Important Thunderball notice.
31st March: Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall has been in touch with some important information for racers competing at next week's Easter Thunderball.

"The main gates to the track will be open from 11:00 am on Friday 9th April and, as usual, the pit gate will close at midnight on both Friday and Saturday evenings.

"A reminder about the new regulations for the Health and Safety requirements from the Easter Thunderball onwards: every competitor, car and bike, must have a fire extinguisher within their pit area, in addition to any fire extinguisher systems on their race vehicles. The minimum weight must be 4 kilogrammes and preferably powder. Failure to comply could result in exclusion from the event.
©Eurodragster.com
"This item is very important for Bike competitors: SPRC has received notification from the ACU that there is a huge backlog with the issue of 2004 Competition Licences. I have been advised that the ACU will not be faxing any confirmations to SPRC with regard to applications received for riders attending the Thunderball who do not receive their 2004 licence prior to the event. Therefore the ACU has requested that we accept 2003 licences at the Thunderball. Riders must therefore bring their 2003 licence to the event if their 2004 licence has not been received.

"However, if any rider who uses their 2003 licence is involved in an incident whilst racing, the ACU will be checking that they have received a 2004 application from that rider. If this is not the case then the ACU has advised that they will not have any insurance cover. We apologise for this but it is out of the Club's hands and purely down to the problems within the licencing department at the ACU. ACU hope to have this problem rectified by the end of April."

"All of the above will be included with the information accompanying racers' tickets; it is vital that all competitors read their paperwork!"

If you have any queries then please contact Paula Marshall at Santa Pod Racers Club on 01933 313625.

On the subject of the Easter Thunderball, Caroline Day of Santa Pod Raceway has been in touch to remind readers that the last day for advance ticket prices is next Tuesday, 6th April. You can find ticket prices for the Easter Thunderball on Santa Pod's web site at www.santapod.com, or to book tickets call 01234 782828.

Grumpy congratulated.
31st March: 2003 FIA European Pro Stock Champions AC Delco/Malmgren Racing, who are about to travel to the USA to collect and test their new car, have congratulated 2003 FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champion Dave Wilson on his victory in Top Alcohol Dragster in Tucson at the weekend.

"Malmgren Racing want to congratulate the American Car Imports Racing team on their win last weekend", says team member Magnus Cato. "We know what kind of effort it takes, good on you guys. As we are to leave for Houston next week maybe we can offer you a celebration beer at Houston Raceway? It will be a nice showing by European drag racers with the ACI Racing team, Andréasson Motorsports team and us, we hope your good work will rub off on us too!"
©Eurodragster.com
Magnus and Swedish journalist Stallan Åberg both reminded us that Michael Malmgren won an NHRA event in Phoenix back in 1989, becoming the first non-American to win an event and to set a new National record, a feat which Michael achieved in a Comp Eliminator altered. "We all say well done to Dave Wilson", says Stellan. "His stellar achievement makes us Swedes remember when Michael Malmgren won in Arizona."

0-60 update.
31st March: York Dragway PR Howard Holmes has been in touch with the latest news about the 0-60 Challenge which takes place at the Yorkshire track on Sunday 9th May.

"Cars entering the competition are diverse, registered entrants range from Steve Neimantas' Aston Martin through to a Vauxhall Nova with nitrous oxide injection", says Howard. "It has everything in place to be a remarkable and memorable day for participants and spectators alike. Trophies will be awarded for Quickest Overall, Quickest V8, Quickest normally-aspirated V8, Quickest six-cylinder and Quickest four-cylinder. There will also be trophies for the quickest and fastest quarter-mile passes on the day, since all the timing equipment will be running for the quarter mile drag strip. Each lane at the track at York Raceway also has a shell grip surface for launch as well as a conventional smooth surface its the competitors choice.

"For those in the South or Midlands, we are making arrangements with the NASC for the event at Drayton Manor that weekend. Competitors who would like to attend Neil's Springnats will be able to form part of a static display on the Saturday, participate in the lunchtime cruise (if they wish) and drive over to York Saturday evening. Although admission for Neil's Springnats will be free to 'qualifying' cars (i.e. 'NASC-spec' cars), they will need to pre-enter.

"Anyone who would still like to compete should E-Mail me at howardholmes@btinternet.com as soon as possible."
©Eurodragster.com
Peak early at SPR.
31st March: Santa Pod Raceway are holding the first of their Peak Performance Days this Saturday, 3rd April. "These events take Run What You Brung to a new level", says Rick Cuthbert of Santa Pod, "and are specially designed for those who need the sort of serious track time unavailable at a normal RWYB. Sign-ons are limited, so there is guaranteed to be loads of track time and pit-space, but make sure you book in advance, or turn up early to avoid disappointment. All types of vehicle are welcome, from circuit racers and bikes, right through to drag racing cars and bikes.
©Eurodragster.com
"Peak Performance days cost £10 per adult for tickets bought in advance, and £12 for tickets bought on the gate. Under-16s get in free. Sign-on for use of the track costs £50 per driver in advance and £60 per driver on the day. All drivers must present a valid driving licence to sign on.

"The first Peak Performance Day takes place this Saturday (3rd April), gates open at 8:00 am. For more information check out www.rwyb.com or to book your place call Santa Pod on 01234 782828."

Santa Pod are also holding a normal Run What You Brung on Sunday (4th April); more information can be found on the RWYB web site.

Swift snippets.
31st March: Many thanks to Italian Top Fuel Bike racer Antonio Ferretti for confirming that the Italian Drag Racing Championship round at Modena's Aeroporto di Marzaglia will take place as scheduled on 17th-18th April. You can find more details about the Fast and Furious event on the Nitro Drag Racing site at www.dragster.it.
©Eurodragster.com
John and Tim Atkinson will be testing their Hellfire Racing Super Gas Mark 1 Cortina Estate at the APIRA Test and Tune at Shakespeare County Raceway this Sunday. Meanwhile Ken Blomer will be testing the wild-looking Automanics VW Pro Karmann Ghia at the Peak Performance Day at Santa Pod on Saturday, and Shaun Jones will be testing his new Clift-framed Bandit-motored Super Street Bike Fosters 2 at the Run What You Brung at Santa Pod on Sunday.

"The name is Smith...Smax Smith". The 2003 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion paid a visit yesterday to the Coventry Transport Museum where his Fastco altered is on display for two months as part of a two-month exhibition on motorsport (click on picture at right to see the altered on display). "It's free to the public and an excellent day out!", says Smax. "I even played in the James Bond car and went for a simulated ride in Thrust SSC at 760 mph! Go check it out!". You can find out more including the Museum's location on its official web site at www.transport-museum.com.

Jamie King has been in touch to ask if any Eurodragster reader has pictures or video of Graham Barrs' Neon Star Mustang, which was raced in the 1980s. "I will happily buy any pictures or video", says Jamie. If you can help then drop Jamie a line at jamie@king7057.freeserve.co.uk.

Web site updates.
31st March: The Entry Forms page of the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc has been updated with FIA-class entry forms for the FIA European Finals, a ticket form for the post-European Finals Banquet, and the Top Fuel Bike entry form for the UK National Finals. The UEM-class entry form for the FIA European Finals will be posted shortly.
©Eurodragster.com
The official web site of the UK's Sun Drag Racing Team at www.sun-drag-racing.co.uk has had a facelift. The site features details on the Monza-bodied Funny Car driven by Trace Froome, team biographies, photos, video clips, and much more.

Put the power down at SCR.
30th March: Lee Child of LA Performance Services says that the National-standard track prep to be applied at this weekend's APIRA Test and Tune at Shakespeare County Raceway is to become a regular feature of Test and Tune and Club Days at the Warwickshire track.

"We want to give racers a track on which they can use competition settings even at a test day" says Lee, who is one of Eurodragster's Links sponsors through his company LA Racing Parts. "Darren Prentice and Sharkman will be starting work on the track on Thursday and by Saturday you will be able to put the power down! The track has been getting faster and faster, and I very much appreciated the compliments which we received last season. Racers have told me that they appreciate the consistency. It proves that our continued investment and commitment are generating results."
©Eurodragster.com
This weekend's APIRA Test and Tune is open to racers, car and bike clubs, sprint clubs, circuit clubs, the public, and anyone else wishing to test before the season starts. Jet dragster pilot Ian Caseley and Pro ET racers Liz and Iain Malcolm are amongst those who have already signed up to test new vehicles.

Entry to Shakespeare County Raceway will be £15 on Saturday and Sunday, or £25 for the weekend. Another £15 per day, or £25 for the weekend, will buy as many runs as you can make down the track. A valid DVLC licence and a crash helmet must be presented to sign on, and racers should wear safety gear appropriate to their class.

The track will be open between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm on Saturday and 11:00 am and 5:00 pm on Sunday. For more details about Shakespeare County Raceway including a map check out the track's official web site at www.shakespearecountyraceway.com.

Racers: Testing this weekend? Drop us a line at news@eurodragster.com and we will let your fans know.

Workshop Visit: CC Racing.
30th March: If you were tuned in on Saturday then you will have seen the début of Doug Ripley's stunning Top Methanol Funny Car, which took place during a Eurodragster Workshop Visit to Doug's Northfleet operation.
©Eurodragster.com
We have now posted the report of our visit, which contains a lot more details about the FC, together with more photographs. You can view the report and photo gallery by clicking here, or by clicking on the Features link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Malin gets Serious.
30th March: UK Super Pro ET racer Gary Malin made his first passes in his new Serious Playtime dragster at Santa Pod Raceway on Sunday (right). Gary's wife Lin, who will be driving the car in Super Comp, dropped us a line to tell us how it went for Gary.

"Well, we finally got there!", says Lin. "After waiting and then waiting a bit more Gary finally climbed in, buckled up, and shook the car down. The first pass was just a burnout and sixty feet, this was the first time Gary had been in the hot seat for eighteen months. Would he just play, or was it serious? Gary launched, clocked a 1.2 sixty foot, got a little out of shape, got off it and drove through the top end clocking 13.06.
©Eurodragster.com
"On the next pass, the launch was harder but the tyres spun, ouch! Gary came off the throttle and once his vision had cleared managed 11.99. On the third pass to half track, the burnout was better and the launch good clocking 1.18 to sixty feet and put the chute out at the eighth, we were happy. Gary's last pass of the day had to count, he needed a full pass for his licence. Unfortunately with the track starting to go off the car got loose and so Gary understandably got off it, clocking a 9.1 at 135 mph.

"It was all worth waiting for, and Gary will make his final licencing pass at the Easter Thunderball. We would like to thank Ian Marshall, all the Santa Pod officials and the start line crew for the support they gave us. Special thanks to Jon Webster for building us a great dragster and for his support on Sunday, thanks to Martin Curbishley for the paint job - it looks the business! - and cheers to Graham for holding me together on the first run. And thanks to Jeff Bull, it kicks!"

A trip to the 'Vette.
30th March: Back on 9th March, we brought you the news that UK Super Pro ET racer Wayne Nicholson is to field a '63 Corvette-bodied race car to replace his eight-second BMW-bodied car which was destroyed in a motorway crash last September. Wayne has been in touch to let us know that the '63 'Vette body is now in the UK, and that his health continues to improve.
©Eurodragster.com
"I picked up the body for the new race car on Saturday", says Wayne. "It had made its way to Jon Webster's place via Jeff Bull and with the help of Malcolm Francis. Jeff had ordered a new trailer from a place three miles from Hairy Glass in Florida, so the 'Vette body came over in that, a stroke of luck for both of us! Malcolm arranged all the shipping and once the body was here Jeff kindly made sure that it made its way to Websters. Big thanks to Jeff, Jon and Malcolm!

"I have the body at work ready to paint its inside, ready for a decision on the constuction date. On another positive note I was discharged from 'physio last week. I still have a limp but this should go in time with regular visits to the gym! Thanks to Steve Neimantas for the loan of the trailer, and to Dennis (EDA) for getting up so early on Saturday with his usual enthusiastic dry sense of humour, and last but by no means least thanks to my youngest son Joe who never moans about early morning starts!"

Swift snippets.
30th March: We are indebted to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for sending us what she tells us is "almost the final version" of the official Easter Thunderball entry list. You can view the updated Thunderball entry list by clicking here.
©Eurodragster.com
Grumpy's historic win.
29th March: 2003 FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champion Dave Wilson and the American Car Imports Racing team made history in the USA at the weekend as Dave became the first European to win in Top Alcohol at an NHRA Divisional Event. Racing in Tucson Dave qualified second at 5.582/247.43 before taking the event win over #1 qualifier Chris Demke with a 5.655/246.84 to Chris' 5.689/250.74. Grumpy's win was all the more impressive for being achieved at a corrected altitude of five thousand feet, in weather conditions the team had not experienced before, and with a depleted crew. The victory was a fitting sixtieth birthday present for Dave, and also for his son David who celebrated his own birthday over the weekend.

"I thought Dave would win this event", said Team Principal Anthony Cohen, who sponsors Eurodragster's Home and News pages and Event Coverage through American Car Imports. "Dave always wins when it is most important. We are all very proud indeed not just to win the event but also to be representing European drag racing. I honestly think that we are proving to the Americans that European drag racing is a force to be reckoned with, and I will take every opportunity I can to remind them of it!"

It wouldn't be a racing weekend if Dave didn't have some bad luck, and his first qualifying pass was curtailed when a throttle fitting broke. Having read that session's report on the excellent Drag Race Central web site, Anthony called Dave on his mobile with an idea. "I told Dave that he wasn't getting much of a write-up in the coverage so he had to go out there and kick butt to make them talk about us!", said Anthony. The ACI Racing team certainly gave them something to say as Dave took the #1 qualifying spot and held on to it right to the last pass of the last qualifying session.

In the first round of eliminations Dave was in the ladder against Mark Niver who had completely destroyed his engine and had to withdraw, giving Grumpy a bye. In the five-car ladder this also led to a bye in the semi-final but with lane choice at stake Dave was not going to take things easy. "The guys took advantage of the bye runs to try out new set-ups", said Anthony. "There was no question of taking it gently. In the first round they tried a change to the combination which slowed the car down, so for the semi-final they put in a completely new tune-up and even in those weather conditions it worked beautifully. Dave got lane choice in the final and the rest is history - Chris Demke got off the start line first but Dave was past him before 330 feet and he never looked back."
©Eurodragster.com
What Anthony found particularly impressive about Grumpy's victory was that it was achieved against some strong odds. "The team have never raced at five thousand feet and in such low humidity before", he said. "There were only four crew members: Dave, Andy, David and Jennifer. they turned the car round three times in four hours. And it shouldn't be forgotten that it's not just the car which didn't much like the conditions - they're not that good for people, either!"

Almost as soon as Grumpy had crossed the finish line the congratulations started to flood in. "Dave told me that when he switched on his mobile after the race he had twenty eight missed calls!", said Anthony. "The first to congratulate us was Gittli Koller of Peter Schöfer's team and I am very grateful to her for that consideration. We would like to thank everyone for their support and good wishes. As long as Dave has been out in the USA the good luck messages have not stopped. I have made sure that Dave has received every single message, and believe me he deeply appreciates every one. I would also like to thank Jeff Rainbird, our local SVA tester, who has put a lot of support into the team, he has been absolutely brilliant."

With two NHRA National events left on the ACI Racing tour, in Las Vegas this weekend and then in Houston on 15th-18th April, Anthony feels that the team had already achieved all of its targets. "We went out there wanting to run a 5.3, better our best terminal speed, qualify at every race, and win a 'Wally'", he said. "We have achieved these with the exception of one DNQ which was by a tiny margin. In Vegas and Houston we are going to do everything we can to do as well as we can."

Nataas reschedules licencing.
29th March: Norwegian rookie Top Fuel Dragster racer Thomas Nataas (right) is to make his licencing passes on the Saturday of the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway after his scheduled passes yesterday were postponed because of cold weather. After the car was warmed up in the pits yesterday lunchtime it was decided that the conditions were not right for running Rune Fjeld Racing's new Top Fueller. Although well-prepped the track had not seen even a hint of sunshine and was very cold indeed.

"I'll tell you what this feels like", Thomas told Eurodragster at Santa Pod yesterday. "I feel like I have had my Christmas dinner and we've all sat down for our presents - and now someone's just told me that I can't have my presents for two weeks!"
©Eurodragster.com
This would have been the first outing for the Top Fueller which was last year's Joe Amato Racing spare and which was never used in the USA. "I am looking forward to racing the car", said Thomas, "I think it will be easier to drive than my Pro Mod. There are different things you have to do, and it is faster, but I think it will be easier. I have to record a time around 5.2-5.4 to get my licence."

Thomas will be contesting the Easter Thunderball with what is mainly a 2003 tune-up in the engine, but the gloves come off at the FIA Main Event at Santa Pod in May. "We will have the big engine in the car at the Main Event!", said Thomas. "We've got a new blower, new fuel system, new heads and a lot more."

Thomas confirmed that he is to contest the entire FIA European Championship tour in 2004 with backing from Oslo Tapet & Gulvberlegg, Speic billakkering, Hydroscand, Castrol, Connex Promotion and Oslo Sylinder Service.

VWDRC class sponsors renew.
29th March: The UK's Volkswagen Drag Racing Club have announced that their class sponsors have all renewed for the 2004 season.

Jon Rathbone Race Cars are to sponsor VW Pro, Beetlemania are to continue their backing of VW Sportsman, and AMR Motors are to sponsor VW Alternate Engine.
©Eurodragster.com
"This is the third season in which we have had class sponsors", says VWDRC Committee member Spencer Tramm. "Their backing has contributed to the growth of Volkswagen Drag Racing in the UK, which is proven by the entry of fifty three VWs at the Easter Thunderball. We are very grateful to Jon Rathbone Race Cars, Beetlemania, and AMR Motors for continuing their support."

Swift snippets.
29th March: UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Andy Carter hopes to put in a checkout pass in the GoTalk-sponsored Top Fueller on the Saturday of the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway. "The Pro Fuel Shootout starts on the Sunday, but I have to make a familiarisation pass in this car as it is new to me", Andy told Eurodragster at Santa Pod yesterday. "If I can make that pass on the Saturday then I don't lose one of the Shootout qualifying rounds. It's Rune Fjeld's call as he owns the car, but that is what I would like to do."

Gary and Lin Malin finally got their new Super Pro ET and Super Comp dragster out on track at Santa Pod Raceway yesterday after sitting patiently through three rain/dry cycles at Wednesday's rained-out WRE Test Day. Gary's test passes culminated in an easy nine-second run as he got a feel for the car and he is now looking forward to competing at the Easter Thunderball.
©Eurodragster.com
Amongst racers also out on track at the Fast Show yesterday were Wayne Saunders, who clocked bests of 9.030 and 159 mph in John Hales' CCSE '56 Chevy; Eleanor Kitney and Mark Hales making passes in Trevor Kitney's Pro ET Escort; Sportsman ET racer Simon Chalkly who recorded a personal best ET; former Super Street Bike racer Mark Pointer in a Super Street Mustang; Junior Dragster racers Anna Stanley and Matthew Seamarks checking out new cars; and Martin Hill who made two passes in the Fireforce 2 Jet FC, the best in the 6.0s shut off at about 1100 feet.

Racers have one weekend left to test before the Easter Thunderball and Lee Child of LA Performance Services tells us that next weekend's APIRA Test and Tune at Shakespeare County Raceway will be offering a track prepped to National Event standard. Stay tuned to Eurodragster News for more details about the APIRA Test and Tune.

Further to yesterday's news item, the Entry Forms page of the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc has been updated as promised with Word-format UEM-class registration and entry forms for the FIA Main Event.

Frost's thanks.
29th March: UK Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Andy Frost tells us that he has had a torrid week driving up and down the M6, M1 and A14 seeing to his eight-second street-legal Vauxhall Victor before the season starts at the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod.

"I've finally got the car and engine back at home with only a small amount of work left to do before the start of the race season", says Andy. "A huge thanks to Webster Race Engineering for all the top-quality work they've done and help they've given me over the past four weeks. This goes especially to Jon Webster who more than went out of his way to get me as ready as possible for the Easter Thunderball. Also big thanks to Knight Racing Services who without a doubt pulled out all the stops. Pete Knight and all the guys down there in Daventry also went above and beyond the call of duty to help me on the engine build and the on the dyno.You all deserve a medal...

"A special thanks to Deb, who has the patience of a saint - and a good memory, too: well, she still knows who I am when I walk through the door at midnight!"
©Eurodragster.com
Plenty of time for SPR.
28th March: Santa Pod Raceway's TSI timing system has been upgraded to TSI 2004 after TSI Timers company owner Tom Haggin paid a visit to the track this week, says Santa Pod's Chief Marshal Steve Horn who also heads up SPR's timing crew.

"Tom hasn't seen the track since the concrete walls and resurfacing were put in, and he was most impressed", says Steve. "He checked out the way we fix and wire our infra-reds on the start line and downtrack, and again was impressed with way we go about things at Santa Pod. With meetings finished we upgraded the race computer's memory and hard disk to to enable the installation of the new 2004 race software. The hardware upgrade has sped up the Race Control operation considerably, and the new software has many new features.
©Eurodragster.com
"For example we now have available the TSI Auto Start Program which, when enabled, means that Ian Marshall is redundant...just kidding! Tom said that the Auto Start feature has been received very well Stateside, with a good percentage of tracks using it all the time. It is programmable in two ways: 'Staged to Start' to avoid the starter running quick or slow Trees, and 'Time out' to eliminate burn-downs.

"There are several other Race Control features which will help the operators, as well as cosmetic changes to the VDU displays and printers, and a few extra pieces of information on the timing slips.

"We also discussed a new feature called 'Racenet'. Unfortunately we don't have this yet, but when its development is complete it is going to be a major asset. The race computer will automatically dump racer, time trials, qualifying, and elimination details to a server from which anyone - initially media - will be able to select the information they need directly as it happens (Yummy - Ed)."

If you are interested in drag race timing then check out the TSI Timers Europe web site at www.tsitimers.co.uk.

Racing in guaranteed weather.
28th March: Dutch Super Gas racers Paul Vrind and Eric Pellegrom of the Westcoast Outlaws Motorsports team are headed to the Netherlands Antilles to compete in the international drag race at Curaao Raceway in April.

"Curaao International Raceway is located at Ronde Klip and is a state of the art track with an 165 foot concrete launchpad and concrete safety walls", says Paul Vrind. "It's considered to be the best track in the Caribbean, and has the same standard as most NHRA-tracks in the USA. Temperature is not an issue since the average year-round daily temperature is 28C (82F) and constant trade winds keep humidity low.

"A couple of months ago we were approached by Clemson Laurens who was born on Curaao, one of the Netherlands Antilles islands located north of Venezuela, where he was active in the Curaao Drag Promotions organisation. Five years ago he and his family moved to Holland where to his big surprise he found that there was an active US car and drag race scene.

