SPRC Dinner Dance reminder.
31st January: If you are attending Saturday's Santa Pod Racers Club Dinner Dance and Trophy Night in Daventry then please note:
  • The County Suite is open for drinks at 17:15.

  • Please be in your seat by 17:45for the SPRC Championships presentation.

  • A Bloodwise fund-raiser will follow the SPRC Championships presentation.

  • Dinner will be served at 18:45.

  • The UK National and MSA British Championship presentations will commence during after-dinner coffee, followed by Perpetual Award presentations and raffle.

  • It would be appreciated if the noise could be kept down during the presentations; it is common courtesy both to the trophy winners and to MC Colin Theobald. If you wish to hold conversations then please remain in the bar.
Eurodragster.com Photographer Julian will take the official trophy presentation photographs, which will be available for free download here on Eurodragster.com as soon as possible after the event. The Perpetual Award winners will be posted here on Eurodragster.com News immediately after the presentation.


Scorpion's double sting.
31st January: 8.50 Bike racer, Flat Earther and serial chip shop destruction suspect Thorsten Appel, aka Scorpion, is to make the move to Comp Bike in 2019 and also has something for the denizens of Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator:

The Scorpion Motors Racing 8.50 machine was finished mid-season. After getting my ass kicked by the old boys in the class we decided to upgrade the bike to go Comp Bike racing. The 1440 cc motor will be turbocharged this season and should make for an interesting ride. We will be back! Thanks to our sponsor thanks to our sponsors BLK Powder, BLK Clinical and Motul Oil.


We also decided that a bike isn't enough and we have started DTC Racing. We are currently building a sleeper Nova named Chinky Nova on a shoestring budget. The car will sport a 355 with a small shot of giggle gas, rear end nine-inch. It will be street-legal and safe to run whatever numbers it produces. We won't be a threat to the big hitters in the Street Eliminator field, but we are doing this just for fun.


And now: The Unfinished Business Tour.
31st January: Dan and Eurodragster.com sponsor Nic Williams of the UK's Williams Brothers Racing are in Florida to take up where they left off in 2018. Colin Theobald writes on behalf of the team:

Dan and Nic always dreamt of racing in the USA amongst the huge field of Stockers which always enter Divisional and National events, and 2018 was the year in which the dream was finally realised. The Going Home Tour 2018 started with Nic's 69 ZL1 Camaro being shipped over to New York late May, then the team flew out mid-June and once the hire truck was collected the boys picked up their second-hand trailer and were then finally reunited with the Camaro. A visit to engine maestro Brian Tilburg followed, then on to Numidia Raceway for a Lucas Oils Divisional event. After three rounds of qualifiying Nic had run a best of 9.95, which netted number forty one spot out of ninety. Nic won his first round match up as the other car broke out massively, Nic dialing in a 10.04 and running a 10.07. Round 2 and our opponent redlit, but in round 3 it was our turn to go red (by just 0.0012) so game over. What a great start to our USA tour but time to go back to the UK.

August and back to America for our second visit, this time the big one: yes, the US Nationals at Indianapolis. Again the boys arrived in New York, this time accompanied by Crew Chief Lorne Denny and you know the drill now. Pick up hire truck, pick up trailer and Camaro from Brian but before any racing took place we had a private test at Atco Raceway with the PC Richards team. This was perfectly timed as we had just installed our new Racepak and needed to start getting the set-up spot on. Our second race on US soil was a Lucas Oils Divisional at Beech Bend Raceway, or Bowling Green as so many of us know it, where Nic ended up qualifying with a stout 9.88 in the number fifty three spot out of one hundred and twenty eight entries! Unfortunately a 0.05 red in the early rounds of eliminations didn't help but the car was reacting superbly to the set-up changes, perhaps too well.

Straight onto Indy for the US Nationals just a few days later and this was it, the absolute dream. Just to qualify would be an achievement, and with more than one hundred and sevety five teams jostling for one hundred and twenty eight spots the competition was intense. After two rounds Nic had a best of 9.95 which placed him #145. No improvement in Q3 as as 10.07 appeared on the boards, so it was the last chance saloon for Q4. A monster wheelstand, with the car recording a sixty-foot time of 1.39 with the back wheels, but would this be the run? A new PB of 9.811 was the result, a massive improvement but unbelievably we ended up #129, or first reserve. It didn't take long to make the show, however,as a qualified racer informed us he was broken and was out so we were in.

Unfortunately we didn't progress into round 2, but the Indy story didn't end there. We were surprised, delighted and honoured to be awarded Edelbrock Performer of the Race which meant we were presented with a special Wally in a pre-race ceremony. Without a doubt our biggest highlight of our USA tour. Interviews with National Dragster, WFO radio and a feature video clip on the NHRA web site were just some of the other highlights of our US Nationals event. Not only that, the car was performing superbly.

For our last race in America Dan and Nic took the Camaro to the Dutch Classic at Maple Grove, Pennsylvania in late September. We knew that the car had the performance, it was just a case of unlocking the potential and here is where it all came good. An incredible 9.70 in testing, a 9.72 in qualifiying, and the end result of Williams Bros Racing winning our class eliminations. An incredible end to a fantastic tour during which the car improved at every event attended. From what we understand, Nic's 9.70 was the sixth quickest pass in AA/SA in the world in 2018 and the boys know there is more to come.

Which leads us into our Unfinished Business Tour 2019.

As you read this, Dan and Nic are in Florida preparing for this weekend's Winter Warm-Up at Orlando Speedworld for a Lucas Oils Divisional event. Luckily the boys avoided most of the snow and freezing temperatures in the northern states, although it was still subzero when they collected the car from Pennsylvania. 1200 miles later they found much better conditions. After this weekend it's straight back to the UK leaving the Camaro in Florida for our next event, the Baby Gators at Gainesville in March. Once the Gators are completed the Camaro will be shipped back to the UK, but that's not the end of the US adventure. Details still being finalised so we will announce our plans in due course, but it's going to be very good indeed.

We would like to thank all of the sponsors and supporters who helped the team on the Going Home Tour 2018: Flightcase Warehouse, Racepak, Santa Pod Raceway, SPRC, G23 Engineering, Snap-On Tools, BSI Transport, Doug Tait Design, Tilburg Race Engines, OCS Paint, Sayers Motor Factors, Anglo American Oil Company, Xpression Events, Knight Engine Services, A1 Transmissions, and Expertees.


Still for sale I and II.
31st January: Zane Llewellyn tells us that Steve Clutterbuck's unfinished Nostalgia dragster is still for sale. The Dragmaster replica has a mild steel chassis which really looks the part. It comes with a motor ready for building and a heap of parts.

UK Comp Eliminator racer Rob Smallworth says that rumours of the sale of his seven-second '55 Chevy are untrue. "The Old 55 is still available as turn-key or rolling", says Rob. "The new project is moving on well, and whilst Easter may be a tall order I'm looking forward to hitting the strip at some point this season.If you are interested in the'55 then please call or E-Mail... it would be good to talk."

You can find both cars under Cars For Sale on our Jeff Bull Race Engines -sponsored Swap Meet ; adverts 017281 and 017232 respectively.


Swift snippets.
31st January: Eurodragster.com sponsor Lucas Oil Products has signed up as a technical partner for the UK's Hawk Racing Fuel FC team. Mark and Jackie Hawkins' Gladiator will have Jason Phelps at the controls for the 2019 Funny Car series and other events. Gladiator will be running on Lucas 70wt Racing Oil and will use a variety of other products from the Lucas Oil additives, greases and car care ranges. These will include Assembly Lube, Brake Cleaner, plus high impact greases and items such as Slick Mist polish. "Lucas 70wt Racing Oil is a fit and forget engine protection system. With a £70,000 engine, that's a substantial cost saving over the entire season", says Jason.


