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Webster's shop up and running.
31st January: Since we broke the news about Jon Webster setting up his own workshop
back on 20th December, it has been a very busy time for Europe's newest race car builder. The doors to
Webster Race Engineering opened in early January and work is already underway on several customer
vehicles. Graham Ellis' Pro and Super Modified Olds Cutlass was the first vehicle to enter the shop, the
six-second car receiving chassis updates ready for 2003. Jon tells us that the 'off-the-shelf' Top
Fuel Bikes, about which we also wrote in December, are underway and that his order book is "filling
up nicely".
Since our last news item, Jon has also finalised contact details for Webster Race Engineering:
©Eurodragster.com
Webster Race Engineering
Unit 3
Sanders Lodge Industrial Estate
Off Wellingborough Road
Rushden
Northamptonshire
NN10 6BQ
Phone: 01933 315236 (outside the UK +44 1933 315236)
Fax: 01933 315274 (outside the UK +44 1933 315274)
"I'd like to say a big Thank You to everyone who has helped me to get the
unit ready" says Jon, "but particular thanks must go to Ian
Marshall and Darren Prentice who have both been absolute stars."
To celebrate the opening, and give racers the chance to see the new shop, Webster
Race Engineering are holding an informal open day on Saturday 8th February.
This is the date of the SPRC Dinner Dance so if you are planning to attend that event then
you could do a lot worse than to leave home an hour or two earlier and call in to see
Jon and his staff and the new shop.
WRE arrange SPR Test Days.
31st January: In addition to announcing the open day and contact details for
Webster Race Engineering, Jon Webster has also revealed that WRE have organised a number of midweek test
days at Santa Pod Raceway.
"With the increasing popularity of Run What You Brungs with the
general public, it is becoming harder than ever to get quality testing
time at the track", says Jon. "Because of the high level of competition these days I
have personally always placed great emphasis on testing, and I have
benefited greatly by attending the test days scheduled by Santa
Pod Raceway. Customers have also expressed an interest in testing under event-standard
track conditions, but as we all know qualifying and race days are not the
best time to be experimenting with set-ups!"
©Eurodragster.com
WRE have therefore reached an agreement with Santa Pod Raceway and are very
proud to offer racers six test days throughout the year. These are to take place on:
- Wednesday 19th March
- Wednesday 16th April
- Wednesday 18th June
- Wednesday 16th July
- Wednesday 20th August
- Wednesday 17th September
As well as giving racers the opportunity to test in race conditions and the
track time to experiment with set-ups, the test days will also feature a
'trackside assistance' service from WRE, offering expert set-up advice specifically
tailored to individual race vehicles.
Each test day is open to both cars and bikes and will feature a fully-prepped track along with full marshal and
paramedic cover. Gates will open at 9:00 am with the track open
from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, with a half hour break for lunch. Mobile catering will
also be on site at each event.
Entry to each track day is £120 per driver or rider. The racer will need to
produce a DVLA driving licence to sign on, with the obvious exception
of Junior Dragsters. Places are limited to ensure the maximum possible track time for those in
attendance, so must be booked with WRE a minimum of ten days in advance.
For more information, or to book a slot on a test day, contact Webster Race Engineering on 01933
315236.
SPRC Dinner Dance booking closed.
31st January: Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall has
been in touch to let us know that booking is now closed for the SPRC Dinner Dance, which takes place tomorrow
week (Saturday 8th February).
"The function room is now full", says Paula. "We have sold 274 tickets which makes it the biggest
Dinner Dance ever. Those who have booked verbally and are meant to be getting back to me should do so as soon
as possible on 01933 313625 as I have to give the hotel final numbers tomorrow."
Paula has also asked us to pass on the SPRC Committee's thanks to all of the Eurodragster readers who voted in
the SPRC Perpetual Awards. "We had a great response", she says, "with over five hundred votes
cast. We will be doing it again next year because it just worked so well".
©Eurodragster.com
Sharkman and Tog would also like to add their thanks to everyone who voted. Tune in to Eurodragster News next Sunday (9th
February) for the first news of the Perpetual Awards, which will be presented at the Dinner Dance.
Web site updates.
31st January: Jon Spoard has updated his excellent UK Drag Racing Nostalgia web site with
a number of new photographs and video clips. Jon's nicely-designed site features UK drag racing pictures from the
1960s, 1970s and 1980s together with videos and special features, and is well worth a prolonged visit. The latest
update includes some photographs from the 1960s together with no less than seven new video clips including
Harold Bull's Stripduster and some classic Priddle v Skilton action. Get in a tall coffee and check out Jon's site
at www.ukdrn.co.uk.
Editor's note: We are concerned that our mail server may have dropped some E-Mails in the last five days,
so if you have sent a news item to Eurodragster since Monday and it has not been published, or if you have written
to us and not had a reply or acknowledgement, then please re-send the E-Mail to
news@eurodragster.com,
links@eurodragster.com,
webmaster@eurodragster.com,
tog@eurodragster.com or
sharkman@eurodragster.com as appropriate.
©Eurodragster.com
Shakey site back in a go condition.
29th January: Ozzy Ewing, webmaster of the
Shakespeare County Raceway web site, has been in touch to
let us know that after two weeks of downtime, due to "An issue with a server and our previous hosting company",
the site is available once again. Ozzy thanks everyone for their patience whilst the site was being sorted out,
but he does ask that if anybody has in the last two weeks sent E-Mail either to
info@shakespearecountyraceway.com or to
wendy@shakespearecountyraceway.fsnet.co.uk
that they resend it, as mail to those addresses was lost in the server disruption.
©Eurodragster.com
Swedish SFI Day details.
28th January: Lars Pettersson, Chairman of the Svenska Bilsportförbundet
Drag Racing Committee, has kindly been in touch with full details of the Swedish SFI Day whose date
we published last week.
The inspection of SFI 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 flywheel shields and 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 clutches takes place from
13:00 on Saturday 1st March and 11:00 - 13:00 on Sunday 2nd March, at:
Persåker Speed Shop, Hammarbyvgen 37 Kajplats 357 Sdra Hammarbyhamnen SE-120 32 Stockholm
Parts can be left at Persåker Speed Shop between 10:00 and 17:00 on or before 1st March, but please note
that parts can't be collected after 14:00 on Sunday.
All parts should be marked with the owner's name, address and phone number.
Please contact Tech Director Rolf Lundberg in advance to let him know how many parts you plan to take to
the inspection, or if you have any queries. Call +46 (0)70 3111496, Fax +46 (0)13 299752 or E-Mail
loffy@dragracing.se. Inspections are SEK 1400 per item.
Rapport på Svenska hos Svensk Dragracing.
©Eurodragster.com
A full complement of Vikings!
28th January: Danish Top Methanol Funny Car racer Dan Larsen
has "A real Viking team" in 2003, as four of Norwegian TMFC racer Arvid Grødem's crew
join him whilst Arvid takes a year out.
Dan's team will this year comprise himself and Joan Larsen, Torsten Dahl and Ulf Johansson from Sweden,
Michael Thomson and Jacob Lauren also of Denmark, and Pål Henning, Per Egil Nordby, Tore Karlsen and
Jan Vidar Vestvik of Norway. "Arvid was very kind to lend us his mechanics", says Dan.
©Eurodragster.com
Dan tells us that not every member of the crew will be attending all races but that he, Joan, and Torsten will
be at all FIA rounds in 2003.
You can stay in touch with all the news from Dan Larsen's pit on his web site at
www.funnycar.dk.
Guess the body, win stuff.
28th January: Swedish Top Methanol Funny Car racer Leif
Andréasson is offering a superb prize to the first person to guess the identity of his TMFC's new body.
A Kamasa Tools socket set and tickets for the huge Stockholms Bil Salong car show are up for grabs if you can tell
Leif how the 5.7-second FC will be cloaked in 2003. "All you have to do is to guess the manufacturer and model
of our new body", says Anders Magnusson of Andréasson Motorsports. "One guess per person and
don't forget to include your name!"
If you would like to take a shot straight away then you can E-Mail your guess to
anders@andreassonmotorsports.com by 1st March, or for all
the clues you're going to get check out the cartoon on the Andréasson Motorsports web site at
www.andreassonmotorsports.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
28th January: UK Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Andy Frost has updated his Red Victor Racing
web site with a report from Saturday's CCSE Trophy Night (what he can remember of it - Ed) and news of his
participation in Anything Goes Promotions' 0-60 mph Challenge at Elvington in March. Check it out at
www.redvictor1racing.co.uk.
Racers: Are you too taking up the 0-60 Challenge? Drop us a line at
news@eurodragster.com and tell us what you're going to do to
that record.
©Eurodragster.com
Goring to Storm IoM.
27th January: The UK's Firestorm Jet Funny Car
team are to appear on the Isle of Man in July, becoming the first jet
vehicle to run on the island.
©Eurodragster.com
Roger Goring and the team have been booked to appear at the Jurby Sprint on
20th-21st July, which is part of the
Straightliners Streetfighters
bike series. Roger started his drag racing
career on two wheels and he and partner Helen still attend as many Biker
events as they can. "We are very grateful
to Trevor and Howard of Straightliners for arranging the trip", says
Roger Goring. "They must have known that
we are Bikers on the quiet!".
Another trip to the Isle of Man, to appear at the TT, is currently under
discussion. Firestorm's calendar is beginning to come together with the
annual trips to the NABD Rally at York Dragway in May, NSRA events and the
Classic American Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway in May, June and
September, and a new event at Elvington in August already booked.
The team have been hard at work over the winter fitting out their new Ford
Cargo transporter and doing sundry
jobs on the car. Roger was very pleased to tell us that the enhanced flame
show seen at the Doorslammer
Internationals last season is here to stay. "We had a problem with a
switch which has now been sorted out", he
said. "We also had some new nozzles to try on the system which does the
flame show. The first set were a bit small
and turned the flame show almost into another afterburner, so we tried the
bigger nozzles and you saw what happened! The
bigger nozzles use a lot more fuel but we're leaving them in. We'll just
have to be very careful that we don't run into
trouble and run out of fuel at the first few events!"
You can catch up with the latest from the Firestorm pit on the team's
official web site at
www.firestorm-jfc.co.uk.
Dog Squad one down, but not out.
26th January: UK Wild Bunch racer Mark Turton recently announced here on Eurodragster that
he would be taking a year out with his Growler (Once Bitten Still
Smitten) Topolino altered, after an eventful 2002 which began with a top end crash. We were very sorry to
hear from Mark that the downtime is to be rather longer than planned although luckily he will not be lost to the
sport.
"Growler is now being dismantled", says Mark. "At first we thought that one year out would put things
straight, however now that we have looked deeper things will not be happening for at least two or three years.
The chassis with wheels, axles and tyres is being returned to Paul Stubbings and Wendy Baker, the gearbox is being
retained as are parts belonging to Chris Hartnell and Scott Durrant, the body is also being kept so that when we
decide to bring out a car we can still run the same body. As for the rest, it's up for grabs".
You can find Mark's list of parts for sale on our Jeff Bull Race Engines-sponsored
Swap Meet.
©Eurodragster.com
Mark tells us that the Growler team did not want to make this decision, but that sponsorship is hard to come by at
their level and that last year's crash didn't help. "This however
means that Scott has acquired another crew member for his début year, and that Nick has more fingers to
play with", he says. "I crewed for Scott, Nick, Leigh and Wendy in previous years prior to owning and driving.
I am sure the team will have a much improved year, if only with the two and a half cars."
You can find the Dog Squad web site at www.growlerracing.co.uk.
CCSE winners feted.
26th January: The Bedford Moat House Hotel is recovering this morning from the onslaught of
the Custom Car Street Eliminator racers and Andy Oliver's excellent disco as the popular street-legal class had their
Trophy Night last night.
Trophies, prize money, vouchers, parts and framed photographs in various combinations were presented to just
about every one of the CCSE racers by Custom Car Magazine editor Kev Elliott, CCSE Championship Co-ordinator Lee Child
who also sponsors CCSE (and Eurodragster) through his company LA Racing Parts,
Rob Loaring and Nick Davies of sponsors ICE Automotive, Andy Robinson of sponsors Robinson Race Cars, and your very own
Eurodragster staff. The prizegiving was MC'd in the usual able and witty manner by Santa Pod Raceway track announcer
Graham Beckwith.
©Eurodragster.com
As well as Championship prizes, special awards were also made to the following racers:
Robinson Race Cars Racer of the Series: Andy Frost
Pro Sign Best Appearing Team: Allen Curtis
Robinson Race Cars Trophy for the best Reaction Time: Ian Hook
Allglass Hardest-Launching Street Car: Steve Neimantas
ICE Automotive Racing Engines Eight-Second Jackets: Sue Jackson, John Sleath, Ian Hook
Brantwood Auto Breakers 150 mph Jackets: Steve Neimantas, Andy Frost
You can stay in touch with the latest news from Custom Car Street Eliminator on the FB Racing web site at
www.fbracing.co.uk.
Editor's note: Thanks to Andy, Debs and Erin Marrs for hospitality last night.
Web site updates.
26th January: UK Top Methanol Dragster racer Lyndsay Deuchar has been hard at work revamping
his web site at www.laracing.co.uk. "After buying a new monitor and
setting the resolution to 1024 x 768, I realised that the web site looks all wrong!", he says. "I think
I have reconfigured everything to look presentable in all resolutions. I have also taken the opportunity to clean
up the site and add a new History page which you may hopefully find amusing. There is also a new downloadable
screensaver on the Free Stuff page". Lyndsay, who recently announced that he is to sit out the 2003, tells
us that he is working on presentations, proposals and lottery numbers for 2004, and that he will let us know as soon as
there is any news.
Eurodragster staffer Sharkman has updated his web site Sharkman's Top End Tales with another video clip. This time
we go back to a windy Main Event for some Top Methanol Funny Car action as Leif Andréasson takes on Leif Helander.
Check it out at www.topendtales.com.
Bob Valder, webmaster of Feel-the-noise.com, tells us that he will be unable to
reply to E-Mails for the next two weeks or so, due to work commitments
preventing him getting to a computer! Keep the requests and ET reports
coming in, and they will get answered mid-February. Bob and Anni would
also like to thank the many readers who sent them Christmas cards and
seasonal greetings - far to many to reply individually but they were all
appreciated.
©Eurodragster.com
So where were we?
26th January: If you were tuned in - or more accurately tried to tune in - yesterday, then you
could not have failed to have noticed that Eurodragster was unavailable for the majority of the day. It was a
pretty major outage with our web server, E-Mail and FTP access all out of action.
For those interested in such things, here is the explanation of the problem from our ISP SelfNet, who are located
in Ohio, USA:
"We experienced some problems today due to the Internet-wide worm attack launched early this morning
(link to CNN news item about the
attack). Although none of SelfNet's servers, including our SQL 7.0 server, was affected, a small test/development
server colocated on our network running a trial version of SQL2000 did get infected by the worm, and generated
problems on the entire network. The damaged server has been removed from the network at 2:30 (their
time - Ed), and normal operation resumed. We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused."
©Eurodragster.com
Carter adds Lucas Oil.
25th January: UK Top Fuel Dragster team Carter Motorsport
have announced Lucas Oil Products UK Limited as a sponsor for the 2003 season.
The deal was heavily discussed at the Autosport show with Les Downey of
the company's UK division. Les was more than impressed by the team's
professional approach and enjoyed being a guest at the official unveiling of
the car.
"Obviously the company is heavily involved in Drag Racing in the USA", said Les Downey. "Kenny
Bernstein has been a great flag-bearer for us over there and we see Andy
Carter doing a similar job in the UK and Europe. It was great to meet
Andy and the crew last weekend. We at Lucas Oil Products UK would like to
wish the team every success in their quest for the 2003 FIA Championship.