"Every year Curaao Raceway invites racers from other countries to compete in the biggest race of the Caribbean which is held annually around the 30th April, the birthday of the Dutch Queen Mother who just passed away. Most racers come from the USA, Venezuela, Aruba, Trinidad and St. Maarten, but thanks to Clemson this year six Dutch racers, three Super Gas and three Super Street will be attending. They are:
  • Paul Vrind (Super Gas 76 Chevette)
  • Eric Pellegrom (Super Gas 63 Nova)
  • Roel van de Hout (Super Gas 69 Roadrunner)
  • Ful Lievaart (Super Street 55 Chevy)
  • Rubert Enjoem (Super Street 70 Cuda)
  • Gordon van Swol (Super Street 79 LeMans)
"We are very excited about this trip, but also a little worried because our cars have to spend three weeks on a container ship. Three weeks after shipping the cars, we will follow them by plane and hopefully find them there when we arrive. Naturally we will insure the cars in case the ship goes south or drops our cars off on the wrong island. Weve also had some nightmares about containers floating in the sea. So we can't wait to leave for Curaao and hopefully well be able to give the Caribbean racers some competition."

Paul has promised to keep us posted about the Dutch racers' trip; in the meantime you can find out more about racing on Curaao on the Raceway's official web site at www.curacaodrag.com.

Double Beck.
28th March: 2003 ACU UK Pro Stock Bike Champion Dave Beck has announced that he is to field a second bike at selected events this year, writes co-owner Stephen Moon.

The GSXR-1100 based Super Street Bike sports a Beck-built 1314 big block motor together with a full-house Roger Upperton head, with mix supplied by a set of 44 mm Lectrons. A Nitrous kit is fitted together with a Schnitz Pro Series II box and a Racepack datalogger. The 1991-framed chassis features a Kosman front end, PMFR wheels all round, Grimeca brakes, JMC swing arm, Penske shock, and carbon and kevlar Hayabusa body kit. Conrad Skrett of Streetfighters fame handled fabrication duties, and the bike is finished in the silver and red Altu colours already featured on Dave's Pro Stock Bike.

"Dave's tuning and parts business handles work not only for Pro-class machines, but also for street-class and road-going machines, and he feels that this new machine will show potential customers the scope of his tuning and building skills", says Stephen. "Anyone interested in motor and chassis parts or engine building services can contact Dave on beck.racing@virgin.net. In addition to bespoke work, Dave imports parts on a monthly basis from all major US speed shops, at competitive prices."

Stephen tells us that he is to ride the bike at some test days and meetings, but work commitments will limit these appearances. A hired gun may be used for some meetings, and anyone interested in piloting the no-expense-spared Super Street machine should contact Dave as above or Stephen at stephenmoon@nutrinnovator.com.

Stephen tells us that two-bike set-up for 2004 is likely to expand to include a two-bike Pro-class team in 2005.
©Eurodragster.com
IoM wants Goring back.
28th March: UK Jet Funny Car pilot Roger Goring has been invited to perform a flame and thunder demonstration with his Firestorm JFC on the Isle of Man during the TT Festival in early June. The invitation to perform as part of the TT Stunt Show came after Roger wowed the crowds at the Jurby Sprint on the island last year, and Roger's appearance in the TT festivities was organised with the help of Trevor and Howard of Streetfighters.

"This is absolutely great news for us", says Roger. "We had a fantastic time at the Jurby Sprint and the Isle of Man Tourist Board wanted us back. Thanks to Trevor and Howard we will be there. I have already got the tie-down ropes!"
©Eurodragster.com
The announcement comes a week before the Firestorm JFC makes its last appearance with the 2003 engine set-up, at next week's Performance Bike Show in Sheffield which has become a regular fixture for Roger, partner Helen Rusling and fellow team member Ian Blaylock, whose business premises became a test bed yesterday. "We test-fired the car yesterday for the first time this year", says Roger. "It went very well indeed. We started up the engine, switched on the flame show for a fraction of a second, spooled up to full revs and back down again and then shut her down. All of that drained a half-tank of fuel. We didn't dare try out the afterburner which was just as well because there were a few long faces after we blew crap everywhere!"

When the appearance at Sheffield has been completed, Roger and the team will be installing some new parts into the J85 jet before taking Firestorm to York Dragway at Easter. "As soon as we get to York we will tie the car down and try the afterburner", says Roger. "I am very excited about this year. We were going quicker and quicker last year, and during the off-season I have been talking to some guys in the USA. We have a plan: to go one step at a time and to have another good year! Oh, and keep an eye out for our new tow vehicle..."

You can find out more about the Firestorm Jet FC including Roger's confirmed appearance schedule, and now buy T-shirts and caps, on the team's official web site at www.firestorm-jfc.co.uk.

FIA Main Event entry forms.
28th March: The Entry Forms page of the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc has been updated with the FIA registration form and FIA-class Main Event entry form, both in Word format, and the UEM-class Main Event entry form in PDF format; the Word version of the UEM form will be posted as soon as possible.
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
28th March: Chris Dossett has taken time out from his fatherhood and Showtime Fuel FC duties to post a sizeable update to his Trakbyte's UK Drag Racing History web site. The update includes a number of race reports from the 1970s and 1980s, new photo galleries, new Hall of Fame entries, and updated Hall of Fame vote, and additions to the Help us find... page. You can find all of this and more on Chris' web site at www.trakbytes.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Alan Currans is celebrating the imminent first birthday of his Acceleration Archive by posting a fifth page of photographs of the Long Lost John Woolfe Racing Archives. "I have gone back to the cars campaigned by the team with new pictures of John Woolfe's mighty seven-litre Cobra, close up shots of the Quartermaster dragster after its top end accident, and a photo shoot of the 1971 Hot Wheels Top Fuel Dragster at RAF Upper Heyford", says Alan. "Also included are pictures from the successful World Records Meeting at Elvington in 1972 when Dennis Priddle and Mr Six re-set the world standing start quarter mile record with a two way average of 6.70 seconds, achieved at the beginning of October on a green and totally un-prepped track where burnouts over the line were not permitted. Was Dennis Priddle a driver or what?". Indeed he was, and you can see the pictures on Alan's web site at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk.

Dave 'Fuzzie' McKenzie has updated the UK's Supercharged Outlaws web site with another page of photographs from the recent March Meet at Bakersfield. "This gallery is called Around The Pits, and as you can guess from the title it is photos taken whilst walking around the pits", says Fuzzie. You can check out Fuzzie's excellent pictures at www.superchargedoutlawsuk.com.

Whilst we're on the subject of the March Meet, we don't often cover matters outside Europe but we will make an exception for our good friends Dawn Mazi-Hovsepian and her husband Mark who have posted a large number of tremendous photographs from the Bakersfield Nostalgia-fest on their Combustion Chamber web site at www.maziracing.com. If you like your nostalgia then be sure to check out Dawn and Mark's pictures.

Here be dragons...
 27th March: UK Top Methanol Funny Car racer Doug Ripley kept a long-standing promise when he unveiled the new CC Racing TMFC exclusively to Eurodragster this morning.

The Avenger-bodied TMFC, which features a spectacular dragon-themed paint job (right), has undergone some five months of work since arriving at Doug's Northfleet workshop as a Fuel FC late last year, including work on the chassis and a complete new engine combination including a PSI blower. "We were just going to change the body, but ended up with a new car!", said Crew Chief Cliff Gould.
©Eurodragster.com
"The base coat of silver was laid by John Sultana of BBR, who also did Rob Smallworth's car and my Camaro", said team member Andy Oliver. "The artwork was designed and applied by Alan Booker, and the lettering by 'Andy The Signwriter' who has lettered all of CC Racing's race cars."

The FC will be making its competitive début at the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway in a couple of weekends' time, and Doug tells us that the CC Racing team plan to contest all of the MSA British Championship rounds as well as the FIA Main Event and FIA European Finals.

You will be able to read more about CC Racing in a forthcoming Workshop Visit feature which is currently being typed up. In the meantime you can view another angle of the CC Racing TMFC by clicking on the picture at right, or you can get a sneak preview of a selection of the Workshop Visit photographs by clicking here.

Cockerill sets new speed record.
 26th March: The UK's Danny Cockerill will be joining the Pro Mod wars in 2005 in a 1957 Chevy-bodied blown-alcohol doorslammer currently under construction at Robinson Race Cars (right). Danny, who with Kev Perkins won the 2003 UK National Super Modified Championship as Team Steelcraft, has sold his seven-second record-holding Rover Super Mod turn-key to Greek racer Fil Papafilippou.

"Before Fil picked up the car I freshened the motor: new rods, new rings, put the bigger cam back in it, and reset the clutch", says Danny. "The car was shipped yesterday, and I am going over to Greece in April or May to help Fil to tune it."

With the Rover sale arranged, Danny flew to Canada on Valentine's Day and did what must have been one of the fastest deals in history to buy the engine for his Pro Mod. "I arrived on Saturday evening, popped in to see Don Pocock who was selling the engine, then went to the hotel", says Danny. "I went back on Sunday morning for another look, Don crated the engine up and it shipped on the Monday! It's a blown 526 built by Bob Atchison which has a number of Alan Johnson parts such as heads and blower intake. It's the same engine as Tim McAmis uses and is a 6.2-second combination. I bought the wheels and suspension late last year, and have also got a Mark Williams rear axle. Eighty-five to ninety per cent of the hard parts are bought, all I have left to get is the clutch, transmission and clutch can."
©Eurodragster.com
The '57 Chevy body was supplied by Tim McAmis and is as low as it looks - Danny quoted us a roofline of thirty nine inches! The chassis is currently on the jig at Andy Robinson's 'shop as can be seen in the photograph. "It's a twin-rail car with a conventional four-link shock mount", says Danny. "I hope to have it rolling by mid-May of this year, although I won't be racing it until next season."

Danny has not yet settled on a design for the paintjob. "I have no clue about paint yet", he says. "I will have a look around in a couple of months. I wanted it in the classic plain red with chrome but it would look a bit odd if I lined up alongside Micke Gullquist's car!"

Although Danny enjoyed his time in Super Mod he feels that it was time to move on and he is very much looking forward to racing in Pro Mod. "We've got the parts, and hopefully the driver will be up to the job", he says. "I'll be visiting Bob to learn how to tune the car, I have never had a blower before and it is a lot cheaper to fly to the USA for a weekend and learn to do it properly than to go to the track and blow it up!"

You can see the car from another angle by clicking on the picture at right.

WRE Test Day credit.
26th March: Ian Marshall of joint Eurodragster webcam sponsor Webster Race Engineering has been in touch to remind those racers who attended Wednesday's rained-out WRE Test Day that they will receive a concessionary rate for another WRE Test this season.

"It was great to see such a large turnout on Wednesday", says Ian. "Unfortunately it rained, then it rained, then it rained some more. If you attended then please remember that fifty per cent of your entry fee is transferred to any of the next four WRE Test Days, which are on Saturday 24th April, Wednesday 14th July, Wednesday 18th August and Wednesday 22nd September.
©Eurodragster.com
"We do however ask that you contact Webster Race Engineering on 01933 315236 to let us know which Test Day you wish to attend."

Swift snippets.
26th March: Gary and Lin Malin and Wayne Saunders will be joining Thomas Nataas at the Fast Show at Santa Pod Raceway this Sunday (28th March), says Rick Cuthbert of Santa Pod. The Malins and Wayne were at Wednesday's WRE Test Day at Santa Pod but missed out due to the rain, so they will be taking the chance to test on a prepped track in their Super Pro ET/Super Comp dragster and John Hales' Custom Car Street Eliminator Chevy respectively. "The Fast Show is looking like it's going to be really, really busy", says Rick, "so if anyone wants to enter the Run What You Brung competition it is worth getting there early!"
©Eurodragster.com
The latest stop on the American Car Imports Top Methanol Dragster team's US tour is at this weekend's NHRA Divisional event in Tucson, where qualifying starts today. You will be able to stay in touch with the progress of 2003 FIA European TMD Champion Dave Wilson's progress on the Drag Race Central web site at www.dragracecentral.com.

A Rat in the House.
 25th March: Yesterday's appearance of the Rat Trap AA Fuel Altered at the Goodwood Festival of Speed preview was met with universal praise by the high press turn out, and driver Ron Hope put down three burnouts in front of the spectacular backdrop of Goodwood House (right), writes Andrew Kirk. "Don Green, the creator of the original Rat Trap from the 1960's, and who has been involved with drag racing for more than fifty years, was also present to look after the Donovan motor - it was his first trip to the UK and Don was loving every part of it - except the weather of course!", says Andrew.

"Rat Trap was brought over in conjunction with USAutomotive as a teaser for the Goodwood Festival of Speed to illustrate the fact that three or possibly four more Fuel Altereds will be attending the Festival, which takes place over the weekend of 25th-27th June (unfortunately clashing with the SPRC Summernationals), again thanks to USAutomotive. The three other cars will be Rich Guasco's Pure Hell, Leon Fitzgerald's Pure Heaven and the Hough Brothers' Nanook. A fifth car has not yet been confirmed, but would be either Winged Express or the Bradford Brothers' Topolino Fuel Coupe. At a special press dinner at Goodwood House, Rat Trap was fired up at 10.30 in the evening in front of the house, lighting up the night with nitro flames."

You can see a shot of one of Rat Trap's burnouts by clicking on the picture at right. All pictures are ©Andrew Kirk to whom many thanks for sending us this news item.
©Eurodragster.com
ACU TFB dates confirmed.
25th March: UK ACU Championship Co-ordinator Ian King has announced the confirmed dates for this year's ACU UK Top Fuel Bike Championship, which are as follow:

10th-12th April: Easter Thunderball, Santa Pod Raceway
1st-3rd May: Excitement Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway
12th-13th June: Power Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway
28th-30th August: Allstar Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway
2nd-3rd October: UK National Finals, Santa Pod Raceway

You can read more on the King Racing web site at www.kingracing.com, and you can find event entry forms on the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc and on the Avon Park International Racers Association web site at www.apira.org.uk/downloads.
©Eurodragster.com
Emms learning his trade.
25th March: The UK's newest Top Methanol Dragster racer, Chris Emms, will be serving an apprenticeship with the UK's Turner Racing TMD team this year with a view to making his first passes towards the end of the season. Chris, father of erstwhile UK National Junior Dragster Champion Ricky Emms, will be racing in the Turners' last dragster.

"The chassis and engine have been freshened", says Chris. "All the SFI parts have been checked and passed, and we the chassis has been changed to account for rule changes since it was last raced."
©Eurodragster.com
As Chris has not raced before he has to contest four events in another class. He will be competing in Sportsman ET starting at the Easter Thunderball before turning his attention to running a Top Methanol Dragster, which starts with a European tour with the Championship-winning Turner team. "We are going to follow the Turners around Europe this year", says Chris, "I will watch everything they do as there is a lot to learn! Ricky is also learning about the engine which is one of the conditions of his driving the car in the future."

Chris says that the aim is to run at the UK National Finals at Santa Pod Raceway in October, but that he may make some test passes before then. In the meantime Chris asked us to mention that although the Cool Green Racing Junior Dragster has been sold, the 7.90 engine is still for sale. If you are interested then you will be able to find Chris in the Sportsman ET pit at the Easter Thunderball.

Swift snippets.
25th March: Norway's Thomas Nataas will be making his Top Fuel licencing passes at Santa Pod Raceway this Sunday (28th March). We understand that Thomas will be making two passes in the Bat-themed Top Fueller owned by Rune Fjeld as he upgrades his licence from Pro Mod. Eurodragster will be at Santa Pod on Sunday, and as long as Thomas is happy for us to do so we will bring you a report on his progress.
©Eurodragster.com
A big Happy Birthday to 2003 FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champion Dave Wilson, whom we understand celebrates a Big Number today. Dave and the American Car Imports Racing team are racing in an NHRA Divisional event at Tucson this weekend and we're sure that we know what the perfect birthday present would be! We're sure that everyone will join us in wishing Grumpy a very Happy Birthday and many more of them, preferably still in a race car.

Web site updates.
25th March: Thanks to our good friend Gittli Koller for letting us know that the official web site of the Hockenheim Nitrolympx has been updated with a number of Windows wallpapers by webmaster Peter Calwer. You can find the excellent wallpaper files, which double up as desktop calendars, by clicking on NitroNews for 24th March then Wallpapers at www.dragster.de.
©Eurodragster.com
The official web site of the UK's Nobby Hills Racing Fuel FC team has been updated with details of a new partnership with JOR Performance Products, photographs of the Houndog's construction, and news of a booking at North Weald. Check it out at www.nhracing.com.

Nataas to race at Thunderball.
24th March: Norway's newest Top Fuel Dragster racer Thomas Nataas is to contest the Pro Fuel Shootout at Santa Pod Raceway in April. Speaking to Eurodragster at the WRE Test Day at Santa Pod today, car owner Rune Fjeld confirmed that Thomas will be joining Rune Fjeld Racing stablemate Andy Carter, Lex Joon, John Spuffard and Gordon Smith in the annual Top Fuel v Fuel FC challenge.
©Eurodragster.com
Stay tuned as we are expecting more news from the RFR pit shortly.

Schöfer's new 'toon up.
24th March: German Top Methanol Dragster racer Peter Schöfer has announced that popular German cartoon character Werner is to return as a major sponsor in 2004 in a tie-in with a Werner-themed music and motorsport event at the Euro Speedway in Lausitz in September. The Peter Schöfer Racing TMD last carried Werner's colours in 2002 when Peter won the FIA European Championship.

"There has been a lot of speculation about our new sponsor - people were almost placing bets on it!", says team member Gittli Koller. "Today we are very proud to announce that our car will again be sporting Werner's colours. To people outside Germany it may seem unusual to be sponsored by a cartoon character but Werner is hugely popular and a whole culture has grown up around him."
©Eurodragster.com
Werner - The Race 2004 takes place at the Laustizring on 3rd-5th September and includes an appearance by the PSR dragster, Marco Maurischat's Comp Eliminator dragster and Top Gas and Super Street Bikes as well as stunts. The headliners of the music part of the festival are to be announced very shortly. For more information about the event check out the very nice official web site at www.werner-das-rennen.de, and for more information about the sponsorship deal check out the full press release on the Peter Schöfer Racing web site at www.p-s-r.com.

Peter Schöfer Racing have also announced that longtime sponsor Castrol will again be supporting the team in 2004. "We are more than happy that Castrol have joined with us again", says Gittli. The team now face a very busy period as the car is shortly to appear at the Automobil International show in Leipzig, an annual event which last year attracted more than 350,000 visitors. "After Leipzig we have more shows and an exhibition race before we concentrate on the European Championship", says Gittli. "We recently spent more than three weeks in the USA where we learned a lot and also bought new parts and spares. We hope to be well prepared for the season!"

Andréasson drops Bomb.
24th March: Swedish Top Methanol Funny Car racer Leif Andréasson's new TMFC is to be cloaked in a Dodge Stratus body in 2004. The Dodge body, acquired with support from Don Schumacher Racing, marks the start of a partnership between Andréasson Motorsports, Chrysler Motorsports and Chrysler Europe. "We are very pleased and proud of this new long-time partnership and we are really looking forward to racing the Chrysler", says team member Anders Magnusson.


The Andréasson Motorsports crew and chassis designer Bret Williamson's Team Eagle Fabrication have been working day and night to get the new Funny Car ready in time for the NHRA National event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. "The car is currently at Brad Anderson's workshop, where we are getting the very best support and treatment", says Anders. The team will also be finding time to get the body painted by Bernt Karlsson at Customs by Bernt of La Hambra, California, and airbrush guru 'Kurta' will be flying in from Sweden to apply his own kind of magic.

Leif and the team would like to thank Bill Blomgren and Team Geronimo who are supporting them with a trailer, truck and driver to take the whole operation to the race track. "We will be promoting the California Drag Racing School, owned by the Blomgren family, in Las Vegas and Europe", says Anders. "Thank you also to Bob and Sharon Riddle for their invaluable help transporting all the equipment which we sent from Europe. We love you."

You can read more on the Andréasson Motorsports web site at www.andreassonmotorsports.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Nothing to be Grumpy about.
24th March: American Car Imports Racing Team Principal Anthony Cohen has expressed himself very pleased with the team's performance in Top Alcohol Dragster at Gainesville last weekend. 2003 FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champion Dave 'Grumpy' Wilson qualified twelfth in the sixteen-car field at 5.503/254.16 and by all accounts had first round opponent Mike Gunderson covered until the blower belt broke at half track.

"It was a successful weekend all round" said Anthony, who sponsors Eurodragster's Home and News pages and Event Coverage through American Car Imports. "Dave had the second quickest sixty foot time in the class, the quickest 330-foot time, and the third-quickest eighth-mile. His reaction time against Mike was outstanding and he was a tenth ahead before the belt broke. The incrementals up to that point indicated that Dave was on a 5.39 or 5.40. It was a nice performance by the team; yet again they earned the respect of the other Top Alcohol racers and I find that very satisfying."
©Eurodragster.com
Anthony and the team were very grateful for the support of the UK and European fans who made the trip to Gainesville, and they were also pleased to welcome the parents of Anthony's wife Rhonda. "Our number one fans Heather and Keith Sayers came across with us", says Anthony. "Rhonda's mum and dad, Ruth and Herb Gold, came down from Warwick, Rhode Island never having been to any sort of motorsport event. Ruth loved every minute of it and is now a huge drag racing fan!"

The next stop in the ACI Racing US tour is this weekend's NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Divisional event at Tucson.

WRE Test Day rained out.
24th March: Today's Webster Race Engineering Test Day at Santa Pod Raceway was rained out without a wheel turning. The track crew dried the track to the verge of go-status no less than three times only to see a fresh downpour undo their hard work.
©Eurodragster.com
You can view our American Car Imports-sponsored Event Coverage, which includes the first picture of Trev Capewell's Top Methanol FC in its new colours, by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Swift snippets.
24th March: Thanks for the third time in three days to US photographer Les Welch for letting us know that the hospital in which UK photographer Andy Willsheer is currently being treated can accept personal messages to be passed on to patients. We have forwarded every message which we have received for Andy, but if you would like to leave a message for him then check out the Shands Hospital web site at www.shands.org/public/message/default.asp. Andy is in Shands at UF and his room number is 7531A.
©Eurodragster.com
MDRA's Italian job.
24th March: If you were tuned in on Sunday then you will recall that Malta Drag Racing Association President Anthony Borda and Vice President Paul Pace were travelling to Italy over the weekend to collect a couple of Pro Stock Bikes from Davide Ricci at Modena. The event at Modena was cancelled but Anthony and Paul still managed to enjoy themselves in Italy, as Anthony writes.

