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What's New (April '99)
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30th April: ACU Dragbike Championship co-ordinator Ian King sends this preview of the weekend's events on two wheels at Avon Park Raceway:
"The opening Super Series round is round no. 2 of the ACU / UK Dragbike Championship and sees the 1999 debut of many riders unable to make the season opener at Santa Pod.
In Funny Bike, Andy Newcombe appears for the first time on the ex-Nash NCK Rice Burner chassis that took many a title for the Coventry legends.
In Pro Stock, Paul Willis will be looking to build on the stunning new championship record of 7.64 secs set at the season opener. Dave Beck also looks set to make an appearance, still hungover from his Prostar Fast By Gast Promod title taken from the Americans in their own backyard in Columbus, Ohio. Both Ian Burns and Chris Hope will be looking to make an impact in the class for the first time this season.
In Competition Bike, Ken Cooper will be making his first pass in anger on his Pro Mod machine, looking to set a standard already championed by Beck in the USA.
Former Irish dragrace champions 'Mad' Mel Nolan and 'Fast' Eddie Galvin are set to make their 1999 UK debuts in the class.
In Super Street, it appears that Team Owner of the Krazy Kat Suzuki, Roger Yelland, looks set to wrench the controls from his hired gun and early championship leader Karl Larcombe and show him how it really should be done!"
New Nordic Drag Series sponsor.
30th April: Svensk Dragracing has signed McKinney Corp. Race Cars as a contingency sponsor in the Nordic Drag Racing Series.
McKinney will be a contingency sponsor in Super Gas, Super Comp, Competition and Pro Mod categories, but Pro Stock, Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster will be included when they are running at events that are both Nordic Drag Racing Series and FIA European Championship events: namely the FIA EM at Alastaro in Finland, the Drag Festival at Mantorp Park in Sweden and the Drag Challenge at Gardermoen in Norway.
The prize money total is 78000 Swedish Kronor, and the competitor must be using a McKinney product. More details in the Svensk Dragracing Press Release.
Super Series web site launches.
29th April: Obsession Motorsports and Eurodragster are pleased to announce the launch of the official Super Series web site. The site features the very latest from "The friendliest race series outside the USA".
In addition to regular news and other information, the site will also host Eurodragster's live reports from all Super Series events.
You can find the Super Series web site at http://www.eurodragster.com/superseries.
"Top Junior ET Racer" programme.
29th April: Manumit Computers and Talbot Racing have announced a Top Junior ET racer programme.
A trophy will be awarded in each Junior Dragster Class for the driver who comes closest to their dial-in. The programme starts this weekend at the Super Series at Avon Park Raceway, and will continue throughout 1999 at each MSA meeting both at Santa Pod Raceway and Avon Park.
In addition there will be an annual Trophy and Prize for "Top Junior ET racer", awarded for the best average variance from dial-in for the complete season.
Pat and Stephen Talbot of Talbot Racing say: "We wanted to provide something which would promote good Bracket driving. The whole essence of Bracket Racing is that it allows a simple car with a good driver to win prizes using consistency over the season.".
Junior Dragster drivers interested in participating should register at the Talbot Racing pit at Avon Park Raceway this weekend, or e-mail Talbot Racing at stephen@talbotrace.demon.co.uk.
Super Series 1 preview.
28th April: An entry list of 190 (and still growing) has been received for the first Super Series event at Avon Park Raceway on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (1st-3rd May). The race incorporates round two of the UK National Drag Racing Championship, the RAC/MSA British Top Alcohol Championship, and the ACU Drag Bike Championship.
Smax Smith is expected to return to the track this weekend; although corroborated details are scarce we know that Smax will be in a full-bodied car rather than his dragster which was damaged in his 160 mph flip at the Thunderball a few weeks ago.
Rob Turner, Dave Wilson, Lex Joon and Doug Bond comprise the official entry in Top Alcohol; Doug's appearance is excellent news after what looked like a terminal problem at the Thunderball.
The five-car Pro Mod entry includes the eagerly-awaited debut of Alan Cook's 1963 Corvette which he has purchased from US racer Tim McAmis. Al is making no predictions about performance but the car is a proven winner and the ICE-prepared 706 ci engine should see Cooky easily eclipse his previous best performance.
Notable in the sportsmen classes is Super Gas with a huge entry of nineteen cars. On two wheels, Pro Stock Bike and Funny Bike see nine entries apiece, and the Supertwins are, as ever, well represented.
The newly-licenced Junior Dragsters will be appearing, as will the ever-popular Wild Bunch with their unique brand of nostalgia racing.