"Lucas is also one of the fastest-growing additive lines in the consumer
automotive industry. A premium line of oils, greases and problem solving
additives has helped to firmly establish Lucas as a prominent figure in this
marketplace. Lucas Oil Products UK Ltd is the UK and European distributor for Lucas Oils
Products USA, providing the same level of service and support as the parent
company."
"Various brochures and leaflets on the full range of products will be
available throughout 2003 in the Carter Motorsport pit", said Carter Motorsport PR Dan Welberry. "We
shall also be carrying a range of Lucas Oil Products goodies including caps and T-Shirts."
To find out more about the Lucas product range, check out their web site at
www.lucasoil.co.uk or call free on 0808 1003259.
Meanwhile, another of Andy Carter's other sponsors, the guys from Binamic,
have added a Guestbook to the Carter Motorsport web site at www.andycarter.net.
©Eurodragster.com
See Andréasson for US tours.
25th January: Swedish Top Methanol Funny Car team
Andréasson Motorsports have signed a three-year
agreement with travel agency Islandsresor, who will be offering a
series of racing-themed tours from many European countries to several major-league racing events in the USA.
Tours will be available for NHRA, Indy Car, CART, NASCAR, and Formula One. The package tours will include flights;
coaches to and from the airport, hotel and race track; accommodation; and tickets to the event. The scheme is very
similar to that which Islandsresor put together when Leif Andréasson competed on the 2002 NHRA Tour.
"We are proud to co-operate with one of Europe's most successful drag racing teams", says Managing Director
Sigfus K Erlingsson. "Our intention is to help European speed freaks to fulfil their need for holidays and racing
action in the USA."
The 2003 schedule will be available shortly on the Andréasson Motorsports web site at
www.andreassonmotorsports.com and on the Islandsresor web
site at www.islandsresor.se.
©Eurodragster.com
Clutterbuck's Fuel Harley for sale.
25th January: Photo-journalist and racer Ian Turburville
has been in touch with news of a dream chance for anyone who wants to go nitro Harley racing "On the cheap, yes
it can be done!
"Steve Clutterbuck's Championship-winning, Pro-Drag, Harley (picture by
Turboville.com right, click on picture for larger version)
is for sale as a complete turn-key operation
with spares for an unbelievable £5,750. It has an ex-Arlie Becker carburated, sportster motor (with a
ton of spare parts) running through a jackshaft and slider, in an Al Smith chassis. The bike is well turned-out,
has always been stone reliable, cheap to run and will run eights all day long on a low, safe setting with little
nitro. It is very easy to run and set up and has plenty more in it. This is probably the cheapest Fuel bike for
sale anywhere in the world and the ideal beginner's machine. It is all set up and ready for serious fun racing."
For more details contact rush.supertwinshq@ntlworld.com or
phone 07970 900805.
©Eurodragster.com
Rotary engine help sought.
25th January: Also on two wheels Brad Preen of Perth, Western Australia has been in touch with
a query about racing with rotary engines, as he thinks that European readers may be able to help out.
©Eurodragster.com
"My mate races a bike with a Turbo Mazda rotary engine and is having trouble with seals. We have heard that there
is a blown rotary bike running in Europe. We are very interested in getting as much information we can on this deal
and any information you can help us with would be greatly appreciated."
If you can help then you can contact Brad by E-Mail at
brad.preen@unitedkg.com.au.
SCR on the road again.
25th January: This weekend APIRA's intrepid twosome Ozzy Ewing and
Jeremy Cookson will be on the road again, this time to nearby
Stafford, for the British Mini Club's Mini Fair tomorrow (Sunday). Held
annually at the Bingley Hall Show Ground, Shakespeare
County Raceway will utilize the one-day event to
promote the BMC's popular Show 'n' Go July event,
British Mini Showdown.
Supertwin Top Gas champion Rick Davis (a secret Mini
enthusiast) will have the nine-second world record-holding
Jade Racing Yamaha RD drag bike on display
next to a spaceframed 16v Vauxhall-engined Special
Saloon Mini raced by the Edwards family from
Wolverhampton.
Over five thousand Mini enthusiasts made last year's Fair one of
the BMC's biggest shows ever, and with over 100 trade
stands, autojumblers and ownership clubs ready to do
business Mini Fair 2003 looks set to break records
yet again. Full restaurant and bar facilities are
available during the day.
The Show starts at 10:00 am tomorrow (Sunday) and entry is £6.00. The Stafford Show Ground is
situated four miles from Junction 14 of the M6. Follow signs
for the Stafford Show Ground - A518 or Junction 23a/24
M1. Follow A50 to Uttoxeter town centre then A518 to
Stafford. For more information check out the British Mini Club web site at
www.britishminiclub.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Proof: Santa reads Eurodragster.
25th January: If you were tuned in to Eurodragster News in December you will remember that
UK Super Street Bike racer Peter Bellenie's Christmas list included a new crew for his eight-second bike.
Pete has been in touch to ask us to thank Santa for a wonderful present. "I'd like to welcome Joe,
Tris, Callum and Holly to the Steel Heart racing team", says Pete. If you needed proof that Santa exists,
that he is a drag racing fan, and that he reads Eurodragster, then we say look no further.
©Eurodragster.com
2003 SFI Recertification Days.
23rd January: We were honoured to hear from Arnie Kuhns, President of the SFI Foundation, who
has been in touch to give European racers a heads-up on the 2003 SFI Days. More detailed information on venues
will be posted shortly but here are the dates for your diaries:
©Eurodragster.com
Friday 28th February: Santa Pod Raceway, England
Saturday 1st March and Sunday 2nd March: Stockholm, Sweden
Monday 3rd March: Finnish Hot Rod Association offices, Helsinki, Finland
Tuesday 4th March: Hockenheim, Germany
Racers invited to pre-Main Event Test...
23rd January: Santa Pod Raceway have announced that they will again be holding a Test Day prior
to the FIA Main Event. The Test Day takes place on Saturday 17th May, and the track will be open between
10:00 and 17:00. Racers in the following classes are invited:
- FIA Top Fuel Dragster
- FIA Top Methanol Dragster
- FIA Top Methanol Funny Car
- FIA Pro Stock
- Fuel Funny Car
- Pro Modified
- Comp Eliminator
- Super Modified
- Super Pro ET
- Pro ET
- Sportsman ET
- Super Comp
- Super Gas
- Super Street
- Custom Car Street Eliminator
- UEM Top Fuel Bike (aka Comp Bike)
- UEM Super Twin Bike
- UEM Pro Stock Bike
This day will also be a Street Machine Street Racer Saturday Special. Only racers in the above classes who have pre-booked,
and Street Machine Saturday Special drivers who have pre-registered, will be allowed to sign on and use the track. More
details on the Street Machine part of the event are available from the magazine.
Entry for the Test Day will be £117.50 per vehicle including VAT. This includes six
admission tickets. Extra admission tickets can be ordered on the booking form at £10 per person.
Racers must show signing-on personnel a valid national driver's licence and a valid
competition licence showing the grading for the type of vehicle they will be testing. It is the responsibility
of the racer to ensure that their vehicle meets the safety regulations for their competition class. In addition,
there will be no permit from the MSA, FIA, ACU or FIM so it is the responsibility of the racer to
provide their own insurance. Santa Pod Raceway will provide third party insurance.
Bookings should be made by 22nd April, after which entry will be accepted at Santa Pod's discretion.
Full details, conditions, and an entry form can be found by clicking here
(PDF file for Acrobat Reader). If you have any enquiries then call Santa Pod Raceway on 01234 782828 (outside the
UK +44 1234 782828).
©Eurodragster.com
...and it's just like NHRA.
23rd January: A very aptly-timed announcement from Santa Pod Raceway when we are in the middle
of NHRA pre-season testing is that, like the NHRA pre-season tests, the 2003 Pre-FIA Main Event Test Day detailed
above will for the first time be open to the public. Previous tests have been closed with only Eurodragster to
bring you the news but now you will be able to join us for what has always been a very different, and very enjoyable,
day's action.
Entry to Santa Pod Raceway on Saturday 17th May will be £10 per person. We will of course bring you more
details closer to the event.
©Eurodragster.com
SPRC Dinner Dance, Awards final call.
23rd January: Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall has been in
touch with a final call for bookings for the SPRC Dinner Dance on Saturday 8th February. This year the SPRC event
will be presenting the UK National Champions as well as the SPRC Champions.
"I have had a good response", says Paula, "but if anyone else wants to book then I need completed forms
by next Friday, 31st January since I need to give the hotel confirmed numbers one week before the event."
©Eurodragster.com
Paula tells us that she has had a number of what she describes as "verbal bookings" but is still awaiting
forms - if that rings a bell, then now's the time to get your form in.
The SPRC Dinner Dance takes place at the Bedford Moat House Hotel on Saturday 8th February. Tickets cost £25 which
includes a three-course meal. You can find more details on the booking form which is available on the Entry Forms
page of the SPRC web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.
Whilst we're on reminders, voting for the 2002 SPRC Perpetual Awards closes at midnight UK tomorrow (Friday).
If you want to vote, then check out the official Awards page by clicking here,
or by clicking on the SPRC Perpetual Awards Vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.
Web site updates.
23rd January: Danish Top Methanol Funny Car racer Dan Larsen now has his own web address at
www.funnycar.dk. Dan's very nice-looking web site features details on the
Funny Car, Dan's trailer, Photo Gallery, Links, Race Calendar, Sponsor page and more.
©Eurodragster.com
Thunderstruck by Rocket return.
22nd January: UK rocket car fans should get the chance to see a new breed of Rocket Dragster
in 2003 as Charles Berg continues test runs in his new Thunderstruck rail (right, click on picture for
larger version).
"The car was constructed to be something different", says Charles. "There have been several
rocket cars used on drag strips but as far as I know these all used
monopropellant motors, mainly hydrogen peroxide. I believe that my car is the
first to use a hybrid motor using actual combustion to produce thrust."
Thunderstruck uses polyethylene burning in Nitrous Oxide as a fuel. "Although this lacks
the massive initial G-force associated with other types of rocket motor, it
does give a fairly constant thrust over most of the run which gives the
potential for some very fast times", says Charles.
©Eurodragster.com
Given the vehicle's unique design there are no proven blueprints for reference,
so in the interests of safety and containing development costs the car has been
constructed small and light and the power restricted. "The chassis is only
sixteen feet long and weighs in around seven hundred pounds", says Charles.
"The motor is set to average nine hundred pounds of thrust over the quarter mile,
and at this level should clock eight- or nine-second runs."
The motor burns five pounds of fuel in thirty pounds of Nitrous Oxide, although the combustion
chamber has the capacity to burn twice this amount. "I would need a bigger and better
chassis to use the motor at maximium capacity", says Charles, "but it would
have the potential to match Top Fuellers."
The car was constructed in the summer of 2002 and has had one test run so far, at
the APIRA Bonfire Burn-Up at Shakespeare County Raceway in November. "The performance
is all estimated at the moment", says Charles. "I hope to attend a few Run What
You Brung events to get the motor set up properly, and then when the car is running right
to run at any race events I can enter."
Stay tuned for news of Charles' progress.
Take the 0-60 challenge.
22nd January: Following two successful Guinness World Record attempts, achieved by two professional
motorcyclists in October 2002, Anything Goes Promotions are continuing preparation for this summers Extreme Machines
Show by searching for the UKS fastest-accelerating car. This will take place at Elvington Airfield, York on Saturday
March 15th.
Anything Goes Promotions Limited, sponsors of the Extreme Machines Show 2003, are looking for cars and drivers with the
power and nerve to set a new record for the UKs fastest-accelerating street-legal car from 0-60 mph (0-96 Kmh).
The car must be UK street legal (i.e. have a valid MOT and road tax, both of which will be checked prior to the event),
and the driver must have a valid UK driving licence.
©Eurodragster.com
Already signed up is Jeff Seddons and his ex-Dubb Sports 'Big Dub' twin-engined VW, unofficially timed at 3.2 seconds
for 0-60.
The winner will be awarded the prestigious title of The Extreme Machines Show Fastest Accelerating Car. Along
with the trophy comes an all-expenses-paid VIP pass to exhibit your winning car, sitting in pride of place at the Show.
There will be a chance to show what you can do on the track, enabling would-be challengers to see what they will be up
against when you defend your title in 2004.
To enter, E-Mail details of your car - including an estimate of your 0-60 mph time - along with a daytime contact number
to dwayne@extrememachinesshow.com. Please note that competitor
places are limited and will be allocated strictly on a first-come, first-served basis.
Alternately, for a nominal fee you can have your cars top speed officially timed, or just come along to catch the
thrills and spills. E-Mail Dwayne for details.
RWYB season starts Sunday.
22nd January: If you are a racer bored after the festive season, or if you have your own car or
bike just sitting in the workshop, or if you are just wondering how quickly your own vehicle will cover the quarter mile
(18.875 seconds - Ed), then Santa Pod Raceway have the solution. The 2003
season starts with this Sunday's (26th January) Run What Ya Brung.
"You will be able to run your vehicle down the famous quarter-mile strip and receive a print-out of your performance
including times and speeds, chat with your friends and colleagues, swap ideas, view cars in the pits or just sit back
in the free grandstand seats and watch the racing", says Kjell Pettersson of Santa Pod Raceway. "The Cafeteria
and Boaters will be open for refreshments.
"This is the first official date in our calendar and there are already indications that this will be a good start
to a busy 2003 season at Santa Pod Raceway."
Gates open at 8:00 am and the strip opens at approximately 10:00, weather permitting. Entry to the track is £9
per person, under-sixteens go free. If you want to race your vehicle there is an additional charge of £13
for unlimited runs. A valid DVLC driving licence must be presented, seat belts are required in cars and crash helmets
must be worn by bike riders and the drivers of soft-topped cars. Bike riders must also wear appropriate bike-riding clothing. Drivers of open top cars must also wear arm restraints.
For more details of safety requirements, or more information about Run What You Brung events, check out Santa Pod
Raceway's web site at www.santapod.com or call 01234 782828.
After Sunday's event, the next RWYBs at Santa Pod are 2nd, 16th and 23rd February; 2nd, 16th and 30th March; and 6th
April.
©Eurodragster.com
SPRC appoint Press Officer.
22nd January: Santa Pod Racers Club have announced the appointment of
Jon Crawford as their new Press Officer. Jon is a longtime drag racing fan and as well as involvement in the British
Nitro Funny Car Championship has also written articles about European Drag Racing for the Competition Plus web site
in the USA.
©Eurodragster.com
"We are very pleased to welcome Jon on board", said Darren Prentice of SPRC. "His love of the sport is
obvious and we are sure that he will be a great asset to the Club. We would like to thank everyone who applied for the
job, and we would also like to thank Eurodragster for putting out the appeal."
"I am absolutely delighted to be given this opportunity", said Jon. "Over the last twenty three years,
Drag Racing has been very good to me, and I am thrilled to have this chance to put something back into the sport which
has given me so much during that time. 2003 is shaping up to be a fantastic season, and I personally can't wait for
the first wheel to turn."
One of Jon's main duties will be to compile the SPRC Newsletter, and we will shortly publish contact details for anyone
with articles for the next issue.
Marston talks the talk.
22nd January: One of the exhibitors at the weekend's Brentwood International Racing Car Show
was Paul Marston, whose imposing Grumpy's Dodge Super Gasser
was there to promote his Driving Experience and Passenger Ride schemes.
"With a good showing from the drag racing fraternity and plenty of visitors to our part of the hall, it
was yet another event where the growing interest in drag racing was visible", says Paul.
