 |
||
|
30th December: Santa Pod Racers Club, Avon Park International Racing Association, Obsession Motorsports and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the APIRA and SPRC Perpetual Awards and Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 11th February 2012. For several of the 2011 season awards, a shortlist has been decided upon for which votes can be submitted by E-Mail. Nominations are now also being accepted for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy. The votes of Eurodragster.com readers will be taken into consideration when the SPRC and APIRA Committees and Obsession Motorsports decide upon their winners. This week's category is the SPRC Paul Giddings Memorial Trophy. The Paul Giddings Memorial Trophy is a bike fraternity-only award named for late racer Paul Giddings, and is presented for overcoming adversity. Nominees have typically had to endure personal problems, severe or prolonged mechanical trouble, an accident or other such woes, but have faced those problems head-on and come out on top. The SPRC Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order, is as follows: Thomas Granica, Super Street Bike Vote for Thomas Granica Wayne Saunders, Super Street Bike Vote for Wayne Saunders Mick Templeman, Super Street Bike Vote for Mick Templeman Martin Walker, 8.50 Bike Vote for Martin Walker To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official SPRC Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2011 Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page. ©Eurodragster.com The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, for which votes are also now being taken, was first awarded to Santa Pod Racers Club's late Chief Marshal, Alex Brachtvogel, in 2001 to mark his outstanding contribution to Santa Pod Raceway and the sport as a whole. After Alex's death the trophy was named in his memory and continues to be awarded for contribution to drag racing. There is no shortlist for the Alex Brachtvogel award. Nominations are invited from Eurodragster.com readers for racers, race officials, track and safety crews, club officials, media, or anyone else who has contributed to the sport. Last year the trophy was awarded to Dave Crunkhorn (aka Crunch). Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2011@btinternet.com specifying SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy nomination as the subject and your nomination in the body of the E-Mail. For each of the Awards, one vote per E-Mail address per nominee will be accepted: multiple votes for the same nominee from the same E-Mail address will all be disqualified. And every year we say this, but every year someone tries it on: please note that blatant attempts at organising mass votes - for example asking workmates, forum members or Facebook friends to vote en masse - are easily identified and all such votes will be disallowed as they have been in previous years. Concerted attempts at vote-rigging will result in the nominee being removed from the shortlist whether or not that nominee knows what was going on and if necessary names will be named. Want that on your conscience? We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance, trophy update. 30th December: There are just ten days left to get your APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance booking forms and menu choices to Yvonne Tramm before the cut-off date of 8th January. The Dinner Dance takes place in Solihull on 11th February and you can download the booking form from the Entry Forms page of the SPRC web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc. "Could all racers who were either winners or runners-up in the UK National or SPRC Championships, and who have not already sent their Dinner Dance bookings please reserve your places by E-Mailing me at ytramm@africonnect.com or phone 01223 265685 or 07762 195729", says Yvonne. Santa Pod Racers Club have asked that all 2010 Perpetual Trophy winners please return their trophies as soon as possible as there is now only a short while left to prepare them for this year's winners. Trophies can either be returned by Royal Mail to: SPRC PO Box 12 Rushden Northamptonshire NN10 0ZU Or by courier to: SPRC 93 Queen Street Rushden Northamptonshire NN10 0AY Big CC to field Comp Bike. 
30th December: Sean Mills writes that Big CC Racing
will make their first foray into ACU Comp Bike in 2012.
"The Outlaw-based machine, to be ridden by Phil Wood, should be ready for testing late February" says Sean. Confirmed associate sponsors of the 800 hp machine include Psycleworkz - specialists in billet performance parts for the drag racing industry; Rock Oil - UK motorcycle oil manufacturer; Think Automotive - distributors of race vehicle fluid systems, coolers and pumps; Owen Developments - Garrett's official Race Turbo specialists; Wossner Pistons - manufacturers of racing pistons and race con rods; Kent Cams - manufacturers of racing camshafts; Revolution Artwork - purveyors of beautiful paint; and Nitron Suspension - manufacturer of racing suspension. "A big Thank You to all concerned for their input. Roll on the racing!" Swift snippets. 30th December: Herb, Kim and Cory asked us to say a big Happy Birthday for today (Friday) to Will Andrews. It's a double celebration for Wills as not only is it his birthday but he has also passed his driving theory test. "Watch out everyone, he's taking to the roads in the New Year!", say Herb, Kim and Cory. Have a great day Will. Web site updates. 30th December: Pete Roberts has updated his web site The Pod - A Look Around with a gallery of his 'Podshots' from the 2011 season. Pete's huge Podshots gallery is well worth a look featuring both on- and off-track action, pitside and people shots, and a lot more. You can access Pete's 2011 Podshots gallery direct at www.podlook.co.uk/album/index.html and you can check out the rest of his web site which features unique panoramas, Santa Pod Raceway history, Sammy Miller tribute page, videos, and a daily wallpaper, at www.podlook.co.uk. Speedgroup Contingency Programmes 2012. 28th December: Speedgroup have announced the first details of the 2012 Contingency Programmes for the FIA and UEM European Championships and the EDRS European Drag Racing Series. These contingency programmes are customer loyalty programmes involving the teams and suppliers to the sport. Participation is optional and free of charge for teams. Speedgroup operate the programmes to add value for teams active in the European Championships and the EDRS European Drag Racing Series and to provide a platform for important suppliers to connect with the teams. Beside the traditional feature of rewarding teams in the winners' circles, Speedgroup's contingency programmes also highlight information which can add value for the teams when it comes to aspects such as technical know-how. "As a result of Speedgroup's exhibition at the PRI Show in December and continuous networking with suppliers both inside and outside Europe, we have been able to establish the base for the 2012 contingency programmes very quickly", says Speedgroup Co-ordinator Åsa Kinnemar. "The FIA and UEM Championship Contingency Programme has a current value of $112,000 while the EDRS European Drag Racing Series Programme, which is an all-new feature for 2012, is currently valued at $82,000. More contingency partners will be added over the next few weeks and months. "Sign-up for the Speedgroup Contingency Programmes will be via on-line registration, which is a new procedure for 2012. Stay tuned for more information about that in January. "For updates we encourage teams to regularly check the Contingency Programme pages at Speedgroup's FIA and UEM European Championship site and EDRS European Drag Racing Series site. Any questions related to Speedgroup's two contingency programmes can be adressed to Contingency Co-ordinator Gittli Koller at gittli.koller@speedgroup.eu (in English or German) or to Åsa at asa.kinnemar@speedgroup.eu (in English or Swedish). Please note that Gittli, who is based in Germany, is also the general German-language Speedgroup contact. Speedgroup have also assigned the following Class Contacts for teams which plan to be active in the 2012 EDRS European Drag Racing Series: Pro Mod: Michael Gullqvist at michael.gullqvist@speedgroup.eu Jur Dragster: Lena Perés at lena.peres@speedgroup.eu Comp Eliminator: Janne Sjöberg at jan.sjoberg@speedgroup.eu Super Gas / Super Comp / Super Street: Jonas Staflund at jonas.staflund@speedgroup.eu Pro ET / Super Pro ET: Carl-Erik Kihlman at carl-erik.kihlman@speedgroup.eu Stock Superstock / Funny Bike: Åsa Kinnemar at asa.kinnemar@speedgroup.eu Super Comp Bike / Super Gas Bike: Tomas Pettersson at tomas.pettersson@speedgroup.eu EDRS Super Twin Bike Nordic Challenge: Åsa Kinnemar at asa.kinnemar@speedgroup.eu and Tomas Pettersson at tomas.pettersson@speedgroup.eu The Speedgroup staff wish teams, stewards, track operators, fans and media a good end to 2011 and a good start to 2012. We will be in touch again on Eurodragster.com in early January! More support for ACAG. 28th December: Now that the sub-assemblies of Europe's first dragster, Sydney Allard's 1961 Allard Chrysler, are being restored, and the complete dragster being prepared for a trial rebuild, the Allard Chrysler Action Group has confirmed four new supporters for the project. Warringtons of Warwick is a family-run garage and repair business which has been established for forty years. Classic car fan Rob Warrington has been working on an Allard engine for some time. Fortunately he had a spare Ford Pilot gearbox, the same as that fitted to the Allard Chrysler, and he kindly donated it to the project. The original box had suffered some damage over the years and Rob's donation enabled ACAG member Chris Eames to assemble a box out of the existing unit and that donated by Rob. The restored box now has two forward gears, second and top, and one reverse if required – just as on the original dragster. 
Euromart of Thatcham in Berkshire carried out the soda blasting of the chassis and other components. Owned by Mike Humphrey and previously used by Andy Robinson Race Cars after his Pro Mod fire in Finland, the company has been established for six years and uses a mobile media blasting system that can be used on-site or at the Thatcham premises. They discovered that the chassis had been sand-blasted earlier in its life – probably during the Brian Golder restoration carried out in the 1980s. Exact Engineering of Totnes is supplying all the hose fittings for the restoration with Andy Robinson crimping them to BMRS hose supplied by ARRC. The fittings are one piece light weight alloy designed for convoluted hoses. The BMRS hose being used is a standard braided hose finish but black sleeves will be used as necessary to reflect the period look. 
Exact was established in 1995 and it is the motor sport brand for its Associate manufacturing company Vire Engineering of Totnes in Devon which
has been in business for thirty eight years and is now one of the UK's largest manufacturers of hose fittings with Andy Robinson Race Cars one
of its customers. As well as motorsport components Vire supplies fittings to the nuclear, security and defence industries.
The business was started by the late Frank Vincent and named after the island in the River Dart at Totnes which in turn was named after the
French town of Vire twinned with Totnes. Some years ago the late Stuart Goodrich returned from the USA with some American hose fittings and he
asked Vire to manufacture the first Goodrich fittings for his new company – then also based in Totnes but now in Exeter. So Totnes can be described
as the birthplace of the UK hose fittings industry. Exact also distributes Speedflow products and the ACAG first made contact with Ian Grout of
Exact at the 2011 Autosport International Show with ACAG Chair Brian Taylor visiting the Totnes plant soon after when he met MD Janet Vincent who
has run the business since her husband's death. The fittings being used on the Allard Chrysler are all made by Vire in Totnes but the existing red
and blue anodising has been removed and replaced with clear to be period correct.
These follow the announcement of another important source of components. A complete set of half-turn Dzus Fasteners has been located thanks to Southco Manufacturing, whose headquarters are in Concordville, USA. The company was founded in 1899 with the fastener business being launched in 1945. This now includes the Dzus brand. Some of the fasteners on the car are missing and others are damaged but they have been matched by Southco so all of them can be replaced if necessary. John Hunt and Chris Eames chased them down via Southco's Farnham, Surrey plant. "This sort of product and service support is invaluable to a project like ours and it's rewarding that companies such as these want to be involved", says ACAG Chair Brian Taylor. We are truly grateful and look forward to inviting them to the initial fire-up celebration. But we are still looking for people to help with the restoration work. If you would like to join the crew – particularly if you live in the Reading/Basingstoke area – then contact Bob Roberts at roberrl-1@robinson-race-cars.co.uk." Web site updates. 28th December: Our streaming server provider Doyousee.me are still treating viewers to replays of Eurodragster.com's and their own webcasts from events at Santa Pod Raceway and Drachten Airfield. You can check out the webcasts at www.didyousee.me/dragrace. A big Thank You to Maikel Gloudemans of Doyousee.me for his hard work. Between Christmas and the New Year Alan Currans traditionally updates his excellent Acceleration Archive with a page of pictures to remind everyone of the season just passed. This year the update is quite a significant event as the 2011 catch-up page is the two hundred and fiftieth photo page on the site and also takes the number of pictures on the Acceleration Archive past 10,000. You can check out Alan's 2011 pictures via the What's New link at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk. SPRC, APIRA, Obsession Awards vote 5. 24th December: Santa Pod Racers Club, Avon Park International Racing Association, Obsession Motorsports and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the APIRA and SPRC Perpetual Awards and Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 11th February 2012. For several of the 2011 season awards, a shortlist has been decided upon for which votes can be submitted by E-Mail. Nominations are now also being accepted for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy. The votes of Eurodragster.com readers will be taken into consideration when the SPRC and APIRA Committees and Obsession Motorsports decide upon their winners. This week's category is the SPRC James Edgar Memorial Trophy. The James Edgar Memorial Trophy is awarded for outstanding performance by a Crew Chief, tuner or crew member. The SPRC Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order, is as follows: Tom Atkinson, for John Atkinson (Super Pro ET) Vote for Tom Atkinson Martin Hannis, for Joe Bond (Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association) Vote for Martin Hannis Karl Harrison, for Rod Harrison and Andy Raw (Super Pro ET) Vote for Karl Harrison Pete Kellett, for Joe Kellett (Junior Dragster) Vote for Pete Kellett Brad O'Connor, for Team Pro Street Busa (Super Street Bike) Vote for Brad O'Connor Chris Pyke, for Kev Charman (Top Fuel Bike) Vote for Chris Pyke Oliver Young, for Sam Young (VW Pro) Vote for Oliver Young To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official SPRC Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2011 Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page. ©Eurodragster.com The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, for which votes are also now being taken, was first awarded to Santa Pod Racers Club's late Chief Marshal, Alex Brachtvogel, in 2001 to mark his outstanding contribution to Santa Pod Raceway and the sport as a whole. After Alex's death the trophy was named in his memory and continues to be awarded for contribution to drag racing. There is no shortlist for the Alex Brachtvogel award. Nominations are invited from Eurodragster.com readers for racers, race officials, track and safety crews, club officials, media, or anyone else who has contributed to the sport. Last year the trophy was awarded to Dave Crunkhorn (aka Crunch). Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2011@btinternet.com specifying SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy nomination as the subject and your nomination in the body of the E-Mail. For each of the Awards, one vote per E-Mail address per nominee will be accepted: multiple votes for the same nominee from the same E-Mail address will all be disqualified. And every year we say this, but every year someone tries it on: please note that blatant attempts at organising mass votes - for example asking workmates, forum members or Facebook friends to vote en masse - are easily identified and all such votes will be disallowed as they have been in previous years. Concerted attempts at vote-rigging will result in the nominee being removed from the shortlist whether or not that nominee knows what was going on and if necessary names will be named. Want that on your conscience? We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. Erbacher gets his trophy. 
24th December: 2011 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion and Eurodragster.com sponsor
Urs Erbacher has been presented with his FIA Championship
trophy at the Motorsport Gala of Switzerland.
"The guy in the picture is Paul Gutjahr who is the FIA's Technical Director for Formula 1", says Urs. "He is also a Swiss guy. "We are waiting for some good racing, maybe again in Abu Dhabi, but it is not yet set. We still want to sell one of our cars and as the fans know we want to see our whole Supetwin operation including spares and tools such as the clutch machine. If one of the bike racers would like to buy a winning combination then please contact Lorenz Stäuble or I. "Team Erbacher wish all fans a very nice Christmas and a Happy New Year. Without our fans and friends in the drag racing community we could never have won as much as we have. We need you guys at the race track and we hope we see you next year. A successful double act. 24th December: 2011 MSA British Pro Modified Champion and Eurodragster.com sponsor Graham Ellis has been in touch of a review of the 2011 season, during which his team fielded two cars: 
The year started with some really blistering weather at the Easter Thunderball. With temperatures of up to twenty eight degrees it was hotter than hell,
and amazing for an Easter meeting. We qualified well enough and recorded a 6.27/221 during eliminations which was good after the problems we had
had with the Cuda. Late in 2010 we had found the problem but, as with all things Pro Modified, another one arose and we were shut off for an oil drip
costing the chance of an early win after Andy Robinson broke.
The FIA Main Event was a disaster of our own making. We changed the spec of the motor slightly and it cost us twenty pistons over the four qualifying sessions and we just sneaked into the ladder with a 6.8. Yes it was us who did the rain dance! Over these meetings the turbo Superbird was getting shakedown runs in Nick Davies' hands and various teething problems were being worked around. The SPRC Summernationals was a high point for the team. We started to make progress with the Superbird and it went some rounds in competition, ending up in the final round against me due to a timely red light from Andy Wright senior. We had had a bad time in qualifying and ended up last so we had top qualifier Wayne Nicholson on Sunday morning. We changed everything even putting new tyres on our liner wheels (we know how to do that now). Well the luck was with us and we managed to run in the 6.4s against Wayne, who ran a PB of a low 6.5, and ended his day early. It's not nice when that happens but that's racing, we had a bye next round and tried a new clutch setting which was close so with a tweak we went to the final against the Superbird. With a 0.98 at sixty feet and 2.63 at 330 feet the Cuda was hauling but just before the eighth mile trap the car hit a bump and got airborne. The shift light came on as the wheels were in the air, I shifted and tried to keep it going but the bump turned the car violently so I lifted and coasted to the finish with a 6.5. We had won as Nick had shaken the tyres. Even with the problems we had run 3.98 so we knew it was a good 6.0 run wasted, but we had an Ellis Motorsport 1-2 finish. The European Finals came and went, and was one of the less memorable events of the year for us. We sneaked in at fifteen, Nick didn't qualify. The start line threw everyne a curve ball and caused some upsets. We just didn't do as well as we should have, but by this time we knew the Cuda was sold and damage limitation was the order of the day. We only had one mission and that was to win the MSA Championship so after a first round defeat at the European Finals we went home and stripped and rebuilt the motor so it was as good as it could be for the last Championship-deciding meeting. 
