Andy "Spud" Cunningham's family have posted their thanks for all the messages and comments they received the last few days regarding Andy's passing. "We are still trying to adjust to everything but we thank you for the kind words shared about him.
"We have arranged a wake/party in his honour as he did not want a funeral. Anyone is welcome to attend. It will be held at the Gupshill manor Tewkesbury on the 4th of May at 12pm till 4pm. There will be buffet food at the venue and a bar for people to purchase there own drinks. we do ask for NO BLACK AND NO TIES, just smart casual or what you feel comfortable in as this is a celebration of his life and he would want everyone to be themselves. If anyone has any questions please do not hesitate to message Chelsea Ashton on Facebook. Could any one wanting to attend please let us know so we have a idea on numbers.
"Again we thank you all for your support at this time and we hope to see you on May 4th."
Congratulations to Chris Todd who won the Sports Compact Shootout with its winner’s cash prize of £750 at the Fast Show on Sunday.
Chris’s RWD eight second Fiesta Mk1 qualified #1 and clearly had the legs on the other FWD competitors although runner up Dean Hyndman made great efforts to catch Chris performance wise, running a new PB in qualifying, and winning £250 for becoming runner up.
Qualifying was as follows:
- Chris Todd (Fiesta Mk1 2000cc) 8.9342/158.48
- Dean Hyndman (Fiesta Mk3 2000cc) 9.3606/151.66
- Scott Linacre (Vauxhall Chevette 1809cc) 10.1718/131.31
- Karl Monks (Honda Civic 2000cc) 10.2247/145.23
- Grant Moore (Vauxhall Corsa 2000cc) 10.3987/136.04
- Ahmed Jamshaid (Honda Civic 2400cc) 10.5187/141.15
- Ameer-Akram Ashad (Honda Civic 2400cc) 11.6400/123.07
- Billy Bamber (Nissan Micra 1800cc) 13.369/87.03
Eliminations went:
Round 1:
Chris Todd 9.4377/147.12 def. Billy Bamber 12.2192/108.2
Scott Linacre 10.2124/132.05 def. Ahmed Jamshaid 17.1859/45.11
Dean Hyndman 9.3969/156.33 def. Ameer-Akram Ashad 11.6209/126.19
Grant Moore 10.3348/136.17 def. Karl Monks 10.6396/127.99
Round 2:
Dean Hyndman 9.3778/157.44 def. Scott Linacre 16.5441/48.2
Chris Todd 9.7384/141.63 def. Grant Moore 10.3458/136.57
Final:
Chris Todd 9.4681/156.89 def. Dean Hyndman 11.9933/88.2
Well done to Billy Bamber on running new PBs in his Nissan Micra. You can see footage of qualifying sessions and commentary from SPR announcer Luke Stevenson on YouTube by clicking here. Thanks to Luke for posting race results. Kieran has posted a YouTube video of the competition which you can see by clicking here or on the embedded video.
The next Sports Compact Shootout is at The Vauxhall Show on Sunday 2nd June 2024, which you can enter for £110 and have the chance to win £750. For full rules go to the Santa Pod website at this link.
After the success of the 1st event, the 2nd race for the Agrinio Raceway 2024 Auto-Moto Cup, with the valuable help of the municipality of Agrinio and the region of western Greece will take place on April 26th- 28th at Agrinio Raceway, ASI under the auspices of OMAE and AMOTOE.
Many entries are expected from Greece and also from abroad, returning drivers as well as vehicles, new entries.
For cars, you must register through the OMAE system but also on our site where the form must be filled in by clicking here.
All participants must have a valid OMAE sports card as well as a health card which they indicate at the administrative control.
Racers who want to participate, self-declare participation in E-OMAE by clicking here, going to "competitions - declaration of participation" and paying the one-time insurance fee for the Federation for the whole three days. In order to complete his participation, each driver must enter his License Number and the details of the car (in each entry of details, press the magnifying glass symbol after filling in the requested details, in case the car does not have a Technical Identification Card, first click on the magnifying glass symbol to enter the car details). Participation declarations are due no later than 19th April.
Each entry is entitled to admission for the driver and two mechanics. Entries that will not be present in the OMAE electronic system will not be accepted. The participation fee for cars is €150 for the first participation and €100 for the second and for the 3 days (this amount includes the driver's insurance).
For motorcycles, you must register through the AMOTOE system but also on our site where the form must be filled in by clicking here. All participants must have a valid AMOTOE sports card as well as a health card which they indicate at the administrative control. All racers who want to declare to speak with the associations they belong to and ASA athletes should contact the email [email protected].
Each entry is entitled to admission for the driver and two mechanics. The participation fee for motorcycles is €185 for the first participation in any category for all 3 days, €120 for a possible participation in a 2nd category of the same driver with the same or a different motorcycle and € 80 for an entry in the Free Pass category. Participation declarations are due no later than 24th April 2024.
Thanks to Kieran Jenkins for sending a gallery of photos from the Saturday Night Special and the Fast Show from Santa Pod Raceway supported by John Woolfe Racing.
Saturday Night gallery please follow this link.
Fast Show gallery please follow this link.
Kieran's photos are watermarked and we encourage them to be downloaded and shared unmodified on social media.
Feature picture: Paul Marston's "Grumpy" driven by Max Marston.
Unfortunately YAM YAM Racing test day on Monday was reduced to a couple of hours racing, Kieran was unable to obtain any pictures. We thank him for his attendance.
Thanks to Allison B. McCormick from ABM Communications with this update on Ida Zetterstrom's team JCM Racing's NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. JCM Racing is the team Ida will be racing with later in 2024.
LAS VEGAS (April 14, 2024) – With eight world championships and 86 national event wins, Tony Schumacher is the most sccessful driver in NHRA Top Fuel history, but despite checking nearly every box on the drag racing list of accomplishments, he has yet to hoist a four-wide Wally trophy. He’s come close, finishing as the runner-up in 2012 and 2017 in Charlotte, N.C. as well as recording a runner-up finish at the 2018 Las Vegas NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. Aboard the Okuma Top Fuel dragster, Schumacher was hoping this weekend’s visit to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway would be the event where his four-wide luck would change, but a first-round loss halted his shot at picking up a first four-wide win.
Starting from the No. 2 seed for the second time in three events, Schumacher drew No. 7 qualifier Shawn Reed, No. 10 qualifier Justin Ashley, and No. 15 qualifier Terry Totten as his first-round competitors. Schumacher was second off of the starting line and on a good run before his machine started to spin the tires near the top end, slowing to a 4.109 E.T. while Ashley and Totten posted a 3.777 and 3.911, respectively, to advance into the next round.
“We know how to run really fast now. We’re consistently qualifying in the top half of the field. We’re doing good, but we need to be able to go down the track more often. We need a bigger window. So, we’re going to start working on that window,” said Schumacher, who earned two bonus points during qualifying when he clocked the second-quickest run of the third session to place him second on the elimination ladder.
“We were on a good run there (in E1). It started spinning the tires near the top end. It’s doing it in a familiar spot over and over again. Seems like every change we make, it’s still hitting that spot. We’re staying to test tomorrow, and we’re going to make a change to try and fix that spot. We need a window in that area that will allow us to not have to slow the car down, still run fast, but be able to get through that danger zone.”
Schumacher will have another shot at a four-wide trophy when the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to zMAX Dragway for the second of two four-wide style events. Schumacher will be back behind the wheel of the Okuma dragster at the Concord, N.C. race as part of a three-event primary partnership with Okuma America Corporation, which is headquartered nearby in Charlotte. He will begin the race weekend ranked seventh in the Top Fuel standings.
Qualified: No. 6 (3.768 E.T. at 325.53 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 4.109 E.T. at 260.06 MPH defeated by Justin Ashley 3.777 E.T. at 329.18 MPH, Terry Totten 3.911 E.T. at 284.39 MPH
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel Point Standings (Unofficial):
| 1 | Justin Ashley | 351 | |
| 2 | Shawn Langdon | 328 | |
| 3 | Steve Torrence | 300 | |
| 4 | Doug Kalitta | 290 | |
| 5 | Billy Torrence | 249 | |
| 6 | Tony Stewart | 206 | |
| 7 | Tony Schumacher | 204 | |
| 8 | Antron Brown | 203 | |
| 8 | Brittany Force | 203 | |
| 10 | Josh Hart | 168 |
We are sad to report the death after a fight with cancer of longtime Street Eliminator crewman Andy ‘Spud’ Cunningham aged only 56.