"Although I'm very disappointed with the cancellation of the Modena Drag Race Event, Paul and I really liked our stay in Bologna with our best buddies. I really would like to thank everybody dearly for all the hospitality we got from our Italian, English and Swedish friends. It all started well when we arrived on Thursday evening. We got picked up from Bologna Airport, thanks to Nicoletta Ascari and her friend who drove us to the Hotel. When we arrived, Paul and I went straight to Davide Ricci's office. It was nice to see a good friend of ours once again and to meet Davide's wonderful secretary Federica in person, after talking to her on the phone many times. We met another cute girl who works for Davide, a very lively girl named Josipa. After talking in the office, Davide took us for a tour inside the Giostra Café. This place is wonderful and amazing, with a great staff who takes good care of all the customers - especially Pappia, the best cook in Italy. That night Davide took us for a treat and we met our other friends Ken Cooper and Helen Curran, Roger Lyrén and Roger Pettersson, and about four other Swedish guys. This is one great bunch of people to be around, not forgetting the best Italian Pro Stock racer Remo Nassi.

"Right away the next morning, the Swedes and the Italians started working on their three Pro Stock bikes. The bikes were all set and ready to fire up for the next day. I must mention the great ability of Davide's tuner Carlo, a great guy who knows Pro Stock Bikes by heart, and who has a great American accent. He and Martino, another great friend of ours, has got a tuning shop in Modena where they soup up and tune bikes. They both work very hard for the sake of drag racing. On this day there was also a press conference, with a great speech to all the journalists by Federica, to promote drag racing in Italy. The reporters had to be told what drag racing was all about: it's a shame that a big country like Italy is still a bit behind in this kind of motor racing. After Federica's speech I had to step in and make a small speech myself. I told the journalists that in Malta we have the same problem with the media not covering this kind of motorsport. I told the Italian reporters that they could give Italian drag racing a boost.
©Eurodragster.com
"The next morning we headed to the track and found out that the event was going to be cancelled. That was a shame, because of the expense, especially upon Davide Ricci. Everybody was mad about cancelling the event, but no one could do nothing about it. There was nothing else we could have done on the day, so we went back to Giostra Café and partied all night. I don't know if I should say this, but most of us guys, were pretty lively after drinking lots of Grappa.

"The next day, Paul and I went to see the Pro Stock Bikes which Davide Ricci was selling to Paul. The bikes looked great and in ship-shape condition after lots of work by Carlo and Martino of MV Racing. The deal was done and the bikes will be in Malta in a couple of weeks' time. I would like to thank once again all the guys who we were with, especially Davide, and hope that the Veidec Racing team will have another great season in Europe. Thanks to all from the bottom of my heart."

Web site updates.
24th March: Eurodragster staffer Tog has updated his personal web site Tog's Drag Racing Page with a number of photographs of the recent NHRA Winternationals taken by his good friend, US photographer Bob Frye, who photographs for NHRA and is also responsible for producing the video clips on NHRA's web site. You can check out Bob's Winternationals pictures at www.togsdragracing.com/2004nhrawinternationals; don't miss the shot of Top Fuel racer David Baca's wheelie.
©Eurodragster.com
Why Willsheer didn't duck.
23rd March: UK photo-journalist Andy Willsheer (practicing for incapacity, right, picture ©Roger Gorringe) is thanking his lucky stars that he didn't duck when a weight bar from Ashley Force's Top Alcohol Dragster flew towards him at Gainesville last Saturday. Andy stood his ground and the weight hit and broke his leg rather than "taking my head off" which he says it would have done had he tried to avoid it.

"It's just one of those things", Andy told Eurodragster from his hospital bed last night. "I've been doing this job for a long time and this one finally caught me out - but if I had ducked I would have been finished (what would have happened had you bent down doesn't bear thinking about - Ed). There wasn't any pain when the weight hit me, just shock and then some discomfort. I felt my leg break and then I fell down. At least I was in the right place, I was in the shutdown area and the medevac helicopter is right by the second turnout so they put me straight on a gurney and took me away. It was a clean break, so the surgery was uncomplicated and went very well. I should be out of hospital in two or three days and off the crutches in four to six weeks."
©Eurodragster.com
Andy has been overwhelmed by the support and messages which he has received from racers, fellow media and fans. "I was dead chuffed that John Force mentioned me on the TV broadcast!", he said. "Ashley is distraught but I told her that there was nothing she could have done. I can't believe how many people have been by already, lots of racers - I told them I didn't think they knew I existed but they said "You're part of the family" - and John Force has been here a few times and has even offered to fly me home. The man is a real gentleman, a class act and it's very easy to understand why he is so popular. My fellow photographers were there immediately to help at the track and they have also been to see me here in hospital. And it was nice to make headlines on Eurodragster although it's a pity how I did it! I am very grateful indeed for the concern and support shown by everyone."

Andy was meant to return to the UK in time to cover the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod but those plans are now up in the air. "I'm already on crutches", he said. "They tried me on a walker this morning and I failed miserably! I should be right as rain in a few weeks, although I am not sure if I will make the Thunderball. In any case I'll only be mocked if I go to Santa Pod on crutches! Dean Papadeas has offered to put me up at his place in Daytona so I may stay out here for a while."

Andy asked us to thank all of the Eurodragster readers who have already sent messages of support. If you would like to add your own message to Andy then drop us a line at webmaster@eurodragster.com and we will pass them on.

Editor's note: Thanks again to Les Welch for sending us contact details for Andy.

Goodwood's Pure Rat Heaven.
23rd March: The Goodwood Estate will be resounding to the sound of a blown-fuel engine tomorrow (Wednesday) as the famous US Fuel Altered Rat Trap, in the hands of Ron Hope (right), will be performing a burnout at the Press Day for June's Festival of Speed.
©Eurodragster.com
Roger Gorringe and Ian Messenger tell us that the appearance of Rat Trap on Wednesday is only a taster as no less than four US Fuel Altereds will be on show at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Rat Trap will be accompanied on June 25th-27th by Pure Hell, Pure Heaven and one other altered.

We will not be able to get along to Goodwood tomorrow as we will be covering this year's first Webster Race Engineering Test Day at Santa Pod Raceway.

Anglias Steeled for Championship.
23rd March: Real Steel have renewed their sponsorship of the UK's Outlaw Anglias in 2004, writes class organiser Paul Wright.

"We would like to thank Charles and the gang at Real Steel for renewing their sponsorship", says Paul. "It's great to have a top-class company like Real Steel associated with our Championship, not only for their extensive performance parts stock and nitrous oxide supply, but also for their excellent machining services and engine balancing.

"We would also like to thank Lee Child for organising the M and H Racemaster contingency deal for the Ultimate Power rounds."
©Eurodragster.com
The 2004 Real Steel/Outlaw Anglia championship is to be contested over six rounds at Shakespeare County Raceway. For further details visit the Outlaw Anglia's official web site at www.outlaw-anglia.co.uk, and for more information on the services which Real Steel can offer either visit their web site at www.realsteel.co.uk or call 01895 440505.

Thunderball entry list update.
23rd March: Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for forwarding us the latest version of the entry list for the Easter Thunderball, which takes place at Santa Pod on 10th-12th April. The entry list, not yet final, has more than doubled since we published the first version and is showing a very healthy entry in most classes with almost every car class and most bike classes in double figures.

The Pro Fuel Shootout currently stands at two each in Top Fuel and Fuel Funny Car with Andy Carter and Lex Joon lined up against John Spuffard and Gordon Smith. We understand that there may possibly be additions to the Shootout entry; as soon as we receive any more information we will let you know. The first round of the MSA British Drag Racing Championship, for Top Methanol, sees the competitive début of Trev Capewell in the ex-Starkotter TMFC as well as the first outing for Doug Ripley's Avenger-bodied CC Racing TMFC, the FCs squaring up against Rob Turner.
©Eurodragster.com
As befits the first round of the 2004 Nordic Drag Racing Series, Paul Ingar Udtian and Elisabeth Bredal are coming all the way from Scandinavia to compete in Super Comp and Super Street respectively, whilst in other classes Super Modified is looking healthy with ten entries; Pro ET continues its tradition of large entries with twenty but has this time been out-subscribed by VW Sportsman with a huge twenty seven.

Four Top Fuel Bikes contest the first round of the ACU UK Championship with Antonio Ferretti making the trip from Italy as reported here on Sunday, accompanied by brother Luigi in the eight-bike Funny Bike field. Pro Stock Bike and Comp Bike will see racers fighting for a place in an eight-bike field whilst Super Street Bike has, we believe, the requisite number for a sixteen-bike field with fourteen entries. 9.90 Bike and 10.90 Bike currently stand at twelve and eight respectively.

Click here to see the current Easter Thunderball entry list. We will bring you the final version of the entry list shortly.

Swift snippets.
23rd March: A very Happy Birthday to the world's quickest and fastest Dutchman Lex Joon. As well as all the presents which he will receive today, Lex will doubtless be looking forward to the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod where he gets to play with his new toy, the MPM-sponsored Top Fuel Dragster. Tog and Sharkman and, we're sure, all of Eurodragster's readers would like to wish Lex Van harte gefeliciteerd.
©Eurodragster.com
A very Happy Birthday also to Tog's buddy Karen Bradbury who is currently in France somewhere. Bonne anniversaire Karen!

Fast Sunday.
23rd March: The Fast Show, Santa Pod Raceways new season opener for Performance and Modified car fans, takes place this Sunday (28th March), writes Rick Cuthbert of Santa Pod.

"The event focuses on a massive on-track Run What You Brung competition, with prizes from Motech being offered to the quickest car in a number of different categories", says Rick. "We are expecting some really big names in the tuning world to be out to make their mark at this event, and the competition should be fierce. There is a race class to suit every type of road-legal car, so whatever you drive you are welcome to enter on the day as long as you have your DVLC licence. Also on track will be demo cars including the Fireforce 2 Jet Funny Car, Terry Grant, and mystery dragsters.

"Off track there is a load to see and do including comedy, show cars, pole dancers, a massive trade area, and lots of side shows and Club displays. So if you cant wait for the season to start, come along to Santa Pod this weekend - there will plenty to see and do, especially if you have something to prove on the race track!"

To find out more, visit the Fast Show's official web site at www.thefastshow.com or call Santa Pod Raceway on 01234 782828.
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
23rd March: Our good buddies at Svensk Dragracing have updated their web site with a very interesting interview with 2003 NDRS Super Street Champion Janne Carlsson. The interview is presented in both Swedish and English and is well worth a look at www.dragracing.se.

The web site of recent Eurodragster workshop visit subjects B and J Nostalgia has been updated with the latest news of the projects currently underway in Bill Felstead and Johnny Hall's shop. Check it out at www.bjnostalgia.com.
©Eurodragster.com
The Eurodragster Staff and Information page, which was one of the links on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page, has undergone a revamp and has now become the Eurodragster Staff and Statistics page. As well as the staff and honorary staff list the page now features Eurodragster's monthly visitor and access statistics for the last year, as we frequently receive requests for this information from sponsors and racers approaching sponsors.

Andy Willsheer update.
22nd March: Further to yesterday's Swift snippet about the accident which befell our good friend UK photographer Andy Willsheer at Gainesville at the weekend, we have heard from US photographer Les Welch who has kindly given us an update on Andy's condition. Andy was photographing in the shutdown area on Saturday when a piece came off Ashley Force's Top Alcohol Dragster and hit Andy in the leg, which was broken. Les has been to see Andy in hospital and reports that he is in good spirits.

"When I got off the elevator, I didn't even need Andy's room number, I just followed the sound of his laugh", says Les. "Andy is doing great, considering. The break was 'clean', with no broken skin, and he got and is getting top-notch care. When I went to see Andy tonight, he already had a full room including John and Ashley Force, Jerry Darien (Ashley's car owner), some crew guys from Ashley's car, and a couple of photographers.

"The best line of the night: John Force told the story that Ashley's car was light when it went across the scales so John told them to go get Andy, put him on the scale and deduct his body weight.
©Eurodragster.com
"Whilst I was there, two other photographers arrived - a total of five of us plus the rest. The poor guy in the other bed got a show (if he was listening) whether he wanted it or not. I talked to him for a couple of seconds before leaving just to make sure he wasn't put out by all of us being there at nine o'clock at night. He was okay with it."

Les has been posting updates on the forum at www.patspeed.com, under the thread Andy down.

Many thanks to Les for the update. We are sure that everyone will join Sharkman and Tog in wishing Andy a rapid recovery; if you would like to send a Get Well message to Andy then drop us a line at webmaster@eurodragster.com and we will pass on all messages received.

Spycam at Beck's 'shop?
22nd March: Courtesy of advances in mobile phone technology we are able to bring you the first pictures of the paintjob which 2003 ACU UK Pro Stock Bike Champion Dave Beck's newly TL1000-bodied bike will be carrying in 2004 (right).
©Eurodragster.com
You can see a shot from the front by clicking on the picture. Had this been April 1st we could have spun our readers a line about a workshop mole, but in fact the pictures came from Becky himself and we are very grateful to him for forwarding them to us.

Francis imports another sponsor.
22nd March: UK Super Comp and Super Gas racer Malcolm Francis is pleased to announce that he has signed American Car Imports as an associate sponsor for his dual-class new Pontiac Grand Am-bodied race car which will be competing in the UK National Super Gas and Super Comp Championships this year.

"I am very pleased to welcome American Car Imports as a sponsor", says Malcolm. "American Car Imports are the UK leaders in the sourcing, importation and supply of American vehicles to order. American Car Imports have over fourteen years' experience in the business of supplying new American vehicles to order. With offices and showroom based in London and an office located in Miami, Florida they are able to provide an unrivalled service in the sourcing, shipping and importation of new American vehicles. American Car Imports also have the largest stock of new and used late model American vehicles in the UK."

Anthony Cohen, joint Director of American Car Imports - who sponsor Eurodragster's Home and News pages and Event Coverage - says "Many people involved in European drag racing are already aware that it was Malcolm Francis, a regular customer of American Car Imports, who was the catalyst in getting ACI involved in the sport in 2001. Malcolm has demonstrated his professionalism and commitment by running so well in 2003, and bearing in mind that his business, Air Sea Logistics is a long-standing sponsor of the ACI Racing team, a reciprocal sponsorship arrangement made absolute sense. Malcolm currently drives an ACI-supplied 4x4 Ford F250 diesel crew cab to tow his race trailer, and like many other well known members of the European Drag Racing fraternity, gets a super deal every time he buys a vehicle from us. American Car Imports and the whole of the American Car Imports Racing team wish Malcolm every success in 2004."
©Eurodragster.com
Workshop visit: B and J Nostalgia.
21st March: For the latest in Eurodragster's occasional series of features we took a trip to Romford to visit the workshops of B and J Nostalgia, Bill Felstead and Johnny 'Mental' Hall's company which specialises in the construction and maintenance of slingshots amongst other work. Bill and Johnny told us about their love of nostalgia, how they came to hook up, how they think they were separated at birth, and gave us the latest on the blown-fuel slingshot which the Windridge Hall McKenzie team will be campaigning in 2004.
©Eurodragster.com
Click here to check out the report and pictures of our workshop visit, or click on the Features link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Paul paces Hal Far field.
21st March: Malta's Paul Pace won in two classes and clocked an impressive 11.7 in his 2.1 litre Super Street Ford Escort (right) at the first race at Hal Far, says Malta Drag Racing Association President Anthony Borda.

"Paul managed a better reaction time than his opponents by 0.2 seconds", says Anthony. "He did everything right in every race he had. He had great reaction times and made spectacular launches which left his opponents looking at the back of his car. Paul owns three Ford Escorts, two of which he drives in different classes whilst his eldest son Christian drives the other. They always do well at every event. Last year Paul ended up the Champion in the Street Modified Class.
©Eurodragster.com
"Paul is a veteran in Drag Racing and is currently MDRA Vice President. He does a lot of good things for the Association. You can get anything out of him whenever you need it, and he is an example to others in drag racing. Paul does all of this with support of his tuner John Martin, who is a well-known tuner and mechanic here in Malta. All of the Martin family are involved in drag racing in some way. John's eldest brother used to be the Club President, another brother owns Burton Auto Shop, another is a racer: you could keep on mentioning others in this family.

"Another thing which Paul will be doing is going to Bologna in Italy to buy a couple of Pro Stock Bikes. The bikes are owned by Davide Ricci, who is involved with the Veidec Racing Team. We have seen these bikes running at Hal Far Raceway, and Davide has also raced them at Santa Pod Raceway and Hockenheim. It's nice to have a few bikes like this in Malta, although there aren't a lot of bike fans here. As soon as we get back from Italy, I will send another update."

Swift snippets.
21st March: Best wishes to UK photo-journalist Andy Willsheer who was hit by débris whilst working trackside at the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville yesterday. Our US corespondent Ed O'Connell tells us that John Force apologised to "the young English photographer" on yesterday's TV coverage, as the débris is understood to have come from Ashley Force's Top Alcohol Dragster. We understand that Andy suffered a broken leg; as soon as we have any more news we will bring it to you. In the meantime we are sure that everyone will join Tog and Sharkman in wishing Andy the very best and a speedy return to the track.
©Eurodragster.com
Italian Top Fuel Bike racer Antonio Ferretti has confirmed that he will be attending the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway in April.

Modena race postponed.
20th March: Italian Top Fuel Bike racer Antonio Ferretti and Lorenzo Lauro have been in touch to explain the postponement of this weekend's Italian Championship round which was due to take place at Modena. The race has now been rescheduled to 17th-18th April.

"The police department did not authorise this event, because they needed more time to evaluate the homologation of our track for spectators", says Antonio and Lorenzo. "Next week everything should be fine, but because we are taking part in another event and because Easter is coming the Italian Drag Racers Association decided to reschedule the race for 17th-18th April.
©Eurodragster.com
"We are truly sorry for the inconvenience which this situation caused the racers, but after the next meeting with local authority the way should be 'flat' for the future."

You can stay in touch with drag racing news from Italy on the Nitro Drag Racing web site at www.dragster.it.

Tooled-up Shockwave.
20th March: If you were tuned in on Thursday then you will have read that the UK's Shockwave Fuel Funny Car team have signed a major sponsorhip deal with Fuel. We were very pleased to hear from co-owners Gordon Smith and Dave Bryant that the Shockwave team have signed a sponsorship deal with Teng Tools, have increased their involvement with Prolong, and that a number of associate sponsors have repeated their support in 2004.

"Shockwave's Assistant Crew Chief Steve Loader has been working very hard over the winter months to secure sponsors for the team, for which we are very grateful", say Gordon and Dave. "The deal with Teng Tools has supplied us with just about everything we need to service the car. The team are very grateful to Daniel King and all at Teamvise Ltd for their support, and we look forward to an ever-closer relationship in the forthcoming seasons". You can find out more about Teng Tools on Teamvise Ltd's web site at www.teamvise.co.uk.

"We are also pleased to announce that we have been able to increase our involvement with Prolong Lubricants for 2004", say Gordon and Dave. "Over the past two seasons Prolong have been keen to help with product where they can, but this year they have showed their loyalty by supplying us with 70W Nitro Blend oil and associated products for the whole season. This amounts to something in the region of a hundred US gallons. We would especially like to thank Jonathan and Andrew Purchase for assistance in finalising this deal, and Prolong for their continuing support for drag racing in the UK". For more information about the full range of Prolong products, check out their web site at www.prolong-uk.com.

Gordon and Dave are also very grateful to their other sponsors who are repeating their support of previous seasons. "Autolite Spark Plugs have been a major sponsor for some years now, and we are pleased to announce their continuing support for Shockwave in 2004 with their very high-quality racing spark plugs, which we believe are the best on the market. Fram Oil Filters have been on board for two years now and again have been very helpful in their support for 2004, continuing to supply their well-known brand of high-quality filters. Abac Compressors and Air Tools have been with Shockwave almost from day one, supplying the team with compressors and high-quality air tools. This support will continue for 2004; any team who require any size of compressor for their operation shouldn't hesitate to contact the Shockwave team. Loctite joined with Shockwave two years ago and have been supplying the team with all sorts of products from silicone to rubber seal kits. It's surprising just how many small products you can use on a Fuel car, and Loctite's support this year is quite substantial. Again we are very grateful for their continued support in 2004.
©Eurodragster.com
"Ringspan have been with Shockwave for three years, supplying the car with every kind of cable required including throttle, fuel shut-off and parachute cables. We have been very lucky to be able to call them friends, especially Gordon Risling who over the past few years has become a very welcome face around the pit. Thanks for your support, guys. Flint Insurance Group of Dartford, Kent, have been a long-suffering supporter of the Shockwave team for many years and have been able to take a load off our minds by insuring the truck every year. This is a massive saving to the team and we are very grateful for their continued support and for their support of drag racing in the UK. Bennetts Autopart Retailers supply the team with sundry products including brake cleaner, of which we use gallons, polishing cloth, hand cleaner etc. and are increasing there involvement with the team for 2004.

"All at Shockwave would like to take this opportunity to thank all sponsors who are involved with the team for 2004. Without you, we could not do it."

Joon unveils TF design.
19th March: Dutch Top Fuel Dragster racer Lex Joon has unveiled the design of the dragster which he will be campaigning in 2004. Lex's Team Manager Gerda Dijkstra kindly sent us a copy of the rendering of the dragster, which is owned by Knut Söderquist and sponsored by Eurodragster's joint webcam sponsor MPM International Oil Company.
©Eurodragster.com

"We are very pleased with the design which Jorgen Al has done for MPM", says Gerda. "As you can see the design looks like the Fuel Funny Car which we raced last year, but has a slightly tougher look. If it goes as fast and as beautifully as it looks, then it must be a winner!"

Gerda tells us that the trailer will carry the same design as the Top Fuel Dragster. Fans should get their first chance to see the Top Fueller in MPM colours at the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway, as Gerda says that as things stand the colour scheme is on course to be ready in time.

You can view a larger version of the above picture either by clicking on it, or by clicking here, and if you would like to see a much larger version (but which only comes in at 153 Kb) then click here.

Veidec PSB team visit Italy.
19th March: The Veidec Racing Pro Stock Bike team will be competing in the first round of the 2004 Italian Championship in Modena this weekend. The trip serves a dual purpose as Sweden's reigning and multiple FIM/UEM Pro Stock Bike Champion Roger Pettersson, the UK's Helen Curran, and Italy's Remo Nassi will also be grabbing the chance for track time before the European Championship commences.
©Eurodragster.com
"The race is only over an eighth mile, but it is good to be on-track so soon before the start of the season", says Crew Chief Roger Lyrén. "The involvement with Italy is also very exciting for us. Drag racing is not so big in Italy yet but there is a huge potential for the sport, as Italy is a motorsport country - especially bikes!"

Today the Veidec team will be presented at a press conference at David Ricci's Giostra Café in Bologna. "More than a hundred reporters and companies have been invited to this press call", says Roger. "This Café is where Ducati hold the official launches of their new models". You can find out more about the Giostra Café at www.giostracafe.com.

Stay tuned as Roger has promised to let us know how the Veidec team fare in Italy. You can find out more about the race in Modena, and Italian Drag Racing as a whole, on the Nitro Drag Racing web site at www.dragster.it.