Thanks to Bianca Booij for sending us the regular newsletter from The Netherlands' Pro Dutch Racing Pro Modified team. Not to worry if you can't read Dutch as Michel Tooren and team's 2019 racing schedule is easily understood. You can check it out (PDF file) by clicking here.


Thanks to Mike Collins for sending us the usual preview of his column in the latest issue of Street Machine magazine, plus bonus material exclusively for Eurodragster.com readers. Click on the images above for the PDF downloads.


Metal for the Chop.
29th January: UK Funny Bike racer Phil Crossley tells us that it's all change in the Bop Chop team for 2019:

For the last ten years we have run a nitrous Suzuki GSX, and only last year I built a much better engine with the hope of running with the best in Funny Bike, and we had only just begun to explore its potential.

But recently I had an offer I couldn't refuse: to ride something rather special in the form of the quickest and fastest blown methanol bike in the world: Bob Brooks' beautifully-engineered Yellow Metal Racing bike. Bob has had his very unique bike for sale for a while now and rather than leave it parked up any longer he very kindly asked me if I'd like to run it this season, and of course I jumped at the chance!

The bike is being checked over by Bob as we speak and in the meantime we are going to stock up on fuel and other supplies. If any fuel or oil suppliers would like to become involved with us please get in touch - a blown methanol bike is a thirsty animal! The bike will still be for sale throughout the season and hopefully someone will see it run and fancy the experience themselves.


Bob and the Yellow Metal team will be helping us run the bike for part of the season as there will be a lot for our team to take in before we can go it alone. The only similarity between our bike and Bob's is the number of wheels! The plan is to race the bike in Funny Bike class at all of the ACU rounds, and if at all possible we will run it in Top Fuel bike at the two European events at Santa Pod as well.

I can't thank Bob and the Yellow Metal team enough for the opportunity to race the bike, and I'm sure many people will be glad to see it on the track again (My hand's up - Ed) . I've always enjoyed seeing and hearing it run and spent a great deal of time admiring it in the pits!

That's not the only thing that's going to be different this year. What is to become of my own Championship-winning Funny Bike? Well, that will be getting a new rider too, and I didn't have to ask him twice. Just one phone call toComp Bike racer Dave Batcheler and he agreed to do the honors. So Dave and the Plumb Crazy team will be running it alongside me in Funny Bike. Dave is fully aware that confiscation may occur should he beat me on my ownbike...


From our "Not Mark Todd" department.
28th January: UK Gearhead Garage Super Pro ET racer and Eurodragster.com brother-in-law Tom Atkinson has been in touch to claim responsibility for
Saturday's spy picture which depicted his "New toy", aka 10s Appeal:

We picked up the Nova on Friday from shipmycar.co.uk (top service!) and I'm absolutely blown away by the build quality. It's an absolute credit to Jason who built it over in Rhode Island.


The motor is a 408ci LQ4, thirty thou over, with a K1 Technologies forged rotating assembly, Wiseco coated pistons, 11:1 CR, AFR heads, FAST LSXR intake with a 102 mm throttle body, Aeromotive fuel system, FAST XFI 2.0, hydraulic roller with Morel lifters. Behind it there's a Stage 2 4L60 manual trans backed up by a built 9" with Strange 35 spline internals with a Heidts four-link set up. Up front there's a Heidts IFS set up, with a chromoly cage/subframe tying it all together.


The plan this year is to have bit of fun at some RWYBs, Dragstalgia etc, while getting a couple of little bits and pieces sorted for competition, before hopefully entering Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator for a couple of meetings later in the year. The goal for the end of the year is to have some ten-second timing slips before perhaps turning the gas on and seeing what it can do...

No, it's not Mark Todd's!

Wagons ho!


Back on Black.
27th January: Marcus Möller writes that the comeback of Swedish Top Fuel Bike racer Rikard Gustafsson is well underway:

History was made on the Saturday of the 2018 NitrOlympX at Hockenheim when Rikard Gustafsson and Filippos Papafilippou ran the first side-by-side five-second Top Fuel Bike runs outside the USA. Rikard was the quickest and fastest with a 5.918/248 mph to Fil's 5.980/226. Due to problems with the parachute and the very high speed Rikard had to bail out of the bike when he got close to the wall in the shutdown area. The bike hit the wall and both Rikard and the bike rolled over many times before stopping. Rikard suffered a broken arm, broken ribs and lung and liver damage and was flown to hospital in Mannheim.

Rikard had a positive mindset even in hospital and plans on how to get back in business were immediately circulating between his ears. Back home in Sweden and whilst he got caught up his own company RG Engineering Black was stripped down. The frame has been straightened and repaired thanks to Michael Rawn Welding and CA Chassiworks and painted by Rikard's son Philip. Parts are being cleaned or replaced. In fact the whole long block was good to go, but pullies, belt covers, the injector hat and other parts were damaged.

There are no plans to change the set-up. "I have a lot to try out and learn about the tuning, we are taking small steps and there's still a lot left in the bike" says Rikard and Ralph agrees. There are minor changes in the fuel and pneumatic systems to make the hoses as short as possible and to involve as few couplings as possible, to reduce weight and to make the systems easier to work with. "I've reduced almost two kilogrammes on the pneumatic system", says Rikard.

When I visited the team this month Ralph and Björne were mounting the clutch and gearbox back in their proper place after cleaning and regrinding. New carbon fibre body parts are on their way from Kenneth Holmberg at Swecomposite. I guess I'm not the only one to wonder whether Rikard will use the same make of parachute.

The team have been going through a tough year with the loss of their team-mate Niklas Karlsson last Christmas, and Tony Zetterstrom injured in a motorcycle accident on vacation in Hungary about a month before Rikard's crash. I travelled to the NitrOlympX and stayed with Team RG that weekend and I must say that it was a spooky feeling going home without Rikard and with a broken bike. But today Tony is all good, Rikard is all good, Black is on its way back and the team are in very good spirits. A long comeback tour is planned!

FIM Europe Drag Bike Championships
24th-27th May: FIA/FIM Main Event, Santa Pod Raceway, England
16th-18th August: NitrOlympX, Hockenheim, Germany
5th-8th September: FIA/FIM European Finals Raceway, Santa Pod, England

EDRS Pro Nordic
6th-9th June: Tierp Arena, Sweden (NDRS MC)
5th-7th July: Kauhava, Finland (FHRA)
1st-4th August: Gardermoen Raceway, Norway (NDRG)
22nd-25th August: Tierp Arena, Sweden (NDRS MC)

Other events
29th August-1st September: Mosten Raceday, Denmark
21st-24th November: Man Cup Finals, Valdosta, USA

All dates are preliminary and can change.

Rikard would like to thank the team's sponsors RG Engineering, Swecomposite, Mangla.se, Dalhems, Sunoco, Ugglarps, SS Bärgaren AB, Bridgestone, MotoSpeed and Puma Engineering. Thank you also to Ralph, Björne, Tony, Philip and friends, and last but not least everyone that has donated via the different crowdfunds to get Black back in its former shape.

You can follow the work to get back on track on the team's Facebook page.

Pictures courtesy and ©Marcus Möller


Attention FIM Europe racers.
26th January: Job Heezen of the FIM Europe Drag Racing Commission has been in touch to ask us to draw FIM racers' attention to two important recommendations.

The first concerns crossing the centre line and can be viewed by
clicking here (PDF format).