I should mention at this point that Roger Moore had held the lead in the points chase since Easter, was deadly consistent, and had no issues with track prep
or anything else so we knew he would be tough. Fortunately for us Roger stumbled against Wayne and we were the Champs. To win the event was all that was
left and we raced Wayne for that honour. We got round Wayne for the win but destroyed a motor again!
During this meeting the superbird came good, running 6.5 then 6.2 at 235 and 239.9. Nick also ran a 235 in competition making it the fastest British Pro Mod
ever as it narrowly beat Andy Robinson's best speed.
So we went home with a win, a Championship, a broken engine, a sold car, and a bad-ass turbo car which was showing reward for all the hard work. The Cuda was delivered to Sweden and I wish the new owner the best of luck with it. The engine complete with billet blower and fuel system has ended up in Steve Hall's hands. He aproached me about some engine parts, enough to build a billet block NRE-headed hemi and a deal was done. A few weeks later we spoke more about the blower and Steve had a truck which he no longer required which I could use for work, so a deal was done. Watch out for that black C5 (Corvette, not Sinclair - Ed) starting to haul ass as he has all the tune-up information from Sean Brown with the deal. I had some drives in the Superbird at the Flame and Thunder Show but to be honest it was just for staging practice as the track was cold and the tires were knackered. It was a good meeting from that point of view so we don't have that hurdle when serious testing starts early next year. We have made some changes to some systems which we hope will make the car more driveable. We are also preparing a custom-built ICE Hemi which will have advanced features over the existing engine and will be the prime engine, with the existing motor being freshened as the spare. This is in preperation for us to again follow the FIA Tour in the future. Thanks to the whole team - or should that be teams - you all know who you are, also to ICE Automotive and to everyone who helped the teams this year. Happy Christmas! Another dynamic duo. 24th December: Also in touch with a summary of a hectic 2011 season is UK Super Pro ET racer Nick Good: 
After missing the Easter Thunderball due to work commitments our first meeting of the year was the FIA Main Event. A few changes had been made to the Beovax Dragster over the winter, a
lightweight carbon fibre interior by 'Mr Carbon' Mick James, Lee Cohen supplied the Knut Carbon injector hat, and a whole load of black powder coating and anodising meant the car looked a
little meaner this year. Also in an effort to eliminate our tyre shake problems of 2010 the Goodyear rear tyres had been replaced with a set of new Hoosiers. After five qualifying runs we were
satisfied with sixth place out of thirty three entrants, a few changes to the tune-up had worked with the larger butterflies in the new hat and the tyre shake issue had thankfully gone. A Sunday
evening first round win against John Bradshaw was our last action of the weekend before the rains came in and spoilt the fun.
Next up the SPRC Summernationals with Simon Rowland taking a turn in the hot seat. Obviously we wanted to go as far as we could in eliminations but one of the goals for the weekend was to get Simon a six-second run. Simon usually does the testing day before the event to help familiarise him self with the car. An off the trailer 'Get to sixty feet and see how it feels' run turned into a 7.02/175 pass, not bad after a year off! Unfortunately after that a fuel system bypass valve decided to stick loading the motor up with fuel. A couple of rain showers on the Friday afternoon meant it took till the third qualifier on saturday to get to the bottom of the fault, with a spare on loan from Graham Ellis. We put a 6.98 on the board and the Beovax dragster didn't disappoint with a 6.99/192 pass, into fifth place in the ladder and Simon able to add 'Six second run' onto his CV! Unfortunately a first round exit to Bob Doyle meant our weekend was over. With the Summernats out of the way we would normally be looking at some free weekends before the European Finals, but not this year. During the winter it was decided to look for a second dragster which would be more competitive in Super Pro than the blown car, also around this time Dave Catton had been speaking to Simon about his future plans and his search for a new ride. After a meeting we were delighted to welcome Dave to NGMotorsport as the driver of the yet to be sourced dragster, there was no argument about what we should be looking for, it had to be a modern, seven-second, swing arm car with history of winning. A meeting at the Easter Thunderball with John Parkes of Chrome-Worx was most helpful in deciding which make of chassis we should be looking at. A deal was struck with Tony Gargiulo of Native Racing Engines. His Ben Worthy built, ex-K&N Filters dragster, running one of his own motors, was being raced by his son Alex. Pete Jordan of JRJ Custom Services (01252 336095) expertly handled the shipping from Miami to Felixstowe and customs clearances. Pete is the guy to speak to regarding possible reduced rates of import taxation, great service. The car was collected only four weeks before the Open Sport Nationals. First we had to get the chassis to Jeff Hauser for the fitting of a smaller radiator, the new M&M Race Cars carbon mono rear wing and other numerous small jobs to make sure the chassis was good to go. The box went to Al O'Connor for a service. Thanks to Bryan Goodhall of BGC Motorsport Components for the new Goodrich plumbing, Johnsons Iron Works for the powder coating, Chris Brown Body Repairs for another great paint job and East Coast Signs for the graphics. The biggest thank you goes to Rick Cooke for giving up all his free time and work time (!) helping getting the car race ready. Although a close call we did manage to get the now christened 'Beovax Too' to the Open Sport Nationals at Shakey. Despite qualifying sessions being disrupted by the rain and a slipping transbrake we were pleased with a sixth place qualification. During Mondays elimination's Dave showed us all what a good driver he is, foot braking his way past John Atkinson and Dave Powell only to lose to Barry Giles in the semi finals, not bad for a first competitive outing. The run up to the European Finals couldn't have gone any worse really. Pre event testing was a waste of time, the track unable to take any power at all. Things only got worse on the Monday after a call from Richard Walters confirmed our worst fears. Our race awning along with a few others had been destroyed by the gale force winds. Only the quick thinking of Richard, Bob Glassup and Robin Orthodoxou and his family, getting what was left of the awning and its poles away from the cars kept damage to a minimum. Both cars suffering only a few minor dings and scrapes. The biggest thanks go to everyone who helped sort out the mess! 
It was a relief to get back to the racing. This was the first meeting we had run both cars together, thanks to great work by the NGMotorsport crew things went pretty smoothly. Out of the forty
eight cars entered we had the blown car qualified in seventh spot with a 6.94 on a 6.92 dial and 'Beovax Too' in fourth with an 8.14 on a 8.13 dial in. Sportsman eliminations are always a bit hit
and miss at the FIA rounds, lots of hanging around then two or three rounds with ten minute turn around times. Not ideal with a six-second blown-alky car, a real gamble with the motor and trans
when you can't go through your regular between round checks, but thats the way it is. Still the hard work of the team paid off. Unfortunately Dave went out in the second round with a red, but that
did give us more hands to get the blown car into the final against Pete Walters. Ten past eight on a Sunday evening, into the dark on a slippery track. This was going to be interesting. Pete was
out of it before half track, I managed to get past him with a couple of pedals and a tyre spinning 7.38/143. This was the teams first win since 2008 and was just reward for a weeks hard work and
the effort put in by the team in 2011.
After its sterling performance at the European Finals we decided to give the blown car a rest for the National Finals and concentrate on 'Beovax Too'. Dave qualified in third spot with an 8.09 on a 8.08 dial-in. After a win in the first round against Scott Hauser, a second round win against Barry Giles handed a very well-deserved Championship win to John Atkinson. To keep things even Dave beat John in the semis. The 'Time is Money' team weren't too bothered it just meant they could start their Championship celebrations a little sooner. In the final Vince Gibbs broke out to hand Dave his first win for the NGMotorsport team. It was a great performance by Dave, his worst reaction time through three qualifiers and four rounds of eliminations being 0.057. Two wins at the last two meetings of the 2011 season was a brilliant reward for the hard working crew of Simon, Rick, Gary, Richard, Susie, Pete and Bob. Also for our sponsors who enable us to compete in the sport we love: Beovax Computer Services, Focal Point Digital, Glas-Weld Systems, Chris Brown Body Repairs, Plus Five.com, East Coast Signs, BGC Motorsport Components, Samco Sport, Johnson Ironworks, WeBuyAnyDamagedCar.com, Spin Werkes, Leatt Brace, Peter Carter Haulage and KMA Motors. Roll on 2012! VWDRC hold AGM. 24th December: Richard Merriman writes that the Annual General Meeting of the Volkswagen Drag Racing Club took place at a new location in Milton Keynes on 4th December: The move seemed to be successful with a large group congregating the night before for a few pre-AGM drinks, and a chance for some much-needed bench racing! The AGM took place at 12:00 noon on Sunday with a few people looking a little worse for wear following the previous night. As usual the meeting began by awarding the winners and runners-up with their trophies for the year: VW Pro winner: Phil Norman (trophy collected by Sportsman racer Martin Ayton) VW Pro runner-up: Sam Young VW Sportsman winner: Matthew Bennet-Sime VW Sportsman runner-up: James Clark Three additional trophies were awarded, as voted by members of the Club: RNJ Motorsport Car of the Year: Sam and Ollie Young with Blackcurrant 3 Wagenmaster Driver of the Year: Lucy Matthews Becky Sutton Memorial (for services to the Club): Luke Stevenson The new Committee was also appointed, with some new faces welcomed alongside those standing again. A few points were raised during the meeting which were discussed and actioned as necessary. Those which require more input will be investigated and discussed on the VWDRC forum in due course. One of the main points will be the update of the vwdrc.com web site, hopefully early in the New Year. Keep an eye out for its re-launch or pay a visit to www.facebook.com/vwdrc for the latest news. With the club now entering its twenty fifth year we are all looking forward to a fantastic New Year and a great season's racing. Many thanks to all the racers, sponsors, fans and Eurodragster.com for helping making this year what it is (Thanks, you're welcome - Ed). Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all. Drag Racing Unplugged XIII. 24th December: As has become traditional on our last pre-Christmas update, we have posted a page of the best quotes from this season's Eurodragster.com Event Coverage including Tog's, Simon's, Roger's, Kirstie's, Ed's and Christer's personal Quotes of the Year, together with other one-liners we didn't publish at the time. In association with Event Coverage sponsor Alamo Rent A Car we are pleased to present Drag Racing Unplugged XIII, the 2011 collection. ©Eurodragster.com Click here to view Drag Racing Unplugged XIII, or click on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Enjoy! 2011 Champions' Champions. 24th December: Honorary Eurodragster.com staff member Andy Marrs of TSI Timers and Simon have again been hard at work to compile lists of European and UK Champions' Champions. The Champions' Champions tables show the all-time highest points earners since the FIA and FIM/UEM European Championships began in 1996 and 1992 respectively, and the UK National Championships began in 1999. In all-time FIA European Championship points, Top Methanol Dragster racer Dave Wilson has moved up up from #4 to #3, overtaking Top Methanol FC racer Leif Andréasson. Pro Stock racer Jimmy Ålund has moved up from #10 to #8, overtaking Top Methanol Dragster racer Rob Turner and Pro Stock racer Niclas Andersson. Top Fuel Dragster racer Micke Kågered is only the second FIA Championship racer to pass a career 5000 points, Pro Stock racer and current all-time points leader Michael Malmgren being the other. Dave Wilson passed 4500 points, Top Methanol FC racer Ulf Leanders passed 3500 points, multiple Pro Stock Champion Jimmy Ålund passed 3000 points, and Top Methanol FC racer Dan Larsen passed 3000 points. In all-time FIA Top Fuel Dragster points, reigning Champion and Eurodragster.com sponsor Urs Erbacher moved up from #8 to #6, overtaking Tommy Möller and Tommi Haapanen. Micke Kågered passed 2500 points. Timo Habermann moved up from #7 to #4 in all-time FIA Top Methanol Dragster points overtaking Krister Johansson, Peter Beck and Jarmo Roivas. Eurodragster.com sponsor and Blogger Derek Flynn moved up from #11 to #10, overtaking Eero Kilpelainen. As mentioned Dave Wilson passed 4500 points and Timo Habermann passed 1500 points. Arvid Grødem moved up the all-time Top Methanol Funny Car list, from #7 to #6, overtaking Leif Helander. Jarmo Kuutniemi moved up from #9 to #8, overtaking Lex Joon whilst Jürgen Nagel moved up from #11 to #10, overtaking Niclas Andersson. Ulf Leanders passed 3500 points, Dan Larsen passed 3000 points, Arvid Grødem passed 1500 points and Jarmo Kuutniemi passed 1000 points. In the all-time FIA Pro Stock points, Richard Sundblom moved up from #11 to #8, overtaking Tommi Laime, Kjetl Hauge and Eero Knihtilä. As mentioned above Jimmy Ålund passed 3000 points. Bruno Bader moved up from #6 to #5 in all-time FIA Pro Modified points, overtaking Mikael Lindahl. Johan Lindberg moved up from #13 to #9, overtaking Norbert Kuno, Patrik Wikstrom, Robert Joosten and Marko Lantto whilst Norbert Kuno up from #11 to #10, also overtaking Marko Lantto. Reigning Champion Micke Gullqvist passed 2000 points, Mats Eriksson passed 1500 points and Marc Meihuizen passed 1000 points. In all-time UEM European Drag Bike Championship points, reigning Supertwin Champion Per Bengtsson moved up from #6 to #3, overtaking Supertwin racers Anders Karling and Ton Pels and Top Fuel Bike racer Eric Teboul. Top Fuel Bike racer Ian King moved up from #10 to #7, overtaking fellow TFB racer Sverre Dahl and Pro Stock Bike racer Len Paget. Pro Stock Bike racer Martin Bishop moved up from #11 to #10, overtaking fellow PSB racer Len Paget. Per Bengtsson passed 2000 points, Ian King passed 1500 points, Martin Bishop passed 1500 points and Len Paget passed 1500 points. Ian King moved up the all-time UEM Top Fuel Bike points, up from #4 to #3 and overtaking Sverre Dahl. Peter Andersson Ström moved up from #11 to #10, overtaking Henk Geeve. As mentioned above Ian King passed 1500 points. Reigning Champion Per Bengtsson took over the top spot in all-time UEM Supertwin points from #3 spot, overtaking Anders Karling and Ton Pels. Joachim Reimer up from moved up from #10 to #9, overtaking Rob Van Geffen. As mentioned above Per Bengtsson passed 2000 points; Hans Olav Olstad passed 1500 points. Martin Bishop moved up from #4 to #2 in all-time UEM Pro Stock Bike points, overtaking Anders Larsson and Len Paget. Len Paget stayed at #3 by overtaking Anders Larsson whilst Fredrik Fredlund moved up from #9 to #6, overtaking Ulf Ögge, Veli Malin and Paul Willis. As mentioned above Martin Bishop passed 1500 points. Scoring for the UK National Championships Champions' Champions is based on an event having to be completed for a win to be registered. Race wins are ranked based on the driver or rider. Points however are scored and ranked on a team basis, as they are for Championships. For teams with multiple cars or drivers changing teams during or between seasons; the compiler's decision is final. In MSA Pro Modified, Eurodragster.com sponsor Graham Ellis has his first Championship in the class this year but fellow Eurodragster.com sponsor Andy Robinson still has the lead in Championships with three, event wins with twelve, and points scored. Nigel Payne now leads Super Modified Championships with three, over two each for Andy 'Fred' Hone, Ellis Racing and Danny Cockerill. Fred continues to lead the number of wins with a total of 13 and points, with a 7139 point lead over Ellis Racing. In Super Pro ET, Martyn Jones, Steve Green and Ian Tubb have two Championships each. Barry Giles leads event wins with fourteen in total to Steve Green's eight. Barry Giles leads aggregate points from Steve Johnson by a margin of 4490. Pro ET has a quartet of racers with two Championships: Rick McCann, Paul Baynton, Team Heaven & Hell and Team Top Banana. Rick was a racer in the Heaven & Hell Camaro but his two Championships as sole racer in 2010 and 2011 put him on top of the list. Team Heaven & Hell continue to dominate the points with a lead of 6600 over the Huxleys' Team Top Banana and, latterly, Dark Horse. The Huxleys have won eight races over the years under review. There is no change at the top of Sportsman ET scores: Geoff Cowley and Team Rainy City Lightning (Al and Linda Platt) both have three Championships, Geoff Cowley and Rick Denny both have seven wins, and Team Rainy City Lightning still leads the points aggregate. In Super Comp, there are four racers each with two Championships: Brian Pateman, Paul Marston Racing, Chris Johnson and Tim Adam. Brian Pateman now has ten wins which ties him for most wins with Tim Adam. Brian has taken over the points lead with a 2860 margin over Tim Adam. Tim Adam still leads Super Gas Championships won with four, with Jon Morton, Conrad Stanley and Frank Mason on two each. Now-retired Frank Mason continues to lead races won with twelve and points won. In Super Street, Leigh Morris won his third Championship in 2011 which puts him ahead of John Grant, Bob Lees, Mike Bentley and Team Rat Rage on two each. John Grant and Leigh Morris both have thirteen wins, whereas Leigh leads the points aggregate by only 270 points from Bob Lees. The Junior Dragster standings are dominated by racers who graduated from the class a few years ago: Scott Hauser and Nick Mugridge both have two Championships and Nick Mugridge nine wins. But the current line-up of racers are rising up the aggregate points standings with Joe Kellett in third and Josh Saunders entering the points standings for the first time in twelfth position. 8.50 Bike joins the Champions' Champions for the first time this year and 2011 Champion Mick Winyard and Pete Austin with two wins are the initial leaders of this class. In 9.50 Bike Rick Sawatzki's three Championships remain unequalled but now both 2011 Champion Jake Mechaell and Eurodragster.com sponsor Fred Furlong have two. Rick's eleven wins head Jake's nine, whereas Rick and Fred head the points with a lead of over 10000 over third-placed Martin Walker. Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator is led by Steve Pateman with five Championships and seventeen wins over the years. Steve also has a 5800 margin in aggregate points over second-placed Ian Hook (points for Street Eliminator are scored since 2000). Ian Hook has two Championships, as does Colin Lazenby, and Steve Nash has ten wins. In the Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association, Rebel T and driver Clayton Round lead Championships won with three, and Joe Bond and the Nuthin' Fancy Topolino now have two after being victorious in 2011. Eurodragster.com Bloggers the Bennetts' Relentless team continue to lead in the aggregate points and now have seven wins, the same as Paul Wratten. ACU Top Fuel Bike has Steve Woollatt still leading Championships, event wins and aggregate points with totals unlikely to be equalled any time soon. Ian King is now joint second on wins with Steve Carey and has overtaken Steve Carey to be second in aggregate points. Neil Midgley leads all three categories in ACU Funny Bike but Tim Blakemore is now only 330 points behind Neil in the aggregate points. Eurodragster.com Blogger Dave Beck continues to lead all categories in ACU Pro Stock Bike and now has a record thirty five wins to his name in ACU competition. In ACU Competition Bike, the now-retired Ivan Birch has three Championships and ten wins. Phil Leamon has nine wins and also leads the points with a margin of 9090 over 2011 champion Stu Crane. In ACU Super Street Bike Steve Venables and Graham Dance both have four Championships and Steve has now overtaken Graham for victories with twenty one to G's nineteen. These two racers are close in aggregate points as well, with Steve leading Graham by 1045. You can check out this year's Champions' Champions tables by clicking here or by clicking on the Champions' Champions link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Please join us in a big Thank You to Andy and Simon for their hard work. Christmas break viewing I. 24th December: Although we are taking a few days' break (see below), we always aim to leave our readers plenty to look at. Readers with long memories will recall that Eurodragster.com sponsor Graham Ellis and Eurodragster.com Blogger Will Hanna organised a Private Test at Santa Pod Raceway two days before May's FIA Main Event. It will also be remembered that for perfectly understandable reasons there were strictures against publishing either results or pictures from the test. We are pleased to say that, given the period of time since the Private Test took place, Graham has now kindly agreed to allow Eurodragster.com to publish pictures from that day - thanks Graham! - and we have two galleries for you. Eurodragster.com US Correspondent Ed O'Connell arrived in the UK in time to attend the Private Test and you can check out his SmugMug Gallery by clicking here or by clicking on the picture below left. 
