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30th April: Julie Willcox and Jerry Cookson have been in touch with the latest news about this weekend's Springspeed Festival at Shakespeare County Raceway.
First up is the final version of the official entry list for the event which you can check out by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link and selecting the Springspeed Festival.
All racer tickets have been sent out with the exception of late entries and those who asked for their tickets to be left on the gate.
Gates open at 12:00 midday this Friday. Racers may arrive earlier but will have to park up in the approach road.
SCR will have a jet dryer this weekend.
The organisers had hoped to have power in the pits this weekend, but after what happened at Easter there have been problems finding a company willing to do the power. SCR are still hopeful of getting something sorted for the Open Sport Nationals in August. "Apologies to all for not getting it in place for this meeting, but we have done our best", says Julie.
Advance spectator tickets are available up to 12:00 midday Friday by calling 01789 414119 during office hours. Ticket prices are:
Saturday advance £13 / gate £15
Sunday advance £18 / gate £20
Monday advance £18 / gate £20
Two days advance £33 / gate £35
Weekend advance £38 / gate £40
Children under sixteen are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets include camping, parking and pit access. Strictly no dogs allowed on site.
Additional racer tickets are still available up to midday Friday again by calling 01789 414119 during office hours.
The pit plan and Saturday's provisional running order will be posted here shortly.
©Eurodragster.com
Dave Beck has been in touch to let us know that along with the Racepak and MSD/MC4 win money of £40 and £20 respectively, MTC are also adding to the contingency pot again in 2008 with £25 for a win in Super Street Bike, Comp Bike and Funny Bike if using MTC pistons and of course running stickers and purchasing through Dave Beck Racing. All decals can be picked up from Dave Beck at Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend.
Glenn Ramsden of UK Event Safety has asked racers to check their fire extinguishers in readiness for the forthcoming season's meetings. "Whilst most people have been extremely co-operative in the past with this and other safety matters, things have started to slip a little with some teams", says Glenn. "Not to worry, these things happen but the extinguishers are there for a reason as we all know. Think of it this way: your life may depend on the team next to you having their extinguisher to hand, to help you out when the sticky stuff flies! It's a fact of life that fires do happen, always at a time when you're not ready for them, so use your head, get a proper fire extinguisher, and put it out in the pits!
"Most teams clearly understand the need to protect not only the race vehicle but also your transporter, mobile home, awning and the rest of the venue. If it goes wrong there's nothing quite like being able to hit a fire very quickly, otherwise it will hit you - very quickly!"
"We would like to thank everyone for being so understanding about the role that we fulfil, it's not often we are in a position to bring glad tidings but, as the saying goes, someone has to do it. Here's wishing everyone the very best of luck for the 2008 season, stay safe! We will be checking the pits at Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend: we'll pop into your pit area to say hello, it's OK we won't bite!"
Read for Champs.
30th April: Heather Bond has been in touch from Australia to let us know that ex-pat UK
Top Fuel Dragster racer Steve Read will will be contesting the Nitro Champs at Western Sydney International Dragway this Friday
and Saturday (2nd-3rd May):
At the last round, the SummerNationals in February, we damaged a rear main in the first round so we did a quick change using our spare motor for the semis and although we won three rods gave way in the shutdown area so we were one engine short of running the final. It was so upsetting for us but then that's racing.
©Eurodragster.com
We launched our web site at www.readspeedracing.com.au for the Summernationals where you can view the results from qualifying and eliminations for all Group 1 classes. The web site is still a work in progress but we will again be doing live results - or as quick as Dan can type - from the Nitro Champs. Bearing in mind that we are nine hours ahead, our scheduled qualifying times are 5:00 pm, 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm so you will still be able to watch in your daytime.
Picture courtesy and ©John Van Daal
Allman takes care of the Bangs.
30th April: Further to our Swift Snippet of 15th April,
Wayne Allman of the Intergalactic Custom Shop tells us that he was at the Goodwood Festival of Speed Press Day to look after and fire up Dean Butler's
Flathead-powered Charles Bang Special.
"I ran up the Flattie four times through the day for the journalists and the little slingshot sounded strong", says Wayne. "The car ran in the tens in the 1960s and managed an eleven at Shakey a couple of years ago when Dean flew in original owner/driver Charles Bang who got the wheels up!
©Eurodragster.com
"Lord March said in his speech that Tommy Ivo's Showboat four Buick-engined slingshot would be attending along with the Glass Slipper, one of Don Garlits' Swamp Rats and one of Art Chrisman's cars. There are others to be confirmed for the Cacklefest which is great news for anyone who like me is into Nostalgia dragsters!"
Goodwood have promised us more details about the line-up at July's Festival of Speed but have yet to come back to us.
Picture courtesy and ©Goodwood Photo Library
Swift snippets.
30th April: Markus Münch tells us that the weekend's Test and Tune at Luckau was a great event. "Tom Tinndahn ran good numbers on the eighth mile", says Markus. "Danny Bellio damaged his Top Methanol FC body a bit, but will be fixed for the Main Event. Many new PBs were run, great new cars and bikes where there, it was great for German drag racing. Thanks to the MSTO for holding this event. The Dragstripper's pictures are to be seen at dragstripper.smugmug.com/gallery/4817759_tYbs5#P-1-12 and dragstripper.smugmug.com/gallery/4826471_gB9fE#287157270_CZMUr."
©Eurodragster.com
We understand that Sweden's Håkan Fällström will be filling the seat of Knut Söderquist's Top Fuel Dragster at the FIA Main Event after the termination of the deal between Knut and Eurodragster.com sponsor Derek Flynn.
Wayne Colliver writes to announce the completion of his slingshot, which is headed for the Wild Bunch and
Supercharged Outlaws and then Pro ET. The car was built by Roy Wilding and packs a blown and injected
Ford Crossflow. The car is pictured outside the premises of Wayne's employers
Apex Lifts who have agreed to sponsor the car.
"Thanks to Apex Lifts and also thanks to my family, friends and especially my dad for all the help", says
Wayne.
Mick 'The Fish' Smith has put the legendary UK race car Money Hungry up for sale. The early 1970s Pro Stock which most recently saw action in Pro ET and Sportsman ET is on sale as a roller and you can find out more in the Cars For Sale section on our Jeff Bull Race Engines-sponsored Swap Meet.
Eurodragster.com News sponsor Derek Flynn has asked us to say Happy Queen's Day to all of his friends in The Netherlands. We are very happy to do so and we would like to add our own good wishes to all of Eurodragster.com's Dutch readers.
Also getting in touch with good wishes is Tig Napier who has asked us to wish a big Happy Birthday to Cath Napier. We sure can, Tig: have a lovely day Cath.
The real Big Bang!
30th April: UK Super Modified racer Craig Gibbs is working with a new set-up in the Gibbs family's seven-second Obsession Camaro in 2008. The major change is a clutch pedal which necessitates a whole new style of driving. Craig wrote to let us know how he got on at Big Bang at the weekend and to thank those who have helped the Obsession team:
I spent all day Friday and into the the early hours of Saturday morning trying to get Obsession ready for Big Bang. After testing at a Run What You Brung a couple of weeks back, I found a couple of issues with the car - mostly the brakes. The master cylinder had given up on us. Thanks to Andy and Kate Robinson, who had a master cylinder coming in on a shipment two days before the event, I felt there was suffucient time to get it fitted and have the car loaded and ready to go by mid Friday morning.
But you know what they say about best laid plans. Fitting the master cylinder highlighted another problem - the linelock. At 5.00 on Friday afternoon I took a trip down to Andy Robinson Race Cars to pick up a new line lock solenoid. In the end I didn't actually fit the solenoid as something was niggling away at me saying "That's not your problem". After spending a lot of time thinking about things and several late night conversations with Jeff Bull - sorry Jeff I know it was late - it suddenly dawned on us (well, Jeff really) what the problem was. The switch that was wired in for the linelock was my old transbrake button. This button is like a reversed switch, so it works the opposite way round to a conventional linelock button. The problem with this was that as soon as you turned the power on in the car, the linelock was effectively engaging, meaning that if you pressed the brake pedal for any reason, the brakes would lock on. It was only when you pressed and held down the button that the brakes would release - the opposite way to normal! Of course it was the wee hours of Saturday morning by the time I had wired in the old button, changed some of the wiring, and had it all up and running again. Loaded the car up, hit the sack at 2.00 am, up at 5.30 am and off to the track - shattered!
©Eurodragster.com
Once we got the car on to the track, we found we had other issues. No, not the driver but mainly a misfire which the car had mysteriously acquired. As can be seen from the Eurodragster.com end of day galleries this resulted in a nitrous burp on our last run, but thankfully it doesn't seem to have done any damage. After no end of searching, the only thing we can find is a distributor cap and rotor arm that looks like they could be the culprits - to say they didn't look healthy is probably a slight understatement, not to mention the hairline tracking marks all over the inside of the cap.
Anyway, having said all of this, considering this was our first real meeting with the clutch in the car, and considering the 7.94 on Saturday with a misfire, I dont think things are going too badly, and hopefully we will be able to build on that this weekend at Shakespeare County Raceway.
So cue the drum roll...I just want to say a huge and long overdue thanks to Jeff Bull, Andy Robinson and all the team, Darren, Chris, and all the crew, Kev Perkins - who kept it very quiet that it was his birthday Saturday. Happy birthday mate, mind you if I had as many candles to put on the cake as you I would probably keep it quiet too! Thanks to absolutely everyone that has helped us out over the winter and last few weeks with advice and parts. Special thanks to Darren Prentice and Ian Marshall for their help (and accommodation) on Saturday - the new Super Mod pits are great, and very handy for access to the start line! Thanks to the marshals who spotted our radiator leak and promply shut us down on the start line. We trust these guys and girls with our lives, and they so often go unmentioned. Thanks to my sister's boyfriend Ben who stayed up to help me out Friday night, and not forgetting you guys at Eurodragster for making our sport even more accessible at the click of a button (Thanks, you're welcome - Ed).
Web site updates.
30th April: In the latest entry in his exclusive Racer Blog, Eurodragster.com News sponsor Derek Flynn gives his initial reaction to the collapse of the deal to drive one of Knut Söderquist's Top Fuel Dragsters. You can read Derek's Blog by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
The official Big Bang report is now on-line at www.big-bang.co.uk. "The report is packed with all the info from the race track, show car paddock and all the fun and games which happened around site", says Rick Cuthbert.
©Eurodragster.com
Also updating from Big Bang is Gwynn Clark, whose excellent shots you can check out at www.pbase.com/slimboyfat/big_bang_08.
Santa Pod Raceway have also posted a report and pictures from last week's ground-breaking Alternative Energy Racing event, the first such event in European drag racing. You can check out the report and pictures at www.aeracing.org.