Andy first came to the class in the early 1990s when he joined the Fat Boys team of Ian Hook and supplying a motor to the team in 1995, the team winning the championship in that year. He continued with the team until Ian hung up his helmet in 2012. The Fat Boys team won many races and two more championships (2006 and 2010) during his time with them.
In 2013, Spud joined Mark Todd’s team crewing on the GTO, in 2014 teamed up with Steve Pateman when Mark had most of the year off. Then with Mark back stronger than ever in 2015 Spud helped him win his first championship. After a couple of years off, he returned when Mark ran his Six Appeal Aston Martin and stayed with the team. He then became a member of Andy Bond’s Ugly Sister team, returning to the track as much as he could.
Sadly, he contracted cancer but fought it bravely. As family friend Karen Quo wrote “Even through the smiles and laughter, he fought silent pain and trauma. It's a cliché to say how much of a brave and strong man he was but that's exactly what he was. Going in for treatment or check ups, he would take his nurses an array of cakes and home made bakes, his way of thanking them and doing something for them.”
It’s fair to say that Spud had the drag racing bug more than most and an infectious sense of fun, wicked sense of humour and enjoyment of food and cooking, that would make him many friends from Street Eliminator and further afield. That showed at his final race at Easter, when the Fat Boys team returned to hail him and he had a passenger ride with Marc Huxley who had been a fellow crew member on Mark’s team.
Eurodragster.com sends its deepest condolences to his family and friends, particularly wife Julie, his boys, Sam and Finn, his Sister Jo and step daughters, Chelsea and Elle, and to his many team-mates and friends in and around the pits.
Former editor Tog is situated at Melbourne Raceway for this weekend's Straightliners Round 2. You can see his galleries of on-track and off-track pictures from day 2 of the event, plus results by going to our event coverage page at this link supported by John Woolfe Racing.
For a list of Sunday's best times (pdf format) go to this link.
Pictured: Bob Molden and his Peugot 205 410ci.
We will announce the winners of each class once the results have been confirmed to eurodragster.com
Happy birthday to Wild Bunch/Super Comp slingshot driver Terry Clifford, Wild Bunch racer and blogger Russ Heaven, Nostalgia Super Stock racer Glynn Boardman, and former Wheelgame Racing crew chief Adrian Spencer. We hope you all have a great day.
Former editor Tog is situated at Melbourne Raceway for this weekend's Straightliners Round 2. You can see his galleries of on-track and off-track pictures from day 1 of the event, plus results by going to our event coverage page at this link supported by John Woolfe Racing.
No Mercy Shootout solid 17 bike turnout, Peter Slater with his Hayabusa 1407cc in the number one spot with 5.63/138mph with more qualifying today. The National Street Car Club also had 10 cars in attendance and carried out their round 1 of racing. For a list of Saturday's best times (pdf format) go to this link.
Pictured: Andy Higham's Deofol 500cc.
Happy Birthday for today to Super Street Bike tuning guru Brad O'Connor, Wild Bunch racer Dan Sharp and Nostalgia Super Stock racer, also to eurodragster.com sponsor and committee member Chris Goodale. We hope you all have a great day.
It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of 1970s and 1980s doorslammer champion Sylvia Hauser in her sleep on Easter Sunday, 31st March.
Born Sylvia Read, she started driving at the age of 6, sitting on her dad's knee. By the time she was 10, she was zooming around fields on a little Bantam 125cc motorcycle and at 13, she used to sneak her mum’s little MG Midget out when she was out, and drive up and down the M4, leading to complaints by her mum that the car must have a petrol leak as she could not understand where the gas was going…
Passing her motorcycle test first time when she was 16, and car test first time a year later, after rolling her first car, she tried her hand at banger racing.
The need for speed made Sylvia go into American muscle, buying a '66 289 cubic inch Mustang which she raced unofficially at a disused airfield off Yeading Lane in Hayes. She first attended Santa Pod Raceway as a spectator and was inspired by Paula Murphy driving her Funny Car to start drag racing.
Her first drive was in the Pro-Stocker "Swartz Brothers" Chevy Nova, which had just been imported from the US. Excited by the drive, she moved to Mopar with a Dodge Charger 440 named the “Mopar Miss"ile. She then bought a Production class Dodge Challenger and, with the mechanical expertise of then husband Geof, whom she married in March 1978, she became a champion. In that year, they took the NDRC Production Championship, was runner up in the overall NDRC championship and won the Ladies Sperex Award for the first of five times.
1979 was the first year when Sylvia made a clean sweep of championship awards. She won the overall RAC Championship (repeated in 1981 and 1983), RAC Division III Championship (repeated in 1980-84), the NDRC Overall Points Championship and Production Championship, and the BDRA Production Championship, the first driver to take five championships in one year. Geof picked up the Dennis Priddle Mechanics Trophy.
In 1980 they imported the Paul Rossi NHRA record holding Dodge Challenger Super Stock and debuted it at Santa Pod’s August Supernationals with Sylvia once again behind the wheel. It was an instant crowd favourite with its wheels up launches and took the Top Modified win first time out, going on to take many more wins in Top Modified and Super Gas while Geof took over the driving of the Production Challenger.
More championships followed with Sylvia taking the John Woolfe Racing Top Modified Championship from 1981-1983. She switched to Super Gas in its debut year of 1984, becoming runner up in that year,
Sylvia’s new car for the 1985 season was a state-of-the-art Ford Sierra Super Gasser constructed by Geof. Sylvia won the Super Gas Championship that year and Geof picked up the Best Prepared Car trophy.
The Sierra was badly damaged in a top end crash at the 1986 Summernationals. Sylvia emerged from the wreckage unscathed – a tribute to the car’s construction and she still had enough points to take the Super Gas Championship once again, her last championship before starting her family with sons Jay-David and Scott, splitting with Geof a decade later.
In the 13 years Sylvia raced, she took the overall RAC MSA title three times, and successfully drag raced also at Le Mans, Zandvoort and Mantorp Park.
Sylvia was known for her fearless driving skills and competitiveness, together with promotional skills that led to much media coverage in her racing years. After she retired from racing, she bred pets and followed the progress of Jay-David and Scott both on and off-track.
Our deepest condolences to Sylvia’s family, in particular sons Jay-David and Scott who became prominent racers, to her racing friends.
Thanks to Nikos Diakakis for letting us know the results of round 1 of the Greece Dragster Championship:
Nikos writes: “On April 5 – 6 and 7, Agrinio Raceway opened its gates to welcome the 1st round of the Pan-Hellenic Dragster auto-moto championship, which also counted for the Agrinio Raceway 2024 cup.
“Despite the large gap in time that the Agrinio track had from its last race in 2023, the track was prepared once again very well and many personal and pan-Hellenic records were set and with 2 times falling below 7sec.
“The entries exceeded 120 in cars and motorbikes while the Sunday matches were very strong and most importantly with a lot of spectators (over 1500 spectators) who sat until the end!!
“After the end of the event, awards took place with a lot of people applauding the winners, while the next appointment for the 2nd match of the cup was renewed for April 26-27 and 28.”
Congratulations to the winners:
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Car classes: |
Motorcycle classes: |
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Index 09: Charalampos Giannakopoulos (Toyota Corolla, pictured) |
Pro Street 2: Yiannis Martzaklis (Suzuki Hayabusa turbo, pictured) |
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Index 11: Sotirios Tasopoulos (Subaru Impreza STI) |
Super Street: Savvas Tilsisoglu (Suzuki) |
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Index 12: Ioannis Stamatis (Nissan Micra) |
Pro Street 1: Konstantinos Kourtelis (Ktm super duke 990) |
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BT1: Charalambos Katsanos (VW Golf) |
Street 2: Alexandros Soultoukis (Hayabusa 1340) |
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BT2: Charalampos Giannakopoulos (Toyota Corolla) |
Real Street: Yiannis Lampropoulos (Suzuki GSXR1000) |
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AT 2: Christos Dagres (Audi S3) |
Pro Z: Achilleas Stergiou (Crypton x) |
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True Street 9: Panagiotis Charchalakis (Suzuki Hayabusa) |
Complete results can be seen by clicking here.
Happy Birthday for today to former Top Methanol Funny Car champion Leif Andreasson, former Pro Stock Bike racer Gabriella Nikolovska, sometime nitro tuner Herb Andrews, Outlaw Anglia crew and gearbox guru Dave Eady, Outlaw Anglia racer Stephen Brindle and Top Fuel crew member Luke Shakeshaft. We hope you all have a fantastic day.
