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What's New
31st May: Swedish Top Fuel Dragster and Top Methanol Funny Car pilot Micke Kågered had a busy weekend at the FIA Main Event, jumping from one car to the other and back. His last Top Fuel pass of the weekend, in round one of eliminations, ended prematurely in a huge trail of oil and what appeared to be terminal engine damage. The crew returned to the pits and pulled the diaper expecting to find it full of assorted metalwork, but to Micke's delight and that of the Carbon By Design team, appearances proved to be deceptive.
"What actually happened was that heavy tyre shake had broken off all four bolts which hold the fuel pump housing to the motor", said tuner Alan Jackson. "Later in the run, the pump became disengaged from the cam and the motor just stopped, amazingly with no damage! Unfortunately it did dump a large amount of oil on the track because the front of the engine had come off - sorry about that, track crew!"
It should be full steam ahead for the Bahco Tools/Quaker State Top Fueller from now on. "We had our share of new-car gremlins over the weekend", said AJ, "but we are confident that these are now ironed out."
You can stay in touch with the latest news from Kågered Racing on Micke's official web site at www.kagered-racing.com.
FIA Main Event timing data...
31st May: Timing data from last weekend's FIA Main Event is now available via our Timing Data page, courtesy of Andy Marrs of TSI Timers Europe.
...and factoids.
31st May: Andy Marrs has also sent us another set of fascinating facts about the Main Event, garnered from the TSI Timers system.
- 648 Blue Lights (track clear and Tower ready - Ed)
- 564 Pairs
- 184 Singles
- 1312 Total vehicles entered in system
- 1071 made it to the finish line, 48 of them Junior Dragsters
- 1023 made it to quarter mile
- Average ET (not including Junior Dragsters) 10.197 seconds
- Average Terminal Speed (not including Junior Dragsters) 138.14 mph
- Lowest ET - 5.004 Barry Sheavills
- Highest Terminal Speed - 286.2 Andy Carter
- Closest Race - Dave Potter v Robert Doyle (Pro ET); 0.001 seconds at the finish line, or approximately 0.96 inches
- Total run time (ETs of all cars which reached the finish line including Junior Dragsters) 3 hours, 5 minutes and 7.53 seconds
You can find out more details about the TSI Timers system on their official web site at www.eurodragster.com/tsitimers.
More Main Event reports.
31st May: More racers have posted reports on their weekends at the Main Event.
First up is FIA Top Fuel Dragster victor Anita Mäkelä who has updated her web site with a report in Finnish and English (Swedish coming soon). Check it out at www.anitamakela.com.
UK Top Fuel Bike racer Brian Johnson had a less successful weekend, and an illustrated account of just how much he had to contend with during the event can be found on his official web site at www.brianjohnson.co.uk. BJ's report gives a good impression of the amount of work involved in running a Top Fuel Bike.
Web site updates.
31st May: Gary and Phil Cottingham tell us that their fan site, which resided at www.dragracing.atfreeweb.com, has had to go offline for a few days, but will be back very shortly on a new URL. In the meantime, their Fans Forum at dragracing2.community.everyone.net remains online.
PT Bruiser developing.
30th May: UK Super Comp racer Paul Marston had a productive weekend at the Main Event, he says.
"Thanks go to SPRC and Santa Pod Raceway for a great event, some excellent weather and racing", says Paul. "We learnt a lot about the PT Bruiser, making good progress in two areas but specifically aerodynamics. Running at terminal speeds of more than one hundred and sixty miles per hour, aerodynamics is an issue which we have to get right before we push any further. This is after all not a body shape designed in a wind tunnel, unlike the Pro Stocks that we saw running at the Main Event. The potential is there to virtually match their terminal speeds. We are very much still in the development stage with the PT Bruiser, great progress has been made and we are further ahead in the programme than we could have wished, for but it's not over yet - stay tuned.
"Thanks go to our hardworking crewchief Dave Kalisz, Steve Brennan, Pete and Del of Individual Clothing and everyone else. Our principal sponsor Chrysler UK, plus associate sponsors Individual Clothing Co, ATI Transmissions and of course Mac Tools who supplied the new crew jackets for the weekend and of course that small toolbox we had in the Bruiser Pits. Lastly, thanks to everyone who visited us in the pits throughout the weekend and for all the compliments, it's what makes all the hard work worthwhile."
FB's thanks.
30th May: Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Ian Hook has written to express his appreciation for the reaction of fans and fellow racers after he made it into the eights at the weekend.
"On behalf of myself and all the other FB's, I'd just like to say thank you for the congratulations that have been given to us in person, by e-mail and posted in our guestbook after our eight-second run on Saturday", says Ian. "It's great to know that so many people are following this class. We were as surprised as everyone else when we went that quick and, obviously very disappointed when transmission problems stopped us backing it up. Rest assured that we'll be placing our order for an XTRA large 8-second jacket from ICE very soon.
"On a personal note I'd particularly like to say thanks to the crew who (if they were paid any!) would really have earned their money this year! I'd also like to pass on my appreciation to our sponsors, A & E Fire Equipment, The Everest Baltea Cafe, Shakespeare County Raceway and Messier-Dowty and a give big acknowledgement to all those who joined the FB Associates to help us get in the eights. There's still room on the car so if you want to help keep us in the eights visit our website at www.fbracing.co.uk now and click on FB Associates."
The FB Racing web site has been updated with a report from round three of CCSE. "Round four's report should be even better!", says Ian.
More Main Event reports.
30th May: Three other racers have already posted Main Event reports on their web sites, and end-day reports and pictures are still available on a fan site.
First up is Top Fuel Dragster racer Andy Carter, whose web site features an extensive account from Crew Chief Eddie Corr. Check it out on the What's New page of the Carter Motorsports web site at www.andycarter.net.
Fellow Top Fuel Dragster pilot Barry Sheavills has also posted an excellent account of his weekend on the Press Release page of his web site at www.topfuel.co.uk.
The web site of Super Comp racer Phil Bennett, who was runner-up in the class at the Main Event, has been updated with a report of the Main Event and the preceding Super Series 2. Webmaster Dan Bennett, Phil's son, has also given the web site a facelift. You can find it at www.supercomp323.co.uk.
Gary and Phil Cottingham's fan site at www.dragracing.atfreeweb.com is currently carrying end-day reports and some great photographs from all three days of the Main Event.
FIA Main Event results.
29th May: The FIA- and UEM-class winners, and now European Championship leaders, at the weekend's FIA Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway were:
- FIA Top Fuel Dragster: Anita Mäkelä (Finland)
- FIA Top Methanol Dragster: Manty Bugeja (Malta)
- FIA Top Methanol Funny Car: Leif Andreasson (Sweden)
- FIA Pro Stock: Niclas Andersson (Sweden)
- UEM Comp Bike: Roel Koedam (Holland)
- UEM Supertwin Top Fuel Bike: Ton Pels (Holland)
- UEM Pro Stock Bike: Roger Petterson (Sweden)
It was a frantic, action-packed and dramatic weekend and you can relive all of the action with our reports, pictures and full qualifying and elimination results, which you can view by clicking here, or by clicking on the 2001 Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.
Because some readers in Scandinavia were experiencing problems accessing our coverage, we also put our reports (but not pictures) onto a mirror server, and we plan to leave them in place for a short while. Click here to read reports on our mirror server.
Racers: How did your Main Event weekend go? Mail us at news@eurodragster.com and we'll post your report here.
New race pictures.
29th May: Mikko Niemi has posted pictures from the FHRA Spring Nationals on his web site at www.paalupaikka.com/dragracing/spring_nats.htm. "The quality of the pictures is not perfect, but you can see what's happening", says Mikko. We've taken a look ourselves and we think that Mikko is being modest - the pictures are just great, featuring both pitside and spectator-side shots.
Patrik Jacobsson has likewise posted some great pitside and spectator-side shots from the Semcon Drag Internats on his web site at www.smktrollhattan.com/dragrace/racepics.htm. Patrik has a hefty schedule of races listed on his web site and will be posting pictures from those events through the summer.
UK National points.
25th May: The latest (post-Super Series 2) UK National Championship standings are now available via our Points Standings page, courtesy of National points co-ordinators Simon Groves (APIRA) and Yvonne Tramm (SPRC).
The latest standings in most Super Series classes are also now available via the Results page of the Super Series web site at www.eurodragster.com/superseries.
Business training available.
25th May: Long term drag racing fan Keith Crampton is pleased to announce the expansion of his training and management development business into motorsports and particularly Drag Racing. Keith goes back a long way having crewed for Roz Prior and Keith Potter's The Devil as well as a stint marshalling with the old National Drag Racing Club. Keith offers coaching in presentation and media skills, team development, and communication strategies for dealing with sponsors. Details are available at www.wiztrain.com.
Keith also sends good luck to a couple of local racers making new car debuts this weekend, namely Darren Hulkes in Sportsman and Alan Simms in CCSE, and to the hard-charging John Tebenham.
