European Drag Racing News

Frost gets form back.
30th June: SPRC Summernationals Custom Car Street Eliminator winner Andy Frost says that his victory at the weekend was a turn up for the books. Andy spent the fortnight since his nightmarish Power Nationals working out what had happened to his eight-second Vauxhall Victor, and he seems to have found the problem after running in the 8.6s and taking his second event title of the season.

"I'd like to say it all went to plan but I'd be lying, as I hadn't got a clue whether it was going to work well or not", says Andy. "I had an idea but wasn't sure. It was real sweet to take the win light against Mr Sly Fox himself in a close race. I think it must have been the tailwind that slowed him down as normally i wouldn't have stood a chance against him. I was hoping to race Colin Lazenby at some point at the weekend, just so he could show me the back of his car, but it was not to be. Maybe at the next meeting Col?
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"Anyway, enough of the banter. As always a huge thanks to my crew Tony Grayston, Steve Potter, Deb and Gary, technical advisor Jon Webster, my sponsors Scottrans and Knight Racing Services. Thanks also to the well-wishers for their words of encouragment after having a bit of a nightmare couple of rounds. Lastly to the SPRC track crew who as I said on Eurodragster's race report did an unbelievable job of getting all the racing finished. Thanks guys."

The Payne of a broken belt.
30th June: UK Super Comp racer Mick Payne had a few setbacks at the weekend with his beautiful Artful Dodger blown 1966 Dodge Coronet. "After losing all of Saturday's practice due to the weather, on Sunday all looked fine and the weather was just right", says Mick.
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"During qualifying the car suffered a misfire and cruised to end without really hitting it hard. After a long time in the pits and an exhaustive wiring and mechanical check, one of the mags was found to be faulty. This was replaced and everything fired on time. During a very impressive and loud (right on both counts - Ed) burnout the blower belt let fly, causing mild damage to the hood and coil guard. And that, as they say, was that.

"I would just like to thank everyone who came to see us, especially to those who offered all their assistance, and we hope to see you all at the Mopar Nationals."

Turbo: it went banana-shaped.
30th June: UK Supertwin Fuel racer Ian Turburville had his S & S bike going pretty well at the Power Nationals, but Turbo knew that he would have to step it up a notch to face Bernie Hepworth's seven second bike at the SPRC Summernationals.

"I called in Frank Brachtvogel for a bit of valued input", says Turbo. "He confirmed our theories on our fuel set-up and we made the changes we knew we needed to make the next step. The bike sounded a lot meaner on the burnout and expectations were high as we staged. When I dropped the hammer the throttle response was instant for a change and the clutch was biting hard but the poor old 20mm axle was just not up to the job, so it went banana on us and took the hub out with it which ended our race day.
©Eurodragster.com
"It was a shame as we were dying to see what we could get out of our meagre 70% load of nitro against the 94 plus per cent loads of the other bikes. The good news is that the wheel can be fixed and the motor is good as new so we live to ride another day. Thank you Frank for the help, it wasn't your fault and we welcome all the advice you can offer. Also big thanks to Rush and Leo for putting up with me, couldn't do it without you. I would like to also mention my new awning supplier who custom designed, printed and delivered my fantastic new awning in record time at a great price! It got tested nicely by the wind and rain at the weekend and came out fine! For full details click on the Race Tents button of my web site at www.turboville.com.

"I would like to say 'well done mate' to Steve Clutterbuck who had a hard weekend sorting niggling little problems then overcame adversity to run a solid 8.8 to round off his weekend! I rounded mine off by breaking the rear axle of my 4x4 on the M1 on the way home! Guess that weekend wasn't meant to be for any of my rear wheels, left the skateboard alone just in case!

The Simpson crew shoes are due in from California next week so E-Mail me your orders via the web site as I can�t remember who asked for what at the track (old age), thanks. Don't forget the 'On Two Wheels' bike meet at the Pod on 21st August! Last year it was great fun!"

Carter launches hero card.

30th June: European Top Fuel Dragster record holders Carter Motorsport have unveiled their new hero card this week as the team prepare to attempt to take the FIA Championship lead in round two at Alastaro, Finland. Designed by Motorgraphic and produced by Pioneer Print, the new card is the latest addition to a range of free, high-quality merchandise available from Andy Carter�s GoTalk-sponsored operation.

Featuring some stunning live action photography on the front, and a complete list of sponsor contacts and team info on the reverse, the full-colour TF6 card (right, click on picture for large version) will be available to racegoers from 29th July. Fans and collectors who cannot wait until the end of July can obtain autographed pre-launch copies by sending a large (C4) stamped addressed envelope and their E-Mail address to:

Carter Motorsport Marketing
Amberlake
Main Road
Rookley
Isle of Wight
PO38 3NQ
©Eurodragster.com
More Goodwood memories.

30th June: Continuing the impressions from those who went to the Goodwood Festival of Speed to take in the US Fuel Altereds, onetime Santa Pod Raceway Chief Starter wrote with an account of his day at Goodwood. We are very grateful to Supercharged Outlaw racer Dave Grabham for supplying the photographs at right.

"This was it, the day I had been looking forward to for many months", says Stu. "I was like a kid on his first visit to Disneyworld. I made a beeline for the paddock, passing all the Rolls, Bentleys, Astons. None of these cars was of any interest to me, my mission had only one objective.

"When I came upon those four famous cars, especially Pure Hell, I must admit I had a lump in my throat, what an awesome sight. I have only ever seen these cars in American Hot Rod magazines and films, when I was a young Chief Starter at Santa Pod. These were the cars that inspired a Drag Racing generation, and still do. I had already met Ron Hope many times from his connections with USAutomotive, but to meet Randy Bradford, Rick Hough, Don Green, Leon Fitzgerald, and my all time hero Rich "Pure Hell" Guasco, was a most magical experience. I had so many things to say, I didn't know where to start.

"Ron Hope said the guys would like me to assist in the day's proceedings and would I like to walk up to the start line with them and pick a spot. Well, it was decided the spot would be directly in front of the commentary position quite a bit back from where they ran from on Friday. This appeared to be the part on the track with less camber, and hopefully would stop too much water running off the track. the final decision would be made when I could get onto the track just before the burnouts. It was then I heard the voice of drag racing John Price on the PA system giving his usual superb explanation of what Drag Racing was all about to the assembled dignitaries, and what they were about to see and experience. My thought was "I'm gonna get some stick as soon as John sees me step on the start line". I was not wrong, I didn't catch much of what he said, but no doubt it had something to do with my age and so on. But joking apart John just created the atmosphere required, and set the stage for Drag Racing to show the roundie, roundie guys what real horsepower looks and sounds like.
©Eurodragster.com

"Apart from a couple of problems with Ron Hope's clutch everything went okay. Rich in Pure Hell took things a little easy, and Don Green had to take horsepower out of the car to make it easier for Rich to handle. He's not as young as he used to be and the injuries he had from his crash in 1962 after which he was in hospital for two years recovering, are starting to take there toll. Nevertheless, you wouldn't have kept him out of the car, even if you chopped his legs off. What a character! Don Green said it was the pinnacle of his Drag Racing career to be at Goodwood that weekend, I know it was certainly mine. I don't think I have been so proud to be involved in anything in my whole life. So many people came over to shake my hand and congratulate the teams that I felt twenty feet tall, and I only waved me arms about and put the water down.

"Credit must go to USAutomotive for putting the whole thing together, Ron Hope, Leon Fitzgerald, Rick Hough, Don Green for looking after the engines, and the truly magical old timer mister Pure Hell himself Rich Guasco. These guy spread the drag racing gospel to a whole new audience (with money) at Goodwood. Who knows what effect this will have on our sport, only time will tell."

Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge.

30th June: Anders Magnusson of Swedish Top Methanol Funny Car team Andréasson Motorsports has been in touch with more details of the Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge, which takes place in the middle of Stockholm in July, the week before the Veidec Nitro Festival at Mantorp Park.

Kungstr�dg�rden in Stockholm will be filled with mighty cars and cool mechanics on Saturday 24th July. That's the time and place of the Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge, a contest for FIA European Championship Drag Racing teams. Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge is an automotive mechanics contest, and this time it doesn't involve the drivers cars speeding down the track. The men and women who do the work to prepare the cars are the stars of this show. This is an opportunity to watch the fast and proficient job done between racing rounds at the race track right in the middle of the Swedish capital, Stockholm.

Andréasson Motorsports sponsor Kamasa Tools wants to attract eight of Europe's most outstanding Top Methanol Funny Car teams. "They all have one thing in common - they are immensely skilled racing mechanics", says Ted Kottulinsky, head of Kamasa Tools on KG Knutsson AB. "To experience a Funny Car warm up session is an experience that goes right through the marrow of your bones and is a memory to be cherished a long time after. We are supplying spectator earplugs and we recommend them."

Drag racing is a tool-intensive sport with high demands on both tools and mechanics. The contest will be settled on the quickest time. First, there will be a brief start-up of all eight engines to make sure they are complete and operating properly, then they will all be shut down. This is the start of the contest, when the mechanics take the car apart to change a list of components and put it back together again. To confirm that it has been done properly done the cars will be started up again. The team doing this in the shortest time wins. This is not just for show and glory, the total prize money is €10,000, with €5,000 for the winning team.

"This is a positive way to show people what we are doing", says driver Leif Andréasson who has previously attended a similar event in the City of London. "Maybe we will inspire the mechanics of the future as well as getting more attention to the sport". Leif also points out that there will not be much of an environmental problem since the cars are running on the very clean methanol fuel.

Since 1953, Kungstr�dg�rden Park & Evenemang AB has been in charge of all events in Kungstr�dg�rden, a park in Central Stockholm. "This is the first time we are arranging something like this in Kungstr�dg�rden and I've been working here for many years", says program manager Sam Carlquist. The event is going to take place on 24th July from 12.00 to 18.00, and aside from the Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge there will be several contests and activities for the entire family. The event will be covered by a TV company and the expected spectator attendance is about 30,000. To close the day the competing teams will have dinner in one of Stockholm's top restaurants.

The first prize is €5000, second place €3000 and €1000 to the semi-finalists, for a total prize fund of €10000. On top of this the organisers are working on providing low cost or free rooms in Stockholm and travel money for the teams. To help things even more, Mantorp Park are offering free trailer parking between the Alastaro and Mantorp events.

The event is to be contested as an elimination ladder with quarter, semi and final events. The schedule starts with unloading of trailers at 8.00. The event area opens 12.00, Challenge contests at 13.00 - 13.30, 15.00 - 15.30, and 17.00 - 17.30. Prize giving is 17.30 - 18.00, and Moving cars, tools and trailers to night lodging is 18.00 - 19.00. Evening activities for race teams (party time) later that evening.
©Eurodragster.com
Veidec Nitro Festival entry.
30th June: Motor Events AB have been in touch to remind racers that tomorrow, Thursday 1st July, is the closing date for standard entry to the Veidec Nitro Festival, which takes place at Sweden's Mantorp Park on 29th July to 1st August. After this date a late entry fee will be charged, if entry is accepted, and all entry closes on 24th July.

Click here for FIA-class entry form/Supplementary Regs (PDF format)
Click here for FIM/UEM-class entry form/Supplementary Regs (PDF format)
Click here for NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified entry form/Supplementary Regs (PDF format)
Click here for NDRS-class entry form/Supplementary Regs (PDF format)
©Eurodragster.com
Entry forms can also be downloaded from the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se, the Veidec Nitro Festival web site at www.nitrofestval.com, and the European Pro Mod Association web site at www.promod.nu.

If you cannot download PDF documents, if you wish to book an electricity point in your pit, or if you wish to purchase Sponsor/VIP tickets then please contact Mantorp Park direct on +46 (0)142 298850 or by E-Mail at info@mantorppark.com.

Points update.
30th June: Volkswagen Drag Racing Club Championship Co-ordinator Spencer Tramm has kindly forwarded us the post-SPRC Summernationals points standings in the three VWDRC Championships. You can view the VWDRC points by clicking here or by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.
©Eurodragster.com
Leanders finish rebuild...

29th June: Sweden's Leanders Brothers Racing Top Methanol Funny Car team are back on track after their big engine explosion during qualifying for the FIA Main Event (right), and are all set to head to Finland for this weekend's FHRA Nitro Nationals at Alastaro.

"We have received a new forged engine block, rebuilt heads and a big box of other parts for the 3000+ hp Brad Anderson engine", says driver Ulf Leanders. "The car is almost finished and we are looking forward to meeting all our friends at the race track, and of course to going home with the biggest cheque! Alastaro is a little special for us. This is the place where it all started for us in TMFC in 1999, and the racing has always been good for us there.
©Eurodragster.com
"We would also like to thank Fast Freddy for letting us use his spare engine block and heads in eliminations on the Monday of the Main Event. There are not a lot of people who offer you the use of all the spare parts they have when you just have blown up your own engine! Big thanks Freddy and you will get it back in Finland."

...and can arrange methanol.
29th June: Ulf Leanders also tells us that any racers wishing to pick up Methanol for the tour of Scandinavia for a good price can do so at Swede Handling north of Mantorp Park in the town of Norrköping. "Swede Handling is located just five minutes away from E4 motorway which most racers use on the way to and from Finland", says Ulf. "Prices and times for pick-up can be arranged with Rickard Andersson on +46 70 924 8484 or +46 11 24 8484, or drop me an E-Mail at ulf@leandersbros.com", says Ulf.
©Eurodragster.com
Watson busts PB.
29th June: The SPRC Summernationals was a difficult weekend for all, says UK Pro Stock Bike racer Paul 'Grumpy' Watson. "The weather forecast was spot on, but it was a great effort by the Pod crew", he says (Hear, hear - Ed).

"We had high hopes for this weekend's first qualifier. We ran 7.68 then we changed the clutch set up and achieved the 1.10 sixty foot we have been after for so long and qualified #1 with a 7.62. The first round was against Ray Debben, although Ray was off the pace he was not to be taken lightly so as my lights have been a bit close lately (424, 420, 400, 392, 399). I tried to be easier off the line, however as Ian dropped the Tree I was not as ready as I should have been and found Ray a bit ahead. Thankfully the tune-up we put in rewarded us with a 7.53/172 my new PB. Things were looking up as we had a bye into the final, however due to oildowns and then strong side winds it was decided to stop all ACU bikes running.
©Eurodragster.com
"Personally I think we could have waited with the cars until the end, by the time we had loaded the cars had started to run and the sun was back out - but hey, that's racing.

"Well done to all the Pod crew, you all did great. Sad to see Nigel's last meet, don't be a stranger, and congrats to Bob with his baby.

"We went to the Pod with big intentions and pretty much achieved them. 1.10 sixty foot and 7.53, the Upperton engine goes from strenth to strength and none of this would have been possible without my team mate Dave Beck. I know the bike will go faster and the next few runs would have been interesting; however I stand by the Race Director's decision - well done, Darren."

Commendations of merit.
29th June: UK Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Colin Lazenby, who blasted his personal best ET and qualified #1 at the SPRC Summernationals, has also been in touch to commend SPR's race officials for staying with it at the weekend.

"Kjell Pettersson, Darren Prentice and Ian Marshall, wow those boys never gave up - both days too", says Colin. "Faced with all the crap weather that Saturday threw at them, a predictable timely start Sunday - OK, so Darren said 9:00 prompt, but then excused himself with a more realistic 9:00 to 9:15. Racing started at 9:15... Brave to pledge more qualifying (weather permitting) with a firm stance of eliminations commencing no later than 13:15. Guess what time eliminations started? You got it, 13:15. Swiss watch anyone?

"Then the oil down. I can't win can I? What do I do, compliment Kev Perkins one week, then complain about him the week after. Then the rain...I watched closely, I'd swear they were gonna call it several times, but they never gave up. I, for one, owe those boys a huge debt of gratitude.

"Well done that man to Sharky for posting that wheels-up shot on Eurodragster's coverage. Eurodragster stickers are on the door glass now, on both sides too (Thanks - Ed)."

Krivan on tour of education.

29th June: Whilst Swiss Top Methanol Funny Car racer Dezsoe Krivan and his are team 'resting' in 2004, they are taking the opportunity to appear at car shows and exhibitions not only throughout Switzerland but the rest of mainland Europe as well, using their 1956 Ford Crown Victoria show car, writes team member Steve Wilson.

"Our first outing this year was the VW-Audi Fest Weekend at Reichenbach in Switzerland (right)", says Steve. "We were booked to perform engine warm-ups, two on Saturday, two Sunday, which we did. The show had a bit of a Max-Pants feel to it, with who�s got the loudest exhaust, loudest stereo, and girlies in various states of undress!
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"It was a great opportunity to promote drag racing, and the team took the time to explain it all to the very interested crowd. It was the first time that many of them had come into contact with drag racing and were completely blown away by some of the facts, like 2800 horsepower and 0-100 km/h in less than one second. Their idea of tuning is getting more power out of the amps stacked in the back of the car. The team were busy from first light all the way through to the early hours explaining the car and quarter mile racing.

"As you can see from the photo, we had a giant erection on the top of the truck (With undressed girlies there I'm not surprised - Ed), which was showing Midland Oil in all its glory. We would also like to thank our main sponsor 3D-Tech (for all your rapid prototyping requirements) for supplying the food and the chef, who kept us fed and watered throughout the weekend.

"The team spent Sunday evening paying homage to the Christmas Tree and seeking forgiveness for being in the presence of so many VW Golfs!"

Goodwood memories.

29th June: We've had a couple of E-Mails from readers who attended the Goodwood Festival of Speed at the weekend to take in the spectacle of the five US AA Fuel Altereds which were representing drag racing at the event.

First up is Steve Young, who wrote on Friday evening. "It was most invigorating to hear a crisp blown nitro engine at 9:00 am in deepest Sussex, in the grounds of a magnificent country estate, and when Nanook fired up (right) monocles were dropped in the Earl Grey very rapidly. Nobby Hills was overseeing matters, and when Nanook and Rat Trap were called to the start at 10:00 am Andy Carter was seen hot-footing it to the startline, pausing only to admire my very ancient Don Garlits T shirt! Nanook's burnt out and launch caused many jaws to drop, and I don't doubt there will be many more converts to drag racing when they have witnessed the altereds in action!"
©Eurodragster.com
Elliott Jones of the Northern 1/4 Racing team, who as regular readers will know are building a short-wheelbase altered named Between Heaven and Hell in tribute to the classic AAFAs, wrote to share his experiences at Goodwood on Saturday. "The team decided that this was going to be the year that we finally make the long trek down to the Festival, something I personally have wanted to do for as long as I can remember, but the presence of the five fuel altereds finalised our decision", he says. "The variation of machinery at the show makes it feel like walking through heaven for someone with Fifty Weight for blood. The Cartier Style Et Luxe exhibit was just amazing, with vehicles ranging from 1930s Caddys to some of Andy Saunder's wildest creations, with a few of Britain's finest tot rods to finish off. The Wacky Racers and Laurel and Hardy in their Model T were just pure entertainment.

"But for us there was only two words 'FUEL ALTEREDS'! We spent the majority of the day in their humble presence and I must say the welcome that we recieved from Leon Fitzgerald, Rich Guasco, Don Green, Ron Hope, and particularly Brad and Randy Bradford (to whom who we lent a quick hand with the car) was heart-warming. Their stories of days gone by were brilliant, and their enthusiastic interest in the Between Heaven and Hell Bantam was emotional. Comments such as "You have a really neat car" from Rat Trap legend Ron Hope, and the way in which Leon and Rich saw the name of the car as an honour to them was enough to bring a tear to the eye. The day was just a dream to us, and I personally stick by my opinion that reality is for people with no imagination. At 21 years old I'm living some of my wildest dreams and I'm loving it - and I think I speak for the whole team there. Many thanks to the guys for such an amazing day. We owe everything to them because without their imagination we would not even be building the altered."

Our good friend Alan Currans of the Acceleration Archive web site braved the crowds to get us the picture of Pure Hell at right, and a picture of Nanook which you can view by clicking here. "It was murder trying to take pictures in the paddock", says Alan. "It was worse than the European Finals at Santa Pod!".

New trick for new 'Dog.

29th June: Steve Young's mention of Nobby Hills leads us very nicely into the latest news from the Nobby Hills Racing pit, courtesy of Chris Blows and Darren West.

The Houndog Fuel Funny Car will be on display at the Americana event at the County Showground near Newark on 9th-11th July.�"We're delighted to be taking the car up to the show at Newark to give the huge number of American lifestyle fans a look at the new Camaro funny car", says Darren. "It's a great opportunity to meet race fans and keep the profile of the team high as we gather the last few motor parts together."
©Eurodragster.com
The team are also pleased to announce the availability of the first piece of Nobby Hills Racing merchandise, the New Dog, same old tricks T-Shirt designed by Darren (right, click on picture for large version), which is now available via the team's official web site at www.nhracing.com. The T-Shirts are high-quality JTs and available in all sizes from small to XL at �12.00 plus �1.50 postage and packing.

Mosten Race Day update.
29th June: Til pr�parering af banen i Mosten til september, s�ger vi nogle aflagte og kasserede slicks d�k, som vi kan modificere og montere p� vores pr�pareringsmaskine, s�ledes at vi kan give jeg rigtigt godt greb i banen til Mosten Race Day 4 september. Vi kommer op og ser race p� Mantorp i juli og s�fremt i har nogle slicks i vil af med, og skal til Mantorp, har vi her mulighed for at tage dem med til Danmark. I m� meget gerne sende mig en mail, s�fremt i har mulighed for at hj�lpe os med slicks, og hvis i s� kan have dem med til Mantorp vil det v�re rigtigt fint. S�fremt i kender andre der kunne l�gge inde med slicks, m� i meget gerne sende denne videre til dem.
©Eurodragster.com
Swift snippets.
29th June: A very Happy Birthday for yesterday to UK Supertwin Fuel racer and bike photo-journalist Ian Turburville. We are sure that Turbo will forgive us for leaving the birthday greeting for an extra day given the tone of yesterday's news update. Hope you had a good day, Turbo.
©Eurodragster.com
Points updates.
29th June: Basic timing data and points standings after Round 3 of the MSA British Drag Racing Championship are now posted on the European Top Methanol Racers Association web site at www.etmra.com.
©Eurodragster.com
We are indebted to National Association of Supertwins Championship Co-ordinator Sue Beneke for forwarding us the post-SPRC Summernationals points standings in the four NAST classes, which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Web site updates.
29th June: Aldert FastFrisian Tjoelker has updated his web site at www.fastfrisian.nl with photographs and video clips of the recent race at Drachten in Holland.
©Eurodragster.com
'Big Stan' Mellström has updated his web site with a large number of photographs from the NDRG Summer Nats at Gardermoen. You can view Stan's pictures at www.bigstan.se.

Jon Best has updated his fan site at www.nitrohemi.co.uk with a review and photographs of the Custom Car Street Eliminator action at the SPRC Summernationals.

Darrell Russell and CJ Hart.
28th June: We were shocked to hear this morning of the death of US Top Fuel Dragster racer Darrell Russell who was killed in a top end crash during yesterday's Top Fuel eliminations at the NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals. Darrell, 35, was in his fourth year of driving for Joe Amato after a glittering Sportsman career and from the start was clearly a natural in the cockpit of a Top Fueller, having achieved top ten places every year since he started to compete. He was fourth in last year's NHRA Championship and of all of NHRA's current Top Fuel drivers was one of those most obviously destined for even greater things. Darrell was very popular with fans and with his fellow racers and his absence will be keenly felt.

We were also sorry to hear of the death on Friday of CJ Hart, aka Pappy Hart, at the age of 93. CJ was joint promoter of the first organised drag races, which took place at Santa Ana in 1950, and so can truly be said to be one of the originators of the sport as we know it today, especially as it was he who set the standard of a quarter of a mile as the race distance. CJ was also the first to set class and safety rules, and as well as these achievements was also involved in the running of the legendary Lions Drag Strip and later was a member of NHRA's Safety Safari. CJ was rightly viewed as one of the sport's legendary figures and was looked up to by all involved in the sport.

We are sure that everyone will join Sharkman and Tog in sending their very deepest sympathies to the families of Darrell Russell and CJ Hart. You will not be forgotten, guys.

SPRC Summernationals results.
27th June: Congratulations to the winners of this weekend's SPRC Summernationals at Santa Pod Raceway:

Doug Ripley 8.414/104.14 bye, Trev Capewell no show
Super Modified: Rob Smallworth 7.890/172.39 def. Tim Garlick broke
Super Pro ET: Ian Tubb (7.92) 8.061/134.70 def. Al Golding (8.90) 9.648/147.98
Pro ET: Rick McCann (10.40) 10.434/124.68 def. Wayne Hiscock (10.60) 10.678/122.94
Sportsman ET: Rick Denny (13.44) 13.548/98.00 def. Richard Hillier (13.15) 12.943/101.75
Super Comp: Brian Pateman 10.191/116.52 def. Tim Adam left before Tree
Super Gas: Peter Lane 9.947/141.15 def. Jon Evans 9.940/138.79
Super Street: Mike Bentley 10.805/131.54 def. Paul Marston 12.169/75.65 red light
Junior Dragster: Collin Morrice (9.24) 9.241/69.45 def. Kane Jones (10.90) 10.856/56.09
Custom Car Street Eliminator: Andy Frost 8.608/167.28 def. Ian Jackson 8.864/163.14
VW Pro: Ken Blomer (9.30) 9.546/141.01 def. Steve Roberts (12.91) 12.789/106.43
VW Sportsman: Mick Geraghty (15.55) 15.897/67.58 def. Graham Fairhead (15.75) 15.755/82.88
VW Alternate Engine: Mark Skeen (17.05) 17.126/75.37 def. Spencer Tramm (9.90) 9.919/117.47
Wild Bunch: Chris Hartnell (9.60) 9.751/129.74 bye, Andy Murphy no show

Bike eliminations were stopped at the semi-final stage due to safety concerns after a very strong sidewind suddenly arose in the afternoon.
©Eurodragster.com
Trev Capewell became Europe's latest Top Methanol licensee with a very competent 6.582/161.80 final observed run in the Southern Rebel TMFC, only to suffer a starter battery failure depriving him of a race against Doug Ripley for the event title.

Junior Dragster racer Milly Bond took the Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award with a 0.000 in qualifying - in fact in the fourth run of the event! Sportsman ET racer Richard Hillier took the Eurodragster.com/Curbishley Automotive Perfect ET Award with a 13.150 on a 13.15 dial-in during eliminations. Steve Rawlings (Super Modified), Peter Lane (Super Gas) and Phil Leamon (Comp Bike) were the winners of the Eurodragster.com/Scorpion Racing Awards and will receive their goodies shortly. Many thanks as usual to Paul and Fay Fischer of Speedflow, Martin and Ruth Curbishley of Curbishley Automotive, Colin Aldred of Scorpion Racing and Harley at TRS for their support.

Santa Pod marshal Nigel Anniwell stepped down for a break at the end of the event, after eighteen years serving the sport, the racers and the SPRC. Thanksfully Nigel will not be lost to us, though, as he plans to remain involved in another capacity after his break. We're sure that everyone will join Tog and Sharkman in thanking Nigel for his long service and wishing him well for the future.

Click here to see our American Car Imports-sponsored reports and photographs, or click on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Look out - Scary's bored.
27th June: Funny Bike racer Sarah Jane Head is in good spirits but getting bored in hospital, says her partner Dave Vary. "Sarah is doing well", Dave told us at Santa Pod yesterday. "She is getting feeling back in her arm, and her leg is healing very well. They want to stand her up or at least sit her up in the next couple of weeks because she has been on her back for so long."

Dave asked us to thank everyone involved in the auction which kicked off at the FIA Main Event and for which some items are still available. "Sarah and I are very grateful", he said. "Sarah wanted to come to the Main Event, it was her birthday but she was a bit poorly and she was not happy!"
©Eurodragster.com
As mentioned on Friday, Sarah is currently back at York Hospital. You can talk to Scary on 07046 220119 and then specify patient number 5472, or you can call ward 28 on 01904 726028.

Dave said that Scary is planning to return to the track in 2006. "I'll kick their arses then!", Dave quoted her as saying. "She wants to be the first woman in the sixes."

AAFAs wow Goodwood crowd.

26th June: Three of the five fuel altereds attending the Festival of Speed this weekend - Rat Trap, Nanook and the Bradford's Fiat (right, click on picture for large version) put in strong burnouts at the start of the hillclimb course and along the main straight by Goodwood House yesterday, writes Andy Kirk.
©Eurodragster.com
"The Altereds were well-received by a sizeable crowd on what is generally considered the quietest day of the festival", says Andy. "The paddock area was particularly busy as spectators flocked to get a glimpse of the cars as they were moved in to position to be fired up (picture). The sad news is that Pure Heaven suffered a transmission problem on the start line which saw it travelling backwards instead of forward. The car was quickly brought to a halt but suffered body damage in the incident. Fortunately Leon Fitzgerald was unhurt.

"Well-known UK drag racing names, including Geof Hauser and Andy Robinson were there to see the cars in action and Nobby Hills took time out to help Don Green make some adjustments to Rat Trap (picture). USAutomotive is providing back-up and additional support for all of the teams."

Watson the challenger.
25th June: UK Pro Stock Bike racer Paul 'Grumpy' Watson is looking to make a challenge for the ACU Championship starting at this weekend's SPRC Summernationals at Santa Pod Raceway.

"I'm hoping to run in the 7.4s, thanks to Dave Beck who has helped us over a problem before he left for the States to race with the MRE Pro Mod team", says Grumpy. "My crew have been superb: Kev even working late into the night although he had trouble moving after putting his back out - that's dedication.
©Eurodragster.com
"We are very excited about this weekend. We are looking to step up the Pro Stock Bike ladder and make a big challenge for the Championship even though we have missed two meetings."

Naylor seeks leaks.
25th June: UK Supertwin Gas racer Ric Naylor has stripped the engine of Nick Daniels' Scooby since the Power Nationals to find a fuelling problem which slowed the bike in the first round of eliminations after Ric had strapped a holeshot on his competitor.

"Team RnR had a crap weekend at the last race", says Ric. "With the doctor problem meaning we ran the qualifiers back to back, I had no time to fix the clutch problem from the first pass - basically too much clutch - so the second run was just a bad as the first. This resulted in my worst-ever qualifying placing - last! OK, second to last, but Fluff fell off so that doesn't really count. That in turn meant running against #2 qualifier George Laycock in round one of eliminations. With the clutch sorted, I gave it my best shot as always and got George by 0.25s off the Tree, every little bit of advantage was needed! But just before the sixty foot mark a fuelling problem caused the engine to falter and George went flying past soon after. Game over.
©Eurodragster.com
"Stripping the engine last week revealed three potential air leaks which caused the left cylinder to run lean, explaining the odd jetting we had to use to get it running semi-decently before round one! Everything's been checked and reassembled carefully, so Scooby is ready to race again this weekend and hopefully we can do it properly this time! Thanks as always to Paul for crewing, Caz for videoing (a great help for post race dispair, I mean analysis) and Shaggy for loan of the bike."

