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Big Bang results. 29th April: Congratulations to the winners at this weekend's Big Bang at Santa Pod Raceway: VW Pro: Glynn Morgan (12.30) 12.4852/101.58 def. Peter Christie (12.70) 12.8062/109.73 VW Sportsman: Graeme Freeman (14.21) 14.2791/90.87 def. Paul Herbert (13.30) 13.5628/97.02 VW Alternate Engine: Laurie Craig (9.40) 9.8268/126.09 def. Paul Braithwaite (12.20) 12.5798/106.18 Super Modified: Tim Garlick 7.6221/174.94 def. Andy Hone 7.7090/177.14 9.50 Bike: Chris Jones 9.6331/143.18 def. Julian Harris 9.6661/140.18 red Real Steel Street Eliminator: Steve Nash 8.1442/179.10 def. Colin Lazenby 8.2229/181.36 Outlaw Anglia: Mark Pointer 7.5290/182.93 def. Paul Wright no time ©Eurodragster.com Congratulations to VW Sportsman racer Paul Herbert who took the £50 Eurodragster.com/LA Racing Parts Perfect ET Award with an 11.4500 on an 11.45 dial-in this morning, and who came within a whisker of winning the £100 win bonus. So far in 2007 the Perfect ET Award has only paid out to racers with the surname Herbert. 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. Springspeed snippets. 29th April: Glenn Stockton tells us that scrutineering for next weekend's Springspeed Festival at Shakespeare County Raceway will take place between 17:00 and 20:00 on Friday and then re-starts at 8:00 on Sunday. "On Saturday we will be visiting cars and bikes in class running order so if you are out last you will be scrutineered last", says Glenn. "All the scrutineering team are now qualified for cars and bikes, and the Chief Technical Official for bikes will be in attendance from 8:00 on Saturday. Paul Knight, Dave Cherrett and Andy Williams please note that the scrutineers will be hiding from you three." ©Eurodragster.com The Outlaw Flat Fours will be making their first outing of the year at next weekend's race. Mat Sanchez of OFF tells us that there will be at least one new car appearing, Joe Gallagher's Fiat 850 The Sting, and that Bernard Newbury will be back on track with a fully revised Stitch Up. "Most of the rest of field have been making changes to their cars over the winter too so there could be a few surprises on the ET front", says Mat. You can read a race preview on the Outlaw Flat Four web site at www.outlawflatfour.com. Springspeed snippets. 28th April: Further to yesterday's news item, any racer wishing to obtain additional tickets for next week's Springspeed Festival at Shakespeare County Raceway can do so at half the list price by calling 01789 414119. Advance spectator tickets are still available for purchase up to Thursday 3rd May again by calling 01789 414119. All major credit cards are accepted. ©Eurodragster.com Gone in a Split Second. 28th April: The PrimeTime team of Colin Fallows and Mark Newby have sold their Jet Dragster Split Second - fastest car in the country - to Julian and Roy Webb. PrimeTime had the car built by Hauser Race Cars in 1998 and have used it almost exclusively for record breaking and air show appearances. In a rare drag strip appearance at Avon Park in 2005, the car match-raced Roger Goring's Firestorm Jet Funny Car in the first Jet v Jet heads-up race in twenty years. With Colin taking care of the tuning and Mark the driving, the car reset the British Land Speed Record twice, and also posted an MSA timed average speed of 339.74 mph in July last year, with a terminal in excess of 350 mph - making it officially the fastest car in the country. ©Eurodragster.com "It is time for a change", said Colin Fallows. "We have achieved everything we set out to achieve with the car, and fresh pastures and new adventures await us!" "What a privilege it has been to drive this car", added Mark Newby. "It has done everything we asked of it safely and successfully and we hope that Julian and his team get as much fun and pleasure out of it as Colin and I have done." Colin and Mark are in the enviable position of having their long-standing posse of sponsors waiting in the wings and ready with full backing and commitment for their next project. "Other than the fact that we will certainly be continuing with our partnership, we have made no firm plans just yet", said Colin. "With Funny Cars and jets having featured so strongly in both our backgrounds, anything could happen" added Mark. PrimeTime will be helping Julian and his team get acquainted with Split Second over the coming months. "We are delighted for Julian and his team and wish them every success" concluded Colin. Springspeed Festival racer tickets. 27th April: Julie Willcox has been in touch to let us know about arrangements for racers' tickets at next week's Springspeed Festival at Shakespeare County Raceway. SCR have had their hands forced by a cock-up by their printer so tickets will only be available on the gate: "Gates will be open from 12:00 midday next Friday, 4th May, and all racer tickets will be on the gate", says Julie. "We apologise but this is due to circumstances completely beyond our control. If you sent an SAE then we will return it to you. ©Eurodragster.com "If you are planning on arriving at the track before midday next Friday then please contact me on 0121 355 8011 or 07050 108043 so that we can arrange your entry. After Tuesday of next week I will be at the track and so you can contact me on my mobile number above or on the track number which is 01789 720180. "Please also use the above numbers if you have any queries about tickets or anything else connected with the Springspeed Festival." Milams down but not out. 27th April: After another torrid Easter Thunderball, UK Top Methanol Funny Car racer Steph Milam says that anyone who thinks that lightning doesn't strike twice is wrong. "On Saturday I made a checkout pass, 7.19, not bad after the winter lay off", says Steph. "On the second pass it left well, I saw the shift light for which I had instructions to wait, then the belt let go. 6.90, not bad for a half pass. "The third run was on Easter Sunday. I saw both shift lights this time, it pulled hard at the top end, great pass, smooth as you like. 6.1239/235.84 then all hell broke loose. Flame flashed from under the bulkhead and straight between my legs. I went for the fire bottle lever, chutes and brakes - I think in that order, but it all happened fast. The fire went out and I stopped with a lot of people and vehicles round me. By the time my crew arrived the Paramedics had taken me away to the medical centre to cool down. ©Eurodragster.com "My thanks go to Nimbus Motorsport for my CarbonX underwear, Simpson for my race suit and Coldfire for the extinguishers, they all worked as they should and I emerged only slightly singed. The engine did not fare so well, a rod out each side and we say goodbye to a short motor. The explosion heard and felt by some of you and the flash fire caused body and cockpit damage. "The latest news is that we are working hard to get the body repaired and we sourcing parts to rebuild a motor, thank god the dollar rate is good. We have entered the FIA Main Event so keep your fingers crossed and if we don't make it, it won't be for the want of trying. "Finally my thanks to everybody who has phoned and dropped