European Drag Racing News

Testing, NDRS Finals coverage.
30th August: We're at Santa Pod Raceway this weekend to bring you all the news from the Professional Test and Run What You Brung in association with American Car Imports.

The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is online and broadcasting a picture every two minutes.
©Eurodragster.com
Click here to view our coverage, or click on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Our good buddy Christer Abrahamson of Svensk Dragracing is reporting live from this weekend's NDRS Finals at Alastaro. Christer is doing a great job of posting a live running report, end-day results, and Photo Gallery from Finland. Check it out at www.dragracing.se.

Sportsman Saturday kick-off.
31st August: Sportsman classes will have their first rounds of eliminations on the Saturday of next weekend's FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway, says SPR's International Race Director Darren Prentice.

"There will be three cycles of Sportsman qualifying on Friday, and one Sportsman cycle on Saturday morning, and then most Sportsman classes will have their first round of eliminations on Saturday afternoon - some classes will have two rounds of eliminations", says Darren. "The exception will probably be Comp Eliminator which only has five entries and so that will start on Sunday."
©Eurodragster.com
There will be two cycles of Pro qualifying next Friday, scheduled for 10:30 and 16:30, and another two cycles on Saturday, scheduled for 10:30 and 14:30. NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified will be part of these Pro qualifying cycles, and is scheduled to open eliminations at 9:45 on Sunday with a sixteen-car field.

We will bring you more detailed running orders for Saturday and Sunday during the week, but in the meantime the simplified draft running orders are available on Santa Pod Raceway's web site at www.santapod.com.

Pre-Finals snippets.
31st August: Sweden's Anders Envall broke his personal best at yesterday's Professional Test at Santa Pod Raceway in a run which made his street-legal Chevrolet Impala SS the fourth-quickest on the planet. Anders clocked 10.887/124.44 on a previous best of 11.20, on what was far from a full-power pass as the blower belt stripped at about half-track. "I break a lot of belts in this car", says Anders. "In fact I broke a belt on the motorway when I was driving here. Now I have no spares but the rest of my team will be arriving on Tuesday and they are bringing a lot of belts with them!"
©Eurodragster.com
UK Tech Inspector Mark Norton kindly got in touch to tell us that he has inspected the Top Fuel Dragster which Jon Webster is due to be driving at next weekend's race, and that the chassis passed with flying colours. Jon was originally scheduled to test at yesterday's Professional Test at Santa Pod, but the car was not quite ready and so will be running for the first time at today's Run What You Brung. "When I left Webster Race Engineering at 21.00 last night (Saturday), the car was virtually complete and the team were just getting up oil pressure ready to fire it for the first time", says Mark. "Alan Jackson was there in an advisory capacity and Lindsay Deuchar was also lending a hand, as was Johnny Mac. They were hoping to load the car at around 8:00 this morning and do any finishing work at the track."

Santa Pod is undergoing a number of improvements in time for next weekend's race. The approach road is to be tarmacked from behind the barn into the pits, and the amount of hard standing in the pits is being drastically increased. The 'playpen' has been expanded on both sides, with hard standing now bounded by the security gate on one side and the toilet/shower block on the other. The toilet/shower block in the pits is also receiving attention. Replacement cabling for the top end terminal speed displays has also been prepared by Chief Marshal Steve Horn and will be installed starting on Monday morning.

Andréasson finally jubilant.
30th August: The last races of 2002 and the first three races of 2003 were test sessions for Swedish Top Methanol Funny Car racer Leif Andréasson, says team member Anders Magnusson. The team have been testing parts and different set-ups with the priority on getting the quickest runs possible.

"Running 5.8-5.9 is not good enough to win races any more", says Anders. A lot of effort has gone into getting the car run the first hundred meters very quickly without shaking tires. Leif has been shaken and maybe stirred too, understandably he started to complain more and more about the car's (mis)behaviours.

"The turning point was after the first qualifying pass in Norway when the car was worse than ever and team spirits were under the Nordic ice. All hope was not lost, however, as tuners Frank and Anders knew that the solution was close and that being 'almost there' could make the car a nightmare. The decision was taken to go one step further in the set-up plans, instead of backing off and ducking for the safety of a 5.8 or a 5.9. That step paid off big time, a 5.744/399.45 kmh with no tyre shake whatsoever took the team from despair to jubilation. Some more adjustments were made and a new personal best of 5.705/400.33 was recorded in the last qualifying session.
©Eurodragster.com
"The bye run in the first round of eliminations spoilt the executive plans when both the rear end gears and the carefully-adjusted East West Engineering clutch broke, with no suitable spares available. But that pass was the best run by the car all way up to 150 metres when things fell apart. On the 5.705 run the incremental times were 0.949 at sixty feet and 2.508 at 330 feet. The aborted run clocked an identical 0.949 at sixty feet and sensational 2.493 at 330 feet. Keeping up the same acceleration as during the 5.70, it would have been 5.690, or if it had maintained up the 60' to 330' acceleration all the way down the track, it would have stopped the clocks at 5.658! Speculation and a serious case of bench racing...oh yes, we love that, don't we!

"Hockenheim was to slippery for any kind of performance but Santa Pod is well known for its premium traction. What is it going to be for Andréasson Motorsports? Heaven or hell? Tyre shakes or 5.6 runs? We will see within a week at the European Finals."

You can find Leif Andréasson's web site at www.andreassonmotorsports.com.

SCR photos, anecdotes sought.
30th August: Shakespeare County Raceway marshal Beth Satchell is asking for Eurodragster readers' help to track down a particular photo sequence. "I am trying to trace a set of photos taken of a car jump at Shakespeare County Raceway (then Long Marston Raceway) in 1987", says Beth. "The pictures were taken with a motor drive camera and it was a sequence of action shots showing the whole jump. If anyone knows who took them and where they can be contacted please contact me by E-Mail at satch@globalnet.co.uk."
©Eurodragster.com
Beth tells us that she is currently compiling a book of anecdotes based on experiences at Shakespeare County Raceway (aka Avon Park Raceway and Long Marston Raceway). "If anyone has any stories they think need to be preserved forever in print then let me know and we can discuss, with photos if possible - but must be action shots, not static shots", she says.

E-Mail problems.
30th August: We have been experiencing problems with our E-Mail server in the last couple of days, so if you have sent a news item or other E-Mail to any Eurodragster address and it has either not been published or acknowledged then please re-send it to eurodragster@btinternet.com and we will be straight back to you.
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
30th August: UK Pro ET racer Steve Wells has updated his web site with news of his testing at the last Webster Race Engineering Test Day and his weekend at the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. You can read Steve's reports at www.teamorange.org.uk.

Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Ian Hook has updated the FB Racing web site at www.fbracing.co.uk with his account of a victorious weekend at the Allstar Nationals.

Eurodragster staffer Sharkman has updated his personal web site Sharkman's Top End Tales with photographs from the Allstar Nationals together with a number of new Windows wallpaper files. Check it out at www.topendtales.com

Fellow Eurodragster staffer Tog has also finally found time to update his personal web site Tog's Drag Racing Page with pictures from the Allstar Nationals, as well as adding pictures from the first Webster Race Engineering Test Day of this year and properly indexing all of his other photographs from this season. You can find Tog's web site at www.togsdragracing.com.
©Eurodragster.com

Testing, testing.
29th August: This Saturday's (30th August) Professional Test at Santa Pod Raceway is offering racers just about the last chance to test before next week's FIA European Finals. The test, which is open to the public, is scheduled to be attended by:

Jon Webster (Top Fuel Dragster)
Dave Wilson (Top Methanol Dragster)
Malcom Francis (Super Gas/Super Comp)
Pat Talbot (Super Pro ET)
Anders Envall (Pro ET)
Ian Brown (Super Street)
©Eurodragster.com
Spectator entry to Santa Pod on Saturday is £10. Saturday is also a Street Machine Saturday Special, for which pre-registration is necessary.

Santa Pod are also holding a Run What You Brung on Sunday (31st August), which is of course open to the public. We understand that some of Saturday's racer contingent will be running again at the RWYB. Admission to the track on Sunday is £10, and an additional £15 and the production of a valid DVLC licence will buy you as many runs as you can fit in. For more details including safety requirements check out Santa Pod Raceway's web site at www.santapod.com.

If you cannot make the test sessions at Santa Pod this weekend then you will be able to stay in touch with events here on Eurodragster as we will be covering both days in association with American Car Imports, and the Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is also scheduled to be on-line and broadcasting a picture every two minutes.

Stay for the 'slammers.
29th August: European racers attending the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway have been invited by LA Performance Services' Lee Child to stay on for the Doorslammer Shootout which takes place at Shakespeare County Raceway on Saturday-Sunday 20th-21st September. As its name suggests, the Doorslammer Shootout is a turn-up-and-compete event exclusively for cars with doors, and offers substantial cash prizes for winners and runners-up. "If any European doorslammer racer fancies extending their stay in the UK, then we will be very pleased to see them at the Shootout" says Lee, who sponsors Eurodragster's Links pages through his company LA Racing Parts. "You will be more than welcome!"

All classes will run heads-up on a Pro tree. The classes and prize structure are the same as last year's and are as follow:

Outlaw for cars running quicker than 7.50 seconds

Entry fee: �150
Eight-car field winner/runner up: �2000/�1000
Sixteen-car field winner/runner-up: �3000/�1500

Top Gun for cars running 7.50-8.75

Entry fee: �125
Eight-car field winner/runner up: �1250/�750
Sixteen-car field winner/runner-up: �1500/�1000
Thirty two-car field winner/runner-up: �2500/�1500

Top Sportsman for cars running 8.75-10.50

Entry fee: �100
Sixteen-car field winner/runner-up: �1200/�600
Thirty two-car field winner/runner-up: �2000/�1000

Sportsman for cars running 10.50-11.75
©Eurodragster.com
Entry fee: �75
Sixteen-car field winner/runner-up: �750/�400
Thirty two-car field winner/runner-up: �1000/�650
Sixty four-car field winner/runner-up: �1500/�750

Street for cars running 11.75-15.00

Entry fee: �55
Sixteen-car field winner/runner-up: �500/�300
Thirty two-car field winner/runner-up: �700/�500
Sixty four-car field winner/runner-up: �1000/�750

Entry to the track will be �15 each on Saturday and Sunday. Weekend tickets (which include camping) are available for �26 on the gate or �20 in advance.

For more details, or to order advance tickets, contact LA Performance Services on 01803 554308 (outside the UK +44 1803 554308).

Allstar reviews, Finals previews.
29th August: UK Super Pro ET racers Roger and Dave Moore are on a high after setting a new best with their Shakespeare Engineering-backed Triumph Herald at the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. "We had a great meeting at Shakespeare County Raceway ", says Roger Moore. "The track was as good as I've known it, and I set a new personal best time of 8.035 at 167 mph. It cost me the race as I broke out, but I knew that it was a flier so I stayed on the power. Into the sevens at the European Finals? A big thanks to Chris Isaacs for his help with four-bar settings. Chris' trackside support is second to none. And very reasonably priced except the bakewell tarts! Thanks also to Andy Robinson for clutch and data logging advice. Dave and I are looking forward to the European Finals and hope to go even faster."
©Eurodragster.com
UK Pro Stock Bike racer Paul Watson has been suffering some problems getting his bike off the line at the last few races. "We have now changed everything bar the engine", says Paul. "I must say a big Thank You to Paul Rose and Ritchie for all their help last week. We all worked very late but the problem still eludes us. Whilst on the subject I would like to thank Dave Beck for all his help at the track. We are confident that once we have eliminated the problem we can run 7.5s but it's not looking good for the European Finals. However a deal may be struck with Dave Beck Racing, we are looking at the possibility of hiring his bike or engine whilst he is in the States."

Alien II.
29th August: Paul Marston Racing had a what Paul describes as "A rather successful weekend" at the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. The weekend marked the début of PMR's recently-acquired Alien altered in the hands of returning racer Dave Gibbons.

"Dave was kept busy reacquainting himself with old adversaries from his Rough Diamond days", says Paul, "along with being the tuning consultant for the altered's methanol injection system. There was some work to be done on the altered upon arrival at the track, namely the replacement of the front oil seal which pushed out in testing at Arena Essex. That done we fired it up and all systems were go, so after being scrutineered all was set for Saturday. After prelubing and checking valve lash on the motor we performed a spring check and discovered that the valve springs were soft, luckily Jeff Bull of Jeff Bull Racing Engines had a selection of spring sets and havign selected the best match we then set about borrowing the necessary tools to change them. Many thanks at this stage must go out to Jeff for always being there with the spares racers need at a good price. Many thanks also to fellow Mopar Super Pro racer Ian Bishop, who kindly lent us the spring checker, leak down tester, compressor and generator which enabled the Paul Marston Racing crew to change all the valve springs. This is where you realize the value of such a good crew, within forty minutes we had changed all the valve springs, excellent work. Unfortunately this meant reluctantly we missed first round, it was the only logical option.

"With the probability of only one more qualifier on Saturday and with the permission of the Race Director Dave was allowed to perform his sixty foot launch, and then to back up and make his second observed run which is a half pass and a chute deployment. All this was fine and so on to Sunday. Sunday arrived and with such a busy schedule it soon became apparent that there would only be one shot at qualifying, we were out quite early and had plenty to do as some contaminated methanol was found in the injectors, a quick clean out was required so that we did not miss our qualifying shot. The run was a good 8.50/152, which was the first time the Alien had run a full pass in over two years. But it was firing on all eight holes and ran straight and true, watching the video playback it did sound a little flat but Dave was happy that the Alien handled well and reminded him of just how bumpy, jarring and vibration-filled an altered is!
©Eurodragster.com
"Monday dawned and the Paul Marston Racing pit was the subject of many visitors and fans, old and new. ChryslerCard PT Bruiser Crew Chief Mick Pusey liked the Alien for its simplicity of operation and speed of between-round servicing. Even though we had stripped the whole top end of the injection system and cleaned it out, finding very little of note, it all went back together quickly and very nicely. The whole weekend experience was a revelation for all of us really; this is after all Paul Marston Racing's first solid-chassis race car.

"In the first round we had drawn the Moore brothers with their awesome Shakespeare Engineering Lenco-shifting nitrous-assisted Big Block -powered Triumph Herald, this weekend being advised by none other than Chris Isaacs of Chris Isaacs Race Cars. We were put in the left lane, although the track was real good in both lanes all weekend. Dave performed a storming burnout and with all the start line procedures carried out I sent Dave to the staging beams. When the Tree ran Dave was a whisker too soon (.012) and pulled a cherry but was off anyway! I was concentrating on the hit which the rear tyres took out of the hole but I saw the cherry straight away as Dave left. As I watched the Alien disappear into the distance, I knew it was on one, arrow-straight but you could have knocked me over with a feather when the numbers came up. It took a couple of seconds to sink in a 7.87/163, over six tenths quicker than the last one, that�s possibly the season�s quickest non-supercharged altered pass - wow! That shattered Dave's PB by nearly a second, what a great way to lose! On returning to the PMR Pit we checked the motor and there was no damage, a little work but no problems.

"With such a successful outing everyone at Paul Marston Racing is looking forward to the next outing with the Alien, stay tuned for more news on that. Our sincerest sympathies to the Dorset Horn and Motor Mouse teams, I hope we will see you back at the drag strip soon. Big Thank Yous must go to Dave Gibbons for being an excellent shoe and Alli Gibbons for being so supportive of Dave�s endeavours, all the Paul Marston Racing crew - you all know who you are and you are all true stars in my eyes - all our sponsors: Mac Tools, ATI Performance Transmissions, 76 Racing Fuels and Oils, Gary at Jeep Club (020 8501 4471), Disco Equipment Hire (Barry, 020 8597 4575), Black Box Productions (Dave, 07970 029424) and last but not least Lee Child, Jerry Cookson, Wendy Talbot (speedy recovery), Tog and Sharkman at Eurodragster, Bruno and the FAST Crew, the pit marshals and everyone else involved at Shakespeare County Raceway last weekend.

"Due to work commitments PMR will not be at the FIA European Finals this year, but we will be at the Press Day at Santa Pod on Wednesday providing passenger rides. The crew and I will be at the Finals at certain times over the weekend, and I will probably provide some colour commentary during the event which by all accounts will one of the best ever. See you there!"

Allstar Nationals timing data.
29th August: We are indebted to Ozzy Ewing of Shakespeare County Raceway's Tech Crew for forwarding us the timing data from the Allstar Nationals. The timing data is in Excel format and can be viewed by clicking here or by clicking on the Timing Data link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.
©Eurodragster.com
Signal theft.
29th August: A few paragraphs back we were talking about Lee Child of LA Performance Services, and whilst we were talking to Lee about the Doorslammer Shootout he asked if Eurodragster readers could help with a mystery.
©Eurodragster.com
"Twenty two arrows, posters and banners advertising our events at Shakespeare County Raceway were removed from the A46 between Evesham and Warwick over last weekend", says Lee. "So many were taken that it must have been a concerted effort - this wasn't just trophy hunters. And these things aren't cheap! If any Eurodragster reader has any information then please contact me and shop the rascals - any information leading to the missing items will be rewarded."

If you have any information about the missing material then please contact Lee by phone on 01803 554308 or by E-Mail at la.racing@virgin.net.

Web site updates.
29th August: Our good friend Carl Wadkin-Snaith has moved the official UK Junior Drag Bike web page to its own URL at www.juniordragbike.co.uk. "Over the next few weeks there will be a number of updates including the inaugural Championship results, team/rider profiles and much more, watch this space!", says Carl, who would also like to hear from Junior Drag Bike teams at carl@turnertech.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Teboul's world bests.
28th August: Congratulations to France's Eric Teboul who is now the quickest two-wheeled drag racer on the planet after running a pair of 5.6-second passes on his Rocket Bike at last weekend's Nitrolympics at Hockenheim. Eric ran the first five-second bike pass outside the USA at the Speedfreaks Ball at Santa Pod in May, and went to Hockenheim with the intent of breaking Larry McBride's 5.8-second world best, which was set on a Top Fuel Bike.
©Eurodragster.com
"Whilst on holiday with my family in the South of France a week before the Nitrolympics, I met with Eric and at his request gave him a secret combination for his ex-Sammy Miller rocket as it was his wish to make the bike go quicker and faster than before", says Antony Billinton of G-Max Racing Fuels. "As the rocket motor on the bike is one with which I had previous experience I made many calculations and came up with a formula which Eric ran."

The outcome was these two stunning passes which Eric made on Saturday and Sunday:

	Saturday	Sunday
60 feet	1.07	1.07
Eighth mile	3.69/217.43	3.72/217.50
Quarter mile	5.649/217.49	5.654/235.50

"I calculate that the speed of the bike peaked at just over 250 mph at three-quarter track as this is where the fuel load was designed to expire", says Antony. "I think that this is now the quickest bike in the world. Last weekend's runs are really only a touch of what this motor can do, and I have no doubt that this bike is capable of four-second passes. All in good time though!"

Eric will be back on his Top Fuel Bike for the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway next week, although we understand that he will be back on board the rocket at Santa Pod's Flame and Thunder Show at the start of November. You can read more on Eric's web site at www.teboulracing.com.

Joon trying to concentrate.
28th August: Dutch Fuel Funny Car racer Lex Joon and partner and Team Manager Gerda Dijkstra have had very little time to get over Lex's fireball at Shakespeare County Raceway last weekend, as they are promoting this weekend's Dutch Finals at Drachten. "I'm not looking forward to it, but we have to do it", says Gerda.

"We will leave the Fuel Funny Car at home because it looks very bad", Gerda adds. "We will be taking our Top Methanol car to Drachten but it will only be on display, it does not mean that Lex will be running alcohol again. His heart is still in the Fuel car."
©Eurodragster.com
Gerda says that the team are still not over Lex's fire. "What happened was terrible", she says. "The team spent the whole day on Monday cleaning the car but you can still smell burning everywhere. Knowing that Lex was in a burning car with no oxygen in the helmet because everything was melted makes you realise that things could have been much worse. We 'only' lost the car and not Lex. The car was on fire from front to back and for Lex it was like a sinking ship which he saw go down having just left in time. When they sprayed the water on the car there was nothing more to save. We at Lex Joon Racing are very sorry that we could not give the fans the show and competition they were hoping for, and we want to thank them for their support and all the great E-Mails which we have received in the last few days."

You can find Lex's inside account of his fire on Monday's pit notes on our Allstar Nationals Event Coverage.

Lex and Gerda are now concentrating on the Dutch Finals. "It will be a very exciting weekend because everybody still has a chance to become Champion", says Gerda. "We also have Michel Kooy with his jet quad Pyromaniac giving a show on both days, and we are very pleased to see that Swedish Pro Modified driver Kent Trennemann has found his way back to Drachten. The MPM Internationals in July was the first time that he was on a Dutch track, and he ran a personal best and won the event."

Gerda kindly send us the official entry list for the Dutch Finals, which you can view by clicking here. The action at Drachten starts at 10:00 on both Saturday and Sunday; tickets are €15 Saturday, €20 Sunday or €30 for the whole weekend. Under-twelves go free. You can find more information on Lex Joon's web site at www.lexjoonracing.nl and on the Explosion web site at www.explosion.nl.

Close finish in NDRS.
28th August: Europe's biggest Championship, the Nordic Drag Racing Series, comes to a close at Alastaro this weekend with the NDRS FInals which start tomorrow. Our good buddy Christer Abrahamson of Svensk Dragracing tells us that it's going to be a very close thing in a lot of classes.

"Bruno Bader has a ninety nine per cent chance of winning the Comp Eliminator Championship", says Christer. "The other one per cent is a theory about Peter Eliasson qualifying number one winning a 120-car field or something like that! But it seems like the rest of the classes are open for a good fight! As you probably know by now, the points system includes counting five or six (depending upon class) races, of which the best Norwegian race must be counted, the best Swedish race, and so on. But the NDRS Finals always count in the points, so look out for some good racing in Alastaro this weekend". The weekend's events will be covered on the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se starting tomorrow, although Christer will be posting a preview on the Svensk Dragracing web site today to join the other new update, pictures from the recent Norwegian Finals which are now showing.

Two NDRS Championships are already decided; congratulations to Erik Johansson (Junior Dragster) and Mattias Carlsson (Street Bike).
©Eurodragster.com
This weekend's race at Alastaro is also the finals of the Finnish Hot Rod Association Championship, and our good friend and part-time stuntman Asko Määttä tells us that he too will be covering the event on-line, as he is not yet allowed to race after his top end crash a short while ago. "The reports will be in Finnish with short summaries in English at the end of each day", says Asko. The reports will be on FHRA's web site at www.fhra.fi/fin/index.php?cmd=51,xxxx&id=46&view=raportti."

Swedish Super Gas racer Håkan Mattsson, who also wrote to tell us how close things are in the NDRS, tells us that he is sorry that he didn't come to Santa Pod this year. "But I promise Tim Adam I'll be there next year!", he says.

Beck's perfect return.
28th August: Swiss Top Fuel Dragster racer Peter Beck couldn't have had a better return to the track after an absence of two years. Teaming up with Rune Fjeld, Peter won Top Fuel at the Nitrolympics and ran personal bests during the weekend. Regula Stucki of Top Fuel Team Switzerland gave us the inside story on Peter's weekend.

"We got to Hockenheim on Tuesday night", says Regula. Rune and Linsay were waiting for us and immediately Peter started to smile. Within a view minutes he sat in 'his' TF Dragster and his smile got bigger. On Wednesday, Peter sat in the car again and concentrated on the job he would soon have to do. Later, Rune's and our crews came to the track and on Thursday they started to work together and discuss all the things which had to be done.

"On Friday Peter did a burnout and a launch to get used to the handling of the car, then on Saturday he launched very hard but the tyres went straight up in smoke and a big bang followed. Unfortunately the engine overreved and an intake valve broke. This was the end of our qualifying and we were bottom qualifier.

"We met Kim Reymond in the first round of eliminations. Up to this point Peter hadn't made a full pass which put him under some pressure. As soon as the car was started we all forgot to be nervous. The burnout was good and after Rune made some adjustments, Peter was ready. Kim went into stage first, Peter followed. Yellow, green, go! Peter launched first and disappeared down the track, followed by Kim. The win light went on in our lane! What a great moment!"
©Eurodragster.com
Peter later explained "It really got fast but I never heard Kim and I kept saying to myself, stay on the throttle! It was my fastest run at 466 km/h and the best ET I've ever run."

"After a bye run in the semi, we met Tommy M�ller in the final round", continues Regula. "Peter again launched first and ran a very nice, straight pass. Again the win light went on in our lane! It was great, excellent, gorgeous, actually I can't find the words. Peter has not been on the track for two years, but he came back and did a great job."

"I feel very comfortable with Rune, the crew and of course with this excellent Top Fuel Dragster ", said Peter afterwards. "Now I'm ready for Santa Pod and I'm really looking forward to it! I would like to say thank you to Rune and the great crew - thanks for the hard work, the support and the great spirit! Also thanks to my family, friends and fans, who have been there for more all the time."

Smax regains lead.
28th August: If you were tuned in yesterday you will remember that UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Smax Smith promised a full report on his weekend at Hockenheim. Less than twenty four hours later Smax's account popped up in our mailbox. Smax made it to the semi-finals at the Nitrolympics, but this was enough to give the Purple Loans-sponsored racer the lead in the FIA Championship with one round left.

"What a blast we had in Germany", says Smax. "I took my son Aidee (who wanted to race his alky junior dragster ) and met up with Al Jackson, Spiky Sparky, Mark and Mack at the airport. Animal Mark had driven the rig to Hockenheim with buddy Kev, and Knut and Debby drove the Suburban. We landed at 9pm and jumped on a train, and immediately saw how clean and organised everything was - no smashed up trains etc. Got to track at almost midnight through five security checkpoints!

"The car was almost ready from Norway so we were ready for qualifying on Friday, however after walking the track it was obvious that it was in poor shape so we watched the other classes slipping and sliding down the amazing new Hockenheim track. The Top Fuellers decided to miss the Friday sessions but Brady Kalivoda and Peter Beck (great to see him back out) did burnouts with the throttle stoops left on! After a drivers' meeting on Friday night Kim Reymond persuaded the tractor guy to lay down some rubber for us till 2:00 am which made all the difference! We all went out gingerly for the first qualifier on Saturday. Kim overpowered the track but we got number one qualifier with a 5.38 smoking the tyres for two hundred feet! Tommy Möller was closest with a 5.60 but everyone was struggling - I'm glad we had Al Jackson! As we're on a tight budget we had to sit out the second qualifier so I climbed to top of grandstands to watch Kim go last and get number one with a 5.24, he dropped two cylinders which got him down the track with no tyre spin. This meant that I had points leader and team-mate Micke Kågered in the first round. Tommy had Brady first round and Kim had Peter Beck.
©Eurodragster.com
"This was to be my most important race of the season, as I wanted my points lead back to go to Santa Pod, and I also needed Peter to beat Kim. On Sunday morning we were up with the sparrows checking everything over and then I met Micke with lane choice in my favour. The purple rocket charged down the track recording 5.14/290 to take the win and also set low ET and top speed, and I got the points lead back. 290 mph smoking the tyres for three hundred feet - incredible! Then Peter beat Kim so we were ecstatic! So in the next round I was against Tommy Möller, Tommy has been my gremlin this year as I have had a red light and a leaky air pipe to hand him the win. Was this to be third time lucky? We rocketed down the track and had almost two tenths lead then disaster - the blower belt snapped and Tommy came past me like an express train as my motor stopped. Bummer!

"In the final Peter beat Tommy in a fine drag race, so at the Finals it's a four-horse race as Micke, Kim, Tommy and I could all still win this deal - don't miss it.