Swift snippets.
25th June: Swedish Pro Mod racer Håkan Nilsson and his team have completed head repairs on their motor Tage. "We have welded them up and fixed problems we have had since late last year", says team member Ulf Stadig. "It feels really good to get them in shape again so that we can try to step up and run some better numbers at Alastaro". You can read more and see some photographs of the work on the Nilsson Motorsports web site at www.nilssonmotorsports.com.
©Eurodragster.com
UK Funny Bike and Super Street Bike racer Dave Bailey has withdrawn from this weekend's SPRC Summernationals. Dave damaged his knee when he came off his Funny Bike Power Nationals and tells us that it is not recovered enough to race safely. "I can get my feet on the pegs OK", says Dave, "but if I leave them there for twenty seconds I get searing pain through my dodgy knee and I'm not going to risk falling off again! I'm booked in to see the Physio next Thursday (I thought it'd be fixed by then...)". Dave says that he is aiming to test at a WRE Test Day soon.

Scary update.
25th June: Our good friend Heather Bond has been in touch with the latest news about UK Funny Bike racer Sarah Jane Head, who was injured in a shutdown area crash at the Easter Thunderball.

"Sarah's partner Dave has been in touch to tell me that Sarah has been moved back to York Hospital", says H. "She is on the mend but will be in York for a few weeks, on ward 28."

Visiting is from 2:00 pm until 8:00 pm; you can find more details about York Hospital, including a map, at www.yorkhealthservices.org.
©Eurodragster.com
Meanwhile it is not too late to put in a bid for the items left in the auction which is still ongoing to benefit Scary. To see a list of the items left, or to make a bid, check out the auction page by clicking here, or by clicking on the Auction for Scary link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Points update.
25th June: We are indebted to Ultimate Power Championship points co-ordinator Simon Groves for forwarding us the standings in the Ultimate Power Championships after last week's Power Nationals. You can view the Ultimate Power points by clicking here, or by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

The UK National Championship standings after the Power Nationals have been calculated but are awaiting ratification; we shall post them as soon as we receive the official go-ahead.

Web site updates.
25th June: The UK's York Raceway has a new web site at www.york-raceway.co.uk. "We pretty chuffed about the new site: it's nice, clean, easy, quick, simple and useful", says York Raceway PR Howard Holmes. "It will be staying lively with regular updates covering past and forthcoming events. The guest book has scope to be extended into a bigger forum, for whatever is going to be best for everyone. We will also be growing the content further over the forthcoming weeks and months. In the Results section, the new web site also includes all the TSI time and speed data for every run - how marvellous is that? Please visit the site, call in at the guest book just to say Hello, and be sure to call back soon!"
©Eurodragster.com
Summernationals running order.
24th June: We are again indebted to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for forwarding us the provisional running order for this Saturday's qualifying at the SPRC Summernationals.

As ever, the running order is subject to change due to weather, track conditions, or any other reason deemed necessary by the Race Director.
©Eurodragster.com
Saturday's running order can be viewed via the Event Coverage index page for that event, which you can view by clicking here, or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Venables eyes Sevens.
24th June: UK Super Street Bike racer Steve Venables thinks that the seven-second barrier will fall at this weekend's SPRC Summernationals. Steve catapulted himself into the running for the UK's first seven-second SSB whilst taking the win at the Power Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway, with new Personal Bests of 8.113 seconds and 188.77 mph, and a new ACU speed record of 185.97 mph on a new bike which is still under development. "There's loads more in it yet", says Steve. "I meant to put this bike together over this year but then I thought why waste another year on a nitrous bike?"

Steve says that the victory at the Power Nationals was not straightforward. "I didn't get fifth gear in the final against Graham Dance, I hit the rev limiter in fourth and the clutch was in well before the finish line. But there was no damage at all. Graham Balchin has been to the States for some new parts, we've increased the fuel pressure because it was leaning out, and we've lowered the front end. We're concentrating on keeping the front end down and geting traction."

Getting the bike off the line was the one of the keys to Steve's performance gains. "We stiffened the clutch and left at less revs and it shot off the line and just flew!", he says. "We also seem to be getting over our wheelie problems. We've done 188 on a six-inch tyre and I think with this gearing we could do 190. My tyres are lasting a lot longer on this new bike too. The whole package is so reliable, we've abused it constantly and it's never whinged. And I can't say enough about Graham Balchin, I couldn't do this without him."
©Eurodragster.com
Steve believes that any one of a number of SSB racers could put the magic seven on the board this weekend. "I'm well up for it", he says. "We've got more settings to try and Graham is eager to put more power in. We're making 480 bhp, maybe 500 - that's a bit scary isn't it! So I think we'll do it, there's no reason that we can't. Brad O'Connor and Mark Fisher have both run good times and Dancey's the big threat - he'll do it or he'll overdo it! Dave Smith has sorted his bike out...they're a great bunch of guys and I wish everyone well. Whoever runs the first seven has to get the beers in, so I had better bring some beer with me at the weekend!"

Steve has sold his previous, also eight-second, bike and he says that its new owner is planning to run it in Comp Bike. "It will make a brilliant Comp Bike, and it's going to pay for a spare engine!", he says.

Adding to what has already been an eventful year, Steve has recently been invited to race in the USA. "Barry Henson of Velocity Racing has invited me to race in Shootout Bike at Gainesville in November", he says. "Barry and I are going to a Test and Tune the weekend before to work out the set-up and then I'll play the Yanks at their own game. I built the bike to the US spec so it is already legal to run there: working lights, self-start, no two-step - I've got all that. This is the first ZX12 of its kind built, so they will probably be looking to learn from us which they can do as long as they tell me things in return!"

Moore sevens?
24th June: UK Super Pro ET racer Dave Moore has swapped seats with brother Roger and will be driving the seven-second Shakespeare Engineering Triumph Herald at the SPRC Summernationals this weekend. "Dave will be looking for his first seven-second pass", says Roger Moore. "His best run is an 8.04 which he ran last year."
©Eurodragster.com
The exuberant Herald will initially have the same set up as at the FIA Main Event, but Roger says that track conditions are of particular importance. "The car is very track sensitive, having a short wheelbase and plenty of horsepower, so we might have to make some changes", he says.

The car will be going straight to Dave's workshop after this weekend's race for a new scoop and front-end repaint. "Too many nitrous explosions have taken their toll!", says Roger. "Here's hoping for some wheels-up action and close racing."

No Fun so far...
24th June: After several attempts to get their new Jus' 4 Fun dragster down the strip, it became apparent to UK Pro ET racers Liz and Iain Malcolm that they had a problem with the fuel injection system.
©Eurodragster.com
"We have had a great deal of help and advice from Frank Giles, Dave Milam and Paul Harvey and crew", say Liz and Iain. "After the Main Event we decided that a phone call to Kinsler was on the cards. After several discussions with Brad in the constant flow department we are now the proud owners of a new system.

"Unfortunately we are unable to install the system in time for the SPRC Summernationals because they had to custom-build it for our engine and it took a lot longer than we anticipated. But hopefully it will be worth the wait and we're looking forward to racing soon."

...but Terri's enjoying herself.
24th June: In contrast it's all smiles and happiness at UK Pro ET team Terri Lee Racing after Terri had her best-ever weekend with her blown Escort van at the FIA Main Event.

"We had a fantastic four days at the Main Event, going through to the semi finals and leaving the Pod all in one piece - what more could we ask for?", says Terri. "Well, how about a personal best of 10.63 on top of that, that will do for me! The two years of problems it took us to get here are so quickly forgotten.
©Eurodragster.com
"We had a great day out as one of the demo cars at the Classic Ford Show at Santa Pod on 13th June. It was a very pleasant and relaxing day.

"So we are now looking forward to the Summernationals this weekend. We are going with no preconceptions of what we are going to do or achieve, we are just going to bloody well enjoy ourselves. See you all there!"

They're heeere!

24th June: The unpacking of the five historic Fuel Altereds which will take centre stage at this weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed caused the sudden realisation that it will soon become a reality, writes Andrew Kirk. This is the first time that the cars have been seen outside America.

"The Fuel Altereds are mixed in a paddock full of all sorts of interesting race cars from NASCAR, Formula 5000 and other historic circuit racing formulae", says Andrew. "The mini-cacklefest in the paddock area will be a soul stirring occasion, and seeing the cars on the track will be an emotional experience for all Nostalgia Drag Racing fans.

"The photos (click on picture for different angle) show the cars just as they arrived off the boat - a little worse for wear, but ready to be cleaned and polished for action."

Andrew will be at Goodwood this weekend and has kindly agreed to send us a report on the AAFAs' appearance; stay tuned.
©Eurodragster.com
NDRG Drag Challenge entry.
24th June: Wednesday 7th July, is the closing date for standard entry to the NDRG Drag Challenge, which takes Norway's Gardermoen Raceway on 6th-8th August. After this date a late entry fee will be charged, if entry is accepted.

Click here for FIA-class entry form/Supplementary Regs (PDF format)
Click here for FIM/UEM-class entry form/Supplementary Regs (PDF format)
Click here for NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified entry form/Supplementary Regs (PDF format)
©Eurodragster.com
Entry forms can also be downloaded from the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se, and the European Pro Mod Association web site at www.promod.nu.

If you cannot download PDF documents, if you wish to book an electricity point in your pit, or if you wish to purchase Sponsor/VIP tickets then please contact Norsk Dragracing Gardermoen direct on +47 916 81 750 or by E-Mail at erijacob@online.no.

Web site updates.
24th June: Alan Currans is pleased to announce the publication on his Acceleration Archive web site of the first of a series of articles recording the racing careers of some of the most influential names in the sport. "This article, written by Dave Riswick, goes right to the very beginnings of the sport in this country and charts the career of drag racing pioneer Rex Sluggett", says Alan. "It focuses initially upon Rex's little-known but very influential supercharged dragster The Duke of Cornwall and records how he met up with that other giant of the sport, Dennis Priddle. This winning partnership produced the totally state-of-the-art Tudor Rose methanol-burning blown slingshot which in Rex's and Dennis' hands was formidable. The second part of the article will follow in a few weeks and will record the team's triumphal trip to Sweden, their successful attempt upon the standing start World Record, and will also feature a gallery of previously-unpublished pictures generously made available by Rex". You can check out part one at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
The Team section of the Europeam Pro Mod Association web site at www.promod.nu has been updated with a page for new EPMA member Arne Lindkivst's Moose Racing blown-alcohol '66 Chevelle.

SPRC Summernationals Awards.

23rd June: Eurodragster.com and its partners are again pleased to post cash and product for racers at this weekend's SPRC Summernationals at Santa Pod Raceway.

We have again teamed up with Colin Aldred of London-based performance supplier Scorpion Racing to present the Eurodragster.com/Scorpion Racing Awards to qualifiers in three classes. The qualifying class and number are picked at random, and this weekend's qualifying classes are:

Super Modified #5 qualifier: Five-point SFI-spec TRS harness as used by Micke Kågered and other top FIA and Pro Mod racers, and a Scorpion Racing T-Shirt. The TRS harness has been supplied in association with Harley at Total Restraint Systems.

Super Gas #6 qualifier: Eight Litres of Rock Oil, Carb Cleaner, Brake Cleaner and a Scorpion Racing T-Shirt.

Comp Bike #4 qualifier: Four litres of Rock Oil, Chain Lube and a Scorpion Racing T-Shirt.

For performance supplies you can find the Scorpion Racing web site at www.scorpionracing.co.uk or call 020 8211 4888.

The Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award has been increased to �75 after no-one took the money at the Power Nationals. The �75 will be awarded to the first racer this weekend to pull a perfect Reaction Time of 0.000. The Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award is open to all classes and is jointly presented by Eurodragster.com and Speedflow. If the Award is not won this weekend then it will be increased to the SEK equivalent of �100 for the Veidec Nitro Festival at Mantorp Park; if it is won then the Award will be reset to the SEK equivalent of �50 for the Veidec Nitro Festival. For all your high-performance hose requirements check out Speedflow's web site at www.speedflow.co.uk or call 0870 225 0097.
©Eurodragster.com
The Eurodragster.com/Curbishley Automotive Perfect ET Award has been reset to �50 after Tony Smith clocked 11.560 on an 11.56 dial-in in Wild Bunch eliminations at the Power Nationals. The money will be awarded to the first racer this weekend to run to the thousandth on their class index or dial-in. The Eurodragster.com/Curbishley Automotive Award is this weekend open to all ET classes, all Super classes, Junior Dragster, all VW classes, the Wild Bunch, 9.90 Bike and 10.90 Bike, and is jointly presented by Eurodragster.com and automotive painter and finisher Curbishley Automotive, owned by Martin and Ruth Curbishley. If the Award is not won this weekend then it will be increased to the SEK equivalent of �75 for the Veidec Nitro Festival at Mantorp Park; if it is won then the Award will be reset to the SEK equivalent of �50 for the Veidec Nitro Festival. If you would like your race vehicle painted by Curbishley Automotive then contact Martin Curbishley by E-Mail at mcbrogieroadster@aol.com or call him on 07812 942097.

Good luck everyone!

Jones seeks lock on converter.
23rd June: UK Super Pro ET racer Martyn Jones is giving his new lock-up converter another chance this weekend, says Crew Chief Dave Crunkhorn, aka Crunch. The driver-operated lock-up, of a type which Crunch tells us is unusual for racing use, hasn't had a proper run-out after problems with the fuel system on Martyn's seven-second rail at the FIA Main Event.

"You might have noticed that the car kept bogging off the line", says Crunch. "I got the fuel system wrong - it was only working flat out! I've found that problem and sorted it out. We've been trying to find a new set-up, because we have a lot of new bits on the car. There is a completely new transmission and the lock-up converter, and the slicks are wider and taller."
©Eurodragster.com
Crunch says that the converter only locks up when Martyn hits a switch on the steering wheel. "You'll hear the low and high gears, then when Syd hits the switch it will sound like third gear - that's the converter locking up and it will drag the motor down a bit. And just so you know he has definitely done it, the switch is also connected to the red light on the back of the car!".

Crunch hopes that development can start on the converter now that the fuel system problems have been cured. "It's got to be better than it was at the Main Event", he says. "At that race it wouldn't have pulled the skin off a rice pudding!"

Motlers wheelie happy...
23rd June: The UK's Spellbound Pro ET team have added a new full-time team member in the person of Malcolm and Marcie Motler's son Callum, who was born days before the FIA Main Event and successfully trialled as a part-time team member at that race. Malcolm celebrated Callum's arrival with some huge wheelies in his popular Morris Minor pick-up and we were very pleased to hear that the wheelies will again be in evidence at this weekend's SPRC Summernationals.

"Firstly we would like to send a massive Thank You to everyone for the kind words, cards and gifts we received at the Main Event to welcome Callum into the world", say Malcolm and Marcie. "We are very excited about the SPRC Summernationals, as this will be the first meeting which Callum will be staying at, and because we are hoping to have more wheelstanding launches.
©Eurodragster.com
"At the Main Event we were gob smacked at the first launch, which was the highest ever, Malc spent the whole run laughing his head off! The whole team were relieved that at last the combination had come together and the times were starting to be consistent, with three 1.39 sixty-foots in a row. Malc found changing from the foot brake to a transbrake quite a challenge, but was starting to get the hang of it with some .020 lights on the Saturday.

"We thought that the new four-day format at the Main Event was a great success. Even though we went out in the first round we still had eight runs. You can't complain about that, a fantastic weekend was had by all. Well done to all at Santa Pod."

...Kitney not so amused.
23rd June: Trevor Kitney tells us that it is not looking promising for the Kitney/Q8 Racing Kiss My RS Pro ET Escort to attend the SPRC Summernationals. "After the popping and banging at the Power Nationals I E-Mailed our Enderle dealer with our problems, along with my engine spec and their original list of recommended jet sizes etc. "Oh", they said, "no, they won't work...er...we didn't think you were serious!"
©Eurodragster.com
"I stayed very calm, and just ordered the 'new' recommendations - new barrel valve, new returns, new jets, new overdraft! Unfortunately when I checked five days after placing the order the parts still hadn't been dispatched."

Trevor tells us that the car, driven by Eleanor Kitney and Mark Hales, won't run again until the new parts are fitted and tested. "If we don't make this weekend, we'll be strutting our stuff (with the old man behind the wheel if I can wrest it away from 'El On Wheels') at the Victory Wheelers' Thorney Island bash", he says.

Racers: It's not too late to send your SPRC Summernationals previews. Drop us a line at news@eurodragster.com and we'll publish your news here.

MDRA host first Night Event.

23rd June: The Malta Drag Racing Association organised the first out of three Night Drag Race events over last weekend, writes MDRA President Anthony Borda. "Newly-bought artificial lighting, which cost the Association plenty of Euros, lit the track like it was daytime, says Anthony. "Thanks to a few Committee members and a great electrician, we had all the lights on poles a few days before the event. Everyone who came to Hal-Far Raceway was amazed with what they saw in the refurbishment of the track itself. Charlie Draper, on holiday on Malta, praised all the work done on the track by the Association - he really liked what he saw. Similarly Bernie Hepworth said so a few days before the event.

"The event was very well-organised in every aspect, apart from the weather. It was a bit windy and cold for the month of June. During this three-day event, we saw over 160 competitors race their vehicles with no limits at all. A few National Records were broken and a lot of Personal Best times achieved. This means that the track was well-prepared for all the competitors, and that the competitors themselves are still doing their utmost to run better at every event.
©Eurodragster.com
"All Maltese people should be very proud of what Chris Polidano achieved during this Event. Chris who drives his dad�s Modified Ford Escort (right), fitted with a nitrous-assisted four-cylinder Turbo Cosworth homologated engine, can say that he has the fastest Cosworth engine in the world with a 7.8/169 run. Without all of his helpers and mainly his tuner, Amante Bugeja, this would not have been achieved. This team worked very hard so that the eight-second barrier could be broken. We at the MDRA are very proud of this, since the 7.8 has been recorded by a Maltese competitor at our renewed Hal-Far Raceway.

"Apart from Chris Polidano, there were lots of other competitors who did well such as Joe Carabott, whom everyone knows as Mr. Whippy, who passed the tests and got his licence to drive a dragster; Karim Cassar, the sole man for Alberta Security System, who had every one talking about his Super Street car which is tuned by Joseph Tabone of Sieheb Racing Team; Mark Attard; Paul Pace; Mark Farrugia, and many more. All of the results can be viewed on our web site at www.maltadragracing.com.

"We at the MDRA would like to thank all the competitors, sponsors and everyone who gave us help in any way to make another successful event possible. Our next Night Event will be held on 22nd-24th July. See you at the track."

Carter Pioneers new sponsor.
23rd June: UK Top Fuel Dragster team Carter Motorsport have signed new Associate Sponsor Pioneer Print to their GoTalk-powered operation. In a deal negotiated last week, Pioneer joins the record-breaking team as their official print supplier for the remainder of the 2004 season.

Pioneer Print was established over twenty years ago by business partners Andy Hopkins and Peter Binden running just two small printing presses, and has since grown into a multi-million pound group of companies based in South Woodford, London. Pioneer offer a vast range of integrated services and can produce anything from a single colour business card to a glossy five colour laminated catalogue. Their production department is the heart of the business, and is where all the printing work is organised following its transition from disk to printing plate. Production is also where the process of gaining the client�s price and delivery schedule is arranged. As with all printing jobs, production is closely monitored via a computer network so that they can guarantee deadlines are met on every occasion. This ensures total customer satisfaction and a production quality which is hard to beat.

�I am delighted to welcome Pioneer on board", says Andy Carter. "At Carter Motorsport we demand the very best from our partners in terms of performance, quality and price. Pioneer Print exceeds all these criteria and offers a fast, friendly and cost-effective solution to every print job imaginable�.

Pioneer Print can be contacted as follows:

Pioneer Print
8 Raven Road
South Woodford
London E18 1HB

Tel: +44 (0) 208 505 1552
Fax: +44 (0) 208 505 9982

E-Mail: prepress@pioneerprint.co.uk
Web: www.pioneerprint.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Swift snippets.
23rd June: Finnish Top Fuel Dragster racer Anita Mäkelä has moved quickly to scotch rumours that she will be racing this season. "Our poultry business is taking all of our time and investment at the moment", says Anita. "The dragster is a hobby. It is being kept in cotton wool and is just waiting to come out again, we are looking forward to it but it won't be this year."

UK Pro Stock Bike racer Paul Watson has been in touch to thank fellow PSB competitor Dave Beck for his invaluable help so that he may race this weekend. "Since teaming up with Dave things have gone from strength to strength with good sound advice, good parts at the right prices and always willing to help", says Grumpy. "I can see why he is a multi-champion - with his grit and determination and a drive to his ultimate goal with a very low budget he manages to come out and outperform nearly every time, 7.33 at the Power Nationals. So from all the people you help, Dave, a big Thank You."
©Eurodragster.com
UK Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Colin Lazenby was interested to read CCSE rival Andy Frost's comments in yesterday's news update. "Try putting yourself in my shoes", says Colin. "A bit shorter and more handsome, sure, but not as wealthy as you and with more than seven hours' drive from each of the tracks. Crikey, we've thrown your sort of money at the Chevy this year and we're still looking for that magical run. And we've been winless for eleven events! I'll tell you what: get your form back, put a decent tune in the old Red Victor 1 and come and kick some Chevy Thunder butt why don't you". Colin has an additional crew member on his Pinnacle-sponsored Chevy this weekend in the person of Iain Burns, who successfully bid for the privilege in the auction for Sarah Jane Head.

UK Tech Inspector Geoff Martin has been in touch again to apologise for finger trouble on his part when giving us his new phone number. Geoff can now be contacted on 01608 674121.

Thanks to Nigel Anniwell for letting us know that Santa Pod Raceway's head of track crew Bob Day and his partner Michelle have just had a new addition to the family. "Michelle gave birth to a healthy baby boy at 17.24 yesterday", says Nigel. "He weighed 6lb 14oz, as Bob said 'Mother and my boy are doing fine'. Congratulations Bob and Michelle, another member for the track crew". We're sure that everyone will join Sharkman and Tog in echoing Nigel's congratulations and best wishes to Bob and Michelle.

Hallo Super Gasser und Fan's davon, wir von der www.dragscene.de sponsern im Jahr 2004 die drei Drachten-Veranstaltungen mit je 500 Euro pro Rennen. Die Auszahlung erfolgt nach dem letzten Rennen im August durch die www.explosion.nl, und wir vom 1. bis 16. Platz ausgezahlt. Hiermit wollen wir einen kleinen Anreiz f�r die Super Gas Klasse geben. N�here Einzelheiten beim n�chsten Race in Drachten.

Veidec Nitro Festival entry.
23rd June: Motor Events have been in touch to remind racers that Thursday of next week, 1st July, is the closing date for standard entry to the Veidec Nitro Festival, which takes place at Sweden's Mantorp Park on 29th July to 1st August. After this date a late entry fee will be charged, if entry is accepted, and all entry closes on 24th July.

Click here for FIA-class entry form/Supplementary Regs (PDF format)
Click here for FIM/UEM-class entry form/Supplementary Regs (PDF format)
Click here for NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified entry form/Supplementary Regs (PDF format)
Click here for NDRS-class entry form/Supplementary Regs (PDF format)
©Eurodragster.com
Entry forms can also be downloaded from the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se, the Veidec Nitro Festival web site at www.nitrofestval.com, and the European Pro Mod Association web site at www.promod.nu. The EPMA web site is also now hosting NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified entry forms for the NDRG Drag Challenge at Gardermoen in August and the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway in September.

If you cannot download PDF documents, if you wish to book an electricity point in your pit, or if you wish to purchase Sponsor/VIP tickets then please contact Mantorp Park direct on +46 (0)142 298850 or by E-Mail at info@mantorppark.com.

No Bruiser but bruises for PMR.
23rd June: Paul Marston Racing have announced that they will not be fielding the PT Bruiser at this weekend's SPRC Summernationals. "It is with reluctance that we make this choice, but it is the correct one", says Paul Marston. "The whole organisation has been kept very busy getting the new 4,000 sq ft workshop on line, with the move still in progress; it�s a case of working round things and making it happen. We have a schedule in place for this, but we also decided at the start to leave it open-ended, it will be done when it�s done.

"The PT Bruiser itself will be probably completed by the end of this week, it was booked in to have the motor refitted yesterday, reassembly today and a full systems check by tomorrow: a little too close to call so common sense prevailed and Dave Kalisz, our Operations Chief, made the call last Friday. We will still be fielding two drivers, Gary Springford makes a very welcome return to Grumpy's Dodge in Pro ET and I will once again enter the fray in Super Street. The PMR Crew will be joined this weekend by one of our PMR Drag Race Driving School graduates who will be crewing with us on Saturday for the insight and experience from a competitor�s perspective. The initiation ceremony is over quite quickly, only occasionally leaving a nasty scar and has only once needed the lucky recipient to be hospitalised for more than a week, nothing to worry about really! I had hoped to remain in Super Pro ET and make my début in PMR's alcohol-injected Big Block altered The Alien, but at short notice it just could not be arranged so it will have to wait for another day.

"Another of my very pleasant but time consuming commitments is the weekday radio which I currently present on RED FM 103.8, 1.00pm � 3.00pm. It�s the usual kind of afternoon radio show with a good drag racing flavor naturally and studio special guests.
©Eurodragster.com
"On top of this the Insanity Vega is back in the workshop for some work in the motor department. The Vega developed a problem on her last qualifying run at the Power Nationals so I elected not to participate in eliminations. The motor had just received a new solid lifter cam, single plane intake and bigger carb all of which were working nicely resulting in an ET reduction of four tenths over the previous best. The ZZ4 Small Block is already stripped and the parts have been ordered from the States. The machining work being expertly handled by John Ellis at C and S Racing (0208 808 1139) always our first and only choice. It was a real shame that the motor developed a problem, but that�s drag racing. I was looking forward to going rounds in the Insanity Vega, due to how easy it was to drive and how consistent it had been - up to then! I also wanted to experiment with running the Vega completely on my own in competition, with no crew in the staging lanes or on the start line. In the States it is quite common for Sportsman racers to run the whole operation themselves, it's rare over here. I was very comfortable running the Vega on my own and it in no way added to the engine fault that sidelined Insanity.

The Insanity Vega will be back out for its next scheduled booking with the PMR Drag Race Driving School. I can also reveal that there will be two PMR Drag Race Driving School graduates who have completed their courses incorporating their observed runs, which is quite possible as long as the pupil has a National B competition licence. It is intended that they compete at the FIA European Finals the UK National Finals at Santa Pod Raceway; they will both début in competition driving Insanity in Pro ET. Everyone at Paul Marston Racing wishes them luck and will as ever be providing pit crew and technical and tactical support.

"Moving back to this weekend, PMR look forward to meeting the fans and Passenger Ride victims/lucky people at Santa Pod. Thanks to Chrysler UK, Mac Tools, BLP Orlando, ATI Transmissions, Geddex, London Road Tyres, and all our friends who help us out, especially Eurodragster, plus all the special people who make up the PMR crew, especially Anthony Middleton who not only mashed his face whilst engaging in social entertainments which involved a small amount of falling down fluid, but underwent a knee operation as a result. The open wound will take around 4 weeks to heal itself. See, Anthony, that was quite diplomatically put, I didn�t mention drunken piggyback racing in the local pub once...oops! See you all at the track, oh and if you see a 6' 4" person hobbling towards me looking vengeful, don�t worry: he can't run, I can!"

Web site updates.
23rd June: Feel-the-noise.com have completed the uploading of photographs from the recent Power Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. Nearly three hundred new photos have been added; webmaster Bob Valder tells us that the new pictures can easily be found by following the 'red dots' in the category listing.
©Eurodragster.com
SPRC Summernationals update.
22nd June: We are again indebted to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for forwarding us the final official entry list for this weekend's (26th-27th June) SPRC Summernationals. "Apart from a couple of entries about which I have been contacted, all entries are now closed - no ifs, buts or maybes!", says Paula

The SPRC Summernationals entry list can be viewed via the Event Coverage index page for that event, which you can view by clicking here, or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.
©Eurodragster.com
Paula has asked us to inform racers that Santa Pod's main gates will be opening at 5:00 pm on Friday.

Bristol invades SPR.

22nd June: The Bristol Doorslammers are headed en masse for this weekend's SPRC Summernationals at Santa Pod Raceway - with the exception of Super Comp racer Zane Llewellyn who nevertheless kindly gave us a run-down of the weekend's attendees from Planet Bristol.

"Jerry Denning and Lee Pike will début the Honky Tonkin' '57 Chevy Gasser at its first National meeting this weekend", says Zane. "The car has gone 10.20 with the normally-aspirated 427 BB Chevy (which is now for sale, E-Mail me for details), but now has a Blown 454 (right) dyno'd at 750hp with the blower underdriven! We are expecting the car to go into the very low nines, but the boys will be driving in Super Street and Super Gas at the Summernationals. I think some breakouts will be unavoidable (good boys - Ed)!
©Eurodragster.com
"Conrad Stanley will be determined to hold on to his lead in the Super Gas points standings after losing in the first round at the Main Event, then following up with a win at the Power Nationals at Shakey two weeks ago. His daughter Anna will again be trying for her first win in Junior Dragster. Also in Super Gas, Trev Graves is still hard at it sorting out the converter problems which have kept the Honda out of the nines recently. Our usual Super Street gang will be there too: Bob Lees will be looking for a better outing after a couple of early showers this year, and of course our 'dominant duo', Mike Bentley and 'Hoch' Grant will be looking for yet another one-two finish.

"Steve Clutterbuck will be there with his Supertwin Fuel Harley, after a couple of disastrous meetings at which teething troubles kept Steve off of the track. Last time out at the Power Nationals, it all came together with Steve feathering the throttle to a 9.4/156 mph! We should see the bike go into the mid-eights at the Summernationals now the bugs are ironed out. I know it's not exactly a Doorslammer, but then nor is mine or Anna's!

"Last but not least will be Aidan Kenny also licking his paws after a bad start to the year. His problems were carburettor-related and should be behind him now. Oh, last and least will be myself and the dragster, as we won't be there: we have an appointment with a few thousand people in a field in Somerset. Apologies for not updating the web site as regularly as usual: work and life commitments have kept me from the keyboard in recent times, but we should be back to normal soon. Our next outing with the dragster will be the Mantorp Park and Gardermoen races, after which you'll probably see us on the track a bit more often."

Frost seeks return to form.
22nd June: UK Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Andy Frost tells us that the problems which he has recently had with his eight-second, street-legal Red Victor 1 have been very perplexing to his whole team.

"I'd like to say sorry to all the Red Victor 1 followers, fans and sponsors for our disappointing lack of performance at the last two races", says Andy. "It has involved some very intense head scratching, finger-pointing and hand-waving, but I'm confident that this weekend's SPRC Summernationals will see a return to form for the team (car...). Of course that'll include the 'Big Kahuna' nitrous tunes along with the changes we have made to try to get us back in the Championship race again.
©Eurodragster.com
"I have to say a big Thanks to my hard working crew, and especially to Jon Webster for his all his efforts in the run-up to this weekend's meeting. His input and time have been very welcome indeed!

