Click here to view
our American Car Imports-sponsored coverage,
of the Big Bang, or click on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any
Eurodragster.com page. You can also find pictures on the official Big Bang web site at
www.big-bang.co.uk.
"Air Sea Logistics continue to be the number one choice for many drag race teams and companies in Europe for arranging worldwide transportation
of race cars or spares and we would also like to say good luck to all the of the other teams who use our services when they contest this year's
FIA European Drag Racing Championships, UK National Championships and Nordic Drag Racing Series."
Close but no cigar. 27th April: Jeff Rainbird tells us that Martin and Lisa Lewis of the Nova Blaze
Sportsman ET team had an informative weekend at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball whilst new team member
Steve Partis lived up to his Axeman nickname.
"Congratulations to Anna Metcalfe on her nice win, six to seven thousandths breakout is close but no cigar, but Team Nova Blaze has been a tough
team to beat these last few years. You beat us, we just have to come back better, and you can be sure we will."
USAutomotive sponsors Hall of Fame. 27th April: USAutomotive Ltd has stepped in with valuable sponsorship for the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame.
The BDRHoF was launched in 2005 to help recognise the innovators, drivers and personalities involved in British drag racing from the sport's
inception.
Initially, the BDRHoF attracted backing from Santa Pod Raceway, Santa Pod Racers Club and Eurodragster.com, but now with additional
support from USAutomotive Ltd, the organisation will be able to operate on a completely different level.
"The cash injection with allow us to be more efficient, more professional and to move the BDRHoF forward in a way we had always hoped",
says Stu Bradbury, one of the originators of the organisation. "This is good news for everyone involved with the BDRHoF, and we are very
grateful for the support USAutomotive is providing. Even with this boost though, we are still some way off achieving our ultimate goal", he adds.
The BDRHoF is run by a team of eleven key people with strong drag racing credentials, whose task is to shortlist a group of deserving individuals
each year to be nominated and inducted into the BDRHoF. Each inductee receives a specially-designed, commemorative glass trophy
(a "Bootsie" in recognition of the late British drag racer Alan "Bootsie" Herridge) in acknowledgement of their contribution to the sport.
USAutomotive Ltd, enjoys its tenth anniversary in 2007 and has close ties with drag racing and drag racers, having supplied automotive
components to quarter mile enthusiasts for many years.
Swift snippets. 26th April: We have received this spy picture of two Top Fuel Dragster drivers appearing
to square up to each other during a promotional photoshoot at Santa Pod Raceway yesterday (click on picture
for large version). One is Andy Carter of the Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster whilst the other is the as-yet
unidentified pilot of Santa Pod Raceway's own Top Fueller. Before it appeared to light off Andy had told
Eurodragster.com that he plans to test the car at the pre-FIA Main Event Peak Performance Day on 19th May, and that
he thinks that it will take consistent 4.7s to make the grade this year.
Jason Yates of the Orange Pop Outlaw Anglia team tells us that Simon Barlow has had to withdraw from OA
competition at this weekend's Big Bang at Santa Pod Raceway. "We are trying very hard to get the car ready for
the Springspeed Festival", says Jay.
We know that a lot of our readers are also Land Speed Record fans and if that's you then you will be
interested to hear that one of the themes of this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed is Bonneville
Speed Week and that a display on the cricket pitch will include Challenger 1, The Blue Flame,
Al Teague's streamliner and the JCB Dieselmax. Entry to the FoS, which takes place on 22nd-24th June,
is by advance ticket only and you can find out more at
www.goodwood.co.uk.
Nasty noise stops play. 25th April: In a slightly healthier state at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball
was the 2005 triple Championship-winning Comp Bike team Jones and Friend Racing,
back on track after spending just over a year building their new bike. Dave Friend
got in touch to let us know how the bike's début went:
Unfortunately due to business commitments primary sponsor and team member
Eric Humphrey of Saunders
Specialised Services Ltd was unable to attend the meeting.
Gary Jones (Rider - Ed) and I took a steady approach to setting up the new bike,
but this turned out to be easier said than done as the bike destroyed clutch
plates on every pass, no matter which set up was tried.
On the third pass of the four we had, we ran a 7.607/173 with a dead
clutch and the plenum tube disconnecting itself from the plenum at a
thousand feet. On our fourth and final pass of the weekend the clutch let
go again, but this time the engine hit the rev limiter and Gary aborted
the run.
A big Thank You to Stuart and Shaun of Predator Racing, who unfortunately also
suffered engine damage, for sending us their spare set of piston pins to help
get us back into competition. Unortunately we will be unable to make the Springspeed
Festival, but we will be racing at the FIA Main Event.
For 2007 we have the continued support of Eric Humphrey as our primary
sponsor with his new business Saunders Specialised Services Ltd,
as well as all our long term associate sponsors Mistral Engineering,
World Wide Bearings,
Universal Turbos,
FAB-Racing who continue
to support us for another racing season. Jones and Friend Racing also welcomes three
new associate sponsors:
Frozen Solid,
Gridstar Networking,
and Dawson Motorsport FL. Please check out all of our sponsors' web sites.