Thanks to Max Frost from Santa Pod Raceway for sending this Festival of Power Test Day update.
By popular demand, Santa Pod Raceway is pleased to announce that we shall now be hosting a new Test Day on Thursday 25th April, before the Festival of Power on Friday 26th - Sunday 28th.
With a rather large entry of 320 teams for this event and a limited number of Test Day Vouchers available, we're expecting this to sell out quite quickly. Therefore, if you are interested in signing up, call the Box Office on 01234 782 828.
Vouchers will be released on Monday 15th April at 9am.
Racers must be entered into the Festival of Power event to be eligible for the test day.
Tony Higgs, Street Eliminator victor at Easter, defeated defending champion Andy Bond in the final round, had a great race with multiple personal bests, few apparent mechanical problems and important race craft in the final. Tony wrote:
Test day Friday, was pretty much a washout. Had gotten to the start line, just about to do the burnout and then arrives the rain.
Saturday morning, first qualifying round with the new tune (courtesy of John Sleath Racecars), completely blew the tires off on the start line. She hooked in third gear and felt really powerful crossing the line @ 166mph with an 11.40.
Second pass of the day became a huge turning point for Triggers Broom, with a massive PB of 192mph! Third qualifying run came as another PB of 7.48 @ 193mph. That concluded qualifying at No2. After following Elliot Day, we accidentally took the long way round on the cruise just about making it in time.
Sunday Eliminations started with a run against Graham Smith in the 57, the run was peddled a little but still went through with a huge 7.57 @ 197mph! Through to the next round. Next round we had close friend, Elliot Day in the Willys, we had tire slip down the track and only just made the winning light. A great PB for Elliot with a celebratory piggy back from Dave and Jen. It's always a good race no matter the outcome. This then put us through to a bye into the finals, where I met Andy Bond.
Brilliant run, left both teams on the edge of their seats but The Broom just pulled in front and took the win!! Well done to everyone for a great weekend racing and for all the PBs in the class.
Thank you to: John Sleath Race Cars, Hilsea TYRES, Trevor Hirst, Edge Performance Transmissions, Straub Technologies, KTH Photography and anyone else who anyone else who has helped.
Thanks to Dale Leeks for sending Eurodragster.com an update on his busy season ahead.
Next week Lightning Leeks flies to Maryland USA to continue his Pro Extreme Bike Racing career in the XDA Race Series. Dale finished third in the season last year racing against the best in the world and taking second place in the World Finals at SGMP, Valdosta in November.
Dale has recently graduated the Frank Hawleys Drag Racing School and in doing so breaking the school’s track record in their alcohol funny car, gaining him his NHRA Funny Car Licence.
Dale says “after many years of hounding Mark and Jackie Hawkins to let me get behind the wheel of there Nitro Funny Car, I went off to Frank Hawley's Drag Race School to licence in an Alcohol Funny Car and finally broke them down enough that I will attempt to licence in their car in June.
"The car has been modified by Jason Phelps to actually fit me in and he has done an amazing fabrication of the cockpit.
"I can’t wait to hit the loud pedal in that car and I can’t thank Mark and Jackie and the whole Hawk Racing Team enough for this opportunity."
For more information visit Frank Hawleys Drag Racing School
Thanks to John Tebenham for sending in the Spy Picture which was posted yesterday 11th April.
The explanation for the Mars Bar depicted is that Paul Marston (geddit?) is going to be driving the Crew Killer Pop at the Doorslammers event on 17th-19th May.
If you would like to send your own spy picture, then drop us a line at [email protected]
Happy Birthday for today to crew member for Ashley and AC Bell Tony Deluca, UK Blowers chief Nigel Jenkins, Speedshop Malta proprietor Simon Blackburn, and Junior Dragster cheerleader Yasmine Bengtson. We hope you all have a fantastic day.
Vote for Stock Super Stock racers Carla Pittau and Rick McCann to win the Sweden's Biggest Motor Freak award by clicking here and clicking on the “rösta” button. Voting closes April 21.
Mark Bishop has announced that he and dad Kim have have joined Supercharged Outlaws and just booked to run at the NSRA Nostalgia Nationals and then hopefully the Hot Rod Drags. Mark's Grey Vegas has been comprehensively reworked and now includes the engine from his slingshot dragster, so will be a great sight and sound on track!
Eurodragster.com continues to be supported for Event Coverage and on the front and news pages by John Woolfe Racing. Sunday 17th March Simon Groves and the new editorial team Chris Winn, Graham Watkinson and Dave Nelson visited the Bedford offices and warehouse of the long-established American Car parts company where shown around the mass archive collection, how the organisation and its operations run and have developed over the years.
Founder and managing director Dave Riswick whose history with the company now extends to over 56 years, is still active in his contacts with the many suppliers that JWR deals with.
JWR stock a wide range of performance products from Edelbrock, VHT Paint, RPC, Fram, Hedman, Holley, Mr Gasket, Fel-Pro, Dayco, and an extensive range of American Car books, plus many service items.
Their integrated stock system lets customers see how many of a particular item is in stock, and if an item is out of stock customers can be informed automatically via e-mail by completing an online form which will let them know when it is back in stock. The online shop enables JWR to be competitive on price with direct suppliers from the US.
Customer service at JWR is firmly into the digital age. JWR has always been in the forefront of advice on American car parts due to its access to electronic parts catalogues direct from manufacturers.
Availability: Items can be collected same day from their Bedford operation or shipped overnight for next day delivery to most parts of the UK. You can speak directly to one of the staff to confirm, how to and where to place orders, gain product information. Also process European or Overseas orders as well. They take calls from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm weekdays UK time.
JWR has valued customer loyalty and discounts are available for those with larger spends, which can be made via Google Pay and Apple Pay as well as by traditional credit or debit cards.
A big Thank You to JWR for their continued support of Eurodragster.com. You can contact JWR by going to www.woolfe.uk.
Eurodragster has been provided with this spy picture devoid of comments.
If you know more, or if you would like to send your own spy picture, then drop us a line at [email protected]
Happy Birthday for today to Old School Classic Altered constructor and painter extraordinaire Bryan Whitfield, Super Gas and Super Pro ET racer Collin Morrice, and former Shakespeare County Raceway tech guru Simon Day . We hope you all have a great day.
Thanks to Santa Pod Raceway's Events Coordinator Max Frost for announcing this latest news that the Nostalgia Nationals is in for a treat over the Bank Holiday weekend as not one, but TWO Top Fuel Dragsters will be making an appearance over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Due to being unable to attend the rescheduled Festival of Power event, Rune Fjeld Motorsport hasn’t yet had the opportunity to run ahead of Round 1 of the FIA Championships at the Main Event in May. Therefore, fuel pilots Susanne Callin in the Slick Tricks Dragster, and Duncan Micallef in the DM Motorsport Dragster are confirmed to be running at the Nostalgia Nationals.
Both drivers will be putting in test passes on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th May.
If you missed the opportunity to see Fuel Funny Car and Nostalgia Funny Car at Festival of Power, get your first Nitro fix of the year at Nostalgia Nationals – combined with the ever popular Nostalgia racing classes. Tickets are available now! Click here for more information and to book tickets!
At the Easter Nationals, Taylor’s Trophy Super Street Bike was a fascinating contest between champions, new racers and multi bike teams in conditions which were difficult with low temperatures leading to varying degrees of grip during the event.
Winner Jake Mechaell qualified with 6.8991/212.83, however competition in the four qualifying sessions was tough. In session 1, Dániel Donát Lencsés ran a great 6.8456/218.00 to take the #1 spot. In session 3, Alan Morrison Jnr came close with a 6.8568/215.13 to go second.
Jake said: “With the test day being rained off I just had to get on with it and get used to the new changes made to the bike over the winter during qualifying! The power and riding position changes made the bike really difficult to ride as some of you may have seen!
“Saturday night I made the necessary adjustments to make the bike a little easier to hold on to which resulted in a couple of speed PB’s, 1/8 mile @ 178mph and 1000ft @ 203mph! (These were coupled to a 6.6648/219.12 ET slip).”
Jake thanks his sponsors JKE Race Works, Turbosmart, Owen Developments, Putoline Oils, RRobinsons Foundry, Racing Lines, MTC Engineering, Antigravity Batteries, HELPerformance, VP Racing Fuels, Kent Cams, EPS Motorsport, APM Components, Kathy Taylor and WCS Ltd.
JKE Race Works had two Super Street Bikes entered. Teammate Brad Head, in the class for the first time, said he had a “fairly tough first weekend with a few little niggles, issues and also a few rider problems.