"On another note we also have Red Victor 2 T-shirts for sale at the track. They are quality items with a design penned by our own Mark Gredzinski, and are available in XL and L for a bargain �10 each. Get yourselves one and you'll be contributing to our racing programme. See you all at the Summernationals."

Beck heads Stateside.
22nd June: 2003 ACU Pro Stock Bike Champion Dave Beck will not be contesting this weekend's SPRC Summernationals as he will be racing Jay Regan's MRE Pro Mod Bike at Norwalk in the USA.

"We have the Pro Mod Bike running fast and staying together with a good tune up", says Dave. "We have qualified second, third, fourth, and fifth this season, but have not got the race result with which we'd be happy, there have been some close races and a few small but costly problems. I'm not one to moan about bad luck or lack of luck - we in the MRE team will be working hard this weekend to turn the race day into a positive outcome. We did run 6.88 there last year, so with a test booked for Friday we will hope to improve on that."
©Eurodragster.com
Dave says that he has one more ACU Pro Stock Bike Championship date this season, the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway in August. "I will be in Memphis on the weekend of the UK National Finals", says Dave. "I will be making a lot of dyno pulls in the next month on both my motors, and who knows if I can get some funding I might make the UEM round at the European Finals at Santa Pod in September".

Dave adds that if anyone wants parts bringing back from the USA this weekend then they should let him know, "Nothing too big or small".

Champion's Champion souvenirs.
22nd June: 2003 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Smax Smith is offering children who visit his pit a very special souvenir courtesy of long-time sponsor Champion, who have again supplied Smax with a year's supply of spark plugs.

"We have noticed other teams selling spark plugs as souvenirs", says Team Manager Paul Townsend. "We are always keen on involving our fans as part of the team, so we will give our used Champion plugs free of charge as souvenirs to all children coming to our pit, subject to availability. Adults of course are also welcome to a souvenir plug - but we would ask for a small contribution to our chosen charity Promise Dreams. The charity raises funds to provide sick children with their own personal dream - whether it be swiming with dolphins, riding in a hot air balloon or whatever they desire."

Nitro Nationals press release.
22nd June: The Finnish leg of the FIA and FIM/UEM European Drag Racing Championships takes place at Alastaro Circuit between 2nd and 4th July 2004, and one can safely expect a lot from the event because of the three European records in the season�s first race at Santa Pod, writes Finnish Hot Rod Association Media Coordinator Marko Yli-Pietil�.

Top Fuel now has a new ET and speed record holder, namely England�s Andy Carter. His runs of 4.832 seconds and 306.36 mph were backed up at the Main Event. The other two record runs were driven in the Pro Stock category. Sweden�s Michael Malmgren recorded a new ET record, now 6.910 seconds. Jimmy �lund, who is also from Sweden, is the owner of a new Pro Stock speed record, which is now 199.19 mph. All three record holders will come to the strip at Alastaro.

There are several 'Flying Finns' in the European Championship categories in Alastaro. Eero Knihtil� appears again in the Pro Stock category and Arto H�yl� challenges the top European racers in Top Methanol Dragster. There is also a wild rumor going around about Anita M�kel�s participation in the Alastaro race. Anita has not yet entered, but... In motorcycles, Vesa Rautio is going for the Championship title in Pro Stock Bike, and Asko M��tt� is on the line in the Top Fuel Bike category. Super Twin Top Fuel is also very interesting for Finns because of Jaska Salakari�s return to the strip at Alastaro.

The Alastaro race is also a Finnish Championship and Nordic Drag Racing Series race. This brings plenty of participants to the non-European Championship categories. The famous Finnish-Swedish duels will be worth seeing. Janne Ahonen, the winner of the ski jumping World Cup 2004, will be racing against Swedes and other drivers in the Competition Eliminator category. In the Pro Modified category Finland�s Tomi P�ntinen is racing against numerous fast Swedish drivers.

All in all the Finnish European Championship race in Alastaro will be full of great drag racing. At the moment there are more racers entered than in 2003. The professional categories especially will provide more excitement than ever before.

You can keep up-to-date with the official entry list for the FHRA Nitro Nationals by clicking here; the entry list is at the bottom of the page.
©Eurodragster.com
Drag racer beats F1, again.
22nd June: If you were tuned in to Eurodragster News last week you will recall that UK Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Jon 'Moose' Hollingworth was set up for a match race against a Formula One car to continue the tradition of drag racers showing circuit racers the way home. Moose tells us that he beat Bob Campbell's Tyrell F1 "in a roundabout sort of way".

"Bob arranged to drive up and down the track a few times on his own to warm his tyres, it sounded awesome", says Moose. "He staged, left the line like a scalded cat but couldn't find any more gears, resulting in a nineteen-second quarter from a sixty-foot blast. Bob is glad it broke at York because he is going to Germany in two weeks.
©Eurodragster.com
"I ran a 10.7/130 with a 1.7 sixty foot, which is 0.8 faster than the 0-60mph event. I was about to try giving it some more in the final of the NSCC when rain stopped play. I made five runs but could have done loads more on what was a good track.

"The pub landlord Simon Boot, who started the challenge, turned up on a 1000cc fast road bike but refused to take Bob's place. I will accept beer as a prize."

No need to be nervous...
22nd June: UK Wild Bunch racer Gareth Kent's Hot Dog altered was in the hands of John Munday at the Power Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. Although John rebuilt the car to its current state and so is well-acquainted with it, Gareth says that it was a slightly nervous start for both parties.

"John drove at the Power Nats as I didn't renew my racing licence", says Gareth. "It was nice for the creator to have a drive! We discussed dial-ins: I suggested 12.6, John said "No way it'll be more like 14s, so we compromised at 13.00. John got the hang of it straight away, running a good 12.6! What did I say? John then said that he would leave all dial-ins for me to deside. When he got back to the pits he said it felt like it was leaning out, a problem the car has had since the UK National Finals last year, even though we won. I thought I had solved the problem back at home but couldn't be sure until it was under load.

"We decided to investigate and rip the carb apart, we found that a gasket had been installed off-centre and had disintegrated, blocking jets and clogging up the power valve. So about three quarters of an hour and several tins of carb cleaner later, as well as setting the carb to full fat, we fired it up and it sounded a different beast! Then I thought about the dial-in, I went for a 12.42.

"We went down for the next qualifier, John was getting a bit more confident now: did the burnout, went up to the line and ran...12.427! number one qualifier! He was well chuffed and so was I. That's what you want when you are trying to sell your car, good results (More about the sale of the car below - Ed). On the last qualifier John got too good, running a 12.2 on a 12.42 dial-in, maybe the tuning was a little too good. But still at the top!

"Sunday brought more enjoyment, making it to the semi finals after beating Mike Cresswell in his well-turned-out slingshot, a bye, and then we met Mark Coulsell. Mark didn't beat us, John did it himself by going too fast on a 12.30 dial-in he went 12.06! So not only going too fast and losing he beat my PB, which was 12.1, and he was on the brakes around the thousand-foot mark so it was easily an eleven. All in one run, wow (git). I was really pleased that we got that far, the problem was sorted and the car is heading back towards the elevens, which I hope to break at my next event, the Mini Bash at Shakespeare County Raceway next month. I'm glad that John enjoyed himself and took home the number one qualifier trophy as well. Well done mate! Also, thanks to Chris Hartnell and Claire Meaddows for the loan of the plate on the Saturday night so I didn't starve!"

As mentioned above, Gareth's altered is for sale at �3000. "It needs to go very soon so that I can try to get my new car done for next year", says Gareth. "Being an AA patrolman I don't get a lot of free time to myself to do this, so a head start would be good". If you would like to get into drag racing with a just-about-to-be-eleven second altered with a great pedigree then drop Gareth a line at gareth@dazegonebyracing.fsnet.co.uk.

The Daze Gone By Racing team is about to expland to two cars with the addition of a steel Mini-bodied altered owned by Gareth's crewman Les. "We started to build it last October, and apart from the paint job it was finished in April for �1900 including fire suit, gloves, boots etc!", says Gareth. "Les got a lot of freebies from me. Hopefully the car will be out at the Mini Bash next month."

Stay tuned for the address of Gareth's web site, which will contain the latest news from the Daze Gone By pit as well as team and car histories and more.

Wing responds.
22nd June: UK Super Street Bike racer and clutch manufacturer Paul Wing has been in touch to respond to fellow SSB racer Peter Bellenie's comments of Saturday concerning his PRW clutch. Paul has asked us to post his response verbatim:
©Eurodragster.com
"In reference to Mr Bellenie's comments about my slider clutches, David Bailey uses one of my sliders and he puts 400bhp through his and launches in second gear! You also neglected to mention that your new seat unit, i.e. seating position, is two inches further back, and the people who know about weight distribution and weight transfer will understand moving a third of the total weight backwards two inches will have a bad effect, and even with your your 'new' clutch you will have to take power out of the bike to keep it moving forward rather than upwards, which seems to be defeating the object. Maybe talking to chassis builders would have been a better choice than people who have something to gain. Anyway, no hard feelings on my part, just a shame that you felt the need to make comments on the internet."

Both sides having been put, this correspondence is now closed.

Swift snippets.
22nd June: UK Junior Dragster racer Matthew Seamarks will be promoting the sport and Rushden-based sponsor The Curry Garden after contesting this weekend's SPRC Summernationals at Santa Pod in his Gingerman Racing JD. "On 3rd-4th July we will be at the Motor Show at Wicksteed Park in Kettering", says Matthew. "It's for the local paper the Evening Telegraph."
©Eurodragster.com
UK Top Methanol Dragster racer Lindsay Deuchar will not be contesting this weekend's SPRC Summernationals after discovering a split in the chassis of the five-second TMD. You can read a review of Lindsay's season so far on his web site at www.laracing.co.uk.

UK Tech Inspector Geoff Martin has been in touch to let us know that his telephone number has changed from that published in the UK rule book. Geoff can now be contacted on 01608 674121.

Editor's note: Apologies for the lack of a news update yesterday; Tog was unable to do the news update for personal reasons.

Web site updates.
22nd June: The official web site of Sweden's returning Pro Mod racer Patrick Wikström has been updated with a brief FIA Main Event report written by Crew Chief Krister Peterson. You can read Krister's words on the OFAB Motorsport web site at www.ofabmotorsport.com.

Our good buddies and honorary Eurodragster staff members at Svensk Dragracing have updated their web site with the points standings in the Nordic Drag Racing Series after the weekend's Deep Forest Nats at Sundsvall. You can find the NDRS points at www.dragracing.se.
©Eurodragster.com
The Racebilder web site at www.racebilder.nu has been updated with pictures from the weekend's Scandinavian Dragracing Championship round at Säve Airport.

Gareth Evans has updated his UK1320 web site with a number of photographs from the Power Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. Check them out at www.uk1320.com.

Eurodragster staffer Sharkman has as promised updated his personal web site Sharkman's Top End Tales with ninety six Windows wallpaper files from the FIA Main Event, and twelve wallpaper files from the Power Nationals. You can find Sharkman's site at www.topendtales.com.

Carter does the kicking.
20th June: UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Andy Carter blasted the GoTalk team to victory with a 2-0 triumph over the self-proclaimed 'butt-kicker' Thomas Nataas at last weekend�s Power Nationals, writes Carter Motorsport PR John Andrews. Bathed in the summer sun, Andy battled with difficult track conditions to thrill the crowd with a superb display of driving skill, and take his third consecutive conquest at the Warwickshire venue.

With the car unloaded, and the pit ready for action by Friday night, the decision not to race on Saturday came as a big disappointment to many of our fans. However, they were rewarded with the opportunity to get in close, meet and chat with Andy, and see the crew in full swing as the layoff gave us the opportunity to strip the car down to its bare bones, check and clean every component, and re-assemble in preparation for Sunday�s showdown with the Norwegian rookie. For the pre-race preparations, we were joined by Chane Knight who had earned his position on the team through a charity auction for drag bike racer Sarah Jane Head, also known as Scary. Scary was very badly injured in a crash at Santa Pod�s Easter Thunderball, and the drag racing community has pulled together to raise several thousand pounds to help aid her recovery.

Whilst the guys worked on the car, the merchandise stall was opened for business, and as usual the sales team took every opportunity to introduce the public to our sponsor�s great range of services and products. One hot selling item was the new limited edition NGK spark plug key rings taken from Andy�s European record-breaking runs at the Main Event just two weeks earlier. Each one comes signed and dated with the exact speed and ET, a unique piece of drag racing history!

Sunday morning greeted us with a cloudless sky and by lunchtime we took the call for the tow down. This was what everyone had been waiting for, and there was certainly no hanging about from either team. Both cars pulled short burnouts, and on the green Andy got the hole shot on Thomas with a brilliant 0.118 reaction time. By 200 feet, the slicks went up in smoke; Andy lifted, got back on it and lit the slicks again at half track, pedalling to a 6.533/148.49 victory over Thomas� 7.566/110.53 performance. The win was what we wanted, but fell far short of the four-second pass that we were looking for.

With the turn-round completed, and a crowd-thrilling nitro warm-up out of the way, it was time for the final round of the race. Unfortunately, Thomas had blackened his crank and damaged the block of the Batmobile Top Fueller, so we borrowed his rear wheels and went for an event-closing bye run, recording a disappointing 6.416/139.95, to win the event 2-0.

As usual, I�d like to thank everybody who dropped by our pit, all of our sponsors for their continued support, and to Barry Sheavills who provided expert colour commentary during the two rounds. Thanks everyone, we�ll see you all at the Finals.
©Eurodragster.com
Deep Forest Nats coverage.
20th June: This weekend's round of the Nordic Drag Racing Series and SHRA Championships, the Deep Forest Nationals, is taking place at Sundsvall. You can find up-to-the-minute news on the SHRA Luleå web site at www.shra-lulea.bd.se, and NDRS qualifying details are also available on the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se.
©Eurodragster.com
Swift snippets.
20th June: Photographer Richard Heeps, who regularly covers drag racing in the UK, Europe and the USA, is holding a private viewing of his exhibition Burlesque on 1st July at the Zetland Gallery, 5/25 Scrutton Street, London EC2A 4HJ. The private viewing, for which you can book a place by calling 020 7247 7552, takes place between 6:00 pm and 8:30 pm, and then the exhibition opens to the public between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm on 2nd-29th July, admission free. You can see samples from the Burlesque collection (parental advisory on this set of pictures - Ed) on Richard's web site at www.richardheeps.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
John Hutchinson will be displaying a number of James Ibusuki's framed drag racing lithographs at the NSRA Nostalgia Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway on 3rd-4th July. The lithographs feature the Pure Heaven and Pure Hell Fuel Altereds, Don Garlits, Eddie Hill, George Montgomery and Doug Cook, Jungle Jim and many others. You'll be able to find John and his lithographs in the Club House at SCR between 12:00 and 6:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Web site updates.
20th June: Alan Currans has updated his excellent Acceleration Archive web site with a fifth gallery of pictures submitted by the site's regular visitors. "This update contains pictures of the Hillbillies' Transcontinental Funny Car, the Pollution Packer Rocket Dragster, John Whitmore's Drag'n'Fly slingshot, John Hobbs riding Olympus II, John Siggery's Geronimo and much, much more", says Alan. Check it out at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Eurodragster staffer Sharkman has updated his personal web site Sharkman's Top End Tales with his pictures from last weekend's Power Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. You can find Sharkman's web site at www.topendtales.com.

NitrolympX entry.
19th June: Riders and drivers information for the nineteenth NitrolympX at Hockenheim, which takes place on 20th-22nd August, is available on the event's Racers' Page at www.nitrolymp-x.de, writes promoter Rico Anthes.

"The entry form has been mailed to all drivers who raced at Hockenheim last year", says Rico. "In case of change of address, or for teams who have not raced at Hockenheim before, you can receive an entry form by sending your full postal address by E-Mail to info@dragster.de or by fax to +49-6103-52428.

"Only original entry forms will be accepted. They need to be sent by mail to the race office:

Drag Racing
Postfach 1245
63225 Langen
Germany
©Eurodragster.com
Bellenie reaches for the lever.
19th June: UK Super Street Bike racer Pete Bellenie tells us that he has decided to go back to a clutch with a lever after his experiences at last weekend's Power Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway.

"It was the first time in five years of Super Street Bike racing that I haven't qualified, and it pissed me off big time!", says Pete. "I cannot get the slider to work with the amount of power I am trying to put through it", says Pete. "I've got to catch Venables! The PRW slider clutch works too well in the lock-up department, it's a great clutch if you have no more that 250 bhp - it works extremely well, you can nail it off the line to full throttle as fast as you can twist it, and it will just accelerate. So I have a new clutch coming, which hasn't arrived yet.
©Eurodragster.com
"I have my work cut out to try to qualify at the SPRC Summernationals, there may be twenty bikes but only sixteen will qualify."

"Who noticed the new bodywork on my bike?" asks Pete. We saw it, and we thought it looked just great.

York Championships.
19th June: York Dragway PR Howard Holmes has been in touch with the Top Threes in all the Championships to be contested at tomorrow's Midsummer Mayhem event at the Yorkshire track.

Northern Drag Racing Championship, Pro ET:
1st Russ Pursley (SB Chevy Dutton)
2nd Darren Peart (Rover-powered Manta)
3rd Ian Walley (V6 Cortina)

Northern Drag Racing Championship, Sportsman ET:
1st Nick France (Firebird)
2nd Brian Symonds (SB Chevy Cobra)
3rd David Fox (396 El Camino)
©Eurodragster.com
Hot Rod Challenge:
1st Bob Molden (SB Chevy Peugeot 205)
2nd Darren Peart (Manta)
3rd Russ Pursley (Dutton)

American Super Stock:
1st Craig Elliott (440 ci Plymouth Scamp)
2nd Howard Holmes (440 ci Dodge Coronet)
3rd David Fox (Elky)

"So, now you know who you need to be catching up on!", says Howard.

Power Nationals Pro ET report.
19th June: "They say that history is invariably written by the winners", says UK Pro ET racer Carla Pittau. "Unfortunately this must be the exception to the rule, as Heaven and Hell started the losers club in the first round. A small cause for consolation for losing the Championship lead was running a 10.20 on the brakes which is currently the car�s best ET, and snatching the record back from Rick�s (Carla's partner - Ed) 10.21 at the Main Event. The 383 small block is doing far more than it says on the tin by pushing the 3000 lb Camaro beyond our expectations, especially as the 10.29 dial-in was only slightly conservative, considering that Shakey�s ETs normally lag at least a tenth behind what we achieve at Santa Pod. Impossible to predict that one, really.

"Another 'consolation prize' first round casualty was Paul Baynton in the Chevy-powered green Capri. Paul had already run his personal best in the third qualifier (11.24) resulting from a drop in jet size after a plug inspection revealed too rich a mixture. Everything was left unchanged for race day and not seeing opponent John Atkinson alongside Paul hit the brakes just before the finish line. When your terminal speed is 120 mph and your�opponent's speed is 145 mph you don't want to back off too soon! John broke out by�0.006 taking the win, as Paul�broke out by almost 0.27 to record his best ever, and first ever ten-second pass at 10.981. Other first round casualties included red-lighting Ed Baldwin and Aidan Kenny, and Eleanor Kitney who had been fighting problems with the new fuel injection system and was denied a good chance by the resulting popping and banging on each run, whilst Paul Marston decided to give it a miss in the first round when he noticed low oil pressure, giving Dave Baldwin the automatic win.

"It wasn�t the kind of luck Wayne Hiscock was looking for, either, when he was handed a bye run by Kev Slyfield who could not get drive in his Plymouth, possibly due to a nuked torque converter. Hopefully Kev will get things sorted by August, his next planned outing. John Morris� bye, however, was at least fully earned. John ran his personal best in the third qualifying round as well as running three thousandths off his dial-in and was well pleased with his achievement although he unfortunately bowed out in the second round to Clive Cox in the lovely Joyrider Camaro. The 351 Windsor-powered Stimulator Reliant Scimitar is self-built with the exception of the engine, and this is John�s rookie year in competition, although he is an old hand in the RWYB wars. John will turn on the laughing gas in the future but for now he�ll try to take the Scimitar as far as possible without whilst he tunes the chassis.

Tig Napier was on a roll which started by beating me in the first round with a better light and a smaller breakout, as well as chucking bits of exhaust at me, and it seemed to get even better when he got past Steven Richards in the second round despite Steve�s five-thou-off run by nailing him on the tree, and was only stopped by his non-responding starter motor in the third round, which prevented him from showing up for the race. This gave Wayne Hiscock even more of the kind of luck he didn�t want, as after he got past a breaking out Richard Davies in the second round Tig handed him a bye to a bye to the final! Crew chief Pam commented that they must have been rewarded for not being consistent and qualifying bottom by breaking out every time.

"Talking of breaking, John Atkinson had his share: a pair of lifters, push rod, roller rocker, studs, fortunately the cam was OK. This happened in the second round against event winner Brian Huxley and John blames himself for turning the rocker trunion upside down (easily done, John � I was lucky I noticed as I put the adjuster on!). John, more aware than ever that time is money, is counting on Kenny Coleman to come to the rescue with replacement parts in time for the SPRC Summernationals and was grateful to Ian Brown for towing him back to base. Apart from towing duties, Championship leader (grrrr) Ian Brown was busy breaking out less than Dave Baldwin in the second round and getting rid of step brother in law and former Crew Chief Clive Cox in the third (both racers having an unusual case of sleeping sickness at the lights, says Harrison Brown with a hint of irony) but fell victim to a red light against good ol� Brian Huxley in the semis and giving away what could have been a good race.

"And so we got to the final, where Wayne ran out of luck and gave it all up with a three hundredths breakout despite his better light. You took too much stripe Wayne!After all, it was just about Brian�s turn to come back in top form and show that in Pro ET it truly is never over till the fat bloke sings!"
©Eurodragster.com
SPRC Summernationals entry list.
18th June: We are as ever indebted to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for forwarding us the official entry list for next weekend's (26th-27th June) SPRC Summernationals. The SPRC's own event showcases Sportsman racing and as usual shows a very healthy entry for the fifth round of the UK National Drag Racing Championships.

As ever, Pro ET has been slugging it out with other classes for best-subscribed class and has taken the honours again with twenty four entries; not far behind are Super Pro ET (22), VW Pro (20), Super Street Bike (20) and 9.90 Bike (19). The SPRC are also pleased to welcome the Volkswagen Drag Racing Club, the Wild Bunch, and the National Association of Supertwins.

A quick glance at a big entry list reveals racers making returns to the track, for example Luke Ramage and Brendan Clancy in Super Gas; Andy Robinson and John Ellis taking the chance to test their Pro Mods in Super Pro ET; former Super Street racer Andy Williams making his first competitive outing in Super Comp whilst Mick Payne's Dodge Coronet puts in an appearance in the same class; Bernie Hepworth gets to ride his Supertwin Top Fuel Bike; and the Super Street Bike racers welcome back Germany's Alexander Rose and Rudi Thurmayr whom we have not seen in the UK for a few years (Does this mean we'll be seeing you, Peter? - Ed).
©Eurodragster.com
The third round of the MSA British Drag Racing Championship (for Top Methanol) sees an entry of two - Doug Ripley and Trev Capewell. The American Car Imports Racing Top Methanol Dragster team are putting their dragster on the ferry this Thursday for the trip to Alastaro; team member David Wilson tells us that the team could not physically manage a repeat of last year's two-car operation. Meanwhile Turner Racing are putting their Netcall-sponsored dragster's motor back together after the detonation at the FIA Main Event, and we understand that they are aiming to return to the track at the Veidec Nitro Festival at Mantorp Park.

The SPRC Summernationals entry list can be viewed via the Event Coverage index page for that event, which you can view by clicking here, or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Advance tickets for the SPRC Summernationals are £12 each for Saturday and Sunday or £19 for the weekend and are available from Santa Pod Raceway on 01234 782828; gate prices are £15 each for Saturday and Sunday or £24 for the weekend, under-16s go free.

Racers: It's not too early to send your SPRC Summernationals previews. Drop us a line at news@eurodragster.com and we'll publish your news here.

One man went to mow.
18th June: UK Jet Funny Car pilot Roger Goring has been doing some work on the Firestorm's Pontiac bodywork after the right-hand wheels went off the side of the shutdown area at Shakespeare County Raceway on Sunday afternoon. Roger had put in the event-closing run at 6.352/248.22 when a bump got the car airborne.
©Eurodragster.com
"We just put the two right wheels on the grass", says Roger. "I was maybe two feet off the centre line of the lane, I hit a bump in the shutdown area and the chutes opened whilst the car was in the air. When it came down the camber tried to lower us into the grass. I pulled it back, but because you have to steer gently - you don't go making make any violent manoeuvres in a Jet Funny Car! - and because we were going so fast, it had just about got to the edge of the lane by that time anyway. The body damage is minor and it will be fixed in time for our appearance at York this weekend."

Roger says that the story may have had a different ending had Firestorm not been equipped with its revolutionary swinging-arm parachute mount. "The swinging arm responds to the attitude of the car", he says. "Should you be in the air with the centre of gravity going all over the place then the chute mount compensates and keeps you straight and pulls the car back down. If we'd had the back end in the air with a solid 'chute mount then I think it may have lifted."

Lake racer.
18th June: UK VW Sportsman racer James Lake is enjoying his second year of racing with his Fugitive buggy. Although he redlit his chances away at the Power Nationals at the weekend, he still has plenty to be happy about with personal bests aplenty, his first wheels-up launch, and solid qualifying performances. James starts by giving us some background to his racing career.

"I completed my Rookie season in the Sportsman class of the VWDRC last year in a road-legal VW-based Fugitive buggy", says James. "Having found my feet with a fairly standard 1600cc engine and consistent high seventeens, I progressed to a larger 1835cc engine and still fairly steady sixteen-second runs whilst also clocking up the road miles. "Over the winter break, despite a very limited budget, I decided to take racing a bit more seriously and comprehensively lightened the car by removing a lot of the MOT requirements and prepared it for race-only use. At the Easter Thunderball, this netted a two-second improvement and the car felt completely different! A brief flirt with slicks at the Big Bang resulted in consistent mid-fourteens and my first wheelie!
©Eurodragster.com
"Onto Round 3 at Shakespeare County Raceway and I was looking forward to getting some more points on the board and hoping to go a few more rounds in eliminations. In round one of qualifying the car, as has become usual, ran superbly straight away and I went straight into first only 0.06 off my dial-in - not so bad for the "most anal driver", eh Botch (commentary at the time, so I am reliably informed)? The next two qualifying runs saw my times improve, but unfortunately close friend Jonny Grigg pipped me in the second session and team-mate Amy Homewood grabbed the top qualifying spot with her last run of the day!

"So, to Eliminations on Sunday and I was paired up with one of the VWDRC's more experienced campaigners, Stephen Lee. I had my work cut out: all I had to do was to show him a clean pair of heels at the start line, and hold him off at the top-end or hope he broke out. Well I did just that, but unfortunately that wretched light came on at the bottom of the 'Tree. I had redlit by a scant 0.08...

"However, all was not lost as this allowed me the chance to spend some time spectating to watch the show put on by all the other racers - and boy was it worth watching. Highlights for me included seeing the return of Kev Perkins to Super Modified with runs in the sevens, the awesome sight that is Custom Car Street Eliminator and, from the VWDRC, seeing Russ Fellows clicking off a 10.60 in his street-driven Bug!

"I would like to say a huge Thank You to a bunch of people who have become very close friends. It has been great fun over the past eighteen months as a member of TeamBotch - the pit atmosphere in 'Botch Villas' has been great! Paul, Kevo, Jos, Simon, Conor, Simon, Tim, Amy and many others - thanks guys.

"Finally, I would like to take the chance to thank Claire for all her support over the past year or so. Despite the fact that I am a moody bugger getting to the track and have run over her foot a couple of times, she really has done an excellent job as my chief "pit bitch" and all of us in TeamBotch appreciate your efforts with the barbecue! I couldn't do it without you.

"Plans are afoot for developments on the car, but that will have to wait for another day. For the time being here's hoping for more consistency, no more cherries, and some more wins in the elimination rounds..."

Swift snippets.
18th June: Eight FIA Top Methanol Funny Car teams will be contesting the Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge in Stockholm's Kungsträdgården on Saturday July 24th, says Andréasson Motorsports team member Anders Magnusson. The teams' crew members will go against the clock to perform a list of mechanical tasks between two engine warm-ups, with €5000 up for grabs by the winning team. You can read all about this exciting contest on the Andréasson Motorsports web site at www.andreassonmotorsports.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Tog and Sharkman would like to wish a very happy birthday to Kay Rogers, otherwise known as Mrs Tog. Although not a race fan - she once famously asked Tog "Is that good then?" after he had driven his first full pass in Grumpy's Dodge - Kay is one of Eurodragster's biggest contributors through her tolerance of the amount of time Tog spends working on the site at home, and his long and frequent absences at the track. Have a great day, Kay!

Time to kick F1 butt, again.

18th June: As well as the latest rounds of American Super Stock, Northern Drag Racing Championship, Hot Rod Challenge and NSCC, York Dragway is this weekend playing host to another Formula One car which needs sending home with its tail between its legs.

"Bob is bringing his '96 Tyrrell Yamaha, formerly the ride of Mika Salo" says York Dragway PR Howard Holmes. "Dick Dastardly is President of Spannering. The car will be running in anger (all things permitting of course) and it looks like CCSE racer Jon 'Moose' Hollingworth and others will be pitching themselves against it.

"However, we are desperately seeking brolly dollies, please get in touch urgently to present your credentials.

"We also would like to extend a welcome to any Junior Dragsters feeling the need for a race this weekend. There are now a couple regularly running at York. Pictured are Bob Molden and the crew, with the ten-second White Noise Peugeot and their fresh-off-the-trailer Junior Dragster, called Slight Noise. And remember: this Sunday, it's Daddy's Day at York Raceway!"

Web site updates.
18th June: Swiss Pro Mod racer Peter Wacker has updated his Roofer's Toy web site with a race report and photographs from his victorious weekend at the FIA Main Event as well as more interesting information about the beautiful '57 Bel Air. Check it out at www.roofers-toy.ch.

2003 FIM/UEM European Top Fuel Bike Champion Roel Koedam's Crew Chief Marius van der Zijden has dropped us a line to tell us that a video clip is now available of Roel making a 4.24-second pass over the eighth at Drachten. You can find the video clip at www.explosiondragracing.com/video%27s.htm.
©Eurodragster.com
Pete Roberts, whose panoramic photographs of Santa Pod Raceway we mentioned last week, has updated his web site with an interesting page about Santa Pod's origins as a USAF bomber base. To find out more, click on The Pod before "The Pod" at the very bottom of the Home Page at myweb.tiscali.co.uk/lithopa/SPpanos.html.