Eurodragster.com News Editor Tog made a rare outing with the camera at the Private Test, and his SmugMug gallery can be checked out by clicking here or by clicking on the picture above right. Nostalgia fans could do a lot worse than to spend a few hours on Jon Spoard's UK Drag Racing Nostalgia forum. "The forum is always busier over winter, with many new pictures posted and loads of information on our drag racing history", says Jon. "Now is a good time to get up in that loft and dig out those pictures you've taken in the past and share them with the appreciative drag racing forum members out there". You can join in one of the best drag racing discussion forums anywhere on the web at www.ukdrn.co.uk/forum. Christmas break viewing II. 24th December: Our streaming server provider Doyousee.me and Eurodragster.com are pleased to offer replays of some of this year's webcam broadcasts over the Christmas period. Both our own Webster Race Engineering/Nimbus Motorsport webcasts and Maikel's own eXplosion and DHRA webcasts will be replayed. "Starting on Christmas Eve and running all week in to New Year's Day we will replay races from Santa Pod Raceway, eXplosion Drachten and DHRA Drachten", says Maikel. "We have edited the videos as much as we can to keep the racing going, but because we think that the commentary at Santa Pod is an entertainment in itself we have kept most of the downtime interviews. Due to the method of recording and the occasional drop in connection we can't promise entire race days, but if we have it then it will be shown (glitches, hums and all!)." You can tune in to the webcast replays, starting on Christmas Eve, at www.didyousee.me/dragrace. Eurodragster.com's Christmas break. 24th December: We will now be taking our Christmas break. We plan to return next Wednesday, 28th. Keep those news items coming to news@eurodragster.com and we will post them on Wednesday. In the meantime we have compiled our usual requests to Father Christmas, together with our New Year resolutions, and you can hold us to these: Top of Tog's Christmas list: The right to express an opinion. Top of Simon's Christmas list: A ferry large enough to transport all racers around Europe. Top of Roger's Christmas list: At least one Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying round to be run at twilight or in the dark at each event – it's when they really come alive. Top of Kirstie's Christmas list: DAB Digital radio for my new kitchen! OK for Tom actually. I bet I won't be allowed to touch it. Top of Ed's Christmas list: Good health and good times for my fellow Eurodragster.com crew and the European racing community. Tog's New Year resolution: To be able to look down and see my feet even if it is towards the end of the season. Simon's New Year resolution: To get to the track as planned. Roger's New Year resolution: To continue to enjoy covering race events. Kirstie's New Year resolution: To twist the arm of my boss to let me have more time off the school calendar to fly to Europe. I've already introduced her to drag racing at Santa Pod, so it should be a doddle. She says. Ed's New Year resolution: To keeping my photos, and everything else, in perfect focus. Tog, Simon, Roger, Kirstie and Ed would like to wish all Eurodragster.com readers and their families the very Happiest of Christmases, and to thank everyone who has sent us personal Christmas wishes and cards as well as those on our on-line Christmas Card. See you on Wednesday. 2012 EDRS calendar. 23rd December: Speedgroup are pleased to announce the provisional 2012 EDRS European Drag Racing Series Calendar. The EDRS Series include the major tracks in Europe and is expected to include more than thirty events in seven or more countries. In excess of five hundred teams are expected to run in the 2012 EDRS European Drag Racing Series. The eleven sportsman classes included in the EDRS Series are: Comp Eliminator Stock Superstock Super Gas Super Comp Super Street Junior Dragster Pro ET (from 9.00 seconds) Super Pro ET (to 8.99 seconds) Funny Bike Super Comp Bike (8.50 seconds) Super Gas Bike (9.50 seconds) In addition, the two biggest Championship classes - FIA Pro Mod and UEM Supertwin - will run in the EDRS series for a very limited number of non-Championship events. You can find the provisional 2012 EDRS calendar at www.speedgroup.eu/EDRS/race_calendar2012.htm. Speedgroup have assigned class contacts for all classes running in the EDRS Series, whom teams are welcome to contact with any questions regarding their class Speedgroup look forward to working with teams, track operators and stewards, media and corporate partners within EDRS European Drag Racing Series and wish all of you a good end to 2011 and a good start to 2012. You can check out the latest Speedgroup newsletter, which includes a feature on UK, APIRA, SPRC and NDRS Series Junior Dragster Champion Joe Kellett, by clicking here. Swift snippets. 23rd December: We would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to Shakespeare County Raceway's PR and drag racing historian Jerry Cookson. Have a good day Jerry. Jerry has asked us to say a big Get Well Soon to APIRA's Julie Willcox who is poorly. No sooner said than done, get well soon Julie and have a big hug. 2012 FIA rules published. 22nd December: Thanks to FIA Drag Racing Commission Vice President Lars Pettersson for letting us know that the FIA European Drag Racing Championship rules for 2012 are now available on the FIA web site. "We are sorry for the delay", says Lars. "We had some changes to make for the 2012 season and those changes had to be approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council on 7th December. Everyone should be aware that the latest changes are not printed in the FIA Blue Book." 2012 Sporting Regulations for the FIA European Drag Racing Championship (PDF format) 2012 Technical Regulations and Race Procedures (PDF format) 2012 SFI Specifications (PDF format) 2012 Drawings (PDF format) 2012 Procedures for the recognition of drag strips (PDF format) RockAuto back PSDS. 
22nd December: Organisers of the Pro Street Drag Series, Shakespeare County Raceway's Japanese and European car-related performance drag racing series,
are pleased to announce that American parts supplier RockAuto have signed up to the 2012 series as an associate sponsor.
Founded in 1999 by the Taylor family, the Wisconsin-based company ships thousands of car parts from over two hundred manufacturers worldwide. With a big inventory of parts for American, Japanese and European models, the RockAuto catalogue is updated daily with mechanical parts such as brake pads, shock absorbers, body parts, bumpers and mirrors, interior trim, door handles and carpets, and major assemblies such as steering gears, CV axles, engine long blocks, and complete transmissions; just a fraction of what RockAuto can supply. Some day, it may be possible to build an entire car using parts from RockAuto! RockAuto has also made it easier to shop for both Japanese and European car parts through there extensive parts catalogue by clicking on the make and year. The web site also has a currency converter that makes it simple to see prices in dollars, pounds or Euros. The guys at RockAuto have very kindly offered gift cards to the class winners at every round of the Series, and have also agreed to become official partners with the Warwickshire drag strip's American Car Festival Yanks in May. For information and parts availability, E-Mail service@rockauto.com or stop by www.rockauto.com. You can also find RockAuto on Facebook. RockAuto join series sponsors and supporters Opie Oils, Mahle Pistons, Roland Alsop Engineering, Total Car Magazine and Fast N Modified Magazine. SPR take over Halls 9 and 10. 22nd December: Santa Pod Raceway has announced its finest ever showcar line-up for January's Autosport International show at the NEC in Birmingham. Almost 40,000 horsepower in race and show cars will be on display in the Oval Racing and Extreme Motorsport Hall at the world-renowned show on 14th-15th January. Almost every class and level is represented, from the sublime Top Fuel Dragster of Chris Andrews to the frankly ridiculous Crusher Monster Truck, which will thankfully be static. Way too much expensive race machinery present to let that thing loose! Other highlights include the Fireforce Jet Car of Martin Hill, the Showtime Funny Car chassis and the insane seven-second Rolls Royce of Matt Wright. Paige Wheeler’s Junior Dragster represents the stars of tomorrow and the stunning Corvette of Nigel Payne tips its Big Block Chevy hat to fans of transatlantic quarter milers. As well as having Santa Pod's team on hand to advise on the venue's 2012 events, several of the sport's star drivers will be making an appearance throughout the weekend to meet their fans, sign a few autographs and, who knows, maybe let you in on a few of their speed secrets at the same time. The vehicles on display will be:
Swift snippets. 
22nd December: Betty Blonde, aka Elisabeth whose partner Herve contests Street Run C in
France's ATD Championship, has produced a great video promoting the French series. "When the warm days return, they load up their children
in the car and their '72 Trans Am on the trailer", says Pascal Thébault. "But Betty is not the kind of woman to sunbathe until Sunday
evening. With Herve she shares a passion for images and music, from Schubert to Limp Bizkit. For the latest video, she chose a sepia treatment
which evokes nostalgia for the past season and feeds our impatience for the next!". You can check out Betty Blonde's video at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9njMRLOke0.
Stefan Boman tells us that 2011 UEM European Supertwin Champion Per Bengtsson has been nominated for Sport Achievement of the Year in Sweden's Skåne region. You can take a look at the shortlist at www.hd.se/hdgalan/rosta-pa-arets-prestation. Shakespeare County Racers invite all drag racers and their families to a free New Year's Eve party with disco at Kenny's Bar at Shakespeare County Raceway. Please bring your own food and drink. Overnight camping will be available in the pits, gates open at 2:00 pm so you can set up nice and early and then party. See everyone and tell them how fast you will be next year! For more information contact blownchevy@tiscali.co.uk. Mum Sharron, dad Jerry and sister Skye have asked us to say a big Happy Birthday to three times Junior Drag Bike Champion and altogether brilliant lad Scott Lloyd Collier who is fifteen today. "We love Scott very much and could not be more proud", they say. Have a great day Scott. The last Eurodragster.com News update before Christmas will be posted on Saturday, Christmas Eve, and will include the traditional Champions' Champions and Drag Racing Unplugged XIII. We will then take a break and plan to return on Wednesday 28th December. The deadline for news items for inclusion in the Christmas Eve update and entries for our Christmas Card is 22:00 UK / 23:00 European tomorrow (Friday). UEM Sport Official seminar. 21st December: Jerry Lackey tells us that a seminar for UEM Sport Officials will be held at the Hockenheimring on 28th-29th January 2012. If you are interested in attending the seminar then you can find the registration form on the BMC web site at www.bmc-hockenheim.de; click on Anmeldungen and then Dragster. ATD hold AGM. 21st December: Pascal Thébault writes that the General Meeting of the Association Trophée Dragster was held in Dijon on 10th December. Despite treacherous weather, nearly two-thirds of the 134 members attended from all over France. Two figures which perfectly sum up drag racing in France: a limited group of united and determined persons. This is far from obvious in a place where motorsports are not well regarded, especially those from American. 
2011 featured the organisation of four races which took place without too many problems. The economic crisis certainly explains the observed decrease of competitors
at the end of the year. The final money balance is slightly positive and is based on three main sources: the contributions of sponsors in each category, the benefit of the shop
and, of course, the entry fee.
Exactly ten years after its creation, ATD will experience an important development in 2012. Previously, the ATD had to deal with ASA Ondaine, a sports car association not specialised in drag racing. It issues permits to an organisational structure mandated by the Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile, the local MSA equivalent. It was the same for the issue of racing licences. In January, the ATD will itself become an official sports car association so will be able to interact directly with the FFSA and to issue licenses. This is a first and consequently a significant step in the thirty two-year history of drag racing in France. The schedule for the coming year will include a new event at Saint-Yan, near Paray-Le-Monial. All races will remain based in the centre of the country, a deliberate decision to limit the travel expenses of competitors and organszers. All of the the logistics (truck included) are located between Lyon and Valence in the Rhone Valley. There is no permanent track in France so facilities must be installed and removed at each race. With the exception of Lurcy Levis, a private race track, ATD uses airport runways which are under the overall responsibility of Securite Civile, the organisation for French Aviation Safety. Tarmac is more ready to receive preparation to raise the level of performance and approach the grip of a real drag strip. In 2012, this treatment must compulsorily be removed immediately after the race, a new and important workload for volunteers. 
The General Meeting concluded with the presentation of awards to five individuals who have distinguished themselves through a significant and long-term commitment.
The day before the meeting Emilie Cailloux had successfully passed the FFSA Race Director exam. Now she will share with father Michel the running of the Christmas tree.
Michel carrying on as webmaster of Francedrag.com. Alain Rousset organized several races in the 1980s and
1990s; when the ATD started he stepped back but continues to invest, especially in preparation for Lanas race. Vincent Perrier is a character,so ATD would not be the same
without him: he manages the ATD Facebook page. Finally, Gerard Barachon is responsible for the ATD store which he manages with his wife, an involved job but essential to
the financial stability of the ATD.
