Ferry discounts for Kauhava.
31st May: Job Heezen of the FIM Europe Drag Racing Commission has been in touch to advise bike racers that if you are planning to contest the FIM Europe round at Kauvaha then there are a number of ferry discounts available:

If you travel from Central Europe then you can get discounts on the Travemände-Malmö vv ferry. Contact Finnlines at passenger@finnlines.com or ask Åsa Kinnemar of Speedgroup at asa.kinnemar@speedgroup.eu.

If you travel from Travemände to Helsinki then discounts can go up to 50%. Call Finnlines on +358 923 143 100; the discount code for the cargo side is NESTEVAN and the discount code for the passenger side is FHRAC.

If you travel from Kapellskär to Nådendal, discounts go up to 35% on the evening ferry and up to 50% on the morning ferry. The discount code is FHRAC and includes two free meals per person (no alcohol included I'm afraid).

Additional information on ferries can be found on the Racers' page of Speedgroup's web site at www.speedgroup.eu.

Good luck with booking, I hope that the vessels with be close to overloaded with teams travelling to Kauhava. See you there.

SPRC Summernationals entry update.
31st May: Thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall for forwarding us Version 4 of the official entry list for the SPRC Summernationals, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 22nd-23rd June and which is a round of the Motorsport UK, UK National and ACU UK Championships as well as a Championship round for some other classes. You can check out the SPRC Summernationals entry list by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

SPRC Summernationals entry closes today (Friday), after which a Late Entry penalty may apply. You can download the official entry forms via the Information link on the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.

If you have any queries about event entry then please get in touch with Ian at ir.marshall@btconnect.com or call 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625).

FIA/FIM Main Event stats wrap-up.
31st May: Many thanks to Åsa Kinnemar and Peder Eneroth for sending us the post-FIA Main Event points standings in the FIA European Drag Racing Championships and FIA Europe Drag Bike Championships respectively. You can check out the European points on our OCS Paint-sponsored Points Standings page by clicking here or by clicking on the OCS Paint Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

Thanks also to Yvonne Tramm and our own Simon for passing us the post-FIA/FIM Main Event points standings in the UK National Drag Racing Championships. You can check out the points on our OCS Paint-sponsored Points Standings page by clicking here or by clicking on the OCS Paint Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

Thanks to Andy Marrs for passing us the official timing data from the the FIA/FIM Main Event, which you can check out by clicking here or by clicking on the Timing Data link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. As well as the European records which we detailed on Tuesday, Marrs tells us that the following records were set:

Santa Pod Raceway track records
Top Fuel ET: Anita Makela 3.8426 seconds
Pro Stock Bike ET: Fredrik Fredlund 7.1165 seconds
Street Eliminator ET: Andy Bond 7.0874 seconds
Street Eliminator speed: Andy Bond 209.16 mph
Top Doorsammer ET: Mattias Wulcan 5.6479 seconds
Top Doorsammer speed: Mattias Wulcan 256.55 mph

European side-by-sides
Top Fuel ET: Anita Makela/Liam Jones combined ET 7.7630 seconds
Super Street Bike ET: Mogens Lund/Steve Venables combined ET 13.8408 seconds

You can check out the new records on Marrs' table of UK and European Bests by clicking here or by clicking on the European and UK Bests link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

Our good buddy Remco Scheelings has posted two FIA/FIM Main Event reports on the Autosport.nl web site. There is a race report which you can check out by clicking here and a report of "Other things I saw" which you can check out by clicking here.

A big Thank You to everyone for the appreciative comments about our John Woolfe Racing-sponsored coverage of the Doorslammers, Pro Peak Performance Day, FIA/FIM Main Event and Private Test. Like they kind of said on Vision On, we can't return all compliments at the time but they are read and appreciated, as are suggestions and constructive criticism.

Giselle's Thank You.
31st May: UK ET Bike racer Giselle Moor has been in touch to thank all those in the drag racing community who have supported her and donated after her accident at Santa Pod Raceway last season:

I just wanted to write a few words to say a huge thank you to everyone who has donated to help buy me a smart drive via the Just Giving page started by my friend Brogan. The support from all you fantastic people in all honesty has been incredible and overwhelming and we have been left a little speechless. The on-line donations, alongside those which Suze Morris collected from the chocolate easter egg and sweets competitions, have meant the target was reached quicker than we could have imagined and we have you all to thank for that. 

Brogan was then left with a difficult dilemma. When she originally spoke with me about setting up the page and what I needed there were two items we discussed; The Smarttdrive and a Batec mobility trike - both designed to help increase mobility in the wheelchair. We decided on the Smartdrive as we thought that £5000 was a hard enough target to reach. But we are nearly there and Brogan still has a couple of challenges to undertake herself with donations coming from our local community.

Therefore Brogan has made the decision to keep the Just Giving page open, aiming for the Batec wheelchair attachment instead. This will give me increased mobility over a much greater range and variety of terrains, and also allow me to easily partake in one of my greatest loves, music festivals.

The purpose of this post is not to ask for further help, but to say Thank You. The support from this particular community has been outstanding and I personally cannot express my gratitude enough. I want to keep you all in the loop with where your donations are actually going and how the Batec will be of a better benefit. To everyone who has helped to reach our target so far, please sit back and need not feel like any further contribution is necessary. It is amazing to have got so far already and we thank you so much for your generosity.

As a final note, for those of you who haven't seen on social media, I wanted to share a little progress report. Since being discharged from rehab on 1st December I am now living back in London, in an accessible flat. I am working four full days a week and travelling on a Tuesday for therapy from a charity. I can walk, with a frame for support and my steps continue to get stronger. There is still a significant amount of recovery still to make and some movement still to gain but I am motivated and positive I've got more progress left. My family and I are very much looking forward to returning to the track again on 22nd June to spectate at the Summernationals and to thank you all in person.

Event entry update.
30th May: Today (Thursday) is the absolute closing date for entry to next week's Tierp Internationals at Tierp Arena.

You can enter at www.dragracing.eu, and you can check out the Tierp Internationals entry list by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

Thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall for forwarding us Version 3 of the official entry list for the SPRC Summernationals, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 22nd-23rd June and which is a round of the Motorsport UK, UK National and ACU UK Championships as well as a Championship round for some other classes. You can check out the SPRC Summernationals entry list by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

SPRC Summernationals entry closes tomorrow (Friday), after which a Late Entry penalty may apply. You can download the official entry forms via the Information link on the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.

If you have any queries about event entry then please get in touch with Ian at ir.marshall@btconnect.com or call 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625).

Private Test Day coverage.
29th May: We are in place at Santa Pod Raceway to bring you the action from today's second Private Test in association with John Woolfe Racing.

The Webster Race Engineering/Nimbus Motorsport webcam will be on-line broadcasting live video and trackside audio so long as the track is open. There will be a photo gallery at the end of the day; a report is contingent upon the number of runs made.

You can check out our Private Test reports and galleries by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

FIA/FIM Main Event results.
28th May: Congratulations to the winners at the FIA/FIM Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway:

FIA Top Fuel Dragster: Anita Mäkelä 3.8426/296.72 def. Maja Udtian no time DQ
FIA Top Methanol: Sandro Bellio 5.5331/253.80 def. Manty Bugeja 5.4514/268.24
FIA Pro Modified: Micke Gullqvist 5.8357/245.03 def. Mats Eriksson no time DQ
FIA Pro Stock: Jimmy Ålund 6.5961/209.95 def. Michael Malmgren 7.9678/122.07
European Nitro Funny Car Series: Steve Ashdown 4.7558/188.14 def. Kevin Chapman 5.5822/134.02
Top Doorslammer: Caroline Strand 5.9421/242.54 def. Mattias Wulcan 6.6770/144.80

FIM Europe Top Fuel Bike: Rikard Gustafsson 5.9555/242.54 def. Glenn Borg 6.9074/201.58
FIM Europe Supertwin: Marcus Christiansen 6.5058/215.13 def. Samu Kemppainen no time broke
FIM Europe Pro Stock Bike: Janne Koskinen 7.2337/185.01 bye, Martin Bishop no show
FIM Europe Super Street Bike: Steve Venables 6.8548/213.90 def. Erich Gruber 7.8473/185.12
FIM Europe Junior Drag Bike Cup: Blade Dummer (13.66) 13.8944/48.05 def. Meggie Talbot (9.75) 9.6576/67.17 DQ b/o

Secret Worx Comp Eliminator: Kev Perkins (7.99) 7.7377/151.02 def. Kevin Jenkins (7.58) 13.7793/80.93
Good Vibration Motorsports/Przym Paintworks Super Pro ET: Stu Doignie (8.51) 8.5235/153.65 def. Daniel Giles (7.40) 7.3812/179.23 DQ b/o
Modurstang Pro ET: Nic Williams (9.75) 9.9010/115.52 def. James Oliver (9.68) 18.7585/38.31
Phoenix Personnel Super Comp: Martin Curbishley 8.9116/147.60 def. Pete Creswell 9.0102/147.20
Jon Morton Super Gas Shootout: Simon Fulton 15.2398/84.26 bye, Mark White shut off
Lucas Oil Junior Dragster: Matthew Dowdy (8.31) 8.2989/77.47 def. Tom Kaye (8.15) 8.1003/81.66 DQ b/o
Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator: Andy Bond 7.0874/209.16 def. Joe Stevens 8.0510/173.10

Subject to ratification the following records were set. Congratulations to:

FIA Top Fuel Dragster ET: 3.842 seconds, Anita Mäkelä
FIM Europe Super Street Bike ET: 6.854 seconds, Steve Venables
Street Eliminator ET: 7.087 seconds, Andy Bond

Congratulations also to Super Pro ET racer Ian Brown and Pro ET racer Al Platt who won the Eurodragster.com/Bad Habit Racing Perfect Light Award and Eurodragster.com Perfect ET Award supported by the Twister Race Team. The Bob's Photo Finish Award, posted by Eurodragster.com supporter Bob Roberts, has provisionally been won by Pro ET racers Nic Williams and Ethan Lisle whose finish line margin in their Pro ET E3 race was 0.47 inches. This, together with other records such as side-by-side bests will be confirmed by Andy Marrs when he has analysed the weekend's timing data.

You can check out our John Woolfe Racing-sponsored FIA/FIM Main Event reports, results, pit notes and galleries by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

Hall of Fame's SPR donation.
23rd May: The Trustees of the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Benevolent Fund have donated a patient monitoring device to Santa Pod Raceway.

The G3H Portable Patient Monitor is battery-powered and can easily be carried around. It is suitable for use in bedside monitoring in medical centres or hospitals and can print out graphs of patient readings.

Stuart Bradbury, Chair of the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame and Trustee of the BDRHOF Benevolent Fund, said 'This donation will be directly for the benefit of racers and of fans at Santa Pod Raceway and we hope that it can help to save lives at the track."

Keith Bartlett, Santa Pod owner and CEO of Trakbak Racing Ltd, said "We at Santa Pod Raceway are very grateful to the BDRHoF Benevolent Fund for their generosity in making this direct donation to our medical services."

There will be a start line presentation to mark the donation at lunchtime this Saturday during the FIA/FIM Main Event, conditions permitting.

The BDRHoF Benevolent Fund will again be hosting signing sessions at Dragstalgia on 13th and 14th, at which legends of the sport over the last fifty years, including legendary Funny Car owner and Crew Chief Roland Leong, will be present to sign autographs and to chat to fans.

European Top Gas Round 1 report.
22nd May: After a 1000-kilometre journey from The Netherlands Herman Jolink contested the first round of this year's European Super Twin Top Gas Series over the eighth mile at Malmö Raceway:


There were ninety two competitors in the car and bike classes. The track was very well-prepared by the team from Malmö Raceway, a lot of rubber and glue on the full eighth.