Web site updates.
25th May: The UK1320 web site at www.uk1320.com has been updated with a report and photographs from Super Series 2.
Eurodragster interviews Micke Kågered.
24th May: At the Main Event Press Day yesterday, we interviewed Swedish TMFC and now Top Fuel Dragster pilot Micke Kågered, who will be making his first competitive outing in Top Fuel at the Main Event this weekend. In a very interesting interview, Micke gave us his thoughts on driving a Top Fueller, the differences between Top Fuel and TMFC, and about his plans for the rest of the season. We also found out what Micke's partner and Team Manager Åsa Kinnemar thought about Micke's move to Top Fuel.
Click here to read our interview with Micke Kågered.
Snow White and a fuelish error.
24th May: Regular readers will know that just recently we have run a couple of stories about pitside mistakes and their effects. We were very amused by this story from UK Super Gas racer Roger Butterworth, who races the popular Snow White Chevy:
"So Rob Faulkner's crew only screw up with the type of fuel; utter luxury!", says Roger. "My line man who shall remain nameless refuelled with water! A simple mistake really - the fuel churns are red and the water churns are blue. This happened on the only weekend we were in contention. We got through to our first Super-Gas final after removing the foam from the fuel tank and replacing the fuel pump after the semi-finals."
Nice one, Roger. If you have any similar stories which you wouldn't mind sharing with European race fans (and which we wouldn't be sued for publishing) then don't hesitate to send them to us at webmaster@eurodragster.com.
Web site updates.
24th May: Eurodragster staffer Sharkman has updated his personal web site Sharkman's Top End Tales with a report and pictures from last weekend's Super Series 2 at Shakespeare County Raceway together with a photo sequence of Sue Jackson's unfortunate accident in her Custom Car Street Eliminator 'Vette, some new Windows wallpaper and new video clips. Also not to be missed is the latest entry in the School of Excellence. Check it out at www.eurodragster.com/sharkman.
Main Event Press Day coverage.
23rd May: In the next stage of our build-up to this weekend's FIA Main Event, we are at Santa Pod Raceway today to cover the Main Event Press Day, at which we expect to see a number of racers putting in demonstration passes and at which we also hope to grab a few words with some of this weekend's contestants. You can view our Press Day coverage by clicking here, or by clicking on the 2001 Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.
£75 for Perfect Light at Main Event.
1st May: This weekend's FIA Main Event at Santa Pod is the fourth round of the 2001 Eurodragster.com Perfect Light Award scheme, under which we post a cash award for the first racer to record a perfect Reaction Time, 0.400 or 0.500, during either qualifying or eliminations (but not open practice) at a UK National Championship event or an FIA/UEM event hosted in the UK. The award scheme is open to all racers in all classes.
Nobody won the new £50 prize at Super Series 2 last weekend, so in accordance with the rules of the scheme £25 has been added to bring the prize fund up to £75.
If nobody pulls a perfect light this weekend then the fund will go up to £100 for Super Series 3; if we have a winner then the prize fund resets to £50 for SS3.
Good luck to all racers taking part at the Main Event.
Super Series 2 timing data.
23rd May: Timing data from last weekend's Super Series 2 at Shakespeare County Raceway is now available via the Results page of the Super Series web site at www.eurodragster.com/superseries. Many thanks to Ozzy Ewing of APIRA's timing crew for providing the timing database.
FIA Main Event entry list.
22nd May: The official entry list for this weekend's FIA Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway is now available, courtesy of Paula Marshall of Santa Pod Racers Club.
As revealed here last week six Top Fuel Dragsters, six Top Methanol Dragsters, seven Top Methanol FCs and eight Pro Stocks make the trip on the FIA side, and on two wheels ten Supertwin Top Fuel Bikes, fifteen Comp Bikes and eight Pro Stock Bikes are contesting the UEM classes - which are all fixed eight-bike fields so qualifying will be particularly hard-fought.
The Sportsman classes all see healthy fields with Pro ET (20) and Custom Car Street Eliminator (18) particularly large, whilst Super Street Bike (12) and 9.90 Bike (19) lead the way on two wheels. Comp Eliminator is also scheduled for its first UK appearance with entries from the UK, Switzerland and Germany.
You can view the official entry list for the Main Event by clicking here.
For more news on the FIA Main Event including ticket prices, check out Santa Pod's web site at www.santapod.com.
New Fantasy Drag Racing contest.
22nd May: With the FIA and FIM seasons about to start and the first entry list available, a new Fantasy Drag Racing contest is ready and waiting for entries. Ian Highfield, who ran last year's highly-successful contest, is unable to repeat the compeitition this year due to pressure of work. However Dave Nelson, webmaster of the Drag Torque fan site, has stepped in with a contest of his own.
For more details and to enter the contest, check out the Drag Torque web site at www.dragtorque.co.uk.
NAST, CCSE points standings.
22nd May: Post-Super Series 2 points standings are now available for the National Association of Supertwins and Custom Car Street Eliminator Championships.
The NAST points, courtesy of Sue Beneke and the National Association of Supertwins, are available via our Points Standings page.
The latest CCSE points are available on the FB Racing web site at www.fbracing.co.uk together with a brief news report from CCSE competitor Ian Hook who ran new personal bests at the weekend.
Web site updates.
22nd May: Fans of the UK's much-missed Houndog Drag Racing Team will be pleased to hear of a new tribute site. Chris Blows, a former member of Nobby Hills' team, has put together Walkin' the Dog which you can find at www.geocities.com/houndog_dragracing. The site features a history of the team, press cuttings, memories, photographs, links and much more - don't miss it.
The Swedish Pro Street News Magazine at www.swedishprostreetnews.com has been updated with some great pictures from the recent NDRS round at Mantorp Park.
Hectic UK weekend.
21st May: It was a hectic weekend in the UK with Super Series 2 at Shakespeare County Raceway and pre-Main Event testing at Santa Pod. Congratulations to Axel Scifert who won the first round of this year's European Top Gas Series which took place at Super Series 2, and to Team Cooperised for a great treble victory on two wheels. Commiserations to Rich Gilbertson and Sue Jackson who both had frightening accidents in their race cars, fortunately without injury.
At Santa Pod a number of Pro racers took the chance to steal a march on their competitors. The testing varied from Niclas Andersson's 7.07 in Pro Stock to terrifying engine explosions from Peter Beck and Anders Karling - Anders lobbing engine parts almost an eighth of a mile.
It was a hectic weekend for Eurodragster too, as we were covering both events; in the case of Super Series 2 in very trying circumstances as our reporter Sharkman fought a dead laptop and recalcitrant phone line to bring you the reports whilst fulfilling his on-track spotting duties. You can see our weekend reports and pictures from both tracks by clicking here, or by clicking on the 2001 Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.
Tim sets record, Jerry re-sets his.
21st May: Congratulations also to Supertwin Modified racer Turbo Tim Boutle who set a new world record for a twin-cylinder production bike at Super Series 2 after narrowly missing out at Super Series 1. Tim's new marks on his Honda CX650 were 11.151 seconds and 132.39 miles per hour. "Thanks to all at Shakespeare County Raceway for making this new world record possible", said Tim.
And yet more congratulations to Supertwin Gas racer Jerry Collier who re-set his own world record of 9.671 with a blast of 9.612 at Super Series 2 on his Jade Racing machine, still the quickest two-stroke drag bike on the planet.
Thanks to Ozzy Ewing of APIRA's timing crew for confirmation of the new bests.
Post-SS1 UK points.
21st May: We now have the UK National Championship standings after Super Series 1, courtesy of National points co-ordinators Simon Groves (APIRA) and Yvonne Tramm (SPRC). These are available via our Points Standings page, and now include the UK Fuel Funny Car Championship.
With Super Series 2 and the FIA Main Event coming on top of one another, it's going to be a very busy couple of weeks for the Points Co-ordinators; stay tuned and we will bring you the points as soon as they are ratified.
Malmgren outbids Faulkner.
21st May: You will remember that on May 10th we ran a tale of woe from UK Pro ET racer Rob Faulkner who inadvertently ran his engine on unleaded instead of methanol after a pitside mix up, and that we invited further such stories. We heard from our good friend Magnus Cato of the AC Delco/Malmgren Racing Pro Stock team, who told us this great story which we think just pips Rob's:
"We were the first team to run with a vacuum pump, and it was so secret that we covered the pump with a rag when the hood was off the car. Guess what caused the the belt to the oil pump to come off when we raced? You're right, and we covered the strip with dust from the rag too. Of course the crank blew away as well."
You can be sure that this won't be happening at the FIA Main Event this weekend, but it's a great story and we're very grateful to Magnus for sharing it with us. Stay tuned as we have another superb story coming soon.
Garlick seeks crew.
18th May: UK Super Pro ET racer Tim Garlick is seeking an extra pair of hands to help with his rapid and spectacular Cortina. Tim had an frantic weekend at Santa Pod's Easter Thunderball when a sticking line lock caused his race car to hit the guardrail. Tim was back in competition very shortly afterwards and is very grateful to his fellow racers for their help.