Chairman Eric Angeloni closed the meeting by paying tribute to ATD coverage provided by Eurodragster.com. Hey, don't you know: you're celebrities here (Thanks! - Ed). Swift snippets. 21st December: Martin Holgate tells us that the RD 430 drag bike in yesterday's spy picture belongs to Dave Stamper (aka Mr Bonehead) whom many will remember as a long-serving crewman of Martin's on various bikes and cars. Dave has purchased this bike to have a go himself. "Dave relocated to rural France a few years back and liked what he saw when I bought a Top Gas bike and joined the NAST", says Martin. "The bike is the ex-Harry Barlow /Sharron Collier bike and will be apearing at selected meetings throughout the season. Lindberg Brothers tuner Jonnie Lindberg has given in to temptation and acquired his own race car to partner Johan's Pro Mod. In 2012 Jonnie will be racing the Top Methanol Funny Car formerly campaigned by Freddy Fagerström, a car which like the tuner has Championship form. You can find the Lindberg Brothers web site at www.lindbergbros.com. The last Eurodragster.com News update before Christmas will be posted on Saturday, Christmas Eve, and will include the traditional Champions' Champions and Drag Racing Unplugged XIII. We will then take a break and plan to return on Wednesday 28th December although see below for something to help to keep you going through that break. The deadline for news items for inclusion in the Christmas Eve update and entries for our Christmas Card is 22:00 UK / 23:00 European this Friday (23rd). Next from the BTC-Moto hamper... 21st December: The BTC-Moto Christmas Hamper is once again open and this time it is Dynojet products which are the focus of attention. Brad O'Connor writes: 
The BTC Moto Dynojet sponsored GSXR1000 has been undergoing development this year using the Dynojet Power Commander V, the Dynojet secondary fuel and Dynojet
Auto tune modules. The PC V and secondary fuel module allows the user to adjust the fuelling in each gear and it is possible to phase between the four primary injectors
and the four secondary injectors for maximum power.The Dynojert Auto tune module can act in closed loop to fine tune and save the maps in various gears.
The Dynojet power commander is the industry standard for the fuel adjustment on bikes with simple mods like exhaust and air filter changes. The latest addition from Dynojet for the GSXR 1000 and other sports bikes that is specific to drag racing is an ignition module which has a two-step feature as well as allowing ignition timing changes in each gear. This is critical for us on the GSXR1000 as it has a stock wheelbase and we need to adjust the power delivery and make available maps that help maximise performance of these types of bikes. A number of articles written by BTC Moto are due to appear in Streetfighters magazine during the next few months highlighting how and when to use the Dynojet products. BTC Moto can be contacted on 01206 272765 or at brad@btc-moto.co.uk. Mantorp Park Events in bankruptcy. 20th December: Stefan Boman writes that Sweden's Mantorp Park Events has been placed into bankruptcy by Mantorp Park: Mantorp Park Motorbana AB, the race track itself, is owned by the motoring publishing group Fabas whilst many events have been run by a separate event company with different owners, Mantorp Park Events AB. In recent years Mantorp Park has been forced to invest large sums of money in Mantorp Park Events in order to guarantee different events. This has increased Mantorp Park Events' total debt to Mantorp Park Motorbana to an unacceptable level. "Knowing the economic situation of the event company it is not fair to enter yet another year of operation without change" says Fredrik Sjökvist, CEO of Mantorp Park Motorbana AB. "Even if a bankruptcy is a very dramatic outcome it is probably the best long-term solution for the track as well as for customers and partners." Top Doorslammer goes eighth-mile. 20th December: In another development in Sweden, Mikael Angelin writes that Top Doorslammer, which runs in the Scandinavian Dragracing Series, will be contested over the eighth mile at every event in 2012. Mikael tells us that this decision was taken by the racers at their Drivers' Meeting at the weekend. The Nitro Bear plans for 2012. 20th December: Sweden's Björn Mårtensson Nitro Team has been a low-profile team so far, but Peter Lantz writes that the team are working slowly but surely towards their goals: 
Björn made his nitro début in with his Fiat Topolino Fuel Altered, a car which he still had and which will be a complete running car again in the future.
Three years ago Björn purchased a Top Fuel Dragster from the old Knut stable to go Top Fuel racing. Håkan Fällström piloted that car for the
first two years, and his best result was a semi-final exit at Alastaro this year.
I visited Björn shop just before the Tierp race and decided to try be a helping hand to start with. That turned out to be a nightmare as many of the main parts were way out of date and didn't fit one another. Björn and the team did work very hard that event where we only ran one metre. But I then decided to try to help out Björn and his team the best way I could, to get the car on track. In Finland we made a lot of full passes, still with a bunch of gremlins in the car but we managed to qualify and end up in the semis. The car needed so many updates so we called it quits for this year and to concentrate on the 2012 season. 
The team have put together a wish list and have worked a long way through it now. The car is totally stripped down to be rebuilt and it will have new fuel management as well
as clutch cannon and management, all the latest stuff from Electricmotion. The Racepak is fully updated to the latest, with all the necessary channels. There will be approximately
five complete engines on the spares list, with many other things to be prepared. We have also updated with a lot of rolling pit benches, to make sure that we can turn the car
round as quickly and safely as possible. Björn has also invested in a new rig and there will be a lot of work needed on that.
The plan for 2012 is to run both Tierp events, also to try to finish Björn licencing at some of the non-Championship rounds at Tierp. A few other match races are in the calendar, and will be decided later on. Håkan will drive the car at the test at Tierp and also at the Sweden International. So far we have not planned to make the first round at the Pod, but we will see what happens during our test before the first round takes place. We hope to make more Championship rounds, Hockenheim for example, but we will see what happens down the road. See you all in 2012. Swift snippets. 
20th December: The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com came
with the words "This bike has a French connection with NAST". If you know more, or if you would like to send your own
spy picture, then drop us a line at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com
Pelle Stanikowski writes that his excellent European Drag Racing Database is holding a poll for Europe's Premier Drag Racer of 2011. You can cast your vote via the News page at www.drdb.eu. The last Eurodragster.com News update before Christmas will be posted on Saturday, Christmas Eve, and will include the traditional Champions' Champions and Drag Racing Unplugged XIII. We will then take a break and plan to return on Wednesday 28th December although see below for something to help to keep you going through that break. The deadline for news items for inclusion in the Christmas Eve update and entries for our Christmas Card is 22:00 UK / 23:00 European this Friday (23rd). King bear up for Bennetts. 20th December: UK blown-alcohol altered team and Eurodragster.com Bloggers Bennett Racing are proud to announce their latest team sponsor King Engine Bearings. 
King Engine Bearings were founded in 1960 and are a world-class developer and manufacturer of engine bearings. More importantly their only product is engine
bearings. As a result of its specialization and focus, the company is recognized for producing the highest quality engine bearings available in the market today.
The King line includes OEM replacement rod, main, cam bearings, and thrust washers and its special range of high performance bearings. Through the years,
King has developed and maintained a philosophy of constant improvement, from bearing design and engineering to customer service.
What makes King Engine Bearings track tough and street smart? Their HP and XP lines are specifically engineered to withstand the highest loads and RPMs generated by today's top competition engines. All King Performance Engine Bearings feature:
"We look forward to a long and successful partnership with King Engine Bearings", says Luke Bennett. "You can find out more via their web site at www.kingbearings.com. NFAA discuss 2012. 20th December: Lawrie Gatehouse writes that the UK's Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association held a meeting on 19th November to discuss the 2012 season: Most teams sent delegates, so the class was well represented. Subjects under discussion included rule changes, costs in these recessionary times, commitments for future events, prize money, event schedules and race locations. The discussions resulted in near unanimous agreement to the following: Rule changes: None for 2012 – class rules are in the Car and Bike RAC/MSA Yearbook for 2012, which are as detailed in the 2011 Yearbook. Costs: As a recognition of the costs of racing felt by all in 2011, it was decided that the NFAA would run as a class at only four events in 2012. If teams wish to run at other events/venues, they are entitled to do so. However, it was pointed out that in the event of damages preventing them from fulfilling their commitment to the NFAA schedule, they would not be able to accumulate enough points and so put at risk to earn any year-end prize money for that team. Commitments: All present endorsed the continuation of the class with possible new entrants for 2012 and most agreed that they would make all efforts to attend the four scheduled events. Prize fund: Each event will count towards the Championship, for which a prize fund for the winner and runner-ip will be available after the final event. 2012 schedule: 6th-9th April: Autotrader Easter Thunderball, Santa Pod Raceway 23rd-24th June: SPRC Summernationals, Santa Pod Raceway (NB This event will be run in elimination format) 14th-15th July: Dragstalgia, Santa Pod Raceway 22nd-23rd September: VP Racing Fuels National Finals, Santa Pod Raceway Matt Glassup will continue to be the webmaster for the web site at www.nfaa.co.uk and Lawrie Gatehouse will assist with class organisation matters. We all wish one another safe and enjoyable racing in 2012, with crowd-pleasing performances from the "Wild, Wild, Fuel Altereds". A word for your sponsors. 20th December: One of the most common questions which Eurodragster.com receives from racers putting together sponsorship proposals is "How many hits does your Event Coverage receive?". Although stats for Eurodragster.com as a whole have always been available via our FAQ page we have put together a table of access statistics specifically for our Alamo Rent A Car-sponsored Event Coverage in 2011. You can check out the viewer stats for our Event Coverage (PDF format) by clicking here. The table includes all events from which live reports were posted. We shall add a link to this table on our FAQ page shortly. Webcast replays for Christmas. 20th December: Attentive readers will have noticed the dropping of a couple of hints that a Christmas treat was in the offing for you all from our streaming server provider Doyousee.me and Eurodragster.com. We are pleased to announce on behalf of Maikel Gloudemans of Doyousee.me, who did all the hard work, that starting on Christmas Eve replays will be available of some of this year's webcam broadcasts. Both our own Webster Race Engineering/Nimbus Motorsport webcasts and Maikel's own eXplosion and DHRA webcasts will be replayed. "Starting this Saturday and running all week in to New Year's Day we will replay races from Santa Pod Raceway, eXplosion Drachten and DHRA Drachten at www.didyousee.me/dragrace", says Maikel. "We have edited the videos as much as we can to keep the racing going, but because we think that the commentary at Santa Pod is an entertainment in itself we have kept most of the downtime interviews. Due to the method of recording and the occasional drop in connection we can't promise entire race days, but if we have it then it will be shown (glitches, hums and all!). "Since we're still editing the videos at the moment we can't yet post a schedule, but that will be made available on the site as soon as we've got it. We will try to post several channels to choose from, playing the same content on several days at different times so that you will always have a chance to see it. "We think that this is a nice way for racers to watch themselves, as well as an opportunity for the fans to see their racers again." Web site updates. 20th December: In the latest instalment in his exclusive Racer Blog presented in association with Alamo Rent-A-Car, Dutch Top Fuel Dragster racer Lex Joon tells of a line promotion, a TV appearance, promotional matters and 2012 plans. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Alamo Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. SPRC, APIRA, Obsession Awards vote 4. 19th December: Santa Pod Racers Club, Avon Park International Racing Association, Obsession Motorsports and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the APIRA and SPRC Perpetual Awards and Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 11th February 2012. For several of the 2011 season awards, a shortlist has been decided upon for which votes can be submitted by E-Mail. Nominations are now also being accepted for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy. The votes of Eurodragster.com readers will be taken into consideration when the SPRC and APIRA Committees and Obsession Motorsports decide upon their winners. This week's category is SPRC Most Professional-Appearing Team. The SPRC Most Professional-Appearing Team trophy recognises not just the presentation of a race vehicle but the team's overall approach to racing. As well as a well-turned-out car or bike, the Committee have considered such aspects as the appearance and attitude of team personnel, the organisation and appearance of their pit area and support equipment, and their readiness when their class is called. The SPRC Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order of team name, is as follows: Paige and Belle Wheeler and the Alamo team, Junior Dragster Vote for Team Alamo John Everitt and the Alien team, Super Pro ET Vote for Alien Nick Good and the Beovax team, Super Pro ET Vote for Team Beovax Laura Turburville and the Eliminator Card Game team, Junior Dragster Vote for Eliminator Card Game Peter Walters and the Reloaded team, Super Pro ET Vote for Reloaded Roger and Dave Moore and the Shakespeare Engineering team, Pro Modified Vote for Shakespeare Engineering To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official SPRC Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2011 Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page. ©Eurodragster.com The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, for which votes are also now being taken, was first awarded to Santa Pod Racers Club's late Chief Marshal, Alex Brachtvogel, in 2001 to mark his outstanding contribution to Santa Pod Raceway and the sport as a whole. After Alex's death the trophy was named in his memory and continues to be awarded for contribution to drag racing. There is no shortlist for the Alex Brachtvogel award. Nominations are invited from Eurodragster.com readers for racers, race officials, track and safety crews, club officials, media, or anyone else who has contributed to the sport. Last year the trophy was awarded to Dave Crunkhorn (aka Crunch). Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2011@btinternet.com specifying SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy nomination as the subject and your nomination in the body of the E-Mail. For each of the Awards, one vote per E-Mail address per nominee will be accepted: multiple votes for the same nominee from the same E-Mail address will all be disqualified. And every year we say this, but every year someone tries it on: please note that blatant attempts at organising mass votes - for example asking workmates, forum members or Facebook friends to vote en masse - are easily identified and all such votes will be disallowed as they have been in previous years. Concerted attempts at vote-rigging will result in the nominee being removed from the shortlist whether or not that nominee knows what was going on and if necessary names will be named. Want that on your conscience? We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. 2012 SDS calendar. 19th December: Thanks to Mikael Angelin for letting us know that the 2012 Scandinavian Dragracing Series calendar has now been set: 19th-20th May: Malmö 8th-10th June: Kjula 6th-8th July: Piteå 20th-22nd July: Sundsvall 3rd-5th August: Gardermoen NB Top Doorslammer only 10th-12th August: Kjula NB No Top Doorslammer 7th-9th September: Malmö There will also be a test session for all SDS car and bike classes at Malmö Raceway on 28th-29th April. New for SDS is an invitational class for cars without doors - dragsters, altereds etc - whose technical rules will be the same as those for Top Doorslammer. "We look forward to welcoming all racers and spectators to next year's Series", says Michael. "More information will be available on our web site at www.s-d-a.se or E-Mail info@tsds.se." 
Swift snippets.19th December: The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com came with no words. If you know more, or if you would like to send your own spy picture, then drop us a line at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com. The last Eurodragster.com News update before Christmas will be posted on Saturday, Christmas Eve, and will include the traditional Champions' Champions and Drag Racing Unplugged XIII. We will then take a break and plan to return on Wednesday 28th December although our streaming server provider Doyousee.me and Eurodragster.com are cooking up a special Christmas treat for our readers to keep you going during the break. The deadline for news items for inclusion in the Christmas Eve update and entries for our Christmas Card is 22:00 UK / 23:00 European next Friday (23rd). Web site updates. 
19th December: Our good buddy Jon Spoard has updated his UK Drag Racing Nostalgia web site with
pictures from this season's two FIA events at Santa Pod Raceway. The gallery of excellent shots was the result of "Seven long
days of spectating and taking photographs mostly from the grass bank". There are 165 pictures in all which Jon seems to think means that he is getting too fussy, and
although we don't agree with him we still say better 165 shots than thousands of almost-identical pictures from motordrive sequences. You can go directly to Jon's
pictures at www.ukdrn.co.uk/2011/SPR2011/index.html.2011 Christmas Card opened. 17th December: We have now opened the 2011 Eurodragster.com Christmas Card, which you can read by clicking here or by clicking on the 2011 Christmas Card link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. ©Eurodragster.com If you would like to send a Christmas message to your fellow readers, fans, fellow racers, favourite racer or race official or indeed anyone (Even us - Ed) then drop an E-Mail to eurodragster.xmas@btinternet.com and we'll add it to the Christmas Card as soon as we can. We would prefer words to images, but if you do send an image then to save your editing team aggravation please send it as a .JPG or a .GIF attachment rather than embedding it within a Word document or PDF file - embedded pictures will likely not be posted. Swift snippets. 17th December: We have had an early sighting of Father Christmas as Tim Cooper sent these shots of him using the tow truck of Vince Gibbs' Nosferatu as a sleigh, on behalf of Brackley Round Table for whom he was collecting. "I think Santa was amused", says Tim. Eagle-eyed readers will spot that Santa's ride sports an MSA Pro Modified decal. 