For the first time with the team was Lex Deemter who is nineteen years old and who is studying Machining Techniek at Zwolle. We met Lex at Carrosseriebouw Jansen Wesepe, where we are working on the Ducati Panigale-1 Drag Bike. On Friday evening we practiced starting the Ducati 1198 RS Drag Bike and how to handle the start. We did everything but the Ducati was just not running.

At 11:15 on Saturday Top Gas had their frst qualifying session. I ran 5.718/197 kmh, shortly before the finish line I shifted into the fifth gear. The sixty foot time was 1.377, not so good, could be a lot better. Then a fast car put a lot of oil on the track.

At 15:28 we had the second qualifier, 5.537/197 with just four gears, the sixty foot time was 1.331. The third qualifyier was at 17:13, 5.525/198, sixty foot was 1.331 and again four gears and on the rev limiter. The last qualifier was ar 19:25. After launching the first three qualifiers on 5000 revs we started on 6000 revs and I used all five gears. 5.411/203 and the sixty foot time was 1.239. We qualified seventh of the eighteen competitors for a sixteen-bike field. Top Gas qualifying:
  1. Schack DK on 2622 V-Twin special made in the USA 4.621/242
  2. Menzi CH on 2622 V-Twin special made in the USA 4.623/236
  3. Lymant DE on 2622 V-Twin special made in the USA 4.630/238, in the first qualifier Lymant's motor was leaking oil and the starter ordered him three times to shut off.
  4. Jensen DK on 2000 home-made blower bike 5.017/221, a new Personal Best. On the third run he had tyre shake, got off the throttle then on it again. Jensen now uses an M&H tyre, previously it was a Mickey Thompson.
  5. Albers DE on 2622 V-Twin special made in the USA 5.238/217
  6. Ström SE on big V-Twin (ex-Janne Gustavsson) 5.409/207 with some burnt clutch plates. Also in the pit was Ulf Ögge with his mechanic - for many years Ulf rode a 2622 V-Twin Pro Stock Bike from the USA
  7. Jolink NL on Ducati 1198 RS (1266) Drag Bike 5.411/202 this is my forty fourth year of drag racing, always on a Ducati
  8. Caspari DE on home built 2240, cylinder heads from billet by Henk Kemp and aluminium frame by Gerd Caspari, 5.425/204
  9. Miettinen FI on 1340 HD V-Rod Destroyer 6.167/181, Miettinen is the youngest rider in the class at seventeen years old
  10. Schleichert DE on 1340 HD V-Rod Destroyer 6.245/178
  11. Bruhn DE 6.427-187 on home built 2300 Blower V-Twin (ex-Job Heezen, ex-Harry van Schie). After the second run the rear piston was melted
  12. van Nimmen BE on 2600 V-Twin 6.445/168 some set-up problems
  13. Hormann DE on V-Twin 6.685/166 leaking oil from the gearbox at the end of the shutdown area
  14. Foit DE on 1125 Buell with Rotax engine 7.400/152 with set-up problems
  15. Larsson SE on home built 2600 Turbo V-Twin 7.413-137
  16. Heer DE on 2400 V-Twin (ex Ronald v d Werken) 7.941-171 kmh
In the pits but not racing was Janne Malmberg with his home-made two-blower V-Twin. The new blower gave him some problems with the rotors touching the housing and some fine aluminium appeared in the new cylinder sleeves with new pistons, Malmberg said that he would go home and make it fit with fine sandpaper. Bernd Foit had mechanical problems, Peter Niklas tried twice but did not make the burnout on his Turbo 1000 SP Honda. Martin Buhler CH was not at at the track with his home built 1600 blower V-Twin (ex-Otto Bauer), problems with the gearbox .

Rikard Gustafsson made his first run on his Top Fuel Bike after the crash at Hockenheim last year, on the throttle for 100 metres and ran 4.4 seconds. Marcus Christiansen was on his home built Supertwin Top Fuel Bike with a bigger motor and a new carbon fibre wheelie bar, Marcus made a half pass of 4.5 seconds. Then they went home with their very rusty old Mercedes. Marcus and his father are two of a kind, a strong relationship.

European Super Twin Top Gas eliminations:

E1: Schack 7.313/159 def. Herr 8.872/164, Schack had clutch problems but he had a lot of luck as Herr was riding very slowly. Miettinnen 6.223/182 def. Caspari 6.134/187, Caspari almost crossed the centre line and Miettinen had a very good Reaction Time. Hormann 7.262/99.7 losing his push rods def. Jensen who had a spark plug escape the cylinder head. Albers 4.977/228 def. van Nimmen 6.565/184. Menzi 4.686/235 def. Larsson 8.800/86. Jolink 5.431/201 def. Schleichert 6.322/175. Lymant 4.681/235 def. Foit 8.583/88 Ström 5.386/205 bye, Bruhn broke.

E2: Schack 4.711/241 def. Miettinen 6.172/181. Albers 5.576/214 bye, Hormann had no spare push rods. Menzi 4.556/239 def. Jolink 5.450/201. Lymant 4.651/233 def. Ström 5.383/205.

E3: Albers 5.138/235 def. Schack 13.334/43, clutch problems. Lymant 4.623/234 def. Menzi 4.784/204 red light. Menzi was already in pre-stage when Lymant was still three metres from pre-stage, Menzi probably over-concentrated.

Finale: Lymant 4.591/236 def. Albers 4.827/237. Lymant set a new Top Gas ET record of 4.591 with a back-up of 4.623.

European Super Twin Top Gas standings:
  1. Lymant DE 940
  2. Albers DE 720
  3. Menzi CH 650
  4. Ström SE 510
  5. Jolink NL 500
  6. Schack DK 485
  7. Hormann DE 440
  8. Jensen DK 430
  9. Caspari DE 390
  10. Schleichert DE 370
  11. Foit DE 330
  12. Larsson SE 320
  13. Heer DE 310
  14. Niklas DE 300
  15. Malmberg SE 300
  16. Miettinen FI 280
  17. Buhler CH 200
  18. van Nimmen BE 150
The next round is the Norwegian Bike Festival at Gardermoen on 14th-16th June.

Swift snippets.
22nd May: Lizz and Kevin Charman asked us to say a big Happy 20th Birthday to their resident geek and pretty cool guy Jake Charman. Our pleasure, have a great day Jake.

Missing in action.
22nd May: Eagle-eyed readers will have noted the absence of Timo and Dennis Habermann's Top Methanol Dragsters from this season's entry lists so far. The team say that after discussions between the team, family and team management the decision has been made to contest only the NitrOlympX at Hockenheim and the FIA/FIM European Finals:

A lot of you will ask why the European Champions of 2017 and 2018 will only join in two races? First of all, we want to point out that there is no main reason for that decision. Furthermore there are many different reasons (some high impact, some low impact) why the pendulum swung in that direction.

"Of course it was our main goal to confirm our amazing season of 2018 with six races and six victories", says Dennis Habermann. "You just want to jump into the car, fire it up and chase your own record. That's why we love drag racing so much: passion, fighting against your opponents and fast runs. But last season there were so many things behind the scenes - less by the organisers, more from the FIA - that are so demotivating to us and you reach the point where you ask yourself why are we still doing all this?

Timo explains "All drag racing teams are racing for passion and as a hobby. We don't have a budget running into the millions like in the US and it's not our main profession. Amongst our team all of the crew members have a family, a lot of them have kids and a full-time job. Nearly all of the the time during which they support us is vacation and the reduction of overtime. But when those boys and girls get the feeling that some people are putting spokes in their wheels there is something not entirely correct. All of those who know our crew can probably imagine what's going on there."

Our team and therefore our drivers as well received financial penalties from the FIA which they have never proven to us - they probably aren't able to prove it. At the NitrOlympx in Hockenheim we received a €500 fee - without paying the fine Timo would have been suspended for the last two races - because a team boss pointed out some oil spills in the starting area before Timo's run in the semi-final. Immediately after the run the start crew thanked him for pointing out that safety risk to them. But the FIA and their Race Director? The Race Director stormed into our trailer, confronted Werner, Dennis and Timo, and accused Werner of impeding the track crew. He never showed any proof or evidence and he refused to talk to the start crew. The penalty remained - par ordre du mufti.

We paid the fee (under protest) before Tierp II because at that time our dream of the double European Championship was bigger than investing a lot of energy to appeal the decision. "without paying the penalty fee, Timo would have been suspended for two races", says Werner Habermann. "The work of the entire team would have been all a waste of time. But there is something that causes way more demotivation to passionate sportsmen: there is no hand-over of the FIA trophy after a long and energy-sapping season. In 2015 and 2017 the FIA trophy was delivered by the postman who left it on the doorstep. In 2018 Dennis recieved the trophy in Sweden at Speedgroup's season-end party. A big Thank You to Speedgroup for making it possible."

But this is just one of many reasons that we decided to run only twice this season. Timo clarifies: "The entire topic regarding the FIA was annoying, cost a lot of nerves, took time and cost us money. Especially in times of an increasing entry fee whilst the prize money is still at a level like in the 1990s. But this summer so many things are happening: first day at school, first day at kindergarten, some building construction and some long summer trips. We take those circumstances into account every pre-season". Dennis says "A big irritation is the schedule of the season: between the NitrOlympX and the second race in Tierp there are just three days. Not only our team is unhappy with this - all drivers are. And the thing is: it's against the regulation. For at least fouryears there is the promise to change this, so the teams get one week more between those two races. But it's all talk - no action. At the same time the FIA is surprised that less and less teams compete in the European Championships. Maybe they should think about those things.“

But we want to make sure that the two races we are going to won't be a pre-test for 2020. We want to win those races like every other race in the past. We are looking forward to seeing many of you in Hockenheim in mid-August - some of you we will see in mid-June. We are revealing this week what's going on in June.

Editor's note: As this is not Plutarch's Lives please see News FAQ 16.

VP expand European logistics.
23rd May: Eurodragster.com sponsor VP Racing Fuels, Inc, recognised around the world as the leader in racing fuel and performance chemicals, today announced a warehousing and logistics relationship with CP Benelux in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

"As VP seeks to expand its distribution network across Europe, this move will further support our distributors and end users with availability and ease of access", said Peter Coleman, VP's Business Development Consultant in Europe. "Establishing a logistics hub means that we can service our distributors better, and enter new markets and service additional customers as a result."

A wide selection of VP's racing fuels and consumer products will be stored at the site including VP's celebrated R5 rally fuel, its range of drag racing fuels, and the club racer's choice, the FIA-compliant RX102. Fuels suitable for virtually any motorsport application will be available, including jetski, motocross, circuit racing, rally, drift or hillclimb. Also on hand will be VP's Octanium Unleaded octane booster, winner of New Product Awards at the SEMA and PRI Shows in America.

"We are looking forward to helping VP Racing Fuels expand their business in Europe by improving their product availability to distributors and racers" commented Hans Wamelink, Executive Officer at CP Group. "As a former rally competitor myself, I know the importance of prompt delivery of the right product!"

CP Benelux was established in 1978 as a provider of logistics services with storage and transportation options for virtually every class of dangerous goods. With many years of experience, they were seen by VP as the ideal partner to handle hazardous goods in a complex regulatory and taxation environment.

For more information about VP and its products for distributors, racers, enthusiasts, and general consumers visit vpracingfuels.com/europe.

SPRC Summernationals entry update.
21st May: Thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall for forwarding us Version 2 of the official entry list for the SPRC Summernationals, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 22nd-23rd June and which is a round of the Motorsport UK, UK National and ACU UK Championships as well as a Championship round for some other classes. You can check out the SPRC Summernationals entry list by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

SPRC Summernationals entry closes on Friday 31st May, after which a Late Entry penalty may apply. You can download the official entry forms via the Information link on the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.

If you have any queries about event entry then please get in touch with Ian at ir.marshall@btconnect.com or call 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625).

