The plan was to make a run with the Top Fuel Dragster every day, and to take it easy between the runs to get used to the new jobs, tools and
the work on the Top Fueller. The first run was stopped by tyre shake after sixty feet. The Dragster crew all had their hands: turn-rounds in
Top Fuel are just one thing, hard work under pressure of time. The bearings didn’t look good and so we changed the engine.
Don't stop to discuss it, just work forward. A long and emotional day was over. Have you ever seen Urs Erbacher's crew going to bed
before midnight?
On Saturday a half pass was on the schedule. During the burn out our dragster started to eat up the blower belt and we shut down. What
happened? One of the snout stands worked loose and the belt started to slip towards the engine and ripped off. There was canvas everywhere
on the back end of the dragster. Thank you!
In the meantime Lo made his mark on the track with a 6.82 out of the trailer on his first run after the winter break, just behind Roel Koedam
and in front of Steve Woollatt. Wow! It was just too bad he clicked off at about a thousand feet. In the second qualifying session Lo smoked
the tyre and lost his second qualifying place to Steve Woollatt.
In the meantime the crew is overhauling the dragster and the bike. New parts will arrive from the US in the next few days and the last
adjustments will be made to the trailer and tools.
Lo started his first elimination round of 2006. In the other lane Steve Woollatt with his Top Fuel bike. Would Lo have a chance with the
Supertwin against the Top Fuel Bike? They were close together when they left the line but Steve started to pull away. Suddenly both
bikes slowed down. Lo smoked the tyre again, the revs rose and hit the rev limiter, and the engine stopped. Lo rolled to a win at
with 70 mph. But who cares when you are in the final? The turnaround time between the first round and the final was very short, so
the Dragster crew helped the bike guys to get ready. Kruse, Sandy, Dario and Lo did a perfect job the whole weekend and they were
so happy to be in the final against Roel Koedam.
The last part of the weekend was rather bothersine. Rain, sun, rain, sun. The track crew was on permanent alert and did a great job again.
After the burnout Lo and Roel were stopped because it rained at the top end again. A few minutes later the track was dry and off they went.
Lo was off the line first but the Roel Koedam was too fast for the Supertwin. At half-track Lo clicked off as he saw Roel going away. His first
final appearance was a great start to the season, and his first trophy was worth a small party in the Erbacher Top Fuel Racing pit."
Perfect Awards: day one, again. 30th April: Regular readers will know that it is very rare for the Eurodragster.com Perfect Award
money to last out the first day of a race and it has been no exception at this weekend's Shakespeare Nationals
at Shakespeare County Raceway.
Congratulations to Dave and Becky who are both £50 better off as a result of their achievements. Both Perfect
Awards will again be £50 at the FIA Main Event at Santa Pod on 26th-29th May.
"My web site updates at www.terrileeracing.co.uk
will be weekly from 1st May, so come and check it out and we will see you at the Pod in four weeks."
A street-legal Mars Rover. 29th April: Real Steel Street Eliminator UK racer Andy Frost says that it has been all hands to
the pump in the Red Victor team in recent days.
"Once again a huge thanks to Altiss Engineering, Nimbus Motorsports, Webster Race Engineering and Knight Racing Services for their continued help and
support."
Swift snippets. 29th April: Finland's Eero Knihtila is contesting Pro Stock at this weekend's
O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Rockingham. Eero is driving a 2004 Cavalier which he has also entered for the FIA Main Event at
Santa Pod Raceway in May. You can stay in touch with Eero's progress on the Drag Race Central web site at
www.dragracecentral.com or on the NHRA's
web site at www.nhra.com.
Our good buddy Hannele Höydén has sent us the official FIA European
Championship invitation and entry form for year's FHRA Nitro Nationals which takes place at Alastaro on
29th June-2nd July. You can download the FIA form (PDF format) by clicking here.
You can find the Finnish Hot Rod Association web site at www.fhra.fi.
Good news for Pro Mod racers! 29th April:Darren Mayer Performance Engineering
has recognized its ever-growing customer base and is pleased to announced that CG Composites in Northamptonshire, England will now stock all service
items for Kobelco Superchargers. With the ever-growing number of drag racers in the European market this was a logical, progressive move for DMPE Inc
to put into action.
"Being born in England, it is great to see the growth in the drag racing community in Europe", says Company President Darren Mayer
"We have over twenty units in Europe and there is a need for those customers to have service-type parts. Carlo Gandolfi, who owns CG Composites, will
house and sell the parts. He will carry all the necessary service items for the Kobelco units. This way, our European customers will not incur the
tremendous time constraints that shipping can cause."
DMPE representative Julie Smith is responsible for European parts saless and service and will be working with Carlo to make sure that all technical and
support items are available to CG Conposites.
CG Composites, which is the leading manufacturer of Carbon Fibre injector hats, gladly accepts the chance to better serve the racing
community. "I've have known Darren since 1996 and watched the growth in demand for Kobelco Superchargers, especially by the Pro Mod
racers", says Carlo Gandolfi. "I look forward to supplying the European racers. Kobelco Superchargers build a quality product and this will be a
new venture for my business. I'm excited to get things rolling".
Another sponsor for SEUK. 28th April: Real Steel Street Eliminator UK, Europe's quickest and fastest street-legal racers, are
delighted to announce another sponsor for the 2006 season. Street Eliminator enthusiasts will be familiar with
the nine-second street-legal Mercury Comet of Paul and Jill Lisle and now their company, appropriately named
Comet Clothing, will be supporting the class.
Paul and Jill wanted to do something for the up and coming racers in the class so will be awarding product vouchers for £250, £150 and
£100 for the three drivers lowering their race ETs by the most in 2006. "Comet Clothing, in association with So-Cal Speed Shop, is proud to be
supporting Street Eliminator UK for the 2006 season", said Jill Lisle.
Street Eliminator UK PR and Media Officer Ian Hook welcomed the addition of Comet Clothing to the class' growing list of sponsors.
"It's great to have an award which recognises the achievement of those who have worked hard to improve their performance over the season
and I'd like to thank Paul and Jill for their interest and support", he said.
The improvements will be measured against previous season's Personal Bests or, in the case of new drivers, against their first legal run in competition
(rather than qualifying or observed runs).
Comet Clothing join Real Steel, Finch's Fleet Services,
American Car World,
Webster Race Engineering, Eurodragster.com
and Power Pour in supporting the class featuring Europe's quickest and fastest street-legal and street-driven cars.
"We gained some performance in the first half of the track thanks to the extra grip afforded by the Mickey Thompson Drag Radials and some chassis tuning
but didn't have enough power to carry this over to a quicker time", says Fatty. "We'd maxed out the nitrous system by the end of last year but we are taking
delivery of two new Highpower Pulsoids before the weekend which have been optimised to
allow for a higher nitrous flow rate and should allow us to push the old girl a little harder.”
"Total Seal are continuing their support for European drag racers as they were already committed to posting $1000 to the winner of Super Comp at the
Main Event. Next stop Super Pro ET at Drachten - watch this space!"
Barlow rebuilding. 28th April: Pro ET and Outlaw Anglia racer Simon Barlow's rebuild of his Orange Pop
is coming along very well after his impact with the guardrail at the Easter Thunderball, says team member Jason
Yates.
Call Kellogg's, the axle's broken! 28th April: FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champion Dave Wilson has sent us a
very entertaining report of the American
Car Imports Racing team's Easter Thunderball, written by team member Phil James:
Easter Thunderball, the beginning of spring, the first daffodils, the first big event of the season and, as usual, it was bloody cold. OK,
reasonable on Good Friday but downhill thereafter. Anyway not to worry, this was to be a weekend bonanza for Wilson's Used Cars as
we were holding an 'everything must go' sale of the Nemesis dragster.
It's February and the Hadman race car is serviced and ready to roll and the Mayer car is on display in Anthony Cohen's showroom at
American Car Imports so what is there to do? No problem, we'll borrow the forklift and bring the Nemesis car down from the racking
and we'll race it (and try to sell it) at the Thunderball. It would be a bit like those special horse races where the fillies are for sale
immediately after the race. Well this filly looked a bit beyond her sell-by date so a lot of work was necessary.
Six years of workshop grime had to be removed then a full strip-down to bare metal for the entire chassis followed by treatment with
special oils. A new fuel tank was fabricated and re-located at the front and the engine was moved further back at the rear. New
cockpit shielding, new flooring, new chassis cross-bracing, new parachute mounts, new controls, new undertray, re-calibrated
data logger (thanks Graham), re-built rear axle, etc, etc, etc. At the end of all this there was a common feeling that the Nemesis car
looked really 'sick' (personally I don't understand, it but that's what they say on American Chopper when it looks the business).
We managed to fire up the car a few days before the race but only briefly as a neighbour to the workshop has a tendency to get upset.
Not surprising really as the workshop amplifies the engine noise so it must sound to him like the start of World War 3.
The first qualifier was a slightly strange affair in that Dave didn't glide into stage as is normal but jumped forward and then stopped
abruptly a bit like a kangaroo in leg irons. A good clean launch and a time of 5.59 at 251mph. This was amazing, two tenths quicker
than the Nemesis car had ever run before and straight off the trailer. It transpired that the staging antics occurred because the brakes
were next to non-existent. Good job the 'chutes worked then. We took our time servicing the car and decided to sit out the next round
of qualifying. The brakes were bled and generally fettled. At the end of day one we were still number one qualifier.
Q3 and the launch looked very quick. There was a lot of shake yet the clocks showed an improvement to 5.56 at 253 mph, this was
becoming a fairy tale. Well the fairy tale soon ended when Nemesis returned to the pit. With the car up on stands and the transmission
coupler disengaged, two of us could not rotate the rear wheels, the back axle was broken. Dave seemed surprisingly relaxed about it
and joked that "There might be some teeth in there but not necessarily in the right order". Needless to say we sat out Q4 but at the end
of qualifying we were still number one.
We were all intrigued to know just what had occurred in the axle so the pinion assembly was removed amid expectations that the teeth
would quickly follow but separately. In fact the teeth were clearly modified from standard but were attached and recognisable. Some
work with a grinder improved things but not enough for the rear wheels to move freely. We needed some extra gaskets to move the
pinion assembly forward but we had none. Rice Krispies came to the rescue, not thrown in to the axle to make it quiet but the cardboard
box was cut up to make a gasket. Fitted with the gasket from Kellogg's Car Parts, the pinion assembly was refitted and the rear wheels
moved freely. The car could at least move under its own power.
We had a bye in the first round of racing and knew that if we 'broke the beams' under power we would earn points for the championship.
A burnout and launch were out of the question. It actually worked out well in that it began to rain just as we were ready to run, so we told
the starters what we wanted to do and they allowed us to break the beams in the wet.
Nothing changed for the final against Rob Turner but again if we made the start line we could earn more points so that is what we did.
There was always the possibility that Rob might red-light but he was cool and took an unopposed win.
Our fans will know this was not the way ACI Racing likes to race but we could do nothing more without a spare gear set. The weekend
was considered a resounding success in that after a lot of hard graft, a retired race car had been brought bang up to date and on its
first two runs set new personal bests and been quickest in class. Dave believes the Nemesis car could do a 5.4 and on the strength
of this performance, few can doubt it.
A big thank-you to the Santa Pod track crew for all their efforts to continually dry the track against the wishes of the weather gods,
and a really big thank you to all our supporters and sponsors.
"With a well prepped track the nine-inch Phoenix radial slicks really dug in on the launch and we achieved not only our best ever sixty foot time (1.349) but
with both wheels up, well on the way to our dream of a Superstock launch. Much to our delight the launch was immortalised by Gareth Evans on
UK1320 and the ineffable Sharkman.
Gareth takes excellent pictures despite shooting from spectatorland and we liked the Christmas Tree view.
"We would like to thank the people who helped us achieve the best from this combination - first of all John Gianoli of Gianoli Motorsports in San
Francisco who was our guru and mentor in the specification of our 383 ci small block and our current 434 ci small block. With a 3000 lb car with stock
chassis apart from frame connectors, nine-inch slicks, monoleaf springs and Caltracks (thank you John Calvert) TH350, GM ten-bolt rear and leaving the
line on a footbrake, we can say that the combo is starting to work really well and the 434 is obviously just what the doctor (Gianoli) ordered.
"Kenny Coleman of EDA was also instrumental to our success, as we make a point of taking our engines to his dyno as soon as we build them. Many
people react "I don't need to dyno my engine to know it works" and various other comments suggesting you are wasting time and money with a dyno session.
Our opinion is completely the opposite, and for many good reasons. A dyno session will exclude all other variables and will tell you exactly what the
engine is doing. There will be no wheel spin, no tyre shake, no transmission woes during a dyno pull. The track is always perfect and the rear end always
faultless. No head or sidewind, no driver error...you get my drift. The information you obtain is purely to do with the engine - unadulterated, spotless, as pure
as a mountain spring. And you get loads of it. Sheets and sheets which show exactly where the engine is making the power - with clear graphs showing Torque
and Horse Power curves that will help you to determine exactly what converter you should use, at what RPM you should launch, when you should shift, not
forgetting that when you have your converter custom built (ours were built by Munsinger California and - don't ask why - Ray Raaymaker in Australia) the
builder will ask you for dyno sheet information, as well as all other details of your car (ours wanted to know our shoe size too).
The purpose of the dyno is only very marginally to tell you how much power your engine is making - that particular piece of information is almost irrelevant.
"Add to the mix a man like Kenny Coleman and you have a winning combination. Whether he has built your engine or not (we build our own) he takes extreme
care in handling your baby, he nurses it through the first start up, listens attentively on the baby monitor (well, earphones) to make sure no nastiness is detected
in any of the cylinders, and gives you his full attention all day, jetting up and down, trying different carburettors, different size headers, timing...how long would
it take to test all of these combinations on the track? Even better, you don't even have to find/borrow/buy different size headers, or different carbs, until you know
which work best. Of course you can do your homework beforehand and come well equipped with the parts you think will be perfect, and if you get it totally right
you can play with your tuning settings for longer.
"Kenny's help went above and beyond the call of duty with us and we spent a very long day at his workshop in Castleford, and we finally called it a day before
he did. It took us almost four hours to get to him from London, and four hours to get back - but we thought it was well worth the time and the money, we wouldn't
consider any nearer alternatives and we would recommend the whole experience to anyone without hesitation.
Despite the setback with the weather, many in the biggest car class in the UK had a good time at the Easter Thunderball. It was nice to see Nick Good in his
well turned out dragster joining the ranks of Pro ET and qualifying first one thousandth off his dial-in, also good to see that Liz Malcolm finally got her combination
to work well and in fact work well enough to earn number two qualifier +0.003 - which is no mean feat in a class which saw Kevin Slyfield qualify number nine
+0.008. To prove that this was not pure luck Liz also threw in a +0.006 and a +0.016 in qualifying, and went out with honour to Mike Lacey in round one, pulling
respectable .07 reaction against Mike's .05.
Rick and I had a great time in the Heaven and Hell Camaro. With a well-prepped track the nine-inch slicks really dug in on the launch and we achieved
not only our best sixty foot time ever (1.349) but with both wheels up, well on the way to our dream of a Superstock launch. We went out in the second round
with a red light, which in hindsight was perhaps a blessing in disguise, as we were spared the long delays and the rain that followed.
Quite a few racers suffered breakage, some managing to fix it in time for the race - for example 2005 Champion John Atkinson rebuilt the transmission in
the pits helped among others by fellow Pro ET racer Joe Stevens - others not being so lucky, for example Simon Barlow who crashed on the first run.
Fortunately Simon was unhurt and will rebuild and come back.
Teething problems prevented John Morris' brand new ride - the 454 ci Animal Magic Probe - from qualifying for the thirty-two car field, Dave Ward in the
Monza funny car broke on the first run, and Neil L'Alouette, helped by 2005 Sportsman ET champ Rick Denny, kept having fuel delivery problems which
prevented the 502ci powered Chevy C10 pick up from running sub twelve second times and unfortunately did not qualify. I think Phil Toppin mushroomed
a pushrod, and although new supplies were received two breakouts in the last qualifying runs meant Phil did not make the field in the end.
Thirty two teams emerged from the qualifying battles, thirty two survivors who included Neil Hunter in the 7 Year Hitch Capri who pulled in by the skin
of his teeth as first alternate when number nineteen qualifier Mark Watts in the 454 ci powered '57 Chevy broke. Neil unfortunately did not get past the first
round, Paul Marston treeing him with a 0.029 reaction to Neil's snoozing 0.121. Aidan Kenny and son and Crew Chief Chris had a catalogue of problems
throughout the weekend and would like to thank all racers that helped them, so they did manage (just) to make the thirty-two car field and enjoyed being
out there racing with all of their friends again, despite the setbacks making it not their most successful meeting. Chris would also like to point out that there
is a motor shop called Wilmco in Wellingborough High Street which is open pretty much all the time (even when Halfords are shut), and their service and
product range you get is great. So remember them if you have a sudden problem and you need any run of the mill spares.