Fuzzie and Mental do Bakersfield.
19th March: UK Supercharged Outlaw racers Dave 'Fuzzie' McKenzie and Johnny 'Mental' Hall have just returned from a trip to the March Meet at Bakersfield where as well as enjoying the best that Nostalgia racing has to offer they crated up the engine and gearbox for their new fuel-burning slingshot and delivered them to California Shipping. "The crate is now on its way back to Blighty for a mad thrash to get ready for 1st May", says Fuzzie.

Fuzzie told us a little more about the March Meet itself. "Johnny and I were there as guests of Jeff Bennett, who campaigns the No Mercy Fuel Altered", he said. "At the meet there were twenty six Nitro slingshots trying to qualify for sixteen spots, with the top cars running 5.9s at 250 mph plus. Also the Nitro Funny Car class was back with pre '79-bodied cars running single mags, no computers and 8-71 blowers. This class will take off at Nostalgia meets, judging by the crowd reaction to the smoky burnouts. In the pits was the Winged Express car once driven by the late 'Wild Willy' Borsch. The car did a smoky burn out and a full pass, hurting an engine through the lights - these old cars don't sit around garages and museums, they come out to play, as did the Beebe and Mulligan slingshot resplendent in its green paintwork (right). Also out on the track was the old Pandemonium Funny Car. This meeting is a must for all Nostalgia freaks who love to sniff nitro early in the season.

Fuzzie has posted the first of his Bakersfield photo galleries on the Supercharged Outlaws web site at www.superchargedoutlawsuk.com. If you like your Nostalgia then don't miss Fuzzie's pictures, and stay tuned as he promises more galleries by the weekend.

Swift snippets.
19th March: 2003 FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champion Dave Wilson and the American Car Imports Racing team have made the long haul from Phoenix to Gainesville Raceway in Florida to compete in this weekend's NHRA Gatornationals. You will be able to stay in touch with Dave's progress over the weekend on the Drag Race Central web site at www.dragracecentral.com and on NHRA's web site at www.nhra.com. The first round of Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying is scheduled for 18:00 UK/19:00 European.
©Eurodragster.com
Scotland's Crail Raceway is holding its Performance Ford Thrash this Sunday (21st March). The Run What You Brung event is not just for Fords but the Blue Oval boys have the bonus of a Show and Shine with trophies and prizes in various categories. Gates open at 9:30 am, the track opens at 10:00am and shuts at 4:30 pm. Entry is £7 per person and a further £15 for unlimited runs on the track. You can find more details on Crail's web site at www.crailraceway.co.uk.

Fuel Funny Car.
18th March: The UK's Shockwave Fuel Funny Car team have announced a major sponsorship deal with performance and lifestyle company Fuel. In a press release issued late last night, Fuel's owner Richie Warren explains that the Shockwave FC fits in perfectly with Fuel's philosophy.

You may have heard a lot about Fuel over the last few years: those black Dodge Challengers with the oversized sound-systems, the very cheeky Fuel girls, Gumball Rally antics and their passion for the extreme lifestyle, which pushes them to think more and more out of the box and delve into the world of the extreme. Whether it be music, racing, drag-racing, sound-systems or just pure entertainment, Fuel have always pushed themselves one step farther than the rest.

So it will come as no surprise that Fuel have teamed up with the people who share their passion for the most extreme of all lifestyles the Shockwave team and their 290mph Nitro Funny Car. If ever Fuel wanted to sponsor anybody , Shockwave are the team. After a year away from the sport, Fuel (who used to sponsor the crazy antics of Smax in the Mainline Menace) are coming back with a vengeance!

"I kept a close eye on the Shockwave team last year and Fuel just couldn't keep away from the sport any longer", says Fuel's Richie Warren. "There is definitely Nitro coursing through the Fuel veins and we are back to have our fix! At Fuel we live the lifestyle, not just talk about it, but it was still important to be involved with a professional team that has a real chance of winning the championship this year."

Ever since visiting Pomona a few years ago, Richie has admired the awesome spectacle which the Americans put on for the crowds. This year his aim is to emulate the professionalism and the size of the operations those yanks excel at! With this programme of sponsorship will come Fuel's associate sponsors, Xbox and Maxpower magazine, two brands which need to be involved in the sport. They have both chosen Fuel and the Shockwave Funny Car to break them in fast!

"Dave and Gordon convinced me last year that they are moving on to great things", says Richie. "With our backing, I'm certain they will come out on top this year in the British Nitro Funny Car Championship. I intend to take them and the car outside of the sport, to show other car enthusiasts exactly what drag racing in the UK is all about!"

Fuel are concentrating their efforts on manufacturing cool styling products for cars, such as LED and neon undercar kits, interior lighting and in particular, a totally ear splitting range of car-audio sub woofers only Fuel could impose this kind of noise upon you, but what else would you expect! They also have a range of exclusive Fuel merchandise and race apparel. And of course the Fuel trailer wouldn't be complete without those Fuel girls, and this year Fuel are flying in Masuimi Max, all the way from Texas, for the Main Event, where she will be signing autographs and willing the team over the finish line! And with all that glamour the car has been completely restyled with an Oakley-style paint job, to be released in the next few weeks...so watch this space!
©Eurodragster.com
Gordon Smith and Dave Bryant, co-owners of Shockwave, are overjoyed to be associated with Fuel and Richie Warren. "This is a coming together which we have been working on for some time now, and we are very pleased that it has all come together before the new season starts", the say. "We both feel that this is an association which will grow over the next few years. What Fuel gives us is a high profile and professional aspect which we hope will encourage others into the class.

"We would also like to thank Richie for the added association he brings with the tie up with Xbox and Maxpower and we are looking forward to this increasing over time. The whole team are now looking forward to the new season and a long and lucrative future with Fuel and their associate sponsors."

For more details check out Fuel's web site at www.liquidinjuredhearing.com, and stay tuned for more news from the Shockwave pit.

Farrugia chases the ETs.
18th March: Maltese Super Street racer Brian Farrugia is working on his 2.1 Ford OHC-powered Escort (right) to get back to the top of the field where he once belonged, writes Malta Drag Racing Association President Anthony Borda.

"Brian has been active in Drag Racing for the last eight years", says Anthony. "He started drag racing with a different and there was a time when he has the best of the best. But in Super Street there's always a different winner, since every competitor in the class takes it very seriously. There is a field of eighteen in all, all of which will amaze you with the power of their engines and their paint jobs.

"Brian's car is undergoing some modifications since he has a lack of power at the top end and a big problem on the launch when the car picks up its front end too much. He's changing his Holbay Roller Cam because it is a bit small in lift and duration. Some new Electronics are being put in, and some modifications are being made on the rear end. Brian is spending a lot of time on this car to get top the top spot again, and when he finishes the work he will be a pain in the butt for the other competitors again.
©Eurodragster.com
"This car is tuned by Manty Bugeja, a well-known Top Methanol Dragster driver. Manty is well-known for tuning these engines as well as Cosworths and others too - he's a Ford fanatic himself! The car's best ET is 11.9 seconds, with an astonishing 1.49 sixty foot, and a terminal speed of 110 mph. For a small OHC engine which was being used in a Ford Transit, that isn't bad at all. We should see Brian competing in our next event and we will see if he'll improve on his elapsed times."

Swift snippets.
18th March: Annette Talbot has been in touch to ask us to wish a very Happy Birthday to APIRA's Chief Marshal Bev Batsford. Bev has been unwell but we understand that she is recovering very well and we look forward to seeing her again soon. "Everyone at Shakespeare County Raceway wishes Bev many happy returns" says Annette, and we are sure that everyone will join Sharkman and Tog in adding their own love and best wishes to Bev.
©Eurodragster.com
Birthday greetings also to Shakespeare County Raceway track announcer Barry Bohannon, to whom we wish the very Happiest of Birthdays. Don't do anything which might damage the golden tonsils, Barry.

'Zombie to emerge in daylight.
 17th March: The UK's newest Jet vehicle is set to make its public début at the APIRA Test and Tune at Shakespeare County Raceway on 3rd-4th April. Ian Caseley will be making initial checkout passes in his Roadzombie II Jet Dragster after successful engine tests last week.

"Since preliminary engine tests last November the car has been totally stripped and painted", says Ian. "The fuel system has been slightly altered and right now the car is almost ready to run. We have some finishing to do on the wiring and the parachute cables...I just cant bring myself to drill into the polished chute tubes! Also our pink fur needs to be added - my previous 100e race car always had a piece of pink fur, and the same will apply here."

Last week's engine testing of the Roadzombie II again took place at Ian's Clevedon warehouse. After checking for leaks and purging air from the system on Wednesday Ian and tractor puller Chris George, who uses jets himself, fired up the Viper on Thursday evening. "Start-up was as easy as could be hoped for", says Ian. "We opened the burner valves to check for leaks on the high-pressure side of the system and all was good. Now was the time to light the flame show and check that the hot shot was working. The motor obliged, and we had a five-minute flame show and burner pop session (right, click on picture for larger version)."

What Ian hadn't reckoned with, however, was the general public. "In hindsight it may not have been a good idea to run a jet motor up, create loud bangs and spew flames out on an industrial estate", he says. "The result was that the emergency services were inundated with reports of explosions and fire. The security monitoring company which has cameras on the units next to ours saw flames and reported their building on fire. We had all of the Clevedon Fire Brigade on us in next to no time! I have to say for a very short time I didnt know who was more scared: the fire crews because they just didnt know what we were running, or me because I thought 'Boy, how do I explain this'. The fire crew were OK and offered to hang around if we wanted to run the motor again."
©Eurodragster.com
Having reassured the emergency services that Bristol and its environs were not about to disappear in a firestorm, Ian was able to take stock of his successful engine test and look forward to the APIRA Test and Tune. "The test was a real treat, and confirmed that we were ready to go to the strip", he says. "I am very pleased that after two and a half years, driving a jet dragster could soon be reality. Its a real big milestone for me and I could not have got this far without everyone who has been good enough to help with advice and support. Lee Child has been very positive about allowing us to run at Shakespeare County Raceway and I'm sure that this is a reflection of Lee's commitment to help develop drag racing here in the UK."

Ian says that the team's focus at the APIRA Test and Tune will be on conducting themselves properly and safely whilst on the start line. "Any passes will be slow and designed to gain a feel of handling characteristics, and to highlight any unforeseen issues", he says.

If you would like to read more about the Roadzombie II then check out our Workshop Visit feature which you can view by clicking here, or by clicking on the Team Features link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Speedy Swedish teens.
17th March: Many thanks to Swedish journalist Stellan Åberg for sending us news of the new age arrangements for racing in Sweden, which Lars Pettersson of the Swedish Car Sport Federation announced at the Junior Drag Racing Seminar at Västerås last weekend.

"Teenagers in Sweden may drive Street class cars in ET racing from the year in which they are fifteen years old", says Stellan. "Theoretical and practical tests must be passed and then it's a quarter mile break-out of 16.00 seconds for the fifteen-year-olds. When they are sixteen years old the break-out is lowered somewhat to 14.50 seconds. There are two other alternatives for sixteen-year-olds in Sweden. They can either be licensed for Super Street, Super Gas, Stock or ET racing with a break-out of 9.90 seconds, provided that they have completed ten races in a Junior Modified Dragster; or they can be licensed for Dragsters, Super Comp or ET racing with a break out of 8.90 seconds, again provided they have done ten races in a J/M Dragster."
©Eurodragster.com
SCR entry forms posted.
17th March: Many thanks to Ozzy Ewing of Avon Park International Racers Association for letting us know that he has now updated the APIRA web site with the official entry forms for this year's three UK National Championship events at Shakespeare County Raceway.
©Eurodragster.com
The entry forms are in Word format and can be found at the bottom of the Downloads page of the APIRA web site at www.apira.org.uk/downloads.

Tha APIRA web site will shortly also be updated with entry forms for UK National Championship events at Santa Pod, and vice-versa on the SPRC web site.

A seaside TFB trip.
17th March: If you fancy a day by the seaside this Saturday (20th March) then head for Brighton where 2003 ACU UK Top Fuel Bike Champion Steve Woollatt will be displaying his six-second Dealer Top Fuel Bike at the premises of sponsor Bikes of Brighton.

"Steve Conway of Bikes of Brighton has always been very good to us", says Steve Woollatt. "I always enjoy giving something back to my sponsors and it's a pleasure to support Steve by taking the bike to his annual open day". Bikes of Brighton will be offering bikers special deals on the day as well as holding a raffle with some very impressive prizes. "Last year's first prize was a £200 jacket", says Steve, "and NGK have already sent stuff for this year's raffle. Go and buy plenty of tickets so that Steve keeps sponsoring me!".
©Eurodragster.com
Steve tells us that the Dealer is all but ready to roll. "I have been collecting bits for the new clutch", he says. We will be using the same hydraulic system which the Top Fuel Dragsters use. Apart from that, everything is ready to go and we are looking forward to the Easter Thunderball."

You can find Bikes of Brighton on the A23 Preston Road, a mile or so from the seafront and northbound in the one-way system: click here for a map.

Swift snippets.
17th March: Swedish Top Methanol Funny Car racer Martin Lundqvist has changed his racing plans for 2004 and so has put his TMFC up for sale, says Team Manager Stina Afsenius. "Lundqvist Motorsports will continue to compete in one of the top classes in FIA drag racing", says Stina. "As soon as the new machine is race-ready the team will be back out on the race track."
©Eurodragster.com
UK Sportsman ET racer Darren Hulkes is currently burning the midnight oil on his Close Call Camaro in preparation for a move up to Pro ET this season. "After spinning the bearings and blowing my engine last year, I stripped the car down", says Darren. "I pulled bulkhead and floor out and have moved the bulkhead and engine back seven and a half inches which has turned into a total rebuild. The engine has also been stepped up on the power front so we will be running in Pro ET this year but looking to run in Super Street as soon as possible. I would like to thank Kev Taylor at CRAP for his help in sorting engine parts and machine work for me - thanks mate."

Graham Motler and Steve Good of the UK's Pulse Rate Pro ET team have asked us to thank everyone who responded to our call to identify the 'mystery bike' on Sunday. "What a reaction!", says Graham.

SPR JD for hire.
17th March: If you are aged between eight and seventeen years old and want to try driving a Junior Dragster then Santa Pod Raceway Track Manager David Lloyd Jones tells us that Santa Pod Raceway's own Junior Stock Dragster is available for hire for a number of RWYBs and/or race events this season.

"Hire can be for one day with full tuition at a Run What You Brung (RWYB) or for two to four days at a Championship Round", says David. "To enter a full race meeting, you must have completed your tuition and obtained your competition licence at a RWYB. The fee for a single day RWYB is £99 which includes all equipment and attire, admission, sign-on fee and tuition. Available early dates are 3rd April, 4th April, 25th April, 15th May, 22nd May, 23rd May and 4th June 2004. The fee for a race meeting is £199 including all equipment, attire, admission and race entry fee. Race meetings start with the Easter Thunderball on 10th-12th April and the FIA Main Event on 28th-31st Ma.y"

If you have any queries or would like to book then drop David a line at david@santapod.fsnet.co.uk or call him on 01234 782828.
©Eurodragster.com
Marston: a dream fulfilled.
17th March: If you were tuned in to Eurodragster News over the weekend then you will know that UK Super Gas racer Paul Marston was competing in Super Street at Orlando Speedworld in a Pontiac Ventura owned by Charlie Evans. Paul got in touch again to let us know how he fared in eliminations on Sunday.

"Eliminations started at 9.30 am sharp and Super Street was the first class out", says Paul. "The weather has been hot and sunny throughout the whole event, sunburn, or avoiding it, has been a real problem. Being the first class out on a brand new day meant that all your throttle stop settings have to rely on the data in the weather station. The weather was getting warmer faster than it had on Friday and Saturday and there was a little more wind, being that we had run under the 10.90 index all weekend and the Pontiac seemed to like the morning temperatures, all the data pointed towards a fast run. So we put ten more numbers in the stop and another five in the delay as I had gone red first run on Saturday morning. I did not want to bulb myself, these LED trees are a whole new ballgame. Also we found out from the track manager Randy that the first sixty feet were going to be scraped and prepped Saturday night for Sunday. Even though I had run under the index all weekend this is not a problem as you do not qualify in Super Street, Super Gas or Super Comp: the runs you make are just time trials, for the first round you are randomly paired in the staging lanes.

"With nearly sixty race cars in Super Street it was a real lottery. My opponent was Sammy Leal with a 1968 Camaro. Both of us were away well off of the startline, I had a safe .533 RT and ran a 10.94/127.68. Sammy ran a .503 RT and a 10.93/119. For the first time that weekend the Pontiac ran slower than 10.90 pass. I simply could not catch Sammy, so he just backed into me at the stripe. Looking at the data after the race our verdict was that the headwind killed the Pontiac's speed and hence the slow ET. Sammy is a veteran racer and went another three rounds before losing to eventual winner Tony Fuller, son of World Champion `Hot Rod Fuller` in his black and flamed 1969 Camaro. Tony went seven rounds to win the final with a lucky break, as he pulled a sleepy .554 light but this opponent had red lit so professional racer Tony Fuller got the big paycheck!
©Eurodragster.com
"I cannot express in words what this weekend has been for me, I have joined an exclusive club of Brits who have raced at a Divisional Event in America. For me this has been a lifetime achievement; I had no illusions of being able to go further than first round, they really are that good, you would need to race these guys regularly in a race car that you knew well to become properly competitive. I will take away so much from this experience, that is exactly what I wanted, you need to race the best to be able to learn from them and I learned plenty!

"I must thank everyone who helped make this possible: Charlie Evans, owner of the 1972 Pontiac Ventura in which I competed, Steve Deatherage of Deatherage Racing for letting me operate out of their trailer, Tony and Lynn Morris for all their help, support and encouragement, Dave Gibbons for inspiration, everyone at Orlando Speedworld and all the Dixie Rebels Division 2 Racers who made me feel very welcome. Lastly but not least everyone at Black Box London who arranged cover for me, allowing me to compete over here, all my people at Paul Marston Racing who are currently working real hard reassembling Grumpy's Dodge. Special thanks to everyone at Eurodragster, you are second to none!"

Paul is now headed for Gainesville where he will be crewing with Tony Morris and Steve Deatherage who will be competing in their Super Comp dragsters. Paul has promised to keep us up-to-date with their progress if he is able. In the meantime, you can see some photographs of Paul in action in Florida by clicking here.

Lackey's final tour.
16th March: We were shocked to learn courtesy of Frans Steilberg that after thirty four years of active racing in the US and European drag racing scenes racer and promoter Jerry 'Big Daddy' Lackey has decided to make this season, his thirty fifth, his last as a driver. Jerry has been deeply involved with drag racing in Germany since its arrival in 1969.

"After racing all over Europe in almost every class from ET Bracket all the way up to Jet Dragster, I feel that at the ripe old age of 61 it is time to let the younger generation show what they can do", says Jerry. "My Patriot Jet team and I will do shows at several events in 2004 with my final event at Hockenheim in August, and at the same time offer my Patriot Jet Dragster, tow truck, trailer and all spare equipment for sale throughout the season. The Patriot Team will also offer one full year of training and advice to any new buyer.

"As a founder of the sport of Drag Racing in Germany (1969), I plan to continue working in Drag Race management and will continue to organize and conduct events in Germany as long as my health will allow.

"I feel very fortunate in the fact that I have made many friends in our sport over the years and these friends are scattered all over Europe. I am also very grateful for all the friendship, help, and guidance that the fastest Jet Man in Europe, Martin Hill, has given me and our team over the past few years."

We are sure that everyone will join Sharkman and Tog in wishing Jerry a very successful final season, and we are pleased to hear that he is to remain in the sport after he finishes driving.
©Eurodragster.com
Hal Far first race report.
16th March: The Malta Drag Racing Association organised its first drag race of 2004 last weekend, writes MDRA President Anthony Borda. "The weather was fantastic and held up great for the couple of days of the event and many people came to Hal-Far Raceway to watch some great racing", says Anthony.

"This Event was very well organised, although there werent as many vehicles competing as we normally have in other events. The first Drag Race is always like that, since there will be lots of vehicles being modified and souped up more for the upcoming events. Apart from a small accident in which a Pro Stock Car lost control and hit the barrier, everything went well as usual. A week before this event took place, we had to do lots of preparation on the track, since it wasnt in a great condition like it usually is. Its always like that at the beginning of each year, since the track isnt used for at least the last three winter months. But once the competitors used the track for practice, everybody held on to the track as well as usual.

"This season, we are starting our Events a bit earlier in the day than usual, since we were having some trouble getting time to give all the competitors a couple of qualifying runs. The System which we introduced during this event worked fine as we predicted. Everybody competing had the opportunity to do two qualifying rounds. Although we had a couple of great sunny days, none of our competitors bettered their Elapsed Times since we had strong head wind. This mainly affected the small cars.
©Eurodragster.com
"Drivers like Chris Polidano, Eric Baldachino and Godwin Carabott were again winners in various classes, apart from others who did well too. At this event we had the EVS Racing Team Volvo truck with us once again after a long absence for modifications. This Volvo truck, driven by Noel Vella, has undergone a total chassis and engine modification and proved that it will give every other truck competitor a very hard time. Its nice to have this EVS Racing Team back with us at Hal-Far. They are very well organised like all other teams in the diesel truck class. The EVS Volvo truck started on a good note by winning both the Open and Handicap Classes, and recorded a best Elapsed Time of 11.7 seconds. Unfortunately, they had to race their Finals solo since the other Volvo truck, driven by Tommy Agius, couldnt make the finals because of transmission problems acquired in eliminations. It was a real shame that we couldnt see the Volvo of Maksar Racing Team in the Final runs, as we could have seen a couple of great finals from these two great rival competitors. I must add that the Maksar Racing Team recorded the fastest time of 11.4 seconds during qualifying, although it was affected by a strong head wind.

"Apart from the cars and trucks, there was Darren Pisani on a Street Kawasaki 1100cc bike, who won the biggest bike class and recorded his best-ever Elapsed Time of 10.2 seconds. There were lots of other competitors who did well, but its very hard to mention everyone competing.

"The Executive Committee would like to thank all those who helped out in any way to make this event a successful one, once again."

Swift snippets.
16th March: Carl Burton has confirmed that Hauser Race Cars, WASP, Real Steel, CRAP and Black Bear Harley Davidson of Newmarket will be posting sponsorship for the number one qualifier in Pro ET at the five UK National Championship rounds at Santa Pod Raceway this season. "Pro ET racers will need to register before Easter and can do so at www.pro-et.co.uk or call me on 01733 840819", says Carl.

British Nitro FC Championship Co-ordinator Jim Broome has been in touch to ask us to wish a Happy Birthday to UK Wild Bunch racer Tony Smith, which we are very pleased to do. "I would say that Tony is an old timer, but as he is approximately three years older than me I won't!", says Jim. We are sure that everyone will join Tog and Sharkman in wishing Tony the happiest of Birthdays.
©Eurodragster.com
The bike, identified.
16th March: Further to the suggestions posted yesterday about the identity of the bike in Graham Motler's pictures, published on Sunday, we have now received a positive id.