The second concerns the use of parachutes and can be viewed by clicking here (PDF format).


2019 European Top Gas calendar.
26th January: Many thanks to Herman Jolink for forwarding us the calendar for the 2019 European Top Gas Series which was ratified at the class' annual meeting last weekend:

11th-12th May: EDRS, Malmö Raceway, Sweden
14th-16th June: Norwegian Bike Festival, Gardermoen, Norway
25th-28th July: Drag Revival, Mantorp Park, Sweden
16th-18th August: NitrOlympX, Hockenheim, Germany
30th-31st August: Mosten Race Days, Allingaboro, Denmark
20th-22nd September: DHRA Dutch Finals, Drachten, The Netherlands

The best five results will count.


Swift snippets.
26th January: Further to Monday's news item, Stefan Boman tells us that Pro Mod legend Freddy Fagerström has decided that the ultimate Thank You for the support and offers of help which he has received is to go racing this year. "Freddy is not there yet as it will take a lot of money and work but it seems that he's giving it a try", says Stefan. "Both fans and a sponsor have started a crowdfund and it has gone past the point of no return, so even though Freddy doesn't like the idea of begging he cannot stop it from happening. Micke Gullqvist has taken the heads and supercharger which were damaged on the workbench and will rebuild everything". The current plan for Stefan's poster (below left) is that it will be distributed to anyone who helps in some way.


The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com (above right) came with the words "Just another gold street car, tens are appealing...". If you know more, or if you would like to send your own spy picture, then drop us a line at editor@eurodragster.com.

We would like to say a big Happy Birthday to photo-journalist, author and all-round good egg Keith Lee. Have a great day Keith.

Our good friend, photo-journalist Steve Moxley has had his 2018 NSRA Hot Rod Drags report posted on the Eat My Ink web site at www.eatmyink.com. Moxey's report covers the Gasser Circus, Outlaw Anglia, and the Supercharged Outlaws.


FCs run the quarter at Bug Jam.
25th January: Neale Saunders of Santa Pod Raceway tells us that there will be an exciting highlight to the returning European Funny Car Series in 2019:

There will be something special for Bug Jam. At the pre-season Funny Car drivers' meeting there was a request by certain drivers to run the third round of the series over the quarter mile instead of the usual 1000-foot distance.

Kevin Kent said "Personally it's something I'm really looking forward to, there will have to be a few adjustments with the car one being a larger fuel tank, we are all running bigger fuel pumps than we did when we ran the quarter mile before so they're going to empty much quicker. Dave Bryant, tuner of Steve Ashdown's Undertaker car, said "There will have to be several tuning changes; the car is currently set to peak at the 1000 foot mark so the tune-up will have to be quite a bit different to peak at 1320 feet. We'll get round the fuel consumption issue by shortening our start line routine, this will give us enough fuel to go the extra distance. Most of the old school drivers prefer the traditional distance of the full quarter so we're pleased to see it back for this special occasion."

There is unfinished business between Funny Car and the quarter mile at Santa Pod. The four-second barrier for AA/FC remains intact, Top Fuel broke the four-second barrier back in 1998 but for one reason or another the magical Four has proved elusive for the class, John Spuffard coming closest with a 5.05 in 2009. So there will be a one-off chance for one of the four Funny Car racers to tick the box for this long-overdue landmark. Nobody doubts it can be done but will it all come together for Bug Jam? The cars are all capable of running a four in the quarter mile but who will it be? Kent, Chapman, Phelps or Ashdown? As always, Bug Jam looks like it will be a lot of fun.

If you want to see Funny Cars run the quarter at Bug Jam, tickets are available at www.eticketing.co.uk/santapodraceway.


2019 SFI Tour schedule.
23rd January: Many thanks to Jennifer Faye of the
SFI Foundation for forwarding us the full schedule for this year's SFI Recertification Tour:

Thursday 21st March: The Netherlands Please note new venue
Hotel Ibis Amsterdam Schiphol
Schipholweg 181
Bedhoevedorp 1171PK

Inspections 08:00-12:00

Friday 22nd March: Finland
FHRA HQ
Helsinki-Malmin Lentoasema
Helsinki 00700

Inspections 08:00-12:00

Saturday 23rd March: Sweden
Persåkers Speed Shop
Solbergavagen 28
Åkers Styckebruck

Inspections 12:00-17:00

Monday 25th March: UK
Bankside VIP
Santa Pod Raceway
Airfield Road
Podington
NN29 7XA

Inspections 10:00-16:00

Thanks also to Ian Marshall for originally forwarding us the details for the Santa Pod Raceway stop.


Santa Pod seek burnout demos.
23rd January: James Forster writes that Santa Pod Raceway are seeking a selection of vehicles to do some burnout demonstrations as a part of the forthcoming Stunt Fest event on Saturday 16th February:

The strip isn't open but it's an ideal opportunity to quite literally blow out the cobwebs in front of a pretty sizeable audience who appreciate nothing more than smoke and noise. We're also welcoming any racers who'd like to put their vehicles on static display for the day.

To find out more, or to get yourself booked in, please contact James on 01234 782828 or at james@santapod.com.


Green Light Pro is Go in August.
21st January: Santa Pod Raceway are pleased to announce a new heads-up class which will run exclusively at the Green Light Nationals on 17th-18th August. Green Light Pro will be open to all vehicles which comply with the GSRs and which are capable of and proven to run quicker than 7.50. James Forster writes:


With the European Championships in Hockenheim that weekend, we're offering an opportunity for some track time to those who aren't travelling abroad. It's also a unique occasion at which we hope to see some unusual match-ups. In the past we've seen some impromptu match racing at other events and it's all been more than a little entertaining. We're hoping for a real battle royale of drag racing with the class firmly aimed at any Pro Mods not travelling abroad, Nostalgia Funny Cars, Altereds, slingshots, the selection of Super Pro ET and Comp Eliminator cars at the quick end of the classes, and anything else which meets the criteria.

The format will be pretty straightforward: heads-up on a Pro tree with qualifying and eliminations.

For further information please contact Darren or myself on 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44 1234 782828),
james@santapod.com or darren@santapod.com. Entry forms will be available soon after the Riders' and Drivers' meeting.

Fagerström's involuntary flame job.
21st January: Swedish Pro Modified racer Freddy Fagerström, one of Europe's most popular racers in any class, suffered a devastating workshop fire at the weekend. Photo-journalist Stefan Boman went to visit Freddy this afternoon and kindly let us know what he found when he got to the shop:

No-one was there when it happened. A lightweight battery which was charged three days ago looks to have exploded or at least was a big part of what happened.


The race car and the hot rod which Freddy uses as a tow vehicle are intact. The truck looked beaten-up anyway, now it looks more beaten-up! Everything else the transporter and trailer, the spares - is badly damaged. Some heads on the bench are probably destroyed, the workbench melted. The motors are full of water. Everything is black, dirty, rusty, oily and smelly. I went inside the trailer and pulled open a drawer and soot had found its way in there. Right now racing is out of the question.


Freddy had a man cave upstairs with pinball machines and a pool table and that was all totally destroyed. There is a big hole in the ceiling above the battery's location.


Freddy has a big group helping him, they need to empty the place out then decide what can be kept and what has to be thrown out. The plan is to bring in a tunnel cleaning machine to blast everything with water to clean it but first what is left of the upper floor has to come out.

Freddy is very strongly of the opinion that he doesn't want charity and doesn't want to beg people to give him money, so he has no intention of starting his own crowd-funding page. There may be a t-shirt or a poster or other merchandise for sale during the 2019 season to try to help him return tocompetition.