Pro ET Sponsorship co-ordinator Carl Burton in the English Rose camp missed the Test Day and started the meeting playing with his new carb for
the first four runs, then decided to leave it alone and try to qualify instead. This decision earned them number eight qualifier and allowed them to go past
Mark Bracking, evening out the score as Mark beat them last time. Next Carl faced Penelope Pitstop Frost (hey, don't beat me, Carl's words not mine!),
Nicky treed him and took a well deserved win. The great banter between the crews made it especially enjoyable and fun, and Carl will be back to give
battle another day. Nicky was in good form and having a really good time after modifying a lot of her beautiful '67 Camaro. Everything worked well and
she was ready to meet Clive Cox and his very nice '67 in the third round - you cannot have too many Camaros, that's what I say (I'll admit I am somewhat
biased).
Half of the top ten qualifiers didn't make it past the first round, including Wayne Hiscock who succumbed to John Atkinson's excellent .008 reaction,
Spencer Tramm whose VW Corrado suffered sudden motionless sickness on the start line, a breaking out Joe Stevens and Kevin Slyfield possibly
suffering transmission problems and slowing down to a 12.14 on a 11.62 dial-in. Several cherries were handed out in the second round - one by Heaven & Hell
to Chris Hodgkins in the 587racing.com dragster who may not have needed it to win, as he proceeded to run within seven thousandths of his dial-in;
another by Nick Good, and two more were handed to Lee Huxley and Gary Springford by Vic Amato and Keith Moseley respectively, whilst Lee
uncharacteristically snoozed on the line after pulling one of his more usual .008s in the first round against Jon Hollingworth, and Gary's impressive new
ride seemed to be equipped to also make a cup of tea on the line before he left.
Two close races were enjoyed by Mike Lacey in the Metamorphosis Camaro and Keith Herbert in the Plymouth Fury, both racers pulling good reactions
but Mike being closer on both ends of the track. The other was the double break-out between Clive Cox and John Atkinson, with Clive pulling an 0.015
to John's very respectable .070 and going on to break out by only two thousandths, taking the win. Eight racers were now left to meet in the third round
which wasn't to be. Ian Atkinson's Plymouth Belvedere was to face Lee Huxley's mean '32, Paul Marston was denied racing his own teammate Gary
Springford, Mike's Camaro did not meet Chris's dragster and finally the two remaining Camaros (Clive's and Nicky's) did not have a chance to pair up
in what could have been an exciting close race. The Thunderball turned to rain and there was no more Sportsman racing despite the track crew's best efforts.
The second Paul Marston Racing team race car will be Grumpy's Dodge, with Gary Springford in Pro ET and Michael Howling in Super Street.
Grumpy put in a solid performance at the Easter Thunderball and we felt that by running Grumpy in a flat-out class with Gary Springford in Pro ET and a
Super class with Mick Howling it would produce a stronger combination from a data perspective.
The weather also looks good and John Everitt joining us in Super Pro ET in the Alien altered rounds things off nicely.
A big debt of gratitude to one of Paul Marston Racing's principal sponsors, Gary Springford and all at Drag Race Engineering, for making time in their
busy schedule for the work to be carried out on the Whoopass Monza. Lastly, check out the latest edition of Fast Car magazine for an
unusual feature on both PMR's Whoopass Monza and Drag Race Engineering's Hulk Shogun...all I will tell you is that there is a nurse
involved!
Linda joins Nygård. 27th April: Norwegian Super Comp racer Linda Thun Tønseth (right) has joined forces with fellow
Norwegian Jan Arve Nygård's Pro Mod team. Although not slated to drive the nitrous 706 ci 'Vette in competition this year, Linda is more than ready
to step up to the plate. "I'm not going to throw Jan Arve out of the driver seat, but if he wants me to, I will be delighted to take over!", she
says.
Jan Arve and Linda have been in drag racing for a long while, Linda for ten years in Junior Dragster and then Super Comp, and Jan Arve for fifteen years.
"We have a lot to learn from each other", says Linda. "In this first season I will be taking care of administration, sponsors, media etc. I will be present at
every race and also start to get to know the car.
"The team's goal is that I will have my Pro Mod licence at the end of this year. In the long term we are hoping to build up a good enough budget that we can afford
to run two cars, or perhaps compete in two different series with the same car."
The Damn Yankees American Car Club are holding their nineteenth annual Maydaynationals car show at North Weald Airfield
this Sunday (30th). "We average about a thousand American cars, Rods and Customs", says Gary Hall. "We always have a
race car display in the arena and firing up for the crowd will be the B & J Nitro slingshot dragster and the Wratten
Brothers Methanol altered with John Price commentating."
This year's fortieth anniversary SEMA Show will celebrate America's muscle-car heritage when, in an unusual
move, all three major US auto manufacturers - Ford, GM and DaimlerChrysler - will share the limelight as Vehicle
Manufacturers of the Show. The three giants will be among 2000 manufacturers converging on the Las Vegas Convention
Center to unveil the latest trends and technology at one of the world's great car shows. The SEMA Show is a featured
attraction of the Trip to America, the drag racing
holiday presented by leading UK travel company Trailfinders. As a trade event, the SEMA Show restricts admission to
automotive business professionals, but a special invitation has been arranged for all Trip To America guests,
professional or otherwise. For more information, click on the Trip To America logo at left.
£100 for Perfect performance. 27th April: This weekend's Shakespeare Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway is the third
eligible event in the 2006 Eurodragster.com Perfect Awards scheme. A total prize fund of £100 is
available.
Please note that the running order is provisional and is subject to change due to weather or track conditions or
for any other reason deemed necessary by Race Officials.
Scorch the track, don't burn it. 26th April: UK Jet Funny Car pilot Roger Goring says that he thoroughly enjoyed his weekend
in the Firestorm JFC
at the Easter Thunderball and that he is looking forward to his appearance at this weekend's Shakespeare Nationals
at Shakespeare County Raceway. Roger ran a string of low six-second passes at Santa Pod continuing the successful
development of a new launch procedure.
"I got in trouble for setting light to the track after we got the fire show working right (Hey, if it was good
enough for Sammy Miller - Ed)!", says Roger. "I took one look at the video and went and apologised! It's really
not easy to tone down the fire show but we're working on it as I speak.
The Firestorm team have a new range of merchandise featuring a design by Darren West of Eurodragster.com
Home and News sponsor Power Race Graphics.
"The new range of T-shirts, hoodies and caps goes alongside the existing merchandise", says Roger. "This isn't
Manchester United where they change designs every year to make more money! The new items look great, Darren has
done a very good job again, and we are really excited about them.
"Now we are very much looking forward to going back to Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend and putting on
another good show for the fans. If you're coming along then come along to our pit and say Hi."
Something Moore sedate! 26th April: UK Super Pro ET racer Roger Moore says that the Moore Brothers' legendary
seven-second Triumph Herald race car is for sale, as he prefers something more sedate.
"I hope to be back at the track next year but, as with most racers, that is time and money permitting."
If you are interested in acquiring a unique and very popular race car then check out Roger's adverts in the
Cars For Sale and Parts For Sale sections of our Jeff Bull Race Engines and Performance
Parts-sponsored Swap Meet.
"Khalid Al Balooshi ran a 6.5 in his Pro Mod on his first ever attempt. Looks like the Championship is going to be a
tough one."
Peak Performance Days booking. 26th April: Santa Pod Raceway's Track Manager Kjell Pettersson has been in touch to remind
racers that Santa Pod's Professional Test Days have been replaced by the Peak Performance Days. The next Peak
Performance Day is on Saturday 20th May, one week before the FIA Main Event, followed by Friday 14th July
(one week before Bug Jam) and Saturday 1st September (one week before the FIA European Finals).
"The Peak Performance Days are first-come first-served", says Kjell. "As the number of test spots is limited
on these days I would recommend that you book your ticket now if you are planning to test on any of these dates.
"You can book on-line at www.santapod.com - just click
on the Buy tickets online now button on the right and choose the Peak Performance Day in question.
You have to buy one race voucher (£50) and tickets for yourself and crew (£10 per person).
Editor's note: Thanks to Charlie Draper for his help in arranging the workshop visit.
The pleasure and pain of Top Fuel. 25th April: Kenneth Lorentzon, Crew Chief of Sweden's two-car
Lorentzon and Möller Top Fuel Dragster team,
says that Håkan Fällström's storming licencing passes at the Easter Thunderball came as a relief
after some freak problems with Tommy Möller's dragster.
"Håkan made three licencing runs and no-one could tell the whether he was licencing or racing - he came very well-prepared", says Kenneth.
"His first attempt was a two-second launch, 0.93 sixty foot time on a soft set up, and no tyre shake. So I cranked up the timing by ten degrees
for the second run and that took him by suprise! 0.88 sixty foot.
"The last run just had to be a flawless run and off throttle at the 1000 foot mark. I still had the same retard box problem with this car that I had with Tommy's car
so I had to run the timing on a flat curve. The only way now through the shake zone was to work with the fuel curve, to halt the fuel to the engine would make the
clutch stronger, almost like a retard but it was on a knife-edge.
"The third run was right out of the text book. 0.88 to sixty feet, 3.32/240 at half track and 5.08/249 with an early 1000-foot shut-off. Håkan told me that he
felt that the car nosed over just after the eighth mile - no wonder when you feed the engine all the fuel that the pump can deliver and at the same time slip the clutch
a lot so that the engine starts to mix cylinders. But it was the weekend's quickest run anyway, pretty awesome.
"For the second attempt it sounded fine in the pits but in the start area it just quit on me and refused to start. Back in the pits I found that my
old retard box problem was back. The retard box had locked up for twenty four hours. The same happened with Håkan's car in the garage back home,
three of my MSD Digital retard boxes hade locked up the same way. I changed the trigger on both cars, the wiring harness, three retard boxes and magnetos.
I just had to get to the bottom of this problem. Lex Joon lent me a new retard box and Alan Jackson lend me his LCD programmable screen and I set a
new curve. And it worked, the problem was to transfer the retard curve from the LCD display to the box in the car. The problem put the retard system in
Traction Control Device mode.
"On the third attempt I really felt that we were going to make a pass. But no, now the shit really hit the fan. After the burnout the front crank seal
started to leak. We went back to the pits and kicked some dirt.
"The good thing about this is that it's all sorted out now and we are ready for FIA Main Event. And overall I am pleased. Håkan's car made three runs with
no tyre shake at all, and the bugs are sorted out of Tommy's car.
"Tose of you who thought that we were hurt when the Danes left the camp, just forget it. Both of these Pennzoil cars can show up in the winner's circle
at any time, at any race. Five weeks to go - final countdown."
Easter extravagance. 25th April: UK Top Methanol Funny Car racer Steph Milam has sent us an account of her Easter
Thunderball, at which the She Devil Racing team
set a new best ET, but at a big price.
"Saturday dawned bright and the weather was good (no rain)", says Steph. "On the first pass we launched hard but took a
dive for the wall so I backed off and went again, ran 7.55/at 192.36 mph, not bad for first pass. The second run was in the
left lane, a slightly slower sixty foot time but a straight run with a 6.82/ 213.28. We were very pleased with our first day's
qualifying and looked forward to improving on our times throughout the weekend, with some fine-tuning on the clutch
and the fuel system.
"Sunday on the other hand was a different start. Very misty at first but it had burnt off by the time we were called out.
The third pass was back in the right hand lane and back with a 1.09 sixty foot time, and good increments all the way down
to a thousand feet, then all hell let loose. The crank said "I give up" in a big way - journal 5/6 went to Australia, the clutch
and transmission parted company. When I eventually stopped, the fire crew were on to me and pushed me off the track.
I was then met by the crew who had been hooping and hollering at the personal best ET of 6.287.
"On getting back to the pits we surveyed the damage we could see: windows in each side of the block and lots of broken
bits everywhere. All the safety equipment did its job and all I seem to have is a couple of bruises and a stiff neck for a few days.
"Thanks to all the people who dropped by to ask after my welfare and donated to our reconstruction fund.
Thanks to also need to go to Nimbus Motorsport/Torco/Pro Seal and Champion Spark Plugs for their continuing support.
"As I write this we are still assessing the damage to the clutch and transmission and we haven't taken the engine out yet!
But the block is definitely junk. Our aim is to rebuild and return but at the moment it's beyond our means, to return quickly
we badly need a sponsor."
"The team were hoping for a good meeting", says Ian. "On the first run the Funny Car rolled through on the start line, not launching well, losing about three
tenths of a second on the sixty-foot time. Dave reported that some vibration set in at half track which continued until he was slowing down in the shutdown area.
The second run was much better. We dialled in 9.55 and ran 9.542, eight thousandths under, the car seemed better but there was still vibration in the shutdown
area.
"The fire and safety crew were onto Dave in seconds. Dave and the entire Rampage are very grateful for the way the safety crew recovered the car
and helped us back to scrutineering, also thanks to the scrutineers for their concern for Dave ensuring that he was OK. Incredibly, Dave was unaware that
the steering rod from the steering box had sheared, and he was in fact on a wild ride. He only realised when the safety crew tried to tow the car and it was still
heading for the wall.
"Back in the Pro ET pits it became apparent that the excessive vibration through the steering box had partially seized it, thus giving the impression it was still
connected. The car now requires a new Funny Car steering box and some new parts on the steering to be ready for the Main Event."
Super Sevens for SEUK. 25th April:Real Steel Street Eliminator UK and joint Eurodragster.com webcam sponsor
Webster Race Engineering are proud to announce the creation of the
Street Eliminator/Webster Race Engineering Super Seven Club. Continuing their support of the Street Eliminator series, Webster Race Engineering
will be commissioning commemorative gold rings for the first four drivers in the class to run a seven-second pass in a street-legal car.
"Our intention to present commemorative custom gold rings to the first four Street Eliminator drivers to run seven-second quarters is in a small way meant
to reflect the individual's achievements through something valuable and prestigious, hopefully representing the value added to another milestone to our
sport" said Jon Webster, proprietor of Webster Race Engineering.
Unfortunately John Sleath didn't quite make it into the Club at the Easter Thunderball; the
pair of 8.07s he ran not quite quick enough to back up his 7.98 (but still good enough for a class record).
In addition to the SE/WRE Super Seven Club, Webster Race Engineering will again be supplying the end of season trophies for Street Eliminator as well
as providing contingency sponsorship for users of Power Pour octane booster within the class.
"We are very pleased to have the continued support of Webster Race Engineering" said SEUK PR and media officer Ian Hook. "Jon has not only built cars
for this class but has also taken his turn behind the wheel, this year running a full season in his MG Coupe, so he knows what a challenge it is to run the numbers
in a street-legal vehicle. On behalf of the class I would like to thank him for his commitment".
Nick Pettit would like to hear from any Eurodragster.com reader who has historic ciné film hidden away so that he
can compile more of his excellent Time Travel DVDs. "Please help me to preserve more of our drag racing history
before it is lost forever", says Nick. If you can help then please drop Nick a line at
nick@nickpettitt.wanadoo.co.uk or call 01323 487871. Nick has updated his Time
Travel DVDs web site at
www.timetraveldvds.co.uk with details of no less than forty nine DVDs
on offer at very reasonable prices featuring British drag racing and hot rodding from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Luke Smith, who works as a mechanic for Vauxhall main dealer W Grose of Cliftonville, Northampton, would like to join a race team as a mechanic.
Luke is fully trained after attending college and gaining NVQ 1, 2 and 3 qualifications in car mechanics. Luke is looking to join a Sportsman car team local to
Northampton if possible. He can be contacted on 07742 435048 or at lukesseries1@hotmail.co.uk.
Luke Bennett would be pleased to hear from anyone with pictures of the Bennett Racing NFAA Altered in action at
the Easter Thunderball. If you have any pictures of Frank Bennett in action then please drop Luke a line at
bennett418@btinternet.com.
Big numbers in NAST test. 25th April: Making perfect use of Shakespeare County Raceway's track time and prep at last weekend's Easter Test and
Tune were National Association of Supertwins Top Gas riders Andy Smith, Jerry Collier and Chris Mott, writes SCR Press Officer Jerry Cookson.
Testing in preparation for this weekend's Shakespeare Nationals, round two of the NAST series, both Andy and Jerry made significant improvements to their TL1000
Suzukis that by the end of the weekend. Jerry, a former NAST Champion and world record holder, managed to push the GLS model to new personal bests of
9.347/139.41 - quicker than the bike's owner George Laycock who is taking a year out from competition this year. According to Jerry all that's needed for this weekend's race
is possibly a new MT rear slick!