Entry is £10.00 each day. If you cannot make it to Avon Park Raceway (and if not, why not) then you can stay in touch with the latest news through Eurodragster's on-the-spot reports.
Nybo sells, Persson drives.
27th April: Jens Nybo's Top Fueller has been sold to Jonny Nilsson and a Danish partner, and will be driven by Kent Persson in this year's Swedish Top Fuel Tour. Nilsson and Peter Lantz, Top Fuel Dragster owner-driver and promoter of the Top Fuel Tour, were partners in 1984-85 when Kent drove their Pro Comp Funny Car. Kent Persson's pedigree is impeccable: he has raced in Top Fuel and other classes for several years, and was the first European to run a Four-second pass, in Peter Lantz's car.
Peter is looking forward to racing his old friend. "It will be great to have the opportunity to beat Kent. The average age of my team fell drastically when he left!", he says.
Peter Lantz will be re-launching his own web site shortly. In the meantime, you can keep up with developments on the Swedish Top Fuel Tour at http://www.topfueltour.com. Much of the text is in Swedish but English pages will be available very soon.
Dave Beck wins at Fast By Gast Nationals.
26th April: Having beaten Tony Manning, Rickey Gadson and Jay Riddle in the earlier rounds, Dave Beck won the Fast By Gast Nationals Pro Mod final against David Vantine of Hamilton, NY with a 7.048/182.92 to Vantine's 7.106/181.56. Congratulations to Dave.
Full details from Dragbike.
Dave Beck qualifies #9
25th April: ACU Prostock champion Dave Beck qualified 9th from 15 with a 7.199sec 183.11mph run at the Fast by Gast Nationals in Columbus Ohio yesterday. I haven't had time to check yet, but Dragbike usually provide raceday coverage.
Zodiac team aims for the stars.
25th April: The Zodiac Top Fuel Harley team have been busy over the winter. Not only have they given the bike a full makeover with radical changes to the ignition, fuel and exhaust systems, heads, trans and clutch plus a new paint job, they've also completely revamped their web site. Crew chief Vincent Pels tells us they have good hopes for this season and aim to repeat their 1996 FIM championship victory. Check out their site at http://www.dragrace.com.au/bikes/vincent/.
Raceday updates from Avon Park.
25th April: Eurodragster.com, in association with Avon Park Raceway and Obsession Motorsport, will be bringing you raceday updates from Round 1 of Super Series '99, 1st - 3rd May. The first update will be around lunchtime on Saturday (depending on the race schedule) and we hope to bring you at least 3 updates per day on Sunday and Monday. We'll give you the address to log on to later in the week.
Incidentally, does anyone know anything about a Junior Dragster competition at the meeting? Paul Allen tells us he's made some go-faster changes and at last weekend's Test & Tune, Katy Gibbs was cutting some impressive lights so we could be in for some exciting racing if the juniors are going to be in competition this weekend.
Sheavills shifts...
23rd April: ...well we all knew that, didn't we. Three 4's at the '98 European Finals proves it. This time, though, the reigning FIA European Top Fuel champion is shifting in cyberspace. His web site has now moved to http://www.topfuel.co.uk/. It's a great looking site, well worth a visit.
Top Fuel Harley World Championship
22nd April: Following on from the World Championship proposal which we mentioned on April 19th, UK Top Fuel Harley racer Ben Beneke of Full Force Racing writes to tell us of the first true World Drag Racing Championship which is to be contested in Australia in February 2000.
The American Drag Bike Association will be paying all expenses for the top four Top Fuel Harley teams - bikes and crew - from the USA, Canada and Europe to go Australia to take on their top four teams over a series of four races, for a prize fund of $85,000 and the title of Top Fuel Harley World Champion.
Ben is currently trying to secure sponsorship for his Top Fuel Harley Team to allow them to contest the foreign rounds of the FIM Supertwins class and give them a shot at the World Title. Anyone wishing to sponsor Full Force Racing in their quest to get to the World Championships should e-mail Ben at abeneke@cityofbristol.ac.uk.
Where is StripTeaser?
19th April: No, we're not planning a Eurodragster boys night out, nor trying to boost our ratings on the search engines. We're referring to the StripTeaser Mini Van. Bob Jarrett sold it to French racer Pascal Sarrazin in 1985, but he's just realised he left his wallet in the glove compartment, so would like to trace it's whereabouts. If we find it, we'll give a Thrust SSC pen for the best lead. Send information to webmaster@eurodragster.com.