by to ask how I am. We will update our web site at www.shedevilracing.co.uk as soon as we can, time permitting." Bringing the new baby home. 27th April: Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor Air Sea Logistics Ltd has been in touch to thank Swedish Pro Stock racer Michael Malmgren for again choosing the company to transport his new Lahega-sponsored Jerry Bickel-built 2007 Pontiac GTO from the USA to Sweden. ©Eurodragster.com "Michael contacted us earlier this year to request our services", said Malcolm Francis of Air Sea Logistics Ltd. "In 2004 we shipped his then-new Pontiac Grand Am from the USA to Sweden so we were delighted to assist him again. Michael and his crew loaded the race car in a forty-foot container following the NHRA Gatornationals in Florida in March and it was then put on a vessel from Miami to Helsingborg in Sweden. The container was delivered to Michael's race shop last Friday and his team are now busy preparing it for this year's FIA European Pro Stock Championship. We wish Michael and his team the best of luck for this year's Championship. This isn't the only Pro Stock car that we have on the move from the USA at the moment - ore news on that soon. "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. "I gave Steve the Axeman name when he shoed the Skoda with a string of zero reaction times", says Jeff. "But to go rounds in Sportsman Et is hard and front wheel drive makes it a lot harder. If Steve keeps hitting zero lights then he will be a strong contestant. ©Eurodragster.com Nova Blaze 1 had slicks fitted during the winter and this change confirmed that the motor combination would runs in the fourteens - just load up the grip. I did get it down to 15.1 on street tyres but with the slicks fitted Martin ran a new Personal Best of 14.9 and consistent 1.9 sixty foot times to boot. I will now spend time making the chassis work better and source the parts needed to step the motor up as the tune is not good, but it is all I have to work with. The numbers the car has run will be hard to beat with stock engine parts except intake and carbs, front wheel drive, sll steel body, and stock suspension parts. Changes will be made to to get a tighter dial-in but funds are very short so Martin and Lisa will keep fighting rounds with this little hot rod with Axeman running shotgun. They just need the £ fairy to pay them a visit! "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." Swift snippets. 27th April: We were sorry to see Jan Arve Nygård's Corvette Pro Mod appear on our Jeff Bull Race Engines and Performance Parts-sponsored Swap Meet. Our good buddy Patrik Jacobsson of the European Pro Mod Association tells us that Jan Arve and the team cannot afford to run without sponsorship and that anyone wishing to purchase the car will get a good deal as it is capable of 6.2s. ©Eurodragster.com Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for sending us Version 6 of the official FIA Main Event entry list which you can view by clicking here. If you have any queries about FIA Main Event entry then please contact SPRC Club Secretary Paula Marshall by E-Mail at paula.marshall@btconnect.com or on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625). 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. Click here to find out more about the BDRHoF or for more USAutomotive information go to www.usautomotive.co.uk. ©Eurodragster.com Web site updates. 27th April: As promised earlier this week, Dutch Top Fuel Dragster racer Lex Joon's exclusive Racer Blog has been updated with Lex's answers to the first two questions sent by readers, this week's questionmeisters being Dave Jones and Tethys. You can find out about Top Fuel chassis and electronic management issues by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blog link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. ©Eurodragster.com FIA Main Event entry closing. 26th April: Racers in all classes, Pro and Sportsman, are reminded that tomorrow, 27th April, is the deadline for entry at normal fee to the FIA Main Event which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-28th May. Entry after tomorrow, if accepted, is liable to a penalty of up to one hundred per cent. You can find the entry forms for the FIA Main Event on the Entry Forms page of the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc or on the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se, or on the official European Championships web site at www.powerracing.eu. ©Eurodragster.com You can check out version 5 of the official FIA Main Event entry list by clicking here. If you have any queries about FIA Main Event entry then please contact SPRC Club Secretary Paula Marshall by E-Mail at paula.marshall@btconnect.com or on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625). Springspeed Festival entry list. 26th April: We are indebted to Julie Willcox for forwarding us the official entry list for next week's Springspeed Festival at Shakespeare County Raceway. ©Eurodragster.com You can view the entry list by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page and selecting the Springspeed Festival. 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. Tracey Cowen of Shakespeare County Raceway tells us that a number of SCR media accreditation applications have appeared to have gone astray. If you have applied for media accreditation at SCR and have not heard back then please E-Mail Tracey at tracy.cowen1@tesco.net or call her mobile 07734 851755. ©Eurodragster.com David Lloyd-Jones of Santa Pod Raceway says that racers wishing to hire Portaloos for the FIA Main Event and FIA European Finals can take advantage of a deal negotiated by Santa Pod with A Plant Accommodation for a Portaloo at a price of £100 plus VAT which includes cleaning. Orders must be placed two weeks before each event and you can find out more or place an order by contacting Darren Prentice at darren@santapod.com. 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. Web site updates. 26th April: The official web site of the above-mentioned Andy Carter has been updated with a report from team member Jan Broersma as well as an updated schedule of appearances including a display in London in July, about which more shortly. Check it out at www.andycarter.net. ©Eurodragster.com All better now... 25th April: UK Pro ET racer Vic Amato tells us that he and his Crew Chief Dave Barlow are fit and healthy and looking forward to the FIA Main Event. Why would he tell us this now? Because it wasn't quite like that at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball. "It all started in the chemist waiting to get a prescription for my sinusitis: hot and dizzy, pains in the head, I was just ready for four days' racing", says Vic. "Then up behind me walked Dave (aka Slim), also clutching a prescription. "What are you doing here?" I asked. "Oh I've got this boil", he replied. "Where?" I said loudly. "Well it's sort of in between my legs quite high up (We'll let you imagine the rest - Ed)". "Not good" I said, noticing that Dave was moving from one foot to the other with a rather wide gait. "My next stop was the chiropractor. I put my