We would like to send love, best wishes and hugs to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall whose birthday it is today. Have a lovely day at home Paula. The boy most likely to succeed... 16th December: Finnish Top Methanol Dragster racer Esko Raisvuo says that although he had his third bad year in a row, he is happy that he bought his A/Fueller when he could since he has been living a dream of thirty years: When I was fifteen, our teacher and the studies guidance bitch had an hour's interview with everyone. They asked what I would do for a living and for a hobby when I got older. I answered honestly that I would hang out with heavy metal rockers around the world, hunt brunettes, would surely have a motorcycle shop, and that the rest of the time I would race a nitro dragster. If I had the extra time and money, I would sail. It took them about two hours to tug me by the ear to the Shrink. "This boy has an unrealistic vision of the future, he must be returned to normal", they said. Was it fun to make a mess of it? Did they succeed? Was I unrealistic? Well, they may all be retired or dead but hopefully they sometimes watch the TV and the web. At the moment I have no clue what I am going to do. I'm soon starting a warehouse / garage building process. Also we are refurbishing my wife's house from the ground to the top. That will take every penny we have and all of our time for next eighteen months or so. We tried to find drivers for our cars, with no success. Only penniless idiots hanging around. Meanwhile I will try to sell everything we have. I won't be selling my A/Fueller on the cheap. It's too fresh and has too many spare parts to go cheaply. All the other stuff will go. If people don't buy it, we will crunch and recycle it. We have no space. As we know from our last outing at the European Finals, we compensated for the changes on the car with the tune-up. The clutch gripped, the engine woke up, everything was perfect for low-end qualifying run, except for the track prep. So now we have at last got the engine parts to start fighting Dave Wilson's team. Unfortunately we are one year too late with that plan. On the other hand, we broke nothing expensive at the race at Tierp where we took the new electronics and everything. We had terrible little issues over the summer, crap weather and just didn't have enough laps. NHRA went to 94% nitro, it means that the next problems and solutions will be: Sooner or later someone will change the rule here too: get rid of A-Fuel, or go IHRA. 94% needs a different engine combination to make power: two pairs of new heads with all the new stuff, $60,000 with roller rockers, new pistons, and two to four years of testing. Forget it. 94% also means that sixty foot preparation must be of NHRA standard kind to stand the hit of a high-compression motor and high launch RPMs. Only Tierp. Forget it. If cylinder heads and mods cost something like $80,000 and several years more testing and learning, we will surely put down $100,000 more and buy a race-ready Top Fuel operation and hire a Crew Chief. This is the basic fact we live with now. A drop in percentage and we go Top Fuel, and that will take some years. The next personal problem will be my eldest son. That crazy teenager will already be fifteen next summer, three years more and Mama Boss may change the team driver. We are motorsport guys and will do something no matter what. The A/Fueller is somewhere near ready to go. I spent my last Euros on carbon brakes, spare parts and chute tethers. We have plugs, fuel and oil. This equals "Good to go". Starting at Santa Pod is a no can do. Someone must sponsor that trip, or it won't happen. We will definitely attend both Tierp races, Alastaro, and probably Hockenheim. Pod trips are about €10,000 each and I have no chance. No, no, no. If someone else takes the seat, then that changes. So after a long story we still have no clue, just planning and hoping to have the time and some funds to do something. Fast N Modified back PSDS. 
16th December: The organisers of the Pro Street Drag Series
which is contested at Shakespeare County Raceway are pleased to announce that Fast N Modified magazine will be coming on board in 2012 as a media sponsor
for the fifth year of the five-round series.
Since publishing began six months ago Fast N Modified has been reaching a far bigger audience than was expected amongst the UK's modified and Japanese car enthusiasts. "Fast N Modified magazine has only been going since July 2011 but climbing the ranks fast and looking to be the next big magazine within the Modified and motorsports scene", says Publication Director Mark Page. "Our crew is over the moon to be part of Shakespeare County Raceway and the Pro Street Drag Series for 2012 and we are really looking forward to covering the PSDS and other events at the Raceway." Coverage begins in the magazine's new motorsports section prior to the opening round of the Pro Street Drag Series in April. Fast N Modified join series sponsors and supporters Opie Oils, Mahle Pistons, Roland Alsop Engineering and Total Car magazines. For further information visit www.fastnmodified.com Provisional dates for the 2011 PSDS include: Non-points Test and Tune: Saturday 31st March-Sunday 1st April Round 1: Sunday 22nd April, Public Track Day Round 2: Sunday 10th June, Public Track Day Round 3: Sunday 22nd July, Public Track Day/Ladies That Launch Round 4: Sunday 14th October, PPC Magazine Public Track Day Round 5: Sunday 28th October, Halloween Bonfire Burn-Up Public Track Day Swift snippets. 16th December: Yesterday's spy picture got a rapid response from a reader in Finland who wrote that the former Copart Top Fuel Dragster will be campaigned by Ahonen Racing. We will bring you more on this as we receive it. Racers please note that at this time of year your fans are eager to know what you have planned for next season so do let us know so that we can let them know. Spy pictures or news items are equally welcome, drop us a line at news@eurodragster.com. 
Artel Motorsport have agreed to sponsor 2011 Wild Bunch Champions Team Gridlock for a third successive season with their range of
silicon hoseson their Mopar-powered altered. Their wide range of coloured silicon hoses with reducers make for a very practical solution to running
hoses and gives a great looking engine bay, ideal for both American and British engines due to their wide range of sizes. "We have always taken
great pride in the appearance of our car, especially the engine bay and these hoses definitely enhance the looks, rather than just a drab black hose"
says Team Principal Dex Price. "Last season we had white hoses but this year we will be sporting a new blue set just to ring the changes. For more
information to your hose solutions contact Ollie Badger at Artel Motorsports and
tell him that Team Gridlock sent you.
Christine, Sandy, Collin, Megan and Hollie asked us to say a big Happy Birthday to UK Super Gas racer Stuart Morrice. It is our pleasure to do so, have a very Happy Birthday Stuart. We will be opening the annual Eurodragster.com Christmas Card on Saturday (17th). If you would like to send a Christmas message to your fans, fellow racers or officials, Eurodragster.com readers or indeed the Eurodragster.com staff then drop an E-Mail to eurodragster.xmas@btinternet.com. If you intend to send an image then .JPG or .GIFs can be accepted and please bear in mind that images may be reduced in size. The last Eurodragster.com News update before Christmas will be posted next Saturday, Christmas Eve, and will include the traditional Champions' Champions and Drag Racing Unplugged XIII. We will then take a break and plan to return on Wednesday 28th December although our streaming server provider Doyousee.me and Eurodragster.com are cooking up a special Christmas treat for our readers to keep you going during the break. The deadline for news items for inclusion in the Christmas Eve update and entries for our Christmas Card is 22:00 UK / 23:00 European next Friday (23rd). Gredzinski raids archive. 16th December: UK photo-journalist and graphic designer Mark Gredzinski has helped to fly the flag for the sport with a photograph in a publication which does not normally cover drag racing. "I was contacted by Championship-winning former Pro Stock Bike competitor Jack Valentine via Top Fuel Bike racer Ian King", says Mark. "Jack was known in the 1980s for his V&M Racing Suzuki machines and won ten National and three European Pro Stock Championships. In the 1990s Jack was building engines for competitive circuit bikes which themselves won many Championships and he later went on to manage World and British Superbike teams. He now is in charge of the Crescent Suzuki BSB team and is relishing the task. 
"The quarterly publication Motorcycle News Sport wanted to do an article on Jack and his Crescent team but required a picture of Jack aboard his V&M Pro Stock machine which would highlight his past pedigree. Luckily I had a high quality slide of his bike and was able to scan it and get it sorted for the magazine where it was reproduced as here. It's handy to have a quality archive of pictures for scenarios such as this. Above is also a T-shirt design which I did for Jack some years ago for his circuit team in its early days." Web site updates. 16th December: Our good buddy Alan Currans has updated his excellent Acceleration Archive with a twenty eighth page of readers' pictures which features rare shots from Crosland Moor and Greenham Common. You can check out the latest old shots via the What's New link at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk. DoA? See BTC. 16th December: BTC Moto, the motorsport division of BTC Motronics Limited, are pleased to announce their appointment as an official Motec dealer and that they will be supporting all of the Motec products including the M 84, M400, M600 and M800 ECUs as well as the CDL, SDL and ADL logging-capable dashes. 
The hamper is packed with the first delivery of Motec products ready to be despatched to eagerly-awaiting customers. One of the most popular Motec devices this year is the
Motec CDL3 Track kit which includes the CDM shift light module, GPS module and wiring loom which makes hook up a simple four-wire deal. The dash also has a Axis G-Meter
and it is possible to log data using the dash with an 8 Meg logging upgrade. For details contact Brad O'Connor at BTC Moto on 01206 272765 or E-Mail
brad@btc-moto.co.uk.
Next year BTC Moto would like to extend its Dead On Arrival service to all racers both car and bikes. Brad explains "This year a situation existed where a Motec-equipped bike had a sensor/connector issue which prevented it from starting. The installation was not supplied by BTC Moto. The guy's team spent a day and half at the meeting trying the find the problem and would not come to us because we had not supplied the Motec unit! I'm a racer myself and I know that just getting to the meeting in itself is a massive deal, and I hate the thought that a simple failure that we can resolve is stopping someone from getting up the track. So we will be offering a DOA deal to all racers". To qualify for the DOA support all you have to do is register with BTC Moto by sending an E-Mail to brad@btc-moto.co.uk. BTC Moto would like to wish all racers a Merry Christmas and a quick and safe New Year. Swift snippets. 
15th December: The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com came with the
words "This model now available in Europe". If you know more, or if you would like to send your own spy picture, then drop
us a line at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com.
UK Top Fuel Bike racer Ian King is currently flying the flag for drag racing in India where the Gulf Oil Drag Racing Team are promoting drag racing in shopping malls and other public areas including a closed-off street. You can check out a promotional video on the Pit Lane Gossip page of the King Racing web site at www.kingracing.com - Ian has asked us to point out that his is not the world's fastest TFB and that that statement was down to journalistic licence. We will be opening the annual Eurodragster.com Christmas Card on Saturday (17th). If you would like to send a Christmas message to your fans, fellow racers or officials, Eurodragster.com readers or indeed the Eurodragster.com staff then drop an E-Mail to eurodragster.xmas@btinternet.com. If you intend to send an image then .JPG or .GIFs can be accepted and please bear in mind that images may be reduced in size. If you are still looking for that unique stocking filler for the Nitro Addict who has it all (I suggest penicillin - Ed) then Modernpics' 2012 calendar may fit the bill. The calendar is printed on A4 heavy weight photo quality paper featuring one month per page, made by hand and limited to a run of only one hundred copies. "Each month is accompanied by a unique image which could only have come from the Modernpics archive, giving you something worth looking at whilst you count down the days to your next nitro fix!", says Dominic Domney. "At only £12.50 plus p+p they are less than a round of drinks, and are going fast. To get your copy or for more details and a sneaky preview of what's inside check out www.modernpics.co.uk. Editor's note: Only a quick news update today due to pressure of work in your News Editor's day job. We are already working on tomorrow's update; please keep those news items coming to news@eurodragster.com. 2012 French ATD calendar. 13th December: France's Association Trophée Dragster have announced their 2012 calendar: 28th-29th April: Mende (Lozère 48) - Custom Gang Drag Race 2nd-3rd June: Lanas (07 Ardèche) - HD Family Drag Race 7th-8th July: Lurcy-Lévis (Allier 03) - Dulamon Drag Race 4th-5th August: Paray Le Monial (71 Saône et Loire) - Mosquitos Drag Race 8th-9th September: Vichy (Allier 03) - Final Speed Vichy For more information E-Mail atd2003@free.fr or check out www.francedrag.com. JDL launch scholarships. 13th December: The UK's Junior Dragster League is proud to announce the creation of two Junior Dragster scholarships. The two young rookies for 2012 have been announced as Jason Vardy and Ryan Page. Jason, who is eight years of age and hails from Swindon, will be driving the Fueltopia-sponsored Junior Stock Dragster. Twelve-year-old Ryan lives is Milton Keynes and will be driving the Fast n Modified-sponsored Junior Stock Dragster. Over the course of 2012 both drivers will be tutored by JDL officials, past drivers and their assigned mentors . Both drivers will also be featured in Fast n Modified magazine over the season, documenting and following their progress through to the finals in September. "The Junior Dragster League would also like to thank Roy Wilding Nostalgia Race Cars for their renewed financial support and sponsorship in 2012", adds JDL Chair Tim Long. "The Committee, drivers and parents are grateful for this ongoing commitment to the League and look forward to seeing Roy Wilding officially start the racing at the two new events at Santa Pod in 2012. With the continued support of sponsors such as Roy we hope to be able to offer this scholarship for years to come and look forward seeing more up and coming drivers enter the world of drag racing." Swift snippets. 13th December: Congratulations to Dom Romney of Modern Pics who has again done himself and drag racing proud by winning the Renault MSA Young Motorsport Photographer of the Year award for a second time. The good news is that Dom has another four years to go before he is too old to enter. BTC Moto have just opened the Christmas Hamper in Sunday's spy picture and the feast is supplied by Next Level Racing aka NLR. BTC Moto are the official importers of NLR products including the AMS1000 and AMS500 boost controllers, SIM high power ignition modules and the NMS 1000 as used on the HTP six-second Pro Street bike ridden by Ryan Schintz. There is currently an upgrade to AMS1000 which is free of charge for AMS1000 units originally supplied in the UK by BTC Moto,the upgrade is the relative to user interface for time based boost curves and can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax0hxNr2FVw. Contact BTC Moto on 01206 272765 if you want your unit upgraded. BTC Moto can also supply NLR turnkey Superstreet bikes and the signature NLR side-mount turbo kits. Call 01206 272765 for details. 
One of the major problems Pro Mod cars face is tyre shake and the consequent damage. The axle case is most likely to suffer and this is why Strange Engineering have developed their new Ultra housing. The picture shows the impressive external ribbing but the internal structure is at least as important to the overall strength as is the choice of specialist grades of aluminium. UK Pro Mod racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Andy Robinson was so impressed with this at the recent PRI show that he placed an immediate order for an axle to fit the ARRC Camaro and as a Strange dealer he'll be only too pleased to give you more details if you call 01256 880589. Bob Valder, whom longtime readers will remember as one of the Feel-the-noise.com team, is planning my first ever trip the USA hopefully attending the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas, possibly the NASCAR race in Fontana the week before (You're fired - Ed), and of course the Wally Parks museum in Pomona. "As I've never done anything like this before I would appreciate any hints and tips, especially where to stay, tickets to buy etc from those that have done the trip", says Bob. "I can be contacted at rvalder@hotmail.com or find me on Facebook or Google+." Santa Pod JMDs for hire. 
13th December: New for 2012, Santa Pod Raceway have introduced two Junior Modified
Dragsters available to hire to experienced racers. With an age range from twelve to seventeen years and speeds up to 85 mph, these dragsters can be hired out to any experienced Junior Stock racers or those
who have already hired the Junior Stock cars for a day.
Single day RWYB tuition is available for just £199 including VAT, tuition, entry to the event, all attire, equipment and fuel costs with an average of three runs on the day, weather and track conditions permitting. The Junior Modified Dragsters can also be hired at permit race meetings in 2012 including the Easter Thunderball, Big Bang, FIA Main Event, SPRC Summernationals, Bug Jam, FIA European Finals and VP Racing Fuels National Finals. The driver must be a MSA licence holder which can be obtained if the driver completes a RWYB day at the track. Race meeting hire is £275 for a two-day event or £299 for three- or four-day event For further details on hiring the dragsters, or to book your experience, call Santa Pod Raceway on 01234 782828. "If you're struggling on what to buy your little Champion this Christmas be sure to give us a call this week and have your voucher with you in time for the big day!" says James Forster of Santa Pod. Web site updates. 
13th December: Our good buddy, photographer Julian Hunt has just updated his web site with pictures from
Bug Jam 25 at Santa Pod Raceway back in July. "I know the gallery is late, but it gives people something to look at during the winter months... works for me!", says Julian.
Some shots have already been seen here on Eurodragster.com as Julian kindly stood in on our Event Coverage of that event, but you can now check out the complete gallery
at www.julianhunt.net.