"Rico Anthes put on a stunning show on Saturday night, all the nitro methanol cars were paraded on track and fired up together, followed by fireworks, jet cars and a nutcase on roller skates with a rocket pack on his back which was funny when he fell over! My long time friend Harry came from Stuttgart with buddy Michael to spend the weekend with us which was awesome, and Aidee helped with the car and video! Belfast Ray turned up and spent nearly all weekend cleaning parts for us so he deserves a medal!

"The track commentator got me on the start line for an interview, and this was well received by the enthusiastic German crowd. It was a real pleasure to be there. Rico put on a free food and beer fest at the awards ceremony to round off a top weekend. Big thanx to Al Jacksons for his skills and to all of the team for their hard work. Even Knut did bottom end! I can't wait for the Finals!"

Nitrolympics FIM/UEM report.
28th August: We are as ever grateful to FIM/UEM European Championship Co-ordinator Lars Andersson for forwarding a report of the two-wheeled action at Hockenheim.

The preparation of the track was not of the standard that we all wanted. The first round on Friday was dangerous and the last one on Friday was cancelled because of this. But after Thor Larsen from Norway gave some small tips the track was acceptable on Saturday. But it never reached the standard of what was possible. Hopefully will all learn from this. Maybe should they look on what happened to Mantorp which also had a new surface and also only is used once a year for drag racing. But there was also as usual a very good crowd, and a more friendly atmosphere then the last time I was at Hockenheim.

Qualifying was very strange due to track conditions. Roel Koedam was the quickest in Top Fuel Bike and was for the whole event. By winning the event he secrured the Championship for 2003. Roel's times were half a second slower than his personal best, this says a little about the track. Now is he waiting for Santa Pod and a good track, then he will really make an attempt at the record. Ian King was number two in qualifying but made a mistake in elimination which led to a win for Martyn de Haas, who met Peter Bossert on his Funny Bike in the next round and that was an easy win for Peter. Peter ran 7.1 on most of his passes. We are hoping that he will come to some more races in the future.

Roger Pettersson did the same - he is now European Champion. He made his way to the final by defeating Herman van Driel and his new team-mate Helen Curran. Helen rode what had been Øivind von Essen's bike with Roger's spare engine and did a very good job. Her first race of the year on a new bike and a new personal best of 7.67 were very good. What will happen in England? The team had only good things to say for Helen, and the computer also showed that she did everything right. She even defeated Chris Hope in the first round. Anders Larsson qualified very well and showed that his bike is strong and that he is also very good in taking care of the bike. But a red light in the final finished his race this time. Vesa Rautio also had a red light in his first round. The beams on the timing equipment are very small and a very small move at the same time as the starter activates the timing can easy result in a red light. We also had one racer from Greece and three from Italy who tried to qualify. But the standards are very high and it is not so easy.

Super Twin is the only class which does not have a Champion. It is open between Ton Pels (195 points), Per Bengtsson (193 points) and Ronny Aasen (181 points). Ton was number one qualifier so he had a solo run and met Rob van Geffen in the next pair. Ton took an easy win and was then in final. Ronny Aasen was number two after some very good runs, he showed that he really could handle the bike. Ronny was up against Per Bengtsson in the semi-final, but Per was the strongest. The final between Per and Ton turned up to be too exciting. Per started to drift towards the wall and did touch the wall about a hundred metres out. The win was Ton's but nobody was celebrating because we all wondered what happened to Per. The safety car didn't come out and the race continued. Later I found out that Per was not hurt. The bike hade some small marks, the magnetos were the most damaged. Per had some pain in his foot but was okay.

This is almost the story from Hockenheim. The facilities are the best of all tracks. The public is the biggest and makes most noise. The track could be very good. Hopefully it will be a Championship again race next year. We need a track in the central Europe just to make it easier for riders from southern Europe to race in the Championship. We now twenty one in the Pro Stock and Supertwin Championship standings and thirty one in Top Fuel Bike. This is very good.

The finals at Santa Pod on the first weekend in September will be very interesting. Hopefully we will have a lot of racers at that event (we sure have, and the bike entry went up again yesterday - Ed).

You can find the FIM/UEM Championship standings on the King Racing web site at www.kingracing.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Points and records updated.
28th August: We are indebted to National Association of Supertwins Championship Co-ordinator Sue Beneke for sending us the post-Allstar Nationals standings. 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.

The official web site of the European Top Methanol Racers' Association has been updated with timing data and points standings in the MSA British Drag Racing Championship after last weekend's round at Shakespeare County Raceway. You can find the ETMRA web site at www.etmra.com.

Andy Marrs of TSI Timers Europe has kindly sent us an updated version of his European Bests log sheet which includes John Spuffard's Fuel FC speed record which was set at Shakespeare County Raceway last weekend. You can view the record sheet by clicking here, or by clicking on the European Bests link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
28th August: Nitrolympics Top Methanol Dragster winner Peter Schöfer's web site has been updated with an account of the team's weekend at Hockenheim. Check it out at www.p-s-r.com.

Eurodragster staffer Sharkman has updated his personal web site Sharkman's Top End Tales with several pictures from last week's Webster Race Engineering Test Day at Santa Pod, including a few shots of your News Editor getting to grips with Paul Marston's Super Gasser. You can find Sharkman's web site at www.topendtales.com.

David Myre is offering the domain name www.dragracing.org for sale. "This premium name is taken in every other major extension and it will be difficult to acquire a better name directed at this great sport", says David. We feel that it is best to contact businesses, groups, and individuals who would use the domain name efficiently, instead of abusing it with adult content. DragRacing.org is registered through namescout.com and will not need to be renewed until 21-Aug-2004". For more details check out the eBay auction page at cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2749904848 or E-Mail David at davidmyre@hotmail.com.
©Eurodragster.com
First Champions confirmed.
27th August: Many thanks to FIA European Championship Co-ordinator Kjell Pettersson for confirming that we have our first European Champions of 2003 in the persons of Urs Erbacher (Top Methanol Funny Car) and Michael Malmgren (Pro Stock) who won their titles at the Nitrolympics at Hockenheim at the weekend. Congratulations to Urs and Michael, from whose team we will hear in a moment. Top Fuel Dragster, with four racers in contention, and Top Methanol Dragster will go down to the wire at the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod in a couple of weeks' time.
©Eurodragster.com
The top runners in each class after the Nitrolympics are as follow:

Top Fuel Dragster

1. Smax Smith 303
2. Micke Kågered 294
3. Kim Reymond 274
4. Tommy Möller 271

Top Methanol Dragster

1. Peter Schöfer 399
2. Dave Wilson 378
3. Rob Turner 167

Top Methanol FC

1. Urs Erbacher 480 Champion
2. Leif Andréasson 296
3. Ulf Leanders 246

Pro Stock

1. Michael Malmgren 403 Champion
2. Jan Murén 297
3. Jimmy Ålund 264

The official entry list for the FIA European Finals has been updated with another two NDRS Bilsport Pro Mods joining the fray to bring the total to twenty two, as well as increases in FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike - now twenty - and FIM/UEM Supertwin which now numbers ten. You can check out the Finals entry list by clicking here.

Five wins, two titles.
27th August: Magnus Cato of newly-crowned FIA European Pro Stock Champions AC Delco/Malmgren Racing is promising a surprise or two at the FIA European Finals now that the Championship is clinched for the second year running, although he says that there was almost a hiccup for the Swedish team at Hockenheim.

"As you probably noticed from Christer's Hockenheim reports, the track wasn't what we're used to seeing", says Magnus. "There was a lot of discussion in the pits about how to deal with it. Some guys were real upset, but being a loudmouth won't help, so a group of racers sat down with the organisers and solved some problems. After a tremendous effort from the Nitrolympx crew, the surface was safe to race upon. The Pro Stock racers only got one opportunity to qualify on Friday and we were number one with an 8.08/185.

"The weather was fantastic all weekend so we calculated the best run had to be the first run on Saturday, which proved to be correct. Jan Murén was number one qualifier and we were number two with a 7.17/195. That evening we had a long discussion about our raceday set-up, and went to work in order to make sure that we had a good chance to win the race. As I said last week, winning this event would be nice, as it would be the fifth win in a row at Hockenheim. In the first round of Pro Stock Jan Murén faced 'Guten', losing to Guten in a surprising manner. I personally didn't realise the situation but Christer told me we just needed one more point to secure the title at Hockenheim.
©Eurodragster.com
"In the next round we met strong-running Jimmy �lund and we saw Michael driving to a win. What we didn't see was the car almost going out of control at the top end. Michael later explained that he was close to lifting but saw Jimmy behind so he kept the pedal down. A win secured our second Championship so we were ecstatic on the startline. The voice of Nitrolympx, Benny Voss, saw us dancing and asked me over the PA system: "Have you secured the title?" and the smile on our faces said everything. The big crowd went bananas, and I tell you there wasn't a single hair on my arms which was not standing up, what a feeling with that roaring crowd. I'm very grateful for this experience, and we just love the people at the Nitrolympx. This has to be our lucky track, winning five years in a row.

"The AC Delco Pro Stock team would like to thank our sponsors AC Delco, Myresj�hus, Sparco, Nordea and all our parts suppliers. We also want to say a special Thank You to the Hockenheim spectators for their enthusiasm, the Habermann family for their hospitality, Benny Voss for explaining the Pro Stock class in a great way to the audience, and of course Bob Ingles and Jim Yates and his family for their assistance when we were in trouble. I'm also very grateful to the Eurodragster staff for making it possible for me to share my feelings after a weekend - and season - like this (you're welcome - Ed).

"I'm just sitting here with a stupid smile on my face. Next stop will be the FIA European Finals, and if I'm not mistaken there will be a surprise or two from us."

If you were tuned in last week you will recall that AC Delco Racing team member Tomas Nilsson and his wife Camilla have became parents again with the birth of their second son, as yet unnamed. Tomas wrote to let us know how everyone is getting on. "I'm happy to tell you our son is doing just fine", said Tomas. "He was 51 cm long and weighed 3,775 kg at birth. Hopefully he'll take after his bigbrother Aleczander as a mechanic/driver. We haven't decided on a name yet, maybe Benjamin, we'll see. Right now I'm just staying home with my family('49 Panhead, '64 Dodge Polara #26, wife and two kids), and I sure miss racing. I try to help Mikael and the guys as much as I can betwen races (if you saw me at Mantorp you'd probably say they're better of without that sort help)."

Koedam's power management.
27th August: Two European Championships were also wrapped up on two wheels at Hockenheim at the weekend. The first was the FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike Championship which was taken by Holland's Roel Koedam, and the second was the FIM/UEM Pro Stock Bike Championship which was won by Roger Pettersson of Sweden's Veidec Racing team. Congratulations to both teams. We'll hear from the Veidec Racing pit shortly but first bite of the cherry goes to Roel Koedam's Crew Chief Marius van der Zijden who kindly sent a Nitrolympics report.

Under excellent summer conditions the biggest event of the year (crowd wise) was held in Hockenheim Germany. This state of the art venue has the best facilities by far, with a Formula One-style pit area, free showers and a smooth and wide track which has plenty of run-off area. This year it was the return of the official FIA and FIM/UEM European championship rounds at this event. It was a real shame however that bad mistakes were made during the preparation of the track. This became clear not long before the first qualifying day and it looked more like an ice skating championship then a drag race event. Even Pro Stock bikes were having tyre spin all down the quarter mile. The event came to a halt several times that day. In the afternoon the decision was made to halt further qualifying and concentrate on the track first. The organiser of Gardermoen Raceway, who has the best prepared track in Europe, stepped in to offer his expertise. With a lot of combined effort they tried to make the best out of it.

As we were sitting out the first qualifying session anyway it didn�t affect us to begin with. We tried to figure out what would be the best setting for our first attempt on Saturday. When the first cars and bikes made their qualifying passes it seemed that the track had improved a bit, but traction was still far below average. On our first pass we drove it out instead of nailing it from the line in order to try to make the best of it. Despite this and being on and off the throttle several times, the bike smoked the tyre badly twice during that run. A poor 7.1/337 kmh pass was the result. Still it was the best ET in our field. The organisers' nightmare scenario continued as around noon the timing computer went down as well. This forced them to replace it completely and qualifying again came to a stop for another hour and a half. Because of all these delays there was only one more qualifying shot remaining. With the data gathered during our first slip and slide we adjusted the clutch system, in fact we took almost all clutch out. Because the track was improving very slowly our last pass resulted in a 6.65/327. Still a lot of tyre spin and the bike was real loose over the last part of the track which explains the low speed at the top end. Though this 6.65 was far below our average, we obviously did better (or should we say less badly) than anybody else in our class, as it was the only six second pass and we remained the number one qualifier.
©Eurodragster.com
We won our first round of elimninations on Sunday, however we had detuned the bike so much that it even misfired because there was little load on the engine. The good thing was that we learned that the traction was starting to go in the right direction, so we decided to take a few steps back towards a more acceptable clutch set-up. This proved to be a good decision as not only did we win the next round, the semi-final, but we also reset our own track record to a 6.37! The data showed that this was the maximum that the track could take. Also because there was little time between the rounds, we left the tune up of the bike as it was for the final round. When it was time to fire the engine for our final round appearance little did we know that drama would strike as the engine refused to run on nitro; Top Fuel Bikes are always started up on methanol and once running they are switched over to nitro. We made two attempts and our opponent Peter Bossert waited patiently (thank you once again Peter!). As we couldn�t find a reason, we were just about close to throwing in the towel when we discovered that the lanyard-controlled safety fuel shut-off was apparently accidentally hit, therefore totally blocking the fuel transfer to the engine. After resetting this safety valve the engine came to life. A narrow escape, we nearly had to give this one away! Despite slowing to 6.43, we won the final round. Another perfect score; number one qualifier, event winner and a new track record.

But hold on, there�s more. With one more round to go we have clinched the European Top Fuel Bike Championship title for 2003, this is our third European championship title. The last round of this season will as usual be at Santa Pod Raceway in two weeks' time. Again a record number of Top Fuel Bikes have signed in for this event. Being relieved of the pressure of the championship title gives us a little more room to play. No need to explain what our goal will be for that last round.

Pettersson bears pressure...
27th August: Sweden's Veidec Racing Pro Stock Bike team went to Hockenheim with pressure on both of their racers. Roger Pettersson had the chance to clinch his seventh European Championship, and new team member Helen Curran was making her début on the #2 bike. Both racers delivered, says Crew Chief Roger Lyrén.

"We raced at Hockenheim last year and the track was OK then, so we thought that it should at least be as good as last year", says Roger. "But it was slippery! Roger did a three hundred metre burnout which would almost have got Fredde Fagerström jealous, a bad start for him. As Helen was on a Pro Stock Bike for the first time this year, we decided to start with a soft set-up. Helen ran an 8.01, the first run is always the worst but she made a good pass.

"The second qualifying runs were better, 7.67 for Roger and Helen ran a 7.75, one hundredth off her personal best, and then in the third session Roger set a new track record of 7.41 and Helen set a personal best of 7.71. This put us on top of qualifying fifth time this season, and Helen was an impressive fifth of fourteen with only three passes on the bike. We repaired the gearbox on Roger's bike just to be sure that everything was a hundred per cent for eliminations, because he only needed to go one more round to secure the FIM/UEM Championship for the seventh time!
©Eurodragster.com
"Roger showed his best again with a good reaction time against Herman van Driel so we were Champions again. Helen Curran also showed her best taking out Chris Hope in round one on a hole shot, 7.69 (another personal best!) whilst Chris ran 7.67. Unfortunately the Veidec riders faced each other in the semi finals, Roger took the win with a new track record of 7.39/293 kmh, Helen spun the tyre from the start line and ran a 7.85. Roger took the event win against Anders Larsson and won his third race in a row.

"So once again the Veidec PSB Team are in the winners' circle, both Roger Pettersson and Helen Curran did a super job on both Suzukis. Of course none of this could work without the team, so big thanks to the whole team!

"Now we are preparing for the European Finals at Santa Pod and the goals are as they have always been. There is only one left and that is to run in the 7.2 zone! We hope that the weather and the track give us the chance to do it."

...as does Helen.
27th August: The UK's Helen Curran says that her first event with the Veidec Pro Stock Bike team was fantastic. "Everyone was very happy with me and my riding", she says. "I have to say that I was very happy too, after almost twelve months not racing at all it all just came back to me, much to my relief.

"The first pass as you can imagine was a little unsettled for me, not only a new bike to get used to but a new team and crew as well. However it all went well and from there on it just got better every run. On the third pass I bettered my personal best with a 7.71/172 which qualified me fifth. In the first round I went quicker again, 7.69/172 to beat Chris Hope (sorry Chris). The semi final saw me against team-mate Roger Pettersson. Some tyre spin on the line sent me right towards the centre line and after correcting that as fast as possible the ET was affected, 7.83 to Roger's 7.39 (a bit quick for me yet), well done Roger.
©Eurodragster.com
"I am now eagerly looking forward to the European Finals at Santa Pod, we are looking forward to some good times as the bike is stepped up some more. I would like to thank Roger Lyren, Roger Pettersson, my crew men Atle and Pal from Norway and all of the Veidec team for making me so welcome and so comfortable. I would also like to thank everyone who made this possible for me with sponsorship; Ken of Cooperized Race Products, Dave Holland, Cannon Engineering, Brad of Dyno Speed Developments and Ken's mum Peggy Cooper. Thanks also to Andy and Kate Robinson of Robinson Race Cars for the lift to and from Germany.

"I am still looking for sponsors for the finals, if you can help then please get in touch with me at ken.cooper1@virgin.net, any help will be much appreciated."

Pels does it all.
27th August: Another racer to have a fantastic weekend at Hockenheim was Dutch Supertwin racer Ton Pels who qualified number one, won the event, and took back the number one spot in the FIM/UEM Championship, says Monique Pels.

"Coming to Hockenheim Ton was third in the Championship, right behind Per Bengtsson from Sweden and Ronny Aasen from Norway", says Monique. "Although there were traction problems, Ton managed to run the only six-second pass during qualifying, and was number qualifier again with 6.99/322 kmh (200 mph).
©Eurodragster.com
"On Sunday it was Ton and Per Bengtsson in the final and whoever won would be leading the Championship standings. Ton had the better light and left hard, but just before the eighth mile the engine dropped a cylinder, slowing the bike down. However, Per had even worse problems. His bike went sideways and even hit the concrete wall at some point, so Ton took the win as well as the lead in the Championship. Luckily Per didn't have any serious injuries, so we will be seeing him at Santa Pod for the last round of the Championship.

"You can read the complete story on the News page of the Zodiac Racing web site at www.zodiacracing.com.

"Congratulations to European Champions Roel Koedam, Urs Erbacher, Roger Pettersson and Michael Malmgren."

Honey-coated Funny Car.
27th August: Swiss Top Methanol Funny Car racer Dezsoe Krivan had a long weekend at the Nitrolympics but the FC was running sweet as a nut, says team member Steve Wilson.

"On Thursday we hauled up the E35 from Basel to Hockenheim and set up camp on the start/finish straight at Hockenheim, just positioning the truck on Schumi's skid marks where he fell off the track at the start this year, ho ho!", says Steve. "We got the car ready and did a warm-up, no problems. Up bright and early on Friday, prepped the car and did a warm up, disaster! A couple of push rods busted. We have been struggling with an oil starvation problem since the beginning of the season. So thinking hats on, then we had a bit of luck: the track wasn't doing its stuff, cars were not getting traction so there would be a delay while they sorted the track. We used the time to fettle the car, putting oil lines everywhere to get oil into the heads and fired the car up. Sorted! Thinking caps were stored away for future use!
©Eurodragster.com
"With the track crews working all hours to get the track suitable to race we were ready to go for the qualifier on Saturday. So with more oil in the heads than the deserts of Saudi (well, more than you could sheik a stick at), Dez snaked down the track to a 6.398/361.13 Kmh. The car had performed, Dez had performed, the team had performed, and during the night the girl in the tent across the way...oh, that's another story! On Saturday evening we towed the body down to the start for the 'Gathering', we had not finished the motor so we turned up with the body, to stand on the track with all the motors running was just awesome.

"In the first round eliminations on Sunday we were paired with Niclas Andersson, the track was improving all the time as more rubber was being laid. Dez did a 6.113/361.31 pass, it was a very very close run with us losing to Andersson who ran a 6.095/385.35 pass.

"So that was the end of our meeting, however we were all pleased that the car was in one piece and running as sweet as a nut - a nut that is covered in honey. The boys from Krivan drag racing would like to thank the girls from Krivan drag racing for their support over the long weekend. We would also like to mention the UK's FAST team, thanks to some of their number for being there and also for their quick reaction time when Martin Lindkvist flamed down the track. Also congrats to our fellow Swiss racers - Peter Beck, Urs Erbacher, Peter Wacker and Bruno Bader for doing the business."

Weekend thanks.
27th August: UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Smax Smith has retaken the lead in the FIA European Championship after making it to the semi finals of the Nitrolympics in the Purple Loans-sponsored rail. Smax dropped us a quick line and promises more soon. "I'd just like to say a quick Thank You to Knut Soderquist, Alan Jackson, all my team, and all the fans who supported us on the german leg of the Tour", says Smax. "We set low ET and top speed in competition as well as regaining my points lead, so going to the Finals with everyone playing catch-up is great! The track was very tricky so Al starred - we ran 5.14 and 290 mph smoking the tires for three hundred feet! we had Tommy Möller covered in the semis but our blower belt snapped at 1100 feet handing him the win - but thats drag racing, ask Øvyor Jacobsen and Andy Carter! The competition will be wanting to knock the smile off my face going to Santa Pod - no chance! We are ecstatic!"

The UK's Dave Gibbons returned to the track after nearly twenty years at the weekend, and showed that he had lost none of his touch since the days of Rough Diamond as he blew away his personal best and broke out by a mere 0.6 seconds at the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. "I�d like to take this opportunity to publically send a huge debt of gratitude to Paul Marston for allowing me the opportunity to drive the Alien altered", says Dave. "As well as Paul thanks must also go to the regular PMR team of Sam, Mick and young Max, and of course my wife Alli for making it possible, as well as the staff and crew of Shakespeare County Raceway. OK, so it�s been nineteen years since I put in a full pass on a drag strip, and OK I redlit with a .488 on a .500 tree, and I broke out too! But to be able to run a 7.87 at 165 mph on only my second full pass was just fantastic, it all came back to me real quick! The best I ran in Rough Diamond was an 8.64. Having no data on the car we always figured on being first round fodder. The plan was simply get the car down the track, find out how quick it was and have some fun - we succeeded on all points. It was also great to see so many old (sic) faces again, and to be racing in a class with previous adversaries such as Steve Johnson, Barry Giles and Mick Cheley. I only got to nod to a few people, but managed a chat with a few more. I have no idea if or when I�ll be back again, but I�m re-licenced now so who knows. Alli and I will go back to occasionally going round corners again (sorry about that) and see what happens. We�ll be at the Brighton Speed Trials again this year, but sadly not in a PMR car. Finally, as this may have been a one-off, I�m hoping that one of our illustrious photographers got a couple of decent shots of the car for posterity, if so then I can be mailed on gibb@webtribe.net."
©Eurodragster.com
Another returnee at Shakespeare County Raceway was UK Pro ET racer Chris Johnson although his absence was not quite as long as Dave's. Chris announced his return with a 9.500 on a 9.50 dial-in with his beautiful MG Rover race car. "It must be third time lucky", says Chris. "After the disappointment of low oil pressure last year and destroying the engine at the beginning of the season, to go to Shakespeare purely to see if we could get from one end of the track to the other and having number one qualifier on our first full pass down the track was icing on the cake! We would like to thank all of our sponsors that have stayed with us: Viking Garages, Scorpion Racing, Owslebury Crankshafts, Oran and Alresford Motor Services. We hope to do them proud at our next race, the European Finals at Santa Pod. We will be attending the Press Day next Wednesday to get my rusty right thumb some much needed practice on the transbrake - this will hopefully avoid another early bath!"

UK Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Ian Hook almost called it a day at the weekend after suffering engine damage, but luckily was talked out of it and went on to win the event, his first win in six seasons. "I'd like to say thanks to all those who've mailed and phoned to congratulate us", says Fatty. "I'd also like to say a big thanks to my crew, the Fat Boys, who kept me going on the Saturday when I felt like throwing the towel in, as well as to all of our sponsors and Associates. A report on the CCSE action and the latest CCSE points are now available on my web site at www.fbracing.co.uk.

Custom Car Street Eliminator welcomed another contestant at Shakespeare County Raceway, and Steve Large, whose immaculate Zodiac turned heads all weekend, tells us that 'welcomed' is the operative word. "I'd like to say thank you to every one in CCSE for making us welcome at our first meeting", says Steve. "Although alternator gremlins put paid to our weekend after five or six miles of the cruise (the furthest it has been driven) we enjoyed ourselves immensely having achieved what we had set out to do, which was to make the observed runs and to get my license signed. Running 11.93 on my first full pass was more than we could have hoped for. The interest in the car from fellow racers and spectators was phenomenal and took me by surprise somewhat, but was very satisfying after a seven-year build. Finally thanks to Neale (co-owner of the car), to our crewman Keith, and to Roger and Ruth who came up from Kent to support us."

New SCR track records.
27th August: Thanks to APIRA Press Officer Jerry Cookson for confirming the weekend's new track records at Shakespeare County Raceway. They are:

Fuel Funny Car: 5.383 seconds, John Spuffard
Super Modified: 182.93mph, Graham Ellis
Custom Car Street Elininator: 8.441 seconds, Steve Pateman

You can find the full track records list on the APIRA web site at www.apira.org.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Wayne Schreier of Shakespeare County Raceway's tech crew has very kindly forwarded us the weekend's ladders, which you can view by clicking here, or by clicking on the Timing Data link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Fireforce diary still filling.
27th August: The UK's Fireforce Jet Funny Car team have added several more dates to their calendar, says team owner and driver Martin Hill. "This Saturday, 30th August, sees us in the Republic of Ireland for the first time at a show just outside Dublin, which will see Fireforce 2 performing two flame and vapour shows", says Martin. "Fireforce 2 will then be at the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod. Fireforce 1 will be at Ringwood at Bournemouth on Saturday 21st September for a Hot Hatch show, then the following weekend will be at the National Finals at the Pod. 12th October sees Fireforce 1 at Mallory Park for a show during the Bike racing, and Fireforce 2 will be off on its holidays to the event in Greece, but it will be back in time for the Halloween event at Avon Park, where we will be looking to reset our track record established back in May."
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
27th August: The Racebilder web site at www.racebilder.nu has been updated with a number of great pictures from the Scandinavian Dragracing Championship Finals which recently took place at Landskrona.

On the same weekend that Cannon was suffering a mystery lack of boost on his Fuel bike, the UK's Team Fang suffered very similar problems whilst at 'secret' tests in Devon, says Carl Wadkin-Snaith. "Our supercharger shaft sheared, still at least we haven't broken a blower belt...yet". You can find a full report and pictures at www.thefang.co.uk/news2003.htm.
©Eurodragster.com
Ultimate Power Champions.
26th August: We are indebted to UK National and APIRA Championship Co-ordinator Simon Groves for forwarding us the provisional final Championship standings in the 2003 Ultimate Power Drag Racing Championship, which ended at the weekend's Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway.

Congratulations to the Champions, subject to ratification:

Fuel Funny Car: John Spuffard
Top Methanol: Doug Bond
Pro Modified: Gordon Appleton
Super Modified: Danny Cockerill
Super Pro ET: Barry Giles
Pro ET: Team Top Banana
Sportsman ET: Mark Anderson
Super Comp: Tim Adam
Super Gas: Malcolm Francis
Super Street: Mike Bentley
Junior Dragster: Colin Morrice
Custom Car Street Eliminator: Steve Pateman
Wild Bunch: Alec Coe
Outlaw Anglia: Paul Hensher
©Eurodragster.com
Top Fuel Bike: Steve Woollatt
Funny Bike: Neil Midgley
Pro Stock Bike: Richard Gipp
Comp Bike: Phil Leamon
Super Street Bike: Karl Larcombe
9.90 Bike: Wayne Hobbs
10.90 Bike: David Warren
Junior Drag Bike: Jennifer Hurcomb

You can see the full provisional Championship standings by clicking here.