“But all in all, great to learn and get out on the bike finally after a long winter! If it was easy everyone would be doing it - right? I was more than happy to come away with a 7 second pass at the end of the weekend; we now have some things to change to make the bike easier to ride next time out so we will get to work on that now and hope for a bit more consistency at the next event!
“Thank you to the main man Jake Mechaell for all his tuning help and building me this bad ass bike once we iron out these small bugs I’m pretty sure it will fly! Thank you to Tony Underhill and William Clark for all their help over the weekend, it was really appreciated, and I couldn’t have done it without you guys!
“Thanks to Chloe Jade Carter for keeping us all fed in the evenings, Julia Sivén for her camera skills and general moral support, also to Bradley O'Connor for stepping up last minute and helping with a couple of electrical issues muchly appreciated!
“Thanks also to my sponsors for the year JKE Race Works, Kathy Taylor, Colin Millar and Lynn Purvis and Robin Read.”
Dániel Donát Lencsés’ team mate Margot Schmidt said “We got the bike back last week from Dániel Donát Lencsés workshop. Boy did he gave her some great upgrades. As result of that I need to adjust to the very powerful bike and get comfortable with it. The first run on the new setup was a 7.43 and the best run of the weekend was Saturday’s 7.39/ 188 mph with a 1.20 60 ft, at half throttle down the track.
“Thank you Dániel for building me such a strong and reliable bike.”
Looking forward to the rescheduled Festival of Power, the eight qualified bikes from Easter will be joined by Steve Venables, Ross Morrison and Rudolfo Maduro to set up a qualifying battle.
Happy Birthday for today to Santa Pod Raceway commentator Colin Theobald, videographer/crew/SPR commentator Thomas Cook Abbott, former Funny Bike racer Lizz McCarthy Charman, Wild Bunch racer and historian Mick Gleadow, ET Bike racer and Junior Drag Bike dad Leo Lester, and Williams Brothers patriach Keith Williams. We hope you all have a wonderful day.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery to British Drag Racing Hall of fame member and Top Fuel legend Gary Page who is laid up in hospital with what he describes as nerve damage in his back. Get back to the track soon Gary!
You can read a comprehensive account of new rider Jiri Luke's first outing on Phil Baimbridge's Rocket Top Fuel Bike last Saturday, written by Phil in his PBR Top Fuel Bike blog, by clicking here. After initial passes, Jiri is entered for the rescheduled Festival of Power to further acclimatise himself with the awesome machine.
Congratulations to the winners of the first round of the 2024 Straightliners championship last Sunday, 7th April, at Santa Pod Raceway:
Class 9.10: 573 Peter Slater (Hayabusa 1407cc) 9.11/125 def. 518 Maxine Taylor (BMW 1000RR) 9.84/141.
Straightliners No Mercy Shootout: 51 Ashley Hodgson (Kawasaki ZX10R) (10.00) 10.41/132 def. 173 Peter Slater (Hayabusa 1407cc) (8.63) 9.45/134.
Scooters No Mercy Shootout: Paul Gurney (Lambretta GP244cc) (14.70) 14.76/82 def. 312 Amy Wolstenholme (Piaggio 172cc) (17.98) 18.12/65.
NORA Juniors: 444 Jack Taylor (Spiderman125cc) (18.47) 19.17/59 def. 404 Alfie Barraclough (50cc Special) (20.85) 22.34/41.
NORA Eliminations: 14 Rob Kneeshaw (Suzuki GSX 750cc) (13.11) 13.34/95 def. 1180 Carl Hester (Suzuki GSX 1170cc) (10.85) 11.22/116.
Junior Eliminations: 444 Jack Taylor (Spiderman 125cc) (18.47) 18.67/63 def. 404 Jack Baraclough (50cc Special) (20.85)21.16/52.
Euro RWYB: Patrick Merite (Hayabusa 1300cc) 80.78/148 def. Jovian Susana (Suzuki 1000cc) 8.68/151.
Oldschool USB Stock: 1012 Amy Wolstenholme (Suzuki Bandit 400cc) 17.38/72.
Oldschool USB Modified: 1100 Alan Seeley (Suzuki 1200cc) 11.40/120 def. Mark Taylor (Suzuki GSX 1428cc) 9.88/134.
Oldschool USB 2-Stroke: 1203 Rod Spry (Kawasaki H2 750cc)
The racing was held in blustry sunny conditions with qualifying being run in the morning and eliminations in the afternoon.
Complete lists of ETs and speeds recorded on Sunday, including RWYB bikes, are available by clicking on this link. Thanks to Martyn Greathead for supplying Straightliners Championship results and points, which are available by clicking here.
You can check out John Woolfe Racing long term sponsor of eurodragster.com event coverage. A full event gallery can be found by clicking here or by clicking on the Events link at the top of any Eurodragster.com page. We should repeat our new policy that the watermarked photos from our galleries can be downloaded and may be used in social media posts but please do not crop or modify them, in particular we need the watermark retained.
Please join the editorial team in thanking Graham Watkinson for covering the photos at Sunday's event.
Thanks to Lee Child, promoter for the Spitfire raceway at Parrenporth, Cornwall who has announced an event for small tyre no prep on Saturday 20th April. Lee writes:
Spitfire raceway opens its gates again to feature an eliminator race for rear wheel drive small tyre 28/275 cars.
This is a heads up 16 car eliminator race with a huge £2000 winner prize fund and £400 for the runner up.
Spectator admission is only £10 per person under 16s free.
Track driver sign on fee £45, Eliminator buy in £150, all buy-in money is used for the winner and runner up.
Eliminator rule: door car with small tyre only to be used.
28 x 10.5 and 275 radial, any radial wider than 275 can be used but only allowed a maximum height of 27 inches.
Provisional racers confirmed so far Jack Bowley with his MR2, Beavis Allen's 59 Impala, and Phil Drewitt Ford Pop.
But another 13 small tyre rear wheel drive racers are required.
To enter send an email by following this link.
The day is also a run what brung day, with camping available on site.
Spitfire raceway is located on Perranporth Airfield , Cornwall TR50XS
The first meeting for the National Sprint Association and their Elgar Championship, took place on Saturday 16th March in the hills above Wellington Somerset at Dakota Raceway, aka Smeatharpe airfield, with some 40 riders making the journey for, sadly, just half a days racing.
Overnight rain and an ever present dampness in the air meant grip was at a premium, however a small window of opportunity around mid morning produced some good times, with Simon Havercroft in the Unlimited Racing class on his Blackjack Suzuki, taking FTD with an excellent 9.88s@155 mph. The rain set in in earnest shortly after the lunch break and the decision to call it a day on safety grounds came not long after that.
Please click here to see the full report and pictures taken by NSA Carol and Neil Jenkinson, also Eurodragster.com photographer Kieran's gallery can be seen by clicking here.
The next meeting for the NSA is the joint Straightliners event at Melbourne Raceway on 13/14th April.
Thanks to Andrea Kloss from DMV in Germany once again we invite European drag racers and European junior racers to register for the "DRP Drag Racing Pokal” (Cup) 2024.
The details and online registration can be found on the promoters website dm-dragracing.de by using the following this link. For further information please contact Andrea Kloss, DMV Motorsport by clicking here.
European Drag Racers & European Junior Racers
Drivers can sign up for Pro ET, Super Gas, Super Comp and Super Pro ET and juniors can sign up for Junior Dragster. The trophy has three event rounds:
- 22nd – 23rd June – ATD 24th European Dragster event at Clastres Dragway in France,
- 27th – 28th July – ATD 25th European Dragster event at Clastres Dragway in France,
- 23rd – 25th August – 37th NitrOlympX in Hockenheim in Germany.
Riders can also sign up for ET Bike and Super Comp Bike, however due to the lack of events the sole event for the bikers DMSB Drag Racing Trophy is:
- 23rd – 25th August – 37th NitrOlympX at Hockenheim in Germany.
The Winners, 2nd and 3rd place of the Drag Racing Cup will be invited to the Gala of Champions in Germany held at the End of November in Suhl, Germany.
Happy Birthday for today to former Top Fuel racer Øyvor Jacobsen, injected Camaro racer Brian Waskett, and Malta photographer Alex Buttigieg. We hope you all have a great day.