Dick Thompson got in touch to agree with the rapidly-forming consensus. "I can confirm that it is a glass fibre construction by John Harpum", says Dick. "He had his own moulding business in the blister hangar at Podington, and he made several creations along those lines. Even the engine and blowers were copies in plastic! The last I heard of that one was that it went to "the Middle East" to be in an oil millionaire's collection."
©Eurodragster.com
It was from Antony Billinton of G Max Racing Fuels that we received the authoritative word on the bike, and confirmation that our last few correspondents were spot on. "I can confirm 100% positively that it is one of John Harpum's bikes (there were more!)", says Antony. "I can also tell you that the reason that I am so sure is that I helped him build it! It was called Imagine and what you can't quite see on the pictures you have is that it had two front wheels (one behind the other). I have still a picture of this bike hanging in my dining room, compete with the mannequin rider sitting on it. I remember getting the mannequin from Shinners department store in Sutton!"

Thanks very much indeed to Antony for putting Graham and the rest of us out of our misery, and a big Thank You also to everyone who took the trouble to write.

Lucas back Francis.
15th March: UK Super Comp and Super Gas racer Malcolm Francis is pleased to announce Lucas Oil Products UK Ltd as an associate sponsor for his dual-class new Pontiac Grand Am.

"I am very pleased to welcome Lucas Oil Products UK Ltd as a sponsor", says Malcolm. "I have been using their products in my race car since last year and have found them to be excellent. We run an alcohol-fuelled engine and suffered from fuel dilution but since switching to Lucas 20/50 Racing Oil we suffer less from this and have also seen a definite improvement in oil pressure. Aside from using Lucas Oil products in my race car and tow vehicle, my company Air Sea Logistics Ltd also use Lucas Oil in our fleet of diesel-powered vans and trucks which average more than 50,000 miles per year each. We use Lucas 15/40 in these vehicles with Lucas Stabilizer, and together with Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant and Lucas Injector Cleaner we have seen improved miles per gallon and lower emissions as a result. In using the best lubricants available on the market, we are fully able to trust and push our equipment and vehicles as hard as we do."
©Eurodragster.com
Lucas Oils is one of the fastest-growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry. A premium line of oils, greases and problem solving additives has firmly established Lucas Oils as a prominent figure in this market place. Lucas Oil Products UK Ltd is the UK and European distributor for Lucas Oils Products USA, providing the same level of service and support as the parent company.

"We can supply the full range of Lucas Oil Products to other racers and businesses", says Malcolm. "We can arrange nationwide delivery and we accept payment by credit card. For more information on the full range of Lucas Oil Products please visit www.lucasoil.co.uk, or to request a brochure contact me via E-Mail at malcolm@airsealogistics.com or telephone 01753 687411."

Swift snippets.
15th March: 2003 FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champion Dave Wilson took a first round exit at the NHRA Divisional event at Firebird Raceway yesterday. After qualifying third at 5.528/256.16 Dave faced Larry Miersch in the first round of eliminations and hit shake, recording 5.622 to Larry's winning 5.537. Crew Chief Andy Bissett tells us that the American Car Imports Racing team are now headed for Gainesville where Dave will contest the Gatornationals.
©Eurodragster.com
Swedish Pro Mod racer Håkan Nilsson has welcomed a new team member for the 2004 season. Twenty-two year-old Martin Lundkvist, who has raced himself in Street classes, impressed Håkan and the rest of the team during a test outing at Gardermoen last year, willingly carrying out any task required of him whilst standing in for fellow team member Markus who could not make the date. "This is the first step in our hard work to get that Championship trophy back!", says our good friend Ulf Stadig, who adds that Martin's appointment to the close-knit team will allow Håkan and himself more time to work on the tune-up, as well as allowing the team to give more time to sponsors and fans. You can read more on the Nilsson Motorsports web site at www.nilssonmotorsports.com.

That mystery bike...
15th March: We knew you wouldn't let us down! Within hours of our publishing Graham Motler's pictures of a mystery bike yesterday, we started to receive suggestions about its identity.

First to get in touch was Holland's Marius van der Zijden, Crew Chief for 2003 FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike Champion Roel Koedam. "Could it be that it was one of the weird creations (at least in my opinion) from the French Drag Mob Team?", says Marius.
©Eurodragster.com
The next response we received was from UK Super Pro ET racer John Parkinson. "The owner of Chromes and Flames magazine had a bike built in the early 1980s, but I believe it had a Jaguar V12 engine in it", says John. "It was due to make an appearance at the Paul Ricard circuit in the summer of 1981. I was asked to test drive it (as I started on bikes) but never made it, because the guy who did the paint work took it for a spin and stuffed it into a ditch on a stretch of French dual carraigeway, much to my relief I can tell you! Now, coincidence or not but that second photo could have been a dual carriageway? The only thing that stops me from saying that the two are related is that the bike which Patrice had built was supposed to have been a trike."

Next into our mailbox was UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Darryl Bradford who gave us a completely different provenance. "Right, anoraks at the ready!", says Darryl. "Even though I was about eight years old when I first saw this thing, it was built by the Santa Pod Raceway gang at the time as a show piece only and was never, ever intended to be run. It was kept at the 'Pod under lock and key and never saw the light of day. Last time I saw it was in a shed/hut where the old playpen used to be, and god knows what happened to it since.If you look closely you can see there are no gears in the rear, and the blower set-up is highly suspicious too!"

Member of Santa Pod Raceway's timing crew and 10.90 Bike racer John Hackney also thinks that there is an SPR connection. "I seem to remember when I first started working with Carlo Gandolfi at Run What You Brungs, there was a guy who used to do some wild things with fibreglass in one of the 'Pod units", says John. "I seem to remember the name 'Crazy John', don't know the guy's real name, but I do remember helping transport some of his creations down to North Weald...I think. As far as I know the bike never ran, if it was one of John's creations. My recollection is from the mid 1980s, so may be completely wrong, as usual!"

A consensus seems to be forming as this morning we heard from Norwegian Supertwin racer Svein Gottenberg who agrees with the 'Crazy John' theory. "I'm pretty sure this is a creation of John Harpum, who worked at Santa Pod in early days", says Svein. "John used to visit us here in Norway in the 1980s. I remember pictures of this and a lot of creations like it, 'Crazy John' is a great name for him!"

If any of our readers have any more theories then don't hesitate to drop us a line at news@eurodragster.com.

Web site updates.
15th March: The European Pro Mod Racers Association web site at www.promod.nu has been updated with an invitation and entry form for NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified at the FIA Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway.
©Eurodragster.com
Tech Inspector wants a belt.
14th March: UK Tech Inspector Geoff Martin is seeking the help of Eurodragster readers with some testing which he would like to carry out.

"I would like to find an expired set of SFI 16.1 seat belts, which are over four years old", says Geoff. "I need them for testing purposes only, but they need to be complete. If anyone has a set I will be at Santa Pod Raceway at Easter, so I could collect them there."
©Eurodragster.com
If anyone can help Geoff then please E-Mail him at geoffrey.martin4@btopenworld.com.

Mosten start money allocated.
14th March: Hans Jørgen Hitz has been in touch again to give us a run-down of the Top Fuel Bike and Supertwin racers who have filled the slots eligible for appearance money at the Mosten Race Day in Denmark in September. "We have now closed registration for riders to get start money", says Hans Jørgen. "All other Top Fuel and Supertwin racers are still welcome to register to race for the prize money."

Racing in Top Fuel Bike at Mosten will be Jon Leret, Finn Asserbo, Sverre Dahl, Ian King, Peter Ström and Eric Teboul, whilst the Supertwin field consists of Stefan Junerud, Svein Olav Rolfstad, Vidar Ravnsborg, Svein Gottenberg, Anders Karling, Ronny Aasen and Carsten Andersson.
©Eurodragster.com
Hans Jørgen has also given us a run-down of the other classes which are to be contested at the Mosten Race Day:
  • British Class: only for pre-1988 British bikes
  • Harley Class: only for Harleys of less than 1450cc
  • Harley Drag Class: international rules
  • Open Drag Class: "You can do anything with your bike and race"
  • Open Class: General Street bikes including later British bikes
For more information including an entry form check out www.titty-twister-racing.dk.

A mystery from the vaults.
14th March: Graham Motler, Crew Chief for Steve Good's Pulse Rate Pro ET team in the UK, has been in touch to ask if Eurodragster readers can cast any light on the picture at right (click on picture for larger version). The only clue we have is the last few letters of the name on the front of the bike.
©Eurodragster.com
All that Graham is able to tell us is that the picture was taken in the 1970s. "Do you think something like this could have run or was it built for a film?", he asks. Your News Editor has a very faint memory of this very unusual-looking bike being French, but on previous form we know that somewhere amongst our thousands of readers there will be someone who knows all about it.

You can see the bike from another angle by clicking here. If you have any information about this bike then drop us a line at news@eurodragster.com and we will publish your contribution here on Eurodragster News.

Marston still too quick.
14th March: Paul Marston has been in touch with a progress report from Orlando Speedworld, where he is competing in Super Street this weekend in a Pontiac Ventura owned by Charlie Owens.

"Same as on Friday, Super Street was the first class out at 9.00 am. With the weather changing by the minute as the air warms up and the humidity drops real fast, it's is a real challenge to dial the Pontiac Ventura in. The track was awesome once again and to make up for the slightly slow light of last qualifier on Friday I went red again, running 10.833/128. Our next pass was around noon and we ran 10.855/128 with a 0.514 RT; this was with adjustments to the throttle stop timer and was not as slow as we wanted, but gave us more information to work with and was in the right direction. Our last pass of the day was at around 3.00 pm and we ran 10.897/127, as near as we needed and an RT of .517 was in the ballpark for eliminations as there was also five hundredths' delay in the box which can be tightened up.
©Eurodragster.com
"Charlie Owens' Pontiac Ventura has been a model of reliability and is a credit to him. With such a great day today, all I can do is look to forward to race day, but with the competition so tough there is simply no such thing as an easy round. The racers here are just so good it really will take a near-perfect run to have any realistic chance of getting through the first round. But being the sole British representative in Super Street I will be giving it my very best shot - I did not come here to give it away first round, anyone who beats me will have to earn it!

"I must once again thank Tony and Lynn Morris for all their help, support and encouragement, plus all the guys at Orlando Speedworld who have treated me really well. Thanks also to Eurodragster readers and of course to everyone back home at Paul Marston Racing who finished painting Grumpy's Dodge yesterday and are now rewiring her prior to reassembly and testing."

Web site updates.
14th March: Our good buddies at Svensk Dragracing have updated their web site with a report and photographs from yesterday's Junior Drag Racing seminar in Västerås. "The three girls did a superb job talking about their careers and also got all the youngsters to tell us their dreams for the future", says Christer Abrahamson. "Most of them were dreaming about Top Fuel, but some of the guys was going for Pro Mod!". You can find out more at www.dragracing.se.
©Eurodragster.com
Thunderball entry reminder.
13th March: Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall has been in touch to remind racers that the official closing date for the Easter Thunderball is next Friday, 19th March. "The additional late-entry fee will be incurred on entries received after next Friday", says Paula.
©Eurodragster.com
If you are waiting for your Entry Form to come through your post box as has happened previously then please note that as of this season, entry forms are now not sent out by the Clubs; they should be downloaded from the Entry Forms page of SPRC's web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc. Racers without web access and who cannot get a fellow racer or friend to download them should call Paula Marshall on 01933 313625.

Paula has forwarded us the current official Entry List for the Easter Thunderball. "This includes every entry received up to the end of yesterday (Friday)", says Paula. You can view the current Easter Thunderball entry by clicking here.

On2Wheels Championship details.
13th March: Back in February we promised that we would give the official word on the UK Championship status of the On2Wheels bike event which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on Saturday 21st August. It was initially announced that On2Wheels would be a UK Championship round for Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike and 10.90 Bike, but SPRC Club Secretary tells us that this has changed.

"On2Wheels is definitely a UK National Championship round for 9.90 Bike and 10.90 Bike", says Paula. "Super Street Bike is still to be contested at On2Wheels but racers should note that it is a round of the SPRC Championship, not a round of the ACU UK Championship."
©Eurodragster.com
The Entry Forms page of SPRC's web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc has been updated with the entry form, declaration and Supplementary Regulations for On2Wheels.

Now that the status of On2Wheels has been confirmed, Eurodragster are pleased to announce that the Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award and the Eurodragster.com/Curbishley Automotive Perfect ET Award will be available at On2Wheels in Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike and 10.90 Bike.

Mosten TFB field full.
13th March: Staying on two wheels, Hans Jørgen Hiltz has been on touch to let us know that the Top Fuel Bike slots qualifying for appearance money at the Mosten Race Day are now full. Ian King, Sverre Dahl and Peter Ström have signed up to appear at the event in Denmark in September.
©Eurodragster.com
"Eric Teboul may attend with his Rocket Bike and Top Fuel Bike", adds Hans Jørgen. "Teboul Racing have been in touch so we will see what happens."

Hans Jørgen also asked us to mention that on 15th May there is a race on a public street in Allingåbro, to which all bikes are invited. For more details check out www.titty-twister-racing.dk.

Seconds out, final round.
13th March: 2003 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Smax Smith has been in touch again to respond to Lorentzon and Möller Racing Crew Chief Kenneth Lorentzon's reply in yesterday's Eurodragster News.
©Eurodragster.com
"Thanks for your reply, Kenneth", says Smax. "We also enjoyed racing against your team and that's why shocked that you had 'put us down'. But apology accepted and we look forward to kickin' ass this season. Remember that all the bad luck we had was against you lot! See you at the Main Event."

Marston leadfoots it.
13th March: Regular readers will recall that UK Super Gas racer Paul Marston was headed to the USA to race at a Sportsman event in Florida this month. Paul made it to Orlando Speedworld after successfully talking his way through immigration and found Charlie Owens' Super Street 1971 Pontiac Ventura waiting for him in the pits. Paul kindly sent us a report on his first day of qualifying.

"First of all the sheer pace at which a Divisional Event is run is breathtaking", says Paul. "With so many race cars to be scrutineered by the NHRA Tech inspectors, run and complete three qualifying completed it's a tough day for everyone. The competitiveness of the whole field is something that has to be experienced to be fully understood, which is one of the reasons why I am here. It every English Sportsman Racer's dream to be able to go to where it all started and to be able to race against the best of the best. Florida offers some of the best tracks in the world and the weather over here means the season virtually never ends. The racers here are very friendly, I have been made to feel very welcome.
©Eurodragster.com
"Super Street was the first class out this morning and although we all had a hell of a lot to do we made the first qualifying session and although it was the first time I had driven the Pontiac, I made no mistakes and ran red on the tree and under the 10.90 index. A good start point, having to try and slow down both the race car and me! The track grip is awesome, and it was the first time I had run on a LED tree which was a good experience. The Pontiac is set up as all Super class race cars here, throttle-stopped, air-shifted, with delay and timer boxes, quite different to the standard set-up in the average English Super-class race car.

"Tomorrow more of the same, at the moment we have a best timed run of 10.83/127, RT .040. The Pontiac is proving to be deadly consistent and should be dialled-in by the end of play. On a sad note Peter Biondo put his beautiful 1969 Stock Camaro in the woods, causing quite a mess. Luckily Peter is relatveley unscathed, apart from a bruised chest and wallet, as the only way to stop the runaway Camaro was to find a tree and aim it - ouch!

"Thanks again to Charlie Owens, Tony and Lynn Morris and all the guys and girls at Paul Marston Racing who are currently working on Grumpy's Dodge in preparation for testing when I get back."

Seconds out, round three.
12th March: If you have been tuned in to Eurodragster News over the last couple of days you will have enjoyed the exchange between Sweden's Lorentzon and Möller Top Fuel Dragster team and the UK's 2003 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Smax Smith. Kenneth Lorentzon, who went first, has been in touch with a reply to Smax's comments yesterday.

"Good to hear from you Smax", says Kenneth. "Seems like you have the six-shooter ready to fire, that's good. My intention was not to hurt your feelings, maybe my English is too poor. What I meant was that you need a lot of luck to win races, not pure skill - no-one is that good, neither driver nor Crew Chief. In my opinion you had a lot of luck at European Finals. Not that you didn't deserve it. Yes, we had all of ours against Jon Webster which I have mentioned before.
©Eurodragster.com
"But enough about this. I've got to tell you that we really enjoy racing against you, and I hope that you will return to defend your title. The Champ needs to be there for the rematch."

Cannon on the Six.
12th March: UK Top Fuel Bike racer Chris 'Cannon' Hannam fulfilled one of his dreams in Gainesville last weekend when he recorded his first six-second pass in qualifying for the AMA/Prostar MRE Nationals. Cannon very kindly gave is the inside story of his off-season work on the bike together with his weekend at Gainesville.

"Well, as I sit here in the office catching up on work missed while out racing in Gainesville, it is just starting to dawn on me what we have achieved and I'm really quite proud of our achivement as the work rate has been quite intense", says Cannon. "It all started last October on a whim of mine when I called Jay Regan of MRE to get me a ride for the AMA/Prostar Finals and after a little discussion it was decided it was going to be cheaper to race the Fuel bike. So we were off to the Sunshine State and after numerous phone calls to the people concerned to confirm that this was going to be possible, the main being Malcolm Francis at Air Sea Logistics as we had to get the bike there in a short time which we did, thanks mate.

"At this time I had no idea what was to unfold regarding work rate or cost. I just wanted another crack at the six and as you mostly know we were troubled with blower drive problems and only made one clean pass resulting in a 7.32, a whole tenth off our season's best but it had all been done in a rush really. After the meeting I sat down and decided to make some radical changes over the winter as I was not prepared to carry on running like this and after consultation with the team I started the mammoth spend. God, if only I'd left it at home I might have some cash left now. We ordered the new nine-stage MTC clutch and cannon, new spare block and pistons, new cylinder head, new clutch timer, and a new Racepak computer all of which had to be made to fit while the bike was in the USA. Now anyone who knows what fuel bikes are about knows just how big a task this is and beleive me there have been some stressful times I can tell you.

"All of the bits were made, ordered and sorted by Jay at MRE and tony at MTC with the exception of the fuel timer. The new head was brought home at Christmas and flowed by Roger Upperton in time for us to make the trip back at the end of January to start the rebuild process or so we thought: everything we tried to do went backwards before it went forwards, but we got things back on track. We measured the compression and found this needed to be upped. We got the Racepak and MTC clutch part fitted and got things sorted for our return in February for the race. Myself, Alan and Jackie Cook, Andy Richards and the energiser bunny himself Mr Neil Midgley all got there Saturday for the task in hand and after an evening at the Rockaway Grill stocking up on shrimp and wings we got to work on Sunday morning and worked solid on the bike for three whole days: rebuilding the motor, fitting new blower and drive, new clutch and cannon, Racepak, fabricate bracket and fit nose cone fairing, then desgin and plumb timer system, fit the new Harrison billet brake and caliper. All this to do and she was running by Tuesday evening with a small fuel leak and all that had to be done was to change the battery, tidy things and load the bike in the trailer for the track.

"We had done it with time to spare - or so we thought. We arrived at the track for testing early on Friday morning. We got the bike out, fired it up and to cut the story short spent all day and six gallons of fuel making minor fuel changes and trying to find the leak, the result being a dislodged power ring and pumping fuel up the cylinder studs on the hit of the throttle. It looked like it was coming out of the low side jets or the inlet rubbers so we lost a day's testing there and did not get finished until late. The next day dawned and we sounded strong and were ready to go. First round we were last to go against Larry McBride. Now, the team wanted a single run but I wanted to run Larry so we were a bit rushed - just what you should do after all that work with new everything and no routine. I did my burnout with the revs through the roof and got staged with no choking on the nitro and I felt good. I was quite keen to run - that keen that I full-staged before I turned the fuel over to high and just waited for green. By this time I had forgotten who was beside me, as I hit the throttle I thought "Way hey, this thing's moving a bit" and rolled off slightly, got back in it straight away and rode through to the end with every thing in one piece, to find we had run 6.98/193.
©Eurodragster.com
"I could not believe it when Midgo told me. It was the feeling of relief and achieving a goal all rolled in to one. It seemed like the whole pits were watching as everywhere I walked there were congratulations from everywhere which was fantastic. Getting back on the ground we still had another run so Neil and Tony made some changes after servicing the bike, and we ran 7.11 next round with a better sixty foot but lost a cylinder. We then found that we had bad leak down and had to stay late to fit the spare head once again. We were ready to race Sunday morning but after qualifiyng sixth we had to run Doug Vancil on the Harley. I hit the throttle with a .636 reaction which was my best for the weekend, but as Doug had a .426 he was gone. We had set the clutch the wrong way and ran our worst sixty foot of the weekend at 1.21 but ran our best speed of 195.10. I was very satisfied with our performance, I think the whole team gained respect from our racing peers, and the bike is in one piece with only routine maintainance to get the bike out again.

"The bike is now in the crate awaiting its journey back home, but that will not be for some time as I am in the process of building my new workshop at home for the bike and have a lot of work commitments as we are moving to a new purpose-built unit around September, so I will not be contesting many meetings this year and will be there as and when I can afford the time.

"As for the the super crew, Mr Midgley you are truly a genius and your energy and commitment are second to none whether riding your own bike or working on my bike; Mr Cook your help, advice, work rate and enthusiasm are fantastic; Jay Regan of MRE, well what can you say about the Big Stinker, totally awesome. All of the credit has to go to you guys as this would not have been possible without you, so for helping me to acheive a goal I thank you most sincerely. The list of thanks does not stop there: Tony and Gina Lang, Frank Brachtvogel, Andy Richards, Paul Beamont, Roger Upperton, Terry Gibbs, Malcolm Francis, Tom Perry, Rick Perry, George Babour, Mike Marsh, Jackie Cook; and of course my sponsors International CNC Machines Ltd, Harrison Billett Brakes, thank you all very much for your much-needed help and support and I dedicate the six to you all.

"Lastly we are not done, just merely taking stock of the situation to try and get some testing done when possible as both Neil and Alan have their own race commitments this year. Hopefully when I get sorted with work we can come out and start to tune on what we have learnt since November, start to chip away at the 6.98 and get some race laps under our belts. Until then I will be supporting Neil in his quest for a third straight ACU Funny Bike Championship, and with the new carb and turbo set-up look forward to trying to reset the National record and trying to get into the 6.6s."

Bailey fills both barrels.
12th March: UK Pro Mod Bike and Super Street Bike racer Dave Bailey has been in touch with the latest news from the Brute Farce workshop (right). As you would expect from one of UK bike racing's premier hooligans, Dave is not doing things by halves.