"Please pass on our thanks to all the other racers at the track for their support after my small visit to the Armco!", says Tim. "It was really great to see how much support you get from your fellow competitors.
"It would appear that the line lock to the front left brake hung on and steered the car to the left", says Tim of his Cortina/concrete interface. "We are thrashing away at the moment to try and get ready for the Main Event but we think it is unlikely we'll be there, as we have decided to make a few modifications to the car. Hopefully we'll see you in June or July."
"We are however struggling to manage with the limited crew we have at the moment, so could you please spread the word that we are looking for another crew member?". No sooner said than done, Tim. If you would like to join Tim's crew then you can E-Mail him at PandTGarlick@aol.com or call his mobile on 0797 0518742.
Shockwave SS1 report.
18th May: The official web site of the UK's Shockwave Fuel Funny Car team has been updated with a report of their weekend at Super Series 1, which was the first round of the UK Fuel Funny Car Championships. The report, written by crew member Steve Loader, gives fans an interesting inside view of life on a Fuel FC team. Check it out at www.funnycar.uk.com.
Weekend event coverage.
18th May: It's going to be a busy weekend for Eurodragster as we cover events at two separate locations.
First up is Super Series 2 at Shakespeare County Raceway. This race features the third round of the UK National Drag Racing Championships and the ACU UK Drag Bike Championships, and the first round of the 2001 European Top Gas Championship which sees competitors from Holland, Sweden, Germany and Belgium making the trip to the Warwickshire venue for the start of a tour which also takes in Sweden, Holland and Germany. Also headlining is the Colin Fallows' Split Second Jet car, driven by Mark Newby, and other attractions include Custom Car Street Eliminator, the Wild Bunch, Supertwin classes and more.
Eurodragster staffer Sharkman will be covering Super Series 2, and because of his spotting duties at the top end coverage will be in the form of summary reports and the start and end of each day, plus the usual extensive catalogue of pictures at day's end.
If you are going along to Shakespeare County Raceway then action starts at 10:00 am Saturday and 11:00 Sunday. Tickets are £12 both days or £20 for the whole weekend; under-16s go free. For more information including the official entry list, check out the Super Series web site at www.eurodragster.com/superseries.
We will also be covering this weekend's pre-Main Event testing at Santa Pod Raceway. There is a day's private testing for Pro teams on Saturday, and a Run What You Brung on Sunday, and Santa Pod's Racing Operations Manager Kjell Petterson has very kindly invited Eurodragster along to cover Saturday's testing, which is closed to the public. A number of Pro teams including Top Fuel and Pro Stock racers wil be running tomorrow, with a chance that some may also test at the RWYB on Sunday.
Eurodragster staffer Tog will be covering the weekend's events at Santa Pod. Coverage will consist of regular reports, and pictures at the end of each day.
If you are attending Sunday's RWYB at Santa Pod then entry to the track is £8, a further £10 and the production of a valid DVLC licence buys you as many runs as you can make down the track. For more details check out Santa Pod's web site at www.santapod.com or call 08700 782828.
We will post a direct link to our weekend coverage tomorrow; alternately you can access it via the 2001 Event Coverage link on the left hand side of any Eurodragster page.
Web site updates.
18th May: Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Ian Hook has updated the FB Racing web site with a report of his exploits at Super Series 1. Check it out at www.fbracing.co.uk.
The Dutch Doorslammers web site at www.doorslammers.nl has been updated with Robert Joosten and Patrik van Hal's reports and pictures from the recent Test and Tune at Wittstock.
The Feel The Noise web site at www.feel-the-noise.com has been updated with Anni Valder's excellent trackside shots of Fuel Funny Car action from Super Series 1. Webmaster Bob Valder promises shots of the Firestorm Jet FC and other classes very soon.
Wittstock gearing up.
17th May: Eco Raceway at Wittstock in Germany held its first event of the year, a Test and Tune, a few weeks back. Swedish Top Fuel legend Peter Lantz, now Tommy Moller's team manager, and Swedish race official Ulf Olsson visited Wittstock on that weekend to work with the track owners and officials on plans for the Motorsports Against Racism Festival on 29th June-1st July, which is to be the first round of the 2001 Swedish Top Fuel Tour.
"The track has tremendous potential", says Peter Lantz. "The owners and officials have invested a lot in the last year. An American-style concrete guardrail has been built on both sides of the track, scoreboards have been put up at the eighth-mile, and the timing tower has been moved. It already looks very professional, and has great potential for the future as a complete race facility. Track officials from Sweden will lend a hand with track preparation for the big event, and equipment is currently under construction to ensure that the all-concrete track will have maximum traction."
Wittstock is well-placed not just for German racers, but also for Scandinavian contestants. "After two hours and forty five minutes on the ferry from Trelleborg to Rostock, it's just one hundred and twenty kilometres down the autobahn", says Peter.
Promoter Jorg Schwan intends the week-long Motorsports Against Racism Festival to involve the whole community. "On the first few days the track will be crowded with more than 1800 children from local schools", says Peter. "Each class will compete to change the wheels of a Formula One car. The winner will get to spend time with a Top Fuel team, and every class will get a different race team to cheer on. This is a great move from Jorg, as it will make the sport even more popular especially with those who live around the track."
All that remains now, Peter tells us, is for the event itself. "We are very much looking forward to it", he says.
You can get the latest news on the Festival on the official web site at www.motorsport-gegen-rechts.com, and pictures of the recent Test and Tune are available by clicking here. You can stay in touch with the latest news from the Swedish Top Fuel Tour on the official web site at www.topfueltour.com.
Malmgren christens engine.
17th May: Swedish Pro Stock team Malmgren Racing have continued their tradition of naming engines by christening the new motor in the AC Delco-sponsored Camaro.
"We baptised the engine at our shop on Tuesday night", says crew member Magnus Cato. "It is named O'bej. Let me explain: it sounds like oh boy, can be called oh baby and of course obey! It's short for the fabulous guys at Bob Ingles' J and B Performance shop - they are Bob, Eric and Jim. Pretty clever don't you think?"
Nemesis get tough.
17th May: The UK's Nemesis Top Methanol Dragster team have taken another big step in their quest for the 2001 FIA European Championship by enlisting respected Canadian Top Methanol racer Bob Haffner to assist with tuning the PlayStation 2/American Car Imports-sponsored machine at all five rounds of the FIA Tour.
Bob is already well accustomed to racing on European tracks, having previously tuned for current European record holder and FIA Champion Eero Kilpelainen of Finland. He is looking forward to hitting the tracks in true Nemesis style. "So long as you've got me a plane ticket and plenty of beer I'll be there!", he said.
"This is a great deal for everyone involved" added Nemesis Crew Chief Andy Bissett. "Bob is one of the few tuners from the other side of the Pond who really understands how to race on the European tracks. Plus this year we won't get mad at him for setting a new European record!"
You can stay in touch with all the news from Team Nemesis on their official web site at www.eurodragster.com/nemesisracing.
Zane ready to return.
17th May: UK Super Comp racer Zane Llewellyn expects to be back in his dragster soon after overseeing his son Chevy's entry into Sportsman ET. Chevy Llewellyn's first race, Super Series 1 at Shakespeare County Raceway, turned into a nightmare after engine damage sidelined the sport's latest young gun.
"Running two cars is a little time consuming for a family team, especially when things go wrong like race car-type damage to stock engines!", says Zane. "All being well, we should have both cars up at the Main Event. Chevy has the luxury of me as crew at this weekend's Super Series 2 at Shakespeare County Raceway. At the Main Event, Wendy (Zane's wife - Ed) will be running around looking after the weather station and start line duties for both cars, so we're wishing her luck. And that doesn't mean one of us losing early on the Monday!"
Check out the Bootsoop Racing web site at www.bootsoop.freeserve.co.uk for the inside story from the team.
More time at Santa Pod.
17th May: Santa Pod Raceway have announced the addition of 1000-foot timing to their TSI Timers system, which is planned to be in place in time for next week's FIA Main Event.
Kjell Pettersson, Racing Operations Manager at Santa, Pod says: "Three-inch holes were drilled in the guardrail on Monday, and our timing crew will lay the wiring and install the photocells, so hopefully everything will be up and running for the Championship weekend. There have been some requests in the past from some racers for 1000-foot clocks, and it has been on our wish list for a while - and now the wish has come true. I too look forward to this addition personally, as it will give me more data to analyse when it comes to the state of the track, to see if the changes we make in our top end track preparation make any difference."
For more details on the FIA Main Event and the rest of the latest news from Santa Pod Raceway, check out their official web site at www.santapod.com.
ICE get Ratty over next project.
16th May: What do you do next when you've driven a Pro Mod one-handed at over two hundred miles per
hour? For Nick Davies and business partner Rob Loaring of our Home and News page sponsors ICE Automotive, the answer
lies in the fulfilment of a long-held dream.
