julie Willcox adds a Happy Birthday for Wednesday to APIRA Pairing Lanes Marshal Beth Satchell. "They are both catching me up but they have a fair way to go yet!", says Julie. Hope that you both had a great day, ladies.
Apologies for the lack of a news update yesterday; your News Editor was unwell.
Lazily into the eights.
3rd September: UK blown-alcohol altered racer Adam Gleadow says that the season started a little late for the Motor Psycho team:
Having upgraded from the old B&J trans to a three speed Lenco CS-2 we came out for the first time at the Summernationals for the first proper testing passes on the new car. A few burnouts and very lazy launches ensued - traced back to the shift pods on the Lenco needing re-adjusting, so it was effectively stuck between second and third gear. With this sorted, and the new front grille mounted (thanks to Jason and Roy at FGR Motorsport) the front of the car finally looked finished and we went for further testing at Mini in the Park.
We made a couple of nice strong burnouts and better launches, and although still soft the runs culminated in a new best of 8.41/171. With the big speed and lazy start it looks like there's a lot more left to play with.
We are currently getting ready for the European Finals and our foray into Super Pro ET. I'm excited to announce a new sponsorship partner; we've put together a deal with Dodo Juice, those of you heavily into vehicle detailing/polishing will know Dodo Juice for being the best of the best, creating their own pure carnauba specialist polishes and waxes for different applications along with their own line of cleaning equipment. There is no-one better for keeping your ride looking it's best! For more information about their products take a trip over to Dodo Island, the home of Dodo Juice and all things shiny at www.dodojuice.com...for the results, see Motor Psycho at the track!
Our progress can be followed on our web site at www.motorspycho.co.uk, on our Facebook fan page, or via Twitter. For some videos of our exploits this year visit www.vimeo.com/user4114768.
Weekend saved by PMR crew.
3rd September: Paul Marston Racing had a tough time at the Open Sport Nationals, but with a monumental effort from the crew the team salvaged a respectable result and are now poised to take full advantage in the last two remaining rounds of the UK National Drag Racing Championships. Paul Marston takes up the story:
Firstly I want to make sure that the PMR crew get the credit that they deserve, in particular Sefton Whitlock without whom I could not have repaired the motor in our PiranaZ backed Super Comp/Super Pro ET dragster. Everyone - the Crew Chief Funsize, Mick the Pieman and drivers Dave Catton and Martin Curbishley - went over and above.
After the first qualifying round in which we qualified on pole for Super Pro ET and second in Super Comp the motor developed a very strange noise when Martin fired it in the staging lanes. Back in the PMR pit, after virtually stripping the motor until 9:30 pm on Saturday and continuing at 7:00 am on Sunday, a roller lifter was found to have just started to collapse. It was then a real thrash to replace all the roller lifters then carefully reassemble the whole motor so that it would run exactly the same as before it developed the fault plus not leak. It had to be perfect. There was no room for error, as by 4:00 pm on Sunday there was only one round of qualifying left so it was essential that the dragster ran with no problems.
That is why I am so proud of the Paul Marston Racing crew: they rose to the occasion and got the job done. It is not the first time they have done that but it was a tough situation. Championships depend on these kind of situations working for you. Both runs were perfect; no fluids, no leaks, nothing and the PiranaZ-backed dragster ran exactly what we thought it would. Come eliminations Dave went two rounds and Martin a round, so some valuable points were earned which would otherwise have been lost. PMR still remain in the hunt for the National Championships, leading Super Comp and in the top five in Super Pro ET. We are ready.
I must lastly thank our two ace drivers, Wing Commander Dave Catton and Martin 'Mr Cool' Curbishley who both had the faith, trust and confidence in the PMR crew to take the PMR dragster and run it absolutely flat out, safe in the knowledge that it had been reassembled by one of the best crews ever to grace the Sportsman pits in UK drag racing. Gentlemen I thank you.
Special thanks to Billy Gane at Fat Pack Racing, Ian Turboville, Gary at DRE, Tony Morris at our American arm of PMR, and all the racers and photographers who wished us good luck! A big up to all our sponsors: London Road Tyres, American Racing Fuels, PiranaZ - Clothing With attitude!, Geddex, BLP, JW Performance Transmissions, ACL Bearings and Black Box London.
Paul Marston will be a guest on the John Griff afternoon show on BBC Radio Northampton this afternoon (Friday) to talk about the forthcoming FIA European Finals and his career in drag racing. "It's a real honour to be invited on to John's show", says Paul. "He is a real motorsport fan and I am looking forward to it. I am scheduled to do the last guest slot at around 3.40 pm. Whilst there I will also be taping some interviews with Mark Dean for future broadcast on his evening show and on local community radio station Inspiration FM. You can listen to the show on the I-Player if you cannot catch it live this afternoon. There is also a possibility that BBC Radio Northampton will be attending the European Finals and broadcasting a slot live from the track. I met Mark Dean of BBC Radio Northampton at the Sywell Charity Air Show a couple of weeks ago, and he invited me to come in to BBC Radio Northampton as he was excited to hear more about drag racing and to share my experiences with their listeners. Incidentally I have been told that the Air Show raised around £50,000 for the Air Ambulance."
Hunt the Goblin.
3rd September: Would Andy Robinson driving Timo Habermann's Methanol Dragster be faster than Jon Webster driving Michael Malmgren's Pro Stock?
Could Al O'Connor in Mark Fairhurst's Super Comp rail beat Micke Kågered in Paul Marston's PT Bruiser? Can you collect all the parts of Freddy Fagerström's Pro Mod pick-up
before anyone else? Can you remember where Mats Eriksson and the Green Goblin are hiding on the pit lane? Will your fastest driver pull a cherry and end up on the trailer? The
only way to find out is to buy yourself Eliminator, the new card game on sale in the Pod Shop from Wednesday 8th September.
Eliminator will cost you £5.50 for which you get a set of cards with which you can play six great games whilst helping out European drag racing. Sixty per cent of the profit from sales of Eliminator will go into a fund to which European racers can apply for help with repairs or the funds they need to keep racing.
If you are a European drag racing fan, think of all those racers out there whom you would miss if they couldn't afford to race? How many times have those teams entertained you? Wouldn't it be nice to give something back? We have all seen the buckets in the pit lane after some unfortunate team has suffered damage and as racers we are immensely grateful for all the money that the fans donate. Buying your Eliminator set gives you and your family hours of entertainment as you play the games, and also puts hard cash back into the sport.
To order your pack, send an E-Mail to eliminator.game@btinternet.com and have some fun whilst helping out the sport we love.
Web site updates.
3rd September: Jeni Long has updated her Yawning Cat Photography site with pictures from the weekend's Open Sport Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. You can take a look at Jeni's pictures at www.yawningcatphotography.com.
Issue 2 of the magazine Drag Racing Confidential is now on-line at www.drceurope.co.uk and as well as features includes the chance to win a family ticket to the Flame and Thunder Show at Santa Pod Raceway.
Pre-Finals Test Weekend coverage.
3rd September: Eurodragster.com will be at Santa Pod Raceway this weekend to bring you coverage of the pre-FIA European Finals Test Weekend in association with American Car Imports.
Our coverage will consist of end-day reports and end-day galleries from tomorrow's Run What You Brung/VW Action and Sunday's Peak Performance Day. In addition the Webster Race Engineering/Nimbus Motorsport webcam will be streaming live video and audio on both days so long as the track is open.
This weekend at Santa Pod incorporates VW Action which includes a night racing session between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm with demonstrations by VW racers, the Supercharged Outlaws and Eurodragster.com sponsor Martin Hill's Fireforce 3 Jet Funny Car. Off-track attractions include a Christmas-themed party, DJ Battle, Show and Shine, Camper Van Cook-off, autojumble, charity auction and much more. More information at www.vwaction.com.
We will post a direct Home Page link to our Test Weekend coverage as soon as it commences, but in the meantime you can check out our FIA European Finals event index, which includes a link to the very latest version of the entry list, by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
On the subject of the FIA European Finals, his many friends on this side of the Pond will be delighted to learn that Eurodragster.com US Correspondent Ed O'Connell will again be joining our coverage team at Santa Pod next week.
Svenssons loading up.
1st September: This coming weekend Peter and Sören Svensson and the
Kendall Oil Top Fuel Bike team will
be taking their five-second bike, tools and equipment to
the Lindahl Brothers' workshop in Vargön for transport to Santa Pod Raceway for next week's FIA European Finals.
Peter and Sören say that the rest of the team will not be far behind and that they can't wait to race.