The Outlaws are coming! 25th April: With the first round for the UK's
Supercharged Outlaws only a few
weeks away, Lee Gallimore made a very successful first outing at the weekend's Test and Tune at Shakespeare
County Raceway. Dave McKenzie got in touch to let us know how Lee got on and to bring us up to date
with the rest of the news from the Outlaw camp.
"Lee's altered is the same as when Ian Hanson owned it, except that Lee has fitted a Small Block Chevy", says Fuzzie. "The car sounded strong on the Saturday and Lee ran
a low nine second pass with the throttle stop on. On the Sunday he took the throttle stop off and during Sunday afternoon ran 8.1/171, not bad for the first time out.
Lee was well pleased with his weekend's work.
"Our next event is the Super Street Shootout at Shakespeare County Raceway, which is our first points round. I will be joining Lee in the Alkyoneus car, no
chance to test striaght out and race. Also at this event will be Alec Coe with the refurbished Shy Torque slingshot. Alec has put a lot into the car over the
winter and he should get into the seven second bracket this year.
Should the winner of the Perfect ET Award go on to win the event then a bonus of £100 will be paid by LA
Racing Parts.
Eurodragster.com/LA Racing Parts decals must be carried on both sides of the vehicle to qualify for the Perfect ET Award.
As with other contingency schemes the decals are available from the signing-on office.
UK Pro ET racer Marius Blackburn tells us that he is again producing the class notes for the
official FIA Main Event event programme. Pro ET racers with news or other contributions are
asked to send them to Marius at mariusb@fsmail.net
as soon as possible as his deadline is next week.
Jennifer Gustavsson has asked us to wish a big Happy 50th Birthday to JD Racing
head honcho Christer Gustavsson. "Many hugs from Jennifer, Jessica, Evelyn and the other team members" says Jennifer. We'll settle
for a manly handshake, but have a great day Christer.
Thanks to those readers who sent questions and subjects for Lex Joon to address in his exclusive Racer Blog. Lex has now
started to send us his replies and the first will be posted in the next Blog entry which will be posted at the end of this week.
NSCC Round 1 report. 24th April: A nineteen-car field contested the first round of the National Street Car Challenge at Shakespeare County Raceway,
writes Shaun Wilson:
Russ Pursley took the number one qualifier with a 9.90, closely followed by necomer Mark Todd in the John Sleath-prepared twin-turbo Pontiac Firebird who
ran a 10.11. Karl Wilkins stepped up the boost in his turbo'd 5.0 Mustang, running a new PB of 10.95 but destroying the motor in the process - the excess
boost splitting the block clean in two. Elsewhere in the field it was good to see the return of Keith Bryant in his V6 Pop and new girl Stephanie Wainwright
who was having an absolute ball in her V6 Pontiac. The traditional Saturday evening cruise out was very succesful, with all the drivers attending.
With a thirty-two car ladder to work through we were concerned that we might not get through all the rounds on Sunday, so the first round was held almost
immediately that the track opened, with a couple of upsets as Mick Rogers was unable to stage with gearbox problems in his black Cosworth Cortina and
Mick Wilkes pulling a cherry to allow Keith Bryant through into the second round.
Barry Woodford had plenty of fun with the new stroker 383 Chevy motor in his Pop, pulling the left front wheel into the air on each run and running a new PB
of 12.2 although a confrontation with Steve Stringfellow's 400 ci Herald, being driven by Crew Chief Ian Armitage, ended his day in the second round.
Mark Todd and Russ Pursley provided the fastest race of the day in the semis, the 350 ci Dutton just getting off the line faster than the Firebird and
managing to fend off Mark with a close 10.38 victory over a 10.45. In the finals it was Russ up against Ian Armitage, the Dutton posting a winning
9.94/134 against an 11.5/121.
With such a promising start to season it's great to see so many cars out running, with John Payne winning the AW Upholstery Reaction Time
award with a stunning 0.005.
Still over the moon from dad Frank's first six-second pass at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball
(click on picture at right to see a lot of happy bunnies)
Luke Bennett has updated the team's web site at
www.bennettracing.co.uk
with several pictures from the Autotrader Easter Thunderball.
Continuing the growing and highly laudable trend for in-car footage, the Dave Wilson Racing web site at
www.silverlinedragracing.com has been
updated with a great on-board clip of one of Grumpy's five-second Top Methanol Dragster passes at the
Autotrader Easter Thunderball. You can ride along with Grumpy, courtesy of webmaster Bob Roberts, by
clicking on The Car.
Our good friend Alan Currans has updated his Acceleration Archive with a twentieth gallery of readers' photographs containing thirty pictures
from five contributors with plenty to interest car and bike fans alike with shots of Dennis Priddle's Hot Wheels dragster, Clive Skilton's first Funny Car,
Asmodeus, no less than three versions of the Page brothers' Panic, Houndog 6, Ratcatcher and much, much more besides.
You can find the latest Readers' Gallery at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk/readers/gallery_20.html.
As if that wasn't enough, Alan has also posted a number of pictures from the weekend's Test and Tune at Shakespeare County Raceway, which
you can find at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk/alan_currans/2007/2007_01.html.
The Shakespeare County Racers web site at
www.shakespearecountyracers.com has
been updated with a large number of pictures from the weekend's Test and Tune at the Warwickshire track.