back out three times in the last month and could only just get my socks on with a fight. The chiropractor said "I know you are a bit mad if you drag race, but how are you going to drive that car with back shaped like a question mark and one shoulder two inches higher than the other?". Fifteen minutes and thirty pounds later she said "You are going to be sore for a couple of days, drink lots of water and be careful". I heard "Have a few big whiskies and forget about it" - normally works for me. "I took my son Ryan and his mate James to Santa Pod with me as I knew i would not be able to unload some of the heavy stuff when we got there. They were a great help. The next day Dave arrived, still with his wide gait and in some pain, unable to lay under the car without considerable discomfort. I could not sit down because standing up straight afterwards was agony. We spent the next days taking our antibiotics and painkillers and ripping the pee out of each other. "Then Nigel Holland arrived and asked if we could put up his tent for him. I left it to the boys who after twenty minutes called "Dad, we can't work it out". On my knees because I could not bend over, I gave up after ten minutes, telling Nigel that what his tent needed was "A quart of racing fuel and a match". Nigel directed us all from his wheelchair and the tent was up in ten minutes! I told him he was mad and going to be very cold camping, I gave him one of our sleeping bags so that he had two. The next morning he told me that I was right and that he'd been very cold and that he wouldn't be doing that again. ©Eurodragster.com "We all got better as the meeting passed. Getting in and out of the car was a challenge, but I don't think any of our fellow Pro ET racers noticed anything untoward in our pit. Nigel had a bad oil leak and had to drop out but did qualify #2 for a good part of the event so he was happy. "Dave and I are almost one hundred per cent now and looking forward to having a fit and healthy Main Event. As I type this Nigel Holland has just called to tell me we are both now showing as entered in the Main Event. Meanwhile we will be discussing the web site which Nigel is building for us, that's his job in the real world. He is looking for more of that work so he's the man if anyone else wants one. Nigel also tells me that he has "Put that tent on E-Bay". "I look forward to seeing all my Pro ET mates and the Santa Pod track staff soon, and thanks to Eurodragster for their dedication to our great sport (Thanks! - Ed)." Vic's web site at www.jhrimports.com has details of his business specialising in Japanese car imports as well as people carriers and 4x4s. 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. Back in the pits another clutch pack hit the bin and in went yet another pack and set-up, but upon starting the bike there was a nasty noise coming from the engine. Unable to find the cause of the noise the team took the decision to withdraw from meeting rather than risk further engine damage. ©Eurodragster.com Upon inspection of the engine in the workshop, it was found that #4 piston pin was bent and snapped in half, the small end bush was galled, and #1-3 piston pins were all cracked as well. 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. "The second round of the Outlaws will again be at Shakespeare County Raceway over the weekend 2nd-3rd June. This is the Yanks Weekend and always attracts a big entry and crowd. Bill Felstead of Felstead Race Cars is sponsoring us for this event with £100 and a trophy for the winner. I hope this will entice more of the Outlaws to come out and race. I am also negotiating a sponsorship deal for the round at York in August - more details of that event later." ©Eurodragster.com Big Bang Perfect Awards. 25th April: This weekend's Big Bang at Santa Pod Raceway is the second event in this year's Eurodragster.com Perfect Awards. £100 and a £100 bonus are on offer for perfect performance. The Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award has been reset to £50 after it was won by Junior Dragster racer Matthew Seamarks at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball. The noney will be awarded to the first racer this weekend to record a perfect Reaction Time of 0.000. The Award is open to all classes and is available during qualifying or eliminations, but will only be awarded for the first Perfect Light of the weekend. The Perfect Light Award is jointly presented by Eurodragster.com and high-performance hose and fitting manufacturer Speedflow whose web site you can find at www.speedflow.co.uk. ©Eurodragster.com The Eurodragster.com/LA Racing Parts Perfect ET Award has also been reset to £50 after it was won by Pro ET racer Keith Herbert at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball. The money will be awarded to the first racer this weekend to run to the thousandth on their index or dial-in. The Award is open to VW Pro, VW Sportsman, VW Alternate Engine and 9.50 Bike and is available during qualifying and eliminations, but will only be awarded for the first Perfect ET of the weekend. The Perfect ET Award is jointly presented by Eurodragster.com and performance supplier LA Racing Parts whose web site you can find at www.laracingparts.com. 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. Swift snippets. 25th April: Lizz McCarthy of Paul Marston Racing has been in touch to ask us to wish a big Happy 16th Birthday to Junior Dragster racer Matthew Seamarks. No sooner said than done Lizz, have a great day Matt. ©Eurodragster.com Web site updates. 25th April: As regular readers will be aware Brian Taylor is hard at work writing a book on the history of British drag racing entitled Crazy Horses - British Drag Racing's Heritage. Brian has written an author's diary which gives an account of what he has been up to so far, which you can find on Alan Currans' excellent Acceleration Archive at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk/crazy_horses/blog_01.html. Alan tells us that the plan is to update the page every month with news of Brian's progress and discoveries. ©Eurodragster.com Busy times at SCR. 24th April: With a mixture of sun, people and an assortment of road and race machinery it was another busy weekend for everyone attending Shakespeare County Raceway's second Public Track Day of the season, writes Jerry Cookson: With over 340 signed on over the weekend, the high spots from Saturday's events included Keith Cowie's first ever eight with the fearsome RB Motorsport Skyline GT-R32 and Steve Murty's record-breaking wheelstand with the Backdraft fire truck. With the track in excellent condition, building up through a series of test passes Keith's main focus for the day was achieving his first ever eight second quarter mile and when it came, boy did the earth rotate; 8.868 seconds at 161.45 mph setting both new personal and track record figures for import cars even though the 1200 bhp specially prepared OS Giken engine developed a misfire towards the end of the run. With television cameras rolling, York Dragway's Steve Murty demonstrated the art of a controlled wheelstand by taking the Backdraft fire truck past his existing