Most of us will fly to Stansted Airport on Thursday and drive to Santa Pod, and the rest of the team will meet us at the track on Thursday evening. We are really looking forward to this race, where we will be trying to improve our previous Personal Best of 5.917 seconds and 236 mph, and our own European records at 5.97/236.
After the race at Gardermoen we carefully checked all of the engine components and we found everything to be OK. This means that we can most certainly add power and some more clutch at this race, if we get the right track conditions. Some of you might remember that during our previous races this season we have had some serious problems with transmission belts when we added power - a belt snapped at Mantorp and the teeth stripped off the belt at Gardermoen. At Santa Pod we will be trying a new type of belt and hopefully this will solve the problem.
Depending on the conditions we will have to tune the bike for colder weather than at our previous race in Gardermoen and with some luck and some really good air (which usually happens at Santa Pod) we will hopefully get a bit closer to some new record-setting runs.
At the European Finals we will be selling our new T-Shirt (we apologise for the delay) and we also have our new hero card which we will give out for free to all our fans as long as they last. This year as well as last year we will have some friends coming over to Santa Pod to join the rest of our fans and we promise you all that we will try to put on a good show as always.
A big thank you to everyone who makes this possible:
Kendall Motor Oil Sweden, supplied by Sollebrunns Oljeservice
Samek Tool AB, who make some of the best moulding tools in the automotive industry in Sweden
CemeCon A/S, one of the best coating companies in Europe when it comes to camshaft coating etc
Real Form, product development within mechanical design
Romnet, consultants with computer network favours
All our families and friends.
For more information please visit our web site at www.billetracing.se.
Racers: Don't wait to be asked - send your FIA European Finals previews to us at news@eurodragster.com and we'll post them here for your fans to read.
Swift snippets.
1st September: Thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for sending us Version 3 of the official entry list for the VP Racing Fuels National Finals, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-26th September. You can check out the entry list by clicking here. Entry closes this Friday; entry forms can be downloaded from the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.
Last Tuesday's spy picture
has been revealed to be UK Super Comp racer Malcolm Motler's Spellbound Morris Minor
after receiving some plastic surgery. "We plan to return next Easter and to remain in Super Comp",
says Malcolm. The team would be pleased to hear from anyone interested in sponsoring the car.
Many thanks to Wayne Schreier for giving us the official timing data from the weekend's Open Sport Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway, which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the Timing Data link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. SCR's Jerry Cookson adds that Dave Smart set a new Supertwin Gas track speed record of 147.51 mph during the event so congratulations to Dave.
Continuing with the Open Sport Nationals Jerry Cookson adds that the winner of the trophy for Best Engineered Car, sponsored by Drag Race Engineering, was awarded to Sam Young for his electrically-powered VW Pro Beetle. Congratulations Sam, Jerry tells us that your trophy will be on its way to you soon.
Eurodragster.com's Webster Race Engineering/Nimbus Motorsport webcam will be streaming live audio and video from this weekend's Run What You Brung and Peak Performance Day at Santa Pod Raceway. We will be experimenting with a larger picture size as well as trying different audio settings so there may be brief breaks in service, but we will do our best to keep disruption to a minimum so that you can enjoy the action.
Web site updates.
1st September: Georgina Green has posted a set of excellent Open Sport Nationals photographs on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/greeno298 and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=270247&id=582627541&l=8ccadd1915 and www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21427&id=100000402721296&ref=mf.
Editor's note: Because of pressure of work in your News Editor's day job we have a small backlog of news which we shall clear on the next news update. Tune back for news of the latest round of Euro Serie Top Gas, Eurodragster.com sponsor Mike Manners' latest success in the USA, UK blown-alcohol altered racer Adam Gleadow's latest outing and more, and please keep the news coming to news@eurodragster.com.
Open Sport Nationals results.
31st August: Congratulations to the winners of the Open Sport Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway:
Super Pro ET: Barry Giles (7.60) 7.697/150.76 def. Joe Stevens (8.90) 8.982/152.32
Pro ET: Dave Cherrett (10.00) 9.912/125.81 def. Bob Molden (9.90) 9.926/122.15 red
Sportsman ET: Ian Petrie (14.02) 14.251/76.78 def. Steve Unsworth (13.27) 13.338/97.25
Super Comp: Brian Pateman 9.009/148.37 def. Jon Morton 9.022/148.05
Super Gas: Dan Page 9.962/128.08 def. Jon Morton 10.067/146.30
Super Street: Neil Grant 10.884/131.28 b/o def. Bob Lees 10.845/131.46 b/o
Junior Dragster: Gabrielle McDonald (8.01) 8.037/81.67 def. Claire Giles (9.02) 9.062/70.20
Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator: Brian Payne 8.833/185.40 def. Ian Hook 8.518/165.87 red
Wild Bunch: Terry Clifford (10.20) 10.250/126.94 def. Andy Murphy (10.60) 10.598/123.00 b/o
Outlaw Anglia: Cliff Griffin 8.272/163.72 def. Simon Barlow 9.257/143.60
VW Pro: Matt Attwood (11.66) 12.580/109.99 def. Dave Bridge (12.52) 12.486/100.14 breakout
VW Sportsman: Russ Weir (17.41) 17.886/67.13 def. Matthew Bennett-Sime (17.88) 17.584/67.52
Outlaw Flat Four: James Wotton 11.139/96.69 bye, Bernie Newbury no show
Pro Stock Bike: Dave Beck 7.237/182.33 def. Len Paget 7.544/173.21 red
Funny Bike: Dave Bailey 8.795/134.80 def. Gary Jones 8.985/155.45
Super Street Bike: Steve Venables 7.587/188.326 def. Dave Holland 7.583/184.49
Comp Bike: Stu Crane 7.962/155.94 def. Ivan Birch 12.368/65.21
9.50 Bike: Jake Mechaell 9.598/127.29 def. Richard Sawatzki 9.579/133.44
Supertwin Gas: Chris Mott 9.264/137.15 def. Joe Elliott 9.764/136.83
Supertwin ET: Simon Clamp (11.99) 11.591/118.60 b/o def. John Munday (13.40) 13.537/96.68 red
CC Medical Services Junior Drag Bike: Scott Collier (9.90) 10.094/62.24 def. Louis Davies (13.95) 13.900/46.49 b/o
8.50 Bike: Mike Winyard 8.673/141.61 def. Martin Wilson 9.031/169.26
Congratulations to Junior Dragster racer Jacob Kopasz and Wild Bunch racer Dave Williams who won the Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award and Eurodragster.com/Gold RV Perfect ET Award respectively. Both Awards have been reset to £50 for the FIA European Finals.
You can check out our American Car Imports-sponsored reports and pictures by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Swift snippets.
31st August: Thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for sending us Version 2 of the official entry list for the VP Racing Fuels National Finals, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-26th September. You can check out the entry list by clicking here. Entry closes this Friday; entry forms can be downloaded from the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.
With FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway on 9th-12th September official fuel supplier VP Racing Fuels is taking orders for the event to fulfil from its large stock. To order your fuel visit www.santapod.co.uk/m_merchandise.php?Category=6, select the fuel you require and complete payment, and your order will be delivered directly to your pit in time for the first day of the event. If you have any queries then call 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44 1234 782828).
If you would like to test before the FIA European Finals then Santa Pod Raceway are hosting a Peak Performance Day this Sunday, 5th September, and a Pro Peak Performance Day on Wednesday 8th September, the former open to all and the latter open to any racer entered for the FIA European Finals in any class. Peak Performance Days are limited-entry events with track prepped to event standard and full safety cover. For more information about Peak Performance Days check out www.rwyb.com. Entry for this Sunday's PPD closes at 17:00 UK time today (Tuesday).
Les Harris has resigned as Chair of the UK's National Association of Supertwins for personal reasons. Barrie Gregory has assumed the role until the NAST Annual General Meeting on 13th November. In the meantime if you have any enquiries about the NAST then you are welcome to contact Barrie on 07500 144233.
Web site updates.
31st August: In the latest instalment of his exclusive Racer Blog presented in association with Alamo Rent-A-Car, Pro Stock Bike racer Kalle Lyrén of the VEIDEC PSB team reports upon the aftermath of his latest outing at Gardermoen. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Alamo Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Our good buddy Jon Spoard has updated the UK Drag Racing Nostalgia site with pictures from June's NSRA Nostalgia Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. You can check out Jon's pictures at www.ukdrn.co.uk.
Another good buddy, Alan Currans, has updated his Acceleration Archive with pictures from the weekend's Open Sport Nationals also at Shakespeare County Raceway. You can take a look at Alan's pictures via the What's New link at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk.