Bob also informs us that the DJB Avenger will be sporting new style Brad Anderson heads and a new blower setup for the main event. "It's time to get serious," he says. The team are still having problems finding sponsorship for John Spuffard's car. Anyone interested in seeing their corporate logo on what could be Europe's fastest funny car, drop us a line and we'll put you in touch with Bob. "But whatever happens," Bob adds, "we will have both cars at the Cannonball." That's good news indeed.
Finally, we'd like to congratulate Bob and Nancy on their forthcoming marriage. I'm not sure if we'll be able to do live coverage of the event, but we'll try to get our photographer over to Santa Barbara to take some start-line photos!
World Drag Racing Championship proposal
19th April: Eurodragster has received the following interesting proposal for a World Championship of Drag Racing from Australian drag racer Ken Lowe. Click Here to read it. Anyone interested should contact Ken at kenlowe@onthenet.com.au
French drag racing site.
18th April: Les fervents de drag racing francais, allez a http://www.multimania.com/dragster. C'est tres bon! (Pardon my French).
Cars/Bikes for sale & wanted.
18th April: There's everything from a Honda Scooter to a full turnkey Top Fuel operation for sale at the SWAP-MEET. And if you want to sell that '57 Chevy that's gathering dust at the back of the garage, you can post your ad from the comfort of your own browser and it will appear in the SWAP-MEET instantly. Best of all, it's totally FREE!
Dave Beck rides at Columbus.
17th April: We'd like to wish the best of luck to ACU Prostock champion, Dave Beck, who will be riding the MRE Pro Mod bike again at the Prostar Fast by Gast Nationals in Columbus, Ohio on April 24 - 25th. If you can't make it to Columbus, mosey on down to http://www.dragbike.com/ for raceday coverage. Thanks to Ian King <ian@dragbikes.com> for the news.
WIN with Drag Racing List.
17th April: Find any bad or missing information on The Drag Racing List (http://www.draglist.com/drllist.htm) and win a "1320 Gear" T-Shirt. Please read the full rules and instructions before entering.
Callin too quick for Eurodragster.
17th April: After moving up from Junior Dragster to Super Comp, Europe's fastest schoolgirl, Susanne Callin, is obviously too fast for Eurodragster now. Her web site has moved to http://home1.swipnet.se/~w-11346/ and we never even saw it go. We'd like to bet that the move took somewhat longer than 8.90 seconds, though.
Talbot Racing web site update.
17th April: Fresh from their popular win in Super Pro ET at the Easter Thunderball, Talbot Racing have updated their web site with details of new Team personnel, an appearance schedule, and the latest points standings in the National and SPRC Super Pro ET Championships.
Svensk welcomes Finns.
16th April: The Svensk Dragracing web site has been updated with a preview of some of the likely Finnish contenders in the Nordic Drag Racing Series. This is the first year in which Finnish racers have taken part in the series.
We understand that the address of the Svensk Dragracing site is to change shortly; watch this space for more details.
Bates' Gallery update.
16th April: The photo gallery on UK Super Gas racer Chris Bates' web site has been updated with pictures from the 1999 season so far.
Joon confirms Super Series date.
15th April: Dutch Top Alcohol Funny Car racer Lex Joon has confirmed that he will be attending the next round of the RAC/MSA British Top Alcohol Championship, which is included in the first Super Series event at Avon Park Raceway on May 1st-3rd. Switzerland's Peter Beck currently leads the Championship after his win at the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway.
More Junior Dragsters to be licenced.
15th April: Four Junior Dragster drivers will be carrying out licencing runs at the Test and Tune session at Avon Park Raceway this weekend, 17th-18th April. Drivers include Katie Gibbs, daughter of Terry and Tina Gibbs of Obsession Motorsports, and sister of Super Gas racer Craig Gibbs, and Phillip Cook, son of Pro Mod racer Al Cook.
Bulldog Bash on the Web.
14th April: One of the UK's biggest Bike events, the Bulldog Bash is now on the web. Check out details of 1999's "No1 Run What Ya Brung Drag Race and Party" at www.bulldog-bash.co.uk
ACU UK Points Standings.
14th April: The ACU UK Dragbike Championship points standings are now available in our Points Standings section. Thanks to Ian King for sending us the information.
More Thunderball pictures.
14th April: Latest in the list of sites offering pictures from the Easter Thunderball is UK1320 at http://www.uk1320.com. A race report and results can also be found on the site. Webmaster Gareth Evans promises that pictures from a recent trip to the USA will be posted shortly, so be sure to check out UK1320 on a regular basis.
New Dutch Date.
13th April: Browsing round the EXPLOSION web site last night, I noticed a new date for the diaries of Dutch drag race fans: Dragten II on 3rd October at Drachten airfield.