"Right, Im nearly there ish...", says Dave. "The Pro Mod Bike is just waiting for an adaptor or two and the odd bit which Ken Cooper is hopefully bringing back with him from the States. Oh, and the selection of insanely large nitrous jets! I'm loaded up with spares (one spare motor and a couple of clutch plates), the settings plan has been perfected (the word 'gradual' has been discarded), the fireproof long johns are packed (can't be too careful) and now I can't wait to get it down the strip.
©Eurodragster.com
"Moving swiftly on to the Super Street Bike. I finally got round to stripping it down last weekend. Well, it won't be out until the Speedfreaks Ball so there's no hurry. The reason it kept jumping out of second gear was blatantly obvious, and replacement parts are on order. The settings plan hasn't changed at all and barring any more problems it'll be in the sevens within the next couple of passes. I'm looking forward to getting back on this too. The last few passes of the year were starting to pull like the Pro Mod at three-quarter track. Funny what 250 bhp of gas can do! I wonder what it'll do with the Pro Mod..."

Swift snippets.
12th March: 2003 FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champion and 2003 MSA British Drag Racing Champion Dave Wilson and the American Car Imports Racing TMD team are back in the USA this weekend, racing at the NHRA Divisional Event in Phoenix. You will be able to stay in touch with Dave's progress at Firebird starting today on the Drag Race Central web site at www.dragracecentral.com. We will of course also bring you any news which we receive from the team.
©Eurodragster.com
Andy Robinson Race Cars have announced that they have become dealers for Team Wear crew shirts (right), writes Kate Robinson. "Team Wear offer a choice of two styles which combine excellent quality with extremely good value for money", says Kate. "The GT shirt, which is available in navy with royal trim, black with grey trim or red with black trim is £21.58 plus VAT and the Clubman shirt which is available in white with navy, red or royal trim is £16.58 plus VAT. We can also supply fleeces to keep your crew men warm". For more details or to purchase Team Wear shirts, call Andy Robinson Race Cars on 01256 880589 or E-Mail robinson_racecar@yahoo.co.uk.

Santa Pod Raceway's Junior Dragster has been hired for this Sunday's (14th March) Run What You Brung by none other than the nephews of UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Andy Carter, says Track Manager David Lloyd-Jones. "Under the tuition of the Emms family and with Andy present as well, is this the start for new drag racing stars?", says David. "Santa Pod's merchandise trailer will also be open from 10.00 - 4.00 selling a whole range of merchandise and the 2003 FIA Championship video reviews. For all serious enthusiasts Cool Blue, the performance petrol, will also be on sale from the merchandise trailer on the day, ten litres priced at £39 and twenty five litres at £79. It is street-legal and improves quarter mile times by 0.5 seconds. Gates open at 8:00 am, sign-on opens at 9.00 am and the track opens at 10.00 am, track conditions permitting. Admission prices are £10 per person, under 16s free, with sign-on priced at £15 for unlimited runs. Please remember to bring your driving licence to sign on. Car and Bike clubs are most welcome; for further information visit www.rwyb.com or www.santapod.com.

Web site updates.
12th March: Alan Currans has updated his excellent Acceleration Archive web site with a fourth page of his Readers' Gallery. "This brings the number of photo pages up to seventy eight in all", says Alan. "There are some excellent pictures including the wreckage of Al's Gasser and Medicine Man, a small block Chevy-powered motorcycle, Micke Kågered's engine exploding, a flame burnout from the Houndog Funny Car (very topical!) and, I think uniquely for a UK site, drag boats. There is loads more too. You really don't want to miss this one!". You can check it all out at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Racing Smax responds.
11th March: 2003 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Smax Smith has responded to yesterday's news item from Lorentzon and Möller Chief Kenneth Lorentzon, in which Kenneth said that Smax rode his luck at last year's FIA European Finals. Smax has his own point of view on that, and whilst talking to Eurodragster also confirmed that he will be racing at the FIA Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway in May.

"I would like to point out that although I was born lucky, our Top Fuel car did not 'fall to bits on almost every run' during last year's FIA European Finals!", says Smax of Kenneth Lorentzon's comments yesterday. "In qualifying we ran a 5.0 and a 5.4 with a manifold gasket leak. In the first round of eliminations we had a crew guy forget to put on the throttle stop which I caught in time. In the semis, Darryl Bradford broke, so I clicked off early, and in the final round I had a fine win with a 5.0 pass! I seem to remember Tommy's blower belt coming off after Jon Webster's motor was damaged handing Tommy the win! We all have our fair share of luck and disappointment!
©Eurodragster.com
"We had very little damage throughout last season. At Easter - no damage. At the FIA Main Event - no damage except for a spark plug coming out in the final, but we still ran 4.9 and won. Finland - no damage but couldn't get reverse in time for the final. Sweden - no damage, but I redlit! Norway - no damage, just an air leak which we fixed instantly but never got chance to race. Germany - one run with crank damage in the semi-finals on a poor track - handing Tommy the win. And for the European Finals - see above.

"I would like to congratulate Tommy and his team on their fine third place, but there's no mileage in trying to put down our achievement as pure luck! Let's have a great season - I will take all the luck! See you at the Main Event."

Stay tuned for more details about Smax's FIA Main Event appearance.

Call Herbert for M+H.
11th March: Keith Herbert has been in touch to announce that Hillingdon Speed and Spares has become the UK's only stockist of M+H Racemaster slicks and 'Cheat' tyres. "We can supply a complete range of tyres for thirteen-inch to sixteen-inch wheels in all compounds, soft to hard", says Keith. "From Hot Hatch to Japanese to muscle car to dragster there is a profile to suit you sir. Get a grip on yourselves and give us a call on 01895 237222 for all your racing needs.
©Eurodragster.com
"And don't forget to keep your receipt as that awfully nice man Lee Child will be giving away wads of cash at Shakespeare County Raceway if you win or finish runner-up at the Excitement Nationals, Power Nationals or Allstar Nationals using M+H Racemasters. Good luck to everyone this season, especially in Pro ET."

Swift snippets.
11th March: Martin Hill and his five-second Fireforce 2 Jet Funny Car will be headlining this weekend's inaugural Race To The Base Run What You Brung at RAF Edzell in Scotland. The Race To The Base is presented by the organisers of the Crail Thrash RWYBs and offers unlimted runs for £7 entry, £15 sign-on fee, and the production of a valid DVLC licence. Gates open at 9:30 and the track is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. RAF Edzell is two miles from the A90 between Dundee and Aberdeen. For more details check out the Crail Raceway web site at www.crailraceway.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
And then there were three!
11th March: Congratulations to UK Pro ET racer Rob Elsom and his wife Sharon on the the birth of their daughter Chloe Louise, who arrived on Monday and weighed in at 7lb 14oz. "We're still getting to grips with the massive impact which Chloe will no doubt have on our lives but nonetheless we would never have it any other way!", says Rob. "Sharon was unbelievable start to finish and to have seen what she and all other women endure in such circumstances leaves me in total awe.
©Eurodragster.com
"Needless to say I will hopefully have the Camaro out for at least the the entire series at shakespeare County Raceway, but at present do not have any plans to run at Santa Pod, but who knows...maybe? Plans are to work on the car to slow it down a little, and run in Super Gas which should be good fun especially when some of the people you are used to racing against in Pro ET seem to be going the same way."

We are sure that all of Eurodragster's readers will join Tog and Sharkman in welcoming Chloe Elsom and in sending their congratulations to Rob and Sharon.

Who needs pre-season testing?
10th March: The answer to the above question, at least from Sweden's Lorentzon and Möller Top Fuel Dragster team, is "We do", says Crew Chief Kenneth Lorentzon.

"Right now I am sitting on top of a pile of air timers, pneumatic airhoses and an old fuel system which I ripped out of a otherwise-complete Top Fuel Dragster which was just was waiting to go down the track", says Kenneth. "And now all of a sudden three air timers and some other stuff will take care of what the twenty of them did before, and who needs the six-shooters any more when you have your little LCD screen on which to make your ignition curve.

"So it is quite obvious that we need to go testing. Even though we have more engines and spare parts than ever before, it can still come down to a two-buck O-ring or bolt which could destroy your day. So our test tour will start on the first weekend in May at Gardemoen in Norway, and continue on to Santa Pod.
©Eurodragster.com
"We are loaded to the teeth, and really looking forward to this season. When Tommy Möller and I ended our first season in 2001, we ended we as number eight. In 2002 we were number five, and last year number three. To anyone who can can count it is kind of obvious what is coming. Give us a finger and we will rip your arm off and hit you with the bloody end!

"I read the article on Eurodragster a couple of weeks ago in which Knut Sderquist spoke about consistency. I agree with that very much, consistency is the key, but Knut forgot something even more important: luck. You needs tons of luck. Take a close look back at the FIA European Finals; both Micke Kågered and Smax Smith had the luck, especially Smax - on almost every run his car fell apart, but the contender did worse. If anyone should be named Mister Consistent it should be Rune Fjeld whose car had three consecutive low 4.9-second runs. That's something to think about.

"Finally I will say that the Pennzoil/Man Truck Top Fuel Dragster is keeping her old dress, with just a touch of white, blue and red decals from JE Pistons.

"We are looking forward to meeting all the new teams. We wish you the best of luck. You're going to need it."

Hal Far upgrades underway.
10th March: Malta's Hal Far Raceway is currently undergoing some improvements with a new control tower under construction and a new sand trap already installed at the end of the track. Malta Drag Racing Association President Anthony Borda tells us that the improvements are being funded by careful financial management on the part of the MDRA Executive Committee.

"About eighteen months ago, the MDRA Executive Committee decided that we needed to build a new control tower and upgrade Hal Far Raceway to a professional standard", says Anthony Borda. "We were already doing some work on the track, but slowly since we do not have any help from any other entities: MDRA doesn't depend upon anyone else to upgrade our track or give us money. Our income here on Malta is nothing compared to other European drag strips, but what money we do get from the gate at our events is spent wisely on the track. Some day we'll get there, like others have: we just want to have a good track for our competitors and for the general public who come to visit our events.

"To cut a long story short, we decided that the work should be carried out straight away and so we did. We started to build the control tower in 2003 and built around eighty per cent of it, and then during the year the Executive Committee decided that we should award lump sums for prize money in our National Championship. We decided to do this to give local drag racing a boost. Our idea worked out perfectly and the competition was more than satisfactory: we saw more competitors and more spectators coming to the track for our events.
©Eurodragster.com
"This year, at the first meeting we had, the new executive committee decided to continue with the upgrade of the track. In February building started again on the control tower. At the same time another company worked on a sand trap for us. It took them only two days to scrape fifty metres' length by twenty metres' width by forty centimetres' depth, tarmac it and fill it up with gravel. And after our first drag race we will have a new spacious new all-tarmac paddock which will hold more than three hundred vehicles.

"Everyone who comes to the track and sees these projects going on compliments us on the upgrades. When everything is finished, the track will look great and everyone in the Association will be grateful for what has been done. In a couple of months' time, we will be able to say that we have one of the most spacious and modern tracks in Europe."

Overnight success!
10th March: If you were tuned in to Eurodragster News yesterday, you will have read that Top Fuel and Supertwin Bike racers are invited to September's Mosten Race Day in Denmark, with appearance money on offer for the first four Supertwins to sign up, and prize money on offer to racers in both classes.

Last night, less than twenty four hours after he sent us the news item, we heard again from Hans Jrgen Hitz who tells us that the first four Supertwin places were quickly subscribed and that the entry list is growing fast. "Thank you for putting the invitation on Eurodragster News, it was a success", says Hans Jørgen. Racers signed up so far for the Mosten Race Day are:

Stefan Junerud (Supertwin)
Vidar Ravnsborg (Supertwin)
Svein Olav Rolfstad (Supertwin)
Svein Gottenberg (Supertwin)
Anders 'Charley' Karling (Supertwin)
Ronny Aasen (Supertwin)
Carsten Andersson (Supertwin)
John Leret (Top Fuel Bike)
Finn Asserbo (Top Fuel Bike)
©Eurodragster.com
"The Supertwin class is full, but all other Supertwin bikers are welcome to come and race for the prize money", says Hans Jørgen. There are still four places free in the Top Fuel class". If you are interested, you can download a copy of the entry form (RTF format for Word or Wordpad) by clicking here. For more details, or to register, contact Hans Jrgen Hitz by E-Mail at Hansjorgen.Hitz@rougsoekom.dk or call +45-23729703, or send your registration to:

Venlig hilsen.
Race Day 2004
Hans-Jrgen Hitz
lykkevej 4
8961 Allingbro
Denmark

Offers not to miss.
10th March: Ritchie Warren of Fuel Records is urgently seeking a race vehicle to take part in a show in the Republic of Ireland this weekend. On offer are all travel and other expenses paid plus £500 to a racer with a blown race car, preferably a doorslammer, who is able to trailer up and make the trip across the Irish Sea at the end of this week. We understand that the display will include firing up and a burnout. For more details call Ritchie urgently on 07748 308984.
©Eurodragster.com
Gittli Koller of German Top Methanol Dragster team Peter Schöfer Racing has been in touch to let us know that PSR can now offer racers in all classes very favourable prices on top-name blower belts direct from the USA. If you would like more details then drop PSR a line by E-Mail at info@p-s-r.com.

Prolonged Witchcraft.
10th March: If you were tuned in on 21st February you will have read that UK Wild Bunch racers Andrew and Sandie Gibbs had signed their first sponsor of the season in Beam MoT Station. We were very pleased to hear from Andrew and Sandie that they have signed another sponsorship deal for their ABS Speedshop/Witchcraft slingshot.
©Eurodragster.com
"We have today taken delivery of oils and lubricants from our new sponsor Prolong Super Lubricants UK", say Andrew and Sandie Gibbs. "All of us here at ABS Speedshop are thrilled to bits to have such a World-class product and name behind the car and team. We would like to take this opportunity to thank both Andrew and Jonathan Purchase at Prolong for their help at the sport's grassroots level; it just goes to prove that the little guys are just as important as the big hitters.

"Come along to our pit area this season to see what Prolong can offer your engine, you will be pleasantly surprised!"

Söderquist warm and grateful.
10th March: Carbon By Design Top Fuel Dragster team owner Knut Söderquist has returned from a trip to Sweden delivering parts for the Top Fuellers to be driven by Micke Kågered and Jöran Persåker this year. Knut asked us to say a big Thank You to four members of Micke Kågered's team who were ready and waiting for him when he arrived.

"I got to Micke's workshop after twenty six long and boring hours on a DFDS ferry, and then another five long and lonely hours in my overloaded Suburban", says Knut. "I got to Eskilstuna at eleven o'clock at night and Thomas Ankarås, one of Micke's crew, met me there. Robban, Micka and Peppe helped Thomas and I to unload the Suburban and I am very grateful indeed to all of them for their help. And the workshop had central heating - it was pure luxury!"
©Eurodragster.com
Knut says that the Bahco Tools Top Fuel Dragster to be driven by Micke Kågered, which recently made its public début, is even better in the flesh than in the pictures. "The car is absolutely stunning", says Knut. "I could take it to an NHRA event and it would win Best Appearing Car, no problem."

Knut's next overseas adventure is next week, to Florida, as he has no less than eight suitcases of Carbon By Design injectors to deliver to racers at Gainesville.

Swift snippets.
10th March: Our good buddies at Svensk Dragracing have posted on their web site a couple of photographs of the Top Fuel Dragster which Norway's Thomas Nataas will be campaigning in 2004. Fans of the Batman will be pleased to hear that the car, owned by Rune Fjeld, is still carrying the bat logo (right). You can check out the pictures in more detail and a few words at www.dragracing.se, and whilst there don't miss a very interesting and informative interview with 2003 NDRS Bilsport Champion Roger Johansson.
©Eurodragster.com
On the subject oo new Top Fuel racers, thanks to Carbon By Design Top Fuel Dragster team member Mark Turner for letting us know that pictures of the Top Fueller to be driven by Jöran Persåker this season have been posted on the Persåker Speed Shop web site at www.nitroz.se/persaker. Tos ee the pictures, click on Racing from the main page.

Web site updates.
10th March: Patrik Jacobsson has updated the European Pro Mod Racers Association web site with details of Swedish racer Ulf Rapp's new engine. Check it out on the very professional dual-language EPMA web site at www.promod.nu.
©Eurodragster.com
Jon Best has launched a fan site at www.nitrohemi.co.uk. The web site is still under construction in some areas but has pages for Custom Car Street Eliminator, Altereds and more as well as the promise of news on Jon's own race car.

MSA Championship confirmed.
9th March: Many thanks to MSA British Drag Racing Championship co-ordinator Dave Alexander for letting us know that the Championship for Top Methanol has now received its permit for 2004 and is thus formally confirmed. This year's MSA British Championship dates are:

10th12th April: Easter Thunderball, Santa Pod Raceway
1st-3rd May: Excitement Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway
26th-27th June: SPRC Summernationals, Santa Pod Raceway
28th-30th August: Allstar Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway
2nd3rd October: UK National Finals, Santa Pod Raceway

"All five rounds are registered as Named Events Allowing Foreign Participation (NEAFP)", says Dave, "so if any 'overseas Top Methanol racers' want to come along to gain extra experience or to use one of our rounds as a Test and Tune before an FIA event, then please feel free to enter."

The Supplementary Regulations for this year's MSA British Championship will shortly be posted on the European Top Methanol Racers Association web site at www.etmra.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Mickey Thompson go National.
9th March: Mickey Thompson have signed a contingency sponsorship deal for this year's UK National Championship at Santa Pod and Shakespeare County Raceways.

£50 will be awarded will be awarded to the winner and £25 to the runner-up in Super Modified, Super Gas and Super Street Bike starting at the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway in April. To collect the prize money, racers must be using Mickey Thompson tyres and carry MT decals which will be available at both tracks together with full terms and conditions of the sponsorship deal.
©Eurodragster.com
"This contingency sponsorship programme was the result of a lot of hard work by Julian Baldwin, Roger Everson and Jerry Francis of Avon Cooper Tyres Ltd and Mickey Thompson", says Lee Child of LA Performance Services, who is one of Eurodragster's Links pages sponsors through his company LA Racing Parts. "This is the first joint sponsorship deal between Santa Pod Raceway and LA Performance Services for Shakespeare County Raceway, and Caroline Day of Santa Pod Raceway and I will be continuing to work together on sponsorship ventures."

For more information on the Mickey Thompson contingency sponsorship programme for the UK National Championship, call Lee Child at LA Performance Services on 01803 554308.

Fuel bikes invited to Mosten.
9th March: Top Fuel Bike and Supertwin Bike racers are invited to the Mosten Race Day in Denmark on 3rd-4th September 2004. The organisers are offering 10000 Dk/kr in appearance money to the first five Supertwin Bikes to register for the event.

"It is a one day race, between 09:00 and 18:00 on the Saturday", says Hans Jrgen Hitz. "We hope you can race two or three times on the day. The event is a sprint over an eighth-mile; the track is six metres wide and there is a four hundred metre shutdown area. The following prize money is on offer for Top Fuel Bikes and Supertwins:

1st place: 25000 dk/kr
2nd place: 15000 dk/kr
3rd place: 10000 dk/kr"

You can download a copy of the entry form (RTF format for Word or Wordpad) by clicking here. For more details, or to register, contact Hans Jrgen Hitz by E-Mail at Hansjorgen.Hitz@rougsoekom.dk or call +45-23729703, or send your registration to:

Venlig hilsen.
Race Day 2004
Hans-Jrgen Hitz
lykkevej 4
8961 Allingbro
Denmark

"I hope that you and your team are interested in coming to Denmark", adds Hans Jrgen. "There will be more information on our web site at www.mosten-mc.dk."

Toying with Super Gas.
9th March: Twenty years ago, UK Pro ET racers Steve Dunn and Jon Evans were at the UK Riders' and Drivers' Meeting at which Super Gas was agreed as a new class. Steve and Jon have wanted to contest Super Gas ever since that day, and Jon tells us that the dream is to be fulfilled in 2004 as the Tokyo Toy will be moving across to Super Gas.

"Back when Super Gas was agreed we were in the process of putting a Small Block in the original Tokyo Toy, and we could only dream of racing in Super Gas because we knew we would only be running 12s or 13s a long, long way from 9.90", says Jon Evans. "When we brought out the new Big Block Toy in late 2000, we quickly got into the low 10s, and then into the 9.90s. Since then I guess that a go at Super Gas was always on the cards for us.
©Eurodragster.com
"However, we had such a ball running in Pro ET that we weren't in any rush to make the move. But now is finally the time, and we are working away to be ready for the first Webster Test Day on 24th March. We've spent a load of money to make the car go quicker - cam, carb and transbrake - and another load of money to slow it down again - throttle stop and timer. No wonder all our friends, family and colleagues think we're mad!

"It is a big wrench for us to leave all our friends in Pro ET as the racers are always really friendly, the racing is incredibly close, and we have really enjoyed our three and a bit years in the class. Don't worry, though, we aren't going far away: we'll still be round for a chin wag and a Bob Doyle-burger or two! But we know that the racers in Super Gas are also pretty friendly, and that the racing is extremely competitive, so we are really looking forward to taking up this new challenge.

"It's taken us twenty years to get there but, fingers crossed, I think we've finally made it. Roll on Easter!"

Nicholson working on bodies.
9th March: We were very pleased to hear from UK Super Pro ET racer Wayne Nicholson that his health is continuing to improve after the crash on the M1 last September which badly injured him and wrecked his BMW-bodied race car. "I'm not quite there with Linford Christie yet - but then I never was", says Wayne. "Everything's coming on just fine."

Wayne has also revealed his plans for a new race car. "The new car will be a '63 Corvette", he says. "The body is on its way from Hairy Glass in Florida as I write. It is one of the Pro Mod versions with the swoopy body mods. Unfortunately, I can't give any indication of when construction will start, but I can tell you it will be a chromoly chassis and will be Pro built.
©Eurodragster.com
"Now, the question is: do I build it street-legal or not? I plan to continue in Super Pro ET, but should it be street legal as well - just to show the only other Corvette in Custom Car Street Eliminator the way home...no pressure, Ian!"

New sponsor for Habermann Racing.
8th March: German Comp Eliminator, Super Comp and Junior Dragster team Gerd Habermann Racing have announced a new sponsor for the 2004 season.

"My new girlfriend, Ulrike Golde, has been driving one of my Super Comp cars since last year", says Gerd Habermann. "Ulrike's first qualifying run in the car was 8.905 seconds. She made the final of the third race at Drachten but that was rained out, and she won the race at Oschersleben. Ulrike also had some success in her search for sponsors, and after long negotiations we have signed a new contract with DHL. Klaus Habermann also drives his Super Comp dragster under the Holert Konz banner.
©Eurodragster.com
"Our Junior Dragster remains in the team, so we are the biggest drag racing team in Europe! Markus has won countless victories during five years but is now too old so we have engaged a new driver for the Junior Dragster, whose identity is secret. The Pro Stock engine in my European record-holding B/Dragster is currently being rebuilt, it is in good hands."