Johnny done Good.
21st May: UK Pro Modified racer John Tebenham doubled up at The Doorslammers driving his Super Pro ET Pop and licencing in his Corvette Pro Mod, and got in touch with us to give us his impression of the weekend:


Wow! Wow! Wow! What a crazy weekend! From smoking burnouts in the Pop to a mad, fast Pro Mod, trying to get my licence and a 6.62/223 on my fifth pass. If you want to drive something mental in drag racing then drive a Pro Mod - when it's going flat out it's like sitting in a chainsaw!

The only problem I had was that if I wasn't ready, or wasn't about, for some of our fire-ups some other bloke was always in it... Marco - no problem, but you don't get to drive it.

We had a busy weekend driving both cars and could hardly see to get back home, we were so shattered.

Thanks to Freddy for his oil pump drive and a big Thanks to my dream team. Great to have Tracy Island back! We all wish Tim Mugridge all the best this week, he came to Pod and helped us all weekend, helping us out and working on both cars. We couldn't hold him back - what a man, great respect to him.

Johnny Bee Good will see you all at the Main Event.

Swift snippets.
21st May: If would seem foolish for a bookmaker to sponsor a car and not take bets on the race, so Top Fuel Dragster racer Tethys' primary sponsor MustardBet, are offering a range of bets on Top Fuel Dragster at this weekend's FIA/FIM Main Event. "If it goes well, they may consider other classes and other bet types in the future", says Tet. "You can see their prices and place your bets at mustardbet.com/sports/events/376821."

Another Thank You to Andy Marrs, this time for passing us the official timing data from the The Doorslammers, which you can check out by clicking here or by clicking on the Timing Data link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

Sawatzki tops run list.
21st May: Longtime readers will know that once the curiosity of stats guru and Honorary Eurodragster.com Staff Member Andy Marrs has been piqued he will find an answer however much work it takes. A throwaway comment about who has made the most passes down the track prompted Marrs to go through his data and find the answer for Santa Pod Raceway:

Two weeks and many, many hours of spreadsheet blindness later I've cobbled together an answer. I only hold data going back to 1995, and the older the data is the less accurate it is. Also, a fact of which I was already aware, timekeepers aren't the best spellers. Racers variously entering as Steve/Stephen/Steven, Dave/David, Pete/Peter etc have made accuracy somewhat testing.

That said, the runaway leader - something to which he is used - is reigning UK National 9.50 Bike Champion Richard Sawatzki with 943 runs down the track at Santa Pod. His nearest rivals are Dave Cherrett and Pete Cresswell, both on 839. In the process of doing this I was able to work out the most runs per season for each year, and top of that list is Paul Marston with 81 runs in 2011. A special mention, too, for Super Gas racer Tim Adam who topped the lists in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2006 and was second in 2002 and 2004.

These numbers are on the basis that the racer was entered into the race computer for a run, rather than completed a run. My data contains over 160,000 runs so going through that lot to pick out who didn't reach the finish line, or the start line for that matter, would take more years than I have left on this planet. Likewise I have not attempted to record the classes involved, this is purely a list of race computer entries.

If anyone wants to know their total then please drop me a line at andy.marrs@outlook.com.

Main Event Perfect Awards and more.
21st May: £200 is up for grabs at this weekend's FIA/FIM Main Event courtesy of Eurodragster.com and our sponsors.

This weekend's Eurodragster.com/Bad Habit Racing Perfect Light Award has been reset to £50 after it was won by Secret Worx Comp Eliminator racer Jordan Payne at the Springspeed Nationals. The money will be paid in cash to the first racer at the event to record a Reaction Time of 0.000 seconds. The Perfect Light Award is available to racers in all classes during qualifying and eliminations, but will only be awarded for the first Perfect Light of the event. The Perfect Light Award is presented in association with Cath and Tig Napier of Modurstang Pro ET team Bad Habit Racing.

Decals are not mandatory for the Perfect Light Award but we would appreciate it if Eurodragster.com decals are carried. Eurodragster.com decals are available in Signing On or from Eurodragster.com staff.

The Eurodragster.com Perfect ET Award supported by the Twister Race Team has also been reset to £50 after it was won by Modurstang Pro ET racer Bob Molden at the Springspeed Nationals. The money will be paid in cash to the first racer at the event to tun +0.000 on index or dial-in. The Perfect ET Award is available this weekend to racers in FIM Europe Junior Drag Bike, Good Vibrations Motorsports/Przym Paintworks Super Pro ET, Modurstang Pro ET, Phoenix Personnel Super Comp, Jon Morton Super Gas Shootout and Lucas Oil Junior Dragster (eliminations only), but will only be awarded for the first Perfect ET of the weekend. The Perfect Light Award is presented in association with Andy Hadfield of the Twister Race Team, who will be represented this weekend by Lucas Oil Junior Dragster racer Purdie Hadfield.

Decals are not mandatory for the Perfect ET Award but we would appreciate it if Eurodragster.com decals are carried. Eurodragster.com decals are available in Signing On or from Eurodragster.com staff.

Bob's Photo Finish Award, which is presented in association with longtime Eurodragster.com supporter Bob Roberts, will award £50 each to the racers involved in the closest race of eliminations at this weekend's event. The last Bob's Photo Finish Award, presented at the 2018 UK National Finals, was won by Lucas Oil Junior Dragster racers Thomas Cook-Abbott and Luke Mugridge whose finish line margin in E1 was 0.0005 seconds or 0.69 inches.

The closest race will be decided upon distance rather than time since, for example, 0.001 seconds at 230 mph is further than 0.002 seconds at 110 mph. For this reason the official timing data will need to be consulted so the winners will be announced here on Eurodragster.com as soon as possible after the event and the winners will then be contacted for their preferred method of payment.

Bob's Photo Finish Award is open to all classes during eliminations only, and although Eurodragster.com decals are not mandatory we would appreciate if it they are carried. Eurodragster.com decals are available in Signing On or from Eurodragster.com staff.

Web site updates.
21st May: Paul Bryan has updated his Flickr gallery with over 150 pictures from the Doorslammers. You can check out Paul's great pictures at www.flickr.com/photos/paulbryan_photopedia.

Doorslammers results.
20th May: Congratulations to the winners at the weekend's Doorslammers at Santa Pod Raceway:

VP Racing Fuels Pro Doorslammer: Mattias Wulcan 7.0446/116.43 bye, Micke Nord shut off
Turbo Technics Pro Street: Andy Bond 7.6622/202.57 def. Joe Stevens 8.0472/175.75
True Street: Mark Biggers 9.0994/157.97 def. Mark Carr 10.4938/146.17
OCS Group Big Bracket: Nic Williams (9.77) 9.7876/133.22 def. Lee Huxley (9.63) 9.6609/132.93
6 Cylinder: Gary Gooding 7.8962/169.81 bye, Mark Moseley shut off
Webster Race Engineering 4 Cylinder: Kev Jenkins 8.7667/150.67 def. Darren Scannell 11.5501/102.89
Eibach Front Wheel Drive: Nicolas Hackiere 10.3620/139.82 def. Calvin Skerritt 10.3422/136.52

Congratulations also to the SPRC track crews, race officials and marshals who never gave up in the face of weather, trails of fluid and other on-track incidents and to the Santa Pod management for adding Saturday's OCS Group Big Bracket prize fund to Sunday's fund after rain wrecked Saturday's schedule, enabling Eurodragster.com sponsor Nic Williams to pocket no less than £10,000 for yesterday's win and runner-up Lee Huxley and previous round losers to earn substantial amounts.

You can check out our John Woolfe Racing-sponsored Doorslammers reports, results, pit notes and galleries by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

Swift snippets.
18th May: Martin Hill and Donna Finnegan asked us to say a big Happy 50th Birthday to Fireforce Jet team front man Richie Henry. "Go easy on the cider tonight!", they say.

 Post-Main Event Test Days still open.
17th May: Places are still available for the Private Test Days at Santa Pod Raceway on the Tuesday and Wednesday immediately after the FIA/FIM Main Event (28th-29th May).

The Test Days are open, at a fee, both to racers who wish to stay after the Main Event and to those who wish to drive or trailer in on either or both days. All classes are welcome, both car and bike, with the exception of nitro-fuelled cars and bikes which cannot be accommodated. Slicks or Drag Radials are preferred; vehicles with street tyres will all have to use a particular lane. Spectators are also permitted to attend, again for a small fee.

The track will be prepped and safety cover will be provided.

If you would be interested in attending then please contact Thorsten Appel either at payupsukker@web.de or via Facebook.

Swift snippets.
17th May: Santa Pod Racers Club marshal Caroline Boncey has been in touch to thank everyone who sponsored her to undertake the Bubble Rush in aid of the Hospice of st Francis. "The latest tally is £650 and I am humbled and overwhelmed by everyone who sponsored me to help a charity very close to my heart", says Oscar. "We all ended up a lovely shade of Oscar green!". It is not too late if you wish to add to Oscar's total for such a great cause; you can read more and donate at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/caroline-boncey4.

Thanks to Andy Marrs for passing us the official timing data from the NSRA Nostalgia Nationals, which you can check out by clicking here or by clicking on the Timing Data link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

Doorslammers notebook.
16th May: If you are going to Santa Pod this weekend then please bear in mind that the A45 is down to a single-lane-each-way contraflow where it crosses the railway line in between Wellingborough and Rushden (map).

Eurodragster.com will be reporting live from Santa Pod for all three days of the Doorslammers in association with John Woolfe Racing. We will be posting real-time reports and results and end-day galleries tomorrow (Friday), Saturday and Sunday, with pit notes on Sunday. This weekend's webcast will be provided by Santa Pod Raceway and will be available on YouTube (Santa Pod TV) and Facebook (Santa Pod Raceway). We will post a direct Home Page link to our coverage as soon as it commences tomorrow, but in the meantime you can check out our Doorslammers Event Index, which includes links to the entry list, provisional running order, webcast and Nitro FM, by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

Nitro FM will be broadcasting all three days of the event on 96.2 FM at the track, or on-line at www.eurodragster.com/nitrofm.

Arthursson aims for title.
16th May: Andreas Arthursson and the PPF Racing team will be headed to Santa Pod Raceway next week for the first step in their tilt at the 2019 FIA European Pro Modified Championship. Ulf Stadig writes:

This is the first time that the team have travelled so far to race the '69 Chevelle. Previous races have been around Scandinavia.

37-year-old Andreas started as a street racer with high performance BMWs. This led to the business Pure Performance Factory, located in Avesta in Sweden, which he now owns with his partner Andreas Bäckström. The need for speed grew rapidly and a turbocharged Nova V8 was next until they stepped up and bought a 25:1E Chevy Monte Carlo from Martin Lundqvist's father Tom. This car was equipped with an LS twin turbo engine and was until a few years back the quickest LS-equipped car in the world with a 6.11, set in 2012.

As PPF grew and PPF Racing became quicker the desire for even better ETs led the team to order a 1969 Chevelle Pro Mod from chassis builder Mats Brag. This was supposed to be a joint effort with engine builder Nilsen Performance but that came to an halt and Andreas took over the engine concept and built a twin turbo BAE 490. The goal was set to became the quickest Pro Mod in Europe! PPF developed a good relationship with Precision Turbo, and FuelTech became their premier engine management provider, so the new engine was equipped with top-notch accessories.

After the début of the Pro Mod the fight was on for a few years to get it under six seconds over the quarter, and it became hard to find a sweet spot as the car delivered 6.0s with various bad outcomes. The team struggled and worked hard but the car was never consistent.

In late 2016 the car showed great performance in a test session in Malmö, recording a 3.88 eighth mile, and the team thought that 2017 would be a great season but still the car didn't deliver and was plagued with tyre shake and other bad stuff.

In the Fall of 2017 an idea arose: why not try to sell the old engine and go for a Proline Racing engine? A deal came up to buy a complete driveline from Troy Coughlin Sr's Jeg's Pro Mod Corvette as he was to parking his operation. This was the motor with which he won 2017 NHRA E3 Spark Plug Pro Modified Championship. PPF and Andreas received good support from friends and sponsors, and an order was sent for top-notch equipment. Help with a baseline was agreed with Proline Racing; Eric Dillard and the team were helpful truly professional.