FIA European Finals entry list.
26th August: We are indebted to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for forwarding us the official entry list for the FIA European Finals, which takes place at Santa Pod on 5th-7th September.
©Eurodragster.com
The entry is one of the largest ever seen at Santa Pod Raceway and in the European Championship classes comprises nine Top Fuel Dragsters, currently five Fuel Funny Cars, four Top Methanol Dragsters, eleven Top Methanol Funny Cars, eight Pro Stocks, twenty NDRS Bilsport Pro Modifieds, eighteen Top Fuel Bikes, nine Supertwins and twelve Pro Stock Bikes. The UK National Championship classes are also heavily subscribed with five Comp Eliminator, twenty two Super Pro ET, twenty nine Pro ET, twenty Sportsman ET, twelve Super Comp, twelve Super Gas, thirteen Super Street, fourteen Junior Dragsters, thirty two 9.90 Bikes (including a sizeable Super Street Bike contingent) and twelve 10.90 Bike.

You can view what must be the most eagerly-awaited entry list of the year by clicking here.

For ticket prices and other information check out Santa Pod Raceway's official web site at www.santapod.com or call 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44 1234 782828).

Racers: It's not too early to send us your FIA European Finals previews, nor too late to send your Nitrolympics and Allstar Nationals reviews. Drop us a line at news@eurodragster.com and we'll post your news here.

Comfortable Carey.

26th August: Europe's newest Top Fuel Bike racer Steve Carey made his competitive début at the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway at the weekend (right). Steve was robbed of the chance to race by a fluid leak in the first round of competition but told Eurodragster that he enjoyed his qualifying passes very much on the ex-Roald Dogge Purple Princess II.

"My previous personal best was a low twelve", said Steve, "and that was on a wobbly Triumph! I'm getting more comfortable each time I go out. If I remember to change gear I might go quicker!". Steve planned to take his first passes down the track at the Speedfreaks Ball at Santa Pod Raceway in May, but the engine cut out after the burnout on both attempts. "We changed the idle and the clutch and that seems to have done the trick", he said.
©Eurodragster.com
Steve started his career in the mid-1980s by putting a nitrous kit on a street bike and then moved into Supertwins, racing to the end of the decade on a Triumph. "I renewed my licence each year", he said. "I saw the Purple Princess for sale on Roald's web site last August, ,so I went over to Holland to take a look at it. Russ Cook started the build and Roald then bought and finished it, and put in a Phil Baimbridge engine. I bought the and we have left it as it was as a tribute to the work which Roald did."

Steve is sponsored by Rossett's Commercials of Eastbourne, Bikes of Brighton, Eastbourne Sign Works, and Paul Brinley, and he is supported by crew John Bewick, Graham Banfield, Paul Webster, Perry Reeves and Team Nurse Annette.

Steve's next outing is planned to the the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway where he will be one of eighteen contesting FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike.

Nitro FC Championship points.
26th August: We are indebted to British Nitro Funny Car Championship Co-ordinator Jim Broome for forwarding us the standings after the Allstar Nationals:
©Eurodragster.com
1. John Spuffard 354
2. Gordon Smith 290
3. Lex Joon 93
4. Gary Page 75
5. Leif Helander 15

Allstar Nationals results.
25th August: Congratulations to the winners at this weekend's Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway:

Fuel Funny Car: John Spuffard 5.641/190.68 def. Gordon Smith 16.364/64.94
Top Methanol: Steph Milam 6.308/219.57, Doug Bond broke
Super Modified: Graham Ellis 7.511/182.93 def. Andy Hone 7.861/173.08
Super Pro ET: Barry Giles (7.70) 7.709/169.81 def. Al Golding (8.94) 8.955/149.01 red light
Pro ET: Bob Doyle (10.35) 10.372/131.58 def. Lee Huxley (10.90) 10.824/120.64 breakout
Sportsman ET: Mark Anderson (13.02) 13.132/102.27 def. Matt Attwood (13.85) 13.800/94.74 breakout
Super Comp: Tim Adam 9.013/145.63 def. Phil Bennett 9.031/141.96
Super Gas: Peter Lane 9.942/140.19 def. Martin Curbishley 9.895/141.96 breakout
Super Street: Mike Bentley 10.917/130.43, Bob Lees broke
Junior Dragster: Collin Morrice (9.30) 9.293/67.57 def. Joe Bond (9.50) 9.437/67.16 red light
Custom Car Street Eliminator: Ian Hook 9.276/151.01 def. Andy Frost 18.918/64.66
Outlaw Anglia: Paul Hensher 8.849/153.06 def. Pete Ashworth 9.025/145.16
Wild Bunch: Gareth Kent (12.42) 12.524/102.51 def. Tom Coe (11.40) 11.313/113.35 breakout
©Eurodragster.com
Top Fuel Bike: Steve Woollatt 7.105/177.17 was unopposed
Funny Bike: Neil Midgley 12.470/46.06 def. Dave Holland 7.309/180.00 red light
Pro Stock Bike: Dave Beck 7.536/171.76 def. Richard Gipp 7.689/169.81
Comp Bike: Phil Leamon 8.550/154.11 def. Paul Newman 10.836/127.12
Super Street Bike: Dave Bailey 8.334/169.17 def. Graham Dance 8.421/173.08
9.90 Bike: Wayne Hobbs 9.854/145.16 def. Richard Sawatzki 9.831/127.12 lesser breakout
10.90 Bike: David Warren 11.925/97.61 def. Paul Coombs 11.984/117.80
Supertwin Fuel: Chris Stebbings 10.960/83.49, Jerry Collier broke
Supertwin Gas: George Laycock 9.819/131.58 def. Ric Naylor 10.412/121.29
Supertwin Modified: TJ O'Brien 9.941/134.73 def. Dave Bartz 11.527/110.84
Supertwin Street: Mark Earrey 10.431/129.68 def. Ian Tomsett 11.055/123.63
Junior Drag Bike: Jennifer Hurcomb (10.00) 13.135/43.90 def. Jake Carruthers (13.00) 16.388/41.32

The Allstar Nationals included a new world record as Jerry Collier recorded 8.890 on his RD400 Supertwin, a new national speed record in Fuel Funny Car of 272.73 set by John Spuffard in the newly-rebodied Showtime FC, and several track records. Less enjoyable were a top end fireball suffered by Fuel FC racer Lex Joon in the MPM Oil-sponsored Avenger and Dick Sharp's finish line crash in the Dorset Horn altered, but both racers escaped serious injury.

Super Gas and Super Comp racer Tim Adam took Eurodragster's Perfect Light Award of £50 with a 0.400 light in qualifying on Sunday.

You can view our American Car Imports-sponsored reports and pictures by clicking here, or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Gareth Evans has also posted end-day reports and photographs from Shakespeare County Raceway on his UK1320 web site at www.uk1320.com.

Nitrolympics FIA, FIM/UEM report.
25th August: Our good buddy Christer Abrahamson of Svensk Dragracing very kindly sent us one last race report from the Nitrolympics, covering yesterday's FIA and FIM/UEM eliminations.

Very good racing today indeed. My own unofficial calculations (including the teams) say that we have four new European champions. Roel Koedam, who won Top Fuel Bike at the event, Urs Erbacher, who won Top Methanol Funny Car at the event, Michael Malmgren who won Pro Stock at the event and Roger Pettersson who won Pro Stock Bike at the event! But if my calculations are right we have a battle between no less that four racers who can win the Top Fuel Championship during the European Finals!

In Top Fuel Peter Beck really made a point in the first round running a 5.16 to take Kim Reymond out! Smax took Kågered out in the first round and Tommy M�ller took Smax out in the semis. So at the end it was Möller v Beck. And it was a very good drag race between them with Peter Beck winning the event at the same track that he run his last race before his two year absence from the sport. The ETs were 5.21 for Peter to Tommy's losing 5.26.

Roel Koedam took the win in Top Fuel Bike after being the low qualifier. The final was actually an easy match for him defeating Peter Bosset, 6.43 to a losing 7.29.

Top Methanol Dragster had guess who in the final. Yes you are right! Peter Sch�fer and Dave Wilson, the two who have shown such an extraordinary performance through this season. Peter Sch�fer took a homeground victory with a 5.64 to a 5.76. The American Car Imports team did fantastic work changing the complete engine before final since they blew a hole in the previous engine defeating Rob Turner in the semis.
©Eurodragster.com
Fredde Fagerstr�m made everyone look foolish when he took out the #1 qualifier Ulf Leanders. Later Urs Erbacher was too much for Fredde. Niclas Andersson had a good racing weekend finishing up as third qualifier and taking Dezoe Krivan out in the first round and Leif Andreasson in the semi. In doing that he blew his engine and the team worked very hard to change the engine and repairing the intake manifold. During the last ten minutes they actually had Niclas strapped in to the car with his helmet on. Sadly they were about four minutes late and couldn't do it to the final where they should have met Urs Erbacher. So it was an easy win for Urs.

It was very interesting racing in Super Twin where all top three in the top of the Championship went into the Semis. Ton Pels defeated Rob van Geffen who had the longest reaction time I've seen in the class! Per Bengtsson took Ronny Aasen out on his way to the final. Ton had a slight head start in the final but Per was drifting left, in the left lane. At about 150 metres he hit the concrete wall and was sliding towards the wall for a long while before being able to take the bike away from it.

There was a big upset in Pro Stock in the first round when Christer "Guten" Andersson took low qualifier Jan Mur�n out of competition with a holeshot. After very good and tight racing Michael Malmgren and Magnus Hansson were in the final. Michael run a 7.16 from Hansson's losing 7.42.

Roger Pettersson claimed the Pro Stock Bike Championship in the first round and went to the final round defeating among others his temporary team mate Helen Curran. The final was between the two old rivals Roger and Anders Larsson. Anders pulled a red light (stage foul?) and it was Roger all the way.

Nitrolympics results.
24th August: Peter Beck (Top Fuel Dragster), Peter Schöfer (Top Methanol Dragster), Urs Erbacher (Top Methanol FC), and Michael Malmgren (Pro Stock) were the FIA-class winners, and Roel Koedam (Top Fuel Bike), Ton Pels (Supertwin) and Roger Pettersson (Pro Stock Bike) were the FIM/UEM-class winners at this weekend's Nitrolympics at Hockenheim.

You can find Nitrolympics results at www.nitrolympics.de/ergeb_main.html, as well as Top Fuel and Top Methanol FC results on the Kågered Racing web site at www.kagered-racing.com, and Top Methanol FC on Dan Larsen's web site at www.funnycar.dk and Leif Andréasson's site at www.andreassonmotorsports.com. The Turner Racing Top Methanol Dragster team have also posted reports on their web site at www.turnerracing.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Nitrolympics Day 3 notes.
24th August: Our good buddy Christer Abrahamson of Svensk Dragracing has been in touch again from Hockenheim with some pit notes for which we are very grateful.

10:15 There are nitro warm-ups going on all around me at the moment and my eyes are watering There should be a law against reporters being so stupid that they choose the Top Fuel pit area to write the morning report!

I have heard a lot about the Night Show at this place, but it went beyond all my expectations! Just to hear the gigantic crowd cheering whistling and blowing their horns makes goosebumps come up all over my arms, even today when I think about it. A number of different jet vehicles made a good show. The guy with two small jet engines strapped to his back going on rollerblades was just awsome! Qualifying was really good yesterday afternoon. The teams are running a little bit slower than usual, but it is obvious that some teams have adjusted quicker to different conditions.

Top three in Pro Stock are Jan Mur�n 7.173/314, Michael Malmgren 7.199/317 and Jimmy �lund 7.201/315. Top Methanol Dragster put up a great and tight show, as always, even if they are just three of them here. Qualifying is Peter Sch�fer 5.649/403, Rob Turner 5.654/403 and Dave Wilson 5.734/389.
©Eurodragster.com
Martin Lundqvist's Top Methanol Funny Car caught fire right before the finish line during the afternoon session yeasterday. Martin was OK but there is a lot of damage to the car and the body looks just awful. "I saw the fire and immediately released my fire extinguisers", he said. "That was not enough and it was getting hotter and hotter by the seconds so I braked as hard as possible. When the car slowed down a little I undid my belts and and actually stood up in the car pulling the brake handle. I was out of the car almost before it stopped and the fire crew arrived within seconds. Actually the worst thing was standing there and watch my car in flames". The team will try to repair the car for the European finals with some help from Hans Kadi.

Leif Andréasson had a problem-filled day, ending up in the last qualifying session without a previous run. He made it to second spot but it cost him an engine so they changed the engine during the night. The top three are Ulf Leanders 6.028/374, Leif Andreasson 6.059/349 and Niclas Andersson 6.067/388. Fredde Fagerstr�m and Jurgen Nagel are outside the eight-car field, but Fredde will fill Martin's place.

In Top Fuel Dragster, Peter Beck did his engine in his first pass yesterday and the Fjeld Motorsport team has spent a lot of time rebuilding that one. The Fjeld Team had a lot to do also working on Brady Kalivoda's car and Rico's car which was used in the Night Show. The top three are Kim Reymond 5.24/451, Smax Smith 5.386/414 and Brady Kalivoda 5.583/341.

I am really sorry that I don't have any notes from the bike classes, but they always clash with th ework which I am doing in the pit area.

Nitrolympics Day 2 notes.

22nd August: 20:30 Joan Larsen of Dan Larsen's Top Methanol FC team wrote with news of a frightening-looking meltdown which Swedish TMFC racer Martin Lindkvist suffered at Hockenheim earlier today.

"The engine burned", says Joan. "At the moment they are not sure about what happened. The burst plate has gone from the blower though. They will take it apart and see what happened.

"Martin says that he will try to get to Santa Pod, but look at this picture. If he is to make it to Santa Pod then he will have to work very hard."

Our good buddy Christer Abrahamson of Svensk Dragracing has also been in touch from Hockenheim with more news.
©Eurodragster.com

12:30 All credit to the Hockenheim track crew who worked until early this morning prepping the track. Pro Stock saw Jan Mur�n run 7.173 in the first pairing this morning. Jimmy �lund shook the tyres hard and aborted the run. Magnus Hansson and Rune Berg ran 7.31 and 7.32. Then a couple of teams shook tyres and in the last pairing last pair Michael Malmgren ran a 7.19 pass. In Top Fuel Kim Reymond went up in smoke fifty metrtes out and shut off, idling to the finish line, 9.72. Tommy M�ller and Micke K�gered went together, Micke smoked the tyres and went back on it producing a 7.44. Tommy ran a 5.63 making black stripes all the way to the finnish line. Smax was all over the track in his run but ran a 5.38 to take the low qualifying spot. Peter Beck lifted the blower at a hundred metres, whilst Brady lifted early. I had a quick walk in the pits, Kim says everything is OK. Micke droped a valve and they dont know at the moment how much damage it caused. Smax found a lot of metal in the oil but too early to say anything about any problems. Peter Beck is going for an engine change.

SPR seek Press Day stars.
23rd August: Santa Pod Raceway are seeking more racers to make demonstration passes at the FIA European Finals Press Day, which takes place on Wednesday 3rd September. A large number of media usually attend this event which will give racers and their sponsors an unrivalled chance for exposure and, Caroline adds, there are other benefits.

"Not only does it keep the media entertained, but's a great opportunity to sneak in some extra track time!", says Caroline Day of Santa Pod Raceway. "As ever, I'll be happy to put up a few extra European Finals tickets to those who want to come along."
©Eurodragster.com
If you would be interested in appearing at the FIA European Finals Press Day, then please drop Caroline an E-Mail at caroline@santapod.fsnet.co.uk with some information about your team, or call her direct on 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44 1234 782828).

Night Event III.
23rd August: The Malta Drag Racing Association are organising their fifth event of the season, the third Night Event at Hal Far Raceway next weekend (29th-31st August).

"The main attraction as usual will be Top Methanol Dragster with three competitors", says MDRA President Anthony Borda. "We should see some great races especially between the National record holder, Mario Borg of Borg Brothers with their impeccable Small Block Dragster with the help of Bernie Hepworth, against the Elbros' Yellow Mighty Fontana Dragster, which lately is being tuned by Carmel Ellul, John's Brother. As well as Top Methanol, there will be more dragsters competing with regular fuel, Pro Stock cars, and lots of other cars, bikes and the mighty Diesel-powered trucks. Spectators will be able to watch races on the big screen once again - they love to watch the finish line from the start line!"
©Eurodragster.com
You can find more details, and everything you could want to know about the Maltese racing scene, on the excellent MDRA web site at www.maltadragracing.com.

Nitrolympics Day 1 notes.
22nd August: Our good buddy Christer Abrahamson of Svensk Dragracing is at Hockenheim for the Nitrolympics, and will be endeavouring to send us reports as his TV duties allow.

19:30 The track picked up a lot during the afternoon, but still a way from what we are used to. All credit to the track crew though, they are working really hard out there now after the race. They really want the track in a lot better state. Top Fuel only had two cars out with Brady Kalivoda making a pass which sounded like he still had the throttle stop on, and Peter Beck just doing a test pass in the car that which we were used to seeing Øyvor Jacobsen driving. The K�gered crew made a miracle set-up in Niclas Andersson's Top Methanol Funny Car, and he ran 6.28 for low qualifier. The leaders are:

Top Fuel - Brady Kalivoda 8.24/289.68
Top Methanol Dragster - Peter Schöfer 6.94
Top Methanol Funny Car - Niclas Andersson 6.289/379.62
Pro Stock - Michael Malmgren 8.085
Pro Mod - Andy Robinson 7.435/324.22
Comp - Gerd Habermann -0.689 (7.301)
Super Gas - Jan Hardekopf 9.902
Top Fuel Bike - Siegmar Kloss 8.07
Super Twin Bike - Thomas Sulek 8.869
Pro Stock Bike - Anders Larsson 7.66

Gruss gott - I'm off for a beer now!

17:30 Everything here is just amazing. Big, well-organized and wonderful facilities, a new huge grandstand! There is not much to be said about the traction at all right now. Pro Stock wouldn't run before the lunch break and the track crew spent the break sledding rubber. Schöfer and Wilson ran and the Turners went back to the pits after watching them. I guess that the track crew will be working all night. I thought maybe they were cancelling the last session but right now Top Fuel are coming out from the pits, and the other FIA/UEM classes are also preparing to run.
©Eurodragster.com
11:30 This facility is huge! It is much bigger than I thought! It is fascinating to see the Top Fuellers in the Formula 1 pit garages. I saw the Lorentzon and M�ller Top Fuel team talking together with very serious faces - more serious than I've ever seen them. So I just quietly passed them assuming that they were talking about engine and clutch set-up. They were talking about pancakes, jam and the lack of cream!

More of the same as and when Christer is able.

VWDRC Allstars.
22nd August: The UK's Volkswagen Drag Racing Club makes its annual pilgrimage to Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend as seven of the VWDRC's finest will be attempting to win Sportsman ET, writes Spencer Tramm. The seven strong group is headed by Chairman Cath Bishop in her buggie Rosie. Cath is a multi-Championship winning driver in Street VW. Fellow committee member Steve Lee managed a runner-up at SCR in 2001 and will be aiming to go one better. This year Steve will be accompanied by former crew chief Graham Fairhead in his Type 3 Fastback. Graham currently sits second in Sportsman VW points.
©Eurodragster.com
Neil Davies will be hoping to carry on the form he showed at Bug Jam where he took the win over a thirty car field and took �500 in prize money after he and fellow Sportsman drivers beat Pro VW in a shootout on the Saturday of Bug Jam. Matt Attwood in his Rover V8-powered Fastback is not only the current Champion but also the points leader in this year's Alternative Engine class. Matt's car is proving the model of consistency with high thirteen-second runs. Rounding out the group are VWDRC rookies Sarah Rollin and Mike Geraghty, Sarah has been impressing many under the tutelage of Scotty Evison and Mike is proving a handful with the more established racers, as he has never lost a first round!

This will be the third year in which the VWDRC have mixed with the National class bracket racers, and the Club hopes to make a full return with its three classes to Shakespeare County Raceway in the near future.

Whilst we're on the subject of the Allstar Nationals, Lee Child of promoter LA Performance Services tells us that the Red Arrows are due to perform one of their breathtaking displays over Long Marston Airfield, which houses Shakespeare County Raceway, tomorrow afternoon (Saturday). The display is scheduled to commence at 4:25 pm.

Wild Bunch finish first Series.
22nd August: The UK's Wild Bunch nostalgia racers had a great round at the UK Northern Nationals at York Dragway, writes Championship Co-ordinator Claire Meaddows. The York round saw the conclusion of the Roy Wilding Nostalgia Race Cars Series, one of four Wild Bunch Championships.

"We had a seventeen-car field at York", says Claire. The winner of the Roy Wilding Nostalgia Race Cars Series was Joe Stevens, WB 1, in the Back in Black altered, second place was Tommy 'Gun' Coe, WB 33, in the Psycho slingshot, third place were Tony Smith and Dave Williams, WB 2, in the Cunning Plan Minivan altered, and fourth place was Crazy Chris Hartnell, WB 3, in the Backdraft slingshot.

"Some of the highlights of the York Summer Showdown at the UK Northern Nationals were: Joe Stevens and Tony Smith exactly the same off their dial-in in the first round (.012), plus Joe's PB of 10.515, three tenths off his previous best; Chris Hartnell running 9.493/136.98 mph; Tony Wynne-Jones' first run in the elevens with an 11.824; Clayton Round running a 9.761 on his first-ever run with a new Chevy lump with injection system; Sid Slattery's slingshot pulling a huge wheelie on the way to a 12.158 PB; Derek Annable running 8.453 and an 8.594 on an 8.50 dial-in in the Brenda's Life Force Top Methanol Dragster - fourth place after two rounds; and Tom Coe's début as a magician, received very well by a crowd of a hundred plus - watch out for his second show at the Allstars.

"Plus good old Northern hospitality! Many thanks to all the hard-working marshals and officials, and promoter Steve Murty for another great event at York Dragway!

"The Allstar Nationals will be Round 5 of the Wild Bunch Series, as well as Round 7 of our main sponsor's Real Steel Series. There is still everything to play for in the Ultimate Power Series. Alec Coe is hoping to continue his good run, hotly followed by Ray Ford, and Chris Hartnell has been tuning and hoping to improve his ET's again. They are followed by Mark Coulsell and quite a few others who are still in hot contention for the coveted first Ultimate Power Series Championship! So we're all looking forward to this weekend as it should see some really exciting close racing again!"

You can find the official Wild Bunch web site at www.the-wild-bunch.co.uk.

SPR European Finals latest.
22nd August: Thanks to Rick Cuthbert of Santa Pod Raceway for letting us know that popular UK ticket agent Ticketmaster is now taking on-line credit and debit card bookings for the FIA European Finals. "This will be of particular use to our overseas visitors", says Rick, "but please note that a booking fee may apply". You can book European Finals tickets on-line with Ticketmaster by clicking here.

Rick also tells us that the Pod Shop and trailers will be selling a new range of Santa Pod goods at the European Finals, including limited-edition T-shirts and a new range of die-cast car and bike models from both the UK and the USA.
©Eurodragster.com
Meanwhile Kelly Ingall of Santa Pod tells us that bookings are now being taken for the new VIP Suite and balcony on the pit side of the track (previously the Press Office - Ed). Santa Pod are offering a hospitality package for £149 which includes weekend admission; one day's VIP/hospitality which includes access to the new Suite, marquee, dedicated grandstand seat, catering and more. For more details or to make bookings contact Kelly by E-Mail at kelly@santapod.fsnet.co.uk or call 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44 1234 782828).

The latest news we have on the entry for the FIA European Finals is that five Fuel funny Cars will contest the final round of the British Nitro FC Championship, and that FIM/UEM Pro Stock Bike now numbers twelve. Super Pro ET and Sportsman ET stand at twenty two and twenty respectively. Stay tuned for the official list which will be available soon.

Wells hails WRE test...
22nd August: UK Pro ET racer Steve Wells has written to publically thank everyone involved in Wednesday's Webster Race Engineering Test Day at Santa Pod Raceway.
©Eurodragster.com
"It was the best £120 I have spent in a long time", says Steve. "The race track was by far the best-prepped track I have ever tested on, better than I have raced on some occasions. The track was so good that even my truck went straight, at least until I started to fiddle! Jon's advice was great and he was very helpful. All in all a great day and worth every penny."

...as does Sparky.
22nd August: Bike racer Mark 'Sparky' Wiffen also had a great day at Santa Pod on Wednesday. "I smashed my goal of running my first nine on my road-legal Horsepower Shootout GSX1100G Sparky's Hippo with a first nitrous run of 9.49", says Sparky. "I improved later in the day to 9.33 running a very tired motor and only a sniff of gas, with a best sixty foot of 1.46 (cheers Grumpy!) My gearbox shift problems were eradicated and then a whooping 0.75s taken off my previous PB of 10.08. Thanks to Paulie 'Safe Pair of Hands' Cranfield, and the excellent track and testing conditions provided by Jon Webster and Santa Pod."
©Eurodragster.com
Mark tells us that the bike was Big CC/Streetfighters Horsepower Shootout runner-up in 2001 and 2002 with 295 bhp and, running normally aspirated, won the Streetlegal Unlimited class at the Ramsey Sprint in 2002.

Web site updates.
22nd August: The new official web site of the European Pro Mod Racers Association is, in the words of webmaster Patrik, "Working correctly" (it always looked just fine to us - Ed). The EPMA web site at www.promod.nu is a credit to the class, professionally-presented in both English and Swedish and featuring news, rules, results, points, team run-down, pictures and much more.
©Eurodragster.com
Alan Currans has been in touch with news of the latest update to his Acceleration Archive which is rapidly becoming essential viewing if you like your Nostalgia. "Andy Barrack has been a good friend and frequent contributor to the site, helping me out with missing information more times than I can remember", says Alan. "It is therefore a particular pleasure for me to be able to show you his pictures which I am sure you will find as interesting as I do. Andy has adopted a novel format for his first page by comparing pictures taken in the 1970s with quite recent shots. You will see how great oaks can grow from little acorns...". You can find Alan's web site at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk.

10.66 and all that.

21st August: If you have been tuned in over the last week or so you will have read more than a few references to the latest student of Paul Marston's Driving School, who was due to take the wheel of the Grumpy's Dodge Super Gasser at yesterday's Webster Race Engineering Test Day.

That student was none other than Eurodragster staffer Tog, who spent a very exciting and enjoyable day under Paul Marston's tutelage (right). Although not officially applying for a competition licence, Tog followed licencing procedures with burnouts and progressively longer runs culminating in a full pass of 10.669/126.05 on his fifth pass of the day.
©Eurodragster.com
"If Tog had been officially licencing then I would have signed his licence", said Santa Pod's International Race Director Darren Prentice at the end of the day. "With a couple more full passes under his belt I would be more than happy to take a passenger ride with Tog driving."

"This has got to count as one of the best days of my entire life", said Tog. "I have been a fan of drag racing since 1976 and driving a race car has been a dream since the beginning. I can tell you that the reality was even better than the dream, and also that it is nowhere near as easy as every racer makes it look. Actually taking the wheel has given me a much better appreciation of what racers go through and hopefully will make my reports that bit better.

"When I write the feature for Eurodragster there will be a full list of Thank Yous, but I am very grateful indeed to Paul Marston for his excellent training and patience, and to Paul's wife Sam and son Max and crew member David for all of their help yesterday. A big Thank You also to Fay Fischer for the loan of a firesuit, and to Sharkman for his solid support and encouragement and for some excellent pictures."