"We would like to thank everyone who has been interested enough to enquire about our future plans now that the Pro Mod Oldsmobile has been sold", says Nick. "After much research and discussion we have drawn up detailed plans to build a replica of perhaps the most popular AA Fuel Altered ever to have raced in the UK - the Stones' Tee Rat."
Those who saw it in the 1970s will never forget the spectacle of Dave Stone wrestling Tee Rat deep into the sevens at speeds approaching two hundred miles per hour. "Not fast enough after the Oldsmobile? Get hold of a copy of the Bad Boy Altereds video and you'll see the answer to that question!", says Nick.
Nick and Rob thought long and hard about their next project. "Like many racers, we have long held a desire to run a blown-nitro race car", says Nick. "We weren't willing to build a car which we couldn't afford to test, which restricted the choice somewhat. This way, we get our chance to go our own way at a speed which suits us". Authenticity was a key criterion in the project, which has the full backing of Dennis and Dave Stone. "We are very grateful to Dennis and Dave for their support and encouragement", says Nick. "Their help will ensure that the car is as close as possible to the original, within the confines of current safety regulations. The only exception is that, at Dave's behest, we have added a wing as the original car was somewhat lively through the top end!"
The project is going very well, but Nick and Rob have asked for the help of Eurodragster readers in finding a key component. "We have had great success in locating a number of authentic components including wheels and the engine, but we need the help of your readership to locate an original Crower eight-hole injector and scoop. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!"
If you can help Nick and Rob with the Crower injector and thereby hasten the début of this great piece of nostalgia then you can E-mail them at rooster.ice@btinternet.com, or call 01268 727317.
Perfect Light fund refreshed.
16th May: Following Super Street racer Bob Doignie's perfect 0.500 light at Super Series 1, which won him £75, the Eurodragster Perfect Light Award fund has been refreshed and now stands at £50 starting with this weekend's Super Series 2 at Shakespeare County Raceway.
The Eurodragster Perfect Light Award is presented to the first racer to pull a perfect Reaction Time, 0.400 or 0.500 as appropriate, in qualifying or eliminations (but not open practice) at a UK National Championship event. If the prize is not claimed at an event then £25 is added to the pot for the next race.
Good luck to all racers competing this weekend.
Web site updates.
16th May: Swiss Competition racer Bruno Bader's web site has been updated with a report from the weekend's Grand Nationals at Alteno, where the team came third. An English-language version will be posted shortly. Check it out at www.goldenvette.ch.
We received the following mailshot from Torsten Kath, webmaster of the German Drag Racing Page at www.dragracing.de:
"Hey, tut mir Leid das ich mich so lange nicht habe hören lassen, aber ich muss auch ab und zu mal arbeiten und fahren wollen wir ja schließlich auch noch. Wir haben heute die Punktestände für das Championat unter Racerbase eingefügt. Weitere Infos hierzu gibt es in Kürze. Wir suchen noch Leute die Interesse haben, sich an dieser Seite zu beteiligen und ab und zu mal ein paar News und andere Infos schreiben. Auch Fotos und andere Leckereinen sind gerne gesehen. Videos stellen auch kein Problem dar, also immer her damit. Und Teams, denkt daran, stellt Eurer Team auf dieser Seite vor. Es ist umsonst !!!!! Wir würden auch gerne einen extra Bikes Teil eröffnen, brauchen dafür allerdings auch Eure Hilfe. Da wir zur Zeit zwischen 100 und 200 Clicks am Tag haben gibt es wohl genug Leute die diese Seite regelmässig besuchen (Dafür erstmal vielen Dank). Also, haut rein und wehe ich habe morgen nicht mindestend 50 emails (dann verkaufe ich diese Seite an die Grünen und die werden hier über uns Abgassünder berichten."
Prime Time at Super Series 2...
15th May: Super Series organisers Obsession Motorsports have announced that the Prime Time Jet Power team will be headlining this weekend's Super Series 2 at Shakespeare County Raceway. Colin Fallows and driver Mark Newby will be appearing with the Split Second jet car, which is scheduled to make another attempt on the British Land Speed record later on this year, and the team will be taking the chance to test modifications whilst entertaining the crowd with the traditional jet car flame and thunder.
For more details, check out the Super Series web site at www.eurodragster.com/superseries, and for more information on the Prime Time team take a look at their official web site at www.primetime-jetpower.co.uk.
...Super Series prize money, points.
15th May: Tina Gibbs of Obsession Motorsports has also advised that because of the proximity of Super Series 2 to Super Series 1, prize money from Super Series 1 will be available this weekend from Wendy Talbot in Pit Control. Any monies not collected this weekend will be put in the post. If you have any queries then please contact Terry Gibbs at Obsession Motorsports on 01483 236262.
The remaining Super Series Championship points have now been posted on the Results page of the Super Series web site at www.eurodragster.com/superseries. Post-Super Series 1 National points are still being ratified but should be available very shortly.
Main Event FIA/UEM fields forming.
15th May: Six Top Fuel Dragsters headline the FIA fields at next week's FIA Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway. Anita Mäkelä, Barry Sheavills, Peter Beck, Andy Carter, Micke Kågered and Kim Reymond are currently entered, although we understand that there is a chance of late additions to this and other FIA and UEM classes. The Top Methanol fields currently stand at six TMDs and seven TMFCs; a notable absence at the moment is European TMD Champion Eero Kilpelainen although the rest of the usual suspects are on the list, whilst the TMFC entry confirms Micke Kågered's double duty in Top Fuel Dragster and TMFC. Pro Stock has nine entries including the return to competition of Jan Muren, who suffered a nasty top end crash at Santa Pod on his last outing a few years ago.
On two wheels, UEM Comp Bike currently has fourteen entries, which with the mandatory eight-bike fields in UEM competition means tough qualifying. New names this season are those of Antonio and Luigi Ferretti of Italy, whilst the return of Dutch Top Fuel Bike racer Roald Dogge and the move up to Comp Bike of German Super Street Bike racers Klaus Brinkmann and Klaus Sarembe are also notable. Supertwin Top Fuel will be close-fought with ten bikes chasing the eight-bike field; Denmark's Erik Nielsen and Sweden's Carsten Anderssen make their first trips to Santa Pod in this class. Pro Stock Bike currently stands at eight, with Italy's Luigi Chinarello and Remo Nassi and Sweden's Terje Lindberg new to UK fans.
We hope to be able to publish the official entry list shortly; for more details on the Main Event check out Santa Pod's web site at www.santapod.com.
UEM rules posted.
15th May: The UEM rules for the 2001 European Championship have now been published, and are available on the FIM Championship page of the King Racing web site at www.kingracing.com.
Web site updates.
15th May: The Cleber Turbo Team Berlin web site at www.dragbike.de has been updated with qualifying and elimination results from last weekend's German Super Street Bike Championship round at Alteno. Click on the zum Rennplats button to see the results.
The official web site of the Firestorm Jet FC team has been updated with the latest news including a report from Super Series 1, new pictures in the Photo Gallery, and a great new photo contest: send the team your pictures of Firestorm in action to win an exclusive, limited-edition cap. More details on the Fierstorm web site at www.firestorm-jfc.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk.
Dave Nelson's Drag Torque fan site at www.dragtorque.co.uk has been updated with a new look, new photographs and a large batch of new video clips.
Semcon Drag Internats results.
14th May: Our good buddies at Svensk Dragracing have updated their web site with a report, results and pictures from the weekend's Semcon Drag Internats at Mantorp Park. You can find all the news at www.dragracing.se.
Post-SS1 points standings.
14th May: ACU UK Drag Bike Championship standings after Super Series 1 are now available on the King Racing web site at www.kingracing.com.
The latest Custom Car Streer Eliminator points standings have now been posted on Ian Hook's FB Racing website at www.fbracing.co.uk. The latest entry list for Street Eliminator Round 3, which takes place at this weekend's Super Series 2, is available on the News page along with some more information on Steve Pateman's new class records.
Fuel FC Championship web page.
14th May: Showtime Racing crew member and webmaster Chris Dossett has put together a web page for the UK Fuel Funny Car Championship. The well-designed web page makes an excellent first point of reference for everything to do with the Championship, which began at Super Series 1. Check it out at www.showtimeracing.co.uk/championship.html.
Super Series 1 photographs.
14th May: Two web sites have recently been updated with pictures from Super Series 1. First up is UK1320 at www.uk1320.com which has been updated with some superb photographs covering various classes.
Eurodragster staffer Tog has posted 146 Super Series 1 photographs on his personal web site Tog's Drag Racing Page at www.togsdragracing.com, including the already-notorious pictures of Smax on a hot one and Allan Bates playing chicken with Tog (I would say Tog won - Ed).
Mac Tools sign with PT Bruiser...
12th May: Paul Marston Racing have announced another sponsorship deal for the PT Bruiser.