Some of the PPF team went to Bahrain to meet with Eric, Steve Petty and Brandon Stroud as they were racing there with the Q80 team in January 2018. The PPF team got some great education on this trip! In the Spring of 2018 great partner Pa-So Produkter stepped up and brought Brandon over for the early test session down in Malmö. The car had been provided with a complete front-to-back set-up by the Proline Racing team and PPF and the test was awesome. Brandon was a real pro who helped to baseline the PPF Racing Chevelle.

Andreas and team contested four Pro Mod races in 2018 and won both of the FIA events at Tierp Arena. He also became Swedish Pro Modified Champion and won number one spot in the Summit Racing EDRS series. Confidence grew last season; with a consistent car the PPF team reset the European ET Record four times during the second event at Tierp and in the final round lowered it to a new best of 5.751.

For 2019 the car is NHRA-legal, except the auto-shifter which is not legal in Europe. The team made three hits at a local track and are now keen to get to Santa Pod to try to contend for the 2019 FIA Championship. The first part of Andreas' journey was completed with the ET record last season, this year's target is the number one Pro Mod plate.

Thanks to our sponsors PPF Racing, PA-So Produkter (Patrik Björk), FuelTech, MPM Oil, PLR Proline Racing, Precision Turbo and Engine, Allmek and Nuke Performance.

Bring it on!

Team picture courtesy and ©Marcus Möller

Take twenty three Anglias...
16th May: UK Outlaw Anglia racer Colin Millar writes that a twenty three-car Outlaw Anglia field was strong for their first event of the year, last weekend's NSRA Nostalgia Nationals at Santa Pod Raceway, but that there was a reason for that and that it resulted in what everyone agrees was the class' best-ever outing:

Since the event schedule has been altered the need to go racing was even more prevalent as we are usually out and about early April. We had a really nice surprise with the reappearance of an old hand in Outlaw Anglia, namely Jeff Meads. It's so good to see him back out for a full racing season in OA and as always his car is looking and going great, been a while out the seat but didn't take any time to get back into and sporting his new wheelie bars.


A few of us managed to get a run in on the Friday, trying to get those cobwebs blown away and the first-run-of-the-year nerves out of the way before the serious racing began. On Friday night the rain was torrential, mixed with hail and wind and it looked very much like the event would be a disaster. However, waking up in the morning the sun was out and the track was drying, and we thought that maybe the tide was turning (Possibly not the best choice of words - Ed). We were right, as our first race was at midday with some quick times and good solid straight racing, another round the back of three, and the last one with great air at half past seven at night. By this time the qualifying list was starting to show some pretty serious times with four cars into the sevens making it a very interesting time going into eliminations.  

Another first was the dulcet tones of two Outlaw Anglia racers, Simon Barlow and Phil Ginner Middleton, in the Tower. A couple of comedians with Colin Theobald no doubt sweating as this was a F time bomb waiting to go off, especially on the Saturday night as Ginner had had a few refreshments in the afternoon to keep his spirits up. But hand on heart after listening to the live feeds both done a very professional job, watch out Colin your job could be in jeopardy.


A strong sixteen-car field was ready to deliver early on Sunday morning, the winning eight moving through to the quarter finals but, unlike before, the losing cars going through to an Outlaw Anglia ET Bracket which they used to run back in the day. The resurgence of this event was keenly-anticipated for all who ran in it. It sounds simple but running a Pro tree on ET is very hard on your gearbox when do you get on the noise, especially if your competitor is away a few seconds before you!

Going in to the quarter finals something had happened which no one could explain: the need for speed, the electric atmosphere, the tension was all around the OA pits. How had the bar been raised, where did it come from? Who cares as it was happening right there right now, PBs for fourteen out of the nineteen cars which had run, making history which we were when you see the final results. The quarter final pairings were Paul Hensher and Ronnie Mercer, Simon Barlow and Jeff Meads, Colin Millar and Gary Bird, and Scotty Crookston and Steve Wells.


The fiercely-contested semi-finals were Scotty and Simon and Colin and Paul. Simon and Scotty up first with a fantastic race, Scotty getting away first but then Simon's power was unleashed delivering a storming 7.33/190.60 backed up for a new OA speed record. Colin and Paul up next with a storming run from Paul and a bit of tyre shake from Colin and possibly the closest race ever in the OA series, Paul winning with a 7.412 Colin losing with a 7.413.

The Outlaw Anglia ET Bracket final was between Phil Drewitt and Mat Cooper (come on the Benders), with old hand bracket racer Phil taking the trophy - but we forgot to get one, typical of Outlaw Anglia. In the OA final up stepped Paul Hensher, who had just run the quickest ET of his career, skipped the 7.5s and moved straight into the low 7.4s, and  up stepped Simon Barlow who had just taken the OA speed record as well as a new ET PB of 7.334. It was a cracking race with Paul getting the jump on Simon, but again the power came on and being a bit forgetful and not changing the nitrous bottle due to all the excitement (and old age) Paul ran out of steam, or rather NOS, and Simon took the win with a storming 7.33 setting a new ET record as well as the speed record.


The following racers noted PBs: Simon Barlow, Mark Bracking, Steve Wells, Colin Millar, Scotty Crookston, Barry Crookston, Garry Hill, Paul Hensher, Gary Bird, Philip Drewitt, Ronnie Mercer, Ted Booth, Kim Harrison and finally Luke Hoskins. All of the ET and speed PBs and much more including an NSRA Nostalgia Nationals event report can be found on the Outlaw Anglia web site. Jemma Bromley has been busy in the background with updates, reports and event galleries so please go and have a look at  www.outlawanglia.co.uk.

These mind blowing times in what are wee cars – remember, only a 101" wheelbase with the aerodynamics of a brick - would not have been possible without the fully-prepped track given to us by Santa Pod Raceway for the whole weekend, and we were in the safe hands of all the marshals if we ever needed help. This of course is very much appreciated and never taken for granted.

It has to be said that in the time that we can remember it is hard to think of any event which was better, quicker, faster or more competitive in Outlaw Anglia – and, folks, that's only round one. Can it get better? You bet your life it can. Come and watch live, or watch Santa Pod's fantastic live stream, but make sure that you mark the date for the next fantastic Outlaw Anglia extravaganza, the SPRC Summernationals on 22nd-23rd June. Be there or be square!

Mission nearly accomplished.
15th May: The weekend's NSRA Nostalgia Nationals was a great success for Simon Barlow and the Orange Pop Racing Outlaw Anglia team. Tuner Karl Harrison writes:

After very successful testing in 2018 it was time to get serious in 2019. The van received a few updates during the winter thanks to Jon Webster at Webster Race Engineering, a rear anti roll bar and a nice shiny new pair of rear shock absorbers and springs. Jon spent the Thursday morning before the event baselining the car after the updates and then we headed over to the track to set up the pit and set about making more changes. These included updating the Racepak datalogger with an extra fuel pressure sensor, and wiring in the transbrake which was to be used for the first time with the blown methanol engine combination.

Mods completed and tested we were ready to hit the track. We were ready to go on Friday morning but the weather caused havoc and we didn't get out till late in the afternoon. Unfortunately on the first attempt after the burnout the start line crew spotted some oil under the car. We shut off and headed back to the pits - thanks guys, had the leak not been spotted the weekend could have been whole lot different. We soon found the issue and ten minutes later we were back in the pairing lanes.

This time all was good, Simon staged and got on the transbrake and was out the hole like a scalded cat. A Personal Best sixty foot and 330 foot was the result. Simon was off the loud pedal just before the eighth as planned. The post-run service showed all was good and we all felt quietly confident that we were in for a good weekend's racing, Q1 on Saturday was going to be the first full pass on the car for 2019 so I put in what I thought was a sensible/mild tune-up in the engine. Another great launch followed with no shake or issues and what came up on the boards had us jumping for joy: another PB for ET and speed, 7.51/186. This put us second behind the awesome Flyin Fyfer team headed by Colin Millar,

After some small suspension tweaks from Jon Webster, and a small fuel system change from me, we headed to the line again. It just got better, we jumped into the number one spot with a storming 7.45/188, we were on a roll! We decided to sit out the third and final qualifying run as we wanted to service the car from top to bottom to make sure it was in tip top condition for Sunday's eliminations. As we weren't running Simon headed to the Tower with Ginner for a spot of colour commentary with Colin for the third session. It was worth sitting out just to hear those two enjoying the moment.

On to race day, we got through round one with an early shutoff 8.00. In round two we faced Jeff Meads in his awesome Pop. Jeff gave Simon a lesson on Reaction Times and we were in chase mode and SImon just got the win with a 7.74 but yet another PB was showing with a speed of 190.60 mph. With the 188.91 in qualifying as a back-up we had the speed record! Round 3 was going to be tough race, we faced young Scotty Crookston and his very rapid Flyin Scotsman. This proved to be a fantastic race which thankfully we won with another PB ET 7.33/190.60.

By this point we all had sore shoulders, arms and throats through celebrating but we had to compose ourselves and get ready for what was going to be an epic final. We were up against Paul Hensher who had also had been killer all weekend. Paul had Simon on the lights but then suffered shake but the Fordson was on another flyer, a 7.34/193 got us the win and the ET record to finish off a truly magical weekend's racing.

The whole crew worked their socks off and deserve a massive amount of credit for what they have achieved since this beast of a race car was born. A huge Thank You also has to go to Jon Webster at Webster Race Engineering, Post en Dros for an unbelievable engine, and Jeff Bull for the torque converter and the invaluable advice. Also a big up to the brilliant Santa Pod guys and girls for running a brilliant event from start to finish. I must say a big well done to Colin Millar on his 7.30, close but no cigar on this occasion but believe me the chase is on. The 2019 Outlaw Anglia Championship is well and truly underway with a bang.

Next up is the Doorslammers, where we are going up against the big boys with big toys. Who's up for seeing a blown methanol Pop against a Pro Mod? We can't wait and we will be doing our best to crack the 200 mph barrier. If you're heading to the Doorslammers please come and say hello to us, the pit is always open and welcoming to fans and friends.

Swift snippets.
15th May: UK Pro Modified racer-in-waiting John Tebenham and team say that they are ready and keen for their début this weekend, but not too confident as yet. "I've got a great team of people on board and have had lots of input and help from Andy Robinson Race Cars", says Johnny Bee Good aka Frank. "We'll see you up there, you'll definitely see me... from anywhere in the world."

Returning Super Pro ET racer Ron Bartlett has been in touch to thank Simon Eykyn, his Crew Chief of over twenty five years. "Over the last two months we have been down at the workshop all hours and it finally paid off last week making the final in Super Pro ET", says Ron. "The car was like clockwork which made my job easy... ish! We calmed it down a bit because of the weather and it would run pretty much on its dial-in every time, mid 8.20s not too shabby. I would like to say thanks to my sister Ann for her support on and away from the track, last but not least Frank and Cliff Griffin as without them the car would not be performing the way it is, an awesome little car. A fantastic team effort, roll on the Main Event. Also well done to all at the Pod in what can only be described as difficult weather conditions, it was bloody freezing on the Saturday."

Many thanks to Andy Marrs for passing us an updated table of UK and European Bests now including those class and track records set at the NSRA Nostalgia Nationals. You can check out the record sheets by clicking here or by clicking on the European and UK Bests link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

Our good buddy Remco Scheelings is continuing his series of Features on the Drag Racing Europe Blog with his latest victim returning Top Fuel Dragster racer Susanne Callin. You can check out Remco's Feature by clicking here.