"We were kept busy both days answering questions and talking to race fans about our 2003 plans. We had a
lot of good-quality enquiries regarding the Driving Experience and gave out plenty of leaflets for the Passenger
Rides along with the 2003 calendars for both Santa Pod and Shakespeare County Raceway.
"Organiser Vince O'Connor was impressed with the interest shown and said that if possible he would like to see
a stronger presence from drag racing for 2004.
©Eurodragster.com
"A lot of the equipment which the traders sell to the Stock Car racers (first warning - Ed) at Brentwood
is exactly the same as the drag racers use. With North Weald Airstrip so close and bursting at the seams as were Santa Pod
RWYB events were last season, its a great show to come and visit. So make a date in your diary for 2004, it's well worth
it!"
Stay tuned for news of PMR's 2003 plans, including the dates for the Passenger Rides and Driving Experience.
SPRC announce Top Methanol date.
21st January: Santa Pod Racers Club are proud to announce that a round
of the 2003 MSA British Drag Racing Championship, which is contested by Top Methanol, is to take place at the SPRC
Summernationals at Santa Pod Raceway on 28th-29th June.
The end-June/start-July weekend was a round of the British Championship in the days of the
Cannonball, so the SPRC Summernationals marks a midsummer return to the track for the Top Methanol racers.
©Eurodragster.com
The inclusion of Top Methanol at the SPRC Summernationals has been made possible by sponsorship from
Oil Control, a longtime supporter of UK drag racing
whose Managing Director Phil Evans chairs the UK Tech Committee and has a racing background going back several years.
Update 09:30: Since posting the above news, we have heard from Lee Child of
LA Performance Services, who has confirmed that the Excitement Nationals on 3rd-5th May, and
the Allstar Nationals on 23rd-25th August, both at Shakespeare County Raceway, are also rounds
of the MSA Championship.
Update 10:45: Since posting the above, we have now also heard from Kjell Pettersson,
Santa Pod Raceway's Track Manager, who tells us that the other MSA British Championship dates which SPR will be hosting
in 2003 are the Easter Thunderball on 19th-21st April, and the UK National Finals on
27th-28th September. The latter is notable as a new date for the MSA British Championship.
Subject to confirmation from the MSA this means a five-round British Championship for Top Methanol in 2003, up from
three rounds in 2002:
Easter Thunderball, Santa Pod Raceway, 19th-21st April
Excitement Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway, 3rd-5th May
SPRC Summernationals, Santa Pod Raceway, 28th-29th June
Allstar Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway, 23rd-25th August
UK National Finals, Santa Pod Raceway, 27th-28th September
For all matters Top Methanol including rules check out the European Top Methanol Racers Association web site at
www.etmra.com.
Callin goes way under index.
21st January: Swedish Comp Eliminator racer Micke Callin ran the quickest C/A elapsed time ever recorded with his new Autoshop
Racing Engines-built 357ci SB Chevy on Saturday. At a test session at Bradenton Motorports Park in Florida, Micke recorded 7.452/182 mph, with a sixty-foot
time of 1.044, putting him one second under the D/A index which he will be contesting in Europe in 2003.
Micke used the same Oldsmobile Cutlass in which then-Pro Stock Champion Niclas Andersson competed at a couple of NHRA events last season.
He was in the USA to pick up clutch and tuning advice from Lennart and Birgitta Bergqvist who operate
Autoshop Racing Engines in Orlando, Florida.
©Eurodragster.com
There can be only one (or two).
21st January: UK Super Modified racers Paula and Ian Marshall are seeking crew for their
eight-second Highlander Camaro for the 2003 season.
©Eurodragster.com
"We are looking for one or a maximum of two people with a reasonable knowledge of normally-aspirated Chevy
engines", says Ian Marshall, who when not joint driver of the Camaro is Chief Starter at Santa Pod Raceway.
"Knowledge of chassis set-up and automatic transmissions is desirable but not essential."
Candidates must be eighteen or over and willing to put in long hours at the track, "Although hopefully not
too long!", says Ian. "We will be racing at both Santa Pod Raceway and Shakespeare County Raceway.
Maintenance away from the track will be dealt with so the crew won't have to get involved in that. We will
provide crew uniforms, food, and tickets to events."
If you would like to join the Highlander crew then call Paula and Ian on 01933 313625 or Ian's mobile
on 07971 031898.
Brentwood return a success.
21st January: This weekend's Racing Car Show at the Brentwood
International Exhibition Centre, Essex, marked the return of several classic drag racing exhibits.
Organised by Shakespeare County Raceway/Avon Park International Racers Association's intrepid twosome, Press Officer Jeremy Cookson and
Media man Ozzy Ewing, thousands of short oval racing fans were greeted by the awesome site of Laurie and
Ralph Craig's big block Chevy Super Pro 'Cool Runnings' Model T Altered; the Rat-motored '67 Camaro
of Street Eliminator star Andy Oliver; Jade Racing's world record holding Supertwin Top Gas Yamaha RD
machine of Rick Davis, and breaking cover for the first time was Paul Newman's 1320cc Suzuki Comp Bike.
Complete with its low-to-the-floor appearance and its striking orange and chequered paint scheme Paul's bike
was certainly turning a few heads. Paul Marston and his mighty Dodge Dart was also on hand introducing
PMR's Driver Installation and Tuition opportunities as well as the Passenger Ride Experience to a new
audience. A large amount of track calendars for Shakespeare County and Santa Pod were handed out to a
more than inquisitive but appreciative oval racing fan base.
"We would like to thank show organiser Vince O'Connor for inviting us back to Brentwood and to the teams and
individuals who made their vehicles available", commented PR man Jeremy Cookson. "It just goes to show
how drag racing and oval track racing aren't too dissimilar from each other. Especially with there Pro
Stock looking tube chassis and monster V8 engines. We hope that by attending Brentwood again we have
persuaded stock car fans to come and view our great sport as well as keeping faith with oval tracks up and
down the country."
Photos will be available shortly on the APIRA web site.
©Eurodragster.com
Joon wows Maastricht.
20th January: Dutch Top Methanol Funny Car racer
Lex Joon spent the weekend wowing some thirty
thousand motorsport fans at the Race and Rally Show at Maastricht. The European record-holding Camaro was on display
in a tableau with Kim Reymond's European Championship-holding Top Fuel Dragster. "We think that this is the
first time that a Top Fuel Dragster has been on display in Holland", said team member Gerda Dijkstra in a
phone call on the way home from the show last night.
Also forming part of the display was a large video screen showing an eight-minute film explaining drag racing.
"Every time the video started, people crowded round the screen", said Gerda. "Part of the film was
shot inside the Funny Car during a burnout with the smoke coming in and Lex's head shaking all over the place.
I was watching the crowd and I saw one mouth drop open, and then another, and then another!"
©Eurodragster.com
Lex was able to put in a few good words for the sport when he was interviewed on the show's stage by one of Holland's
leading TV motorsport presenters, who was perfectly familiar with Formula One but was maybe not quite as switched
on about drag racing. "He spoke to a guy who races Formula Ford and asked him what sort of horsepower his car
made. He said one hundred and fifty eight, then he turned to Lex and said 'So how many horsepower does your car make,
two hundred?'. Lex told him 'No, three thousand four hundred'. Then he said 'So what speed do you do, two hundred
and sixty?' - meaning kilometres per hour, but Lex just smiled and said 'More like two hundred and sixty miles
an hour'!"
Lex and the team passed out some five thousand leaflets in the course of the show, with the dates of races at
Drachten this season. "Hopefully a lot of these people will come to the races", said Gerda. "In
Holland it's all about Formula One and Touring Cars and drag racing is like the little sport. But we have done
some shows over the winter and handed out a lot of leaflets and people like what they see!"
The team have already been invited back to the show next year and are hoping that they may be able to start
up the engine or put in some other sort of live display. "I don't think it will be a burnout, though, because I
know Lex - he can't just do a burnout!", said a laughing Gerda.
If you were tuned in on Tuesday you will have seen that Gerda put out a call for Junior Dragsters to join the
display. Gerda asked us to thank everyone who responded to the plea so quickly.
You can stay in touch with all the news from Lex Joon Racing on the team's official web site at
www.lexjoonracing.nl.
2003 NEAFP Calendar.
20th January: We have now set up the promised calendar page for 2003 National Events
with Authorised Foreign Participation (NEAFPs) in Europe. Many thanks to those clubs who have already sent their 2003
NEAFPs.
©Eurodragster.com
You can view those 2003 NEAFPs about which we have been informed by clicking here,
or by clicking on the 2003 NEAFPs link on the left-hnd side of any Eurodragster page.
If any clubs would like their NEAFPs to be included in the list then please send details to
news@eurodragster.com.
SPRC Perpetual Awards voting.
20th January: If you've been tuned in over the last few weeks you will have seen that we
have been running a vote on behalf of Santa Pod Racers Club for their Perpetual Awards for the 2002 season.
Voting is still open but will close at midnight UK this Friday (24th January).
©Eurodragster.com
If you want to check out the SPRC Committee's shortlists then you can see the Perpetual Awards page by
clicking here, or by clicking on the SPRC Perpetual Awards Vote
link on the left hand side of any Eurodragster page.
Carter and Andrews at Pomona!
20th January: Not, alas, another Eurodragster scoop but new sims (right, click on picture
for larger version) for the NHRA Main Event computer
game which have been sent to us by race fan Chris Parker. "I painted both of these for the game after coming back from
Autosport International last week", says Chris. "So now you can race as Andy Carter or
Chris Andrews if you've got either NHRA 2 or Main Event. Thanks must go to Adam Gleadow for the body prep and help.
I also have the American Car Imports TMD, with more European Top Fuellers and FCs to follow shortly.
©Eurodragster.com
"If anyone would like these add-ons for the game, I can send them by E-Mail along with
instructions on how to get them into the game. I can be contacted at
themightychrisparker@hotmail.com."
Web site updates.
20th January: UK Pro ET racer Terri Lee has posted another news update on her web site. If
you want to find out the latest from the pit of the Blown It Escort Van then check out
www.terrileeracing.co.uk.
Following on from the Acceleration Archive update yesterday, and proving that nostalgia web sites is
another area in which the UK can more than hold its own, is the latest update to Trakbyte's UK Drag Racing
History. The site, maintained by Chris Dossett who also works on the Showtime Fuel FC team, plots the
history of UK drag racing from its very earliest days up to the present. "There are updates to
1966, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1989 and 2002", says Chris. "There are also new entries in the
Hall Of Fame files of Alan Allard, Allan Herridge, Dennis Priddle, John Hobbs, Tony Dickson, Clive Skilton, and
Peter Crane. There are also some new memories in the Anecdotes section". You can find this wealth
of information at www.trakbytes.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Janne Thorstorp.
19th January: We were stunned to hear from our friends at Svensk Dragracing of the sudden death of
Freddy Fagerström's Crew Chief Janne Thorstorp at the age of 44. Janne had been a friend of the Fagerström family
for twenty years and tuned Freddy's blown pick-up Pro Mod to stellar performances most recently at the 2002 FIA European
Finals at Santa Pod where Freddy hit the guardrail in qualifying and then came back to record personal bests
and win the event.
Christer Abrahamson of Svensk Dragracing spoke for us all when he said "Janne was always so very friendly and
talkative when you visited the Fagerström pit area. He was also the kind of person who made you
feel happy in just a few seconds."
You can read more on the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se.
We are sure that everyone will want to join Sharkman and Tog in expressing our very deepest sympathies to Janne's
family and friends.
©Eurodragster.com
Did you know?
19th January: Our good buddy Andy Marrs of TSI Timers Europe, who
run the timing system at Santa Pod Raceway, has excelled himself with his latest oeuvre, a statistical breakdown
of hundreds of performances at Santa Pod and points standings in the FIA and FIM/UEM European Championships. For
example, did you know...
- Michael Malmgren has the highest career total of Championship points (2739) of any FIA racer
- Kent Persson has the best average ET (5.109) in Top Fuel Dragster at Santa Pod Raceway
- Manty Bugeja has the best average ET (5.886), the best average terminal speed (233.61) and the best
average Reaction Time (0.544) in Top Methanol Dragster at SPR
- Lex Joon has both the best (0.407) and best average (0.556) Reaction time in Top Methanol FC at SPR
- Tomi Laine has the best average ET (7.153), the best average terminal speed (193.33) and the best
average Reaction Time in Pro Stock at SPR
- Roger Pettersson has the highest career total of Championship points (6552) of any FIM/UEM racer
- Roel Koedam has recorded 43 competitive runs in Comp Bike at SPR
- Øivind von Essen has the best average terminal speed in Pro Stock Bike (177.02) at SPR
- Ton Pels has the best Reaction Time in Supertwin (0.401) at SPR
Andy has sent several spreadsheets and word documents full of such information which you can download as zip files:
©Eurodragster.com
Click here for FIA stats 1996-2002 (477 Kb)
Click here for FIM/UEM stats 1998-2002 (562 Kb)
Click here for both FIA and FIM/UEM stats (1038 Kb)
If you don't have an unzipping utility then you can download a free evaluation version of WinZip at
www.winzip.com. It's worth it!
Beneke's hot ride.
19th January: Sue Beneke has again been in touch with news of ex-pat Brit Ben Beneke's
progress at the Australian Nationals at Willowbank Raceway. Unfortunately it was not such good news in eliminations.
"On the start line one of Ben's crew spotted that the bike was leaking fuel, moved forward to tell Ben to cut
the engine, and was stopped by the starter! Not knowing this, Ben launched the bike, and just off the start line
the rear cylinder hydraulic'ed. Thankfully the engine restraints held but there was a lot of damage to the engine.
The Willowbank web site says 'Beneke slowed down virtually after leaving with a little bit of a fire on the Harley'.
The fire truck was at the far end of the track and didn't move for a while. Someone ran from the start line, with
the wrong type of extinguisher. So the 'little bit' was something of a misnomer! Where were the FAST crew when he
needed them? I find it hard to believe that none of the track crew on the start line noticed that Ben had a fuel
leak and stopped him racing. This would not have happened over here, that's for sure! I know it was hot (sixty
degrees on the startline) but this is their job and they should know what to look for. After all, safety should
be of paramount importance."
Top Fuel Dragster racer 'Pommie' Steve Read made it to the final of Top Fuel, Jim Read taking the win at
4.959/287.54 to Steve's 5.311/245.90.
©Eurodragster.com
Turbo on BJ video.
19th January: If you were tuned in on Thursday you will have read about
Brian Johnson's latest drag bike video, the 2002 AMA/Prostar Star Nationals. Bike photo-journalist and racer Ian
Turburville has been in touch with a few more details.
"BJ has filmed the whole series, and is doing a tape of each round so there is lots to come! This tape is two
hours long and includes the amazing Jimmy Brantly fireball on BJ's old bike. Although it is much longer than the
first tape it is the same price. Brian is learning his craft quickly and the tapes are getting better as they go
along!"
Turbo is selling BJ's tape at £12.95 plus £2.95 postage through his web site at
www.turboville.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
19th January: Alan Currans has added another page to his excellent Acceleration Archive web
site. This time the subject is Doorslammers and the fifth page features amongst others Al's Gasser, the Stones'
Tender Trap, Sylvia Hauser's shocking pink Sierra, and a VW powered Fiat 500. Check it out at
www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk.
Eurodragster staffer has posted another video clip on his personal web site Sharkman's Top End Tales.
The new clip features John Spuffard in the Showtime Fuel Funny Car putting in a 5.4-second pass at
the 2002 Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway. You can find Sharkman's site at
www.topendtales.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Beneke, Upton qualify at Willowbank.
18th January: Thanks to UK National Association of Supertwins Championship co-ordinator Sue
Beneke for passing on details of her son Ben's and fellow ex-pat Brit Jay Upton's progress in
qualifying at this weekend's Australian Nationals at Willowbank Raceway in Australia.