record of 547 metres. With flame belching from the truck's fire stacks, Steve drove the truck well down into the shutdown area to a new record of 600 metres. With the Springspeed meet at Shakey a mere fourteen days away, several National Championship teams took the opportunity to gain some early event track knowledge. This included the 9.50 Bikes of Lee Baxter (9.41) and Chris Jones (9.52), Nigel Barker's Super Street 'Busa (9.2), Harrison Brown driving dad's Super Street Thatadoo Camaro (hoping to run three classes this year) and Nick Gay's Metro pick-up. APIRA Tech wizard Simon Day spent his first seat time in fifteen years in Tony Smith's Cunning Plan Minivan and forgot everything he had previously learnt and cruised to a seventeen-second ticket. Sunday was even busier with the Jap Racer Day series taking to the track for the first of five outings this year. Topping the timing league table for the Unlimited category was Steve Guirey's Type R Scooby. Sporting a 2.5 litre SMG engine kitted out with AET turbo and Piper Cams, Steve was in fact the only driver to run under ten seconds twice, at 9.747 and 9.814. Second quickest was MGT Racing's Dean Buxton. Running a full spec engine with an HKS fuel system, turbo and a triple plate clutch, Dean carded a best of 11.422 with plenty more to come. Team Tomlinson and Farrer ran 11.577 from their RePerformance Centre 2.6 R32 Skyline. Quickest of the Front Wheel Drive racers was Paul Jones with the TDi North Honda Civic Type-R following a couple of consistent 11.9s. Second and third quickest with two 12.1s and a 12.52 to their credit were the Honda Civics of Scott Whitelaw and Guy Chamberlain of CPL Racing fame. A popular addition to the Public weekends is the Shakespeare County Street Challenge. Taking the Four Cylinder category was Danny Clarke in a WRX STi with a time of 12.22. The Six Cylinder award went to Kris Gilbert's twelve-second Nissan Skyline R33 GTR whilst the eight-cylinder trophy fell into the lap of Craig McManus for his low tens in an '83 Chevy Camaro. Quickest bike was, of course, a Suzuki, E Stannard's with a time of 9.51. The next Public Track Day is the Super Street Car Shootout on 19th-20th May. ©Eurodragster.com Swift snippets. 24th April: We are indebted to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for forwarding us version 2 of the official FIA Main Event entry list, which you can check out by clicking here. If you have any queries about FIA Main Event entry, which closes this Friday (27th), then please contact Paula by E-Mail at paula.marshall@btconnect.com or on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625). ©Eurodragster.com Paul Watson of Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor DynoSpeed Developments has been in touch to congratulate Phil Leamon on his win in Comp Bike at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball. "We have £50 waiting for Phil", says Grumpy. "A big congratulations to all the DSD riders in 9.50 Bike, especially Fast Harry on his superb win at Easter." 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. Steve Stringfellow's Herald now has the points lead (2800), with Russ Pursley in second (2600) and Al Williamson in third (2500). With fifty seven cars signed-up for the series it's certainly going to be busy! For a full list of competitors, cars and points visit www.hotrodgazette.com. ©Eurodragster.com Web site updates. 24th April: The UK's Showtime Racing Fuel Funny Car team have relaunched their web site at www.showtimeracinguk.com. The very nicely-designed new site includes news, photo galleries and video clips, details on the car and team, team history, sponsor page, and a lot more. "We are delighted with the job which Nigel Holland of Mantisweb has done on the new site, and we would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a web site", driver John Spuffard told Eurodragster.com. 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 Reserve Photographer Peter Donaldson has updated his Fotopic gallery site with his full set of pictures from Saturday's Test and Tune at Shakespeare County Raceway. You can check out Peter's pictures at peterdonaldson5305.fotopic.net. ©Eurodragster.com Also updating a Fotopic site is Sue Whyte of drag racing sponsor Motorshack, who has posted some great off-track shots from the Autotrader Easter Thunderball at suewhyte.fotopic.net. To see the Thunderball pictures click on Motorsport events, Racers and Shows for 22nd April. 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. Put the date in your diary now, as this will be one summer party not to be missed. ©Eurodragster.com Get your education at the track. 23rd April: UK Super Pro ET racer Wayne Nicholson has been in touch with a heart-warming story for anyone who thinks that kids learn nothing at the race track. "My twelve-year-old son son Joseph was given some science homework to do, the assignment was about friction and forces", says Wayne. "He based his presentation on drag racing and related it to tyre compounds, temperatures, centre of gravity etc. I knew that Joe had been asking a lot of questions recently, but presumed that it was because we were out with the new car and he was naturally more interested as he was getting older. Joe handed in his work and it was duly marked, and the result was a 7A which is the top mark available!" ©Eurodragster.com It turns out that Wayne's fourteen-year-old son Gareth has also been taking a quiet interest. "We were driving somewhere today and we started talking about the race car and racing in general", says Wayne. "I was again surprised by how much he had taken in, as he was referring to the datalogger we use and the suggestions he was making. It probably won't be long before I am asked to step aside and start crewing on my own car! "Ain't drag racing great?" 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. GRP Connecting Rods are world leaders in manufacturing billet aluminium and titanium connecting rods. This year they celebrate their seventh year in Denver in a climate-controlled shop employing thirteen people in both product development and manufacturing. GRP Connecting Rods continue to supply high-quality billet aluminium connecting rods for some of the fastest race engines in the world. ©Eurodragster.com "Brian and the team at GRP have the knowledge and skill to work with racers and help them to determine exactly what they require, and to deliver the goods on time every time", says Steve Turner. You can find the GRP Connecting Rods web site at www.grpconrods.com. MT runners reap the benefits. 