Super Pro ET Challenge underway.
15th May: Markus Münch writes that the Super Pro ET Challenge is well on its way:

Brian Pateman was the first to score points at the Springspeed Nationals. The Wide Open race at Rivanazzano followed, at which reigning Champion Franz Aschenbrenner managed to get third. The next chance to collect points will be the FIA/FIM Main Event at Santa Pod. Eight out of the twenty one Challenge participants will be there as part of the huge forty four-car field.

If you would like to be part of this series run by the Drag Race Union then you can simply register for a small fee. Your best four races count towards your overall points and at the and of the season the top five racers get prize money. Get in touch at kontakt@suproet.de.

Thank You to our 2019 sponsors Racepoint.it (Harley Davidson Garage Rudiferia), Rechsteiner Bedachungen, Mike Bruckmüller (Team 74 Racing), Billy Gane Motors, Jens Könnecke Fahrzeugtechnik, Stefan Eisenhauer Hughes Getriebe Service, M+F Montageservice, Geiger Cars München, Hillbilly Racing, Spedition Schumann and the BDRC (Bavarian Drag Racing Club).

Looking forward to the Main Event, let's go racing!

No Prep Nationals 4 entry open.
15th May: Paul Marston writes that entry is open for No Prep Nationals 4:

No Prep 4 takes place on 29th-20th June at Church Fenton, Leeds Airport East, Leeds, LS24 9SE as part of the Ultimate Motor Show, No Prep Outlaw Drag Racing is eighth-mile, flashlight start, no time, no speed, heads-up Doorslammer racing. Other than safety there are no rules.

This is a two-day event for competitors. There is no limit on entries, there will be space for everyone. Arrival day Friday, Saturday is simply test and tune (RWYB) all day. Sunday is No Prep Nationals 4. Depending on entries there may possibly be a race held on the Saturday, but that will be looked at closer to the day. This is the first time that we will have visited Leeds Airport, there is no noise restriction and this is the first event in our 2019 calendar where we can host the big boys of No Prep. So if the Rockingham Dragstrip No Prep National events are anything to go by, this will soon become a date not to miss.

We have thought long and hard about the classes and have come up with the below. If anyone wants to bring another class then please contact us, we are happy to discuss additional classes. RWYBers are welcome on both days, Saturday and Sunday, you will get plenty of runs on Saturday and will also get to run between classes on Sunday. All competitors will have to be members of the Straightliners Club and will need either an MSA license of an IOPD licence, all of which can be done on the day or in advance.

The classes will be:

No Prep Big Tyre, £1500 cash to win (sixteen car field)
No Prep Small Tyre, £1500 cash to win (sixteen car field)
True/Pro Street Combo, £750 cash to win (sixteen car field)
Monster Big Bracket, £750 cash to win (twenty car field) usual timing equipment, eighth mile. RWYB for everyone, with timing tickets, 60 feet, 330 feet, ET and Speed eighth mile

The rules in No Prep are fairly simple, for a copy simply download from the No Prep Drag Racing Facebook page. For entry fees and forms or other information E-Mail pmdragracing@gmail.com, call or text me on 07831 650230, or visit the No Prep Drag Racing Facebook page. Once again our sincere thanks to Trevor Duckworth and the Straightliners organisation for hosting us.

Nomads launch Street Racer Shootout.
15th May: The Nomad Drag Racing Club announced the return of the Street Racer Championship. However, after an unforeseen objection, the Club has started afresh. It was an easy fix and the Nomad Street Racer Shootout was born. Howard Holmes writes:

Typically, street racing is of course an illegal, dangerous and unsanctioned activity occurring on public roads. The Nomad Street Racer Shootout is taking place over a quarter mile, from a standing start, on a sanctioned track with Tag Heuer timing equipment. Like the public highway, however, there is no prep to the track surface.

The key elements are:
  • Genuine street cars with MoT, and in street legal trim.
  • Rapid-fire shootout, you win your race, you go back to the fire up lane to contest the next round, until the winner emerges.
  • As previously announced, the event is on 27th July 2019 at Elvington.
  • Sixteen-car field, and depending on the level of interest this may be increased.
  • Pre-booking is required and details can be found via the Nomad Drag Racing Club's Facebook page.
  • The Nomads are hoping to attract sponsorship and there may be a modest entry fee, all of which will be returned as cash prizes. More details will be announced nearer the time.
Follow us on Facebook, search Nomad Drag Racing Club.

Doorslammers racer update.
14th May: Santa Pod Raceway's Doorslammers team have been in touch with information about this weekend's event:

With entries looking strong as we approach the 200 mark across all classes it's still not too late to enter, to check out the entry list and entry details click here.

Pits: Doorslammers racers who wish to leave their race cars and trailers in place for next week's Main Event will need to pit in their Main Event positions. If you wish to do this please make sure you are sited correctly by a pit marshal. Extra security will be in place during the week to ensure the safety of kit left on site, but racers must understand that everything left is at their own risk. Gates are open to racers from 10:00 until 19:00 this Thursday (16th). Racer tickets will not be posted out but can be collected on the gate. There are no ticket sales on Thursday, so racer ticket holders only please. Power is due to be switched on during Thursday afternoon.

Friday: Gates open for everyone else at 09:00 on Friday. The track opens at 09:30; runs will count towards qualifying in the heads-up classes whilst Big Bracket runners will get an extra day to test at no extra cost. After the track closes for the day there will be a drivers' meeting at the Doorslammers stage area at 18:30, please attend this meeting.

Saturday: Due to heavy entries in Pro Doorslammer and FWD the first rounds of these classes will be run on Saturday. The draws for these classes will be at 17:00 on Saturday, with the first rounds taking place from 18:15. Drivers in these classes must be present at the draw. Qualifying for all other classes will end at 17:00 on Saturday. Second round draws for Pro Doorslammer and FWD, and first round draws for all other classes, will take place at the Doorslammers stage at 19:45. A link to the running order can be found by clicking here.

Sunday: For those of you lucky enough (or good enough) to win money at the Doorslammers, payments will be made via BACS after the event so please make sure that Signing On have the relevant details.

Good luck everyone!

Heads Up: Redzone.bet are back.
14th May: Redzone.bet are pleased to be back at Santa Pod Raceway for the 2019 Doorslammers. Registered Redzone customers in the UK and Ireland will get the exclusive opportunity to bet on races at Santa Pod for this event via mobile or desktop; there is even free wifi on the famous Santa Pod banking! Betting will be available on the outcome of all Heads Up classes.

Visit www.redzone.bet/santapod to receive a bonus on your first deposit.

NSRA Nostalgia Nationals results.
13th May: Congratulations to the winners at the weekend's NSRA Nostalgia Nationals at Santa Pod Raceway:

Outlaw Anglia: Simon Barlow 7.3441/193.85 def. Paul Hensher 8.0394/155.79
Nostalgia Super Stock: Claire Johnson (10.04) 10.0291/125.91 def. Jake Cawthorne (12.20) 12.1729/110.41 DQ breakout
Gasser Circus: Sean Milsom (10.00) 10.0993/13.72 def. Steve Matthews (10.84) 10.8962/118.04
Tri Chevy Shootout: Graham Smith 9.6707/142.49 def. Brad Strevett 11.7910/110.85
Outlaw Anglia ET Bracket: Phil Drewitt (9.50) 9.5799/312.97 def. Matt Cooper (8.10) 8.3184/163.06

Wild Bunch top four (average variance from index):
  1. Mark Coulsell 0.0585
  2. Phil James 0.0712
  3. Craig Larman 0.0947
  4. Callum Swinchatt 0.1093
Subject to ratification the following records were set. Congratulations to:

Outlaw Anglia ET: 7.332 seconds, Simon Barlow
Outlaw Anglia speed: 190.60 mph, Simon Barlow

You can check out our John Woolfe Racing-sponsored NSRA Nostalgia Nationals reports, results and galleries by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

SPRC Summernationals entry update.
11th May: Thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall for forwarding us Version 1 of the official entry list for the SPRC Summernationals, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 22nd-23rd June and which is a round of the Motorsport UK, UK National and ACU UK Championships as well as a Championship round for some other classes. You can check out the SPRC Summernationals entry list by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

SPRC Summernationals entry closes on Friday 31st May, after which a Late Entry penalty may apply. You can download the official entry forms via the Information link on the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.

If you have any queries about event entry then please get in touch with Ian at ir.marshall@btconnect.com or call 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625).

FIA/FIM Main Event racer update.
11th May: Thanks also to Ian Marshall for forwarding us details of the arrangements for the FIA/FIM Main Event:

Thursday 23rd May
08:00 Gates open for the duration of the event
10:00 Signing On office opens
10:00 Sportsman car scrutineering commences (Scrutineering schedule)

Friday 24th May
07:00 Signing On office opens
07:00 Sportsman car scrutineering commences
09:30 Track opens for qualifying
10:00 Pro bike scrutineering commences (Scrutineering schedule)
12:30 Pro car scrutineering commences with FIA Pro Modified (Scrutineering schedule)

Saturday 25th May
07:00 Signing On office opens
07:00 Scrutineering commences
09:30 Track opens for qualifying and eliminations

Sunday 26th May
08:00 Signing On office opens
08:00 Scrutineering commences
09:30 Track opens for qualifying and eliminations

Monday 26th May
09:30 Track opens for eliminations

The provisional running orders are now available and can be checked out by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Please note as ever that running orders are subject to change due to weather or track conditions or for any other reason deemed necessary by race officials.

No race vehicle motors are to be fired up before 09:00 or after 21:00 on any day of the event, including Thursday's Pro Peak Performance Test and Tune Day. Before 09:00 vehicles should be pushed or towed to Scrutineering, not driven or ridden. Non-observation of curfew will result in exclusion from the event.

Junior Dragster and Junior Drag Bike racers please remember that vehicles should be pushed, not driven or ridden back to the pits once through the arch beside Scrutineering.

Only race officials and SPR staff are allowed in Race Control whilst racing is underway. Should racers wish to raise any matter with race officials then please do not visit Race Control; please firstly see the Race Secretary who is based in Signing On.

Colour commentators are requested to come to Commentary only when their class is at the head of the lanes, to vacate Commentary as soon as their class has run, and not to bring guests to Commentary with them.

At the request of SPR management the Eurodragster.com office at the Bankside end of Race Control is similarly out of bounds during racing except to Eurodragster.com staff, Zeon TV crew, and racers or crew collecting Eurodragster.com Perfect Awards.

Racepak trackside support update.
10th May: Dick Koster of Eurodragster.com sponsor Post en Dros writes that trackside support for Racepak products now has to be chargeable:

As you're already aware, the Holley group purchased the MSD and Racepak brands some time ago, and has since been busy consolidating this and reducing their individual brand and overall group costs. Traditionally, the Racepak brand had always given discounts and other benefits, which allowed us to offer the free-of-charge on-site track support service, which many of you have come to respect and rely upon.

As these benefits from Racepak have now ceased, we can sadly no longer offer this free trackside service and will now need to charge teams a rate of €25 per thirty minutes to cover the time we spend assisting them with their car or bike. We hope that racers appreciate the level of service and dedication we have provided over the last few years and the associated benefit to their racing programmes, and that they will understand and support the need to introduce this new pricing model and will continue to value and utilise our trackside presence and vast technical expertise.

The first event under this regime is the upcoming FIA/FIM Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway.

NSRA Nostalgia Nationals notebook.
 9th May: Ethan Lisle writes that this weekend's NSRA Nostalgia Nationals at Santa Pod Raceway hosts will host the first round of Round One of the UK Nostalgia Super Stock lifestyle Championship. "Twenty one cars have entered, which is a fantastic field and up on numbers from last year's first round", says Ethan. "Some of our racers have already been out on the track this year in Pro ET and Sportsman ET, and others have competed in No Prep events across the country. We look forward to a fantastic weekend of racing, and we are always looking for new members to join in the fun. Visit our web site at www.nostalgiasuperstock.co.uk for information about the class and follow our Instagram page @uk_nss to keep updated on everything UK Nostalgia Super Stock."