Tog's Super Gas drive will be the subject of a special feature on Eurodragster very soon.

On a similar subject Sam Gardiner, who won the Junior Dragster Driving Experience donated by Santa Pod Raceway to Eurodragster's Fifth Birthday Give-Away, took his drive at Santa Pod's Run What You Brung last Sunday. "Chris' best time was 17.01 and his best speed was 37.01", says dad Trevor. "He's sold on it now and wants more power! Sam had three solo runs and then a race with another Junior, the pressure got to him and he red-lit! Thanks are due to Chris and Ricky Emms for their patience, to Kelly at SPR for sorting all this out and Eurodragster for putting up the prize!"

Kågered takes nothing for granted.
21st August: Swedish Top Fuel Dragster racer and FIA Championship leader Micke Kågered isn't taking his points lead for granted as he goes into this weekend's Nitrolympics at Hockenheim, says Team Manager Åsa Kinnemar. "Top Fuellers are tricky machines, and you can never know for sure whether or not things will turn out as planned", says Åsa. "However, Micke says that he likes the track in Hockenheim very much as he always feel so safe driving there. The actual strip has a very high standard of security, both in the way it is built and the staff around it. Micke is looking forward to this race and is more eager than he has been all season now that the car is working better. We know that the Hockenheim track can be tricky to adjust the cars to, and it is Micke's first time ever in a Top Fueller at the track, but if the confidence he has in the car and his crew right now counts for something then he will go a long way."
©Eurodragster.com
Meanwhile, team-mate Niclas Andersson who drives the Sandflex-sponsored Top Methanol FC hasn't had such a successful season so far, says Åsa. "Niclas is new to Top Methanol and driving the Funny Car is more difficult than he anticipated", she says. "Having been used to winning a lot of events in Pro Stock category, Niclas is in an unfamiliar position. The car is a winning one, but we have to view this season a learning one for Niclas. It is getting better and better, but the improvements are not as rapid as Niclas might wish. However, we are aiming for a win at Hockenheim, the car will be set up to perform at its best, and we will see where that leads us. Urs Erbacher is a tough call and we know he has done great in the last seasons at Hockenheim, but we will try and give him the best shot we can, and as we have seen before even the best get in trouble sometimes."

The Kågered Racing web site at www.kagered-racing.com will be updated from Hockenheim over the weekend with qualifying and elimination results in Top Fuel Dragster and Top Methanol FC.

Weekend snippets.
21st August: Dutch Supertwin racer Ton Pels will have two other bikes on display at the Nitrolympics at Hockenheim this weekend, in addition to his 6.6-second bike. "We're bringing a beautiful 'Softail Sportster' and also a bike called 'Predator, which is a modified twin-cam softail with a paint job that matches the Godfather Dragbike", says Monique Pels. "Furthermore we will have some cool new goodies for sale, such as Zodiac Racing Coffee Mugs, our brand new Zodiac Racing T-shirts - which came in just two days ago - and of course the latest four-inch-thick Zodiac catalogue. If If you're coming to the Hockenheimring this weekend, come pay us a visit at the Zodiac pit."

After burning up a set of pistons in June, the UK's Wicked Lady Wild Bunch team have been burning the midnight oil to replace them, get the crankshaft trimmed and hardened and basically get the engine together for this weekend�s Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway, says Eddie Winship. Driver Denis Hawkins and Crew Chief Bob Callander are hoping that reduced compression will let the recently-replaced torque converter do its stuff, although the first couple of passes might have to concentrate on the first sixty feet.
©Eurodragster.com
This weekend's race at Shakespeare County Raceway will be the first event which the Czechmate Sportsman ET team will not be making the show, writes Jeff Rainbird. "Axeman's much better half Nicky is hanging on to the baby longer than expected", says Jeff. "As of this moment it's still not making an apperance, which has left me with no choice but to keep the Skoda in the workshop and race another day. I hope that Axeman can change nappies better than I can get the Skoda to change gear because Nicky will not spare him a serious tongue lashing. The Team Czechmate banner will be championed by Martin Lewis in the little Nova."

Sweden's AC Delco/Malmgren Racing Pro Stock team have welcomed a new team member just in time for the Nitrolympics. "Tomas the clutch wizard and Camilla the catering wizard had a lovely baby boy last week", says team member Magnus Cato. "Mother and child are fine. When Tomas and Camilla introduced their first baby to the Camaro, he immediately stood in the driver's seat with one hand on the wheel and the other hand on the gear shifter! What a talent. Now we are looking forward to bring our newest member to the workshop". Sharkman and Tog would like to send Tomas and Camilla our very best wishes, and we are sure that all of our readers will join us.

York Charity RWYB.
21st August: This Saturday afternoon (23rd), York Raceway will be holding its annual Rotary International Event, says York PR Howard Holmes. "This successful fund-raiser is in support of Polio Plus in its mission to rid the world of polio", writes Howard. "It's a 'fun' event, however it also provides the opportunity for a bit of RWYB and Test and Tune since it's all marshalled, TSI-timed etc. It's only �5 admission and �15 sign-on, fancy dress is optional! The only down side is that you may be paired against the likes of a '56 Rolls Royce Silver Summat rather than a Tri-Chevy. The track will be open from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm, so come and have a run with some fun and the rosy glow of knowing that it's all going to charity!
©Eurodragster.com
Wildside Rocks!
21st August: Whilst everyone else is busy racing this weekend, the UK's Wildside Inc Top Fuel Dragster team are doing their bit by helping Santa Pod Raceway to promote the FIA European Finals at the Lego Racers 200 event at Rockingham Motor Speedway, writes Lesley Wright.

"It�s going to be quite special as we�re going to do a burnout show in the pit lane during the lunch break", says Lesley. "The facility boasts 100% visibility from the 52,000 all-seater stadium and we�ll be on show after the Pick Up Truck Racing and before the headline race of the Days of Thunder ASCAR in the afternoon. There are also lots of activities for the kids with a Ramp Park, quad bikes and the Lego Activity Centre. If you are not going to Hockenheim or SCR, come by and see us on Sunday and have some fun!"
©Eurodragster.com
Schöfer set for home event.
20th August: FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champion Peter Schöfer and his team believe that they are on the right track going into this weekend's Nitrolympics at Hockenheim, which is the German team's home event. Top Methanol Dragster is currently the closest FIA Championship of 2003 with a mere six points between leader Dave Wilson and Peter, and the pair have been trading the lead and the records all season.
©Eurodragster.com
"We are looking forward to the Nitrolympics", says team member Gittli Koller. "Hockenheim is five hundred kilometres from our home town. We are very happy that it is back on the FIA calendar and we hope to run well there. After the race at Gardermoen where we ran the quickest ET outside the USA (5.43) and found some more speed (259 mph) we think we are going in the right direction. We learned a lot about the car in Norway and also about what can happen when a small part breaks - the car didn't start in the final."

You can find Peter Schöfer's web site at www.p-s-r.com.

Joon finds time for Fuel FC.
20th August: With a lot of work already on his hands such as moving house, promoting drag race events at Drachten and attending shows, Holland's Lex Joon has found the time to turn his mind to preparing his MPM International Oil Company-sponsored Dodge Avenger Fuel Funny Car for the this weekend's British Nitro FC Championship round at Shakespeare County Raceway, closely followed by the final round at the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway two weeks later. This will be Lex's second competitive outing in the FC, the first being at the FIA Main Event in May, although he has in the meantime pulled some spectacular burnouts at the events which he promotes at Drachten.

"In spite of the busy times we have been having, the whole team is looking forward to the two upcoming events in the UK", says Lex. "With the indispensible help of Gary Burgin, who helps us European racers to collect all the necessary parts which are made in the USA, we have managed to get things together in order for our two most interesting Funny Car races in the last decade. The LJR team have carefully checked the Fuel Funny car to be sure that nothing will impede my getting down the quarter mile."

"We will run our first five-second passes in the MPM Dodge Avenger at the Allstar Nationals", says Team Manager Gerda Dijkstra, who is looking forward to her first visit to Shakespeare County Raceway the Fuel FC. "Lex is Top Methanol FC track record holder at Shakespeare County and I know that he is looking forward to visiting the cosy track near Stratford Upon Avon. With the four cars attending this race the crowd can be sure they will see the best Funny Car action seen in Europe in a long time."
©Eurodragster.com
Gerda has designed new hero cards which will be available at the first time at Shakespeare County Raceway thie weekend. "During the Question and Answer session on Sunday morning Lex will hold an autograph session", she says. "This gives the fans the opportunity to talk to Lex, because during the weekend when he is working hard in his new office - which he enjoys very much - he almost has no time left to talk to them, although he thinks that fans are the most important tools in a good race.

"The Allstar Nationals the next step in the learning curve for our team. The crew is learning really quickly, and every opportunity is being taken to gain better knowledge on the car and nitro racing. We are very proud to welcome our new crew member Martin de Bruijn who works at TNO, a big research centre here in the Netherlands."

Gerda tells us that Lex is very much looking forward to renewing one old acquaintance in particular. "Lex can't wait to meet Gary Page, who was his opponent in the 1996 Cannonball final which Lex won", says Gerda. "Driving a car with Gary in the other lane brings back memories and we know for sure that Gary want to level the score!"

After the Allstar Nationals the LJR team will leave the car in the UK and travel back to Holland for the Dutch Finals at Drachten on 30th-31st August, then return to the UK for the FIA European Finals on 5th-7th September.

You can find the Lex Joon Racing web site at www.lexjoonracing.nl.

A couple of paragraphs back we were talking about Gary Page, and as it happens we heard from Gary as we were putting together today's news update. "I'll be very happy to return the compliment to Lex!" he said. "I've got a long memory! I would also like to say good luck to everyone at Hockenheim, and especially to Tommy Möller I'd like to say let's forget what happened at Gardermoen and you can buy us a couple of beers at the Finals Banquet!"

The Ultimate outcome.
20th August: We are indebted to Ultimate Power Championship and UK National Championship Points Co-ordinator Simon Groves for sending us a preview of the possible outcomes in the inaugural Ultimate Power Drag Racing Championship, whose last round is the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend.

Pro Modified: Gordon Appleton ('68 Camaro) and John Ellis (Calibra) raced at both previous rounds and congratulations to Gordon who is champion, both cars representing the UK at the Nitrolympics at Hockenheim this weekend. Super Modified: Danny Cockerill (Rover 220 Coupe) is leading a rejuvenated Steve Rawlings (Toyota Supra) by 320 points. Graham Ellis (Oldsmobile Cutlass) is only a further 40 points back and Andy Hone (Ford Granada) a further 50 points still. Expect a close race for second place.

Super Comp: After winning the Power Nationals in his first full season, Malcolm Francis ('69 Camaro) leads Martin Curbishley by 140 points. Tim Adam is a further 30 points back. Malcolm needs to stay one round ahead of the Brogie Roadsters and qualify better than them to assure himself of the title. Super Gas: Again, Malcolm Francis is leading, after winning the Excitement Nationals. Tim Adam is in second place by 70 points, or less than one round of racing. Conrad Stanley in the Vega has wheelied his way into third place. Super Street: This class is excellently supported at SCR with sixteen-car fields entered for both races so far. Mike Bentley's Sierra leads Team Top Banana ('32 Ford Roadster) by 90 points with Leigh Morris (Jaguar-powered E Type) 100 points behind and Ian Brown ('67 Camaro) a further 100 points back. With the size of the field, the win could go to any of these cars.

Super Pro ET: This, the fastest bracket class, is a really tough one to call. Mark Flavell (dragster) is 10 points ahead of Wayne Nicholson (BMW 3 series coupe). However, Mark is unfortunately out for the rest of the season with back problems (get well soon Mark!). Ian Bishop is only 110 points further back and SCR stalwarts Nick Stephenson (Corvette) and Mick Cheley (Calibra) just a whisker behind. With only 170 points separating the first six cars, the competition will be super-tense! Pro ET: Team Top Banana are the stars this year with Ian Brown 170 points behind, each having won a race. Ian needs to qualify at least as well as the Huxleys and go two rounds further to gain the championship. Typically large fields in this class could help amass a winning margin. Sportsman ET: Rookie Nick Gay (Metro panel van) has screamed his way to a lead of 140 points over Martin Lewis (Vauxhall Nova SR) with Mark Anderson (CRAP Conversions Capri) only a further 40 points back and John Parker (Ford Mustang) in fourth. Martin needs to qualify at least five places ahead of Nick and go at least a round further for the Championship.

Junior Dragster: Colin Morrice is 230 points ahead of Jonathan Bond, with Johnny Walker a further 130 points back. Larger fields this year in this class have resulted in the Championship being a potential three-way battle.
©Eurodragster.com
Custom Car Street Eliminator: Mid eight-second runners Steve Pateman (Calibra) and Team Powerpour (Jon Webster's '55 Chevy) with one win each are in a dead heat for first place with Andy Frost (Vauxhall VX 4/90) a distant third. Andy could win the championship - but only if Steve and Jon have unexpected problems! Wild Bunch: Alec Coe leads Ray Ford by 80 points (again winning a round apiece) with Chris Hartnell a further 130 points behind. Chris's engine was ailing at the Power Nationals but a return of Backdraft's low nine-second form could see an upset. Outlaw Anglia: Paul Hensher (Gas Attack) leads Pete Ashworth (Dayglo Twister) by only 20 points with wheelie merchant Rob Stone a further 430 points back. As ever the competition will be wild with sit-up-and-beg 8 or 9 second passes at 160+ mph needed to win the crown!

Top Fuel Bike: Congratulations to Steve Woollatt who will cap his championship with some crowd-pleasing runs. Pro Stock Bike: PSB rookie Paul 'Grumpy' Watson (Suzuki Hayabusa) is only 85 points ahead of Richard Gipp (Suzuki GSXR1000) - he or possibly Dave Beck (150 points further back) will be in contention for honours, should Grumpy's weekend not go to form. Funny Bike: This looks like a battle between the Suzukis of Dave Holland and 'Mr Six' Neil Midgley who is less than two rounds behind.

Super Street Bike: Karl Larcombe, with two wins, is 385 points ahead of Tony Clark. For Tony to win, Karl will need to qualify poorer and go out in the first round and Tony win the event. Comp Bike: A three-way shootout between Philip Leamon, Klaus Sarembe (Power Nationals winner) and Jerry Collier (Excitement Nationals winner) with a spread of only 45 points. 9.90 Bike: Fred Furlong leads Wayne Hobbs by 170 points with Geoff Connor 80 points further back. Fred has been on excellent form this year, leaving Wayne and Geoff with a veritable mountain to climb. 10.90 Bike: Iain Jack leads Paul Coombs by 100 points with Shaun Spiers a further 130 points behind. Paul needs to qualify better than Iain and go one round further to become champion.

Junior Drag Bike: In this class' inaugural year, Andrew Irwin (Power Nationals winner) leads Jennifer Hurcomb (Excitement Nationals winner) by only 15 points with Dan Baldwin and Jake Carruthers also with a mathematical chance of winning.

Supertwins: In Street, Mark Earrey is leading Chris Mott and third place Dan Jones by a significant margin. In Modified, TJ O'Brien has an almost unassailable lead over Dave Bartz. In Top Gas, George Laycock is ahead of Andy Smith by a large number of points. Top Fuel rider Chris Stebbing could be overtaken by Dave Witts if Chris goes out in round one and Dave qualifies better and wins the event.

You can view the current Ultimate Power Championship standings by clicking here, or by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

As if by magic...
20th August: UK Wild Bunch racer Tom Coe will be providing the off-track magic again at Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend after a successful magic show at the recent UK Northern Nationals at York Dragway.
©Eurodragster.com
"I'm going to do another magic show at this weekend's Allstar Nationals", says Tom. "It will probably be at the Mad Rs pits in the Wild Bunch area. I don't know whether it will be on Saturday or Sunday but I will let you all know at the track. All of the tricks are new to me, so there won't be any repeats from York and someone might lose their head if they're not careful; I don't know who to pick yet, I'll make my mind up on the night (What about a vote? - Ed). I'll also have a few close-up tricks to do around the pits."

Carter signs K & N.
20th August: Proving that you can't keep a racer down, UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Andy Carter has announced another sponsorship deal only a few weeks after a top end crash at Gardermoen.

"Carter Motorsport are proud to announce K & N Engineering Inc. as an official sponsor for the 2003/4 season", says PR Dan Welberry. "We are delighted to welcome K & N on board. It's always exciting to introduce a new sponsor to the team and we hope that our relationship with K & N will be a long and enjoyable one.

"K & N are market leaders in their field with a mission statement which says it all: 'To seek out and dominate traditional, modern and yet undiscovered markets for high performance, high quality, long life filtration and air management products. To support these markets with an unsurpassed positive experience from the point of first impression throughout the customer life'...no messing!

"We are making no promises here, but at present our plans are to be at the Flame and Thunder Show at Santa Pod Raceway in November, which will be the first outing with K & N on board. It will be great for Andy to get back behind the wheel before the close of 2003, and give us one last chance to say thanks to the many companies and fans who have supported us throughout the season."

You can find out more about the K & N range by visiting the company's web site at www.knfilters.co.uk, or contact their Sales department by E-Mail at uk.sales@knfilters.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Finals 9.90 Bike closed.
20th August: Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall has been in touch to let us know that entry is now closed for 9.90 Bike at the FIA European Finals. "The closing date on some of the Sportsman classes is today (Wednesday)", Paula adds. For more details you can call Paula on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625).
©Eurodragster.com
Although we don't yet have the Finals entry list we understand that entries are still coming in for FIA, FIM/UEM and NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified as well as Sportsman classes. At last count Top Methanol FC stood at eleven entries, Pro Modified had increased to twenty, and Pro Stock Bike stood at eleven. 9.90 Bike has been closed as it has reached thirty two, and we hear that Pro ET is not far behind with twenty nine at the last count. We hope to be able to bring you the official entry list early next week.

Race against time for PMR.
20th August: If you were tuned in yesterday you will have read that Paul Marston Racing will be fielding their recently-acquired Alien altered in Super Pro ET at this weekend's Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway in the hands of the returning Dave Gibbons. Paul Marston also brought us up to date on what else he and his team have been up to.

"With the season over halfway through, things have been going at quite a pace at PMR with the new workshop facilities really coming into their own this summer", says Paul. "With the main objective this year being to get the Paul Marston Racing Drag Race Driving School and Passenger Ride Experiences successfully launched, and developing the School to cater for the pupils' needs. We already know that the off-season will be really busy, putting into place all the little improvements which we would like to try based on what we have learned, plus some exciting new developments. With the blessing of the powers-that-be we should see the programme go from strength to strength during 2004 - we certainly hope so!
©Eurodragster.com
"With another teaching session at Arena Essex completed last week, we will once again be appearing at today's Webster Race Engineering Test Day where we will be developing another racer of the future, along with more of the infamous Passenger Rides, our weapon of choice being our Super Gasser Grumpy's Dodge.

"With the constant development programme which the school race cars go through, the ex-Pro Mod Insanity Chevy Vega is currently in the Jeep Club workshops enjoying an engine upgrade, with the fitting of a rather nice aluminum-headed small block Chevy. This was actually scheduled for the off-season but the programme was brought forward. The motor has been built especially with the School in mind, like the motor used in Grumpy's Dodge this season, and was ready ahead of schedule so we thought 'why not fit it'!

"It�s a bit of a race against time. Paul Marston Racing will have run three different race cars in ten days: Grumpy's Dodge at the WRE Test Day today, the Alien altered at the Allstar Nationals, and both Grumpy's Dodge and Insanity at the Professional Test Day at Santa Pod on Saturday week. Everyone at Paul Marston Racing, with the invaluable assistance of Gary at Jeep Club (020 8501 4471) is confident that we can make it in time. This will be the first time that both School race cars will have been used on the same day."

On Two Wheels: in-depth report.

20th August: UK Supertwin Fuel racer and drag bike photo-journalist Ian Turburville writes with a summation of last weekend's On Two Wheels event at Santa Pod Raceway. "It was great!", said Turbo. We twisted Turbo's arm and he told us a little more.

"We arrived late Saturday morning and everything was in full swing, lots of familiar faces from all the various classes plus a bunch of street bikes which had got the word and turned up. The weather was great, the track very well-prepped by Kjell and his team, the cafe and shop were open, Boaters catering there as always doing brisk business, and the bar opened in the evening with a disco. There was even a splattering of spectators on the banks! Strange thing was that a lot of the racers packed up and went home when the track closed!

"We stopped over for the Sunday RWYB and it turned into another great day. What can I say, a whole weekend of unlimited runs, with no race pressure, on a great track for a few quid, fantastic. We got lots of laps in and ran PB after PB as did Rat on her Bandit. We all got lots of problems sorted out in time for the Allstars at Shakespeare Couty Raceway this coming Bank Holiday and had a nice social time to boot.

"Big thanks to Kjell, David, Darren and all the Pod staff for the event, hope it gets bigger. Special big thanks to Gavin, Barry, Bob, Frank etc. but most of all to Ian 'Rush' Carruthers who is just the best Crew Chief anyone could hope for, I would be lost without him and really do appreciate his valuable time and knowledge."
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
20th August: Our good buddies at Svensk Dragracing have updated their web site with some great photographs from both of last weekend's Nordic Drag Racing Series events, the Linde Open and the FHRA August Nats. There is also an interesting open letter to Super Gas Bike racers who attended the NDRG Drag Challenge. You can find the update at www.dragracing.se.
©Eurodragster.com
Allstar Nationals entry list.
19th August: We are indebted to APIRA Club and Race Secretary Wendy Talbot and her daughter Annette for forwarding us the official entry list for this weekend's Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway.
©Eurodragster.com
The list continues the healthy trend of all UK races this season with no less than two hundred and forty eight entries. On four wheels Pro ET leads the way yet again with twenty four with Sportsman ET, Custom Car Street Eliminator and the Wild Bunch not far behind on twenty, nineteen and eighteen entries respectively. On two wheels, Super Street Bike is the largest class by quite some margin with nineteen entries, followed by 9.90 Bike with thirteen.

You can view the Allstar Nationals entry list by clicking here, or a link is available via our Allstar Nationals Event Coverage index page.

Putting on a good spread.
19th August: This weekend's Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway will see the first use in the UK of a Berryman Products absorbent spreader. The Berryman machine, which is used on both the NHRA and IHRA Championship Tours in the USA, spreads oil-dry on the track in a controlled and targeted manner which helps to prevent wastage.

The Berryman machine was imported by Lee Child of LA Racing Parts, who promotes the Ultimate Power series of events at Shakespeare County Raceway and who also sponsors Eurodragster's Links pages. Lee and members of the FAST team tested the spreader at the Warwickshire track on Sunday and were very impressed with the results.
©Eurodragster.com
"We took the Daz Challenge on Sunday!", says Lee. "We put a witch's brew of engine oil, diff oil and transmission fluid on the track and then used the Berryman machine to spread the absorbent. The absorbent went down and cleaned up very well, we sledded it straight away and the track was ready to go! We made ten to fifteen passes in all with the spreader to find the optimum speed, and we didn't even use one bag of absorbent. It is going to be an extremely useful addition to the track equipment."

Lee says that he is very grateful for the help of Super Comp racer Simon Farmer of Belmont Auto Services, who took his truck along on Sunday to tow the spreader. Simon won't be racing this weekend, so he will be be hitching his truck to the Berryman machine again.

"We don't want oildowns at the Allstar Nationals", says Lee, "but should we have any then we are ready. But don't feel you have to do it!"

Setting up for the weekend.
19th August: UK Pro ET racer Steve Wells will be testing at tomorrow's Webster Race Engineering Test Day to check out repairs to the rear axle of his fan-favourite wheelstanding Ford Pop pick-up. "As the rear axle has just been straightened and braced by WRE, and new slicks fitted as one side of one slick wore out, we have decided to take advantage of the Day", says Steve. "If time permits we also have a new blower pulley so that we can run more boost and hopefully get the old girl further into those nines."
©Eurodragster.com
UK Super Street Bike racer Rachel 'Rat' Pattison got her timing just right when she wiped out her personal best ET at last weekend's On Two Wheels bike event at Santa Pod Raceway. Rat clocked an 8.66 on her Bandit which took about three tenths off her previous best. "I'd like to say a massive thanks to all who have helped to make my Bandit the quickest of its kind in Europe - allegedly!", says Rat. "The list of people to thank is endless, so suffice to say thanks to all the drag racers who have helped me out and supported my quest - you know who you are. Special thanks though to Rich, Squirby and Andy, without whom I would have given up racing and taken up knitting by now! Cheers doods. P.S. Bring it on Kev!"

Racers: It's not too late to send your Allstar Nationals or Hockenheim Nitrolympics previews to us at news@eurodragster.com, and we'll publish them here.

A legend returns.

19th August: If you were tuned into last Thursday's Web site updates you will have read about the return of Dave Gibbons to the drag strip this weekend after a nineteen-year absence. Dave will be racing in Super Pro ET in the latest addition to the Paul Marston Racing stables.

"We are very proud to announce the long-awaited and even longer overdue return of one of Europe's greatest-ever Altered drivers", says Paul Marston. "Nearly a year after we purchased the beautiful Alien altered (right) from Bertrand Dubet of Odyssey Performance, France, we have finally managed to prise Dave Gibbons out of the driver's seat long enough to prepare Alien for the forthcoming Allstar Nationals. Everyone at Paul Marston Racing is looking forward to seeing the old master back in his office. Dave competed in his Rough Diamond Racing colours when drag racing was a lot younger. He was one of the first to use Nitrous successfully and was probably the first person to use a transbrake in competition.

"The Alien the most powerful drag racer which Dave has ever driven. Nowadays we take for granted the amazing times we see chalked up on a regular basis, Dave Gibbons comes from an era when the original building blocks of drag racing performance were first laid. It is a proud moment for everyone at Paul Marston Racing to see Dave Gibbons back on the track; Dave has given so much to the team over the years, seeing him race again is what it�s all about. The crew for the weekend will consist of all the usual suspects at PMR, with Paul Marston as Crew Chief.
©Eurodragster.com
"Everyone is really excited to be back in competition again, especially after the disappointment of Brighton. The School and Passenger Ride schemes are very satisfying but in an entirely different way. Competition is what makes the adrenalin pump and boy are we ready for action! We are looking for a nice smooth weekend with no surprises, just settle in, shake down, a couple of observed runs then progress at David�s pace. Super Pro is a really tough class where you find the very best and fastest Sportsman racers in the country. It would be insulting and disrespectful to assume that we will go rounds; as long as we finish the weekend with no damage, qualify and run consistently I will consider the weekend a success. Dave, who runs the PMR engine shop, has stripped and rebuilt the motor. We ran it for the first time last week at Arena Essex, everything was perfect, all the systems checked out fine and Dave commented on how smooth and driveable the Alien was."

The Alien marks Paul Marston Racing's first departure from a doorslammer in National competition. Running injected Methanol, a solid chassis, requiring a tow car for retrieval , running a dry block (for the moment), it represents new ground for the team. Paul Marston Racing are also looking forward to seeing Bertrand, Thierry and all the others from Odyssey Performance as they hopefully will be at the Allstar Nationals, competing with the Mr Gadget dragster also in Super Pro, now sporting Big Block Chevy power.

"Thank Yous must go out to all of our supporters and fans, the PT Cruiser Club - yes, the ChryslerCard PT Bruiser will be back out next season! - Mac Tools, Chrysler UK, ATI Performance Transmissions, Jeep Club (Gary, 020 8501 4471), London Road Tyres, Black Box London Limited, Disco Equipment Hire (020 8597 4575), special thanks to fellow racers Phil Bennett and Martin Curbishley, and of course thanks to everyone at Paul Marston Racing."