However, looking for an eight to equal John Floyd's track-busting times set at the season-opening Power Nationals is NAST #2 Andy Smith. Commencing the test
in the 9.4s while match racing Jerry Collier, Andy managed to push his nitrous induced TL1000R to a new super low time of 9.069/145.12.
FIA Championship classes will include Top Fuel, Top Alcohol, Pro Stock and a full sixteen-car field of Pro Mods. There'll be bikes too: UEM Champions
will be crowned in Top Fuel Bike, Pro Stock Bike and the fabulous Supertwins ("Nitro Harleys"). Plus, there's a complete supporting program, including Fuel
Funnies, spectacular Jets and an array of Sportsman classes.
Trip To England guests will enjoy all the action in the finest style with Santa Pod's official VIP hospitality program.
Guests will be treated to a broader view of Britain's racing heritage with visits to the Williams F1 Grand Prix Collection and the Brooklands Motorsport and
Aviation Museum, the historic birthplace of British motorsport and aviation located on the site of the world's first purpose-built auto racing circuit.
The Trip departs the USA on Wednesday 6th September and returns on Wednesday 13th September. The price is from $1995 per person (based on
two sharing a room, excluding flights) and includes ground transportation and hotels - with two nights in Central London for guests to enjoy the capital
city at their leisure.
The Trip To England is being sold exclusively by American Express Travel Services representative, Passport To Travel of Modesto, California (contact Renee
Rollins). For more information, please telephone 209 571 5606 / toll-free 800 456 3378 or E-Mail
renee@passport2travel.com.
Click here to see the UK National Championship and
Ultimte Power standings,
or click on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Interview: Hall of Fame inductees. 24th April: As part of Santa Pod Raceway's Fortieth Anniversary celebrations at the
Easter Thunderball, this year's second group of inductees to the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame were
announced, and Eurodragster.com was on hand to interview some of the new members.
You can read our interview with the Hall of Fame inductees by
clicking here, or
by clicking on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left hand side of any Eurodragster.com
page.
Web site updates. 24th April: The European Pro Mod Association web site at
www.promod.nu has been updated with team pages for
Pelle Eriksson's Willys and Kristian Nyström's Thunderbird.
Richard Stirling has updated his Topnitro fan site with an anecdotal report from the Easter Thunderball event.
"The report contains a large picture gallery for each of the racing days I was there", says Richard. "These include
a near-vertical picture of John Sleath and lots of other action, pitside and lifestyle pictures - hopefully a little
something for everyone!". Check it out at www.topnitro.co.uk.
Please note that this running order is provisional and is subject to change due to weather or track conditions or
for any other reason deemed necessary by Race Officials.
Enter the Duke. 23d April: There is a new kid on the block in European Supertwin racing as KTM Sportmotorcycles
are going drag racing. Finland's Salakazi Racing Team launched its brand new Supertwin at last weekend's American Car
Show in Helsinki (right, click on picture for larger shot from another angle).
"This bike is called the KTM Nitro Duke", says Leo Laurell of Salakazi Racing. "The engine is something new and
it has been designed, manufactured and tested over five years. There are many innovations which are promising to make
the bike faster and more reliable. The components have been designed by owner/rider Jaska Salakari and manufactured
in the best machine shops in Finland from the very best available materials."
The team will ultimately field two bikes, to be owned and ridden by Jaska Salakari and Risto Toikkanen. Jaska's bike
is ready to compete and Risto's bike will be ready in June of this year.
"Before the event our main thoughts were how to go about qualifying with such a large entry in Pro ET", says
Nick. "Being in the number one spot after Friday's sessions we had to sweat over the next two days to see if
anyone would run a perfect time and knock us down the field, and to go into Monday's eliminations as number one
qualifier exceeded our wildest expectations.
"Finally, well done to Carl Burton for putting together a great sponsorship scheme in Pro ET, and to the companies
supporting it: A1 Motor Stores, Webster Race Engineering, Hauser Race Cars, Black Bear Harley Davidson, WASP, Alleyjax,
Inkwell Printing, Toxico Clothing, Penn Autos, Psycle Works, Real Steel and Sandy Scooters. With a new car and crew we
certainly didn't expect to be going home with a trophy, a £100 cheque and £150 in vouchers!"
TVR Power for King Racing. 23rd April: Coventry-based TVR Power, tuning subsidiary of
TVR Engineering, have formally announced their primary association with the European
Championship-winning and European Record holding Top Fuel Motorcycle team King Racing.
TVR was established in 1947 by Trevor Wilkinson and is an exclusive brand which has been synonymous with the world's most powerful performance cars, both
on the track and on the road, for some sixty years. Few marques conjure up the same sense of theatre and passion among their fans and followers, or fear
among the uninitiated.
The first cars were specials using the drivelines from production cars, tuned and installed in a lightweight TVR chassis with minimal bodywork to maximise the
agility and power-to-weight ratio, which remain TVR virtues to this day. TVR made use of proprietary engines, like many low-volume manufacturers, to power
its cars for many years. However, there were those who opined that this somehow diminished the cachet of the Great British sports cars from Blackpool, despite
the fact that the engines, by the late '80s, were very heavily modified to TVR's own unique, high-power specifications by TVR Power.
That began to change in the early '90s with the birth of the TVR V8 engine, which in 1995 became the world's first racing engine to be de-tuned and installed
in a road car: the TVR Cerbera. But the Speed Eight was only the beginning. In 1997, a Griffith Speed Six concept car was unveiled at the Earls Court Motor
Show. It showcased the TVR Speed Six engine, a very modern take on the quintessentially British, growling straight-six. The Speed Six engine, like the Speed
Eight, first appeared in the Cerbera. But the Speed Six is renowned as the power-house of the jaw-dropping Tuscan Speed Six that starred with John Travolta
and Halle Berry in the Hollywood movie Swordfish.
The Speed Six is also the power plant of the T400R, with which TVR returned to Les 24 Heures du Mans in France in 2003 and 2004. Both Speed Six-powered
T400Rs finished this most gruelling of automotive challenges - no mean feat in a class dominated by German and Italian stalwarts. Every TVR car is now TVR-powered
and is a true thoroughbred sports car powered by UK-built engines, all with serious motor racing provenance and every TVR is hand-built to customer specifications.
TVR Power in Coventry have been involved in the development of TVR engines for road and racing, to one-off prototype cars for over twenty years. They have
extensive on-site engineering facilities, and a team of highly skilled and factory trained staff. Their reputation is synonymous with power and their alliance with
drag racing, the most powerful motor sport on earth, underlines that fact.
Grumpy tickled pink. 22nd April: FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champion
Dave Wilson expressed himself
"Tickled pink" with the performance of the Nemesis Top Methanol Dragster at the Easter Thunderball.
Grumpy brought the Nemesis dragster out of storage to advertise it for sale and ran into the
5.5s straight off, taking #1 qualifying spot before being robbed of the chance to race Rob Turner for the
event victory by a broken axle gear.
If you are interested in purchasing the Nemesis dragster then check out the Cars For Sale section
of our Jeff Bull Race Engines and Performance Parts-sponsored
Swap Meet. "It's a good car with a proven record and
you only have to look at last week's performances to see that", said Grumpy.
Under a second for BA Racing. 22nd April: BA Racing's Lucas Oil-sponsored Pro Modified 1938 Ford set a first for a
British Pro Mod when Bert Englefield became the first to go under a second in sixty feet, 0.994 at the Easter
Thunderball, which is also one of the quickest-ever sixty foot times in European Pro Mod.
"Unfortunately limited funds mean that our next outing will be out will be FIA Main Event. The team would like
to thank Les Downey of Lucas Oil,
Darren Mayer, Bob Jarrett and John Spuffard of
Showtime Racing, and
Dave Wilson of American Car Imports
Racing."
At last, some Fun. 22nd April: After a inauspicious start in 2004, and a long wait during 2005, UK Pro ET racers
Liz and Iain Malcolm's Jus'4 Fun Racing now have a package which works.
Not out and not down. 22nd April: UK Super Pro ET racer and Eurodragster.com News sponsor Derek Flynn says that
his Gold RV Racing team has just about recovered
from last weekend's Easter Thunderball disasters. "I heard a pop followed by another one of my infamous tinkles
and then a warm and wet feeling as the car caught fire and the fire crew put it out!", says Derek.
"I would like to say a huge thanks to the fire and safety crews at Santa Pod, you are all truly first class. No
sooner had I got out of the car - and believe me I was out like a shot - the fire marshals were there and the fire
was out. They even apologised for getting me a bit wet, as I stupidly stood opposite them busily squirting
water!
"We now believe that the sequence of events was that the torque converter failed and overheated allowing the
revs to rise above normal and then one of the blower rotors failed and came out the side of the blower (as the
burst panel did not go, nor did any of the ally studs which hold the blower on). This allowed the fuel to go
everywhere and put bits of the blower into the engine, holding a couple of valves open which then ignited and
the resulting fire burnt out the front pump seal and hence the gear box oil fire. Apologies to Rick Cooke who
apparently saw it all unfold in front of him and was a little to close for comfort and had to back out! Also
apologies to all the crew who had to clear it up and to my competitors who obviously got delayed.
"Once back at the pits we assessed the damage and after a couple of hours it was decided we could rebuild it, mainly
due to the quick actions of the fire crews which meant nothing was seriously burnt apart from the converter. Amazingly
the bottom end was fine and not too much damage to our new heads, we had spare heads which would save a little time
and we were just discussing where we could get a blower from, as Mark Flavell's team reckoned our blower was a little
beyond even their welding capabilities when in came two saviours, Clive Bush and Andy, who said "We have got the
same blower, you can borrow that if you like, only problem is it is in Devon"! They said to let them know before it
was too late as Clive's wife would put it out in the camper so we could collect any time in the night, just don't
wake the wife!
"Words cannot express how proud I felt of the team when we fired up in the pits, and when we pulled down the fire up
road it felt like I was on a magic carpet pulling down through some of the other classes to tag on the end of Super
Pro. The amount of comments we got suxh as "We didn't think we would see you out again" and "Congratulations" was
reallyup lifting, although I must admit to feeling a little apprehensive. Had we missed anything? Were all the fittings
tight? I should not have worried though as the majority of the team work for Gold RV and fixing most things American
is what we do best, although for any customers reading this, no we cannot collect all your spares and rebuild your
RV's engine and gearbox over night!
"So now it was time to run. We totally overpowered the launch and shook really bad as the new converter hit hard at
nearly 5000 revs. I had to pedal it twice and then it flew, 7.4/191, well done guys absolutely awesome! It was decided
that we would launch without using the transbrake for eliminations which got moved to the next day, so we all enjoyed
a good night's sleep. We had no idea what time the car would do, nor had I ever launched without a transbrake before
and I must admit I was terrified of pulling a cherry after all the effort the team had put in. It launched hard and
straight with our first sub-one second sixty foot and our quickest and fastest eighth and I knew I was really on one.
I think we overtook Vince Gibbs at the eighth, I got out of it very early but alas still broke out with a 7.0 and less
speed at the stripe than we had at the eighth.
"Even though we were out, we all had silly grins on our faces at the top end collection area and we just can't wait for
the next event where we hope to finally nail that double deuce!
"Once again thanks to everyone for their help and support, it was very much appreciated. We had numerous visitors to
our pits wishing us all the best and amazed at the state of our blower! And again thanks to all the crew at the Pod
who ensured we still had a car to fix."
Robbed, but grateful. 22nd April: As Derek Flynn mentioned, fellow Super Pro ET racer Rick Cooke was in the other lane
when he had his blower incident. Rick has been in touch with his own Easter Thunderball review:
"We had a good start to the weekend by running a new Personal Best of 8.40. Onn the last run on Friday both the
breathers popped out on the rocker covers and the flaps on the end of the headers were bent. Back in the
pits we found that all was well, it was just the breathers flying around that did the damage. Saturday started well
as I went to #2 qualifier with a 8.501 on a 8.50 dial-in, just behind Nick Spence who had his dial-in spot on. I
also ran against Derek Flynn, when he went past me at about half track he was going for that 200 when his blower
let go near the top end. I got my dragster stopped, jumped out and to my relief saw Derek safely out of his dragster.
Hats off to the Gold RV crew who had the car fixed the next day.
When I got back to the pits we found a rear seal on the trans had broken. We had help from Martyn Jones and Crunch
who had the parts there to fix it (thank you guys), but when I got the dragster back home to the workshop I found
that a bronze bearing had spun in the casing.
Can I say a big thank you to my Crew Chief Spencer Tramm for the loan of a tow vehicle and his crew Adi, Adel, Steve,
George and Rachel, and my partner Rebecca, for helping me. A massive Thank You to Ian and the start line team: it's
not good to even think what could of happened if you guys had not of spotted the fluid dripping. As for me I have
got a busy week ahead fixing the trans ready for SCR next weekend - hope to see you all there.
Koedam Racing Thunderball review. 22nd April: The past weekend's Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway was the 2006 season opener for Dutch Top Fuel Bike racer Roel Koedam,
writes Crew Chief Marius Van Der Zijden:
This year's edition was special to us for two reasons. In the first place it was exactly twenty years ago that Roel started his active drag racing
career on a 250cc four-cylinder Moto Guzzi (right). For the interested reader you can find a short story about the early years on our
web site.
Secondly, it marked the Fortieth Anniversary of Santa Pod Raceway. For this occasion the organisers had invited a number of drag racing celebrities
from days gone by. It was a real pleasure for us to meet the likes as John Hobbs and Rod Pallant again after so many years. They were a few of the heroes
who made us go into this kind of motorsport.
New for Santa Pod Raceway is that they now can offer a power supply to the racers for the weekend. Though not that cheap, the guys did a good job
and it worked flawlessly. Unfortunately that could not be said for the shower facility which failed by Saturday and could, for some reason, not be fixed
over the remaining three days! With most teams staying at the track for four days,that meant a lot of inconvenience (one step forward, two steps back?).
As mentioned in last week's Team Report, our goal for this weekend was to test the new stuff on the bike, the new clutch pressure plate, the new injector
hat, throttle body and the new exhaust system. We also replaced some parts of the ever-so-important datalogger system over the winter.
The weather outlook for the weekend was a mixture of sunshine and a fair change of rain showers, combined with temperatures that were too cool for
this time of year. It was somewhere between 10-15C all weekend. Though the air was good for racing, the track remained quite cold, in fact too cold to
qualify as super conditions. However, it is amazing how much this track still can take at these temperatures.
Saturday was our first qualifying day. Our regular readers know in the meantime that our first pass after a winter break is always a half or checkout pass.
The result was a 6.8/162. Later that day, we made a more serious attempt. Like the last outing at the 2005 National Finals we had to get used to the cold
conditions. The bike momentarily dropped some cylinders when it left the line, simply because there was not enough heat in the engine to burn the big
amount of nitro at these cool temperatures. When it finally picked up it really moved. Despite losing over a tenth in the first sixty feet and about three tenths
of a second at the eighth-mile marker, still a 6.49/211 rolled out of the bag.
Sunday started with a bit higher temperatures and even some sunshine, but it was still too cold for the time of year. On top of that there was a strong
crosswind which affects us bike riders the most after the finish line, where the wind has free play because the banking stops at the finish. The third
qualifying pass was a wild ride. While it left good, it was probably due to a combination of strong crosswind and loss of traction halfway down the
track that the bike made a move towards the centerline. Roel decided to click it off just before a thousand feet. Luckily it was a bye run, as he ended
up in the other lane after the finish line. Nevertheless we were very happy with the 6.20/219. Our fourth and last qualifying run was only at 19.00
after a drizzle had stopped the racing for some time. This one lasted only 0.37 seconds as the primary belt let go right at the hit. Still we qualified strongly
in the # 1 position.
At first Monday (eliminations day) looked to become the best day of the weekend as it started with lots of sunshine (still too cold), but later that day the
eliminations had to be stopped more often than not, due to short drizzles. As there was only a four bike field in our Top Fuel Bike class, there were going
to be just two rounds of eliminations. In the first round, there was a very strong crosswind and Roel wisely decided to click it off just after the eighth mile.
We still took the win light, as our opponent ran into problems. How lucky we were, as we soon discovered that some of the bolts from the oil sump had
come loose causing some spray of oil mist all over the left hand side of the bike and the track. Apart from our pride nothing was hurt and it was just a big
mess. The Torco brake cleaner had to work overtime.