"Yesterday Ben qualified #3 in Top Bike with an early shut-off 7.8, and #7 and in Pro Stock with a 10.7 - showing there is hope for big guys", says
Sue. "Jay Upton ran 4.6 at 201 mph! Unfortunately he left before the tree ran - hence the 4.6 - but the 201 mph was genuine.
"Their class ran at 9:00 last night with a track temperature of 32 - peak track temperature during the day was 57 degrees! Just let anyone grumble
this year about standing around in leathers getting hot! Or not having enough runs in the day - they only get three qualifying runs total there, and that
is spread over two days.
"In the second round of qualifying, Pro Stock Bike and Top Bike ran so close together that Ben was not able to run in both classes. Don't you love
it when they change the running order! Ben had slipped to the #5 slot, with Jay Upton lower still - but this time qualified.
"The final run of the day - and still not good news for Ben with the bike nosing over midtrack or, as the Aussies put it, Ben shuts it down at half track,
although the bike seemed to be on a march. Whatever that might mean! Time a disappointing 8.2, leaving him with a best of 7.8 from yesterday
and in #7 slot.
"Jay Upton finally pulled it out of the hole with a 6.75/204, which puts him in No 1 position. He did however end up in the gravel as his chute didn't
open - a chute on a bike?! Mind you, this is one very different looking machine with a full body kit totally enclosing the bike right to the ground - like
nothing I have ever seen before.
"More news as it happens - from the UK correspondent who managed to let Ben know his qualifying positions from here in the UK by phone
before he knew himself at the track - isn't technology wonderful?"
©Eurodragster.com
Carter's Autosport thanks...
18th January: UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Andy Carter
unveiled the First National Telecom dragster at Autosport International last week in what
was a highly successful weekend for the team. Carter Motorsports PR Dan Welberry has been in touch to express
the team's thanks to everyone who helped.
"We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made our
weekend at the Autosport show such a success", says Dan. "The interest in the First
National Telecom Dragster (and the Santa Pod stand, the cars and bikes) was
fantastic, and the Super Crew were kept busy talking to the public all
weekend. Thousands of hero cards and posters were handed out, and the
interest was unbelievable. We would also like to thank Motorsport News for
allowing us the opportunity to preach to the masses from their stage.
Special mentions must also go to Kelly and Caroline from Santa Pod, Terry
and Tina Gibbs, Brian Payne, IPA, King Knut, Sigma Signs and of course
the voice of Drag Racing, John Price."
©Eurodragster.com
...as Andy becomes the Binamic Man!
18th January: Carter Motorsport are also proud to announce a new web site sponsor for 2003.
Binamic Limited have just completed a major overhaul of Andy's web site and the
new improved version is now on-line at www.andycarter.net.
"Binamic is fast becoming a by-word for high quality web and multimedia products", says
Martin Hill, Company Director of Binamic. "We believe in craftsmanship - delivering true quality,
and exceptional value. The quality is an obsessive thing - we have to be the best. We pride
ourselves in our knowledge and understanding of web and multimedia
technologies, and our attention to detail is, frankly, unnatural.
The value comes not because we are the cheapest - we probably wont be - but
because we think we know how to use the web and multimedia to really help
your business, whether its driving sales, cutting costs, or promoting a
brand. So, anything we do for you will also save, or make you money, and we
hope that it'll be something you'll be proud of too.
We offer a complete, one stop solution - from strategy and planning through
production and implementing, through marketing and promoting, to the most
important thing: getting results! And we are always on the end of the phone
to help - desperately trying to demystify the web and multimedia for our
clients!
"The most important thing to us is that all of our clients to date are
still our clients. So whatever you do, make it Binamic."
You can visit the Binamic web site at www.binamic.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
UK Comp Eliminator web site.
18th January: Further to 8th January's news that
Time Machine Racing are to field an altered
in Competition Eliminator, driver Martin Gleadow has set up a web site
specifically for the class within the UK.
"After a trip to Mantorp Park last summer, we were really inspired
by the Competition Eliminator class, and felt that it really needed a push
in this country, as it is exciting, diverse, competitive and downright fun", says Martin Gleadow.
"Only a small number of UK racers have tried their hand at Comp, whereas
throughout the rest of Europe it is exceedingly popular. A lot of cars from
such classes as Super Mod, Super Pro and Pro ET would easily fit into the
class, and could race without breakouts yet still have a reasonably level
playing field through the use of indexes based on car set-up.
"With the Nordic Drag Racing Series visiting the UK for three meetings this year, we should see a major
influx of Competition Eliminator cars into the UK, and hopefully this will
encourage more UK racers to compete in this most entertaining of classes.
Introducing Comp Eliminator to the UK as a major class would see us brought
in to line with the rest of Europe, allowing many more racers to travel from
the UK to Europe and vica versa. The class allows racers to compete without
huge budgets, without throttle stops and delay boxes, and without the
constant risk of breaking out, resulting in a class which is exciting both
to watch and to race in.
"The web site contains a listing of all the subcategories within the class
including records and indexes, as well as explanations of the Competition
Index Control system and descriptions of how the class works. There is also
a list of FAQs, results listings, information on racers, and much more.
Check it all out at www.compeliminator.co.uk and be sure to get in
touch and tell us what you think.
"Time Machine Racing are looking to hear from anyone who may be interested
in running in the class, and if you send your cars weight, engine capacity
and engine setup (eg: Blown, Turbo, Nitrous etc) to
info@compeliminator.co.uk
we will reply with information on the subclass you
would fit into, including the index. You can also find all this on the
web site."
©Eurodragster.com
Homewood's Willys for sale.
17th January: From UK Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Richard Homewood comes the shock news
that he has had to put up for sale his stunning new CCSE '41 Willys (right, click on picture for bigger version),
which wowed the crowds at Autosport International last week.
©Eurodragster.com
The recently-completed Willys was built by Dale Reardon at West Coast Racing, and is powered by a 383 small block
with a single carb and Top Gun nitrous nozzle system.
"Offers around £30,000 will be considered for this show-winning quality race car, which has been built
to go as well as it looks", says Richard. "Please call 07970 821122 any time with serious enquiries. The
car is located in Wantage, fifteen miles south west of Oxford, for those wishing to view - but let's keep it
serious please, no time wasters, dreamers or tyre kickers."
Danish, Dutch NEAFPs.
16th January: Many thanks to Gsta Bie of National Dragracing Club
Denmark for letting us know their NEAFP date in 2003. "The Danish Nationals at Vandel on 30th May-1st
June is approved by the Danish Automobile Sports Federation and the FIA for foreign competitors", says Gsta.
©Eurodragster.com
All three of Explosion Drag Racing Club's dates at Drachten and the season opener
at Lelystad, Holland, are listed as NEAFPs. They are:
27th April: Season Opener, Lelystad
14th-15th June: Drachten Fast and Furious
11th-13th July: Drachten Internationals
30th-31st August: Drachten Dutch Finals
APIRA AGM reminder.
16th January: Avon Park International Racers Association Club
Secretary Wendy Talbot has asked us to remind APIRA members of the APIRA Annual General Meeting, which takes place
on Sunday 2nd February in the Stamford Suite at the Holiday Inn, Crick, Northampton.
©Eurodragster.com
"The meeting is scheduled for a 1:00 pm start and ends at 5:00 pm", says Wendy. "There will be a
refreshment break at 3:00 pm with tea and coffee available for a fee."
Interview with Kristina Hägglund.
16th January: Our good friends at Svensk Dragracing have updated their web site with a very
interesting interview with NDRS Super Comp Champion Kristina Hägglund. If you want to know what is on Kristina's
mind as she rolls through the water, and what she does when things get fraught in her pit, then check out the
excellent piece at www.dragracing.se.
©Eurodragster.com
BJ produces Prostar video.
16th January: Another good buddy, Brian Johnson has released the latest of his excellent drag
bike videos. This time around BJ has produced coverage of the 2002 AMA/Prostar Star Racing Nationals straight from the USA.
The two-hour video comes in at £14.99 and is available via BJ's web site at
www.brianjohnson.co.uk or via Ian Turburville's web site at
www.turboville.com.
©Eurodragster.com
A model sponsor.
15th January: Fresh from starring on the Goodyear stand at Autosport International, the Wildside
Inc Top Fuel Dragster team have announced a new sponsorship deal with collectable manufacturer
Racing Champions. Racing Champions are releasing a 1/24 scale die-cast
model of the Union Flag-themed Top Fueller, which will be available in shops very shortly and will also be available
from the team's pit at the track.
"We are very proud to have a big company such as this involved in drag racing", says driver Darryl Bradford.
"We are looking forward to welcoming them to the track."
©Eurodragster.com
Racing Champions will also be producing a range collectables for the team including a 1/64 scale model of the Top Fueller.
"I've already got one of the models of Micke Kågered's Top Fueller, so now I will be able to sit and
race Micke in my living room if I want to!", says Darryl.
Stay tuned for pricing and availability of the Racing Champions model, and for more news from the team.
Hone all Wright for 2003.
15th January: Gleeson Wright Security have announced that they will again be sponsoring UK Super
Modified racer Andy 'Fred' Hone in 2003. "Gary Gleeson and I sponsored Andy and crew in 2002, and we were very
pleased with the response we received", says Matthew Wright who races (or raced, see below - Ed) in Super
Street in an Escort also backed by Gleeson Wright Security.
©Eurodragster.com
"Andy's off-season tasks are to freshen up the 461 cu motor with new alloy rods, valve springs, mandatory cam change etc. apart from
blowing the dust of the old girl and the possibility of an other sponsor coming on board - the more the better, anyone interested?", says Matthew. "Andy
and Crew Chief Mick Combes will be out there giving a certain yellow Chevy and Rover coupe a run for their money (good luck Rob and Danny) as well as all
the other great teams in the great Super Modified class."
Matthew's Super Street Escort is for sale. He tells us that his "somewhat ambitious" plan for 2003 is to race a 1975 Chevy pick-up in street-legal
trim, apart from the slicks. "The idea is to tow our caravan to the track, bolt on the slicks, and go racing", says Matthew. "The Escort is a
fantastic car (thanks to Andy), the problem being how many toys can you have. I've always liked having a true street car, this way I can have both and
it will make life easier for Cheryl (Racer Chick) and myself - just hook up and go.
"Of course, you can't do this with any old truck. After searching the internet with little luck, I found what I was looking for in the hands of big Steve Dowler
who crews for John Ellis of Pro Mod fame. Deal done I drove home happy as Larry planning my build of a ten-second street-driven truck. I will say no more than
it will be low, and running a blown 461 cu Chevy. See you all at the track! Thanks to Andy (Fred) Hone, and to Andy Robinson of Robinson Race Cars for a
fantastic job and fitting me in at such short notice."
APIRA, SPRC NEAFPs.
15th January: Further to yesterday's news item about Swedish National Events with Authorised Foreign
Participation (NEAFPs), we have received confirmation of the Avon Park International
Racers Association and Santa Pod Racers Club NEAFPs for 2003 from Club Secretaries Wendy
Talbot and Paula Marshall. "These events are covered by a National A licence up to Pro Mod", says Paula
Marshall. "Above Pro Mod the International conditions already apply."
The APIRA and SPRC NEAFPs are as follows:
19th-21st April: Easter Thunderball, Santa Pod Raceway
3rd-5th May: Excitement Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway
3rd-5th May: Big Bang, Santa Pod Raceway
24th-26th May: FIA Main Event, Santa Pod Raceway
14th-15th June: Power Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway
28th-29th June: SPRC Summernationals, Santa Pod Raceway
18th-20th July: Bug Jam, Santa Pod Raceway
23rd-25th August: Allstar Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway
5th-7th September: FIA European Finals, Santa Pod Raceway
20th-21st September: European Doorslammer Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway
27th-28th September: UK National Finals, Santa Pod Raceway
4th-5th October: Big Shootout, Shakespeare County Raceway
18th-19th October: Halloween Showdown, Shakespeare County Raceway
1st November: Flame and Thunder Show, Santa Pod Raceway
©Eurodragster.com
We will be setting up an NEAFP page over this coming weekend. If you would like your country's events included then
please E-Mail details to news@eurodragster.com.
Web site updates.
15th January: UK Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Andy Frost's web site has been updated
with the latest news from "a cracking couple of weeks" in the street-legal eight-second Vauxhall pit.
Check it out at www.redvictor1racing.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
JDs urgently sought by LJR.
14th January: Gerda Dijkstra of Lex Joon Racing has
been in touch urgently seeking additions to the Top Methanol Funny Car team's appearance at a show this coming
weekend.
"We are appearing at the Race and Rally International Show at Maastricht this weekend", says Gerda.
"Our Funny Car and Kim Reymond's Top Fuel Dragster will be lined up side-by-side, and we also have a Top Fuel
Bike and a Super Gasser, but we would really like to have two Junior Dragsters there."
©Eurodragster.com
Gerda has contacted a number of Junior Dragster teams but has not had any response, and time is running out.
If you would like to display your Junior Dragster at Maastricht then please contact Gerda as soon as
possible either in the office on +31 75 61 23 164 up to 5:30 pm, or on +31 65 43 36 820 after 5:30 pm,
or by E-Mail at gerda@lexjoonracing.nl.
The Race and Rally Show is a huge event and Gerda tells us that she is looking forward to the chance to put
Michael Schumacher straight about one or two things! "We have the European Top Fuel Champion and the
European Top Methanol Funny Car record holder side by side", she says. "His car will be there but it
only makes eight hundred horsepower!"
Lex has also announced that his Splitfire-sponsored Camaro will again be putting in demonstration passes at all three
of Explosion Drag Racing Club's events at Drachten this season. Drachten tickets are now available on Lex's web site
at www.lexjoonracing.nl, and racers can find more details about the events
on the Explosion web site at www.explosion.nl. Gerda asked us to add that
Lex's FC will not be appearing at an exhibition in Belgium in February.
Swedish NEAFPs.
14th January: If you were tuned in back on 9th October you
will have read that the FIA have changed the rules for 2003 regarding EU licence holders competing at events other than in
their home countries. The rules mainly affect organising clubs, as they have to designate each race at which foreign
competitors can compete as a 'National Event with Authorised Foreign Participation' (NEAFP) and must pay a fee to the FIA.
Lars Pettersson, Chairman of the Drag Racing Committee in Sweden, has been in touch to suggest
that European clubs send Eurodragster lists of events at which foreign competitors can compete. Lars has set the ball
rolling by sending a list of events in the 2003 Swedish calendar which are NEAFPs approved by the Swedish Automobile
Sport Federation and the FIA to allow foreign competitors:
7th-8th June: Luleå, NBF District Championship
13th-15th June: Sollefteå, Deep Forest Nats
27th-29th June: Göteborg, Gteborgs Motorfestival
28th-29th June: Västerås, Aros Nats
11th-13th July: Luleå, Midnight Sun Internationals
19th-20th July: Skellefteå, Gold Town Dragrace
24th-27th July: Mantorp Park, Veidec Drag Racing Festival
16th August: Lindesberg, Linde Open
23rd-24th August: Luleå, NBF District Championship
©Eurodragster.com
If organising clubs would like to send their own calendars of events open to foreign competitors in 2003 then we
will put together a page for racers' reference. Please send details to
news@eurodragster.com.
New shoes for Czechmate.
14th January: Jeff Rainbird of UK Sportsman ET racers Team Czechmate has announced that
team-mate Phil 'Razor' Dowdrey is to hang up his helmet for the 2003 season.
"Phil has been a real pleasure to work with, and his input to the car's performance will be badly missed", says
Jeff. "Phil gave no quarter and he was always the car's trump card when the dial-in was way out, it's always nice
to hear from a third party that Phil was always very good at the startline."