Back to Nostalgia and you can find some pictures from Santa Pod between the years 1988 and 1996 on John
Hutchinson's Webshots site at
community.webshots.com/user/nitromaniac.
USAutomotive press release. 24th April:USAutomotive celebrates
its tenth anniversary this June - that's ten years of sourcing and supplying automotive components to over 20,000
UK-based American car enthusiasts, including footballers, film stars, and even a Formula One driver. It's quite a tally.
To celebrate the occasion, the company is hosting an open-day party at its Bedford premises, on Saturday, 28th July - the
same weekend as the National Street Rod Association's Supernationals, at Old Warden in nearby Biggleswade. This year's
NSRA Saturday cruise features USAutomotive's premises as its final destination, but it's not just street rodders who are invited
to the party. All American car enthusiasts are welcome, which should mean a packed house.
On display will be USAutomotive's popular range of Mr Gasket components, paints, books, and other components usually too
large to transport to shows, plus there will be a 'blow-out sale' on a wide range of components.
Turners connect with GRP. 23rd April: UK Top Methanol Dragster team
Turner Motorsport
have announced that GRP Connecting Rods have increased their sponsorship for the 2007 season.
"For more information on Mickey Thompson tyres, wheels and the contingency programme contact LA Racing Parts on 01803 554308 or
E-Mail lee@laracingparts.com."
Making Darren's day... 23rd April: UK Super Gas and Junior Dragster team Panther Racing UK welcomed
two very special visitors to their pit at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway: Darren Locke, a service
user at the Thorpe Life Skills Centre in Knuston
Spinney in Northamptonshire and Carla Matthews, one of Thorpe's Team Leaders and tutors who has been with
Thorpe Life since before the centre opened last May.
"Darren recently celebrated his twenty first birthday with a party at his mum's house for family and friends. That must have
been quite some night if his personality, energy and enthusiasm are anything to go by…I was tired just watching him, and when all
is said and done he put a smile on all our faces."
For more information on Panther Racing UK and Thorpe Life Skills Centres visit
www.pantherracinguk.com.
"Watch out for Redvictor2 breaking more records during the course of 2007."
Returning favours to PMR. 23rd April: Gary Springford's company Drag Race Engineering (020 8597 9484) has come
to the rescue of Paul Marston's season after
the PT Bruiser suffered a broken rod at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball potentially leaving Paul
without a ride.
"With the time involved with ordering the parts needed to repair the Pro Stock motor in the PT Bruiser, I that knew Paul was up against it timewise",
said Gary Springford. "It is simply going to take too long to get the parts made, and most of the season will be over before we can get the motor back
in one piece. I also agree with Paul that replacing the motor is a waste of time: the motor is not badly hurt, it's just the ordering time and the fact that
we only have a six month season over here.
"As previously reported on Eurodragster.com PMR would eventually like to compete in Super Modified with this car. It would be PMR's
first venture into heads-up racing and to have backing from an associate who brings expertise to the table makes for a strong foundation for a
team. If all goes to plan the Calibra will appear at Shakespeare County Raceway in the same paint scheme as when Mick last drove it, then
after the event the Calibra will be delivered straight to the painters' in a race against time to have it début at the FIA Main Event
resplendent in the specially-designed Drag Race Engineering paint scheme.
"I would like to express my thanks again to Drag Race Engineering for investing in their future and seeing the potential marketing opportunity
that which UK National Championship drag racing offers today."
Wright and Felstead Dare to Win. 21st April: Matthew Wright of Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor
Gleeson Wright Security plans to enter
Nostalgia Fuel Altered association competition in the summer. Matt will be campaigning the altered with Bill
Felstead.
Matt and Bill plan to run the car as a Nostalgia Funny Car in 2008 but they are seeking a suitable body, and Matt has a request. "Can Santa Pod
Raceway please give us access to the old Funny Car bodies they have in storage so that we can take a mould off them", he said.
Gleeson Wright Security have recently launched a web site to showcase their services. The site includes details of the wide range of security services
on offer as well as client list, accreditation and company history. To check out the web site either click on the logo at right or visit
www.gleesonwrightsecurity.co.uk.
Swift snippets. 21st April: Our good friend Patrik Jacobsson tells us that Sweden's Lindahl Brothers
Pro Mod team now have their new race car back from chassis painting and that they are hard at work preparing the
Camaro for the 2007 season. You can take a look at
www.kendallmotoroil.se/teamkendall/nyabilen.html.
Jan Phersson has been in touch to show us the official T-Shirt for this year's Gasoline
Stock/Super Stock Series. You can find out more and buy your shirt on the class' web site
at www.sssa.se.
We have upgraded next weekend's Big Bang at Santa Pod Raceway to full Event Coverage in
association with American Car Imports. We
will post live reports on Championship classes, pit notes and end-day galleries, and the
Webster Race
Engineering/MPM Oil webcam will be broadcasting
a picture every sixty seconds. Peter (photographs) and Spencer Tramm (pit notes) will be
joining Tog on the coverage team next weekend as Roger and Simon have commitments.
UK Super Comp racer Belinda Bull was the first beneficiary of Toyo Tyre's generous contingency programme for
the UK National Championships after her win at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball. Toyo have celebrated Belinda's
win with a feature on their web site at
www.toyo.co.uk/releasedetail.php?id=67&identity=latest_news.