Forget 2007, it's 2008.
29th April: Dave Friend of the UK's Jones and Friend Funny Bike team says that he and rider Gary Jones ran out of season just as the new bike came together in 2007, but that they are all set for 2008.
"We had a terrible season due to a problem that we were unable to trace for most of last year", says Dave. "The problem finally came to light at the UK National Finals and was then sorted. We went to the Flame and Thunder Show to make some demo passes, thank you for your invite Darren. We got in a couple of passes on a very cold track with a good speed of 189 mph in 7.6 seconds, but the day was ended when we broke a shift fork. But we had none of the problems which happened earlier in the year.
©Eurodragster.com
"We have spoken to all of our sponsors about our 2008 race plan and happily they will all be continuing with their support for the team. They are all excited about our move to Funny Bike for which the bike was built having proven our that our EFI turbo alcohol system works. There are couple of little additions on the bike which will hopefully give us better tuning parameters to achieve our goal of running in the sixes.
"With all of the Funny Bike class unanimously agreeing not to run at Easter due to the weather conditions, the season starts for all of us at the Springspeed Festival with all teams on equal points. The Championship chase starts here and we are looking forward to the competition for which the class is renowned."
When Juniors come first...
29th April: Sharron Collier has been in touch with the latest news from the Jade Racing Pro Stock and Junior Drag Bike team, starting with Scott Collier's progress on his Junior Drag Bike which is packing new motive power:
Scott went out for the first time on his 125 cc engine at Shakespeare County Raceway last week for the first round of the Junior Drag Bike Championship. He ran a quickest of 10.34/62, a good start to his 125 career, and took top qualifying spot with a 10.54 on a 10.50 dial in. Scott's new engine is a Gilera Runner, and Jerry has fitted a digital MSD ignition which also enables Scott to have a two-step, which he loves, and he thinks it's quite cool to have the laptop attached to his bike after a run. The bike is looking great thanks to a new paintjob by Martin Curbishley, thanks very much for that Martin!
The points in Junior Bike are as follow:
- JB1 Scott Collier 140
- JB3 Giselle Moor 130
- JB5 Jordon Bissell 120
- JB6 Joe Dear 110
©Eurodragster.com
Meanwhile dad Jerry is still working on his Pro Stocker which is also going to be in competition at the Springspeed Festival. Big thanks to many people but to Dave Beck, Martin Bishop and George Laycock in particular for all their help building and putting this bike together. All are now on our Friends and Family list due to endless phone calls checking things and asking advice! Thanks also to Ray Debben for talking us out of Comp Bike and into Pro Stock Bike in the first place, at least I think we need to thank him. Unfortunately our crewman Baz can't come to this first meeting but we wouldn't have g ot this far without him so thanks for everything Baz.
The bike is looking good, if very white, and we are auite aware that it won't be setting any records but we are happy with that, we've got a Junior Champion to finance and the Stocker has to come second!
Here's to sunny weather and a good weekend.
Sunday Street Wars I.
29th April: Even with the threat of a sixty per cent chance of rain, Sunday Street
Wars kicked off the 2008 season with a bang at Dakota Drag Strip. It was action packed all day long with
over 1024 runs on the drag strip from a fantastic range of cars and bikes.
History was made at Dakota Drag Strip as Dave Grabham was the first person to fire up a blown and injected V8 race car in Devon since 1971. The last person to do this was also Yeovil-based, Dennis Priddle, at an NDRC event just down the road at Dunkeswell Airfield. Having installed a new clutch in the altered, team Freddy's Revenge were looking for some track time before the next NFAA Championship round. Dave and the team were nothing but true professionals in front of the spectators, eighty per cent of them have never seen a blown altered before. The big block altered performed some crowd-pleasing burnouts and smoked the tyres on the run in true nostalgia style.
This was not the only history being made at Sunday Street Wars, as the first ever Japanese car drag race series in the south west débuted at Dakota Drag Strip. The Enginetuner Japanese Performance Series made a very promising start with forty three cars entered. The Four Wheel Drive class had a lot of interest and was well-supported with some very tough competition. This being the first round of the series, nobody was taking it easy: the carnage included blown turbos and damaged engines. 2007 Big Dog winner Stephen Forrest spent the winter getting more power out of his Subaru Impreza and picked up four tenths from the last event. The Paignton-based driver made it all the way to the final to face Oliver Powers in his Subaru Impreza. Making the trip from Weston Super Mare, Oliver is a great supporter of Sunday Street Wars and did a great job getting to the final. Oliver was down on power and took out some heavy hitters with his driving skills but he couldn't overpower Stephen Forrest's 7.77 in the final as Oliver ran an 8.09.
The Rear Wheel Drive class had a mixture of Supras, Mazdas and Nissans all gunning for the final.
Liam Abdullah made some nice eight second passes in his Madza RX7 and earned a place in the final
to meet Stuart Williams running his Toyota Supra. The Rotary powered Mazda was three tenths down
on the Supra but Stuart wasted a 8.48 by pulling a red light to Liam's 8.62.
Hondas ruled the roost in the Front Wheel Drive class. Dale Prowse's Honda CRX started eliminations in the 9.7s but by the semis it was in the 9.4s. Running consistent 9.6s on his way to the final, Jacob Voss had to squeeze a little bit more out of Honda Integra to match the CRX. Jacob did squeeze a bit with a 9.59 but Dale Prowse had the same idea and improved with a 9.39 to take the win.
©Eurodragster.com
As at all Sunday Street Wars events there were plenty of trophies on offer and the weekend's winners were:
Quickest car: Steve Forrest, 7.77, Subaru Impreza
Quickest 4WD: Steve Forrest, 7.77, Subaru Impreza
Quickest RWD: Ian Powell, 8.09, Toyota Hilux
Quickest FWD: Dale Prowse, 9.28, Honda CRX
Quickest Audi: Ben Delacherie, 9.11
Quickest Ford: Stuart Cheeseman, 10.14
Quickest Vauxhall: David Hey, 9.76
Quickest Air-cooled Bus/Camper: Simon Knief, 10.05
Quickest Water-cooled VW: Joe Knight, 9.57
Quickest Bike: Nick Gray-Thomson, 6.99
Quickest Yamaha: Nick Gray-Thomson 6.99
Quickest Jap Bike: Nick Gray-Thomson 6.99
Best Burnout: Dave Grabham
Show and Shine winners
Best of Show: Jon Munden, 1977 Austin Allegro roadster
Best Hot Rod: Mark Coombes, 1927 Ford T
Best Classic: Ian Black, 1976 Corvette
Best Club Stand: Slammed
Devon Car Shows Best Modified: Lee Mills, Mazda RX7
As always the Sunday Street Wars team would like to thank everybody who supports their efforts: Santa Pod Raceway, IOPD and Eurodragster.com; Paul Venners for providing an excellent service and fantastic one-liners such as "They set up on a Saturday, you enjoy yourself on Sunday, and the cows are back on Monday"; and not forgetting our sponsors Enginetuner, Copyprint, eclipsephotos.co.uk, and Devon Cars Shows.
If you haven't had an opportunity to attend Sunday Street Wars check out uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bIfGw73fvi4.
The next Sunday Street Wars is on the 11th May; for more information check out www.streetnights.com or stay tuned to Eurodragster.com.
Frankimpala walks by day.
29th April: Andy Bennett of Never
Again Racing has been in touch with the latest on Frankimpala, eleven months into the project:
Here she is, a mere shadow of her former self: a 1968 Impala which admittedly hasn't got much left on it that came out of its original California assembly plant in 1968. The photos so far have seen the car in its underwear, here she is fully dressed, pictures for muscle car fans whose grits may be stirred by the classic full size muscle car styling.
©Eurodragster.com
We are maybe halfway in to the build. The big lumps are now done, but there are still a million things and a wad of cash to go. The engine and box still elude us, this will be on the back of the sale of Coco Connection, so if you want a low nine-second doorslammer complete or chopped up into parts and sold off in plastic bags, we're your men, drop us a line.
Fabrication of the front end support is fifty per cent complete and then we will incorporate into it the door hinge mechanism, which is a bit tricky as Impala doors don't hinge the same as Nova, Chevelle and Camaro etc so there's a bit of head scratching going on. The car's styling certainly stirred up massive enthusiasm when it was rolled out into the spring sunshine for the pictures. Watch this space.
Girl power!
29th April: On-line web magazine Girlracer will be paying its first visit to Shakespeare County Raceway at the weekend to capture images from Monday's eliminations with some of our female UK National Championship racers, writes SCR's Promotions Manager Jerry Cookson.
Updated daily with news and gossip from the world of motorsport, motoring and extreme sports, Girlracer has already posted stories on Carolynne Campbell's Laffin-gas Rocket Dragster along with US American Top Alcohol Funny Car racer Nancy Matter. Other motorsport personalities featured include Fiona Leggate and Susie Stoddart (Touring Cars), Liz Halliday (American Le Mans Series) and Sky Sports TV presenter Anna Walewska.
"This is a fantastic opportunity to pit in front of the camera some of the country's leading female drag racers", says Robbie Hill of Hill Tribe Productions. "Until I saw the entry list for the Springspeed event I didn't realise there were some many girls involved in drag racing. It's certainly going to make an interesting segment in the launch programme of Girlracer TV later in this year."
"The plan is to film as many classes as possible involving the girls", says Jerry. "So if a film crew head for your trailer, don't go running to hide because you might become one of the rising stars of Girlracer TV."
The Girlracer web site can be found at www.girlracer.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Swift snippets.
29th April: Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for forwarding us Version 7 of the official entry list for the FIA Main Event, which you can view by clicking here. If you think that you should be on the list, or if you have any queries about FIA Main Event entry, then please call Paula Marshall on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625) or E-Mail paula.marshall@btconnect.com.
In preparation for this coming weekend's Springspeed Festival at
Shakespeare County Raceway, the track crew
took advantage of Sunday's early-morning spring-like conditions to scrape the surface of excess rubber from the burnout boxes to
the first concrete pad before the start line. The remaining length of the launch pads after the start line received attention earlier this
month before the track opened.
The British Drag Racing Hall of Fame in association with USAutomotive are pleased to announce that Graham Beckwith has joined the Board of Selectors. Graham has been involved in drag racing since 1969 holding positions as a marshal, Race Director, Clerk of the Course, and RAC MSA Speed Events Committee member, as well as many other positions and services in his 39 years of involvement in British drag racing. In addition Graham has been the voice of drag racing at York Raceway since 1992 and co-commentator at Santa Pod with the famed John Price from 1991. In 2004 Graham was honoured with Life Membership by the Pennine Drag Racing Club. Graham will give the HoF much-needed input from the northern end of the UK by making sure that the sterling work of PDRC members is not forgotten and that with Steve Murty have been drag racing at York Raceway for some thirty years.