Perfect Light fund reset.
19th August: This weekend's Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway is the next qualifying event for the Eurodragster Perfect Light Award. Junior Dragster racer Victor Bergdahl won the money at the Veidec Drag Festival at Mantorp Park with a 0.000 in eliminations, so the Perfect Light prize fund has been reset to £50.

All racers in all classes are eligible for the Perfect Light Award: it will be awarded to the first racer at this weekend's event to record a perfect Reaction Time, 0.400 or 0.500 as appropriate. The money can be won in either qualifying or eliminations, but not open practice.
©Eurodragster.com
If no-one records a perfect RT this weekend then the prize fund will be increased to £75 for the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway. If the money is won then the prize fund will be recharged to £50 for the European Finals.

Good luck everyone!

Pre-Finals Test still open.
19th August: Santa Pod Raceway Track Manager Kjell Pettersson has asked us to remind racers that bookings are still being taken for the pre-FIA European Finals Professional Test, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on Saturday 30th August. The invitation to test is open to FIA Top Fuel Dragster, FIA Top Methanol Dragster, FIA Top Methanol Funny Car, FIA Pro Stock, Fuel Funny Car, Pro Modified, Comp Eliminator, Super Modified, Super Pro ET, Pro ET, Sportsman ET, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, Custom Car Street Eliminator, UEM Top Fuel Bike (aka Comp Bike), UEM Super Twin Bike and UEM Pro Stock Bike.

This day will also be a Street Machine Street Racer Saturday Special. Only racers in the above classes who have pre-booked, and Street Machine Saturday Special drivers who have pre-registered, will be allowed to sign on and use the track. More details on the Street Machine part of the event are available from the magazine.

Entry for the Professional Test will be £117.50 per vehicle including VAT. This includes six admission tickets. Extra admission tickets can be ordered on the booking form at £10 per person.

Racers must show signing-on personnel a valid national driver's licence and a valid competition licence showing the grading for the type of vehicle they will be testing. It is the responsibility of the racer to ensure that their vehicle meets the safety regulations for their competition class. In addition, there will be no permit from the MSA, FIA, ACU or FIM so it is the responsibility of the racer to provide their own insurance. Santa Pod Raceway will provide third party insurance.

Full details, conditions, and an entry form can be found by clicking here (PDF file for Acrobat Reader). If you have any enquiries then call Santa Pod Raceway on 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44 1234 782828).
©Eurodragster.com
Allstars début for new Showtime.
18th August: Fans will get their first chance to see the new body on the UK's Showtime Fuel Funny Car at Shakespeare County Raceway this coming weekend, as Crew Chief Bob Jarrett has confirmed its début at the Allstar Nationals. The ex-John Force Racing Mustang, which previously clothed Tony Pedregon's Funny Car in the USA, was prepared by driver John Spuffard and the team and has been painted at the Kent workshops of CC Racing.
©Eurodragster.com
Bob, who lives in the USA where he runs a very successful Jaguar dealership, set out for the UK last night to hook up with the rest of the team. "John, the team and myself are obviously very excited about our new Mustang, and we are also looking forward to meeting the other Funny Car teams in what promises to be be a fantastic event", says Bob. "We have four very dedicated teams contesting this third round of the British Nitro FC Championship, and although we have won the last two rounds we are not taking things lightly. This coming weekend will see our biggest challenge to date, and I am very confident that Funny Car fans will see some great racing."

Bob also asked us to remind fans that they are invited to the Question and Answer session which Championship co-ordinator Jim Broome has arranged for Sunday morning in the Showtime pit - check out our news item of 12th August for more details.

You can find the official Showtime web site at www.showtimeracing.co.uk, and the official British Nitro FC Championship web site at www.showtimeracing.co.uk/championship.html.

Nitrolympics FIM/UEM snippets.
18th August: Dutch Top Fuel Bike racer Roel Koedam could clinch the 2003 FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike Championship at this weekend's Nitrolympics at Hockenheim, says Crew Chief Marius van der Zijden. "We always look forward to the 'Big Event'", says Marius. "We love racing there not least because of the enormous, enthusiastic crowd and the colourful commentary of Benni Voss, the German version of John Price. It's an excellent facility, the best in Europe, let's hope that they can find some more traction there this year. We welcome the return of the FIA and UEM Championship to the Nitrolympics, and we will be racing in front of one of our primary sponsors, Dakota."
©Eurodragster.com
It's crowded at the top of the FIM/UEM Supertwin Championship, writes Monique Pels. "The top three - Per Bengtsson, Ronny Aasen and Ton Pels - are only a few points apart and are all within one round", she says. "Our views on Mantorp Park and Gardermoen are a bit mixed. Although Ton Pels was #1 qualifier at both events, and he came home with two Personal Bests (6.61 and 210 mph), bad luck prevented him from cutting through the field during eliminations. At Mantorp Ton was struck by broken cams and at Gardermoen it was a belt which got him in the semi-finals. We're looking forward to racing at Hockenheim and we hope to do really well there". You can read more on the News page of the Zodiac Racing web site at www.zodiacracing.com.

You can find the Nitrolympics web site at www.nitrolympx.de.

Out of the Dog House.
18th August: From UK Wild Bunch racer Scottie Durant comes the sad news that he will not be racing his In The Dog House Again Topolino altered again this season after discovering the dreaded swarf in his motor during a routine check, which led to something worse.

"When we raced at Thorney Island, we noticed some swarf in the rocker covers", says Scottie. "When we got home we dropped the sump to check the bottom end, only to find some damage to the big end bearings. I have not stripped the motor down yet, but we wanted to do a lot of work on the motor and the altered over the winter so we are going to start early and have pulled out of the last two Wild Bunch rounds - which is a shame. We now have lots to do including picking up a new transporter/camper in October.
©Eurodragster.com
"I would just like to say a big thanks to everyone who has helped out, and to my sponsors Every Bottom Drawer (parental advisory on this web site - Ed) and Nite Vibes disco (01494 758263 and 07734 009243). I would also like to thank What Katie Did (parental advisory on this one, too - Ed) for the Doghouse Home web site. Good luck to the rest of the the Wild Bunch for the last two rounds."

You can find Scottie's web site at www.inthedoghouseagain.co.uk.

Postcard from Florida.
17th August: Sweden's onetime Top Fuel Dragster racer Viveca Averstedt moved to the USA some years back since when she has occasionally campaigned an injected-nitro Top Alcohol Dragster. Viveca has been in touch to being her fans up to speed on events on the other side of the Pond.

"We still have our Nitro-injected A-Fueler", says Viveca, "but it's simple - without a sponsor we won't race. It is not easy, and even though it's not Top Fuel you would need about three hundred and fifty thousand dollars to be competitive - crazy, or what? We could probably attend a couple of events, but we won't take the risk without any back up. We have some great friends who have offered to pay expenses, but as you know anything could happen and we have invested too much in the car - more than our former Top Fueller. Some people think we are crazy, not racing when we have the car sitting in the workshop, but that's how it is. We have an agent working for us to find sponsorship and he is really good, he is the guy who secured the Infineon deal at Sonoma race track.
©Eurodragster.com
"So, what are we doing in Florida? By coincidence Håkan (husband and Crew Chief - Ed) met two brothers from Tampa who have never been active in racing, but would love to be. Håkan is therefore helping them build a copy of our car, and they have bought his tune-up. Hopefully the car will be ready this year, which means we will be out there again, because Håkan has promised to help them to get started and I will coach the driver. They have seen our car run 5.58 on a thousand-foot pass, so they know the potential and they are very excited to have Håkan's support. It's a shame that we have not been able to run a full pass yet, but our day will come!

"In the meantime we are happy enjoying the life, having great friends around us and a nice house! We moved to another house last year, which keeps us busy. We renovated most of the interior and built a huge deck in our tropical back yard with banana and orange trees. Håkan is also busy in his workshop with various kinds of projects, for example his hobby car, a '61 Chevy Impala Bubble Top.

"We are coming to the European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway and we are really looking forward to seeing everyone and watching new records! We raced at Santa Pod between 1987 and 1997, so coming back as spectators without any obligations may feel strange."

Yorkshire post.
17th August: Dave Billadeau brought his Plymouth GTX out of retirement after two and a half years, and immediately got back to winning ways with a victory in American Superstock at the UK Northern Nationals at York Dragway last weekend. "I ran 12.7s just to blow out the cobwebs with a mild 440 six pack motor", says Dave. "The engine is for sale if anyone is interested. I have just purchased a fresh, all-aluminium 572 ci hemi for next year. The car will still be street-legal, on ten-inch tyres and leaf springs. I hope it's quicker than the 10.8s I ran with the 493 ci wedge combination". If you are interested in buying Dave's 440 engine then drop him a line at dave.billadeau@virgin.net.
©Eurodragster.com
Des Taylor has an immediate vacancy for a mechanic to work at his Huddersfield Exhaust Centre. If you would be interested in the job then drop Des a line at des1954@supanet.com or call him at the business on 01484 421311.

Warped Smax on TV again.
17th August: UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Smax Smith is to become a TV star yet again as a crew follow him around at the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway. Smax, who has presented Top Gear and been the subject of a documentary, will be filmed at the Finals as part of BBC TV's science series Horizon.
©Eurodragster.com
"The programme is about Time Travel", says Paul Townsend. "They are looking into the scientific aspects of high speed, and are working closely with the University of California who are researching this issue. The TV crew will be there for most of the weekend, although what they will make of Smax as a time warp himself remains to be seen!"

Web site updates.
17th August: UK Pro ET racer Terri Lee has updated her web site with the latest news from the workshops of her Blown It blown Escort van. Terri has had the sort of luck with the van which would make most of us give up, but she is planning her return and you can find out about it at www.terrileeracing.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
UK Wild Bunch racer Tony Smith has completely redesigned his web site which features his Cunning Plan minivan. A new section, named It's Showtime has been added with some great memory-jogging photographs taken at shows up and down the country during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The News and Reviews section has also been updated with Tony's view of the UK Northern Nationals at York. Check it out at www.cunningplan.btinternet.co.uk.

The Extreme Madness motorsports festival is to take place in Athens on 4th-5th October, including appearances from Top Fuel Bike racer Ian King and Jet Funny Car racer Martin Hill. The event's official web site has been launched at www.xtrememadness.com; it is currently Greek-language but is well worth a look. English is to be added shortly.

Get a Shock at North Weald.
16th August: The UK's Shockwave Fuel Funny Car is to appear at North Weald tomorrow (Sunday). The car will be on static display, but will be fired up during the day.
©Eurodragster.com
"We want to fire up the car in order to check out all the changes which Dave (Bryant - Crew Chief and co-owner - Ed) has made", says driver Gordon Smith. "We don't want any dramas when we go to Shakespeare County Raceway next weekend! "We look forward to talking to any fans who fancy a real close-up and relaxed look around the car, and Dave and I will be available to field any questions."

North Weald airfield is just off the A414 and is right by the junction of the M25 and M11 in Essex. You can find the Shockwave web site at www.funnycar.co.uk.

European Finals entry closing.
16th August: Entry to the FIA European Finals, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 5th-7th September, will be closed in some classes shortly. "We recommend that racers, in whichever class, who are considering entering the European Finals do so as soon as possible, as we may have to start turning entries away soon", says Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall.
©Eurodragster.com
You can find the Finals entry forms on the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc, or by checking out our news item of 9th August. If you have any queries then you can contact Paula by phone on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625) or E-Mail paula.marshall@btconnect.com.

Although the official entry list is not yet ready to be published we understand that it currently includes nine Top Fuel Dragsters, eighteen NDRS Bilsport Pro Modifieds, and eighteen FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bikes; we also hear that amongst the largest Sportsman classes at present is Pro ET with twenty eight entries. We hope to bring you the entry list shortly, but if you want to get yourself on it then be sure to get the paperwork to Paula as soon as possible.

Car with sore head.
15th August: 2002 FIA European Pro Stock Champions AC Delco/Malmgren Racing have had a bit of a shock after sending the heads of their primary motor O'bej to the USA for inspection, says team member Magnus Cato. The #1 motor was damaged at the Veidec Nitro Festival at Mantorp Park forcing Michael Malmgren to hire another engine from US racer Jim Yates in time for the NDRG Drag Challenge at Gardermoen the following week.

"O'bej's heads have been examined by Carl Folst at CFE in USA, and he has never seen anything worse", says Magnus. "Luckily for us, he also said that they are fixable, but not in time for Hockenheim. We've put O'bejb in the engine compartment for tomorrow's burnout show at Vall�kra, and it will stay there for Hockenheim as well, or at least some runs. We must learn how to set the car up for Obejb.
©Eurodragster.com
Michael has won four Hockenheim Nitrolympics titles in a row, variously in Pro Stock and Pro Modified, and the team are hoping for a fifth next weekend. "We are looking forward to the German race with great anticipation, and we are a little nervous too", says Magnus. "As I've mentioned before, the competition this year is just so tough. We will try to make it with our spare engine, but Stone Cold (Jim Yates' rental engine - Ed) is ready to do his thing as well. Even though we have been beaten up on in the semi-finals at two races now we are still in the points lead, but the other guys are chasing us. Another win at Hockenheim would suit us fine - five wins in a row has a certain ring to it!"

UK Top Methanol FC Association.
15th August: We have received the following Press Release from the newly-formed UK Top Methanol Funny Car Association, which has been formed to promote Top Methanol FC in the UK and to encourage new blood, to promote TMFC events, and which is in favour of separating TMD and TMFC in the UK as they are in the FIA Championship.

"The Top Methanol Funny Car Association is a group of racers which has joined together to promote themselves and their class of racing. It was felt that in order to generate growth within itself and to encourage new racers into the sport an alternative to racing in a combined class is needed. This would make for a more realistic goal for all cars within the category, even if a current 5.90 sec car was to race with in the group (see Smax for last year's Leif Helander car!) the nature of the beast and its unpredictability still make it a realistic possibility to have closer racing; you only have to look at a European field and you can see how up and down the cars are in ET.

"We in no way want to detract from what the Dragsters are doing at present, but they have attained a level equal to America and with two cars running very consistently at or below 5.5 seconds, and hopefully a third upgrading to join them, even if you had one of Europe�s best Funny Cars you are still going to come up short. This can only hold the sport back if left unaddressed and the likelihood of new TMFC cars being built will be diminished, but if you want to race against a dragster by all means build a dragster - you don�t see Fuel FC and Fuel Dragsters in a joint championship.

"We feel that new and existing racers would be more inclined to get involved with TMFC if it raced within itself, so to this end we are planning on soliciting support and we will be interested to hear from any teams who might like to support or join us, especially new teams who might like to move up to TMFC should we succeed in promoting some TMFC meetings.

"We will aid any new teams with technical support in reaching SFI standards, and also help them to locate parts. All cars must still conform to current SFI regulations.

"Please note that we are not trying to dilute the Methanol class, but to look to the future and make it grow and to give a better quality of racing to all concerned."

A web site is under construction. In the meantime, if you would like to become involved in the Association then drop an E-Mail to tmfc2003@yahoo.co.uk for more details.
©Eurodragster.com
NDRS Event Coverage.
15th August: This weekend sees two events in the Nordic Drag Racing Series, the Linde Open at Lindesberg and the FHRA August Nats at Alastaro. You can find a brief preview and links to the entry lists for both events on the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se, and results will be available on the site over the weekend.
©Eurodragster.com
Regular Eurodragster correspondent, Finnish Funny Bike racer Asko Määtä, tells us that he will be reporting live from Alastaro this weekend. "I will be reporting on the Bike classes in Finnish (times etc. can be understood anyhow) and at the end of the day there will be a short summary in English for both bikes and cars". You will be able to find Asko's reports on the FHRA web site at www.fhra.fi/fin/index.php?cmd=51,xxxx&id=45&view=raportti.

Hawkins' FC emerges.
14th August: Mark and Jackie Hawkins' Fuel Funny car is to make its first appearance of the year at next week's Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway, which features the third round of the British Nitro FC Championship. The five-second Avenger has a new sponsor and new parts, but the same old driver.

"The car is in the trailer ready to go", says Mark Hawkins. "We stripped it down to nothing and went right through everything. We made the changes necessitated by this year's rules, we've resealed the blower, and put in new pistons and rods. We still have the two-speed transmission this year, the only one left in the class, but it's the last year for this car - it will be up for sale after the European Finals and we'll be running a new car in 2004."

The FC is still wearing its distinctive purple and yellow 'peanut butter and jam' paint scheme, but for the Allstar Nationals and FIA European Finals it will be carrying the name of new sponsor Mag American, Malcolm Springham's American car spares, service and paintwork business in Bishop's Stortford.

Driver Gary Page is looking forward to getting back into his 'office'. "I can't wait to go again", he says. "I wish it was this weekend!". Gary has had a busy year of it working and on occasion driving for Knut Söderquist's Carbon By Design team on the FIA Tour, but it was always understood that the Funny Car was the priority. "It's a pity that Hockenheim is on the same weekend this year", he says. "But I'd like to wish Knut and the team good luck in Germany - don't wait for anyone!"
©Eurodragster.com
Mark says that it was very difficult sitting out the first half of the British Nitro FC Championship, which was necessitated by the pressure of business. "We could probably have run but you have to do these things properly", he says. "All the team - Brett, Vince, Keith, Terry, Sally and Nicky - have been very patient. We've got the best team you could hope for, they are consistent and don't make mistakes even under pressure. And of course Gary is a superb driver, he is great with the fans and he's not a prima donna!"

The team aren't expecting any miracles at Shakespeare County Raceway, although the FC has had its moments at the Warwickshire track; the primary aim is to enjoy themselves. "We are the slowest car out there but we've been in some finals and don't forget that we won this event two years ago!", says Mark. "Realistically we are looking at running 5.8s or 5.9s, whereas the other cars are probably capable of 5.0s, but consistency often wins and let's not forget that it's all about getting to the finish line first. Jackie and I are looking forward to getting out there, seeing everyone again, and having fun - having fun is what it's all about."

It's early days for details about Mark and Jackie's new Funny Car, apart from the fact that there is to be one, but Mark says that it will be something different. "It'll have direct drive of course!", he says, adding "The race is on for three hundred miles per hour..."

Goring: you have been warned.
14th August: UK Jet Funny Car pilot Roger Goring is eagerly anticipating his outing in his Firestorm Jet FC at next week's Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway, not least since he will be able to keep the pedal to the metal for the proper distance.

"We've not been able to run over a quarter mile since we were last at Shakespeare County", says Roger. "We are looking forward to the race at Shakespeare so that we can tan its arse again! Believe me, you really appreciate it when you can do the full length of the track with the afterburner on."

Roger and his team of Ian Blaylock and Helen Rusling have had a busy schedule this year including a recent appearance at the Jurby Sprint on the Isle of Man. "We've been to the island before because we are bikers", says Roger, "but this time we were able to take Firestorm and we had a fantastic time! Everyone was so friendly and accommodating that it was embarrassing! Manx Petroleum supplied all of our fuel for us, and we did what we went there to do even though the track was a bit bumpy! The car got a lot of coverage in the local press which I think worked, in fact the organisers said they had never had so many spectators at the Jurby Sprint. The E-Mails haven't stopped coming yet, and we have already been approached to go back next year."
©Eurodragster.com
If you were tuned in to Eurodragster News earlier on in the year you will recall that Roger treated Firestorm's J85 jet to a new set of valves and nozzles, which have had the desired effect since the Funny Car has stepped up at each event it has attended. Shakespeare County Raceway's race officials may wish to look away at this point, though. "The afterburner is downright violent now!", says Roger. "We have changed the start line show a little so that there are more, stronger burner pops. You'd better batten down the hatches in Race Control!"

Roger would be interested in hearing from anyone who can help him with in-car video footage. "I wouldn't know where to start, so if anyone can advise on how to produce professional-looking in-car video then please contact me", he says. If you can help, then please drop Roger an E-Mail at firestorm-jfc@blueyonder.co.uk.

The official Firestorm web site at www.firestorm-jfc.co.uk contains more details and pictures of the team's visit to Jurby, and all of the other events which they have attended this season.

Grumpy on unfamiliar territory.
14th August: One of this season's closest-fought FIA European Championships is Top Methanol Dragster, which has seen the UK's Dave 'Grumpy' Wilson and Germany's Peter Schöfer swapping European records and Championship leads all year in classic style. The next round of the Championship takes place at next week's Nitrolympics at Hockenheim, to which Dave Wilson will be making a return in the American Car Imports Racing dragster after a long absence.

"I went to the first Nitrolympics at Hockenheim in 1986, and that was the last time I was there!", says Grumpy. "You went up the track the wrong way, and started at the circuit start line - I gather it has changed a bit since then!"
©Eurodragster.com
"The standard of Top Methanol Dragster racing in Europe has been excellent this year between ourselves, Peter Schöfer and Rob Turner", says Anthony Cohen of American Car Imports, who sponsors Eurodragster's Home and News pages and Event Coverage. "We have all been running Stateside numbers on a regular basis. We are also really pleased that our class has been bolstered by Krister Johansson getting into the Fives in Sweden with his A-Fuel Dragster."

The American Car Imports Racing web site at www.americancarimportsracing.com has been updated with Crew Chief Andy Bissett's account of the team's weekends at Mantorp Park and Gardermoen, and the intervening leisure break at Karlstad. Afficionados of Andy's reports - and we know there are a lot of you out there - will be pleased to hear that Andy is on his usual form.

Flavell out for season.
14th August: Courtesy of Des Taylor comes the disappointing news that popular UK Super Pro ET racer Mark Flavell is out of action for the rest of the season. Mark is currently leading the Ultimate Power Super Pro Championship, and is second in the National Super Pro Championship after a season which has seen event wins and personal bests falling left, right and centre.
©Eurodragster.com
"Mark has suffered from back problems for many years, caused by working in heavy industry and of course building and driving drag racers for twenty five years", says Des. "Last week Mark was taken to hospital for a exploratory discography examination, which revealed extensive damage to his lower back and also left him hardly able to walk. Mark later had to be admitted to hospital and kept overnight on morphine - the pain was that bad. Mark is now at home waiting to have major surgery, 'posterior lumbar interbody fusion' in which titanium cages are inserted into the spine replacing the damaged discs and then fused to the bone, which is scheduled for the first week in September.

"Mark is a great guy who has helped many racers over the years including myself, and I am sure that everybody will join me in wishing Mark a speedy recovery (hear, hear - Sharkman and Tog). Knowing him as I do, I have no doubt that Mark will come back stronger, fitter and faster!"

Northern Nationals results.

14th August: We are indebted to York Dragway PR Howard Holmes for sending us a report and results from the weekend's UK Northern Nationals.

Sheer heat proved to be the biggest hurdle to speed and consistency on Saturday 9th August for the main qualifying sessions of the Mopar Muscle Car Shootout, Wild Bunch, American Superstock Series round 3, Hot Rod Challenge rounds 4 and 5, National Street Car Challenge rounds 5 and 6, Northern Drag Racing Championships, open RWYB and the return of the Super Pro ET dragsters. The Super Pro dragsters went heads-up match racing against Chris and Clayton Round's Rebellious methanol dragster, Kenny Coleman's blown rail giving it side-by-side smoky rolling burnouts. Saturday's racing included the Annual Street Race Championship, won by Russ Pursley (right) with a nitrous-equipped 350 Chevy in the diminitive Dutton. For many racers, the fuel was boiling in the pipes in this intense heat; Russ proved to be the man to hit the right buttons on the day, in these arduous conditions. At the time of the prize giving, around 7:00 pm, the contact thermometer on Russ' instrument panel was still reading a hundred degrees centigrade.

Sunday saw more temperate conditions and many new personal bests achieved. The weekend's winners were as follows:

Sportsman ET: Adam Cuthbert, Rover-powered Jago
Pro ET (sponsored by PDRC): Clayton Round, rail with injected Chevy in the front
NSCC: Russ Pursley, Chevy-powered Dutton
HRC (sponsored by Rodley Motors): Jerry Smith, '63 Plymouth Belvedere
American Superstock: Dave Billadeau, '69 Plymouth GTX
Quickest Mopar ET: Jerry Smith, 10.1, also won Best Strip Mopar title
Best Street Legal Mopar: George Chiles, '69 Road Runner
Best Rod/Custom: Jim Fairburn's black rod
Best American: Richard Coles, Mustang

Wild Bunch results:

1. Joe Stevens, Floyd Codpiece Racing's Back in Black, also won Best Dial-in and Best Altered
2. Tony Smith, Cunning Plan
3. Chris Hartnell, Backdraft, also won Top Speed at 136.98 mph and Best Appearing Team

Quickest ET: Derek Annable 8.453
Best Dragster: Tony Wynn Jones' Corvette
Best Slingshot: Destiny, a Jag-motored methanol rail built in 1969
Best Reaction Time: Mark Coulsell 0.543
©Eurodragster.com
On your bike!
14th August: This weekend's On Two Wheels is a new Run What You Brung event at Santa Pod Raceway which, as the name suggests, is for motorcycles and scooters only, writes Rick Cuthbert of Santa Pod. "The idea is simple: thrash your bike up the Santa Pod strip as fast as possible in a safe and legal environment", he says. "RWYB drag racing is great fun whatever bike you ride, from a big-bore cruiser to a screaming supersports bike, so why not come along and see what you and your bike are capable of? Full timing data will be available as usual, and the track will be fully prepped, so get ready to set some awesome times.

"Other attractions include Ian Turburville making runs on his thundering Top Fuel Harley Davidson, and a whole host of other great demo bikes.

"Entry is �10 this Saturday (16th), and �15 if you want to stay overnight and enjoy the bar and disco. Please note, signing-on is �15 for an unlimited number of runs, and you will need a motorcycle driving license, suitable protective clothing, and an approved crash helmet. There is a regular RWYB this Sunday (17th) for both cars and bikes, and those who have bought the �15 overnight ticket will not be charged extra for remaining on-site for the Sunday RWYB."
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.

14th August: If you have either been following racing in the UK for twenty years or more, or if you are a regular at any of the excellent UK Nostalgia web sites, then the name of Dave Gibbons and Rough Diamond will be familiar. Dave (right) has been away from the drag strip for nineteen years, but is to return at the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway next week driving Paul Marston Racing's recently-acquired altered in Super Pro ET. If you want to know what Dave and wife Alli - scourge of the Brighton Speed Trials - have been up to in the meantime, check out their web site at www.roughdiamondracing.com (circuit racing advisory - Ed).

The FB Racing web site at www.fbracing.co.uk has been updated with the latest standings in the UK's Custom Car Street Eliminator Championship, together with all of the latest gossip from the UK street-legal scene.

Bob and Anni Valder's Feel The Noise photo site has been updated with more than fifty photographs from the Mini Showdown and Nostalgia Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. You can view Anni's pictures by following the Special Event Meetings link at www.feel-the-noise.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Webster tests handiwork.
13th August: UK chassis builder Jon Webster is to continue the trend of testing out his own handiwork on the track. Jon has already been seen out on the strip this year in John Hales' eight-second Custom Car Street Eliminator '56 Chevy, which he built, but his next ride is even quicker: a Top Fuel Dragster which he is to drive at the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway on 5th-7th September.
©Eurodragster.com
Jon's company Webster Race Engineering, who sponsor Eurodragster's live event webcam together with MPM International Oil Company, have done a large amount of work on the Top Fueller for the consortium which owns the car, and Jon has been invited to test the car before the consortium announces its plans for 2004. Jon will be licencing in the dragster at the Professional Test Day at Santa Pod Raceway on Saturday 30th August before contesting Top Fuel at the FIA European Finals the following weekend.
©Eurodragster.com
The dragster, acquired from Knut Söderquist, has been front- and back-ended, and features many parts from Carbon By Design such as rear wing, injector, and nose cone. At time of writing WRE are fitting body panels and waiting for a couple more key components to finish the car off.
©Eurodragster.com
"I am delighted to have the opportunity to drive at the peak of the sport", says Jon. "It's exciting to drive a car which has all the right parts fitted. I was surprised to be asked to drive, given some of the names out there at the moment without a ride, but I feel very honoured to get the invitation."
©Eurodragster.com
Jon's Crew Chief will be engine builder Peter Knight, who tells us that the car also features clutch cannon and management by Alan Jackson, who has been hired as a tuning consultant for the Professional Test. "Alan has been a friend of mine for many years", says Peter. "I will be taking every piece of advice he can give at the test day. I'm a quick learner, and I will have to be because Alan will be off tuning Knut's cars at the Finals! We don't have any experienced Fuel crew, but we're all willing to give it a go."
©Eurodragster.com
"This is, at the moment, a one off-deal", says Jon. "Given the financial and time commitments needed to campaign a Top Fuel car through a Championship series it is very unlikely to be more than that, particularly with WRE still in its fledgling stages."