On that particular run our top end speed was only 159 mph, but the ET was still a 6.5. The insider will immediately have noticed that the bike must have
been on a really good pass in the first place. Because of the necessary repair and the oil clean up on the bike we simply did not have enough time to perform
the complete between-rounds routine. We changed the oil and plugs, put new fuel in it and reset the clutch throw-out bearing. There was no time left for
set-up changes and/or clutch maintenance. Our final run of that day was scheduled for 16.00 however, as mentioned before, drizzle stopped racing activities
more than once as the day progressed. The weather conditions were changing more rapidly than one could cover the quarter mile. When we finally made
our burnout it was already a quarter to six. Once we pulled up to the lights after the burnout we were stopped by the track crew as it was...you guessed
it…drizzling at the top end! Another hold up for about half an hour. The sun came back again and the track though still too cold hadn't suffered too much
if at all from the short rainfall. The track guys did an excellent job once again.
Another strong burn out "Shook the control tower" (courtesy Eurodragster). The wind had gone down for the moment and nothing stood in the way of trying
to make a really good pass. We took the event win over Lorenz Stauble from Switzerland on his immaculate Harley Davidson Supertwin.
Not only did we take home the first victory of the year but also run an impressive and crowd pleasing 6.14/224. Being able to run these numbers at the start
of the season under less then ideal conditions makes us really happy campers! On top of that the bike stayed in perfect condition all weekend. We didn't
even have to lift the valve cover! All the new parts that we wanted to test held like we hoped they would.
During qualifying for round two of the 2006 Real Steel Street Eliminator UK Championship, at
9.37 in the morning on Sunday 16th April, John's Audi stopped the clock at 7.988/176.23 to achieve the Holy Grail which had, until then, evaded the UK's
quickest street racers.
Unfortunately poor weather, a broken axle pinion and a monster wheelie stopped John from backing that time up, although he did lower the Real Steel
Street Eliminator UK ET record to 8.073 seconds. There were new personal bests from several other drivers and, in true RSSE style, also a few
breakages. Congratulations and commiserations go out as appropriate!
Unfortunately poor weather on Monday robbed the class of the chance to really strut its stuff - the second round match ups of Steve 'Splinter' Nash and
Jerry Charles and that of 2005 Champion Colin Lazenby and Ian Hook were mouth-watering
prospects.
Both Gary Springford in Pro ET driving his brand new Drag Race Engineering-built Hulk Shogun and Paul Marston again in Pro ET driving for
the first time the PMR Drag Race Driving School Whoopass Monza had a great start to their SPRC Championship title accounts.
Both drivers went three rounds and had the added thrill of having to face one another in that third round, which unfortunately never took place as the
weather had other ideas. With Paul Marston enjoying the added bonus of qualifying third and enjoying a nice qualifying bonus points tally.
Paul would also like to once again thank the EDA Super Pro ET Dragster Team of Kenny Coleman and Ian Tubb who kindly loaded us a
Powerglide Tailshaft for the Whoopass Monza after it decided to pepperami itself. Luckily Doctor Gary of DRE was making a pit call and
soon had the patient sedated, with the assist of Dean of DRE, removed the now two-piece item and fitted the required one-piece item which Paul Marston
had been loaned by Kenny and Ian.
Once again Paul Marston Racing would like to thank all of their sponsors, Drag Race Engineering (0208 597 9484), Chrysler UK, London Road Tyres (01708
735355), Black Box Productions (0797 0029424), Disco Equipment Hire (0208 597 4575), and all the rest of our contingency sponsors.
A big thank you to all the fans who stopped by with words of encouragement and good luck over the weekend. Everyone at PMR would like to express
our gratitude to all the management, staff, start line, fire and safety Crew at Santa Pod Raceway for all their hard work and dedication to the job, in the face
of some determined weather, you could not have done more. Eurodragster - Tog (sorry to hear your loss, I too will miss Syd), Sharky and Simon - thanks for
the excellent coverage, we owe you guys big.
The Paul Marston Racing crew performed a faultless job in the face of breakages, repairs, usual between-round servicing, startline duties, stats, strategies,
breakfast, lunch and dinner service, etc - you get the picture. All the fans see is the PMR crew at the track whilst the event is running but the amount of
behind the scenes work involved in keeping Paul Marston Racing functioning is substantial, without the PMR crew we would be nothing and all the
drivers owe the PMR crew a huge debt of gratitude for all their hard work, thank you.
UAE Finals beckon. 22nd April: Next weekend sees the final race of the Umm Alquwain Drag
Racing Championship season in the United Arab Emirates, writes our good buddy Fahad Taqi.
Racers invited to Charity Show. 22nd April: Nigel Taylor has been in touch to let us know that the Thruxton American car, Hot
Rod and Custom Show, in conjunction with Carolina Classics, is set for 3rd September at the Hampshire circuit.
Racers are again invited to enter their vehicles.
Ramsey King of the County. 22nd April: The 2006 American Car World Street Racer Series paid its first annual
visit to Shakespeare County Raceway last Sunday taking in the weekend's Muscle Car Mania event, with many
taking their first-ever tentative laps in new machines at the Warwickshire venue, writes SCR Press Officer Jerry
Cookson.
Chasing him hard was Ian 'Monkey Boy' Mather in his blown 383ci SBC powered '74 Manta. In practice just a
few weeks before, Mather ran a new personal best ET of 9.83, but on Sunday the Monkey Boy swung from
another branch as he shifted up a gear to a 9.757 at 141.88 mph.
Series Champion Andy Bond also notched up a trio of nines with the ex-Billy the Kid MacDermid '67 Z28
Camaro Super Gasser. Packing an ICE-prepared 427ci 'rat' motor, Andy gassed it up to an afternoon's best
9.797 at 142.88.
American Car World editor Richard Nicholls toured the magazine's '87 5.0 Mustang on more than one occasion.
Still on street treads, a full exhaust system together with a two hundred mile round trip to the track, Rich
was looking to better the car's previous of 11.1 at 125 mph set last season at the Pod. By the end of the day,
11.1s were still the order of the day, but it's only just the start of a very busy street racing season!
New cars to make their début were NASCAR fan Paul Yorkshire's tribute to the late Dale Earnhardt in the
shape of a fully stickered up #3 Goodwrench '87 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Powered by a stock 305ci SBC,
Paul's car made a couple of passes resulting in a 12.047 at 112.04 mph. Also out for a play was Tony Cox with his
Top Cat Racing '90 Ford Sierra. Receiving motivation from a Knight Racing-prepared 540ci big block which,
on a dyno, develops over 715 bhp without gas, a full CDS race car chassis and a glass body kit, Tony
finished the day with an 11.2s at 128 mph.
For more about these and other great racing and rodding titles, head on over to
www.americanautomags.com.
Web site updates. 22nd April: In the latest entry on FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Lex Joon's exclusive
Racer Blog, Lex steps aside from the keyboard to allow Team Manager Gerda Dijkstra to describe what a Team Manager
does, and to explain why NHRA race teams refer to her as the "Tough lady". You can check out
Lex's Blog by clicking here or by
clicking on the Racer Blog link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Mark Evans has been in touch to let us know that the ShakespeareCountyRacers Drag Racing Team web site at
www.shakespearecountyracers.com has been
updated with photos and reports of last weekend's Muscle Car Mania at Shakespeare County Raceway.
Now that the .eu domain extension is generally available we thought it would be prudent to register Eurodragster
before anyone else did, so we are now available on
www.eurodragster.eu as
well as on eurodragster.com and eurodragster.co.uk. Eurodragster.com will of course remain our primary
address.
Important notices for racers. 21st April: We have received two important notices for racers. The first is from UK Tech
Inspector Geoff Martin who has been in touch with a message for UK racers.
"I would recommend that all competitors read GSR 7:9 on page 57 in the 2006 rule book", says Geoff.
"The MSA scrutineers could issue an Exclusion Notice if this rule is ignored."
GSR 7:9 concerns windshields and/or windows and as Geoff says can be found on page 57 of the new
UK rule book which has been distributed to racers.
You can download the official entry forms for the FIA Main Event from the Entry Forms page of the SPRC
web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc. If you have any queries about
FIA Main Event entry then please contact Paula by E-Mail at
paula.marshall@btconnect.com or call 01933
313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625).
Swift snippets. 21st April: Tina Gibbs has asked us to thank everyone who has donated to The Pituitary
Foundation in memory of Terry Gibbs. "Graham Ellis donated the £350 Super Modified prize money
from the Power Nationals", says Tina. "In the next week or two we should have a total from the Funeral Directors
and I will let everyone know. Thanks to Santa Pod Raceway, Nitro FM, the racers, and Eurodragster.com - what a
community."
We are indebted to Andy Marrs of TSI Timers
for sending us the official Timing Data from last weekend's Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway.
You can see the Thunderball timing data by clicking
here or by clicking on the Timing Data link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Steve Dowler has asked us to say a big Happy Birthday to UK Pro Mod racer
Ray White. "A very happy forty something", says Steve. "Best wishes to you Ray from your new crew Big Steve,
Hooligan Chris, Size 7 Steve, and Bitter and twisted Jeff."
Editor's note: If you have sent us a news item in the last twenty four hours or so and it is not on
today's update then please be assured that it will appear on the next update. We have a small backlog
of news items which will all be published tomorrow.
Obviously this will not be the last word on this subject, and please note that this does not mean an end to events
at SCR, only those promoted by LA Performance Services. Stay tuned and we will bring you more information as we
receive it.
John Force CD auctions outcome. 20th April: After some frenzied last-minute bidding, the E-Bay auction of a limited-edition
Audio CD of Eurodragster.com's legendary interview with John Force was won by James Welling who bid no less
than £205. Many thanks to James, to Kathy Taylor with whom James had a bidding war in the last moments of
the auction pushing up the amount raised for Charity, and to everyone who bid for the CD since the E-Bay auction
opened.
A Viking doesn't give up! 20th April: L-O Jonsson of Leif Helander's
Starkotter Fuel FC team has been in touch with
an update after the FC fireballed in the Pro Fuel Shootout third/fourth place run-off.
L-O says that after a clean-up the car is not in as bad a state as first thought.
"The engine is okay except for some pistons and a cylinder sleeve", he says. "The clutch was a bit damaged and
the fire caused some damage to parts around the engine. The chassis seems to be OK and the body can be repaired.
The team will check everything over when the trailer arrives back home in Sundsvall tomorrow.
After that we will be able to tell if it's possible to come back for the Main Event.
"As you all know the Old Viking is not known for giving up!"
Meca upgrades continue. 20th April: Martin Olsson of Meca Raceway has been in touch to let us know about the
latest improvements to the eighth-mile track in Malmö.
"The next big event is the Pro Test and Tune which takes place without spectators. The number of teams at this
event is nineteen and still rising. We will provide a record-breaking track for the teams to test for two days.
"The Toyo Tires Dragracing Series is now a big series held all over Sweden divided into North and South divisions
with a big final at the Winter Nationals. You can find the 2006 Toyo Tires Dragracing Series calendar at
www.srif.se/ttds/TTDS_Kalender.htm."
For more information about Meca Raceway check out the track's official web site at
www.srif.se.
Adoorable Handles launch JD scheme. 20th April:
To add to the sponsorship of individual Santa Pod Racers Club Junior Dragster rounds
announced here on 11th April, Euroragster.com News sponsor
Adoorablehandles.com have announced
an additional Award scheme for the 2006 SPRC Junior Dragster season.
The Adoorablehandles.com Junior Dragster Championship will run through the five rounds at Santa Pod
and will award points as follows:
The points will be added together and published on a league table at
www.adoorablehandles.com. At the end of the
season there will be Gold, Silver and Bronze awards with £200 awarded to first place, £100 to
second place, and £50 for third place.
To qualify for the Adoorablehandles.com scheme, decals must be clearly visible on both sides of the car.
Good luck!
True Sportsmanship. 20th April: Pat and Stephen Talbot had a troubled weekend with the
Manumit/Talbot Racing Super Pro ET dragster
at the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway, but Stephen tells us that they overcame every obstacle with
some tremendous sportsmanship from their Super Pro ET colleagues.
"We arrived with a completely new converter/gearbox set-up ready for some exciting quick runs", says Stephen. "On
the very first run of the weekend we got very bad tyre shake which damaged something in the set-up and at the end
of the first day we decided to change back to the 'old' converter and box which we ran last season. We got a new
Personal Best speed of 190.01 which was great. However after the last qualifier we found that we had sheared two of
three converter bolts. This meant that we thought that we had two hours before first round of eliminations on Sunday
evening.
"Syd's crew immediately offered assistance, only this time it turned out we were to race them in the next round. I
think this would only happen in UK drag racing - the crew you are about to race working flat out between rounds to
help you get to the start line. They even waited after we had been called out to make sure that our equipment was
leak-free and safe. True sportsmanship.
"Pat and I would like to say a huge Thank You to Martyn,Crunch, Scott, Brownie and Pete and of course our own
crew of John, Kayley and Lisa for the immense amount of work over the weekend. See you all at Shakey in two
weeks."
Swift snippets. 20th April: Lee Child of LA Performance Services has been in touch to let us know that
the Saturday Street Nights series of RYWBs at Henstridge Airfield, the first of which was due to take
place this weekend, has had to be cancelled. Lee says that the cancellation is due to unreasonable
demands by the landowner over public liability insurance. Stay tuned for more details.
Holland's latest Pro Mod racer Robert Joosten says that he had a good weekend at Santa Pod.
"We had some trouble, and had to work long hours to get the car ready", says Robert. "When the 6.7/211
came up on on the boards the first time under full power we were more than happy! I would like to thank
the Pro Dutch crew Jaap, Jan and Dennis who worked very hard to get the car ready, and of course Lex Joon
and Jim Oddy for their help. Without these guys I could have done nothing."
See Earl's for NOS. 20th April: Jonathan Inwood of Earl's Performance Products UK Ltd has been in touch to let us
know that Earl's UK is now an official European distributor of NOS Nitrous Oxide Systems.
"Also newly available is a Ntimidator LED-lit purge kit which allows user to purge their lines, creating a purge
plume of different colours, and kits are available in both single and dual versions."
"The racing has always been a family thing and we did it with great pleasure", says Ton. "But now that we know
Monique can't be there any more, I don't want to race any more. After thirty five years of racing at the top I have
decided that the 2005 season was the last one".
This decision will however not mean the end of Zodiac
Racing because Ton and Vincent are planning to have another rider race the Top Fuel Harley in the future,
probably starting in 2007. The identity of the new rider will be announced later this year.
We are sure that everyone will join us in sending their love to Monique, Ton, Marianne and Vincent and to
Monique's partner Bert and their children Nikita and Indy.
Mayhem on temporary hold. 19th April: Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association Co-ordinator Lawrie Gatehouse says that
a great time was had by all at the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway.
The NFAA web site at www.nfaa.info has been updated with
a report on the weekend's activities, and the Bennett Racing web site at
www.bennettracing.co.uk has been updated with
a list of Europe's quickest blown-alcohol altereds.
Two-ton Ferretti shines at SCR. 19th April: Despite missing out on competing at Santa Pod's Easter Thunderball at the weekend,
Italian Top Fuel Drag Bike Team Ferretti Racing headed not back to Italy but to Shakespeare County Raceway for a
weekend of stress-free no-pressure testing and tuning, writes Shakespeare County Raceway Press Officer Jerry Cookson.
Brothers Luigi and Antonio were very appreciative of APIRA's warm welcome to the track, and extended their appreciation
to Jackie Jones from Woollatt Racing for arranging safe passage at such short notice and to APIRA's Bev Batsford for
handling the calls.
Immediately after unpacking the bike early on Saturday evening, Antonio and crew headed straight over to
check the track's layout and the surface which, judging by the smiles, met with their approval. "Other
than Santa Pod, it's the best we have ever seen" commented Antonio.
The plan for the next two days was to run the bike five or more times with each run getting progressively
quicker. "Each time I will put more horsepower and nitro into it but I don't want to frighten the rider",
explained Antonio. "Although this was Luigi's first time astride the 1000 bhp 1428cc nitro-burning Fueller, his
movements and body posture during the burnouts and the runs looked as though he was born into it.
The team's first outing early Sunday morning took Luigi up to the 330 foot mark after the bike's primary belt
parted company from its pulley mounting. With another belt in position, the team pulled round for their
second run. This amounted to a 1000-footer and a very promising 7.725s. Later in the day Luigi ran his best
ever ET numbers recording a 7.571/193.11.
Although Monday morning's track temperatures were a little lower than the previous day, the
Jap Racers present, many of which had never seen a Top Fuel drag bike in anger before, witnessed its
first 200 mph pass since rebuilding the bike after the 2004 season. In fact, the scoreboards read 202.12 mph
as Luigi powered it right out the back door to a 7.223 second flyer. An hour later, the brothers appeared
again and another strong pass was delivered, 7.194/197.17 followed later by an even quicker 7.109/200.01.