©Eurodragster.com
Garry Coull of the UK's Team '56 B&H Automotive Street Eliminator team has asked us to thank Angie of Santa Pod Raceway's safety crew for keeping himself and Luke Robinson informed after Colin Lazenby's big Chevy went bang and disappeared behind a cloud of smoke during qualifying on Sunday. "Angie was in radio communication with the top end and kept us up-to-date on Colin's well-being", says Garry.
UK drag racing legend and BDRHOF member Clive Skilton would be interested to hear from anyone with information on his race cars, specifically the stainless steel chassis of the Allard Skilton Revolution 1, the Harold Bull-built Revolution II and the Skilton Fraser Revolution III. Clive would also be interested in information on an Aston Martin V8 registration YUR 10K, and a Lamborghini Espada registration LUCK 44K. If you can help then please get in touch with us at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com.
The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com arrived with the words
"Could it be that the new Funny Bike is ready to race this weekend?". As ever, if you know anything about the
identity of this spy picture, or if you would like to send shots of your own, then please drop us a line at
eurodragster.com@btinternet.com.
Ian Turburville writes that if you are headed for Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend and would like to order Impact/Simpson helmets, shoes, CarbonX underwear, gloves, shirts, Red Line Oil, die casts etc then please E-Mail him via his web site at www.turboville.com as he will only bring with him what is ordered.
Eurodragster.com received a new best for a single day of 15,411 individual visitors yesterday (Monday). To be honest we are at a bit of a loss to explain why the visitor numbers should have been so high yesterday: our usual daily visitor count at this time of year is between eight and a half and nine thousand. We're not complaining though; on behalf of ourselves and our sponsors, hello and welcome to all of our new visitors and we hope to see you back here again every day. If you were here for the first time yesterday then drop us a line at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com and let us know what brought you here.
Editor's note: Apologies for the lack of a news update yesterday. A lunchtime update was on the cards but we lost the upload facility to the web server and it was only recovered late in the afternoon.
CP Pistons back Bennetts.
29th April: UK blown-alcohol altered team Bennett Racing are very proud to announce the addition of another new sponsor, CP Pistons from across the Pond. Luke Bennett writes:
As people will know CP Pistons are part of the Pankl Racing Systems group, and as part of CP Pistons' future they wanted to spread into Europe, and what better team to pick than Bennett Racing. As with all our sponsors we give our utmost attention and give them as much exposure and press as we can.
CP Pistons' sales staff have over a hundred years of industry experience, and as a member of Pankl Racing Systems they share in the
cutting-edge knowledge of a high-technology racing group supplying engine and drivetrain components to numerous racing teams in
Formula 1, F3000, IRL, CART, World Rally, and to elite car manufacturers like Ferrari and Porsche.
CP Pistons carry one of the most comprehensive inventories of off-the-shelf pistons in the industry. Obviously most of the pistons in
drag racing are custom made which they can do to any specification using cutting edge technology and precise machining. CP Pistons
endeavour to provide their customers with the best forged pistons in the racing industry. Their sales staff are versatile and knowledgeable,
coming from all areas of motorsports to provide you with the best possible service. They apply this experience to your benefit when you
place your order: by asking the right questions and understanding your needs, CP Pistons make sure that the pistons you receive are
customised to your combination and application.
©Eurodragster.com
As with any motorsport company CP Pistons attend many trade shows. Recent shows include the 2008 SEMA Show Las Vegas, Professional Motorsport World Expo 2008, Performance Racing Industry Trade show, 2009 Dealer News International Powersports Dealer Expo and the Ninth Annual V-Twin Expo.
CP Pistons also sell buttons, locks, pins, rods and rings. For sales or tech support call +1-949-567-9000 or E-Mail sales@cppistons.com.
Web site updates.
29th April: Eurodragster.com Reserve Photographer Peter Donaldson has updated
his Fotopic gallery with shots from Saturday's action at Big Bang at Santa Pod Raceway. You can
check out Peter's pictures at
peterdonaldson5305.fotopic.net.
©Eurodragster.com
Jon Spoard's excellent UK Drag Racing Nostalgia web site has been updated with a 1972 video clip featuring footage of all the big hitters of the day including Stripteaser, Tee-Rat, and John Siggery driving Commuter. The video finishes with Bootsie performing a fire burnout in Firefly. The UKDRN site is well worth a look with hundreds of pictures, several videos and an exemplary discussion forum. You can find the UK Drag Racing Nostalgia web site at www.ukdrn.co.uk.
Big Bang results.
27th April: Congratulations to the winners of this weekend's Big Bang at Santa Pod Raceway:
Super Modified: Nigel Payne 7.7999/178.08 def. Andy Kirk 7.7054/177.44
B&H Automotive Street Eliminator: Steve Nash 7.8029/183.90 def. Steve Pateman 11.4007/79.83
Sportsman ET: Nick Gay (14.60) 14.7745/80.37 def. Don Brittain (13.72) 15.2851/96.13
Junior Dragster: Dan Giles (9.00) 9.0365/70.04 def. Scott Hauser (8.00) 8.0306/81.28
9.50 Bike: Phil Pratt 9.5424/132.97 def. Wayne Saunders 9.5684/146.48
VW Pro: Paul Herbert (12.80) 13.0152/92.00 def. James Hodson (10.60) 11.2946/126.72
VW Sportsman: Paul Day (16.30) 16.4443/63.52 def. Russ Weir (18.95) 19.3117/66.40
VW Alternate Engine: Spencer Tramm (8.75) 9.1443/117.15 def. Mark Skeen (14.15) 15.4069/81.93
Outlaw Anglia: Rob Stone 9.6794/136.57 def. Simon Barlow 9.5469/145.25
©Eurodragster.com
Neither the Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award nor the Eurodragster.com/Gold RV Perfect ET Award were won and so both Awards have been increased to £75 for next weekend's Springspeed Festival at Shakespeare County Raceway.
You can check out our American Car Imports-sponsored Big Bang reports, pit notes and pictures by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Swift snippets.
27th April: Santa Pod Raceway are offering discounted FIA Main Event hospitality for racers and their sponsors. For more details on VIP hospitality check out Santa Pod's web site at www.santapod.com or call Kelly Dormer on 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44 1234 782828).
©Eurodragster.com
Joint Eurodragster.com webcam sponsor Jon Webster appears as one of the experts in tonight's (Sunday's) episode of Scrapheap Challenge on the UK's Channel 4. The programme starts at 5:45 pm.
Flynn, Söderquist split.
26th April: UK Top Fuel Dragster racer-to-be and Eurodragster.com News sponsor Derek Flynn and car owner Knut Söderquist have announced the termination of their car rental deal. After being stymied at Easter Derek was due to make his licencing passes at Big Bang this weekend prior to contesting the FIA European Championship in a car hired from Knut, but the deal ended last night after a disagreement over finance.
"It's a real shame, but we just couldn't see any way forward", Derek told Eurodragster.com. "We have done quite a lot of money already. Right now we are down but not out. I still intend to race in Top Fuel, I will get my licence and we will find a car."
©Eurodragster.com
"Derek and I just didn't click", said Knut. "I am not going to say anything bad about the guy. It was a quick Las Vegas marriage and a quick Reno divorce. The car will still be at the Main Event with another driver."
There will be more details in Derek's next Blog entry.
The Alternative view.
26th April: No nitro resounded between the bank and the grandstands, just the occasional tame roar of an engine sounding
not much different to a Sportsman ET racer or Super Street competitor as the twenty or so alternative energy machines took to the Santa Pod quarter mile
at yesterday's Alternative Energy Racing event.
Traction surprised many including the Jenkins Motorsport truck which blew a clutch on leaving the start line leaving flaming aluminium fragment on the track as Dave Jenkins coasted to a stop. But this was the first time certainly in the UK that non fossil fuelled vehicles were run side by side down the track.
The top two vehicles recorded elapsed times in the ten and eleven second zone and these were two wheeled. Fastest Time of Day was by Russ Joyner on a bioethanol (distilled apple juice - believe it or not in this case) Triumph Daytona with a 10.873. It was left to Nigel Hull driving a bioethanol powered VW Beetle to gain the best four wheeled time, a 12.306 followed by Tiff Needell (right) of TV's Fifth Gear fame in a Lotus Exige powered by a motor able to run on either petrol, ethanol or synthetically produced methanol. Needell was trying all afternoon to run a sub 12.99: "This is contagious, you keep on wanting to go again and again to beat your last time" he said afterwards. Tiff accomplished the feat on the last run with a fine 12.912 at 107 mph.
Quickest electric vehicle was a purpose built Drag Racing VW Beetle driven by Sam Young who carded a 14.418.
Swift snippets.
26th April: Many thanks to Yvonne Tramm for sending us the post-Easter Thunderball points standings in the Santa Pod Racers Club Championships, which you can view on our Speedflow-sponsored Points Standings page by clicking here or by clicking on the Points Standings page on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for forwarding us Version 6 of the official entry list for the FIA Main Event, which you can view by clicking here. If you think that you should be on the list, or if you have any queries about FIA Main Event entry, then please call Paula Marshall on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625) or E-Mail paula.marshall@btconnect.com.
If anyone's looking for accommodation during next weekend's Springspeed Festival at Shakespeare County Raceway, Si Barker of Eurodragster.com News sponsor Nitrous Oxide Supplies has one twin bed and breakfast (smoking) room booked for two nights at Stratford-upon-Avon's Holiday Inn priced at pound;90 per night (usually £110 per night). Si also tells us he has special rate rooms booked for the Yanks Weekend at the Open Sport Nationals, again at the Holiday Inn (Stratford), for £60 per night (usually £78 per night). If anyone is interested in using these pre-booked rooms for these events, get in touch with Si Barker on 01652 680555 or mobile 07852 249183.
UK National Championship points.
25th April: Many thanks to Championship Co-ordinators Yvonne Tramm and our very own Simon for forwarding us the official post-Easter Thunderball standings in the UK National Drag Racing Championships.
As if we didn't get enough support from the company already, we are very pleased to welcome high-performance hose and fitting manufacturer Speedflow as the sponsor of Eurodragster.com's Points Standings page this season. For full details of Speedflow products check out their comprehensive web site, which includes an on-line shop, at www.speedflow.co.uk, click on the logo at left, or call 0870 225 0097 (outside the UK (+44 870 225 0097). Many thanks to Fay Fischer for the additional sponsorship.
You can check out the UK National Drag Racing Championship points, and find links to the ACU UK Drag Bike Championship and other series points, by clicking here or by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Kick-off time in Germany.
