More Crazy Horses signings. 30th January: Crazy Horses author Brian Taylor has been in touch to confirm additional autograph sessions at the NHRA Winternationals at Pomona, which will tie in with the Legends autograph sessions on the same days. The signings will will take place at the Wally Parks Motorsports Museum booth situated in the Heritage area and the timetable is as follows, subject to changes in the racing schedule: Friday 12th February 2.00 pm Saturday 13th February 10.00 am - 11.30 am Sunday 14th February 9.30 am Eurodragster.com Photo Editor Roger Gorringe hopes to join the Museum signing session at 5.00 pm on 12th February as well as some of the track signings. Roger provided most of the colour photographs published in Crazy Horses. Also joining in the signing at the Museum is Kjell Pettersson, Chairman of Svensk Dragracing, who along with Keith Bartlett of Santa Pod Raceway has played a vital role in developing the European aspect of the sport during the last two decades. Another American drag racing legend from the team which toured the UK in 1965 is joining in: Nick Colbert, who drove the Continental Divide Raceway Special, a blown Plymouth Hemi rail. ©Eurodragster.com The full list of those planning to attend the Museum launch is now Bo Bertilsson, Gordie Bonin, Andy Carter, Merek Chertcow, Nick Colbert, Peter Crane, Sam Eidy, Roger Gorringe, Chuck Griffiths, Tom Hoover, Traci Hrudka, Tommy Ivo, Cliff Jones, Bob Keith, Jon Lundberg, Ash Marshall, Dave McClelland, Syd McDonald, Orah Mae and Robin Millar, Thomas Nataas, Carl Olson, Kjell Pettersson, Rex Sluggett, Brian Taylor and Linda Vaughn. Invitations to Santa Pod. 30th January: Got a mega-quick Jap or European Run What You Brung car? Then you might be interested in joining the Euro Sports Compact Series or the HKS Drag Series. Both Championships are now recruiting for the season ahead, and both have their first rounds at The Fast Show at Santa Pod Raceway on 21st March. If you want to get involved then check out japdragseries.co.uk/how2enter.php for Jap machines and eurosportscompact.co.uk/rules.php for Euro machines. Anyone who makes the grade will get free track time, loads of publicity and some great racing into the bargain. Sounds good? Get in touch as soon as possible. ©Eurodragster.com Santa Pod Raceway's second Run What You Brung of the year takes place tomorrow (Sunday): Don't forget that this is an eligible meeting for the 2010 Street Challenge and your easiest chance of the year to claim a top spot! The Street Challenge 2010 is a Run What You Brung Speed Table which lets you see where your best quarter mile time at Santa Pod ranks with other street-legal cars or bikes. To enter the challenge, you must pre-register your vehicle and obtain your personal race number at www.rwyb.com. New for 2010 and for the first time ever at Santa Pod, passengers are now allowed down the strip. Conditions apply, full details www.rwyb.com where you can also find the full 2010 RWYB calendar. Don't forget your DVLC licence and get your backside trackside! Maurischat into the five-zeroes. 29th January: Thomas Schmidt of the Nasty 53 team tells us that there a great party was had by all when German Pro Mod racer and Eurodragster.com News sponsor Marco Maurischat celebrated his fiftieth birthday last Saturday. "The party was attended by 111 friends, old friends, very old friends, very very old friends, and of course Marco's family in the Wulfsmühle (53°41'46.41"N / 9°51'3.32"E) near Hamburg", says Thomas. ©Eurodragster.com "There was a big surprise when Marco got his birthday present from the Nasty 53 team: a 144-page picture book showing Marco's drag racing career over the last fifteen years. The book included breathtaking photos of Marco's "Beach Attack" at Mantorp Park last summer, taken by Swedish Photographer Anders Mahlstedt, ended with pictures of last year's awesome 6.19 at Santa Pod, a very emotional moment for the whole team after building the car for three years. The book also included many birthday greetings from Marco's drag racing friends and competitors, and Marco was very touched by both the messages and the pictures. "The party ended at 8:00 on Sunday morning, which is a good time for warm-up at Santa Pod. But normally you don't have a headache after a warm-up." Swift snippets. 29th January: One of the off-season's most eagerly-awaited announcements is the new intake to the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame. This year's inductees will be anounced here on Eurodragster.com on Monday's (1st February) news update. In the meantime you can check out the current British Drag Racing Hall of Fame membership on its official web site at www.britishdragracinghof.co.uk. ©Eurodragster.com Bev and Nigel Batsford and Beth and Paul Satchell have asked us to say a big Happy Birthday to Julie Willcox. "We won't divulge Julie's age, that is strictly Need To Know", they say. Even if you had divulged, guys, we wouldn't have. Have a lovely day Julie. PMR flying the flag. 29th January: This year's Oval Expo, which ran over both Saturday and Sunday of last weekend at Arena Essex just outside London, was smiled upon by the weather gods and generated interest in drag racing, says Paul Marston: There was considerable interest shown in our display and plenty of calendars and event schedules were handed out for both Santa Pod and Shakespeare County Raceways. There was particular interest in the Easter Thunderball, the feature attraction of Peter Andre seemed of particular interest (Oh, be serious - Ed). The Swap Meet seemed to grow again this year and the race cars being signwritten and painted live at the show were once again popular attractions. But our favourite, hands-down was the Reliant Robin racing, if you can call it that! ©Eurodragster.com The Oval Expo was well attended and Paul Marston Racing thanked the organisers for allowing them to display a stand. We were asked to come back again next year as the organisers felt that the show now would not be the same without the Drag Racing display. Many thanks to everyone who stopped by for a chat including Dave Derry, Press Officer for Shakespeare County Raceway, and swap meet attendee Mick The Fish, the current custodian of the Money Hungry Camaro (and pathetic Get Tog Club failure - Ed). Four wide with RaceAmerica. 29th January: Eurodragster.com News sponsor RaceAmerica is proud to announce that Infinity Raceway's year-round snowmobile drag strip successfully launched this past weekend using RaceAmerica's state of the art XL S4 professional four-lane drag system. Kirt and April Helsel, owners of Infinity Raceway, began building the track in 2009 after consulting expert snowmobile racers from Ontario, New York, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The couple is hoping to provide the local area with some much needed economic stimulus as well as the sheer excitement of four-lane drag racing. The well thought out facility provides a 500 foot drag strip with over 1,700 feet of shutdown area. The track utilises a computerised RaceAmerica four-lane drag timing system. The XL Professional S4 drag timing system was chosen for its rich array of features including two fully synchronised drag race trees, elapsed time and reaction time readings as well as speed and sixty foot times. The system is run using RaceAmerica's XLScore S4 PC software to control all aspects of the timing system and to provide diagnostics and live testing of vital system components. Infinity Raceway chose to install the optional RaceAmerica wireless LED finishing order scoreboard and wireless printer with their four-lane system. Spectators and team members can view finishing order results by checking the scoreboard or by viewing the lighting order on the two start trees. The importance of communicating with the two start trees simultaneously was key in developing a functional four-lane system. A single tree does not provide all racers with same opportunity to see their starting signals. "To be done correctly a four-lane system needs two start trees so racers are fairly positioned in reference to the starting lights" said Dennis Laczny, RaceAmerica President. "In order to solve the problem of synchronizing the two start trees we looked to wireless communications for the solution. In fact, the S4 was the first system to utilise our exclusive wireless drag race communication devices. The system communicates via a wireless connection from the timing boxes to the tower eliminating wires in a vital area for snowmobile racing while ensuring accurate and dependable communications between all four lanes. The system also wirelessly communicates with our LED scoreboards and printers providing flexibility and time savings for track owners." The S4 professional four-lane drag system was first introduced to the market in 2001. The proven system has made RaceAmerica the largest supplier of professional four-lane drag systems in the world. "We wanted a system that was proven, reliable and easy to use" said Kirt Helsel, owner of Infinity Raceway. "The features on the RaceAmerica four-lane system provides us with everything we need, and more, to run a professional event. Our over 250 racers in attendance for our inaugural event loved the system." ©Eurodragster.com Frost Seals a deal. 28th January: Andy Frost and the UK's Red Victor1 Racing Pro Mod team are proud to announce that Total Seal are joining up with the team as technical advisors. "After talking through what we are doing with Matt Hartford, Total Seal will be guiding us through all aspects of piston and ring selection, making sure that we make no mistakes in our preparation", says Andy Frost. "We both feel that we can work together to make the jump from pump gas to methanol a successful one." ©Eurodragster.com "Total Seal is committed to working with Andy in his latest endeavour", says Matt Hartford of Total Seal. "We will be supplying a Steel Gapless Top Ring, Steel Napier second ring, and three-piece oil ring to make sure that the engine is sealed as tight as possible while maintaining superior oil control. This package has proven itself over many years as a perfect fit for Andy's engine. We will be advising on piston to ring fitment as well as cylinder wall preparation." Andy and the team would like to thank Matt and Total Seal for their confidence in the team to showcase their excellent products, and look forward to working with them. Swift snippets. 28th January: Many thanks to all those who submitted some two thousand votes and nominations for the APIRA/SPRC Perpetual Awards. Voting and nominations are now closed and the results will be forwarded to Obsession Motorsports and to the Committees of APIRA and SPRC to assist their final deliberations. The winners will be presented at next week's joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation. ©Eurodragster.com Ian Turburville tells us that he is awaiting a shipment from Impact of Nitro helmets with breathers on the front, but more importantly that he has bought one of the brand new Nostalgia face masks "In case any racers of good taste need one! If anyone asks you where to get the Nostalgia masks, now you know!". Well, we know, but in case you don't then that web site address is www.turboville.com. A big Thank You to Ian Hook for organising a French translation of the letter to Members of the European Parliament about the threat to the import of American cars. You can download the French version of the letter (Word format) by clicking here. For more details about this matter check out the news item American car scene under threat of 14th January. Web site updates. 28th January: Photographer Julian Hunt has updated his web site with pictures from the 2009 UK National Finals and Flame and Thunder Show at Santa Pod Raceway. Julian apologises for the delay before posting but he has commitments to publishers to fulfil before he can make the pictures more widely available. You will have seen some of Julian's excellent Flame and Thunder Show shots here on Eurodragster.com when he stood in for a cup-tied Roger; if you would like to see more of the same then you can check it out at www.julianhunt.net. ©Eurodragster.com Speedgroup to hold UK meeting. 27th January: Speedgroup is hosting a meeting at the Park Inn Hotel in Northampton on Saturday 6th February. The meeting starts at 12:00 noon and ends at approximately 4:30 pm, and is open to car and bike racers, teams, and officials with an interest in the European Championships. Topics include a review of 2009 and a look forward to 2010 and beyond. Don't miss this opportunity to find out what is going on and to take part in shaping the future of drag racing in Europe. ©Eurodragster.com If you wish to attend then please register by sending an E-Mail to Speedgroup Co-ordinator Åsa Kinnemar at asa.kinnemar@speedgroup.eu or call +46 705 315 332. The agenda for the meeting will be E-Mailed by the end of this week to all those registered. You can read more about Speedgroup at www.speedgroup.eu. Feature: Bilsportgalan gallery. 27th January: The latest in our occasional series of Features presented in association with Stroud Safety and Andy Robinson Race Cars is an additional gallery of pictures from the weekend's Bilsportgalan at the Conventum Congress Centre in Örebro, at which the 2009 European Champions were presented with their trophies. The pictures were taken by Stefan Boman and Christer Abrahamson and the captions supplied by Stefan, to whom many thanks for sending the pictures. ©Eurodragster.com Click here to view the Bilsportgalan pictures, or click on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. WRE confirm 2010 Test Days. 27th January: Joint Eurodragster.com webcam sponsor Webster Race Engineering have confirmed that they are to hold three Test Days at Santa Pod Raceway in 2010. WRE Test Days feature a track prepped to National Event standard, full safety cover, and WRE staff on hand for help and advice. Entry is limited to guarantee maximum track time. This year's WRE Test Days take place on: Friday 19th March Friday 14th May Friday 24th September An additional date is currently under discussion. For more details or to book your place, download the entry form (Word format) from www.webster-race-engineering.co.uk or download the form directly at www.webster-race-engineering.co.uk/test_day.doc. Swift snippets. 27th January: Bob Hancox writes after the UK's Outlaw Anglia presentation evening to say Well Done to Richard Colby on his Championship, Cliff Griffin on runner-up, and to Colin Millar (right, with crew) for winning the Debbie Hancox Memorial Trophy. "I would like to thank all the Outlaw Anglia racers for supporting Debbie's trophy, and also to thank the organisers of the party", says Bob. ©Eurodragster.com We would like to say a big Happy Birthday to huge Eurodragster.com supporter Donna Giles of the UK's Roar Willys Super Gas team. Have a lovely day Donna. Web site updates. 27th January: In the latest entry in his exclusive Racer Blog, Pro Stock Bike racer-in-waiting Karl Lyrén tells of an evening at the Bilsportgalan, the preparation of a bike for a show in Finland, and his imminent trip to Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page ©Eurodragster.com Street Eliminator goes National. 26th January: After several months' discussion it has been decided that the Street Eliminator class will become part of the UK National Championships in 2010. The class will run at all the current dates which have been set for the 2010 B&H Automotive/LA RAcing Parts Street Eliminator Championship. The only major changes are that Street Eliminator will now run under the National Championship points system and that all Street Eliminator rules will be set via the UK Tech Committee. ©Eurodragster.com The long-running issue over what constitutes a street tyre has also been set for 2010 and beyond. Current tyres will be within the regulations, including ET Street Radials to a maximum size of 315/60-15 and 325/50-15. ET Street tyres will not be legal for 2010. Santa Pod Racers Club and Avon Park International Racers Association are still finalising the fine details of the Championship and will provide further information soon. Rapp sits out 2010. 26th January: Swedish Pro Mod racer Ulf Rapp has announced that he will be sitting out the 2010 season. "Our season in 2009 was filled with problems, including the gearbox which has been changed for a new one", Ulf told Eurodragster.com. "Because of the current stateof the economy, many of my sponsors can't help me out 2010 and I have also lost some of the key people in the team who are now taking care of their families etc. I have been under some stress for a long time and am starting to lose hair. I have been advised to calm down and to take one step at a time. Because of this I have decided not to compete in 2010, but I promise that I will be ready for the 2011 season. Naturally I will attend some events as a spectator in 2010." ©Eurodragster.com På svenska: Säsongen 2009 var fylld av problem med bland annat växellådan denna är nu utbytt i mot en ny. På grund av rådande lågkonjunktur så har många av minna gamla sponsorer ej kunnat ställa upp under 2010. Jag har även förlorat några av minna nyckelpersoner i teamet som nu tar hand om sina familjer mm. Skälv har jag varit utsatt för en långvarig stress och börjat att tappa håret fläckvis enligt rekommendationer så måste jag lugna ner mig och ta nya tag. Med dessa skäll så har jag beslutat att inte tävla under 2010 men jag kommer att vara bered till säsongen 2011. Naturligt viss kommer jag som publik till diverse tävlingar. Swift snippets. 26th January: The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com came with the information that a former King of Europe Champion is on the move. This is, apparently, a 2009 donor car with only 3000 km on the clock. If you know more, or if you would like to send your own spu picture, then drop us a line at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com. ©Eurodragster.com Hopefully the last time we'll have to say this for this cycle but could those trying to organise a mass vote for one of the Perpetual Award candidates please give it a rest. We're on to you and, for the nth time, it's not worth it. For the more fair-minded, voting and nominations for the Perpetual Awards close at midday UK (13:00 European) this coming Thursday (28th). To check out the shortlists or to submit your votes or nominations check out the official Perpetual Awards page by by clicking here or by clicking on the 2009 Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. A pact signed in snow. 26th January: Further to yesterday's news item our good buddy, photo-journalist Stefan Boman has sent a couple of pictures from yesterday's ceremonies surrounding the announcement of Tierp Motorpark. At left below is Lars-Göran Hagström from Tierp Motorpark shaking hand with Tierp Politician-in-Chief Bengt-Olov Eriksson after signing a statement of intent to build the new Tierp Motorpark facility. Looking on are Top Methanol Funny Car racer Leif Andréasson, Lars Pettersson of the Swedish Automobile Sport Federation and FIA Drag Racing Commission, and Leif Lagman, Production Manager for the City of Tierp. Above right is the spontaneous reaction of Leif Andréasson who managed to talk Lars Pettersson in making snow angels at the location for Tierp Motorpark after the meeting. Eurodragster.com are aware of how dogs and cats mark their territory but this was a new one on us. Colby's confession. 