23rd April: Mickey Thompson tyre users had great success at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball which as well as the UK Championship season kicked off Mickey Thompson's generous contingency sponsorship scheme for 2007. ©Eurodragster.com "Jon Morton took the Super Gas title in his '69 Big Block Camaro and was the first to claim the contingency money", says Lee Child of Eurodragster.com Link sponsor LA Racing Parts. "Jon now takes the points lead into the second round of the Championship and this is a great testament to a dedicated team and a great tyre. Exactly in the same position is Neil Grant, one of the most respected Sportsman racers, who took holeshot Super Street title over Sweden's Jenny Gustafsson. The Swedish Dodge Challenger was also on Mickey Thompson ET Drags slicks and it was a close final, 10.91 to a lose-out 10.90. "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. "Thorpe specialises in providing life skills and personal development training in a residential setting for people with learning disabilities and Autistic Spectrum Disorders", said Carla. "The centre provides its users with a safe and caring environment that encourages independence." ©Eurodragster.com Darren got to meet the team and sit in the team's brilliant red Firebird, a spot usually reserved for former UK National Super Gas Champion Conrad Stanley. "Let's face it, we were all as keen as mustard to get back to the tracks and get racing again, but this guy absolutely made our day" said Panther Racing UK Marketing and Media Manager Wayne Corbitt. "I gave Carla my card and promised to forward a couple of photos from the weekend and in return received a great E-Mail thanking the team and letting us know that Panther Racing UK had made Darren's day. "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. Swift snippets. 23rd April: UK Top Fuel Bike racer Ian Turburville would be pleased to hear from anyone who is leaving the UK for Europe after the SPRC Summernationals and who could transport a bike to Alastaro and Gardermoen and then back to the UK. If you can help then please drop Turbo a line at topfuelturbo@ntlworld.com. ©Eurodragster.com Frost's thanks. 23rd April: It all turned out well in the end for Real Steel Street Eliminator UK racer Andy Frost as he won the class at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball and in the process set a new speed record which Andy tells us makes his Vauxhall the world's fastest pump gas street-legal car. Andy asked us to thank all of those who are involved with the Redvictor2 team in 2007. "These include Altiss Engineering, Mickey Thompson Tires, Castrol Edge, Hilton Auto Gas Services, Electromotive Engine Controls, Nimbus Motorsports, Powerpour, Cam Auto Developments, Street Rodding In Motion, Pacet Fans, LA Racing Parts and Knight Racing Services", says Andy. "Special mentions must go to Jon Webster and the guys at Webster Race Engineering for going beyond the call of duty for us once again, my underworked (now) crew of Tony Grayston, Rob Kearns, Deb and Gary Frost, and my lucky charms Arthur and Alex who haven't seen me lose yet. Please keep coming to watch. ©Eurodragster.com "A big Thank You also to all the fans and supporters of the team who E-Mailed, called or texted me after the weekend, and finally to the Street Eliminator sponsors who keep supporting the class we race in. "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. "Drag Race Engineering were looking to raise their profile in Sportsman drag racing and to let people know what my company can do. Paul needed a ride so DRE will be principal sponsor of the Pro Mod Vauxhall Calibra which Paul acquired from Mick Cheley over the winter from Mick Cheley. The Calibra is in the Drag Race Engineering workshops at the moment having its 555 ci Chevrolet Big Block fitted and will hopefully be ready for the next UK Championship round at Shakespeare County Raceway on 5th-7th May. I have seen how hard Paul has worked over the past couple of seasons helping other drivers, he even gave up his seat in the Whoopass Monza at the end of last season so as I had a shot at the National Pro ET title. I am simply repaying the favor by having my company Drag Race Engineering get this Calibra together so Paul has a ride in Super Pro ET for the rest of the season." ©Eurodragster.com "Firstly I must thank Gary Springford for this incredibly generous deal", says Paul Marston. "I am humbled and most grateful .It's true that the Pro Stock motor in the PT Bruiser is going to take time to put back together and it's absolutely the worst timing for such a major breakage. With the Drag Race Driving School so busy, there was no available ride and I was looking at crewing for the next three or four months! The ex-Pro Mod Calibra was scheduled to appear later during the season, a project for the Summer break, but as Gary Springford suggested it just makes sense to bring it forward. "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." Web site updates. 23rd April: Thanks to Chris Blows for letting us know that the official web site of the UK's Nobby Hills Racing Fuel Funny Car team has been updated with a video clip of the new Houndog Fuel FC being fired up for the first time. Turn up those speakers and check it out at www.nhracing.com/gallery.htm. ©Eurodragster.com Peter stepped over to Shakespeare County Raceway on Saturday to photograph the first day of the weekend's Test and Tune. You can check out Peter's pictures, presented in association with American Car Imports, by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Last week for FIA Main Event entry. 21st April: Racers in all classes, Pro and Sportsman, are reminded that next Friday, 27th April, is the deadline for entry at normal fee to the FIA Main Event which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-28th May. Entry after this date, if accepted, is liable to a penalty of up to one hundred per cent. You can find the entry forms for the FIA Main Event on the Entry Forms page of the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc or on the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se, or on the official European Championships web site at www.powerracing.eu. ©Eurodragster.com You can check out version 1 of the official FIA Main Event entry list by clicking here. If you have any queries about FIA Main Event entry then please contact SPRC Club Secretary Paula Marshall by E-Mail at paula.marshall@btconnect.com or on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625). 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. "We've got the ex-Jungle.com Funny Car from Tony Betts and this year we're going to run it as a Fuel Altered with a Model T body and call it Who Dares Wins", Matthew told Eurodragster.com. "We've had the car for two and a half weeks and we are working to have it ready to run with the NFAA at the Summernationals in June, with some test runs at Shakespeare County Raceway beforehand." ©Eurodragster.com Bill Felstead, who is preparing the Altered at Felstead Race Cars in Romford, told us that he expects the car to be complete within five weeks or so. "I've had to modify the chassis to get Matt into it but now everything is in place - we just have to screw it all together", he said. "We'll be running smaller kit than came with the car, with a tune-up from the USA designed for direct drive. The motor is 496 ci with Veney heads, and we've got shedloads of spares - a big order has just come in from Good Vibrations in California. We've got two engines, two injectors, I've never had this much stuff to play with and I can't wait! With all these parts we can afford to wring its neck." 