Pictures galore!
13th April: The Svensk Dragracing web site has just been updated with pictures from the Custom Motor Show in Jönköping, Sweden - check out the amazing new Lorentzon/Möller '37 Chevy Pro Mod.
Meanwhile back in the UK, Tog's Drag Racing Page now features Thunderball pictures from Super Gas, Super Comp, Super Pro ET and Junior Dragster in addition to the Fuel Funny Car, Top Alcohol, Pro Mod and Top Fuel Bike pictures which were posted at the weekend. Pictures from the remaining car and bike classes should be posted in the next day or two, together with pictures from the Thunderball Press Day and recent Run What You Brungs.
Can YOU help Smax ?
12th April: Smax Smith has been in touch with Eurodragster to ask if any of the fans who were at the Thunderball at Santa Pod when he took a wild ride in the Astral Projection Top Alcohol Dragster might be able to help him out.
Smax is after any video footage of the crash that anybody may have, for possible inclusion in a TV document that has been filmed about Smax (the film crew were at the track for the Thunderball, but unfortunately went home Sunday night!). If you have any footage of the crash please get in touch with Smax at : smax@fastco-uk.freeserve.co.uk
Smax would also like to say a huge thanks to everybody that donated money to the team after the crash and assure everybody that he is a ok. He assures us that he will be at Avon Park for the next event, but he is not sure with which car. Does this mean the return to the track of the crowd favourite Mainline Menace Altered?
Goring set for Jet FC return.
12th April: UK Jet Funny Car pilot Roger Goring is planning a return to the track this season in a new Jet FC. Roger was last seen at the Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway last year when his "Northern Flame" Jet FC was badly damaged in a top end crash.
Roger has spent the last few months working at jet car builder Bob Jinkins' shop in New Jersey, USA, finishing the new Funny Car in his spare time. "It's been very hard work", says Roger. "I've been having to earn a living and work on the new car in what little free time I had".
The Northern Flame is still in a bad way. "The car was very badly damaged" says Roger. "We had another car half-built, and rather than rebuild the Northern Flame we finished the new car instead, but the Northern Flame will eventually be repaired. The engine was undamaged in the crash, and that is in the new car although we also have a spare. The new car needs to be painted, and it needs a name".
Jet car technology moves very quickly, and the new FC is very much the state of the art. "There are a lot of new modifications to this car", says Roger. "We have many carbon fibre and kevlar parts in the new body. There are some different features in the cockpit, for example a metal shroud around the roll cage, some new parachute mounts, and we plan to fit smaller parachutes".
Roger promises a spectacular new start line show. "There are a lot of modifications which can be made to the afterburner, and we have already made some modifications to those parts of the engine which produce the flame and smoke. We are working on what we hope will be a super flame show; the modifications to the afterburner will follow during the year".
The car should arrive in the UK this week. Roger hopes to have it ready to run in mid- to late May, but he is keen not to rush things even with his prior experience. "When we get the car on the track we're starting from square one" says Roger. "Because it's a totally new car we'll have to learn to walk before we can run".
Showtime UK site updated.
11th April: The Showtime UK Fuel FC web site has been updated with a report, results, pictures and timing data from last weekend's Thunderball. The report was written by one of the Showtime crew and gives a fascinating frst-hand insight into the world of Fuel FC racing. Check it out at http://members.aol.com/sruk/showtime.html.
Sharkman catches Smax's smack.
10th April: UK drag racing fan (and Eurodragster staff member) Sharkman has posted his report and photographs from last weekend's Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway, including an amazing photo sequence of Smax Smith's 160 mph crash in his Top Alcohol Dragster (from which he walked away unharmed). You can find Sharkman's site at http://www.btinternet.com/~sharkman.
Other Thunderball reports and pictures.
10th April: Tony B's site now features a report and pictures on the Thunderball, including a picture of Ian Vincent's Super Street Pop upside down (another walk-away crash). UK1320 is carrying a report on the Thunderball with pictures to follow, and Tog's Drag Racing Page is now showing the first batch of Tog's Thunderball pictures, featuring Fuel Funny Car, Top Alcohol, Pro Modified and Top Fuel Bike. Tog promises to post the rest of his pictures within the next few days so be sure to check out TDRP every so often.
Congratulations Larry!
10th April: We're sure that every drag racing fan in Europe will want to join Eurodragster in congratulating Larry Dixon and the whole of The Snake's team upon Larry's 4.486 run in qualifying in Texas yesterday. Nice job guys! It probably won't be the last 4.4 this weekend, stay in touch on NHRA Online.