Our good buddy Erwin Raets has updated the European Drag Racing Database at www.eurodrag.com with the timing data from the FIA Main Event.

Smax selects Top Gear.
17th June: Paul Townsend tells us that that following the two page article on 2003 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Smax Smith in Top Gear magazine earlier this year, a journalist and photographer will be with Smax for the next month's second FIA Championship round at Alastaro in Finland.

The reporter will be doing a fly-on-the-wall type report on the running of a Top Fuel car and the interaction of the team members. It's rumoured that the reporter will be given all the nice jobs such as cleaning parts which Paul says will please Belfast Ray! On a serious note the intention of the Mainline team is to show both the hard work and enjoyment experienced in running a Fuel car, hopefully to widen the sport's appeal in this type of mainstream magazine.
©Eurodragster.com
Top Gear magazine has a circulation of 125,000 and readership of almost 400,000. Smax says that he hopes that the magazine crew will follow him to the FIA European Finals in September to provide an update for the magazine.

Poppin' Eleanor.
17th June: It was a difficult Power Nationals for the UK's Kitney/Q8 Pro ET team with everything being rushed in the preceding week to get the car ready for Eleanor Kitney, writes Jon Best. "The new Enderle injection proved to be a whole different kettle of fish to setup, as the weekend showed", says Jon. "Saturday was spent scratching heads thinking what could be done to stop the plumes of black smoke being chucked out the exhausts whilst keeping it fat enough to avoid burning anything.

"Qualifying started with the car being shut down on the line after it ran too lean causing all kinds of power delivery problems. After fattening it a bit for the next round, Trevor Kitney was confident of getting a time on the board. After a very sideways burnout from El, the car was staged and the tree burned down, a good launch and sixty foot the result of the changes, but as El shifted into third a huge bang and some loud whining noises forced her off the throttle, after briefly coming to rest on the track, the car started moving and a twenty three-second pass resulted, not amazing but a time was on the board following the nightmare first pass!
©Eurodragster.com
"No-one knew straight away what had caused the horrible noises (it wasn't Trevor's voices either!). The general feeling was that after the launch the fuel system went lean, meaning a blower sucking in lots of air and not much fuel. For the next round of qualifying the car was fattened again. It would pop and bang its way down the track but at least it wouldn't hurt anything. With Eleanor briefed to expect all kinds of strange nasty noises she drove through it all to record a 13.83/104. A good pass considering the problems with the fuel system. This left the team in fouteenth place over night, very respectable given that this was only the third pass in on with the new Enderle system installed.

"Sunday came, as did the sunshine. In eliminations, El was up against the Thatadoo Camaro so it wasn't going to be easy, especially with the problems the car. An excellent RT from El wasn't enough to take the win as again the car popped and banged its way down the track, a seventeen-second pass being the result. The team were now eliminated from Pro ET. Everyone was disappointed, but the track time over the weekend and the excellent weather had helped greatly in getting a handle on the new Enderle bits and pieces.

"For the next round the car will be wearing a gas barrel valve rather than the alky item which was used at the weekend. With some more testing done, the car should be running well by the SPRC Summer Nationals at the Pod..."

You can read more about the Kitney/Q8 team on Jon's fan site at www.nitrohemi.co.uk.

Swift snippets.
17th June: From our "Hang on a minute...(thoughtful look)" department, a check back of our records shows that UK Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Colin Lazenby recorded a speed of 177.03 mph at the Excitement Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway in May, which is the best part of two miles per hour faster than the SCR track record we ascribed to him yesterday. Colin is delighted to be track record holder with or without our shagging up the actual number, although he tells us that it's 180 mph he wants with his Pinnacle-sponsored Chevy.
©Eurodragster.com
Jap Show kick-off.

17th June: This weekend sees the first running of a new event at Santa Pod Raceway, writes Rick Cuthbert of SPR. "The JapShow is a two-day Run What You Brung competition for Japanese cars, but drag-fans: don�t stop reading there!", says Rick. "The show will feature some of the UK�s fastest modified cars, including loads of ten-second, and even some nine-second street cars (Dee Ireland's 9.9/143 Toyota Supra, right)! These 1,000 horsepower monsters are just as impressive as real drag racers, putting out incredible power from their four- and six-cylinder engines�all without the aid of superchargers in most instances.

"However the competition is open to all, and if you have a Japanese car it�s a great opportunity to take your turn on the famous drag strip. Remember to bring your driving licence. Also on the track will be demo runs by the Fireforce 1 and 2 Jet cars, Mark Watkins in his Super Street 280ZX, Gary Picardo�s wheelie car, and stunt displays by Terry Grant. Off-track there will be a huge trade area, a unique sports bar and loads of club displays and show cars.

"This show is a great introduction to the 'other side' of drag racing�those that don�t rely on big V8s, and a taste of what is certain to become a very important part of the drag racing scene. for more event information visit www.japshow.com for more event info, or call Santa Pod on 01234 782828."
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
17th June: The FB Racing web site at www.fbracing.co.uk has been updated with the provisional points standings in Custom Car Street Eliminator after the weekend's Power Nationals.
©Eurodragster.com
Richard Stirling has updated his Top Nitro fan site with a report, photographs and (uniquely) sound clips from the Power Nationals. Check it out at www.topnitro.co.uk.

Joon's Main Event.
16th June: Dutch Top Fuel Dragster racer Lex Joon has taken time out from moving house, promoting the weekend's race at Drachten, and running his business to report upon his weekend at the FIA Main Event.

"For us as a team, the Main Event was the start of a new era in our racing program", says team manager Gerda Dijkstra. "For the first time we entered the world of FIA Top Fuel racing, and another major difference was the fact that we did not know how our team would look. After racing for twenty five years, always bringing your own car and team is something you can get used to. At the Easter meeting at Santa Pod Raceway we had some Danish guys crewing for us, after this race it appeared things did not work out the way we suspected.

"After the Pro Fuel Shootout Lex didn't really know what would happen, starting the Main Event with a new team and a new fuel management system. We had to skip the first round of qualifying, because we decided to go over the car to be 100% ready for the second qualifier. Because we had a new fuel management system we firstly wanted to do a 330 ft pass to check out the motor. Things looked really promising after the checkout pass: no broken parts and a personal bests at sixty and 330 feet. The third qualifier was disappointing, we should have run run the car to the eighth-mile but we were shut off by the Starter because of a small fuel leak after the burnout. The fourth and last session had to give us the data we needed to tune the car into eliminations. After a strong sixty foot, the car was heading for the guardrail, so Lex had to abort the run leaving the team without any decent data to work with.
©Eurodragster.com
"On elimination day we had Tommy Möller as opponent. Alan Jackson tuned the fuel system knowing that this would be a surprise set-up and that it would be hard to say what would happen. Knut Söderquist (Car owner - Ed) told Lex that he should be ready to pedal the car. When the MPM dragster left the start line it dropped two cylinders, desptie this the sixty foot was a little bit better then Tommy Moller's car. Lex was the first at the eighth mile, after that the car was really heading towards the guardrail and Lex had to pedal the car. After this the car never came back up to speed again handing the win to Tommy. At the end of the Main Event Lex said this fuel system might have to come off, but this crew has to stay on. Since the race, the problem has been found with the fuel system so it is staying on for Finland!

"The crew guys are really the top of the line; I don't know how Knut did it but he delivered the crew he promised, that's for sure. Mark the Animal had the privilege to be these guys' Crew Chief and I must say he is awesome. With AJ looking at the tune-up, the changes to the fuel system on the car, and MPM as our loyal sponsor we will have a combination which will be in the money round more than once this season."

We were very sorry to hear from Lex that Dutch Street Machine racer Davy Baggermans, last year's Rookie of the Year, was killed in a road accident on Monday. To all of Davey's family and friends we offer our very deepest sympathies.

Kelly regaining vision.
16th June: UK VW Pro racer Andy Kelly is having major changes made to his ex-Outrage Speedster, with the aim to début the rebuilt car at Bug Jam at Santa Pod in July.

"It's about time that car had a new chassis", says Andy. "My best pass to date has been 13.59, backing off at half track due to the body coming away from the chassis which is one of the main reasons that I felt the car wasn't safe any more. I almost hit the left guardrail twice at Easter because I couldn't see properly. A lot of VW fans know and love the Speedster in many of it's different guises and hopefully what I have planned for it will do it justice.
©Eurodragster.com
"The car is currently at Jon Rathbone Racing for a full tube chassis with Funny Car-style rollcage, with ladder bar rear end and custom valved rear coilover set. The existing floropan has now been chopped up and thown away, we're keeping the 2109cc normally aspirated motor for now with plans for fuel injection next season. We're also keeping the box, wheels and shell and everything else is brand new including a staging brake and parachute. Jon is cutting the body in half across the middle, so that it comes off in two pieces for easier access to the motor.

"The car should be finished for Bug Jam where it will be back running in the Pro class of the VWDRC. With all the weight taken out of the car and the sight from the driver's seat rectified I'm hoping to at least be able able to dial in 12.99 for Pro and break out - fingers crossed."

Not a pheasant plucker.
16th June: VWDRC Alternate Engine Championship leader Spencer Tramm's third race of the year was last weekend's Power Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway, and it was another successful weekend in VW Alt as he took his third straight victory, and went a round in Super Gas. Spencer dropped us a line to tell us how it was from his end.

"Unfortunately Darryn Coleman had cancelled in so that left just Wayne Allman and myself in VW Alternate Engine but I still had Super Gas to fall back on for some extra runs", says Spencer. "And my first run of the weekend was in Super Gas, a similar setting at Easter had netted an 9.87 so we tried that. A 9.69 showed we were way too quick and then to the car wouldn't restart due to a drained battery which left us pushing the car back and so missing round one of AE.

"Round two of qualifying didn't get much better. Firstly in SG I had brain fade and left the car in second so when I hit the transbrake the car rolled through stage so no time, and in AE I had to play chicken with a pheasant at 139 mph, unfortunately he won as I didn't want to damage the front of the car, and to top it off I broke out by seven thousandths too! Thankfully there was a third session, as I wanted to keep my string of AE number one qualifiers going. In SG we managed to slow down to a 9.74 and in AE ran a 9.80 to grab the top spot.
©Eurodragster.com
"There wasn't much to do on the car so we headed off early to the B and B only to find that they had cancelled our rooms, we ended up miles away just thankful our twenty hour day was over (Want to swap jobs? - Raceday reporter). Meanwhile back on Sunday morning we had Trevor Graves in round one of Super Gas, Trevor was one of the original Super Gas racers from years back and I had never had the opportunity to race him before, I cut a good light and kept looking over my shoulder not wanting to break out like I had done on every other run that weekend, but a safe 10.14 saw us through. The semis paired me with Conrad Stanley whom I raced in round one of Easter when I deep stage-fouled. I was determined to at least make a race of it this time, however no sooner had I staged and hit the transbrake button the tree had run and Conrad was long gone, my .350 (.750 in old money) was about as useful as a lawnmower on a battleship so I ran it flat to get a dial-in for the AE final.

"The AE final was over before it started for me as Wayne redlit, although I can understand his frustration at having to wait around all day, we'll have to make sure there are more AE cars at the August meeting.

"I would like to say a big thank you to my excellent crew, Martin and Ruth Curbishley, and both my parents. Also my sponsor www.bigboystoysuk.com and class sponsor AMR Motors. Well done to Conrad on another Super Gas win (when he beats me he always wins!) and my good mate Rob Bowler who took over a second off his PB in Pro VW with an 11.71 and he won the meeting! Our next round is the SPRC Summernationals at Santa Pod.

Lazenby looks for 180.
16th June: UK Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Colin Lazenby was delighted to hear that he had broken the CCSE track speed record at Shakespeare County Raceway at the weekend. Colin clocked 175.66 mph in qualifying in his Pinnacle-backed 1956 Chevy on Saturday afternoon, taking the previous record of 171.10 mph from Steve Pateman. Although track records do not have to be backed up, Colin recorded a number of speeds over the weekend which would have done the job.

"A big thanks to Eurodragster for informing us", says Colin (Apologies for not picking up on it at the time it happened - Ed). "Up to that point we had found ourselves in amongst another weekend of fault-finding. With the total loss of John Hales' '56, no other car seems to be close to attaining the same speeds. Hopefully we'll break 180 mph, then we'll get serious."

Colin would like John or Mark Hales to get in touch with him, should they be reading this.

O'Brien has all he needs.
16th June: Power Nationals Comp Bike winner TJ O'Brien says that he had everything he needed for a good weekend's racing at Shakespeare County Raceway.

"The track was sticky, the weather was hot and the beers were cold", says TJ. "There was too much wind on Saturday for us bike racers so we had to qualify over the eighth, but only after the doctor had arrived. On our first attempt, we suffered with wheel spin at three hundred feet, so we got onto the phone to Sir Kenny Cooper who was watching the roundy roundy stuff in Spain�traitor! We ended up as the number one qualifier, which we were over the moon with, and went over the bike with a fine toothcomb before retiring to the bar for one�and I have found my bottle opener just in case you were wondering!

"The first race on Sunday was against Shaggy who is really coming on leaps and bounds. He was working on his engine all week so I was worried. The run felt really good, sitting at the end of the track Shaggy shouted �No need to throw stuff at me!� - one of my wheelie bar wheels came off and just missed him. Maybe my toothcomb isn�t fine enough. The next round was a bye, so my crew chief Steve 'Fred' Ingham wanted to try some new settings, but we overpowered the track�I�ve always wanted to say that!
©Eurodragster.com
"In the final we were up against last year's winner Phil Leamon. Steve, speaking to Ken on my mobile, decided to go back to some old settings that we knew would work. Thank you Steve (Fred), Ken, Pat, Pat's son Steve and, of course, my new pit partner and rival Wayne Hobbs�it worked, we won.

"I can�t thank Dave Beck enough for lending me a wheel to race with, and Vaughan Foster for all the help and advice�cheers lads. Thanks to my sponsors Learn To Dream, Linde, G.B.and Sons Builders, and T. O�Brien and Son, Auctioneers, Tipperary, Ireland."

Mad Rs update.
16th June: If you were tuned in to Eurodragster News yesterday then you will recall that Tony Smith gave us the shocking news that Wild Bunch racer Alec Coe's Mad Rs team had been involved in an accident on the way back from the Power Nationals on Sunday evening. Crew Chief Kev Mortimer, thankfully not as badly injured as we initially heard, has been in touch to let us know what happened.

"We were travelling home down the M40 at about 55 mph, when the new trailer suddenly went out of shape", says Kev. "I slowed down to try to put it right, but it got worse, so I sped up in an attempt to pull out of it. Next thing we are heading toward the crash barrier at forty five degrees when a Nissan Micra in the fast lane tried to come through my driver's door. This pushed my Jeep back to parallel and we hit the barrier. The Jeep ended up hard against the barrier with the trailer at ninety degrees and the Micra in the fast lane facing the wrong way.
©Eurodragster.com
"We all got out OK. I have an injured shoulder but no breaks. Rita has a bruised rib, and Alec and Janet are OK. The Jeep has been totalled, the trailer has a dent in one corner, and Shy Torque appears to be untouched. The Micra driver and his wife had minor injuries and were taken to hospital.

"We had the trailer recovered to home at a cost of �770, and only third party insurance on the jeep, so it turned out to be an expensive weekend for me. I've just ordered the new cam for Shy Torque and we hope to be out in four weeks if we can get a 'man enough' tow vehicle."

If anyone can help the team get back to the track then please drop us a line at webmaster@eurodragster.com and we'll put you in touch with Kev.

Koedam Racing Drachten review.
16th June: Holland's first event of the year was held at Drachten at the weekend. Amongst those racers putting in exhibition passes was 2003 FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike Champion Roel Koedam, whose Crew Chief Marius Van Der Zijden kindly sent us a weekend report:

The Drachten airstrip undergoes a metamorphosis as everything has to be brought in to turn it into a temporary dragstrip. The Dutch drag race organization �eXplosion� went again through a lot of efforts for this conversion. At each meeting the conditions seem to improve a little like flushing toilets, showers and this time even a temporary guardrail all along the quarter mile. Drachten seems to be on its way to becoming a well-recognised event. It�s only only a pity that the runoff area is not long enough for the faster bikes and cars to run the quarter mile. Therefore they run over the eighth mile course.

It was a two day event and our presence was to please our national fans with a couple of demo runs on Sunday. Whilst Saturday qualifying was run in between some rain showers the next day, Sunday, was a lot better despite a cool start of the day. Our first run of the day was around 13.00. We had the bike set up just like our National record 4.18 pass from last year at the same event. It left real good, with a very respectable 1.06 sixty foot time (bear in mind this is a temporary race track only, where we are allowed to race just three times a year). The bike lost some traction 1.8 seconds into the run and the clutch locked up way too slowly. The scoreboards however showed a 4.24/283 kmh. That was the quickest and fastest run of all classes during the weekend so far, and remained so. We received a great response from the crowd.

For our next and last demo pass of this race weekend we gave it a little more clutch and just a splash more nitro, and hoped the track would take it. Our second appearance was somewhere around 16.00. The bike left even better with a surprising 1.05 sixty foot time! This equals the sixty foot time set during our record 6.04 run at Santa Pod Raceway; a year ago when we recorded our 4.18 run at Drachten we ran only a 1.10 sixty foot. However, when the second stage of the clutch came in it lost traction instantly and the rear tyre smoked real bad. But hey, we were here to entertain the crowd and Roel stayed on the throttle. A big footprint way over the finish line was the result, and the clock still stopped at 4.39. Whilst the scoreboards showed a terminal speed across the finish line of only 260 kmh, the datarecorder revealed that the rear wheel was doing 360 at that same point! Can you imagine the tyre smoke? If only we could have found some more grip further down the track...

Although this was a slower run, the crowd loved it even more. Our goal was to entertain the spectators and judging by the response we think that we have succeeded. Apart from some worn out clutch plates and a blistered rear tyre the Zodiac Puma behaved very well again.

On our next stop it will be serious racing again as it will be the second round of the European championship in Finland on 2nd-4th July. Though initially we had our doubts about attending the Finnish Championship round, because of the enormous travel costs, we will go there because our friend and fellow racer Ton Pels offered a space for our bike and stuff in his newly-enlarged trailer. This makes it possible for us to attend this round of the European Championship."
©Eurodragster.com
It's Mayhem at York.

16th June: This Sunday's (20th June) Midsummer Mayhem at York Raceway features Round 3 of the American Super Stock series, the third rounds of the Northern Drag Racing Championship and Hot Rod Challenge, and Round 3 of the National Street Car Challenge, writes York's PR Howard Holmes. "There will also be Run Wot You Brung sessions", says Howard. "This is always a great event and it's topped off with Roger Goring's Firestorm Jet Funny Car.

"In the Northern Drag Racing Championship Russ Pursley, in his SB Chevy-powered Dutton is pulling out in front of the Pro ET bracket. In the Sportsman ET bracket (12.90 cut-off) Nick France has taken the lead in his Trans Am. In the heads-up Hot Rod Challenge series, Bob Molden holds the lead in the 'White Noise' Peugeot. After the first two rounds of York's American Super Stock series, Craig Elliott is out in front with the points in his 440 Plymouth Scamp.

"But there's a bunch of other guys who want to win snapping at their heels, so it's all to be raced for this Sunday at York Raceway."
©Eurodragster.com
Flashed Hook denies coffee slur.

15th June: UK Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Ian Hook (right) said last week that the FB Racing team were hoping to see the �34 Ford back in the eights but the Power Nationals result exceeded even their wildest expectations.

"The weekend didn�t start well when a transbrake cock-up ruined the launch and left us with a 13.26", says Ian. "The post-run check revealed a trans leak so, once again, we had the box out causing us to miss the second session. Luckily the weather and oildown gods were smiling on us and there was a third session. The car went a bit flat on the line but then took off like it was on fire. An 8.72 and 165 mph were new Personal Bests for us and also secured us the number two spot behind Splinter. I could have gone home then and been happy.

"However, life in the FB camp is never simple and a smoky engine on the cruise proved to be the symptom of a damaged valve and piston. There was no way we�d give up now so I knew it was going to be a long night. We had pistons in the spares box but I was sure we had no valves. However, I knew Jon Webster had some left over from the �Stang days and managed to catch him just as he was leaving, making the snap decision to follow him back to Rushden to pick one up. I got there OK (even being fed and watered �chez Webster� - and yes, there was still food in the larder when I left!), picked up the valves and headed back to the track.
©Eurodragster.com
"Then I got lost, then I got Gatso�d and when I finally got back at 12:45 the Fat Boys revealed they�d found a valve in with the pistons in the spares box! They even accused me of driving around aimlessly for three and a half hours just to avoid making coffee all night! The job was finally finished at around 2:30 on Sunday morning, a brief beer and chat resulting in a 3:00 bedtime!

"Our first round opponent on Sunday morning was Andy Frost, whose advice was invaluable in curing our earlier shaft-breaking problems - thanks Andy. Despite my gratitude the �34 ran another PB of 8.68 at 167.5 mph to put Frosty back on the trailer. Luck was on our side in the semi versus the Silver Fox Racing 'Vette when tyre shake caused a jump to the right and a big pedal to straighten the car back up. Ian passed me and I set off in hot pursuit even managing to close the gap a little before he crossed the line. What I didn�t know was that he�d red-lit so all that drama was for nothing. So I wasn�t just �showing off�, as was suggested in certain quarters!

"We were in the Final, and it was an all-Ford affair. I didn�t think we�d have much chance but we made a couple of changes to get the car to move a bit quicker and the day had a fairy tale ending for us when my holeshot coupled with another PB of 8.67 was enough to beat Splinter�s 8.66. A cracking final and a super finish to the weekend - rounded off very nicely when �JR� produced two cold bottles of the sparkling fizzy stuff to celebrate.

"I know I�ve said it before, but I�ve got to repeat my thanks to Andy Frost for all his help and especially to my crew who worked long and hard but always found the time to have a laugh and to take the piss! Cheers guys, you�re the best!"

Smith reaps Sticker Effect.
15th June: UK Wild Bunch racer Tony Smith, who took the Eurodragster.com/Curbishley Automotive Perfect ET Award at the weekend, tells us that he had a brilliant weekend at the Power Nationals.

"It is amazing what you can do just by putting on a couple of Eurodragster.com stickers", says Tony. "I ran one new Personal Best on Saturday and two more on Sunday including the 11.560 which won me the Eurodragster.com/Curbishley Automotive award - thank you both (You're welcome - Ed) - and got into the final for the first time in about five years.

"I would like to thank my crew Dave and the two Lindas for all their help over the weekend. My own report can be found at www.cunningplan.net/news-reviews.html.
©Eurodragster.com
"On a sad note, on the way home we had a phone call that Alec Coe (Shy Torque) and crew had had a bad accident on the M40 on the way home from the event. We understand that Crew Chief Kevin had broken a arm but that the others were OK. No word so far about the race car, but have been told Kev's 4x4 was totalled and the new trailer was damaged. Get well soon."

We are sure that everyone will join Tog and Sharkman in wishing Kev, Alec and all of the Shy Torque team their very best for a rapid recovery and return.

Grateful Francis gets shirty.

15th June: UK Super Comp/Super Gas racer Malcolm Francis, whose new 2004 Pontiac Grand Am made its competition début at the Power Nationals, has been in touch to thank everyone who helped get him to to the track.

"In no particular order, I would like to say thanks to the following people for their help and assistance", says Malcolm. "Andy and all his guys at Andy Robinson Race Cars for building a beautifully-crafted race car, Jeff of Jeff Bull Race Engines for building a powerful, consistent, reliable and low-maintenance engine, Greg Ozubko of GOS Motorsports for the excellent paint design, Neil Melliard of Pro Sign for applying the paint and graphics, Tony Gabriel of BodyTone for the body prep, associate sponsors American Car Imports and Lucas Oils UK, and lastly my wife Emily Francis and Belinda Bull for all their dedicated help and entertainment at the track."
©Eurodragster.com
Malcolm now has available T-shirts designed and printed by GOS Motorsport (right, click on picture for large version). "Available sizes are youth Medium and Large, and adult Medium, Large and XL", says Malcolm. "If anyone would like to purchase a shirt, then stop by our trailer in the pits and see our merchandising staff who will be more than pleased to sell one to you, or one of the range of excellent Lucas Oil Products which we also carry."

Turbo enjoys entertaining.
15th June: In an exciting series of very close races, UK Supertwin Fuel racer Ian Turburville emerged victorious from a long, hard, hot weekend of racing at Shakespeare County Raceway.

"The win at the Power Nationals, dedicated to the late Jim McClure, backs up my previous win at the Excitement Nationals giving us a good lead in the NAST Championship", says Turbo. "We managed several new personal bests and the S & S Sure Shot Nitro Harley performed flawlessly over the weekend. It is great at last to have a field of such very closely-matched bikes in UK Top Fuel Supertwin, which kept the crowd entertained at each round.
©Eurodragster.com
"We go on to the SPRC Summernationals at Santa Pod Raceway on 26th-27th June for Round 3 of the Championship, so if you can make it along please drop by our pit and say Hi!

"Big thanks to all of our great sponsors for making this all possible: S & S Cycle, Custom Chrome Europe, Red Line Oil, Zodiac, Rivera Engineering, Pro-Mod Engineering, Rune Fjeld Motorsports, Sprint Dampers, Jim's Machining, Sure Shot Sprayers, Santa Pod Raceway, King Racing and Barry Sheavills Motorsports."

Lazenby happy for colleagues.
15th June: UK Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Colin Lazenby has been in touch to congratulate three of his fellow race teams for their performances at the Power Nationals.

"Kev Perkins, following his no-doubt nervous first lap in Graham Ellis' repaired Super Modified car, went on to a great win. Sincere well done, Kev.
©Eurodragster.com
"Huge admiration for Timmy Garlick too, running his first seven in that wee-motored Mark III, 7.80s with that new Lenco eh Tim?

"Also a little closer to home with longtime CCSE competitor Ian Hook and the FB Racing F*rd, following a season of breakages, a real worthy win. New Personal Bests in speed and ET too, again bravo that man - he'll be intolerable for weeks!"

Swift snippets.
15th June: Norwegian Supertwin racer Svein Gottenberg had a great weekend at the NDRG Summer Nats at Gardermoen, where he took the win. "It was our day", says Svein, "and after a close good race against Svein Olav Rolfstad in the final, we were the first ever official Norwegian Champion with a new Personal Best of 7.11 against Svein Olav's 7.17. Thanks to Zodiac, Lazy Boyz, Bilsport, Quaker State, and JCC Enterprises for all help!"
©Eurodragster.com
Eurodragster News Editor Tog would like to thank everyone who has been in touch with complimentary comments about his time spent commentating alongside John Price at Shakespeare County Raceway on Saturday. "It was an interesting experience typing the race report with one hand and holding the microphone with the other whilst desperately trying not to talk crap or use naughty words", says Tog. "My howler about Super Mod rules aside I enjoyed it very much, though, and John was a pleasure to partner. But our readers should be assured that I won't be deserting Eurodragster for track announcing just yet."

Web site updates.
15th June: Our good friends and honorary Eurodragster staff members at Svensk Dragracing have updated their web site with the post-NDRG Summer Nats standings in the Nordic Drag Racing Series, and some excellent photographs from the Summer Nats - look our for Christine's cousin! Check it out at www.dragracing.se.
©Eurodragster.com
The official web site of the European Pro Mod Association at www.promod.nu has been updated with a team page for the RP Racing Camaro, which is driven by Tomi Pöntinen.

Bailey's learning experience.
14th June: UK Funny Bike racer Dave Bailey, who suffered a shutdown area crash at the Power Nationals on Saturday, says that his spill has been a learning experience. Dave escaped almost uninjured from Saturday's crash save a painful leg and is already thinking about his next outing, which he says will be on his Super Street Bike, and more nitrous as is his wont.

"You never stop learning; and usually what you learn is pretty obvious when you think about it", says Dave. "On Saturday, I learnt that if I�m not happy with the conditions I should refuse to run.

"As everyone knows there was a strong side wind on Saturday blowing left to right across the track. It didn�t affect the track itself due to the banking, but once you reached the shutdown area you get the full force of it. I was completely aware of this. I was also completely aware that the shutdown area has a nasty camber and you really don�t want to be near the edge or you�ll be in the field (as many riders have discovered for themselves). I therefore really didn�t want to be in the right hand lane, but unfortunately that�s where I found myself. I know I should have refused, but you live and learn.
©Eurodragster.com
"The run itself was straight as an arrow thanks to the newly-fixed wheelie bars. The rear tyre spun a bit too much in first and second and the nitrous setting was too rich, but apart from that it was an OK run at 7.7/161. I was ready for the side wind as I entered the shutdown area, but it blew me too far off line and I found myself fighting the camber as well. Wide slick tyred bikes are a bit like trikes or quad bikes; at speed you really can�t lean them into a bend, you have to hang off them and keep them upright. Unfortunately the wind and the camber were too much and I ended up on the grass still doing about 50 mph. For a split second it all seemed to be going a lot better; I was off the camber and no longer drifting right. I considered trying to steer back onto the track just as the belly pan dug in and threw me over the handle bars.

"I lay there for a moment to make sure that everything still worked and was still attached, then slowly stood up to show I was OK. I felt a twinge in my knee and thought, �That�s going to hurt later�. Then I looked at the bike and thought, �My wallet is going to hurt later�, followed by �This may be a good time to get that second stage of nitrous on it�.

"I would really like to thank my �stand in crew for the weekend�, Malcolm Fenn and Andrew Wylie. By Saturday afternoon I couldn�t use my right leg at all and without them I�d have been in real difficulty. They packed everything into my van and then Malc drove the van and me back to Kent. Wylie then took Malc all the way back to Shakey, so that he could collect his car and drive home to Wales, before heading home to South London. I have to admit that I was in the pub (recovering!) well before they were even half way home."

Perkins dedicates win.
14th June: Power Nationals Super Modified winner Kev Perkins dedicated yesterday's victory to some very special people in his life. Kev had a top end crash in Graham Ellis' Olds Cutlass at the Easter Thunderball and if you were tuned in last Thursday you will have read that he was working hard to get the car back together in time for the weekend. The hard work paid off in a dream weekend with Kev taking the event win and recording new Personal Bests on the way.
©Eurodragster.com
"I would like to dedicate my win to and thank a certain lady who is always there for a timely cuddle and a sympathetic ear in your hour of need", says Kev. "She works like crazy at home, at work and at the track. In amongst this she still found time to purchase the donor car which gave me the panels and lenses needed to progress with the Oldsmobile. I am proud to be acknowledged as your brother, I love you Kathy Taylor.

"I would also like to dedicate the win with thanks to my wife Eileen. Even though Eileen is not too keen on racing, she has been understanding to the cause. Finally, thanks to all the friends who said 'If you need any help, call me'. I'm glad to say I have a lot of friends, regards to you all."

Racers: Send your Power Nationals reviews to us at news@eurodragster.com and we'll publish them here.