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. Thanks to Yvonne Tramm for sending us the post-Autotrader Easter Thunderball standings in the 2007 Santa Pod Racers Club Championships. You can check out the SPRC standings on our Simpson Race Products-sponsored Points Standings page by clicking here or by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. ©Eurodragster.com Further to Monday's news item, Real Steel Street Eliminator racer Ron Haslett tells us that Matthew Wright of Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor Gleeson Wright Security has donated the running costs for his weekend of passenger rides at Santa Pod on 9th-10th June. "Thanks Matt, I'm still trying to get my head round the call", says Ron. Ron's offer of passenger rides for Santa Pod Raceway race officials on Saturday 9th June in return for a donation to charity is still open: if you are interested then call Ron on 07710 403378 or E-Mail ron_haslett@hotmail.com. 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. Web site updates. 21st April: All Folked Up webmaster Dan has been in touch to let us know that he has moved the web site's forums to a dedicated UK drag bike forum site at www.ukdragbike.co.uk. ©Eurodragster.com No FIA at Drag Challenge. 20th April: Norsk Dragracing Gardermoen have announced that this year's Drag Challenge, which takes place at Amcar International Raceway on 3rd-5th August, will not be an FIA European Championship round. The Club cite the loss of a sponsor preventing the finance to run the FIA classes this year, but they hope to return to the FIA European Championship for next season. ©Eurodragster.com The Drag Challenge will still feature the FIM/UEM European Drag Bike Championship, Toyo Scandinavian Dragracing Series and the domestic Norwegian Championship, and Professional racers are invited to the event to make demonstration or test passes. We suspect that this will not be the last word on this particular subject and we will of course bring you more information as we receive it. Big Bang update. 20th April: We are indebted to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for sending us the final official entry list for the Big Bang, which takes place at Santa Pod on 28th-29th April and which is a Championship round for VW Pro, VW Sportsman, VW Alternate Engine, Super Modified, 9.50 Bike, Street Eliminator, and Outlaw Anglia. You can view the entry list by clicking here. ©Eurodragster.com Paula has asked us to inform racers that Santa Pod's gates open for the Big Bang at 12:00 noon next Friday, 27th April. Racers are also reminded that to run at Big Bang they will need to bring both Competition and DVLC licences. Swift snippets. 20th April: German Top Methanol Dragster racer Peter Schöfer will be putting circuit fans straight at the Hockenheimring this weekend. "The German Touring Car Championship season opener is held at Hockenheim and we have been invited to make a demonstration run right before the DTM race starts", says team member Gittli Koller. "The place will be packed and we are looking forward to it. The race will be broadcast live by two of the main German broadcasters - maybe they will catch us if they are quick enough." ©Eurodragster.com Nobby Hills Racing have announced that Junior Olley has left the team and that Jason Phelps will be the driver of the new Houndog Fuel Funny Car. Licencing commences shortly. You can find out more on the Nobby Hills Racing web site at www.nhracing.com. 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. Web site updates. 20th April: In the latest entry in his exclusive Racer Blog, Easter Thunderball Pro Fuel Shootout winner Lex Joon gives more of the inside story from the MPM Top Fuel pit at last week's race. You can check out Lex's Blog by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blog link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. ©Eurodragster.com UK National Championship standings. 19th April: Yvonne Tramm and our very own Simon have forwarded us the post Autotrader Easter Thunderball points standings in the 2006 UK National Championships. ©Eurodragster.com You can view the UK National points on our Points Standings pages sponsored by Simpson Race Products by clicking here, or by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. 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. Santa Pod's Main Event VIP opportunities. 18th April: Santa Pod Raceway is delighted to announce details of their special prize draw for one lucky person to win a passenger ride in the exhilarating Santa Pod Raceway two-seater dragster. Anybody who books a minimum of two VIP hospitality tickets for the Main Event, by Friday May 11th will be entered into the FREE prize draw to win the passenger ride in front of over 25,000 Drag Racing fans as part of their VIP experience. The winner will be picked and notified during the week commencing 18th May. ©Eurodragster.com Adding to the whole VIP experience, everybody with a VIP hospitality ticket will be able to test their reaction times on the Santa Pod drag racing simulator against the legendary Top Fuel Dragster pilot Barry Sheavills and Fireforce 3 Jet Funny Car driver Martin Hill. This exclusive opportunity will take place in your own hospitality marquee during the Main Event. VIP Packages for the Main Event, being held from 25th to 28th May, are available from £119 plus VAT per person. For those that book before Friday 20th April, an early bird discount package of £99 plus VAT per person applies. For more information and to book VIP Hospitality tickets, please contact Donna on 01234 782828 or visit www.santapod.com. 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. Steve said "We were very pleased with the response from last season's Burnout Bonanza sponsorship and have this season increased our drag racing involvement with advertising at SCR." Steve is also in discussion with SCR about staging a Corvette Challenge to be incorporated in the Yanks weekend. Please contact Steve for details. ©Eurodragster.com The Outlaw Anglia class still has opportunities for main and associate sponsors for the 2007 season. With the first 2 rounds fast approaching please contact Paul Wright for information. JE Pistons sponsor Peter Schöfer Racing. 18th April: Peter Schöfer Racing is proud to announce and welcome a new sponsor on board, JE Pistons. With over 50 years of experience JE Pistons is the industry leader in forged racing pistons. JE makes pistons for vehicles racing in ALMS, NHRA, IHRA, NASCAR, AMA Superbike, AMA Supercross, and the FIA European Drag Racing Series. ©Eurodragster.com Gittli Koller said "We went to JE Pistons' shop in California and it was very impressive. The company is huge and the standards in quality control are very high. It was amazing to see how carefully the parts we use are built." 