The official web site of the MSA British Drag Racing Championship has been updated with a preview of the FIA European Finals together with Stefani Robinson's pictures of Eurodragster.com sponsor Andy Robinson's Pro Mod in its new colours. Check it out at www.msadragracing.co.uk.
Urgent Open Sport Nationals update.
27th August: Shakespeare County Raceway and APIRA officials are asking for co-operation from racers prior to this weekend's Open Sport Nationals and following the unseasonal deluge of rain which the county of Warwickshire and the south of the country has experienced in the last twenty four hours:
To help us free up some pit space to allow for more hard standing, we request that owners of open trailers only put them into a secure trailer compound which will be situated behind the Medical Centre and the Tractor Pulling Track Staging Area. This will be lockable and to guarantee security there will be a pass in and out system which will be operated and looked after by the Medical Centre staff.
Provided the county doesn't experience any more heavy rain pit staff still have every intention of opening the pit gate at midday today although this may change to later in the afternoon so please be patient. Each racer will be escorted to their assigned pit.
If everyone can be as co-operative as they were last time this problem arose then we are sure that everyone will enjoy the weekend as it is meant to be enjoyed. Furthermore, we wish to point out that this is not a knock on effect from the recent Global Gathering or the Bulldog Bash. No one is in control of the weather!
UK National Finals update.
27th August: Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary has been in touch to remind racers that next Friday, 3rd September, is the official closing date for entry to the VP Racing Fuels National Finals which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-26th September. Entry after next Friday, if accepted, will be subject to a late entry fee.
Official entry forms for all classes can be downloaded from the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.
You can check out Version 1 of the official VP Racing Fuels National Finals entry list by clicking here.
Finals ferry deal still available.
27th August: Those racers attending the forthcoming FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway who have yet to book a cross-Channel ferry are advised to contact DFDS Norfolkline (formerly known simply as Norfolkline) to take advantage of special deals. Andy Willsheer writes:
DFDS Norfolkline sponsor Santa Pod Raceway and, purely on the basis of supporting the people who support the sport, will endeavour to offer a competitive tariff to anyone travelling on the Dunkerque-Dover route.
Please E-Mail Jo Hardman of DFDS Norfolkline at jhardman@norfolkline.com with full details of vehicle, number of persons travelling and time and date of travel and she will be pleased to sort matters.
Swift snippets.
27th August: Maikel Gloudemans tells us that today's DHRA Finals at Drachten Drag Strip has been cancelled due to bad weather.
Web site updates.
27th August: In the latest instalment of his exclusive Racer Blog presented in association with Alamo Rent-A-Car, Luke Bennett explains how much there is to think about when you want to change a blown-alcohol altered into a Top Methanol Funny Car. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Alamo Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Open Sport Nationals coverage.
27th August: Eurodragster.com will be at Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend to bring you all the news from the Open Sport Nationals in association with American Car Imports.
The plan is for frequently-updated reports on the on-track action throughout each day of the race, together with a photo gallery at the end of each day. The Webster Race Engineering/Nimbus Motorsport webcam will be on-line as long as the track is open and will be scheduled to post a picture every sixty seconds.
There will be no pit notes this weekend as our reporter Simon has a family commitment elsewhere.
We will post a direct Home Page link to our coverage as soon as it commences, but in the meantime you can check out our Open Sport Nationals event coverage index, which includes Saturday's provisional running order and the official entry list, by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page and selecting the Open Sport Nationals.
Open Sport Nationals update.
26th August: Many thanks to Shakespeare County Raceway for forwarding us the provisional running order for Saturday's qualifying at this weekend's Open Sport Nationals. You can check out Saturday's running order by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page and selecting the Open Sport Nationals. Please note that as ever the running order is provisional and subject to change due to weather or track conditions or for any other reason deemed necessary by race officials.
Thanks also to SCR for forwarding Version 4 of the official entry list for the Open Sport Nationals which can be viewed by following the link above or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page and selecting the Open Sport Nationals.
SCR's gates will open at midday tomorrow (Friday) after which racers will be escorted to their pit areas by APIRA marshals.
Dutch Finals Top Gas review.
26th August: Herman Jolink writes that the latest round of the
Euro Super Twin Top Gas Series took place at Drachten last weekend:
On Friday and Saturday it was possible to make nine qualifying runs. The Drachten track was very well-prepared - Danny Bellio made a show run with his Top Methanol Funny Car over the eighth mile and ran 3.88/289 kmh. There were 3000 spectators, and the weather was OK just a few raindrops on Sunday.
Top Gas qualifying:
- Cord Albers D on 2622 V-Twin 8.213/256
- Harry van Schie NL on 1966 Blower V-Twin
- Herman Jolink NL on Ducati 1198 RS (1266) 8.357/246. Herman ran a new Personal Best sixty foot of 1.187 and also ran the highest speed on Friday of 257.07 kmh.
- Marc van den Boer B on 2660 V-Twin 8.647/224
- Peter Niklas D on 1000 Turbo Honda 8.670/249
- Lando Beugelsdijk NL on 2622 V-Twin 8.731/210
- Frank Heitmann D on 2622 V-Twin 9.589/203
Final: Jolink 8.485/243d def. Marc van den Boer 8.770/219, RTs Jolink 0.167 and van den Boer 0.190.
Top Gas Championship:
- Herman Jolink NL 2075
- Harry van Schie NL 1500
- Marc van den Boer B 1470
- Cord Albers D 1170
- Frank Heitmann D 950
- Peter Niklas D 910
- Bernd Niessen D 660
- Uwe Kahmann D 340
28th August: Dragday Finals, Hoskovice CZ
2nd-5th September: Mosten Race Days and Top Gas Finals (201m sprint), Mosten DK
A rookie win at Rotorstock.
26th August: Rick Cuthbert writes that those who made it along to Rotorstock at Santa Pod
Raceway on Saturday were treated to a great day's racing uninterrupted by any rain:
The inaugural HKS Academy was won by Shahin Fard in his Nissan Skyline. Shahin battled off eleven other competitors racing for the first time to take the trophy. The Academy proved extremely popular with participants who praised the way it provided an educational but exciting introduction to certified racing.
The established HKS classes were concluded as follows:
HKS Pro
Winner: Leon Green, Toyota Supra
Runner Up: Chris Impey, Mazda RX7
HKS Factory Modified
Winner: Stuart Taylor, Subaru Impreza
Runner Up: Keith Carr, Toyota Supra
HKS Street
Winner: Robert Shadwell, Nissan Skyline
Runner Up: Malcolm Thomas, Nissan Skyline
HKS FWD
Winner: Guy Chamberlain, Honda Civic
Runner Up: Paul Cresswell, Honda Civic
A full Rotorstock event report and gallery can be found at www.rotorstock7.co.uk.
A rush to be ready.
26th August: The UK's Team Edge Pro ET team have had a busy summer raising
money and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis and preparing the Cavalier for the final three events
of 2010:
Our Crew Chief Steve and Gordon found a major problem with the car during preparation for a fund-raising event in Staffordshire. The Edge was due to be one of the stars at a Custom Show, but had to pull out at the last minute leaving Martin and Mel running round like headless chickens! However they still managed to raise vital awareness for MS and drag racing.
The problem with the car has turned out to be the camshaft, so Steve and Gordon have been working tirelessly day and night to ensure that it will be ready for the Open Sport Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend.
Martin has posted some in-car video on You Tube. Just put racing4multiplesclerosis into the search box, and please check out our web site at www.racing4multiplesclerosis.com.
Good luck to everyone involved at Shakespeare this weekend, hope to see you all there. Thanks, as always, to Eurodragster.com for supporting our team and our cause.
Swift snippets.
26th August: UK Pro Mod racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Andy Robinson has added NGK Spark Plugs as a sponsor of his 6.0-second blown-alcohol Studebaker. "We have used NGK's products successfully over many seasons so we are particularly pleased to sign them up and display their decals on the new shiny red Fire Coupe", says Bob Roberts. Meanwhile the Robinson Race Reports web site at www.robinson-race-reports.co.uk has a new look to match the Stude's new livery, and has been updated with a report and video from the NitrOlympX.
The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com came with the words "The ultimate RV accessory?". If you
know more, or if you would like to send your own spy picture, then drop us a line at
eurodragster.com@btinternet.com.
Contrary to yesterday's Snippet we didn't have two birthdays but three so a big Happy Birthday for yesterday, and of course hugs, to Monique Koedam. Hope you had a lovely day Monique.
All set for the DHRA Finals.