"It is with the utmost pleasure that I can now confirm that we have reached a deal with Mac Tools to be the official tool supplier to Paul Marston Racing for the 2001 season", says Paul Martson. "This marks the return of Mac Tools to Drag Racing as a sponsor of race cars, and I would like to take this opportunity to say welcome back, you have been missed! We have been working together on this deal for quite some time now and are pleased with the package offered by both sides. Their range of tools is second to none and they have a reputation that precedes them with no introduction required.
"Mac Tools helped us out with the C&S Racing Grumpy's Dodge Super Gasser which we campaigned prior to the PT Bruiser. It was an informal arrangement but I think they saw their money go a long way with us, compared to the value for money offered by other forms of motorsport. This deal again started in a casual conversation some time ago; I mentioned that we were putting a new race car together, they were quick to express an interest and it went from there. Mac Tools are very much a team player in their approach to most things, from their area reps on the vans to their upper management. They don't look at you so much as a customer but as someone they can help out and for whom they make life easier for with their excellent range of tools.
"Our deal with Mac Tools is less of a sponsorship, more like we have a much bigger crew. It takes a good team to run a race car like the PT Bruiser, our team just got a lot bigger! The new deal gives us a supplier of quality tools which fits in extremely well with our current operation. With the PT Bruiser's Pro Stock motor, ATI Transmission and all the other components we need good, dependable, quality tools to help keep it in shape and maintained to the high standards demanded. Mac Tools can also supply imperial sized spanner, socket, Allen keys etc, which for us is essential with the Bruiser and is probably the same on most Drag Race Cars. We will be featuring the latest top of the range commemorative special limited edition rollcabs featuring 'The Return of the Dodges' to NASCAR.
"Once again, I would like to thank all the guys at Mac Tools, it's great to have you aboard. The whole crew is looking forward to opening our new toolbox at the next event and playing with all those shiny new toys!"
...and Paul says Thank You.
12th May: Paul Marston has also thanked everyone who helped after his top end incident at Super Series 1 last weekend.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bruno and all the FAST team for their fast and efficient response to the problems I encountered at the top end of the track on Bank Holiday Monday", says Paul. "I was only joking with some of the FAST crew Saturday night when they came to see the Bruiser that this was the only time I wanted to see them - in the pits socially and not on the track! But thank God they are there, I was aware that the FAST crew were driving alongside me before I had come to a complete stop when the incident occurred, now that really is FAST! They are the unsung heroes at the track and myself and all the crew at Paul Marston Racing would like to once again thank them for all their efforts. I would also like to thank all the other services that came to my rescue to make sure I was OK, I am very grateful. We will however have to make a bigger effort to get a tow vehicle now, as pushing it back from the top end of the track is a long way!
"The Chrysler PT Bruiser is now back at the workshops and initial inspection seems to indicate that it is only tyre damage that has been sustained. This is a tough little car and she took care of me, I took care of her, it's not called the Bruiser for nothing!
"I must also thank everyone for their concern and kind words, fellow racers and public alike, in particular Kev Moore and his family for their support. As racers we all know the risks and accept them, and we are there for one another in these situations. Kev's family was there for mine and I once again thank him.
"Lastly but by no means least I must thank my five star crew who were just outstanding over the whole weekend. We all had such a great time, our qualifying had been better than we could have wished for, we learnt such a lot about the Bruiser and took some big steps in development last weekend. The new team has gelled very well and we are all determined to become competitive as soon as possible. We see the incident as a racing accident, nothing more, and are all looking forward to our next event.
"The Bruiser was already booked into the Hauser workshop next week for some minor snagging and will be given a thorough check whilst there. Whether we will be able to compete at Super Series 2 or take part in the Pro Testing at Santa Pod that same weekend is dependent upon that, and upon how long it takes for the tyres to arrive. We are sure the Bruiser will check out okay at Hauser Race Cars, it just depends if there is enough time to get over to Shakespeare County Raceway. We will take the Pro Test if time is short, Hauser Race Cars being a fifteen-minute drive from Santa Pod. We still have laps on the Bruiser as our top priority but we want to race, not just test!
"I must thank Chrysler for their continued support and for the bright new livery on the race car transporter and on the support vehicle. I must also thank the Individual Clothing Company, although they had transport problems and never made it to the track - too bad really as their cooked breakfasts are second to none! Also associate sponsors ATI whose Powerglide gearbox and convertor have performed faultlessly."
Still more Super Series 1 reports.
12th May: The Shell Racing Top Methanol and Junior Dragster team have posted a Super Series 1 report on the News page of their web site at www.eurodragster.com/shellracing. It was quite a weekend for the Shell team with both of their cars getting into the finals. "Didn't the sun shine on Shell Racing?",says Crew Chief Martyn Hannis.
Eurodragster staffer Sharkman has posted a Super Series 1 report and pictures on his personal web site Sharkman's Top End Tales at www.eurodragster.com/sharkman, together with new Windows wallpaper and an excellent entry in the 2001 School of Excellence.
Fellow Eurodragster staffer Tog has installed a new Life President in the Let's Get Tog Club: those who were at Super Series 1 may be able to guess his identity. Check it out on the Let's Get Tog Club page of Tog's web site at www.togsdragracing.com.
Web site design.
12th May: Richard Bell, webmaster of the excellent Drag Racing Explained web site, is offering a reasonably-priced web site design service to racers. For more details check out the Drag Design web site at www.drag-design.4all.cc.
Semcon Drag Internats.
11th May: This weekend sees the second round of the Nordic Drag Racing Series, the Semcon Drag Internats which take place at Mantorp Park in Sweden. As well as the NDRS classes, a number of FIA and FIM racers are expected to take the chance to test before the FIA Main Event which is now only two weeks away.
Our good friends at Svensk Dragracing have posted a preview on their web site at www.dragracing.se, and will be posting updates over the weekend.
Three Storms for the price of two.
11th May: Jet fans attending the National Association of Bikers with a Disability rally at Santa Pod Raceway this weekend will get fifty per cent extra entertainment tomorrow when the Firestorm Jet FC team put in three runs for the price of two, thanks to a sponsorship from the Prime Time Jet Power team.
"Jet cars are expensive to run, and we're not sponsored", says driver Roger Goring. "Colin Fallows of the Prime Time team has donated a drum of fuel which will allow us to put in an extra run tomorrow". Jet pilot Colin Fallows, whose Vampire and Split Second jet rails hold various land speed records, is a longtime friend of the Firestorm team and this is not the first time that he has stepped in to help. "Colin has given so much to this project", says Roger. "He even paid for his own ticket to fly out to the USA to help me when I was building the car at Bob Jinkens' shop in New Jersey".
The Firestorm team are grateful for the chance to put in extra passes, as they are testing new engine parts as part of the FC's development. "The NABD booked us for two runs, we needed an excuse to do more and now we've got it!", said Roger.
You can get the latest news from the Firestorm pit on their official web site at www.firestorm-jfc.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk, and more details about the NABD on their web site at www.nabd.org.uk.
More Super Series 1 reports.
11th May: The Nemesis Top Methanol Dragster team have posted an account of their Super Series 1 weekend on the News page of their official web site at www.eurodragster.com/nemesisracing. The report, written by Crew Chief Andy Bissett, is very detailed and is the usual entertaining fare.
Gareth Evans has posted a very informative Super Series 1 report on the UK1320 web site at www.uk1320.com; you can get to it via the News page. Gareth promises photographs on the web site within the next few days.
Super Series 2 entry list...
11th May: Separated by only two weeks from the first event, Super Series 2 takes place at Shakespeare County Raceway on 19th-20th May, and the entry list has just been released. The third round of the UK National Drag Racing Championships is a pure Sportsman event, featuring all the Super and ET classes together with ACU and Supertwin Bike classes and the Wild Bunch.
Also headlining is the European Top Gas Series which is making its traditional annual visit to the Warwickshire track. The Top Gas Series attracts entries from all over Europe, and with some new names on the roster Champion and record holder Job Heezen will have to repeat his low eight-second performances to be sure of retaining his title.
You can view the Super Series 2 entry list by clicking here, or by clicking on the Entry Lists button on the Super Series web site at www.eurodragster.com/superseries.
...and Championship points, timing data.
11th May: Points standings in most classes after last weekend's Super Series 1 are now also available on the Super Series web site, courtesy of points co-ordinator Simon Groves. The couple of classes not yet posted are awaiting ratification by the appropriate officials, as are the UK National Championship points standings. Click on the Results button of the Super Series web site to view the points.
Timing data from Super Series 1 is also now available, courtesy of Ozzy Ewing of APIRA's tech crew. This is also available via the Results button of the Super Series web site.
NAST points.
11th May: We are also pleased to announce that we are again hosting the points standings in the National Association of Supertwins Championship, courtesy of Sue Beneke and NAST. You can find the post-Super Series 1 standings on our Points Standings page.
Hemi Hunter signs a sponsor.