Points and timing data.
14th June: We are indebted to National Association of Supertwins Championship Co-ordinator Sue Beneke for sending us the post-Power Nationals points standings in the four NAST classes. "Simon Hodgson, who races in Supertwin Modified, broke both class records yesterday but sadly didn't back either of them up", says Sue, "so the old records still stand. But if Simon keeps this up I can see the records going later in the year". You can view the NAST points by clicking here or by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Thanks too to Volkswagen Drag Racing Club Championship Co-ordinator and pheasant redeemer extraordinaire Spencer Tramm for sending us the post-Power Nationals standings in the VWDRC Championships. You can view the VWDRC points by clicking here or by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.
©Eurodragster.com
The post-FIA Main Event UK National Championship standings are awaiting final ratification and will be posted here very shortly, with the post-Power Nationals standings to follow in due course.

Finally, we are also indebted to Ozzy Ewing of APIRA for sending us the timing data from the Power Nationals. You can view the Excel-format timing data by clicking here or by clicking on the Timing Data link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Web site updates.
14th June: Ian Rae has been in touch to let us know that popular US web site Competition Plus is currently displaying a gallery of his trackside photographs from the FIA Main Event. You can check out Ian's pictures at www.competitionplus.com/gallery/albums.php.
©Eurodragster.com
Power Nationals/Summer Nats results.
13th June: Andy Carter was the 2-0 victor in the Power Nationals Top Fuel Dragster match race against Thomas Nataas at Shakespeare County Raceway. In what turned into a pair of pedal-fests, Andy took the first race at 6.533/148.49 to Thomas' 7.566/110.53 and then took a 6.416/139.95 solo in the GoTalk car for the second round as the Batmobil Top Fueller had blackened a crank and suffered block damage.

Congratulations to the Power Nationals winners and runners-up:

Super Modified: Kev Perkins 7.884/164.96 def. Andy Hone 7.917/172.51
Super Comp: Shaun Lathan 9.112/151.16 def. Chris Johnson 9.620/147.01
Super Gas: Conrad Stanley 9.961/126.14 def. Frank Mason 10.020/138.00
Super Street John Grant 10.927/134.90 def. Mike Bentley 10.895/131.81
Super Pro ET: Barry Giles (7.73) 7.754/170.34 def. Ashley Bell (8.98) 9.032/153.62
Pro ET: Brian Huxley (10.84) 10.975/121.34 def. Wayne Hiscock (10.75) 10.720/122.55
Sportsman ET: Nick South (13.83) 13.950/97.65 def. Linda Platt (12.71) 12.716/110.44
Junior Dragster: Nick Mugridge (8.22) 8.498/75.00 def. Collin Morrice (8.94) 9.130/71.77 red light
Custom Car Street Eliminator: Ian Hook 8.670/164.84 def. Steve Nash 8.658/170.51
Wild Bunch: Mark Coulsell (10.45) 10.669/124.58 def. Tony Smith (11.50) 11.572/110.82
Outlaw Anglia: Pete Ashworth 13.523/83.26 bye
VW Alternate Engine: Spencer Tramm (9.70) 9.830/139.60 def. Wayne Allman (12.25) 12.334/112.57 red light
VW Pro: Rob Bowler (11.70) 11.718/115.94 def. Russ Fellowes (10.70) 10.967/121.30
VW Sportsman: Graham Fairhead (15.45) 15.461/83.62 def. Mick Geraghty (15.30) 15.377/83.54
©Eurodragster.com
Top Fuel Bike: Steve Woollatt 6.602/215.77 def. Steve Carey 8.553/116.33
Funny Bike: Neil Midgley 7.243/177.91 def. Stu Chamberlain 8.173/120.93
Pro Stock Bike: Dave Beck 7.362/181.44 def. Tony Clark 7.812/171.16
Comp Bike: TJ O'Brien 8.229/158.88 def. Phil Leamon 8.464/158.95
Super Street Bike: Steve Venables 8.230/176.44 def. Graham Dance 8.408/177.96
9.90 Bike: Richard Sawatzki 10.141/105.62 def. Fred Furlong 17.897/54.61 red light
10.90 Bike: John Hackney 10.917/112.86 def. Shaun Spiers 10.703/103.34
Supertwin Fuel: Ian Turburville 9.461/143.98 def. Chris Stebbings 9.357/129.43
Supertwin Gas: George Laycock 9.624/138.94 def. Andy Smith 9.837/135.48
Supertwin Modified: Simon Hodgson 9.703/143.10 def. Barrie Gregory 11.233/119.92
Supertwin Street: Mark Earrey 10.187/134.40 def. Chris Mott 10.977/127.92
Junior Drag Bike: Harry Steadman (10.10) 10.228/64.84 def. Dan Baldwin (11.55) 12.291/48.34

Congratulations also to Super Street Bike racer Steve Venables who subject to ratification set a new ACU speed record of 185.97 mph under the "faster backs up slower" rule when he didn't get within one per cent of a run of 188.77. A number of track records and personal bests were also recorded.

Congratulations, too, to Wild Bunch racer Tony Smith who took the �50 Eurodragster.com/Curbishley Automotive Perfect ET Award with an 11.560 on an 11.56 dial-in during today's eliminations.

Click here to view our American Car Imports-sponsored reports and pictures, or click on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page. We are very proud to announce that we have an additional Photo Gallery on today's (Sunday's) coverage; legendary photo-journalist Roger Gorringe has kindly supplied us with more than fifty start line photographs to complement Sharkman's top end pictures. We are very grateful indeed to Roger for his offer of start line pictures, which not only conferred great prestige to our coverage but as an added benefit took some of the pressure off Raceday Reporter Tog.

Meanwhile our good buddies at Svensk Dragracing have been covering this weekend's NDRG Summer Nats at Gardermoen. You can read all the news from Gardermoen at www.dragracing.se.

Keeping up with the Joneses.

12th June: Elliott Jones has been in touch with the latest news from the workshops of Northern 1/4 Racing, who are putting together an altered which will initially run in the Wild Bunch.

"The Between Heaven and Hell altered has now returned from Jon Rathbone's workshop to the Rainy City (where for a change it's not actually raining!)", says Elliott. "As can be seen from the photos, Jon and his partner-in-crime, Dave Lockett, have done a brilliant job of the new chassis, especially considering that it's their first attempt at a Funny Car chassis (click on picture at right for another picture of the Jones family taking delivery at Jon Rathbone's premises)! Jon has provided us with an excellent, efficient service, from the day we aproached him as complete strangers in the pits at Santa Pod to consult him regarding the chassis, to the day the completed item rolled out of his workshop. Jon, previously an employee of Geof Hauser as well as other reputable fabrication shops in the UK and briefly in the US, tells us that he thoroughly enjoyed the change of scenery and is now concentrating on expanding his business to production of not only his trademark Volkswagen chassis but to anything that meets your needs, be it nostalgic or modern, full-bodied or open-wheeled.
©Eurodragster.com
"As for the altered, we are now concentrating on the finishing touches to the chassis, which will be completed by Dave 'Brucey Bonus' Leighton. We would like to take this opportunity to announce a few names which will be appearing on the completed car. First and foremost will be Jon Rathbone Racing of course, followed by cheaptones.com, an internet-based mobile phone ringtone, logo and screensaver company. A few other deals are in the pipeline including possible oil sponsorship, and we are currently in talks with a major Ford dealership (seeing as we are using all-Ford running gear).

"Any other company wishing to join the team with any contribution, be it product or financial, large or small, will be kindly welcomed. The few major components required to complete the car include a few engine pieces including all the fuel lines, new tyres all round and safety restraints (e.g. seat belt, trans blanket). If you are interested then please contact us by E-Mail at billyboywunda@hotmail.com. We will also be using the car to support two charities for personal reasons. The first is the Children's Wish Foundation and the second is Northwest-based Animal Sanctuary which will be soon named.

"For anybody north of the border requiring chassis work we would strongly recommend that you contact Jon Rathbone on 01782 417808, or E-Mail j.rathbone@ntlworld.com. For evidence of the quality of Jon's workmanship anyone is more than welcome to visit our pits when the car is completed, or sooner still, at the NSRA Nostalgia Nationals where it will receive its chassis tag with Jon present."

Swift snippets.
12th June: If you're going to the FHRA Nitro Nationals at Alastaro and would like a lift from the airport at Tampere to the track, then Dave Alexander of the European Top Methanol Racers Association is offering spare seats in his hire car. "We're travelling on Ryanair 2194 on the Thursday evening (arrives 2015) and coming back on Ryanair 2195 (departs 20:40)", says Dave. "If anyone else is arriving about that time and wants a lift to Alastaro, then please E-Mail me at dave_ale@etmra.com."
©Eurodragster.com
Erbacher earns his fondue.
11th June: One of the mysteries of the FIA Main Event was the loss of form of 2003 FIA European Top Methanol Funny Car Champion Urs Erbacher in the final round against Dan Larsen. Urs had predicted 5.7s on eliminations day and had done so twice in the first two rounds, but the FC slowed in the final although Urs still took the win after Dan's tyres went up in smoke.

"Did we expect to win the Main Event? Not really", says team member Andrea Wucher. "We knew it would be a tough fight and a real battle. Our competitors are strong but our fantastic crew did an excellent job all day long. Nothing could stop them, neither ignition problems in the first qualifying session, nor tyre shake in the second qualifying session, they just kept going. But why that slow 6.3 sec run in the final round? Did we overpower the track, was it a bad set-up?

"No way. Urs had a better Reaction Time than Dan Larsen, and recorded his best sixty-foot time of the weekend, and there was no shake or tyre spin. But was was Urs doing out there on his way to the finish line?
©Eurodragster.com
"Within 1.5 seconds of the green light, Urs had a lot to do. He really had to work hard for his Swiss cheese soup (fondue being the traditional Santa Pod dinner of the Fat Attack team). 1.5 seconds into the run, we lost the B & J. First gear just quit working and went who knows where. So Urs shifted to second gear...hello, anyone home? No reaction from second gear either, so let's see if good old third gear is with us, and it was. The clutch wasn't quite so keen, it slipped and slipped but ultimately held on and took us to the win. So Urs effectively ran out of gears in his Funny Car. That means that our spare B & J gets some work to do at the next race whilst the other is overhauled.

"The weekend was successful, though. Our sponsors are more than happy with the Championship lead, the chocolate stock in our trailer still at a reasonable level (I tried - Ed), and we have a highly-motivated crew and driver who can't wait to get out there and race again. By the way, that beautiful black pick-up which we used as a tow vehicle came courtesy of our friend Max. Thank you Max!

"So we'll see you at Alastaro, where it never gets dark and you don't know what the track announcer is talking about..."

Söderquist sets it straight.
11th June: Carbon By Design Top Fuel Dragster team owner Knut Söderquist tells us that there was nothing untoward about the spark plugs which were in Smax Smith's Top Fueller at the FIA Main Event. If you were tuned in last week, you will recall that Smax put his first round defeat down to a problem with the plugs but Knut has been in touch to make it clear that this was not the case.
©Eurodragster.com
"The problem was our combination", says Knut. "Smax was wrong about the plugs. We were running a different tune-up and it was unsuited to the plugs, which came from Don Prudhomme with whom we do a lot of business and who supplies us with the best parts you can get."

Knut says that all four of the Carbon By Design Top Fuellers - driven by Micke Kågered, Lex Joon, Jöran Persåker and Smax Smith - are already ready for the next round of the FIA Championship at Alastaro at the start of July. Asked for a Top Fuel tip for Alastaro, Knut replied "I'm not a garage racer! I let other people do the garage racing! As usual we'll be doing our best.".

Hal Far impresses Hepworth.
11th June: UK Supertwin racer Bernie Hepworth writes that he has been to Hal Far Raceway on Malta to take a look at the new Tower and pits which were recently completed as part of a wide-ranging upgrade of the facility.
©Eurodragster.com
"It was well worth the visit", says Bernie. "The improvements are excellent and are a credit to Anthony Borda and the guys at the Malta Drag Racing Association. Well done! Remember that now that Malta is in the EU it is much easier to take your vehicle there to race. You are assured of a warm welcome. Racing runs until December so you have no excuses!

"Unfortunately Borg Bros Racing, the Top Methanol Dragster team with which I am associated, cannot run our record-setting five-second Small Block Chevy until later in the year due to business commitments, but as Victor Borg says "It will give the rest of them chance to catch up"."

Veidec Nitro Festival entry.
11th June: 1st July is the closing date for standard entry to the Veidec Nitro Festival, which takes place at Sweden's Mantorp Park on 29th July to 1st August. After this date a late entry fee will be charged, if entry is accepted, and all entry closes on 24th July.

Click here for FIA-class entry form (PDF format)
Click here for FIM/UEM-class entry form (PDF format)
Click here for NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified entry form (PDF format)
Click here for NDRS-class entry form (PDF format)
©Eurodragster.com
Entry forms can also be downloaded from the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se, the Veidec Nitro Festival web site at www.nitrofestval.com, and the European Pro Mod Association web site at www.promod.nu.

If you cannot download PDF documents, if you wish to book an electricity point in your pit, or if you wish to purchase Sponsor/VIP tickets then please contact Mantorp Park direct on +46 (0)142 298850 or by E-Mail at info@mantorppark.com.

FIA Main Event anorak stuff.
11th June: As ever we are indebted to Andy Marrs of TSI Timers Europe for sending us the ever-popular 'anorak stats' for last week's FIA Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway. Andy has also put together a very interesting table of averages and other stats by class.

Blue lights (Track clear/Tower ready): 901
Pairs: 709
Single runs: 173
Byes: 19

Total vehicles entered in System: 1610
Made it to the finish line: 1533 (inc. 118 Junior Dragsters)
Made it to quarter: 1415

Average ET (not inc. JDs): 9.937
Average MPH (not inc. JDs): 140.27
Quickest ET: 4.832, Andy Carter
Fastest MPH: 306.36 Andy Carter

Closest Race (Eliminations): 9.90 Round 3, Steve Coombs (Win) v Lewis Honey 0.000

Closest to dial-in:

Robert Doyle (Pro ET) +0.000, 10.350 (11:36 on Friday)
Rick McCann (Pro ET) +0.000, 10.250 (17:30 on Friday)

Best Reaction Time:

Mark Watkins (Super Street) 0.000, 17:37 on Friday
Rik Norris (9.90 Bike) 0.000, 17:47 on Friday
Craig Gibbs (Super Pro ET) 0.000, 09:20 on Sunday

Total run time (all vehicles reaching finish line): 4 hours 19 minutes 5.574 seconds

Runs under 5.0 seconds: 6 (Andy Carter x 4, Smax Smith, Tommy Moller)
Runs under 5.5 seconds: 14
Runs Under 6.0 seconds: 45
Runs Over 250 mph: 18

Class	Blue Lights	> 50 ft at finish	% > 50 ft at finish	Average ET	Average MPH
FIA Top Fuel Dragster	18	2	11.11	7.114	173.08
FIA Top Methanol Dragster	11	7	63.64	6.129	225.55
FIA Top Methanol FC	22	4	18.18	6.804	197.87
FIA Pro Stock	18	9	50.00	7.575	180.31
Fuel Funny Car	7	1	14.29	10.799	94.585
NDRS Pro Modified	52	14	26.92	7.917	178.68
Super Pro ET	95	11	11.58	8.510	156.66
Pro ET	121	20	16.53	10.946	122.53
Sportsman ET	66	9	13.64	11.851	94.587
Super Comp	59	29	49.15	9.189	143.01
Super Gas	51	22	43.14	10.173	133.78
Super Street	58	33	56.90	10.961	120.61
Junior Dragster	62	10	16.13	12.583	53.23
FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike	27	1	3.70	8.934	159.07
FIM/UEM Supertwin	48	0	0.00	8.260	151.44
FIM/UEM Pro Stock Bike	18	4	22.22	8.850	149.62
9.90 Bike	136	34	25.00	10.072	136.24
10.90 Bike	28	7	25.00	11.400	119.25

©Eurodragster.com
Seeking contact 1. and 2.
11th June: Faraz Hasan of Sunspot Productions, the company who are producing this year's FIA, FIM/UEM and NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified TV coverage, has been in touch to ask those racers who have not completed a stats form to contact him to allow him to complete the graphics for the FIA Main Event coverage.
©Eurodragster.com
"We have sent forms out and also gave them out at the Main Event", says Faraz. "The information we need is Car/Bike model, engine size, Crew Chief, best Championship position, best ET and Speed at Santa Pod and personal best ET and speed. If you are one of the twenty two FIA, FIM or Pro Mod racers who has not filled in one of our forms then please get in touch either by phone on 0207 495 8455 or +44 20 7495 8455, or E-Mail me at faraz@sunspot-productions.com."

Alan Currans, who runs the excellent Acceleration Archive web site, wishes to contact John Ritmeisters. "I have an E-Mail address for John", says Alan, "but E-Mails to that address are bouncing". If you are reading this, John, or if you know John then please get in touch with Alan by E-Mail at currans@members.v21.co.uk.

Web site updates.
11th June: Richard Stirling has updated his Top Nitro fan site at www.topnitro.co.uk with a report, large photo gallery, and sound clips from the FIA Main Event. Richard's report unashamedly concentrates on his beloved Fuel cars although the other FIA classes get a look in too.
©Eurodragster.com
Karling equals record.

10th June: Everything worked perfectly for Sweden's Karling Racing Supertwin Team at last weekend's Bike Weekend at V�ster�s Sweden. The race is the first in the open Swedish National Series, and held over an eighth-mile airstrip track. Eleven Supertwins tried to qualify for an eight-bike field.

"We qualified number one with 4.38", says Anders Karling. "Number two was Ronny Aasen with 4.64, number three was the winner at Santa Pod last week, Hans-Olav Olstad, with a 4.74 - both teams from Norway. We met first alternate Karsten Andersson who came in instead of Greger Johansson, who could not get ready in time after the last qualifier. Karsten now owns and rides Rob van Geffen's blown twin with which he raced in the ADBA Championship in Australia in 2000. Kartsten had problems with his bike after the burnout so we ran a solo 4.32/171. The track announcer was talking about a new track record after the 4.32 but it is not still verified.

"In the next round we took another win with a 4.41 against mumber five qualifier Erik Nielsen from Denmark, who is racing with our old bike. In the final we met the European Championship leader Hans-Olav Olstad. We took the win with a 4.291 which equals the European record, and 172 mph which is close to the record. Hans-Olav ran a 4.84.

"The next race for us is round two of the European Championship, which takes place at Alastaro in Finland on 2nd-4th July."
©Eurodragster.com
Perkins finishing fix.
10th June: UK Super Modified racer Kev Perkins says that he is champing at the bit to return to the track at this weekend's Power Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. Kev walked away from a top end crash in Graham Ellis' Oldsmobile at the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway, and he went straight to work on making good his promise to Graham to return the car in even better condition than he received it.

"Jon Webster and the guys at Webster Race Engineering have done a tremendous job on the chassis", Kev told Eurodragster from WRE last night. "It was damaged at the back so the bent stuff was replaced and the whole chassis thoroughly checked. We had to wait a little while for new fibreglass body panels, but then two weeks ago the car went to Specialist in Design where Jon Hogarth prepped and primered the body. There won't be enough time to paint the body and get it dried so I asked Jon to leave it in matt black for this weekend. Jon has worked his nuts off and I would like to say thanks to him and Sharon for all of their hard work."
©Eurodragster.com
The Olds arrived back at WRE last Wednesday, and Kev has taken this week off work to finish putting the car back together for the Power Nationals. "The engine was not damaged in the crash, but Rob and Nick at ICE Automotive have done a great job of freshening it and putting it on the dyno before sending it back", says Kev. "We have also put the tinwork back in, and Lee Child of LA Racing Parts has sponsored me with rubber on all four corners of the car. I've been staying at Johnny Mac's place whilst I have been working at WRE, big thanks to Johnny and his wife Anne for letting me sleep on their floor and eat all their food!"

Kev is also very grateful to owner Graham Ellis. "Graham has been really good about this", he says, "he has been more than understanding."

Kev is now looking forward to seeing all of his friends and fellow racers at Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend. "I hope to see you there and this time I'll see you from the middle of my lane!", he says.

FBs dodge the garden centre.
10th June: UK Custom Car Street Eliminator team FB Racing are hoping that this weekend's Power Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway will see a change in their fortunes. 2004 has not been kind to the Cheltenham-based team who have been plagued with a fuel starvation problem and the �34 Ford's new-found appetite for transmission input shafts.

"The starvation problem has been cured and we hope the same can now be said for the input shaft breakages", says driver Ian 'Fatty' Hook. "It seems the box was trying to go into top before first had been released. This particular problem has probably been there since the transmission was purchased last year but the new Neal Chance converter - which is a lot tighter than last year�s - is not very forgiving!
©Eurodragster.com
"I�d like to say a big thanks to my crew and fellow CCSE competitors for all the help in trying to trace both these problems. It was particularly fortunate that the Cruise for the last round was five minutes late leaving, allowing me to catch up! In particular big Thank Yous have to go to Andy Frost and Steve Pateman without whose assistance we�d probably all be mowing lawns and visiting garden centres (aaaargh!) rather than racing this weekend! I hope we can repay everyone by putting on a good show at Shakey and get that �34 back in the eights where it belongs."

Racers: It's not too late to send your Power Nationals previews to us at news@eurodragster.com.

European Championship TV dates.
10th June: We are indebted to Santa Pod Raceway PR Caroline Day for sending us, hot off the press, the TV schedules for the broadcast of FIA and FIM/UEM European and NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified Championships on the UK's Sky satellite network. The first broadcast is on 22nd June and features FIA Top Fuel Dragster and Pro Stock.
©Eurodragster.com
Click here to see the Sky Sports schedules, or click on the 2004 FIA/FIM TV Schedules link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

PMR update.
10th June: Dave Gibbons returned to Santa Pod Raceway for the FIA Main Event after more than twenty years' hiatus, driving Paul Marston Racing's Big Block methanol-injected Alien altered which had undergone a transmission change since its début at Shakespeare County Raceway. The motor was fired up the day before departing and a newly-fitted converter was found to be stalling incorrectly. Paul Marston and Gary of Jeep Club removed the converter and Paul played eenie-meenie-miney-mo with the PMR stock of spare eight-inch converters. It proved to be the right choice as it stalled correctly once the Alien was fired up and tested.

Dave was looking to repeat on his first seven-second pass and PB which he recorded at Shakespeare County Raceway last season, and he achieved the feat along with a new PMR wheelie record. "A start line picture of us all watching Dave Gibbons launch really painted a picture", says Paul Marston. "I had felt the header pipes when Alien ran the 8.30 and it felt a little off. Back in the pits Dave Gibbons looked in the injectors and found something, although the PMR crew were not so sure I felt it would make a noticeable difference. I also felt the wheelie bars needed to come up a little, allowing the chassis to settle where it wanted to. Dave had reservations but Dave is Old School and allowed me this indulgence - he trusted me! Well this start line picture has Gary Springford with his hands nearly covering his eyes, everyone else with their jaws dropping, Mick Pusey laughing as he always does, cos he�s mad, me looking pensive - I can remember thinking, "He�s never gonna talk to me again after this one" - but Dave was all smiles, especially when I told him that it was another seven second run, well done Dave!

"Dave repeated with exactly the same performance and stunning wheelstand in the first round of eliminations on Sunday, but unfortunately left three hundredths too soon and pulled a red, but once again it hardly mattered as the run was yet another seven, a stunning run from a stunning and very brave driver. Welcome back Dave, you are one of us again!

"We also saw the return of Paul Marston Racing Drag Race Driving School Graduate Gary Springford in Pro ET, once again driving Grumpy's Dodge. Gary, lying sixth in the SPRC Championship after a quarter final finish at the Easter Thunderball, was looking to consolidate or improve that position at the FIA Main Event. As Gary is our most successful pupil competition-wise, everyone at PMR was very much looking forward to Gary increasing his points tally, which he duly did bowing out in the second round to Chris Isaacs. To keep my hand in I once again entered the fray in Super Street, doubling up with Gary. Everyone at PMR very much enjoyed the challenge of fielding three drivers in three different classes. Super Pro, Pro ET and Super Street are numerically some of the biggest classes, populated by some of the toughest and most professional teams out there; they deserve respect and earned it. We must especially thank our Crew Chief who had a really bad case of the flu and was a real standout star, all the drivers would like to express their admiration for such a gutsy performance, it was appreciated. We must also say a big thanks to all the Paul Marston Racing crew along with all our sponsors Gary at Jeep Club, Mac Tools, Geddex (USA), ATI (USA), BLP (USA), Black Box London, Disco Equipment Hire, Chrysler UK, London Road Tyres, and everyone else who helps us out so much.
©Eurodragster.com
"PMR would like to take this opportunity to assure everyone who keeps asking 'When is the PT Bruiser coming back?'. As you read this the Jari Konola Pro Stock motor is in the clean room. With the Drag Race School proving so popular and the major work everyone here at PMR undertook on Grumpy during the off season, we had to make a decision regarding the FIA Main Event. When I had the opportunity to compete at the Florida Nationals in March I had to go, no question, this delayed our winter programme a little but was worth it. So when both Gary Springford and Dave Gibbons expressed interest in competing at the FIA Main Event, I thought it would put too great a strain on the team's resources to attempt to field a three car team - PMR CEO Dave Kalisz would have come after me with a sharp object! Especially when two of the race cars are such high-horsepower pieces. I did not feel I would be doing what is best for our drivers and that would just not be good enough. So I have put back the 2004 début of the PT Bruiser to the Summer Nationals, circumstances permitting. The Bruiser Pro Stock motor is currently being updated to my design spec, with the selfless help of many people both here and in the States who all know they have my most sincere thanks. The culmination of this should enable us to compete with the other teams in Super Comp and Super Pro at a far more effective level and still have the performance capability to possibly run in the seven second zone. We will use the remainder of the 2004 season to test and evaluate as we add the final pieces of the new set-up. This allows us to monitor the effect of each change in steps and any bearing it may have on the rest of the package.

"It truly is an exciting time, a lot of R and D has gone into this. What we are trying to do is clever, but that does not mean it will work! We will have to wait and see. To start with, only two of the major changes are incorporated, this is so everything can be separately evaluated. The three remaining upgrades will be added as and when the development schedule dictates.

"As previously reported PMR acquired new premises and all was going well to move in very soon. Not everything always goes to plan. Change of use and lease agreements all took a lot longer than anticipated to get sorted, but we can now see light at the end of the tunnel. We're now well on the way to completion and should be in the new building very soon, with talk of an open house some time this month, we will keep you all posted of developments. But we can reveal that our facilities will be able to do pretty most anything for customers' race cars as well as our own fleet. The move takes place this coming weekend, watch out for more news.

"With the Power Nationals fast approaching, Paul Marston Racing have made a late change to their entry, the Insanity Chevy Vega. Recently the Vega has been real popular with the Paul Marston Racing Drag Race Driving School, with at least two graduate drivers wanting to enter a National Event. So I had a chat with Gary at Jeep Club and we decided that it would be great fun to give the Vega a few extra horses, fit the big camshaft I bought back courtesy of the guys at BLP (Bo Laws Performance), the single plane manifold and big double Pumper carb that we were saving for a special occasion. Time is really tight but both Gary and I are going to put in a couple more hours in the shop every day this week to get the job done, just in time for the Power Nationals, so we can see how fast it can go! The last pupils at the Paul Marston Drag Race Driving School prior to this weekend have been running low twelves with a best of 12.04. Elevens are a definite possibility, so look out for that little Chevy Vega this coming weekend.

"Meanwhile the Paul Marston Drag Race Driving School has been busy, seeing some great new drivers emerging, some of whom will definitely be competing in National Event competition this season, so watch this space. All in all the Paul Marston Racing Drag Race Driving School and Passenger Ride Experience programme is growing at a sustainable rate and producing some talented drivers who can now complete a school course and then compete at a National Event. With the extremely competitive rates for hiring a race car along with a full Paul Marston Racing crew and tuition facilities included, it is proving a very attractive and popular deal, it really does make so much economic sense. For further details please contact Paul at the office on 020 8597 4575 or mobile 07831 650230.

"Lastly just when you thought I had enough to do, I'm now presenting my own Radio Show on RED FM 83.8 FM weekdays 1.00 pm � 3.00pm. You should be able to pick it up in East London and the surrounding areas."

Leanders, Lundqvist join forces.

9th June: Sweden's Leanders Brothers Racing and Martin Lundqvist Racing have announced that they are to team up to field two Top Methanol Funny Cars. Ulf Leanders (right), who recorded the quickest-ever ET in European Top Methanol FC with a 5.666 last September and Martin Lundqvist (left), who had a dramatic introduction to TMFC with a serious fire at last year's Nitrolympx, will be racing similar cars and sharing data.

Martin Lundqvist has acquired the sister chassis to Ulf and Jorgen Leanders' Pleuger model, a rear end and a 2002 Pontiac Firebird body, and is planning to return to the track at the end of this season or at the start of 2005.
©Eurodragster.com
"The two cars will run with the same computer system so that we can share information", said Ulf Leanders. "We will also be sharing engine blocks and other parts". Martin added that each car will have its own Crew Chief. "Jörgen will of course be Crew Chief on Ulf's car, and my Crew Chief will be Niclas Wikström". Jonny Farnlund will co-ordinate the two-car operation.

The team's long-term goal is to carry the same primary sponsor on both cars, and Ulf and Martin are already working together to secure additional sponsorship.

"I am hoping to be ready in time for the European Finals in September", said Martin, "but if not then we will make our two-car début at next year's Main Event."

Nataas packs his kicking shoes.
9th June: Norwegian Top Fuel Dragster racer Thomas Nataas is looking forward to his first-ever trip to the UK's Shakespeare County Raceway, where he will be taking part in a Top Fuel match race with Andy Carter at this weekend's Power Nationals.

"Everyone says it is a very nice track", says Thomas. "It will be good to run there. As for Andy kicking my butt - we'll see if he kicks my butt. I'll kick his butt...he started it!"

Thomas says that he has found some differences between Rune Fjeld's Batmobile Top Fuel Dragster and his previous Pro Mod ride. "It is how I imagined it, but the awesome power and the acceleration are the big differences", he says. "It's also a change to be outside - you can see your Mum and all your friends sitting in the grandstand!"
©Eurodragster.com
Thomas also says that he has so far found the competition in Top Fuel different to that in Pro Mod. "I only managed one qualifying run at the Main Event because we had a problem with the mags and the timing", he said. "Then I pulled a red light and that wasn't very good! Andy and Tommy Möller really performed at the Main Event, but I'm used to Pro Mod being so close, you'd be fighting for top qualifier with several others. But that will change because it was the first race of the season. We've got the match race this weekend, then when I have kicked Andy's butt we will be testing at Gardermoen to get the tune-up together for Alastaro."