Pictures courtesy and ©Stefan Boman .


SPRC Perpetual Awards vote closing.
20th January: If you have not already placed your votes for the
Santa Pod Racers Club Perpetual Awards then you need to get a wiggle on as voting closes at 23:59 tonight (Sunday, 00:59 European Monday).

Categories are Most Promising Newcomer, Best Appearing Car, Best Appearing Bike, Most Profesional Appearing Team and the James Edgar Memorial Trophy and you can vote for any or all of these categories.

Nominations are also being accepted for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, which is awarded for contribution to drag racing. There is no shortlist for the Alex Brachtvogel award and 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.

To check out the shortlists and place your votes, or to submit a nomination for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, visit the official SPRC Perpetual Awards voting page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the SPRC Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.


Outlaws sent to Coventry.
19th January: 2018 Outlaw Anglia Champion Colin Millar writes that the class are getting ready for their annual Christmas Party (sic) in Coventry next Saturday (26th):

It's a long time to be parted from each other as it's a pretty close group of people who get on very well and at this time of the year everyone really looks forward to getting back together for a catch up and a great time. Who has been active with upgrades over the winter, what new cars are being built, what are everyone's goals for the new season ahead, and who hasn't even looked at his car since it got put in the trailer!

Its strange to see everyone dressed up and raring to go even if it does start midday Saturday, however often this is a very different image by three the next morning!

We manage to pack a lot into one night with a drivers' meeting ensuring that topics which are important to individuals and the group can be discussed openly and that we continue to develop and grow this fantastic group of people and cars, the trophy presentation with a few new trophies this year which I'm sure are eagerly awaiting their new recipients, and let's find out who will win the prestigious Best First Round Elimination Reaction Time trophy averaged over three events - the NSRA Nostalgia Nationals, Dragstalgiaand the NSRA Hot Rod Drags. All of this and good food followed by a great night of socialising and dancing with a few drinks into the wee hours with a few casualties along the way (cooooome on the Benders).

Again this year we will be raising funds through our raffle for the Air Ambulance Service - please folks, bring along something you would like to put in the raffle to make it as good as it can be - which is something we would hope to have available if anyone of our drag racing community was ever in need.

Before we know it we will all be back at the track real soon and all the Outlaw Anglia guys and girls wish every team, crew, marshal the very best for 2019 with a fast and safe year. Fingers crossed for good weather, new PBs and happiness. See you all soon!


Drag racing on TV.
17th January: A reminder, with thanks to Helen Todd of
Zeon TV for letting us know originally, that European Championship drag racing is to be shown on TV this weekend.

The coverage is of the FIA/FIM Main Event and European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway and will be on Frontrunner TV, Sky channel 431 and Freesat channel 250, at 17:00 this Saturday (19th).

As with The Doorslammers, these are highlights programmes. The fuller event DVDs are of course available from Zeon TV at www.quartermilehigh.com.


2019 FIM rules posted.
16th January: Thanks to Job Heezen of the FIM Europe Drag Racing Commission for letting us know that the rules for the 2019 FIM Europe Drag Racing Championships are available on the FIM web site at
www.fim-europe.com/drag-bike. "Please make sure that you read the rules before the season starts", says Job.

FIM Europe racers are also invited to the Commission's Facebook page where questions and ideas can be discussed.


Heads-Up! It's the VWDRC.
15th January:
Volkswagen Drag Racing Club Chair Luke Stevenson says that the Club is to trial a Heads-Up class in 2019 and that all VW group cars are invited:

The VWDRC has been around for over thirty years now and we have always fielded bracket racing classes. Back in the 1990s we used to dabble in a little heads-up fun featuring the Quick Eight, but after that it was back to the handicapped racing.

There have always been members of the VW community asking for heads-up racing open to all VWs, and we accept that Bracket is not for everyone. Last year the return of the Doorslammers event ignited the fire for many more. With the recent closures of UK drag racing venues a lot of racers have time on their hands but the will to race, so what else could we do but offer them the opportunity.

We will be trialling a new Heads-Up class at three events at Santa Pod Raceway during 2019:

GTI Spring Festival, 14th April
Das Auto Show, 2nd June
GTI Festival, 6th October

NAS Events and Santa Pod have very kindly allowed us to run these simulations at the lifestyle events aimed at our clientele and we cannot wait to put on a show for them.

Now, being the VWDRC we not only accept VWs but the whole Volkswagen Audi Group family which gives us a very wide variety of vehicles available to come to race. If you have an eleven-second or quicker Doorslammer from the VAG range, running a VAG-based engine, then you are welcome in this class.

Creating rules for a class which features FWD, RWD and 4WD, fast daily drivers to all-out tube chassis cars will be a nightmare. But for now it is pretty relaxed and almost anything goes. Since we are always told "I don't care if I'm fast enough, I just want to race heads-up" we are going to test that.

As always thank you to Eurodragster.com who also plan to be in attendance for each round to provide coverage and webcast (Thanks, hopefully see you there - Ed) .

For more information on entry criteria, fees and regulations head to the Q&A; at www.vwdrc.com/headsup.php.

VWDRC Heads Up, we're calling you out!


Autosport International report.
14th January: After a day on the sick bed we have now posted our Friday report from Autosport International. You can check out our report, which is presented in association with John Woolfe Racing, by clicking here. The interim gallery is still in place and can be checked out by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

SPRC Perpetual Awards vote 5.
13th January: Santa Pod Racers Club and Eurodragster.com are again teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the
SPRC Perpetual Awards, which will be presented at the SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation in February 2019.

For several of the 2018 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 Committee decides upon their winners.

This week's category, the final, is the James Edgar Memorial Trophy.

The James Edgar Memorial Trophy is awarded for outstanding performance by a Crew Chief, tuner, racer/tuner, or crew member. The SPRC Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order, is as follows:

Frank Brachtvogel (Supertwin)
Vote for Frank Brachtvogel

Barry Eastman and Mick Hand (Funny Bike)
Vote for Barry Eastman and Mick Hand

Stefan Schmidt (Comp Bike/Super Street Bike)
Vote for Stefan Schmidt

Joe Stevens (Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator)
Vote for Joe Stevens

Bob Wallace Snr (Pro Modified)
Vote for Bob Wallace

Duncan Wilson (Lucas Oil Junior Dragster)
Vote for Duncan Wilson

To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official Perpetual Awards voting page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the SPRC Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
©Eurodragster.com
The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, for which nominations 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 Eurodragster.com Pit Reporter and UK National Championship Points Co-ordinator Simon Groves. Again see the official page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to ar@eurodragster.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. 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. We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. If in any doubt about what constitutes canvassing then please drop us a line at ar@eurodragster.com.

Additionally, if anyone should have issues with the content of any of the shortlists then please contact SPRC direct rather than E-Mailing Eurodragster.com or commenting on social media. E-Mails to Eurodragster.com regarding the content of the shortlists will receive neither a reply nor any other acknowledgement.


Autosport International gallery.
13th January: Our Autosport International report has been delayed due to illness but will be posted later today. In the meantime we have posted a gallery which is presented in association with John Woolfe Racing, and which you can check out by clicking here.

Doorslammers on TV tomorrow.
11th January: Many thanks to Helen Todd of
Zeon TV for letting us know that UK drag racing is to be shown on TV this weekend, and again next weekend.

The coverage will be on Frontrunner TV, Sky channel 431 and Freesat channel 250.

The Redzone.bet Doorslammers is to be shown at 17:00 tomorrow (Saturday) and the FIA/FIM Main Event next Saturday, 19th, with the FIA/FIM European Finals immediately afterwards. Repeats will be shown during the following week; keep an eye on your Electronic Programme Guide for schedules.