With a six in the offering, Luigi gave it one last hit. But on the green the bike barely moved an inch from the
line. A two year old sprag in the transmission had finally given up and broken into several pieces. With not enough
time in the day to make repairs the bike was duly packed away in time to make its next British appearance at the FIA
Main Event in May along with a further return to Shakespeare County Raceway later in the year.
All in all, it turned out to be a very satisfying and productive weekend for Ferretti Racing. "We have learned many
new things with the bike", said Antonio. "My brother Luigi is a better rider than me and it will run a six."
"We hope to see evryone back at the track soon and we would like to say a big Thank You to all the fire and safety
marshals for being at the scene very quickly and getting the car off the track. We will be back!"
"Thanks again Michael, Nigel, Jon, and of course Michelle, plus Jon Best who pledged £75.00 for the first
seven-second pass in Street Eliminator, and Gedore Tools for the continued support and top-quality tools."
Watson sits out ACU. 19th April: UK Pro Stock Bike racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Paul Watson says that he
went from problems at Shakespeare County Raceway to a disastrous weekend at Santa Pod, and that this has
decided him not to contest this year's ACU UK Championship.
Swift snippets. 19th April: FIA European Championship Co-ordinator Kjell Pettersson has been in touch
to remind racers that the deadline for registration for both FIA and FIM/UEM European Championships
is next Wednesday, 26th April. "Registration forms can be found at
www.championshipdragracing.co.uk,
www.eurodragster.com/sprc and
www.dragracing.se/nerladdning.html",
says Kjell. "If you have any queries or problems downloading forms then please contact Geoff Myers at
geoff@trakbak.com or on 0208 852 5005 (outside the
UK +44 208 852 5005)."
Junior drag racers should stay tuned as tomorrow we will be revealing details of a great new
Award scheme from Eurodragster.com News sponsor
Adoorable Handles.
Jan Phersson has been in touch to tell us that Simpson safety products are now available on-line at
www.simpsonshop.se. "Trackside Service from Simpson
will be available at many of the Nordic Races", says Jan. "Most drag racing-related products will be brought
to the track and sold at Racers Net. Look out for the Simpson Racing Team - where they are you will
also find Simpson products."
Bob Roberts of Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor
Andy Robinson Race Cars says that
Pro Mod racer Andy Robinson didn't have a stellar weekend. "We only made one run and torched the
head and block on that", says Bob. "We've got a few weeks before the Main Event to figure out what went
wrong. We did have a chance to try our new in-car camera and you can see the result and some pictures of
the damage in the Racing - Current of our web site."
Fredrik Ström of Motor Events Sweden AB has kindly sent us another picture of Swedish Top Methanol
racer Leif Andréasson's Top Methanol FC in its new colours (right, click on picture for
large version). "A very cool design and a brilliant way of
getting a lot of media attention for both Leif and the Swedish Army", says Fredrik.
Former Track Announcer Brian Taylor has been in touch to thank Santa Pod Raceway for a good time at
the 40th Anniversary celebrations on Saturday. "The Sanatogen with the lunch was a nice touch but we should have
organised a bath chair race", says Brian. "Thank you to John Price for letting me do the countdown for the mad
Frenchman. I remembered the words – amazing. Must do it again. By the way I'm thinking of starting a business in
Sidmouth customising those battery operated shopping buggies. I thought that Austin Spirosis would be a good brand
name – what do you think? Now where's my Horlicks?"
Janet and Wayne Schreier have asked us to say a big Congratulations to their son Christopher who
came ninth in his age group in the World Championships of Irish Dancing, held in Belfast last week. "That's
ninth in the world", says Wayne. No sooner said that done, well done Christopher!
We would like to thank everyone who has been in touch with compliments on our Event Coverage from the
Easter Thunderball. Your comments are much appreciated. On a personal note Tog and Kay would like to thank
everyone who has been in touch, or who spoke to Tog at the weekend, with condolences on the death of their
dog Syd.
Grateful O'Sullivan. 19th April: UK Pro Mod racer John O'Sullivan says that he has a lot of people to thank for help
and advice with his Mr Mopar blown-alcohol Pop over the weekend.
Another Pro ET sponsor. 19th April: Sponsorship scheme Co-ordinator and Pro ET racer Carl Burton tells
us that UK Pro ET gained another sponsor at the
weekend.
"Congratulations to Nick Good, our first Sponsorship Scheme winner on his first outing. Nick was
in the scheme so he won £100, £150 vouchers and a trophy, well-earned at one thousandth
off his dial-in."
King Racing press release. 19th April: As the King Racing Top Fuel Bike team look forward
to the new season it is prudent to reflect on last year's achievements culminating in winning the most prestigious international title in drag bike racing - the UEM
European Top Fuel Bike Championship.
The team were on a high from the start after winning the Best Competition Bike award at the Xtreme Wheels Show in London's Alexandra Palace and once on
the track the team fairly dominated the year from start to finish as the statistics illustrate: out of six events that ran through to a conclusion (two events abandoned
due to bad weather) they won four, were runners-up in one and lost in the quarter finals of the other. Of those events, they qualified in number one position in three
events, number two in one and number six in the other.
Finally they reset two new track records on the way, and took the European Championship crown for the second time (first in 2001). Interestingly both titles were
achieved only in the years that the team contested all rounds of the Championship.
The team were also honoured when their Puma machine became the first Top Fuel Bike to make a pass on a drag strip in the Middle East. The team were invited
by the Crown Prince of Bahrain HH Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to bring their bike to make exhibition passes on the brand new strip built at the impressive
new F1 facility in Manama, Bahrain. Both the bike and King's participation in the press conference were beamed across the Middle East bringing the sport to an entirely
new audience.
To add to this groundbreaking media exposure the team, their sponsors and associates again benefited from the enormous interest shown in the team and their
activities. They were the subject of a new Discovery Channel documentary entitled Big Big Bikes that was syndicated worldwide (and continues to be
shown), saw continued worldwide re-runs of a previous documentary entitled Petrol Heads and of course continued to be shown on the global coverage
of the European Drag Racing Championship.
King and his bike were also the subject of a feature in the UK's leading daily newspaper The Sun with a daily readership of over fifteen million, and were
featured in a number of motorsport related magazines across Europe.
So, what next for the biggest team in European Top Fuel Bike racing? The team are well-known for their program of continuous improvement, and this year is no
exception. Last year's plans to test with their all-new Puma billet two-valve cylinder head were aborted due to Championship pressures and so the new season will
see the start of this test program. New big bore exhausts have been constructed under the guidance of team engineer Martin Brookman to assist the flow of gases
from the big valve head, and fitment of a Waterman pump modified to specification by Larry and Steve McBride's Cycle Specialists company will complement one
of the McBride designed and manufactured trick barrel valve assemblies.
New and modified bodywork from the workshops of Ricky Beasley's Custom and Classic Contours has made its way to Wackyshack Paintshop for another of their
magical works of art whilst Performance Machine have stepped up to the plate again with a new Revolution front wheel, complementing disc rotors and fabulous
new Radial calipers. The craftsmen at PsycleWorkz are currently fabricating various billet aluminium items including the all - important triple clamp assemblies
and handlebar risers to mount the new Showa upside-down fork assemblies.
As the prime focus for the year is to improve performance and maximise sponsor exposure a carefully selected event program has been chosen, with possible
supplementary test weekends to be attended on an ad-hoc basis.
Finally, the team are soon to announce the addition of an exciting new primary sponsor for the team that will create much interest in the media - press release
to follow soon.
Also on the subject of Santa Pod, the track's official web site at
www.santapod.com has been updated with a report
and pictures from the Easter Thunderball.
Bigger, bolder, better Japs. 19th April: Import enthusiast Mark Biggers emerged as a new contender for the 2006 Jap Racer
Series title at Shakespeare County's Stratford strip at the weekend, writes Shakespeare County Raceway Press Officer
Jerry Cookson.
With over fifty cars split into two divisions for Unlimited Drive and Front Wheel Drive competing on a
track normally prepared for national event competition, sat behind the wheel of a 2.6 turbo-charged R33
GTR Skyline, Biggers ran several high-to-mid ten second flyers during mid-afternoon
with the best ticket highlighting a perfect run of 10.648/130.40. Biggers was also entered into the American
Car World Street Racer Series the day before, and ran 10.826.
Second quickest GTR on the property was the shared drive between Alistair Tomlinson and Karl Farrer.
Between them they managed to push their 2.6 GTR Skyline to an 11.976/115.27 mph. Defending title
holder Steve Brooks and 2005 runner-up Kev Carrington brought along last year's hard charging GTRs but could
only manage a couple of 12.9 and 13.6 respectively!
Quickest FWD belonged to Guy Chamberlain's 2000cc Honda Civic Type R at 12.441/121.96. This was way out
of reach for the similar Civics of Peter Catell and last season's title holder Paul Jones whose System-R
Civic lost third gear mid-way through the day. Both were locked firmly in the mid thirteens.
You can view our American Car Imports-sponsored
reports, pictures and pit notes by
clicking here,
or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Lex Joon gave us daily updates to his exclusive Racer Blog from Santa Pod over the weekend; you can check out
Lex's Blog by clicking here or by
clicking on the Racer Blog link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Our good buddy Gareth Evans has updated his UK1320 web site with end-day Photo Galleries, which you
can find at www.uk1320.com. Gary Cottingham has
also posted pictures from the weekend on the Dragsterworld web site at
www.dragsterworld.com.
A big Thank You to Andy of Eurodragster.com News sponsor Adoorable
Handles who bid £100 for the limited edition John Force interview CD on auction at Santa Pod Raceway over the
weekend. The money will be going to The Pituitary Foundation in memory of Terry Gibbs. Many thanks to Nigel and
Julian of Nitro FM for their help with the auction. The E-Bay auction for copy #1 is open until Wednesday at
cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8794106886.
The report and pictures make for great reading, featuring a number of names which still echo down the ages as
we celebrate Santa Pod's Fortieth Anniversary this weekend.
Shark's bite widens. 14th April: The Netherlands' Shark Attack Dragracing team has added several more
wheels to its operation for 2006, says Crew Chief Frans Souverein.
Shark Attack Dragracing started as a drag bike team, fielding a single Funny Bike ridden by Jorgen Waalewijn.
For this year the team have added an Altered (right), Top Fuel Bike and Junior Dragster.
Swift snippets. 14th April: Swedish Top Methanol FC racer Leif Andréasson has today announced
a major sponsorship deal with the Swedish Armed Forces, a special division of the Swedish Army. The car's
new camouflage colours (right, click on picture for larger side-on shot) were unveiled this afternoon
at the Bilsport performance show at Elmia in Jönköping. For more details check out the Andréasson
Motorsports web site at www.andreassonmotorsports.com.
More sponsors for Eurodragster.com. 13th April: We are very pleased to announce the addition of two more sponsors to Eurodragster.com's
news page.
First up is Gold RV, who are one of the UK's leading companies for RV sales, service and spares. They are sole UK agents for the
Canadian Triple E range of motorhomes and authorised dealers for Roadtrek and Pleasureway Class B motor homes and Viking Hard Top Folding Campers.
Gold RV also carry a large stock of used Canadian and American motorhomes covering all price ranges and specialise in matching RVs to customers'
specific requirements. Managing Director Derek Flynn races in Super Pro ET himself and fields a Junior Modified Dragster driven
by Arlo Reddick as well as sponsoring other teams.
You can find the Adoorable Handles web site at
www.adoorablehandles.com - look out for regular
on-line promotions.
We are very grateful indeed to Derek Flynn of Gold RV and Andy Vallance of Adoorable Handles for their support
of Eurodragster.com. These new sponsorships extend still further the range of products and services which we can
offer using Eurodragster.com as a starting point and we are sure that all of our readers will show their appreciation
by using the services of of Gold RV and Adoorable Handles.
You can read our interview with Gordon Smith and Dave Bryant by clicking
here or by clicking on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com
page.
Söderquist looks for changes. 13th April: Carbon By Design Top Fuel Dragster team owner Knut Söderquist says that he is changing his own rules on
running race cars in 2006. "I like competition, but I am tired of being both the car owner and the sponsor", he says.
"It's absolute madness to have to take off an up-to-date US system and replace it with a European system which won't even be legal next year", he says. "The
electronic system is excellent, and it is now compulsory in the USA so you can't get the parts for the pneumatic systems any more. I don't have the electronic
management systems on my cars yet but I was planning to do it. I have spoken to Rune Fjeld and he is in favour of using electronic systems now, and I certainly
don't have a problem with it. It's expensive enough to run Top Fuel and the pneumatic systems cost more. Someone should have the authority to allow it without
having to wait for next year."
The usual thrash for the FBs. 13th April: Real Steel Street Eliminator UK racer Ian Hook and the
FB Racing team faced the usual thrash to get ready for the Easter
Thunderball.
"Having damaged valves at Shakespeare County Raceway less than two weeks ago the Thunderball looked a bit dodgy for a while but a big Thank You is
due to Clive Bond who, once again, got us out of the mire", says Fatty. "He not only sourced the valves but got them over here and modified them to our
requirements on the day they arrived. I've had two nights putting the motor back together. I must also say a big thanks to enthusiastic FB Associate member
Marcus Willis who has helped me out in a big way with putting the engine back together – it's so much easier with an extra pair of hands!
"We ran our best normally-aspirated UK ET at the Power Nationals with a cam which was sixteen degrees retarded, so we're hopeful of getting a nine under
our belt before opening up those little blue bottles. When we do that we'll see just how good the Mickey Thompson Drag Radials are.
To say we are thrilled to be racing at the Fortieth Anniversary Easter Thunderball is an understatement. We
are very honoured and excited to be a part of the celebrations and are really looking forward to this event.
We have seven teams entered for the Thunderball, all raring to go!
Helen Smythe will be running the Team TwistedHell's
Belle altered. She will be hoping to run back into the mid-nines with the Chevy-powered car, and carry on the
improvement in form which saw the team win Best Newcomer in 2004 and Best Altered in 2005, and rise
from fifth place to third in the Wild Bunch Series in their first two years of competition. Wild Bunch Chairman
'Crazy' Chris Hartnell will be eager for a return to his wheelying eight-second form in the methanol-injected red
metalflake Backdraft slingshot. The car dates
back to 1969 when it was first built as Malibu Express, and Chris will be celebrating this weekend as his
first ever drag race as a spectator was thirty years ago at this very same event (Beat me by one year - Ed)!
So it's another dream-come-true for Chris to run his nostalgic slingshot on this special occasion.
Ed Yates will be driving the all-new RamRaider methanol-injected slingshot, recently debuted by the Dog's
B's team at the Power Nationals. The team have been building this car from scratch for around two years, and it's
already proved well worth waiting for as it not only looks immaculate but is already running well, and Ed will be
hoping for his first ever nine-second pass this weekend. Alec Coe will be driving the Mad R's Shy Talker blown
methanol-injected slingshot, looking to run some more low eight-second passes, and to top the 170 mph mark at this
event, having run an 8.24 at a Personal Best speed of 169.37 mph at the Power Nationals. Watch out from some strong
burnouts too! Darren Law will be in his first event of the year with the beautiful metalflake Wicked Lady
rear-engined dragster. Darren will be seeking some mid nines in this car and some good consistent runs, in only
his second year of competition.
Phil Sweeney will be débuting a new Rover engine in his Antisocial slingshot. Phil won Best Newcomer
in the Wild Bunch last season, along with the first two MSA events he ever entered! Phil is a natural at bracket
racing, and will look to quickly get a handle on his new combination! Roy Wilding, founder of the Wild Bunch, will be
running one in a long line of his Chariot of Fire race cars, this time a Chrysler-powered altered, an exceptionally
well turned out striking lime-green car which he built for wife Angi, and which he debuted last season.
And to top it all, Real Steel Performance Automotive Products
have just renewed their contingency sponsorship of the Wild Bunch for the sixth year in a row (with trophy sponsorship
going as far back as 1999!). Many thanks to Real Steel for their continued support.
The Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association has been included in the newly-published MSA rule book.
"Credit must also go to Paul Stubbings who formulated and compiled the original regulations in the formal
MSA language and for his and Ollie Burns support in attending many Tech Committee meetings, so that the Class
could be established", says NFAA Co-ordinator Lawrie Gatehouse.
Tog and Kay are very sorry to announce that Syd, their Lurcher and Tog's constant and faithful companion through
years of late-night news-typing sessions, passed away in his sleep overnight.
