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31st January: Multiple FIA European Pro Stock Champion Jimmy Ålund was elected Bilsport magazine's Drag Racer of the Year and Senior Motorsport Driver of the Year for 2011, writes Stefan Boman: 
A voting pool was set up between the selected drivers from rally, rallycross, racing and drag racing. The presentation was made during the Bilsport Magazine 50th Anniversary Gala in Stockholm on Saturday in front of more than 500 invited guests. 
Amanda Sjöström-Andersson was honoured as Junior Drag Racer of the Year and Speedgroup's Åsa Kinnemar was named Autosport Woman of the Year. See Venables for DME Racing. 
31st January: Reigning ACU UK Super Street Bike Champion Steve Venables is pleased to announce that,
after discussions with Dimey at the USA's DME Racing, that VenRacing will be representing DME Racing in the UK for the 2012 race season.
"DME will be fully kitting out both my and Jemma's bikes with new chassis components, swinging arms, sub frames, forks etc", says Steve. "They already sent over a large consignment of DME parts ranging from the parts already mentioned to oil pans, rear sets, and many more high-quality machined parts of which I will be keeping a stock and will be able to supply to anyone at the track. "This arrangement came about after a meeting with Dimey at Valdosta. I was really impressed with the quality of his race parts, they really are second to none and DME are more than happy to fabricate anything from a charge cooler to swinging arm to your personal requirements. Please have a look at his web site at www.dmeracing.com and feel free to contact me, or come to see me at the track." Furlong Tyres present the Power Ones. 31st January: After a very successful 2011 the Michelin Power One proved to be the tyre of choice for street-tyred bikes in the three classes sponsored by Fred Furlong of Eurodragster.com sponsor Furlong Tyres of Yeovil. Under the contingency scheme class winners at each event were presented with a Michelin Power One tyre. In 9.50 Bike Fred himself started the season well with a win at the Easter Thunderball and a further win at Shakespeare County Raceway. Andy Burfitt won the Open Sport Nationals at SCR. Richard Beck took the win at the UK National Finals making a total of four tyres presented to winners. A new class in 2011 was 8.50 Bike and Mick Winyard started the season well, taking a win at the Easter Thunderball. Peter Austin was king at SCR winning all three meetings and three tyres to boot. Phil Bloomfield won the Summernationals, Jemma Venables the UK National Finals and Augy Harrison won at the Extreme Bike weekend making a total of seven tyres. Super Street Bike, in which slicks are not allowed, was 100% Michelin Power One. Graham Dance won the early Easter meeting and Graham Balchin took both wins at Springspeed SCR and the FIA European Finals. The most successful Michelin rider was Steve Venables who won a total of four tyres taking the spoils at the Summernationals, Open Sport Nationals at SCR, UK National Finals and Extreme Bike Weekend at the Pod. Class total was seven tyres. All in all a total of eighteen Michelin Power One tyres were given away as prizes with a retail value of £2430. Fred would like to congratulate all of the winners and to thank Michelin for their help and involvement in 2011. DSD offer free dyno time. 31st January: Paul Watson is celebrating ten years at DynoSpeed Developments by offering bike racers a free dyno run to check the power of their bikes before the season starts: 
This offer includes 9.50 Bike, 8.50 Bike, Super Street Bike and other classes subject to tyre size
and length.
I started racing in street cars back in 1977 and have been in quite a few different classes including Super Gas. I moved to bikes in 2001 winning the 9.90 Bike Championship in my first year. Since then I have raced in Super Street Bike and Pro Stock Bike ans I am proud to have helped in the introduction of new 8.50 Bike class - it was a long hard road but we got there in the end, and well done to all those who helped and supported it because it's turning out to be the most popular bike class out there. On a personal note I am gobsmacked being nominated for Sportsman of the Year. There are many fine names on the list, good luck to all of you. To book your dyno session contact Paul at DynoSpeed Developments via their web site at www.dynospeed.co.uk. Swift snippets. 31st January: 2011 UK National 9.50 Bike Champion Jake Mechaell says that Webster Race Engineering, Bedford and Sons Motorcycles and Little Steps Day Nursery will continue to support him in 2012 as he moves to 8.50 Bike. "I really appreciated the help and support of these companies through 2011, and it was much-needed due to a massive winter project to modify my bike to become a turbocharged 8.50 Bike", says Jake. "I am making good progress and aim to test in March in preparation for racing at Easter. 2012 is going to be a big learning curve but I am looking forward to getting back on the bike!" Martyn Hannis writes that the Arias motor formerly used in the Nuthin' Fancy altered and recently featured in a YouTube video has a new home. "Michael Mugrauer of Mopar Garage in Austria is now the proud owner of the Arias", says Martyn. "As you can see it has now been installed in his Dodge Coronet. Michael drove from Austria last Sunday and arrived late Monday morning, spent the afternoon after firing up the engine learning routine maintenance and basic fuel settings, then loaded up and drove straight back to Austria that evening. From all the Nuthin' Fancy team we wish Michael all the best for the future, and hope he has as much fun with the Arias as Doug and Joe had over the years." 
Bob Hancox writes that Ian Norman is this year's winner of the Debbie Hancox Memorial Trophy which is presented annually to one of the Outlaw Anglia community. Ian was presented with the trophy at the Outlaw Anglias' party on 21st January. "I would like to thank Martin Payne for looking after it over the past year", says Bob. "Congratulations also to Cliff Griffin, Colin Millar and Rich Colby." Adding further content for Shakespeare County Raceway's ever-expanding biking community, following the success of the inaugural Super Eliminator which was won by Gary Clark the Kawasaki Triples Club have confirmed that a further two Super Eliminator races will be contested at the Warwickshire venue this year, on 21st-22nd April and 13th-14th October. Full details will shortly be added to the Kawasaki Triples Club forum at www.kawasakitriplesclub.co.uk. Santa Pod Raceway's 20% Early Bird discount on tickets for this year's events closes today (Tuesday). For more information or to order tickets check out www.santapod.com. Chris Eyre has finalised his T-Shirt range with six mens' shirts and six ladies' shirts. "The ladies' tops are a fitted cut for a more slender look", says Chris. "The shirts are £15 or £17 for a short printed with a photograph, this includes postage which makes it a great deal! I also have the last few calendars left, which I will be selling off at cost just to clear them out". To check out Chris' T-Shirt range and calendars check out www.eurodragpics.com. Hone-All join MPM team supporters. 31st January: Richard Stevens of Eurodragster.com sponsor MPM Oil UK Ltd is pleased to announce that Hone-All Ltd will be helping the MPM-backed teams in the 2012 season. 
Andrea and Colin Rodney realise that the motorsport remit is very demanding due to tight deadlines and tolerances which must be adhered to.
"We enjoy this challenge and are proud to supply services to such a diverse and interesting industry", they say. "We work with numerous materials,
which can vary greatly. We complete components ranging from driveshafts, strut tubes and a variety of transmission and suspension components, cylinder
and liner remanufacturing and bespoke components. We attended last year's Main Event and European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway as guests of MPM
Oil UK Ltd last season, and were amazed by not only the experience and assault on all of our senses, but with the incredibly friendly atmosphere not
only with the supporters but the competitors also.
"We have to say that, after talking with some of the MPM teams, we're actually quite surprised that some of the teams were having to send so many parts back to the USA for refurbishment and remanufacturing, when we have the capability to carry the works out at our modern premises in Leighton Buzzard, saving a fortune on not only postage and couriers, but on import duties also. Through our R&D departmen, we are hoping to adopt and adapt some F1 technology processes which we currently undertake and tailor them into the machining element for works which we will not only be carrying out for the MPM teams, but to other teams also should they require it. "Feel free to get in touch with us via our web site at www.hone-all.co.uk to request a quote for any works or to enquire about any bespoke machining you might require. If you mention MPM Oil UK Ltd, we are happy to offer a discount on your machining requirement. We look forward to supporting the MPM teams next season, and any other team which might require our services. Hopefully we can meet up with as many people at the track next season, and help them with their machining and remanufacturing needs." "We are really happy that such a respected organisation within the motorsport industry has come on board for the 2012 season, and we hope that you will support them as they are supporting us", says Richard Stevens. "So please spread the word about their services. "We will soon be announcing a new arrival to the MPM teams stable for the 2012 season, another ground-pounder which will please the fans. Pictures and more details to follow! Keep asking your local motor factors and garages for MPM products, as the more we sell the more we can put back into the sport by supporting more teams!" PMR's PT Bruiser returns. 31st January: Paul Marston Racing have announced the return of the popular PT Bruiser after some years' absence from the track. Plans existed to bring the Bruiser back in 2011 but that was put on hold by PMR's victory in the 2010 UK National Super Comp Championship: 
Over the past few years, not a day at the track has gone by without someone asking "When's the Bruiser coming out again".
So now all those questions have been answered. Since we last ran the PT Bruiser seriously in competition we have learned so much and travelled
so far: three National Championships, five Club Championships and countless National Events, so it's time to put all we have learned into our
2012 campaign with the PT Bruiser. It's time to see what this car can do and how it can perform and it will be running in the quickest Sportsman
class - Super Pro ET.
The PT Bruiser currently is receiving its finishing touches at the hands of Bill Felstead of Fester Race Cars. The car has undergone some changes since its last outing and I feel that Bill Felstead's talents has made these modifications seamless: you cannot easily tell what has been changed and what is original build. Testing will start as soon as the winter breaks, and subject to that testing going as planned we will be ready for Santa Pod at Easter. We are looking at forming our 2012 driver line-up; currently we have drives available in most classes and some excellent packages which offer real value for money. The most popular package is the arrive and drive, but you can get as involved as you wish. Race car rental is always cheaper than actually owning your own race car and, with our proven track record, if you want to win then contact us for more details. Please be quick with any rental enquiries as the season starts sooner than you think. The 2012 season is officially open for bookings at our world-renowned Drag Race Driving School, based at Santa Pod Raceway. We are back on track and ready to train and coach the winners of the future. We train people from and to any level. For further details please contact Paul Marston Racing direct at pmracing@fsmail.net or call me on 07831 650230. AMC back SCR Street Bike Challenge. 
31st January: Back by popular demand, Shakespeare County Raceway
are reintroducing the track's Sunday Street Bike Challenge events to be run at their Public Track Day RWYBs
in association with local series sponsors AMC Coating.
The Challenge will find the quickest street-legal machine on the day.
The AMC Coating Street Bike Challenge will take place on seven Sundays and will be open to riders who ride their bikes to and from the track, carry tax and a current MOT, and compete on street tyres. "Unfortunately no slicks or competition machines will count towards the series as we wanted to make this a purely amateur challenge giving the average performance bike enthusiast something to aim for at the track's Public Track Days", says SCR'' Jerry Cookson. "Bikes will be issued with a prefix letter and number at scrutineering after which all times will count until the 4:00 pm cut-off. There are no classes involved, it's just you and your machine against the clock." The winner will receive a trophy and a £100 voucher towards any powder coating job undertaken at AMC as well as other goodies from the Raceway's loyal band of supporters. AMC Coating, based at the nearby Bird Business Park, Long Marston, can offer a wide range of services including powder coating and shot blasting. Currently AMC has a very good customer base within the classic and performance bike industry as well as associations with kart racers and teams and riders from the Coventry Bees speedway team and stock car track. AMC is a family-run business with a biking tradition very much in their hearts. "We have been going to the drag strip for a long time now and with our interests firmly with the biking community sponsoring the Street Bike Challenge is the perfect opportunity for us to expand further in this kind of market", says AMC's Anne Clarke. The AMC Coating Street Bike Challenge is set to run on Sundays including 1st April, 22nd April, 10th June, 22nd July, 30th September, 14th October and 28th October. General Motorcycle Safety recommendations can be found on either the RWYB or Downloads pages of Shakespeare County Raceway web site at www.shakespearecountyraceway.com. For further details about the wide range of services AMC Coating can provide, please stop by their Facebook page, call 01789 721967, or E-Mail anne@amc-coating.co.uk. Web site updates. 
31st January: Our good buddy Julian Hunt has updated his photo site with pictures from the
VW Action weekend at Santa Pod Raceway, which was also the last weekend for testing before the FIA European Finals.
"As you would expect there are a lot of VWs including the night racing session, but also all the on-track action from Saturday and a little bit of Sunday
morning until the weather set in", says Julian. "The pictures include a sequence of Chief Starter Ian Marshall not allowing himself to be defeated by a unicycle!".
You can check out Julian's VW Action pictures at www.julianhunt.net.
In the latest instalment in his exclusive Racer Blog presented in association with Alamo Rent-A-Car, Luke Bennett tells of a fruitful day in the workshop of the Bennett Racing blown-alcohol team. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Alamo Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Feature: MrD Raceway. 
30th January: In the latest in our occasion series of Features presented in association with
Lucas Oil Products and Carter Motorsport
Eurodragster.com visited the 1/24-scale MrD Raceway at the Club's first meeting of the year at the Cathedral Primary School in Chelmsford, Essex.
Slot drag racing started in the UK not that long after the full-sized sport. Over the years it has not been unusual to find a slot drag strip at racing and custom shows, for example the Humberstone Drag Racing Club's and Surrey Street Rodders' tracks at the Custom Car and Brighton Shows and the Hull Street Freaks' track at the Doncaster Custom Car Show. The latest slot drag strips to operate in the UK are MrC and MrD Raceways which, as regular Eurodragster.com readers will know, hold events in Kent and Essex respectively. MrD's builder and operator Steven Dudley told us pretty much everything you could want to know about slot drag racing, and during an entertaining evening Club member Paul Avis marked our visit by setting a new track ET record of 0.702 seconds for the scale 1000-foot track (1000 feet due to space constraints, not for any sinister reason - Ed). You can check out our illustrated interview and gallery by clicking here or by clicking on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. A big Thank You to Steven and to all of the MrD racers for their welcome on Friday. West Ten Motorsport prepping for 2012. 30th January: Shelley Pearson writes with an update from the UK's West Ten Motorsport Fuel Funny Car team: We have been extremely busy in the off-season working on getting our race trailer ready for the coming season. After long days and nights our hard work has paid off as the trailer is nearly race ready. This would not have been possible without the help and support from our crew and most importantly my father, whose knowledge has been invaluable. We have also purchased a motor and spares for the Funny Car so within the coming weeks we will be putting it back together for what we hope to be a sucessful season. I have created a West Ten Motorsport Facebook page so feel free to take a look at what's going on within our team. We will also update our planned race dates on Facebook. As some of you may know we are expecting our first child so I won't be driving until later in the year. We are looking for new crew members, mainly to work on the Funny Car but they may at times be asked to work on a Top Fuel Dragster. If anyone is intrested in working with us please E-Mail us at westtenmotorsport@mail.com with a brief description of yourself and your mechanical knowledge. We look forward to seeing you all at the track and wish you a safe and successful 2012. Swift snippets. 30th January: Multiple FIA European Pro Stock Champion Jimmy Ålund has revealed that he will be campaigning a new car this season. Stefan Boman tells us that Jimmy announced during the weekend's Bilsport Gala that the new car is a 2012 Camaro built by Jerry Haas. Congratulations to Sweden's Adam Flamholc who made it to the final of Pro Mod at the US Street Nationals in Bradenton, Florida. Adam was going great guns in the final until his motor quit so he had to be content with runner-up spot. You can read more on Dragzine.com and on the Flamholc/MMR Racing Facebook page. 