25th April: The German drag racing season opens with this weekend's Test and Tune at Jerry Lackey Raceway in Luckau, writes Markus Münch:
A record-setting entry list of nearly 120 and a good weather forecast are points which should make this event a successful one. We have many special entries. Super Street Bike and Top Gas Harley riders are there to test, also the newly-formed Super Pro ET Challenge Germany field. The new Street Outlaw ET bike class will hold their first race.
Entries from six nationas have made it an international affair. European Championship racers such as Danny Bellio (FIA Top Methanol FC) and Tom Tinndahn (UEM Pro Stock Bike) be there, whilst Germany's Harald Sturhahn will test his Pro Stock Mercedes Benz. Many new vehicles will be seen for the first time, or will be racing the for first time after a long break.
Markus has promised to keep us up-to-date with developments.
Swift snippets.
25th April: Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for forwarding us Version 5 of the official entry list for the FIA Main Event, which you can view by clicking here. Don't forget that standard-price entry closes today (Friday). If you think that you should already be on the list, or if you have any queries about FIA Main Event entry, then please call Paula Marshall on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625) or E-Mail paula.marshall@btconnect.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Also on the subject of the FIA Main Event, Darren Prentice of Santa Pod Raceway has been in touch to let racers know that Portaloos are for hire for FIA Main Event weekend at a price of £100 plus VAT which includes cleaning. Orders must be placed two weeks before the event and you can find out more or place an order by contacting Darren on 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44 1234 782828) or at darren@santapod.com.
Anne-Marie and Stephen Seamarks have asked us to wish a big Happy 17th Birthday to UK Junior Dragster racer Matthew Seamarks. No sooner said than done guys, have a great day Matthew.
UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Andy Carter recently changed his E-Mail address but tells us that he is still receiving E-Mail at his old AOL address. You can get Andy's new E-Mail address from the Contact Us link of the Carter Motorsport web site at www.andycarter.net.
Pit power at Santa Pod.
24th April: Mobile electrical supply company ELP have informed Santa Pod Raceway that with immediate effect they will no longer supply power in the pits at race events. ELP cite a loss at every event they have attended, the loss and damage of equipment, and the steep and rapid rise in fuel duty.
"To put this into perspective, I had an E-Mail from the Managing Director of ELP just after the Easter Thunderball", says Darren Prentice of Santa Pod Raceway. "He said that to run the power and to give everyone the sixteen-amp supply they need the costs would have to be increased five-fold. He went on to say "What made this intolerable was the attitude and behaviour of the teams. They were very aggressive and abusive to my crew and completely un-cooperative and un-reasonable. A couple of times my guys were physically threatened. Our equipment was also damaged, connectors driven over and broken and a locked cover broken off a distribution box. Bottom line was complete disrespect for the company, our equipment and staff. Why would I want to continue with this?".
©Eurodragster.com
"I have had meetings with four other companies but all wanted around the same figure as ELP quoted to supply power. However, I have how been successful in securing a company called Eleventh Hour Events who are willing to come to this weekend's Big Bang and supply power at a full sixteen amps. After Big Bang a de-brief meeting will be held to see if the supply of power can be made into a worthwhile venture.
"Both we at Santa Pod Raceway and Santa Pod Racers Club believe in the benefits of having a power company involved at our race meetings, as I know do ninety five per cent of the racers, when the supply is constant. This is a service we supply to the racers: Santa Pod does not make one penny out of it, so some of you may now appreciate what sort of deal you have been getting for your money even with the interruptions. So for those racers that have their own leads now, please do not forget to pack them and bring them with you this weekend."
Statement from SCR on housing plan.
24th April: On Tuesday the local media in Warwickshire carried a story that the Hodges family, who own Long Marston Airfield upon which Shakespeare County Raceway is situated, have plans to build two and a half thousand homes on the site. These particular plans came to light via a leaked solicitor's letter to the local council. We asked Shakespeare County Raceway for a statement and received the following from Anthony Hodges and SCR, to whom thanks for their rapid response:
©Eurodragster.com
Following recent press speculation about the proposed plans by the Government to build an Eco Village at Long Marston's MoD Camp, Long Marston Airfield owners wish to state that the airfield has always been involved in planning debates which included a 3500 housing development back in 1989-90. Furthermore, the owners wish to point out that motorsport and event activities, which have been part of the airfield's history since the mid-1950s, will continue to operate as normal.
Ellis gets that Pro Mod out.
24th April: Multiple Super Modified Champion Graham Ellis turned heads with the UK's
newest Pro Mod, a stunning Plymouth Superbird, at the Auto Trader Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway.
Graham got in touch to tell us about his début weekend:
We had a bit of a mad time getting the car ready. It was not collected until late Tuesday evening from Andy Robinson Race Cars. We were supposed to collect it the previous Saturday but there were some mistakes on our part, which almost had the effect of a very public castration for Kev Perkins from flying shards of carbon fibre from our brand new injector hat. Yes, we had a backfire caused by a mistake when timing the mag. You should have seen the bruise two inches to the left of Kev's marbles. Because of this we didn't get the car until late Tuesday but that was still a good day as we had previously weighed the car for the first time, and considering the size of the axle a race ready weight of 2642 lbs was really a great achievement.
The car was put in the trailer and forgotten until Friday morning; the first thing was to get the awning up, and it was a really cold wet morning but we eventually got it done, got the car inside and then began a thrash to get it ready to run. We had a lot to do and that included fitting weight bars, changing the hat, removing and resetting the clutch, and sorting out some electrical glitches. This sounds easy but it took most of the day in reality and it was a really good effort by all the crew: Kev, Rob Millward, Dave Clarkson and Gareth Ellis. Because of all this we missed the call to run over the eighth on Friday although we ran up the engine and it sounded good. From the manifold up it was all on loan from Andy Robinson as our new blower hadn't turned up and our hat was dead. Saturday was spent checking the car over we didn't even bother to start it we spent the time familiarising ourselves with the systems involved with the car. Sunday was just white and cold but we stayed busy.
Monday arrived, and it was clear that we would get to run. This was really important to us as I had a mission to get licenced so that I could enter the Main Event. Eventually we were in the pairing lanes, I was in the car ,Pro Mod was running , there was one pair left before me, and it started snowing. Great. Eventually the track was dry and the pair before me ran. My turn. I rolled into the water with the intention of turning the tyres in the water, too hard on the gas as video evidence I've since seen showed. I almost started a burnout, the car rolled from the water box with the tyres hot and dry, then I attempted to start the burnout and promptly went for a drive by the stands. All I saw were sparks from the clutch and that was enough for me, I just killed the motor and was pushed back. And that was the great start to my Pro Mod career!
©Eurodragster.com
After returning to the pits we checked the motor over, checked the clutch and not finding too much damage we towed down for another try. This went much better, we managed a good burnout - probably with too many revs but that is just a case of getting comfortable in the car. When I was called to the start line Kev motioned me forward and then stopped me at the blue line. I was confused as I could see the whole Tree from Pre Stage to red. I had been expecting to be called forward to a point that it was a struggle to see the Tree at all: with the nitrous car all I ever saw was the first of the three yellows if I sat up in the car, so this threw me a curve. I moved forward without stopping in Pre Stage as there was no opponent and when I was in full stage it was just business as usual, foot to the mat and wait for a flicker then I was gone.
The car drifted left a bit and because of the state of the track I didn't want to start steering it and risk swapping ends so I just lifted and coasted to the end. The team were pretty pleased. We had managed to stage and launch without rolling through the guard beam, we got a decent reaction time, a sixty foot time good for the track, a really good 330 foot time for the prevailing conditions and the biggest thing of all no tyre shake. We had got the clutch about eighty per cent right first time out and we have good info from that run on our datalogger. As I have said before this team is pretty cute around a clutch - it's been said previously that it was just luck how we got the Cutlass and then Fred's car to run so well. Guess we must have been lucky again eh>
We attempted to get in one more run to complete the licenscng procedure but as we sat there I thought "I really don't want my first full pass to be on a slippery track at night". The guys had all worked so hard I had to give it a go for them but the gods intervened in the shape of Darren Prentice who said that we couldn't run: in his words "The track's not there", "You won't learn anything", and "You have more to lose than to gain". Darren added that he had seen enough to accept my entry to the Main Event, "Thank you god". Darren's decision was spot on and it couldn't have been easy after the time we'd sat there ready to run, but it shows that safety is prime consideration on the start line well above personal feelings or the risk of confrontation: I'm sure some people would have been really pissed at that decision, but we knew that was the right and only decision he could make.
Since then we have serviced the engine and clutch, our new blower will be fitted next weekend along with other new parts. We have sorted out some small problems and will be ready hopefully to qualify for the Main Event. We don't realistically expect to rotate the Earth but to qualify, and get some seat time, will be an achievement.
Looking to the future we hope to do well in the class. We feel that we have the car to do it, as I genuinely believe that I have what is at the moment the most advanced Pro Mod chassis in Europe with some of the nicest features out there. All I can say now is a big thanks to the crew and all at Andy Robinson Race Cars for building me a really bitchin' hot rod.
Easter was Hell.
24th April: The UK's E-Hell Super Pro ET and Pro ET team had a successful
weekend at the Easter Thunderball after Simon Rowland took the event win in Super Pro ET on his first
competitive outing in the Formula Tanker Rental-sponsored car.
"Simon Rowland and the E-Hell Racing team started competing in Pro ET in 2007 in the original E-Hell dragster", writes David Leake. "The winter months saw substantial investment in new workshop space and infrastructure to support the addition to the team of Nick Spence's old Super Pro ET dragster. The cars have been imaginatively renamed to E-Hell One (Pro ET) and E-Hell Two (Super Pro ET) and both are running in their respective classes in 2008.
"The Easter Thunderball weekend was Simon's first chance to drive the new Super Pro car in anger, and although battling with the difficulties of driving two different cars in consecutive classes at the same meeting, not to mention the weather, he managed to secure the team's first ever class win in E-Hell Two!
"We will be looking to repeat this success in Super Pro ET, as well as getting some meaningful performance data for the newly fettled E-Hell One, which was treated to a complete engine rebuild over the winter (courtesy of Top Fuel tuner Alan Jackson) and a new gearbox due to a failure that led to the car jumping backwards off the startline at the end of 2007! She's also received a new carb and manifold over the last few weeks - a result in Pro ET to add to the team's first taste of success would be fantastic!
"None of this would be possible without the support and generosity of our sponsor Formula Tanker Rental and each and every member of the crew. Also thanks to Alan Jackson for the engine, Zane Llewellyn for the gearbox and the Santa Pod team for keeping us racing at Easter."