On the subject of this weekend's Power Nationals, APIRA Club and Race Secretary Wendy Talbot has kindly sent us the updated official entry list for the event, which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Today is the last day for advance bookings of weekend tickets for the Power Nationals. Advance weekend tickets are available at �30 from LA Performance Services' Credit Card Hotline on 01803 554308 until 22:00 tonight (Wednesday); weekend tickets on the gate will be �34. Daily entry will be �18 on Saturday and �20 on Sunday.

Pro Mod rule change.
9th June: Many thanks to Patrik Jacobsson of the European Pro Mod Association for letting us know of a change to the rules starting at the next round of the NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified Championship.

A 25% blower overdrive rule will be effective for blown-alcohol Pro Mods from the Nitro Nats at Alastaro, Finland, on 2nd-4th July. No changes will be made to the FIA rule book, but there will be an addendum for each event in the NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified series.

Patrik tells us that all teams on the entry list for the Nitro Nationals as at 7th June have been informed about the change by phone.

You can find the EPMA web site at www.promod.nu.

Editor's note: We have repeated this news item from yesterday as it was posted quite late on.
©Eurodragster.com
London City Drags update.
9th June: Terry Homan has been in touch with an update on the drag race at London City Aitport, which takes place on Saturday 24th July and about which we wrote last Saturday. Terry has been very impressed with the response from racers since the initial news was released here and on the King Racing web site last week.

"It looks like Steve Woollatt will do a couple of demos on his Top Fuel Bike, and Rod Pallant has been in touch and is bringing the newly-restored LA Hooker along to show", says Terry. "Paul Harvey is going to demo the Mailkey Dragster too. There are still a few race places left but they are filling up fast."
©Eurodragster.com
Bike racers can get regulations and an entry form from:

Carolyn Homan
21 Valley Road
Dovercourt
Essex
CO12 4RS

An entry form is also downloadable from at www.motorsportspromotions.co.uk.

If you require details about trade stands, or for any further information then call either Terry Homan on 01255 508120 or Clive Neale on 01603 871943.

Dragster sought for display.
9th June: Ton Wewer has been in touch looking a rent or buy a dragster to put on display at an amusement park in France. Ton needs the car urgently and if renting will need it until August.
©Eurodragster.com
"The dragster must look very wild but doesn't have to be in working order", says Ton. "The idea is to put it on display and for people to be photographed in or beside it. There must be someone out there who has a spare dragster to sell or rent to me. I am willing to rent or buy for a reasonable price."

If you can help, then give Ton a call on +31 (0)343 421 887 or E-Mail ton@datnet.nl.

Carter attacks history books.
9th June: From Saturday�s early morning briefing to the drama of the final round, UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Andy Carter and the GoTalk team set the pace with a tyre-blistering attack on the FIA Top Fuel Championship, the critics, and the history books writes PR John Andrews. By Monday night, and with just a fourteen point scratch on the lead, not only did the team leave the track with two new European records under their belts, they left with full stomachs, some very happy sponsors and a brace of magazine features in the bag. Many words have already been written about events trackside, so maybe it�s time to flip the coin and take a look at these last three ingredients, essential to the running of Europe�s hottest Top Fuel operation: Food, Sponsorship and the Media.

Having the best driver, the best crew and a state-of-the-art car are just part of the equation if you want to stay at the top of the game. It also takes a lot of hard work, a staggering twenty eight man-hours for every second of track time to be precise, so you�ve got to eat, and you�ve got to eat well! The responsibility for feeding and watering the crew rests firmly on the shoulders of team cook Kim Hessey. For want of a more eloquent expression, Kim and sleep are not the easiest of bedfellows. Starting at the crack of dawn, she provides a full English breakfast, lunch and a three-course dinner, plus endless cups of hot percolated coffee and on occasions, freshly baked bread. This would be enough for many women, but not our Kim! Away from the ovens, Kim heads the merchandising sales-team, and plays a pivotal role in introducing race fans to the great range of products and services available from the team's sponsors.

Such sponsorships are the life blood of any serious racing team, and Carter Motorsport is backed by the very best in the business. For Monday�s eliminations, they were joined by David Wisher, head of Wavecrest, the owners of GoTalk Telecommunications, Paul Scott from Wynns, and Cheryl McCallum from NGK Spark Plugs plus their guests. Derek Flynn from Gold RV took time out from running his own car to drop by and say Hi with one of the biggest smiles in drag racing. Yeh, that�s right Derek, it�s time to re-write those decals! Other sponsors who were unable to join the team included Lucas Oil UK, Elite Clothing, K and N Filters, Yuasa Batteries, Sigma Signs, Rainbow Conference Sets, Juicy Design, Global Commercials, Earls and Binamic. For many of the team's guests, it was their first encounter with the Top Fuel Experience, and John thinks that everyone left with their adrenaline pumping, and a hunger for more.

The same can be said for Charles Armstrong-Wilson, editor of Racecar Engineering. Charles came to the track looking for a story, and after an hour in the trailer with Eddie Corr and a close encounter with a nitro warm-up, he got what he wanted...big time. With the technology of Top Fuel taken care of, it was time for the team's old mate Mark Gredzinski to get personal, and record an in-depth feature of the team in action. Mark�s work, which includes some stunning photography, will be published in Custom Car within the next couple of months.

Finally, the team have to say a big thank you to Barry Sheavills who donated time and effort to one of the team's autographing sessions, all the fans who called by, and a really warm welcome to Neil Collins who joined the team at very short notice as their new clutch man. Thanks everyone.
©Eurodragster.com
See Hartnell for hernias.
9th June: UK Wild Bunch racer 'Crazy' Chris Hartnell writes that he really enjoyed his weekend's racing in his Backdraft slingshot at the UK Open Nationals at York Dragway last week. Chris had four runs over the Sunday, all in the 9.8s and 9.9s, so a bit off the pace by recent standards. He dialled in at 9.75 for Monday, and ran a great 9.759 in the first round, recording further 9.7's, and 9.8's including the Wild Bunch's quickest ET - 9.733 - and fastest mph - 133.19 - of the weekend. Chris was really pleased to finish second overall in Wild Bunch competition at the event, and was awarded both the Best Slingshot and Best Appearing Team spot prizes by the tower team, so the whole C and C Drag Racing Team were really chuffed with the successes of the weekend.

Chris would like to congratulate Mike Cresswell in the Living the Dream slingshot, who had his first ever WB event win on only his second attempt! Well done to him, and to Steve Field who finished in third spot with his and Lesley's altered The Black Pig. Not to mention Tony Smith who secured fourth place at the event in The Cunning Plan. Fair play, Tone! Chris would like to thank his crew of Claire, Mark, Sarah and Darryl (special thanks to Dar for all the shiny polish work!) and a big thanks to all the marshals, officials and organisers at the track who made the Wild Bunch feel very welcome, and worked hard to run a great event! We're looking forward to racing there again in August!
©Eurodragster.com
Since that event, Chris and the team have had Backdraft in the garage to diagnose the drop in ETs and the lack of grunt on the launch and throughout the runs. It was discovered that the previously -locked dizzy had about half an inch of play, so therefore there was some 'wandering' timing occurring during the runs. Chris has cured this now and assures us that the dizzy will not move a thou' this time! Chris has now also installed a bigger Crower injection system atop the 355 Small Block Chevy and has fired the car up in the garage a few times this week. There were a few people on hand to listen to the second fire-up and there were several comments of 'It sounds like a beast' while they watched the header flames! Wicked! Chris would like to thank Bob Glassup for allowing him to borrow his injection system to check his barrel valve, and to Scottie Durrant for picking Bob's whole injection system and manifold up at the Pod and carrying it for over half a mile (sorry about the hernia, Scott!). Also many thanks to Paul Stubbings for helping Chris to set up the barrel valve in the injection system.

"Hopefully the car will run as good as it sounds, once we get the timing right and make any fine tuning to the fuel system", says Chris. The team really can't wait to get to the track for the Power Nationals this weekend to try it out and see how it runs!"

Swift snippets.
9th June: Ian Turburville is now selling the Simpson range of safety and racing products for car and bike racers. "Due in this week are the very popular Pit and Crew shoes as worn by all the top teams and for good reason!", says Turbo. "These are the ultimate in style, function and value. They start at only �34 a pair and are available in three styles from the shop, the website at www.turboville.com or delivered to the track."
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
9th June: Our good buddies at Svensk Dragracing have updated their web site at www.dragracing.se with the entry list for this weekend's NDRG Summer Nats at Gardermoen, which is the latest round of the 2004 Nordic Drag Racing Series.

UK Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Ian Hook has posted the first race reports of the season on the FB Racing web site at www.fbracing.co.uk. You can find the reports by following the link to the CCSE section.

The Street 10.5 web site at www.streetdrivers.com has been updated with the latest results and pictures from the Scandinavian Dragracing Championship.

Killer Kitney.
8th June: After a nightmare time trying to fit and sort out the new Enderle Injection system on the Kiss My RS eight-litre supercharged Escort, the Kitney/Q8 team are set on kill for the Power Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway this coming weekend, writes Trevor Kitney.
©Eurodragster.com
"Parts supply forced us to miss the FIA Main Event, and the team were gutted, particularly as it turned out so well for Pro ET" says Trevor. "But it's up and running - and angry! Hopefully we'll get a few runs so that we can sort out the last few bugs as testing on the road is proving to be a bit dangerous! Errant daughter Eleanor is in the hot-seat this weekend, and she's been watching Fast Freddy, so look out for those tyre-shredding burnouts!"

"I would like to say a really big thank you to everyone for supporting me this year", says Eleanor Kitney. "Especially my family, they are making my dream of drag racing come true and I am so grateful for them for giving me this chance. I also want to say a big thanks to all my fellow racers, they have made me feel so welcome and they are always on hand to offer help and advice. Finally thank you to all the staff at Santa Pod and Shakespeare County Raceway."

Rusty Junerud.
8th June: Swedish Supertwin racer Stefan Junerud didn't start his FIM/UEM season as he would have hoped. If you were tuned in to our Event Coverage then you will recall that Stefan was involved in a dual foul start which disqualified both Stefan and Ton Pels, but the weekend had already been a frustrating one long before eliminations.

"A major traffic jam in Belgium caused us to miss the ferry and we didn't arrive at Santa Pod for the FIA Main Event until late on the Saturday", says Stefan. "This put us behind the eight-ball and we never quite got caught up. We had made some changes and there was a lot of uncertainty about how things would work. We needed every run to tune the gear.
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"We ended up qualifying seventh and we were up against Ton Pels in the first round. Again not being 100% sure how the bike would behave, and personally being a bit rusty after the off-season, caused a bit of the jitters at the starting line. As Ton went into full stage, reflexes took over and I jumped the gun before the tree was lit. Ton went as well resulting in both of us getting disqualified.

"We would like to say sorry to Ton and also to the track crew after dropping oil and making a mess of things. We will regroup and hope to see you all at Alastaro!"

Manor Racing Main Event report.
8th June: UK 9.90 Bike and 10.90 Bike team Manor Racing went to the FIA Main Event after a very successful weekend at the BMF show in Peterborough. A lot of interest was shown in the bikes and 9.90 Bike rider David Warren was kept busy signing autographs and talking to the public about the bikes on the Q8 Oils stand which was part of the Suzuki Village. "We would like to thank Trevor of Q8 and all of the people at Suzuki for their hospitality", says David.

"Friday came and we where more than ready for the Main Event, and after the first run of 9.83 we thought that this was not a bad run but was not the 9.900 we were looking for - but how many times does this happen! The second run of the day was a 9.76, miles too quick and no good to man or beast, and left us in nineteenth spot. We decided to go for a run on the right side of the index and this gave us a 10.02 which placed us better in the table. The next run was to hold better fortunes for us and a 9.915 got us the number one spot - things were looking better for us. A 9.956 on the last run but with Andy Bird running a 9.916 we had a heart-stopping moment, but we stayed in the nunmber one spot which was a good feeling.
©Eurodragster.com
"Things stayed the same for Saturday, on Sunday we were given one more chance to improve. Thanks must go to Darren and the Santa Pod crew, with Darren coming round to tell us personally in the rain on Saturday night that we had another run in the morning. I had a heart in mouth moment with the bike in a massive wheelie. I was glad still to be in one piece and still number one qualifier.

"In eliminations I faced Lee Baxendale who was one of the guest Super Street Bikes (well done to Graham Dance and Brad O'Connor for their performances) and took the win with Lee running a 9.3 to my 9.8. The next round was a bye and then I was to face Dave Hall. I was asleep on the line and while trying to chase Dave down broke out with a 9.84, Dave took the win with a 9.97.

"Unfortunately Lizz McCarthy will not be racing the 10.90 Bike again this year after she damaged ligaments in her arm, this is a great shame and we hope she gets better soon. All in all not a bad weekend and we are looking forward to Power Nationals. We would like to thank all the track crew for their hard work, and our sponsors Straight Line Racing, Q8 Oils, SFB 965 Engineering, Comupay, and Dream Glass."

Baldie the Red, or not.
8th June: Finnish Funny Bike racer Asko Määttä was quite happy with his third position in NDRS Funny Bike qualifying at the Bike Weekend at Västerås.

"We had many problems getting the clutch and power sorted out on quite a slippery track (for our ten-inch MT)", says Ask. "But on the third run we found a baseline to start for Sunday's eliminations. The best thing was that we were able to do all three qualifying rounds on Saturday, which wasn't achieved by anybody else in Funny Bike - after two rounds there were only four bikes qualified. I didn't even need the Sunday morning extra qualifying round, because I knew that the changes made to the clutch after the last run on Saturday evening would work.
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"And work they really did, the only problem was myself with a red light - or as the results say 'Incorrect Stage' which I and the whole Baldie team don't believe - in the first round of eliminations. That was my first red light in few hundred runs I've done either on a bike or in a TMFC. After that I helped the race winner Svein Arne Skjerv� to get his clutch tuned soft enough to win the final.

"The Baldie's Gun III worked really well all weekend, and for the bike I'm sorry that I didn't get time on the last run (I'm sure the bike will forgive you - Ed)."

Our readers do it again.
8th June: If you were tuned in to Eurodragster News last month you will recall that Johnny Hall of Nostalgia race car builder B and J Racing put out a call to Eurodragster readers for a trailer to carry the Windridge Hall McKenzie Top Fuel Nostalgia Slingshot after Dave McKenzie had an unfortunate accident with the previous trailer, thankfully without injury. Eurodragster's readers came up trumps yet again, as Johnny writes.

"I would like to thank Ewan Potter who kindly donated an old but usable and extendable four-wheel open trailer", says Johnny. "Ewan contacted us after he saw the news on Eurodragster about Dave's accident. Ewan even repaired a flat tyre free of charge so that we could just pick it up and take it home.

"We were so pleased with what Ewan has done that we have promised him a sit in the Fueller when we warm it up at the track very soon. All we need now is a six-inch fuel pump extension!"

Speedflow change number.
8th June: Hose and fitting supplier, and Eurodragster Perfect Light Award sponsor, Speedflow have launched a new national phone number in preparation for a relocation of their premises to the UK's West Country.

"Our new number is 0870 225 0097 and is already live", says Paul Fischer. "There is no extra cost for callers, it's the same as calling the old 0208 number. The existing number will be deleted in a couple of months time. We're building a new and spacious facility for Speedflow in a part of the world where we don't need a million quid to buy a tent! There will be three of us working there by autumn if all goes to plan. We've run out of room where we are and its beginning to become a problem keeping enough stock for an expanding business as well as having some floor space. Our customers expect us to have everything they need and to get it out on the day, this move will better enable us to do just that."
©Eurodragster.com
The Speedflow web site at www.speedflow.co.uk has undergone some improvements. "There are more simple explanations in the Help index, and a quick look-up facility which we use when customers phone us whilst also having web access", says Paul. "This way we can show people photos and data whilst we are talking with them. It's proving a popular and useful facility.

"Lastly, a big Well Done to Mark Watkins for being the first racer to hit the Tree dead on at the Main Event and win the Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award. Such stellar RTs used to be quite rare but that's no longer the case: it shows how good you have to be nowadays if you want to go rounds in UK drag race competition."

Power Nats Eurodragster Awards.
8th June: ...which leads us very nicely into the Eurodragster.com special awards at this weekend's Power Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway.

The Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award has been reset to �50 after Super Street racer Mark Watkins took the �75 at the FIA Main Event. The �50 will be awarded to the first racer this weekend to pull a perfect Reaction Time of 0.000 (except in open practice). The Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award is open to all classes and is jointly presented by Eurodragster.com and Speedflow. If the Award is not won this weekend then it will be increased to �75 for the SPRC Summernationals at Santa Pod Raceway; if it is won then the Award will be reset to �50 for the SPRC Summernationals. For all your high-performance hose requirements check out Speedflow's web site at www.speedflow.co.uk or call 0870 225 0097.
©Eurodragster.com
The Eurodragster.com/Curbishley Automotive Perfect ET Award has been reset to �50 after Bob Doyle clocked 10.350 in Pro ET qualifying at the FIA Main Event. The money will be awarded to the first racer this weekend to run to the thousandth on their class index or dial-in. The Eurodragster.com/Curbishley Automotive Award is this weekend open to all ET classes, all Super classes, Junior Dragster, all VW classes, the Wild Bunch, 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike and Junior Drag Bike, and is jointly presented by Eurodragster.com and automotive painter and finisher Curbishley Automotive, owned by Martin and Ruth Curbishley. If the Award is not won this weekend then it will be increased to �75 for the SPRC Summernationals at Santa Pod Raceway; if it is won then the Award will be reset to �50 for the SPRC Summernationals. If you would like your race vehicle painted by Curbishley Automotive then contact Martin Curbishley by E-Mail at mcbrogieroadster@aol.com or call him on 07812 942097.

Web site updates.
8th June: The official web site of German Top Methanol Dragster team Peter Schöfer Racing has been updated with a report from the FIA Main Event, where Peter was runner-up. Check it out at www.p-s-r.com.

The official web site of the UK's Showtime Fuel Funny Car team has been updated with a report of the team's weekend at the FIA Main Event. Team member Chris Dossett's report is as usual informative and interesting and is well worth a read. You can find Chris' report at www.showtimeracing.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Lincoln Eriksson tells us that the official web site of Sweden's FHRA Resque Team has had a complete makeover. The very professional-looking web site, presented in both Swedish and English, includes details of the team's new Chevy C30-based rescue vehicle as well as details of services offered, bookings, photo gallery, forum and much more. You can find the FHRA Reqsue Team web site at www.rescueteam.nu.

Patrick Kuyper has updated his Imaginary web site with photographs from the FIA Main Event. You can check out Patrick's pictures by following the Events/Santa Pod 2004 link at www.imaginary.nl.

Feel-the-noise.com have completed the uploading of photographs from the Main Event. Webmaster Bob Valders teklls us that over nine hundred new photos have been added this time which can be easily identified by following the �red dots� in the category listing.

Veidec PSBs Main Event report.
7th June: The Veidec Pro Stock Bike team had a weekend of ups and downs at the FIA Main Event, writes Crew Chief Roger Lyrén. "With three bikes it was lot of work to get them all working", he says.

"Roger Pettersson started the season on board the new Suzuki TL1000R. With only three runs in Norway he still needed more runs to get used with the new riding style, and also the settings were different because we moved some weight around the bike. The first pass out is always the worst one, until you know everything is working OK. Roger did his work and a 7.47 with low rpm was OK. The next two runs gave us a lot of questions, we dropped almost ten mph. After watching the video and looking at the computer we found that Roger was not on full throttle after the eighth when he jumped up on the second seat he backed off the throttle! We had a lot of wheelspin so we had to take out power to get it down the track. The best sixty foot was 1.137 so that was OK, but in second and third it was spinning like hell. We got the tuning pretty OK, in the semi we posted a 7.351, 4.67 at the eighth, that is one of the best-ever ETs at the eighth and also 151 mph.
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"The final against Paul Watson was good, Paul had a little faster reaction time but Roger passed him before the eighth to finish as winner, 7.37/181.56 which is the best-ever terminal speed in FIM/UEM Pro Stock Bike at Santa Pod. The back half on this 7.37 run was three hundredths quicker than the 7.351 so it could been a very low 7.3. We ran the two-valve 1500cc Suzuki this weekend, the four-valve 1640cc still needs some parts, hopefully we'll run it in mid-season.

"Helen Curran, on board Davide Ricci's bike, had a down weekend. She still had problems with the clutch but we finally found the problem! But not until the first round of eliminations against Roger did it work well. The bike left the line as it should, but Roger was ahead all the way to the finish line. Way-too-lean tuning slowed the speed a lot. For Finland Helen will get the new four-valve cylinder head on her bike to gain some more horses. Remo Nasci did a good job on the ex-Kenneth Stromberg GSXR1100. After qualifying sixth he was very happy, this is the best result ever for an Italian in the FIM/UEM Pro Stock Bike Championship.

"The whole team did a great job all weekend. With twelve people in all, and four nationalities, there is always lots of debate, but we mostly sorted things out. Now we are preparing for Finland and hopefully the traction will be good there, maybe we can set some new records?"

Holland rules!
7th June: Dutch Pro Mod racer Marc Meihuizen and the K & H Racing team are very happy with their first outing with the ex-Thomas Nataas Batmobil blown-alcohol Coupe. Team member Dick Koster tells us that Marc broke the Dutch record for a doorslammer at the FIA Main Event.

"Henri Joosten held the old record with a 6.75, and we were very pleased to break it by more than 0.1 seconds on our second run with the car", says Dick. "6.640, and we are sure that there is still much more to come - we are looking for lower six-second runs. This was also Marc's first experience with a clutch car."
©Eurodragster.com
The team are headed to the Dutch Nationals at Drachten this weekend, where Dick tells us that Marc will be doing some testing of start line procedures. "We will also be attending the MPM Internationals at Drachten, and then we will follow the NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified tour."

The K & H Racing Team are also working on a web site in association with MPM's designer Jorgen Al (designer of the colour scheme on Lex Joon's MPM Oil Top Fueller - Ed). "Jorgen is the best in Europe for web sites and sponsor stuff", says Dick. "I tell you, Holland rules!"

"Target Teboul" against the rules.
7th June: UK Funny Bike racer Shaun Branch went into the FIA Main Event with little confidence, but things looked up albeit briefly.

"Our first two outings this year left us with unexplained engine damage, so we were not to confident of a good outcome last weekend", says Shaun. "It was not until Saturday morning that we found the fault. It was only because another racer suggested that the ignition may have gone down that we checked it, and sure enough we found the problem with the magneto. After rectifying the fault the bike sounded so different it could have had a different fuel in the tank! This restored a little faith, and sure enough the first qualifier produced a 7.67 with no engine damage. So it was time to find a tune-up.

"Because of the unknown fault we had already taken out ten degrees of advance prior to the weekend to try to remedy the situation, so over the next couple of qualifiers the advance was restored and had the desirable effect, running 7.49 qualifying us seventh. 7.49 is the quickest the bike has gone since September 2002 and the first time we have qualified for an FIM/UEM meeting in this country. With a couple more meetings I think we will be able to lower our PB which is currently 7.23. Looking at the Exhaust Gas Temperatures on Sunday night we could see that the bike was still quite rich at 1140 F. In the past we have run up to 1270 so we expected a considerable performance gain on race day when we leaned the motor out. These settings are also on the spare equipment so additional performance will come later in the season when the big valve head and primary supercharger are replaced, both damaged at the previous meeting.

"The first round against Eric Teboul should not have been much of a race: Eric qualified with a 6.40 to our 7.49. But as Eric got to sixty feet he lost traction and went up in smoke. Up until that point all was going well with our pass with the quickest reaction time and sixty foot of the weekend, 0.134 and 1.11, both thanks to more launch RPM. This, coupled with the small tune-up we put in, should have run a high 7.30. Unfortunately on the first shift the crank broke at the blower drive end completely smashing the right-hand end of the cases, detaching the blower drive assembly and with the end crank web still attached hurled it across into the other lane in front of Eric.
©Eurodragster.com
"Under FIM rules if any part of the vehicle crosses the centre line you are disqualified, so although we won the round the win was later disallowed. This did not bother me too much at the time because I was more concerned about my motor, and of course the only place we were going after damage like that was home anyway. So let it be known that it is unacceptable to throw large engine parts at Frenchmen!

"Since disassembling what is left of the motor we can see the breakage on the bottom case goes right across to the oil filter housing. There was only around half a litre of oil left in the sump when it was drained, so a full four litres went onto the track and into the under tray. Fortunately the new pistons are OK as are the liners, block and transmission. This is the first time we have oiled the track, and hopefully the last, but I'd still like to make a big apology to the other racers waiting to run behind me, especially after a long oil down from one of the Supertwins a couple of pairings before.

"There is a huge amount of work to do before the next meeting, which for us will be the SPRC Summernationals at the end of June. Looking at the quantity of work I don't quite know how we are going to do it, but we'll have a go and hopefully see you in a few weeks."

Main Event Pro ET report.
7th June: The FIA Main Event saw Pro ET living up to its reputation with the top qualifiers running from within zero to nine thousandths off their dial-ins, including two dead-on runs in two different teams (Zed Case and Heaven and Hell) - both compliments of Tracy Doyle Dial-In Services Ltd, writes Carla Pittau.

Tracy will now take bookings for dial-in services at �20 a throw, with a bonus of another �20 if you hit dead-on first, as with the �50 Eurodragster.com/Curbishley Automotive Perfect ET Award you�d still make �10 profit. Bob and Tracy Doyle duly collected the Perfect ET Award, as well as a trophy and a further �50 cheque �50 voucher from Pro ET class sponsors Real Steel, Hauser Race Cars and Harley Davidson. Not bad huh? Bob Doyle made it to the third round when he got out of shape and had to lift, his march stopped by a jubilant Terri Lee in the flash Blown It Escort van, finally back in competition and giving battle to everyone. Terri was then defeated in the semis by Ian Brown, who went on to win the event and the �50 vouchers from Hoosier Tyres and Andy Robinson Race Cars.

Looking at the unfortunate side of the race, we are sorry to report the carnage in the class during qualifying: Mike Lacey�s beautiful �67 Camaro chewed up a valve and holed a piston in its very first competition outing, during the fourth qualifying run on Friday. Mike is working hard even as we speak to repair the damage which also badly mangled a valve seat consigning at least one of the cylinder heads to the junk heap. Horribly enough, Steve Good had almost identical damage in a following run in the same lane (a left lane virus, perhaps?), although unfortunately most of Steve�s pistons looked like they might consider furthering their careers as ashtrays, whilst the head wasn�t even retained as a souvenir and went straight into the dustbin. And all this with Steve getting in the thirty-two car field by the skin of his teeth after Gino Bernadine cancelled following a blown head gasket at the Professional Test. Gino needed to machine the block to fit a specially made copper gasket and had no choice but to sit out the race.

Hard luck also for Liz Malcolm, who unfortunately did not make it to the start line in eliminations, a problem with the fuel injection system preventing the sparkling clean Jus�4 Fun dragster from putting in a qualifying run, her two trips down the track being taken up (I imagine) by the required observed runs to gain her competition licence. Commiserations should also go to Terry Spenceley and Nick Griffin who also didn�t make the first round due to engine problems and to Aidan Kenny who did not make the first round to face Ian Brown.

On the plus side, nice to welcome Nicky Frost to the Pro ET ranks, Nicky only tested the car at the Professional Test and this was her very first outing in competition. She showed increasing confidence in handling the beautifully-prepared, spotless Camaro, consistently improving the launch and running a best time of 10.34 in the sixth qualifier. Nicky fell victim to Paul Baynton in the first round but the team were happy with the experience gained and will be ready to do battle in the next Pro ET wars. Nick and Nicky Frost credit John Atkinson of Jumping Black Flash fame with much help in getting the Camaro to the very high standards it showed. Welcome back to returning ET warrior Chris Isaacs, who advertised his race car building business by showing off his beautifully-detailed if unusual Standard Vanguard. Chris made it to the third round but was stopped by an excellent holeshot by Phil Toppin who managed to get a handle on his My Little Pony II Pop just in time to get past Chris and reach the semis. Malcolm Motler had so many great things going for him during the weekend that it wouldn�t have been fair if it got any better. As well as welcoming new arrival Callum to the Spellbound team and having a radiant Marcie introduce the recruit straight into a race, he also pulled great wheelstands thanks to his new converter, much to the envy and admiration of the Heaven and Hell Team. Malk pulled several 1.39 60-foots and Rick McCann had a job in trying to concentrate on his own side of the tree and ignore his wheelstand in the first round, although he confessed he still saw it with the corner of his eye!
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Marius Blackburn was the second victim to fall to Heaven and Hell, with Escape from Reality just making it to the race after cracking a cylinder bore and damaging the crank at Easter. The block had to be machined and eight liners put in. Marius phoned on Tuesday morning to cancel the entry as the block wasn�t back yet, then Chris announces he�s picking up the block on Tuesday afternoon and Marius has to call Paula Marshall and ask her to take the entry back out of the dustbin. After serious midnight oil burning the team loaded up and finished off the work in the pits, fired the motor up and it not only sounded good, but put in a great performance. The team had a great weekend, loved the new race format with the extra day and were very grateful to Andy for his excellent machine work.

After getting past Marius, Rick McCann defeated Phil Toppin in the semis by pulling another one of his 0.03 lights (one day they�ll rub off on me), and the big battle was on with Ian Brown who got past Darren Hulkes� Camaro, Wayne Hiscock�s Chevelle and Terri�s Escort van in his implacable march to the final. We knew that a Camaro would take the win as we approached the line with the Thatadoo team, we just hoped it would be a red one rather than a yellow one but we also knew that it would be a close, good race and it truly would not be over till the fat bloke sang. Ian and Rick pulled almost identical lights, Rick�s 0.045 only four thou quicker than Ian�s 0.049, fantastic, and both cars ran very consistently, although a six thou breakout by Rick gave Ian�s twenty three-thou off the victory. Ian well deserved the win and as always turned up with an enthusiastic and professional looking team. The win allowed Ian to overtake Aidan Kenny to take second place position in the National Championship, distanced by only 120 points by points leader Heaven and Hell Racing, who were delighted with the race format, with running their best time yet of 10.21 backed up by several mid 10.20s runs and finally getting a number of 1.42 sixty foot times. We may be on the right track yet.

So the battle is on, and it�s closer and more exciting than ever. Long live Pro ET, it�s a wonderful class to race in (and to watch - Ed). Unofficial current points standings have been posted in the Pro ET and Heaven and Hell websites at www.pro-et.co.uk and www.heavenhell.org, however please refer to the official standings to verify as soon as they become available on Eurodragster. Finally I apologise to all racers who have not been mentioned - the class is so large now that writing about everyone requires a War and Peace effort which takes ages to write and takes up too much space on news pages. However should you want snippets and info for your team to be included in the report, please send it via the Pro ET site or via the Heaven and Hell site and we will be happy to incorporate it in future reports. Happy racing!