26th August: Maikel Gloudemans writes that the Dutch Hot Rod Association will be holding its 2010 Finals at Drachten Drag Strip tomorrow:
The day will start with some regular Run What You Brung action from 15:00. The King Street finals will start at 20:00 (and I'm in it). The first prize is an all-expenses-paid trip to the Pomona Street Nationals in the US, the second prize a set of rims from CMS Wheels, and the third prize free entry to an eXplosion event next year. Bikes will also compete in a bracket race; the first prize will be free entry to an eXplosion event next year.
Entry is €10 and contestants pay another €10 to run in the RWYB before King Street. You have to be qualified to run King Street itself so there will be no RWYB after 20:00.
Of course we haven't forgotten John van Geytenbeek: we talked with his family and they have given us the go-ahead on the event. Of course we will have a proper drag race farewell for him.
We will try to broadcast the event as always at www.doyousee.me/DHRA, and you can find out more about the DHRA Finals at www.dhra.nl.
Web site updates.
26th August: Hans-Jørgen Hitz writes that the latest information about the Mosten Race Day,which takes place in Ørsted in Denmark on 2nd-5th September, is available on-line at www.mosten-mc.dk.
Note for Defa Finals racers.
25th August: Hanski of the Finnish Hot Rod Association has passed on the following important notice for racers attending this weekend's Defa Finals at Alastaro:
The local regiment is having a Military Oath session at Alastaro Circuit on Friday (27th) between 07:00 and 14:00. This is a big event with lots of military and civilian vehicles, so all of the pit areas will be used as parking lots. Because of this event all teams coming to the Defa Finals will be prohibited from entering the Alastaro Circuit before 15:00 on Friday.
To allow smooth exit for all guests please do not attempt to enter Alastaro Circuit before 15:00. Thank you very much for your cooperation.
Belgium goes Full Throttle.
25th August: Erwin Raets writes with news of the Eurodrag Full Throttle
Internationals which takes place in Belgium on 25th-26th September:
The race will be held at the former military airbase in Brustem, a community next to the city of Sint-Truiden, Belgium. Almost unanimously the participants at last week's Drachten Finals committed to attending this first ever full-sized Belgian drag race. If all goes well, and if we maintain a good relationship with all parties involved, this could grow to be a permanent round in the eXplosion Championship.
It has been tough since the immense loss of 'Canadian John' van Geytenbeek on Sunday afternoon. I got to know John just a few weeks ago, and in the staging lanes just before his last run he was smiling from ear to ear and told me that he was really happy with his bike and with the new race, and that he would certainly be there with his nitro machine. How I wish he could be!
Tough as it is, I know that John would want us to continue, as he did, to pave the way for the drag racing community and I have set a goal for myself by organising this first Belgian Dragrace as my own tribute to John. We were working on it together, and making it a successful event for all his friends gives me the drive and decisiveness to focus on the job at hand.
I would like to say Thank You to the racers who have donated their used tyres for track preparation, and brought them to Hockenheim and Drachten. We will need a lot of them to get the track right! I still need tyres so if you have a set which you would have discarded after the European Finals, or if you have some used slicks lying around, and if you want to help set up a new track in Europe, then please drop them in at Danny Bellio's Top Methanol FC pit at the Finals. It will be much appreciated!
I have set up a web site for the event which you can find at www.eurodrag.com. There will be daily additions to the site, as news and entries come in. On-line entry is now available at www.explosiondragracing.com.
I wish everybody a good end to the season, and I hope to see you all in Belgium some day!
SCR offer Junior Dragster hire.
25th August: Making its competitive début in Junior Dragster this weekend
will be Shakespeare County Raceway's
very own hire car, writes SCR's Jerry Cookson.
Based upon the old Matrix Racing Junior Stock Dragster maintained by Dick Talbot and raced by granddaughters Hazel and Holly Mitchell, the car is to be raced again at the Open Sport Nationals by Kayleigh Jane Goodrich who is the granddaughter of APIRA official Julie Willcox. Thanks to the efforts and prep work carried out by Junior Dragster enthusiasts Daren and son Alex Brett, the Stock Dragster broke cover last month at Shakespeare County's PTD weekend where eight year old Kayleigh was rewarded for her efforts with an MSA licence to race in National Event competition. At the very same event ten year old Russell Victory was also rewarded for his efforts, with his license duly signed off.
"I was very excited and nervous with my first time on the drag strip but after I had done my first run I felt my nerves fading and felt a little happier more confident, wanting to go again", commented Kayleigh after her first pass in the car. "After a few more runs I had completed my first part in gaining my race licence. Daren's talk before and directions were a big part of achieving my license. He even managed to get my mum Natasha confident in starting the dragster and staging me on the start line by Sunday morning.
"I'm now competing in the Shakey car at the Open Sport Nationals and I can't wait. I would hire the car every meeting if I could but Mum feels that it's not giving other children a chance to try drag racing."
The Junior project started with a numerous phone calls and E-Mails between Waltham Abbey and Stratford-upon-Avon. "I was approached with the idea about Shakespeare County Raceway having its own Junior Dragster programme in October of last year", says Daren. "During the winter Eurodragster.com's Jeff Bull Swap Meet had the answer to our prayers: Dick Talbot had a Junior Stock Car for sale. Dick was more than reasonable with the purchase price, especially once he knew the purpose for which the car was going to be used - coming full circle to where it first started almost a decade ago. After all, the car's function is to provide a fun driving experience at a great family track as well as introducing new blood into the sport!"
Assisting with the programme with the appropriate safety gear is longtime track sponsor Ed Yates from DS Racewear, a leading supplier of motorsports safety equipment in the UK as well as a racer in the Wild Bunch. "I have been supporting SCR for a number of years as a track sponsor and safety partner and I was very pleased to be asked by Jerry and Daren to get involved in this fantastic new venture", says Ed. "I am proud to have been able to supply the safety equipment for the SCR Junior Dragster and hope we can encourage more people into this great sport of ours at an early age. Although better known for adult racers equipment, DS Racewear can also supply a full range of Junior safety equipment as well."
Also joining the team is Claron Graphics' Simon Cardwell, who designed the car's livery, and MotorShack who will be lubricating the car's engine with oil thanks to lane sponsor Steve Woods.
"Claron Graphics are pleased to be supporting the new SCR Junior Dragster and supplying the graphics for the car", says Simon. "I have been involved in junior motor sport for many years and been privileged to be involved with several drivers and seen them climb the motorsport ladder right to the top. Junior classes are where the stars of tomorrow learn their craft and develop the skills needed to succeed in the higher classes. We're excited to see Junior drag racing growing, almost meeting by meeting at Shakespeare County Raceway, and we are more than happy to be a small part of it."
After the Open Sport Nationals the car will be on display at the NSRA Hot Rod Drags alongside the Alex Brett's Junior Modified Dragster. During the weekend one of the cars will be linked up to a Portatree Reaction Timer coupled to the Raceway's spare Tree. After that the car is due for display at the Leamington 100 Charity Car and Bike Show in between other commitments at Public Track Days.
"I have been quite overwhelmed by the extent to which people have gone to see this project through", Daren added. "Ed Yates from DS Racewear offered complete safety equipment for the car, suits, gloves, arm restraints and neck supports. Simon Cardwell from Claron Graphics took the bull by the horns and was over with his measure scaling the car for graphics, and MotorShack's Steve Wood has stepped in with a maintenance deal to look after the cars servicing requirements. This programme, I know, is just a small part of a large schedule of work which is currently being undertaken at the track, but has been treated as if it was the most important item on the agenda!"
Bookings for the Junior for the rest of the year can be made by calling the track office on 01789 720180 or E-Mail enquiries@shakespearecountyraceway.co.uk.
Swift snippets.
25th August: Thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for sending us the final version of the official entry list for the FIA European Finals, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 9th-12th September. You can check out the entry list by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page and selecting the FIA European Finals.
We have two special birthdays today. Ladies first, so a big Happy 18th Birthday to UK 9.50 Bike racer Jemma Venables. Have a lovely day Jemma. Claire Meaddows and all the family have asked us to wish a very Happy 50th Birthday to Wild Bunch racer and wheelying Backdraft slingshot pilot 'Crazy' Chris Hartnell (below left). "Congratulations! We love you loads!", they say.
After the huge success of the Ultimate Street Car Run What You Brung game, Santa Pod Raceway has released a new drag racing simulation featuring six-second Pro Mods. "The revs rise faster, the speeds build quicker, and the engines blow up more violently and with much less warning!", says Rick Cuthbert. "This game is great for a bit of reaction-time testing both for real racers and kids who need entertaining on a rainy afternoon". You can play the game for free at www.santapod.co.uk/santa_pod_racer.php.