Thanks to Lizz McCarthy for sending us a picture from the weekend's presentation to the 2011 ACU UK
Drag Bike Champions. From left: Stu Crane (Comp Bike), Kev Charman (Top Fuel Bike), Steve Venables (Super Street Bike) and Len
Paget (Pro Stock Bike).
Congratulations to Malta's Chris Polidano who gained his Top Methanol Dragster licence at Hal-Far Raceway at the weekend. The former owner of the injected-nitro dragster, Eurodragster.com sponsor Derek Flynn, told us that in six runs Chris experienced just about everything from tyre smoke to tyre shake but that his observed runs culminated in runs of 5.9/235 and 5.9/187 shut off and chutes out at 1000 feet. "Chris did an excellent job and lifted when he was told to lift", said Derek. "The crew have also got the turn-round down to ninety minutes." Claron Graphics join PSDS roster. 30th January: The organisers of the Pro Street Drag Series, Shakespeare County Raceway's Japanese and European car-related performance drag racing series, are pleased to announce the addition of Claron Graphics to their list of series supporters this year. 
Based in Weston Super Mare, Claron Graphics has been producing graphics and signs for a wide range of customers, upplying graphics to the local business sector
as well as producing decals and wraps for the motorsports and karting industries, drag racing clubs and racers. Claron also produce signs for
Shakespeare County Raceway sometimes at very short notice!
Over the years proprietor Simon Cardwell and partner Sandra Lamberth have built up a solid, regular customer base country- and worldwide sending graphics as far afield as
Japan and Australia. Their support van is a regular fixture at both Shakespeare County and Dakota Raceways along with additional rod runs and custom car shows.
"We pride ourselves on our fast and efficient service, in most cases with orders being dispatched on the day of payment for stock graphics and within forty eight hours of approved artwork for custom produced orders", said Simon. "We also think flexibility is important and we put great efforts into being able to produce the graphics you need. We are very pleased to be associated with the Pro Street Drag Series at our home track Shakespeare County Raceway for the coming season." Simon has very kindly offered to produce a range of Pro Street Drag Series racer decals this year including race numbers and PSDS logo stickers and vinyls. These will be available form Claron's support van at the track and at shows, or from Claron's on-line shop at www.shop.claron-graphics.co.uk. For further information about Claron's wide range of graphic and vinyl services please also visit the web site, call 01934 510267, or speak to Simon at the strip. The 2012 Pro Street Drag Series is proudly supported by Mahle Pistons, Roland Alsop Engineering, Opie Oils, Total Car Magazines, RockAuto.com, Fast N Modified Magazine, Evo Tuner Magazine and Claron Graphics. All these great companies and magazines make our high speed hobby possible! Please support them. Another RETdiscount. 
30th January: Further to Andy Frost's news item of 20th January, race fans now have a
second route to 10% discount on Race Engine Technology magazine titles as Nick Saunders of the UK's AFB Drag Racing team writes that the
Supertwin outfit have also negotiated a reduction with publisher High Power Media:
Having read Drag Race Technology Volume 2 recently, I can thoroughly recommend it to everyone involved in drag racing. This annual special edition covers all aspects of drag racing in great depth making it a very interesting read. We enjoyed it so much we called High Power Media and can now offer a 10% discount on any of their magazines including Race Engine Technology and Drag Race Technology. Just visit www.highpowermedia.com and use the discount code afb in the checkout to receive your discount. We will be back in touch in the next week or so with an update on our plans for 2012 and beyond, including our brand new nitro Harley which is currently being constructed by Psycleworkz. In the meantime we have a new Blog documenting the progress of our race truck conversion, and we will soon have pictures of the new race engine being machined. Please see www.afbdragracing.co.uk for the Blog and www.psycleworkz.com to see their array of products. UEM Championship race numbers. 28th January: Speedgroup advise UEM riders in need of a new start number (aka race number - Ed) for 2012 to send an E-Mail to Peder Eneroth of SVEMO at peder.eneroth@svemo.se. Peder is UEM Race Number Co-ordinator for Europe. Please state your name, class, country, federation (ACU etc), and the make of motorcycle. This also apply to Super Street Bike racers who plan to run in the new Super Street Bike UEM-Cup. The SSB calendar will be announced by UEM promoter Trakbak. Please address any SSB UEM Cup questions to Geoff Myers at geoff@trakbak.com. Any questions regarding UEM Top Fuel Bike, UEM Supertwin and UEM Pro Stock Bike can be addressed to Speedgroup, who are assisting Trakbak in UEM Championship administration. Please E-Mail Speedgroup co-ordinator Åsa Kinnemar at asa.kinnemar@speedgroup.eu. Lucas Oil continue Junior support. 
28th January: UK Junior Dragster racer Brad Jackson
is pleased to announce the continuing support of Les Downey and Lucas Oil for 2012. Lucas Oil UK are also continuing
their support of the Lucas Oil UK Junior Dragster Championship.
"This shows the commitment of Lucas Oil to the grass roots of our sport and is a great boost for the youngsters in drag racing", says dad Wayne Jackson. "Brad's plans for 2012 are for the UK Championship but he is also looking to compete in the new EDRS Series providing that the proposed calendar is ratified. We will probably contest the rounds at Drachten and Hockenheim to compete in Europe in our division." Brad's web site at www.bradjacksonracing.com has been updated for the new season and Brad and Wayne would like to thank Simon Cannon and Dan Welberry of 3tcreative for their excellent work. Swift snippets. 28th January: Good luck to Sweden's Adam Flamholc who is contesting Pro Modified at this weekend's US Street Nationals at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida. Adam put in a burnout and launch in the test session but yesterday's racing was curtailed by bad weather. You can stay in touch with Adam's progress on the Flamholc/MMR Racing Facebook page and a webcast is available on Competition Plus. Don't forget that 1st February, next Wednesday, is the traditional date to reveal the inductees in the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame in association with US Automotive. This year's intake will be revealed here on Eurodragster.com on the stroke of midnight. You can check out the current British Drag Racing Hall of Fame on its official web site at www.britishdragracinghof.co.uk. SCR calendar revised. 26th January: Jerry Cookson writes that Shakespeare County Raceway's All Clubs Vauxhall Day on Saturday 21st April will now also be a RWYB Public Track Day as well. "Please mark this revision in your diary, wall planner or toilet door as most of you will want to come for a weekend rather than a day", says Jerry. "Saturday is still the planned All Clubs Vauxhall Day featuring GM-branded car groups and traders but the day will now be a shared day for general car and bike Run What Ya Brung as well as practice for the Pro Street Drag Series and Sportsman drag car and bike testing in readiness for the Springspeed Nationals two weeks later. Sunday will feature the advertised RWYB Public Track Day with the Z Car Club Drag Challenge, PSDS Round 1, and pre-Springspeed Nationals testing as well as the opening round of the SCR Bracket Gamblers series. Car and motorcycle clubs are welcome to attend for the day or the weekend. "Further details can be found on the Shakespeare County Raceway web site at www.shakespearecountyraceway.com or by calling the track office on 01789 720180." The full 2012 calendar for Shakespeare County Raceway is now as follows: 31st March-1st April: Public Track Weekend Season Opener 21st April: Public Track Day RWYB and All Clubs Vauxhall Saturday 22nd April: Public Track Day RWYB 5th-7th May: 5th Annual Springspeed Nationals (MSA/ACU National Championship Round) 25th-27th May: Yanks Weekend/NASC 34th Annual Gary's Picnic 9th-10th June: Public Track Weekend/Shakey Super Pull (BTPA Points Round) 23rd-24th June: 19th Annual NSRA Nostalgia Nationals 7th-8th July: Public Track Weekend/British Mini Showdown 21st July: PPC Magazine Public Track Day RWYB 22nd July: Public Track Day/For Ladies That Launch 9th-12th August: Bulldog Bash 25th-27th August: 6th Annual Open Sport Nationals (MSA/ACU National Championship Round) 14th-16th September: 24th Annual NSRA Hot Rod Drags 29th-30th September: Public Track Weekend/Frantic Ford Sunday 13th-14th October: PPC Magazine Public Track Weekend RWYB 27th-28th October: Halloween Bonfire Burn-Up Public Track Weekend SPR back the Outlaw. 
26th January: 2012 is to be a very exciting year for Eurodragster.com sponsor
Matthew Wright and the
WG Racing team, and they
are pleased to announce that Santa Pod Raceway is now an official sponsor of Matthew's wild Rolls Royce having provided
the team with track time.
"We would like to thank James Forster, David Lloyd-Jones and everyone at Santa Pod Raceway for making this happen", says Matt. "We can now announce that we will be attending Santa Pod on the following dates: Saturday 10th March: Saturday Night Special Saturday 25th March: Fast Show Sunday 1st April: Peak Performance Day Saturday 21st April: Run What You Brung Saturday 6th May: Saturday Night Special Saturday 12th May: Street Nationals Saturday 19th May: Saturday Night Special Friday 22nd June: Peak Performance Day Sunday 1st July: Retro Show Saturday-Sunday 14th-15th July: Dragstalgia Friday-Sunday 28th-30th July: Mopar Euro Nationals "2012 really is going to be a pinnacle year for the WG Racing. A lot of behind the scenes work is being done by our media department for marketing proposals, sponsorship deals are being finalised, and arrangements are being made for our visit to the USA for Drag Week in September. Bill Felstead and I have been busy in the workshop making small adjustments to the car in preparation for the season. A lot is happening over the next few months and you can keep up to date by visiting our web site at www.wgracing.co.uk." Don't forget that for the modest sum of £5 you can sign your name on the bonnet of the Rolls Royce (right) and have your moniker ride along with Matt for the season. The bonnet will be raffled at next year's APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance with proceeds going to the Leukaemia Trust. You can hand over your fiver and leave your John Hancock at any of the above events, or contact the team through the WG Racing web site. Red Line Oil re-sign with Frost. 
26th January: The UK's Red Victor
1 Racing Pro Mod team are very happy to announce that Red Line Oil are staying as a
technical partner with the team for 2012.
Team Principal Andy Frost says "This is very good news for our team. Red Line Oil are a world-renowed company with a wealth of experience in the turbocharged field. Their product is second to none, and so we are very pleased to be using not only their Synthetic engine oil, but Synthetic trans and axle oil. Their new lightweight racing trans oil proved to be a very good upgrade for us in 2011!" Lee Rushton, Red Line's Head of European Sales, says "Red Line Oil are delighted to announce their ongoing technical partnership with the Red Victor 1 Racing team, and in 2012 we wish Andy and the crew every success in the pursuit of the title of World's fastest street-legal car. We commend Andy on being a great ambassador for Red Line products and hope the world of drag racing recognises his technical knowledge, expertise and passion for the sport." Cameron Evans, Director of Sales and Marketing Worldwide, says "Andy has worked hard to develop his race car and we are proud to share with him some of our experience and products developed in the American drag racing scene. He has switched to our Lightweight Racing ATF, which should give him some advantages against his competitors. We are proud to have him using and recommending Red Line products." "The team is very proud to be working with Red Line Oil this season, and are sure it'll be successful for both of us!", says Andy. Swift snippets. 
26th January: The Allard Chrysler Action Group
are trying to locate two original rear wheels fitted to the
Chrysler Allard Dragster. The wheels are 16" x 8" American Racing Torq Thrust Classics, five stud with a 5½" pitched
circle diameter. If you know of the whereabouts of these wheels or if you know where ACAG could obtain a pair, please contact Stu Bradbury
at britishdrhof@aol.com or Brian Taylor at
brian@petrolhead.vianw.co.uk.
Good luck to Sweden's Adam Flamholc who is contesting Pro Modified at this weekend's US Street Nationals at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida. Adam plans to test this evening (Thursday) and then the event runs from tomorrow until Sunday. You will be able to stay in touch with Adam's progress on the Flamholc/MMR Racing Facebook page. Dutch Top Fuel Dragster racer and Eurodragster.com Blogger Lex Joon is running a contest to win a very snazzy Lex Joon Racing T-Shirt. For your chance to win, check out www.lexjoonracing.nl. Victory Wheelers move for 35th. 26th January: With a long history of hosting top class rod runs to the South Coast, Victory Wheelers would like to welcome all hot rodders and custom fans to their 35th Birthday celebrations at the South Coast Internationals on 8th-11th June at a brand new, stunning venue: Pylewell Park, near Lymington, in Hampshire: An ideal location for a rod run, Pylewell is a seventeenth century country house complete with eighty-acre estate with stunning views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight and the famous Needles. As usual, we will welcome campers from 10:00 am on the Friday and it will be possible to make it a full weekend, staying right through and leaving on the Monday if you wish. As well as Pylewell's attractions, we have a full timetable of events planned for the weekend including our popular New Forest Cruise on the Saturday, followed by evening entertainment in the marquee on the lawns of the house. Two bands are already booked, Jack Rabbit Slim with their own particular brand of Sleaze-a-billy, and the sophisticated-sounding Madison Heights Soul Experience. Danny Bedocs is bringing along the Milkcow Magazine Roadshow and spinning some vintage wax, plus other DJs and a Burlesque show will keep you up way past your bedtime! A fun fair and side shows for all the family will also feature all weekend. On the Sunday we will be open to the public as usual, with our Show and Shine open to Hot Rods, Customs, Muscle cars as well as other LHD American Cars and Classics. Custom Bikes are also welcome, and we expect several clubs to stage their own Ride-Ins on the day to join in the fun. As well as the full compliment of trade stands, there will also be a swap meet as well, so bring along those unwanted parts, your junk is someone else's treasure, so why not make a few quid to add to the beer kitty! All in all, everything you've come to expect at a Wheelers show and more, with the added attraction of a fantastic new venue! For booking information and more details, visit www.southcoastinternationals.com. Early Bird discount tickets are only available until 31st January. Additionally, we have a competition to give a way a pair of adult weekend tickets to one lucky winner. E-Mail your answer to the following question to win@victorywheelers.co.uk by 27th April: On which day will the Show and Shine be held? Tony Byng's funeral. 25th January: Many thanks to Jim Wade for passing us details of Tony Byng's funeral. Jim is aiming to collect together a few cars to send Tony off in true hot-rodding style and will be pleased to hear from anyone who would like to join in. Tony's funeral takes place at 1:30 pm on Thursday 9th February at Chichester Crematorium, Westhampnet Road, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 7UH (map). James will be in touch with arrangements for meeting up but if you are interested in bringing your car along then drop us a line at editor@eurodragster.com and we'll put you in touch. Thanks to those who have already sent tributes to Tony. All tributes are being passed to Jerry Cookson for posting on the Shakespeare County Raceway web site. If you would like to send a tribute to Tony then please E-Mail tributes@eurodragster.com and we'll pass it on. 2012 European SFI Tour. 25th January: Thanks to SFI Foundation President Arnie Kuhns for passing us the calendar for the 2012 SFI European Recertification Tour: 22nd March: Werner Habermann Racing, Kinzigstrasse 100, 63505 Langenselbold, Germany. Inspections 09:00 to 12:00. 23rd March: US Parts Speedshop, Holkkitie 10, Helsinki, Finland. Inspections 09:00 to 12:00. 24th March: Persåkers Speed Shop, 28 Solbergavagen, Akers Styckebruk, Sweden. Shop opens 10:00, inspections commence 12:00. 26th March: Santa Pod Raceway, Podington, England. Inspections 09:00 to 14:00. SFI will be able to perform certification inspections on the following parts: SFI 4.1 Rigid Auto Trans Shield SFI 29.1 and 29.2 Flexplates SFI 30.1 Flexplate Shield SFI 15.1, 15.2 & 15.3 Drag Race Wheels SFI 1.1 to 1.5 Clutch Assemblies SFI 6.1 to 6.3 Bellhousings Everyone to the rescue. 