10th May: UK Wild Bunch racer Roy Wilding has announced a sponsorship deal for his Hemi Hunter nostalgia slingshot. The car, which was originally run by the Stones during the 1970s, is now supported by Oldbury-based Global Lubricants. "Global Lubricants are sponsoring me with product and team attire", said Roy. "Lugg Tools set up the deal and also put in some product sponsorship."
Roy's announcement comes hot on the heels of his announcement of a sponsorship deal with longtime Drag Racing supporters Real Steel for the Wild Bunch series as a whole. The deal was sealed just in time for Super Series 1 during which Roy was seen in Race Control delightedly sporting a large cheque.
You can stay in touch with all the latest news from the Wild Bunch on their official web site at www.the-wild-bunch.co.uk.
Super Series 1 team reports.
10th May: A number of race teams have posted reports from Super Series 1. First up is the victorious Showtime Fuel FC team whose web site at www.showtimeracing.co.uk has been updated with the inside story from crew member and webmaster Chris Dossett. Don't miss it.
Lyndsay Deuchar's LA Racing Top Methanol team had a heartbreaking return to competition after a year out; you can get the full story on Lyndsay's web site at www.laracing.co.uk.
Carl, the webmaster of the Fang Supertwin Modified team, writes: "www.thefang.co.uk has been updated with a full report of our performance at Round 1 of the SuperSeries where our 16 year old son Dominic debuted as the new test pilot. Surfers can also check out our fabulous new drag racing reaction time game, featuring yet another sunny day at Shakespeare County Raceway. The game requires you to have the Macromedia Flash plugin which most people should now have, but does not feature interminable loading screens (it's only 21 kb in total)."
Rob caught in the Crossfire.
10th May: Pro ET racer Rob Faulkner has written with the story of his weekend at Super Series 1, where he had a few problems with his Crossfire Camaro.
"We had an unlucky weekend", says Rob. "I have built a new motor using a flying toilet (sic) injection system, the compression is so high that the motor will turn over but with a struggle. The starter motor broke the teeth of the flex plate, so Glyn Robinson lent us one which we went to Coventry to get. We worked until 12.30 on Saturday night, then went down in the morning to put in a run. I lost drive and found that my crew had fuelled up using the unleaded meant for the generator instead of methanol - it ran like a pig. Do you have a mess-up Top Twenty? It could be interesting if you did, to see if there are other people making silly mistakes too!"
Well, there you have it - the invitation's there. Write us at webmaster@eurodragster.com with your tales of pitside mistakes; we'll collect them and as long as they're not actionable we'll post the best in a future feature.
Jade Racing say Thank You.
10th May: We have received the following press release from UK Supertwin Top Gas team Jade Racing:
"Jade Racing would like to thank everyone who purchased Red Line Oil at our special promotional price at Super Series 1. As you may have noticed Red Line Oil UK visited the track on Saturday, and were extremely impressed with the quality of vehicles, the standard of the track at Shakespeare County Raceway and the event coverage. Red Line were also pleased that Jade Racing qualified first and second, and went on to achieve first and second place in the finals of Supertwin Top Gas. Please remember that we will be supplying Red Line Oil throughout the race season and this will be brought to every event at Shakespeare County Raceway, if you would like a copy of our latest price list then please e-mail info@jaderacing.com with RLPL in the subject heading; and if you require Red Line Oil then please order by the Wednesday before each event, and we will bring it to the track on Friday night. Thank you for your continued support."
You can find out more on Jade Racing's web site at www.jaderacing.com.
Web site updates.
10th May: Dutch Top Methanol FC racer Lex Joon has updated the News page of his web site at www.lexjoonracing.nl with the latest information from the team including a new body on on the FC and testing plans.
FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Anita Mäkelä has similarly updated her web site with the latest news on the Top Fueller and her pre-Main Event testing plans. Check it out at www.anitamakela.com.
Smax sorry for no-show.
9th May: UK Fuel FC racer Smax Smith has apologised to
his fans for his non-appearance in the first round of the Fuel FC Championship at Super Series 1 on Monday.
Smax suffered a fire in the Mainline Menace on Sunday and after an overnight thrash was ready to go
on Monday. Smax explains:
"I would really like to apologise to all the fans for not seeing us out on track in eliminations on Monday, but I think it's only fair to advise why!
"After putting up the postings that I qualified third I was ready to race Gordon Smith in the semis, when the RAC thought I needed to do another observed run which we thought ridiculous as I put the car down the full quarter mile straight on my first 17-second observed run, then it went straight under full power before my supercharger failure, I kept the car off the guardrail and stayed in my own lane! The Tech and Safety crews were all happy for me to go out in competition but this technicality effectively sidelined me, and we felt 'stitched up'. We couldn't afford to go out at the end of the day for no money so although we were ready for action politics spoilt the day, so a big sorry to all those disappointed.
"I would like to add a big thank you to new sponsors JLS Performance Hoses and Lines, and Garrick Surface Coatings, whose products stood up to the big fire, and to the FAST safety crew who did an excellent job of helping me at the incident scene. I also want to say a big thanks to Vince Andrew for the loan of a compressor after ours melted, and to Dave Wilson.
"We'll be back."
A race report will be posted shortly on Smax's web site at www.smax.co.uk.
Carter wants record back.
9th May: Top Fuel racer Andy Carter has congratulated Fuel FC racer John Spuffard on taking over his track speed record at Shakespeare County Raceway on Monday. Andy set the record at 274 mph last August, which stood until Spuff recorded 281 mph in the final of Fuel FC at Super Series 1.
"I would like to say a very well done to John Spuffard and all the Showtime crew on taking the outright speed record over the weekend", says Andy. "That team is an all round class act. Of course I'm disappointed at losing the record and if I get to Shakespeare County Raceway this season, I WANT IT BACK!"
Nilsson launches web site.
9th May: Swedish Pro Mod racer Håkan Nilsson has launched a web site at www.nilssonmotorsports.com. Håkan and his team are noted for their professionalism and his web site lives up to that reputation, being one of the best-designed sites you'll see. Hakan's site is presented in both Swedish and English and features results, photographs, video clips including great in-car footage, facts and figures, team biographies, sponsors, merchandise and much more.
The web site also promises live updates from events once the Pro Mod season gets going.
Bikes sought for BMF Show.
9th May: Santa Pod Raceway are looking for Bike racers to appear at a show in a couple of weekends' time. "It's the British Motorcyclists Federation Show at the East of England Showground in Peterborough", says Santa Pod's Kelly Ingalls. "It's on 19th-20th May and it Europe's largest motorcyle show. I realise that Super Series 2 takes place that weekend, but if there are any bike racers who can't make that race because they are awaiting parts or something then maybe they would like to put their bikes on display. Travel expenses will be paid!"
If you are interested in putting your bike on display at the BMF Show then please contact Kelly by E-Mail at kelly@santapod.fsnet.co.uk or by phone on 08700 782828.
Turbo's joy at Knapp award.
9th May: Photojournalist and grahic designer Ian Turburville (aka Turbo) is celebrating a vicarious award after a crew wearing shirts which he designed won the Best Appearing Crew award at Super Series 1. The award is put up by Suresafe Training Services and will be presented at each Super Series event this season.
"The Best Appearing Crew award went to a very chuffed Paul Knapp and the Valkyrie Funny Bike team", says Turbo. On Saturday they took delivery of full pro-team strip from Turboville.com including fully-embroidered custom-made crew shirts, pit trousers, caps, jackets and even shorts (didn't see much of the shorts though). Paul had a pretty good weekend on his beautiful Funny Bike and says that he was inundated with queries all weekend, so he should have the sponsors lining up now.
"So now you know where to get your uniforms, i.e. the same place as Barry Sheavills and a lot of other racers! Well done Paul, it never hurts to put on a professional show."
You can find more details on Turbo's design services on his web site at www.turboville.com.
Bugeja confirms full FIA Tour.
8th May: Maltese Top Methanol Dragster racer Manty Bugeja has confirmed that Joe Carabott's Mr. Whippy team will be contesting all five rounds of this year's FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Championship, which starts with the FIA Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway three weekends from now.
"We have signed some sponsors who are all helping a bit", says Manty. "They are Shark Energy Drink, Air Malta, Total Oils, John's Garage and Elomo Rentals. Be with us in May and we can all enjoy the sport we love."
We'll all see you there, Manty.
Goring: nice one, Martin.
8th May: Firestorm Jet FC pilot Roger Goring has congratulated fellow Jet racer Martin Hill, who became the first Jet FC pilot into the fives yesterday with a 5.807 in Fireforce 2 at the Big Bang at Santa Pod.
"I'd like to be the first to congratulate Martin on his five-second run", said Roger. "Obviously I would have liked to have been the first to do it, but it is just too soon in the development of our car. If anyone deserves it then Martin does. He has done a lot of work for Jet racing, and if it wasn't for Martin I wouldn't be in a Jet car myself."
Records and frights at Super Series 1.
8th May: Super Series 1 at Shakespeare County Raceway saw some record-setting performances, some very close racing, and a few frights, none involving injury to racers or serious damage to their vehicles.