26th January: 2009 Outlaw Anglia Champion Richard Colby has a confession to make about the Outlaw Anglia Party and trophy presentation evening which was held last Saturday. Upon receiving his trophy on Saturday evening Richard had hoped to say a few Thank Yous to certain people but, as fearless as you need to be to drive a high powered, short wheel based car such as a Pop, when the time came to say his piece he bottled it (You mean nitrous? - Ed). ©Eurodragster.com Richard has therefore got in touch to let everyone know how grateful he is to his crew, namely father Norman, brother-in-law Paul and nephews Lee, Russell and Barry for their relentless work not just at the track, but for all the hours and hours spent down at the workshop every week, as without them the dream would never have become reality. Richard has also asked us to say Thank You to the guys who inspired him to get involved in this great sport, all of the Outlaw Anglia racers old and new. State-of-the-art strip for Tierp. 25th January: A press conference is being held in the Municipality of Tierp in Sweden at this moment to announce the creation of Tierp Motorpark, which is to include a state-of-the-art quarter-mile drag strip. The former military airfield is to be converted into a full-blown recreational and industrial area offering drag racing, karting, rallying, enduro and tractor pulling on the motorsport front as well as a driving school with skid pan, cross-country skiing, live concerts and other outdoor pursuits plus an industrial park and a runway at the far end of the drag strip's shutdown area. The 380-acre facility is moments off the E4 motorway one hundred kilometres north of Stockholm and is at an altitude of four hundred feet above sea level. ©Eurodragster.com "The quarter-mile drag strip is concrete and asphalt and will be built to FIA and NHRA standards", said Top Methanol Funny Car racer Leif Andréasson, who has been involved in the local Working Group. "The runway is two thousand metres long. The drag strip will run from the south end to the north end with full-length guardrails. The facility has been designed by racers for racers and fans. There will be grandstand seating for ten thousand to begin with, as well as hard standing pits, garages for rent, camping and everything else you need. You will be amazed by the buildings. The City is very excited about this and the local authorities and the local people are all for it." Planning has been going on for a year and construction will commence in the near future with the drag strip set to start operating in the summer. "I'm real excited", said Leif. "There has been a lot of talk about this but then the City called me - I didn't call them. As soon as one investor showed up others joined. The investors are all well-known international business people - when people like that become involved you know it's a serious project." Tune back for more news and pictures from this afternoon's official launch. In the meantime you can find the site of Tierp Motorpark on Google Maps by clicking here; the former airfield can be seen on the left of the picture. Interview: Tom Compton. 25th January: For the latest in our occasional series of Features presented in association with Stroud Safety and Andy Robinson Race Cars, UK photo-journalist and Honorary Eurodragster.com Staff Member Andy Willsheer interviewed National Hot Rod Association President Tom Compton. ©Eurodragster.com In an interview conducted before the announcement of NHRA Worldwide, Andy asked Tom Compton about the introduction of Pro Modified as a Professional class in 2010 as well as the likelihood of a return to quarter mile racing. Click here to read the interview with Tom Compton, or click on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Swift snippets. 25th January: 2009 FIA European Pro Mod Championship runner-up Micke Gullqvist will be driving one of Roger Burgess' blown-alcohol Pro Mods in the USA this year. Micke will be taking part in two weeks' testing in mid-February and will then be contesting the NHRA Gatornationals. Stay tuned for more details. ©Eurodragster.com Bang goes the retirement! 25th January: 2009 ACU UK Funny Bike Champion Kev Charman has shelved his retirement. After an offer from Italy's Davide Ricci, Kev will be racing for Team Whiterace in 2010: I received an E-Mail from Davide Ricci of Team Whiterace, who has been following the racing quite avidly over here. He saw our latest press release, and asked me what I was going to do now, now that I had sold the Pro Mod. Due to their business and other commitments, they were unable to commit to a full racing schedule and asked if I would be interested in racing for them. They are also very interested in supporting the new UEM Funny Bike class. ©Eurodragster.com Having just got back from Italy where I met Davide, we are happy to announce that we will be teaming up with Team Whiterace. With the support of Lizzy, my Crew Chef Chris, and the exceptional tuning skills of one Ken Cooper, I will potentially be racing their Funny Bike in the new UEM Cup rounds at the two Santa Pod Internationals and at the opening FIM/UEM round at Hungary in May. The bike is a phenomenal bit of kit, the ex-Steve Dawson Pro 1 Funny Bike from Canada. This runs Pro 1 cases, Falicon cranks, and nothing has been spared in the top dollar parts list. The bike has run in the six-second bracket, and this is one amazing once in a lifetime opportunity for us and them to promote a sport and a class about which we both feel so passionate. We are hoping that we can work out a deal with which we are both happy, and that this new partnership will enjoy a successful season. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Davide for the truly amazing hospitality. Web site updates. 25th January: In the latest instalment in his exclusive Racer Blog, multiple ACU UK Pro Stock Bike Champion and European record holder Dave Beck tells of the well-timed arrival of a Christmas present. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. ©Eurodragster.com Having carried out software and security updates our good buddy Jon Spoard has re-opened the UK Drag Racing Nostalgia Forum for business. Jon's well-managed forum is not just a good place for historical discussion but also an invaluable racing resource with many of the biggest names from times gone by and the most knowledgeable historians of the sport signed up and posting. Check it out at www.ukdrn.co.uk/forum. UK Super Pro ET racer Sam Freeman has given his Double Density web site a makeover. The new site features not only Sam's very rapid altered but Vic Hammond's Speed Demon slingshot and Chris Bishop's Split Decision 100E. Check it out at www.doubledensity.co.uk. RaceAmerica's record year. 25th January: Eurodragster.com News sponsor RaceAmerica Corporation is thrilled to report record growth for 2009. Despite the economic downturn, innovative products like the T-Link wireless timing system continue to increase sales. "We have come a long way since we produced timing systems for RC cars in our garage in 1991", said Dennis Laczny, RaceAmerica President. "We pride ourselves on consistently developing new and better ways to employ our products. Our growth is evidence of the value customers see in our innovations." RaceAmerica introduced the industry's only totally wireless drag timing system for the professional full sized drag track in 2007. Since then RaceAmerica's full line of exclusive wireless products have been utilized in hundreds of events from autocross to road races and mud bogs to drag races. For 2010 the company looks to continue growth on the strength of new products and by establishing international distribution points and strategic partnerships. The revolutionary new drag race tree, the DTSS, will certainly play its part. With over 1300 light-emitting diodes instead of incandescent filaments it provides an environmentally cleaner and Lower Energy Demand product. Designed from the ground up in order to take advantage of the latest technology and positive characteristics of LEDs, it consumes 98% less energy while providing a sleek, modern look. New Corner Safety lights and black flag displays for oval and road course racetracks that debuted at the PRI trade show in December are also expected to be in demand in 2010. To support growing international sales the company looks to add distribution points in key markets while gently growing its US workforce. With several partnership discussions in process, 2010 looks to be another year of growth. For more information visit www.raceamerica.com or contact RaceAmerica at +1 408 988-6188. ©Eurodragster.com SPRC, APIRA Perpetual Awards vote 12. 24th January: Santa Pod Racers Club, Avon Park International Racing Association and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the SPRC and APIRA Perpetual Awards, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 6th February 2010. For several of the 2009 season awards, a shortlist has been decided upon for which votes can be submitted by E-Mail. Nominations are now also being accepted for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy. The votes of Eurodragster.com readers will be taken into consideration when the SPRC and APIRA Committees decide upon their winners. The latest vote is the Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year Trophy. The Sportsman of the Year trophy is presented by Obsession Motorsports in memory of the late Terry Gibbs, a fervent supporter of Sportsman racing who himself raced before becoming a race and show promoter. The trophy is awarded to an individual who typifies the spirit of Sportsman drag racing either as a racer themselves or as someone who works to support Sportsman racing. The shortlist for Sportsman of the Year is as follows: Charlie Chivers Vote for Charlie Chivers Jon Giles Vote for Jon Giles Jon Morton Vote for Jon Morton Nigel Payne Vote for Nigel Payne Richard Sawatzki Vote for Richard Sawatzki Nigel Turner Vote for Nigel Turner ©Eurodragster.com To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official SPRC / APIRA Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2009 Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, for which nominations are also now being taken, 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. There is no shortlist for the Alex Brachtvogel award. Nominations are invited from Eurodragster.com readers for racers, race officials, track and safety crews, club officials, media, or anyone else who has contributed to the sport. Last year the trophy was awarded to Santa Pod Raceway track announcers John Price and Graham Beckwith. Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2009@btinternet.com specifying SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy nomination as the subject and your nomination in the body of the E-Mail. For each of the Awards, one vote per E-Mail address per nominee will be accepted: multiple votes for the same nominee from the same E-Mail address will all be disqualified. And every year we say this, but every year someone tries it on: please note that blatant attempts at organising mass votes - for example asking workmates or forum members to vote en masse - are easily identified and all such votes will be disallowed as they have been in previous years. Concerted attempts at vote-rigging will result in the nominee being removed from the shortlist. We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. Voting and nominations close at 12:00 midday UK (13:00 European) this coming Thursday, 28th January. European Champions presented. 24th January: Congratulations to the 2009 FIA and FIM/UEM Champions were presented with their trophies at the Bilsportgalan at the Conventum Center in Örebro, Sweden last night: ©Eurodragster.com FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Andy Carter and FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champion Timo Habermann were unable to attend. Swift snippets. 24th January: The below before-and-after shows the plug for Andy Frost's Vauxhall Pro Mod body which is finished and set for filling and priming before Dale at DRE starts the bodyshell. "A huge thanks to Wayne Allman at Intergalactic Custom Shop for his skill and eye for detail", says Andy. "All the mods were done with no drawings! Jenny and Wayne also did a time lapse video of the build which can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=fra8trNljbI, and the running build is been on the Rods and Sods forum at www.rodsnsods.co.uk." ©Eurodragster.com Dan Welberry of Eurodragster.com 3t Creative says that official entry forms for June's Xtreme Wheels Motor Show will be sent out in the next week or so. "Please return your forms as quickly as possible to allow us to plan the site", says Dan. "If you've not yet registered interest in attending then please do; judging by the standard of the exhibitors already interested you will be in very good company! We are also looking for trophy sponsors to put their name to one of the awards to be presented on the Sunday. For just £50, a company or individual can put their name to a trophy, which will be mentioned during the presentation and listed on our web site. Please E-Mail me at dan@xtremewheelsshow.co.uk." Many thanks to Carla Pittau for supplying an Italian translation of the letter to Members of the European Parliament about the threat to the import of American cars. You can download the Italian version of the letter (Word format) by clicking here. Carla has also set up a Facebook Group opposing the new legislation which you can join at www.facebook.com/?ref=home#/group.php?gid=292581826412&ref=ts. For more details check out the news item American car scene under threat of 14th January. Jeanette and Shelby Webster have asked us to say a big Happy Birthday to joint Eurodragster.com webcam sponsor and Webster Race Engineering head honcho Jon Webster, and also to WRE employee Graham Rice whose birthday it is today. No sooner said than done, have a great day Jon and Graham. Stocking up with Turbo. 24th January: Ian Turburville has been in touch to let racers know that he is stocked up with goodies for the impending race season: I have a shipment of brand new Impact Nitro helmets coming in, the ones with the air filters on front. I have one of the new Impact nostalgia face masks, in silver of course and pretty reasonably priced and some goggles to go with it! Talking of nostalgia, I have a few, genuine, new old stock, Buco bubble visors, for open face helmets! I also have a batch of tinted visors that will fit both the Impact Nitro and Champ helmets and spare pivot kits. I do have one Champ helmet left, same as the one Tony Schumacher wears. Just arrived, new stocks of Sure-Shot chrome re-fillable sprayers, great for starting vehicles or spraying brake cleaner etc. The fantastic ACF50 anti corrosion spray is always stocked to protect your chrome moly chassis and more. Innotect Easy-Gasket is another great item to have in your tool box, it really is a liquid O-ring, and fuel proof! I have some fire suits, drivers gloves, drivers shoes, CarbonX underwear, and just two Simpson helmets left to clear at sale prices, see my web site at www.turboville.com. Wynns Supercharge, world famous drag racing product (oil treatment), is stocked and I can supply any Red Line Oil race product at a good price. ©Eurodragster.com New products will be the great Junior Dragster parts line from Viperizer in the USA. For the Supertwins I am making a limited batch of new lightweight, ballistic safety vests. Don't leave it until the last minute! Order your new sublimated team shirts now! These are fantastic quality shirts, lightweight, comfortable, and the design possibilities are limitless. Minimum order is just ten shirts of assorted sizes and the prices are comparable with the old, traditional, heavy, custom made cotton shirts. I still do a good range of off the shelf cotton shirts, ready for embroidery, no minimum order, for the budget racer. SPRC, APIRA Perpetual Awards vote 11. 22nd January: Santa Pod Racers Club, Avon Park International Racing Association and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the SPRC and APIRA Perpetual Awards, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 6th February 2010. For several of the 2009 season awards, a shortlist has been decided upon for which votes can be submitted by E-Mail. Nominations are now also being accepted for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy. The votes of Eurodragster.com readers will be taken into consideration when the SPRC and APIRA Committees decide upon their winners. The latest vote is the APIRA Alan Wigmore Memorial Trophy. The founder of the National Drag Racing Club, Alan Wigmore was dedicated to every aspect of the sport at home as well as in America. As Chairman of the NDRC Alan got to do just about every job there was to organise as well as run race events. This Award is presented in Alan's memory to the chosen individual who has shown the same dedication, spirit and enthusiasm for the sport which Alan showed in his years in drag racing. The APIRA Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order, is as follows: Andy Rogers (Tog), Eurodragster.com Vote for Tog Paul Satchell, APIRA Vote for Paul Satchell Wayne Schreier, APIRA Vote for Wayne Schreier Tony Smith, APIRA Vote for Tony Smith Brian Taylor, Allard Chrysler Action Group Vote for Brian Taylor Roy Wilding, Supercharged Outlaws Vote for Roy Wilding Andrew Willcox and Chris Schreier, APIRA Vote for Andrew Willcox and Chris Schreier ©Eurodragster.com To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official SPRC / APIRA Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2009 Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page. The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, for which nominations are also now being taken, 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. There is no shortlist for the Alex Brachtvogel award. Nominations are invited from Eurodragster.com readers for racers, race officials, track and safety crews, club officials, media, or anyone else who has contributed to the sport. Last year the trophy was awarded to Santa Pod Raceway track announcers John Price and Graham Beckwith. Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2009@btinternet.com specifying SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy nomination as the subject and your nomination in the body of the E-Mail. For each of the Awards, one vote per E-Mail address per nominee will be accepted: multiple votes for the same nominee from the same E-Mail address will all be disqualified. And every year we say this, but every year someone tries it on: please note that blatant attempts at organising mass votes - for example asking workmates or forum members to vote en masse - are easily identified and all such votes will be disallowed as they have been in previous years. Concerted attempts at vote-rigging will result in the nominee being removed from the shortlist. We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. The schedule for the remaining Perpetual Award votes is currently as follows: Sunday 24th January: Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year Trophy Thursday 28th January: Voting and nominations close The rebuild commences... 22nd January: Brian Taylor writes that with encouraging news from Sam Eidy at Booth Arons of progress on the engine for Sydney Allard's 1961 Allard Chrysler dragster restoration project: The engine block has now been disassembled and it was discovered, thankfully, that it had a standard bore and crank. It has been baked and blasted and is currently awaiting boring and honing. Racetec Pistons are designing and donating the pistons - billet slug - and these will be ordered as soon as the block has been bored. The crank is awaiting bob weights for balancing and the heads are in the process of being refurbished with new guides and seats. Manley Performance is donating the valves. The cam is being donated by Crower and will be ordered shortly. The blower is on its way to Littlefield Blowers who will re-tuning it free of charge for the Potvin set up. Thanks to all donating companies, whose web sites are now on the Links page at www.allardchrysler.org. Booth Arons hope to be assembling the engine by the end of February. They already have a company willing to donate the copper head gaskets. The bright work is being tumbled and polished, including a rare set of valve covers which will be chromed. Some parts are still required so please contact brian@allardchrysler.org if you are interested in becoming part of this exciting and important project. And watch this space. ©Eurodragster.com Swift snippets. 22nd January: Finnish Top Fuel Dragster racer Anita Mäkelä says that she is to continue in the seat of the R20+ Energy Drink Top Fueller this season. Contrary to current skipchat the team will be running one car again this year, certainly to begin with. "Tommi hasn't lost his desire to race", says Anita. "I offered him the seat but, being a gentleman, he didn't accept it. Lucky me! But of course at some time we need to get another car or rent a seat or something for Tommi. We'll see what we can work out." ©Eurodragster.com That this is a day late is our fault for which many apologies, but a very Happy Birthday for yesterday to Santa Pod Racers Club marshal David Warren. Hope you had a great day David. 2010 Greek Championship. 22nd January: Our good friend Elias Vathias of Greekdragster.com has been in touch with news of the 2010 Greek Drag Racing Championship. The 2010 calendar is as follows: 17th-18th April: Polykastro (Kilkis) 7th-8th May: Serres 12th-13th June: Polykastro (Kilkis) 10th-11th July: Tympaki (Creta) 4th-5th September: Serres 2nd-3rd October: Polykastro (Kilkis) 30th-31st October: Tympaki (Creta) All of these are official Championship drag races. Racers can participate in all seven races, but can only count six for points. More non-Championship races will probably be held during the season; we will let you know as soon as they are announced. 2010 classes for motorbikes are: Mini Pro Pro Z Street 1 Street 2 Pro Street 1 Pro Street 2 Super Street Bike Super Pro Important changes: The Super Street Bike class has been proposed many times to the Greek Motorsport Authorities and finally this year has been accepted. We expect many powerful entries in this class; The Scooter class is discontinued; Turbo or nitrous are not allowed in the Mini Pro Class this year. That means that Mini Pro 2010 is a completely different class. The 2010 classes for cars are: BA1 BA2 BT1 BT2 True Street AA1 AA2 AT1 AT2 Pro 4 Open Important changes: In the B Classes, drag tyres of specific dimensions are permitted this year; last year only street-legal tyres were allowed; In the AT2 class, six-cylinder cars have a 0.5-second handicap this year. The car Championships are being held under the supervision of ELPA and the bike Championships are being held under the supervision of OME. We would like to thank: Our friends at Motorsite who have helped us a lot all these years; Our main sponsor Veltiosis who is the official distributor of VP Racing Fuels for Greece and Cyprus; Eurodragster.com and their staff and especially Tog, for all your help and support throughout these years (Thanks, you're welcome - Ed). Web site updates. 22nd January: Our good friend Alan Currans has updated his excellent Acceleration Archive with a twenty seventh Readers' Gallery. "The collection includes two pictures from the last 1964 Dragfest, Mickey Naylor's rollover in the Medicine Man slingshot, and a fabulous sequence of Micke Kågered having a really exciting, if expensive, ride in the Bahco Express", says Alan. You can check out the latest update via the What's New link at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk. ©Eurodragster.com Sponsorship updates. 21st January: Niklas Klaesson of SRIF has been in touch to announce that Malmö's MECA Raceway has been renamed VEIDEC Raceway for the 2010 season. "SRIF would like to thank MECA for their main sponsor support of the drag strip at Malmö", says Niklas. "We have had great co-operation and we hope and wish that it will continue in other ways. At the same time we also would like to welcome VEIDEC as our new head sponsor. We are all looking forward to many wonderful races at the re-born VEIDEC Raceway". You can find out more at www.srif.se. Swedish Pro Stock racer Michael Malmgren tells us that he had great success signing product sponsorship deals at the PRI Show. "I am proud to add Trend Performance the list of Associate Sponsors for Malmgren Racing", he says. "Trend is well-known for high-quality performance and racing products. Trend will supply my engines with their latest lightweight wrist pins all coated by Ionbond (another product sponsor of Malmgren Racing). Trend will also supply custom-built pushrods which are all Spintron tested. Trend works very close with many top NHRA Pro Stock engine builders so we are very happy to get this opportunity to get the latest and greatest". You can find out more about Trend Performance at www.trendperform.com. UK blown-alcohol altered team Bennett Racing are delighted to announce the addition of Raceparts (UK) to their raft of sponsors. Raceparts (UK) have been in business since 1972 from their Wallingford base in the heart of the motorsport valley and are dedicated to manufacturing and supplying proven, top quality products to all forms of motorsport worldwide. Raceparts is the first and original, one-stop warehouse for all motorsport spares and they pride themselves on their personal, friendly and efficient service which has served them so well over the years. "We are very happy to work with Raceparts (UK) and look forward to the future", says Luke Bennett. To see what is on offer visit the company's web site at www.raceparts-direct.com or call 01491 82200. A big thumbs-up to the UK's Beelzebob Pro ET team who are proud to announce that they will be supporting the charity Help for Heroes in 2010. "We will be raising money for Help for Heroes at every event and car show we attend", says Dave Armstrong. Web site updates. 21st January: In the latest instalment in his exclusive Racer Blog, Pro Stock Bike racer-in-waiting Karl Lyrén tells of the perils of applying too much filler to a Pro Stock Bike body. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page ©Eurodragster.com Finnish SFI Day relocated. 20th January: Many thanks to Finnish Hot Rod Association President Tapio Väljä for passing on news of the new location of the Finnish leg of the SFI European Inspection Tour, which takes place on Friday 5th March: Our good sponsor US-Parts Speedshop has promised to host the meeting. Inspections will be held at their premises: US-Parts Holkkitie 5 008800 Helsinki You can find more information about the SFI Day (in Finnish) on the FHRA web site at www.fhra.fi. I would like to thank all the people who have offered to help FHRA after the devastating accident. We really appreciate your concern, thank you very much. US Crazy Horses guest list grows. 20th January: Brian Taylor has been in touch with news of the latest RSVPs to attend the US launch of his book Crazy Horses at the Wally Parks Motorsport Museum on 12th February: Those saying that they will be there include legendary Funny Car driver Tom Hoover who has done so much to help the sport develop in the UK over many years. Also from the USA, but going back many years to the 1965 Drag Festival American team, is Merek Chertcow who drove Dean Moon's Moonshot dragster until he had a motoring accident at Sydney Allard's house. In 1966 he went on to drive the Ramchargers Top Fuel Dragster. Also joining us from the 1965 team is Chuck Griffiths who drove the Starlight III dragster. Reflecting the pan-European nature of drag racing in the UK, Norwegian Thomas Nataas is joining the gathering. Thomas is racing at Pomona and hopes qualifying won't get in the way. From Sweden we have Bo Bertilsson - now a resident of California and a successful photographer and author. British fans may remember his street rods and his involvement with cars like the ex-Keith Harvey, ex-Sherm Gunn blown Fuel Altered Berserk and the Bifrost Corvette Pro Comp Funny Car. Another name from the British drag racing past is Tex Blake. Tex was one of the many American servicemen based in the UK who became involved with the sport in the 1960s. He helped several UK teams but is perhaps most remembered for beating John Woolfe in the final of Super Eliminator in 1968. Tex was driving Mark Stratton's Chevy-engined Hustler Competition Altered. Another welcome guest is Ash Marshall. Nothing to do with British history but the first Australian to put down a 200 mph run in 1969 and (unofficially) the first Australian to record six seconds. And on a personal note I am very pleased that Pete Millar's widow Orah Mae and his daughter Robin will be there. Pete's direct link with the British scene was his Chicken Coupe/Crescent Coupe rail which became a firm favourite with the fans and the Sid Waterman 354 Chrysler originally fitted to the car provided the power for Dennis Priddle's Quartermaster slingshot in 1970. Pete and his family sort of adopted my wife and I on our first visit to the USA in 1977 - as they did many other visiting Brits and Scandinavians over the years. In alphabetical order, the list of those planning to be there is: Bo Bertilsson, Tex Blake, Gordie Bonin, Andy Carter, Merek Chertcow, Peter Crane, Sam Eidy, Roger Gorringe, Chuck Griffiths, Tom Hoover, Traci Hrudka, Tommy Ivo, Cliff Jones, Bob Keith, Jon Lundberg, Ash Marshall, Dave McClelland, Syd McDonald, Orah Mae and Robin Millar, Thomas Nataas, Carl Olson, Rex Sluggett, Brian Taylor and Linda Vaughn. There are more names to come and Eurodragster.com's US Correspondent Ed O'Connell will be there to snap the pics and write the words. ©Eurodragster.com Swift snippets. 20th January: Carbon fibre fabricator Kenneth Holmberg of Sweden's Swecomposite has started to fabricate wheel tubs for Pro Mod and other full-bodied cars. Stefan Boman tells us that the tubs are 48"/122 cm in diameter and that what sets them apart from other offerings is that Kenneth uses a combined carbon and Kevlar fibre woven fabric in the layer facing the wheel. This will help to prevent rock etc damage and will hopefully keep everything in one piece in the event of a tyre explosion or wheel failure. You can find the Swecomposite web site at www.swecomposite.com and a differently-interesting YouTube video promoting Swecomposite's products at www.youtube.com/watch?v=IquBaPHs-ps. The UK's Pro ET racers will again be running a sponsorship scheme in 2010. Any business wishing to sponsor Pro ET for the year please either contact Charlie Chivers at charliestaxis@aol.com, or PM Charlie or Mike Lacey via PM on the Pro ET web site at www.pro-et.co.uk. News of the Scheme's 2010 sponsors, prize money and trophies will be posted here on Eurodragster.com in a few weeks' time. ©Eurodragster.com Catering equipment supplier MPD UK Sales, one of whose owners is UK Pro ET racer Carla Pittau, are offering racers and race fans discount vouchers on catering equipment to promote their new Facebook page which you can check out at www.facebook.com/#/pages/MPD-UK-SALES. Web site updates. 20th January: Eurodragster.com News Editor Tog has updated his Fotopic gallery with the full selection of pictures from last week's Autosport International. You will already have seen a number of the shots if you checked out our American Car Imports-sponsored Autosport International coverage, but if you're a sucker for the words "previously unpublished" then you can find Tog's pictures at either eurodragster.fotopic.net or www.togsdragracing.com. ©Eurodragster.com Statement from FHRA on office fire. 19th January: We have received the following statement from Finnish Hot Rod Association Chair Tapio Väljä about the fire at the FHRA office in Espoo at the weekend. Many thanks to Tapio for getting this to us when he must have quite enough to worry about already: On Sunday 17th January there was a fire in the building where the Finnish Hot Rod Association office is located. The fire destroyed the office completely, leaving practically nothing to save. FHRA storage, which was located in the same building, was destroyed in the fire too, but the damage was not as comprehensive as to the office. Some items seem to have survived the fire, but it is too early to say anything. Everything needs to be tested before we can be sure that the equipment is working. The fire started in a car repair shop which was located in the same building as the FHRA office. The fire got into the roof really quickly causing the whole wing to be in flames by the time the fire brigade arrived - and the fire brigade arrived really fast, as we had renewed the fire alarm system last summer. The good thing is that nobody was hurt, and that all the insurance was in place. Right now it is too early to say what kind of effect the fire has upon FHRA operations. We need to evaluate this carefully, but we will do our best to be able to host the FHRA Nitro Nationals, the second round of European Championships. We will post the absolute confirmation later, but carry on with your preparations as if the event will happen. It will be extremely devastating and a personal loss for FHRA crew if the event doesn't happen - we will work as hard as necessary to make it happen! SPRC, APIRA Perpetual Awards vote 10. 19th January: Santa Pod Racers Club, Avon Park International Racing Association and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the SPRC and APIRA Perpetual Awards, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 6th February 2010. For several of the 2009 season awards, a shortlist has been decided upon for which votes can be submitted by E-Mail. Nominations are now also being accepted for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy. The votes of Eurodragster.com readers will be taken into consideration when the SPRC and APIRA Committees decide upon their winners. The latest vote is the SPRC Paul Giddings Memorial Trophy. The Paul Giddings Memorial Trophy is a bike fraternity-only award 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 woes, but have faced those problems head-on and come out on top. The SPRC Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order, is as follows: Richard Gipp, Pro Stock Bike Vote for Richard Gipp Job Heezen, Supertwin Vote for Job Heezen Chris Jones, 9.50 Bike Vote for Chris Jones Chris Mott, Supertwin Gas Vote for Chris Mott ©Eurodragster.com To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official SPRC / APIRA Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2009 Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page. The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, for which votes are also now being taken, 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. There is no shortlist for the Alex Brachtvogel award. Nominations are invited from Eurodragster.com readers for racers, race officials, track and safety crews, club officials, media, or anyone else who has contributed to the sport. Last year the trophy was awarded to Santa Pod Raceway track announcers John Price and Graham Beckwith. Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2009@btinternet.com specifying SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy nomination as the subject and your nomination in the body of the E-Mail. For each of the Awards, one vote per E-Mail address per nominee will be accepted: multiple votes for the same nominee from the same E-Mail address will all be disqualified. And every year we say this, but every year someone tries it on: please note that blatant attempts at organising mass votes - for example asking workmates or forum members to vote en masse - are easily identified and all such votes will be disallowed as they have been in previous years. Concerted attempts at vote-rigging will result in the nominee being removed from the shortlist. We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. The schedule for the remaining Perpetual Award votes is currently as follows: Friday 22nd January: APIRA Alan Wigmore Memorial Trophy Sunday 24th January: Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year Trophy Thursday 28th January: Voting and nominations close Swift snippets. 