Colin Millar says that the Outlaw Anglias have a confirmed twenty two-car field for this weekend's event. "We're ready to put in a fantastic show for all our fans", says Colin. "We wish all the racers the very best weekend, and we thank the marshals and Santa Pod Raceway for providing us with a great place to race."

Eurodragster.com will be at Santa Pod Raceway from Friday to Sunday to bring you event coverage from the Nostalgia Nationals in association with John Woolfe Racing. The plan is for an end-day gallery on all three days, reports and results on Saturday and Sunday, and pit notes on Saturday. A free webcast will be provided by Santa Pod Raceway. We will post a direct Home Page link to our coverage when it commences but for bookmarking purposes you can check out our NSRA Nostalgia Nationals Event Index by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

Many thanks to Stephen Billings for letting us know that the junction of Wymington Lane and the A6 will be closed for three days starting next Monday morning (13th). Click here for a map.

Stats package.
9th May: Many thanks to Andy Marrs for passing us an updated table of UK and European Bests now including those class and track records set at the Festival of Power. You can check out the record sheets by clicking here or by clicking on the European and UK Bests link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

Thanks also to Andy Marrs for passing us the official timing data from the Springspeed Nationals, which you can check out by clicking here or by clicking on the Timing Data link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

JT does it his way.
9th May: The UK's John Tebenham and team were at the Festival of Power at Santa Pod to licence in the JT Racing Ford Pop, ultimately moving between Modurstang Pro ET and Bloodwise/Another Small f Super Pro ET.

"Licencing wasn't too much aggro", says JT, "apart from never having driven an auto except for a dumper! We had loads of problems in the first four burnouts, but then found that the line lock was on the back wheels! Strange... sorry Ian for nearly running you over in the burnout! We eventually made the class and YES, in the first round went 8.93 on that dial-in, but who left that red on the Tree?

"It was great fun and I've missed it loads. Big thanks to Pod crew.

"Pro Mod next - petrified!"

On that subject, our good buddy Remco Scheelings is continuing his series of Features on the Drag Racing Europe Blog and JT/Frank/Johnny Bee Good is his latest victim. You can check out Remco's Feature by clicking here.

VWDRC Heads-Up 1 report.
9th May: 14th April was the date for the Volkswagen Drag Racing Club's first-ever Heads-Up Race, which took place at the GTi Spring Festival at Santa Pod Raceway. Paul Jackson writes:

What a day it was, glorious sunshine and an intercooler-friendly cold snap in the air, the drag racing gods were smiling on us. There was a real cross-section of cars, a mixture of air and water-cooled, front wheel drive, rear wheel drive and even four wheel drive, ranging from Arndt Putzmann's 1000bhp Beetle to Samir Lukac's 4wd Mk1 Golf, with everything from Diesel Seats and Supercharged VR6 Golfs and even road legal Golf Rs in between. Make no mistake, whilst the majority of these were serious purpose-built race cars, we had two road legal, driven-to-the-event road cars, making this class incredibly diverse and open to all.

As this is a trial year, and not yet a Motorsport UK-approved class, it had to be run around RWYB at GTi SpringFest. Tthis meant military precision timekeeping to ensure that everyone was ready to go at the correct time. Luckily Committee member Paul Jackson is a military man, so between he and Club Treasurer Abi Tether everyone was signed on, drivers' meeting complete, safety gear on, and lined up on time ready to go for Qualifying Round 1. Round 1 of qualifying had some highs and lows. Carl Goldsmith was first out, and he found himself in the unique position of being the first ever person to stage in VWDRCHU, and seconds later he was the first person ever to get pushed back in VWDRCHU due to a broken driveshaft. That's what happens when you try putting nearly 600 bhp through a thirty year old year old Golf! Carl isn't one to let a snapped shaft ruin his day, so back to the pits and in the usual VWDRC family way, help/tools/advice/friendly abuse were soon provided. The only problem was that Carl had a custom driveshaft to fit the six-speed 02M gearbox into his MK2, and the chance of getting one in the pits was a million to one... incredibly, fellow racer Sam Lloyd had exactly that as spare! Fifteen minutes later Carl was ready to go for the next qualifying round. 

Samir Lukac came out fighting in his Mk1 Golf, laying down an incredible 10.57-second pass making him number one qualifier. Adrian 'Goose' Solly surprised everyone by turning up in his newly-wrapped A3 courtesy of sponsor EST Tuning. It looked fantastic in grey with the goose silhouettes, a far cry from a car once described in print as crusty! Adrian's day only got better as the R32T put in a strong low eleven-second pass, but with a 139 mph terminal speed, so there was certainly more to come from him. Chris Roylance of Volks Workshop fame was in his spur-of-the-moment eBay purchase Crappado; bought cheap just to see what it could do. Chris, being a master tuner, had manged to produce 450 bhp from the completely unknown quantity 20VT, however he had fuelling issues due to a damaged pump and trundled down the strip for the slowest pass of the day - twenty four seconds! Oly Whitehouse in the Beetle was completely down on power, this turned out to be a snapped spark plug which was quickly fixed. Sadly, Bruce Collins in the beautiful Air Hoodlum Beetle was having lots of issues and could only manage a fifteen- seconds pass. After Q1 seven racers had met the 11.99 cut-off including Luis Silva's rapid,  smoke-billowing TDi Seat. 

During Q2 Sam Lloyd finally got his amazing, completely home-built VRT Mk2 to hook up, earning him a 11.8-second pass and a qualifying position. Barrie Wallis put on a great Red Arrows-style  white smoke display as the turbo let go in his MK7 Golf R, meaning an early bath for him. Chris in the Crappado had sorted out his fuel problems and produced a low twelve-second pass, not quite enough to qualify, but still very impressive for a such a last-minute budget race car.

The plan was to have two qualifying rounds in the morning and then move on to eliminations after lunch, however SPRC's Chief Starter Ian Marshall was so impressed with how well the class had been run that he gave us a third qualifying round. This ended up being great news for a couple of the racers; Ed Keech had resolved his earlier nitrous problems and was able to put in a stout 11.77 qualifying pass, and it was smiles all round for Goose as he ran his first-ever ten-second quarter-mile pass moving him up to number three qualifier. Carl not having qualified yet, and  having been understandably cautious in Q2, needed to qualify. A monster burnout proved too much and unfortunately the huge drag slicks caught on a wheel arch ripping the passenger side  tyre to bits, so Carl was pushed back for the second time Chris Roylance was also trying hard in the Corrado, possibly too hard as the gearbox decided it didn't want to be part of a race car  anymore and scattered itself over the start line, sadly putting an end to his day.

After the dramas of qualifying, with five of the fourteen entrants retiring due to damage, there were nine cars left so the decision was taken to run an eight-car ladder with number nine  Arndt as first alternative: he was guaranteed a spot, as despite qualifying third Damian MacDonagh had decided to call it a day after his Mk7 R had developed a misfire, and Barrie Wallis  was definitely out after his turbo failure in Q2.

In the first pair of round one of eliminations Ed Keech lined up against Goose. Ed was keen to get a good start and managed to snap a driveshaft in the process, handing the win to Adrian who wrung the neck of the A3 and produced a new Personal Best 10.78-second pass. Arndt's crazy methanol-powered Beetle was having some fuelling problems at low revs and bogging on the line, but once the taps opened it flew. Arndt managed to reach 151 mph despite a fairly easy launch, knocking Sam Lloyd out in the process.

We were down to two pairs for E2, and Samir produced the quickest time of the day with a blistering 9.8-second run giving him a place in the finals next to Sam Chisholm-Brown.

Finals time! 650bhp of FWD MK2 Golf v 750bhp of 4wd MK1 Golf, it was going to take a lot for Sam to beat Samir but, as ever in racing, if you want to finish first, first you've got to finish. After a lightning start Samir's sequential gearbox was damaged and locked itself in fourth, letting Sam through to take the win although not to take away from Sam's very impressive 10.64 pass.

So that was the end of what was a fantastic inaugural event; the standard of cars was superb and the racing unpredictable as ever, the class is sure to go from strength to strength. The next round is on 2nd June at Das Auto Show at Santa Pod, so if you think have a quick VAG car and want to get involved then check out  www.vwdrc.com or contact the club via social media.

See you at the track!

All hail No Prep.
9th May: Lancaster Dragstrip and the Straightliners organisation hosted No Prep True Street and Pro Street last Saturday, and Paul Marston writes that to say that conditions were trying would have been an understatement:

A lot of rain and hailstones, biting wind etc, you get the picture. Not ideal drag race conditions but this is No Prep. The weather naturally kept a good number of competitors away but there were half a dozen, like us, not intelligent enough not to go - or hard core to the bone - who made the trip.

This was my first visit to Lancaster Drag Strip at East Kirkby, as I missed the April meeting due to work commitments and so had to buy breakfast for all the No Prep crew. The track at Lancaster Dragstrip is outstanding, a real nice surface, plenty of grip was available, a great venue for No Prep. This facility has alot of potential. There was plenty of room for all the teams, no restrictions on pit space area, take what you need.

The event was run in mildly moist conditions, but as all of the competitors had treaded road-legal tyres they came to us and said "We are up for this as it's No Prep, which means it's the same for everyone!".

The competition was fast and furious, run in our usual format of three rounds back-to-back with everyone running everyone. This is done on a points system: two points for a win, one point for a defeat, and no points for a no-show. The winner was none other than Pete Lane in his mighty Plymouth Barracuda who took all of his rounds - one being a real squeaker which needed video camera footage replayed quite a few times to determine the winner. Hard-fought and well-deserved. Second place went to Dave Wiggins in his matt black nitrous SBC '66 Nova which was his second No Prep Trophy: Dave won the inaugural No Prep Nationals at North Weald in 2017.

Cash and trophies sorted, another race was won and done.

No Prep returns to this great facility on Saturday 7th September, the same weekend as the European Finals. Our next event is the No Prep Nationals at Leeds Airport on 29th-30th June. Although the No Prep Event is on the Saturday competitors can arrive on the Friday and, providing that they have Straightliners membership, can stay and test on the Sunday in between the bikes running their eliminations and qualifying.

Mucho thanks to Trevor Duckworth and the Straightliners organisation for hosting us, and to all of the No Prep Crew for running our side of things. Last but by no means least thanks to all of our competitors who braved the conditions and had a great time, much respect to you all.

For rules or other information E-Mail pmdragracing@gmail.com, call or text me on 07831 650230, or visit the No Prep Drag Racing Facebook page.

Web site updates.
9th May: With two Nostalgia Funny Cars at Santa Pod at the weekend Chris Eyre went along to see what happened and he has updated his European Nostalgia Funny Car web site with an illustrated report. You can read check out Chris' report, videos and photos at euronostalgiafunnycar.jimdo.com. "Thank you to Eurodragster.com for the videos, and the event coverage too" says Chris (Thanks, you're welcome - Ed).

Tierp Internationals entry update.
8th May: Tomas Pettersson has been in touch with a reminder that tomorrow (Thursday 9th) is the closing date for Tierp Internationals entry at the standard rate. You can enter on-line at www.dragracing.eu.

You can check out the current Tierp Internationals entry list by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

Swift snippets.
8th May: Further to yesterday's news item from Keith Bartlett, Darren Prentice writes to remind riders wishing to enter any FIM European Drag Bike Championship class that to be eligible for prize fund and travel money, including the promoter adjustment, you must be registered for the FIM European Championships. You can register for the Championships on the Trackgroup Europe web site at www.tgeurope.eu.

Many thanks to Yvonne Tramm and our own Simon for passing us the post-Springspeed Nationals points standings in the UK National Drag Racing Championships and SPRC Club Championships. You can check out the points on our OCS Paint-sponsored Points Standings page by clicking here or by clicking on the OCS Paint Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

Editor's note: Due to a badly-timed fire alarm (That's what happens when you let the waiter cook the chips - Ed) the rest of today's news update will have to be posted later. Keep the news coming to news@eurodragster.com.