Syd was one of a small but very select number of non-racing parties who helped to make Eurodragster.com
better. After a long weekend at the races I'd get home in the small hours and Syd would always be pleased to see me: sometimes I got the full morris-dance
routine with wagging tail, other times Syd would be slobbed out on his bed and would just open an eye, and the end of
his tail would twitch. During my countless nights of typing for Eurodragster.com, Syd would get up off his bed in the middle
of the night and come over to check that I was OK before going back to sleep - he even did it last night. If I was having one of my interminable
phone calls then Syd would come and lay down next to me, or if I was laid out on the floor myself then he would try to sit on
top of me. Syd was as human in his behaviour as a dog could be, and intelligent and noble. He loved Kay and I
very much, and we loved him very much, and we will never forget him.
Red hot Black Bear. 13th April: Chris Stebbings of Newmarket's Black Bear Harley-Davidson was on full throttle
at the first round of this year's National Association of Supertwins Championships when the competition kicked off
at the Power Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway.
Black Bear technician Chris blasted up the strip on his new 2006 Harley-Davidson V-Rod Destroyer covering the
quarter mile in 10.2 and hit speed of 130 mph at the finish line. This qualifying performance led to an impressive
Top Three positions in separate classes: a second place in Supertwin Top Fuel together with a third place in
Supertwin Gas.
The weekend final was set to take place on the Sunday but torrential rain and strong winds put an end to racing.
Although in contention for the number one spot, Chris and the Destroyer were prevented from hitting the strip
again and the previous day's performance was used to calculate positions for the first round of the Championships.
"We had an excellent result for the opening race, especially considering it was the first time out", says Chris. "It
was a shame the final was rained off - we were running quicker than anybody else and if the race had taken place we
could have been looking at a victory."
Nigel Darken, owner of the award-winning Black Bear Harley-Davidson dealership, was delighted with the team's
performance. "Despite the appalling weather this was a great achievement for Chris and the whole Black Bear team
and shows just how competitive the new bike is", he said. "It was really encouraging to see so much support for
the team and we hope to see even more people at round two!"
East Anglia's only authorised Harley-Davidson dealer, Black Bear was the first dealership in the country to secure
one of the limited-production 165 bhp professional level drag bikes. The new VRXSE Screamin' Eagle V-Rod Destroyer
is designed exclusively for racing by Harley-Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations and features a 1300cc V-Twin Revolution
liquid-cooled racing engine.
The V-Rod Destroyer takes its styling and engineering cues from the multi-Championship winning bike of America's Andrew
Hines, who clinched his second consecutive National Hot Rod Association Championship victory in the USA last year on
his Harley-Davidson drag bike.
The Black Bear Harley-Davidson drag racing team will be fighting for victory again at round two of the NAST Championships,
held once again at Shakespeare County Raceway on 29th-30th April.
With the next event closing fast, Paul Marston Racing had Grumpy's Dodge booked into Drag Race Engineering for Doctor Gary Springford to
give her a full medical. Grumpy had managed to avoid one for all of last season, but this time there was no getting out of it. The operation was successfully
carried out on Saturday with just new bearings being fitted as a precaution really more than a necessity, along with the required gaskets, not bad for the
country's hardest working Doorslammer. Just what Grumpy was up to in the timing chain department is anyone's guess; nevertheless it's now just another
addition to the trophy wall!
The rest of the winter upgrades were more cosmetic than anything, although there is a special improvement for Tethys just to remind him to change gear
every once in a while. All of these will be done for the coming weekend.
Mick Howling opens his account this weekend with Grumpy's Dodge and an entry into Super Street - with one hell of a top end charge Grumpy
will be looking to monster the opposition!
Tethys and Dave Catton repeat the first event at SCR with Tet once again in Grumpy's Dodge and Dave in the Whoopass Monza, both
back in Super Gas. With some real seasoned veterans in this class, it will be great experience for them both, don't be surprised to see them take some
scalps home as well, Dave is undefeated this year and Tethys went four rounds at the last event here.
Everyone at Paul Marston Racing is ready, all we need now is some good weather. It goes without saying that any of our old pupils or Passenger Ride
victims who are at the event should please stop by and say hello. If anyone is interested in booking a Passenger Ride, learning how to drive at the Drag
Race School, or racing one of our race cars a National Event then please stop by and have a chat with us over the weekend, or check out
www.paulmarstonracing.com.
Easter Thunderball snippets. 12th April: Norwegian Top Fuel Dragster racer Thomas Nataas is hoping that the
Batmobil Top Fueller gets back to Santa Pod in time from Bahrain, where he and Micke Kågered
put on demonstration burnouts and Thomas says that he took the chance to do some eighth-mile testing on a
good track. "Rune has some new go-faster parts ready to put on the car, but not until later in the season",
says Thomas. "We won the Pro Fuel Shootout last year so it would be nice to do it again. I am looking forward
to going to Santa Pod and running on that excellent track. It feels like coming home. I think we can give you
some big numbers this year."
UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Andy Carter will be offering all Lucas Oil and Wynns products to racers at the
Easter Thunderball, FIA Main Event and FIA European Finals. "We will have all Lucas Oil products such as engine, trans,
axle, gear, greases, octane boosters, air tool lube, plus many other Lucas products", says Andy. "We also have a full
range of Wynns products, brake and clutch cleaners, multi lubes, copper lube, electrical lube, all cleaning products,
degreasers, plus lots more Wynns products. You can order in advance on 07977 536024 or by E-Mail at
fiatopfuel@aol.com or just come and pick them up at the Carter
Motorsport pit."
Another award for Morrice. 12th April: Congratulations to UK former Junior Dragster racer Collin Morice who was recently
presented with an award for Outstanding Sports Achievement at The Roy Burrel Awards, a night of celebration
of sporting achievement with the young stars of the future.
"The awards were presented at the Cambridge Guildhall, with the Mayor of Cambridge, and an Olympic representative
for England, Sue Campbell", says Collin. "The night was filled with awards for the young people who are involved
at district, county and national levels. All the normal sports involved - Football, Rugby, Cricket, Athletics, Tennis -
but looking down the list was the odd one out, Drag Racing. I had been entered at the last minute by my PE teacher.
He asked me what I had acheived in drag racing, so I told him and his mouth nearly hit the floor. He told me to
fill out a form and send it off quickly as the deadline was the day he asked me about it.
"I felt privileged to be nominated for the sport and for Cambridgeshire too, some of the kids were amazing, and to
think that over half of them could be on the TV in the future!
"I would like to thank my PE teacher Mr Maddock for nominating me, and a massive Thank You to my dad Sandy, mum
Christine and brother Stuart for getting a Junior Dragster, geting me to the track, and racing for the past three
years with all the highs and lows! Another big Thank You to Jeff Bull, and again to my brother Stuart for refreshing
the engine and changing parts when it needed doing! I would also like to wish good luck to Anna Stanley and Stuart
for this weekend."
A Phab idea! 12th April: UK Sportsman ET racer Dave Nelson tells us that his mother is running in this
year's London Marathon and that his team will be collecting for her chosen charities in the Get Out and Porsche
pit at Santa Pod Raceway this weekend.
Swift snippets. 12th April: Toby from The Netherlands' Jan Smit's Power Parts
has been in touch with a report on the Suzuki Hayabusa which he is working on right now
(right, click on picture for large photo from another angle). "We did a big porting job
on the cylinder head and changed the standard valve seats into AMPCO 45 valve seat, which is necessary for the titanium
valves we used for this engine", says Toby. "The valves from Precision Machining USA measure 35 mm for the intake and
30 mm for the exhaust. To push the valves into the combustion chamber we used a pair of Webcam camshafts 10.4 mm valve
lift for the intake with a duration a 268 degrees, and 10.0 mm for the exhaust with a duration of 242 degrees. In
combination with the 85 mm bore/1429 cc Pro Lite forged pistons from Wiseco, this engine must give 250 horsepower.
Enough to make lot of fun on the drag strip!"
Many thanks to Jerry Cookson for letting us know that next week's edition of World Motorsports on
Sky Sports 3 includes a feature on February's Xtreme Wheels International. The programme airs
at 7:30 am next Monday, and at 3:00 am and 2:30 pm next Wednesday.
Job opportunities at SCR. 12th April: Shakespeare County Raceway Press Officer Jerry Cookson has also been in touch with
news of two opportunities to join the team at the Warwickshire-based drag strip.
"Firstly, we are looking for a Track Photographer", says Jerry. "The ideal candidate must be reliable and able to
attend all of the Raceway's 2006 events (National events and RWYBs) to provide images for both track and
Championship web sites. The applicant will be provided with a season's Press access to the Raceway and track
vantage points together with other assignments.
"We're also looking for an Assistant Track Announcer for National and RWYB/Test and Tune events in 2006. Applicants
need to have a working knowledge of the sport and will be expected to work alongside our existing commentating team
with the only criterion being that the candidate is able to attend all events in 2006. Access will be provided to
the race track.
Paula Marshall also tells us that signing-on will be open from 3.30 pm on Thursday, and that car scrutineering
will also commence at 3.30 pm on Thursday. Bike scrutineering commences at 8:00 am on Friday morning.
If you have any queries then please E-Mail Paula Marshall at
paula.marshall@btconnect.com or call
01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625).
You can read our interview with Urs Erbacher by clicking here
or by clicking on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com
page.
Nemesis visited upon Thunderball. 11th April: FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champions
American Car Imports Racing will be
leaving their usual Hadman chassis at home this weekend and will instead be running the original Nemesis Racing
Hanson chassis. Driver Dave Wilson says that there is a simple reason for running the Nemesis dragster
this weekend: "We want to sell it!".
The dragster will this weekend be sporting the same colours as Dave's classic Krypton dragster, and
potential purchasers can talk to Grumpy in the pits. "It is on sale as seen this weekend", says Grumpy.
"How much it costs depends on how much you want to spend! The car will come with twelve months' technical
support from ourselves as well as all of the run data."
The ACI Racing team will revert to the current Hadman chassis at the FIA Main Event where they will start their
title defence with the support of sponsors Sony Playstation (in their sixth year), Silverline Tools (in their fourth
year), Total Design, Custom Graphics, US Automotive, Expert IT, Old Car World, 1st Line Motorcycles and Classic
American. "We are also pleased to welcome back Lucas Oil with their great range of products", says Grumpy.
Easter Thunderball snippets. 11th April: UK Pro Mod racer and Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor
Andy Robinson and team thought that it would be easy to prepare for the Easter Thunderball
because there have not been many changes to the Studebaker over the winter, says Bob Roberts.
"Andy thought the team needed a challenge so he decided to build a new trailer - we had all
complained a lot about the old one", says Bob. "All went well with the build heading towards completion
in May ready for the first FIA round of the year. Then the whole Santa Pod anniversary deal emerged so
the decision was taken to race at Easter. Oops! Six weeks taken out of the build time, so lots of midnight
oil is being burnt. As you would expect the new trailer (right) is impressive: about double deck bus
size, air ride, air brakes, hydraulic tail hoist etc. Will it be finished in time, will we be at Santa Pod?
Of course!"
UK Pro ET racer Carl Burton says that his Sierra Whole Lotta Rosie will be out to play at the
weekend, after the team's master plan failed at the Power Nationals. "Things got a little hot", says Carl. "We
missed last Saturday's test day so we hope to catch up at the weekend. A big thank you from myself, Podge, Rat
and Donk to Andy Frost for getting us up and running so quickly."
Santa Pod Raceway's Marketing and Sponsorship Executive Jo Reed says that if you buy an event programme at Santa
Pod this weekend then you could be the winner of an exclusive print of Keith Hill's painting A Sign of the
Times. "This amazing collector's item will be signed by top racers past and present", says Jo, "and all you have
to do to have a chance at winning is purchase an official event programme! On the front cover of your programme
will be a unique number, this is your key to winning the prize! At 1:00 on Monday afternoon the track announcers
will read out the winning number, which will be selected at random. If it's your number then you can collect the
prize straight away. If you're not there then the winning number will be posted on Santa Pod's web site."
Ian Turburville has asked us to let Et and other dial-your-own racers know that he carries a stock of flip-a-dial-in
boards at the track. "Find me in the pits at Easter if you want one", says Turbo. "I will also have a full stock of
Simpson shoes, Mechanix gloves, pocket T-shirts, Sweats, Hoodies, Jackets and caps along with ACF50 chassis spray, Sure
Shot sprayers, ballistic vests, DVDs, Zodiac pit stools, posters and one of those fabulous Doug Vancil die-cast
collectables. Simpson helmets are to-order only as they are too expensive to stock and to bulky to carry around.
The long-awaited Mr Spokehead decal sheets should also be ready, complimenting some very exclusive Spokehead
fleece shirts and embossed baseball caps."
Adoorable sponsorship! 11th April: Door handle, cabinet fitting and doorknob supplier
Adoorable Handles are to sponsor the 2006 Santa Pod
Racers Club Junior Dragster Championship, which commences at this weekend's Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway.
Also on the subject of SPRC Junior Dragster racing, the Club's own Junior Stock dragster has been refettled and
repainted by Martin Curbishley of Curbishley Automotive and is now resplendent in a brand new paint scheme
(right). The SPRC Junior Dragster is available for hire at Run What You Brung events throughout 2006;
for more information check out the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at
www.eurodragster.com/sprc.
Easter Thunderball preview. 11th April: With the final
Easter Thunderball entry list
now showing, Simon has taken a look at the huge entry list and here is what has caught his eye:
The increase in numbers is particularly noticeable in the car classes particularly in the faster classes including Pro Fuel, Fuel Altered and Super Pro ET.
The popular Pro ET class has a record entry of forty two, which will make for some frantic bump spot action, with up to ten cars going home before
eliminations. Top Fuel Bike also has an exceptional entry for an ACU round.
Notable are the number of new cars, class debuts and returnees. In the Top Fuel Dragster ranks, Urs Erbacher makes his class début in his
ex-Doug Herbert state of the art Top Fueller, making licensing runs. He is joined Håkan Fällström in the second Lorentzon and
Möller entry.
In the eight-strong Pro Fuel challenge, Mikael Kågered will be running his updated Mats Eriksson-built car and Leif Helander is a welcome
returnee in the Starkotter Saab 93 Funny Car. FIA European Champion Lex Joon, Andy Carter, Tommy Moller, Thomas Nataas, and UK Funny
Car pilots Gordon Smith and John Spuffard take to the track for the first nitro race of the new season.
The Pro Modified field includes most of the current UK names in the class with class débuts for Ray White in his Lethal Z 2 Zephyr and John
O'Sullivan in the wild Mr Mopar Anglia. They are joined by Robert Joosten in the ex-Fred Hahn C-5 Corvette, which was raced in the
IHRA under Summit colours.
The Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association has gone from strength to strength. Nick Davies of Eurodrasgter.com main sponsor ICE Automotive will
début the much-publicised Havoc Austin Bantam in competition. Tony Betts also joins the class in the car previously known as
Harry the Spider, now renamed Venom, whilst Jim Usher has taken over the driving of The Mob. This class is going to be one for
much excitement over the course of the season.
Super Modified sees the return to racing of Paul Mander, who has a racing history going back several years. Paul will be racing a Plymouth Arrow
called Poison. Also returning to the class after a break of three years is Nigel Payne in his Corvette.
In Super Comp, Belinda Bull will début her Chevrolet S10 pick-up bought from Robert Joosten and now run under the colours of Eurodragster.com
Swap Meet sponsor Jeff Bull Racing Engines and Performance Parts. The class (as well as Super Gas) sees the welcome return of Dave Day in the Double
Trouble Racing roadster. Jack Brewster has joined the class in the Just Mustard Camaro.
Real Steel Street Eliminator UK has class débuts with new cars from Jason Weir (Plymouth Suburban), Bob Doignie (Toyota Celica) and a
return for George Scanlon (Chevrolet S10 pick-up).
In the bike ranks, Top Fuel sees a truly international field with welcomes for Roel Koedam (the Netherlands), Luigi Ferretti (Italy) and Lorenz Stauble
(Switzerland). The field has a distinct Top Fuel v Supertwins look with four of the former and three of the latter.
In Comp Bike, Sandra Chaplain débuts her new Think Pink bike and there are welcome returns for Chris 'Cannon' Hannam and Robert
Brooks.
£150 in Perfect Awards. 11th April: This weekend's Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway is the second
eligible event in the 2006 Eurodragster.com Perfect Awards scheme. A total prize fund of £150 is
available.
John Force Charity auction. 10th April: If you were tuned in on Friday you will remember that we promised John Force
fans the chance to own a special piece of John Force memorabilia and to make money for charity at the same time.
Today we are very pleased to announce an auction in aid of The Pituitary Foundation, the charity connected with
the illness suffered by Terry Gibbs who died recently.
At this weekend's Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway we will be auctioning an audio CD of Eurodragster.com's
legendary interview with NHRA Funny Car racer John Force. Only two copies of this CD will ever be made generally
available, making it one of the ultimate in John Force rarities. If you can't make Santa Pod this weekend then
don't bail out on this news item just yet - carry on reading.