Lindberg takes Eliminator win.
25th August: Last evening, in a thrilling semi final to a closely-fought Championship, Al O'Connor raced
a Pro Mod against Anita Mäkelä in a Super Comp dragster. On the other side of the ladder was Andy Carter in a Pro Mod,
pitched against Johan Lindberg in a Top Fuel Dragster. Anita went red, letting Al through to the final. Andy narrowly scraped past Johan
for the win, setting up the final, which was taken by Johan on a holeshot.
Of course these races didn't happen for real, nor were they involved in your News Editor's latest heart drug hallucination, but they were in fact the final rounds in a closely-fought game of Eliminator, the new card game being launched at the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod. One pack of Eliminator cards contains everything you need to play six entertaining games for all ages. Priced at £5.50 from the Pod shop, with 60% of the profits going back into European drag racing at grass roots level, Eliminator is a must for all racers, crew and fans.
To pre-order your set, E-Mail eliminator.game@btinternet.com.
Web site updates.
25th August: Our good friend Remco Scheelings' Dutch Finals report and pictures have been posted on The Netherlands' Autosport web site at www.autosport.nl. As one would expect the tone of this report is a little more serious than it would normally be, but Remco has done his usual professional job.
A dream fulfilled.
24th August: UK Pro ET racers Carla Pittau and Rick McCann made a two thousand mile round
trip to July's Veidec Festival to fulfil their dream of competing in Stock/Super Stock. Although the appalling weather
meant that Rick got all of three passes down the strip and the team spent most of the rest of the weekend in their camper
watching it rain, Carla writes that the Heaven and Hell team had a lot of fun:
It would take a lot of doing to make us describe this experience as fantastic and yet that's just what happened.
We arrived on Wednesday afternoon and set up in the Stock/Super Stock pits, and immediately our fellow competitors came to the rescue when we couldn't hook up to the mains supply without an adaptor. Pelle Andersson supplied the correct plug and cheerfully proceeded to wire it up for us. Later on we sat in his bus while P-A Lindström of the Swedish Stock and Super Stock Association checked that we had got our minimum weights and class correct, so that we wouldn't make a pass which could be discounted. Everyone welcomed the new recruits with warmth, humour and advice, we kept looking at all the cars and grinned like maniacs. For good measure Simpson SE, sponsors of Stock/Super Stock also offered excellent free burgers to all racers and crews in the class on the Friday, which was also a good opportunity to meet the other racers.
Thursday was to be the Sportsman day, when we had allocated a few changes to try and dial in the combination. The First run was to be our baseline, which would hopefully tell us what difference the new headers and converter made, then we were going to read the plugs and fatten her up one step. Then we thought we may well need to fatten her up some more, but all we ended up doing was fattening up ourselves, eating doughnuts and croissants and chocolate muffins all day, trying to cope with the big disappointment of the endless wet stuff falling out of the sky.
As always, it's the people who make all the difference, and we had the good fortune of meeting a lot of like-minded enthusiasts who were impressed by the scale and extent of our passion and madness when we explained that we bought our engine to do one race a year a thousand miles from home. And this is why, in Rick's own words:
"What is it about Stock/Super Stock cars that makes them so special? When we first saw them in the US and fell in love it was the wheelstanding launches. This is not the exhibition type wheelstand, it's about getting a big heavy muscle car to leave the line with maximum weight transfer and minimum sixty foot time. Then there are the cars themselves, beautiful old and new classics. Look closely: full interiors, gorgeous paint, these are like show cars but with incredible performance. Then there is the sound of the engines. You get to recognise them as they are unique. There is a crackle in the open headers, the smell of the unburnt C12. I could hardly concentrate on preparing our Camaro when Björn Bondesson fired up his big Chevelle to unload it from the ubiquitous Volvo coach.
"When you learn about the rules, the limitations on what you can do to engines etc. then a new respect emerges. How do you get a 98 Firebird to run low tens – this is over three seconds quicker than stock when all you are allowed is to change the cam duration, not lift, only duration.
"So finally here we are, going to the staging lanes amongst thirty six other Stock and Super Stock cars. I'm busy looking at all the other cars. Look, a '66 Fairlane, a '64 Sport Fury with rare cross ram intake, immaculate Camaros, a stick shift 2001 Firehawk in red, Novas, Chevelles, not one but two rare '73 or '74 Venturas with 350 Pontiac motors and working Ram Air..and look, they're pulling wheelies off the start line in front of me. The Mantorp start line crew are bringing us through one pair after another just like in the States, two launch just before two burn out and another two are pulling forward.
"In fact I am so busy looking that I'm not ready. Tach not set, not enough brake pressure, so can't hold it on the burnout. Pull to the line, launch, shame no wheelstand, get to the finish line, line up to get weighed. Did I mention factored HP for each combination and minimum weight per class. I'm five kilogrammes over, which is good.
"We richen up the carb for our second qualifier - we only get two because of the rain on Thursday - and run 10.26 on our index of 10.40. So we qualify twenty fifth 0.14 seconds under. The top qualifier is 0.72 under. How can we go half a second quicker?
"We look at the ladder and we are paired against Ari Körkkö's gorgeous '69 Camaro. We go to see him and toss a coin for lane choice then we stand around chatting for a while. First round comes and I'm nervous as hell, but I'm helped by Tog's reassuring chat and by Kirstie taking funny pictures, then finally I'm in pre-stage, watching Ari Körkkö's pre-stage bulbs...where the hell is he, there's playing games of course but there must be a limit to how long you can keep someone waiting. Finally the starter signals a single. Stage, gone, little bit of a wheelie and then it's all over. There was no playing games, Ari lost oil pressure and had to shut off. I'm disappointed, my first competition run in Super Stock is a solo run, I just hope it's a good one so that winning by default isn't too hard to take.
"Waiting to get weighed, now only two kilogrammes over minimum! I'm told I had a perfect Reaction Time, wow, I won the Eurodragster.com/Speedflow prize. Oh and dead on too, double wow. I am a lot less disappointed, at least that would have been hard to beat. The total package is 0.0066 seconds: 0.0006 on the line and 0.006 at the top end. As good as the numbers I read and envy in National Dragster.
"I get back to the pits and think the second round looks good, the car is being really consistent and I'm getting a handle on the lights, then the rain comes."
It could have been so depressing, so hard to take, but the feeling was just the opposite: enthusiasm for the place, for the people, for the class, firm determination to come back, to race with them, to get to know them all better, and pride, to have been part of this great bunch.
Another milestone was Grace Roaf's
start line debut, as the minimum age required in Sweden for start line duty is fifteen and our youngest
crew member had just had her fifteenth birthday the previous week!
So Rick and I came back to England like the evangelists. We can be seen going from door to door like Mormons, wearing freshly-ironed (fire)suits and bringing the good news to the world, brandishing the NHRA bible, Stock/Super Stock chapters, and dreaming of a European Championship which includes England and Santa Pod one day.
Special thanks for their invaluable help and advice prior to entering the event and during the meeting must go to the Swedish Stock/Super Stock Association, to Joakim Kristoffersson, Leif Andersson, Rolf Cederblad, Pelle Andersson, P-A Lindström, Bjorn Bondesson and his crew, Hans Olsson and a bunch of others whose names unfortunately I cannot remember, but you know who you are guys, you made our visit to Mantorp unforgettable.
I must also add that we were really impressed by the excellent organisation – from Race Control to the lovely pit marshal who kept us updated after each round with qualifying lists and running order.
Finally heartfelt thanks must also go to Dave, Colin, Chris and Grace - our hard-working, invaluable crew, always cheerfully dealing with anything fate throws at us - to Tog, Kirstie, Simon, Roger and Ed of Eurodragster.com; and to Andy Willsheer, for their encouragement and good humour.
You can find pictures of the great cars on the Stock/Super Stock Forum at forum.sssa.se and on our Facebook photo album at www.facebook.com/heavenhellracing.
Swift snippets.
24th August: Thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for sending us Version 11 of the official entry list for the FIA European Finals, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 9th-12th September. You can check out the entry list by clicking here. This version of the list finally reveals one of the better-kept secrets in drag racing as the UK's Conrad Stanley is listed under Pro Stock. We have been promised a news item about that so stay tuned.
The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com came with the words
"Nip and tuck". if you know more, or if you would like to send your own spy picture, then drop
us a line at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com.