You can find out more about Gerd Habermann Racing on the team's professional-looking web site at www.gerd-habermann-racing.de. "The web site is by Matthias Golde, Ulrike's brother, who recently took it over", says Gerd. "Big thanks to Matthias from the GHR team."

MTs available on-line.
8th March: LA Racing Parts have announced that Mickey Thompson tyres can now be ordered on-line on their web site at www.laracingparts.com.
©Eurodragster.com
"We can now offer the complete range of Mickey Thompson drag racing tyres for both cars and bikes" says Lee Child of LA Racing Parts, who is one of Eurodragster's Links sponsors. "This includes the tyres used by Custom Car Street Eliminator as well as ET Drags, Junior Dragster tyres, and the MCR2 range which have a new lower price."

If you have any queries then you can contact LA Racing Parts on 01803 554308.

Carolyn set to push the envelope.
7th March: Fans of rocket cars are going to have their appetites well and truly sated in 2004 as the UK's Carolyn Campbell is to field a rocket dragster powered by no less than four engines. Carolyn's rocket dragster, which should shortly be ready for testing, is powered by four nitrous-injected solid-fuel engines of the type already seen under development in Charles Berg's Twisted Sanity car. Charles Berg and his team have already announced that they are to run a two-engine rocket dragster this season.

"Our dragster is an old Team Readspeed car, which was a very successful Top Methanol Dragster", says Carolyn. "We chopped the back off, took two feet off the front, and put on a longer back end to take the rockets, bottles, throttle assemblies, tail fin and parachutes. It has dragster front wheels and Funny Car fronts on the back which were donated by Nobby Hills. Knut Söderquist helped with the chassis - I do a lot of work on Knut's trailers and he helps me in return - he pretty much built a duplicate of the rear suspension set-up on Sammy Miller's Oxygen dragster.

"We're currently in the process of making the body panels with Knut's help. The chassis is done, the rockets are built, the throttle units, pressure vessels and plumbing have been installed. The electronics are on their way from Charles Berg including a datalogger which is a cracking unit. We're looking for an airspeed indicator because we would like to be able to measure the thrust profile."

According to computer projections, the dragster's power plants make it capable of astounding performance. "The rockets are nitrous-injected cellulose-burning tubes of the same design as on Charles Berg's dragster", says Carolyn. "Charles has tested both polyethylene and cellulose in his rockets and found that the cellulose rockets make over a third more power. So with our four larger engines we have 3500 pounds of thrust and a total car weight, with me sat in it, of 700 pounds. That's a stunning power-to-weight ratio, in fact three times that of a Top Fuel Dragster. Theoretically the top speed is 350 mph but we're not planning on doing that in a hurry! We hope for reliable Top Fuel-type performance."
©Eurodragster.com
At those sort of speeds there is not a lot of time to react if anything goes wrong, and Carolyn tells us that the dragster comes equipped with several safety features. "You can switch these rockets off", says Carolyn. "They will burn for a maximum of six seconds. If anything goes wrong there is a driver cut-off, there is also an inclinometer which will cut the engines if the front end of the car comes up - if the front end lifts then the car will go up, not over - and the 'chute release also cuts off the rockets. I also have a dead-man pedal in the cockpit. The car has twin Pro Mod-sized 'chutes which will be deployed at the same time, plus brakes for holding the car on the line and final stopping. We are also trying to organise an enclosed cockpit but that won't be there initially."

Carolyn hopes to start testing the dragster soon and has set herself a very strict licencing régime. "We can control how hard the rockets push so we can run it soft or hard, just like a fuel car!", says Carolyn. "We'll start soft then build it up - you don't just jump in at the deep end with these cars. I will be following the Jet car licencing procedure with a few alterations to take account of the rocket propulsion. We will start with half-passes on two tubes and then half-passes with four tubes, and work the power up. I have to prove myself and the car to the powers-that-be. Mark Norton has looked at the chassis and was generally very happy, he has been very helpful indeed and just suggested a couple of modifications to get it tagged. Pending approval we are aiming for Easter although we are not pushing and shoving."

Carolyn and her team have been working flat-out on the dragster since October, and have had a lot of assistance. "A lot of people have been very helpful", says Carolyn. "Knut of course, Charles Berg as been brilliant, Jon Webster has been very good, 'Shaky' John at Armour Fabrications did the vast majority of the work on the car, I've also had help from Ronnie Picardo and Titanium International Limited - everyone has been just fantastic. And Olmec Materials have made the nozzles - they specialise in exotic high-temperature materials. I have a talented and enthusiastic crew. My partner David Knight is Crew Chief, and nothing will move until he's happy. The other guys are all learning to do every job and they are very keen."

Carolyn is aware that the late Sammy Miller gas given her quite an act to follow. "A lot of people remember Sammy, but there are a lot of people around who never saw him - but even they have heard all about him", she says. "The crowd will want to see us push the envelope, and we know that 200 mph won't cut it. The engines are started with a firework, which meant that I've had to get an explosives licence, and that gives us a five-second delay after arming the ignition. So the car will be fitted with a flashing light and siren which means that the crowd can count us down from five to zero. We want to please the crowd, we know that our car will be unique and I am sure that they will love it!"

Keep 'em peeled.
7th March: UK Wild Bunch racer Steve Field has been in touch to ask Eurodragster readers for help to track down his trailer, which was stolen from outside his Wiltshire garage on Thursday or Friday night. Steve has given us a very detailed description, and the trailer is unique, so we hope that it can be tracked down very quickly.

"The trailer was about fourteen feet long in the bed with two two-foot-wide tracks and open centre section", says Steve, "constructed from 3" x 3" angle with two layers of 3/4" marine ply in the tracks, 3"x1 1/2" axle beam slightly to the rear of centre, carrying a caravan-type trailing link axle with coil over shocks, a 1 1/2" square post raised from the ends of the axle tube over which a 1/2" straining bar led down to each end. The rear cross member was fitted "upsidedown" to act as a plough anchor when the trailer was jacked up, on this there are two pins to take the light board which takes power from an alloy plug housing fitted 18" back on the inside of the offside track. At the front there is a standard sliding tow hitch connected to the brakes with a hand brake and jacking third wheel fitted. Behind this there is about a square foot of 1/4" plate on which we mount the winch. Behind this and mounted to the front cross member is a box-like structure through which passes a tube, another tube with articulated foot slides in this with a roller wheel at the top. This allows us to run the winch wire over the roller, anchor it to the rear cross member and jack the whole trailer up to load the altered without the need for long ramps. The mud guards are plastic 'boxy' type fixed at both the side rails and to tabs on the straining bar, reflectors are fitted to all corners. When it left for pastures new it was painted pale gloss grey.
©Eurodragster.com
"This trailer is absolutely unique and whilst it looks fairly well-built the suspension was selected to carry a 1400 lb altered and so will be unsuitable as a general car trailer. It is really only of use to someone with a long, light car. The local police have been informed and have samples of the construction materials and paint, but don't seem to hold out much hope.

"As self-financed aspiring racers we would have to cut back our planned schedule drastically if we have to replace the trailer. Hooray, we thought, two years working on the car, overcome problems we didn't even know could arise, finish in time to test before April, what could stop us now...

"I would be grateful for any information on the whereabouts of the trailer."

If you can help - and we have had successful appeals such as this on Eurodragster before so we've got our fingers crossed - then please drop Steve a line at stevenjfield@aol.com.

Swift snippets.
7th March: Congratulations to UK Top Fuel Bike racer Chris 'Cannon' Hannam who has recorded his first six-second pass in qualifying for this weekend's AMA/Prostar MRE Nationals in Gainesville. Cannon's 6.985, on his first outing with a lot of new kit on the bike, places him sixth in the TFB field. The UK's Dave Beck is seventh in Pro Mod Bike with a 6.947. You can stay in touch with results from Gainesville on the Dragbike.com web site, and Ian King is posting any gossip he receives from the USA on his web site at www.kingracing.com.
©Eurodragster.com
We are very pleased to wish a very Happy Birthday to UK Super Gas racer and honorary Eurodragster staff member Spencer Tramm, who becomes even less of a Y***g G*n today. "Best wishes to Spencer from his vast entourage and crew", says mum Yvonne. Sharkman and Tog add their very best wishes and we are sure that all of Eurodragster's readers will add theirs.

Web site updates.
7th March: Dutch Top Fuel Dragster racer Lex Joon has updated his web site with a brief preview of the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod, at which he will be competing in the Pro Fuel Shootout alongside Andy Carter, John Spuffard and Gordon Smith (possibly with more to be added, we understand - Ed). Check it out at www.lexjoonracing.nl.
©Eurodragster.com
Return of the Rat.
 6th March: The UK's Rat Rage Super Street team will be returning to the track this season, says Stuart Peck. The Camaro has undergone extensive modifications at Webster Race Engineering and will shortly be out on the strip to test.

"The car had previously been back-halved by Webster Race Engine", says Stuart, "but the existing front end set-up and weight meant that the car was not reacting very well, so the decision was made to return her to WRE. The front chassis clip has been reworked in tube, along with Strange struts and brakes and a front-mounted cell (right, click on picture for another angle). All-new tin work has also been added, with some innovative ideas from Jon Webster."

Rat Rage will be powered by the same Chevy 510 ci motor, but whilst the car has been in the hands of WRE the engine has been been on holiday to Jeff Bull's workshop where it has been rebuilt to run on alcohol. Jeff supplied new carbs and fuel pump to complete the conversion. The freshened motor will exhale through new WRE fabricated headers which have been protectively coated by Camcoat.
©Eurodragster.com
"Probably the only original bits left on the car are the body and wheels", jokes Stuart. "It's going to be a challenge to get to grips with the car after all the updates - it's going to be so different to how it was before. For a start, the engine is set back one foot from its previous location, it feels like you are sat in the boot! A lot of weight has also gone from the car so hopefully it will really fly once we get to grips with it!"

Stuart hopes to confirm his driver/crew combination shortly, and will then be looking to hit the track for some serious testing. He would like to thank Webster Race Engineering, Jeff Bull Race Engines, Peter Lane, Speeflow, and all of his racing mates for their support and help to get the car back out again after a along absence.

Won a free WRE Test?
6th March: Seguing very smoothly from one mention of Eurodragster webcam sponsor Webster Race Engineering to another, Ian Marshall of WRE has been in touch to remind those racers awarded a free WRE Test Day, as announced on Eurodragster News on 22nd February, that they should submit their entry forms to WRE at least four days before the event. The first WRE Test Day takes place on Wednesday 24th March, and the others are Saturday 24th April, Wednesday 14th July, Wednesday 18th August and Wednesday 22nd September.

You can download the official entry form by clicking here, or via the Entry Forms page of the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc. If you have any queries about the WRE Test Days then you can contact WRE on 01933 315236.
©Eurodragster.com
Ian also tells us that Mickey Thompson have reduced the price of their MCR2 motorcycle tyre, which is sold by WRE, to £117.92 + VAT.

Job vacancy.
6th March: Roger Smith of Daventry-based RM Developments has been in touch to let us know that he has a vacancy which he thinks will be of interest to Eurodragster's readers.

"RM Developments look after people's cars", said Roger. "Rather than offering a product in a box, as it were, we work on projects as well as a lot of one-off speciality work. Right now, amongst others, we are working on a Cobra and a '68 Mustang which came in for axle work. We work on street, drag race and circuit cars, primarily American but also some European and Japanese. The range of our work is extensive; we do everything apart from paint and body work."
©Eurodragster.com
Roger gave us a run-down of what the successful candidate could expect. "It's very diverse work", he said. "One day you could be swapping an engine, the next day rewiring, the day after that a chassis build, or suspension work".

Roger's ideal candidate would have experience of seeing their own projects through. "Someone who has built their own car and is keen to learn and to take that profession further would be perfect", he said.

If you would be interested in applying for the vacancy at RM Developments then you can call Roger for more details on 01327 311110 or on his mobile 07879 815368, or E-Mail him at rcsmith@camaro68.freeserve.co.uk. For more information on RM Developments you can also check out the March 2004 issue of Street Machine which contains a feature on the company.

Dynospeed sponsor 9.90 Bike.
5th March: Paul Watson has announced that his company Dynospeed Developments will be sponsoring the 2004 UK National 9.90 Bike Championship. Paul is contesting his farewell season in Pro Stock Bike, but he started his two-wheeled career in 9.90 Bike after campaigning Grumpy's Dodge in Super Gas, and won the UK National 9.90 Bike Championship in 2001.

"9.90 Bike will always have a special place in my heart" says Paul. "It was my first bike class and the one in which I won the National Championship after a superb season-long battle with Jamie Sneddon. The cameradiere of the class was something special; I would recommend anyone coming into two-wheeled drag racing to get involved in 9.90 Bike. This sponsorship is my way of putting something back into the class."
©Eurodragster.com
Under the sponsorship deal, the winner of each round of the 9.90 Bike Championship will receive a Dynospeed Developments voucher worth £50.

Dynospeed Developments offer full rolling road/dyno facilities catering for both road and race bikes. The company is based in Chigwell, Essex and can be contacted on 0208 500 5770, or on the web at www.dynospeed.co.uk.

Hal Far kick-off approaches.
5th March: The Malta Drag Racing Association will be organising the first of this year's seven National Championship events on 12th-13th March, writes MDRA President Anthony Borda. "The Association already started the season by organising the First Street Car Event, which was very successful and full of competitors", says Anthony.

"This first drag race event will be held at Hal-Far Raceway, starting at 10:00 am on both days. The event starts on Saturday with a day's qualifying and a full day of eliminations on Sundays. We are starting on Saturday morning because we were previously running into problems with time giving everyone two qualifiers. For this event about one hundred participants in various classes will be battling it out with each other. There will be plenty of cars, trucks and bikes to watch for anyone who is coming to Hal-Far Raceway.
©Eurodragster.com
"The Association would like to welcome to drag racing a few new competitors who used to race in other types of motor sport. Unfortunately there will not be any Top Methanol Dragsters competing at this event since all the teams are working on their Dragsters, but we know for a fact that at following events we will be welcoming back Joe Carabott, nicknamed 'Mr Whippy', who will be competing with two Dragsters, and Frankie Skorfna with his Dragster which is fitted with a brand new engine, as well as record holder Mario Borg of the Borg Brothers Team and John Ellul of Elbros Dragsters. We'll surely see some surprises from these mighty guys in the Top Methanol Class.

"For this event, we will be seeing again the New EVS Racing Truck, which has had a few modifications. Noel Vella, the driver of this Volvo truck, will be battling it out with the other mighty Volvo of Maksar Racing team, with Tommy Agius once again at the steering wheel. I have to say that a four-ton diesel-powered truck running 11.1 seconds is something amazing. Its nice to see these two guys once again competing against each other, and not forgetting the abilities of Arnold Farrugia in a Ford Cargo and Mario Attard in his Scania, who are there at every drag race event.

"Apart from the cars and trucks, there will be a few motorcycles competing in this event too. The main attraction will be the bike of Carmel Ciantar, a Suzuki 1260 Pro Modified Bike.

"As you can see, this event should be very interesting. Spectators who are coming to watch this event, please listen to the marshals' instructions. See you at the track."

You can find the Malta Drag Racing Association web site at www.maltadragracing.com.

Swift snippets.
5th March: Our good friend UK photo-journalist Roger Gorringe has kindly forwarded us three photographs of 2003 FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champion Dave Wilson in action at the NHRA's first attempt at running the Winternationals in Pomona.
©Eurodragster.com
To see the pictures, click on the links below:

Burnout 1
Launch
Burnout 2 (right)

All pictures are ©Roger Gorringe.

Something for the weekend.
5th March: Santa Pod Raceway have asked us to remind readers that they are holding a Run What You Brung this Sunday, 7th March, to replace the Phatarazzi Extravaganza which had to be cancelled. Santa Pod's RWYB is open to all. Gates open at 8:00 am with the track opening from 9:30 am, track conditions permitting. Admission prices are £10 per person, under 16s go free, with sign-on priced a further £15 with the production of a valid DVLC licence. Car and Bike clubs are welcome and can book their own fenced club area free. For further information call the Santa Pod office on 01234 782828, or visit the www.rwyb.com or www.santapod.com web sites.
©Eurodragster.com
Also this Sunday, Scotland's Crail Raceway is hosting the latest Thrash, a Run What You Brung open to all. Gates open at 9:30 am, the track opens at 10:00am and shuts at 4:30 pm. Entry is £7 per person and a further £15 for unlimited runs on the track. You can find more details on Crail's web site at www.crailraceway.co.uk.

Erbacher's new colours.
4th March: We are very grateful to Lorenz Tschumi of 2003 FIA Top Methanol FC Champion Urs Erbacher's team for sending us this picture of the Fat Attack TMFC in its very fetching 2004 colours.
©Eurodragster.com
"With a new body design and new engine we would like to perform as well in 2004 as we did in 2003", says Lorenz. "Our sponsors remain the same, the car and the truck have been designed, and we can't wait to go racing again".

If you were tuned in on 19th February you will have read that the Fat Attack TMFC is currently on display in the Grand Casino in Bern. "We are showing drag racing at its best with a very emotional show", says Lorenz.

The Fat Attack web site at www.fatattack.ch has been updated with all of the team news in both German and English.

UK Tech Committee meeting.
4th March: Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall has been in touch to tell us that the next meeting of the UK Tech Committee has been scheduled for next Tuesday, 9th March, at the Elstree Moat House, Barnet By-Pass, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, at 7:30 pm for 8:00 pm. "I will be contacting the Tech Committee via E-Mail and letter, but this is to pre-warn them", says Paula.
©Eurodragster.com
Paula has asked us to pass on the apologies of Tech Committee Chair Phil Evans for the short notice. "Phil wishes to hold the meeting next week, but he has heavy work commitments and this date has become available", says Paula.

SPR fire extinguishers update.
4th March: Paula Marshall has also asked us to draw racers' attention to the Health and Safety notes which have been posted on the Santa Pod Racers Club web site. Glenn Ramsden of UK Event Safety has carried out an initial H & S survey at Santa Pod and has supplied the notes which you can view by clicking here (PDF format) or via the Entry Forms page of the SPRC web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.
©Eurodragster.com
"I would like to draw everyone's attention to the notes about fire extinguishers in racers' pits", says Paula. "It was mentioned at the UK Riders' and Drivers' Meeting in February that all racers will be required to have a fire extinguisher in their pit, in addition to the extinguisher on their vehicle. Glenn's notes recommend powder extinguishers and we have now received the minimum recommended weight for extinguishers, which is 4 kilogrammes."

Korta notiser.
4th March: Our good buddy Christer Abrahamson of Svensk Dragracing has been in touch with a number of news snippets from Sweden.

We start with some very good news from Jöran Persåker. The Speed Shop owner, erstwhile Pro Stock and Comp Eliminator racer and 2004 graduate to Top Fuel Dragster was married to Carina in Las Vegas a short while ago (right). We are sure that everyone will join Tog and Sharkman in wishing Jöran and Carina the very best for a long and happy future.

Next up is a seminar about Junior Drag Racing arranged by SMF Västerås which is to take place on Saturday week, 13th March. Junior drag racers old and new, interested youngsters, and teams are all invited. Lecturers include Susanne Callin, former Super Comp Champion Kristina Hägglund, and Linda Thun Thönseth, all of whom started their careers in Junior Dragster. Lars Pettersson from the Swedish Motorsport Federation will also talk about the past and the future of Junior Drag Racing.

Not such good news is the cancellation of the SHRA Lindesberg's Björknäs Spring Nats. "Unfortunately joint organiser Björkvik Ring AB and ourselves couldn't agree on the level of track preparation necessary for Spring Nats" says Carl Erik Kihlman of SHRA Lindesberg. "Our club doesn't want to jeopardise the safety or the fairness of the outcome of the NDRS with too little preparation on this new track". Kjell Folkesson from Björkvik Ring gave Christer his side of the story. "It is obvious that we had a different view to SHRA Lindesberg on who was going to pay for an expensive track prep. In the end SHRA Lindesberg could not afford to pay the share which we thought we had made clear would be theirs."

You can read more about the above three stories on the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se.
©Eurodragster.com
Finally, Anders Magnusson of Leif Andréasson's Top Methanol FC team sent us this picture which will be of interest to the many fans who like to keep their "Where are they now" files up to date. The snowdrift pictured at right is the Ford Tempo Top Alcohol Funny Car body used by Lou Gasparrelli in winning the NHRA Winston Finals in the late 1980s, then bought by Sweden's Micke Kågered and finally used by Mats Westman between 1992 and 1996. "Now the FC body is standing under a load of snow outside SHRA Ö-vik's club garage as a monument to past glory", says Magnus. "I started my TMFC days with Mats in our home town of Ö-vik a long time ago. Nowadays Mats is driving rally cars and motocross at hobby level; he did however win a drag race in Japan in 1994, and set a best time of 6.11/370 kmh a decade ago."

Editor's note: Thanks to Erik Zettervall for 'Swift snippets' på Svenska.

Cato on the trailer.
4th March: If you were tuned in to Eurodragster News on 11th February you will have read that 2003 FIA European Pro Stock Champion Michael Malmgren is to collect and then race his new Pontiac Grand Am race car in the USA in April. Team member Magnus Cato told us at the time that the team will have the use of a motorhome and trailer supplied by friends of the team in the USA, and Magnus has now been in touch to tell us some more about their generous acquaintances, Bill Baird and Rusty Ott.

"Bill Baird is an ex-Pro Stock racer from Chicago who raced in that area in the 1970s", says Magnus. "Bill has also been involved in motocross building different systems, for example shock absorbers, for Pros. You might wonder how we got to know these guys, the answer is pure luck. We came across each other on the internet as Bill, who then lived in Finland, sent some letters of introduction to different organisations when we raced in America in 2002. Bill also sent me an E-Mail with a copy of what he had sent out, giving us a lot of confidence as Pro Stock racers daring to meet the best guys in US. We then started to exchange E-Mails at least every day, and now Bill has arranged this fabulous deal for us."

Bill Baird told us a little more about Pro Source, who are providing the trailer. "Pro Source was founded by Rusty Ott, an ex-pro Yamaha MX racer with twenty years of experience. Pro Source Motorsports has served Chicagoland since 1989. The store has grown into the #1 Yamaha motorcycle/ATV dealer in the Midwest, and offers Suzuki as well. Rusty's business career has spanned over twenty years during which he developed a reputation of being very fast and a nice guy in the world of American motocross.

"Pro Source originally started in 1988 with Baird family as silent partners, Rusty originally developed the shop as a go-fast shop for MX racers around the world. Rusty's shop has been featured in many magazines over the years as the Midwest shop has a reputation of building some of the most powerful and best handling machines available. Components developed at Rusty's shop have found their way onto factory racers and the production line.