WRE Test Day beckons.
13th August: On the subject of Jon Webster, the next Webster Race Engineering Test Day takes place at Santa Pod Raceway a week today, Wednesday 20th August. The WRE Test Days offer a superb opportunity to test in race conditions from and the track time to experiment with set-ups. The track, which will be open from 10:00 - 17:00 with a break for lunch, will be fully prepped and full marshal and paramedic cover will be in place. Catering is also available on-site.

A trackside assistance service will also be available, offering expert set-up advice specifically tailored to individual race vehicles.
©Eurodragster.com
The Test Day is open to both car and bike racers. Entry is �120 per driver or rider. In the event of a rain-off, 75% of the entry fee can be carried forward to another Test Day. A full DVLA driving licence must be produced to sign on, with the obvious exception of Junior Dragsters.

We understand that amougst the twenty racers already booked in next week are several Super Street Bike Racers, three or four Funny Bikes, Paul Marston's latest Driving School pupil, and at least two Custom Car Street Eliminator racers including John Hales with his '56 Chevy. "When we ran 8.58 at Shakespeare County Raceway, we had a soft setting for the first sixty feet", says Jon Webster. "We found that if we changed the tune-up to pick up on the sixty-foot time, we lost time through 330 feet, so we will be testing some suspension changes which will hopefully allow us to launch harder and not lose time further down the track. If all goes according to plan we then hope to go to Shakespeare County Raceway three days later and run quicker than before!"

If you are interested in taking the opportunity for some quality track time you can speak to Webster Race Engineering on 01933 315236, or you can complete and return an entry form which you can download by clicking here. Jon tells us that entries will be accepted on the day on a first-come first-served basis, but racers are encouraged to pre-book where possible.

Mäkelä to miss Nitrolympics.

12th August: Finnish Top Fuel Dragster racer Anita Mäkelä has announced that she is to sit out the next round of the FIA European Championships, the Nitrolympics at Hockenheim on 22nd-24th August. A busy racing schedule since May has put back essential building work on Anita's chicken farm, and so she has had to take the difficult decision to withdraw her entry to the German fixture.

Anita is very happy with the progress made since hiring Peter Lantz (right, with Anita) and Morgan Svensson as tuning advisers after a series of expensive engine explosions and handling problems earlier in the season. "Peter and Morgan helped us to start making steps in the right direction at Mantorp Park", says Anita. "The car has started to launch straight, and after Tommi (Haapanen, Anita's husband - Ed), Peter and Morgan put their heads together we didn't damage anything at all in the engine which was the best news for us. I was very pleased with a 5.05 which was shut off at about three hundred metres, and I didn't mind losing to Andy Carter in eliminations: the moment the car stopped handling properly I got off the throttle because we are trying to be very careful and take small steps."

If you were tuned into the Svensk Dragracing/Eurodragster Event Coverage from the Veidec Nitro Festival at Mantorp Park you will recall that Anita's dragster bowled Tommi Haapanen over when his shirt caught on the throttle linkage and pulled the throttle open. Anita tells us that Tommi suffered burns to both legs, especially his right leg, and was in a lot of discomfort. "Tommi forgot the pain as soon as we started racing!", she says. "I asked him if he wanted to miss Gardermoen but he said no way!"
©Eurodragster.com
Anita, like every other racer from whom we have heard, was very happy indeed with the track preparation at the NDRG Drag Challenge at Gardermoen. "That track really surprised us", she says. "Hopefully every FIA track can be like that! That surface could have taken anything - I wish that we had had ten qualifying sessions so that we could try lots of different things out on it!". Anita and Tommi, still assisted by Peter and Morgan, continued the development started at Mantorp but another problem reared its head in Norway. "The car was going straight and hard but after about two hundred and fifty metres it lost driveability - it is almost as if it wanted to wheelie at high speed so we have some aerodynamic problems to work on", says Anita.

Although Anita has to sit out the Nitrolympics because of pressure of business, she will be attending the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway where she hopes that everything will come together. "You can't miss the European Finals", she says, "it's like coming home! Peter and Morgan have helped to make huge progress although there is still a small amount of work left - we are on the verge of going very quickly, but there's always something. But we know the sun will shine on us soon!"

You can find Anita's official web site at www.anitamakela.com.

FC Allstars Q & A.
12th August: Many thanks to British Nitro Funny Car Championship Co-ordinator Jim Broome for letting us know that there is to be a Question and Answer session on the Sunday morning of the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway (24th August). The session is a repeat of very popular Q and A and Meet the Drivers events held at Shakespeare County and Santa Pod Raceways last season.

Showtime Fuel FC Crew Chief Bob Jarrett has offered to answer questions about Nitro engines and racing generally, and Cliff Gould, Crew Chief of Doug Ripley's CC Racing Top Methanol FC, has said that he will give answers to similar questions based on Methanol set-ups. Gary Page, driver of Mark and Jackie Hawkins' Fuel FC, will be sporting his new team shirt ("Warning, wear your sunshades", says Jim) and will be available to answer questions on the difference between racing Top Fuel and Funny Car, John Spuffard will hopefully be on hand to answer queries regarding the new Showtime Mustang body, Lex Joon will have his new hero cards for distribution and can answer questions about the difference between Fuel and Methanol from a driver's perspective, whilst Gordon Smith will be available to give the Shockwave point of view.

"So we basically have a 'Sunday School' and a 'Meet the Drivers' session all rolled into one with assistance from a Methanol team", says Jim. "Other team representatives may also be around to assist and of course I will be trying to co-ordinate and to answer any questions asked of me."

Jim says that the session is planned to start at 9:45 am in the Showtime Fuel FC pit, and that providing the running order gives a qualifying session at the appropriate time then it is likely that at least one of the Fuel Funny Car teams will then warm the engine ready for participation in that session.
©Eurodragster.com
Jade claim quickest RD.
12th August: Last weekend's Bulldog Bash at Shakespeare County Raceway saw Jade Racing's Jerry Collier return to his roots on board his Supertwin Gas Championship-winning RD400, and immediately return to record-setting ways. With the Americans claiming the quickest RD in the world with a nitrous-assisted 9.42 pass the Jade Racing team of Jerry, Sharron and Scott Collier and and Sean McDade decided to see what the Jade Racing RD400 could do with a touch of nitrous. With help from Dave Bartz and Steve French, the bike was quickly fitted with a small gas kit and the team set off for Shakespeare County Raceway for what turned out to be a record-shattering weekend.

"On the first pass off the trailer the bike had a horrible misfire" reveals Jerry. "It was so bad that it sounded like it was on the rev limiter, but it still ran 9.522! On the second run we solved the misfire but I couldn't get sixth gear, so I crossed the line on the rev limiter in fifth and even without top gear we broke the existing record with a 9.28. On the third pass we went quicker still with a 9.25 and on our final run of the weekend we put a big exclamation mark on things with a 9.181/142 pass!

"It was great to get back on the RD again, the only slight problem was getting used to the gears again as they are the opposite way round to the H2 (which Jerry has been riding for the last eighteen months in Comp Bike - Ed) but once I had got that sorted there were no problems at all. We only had tiny jets in it with maybe twenty bhp of gas going in so all we had to do between rounds was to check the clutch and the plugs and then to drink lots of water and try to stay cool in the near-hundred degree temperatures!"
©Eurodragster.com
When asked about future plans for the RD Jerry gave a sly laugh and wouldn't be drawn, but team PR Ozzy Ewing tells us that the only thing left to do is to set a world record officially, in competition, and that the team's next race date is the the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway on 23rd-25th August, so we can make a pretty shrewd guess what happens next.

Ozzy also tells us that Wizzard Technical Designs have just completed a complete makeover on the Jade Racing web site at www.jaderacing.com. "No page has been left intact", says Ozzy. "With team changes early on in the season the release was delayed somewhat, but the new site was released just in time for the Bulldog Bash and just before the Allstar Nationals. Wizzard Technical Designs have worked with Jade Racing for 4 years handling photography, sponsorship proposals, flyers, exhibitions and shows, and all hosting and design of the Jade Racing web site. In the space of four years we have published three different variants of the web site but none as striking or catchy as this version. Wizzard Technical Designs would like to wish Jerry, Sharron and Scott Collier and Jade Racing all the best for the rest of the 2003 racing season". Wizzard Technical Designs, whose other customers include the Wildside Inc Top Fuel Dragster team, can supply hosting and web site design to all requirements and can be contacted either by E-Mail at ozzy@wizzardtechnicaldesigns.co.uk or via their web site at www.wizzardtechnicaldesigns.co.uk.

Lorentzon on Gardermoen.
12th August: If you were tuned in last Friday, you will have read Smax Smith's account of his early exit from Top Fuel competition at the NDRG Drag Challenge at Gardermoen. Smax's Purple Loans-backed Top Fueller suffered an air pipe leak immediately before fire-up, and Tommy Möller took the win when Smax was shut down by the Starter.
©Eurodragster.com
In the interests of fairness Eurodragster asked Kenneth Lorentzon and Tommy Möller to give us their take on events at Gardermoen.
©Eurodragster.com
"There are always two sides to a story", says Kenneth Lorentzon. "The pits stop where the pairing lanes begin, and you are not allowed to take your car apart in the start area. We saw that Smax had a problem and we told Knut to go ahead and fix it. After a while the starter came up and asked what I wanted to do. I told him to give Smax some more time, but then he is the starter and it was up to him to decide. After another short while the starter told us to start Tommy's engine, but we didn't start. Then the starter told us a second time to start and this time he was serious about it. I didn't want to be disqualified because of Smax's problem. I started Tommy up, and then I saw Smax's engine start so I thought that everything was OK. I couldn't believe it when I saw that Smax's car was running without body panels. Why not put the body panel on and skip the burnout, because Øyvor Jacobsen had run 4.93 without a burnout.
©Eurodragster.com
"I felt a little bad about the incident, but this is the first and last time that I will let myself be shouted at. If that happens again then the consequences will have to be faced. I personally don't have anything against either Smax, Knut or the team - they are all good racers. I can take criticism but not crap."
©Eurodragster.com
On a happier note, Kenneth offered his congratulations to 2002 FIA European Top Fuel Champion Kim Reymond on his stunning qualifying pass at Gardermoen. "To Kim, Carsten, Per and rest of the team, great run, 4.76, fantastic! European drag racing has really turned round this season. The track at Gardermoen was so good that it was really sucking horsepower, they did a great job with it."

Curran seeks Nitrolympics ride.
12th August: Don't worry, UK Pro Stock Bike racer Helen Curran hasn't lost her seat on the Veidec Racing PSB. Helen is seeking transport to Hockenheim for the race and would be very grateful to hear from any Eurodragster reader who can help. "There will just be me and my luggage, no bike", says Helen. "I will be happy to chip in. If anyone can help me out please give me a call on either 07866 671286 or 0208 384 5921."
©Eurodragster.com
Racers invited to Cruise In.
12th August: Les Sanderson, President of the UK's Mid West American Auto Club, is inviting drag racers on both two and four wheels to bring their race vehicles along to the Club's annual show, Cruise In 2003, which takes place at Cheltenham Racecourse this weekend, 15th-17th August. "We have a number of cars for the Show, but we have room for more and we need more bikes", says Les.
©Eurodragster.com
The Cheltenham event is traditionally dated to promote the August Bank Holiday race at Shakespeare County Raceway. "I know that some of you have rebuilds - do them at the Show!", says Les. "Then when you've finished there is a proper chill out party! Don't forget that this is to promote our sport and the Allstar Nationals in particular."

If you would like to take your car or bike along to Cruise In 2003 then drop Les Sanderson an E-Mail at les.sanderson@blueyonder.co.uk, or for more details about the Show check out the Mid West AAC web site at www.mid-west.co.uk.

We were pleased to hear from Les that he is getting better very quickly after his accident awhile back. "Thanks for the good wishes", he says.

Web site updates.
12th August: The official web site of the UK's Turner Racing Top Methanol Dragster team has been updated with race reports from both Sweden and Norway (why no mention of the Cover Versions CD? - Ed), along with an engaging account of what went on at the camp site in Karlstad where the Netcall-sponsored team got together with their fellow racers for some well-earned rest and relaxation. Check out Turner Racing PR Sarah Foster's excellent reports and video clips on the Turner Racing web site at www.turnerracing.com.

UK Custom Car Street Eliminator racer John Sleath, who has started on his return after a crash in his eight-second street-legal Audi earlier this year, is now a full-time race car builder, street-legal or strip-only. You can find details of the services which John provides on his web site at www.john-sleath.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Action-packed Allstars.
11th August: The next event in LA Performance Services' series of races at Shakespeare County Raceway is the Allstar Nationals which takes place on 23rd-25th August. The Allstar Nationals is the final round of the three-race Ultimate Power Drag Racing Championship and what promises to be an action-packed event also features the latest rounds of the British Nitro Funny Car Championship; MSA British Drag Racing Championship (for Top Methanol); the final round of the ACU UK Top Fuel Bike Championship; rounds of the UK National Championships for Super Modified, ET and Super Classes, Junior Dragster, 9.90 Bike and 10.90 Bike; the ACU UK Drag Bike Championships; the National Association of Supertwins Championships; the Custom Car Street Eliminator Championship; the Wild Bunch and Outlaw Anglia Championships; and Junior Drag Bike.

On the exhibition front the Allstar Nationals sees the return by popular demand of both Roger Goring in the Firestorm Jet Funny Car and the Fuel Altered match race between Jim Seward in Harry The Spider and Mickey Moore in The Mob.

Four Fuel FCs - John Spuffard in Showtime, Gordon Smith in Shockwave, Lex Joon in the MPM International Oil Company-sponsored Avenger, and Gary Page in Mark and Jackie Hawkins' FC - have already entered for the third round of the British Championship and the event could see the eagerly-awaited first public appearance of the ex-John Force Mustang body on the Showtime FC.
©Eurodragster.com
"We've got something for everyone", says Lee Child of LA Performance Services, who sponsors Eurodragster's Links pages through his company LA Racing Parts. "However many wheels you prefer, whether or not your race cars should have doors, whatever you like the fuel to smell like, we can promise you an absolutely fantastic weekend!"

Ticket prices for the Allstar Nationals, which include camping where appropriate, are as follow:
©Eurodragster.com

Day	Advance Booking	Gate
Saturday	N/A	£15
Sunday	£15	£20
Monday	£15	£20
Saturday-Sunday	£25	£30
Sunday-Monday	£25	£30
Saturday-Monday	£33	£40

Advance ticket sales close on Thursday 21st August; for bookings and queries call LA Performance Services' Credit Card Hotline on 01803 554308.
©Eurodragster.com
Lee asks that any racers who have not yet entered the Allstar Nationals but wish to race at the event submit their entries to APIRA Club and Race Secretary Wendy Talbot as soon as possible. You can download entry forms from the APIRA web site at www.apira.org.uk, and if you have any queries about competing at the event then please contact Wendy by phone on 01379 740100.

Määttä rebuilding.
11th August: If you were tuned in to Eurodragster News at the end of last month you will recall that regular Eurodragster contributor, Finnish Funny Bike racer Asko Määttä suffered a top end crash on his Baldie's Gun after recording an 8.3/170 mph run at Alastaro. Asko has been in touch to let us know how he is faring.

"I'm feeling now much better", says Asko. "My doctors said last Monday that the arm bones are now in very good shape so an estimated return to the race track after three weeks could be very possible. Of course I don't feel very comfortable, but what else you can expect after a 170 mph crash. The last two days especially have been quite bad for my left knee, but I'm trying to get myself in shape.

"Next week I'm starting to build my race bike up. I have no time (and money) to repair the whole turbo system with timers etc. so the engine will be an ex-Pro Stock engine from the late 1908s/early 1990s) which I've had as a spare engine. For the engine I'm still missing one 1327 cc/80 mm 13.5 piston and intake valves (29 mm) but if I don't find them here I'll order new sets from Skip at Orient.
©Eurodragster.com
"But that's almost what we had planned at the beginning of the season, so that I can sell Baldie's Gun IV as a Super Gas Bike. I can use the fairings of Baldie's Gun III (Suzuki F-type/Katana, late 1980's) before the GSXR fairing and body shell are repaired. The chassis seems to be OK, so the only major damage to the bike was the front end but I can borrow it from the other bike.

"So, feelin' much better and gettin' the things sorted out, what else could you hope."

European JD Club.
11th August: David Wepinksi, webmaster of the European Junior Dragster Page, has started a new club for European Junior Dragster racers and JD fans. "Registration is free, and you will receive a Junior Dragster magazine by E-Mail", says David. For more details contact David by E-Mail at Top_Fuel_JuniorRacer@msn.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Smax on fast charge.
10th August: UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Smax Smith is a tired man having raced on three consecutive weekends. After racing in FIA Top Fuel competition at Mantorp Park and Gardermoen, Smax has been at the Bulldog Bash at Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend putting in demonstration passes in John and Lesley Wright's Top Fueller.
©Eurodragster.com
"I did a run on Friday, and a run yesterday", Smax told us. "I had a hell of a job to do on my first run. I didn't stage straight, and when I got to about seventy five feet it started to shake. I kept my boot in and it drifted towards the centre line, then just as I had things sorted out the blower belt snapped. I ran 211 mph at half track, and that run was a 6.1. On yesterday's run it shook and then moved around again, 211 at half track again and that was a 6.0."

Smax is now heading home for some quality time with his family (will they remember what he looks like? - Ed) and to recharge his batteries for the Nitrolympics at Hockenheim in a couple of weekends' time. "I'm running on empty!", he said. "But I had a great time at Shakey and it was really good working with John and Lesley."

3D Krivan wows Turtmann.

10th August: If you were tuned in to Eurodragster News last month you will recall that Swiss Top Methanol FC racer Dezsoe Krivan helped to blast the myth that there is no motor racing in Switzerland with news of his appearance at the Swiss Mountain Challenge at Turtmann. Crew member Steve Wilson very kindly sent us a report on Dezsoe's weekend, which included the unveiling of a new sponsor.

"The home of Swiss Mountain Drag Challenge is Turtmann, which is a old military airfield - aren't they all? - situated in a valley in the southern French speaking half of Switzerland", says Steve. "The facilities are pretty good when you consider that this is organised by a local club. The pit area is all hard standing and with enough room to move, swing cat test ten out of ten. We were scheduled for two runs and we planned to run with two engines so a motor change was on the cards.

"The standard of the vehicles here is very high and some stunning machinery turned up for the event. The main event was the street racers, with shows throughout the day by drag bikes, a Jet Car, Top Methanol Funny Cars and a totally crazy man on a rocket-propelled bicycle! The local fire brigade and ambulance service provided the safety safari with helpful knowledge from the club about the nature of the cars, like "Yes, the tyres do smoke like that and no, it's not on fire!"
©Eurodragster.com
"We unloaded the car from our shiny new Man truck and what's this? Power Pack had disappeared from the side of the car, and a new decal was in its place. Our new sponsors 3D-Tech are a concept modelling and rapid prototyping company based in Basel. They take a CAD drawing and print it out in 3D. You can find their web site at www.3d-tech.ch, it's all in German but you can look at the pictures like I did, and you might recognise the MD! Dez did some cracking burnouts, we did our quick engine change, and the crowd loved it. With the many questions being asked in our pit I am sure that we generated a lot of positive interest in our sport.

"The media coverage was first class. TSR, one of the main TV channels in Switzerland, even had a half hour programme aired on the Sunday afternoon while the event was on, and the national press were also present."

Dezsoe's next race is the Nitrolympics at Hockenheim; in the meantime you can find his official web site at www.dragracing.ch.

A European showcase.
9th August: Our good buddy Christer Abrahamson of Svensk Dragracing, who deserves a huge pat on the back from us all for managing to spend the whole of last weekend at Gardermoen with one hand holding a microphone track announcing and the other hand on his laptop posting results, says that the Podium at the end of the NDRG Drag Challenge resembled the League of Nations.

"I actually think that the Podium saw nine out of the ten present nations!", says Christer. "Let's see:

Denmark: runner up in Top Methanol Funny Car

Finland: runner up in Twinlab Super Gas and winner in Pro Stock

Germany: runner up in Top Methanol Dragster

Italy: runner up in Top Fuel Bike

Netherlands: winner in Top Fuel Bike

Norway: winner and runner up in Street Bike, runner up in Junior Dragster, runner up in Super Street, winner in Twinlab Super Gas, runner up in Super Comp, and winner in Comp

Sweden: winner and runner up in Super Gas Bike, winner in Junior Dragster, winner in Super Comp, winner and runner up in Stock/Superstock, winner and runner up in Bilsport Pro Mod, winner and runner up in Pro Stock Bike, winner and runner up in Supertwin, runner up in Pro Stock, and winner and runner up in in Top Fuel Dragster
©Eurodragster.com
Switzerland: runner up in Comp and winner in Top Methanol Funny Car

UK: winner in Super Street and winner in Top Methanol Dragster"

Christer also has a couple of very special memories of the Top Fuel action at Gardermoen. "When �yvor Jacobsen put down her first four-second run going in to number one qualifying position, the run was very straight with no sign of dropped cylinders", he says. "But the main thing was the crowd! Did they cheer! Since the crowd is not that big at Gardermoen it is not often that you hear it inside Race Control. The Gardermoen crowd is very educated and you often see that they are applauding and cheering, but this time you heard it all the way!

"And Kim Reymond's 4.76 was just fabulous! I was actually shouting in the microphone 'Here comes a 4.8' just before the scoreboards lit up! It was the straightest and cleanest Top Fuel run I have ever seen in Europe!"

Nilsson eyes title.
9th August: Håkan Nilsson and the Veidec Racing Pro Mod team had a very successful weekend at Gardermoen, taking number one qualifying spot first time out, taking the event win, and setting a new European speed record of 356.75 kmh (221.72 mph) on the way says team member Ulf Stadig.

"We started out with a pretty hard set-up and it paid off very well", says Ulf. "H�kan put in a 6.402 and that made us low qualifier. This was an awesome run to start with, and in the next run on Friday night, we stepped up on our clutch set-up and stormed down to a new European personal best for us with a 6.385. That night we had no problem sleeping well!"

The Veidec-backed Pro Mod remained at #1 and eliminations went prety much as planned, culminating in a final round appearance - the team's third final in three years at Gardermoen - against Roger Johansson who is running one of Håkan's old engines. "The battle was over immediately, as Roger pulled a big red light and gave away the victory", says Ulf. "We had put some small adjustments into the clutch and recorded a pretty good looking 6.405 and stormed to the new European speed record with a 356.75 kmh.
©Eurodragster.com
"We have to give a big thanks to former Pro Stock driver Jari Konola for the help he gave us during the weekend. He gave some really good advice to H�kan about reaction times, and it all helped out. H�kan saved the best for the final were he recorded a nice .045 reaction. We would also like to thank Britt Micetich from Iowa for taking the time to help us to straighten out some small, but for us very important, stuff over the weekend. Unfortunately we were in eliminations, so we couldn�t really sort out the last things, but I guarantee that we will try them out at Santa Pod in September.

"We are very happy with the win, and we are really looking forward to fight for the Championship at the legendary Santa Pod track in early September. We are now closing up in the points, and a win at Santa Pod would make us NDRS Bilsport Pro Mod Champions for the fifth time."

You can find a far more detailed report by Ulf on the Nilsson Motorsports web site at www.nilssonmotorsports.com.

FIA European Finals forms.
9th August: The official deadline for FIA, FIM/UEM, Fuel Funny Car and NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified entries to the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway on 5th-7th September passed this week, but entries are still being accepted. Anyone wishing to race at the FIA European Finals, whether Pro or Sportsman, is recommended to submit their entry to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall as soon as possible.

Below is a list of forms for the FIA European Finals including pre-race Professional Test and post-race Banquet.

Professional Test, Saturday 31st August (PDF format)

Entry form, FIA classes (PDF format)
Entry form, FIM/UEM classes (PDF format)
Entry form, Fuel Funny Car and NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified (PDF format)
©Eurodragster.com
Entry form, Sportsman car classes (Word format)
Entry form, Sportsman bike classes (Word format)
Entry form, Junior Dragster (Word format)

Order form, Hospitality (PDF format)
Ticket form, Post-Race Banquet (PDF format)

Please contact Paula Marshall at SPRC on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625) for all queries relating to FIA European Finals entry, and Santa Pod Raceway's office on 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44 1234 782828) for all queries relating to the Professional Test, Hospitality and the Post-Race Banquet.

Museum seeks dragster.
9th August: Bedford Museum are seeking a dragster for display as part of their Motoring Heritage Exhibition which takes place from 13th September to 31st December. "If you would like exposure for your dragster in our public gallery with full security, we would love to hear from you", says Janette Allen.
©Eurodragster.com
For more details contact Bedford Museum by E-Mail at Ahagen@bedford.gov.uk.

Another Tecchie.
9th August: Sharkman and Tog and, we're sure, the entrire racing community would like to congratulate Dave Cumbridge of the UK Tech Crew and his wife Ann on the birth of their son Charlie, a brother for Abigail, who was born this week. "Charlie is a likely attendee at the European Finals in September", says Geoff Martin who kindly sent the good news.
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
9th August: The official web site of Sweden's Leanders Brothers Top Methanol Funny Car team has been updated with a report from the NDRG Drag Challenge at Gardermoen, where Ulf Leanders recorded the team's first 5.7-second and 400 kmh runs. Check it out at www.leandersbros.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Carter out for 2003.
8th August: UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Andy Carter has announced that he is to sit out the rest of 2003. Andy walked away from a high-speed crash in the First National Telecom dragster at Gardermoen last weekend and despite a lot of effort has not secured a ride to contest the remainder of the 2003 Championship. There is however both good news and bad news, writes Carter Motorsports PR Dan Welberry.

"The good news is that after suffering a high-speed tyre explosion in Norway, Andy is totally fine and back to his usual self!", says Dan.

"I felt the tyre go and the car drop on one side, after that it was hang on but keep a cool head and work my way through the shut-down procedure; chutes, fuel shut-off and hand on the brake, bit of a waste of time as the axle had broken away from the chassis!", said Andy. "A very large but brief flash fire was a bit of a worry but it passed and I was out of the car before the safety crew arrived. I didn't even want to go into the ambulance as I knew I was fine. After letting Sarah know that I was OK, my only thought was to find Rune Fjeld and try and secure his car for the elimination rounds. Sadly, this was not possible so Knut Söderquist was my next stop. A deal was done on the red car chassis but after closer inspection of the First National Telecom Dragster everything from the cockpit back was damaged in some way...end of plan!

"I would like to say thanks to all the officials and track crew in Sweden and Norway who made me feel so welcome, all the fans for all their E-Mails, texts and phone calls, the Super Crew who did their usual outstanding job and King Knut, who very sportingly offered his support, even though we were number two in the points and Smax's main rival.