Helen tells us that these are highlight programmes, with commentaries by Bryn Lucas and Darryl Bradford. The fuller event DVDs are of course available from Zeon TV at www.quartermilehigh.com.


Jedborn to drive StigO TMD.
11th January: Sweden's Stig Olsson Racing have acquired a Top Methanol Dragster from Stefan Gunnarsson and will campaign it at selected events this season with successful Comp Eliminator racer Daniel Jedborn in the driving seat. The car will continue to run as an A/Fueller.

"The schedule for the first year is FIA Championship races in Sweden and Finland", says Stig. "An agreement has been reached to collaborate with Jonny Lagg's team to share information. The legendary Krister Johansson will assist with the tune-up."

Stig adds that he will continue to race his Comp dragster in the USA.


Swift snippets.
11th January: Perfect Light Award sponsor Cath Napier asked us to say a big Happy Birthday and Happy 28th Wedding Anniversary for today (Friday) to Modurstang Pro ET racer, occasional Hutchinson & Dibley Sportsman ET racer and Perfect Light Award sponsor Tig Napier. Have a great day Tig. Happy Birthday, also for today, to Mikey Durbridge; have a great day Mikey.

Autosport attractions.
11th November: Eurodragster.com will be attending Autosport International today and we will bring you our report in association with John Woolfe Racing tomorrow, but if you are going to Autosport International yourself tomorrow or Sunday then you will be able to find the joint Santa Pod Raceway/Lucas Oil Products stand in Hall 2, stand 2680.

Eurodragster.com sponsor Lucas Oil Products UK will have representatives on hand to explain the company's extensive range of automotive lubricants, treatments, additives and ancillary products, with a selection of products on sale. Representing Lucas Oil will be the Ford Capri-bodied Nostalgia Funny Car of veteran racer Bob Glassup.


Centrepiece of the stand will be the Santa Pod-branded FireForce 3, the world's fastest Jet Funny Car. Owner-driver Martin Hill and his crew will be on hand to explain the intricacies of the Pratt and Whitney J60 jet engine. And as an appropriate coincidence, Martin will be celebrating thirty years of the FireForce brand with the original FireForce Jet Funny Car first débuting in 1989.

As featured in yesterday's news update, Serck Motorsport are hosting Mark Todd's new street-legal ride as well as a restored 1965 Mustang 350GT. Reigning ACU UK Funny Bike Champion Lorcan Parnell can be found sans bike working his day job on the Speed Ministry stand in Hall 4 (4650) whilst Wayne Jackson will be working on the stand of Brad Jackson Racing sponsor HRX in Hall 2 (2364). Jim Kelly can be found promoting his book Fuelin' Around, reviewed here on Eurodragster.com News on Monday, on stand 1646 in Hall 1. Jim tells us that his first sale of the Show, at the first Trade and Press Day yesterday, was to someone who told him that they had read about the book on Eurodragster.com. Whoever you are: thank you, much appreciated.

If you are attending today's second Trade and Press Day then you will be able to find Scott Hauser's Super Pro ET Dragster and Robin Read's blown-nitro Daimler-powered dragster in Autosport Engineering together with a Camel-liveried Nostalgia circuit car owned by former Super Pro ET racer Dave Ward.


The Appeal of Autosport.
10th January: Graham Smith says that the
Serck Motorsport stand at Autosport International will be hosting two very special cars:

The first is a 1965 Mustang 350GT which has undergone a full ground-up restoration by Hot Rod Technologies, and which features a Serck Motorsport cooling system and FiTech Fuel Injection also by Serck. The second is Mark Todd's reworked street-legal Aston Martin Vantage named 6 Appeal.


6 Appeal's body is genuine aluminium 1989 Aston Martin. The 568ci (9.3 litre) motor has been built by EDA and features an all-aluminium water-cooled New Century block with six bolt mains, EPD fourteen degree spread port heads with titanium valves and locks and PAC springs. The cam was custom-ground to our specs. There are .904 Morel lifters, Smith Brother push rods, Jessel 1.75 rockers, GRP Rods and custom Diamond pistons.

The power adder is a 118 mm Precision Gen3 turbo, Chiseled Performance charge cooler, Mike's Transmissions Extreme Monster Glide, TH400 output shaft rated at 3000 hp. The 9.5" rear axle has 40 spline gun drilled shafts.

The ECU is FuelTech FT600, the injectors Atomiser 500lb/hr. Serck Motorsport provided twin bespoke radiators and oil cooler pack. Hoses are Racinglines Supalite.

Estimated power is 2800+ hp.

Eurodragster.com will be attending Autosport International tomorrow (Friday) and we will be sure to go to take a look at both cars. If you are going to Autosport yourself then you will be able to find Serck Motorsport at stand 2342 in Hall 2.


First Fireforce for sale.
10th January: Nick Haywood says that the original Fireforce Jet Funny Car is for sale. The car suffered a fire at the Flame and Thunder Show at Santa Pod Raceway several years ago but Nick has worked to put it back together:

The chassis is sound, with some updates to the main driver safety cell. The engine has been rebuilt using a perfect compressor and turbine, an immaculate combustion liner was imported from AU. I assembled the engine with good casings and new stator vanes. Fuel nozzles are flow checked, and new, bearings like new. Power take off gearbox is complete plus one in bits, three fuel control pumps, one striped. Two perfect oil pumps and a good starter motor.

The fuel tanks and oil tank are new, the afterburner is as it was and good to go. The afterburner control/valve block is sound but a new pump will be needed. I have three igniter boxes tested, some fuel fittings but no hose.

At the time had a BMW M1 body shell and if you take a look at the pictures on the car's Facebook page you can see what I was going for. I think someone else needs to take this project on. The Nostalgia scene is growing in the UK and this is a huge part of that !

I would like £15,000 for all that I have but will consider offers, feel free to call me on 07710 813999 or 01242 234418.


FAO UK Junior Drag Bike racers.
9th January:
Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall has been in touch with an update for UK Junior Drag Bike racers:

Following meetings and lengthy consultation with the ACU to discuss a a request that the UK Junior Drag Bike regulations be aligned with the current FIM Europe Junior Drag Bike rules, the ACU have taken the decision to leave the ACU engine capacity (CC) limits as they are.

The ACU felt that UK competitors were under no particular disadvantage at present, but they would look again at the regulations at the end of the 2019 season if the level of the playing field changes to the detriment of UK racers.

Therefore engine capacities in Junior Drag Bike will remain as per the ACU specification for UK licence holders in 2019.


As used in your daily ride...
9th January: Multiple FIM European Top Fuel Bike Champion Ian King writes that the Gulf Oil Drag Racing Top Fuel Motorcycle was recently the subject of a technical article compiled by one of their team of blue chip technical partners,JE Pistons.

You can take a look at the article on Dragbike.com.

The world record-holding and multiple Championship-winning machine is also notable for the amazing fact that that it exclusively uses off-the-shelf consumer oil such as that used in everyday road vehicles to lubricate the outstanding 1500+ hp engine, as described in the article: "Oiling is also of primary concern in the engine, and it is no surprise that the team uses lubricants and greases from their primary sponsor, Gulf Oil. What is surprising is that the oil is a standard road vehicle lubricant freely available from any Gulf gas station in Europe: Gulf Max 20W50. King selected this oil after running extensive comparison tests."

Further information on Gulf Oil products can be found at www.gulfoilltd.com.