Peter Wacker launches web site.
9th April: Swiss Pro Modified racer Peter Wacker, the driver of the '57 Belair "Roofer's Toy", has launched a web site. This site is very good-looking and has all the usual features including a history, specs on the car, and photographs. It is obvious from the text on the site that here is a man who really enjoys his racing. Check it out at http://www.mopar.ch/57belair.
Malmgren and Ferrer form Pro Stock team.
8th April: Magnus Cato of Malmgren Racing writes that Sweden's Michael Malmgren and Jacob Ferrer have formed a two-car Pro Stock team. Christer Gustavsson will be Crew Chief, and the the rest of the crew will work on both cars simultaneously.
Michael Malmgren says "The main reason is the benefit of doubling your database during qualifying, 'You try this and I try that', and of course developing an engine pogramme. Our fans will hopefully see the results in the championship this year". Magnus adds that there will be no team orders.
Deszoe Krivan launches web site.
8th April: Swiss Top Alcohol Funny Car racer Deszoe Krivan has launched a web site. It features an introduction to Deszoe and the team, a race calendar, Photo Gallery, and some interesting drag racing art. You can find Deszoe's site at http://www.dragracing.ch.
European Drag Racing Database.
7th April: Tommy Nilsson writes from Denmark to announce the launch of the new European Drag Racing Database. The Database details drivers' best performances in several classes, lists class records, and lists Championship standings going back several years. A lot of hard work has obviously gone into the site and it has definitely paid off. Tommy is keen to hear from drivers wishing to have their own best peformances listed. Check out the European Drag Racing Database at http://www.eurodrag.com.
New Drag Mag in the workshop.
7th April: Further to our news item of April 2nd regarding the passing of Super Stock and Drag Illustrated Magazine, editor Steve Collison has confirmed that a new magazine is to be launched. Called Drag Racing USA, it will be published by McMullen Argus and will feature anything and everything to do with drag racing but with a Sportsman focus. The first issue is due out in late August.
VP Racing Fuels to sponsor Nordic Drag Racing Series.
6th April: Press Release from Svensk Dragracing:
VP Racing Fuels is to put up a contingency sponsorship for all categories competing in Nordic Drag Racing Series 1999.
Jim Kelly, Regional Manager VP in Newmark USA, is pleased with the Scandinavian market.
"We have a lot of customers in Scandinavia and Europe, and the contingency sponsorship in Nordic Drag Racing Series is a way to say Thank You to all that has chosen to use our VP products."
Olle M Elfqvist, Vice Chairman Svensk Dragracing, is very happy for this continuing trust from Jim Kelly and VP Racing Fuels.
"This shows that VP Racing Fuels has discovered what a big market northern Europe is for motor sport related companies. With the development of Nordic Drag Racing Series throughout Scandinavia, new territories are opened for companies and their growth. Our continuing development is very good at the moment and we are looking at the rest of Europe for the future."
Europe's quickest Junior?
4th April: Paul Lindley-Allen today ran 9.575 in Junior Dragster, backed up by a run of 9.630. We think that could be the quickest backed-up run in Europe, but if you know better, please email us at news@eurodragster.com.
Drag mag makes final pass.
2nd April: Chris Rolfe writes to inform us of the sad demise of Superstock & Drag Illustrated, a magazine which has stood up for doorslammers for many years. Apparently the magazine was taken over by new owners who decided it wasn't sufficiently profitable. Editor Steve Collison is quoted as saying "It`s not just the end of an era, it`s the silencing of a voice." We know just what you mean, Steve.
Chris, incidentally, is looking for a team to crew or crew-chief for. See his ad in our Swap-Meet section.
New Web Sites.
2nd April: A couple of new sites to take a look at: http://www.norskdragracing.com is the official web site of Norsk Drag Racing Gardermoen and http://www.paulvrindracing.mypage.org is Paul Vrind's Purple Pontiac page. We'll add them to our links pages as soon as we can.
March's news
Eurodragster.com aims to bring you links to all the best European Drag Racing web sites. To add your site to Eurodragster's listings, simply email links@eurodragster.com with your URL and a little information about your site and we'll do the rest. When you update your site, drop us a line at news@eurodragster.com and we'll feature your site in our "What's New" section.
Eurodragster.com is a non-profit-making organisation run by a small group of Drag Racing enthusiasts for the sole purpose of promoting European Drag Racing. If you can help us to meet the modest cost of hosting this web site by advertising here, please email webmaster@eurodragster.com. We're sure you'll find our rates extremely competitive.