John Spuffard in the Showtime Fuel FC took the first round of the 2001 Fuel Funny Car Championship from Gordon Smith in a race which was over at the start line, but which culminated in a stunning top end speed of 281.25 miles per hour, the fastest ever speed by a Fuel FC in Europe, breaking not only Shakespeare County Raceway's Fuel FC speed record but the absolute track record which up to that point had been held by Andy Carter in Top Fuel.
Smax Smith had a hairy ride in his Mainline Menace Fuel FC on Sunday after a valve hung open resulting in a fireball on the car's second pass since its rebuild. Smax was unhurt and the team put the car back together overnight, but didnt make the call yesterday. Allan Bates had a similarly wild pass on Sunday, drifting out of the groove and eventually tagging the guardrail a few yards after paying a close (for which read "two feet away under full throttle" - Ed) visit to Eurodragster reporter Tog. Al suffered engine damage on that pass and likewise didn't race yesterday.
Rob Turner won the second round of the MSA British Top Methanol Championship after Doug Bond pulled a red light in the final. It could have been very different had Doug not red-lit since his ET was slightly quicker than Rob's.
One of the other highlights of the weekend was in Custom Car Street Eliminator where Steve Pateman became the first CCSE competitor into the eights with a pass of 8.868 on Sunday which he successfully backed up for a new record, running in the eights on all but one pass over the weekend. Steve also set a new speed record of 167.29 mph.
Ian King consolidated his lead in the ACU British Top Fuel Bike Championship with a win over Steve Woollatt in bizarre circumstances; Ian got an instant green whereas Steve got the preceding ambers and got away first but Ian overhauled him at the top end, getting a win light but no time or speed.
Two identical and very scary incidents on consecutive runs gave us all a fright. Super Comp racers Brian Pateman and Paul Marston both spun out at the finish line but neither Brian nor Paul were hurt, and Brian's Firebird and Paul's PT Bruiser were similarly OK.
You can get reports, results and pictures from Eurodragster's on-the-spot coverage, which you can view by clicking here, or via the 2001 Event Coverage page which you can reach from the left hand side of any Eurodragster page.
MSA Championship results and points.
8th May: Results, timing data and Championship points standings after the weekend's MSA British Top Methanol Championship round at Super Series 1 are now available from the European Top Methanol Racers Association web site at www.etmra.com.
Hill runs first Jet FC five.
7th May: Congratulations to Fireforce 2 Jet FC pilot Martin Hill who has become the first Jet Funny Car driver outside the USA to record a five-second pass. Running at the Big Bang VW event at Santa Pod Raceway, Martin recorded 5.807/273.34 on an exhibition pass. "The Tower is still here!" said Martin Wallis of Santa Pod's timing crew, who kindly mailed us to let us know. Martin tells us that Martin's incremental timings were 1.07 to sixty feet and 3.973/204.54 at half-track.
Doignie wins Perfect Light Award.
7th May: Congratulations also to Super Street racer Bob Doignie who became the first winner of the Eurodragster.com Perfect Light Award this season with a 0.500 RT in the first round of the class at Super Series 1 at Shakespeare County Raceway. Bob only just missed out yesterday, leaving one thousandth early for a 0.499, but he hung on this morning and took the £75.
The Perfect Light fund now starts again at £50 at Super Series 2 in a couple of weekends' time, with £25 increments after each race if not won.
Norwegian Spring Nats coverage.
7th May: Results and photographs from the weekend's Spring Nats at Gardermoen Raceway are now avalable on the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se, on the Norsk Dragracing Gardermoen web site at www.norskdragracing.com.
Run a Four - win stuff.
4th May: Fuel racers running at Santa Pod Raceway this season have an extra incentive to make a four-second pass thanks to what must be one of the biggest single contingency awards ever posted at the track.
G-Max Racing Fuels, who have been supplying fuel to racers for almost as long as the sport has been around in the UK, will be awarding a drum of 100% Nitromethane to the first racer to run in the Fours at Santa Pod this season. "It's a two hundred-litre drum worth more than £800", says Antony Billinton, Managing Director of G-Max Chemical and Research. "It's sitting here waiting with a bow tied around it!"
Racers are required to carry two G-Max stickers - one on either side of the vehicle - to be eligible to win the drum of Nitro. "All you need to do is run a couple of G-Max decals and go below five seconds, and it's yours", says Antony. "Nothing hidden - what you see is what you get! The drum will be delivered to the team's pit immediately following their achievement". G-Max stickers are available from the G-Max Fuels truck, or from Lisa in Race Control at Santa Pod.
Antony has also announced that G-Max Fuels are now able to supply Nitro ready-mixed at 90%, which as of this season is the maxiumum percentage allowed in European competition. For more details, E-Mail antony@gmaxracingfuels.com, or call 01832 731555 (from outside the UK, +44 1832 731555).
Deuchar to make Super Series 1...
4th May: UK Top Methanol Dragster racer Lyndsay Deuchar is to make this weekend's British Top Methanol Championship round by the skin of his teeth. Problems with parts made it a very close thing, but Lyndsay is on his way to Shakespeare County Raceway for his first appearance in nearly a year - a year during which it was feared that we may not see him in competition again.
For the full story of the lead-up to Super Series 1, check out Lyndsay's web site at www.laracing.co.uk.
...whilst Shell Racing head for Fives.
4th May: Fellow Top Methanol Dragster team Shell Racing have announced their intention to break into the fives at Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend. Crew Chief Martyn Hannis has a complete spare engine in the trailer to propel driver Doug Bond below six seconds for the first time, whilst longtime associate Mike Cross is flying in from Florida to lend an extra pair of hands. The team is also welcoming Martyn's son Craig to the team for the first time this weekend.
For more news visit the Shell Racing web site at www.eurodragster.com/shellracing.
2001 NDRS starts.
4th May: This weekend's Norwegian Spring Nats at Gardermoen Raceway is the first round of the 2001 Nordic Drag Racing Series. This is an earlier than usual start for the Series, due to the addition of two new dates.
"The series has two very interesting new races at the beginning of the season", says Olle Elfqvist of Svensk Dragracing, who organise the NDRS. "The Norwegian Spring Nats has been around for a couple of years now, but this is the first time that it is a part of the Nordic Series. I guess that the race will forever be thought of as 'the race that was snowed out! That was a couple of years ago now, and the guys from Norsk Dragracing Gardermoen gave us excellent weather last year!
"The Drag Internats at Mantorp Park is a little bit different. It was a major event ten years ago, and Fredrik Bernshed at Mantorp Park thinks that it is time to bring it back! Actually the first ever race in NDRS, at that time called The Super Series, was the Drag Internats at Mantorp Park."
"The Nordic Drag Series now consists of nineteen different races", writes our good friend Christer Abrahamson of Svensk Dragracing. "Some of the races are very large, like those which take place alongside FIA/FIM European Championship rounds; others are smaller like the Linde Open in Lindesberg which runs only five classes and which takes place on a well-prepped public road but which is nevertheless very popular with racers and spectators!"
This weekend's entry list reveals a number of the hottest racers making the trip to Gardermoen. Reigning Junior Dragster Champion Christoffer Jädersten, Super Gas Champion and runner-up Vesa Raiski and Håkan Mattsson, and third- and fourth-placed Super Comp racers Paul Ingar Udtian and Kristina Hägglund are attending. "On top of that, the Super categories are traditionally extremely tough in Norway, so we have a fantastic race weekend ahead!", says Christer.
For more details including an entry list, check out the Norsk Dragracing Gardermoen web site at www.norskdragracing.com, and for on-the-spot reports and pictures over the weekend stay tuned to the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se.
More from Svensk Dragracing.
4th May: Last month Svensk Dragracing and Eurodragster helped out with the search for a clutch which went missing at this year's SFI Inspection Day in Stockholm; from Christer Abrahamson comes the great news that the clutch has been found. Thanks to everyone involved in the search for the clutch and its return.
The Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se has been updated with this story, together with an interview with Bosse Edholm from SHRA Skellefteå about a change of location for the Deep Forest Nats.
Chambley rained out.
4th May: From European Drag Racing Database webmaster Tommy Nilsson comes news of the season's first (and last, or else - Ed) rainout.
"The 'honour' of this year's first rainout goes to the Drag and Power Show at Chambley in France last weekend", says Tommy. "The weather was bad all weekend, and only bikes and street-legal classes got a couple of rounds. The bigger classes like Competition never made it to the track. A couple of pictures have kindly been forwarded by Chris of Bruno Bader's Golden Vette Drag Race Team, and can be viewed on the The European Drag Racing Database web site at www.eurodrag.com."
Super Series 1 coverage...
4th May: Eurodragster will be at Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend posting on-the-spot reports and pictures from Super Series 1. Coverage starts tomorrow morning, and can be accessed via the Raceday button of the Super Series web site at www.eurodragster.com/superseries, or from the 2001 Event Coverage page which is accessible in the left-hand column of any Eurodragster page.