Santa Pod Raceway have announced that two Top Fuel Dragsters will be appearing at this year's Nostalgia Nationals. Susanne Callin in the Slick Tricks dragster, and Duncan Micallef in the DM Motorsport dragster will be making passes on Saturday and Sunday, 4th and 5th May. Don't miss the first chance this season in the UK to see the Kings of the Sport! Tickets can be bought in advance by clicking here.
Melbourne Raceway had the next batch of tarmac laid in the pits yesterday giving better parking conditions for race cars. Straightliners director Trevor Duckworth said "future works include remainder of the car and bike pits, extending the braking area, sorting the return road out so we can run quarter miles, and a new Portatree timing system. These are large capital expenditure items, so please continue donating by clicking on this link.
The first performance and modified car event of 2024 takes place this Sunday at Santa Pod Raceway, The Fast Show. There will be a full programme of events throughout the day which is at this page on the Santa Pod website.
Included on track is Run What Ya Brung for which there will be prizes for Best Reaction Time, Quickest ET (Road Legal), Quickest ET (Non-Road Legal), Quickest ET (Bike), and Commentator's Choice Award. You can enter for RYWB at this link and then visit the Sign On Office from 08:00 to show your driving licence and your race voucher e-ticket. There is a RWYB on the Saturday with free camping for weekend ticket holders.
The Fast Show has the first Sports Compact Shootout of the year, for cash prizes to the winner and runner-up. we will report on qualifying and eliminations as well as posting a gallery thanks to Kieran who will be attending.
As well as the above there are a variety of off-track entertainments, a Autoglym Show & Shine with eight prizes, Martin Hill in the Fireforce 5 Jet Dragster, no less than 35 car clubs, Terry Grant stunt displays, Drift Rides and much more.
Private testing organiser and FWD racer Scott Lewry has the next Yam Yam Racing Drag Club Private test day at Santa Pod Raceway.
Still time to enter the event.
Monday 15th April Test Day at Santa Pod Raceway.
£110 racer entry and 4 crew.
£10pp Camping.
£10 Spectators.
If you are interested, please do so ASAP. You can sign up by messaging Scott on Facebook or join the Yam Yam Racing Drag Club on Facebook by clicking here.
Happy Birthday for today to Pro ET and Super Gas racer Simon Gough, Swedish Top Doorslammer racer Caroline Strand and FWD racer and car detective Sean Prout. Also to Chris Orthodoxou wife Angella. We hope you all have a great day.
Marc Huxley of Huxley Motorsport's released a YouTube video of Andy (Spud) Cunningham's passenger ride which took place at Santa Pod Raceway's Easter Nationals, you can watch the video by clicking here.
Peter Nee Super Pro ET had a cracking race at the Easter Nationals with 19 cars qualified and some exciting races in eliminations. Class sponsorship scheme co-ordinator Richard Walters writes:
It was great to be back at Santa Pod Raceway for the Easter Nationals.
We firstly awarded a few 2023 trophies, with Alan Didwell receiving the Peter Nee memorial trophy from 2022 winner Billy Gane. Secondly Barry Giles received his prize for taking out the National Finals bounty, Collin Morrice. Well done to both!
The first qualifying round of the season gave us our first 'Off the Trailer' medal winner (Medals made by Solo Precision, thanks Tom!) Scott Hauser came out swinging with a 7.412 on a 7.38 dial-in.
The #1 spot changed hands a few times during session two, but Scott managed to consolidate his spot with a 7.382 on a 7.38 to take home both medals! Congrats Scott
The main trophy was for the event win. Scott tried his best to get a clean sweep, but a transbrake malfunction in the semis ended his run. It was Super Pro original Barry Giles who took the honors, beating Collin Morrice in the final in a very close double-breakout race. Great job both!
The next event is in a few weeks and we can't wait to do it all over again!
Super Pro ET is sponsored by:
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A J S Bodyworks |
A Leek Roofing |
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Alders Automotive |
Another Small ‘F’ Ltd |
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Bath Bloke |
BG Motors |
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Copyprint Depot |
Fenny Racing |
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Garage Thomas Haas |
Good Vibration Motorsports |
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Giles And Hartley |
Giles Services Ltd |
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Harry’s Coachwork And Pit Equipment |
Hauser Race Cars |
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Holley Walters Dental |
Hr Racing |
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Hydrahose |
J K Fahrzeugteknik |
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Joe Kellett Racing |
Miersch Manifolds |
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MJC Property Solutions |
Peter Walters Race Design |
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Plane Racing |
Premiere Rosettes |
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S&B Racing |
Solo Precision |
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Swinny & Son |
Team Time Is Money |
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Ultra Plastics |
Walters Motorsport |
|
Windscreen Wizards |
|
What an amazing start to the season!
Straightliners championship continues with round 2 at Melbourne Raceway with Northen Drag Racing, the XHYPE Spring Nationals. Melbourne Raceway!!! 13-14th April.
Book online now. Note the cut off will be the Wednesday (10th April) the event at midnight and then after that they can enter on the day at a slightly higher rate.
Lots of time and money spent over the winter redeveloping the pits making for a cleaner and smoother experience for riders, drivers and spectators. The tower and signing on office have had a major makeover and with the new backing from XHYPE Oils too it should be a great season.
The car classes that were developing last year will continue along with the ever successful NSCC. NSCC headed by Shaun Wilson is the home of street/strip, street legal drag n’ drive style racing. These guys race, cruise out Saturday night but outside the race events regularly attend NSCC car meets and cruises.
It will be the second round of the Straightliners Championship, the only multi venue national championship in the UK which ofcourse includes the No Mercy Bike ET Bracket series with the Scooters and Junior Bike Championships.
RWYB just for fun is always available see; £50 including admission and entry for unlimited runs.
New for this year, we also have the Melbourne Heads Up ShootOut! Come up to Melbourne and have a go at something a bit different. New elimination 8 car field heads up shoot out open to all cars entered in any of the classes running.
This is an extra class that is FREE to enter to all cars that have already entered NSCC or another Straightliners Class. RWYB Cars can also enter for an extra £20 if they have a Nora Licence.
Remember a Nora License is needed for competitive events at Melbourne but is cheap and easy to apply for.
Use this link.
How Does the Melbourne Shootout it Work:
Each day, drivers make at least 1 run at any point of their choosing up to lunchtime (1pm).
Once you have recorded a time your quickest time will go onto a list and upon the completion of this qualifying cars wishing to participate will be grouped into 8s depending on how quick they have ran. The aim is the 8 cars’ ETs will be very close together creating close heads up racing.
A list of willing competitors will be gathered and with this elimination ladders for the afternoon will he set.
The A FIELD will compromise of the 8 quickest qualified cars. They will compete heads up together with random pairings.
The B FIELD will be made up of #9-#16 qualifiers and if there is enough for a C FIELD, this will be made up of #17-#24 qualifiers depending on the amount of cars choosing to enter.
This competition will be heads up with a .400 pro tree and (obviously) run over the 1/8th mile.
B + C FIELD INDEX SYSTEM:
B + C Field Index System: This 'floating' index number will be established as follows: The index number will be set based on the top qualifying elapsed time of each field.
The index will be a two tenths below that number. For example, after the final qualifying session and if the 'B' field top qualifier's elapsed time is 6.51 , the 'B' field index for eliminations will be a 6.31 for eliminations. This means they still run heads up but cannot go quicker than this time.
Another example, the 'C’ field top qualifier's elapsed time is 7.14, the index for 'C’ field eliminations will be 6.94.
(Spectators have until Friday before the event to buy tickets and then they pay on the gate. )
Enter now by clicking here, Competition Entries click here
Check more information by visiting Melbourne Raceway facebook page by following this link
Eurodragster.com will be covering post report and pictures by former editor Andy (Tog) Rogers. which you will be able to see via our coverage page supported by John Woolfe Racing.
Now Mantorp Park, Sweden can finally present a long-awaited piece of news. On July 25 - 28, the park welcomes 6 Top Fuel teams to Meguiar's Drag Festival - which Mantorp reckons will be the most impressive starting field of Top Fuel in Europe this year.
At Meguiar's Drag Festival you can experience the best drag racing Europe has to offer as six of the fastest cars in the world take on Mantorp Park. An extremely tight and nerve-racking competition is expected as the cars will be competing in a Cannonball format.
Get ready for a weekend filled with excitement and action as Meguiar's Drag Festival takes Europe by storm on July 25 - 28.
Read more and pre-buy your tickets here: https://www.mantorppark.com/drag-festival/
Happy Birthday for today to Super Pro ET racer Andy Thetford, VWDRC racer Ken Blomer, Pro ET/Super Gas team member Lauren Molden and Outlaw Anglia team member Michelle Mockford, we hop you all have a great day.