The team's next outing is the Springspeed Festival at Shakespeare County Raceway on the 3rd-5th May.
New motor Pops in.
24th April: The City of Derby is used to hearing the occasional melodic and gentle rumble of
Rolls Royce's Trent Jet engines emanating from their extensive test bed
facilities. Anyone who lives there will tell you – you just get used to it, eventually. Last week, however, a rather more raucous
sound was heard dissipating around the City's skies. In particular, the residents of the district of Alvaston got more than just
the evening news at Tea Time, when Outlaw Anglia pilot
Simon Barlow decided to fire up his new toy, which had just arrived from America
writes Richard Stirling:
Simon has been racing in Outlaw Anglia for the past three years, and every year he has achieved new increases in performance. When he at last hit the nine second zone, it seemed that the Orange Pop's performances then became variable and even sporadic, a fact which frustrated Simon and the team. It was as if the team had lost their way a little, with their existing combination. After thinking on the matter for a while, Simon then announced enthusiastically that it was "Time to get a big new motor from the States" and the rest of the team couldn't find a flaw in that statement.
Simon got in touch straight away with New York Chevy guru Scott Shafiroff and ordered his top-of-the-line small block Sportsman motor. It's a Dart "Little M" motor punching 434 cubic inches. With fifteen degree heads, an 1150 Dominator carb, the full MSD ignition system and a list of other goodies too long to mention, it all adds up to a whopping 824 horse power, as proven on Scott's Scott's dynamometer. For a Ford Anglia that's still mostly stock metal, Simon will probably not need his nitrous kit for a good while yet, as his front wheels will barely be touching the floor. The transmission has been completely re-invented by good friend and transmission expert Andy Frost at Penn Autos and it now sports a Neil Chance torque converter which should assist Simon getting away from the line without too much drama.
When I arrived at Simon's new house on start-up day, I was really impressed with the garage and workshop that he has built for the Pop, with much assistance from his Dad. The workshop is truly massive and being at the bottom of a big garden, it meant that they had to lay down a lengthy drive to it, as well. I've seen houses that have been smaller than the Orange Pop's accommodation.
Crew Chief Phil Pitt and Simon were already busily thrashing around making the last few necessary adjustments to the fittings, electrics and hoses. As we grew near to a start-up situation, Phil and Simon then started feverishly pumping copious quantities of fuel out of the disconnected carburettor fuel pipes. This puzzled me and I asked the question why and Simon solemnly reported "This baby is only ever going to run on C16" which sounds like a game plan to me – if you can afford it, at nearly £25 a gallon! Once the 'ordinary' race fuel was drained off, Jason Yates and Simon filled the tank up with the proper "blue" C16 which is, as always, produced and supplied by VP Racing Fuels.
After fixing a minor fuel leak and churning it over a little on the starter, the motor then burst into life and what a roar! It ran as sweet as a nut from the word go, without even touching any of the timing or fuel, which betrays the fact that the motor has already been run extensively on the dyno. After running the motor for three glorious minutes and with careless regard for the neighbours' ear drums, silence at last befell the "Pop's Garage" and the delighted crew went into a deserved flurry of hand-shaking and backslapping.
The car will be making its first appearance for 2008 at the Big Bang meeting at Santa Pod this weekend, and this will be a huge learning curve for the Orange Pop crew. I asked Simon if he'd be taking it gently, and with a wry smile on his face he said "It'll be a gentle ride in the park – it's just a Sunday drive isn't it?". Yeah, right! I've heard about his Sunday drives before...
Swift snippets.
24th April: Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall has been in touch to let racers know that signing on will be open at Santa Pod between 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm tomorrow (Friday) for Big Bang competitors only. Please also note that the track is being used for the Alternative Energy event only tomorrow afternoon; it is not open for testing or RWYB.
Further to last week's news item looking for information about Harold Bull's original
Stripduster after its sale to Germany, Harold's daughter Jane has sent us a picture of the car
as it was when sold. Hopefully this will help to jog some memories. If you have any information about this
car then please drop us a line at
eurodragster.com@btinternet.com.
Many thanks to Julie Willcox for forwarding us Version 3 of the official entry list for the Springspeed Festival, which takes place at Shakespeare County Raceway on 3rd-5th May. Click here to view the Springspeed Festival entry list. If you think you should be on the list, or if you have any queries about Springspeed Festival entry, then please contact Julie Willcox on 01789 720180 or 07792 919508. Julie asked us to inform racers that if you did not send an SAE with your entry then your tickets will be on the gate.
©Eurodragster.com
Thanks also to Paula Marshall for forwarding us Version 4 of the official entry list for the FIA Main Event, which you can view by clicking here. If you think you should already be on the list, or if you have any queries about FIA Main Event entry, then please call Paula Marshall on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625) or E-Mail paula.marshall@btconnect.com.
UK Pro ET racer Antony Wilkins tells us that his appearance in Scrapheap Challenge
is scheduled for episode 8 of the new series which starts on Channel 4 this Sunday. This puts
Butch's appearance on the weekend of 14th-15th June, coinciding with the SPRC Summernationals.
"As we've got electric now lets fire up those TVs and then you can all take the pee", he says.
UK blown-alcohol altered team Bennett Racing would like to announce the addition of another new sponsor, this time a little different. "The Plough And Tractor Pub have come on board to support us", says Luke Bennett. "They are the official pub of Bennett Racing, a local pub with friendly staff and a good atmosphere, Sky Sports and Setanta Sports showing all major sporting events, free live entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings, outdoor beer garden and a large car park. Their address is The Plough and Tractor, Great Knightleys, Basildon, Essex SS13 1RA. Telephone 01268 583547."
Go with the flow...
24th April: UK blown-alcohol altered racer Joe Bond writes to show us some work which
he has been doing on the front wing configuration of the Nuthin' Fancy altered as part of his final
year project at university.
"One of the aspects I did was to create airflow pressure distributions over the front end", says Joe. "So I modelled the front end of my car in Solidworks, and then tested the air at 200 mph, makes for fun viewing (click on picture for large version from another angle)!
©Eurodragster.com
"It shows air flow around the wing, the high pressure around the front of the tank because it's a 'bluff body', as well as wing tip vortices which helps the pressure distribution over the wing area. The pressure is higher around the bottom of the fire bottles; I've been looking into maybe turning them around, so the front is facing the front because it tapers more.
"A more leant-back fuel tank for next season is needed I think..."
Santa Pod events update.
24th April: Alternative Energy Racing takes place at Santa Pod Raceway tomorrow (Friday) and is notably the first event where only fuels that can be produced sustainably have been permitted, writes Rick Cuthbert:
It seems unlikely that we'll see any sub ten-second runs but there is an amazing variety of entries, including bikes, cars and even trucks. Some things to look out for at the event are:
- The first ever race in the UK between two biofuel motorcycles
- An attempt to set a hybrid drag racing record
- One of the first public outings of Lotus' experimental tri-fuel methanol Exige
©Eurodragster.com
This weekend Santa Pod Raceway is also hosting the Big Bang VW Festival which has increased its guest drag racing classes to include the following popular National classes: VW Sportsman, VW Pro, VW Alternate Engine, Super Modified, Street Eliminator, Outlaw Anglia, 9.50 Bike, Sportsman ET and Junior Dragster. Drag racing fans will have a packed day of racing to look forward to for just £15 on the gate on Sunday. Spectators will also have access to all the other attractions at Big Bang, including the Show and Shine, trade area and sideshows.
Web site updates.
24th April: Swedish Pro Stock racer Adam Flamholc has been in touch to let us know that Caravan Films have posted the first episode of their YouTube documentary series following his US mini-tour. You can check out the excellent video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=UftSTCGrpBA.
In the latest entry in his exclusive Racer Blog, UK Top Fuel Dragster racer-in-waiting and Eurodragster.com News sponsor Derek Flynn looks forward to this weekend's licencing passes at Santa Pod Raceway. You can read Derek's Blog by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
The first of this year's King of Europe drag races took place at Tokol Airport in Hungary on 12th-13th April and you can find a report, pictures and timing data at www.kingofeurope.net/2008/koedrageast/rd1.html.
©Eurodragster.com
UK photo-journalist Dick Parnham has updated his Fotopic site with a gallery of shots from the 2007 Springspeed Festival at Shakespeare County Raceway. You can find Dick's pictures at dickparnham.fotopic.net.
UK Wild Bunch racer Tony Smith has started to update his Cunning Plan web site after a lay-off of two years whilst he studied for his MSA and ACU accreditation, now mainly completed. You can find out what's new in the Cunning Plan pit at www.cunningplan.net. Tony also tells us that due to popular demand he will be bringing back his Guess Who competition with pictures supplied by Eurodragster.com Reserve Photographer Peter Donaldson. If you would be interested in taking part, or if you would like to put up prizes, then please contact Tony through the web site. You can take a look at the last Guess Who at www.cunningplan.net/guesswho.html.
Swift snippets.
23rd April: Racers wishing to test before the FIA Main Event are reminded that Santa Pod Raceway are hosting Peak Performance Days on Saturday 17th May and Thursday 22nd May - the latter is only open to racers entered for the race itself. Pre-booking is highly recommended, either on on-line at www.santapodshop.co.uk, by downloading and sending/faxing the forms available at www.rwyb.com, or by calling Santa Pod Raceway on 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44 1234 782828).
Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for forwarding us Version 3 of the official entry list for the FIA Main Event, which you can view by clicking here. If you think you should already be on the list, or if you have any queries about FIA Main Event entry, then please call Paula Marshall on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625) or E-Mail paula.marshall@btconnect.com.
This stunning piece of work is photo-journalist Mark Gredzinski's latest painting, just completed
(click on picture for large version).
"It's the Pabst Blue Ribbon-sponsored Dodge Charger Funny Car of Charlie Proite", says Mark. "This was the first of the beer-sponsored
cars originally from 1973 with Russell Long driving. The car is depicted in its later incarnation with a modifed paint scheme in the hands of
Vic Cecelia who took over the reins around 1975. Research showed the colours to be varied due to various lighting conditions prevalent
and different films used in photos of the time. However, I managed to nail the main shade as best I could. The painting is acrylic on canvas
and measures approximatetely 15" x 20". I'm doing a couple of Monzas next, one of which is the blue machine of Jungle Jim which is well
underway". If you are interested in buying or commissioning Mark's work then you can contact him at
markgredzinski@hotmail.co.uk.
Editor's note: Only a brief news update today: if you have been keeping an eye on UK financial and political news in the last few days, and if you know where your News Editor's day job is, then you will get the picture. Tune back tomorrow for the latest from UK Pro Mod racer Graham Ellis, to find out how the E-Hell team are faring, drag racers on Scrapheap Challenge and more, and please keep those news items coming to news@eurodragster.com.