Swedish Top Fuel Dragster racer Patrik Pers has opened a Facebook page which you can Like by searching for Speedghost Motorsport. SPRC, APIRA, Obsession Awards vote 3. 11th December: Santa Pod Racers Club, Avon Park International Racing Association, Obsession Motorsports and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the APIRA and SPRC Perpetual Awards and Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 11th February 2012. For several of the 2011 season awards, a shortlist has been decided upon for which votes can be submitted by E-Mail. Nominations are now also being accepted for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy. The votes of Eurodragster.com readers will be taken into consideration when the SPRC and APIRA Committees and Obsession Motorsports decide upon their winners. This week's category is SPRC Best-Appearing Bike. The SPRC Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order, is as follows. You can see larger pictures on the official SPRC Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2011 Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. 
Joe Elliott, Supertwin GasVote for Joe Elliott 
Frank and Pete Field, Super Street BikeVote for Frank and Pete Field 
Simon Giordmaina, Super Street BikeVote for Simon Giordmaina 
Martin Wilson, 8.50 BikeVote for Martin Wilson 
Alan Young, Funny BikeVote for Alan Young To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official SPRC Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2011 Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page. ©Eurodragster.com The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, for which votes are also now being taken, was first awarded to Santa Pod Racers Club's late Chief Marshal, Alex Brachtvogel, in 2001 to mark his outstanding contribution to Santa Pod Raceway and the sport as a whole. After Alex's death the trophy was named in his memory and continues to be awarded for contribution to drag racing. There is no shortlist for the Alex Brachtvogel award. Nominations are invited from Eurodragster.com readers for racers, race officials, track and safety crews, club officials, media, or anyone else who has contributed to the sport. Last year the trophy was awarded to Dave Crunkhorn (aka Crunch). Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2011@btinternet.com specifying SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy nomination as the subject and your nomination in the body of the E-Mail. For each of the Awards, one vote per E-Mail address per nominee will be accepted: multiple votes for the same nominee from the same E-Mail address will all be disqualified. And every year we say this, but every year someone tries it on: please note that blatant attempts at organising mass votes - for example asking workmates, forum members or Facebook friends to vote en masse - are easily identified and all such votes will be disallowed as they have been in previous years. Concerted attempts at vote-rigging will result in the nominee being removed from the shortlist whether or not that nominee knows what was going on and if necessary names will be named. Want that on your conscience? We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. Swift snippets. 
11th December: The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com came from BTC Moto
with the words "A Christmas hamper, what's inside?". If you know more, or if you would like to send your own spy picture, then
drop us a line at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com.
We will be opening the annual Eurodragster.com Christmas Card next Saturday (17th). If you would like to send a Christmas message to your fans, fellow racers or officials, Eurodragster.com readers or indeed the Eurodragster.com staff then drop an E-Mail to eurodragster.xmas@btinternet.com. If you intend to send an image then .JPG or .GIFs can be accepted and please bear in mind that images may be reduced in size. US muscle rules Street Run C. 11th December: Our good friend Pascal Thébault has been in touch with a review of the Street Run C class in France's Association Trophée Dragster: ATD Street Run C is run with an index of 14.00 to 16.00 so it is logically the class you'll find the most street-legal cars. Forty five different contenders were seen on the strip during 2011 season. 
The final podium was filled with US muscle cars with experienced drivers. Hervé Demaison and his 1972 Pontiac Trans Am have regained their ranking of the previous year with third place. Bruno Chamagne and his 1968 Ford Mustang got the #1 plate in 2010 but he was just overtaken at the end by an overwhelming Gérard Megazzini. The flying Burgund - he lives surrounded by the greatest vineyards of Bourgogne - recovered the Pontiac Firebird which he used to take his first steps in drag racing in 2004. Between 2006 and 2009, he built and raced a Super Street Chevrolet Monza with a stroker 377, Dart Pro 1 heads and B&M 144 blower. But the maintenance and logistics required by such a car ended up discouraging Gérard. The return to his roots proved to be the right choice! 
Web site updates. 11th December: The latest Allard Chrysler Action Group newsletter is now on-line and can be checked out at www.drceurope.co.uk/acag/dec2011. Jason Yates tells us that the latest issue of Drag Racing Confidential at www.drceurope.co.uk includes a feature on the Orange Pop Outlaw Anglia team. Flamholc checks in. 
9th December: Further to Tuesday's Swift Snippet, Swedish Pro Modified racer Adam Flamholc has been
in touch with an update from the last couple of stops on his US Tour:
The event at Palm beach International Raceway was a eighth-mile race. We qualified number two out of twenty cars with a 3.95 run, and went to the semi-finals where we lost. We have had some issues with the car, so after the event we made some pretty big changes to make it more consistent. At Bradenton Raceway they had a test session before the event. We made three hits and tuned the car with the new set-up. First qualifying round we went straight down the track and qualified number three! This was a much tougher field than at West Palm. We made it all the way to the final with a string of good runs - 6.03, 6.05 and 6.02. Unfortunately something happened to the front suspension in the final, so I had to lift. I'm very satisfied with our performance, and we still learn a lot every time we are at the track. A big thank you from me to our sponsors Hurst Boiler, Amalie Oil, Performance Plus, Autoshop, MMR, Husby Takplatslageri and Motorenova. Another thank you to the crew and my family! Now we're enjoy a week in the Florida sun, before it's time to go back to the winter in Sweden. Race cars sought for display. 9th December: The exciting new partnership between the Allard Chrysler Action Group and the Institute of the Motor Industry means that there will be many opportunities for racers to display their cars at events throughout the UK to promote the values of IMI automotive apprenticeships in the UK. "It gets you and your vehicle in front of the motor industry establishment, giving extensive opportunities to promote drag racing and your own competition activities as well as the chance to excite and enthuse young people entering the motor industry", says ACAG Chair Brian Taylor. "The first one of these is at Derby College in the Johnson Building, Pride Park on 11th-12th January." For more information or to volunteer contact Brian at brian@allardchrysler.org or call 01395 579733. Swift snippets. 9th December: Santa Pod Raceway have introduced e-ticketing which includes such features as printing your own tickets at home to speed entry at the gate, and the ability to choose individual grandstand seats. Bookings are now being taken for 2012 at www.eticketing.co.uk/santapodraceway. We would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to our track announcer, Honorary Eurodragster.com Staff Member and Legend In His Own Down Time Christer Abrahamson. Have a great day buddy and we hope that the picture on Facebook was a temporary aberration. We will be opening the annual Eurodragster.com Christmas Card tomorrow week (17th). If you would like to send a Christmas message to your fans, fellow racers or officials, Eurodragster.com readers or indeed the Eurodragster.com staff then drop an E-Mail to eurodragster.xmas@btinternet.com. If you intend to send an image then .JPG or .GIFs can be accepted and please bear in mind that images may be reduced in size. Paige and Belle book Autosport date. 9th December: UK Junior Dragster racers Paige and Belle Wheeler are revving up for Autosport International, which opens its doors between 12th and 15th January at Birmingham’s NEC. Leading worldwide leisure rental specialist Alamo Rent A Car confirms it will be sponsoring the Wellingborough girls in 2012, following the last two years of support. Racing enthusiasts will be able to meet these bright young sisters at the Santa Pod Raceway stand. Autosport International is a major event on the motor racing calendar, bringing major manufacturers, star drivers, cars, industry professionals and fans together under one roof. Incorporating two trade-only days, allowing visitors and exhibitors to conduct business and two public days for motorsport enthusiasts, this is a key event for the Wheeler sisters to attend. Belle passed her test to drive dragsters on Thursday 22nd September. Two days later she took to her local track, Santa Pod Raceway in Northamptonshire, to compete in the VP Racing Fuels National Finals. She drove the fifteen-foot US-made dragster, which is capable of reaching nearly 50 mph in twelve seconds. The vehicle once belonged to her now thirteen-year-old sister Paige, so they are definitely keeping the racing bug in the family. Both sisters are set for an exciting year of competition in 2012 with the support of Alamo. They plan to attend the full programme of UK events, with both cars emblazoned with the Alamo brand as well as their safety gear. Alamo has also committed to track-side branding at the Santa Pod Raceway as well as on the Eurodragster.com web site. "We're delighted to be able to continue supporting Paige and Belle in 2012, building on the last two years of sponsorship" explains Neil Summerville, EMEA Franchising Director, Alamo Rent A Car. "The Autosport show is an important event and will really give Paige and Belle a taste of the professional racing world, as well as allowing fans to see their enthusiasm and commitment to their chosen sport. "Paige has already proved herself a champion in the making and Belle looks set to follow in her big sister's footsteps, making 2012 a year to look forward to. With a global network providing access to over 2,500 rental locations in over 100 countries worldwide, and over 1,680 European locations, including at every major airport, Alamo offers a wide range of vehicles and optional extras for leisure travellers, making it the ideal partner for drag racing fans. Visit www.alamo.co.uk/dragster to see the deals on offer. John Ledster's funeral. 7th December: Thanks to John Ledster's son Bryan for passing us details of John Ledster's funeral. After a family service at Lower Sundon Church, John's funeral will take place at 3:00 pm on Friday of next week, 16th December, at Luton Crematorium whose address is: Luton Crematorium The Vale Butterfield Green Stopsley Luton Bedfordshire LU2 8DD Click here for a map of the location of Luton Crematorium. Bryan Ledster's thanks. 7th December: We have also received the following E-Mail from Bryan Ledster: May I say a big thank you for all your kind words. I know it means the world to my mum and the rest of our family that Dad is so fondly remembered on this site. When I think of my dad I also think of drag racing, what more can I say. Get up to the control tower in heaven Dad, and look down on the sport you loved. You can take a look at the tributes which we have received to John Ledster by clicking here or by clicking on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. If you would like to send your own tribute to John then please E-Mail us at tributes@eurodragster.com. The Zed twins. 7th December: UK HKS Pro and Super Pro ET racer John Bradshaw is delighted to announce that his new ride Project Zed 2 will be with the team in early January. 
"The car is due to be shipped (minus engine) in the next ten days", says John. "It is an identical chassis wise to our current car Project Zed 1. Both cars were built by Jim Geese in Jim's Vanishing Point
days and the quality is simply superb. PZ2 has never been run and has been sat in the States since 2006. Upon delivery it'll be a fairly hectic time to change quite a few things such as wiring, gear box etc.
"The car will potentially use a slightly different Nissan V6 4.0 litre motor compared to the 3.5 litre motor used in PZ1. We plan to test an engine on the engine dyno using a stock crank in January to give us some benchmark data versus the original 3.5 litre engine; if it all looks as we hope then we will progress with getting cranks made, revised gearbox organised and ratios etc to suit. "We are very excited about the car's arrival and its potential. It's fair to say we would not be contemplating running a different engine unless we thought there could be a real benefit going forward. "In 2012 PZ1 will be run in the Jap Drag Series and also some mainstream rounds. We have more to come from our existing 3.5 litre engine and we really hope to see 6.5s in 2012 - our current best is 6.63. PZ2 will be developed in the UK to start with and then shipped to Sweden to run in various Competition Eliminator events. This is something about which we are very, very excited due to the sheer size and quality of the fields. We also intend to go back to Hockenheim in 2012 - an amazing event which we thoroughly enjoyed in 2011 and to which we can't wait to return. "We plan to run PZ2 in Australia in Easter 2013, essentially to run with the world's fastest Japanese teams on their home turf and hopefully show them just how far Europe has caught up. We have run 6.63 with more to come against their record of 6.38. "A huge thank you to everyone for their support." Racers: It's not too early to tell your fans and sponsors of your 2012 plans. Drop us a line at news@eurodragster.com and we'll post it here. Swift snippets. 
7th December: Drag Racing artist Paul Whitehouse has been in touch with details of his latest work. Paul, whose paintings usually depict nostalgia
drag racing subjects, says that he has been wanting to capture the drama of a nitro night launch for some time and decided that the subject matter would be the Gordon Smith / Dave Bryant
Shockwave Fuel Funny Car. Paul says that hopes that he has gone some way to capturing the action and violence of nitro at night. Paul is considering a limited print run of this painting
and Gordon has kindly agreed to sign the prints. For details please E-Mail Paul at pwhitehouse3@aol.com.
We will be opening the annual Eurodragster.com Christmas Card on Saturday week (17th). If you would like to send a Christmas message to your fans, fellow racers or officials, Eurodragster.com readers or indeed the Eurodragster.com staff then drop an E-Mail to eurodragster.xmas@btinternet.com. If you intend to send an image then .JPG or .GIFs can be accepted and please bear in mind that images may be reduced in size. Regular Run What You Brungers the Harris family are the subject of a new book by Dean Rinaldi. "The family are synonymous with high performance street-legal V8 classic Ford Zephyrs and in recent years super quick Pinto-powered Escorts", says Dean. "There has been some British made movie interest but it's still very early days. The book is available as a paperback or iPad and Kindle download from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Lulu etc". You can find out more at www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-harriss/18589166. Web site updates. 7th December: In the latest instalment in his Racer Blog presented in association with Alamo Rent-A-Car, Luke Bennett tells of plans to race with the Supecharged Outlaws. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Alamo Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. 2011 Christmas Gift Mart addenda. 6th December: Careful readers of last week's news will have noticed the statement that Christmas Gift Mart submissions which arrived after 3rd December would not be posted. What wasn't covered by this statement was your News Editor being an idiot and missing two submissions which arrived in time. So, with due apology to their authors, here are the two missing Gift Mart submissions: Four themed Shakey Aid calendars are available from Steve Weston to aid the appeal for funds for a new track sweeper at Shakespeare County Raceway. The four full-colour thirteen-page A3-size calendars feature the Outlaw Anglias, Wild Bunch, Gasser Circus and Supercharged Outlaws photographed at SCR. Each calendar is priced at £6.49 plus p+p, £2 of which goes into the track sweeper fund. To order your calendar and to check out other items on sale to aid the track sweeper fund, check out steveweston.photium.com/otheritems.html. Paypal, credit and debit card payments are available. 
Why not do some of your Christmas shopping at the Allard Chrysler Action Group web site at www.allardchrysler.org. The Merchandise page features a wide range of products including Christmas cards, T-Shirts, polo shirts, caps, CDs, limited edition prints, Allard Celebration Ale beer mats, signed Linda Vaughn posters and copies of Crazy Horses. More recently, to mark Andy Carter's retirement the ACAG commissioned a limited run of twenty nine prints showing Andy's September 2010 record-setting 4.572/320.19 run. With the sport moving to 1000 feet this record will likely last forever. All prints have been signed by Andy and details of this special commission and other Lucas Oil-branded clothing can be found on the ACAG web site under Latest News. All profits go to the restoration fund and a PayPal facility enables easy payments. If you prefer, you can just leave a donation to the fund. Swift snippets. 6th December: Congratulations to Swedish Pro Mod racer Adam Flamholc who did us all proud by making it to the finals of the Snowbird Nationals at Bradenton. Adam was event runner-up having run a slew of 6.0-second passes in eliminations only to be let down by a suspension problem in the final. You can find out more on the Flamholc/MMR Racing Facebook page. Steve Dudley tells us that a slot drag race takes place at the Sturdee Club in Hoo, Kent, at 2:00 pm this Sunday (11th). More information at slotdragracing.weebly.com. We would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to UK Super Pro ET racer Scott Hauser. Have a great day Scott. Gareth Robinson asked us to say a big Happy Birthday to bottom end mechanic Richard Bruton aka Richie. Have a great day too Richie. To the person who initiated a mass vote for one of the SPRC Best Appearing Car nominees at 21:10 UK time last night: we don't know how much more clear we could make it that such things aren't permitted, we can easily identify such attempts, we identified yours, and those votes have been dealt with. TS. Web site updates. 6th December: In the latest instalment in his Racer Blog presented in association with Alamo Rent-A-Car, Kalle Lyrén gives us a brief off-season update from the Team Veidec Pro Stock Bike pit. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Alamo Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. SPRC, APIRA, Obsession Awards vote 2. 5th December: Santa Pod Racers Club, Avon Park International Racing Association, Obsession Motorsports and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the APIRA and SPRC Perpetual Awards and Obsession Motorsports Sportsman of the Year, which will be presented at the joint APIRA/SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on Saturday 11th February 2011. For several of the 2011 season awards, a shortlist has been decided upon for which votes can be submitted by E-Mail. Nominations are now also being accepted for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy. The votes of Eurodragster.com readers will be taken into consideration when the SPRC and APIRA Committees and Obsession Motorsports decide upon their winners. This week's category is SPRC Best Appearing Car. The SPRC Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order, is as follows. You can see larger pictures on the official SPRC Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2011 Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. 