The standings in the Santa Pod Racers Club Championships, including Top Methanol, will be posted shortly.
Coltrane's Incredible Wheelie Challenge. 19th April: Actor Robbie Coltrane has set himself a unique and formidable challenge writes Shakespeare County Raceway's Marketing Manager Jerry Cookson. In a mission to discover the real Britain, he is winding back time by travelling the length of the country in a classic 1950's Jaguar XK150. He is shunning busy motorways in favour of winding B-roads which, this Saturday, will lead him to Stratford-upon-Avon's Shakespeare County Raceway where he will attempt a world record wheelie as one of the attractions at the weekend's Public Track Day.
Robbie's chosen method of transport will be Steve Murty's incredible wheel standing 20-ton Fire Truck 'Backdraft'. With filming due to take place on Saturday for an ITV1 series entitled Robbie Coltrane's Incredible Britain, Robbie will be trying to beat Steve's 1991 Guinness World Record of 547 metres achieved at the seaside resort in Blackpool by hopefully increasing it to 600 metres.
Besides Robbie's wheelie attempt, the show's segment will feature interviews and action with some of the sports history making characters including Gerry Cookson who, now in his mid-seventies, is still very much active in a sport which has rewarded him with countless race wins and championships since 1966.
The show is expected to go to air sometime in the summer on the ITV national network in the UK. Robbie will also tour heavy industry in Newcastle to new age organics in the Cotswolds, innovative architecture to crumbling castles, stately homes to council estates and millennial raves to medieval re-enactments. In doing so he hopes to uncover the places that define Britain and, more importantly, the people that make our country unique.
The Gold RV Lane beckons…. 19th April: Derek Flynn of Eurodragster.com news sponsor Gold RV says that he will be attempting to complete his Top Methanol licensing at Shakespeare County Raceway at the Spring Speed Festival on 5-7 May.
"After a rather disappointing debut in TMD at Santa Pod, we are really looking forward to our weekend at Shakey, after speaking with Jerry Cookson, and his kind invitation that we could complete our final licence pass and do some demo runs at the Spring Speed Festival, we just can't wait to try and beat our previous best at Shakey of 6.7 at 199.7 mph, in the Gold RV Lane.
"We have now overhauled our Lenco and inserted the thrust washer that was previously missing in our 3rd gear. We have completely rebuilt our Bruno Torque Converter to ensure lock-up in 2nd and 3rd. We also hope our new MSD Pro Mag sorts out our number 8 cylinder problems and ensures we can burn all the fuel we are throwing at the engine.
"With the NFAA attending along with some of our Dutch friends from Explosion, I am sure that the weekend will be a real crowd-pleaser and we can not wait to see you all there!"
Embroidering Street Eliminator. 19th April: Real Steel Street Eliminator racer Ray Comer has been in touch to let us know that Embroidery Solutions (contact 01268 515102 or americanimports@btopenworld.com ) have joined the ranks of the sponsors supporting the quickest and fastest street legal class in the World.
"Based in Essex, Embroidery Solutions are able to embroider your team name, logo etc onto any item of clothing i.e. t-shirts, crew shirts, caps, jackets etc including your own apparel if required. Martin Richardson, owner of Embroidery Solutions has been involved in the American car scene for several years through his other business interests and has also done his fair share of motor racing, having been involved in circuit racing for many years. Looking to improve your team's start line image this year? Then give Martin a call.
Ray added "Martin has very kindly agreed to sponsor the Most Improved Team award for 2007 by supplying the winning team with 4 crew shirts embroidered with their own team name and logos as well as a very nice trophy for the cabinet. Its thanks to people like Martin and all of the other sponsors that are supporting the Street Eliminator teams this year that there has been such an increase in the number of entries into SE."
"With our main title sponsor Real Steel, contingency sponsors WRE, Powerpour, Stroud via ARRC, B&H Autokraft and of course support from our very own Eurodragster.com, ACW, Quartermilehigh.com, Motorsport Marketing Solutions and now Embroidery Solutions the future is looking very good. I'd still like to find a sponsor for one of the most appreciated of awards in the class, the Spirit of Street Eliminator award, which goes to a person nominated by the other racers as most deserving. This could be a hardcore racer who has raced against the odds all season, someone who helps out in the pits or someone who goes that extra mile to help the class. If there are any companies out there who want to be associated with the worlds quickest and fastest pump gas class then please get in touch via email at ray@bigmouseracing.co.uk or on 07967 368996. See you all at the Big Bang."
Malmgren re-signs Oakley. 19th April: FIA Pro Stock team Malmgren Racing has announced that they have signed Oakley to supply the team with latest gear for 2007 season.
Driver Michael Malmgren said "We are very proud to have Oakley onboard and they will supply us with the latest and coolest stuff in racing clothing.".
New for 2007, Oakley has launched a racing division that will launch a new Racing collection this summer that includes Racing boots, crew shoes, gloves, underwear, cool shirt, team shirts, bags etc. Also for example Oakley serves most F1 teams with safety eyewear for pit crew that is fire-resistant.