Santa Pod Raceway's Easter Nationals timing data can be seen now by following this link or by clicking "Data" then "Timing Data" at the top on the navigation menu.
The new website platform has made it easier to upload the data sheet and allows readers to filter or search for the data needed.
On Thursday 14th November 2024, the Lions Automobilia Foundation Board of Directors and founder Rick Lorentzen will introduce the third annual group of the Lions Automobilia Foundation Hall of Fame inductees.
The Hall of Fame awards dinner and silent auction fundraiser at the Lions Automobilia Foundation in Rancho Dominguez, California will honour the legendary Steve Gibbs who in his long career has headed up NHRA Competitions dept, founded the California Hot Rod Reunion and more recently founded and organised the Nitro Revival. Congratulations to Steve who will be visiting the UK to be at Dragstalgia on the weekend of 5th-7th July 2024. Other drag racing legends being inducted are NHRA founder WallyParks and dragster pioneer Jack Chrisman.
Other inductees are JC Agajanian, Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Carroll Shelby and Bill Stroppe. More details can be seen by clicking here
Next Generation Racing, the bike team comprising Suzukiperformancespares.co.uk Comp Bike racer Blade King and Eurodragster.com Junior Drag Bike riders Hollie King and Jaxon King were all racing at the Easter Nationals. Team boss Ollie King writes:
Well, that's the first round finished and boy was it not straight forward. Jaxon on his new bike had a couple wobbles getting used to it but soon was back to his form and riding it great unfortunately he went out in the first round to his mate Harry who had his own problems but got them sorted.
Next Hollie, wow that's all I can say, the girl can ride. We had massive issues off the line with spinning and the bike trying to buck her off, so the clutch was apart multiple times, spacers fitted to take base pressure out. It wasn't enough so then springs came out and we cracked it the bike was fast but pulling left. We checked wheel alignment and from the point we measured it was right but taking a measurement further up. The wheel was out of line causing issues when we sorted that, boom, Hollie was flying reaching the finals but pulling a cherry on the tree as she rolled back a fraction in stage, but huge congratulations to Spud on the win, he rode awesome.
Hollie wrote: It was great to be back at the track after many months away. We had made changes to the bike over winter, so we booked in test day just to make sure the bike was running right, with the bad weather on the test day only got one pass in.
We had one final qualifier on the Sunday. Not to sure where I qualified in the end but went out for the first round of eliminations and was against one of our new juniors first round, I was closer to my time so I went through to the next round, the bike ran nicely so no adjustments needed. Second round came along, and we were both close to our times, but I won on the whole shot! Into the semis I go, was closer to my time so I went through to the finals! I pulled a cherry on the tree by the smallest amount well done to Spud on the win!
Our biggest rider Blade has spent a small fortune over the winter going turbo and moving upto comp bike unfortunately only being able to make 1 qualification round as it broke the clutch springs took at load of material into the engine so rather than risk it the engine will be taken out stripped Down cleaned out and check for damage before the next round ... the upside he got back on the power 100 plus foot out still took the stripe at 166mph so he likes turbo!
Huge thank you to Sequel Agency and Cornucopia Tattoo Studio Taunton for their sponsorship for the 2024 season.
Mark Flavell has announced funeral arrangements for Team MFR member Malcolm Rigg who sadly passed away last week:
"For anybody who would like to come and pay their last respects, Mali’s funeral will be the 12th April at 2:30 at the Stockton Crematorium, Bluebell chapel (it is the smaller chapel to the right when you come into the grounds).
"There is no wake as such but if anybody would like to come join us after the service for a drink to celebrate his life at the Horse and Jockey you are more than welcome. He will be resting at Crake and Mallon in Stockton.
"Mali is currently lying waiting in his Team MFR racing uniform shirt."
Festival of Power Rescheduled entry closes today for normal entries, after this date a surcharge will occur. Follow this link to enter.
Current entry list can be seen by clicking here.
Modurstang Pro ET racer and Junior Dragster crew chief Nick Mugridge has posted a report of his Easter Nationals in which he came runner up in Sunday's eliminations.
Absolutely mega day. Wasn’t feeling very confident coming out of qualifying after ending up 20th in the 32-Car field. The Track and cold temperatures meant the car didn’t make a good lap until Q3 when the track finally rubbered in , a 10.30 & 10.33 wheel spinning then turned into a 10.18.
In Round 1 I raced against Warren Watts. The track had been scraped overnight which I found during Jr Dragster Round 1 so I knew if I didn’t make a change I’d be dialling blind. We dropped the tires 1.5psi from Qualy to try and minimise the spin. The car spun hard after the initial launch and the car shook bad but I kept with it and couldn’t see Warren so I lifted out and still ran a 10.17 on the 10.15 Dial.
Round 2 I faced Dave Rudd. I dialled a 10.14 based on the previous run and changing weather , Dave managed to get by me but Broke Out and I ran a 10.150 to move on.
Round 3 I raced against Victor Parsons who went Red on the tree handing me the win. While I ran a 10.09 on the 10.14 Dial.
In the Semi Finals it was a Jr Comp match-up betweern me and Tom Kaye for a spot in the Final. Both running Next Step Racing llc prepared, JKE Race Works powered Jr Comps. The race was settled by a Double Breakout with me taking the win with a 10.072 on the 10.09 to Tom’s 10.13 on his 10.18 Dial.
My first ever Final Round in Pro ET was with Stevie Gates in his new Camaro. Stevie had been on it all day. I knew I had a tough race on my hands and I wasn’t quite on top of my start line game this weekend trying to adjust to where the car wanted to leave with the new clutch Setup.
I managed a 0.072 light to his 0.029 , then toward the finish line I thought I could get there and scrub the brakes to make it tighter but Stevie got by me just on the line to take the win. I ran a 10.072 on the 10.06 Dial to Stevie’s 8.60 on the 8.58.
Looking at the ticket, I couldn’t get there even if I ran a perfect Dial. But Dad was riding with me this weekend and Luke also made it to the Semi Finals from the No.3 qualifying spot. In the end both dragsters were running awesome this weekend. We couldn’t be happier.
Thanks always go to my mum and brother who are patient with me and go along with my setup changes even when it looks like I don’t need to. To Matthew Seamarks who’s the best dude ever and makes running two cars and driving one so doable.
And to Scott Hauser at Hauser Race Cars who carried out the work on Luke’s new seat conversion and refreshing the motor in his Junior. Luke’s now super comfortable and the motor was deadly as well. Running exactly what we predicted every round and your GRIP tire softener works wonders. When juniors were suffering tire spin on the very cold and green track, Luke’s car hooked and went with no spin all weekend.
This weekend was a true test to see how we could manage two cars going deep in rounds. The only downside was my battery cried no more after the Final and forced me to push the dragster back to the pits, preventing me from driving back.
I can’t wait to jump back in again at the Festival Of Power end of April for Round 2 of the championship.
Happy Birthday for today to Outlaw Street racer Owen Forrest and former Wild Bunch racer Adam Price. We hope you both have a fantastic day.
Announcer, crew member and dragster racer-in-waiting Thomas Cook Abbott has posted a video of his racing activities at the SPR Easter Nationals which you can see by clicking here. Crewing for the Super Comp dragster of Mark Coulsell, Thomas remarked "Phew that was close. Nearly didn’t make the event. But we threw the car together and made it to the first round of the year!"
Fans of Funny Cars can see action live and free from the Texas Motorplex, via Youtube, when Funny Car Chaos kicks off its 2024 Championship tonight. See qualifying by clicking here at 8pm BST and Saturday eliminations by clicking here at 6pm BST.
With the Season Opener of the Straightliners drag racing championship up this weekend at Santa Pod Raceway on Sunday 7th April and with SPR providing a Run What Ya Brung on Saturday 6th April, which will be a great opportunity for racers to test and tune.
Please note entries will now only be available on the day. All future events the closing date for entries will be the Wednesday at midnight before the event. After this day the price will be at a higher rate.
The Sunday race will see car classes of bracket racing and the heads-up Pro Comp for cars running quicker than 9.19s in the quarter with a 0.4s Pro Tree. Whilst Pro Comp will be run on a Cannonball format with the quickest winners meeting in the final, bracket racing will be run in the traditional basis albeit with different brackets decided by Straightliners in consultation with racers. Pro Extreme ET will be from 9.20-10.75 dial ins, Pro ET from 10.76-12.31, Sportsman ET 12.32 and slower, also Junior Dragstera and Karts, all bracket classes utilising a 0.5s Sportsman Tree. RWYB is also available on Sunday.