25th January: One of the several thousand things which we think makes drag racing superior
to other forms of motorsport is everyone pitching in to help when a fellow member of the community is in need of
help and support, and another of those several thousand things is that drag racers tend not to give up in the
face of adversity. From UK Pro Modified racers Roger and Dave Moore comes an example of both as they write
to thank everyone who helped them after an accident on the way to last year's VP Racing Fuels National Finals at
Santa Pod Raceway:
As some of you may know, Roger was involved in a bad crash on the M11 on the way to the Pod. Whilst driving the artic with the race car in the back he was hit hard from behind by another thirty eight tonner. Our unit was a total write-off, and the motorway was closed for a few hours (as some of you know having been caught in the tailbacks). After many police statements, Roger and crewman Martin, who were both shaken up, and the truck were towed off to a salvage yard in Peterborough where Chris, Gary and I met them. We decided to try to go racing as we figured we were in with a good shot in the Championship. VOSA wanted to impound the rig so we needed to get the Viper and all the kit out as quickly as possible. The Pod came to the rescue, sending out a flatbed truck and a very large van. After cutting the hinges off the back trailer doors, which were wedged closed from the impact, we spent two hours unloading the car and all the kit, eventually getting to the Pod at nine in the evening. John Spuffard had laid on a trailer in our pit space, we got set up by midnight but then had three hours' work left on the Viper to get her ready for racing, plus some rear wing damage and front A-arm damage to sort from the impact in the truck. Race day dawned and we went racing, all very tired. We came very close to pulling it off that weekend, Wayne Nicholson put us out by a few feet in the second round; we were running on seven pots having disarmed the Nitrous on one cylinder due to piston damage on our last qualifier. That left the door open for Mr Ellis to wrap up the Championship, well done Graham! Rog, the rest of the crew and I were totally burnt out, but happy that we had given Graham a run for his money. Santa Pod then offered to take everything back down to Essex on Monday morning. We had a great season, very consistent and plenty of PBs. The Viper is currently being treated to a motor refresh and a CS2 five-speed Lenco to replace our CS1 four-speed, we may even have a new pair of slicks as well. To Spuff, Darren Prentice, Andy Robinson, David Lloyd-ones, the Santa Pod guys, Graham Ellis (offered us his tractor unit), Chris Isaacs, all the other Pro Mod teams who lent a hand, many thanks. Also thanks to our sponsors Shakespeare Engineering, Challenger Solutions, Generator Power Systems and Xamax Clothing for continued funding and support. See you all at Easter. Hockenheim hosts Speedgroup meetings. 25th January: Speedgroup met with FIA and UEM organisers in Hockenheim last Saturday to discuss the 2012 FIA and UEM European Championships as well as the new EDRS European Drag Racing Series administered by Speedgroup, which will in part be contested at the same venues and on the same dates as the FIA and UEM events. Host of the meeting was the HockenheimRing, which organises the NitrOlympx on 10th-12th August as part of the FIA and UEM European Drag Racing Championships. 
Track Operation manager Klaus Schwenninger took the opportunity to show his guests around the impressive HockenheimRing facilities during a bus tour with Klaus himself as the driver. The tour naturally included a stop at the famous podium used for Formula 1. On Sunday NitrOlympX Race Director Jerry Lackey and Speedgroup's Michael Gullqvist, Gittli Koller and Åsa Kinnemar hosted two meetings for German teams and stewards: one about the FIA/UEM Championships and one about the EDRS European Drag Racing Series administered by Speedgroup. 
Speedgroup Co-ordinator Åsa Kinnemar commented that the meetings held in different countries provide very important platforms for discussions and feedback, and that it was the first but certainly not the last time that team meetings will be organised in Germany. Speedgroup wish to direct a big Thank You to Klaus Schwenninger, George Seiler, Janet Linke and Sabine Thesseraux of HockenheimRing and NitrOlympX Race Director Jerry Lackey for hosting the meetings which included first class hospitality all the way. Forthcoming meetings for FIA/UEM and sportsman teams are on 11th February in the Solihull, UK, 19th February in Stockholm, Sweden, and on 23rd March in Helsinki, Finland. Please check the Speedgroup web site at www.speedgroup.eu for locations and schedules. Any questions can be addressed to Åsa at asa.kinnemar@speedgroup.eu. Swift snippets. 25th January: This was scheduled to be posted yesterday (Tuesday) but for obvious reasons had to be held back; Jeanette and Shelby Webster asked us to say a big Happy 50th Birthday for yesterday to Eurodragster.com sponsor Jon Webster. "We hope he likes his new toy!", they say. "Also, a Happy Birthday for yesterday to former Webster Race Engineering employee Graham Rice who shares the same birthday, hope the new venture is going well". Michael Procureur tells us that the King of Europe street-legal series is launching a new concept named the StreetFighter Series. "This new concept features night races and races on streets or highways, but in a fully-legal and secure environment!", says Michael. You can find out more at www.kingofeurope.net. Owen Developments back Frost. 25th January: The UK's Red Victor 1 Racing Team are proud to announce a very exciting new partnership with world-renowned turbo company Owen Developments for 2012. 
Andy Frost, Team Principal of RV1 Racing, says "This is a wonderful opportunity for the team. Owen Developments are one of the world's
leading turbo development companies and as such, can bring us into a whole new world of turbo tuning and development with the RV1
twin-turbo Garrett set up. With Owen's extensive range of turbos, aftermarket billet compressor wheel technology and their in-depth
knowledge of boosted applications, this is a fantastic opportunity to get the very latest turbo data and utilise it on the car. In return we hope
to furnish Owen Developments with plenty of real world data for them to digest and use for their future reference."
Lee Owen of Owen Developments says " We are very pleased to be in a position to support Andy's street-legal Pro Mod for the coming season. It's our intention to help Andy upgrade to the latest Pro Mod spec turbos and wastegates. We are very much looking forward to a mutually successful partnership and a successful seasons racing." "We thank Owen Developments for their foresight and interest in supporting our team and our new project Red Victor 3, and are looking forward to working with them throughout 2012 and beyond", says Andy. Evo Tuner support PSDS. 
25th January: Following on from last Thursday's
Pro Street Drag Series update, Jerry Cookson of
Shakespeare County Raceway has great pleasure in welcoming
Evo Tuner Magazine as the latest media supporter of the Pro Street
Drag Series:
Formerly Total Evolution, the magazine is now managed by a new publisher and editorial team and will be published every other month with issue one now on newsstands. Editor Will Neil has already confirmed editorial space for PSDS reports and photos in their Motorsports section. Will even hinted that they may even enter the magazine's very own Evo for some of the later season rounds. The first round of the Pro Street Drag Series is scheduled for Sunday 22nd April at Shakespeare County Raceway with Saturday being a test day. If you're interested in competing and you haven't already signed up for the series then full details can be found on the Series' forum page or Facebook page. More backing for the Psycho. 25th January: Adam Gleadow tells us that pre-season plans are well underway at the HQ of the Motor Psycho blown-alcohol altered operation. 
"A winter freshen-up and cosmetic updates are in progress and can be followed on our Facebook page
at www.facebook.com/MotorPyschoUK and on Twitter @motor_psycho",
says Adam. "As always sponsors are vital to the team and we're happy to announce the following for the 2012 season:
"Firstly welcome back to Lucas Oil Products, supporting us since 1998. We're proud to fly the Lucas banner in the Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association and use the finest lubricants available to protect our supercharged 511 ci Rodeck Chevy and drivetrain. "New on board for 2012 is Auto Finesse - The Fine Art of Detailing. Auto Finesse was founded for the sole purpose of taking automotive care to a new level. Based next to London Stansted Airport they offer a wide range of products and services, both from their range of car care products and their detailing services. They have their own well-equipped detailing workshop in which they detail some of the UK's finest vehicles to perfection, this is also where they test and trail all of their latest products in real-world situations. From their well-stocked warehouse they can ship their product range all around the world to dealers, resellers and their ever-growing distributor network. For a full range of Auto Finesse's market-leading hand-crafted detailing products and paint correction, enhancement and protection treatments visit their web site. "Also new for 2012 is Fresh Reflections who offer a variety of services for your race car, hot rod, muscle car or custom; polishing, restoration and refurbishment of all metal products, from wheels (including splitting and rebuilding multi piece split rims) to valve covers and everything in between; pinstriping; signwriting and gold / copper / silver leafing. All of these services will be proudly desplayed on Motor Psycho for the new season; a quick taster of the quality finish provided can been seen with my Impact Nitro helmet which has had their treatment already, the rest of the car is to come! Thanks to Dom Romney for the helmet photo. A web site will be launched very shortly at www.freshreflections.co.uk with full contact details and further examples of their work. "More news and updates are to follow over the coming months including new hero cards to be available in the pits from the Easter Thunderball thanks to the design work of Jayne Kay Designs." SPR update. 
25th January: Santa Pod Raceway hosts another Run What You Brung this Sunday (29th).
"Be sure to come along and get on the track if you want to get more than your fair share of track time as this is a quiet time of year for the Pro racers", says
James Forster of Santa Pod. "Also remember to register and take part in our new RWYB Challenge, details can be found on the web site at
www.rwyb.com as well as all the RWYB information you need.
"Santa Pod is taking bookings for Junior Dragster Hire at our RWYB days, with either our Stock or Modified cars. Stock Junior Dragster Hire provides the ultimate thrill for the inexperienced little ones and Modified hire provides the perfect stepping stone with the natural progression of our youngest superstars. For full details please visit the web site at www.santapod.co.uk/dr_junior.php." James adds that he has started to compile a provisional entry list for July's Dragstalgia event. Notable on the first version of the list is Robin Read's fuel-burning Daimler-powered dragster which is making a welcome return to the track. You can check out the Dragstalgia entry list at www.santapod.co.uk/e_entrylist_dragstalgia12.php and if you would like to register your intent to run at Dragstalgia - with no obligation, it is early days - then contact James at james@santapod.com. Web site updates. 25th January: Thanks to Luke Felstead aka the Pitrat for letting us know that race car builder Bill Felstead has updated his Facebook page with photographs of projects past and current including Eurodragster.com sponsor Matt Wright's Rolls Royce and Luke's own Junior Dragster. Tony Byng. 
24th January: It is with great sadness that Jerry Cookson reports the passing of Tony Byng, a true friend to everyone in both the drag racing
and hot rodding communities, after a long battle with cancer.
Tony will be best remembered as the Chief Starter at his favourite race track Shakespeare County Raceway. Before ruling the SCR start line in 2004 earlier in his marshalling career Tony was charged with looking after the water blocks for more years than I care to remember with his buddies Ray and Jacko. But in the rodding world he will be better known for his down-to-earth old-skool Model Y hot rod known to everyone down south as Mutha's Worry. Tony used to admit that it wasn't the best looking rod in the world but he loved it, and was well appreciated by his family and countless friends. One of Tony's greatest loves in life was the NSRA's Nostalgia Nationals and Hot Rod Drags and when he wasn't pushing the button he loved to talk about it which later led him into the world of commentating. Although ill health tried to get the better of him several years ago, having been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, Tony still liked to push the button whenever he could on the start lines of Dakota Drag Strip and Thorney Island - his home from home drag strip just at the end of the road. Tony also helped out wherever he could at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Brighton Speed Trials. Last year all was going well following surgery. So well that Tony bought his ultimate toy, a 1994 Ford Mustang 5.0 GT with which he was hoping to go Bracket Racing. Sadly, in his words before Christmas, "One of the buggers got away". Tony passed away peacefully on Sunday night (22nd). To his wife Sue, Russell, Gaynor, grandchildren and his immediate family and friends, we send our heartfelt condolences. Godspeed Tony! If you would like to send a tribute to Tony then please E-Mail us at tributes@eurodragster.com. Charman repeats TFB ride. 23rd January: 2011 ACU UK Top Fuel Bike Champion Kev Charman has confirmed that he will again be riding Rene van den Berg's Top Fuel Bike in 2012. Kev will contest the entire ACU Top Fuel Bike series as well as the UEM European Top Fuel Bike Championship rounds at Santa Pod Raceway: I said to Rene at the end of last year that I would be happy to ride it again, and I wasn't too happy about leaving my Top Fuel Bike career with the number one plate and a crash. We have been speaking to Rene over the winter, and another deal has been done. The bike is being repaired, and we fired her up last weekend. She sounds good. Chris (my Crew Chief) and I are going over to The Netherlands in the next few weeks to help Rene refresh the engine, and to learn a bit more. I will be doing the two European meetings and all the ACU rounds at Santa Pod. Hopefully Lizz and I will be racing at Drachten in July. Over the closed season I have been working on getting Lizzy's cylinder head repaired, and another one to work on, to give her a fighting chance of running the seven she so desperately wants. It's not been an easy couple of seasons for her. We have talked through who is doing what this year, and she is happy to run at two meetings, Springspeed and Open Sport Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway, plus For Ladies that Launch in July, unless we go to Drachten, for the Explosion Drag Racing weekend. At Santa Pod Lizz will be entering the Summernationals and Extreme Bike weekend. This way she can still crew for me, and not have to worry about her race, and I can crew for her, and not worry about mine! Jake in Junior Drag Bike has six rounds this year! Three of them being at Santa Pod, which is excellent news. The bike will be refreshed and Jake wants to change a few things to try and get some consistency, we hope he will stop growing soon as he is already in my leathers and Lizz has had to buy another pair! Because we are now sharing crewing duties, we have had a change to our team! Craig and Binz, loaned crew for last year, taught Chris and Lizzy what they needed to know while Rene's bike was being built. They will be going back to him, but still around if we need some advice. Rene is hoping his new bike will be out this year. Lisa and Graham, we are sure, even though taking some time out will still be around and about if we need them. So this year's team is Chris Pyke my long standing Crew Chief, Lizzy, and Bryony Wadkin-Snaith who will be joining us full-time. She is keen to learn, and available for all the meetings, so we all have a constant (and a cake!). We will, no doubt, see a lot of you at the Dinner and Dance in February, and if we don't we will see you at the track! Our web site at www.nitrousjunkie.com has also been updated. 2012 ACU Straightliners calendar. 23rd January: The UK's Straightliners are pleased to announce that the 2012 Straightliners race series will be run under ACU jurisdiction and permits. The race series will have full National status and be named the Straightliners ACU National Streetbike Series. Trevor Duckworth writes: The classes will be a mixture of bracket and heads-up racing classes following the proven Straightliners format. Bracket classes will be 11.10, 10.10, 9.10 and 8.50, and the heads-up classes will be Ultimate Street Bike up to 750cc, Ultimate Streetbike up to 1175cc, Ultimate Streetbike Unlimited cc and Top Bike. There are eleven Championship rounds of which the best nine rounds count. The dates and venues are: Round 1: Santa Pod, 18th March Round 2: Kirkbride, 31st March-1st April Round 3: Elvington, 22nd April Round 4: Santa Pod, 5th-7th May Round 5: Kirkbride, 19th-20th May Round 6: East Kirkby, 17th June Round 7: Elvington, 24th June Round 8: North Weald, 15th July Round 9: East Kirkby, 12th August Round 10: Jurby (IoM), 1st-2nd September Round 11: Santa Pod, 6th-7th October Rules and regulations can be found on the Straightliners web site at www.straightliners.co.uk. You can enter on the day or on-line at the Straightliners web site, at www.200mph.net, or E-Mail Helen Greathead at helen.greathead@ntworld.com. One-day ACU licences will be available at all events as will full ACU licence applications, and we will process these for you. Finally all of our motorcycle events including drag races are listed on our new web site at www.bikeshowseurope.co.uk. 2012 NSA Southern calendar. 