Gardermoen FIM/UEM round confirmed.
22nd April: Many thanks to FIM/UEM European Drag Bike Championship Co-ordinator Lars Andersson for letting us know that a FIM/UEM European Drag Bike Championship round will now take place at Gardermoen in Norway on 1st-3rd August. Lars tells us that the round was never really completely cancelled but we don't need to go into all that right now; the main thing is that it's an extra round which is great news for the bike contingent and for the Championship as a whole, and we would like to say a big Well Done to all those involved in getting the round back on.
Guess it's time to re-book that camp site with the snake-inhabited lake and check out the ferries...
©Eurodragster.com
Leanders launch Performance Products.
22nd April: If you have been tuned in to Eurodragster.com in the last year you will at some point have read that Ulf and Jörgen Leanders of Sweden's Leanders Bros Racing Top Methanol Funny Car team have been designing and producing various parts such as SFI-approved Alcohol and Pro Mod clutches as well as various brackets and most recently awnings. Ulf and Jörgen are very pleased to announce that they are ready to start marketing and selling the products which they have developed, tested and started to manufacture in the middle of Sweden, and we are very pleased to announce that Leanders Bros Performance Products have signed up as a sponsor of Eurodragster.com News. Ulf Leanders describes the products on offer:
None of these products could have been designed or manufactured without our partners IronCad, Feature Cam and the HAAS EC400 CNC machine.
First up are our awnings for race trailers. These are now made so that you can first buy a top and later upgrade with sides. We are carrying a standard size which will fit a double-deck Wilson trailer perfectly but we can also do custom sizes as we just have for Urban Johansson and Danny Bellio. The aluminum framework is as high as possible underneath and allows room for high Top Fuel wings and the lifting on and off of Funny Car bodies with the car jacked up. The awning comes with everything you need incuding brackets. Right now we are making the first raised awning, for example for a low bus or a low trailer. It will come with poles which go on the side of the vehicle and then we will use our standard design free-hanging framework on that, this will be priced later.
A standard size top-only awning is just 39000 SEK plus VAT, at today's rates that is €4150 or £3150. No VAT will be charged outside Sweden if you have VAT number. If you go with the sides from start you are looking at 62000 SEK plus VAT, or €6600 / £5000.
So the HAAS EC400 isn't standing idle, Jörgen has made some really cool blower belt guards with and without starter brackets. These fit PSI screw blowers and when time allows they will be made to fit roots blowers as well.
Our longest and most time-consuming project has been the clutches but it feels like we are getting closer to the final testing of the two new models. We ran last year with the first clutch of this design and it worked perfectly, mechanically, but under some conditions had the disadvantage of having too little surfuce at just ten inches. We took the decision to bigger and Jörgen did the redesign to eleven inches. This may sound easy but is not at all - there are a lot of parts on a clutch and they all have to fit in the can!
©Eurodragster.com
We have now got the new types of clutches SFI approved for 1.2, 1.4 and 1.5. as you can see on the Manufacturers list at www.sfifoundation.com. The SFI 1.4 three disc clutch will be used by us in our Funny Car to begin with, and the SFI 1.5 two or three disc clutch with ring gear will be run by a number of teams here in Europe. In the second phase a couple of cars in the States will be using both the Alcohol and Pro Mod clutch.
We are also manufatcuring some other products which will be available soon. For example, a revolutionary valve spring tool for Fat Heads with which you can check spring pressure and change springs in a safe manner with the heads on, and a light Odyssey 48v or 24v battery pack with 240 volt charger.
For more details about Leanders Bros Performance Products check out their web page at www.leandersbros.se/mainpages/products.htm or click on the logo at left.
We would like to say a big Thank You to Ulf and Jörgen for their support of Eurodragster.com and as ever we are particularly pleased that thanks to our sponsor roster we are a one-stop shop for all your racing needs. We are sure that our readers will return that support by considering Leanders Bros Performance Products when looking for these particular products.
Entry lists update.
22nd April: Many thanks to Julie Willcox for forwarding us Version 2 of the official entry list for the Springspeed Festival, which takes place at Shakespeare County Raceway on 3rd-5th May. Click here to view the Springspeed Festival entry list. If you think you should be on the list, or if you have any queries about Springspeed Festival entry, then please contact Julie Willcox on 01789 720180 or 07792 919508.
©Eurodragster.com
Thanks also to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for forwarding us Version 2 of the official entry list for the FIA Main Event, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 23rd-26th May. This Friday (25th) is the official closing date for entries; entries after this time, if accepted, will be subject to a late-entry penalty fee. Click here to view the FIA Main Event entry list. If you think you should already be on the list, or if you have any queries about FIA Main Event entry, then please call Paula Marshall on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625) or E-Mail paula.marshall@btconnect.com.
Swift snippets.
22nd April: UK blown-alcohol altered team Bennett Racing are proud to announce the
addition of a new sponsor, Slick Attire, purveyors of distinctive apparel for
the discerning petrolhead. Luke Bennett tells us that Slick have produced a stunning Spring 2008 collection of T-Shirts and that they have plenty
of other goodies on offer such as canvas prints, decals and free wallpapers for your computer. "Slick will be designing and providing our T-Shirts
for this season, which should hopefully be ready around June", says Luke. "We have therefore reduced the price of last season's T-Shirts to £6
which is a bargain, or even better get two for £10. Not too many left now, so if you would like one then contact us through our web site at
www.bennettracing.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Just to tease everyone, yesterday's Norwegian mole has sent another spy picture although again without much in the way of
detail; in fact, the attached E-Mail said nothing apart from "Have a good time". As ever, if you know anything about the
identity of this spy picture, or if you would like to send shots of your own, then please drop us a line at
eurodragster.com@btinternet.com.
Nigel Taylor has been in touch to let us know that Carolina Classics are changing direction, and that they therefore have some bargains on offer. "We have a Blowtherm twenty one-foot three-phase spray booth up for grabs", says Nigel. "The fully-functioning oven can take most yank-sized vehicles; pictures can be E-Mailed to interested parties. We are also clearing all our old used stock to make way for our move, so if any Eurodragster.com readers are interested in any of our clearance items or the spray oven then give me a call on 01264 321170."
Erbacher on Vegas (English version).
22nd April: Team member Andrea Wucher has kindly sent us an English translation of last Friday's press release from FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion and Eurodragster.com sponsor Urs Erbacher:
We concluded our spring in the United States in a familiar place - Las Vegas! We ran Vegas in the autumn so for the first time over here we were at a race track where we had some of our own data. It made it very comfortable for us.
It was a big weekend and a little sad as we knew our time in the U.S. was coming to an end, at least for now. As most of you already know, the plan has been for us to load the car and trailer on a ship after the Vegas race and return everything to Europe for the 2008 FIA season. It takes eight days from the East Coast to get the equipment to England and we wanted to make sure we had enough time to prepare everything for our title defence, so Vegas needed to be our last stop.
After all the success we enjoyed in Houston - becoming the first European Top Fuel team to win a round in thirty years - we wanted to do more in Vegas. We dreamed of a victory but were at least hoping for a strong performance. It was also very important for us to represent our local sponsor, Marnell Masonry, in its hometown of Las Vegas. George Marnell is a former drag racer from the Pro Stock class who runs a very large and successful masonry business. He builds schools, casinos, government buildings, and various business sites throughout this booming city.
After encountering a defect in Round 1 of qualifying, we posted a 4.826 at 303 mph Friday night and were able to relax a bit as we knew this would keep us in the field. It is a very proud accomplishment to qualify four times in four attempts this spring against the best drivers and teams in the world.
On Saturday it got pretty hot and everyone struggled to run better times so we decided to work on our Sunday tune-up. We also had a question and answer session with some VIP guests at the track. They were all very interested in how we race in Europe and it was my pleasure to meet all these great fans. Additionally, we spent time with George and his family, friends, and employees in his luxury suite. What a view from atop the grandstands!
We were matched against young driver Morgan Lucas for eliminations, but before we raced on the strip we spent Saturday night together at the small circuiton the property of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Morgan was racing some other drivers and they asked me to work with the announcers in the booth to describe the action. It was a lot of fun and good to hang out with so many fans afterwards.
The wait to race Morgan was very long as there were numerous oildowns and explosions ahead of us. Sitting in the race car for so long is not much fun but we were still ready to race when the lights flashed. Unfortunately, the temperatures had gone up considerably and we overpowered the race track with too much horsepower, allowing Morgan to win with a beatable 4.765. My congratulations to Morgan.
We stayed one extra day to load up and enjoy Las Vegas but then it was time to say goodbye and load everything for the trip home.
Our defence of the FIA Top Fuel title begins at Santa Pod, England on 23rd-26th May. We know we are a step ahead of everyone else due to our experience here in the States. I'm sure that even if the others tested, they didn't run at this level. So we're excited to get started.
The best part of our time here this spring was the great amount of fans and friends we made. Before, maybe no one knew who we were but now, thanks to some great media coverage about this crazy group of racers from Europe, people have come to know us.
We'll be back in the autumn saying "Welcome to Las Vegas" once again, hopefully as back-to-back European Champions. Until then, we'll make sure to keep everyone up-to-date on our time over here in Europe.
©Eurodragster.com
Big Bang Perfect Awards.
22nd April: This weekend's Big Bang is the second event in the 2008 Eurodragster.com Perfect Awards scheme. £100 is on offer for perfect performance.
The Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award has been reset to £50 after it was won by
Pro ET racer Keith Herbert at the Auto Trader Easter Thunderball. The money will be presented to the first racer
this weekend to record a Reaction Time of 0.000 seconds. The Perfect Light Award is available to all racers
in all Championship classes during time trials, qualifying and eliminations (not during Run What You Brung)
but will only be awarded for the first perfect light of the event. If not won this weekend then
the Award will be increased to £75 for the Springspeed Festival at Shakespeare County Raceway; if it is won
then it will be reset to £50 for the Springspeed Festival. The Perfect Light Award is presented in association with
performance hose and fitting manufacturer Speedflow, whose web site you can find at
www.speedflow.co.uk.
As Santa Pod's timing system works to four decimal places we must clarify that although the Perfect Light Award goes to three places, we will not pay out for red lights with zeroes in the first three decimals since a foul is a foul however far in the first non-zero digit may be. So 0.0001 will win you the money (if you're first to do it), but -0.0001 will not.
Decals are not formally required for the Perfect Light Award but of course we appreciate it: you can get Eurodragster.com decals at the track from any Eurodragster.com staff member.