"Some of Rusty's Alumni include Kevin Marsh, the owner of the World's fastest 5.0 Mustang driven by Chuck Samuel. Kevin will make his first attempts at IHRA Pro Stock racing this year. Also Cory Hutter learned his suspension race craft at Rusty's shop and is currently the Head Suspension Engineer for Yamaha Racing. Rusty's shop also hoses dyno services and sells race haulers primarily for the motorcycle industry."

"We are very grateful to have a friend like this", says Magnus.

Web site updates.
4th March: Chris Blows, webmaster of the Walkin' The Dog tribute site to Nobby Hills' Houndog race team, has now become webmaster of the official web site for Nobby's new Houndog Fuel Funny Car. The new web site, which has been launched at www.nhracing.com, will feature the latest news from the Houndog pit as well as detailed race reports when the season starts, and will also provide an outlet for team merchandise and promote the teams partners. Chris tells us that he will continue to maintain the Walkin' The Dog web site at www.houndogdragracing.co.uk and that this site will remain primarily focused on the history of the cars and the team and continue to be a forum for supporters' pictures and stories.
©Eurodragster.com
Ultimate sponsor update.
3rd March: LA Performance Services have announced the addition of a new sponsor and the renewal of another sponsorship for this year's Ultimate Power Drag Racing Championship at Shakespeare County Raceway.

"I am very pleased to welcome Power Race Graphics as a sponsor of the 2004 Ultimate Power Drag Racing Championship", says LA Performance Services' Lee Child, who is one of Eurodragster's Link sponsors through his company LA Racing Parts. "Racers and fans will be familiar with Darren West's work on designing such cars as the Shockwave and Houndog Fuel Funny Cars and Gordon Appleton's Pro Mod, and I am pleased to be associated with such a professional company."

Power Race Graphics provide a complete graphics service from the design of paint schemes for race vehicles to a cut-vinyl race number. PRG will be selling their products at Shakespeare County Raceway this season, or can be contacted on 01305 854895 or E-Mail powergrfx@dw1320.fsnet.co.uk.

Gleeson Wright Security Services have renewed their contingency sponsorship of the Ultimate Power series. The Waltham Abbey-based company are posting £50 for the winner of Super Street and £25 for the runner-up, and will also be posting a bonus of £25 for the first Super Street racer to post a perfect 10.900 in eliminations.
©Eurodragster.com
"I am also very pleased to welcome Gleeson Wright Security back to the Ultimate Power Drag Racing Championship", says Lee Child. "As well as posting sponsorship, Gleeson Wright provided excellent security cover around the facility last season and I am very grateful to Gary Gleeson and Matthew Wright for their continued support."

Gleeson Wright Security Services are based in Waltham Abbey in Essex. The company specialises in twenty four/seven manned guarding, security fencing, closed circuit TV, and other services to customers' requirements. You can contact Gleeson Wright Security on 01992 767164.

Swift snippets.
3rd March: Monique Pels writes that Zodiac Racing's new rolling chassis is now up on its wheels and that pictures can be seen on the News page at www.zodiacracing.com. "The chassis will go to Theo van den Berg's 'Polyester Racing Parts' this coming Friday for the necessary adjustments to the bodywork", says Monique. Meanwhile Ton and Vincent Pels will start work on the Supertwin's engines: they will build a new primary engine and the spare will be refreshed and updated.

Het nieuwe rijwielgedeelte van Zodiac Racing staat op zijn wielen (zie: foto's op de NEWS pagina van www.zodiacracing.com. As. vrijdag gaat het chassis naar Theo van den Berg's "Polyester Racing Parts" voor de nodige aanpassingen aan de body. Ondertussen zullen Ton & Vincent aan de motorblokken beginnen: een nieuw blok bouwen en het reserve-blok updaten.

UK Pro Stock Bike racer Paul Watson is still planning to retire from racing at the end of this season, but he tells us that he aims to go out in style. "Since taking over Dynospeed Developments things are looking up", says Paul. "We hope to be coming out with an all-new paint job, and we will be taking delivery of a brand new Upperton 1640 engine. "This may be my last season but I intend to give it everything I've got with lots of other goodies on their way from the States as we speak, stay tuned."
©Eurodragster.com
Helander seizes the day.
2nd March: Swedish Fuel Funny Car racer Leif Helander, who celebrates his sixtieth birthday today (Tuesday), says that he will be racing his Starkotter Saab as much as possible in 2004.

Leif and his team have currently got the car stripped down. "We are working on everything which doesn't cost anything!", he says. As regular readers will know Leif had to contend with a damp attack in his house last year so stopping his kitchen from falling down took priority over funding the race car, but he contested two of last year's four British Nitro FC Championship rounds at Santa Pod. Leif unfortunately ended last season with rods hanging out of his block, but he has traced the problem which led to his below-par performance in 2003.

"There was a problem with the fuel pump", says Leif. "The computer wasn't working or we would have found it a lot sooner. There was an opening between the tank side and the pressure side so it wasn't supplying fuel: I would hit the throttle and there was no fuel. Everyone was helping me to try to find the problem - Alan Jackson and the Shockwave crew were very helpful - but it didn't occur to any of us to look at the fuel pump. After we put the rods out, we opened up the fuel pump and there was our problem."

Leif has also had to contend with a bent crank and problems in the clutch as well as a lack of funds, but he plans to contest as many events as possible. "At my age you have to take every chance you can - you never know what is going to happen!", he says. "I have been looking for sponsorship, I have done some work with companies but have had answers from no-one. I need about twenty thousand pounds to get the car ready, my business is doing well but it takes time to get that much money together with other things to pay for too."
©Eurodragster.com
The Starkotter team considered travelling to Santa Pod Raceway for the Pro Fuel Shootout at the Easter Thunderball but Leif says that in the end they decided that it could not be done. "As well as the Funny Car Championship I also have to attend two events at my local track at Sundsvall", he says. In the meantime, Leif tells us that his son Johnny will be coming to England on 24th March to attend the Webster Race Engineering Test Day, where the UK's Trev Capewell will be making his first test passes in the Southern Rebel Top Methanol FC which was formerly owned by Leif.

Leif tells us that he will be taking a day off work today to celebrate his birthday at home with his wife and family. We are sure that all of Eurodragster's readers will join Sharkman and Tog in wishing one of Europe's longest-standing and most popular racers the very Happiest of Birthdays, and many more of them - preferably behind the butterfly wheel.

Web site updates.
2nd March: Our good buddies at Svensk Dragracing have updated their web site with photographs from the weekend's SFI inspection at Persåker's Speed Shop in Stockholm. You can check the pictures out at www.dragracing.se.
©Eurodragster.com
Further to yesterday's news item about the closing date for the Easter Thunderball, we have updated the Entry Forms page of the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc to list the official closing date for each event.

Eurodragster sponsorship 2004-5.
1st March: The first day of March is the first day of Eurodragster's sponsorship year and we are very pleased to announce that engine builder ICE Automotive Racing Engines, US car dealer American Car Imports, engine builder Jeff Bull Race Engines, performance parts supplier LA Racing Parts, race car builder and parts supplier Webster Race Engineering and oil company MPM International Oil Company have renewed their backing of Eurodragster for 2004-5, and that American automotive parts supplier Ampar Parts and Service Network have joined as a sponsor of our Links pages. As previously announced, high-performance hose and connection supplier Speedflow and vehicle paintshop Curbishley Automotive are to sponsor the 2004 Perfect Light Award and Perfect ET Award respectively.

Eurodragster's wide range of sponsors allows our more than 100,000 monthly readers to acquire anything from a spark plug to a can of oil and hoses to transport that oil, through an engine to a turnkey race operation, have the vehicle painted, book testing time for their race cars or bikes, acquire vehicles to get them to and from the track, and keep their American car on the road - all without ever leaving this web site.

Our longest-standing sponsor ICE Automotive Racing Engines are again backing Eurodragster's Home and News pages. ""ICE Automotive are delighted to continue our association with Eurodragster.com, Europe's premier drag racing site, for another year", say Nick Davies and Rob Loaring. "Via the sponsorship of the Home and News Pages on Eurodragster.com, ICE are confident of reaching an ever-expanding global viewing audience who can then benefit from our new facilities at the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire. The new Superflow Dyno facility is now complete and operative and will accomodate engines exceeding 1000 bhp which complements the full engine machine shop and performance parts supply aspects of the expanding business. ICE would like to wish Eurodragster.com and all our customers a successful 2004 season". You can contact ICE Automotive by phone on 01327 858992 (outside the UK +44 1237 858992) or by E-Mail at rooster.ice@btinternet.com.

American Car Imports are again sponsoring Eurodragster's Home and News Page and Event Coverage. "American Car Imports are pleased to announce that they will be continuing to sponsor the Eurodragster Home, News and Event Coverage pages for the 2004 season", says ACI Joint MD Anthony Cohen. "Ranking as one of the busiest drag racing web sites in the world, we think that Tog and Sharkman do an absolutely amazing job in keeping the news flowing. Always a source of serious stuff and wit, you feel you are close to the action. Keep it up, and let's all have a great year's racing. To see the newly-updated American Car Imports web site, go to www.americancarimports.com to see a constantly updated site featuring the best stock of American vehicles in the UK, as well as being able to listen to 120 albums' worth of 1970s California rock music playing in the background". You can also contact American Car Imports on 0208 889 4545 (outside the UK +44 208 889 4545).
©Eurodragster.com
Eurodragster's Swap Meet free classified advertisement service is backed by Jeff Bull Race Engines again in 2004-5. "We are backing the Swap Meet again to support such a great web site", says Jeff Bull. You can contact Jeff Bull Race Engines by E-Mail at jeffbull.raceengines@virgin.net or by telephone on 01787 227789 (outside the UK +44 1787 227789).

Eurodragster's Links pages are again sponsored in 2004-5 by LA Racing Parts, who have this year been joined by Ampar Parts and Service Network.

"LA Racing Parts are very pleased to be associated with Eurodragster and with drag racing", says Lee Child. "We have found that our sponsorship of Eurodragster has been the perfect way to raise our profile amongst racers". You can find the LA Racing Parts web site at www.laracingparts.com or call them on 01803 554308 (outside the UK +44 1803 554308).

Ampar, whose mission statement is Keeping American vehicles on the road, is a nationwide network of dealers stocking parts for American cars, vans and light trucks. Dave Riswick of Ampar has been involved with drag racing for many, many years, most recently as a contingency sponsor of the Ultimate Power Championship at Shakespeare County Raceway. "I take great pleasure in becoming involved with Eurodragster", says Dave. "I read the news page daily to keep in touch wherever I am, and I am pleased to be able to support Eurodragster in their efforts to further the sport". You can find the Ampar web site at www.ampar.com or call 01234 220700 (outside the UK +44 1234 220700).

Eurodragster will again have a webcam at the track during the 2004 season and Webster Race Engineering and MPM International Oil Company have renewed their backing.

"We are delighted to continue our association with one of the best drag racing web sites in the world", says Jon Webster. "Webster Race Engineering is a name which is already well-known with the racers themselves, but the prestige which comes from being associated with Eurodragster helps us to develop the brand name with a much wider range of people, people not so directly involved in the sport". You can contact Webster Race Engineering by phone on 01933 315236 (outside the UK +44 01933 315236) or by E-Mail at jw@w-r-e.com.

"We are happy to continue our partnership", say Lex Joon, whose Top Fuel Dragster is sponsored by MPM Oil and who with Team Manager Gerda Dijkstra arranged the webcam deal. "Eurodragster does so much good work European drag racing and we are happy to give our support by sponsoring the webcam. We also want to say that it is not a one way thing: the fact that we advertise on Eurodragster benefits our business as well. We can say that if companies are interested in making their names known in the European drag racing scene, then Eurodragster is definitely the way to go". You can find out more about MPM Oil via the Lex Joon Racing web site at www.lexjoonracing.nl.

"We are very grateful indeed to all of our sponsors for their continued support, and we would like to welcome Ampar on board for their first year", says Tog of Eurodragster. "Every one of our sponsors is at the very top of their field and you don't have to look very far for the evidence. Look at the Championship standings here on Eurodragster for vehicles powered by ICE Automotive or Jeff Bull engines and for vehicles built or supported by Webster Race Engineering or supplied by LA Racing Parts and Speedflow; look around the pits, pairing lanes and car parks at the track and you will see support vehicles or daily drivers supplied by American Car Imports, or kept in good health by Ampar; also in pits all around Europe you will find cartons of MPM Oil being emptied into record-holding engines. And if a crowd is gathered around a vehicle or cameras are being pointed at it then there is every chance that it is Curbishley Automotive paintwork which is being admired.

"We are particularly pleased that racers and fans alike can get everything they could need from Eurodragster's sponsors, and our sponsors tell us that Eurodragster's readers repay their support time and again with their business. We look forward to another successful year for all of our sponsors, and we thank them for their backing and our readers for showing their gratitude in the best possible manner."

Francis' Grand design.
1st March: 2003 UK National Super Comp runner-up and Ultimate Power Super Gas Champion Malcolm Francis has confirmed that he will compete in both Super Gas and Super Comp again in 2004. Malcolm will however be contesting the 2004 season in a new 2004 Pontiac Grand Am-bodied race car currently under construction at Andy Robinson Race Cars (right, click on picture for large version).

"I was wandering around the pits in Pomona a couple of years ago and saw dozens of Grand Ams, and I said to myself I want one of those", says Malcolm. The all-fibreglass body was sourced by Andy Robinson via RJ Race Cars in the States, and features a first for drag racing anywhere on the planet. "I wanted a Grand Am with the Ram Air front end but it was only available in a carbon for Pro Stock use, and was twice the price of a sportsman fibreglass body", says Malcolm. "At the time, GM hadnt granted permission to Five Star Bodies to manufacture the Sportsman version with the Ram Air front in fibreglass, but after a call from RJ Race Cars to GM mine was the first fibreglass body to be produced with the Ram Air front end."

The chassis is an Andy Robinson twin-rail design built to 25.1E specifications featuring Strange Engineering struts, a Mark Williams rear axle and carbon fibre interior. "Andy built the 69 Camaro which we ran for the last season and a half, and he has been a constant source of help and advice", says Malcolm. "Andy's reputation for building high-quality race cars is well-known. The car is looking awesome already; Andy has added some nice touches and in his words its going to be 'yummy'. Its a low and sexy-looking car and I cant wait to get it on the track."

Jeff Bull Race Engines have worked their magic on the power plant. "I think that everyone knows Jeffs reputation for building Sportsman-class engines, his expertise with alcohol carbs and their set-up", says Malcolm. "Jeff's years of experience and attention to detail have provided us an engine with plenty of power, reliability and consistency which proved to be a winner in the Camaro which we ran in Super Gas and Super Comp last year. Jeff is another constant source of help and advice, not just to me but to the many other racers who use his engines. Jeff doesnt just sell you an engine and leave you to get on with it: you become part of his extended family and hes always around at the track if you need any help or advice with set-up or parts.";
©Eurodragster.com
Jeff Bull Race Engines also supplied a Transmission Specialties Pro Line series transmission and converter, which enables Malcolm to carry his Andy Robinson-supplied TSR Racing-built Dedenbear case glide and Neal Chance converter to the track as spares in case of problems.

Malcolm plans to test the car before a planned début at the Easter Thunderball, to mount his challenge for both Super Comp and Super Gas Championships from the word go. "Its going to be another tough year in both classes, as several new cars and drivers should appear plus well-experienced racers going for the fight again", he says.

Primary sponsorship will again come from Malcolms company Air Sea Logistics Limited, but stay tuned as there will shortly be announcements of additional sponsors for 2004.

Andréasson: new car, early start.
1st March: Swedish Top Methanol Funny Car racer Leif Andréasson will again be starting his season in the USA, with a new state-of-the-art TMFC purchased in the States.

"We are starting our 2004 season at the NHRA National event at the Las Vegas Strip on 1st-4th April", says team member Anders Magnusson. "If possible we are going to put down some test passes in Los Angeles beforehand."

Off-season talk had Leif investigating a move to Top Fuel Dragster, but Anders tells us that although the Andréasson Motorsports team have retired their Alfa Romeo-bodied TMFC, the replacement is still short and wide rather than long and thin. "We have a new state-of-the-art chassis with a lot of new parts including a new trick MSD ignition system, all covered by a new carbon fibre body of a different brand, not Alfa", says Anders.
©Eurodragster.com
"We are borrowing a Peterbilt tractor with a large semi trailer from an American team to take the FC to the track. We are not shipping our own bus this time, just the parts and tools needed from home.

"We would also like to remind racing fans that the last booking day for the package holiday from Sweden to this event from is next Friday, 5th March. Call +46 (0)8 640 6700, or visit our web site at www.andreassonmotorsports.com."

We just Gas and Go...
1st March: UK Funny Bike racer Stu Chamberlain has announced that Predator Racing will be racing with sponsorship for the first time in their fourteen years in the sport. Gas and Go, a Swindon-based LPG installer who also install nitrous kits, are sponsoring the Predator team with all of their nitrous requirements for 2004.
©Eurodragster.com
Gas and Go are holding an open day on Saturday 17th April and as well as the Predator, Rachel Pattison's Super Street Bike and Pete Asworth's Dayglo Twister Outlaw Anglia will be on display together with many other recipents of Gas and Go nitrous kits. Business owner Steve Brown is offering visitors a 10% discount on all gas and kits sold on the day. You can find out more including contact details and a map on Gas and Go's web site at www.gasandgo.co.uk.

"Team Predator Racing are looking forward to the start of the season, as our engine has had the biggest overhaul of its life", says Crew Chief Shaun Howard. "We did some rev-related damage at the end of last season which necessitated a new crank/piston/valve train assembly, as well as parts which were due for renewal anyway. We need to step up our game if we are to catch the bikes which are coming over from the 'States. The parts are all coming together now, we just need to assemble them in such a way that the bike goes half a second quicker than last year - easy!".

You can find the official Team Predator Racing web site at www.predatorracing.co.uk.

Easter Thunderball entry reminder.
1st March: Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall has been in touch to ask us to remind racers that the official entry date for the Easter Thunderball is Friday 19th March.

"Entry forms received after 19th March, if accepted, will incur the £40 penalty fee on top of the regular entry fee", says Paula. "19th March is not that far away, so if everyone can start getting their forms in it would be good. You have been warned!
©Eurodragster.com
"Remember that if you wish to send in entry forms for other events then you can do so; as previously notified, post-dated cheques can be sent."

You can find entry forms for all UK Championship classes for all events at Santa Pod this season on the Entry Forms page of the SPRC web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.

2004 Wild Bunch calendar set.
1st March: The UK's Wild Bunch held their Annual General Meeting yesterday to finalise Series dates for 2004 amongst other business, writes Claire Meaddows.

"The Committee were all re-elected", says Claire. "The Committee is: Chairman - Chris Hartnell, Race Co-ordinator - Claire Meaddows, Secretary - Sarah Howells, Treasurer - Claire Meaddows, Web site Co-ordinator/Author - Ed Yates, Entertainments Officer - Roy Wilding, General Committee - Barry Bohannon, Mark Coulsell, Scottie Durrant, and Tony Smith. And Sarah Howells has taken on the job of newsletter editor, and has already started running a series of exciting features in her inaugural issue!"

The bullet points in the 2004 event schedule are:
  • The Wild Bunch Series will be held over seven rounds: four at Shakespeare County Raceway, two at York Dragway and one at Santa Pod Raceway;

  • The Real Steel Series will be held over ten rounds, five Run What You Brung and five MSA. These are made up of six at Shakespeare County Raceway, two at York Dragway and two at Santa Pod Raceway;

  • The Roy Wilding Nostalgia Race Cars Series will be held over four Run What You Brung rounds: two at Shakespeare County Raceway and two at York Dragway.
The full 2004 Wild Bunch, Real Steel and Roy Wilding Nostalgia Race Cars series schedule is as follows:

3rd-4th April: Season Opener/Test and Tune, Shakespeare County Raceway. RWYB, spot prizes only

17th-18th April: Club Day/Test and Tune, Shakespeare County Raceway. Wild Bunch Series 1, Real Steel Series 1

1st-3rd May: Excitement Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway. Ultimate Power Championship 1, Real Steel Series 2

15th-16th May: American Car World Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway. Wild Bunch Series 2, Real Steel Series 3

30th-31st May: UK Open Nationals, York Dragway. Wild Bunch Series 3, Roy Wilding Nostalgia Race Cars Series 1, Real Steel Series 4

12th-13th June: Power Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway. Ultimate Power Championship 2, Real Steel Series 5

26th-27th June: SPRC Summernationals, Santa Pod Raceway. Real Steel Series 6

3rd-4th July: NSRA Nostalgia Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway. Roy Wilding Nostalgia Race Cars Series 2 NB No rear-engined dragsters

17th-18th July: Mini Weekend/Club Day, Shakespeare County Raceway. Wild Bunch Series 4, Real Steel Series 7
©Eurodragster.com
7th-8th August: UK Northern Nationals, York Dragway. Wild Bunch Series 5, Roy Wilding Nostalgia Race Cars Series 3, Real Steel Series 8

28th-30th August: Allstar Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway. Wild Bunch Series 6, Ultimate Power Championship 3, Real Steel Series 9

18th-19th September: NSRA Hot Rod Drags, Shakespeare County Raceway. Roy Wilding Nostalgia Race Cars Series 4 NB No rear-engined dragsters

2nd-3rd October: UK National Finals, Santa Pod Raceway. Wild Bunch Series 7, Real Steel Series 10

2nd-3rd October: Club Day/Test and Tune, Shakespeare County Raceway. RWYB

30th-31st October: Halloween Showdown, Shakespeare County Raceway. RWYB, spot prizes only

"The Wild Bunch newsletter, date schedule, and membership registration pack for 2004 will be going out in the post to all members this coming week", says Claire. "We are really looking forward to the start of the season, and can't wait to get back to the tracks!"

Phatarazzi Extravaganza isn't.
1st March: From Kelly Ingall of Santa Pod Raceway comes the news that the Phatarazzi Extravaganza, which was scheduled for next Sunday (7th March), has been cancelled. "Santa Pod Raceway have received confirmation from the organisers of the Phatarazzi Extravaganza that the event will not take place due to a delay in securing two major commercial partners", says Kelly.
©Eurodragster.com
Santa Pod Raceway will now be holding a standard Run What You Brung on Sunday.

Swift snippets.
1st March: Elias Vathias, webmaster of the Greek Drag Racing web site at www.dragster.gr since July 2001, tells us that the ownership of the dragster.gr domain is currently the subject of a dispute which is due to be settled within the next few days by the National Committee of Telecommunications and Posts. As the matter is effectively sub-judice we are loth to go into any more detail but we will bring you news of NCTP's decision as soon as we receive it.
©Eurodragster.com
Collectable fans should pay a visit to Ian Turburville's web site or his shop in Nottingham as he is currently offering some great deals to collectors. Scale Top Fuellers, Funny Cars, bikes, Nostalgia dragsters and more are up for grabs at very reasonable prices; for details check out Turbo's web site at www.turboville.com/turbo-7/collectables.htm.


Earlier news


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