Santa Pod message to racers and crew.
7th May: With the ever-popular Main Event nearly upon us and a high entry field, Darren Prentice of Santa Pod Raceway has been in touch to remind and to ask the racing community for their help on a few matters to maximise use of available pit space:
  • It would seem that the passing around of spare racer tickets is happening on a regular basis. Your racer tickets are for your crew and family members only, please do not sell them on or give them away for free (especially to people who would otherwise purchase a ticket). Tickets sales are the major source of SPR income, this enables us to invest heavily back into the venue's facilities, which in turn helps you, the racer.

  • The passing around of spare Pit Passes is also not allowed, a corresponding vehicle registration number must be entered on the pass to enable its use. If you have to change your vehicle then you need to change your vehicle pass. The crossing out of a registration numbers on the pass will render that pass invalid. If you are planning to change vehicles during an event you need to return to the advance ticket office and swap it for a new one.

  • Should these practices continue we will assume that the racer ticket allocation is too high and we will adjust this accordingly.

  • Pit bikes, scooters and golf buggies; the age limit for riding or driving any of these vehicles is 17. The use of these vehicles is confined to the pits and staging lanes only, please do not use or allow anyone to use your vehicle for unnecessary journeys outside of the pits and or staging lanes.

  • Pitting for the Main Event is going to be extremely tight so we need everyone to help us with this. There will be only one caravan or Motorhome allowed per pit, any extras will have to go in the racers' camping area. The saving of space for another later arrival will not be permitted at the Main Event. Pit placements will be made to maximise the space available, you will be asked to pit up to and tightly against your racing neighbours, we can't have any gaps between pit bays so please follow the instructions of the pit marshals. We also cannot guarantee who you will be pitted next to so just because you have asked to be pitted next to someone doesn't mean it going to happen so please bring enough crew and tools or be prepared for a small walk, however, we will do our level best to accommodate these requests where we can. Please remember a double entry does not entitle you to twice the room.

  • We will also need racers that don't need their trailers during the event to remove them to a dedicated trailer parking area, these are normally on the gravel strip next to the pits or behind the return road banking. Having a tent pitched on a trailer and left in the pits will not be an acceptable excuse to leave the trailer in the pits. Please only take vehicles into the pits that are absolutely necessary, if you have a pit pass for a vehicle that can be parked outside the pits please leave it outside.

  • If we cannot solve these pitting issues then we will be forced to look at the class structure for 2020 to make sure that there is enough space in the pits. This may be done by dropping a class or capping the entry size.
As ever we have the full support from the SPRC so it's no good calling Ian or the SPRC Committee, these decisions have been made directly from the boardroom at Santa Pod Raceway and will be actioned by SPRC marshals and SPR staff.

Thank you for your understanding.

Tierp, Kauhava FIM confirmed.
7th May: Trakbak Racing CEO and FIM European Drag Bike Championship promoter Keith Bartlett has sent the following release regarding the 2019 FIM Championship:

Although extremely late in the day I am pleased to announce that the FIM European Drag Bike Championship will return to both Sweden and Finland in 2019. The two new rounds will be held at Tierp Arena on 6th-9th June and at the new track at Kauhava in Finland on 5th-7th July.

At Tierp Arena there will be only three classes: Top Fuel Bike, Supertwin Bike and Pro Stock Bike; there will be no FIM Super Street Bike at Tierp in 2019. At the new Kauhava track all four classes, Top Fuel Bike, Supertwin Bike, Pro Stock Bike and Super Street Bike, will be running.

There have been very long and drawn-out negotiations to make these two rounds happen in 2019. This has been due to much contractual, scheduling and overall direction discussions between the FIM and the track promoters for European drag bike racing going forwards. I am fully aware that this is far too late for many riders, if not all of the teams and riders, to have rounds of the Championship confirmed.

All I can add is that we are already in discussions on the provisional 2020 calendar and race schedule, which will be announced by early October at the latest, if not sooner. The final fixed calendar for the 2020 FIM European Drag Bike Championship will be confirmed late in October 2019.

We intend to hold meetings with all the riders and teams at the Main Event, and at Tierp Arena two weeks later, to discuss the whole situation between the riders and track promoters. We will announce the proposed dates for those two meetings later this week.

Swift snippets.
7th May: We would like to say a big Happy Birthday with hugs to Hayley Fyfe of the Wrathchild and Rebel Wild Bunch team. Have a lovely day Hayley; the cake date has gone into the scheduler.

 Venom found in pineapples?
6th May: From UK Nostalgia Funny Car racer Tony Betts, who sat out the weekend's race, comes something akin to a spy picture:

Venom Racing have gone through a few changes over the last couple of months. It meant us sitting out the Springspeed Nationals; this is something we never wanted to happen but it was agreed with the team that this would be best. However we are back on track, and after a good couple of days at the Snake Pit there is light at the end of the tunnel thanks to Bob Nigh. Mark Luton and Ashley Phipps have come on board with Venom for the 2019 season.

We have also had a request from some guy across the Pond to join Venom for Dragstalgia. We think he looks familiar, but we only have an old photo he sent us. He will be bringing close friend Jerry to assist him. Big thanks to Geoff Stillwell for organising this for us. I am so looking forward to the coming meetings.

 Supercharged Outlaws open 2019 account.
6th May: The UK's Supercharged Outlaws have a record entry of eighteen for this weekend's NSRA Nostalgia Nationals at Santa Pod Raceway:

Jim Maher of Good Vibration Motorsports has continued the company's sponsorship of our rounds with the Quick Reaction Award. They are a family run business, nothing is too much trouble, a wonderful service. Also Simon Boot of the Bootlegger has also sponsored this round.

There are a lot of new cars out this year and Aaron Windridge, after winning the Championship in his first year in the hot seat of the Team Thing altered, will be defending his title with an updated version of the old car to try to get into the sixes.

Swift snippets.
6th May: Lizz Charman tells us that, real life having got in the way and now sorted itself out, the time is right to continue with the construction of her and Kev Charman's Top Fuel Bike. "We are under no illusions that there is a whole heap of work to go", says Lizz. "Big thanks to Dave Branch for finding time in between his salt flat build to machine parts for us. Now it's all at Webster Race Engineering, massive thanks to Jon for his enthusiasm  and workmanship, as always. It looks outstanding. We will add more to the story as work progresses."

Further to Ian Marshall's news item last Thursday, Andy Marrs tells us that Kunmadaras FIM Super Street Bike victor Alex Hope is only the fourth rider to win events in two different FIM Europe classes, the others being Roel Koedam in Top Fuel Bike and Supertwin, Rikard Gustafsson in Funny Bike and Top Fuel Bike, and Christian Jäger in Supertwin and Funny Bike. Alex also overtook dad and Pro Stock Bike racer Chris Hope in all-time FIM points earned with 875 to Chris' 795.

Springspeed Nationals results.
5th May: Congratulations to the winners of the Springspeed Nationals at Santa Pod Raceway:

Secret Worx Comp Eliminator: Kev Perkins (7.99) 7.9004/169.748 def. Dave Smith (7.45) 7.6695/178.52
Accelerate for a Cause and a Cure/Pete Walters Race Design Super Pro ET: Brian Pateman (8.74) 8.8115/145.26 def. Ron Bartlett (8.25) 8.3277/164.23
Modurstang Pro ET: Brian Huxley (9.53) 9.5507/139.44 def. Bob Molden (9.52) 9.4954/138.10
Hutchinson and Dibley Sportsman ET: Ben Newsome (12.00) 11.5538/119.46 def. Kirstie Tramm (14.86) 14.8404/91.56 DQ red light
Phoenix Personnel Super Comp: Steve Hudson 8.9928/132.50 def. Paul Hudson 10.1847/127.68
Jon Morton Super Gas Shootout: Andy Harrison 9.9860/145.23 bye, Collin Morrice no show
Lucas Oil Junior Dragster: Daniel Weir (9.59) 9.5531/66.94 def. Frankie Fordham (7.99) 7.9085/77.46 DQ breakout
VW Pro: Simon Blackburn (10.60) 11.6897/126.62 def. Carl Goldsmith (10.85) 11.0008/130.13 DQ red light
VW Sportsman: Holley Sanders (14.75) 14.9972/87.52 def. Jon Crawford (15.75) 16.0127/81.37

Banks Nightclub Top Fuel Bike: Neil Midgley 7.1253/151.56 def. Allan Davies 11.7154/69.85
Funny Bike: Dave Batcheler 7.6386/160.73 def. Kars van den Belt 7.8002/176.40
Taylor's Trophy Super Street Bike: Dave Smith 7.5250/192.23 def. Graham Dance 7.5385/188.92
Comp Bike: Louis Davies 7.8608/152.20 def. Valentijn Sandtke 8.1148/169.16
NMCN 8.50 Bike: Jay Roe 8.6856/155.21 def. Ian Critchlow 17.7319/46.22 DQ red light
9.50 Bike: Craig Wright 9.5437/142.59 def. Alan Morrison Jr 9.4591/127.94 DQ red light
Accelerate for a Cause and a Cure Supertwin Top Gas: Michael Gooding 9.3984/150.12 def. Mike Nelthorpe 15.5751/84.26
Accelerate for a Cause and a Cure ET Bike: Steve Ashby (9.38) 9.4426-151.63 def. Gary Hester (10.52) 10.6169/126.14
In Posterum Junior Drag Bike: Blade Dummer (8.35) 8.3507/79.80 def. Ciaran Lucas (9.34) 9.2414/74.08 DQ breakout

More than half of yesterday's qualifying was curtailed by rain and hail but today's eliminations ran smoothly.

Congratulations to Secret Worx Comp Eliminator racer Jordan Payne who won the Eurodragster.com/Bad Habit Racing Perfect Light Award, and to Modurstang Pro ET racer Bob Molden who won the inaugural Eurodragster.com Perfect ET Award supported by the Twister Race Team. Both Awards have been reset to £50 for the FIA/FIM Main Event.

You can check out our John Woolfe Racing-sponsored Springspeed Nationals reports, results, pit notes and galleries by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

Thanks to Callum Pudge for standing in as primary photographer for the weekend, and to Team Nutritionist Syd McDonald, Spencer Tramm and Elaine Hancock for catering. Thanks also for the compliments on the commentary, although the credit rests with Colin Theobald for making it so easy.

Tethys back in the hot seat.
5th May: The last time that UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Tethys made a public announcement about his racing, it was to say that he had cancer which forced him to take a step back. Although not completely out of the woods yet, Tethys is fortunate that his health is currently good; at the moment he is cancer free and can get on with life again, which seemed like as good an excuse as any to return to Top Fuel:


I'll be back driving an Erbacher car again, this time with backing from MustardBet, a sports betting and casino web site. Peter Walters at PWRD has done a design for the car, which looks great. I'm not one to make predictions about how I'm going to get on, but I'm not planning to just make up the numbers. The aim is to be competitive. Liam's impressive form at Easter has shown that the bar is going to be pretty high this year, but we'll give it our best shot.

It may only have been a couple of years, but it feels like an eternity since I last sat in the hot seat, and I'm looking forward to it. Roll on the Main Event. I can't wait.

Flynn's campaign Accelerates.
3rd May: Derek Flynn of Eurodragster.com sponsor Accelerate Your Marketing says that he was very pleased with the launch of the Accelerate for a Cause and a Cure Campaign at the Festival of Power at Santa Pod Raceway. The campaign, headed by Derek and his wife Fiona Flynn with friend and business partner Nobby Clark, supports the blood cancer charity Bloodwise with particular emphasis on encouraging blood and stem cell donations.