Super Modified update. 19th April:Super Modified webmaster and long-distance travelling crew chief Lee Kirk has updated the site with an Easter Thunderball report and Rob Smallworth's own take on the event. Lee says "There will be more racers' reports as well as a points update in the coming days too, so stay tuned.
"Once again many thanks to our supporters for the 2007 campaign, Centerline Wheel Corp, Heliarc Welding Technology, Obsession Motorsports, Andy Robinson Race Cars, ICE Automotive Racing Engines, Stroud Safety Equipment, Motorshack, Webster Race Engineering, Power Race Graphics, Oak Industrial Supplies and Turboville."
Web site updates. 19th April: Andrew Bamford has updated his Racing Green website with some pictures from the Autotrader Easter Thunderball.
Outlaw Anglia Reaction Time Challenge. 18th April: The Outlaw Anglia teams would like to welcome back Steve Borland of Moving Parts as associate sponsor, this time of the 2007 Reaction Time Challenge. Moving Parts will provide a voucher for its excellent shipping service to the driver with the best reaction time during qualifying, at each of the six championship rounds. The Outlaw Anglia Championship kicks off with the Big Bang on 28-29 April at SPR, immediately followed by the Springspeed Festival on 5-7 May at SCR.
Peter Schöfer Racing, runner-up in Top Methanol in the 2006 FIA Drag Racing Championship are planning to contest all 2007 FIA rounds and several other races and events. Stay tuned for more news.
Pro ET at the Thunderball. 18th April: Carla Pittau has sent a report on the Pro ET class at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball:
The Thunderball made up for so many previous Easter meetings when the weather was awful (I even remember one that was snowed off), the clear, blue sky and the cold air giving most racers great ETs.
Early mishaps included Neil Hunter's 7 Year Itch Mopar motivated Capri giving up after a 10.23 pass, the gearbox spinning a bushing and damaging the converter neck. Neil went on to crew for Jerry Smith, carried out numerous wind up missions with other racers and still had a great time. Another early breakage – gearbox too, I'm told – put Liz Malcolm's pretty Jus'4 Fun dragster out of action before the first round. There must have been a bit of a gearbox virus around though, as another victim to malfunction was Nicky Frost in the gorgeous bright orange 67 Camaro who did not survive first round against Dan Page at the wheel of the equally orange "Panic" Firebird.
Carl "Diamond Geezer" Burton enjoyed the number 1 qualifying position for a while with a +.001, and you would have expected this position to be fairly safe, but poor Carl had to give it up to Keith Herbert in the "Mr Furyous" Plymouth Sport Fury in the sixth qualifying round when Keith pulled a treble zero out of the bag and claimed the big money, the trophy and the vouchers from the Pro ET sponsors Inkwell Printers, Penn Autos, Sandy Scooters, A1 Motor Stores, W.A.S.P., Toxico Clothing, Black Bear Harley Davidson, Alley Jax, Motorshack, Hauser Race Cars, Real Steel, Top End Tales and the big money from the perfect ET contingency sponsors Eurodragster and LA Racing Parts. Keith said that the money would finally allow him to buy shoes for his children but we know he has spent it on shiny bits for his car and the rest he just squandered.
The first round saw Rick McCann in the Heaven & Hell Camaro (after a hasty trip home to once more swap engines) run a 10.267 on a 10.26 dial in against Gary Springford in the Whoopass Monza, who pulled a cherry. Steve Bolton in the shiny black Plymouth Scamp had the benefit of Chris Hodgkins's red light but pulled an 0.01 reaction time for good measure. Chris's good dial-in went to waste in the balance and the 383ci SBC motivated silver dragster was on the trailer.
In the meantime, Mike Lacey in the finally straight-running Metamorphosis Camaro was putting Diamond Geezer on the trailer, by overcoming Carl's start-line snooze with a .003 RT. Mike shaved the tree a bit too close in the following round, though, a -0.03 followed by a 2 thousandths breakout for good measure giving Steve Bolton the win light.
The big first round upset, however, was John Atkinson in the normally rapid Cortina, which was unusually running mid tens due to a new converter that didn't quite deliver the goods. John pulled a 0.01 RT against a snoozing Nigel Green at the wheel of the WV Beetle and then, to crew chief Tom's consternation and utter dismay proceeded to break out by 8 thousandths despite the fact that Nigel had problems and was about 3 miles behind.
John has had to take a lot of stick because of this and there was excellent banter in the Pro ET pits, with the set-up of the Naughty Chair (see previous news by Rachel Blackburn) for first round losers.
Charlie Chivers in the Taxi Express Capri was the victim of a cherry in the second round against Vic Amato, who also red lit but did it second. Charlie went on to run dead-on with a 0.009 over dial, while Vic decided not to be outdone and went one better and ran even more dead-on with a 0.004 over dial. Apart from the cherries, which spoilt the fun too early, this would have been an excellent, close race.
Other second round victims were Brian Huxley in the Top Banana roadster who after getting by Gino Bernadine's 9 second 2 litre Capri in the first round, proceeded to break out against Nigel Green despite the better reaction.
Big money Keith Herbert gave up the chance to bag all of the awards by redlighting against Jerry Smith at the wheel of the nicely presented Grim Beeper Road Runner, allowing Jerry to nick the bye run in the quarter finals which should have gone to number 1 qualifier.