"We wouldn't be able to do this without the backing of our many sponsors so thanks again to First National Telecom Services, Wynns Lubricants, Lucas Oils, NGK, Binamic, S.I.D., Global Commercial, Yuasa Automotive Batteries (Europe) Limited, Earls Performance Products, Sigma Signs, Rainbow Conference Sets, I.P.A. Print Associates Limited and Juice Creative Media Limited.

"And now for the bad news. Without going in to full detail, we have tried various routes to secure a car for the remaining two championship rounds. Sadly, we have been unsuccessful. We know that all our fans would have loved to have seen us complete what we set out to do, we were particularly looking forward to the Finals on home soil. But we will be back! Carter Motorsport will be contesting every round of the 2004 FIA European Championship and going full-out (as usual) to take the title."

"Andy has had a couple of offers from team owners who have been impressed by his driving skills and commitment this season", says Dan. "If we do decide to go this route, it would leave the Carter Motorsport car available all year round for shows and various sponsorship commitments which we often can't fulfil due to the Championship schedule."
©Eurodragster.com
The Ultimate Pike.
8th August: Finland's Mad Bomber Racing Top Methanol Dragster team had an eventful weekend at Gardermoen, says car owner and Crew Chief Simo Patoharju. "We didn't fare too well, but we feel it wasn't too bad", he says. If you ever wanted a definition of the hard work, dedication and professionalism which goes into running a race car, then this story which Simo sent us illustrates it absolutely.

"We have a term for a situation where our car will make the round call in the absolute last minute with a lot of work rushing around, we call it a 'pike'. This refers to how quickly a pike swims away when disturbed. Well, on Sunday morning at Gardermoen we had the ultimate pike run. Since we threw a rod on our number one engine in Saturday's qualifying, we were forced to go to our spare engine. We had a minute's silence for the number engine since that block had served us from 1991 and it was still a virgin before that ill-fated second qualifying run - no holes in the sides for the twelve seasons we ran it.

"We got everthing pretty much done in the early hours, and were waiting for Sunday morning to fire it up. The engine sounded healthy on start-up, altough the oil pressure was a bit high. Then suddenly oil started to leak from rear of block. We thought that it was the rear main seal, so we pulled the pan down and changed the seal. That didn't help, oil was still pouring out of the rear of engine. At this time Top Fuel started to run, and our class would be next. We decided to pull out the trans and clutch out to be sure that oil was coming from the crank rear seal, not from the cam end or oil gallery plugs. This was confirmed, so in went rear seal #3, but no help. At this time the last Top Fuellers were running, so we almost gave up. Then we heard that there was an oildown so we thought we'd give it another try.
©Eurodragster.com
"We shimmed the oil pump down to give a little less pressure. Dave Wilson kindly lent us another seal and we put that on, turned the engine over with the starter and saw that it didn't leak anymore. We quickly threw the clutch and trans together, put the pan back and fired the engine - no leaks this time. The first pair of TMDs were already running. We rushed the rest of the car together and pushed it to the pairing lanes which were full of bikes. Everybody kindly stepped aside to give us room, and we just made it in time to run Rob Turner. Although we lost to Rob we were really pleased that we made it to the round, everything was working and that we didn't put a drop of oil on the track.

"We want to thank the very patient pit marshal who followed our fight to get it together and informed us about the time left; the Dave Wilson and the American Car Imports team for the rear seal; and the Turners and the track crew for their patience in waiting for us. And of course the unknown TF racer who gave us that extra time, we are sorry for his problems (smile). I also want to thank our super crew who never gave up and got everything done right just in time, and also driver Jari Halinen for handling all of the pressure extremely well.

"So far this was probably the ultimate pike for us, and I really wouldn't want to experience it again..."

You can find the Mab Bomber Racing web site at www.madbomberracing.fi.

No time to relax.
8th August: Sweden's Veidec Racing Pro Stock Bike team couldn't sit back and relax after a very busy Veidec Nitro Festival at Mantorp Park, says Crew Chief Roger Lyrén.

"At Mantorp we took the engine from the bike and the engine went to Motospeed to be serviced" says Roger. "We knew that new records could be set on the Gardemoen track so we wanted everything to be absolutely perfect.

"The track was in perfect condition. We took a soft first run just to get the bike down the track and to get a base line, and on the next run Roger Pettersson went 7.38/294 kmh! The computer showed us that we could improve more than that. We did have a goal for the weekend, and that was to get a new record, and there it was - 7.338 but the sixty foot time was still not very good and we had gone 0.08 quicker to 330 feet at Santa Pod. With that in mind we knew that we could lower the ET even more. For the last qualifying on Saturday, when the air was very good, we mounted a camera on the bike to get some cool shots for TV. Sadly we couldn't Sadly we could not inprove the ET, running 7.41 (it's difficult to concentrate one hundred per cent when you have a camera strapped to your leathers).
©Eurodragster.com
"On Sunday the weather was hot and dry so the power was different, but Roger still went 7.38 in the first round against Kenneth Stromberg. In the semi-finals, we won a new European record for both ET and speed, 7.329/294.7 (183.15 mph)! This was just awesome! We are getting closer and closer to the 7.2s, this is cool. In the final round Roger faced Anders Larsson, and Roger took the win. Roger was ahead on Reaction Time, recorded 7.34/294 and took another win.

"The track was absolutely in the best of condition, big thanks to Tor and Ian Marshall and the rest of the crew who did an awesome job on the Track. We made many runs in the 7.3s, so Roger and the are working very well.

"Now we can't wait to go to Hockenheim. Hopefully we can can set a new track record (currently 7.43) and maybe another European record?"

You can find the Veidec Racing web site at www.veidecracing.com.

Gearboxes, who needs 'em.
8th August: NDRG Drag Challenge Supertwin winner Stefan Junerud says that his performance at Gardermoen proves that is is possible to run a bike without a gearbox and not lose performance. Stefan and the team arrived a little late at Gardermoen having spent a week repairing the bike after losing a rod at Mantorp, but the Servex Supertwin started to perform as soon as it took to the track.

"We were qualified fourth with a 6.90/272, and a personal best eighth-mile of 4.35/291 promised a lot", says Stefan. "In the first round against Svein-Olav Rolfstad, who broke a belt, we ran a personal best of 6.69/298 and again 4.35/288 at the eighth. In the semi-final, Ton Pels' belt broke early. I noticed that and shut off early to a 7.02/267 to save the parts for the final where I should have met Per Bengtsson. Unfortunately Per broke a piston in the semi and I ran a bye in the final, another 6.69/298, and again an eighth mile in 4.35/292. The sixtyfoot was 1.20, and the low terminal speed is down to an early shut-off.
©Eurodragster.com
"These performances will certainly improve as the rider gets more used to the bike and to the speed. This win goes to all of my crew who worked so well both before and during the weekend. Thank You!"

Five by five for Larsen.

8th August: Danish Top Methanol Funny Car racer Dan Larsen had a successful weekend at Gardermoen. He finished runner up to Urs Erbacher (right), went into the 5.7s and over 400 kmh for the first time, and only made one pass all weekend which wasn't in the fives. Joan Larsen tells us, however, that it wasn't all plain sailing.

"Dan said that the semi-final against Leif Andréasson was a nightmare run", says Joan. "The car was shaking around so much that he could hardly see, and Leif was also shaking very badly and in fact hit one of the timing reflectors. Both Dan and Leif had a lot of trouble keeping the cars on the track, and this race really showed how hard it is to drive a Funny Car. We didn't beat Urs Erbacher but we gave him a close run, the final was fast and side-by-side, just how a final should be. It was great for our four Norwegian team members at their home track, including our new Norwegian crew member Per Egil Nordby who has been lent to us by Arvid Grødem.
©Eurodragster.com
"The engine was eating one blower belt after another all weekend. That gave the team a lot of extra work between the rounds, having to clean both inside and outside the engine for pieces of belt. When we got to the final round we had only one blower belt left, and that was an old used one...that one didn't survive either! It looks like the belts weren't breaking before the finish line though, otherwise we wouldn't have made all those great runs and got into the 5.7s.

"We are now working on changing everything completely and will give you more news about that later."

You can find Dan's web site at www.funnycar.dk.

Norwegian wouldn't.
8th August: UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Smax Smith had another dramatic exit from competition at last weekend's Drag Challenge at Gardermoen, being shut down in the first round which deprived him of his Championship lead. But the Purple Loans-sponsored racer sees an exciting climax to this year's points chase.

"Finally recovered after the trials and tribulations of Norway - a beautiful country with a well-situated racetrack by the airport so I guess no noise curfews!", says Smax. "We could have Fuel and all the rave culture no problem!

"We arrived late Thursday nite with Al Jackson and Spikey Sparky to meet the Belfast brothers Ray and Brian, who drove the old Suburban from Sweden whilst Knut Söderquist and Debby drove the rig. Gary Page, Julie, and Animal Mark arrived Friday so we all got stuck in and the car was ready for qualifying. The first session went well, with only us getting down track in the Purple dream machine. Alan dialled in another 4.89 but a spark plug blew apart slowing us to a creditable 4.97 for number one qualifier, and beating the track record of 5.02 held by none other than team mate Gary Page! Clever Knut decided to sit out the other two qualifiers to conserve parts, and after Kim Reymond ran an incredible 4.76 we wouldn't have got number one anyhow.

"We drew Tommy Möller in the first round so we were up early Sunday morning ready for the 9.30 slot. When we went to fire up we heard a timer air leak so we quickly removed top panel and ran to ask Tommy's crew if they would wait for us to fix small leak, to which they agreed. The starter gestured to fire up and suprisingly Tommy fired and did his burnout, Alan found and fixed the leak in a few seconds but we had to do the burnout without the top panel. After reversing the starter told us to shut the car off, as it is illegal to run without top panel, but we thought he would have let us put it on then at least fans would have had another fuel car thrill. Knut was furious, as most teams would have waited and last year at Mantorp Tommy had problems, Knut waited and Tommy beat us - that was at least fair (We have asked the Lorentzon and Möller team for their take on this - Ed). I'm not blaming Tommy as he was in the driving seat but amidst the confusion this was a very disappointing exit to our Norwegian efforts!

"After this all our attention turned to team mate Micke Kågered whose run of bad luck continued with a faulty reverser in qualifying, so I gave him my lucky Leo sun sign - then bingo, he ran 5.0 with an early shut off then a 4.95 with a dropped cylinder! This gave him Micke a bye in the first round as poor Andy Carter gave us all a scare with his horrendous top end crash, sidelining him for the weekend. We offered him our spare car to continue but his motor and clutch were too badly damaged to continue. Andy was talking of packing up for the season but I heard he was jumping for joy when I was shut down so I guess we'll see him back (see news item above - Ed).

"Micke kicked a rod on his bye, so we all helped to change motors and got ready to meet Anita Mäkelä in the semis. Anita has been having top end handling problems which handed Micke the win, so in the final it was Micke v Tommy, who had defeated Kim's blower belt-slinging effort in the semis. My heart was with Micke although a win for Tommy would keep me in the points lead, but Micke really needed this one and defeated Tommy's valiant effort with another low five-second pass taking the win and also the Championship lead!

"What a party Sunday night! Thanks to Tommy Haapanen for the Hennessey! So onto Hockenheim and I hope we can demonstrate our power and cunning, and for the fans that the FIA championship will be decided at the European Finals! After a fantastic start in Top Fuel I have been beating myself with a red light, a faulty reverser, and now an air pipe - but I am still unbeaten head to head! Thanks to all the team and to Knut for keeping it together after all our hard work. Stay tuned as the excitement is building...wish me luck."

Smax is back in the UK this weekend driving John and Lesley Wright's Top Fuel Dragster at the Bulldog Bash at Shakespeare County Raceway.
©Eurodragster.com
FIA European Finals hospitality.
8th August: Kelly Ingall of Santa Pod Raceway has been in touch to remind racers that the deadline is fast approaching to book discounted hospitality packages for the FIA European Finals, which takes place at Santa Pod on 5th-7th September. All bookings at the concessionary rates must be made by 29th August.
©Eurodragster.com
For more details, click here (PDF format), or call Kelly at Santa Pod on 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44 1234 782828).

Web site updates.
8th August: Alan Currans has posted another update to his excellent Acceleration Archive nostalgia site. "I am pleased to announce the second page of the long lost John Woolfe Racing archives featuring the 1971 Hot Wheels Top Fuel Dragster, the legendary Mr Six rail, and the fastest front engined dragster in the world for many, many years, Mr Revell", says Alan. "Included in the pictures is one showing the Santa Pod timing clock displaying the first six second elapsed time outside the USA, recorded by Dennis Priddle. The brilliant pictures, which were nearly all taken by professional photographers, are augmented by recollections from Dave Riswick's seemingly inexhaustible memory". You can find the Acceleration Archive at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Rob Cook has updated his personal web site with his photographs from the Veidec Nitro Festival at Mantorp Park, which you can view by clicking on the Motorsports link at www.picturesbyrob.co.uk.

Reymond finds combination.
7th August: FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Kim Reymond has a simple explanation for Europe's first-ever 4.7-second pass, a 4.764 which he recorded at the NDRG Drag Challenge at Gardermoen last weekend. "We have been trying to find the new set-up this season, I would say we found it!", he says. "And of course I have the best team in the world!"

After running a European record-equalling 4.897 as well as Mantorp Park's first 300mph pass at the Veidec Nitro Festival Kim and the USA Autodele team went to Gardermoen knowing that their all-new 2003 combination was beginning to bear fruit. "We tried to plug the gaps in the computer trace from the 4.8 at Mantorp" says Kim. "We are still learning how to read the track, and where and when to apply the power. We had a very good track at Gardermoen, although the 4.7 was on the edge all the way!"
©Eurodragster.com
Kim says that the 'low' terminal speed of 302 mph on the historic pass was down to the supercharger. "Something came into the blower at three hundred metres and damaged it, and so there was not much boost in the last hundred metres", he says. "But we were running 410.7 kmh at half track!". Kim's eighth-mile speed equates to just over 255 mph; we have consulted timing supremo Andy Marrs of TSI Timers and he agrees with us that this is probably the highest half-track speed ever recorded in Europe.

Kim's performance in the last two races contrasts with what he himself describes as a "nightmare" at the FHRA Nitro Nationals at Alastaro, where he DNQd after losing what was, by all accounts, a fine qualifying run to a cockpit intrusion. "Some oil-dry came into the cockpit and it got into my eyes", he says. "I was travelling very fast and suddenly I couldn't see anything. I thought that I had nitro in my eyes. I couldn't find the chutes, and I wanted to get stopped as quickly as I could. It was frightening."

Kim didn't experience any such nightmares at Gardermoen until he set off for home. "My clutch guy needed to get home quickly so he took my plane ticket, and I came home with the truck driver", he says. "After we had gone about fifty kilometres one of the rear wheels came off the trailer. We had to drive very slowly to a service area, where Rune Fjeld and some other guys helped us to fix it. We worked all night and set off again, after another hundred kilometres a tyre exploded. I eventually got home the next day and I was pissed! But then, we did run a 4.7 so that made me feel good!"

The USA Autodele team are now preparing the car for the Nitrolympics at Hockenheim in a couple of weeks' time, which will be Kim's first Top Fuel trip to the German track. "I have run there in run Top Methanol and several times in Competition", he says. "Some of the track is relatively new, but so were parts of the track at Mantorp and that was perfect!". Kim has purchased a replacement blower from Rune Fjeld, and the team are repairing the blower damaged at Gardermoen. "Other than that we did no damage in Norway, so there are just one or two things to do to the car - and of course we have to do our day jobs!", says Kim.

Despite the hiccup at Alastaro, Kim still has a chance of retaining his European Championship. "We are in the running, and we are going to win!", he says.

You can find the USA Autodele team's web site at www.usa-autodele.dk.

Cannon seeks big numbers.

7th August: UK Top Fuel Bike racer Chris 'Cannon' Hannam and his team have a busy test and racing schedule lined up over the next few weeks. The final round of the ACU UK Top Fuel Bike Championship takes place at the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway on 23rd-25th August, followed two weeks later by the European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway, and the Cannon Engineering, MRE, International CNC Limited and G Max Fuels-sponsored racer knows that only six-second passes will be good enough.

"After attending the Summernationals at Santa Pod to do demo runs and get track time, we seemed to have picked up a problem which we think was the mag breaking down", says Cannon. "I have since bought an MSD 12 amp Promag which has taken weeks of remachining to adapt to our bike, but which should give the desired spark to burn the fuel. This, the increased blower speed, and our new lower first gear ratio should be able to get the bike with me on it to move quicker out of the hole, as the incremental numbers from 330 feet onwards are good enough for 6.8 or 6.9 second passes.

"The bike is now over at Andy Richards' place for the wiring of the mag and general tidying up, we hope to fire the bike this weekend and then if all is well go to the Run What You Brung at Santa Pod Raceway on 17th August, so that we have some track time before the final round at Shakespeare County Raceway. We hope to have some good fortune at SCR again as we all know that the sport can be so cruel and yet sometimes so rewarding. I would dearly love to put that magic six on the board, not just for myself but for all the hard work and effort the team puts in, and also to lift the pressure going into the European Finals at Santa Pod. I think that again a six-second pass will be required to qualify and with Neil Midgley knocking out 6.8s on the Funny Bike that may well be the bump."
©Eurodragster.com
On the subject of European competition, Cannon has congratulated Roel Koedam and Sverre Dahl on their 6.1-second performances at Gardermoen last weekend. "They were fantastic performances, closing in on our own master Brian Johnson himself", says Cannon. "I can only dream what it must be like to run that fast, and would love the power and the set-up to try, but would like to learn to walk before I can run. We have seen how volitile these things can be if they are not treated with respect."

Cannon also tells us that he is trying to put together a deal to race at the AMA/Prostar Finals at Gainesville, USA, in November. "If anyone is interested in going, then please contact me directly on 01274 855886 or 07775 501371. It's a lot of fun and the experience is very worthwhile. Also, should any potential sponsors be reading this and wish to be of help, I can only say that I offer more advertising space than any rider on the planet, and I do generate good press, so I feel that I could do a good job for any investor in our team."

Cannon has also asked us to pass on his thanks to his team for their continued support and hard work.

Dahl gets direction right.
7th August: No sooner does Cannon mention 2002 FIM/UEM Comp Bike Champion Sverre Dahl than we hear from the Norwegian rider. Sverre had a disappointing weekend at the Veidec Nitro Festival, breaking both camshafts in qualifying, so he was looking forward to making up for it at his home track of Gardermoen. And make it up he did with a 6.1-second pass in qualifying, which Sverre describes as "A step in the right direction".

"We made some good qualifying passes, with a new PB of 6.19 and a side-by-side race against Roel Koedam which was a very nice 6.23 vs 6.25", says Sverre. "But then we started to overpower the track. In the 6.19 pass we burnt a lot of clutch, as there was too much clutch slip from 330 feet to the finish line. We tried to put some more clutch in after a few seconds, but it seemed to be too much; so we made it softer from the line but it still smoked the tyre.
©Eurodragster.com
"In the semi-finals we put it back to the 6.19 set-up with even softer launch, but we still smoked the tyre. The engine was awesome, we still ran 217 mph, we had to make five attempts to make the tyre grip and we only ran 160 mph at the eighth mile - In the 6.19 pass we ran 192 mph at the eighth.

"But the weekend was good for us, because it seems to be an end to the oiling problems which we have been working on for many years, and hopefully we can use the time to make the bike go fast. I'm sure the bike will go much faster, and maybe we can run some record times at Santa Pod in September.

"I must say a big Thank You to my crew for working so hard, to Nils Ole Lund and team for loaning us parts, and also to Web Cam who made new camshafts in less than a week."

Koedam does Scandinavia.
7th August: ...and no sooner does Cannon mention Dutch Top Fuel Bike racer Roel Koedam than we receive a Scandinavian Tour report from Crew Chief Marius van der Zijden.

"We left home a few days early as we were invited by Supertwin racer Per Bengtsson to pay him a visit on our way to the track", says Marius. "Per wanted to show us his business and also invited us for a barbecue party at his home. His shop and home are located in the beautiful countryside of Klippan in the southern part of Sweden. Bengtsson�s main business is a patented inking system for printing machines called 'Flexoart'. As well as that they make the well known 'Bentec' drag race clutches and transmissions. It was an interesting tour in very well organized place. We had an excellent time and thank the Bengtsson family for their hospitality.

"We know Mantorp Park for two reasons. The first is the short run off area. A couple of riders and drivers always end up in the sand trap and this year proved no exception. As safety is always number one for us we decided to click it off just before the finish line and for that reason the bike was never under power for longer than 5.8 seconds. This doesn�t just influence the ETs a little bit, it mainly kills the terminal speed but provides more brake area. The second thing we remember most about Mantorp Park is that they seem to have a ticket on beautiful sunny weather during the event itself and rain right after the last final round.

"Last year the start was moved some 75 metres back to create a little more run-off area and they this year they had also resurfaced the first three hundred feet of the track. Alhough it was a still a little bumpy at half-track, the traction was very good.

"On Friday, what first looked to be a rainy day without any qualifying at all turned into a beautiful race day when the sun finally came out at two o�clock. Qualifying therefore was restricted to only one round that day. We ran a 6.29/327 kmh off the trailer, clicked of at 5.50 seconds. On Saturday we skipped the first morning round. As rain was predicted in the late afternoon, we contested the second round and didn�t gamble on the last qualifying round to try to improve our 6.29. We gave it just a little bit more fuel to see what change that would bring. The result was just a little slower 6.35/335. It died from richness at the top end, so we learned that our fuel system is right on the ball park. Our tactics proved right as it indeed started to rain at half past four in a big way.

"Qualifying turned out like a battle field as a lot of the fuel bikes broke. Jon Leret cracked a cylinder head, Ian King GB broke a fuel line and caught fire (understatement), and Sverre Dahl broke a camshaft, Nils Ole Lund broke a crank. With the exception of Nils they all had to withdraw from the event as they were not able to fix their problems at the track. Our 6.29 opening pass was too quick for the competition and we remained the number one qualifier. Despite the withdrawal of three fuel bikes, there were still six fuellers left, and the eight bike field was completed with two funny bikes.

"On Sunday it looked like we were bracket racing as we won the first and second rounds with a 6.48 and 6.45. For the last final round we had an old trick in mind regarding the clutch setting. Under normal conditions this would step up the performances, but then again...it�s still a drag race and you never know. Things took a turn for the worse as just prior to the final rounds the sky turned grey and it started raining. This time the rain set in earlier then in previous years. The event came to a stop and no final rounds were run. Though we were quickest and fastest bike of all weekend, a winner was never decided.

"In between these two events we stopped at a camp site - as did five other teams - for some fishing, bench racing, golf and service on the bike.

"Our hopes are always very high in Norway as it is still the best track in Europe, despite the relatively small crew and budget. Friday�s qualifying was a long time startingh after a lot of oildowns. When we finally made our first pass it was already 17.30. We clocked an early shut-off 6.63/306. Saturday started grey, but the sun came out just before it was our turn to hit the track again. On the previous run the clutch release bearing again didn�t work properly, so we went for a safe setting in order to stand a fair change to improve our 6.63. This clutch release bearing, or 'cannon', seems to be an unreliable player lately. It has caused us problems before and we will see what we can do in the meantime to last the rest of the season before a total rebuild. The 'safe clutch setting' we had opted for proved to have more effect than everyone hoped. The clocks stopped at 6.18/356! For the first time we were into the Teens! It was party time at the start line, but no time to relax as next to us it was Sverre Dahl�s turn. He ran in the same lane and ran a 6.19! Just like us Sverre improved his previous personal best of 6.28 and also dived into the Teens for the first time.

"This was one of those rare occasions and racing at its very best, a lifetime memory for all who watched and especially for those involved. As qualifying went on, the records kept falling in all other classes, bikes and cars. The credit for this has to go to partly to perfect track preparation. On our last qualifying shot we lined up next to Sverre Dahl. Sverre clocked a 6.23/359 whilst we ran a 6.25/355. What a thriller it was and the fastest side-by-side run ever outside the USA. Sensation at its best! We remained the number one qualifier!

"Sunday was a real sunny day. We won the first round with a 6.40. I must admit that we were a little lucky in this one as the primary drive belt broke right at the finish line. The engine momentarily hit 12,500 rpm without any damage. In the semi-finals we beat Jon Leret and clocked our second best ET of 6.22, whilst in the other half of the ladder Sverre beat himself as he smoked the tyre real bad off the line. Sverre made a desperate attempt to finish in front of Antonio Ferretti but when the smoke cleared we could see that he hadn�t succeeded. So it was, surprisingly, Italy against Holland in the finals. We won the final round with another 6.26/358. Norway brought us what we hoped for. We left Scandinavia with a very comfortable points lead, 202 points for us followed by Jon Leret on 112 points and only two more rounds to go. A nice point is that the bike didn�t show any damage at all after the weekend."
©Eurodragster.com
With a little help from my friends...
6th August: Sweden's European Championship-holding Ac Delco/Malmgren Racing Pro Stock team contested last weekend's NDRG Drag Challenge at Gardermoen with an engine hired from US racer Jim Yates at very short notice. If you were tuned in last week you will remember that Michael Malmgren lost his primary engine O'bej at the Veidec Nitro Festival at Mantorp Park and that the prognosis for repair was not good.

"The good news is that it looks like we can get O'bej back on its feet in time for Hockenheim", says team mamber Magnus Cato. "Supervisor Christer and Crew Chief Heikki have taken a long look at it and they are opimistic. Christer now has O'bej at his shop and is already working on it. But in the meantime, we had to do something to stay on top.
©Eurodragster.com
"Because the class is so strong, Michael contacted Jim Yates Racing from Mantorp to check out the possibilities of renting an engine. The answer was 'Of course!'. We had it delivered to Gardermoen on Friday night, worked to three o'clock in the morning, and ran the rest of the weekend with 'Stone Cold'. The numbers - 6,96/198.5 - were encouraging indeed, and we can see that there is more to come. Every engine has its own personality, and even though Stonecold is almost identical to O'bej, we have to go through another learning curve in order to run the Camaro to the limit with this engine.

"With that in mind, we are (almost) pleased with the third place at Gardermoen. We lost to a strong-running Jimmy Ålund in the semi-finals by two thousands of a second, but that's the way it is. To be able to run as strong as we know we can, we have to check everything out on the Camaro. So there's plenty to do the upcoming weeks, but we are all very excited about what is going to happen. We are still in the points lead, and we can feel the other guys breathing down our necks, but they will have to fight hard: we won't surrender. Ever.

"We are pulling Stone Cold out of its new home this week, and replacing it with O'bejb: we are doing a display and burnout show at the famous Vall�kra meet close to our home on 16th August, and we don't want to hurt our loaner.

"All the crew at AC Delco Racing are grateful to Jim Yates and his family for giving us this opportunity to fight hard for the Championship. A true friend."

Gardermoen FIM/UEM review.
6th August: We are as ever indebted to FIM/UEM Championship co-ordinator Lars Andersson for sending us a review of the latest European Championship round, in this case the NDRG Drag Challenge at Gardermoen.

"The weekend has been very exciting. There was a new record in Pro Stock Bike and a lot of personal bests. The track was absolute perfect, very good from the beginning and neither accidents, oildownsn or rain could make it track bad. The team which took care of the track did a very good job over the weekend, and everyoen who works at Gardermoen should be applauded. The only bad things at the track are the paddock and the toilets, but the excellent track makes you forget these things.

"There were only six riders in Pro Stock Bike but they all did very well. Roger Pettersson set a new record of 7.329/294 kmh, and also won the race. After the race the team had to take the engine apart to check the capacity, and the check confirmed that the bike was within limits without any problem. Now they have to put the engine back together before Hockenheim. Sweden's Anders Larsson was runner up. He worked almost the whole night between Saturday and Sunday to make the bike run as he wanted. Anders missed the two first races but is coming on strong. Finland's Vesa Rautio also ran apersonal best of 7.38, which proves that the sixteen-valve engine can also run fast here in Europe. The two English riders, Richard Gipp and Chris Hope, are still trying to sort out some problems.