Points updates.
7th June: We are indebted to Ultimate Power Drag Racing Championship Points Co-ordinator Simon Groves for forwarding us the Ultimate Power standings going into this weekend's Power Nationals. You can view the points by clicking here, or by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Our good buddies at Svensk Dragracing have updated their web site with the Nordic Drag Racing Series standings after this weekend's Danish Nats at Vandel and Bike Weekend at Västerås as well as the weekend's results and a Photo Gallery from the Bike Weekend. Apologies to Christer and Erik for omitting to mention at the weekend that the Svensk Dragracing web site has also been updated with two Photo Galleries from the FIA Main Event - one of the NDRS Super classes on the track and a pitside gallery (thanks for the edit of the picture, Christer - Ed) - and some video clips from the race. You can find all of this at the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se.
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The official web site of the European Pro Mod Association has been updated with the NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified points standings after the FIA Main Event and a team page for new member Bert Englefield. Check it out at www.promod.nu.

Web site updates.
7th June: Eurodragster staffer Sharkman has updated his personal web site Sharkman's Top End Tales with no less than 894 photographs from last weekend's FIA Main Event, including a number of parachute and other shutdown area shots which judging by readers' reactions were a very popular feature of our Event Coverage last weekend. Sharkman will post wallpapers as soon as he is able but with the Power Nationals approaching it may be a short while before this is possible. You can find Sharkman's Main Event pictures at www.topendtales.com.
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Power Nats entry, pits, running.
6th June: We are indebted to APIRA Club and Race Secretary Wendy Talbot for forwarding us the official entry list for next weekend's Power Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. The entry list shows a healthy entry in almost all classes with Pro ET, VW Sportsman and 9.90 Bike again vying for biggest-entry honours with eighteen, seventeen and sixteen respectively.
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We are also indebted to Beth Satchell for sending us the pit plan and provisional running orders for the Power Nationals. Racers are asked to check the notes at the bottom of the pit plan. Running orders are subject to change due to track conditions, weather or other reasons deemed necessary by race officials.

To view the official entry list, pit plan and running orders check out our Power Nationals Event Coverage index, which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page. Alternately check out the Avon Park International Racers Association web site at www.apira.org.uk.

Double NDRS event coverage.
6th June: Our good buddies at Svensk Dragracing are covering this weekend's Danish Nationals at Vandel and Bike Weekend at Västerås, both of which are rounds of the 2004 Nordic Drag Racing Series.
©Eurodragster.com
You can view qualifying and elimination details on the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se.

Scary update.
6th June: Many thanks to Pro Stock Bike racer Chris Hope for sending us the latest update on UK Funy Bike racer Sarah Jane Head.

"Jane has finally settled in and now has a TV and a phone up and running in her hospital room", says Chris. "She has been moved to Ward 4 of Hull Royal Infirmary and is now able to receive visitors once again. Visiting times are 1400 to 1600, and 1800 to 2000. Her direct telephone number is 07046 240069, patient number 7354.

"Jane is progressing steadily, although boredom is somewhat of an issue. I am sure that she would appreciate calls from anyone who is unable to visit in person."

Don't forget that the auction for Scary is still underway; for more details check out yesterday's news item or check out the official auction page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the Auction for Scary link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.
©Eurodragster.com
Englefield on exclusion.
6th June: If you were tuned in to our Event Coverage from last weekend's FIA Main Event, you will have seen that UK Pro Modified racer Bert Englefield won his first round race but was subsequently disqualified for a technical infringement. Bert has been in touch to explain what caused his blown-alcohol Coupe to be removed from the ladder.

"We were disappointed to be told we were being protested", says Bert. "The reason given to us was that we had a second battery connected to the car via jump leads. We did not know that this was illegal: the only reason we use the other battery is to get oil pressure up, the car has an onboard starter and onboard battery capable of starting the motor.
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"After we had been told we had been protested we called over Michael Gullquist (European Pro Mod Association President - Ed) and started the motor on the onboard battery, to prove we could have made the run without a jump start. As far as we are concerned we won the race fair and square, but we guess some teams cannot face losing. We would like it to be known that if in the future if any team we race needs to jump start their car because of a low battery we will not protest them, as we do not want to win in this way. We would like to thank the Lindahl Brothers, Fast Freddy Fagerström and Henri Joosten's team for their support over this matter.

"On a more positive note, we were more than pleased with our weekend. We decided before we arrived at the track to be consistent instead of trying to go fast. We made four runs all within six hundredths of a second, ran the second fastest speed of the class at 216.66 mph - not bad for an old hot rod! We now need to work on our 60 foot and 330 foot times as these are a long way off what they should be.

"We would like to thank all of our fans who offered their support - it would have been nice to see a British car in the final."

Rautio learns humility.
6th June: Finnish Pro Stock Bike racer Vesa Rautio says that he is learning to be humble and patient after DNQing at last week's FIA Main Event.

"We tried to test a new ignition and cluch-setup on the test weekend, but only got one pass, spinning the tyre from right to left lanes at a thousand feet due to a lack of traction", says Vesa. track on 1000ft because of no traction. New stuff elsewhere on the motor also gave us a lots of trouble to figure out.
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"We got all the gremlins sorted out, but lack of testing before Main Event race meant we had to choose out strategy: whether to race with all the previous data and set-up (and leave our performance at the previous level), or whether test during the race. Well, being satisfied with where we used to be performance-wise was not an option: we wanted to be # 1 qualifier, and took the risk.

"As it turned out, we did not find the way to get the power to the track, but now we know better what to do for the Alastaro race. I think we will be smarter and faster than ever."

Gottenberg a happy camper!
6th June: In contrast, Norwegian Supertwin racer Svein Gottenberg declared that he was very happy with his new bike after its first competitive run out last weekend.
©Eurodragster.com
"The Main Event was the first real test for the new Norwegian Zodiac-sponsored Overkill", says Svein. "We were very happy with the new engine combination. In the first round we got a 1.10 sixty foot and 2.95 to 330 feet, which is a personal best for us, before some drifting so I had to list. Apart from struggling with the rear wheel bearing in qualifying, everything was just great.

"7.5-second runs are not what we are looking for with this bike, so we are hunting for the six soon. We hope to see a lot of bikes in Finland, but on the following weekend we will be testing some more at Gardermoen."

He's very a naughty boy!
6th June: UK Super Street racer and Championship sponsor Matthew Wright had an eventful weekend at the FIA Main Event with burnt wiring and a ticking-off for burning out across the start line to contend with, before being pushed back from the start line without some of his rear axle assembly. Matthew has been in touch to give us the lowdown.

"It started to go down hill from round one of qualifing, when after making a light launch on the trans brake (being used for the first time) the blower coughed back through the blow off. After lifting a hundred feet from the finish line and still running too quick with a 10.74/105 I noticed that the temp gauge was not working. On removing the hood we could not believe our eyes. The blow-off plate for the blower is in the inlet manifold on the off-side, there is some engine wiring which runs down the same side between the inlet and the rocker cover and there it was:the bang had taken out the loom which had in turn caught light and took out the distributor wiring as well. The left-hand rocker cover looked like a throw-away barbecue . Now, I am colourblind and Ashley and Paul are not in to wiring, so it was the blind leading the blind. Without my mentor Andy 'Fred' Hone on hand it was something of a surprise to have the truck fixed by mid-afternoon, we still had our duties running Ashley's Gleeson Wright Security-backed Monza.

"So after missing out on a whole day's qualifying, it was all down to Saturday's session to try and slow the old truck down. After Friday's events we also changed the blow-off springs because they had become weak. I went into the burnout praying we had solved the problem. I have been known to take the pee with my tyre-warming technique and off I went on a blinding rolling burn out, straight across the line. I backed up the truck thinking that it must have been good because there was tyre smoke in the cab. So there am I sitting on the line waiting to stage and lo and behold Ian Marshall opens the door. Now, I'm thinking "What a nice guy, he's letting out the tyre smoke for me".Oh no he is not, he's disqualifying me for burrning out across the line (not allowed in Super Street - Ed). OK if that is the class rule so be it, but now I am flustered, the lights drop and I pull away in second gear and run another 10.7/128. The good thing was the truck's inherent blower problem had gone, and there are no hard feelings Ian - rules are rules.
©Eurodragster.com
"So can it get any worse? Oh boy, can it. On our second and final qualifing run I did a nice acceptable burnout, staged, pressed the transbrake, loaded up the rpm, the lights dropped...bang went the prop. We were pushed back, on inspection back at the pits we saw that the axle had turned in it mountings, splitting the case. Now my weekend was over, the twelve-bolt Chevy axle could not take the 800bhp we threw at it.

"We will be back: Geof Hauser of Hauser Race Cars is building a bullet-proof nine inch Ford rearend for the 3500lb supercharged axle-breaking beast, which will be ready for the SPRC Summernationals at the Pod.

"A big Thank You to the super crew Ashley and Paul, I would also like to thank new crew members Shane and Jo Knight and of course my girlfriend and soulmate racer chick Cheryl."

Onwards and upwards.

6th June: Longtime Eurodragster readers will be familiar with Adam Charnley, who used to keep up up to date with the progress of his school's progress in the F1 in Schools challenge, in which teams designed and built model dragsters for racing in a national contest. Adam has now moved onwards and upwards and has acquired an altered (right) which he will be putting together for Pro ET or Wild Bunch competition.

"In September I shall be starting a motorsport engineering course at Swansea Institute", says Adam. "Before then I thought it would be a good idea to get a bit of a head start...so guess what, I thought I'd build a dragster! It's a 1940s Fiat Topolino altered, the chassis is from the mid 1990s and it used to be run as a Model T altered, I think under the name of Pandemonium. The plan is to strap in a 350 ci Chevy to begin with, and to race in in Pro ET and/or the Wild Bunch.
©Eurodragster.com
"I bought the chassis from Phil Toppin about four weeks ago and plan to have it finished for the last race of the season so that we can get in some valuable testing time. Initially we will be running above 9.90 for two reasons: 1. We don't want to run nitro or have a massive engine, because we need to learn about the car first, and 2. I can't drive yet, and the thought of doing more than 150 mph at the moment quite frankly scares me!

"As always we're looking for sponsorship, and also if any readers know anything about the history about the car it would be much appreciated! Either way I can be contacted at chara003@sgfl.org.uk."

Web site updates.
6th June: Pete Roberts has launched a web site with some fantastic and unique panoramic photographs from last weekend's FIA Main Event. The scrolling 360-degree pictures only take a few moments to load and include pictures from the start line, in the pits, and on the spectator bank. With a program download the panoramic shots can also be used as screensavers. You can check out Pete's web site at myweb.tiscali.co.uk/lithopa/SPpanos.html.
©Eurodragster.com
Brian Fawcus has updated his fan site with some two hundred pictures from the FIA Main Event. The pictures come in two categories, on-track and pits and people, and are well worth a look at drag.fawcus.com.

Jon Best has updated his fan site with a preview of Custom Car Street Eliminator at next week's Power Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway, plus a preview of Pro ET team Racecarbon Racing. Check it out at www.nitrohemi.co.uk.

The Racebilder web site at www.racebilder.nu has been updated with 130 great photographs from yesterday's Swedish Dragracing Championship round at Björkvik.

Webster drives to game plan.
5th June: UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Jon Webster has finally summoned up the energy to write a few words after another exhausting weekend "attempting" (his words - Ed) to run Top Fuel in the Canto Recruitment dragster.

"The crew consisted of Crew Chief Pete Knight, Jonny Mac, Graham Rice, Laurie Bamford, Dave and Steph Milam, Alex Macintosh, Mick and Martin (Dave and Steph's regular crew), Tim and Martin Canto", says Jon, who jointly sponsors Eurodragster's webcam through his company Webster Race Engineering. "They showed amazing stamina and dedication, working to the early hours to enable us to make the startline Monday morning. Many thanks to all of them, big thanks also to Corrine for her nocturnal support and Dave Bryant for his advice.
©Eurodragster.com
"We started the weekend very optimistic. New and better parts on the car, thinking naively that we had a little more knowledge than last year. The game plan was to run a half pass, look at the data and if everything looked good go for our first full pass. The first pass ended up as a non-starter, as the clutch was dragging and there was an anomaly with the fuel system. Once back in the pits adjustments were made and we were all set for the half pass, which went as intended. We didn't rotate the earth exactly, but we didn't hurt anything either.

"Unfortunately the attempt at the full pass next time round did, when the car nosed over at a thousand feet and we ended up losing the motor. This prompted the thrash to the early hours. This was spent not just changing the motor but also reflecting on what was going on and how to fix it. Pete devised a game plan which basically meant doing short runs and concentrating on tuning the car to three hundred feet for data until we can establish a sound baseline.

"I know it must be very frustrating for the spectators when cars do short passes, but that was why we shut off after 330 feet against Micke Kågered in the first round. The adjustments which Pete made for the first round seemed to make a positive difference: the car reacted so much quicker, allowing us to get out on Micke. The car also picked up to sixty feet and was burying the tyres a lot harder then previously. I only saw Micke when I shut off, but looking at the ticket afterwards he was reeling me in.

"Regardless of what could have happened, the fact is that what did happen is that we got to start our game plan and hopefully moved a step further forward. A testing schedule is now in place with a view to be ready to race properly in September."

Corr's good calls.
5th June: If you were tuned in to Eurodragster News last week, you will recall that Eddie Corr, Crew Chief of Andy Carter's GoTalk-sponsored Top Fuel Dragster, told us that he would need a couple of hours' look around the car, which he had not laid eyes on at that point, before deciding how to tune it. Eddie also said that he felt that new records were possible at the Main Event but that he would make the call on that depending upon how the car behaved. Eddie made good calls on both fronts as Andy set new European ET and speed records and was runner-up on Monday.

"In 2002 and 2003 we made good runs at the Main Event", says Eddie. "We were runners-up in 2002 and in 2003 were number one qualifiers with a (then fastest time outside America) 4.88. 2004 was even better! I never even saw the GoTalk Top Fueller car before Thursday night, but it's a Rune Fjeld car so it's a good one, and we got it hauling. We had the repeatability and we had the pace, we wore out another set of front tyres - always a good sign of speeeeeed! - and blistered three right rears.
©Eurodragster.com
"During the service before the first 306 mph run, we discovered that the right rear tyre was blistered. There was a tyre for sale on our merchandise stall as a souvenir which was in better condition, so we used it for the 306! Good job no-one had bought it! Our runs were good, and two of them were better than good. Round 1 had very fast incrementals but was a lift before the finish line; the final round was the hardest set-up of all, but was aborted due to Andy seeing his red light.

"I'm not gonna get into all that 'What the runs would have been' because that's not what Carter Motorsport is all about. We're about going rounds, winning Championships and setting records!

"Bring on Finland! Totally different track and air, difficult to get down, but you can be sure we are up for it and as I've always said if anyone can get a TF car down there it's Andy Carter! To finish, I have to nick a quote from another drag racer: You aren't supposed to do any talking, you're just supposed to do it, and then let the others do the talking!"

Turner OK, car less so.

5th June: Following Monday�s first round fire at the FIA Main Event (right, click on picture for large version), UK Top Methanol Dragster team Turner Racing would like to thank all the racers and spectators for their kind concern regarding Rob Turner�s health.

"We would like to thank people individually, but the list would be so long, and we would hate to miss out anyone who came over and enquired about Rob", say Rob, Steve and Carmel Turner. "Rob suffered burns to his neck, which have been treated in hospital, together with the loss of his eyebrows and lashes to one eye. He is now recovering well and eager to get back on the track. We would also like to thank all the fire/ambulance personnel who were so quick to reach Rob and attend to his burns.
©Eurodragster.com
"We always knew that the drag racing community was made up of competitive but friendly and caring people, and this incident has reinforced our view. The concern and help shown by all really means a lot to us, and has made us even more determined to return soon. We are at present assessing the destruction of the motor, etc. and have a long list of parts needed before the next event.

Last but not least, we would like to thank our wonderful crew. They were all devastated by Rob�s injury, and were in total shock on seeing the carnage of the dragster when we returned to the pits."

Wacker's nitrous coronation.

5th June: Switzerland's Peter Wacker, FIA Main Event winner in NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified, says that he had a wonderful weekend at Santa Pod and that he was very pleased with the outcome.

"I would especially like to thank Nick Davies and Rob Loaring of ICE Automotive for providing engine building and dyno support, and for their efforts in helping get the Roofer's Toy Bel Air in the sixes for the very first time, becoming the first Swiss Pro Mod racer to do so", says Peter. "We did not receive the engine until the Monday before the race, and we did not get the clutch until we arrived at the track. After all that we went 6.88 with a 1.03 sixty-foot time out of the box. Not only did I win my first ever round at Santa Pod, I also am the first Swiss Pro Mod racer to win the FIA Main Event.

"I had a great multi national crew (right) who worked very hard all weekend to make this dream come true. I could not have done it without the help of Marty Vanheule from New Orleans, Louisiana, and Ove Ludwig from Stockholm, Sweden, and of course the guys from ICE in the UK. Without their effort this would not have happened.

"I am very pleased with the performance of the Bel Air considering the problems I had in the last couple of years with blown engines. Now that the problem is solved we can go to the next step. We knew that we could not run 6.3 like the big boys from Sweden, so we never changed the tune-up all weekend except for a couple of minor adjustments - you know the old saying "If it ain't broke don't fix it"! Our best-ever was 6.81/197 with a 1.03 sixty-foot time on all eight passes. This was also due to the fine chassis built by Andy Robinson Race Cars. It was a soft engine tune-up just to get the car down the track without hurting anything and to collect data. Now that we have achieved eight passes all in the 6.8 range we have enough data to move on.
©Eurodragster.com
"The eliminations on Monday were great. We qualified #11 and ended up beating the #1, #2, and #3 qualifiers. The car was finished on Sunday evening for the first round against Marc Meihuizen from Holland. It was his first time out with Thomas Nataas' old Pro Mod so we knew we had a chance to win a round. Despite all that it was a very close race and we took the win. We didn't expect to win the second round because we know that Freddy Fagerström is a pro and is consistently fast. Nick Davies even called his wife before the race to have her start dinner at home as he said he would be there soon. This race was exceptional due to the forty-second burndown on the line. The crowd was in uproar and starter Ian Marshall had his hands in the air. Freddy said afterwards he had to hold back his hand brake with his knee to support his sleeping hand! During the burndown I decided to change strategy and staged first. My only chance was beating this powerful truck on the tree. I did that with an .065 to Freddy's .159 Reaction Time. But downtrack Freddy was approaching very fast and all of a sudden he fell back. Wow, another round win!

"In round three we had Håkan Nilsson who was also very strong all weekend, running 6.4s, so again the name of the game was staging. Maybe the re-run with Henri Joosten was a factor in this outcome. When Håkan redlit I saw it, so I knew I was going to the finals. Great feeling! In the final round we knew hat we had a chance to win because we noticed that Patrick Wikström had problems on his previous run. The '57 Bel Air had been so consistent, like a Swiss watch, all weekend so we knew we could do it one last time. The crew worked hard and fast to be ready for the final. With a .044 reaction time to a .137 it was again decided on the start line.

"Now we are the 2004 Main Event Champions and we are looking forward to defending the title at next year's Main Event. Final score: Nitrous 3, Blowers 0. Nitrous is king for a day!"

Koedam's difficult weekend.
5th June: 2003 FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike Champion Roel Koedam has returned from Santa Pod, where he started as he means to go on with victory at the FIA Main Event. Roel and his team didn't have an easy time of it, though, as Crew Chief Marius van der Zijden writes:

We had a lot of traction problems throughout the weekend. It turned out that a lot of other riders and drivers in different classes experienced the same problem. We think it might be that the track was not up to its usual (high) standards this weekend. On the first qualifying day we made two passes. On the first it shook the tyre real bad and Roel had to feather the throttle. A conservative 6.7/215 was the result. For our second attempt we changed the setting of the clutch in order to try to overcome this and the resulting 6.29/218 was more like it. This did put us in the provisional # 1 qualifying position. For the second day of qualifying we opted to sit out the first session hoping that the last qualifying possibility in the afternoon would provide better conditions to improve our previous ET. However very early in that run the sprag (one-way clutch in the transmission) let go and Roel aborted this run. When this part fails, it takes out low gear and leaves just high gear. On Sunday night we fixed the transmission by mounting a spare sprag and reconditioned the sprag races. Our 6.29 remained the #1 qualifying position.
©Eurodragster.com
In the first round of eliminations on Monday we met the #8 qualifier Gary Jones with his Funny Bike. Judging by the times we both set during qualifying, one could think that Gary would be an easy victim. Not so however, as to our surprise the spare sprag broke as well before the sixty foot marker. Roel got off the throttle, plugged in high gear and chased Gary down to catch him just before the finish line with a 7.1/214. We were through to the next round, but we were out of the transmission spares. Luckily our good friend Frank Brachtvogel, who lives just around the corner, had the necessary parts. Another racing buddy of ours, Jon Morton, stepped in too as he volunteered to drive up to meet Frank halfway and pick up the parts. Many thanks for their help! In the meantime we took out the transmission and serviced the bike. All in all the bike was ready for the next round just in time.

In this round we met the always-tough contender Neil Midgley. This again was a wild ride with lots of wheel spin (due to the traction problems), nevertheless we took the win light. Our days of sorrow were not over yet, as this time we discovered that the rear tire was severely blistered and was missing large chunks of rubber. So we had to take the wheel out and change the tyre which was just four rounds �old�. Once again we managed to get the bike ready in time for the next and final round. On the other side of the ladder Eric Teboul made his way to the finals. Though we have raced him many times, it is a long time since we raced him in a final round. Unfortunately he was shut down for safety reasons by the Chief Starter when his overflow tank dropped a substantial amount of oil on the track after the burn-out. This left a bye run for us, not very satisfying either for us or for the spectators. Though the bike was set up for a quick run, it didn�t work out this way as again it was a very wild ride and the bike drifted dangerously towards the concrete sidewall. This got so bad that Roel had no other choice than to click it off early. A poor 7.9 was the result, however we took the event victory and that�s what counts in the end.

To quote John Lennon's �It don�t come easy� seems more that suitable for this weekend. Riding the track was not easy at all and we had a lot of extra repair work to deal with. On the good side, because of our #1 qualifying position and our event win, we came out with the maximum points score of this first Championship round.

Our next appearance will be at our nation's Fast and Furious event at Drachten on 11th-13th June (see below - Ed) where we hope to entertain the crowd with some exhibition runs.

Pels not unhappy.
5th June: Dutch Supertwin racer Ton Pels exited the FIA Main Event early when he was involved in a bizarre double disqualification with Sweden's Stefan Junerud in the first round. Monique Pels tells us that the Zodiac team were not unhappy with their weekend, though, as their new bike performed well.

"On Saturday we missed the first round of qualifying because we discovered a small leak in the fuel tank, so instead of qualifying we had to have the tank welded (at Armco in Irchester)", says Monique. "Later that day in the second qualifying session Ton did a solid pass resulting in 6.791/191.33 (308 km/h), taking the second qualifying position. Because Ton was off the throttle for a while to correct the bike and was therefore a little late shifting gear, there was more to come...

"On the second day of qualifying Ton did a 200+ mph pass again, fishtailing a little off the line: 6.691/202.56 (326 km/h). We were very satisfied with this run being so close to our personal best (6.60) this soon with the new bike.
©Eurodragster.com
"In the first round on Monday we had to take on Stefan Junerud. This race had a very disappointing result. Stefan left way too early (as soon as Ton staged) and in reaction to that, Ton left when he heard Stefan go. Both riders left before the tree was activated, so both were out of competition.

"That was it for us at the Main Event. We were not completely dissatisfied with our results though, because the new bike is performing very well and we were the fastest Supertwin of the event again with the 202.56. We are now fourth in the European Championship standings after one race. Next stop: Alastaro in Finland.

"Congratulations to Hans Olav Olstad on winning the Main Event!"

Only Määttä can stop Baldie's Gun.
5th June: Finnish Funny Bike racer Asko Määttä is ready and eager to race at this weekend's NDRS Bike Weekend at Västerås.

"Baldie's Gun III has had more than eighty hours of care from me after the FHRA Spring Nats, and besides the race bike I've been working normal hours at my business every day but Thursday", says Asko. "So everybody and everything is ready. So who but myself could stop us at the Nordic tracks in Funny Bike? That's a point I'm not at all concerned about! We (and I as a team owner and rider) have no other goal than to be better than last year. And I feel we'll be much better! The rest is everyone else's concern, the results will tell the rest of the story.
©Eurodragster.com
"I'll be in touch on Saturday and on Sunday evening directly from the track if I have the time, unless there are force majeure reasons such as major motor failure, nice blonde girls, too much "Norwegian coffee", too little Swedish beer, those kinds of things.

"Whatever, we'll be racing with a tough attitude and with a good Funny Bike thanks to Baldie Racing nd Media Promotions; Pro Turbo Systems Oy, Pori, Finland and (associate thanks to) Orient Express Motorsports, NY, USA."

Edström sponsor NDRS.
5th June: Svensk Dragracing have announced that van interior supplier System Edström have signed up as sponsor of Super Comp in the Nordic Drag Racing Series. System Edström recognised that the countries in which the NDRS is contested make up an important target market, and that the NDRS offers maximum exposure for their product which is ideal for racers. You can read all about System Edström and the NDRS Super Comp deal on the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se.
©Eurodragster.com
The Svensk Dragracing web site has also been updated with the post-FIA Main Event standings in the FIA and FIM/UEM European Championships, and the Nordic Drag Racing Series. The NDRS has a truly European flavour with no less than five nationalities represented in the number one spots of its ten classes.

"Please forward our sincere appreciation to the Eurodragster staff and the crews of Santa Pod Raceway and TSI Timers for all help and hospitality during our visit to the Main Event!", says our good friend Erik Zettervall of Svensk Dragracing, who together with other good buddy Christer Abrahamson was inducted as an honorary member of the Eurodragster staff at the FIA Main Event.

Scary Auction still open.
5th June: Heather Bond tells us that a number of items are still available in the Auction for Funny Bike racer Sarah Jane Head. Several items were auctioned to very generous fans during downtime last Sunday but there was not enough time to sell everything.

"Richard Gipp and I would like to thank all the people who have made the auction happen", says H. "First you and your fantastic site (You're too kind, and you're welcome - Ed); John, Graham and the guys from Nitro FM; Barry Sheavills and the guys from Cyprus with the cognac; all the racers who donated their time and gifts; Darren, Paula, Kathy, Keith and all the crew who let it happen; and of course the people who paid for the bids."
©Eurodragster.com
Items still on offer range from days crewing for race teams (including some at next weekend's Power Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway) through a Playstation 2 console, T-Shirts, caps, event tickets and much more. Click here to check out the list of auction items, or click on the Auction for Scary link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

If you see something you fancy, drop H a bid by E-Mail at heather@bondh.fsworld.co.uk.

Biggest Drachten Nationals entry.
5th June: Dutch racers have no time to recover from the Main Event in Santa Pod as next weekend's Drachten Nationals will start of the season in the Netherlands, writes Henriette Selles of the eXplosion club.

"eXplosion and all the Dutch drag racers are looking forward to the weekend of 12th-13th June, and judging by the entry list we are not the only ones!", says Henriette. "German, Belgian, and even Italian racers have entered the Drachten Nationals. You can view the entry-list by clicking here. There have never been as many entries as for this event, and the expectation is that for our next event, the MPM Internationals, there will be even more. eXplosion is devoted to raise drag racing in the Netherlands to a higher level; and so are the Dutch drag racers. The word has spread around Europe that the track in Drachten can be compared with the best: and let me tell you...that rumour is true! So be prepared to see some records shattered!

"If you would like to be a spectator next weekend, or don�t want to miss the MPM Internationals, where you can witness Lex Joon's very first Top Fueller pass on Dutch soil in the MPM dragster, you can pre-book your tickets at the Lex Joon Racing web site at www.lexjoonracing.nl.

"If any racers want to enter the MPM Internationals, they can do so by visiting our web site at www.explosion.nl and filling in the form."

Racing in the City.

5th June: Motorsports Promotions are pleased to announce a new event that will run for the first time in central London on Saturday 24th July. The London City Airport Spring Grand Prix, a drag race for bikes, is the first large-format motorsport event to be held in the London since Crystal Palace and represents a fantastic new opportunity, writes Terry Homan. Proceeds from the event will go to the Airport's chosen charity, The Lewis Jacobs Trust for Autistic Children, with a presentation to be made as part of the event. The atmosphere will be like no other as the runway sits between the two royal docks and is overlooked by Canary Wharf and the Millennium Dome.

Motorsports Promotions are delighted to announce that Peterborough based PEME Engineering have come on board to sponsor the event. PEME are an Electrical and Mechanical engineering company set up in 1982 to offer a complete service to small and large companies alike, including installation, maintenance, design and software. Full details are available on their web site at www.peme.co.uk.

The overall format for the day will be a two-lane drag race comprising modern drag and street machines and the cream of the classics, plus trade and club stands and special features. Already entered are 1976 British Drag Racing champion John Hobbs and the amazing Hobbit (right) and two of the UK�s top Super Street racers, 2003 Champion Graham Dance and Brad O'Connor.

Entry for competitors is now open, with a maximum of 150. Entry fees are only �35 per machine and regulations and entry forms are available from:

Carolyn Homan
21 Valley Road
Dovercourt
Essex
CO12 4RS

An entry form is also downloadable from at www.motorsportspromotions.co.uk.

If you would like to be part of the action, or if you require details about trade stands, or for any further information please call either Terry Homan on 01255 508120 or Clive Neale on 01603 871943.
©Eurodragster.com
Main Event web site updates.
5th June: When Crew Chief Andy Bissett left the American Car Imports Racing Top Methanol Dragster team at the end of their US Tour earlier this year, the question amongst a lot of fans was "Who's going to write the race reports now?". Andy's race reports were legendary for their mix of information, humour and doughnut references, but we're pleased to say that team member Phil James has stepped into the breach with a very entertaining and informative race report of Dave Wilson and the team's successful weekend at the FIA Main Event. Check it out under Race Reports at www.americancarimportsracing.com, and don't miss the paragraph about backup arrangements for non-opening parachutes. There is also a media- and sponsor-oriented report under News at the same address.
©Eurodragster.com
Ulf Stadig, Crew Chief of Sweden's Nilsson Motorsports Pro Mod team, has updated the team's official web site with a report and photographs from the FIA Main Event. Ulf's report, at www,nilssonmotorsports.com, makes very interesting reading together with last weekend's live reports, and there is also a large number of photographs from the weekend.

Fellow Swede, Supertwin racer Anders 'Charley' Karling's web site at www.karlingracing.com has been updated with a brief report from Santa Pod. Anders had to return to Sweden in double-quick time as he is contesting this weekend's round of the Swedish National Drag Bike Series at Västerås.

Andy Marrs of TSI Timers Europe has been hard at work again since sending us the FIA Main Event timing data, and has now forwarded the weekend's qualifying and ladders for all classes. Click here to see the Main Event qualifying and ladders, or click on the Timing Data link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Carter set to turn on Power.
4th June: FIA Main Event Top Fuel Dragster runner-up and European ET and speed record holder Andy Carter has one weekend to recover from the Main Event before he appears at next week's Power Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. Andy, in the GoTalk-sponsored Top Fueller, will be match racing Rune Fjeld Motorsports stablemate Thomas Nataas in the Batmobil Top Fueller at the Warwickshire track on 12th-13th June.