Accelerate for a Cause and a Cure sponsored Supertwin Top Gas and ET Bike and fielded an Audi in Hutchinson and Dibley Sportsman ET, driven by Eurodragster.com sponsor Pete Walters, and a bike on which Les Harris took the Supertwin Top Gas victory. The honour of making the first passes down the track with the new vehicles went to Santa Pod Raceway's Chief Starter Ian Marshall and Starter Dave Warren at the Pro Peak Performance Test and Tune Day.


"The amount of support we've had has been fantastic", Derek told Eurodragster.com. "The number of people who have said they will give blood, and donated money, was incredible. We are so grateful to Santa Pod Racers Club and their marshals who all got on board, race teams are donating blood (Andy Flav below, well done mate - Ed). It was great that Les won the inaugural event on the bike, and Pete did well. Losing to Kirstie Tramm was fine by me as that was a win for Eurodragster.com! A big Thank You also to Trakbak Racing for their help."


Accelerate for a Cause and a Cure will again be present at this weekend's Springspeed Nationals at Santa Pod Raceway. When you are in the pits look out for the Airstream with Bloodwise decals where Derek and Fiona will be on hand and happy to answer any questions about blood or stem cell donation.

If you would like to find out more about blood or stem cell donation, or if you would like to donate, then you can find the Bloodwise web site at www.bloodwise.org.uk.

Oh no... three of them!
3rd May: Colin Millar writes that sunny Scotland's Team Flyin Outlaw Anglia team have been kept busy over the winter building The Flyin' Saltire which is now ready to go:

The Flyin' Scottsman has been tweaked and the Flyin' Fyfer got a subtle new look. It feels like a long winter as we would normally have been at the Pod by now, but our daughter Megan got married last weekend so being her father and brothers we had little or no chance of finding an excuse to go to the Festival of Power. We did manage a few pictures before we left in the morning and I did manage to watch the fantastic live coverage throughout the vows!

Its been hectic to say the least. Young Barry Crookston, Scotty's younger brother, has been dead keen to get in on the action for some time and when the opportunity arose to grab Ricky Hooper's old Outlaw Anglia Pop from David Cummings, who stays just around the corner, he jumped at the chance. We we were going to run it as it was but being a bit anal it was a complete strip which, to be honest did the car proud. It's old, its heavy, but it's safe and it now has a shiny chassis tag thanks to Mark Norton, as well as an ability to pass scrutineering at an MSA event. So it's all good to go.

I actually kept a little book and by the time it was all done we had clocked up 2160 man hours getting it to where it needed to be, but everything was done in our garage by the three of us with great help from Brian Ritchie, proud of that. The car will début the weekend after at the NSRA Nostalgia Nationals and Barry is in good hands with Jedd Guy as his Crew Chief showing him the ropes. His mum Lynn Purvis will however be a nervous wreck with both her boys racing at the event.

The Flyin' Scottsman has had a few upgrades over the winter and the proof will be in the pudding, so fingers crossed for a great track at the NSRA Nostalgia Nationals where Scott hopes to unleash the upgrades and get a positive result. Attention to detail is huge and planning and implementing changes had to be done carefully to ensure that the car will go faster without compromising the reliability. For a car fresh out of being built with not one problem to run down to a 7.73 not even half way through the season is an achievement in itself. So good luck to Scott.

I will however have to watch my back as last year I raced Scott and he told his mum not to tell me that he was running gas and, being a mum, of course she never told me... to my dismay as he shot past me into the distance! The Flyin' Fyfer is back fighting fit with a lot of maintenance over the winter, new beadlocks on the back as I was starting to rip out rim screws with the increased power. It seemed an easy job but then I found out that the calipers, discs and brackets didn't fit and had to be replaced. I bit the bullet and did the upgrades, and I thought that I would change the front wheels at the same time. A lot of refreshing of new rose joint bearings is now behind us. We put a small amount of gas in the car last year and focused on getting every ounce out of the set up without changing anything, and the end result of a 7.37 at 184 mph was really pleasing. This year we will be trying harder and raising our game so again fingers crossed.

The big challenge now is hauling ass with three cars and rigs to the track, every time we go it's a 2400 mile round trip for the three of us, we must be mad lol.

We did manage a wee break on completion of The Flyin' Saltire as Bradley Head, Scotty and I slipped away for a long weekend at the March Meet. Just awesome as they say in California, if you want a proper race meeting this is for you, if you want Nostalgia then the CHRR is the one, both are strong in their own right. We certainly got some funny looks coming back with our luggage but they popped right back up on the carousel in Edinburgh, perfect, along with lots of other goodies in our suitcases.

Barry is gaining confidence and experience as we go forward, Scotty is hitting the NSRA Nostalgia Nationals but work commitments keep him away from Doorslammers. He will be coming back in Super Comp at the Main Event so watch this space. I am doing three in a row which after the long winter is fantastic but it's so hard on us getting back up the road for work on a Monday morning. However we will be a long time dead, well that's what I say to my Lynn as she cries at 3 o'clock in the morning when we rock up to our house and the alarm still goes off at 6:30!

I'm really looking forward to seeing all Outlaw Anglia family and all our racing family far and wide, it's a huge part of our life and we just love every minute of it. If you see the Scottish flag flying at the Pod pop over for a cuppa, the door is always open and we've always got lots of square sausage. This year because Mat 'The Bender' Cooper is returning to Outlaw Anglia racing we have had to stock up on brown sauce and breadcrumbs: the brown sauce is for all the handles on his new shiny truck and the breadcrumbs are to be thrown onto his new shiny lorry roof just after midnight to ensure he is up bright and early for racing. I'm not going to go into details about the new stickers for his shint new lorry which will come out later!

We wish everyone racing at this weekend's Springspeed Nationals the very very best of luck, fast and safe my friends, see you all real soon.

Springspeed Nationals racer update.
2nd May: Many thanks to Ian Marshall for forwarding us details of the arrangements for this weekend's Springspeed Nationals at Santa Pod Raceway:

Friday 3rd May
08:00 Gates open for the duration of the event
11:00 Signing On office opens
11:00 Car scrutineering commences, no specific order
16:00 Bike scrutineering commences, no specific order
18:00 Signing On office closes
20:00 Bike scrutineering ends

Saturday 4th May
07:30 Signing On office opens
07:00 Car scrutineering commences: sign-on/scrutineering details
07:00 Bike scrutineering commences: sign-on/scrutineering details
09:30 Track opens for qualifying

Sunday 5th May
07:30 Signing On office opens
07:30 Car scrutineering opens
07:30 Bike scrutineering opens
09:30 Track opens for qualifying and eliminations

The provisional running orders are now available and can be checked out by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Please note as ever that running orders are subject to change due to weather or track conditions or for any other reason deemed necessary by race officials. Hutchinson & Dibley Sportsman ET racers please note the addition of a fourth qualifying session on Saturday, which is scheduled for 18:15.

No race vehicle motors are to be fired up before 09:00 or after 20:00 on any day of the event, which in this context includes Friday. Before 09:00 vehicles should be pushed or towed to Scrutineering, not driven or ridden. Non-observation of curfew will result in exclusion from the event.

Junior Dragster and Junior Drag Bike racers please remember the rule about pushing vehicles back to the pits once through the arch beside Scrutineering.

Only race officials and SPR staff are allowed in Race Control whilst racing is underway. Should racers wish to raise any matter with race officials then please do not visit Race Control; please firstly see the Race Secretary who is based in Signing On.

Colour commentators are requested to come to Commentary only when their class is at the head of the lanes, to vacate Commentary as soon as their class has run, and not to bring guests to Commentary with them.

At the request of SPR management the Eurodragster.com office at the Bankside end of Race Control is similarly out of bounds during racing except to Eurodragster.com staff, Zeon TV crew and racers or crew collecting Eurodragster.com Perfect Awards.

Kunmadaras Super Street Bike report.
2nd May: Thanks also to Ian Marshall for forwarding us a report of the first round of the FIM Europe Super Street Bike Championship which took place at the Autós Motoros Fesztivál at Kunmadaras in Hungary:

Following two days of strong qualifying, with the number one qualifying position swapping between three riders looking for the first six-second pass, Mogens Lund ended up on top of the qualifying list with a so-close 7.008 at 336 kmh (208.78 mph). Steve Venables was not far behind with a 7.021 and closing out the top three was Rudi Zorzi with a 7.124.

The story then became about the weather. After the first round of eliminations, and the first pair of bikes in round two, we had lots of rain, but the track crew didn't give up. The track was dried and prepared and the remainder of round two was completed.

It then rained again and it looked as if that was it, but thanks to the huge efforts of the track crew the semi finals took place and we had the first six-second pass in Hungary: Steve Venables defeated Steve Mead with a huge 6.98 at 333 kmh.


That left Alex Hope and Steve Venables for the final. Time was ticking away and finally the last run of the day took place at 19:30. Steve left first but smoked the tyre at the hit, he able to recover but Alex was already way ahead and was not to be denied, winning the final with a 7.376 to Steve.s 7.579.

FIM Championship points:
  1. Alex Hope 117
  2. Steve Venables 103
  3. Mogens Lund 86
  4. Stephen Mead 72
  5. Lencsés Donát Dániel 57
  6. Xristos Agapidis 51
  7. Graham Balchin 49
  8. Yannick Richard 43
  9. Rudi Zorzi 41
  10. Jász Krisztián 28
  11. Mark Hope 27
  12. Tsakiris Sotiris 26
  13. Clemens Walleit 25
  14. Savvas Tiliszoglou 24
  15. Erich Gruber 22
  16. Steve Wood 21
The next round of the Championship takes place, together with the first rounds of the other FIM European Drag Bike Championships, at the FIA/FIM Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway on 24th-27th May.

Doorslammers day 1 now heads-up Q1.
2nd May: With the popular Doorslammers a matter of weeks away, 17th-19th May, and entries arriving thick and fast, James Forster of Santa Pod Raceway has a very important announcement about the structure of the event:

We are pleased to announce that the Friday has been upgraded from a Run What You Brung day to a fully-fledged qualifying day for heads-up classes. The format will be as per the Saturday, i.e. RWYB-based qualifying which means that there are no sessions: whenever you want to make a pass, get yourself into the lanes and put your run in. The beauty of this is that you can make as few or as many runs as you like, and with a bump spot shaping up in some of the classes, you may see some entries doing whatever it takes to make the cut.

And the best part yet? There are no additional fees due!

Bracket racers needn't worry about missing out either because they are welcome to use the day for testing or practice too.

Please note that the drivers' meeting for the weekend will now take place at 18:30 on Friday.

There are still some notable names absent from the current entry list, so if you're one of them what are you waiting for? Get your entry in now! For entry forms, the current entry list, rules, tickets and more, please see www.santapod.co.uk/doorslammers.php.

Swift snippets.
1st May: It's race day at the first event of the 2019 FIM European Drag Bike Championships, the Super Street Bike round at the Autós Motoros Fesztivál at Kunmadaras in Hungary. You will be able to stay in touch with events at Kunmadaras at www.kunmadarasmotorsport.hu or on the Kunmadaras Motorsport Facebook Page.

The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com (below left) came with a note hinting that we may well see this motor in its rightful place at the SPRC Summernationals. If you know more, or if you would like to send your own spy picture, then drop us a line at editor@eurodragster.com.


Thanks to Bianca Booij for passing us an account of the Pro Dutch Racing Pro Modified team's weekend at the Festival of Power. You can check out the Dutch-language PDF by clicking here or by clicking on the picture above right.

Springspeed Nationals coverage.
1st May: Eurodragster.com will be at Santa Pod Raceway on Saturday and Sunday to bring you all the action from the Springspeed Nationals in association with John Woolfe Racing.

Our coverage will consist of real-time reports and results throughout each day, a gallery at the end of the day, and pit notes on Sunday. Eurodragster.com Photographer Julian is away covering a VW event this weekend so Contributing Photographer Callum Pudge has kindly agreed to step in.

You can check out our Springspeed Nationals Event Index, which also includes links to the official entry list, by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.


Earlier news