New VP fuels at Autosport.
9th January: Eurodragster.com sponsor VP Racing Fuels will introduce four new fuels products at this week's Autosport International Show at the NEC in Birmingham.

"Last year we débuted our very popular R5 and RX102 fuels but our R&D department has come up with some very impressive new fuel products for 2019, and we're proud to introduce them on 10th January at VP's stand #2787" said Peter Coleman, VP's Business Development Consultant, Europe.

X85L is an 85% Ethanol 15% Hydrocarbon racing fuel with a lead additive package to increase octane and the lubricity of the fuel. X14 is a non-oxygenated leaded general purpose racing fuel that is economically priced, and a good choice for any number of racing applications, including 598-615 cubic inch naturally aspirated big bracket engines and NHRA Super Comp and Super Gas racing. X14 has a MON of 112 for compression ratios up to 15:1.

VP Eco96 is an unleaded, oxygenated off-road racing fuel made specifically for Ecotec engines or other applications that can run low octane fuel. With the fuel's unique chemical properties, VP Eco96 prevents vapour lock in the extreme heat of desert racing better than pump gas and standard types of race fuel.

VP UTV96 is specifically built for the UTV market and increases performance in both naturally aspirated engines as well as turbocharged engines and is great for all makes of UTVs. By outperforming standard pump gas as it pertains to the fuel's boiling point, UTV96 reduces the chance of harmful vapour locking in long, hot desert races and recreational outings.

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


UK Championships points change.
8th January:
Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall says that, following confirmation from Motorsport UK (previously MSA), Santa Pod Racers Club can now award Championship points to all foreign drivers who compete in the UK Championships:

In previous years we were able to accept entries through the NCAFP system but without the ability to award Championships points, per MSA regulations at the time. This has now changed, and allows us to provide racers who have the correct licence and authorisation from their own ASN (governing body) to come and compete for our UK Championships. We look forward to seeing many more drivers taking up the challenge here in the UK.

This brings UK car classes into line with UK bike classes which already permit foreign riders to earn UK Championship points.

If you have any queries then you can contact Ian at ir.marshall@btconnect.com or call 01933 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625).


2019 FIA Championship rules posted.
8th January: Many thanks to Frans Steilberg for letting us know that the complete set of regulations for the 2019 FIA European Drag Racing Championships are now available on the FIA web site at www.fia.com/regulation/category/101.

Changes to the rules are highlighted in yellow.


Discounted DFDS ferry rates continue.
8th January: Santa Pod Raceway are delighted to announce the continuation of its partnership with DFDS for the 2019 season. This means that racers can continue to enjoy greatly discounted rates on ferry travel to and from Europe via the DFDS cross channel routes, Dover to Calais and Dunkirk.

Bookings can be made by downloading the new 2019 booking form, click here. This form will also be available on the SPRC web site.

Booking requests must be sent to theresa.herbert@dfds.comand copied to dover.rates@dfds.com and the DFDS team will take care of the reservations. Please note that bookings will not be accepted on the 2018 booking form.


Book review: Fuelin' Around.
7th January: However onerous you may think your day job is, I bet you could tell some funny stories about it. Your News Editor's day job title of "Swinger" writes its own jokes, and from his twenty one years of Eurodragster.com experiences he can tell unprompted of the Beefeater waitress who brought a fruit salad, looked down at Your News Editor and said "This won't be yours", Spencer Tramm offering to fetch a paramedic after Your News Editor was rendered unable to breathe for laughing at a cloth-eared diva, and the still-unsolved sabotage of the Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association theme music, to name but three.
Jim Kelly's book Fuelin' Around A Fast-Paced Life in Motorsports, which recounts his several years helping to build Eurodragster.com sponsor VP Racing Fuels to take on and beat the Big Names, contains its fair share of amusing anecdotes and, I would imagine, will forever be the only book about selling race fuel to contain the phrase "Put that dildo down".

Fuelin' Around is a very neat summation of the American Dream of hard work and the freedom to do it your own way being rewarded with success, not just in America but on our side of the Pond and elsewhere. Even before working for VP Racing Fuels Jim's career had its moments, such as supplying Super Stock and Drag Illustrated magazine with photographs, race reports and ultimately earning his own column. Luckily Your space cadet News Editor has known and liked Jim for some years so has long forgiven him for a doubly-enviable photo session with one of Sammy Millers Vanishing Point Rocket Funny Cars at Cape Canaveral. From the book it is clear that Jim could have, in fact did for a while, gone into the family Funeral Director business and he also had thoughts about law enforcement but if he had then one wonders which company might have won the deals to supply various race series including European drag racing with spec fuel.

One could charitably be forgiven for expecting Fuelin' Around to be a Match Race Madness for our time but it isn't; in fact Your News Editor ultimately felt a bit dumb for thinking it would be. Given that the main subject of the book is how VP Racing Fuels was built up from small beginnings there are a lot of serious stories about serious people and situations from all branches of motorsport not just drag racing, thoughts and practical examples of what constitutes good management and appreciation of colleagues, and an insight into Jim's personal life. There are of course a number of colourful characters and deliciously off-colour anecdotes which would not be out of place in the legendary drag racing book, and to be honest it's not at all surprising that those anecdotes involve grown men, race fuel, fire and, naturally, guns. Fuelin' Around also includes some tales the like of which which are not in Match Race Madness such as management diktats about cleavage depth and a fetish magazine featuring a goat being held possibly responsible for an in-flight defibrillation incident.

Serious or amusing, Jim's writing style is very easy to read, down-to-earth, frank and BS-free. Given the current despicable trend for being offended by the slightest thing, usually imaginary or an excuse for pathetic attention-seeking, it is refreshing to read an author telling it how it is in the vernacular. You know that an anecdote is well-written if you can hear the author talking as you read it, and this is the case throughout the book. So pleasurable is the book to read, in fact, and so unputdownable, that Your News Editor read the whole volume in two sittings, the second ending in the small hours.

Fuelin' Around is available right now on Amazon at £9.99. If you are going to Autosport International this week then you will be able to meet Jim in person and pick up a copy at stand 1646 in Hall 1. Tell him that Eurodragster.com sent you.


Gulf Oil team shine in USA.
6th January: Following their success in securing an outstanding eleventh FIM European Top Fuel Bike Championship with new rider Filippos Papafilippou from Greece, the team rounded off their season with a successful return to the US with former rider and continuing Team Principal Ian King in the seat for the MFC World Finals.

Longtime team supporters John and Dea Morgan Racing of Palm Desert California joined Gulf Oil with support from Joe Koenig of Trim Tex, Jay Regan of MRE and Wayne and Donna Pingel of Pingel Enterprises to ensure that the team made the most of the opportunity to race at the World Finals at South Georgia Motorsport Park in South Georgia, the final leg of the Manufacturers Cup season. The event hosted more than eight hundred drag bikes from over the world, from Aruba, Norway, Finland, Sweden, the UK, Greece, India, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Puerto Rico, and Canada and many contestants, as well as fans, from the USA.

The team were eager to continue their successful season and set about tackling the tune for the all-concrete surface. However, it proved to be a tough task for all racers running slick tyres as the seemingly excessive use of track compound to aid the performances for the well-supported Pro Street class proved a huge challenge for those with wide and flat tyres. Issues pushing back after the burnout and staging afflicted most of the slick and bar classes and caught out the Gulf Oil team more than most, as they were used to the more general application used at the combined car and motorcycle events at which they compete in Europe.