Construction manager Lars Erik Lindberg says that the construction of Sweden's Tierp Motorpark is progressing according to plan and that everything is looking good. If you want to see for yourself then Tierp Motorpark's web site at www.tierpmotorpark.com is now presented in both Swedish and English.
We had two birthdays yesterday but due to an astounding admin error by your News Editor they did not appear on yesterday's news update. So Happy Birthday for yesterday, apologies and hugs to Sharon Williamson of the UK's Stockport Doorslammer Super Street team - rest assured that Tog will burn in hell for this one Sharon - and also to Ingrid Chesworth. Hope that you both had good days, ladies.
Allard Chrysler motor update.
24th August: Brian Taylor writes with encouraging news about the motor of the Allard Chrysler Dragster, which is being built by Booth-Arons in the USA:
There have been a few problems which have delayed things, only to be expected with a project like this, but things look on course for the engine to be back at Beaulieu this November.
The blower which Beaulieu had in stock required more work than expected and has been back and forth to Littlefield Blowers in California a few times. Prior to mounting the blower on the engine it was discovered that the crank snout had to be shortened before it could be mated with the blower adapter. And there have been other small problems such as the length of pushrods and the need for spacers between the heads and the blower adapter, both probably the result of decking the head. Availability of parts, difficult enough with an engine of this vintage, has gradually become more of an issue as the economic recession has forced suppliers to reduce their stock.
However, a brand new Taylor Vertex Magneto has been located in the USA - exactly the same as the Scintilla
unit fitted to the original engine back in 1961. The engine is getting very close to final assembly ready
for dyno-testing before dispatch to the UK in November, providing that we hit no further unexpected problems.
The photo shows three legends: custom car designer George Barris, drag racing personality and Honorary ACAG
member Linda Vaughn, and the blown and injected 354 Chrysler Hemi being readied for the Allard Chrysler. Rocker
covers are slaves as ours are at the chrome shop.
Denny Hummel, who is building the engine, said "Booth Arons is both honoured and excited to be chosen to do the restoration of the Hemi engine for the Allard Dragster. The project has been a labour of love and one of great excitement. The storied career of the Allard dragster has made this project a historic event for Booth Arons, and to be associated with the Allard Dragster, is an honour of a lifetime. We are looking forward to seeing the Allard breathe fire and belch thunder again."
More details about the progress of the engine build can be found on the Allard Chrysler Action Group web site at www.allardchrysler.org. If you would like to help fund or sponsor this unique and exciting project, then select the Merchandise page the web site and use the PayPal link, or contact Brian Taylor by E-Mail at brian@allardchrysler.org or call him on 01395 579733 (outside the UK +44 1395 579733). Alternately you can talk to Brian at the FIA European Finals.
Open Sport Nationals Perfect Awards.
24th August: This weekend's Open Sport Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway is the latest event in the 2010 Eurodragster.com Perfect Awards scheme. £125 is on offer for perfect performance.
The Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award has been reset to £50 after it was won by
Junior Dragster racer Jerry Bachinger at the NitrOlympX. The money will be awarded to the first racer this weekend
to record a Reaction Time of 0.000 seconds. The Perfect Light Award is available all to racers in all classes during
qualifying and eliminations, but will only be awarded for the first perfect light of the event. If not won this
weekend then the Award will be increased to £75 for the FIA European Finals; if it is won then it will be reset
to £50 for the FIA European Finals. The Perfect Light Award is presented in association with performance hose
and fitting manufacturer Speedflow whose web site you can find at www.speedflow.co.uk.
Eurodragster.com decals are not mandatory to be eligible for the Perfect Light Award, however we do of course appreciate it if decals are carried. Eurodragster.com decals, or at the very least directions to the nearest supply, are available from any Eurodragster.com staff member at the track.
The Eurodragster.com/Gold RV Perfect ET Award has been increased to £75 after it went unclaimed at the
NitrOlympX. The money will be awarded to the first racer this weekend to run to the thousandth on their dial-in or
index during qualifying or eliminations. The Perfect ET Award is available this weekend in Super Pro ET, Pro ET,
Sportsman ET, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, Junior Dragster (eliminations only), 9.50 Bike, the Wild Bunch,
VW Pro, VW Sportsman, Supertwin ET, Junior Drag Bike and 8.50 Bike, but will only be awarded for the first Perfect
Run of the event. If not won this weekend then the Award will be increased to £100 for the FIA European Finals;
if it is won then it will be reset to £50 for the FIA European Finals. The Perfect ET Award is
presented in association with RV sales and service specialists Gold RV whose web site you can find at
www.goldrv.co.uk.
To be eligible to collect the Perfect ET Award, racers are required to carry Eurodragster.com/Gold RV Perfect ET decals, (left) one on each side of the vehicle. This applies to both cars and bikes. If you pull this weekend's first Perfect ET but are not carrying decals then there will be no discussion; we will not pay out and the next racer to pull a Perfect ET will get the money assuming that they are carrying decals. Eurodragster.com/Gold RV Perfect ET Award decals are available from the Signing On office; as with all contingency schemes the responsibility rests with the racer to collect and carry the correct decals.
Web site updates.
24th August: Our good buddy Patrik Jacobsson has updated the Racebilder web site with pictures from the SDS Finals at Sundsvall Raceway. You can find Patrik's pictures at www.racebilder.nu.
Tributes to John van Geytenbeek.
23rd August: Our good friends at eXplosion Drag Racing Club have set up a tribute page for late Supertwin racer John van Geytenbeek who died in an accident at the Dutch Finals at Drachten yesterday.
You can leave your tribute at www.explosiondragracing.com/2010/08/22/tragisch-overlijden-john-van-geytenbeek.
Remembering Dave Grady.
23rd August: Darren West of Eurodragster.com sponsor Power Race Graphics writes that it is a decade to the day since we lost his drag racing hero, British Drag Racing Hall of Fame member Dave Grady:
It's no exaggeration to say that Dave was the father of the Northern street, drags and yanks scene. In the years since Dave's tragic death I've met a large number of people who have been touched very deeply by the infectious enthusiasm which Dave had for our sport. We know him in drags for racing his High Spirits '57 Ford and Thunder Truck and other blue blood US Ford race cars predominantly at Pennine and Santa Pod.
His time as supplier working at the American Parts Centre in Bradford and his own SuperPower USA Speedshop did massive amounts to further the cause of all things Northern Yank V8 race and custom. Later his G-Force touring Super Gas show, his commentary and endeavours to further UK drag racing through every possible cause did so much to energise people and motivate them to participate. But he's remembered just as fondly as head honcho for all things street and his endeavors in the late seventies with the West Yorks Street Freaks Club, and Northern Street Confederacy are things of legend. And let's not forget his success with West Yorks Police, not only to get cruises in the mid to late seventies flowing without problem but later to get livery signed off for use on Ken Coleman's wild blown Rover cop car! Dave just had that personality and golden touch and will be forever remembered as somebody who really had a significant input to where we are now.
Graham Beckwith wrote what is the perfect account of who Dave was, what he did, and what he should be remembered for at www.britishdragracinghof.co.uk/members/dave-grady.
Ellis' unfinished business.
23rd August: UK Pro Modified racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Graham Ellis says that it has been a bad year on the European Tour but that it has at least been character-building:
At Mantorp we were still finding broken stuff from the Summernationals, but as the car had not been back in the workshop since that meeting we never found it. On our first hit at the Summernationals we went to the start line with our 6.0 tune-up in the car, the track couldn't take that and it shook like it never shook before. In the next pair Andy Robinson, who has run 6.0 in the right lane, proceeded to shake very badly to a point that part of the rear screen broke off his car.
With hindsight this run was where the damage was done, as my car has never got down any track since and never managed a six since, when its first full pass two years ago with less parts and way less experience was a 6.81/213. We found broken four-link plates in Finland and in Sweden we found that the shock absorbers and the anti roll bar were doing nothing. In Sweden we also burned a crank, did an engine change between rounds and got shut off as an eight-dollar rubber fuel hose had split. Everything is repaired now, so we have three complete engines.
I don't know if the 'Cuda will be here in time to get ready for the European Finals, but Sean Brown will be there with me again as he has unfinished business. What i will say is that the computer from the 'Cuda is an absolute gold mine and worth the money alone. Remember that Howard Moon tuned this car; that's why we bought it, to buy information which no one is giving away.
Big thanks to all my crew for putting up with me and for working like dogs. I don't have to name them, you all know who they are.
Am I serious about Pro Mod? You bet I am.
Regular readers will know that Graham sponsors Eurodragster.com through one of his businesses, the very popular Rak Chang Thai restaurant in Leigh-on-Sea. The restaurant now has a web site at www.thairakchang.co.uk. As well as full menus and details of special set meals the web site includes location and reservation form.