©Eurodragster.com
The Skoda's new driver is Steve Partis. Steve has already made one pass in the car and Jeff is confident that he will
get to grips with the shift system before the season starts.
"As for the other pair of shoes, I will be racing my Mitsubishi GTO Twin Turbo just for the hell of it,
as I can now have my licence back (lap belts only). Phil would love to get his hands on it, who knows? Me first though!
I wish everyone a Happy New Year and lots of success."
Web site updates.
14th January: The UK's Never Again Racing drag racing team have now moved URLs to their
own address, www.neveragainracing.co.uk. The Never Again web site
features everything you could want to know about the Coco Connection Camaro and the rest of the team
including news, photographs, a rogue's gallery and more.
UK Pro ET racer Terri Lee's web site has been updated with the latest news from the workshops of the
Blown It supercharged Escort Van. Check it out at
www.terrileeracing.co.uk.
The guys at Dragsterworld have posted a report and photographs from Autosport International. You can see their
report at www.dragsterworld.com.
Eurodragster staffer Sharkman has updated his personal web site with a video clip of the final of Custom Car Street
Eliminator from last year's Super Series Mid-Summer Nationals. You can find Sharkman's Top End Tales at
www.topendtales.com.
©Eurodragster.com
SPRC Perpetual Awards week 6.
13th January: Voting is still open for all of Santa Pod Racers Club's Perpetual Awards which
have already been announced, plus the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Award.
This week we are pleased to reveal the SPRC Committee's shortlist for the final Perpetual Award, the
Paul Giddings Memorial Trophy.
This bike-only award is named for late racer Paul Giddings, and is presented for overcoming adversity.
Nominees have typically had to endure personal problems, severe or prolonged mechanical trouble, an accident
or other such troubles, but have faced those problems head-on and come out on top.
The Committee's shortlist is as follows (in alphabetical order):
Shaun Branch, Special Branch Funny Bike
Alan Cook, Pro Stock Bike
Neil Diggens, Queezirider Funny Bike
Len Paget, White Lightning Pro Stock Bike
Paul Wing, Shadowphax Super Street Bike
We have set up a special page for the SPRC Perpetual Awards, which is updated every week as each category
is announced. This week we have added the above list with voting links.
You can view the SPRC Awards page and submit your vote by clicking here, or
by clicking on the SPRC Perpetual Awards Vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.
©Eurodragster.com
Alternately, if you already know for whom you would like to vote then you can send an E-Mail to
sprcawards@eurodragster.com, specifying SPRC Paul Giddings Memorial
Trophy as the subject, and the racer for whom you are voting in the body of the mail.
One vote per E-Mail address will be accepted for each award, so if you have already voted for any of the previous
five awards then you can still vote for Most Promising Newcomer and/or the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy.
The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy was first awarded to Santa Pod Raceway's late Chief Marshal, Alex
Brachtvogel, in 2001 to mark his outstanding contribution to Santa Pod Raceway and the sport as a whole. After
Alex's death the trophy was named in his memory and continues to be awarded for contribution to drag racing.
The staff of Eurodragster.com were privileged to be presented with this award in 2002.
There is no shortlist for the Alex Brachtvogel trophy. Readers are invited to submit nominations which can be
for racers, race officials, track and safety crews, club officials, media, or anyone else who has contributed to
the sport. To make a nomination, send an E-Mail to
sprcawards@eurodragster.com, specifying SPRC Alex Brachtvogel
Trophy as the subject, and your nomination in the body of the mail. All nominations will be considered by the
SPRC Committee.
Mantorp improvements underway.
12th January: Sweden's Mantorp Park is undergoing several improvements for the 2003 season,
says co-owner Fredrik Bernshed.
"We've put a lot of money into the drag strip", Fredrik told us at Autosport International yesterday,
"as much money as we can. When you only run one race a year it's a disaster!
We're planning more guardrails, a new timing system, more space for the racers, a new restaurant, and
two thousand more grandstand seats. We're also building a party area for live music, a large play area for kids
with a picnic area next to it where parents can watch the children. We've increased the camping area, improved
the services, and brought in a new caterer". The new restaurant is to be a '50s-style diner called Lucy's,
complete with waitresses on roller skates.
©Eurodragster.com
Fredrik told us that the new timing system has yet to be selected. "We are checking out Santa Pod's and
the Finnish Hot Rod Association's timing", he said. "If we have not decided in time for the Veidec
Drag Festival in July then we will hire a system."
Unlike tracks just about everywhere else Mantorp Park, which employs twenty two people full-time and
caters for several different forms of motorsport, has no trouble with the local authorities. "We are able to
compromise", said Fredrik. "We invest
in sound-monitoring equipment for example. The local authorities don't make any rules, but they make recommendations
which we follow."
Whilst we were talking to Fredrik we asked him about his role in Power Racing Group, which was set up to promote the
FIA and FIM/UEM Championships (see yesterday's chat with Keith Bartlett for more details - Ed).
"I'm a co-founder", he said. "I'm not involved so much day-to-day. We're looking for investors, staff
and sponsors. Power Racing Group was started to look after the interests of the series as a whole, not individual
tracks. Of course we've looked at the NHRA and seen which of their standards we can pick up - we're looking at
title sponsors for classes, for one thing."
Fredrik thinks that the European Championships need more venues but not necessarily
straight away. "It's not going to grow any more than we need it to", he said. "I see the current
situation remaining for a year or two and maybe then we will need another track in central Europe. We have
to take our time and get it right because the racers already complain about the travel costs, but that is one
of the things which Power Racing Group is working on."
Orthodoxou closing deal.
12th January: Chris Orthodoxou, head of the UK's Reservoir Dodge drag racing team,
has announced the pending finalisation of an astounding sponsorship deal with oil giant BP. Chris tells us that
he has been working on the deal for some time.
Chris, who is involved in the design of oil rigs, refineries and pipelines, is currently working with BP Corporate
members in Azerbaijan on the development of the Caspian Sea oil fields where he has "met the right
bloke to talk to".
"I struck up a friendship with a very senior BP official who was involved in drag racing in the States years
ago", says Chris. "He was very interested in talking about racing in general and also the image and
presentation of the sport in Europe. After lengthy beer-drinking and ear-bending sessions, the commercial people
got involved on his say-so, and things developed from there. I must have sounded as if I knew what I was talking
about!
"This could be a serious, money-no-object type deal, meaning that we will be going straight in to Pro Mod,
maybe leading to Top Methanol or even Top Fuel!
"BP engineering technologists are keen to be involved as a 'cleaner fuels' research programme, especially regarding
petrol-burning engines (i.e. Pro Mod). We are talking about the development of very high octane lead-free petrol,
which would eventually find its way onto the forecourts. As the company has a high-profile Green image, which
they like to promote whenever possible, this is an ideal opportunity for them to attract major media attention
(and a great way for me to go top-flight racing with someone else paying for it).
"I've been away from serious racing for about three seasons now and I can't think of a better way than this
to reappear with a bang. We are very excited at the prospect of what may lay ahead."
Stay tuned for further developments from the Reservoir Dodge team.
CBD go 350 ("Don't be silly, not mph").
12th January: So says Knut Soderquist of Carbon By Design, who have just manufactured their
350th carbon fibre injector. "Not bad for three years, for a small English company, with maybe fifty
customers", says Knut.
©Eurodragster.com
Amongst CBD's customers are some of the biggest names in NHRA as well as European drag racing. "Our injectors hold
every ET and speed record in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car", says Knut.
"It's a bit more than we planned when we started three years ago, but I've been doing a bit of wheeling and
dealing! There's also been a lot of superb work by Carlo Gandolfi."
Carbon By Design are just about to unveil their latest product, a carbon fibre injector for Fuel bikes. "We
are very grateful to Anders Karling", says Knut. "We were planning to have the new injector ready before
Christmas, but we've been so busy meeting orders that it's now going to be ready in mid-February".
If you are interested in CBD products then call 01933 385090 for more details (outside the UK +44 1933
385090).
Race Director still seeks buddies.
12th January: Santa Pod Raceway's International Race Director Darren Prentice is still seeking
volunteers to help his events run even more smoothly.
"I would like to try and set up a buddy-style system", says Darren. "This would involve
a person from each class to act as a class rep - although this would be an unofficial position.
They could, if they wanted but not necessarily, help the pit marshals to gather
their class, and after each round they could collect that round's data - either
qualifying positions or next round pairings - and post them in their pit for their class.
They could also bring any class-related problems to my attention, this
being just another way of communicating between the Tower and the pits.
©Eurodragster.com
The ideal person would be a crew member or partner of a racer, rather than a racer. This type of
representation works very well already with the Supertwins, Top Methanol, Custom Car Street Eliminator,
and Super Modified."
If you would like to volunteer, or if you would like more information, then you can E-Mail Darren at
darren@sprcrd.fsnet.co.uk.
Last call for SPRC Press Officer.
12th January: Application will be closing this week for the post of Press Officer for
Santa Pod Racers Club. The main duties of the post will be to compose reports about each
race at Santa Pod and to compile
nine SPRC Newsletters per year, as well as keeping the SPRC web site up-to-date in liaison with Eurodragster.
Attendance may also be required at SPRC Committee Meetings.
©Eurodragster.com
"The successful candidate will need to be computer-literate", says SPRC Secretary Paula Marshall.
"A pass will be provided permitting access to all areas of the Raceway. Please apply to me at Santa Pod Racers
Club, PO Box 12, Rushden, Northamptonshire NN10 0AY or E-Mail Darren Prentice at
darren@sprcrd.fsnet.co.uk."
Autosport International Saturday report.
10th January: Today's American Car Imports-sponsored report and pictures from Autosport
International are now available. It was an even longer day at the NEC today than yesterday so we took the
long drive back (through thick fog) to base before starting on the report.
You can view the Saturday report and pictures by clicking
here, or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.
©Eurodragster.com
First National Telecom TF unveiled.
11th January: Andy Carter's First National Telecom Top Fuel Dragster was unveiled this afternoon at
Autosport International. Steve Smith and Miles Barry of First National Telecom and Carter Motorsports PR Dan Welberry
removed the cover which had been on the dragster all day to reveal an eye-catching red and black colour scheme
(right, click on picture to see larger image).
©Eurodragster.com
First National Telecom is the UK's premier provider of pre-paid international calling cards and have signed
up with Andy for 2003 in a deal which promotes the company's expansion into Europe.
"First National Telecom is a team of winners and we are proud to be associated with Andy Carter", said
Sales Director Steve Smith. "We are rolling out our business to at least three European countries in 2003 so there
is a lot of synergy there."
"It's great to have First National Telecom on board", said Andy Carter, looking very smart in
the team's
new crew shirts. "We're looking forward to going out there and winning the Championship for them!"
KB on 2002, 2003 and more.
11th January: Whilst at Autosport International yesterday we took the chance to have a chat with FIA
European Drag Racing Championship promoter and Santa Pod Raceway CEO Keith Bartlett.
We asked Keith what he had been up to at Autosport and whether any deals had been signed. "I've been working
here for the last twenty four hours for both Santa Pod and the Championships", he said. "I've been
working to complete negotiations which had already started. I'm hopeful of bringing in some blue-chip companies.
You only have to look at which cars are on which stands to see the sort of companies we could be talking about. Drag racing
is looking more attractive to these companies at the moment. The motorsports market is bearish, budgets are being cut,
and we are in a position to take advantage of that climate. Formula One and Touring Cars are asking for half a
million pounds at a time, whereas we are asking for maybe fifty thousand and with drag racing you can get as much for
that as you will with the higher amount in other forms of motorsport, for example with TV coverage."
We then got onto the racing and asked Keith about 2002. "2002 was a very good year for Santa Pod", he said.
"The weather was kind, the events were successful and the racers and staff thought that the FIA events went very
well indeed, especially the European Finals which was very good. We were also pleased with the two Sportsman events too
- they laid a good grounding for going forward."
©Eurodragster.com
At the end of 2002 it was announced that a new company, Power Racing Promotions, had been set up to manage the FIA
and FIM/UEM Championships. Keith explained the background and the future. "The first six years of the
Championships were run by myself and the tracks", he said. "Trakbak Racing had been taking commercial
responsibility. But it had reached a natural plateau. We have formed a new company with the sole intention to run the
FIA and FIM/UEM Championships independent of Trakbak and the individual promoters. The goal is for the company to take
the Championship to the tracks as a package, to centralise the Championships so that the sponsors know what they
are sponsoring. At the moment it's not clear cut. The management structure of the company allows input from track
promoters, teams and sponsors into how we develop the Championships further. I've wanted this for a long time.
It will take another four or five years but it will start this year with the TV being run by the new company. Also
Kjell Pettersson and I will move from spending seventy five per cent of our time on Santa Pod to seventy five per
cent of our time on the Championships."
2003 sees the return of the Nitrolympics to the FIA and FIM/UEM Championships and Keith expressed himself very pleased
that Hockenheim was back on the calendar. "All of the teams and other promoters wanted the Championships to go to
Hockenheim", he said. "It's a crucial lynch-pin and Germany is a huge market". Expansion is still on
the cards. "We also need to develop another central European track - a country like France - and then a southern
European track", said Keith. "We are working on it but these things take time."
2003 is looking very strong in Top Fuel Dragster and we were interested to discover what the plans were if
the projected nine or ten cars turned up at one event. "We will run eight-car fields no matter what",
said Keith. "To quote a phrase Andy Carter uses, we're all excited at the thought that someone might have to
go home on Saturday night". Keith also confirmed that fields of eight cars would be set in all other FIA
classes.
Closer to home we asked about the 2003 British Nitro Funny Car Championship. "We are planning to run the Funny
Car Championship as the second year of a three-year contract", said Keith. "We plan to run our two rounds
at Santa Pod, and Lee Child is planning to run two rounds at Shakespeare County Raceway". Also in the UK,
Keith confirmed that an extension of the FIA European Finals to four days was being investigated.
Today we hope to have a chat with Fredrik Bernshed, who is also one of the mainstays of Power Racing Promotions and
who promotes the Veidec Drag Festival at Mantorp Park. Stay tuned.
Autosport International Friday report.
10th January: Today's American Car Imports-sponsored report and pictures from Autosport
International are now available. It was a very long day at the NEC and so we took the journey home before we
started work, otherwise we would still be in Birmingham!
You can view the Friday report and pictures by clicking
here, or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.
Tune back tomorrow for our report on the first Public day of Autosport International at which Santa Pod Raceway's
display will be open, and which will feature the unveiling of Andy Carter's First National Telecom Top Fuel
Dragster.
©Eurodragster.com
First look at Purple Loans TF.
10th January: We are indebted to Vince, Chris and Cindy Andrews for allowing us a sneak preview
of the Purple Loans/Purple Dreams Top Fuel Dragster which makes its first public appearance at Autosport International
tomorrow (Saturday) on Santa Pod Raceway's stand (M30). The car was behind closed doors today but with some active
(and much appreciated) collusion we are able to smuggle in a camera and bring you a couple of shots.
©Eurodragster.com
Click on the picture to see another angle.
Double Down Under Beneke.
10th January: Further to the recent news of the possibility of four
UK bike racers at the 2003 Australian Nationals on 17th-19th January we were sorry to hear from ex-pat Brit, and
Fuel Harley racer, Ben Beneke that two have dropped by the wayside.
"The Pom on 'walk about' was none other than Super
Street Bike racer Matt Nixon!", says Ben. "We had secured a ride
for him on a local Suzuki Modified class bike, but due
to the ACU selling him a continental licence when he
actually needed a one-event insurance card he is unable
to take part. Shame really, as his Aussie licence was
ready and waiting as well."