23rd January: Many thanks to Phil Steele who has been in touch with the
National Sprint Association (Southern) calendar for 2012:
31st March-1st April: Shakespeare County Raceway 22nd April: Shakespeare County Raceway 12th-13th May: Westonzoyland 27th May: Tempsford 30th June-1st July:Westonzoyland 15th July: Tempsford 11th-12th August: Westonzoyland 6th-7th October: Westonzoyland 27th-28th October: Shakespeare County Raceway "Day entries are available for meets at Tempsford and Westonzoyland", says Phil. "We also have a presence at the Bristol classic bike show at Shepton Mallet on 18th-19th Februrary, and a week later Race Retro at Stoneleigh where Keith Parnell's old bike Rouge et Noir 2 will be fired up in the race paddock during the show. "Our web page at www.nationalsprintassociationltd.com has information including dates for Northern meets and other sprints. We aso have a Facebook page. "If you have any queries then please contact me at paso@littlecherubracing.com." Flamholc hooks up with Doyousee.me. 23rd January: Swedish Pro Modified racer Adam Flamholc, who is headed for Florida to contest this weekend's 8th Annual Street Nationals in Bradenton, is very pleased to announce a partnership with Eurodragster.com streaming service provider Doyousee.me. Maikel Gloudemans of Doyousee.me says "In essence, I want to share that Pro Modified is my reason to visit drag races. I like the way that Adam's team is all about how motorsport should be: hospitable and accessible but focused and performing. This is the way I want to run my companies as well. Doyousee.me is one of the entities in my company Me(n)tal Enterprizes which specialises in broadcasting video through the internet. Its sister about:Quality Internet Services provides the distribution network, and Me(n)tal Enterprizes software development has developed the software for the distribution servers and the custom build player, which can do much more than merely show video; for example for drag racing there's a special connection with timing equipment to display results in the player." "Doyousee.me is a perfect business partner for us", says Adam. "They have a great interest in the sport, and work hard to make it bigger!" Doyousee.me will also continue to sponsor Ivana van den Berg's Junior Funny Car this season. Swift snippets. 23rd January: Chris Garner has asked us to say a big Happy 50th Birthday to Mike Garner, who is a huge drag racing fan now in his thirty seventh year of following the sport. We are very pleased to do so, have a great day Mike and here's to many more years on the spectator bank. Max has asked us to congratulate Jason Phelps and Terri-Anne White on the birth of their daughter. No sooner said than done, congratulations guys. Steve Dudley tells us that the next meeting of Mr D slot drag racing takes place at The Cathedral Primary School in Chelmsford this Friday. Racing starts at 7:30 pm; more details at slotdragracing.weebly.com. We understand that the first UEM European Drag Bike Championship round of 2012, which was to have taken place at Kunmadaras in Hungary, is no longer to be a UEM Championship round although the event itself will still take place. If so then the 2012 UEM European Championship will commence with the FIA Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway at the start of June. We will of course bring you more news on this when we receive it. Web site updates. 23rd January: In the latest instalment in his exclusive Blog presented in association with Alamo Rent-A-Car, Santa Pod Raceway Track Announcer Colin Theobald realises that there is actually no such thing as a closed season. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Alamo Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. 
Whilst some of us spent the weekend clearing junk out of our spare room or else, Jon Spoard of the excellent UK Drag Racing
Nostalgia web site managed to avoid uxorial command and worked hard to extend his fascinating list of UK entry lists, event
programme covers and results by adding those for the year 1972 which you can check out at
www.ukdrn.co.uk/EL/ELDATES.html.
"Special thanks to Clive Rooms and to everyone who kindly contributed to this feature as without them it wouldn't have been possible",
says Jon. "The section badly needs some results to add to the year so if anybody has any which they could scan or loan me then please get in
touch via the web site at www.ukdrn.co.uk.
Chris Eyre of the Eurodragpics.com web site has started work on a T-shirt line, of which the first three designs are now available.
"All three designs are available in sizes small to XXL", says Chris. "The price for these shirts is £13.50 including postage. All you have to do to place your
order is to head to my For sale page at www.eurodragpics.com/for-sale. Roll on Easter!"Euro youngster takes Street Run B. 20th January: Our good buddy Pascal Thébault has been in touch with a 2011 review of Street Run B France's Association Trophée Dragster Championship: ATD Street Run B is the 13.00 index class and offers wide variety with muscle cars from all eras, Beetles and small Euro cars. 
The final podium proves this variety as the very young Béranger Pudil with his Opel Speedster Turbo C6 finished in front of Gino Scamarazzino's Corvette C6. Gino did not attend the first race or no doubt he would have won on the basis of his performance in his three other outings. The lovely and always-smiling Jenny Lacasa with her flawless Type 2 VW joined them on the third step of the podium. 
The 2011 ATD Street Run B Championship finished as follows:
Swift snippets. 20th January: Voting for the APIRA, SPRC and Obsession Motorsports Perpetual Awards and nominations for the SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy closes at 23:59 UK tonight (Friday). To check out the shortlists and submit your votes or nomination check out the Perpetual Awards page by clicking here or by clicking on the 2011 Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Vote riggers need not apply. RET repeat Frost backing. 
20th January: UK street-legal Pro Mod racer Andy Frost and the
Red Victor team are pleased to
announce that Race Engine Technology magazine has renewed its sponsorship for the 2012 season.
As part of the sponsorship deal, Eurodragster.com readers can get 10% off Drag Race Technology
Volume 2 (right) as well as all other RET titles.
"I have read the latest Drag Race Technology magazine and it is a cracking read", says Andy. "You can see from the list of contents of this issue that there is plenty to go through." Intro: THE EDITOR Shock and awe is the only way to describe the sight of a Top Fuel car launching down a drag strip Grid: IN THE NEWS The latest news from the fire-up lane Profile: DIE HARD DSR FUNNY CAR Don Schumacher Racing made the first NHRA Funny Car pass in less than four seconds. Jeff Huneycutt reports on how they did it Insight: TOP FUEL ENGINES Oliver Allan looks at the development of the Top Fuel dragster engine from a Formula One perspective Profile: STUDEBAKER PRO MOD Daniel Cooper finds out what went in to making Andy Robinson's Studebaker so successful on the drag race circuit Focus: CHASSIS Lawrence Butcher takes an in-depth look at what it takes to design and build modern dragster and Funny Car chassis Profile: PRO STOCK SUZUKI GSX-R Anne Proffit finds out how one Louisiana family won the Pro Stock Motorcycle competition – with its youngest Champion ever Focus: TRANSMISSIONS Lawrence Butcher examines some of the transmission technology in drag racing's most popular classes Review: TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT Lawrence Butcher details some of the aspects of drag racing hardware that have seen improvements in recent years DRAG RACE TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORY The drag racer's resource PS: LIFE WITHOUT RULES What might happen if engineers were left to their own devices? To order your copy, either click on the picture at right or visit www.highpowermedia.com and quote discount code redvictor1. Web site updates. 20th January: Photographer Tim Fountain's web site at www.timtime.co.uk is undergoing a transformation and now includes a Blog. "The latest entry, Autosport International 2012, is a short report on my entry into the Autosport International 2012 Photography Competition and a link to a previously-unpublished photo of a fireballing Gary Page in the former Pennzoil Mongoose Funny Car", says Tim. "The web site will be updated further over the next few weeks." 2012 calendars. 19th January: Thanks to Jerry and Sharron Collier for sending us the 2012 calendar for the Junior Drag Bike Championship, which is to be sponsored by IM Photography: 6th-9th April: Auto Trader Easter Thunderball, Santa Pod Raceway 27th-29th April: Big Bang, Santa Pod Raceway 5th-7th May: Springspeed Festival, Shakespeare County Raceway 7th-8th July: Mini Festival, Shakespeare County Raceway 25th-27th August: Open Sport Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway 22nd-23rd September: VP Racing Fuels National Finals, Santa Pod Raceway "Thank you to both tracks for their help", say Jerry and Sharron. 2012 is going to be massive!" Norsk Dragracing Gardermoen have also released their 2012 calendar: 5th-6th May: Spring Nats 23rd-24th June: Summer Nats 3rd-5th August: Drag Challenge 1st-2nd September: Drag Finals Dragracing marknad. 
19th January: Johan Samuelsson writes that this year's Drag Racing Swap Meet takes place
on 18th February at the Norrköpings Mässhallar, close to the E4 motorway about sixty kilometres north of Mantorp Park
(map).
"This event is arranged by Åby Motorklubb and is the major winter drag racing event in Scandinavia", says Johan. "All categories of race parts can be found from new to used, from Pro classes to street racing. "The main entrance opens at 09:00 and gates close at approximately 15:00. During the day there will also be meetings with some of the Swedish drag racing class associations etc. For sales pitch reservations please contact Åby Motorklubb via www.abymotorklubb.se. If you would like more information about the drag racing swap meet, admission fee or road directions etc please drop an E-Mail to amk@abymotorklubb.se or call +46 11 69833." ACAG fills a gap. 
19th January: The Allard Chrysler Action Group
organised its first joint venture event with the Institute of the Motor Industry at Derby College on
11th-12th January. Thanks to transport from the Automatic Gearbox Company, Ken and Brad Cooper's
1960s-style Flathead slingshot proved to be a big draw to the 350 or so school pre-leavers and first-,
second- and third-year apprentices. Thanks to Santa Pod ACAG were able to show DVDs of the 2011 FIA
season, plus the 1973 Internationals thanks to Jon Spoard and a selection of nostalgia footage supplied
by Nick Pettitt.
ACAG Chair Brian Taylor said "Something that really shocked me was that over half of those attending had never heard of drag racing! They got really excited when the saw the car and watched the DVDs but I found this loss of a generation a bit scary because we must attract the young into our sport. These are our future. The Junior Dragsters tend to be driven by the sons and daughters of those already in the sport rather than new entrants. "When we had National Clubs they had Area Reps who went out to spread the word in their locality and National Committee members supported them with American drag racing films and cars firing up in the car park. Now the sport is based on Track Clubs this doesn't appear to happen so much apart from a few notable exceptions of course such as another college event held at Northbrook College in Sussex. Understandably the tracks tend to be involved in the big events like Autosport International and Race Retro or promotions near to their tracks. Maybe some local events go unpublicised? I think we must live in a drag racing bubble assuming everyone knows about it because we are so enthusiastic ourselves. One of the teachers looking after a school group at Derby asked if dragsters used a balloon to slow them down. Clearly much work needs to be done. "Our Derby Event was a big success and the IMI want us to do it again. Derby College were so happy that they are talking about building a dragster as a project. How cool would that be if other colleges went the same way? I can see plenty of potential if that should happen. "Maybe this link with the IMI can fill the awareness void on a national basis but we will need the support of local racers. As well as Ken and Brad Cooper who are based near Birmingham we have Dexter Price in Essex, Roy Walker in Northampton plus Wayne and Brad Jackson in Sheffield. F&A Racing will make their car available when possible and of course our own 1961 Allard Chrysler will be on the list when complete. Likewise Santa Pod vehicles will be displayed when commitments permit. So if you have a car or bike and want to be part of the display team then please contact me at brian@allardchrysler.org. It gives your existing sponsors a bit of publicity, inspires those who will be the future of our sport and you never know what else it might lead to." PSDS set for 2012. 19th January: Born from an idea conceived by Jap drag racing standout and Ten of the Best IV winner Keith Cowie the Pro Street Drag Series, exclusive to Shakespeare County Raceway, looks set to enter its fifth anniversary year with renewed interest and enthusiasm from all concerned. 
This year the PSDS has five time bracketed rounds at the Warwickshire quarter mile rather than the usual eliminator
racing. During the off-season series officials have been receiving new requests and registrations as drivers bid to see
how quick their street-legal Jap cars can do against the experienced campaigners and defending overall PSDS Champion
Paul Reeves with the Skylinenuts.com GTST.
Although the basic rules for Series entry are pretty much standard to a normal weekend's Run What Ya Brung, racers now have the option of running with just a firmly secured single driver's seat, relaxed ruling on tyres, and an optional pre race round £5 entry fee which automatically goes into the prize pot to be awarded to the day's overall winner in addition to the class winners' trophies and goodie bags from the Raceway's many supporters. Rules also insist on OEM working dash board and exhaust system as well as a driver's roll cage for all cars running under ten seconds or over 130 mph. As a precaution roll bars are recommended for any car running 11 second quarters or quicker! There are five classes of competition ranging from fourteen seconds up to the quicker 9.3-second cars. A typical day will see racers getting in as many timed runs as possible. The quicker you are during the rounds the more points are awarded throughout the season. Timed runs are recorded from the track opening at ten on a Sunday morning to the cut-off at four in the afternoon (subject to track conditions permitting of course) when times are scrutinised by officials, and trophies and points are awarded. All cars are subject to the usual race track conditions of scrutineering and the wearing of crash helmets. A full explanation of the rules can be found on the PSDS forum. 