19th January: Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall has been in touch to let us know that booking is now closed for the UK National Championships Dinner Dance and Trophy Presentation on Saturday 6th February, as the function room is full. ©Eurodragster.com The Allard Chrysler Action Group is seeking a proprietary brand flat-bed trailer to transport Sydney Allard's restored Allard Chrysler dragster when the project is complete. For more details on ACAG's requirements, check out the Wanted link at www.allardchrysler.org. We would like to say a big Happy 50th Birthday to German Pro Mod racer and Eurodragster.com News sponsor Marco Maurischat. Have a great day Marco. Further to last Thursday's news item, thanks to those readers who rose to the call of Anthony Cohen of Eurodragster.com Main Sponsor American Car Imports to protest to their Members of the European Parliament against new legislation threatening the import of American cars. We have received a number of the replies which readers had from their MEPs and although the letters are pretty much identically-worded the message does seem to be getting through. It is not too late to E-Mail your MEP about this, and we have been promised French and Italian translations of the E-Mail which we shall post as soon as they arrive. For more details check out the news item American car scene under threat of 14th January. Another Small Fortune to fix. 19th January: UK Super Pro ET racer Martyn Jones is looking at a mid-season return in his Small Fortune dragster, says Crew Chief Crunch. Syd escaped unhurt but for a cut thumb from a horrifying crash at the FIA Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway in May; the dragster was badly damaged although work is well underway to repair it. "The car is starting to look a little better", Crunch told Eurodragster.com at Autosport International on Saturday. "After the European Finals we took the car to Kev Cerusale's shop to see how badly bent it was. When we put it on the jig we found that the back half had bent upwards. The roll cage never actually took a hit, the first two hoops were a little shaved from sliding along the track. So the bottom rails and motor plate have been replaced and two new roll cage hoops have been put in. It was a two-piece chassis and the front end is a total write-off although the chromoly has arrived for the new front end. Two weeks ago we took the body panels to the shop and it looks as if most of those can be saved. All four wheels are write-offs, the wing struts are snapped, the rear wing is wrecked as is the injector hat." ©Eurodragster.com When the team took the motor apart the cause of the crash became apparent. "The main cause was that the rings let go on piston number seven", said Crunch. "So the piston developed a hole, the huge pressure from the blower came back up and blew oil out through the gasket and onto the tyres. "We've got some new pistons, and a new set of rods. The cam, crank and heads are OK and the blower has been to Peter Schöfer Racing for service. We also needed to get a new Lenco case. "As soon as we get the chassis back I can start to put everything back together. I think we're looking at a Summer return." Web site updates. 19th January: In the latest instalment in his exclusive Racer Blog, Dutch Top Fuel Dragster racer and joint Eurodragster.com webcam sponsor Lex Joon describes the appeal of racing in the USA, as the NHRA Winternationals approaches. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page ©Eurodragster.com Double Turners in 2010. 18th January: The UK's Turner Motorsport Top Methanol team are making a two-pronged attack on the FIA European Championships this season as they have added a Top Methanol Funny Car to their operation. Rob Turner will drive the new Funny Car, and brother and tuner Steve will drive the Championship-winning dragster, at all FIA Championship rounds in 2010. The Monte Carlo FC, purchased turn-key from US racer Jeff Carroll, totes a 526 ci BAE motor in a Victory Race Cars chassis and has run a best of 5.63 seconds at 254 mph on only a few runs. The team plan to run the FC at NHRA Divisional events at Phoenix and Tucson and at the first NHRA National event in Las Vegas before shipping it to the UK to arrive in time for the FIA Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway at the end of May. "It's going to be hard work running a two-car team", Steve Turner told Eurodragster.com at Autosport International on Saturday. "We are still looking for crew and there are logistics to consider such as fitting both cars into one trailer and doubling up on tools. But I don't think the tuning will be that different - it's the same principle and we should be able to exchange ideas between the dragster and the Funny Car. We want to have the first UK Methanol Funny Car to run a five-second pass, and we think we will be the first UK TMFC racers to do the full European Tour." "Rob fancied a change and our roots were always in short-wheelbase cars", added Carmel Turner. ©Eurodragster.com The FC will be carrying the brand of Slick Mist fast and easy speed wax, a product of sponsor Lucas Oil. "Slick Mist gives a Show Car shine and was originally developed for dragsters", said Les Downey of Lucas Oil UK. "You can spray and wipe even if the car is dirty and it reduces drag. It is really good to be associated with the Turners." "All of our existing sponsors were more than happy to back a two-car team", said Carmel Turner. "As well as Lucas Oil we have continued support from NGK and we have signed up RCS Cables and Control here at Autosport. The dragster colour scheme will be changed to match the Funny Car; although I know what I want the cars to look like it might have to wait until next year to come to fruition." Steve Turner asked us to say a big Thank You to Bob Jarrett, who is based near Jeff Carroll. "Bob has been really helpful", said Steve. "He will be doing some updates and he has invited us to go to his place to work on the car." Whilst the TMFC won't be seen on this side of the Pond until the FIA Main Event, the Turner Motorsport Top Methanol Dragster will make its first outing of 2010 at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway at the start of April. Swift snippets. 18th January: Norway's Sverre Dahl is updating his Top Fuel Bike operation with a brand new chassis and bodywork to take his existing engine and transmission. Stefan Boman tells us that Unique Custom Cycles in Sweden, who have more than thirty years of experience in both drag bikes and customs, have built the frame in chromoly. The bike is currently at the premises of carbon fibre fabricator Swecomposite where Christian Merlid and Stefan Boman are guest workers making new body parts, and it will then return to Unique Custom Cycles for final details such as Dzus brackets. ©Eurodragster.com Everyone at UK Top Fuel Bike team Woollatt Racing has asked to say a big Happy 1st Birthday Alex Powell. "Alex is the first rider on the Woollatt Racing Rider Development programme and is pictured during a secret Top Fuel Trike Christmas testing session", says Dave Powell. Have a great day Alex. High on the ridge, in the small village of Ameliasburgh in the Great White North of Canada, construction has begun on a front-engined dragster powered by an AJ6 Jaguar motor. "The goal is to come close or match the perfomance of Sid Slattery's wonderful Jag FED", says Don Dulmage. "Why the AJ6? Because it was available and cheap. Why a Jag? Because we already have a slant six Mopar Dragster (The Senior Dragster) and felt another slant six, which the AJ6 is also, would be an apropriate addition to the stable. The car will be 130" wheelbase, mild steel construction per NHRA / IHRA rules. And you folks didn't think we were watching you, eh?" Once around, then retire. 18th January: UK Pro Mod racer Ray White has announced that 2010 is to be his last year of racing. Ray has been racing the same car since 1990, and as it is not possible to run his "Plastic pig" Mk 1 Zephyr in Top Fuel Ray has decided to take the wild blown-alcohol Pro Mod on the entire 2010 FIA European Championship Tour. "Last year was problematic financially", Ray told Eurodragster.com at Autosport International on Saturday. "This year is looking OK. I sold my big rig to a racer in Norway; I could not have taken that on the ferry so now I have a motorhome and trailer which I bought from Wayne Nicholson. We will race at Santa Pod of course and I've already booked us in for Finland, Sweden and Germany. We may go Top Doorslammer racing in Norway depending upon funds - I am self-funded but now that we are going all the way round Europe we may try to attract other sponsors." ©Eurodragster.com Joining Ray's crew this year will be Pro Mod and Super Mod tuner Adrian Spencer, former Pro Mod racer Danny Cockerill, and 'Little Danny'. "This is the best position I have ever been in", said Ray. "We only did one race last year but with the new fuel system the data was awesome. I've got the best crew, I've got lot of spares on the way, I'm really excited, I'm totally motivated...this is going to be my year and I just can't wait." Web site updates. 18th January: UK Supercharged Outlaw racer Alec Coe has updated the Mad Rs Drag Racing web site with his 2010 race calendar. "We had a great end to last year and we are looking forward to improving on the sevens", says Alec. "All are welcome for a good p**s-up to my Birthday bash at Shakespeare County Raceway 15th May, beer supplied. Tom will be driving on the Sunday (hic!). Thanks Eurodragster for all the hard work (Thanks - Ed). You can find out all about Mad Rs Drag Racing at www.madrsdragracing.co.uk. ©Eurodragster.com 2010 European SFI Tour. 17th January: Many thanks to SFI Foundation President Arnie Kuhns for forwarding the dates of this year's European SFI Recertification Tour: Thursday 4th March: Werner Habermann Racing workshop, near Frankfurt, Germany Friday 5th March: US-Parts, Helsinki ,Finland Saturday 6th March: Persåkers Speed Shop, Åkers Styckebruk, Sweden Monday 8th March: Scrutineering building, Santa Pod Raceway, England Further details such as hours of inspections, full addresses etc. will be posted shortly. Autosport International coverage. 17th January: Eurodragster.com spent Friday and yesterday at the NEC in Birmingham checking out the drag racing interest at Autosport International, the UK motorsport industry show. ©Eurodragster.com In association with American Car Imports we have posted notes and pictures from both days, which you can check out by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. NHRA goes Worldwide. 17th January: NHRA have announced the creation of NHRA Worldwide Network, a programme which will enable drag racing facilities around the world to conduct events under the NHRA banner. By becoming a part of the NHRA Worldwide Network, a facility will be able to use the specially-designed "Worldwide Drag Racing" NHRA oval for broad promotional purposes and will be able to draw on NHRA's decades of experience and history. "Organised drag racing is conducted throughout the world and we have been receiving many inquiries regarding how facilities outside of North America can become affiliated with NHRA" said Tom Compton, President, NHRA. "NHRA Worldwide Network provides drag racing facilities around the globe with unique benefits and identification with NHRA." NHRA Worldwide Network tracks will follow the NHRA rulebook and will be assigned an account director for advice and consultation. The track will have access to NHRA's technical department in the United States and may also request training at the track site. Tracks can also participate in any of NHRA's Division Tech Seminars, SFI certification and training seminars, and emergency response training seminars. As an NHRA Worldwide Network track, the facility will also be able to award Wally trophies for track Champions. NHRA will establish a link to the track's Web site from NHRA.com and be listed in a newly-created Worldwide Affiliation directory of National DRAGSTER and NHRA.com. The first track to be associated with the programme will be the drag strip currently being built within the confines of the Yas Marina Circuit, located on Yas Island off the coast of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. As the premier drag racing sanctioning body in the world, NHRA currently serves as the President of FIA's Drag Racing Commission. The worldwide rules adopted by FIA for drag racing originate from NHRA's rulebook. Members of the commission meet annually to develop the rulebook and discuss drag racing on a global basis. Currently, organised series are conducted in Europe and Australia. ©Eurodragster.com SPRC, APIRA Perpetual Awards vote 9. 16th January: Santa Pod Racers Club, Avon Park International Racing Association and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the SPRC and APIRA Perpetual Awards, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 6th February 2010. For several of the 2009 season awards, a shortlist has been decided upon for which votes can be submitted by E-Mail. Nominations are now also being accepted for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy. The votes of Eurodragster.com readers will be taken into consideration when the SPRC and APIRA Committees decide upon their winners. The latest vote is the APIRA Endeavour Award. The APIRA Endeavour Award is awarded to a racer, team, supporter or member of the media in recognition for services rendered over the last twelve months, as well as their overall support of Avon Park International Racing Association and Shakespeare County Raceway. The APIRA Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order, is as follows: Sharron Collier, Junior Drag Bike Vote for Sharron Collier Jerry Cookson, APIRA Vote for Jerry Cookson Alan Davis and Jon Cross, APIRA/SCR Vote for Alan Davis and Jon Cross Peter Donaldson, Media Vote for Peter Donaldson Antonio and Luigi Ferretti, Top Fuel Bike Vote for Antonio and Luigi Ferretti Ian Pulley, APIRA Vote for Ian Pulley Darren West, Media Vote for Darren West ©Eurodragster.com To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official SPRC / APIRA Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2009 Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page. The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, for which votes are also now being taken, 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. There is no shortlist for the Alex Brachtvogel award. Nominations are invited from Eurodragster.com readers for racers, race officials, track and safety crews, club officials, media, or anyone else who has contributed to the sport. Last year the trophy was awarded to Santa Pod Raceway track announcers John Price and Graham Beckwith. Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2009@btinternet.com specifying SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy nomination as the subject and your nomination in the body of the E-Mail. For each of the Awards, one vote per E-Mail address per nominee will be accepted: multiple votes for the same nominee from the same E-Mail address will all be disqualified. And every year we say this, but every year someone tries it on: please note that blatant attempts at organising mass votes - for example asking workmates or forum members to vote en masse - are easily identified and all such votes will be disallowed as they have been in previous years. Concerted attempts at vote-rigging will result in the nominee being removed from the shortlist. We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. The schedule for the remaining Perpetual Award votes is currently as follows: Tuesday 19th January: SPRC Paul Giddings Memorial Trophy Friday 22nd January: APIRA Alan Wigmore Memorial Trophy Sunday 24th January: Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year Trophy Thursday 28th January: Voting and nominations close Swift snippets. 16th January: Thanks to Karsten Andersen for letting us know that US tuner Jim Brissette will be, in Karsten's words, "Back to school" with the Andersen Racing Top Fuel Dragster team starting at the NHRA Winternationals at Pomona. Jim Brissette worked with the Andersens last season before moving back across the Pond to consult for Brandon Bernstein in the closing overs of last year's NHRA Powerade Tour. ©Eurodragster.com Julie Willcox has been in touch to let us know of three hotel rooms going spare at the Park Inn in Northampton on the night of the joint APIRA/SPRC UK National Championships Dinner Dance and Trophy Presentation on Saturday 6th February. Julie has two double rooms available first-come first-served to the first to E-Mail julesw@tesco.net, whilst SPRC Club Secretary Paula Marshall has one double room available first-come first-served to the first to E-Mail paula.marshall@btconnect.com. This should go without saying, but sometimes there is no accounting: you will of course have to pay for the rooms. Web site updates. 16th January: In the latest instalment in his exclusive Racer Blog, Top Alcohol tuner Will Hanna brings us up to date on what he has been up to in the closed season; as you can imagine Will gets about as much closed season as do the Eurodragster.com staff. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page ©Eurodragster.com UK Super Pro ET racer Dave Ward has added two video clips to the official web site of the Rampage team, which you can find at www.rampagefunnycar.co.uk. Dave tells us that he has recently acquired a Super Pro ET dragster and that he will soon be back in touch with news about that. Paul Lister has updated his DragCarAnon web site at www.dragcaranon.co.uk with some historic pictures, which you can view via the History Update 2010 link. SPRC, APIRA Perpetual Awards vote 8. 14th January: Santa Pod Racers Club, Avon Park International Racing Association and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the SPRC and APIRA Perpetual Awards, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 6th February 2010. For several of the 2009 season awards, a shortlist has been decided upon for which votes can be submitted by E-Mail. Nominations are now also being accepted for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy. The votes of Eurodragster.com readers will be taken into consideration when the SPRC and APIRA Committees decide upon their winners. The latest category is the SPRC James Edgar Memorial Trophy. The James Edgar Memorial Trophy is awarded for outstanding performance by a Crew Chief, tuner or crew member. The SPRC Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order, is as follows: Garry Coull, for Colin Lazenby (B&H Automotive/LA Racing Parts Street Eliminator) Vote for Garry Coull Lyn Harris, for Les Harris and Andy Watson (Supertwin Gas) Vote for Lyn Harris Karl Harrison, for Rod Harrison and himself (Super Pro ET) Vote for Karl Harrison Stuart McDonald, for McDonald Racing (Top Fuel Dragster) Vote for Stuart McDonald Ric Naylor, for Dave Beck (Pro Stock Bike) Vote for Ric Naylor Kirstie Tramm and Nigel Turner, for John Everitt (Super Pro ET) Vote for Kirstie Tramm and Nigel Turner ©Eurodragster.com To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official SPRC / APIRA Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2009 Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page. The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, for which votes are also now being taken, 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. There is no shortlist for the Alex Brachtvogel award. Nominations are invited from Eurodragster.com readers for racers, race officials, track and safety crews, club officials, media, or anyone else who has contributed to the sport. Last year the trophy was awarded to Santa Pod Raceway track announcers John Price and Graham Beckwith. Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2009@btinternet.com specifying SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy nomination as the subject and your nomination in the body of the E-Mail. For each of the Awards, one vote per E-Mail address per nominee will be accepted: multiple votes for the same nominee from the same E-Mail address will all be disqualified. And every year we say this, but every year someone tries it on: please note that blatant attempts at organising mass votes - for example asking workmates or forum members to vote en masse - are easily identified and all such votes will be disallowed as they have been in previous years. Concerted attempts at vote-rigging will result in the nominee being removed from the shortlist. We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. The schedule for the remaining Perpetual Award votes is currently as follows: Saturday 16th January: APIRA Endeavour Award Tuesday 19th January: SPRC Paul Giddings Memorial Trophy Friday 22nd January: APIRA Alan Wigmore Memorial Trophy Sunday 24th January: Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year Trophy Thursday 28th January: Voting and nominations close French finished. 14th January: Well after working in his garage (aka fridge) for the past few weeks the UK's Steve French has finished his new French Injection Funny Bike. "Hopefully if the engine runs and the snow clears I will be at the RWYBs at Santa Pod on 24th and 31st to check that (a) I can remember how to ride and (b) it goes in a straight line", says Steve. "This chassis is 77" compared to the old 73". The motor has been moved further forwards and the seat is so low that my knees touch my elbows - I sit in rather than on this one. "Same power plant as 2008 with lots of nitrous so there should be some marshmallow toasting opportunities, although I hope not too many." ©Eurodragster.com Racers: New vehicle this season? Same vehicle but reworked? New paint, new sponsors, new crew? Drop us a line with details to news@eurodragster.com and we'll let your fans know. All invited to social evenings. 14th January: Mark Norton of the UK's Tech Crew has been in touch with details of a monthly social evening for racers and fans, which he has been running in the Oxford area for the last nine years. Mark tells us that all are invited: The meeting in various forms has been running at venues around the Oxford area for over twenty five years, originally having been a BDR&HRA regional meeting run by Brian Thomas of Paranoia fame and Geoff Martin of Oxford Builder fame and now of the Tech Crew. It has been very popular with local and not-so-local racers with people travelling from as far afield as Southampton and Bristol! The meetings now take place at the Three Horseshoes in Benson (near Wallingford) starting between 7:45 pm and 8:00 pm on the second Monday of each month. Local racer Jon Morton has been instrumental in the move to the Three Horseshoes and is a regular at the meetings along with Dan Page of Panic Pro ET fame, Wendy Baker and Paul Stubbings of the Time Warp Nostalgia Funny Car, bike racers Dave and Shaun Branch, commentator and race car builder Paul Venners, Tech Crew member Graham Motler, Fuel racer Gary Page, and various other local racers and fans. The meetings normally consist of a lot of bench racing whilst watching drag racing DVDs (cars and bikes) and having a meal and a pint. The pub has a great menu and just by luck does a Pie'n'Pint deal on a Monday night for £7.95 as well as the normal restaurant menu - all the food is prepared in-house and is of the highest standard. We run a drag racing quiz and/or raffle if enough people attend. If you are a fan or a racer, bike or car, then why not come along for a chat and an evening away from the workshop! This month's meeting has been postponed due to the weather and will take place next Monday, 18th January. The pub addresss is 2 Oxford Road, Benson, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 6LX (map). For any other information or directions etc please contact me on 07881 456314. Web site updates. 14th January: In the latest entry in his exclusive Racer Blog, Pro Stock Bike racer-in-waiting Karl Lyrén brings us up to date on weekend's work on the Team VEIDEC Pro Stock Bike transporter. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page ©Eurodragster.com American car scene under threat. 14th January: Anthony Cohen, MD of Eurodragster.com Main Sponsor American Car Imports writes to us in his capacity as Chairman of the American Import Agents Association to ask for the help of Eurodragster.com readers to lobby against the latest bright idea from the European Commission. Firstly some background from Anthony: The European Commission is trying to ban the import of new American Cars (up to six months old) using excessive technical standards in a new Harmonised Individual Vehicle Approval Scheme. I am sure that you and many fellow drag racers would agree that American cars are, by definition, an integral and key part of European drag racing on many different levels. Once in place, the rumours are that this will extend to the importation of older American cars. This plan will undoubtedly have a serious impact on Euorpean drag racing. We believe that there will be a domino effect of the collapse of hundreds of small businesses all over Europe which have anything to do with American cars or parts - this will affect those teams whose incomes are derived from this trade. And now the specifics from Anthony and what you can do about it: American vehicles have been imported into Europe since the Second World War. There is probably no other American product or icon in Europe which exemplifies the spirit of theTransatlantic relationship more deeply. American vehicles have been and will continue to be a central part of the spirit of European drag racing, on many levels Whether you are into new or classic American cars, the American car scene needs to be completely united at this time. The latest proposal for a new Harmonised European Individual Vehicle Approval system will make the import of new American vehicles (up to six months old) impossible. There are many technical pitfalls. Here are some examples: American headlights are no good anymore. This alone will ban the cars. There are no replacement headlight for American cars. There is a requirement for a full-sized European number plate. This will require a new rear end to be fitted to vehicles or unsightly modifications - rear bumpers are not made with a European number plate space. The American Import Agents Association (AIAA) have spent three years working with the Department for Transport to get the current IVA into a position which is just achievable. However this new test is not achievable unless you are a vehicle manufacturer! This goes against the whole spirit of "Individual Vehicle Approval". Voting on these new regulations takes place in Brussels in February. There are rumours that older cars will be the next ones to be targeted. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to send an E-Mail to your Member of the European Parliament. You can find your local MEP's contact details at www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public/geoSearch.do, and a draft E-Mail which needs to be sent to your MEP (Word format) can be found by clicking here. We need the support of everybody interested in North American vehicles to keep the American car scene alive Therefore, it is essential that you E-Mail your MEP and that you do not leave this matter in the hands of others! We need people power from people with horsepower so let's all get revved up before we run out of time. We really thank you for your support! Editor's note: Anthony has asked if anyone would be willing to translate the letter to MEPs into other European languages. If you can help then please write to us at editor@eurodragster.com. Autosport attractions. 13th January: Autosport International, which opens its doors to Trade and Media tomorrow and to the public on Saturday, has plenty of interest to drag racing fans. Eurodragster.com sponsor Allegheny Technologies will be hosting the Showtime Fuel FC in the Engineering part of the Show tomorrow and Friday. Allegheny Technologies are situated on stand E154. As ever, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions are hosting a blown-alcohol motor usually found in the engine bay of Eurodragster.com sponsor Andy Robinson's Pro Mod. BMRS can be found on stand E720 in the Engineering part of the Show tomorrow and Friday. Jim Kelly is making the trip from the USA to man the stand of Eurodragster.com sponsor VP Racing Fuels at E1048 in the Engineering part of the Show tomorrow and Friday. Steve Wood and Sue Whyte of Motorshack, who distribute VP products in the UK, can also be found at E1048. The staff of Speedgroup will be at the Show tomorrow and Friday morning. Anyone interested in chatting with Speedgroup staff about the European Drag Racing Championships is most welcome to visit stand E127 where Speedgroup have their base in cooperation with the Swedish Motorsport Industry. Contact number during the show is + 46 708 675 680. ©Eurodragster.com Attending all four days of the Show is Eurodragster.com sponsor Webster Race Engineering promoting their Powerpour performance additive. The Powerpour display is in the Pistonheads part of the show and you can find Jon Webster and Ian Marshall at stand 19765. Eurodragster.com sponsor Lucas Oil Products will be hosting the motor of the Turner Motorsport Top Methanol Dragster on their stand at 6555 on all four days of the Show. FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Andy Carter and the pulchritudinous ladies of Lucas Oil can of course also be found on the Lucas Oil stand. Also at Autosport International on all four days is Eurodragster.com sponsor Nimbus Motorsport who will be exhibiting the full range of Ringers Gloves (the official gloves of NHRA) which as usual will include some stunning offers only available at the show. "We will also be exhibiting our extensive range of heat management products, including semi-rigid and rigid heat shielding", says Steve Clark. "As well as the range of Digital Infrared Thermometers from Micro Temp which we launched at last year's show we will also have on display products from Save A Battery, Varley Red Top batteries and Hybrid Ceramic Bearings from Worldwide Bearings, products that Nimbus became distributors of during 2009. The Nimbus sales team look forward to meeting all drag racers and will be available to answer any questions relating to the Nimbus product range, a range that will enhance the performance of any race car or bike. I will be available to discuss the Torco range of lubricants and fuel additives and how they continue to benefit many winning drag racing teams. Nigel Payne will also be representing Nimbus tomorrow and Friday." Santa Pod Raceway will have their usual impressive display on stand 9370 on Saturday and Sunday. SPR will be exhibiting the Lucas Oil display Top Fuel Dragster, the Showtime Fuel FC, the Fireforce 3 Jet FC, Santa Pod's newly-acquired Junior Funny Car, SPR's display Supertwin, and the Podzilla Monster Truck. Flyers, calendars and merchandise will also be available. Other Eurodragster.com sponsors attending the Show are Nitrous Oxide Supplies whose Simon Barker you can meet on stand 8340 between tomorrow and Sunday, Sunoco Race Fuels who can be found on the Anglo American Oil Company stand at 6565 between tomorrow and Sunday, and Goodridge Fluid Transfer Systems who will be in the Engineering part of the Show on stand E562 tomorrow and Friday. Eurodragster.com will be reporting from Autosport International in association with American Car Imports. We plan to post a report and pictures at the end of both Friday and Saturday. We will post a direct link to our coverage as soon as it commences but you can check out the Event Index by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Autoglym renew with Santa Pod. 13th January: Santa Pod Raceway, home of European Drag Racing, is delighted to announce its continued association with Royal-warranted surface care manufacturers Autoglym. The highly-respected British firm has been a part of Pod culture for over five years now, being a lane sponsor of the venue's hallowed quarter mile as well as the polish of choice for most discerning show goers and concours d'elegance entrants. The new deal sees the two names inextricably linked for the next five years, cementing one of the most enduring partnerships in the sport's history. Commenting on the renewed association, Autoglym managing Director David Rogers said "Autoglym has enjoyed a close association with Santa Pod for a number of years and we are extremely excited to have signed a new agreement to continue our branding and Lane Sponsorship deal for a further five years. Not only does Santa Pod afford Autoglym the opportunity to promote itself to thousands of devoted drag racing fans, but the sheer diversity of the events held there provides us with an unrivalled audience of committed car enthusiasts, all of whom represent  the perfect target audience for our award-winning range of car care products." Santa Pod's 2010 season starts with DWYB track days from 13th January and the event calendar begins with Stunt Night on 19th February. This Sunday's (17th) Run What You Brung has had to be cancelled due to the weather, however it is only a short wait until the next RWYB on 24th January so use the time to recruit some mates to take advantage of the new passenger run policy. For more information, terms and conditions, and a full list of RWYB dates visit www.rwyb.com. ©Eurodragster.com Swift snippets. 13th January: Eurodragster.com sponsor VP Racing Fuels and JAMS AB have reached agreement again naming JAMS the VP Racing Fuels distributor for Sweden. VP's high-performance unleaded race fuels such as SV05, Motorsports 109, Rally Plus and M8-1 are in stock and readily available by calling +46 705 893 150 or E-Mail jams@uppland.net. To locate a distributor in Europe, for product updates, and the latest news be sure to visit vpracingfuels.com. Speedgroup have started to release details of the contingency programme for the 2010 European Championships. Speedgroup Contingency Programme co-ordinator Gittli Koller has posted details on the Speedgroup web site at www.speedgroup.eu. The 2010 King of Europe series for street-legal race cars has been condensed to a single weekend in Romania in late July. The drift series continues over a number of dates as in previous years. You can find out about the 2010 King of Europe on its re-launched web site at www.kingofeurope.net. ©Eurodragster.com Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall has asked that those who have booked tickets for the UK National Championships Dinner Dance yet not yet sent their menu choices should send their choices as soon as possible. "You know who you are!", says Paula. Those still holding Perpetual trophies from last year are also asked to return them to APIRA or SPRC, as appropriate, as soon as possible. We don't know how many more times we have to do this but can we please draw attention, yet again, to the rule against trying to organise mass votes for the APIRA / SPRC Perpetual Awards. However subtle the culprits think they are being it sticks out like a sore thumb at this end and all such votes are easily identified and very easily deleted. Stars to shine at Crazy Horses launch. 12th January: Crazy Horses author Brian Taylor and Europe's first five-second racer Peter Crane will be in good company at the book's US launch at Pomona on 12th February as some of the sport's leading personalities have said that they will be attending the event at the Wally Parks Motorsports Museum. The stellar line-up promises to make the launch an occasion. Rex Sluggett will be one of those representing British drag racing history. Rex, now living in California, partnered Dennis Priddle in building and driving the fantastic Keith Black engined slingshot Tudor Rose in 1968. Another resident Brit who raced in the 1970s is Cliff Jones, probably best known for his Crescent Coupe (aka Chicken Coupe) injected Chevrolet Fiat Competition Coupe rail which earlier belonged to the late Pete Millar. Cliff was also Competitions Secretary for the NDRC. Syd McDonald was Race Director for the BDR&HRA at Santa Pod in the 1970s and he is joining the gathering, along with reigning FIA Top Fuel Dragster Champion Andy Carter who is competing at the Winternationals this year. One Brit not able to attend is Clive Skilton because he flies to India the day before the launch, but Peter and Brian will be catching up with him beforehand for a beer and a chat. ©Eurodragster.com Representing Americans who have been involved in British drag racing history will be Gordie Bonin who raced in the UK and won the 1999 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Championship in the Prolong rail. 240 joins Bob Keith who was part of the team which toured the UK in 1964 and captained the 1965 Team. Tommy Ivo was also part of that 1964 team and he too is looking forward to meeting a few old friends. As well as being one of the top American drag racers in the 1970s, as an NHRA Vice President Carl Olson played a crucial role in European drag racing during the 1990s and the first part of this decade when he took up the position of President of the FIA Drag Racing Commission. He too will be at the museum signing. The Project 1320 team will be in attendance led by Chairman Traci Hrudka who is also co-Patron of the Allard Chrysler Action Group. Sam Eidy of Booth Arons, whose workshop is building a new blown 354 Chrysler hemi for the restoration of Sydney Allard's 1961 Allard Chrysler rail, will be there as well as legendary track announcer Jon Lundberg. Dave McClelland hopes to make it if he can excuse himself from other NHRA duties at the museum for a while. Finally the National Drag Racing Treasure Linda Vaughn will at the launch. As well as supporting Project 1320, Linda is an Honorary Member of the ACAG and is actively helping raise awareness of the project and persuading companies to become partners. A stellar line up already so it'll be quite an occasion. Eurodragster.com US Correspondent Ed O'Connell will be reporting for Eurodragster.com but if you are at Pomona then make that you make the museum launch. More names will be released next week. Trader update. 12th January: Pete 'Eddie' Yates of Eurodragster.com News sponsor DS Racewear has been in touch to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and to remind racers that now is the very best time to order that new suit, boots, gloves or whatever for the coming season, before the manufacturers get into the pre-season rush. "Now that the dollar has come down we have managed to push prices down as low as we can at DS Racewear, and we are confident we have the lowest prices for specially made, custom-fit SFI-spec race suits in the country today", says Pete. "We can supply custom-made race suits from SFI 3.2A/1 to 3.2A/20, Junior Dragster suits and all SFI safety wear harnesses and accessories at very competitive prices. Check out our web site at www.dsracewear.co.uk or give us a call on 01454 857328." ©Eurodragster.com John Hackney tells us that Copyprint Depot have just moved into new premises and that they are still offering the same great quality printing for all racers, photographers etc. "If any racers want Hero Cards printing for sponsors or to give out at race meetings, we currently have a special offer", says Hackers. "For just £55 we will print 500 full colour single-sided cards on 300 gsm quality card. Also we can print up to A0 poster size from customer supplied images". You can find Copyprint Depot at 8 Park Road, Wellingborough, NN8 4PG, call 01933 442777, E-Mail copyprintdepot@btconnect.com or check out the company web site at www.copyprintdepot.co.uk. Matt Glassup tells us that there are only seven copies left in stock of the official Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association 2010 calendar. For information, or to order, check out www.modernpics.co.uk/NFAA/calendar.html. Swift snippets. 