©Eurodragster.com
The Eurodragster.com/Gold RV Perfect ET Award has been reset to £50 after it was won
by VW Sportsman racer Dave Bridge at the Auto Trader Easter Thunderball. The money will be presented
to the first racer this weekend to run to the thousandth on their dial-in or index. The Perfect ET Award is
available this weekend in Sportsman ET, Junior Dragster (eliminations only), 9.50 Bike, VW Pro, VW Sportsman
and VW Alternate Engine during time trials, qualifying and eliminations (not during Run What You Brung)
but will only be awarded for the first first perfect run of the event. If not won this weekend then
the Award will be increased to £75 for the Springspeed Festival at Shakespeare County Raceway; if it is won
then it will be reset to £50 for the Springspeed Festival. The Perfect
ET Award is presented in association with RV sales and service specialists Gold RV, whose web site
you can find at www.goldrv.co.uk.
To be eligible to collect the Perfect ET Award, racers will be required to carry Eurodragster.com/Gold RV Perfect ET decals, one on each side of the vehicle whether car or bike. We allowed some latitude at the Auto Trader Easter Thunderball since it was the first event of the season and since it was somewhat disrupted, but if you pull this weekend's first Perfect ET but are not carrying decals then we will not pay out and the next person to pull a Perfect ET will get the money assuming that they are carrying decals. The decals (left) will be available at signing-on; please note that, as is usual with contingency schemes, racers are responsible for requesting or picking up decals when signing on. A list of required decals per class is always on display in signing-on.
Weekends of Havoc beckon.
21st April: Nick Davies of Eurodragster.com sponsor ICE
Automotive says that he and co-owner Rob Loaring have prepared the Havoc blown-alcohol altered for a concerted attempt on the
European ET record which currently stands at 6.651 by Kenneth Feldthusen of Sweden's Team Northrace, set at Gardermoen in 2007.
"We set the European speed record of 205.47mph in 2006, which still stands, and a best ET of 6.910", says Nick. "The car was starting to take over our lives and then at the 2006 European Finals Press Day a rod which was only five runs old decided to hamper our aspirations". The rod punched a hole in the oil pan and curtailed the popular car's 2006 season.
In 2007 Rob and Nick decided to focus on customer engine and construction work. "We left Havoc alone and it sat in my garage unrepaired for the whole year with a sheet over it", says Nick. "During 2007 the competition in the NFAA moved forward in ET terms with Dennis Wratten, Frank Bennett and Clayton Round all running down into the sixes. The year out was an investment of time in our business which we're glad we did. But we're not good at being spectators on the sidelines. We would prefer to argue between ourselves than with the other teams that we try to help."
The decision was therefore made to embark on what Nick calls The Unfinished Business Tour. "We built the engine in the week before the Easter Snowball and got the rods only the Monday before", he says. "We fired the engine up for the first time on Good Friday in the workshop before loading up and going to the Pod". Of course the NFAA did not run at the meeting, but Nick and Rob have been invited to run at this weekend's Big Bang and FIA Main Event, both at Santa Pod Raceway, in addition to other NFAA meetings. "We are sorry to miss the Springspeed event as it is only a week after the Big Bang but plan to return to Shakey later in the year", says Nick.
©Eurodragster.com
"There is an awful lot more in the engine than in the driver. We estimate that the engine puts out about 1800 horsepower and our dyno won't take that much power. The car is 1800 lbs, lighter than the equivalent dragster. I am still learning to drive it; it's so short in length and tall in height. It feels twice as fast through the lights as my Oldsmobile Pro Mod". A hundred-foot trip through the field at the end of Santa Pod's run-off area was a reminder of how fast these cars are without a 'chute. "I can't praise the safety people at Santa Pod enough", says Nick. "These cars are not the most predicable to handle. They were on the scene immediately it had come to a halt and were great at helping my confidence."
With only twenty five runs under its belt we can look forward to seeing Havoc on track for more runs this year, but what of the future? "We want to put the Nostalgia Funny Car on the track in 2009 depending on progress", says Nick. "It will be a '72 Vega with an iron Big Block Chevy with a 75% nitro set-up to run mid-sixes. It will be VRA-legal and Rob will be the driver. We hope that there will be other Nostalgia Funny Cars but if there is a gap I would like to tip the can and match race Havoc against Rob in the Vega."
Spaans rejoins MPM TF Team.
21st April: If you were tuned in on 2nd April you will have read that Dutch Top Fuel Dragster racer Lex Joon announced the departure of his mechanical Crew Chief Hans Brings. Lex has been in touch to announce the identity of the MPM Oil-sponsored team's new incumbent.
©Eurodragster.com
"Maxim Spaans, who previously worked in different positions within the MPM Top Fuel Team, will be the new man to lead the crew in our quest to win the team's second Top Fuel Championship", says Lex. "I am really thrilled to have Max on board again. With all the knowledge he has gathered in recent years he is the right man for the job". Max has started to work for the MPM Top Fuel team with immediate effect and is working with the rest of the crew towards the season's start in four weeks' time.
In the latest entry in his exclusive Racer Blog, Lex reveals the stunning design of the MPM team's new trailer and has some thoughts on the coming season. You can read Lex's Blog by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
More spies break cover.
21st April: Even though the 2008 season is underway, a couple more spy pictures have arrived at the offices of Eurodragster.com (click on pictures for large versions):
©Eurodragster.com
The picture at left came from the UK and was accompanied by the words "A new Super Modified motor from the UK's premier engine builder, soon to be dyno'd at EDA and should then be making an appearance later in the season". The picture of the bus came from Norway and we notice that any identifying marks have been Paintshopped out. "A new team, or new colours?" said our mole.
As ever, if you know anything about the identity of these spy pictures, or if you would like to send shots of your own, then please drop us a line at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com.
Swift snippets.
21st April: "If it looks good, it should go good" is the adage subscribed to by the UK's Chaos
Fuel Altered team whose 417 ci Donovan looks dressed to kill. "Whilst the coordinated and colourful
pieces don't necessarily add to the performance, we feel that it is useful element in raising the profile
and enhancing the image of the sport", says Lawrie Gatehouse. "The down side is raised expectations
of increased and consistent performance; if this is not forthcoming (not unusual when
using 'pop') then the yellow bits may turn out to be egg on face! Tribute must be paid to John Wright
and all the crew of Shaun, Tony, Danny, 'H' and, of course to Lesley, for the all-important job of feeding
us during the many hundreds of hours spent thus far."
Yesterday's National Association of Supertwins and Junior Drag Bike eliminations did not take place at the Public Test Weekend at Shakespeare County Raceway. It was another weather-affected day with a late start after overnight rain; a monumental effort by the track crew allowed a few hours' track action but slick-tyred cars never made it out onto the track before the rain returned in the afternoon. You can check out our American Car Imports-sponsored galleries by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page
©Eurodragster.com
Kirstie would like to thank all those Super Pro ET and Comp Eliminator racers who responded to her plea for FIA Main Event programme notes. Kirstie has responded to every racer who volunteered; if you have not received her reply then please check your Spam folder. "I'm doing this for the love of Sportsman racing", says Kirstie, "I hope you can support me in this quest." If you would like to get your name in lights in the FIA Main Event programme, or indeed if you would like to send news for Eurodragster.com, or both, then is not too late to volunteer at kirstie@eurodragster.com.
Web site updates.
21st April: Newly-licenced UK Comp Bike racer Phil Crossley has updated his Blog with an update from the Public Test Weekend at Shakespeare County Raceway. Bike fans especially shouldn't miss Phil's very entertaining and informative Blog at gsxbopchop.blogspot.com.
Next up with an SCR Public Test Weekend update is our good buddy Alan Currans, who was there with his trusty camera and who has posted seventy three pictures (Oi! That's more than we did - Ed) which you can view via the What's New link at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Tubby has been in touch to let us know that the Shakespeare County Racers web site at www.shakespearecountyracers.com has been updated with pictures from the weekend plus the nominee for Muppet of the Month.
SCR Public Test Weekend qualifying.
20th April: This weekend's Public Test at Shakespeare County Raceway is a round of the National Association of Supertwins and Junior Drag Bike. Below are the qualifying standings at yesterday's end. All NAST times and speeds are over the eighth mile due to yesterday's weather conditions.
Supertwin Fuel
- Martin Wildash 9.385/77.45
- Andy Smith 6.020/111.39
- Les Harris 6.589/107.14
- Don Irvine 6.805/100.45
- Chris Mott 7.005/99.34
- Ric Naylor 7.335/92.21
- Neil Stedman 7.870/92.78
- Robbie Dobbie 9.059/86.54
- John Hackney +0.102 6.602/110.84
- Joe Elliot +0.170 7.770/93.17
- Dan Baldwin +0.206 9.806/72.35
- Tim Bootle +0.242 8.242/90.00
- Damion Waterhouse +7.907 7.907/96.45
- Simon Clamp +8.262 8.262/94.74
- Scott Collier +0.045 10.545/61.39
- Giselle Moor +0.451 13.851/45.27
- Jorden Bissell +1.035 15.575/36.92
- J. Dear +3.474 14.474/44.03
Springspeed Festival entry list.
19th April: Many thanks to Julie Willcox for forwarding us Version 1 of the official entry list for the Springspeed Festival, which takes place at Shakespeare County Raceway on 3rd-5th May.
©Eurodragster.com
Click here to view the Springspeed Festival entry list. If you think you should be on the list, or if you have any queries about Springspeed Festival entry, then please contact Julie Willcox on 01789 720180 or 07792 919508.
Beck aims for FIM/UEM.
19th April: If you checked out Version 1 of the FIA Main Event entry list then you can't have failed to notice the name of multiple ACU UK Pro Stock Bike Champion Dave Beck on the FIM/UEM Pro Stock Bike entry. Stephen Moon tells us that given enough sponsorship Dave is ready to take on Europe's finest.
©Eurodragster.com
"Dave has spent the winter putting together two very trick new motors", says Stephen. "Rick Ward's very latest in the heads, Liberty six speed transmissions, new carbs, new vacuum pump. The chassis also has a number of mods as well. Dave pretty much trashed a trans on the Easter track and he wants to get that motor back together and test before the Main Event.
"Why not just run with one motor is the obvious question. This is a long-awaited event and Dave wants to go in and do it right, confident that he can lean on it a bit. Dave's obsession with the detail and preparation is what has made him successful to date. It's easy to criticise, but that's not his approach to racing. If Dave goes in half-cocked and doesn't win it damages his reputation."
BDRC discuss 2008.
19th April: The Bavarian Drag Race Club held its Annual General Meeting last weekend at the workshop of Peter Schöfer Racing, writes
our good friend Gittli Koller:
The Bavarian Drag Race Club was founded in 1996 by drag racers and fans in Bavaria, and has been the biggest drag racing club in Germany for many years. Today our members are not just from Bavaria but also Berlin, Switzerland and Sachsen (the east part of Germany). Since the BDRC was founded we have been working on making our sport more popular. Fans and interested parties can get information about the sport, the teams, race dates or ask for technical advice. We go to shows and fairs as well as to smaller races.