With the first round of the series scheduled for Sunday 22nd April the entry list already has a few notable names. Jap Drag Series
racer Jeff Ludgate is hoping to break some records this year for his Abby Motorsports Nissan Skyline. Towards last season Jeff was
looking to become a World Record holder for the quickest full weight R33 GTR by running quicker than a 9.7. Maybe this year Jeff!
Former Street Class Champion Cliff Judson will be out again this year looking for another title in as-yet an unnamed car while Nissan 200SX exponents John Stocker and Tony Walters will be giving the series their best shots alongside Simon Paul and Gary Bramwell in their Toyota Supras. The 22nd April opener at Shakespeare County Raceway is followed by rounds on Sundays 10th June, 22nd July, 14th October and 28th October. All Saturdays are test days. Further information about PSDS chat, rules, and how to join the series can be found on the official Pro Street Drag Series forum at prostreetdragseriesuk.freeforums.org and on the PSDS Facebook page. The 2012 Pro Street Drag Series is proudly supported by Mahle Pistons, Roland Alsop Engineering, Opie Oils, Total Car Magazines, RockAuto.com, Fast N Modified, and Voltz Energy Drink. All these great companies make our high speed hobby possible. Speedgroup launch racers' club. 19th January: Speedgroup have launched a Drivers and Riders Club for racers competing in the EDRS European Drag Racing Series. As a member racers enjoy the benefits listed below and will be entered into a draw with chance to win prizes supplied by some of Speedgroup's partners. Membership fees 2012 Adults: €50 (SEK450/£40) Juniors under 19: €35 (SEK300/£30) Payment can be made either by Paypal or by bank transfer. Included in Club membership are:
You can find out more and sign up at www.speedgroup.eu. Ace Café and SCR tie up. 19th January: Shakespeare County Raceway and London's legendary Ace Café have teamed up for the second year running with opportunities to win tickets for the Warwickshire drag strip's Nostalgia Nationals and the Original Hot Rod Drags presented by the National Street Rod Association in June and September. To win all you need to do is spend £5 or more over the counter on the evenings of the Ace's popular Hot Rod Nights and All American Cruse-in and you will be given a numbered ticket for the evening's raffle. Details of the aforementioned evenings can be found on the Ace Café web site or the Shakespeare County Raceway web site at www.shakespearecountyraceway.co.uk. Situated on the North Circular Road between the A40 and the A404 (Harrow Road) in London, the Ace has a daily calendar of car and motorcycle orientated evenings and weekends throughout the year culminating with the 19th Annual Ace Cafe Reunion held on the 7th-9th September. Stunt Bike shows and American-themed days are also part of the calendar. You can stick your £500... 
19th January: After a year of entries, Santa Pod Raceway is happy to announce the winner of the
Stick It Competition.
"You may have seen the stickers appearing all around as throughout 2011 we have been handing out stickers of a green helmet on the gates at events", says James Forster. "The competition was simply to see who could stick theirs in the most interesting place! The competition saw some fantastic entries including Jon Lankford who seemingly got into the cockpit of an Airbus, Jared Beecroft with the Naked Cowboy in Times Square, Andrea at Kilimanjaro, Zac Everett at the top of the Empire State Building and Yaz Fisher who stuck hers on a black rhino!? "All this made for some very difficult judging for the independent panel but in the end it was deemed that Paul Cresswell, with his entry on an armoured vehicle in Camp Bastion, Helm Province in Afghanistan, was the winner and recipient of a cheque for £500. Understandably Paul was chuffed to bits and he's already told us that the money will be going towards his race car when he returns from his service." To see all of the competition entries check out www.santapod.co.uk/stickit. 2012 UK Riders' and Drivers' meeting. 17th January: Many thanks to Ian Marshall for confirming that the 2012 UK Riders' and Drivers' Meeting will be held on Sunday 26th February in the Executive Suite at Nene Park, formerly Rushden and Diamonds' football stadium but now Kettering Town's stadium, in Nene Way in Irthlingborough (click here for a map). The meeting will commence at 12:00 midday and will go on until 3:00 pm if necessary. Tea and coffee will be available for a small fee. Items to be discussed include the 2012 UK National Championships (ratification of dates as well as Championship matters), event entry fees and pitside electrical supply, and prize funds, as well as Any Other Business. ©Eurodragster.com Racers are invited to submit items for the agenda but please note that an item will only be discussed if its proposer actually attends the meeting. If you have any items for the agenda of the 2012 Riders' and Drivers' Meeting then please send them either to Santa Pod Racers Club at paula.marshall@btconnect.com or to Shakespeare County Raceway at enquiries@shakespearecountyraceway.co.uk by close of office hours on Friday 17th February. Catching 'em young. 
17th January: When Leena Nyyssönen of Finland's PL-Power Junior Drag Team is not a drag racing maniac she has a day job as an English teacher in the
small town of Jämsänkoski. As Christmas approached Leena found a novel way to combine the two by setting up a drag racing workshop:
The groups were instantly filled to the brim. So fast in fact that the only drag racer in our school (so far), twelve-year-old Junior Dragster driver Petteri Liimatainen, was left outside! Forty five pupils aged between nine and twelve attended workshops to learn about the fastest motorsport on the planet. They were introduced to facts and figures about European drag racing: tracks, classes, drivers, and of course, Junior Drag Racing in Europe. With the help of photographs, film clips, true stories, and a built-to-scale cardboard Top Fueller to demonstrate the real size of the vehicle they learned a bit about speed, the laws of physics, and gorgeous race cars. The thing they were wondering about was how come their English teacher had suddenly turned into a drag race enthusiast! Well, I had been lured into the world of drag racing years before by my fiancé, and ever since have been driven by the desire to Show and Tell to anyone who was willing to listen. After years of touring around events in Europe, I now feel even more strongly that it is important to tell kids about the opportunities to make great new friends and to learn foreign languages and customs through drag racing. Due to the keen interest the kids showed this year our Crew Chief, headmaster Antti Manninen, has promised to dig up the money needed for a weekly Drag Race Club which starts at our school later this spring. When he asked me if I knew anyone who could help me, I suggested my fiancé who has been involved in the sport for twenty five years now. He has races, been a mechanic for bikes, worked on a couple of Pro teams, and now runs our Junior Drag Team. Together, we plan to invite the lovely Anita Mäkelä - who just happens to live very close to us - to be our guest speaker! The winner of our Top Fueller colouring competition, Juha Lahti of Class 5C, was extremely proud to receive a great fire burnout shot of the legendary Havoc Altered. We sincerely wish to thank Tog of Eurodragster.com for providing the first prize as well as stickers and pens for everyone who took part in the workshop (You're welcome - Ed). Swift snippets. 17th January: Further to yesterday's snippet, Carole Ismail of Santa Pod Racers Club and Eurodragster.com sponsor Phoenix Personnel tells us that two more hotel rooms have become available at the St John's Hotel, Solihull, for the evening of the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance. To take one of these rooms contact the hotel direct on 0121 711 3000 and quote SPRC Dinner and Dance. Even though we make it quite clear that we can identify attempts at mass votes for the Perpetual Awards, someone always tries it on and we've had another one in the last twenty four hours. To the person responsible: we're on to you, and those votes aren't counting. TS. UK Top Sportsman 2012. 17th January: Top Sportsman, the exciting new heads-up doorslammer class, returns to Santa Pod Raceway at the 2012 Mopar Euronationals on 27th-29th July. Paul Marston writes: On behalf of Jeff Bull and myself I must offer our heartfelt thanks to the Mopar Euronats Committee for helping us out with a date. Santa Pod's management had really tried to find us a summer break date but as they already have probably the busiest and most successful drag strip on the planet it was no easy task. Nevertheless Jeff and I really appreciate the efforts of David and James at Santa Pod. UK Top Sportsman needed a date in the summer break, logistically with most teams it's the only time they can all assemble. Upon hearing of our plight the Mopar guys immediately got in touch to see if they could help out. Both Jeff and I were bowled over with the offer, as holding UK Top Sportsman within the Mopars is a perfect compliment. A heads-up no rules doorslammer class at the biggest, most established and best muscle car show on the calendar - perfect! The inaugural running of Top Sportsman at Dragstalgia last year proved to be an enormous success, with twenty four teams on the property to fight it out. There was some stunning and thrilling racing together with big upsets and Personal Bests. With cars from eight different series and classes from around the country slugging it out, it really was a Who's Who from Where's Where. It should be very interesting to see who shows up this time around. The format will stay virtually the same as 2011, two races over the three days. Heads-up eliminator, 0.400 Pro Tree, one-shot qualifying, sixteen-car field. Also the exciting opportunity to experience heads-up bracket racing, 0.400 Pro Tree, one timed run then straight into eliminations, with a first round buy back. For more details of how it all works please refer to the web site at www.topsportsman.co.uk. Other than safety, there are no rules. This is not an MSA event, it is an outlaw event. All you need to race is a driving licence, same as at a Run What You Brung. No weight breaks, no cubic inch limit, you want to use four turbos and a three-stage nitrous system, that's fine by us. This is one event where you run what you brung and hope you brung enough. Last years heads-up final was a classic North v South showdown between the numbers one and two qualifiers, a Street Eliminator Turbo Mustang and a Super Modified Chevy pick-up. If you want a share of the purse of the richest doorslammer race on the calendar, this is the one. Last year there was over £5,000 cash and trophies to be won, this year should see the same. Jeff and I believe in sharing the wealth amongst the competitors: in 2011 over half the competitors shared in the prize fund. As we are both racers we know how much it costs to race, spreading the prize fund is our way of showing our appreciation. Entry fees will in all probability be the same as 2011. As with last year, we need race teams who are thinking of coming along to register their interest Jeff Bull through the contact form on the Top Sportsman web site or with me at pmracing@fsmail.net. Web site updates. 17th January: If you fancy going back in time then our good buddy Markus Münch has posted a set of pictures from the 2005 FIA Main Event on the excellent der Beschleuniger web site at www.derbeschleuniger.de/galerien/santa-pod-main-event-2005.html. Obsession, APIRA, SPRC Awards vote 12. 16th January: Obsession Motorsports, Avon Park International Racing Association, and Santa Pod Racers Club, Obsession Motorsports and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the APIRA and SPRC Perpetual Awards and Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 11th February 2012. For several of the 2011 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 APIRA and SPRC Committees and Obsession Motorsports decide upon their winners. The latest category 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, in alphabetical order, is as follows: Karl Harrison, Super Pro ET Vote for Karl Harrison Joe Kellett, Junior Dragster Vote for Joe Kellett Paul Marston, Paul Marston Racing Vote for Paul Marston Brian Pateman, Super Comp and Super Gas Vote for Brian Pateman Darren Prentice, Santa Pod Raceway Vote for Darren Prentice Paul Watson, DynoSpeed Developments Vote for Paul Watson To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2011 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 Racers Club'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 Dave Crunkhorn (aka Crunch). Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2011@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, forum members or Facebook friends 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 whether or not that nominee knows what was going on and if necessary names will be named. Want that on your conscience? We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. Voting, and nominations for the SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, close at 23:59 UK this Friday (20th). PRG deliver for F&A. 
16th January: Eurodragster.com sponsor
Power Race Graphics are delighted to see the F&A Racing team
realise their dream of Top Fuel racing with the debut of their Lucas Oil Products Top Fuel Dragster at the Autosport International show.
"This team have demonstrated nothing short of dogged determination on the part of everyone in the set-up to dig in and reach their goal", says Darren West. "If this level of commitment and ambition to succeed hooks up to the racing surface then this team will be a force on the tour! "F&A Racing were one of my very first customers when I was just getting PRG off the ground in spring 2003. We put together sponsorship proposals back then for approaches to various companies in the hope that the team could attract the backing to race a nitro car and continue the momentum they had from Chris' successful licensing passes. Impressively they've stuck at it and it will be great to see Chris back in the cockpit in the coming months. "Given a worryingly tight deadline, PRG prepared visuals for presentation of the car, transporter and teamwear and placed the vinyl fitting work with Bedfordshire-based OceanPrint - the second Top Fuel car the company have fitted a PRG vinyl scheme to in as many months. Finished literally on the eve of the show, the car was unveiled by the F&A team with fresh Lucas Oil Products livery which reintroduces the brand to FIA Top Fuel with a strong new look. "PRG wish all of the team at F&A the very best of luck for a successful attack on the FIA tour!" Swift snippets. 
16th January: Paul Cann writes that former Twisted Sanity Rocket Dragster pilot
Charles Berg's latest project is to stuff a Wasp helicopter jet engine with afterburner into the back of a Vauxhall Astra
Estate. "The car is road legal and the initial test fire of the jet engine went well", says Paul. "Could this be the quickest Vauxhall Astra Estate in the
world? It will be appearing at a drag strip near you some time soon."
Julie Willcox has been in touch to say that she has a couple of double rooms available for the evening of the APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance (Saturday 11th February) at the Dinner Dance venue, the St Johns Hotel in Solihull. If you are interested in taking over one of these hotel rooms then please contact Julie on 07792 919508 or E-Mail willcoxjulie@yahoo.co.uk. First come, first served. Nicholson keen to get going. 16th January: UK Pro Modified racer Wayne Nicholson says that he is looking forward to 2012 and the MSA British Pro Modified Championship: I think we made some progress last year, qualifying well at most events and making our first final. I know we have more performance available and some scores to settle! 2012 will also feature our first trip abroad with the team, we will be going to Hockenheim in August so that's something else to look forward to. I am very pleased to say that all of our sponsors have returned for 2012: Lucas Oil, Allyfab and Originals Hot Rod Supply. Our same great crew are with us: Den, Tony, Adam and Joe and of course my wife Belinda. Our eldest son Gareth will be getting to the track this year too, he is at university in Newcastle and works there too, so time has been difficult. Thank you to all our supporters and for all the positive comments, it is greatly appreciated. Please come by and say Hi at the track and please visit our web site at www.luckydevil777dragracing.com. How long to Easter? Web site updates. 