12th January: Tomorrow we will be running a preview of the drag racing interest at this week's Autosport International at the NEC in Birmingham. Companies, racers, race officials etc please note that it is not (quite) too late to let us know that you will be at Autosport International. Drop us a line at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com by 21:00 UK tonight and we will include you in tomorrow's preview. ©Eurodragster.com Web site updates. 12th January: UK Super Pro ET team Nosferatu Racing team member, official photographer and web site inventor Hunch - known to mere mortals as Simon Hodder - has published a 2009 season review on the team's official web site at www.nosferatu-racing.co.uk. "This review gives a run-by-run analysis for each event with timing data, photographs and commentary explaining the ups and downs during the season", says The Fearless Count. "This incredible piece of work has to be seen by racers and fans alike as I believe that this sets the benchmark for other racers' web sites. Hunch, from both The Mysterious Count and myself, we would gladly stroll through bright sunlight to shake your hand and pat your hump, cheers mate". We've checked out the review and it is indeed excellent, so follow our footsteps to the News and 2010 News Items links on the team's web site. ©Eurodragster.com SPRC, APIRA Perpetual Awards vote 7. 11th January: Santa Pod Racers Club, Avon Park International Racing Association and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the SPRC and APIRA Perpetual Awards, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 6th February 2010. For several of the 2009 season awards, a shortlist has been decided upon for which votes can be submitted by E-Mail. Nominations are now also being accepted for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy. The votes of Eurodragster.com readers will be taken into consideration when the SPRC and APIRA Committees decide upon their winners. The latest category is Shakespeare County Raceway Sportswoman of the Year. The SCR Sportswoman of the Year trophy recognises the efforts of women in 2009 as racers, crew members or track officials. The APIRA Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order, is as follows: Bev Batsford, Supertwin ET Vote for Bev Batsford Janet Brown, APIRA Vote for Janet Brown Roz Brown, Thatadoo Racing Pro ET and Super Street Vote for Roz Brown Sue Davis, APIRA Vote for Sue Davis Janet Schreier, APIRA Vote for Janet Schreier Helen Smythe, Wild Bunch Vote for Helen Smythe Bryony Wadkin Snaith, NSA Sprint Bike Vote for Bryony Wadkin Snaith Julie Willcox, APIRA Vote for Julie Willcox ©Eurodragster.com To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official SPRC / APIRA Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2009 Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page. The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, for which votes are also now being taken, 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. There is no shortlist for the Alex Brachtvogel award. Nominations are invited from Eurodragster.com readers for racers, race officials, track and safety crews, club officials, media, or anyone else who has contributed to the sport. Last year the trophy was awarded to Santa Pod Raceway track announcers John Price and Graham Beckwith. Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2009@btinternet.com specifying SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy nomination as the subject and your nomination in the body of the E-Mail. For each of the Awards, one vote per E-Mail address per nominee will be accepted: multiple votes for the same nominee from the same E-Mail address will all be disqualified. And every year we say this, but every year someone tries it on: please note that blatant attempts at organising mass votes - for example asking workmates or forum members to vote en masse - are easily identified and all such votes will be disallowed as they have been in previous years. Concerted attempts at vote-rigging will result in the nominee being removed from the shortlist. We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. The schedule for the remaining Perpetual Award votes is currently as follows: Thursday 14th January: SPRC James Edgar Memorial Trophy Saturday 16th January: APIRA Endeavour Award Tuesday 19th January: SPRC Paul Giddings Memorial Trophy Friday 22nd January: APIRA Alan Wigmore Memorial Trophy Sunday 24th January: Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year Trophy Thursday 28th January: Voting and nominations close Erbacher's aims. 11th January: Swiss Top Fuel Dragster racer and Eurodragster.com News sponsor Urs Erbacher says that he is working hard to make next month's NHRA Winternationals at Pomona, and that he is also looking at running in Europe in 2010. "At the moment we are working with three drivers who want to rent one of my cars for the Winternationals, and that will be set in the next couple of days", Urs told Eurodragster.com. "It's not so sure for me at the moment. I am still looking for a sponsor to help to pay the costs of running at Pomona. "I can't make Phoenix because of the Swiss Performance Bike Show in Zurich. It's the largest show in Switzerland and we will be there building a bike for Ricardo.ch, an auction company which sells bikes, cars, parts etc. We are building a bike live on stage for them and they want to sell it on their auction site when we have finished it. The event will be covered on TV. ©Eurodragster.com "We plan to go to Gainesville, Charlotte, Houston and Las Vegas but only with a sponsor which we don't currently have. We are working on a Back To Our Roots Tour and maybe we run all of the FIA events with the old crew and win the Championship again in 2010. If any company in Europe wants to invest in the Kings of Nitro - sorry we are not Kings of Europe - then let me know. "Finally I am working hard to come down to Andy Carter's weight, but that's hard." Swift snippets. 11th January: Cath Napier has been in touch to ask us to say a big Happy Birthday to her husband, UK Pro ET racer Tig Napier. No sooner said than done, have a great day Tig. Happy Birthday, too, to our good friend Sam "She's Lovely" Stretton of Santa Pod Raceway's timing crew. Have a lovely day Sam. ©Eurodragster.com Back to the APIRA/SPRC Perpetual Awards and we have had a couple of queries from those shortlisted about whether you are allowed to vote for yourself. The answer is yes, you may vote for yourself. Marknad för racers. 11th January: Lördagen den 13 Februari är det dags för den årliga och mycket populära drag och streetracing marknaden i Norrköping. På marknaden finns allt som en racer kan tänkas behöva, allt ifrån hela motorer, bälten, mätare, turbos, bromsar, tändsystem, lustgassystem, bakaxlar, växellådor mm. Nytt och begagnat, från både privatpersoner och handlare. Givetvis så är detta höjdpunkten på året om man vill köpa eller sälja raceprylar eller bara träffa likasinnade. Alla är där! Läs mer på www.abymotorklubb.se. Vart Norrköpings mässhallar. Besökare Marknaden öppnar 09.00 och stänger ca 16.00. Entré vuxen 100SEK (under 15år gratis). Säljare Säljplats måste bokas i förväg. Det är begränsat antal platser så det är först till kvarn som gäller. För säljare öppnar marknaden 07.00. För bokning och mer information besök hemsidan www.abymotorklubb.se eller ring 011-69833. ©Eurodragster.com Web site updates. 11th January: The official web site of the UK's Shakespeare County Raceway at www.shakespearecountyraceway.com has been updated with six galleries of pictures from events in the first half of the 2009 season. Further galleries will be added in due course and SCR would like to thank Jon Spoard of the UK Drag Racing Nostalgia web site for his time putting together the new galleries. ©Eurodragster.com Andersen Racing return to Pomona. 9th January: Danish Top Fuel Dragster team Andersen Racing has existed for four years, and during that time they have conquered three out of four possible FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Championships. The team made its US début in 2009 as they participated in the last two races of the NHRA season in Las Vegas and Pomona. Based on last year's success in Europe and the USA, the team have already decided to start their 2010 season in February. For Andersen Racing the new season will be kicked off in sunny California at the famous Pomona Raceway, for the 50th Anniversary Winternationals. The ever-popular and experienced Norwegian Thomas Nataas will again be driving the car and the impressive, experienced and unstoppable Andersen Racing crew will be turning the wrenches at top speed. If any of you are sitting out there thinking "Why don't they race some more in the USA?" then don't hesitate to contact the team via their web site at www.andersenracing.dk as they are always open to additional sponsorship deals. "Thanks to all of our sponsors for making it possible to race at Pomona and in Europe in 2010", say Karsten and Per Andersen. Joon working on Winternationals. 9th January: Dutch Top Fuel Dragster racer, joint Eurodragster.com webcam sponsor and Blogger Lex Joon is also working on a return to California to rejoin his Top Fuel operation which he left in California after participating in last year's NHRA Finals at Pomona. "My American Dream made me realise that there is more to racing in the USA tha racing on excellent tracks against the biggest names in the sport", says Lex. "Drag racing originated in the USA and because of that they will always be ahead of everything which goes with it. Racing a Top Fuel car on American tracks, as we have, shows me why these cars are so powerful. Our European venues are not made for the amount of horsepower which nitro motors are capable of producing. We also felt very welcome and appreciated by the organisation and by the fans. ©Eurodragster.com "We are working to find a business partner interested to start working with us in the USA and who would also be interested in Europe. With our drive and personality it should not take very long to get a very good major business partner. Our team and car have a good clean look and appeal which sponsors would love to have representing them. Our equipment and team are situated in Los Angeles and are ready to go. "So long as the last round of qualifying has not started we will keep on working on racing at Pomona." Enter Outlaw Street. 9th January: Mark Wallington writes with news of a new grass-roots drag racing series for the UK in 2010: Outlaw Street is run by a collective of drivers who have competed in all manner of racing from UK Street Racer Series, Power Tour and the Castrol Challenge. The series is open to anyone who owns a street legal car and who wants to enjoy some quarter-mile racing with like-minded people. The series is open to cars with four or more cylinders and is spread over ten events throughout 2010 of which eight are points events lasting a weekend and two are non-points events lasting one day. Participants do not have to stay all weekend to be eligible for for points but can just turn up for a day to race. The series will take place at both Santa Pod and Shakespeare County Raceway at a combination of RWYBs, performance Test and Tune events and specialist weekends. ©Eurodragster.com The rules for the Outlaw Street series are quite simple. Cars must have: A current MOT A current TAX disc A full functioning exhaust system Tyres with road legal tread depth Must adhere to the rules of the tracks hosting events Cars cannot have: Open Headers Slicks The points system is built on a combination of quickest ET, improvement in ET since last event and attendance, which means that participants do not have to run the fastest car to have a chance of winning a trophy across the season. Pounts will be posted on the Outlaw Street forum after each event so that participants can track how they're doing, who's beating them, and who they have to beat. There will also be a trophy at every event for the driver with the fastest Reaction Time and at the end of the season there will be trophies for first, second and third places; Quickest Reaction Time across the series; Most Improved Driver; Hard Luck Award; Spirit of the Outlaw; and the Rebel V8 Trophy. Membership is £25 per season and covers unlimited entry to the Outlaw Street forum, unique race number, and an Outlaw Street window sticker. For more information check out the Outlaw Street web site at www.outlawstreet.co.uk or E-Mail outlawstreet@hotmail.co.uk. Twosomes encouraged at Santa Pod. 9th January: Santa Pod Raceway, the home of European drag racing, has turned the Track Day market on its head by becoming the first venue in the UK to allow guests to drive under fully-timed race conditions - with a passenger! In a dynamic change to their rules and regulations, the Pod has made it possible for any enthusiast enjoying a day's full-tilt driving to take a passenger alongside, under race conditions, for only a £10 sign-on fee! Passengers aged seventeen and over will need to bring their full UK driving licence and sign on in the usual manner, but having done so they will receive a wristband and are free to ride shotgun with anyone who would like them onboard. With events running every month and at every major Santa Pod show there are more than fifty separate opportunities in 2010 for a bit of two-up, heads-up racing! Any road legal car is eligible but, understandably, real race car drivers and bikers will have to travel solo. Santa Pod MD Raceway David Lloyd Jones was quick to point out the many benefits. "We're proud to have added this new dimension to our RWYBs", he said. "Allowing passengers not only makes it a far more enjoyable day for groups of friends attending, but also opens the door for any tuners or commercial organisations to come along and showcase their wares to prospective customers. This fundamental change in our running regulations also means we can offer 'experience' rides to allow newcomers to the sport to discover the thrill of the quarter mile for the price of a round of drinks." Although each run is limited to one passenger per car, there is no limit to the number of guests accompanying each car. Eligible cars must not exceed 130 mph at the end of the quarter and must be fully road legal and MOT'd at the time of the run. So if you're looking to sell, to impress, to entertain, or even to speed date with a difference, why not try the new RWYB for two? More details at www.rwyb.com. ©Eurodragster.com Web site updates. 9th January: In the latest entry in his exclusive Racer Blog, Pro Stock Bike racer-in-waiting Karl Lyrén brings us up to date on the work underway in the workshops of the Team VEIDEC Pro Stock Bike outfit including a visit to painter Bo Jensen. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page ©Eurodragster.com UK Junior Modified Advanced racer Zak Johnson has a new web site at www.monsterracing.moonfruit.com. The very tidy site, created by Laura Turburville, features biographies, car details, news, sponsor page, gallery, links and more. "After looking at Laura's new site we asked for help but thankfully Laura did it all - thanks Laura!", says Sarah Johnson. "Zak is moving to JMA this year and will hopefully enjoy it as much as he has the other Junior classes. There are plenty of new starters in 2010 so here's hoping for good weather and plenty of tight close racing. Good luck to all those Juniors who have left and we hope you all get the drives you want." SPRC, APIRA Perpetual Awards vote 6. 8th January: Santa Pod Racers Club, Avon Park International Racing Association and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the SPRC and APIRA Perpetual Awards, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 6th February 2010. For several of the 2009 season awards, a shortlist has been decided upon for which votes can be submitted by E-Mail. Nominations are now also being accepted for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy. The votes of Eurodragster.com readers will be taken into consideration when the SPRC and APIRA Committees decide upon their winners. The latest category is SPRC Most Professional-Appearing Team. The SPRC Most Professional-Appearing Team trophy recognises not just the presentation of a race vehicle but the team's overall approach to racing. As well as a well-turned-out car or bike, the Committee have considered such aspects as the appearance and attitude of team personnel, the organisation and appearance of their pit area and support equipment, and their readiness when their class is called. The SPRC Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order of team name, is as follows: John Everitt and the Alien team, Super Pro ET Vote for Alien Tim Blakemore, Jon Webster and the Tim Blakemore Racing team, Funny Bike and 9.50 Bike Vote for Tim Blakemore Racing Kev Charman and the Mistress Minx team, Funny Bike Vote for Mistress Minx Tim Mugridge and the Mugridge Motorsports team, Super Modified Vote for Mugridge Motorsports Ray Eldred, Vince Gibbs and the Nosferatu team, Super Pro ET Vote for Nosferatu Bernie Newbury and the Stitch Up team, Outlaw Flat Four Vote for Stitch Up ©Eurodragster.com To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official SPRC / APIRA Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2009 Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page. The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, for which votes are also now being taken, 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. There is no shortlist for the Alex Brachtvogel award. Nominations are invited from Eurodragster.com readers for racers, race officials, track and safety crews, club officials, media, or anyone else who has contributed to the sport. Last year the trophy was awarded to Santa Pod Raceway track announcers John Price and Graham Beckwith. Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2009@btinternet.com specifying SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy nomination as the subject and your nomination in the body of the E-Mail. For each of the Awards, one vote per E-Mail address per nominee will be accepted: multiple votes for the same nominee from the same E-Mail address will all be disqualified. And every year we say this, but every year someone tries it on: please note that blatant attempts at organising mass votes - for example asking workmates or forum members to vote en masse - are easily identified and all such votes will be disallowed as they have been in previous years. Concerted attempts at vote-rigging will result in the nominee being removed from the shortlist. We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. The schedule for the remaining Perpetual Award votes is currently as follows: Monday 11th January: SCR Sportswoman of the Year Award Thursday 14th January: SPRC James Edgar Memorial Trophy Saturday 16th January: APIRA Endeavour Award Tuesday 19th January: SPRC Paul Giddings Memorial Trophy Friday 22nd January: APIRA Alan Wigmore Memorial Trophy Sunday 24th January: Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year Trophy ProCare Rx back Carter for NHRA trio. 8th January: ProCare Rx, an innovative leader in the pharmacy benefits management industry, announced today they will be sponsoring FIA European Top Fuel Champion Andy Carter at the 50th annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California on 11th-14th February and the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Phoenix, Arizona, on 19th-21st February. Carter, dubbed "The King of Europe", will also be backed by Big Daddy Don Garlits for those two races as well as for the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville, Florida, on 11th-14th March. "I have to start with a big Thank You to Roger Burgess of ProCare Rx," Carter said. "Alongside Don's backing, this marketing partnership will enable me to compete in the first three rounds of the NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel Championship - really a dream come true for me. "Our series in Europe is not as hectic as the twenty three race schedule the NHRA has and these three events will give me a chance to be on the top of my game when the FIA European Championships starts in May. It's a marathon in the USA and I'm privileged to work with people like Roger and Don and their teams." Burgess said "I'm a drag racing fan, and it's really a thrill to be able to help bring such a talented driver like Andy over to race with NHRA. I truly believe that the international community is taking notice of drag racing, and I'm glad to be in a position to help." Carter will be driving the dragster owned by Terry Haddock Racing and will have at least four European crew members at his side as he tackles the thousand feet, including his previous Crew Chief Eddie Corr. Corr tuned Carter to his first two FIA European Top Fuel Championships in 2001 and 2004. "I'm looking forward to working with Terry again. I know he is working really hard, getting everything ready to rock and roll. This is a pretty good car and one that qualified at eighteen out of nineteen NHRA events entered in 2009, as well as finishing twelfth in the Full Throttle Championship on a very limited budget. Whatever happens, the Winternationals is the 50th anniversary event and to have the likes of Don Garlits and Roger Burgess hanging out in our pit is going to be pretty special." The Dragster will carry the logos of Big Daddy Don Garlits and ProCare Rx at all three event and will also have support from Lucas Oil and K&N Filters. ©Eurodragster.com Swift snippets. 8th January: Not-unconnected with the above one suspects, US Top Fuel Dragster racer Terry Haddock is seeking crew for the first three events of the 2010 NHRA season. Crew are required for as many as possible for those events which take place on 12th-14th February (Pomona), 19th-21st February (Phoenix) and 12th-14th March (Gainesville). The team would particularly like to hear from clutch guys but cylinder head or bottom end crew would also find work. If you think you have got what it takes then call for full details on 07753 981376 (outside the UK +44 7753 981376). ©Eurodragster.com PMR chasing down sponsor. 8th January: Paul Marston tells us that Paul Marston Racing are currently in negotiations with a potential sponsor for 2010. "It has always been tough to land good sponsors, and these economically challenging times make it all the more tough", says Paul. "You have to put yourself in their shoes - what's in it for their company? Why should they spend their valuable advertising budget on drag racing? Luckily this company has a fairly unique product, and the kind of deal that I am trying to put together will have bolted on a real incentive for both parties. It is taking some time to get this package worked out, but everybody wants it to happen. ©Eurodragster.com "First and foremost it will be a unique contingency programme for Sportsman racing. Which classes will be involved is still in the planning stages at the moment, but we are cautiously optimistic and hopefully we will be in a position to make an announcement before the Autosport Show. All that can be said at the moment is to stay tuned to Eurodragster.com for developments." Web site updates. 8th January: UK Super Modified racer Craig Gibbs has been in touch to let us know that he has updated the Obsession Racing web site with a couple of video clips. "One video is from National Finals where we ran our first 7.5 second run", says Craig. "This includes footage from the top end - all I can say is that it was emotional! The other video is from Hockenheim in 2006. You will need your speakers turned on (Up to eleven - Ed). Although we are not racing this year the plan is to try and stay involved as much as I can, and that includes trying to keep on top of the web site. I will be updating it again soon with news of plans for the season off". You can check out the two new videos at www.obsessionracing.mfbiz.com. ©Eurodragster.com Crazy Horses to launch in USA. 7th January: The official American West Coast launch of the Haynes Publishing 224-page book Crazy Horses - The History of British Drag Racing will be held at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum on Friday 12th February, during the Museum's Night of Champions presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California and in conjunction with the 50th Annual Kragen O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals at Pomona Raceway. Joining author Brian Taylor at the ceremony will be Peter Crane, Europe's first five-second racer. Tony Thacker, Executive Director of the Museum, said "The NHRA and American drag racers have been involved in British drag racing for many years. Wally and Barbara Parks took a team across in 1964 to support Sydney Allard's British International Drag Festival series and there has been regular appearances and involvement right through to the present day. Past NHRA Vice President Carl Olson played a key role in the 1990s when he was elected President of the FIA Drag Racing Commission. Crazy Horses covers these links in detail, so it is fitting that the official American West Coast launch should be at the Parks Museum and we are pleased to host it." ©Eurodragster.com "I must thank Tony Thacker for arranging things so that the launch could take place at the Museum and at such a prestigious event", said Brian Taylor. "It is a great honour. Books will be available at the museum gift shop and the Museum booth within the Heritage display. Those who have already purchased Crazy Horses just bring your copy along and collect some autographs from the drag racing legends involved in the early days. This particularly applies to those making the trip from Europe and who have already collected many signatures at the two Santa Pod launches held in 2009. Any racers and organisers featured in Crazy Horses who plan to be at Pomona and want to make the Museum launch please contact me on brian@petrolhead.vianw.co.uk. "There will also be further signings at the track during the Winternationals. These will be held next to the Museum booth within the Heritage Display; timings will be announced later. "Peter and I will also be supporting the Project 1320 Team and meeting people associated with the Allard Chrysler dragster restoration project. We are particularly pleased to have this opportunity to personally thank these supporters and hopefully persuade a few new ones to join us." The launch on Friday 12th February takes place between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm and you can find the NHRA Museum at 1101 West McKinley Avenue, Pomona (on the Pomona Fairplex). Hill launches kids' contest. 7th January: UK Jet Car pilot Martin Hill is celebrating the launch of his new official web site with a great contest for kids. The Fireforce web site at www.fireforce.co.uk is the work of UK Sportsman ET racer Nigel Holland and features pictures and video along with lots of information about all the Fireforce vehicles past and present. ©Eurodragster.com For the launch contest, Martin is asking for kids up to the age of fourteen to draw a picture of Fireforce 3, the fastest Jet Funny Car in the world. All drawings received will be posted on the Fireforce web site and Martin will judge the best picture. The winner will have their picture published on the web site Home Page, and will also receive a goodie bag and a family ticket for Santa Pod Raceway's Stunt Night 2010 which takes place on Friday 19th February. As if that wasn't enough, the young artist and their family will be invited to the pits to look round the Jet Car and have their photo taken. They will also meet Martin Hill and the team. If you think you can draw a picture of the world's fastest Jet Funny Car then don't delay, get your drawing scanned or digitally photographed and sent to the Fireforce team at picturecomp@fireforce.co.uk by 31st January. The winner will be notified by E-Mail or phone. Swift snippets. 7th January: Paul Watson tells us that everything is now fully operational at DynoSpeed Developments' new premises shared with Mistral, including the dyno room (pictured). You can find Mistral/DSD at Unit 5, Rose Way, Purdeys Industrial Estate, Rochford, Essex, SS4 1LY or phone 01702 542426. A big Thank You to all those companies and racers who have been in touch to let us know that they will be attending Autosport International next week. Companies: we have your stand numbers and you will receive a visit from either Simon or Tog on the Friday or, failing that, on the Saturday - obviously we are aware that some of you won't be there on Saturday, it's all under control. Racers: your E-Mails will be acknowledged over the weekend and we will make arrangements to meet. We will also run a news item next week so that our readers know where the drag racing interest is at the Show. It's not too late to let us know that you will be at Autosport; drop us a line at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com. ©Eurodragster.com Editor's note: For the second time in less than a month we are getting grief from racers because we will not take sides in their squabbles with their fellows. Some of this grief is verging on psychological bullying and, to be utterly frank for a change, the Eurodragster.com staff are sick and tired of it. Anyone who doesn't, can't, or won't get it that, whatever the rights and wrongs of their quarrels, the staff of Eurodragster.com cannot and will not take sides is perfectly free to visit other web sites or to find someone else to hassle. Award for drag racing photographer. 7th January: Congratulations to nineteen-year-old Midlands-based drag racing photographer Dominic Romney who has won the 2010 Renault MSA Young Motorsport Photographer of the Year Award. Dom produced a strong set of images from the sport, about which the judging panel particularly liked the unusual composition and strong use of colour. "I really didn't expect to win but what a great way to end 2009 and start 2010", said Dom. "I hope it's a sign of things to come." ©Eurodragster.com Not only does Dom get to join the prestigious ranks of winners of the Renault MSA Young Motorsport Photographer of the Year, but he also wins £1000 and will be presented with his prize and trophy at the prestigious MSA Night of Champions in January. To view Dom's award-winning work check out his web site at www.modernpics.co.uk. Another partner for Cedrag.com. 7th January: Our good friends at Cedrag.com, your first stop for Central European drag racing news, are delighted to welcome Heinz-Peter Amerer and the people at Amerer Air to their ever-growing list of partners. "Heinz-Peter is already deeply involved in central European drag racing having recently shipped home from Texas his new racing 1976 Chevrolet Corvette dragster which is currently being prepared and customised to suit local racing conditions", says Paul Fischer. "If the plans and work go well then we will all get the chance to see the car running in competition in 2010, that is something to look forward to. ©Eurodragster.com "We at Cedrag.com are very excited about our link-up to Amerer Air and the chance to work with Heinz-Peter and his team. The business was founded in 1995 by Captain Heinz-Peter Amerer as an independent all cargo airline. The foundation of the international airline and highway distributor is based upon the many years of experience he gained as a flight commander and operations manager. Safety and reliability are the corner stone of this privately owned company, with his qualified and highly motivated employees, guarantees Amerer Air the maximum flexibility at highly competitive rates." You can check out the Amerer Air web site at www.amererair.com. Race cars sought for Expo. 7th January: Other motorsports' seasons kick off earlier than drag racing, and the countdown begins with a two-day motor fest at Arena Essex Raceway on Saturday-Sunday 23rd-24th January. Paul Marston, who is organising the drag racing display at the the Arena Expo 2010, is inviting drag racers to bring their cars along for static display. "This massive two-day event has over 450 drivers taking part", says Paul. "Racing is Saturday Night and during the day Sunday. Bangers, Stock Cars, Hot Rods a vast array of Grass Track formulas, American Sprint Cars, Superstox, F2, Reliant Robins, Mini Sprints plus all UK Rod formulas are represented. Other features include the British Motor Sports Marshals Club South East in association with St Johns Ambulance who will be demonstrating their skill in extracting drivers from wrecked race cars. The annual Racers Auto Jumble will take place on the Sunday, so now is the time to clear out the workshop of all that racing gear and convert it into good old-fashioned cash. Pitch space is £25, just turn up and pay on the gate. You can sell anything from a transporter to a complete car at the Auto Jumble. ©Eurodragster.com "Anyone who has a race car available for display in ht emain marquee on the Saturday and Sunday please contact me either at pmracing@fsmail.net or call 07831 650230. As in previous years please bear in mind that this is a two-day event so a race car which is easy to move about is preferable as the weather can be unpredictable. "There will be the usual drag racing display giveaways, 2010 calendars and event schedules for both Santa Pod and Shakespeare County Raceways, so stop by and collect yours." Arena Essex Raceway is adjacent to Junction 30/31 of the M25; follow the signs for the motorway Services and then take first left at the roundabout under the motorway. SPRC, APIRA Perpetual Awards vote 5. 5th January: Santa Pod Racers Club, Avon Park International Racing Association and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the SPRC and APIRA Perpetual Awards, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 6th February 2010. For several of the 2009 season awards, a shortlist has been decided upon for which votes can be submitted by E-Mail. Nominations are now also being accepted for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy. The votes of Eurodragster.com readers will be taken into consideration when the SPRC and APIRA Committees decide upon their winners. The latest category is Shakespeare County Raceway Award for Outstanding Achievement. The SCR Award for Outstanding Achievement is awarded to a racer who has achieved outstanding performance at Shakespeare County Raceway during the 2009 season. The APIRA Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order, is as follows: Nigel Batsford, Supertwin ET Vote for Nigel Batsford Dave Beck, Pro Stock Bike Vote for Dave Beck Andy Hadfield (aka Andy Fadster), National Street Car Challenge Vote for Andy Hadfield Colin Lazenby, B&H Automotive/LA Racing Parts Street Eliminator Vote for Colin Lazenby Jake Mechaell, 9.50 Bike Vote for Jake Mechaell Dave Rowlands, Wild Bunch Vote for Dave Rowlands Dave Smith, Super Street Bike Vote for Dave Smith Rich Stubbins, Super Street Bike Vote for Rich Stubbins ©Eurodragster.com The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, for which votes are also now being taken, 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. There is no shortlist for the Alex Brachtvogel award. Nominations are invited from Eurodragster.com readers for racers, race officials, track and safety crews, club officials, media, or anyone else who has contributed to the sport. Last year the trophy was awarded to Santa Pod Raceway track announcers John Price and Graham Beckwith. Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2009@btinternet.com specifying SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy nomination as the subject and your nomination in the body of the E-Mail. For each of the Awards, one vote per E-Mail address per nominee will be accepted: multiple votes for the same nominee from the same E-Mail address will all be disqualified. And every year we say this, but every year someone tries it on: please note that blatant attempts at organising mass votes - for example asking workmates or forum members to vote en masse - are easily identified and all such votes will be disallowed as they have been in previous years. Concerted attempts at vote-rigging will result in the nominee being removed from the shortlist. We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. The schedule for the remaining Perpetual Award votes is currently as follows: Friday 8th January: SPRC Most Professional Appearing Team Monday 11th January: SCR Sportswoman of the Year Award Thursday 14th January: SPRC James Edgar Memorial Trophy Saturday 16th January: APIRA Endeavour Award Tuesday 19th January: SPRC Paul Giddings Memorial Trophy Friday 22nd January: APIRA Alan Wigmore Memorial Trophy Sunday 24th January: Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year Trophy Team VEIDEC confirm four PSBs. 5th January: Sweden's Team VEIDEC Pro Stock Bike team have confirmed that they will be fielding four riders on the FIM/UEM European Championship tour in 2010. Joining Eurodragster.com Blogger Karl Lyrén and 2006 European Champion Anders Abrahamsson will be Greece's Stavros Svrachnos and Norway's Kenneth Vik. "Stavros is a multiple Greek Champion and had some good results in the UEM Championship last year", says Roger Lyrén. "He will be running a Suzuki TL1000 with a 1655 cc V&H/MotoSpeed engine combination. Kenneth was also running very well towards the end of 2009. He was in the Final against Anders at the VEIDEC Festival. He will ride a Suzuki R1100 with a 1655 cc V&H/Motospeed combination. ©Eurodragster.com "We have also brought to the crew a number of members with years of experience such as Lars Eriksson, Hans Eriksson, Lars Langkvist, Atle Pedersen, and Baloo. Paul Watson will be one of the key team members with his longtime experience as tuner and rider, and there will be between another four and ten crew depending upon the race." The plan is for all four riders to contest the entire 2010 FIM/UEM Tour together with Nordic races and maybe the NitrOlympX. "I am looking forward to a interesting season in 2010", says Roger. Meanwhile Kalle has sent another instalment in his Exclusive Racer Blog, in which he tells of the resumption of work on the team bus and looks forward to his trip to Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Walmracing plan for new season. 