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. First blood: Fast Harry and DSD. 17th April: Autotrader Easter Thunderball 9.50 Bike winner Julian Harris says that a lot of pre-season work and testing was behind his first win. "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. "We now had plenty of power and the bike ran 9.2-second time on a cold day in March, equalling my personal best time. ©Eurodragster.com "We were off the pace in qualifying at the Easter Thunderball mainly due to adding weight to slow the bike down a bit. This changed the clutch and suspension set-up, but by the first elimination round we were back on course. Monday was wheel-to-wheel racing all day, looking at each other at 140 mph side-by-side as we crossed the finish line. Fantastic! I got my first win and it means so much because this is a very competitive class where it always comes down to a few hundredths of a second. "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: For the first round we are expecting to see the return of the NSCC record holder Russ Pursley with his phenomenally quick Dutton Phaeton. The Chevy-powered projectile posted a 9.6 at Santa Pod last year and Russ was at the Leeds Cruise this weekend proving that his car is a streetable as it is quick. We hear that Nigel Parkin, whose 502 ci Jaguar XJS has also run into the nines, may be unable to compete this weekend due to a suspected dropped valve. The car is over at series sponsor John Sleath Race Cars where an assesment of the damage will take place this week. ©Eurodragster.com Many of the drivers are sticking with the tried and trusted combinations of last season, with a number of cars running down on the eleven-ten second second border. Graham Bell (427 ci Mustang) and Steve Stringfellow (400 ci Herald), who finished first and second last year, are both sticking with the combinations that they proved last year, whilst John Osborne will doubtless be continuing his tinkering with the nitrous on his 427 ci 100E which saw him dip into the tens at the last event of 2006. Al Williamson, who had a season developing a new injected big block in his '54 Chevy truck following a very succesful 2005 campaign, also looks set to be a major contender. A number of the guys from Riverside Rod and Custom have stepped up their game with some winter tuning, Barry Woodford having run a 12.6 in his Ford Pop at the first shakedown meet of the year and Dave Sidaway still getting the handle on his 502 ci Fordson van. 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! Swift snippets. 17th April: Eurodragster.com Swap Meet sponsors Jeff and Belinda Bull have been in touch to ask us to say a big Happy Birthday to Mick (The Fish) Smith. "Thanks to Mick for all his help and support, we don't know where we'd be without him", say Jeff and Belinda. "We hope he has a great day". We second that, have a good day Mick. ©Eurodragster.com Web site updates. 17th April: The official web site of the UK's BA Racing Pro Mod team has been updated with a report and pictures from the Easter Thunderball. Check it out at www.b-a-racing.com. ©Eurodragster.com If you've ever wondered what it's like to drive a blown-alcohol Pro Mod then Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor Andy Robinson's web site has been updated with an on-board video clip from the Easter Thunderball together with some pictures from the race, which you can find under Racing - Current at www.robinson-race-cars.co.uk. ARRC's E-Bay shop at stores.ebay.co.uk/Andy-Robinson-Race-Cars has also been updated with some souvenirs from the team's nitrous days. See for yourself... 17th April: Guests of Drag Racing USA - The Trip To America 2007 might be interested to know that NHRA's first visit of the season to the magnificent Las Vegas Motor Speedway took place this past weekend and produced some memorable moments. While Mike Ashley clocked Funny Car's fastest-ever speed, 334.32 mph, the longest qualifying streaks in Top Fuel and Funny Car both ended. John Force failed to make the field for the first time since 1987, ironically on the return to competition of his three remaining team cars following the death of Eric Medlen. Team driver Robert Hight made amends by winning the event. Doug Kalitta also missed the cut after 164 consecutive Top Fuel qualifications. Brandon Bernstein won in Top Fuel, Greg Anderson in Pro Stock. ©Eurodragster.com The Trip To America will attend NHRA's second Las Vegas race, the AC Delco Nationals, followed a week later by the Auto Club Finals at Pomona. These two races will host the final-four shootout of NHRA's exciting new Countdown To The Championship in each Pro category. The Trip's guests will enjoy official premium seating and hospitality at both events plus an array of interesting attractions, along with quality hotels, car hire and flights arranged by Trailfinders, the UK's leading independent travel company. The Trip's manager/host will guide and assist throughout, a particular benefit for guests making their first US visit. 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." MS109E is available in 5-, 15-, 30- and 54-gallon drums. Technical questions on application and use of Motorsport 109 or 109E can be directed to VP's Technical Department at (+1) 812-878-2025 or tech@vpracingfuels.com. Questions regarding purchase and delivery can be directed to the appropriate VP regional distribution centre, each of which is listed with contact information on VP's web site at www.vpracingfuels.com. ©Eurodragster.com A wheelie great weekend. 16th April: Carla Pittau says that she and Rick McCann enjoyed the Autotrader Easter Thunderball immensely despite another overnight trip home to change an engine in their Heaven & Hell Camaro: 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! The following day we managed to get past Marius Blackburn, Vic Amato and Jerry Smith to land in the final, something unexpected after the troubled interlude. And here unfortunately things didn't work out according to the script, and so we are considering protesting the result. ©Eurodragster.com The reason is that everyone knows that in all movies when the underdog blows up his engine and he's out of the race, when he goes home or wherever he meets an old geezer, who used to be the god of engine building before Noah was born, with an ancient engine which used to be the best during the Pleistocene races rusting in a shed. He then installs the engine in five minutes by waving a big spanner in the general direction of the engine bay, gets back to the race just in time and invariably wins against all odds, gets the girl, the big golden trophy and the big money. I didn't really want to get the girl, but I would have liked the big money, the big golden trophy and the accurate compliance to the script. I am now searching the internet for the original script for the Easter Thunderball movie, and as soon as I find it that will be my proof of foul play, and I will be marching to see the Race Officials, explain the whole thing, our protest will be upheld and we'll get the big trophy, the big money but not the girl. If any of you is interested in the girl we could agree a price for that (Rick need not apply). 