The second rider pulling out is Ben's wife Free, who
was due to race in the Modified Bike class on the ex-Sam Scerri Pro Stock Suzuki which she and Ben recently
purchased. This has been due to a number of factors including experience and funding.
However, Ben has entered two bikes for the Nationals.
He will be racing his freshly-rebuilt Top Fuel Harley
in the Top Bike class, which has ten entries, and he will
also race Free's Suzuki in Pro Stock Bike class, which
has nine entries.
"I took a leaf out of Cannon's book and thought we'd
see what a big fella could do amongst all those little
guys!", says Ben. He is also going to use the Pro Stock Bike to sharpen
his reaction times ready for the Top Bike class an
hour afterwards.
Jay Upton is the other ex-pat Pommie entered, on his
infamous streamliner Top Fuel Bike. Testing was
believed to have gone well last time out, with a
number of recurring engine problems fixed, so expect
big things from this remarkable bike.
Entry for the 36th Australian Nationals is a very respectable 373 vehicles including six Top Fuel Dragsters,
thirteen Top Doorslammers, nine Top Alcohol, ten Pro Stock, ten Top Bike and nine Pro Stock Bike, with a full
field of supporting classes. Prior to the Nationals is the annual Pro Warm Up, which is this Sunday (12th January).
Coverage of both events will be posted on Willowbank Raceway's web site at
www.willowbank-raceway.com.au, as well as at
www.cacklingpipes.com and
www.dragmania.cjb.net.
Ben tells us that he will try to send updates each evening depending upon the work required on the bikes.
©Eurodragster.com
Marston guests at Autosport.
10th January: Paul Marston will be attending this
weekend's Autosport International as a special guest of
Santa Pod Raceway, answering questions about his Passenger Ride and Driving Experience Programme on the SPR stand
(M30). "I am flattered to be invited to help out", says Paul. "Santa Pod Raceway will have the
two-seater dragster on display to draw attention to the Passenger Ride programme and to gauge public reaction.
I believe that this is the first time that a two-seater dragster has ever been seen at the Autosport Show at the NEC.
I am sure it will create quite a stir and I will be on hand to answer anyone's questions about the thrill experiences
of a lifetime on offer with the Passenger Ride Programme. If past years are anything to go by we will all be kept very
busy indeed.
©Eurodragster.com
"The dates on which the Passenger Rides and Driving Experiences will take place should be announced soon after the
Show."
The February edition of Street Machine/American Car World magazine carries a feature on the Passenger Ride and
Driving Experience, along with a two-page feature on the first half of the 2002 Season for Paul Marston Racing and the
ChryslerCard PT Bruiser.
2003 FIA Top Fuel rules typo.
9th January: FIA Championship Co-ordinator Kjell Pettersson tells us that Frederic Champlon,
Secretary of the FIA Drag Racing Commission, has made him aware of a printing error in the 2003 FIA Top Fuel
Dragster rules, which were published in the FIA Bulletin for November 2002.
Article 5.2 in Section 6 (Top Fuel Dragster) of the November FIA Bulletin read:
"Beadlock rear wheels meeting SFI spec 15.1 or 15.3 mandatory; maximum width: 18 inches"
This should read:
"Beadlock rear wheels meeting SFI spec 15.1 or 15.3 mandatory; maximum width: 16 inches"
The 2003 FIA Yearbook has already gone to press containing the incorrect value, but an amendment will be published
in the next FIA Bulletin. The correct text of the FIA Top Fuel Dragster rules is available on the FIA web site at
www.fia.com/Regle/DRAGSTER/DR03-A.pdf (Adobe Acrobat format).
©Eurodragster.com
SPR in big Autosport showing.
9th January: Earlier on this week we promised to bring you the official word on the race cars
and bikes which would be on display on Santa Pod Raceway's stand at
Autosport International this weekend. Caroline Day of Santa
Pod has kindly given us the low-down:
"On display will be Andy Carter's and Chris Andrews' Top Fuel Dragsters, the Showtime Fuel Funny Car, Santa
Pod Raceway's and Cool Green Racing's Junior Dragster, Dave Holland's Funny Bike, Martin Bishop's Pro Stock Bike
and the Twin-Seater Dragster", says Caroline. "A range of merchandise including videos will be on sale
from the merchandise trailer plus opportunities to book tickets and collect the latest calendar of events for the
2003 season. We look forward to welcoming you all onto the stand!"
©Eurodragster.com
Santa Pod Raceway's stand is numbered M30 and will be located in the Oval Racing section of Autosport
International on Saturday and Sunday.
Shocked Morris goes SSB.
9th January: UK National 9.90 Bike Champion Paul Morris got a shock when he checked out the
Most Promising Newcomer shortlist of the SPRC Perpetual Awards and
saw his own name staring back at him. "I would like to say thank you to SPRC Committee for nominating me for
the Award", says Paul. "I would also like to take the opportunity to say thanks to all who helped
me during 2002 season especially Lisa, the Mrs, who was always there to
support me and to keep me updated with the points! Thanks also to Mr Jamie Sneddon himself - those Keihins really
did work well, much easier than the CV's.
"The 9.90 Bike is in its winning state is no more - which will please the 9.90 bike
competitors for 2003! The engine is now in a road legal GSXR slingshot,
which will be fun on the road. I might be tempted to bring it out
for the odd RWYB and possibly the Main Event and Euro Finals if there is no
Super Street Bike. Although I won't be competing in 9.90 in 2003, my
brother Mel will be. Mel used to race many years ago, but nothing too
recent, he caught the bug again after coming to support me at the Pod (apologies to his other half, Mandy).
Mel will be running a GSX 1260, so it will be nice to keep the Morris name in 9.90.
©Eurodragster.com
"Another Morris who 'might' be racing in 2003 is Lisa, the Mrs. She had a go at a
RWYB last year on a RD125, liked the buzz but not the bike, so got rid of
the bike - too noisy!! So we got her another bike, slight upgrade on the 125 -
a GSX1100. Started off slow, very slow, then by the end of the year got
promising. Went to the Bonfire Test and Tune at Shakespeare County where, unfortunately, I
took the bike up the track and it caught fire, well, couldn't let her get
too quick could I? It didn't go down too well, as you can imagine...
"Now with the 9.90 bike engine out of its chassis, a new project is underway.
A turbo Nitrous GSXR1100 - well just over 1100 - to be entered into
Super Street Bike. I'm waiting for the barrels to come back from Cannon, I've just
finished extending the swinging arm, then it's put everything back together,
dyno and then the best bit - racing/testing. Now, most people know that me
and the Dreaded Dyno do not go well together - the last bike I took decided
to oil the dyno well and truly, all because a couple of the rods didn't like
being over-revved and decided to leave the bike the easy way, through the
crankcases. So I will be taking the bike to another dyno - where did I put
Brad's number...
"I would like to wish everyone a Belated Happy New Year (only slightly late - been busy!)
and all the best for 2003."
Web site updates.
9th January: Dutch Supertwin racer Ton Pels' 2002 season was ruled by broken primary belts and
broken chains, costing him a large number of qualifying and elimination passes. "A new clutch might be
the solution to both problems...", says Monique Pels. You can read the full story on the News page
of the Zodiac Racing web site at www.zodiac.nl/dragrace/news.htm.
Des Taylor had a busy year in 2002 running his own beautiful '34 Ford Coupe Street Rod as well as a full UK National
Championship schedule with racing partner Mark Flavell's Super Comp dragster. Des has posted an detailed, informative
and entertaining 2002 season review on his web site at
www.huddersfieldexhaustcentre.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Koedam ready for track time.
8th January: Dutch Top Fuel Bike racer Roel Koedam had a real year of it in 2002 with the
late arrival of parts, clutch problems, a shattered brake rotor and various other ordeals with the six-second
bike. Things were looking up towards the end of the season, though, and Crew Chief Marius van der Zijden
writes that the team will be ready to take all the track time they can get in 2003:
To be honest with you 2002 was not a cakewalk for us as we had quite a few small mechanical problems to
deal with. First of all we had to fall back on our old pistons time after time as the new custom-made pistons
were severely delayed. When we finally got them delivered, they were not 100% to our specs and they didnt last
much longer then a single run. On top of that, we had a hardening problem with the new cylinder liners. All in
all we were stuck with the already-retired pistons all season. At most events this forced us to make the minimum
number of runs during qualifying.
Then we had some problems with the movement of the clutch cannon. Its malfunction caused a lot of tyre shake, and
looking back at the computer data revealed that this problem had been killing us since the latter half of the
2001 season. Luckily we found the reason for this problem, by coincidence, early in the 2002 season. So in a way
we were very happy that we found the solution.
Another problem which was still not completely solved at the beginning of 2002 was the excessive wear on the exhaust
cam lobes and cam followers. By continuing to test different kinds of solutions step by step, we finally found the answer
halfway through the season. This was a big relief, as these parts pay a big contribution in bringing back the reliability
of the engine. This also means that we finally can scrap the old reconditioned exhaust cam which we used during our
testing programme (the entire 2002 season) and bring in the new exhaust cam.
We also introduced our new, one-of-a-kind rear wheel. Although the wheel itself was OK, we had a narrow escape
during its first appearance in Norway where the rear disc brake rotor blew to smithereens because of a construction
error. We were so busy concentrating on the rest of the bike that we didnt have the time to redesign the rear
brake during the remainder of the season. The old trusty wheel stood in for the rest of the year.
We have just managed to fix this and the new wheel/brake combination is finished and ready for 2003.
©Eurodragster.com
We have also finished new transmission parts, straight gears and taller low gear ratio. The new gear wheels seem
to hold very well and the new clutch package in the transmission showed a big improvement in quality.
One of the highlights of this year was, again, undoubtedly the Hockenheim event. Though the traction was not up
to standard at the completely-renewed venue, the enthusiastic record crowd once again made up for it. Hopefully
this new track will get the right preparation next year, that would really make this track by far the best
facility outside the USA. It looks like this event will be back on the list of the European championship rounds for 2003.
Despite the fact that we were "limping" throughout the season, the results improved towards the end of the year.
The other highlight therefore was winning the last Championship race of the year. We hope that this will be a trend-setter
for next season.
Winter preparation is well underway in the meantime. Because we dont need to design major new parts, we can just
concentrate on better preparation for next season. Better preparation will allow us to make as many
passes as possible without having to worry about breaking worn old parts. This will give us more track time and were
sure that this will end in better results.
Other than that we will stick with the combination that we have
on the bike, as we still believe we have a very strong and powerful package: it just needs more track time.
More than ever we are very confident for the 2003 race season.
Finally we would like to say a very big Thank You to the following companies for their support:
- Torco International Corporation (Santa Fe Springs California, USA)
- Dakota Industry (Ettlingen, Germany)
- Arai Helmet Europe (Hoevelaken, Holland)
- Nimbus Motorsport (Baiton, GB)
- Zodiac International (Mijdrecht, Holland)
- Flexion b.v. (Roermond, Holland)
- Jan Roelofs Race Service (Valkenswaard, Holland)
- Het Motorparadijs (Eindhoven, Holland)
- Goedhals Machine Fabriek (Amersfoort, Holland)
- Goodridge Benelux b.v. (Delft, Holland)
- Jan Smits Power Parts (Wormerveer, Holland)
2003 Super Comp Series grows.
8th January: The 2003 European Super Comp Series is coming together with fifteen teams
already signed up, says Dick Koster. "There are more racers to come", he says. "We are talking to an
English company to solve the problems with costs, to make it more attractive for UK drivers to take the step over to
Europe."
©Eurodragster.com
The European series now has an official web site at www.supercomp.page.to,
featuring a run-down of the teams already signed up, together with news, links, sponsorship and more.
King Racing at Autosport.
8th January: UK Top Fuel Bike racer and ACU UK Drag Bike Championship co-ordinator Ian King
has announced that his six-second Top Fuel Bike will be on display at Autosport International this weekend.
The King Racing Top Fuel Bike will take pride of place on the Auto Cycle
Union stand (B370) in the Bikesport section of the show at Birmingham's NEC from Thursday to Sunday (public days are
Saturday and Sunday - Ed).
You can find out more about Autosport International on the Show's official web site at
www.autosportinternational.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Comp Eliminator Time Machine.
8th January: Time Machine Racing are pleased
to announce that they will be campaigning a 1923 Model T Altered in Competition Eliminator in
2003. The car was delivered on Monday and is currently being stripped down to a bare chassis, ready for Roy Wilding to
update it to 2003 specs. The altered is fitted with a 305 ci small block Chevy,
which will be recieving some trick parts and special treatment in order to
meet the teams target of running an eight-second pass this season.
Driving duties will be filled by Martin Gleadow, who has been around the
sport since he was able to walk, but who has not yet had the chance to put a
pass in on the quarter mile. Later in the year it is hoped that Adam
Gleadow will take a turn behind the wheel, becoming the first UK Junior
Drag Racer to step up into a full class. The team are also planning a visit
to Sweden in July for the Veidec Drag Festival, the event which last year
inspired the team to race in Competition Eliminator.
This project will see a return to Altereds for the Gleadow family. They
campaigned a Rover V8-powered altered in the late 1980s and early
1990s which managed low nine-second runs on a single carb. The team had been
considering various options for a return to racing during the three years that
Adam has been racing his Junior Dragster (now for sale), and it
was while looking at pictures of the Rover altered that they decided an
altered was indeed the way to go. Whilst the team are looking to be out for
Easter they are making no promises, instead wishing to concentrate on
building a killer car ready for a full assault on Comp Eliminator in 2004.
But that isn't to say they won't be trying hard this year!
You can find more information on the Time Machine Racing web site at
www.eurodragster.com/timemachineracing.
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
8th January: UK Pro ET racer Terri Lee's web site has been updated with the latest news of the
Blown It Ford Escort van, and a team run-down. There is also a new Guestbook which Terri is encouraging
fellow racers and fans to visit. Check it out at www.terrileeracing.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Kawasaki back Blakemore and Rose.
7th January: Blakemore and Rose Racing are pleased to announce that for the 2003 season they
will be receiving official support from Kawasaki UK, writes Augy Harrison.
Kawasaki will be using the team to highlight their exciting range of high-performance motorcycles.
This will mean that for the forthcoming season Tim Blakemore will be piloting a 2003 Z1000 Funny Bike, in Kawasaki's
classic lime green racing colours (design by Mark Gredzinski right, click on picture for larger version).
Additionally as part of the deal with Kawasaki the team are receiving a ZX 12 engine for a brand-new ZX 12 Funny Bike
which will be constructed for the 2004 season.
©Eurodragster.com
Super Mod Championship go for 2003.
7th January: We are grateful to the UK's Super Modified Championship
co-ordinator Sharon Hogarth for confirming the 2003 dates for the popular doorslammer class.
"With a whole number of new cars under construction and fresh contenders in the pipeline, Super Modified looks set for a strong and crowd-pleasing
2003 season", says Sharon. "Discussions have now taken place with both UK tracks and the Super Modified Racers' Association are pleased to
confirm that six rounds have been agreed to date, as the basis for the forthcoming Super Mod Championship:
©Eurodragster.com
19th-21st April: Easter Thunderball, Santa Pod Raceway
3rd-5th May: Excitement Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway
14th-15th June: Power Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway
28th-29th June: SPRC Summernationals, Santa Pod Raceway
23rd-25th August: All-Star Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway
27th-28th September: UK National Finals, Santa Pod Raceway
"The SMRA would like to take the opportunity to once again thank Super Mod fans and sponsors alike for their continued support and commitment in 2002, and
look forward to bringing the sport the very best of track action and competition in 2003. Happy New Year to all!"
ExpertIT network with ACI Racing.