For many years the BDRC has owned its own Junior Dragster which since 2005 has been driven by Sally Ekerst (right), a lovely ten-year-old who has won a lot of attention for the car. Last year the dragster got a new bigger engine which was mainly sponsored by the BDRC and Sally raced successfully in Germany and Switzerland.
This year the BDRC plans special involvement in two series. The Junior Nationals is a Junior Dragster cup in Germany, Switzerland and maybe the Netherlands and is supported by the well-known german drag racing magazine DragRacer and 1-on-1-motorsports as well as DVD ev. The other series is Super Pro ET. This series is the result of a special effort by several racers and fans, especially Patrick Kaiser and Markus Münch and the BDRC wants to support this group of enthusiasts too. You can find out all about Super Pro ET at www.suproet.de.
©Eurodragster.com
The two promoters of the three events in Bavaria explained their plans at the meeting. These events will be in Augsburg at the end of June, Landshut at the beginning of July, and at Vilshofen (Donau) in mid-August.
Further information can be found on the BDRC's web site at www.bdrc.de (sorry, only in German only), or send an E-Mail to info@bdrc.de (OK to write in English).
Swift snippets.
19th April: Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall has been in touch with an update for racers attending next week's Big Bang at Santa Pod Raceway. "Gates are open from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm only next Thursday (24th)", says Paula. "Gates will then re-open at 9:00 am on Friday. Racers are reminded to bring their DVLC licences as well as their Competition licences."
©Eurodragster.com
The Netherlands' newest Junior Dragster racer Lisa Selles fired up the Selles family's Junior Dragster for the first time at
the King Cruise last weekend fortuitously in front of sponsor Maria Pels of Cloud 9. "The sound that the dragster made was more powerful than our old one and
a crowd quickly gathered round", says mum Henriette. "It will be a whole new ballgame for Lisa and Jessica: this JD is a little monster! They were eager before, but now they cannot wait to go to
Luckau to get some real action. We might leave for Chambley the weekend after Luckau to do a little more testing."FIA Main Event entry.
18th April: Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for forwarding us Version 1 of the official entry list for the FIA Main Event, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 23rd-26th May.
Paula is too polite to say this so we will: if you want to contest the FIA Main Event then you really need to get your finger out as the official closing date for all classes, Pro and Sportsman, is next Friday, 25th April. If you enter after 25th April then if your entry is accepted you will have to pay a late entry penalty fee. You can download the FIA Main Event entry forms via the Entry Forms link on the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.
©Eurodragster.com
Click here to view the FIA Main Event entry list. If you think you should already be on the list, or if you have any queries about FIA Main Event entry, then please call Paula Marshall on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625) or E-Mail paula.marshall@btconnect.com.
Wild weekend at SCR.
18th April: The UK's Wild Bunch will be contesting the first round of their six-event Wild Bunch Series, and the second round of their Real Steel Series, at Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend. Co-ordinator Claire Meaddows tells us that this event drew eighteen entries last season and that there is already a fair list of runners and riders this time around.
©Eurodragster.com
"Some racers have already been out this season, braving the snow of the Easter Thunderball and the snow of the first Shakey RWYB, but others will be emerging after their winter rebuilds with a couple of newcomers expected", says Claire. "One thing we know for sure, is that defending Series title holders Tony Smith and Dave Williams will be there, as The Cunning Plan Minivan altered is already at the track! Determined to give them a run for their money will be a couple of Hartnell slingshots in the form of Chris in Backdraft and Mark in Awesome 4-Some, a newly-guised Tiki Munki altered which we are all eager to see, the currently dominant Easter Thunderball winner Darren Law in the Wicked Lady rear-engined dragster, and hopefully the other Riot Racers' altereds. We're also expecting former Series winners Mikey Cresswell and the Freq Racing Ensemble with the Living the Dream slingshot and two-time winners the Dog's Bollocks team with the RamRaider slingshot hoping for a return to form, and a few more familiar faces, who are on a last minute thrash to be there and whom we hope to see.
"We look forward to the event and we are hoping for some more spring-like weather this time."
Erbacher Racing Las Vegas report.
17th April: Zum zweiten Mal richteten wir uns auf dem Rennplatz von Las Vegas häuslich ein. Alles ist vertrauter und man fühlt sich schon ein bisschen heimisch, wenn man bereits einmal ein Rennen auf der gleichen Strecke gefahren ist. Las Vegas ist unsere letzte Station in den USA bevor es wieder Richtung Europa geht. Nach dem Rundengewinn in Houston wollten wir unsere bisherige Leistung übertreffen, vielleicht mit einem Sieg oder doch mindestens mit einer starken Leistung in der Elimination. Wie gesagt: Qualifikation ist Pflicht. Schliesslich wollten wir für unseren lokalen Sponsor Marnell Masonry eine gute Show bieten.
Der erste Eliminationslauf endete nach dem Burnout mit einem technischen Defekt und wir rollten unverrichteter Dinge wieder in die Box. Im zweiten Lauf setzten wir uns mit 4.826 Sekunden / 303 mph auf den 12. Platz. Bis und mit Platz 12 wird die Zeit aus den ersten zwei Qualifikationsläufen gewertet. Ein wichtiger Meilenstein. Alle schlechter platzierten Teams fangen wieder bei Null an, sozusagen ohne Laufwertung aus dem ersten Qualifikationstag. Die Strecke forderte von den Tunern alles. Es war rund 27 Grad heiss und die Strecke heizte sich bis auf 44 Grad auf. Eine Temperatur, die der Traktion nicht gerade förderlich ist.
Mit dem Lauf Nummer 3 und 4 mussten wir das richtige Setup für den Sonntag finden. 4.82 Sekunden sind nicht gerade eine Lebensversicherung auf dem Drag Strip. Der dritte Lauf mit 4.94 Sekunden war passabel nur die Stichflamme aus dem Motor am Ende der Strecke war nicht nach unserem Wunsch. Der vierte Lauf fand dann ohne uns statt. In der Qualifikation rutschten wir noch auf den 13. Platz, waren aber in unserem vierten Rennen zum vierten Mal qualifiziert. Die Pflicht war erfüllt.
Morgan Lucas und Urs Erbacher mussten am Sonntag morgen lange auf ihren Einsatz warten. Als zweitletztes Paar gingen sie auf die Strecke. Die Paarungen vor ihnen kämpften zum Teil mit der Traktion und Motorendefekten. Leider verlor auch der Marnell Masonry Dragster direkt nach dem Start die Traktion. Urs versuchte noch einmal die Leistung auf die Strecke zu bringen, doch leider erfolglos. Morgan Lucas zog davon, um den Sieg nach Hause zu fahren. Schade, dass unsere Hoffnungen auf ein erfolgreiches Rennen bereits in der ersten Runde begraben wurden, aber "That's racing".
Ende nächster Woche ist unser Auflieger und Dragster bereits wieder auf hoher See auf dem Weg nach Europa. Kurz nach der Heimkehr geht es mit dem ersten Meisterschaftsrennen in England schon wieder weiter. In der Zwischenzeit nutzen wir aber die Zeit um unsere Erfahrungen aus dem USA- Einsatz zu konsolidieren, das Team für die Europatour zusammenzustellen und alles für die FIA Tour vorzubereiten. Erste Priorität hat diesen Sommer klar die Verteidigung des FIA Top Fuel Champion Titels.
Wir haben in den USA eine grosse Fangemeinde gewonnen und das Medieninteresse ist von Rennen zu Rennen gestiegen. Wenn es uns gelingt unsere einzigartige Position als einziges interkontinentales Rennteam (Europa-USA) erfolgreich zu vermarkten, kann es durchaus sein, dass es im Herbst 2008 wieder heisst... "Welcome to Las Vegas!"
©Eurodragster.com
Flying the flag for drag racing.
17th April: With a few weeks to go before their next on-track appearances, a couple of Pro teams are doing their bit to promote drag racing.
First up are the Carter Motorsports/Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster team who are facing a busy few weeks with four promotional appearances scheduled in as many weeks, writes Andy Carter. Andy and the team will be appearing at the following events:
- 18th-20th April: AACI Spring Nationals, Billing Aquadrome (Static TF display)
- 25th-27th April: Big Bang, Santa Pod Raceway (Static TF display)
- 8th May: Santa Pod / European Championships Press Call, London (Personal appearance)
- 11th May: PTM Show, Santa Pod Raceway (Static TF display)
©Eurodragster.com
Also promoting drag racing are the UK's Showtime Racing Fuel Funny Car team who will be appearing at the Cavalcade of Transport and Country Fair in Rushden on the 3rd-5th May.
"The event, staged by the Rushden Historic Transport Society, will be displaying 104 agricultural vehicles, 82 buses, commercial vehicles and fire engines, 257 cars, 76 military vehicles, 25 period caravans, 109 motorcycles, Bugs and three-wheelers and one 7500 bhp Nitro Funny Car!", says Nigel Holland. "John Spuffard and the car will be at the Show all weekend to show visitors to the cavalcade that not all vehicles with big fat tyres on the back are tractors". You can find out more about the event at www.cavalcade.org.uk.
Swift snippets.
17th April: Next Friday, 25th April, is the official closing date for all classes Pro and Sportsman for the FIA Main Event. Entries received after the closing date, if accepted, will be subject to a late entry fee. You can download the FIA Main Event entry forms from the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc. If you have any queries about FIA Main Event entry then please call Paula Marshall on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625) or E-Mail paula.marshall@btconnect.com.
©Eurodragster.com
We would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to Mick 'The Fish' Smith, one of the great characters of UK drag racing, who who has been off-track for far too long. Mick tells us that he will be back soon, though, and that he is heading for Street Eliminator. Have a great day Mick.
Also on the subject of Real Steel Street Eliminator, RSSE racer Pete Smith tells us that he has purchased John Claden's Mr Muscle '68 ragtop 'Vette from Ray Tucker. We look forward to seeing Pete doing the jobs you love to hate.
A fun weekend at SCR.
17th April: It's expected to be another busy Public Track Day weekend at Stratford-upon-Avon's Shakespeare County Raceway with the début of the long-awaited Pro Street Drag Series, as well as established time trials series for the National Street Car Challenge and the Old Skool Ford Drag Challenge, writes SCR's Promotions Manager Jerry Cookson.
Although Keith Cowie, SCR's official track record holder for Imports, is sidelined waiting for front suspension parts for his eight-second R32 GTR Skyline buddy Mick Begley, the new owner of the famous ex-Tim Webster Du