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. "In our final qualifying session on Sunday the '56 shook the tyres so hard that it tore the valve right out of the inner tube, almost immediately deflating the tyre. Back in the pits and in relatively quick time me and our kid ripped out both tubes returning instead to our 2005 tubeless state...now, where's that beadlock catalogue (pauses to dial Andy Robinson Race Cars). ©Eurodragster.com "We were frustrated not to go all the way (again, not for the first time) and given the number of laps that the class was afforded the weekend was frantic and the racing was closer than it has been for a long time with more than its fair share of upsets. "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: In the first round an ignition trigger had worked lose and at that stage, unbeknown to the team, the damage was already done. Pre-ignition had caused several cracks in the crank cases during the run. The loose crank trigger was spotted and replaced and the bike sounded fine during the warm-up. We were looking forward to giving a back-on-form Chris Hall a run for his money. However Chris' bike stopped after the burnout and he was unable to get it started, so we had a bye run into the final. ©Eurodragster.com It was during the bye run that the engine let go in a big way.The cracks were found in both halves of the cases and indeed the two halves had even separated far enough to get a hand inside! Therefore we couldn't therefore make the final - sorry. 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. Simson will be on-site with their Trackside Service trailer at most events to support racers with information and safety products. For more information regarding Simpson or the sponsorship deal contact Jan Phersson at jp@simpsonshop.se or call +46 70 66 27 400. ©Eurodragster.com Charity passenger rides on offer. 16th April: Real Steel Street Eliminator UK racer Ron Haslett is again offering passenger rides in his wild Cortina to benefit the Macmillan Cancer Trust and is offering rides to race officials for a donation. Ron is also looking for the help of Eurodragster.com readers to make it a viable proposition for the charity. "As lot of you may rember we took passengers down the track at last year's Classic Ford Day", says Ron. "We are going to do it again this year but with a slight twist. We will be giving the usual passenger rides on Sunday 10th June but I will be going up to Santa Pod on Saturday 9th June. I would like to offer to take any Santa Pod's crew down the track on the Saturday for a donation. I will make five runs and it will be first come first served, not how much you donate. ©Eurodragster.com "Now for the begging bit: due to changes in the law we have to raise our expenses separately. We think that we will need to raise around £500 to cover fuel and nitrous for the weekend. We will do the same as last year, if anyone who makes a donation has stickers we will put them on the car. Powerpoint Communications have agreed to come down and film the madness, so come on it's all for a good cause - Macmillan Cancer Support." 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. Swift snippets. 16th April: Lizz McCarthy of Paul Marston Racing has been in touch to ask whether we agree that UK Wild Bunch racer Chris Hartnell and Swedish Top Methanol FC racer Freddy Fagerström might have been separated at birth. Given that both are adept at showmanship, share a passion for flames, and have reasonably similar hairstyles and facial furniture we think can see Lizz's point. But if Lizz is right then was Chris originally Swedish or was Freddy originally English? Theories on a postcard to the usual address... ©Eurodragster.com Chris Blows has been in touch with the great news that the Nobby Hills Racing team fired up the new Houndog Fuel Funny Car for the first time yesterday (Sunday). Chris says that there will be more news soon but in the meantime you can check out the team's official web site at www.nhracing.com. Editor's note: Could Lyn Everitt and Matthew Wright please get in contact with Tog at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com. 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. Qualifying was getting extremely tight, with the top fourteen qualifying in the 9.5s and of course an extremely heavy sprinkling of breakouts, Fast Harry pulling in a 9.2 on his aspirated Bandit. Steve Coombs put in an appearance in #1 spot at the start of the day with a 9.50 but was knocked into #2 at last try by a blistering and consistent Jason Macan in turn unceremoniously chucking Carl Atkinson into #3 position. It's hello in #4 spot from Ed Smiley, now pleased that dad Tony no longer indiscriminately removes vast amounts of parts from his bike between runs. Dad who has his own problems to deal with has left the younger part to it - what was all that extra oil for Ed? Richard Sawatzki, last year's Championship #2, finished the day bumped into #5. ©Eurodragster.com Sunday - can't believe it, the sun's still shining with a gentle breeze, it's obviously going to be more of the same! Boss now mastering the new progressive kit, commenting "I can't believe I've never done this before", soared into the #1 spot with a 9.5051/143 just nicking in front of Jason Macan's 9.5058/142. Good job the Pod's new timing system is to four decimal places now (Not when you're the one typing it all up - Ed) and of course that's how tight the field was at this event. Only two qualifiers today then into the first round of eliminations. 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. Baldie continues Funny business. 15th April: Finnish Funny Bike racer Asko Määttä says that he spent the winter thinking about radical changes to his Baldie's Gun III over the off-season, but that after some serious thought and discussions with son Crew Chief Mika he decided to carry on as before. "I have invested such a lot on the race bike in the last couple of years", says Asko. "Electronics (too much to count, anyway thanks to Connie, Schnitz Racing), a new turbo system by Pro Turbo Systems with a control unit by ourselves, nitrous dry/wet system, fuel system and many other parts which we must use as a working combination. ©Eurodragster.com "That's why we have decided to concentrate to get the Suzuki GSX Funny Bike going down the track as it should with all the stuff we've invested. I did a complete overhaul on the engine before last year's Finnish Finals, and over the next few weeks we'll inspect and renew the electrics and the blow-through fuel system. "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. "Quarry Motors are BMW specialists established in 1989 as a family business based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire", says Wayne. "The company has gone from strength to strength over the years and has a very well-equipped workshop with staff that know all you need to know about servicing and repairing of your BMW: their diagnostic equipment alone shows the amount of investment. The other side to Quarry Motors is their huge parts opperation. They can supply anything from a headlamp to a full engine, new or used, for almost any BMW. They have a daily packing and shipping service which literally covers the world to places as far away as Thailand! You can imagine that in order to supply parts regularly worldwide they have a massive stock of both new and used parts, so getting something for your 3 Series the next day shouldnt be a problem! ©Eurodragster.com "Neil at Quarry Motors is a big motorsport fan and real