The Boss says "Wait".
23rd August: FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champonship leader and Eurodragster.com sponsor Urs Erbacher went to the NitrOlympX at Hockenheim tied with Championship rival Risto Poutiainen. But Urs felt that he had the advantage at Hockenheim as he views it as his home track and because he had more than two hundred people in his pit:
At Hockenheim we always have a lot of fans from Switzerland and this time we had over 150 VIP guest in our own hospitality. So we had two big trailers and a big tent to build up. But with my Super Erbacher Team and Thomas Fischer taking care of the VIP organisation everything was finished on time and we could concentrate on the car and the bike.
I walked the track on Wednesday afternoon and the retired NHRA guys had done a great job. But after it rained all day Thursday all the good work was undone.
In the first session on Friday we went up in smoke early but the other teams had the same problem. Our set-up was good for the next session and I had my daughter
India saw me back to the start line after the burnout under Dario's supervision. She did a great job and she will be doing it again at the finals.
We were the first pair out there and ran 4.986/472.10 kmh. So we were happy that we could handle the track, but the teams going after us saw how good the track was
and turned up the screws a little. So after the last qualifying session we ended up in sixth and Risto was in third.
It was a hard night. All my VIP fans asked me "What happened? Normally you are number one qualifier". I tried to explain as much as I could but it is always the same at home races. I knew I needed to win the first round against Risto, but Risto beat me last year in Hockenheim. My VIPs said "Do it back to him! You get him. Go Urs!". But that put more pressure on me, so there was only one way to clear that: I needed a win light.
I deep staged and tried to pull a good light. But you know how it goes, Home Track stuff again and I was later on the lights than I normally am in eliminations. So Risto was in front of me. I saw his front wing in the corner of my vision all the way and as long you see that you know you are behind. After one hundred feet I gave up in my head and thought that he would win. But then my car started to pull more and I passed Risto just before the finish line. I won! It was great, it was like winning a whole race.
My VIPs and my team were happy and we pulled back to the pits to prepare for Andy Carter and his guys. In my head I was ready to beat him but you all know that it started to rain and they had to call it off because of the time schedule. I can live with that but I would have preferred to have finished the race and show my fans that we could win on our home track. But the Lord wants us to settle the Championship in England. So he is the Boss and we will do it at Santa Pod.
I would like to thank my crew and the whole VIP team. Including the team there were more than two hundred people - thank you all. We will see you at Santa Pod.
Meanwhile, a short bus ride away at the other end of the sprawling Team Erbacher pit, UEM Supertwin Championship leader Lorenz
Stäuble was at the NitrOlympX to take part in the Nitro Bike Thunder shoot-out. Team member Horst Pauli tells us that Lo's
appearance at Hockenheim allowed the team to test set-ups without the pressure to earn points at the same time:
Before the race we installed a fuel flow meter on the bike because we wanted to know how much fuel was going in to the motor. We made the first run with our basic set-up and ran a 6.84. For the second run we changed the nozzles and adjusted the BDK. The goal was to use bigger jets and less turns on the BDK to get about the same amount of fuel. It all worked really well and our calculations were quite accurate.
The second run was 6.74, not bad for testing. As far as I remember this was the quickest run by a Nitro bike all weekend. We made a third run in the legendary Hockenheim Night Show. All the grandstands where filled and it must have felt like this for the gladiators. We were in the first pair with Hans Olav Olstad. But in the burnout the motor over-revved and the MSD shut it down before anything could be damaged. Because it was a show event, we could run again in the last pair together with Ian King. This time Lo made a real nice long burnout. In the other lane Ian King broke something just after the burnout so he had to push back. So Lo ran alone and the entire arena concentrated on him.
Lo left the line quite well but slowly went left, so he started to correct and after 600 feet the bike went right. It was too much so he had to get off the throttle, straighten up the bike and get on the throttle again, but he ran 6.90. From the start line we could see the exhaust flames all the way down the track. It's cool making runs when it is getting dark.
On Sunday it was a bit like Mantorp. Because of rain the FIA classes could only run their first elimination rounds. After that the event was cancelled.
So there is only one race left in the Championship, and Team Erbacher is leading in Top Fuel and in Supertwin. Are we able to repeat 2007?
Hunting the lid of the box...
23rd August: Swedish Pro Stock racer Michael Malmgren and his team were very pleased with their
successful weekend at Hockenheim, where Michael would have contested the rained-out final. Michael says that the
final round finish gave him the Championship in an open box - he just needs to put the lid on it.
"Of course it's not a done deal yet", says Michael. "I can get sick and not show up, or some other stupid thing could happen, but even then Micke Callin or Jan Palmqvist need to qualify top and win the race. So it is looking good. The whole season has been a real team effort with a lot of hard work and many hours of preparation of the Lahega/Oakley car in our shop in Helsingborg. Mike Öhman, Tim Andersen, Jerry Hagman, Tomas Jonsson and Paula Hallberg has stayed on top of the game all the way. We have really tried our best to not overlook anything this year and to have a strategy for every race. This has really paid off with very consistent runs. We have not been looking for Low ET or record runs, but been more focused on getting a good set up for race day that gives us consistent safe runs so that we can win rounds. It is of course always nice too have the quickest car as we have had twice this season but to win the Championship it takes points - a lot of points.
"Our Jerry Bickel-built GTO is working very well right now and with the usual top-notch power from Bob Ingles we are looking real good. We are very grateful for the support from our main sponsor Lahega Kemi and our associate sponsor Oakley. We wouldn't do this without their backing. We are also very proud and grateful for the support from our twenty two US performance parts manufacturers who have been supported us for many years with the best possible parts - for more information see my web site at www.malmgrenracing.com.
"Right now we have our state of the art rig on display at the 2010 Elmia Sweden Truck Show, then we have some passenger runs to give and then another truck show in Denmark before loading up for the European Finals at Santa Pod."
Heezen summoned by the police.
23rd August: Dutch Supertwin racer Job Heezen, one of three racers all but tied at the top of this year's UEM European Championship, is back from his travels and has been in touch to bring us up-to-date with his European tour:
Our trip to Mantorp Park started one day earlier than usual.
We had been invited to come to attend the Press Day on the Wednesday as Championship points leader.
I had never been to a meeting like this and in a room full of Swedish-speaking Vikings I felt like a fish
out of water but when I saw Tog in the first row it felt like home instantly.
I tried to explain that the situation of a drag racer in my country is quite a bit different from
the status they have in Scandinavia. I think they got the message, as the next day's headline in the local
newspaper said "Nobody knows anything about drag racing in Holland".
The new track made a good impression, they put in a lot of effort on the new surface and the camber in the right lane is almost history. Keeping in mind that the surface was only one week old I was surprised to see that most of the runs were straight, even in the right lane hardly anybody went towards the wall. From the first qualifying run on we had a problem with our timer box. It worked fine in the warm-up in the pit but during the run it refused to do its job. It didn't work on any of our three runs and we had to tune the bike without timers, which can be viewed as similar to going into the boxing ring with both hands tied behind your back. So the number three qualifying spot was more than we hoped for. Late in the evening we found out that the timer box worked fine until the MSD started to produce big power, it also produced interference causing the timer box to quit. We didn't have a spare box with us but we were lucky that we could borrow Ton and Vincent Pels' spare so we were ready for the first round of eliminations and a pairing which is becoming a classic: us against Roel Koedam. Sadly the rain on the Sunday put an end to the Mantorp race.
That day I got a nice surprise from the Chief of Police in Toten/Norway.
Im my Alastaro review I said some things on these Toten boys and the Chief of Police seems to be a very dedicated
reader of Eurodragster.com.
He was very happy that somebody finally understood the trouble he has in his peace-keeping operations in Toten.
Henning, one of the decent members of the gang, handed me an official letter from the Chief of Police with an invitation
to come and see him at the station (click on picture at right for legible version).
Normally, an invitation to show up at the police station is not such good news and you'd better bring your wallet
or, even worse, your pyjamas.
Not this time, now I've got an invitation to show up and drink coffee and eat doughnuts.
Before I leave Mantorp I'd like to mention the excellent webcam on Nitroz.se, I got a lot of positive reaction from people back home.