7th January: The UK's American Car Imports Racing
Top Methanol Dragster team have announced another sponsor for the 2003 season. This year, all of American Car
Imports' business and racing information technology support will be provided by London based
Expert IT as part of their new product sponsorship arrangement. Both
the Company and Team web sites will be totally overhauled and modernised during the upcoming months, and Expert
IT will continue to provide hardware, software, networking and communications support throughout the year.
Expert IT is a family-run business whose aim is to give the highest quality service and excellent customer care. They
not only offer services to companies but also to home users, including tele-workers. Recognising the need for a wide
range of support options, as it is not always possible to solve issues over the phone, Expert IT regularly use remote
control software to provide instantaneous support.
"Our specialities are bespoke IT solutions, PC sales and support, training, internet site design and hosting",
says Managing Director Gavin Evans. "We seek to develop customers' trust by giving them the service they expect
and deserve. This level of service is constant throughout the initial pre-sales period through to after-sales support. The
way we achieve this is by forming good working relationships with suppliers, and employing suitably qualified staff
who possess a 'can do' approach to any situation they encounter. We continually assess the quality of their products
and services, to try to achieve best value for money. Also we analyse any feedback to constantly make improvements
and adjustments to all work. We offer our clients an online system enabling them to check the status of their jobs."
Call 08707 443402 to discuss how Expert IT can help you, or visit
www.expertIT.co.uk for more information.
You can find the American Car Imports Racing web site at
www.americancarimportsracing.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Weekend of Insanity beckons Marston.
7th January: With Santa Pod Raceway's first Run What You Brung only three weeks away, the race
is on at Paul Marston Racing to have the recently-acquired ex-Pro Modified Chevrolet Vega Mean As Hell - now
renamed Insanity - ready for testing. Paul takes up the story: "All the work on the Insanity Vega Truck
is coming on great, we are probably being too thorough with the rebuild but the end results look so good that we
don't care!"
©Eurodragster.com
"The pick-up is currently in a million pieces, with different parts being sent off to various places: powder
coaters, polishers and so on. All the safety equipment was ordered on Monday and is on its way from the States. The
updates required are all underway to have the racecar tech'ed to run legally down to 7.50 seconds. It seemed a wise
move to do all of this now while it was in pieces being renovated. I must stress that the work we are doing is not
the result of neglect by previous owners, far from it! It is simply that the rules have changed since this great
little race car last competed.
"The first Santa Pod RWYB is slated for the day after the Custom Car Street Eliminator Awards Dinner, at which I am
being guested on the table of find-a-reg.com, one of Paul Marston Racing and
CCSE's associate sponsors. It will be a case of driving the transporter up to the Bedford Moat House with the Vega on
the back, attending the bash, and then on to the track the following morning. That will, of course, be after having the
famous Bedford Moat House breakfast!
"Weather permitting of course, but if the sun shines what a great way to start the season, a night out with a
great bunch of racers then go drag racing with a new race car the following day! Our January experience tells us to
be fully-prepared for a green track - due to the time of year, not lack of attention by Santa Pod - thus we will only
be looking for rudimentary systems checks and some launches if everything checks out fine with the Insanity
Vega."
32-photo ladder.
7th January: Voting is now underway in the Photo Contest being held on the official web
site of Feringe Raceway's safety team. There are 32 photographs and Lincoln Eriksson of FHRA Resque has hit upon
a new idea for the vote. He has set up a 32-picture elimination ladder, with one pair of pictures going head-to-head
each week. This week's first pairing sees a vote between pictures by Pär Willén and Hannele
Höydén. It's not easy since both are excellent shots!
©Eurodragster.com
To view the photographs and cast your vote check out the Contest page at
www.feringe.com/resque/comp2002.htm på Svenska, and
www.feringe.com/resque/encomp2002.htm in English.
FIA, FIM Nitrolympics.
6th January: The 2003 Nitrolympics, to be held at Hockenheim
on 22nd-24th August, is to be an FIA and FIM/UEM European Championship round, says promoter Rico Anthes. The 2002
Nitrolympics hosted a round of FIA Top Methanol Funny Car and FIA Pro Stock, but the full set of classes for both
Championships will be contested this year: FIA Top Fuel Dragster, FIA Top Methanol Dragster, FIA Top Methanol
Funny Car, FIA Pro Stock, FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike (aka Competition Bike), FIM/UEM Supertwin Top Fuel Bike and
FIM/UEM Pro Stock Bike.
"It is already on the FIA calendar, and I have spoken to Lars Andersson (FIM/UEM Championship co-ordinator -
Ed) and he has said that it can be a UEM round", says Rico.
©Eurodragster.com
There is to be a radical overhaul of Sportsman classes at the 2003 Nitrolympics, because time constraints allow a
maxiumum entry of two hundred. Rico tells us that the other classes to be contested at the race are as follows:
Pro Mod: eight-car field
Competition Eliminator: sixteen-car field*
Super Gas: thirty-two car field
Junior Dragster: eight-car field
Public Race (German Street Car class): thirty-two car field
* Super Comp racers will be able to contest Competition Eliminator running to their class index.
"This is the plan at the moment and I am pretty sure it will be final", says Rico.
You can find the official Nitrolympics web sites at www.nitrolympics.de
and www.dragster.de.
DDC lose Vandel races.
6th January: The Danish Dragracing Club look set to lose their five planned races at
Vandel in 2003 due to environmental concerns, says Peter Jensen, driver of the Team Krogslund Top Methanol Dragster.
"We're unpopular because of the noise we make", says Peter. "The trouble started in September 2002
when people were there measuring the sound all day. I don't understand the problem because Vandel is usually a military
airfield with F16s flying all the time, but they have other rules!"
The DDC are now hoping to arrange events at another venue. "There is an airfield at Odensee", says Peter. "We
are working a lot on racing there."
©Eurodragster.com
Vandel is also used by the National Dragracing Club Denmark for the annual Danish Nationals, which is a round of the
Nordic Drag Racing Series. This year's Danish Nationals, scheduled for 31st May-1st June, is currently
on as scheduled.
Thanks to Steve Davies and Erik Zettervall for their help with this story - Ed
Larsen selling, but not retiring.
6th January: Also in Denmark, Dan Larsen has put his ex-Manzo 5.9-second Top Methanol Funny Car
up for sale. We are pleased to report, though, that the AutoHifi-sponsored racer is not retiring but plans to sell
his current TMFC to finance the purchase of another from the USA.
Dan's current car is a '97 Dodge Avenger which comes
complete with a PSI-equipped 526 ci TFX and BAE Stage V heads.
©Eurodragster.com
"We ran many 5.9-second times in 2002, but to be amongst the top runners we need to run 5.8 or better",
says Dan. "If I sell my current car then I can buy a newer car/engine combination and use 2003 for testing."
Dan spent 2001 concentrating on fitting out a trailer brought in from the USA, and then ran as quickly as
5.95 in his outings in 2002 which included FIA competition at Mantorp Park, Gardermoen and Hockenheim. He plans
to run the entire FIA Tour in 2003 although, he says, "This does of course depend on a lot of things".
Dan's TMFC is available turn-key or he is willing to sell the engine complete. You can find full details in the
Cars For Sale section of our Jeff Bull Race Engines-sponsored Swap
Meet.
Sombrero Watch.
6th January: If you were tuned in back in December you will remember that UK Supercharged
Outlaw racer Johnny Hall and friends Mark Windridge, Dave McKenzie, Eddie, Sam and Barnsey are to team up in 2003 to campaign
not just Johnny's wild wheelying slingshot but a blown rear-engined dragster and a blown altered. Dave has been in touch with news of what
Windridge Hall Mckenzie Racing have been up to recently, and what they have planned for 2003.
"We will still be running The Happening blown slingshot with the Supercharged Outlaws this year", says Dave Mac. "We will
also be bringing out our rear-engined dragster Total Eclipse but without the blown Cleveland engine which we destroyed at the Donny In The Park
event at Shakespeare County Raceway last year. That was a blow to Mark and I, and partly led to forming the new team with Johnny Hall .
"We have had the Happening's engine in the machine shop at Hewson and Turrell Ltd Engineers in Grimsby, and they have done a marvellous job
decking the block, re-o'ringing and fitting large half-inch UNC head studs, a full new set of bearings, freshened up the blower and done some work on
the heads and inlet manifold. That should put us down on the 8.50 index, if not quicker - what's the best ET for a Rover V8?
©Eurodragster.com
"Also the Team is looking at going abroad next year, to Drachten in July, hopefully some more Supercharged Outlaws might be interested.
Look out for the sombreros this year."
The team have also launched a web site at www.alkyoneus.co.uk which features the blown altered which
the team are building as well as news of happenings with The Happening, pictures, team biographies, calendar and more.
Team TIL back at Autosport...
6th January: Autosport International regulars
Titanium International Limited will be at the
Show again this week with the Team TIL Funny Bike which is campaigned by Dave Holland. The company will have a
stand in Autosport Engineering (E250/E251) on Thursday and Friday, says Nigel Hoskinson of Titanium International.
"Dave and I will be on hand on both Thursday and Friday, so please drop by if you are at the Show on those
days", says Nigel. The Funny Bike will be in its 2002 colours at the Show, but Nigel is very pleased to announce some
additional sponsors for the 2003 season.
©Eurodragster.com
"Most people will know Snap-On Tools, who are providing us with an
extensive range of their tools and equipment", says Nigel. "The other company is
Stainless Steel Fasteners, who are a major customer of Titanium International
and a leading manufacturer of high-quality fasteners. When Dave bought the bike from MRE, we replaced most of the
steel bolts like-for-like with titanium. Stainless Steel Fasteners are custom-manufacturing all the nuts and bolts
on the bike to our requirements. This is their first venture into sponsorship and I think both they, and drag racing,
will benefit."
...as are Showtime Racing.
6th January: Also making a very welcome return to the NEC this weekend are the Showtime
Racing Fuel Funny Car team, who will have their second, ex-Skuza, FC on Santa Pod Raceway's stand on Saturday
and Sunday. This car last ran in 1999 and is slated to return to the track at Santa Pod's Easter Thunderball in
the hands of Bill Sherratt.
You can read more on the Showtime Racing web site at www.showtimeracing.co.uk.
Stay tuned for full details of the vehicles on Santa Pod Raceway's display (M30), although as well as Showtime we
have of course already told you about Andy Carter's First National Telecom Top Fuel Dragster and Chris Andrews' Purple
Loans Top Fueller; don't forget that you will be able to find the Wildside Inc Top Fueller on the Goodyear Tyres stand
(9230), the American Car Imports Top Methanol Dragster on the ACI stand (6540), the Custom Car Street Eliminator display
at stand 6165, and of course the Titanium International Limited Funny Bike on the TIL stand (E250/E251). If you can't
make it then stay tuned to Eurodragster for our first event coverage of 2003, sponsored by American Car Imports. We will
be reporting on both Friday and Saturday.
For more information about Autosport International, including ticket prices and a floorplan, check out the Show's
official web site at www.autosportinternational.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Toy with King.
6th January: UK Top Fuel Bike racer Ian King has become amongst the first racers in Europe
to be associated with a collectable model vehicle.
UK miniature vehicle company Corgi Toys have released as part of their 2003 range a King Racing transporter featuring a
picture of Ian on his European and UK Championship-winning bike. The DAF truck is in the trademark King Racing purple,
is 280 mm in length (that's about eleven inches in old money), and is priced around £10.
For more details check out the Pit Lane Gossip page of the King Racing web site at
www.kingracing.com, or to find out to which shop you should hotfoot it,
check out Corgi's web site at www.corgi.co.uk/howto_main.ihtml.
©Eurodragster.com
SPRC Perpetual Awards week 5.
30th December: We are now in week five of voting for the Santa Pod Racers Club Perpetual
Awards. There are two awards left including this week's shortlist. Voting is still open for the four awards
already announced plus the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Award.
This week we are pleased to reveal the SPRC Committee's shortlist for the Most Promising Newcomer.
The Committee's shortlist is as follows (in alphabetical order):
Malcolm Francis, Super Gas: Malcolm licenced at the pre-FIA Main Event private test and had a solid
first year culminating in regular 8.9s with his Camaro in Super Comp trim at season's end.
John Hales, Custom Car Street Eliminator: John put in his first passes in his all-new Chevy at the Main Event
Press Day and by season's end was deep into the eights at nearly 170 mph.
Jamie Millership, Supertwin Fuel Bike: Jamie sat astride the Southern Rock II for the first time at
the pre-Easter Thunderball Run What You Brung, and by the mid-season SPRC Summernationals was recording seven-second
passes at a touch under 170 mph.
Paul Morris, 9.90 Bike: Paul took two #1 qualifying spots and three event victories to take the UK
National Championship in his first year of competition.
Kev Taylor, Pro ET: After Run What You Brung appearances, Kev's first year in the Crap Conversions
Ford Capri saw one final-round appearance and seventh place in the UK National Championship.
We have set up a special page for the SPRC Perpetual Awards, which is updated every week as each category
is announced. This week we have added the above list with voting links.
You can view the SPRC Awards page and submit your vote by clicking here, or
by clicking on the SPRC Perpetual Awards Vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.
©Eurodragster.com
Alternately, if you already know for whom you would like to vote then you can send an E-Mail to
sprcawards@eurodragster.com, specifying SPRC Most Promising
Newcomer as the subject, and the racer for whom you are voting in the body of the mail.
One vote per E-Mail address will be accepted for each award, so if you have already voted for any of the previous
four awards then you can still vote for Most Promising Newcomer and/or the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy.
The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy was first awarded to Santa Pod Raceway's late Chief Marshal, Alex
Brachtvogel, in 2001 to mark his outstanding contribution to Santa Pod Raceway and the sport as a whole. After
Alex's death the trophy was named in his memory and continues to be awarded for contribution to drag racing.
The staff of Eurodragster.com were privileged to be presented with this award in 2002.
There is no shortlist for the Alex Brachtvogel trophy. Readers are invited to submit nominations which can be
for racers, race officials, track and safety crews, club officials, media, or anyone else who has contributed to
the sport. To make a nomination, send an E-Mail to
sprcawards@eurodragster.com, specifying SPRC Alex Brachtvogel
Trophy as the subject, and your nomination in the body of the mail. All nominations will be considered by the
SPRC Committee.
The final shortlist will be published next Monday (13th January).
FB Racing's secret plans.
6th January: UK Custom Car Street Eliminator team FB Racing
are hoping to build on the successful début of their new 34 Ford in 2002 changing almost everything.
Completely ignoring the If it aint broke dont fix it advice, the car will see a lot of alterations before it
re-emerges in 2003.
Gone will be the Old Faithful 429ci engine used by the team for several years as a back up and also, remarkably, to
gain entry to the exclusive eight-second Club. The mill will however see continued service in a Cheltenham car as it
has been purchased by local racer Pete Loveridge to power his new Wild Bunch Altered. Filling the bay in the 34 will
be a 540 ci motor filled with a steel stroker crank, nitrous pistons and steel rods. The strength afforded by these items
will allow the team to use both stages of nitrous. To help shift the gas, the motor is topped off with a pair of TFS
high-port aluminium heads. These have monster valves and relocated ports reputedly outflowing good ported CJ heads
by over thirty per cent. The change in position of the exhaust ports requires new headers and downpipes to be manufactured
and fitted. Finally, a new custom ground cam is to be acquired to take maximum advantage of all of this.
The old 429 wont be the only ex-FB Racing item on the aforementioned altered, as Pete has also acquired the Glide
from the 34. Its replacement will be a stronger and better spec'ed example, complete with eight-clutch high and a
JW Ultracase. This unit is to be built and supplied by CCSE sponsors TSR.