The interview, recorded on a digital voice recorder in London in December 2005, lasts for fifty eight minutes and
is widely regarded as one of the most frank and personal which John Force has ever given. A transcript of the interview
can be read by clicking here or by clicking on the Features and
Interviews link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. The audio CD will play on any ordinary CD
player or personal CD.
The auction will commence at Santa Pod this Friday and will finish next Monday. Nitro FM, Santa Pod Raceway's own radio
station, will be accepting bids by text to their studio over the weekend and Nigel and Julian will keep listeners
up-to-date with the latest high bid on a regular basis on 96.2 FM.
The auction has the blessing of Terry Gibbs' family, Santa Pod Raceway, and John Force Racing. We are
very grateful indeed to all of these for their approval and assistance, as well as to Nitro FM for agreeing to take
in the bids.
If you are a John Force fan but you are not able to attend Santa Pod Raceway this weekend, then right about now
you are probably thinking "Hang on, that's a bit unfair!". But, as you would expect of Eurodragster.com, we have
thought of that and we have placed CD number two up for auction on E-Bay. The E-Bay auction is already open and will
end on the evening of 19th April. You can find the E-Bay auction at
cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8794106886.
Again all proceeds from the E-Bay auction will be donated to The Pituitary Foundation.
Good luck to all bidders and please do what you can for a good cause.
Hot car! 10th April: UK Junior Dragster racer Matthew Seamarks yesterday sealed his 2006
sponsorship deal with The Curry Garden when he was presented with a cheque by Manager Komor Uddin,
accompanied by his son Nojil (right, click on picture for large version).
"This is Gingerman Racing's third year of sponsorship from the Curry Garden", said Matthew Seamarks. "The
sponsorship deal came about through our being regulars at the restaurant. We approached Komor and he listened
to all the ins and outs and then we did the deal. The Curry Garden are deeply involved in sponsoring the local
community, not just our drag racing but other activities in the area. We are very pleased and grateful that
The Curry Garden have renewed their sponsorship again this year."
For more information about The Curry Garden, visit their web site at
www.thecurrygarden.co.uk, or to
book a table or order a delivery or take-away call 01933 314121 or 01933 359581.
Ruth Curbishley has asked us to wish her husband, Super Pro ET racer Martin Curbishley, a very Happy
thirteenth Wedding Anniversary. No sooner said than done, Ruth, we're sure that the feeling is entirely mutual
and we are sure that everyone will join us in adding our own good wishes.
SPR launch Fan Guide. 10th April:Santa Pod Raceway will be
launching their first-ever Fan Guide at this weekend's Easter Thunderball. The Fan Guide will be produced in a
limited amount and will be available from all official Santa Pod merchandise outlets for £5.
"In this unique publication you'll find plenty of information to help you understand and enjoy drag racing", says Santa Pod Raceway's
Marketing and Sponroship Executive Jo Reed. "The Fan Guide will also give you an insight into Who's Who of last year's Championship
winners, along with information about the drag strip, an understanding of the Christmas Tree and the rôle it plays at events,
class-by-class information on racers and records and of course the Santa Pod calendar of events ensuring you never miss out!
Koedam Racing season preview. 10th April: Marius van der Zijden, Crew Chief for Dutch Top Fuel Bike racer Roel Koedam, has
been in touch with a report looking back to the team's 2005 season and forward to 2006, when the team plan to better the bike's stunning
6.072/231 performance in 2005 and visit a venue not seen since the bike's début:
While spring (slowly) sets in over here in mainland Europe, all kinds of race vehicles are awakening from their hibernation. Our Top Fuel Bike is no
exception, as its first outdoor activity this year will be the coming weekend at England's Santa Pod Raceway.
Let's first briefly look back at the highlights (and lowlights) from last season and what we've been doing over the winter.
The story of the 2005 season was in the first place the unexpected engine problems which took us until halfway through the season before we found
the cause. Not only did we cure the problem, but from that point the engine stayed in better condition then ever before. From that moment on however,
persistent rain showers ruled the second half of the race season, preventing everyone from laying down some decent performances. In fact, 2005 had a
record number of rain-offs.
Towards the end of the summer, the weather at last took a turn for the better and we made an extra outing. We finally had a chance to make some good
runs and the results were evident. The Championship was already decided but at least we went into winter with good faith.
What have we been doing to "our baby" this winter?
We didn't feel the need for any major set-up changes. Besides taking the bike apart and replacing the wear and tear parts, we did carry out some small
modifications. Firstly we designed and machined a new pressure plate for the clutch. This, we hope, will give us even more consistency in the clutch settings.
Secondly, the bike has new exhaust pipes. Hopefully we don't have to bother Gunnar (from Team Gottenberg) anymore with between-rounds welding jobs.
The bike also has a new throttle body. The carbon fibre throttle body matches our supercharger better then the previous one, which was originally designed
for the smaller Sprintex supercharger. On top of that, it has a larger intake area which probably will boost up the performance somewhat.
Our provisional race dates are:
14th-17th April: Easter Thunderball, Santa Pod Raceway (GB)
26th-29th May: FIA Main Event, Santa Pod Raceway (GB)
27th-30th July: Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park (Sweden)
10th-13th August: Bulldog Bash, Shakespeare County Raceway (GB)
19th-20th August: Goodridge Dutch Finals, Drachten (Netherlands)
25th-27th August: Nitrolympics, Hockenheim (Germany)
7th-10th September: FIA European Finals, Santa Pod (GB)
After a long absence, we will be going to the Easter Thunderball meeting again. Our goal will be testing the new stuff on the bike, weather permitting.
Between the Easter meeting and the Main Event the bike will receive a new paint job by "Chuck and Alien" from AVC Productions/Wormerveer. At
this moment it is not likely that we will be taking on the long and expensive trip to the Finnish round of the European Championship (30th June- 2nd July.
As you might have noticed, there is no European Championship round at Gardermoen, Norway this year. We feel sorry for this as it is one of our favorite tracks.
A new event for us will be the Bulldog Bash at Shakespeare County Raceway.
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of Europe's #1 biker party and we will be performing exhibition runs during the weekend. This will also be the first
visit to SCR since our bike made its maiden runs there, back in June '94.
The Goodridge Dutch Finals will feature the return of Top Fuel Bike competition to Drachten as both Ian King and Steve Woollatt will cross The Pond to
Holland for the Goodridge sponsored Top Fuel Bike match race.
We might be attending one or two more National meetings at Drachten (16th-18th June and 14th-16th July).
We are proud that once again all our sponsors will be supporting us this racing season:
We really hope (for both the racers and the promoters) that 2006 will be blessed with good racing weather so we can put on a good performance for the
spectators.
At home to the Glitter Fairy. 9th April: UK Top Fuel Bike racer Steve Carey will have to sit out next weekend's Easter Thunderball
at Santa Pod Raceway. Steve and the Purple Princess 2 team found engine damage after Steve's first-ever 200 mph run
at last weekend's Power Nationals.
"I would like to say Thanks to Paul, Ken, and Bob for all their work over the winter in getting the Purple Princess 2 ready for the first meeting of
the year. The new Owens gearbox worked well, and re-positioning the footrests and the addition of the shift light all helped to make my first 200 mph run.
So thanks to Paul, Ken, Bob, Annette, along with Ray Nicholson of NGK, Adam and Liam at Earls Performance, Charlie Whyte of Phoenix Motorcycles,
Perry at Rossetts commercials. Thanks also to Steve and Steve at Weruwise in Bexhill for all their help and support.
"The engine is all in bits now, the crank is going to have to be ground and some new rods made before we come out again, hopefully quite soon. Ah well,
gardening at Easter then..."
Joon converted to B & M. 9th April: FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion
Lex Joon has announced a sponsorship deal with
converter and shifter manufacturer B & M Transmissions.
You can find B & M's web site at www.bmracing.com, and you can
find out more, and read Lex's thoughts on next weekend's Easter Thunderball, in Lex's exclusive Racer Blog which you can
view by clicking
here, or by clicking on the Racer Blog link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
UK Wild Bunch racer Tony Smith has been in touch to I would like to congratulate Darrell Bennett on his
third win in Tony's Guess Who contest. "Darrell gets a free family weekend pass to any event at Shakespeare
County Raceway courtesy of LA Racing Parts", says Tony. "A close second was Matthew Seamarks who was neck and neck
until the last one. After four years, I have decided not to do it again: it's not hard work, I just can't find the
time with work and other commitments. I would like to thank every one who has taken the trouble to take part in
this year's contest and for the last four years."
Swedish Fuel Funny Car racer Leif Helander, who will be racing at next
week's Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod, says that his
Starkotter Fuel FC is now carrying a Saab 9-3 body.
"We have also changed to a billet block, changed the crank, and changed the clutch - we changed the clutch management
last year", says Leif. "Our product sponsors this year are Statoil (oil), NGK (spark plugs), Varta (batteries),
Würth (tools and consumables), and a handful of small companies when we race at their local track. We will
also try to race at the FIA Main Event and at Sundsvall and other tracks in Sweden."
Unique Trip to America opportunity. 7th April: Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor Blueprints For Travel is pleased to announce a special
Prize Draw for guests of Drag Racing USA - The Trip To America, the drag racing holiday presented in association with Trailfinders, the UK's
leading independent travel company, says Robin Jackson:
The prize is an invitation to spend a day at the races in the company of Don Schumacher Racing, by courtesy of Matco Tools. The draw will be open to
Trip To America guests who have paid in full for their holiday by 1st September 2006.
Don Schumacher Racing fields no fewer than nine professional teams in the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series, including 2005's Top Fuel and Funny
Car season champions. Matco Tools sponsors the Team Schumacher Funny Car driven by Whit Bazemore. Winning guests will be invited to spend
Saturday at Las Vegas or Pomona in the team's private pit-side enclosure, enjoying the sponsor's official hospitality programme, meeting Team Schumacher
drivers, crew-chiefs and other team members and watching all the activities from the closest quarters as the crew prepares for the day's two scheduled
qualifying sessions. There's nothing like a nitro fire-up alongside your table to spice up your lunch !
The draw will take place during the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway on 7th-10th September. Two winners will be drawn: one for Las Vegas and
one for Pomona.
The Trip To America begins on Tuesday 24th October and returns from the USA on Tuesday 14th November. The itinerary includes NHRA's season-ending
races at Las Vegas and Pomona (which Lex Joon will be contesting - Ed), plus the SEMA Show and more. Mini-trips - Las Vegas only, Pomona
only - are also available.
For more information on The Trip To America and its exclusive programme of attractions, check out the official web site
www.trip2america.co.uk or click on The Trip link at left.
From King to prints. 7th April: Paul Whitehouse tells us that he is now selling prints of his painting of FIM/UEM
Top Fuel Bike Champion Ian King in action at Santa Pod Raceway (right, click on picture for large version).
Gordon says that it would be an understatement to say that he, Crew Chief and co-owner Dave Bryant and the team
were disappointed with their 2005 season. "Maybe we tried to run too quick for the parts we had", he says.
"We have bought a new clutch cannon because we found that last year we were driving by the clutch on the launch
and that hurt the motors."
Racers: Whichever class you run, it's not too early to send your Easter Thunderball previews. Don't wait to
be asked - drop us a line at news@eurodragster.com
and we'll publish it here.
Swift snippets. 6th April: UK Funny Bike racer Sarah Jane Head has been in hospital again this week
after her ankle, which was severely damaged in her top end crash in 2004, collapsed. "I've now got a bolt through
the bottom into the bone", Scary told Eurodragster.com. "It hurt a lot but everything's lined up like it should be
now".
Martin Hill has now got all Cold Fire SFI 17.1 fire suppression systems in stock and
can quote prices on request. "I will also be able to offer to service and recharge bottles at the race track", says Martin. For further information either call
07984 364203 or E-Mail martin@fireforceracing.freeserve.co.uk.
Thanks to our good buddy Patrik Jacobsson for letting us know that Swedish Pro Mod racer Lars Inge Johansson
will be sitting out 2006 whilst he finds a new workshop and has another operation. You can read more on the
European Pro Mod Association web site at www.promod.nu/newseng.asp?ID=217.
Fiona Flynn has asked us to wish a big Happy Birthday to her husband, Super Pro ET racer
and sport sponsor Derek Flynn of Gold RV Racing.
No sooner said than done, hope you have a great day Derek.
"Some racers don't think they should be part of the scheme as they think they don't stand a chance of getting number one qualifier, but they are wrong as we
have had some wild cards hit the number one spot and are very pleased when they receive the bounty - and they have been the first to rejoin the next
year. You've got to be in it to win it! Thanks to all of the sponsors and racers for their support. The scheme has really taken off and looks to continue."
UK Junior Dragster racer Matthew Seamarks says that he is very happy with his new Half Scale dragster after his 9.4/71 Personal Best
at the Power Nationals. "We're pleased apart from the practice run on Saturday when we forgot to empty the breather tank and it dumped its contents all over the rear
end", says Matthew. "Sorry to the track crew if they had to shut the LA Racing Parts lane". Matthew adds that chef Joynul Abedin of sponsor
The Curry Garden has proven hotter than a vindaloo by making the top eight from
over 5,000 top class entrants from around the world in the prestigious International Indian Chef of the Year 2006 competition.
Open letter from Paul Watson. 5th April: UK Pro Stock Bike racer and Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor Paul Watson of
DynoSpeed Developments has sent an open letter about
the UK National Championships:
"On return from Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend I feel that something needs saying for the future of the National Championship. The question has to be asked is SCR up to
holding a National event. They struggled throughout last year with attendances dropping and this year doesn't look much better, for a start to hold three National
events in one month (one of which is at Santa Pod - Ed) has to be questioned. People just don't have the money, you're not going to get racers and public
attend all three, so why have two events at SCR in one month. Surely that's suicide financially, only die-hard racers and Championship people will attend.
"Next, when you know there are restrictions like a curfew and bad weather forecast surely every second counts. There seemed no sense of urgency at the weekend. I
was under the impression that all UK and ACU National Championship classes should take priority over other classes the same as Santa Pod do at the FIM/UEM events
so why have open practice instead of another session of ACU qualifying?
"I have followed these Championships now for many years giving all my time, money and effort to be a part of the UK drag racing but need to rethink if it's worth
following a UK Championship when our second track is fast getting a reputation for only getting one qualifier and meetings which don't get finished.
The most common question seems to be aimed at both tracks - why is there no Championship racing in summer? I think if UK drag racing is to grow then some
of these issues should be addressed. People are already voting with their feet at SCR, it would be such a shame to lose it."
Nostalgia for a nostalgic weekend. 4th April: Johnny Hall of Eurodragster.com News sponsor
B + J Race Cars has been in touch with the great news that
Santa Pod Raceway have asked Johnny, Bill Felstead and the crew to take the six-second B+J Vintage Top Fuel slingshot to make demonstration passes at
next week's Easter Thunderball, which is Santa Pod's Fortieth Anniversary event. The slingshot has also received sponsorship from another
Eurodragster.com sponsor, Gleeson Wright Security.
"Another bit of news from the Skunk Works is that we have had T-Shirts done with a design (right) from Darren West at
Power Race Graphics(Three Eurodragster.com sponsors in one news item, that's going some even for us - Ed). The design is typical 1970s and they will
cost £12. More details soon."
Paul Rose hospitalised. 4th April: Lisa Ambler has been in touch to let us know that Paul Rose of UK bike team
Paul Rose Motorsport was taken into hospital last Thursday to undergo tests
"Paul is currently still in St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey on a diet of water only", says
Lisa. "If anyone would like to speak to Paul, you can contact him on 07077 819465 - this
is his bedside phone and he is likely to be there for the next three days.
"Everyone in the Rebore Rod family would like to wish Paul a speedy
recovery and to see him back at the track in his Kermit slippers again
soon."
We're sure that everyone will join Lisa and ourselves in wishing Paul a very rapid return to health and
to the strip.
Terry Gibbs tribute at Ace Café. 4th April: Paul Marston has been in touch to let us know that Mark and Linda at London's
Ace Café are holding a special night tomorrow (Wednesday) in their own tribute to the late Terry Gibbs.
"Everyone is welcome to attend", says Paul. "Please arrive early to ensure a parking space close by. There will be a one minute silence
followed by an engine start-up by all who are parked outside the Ace. A fitting tribute to a much-loved and respected figure, so if you have
not already done so then here is your opportunity to pay your respects Ace Café style.
"There will also be a collection for Tina Gibbs' favourite charity. The list of pledges to support the event includes the Executioners and the
Smoke City Wheelers, be a participant and we will all see you there."
For details on the location of the Ace Café check out the Café's official web site at
www.ace-cafe-london.com.