Despite the challenge the team ended up qualifying in the top half of the elimination ladder, but with the most challenging route to the final of Pingel Top Fuel. In the first round of eliminations Ian overcame Top Fuel veteran and US number two Sam Wills with a fine 5.89/232, whilst Championship hopeful Dave Vantine was on the wrong end of a frantic pedal-fest against Sverre Dahl of Norway as they both lost traction for the entire quarter mile. Chris Hand similarly ended up with a loss against Mitch Brown who overcame Chris right at the finish. David Vantine's challenger for the US Championship title Larry 'Spider-Man' McBride benefitted from a bye run which was fortunate for the Champion-elect as he also suffered traction problems.

In the semi-finals Ian ran yet another five-second pass to take out McBride with a fine 5.95/225.33 as Larry struck the tyre on the launch and idled down the track. In the other round matchup Mitch Brown ran a 6.43/219 to prevail over the other visiting European team of Sverre Dahl.

However, the Gulf Oil team's consistent five-second performance was halted abruptly in the final round. After the team made a quick turn-round to make the final run in warm conditions they then waited patiently for the Brown and Bradley team to finalise their preparations. Further delay was encountered in the staging area before the track officials gave the belated signal to run but strangely without the usual track sweeping and dragging and with dew starting to form on the track. Once again the team struggled to push back from the burnout and when Ian 'bunny hopped' into pre-stage, as he was unable to push the bike with his feet in the normal method, he was unaware that his rear tyre had wound up as he tried to keep out of full stage: the tyre contact patch stuck to the track, but the wall wrinkling up like a spring. As Ian looked down and released the brake to enact the idle up valve the bike inadvertently sprung forward into full stage and the Tree immediately ran whilst King was still preparing. In any case the track conditions by then were marginal and he lost traction almost immediately whilst Mitch Brown made a great full pass of 6.20 seconds to take the win.

After an almost fairy-tale ending a philosophical Ian said "What a great year! After Fil exceeded expectations to secure his first and our team's eleventh FIM European Championship, to then make the final of the MFC World Finals after a year out of the race saddle was the icing on the cake. It is testament to my great crew of Michael Beaumont, Marius van der Zijden, Martin Brookman, Nick Pepper, Debbie King and the US support team of Andy 'H' Smith, John Morgan, Michael Woods, Randy Rannberg, John Edwards and Scott and Michelle Perri Roethemeier that we were able to perform so consistently all year and on two continents. I would like to thank Fast Fil, Gulf Oil, John and Deanna Morgan, Joe Koenig, Andrew 'H' Smith and Jay Regan and our fantastic technical partners who have made this year and this specific event so successful for the team".

For more information on the Gulf Oil Dragracing team please visit their web site at www.gulfoildragracing.com, their Facebook page, and their YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/kingracingpuma. For more information about Gulf Oil International please visit their web site at www.gulfoilltd.com.

The Gulf Oil Dragracing team uses and endorses exclusively Gulf Oil greases and lubricants in their history making machine. The team is extremely proud to be supported by many leaders in their chosen markets in their participation in the 2018 FIM European Championship:

APE - The world's most innovative manufacturer of aftermarket parts for drag bikes
Barnsdale Leisure - The UK's Premier Knaus Caravan dealer
Cometic Gaskets - The premier manufacturer of racing gaskets
Dometic - mobile living made easy
Gates - The world's most trusted name in drive belts, hoses and hydraulics
Goodridge - The original and the best in fluid transfer systems
Grand Prix Originals - The brand for drive and lifestyle, past and present
Graphite Additive Manufacturing - A leader in 3D printed technologies and rapid prototyping
Gulf Oil International - The world's most iconic brand in automotive fuels and lubricants
H Craft Customs - Race car preparation, roll cages, fabrication and custom projects
Hotrod Hangar- Home of the world renowned custom artist Knud Tiroch
Hyperpro - The leading producer of progressive suspension products for motor bikes
JE Pistons - The world's premier manufacturer of high performance forged pistons
John and Dea Morgan Racing - The creators of the world's most advanced New Age Funny Bike
Kibblewhite Precision Machining, Inc -The highest quality valve train components on the market
Mickey Thompson Tyres - Simply the best drag race tyres in the world
Moto-Trek - The fun of the open road, the luxury of home life
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
NGK Spark Plugs UK - The world's number one spark plug manufacturer
Pär Willen - Master webmeister and proprietor of HarleyDrags.com
Scott Perri Trucking - Logistics solutions par excellence
Portable Shade - The best custom branded collapsible canopies available
Pro Alloy Motorsport - UK's leader in fabrication of alloy racing tanks, intercoolers and radiators
Rose and Company - The UK's largest importer and stockist of Thule RV products
Trim-Tex - The premier manufacturer of vinyl drywall beads and accessories
Tryka LED - The UK's cutting edge LED lighting manufacturer
Van Es mobility - The leading manufacturer of telematic products for management of moving objects
Vanson Leathers - The most iconic brand in motorsport leather goods
Web Camshafts Inc - Simply the company for Top Fuel Bike camshafts
Worldwide Bearings - The world's leading supplier of ceramic bearings for racing
Zodiac - Europe's largest supplier of performance and aftermarket HD parts


Swift snippets.
6th January: The seasonal breather having ended, postings have resumed to our Jeff Bull Race Engines-sponsored Swap Meet. Amongst items now up for sale are an ex-Jonas Staflund Funny Car body, a Comp Eliminator dragster, and a number of Fire Up and European Dragster magazines. You can go shopping by clicking here or by clicking on the Jeff Bull Swap Meet link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

Our good friend, photo-journalist Steve Moxley has had Redline Rumble ACU, Outlaw Anglia, Gasser Circus and Supercharged Outlaws reports posted on the Eat My Ink web site at www.eatmyink.com.

Another good buddy, Remco Scheelings, is continuing his series of Features on the Drag Racing Europe Blog with his latest victim returning Top Methanol FC racer Johnny Oksa. You can check out Remco's Feature by clicking here.

We would like to say a big Happy Birthday to former FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion and forever European quarter mile ET record holder Andy Carter. Have a great day Andy.


SPRC Perpetual Awards vote 4.
5th January: Santa Pod Racers Club and Eurodragster.com are again teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the
SPRC Perpetual Awards, which will be presented at the SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation in February 2019.

For several of the 2018 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 Committee decides upon their winners.

This week's category is Most Professional-Appearing Team.

The 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 is as follows:

Bandit 1 (Harley Coulsell, Lucas Oil Junior Dragster)
Vote for Bandit 1

Banshee Racing (Mick Taylor, Outlaw Anglia and Frankie and Freddie Taylor, Lucas Oil Junior Dragster)
Vote for Banshee Racing

Matthew Dowdy (OCS/Gravitas HR Lucas Oil Junior Dragster)
Vote for Matthew Dowdy

Lucky Devil Drag Racing (Wayne Nicholson, Pro Modified)
Vote for Lucky Devil Drag Racing

McDonald Motorsport (Liam McDonald, Lucas Oil Junior Dragster)
Vote for McDonald Motorsport

Sales-i/CW Motorsport (Craig Wright, Super Comp)
Vote for CW Motorsport

To place your vote, either use the links above or go to the official Perpetual Awards voting page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the SPRC Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
©Eurodragster.com
The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, for which nominations 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 Eurodragster.com Pit Reporter and UK National Championship Points Co-ordinator Simon Groves. Again see the official page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to ar@eurodragster.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. 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. We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. If in any doubt about what constitutes canvassing then please drop us a line at ar@eurodragster.com.

Additionally, if anyone should have issues with the content of any of the shortlists then please contact SPRC direct rather than E-Mailing Eurodragster.com or commenting on social media. E-Mails to Eurodragster.com regarding the content of the shortlists will receive neither a reply nor any other acknowledgement.