Bike racing will feature No Mercy handicap racing with unlimited brackets for each of motorcycles/3 wheelers/quads, Junior Drag Bikes and scooters. Heads up classes comprise a 9.1s index class, Race Legends for riders over 70, Nostalgic Pro Stock (round 1 of the Old School Stockers championship as well), Old School USB Modified, Old School Stock and Old School Two Stroke
Racer entry at this link and Spectator admission should be bought at the Santa Pod website by clicking here.
Spectators have until the night before the event to buy tickets then it is pay on the gate only.
In addition, all riders competing in the Straightliners championship classes and eliminations must have Straightliners Club Membership. Two types of annual Straightliners membership are available: One year either at £55 for NORA 92 basic competition licence (which is without benefits) and Club membership or £90 for a NORA 92 National competition licence including insurance benefits and Club membership. Racers are urged to read the Championship Rules and Regulations at this link on the Straightliners website.
To be eligible for the Straightliners Championship, each entrant must complete a minimum of 3 rounds of the season. For cars, one of the events must be at Santa Pod. Entrants must be Straightliners members and have purchased a ticket for the individual event.
RWYB tickets are available for Saturday by clicking this link this is includes race entries and for Sunday for this link.
Please note Outlaw Street are also holding their Round 1 this weekend on both days, more information can be found at this link.
Eurodragster.com Graham Watkinson will be on hand to provide a photo gallery on Sunday, check the post gallery by clicking here.
Thanks to Huxley Motorsports Marc Huxley for sending in this update on Easter Nationals, Marc writes:
What a amazing weekend yet again at Santa pod, we were honoured to take legendary and supporter Andy SPUD Cunningham out for his first time down the quarter mile and let’s just say he loved it, A Hugh thanks to the Santa Pod team for letting it happen.
Weather conditions this weekend was crazy to say the least but managed to qualify in 9th and go through one round until I messed up the 2nd round against Matthew Dowdy with a 0.0429 red light.
It was good to be back at the track and see new and old faces in our class. Thanks to all my sponsors and supporters but especially to my best friend Richard Dance.
Big shout out to my dad Brian Huxley too for smashing it once again and getting to the quarter finals in the mighty v8 Focus.
We will be posting the video of Andy's passenger run in the Corolla tonight at 6pm, follow Huxley Motorsports Facebook by clicking here.
All tickets are now available on www.speedevents.se. and www.tierparena.com Hurry up to book your seat and benefit from our Early Bird Offer for daily admission.
2024 EC Drag Racing Championship and the first round in June are now open to everyone. Take the opportunity to book your daily entrance tickets (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) no later than May 27 to receive a SEK 100 discount per ticket.
Tierp Arena, the very epicenter of the world's fastest motorsport, where the adrenaline flows freely and the pulse accelerates to the roof. Now the arena is ready to welcome competitors and spectators to a weekend full of speed, sound and an atmosphere that will make your heart beat in time with the roar of the engine.
With Speedevents as the mastermind behind the event, the races are guaranteed to reach new heights of excitement and drama. You can expect to see the most advanced drag racing cars, from nitromethane fueled monster machines to Pro Modified vehicles, tuned to perfection, fighting to cross the finish line first and take home the win.
In addition to the nerve-wracking action on the track, visitors will be treated to culinary delights in our restaurants, live music and roof-raising entertainment in our Party Box, and refreshing drinks to be enjoyed in our chill Beer Garden. For the children, a huge Fun Zone awaits with everything from bouncy castles to bouncy trampolines and exciting activities. And for those looking for a break from it all, we offer an impressive range of exhibitions that will make the whole family's visit an unforgettable experience.
So put on the hearing protection and enjoy the most powerful and awesome racing cars that once again make their entrance in Sweden and at the Tierp Arena
Happy Birthday for today to Supercharged Outlaws racer and Perfect ET Award sponsor Andy 'Fadster' Hadfield, Pro ET racer Liz Malcolm, Comp Eliminator racer Lloyd Perkins, Dutch racer Ronald Huis and 9.50 Bike racer Rob Stanley, we hope you all have a great day.
Santa Pod Racers Club secretary Ian Marshall has contacted eurodragster.com to reminder ALL racers that the closing date to enter the Festival of Power Rescheduled is Friday 5th April.
Current entry list can be seen by clicking here.
Please follow this link to enter.
Thanks for Ian Chrichlow for allowing eurodragster.com to post this report on 8.50 Bike and Easter Nationals, Ian wrote:
The Easter Nationals caused a stir with the weather and times with ten entries were listed, nine signed on.
The group welcomed new entrants Carl Thomas, Pete Slater, Mick Winyard and Daniel Madiera, Kostas Giannopoulos doing his licence passes to move up to Super Street Bike, and the regulars from previous seasons.
The positions swayed to and from the first qualifying round to the last as usual, resulting in Jay Roe taking the No.1 qualifier. Racers had problems all weekend from clutch settings, engine breaks, fuel problems, traction, and general technical difficulties, but they all battled through them.
It all came down to the final between Craig Wright and Ian Chrichlow. Ian spun the tire a few feet out, leaving Craig to run away to his first 8.50 Bike winner’s trophy. It was close racing as normal in 8.50 class and will be an exciting season.
An excellent weekend all round and look forward to the Festival of Power Rescheduled at the end of April.
Many thanks to Boost Monkey Racing racer Victoria Smith for this report on Easter Nationals, Victoria writes:
When you finish getting the car ready just 2 minutes before the load up, then loading up the trailer in gale force winds and sleet, you are certainly not thinking that the racing weekend ahead is going to be a great one.
Over winter the car was completely taken apart, a few changes made, and a new one-piece front end made by Craig Munro, a huge thank you Craig who did an excellent job, very intricate work, and we are over the moon with the finish.
We re-wrapped the car ourselves; it took months to source the identical wrap and it was not an easy job applying it when it was 6 degrees in the garage. It looks great and we love the bonnet in black too.
We did not have time to do any testing in advance of the meeting, we did a 60 second drive from the garage to the trailer. Off the trailer and straight into qualifying, the weather was surprisingly pleasant, but we put in a mild tune in, to see how the track was at the first meeting and testing out baseline suspension, we ran an 8.52 at 178mph. The car hooked well, and we put some mild changes in for Q2, an 8.38 at 179 mph. The third and last qualifier again had some mild changes, and we ran a PB of 8.00 at 189mph, with our previous best being an 8.04.
Pete and I had sat up late with the data and the laptop creating the tune for first round of Eliminations, desperate for our first ever seven second run.
Elimination came on Sunday and the weather was not as kind with fog, damp, cold and periodic rain, but with the track prepped well for us, the tune went in. We met Ashley Cooper, the Transit God, in the first round, the Buick hooked up and we drove back through applause and cheers by everyone, taking the win with a PB of 7.99 at 185mph.
Elimination round two was with current champion, Andy Bond, a race I have been really looking forward to. A slight change in the tune and we ran another PB of 7.84 at 188mph against Andys 7.40. Well done Andy and team.
Super happy with the performance of the car, which is down to Pete who is a perfectionist in every way and does everything on the car himself, don’t ever be offended if he doesn’t ask for help, it’s his OCD side, that is what gives me the 180% confidence to jump in the car without testing and running the numbers.
We are in the sevens as they say, “slowly catchy boost monkey.” I absolutely love being part of the Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator class, full of amazing people who want you to do well.
It is the best organised class I have ever seen and professionally managed by Jack Hale and Jemma Adriane who do such a splendid job.
A huge well done to Michael De Souza on your first ever Street Eliminator Event, it was lovely to meet you and your crew, lovely folk. Cannot wait to catch up at the next meeting. PBs for James Murray, Graham Smith and Elliot Day Well done Guys. Some great racing out there this weekend and outstanding driving from Anthony Piggsy Higgs, watching your pass from the burnout box, amazing and then went on to take the win on the event, cracking effort guys.
Our daughter Grace was also competing in the British Junior Dragster Championship at the same event, she qualified 8th with a good .02 light and got through first round of Eliminations against Frankie Kent, she was then up against Luke Mugridge in E2, she chose her own dial in and was amazing close her dial but sadly red lit. Well done to Luke (Nick Mugridge and Jan Mugridge).
Grace has done amazing, turning her car round herself as we are running between two classes, which is knackering but worth it. So proud of you Grace.
Thanks to Lee Openshaw and James for helping and feeding Grace when we are busy.