16th January: Our good buddy, photographer Julian Hunt has just updated his web site with
pictures from the NitrOlympX at Hockenheim back in August. You can check out Julian's pictures at
www.julianhunt.net.Autosport International coverage. 15th January: Eurodragster.com spent Friday and yesterday at Autosport International at Birmingham's NEC. Our illustrated end-day reports (in pit note format) and small galleries of extra pictures, brought to you in association with Alamo Rent-A-Car, can be checked out by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Yesterday's report includes not only the début of two new race cars but our traditional chat with Santa Pod Raceway's General Manager David Lloyd-Jones who amongst other things spoke about SPR's start line and revealed that the FIA Main Event has a rain date. To find out more check out the report. Many thanks to Spencer Tramm and Grace Roaf who contributed notes and pictures to our coverage. Lucas back F&A Racing. 
14th January: The American-based Lucas Oil Products Inc has been synonymous with motorsports for over twenty
years. The high performance lubricants and versatile additive company has quickly become a global leader expanding sales, operations, and its ever
increasing marketing foot print on a worldwide level. Supporting motorsports at every level from grassroots sportsman to professional top-tier international
racing programmes has been key in every development.
Lucas Oil has signed on to support F & A Racing (Forbes & Andrew Racing) with notable driver Chris Andrews piloting a 300 mph Top Fuel Dragster. F&A Racing was established in 1998 and went on to make a name in the European Motorsports Community. Chris went on to become one of Europe's hot properties making a name for himself as a rookie driver and quickly climbing the division ladder. "The European market is a valuable and prestigious commodity for Lucas Oil and Drag Racing forged our heritage in motorsports", declared Forrest Lucas, Founder and President of Lucas Oil Products. "Our new partner based in the UK, F & A Racing will be essential in activating product sales throughout Europe and extends into parts of Africa." Chris Andrews stated "I am very proud to be able to represent Lucas Oil on the European Stage. We are looking forward to competing in the FIA European Drag Racing Championship through 2012 and beyond. With the backing of such a dynamic brand, we will do everything possible to break records and earn a Championship." APIRA, SPRC, Obsession Awards vote 11. 14th January: Avon Park International Racing Association, Santa Pod Racers Club, Obsession Motorsports and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the APIRA and SPRC Perpetual Awards and Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 11th February 2012. For several of the 2011 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 APIRA and SPRC Committees and Obsession Motorsports decide upon their winners. The latest category 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: Lee Gallimore, Supercharged Outlaws Vote for Lee Gallimore Team Jackson's MoT (Ian, Carol and Jake), Sportsman ET Vote for Team Jackson's MoT Chris and Stacey Reed, Super Street Bike and Junior Dragster Vote for Chris and Stacey Reed The Shakespeare County Racers, Run What You Brung Vote for the Shakespeare County Racers The Shakespeare County Raceway Junior Dragster League, Junior Dragster Vote for the SCR Junior Dragster League To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official APIRA Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2011 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 Racers Club'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 Dave Crunkhorn (aka Crunch). Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2011@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, forum members or Facebook friends 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 whether or not that nominee knows what was going on and if necessary names will be named. Want that on your conscience? We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. The shortlists for Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year Trophy will be announced on Monday. Voting, and nominations for the SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, will then remain open until 23:59 UK next Friday (20th). Pateman posts Super Gas bonus. 13th January: 2011 UK National Super Comp and Super Gas Champion Brian Pateman is posting a bonus for the winner of the 2012 UK National Super Gas Championship through his company Britex Services Ltd who install telephone and network cabling for business and residential customers, repair faults, and fit telephone systems. "I will be posting £250 for the 2012 Champion", says Brian. "To be eligible, the winner must display a pair of Britex Services stickers from the Easter Thunderball to the National Finals, and supply a picture of the car with the stickers in place. Paul Foote has kindly sponsored the stickers which will be available from the Pateman pit at the Easter Thunderball. Check out Paul's web site at www.trailerwraps.co.nr - his work is first class, definitely worth a call for your vinyl. "Can I add that if anyone has concerns about noise testing in Super Gas, I would advise calling the tech guys." 2012 SPR RWYB Challenge. 13th January: James Forster of Santa Pod Raceway has been in touch with details of the Run What You Brung Challenge 2012, which is a RWYB table which lets you compare your best quarter-mile performances at Santa Pod with other cars and bikes. The first round takes place at Santa Pod's first RWYB of 2012 this Sunday (15th). How does the Championship table work? As in previous years, daily tables will be published on-line to show who set the fastest time of each day – this will now show how many points you have acquired on that particular day. Points will be awarded as follows:
Please note that this competition is now open to everyone, not only street-legal vehicles as in previous years. Anything with four wheels running the quarter mile will go into the car class and anything with two wheels will go into the bike class. It is completely free to join the Championship table. All you need to do is pre-register your vehicle online and obtain your personal race number. At the track this race number should be displayed on the rear of the vehicle clearly visible to staff in Race Control (shoe white is recommended and some will be available from the Signing On office). If the staff in Race Control do not see a CC number then your time will not be valid. You can collect your timing slip as normal from the Signing On office and after each meeting we will post the RWYB Challenge times together with an updated season table on the RWYB web site. The driver and rider with the most points in 2012 will receive £500 and be our VIP guests at Santa Pod Raceway's end of season Flame and Thunder Show, where a trophy and cheque presentation will take place. Hotel accommodation will also be provided for the Saturday night and the winners will even have the opportunity to get their vehicles on the track. For full details, and to enter, please visit www.rwyb.com. Ambassadors to a King. 13th January: The UK's Bennett Racing are extremely proud to announce that they have been selected to become European ambassadors for King Engine Bearings. Luke Bennett writes: 
This is a big thing to us and we hope to do them proud. Our role will be to promote King Engine Bearings and to select race team, or even full classes
to sponsor with bearings. This is a great role and carries a lot of responsibility and trust; we thank King for believing in us.
The first team we have selected are the ultra professional and very experienced Showtime Funny Car Team. This was an easy choice. Bob, John and the team have been racing for years and have the quickest and fastest Nitro Funny Car in Europe with a 5.050/309.36. We are confident of a long and successful partnership with them. There will be lots more news on sponsorship of more teams and/or classes so keep checking back at Eurodragster.com. In the meantime, don't forget to check out www.kingbearings.com for more information regarding engine bearings for your application. 
Bennett Racing are constantly on the search for new sponsors and partners to join our ever growing support list - currently at twenty two! This is not some overnight
success as we work very hard to get and of course to keep these sponsors. However we are looking for more, so if you think you have a product we can use, or would if
you would like to offer financial help for the team then please consider us. We are a family-run three-car race team with over sixty years' combined drag racing experience!
So if you are looking for a proven, successful and inventive way to market your business, Bennett Racing has a huge range of opportunities to help you
Take advantage of the most sponsor loyal fan base in sport; Create brand awareness for your product; Entertain important customers and prospects at the track; Create more revenue; and, of course, sell more product! To request more information, please contact us by E-Mail at info@bennettracing.co.uk and someone will contact you shortly. Swift snippets. 13th January: We have set up a tribute page to Tony Beadle which you can read by clicking here or by clicking on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. If you would like to send your own tribute to Tony then please E-Mail us at tributes@eurodragster.com. Jonathan Atkinson is in the process of developing an idea and needs a few old unused fat / wide motorcycle tyres (or similar). "If anybody can help, I can be contacted on 07903 754797 or jonno6669@yahoo.co.uk. Hurst Boiler press release. 13th January: Hurst Boiler is proud to once again be a sponsor of the Adam Flamholc Racing team for the 2012 NHRA Championship Drag Racing (quarter mile) and American Drag Racing League (eighth mile) racing seasons. "We first became involved with Adam Flamholc Racing four years ago after seeing him race in Richmond, VA" said Jeff Hurst, VP Sales and Marketing of Hurst Boiler and Welding Co Inc. "Each time Adam has raced in the US, Hurst Boiler has participated in sponsoring him. Adam is proudly displaying the Hurst logo on the front of the Flamholc rac ecar for the 2012 season. And I have to say that the flame in our logo suits drag racing very well!" Adam Flamholc has been a licenced dragster since 1991. In 2005 Adam stepped up from Sportsman racing to the Professional class called Pro Stock. With the help from sponsors including Hurst Boiler, Flamholc Racing became the first team outside the US to run a 6.6-second time in the class. In their first year in the FIA European Drag Racing Championship, Flamholc Racing finished number three in the points, and won the European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway in 2010. At the same event they also took the European ET record of 5.96 seconds. In 2008 Flamholc Racing moved into Pro Mod, or Pro Modified, a class or division in the sport of drag racing used in the NHRA (quarter mile) and the ADRL. ADRL will feature Pro Mod racing for its 2012 season. Boasting a doorslammer racing history, featuring full-bodied racing sedans that are replicas of production vehicles, the widely-popular Pro Mod class will mix supercharged, nitrous and turbo cars into one incredibly competitive division, adding even more excitement to the ADRL's thrilling race schedule. Come out and see the Flamholc Racing team. Adam will be driving the Hurst-sponsored car in the upcoming 8th Annual US Street Nationals at Bradenton, FL on 27th-29th January; the 18th Annual Snowbird Nationals at Orlando, FL on 31st January-5th February at as well as all ten events in ADRL 2012 (Pro Mod) beginning on 30th March at Baytown, TX. "This is really something we have dreamed of", said Adam. "None of this would have been possible without our business partners. A very big thank you goes out to our main sponsors Hurst Boiler and Welding Co and Amalie Oil." Web site updates. 13th January: Eurodragster.com Pit Reporter and Blog Editor Simon has a recommendation for readers who like their nostalgia. If you're into interviews with legends of drag racing and chat about music contemporaneous to their heyday, I can highly recommend pointing your browser to Racin' and Rockin' with Draglist.com at archives.zeusradio.com/category/racers-reunion/racin-and-rockin-with-draglist-com. The broadcasts, which can be downloaded free in MP3 format, include Draglist.com Publisher and Editor Bill Pratt interviewing drag legends and co-host John Bockelman discussing the music of a particular year. Interviews with racers who have visited the UK include George Bryce, Doug Herbert, Dave Benjamin and Bob Muravez (aka Floyd Lippencott Jr.). Other legends interviewed include Chris Karamasines, Eddie and Ercie Hill, Doc Halladay, Gordon Collett, Frank Oglesby and Paul Candies. The radio site is accompanied by a social network site at drag.racersreunion.com with photos of US legends and fan memories. APIRA, SPRC, Obsession Awards vote 10. 12th January: Avon Park International Racing Association, Santa Pod Racers Club, Obsession Motorsports and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the APIRA and SPRC Perpetual Awards and Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 11th February 2012. For several of the 2011 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 APIRA and SPRC Committees and Obsession Motorsports decide upon their winners. The latest category is the APIRA Endeavour Award. The APIRA Endeavour Award is presented 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: Bev and Nigel Batsford, National Association of Supertwins Vote for Bev and Nigel Batsford Ian and Dorothy Connop and the CC Medical Services team, Medical Services and support at Shakespeare County Raceway Vote for Ian and Dorothy Connop Rob Cox, Media Vote for Rob Cox Jon Spoard, Media and ukdrn.co.uk webmaster Vote for Jon Spoard The Supercharged Outlaws, Race series Vote for the Supercharged Outlaws To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official APIRA Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2011 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 Racers Club'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 Dave Crunkhorn (aka Crunch). Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2011@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, forum members or Facebook friends 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 whether or not that nominee knows what was going on and if necessary names will be named. Want that on your conscience? We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. The shortlists for the APIRA Alan Wigmore Memorial Trophy and Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year Trophy will be announced on Saturday and Monday respectively. Voting, and nominations for the SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, will then remain open until 23:59 UK next Friday (20th). Flamholc goes ADRL. 
12th January: After a few weeks of discussion with sponsors and families the deal has been sealed
and Swedish Pro Mod racer Adam Flamholc will contest all ten events ADRL events in the USA in 2012. Adam's car is
already in the USA having contested some events at the end of 2012 and he is all set to race at Bradenton in a
couple of weekends' time.
"This is really something we have dreamed of", says Adam. "In recent seasons we have been at several races in the USA with different organisations, but we now feel that it's time to concentrate and really try to perform in one series. Since we are going to travel back and forth to and from Sweden, ADRL suits us very well as their events are two days. "I am so grateful that I have such an understanding family! To my wife Anna, my children Frida, Isabell and Mattias thank you for letting me live my dream! "None of this would have been possible without our business partners. A very big Thank You to our main sponsors Hurst Boiler and Welding and Amalie Oil. Thanks also go to Malmö Motor Renovations (MMR), Autoshop in Florida, Flatout Performance by ABR, Top IT Swiss GMBH, JA IT-Hjälp AB, Performance Plus, MWS AB and Husby Takplåtslageri. I'm very proud to have all of your logos on the car, and we will always do our best to get your names out there and to make you look good! "John and I will be at every events and the rest of the guys in the team - Patrick, Johan, Fredrik, Mike, Kent, Peter, Oscar and Per - will go to two or three events each. "Our first trip overseas will be in about two weeks: we will attend US Street Nationals in Bradenton on 27th-29th January. Let the adventure begin!" Li'l Miss Billie: ready on time? 12th January: John Parker tells us that Sunday's spy picture showed the motor of daughter and 2011 APIRA Sportsman ET Champion Nicole Parker's Mustang at the premises of Zane Llewellyn's ZanneTec. "Nicole wants to defend her APIRA Championship in 2012 and maybe make an impression in the National competition, so for Christmas we treated the '89 Fox Mustang to a fresh 302", says John. "With seven Championship meetings plus Gamblers Bracket meets at Shakey, running at our local track Dakota Drag Strip down in Devon, along with the addition of a small blower at the end of last season we agreed that we either yank the motor for a total refresh or replace it. "The guys at Powertorque sorted us out with a new Ford Racing long block with forged crank, rods and pistons along with X heads, roller rockers etc at a reasonable deal and it was available from stock. So now it's with Zane waiting for a gap in the diary. We've a little work to do on the body - finally get some paint on the hood! - so that's off to sponsor Roger Carbin Body Repairs in Castle Cary at the same time and then finally we'll book some rolling road dyno time to set up the blower. "There's a danger that we might actually be ready for the start of the new season, which will be a first." Plum Crazy for 2012. 
12th January: With eleven weeks until the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway,
Simon Innes and family and the Plum Crazy Pro ET team are looking forward
to what they say will be a challenging season for every racer in the class:
Testing will start once the British weather becomes better... that will never happen then! We are racing at all five meetings at Santa Pod Raceway this season, which is going be sweet. We wish everybody within drag racing a Happy New Year and hope that everyone is doing well. Good luck to everyone in the forthcoming season and we shall see you all at Easter. Swift snippets. 12th January: Germany's 184 Race Team plan to contest 8.50 Bike / Super Comp Bike at all National Championship events at Santa Pod Raceway in 2012 as well as two events at Tierp Arena. Chris Swinchatt has been in touch to say a big Thank You to the Supercharged Outlaws for the Spirit of Junior Dragster trophy awarded to son Callum. "A big thank you also to Daren Brett for all the support last season", says Chris. "Callum will be racing in Junior Dragster with a Przym Paintworks-sponsored car. It has been built by Roy Wilding so a big Thank You to him too." James Forster says that Santa Pod Raceway is once again open for business. "There's no hanging around here as you can get back to that full throttle feeling as soon as this Sunday (15th) with our first public Run What You Brung of 2012", he says. "That's not your only chance to get on track this month with events following on Sunday 22nd and Sunday 29th. Don't forget to pre-book your tickets on our new on-line ticket shop - you can even print your tickets from the comfort of your own home! Our full list of RWYB dates and information can be found at www.rwyb.com. Details of the 2012 RWYB Competition will be posted within the next few days." Nimbus Autosport. 
