Robinson Race Cars at Mantorp Park Veidec Festival 2007
Pictures and text by Bob Roberts




See below for photo gallery.


Eurodragster.com sponsor Andy Robinson went on a European tour of Pro Modified events until 2011, after which the team's Studebaker Commander was sold and work commenced on a Chevrolet Camaro. In 2007 the team attended the Veidec Festival at Mantorp Park. After a wet start to the race, Andy qualified no.1, after which Editor and Race Reporter Tog posed with Andy (Pic 21) having won a side bet of 50 SEK from Mantorp Park commentator Christer Abrahamsson. Team member Jerry Clayton commented after the sole Friday qualifying run "The team were delighted with the run which is a new track record. It actually helped that the track was not glued after the rain storm. The Pro Mod cars tended to stick to the track better than the Pro Stockers. It was a clean run and the engine is in good condition". Now Bob Roberts narrates the story from the team's view...

Friday was mostly about rain and lots of it, looking down the pits there was nothing but grey sky to be seen (Pic 1/2).

But things did improve later on, the rain stopped and the track dryers were put to work; here you see the Studebaker in the very short staging lanes waiting to run before the Top Fuel guys (Pic 3).

Good track access gave the opportunities for close up action shots (Pic 7) Here the whole start line crew of Jerry, Stefani, Tom, Bowser and Luke watch as Andy goes into stage on the first qualifying run (Pic 7). Mantorp had a big screen installed so it was possible get an alternate view of Andy during the final qualifying session late on Saturday evening (Pic 8). During the weekend we had some problems with the distributor cap which had suffered some damage (Pic 12). In spite of this Andy was number one qualifier with a track record 6.2269.

The track configuration at Mantorp means that the racers at the top of the queue to run are down wind of the burn out fumes (Pic 13). On race day, Sunday, Bowser shelters his ears while Andy burns out, see the big screen in the distance for an alternative view (Pic 14). Our adversary in the final was none other than Micke Gullqvist (Pic 14).

And once again Andy was runner up with Mats Erickson in third place. As the losing finalist Andy still got a rose (?), a bottle of Swedish champagne (?) and a trophy. Micke Gullqvist looked on from the top step of the podium (Pics 17/18/19).

By the time the team left on Monday morning the pits were almost cleared with only Gordon Appleton left in the Pro Mod area (Pic 20).

After the race Andy said "The last few races have been tight and it was really close against Micke in the final. I didn't know who had one after we drove down the track but we are still leading the FIA points. It's been a good race and a great weekend after all the rain. The championship is down to the last race and quite a few racers could win it".

In-car footage from Andy Robinson's Stubaker Commando (clip 1).
In-car footage from Andy Robinson's Stubaker Commando (clip 2).

      
Click on any thumbnail for a large image. Click here to return to the Features Index.