Congratulations also to Junior Dragster racers Kai Cooper and Emmy Crundwell who won the Bob's Photo Finish Award of £50 each posted by sponsor and longtime Eurodragster.com supporter Bob Roberts for the closest finish of a green light and non-break out race. Kai and Emmy's finish line margin was 0.0040 seconds or 4.45 inches.
Please can the parents of Kai and Emmy contact Chris Winn to arrange your winnings by email or via Facebook by clicking here.
Thanks to Suzie Morris for sending this write up to Eurodragster.com, Suzie writes: As team "Satan's Lady" headed to Santa Pod Raceway for the first meeting of our 25th year, we had no idea what an eventful weekend it would turn into.
Mother Nature couldn't quite make her mind up and threw high winds, light breeze, rain, sunshine, dark clouds and rainbows at us... but despite it all, we had a great weekend! Saturday didn't exactly start as planned, Phil rolled into the waterbox, did a strong burnout, went into pre-stage, onto the 2-step and nothing.
We pushed back to the pits to discover a malfunction in the MSD Launch Master box. A replacement was arranged, however it would not arrive until the evening, so Q2 was all about just getting a number on the board, and somehow we Qualified No.4! We have to thank Kyle and Anna from The 'Rents Go Racing Team for the loan of their spare MSD box which ensured a much more representative Q3 pass, meaning we went into Race Day from the No.2 spot.
Sunday dawned cold and foggy, but thankfully the fog cleared, to be replaced by a strong tail wind, but the cold remained! Coats and big hats were donned, and we headed to the lanes for Round 1 of Eliminations, armed with the replacement Launch Master (thanks to Jake of JKE Raceworks). We were paired with Gary Hester, which is always a great race, this weekend proved no different with a 0.017 margin at the stripe, in favour of "Satan's Lady", despite missing a shift. That earned Phil a bye in round two, giving him the opportunity to get a good feel for round three. It's a good job breakouts don't matter on a solo, as an 8.98 was dialled-in, and a 8.95 lit up at the other end.
Next up we were alongside Dave Grundy and having looked at the previous timing slip Phil decided to lower the dial-in to 8.94. An unfortunate red light for Dave, but Phil was still in chase mode, lighting up 8.940, becoming the first recipient of the Hayley Hadfield Perfect ET Award, the timing ticket showing Phil was only 0.0003 off his dial-in! Many thanks to Andy and Purdie for sponsoring the award in memory of the lovely Hayley, who we all miss.
Rd 4, the Semi Final, saw Nicholas Playdon red light in the opposing lane... but Phil ensured his place in the Final with a 8.95, just 0.011 off his dial-in.
As the threatening rain clouds gathered we headed to the lanes alongside No.1 Qualifier Scott Collier. Scott left Phil standing on the startline, and with a run only 0.03 off his Dial-In, a very well deserved win light lit up for Scott and the family team. So there it was, a weekend of ups and downs ended on a high with us taking home more silverware on our first meeting of 2024 than we did all of the 2023 season!!
Massive thanks to all the hardworking SPRC Crew who, as always worked tirelessly to ensure the meeting got finished and Congratulations to all racers for putting on a great show!!
Thanks to Gary Lake for sending in the report from the Easter Nationals to Eurodragster.com, Gary writes:
What an absolute privilege to be racing again back at Santa Pod Raceway for the opening meeting in 2024. It was a cold one for sure, rainy, sunny and windy, we had all that Santa Pod usually throws at us!
The weekend ended much better than it started for us, taking home the event win after qualifying back in 24th!
Well done to Richard Palmer for his #1 off the trailer in qualifying, getting to the finals in back-to-back meetings, and I believe will be points leader for Sportsman ET UK after round 1. Chris Layram eventually pipped Richard to the overall number one qualifier for the day, squeaking ahead by 2 thousandths and only 3 thousandths off his dial in, amazing driving!
Nice to have Alex Prior 2024 Dial in Day winner attending for his first event, qualifying 6th out of 26, which was no mean feat as the top 20 was separated by less than 10th of a second!
Excellent to have new blood and another dial in day participant in the class with Terry Attree qualifying well and going through to the quarter finals in a Ford Focus he hadn’t raced before the weekend. Sylvia Purcell also debuted in the class, driving a nice modern Ford Mustang which she steered to an excellent first round reaction of 0.07, matching seasoned racer Chris Creswell off the line but losing out by 4 hundredths.
Welcome back to those returning after a short break, great to see so many familiar faces around the track!
Hope to see you all again at the track for the Festival of Power at the end of April.
Happy Birthday for today to Funny Car crew chief Dave Bryant, Supertwin Top Fuel Bike racer Svein Olav Rolfstad, Pro Stock Bike racer Martin Newbury, 8.50 Bike racer Ivana van den Berg. We hope you all have had a great day.
Congratulations to the winners at the weekend's Easter Nationals held at Santa Pod Raceway:
Track Worx Comp Eliminator: Nic Williams (8.80) 8.1636/145.73 def Gary Carr (11.72) 11.2102/116.11
W.A. Watts Automotive Super Comp: Paul Hudson 9.0203/151.69 def. Warren Watts 9.1021/149.12
Tony Morris Carburetors Super Gas: Stuart Doignie 10.3220/127.77 def. Andy Harrison 10.9168/140.72
Peter Nee Super Pro ET: Barry Giles (7.51) 7.5087/173.70 def. Collin Morrice (8.77) 8.7648/154.16 double breakout
Modurstang Pro ET: Stevie Gates (8.58) 8.6095/157.38 def. Nick Mugridge (10.06) 10.0727/126.85
Hutchinson & Dibley Sportsman ET: Gary Lake (14.02) 14.1230/90.09 def. Richard Palmer (13.43) 13.4480/105.50
Top Speed Automotive Street Eliminator: Tony Higgs 8.1525/181.42 def. Andy Bond 8.1811/203.29
Lucas Oil Junior Dragster: Ted Sullivan (8.34) 8.4189/76.67 def. Liam McDonald (8.25) 8.3170/78.28
Leeks Landscapes Funny Bike: Eric Richard 7.1008/192.22 def. Aswin Le Noble No show.
Taylors Trophy Super Street Bike: Jake Mechaell 7.1318/163.08 def. Alan Morrison 7.3391/183.61
Suzukiperformancespares.co.uk Comp Bike: Danny Cockerill 7.5821/149.11 def. Mark Dainty 13.1410/46.50
JKE Race Works 8.50 Bike: Craig Wright 9.1046/112.51 def. Ian Chrichlow 24.0970/34.58
Atlantic Fluid Tech 9.50 Bike: Rob Stanley 9.6006/132.20 def. Dave Hall 9.9717/108.59
Warpspeed Racing ET Bike: Scott Collier (9.60) 9.6392/120.45 def. Phil Pratt (8.94) 9.0048/149.58
Eurodragster.com Junior Drag Bike: John McClean (11.90) 11.9470/55.21 def. Hollie King (8.10) 9.3151/80.25
The meeting was held in cold conditions, the track superbly prepared by the SPRC marshals.
Congratulations to TopSpeed Automotive Steet Eliminator's Elliot Day who won the Bad Habit Racing Perfect Light Award of £50 supported by Cath and Tig Napier and to Warpspeed Racing ET Bike's Phil Pratt who won the Hayley Hadfield Perfect ET Award of £50 supported by Andy 'Fadster' Hadfield.
Bob's Photo Finish Award by sponsor and longtime Eurodragster.com supporter Bob Roberts for the closest finish of a green light and non-break out race, will be announced once the data has been received and verified.
Thanks to David Anniwell of the Santa Pod Timing Crew for sending us detailed timing data, including test day results, which when received we will post to our timing data area which you can see by clicking on Data, then Timing Data at the top of any Eurodragster.com page. Official results can be seen at Santa Pod's Official Results Site.
You can check out our John Woolfe Racing-sponsored Festival of Power reports, results and galleries by clicking here or by clicking on the Events link at the top of any Eurodragster.com page. We should repeat our new policy that the watermarked photos from our galleries can be downloaded and may be used in social media posts but please do not crop or modify them, in particular, we need the watermark retained. Social media sharing may be done on mobile devices from the new site.
Please join us in thanking Julian Hunt and Katie Higgs for their hard work in unfavourable conditions over the race weekend providing their amazing pictures.
Happy Birthday for today to Wild Bunch and Super Comp racer Darryl Howells, and NHRA and Nitro Revival legend Steve Gibbs. Have a great day both.