Rick McCann in the meantime was paired with Marius Blackburn who uncharacteristically pulled a slow RT to Rick's .04, which forced the lovely Escape from Reality altered to break out by 2 hundredths to try to pass the red Camaro which slowed to a braked 10.33 on a 10.25 dial-in.
Rick was next to meet Vic Amato's yellow "Inabit" Mustang in the quarters. The two racers pulled virtually identical .05 reactions, with Rick enjoying only a 4 thousandths advantage on the tree, then went on to clock a double breakout with Vic taking the finish line but breaking out the most. A nice close race which could have easily gone either way.
On the other side of the ladder Nigel Green succumbed to Paul Baynton's Chevy powered Capri despite the better reaction, by running a slowing 11.84 on an 11.64 dial-in - while Mike Howling was busy launching the Paul Marston Racing Dart a tad too early and unfortunately also suffered axle damage during the run against team mate Steve Bolton who took the win.
Steve went on to trailer Paul Baynton in the semis, both racers pulling near identical reds but Paul doing it first, and both racers breaking out by 5 hundredths and 7 hundredths respectively.
Meanwhile Rick McCann was getting past Jerry Smith with a sizeable advantage on the tree and braking to a 10.34 on a 10.24 dial-in to Jerry's 2 thousandths breakout run and landing in the final.
And here Steve could have gallantly followed the script and repeated the premature acceleration in the previous round, or made some other mistake - but no, he threw a .006 light back at Rick who pulled a respectable .027, the 2 hundredths advantage being then instrumental in Steve's victory in the top end battle. The finish line split was .008, you couldn't have had a closer race - with both contenders braking too late and both breaking out, alas Rick breaking out the most.
As we always say there are 2 races in any one round: the first at the start-line, the second at the top end, where decisions have to be made with partial data and at lightening speeds - Rick hesitated for a couple of hundredths of a second before hitting the brakes, and that cost him the race.
Congratulations once again to Steve for an excellent performance during the whole weekend and for a well deserved win (and did he get the girl?), to Keith Herbert for cunningly depriving the whole class of the big booty and many thanks to our great sponsors : Inkwell Printers, Penn Autos, Sandy Scooters, A1 Motor Stores, W.A.S.P., Toxico Clothing, Black Bear Harley Davidson, Alley Jax, Motorshack, Hauser Race Cars, Real Steel and Top End Tales.
"Grumpy (Paul Watson) of DynoSpeed Developments has helped me to develop
the Bandit from the early days in 10.90 Bike, when Dave Stanley was riding and I prepared it, through 9.90 Bike when I took over riding, until
now running in 9.50 Bike", says Fast Harry. "This year Grumpy became my main sponsor which involved DSD having the bike over the winter.
DSD stripped everthing then rebuilt the motor and recommended some chassis/setup mods. The engine duly made 164 bhp and 96 ft/lb of torque,
still only 1186 cc but now on pump fuel. MC Technics took care of the suspension and we were ready to test.
"Thanks must go to aforementioned Grumpy at DSD for his ongoing advice, Leanne for her passion, support and help at the track, the other racers
who support you after they have "slipped" out, and finally Kathy in the signing on office who sorted everything out for me, including lending me £15
after I turned up with last year's ACU licence and en expired SPRC membership. D'oh!
"See you all at the Big Bang."
NSCC Round 1 beckons. 17th April: This weekend some of the fastest and most colourful street cars in the country will be taking to the track
at Shakespeare County Raceway in the first round of the National Street
Car Challenge, writes Shaun Wilson. The drivers have already had the opportunity to collect points by attending cruises around the country, with
twenty four cars now already on the leader board:
Newcomers who could throw the reckoning out include Karl Wilkins, driving the ex-Richard Nichols 5.0 Turbo LX, Paul Hughes with
a wild 383 ci Hillman Imp and Tony Cox from Rotherham whose ProStreet Sierra has the biggest engine in the series at 540 ci.
For details of the fifty four drivers so far signed up for the challenge this year, log on to
www.hotrodgazette.com, or better still get yourself along to the track and take
in the action first hand!
The Trip's programme is fully detailed at www.trip2america.co.uk or click on the
Trip logo in the column at left. Trailfinders can be contacted for information and bookings on 0845 0505 955 and at
groups@trailfinders.com.
VP Racing Fuels press release. 17th April: Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor VP Racing Fuels, the world leader in race fuel
technology, today introduced its newest unleaded racing fuel: Motorsport 109E. Designed to complement VP's popular Motorsport 109, MS109E
offers the same substantial power gains using ethanol as an oxygenate, making it legal for use in all fifty US states including those that restrict the use
of MTBE in fuels.
"For those customers who are prohibited from using an MTBE-oxygenated race fuel in their state, MS109E is a direct pour-in substitute for MS109", said Jay Farnsworth, VP's
Tech Director. "It won't require re-jetting or timing but will provide the same horsepower and torque. In fact, both MS109 and MS109E produce more power than any unleaded
fuel on the market. We recommend both for higher boost applications with compression ratios up to 11:1 or naturally aspirated engines up to 13:1.