"I'm looking forward to going back to Shakespeare County Raceway", says Andy. "It's always a pleasure to go there because it's so friendly, and I know that the track is good. You know me, I don't like to make empty promises, but what I will promise is that I will be giving it my best shot at a four-second pass and at the very least I want to reset my track records."

Andy set the latest Top Fuel track records of 5.191/288.46 in 2002, but was also the previous holder. "Others have tried to take my records, but without success", he says. "It's not as easy as it seems! The other record I want to keep is never having been beaten in a match race at Shakespeare County Raceway."

Andy is looking forward to introducing Thomas Nataas to Shakey. "Thomas has never been there before", he says. "I'll show him all around the track and then I'll kick his butt off it!"

"I'm very pleased to welcome Andy back to Shakespeare County Raceway", says promoter Lee Child of LA Performance Services, who jointly sponsors Eurodragster's Links pages through LA Racing Parts together with Ultimate Power Championship sponsor Ampar. "Every time he's raced at this track something special has happened and you've got to bet on it happening again this time! I am also delighted to welcome Thomas Nataas on his first visit, hopefully the first of many. I know that he wants to take the track record back to Norway just as much as Andy wants to keep it here, so book your place in the bleachers now!"
©Eurodragster.com
As well as the Top Fuel Dragster match race on both Saturday and Sunday the Power Nationals features the fourth round of the UK National Drag Racing Championships, the third round of the ACU UK Drag Bike Championships, and Championship rounds of the Ultimate Power Drag Racing Championships, Custom Car Street Eliminator, the Volkswagen Drag Racing Club, the National Association of Supertwins, Supercharged Outlaws, the Wild Bunch, Outlaw Anglia and Junior Drag Bike. Also appearing in exhibition is the Firestorm Jet Funny Car whose driver Roger Goring is still on cloud nine after setting a new personal best speed of 253.09 mph earlier this week.

Entry is �18 on Saturday 12th June and �20 on Sunday 13th June. Advance weekend tickets are still available at �30 from LA Performance Services' Credit Card Hotline on 01803 554308 until 22:00 next Wednesday (9th June); weekend tickets on the gate are �34.

Möller's strip show.
4th June: Lorentzon and Möller Top Fuel Dragster Crew Chief Kenneth Lorentzon is back in Sweden after a very pleasant weekend at the FIA Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway. "Who could end up better than to win the first race?" he says, after Tommy Möller took the event win. "We didn't set the pass of the event, that has to go to Andy Carter and Eddie Corr who put up a stunning performance. But I think we did pretty well ourselves, not at the level I wanted but rather consistent.

"Our Team is working so well, from the the truck driving chefs Per and Kent who served us with breakfast, lunch and dinner - and believe it or not they made almost fourteen gallons of coffee - the rumor is that they are up for their first star in the Michelin Guide. A new team member who should be mentioned is Ole Kristiansen from Kim Reymond's team. He is such an asset, he really is a quarter mile warrior. You should see him rip the engine apart after a run - I mean running back with the cylinder heads under his arms whilst Geoff Martin is doing the fuel check. It might sound like the Oscars, but you can't win without a great team.

"On Saturday's first qualifying run against Andy Carter, the car left kind of soft then picked up really strongly after 330 feet but then started to black track hard. I was pretty sure she would go up in smoke, but she was floating from side to side. Just before four seconds the car started to nose over and the engine lost exhaust gas temperatures and was flooded with fuel. But it still turned out to be a good run, 4.99/266. The only problem was that after the run we had destroyed the rear tyres - big chunks of rubber were ripped off. So we skipped the next two qualifying runs just to save the new set to be used in the last session. With the tyre problem in my head, I had to make some changes. It left pretty good and was marching on to another four-second run but no, she decided instead to have a problem with numbers one and two pistons. The diet was little too much but ran a good 5.099/277.
©Eurodragster.com
"In the first round of eliminations against Lex Joon, Tommy left good but ran into tyre shake between 330 and 660 feet, slowed down a bit but then picked up again. We took the win 5.06 to Lex's 5.29. Sorry Lex, but think positive - now you had more time hand out more hero cards. In the second round against Thomas Nataas, Thomas redlit and Tommy was off throttle at 1.6 seconds when he saw the win light, which I think was pretty cool. We were in the final"

"The pyschological war started in the pits, we came back to the pit twenty minutes later than Andy Carter's team but we did our warm-up while they still had their pants down. Something had to be done to the tune-up so I gave her more fuel and more air. At the start line Lady Luck shone on us. Andy pulled a red light and Tommy was marching away to victory. The car was pulling like crazy when all of a sudden she decided that she didn't need the blower belt to win. It looked like a strip show when the bra flies into the audience.

"If there was anything you missed, come to next event and see the recap."

Olstad earns his spurs.

4th June: Supertwin racer Hans Olav Olstad (right, picture ©Turboville, click on picture for large version) took his first event win at the FIA Main Event, and lowered his personal best ET to 7.26. The victory was the culmination of a weekend's hard work for the Norwegian racer, as he relates.

"I had a test weekend at Gardermoen on 8th-9th May where I ran 194 mph, but in only 7.45 seconds", says Hans Olav. "Last year I struggled with the bike because of a bad tyre. This year I changed it and the bike started to run straight. Also the rider has some more experience, the riding is getting better all time but I�m still a pupil in this game.

"I had big problems after the third qualifying session. Unfortunately I left the ignition switch on for almost forty five minutes, and that caused a real big bang during the burnout in the fourth session. I blew the back cylinder head straight off, so parts where flying all over. The ignition was burnt causing a misfire. That night a lot of hard work was done by five people. A stock-take showed that we had to get new con rods, piston bolts, push rods, valvekeepers, new bolts for the top, some ignition parts and a lot of other parts. After Gunnar Ohlson did some fantastic welding on the manifold during the night, we got to bed at five o'clock in the morning.
©Eurodragster.com
"After two hours' sleep we got on with it again. At that time we still didn't know what went wrong, but the experienced pilots give us a hint about ignition problems. On a warm-up in the pits the engine made a sound we didn't want to hear from a nitro-injected motor, so we turned it off again. We had to hunt for ignition parts, and after running all over we found what we needed in Joachim Riemer's boxes, thank you Joachim. We also changed the battey to be sure, together with a new ignition pick-up device. We warmed it up again and the engine ran perfect or at least sounded perfect. There was half an hour to the first elimination round with Svein Gottenberg.

"Svein was faster than me, but had to let off the throttle when his bike drifted sideways. I also had small problems going straight but after a small lift I gave it full trottle again, passed Svein and won. I was so tired at that moment, because of all the work, that I really didn't know what happened. I did know I was going to race top qualifier Charley Karling in the next round, and we had two hours. We did a full service on the bike, put some more weight on the clutch and to be sure we hadn't screwed anything up we tried a warm-up.

"During the warm-up the engine suddenly stopped momentarily. What do we do now, less than an hour to the off! We started to open the engine again to check every possible cause for the stop. We find the crankshaft stuck in to the sidewall inside the housing: the big jamnut which holds the crank in place was loose. The crank was slid back into place, the jamnut lockscrews were changed, at least one of them. Whilst we were working Charley had to go for the semi-final alone. Luckily team Olstad was blessed and a car dropped oil over the whole track and we got more time to finish the work. We turned the engine, looked at each other, and ran to the start area witout another warm-up, Charley welcomed us in the start area. I was away 0.10 sec before Charley and I never saw him for the rest of the track - he had broken his fuel pump shaft, I had a pretty good straight run and was in the final. At the end of the track, there was a man with a microphone wanting to talk to me. But I�m not that familiar with your language so I missed a lot of the words standing well-boiled in my black suit.

"Finally I was there! Last year at Mantorp I also reached the final with Ronny Aasen, but it started raining and the final didn't take place. Again I was ahead of Ronny from the start line by 0.06, I went straight and was just sitting there waiting for Ronny to pass me, but no! Ronny didn't pass me, he had clutch problems, and I had won my first ever European Championship event in 7.29 seconds and I was the first Norwegian to win a European Championship event in Supertwin. Back in the pits everybody come to congratulate me - after the man on the microphone of course - I was tired after all work and had tears in my eyes, a happy Norwegian.

"All this is thanks to all the teams around helping me.

"The next event is at Alastaro. I have to go to work when the Veidec Nitro Festival takes place, but I will be back for Gardermoen. Maybe I will go to Hockenheim, but I'll be back at Santa Pod in September, if the bike stays in good condition."

We've found a witch!
4th June: FIA Main Event Pro ET runners-up Team Heaven and Hell were fortunate in finding a pin stuck to the magnetic sump plug of their Camaro when, happy about running their best-ever time of 10.35 at Shakespeare County Raceway, Carla Pittau and Rick McCann decided to limit maintenance operations to changing the oil and checking valve lash.

"The pin was one of thirty which should have been enclosed in the rocker's trunion needle bearing", says Carla, "and you guessed it, the other twenty nine were just about everywhere else in the engine, together with the circlips. Mind you had we got as far as checking the valve lash we would have noticed, but this could have easily been at the Main Event, possibly before the first round of qualifying...a bit late to strip the engine, replace two valves, two rockers and a pushrod, find all the pins, clean everything, stick the engine back in, run it, change the oil, and run five qualifiers all in one day�

"As it happened Lady Luck stuck that solitary pin to the sump plug, and thanks to Kenny Coleman's swift action in sending us the parts we needed, we were back together in time to have a wonderful time at the Main Event. We loved the four-day format - especially Friday! - although things got very slow for the Sportsman classes on Monday. I guess you can't have your cake and eat it and we sure enjoyed making a total of fourteen runs! The car rewarded us for the hard work by running its quickest time to date - a 10.21 with Rick at the wheel, annihilating my 10.35 run at Shakey. Consistency wasn't quite there yet, and with no data in the weather station to speak of, dialling the car in was a bit of a hit and miss, giving us a best guess of two hundredths (an eternity in Pro ET) which is where Tracy Doyle came in.

"Not content with dialling Bob Doyle's Zed to a dead-on +.000 to earn the Eurodragster.com/Curbishley Automotive Perfect ET Award of �50, Tracey also suggested a 10.25 dial in to us. The reasoning made perfect sense and the number dutifully went on the back of the Camaro. Rick ran a 10.269 but I decided to do some 'Tracy reasoning' for the following run too, and left the 10.25 on. The second dead-on with the zero for Pro ET followed. I could tell you what 'Tracy reasoning' is, but then I'd have to kill you. Heaven and Hell continued the trend, three-thou off in the following run and things looked pretty good for race day - and the rest is history, and will follow as soon as I finish the Pro ET report!

"A great weekend, great racing, the only bad part being the damage suffered by Mike Lacey's engine at the first outing of such a beautifully-presented car, but Mike will be back. Heaven and Hell would like to thank Andy Robinson for the vouchers received for the Easter Thunderball win, Kenny Coleman for promptly coming to the rescue with parts and advice, the guys at Eurodragster for their tireless reporting throughout the event (Thanks - shagged-out Race Reporters and Photographer), Ian Brown for a really good close race in the final, Mike Lacey for staying to crew and help once his own car was out of competition, and last but not least Tracy Doyle for being the wonderful white witch she is."

Gipp misses handle.
4th June: UK Pro Stock Bike racer Richard Gipp says that he could not get a handle on things at the FIA Main Event. "We were using settings that should have put is in the 7.5s and 7.6s", says Richard, "but after checking the computer data and reading a race review on Ian King's website I think we should be able to find the problem.

"Still, with no back half to speak of and more than ten mph down on our usual five runs, all at 7.8, at least we were consistent!

"Thanks for the help received, as I had no crew, you know who you are. And did anyone else suffer from unusual tyre damage (think it happened in the left hand lane)? I know Bishop, Watson, Petterson and Hope all experienced a problem but did anyone else? And in what lane (maybe something in the burnout box?).

"Looking forward to Shakespeare County Raceway in two weeks, and maybe that Kawasaki from up the road will turn a wheel instead of just heads!"
©Eurodragster.com
Vehicles sought for display.
4th June: Ryan Wright of motor sport rescue ambulance service Lace Rescue is seeking race vehicles to attend the Thrapston Charter Fair on Saturday 26th June and would be pleased to hear from any drag racers who would be interested in attending.

"I use this event to try to get the general public interested in motor sport, whether watching, marshalling or competing", says Ryan. "My selfish motive is to acquire crew for my ambulance to allow me to cover even more events - there is a national shortage of these specialised units. To get the public's interest I need race cars, bikes, anything to do with motor sport - the more the merrier. This is where you could help.
©Eurodragster.com
"The event is in Thrapston High Street (we get it closed to traffic), which is around twelve miles from Santa Pod. We can park trailers round the corner, it's only half a day, and a good day out for the family with charity stalls, a fair, free entertainment etc, lots of pubs and places to eat.

"Caroline Day of Santa Pod Raceway has already pledged her support, so there are three incentives to do this: to get in Caroline's good books, to help a motor sport rescue ambulance to continue to support you, and to have lots of people ohh-ing and ahh-ing over your pride and passion."

If you would be interested in displaying your car or bike at the Fair then drop Ryan a line at info@lace-rescue.com or call him on 01832 732345.

Main Event coverage stats.
4th June: If you were tuned in on Wednesday you will recall that we promised to bring you the viewing statistics for our American Car Imports-sponsored Event Coverage from the FIA Main Event. Our coverage of the pre-FIA Main Event test weekend and the Friday-Monday of the race itself attracted 32,108 unique visitors. There were a further 12,089 visits to our Event Coverage on Monday 24th May and Tuesday 1st June, which reflects those without web access over the weekends returning to the office and which takes up the total to 44,197 unique visits.

Regular readers will know that unlike many web sites Eurodragster does not routinely use hits as an indicator since it is misleading, but for those who are interested in such things the test weekend and the race clocked up 1,425,932 hits, with the "return to work" days taking the hit total up to 1,892,740.
©Eurodragster.com
The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam attracted 35,566 viewers during the test weekend and the race.

Many thanks to all those who tuned in to our Event Coverage. Big thanks to our Event Coverage sponsors American Car Imports, and to our webcam sponsors Webster Race Engineering and MPM Oil.

Web site updates.
4th June: UK Pro ET racer Terri Lee's web site has been updated with an account of her weekend at the FIA Main Event. "Everyone I spoke to said they thought the new format worked well", says Terri's husband and Crew Chief Ian. "Seven qualifying runs, who could complain?". You can check out Terri's race report at www.terrileeracing.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Gareth Evans' UK1320 web site at www.uk1320.com has been updated with ninety great photographs from the FIA Main Event.

Alan Currans has posted the eighty-third photo update on his excellent Acceleration Archive web site, a fourth page of the Geof Hauser Collection. "This update contains pictures of Dennis Priddle's legendary Mr Six slingshot and the Page's Topolino-bodied Panic altered at Blackbushe, more shots from the record breaking 1972 Supernationals meeting held at Ontario Motor Speedway in California, and some Funny Car action from Clive Skilton and Allan 'Bootsie' Herridge in Sweden", says Alan. You can find Alan's web site at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk.

Smax: Watch out.
3rd June: 2003 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Smax Smith narrrowly lost out to Andy Carter at Santa Pod on Monday but was delighted that their race was the quickest side-by-side in Europe.

"It can get a little tedious hearing long lists of thank yous from racers", said Smax, "but I have to pay tribute to my super crew for their fantastic work over the last couple of months but especially at the track since the middle of last week. These guys built a car at the track in less than ideal conditions and turned out a really fast piece of kit. Their attention to detail in getting things right was awesome and words fail me in heaping praise on them. The car was tuned by Alan Jackson with no real data as up to the race we had only done a sixty foot 'squirt' with this car and it had never run a four!
©Eurodragster.com
"I just beat Andy off the line and would also have run a 4.8 but a bad set of spark plugs resulted in an electrode holding an exhaust valve and burning the seat, slowing us to a stout 4.96/286 - a superb job by Alan and the crew. I don't want to take anyhing away from Andy's fine win and superb record-breaking 4.83. Great racing with you mate and I will step up for Finland!

"Good friend and sponsor Robin Tregaskis has supplied us with new slicks. Lastly big thanx to all the fans who supported us all weekend - the standing ovation being towed down the return road was something else. Watch out for lower ETs from the Promise Dream machine and watch out Finland as I genuinely believe we have a super team here."

FIM/UEM Main Event review.
3rd June: The weekend's race was a very good one, writes FIM/UEM Championship Co-ordinator Lars Andersson. "There were some unexpected wins and some more expected", says Lars. "That Roger Pettersson is the one of the winners was not surprising, but that Vesa Rautio was not able to qualify due to problems was very unexpected. But there are a lot of people hunting Roger. In the semi finals there were three English bikes against Roger. I only hope that we will see more of them at the other tracks in Europe.

"Supertwin was as normal very exciting. Charley Karling was again the number one qualifier. But without any connection between the fuel pump and the engine you're not going to run good times so he was eliminated in the semi against Hans Olav Olstad, who lifted the cylinder head in the last qualifying round and managed to repair it during the night. So he went to the final against another Norwegian rider, Ronny Aassen. Hans Olav was the winner of that race, his first big win. Ronny had a single in the semi because after some games on the Christmas Tree both Stefan Juneryd and Ton Pels left before the starter had activated the starting system. So both were excluded from that race.

"In Top Fuel Bike Roel Koedam showed that he is the strongest, but Eric Teboul showed that he is going to be strong in the future. But we are all waiting for the five-second run from Roel."

You can find the post-Main Event FIM/UEM Championship Points standings on the King Racing web site at www.kingracing.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Watson's weekend.
3rd June: FIA Main Event Pro Stock Bike runner-up Paul Watson has been in touch with a report of his successful weekend at Santa Pod.

"We arrived late Friday night just hoping that we might qualify and get down the track with no damage", says Paul. "We have had no time to go testing and only managed a dyno run to make sure things were safe. This combined with Matt Hedger of Airsteam finishing the fantastic paintwork in time.

"Our first pass was a 7.86/168, we were over the moon, but only a 1.27 sixty foot. We made a phone call to Dave Beck and on the next run hd a 1.15 sixty foot and 7.75, things were looking up with the new Upperton 1640. The next two runs were a bit lively ending in the second being aborted as the eighth-mile timing lights looked close. We finally managed to qualify third.

"We made a few adjustments then we had Remo Nasci from Italy in the first round. This was close as he had run 7.8 in qualifying to my 7.75. I got a slight advantage off the start then won with a 7.65. The next one was the hard one, Chris Hope who qualified secons with a 7.73 and had just run a 7.62 to my 7.65 so I knew it was all to do. I managed a .466 light to his .478, a 1.14 sixty foot to a 1.17 and finished with a 7.69 to Chris's 7.99. Great race but unfortunately when we returned to the pits we found the rear tyre had delaminated. After a team talk we decided to go with it and my plan was that if Roger Pettersson was to make a mistake I might be in with a chance. Although I had him out the gate, .469 to his .530 light, he powered past me by the eighth. Oh those Swedes.

"It was a fantastic weekend and I must say a big thankyou to my team Kim and Kevin, to Matt for the great paintwork, to Roger Upperton for a superb engine, again to Dave Beck without whose advice and support this would not have been possible, to all my new Italian friends - Carlo, Martino, Remo and Davido - and thank you to all those who came up and wished me well.

"I would just like to say well done to Brad O'Connor for running the quickest Super Street Bike time of the year, 8.04, we have worked very hard at Dynospeed Developments lately with three turbo Busas - Brad, Carl (Sprocket), and Dave Smith - that's over 1300 bhp between them. Well done to all of them."
©Eurodragster.com
Another good weekend.
3rd June: Also having a weekend of some success at Santa Pod were Gary Jones and Dave Friend of the UK's Jones and Friend Funny Bike team. Dave got in touch with a review of the team's weekend.

"First off we would like to say a big thank you to all of Santa Pod Raceway's staff for putting on such a fantastic race meeting", says Dave. "The track crew worked really hard all weekend to give us a superb track even after some severe oil downs, you are all the unsung heroes who make these meetings work.

"We entered the meeting just to gain as much track time as possible, to continue the development of our blowthrough alcohol EFI system. Any track time yields data for us. On Saturday's first pass the bike is drifting left and Gary pulls an 8.18 pass, the next pass and the first pass on Sunday were both aborted. So we are on the outside looking in, to qualify we need to run 0.172 quicker than our first pass to bump out Dutchman Martyn de Haas, or we are off home. So with this in mind we go to the start line, Gary has a slight drift left again but gets it back and runs 7.866/163, we are in the show! Sorry Martyn and thanks for the beers we had with all of you later in the evening and we will see you at the Finals in September.

"Monday and we have Roel Koedam in the first round. Gary drills Roel on the lights and is gone, Roel loses first gear and is playing catch-up, is this going to be the upset of the meeting? At a thousand foot Gary starts to see Roel's front wheel, side-by-side at the start of the traps and Roel wins, so close but hey that's racing, should make good TV footage.

"We ran a personal best of 7.75 but the motor was not revving out so the mph was only 163. The reason for this was that the overboost protection was not set high enough in the ECU, so we were only making twelve pounds of boost. So we are very pleased with the performance. We still have not used the two-step to launch and all runs have been made with Gary riding the bike off the line from idle giving us consistent sixty foot times of 1.26, but it is a contributing factor to the bike drifting left. So at the next meeting we will be using the two-step plus we will reset the overboost in the ECU.

"We would like to thank all of our sponsors for their continued support: Universal Turbos, Extreme Electrical, Worldwide Bearings USA, BEK Wholesale, Ian Carver, SCCC Scooterzone, and Mistral Engineering.
©Eurodragster.com
FIA Main Event timing data.
3rd June: Honorary Eurodragster.com staff member Andy Marrs of TSI Timers Europe has spent the last couple of days working flat-out to bring us the timing data from the FIA Main Event. We are very grateful to Andy for getting the timing data to us so quickly, and Andy has asked us to thank Stephen Talbot and Pete Thornton for their programming skills.

You can view the FIA Main Event timing data, which is in Excel spreadsheet format by class, by clicking here, or by clicking on the Timing Data link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.
©Eurodragster.com
Andy has also updated his list of European Bests with the records set so far this season. You can view the list by clicking here, or by clicking on the European Bests link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

FoS hosts five AAFAs.

3rd June: USAutomotive are playing a valuable part in supporting the five historic Fuel Altereds which will take part in the Goodwood Festival of Speed over the weekend of 25th-27th June, writes Andrew Kirk.

USAutomotive, who were instrumental in organising the trip to the UK, will supply period-style pick-up trucks and crews to help start the 3000-horsepower hot rods, so that they can perform for the anticipated 160,000 weekend crowd.

Originally four cars were planned to appear, but a fifth - the Bradford�s Topolino-bodied altered (right) - has recently been added. The full line up now includes Rat Trap, Nanook, Pure Hell, Pure Heaven and the Bradford�s Fiat coupe. All five cars toured the US drag strips in the 1970s and are fondly remembered for their wild performance antics. Drag racing purists will be delighted to learn that Rich Guasco�s original version of Pure Hell has been pulled out of mothballs specifically for this event. Similarly, the original Pure Heaven of Leon Fitzgerald, now owned and restored by Bob Nylander, has been extricated from the NHRA Museum in California and will belch nitro at Goodwood for the first time in years.
©Eurodragster.com
All of the cars will perform burnouts over the weekend, making them much more than static displays. The cars will run in two batches on the Friday, the first at around 10.00am. On Saturday and Sunday all five cars will run at lunchtime.

Visitors to Goodwood wanting to take home a piece of US drag racing�s nostalgic past will not be disappointed either, as scale models of the Fuel Altereds, plus clothing, and USAutomotive�s recently announced nostalgia-inspired American Racing T-shirt range, will be on sale at their dedicated stand, hopefully close to the Fuel Altered corral. Those planning to go to the Festival of Speed must buy their tickets in advance this year. There will be no tickets available on any of the days. Either book them on-line at www.goodwood.co.uk or telephone 01243 755055.

Swift snippets.

3rd June: The UK's Andy Williams, previously of Eight Misbehavin' roadster fame, successfully earned a Super Comp licence in the team's new dragster Wild Child at Shakespeare County Raceway at the weekend (right). "What can I say, it's a dream", says Andy. "I had to do three observed runs, all went well and I got my licence signed. The rest of the day was getting used to the car, last run of the day was an 8.7. Not bad for the first time sat in a dragster!"
©Eurodragster.com
Greek records fall.

2nd June: New records were the result of the first Dragster Racing Club event dragster race in Tripoli, Hellas (Greece), writes Elias Vathias of the Dragster.gr web site. The track (right) was the safest-ever with the introduction of barriers to protect fans from incident.

Filippos Papafilippou (picture) smashed his own previous record of 9.00 in the Open class. "The new 8.55 is the result of the hard work of the Drag Warriors Team in conjunction with the use of VP Racing Fuels which gave great power to my car!" says Filippos. �We used 0.85 bar boost, fine tuned the Pontiac�s motor and with the use of extra soft Hoosier tyres the 8.55 was an easy goal even at the slippery track at Tripoli. Our next goal is to beat the 8.2 Greek Motorcycles record!�. In the same class Nikos Zampathas (picture) in his first appearance with Ford Capri Killer, using a two-litre motor ran 10.1 and is aiming for 9.5 at the next race.
©Eurodragster.com
In the T3 class Christos Zagaris (Subaru) (picture) smashed Gregory Dimitriadis' previous record of 10.2 with an exceptional 9.8. Finally, in the BT Street Legal class, George Hatzaras with his exceptional Mitsubishi Evo (picture) broke the previous record of 11.011 with a 10.98.

129 photos of the race are already on-line at www.dragster.gr/images/Shows_Races/040523Tripoli/index.htm. Video clips will soon be available at www.dragster.gr/videos/races/040523Tripoli/index.htm as will the weekend's timing data at www.dragster.gr/timedata/2004-1odragster-Tripoli.htm.

The next race will be held in Serres by LENOTH on 19th-20th June.

Serious fun.
2nd June: UK Super Pro ET racer Gary Malin and the Serious Playtime team had their best-ever race weekend at the FIA Main Event, says Linny Malin. "The car ran superbly, and the driver did OK", she says.

"Gaz ran personal bests of 7.644 and 174.53. We got through the first round of eliminations for the first time. Gaz had been spot-on dialling-in the car all weekend and we were OK about going out in round two to a seasoned racer like Steve Johnson. Gaz pulled a few cherries over the weekend, although he had not changed what he does on the lights the car had. It's hooking up a lot quicker as the Jeff Bull engine is now really at home in the dragster. On our last time slip the sixty foot was 1.094, another best. We think we have helped Gaz over his cherry fetish now, we bought him a couple of punnets to indulge it!
©Eurodragster.com
"We did have one hiccup, and despite playing with the big boys Johnny Mac took time out to get the bits we needed from Webster Race Engineering so that we could carry on racing, thanks to Jon Webster and Johnny. I would like to thank our Super Crew Ant, Folly and Terry. A big thanks to Rich for keeping us well-fed over the weekend, and to everyone who came along to support us. More of the same to Eurodragster for the fantastic top end pics on Saturday, they really do capture the wonder of drag racing, well done (Thanks - Sharkman)!"

Racers: Send your FIA Main Event reviews to news@eurodragster.com and we'll publish them here.

Plenty to do at Jade Racing.
2nd June: Sharron Collier of UK Supertwin team Jade Racing has been in touch to bring us up to date with events in their pit.

"Last summer we sold our house and began looking for a new one as we desperately needed more space", says Sharron. "We ended up renting for a few months and so during that time decided not to start taking either of the bikes to bits, knowing that we would be moving again pretty soon. We found our perfect house around Christmas time and the first job was to have a garage/workshop built onto the side. Now that our bikes have a proper home, we can begin to get them ready for racing again.

"We now own the H2, having bought it off Martin Bishop, and Chris Hall is doing various machining work for it as we speak. We have changed the ignition system which should solve the problem we had last season when the pickups kept moving and random cylinders seized up each run. Steve French will then work his magic on the wires. The RD is absolutely fine, the only damage being a small hole in one piston, not bad for a normally aspirated motor into which we just chucked nitrous oxide to see what would happen! We could have fixed it within an hour to contest the final of Supertwin Fuel but couldn't be bothered, we were too busy celebrating our little RD running 8.89! We are going to convert all the bits that need it to run nitrous, and see how low we can go! Low eights are a distinct possibility.
©Eurodragster.com
"Project number three is Scott's Junior Drag Bike. He has finally made his mind up that he wants two wheels not four (good boy!). It is being partly built by Chris Hall, the front end is already done and the wheels are on order. It is based around an RD50 with an auto clutch. The electronics will be by Steve, and Scott has already accepted an offer of sponsorship from Red Line Oil! He just can't wait, and we can't wait to have him as a rider in the team, not just crew.

"Our bikes will be out when they're ready. Thanks to everyone who has helped over the last months: Sean, Chris and Becky, Steve, Vaughan and Sarah, Paul Newman. Jade Racing giving up? Not 'till we want to!"

Points updates.
2nd June: Many thanks to FIA European Championship Points Co-ordinator Kjell Pettersson for sending us the standings in the FIA Championships after the FIA Main Event. You can view the points (PDF format) by clicking here, or by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.
©Eurodragster.com
We are indebted to UK Championship Points Co-ordinators Simon Groves and Yvonne Tramm for sending us the post-Excitement Nationals standings, which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page. The post-FIA Main Event standings will be available shortly.

Swift snippets.
2nd June: UK Funny Bike racer Sarah Jane Head has been transferred to Ward 40 of Hull Royal Infirmary, writes Pro Stock Bike racer Chris Hope. "Scary is comfortable but progressing very slowly", says Chris. "During the next few days, whilst she is settling in and doctors are assessing her, Dave has asked that people refrain from visiting".
©Eurodragster.com
UK Jet Funny Car pilot Roger Goring is delighted after setting a new personal best speed of 253.09 mph at Shakespeare County Raceway at the weekend. "I fitted a new part I made from an educated guess and for once in my life I was right, it went like a rocket!", says Roger. Roger's appearance in Firestorm at the TT Stunt Show on Douglas Promenade this week has had to be cancelled as the organisers have insurance problems, so if you want to see Firestorm in action on the Isle of Man then the Jurby Drag Race next month is the place to be.

Many thanks to those readers who have written to compliment us on the weekend's Event Coverage of the FIA Main Event. We shall publish the total number of visits to our coverage as soon as the stats server has compiled them.

Web site updates.
2nd June: Andrew Bamford has updated his Racing Green fan site with photographs from the Easter Thunderball and FIA Main Event, and a video clip of Monday's FIA Main Event Top Fuel Dragster final. Check it out at www.racing-green.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com

Earlier news

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