12th January: Eurodragster.com sponsor
Nimbus Motorsport will be exhibiting at Autosport
International which commences today at Birmingham's NEC and goes on until Sunday. Steve Clark writes:
On stand 8250 in Hall 8 we as usual will be exhibiting the full range of Ringers Gloves which 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. Other products of interest to drag racers will be Hyperco springs, System 1 oil filters, Micro Temp digital infrared thermometers, Hybrid Ceramic Bearings from Worldwide Bearings and Varley Red Top batteries. There will also be the opportunity to view and discuss some exciting new additions to the range of products distributed by Nimbus Motorsport. 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 also be available during the Show to discuss the Torco range of lubricants and fuel additives and how they continue to benefit many winning drag racing teams. Nigel Payne will again be representing Nimbus during the Show and his multiple Championship-winning Super Mod Corvette will be on display in the Engineering hall on Thursday and Friday and on Santa Pod Raceway's stand on Saturday and Sunday. All products can be viewed at www.nimbusmotorsport.com. Sisters at the Show. 12th January: Rising stars of the drag racing world, Alamo-sponsored Paige and Belle Wheeler, are revving up for Autosport International this weekend at Birmingham's NEC. Racing enthusiasts will be able to meet these bright young sisters on the Santa Pod Raceway stand this Saturday and Sunday. Paige's new Junior Dragster, custom-made in the USA and capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds, will also be showcased for the first time. 
Thirteen-year-old Paige Wheeler took up drag racing two years ago, winning the FIA European Finals event in her inaugural season.
And this year, with a new Junior Dragster and continued sponsorship by leading car rental company Alamo Rent-A-Car, she is aiming
to improve on her Championship position.
Hard on her heels is eight-year-old sister Belle, who passed her test to drive dragsters last September, immediately following which she took to Santa Pod Raceway to compete in the UK National Finals. She drove the fifteen-foot US-made dragster, capable of reaching nearly 50 mph in twelve seconds, which once belonged to her big sister. Both sisters are set for an exciting year of competition in 2012 with the support of Alamo. They plan to attend the full programme of UK events, with both cars – as well as their safety gear - emblazoned with the Alamo brand. Alamo has also committed to trackside branding at the Santa Pod Raceway as well as on the Eurodragster.com web site. "I love the Autosport Show", said Pagie. "I enjoy meeting new friends and explaining to people that I actually do drive the dragster. Most people we meet think Dad drives it - but my car is actually much faster than Dad's!" "We're delighted to be able to continue supporting Paige and Belle in 2012, building on the last two years of sponsorship" added Neil Summerville, EMEA Franchising Director, Alamo Rent-A-Car. "The Autosport Show is an important event and really gives Paige and Belle a taste of the professional racing world, as well as allowing fans to see their enthusiasm and commitment to their chosen sport. "Paige has already proved herself a Champion in the making and Belle looks set to follow in her big sister's footsteps, making 2012 something to look forward to." SPR hospitality now booking. 12th January: Santa Pod Raceway are now taking hospitality bookings for the following events: Auto Trader Easter Thunderball, 6th-9th April FIA Main Event, 1st-4th June Dragstalgia, 14th-15th July FIA European Finals, 6th-9th September Flame and Thunder Show, 27th October Packages start from £79 + VAT and new for 2012 are exclusive hospitality suites available for groups of twelve or more. For more information, or to book, call the team on 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44 1234 782828) or visit www.santapod.com. Simpson expands into Europe. 12th January: Simpson Performance Products Inc, the largest US-based manufacturer of motorsport safety products, including helmets, racing coveralls, head and neck restraints, seatbelts and racing parachutes, has responded to an increased demand for Simpson products in the European market by opening a European office. Simpson has reached an agreement with Eurodragster.com sponsor Jan Phersson, well known Scandinavian racer and entrepreneur to represent the Simpson brand in the European Motorsport community. Over the years Simpson Sweden, led by Phersson, has grown to become one of the largest distributors of Simpson products outside of the United States. Jan has an outstanding passion for motorsports safety, which mirrors the Simpson goal of making racers safer. "For me, it has always been important to be able to give 100% to whatever I do", said Phersson. "Simpson's deep commitment to racing safety is a good fit for me. I represent Simpson products, I race with Simpson products. I believe in the value of the Simpson brand, which has been keeping racers safe for over fifty years." Commenting on the partnership Chuck Davies, CEO of Simpson, said "Our brand's increasing popularity with European racers has prompted us to look at how we might better service our European dealer network. Working with Jan was a perfect solution. As Manager of Simpson Europe, Jan's leadership provides us with a strong base for future development of our product line in the European market. Additionally, his development of the Simpson Motorsports Academy, based in Scandinavia has been an important factor towards Simpson Sweden's success." Simpson products are instantly recognisable and have a unique style preferred by many racing professionals. Their products are used in all types of racing, including SFI- and FIA-mandated sanctioning bodies. Simpson's European expansion coincides with the recent release of their Hybrid series of FIA- and SFI-approved head and neck restraints as well as the X Bandit Pro FIA 8860 approved racing helmet. Simpson's modern generation of head and neck restraints and the aggressive styling of the X Bandit Pro are drawing big attention from European racers. You can find the Simpson Sweden web site at www.simpsonshop.se. Tony Beadle. 11th January: We were very sorry to hear from Steve Woollatt of the death of Tony Beadle. Tony died at the weekend after major surgery last week. Already a motorcycle racer, Tony was one of many inspired to go drag racing by the Dragfest of 1964. Together with brother Don he worked with Allan Herridge on Allan's Pulsation dragster before the trio fielded another dragster named Motovation with which they won the 1968 British Championship. Tony's drag racing career lasted into the 1980s with a couple of self-built dragsters and he stayed within motorsport until the 1990s in single-seaters and saloon cars. Tony also built for himself a very successful career as an automotive author, variously writing for and editing National Drag Racer, UK Drag Racer, Street Machine, Classic American, American Car World and the SAHB Times as well as writing books. Our deepest sympathies to Tony's widow Jennie and son John and to all of his family and friends. Tony's funeral takes place at 10:45 am next Friday (20th) at Breakspear Crematorium (West Chapel), Breakspear Road, Ruislip, Middlesex HA4 7SJ. If you would like to send a tribute to Tony then please E-Mail us at tributes@eurodragster.com. Thanks to Maurice Takoor for help with this news item Al Eierdam. 11th January: We were also very sorry to hear from Curt Eierdam of the death of his father Al Eierdam after complications with diabetes. Al's place in European drag racing lore has long been assured by his legendary Rocket Car races against Sammy Miller in the early 1980s. Al won his first drag race on his sixteenth birthday and in the 1960s and 1970s drove everything from Stock to Pro Fuel Dragster. In 1975 he built his first jet-powered vehicle Emergency 1, which resembled a fire truck, and then the first of his two Invader Jet Dragsters. Al next teamed up with Sammy Miller for an unforgettable series of rocket races at Santa Pod Raceway, driving the Vanishing Point Rocket Funny Car whilst Sammy drove the Oxygen dragster. He stayed with thrust-powered vehicles with the Air Supply air-driven dragster and finally the second Invader Jet Dragster. Al is survived by wife Sandy, sons Curt, Chris and Craig, daughter-in-law Deborah, grandchildren Rebecca, Alison and Phillip, and great-grandson Landon. To Al's family, and to his friends, we offer our deepest sympathies. 2012 UEM rules published. 10th January: Thanks to Ian King for letting us know that the UEM European Drag Bike Championship rules for 2012 are now available on the UEM web site. "Of note is that it seems that Supercharged Twins are no longer eligible for the Top Fuel Bike class, and the addition of rules for a UEM Cup for Super Street Bike", says Ian. 07:40 SPRC Race Director Robin Shone has been in touch to inform us that the rule mandating unleaded gas or E85 only in the UEM Super Street Bike Cup is an error. Robin tells us that a draft version of the rules has mistakenly been published on the UEM web site and that it will be amended shortly. The fuel rule for the UEM SSB Cup should read "Any type of pump gas or racing gasoline permitted. E85 permitted" so please bear this in mind when reading the rules linked below. 2012 UEM General Rules for Drag Racing (PDF format) 2012 UEM Technical Rules for Drag Bikes (PDF format) 2012 UEM Standards for Drag Strips (PDF format) 2012 UEM European Drag Bike Championships (PDF format) Alternately you can check out the UEM Drag Racing page by clicking here. Speedgroup meetings confirmed. 10th January: Speedgroup Co-ordinator Åsa Kinnemar has been in touch to confirm their off-season meetings for racers, officials and other interested parties. "At these meetings we will highlight ongoing projects and news connected with the EDRS European Drag Racing Series and the FIA and UEM European Championships", says Åsa. "The meetings also provide a good opportunity to receive feedback and discuss any questions which teams may have. Race officials with a connection to the European Championships and Sportsman classes are also most welcome!" At each location there will be a Sportsman meeting and a Pro meeting. The meetings will be held as follows: Germany: Sunday 22nd January at the Hotel Motordrome, Hockenheimring. Sportsman meeting 12:00-13:30, FIA/UEM meeting 14:00-16:00 UK: Saturday 11th February, St John's Hotel, Solihull. Sportsman meeting 12:00-13:30, FIA/UEM meeting 14:00-16:00 Sweden: Sunday 18th February, Scandic Star Hotel Sollentuna, Stockholm. Sportsman meeting 12:00-13:30, FIA/UEM meeting 14:00-16:00 Finland: Friday 23rd March, in conjunction with SFI Tour. Location TBA. To confirm your attendance any of these meetings, including the stop in Finland, please E-Mail Åsa at asa.kinnemar@speedgroup.eu at least five days before the meeting. Please give the names of all those attending and the class in which you race, or your function if a race official. Web site updates. 10th January: In the latest instalment in his exclusive Racer Blog presented in association with Alamo Rent-A-Car, Luke Bennett tells us what is currently going on in the workshops of the Bennett Racing blown-alcohol team. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Alamo Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Chris Eyre tells us that he has found a great print service to prodice work from his web site at www.eurodragpics.com. "I can now supply printed mugs, key rings, calendars, bumper stickers, T-Shirts, fridge magnets, car door magnets (great for team cars at the track) as well as handout postcards and much more", says Chris. "Just click on the For Sale link to find my items for sale (lots more to follow) or go to the Contact page with your requests and I will E-Mail back to discuss your needs. You can also come and see me in the Time Warp Funny Car pit. We hope to be at the track a lot this year as we are celebrating the teams twentieth year in drag racing and plan on putting in plenty of great runs to entertain all our fans. Looking forward to seeing you all at the track again, it's been too long!" APIRA, SPRC, Obsession Awards vote 9. 8th January: Avon Park International Racing Association, Santa Pod Racers Club, Obsession Motorsports and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the APIRA and SPRC Perpetual Awards and Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 11th February 2012. For several of the 2011 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 APIRA and SPRC Committees and Obsession Motorsports decide upon their winners. The latest category is the APIRA Shakespeare County Raceway Award for Outstanding Achievement. The Shakespeare County Raceway Award for Outstanding Achievement will be awarded to a racer who has achieved outstanding performance at Shakespeare County Raceway during the 2011 season. The APIRA Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order, is as follows: Joe Bond, Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association Vote for Joe Bond Mark Coulsell, Wild Bunch Vote for Mark Coulsell Brian Gandy, Supercharged Outlaws Vote for Brian Gandy Jesster Drag Race Team, 8.50 Bike and Run What You Brung Vote for Jesster Drag Race Team Mike Rust, Honda Street Stock Drag Series Vote for Mike Russ Russell Victory, Shakespeare County Raceway Junior Dragster League Vote for Russell Victory To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official APIRA Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2011 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 Racers Club'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 Dave Crunkhorn (aka Crunch). Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2011@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, forum members or Facebook friends 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 whether or not that nominee knows what was going on and if necessary names will be named. Want that on your conscience? We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. Owen Developments back Venables. 8th January: 2011 ACU UK Super Street Bike Champion Steve Venables has announced a sponsorship deal with turbocharger performance centre Owen Developments. The company has supplied Steve with a one-off turbo which he will be developing on his seven-second bike in 2012. "I stopped working with Velocity Racing this year", Steve told Eurodragster.com. "Alan Cook of Owen Developments got in touch with me and asked if I would be interested in working with them. The turbo is a nice piece of kit with innovations such as internal speed sensors. From now on we will be trying to do our own thing rather than use American stuff and this is an excellent start". You can find out more about Owen Developments on their web site at www.owendevelopments.co.uk or visit their stand at this week's Autosport International at the NEC in Birmingham, where Steve's bike will be on display. Swift snippets. 
8th January: The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com came with the words
"Girls just wanna have fun!". If you know more, or if you would like to send your own spy picture, then drop us a line at
eurodragster.com@btinternet.com.
Eurodragster.com will be reporting from this weekend's Autosport International at Birmingham's NEC in association with Alamo Rent-A-Car. We will be at the Show on Friday and Saturday and we plan to post end-day reports and pictures on each day. As we are a bit short on available staff this weekend Colin and Grace Roaf and Spencer Tramm have kindly stepped in, and even now are sharpening their pencils and charging their camera batteries. Racers and companies who are attending Autosport International please drop us a line at editor@eurodragster.com and we'll make a note to drop by to see you. Staying in with the Allard Chrysler. 8th January: A small group of Allard Chrysler Action Group supporters gathered at the premises of Eurodragster.com sponsor Andy Robinson Race Cars between Christmas and the New Year for a three-day 'Work-In' commencing the trial build of the Allard Chrysler dragster owned by the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. ACAG Chair Brian Taylor writes: ACAG's 'Time Team' on this occasion consisted of Andy Robinson, Bob Roberts (he's in charge), Chris Eames, Syd McDonald (special responsibilities for catering) and new member Martin Dunks who contacted Bob after reading about the work being carried out on Eurodragster.com. Martin attended his first drag race at Blackbushe back in the early 1970s and by the end of that decade he had entered his first meeting. His main love remained the doorslammer / muscle car classes and along the way he became friends with Andy Robinson and Bob Roberts. Although he now works on state-of-the-art sports cars at McLaren Automotive (currently the MP4-12C sports car) he has always been keen on the historical aspects of motor sport, hence his interest in our project. 