After the rainout on Sunday we were all set for the next stop, Gardermoen. This was easier said than done. When I pulled up the motorhome to hook up to the trailer I heard strange noises from the rear end. Every time I hit the brakes the rig was jumping up and down like a kangaroo. This way we hit the road to our destination for the week, the campsite in Arvika, halfway between Mantorp and Gardemoen. I had to use a different approach to braking, every time I needed to use the brakes I hit them hard to make sure the trailer took over most of the effort. It helped a lot that the Swedish driving style is, how can I put it, more than relaxed. We got to the camp site in good shape, took the drums off and found what we expected to find: the (not so old) brake liners had separated from the shoes. The manufacturer of the shoes had probably forgotten to read the manual when he glued the liners to the shoes. No way to find new shoes in that corner of Sweden so my mate Roel Koedam offered to tow my trailer with his motorhome. In the meantime fellow racers back home, Henri Joosten and Joeri de Haas, organised new parts and shipping to Norway in order to get the rig ready for the long trip home.
The short trip to the track was easy, nice roads (mostly new), nice weather and the brakes worked pretty OK. We put grease in the drum to make sure the drum would survive the trip and to prevent the brakes from welding in case of emergency and this worked fine. That Thursday the weather in Norway changed from nice to very bad, it was pouring the rest of the day and most of the day after. All afternoon we were busy digging ditches with dykes around them to make sure our EZ-Up was not flooded. We managed to send all the water towards the shower area which looked pretty much like Loch Ness after a while. Once again the Dutch showed how to fight water and we were very proud of our work, although some guys who were pitted close to the showers had a different opinion.
Qualifying started Friday afternoon and showed once again the "fast" reputation of the track with extremely quick runs by Per Bengtson, Peter Svensson, Jaska Salakari and others. At the end of qualifying we were third and this teamed me up with Jaska for the first round of eliminations. We have a long history together: that night we figured that we had raced each other for the first time eighteen years ago in Top Gas. This is not the guy you'd like to meet in the first round as we all know that he can sometimes fly. Not this time, this run he had one of his rare oil leaks so it was an easy win for us. Next round: Lo Stäuble.
Now things were getting serious, as Lo was one of the guys chasing me for the Championship. He had also made some quick runs the day before so we knew we had to go big guns! I had a better reaction which is not easy, ask Vinnie, and I took the lead for a large part of the run but just before the finish I saw Lo in the corner of my visor. It was one of the closest runs we had ever had and neither of us dared to claim the win. We had to wait until Cintzy, our little girl from Italy, arrived on her moped to tell Lo the good news and my bad news that he won with a difference of 0.015 seconds (1.38 metres - Ed)! These are the moments when drag racing has much in common with a pinball machine: your ball can roll the right way and hit the jackpot, or it can take another route and slip right in between the flippers.
It was Lo and Hans-Olav Olstad in the final round and this time it was again Lo who took the maximum points. After five races and with one more to go we have three guys on almost equal in points in Supertwin. The European Finals at Santa Pod will decide who is going to be the new European Champion. I mentioned before that drag racing has much in common with a pin-ball machine and writing these notes and thinking of the semi-final run with Lo, this crossed my mind: was it Keith Bartlett who was on the flippers during that run?
Now to Santa Pod: new round, new chances. It ain't done until the fat lady sings the blues !
Thanks a lot to my sponsors Zodiac International, Spectro Oils of America, Supertrapp Exhaust and National Cycle Windscreens.
NitrOlympX Top Gas review.
23rd August: Last weekend's NitrOlympX at Hockenheim was the fifth round of the
European Top Gas Series, writes Herman Jolink:
On Friday qualifying started about 11 o'clock because the track was wet and had to be dried. Because there were 320 competitors we had just one qualifying run on Friday. On Saturday it went a little better and we had two qualifying runs. Qualifying:
- Rasmus Olesen S on 3000 V-Twin 7.655/272
- Anna-Lena Asplund S on 2600 V-Twin 7.990/259
- Stefan André S on 2600 V-Twin 8.061/262
- Harry van Schie NL on 1966 Blower V-Twin 8.461/240. After the first run of 9.006 Harry had a damaged inlet valve but Harry and Jaap Duiin repaired it.
- Peter Niklas D on 1000 Turbo Honda 8.519/246. New Personal Best time (previously 9.0). After the first run of 9.454 Niklas had a piston with stuck piston rings so the team put in the spare motor.
- Herman Jolink NL on Ducati 1198 RS (1266) 8.534/257. The first run was 8.849 then 8.534 but Jolink had traction problems and the third run was 8.643.
- Cord Albers D on 2622 V-Twin 8.628/251
- Bernd Niessen D on 2240 V-Twin 8.685/236. Bernd took the Vortech mechanical turbo off his bike because it was not easy to find the right set-up.
- Marc van de Boer B on 2660 V-Twin 8.769/222. The first run was 9.192, problems with the clutch set-up.
- Frank Heitmann D on 2622 V-Twin. The gearbox broke after the first run and Frank put in his spare gearbox.
- Mats Larsson S on 2590 Turbo V-Twin 9.631/181. Mats has problems finding the right set-up but managed it on the third run.
- Jorg Lynmant D on 1800 Blower V-Twin 9.866/230
- Uwe Kahmann D on 2600 V-Twin 12.335/177. This was Uwe's first time on his new bike.
- Lando Beugelsdijk NL on 2600 V-Twin 14.707/82. Also the first run on a Top Gas Bike, the start waas very good but then a wire broke and he lost speed.
Championship points:
- Herman Jolink NL 1590
- Harry van Schie NL 1230
- Marc van den Boer B 1120
- Frank Heitmann D 950
- Cord Albers D 895
- Peter Niklas D 770
- Bernd Niessen D 660
- Uwe Kahmann D 340
20th-22nd August: Dutch Finals, Drachten NL
28th August: Dragday Finals, Hoskovice CZ
2nd-5th September: Mosten Race Days and Top Gas Finals (201m sprint), Mosten DK
Bond's mad rush.
23rd August: UK blown-alcohol altered racer Joe Bond and the Nuthin' Fancy team have had a mad rush to get the six-second car ready for this weekend's Open Sport Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway:
We have been having problems keeping the motor together since Easter after we destroyed our previous Personal Best with a 6.62/205 run. After the Springspeed Nationals and the Summernationals, which were mixed affairs of head-scratching and close calls (not to mention grazing the wall!) we think we've made inroads getting the engine back on song and we are looking forward to going to Shakespeare County Raceway to put the season back on track.
I would like to say a huge Thanks to my family and my crew for unbelievably hard once again to get the car ready for this weekend. It has been a very trying year so far after the initial success, so we are hoping for a good weekend's racing. My web site at www.nuthinfancyracing.co.uk has had a bit of a revamp with a new Blog section. The latest Blog entry has an in-car video from the wall-grazing run at the Summernationals; I must say a huge thanks to Paul Venners and the guys and girls at Quartermilehigh.com for letting me use the footage.
We look forward to seeing everyone again!
Swift snippets.
23rd August: Our good buddy Markus Münch has some spare room in a hire car already booked for the weekend of the FIA European Finals. Markus will be arriving at Stansted Airport from Germany at 23:00 on Friday 10th September and the car is booked until the Sunday evening. If you would like to take one of the seats in the car then you can contact Markus at lonesomedragstripper@gmx.de.
Web site updates.
23rd August: The TV broadcast of last weekend's FIA European Championship round at Hockenheim has as ever been made available on-line at the Rally Action web site at www.rally-action.com. Even with the outcome of the race it is an excellent production with good editing and high-quality picture and sound.
Our good friend Julian Hunt has updated his gallery site at www.julianhunt.net
with pictures from June's UK Truck Show at Santa Pod Raceway. Regular readers will recall that Julian stood in as photographer on
Eurodragster.com's Event Coverage at the UK Truck Show but his update includes pictures not seen at the time.
Irish Junior Dragster racer and UK National Junior Dragster Championship leader Gabrielle McDonald has a new web site at www.mcdonaldracing.moonfruit.com. The very tidy site, designed and built by Laura Turburville, includes biography, photo and video, car details, links and more.
Johan van de Sande has updated his Flickr gallery with pictures from the NitrOlympX at Hockenheim. You can check out Johan's pictures at www.flickr.com/photos/johanvandesande.
John van Geytenbeek.
22nd August: We were shocked and very sorry to hear of the death of Supertwin racer 'Canadian' John van Geytenbeek in an accident this afternoon at the Dutch Finals at Drachten Airfield. John had previously run in the European Top Gas Series and ran his first eight-second pass at Drachten last year but at this weekend's event was running in Top Fuel Bike on a recently-acquired Supertwin on which he had just won his licence.
We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to John's family and friends. If you would like to send a tribute or more biographical detail then please E-Mail tributes@eurodragster.com.
Earlier news