Carter A1 for 2006! 4th April: Hot on the heels of the news of their sponsorship deal with Teng Tools comes the announcement of
UK Top Fuel dragster team Carter Motorsport's latest sponsor for the 2006 season, A1
Motor Stores.
"A1 Motor stores are simply huge, offering a superb range of products to the motorist", says Carter Motorsport PR Dan Welberry.
"Formed in 1983 A1 currently consists of 250 independently-owned automotive aftermarket retailers. By combining purchasing power and marketing
resources, A1 Motor Stores can provide customers with an extensive range of products including accessories, spare parts, in-car entertainment, styling,
performance parts, travel accessories and chemicals, all at competitive prices. A1 Motor Stores feature regular in-store promotions, special offers,
brochures and produce an annual 'Specialised Motoring' catalogue which is well worth a look!
"We're going to need a bigger car! We are delighted to welcome A1 on board and look forward to carrying their brand for the coming year. We really
are delighted with the progress being made with our sponsorship partners and it's always a proud moment to welcome another to the programme. If I'm not
mistaken, I believe we now have backing from twenty companies for this year! Please support the companies who are supporting Carter Motorsport."
Thanks to our good buddy Patrick Jacobsson for letting us know that pictures of Roger Pettersson and
Jörgen Karlsson's new Pro Mod Mustangs can be found at www.mdrf.se.
Graham Motler has asked us to say a big Thank You to Steve Good of Pulse Rate fame for the great time which he and wife Lorri have
had crewing for Steve for the last five years. "Thanks mate", says Graham. "I would also like to thank Geoff Martin and all the team on the Tech crew
for making us Lorri and welcome on to the team. I hope I won't let you guys down."
From the APIRA Race Director. 4th April: APIRA's Race Director Ozzy Ewing has sent us his review of the weekend's Power Nationals
at Shakespeare County Raceway as well as a few points which he would like racers to note:
I would like to thank all the racers and crews who competed at the recent APIRA Power Nationals event. It was a hard
event and we had to deal with everything that was thrown at us, and make some tough decisions. Given the inclement
weather conditions, breakages and clean-ups on track it forced the issue of one qualifying session on the Saturday.
The event was eventually called on Sunday afternoon due to the rain and the curfew.
All the track staff at SCR did an excellent job over the weekend and worked hard to try to ensure the completion of
the event. It is a credit to the team at SCR, their enthusiasm and professionalism showing through at every
opportunity. Working relationships with PB Fire Ltd and Central Midlands Ambulance Services are excellent.
Joint training sessions keep everyone focused, and the latest skills are updated and practiced on a regular basis.
Congratulations must go to Chris Hall for his stunning 6.958 and Neil Midgeley for his new Funny Bike track speed record
of 199.57. Moving the boundaries in Supertwin Top Gas with a 8.875/143.77 was John Floyd, clinching two track records.
The final bike to really impress this weekend was Steve Carey on board his Top Fuel Bike who cracked off his first 200
mph run. Not forgetting the cars, we saw Colin Lazenby set a new track speed record for Street Eliminator running an
impressive 185.64. Anna Metcalfe in her beautiful Mustang completed her observed runs to gain a new competitor's license
ready for competition in a few weeks time.
The event also threw up a number of issues which I would like to clarify:
Class Entry: Please ensure you have entered the correct class on your entry form and when you sign on please
check this is correct. Once you have completed a qualifying run you cannot change class.
Race Numbers: Please ensure that race numbers are visible on the rear of the vehicle or on the rear left hand
side. The main offenders are the Junior Dragsters and 9.50 Bike. Please do not place numbers on top of bodywork or
on the front as these cannot be seen from Race Control.
Observed Runs: This was discussed at the Riders and Drivers meeting on Saturday morning. Observed runs caused
a major concern over the weekend and I would like to clarify what I require when it comes to doing these. You will
need to do observed runs for a number of reasons: major changes to a vehicle, new vehicle or a new driver/rider. Please
come and see the Race Director to discuss this and you will be advised of what you are required to do. It is not
acceptable to inform the fire up road marshal at the end of the staging lanes that you are on an observed run without
having informed the Race Director first. I ask you to adhere to the format and if any run is unacceptable it will be
rejected. Please remember that we can accommodate observed runs at any of our Test and Tune events, contact Wendy
Talbot to arrange. At the end of the day or event you must come to the Race Director to discuss your runs and whether
you have been successful.
I wish everyone every success at your next event and look forward to seeing you again at the Shakespeare Nationals.
Shakespeare County Raceway Press Officer Jerry Cookson has confirmed the weekend's Track Records. Congratulations to:
Street Eliminator: 185.64 mph, Colin Lazenby
Funny Bike: 199.57 mph, Neil Midgley
Supertwin Street: 137.04 mph, Dave Jones
Supertwin Top Gas: 8.875 seconds and 143.77 mph, John Floyd
Lazenby makes it. 4th April: 2005 Real Steel Street Eliminator UK Champion and Power Nationals winner
Colin Lazenby was right up against the stops to get his Pinnacle-sponsored eight-second street-legal '56 Chevy
ready for the Power Nationals.
"With a little over a week before the first event of 2006 we were without our 2005 Championship winning engine, which was by now nearing
completion but still in the very capable hands of Clive Bond at Ultimate Race Cars", says Colin. "We'd heard on the grapevine that Super Mod
racer Andy Kirk had attempted to queue-jump but somehow our blocking tactics had thus far prevented this. We've yet to establish at what cost.
Clive had also made some very unique changes to our previous choice of lifters, oh and some very important upgrades to the nitrous plumbing.
"Andy had also been charged with a number of other small, but important, tasks along with an almost inevitable electronics upgrade associated
with one of the nitrous stages - there are so many on there now, I can't remember which one it is. When I got back down to the ARRC shop on
Thursday, the work was all but complete. Luke had been innovating on the weight bars and I completed the task by making an arse of painting them.
"I was determined to be at the track for setting up on Friday morning and I wouldn't hear of one more night of Andy and Kate's hospitality, needless
to say I always appreciate it. Let's just say it was dark when I left for the track.
"To hear how we got on running in our new combination (He won - Ed) check out the Eurodragster Event Coverage, or
www.streeteliminatoruk.com. Needless to say, with such a small
qualifying window I am only too pleased to be a small part of one of the best teams in the class."
Testing, testing. 4th April: Jo Reed of Santa Pod Raceway has been in touch to remind readers that Santa Pod is
hosting a Run What You Brung this Sunday, 9th April. Jo says that there are some very special attendees on Sunday:
As the Peak Performance Test and Tune day on Saturday is already fully booked why not come along on Sunday and test your reaction
times and race your vehicle in a safe and legal environment on a fully-prepared track? All the usual rules apply: a full valid driving licence
is required suitable for the type of vehicle you are driving or riding; a crash helmet for open- or soft-top vehicles or for those going over
100 mph, and bikers need suitable protective clothing and an approved helmet.
You don't have to apply for a race licence, you don't have to stick on race numbers or tape over your lights, and you don't even have
to own a fast car or bike! So bring your Fiesta or street bike along to the RWYB on Sunday and show us what you're made of.
This Sunday we also have two very special drivers testing their cars, Martin Hill will be putting the Fireforce 3 Jet Funny Car
through its paces along with Roger Goring in his Firestorm Jet FC. They are guaranteed to set your hearts racing with their
thundering display of Jet power and thrust!
Admission is £10 per person, under 16s go free, and it's £20 per person to sign on for unlimited use of
the track After each run you'll receive a personal performance print-out showing your reaction times.
Eurodragster.com will be reporting live from Saturday's Peak Performance Day and Sunday's Run What You Brung
in association with American Car Imports.
The Webster Race
Engineering/MPM Oil webcam will be
on-line all weekend and will be scheduled to broadcast a picture every two minutes.
Last Sunday was an exciting day for the whole crew of JSPP Motorsport. After one year of hard work on Funnybike Mike Olie's brand new Suzuki
GSX1425RT, the bike was ready to make its first-ever run. Jan Smit, Andre Four-and-a-half-cylinder, Mike Zundapp, Funnybike Mike and Toby were very nervous
all day because they had to check and double check all of the systems until almost 16:00 before Jan Smit gave the green light to make the first burnout.
After three burnouts, Funnybike Mike felt ready for his first run on the virgin bike. Toby was running around with his camera, and before he could ask Mike if he wanted
to wait till he found his perfect camera position, Mike was already at the other end of our own quarter mile test strip next to the JSPP workshop. Well, the total
length is a quarter mile and the finish line is a steel fence. Jan, did you tell Mike? After a very big "Yeah, wow, yes!" from the other end of the
strip we knew that Mike had been smart enough to shut down the engine after an eighth of a mile. After being pulled back to the workshop,
a smiling Mike told the crew that the bike felt real good! Everybody was very very happy.
Next week the JSPP crew will be working on programming the fuel maps in the computer for the fuel injection.
After that, the bike will be ready for the first test runs on a real drag strip.
The Joy of Six. 3rd April: UK Funny Bike racer Chris Hall made it into the sixes for the first time during qualifying
for the Power Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. Chris tells us that almost as quick as his 6.958 was the response
of his colleagues.
To prevent the last part of our live Event Coverage reports resembling an Oscars speech we have consolidated this year's thanks
for help and hospitality during the coverage into a single Acknowledgements page, which can be viewed from
any of our Event Index pages.
29th April: UK Pro ET racer Terri Lee was considering taking a year out in 2006 but she and
husband and Crew Chief Ian have changed their minds and are aiming to contest the FIA Main Event.
27th April: Norwegian Super Comp racer Linda Thun Tønseth (right) has joined forces with fellow
Norwegian Jan Arve Nygård's Pro Mod team. Although not slated to drive the nitrous 706 ci 'Vette in competition this year, Linda is more than ready
to step up to the plate. "I'm not going to throw Jan Arve out of the driver seat, but if he wants me to, I will be delighted to take over!", she
says.
25th April: The UK's Wratten Brothers Top Methanol FC team have replaced the FC's body with
a Topolino and plan to run with the Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association in 2006. Driver Paul Wratten, Crew
Chief Terry Wratten, tuner Charlie Draper and the team are aiming to test with the 526 ci blown-alcohol
altered at the Peak Performance Day at Santa Pod Raceway on 20th May before entering the NFAA fray in the summer.
24th April: As part of Santa Pod Raceway's Fortieth Anniversary celebrations at the
Easter Thunderball, this year's second group of inductees to the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame were
announced, and Eurodragster.com was on hand to interview some of the new members.
23rd April: Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association racer Joe Bond has been on touch to
let us know that his blown-alcohol altered (right) is coming along well. "Jim at Cotsweld has kindly
agreed to build our rear wing for us", says Joe. "We have acquired some Funny Car headers from John Spuffard as
well as other little bits and bobs we need to finish the car. We are looking to get out for the SPRC Summernationals
at Santa Pod, even though it looks nearly ready there's still a long way to go!"
22nd April: UK Super Pro ET racer and Eurodragster.com News sponsor Derek Flynn says that
his 
22nd April: The past weekend's Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway was the 2006 season opener for Dutch Top Fuel Bike racer Roel Koedam,
writes Crew Chief Marius Van Der Zijden:
22nd April: Next weekend sees the final race of the Umm Alquwain Drag
Racing Championship season in the United Arab Emirates, writes our good buddy Fahad Taqi.
22nd April: The 2006 American Car World Street Racer Series paid its first annual
visit to Shakespeare County Raceway last Sunday taking in the weekend's Muscle Car Mania event, with many
taking their first-ever tentative laps in new machines at the Warwickshire venue, writes SCR Press Officer Jerry
Cookson.
20th April: Jonathan Inwood of Earl's Performance Products UK Ltd has been in touch to let us
know that Earl's UK is now an official European distributor of NOS Nitrous Oxide Systems.
14th April: The Netherlands' Shark Attack Dragracing team has added several more
wheels to its operation for 2006, says Crew Chief Frans Souverein.
13th April: Chris Blows has sent us this Melvyn Holmes picture of Nobby Hills' Houndog
Fuel Funny Car in situ at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum where it is spending the Easter weekend on display, after
an appeal for a race car on Eurodragster.com. You can find out all about it and see more pictures on the Nobby Hills
Racing web site at 
Tog and Kay are very sorry to announce that Syd, their Lurcher and Tog's constant and faithful companion through
years of late-night news-typing sessions, passed away in his sleep overnight.
Syd was one of a small but very select number of non-racing parties who helped to make Eurodragster.com
better. After a long weekend at the races I'd get home in the small hours and Syd would always be pleased to see me: sometimes I got the full morris-dance
routine with wagging tail, other times Syd would be slobbed out on his bed and would just open an eye, and the end of
his tail would twitch. During my countless nights of typing for Eurodragster.com, Syd would get up off his bed in the middle
of the night and come over to check that I was OK before going back to sleep - he even did it last night. If I was having one of my interminable
phone calls then Syd would come and lay down next to me, or if I was laid out on the floor myself then he would try to sit on
top of me. Syd was as human in his behaviour as a dog could be, and intelligent and noble. He loved Kay and I
very much, and we loved him very much, and we will never forget him.
12th April: UK Sportsman ET racer Dave Nelson tells us that his mother is running in this
year's London Marathon and that his team will be collecting for her chosen charities in the Get Out and Porsche
pit at Santa Pod Raceway this weekend.
The Netherlands' David and Jos Vegter have cleared their calendars to watch Pro Mods from the
grandstand this season, but they have had great news about their own Pro Mod from Cynergy Composites.
"The baddest Camaro on the Planet has been sent to Holland today", say David and Jos. "We can't wait to get the
body out of the crate (right) and start building the race car! Velocity Composites Shop will create the carbon
fibre interior for us". You can stay in touch with the construction of the Vegters' Force of Habit Pro Mod
on their web site at 
11th April: UK Pro Mod racer and Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor
Andy Robinson and team thought that it would be easy to prepare for the Easter Thunderball
because there have not been many changes to the Studebaker over the winter, says Bob Roberts.
"Andy thought the team needed a challenge so he decided to build a new trailer - we had all
complained a lot about the old one", says Bob. "All went well with the build heading towards completion
in May ready for the first FIA round of the year. Then the whole Santa Pod anniversary deal emerged so
the decision was taken to race at Easter. Oops! Six weeks taken out of the build time, so lots of midnight
oil is being burnt. As you would expect the new trailer (right) is impressive: about double deck bus
size, air ride, air brakes, hydraulic tail hoist etc. Will it be finished in time, will we be at Santa Pod?
Of course!"
UK Pro ET racer Dave Ward's Rampage Funny Car has acquired a new set of Zoomie headers, says
Crew Chief Ian Gibbs. "The custom-made headers have been manufactured from stainless steel by RS Fabrications
of Banbury, and internally welded to give a smooth asthetic finish", says Ian. "In the last month the car
has been overhauled and prepared. Banbury Car Body have made repairs to the paint finish on the front end of
the Monza body and it is now ready to roll. This will be the team's first outing of 2006. Dave is relishing
the competition of the huge Pro ET field and will be looking to get back the consistency of a couple of seasons
ago."
11th April: Door handle, cabinet fitting and doorknob supplier
10th April: This weekend's Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway is not only the
fortieth anniversary of the legendary UK race track but also the thirtieth anniversary of Peter Crane's
historic first five-second pass in beating Don Garlits at the 1976 Spring Nationals. To
mark the anniversary, Simon went to visit Peter at his home in East Sussex to interview him about his
racing career, his various race cars, the legendary five-second pass, the fate of Stormbringer,
and more.
The interview, recorded on a digital voice recorder in London in December 2005, lasts for fifty eight minutes and
is widely regarded as one of the most frank and personal which John Force has ever given. A transcript of the interview
can be read by 
10th April: 
Bob Roberts tells us that Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor
5th April: Lawrie Gatehouse says that his Chaos Fuel Altered is not quite ready to
make its planned début at Saturday's Peak Performance Day at Santa Pod Raceway.
5th April: Eurodragster.com News sponsor Dennis Kieselhorst tells us that a new issue of
Dragracer magazine is now available. The latest issue includes features on Xtreme Wheels International, UK Street Eliminator
racer Andy Frost, German Supertwin racer Acka Riemer, the fifteenth anniversary of Germany's Kath Brothers, the V-Rod Destroyer and more. For more information
or to subscribe, check out the magazine's web site at 
4th April: Johnny Hall of Eurodragster.com News sponsor
4th April: Swedish Top Methanol Funny Car racer Jonas Staflund would be pleased to
hear from anyone who has a a drive shaft for the mag/oil pump which they can sell him. "In the picture (right) of the shaft, the A type is the
one I'm loking for, but not broken at the oil pump end", says Jonas. If you can help then please call Jonas on +46 70 580 91 97 or E-Mail via his web site
at 