The final voting category, to be posted next weekend, will be the James Edgar Memorial Trophy.


2019 SPRC Dinner Dance reminder.
5th January: Yvonne Tramm has been in touch with a reminder that Friday 25th January is the deadline for bookings for the Santa Pod Racers Club Dinner Dance and Trophy Evening which will take place on Saturday 2nd February at the De Vere Staverton Park Hotel, Daventry Road, Staverton, Daventry, NN11 6JT (map).

The event will present Champions and runners-up in the 2018 UK National Drag Racing Championship, MSA British Drag Racing Championship, Santa Pod Racers Club Championship (for Pro Modified, Comp Eliminator and the bike classes not covered in the UK National Championship) and SPRC Perpetual Award winners.

The arrangements are as follow:

Proceedings will start prompt at 6:00 pm; please be seated by 5.45 pm. There will be trophy presentations to the 2018 SPRC Champions and runners-up followed by a charity game with proceeds going to Bloodwise. Any latecomers will be able to collect their trophies after the first set of presentations.

Dinner will be served at 6.45 pm.

After dinner, the 2018 UK National Champions and runners-up will be presented with their trophies, followed by the 2018 MSA British Drag Racing Championship, and finally the 2018 SPRC Perpetual Award winners.

Tickets for the Dinner Dance are £37.50 per adult and £20 for under-twelves, which includes a three course meal plus tea/coffee and mints. The main meal for children will be chicken nuggets and chips followed by ice cream; please choose a starter for your child and please also specify on the booking form that it is for a child.

If you are booking more than two seats then please list name and menu choices for each member of your party on the back of the booking form. If you have any special dietary requirements then please inform Yvonne at trammyd5@gmail.com and she will include them on the menu selection list for the hotel. Please do not approach the hotel yourself regarding special dietary requests.

You can download the booking form (PDF) by clicking here. If you wish to pay direct to the SPRC bank account please contact Yvonne Tramm for bank details at trammyd5@gmail.com. Please note that SPRC are unable to take payments using American Express cards. Booking forms should be sent to Yvonne Tramm at the address specified on the form and not to the SPRC office.

SPRC have negotiated a preferential rate for rooms in the hotel. These are £79 for a single room and £89 for a double or a twin room, including breakfast on Sunday morning. To book your room, please call the hotel on 01327 220676 quoting reference SANT020219. Please do not try to book your room on-line as the electronic reservations system has been told that the entire hotel is booked for that evening, so your attempt at reservation will fail. Please note that SPRC have block-booked a number of rooms which will be available until 31st December after which date any rooms not taken up will be put into general availability and the preferential rate will cease.

If you have any queries about the Dinner Dance then please contact Yvonne Tramm, not the SPRC office, at trammyd5@gmail.com.


Prefects and Anglias, oh my.
5th January: Nigel Taylor has been in touch with the latest news from the Detroit Spinner and Acute Angle pits:

Steve Summer of Poole in Dorset has been busy on the Detroit Spinner, redoing some of the chassis,wiring and interior on the Nostalgic Prefect. He has rebuilt a BBC 496 motor and a TH400 gearbox ready to power the Prefect hopefully into the tens - the 496 has run 8.48 previously.The Spinner should look much the same on the outside as previous, as a credit to Arthur Bonner, it's just been altered to suit Steve's needs. Steve has done an excellent job and is excited to have his trusty crewman Nick Bathe back on board with him.

Steve has sold his arms and legs, his neighbours' pets and his grandma to fund his new passion, but is looking forward to running the Prefect in anger in 2019. If you would like to be involved in a bit of drag racing history then send Steve a message via the Detroit Spinner Racing Facebook group to see how you can join the sponsorship fund .

Paul Dale and the Acute Angle 105E Anglia had an excellent season, ending up fourth in the Supercharged Outlaws in 2018. The engine and gearbox are out for a winter rebuild! Paul will be experimenting with the nitrous system in 2019 and a new set of wheelie bars will be added. He is hoping to get theAnglia down into the mid-eights.

Paul would like to thank all the Supercharged Outlaw posse and all of his family for the support and scares they provide .

If you have a passion for 100Es then the new 100E Challenge is taking place at Santa Pod Raceway this year. It will be contested over five rounds:

6th-7th April: The Fast Show
10th-12th May: NSRA Nostalgia Nationals
15th-16th June: The Retro Show
12th July: Dragstalgia (Friday)
13th-15th September: NSRA Hot Rod Drags

For more information on joining in with your 100E, or if you just want to follow the action, then get in touch with Scott Collin or Sean Pop Doyle via the Modified Ford 100E Facebook page where you will also find merchandise available for what is looking to be an exciting group of cars.


2019 UK Riders' and Drivers' Meeting.
4th January: Many thanks to
Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall for letting us know that the 2019 UK Riders' and Drivers' Meeting will take place at 13:00 on Sunday 24th February at the Hilton Hotel at Collingtree, on the eastbound A45 just off Junction 15 of the M1 (postcode NN4 0XW, map).

Items to be discussed include the calendars for the UK Championships, rule changes, event entry fees, pitside power fees and prize funds, as well as Any Other Business.

If members have items for the agenda then please send them in writing to Ian at ir.marshall@btconnect.com by close on Friday 15th February. Please note that if you wish to have your agenda item discussed then you must attend the meeting. If you have any queries then you can call Ian on 01933 313625.

The Riders' and Drivers' Meeting will be followed at 15:30 by the SPRC Annual General Meeting, which is open to SPR members only.


No 2019 races at York, refunds planned.
1st January: After eighteen months of negotiations with the landowner at Melbourne Airfield, York Raceway has still not reached agreeable terms and the York Raceway management team now feel that they are not able to move forward in such a way which will see the promotion of a full season of racing in 2019. As such, York Raceway now considers it appropriate to refund all sponsorships and donations at this time. The PDRC (custodians of all monies donated by individuals) have agreed that they will also be returning donations at this point. All monies raised through on-line crowd funding will be donated to drag racing-related charities as previously outlined.

York Raceway's solicitors have been engaged in negotiating terms for a lease which would ensure that drag racing continues at Melbourne Airfield for the next ten years. Although this has proved problematic, York Raceway are in receipt a Letter of Intent from the land-owners stating "We have provisions within our lease with TMD Friction UK Ltd to grant a sub-lease for the use of Melbourne Airfield as a drag racing venue" and that "We believe in the future of drag racing in the UK and that Melbourne Airfield can play a vital part of that future". Negotiations with potential large investors are ongoing and the management at York Raceway remain confident that drag racing will return to Melbourne Airfield, just not within the timescales which were initially indicated.

Chris Murty, Track Manager for York Raceway, said "We would like to thank everyone that has supported us in the last eighteen months, those who have worked with us giving their time and who have been and remain committed to securing drag racing at Melbourne in the future, all those people who donated what they could no matter how big or small, and all of our sponsors for their commitment to York Raceway and drag racing in the UK."

York Raceway is sponsored by ADImages, ADT Fabrication Services, Anderson Hydraulics, Aqua Detailing, Behemoth Enterprises, Blacks Solicitors LLP, CRD Performance, Darkside Developments, Elysion Ltd, Engine Data Analysis, Evil Tuning, G-Rperformance, Lucas Oil, Mac Tools Goole and York, Preston's Dairies, PCG Engineering Services Ltd, Straightliners Ltd, Stuart Sports and Performance, Thames Cryogenics Ltd, The Turbo Shop, The Wood Floor Co, Willis Performance and Youhill Machinery Ltd.



Earlier news