Another CCSE sponsor, Serck Services Motorsport, will be supplying
an aluminium radiator to replace the old copper/brass item which had been run on the Coupe for some eight years. The
big advantage of the new unit will be weight reduction. The radiator itself will be lighter due to the nature of the
material itself and, as aluminium has superior heat dissipation properties, it can also be made slimmer (three-core
rather than four) so that less material is used. Finally, this reduction in capacity means that less water has to
be carried, saving even more weight. On top of all this, a nicely-polished aluminium rad always looks the mutts nuts.
Yet another CCSE sponsor (and Eurodragster sponsor - Ed), LA Racing
Parts, will be supplying the new, wider tyres, in fact the widest MTs avaialble. When the new chassis was built
an allowance was made for bigger meats and the axle narrowed by two (yes, just two!) inches so that it would all fit.
Traction is perhaps the biggest leveller in CCSE, so the team figure that bigger should be better! It usually is.
The last thing on the list is bodywork. New, stronger, front wings with a splitter which actually stays on the car are
top of the list but also slated for manufacture by Fatty himself are the bonnet, scoop, running boards and rear wings.
With all these changes in place driver Ian Hook is quite optimistic about the teams chances in 2003. "I would love
to see us repeat (or even better) the third place we achieved in 2000 ,but would be happy to see a top five result and
believe that we can get that", he says.
You can stay in touch with all the latest from the FB Racing pit, and up-to-date with all the latest Custom Car Street
Eliminator gossip, on the FB Racing web site at www.fbracing.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
6th January: The official web site of 2002 FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champion
Peter Schöfer has been updated with pictures of Peter's very special Thank You gifts to his crew.
Check it out at www.p-s-r.com.
Eurodragster staffer Sharkman has updated his web site Sharkman's Top End Tales
with a video clip of Andy Carter putting in a pass in his Top Fuel Dragster at the 2002 Easter Thunderball.
Check it out at www.topendtales.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Take a supersonic ride.
6th January: Many drag racing fans (including the Eurodragster staff) are also interested
in Land Speed record setting. If you are amongst that number then you will be very interested in some
news which LSR expert Robin Richardson, who was involved in Thrust SSC, sent us.
"The Museum of British Road Transport in Coventry, where both Thrust cars are housed, is
undergoing a complete redesign", says Robin, "starting with a Speed and Time exhibit which
concentrates on Thrust 2 and Thrust SSC. The pit trailer and loads of other artefacts
also feature, as does a sixteen-person full motion simulator based on Thrust SSC's
cockpit. Andy Green has helped to develop it and the whole thing opens towards the
end of January. Should be good!"
You can find more information about the Museum of British Road Transport on the museum's official web site at
www.mbrt.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Champion joins Team Veidec.
4th January: Norwegian FIM/UEM European Pro Stock Bike Champion Øivind von Essen has joined the Team
Veidec Pro Stock Bike operation, joining up with Sweden's several-time PSB Champion Roger Pettersson. Team Veidec had been
running as a two-bike operation in 2002 with Finland's Janne Ahtiainen on the 'old' bike, but this machine was sold
when Team Veidec raced in Malta recently, writes Crew Chief Roger Lyrén.
"The second bike has been sold to Italy's Davide Ricci", says Roger. "He will compete in some
European rounds in 2003. This left us back with one bike, but we knew that we really wanted a two-bike
team.
"With this in mind, we started to look for another bike to run in the team, and the natural choice was
2002 European Champion Øivind von Essen. He toured in our bus last year and so we knew that the teams
would work well together, and MotoSpeed (Roger's company - Ed) were doing all the engine work so it
makes things a lot easier."
©Eurodragster.com
The Veidec team now have two types of engine to maintain their Championship challenge: Øivind racing on
a 1640cc four-valve and Roger Pettersson on a 1500cc two-valve. Roger feels that this will be an advantage
in 2003. "We can do lots of different testing, and this will hopefully help to lower the records this year",
he says.
With Øivind's crew, Team Veidec now numbers ten, which makes logistics and organisation even more crucial,
but Roger tells us that everyone is already very excited about the new season. Roger is also pleased that there
will again be two bikes carrying the Veidec logo. "All of our other existing sponsors and some new companies
will be joining us in 2003", he says, "such as Valvoline, Motospeed, WiklundsAkeri, Suzuki, Beta,
Dynatek and many more."
Finally Roger adds that the team have some engines and spares for sale, along with their 2002 bus. For more details
you can E-Mail Roger at roger@motospeed.se.
AC Delco Racing miss Autosport.
4th January: Sweden's FIA European Championship-holding Pro Stock team
AC Delco/Malmgren Racing will not be appearing at next week's Autosport International.
Michael Malmgren, his team and the six-second Camaro (and of course the AC Delco girls - Ed) have become regular
fixtures at Autosport but can't make it this year, writes team member Magnus Cato.
©Eurodragster.com
"We are over our heads with both private and professional work", says Magnus. "We will miss meeting all
of our fans in England, I guess we will have to wait for the Main Event instead."
Magnus has promised us more news about the AC Delco team's winter work and 2003 plans soon. In the meantime the
team have one long-term appointment in their calendar. "We have a snowmobile safari planned in March",
he says. "One of our former crew has invited us up to Umeå for a party weekend with a
snowy touch!". We look forward to receiving a report on that, if anyone can remember what happened
afterwards...
Web site updates.
3rd January: Eurodragster staffer Tog has just come off two days' solid uploading and coding on
his personal web site Tog's Drag Racing Page to bring it right up to date. No less than seven hundred pictures
have been posted and indexed from the 2002 Sko Uno Drag Festival, Super Series Fallnationals, FIA European Finals,
and the Doorslammer Shootout. Check it out at www.togsdragracing.com.
Swedish Pro Street News webmaster Hasse has also been busy with updates to two of the sites which he runs. First
up is Pro Mod racer Freddy Fagerström's web site at come.to/fast-freddy
with the latest news from the pick-up pit including Freddy's entry into Top Methanol FC in 2003.
Hasse's own web site at www.spn-photo.com has been updated with the latest
news and gossip from the Scandinavian scene.
©Eurodragster.com
LA Racing Parts back Eurodragster.
1st January: We are very pleased indeed to announce another sponsor for Eurodragster.com.
With effect from today, our Links pages will be sponsored by LA Racing Parts in a deal running to the end of
February 2004.
LA Racing Parts are a mail-order company specialising in hard-core race items, performance parts and service parts
for American vehicles, and are distributors and dealers for major US companies. This is not LA Racing Parts' first
involvement with Eurodragster as they were one of a number of companies involved in ukracer.com's sponsorship of
this site a few years back. LA Racing Parts also back Custom Car Street Eliminator, whose Championship is co-ordinated
by boss Lee Child.
©Eurodragster.com
"We are very pleased to be associated with Eurodragster.com once again", says Lee Child of LA Racing
Parts. "I am proud to work with Sharkman and Tog who are also sponsors of Custom Car Street Eliminator. I am
sure that this deal will be of great benefit to both LA Racing Parts and Eurodragster."
On our part we are very grateful to Lee Child for his backing of Eurodragster and we are pleased to welcome
LA Racing Parts back on board. To be associated with a company with a widespread reputation for speed, quality and
value is a privilege and we look forward to enlarging upon our working relationship.
You can contact LA Racing Parts by E-Mail at la.racing@virgin.net or
on the phone at 01803 554308. Their 369-page, full-colour 2003 catalogue is now available for £9.99 including
UK postage.
Indoor wheelie by ACI TMD.
1st January: Another of Eurodragsters' sponsors, American
Car Imports, will have a spectacular presence at next week's Autosport International at the NEC in Birmingham.
The 5.5-second American Car Imports Racing Top Methanol Dragster will form the centrepiece of the display together
with examples of ACI's extensive range of American cars.
"American Car Imports will be showing the link which we have created between drag racing and some of their
best-selling vehicles", says joint Managing Director Anthony Cohen. "We will also be promoting our
marketing partners on the ACI Racing Dragster which include Sony PlayStation, Airsea Logistics, HGC Scaffolding,
Cyprus Paradise, Total Design, Custom Graphics, Euro American, 76, Classic American, 1st Line Motorcycles,
US Automotive, Old Car World, ExpertIT and North Hants Tyres."
Three vehicles will be on display at Autosport; the dragster, a new Ford Lightning, and a new Hummer H2.
The dragster will be displayed in a 'wheelie' position in the bed of a red Ford Lightning Pickup Truck, the
vehicle which is illustrated on the side of the dragster (right top and centre). "It will be an awesome
sight", says Anthony
Cohen. "It will be the first chance to see the synergy between these two completely different vehicles - a
modern 'muscle' truck and Europes fastest Top Methanol Dragster". Driver Dave Wilson will be on hand throughout the
Show to talk to the public and to sign autographs.
©Eurodragster.com
"The Ford Lightning with its supercharged and intercooled 380 bhp 5.4 V8 engine could be described as a road-legal
dragster with the capabilities of a tough working truck!", says Anthony. "For several years this vehicle has
been one of ACIs best selling vehicles due to the great combination of sports car-like performance, practicality and
reaping the benefit of being a 'goods vehicle' for income tax purposes as well as being VAT-reclaimable! The Lightning
has space for up to three people on its comfortable two-tone grey Leather/Alcantara seats. Sports suspension,
eighteen-inch alloys and powerful brakes ensure that the 380 bhp are safe to drive on the tarmac - the vehicle reaches
60 mph in 5.8 seconds and has a top speed of 140mph!"
The third vehicle on the ACI stand, the Hummer H2 (right bottom) is a new off-roader. "It is in the
style of the original Hummer H1 of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gulf War fame", says Anthony, "and has
almost the abilities of its predecessor - but is much more comfortable and powerful with its 316 bhp 6.0 V8 engine
borrowed from the Chevrolet Suburban. The dimensions of the new Hummer 2 are much more appropriate for European roads
than the much wider H1. Its one very mean and chunky looking 4x4! The vehicle accommodates up to six people on
comfortable tan wheat leather seats. An amazingly-styled dashboard makes it enjoyable to control for both the school
run and off the beaten track."
American Car Imports staff will be on the stand all weekend to answer questions and to give quotes for importing
any new American vehicle. ACI will be offering a special show stand voucher worth £1000 for any new vehicle
ordered before the end of February 2003.
You can find out more about American Car Imports' services at
www.americancarimports.com. For more details about Autosport
International check out the Show's official web site at
www.autosportinternational.co.uk.
New Year gifts from Svensk Dragracing.
1st January: Our good buddies at Svensk Dragracing have updated their web site with three
New Year gifts in the form of three Photo Galleries from Stefan Boman, one of Europe's, if not the planet's,
leading drag racing photographers.
There are two action galleries and one of portraits, all three are of the high quality we expect from Stefan
and are well worth a look. Check it all out at www.dragracing.se.
On the subject of the New Year, Sharkman and Tog would like to wish all of our readers the very Happiest of
New Years.
©Eurodragster.com
Team changes, new car at PMR.
1st January: With 2003 nearly upon us the off-season is now into its half way point,
here at Paul Marston Racing we have seen more activity than a sane man can usually bear, writes Paul Marston.
The expansion plans are kind of going to plan and are kind of on
schedule, the weather has been kind-ish and this has helped things along nicely-ish. Needless to say with everything
in the planning stage, some definite long-term objectives are now being formed to keep everything in check. Unless
properly monitored this could go horribly wrong and due to the rapid expansion being a lot quicker than we thought we
have had to make some personnel changes.
Let us also say that we count ourselves most fortunate to be in this situation in the first place and will all do
our very best to reward everyones faith and belief in us all at Paul Marston Racing.
Dave Kalisz - Formerly Logistics Manager is now promoted to General Manager of the whole Paul Marston Racing operation
for 2003, including the Drag Race Passenger Thrill Rides and Drag Race Driving Experience. Dave orchestrated a faultless
2002 campaign and made some key improvements during the season, making massive savings in manpower and costings,
Dave was the logical choice for this now much-expanded role.
Michael Pusey - Formerly Joint Crew Chief on ChryslerCard PT Bruiser now Full Crew Chief on any Paul Marston-fielded
race car. Michael was the anchor of the pit crew during the 2002 season, Mick as he is usually called did not put a
foot wrong and could always be relied upon when the going got tough. Mick is quite capable of running whichever race car
Paul Marston Racing fields at whatever event we choose to enter, the man has class!
Steve Brennan - Formerly Joint Crew Chief on ChryslerCard PT Bruiser now again full Crew Chief, always the joker,
with never a bad word about anyone apart from other teams Crew Chiefs in jest. Steve has been around Drag Racing for
so long he has probably forgotten more than most of us will ever know. Former Crew Chief of Super Gasser Rob Longs
Getting Ratty Camaro (Get well soon Rob, our thoughts are constantly with you mate) Steve will Crew Chief whichever
one of the Paul Marston Racing race cars which has been fielded.
©Eurodragster.com
Anthony Middleton - After helping out for most of the 2002 season, work commitments permitting, for the 2003 season
Anthony will become a full member who will be pitched into the pit area to gain a good grounding on all areas of
racecraft. Anthony has also had a new position created for him, main function, this being tactical support, Anthony
really came into his own at the Doorslammers, the data and analysis supplied by him proved very useful.
Dave Gibbons - Manager of the Engine Maintenance Programme, promoted to Full Workshop Manager in charge on all
fabrication and technical matters arising from the Drag Racing fleet. Dave Gibbons needs no introduction so hes
not getting one! As well as the workshop duties, dont be surprised to see Dave back in the driving seat during
the 2003 season and if he does, watch out. I have seen the Trophy Cabinet - awesome!
There will be some more additions to the crew during the run up to the 2003 season and their roles will be
defined as we go.
We can now also exclusively reveal that there is now a fourth race car in the Paul Marston workshop.
I can assure you that we will announce exactly what it is and who will be driving it as soon as possible.
There is a possibility that it will be debuted at the Brentwood Racing Car Show in January 2003, but we are not yet sure.
I am not going to say too much other than it is a virtually brand new racecar, it is a drag racer, it is beautiful, was
built with no expense spared and it has already run sevens. Paul Marston Racing purchased the whole team operation in
November, the racecar is turnkey, it has its own transport and it was imported. I can also confirm that it is another
You're not going to believe what Paul has got hold of this time deal. As yet there is no major financial backing for
it, with the Passenger Rides and Driving Experience proving so popular
there has not yet been the time. It is another project that we are rightfully proud to find ourselves involved in.
Hopefully Paul Marston Racing will quickly develop this new exciting opportunity and can exploit the race car's full
potential.
We took on this challenge, as it will be one of the most fun things I could think of doing and still keep
our clothes on in 2003. So it's for all the right reasons, during January and February we just have to keep focused,
get all the hard work and planning done and be on schedule, ready for the beginning of the 2003 season.
I simply
could not have a better team of boys and girls in Paul Marston Racing all giving so much to make it happen, as
without them and the support of all of our sponsors - Chrysler UK, ChryslerCard, 76 Racing Fuels & Oils, MAC Tools,
Street Machine/American Car World Magazine, ATI Performance, Black Box Co, find-a-reg.com, Jeep Club, London Road
Tyres, American Auto Barn and all our associate sponsors - we would not exist. Paul Marston Racing look forward to a
most interesting 2003 season of Drag Racing. Personally, I am so excited about the 2003 season that I currently have
trouble sleeping at night, I just cant wait until morning so I can start working on the race cars again, what a
wonderful life!
Web site updates.
1st January: Alan Currans has done yet more work on his Acceleration Archive historical
photo site. The latest update, entitled 'Odds and Ends', features "An infernal device, streakers, some amusing
grafitti, a couple of pictures before and after Dennis Priddle's record breaking 6.04-second pass in Mr Revell,
and lots more", says Alan. Check it out at
www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Earlier news
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