"In Top Fuel Bike we had the sort of qualifying we only dream of. Roel Koedam went out and recorded a 6.186 and we all just screamed. In the next pair, Sverre Dahl came out and ran a 6,192. The story is that Sverre told Roel at the top end that Roel had run a 6.18, and Roel replied 'I hope you did a 6.19' and that is exactly what happened. In the next round Sverre and Roel were out together and ran side-by-side 6.2s. All of the spectators screamed and were very excited. Nils Ole Lund from Norway ran a 6.44, that is his personal best and also maybe the fastest time in the world with the old type of blower. Antonio Ferretti from Italy ran some good times. He qualified with a 7.179 to show that he is on the right track. This took him to the final against Roel. Denmark's Finn Asserbo had to rebuild the engine after Mantorp and so arrived late on Saturday, but did qualify. On Sunday Finn found the error which he had been looking for on the bike, so he will be strong in the future. I think that almost everyone in Top Fuel Bike set new personal bests.

"Supertwin is as the name says, super. There is always something happening, and qualifying changed all the time. We didn't know who was going to qualify until the very last run. Ton Pels was number one qualifier with a 6.61 and Greger Johansson was number 8 with a 7.20, after which the team cut his hair so we didn't recognise him after the qualifying! We had five riders in the sixes. Per Bengtsson was looking for a problem and qualified with a 7.17 but beat Ronny Aasen in the first rounf. Per ran 6.576 and Ronny 6.742 - this must be the quickest Supertwin side-by-side ever. Stefan Juneryd arrived late after rebuilding the engine and proved that he is on the right track. A 6.905 sec in qualifying and two runs of 6.694 showed that he is strong. Stefan Sven Olav Rolstad and then Ton Pels, and then it was Per Bengtsson in the final. But Per had to stay behind and watch Stefan after a lifter broke and filled his engine with small pieces of metal.

"After the success in Norway are we looking forward to the race at Hockenheim. Hopefully a lot a lot of riders will turn up and make it a good race."

You can find the latest FIM/UEM Championship standings on the King Racing web site at www.kingracing.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Gwynn book to publish.
6th August: Longtime readers will recall that over the last couple of years we have published a few news items from writer Erik Arneson asking for help with his official biography of US Top Fuel racer Darrell Gwynn, who was involved in a bad accident in the UK some years ago.
©Eurodragster.com
We were pleased to hear from Erik that his book Darrell Gwynn - At Full Throttle: Triumphs and Tragedies from a Life Lived at Speed is just about to be published, and that advance orders can now be placed on Amazon UK. Click here to visit the page on Amazon UK.

We expect to receive a copy of Erik's book very shortly and will bring you a review as soon as we can.

A close thing for Gullquist.
5th August: Swedish Pro Mod racer Michael Gullquist made a very welcome return to competition at Gardermoen last weekend in an all-new '57 Chevy race car. It was however a very close thing to make it onto the track, writes Michael.

"We have worked really hard to get the car out this season", says Michael. "The last three weeks' work have been carried out with minimal sleep. We tried hard to get it done for Mantorp, but some parts were lost in shipments from the US and had to be sent again, so we lost too much time.

"I wanted to build an engine for the car which could stay together and hold up for the high RPMs needed for a blown Pro Mod. The initial cost was probably a bit higher, and there was a lot of work involved putting it all together, but I think it might be worth it in the long run. Here in Europe we see the nitrous cars with guys like H�kan Nilsson, Roger Johansson and Christer Jacobs dominating at the moment, but these guys all have very good tune-up's, better than any of the current blown cars. They have also raced for many years and have very good cars so it is not a bit surprising to me that we find them on the top of qualifying at the moment. Their sources are simply the best in the US on nitrous. But the blower guys over here are also getting faster, and I think that we will see some great runs at Santa Pod for the last race of the European season. My hope is to mix things up a bit for these guys, but we need to go out there and sort it all out first.
©Eurodragster.com
"It was great to run the car this weekend, even if we didn't get a real run on it. I was impressed by the power in the engine, but also on how quiet it was inside the car compared to the nitrous cars I used to drive. We did not have time to put the car on scales before we went to Norway, and we had to put a lot of weight in the car to make it legal. It was not easy, but it was great fun as I had Roger Johansson to adjust the clutch linkage while Conny Johansson and Mackan from H�kan Nilsson's team and Tomas Mohlin from the Peter Kunc/Bohab team helped make the weights. Bertan Olovsson also helped out with welding as well as a lot of other fellow racers at the track.

"We were ready for the last qualifying session at the very last moment; a big thanks to all the nice Pro Stock guys who had to move to let us pass them in the staging lanes. I went out there to just feel the car and test the chutes to see if everything was working, however the chutes went straight down in the wheelie bars so I had had to use the brakes hard.

"After that run I had to face H�kan Nilsson in the first round of eliminations. H�kan came over to me before the run and asked me to take it easy. He was not worried that I was going to outrun him, but he was worried that I was going to try to run fast and run in to him. I ensured H�kan that I was going to run very fast and that this all was very prestigious. Later I heard a rumour that H�kan had protested my qualifying run because of missing race numbers, but that was not true. H�kan is a good friend of mine, even if we had hard fights in our cars at the track, and he felt very sad hearing about those rumors. After the burnout the engine just stopped and when I tried to start it again I saw flames under the hood. The safety guys put out the fire quick and clean, so the damage was minimal.

"I want to take the opportunity to say thanks to the team, especially Micke Grimberg who worked hard both this weekend and before, but also a special thanks to Kjell 'Jokern' Israelsson who came in and helped a lot along with other friends of mine. Not to forget our sponsors Twinlab and NordicLAN. We are really looking forward to Santa Pod in September, where we will try to run some decent numbers."

For more information about the European Pro Mod scene, check out the very nice EPMA web site at www.promod.nu.

Showtime for CC Racing.
5th August: CC Racepaint, the paint and body arm of the CC Racing empire, have won the job of prepping and painting the new Showtime Funny Car body for Bob Jarrett and John Spuffard, writes Andy Oliver. "As you already know, it is one of only two bodies ever to be released from the John Force stable (the other being the Leanders Brothers' FC - Ed)", says Andy. "It is a Mustang body campaigned in 2001. I won't tell you what the design is - you'll have to wait and go to Shakespeare County Raceway in a few weeks' time!"
©Eurodragster.com
Also in the CC Racing pit, Andy tells us that Doug Ripley and the team have had "A bit of a nightmare" fitting the CC Racing Top Methanol FC with a Whipple supercharger. "It's taking a lot longer than we had expected", says Andy. "Everything bar the PSI hat is now in place, and Norm at PSI has assured us that we will have this at the end of the week."

On a personal note, Andy also tells us that he has sold his Andy's Rat 1967 Camaro, which he raced in Custom Car Street Eliminator. "Unfortunately, with race commitments on the Funny Car, the Camaro wasn't being used", he says. "I was only using it on the street this year. But it has gone to a good home; Nick Frost and his wife will be racing for the rest of the year with Mrs Frost at the wheel."

Double FBs.
5th August: UK Custom Car Street Eliminator team FB Racing have proudly announced that they have become a two-car team. Team member and webmaster Trevor Jones has acquired Richard Homewood's 1941 Willys, an ideal stablemate to Ian Hook�s eight-second 1934 Ford. Trevor will be making his race début in the car at LA Performance Services' Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway on 23rd-25th August, although the car will be on display along with Fatty�s Ford at the Mid West American car show at Cheltenham Racecourse on the 16th/17th August.

The car, built by Dale Reardon�s West Coast Racing enterprise, is powered by a 383 Small Block Chevy and has run a best ET to date of 10.7 without gas, although the team would like to see nines before the end of the season. Trevor�s race experience dates back to the days of the NDRA when he ran a Gasser-style PA Cresta, again SBC-powered, to a best of 13.24 although he has run twelves in the original FB Racing �34.

For more information check out the news section of the FB Racing web site at www.fbracing.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Carter seeks crash footage, pics.
5th August: UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Andy Carter is looking for video or photographs of Saturday's top end crash at Gardermoen. "If you have any video or photographs then we would appreciate a look", says Carter Motorsports PR Dan Welberry. "As soon as we know the way forward for the Carter Motorsports team then we will let you know", he adds.

If you have video or pictures of Andy's crash, you can drop Dan a line at dan@3tcreative.com.
©Eurodragster.com
European Bests updated.
5th August: Andy Marrs of TSI Timers has updated his page of European Bests after the weekend's record-setting Drag Challenge at Gardermoen. "The question is, are Urs Erbacher, Peter Schöfer, Dave Wilson and Roger Petterson so good that they can dial their vehicles in so that they just beat the record at virtually every round, and so ensuring bonus points?", asks Andy, probably rhetorically. "There have been twelve FIA and FIM/UEM records set this year, all of them by one of these four. Roger Petterson has set five records this season; the only track at which he hasn't set a record this year is Mantorp Park, and even then he only missed the speed record by 0.08 mph!"
©Eurodragster.com
You can view Andy's lists of European Bests by clicking here, or by clicking on the European Bests link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Web site updates.
5th August: Patrik Jacobsson has updated the Racebilder.nu site with two hundred and ninety pictures from the Drag Challenge at Gardermoen. You can find the pictures under the Bilderna link at www.racebilder.nu.
©Eurodragster.com
If you think that 290 is a lot of pictures, then prepare to be amazed as Eurodragster staffer Sharkman has updated his personal web site Sharkman's Top End Tales with no less than three hundred and sixty photographs from the recent Veidec Nitro Festival at Mantorp Park. Get yourself a long cool drink and check them out at www.topendtales.com.

NDRG Drag Challenge results.
4th August: Micke Kågered (Top Fuel Dragster), Dave Wilson (Top Methanol Dragster), Urs Erbacher (Top Methanol FC), Eero Knihtilä (Pro Stock), Håkan Nilsson (NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified), Roel Koedam (Top Fuel Bike), Stefan Junerud (Supertwin), and Roger Pettersson (Pro Stock Bike) were the Pro-class winners at Norsk Dragracing Gardermoen's Drag Challenge at Gardermoen Raceway near Oslo at the weekend. The event saw the quickest- and fastest-ever runs in a number of classes, some of which were backed up for new records, and there were plenty of shocks during eliminations.
©Eurodragster.com
You can find full qualifying and elimination results and reports on the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se courtesy of our good friend Christer Abrahamson who was also (and at points simultaneously) track announcing and sound engineering. You can also find results on the Norsk Dragracing Gardermoen web site at www.norskdragracing.com.

The Svensk Dragracing web site has also been updated with the latest points standings in FIA and FIM classes.

Racers: Don't hesitate to send your Drag Challenge reviews to us at news@eurodragster.com and we'll publish them here.

Something about that Pro Mod...
4th August: As if he wasn't already doing enough at Gardermoen, our good friend Christer Abrahamson also had a chat with Norwegian Pro Mod racer Thomas Nataas about his plans for 2004. Longtime fans will recall that Tommy Möller owned Thomas' blown-alcohol 'Batman' Coupe before moving to Top Fuel Dragster and, proving that there must be something about that particular car, Thomas told Christer that he too is to make the step up.
©Svensk Dragracing and Eurodragster.com
Thomas will be running a Top Fuel Dragster next season, to be imported from the USA by tuning ace Rune Fjeld. The plan is currently to licence at Santa Pod Raceway next Easter, and then to contest the 2004 FIA Tour. Christer also tells us that Thomas plans to keep the immaculate Batman Pro Mod and to race it at non-FIA events - he does not plan to run both cars at the same event.

It is obviously early days for this story, so stay tuned for further developments from the Batman pit and we will bring them to you as we receive them.

Web site updates.
4th August: The Kågered Racing web site at www.kagered-racing.com has been updated with a report on Mike Kågered's victory in Top Fuel Dragster and Niclas Andersson's personal best in Top Methanol Funny Car.
©Eurodragster.com
The official web site of Holland's Team ProStreet Dragracing has been updated with news and photographs from the 2003 season, as well as two video clips of Robert Koper in action in the beautiful Monte Carlo which runs in Comp Eliminator or Pro Modified depending upon the event. "We have an engine, and the car, for sale", says Henri Kwakkel, "you can find more information by clicking on the For Sale link at www.dutch-dragracing.com."

ACI Consult another sponsor.
3rd August: The UK's American Car Imports Racing Top Methanol Dragster team have announced a sponsorship deal with Portman Business Consultancy, a company which specialises in supporting the growth and development of small and medium sized owner-managed businesses.

"PBC is sponsoring the car to raise awareness that business consultancy is not just for large FTSE 500 companies but that small businesses can really benefit from professional business consultancy", says American Car Imports joint MD Anthony Cohen, who sponsors Eurdragster's Home and News pages and Event Coverage. "PBC aims to work with these businesses in order that the business owners can achieve the lifestyle of their choice, by making the business work for them and not them for the business."
©Eurodragster.com
PBC Director Daniel Ronen explains: "Small growing businesses face as many problems as the large multinationals yet have very little focused individual guidance and support. We are able to not only offer this support tailored to address the specific needs of small businesses, but also bring the experience of working with other businesses facing similar problems and help the client by introducing best practise from all industries."

"We are excited to be associated with drag racing and in particular American Car Imports, as it fits into our aim of finding market leaders as partners", adds MD Richard Hasseck.

For more details about Portman Business Consultancy, call Richard Hasseck on 0207 388 4666 or 07970 700 122.

Drag strip west of London.

3rd August: Just recently we have been hearing rumours of a drag strip to the west of London, and after weeks of fruitless investigation on our part UK fan Roger Matthews came to our aid.

"I just visited Legoland Windsor with the wife and kids and found a model of a drag strip complete with working Top Fuellers!", says Roger. "The best thing was that it rained and they still ran!"
©Eurodragster.com
The Legoland drag strip (right, click on picture for another view) is an excellent simulacrum of Santa Pod Raceway complete with Barn, grandstand, VIP and Race Control. In fact we have even spotted what appear to be models of TSI Timers' Lisa Billinton and Andy Marrs in Race Control, and a Funny Car based on Steph Milam's She Devil Racing TMFC in the pits.

If you're looking for somewhere to take the kids during the summer break and you fancy indoctrinating them into drag racing then you can find the Legoland Windsor web site at www.legoland.co.uk.

Web site updates.
3rd August: Supertwin Fuel racer and Drag Bike photo-journalist Ian Turburville has completed the awnings and pit tents page on his web site at www.turboville.com. "The Race Wear pages will be the next to be completed but feel free to order any helmets, leathers, gloves, jackets which you need in the meantime", says Turbo, "I can give you the prices via E-Mail.
©Eurodragster.com
Carter OK after Top End crash.
2nd August: UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Andy Carter is perfectly OK after a high-speed crash at the NDRG Drag Challenge at Gardermoen this afternoon. A tyre blew at a thousand feet during today's first qualifying session, rendering Andy a passenger in the four-second First National Telecom dragster which still recorded a 5.2 on the slide.

"The left rear tyre blew and that was it", said Andy on the phone to Eurodragster from Gardermoen. "The car didn't roll, it went up on its side then came back down and swung about the lane, and the rear axle came out. It's a real mess, the chassis is bent and there is plenty of other damage."

Andy got himself out of the car as soon as it stopped. "I had it under control - or as under control as you can be in a crash!", he said. "I was aware of everything which was going on. I pulled the chutes, shut off the fuel and hit the mag kill switch whilst the car was spinning around. There was a small fire but the safety crew were right there and sorted that out."
VERY ©Eurodragster.com
As soon as Andy got back to the pits he checked the FIA rules and consulted FIA officials and having ascertained that he could race an alternative car went round the pits to make a deal to get back into competition. "Rune Fjeld only has Øyvor's Fueller at the track and of course he couldn't throw her out of the car!", he said. "Then I actually did a deal with Knut Söderquist to hire his red dragster. But then we looked at our engine and found that the crank is damaged because the engine over-revved in the crash. There is some valve damage and other stuff, so we are out for this weekend."

Andy says that he is now going to return to the UK and reflect for a couple of days about what to do for the best. "It was one of those things", he said. "You know that every time you get into one of these cars you are one closer to your big crash. At least I have had my Top Fuel crash now! It's a real downer because we're second in the Championship, what we do next will partly depend upon how Smax gets on this weekend. If he wins here then we will probably leave it for this season because it will be hard to catch up, but if he doesn't then it may well be worth coming back in time for Hockenheim. Of course there is a money issue as well. I've really got to go home and think about it for a few days."

Super Pro hits York.
2nd August: Next weekend's UK Northern Nationals at York Dragway promises to be a fantastic race, writes York's PR Howard Holmes. "We've just had confirmation that two of the UK's fastest Super Pro ET dragsters will be match racing against Chris and Clayton Round's Rebellious methanol dragster", says Howard. "Mark Flavell and Kenny Coleman's blown seven-second rails, side-by-side smoky rolling burnouts and heads-up racing. As if that weren't enough, the event also features Mopar Muscle Car Shootout, the Wild Bunch, American Superstock Series round 3, Hot Rod Challenge rounds 4 and 5, National Street Car Challenge rounds 5 and 6, Northern Drag Racing Championships, Open RWYB, Saturday night party (drink wot you've brung). Camping is open from 6:00 om this Friday (8th August).

"The event also features the annual Street Racer Championship. In its twenty-sixth, this event has attracted many respected racers and well known cars, from Stu Valance driving Henry Highrise twenty five years ago to John Sleath driving an Audi a lot more recently; with for example Bill and Will Sherratt, Des Taylor, Smax Smith, Moose Hollingworth and many others in between. But who will take the title this year? The door is wide open...the Championship takes place on Saturday evening, with a party afterwards."

You can find the York Dragway web site at yorkdragway.intrica.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Marston gives up on Brighton.
2nd August: If you were tuned in on 29th June you will recall that Paul Marston Racing's ChryslerCard PT Bruiser had been refused entry to the Brighton Speed Trials, despite being defending class and overall Champion for two years. Paul has since been trying very hard to appeal the decision or indeed receive a credible explanation, but after a lot of effort has decided not to proceeed any further.

"To say that Paul Marston Racing have not had a genuinely understandable reason for exclusion would be accurate", says Paul. "There is no legal or technical reason why Paul Marston Racing should not be able to compete with the ChryslerCard PT Bruiser. The principal reason I was given for the Bruiser not being allowed to participate was because it was a drag racer. I was also refused entry with Grumpy's Dodge, but perversely they allowed Alison Gibbons, a regular sprint competitor who competed last year in Grumpy's, to enter once again.

"Grumpy's Dodge, unless I am mistaken, is also a drag racer (indeed, as were Mickey Thompson and Dennis Priddle's cars when they and several others visited Brighton - Ed). The only difference between Alison and myself is experience. Alison would bury me on a circuit. She is a very talented, gutsy lady and views driving Grumpy's Dodge at Brighton as a bit of a challenge: something different and lots of fun.
©Eurodragster.com
"Over the past two years of competing at Brighton the ChryslerCard PT Bruiser set neither Class or Track records at Brighton. We were simply the best on the day, we earned it, so to say that we had an unfair advantage would be untrue. Neither are we the only competitor to race exclusively at the Brighton event and not compete regularly in the Sprint championship, but we were the only Drag Race team to compete. I have beaten them before and can again. What�s the matter boys, competition a little too tough for you?

"That said, the Brighton and Hove Sprint Club are completely within their legal rights to refuse any competitor entry to an event, and do not have to give the reason. Because of this it is unlikely that Paul Marston Racing will appeal their refusal to the Motor Sports Association; it would serve no purpose. Every motor club under the MSA rule book, including all three UK Drag Racing clubs, has the right to refuse entry although I for one cannot remember a drag racing club ever exercising that right in recent years.

"Last year, Paul Marston Racing dedicated their successes at Brighton to our friend Super Gas racer Rob Long, wishing him well in his brave fight against cancer: our crew chief Steve Brennan is Rob�s cousin. As many of you know, Rob Long lost his fight and passed away recently. Rob is sorely missed by everyone on the crew at PMR. Rob Long was one of the very best, and it would have been nice to have had the opportunity to defend our titles in his name for one last time."

Prolonging the Rampage.
1st August: The UK's Rampage Pro ET team have announced that their popular Monza Funny Car is to be backed by Prolong Super Lubricants.

"We are delighted to welcome Prolong on board", says driver Dave Ward. "We used Prolong oil additives a few years ago and found them very useful in protecting crank bearings from failure, and they enhanced the longevity of our engine, but the product became increasingly difficult to obtain in the UK until now."
©Eurodragster.com
Eclipse Lubricants Limited are now the main distributor for Prolong and the products will be available at most events at both Santa Pod and Shakespeare County Raceways; a mail-order service.

You can find more details at www.prolong.uk.com including a motorsport page aimed at drag racing, which contains information on the correct mixes together with a stock list. You can also call Eclipse Lubricants on 01443 229190.

King able to sit down...currently.

1st August: UK Top Fuel Bike racer Ian King is now in hospital receiving treatment for the burns suffered in last week's fireball at Mantorp Park (picture ©Bomanfoto, right, click to view larger version). The initial plan was for skin grafts, but Ian tells us that his surgeon is keen to try another method first.

"I've been asked to trial a type of wound dressing which promotes growth of skin cells from within the remaining hair follicles - a bit like cress-growing", says Ian. "It takes longer then the conventional graft, but it means no shaving of skin from elsewhere. I didn't have hair left in the bad areas, but apparently the follicles are at quite a depth, and there's the potential for some growth cells. The medical staff will see how it goes, and if it does not work then they will go the conventional route. At least it means that I can sit confortably at the moment!"
©Eurodragster.com
One of the great things about drag racing is the way in which fellow racers crowd round to help in adversity, and Ian tells us that he has had offers of help from as far away as the USA. "If this treatment does not work and I need conventional grafts, then Jay Regan has offered to donate skin from his butt", he says.

Rose Donohue happened to be filming at the time of Ian's run at Mantorp, and has sent a video which you can view by clicking here (2.5 Mb).

Meanwhile Ian's fund-raising efforts continue with the issue of a very snazzy pair of King Racing wristwatches. The watches come in titanium (mens') and chrome (ladies') finishes and feature the King Racing logo and the legend "Live your life a quarter mile at a time". You can find more details including prices and pictures on the King Racing web site at www.kingracing.com.

Smax: now we know.
1st August: A reliable source has been in touch with more information about FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Championship leader "Sir" Smax Smith's delay in getting to Mantorp Park last Sunday.
©Eurodragster.com
"Readers will recall from the article from earlier this week that Smax Smith missed the morning fire-up of his engine as he was detained with breakfast", says our source, who prefers to remain anonymous. "Smax was with Team Manager Paul Townsend, pinching one of the twin beds and forcing Paul to take the floor, as Smax was worried that the floor may affect his concentration at the races the following day. It seems that the bed did not help. Paul was woken in the morning by a very childish bottom-burping competition between Smax and Paul's fourteen-year-old son. Paul further claimed that Smax faced a dilemma, since the hotel only supplied a combined shampoo/conditioner and he was worried that it would make his hair look a mess."

After eight hero.
1st August: Fresh from his honeymoon in Mauritius, newly-wed quarter mile hero (his words - Ed) Chris Orthodoxou unleashed his Reservoir Dodge Dart at last weekend's Mopar Euronationals at Santa Pod Raceway. The car had not run since the 1998 Summernationals due to major building work at Chris' Surrey mansion, so with a freshened engine - still a 556 inch B1 Mopar but with new Bill Miller rods and pistons - there was an air of expectancy.

Chris' ex-Crew Chief from the 1990s, Tony Tomline, turned up in his 1996 Hennessey Viper Venom and promptly used it as a tow car for the weekend, which added a touch of class to the proceedings. Chris tells us that off the trailer with ten minutes' running time and very little preparation, the car pulled recorded 9.98/134 without a burn-out or trans-brake launch, and shifting at about 5000. The next run, with a moderate burn-out, was 9.58/139, and Saturday's final run was 9.45/143 using the transbrake and launching at 4400.

"We had to stop early Saturday because I had to set-up with the band for the traditional Saturday night gig in the marquee", says Chris, "and I also had to do my hair. The gig was great! We played for about three hours and went down like a house on fire. Everyone was up dancing and having a good time. To top it all, the band became the first ever inductees to the recently-created Mopar Muscle Association Hall of Fame. We've played this gig for all ten years of the event, and it's bloody hard work. It's good to know that all our efforts over the years have been that greatly appreciated."

During the warm-up of the Dodge on Sunday morning, a seemingly-untraceable misfire developed, persistnig despite the fitting of new plugs and leads and an ignition check. One fuel metering block was eventually tracked down as the culprit. After cleaning and blowing through with compressed air it appeared clear. "Obviously after not running for five years, the carbs were not happy", says Chris. "They had not been rebuilt or cleaned out thoroughly, and were bolted back on complete with the sheet manifold as they had come off the motor all that time ago. I was a very naughty boy expecting it all to work with no maintenance after all that time."

Eventually back on the track, the car ran 9.39/142 on its first pass on Sunday, which was in the afternoon leaving time for one more pass. The last run saw a wheels-up launch at 5200, 1.32 sixty-foot, shift at 6600, and 9.30/143 at the stripe. "It's just like old times" beams Chris. "We were well pleased, five runs and quicker each time. She feels very strong and I think there's lots more to come. When I've got another four or five runs on her we can start leaning on it a bit. I've got a plate Nitrous system in reserve, but I don't really want to use it". Chris hopes to approach the elusive 8.90 Super Comp index which he never quite achieved in the past, 9.04/149 being his PB.

"I would like to say big Thank Yous to Tony Tomline for the Viper tow car, crew John Ball and drummer Mick Hamilton, my wife Angella for magnificent bacon and egg rolls, Angella's mate Kim for towing the Dart on Sunday afternoon, Tony & Sharon Oksien, Jim Wilson for the use of his priceless 1970 Hemi 'Cuda at our wedding, and all the organisers of the Mopar National event", says Chris.

UK National points updated.
1st August: We are indebted to UK National Championship co-ordinators Yvonne Tramm and Simon Groves for forwarding us the points standings in the Championships after the SPRC Summernationals. 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.
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
1st August: UK Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Andy Frost has updated his Red Victor web site with the latest news from the pit of the eight-second street-legal Vauxhall, where it would appear that Andy has had plenty to do. Check it out at www.redvictor1racing.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Dennis Kieselhorst has posted the August 2003 issue of the excellent Dragracer.de on-line magazine. The professionally-produced magazine is presented in PDF format and contains all the latest news from the German scene as well as car and bike features and more. You can find the magazine at www.dragracer.de.

Earlier news

All news, photographic and other material submitted to Eurodragster.com is accepted and published in good faith. Although we make every effort to ascertain the accuracy of published material, Eurodragster.com and its staff are not responsible for any errors in submitted news and photographs. Inaccuracies or other issues in published news items or photographs should be taken up with the named contributors, or with the Eurodragster.com staff only if the item is not credited to any individual. This page ©Eurodragster.com. News articles may not be copied or published elsewhere without the written permission of Eurodragster.com.

Eurodragster.com aims to bring you links to all the best European Drag Racing web sites. To add your site to Eurodragster's listings, simply email links@eurodragster.com with your URL and a little information about your site and we'll do the rest. When you update your site, drop us a line at news@eurodragster.com and we'll feature your site in our "What's New" section.
Eurodragster.com is a non-profit-making organisation run by a small group of Drag Racing enthusiasts for the sole purpose of promoting European Drag Racing. If you can help us to meet the modest cost of hosting this web site by advertising here, please email webmaster@eurodragster.com. We're sure you'll find our rates extremely competitive.