"While MS109E has application across the board, one of the most popular uses for it will be in crate motor racing where you're limited to production engines and need
the oxygenated fuel to make decent power gains. With 12-15 hp increases over pump gas, MS109 has been extremely successful in this market and we expect MS109E
to follow suit."
The track seemed to be stickier than ever before, although we never smelled the glue. They must be using something different and whatever it is the
Camaro loved it, and loved the new surface so much that she finally produced wheelies to be proud of. Still on nine inch slicks and leaf springs, together
with John Calvert's unbeatable Caltracs, the Heaven & Hell Camaro produced proper Super Stock launches and a 1.29 sixty foot, as well as running
the best-ever time of 9.71.
The first wheelie took Rick by surprise and by the time he had steered straight he was late shifting, hence the 9.92 ET. By the third wheelie we had the
Caltracs adjusted right, no steering was necessary on landing and he could hit the shift the instant the front came down. What a great feeling, Rick said
afterwards that it's the only way to launch. We were on top of the world and having a whale of a time. This is what we love, this is where we really have
fun, by launching with a perfect weight transfer, the momentum carrying the 3000 lb body in free fall, almost rendered weightless as it glides forward
gently and comes down gradually and gracefully, at times adding a couple of bounces but generally looking like pure dynamic poetry. Happy times.
Alas, she also had to live up to her name, otherwise she would be just called Heaven. After four flawless runs she coughed and screamed after
the burnout. And yes, on our return to the pits and after whipping off the intake we saw that another rocker stud snapped off and another lifter stuck in the
bore. The valve train obviously needed some careful looking at - and after towing back home (this is becoming something of a habit) and stripping the
engine we decided that it was best to swap back to the trusty 383 once again, leaving the repairs to a more awake and less stressed moment.
However the 383 didn't mind being awaken from its well earned hibernation and responded well, by letting us dial it in after just one breakout run.
So we got past Gary Springford in the first round running a 10.267 on a 10.26 dial-in, helped along by Gary's unneeded but generous red-light. No
wheelies but hey, if we can't wheelie we may as well try and go rounds. After the first round we were just happy we could race on race day - the
downside of a class with five rounds being that if you don't survive the first round you are left with nothing to do far too early, and that's where the
worst hangovers may well originate!
However should the Race Officials not be impressed by my theory the win will deservedly stay with Steve Bolton in the beautiful wheelstanding black
Plymouth: he pulled a killer light, raced the top end with great skill and basically ran a better race than we did, the double break-out going his way
mainly due to the difference on the tree. So well done Steve, only kidding about the protest! Shame we didn't have the 434 engine in the final, nothing
looks better than two American muscle cars wheelstanding together on the startline, hopefully we'll fix it soon and we'll ensure it's more reliable this time!
We would like to pass heartfelt thanks to Santa Pod for the excellent surface we raced on, Pomona couldn't be any better, the whole Pro ET class for
making racing so much fun, the Pro ET class sponsors (remember to support the companies who support your racing: Inkwell Printers, Penn Autos,
Sandy Scooters, A1 Motor Stores, WASP, Toxico Clothing, Black Bear Harley Davidson, Alley Jax, Motorshack, Hauser Race Cars, Real Steel, Top
End Tales), Carl Burton for being a diamond geezer and organising the Pro ET shirts, so that we could also be the best dressed class, and Eurodragster.com
for uploading news so quickly that we received texts congratulating us on the wheelies as we were walking back to the pits (All part of the service - Ed)!
Also well done to Team Metamorphosis for their splendid victory in Sportsman ET and watch out for Anna Metcalfe - she's not really a blonde (Editor
opens his mouth then thinks better of it)!
An old Shoebox in the 8.0s. 16th April: Real Steel Street Eliminator racer Colin Lazenby says that he was elated
with Team 56's success at the Easter Thunderball, at which the big Chevy ran into the 8.0s.
"We recognised that on a new track surface the conditions were always going to be marginal from the outset - and they were", says Colin.
"But by the Saturday, and following lots of hard work with the track prep, our sixty foot times were heading in the right direction and the old Shoebox
was once again beginning to dig in. The boys then elected to make a couple of key suspension changes and from that point on the heavyweight '56
began to haul ass with closing ETs of 8.23, 8.15, 8.12, and finally a new Personal Best of 8.01. We missed out on taking the class ET record by a
measly three hundredths of a second and recorded our best ever sixty foot time of 1.31.
"As always, a big thanks to Clive Bond and Andy Robinson, along with my immediate team and master tuners Garry Coull, Luke Robinson and our kid.
I know we all went through hell and back this weekend guys but we came through it relatively unscathed - thanks.
Also a special thanks to Steve Clark of Nimbus Motorsports for our fresh supplies of Torco oils and lubricants, we couldn't run without out it."
Where the Predator went. 16th April: Shaun Howard of UK Funny Bike team Predator Racing has been in touch to
explain Stu Chamberlain's non-appearance in the Easter Thunderball Funny Bike final:
The team would like to thank the following for their help in diagnosing and remedying the problem: Dave Branch Engineering, for fixing the crank;
Jones and Friend, for the offer of spares; Augy Harrison, for analysis and advice - good to see you back racing on a bike Augy.
At this stage it seems unlikely that the team will be able to make the Springspeed Festival at Shakespeare County Raceway, but we will be back.