John Bradshaw, Super Pro ET and HKS ProVote for John Bradshaw 
Dave Evans, Super Pro ETVote for Dave Evans 
Andy Frost, Pro ModifiedVote for Andy Frost 
Scott Hauser, Super Pro ETVote for Scott Hauser 
Roy Walker, Pro ETVote for Roy Walker 
Nic Williams, Pro ETVote for Nic Williams To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official SPRC Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the 2011 Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page. ©Eurodragster.com The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, for which votes are also now being taken, was first awarded to Santa Pod Racers Club's late Chief Marshal, Alex Brachtvogel, in 2001 to mark his outstanding contribution to Santa Pod Raceway and the sport as a whole. After Alex's death the trophy was named in his memory and continues to be awarded for contribution to drag racing. There is no shortlist for the Alex Brachtvogel award. Nominations are invited from Eurodragster.com readers for racers, race officials, track and safety crews, club officials, media, or anyone else who has contributed to the sport. Last year the trophy was awarded to Dave Crunkhorn (aka Crunch). Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprcawards2011@btinternet.com specifying SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy nomination as the subject and your nomination in the body of the E-Mail. For each of the Awards, one vote per E-Mail address per nominee will be accepted: multiple votes for the same nominee from the same E-Mail address will all be disqualified. And every year we say this, but every year someone tries it on: please note that blatant attempts at organising mass votes - for example asking workmates, forum members or Facebook friends to vote en masse - are easily identified and all such votes will be disallowed as they have been in previous years. Concerted attempts at vote-rigging will result in the nominee being removed from the shortlist whether or not that nominee knows what was going on and if necessary names will be named. Want that on your conscience? We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. Nilsson and Son going south. 
5th December: Johnny Nilsson, who campaigns the famous Tre Kronor Nostalgia Funny Car based in California, is heading south with his new car.
"I have now built a new modern Funny Car, an ex-John Force car", says Johnny. "This car and the company's 1966 Ford GT40 will be shipped to Cape Town in South Africa this week. My longtime friend Kennet Persson and I have been working down there for ten years as mechanics for a Ferrari team. Now we will race the GT40 in Johannesburg on the last weekend in January and in Cape Town on the first weekend in February. Kennet and the UK's Nigel Hulme will share the driving. "I have signed a three-year contract for the Funny Car with the promoter at Killarney Race Track in Cape Town. My son Dennis will make show runs in the car. He has already tested the car in Sweden with good results. "Kennet and I are also going to build a new workshop at the Killarney racetrack in 2012. I would like to thank all the sponsors who have made this possible: Autoart, Ital American and Tre Kronor Invest." Smokehead joins Fuel heads. 5th December: The MPM Oil teams are proud to announce and welcome a new sponsor to the MPM family. Richard Stevens writes: 
We have been asked to represent the Smokehead brand of whisky in the 2012 season. I first met the Smokehead representatives at the Marshall unsigned band contest when we
brought the MPM Fuel Funny Car which was in Marshall livery. We fired up the car in their car park, and the MPM crew put on one hell of a show for the crowd. There was a small mishap,
which was that when Dave Bryant tapped the throttle some people who had climbed up on top of a wall to get a better view, fell of the wall as they were shocked as they had never seen
or heard anything like this before. No one was hurt, and they went crazy when we finally ran the tank dry of Nitro, and the car fell silent.
Following the show, Smokehead contacted us, and ask to be involved with the MPM teams next year. Obviously we jumped at the chance to be associated with this fine product, and organisation. Check out their cool website at www.smokehead.com. They have an excellent range of gifts for mum and dad for Christmas, and they will also be available at the tracks next year. We are obviously over the moon that they want to help us promote not only the MPM teams, but the sport of drag racing. If you get two minutes, feel free to thank them via their web site for their support. Now that we have agreed to help promote each other next year, the MPM teams may be announcing soon some additions to the current stable of vehicles, and hopefully the new addition will go down well with the MPM nitro fans. So keep your eyes out as we will be announcing soon what the additions will be. We are working really hard to attract more corporations to get involved in drag racing, and we may be announcing another major sponsor in the coming weeks, and as soon as we know, you'll know. Enjoy the run-up to Christmas, and I hope you're all looking forward to next season as we are. Speedgroup do PRI. 5th December: Many thanks to Lena Preés for sending us some pictures from Speedgroup's attendance at last week's PRI Show at Orlando. Below left are Johnnie Lindberg, leif Andréasson and Jeff Burnett on the Tierp Arena stand. "Tierp Arena is already famous in the USA and more and more people in the racing industry are starting to understand the importance of European drag racing", says Lena. Below right are Mats Eriksson, Peter Falk (SSAB USA), Maurice Picard, LG Eriksson and Kim Colvin on the SSAB stand. Mats appeared on the SSAB stand as a user of their high strength steel and tubes, for which there is a big interest in the racing industry. 
Above left is AutoVerdi's new oil system for Pro Mods, with which Stefan Verdi (above right with Åsa Kinnemar and Jöran Persåker) is very satisfied - he has no doubt that it will work very well. AutoVerdi will be participating in the Speedgroup Contingency Programme in 2012 as will longtime contingency sponsor Jöran Persåker. Swift snippets. 
5th December: The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com came with the words
"From the Big CC workshop". If you know any more, or if you would like to send your own spy picture, then drop us a line at
eurodragster.com@btinternet.com.
We were very sorry to hear from Maurice Takoor and Brian Taylor of the death of Doug Church who was a member of the US touring party which appeared at the 1964 Drag Fests in the UK. Doug raced the Modern Specialists Porsche-powered dragster. Our deepest sympathies to Doug's family and friends. UK street-legal Pro Mod racer Andy Frost asked us to say a big Happy Birthday for yesterday (Sunday) to crew Rob 'Henchman' Kearns. Hope you had a good day Rob. PMR Racing School seeks premises. 5th December: Eurodragster.com sponsor Paul Marston tells us that the Paul Marston Racing Drag Race Driving School has lost its storage premises close to the track at Santa Pod Raceway. Paul would be pleased to hear from anyone with secure storage space close to the track. "I would like to express my personal gratitude and heartfelt thanks to our previous landlord for their generosity in providing premises since the Drag Race School was founded", says Paul. "This does however leave the Drag Race Driving School without a home. If anyone has some secure land or premises that they would be so kind as allow us to use, please contact us as soon as possible. In an ideal world this would be in Airfield Road but anything could be considered. "We fear that if we are unable to secure such premises, then the Drag Race Driving School will in all probability have to close. Everyone at Paul Marston Racing has put their heart and soul into the School for the benefit of others. A lot of people in have benefited from our hard work and drag racing in the UK is a better place for the school having been there. Along with all the drivers who have graduated (including your News Editor - Ed) and now populate most classes in Sportsman racing, the TV work that we have done with Top Gear, Fifth Gear and independent one off shows have helped elevate the status and profile of UK drag racing for all to see. I would like to think that we have contributed to the progress drag racing has made in recent years. "The loss of the school would be unthinkable, but without a base near the track the logistics of having to move everything to enable for us to do a professional job just become unworkable and impractical. Let's hope it does not come to that, whichever way it goes we need to relocate very fast - the clock is already ticking." If you can help then please E-Mail Paul at pmracing@fsmail.net or call him on 07831 650230. Gulf Oil TFB ends on a high. 5th December: Following their impressive top three European Championship finish in their very first year on the all new Gulf Oil - Grand Prix Originals Top Fuel Bike, the team elected to compete in the British season finale, the ACU / UK Finals at Santa Pod, England. 
Following the problems experienced by many racers at the venue during the recent European Finals event due to the tricky track surface resulting from track repairs the team
did not anticipate improving on their recent form. The track remained somewhat difficult for this event too despite the best efforts of the hardworking track crew, and the relatively
cold conditions did not help traction.
However, their pessimism seemed to lack foundation when the team qualified in number one position for eliminations with a new best for the bike, 1.0840 seconds to sixty feet, 4.0214/192.55 at the eighth mile and 6.1487/213.92 for the quarter, the low terminal speed at the finish line betraying a dropped cylinder. The team were on for an unlikely new British record if they could continue this level of performance. The first round of eliminations saw King through safely with a bye run and into the semis against Chris 'Cannon' Hannam on his brutal Supercharged Van Geffen Puma V Twin machine. However, Cannon's best efforts were to no avail when King drove through tyre shake and around the charging V Twin, 6.3659/204.28 beating a 7.5537/168.54 and into the final to meet Kev Charman (who had just confirmed his 2011 ACU / UK Championship crown by winning his semi final – well done Kev!). 
The Final proved somewhat of a pedalling competition for the two Puma Yamaha powered machines when quickly deteriorating track temperatures saw Ian King struggle to keep his
machine in the groove and Kev Charman's rear tyre up in smoke at the hit of the throttle. However, the number one qualifier prevailed with King just taking the stripe with a 7.7830/140.32
to defeat Charman's charging 7.8774/199.67.
All in all a reasonably satisfactory end to the race season, and giving the team further confidence in their challenge for the 2012 European season. The team would like to take this opportunity to thank Gulf Oil, Grand Prix Originals and all their fantastic sponsors, their great fans across the globe, Speedgroup, the UEM, Keith Bartlett and his team from Trakbak Racing, the clubs, organisers, track and safety teams, the back office staff who make the events run so smoothly, their fellow competitors, Ivan Sansom, Rose Hughes and their fellow photographers, journalists, TV crews and media representatives, Eurodragster.com, Dragbike, Stripbike, Cycledrag, Par Willen and the other dragrace web site operators and everyone else who contribute to make the European Drag Bike Championship the greatest competition of its type in the world – thanks to you all! The team is extremely proud to have been supported by many leaders in their chosen markets in their European Championship in 2011, and would like to give heartfelt thanks to all who contributed to the team achievements this year: APE - The world's most innovative manufacturer of aftermarket parts for drag bikes Cometic Gaskets - The premier manufacturer of racing gaskets Bell Helmets - The ultimate iconic helmet brand Gates - The world's most trusted name in drive belts, hoses and hydraulics Goedhals - The name in recision specialist gear cutting and engineering Goodridge - The original and the best in fluid transfer systems Grand Prix Originals - The brand for drive and lifestyle, past and present Gulf Oil International - The world's most iconic brand in automotive fuels and lubricants Hyperpro - The leading producer of progressive suspension products for motor bikes JE Pistons - The world's premier manufacturer of high performance forged pistons Kent Cams - Specialists in motor sport camshaft manufacture, short runs and one-offs Kibblewhite Precision Machining, Inc -The highest quality valve train components on the market King Racing - The most successful Top Fuel Bike team in European drag racing history Mickey Thompson Tyres - Simply the best drag race tyres in the world MRE - Leaders in trackside support for drag race components and air shifting systems MTC Engineering - Manufacturer of clutches for the fastest motorcycles in the world NitroShutter - Europe's leading drag racing photo-journalists NCT Engineering - Manufacturer of the world's leading non contact torque sensors for motorsport Portable Shade - The best custom branded collapsible canopies available Pro Alloy Motorsport - UK's leader in fabrication of alloy racing tanks, intercoolers and radiators PsycleWorkz - The UK's best custom and race fabricators and innovators Puma Engineering - Manufacturers of the world's most powerful motorcycle engines RSG Customize - The UK's most creative website designers and vinyl artists Vanson Leathers - The most iconic brand in motorsport leather goods Worldwide Bearings - The world's leading supplier of ceramic bearings for racing Zodiac - Europe's largest supplier of performance and aftermarket HD parts For more information please visit www.kingracing.com. ACAG Accelerate with IMI. 5th December: The Allard Chrysler Action Group has announced an exciting new relationship with the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI). The partnership forms part of the IMI's new online apprenticeship community for 16-24 year olds called Accelerate. In a novel move the IMI have endorsed the project to restore to working order Europe's first dragster – Sydney Allard's 1961 354 cubic inch (5.8 litre) Chrysler Hemi V8 powered machine owned by the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. It last raced in 1964 and the restoration work is being spearheaded by ACAG – a bunch of enthusiasts approved by the museum to raise the funds and awareness of the project as well as provide the expertise to carry out the work required. 
Sarah Sillars OBE FIMI, Executive Chair of the IMI, said "We are really excited about this new partnership with the ACAG. It provides a unique
benefit to Accelerate and I'm sure the extra technical insight into such a dramatic and explosive form of motor sport will be rewarding. It will
be inspirational too, showing automotive engineering working at the limits.
"I'm pleased to say that ACAG Chair Brian Taylor will be writing regular reports about the dragster restoration project for Accelerate and Motor Industry magazine. We will be announcing more very exciting and exclusive aspects of this new relationship soon. These will provide opportunities to get close-up and personal with drag racing machinery, drivers and the race technicians, plus vehicles dating from the dawn of our industry." ACAG Chair Brian Taylor said "There can only be one form of motorsport that truly reflects the word Accelerate and that has to be drag racing – the ultimate celebration of accelerative power and speed. Using practical skills allied to creative engineering, drag racing practitioners can max the power opportunities and build engines capable of producing over 7000 bhp using a mixture of nitro methane in methanol that makes the headers (exhaust pipes) glow. The result; 0-100 mph in less than a second. Or how does 0-320 mph in 4.6 seconds grab you for a standing start quarter mile? It's legalised fast and furious street racing on steroids and the ultimate legal traffic lights challenge. I see it as Formula One without the boring bits. "Furthermore it's a sport where the Crew Chief is as much revered as the driver. And it's certainly the most fan-friendly form of motor sport – especially for those interested and involved in automotive engineering. The pit layout enables you to get right up close to the action with team technicians stripping down modern blown (supercharged) and injected eight-litre V8 engines and rebuilding them in just over an hour. That requires amazing team work as well as engineering knowledge and skill. I thought all this added up to an exciting and instructive sport that would appeal to budding automotive technicians – particularly when we include some special added-value to Accelerate members that will be announced shortly. In turn, our involvement with the motor industry in this way will raise the profile of the Allard Chrysler restoration project and our sport in the eyes of key opinion formers." Patron of the ACAG is Nick Mason. Yes that Nick Mason, the drummer in Pink Floyd. But Nick is also a keen classic car collector and racer, as well as being President of the Guild of Motoring Writers and a Trustee of the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. He said "When Brian told me about the IMI's Accelerate scheme becoming involved in our project to restore Europe's first dragster I was really pleased. Now more than ever this country – particularly the automotive industry – needs more trained high quality hands-on skilled people with diagnostic knowledge. It is a job that has been under-valued for too long and if we can help inspire young people to obtain these skills and raise the status of a career in automotive engineering with our project then I'm all for it and only too pleased to help. It's worth noting how much of F1, a forty billion dollar business, is based in the UK? If ever there was a business success story this is it. Britain is nearly as good at this as we are at Rock Music! "And I'm sure apprentices will find a visit to the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu most rewarding. To fully appreciate the fantastic progress made in automotive engineering you need to see its roots. The technology on early vehicles is very basic compared to today's computerised machines, but it was men like Sydney Allard who constantly pushed the boundaries and helped the industry progress. He even drove a V8 Allard up Ben Nevis! I mean just how cool is that?" Web site updates. 5th December: In the latest instalment in his Racer Blog presented in association with Alamo Rent-A-Car, Dave Beck brings us up to date with events in the TVR Power Pro Stock Bike pit. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Alamo Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Our good buddy Alan Currans has updated his excellent Acceleration Archive with the latest progress on the restoration of the Veney's Vega Funny Car. You can check it out via the What's New link at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk. 2011 Christmas Gift Mart. 3rd December: If you are looking for a Christmas gift for the drag racer or drag racing fan in your life, or indeed if you fancy treating yourself, then Eurodragster.com's sponsors and contributors have several ideas for you. In the interests of fairness we are presenting these suggestions in the order in which we received them. Drag racing artist Paul Whitehouse has various prints of his paintings available which include Dennis Priddle (Mr Revell and STP Avenger Funny Car), Owen Hayward (Houndog 7), Al O'Connor (Al's Gasser), Brian Johnson (Imperial Wizard) and many more. The prints, in either A4 or A3 format, are supplied mounted and ready to frame. A4 prints start from as little as £12 and are artist signed. Paul also welcomes enquiries for original painting commissions of any drag racing car or bike... have your pride and joy captured on canvas. Please E-Mail Paul at pwhitehouse3@aol.com for full details. 