5th January: Sweden's Walmracing Nostalgia Funny Car team have been in touch with the 2010 plans for their very pretty Dodge Omni FC. "In 2010 we will join the Swedish Nostalgia scene with the Swedish Vintage Dragrace Association", says Marcus of Walmracing. "Our main sponsor in 2010 will be Lay's, as last year, and we will also be sponsored by Vårgårda Screen, Hasses Skylt & Text, Cramo Alingsås, LFT Biltillbehör, Järfälla Släpvagnsservice, and Br Samuelssons Åkeri. ©Eurodragster.com "Together with our sponsors we will hit the tracks around Sweden and meet our fans. It not going to be easy when all of the teams are stepping up in 2010 and there are many new teams joining the series. Of course we would love go to England and meet all great people over there (We'd love to see you too, book those ferry tickets now - Ed). "We would like to say thanks to Darren at Power Race Graphics, who has helped us with our new T-Shirt design. It's awesome! We wish everyone a Happy New Year from Walmracing." The team's official web site at www.walmracing.se includes news, team information, pictures and video and more, and you can also find them on Facebook and Twitter. Dragrace Tech UK kitted out. 5th January: Dragrace Tech UK, the UK's Tech Crew, are proud to announce the support of Ringers Gloves (via importer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Nimbus Motorsport) and the Super Modified Racers Association who have jointly supplied new uniforms. "The new uniforms consist of the crew shirts, zip front sweatshirts, waterproof jackets and baseball caps", says Mark Norton. "Just enough to cope with the average weekend at a UK race track! Nimbus Motorsport also kindly continue to provide Ringers Gloves, laptop bags and work aprons for all eight members of the Tech Crew. "The garments were produced by Team Schemes whom we can highly recommend if you are looking for crew wear - the embroidery is amazing. Until now the Crew have purchased their own uniforms but in the present financial climate we are very grateful to Ringers Gloves, the Super Modified Racers Association and Nimbus Motorsport." ©Eurodragster.com Below left are Geoff Martin modelling the new jacket and cap and Paul Stubbings in the new shirt and Ringers Gloves; below right are Graham Motler in the new jacket and cap displaying the Ringers logo and Adam Martin in the new zip fronted sweatshirt showing the SMRA logo. "The Tech Crew are looking forward to an even more busy 2010 season covering two FIA rounds, five National rounds, two Japanese rounds, two VW rounds, and Super Modified at the UK Truck Show", says Mark. Jolink spreads the word. 5th January: Dutch European Top Gas racer Herman Jolink tells us that he was out and about spreading the word about drag racing at the end of November, but that he was lucky to make it: We attended the Motor Cycle Exhibition at Hardenberg, where we used one of Kirstie's pictures from Hockenheim on the display (Always knew you were a man of taste Herman - Ed). On the way to Hardenberg the engine of my Mercedes 310 broke a hundred metres from my home. I was lucky that it happened near home because the week before we were in Switzerland and at the Ducati Course in Bologna in Italy. It was something simple - the sprocket on the oil pump broke so we had no oil pressure any more. So then we put in used a motor with 156,000 km on the clock. Then I was ill on the way home from Hardenberg. As you can see from the picture above right, Herman's display at Hardenberg appears to have included an indoor fire-up, which we would not have minded being there to hear. If you like your Twins then check out Nederpiet's YouTube collection at www.youtube.com/user/nederpiet which amongst other things includes a number of video clips of Herman in action. Prices right for 2010. 5th January: Dexter Price tells us that 2010 is shaping up to be a busy year for Team Gridlock's Go Hard or Go Home altered. "The facelift is in the final stages of completion", says Dexter. "The first showing of the car in 2010 will be at the Historic Motorsports Show (Race Retro) at Stoneleigh Park for the second year running. This year we will be in Hall 3, in the warm rather than at the back of the unheated cattle shed! The team are also pleased to be able to announce that filming for a pilot TV show will commence sometime in March, and discussions are well underway on another music video. ©Eurodragster.com "Adz is keen to have a less traumatic season than in 2009. The new car will be sporting an awful lot of brand new gear under a slightly modified shell. Some of the visual changes reflect the car in the 1980s whilst still keeping some of the more recent touches. Overall the car has a much more aggressive stance and the team look forward to hitting the black stuff as soon as possible." Dex has also sent a link to a YouTube video clip of a stub axle failure at the end of a run at Shakespeare County Raceway. The camera is on-board and can you see more or less what Adz saw at www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIrqeL0XMVA. "The video shows the whole wheel departing the car", says Dexter. "The stub axle completely sheared, but luckily enough Adz wasn't going too fast. A whole new front geometry along with new axles were fitted in two weeks and a big thanks go out to Fester Race Cars for the front and to Paul Bland who let us borrow some wheels to get us back on the track for the next Wild Bunch event." Busier than it seems... 5th January: UK B&H Automotive/LA Racing Parts Street Eliminator racer Ron Haslett says that what with all the meals, parties and getting together over the break he doesn't appear to have got anywhere with his wild Cortina. However, Ron adds that appearances can be deceptive. ©Eurodragster.com "All the modifications are now done and in Etch primer" (click on picture for another angle), says Ron. "Along with the forced mods and the four-link mods I have had a lot of forced body repairs due to years of abuse, an accident, and a couple of oops moments. With time rapidly running out and with the hours I've been doing in the last couple of months, there has been a gruelling regime of work which I've had to do mostly on my own as all the lads are at work when I'm not. I'm hoping to have it in primer by the end of the weekend and painted by the following weekend. Then all the hard work starts fitting it back together. "I'm hoping to have news on sponsors for next month and we are still working with the MacMillan Cancer Trust. Keep an eye on the web site at www.insanecreations.net for further updates." Going to Autosport? 5th January: An important message for all racers, officials and companies attending next week's Autosport International at Birmingham's NEC: Eurodragster.com will be reporting from Autosport International in association with American Car Imports. We would be very pleased to hear from racers, officials or companies who are attending Autosport so that we can arrange to talk to you - the Show is huge and parts of it are only open for a limited time so it will help us to plan our two days at the NEC if we know in advance whom we should be seeing. ©Eurodragster.com If your car or bike are on a stand at Autosport, or if your company has a stand at the Show, or if you are visiting the Show and would like to talk to us for our coverage then please drop us a line at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com. Simon and Tog will be at the Show on the Friday (Trade Day), and Kirstie, Simon and Tog will be at the Show on the Saturday (Public Day), so let us know when you are there and we will arrange to hook up with you. Central Europe update. 5th January: December is notoriously quiet for news so Cedrag.com have recruited a group of experts to help out with their Winter Project, writes Paul Fischer: Chris Isaacs and Andy Robinson from the UK have been helping out with advice and also doing some investigations, they have added to the brains trust of our own sponsors in the shape of race car builders Doc Stinger's Mopar Garage, CoolChevy Raceparts and the TubolyTech crew. December saw the final instalment of our start-line strategy sessions, we are now about to embark on trying to get the Chevy Malibu of Croatian racer Edo Galic (a stock chassis, ten-inch inch tyre, 632 ci BBC combination) to hook up on the start line. Check out Cedrag.com in the coming weeks to see how we get on. A number of big cars - big relative to Central European norms - are nearing completion and another, a seven-second Stingray shipped in by new racer Heinz-Peter Amerer, has arrived from Texas having visited three continents on the way. Mike Mugrauer of Voitsberg, Austria continues to develop the ex-Mick Payne Dodge Coronet and has his blown 500 B1 motor ready to go in. The car is now in black and looking very aggressive. The Tuboly brothers in Gyor, Hungary are preparing a Pro-Street style late-70s Trans-Am which will be fitted with one of their own BB Chevy motors complete with 12:71 blower plus a TubolyTech built TH400. Graz residents Heinz Schenk and Walter Filla are moving towards completion of their cars, a 632 ci blown Camaro (yikes!) and a 1958-bodied 350 ci twin-turbo Mercedes SL19 which was hand-made by Herr Filla. Last season's top gun, Hungary's Peter Kaldy who ran 9.00 last year, tells us he has made some more power and is looking to get into the eight-second zone "Without delay". We think he'll need to in order to stand a chance of retaining his Top Gun status through 2010. ©Eurodragster.com The guys at VP Racing Fuels in the USA and in Germany have been working with us to help spread the word about track preparation. Using their Lane Choice range of traction compounds, the local promoters are trying to provide the tracks to suit all these powerful cars which are now appearing. It is not a simple science and our airport tracks, although mostly quite flat, are a bit grainy on the surface so much of the rubber just gets squeezed down between the grains and helps not a jot. 2010 looks like being a steep learning curve for the organisers but the guys at VP Racing Fuels are providing excellent advice. No less than thirty seven events are already in the calendar for 2010 and this is from only Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Czech Republic. Some independent promoters plus those from Romania and those from the 'Adria' countries (Croatia, Slovenia etc) in the south of our region are yet to confirm dates. There will no shortage of events but it is a concern that maybe we don't have enough racers. Times are tough financially in this region so we have our fingers crossed that we haven't overdone it. The much hoped-for Central European Drag Racing Championship (CEDRC) has been developed almost to completion. The dates and all the details have yet to be finalised but it is looking like there will be four rounds of competition, the first in Poland, the second in Hungary, the third in Romania and the finals in Slovakia. There are still plenty of hurdles to jump, most of them are difficult financial matters, but we have our fingers crossed. It is our opinion that Central Europe needs a viable regional Championship. If it happens, we shall support it as best we can. For all the latest from the region, tune in to www.cedrag.com; the news is updated daily, Monday to Friday. From all of us here, have a great and safe New Year. Time out. 5th January: Iain Burns, who was rebuilding the Mopar Menace Super Gasser, tells us that in 2010 he will be spending less time in the pits and more time on the spectator banking: Before I go I would like to publicly thank everyone with whom I have had the pleasure of dealing, crewing for and generally annoying - the last two possibly being related. In no particular order they are everyone at Eurodragster.com (of course), Andy Frost, Colin Lazenby, Ray Comer, Nigel Payne, Peter Knight, Jeff Bull, Kev 'Kiwi' Taylor and a whole host of people who I have either bought bits from or sold bits to. And of course the very hard working crew at Santa Pod ©Eurodragster.com Everything I own related to racing, from the car as a rolling chassis through my spares all the way down to my books will be for sale within the next week or so. Unfortunately I have to pay for a divorce so the toys are going (and hence me taking some time out). Not the way I wanted to bow out, I had hoped to scare myself silly first, but these things happen. I will be keeping my web site running at www.imc-racing.co.uk as who knows, one day I hope to return and actually make it down the track. If anyone needs crew for 2010 and you are close to Bedfordshire, then I am sure I can annoy you too! Happy racing for 2010 and may the sun gods shine on you all. SPRC, APIRA Perpetual Awards vote 4. 3rd January: Santa Pod Racers Club, Avon Park International Racing Association and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the SPRC and APIRA Perpetual Awards, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 6th February 2010. For several of the 2009 season awards, a shortlist has been decided upon for which votes can be submitted by E-Mail. Nominations are now also being accepted for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy. The votes of Eurodragster.com readers will be taken into consideration when the SPRC and APIRA Committees decide upon their winners. The latest category is SPRC Best Appearing Bike. The SPRC Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order, is as follows: Thomas Granica, Super Street Bike Go to vote page Chris Hannam, Supertwin Go to vote page Martin Holgate, Supertwin Gas Go to vote page Jones and Friend, Funny Bike (rider Gary Jones) Go to vote page Steve Mead, Super Street Bike Go to vote page Dave Newbery, Top Fuel Bike (rider Ian Carruthers) Go to vote page To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official SPRC / APIRA Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2009 Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page. ©Eurodragster.com The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, for which votes are also now being taken, 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. There is no shortlist for the Alex Brachtvogel award. Nominations are invited from Eurodragster.com readers for racers, race officials, track and safety crews, club officials, media, or anyone else who has contributed to the sport. Last year the trophy was awarded to Santa Pod Raceway track announcers John Price and Graham Beckwith. Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2009@btinternet.com specifying SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy nomination as the subject and your nomination in the body of the E-Mail. For each of the Awards, one vote per E-Mail address per nominee will be accepted: multiple votes for the same nominee from the same E-Mail address will all be disqualified. And every year we say this, but every year someone tries it on: please note that blatant attempts at organising mass votes - for example asking workmates or forum members to vote en masse - are easily identified and all such votes will be disallowed as they have been in previous years. Concerted attempts at vote-rigging will result in the nominee being removed from the shortlist. We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. The schedule for the remaining Perpetual Award votes is currently as follows: Tuesday 5th January: SCR Award for Outstanding Achievement Friday 8th January: SPRC Most Professional Appearing Team Monday 11th January: SCR Sportswoman of the Year Award Thursday 14th January: SPRC James Edgar Memorial Trophy Saturday 16th January: APIRA Endeavour Award Tuesday 19th January: SPRC Paul Giddings Memorial Trophy Friday 22nd January: APIRA Alan Wigmore Memorial Trophy Sunday 24th January: Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year Trophy Swift snippets. 3rd January: Former Junior Dragster racer Matthew Seamarks has been in touch to ask if anyone in the Rushden area can help with the use of a van and trailer or flatback transporter to collect his 2010 ride next weekend (9th-10th January). If you can help then please drop Matthew a line at gingermanracing@hotmail.co.uk. ©Eurodragster.com Editor's note: As you have probably worked out, we have been taking it easy on the news updates over the holiday period. We have a small backlog of news with which we will catch up on the next update, which is scheduled for Tuesday, and please keep those news items coming to news@eurodragster.com. Racers invited to Speedgroup meeting. 2nd January: Speedgroup are inviting European Championship teams for a meeting at the Conventum Congress Centre in Örebro on Saturday 23rd January, immediately before the Bilsport Gala which includes the presentation to the top threes in FIA and FIM/UEM European Championship classes. The meeting will start at 9:00 and will end at approximately 16:00. Topics include a review of 2009 and a look into 2010 and beyond. Don't miss this opportunity to find out what is going on and to take part in shaping the future of drag racing in Europe. ©Eurodragster.com If you would like to attend the meeting, then please register by E-Mail to Speedgroup Co-ordinator Åsa Kinnemar at asa.kinnemar@speedgroup.eu or call +46 70 531 53 32. A confirmation and agenda will be sent via E-Main next week. Web site updates. 2nd January: A bit too recent to count as Nostalgia but Eurodragster.com News Editor Tog has updated his photo gallery with a complete set of pictures from the 2001 season including including European Championship events at Santa Pod Raceway and Alastaro, UK National Championship events at Santa Pod and Shakespeare County Raceways, the Goodguys Nostalgia event at The Strip at Las Vegas, a couple of shows, and an off-track collection. You can find the pictures at either eurodragster.fotopic.net or www.togsdragracing.com. Pictures from 2000 will follow. ©Eurodragster.com Earlier news