Simpson backs NDRS. 16th April: The Nordic Drag Racing
Series and Simpson are pleased to introduce
Simpson as a contingency sponsor in NDRS Comp Eliminator and Super Gas.
Winners and runners-up will be rewarded with a voucher of 1000 SEK and
500 SEK which can be traded in when purchasing Simpson products at
www.simpsonshop.se.
The sponsorship applies at all NDRS races in Sweden, Norway and Finland. The
minimum number of cars to be qualified in a class is seven, and participants must carry
a Simpson decal on each side of their race car to qualify for awards.
If you would like to take a ride or make a donation or both then please get in touch with Ron on his mobile on
07710 403378. We have reserved one of the passenger rides on Saturday 9th June for a Eurodragster.com reader so stay tuned for details of how
you can win a seat in Ron's Cortina.
Thunderball 9.50 Bike review. 16th April: We are indebted to Chris Jones of Team Breakout for sending the first of this
season's 9.50 Bike reviews, this one from last week's Easter Thunderball:
Climbing out of hibernation straight into the first round of the season was an absolute delight, global warming had its part to play, and the sun
was shining with a vengeance. Great to see the usual suspects in the 9.50 camp and some new additions to boot, though Geoff Connor (Team Breakout
flagship) and Andy Bird (Team Breakout and 2006 Champion) were notable by their absence, though old gun Birdie did show up later in the event
to assist with a bit of liquid refreshment and entertainment in the pits - yes, the tarmac off the back of a pit bike isn't any softer! Nice new paint job
on Martin 'Chunk' Walker's Team Hyena 'Busa too.
On to qualifying and a mishap from Mark Fisher had us down the left hand lane to shake off the cobwebs. The strip true to form with good air quality
proved to be extremely quick. Carl Atkinson ended this bout with a first blood 9.51/147 #1 qualifier, though Andy Healy slipped into #2 with a 9.52/144
and by the end of the day a 9.54/143 from Jason Macan's Busa held Team Breakout's Shaun Spiers into #4. Mike Powell finished the day #5 with a 9.56/148
meaning that those old (I use the word loosely - honest!) favourites Fast Harry, aka Julian Harris, and Fast Freddy Furlong were out of the top five.
Saturday continued to blaze. The strip reciprocated in excellent conditions which of course led to some very quick times. I myself managed a couple 9.3s
on the old R1 having played with the gas timers, a PB for me. Someone must have told the bike about the 'Busa, due out later in the year. Richard
'Boss' Hann also had a PB with 9.4, to our delight, but it doesn't lend itself to a 9.5 index, still it does make you giddy! Tony Smiley (Team Smiley's People)
eventually showed up on the line with his turbo GSXR, following some issues filling the wrong parts of the engine with oil decided
continual running on top note would do the trick. Weirdly enough, once the smoke had cleared all seemed OK and off he went for his first season's
racing. Chris 'Boycie' Reed of Team Hyena, former Super Street rider, was having problems with wires everywhere although eventually he did get
sorted and away he went.
The field was halved ready for Monday's racing. This first round saw all but one of the Hyenas out, Steve Coombs survived to the next round, and
Boss, who will be returning to the next event looking like a scooter on steroids with all the mirrors and some, blasted off to a breakout not realising
that his opponent had problems getting away (He's behind you!) and spent the night beating himself up.
Monday's eliminations saw some real tight racing including Ed Smiley who when the lights dropped stalled his bike, unbelievably so did the other
lane, so it was now a Monte Carlo style race - who could bump start first. Ed got it going and took the win with a 13.55 pass to a losing 14.00.
I myself went out in the second in a cracking race with Steve Ashby who rode up nice and straight, gas armed just in case I tried to get round him.
Steve's better reaction caught me dreaming in the blocks, after a little skyward action the bike dug in and off I went. I thought I might have done
enough but Steve's reactions got me with a 9.61 losing by 0.006 to a 9.67, close race! Steve smiled saying he had the button ready should he have
needed it. Fast Harry was busy scything through the field taking out a consistent Richard Sawatzki with a 9.56 which took him to the final matched
up against Greg Skett.
Talking through the race, Fast Harry commented "I felt quite confident, realising I was coming against a gas bike as I knew getting out of the
blocks first would give me space where Greg would be waiting for the gas to come in". This was borne out in the race as Harry got out with a
0.07 reaction against a 0.15. Greg had it to do and so attempted to ride around Harry. Harry went on to say "We were side by side at the thousand
foot mark so I kept my aspirated Bandit pinned". This did the trick as Harry ran through to the win with a 9.59 forcing Greg to break out with a 9.4.
Well ridden Harry.
So that's the first round taken care of. An absolutely brilliant time was had by all in the 9.50 camp, see you at the next round, the Big Bang, at the end of
the month.
"We'll be on track at the Finnish Championship CB/FB races and maybe in Top Fuel Bike at the FHRA Nitro
Natonals at Alastaro. Depending how the testing and the early season go we might also race in the Nordic
series and some Swedish Championship races too."
Nicholson's new backer. 15th April: UK Super Pro ET racer Wayne Nicholson has announced that his Lucky Devil
Corvette has a new sponsor.