The team made good progress with fabrication and using the ACAG's file of pictures, notes and old articles they managed to figure out things such as gearbox
linkage and the parachute release mechanism. Automotive archaeology at its best. The position of the engine in the chassis has been a concern and the team
made new engine mounts which now hold the engine about half an inch lower than before. This results in the low-slung 'weed burner' header position being
more in line with early photos and gives better clearance between the rocker covers and the engine cowling.
The restored gearbox was mated with the clutch and engine and the gear linkage was made (just requires some rod ends). There is still an issue with the flywheel and the availability of early Hi-torque starter motors. There are several options open to the team and more research is being carried out by Bob Roberts, Andy Robinson and Stu Bradbury before a final decision is made. After making a slave out of cardboard a new firewall was manufactured out of aluminium and fitted. The protective cover was left in place prior to applying the archetypal Allard engine-turn finish in the final assembly. If any of you have watched the late Boyd Coddington's American Hot Rod TV series you will know the drill. Only the ACAG crew don't shout so much and Bob's shirts don't hurt your eyes. The driver's seat has been refurbished by Graham Smith who is also looking at re-creating the chute pack and chute. But we have decided not to replace the bent push bar. The museum was keen to keep it and as we will only be firing up the engine using a starter motor it makes no difference to us. You might say it keeps a bit of original character on the car. We have located a supplier of five-spoke mag alloy Torq Thrust rear wheels which were used on the original car mounted with pie crust slicks. Steve Trice at US Automotive is checking that our axle fitment can be covered, the delivery time and costs. Dunlop Racing and Vintage Tyres have recommended the size of new tyres for the front because the originals are badly crazed. The 525 x 15 are no longer made and the recommendation is to go for 550 x 15 Dunlop R5s. These have been ordered along with tubes. The next Work-In at Andy Robinson Race Cars will be on Sunday 22nd January and there is still a lot to do: fit new master cylinders; make and fit handbrake lever; clean, test and refurbish fuel tank; make and fit parachute release mechanism; install starter, cables and connectors; plumb fuel system (cut hose to length, install fittings and crimp); design remote oil filter adapter for block; identify remote oil filter mount. If you are interested in living in the past and discovering how they used to do it please contact Bob Roberts at roberrl-1@robinson-race-cars.co.uk. You will be welcomed with open arms. On 11th-12th January I will be with our new partners the Institute of the Motor Industry at a closed event held at Derby College. Brad and Ken Cooper will be joining me with their new nostalgia flathead slingshot dragster. On 13th and 14th I will be at Autosport International, on Saturday morning with our largest benefactor F&A Racing as they début their new Top Fuel Dragster on Santa Pod Raceway's stand. Come and say hello. Web site updates. 8th January: 2011 UEM European Top Fuel Bike Champions Team Kendall Racing have updated their web site with a review of their successful and record-breaking season. You can check it out at www.billetracing.se/team-kendall-racing-season-review-2011. The recent passing of British Drag Racing Hall of Fame member John Ledster has prompted Board member Phil Evans to replace John's Hall of Fame profile with the eulogy which he read out at John's recent funeral. This gives much more information and detail on the contribution which John made not only to drag racing, but to other forms of British Motorsport. You can read John's new profile at www.britishdragracinghof.co.uk/members/john-ledster. Our good buddy Alan Currans has updated his excellent Acceleration Archive with the latest bulletin on the restoration of the Veney's Vega Pro Comp Funny Car. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest updates via the What's New link at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk. APIRA, SPRC, Obsession Awards vote 8. 6th January: Avon Park International Racing Association, Santa Pod Racers Club, Obsession Motorsports and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the APIRA and SPRC Perpetual Awards and Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 11th February 2012. For several of the 2011 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 APIRA and SPRC Committees and Obsession Motorsports decide upon their winners. The latest category is the APIRA Shakespeare County Raceway Sportswoman of the Year Trophy. The Shakespeare County Raceway Sportswoman of the Year trophy recognises the efforts of women in 2011 as racers, crew members or track officials. The APIRA Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order, is as follows: Holly Baldwin, VW Sportsman, Bracket Gamblers Vote for Holly Baldwin Janet Brown, Shakespeare County Raceway facilities Vote for Janet Brown Kerryanne Frazier, Comp Bike and Junior Drag Bike crew Vote for Kerryanne Frazier Nicole Parker, Sportsman ET, Bracket Gamblers Vote for Nicole Parker Carla Pittau, Pro ET Vote for Carla Pittau Angie Woods, For Ladies That Launch, Wild Bunch crew, Shakespeare County Raceway facilities Vote for Angie Woods To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official APIRA Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2011 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 Racers Club'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 Dave Crunkhorn (aka Crunch). Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2011@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, forum members or Facebook friends 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 whether or not that nominee knows what was going on and if necessary names will be named. Want that on your conscience? We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. Browell join Malmgren. 
6th January: Swedish Pro Stock racer Michael Malmgren has added
Browell Bellhousing to his roster of product sponsors for 2012.
"I am proud to have Browell Bellhousing on board", says Michael. "We had a chat at PRI about marketing their super fine lightweight aluminium cans in Europe and we will be doing so. On our own race car we will be using their latest lightweight Pro Stock-style can for 2012. "Browell is a racer himself and so understands racers' needs. All cans are made to the customer's specifications, any colour etc. All cans and components are made of the finest materials and workmanship to meet the highest standards of safety establish by SFI Foundation and are individually inspected and certified SFI 6.1, 6,2 or 6.3. "All Browell bellhousings, steel or aluminium, are approved to use in all sanctioning bodies, including drag racing, truck/tractor pulling, monster trucks and powerboats. There are many well-known racers on Browell's customer list and they are considered to be the best money can buy!". Santa Pod add events. 6th January: Santa Pod Raceway's calendar is packed throughout the summer months with events for all types of motoring enthusiast, but despite this hectic schedule two new grass-roots drag racing events have appeared on the 2012 calendar. Both events combine permitted MSA drag racing classes with Run What You Brung sessions and open competitions which allow anyone to get a foot on the first rung of the drag racing ladder, but each event has an individual twist to the formula. 
The season starts with a new event to replace the PTM Show called Street Nationals. This is an open door to the world of serious drag racing. A huge Run What You Brung competition
runs over two days, with the top cars from each class being invited to take part in eliminations on Sunday afternoon. Think of it as X Factor for modified cars but with more racing and less dreadful
singing! The cream of the crop should rise to the top ranks and become heroes by the end of the weekend. But even slower cars will have a great time getting their ranking and having a whizz around
the free handling track. Spectators will also enjoy invited race classes that include the Jap Drag Series, Euro Sports Compact series, and the all-encompassing Outlaw Street introductory drag series.
You can find out more at www.streetnationals.co.uk.
Mid-summer is where Rotorstock has resided for the past few years. The annual gathering for fans of rotary-powered cars has not gone away, but it has now been incorporated into a trackday event called God of the Pod, which combines both a huge sprint circuit with Run What You Brung and drag racing classes. This is grass-roots motorsport in which anyone can take, and this competition is unique on the calendar because trophies are awarded to drivers who can get top times on both the drag strip and the circuit. More at www.gotp.co.uk. Both of these events are a great way to hone your racecraft and take your Run What You Brung sessions to the next level. The track will be kept in tip-top condition, so it's also a great place for established racers to get some track time. For full information on each event, visit its dedicated web site, and for a full run-down of the Santa Pod calendar check out www.santapod.com. Web site updates. 6th January: Staying with race calendars, Slinky of the Red Victor Pro Mod team has put together a Google Calendar featuring events at Santa Pod and Shakespeare County Raceways for 2012. You can check out Slinky's calendar by clicking here. The 2012 UK Championship calendar will be formally ratified at the UK Riders' and Drivers' Meeting whose date will be announced here on Eurodragster.com very shortly. Ahonen's early Christmas present. 
4th January: Further to recent Swift Snippets and Web Site Updates, Finland's
Janne Ahonen is now the proud owner of Brandon Bernstein's Copart Top Fuel Dragster. Simo Patoharju
of the Ahonen Racing Team got in touch with the tale of the trip to Indianapolis to acquire the car:
Janne started to build up his own racing team late last year. His brother Pasi Ahonen will drive an Outlaw class '69 Camaro, and son Mico Ahonen a will drive a Junior Dragster. Then it was just a case of finding the right car for Janne - and boy did we find one! After making some inquiries with a few European teams we set our sights on the USA. At first it seemed that no good deals were available, but then on the Sunday of the NHRA Finals at Pomona our 'agent' Jarmo Pulkkinen of Jarmo's Custom Auto got a call from Don Bender of Kenny Bernstein Racing. Don told Jarmo that Kenny had announced to the team that morning that he was quitting and that all the team's equipment would be sold after the Pomona race. After we heard the news from Jarmo we had a quick meeting and then decided to proceed, realising that this was an opportunity not to be missed. We flew to Indianapolis on 14th December met with Don and Jarmo at the Kenny Bernstein Racing shop in Brownsburg on the Friday morning. The car is a McKinney with lots of nice stuff, and it's in really good shape. Brandon Bernstein finished sixth NHRA Countdown with this car, qualifying mostly in the quicker side of the ladder. The whole Bernstein operation was very impressive, so many resources for a one-car team, and everything in perfect shape and order. 
Firstly Janne got into the driver's compartment of the dragster, and it fit him almost perfectly: the
only modification we had to make was to move the pedals forward a bit. Then we needed to make the
decision on what kind of spares package we would like to buy with the car. It took a while to get that
done, but with the help of Jarmo and Don we got figured out a pretty good package.
Janne and Pasi had to leave for home early Monday morning, and Jarmo on Monday afternoon, so we had to get most of the packing work done over the weekend. On Saturday we started to take the engine and clutch out of the dragster and to pack all the spares. This pretty much took us the whole day, and the work continued on Sunday. Jarmo built supports to go under the chassis to keep it from flexing during shipping. On Monday I sorted out most of the paperwork needed to ship the container, and on Tuesday afternoon we finally got a container to the KBR shop. All of the packing and preparation were done so well that it took Don, Dennis and I just four hours to load and secure the container. It was a big relief to get everything done, just in time. It had been a really hectic few days so it was very nice to get an invitation for Tuesday night dinner from Andy and Jennifer Bissett - thanks guys, it was delicious! On Wednesday the container was picked up and all the final paperwork was done. After that I was off to New York where I had the pleasure to meet Tim and Fabianne Read, thank you for the hospitality! 
The container should arrive in Helsinki by the end of January. We will then unload everything and start
to prepare the car for the coming season. Luckily we will get help from Don Bender on tuning the car;
without him it would be quite hard to find the right settings in our short season. We would like to thank
Jarmo Pulkkinen, Don Bender, Dennis Mohler, Brandon Bernstein, Todd Cutlan and Jukka Simonen for all the
assistance on our trip to Indianapolis.
We still have a lot of work to do. The trailer is being built up and there are a zillion other things which need to be taken care of, but that's the way it is when you're setting up a new team. We are still looking for a few new guys for the Top Fuel team, so if you are well-motivated and not afraid of challenges and hard work then please drop us a line with a short CV to simo.patoharju@artsports.fi. Our English-language Facebook page will be launched within the next few weeks and will be regularly updated with the news from the Ahonen Racing Team. We wish all of our fellow competitors and Eurodragster.com readers a great year in 2012. See you at the track! Your late Christmas present? 4th January: If you are feeling a bit depressed from not hearing a supercharged motor fire up recently then Martyn Hannis of the Nuthin' Fancy blown-alcohol altered team has a solution. "A few weeks prior to Christmas I reassembled the Arias 500 which had been in Joe's altered until we took it out in 2009", says Martyn. "After hearing that I had been nominated for the SPRC James Edgar Memorial Trophy I decided to put it in the test jig and fire it up. This motor has not run since 2009 but with no drivetrain attached it sure was responsive and sounded as sweet as ever. You can see and hear for yourself on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRl5j_lcldI. "This motor is for sale, details under Parts For Sale on the Swap Meet. If you want to hear it prior to buying then contact me on martyn.hannis@uk.spiraxsarco.com as soon as possible, before it's taken out of the jig." APIRA, SPRC, Obsession Awards vote 7. 3rd January: Avon Park International Racing Association, Santa Pod Racers Club, Obsession Motorsports and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the APIRA and SPRC Perpetual Awards and Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 11th February 2012. For several of the 2011 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 APIRA and SPRC Committees and Obsession Motorsports decide upon their winners. The latest category is the APIRA Iris Page Memorial Trophy. The Iris Page Memorial Trophy is presented to a racer, team, official, marshal or other individual who has either contributed to the sport over the last twelve months, or who has achieved their own personal goals against all the odds thrown at them. The APIRA Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order, is as follows: Jon Cross and Alan Davis, Shakespeare County Raceway track prep team Vote for Jon Cross and Alan Davis The Huxley family, Pro ET, Super Gas, SCR Bracket Gramblers Vote for the Huxley family Dave Rowlands, Wild Bunch, SCR marshal Vote for Dave Rowlands Norm Wheeldon, Two Much Nostalgia Slingshot Vote for Norm Wheeldon Roy Wilding, Supercharged Outlaws Vote for Roy Wilding To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official APIRA Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2011 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 Racers Club'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 Dave Crunkhorn (aka Crunch). Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2011@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, forum members or Facebook friends 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 whether or not that nominee knows what was going on and if necessary names will be named. Want that on your conscience? We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. Web site updates. 
3rd January: Our good buddy Jon Spoard has updated his excellent UK Drag Racing Nostalgia web site with a gallery of 250 pictures
from UKDRN contributor Doug McDiarmid. "I've been posting Doug's work on the forum for a year and have now compiled a gallery with what's already been posted before
plus many unpublished pictures", says Jon. You can check out Doug's pictures at
www.ukdrn.co.uk/2012/Doug/index.html.
Our streaming server provider Doyousee.me are still treating viewers to replays of Eurodragster.com's and their own webcasts from events at Santa Pod Raceway and Drachten Airfield. Maikel Gloudemans of Doyousee.me is rotating events on a regular basis. You can check out the webcasts at www.didyousee.me/dragrace. Further to our Swift Snippet of 16th December, if your Finnish is up to much you can read about Top Fuel Dragster racer Janne Ahonen's new acquisition at www.iltalehti.fi. The team have promised us an English-language news item shortly. Thanks to Anita Mäkelä for the link. Swift snippets. 
1st January: The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com came with
the words "Can you tell what it is yet". If you know more, or if you would like to send your own spy picture, then
drop us a line at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com.
No news update yesterday so this is a day late but a very Happy 21st Birthday for yesterday to Sean Bowe. Hope you had a good day Sean and hope you can remember it. Tog, Kirstie, Simon, Roger and Ed would like to wish our readers a very Happy New Year. All the best for 2012. Earlier news |
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