Carl Burton offers hand-painted and lacquered trash cans and bowling pins. The trash cans are made from recycled fuel cans. Designs include Super CC, Ratfink and Mr Horsepower at £45 plus p+p for trash cans and £50 plus post for bowling pins. Carl can also produce bins to a team's own design. For more information contact Carl at burton@coates234.fsnet.co.uk. Carl has been out of circulation recovering from an operation but is now back in harness; if you had an enquiry lodged with Carl then he asks that you re-send it. Pro Modified posters from Eurodragster.com sponsor Peter Walters Race Design make a great stocking filler or present. Four A3 card prints are available - Mats Eriksson, Freddy Fagerström, Graham Ellis and Jan Gunnarson - at £5 each or £8 for two plus p+p. For more information or to order your prints E-Mail Pete at peter@pwrd.co.uk. All of PWRD's other services such as race car design, web sites, handouts, logos, racewear and more are available so book in before the new season rush! Visit www.pwrd.co.uk for more information. 
Also designed by Peter Walters but available from Eurodragster.com Blogger Andy Frost are T-Shirts featuring his Red Victor 3 street-legal Pro Mod. The shirts some in all sizes from Small to XXXXL and are priced at £13.50 plus p+p. To order your short E-Mail name, address and size to Andy at redvictor1@hotmail.com. Bennett Racing have the perfect Christmas present for any drag racing fan, the Relentless Topolino altered T-shirt. All sales go to support the team and to run the Relentless altered. You can buy direct from the team at www.bennettracing.co.uk/#/bennett-racing-t-shirt/4534038262. 
Drag racing doesn't really lend itself to ethical Christmas presents but you can show your support for those who built the sport and fill some stocking space with official British Drag Racing Hall of Fame decals and sew-on patches. Decals are 70p including postage and patches £6.50 including postage and are available from British Drag Racing Hall of Fame, Adelaide Cottage, 39 Hatton Park Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN8 9EG. For any drag race fans who have not already got a copy, Keith Lee's book Drag Bike Racing in Britain - From the mid 60s to the mid 80s would make a great Christmas gift. It looks back at the characters and the events that happened during the first 20 years of the sport. It is heavily illustrated with great shots by the author to capture the highlights of an exciting time of developments and change in drag racing. "The response to the book, which is the first covering the bike side of the sport in Britain, has been brilliant", says Keith. "It has made the effort worthwhile, as it is a story that had to be related for everyone to enjoy". Drag Bike Racing in Britain - From the mid 60s to the mid 80s is available to order worldwide, and from the publishers Veloce by clicking here. If you're stuck for ideas then you can get a personalised photographic gift from The Mad Welshman. "All of my photos on Flickr are available as prints, canvasses, posters, calendars, mugs, greetings cards, T-Shirts, coasters, jigsaws etc - just about anything you can think of really", says The Mad. "Visit www.flickr.com/photos/the_madwelshman to view my pictures from 2011 and contact me either through my Flickr or Facebook pages or E-Mail me at the_madwelshman@hotmail.co.uk. Chris Eyre has sorted through his favourite pictures from the last few years of the European tour and has compiled a book which you can check out at www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2579996. "I have tried to include all the competitors from the Pro classes, along with a selection of Sportsman racers", says Chris. "In all there are over 200 photos to look through. Anyone wanting to purchase specific prints or high resolution copies of any of my pictures please check out my web site www.eurodragpics.com and E-Mail me via my contact page with your request." 
A Pro ET Calendar: the best Christmas present for your husband / wife / brother / mate / mum if you cannot afford to buy them a Super Stock car! All your favourite race cars appear in this fantastic calendar, with burnouts and wheelies to die for. What are you waiting for? Grab one now! £10 plus £2.50 p+p, A3 size, printed on high quality paper. Please contact Karen Stevens 07877 268305 with your details and please make cheques payable to Pro ET Sponsorship Scheme. Also offering a calendar, plus Nostalgia drag racing iPhone covers, are our good buddies Mathias and Markus of the der Beschleuniger web site. "The calendars finance our travel a bit to keep German-speaking folks up to date on what going on", says Mathias. "The calendar is limited-edition, only a handful of copies are left at only €19.99 plus shipping", says Mathias. "The calendar is A3 format, high-gloss and fourteen pages including all important European drag racing dates". You can find out more at www.derbeschleuniger.de/news/480-qkalendervorschauq-2012.html or E-Mail dragkalender@gmx.de. The guys have also put together some pretty nice iPhone cases at €39 each including shipping within Europe. You can find out more at sideviewinn.wordpress.com/2011/10/21/its-christmas-time. 
Roland Schenker has two calendar on offer featuring drag racing on Continental Europe, one covering Sportsman classes and the other
VW drag racing. The calendars are 35 Swiss Francs apiece and you can purchase on-line and pay by PayPal at
www.pictureinterceptor.ch.
Although we have the ever-popular Ringers gloves at £15 plus VAT to recommend as a Christmas gift, Eurodragster.com sponsor
Andy Robinson Race Cars would like to major this year on an offering from Torco, their engine
assembly and break-in kit. We have been using Torco products on the Studebaker for years so we know it stands up well to the rigours of top flight competition. This kit
contains all the fluids necessary during engine build and early life running with assembly lubes, break-in oil and oil additive. There are two versions depending on the weight
of oil intended for the engine, SAE30 or SAE40. The price is £60.10 plus VAT and carriage or it can be collected from the workshop.
By the way, the Studebaker is still for sale and what an amazing gift that would make... already in Christmas Red I'm sure we could make delivery in time for 25th December
and even gift wrap it if necessary! As always contact ARRC at robinson_racecar@yahoo.co.uk or
call 01256 880589.
The five-disc 2011 FIA and UEM European Championships review DVD set is packed with more than nine hours of action from all rounds of the 2011 FIA and UEM European Drag Racing Championships at Kunmadaras, Santa Pod Raceway, Tierp, Alastaro, Gardermoen and Hockenheim. Enjoy the sights and sounds of Europe's fastest cars and motorcycles as 150 teams from fifteen countries compete for supremacy in a feast of furious racing action. Includes Top Fuel Dragster, Top Methanol Dragster, Top Methanol Funny Car, Bilsport Pro Modified, Pro Stock, Top Fuel Bike, Supertwin and Pro Stock Bike. UK orders can be placed via Santa Pod Raceway's web site at www.santapod.com and Swedish orders via Indeed Media at www.summeronwheels.com. For mail order to any other country within or outside Europe please contact Åsa at asa.kinnemar@speedgroup.eu. Zeon TV have produced seven season review DVDs covering just about every other class and aspect of the sport from Fuel Altereds to Sportsman ET to Nostalgia. For more details check out the detailed review on yesterday's news update or to order visit www.quartermilehigh.com. Santa Pod Raceway, the home of European drag racing has literally just saved Christmas for petrolheads everywhere, with their seasonally cheering ticket offers and superbly stocked online Pod Shop. So rather than see the disappointed look of your loved ones this Christmas, when opening yet another pair of socks, why not get them something they actually want this year? An extensive range of men, women and children's clothing gives you that paddock ready look for Christmas Day. With a simply massive range of T-shirts, jackets, fleeces and tops to choose from, plus a stunning range of hats and gloves, they can show their love for Europe's coolest quarter-mile venue as well as receiving an item of clothing that they will be prepared to wear long after Grandma has been carted away. The models and collectibles section offers something for kids of all ages, whether you're looking for a perfectly scaled model Top-Fueller for Dad, or a robust Monster Truck for junior. Bikes, Hot Rods and VW models and miniatures are all here, for the avid hardcore collector, right down to three-and-up toy cars. If you can't face the thought of The Sound Of Music for the 54th time, why not pop on one of the Pod's eclectic selection of DVDs? This year's Season Review will make for a pleasant hour or so. Turn it up loud and get rid of unwanted relatives at the same time! Even stocking fillers are covered with just about everything from badges, key-rings and stationery, through to soft toys, bags and clocks being available, with exclusive Santa Pod designs, at prices starting from one pound! If you still can't decide what to get, why not give them something that they'll really enjoy? Advance tickets to any of Santa Pod's 2012 shows. With all of the Pod's show content aimed squarely at a good old-fashioned family day out, why not get a few and take the whole clan out for the day? Better still, get a weekend ticket (where appropriate) and avail yourselves of the free camping and superb atmosphere on site. So take it from us, don't settle for tangerines, walnuts or a petrol station CD this Christmas. Drop decidedly unsubtle hints and get something that you actually want to open this year. For more information, please visit www.santapod.com or call the shop on 01234 782828. 
Some ideal stocking fillers are available from
www.turboville.co.uk for your drag race fanatic:
ELIMINATOR - the only game you will need at Christmas, great fun and most of the profit goes into a fund to help racers in need, £5.99 pk NITRO KNUCKS - mechanics gloves, superb quality, as used by Andy Carters team and many others, just £10 a pair ACF-50 - you need this, American military spec anti-corrosive protection, fantastic, keeps bare metal from rusting, £15 DIAL IN BOARDS - just in from the USA, 4 digit flip boards, attach to car or hand hold, very limited stock £27.50 each COLLECTABLE DIE CAST DRAGSTERS AND FUNNY CARS - Action etc. to clear at £39 each (half price) RED LINE OIL - shockproof gear oil, the best! Limited quantity, 1 US Qt. bottles SIMPSON - new T shirts and hoodies, just a few left at half price, contact for sizes, from £9.50 FADED GLORY - pre-loved race T shirts as collected over the years from tracks across the world, see web site, £5 each SURE SHOT SPRAYERS - these are getting increasingly expensive to import, last two chrome sprayers at £50 each SIMPSON DIAMONDBACK - ex-display, limited edition Hyabusa model, size 8-64, just £399 (£100 off) TOP FUEL BIKE - big stockings! starter cart, only used a couple of times, very powerful, £799 CHEVROLET - ultimate stocking filler, fresh build 510ci BBC race only motor, 800hp+, specs on web site, £5990 RCI-SANTA'S - sportsman race suit, SFI, medium, strawberry and cream, awesome suit, £199 BUCO - old skool, bubble visors, clip to any open face, the real deal! £30 (some Simpson visors left too) SIMPSON - custom painted 'shorty' chopper helmet, done for Simpson, beautiful! £149 SIMPSON - big feet? Just one pair of SFI 'Sprint' leather driving boots size UK19, to clear, £99 NASCAR? - check out the Tony Stewart signature set we have, Awesome jacket and display helmet, to clear, £199 Swift snippets. 
3rd December: Jan Phersson of Eurodragster.com sponsor Simpson Sweden
tells us that after six years his Super Stock Viper will hit the track 2012. You can follow the return to the track project on
Facebook.
Dad Nigel, Lisa and family asked us to say a big Happy Birthday to The Boy David Anniwell of Santa Pod Racers Club's timing crew. We're very pleased to do so, have a great day David. Web site updates. 3rd December: In association with Alamo Rent-A-Car we have two Blog instalments for you today. First up is Top Methanol Dragster racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Derek Flynn who tells the tale of the sale of his dragster, its first outing with its new owners at Hal-Far Raceway on Malta, and how that trip to Malta went a bit awry. Secondly is author Brian Taylor who bring us up to date with the Allard Chrysler as well as a number of other restoration projects going on around the UK. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Alamo Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Editor's note: We have a backlog of news items with which we will catch up on the next news update. Please keep the news coming to news@eurodragster.com. Zeon TV DVDs review. 
2nd December: The 2011 collection of drag racing DVDs from Zeon TV
comprises seven varied titles that reflect the variety in the sport in the UK. All videos are highly professional productions with superb camerawork
by David Coleman and Helen Todd and expert commentary and interviews from Paul Venners.
Nitro Warriors includes all the action from the last two years of the Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association as there was no equivalent DVD for 2010. So there are a huge number of runs and all the incidents from the action-packed class, including multiple angles and slow motion. Footage of the large Wild Bunch field and nitro bikes from Dragstalgia is shown and also welcome footage of the Hungary FIM and UEM round from 2010. There is some very impressive on-board footage from the SPRC Summernationals. Nostalgia Funny Car action from the Mopar Euronats and Hot Rod Drags and Top Fuel and Fuel Funny Car action from the FIA European Finals, UEM Supertwins, Supercharged Outlaws and lots of fire burnouts round out a DVD with great variety. The Open Sports Nationals DVD includes all the action from every class in eliminations at the August Meeting at Shakespeare County Raceway. The DVD also includes Outlaw Anglia, Super Modified, Super Pro ET and Super Street Bike action from the Springspeed Nationals in May with finals in all other classes, the editing of this material being expertly done. Captions and class-by-class indexing help the viewer follow the action closely. The DVD of Pro Mod 2010 is released late due to TV rights, but is nevertheless highly entertaining. The review of 2009's action is a suitable taster. This DVD is presented by John Price and Abi Griffiths. The history of the class is discussed, with many interviews with racers and crew members. In the FIA Main Event and European Finals coverage, qualifying runs are shown which you won't have seen on the 2010 FIA DVDs. Each of the episodes originally shown on Motors TV is included for a feast of Pro Mod action, including a focus on women in UK drag racing. The Mopar Euronats includes a great many muscle cars not seen at other race meetings. As with other lifestyle events there is a big social element to proceedings. The Cruise (this time in two instalments on the DVD) is followed by a visit to the drifting area which is dry in this year's edition. The Allard Chrysler and the early history of the sport is described in depth by Allard Chrysler Action Group Chairman Brian Taylor. There is more of the Show and Shine on this year's DVD with several owners talking about their vehicles. Every year the meeting gets bigger with many cars not seen before. Also of note is a slow-mo sequence which creates an atmosphere not seen previously - more please! The Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator DVD, Hardcore Street, includes all seven events of the Championship with a special 'under the hood' section that compares the variety of engine setups seen in the class. A highlight of the Easter Thunderball is the in-depth coverage of every inch of the cruise, some in quick motion. There is some superb in-carfootage looking both forward and backwards which gives a vivid impression of acceleration. Interviews are included with many of the colourful personalities behind the wheel. And the on-track action from these cars is electrifying, including footage under the lights at the FIA European Finals. The NSRA Hot Rod Drags DVD is a great record of this lifestyle event, enhanced by the variety of camera angles around the pits at Shakespeare County Raceway. With additional footage from the Nostalgia Nationals and the Saturday Supernats cruise to Santa Pod, this is the best DVD of the 2011 collecton for hot rodders. The staging lanes were crowded for a memorable Sunday at the Hot Rod Drags. There is much vintage tin including a huge entry into the Flathead Meltdown. Action from Supercharged Outlaws, Outlaw Anglias and Wild Bunch is featured as well as the cacklefest and fire burnouts. Xtreme Doorslammers starts by looking at the development of some of the wildest door cars over the last few years. A look at Super Modified is followed by the Gasser Circus at Dragstalgia. Then there is archive footage is based on themes, wheelies, flames and fires and masses of wild rides. The entertainment value of this DVD is greatly enhanced by editing into balanced sections each with its own music soundtrack reflecting the mood of the footage. FIA Pro Stock is included as well as the Jap Drag series, Outlaw Flat Four, Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator, MSA Pro Mod and Top Sportsman. There is so much variety that this DVD has something for everyone: it's a Decade of Thrills for doorslammers. Single DVDs are £14.95 each with some on a two for £24.95 deal, with £1.50 p+p maximum on each order for any quantity. To buy any of these superb productions, visit www.quartermilehigh.com. Swift snippets. 2nd December: Thanks to Rob Loaring for letting us know that the Annual General Meeting of the UK's Super Modified racers takes place at 9:15 am for 9:30 am on Sunday 11th December at Tewin Memorial Hall, 11a Lower Green, Welwyn, Herts, AL6 0JX. If you have any queries then please contact Rob at rob.loaring@gmail.com. European fans have someone to cheer on in the USA this weekend as Swedish Pro Mod racer Adam Flamholc is taking part in the Snowbird Nationals at Bradenton in Florida. You will be able to stay in touch with Adam's progress via the Flamholc/MMR Racing Facebook page. No news update yesterday for obvious reasons, but Jeanette and Jon Webster asked us to say a very Happy Birthday for yesterday to Shelby Webster as well as congratulations on her appointment as a Canine Hydrotherapist. "We are very proud of all her achievements this year", say Jeanette and John. Hope you had a lovely day Shelby and may we add our own congratulations and best wishes for your new job. We have set up a tribute page to John Ledster which you can read by clicking here or by clicking on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. If you would like to send your own tribute to John then please E-Mail us at tributes@eurodragster.com. We will be running our annual Christmas Gift Mart news item tomorrow (Saturday) so you just have time to send us Christmas gift ideas to allow our readers enough time to drop subtle or unsubtle hints; please send a maximum of two paragraphs plus, if you like, a picture to news@eurodragster.com. Christmas Gift Mart entries which arrive after tomorrow's news item is posted will not be added. Earlier news |
|