...or for those going.
4th May: There is of course no substitute for attending a race yourself, and with Fuel Funny Cars, Top Methanol, the Firestorm Jet Funny Car, Top Fuel Bikes, UK and ACU National Championship classes, Supertwins, Wild Bunch, Custom Car Street Eliminator and much more to see, a trip to Shakespeare County Raceway seems just as good an option as sitting cooped-up with a PC on a holiday weekend. Action runs from 10:00-6:00 on Saturday and 11:00-5:00 on Sunday and Monday. Entry is £12 on Saturday and Sunday, £15 on Monday, £30 for the whole weekend or £20 for two days. For more details including a map, check out the Super Series web site at www.eurodragster.com/superseries.
Please remember that dogs and other pets are not allowed at the drag strip, and in view of the current Foot and Mouth situation are not allowed at all on Long Marston Airfield, which includes Shakespeare County Raceway. Vehicles may be checked for animals on entry to the track.
Fireforce stars in Metal Hammer.
3rd May: Back in February Jet FC pilot Martin Hill stepped in with his Fireforce Jet FC after photographer Fin Costello contacted Eurodragster with a request for a race car to feature in a photo session for rock group Megadeth.
Fin has been in touch to let us know that the new issue of Metal Hammer magazine features the pictures of Megadeth and Fireforce. It should be available right now at all good newsagents.
Web site updates.
3rd May: Eurodragster staffer Sharkman has updated his personal web site Sharkman's Top End Tales with a batch of photographs from last Sunday's Run What You Brung at Santa Pod Raceway. Check it out at www.eurodragster.com/sharkman.
Fuel FC Championship kicks off.
2nd May: Super Series 1 at Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend sees the first round of the 2001 UK Fuel Funny Car Championship. The first such Championship in many years is scheduled to take place over four rounds - two at Shakespeare County Raceway and two at Santa Pod Raceway - and is the result of long discussions between the Fuel FC teams, Santa Pod Raceway promoter Keith Bartlett, and Super Series organiser Terry Gibbs.
"We are looking forward immensely to the first round of the Championship", says Showtime Fuel FC Crew Chief Bob Jarrett, who played a major part in the negotiations. "It has been a long time since we had a real race to compete in and I am sure that all the teams will rise to the occasion."
This weekend's first round is expected to be attended by four Fuel FC teams, with a possibility of further teams joining at later events.
The Showtime team come to Super Series 1 on the back of John Spuffard's victory in the Pro Fuel Shoot-out at Santa Pod's Easter Thunderball, although it was a frantic race day which included an engine change. "Although a little rusty, our crew managed OK, but we will need to be quicker from now on if we are going to win this F/C series", says Bob Jarrett. "This year both John's and my job will be tougher. We are racing the track and not the car in the other lane. Good consistent runs will win the day, so track time is very important. We plan to try and run every qualifying session to accumulate as much data as possible. We may have the quickest car, but we are looking to not beat ourselves."
The Shockwave team also competed in the Pro Fuel Shoot-out a couple of weeks back, giving them a valuable chance to try out their new direct drive transmission, including the revolutionary new clutch cannon designed by Alan Jackson and Knut Soderquist. This in turn necessitated changes to the fuel system and thus the baseline tune-up. Driver Gordon Smith had a couple of wild rides but took third place in the Shoot-out, and Crew Chief and joint owner Dave Bryant will be pleased to have some numbers to work on in his combination this weekend.
Smax Smith returns to Fuel FC racing with his repaired Mainline Menace Oldsmobile. Smax licenced at the 2000 Easter Thunderball, and he and his team were learning the ropes before a crash at last year's Bulldog Bash caused major, but fortunately not irreparable, damage to the car. The car features a great new paintjob which has already been likened to the coating on stealth aircraft, and Smax's gutsy, never-say-die approach will catapult him straight back into the fans' affections.
Allan Bates makes a return trip to Shakespeare County Raceway in Mark Hawkins' North Herts Engineering Avenger. The car turned heads at its first race at Super Series 4 last season with its immaculate appearance. The car has only made a couple of runs so far but with a long weekend coming up the team will have a number of chances to get bedded-in and Fuel FC drivers don't come much more experienced than Allan Bates.
Round two of the Championship will be held at the Cannonball at Santa Pod Raceway on 30th June-1st July, round three at Super Series 4 at Shakespeare County Raceway on 25th-27th August, and the final round at the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod on 14th-16th September.
Main Event hospitality deadline.
2nd May: Regular readers will remember that back on 9th February Santa Pod Raceway announced that they were taking bookings for their hospitality village for the FIA Main Event and European Finals, with concessionary rates for racers entertaining sponsors.
Kelly from Santa Pod has been in touch to let us know that bookings for the Main Event close on May 10th, so if you are thinking of making a booking then please contact her either via E-Mail at kelly@santapod.fsnet.co.uk or by phone on 08700 782828.
You can find further details on the Corporate Hospitality page of Santa Pod's web site at www.santapod.com.
Web site updates.
2nd May: The Show Associates web site at www.show-associates.swinternet.co.uk has been updated with full details about the cancellation of the Doncaster Mini Show.
Firestorm add dates.
1st May: Fresh from wowing the crowds at the Performance Bike Show, and all set for their forthcoming appearance at Super Series 1, the UK's Firestorm Jet Funny Car team have announced more appearances for the 2001 season. "The National Street Rod Association have booked us for the Nostalgia Nationals on 30th June-1st July and the Hot Rod Drags on 8th-9th September, both at Shakespeare County Raceway", says Helen Rusling. With dates also booked at York Dragway, Santa Pod Raceway, Crail, and Elvington, it's beginning to be a busy year for the team.
The Firestorm web site at www.firestorm-jfc.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk has been updated with a report from the Performance Bike Show (which definition of 'professional' are we using, guys? - Ed) plus new photographs and an updated calendar.
Perfect Light fund increases.
1st May: This weekend's Super Series 1 at Shakespeare County Raceway sees the second round of the 2001 Eurodragster.com Perfect Light Award. In a repeat of last year's popular scheme, Eurodragster is posting a cash award for the first racer to record a perfect Reaction Time, 0.400 or 0.500, during either qualifying or eliminations (but not open practice) at a UK National Championship event. The award scheme is open to all racers in all classes.
Nobody won the initial £50 prize at the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway, although a number of racers came very close, so in accordance with the rules of the scheme £25 has been added to bring the prize fund up to £75.
If nobody pulls a perfect light this weekend then the fund will go up to £100 for Super Series 2; if we have a winner then the prize fund resets to £50 for SS2.
Good luck to all racers taking part at Super Series 1.
Gazebos for hire.
1st May: Colin of C & P Hot Rod Ts fame has been in touch to offer racers gazebo hire at Shakespeare County Raceway. "The E-Z Ups measure ten feet by ten, or you could put two together for twenty feet by ten feet", says Colin. Interested parties can E-Mail Colin for details at colinhotrodts@btinternet.com, or call 01992 634262.
Team Nemesis sign another sponsor.
1st May: UK Top Methanol Dragster team Nemesis Racing are headed for some sort of record for sponsorship, having signed up another sponsor in their quest for the UK and FIA European Championships. We received the following press release from Nemesis Marketing Manager John Andrews:
RCS Plc, one of Europe’s leading colour printers, have joined forces with British Top Methanol drag racers, Team Nemesis for the 2001 Season. In a deal brokered by Nemesis marketing boss John Andrews, RCS Plc will be supplying the two-car team with a range of innovative print products during the coming year.
"I am extremely impressed by the package you have sent me and find the arguments presented compelling" said RCS Managing Director Michael Todd. "I feel that our sponsorship of the drag racing which you organised last year worked particularly well…and after due consideration I have decided that I would like to be involved with Team Nemesis."
RCS Plc represent the cutting edge of print technology and lead the pack when it comes to price, quality and service. They offer a spectacular range of products that can be seen in their free 64-page catalogue or viewed on-line at their industry leading web site which also features On-line Ordering, Job Tracking and High Resolution Proofing. New products for 2001 include Car Wrapping and Vehicle Signs, an expanded range of Card Products and budget Web Hosting via their sister company RCS Internet.
Team Nemesis will be launching the first product, a new 'Hero Card featuring Technical Specs, Sponsor Contacts and Elimination Ladder at Super Series Round One. Get them free from the Nemesis pits.
Congratulations to Nemesis' John Andrews whom we hear has won an award in his alter ego as an album cover designer.
Web site updates.
1st May: Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Allen Curtis has updated the No Manners Racing web site with a report on the team's weekend at the Easter Thunderball. "Our Street Eliminator 2001 page will be updated with reports from all of our races through the season", says Allen. Check it out at www.nomannersracing.co.uk.
Further to Sunday's news item about Northern Street Car Challenge points standings, the FB Racing web site at www.fbracing.co.uk now contains the promised NSCC page - a lot earlier than expected. "My webmaster Trev has slogged away all weekend", says FB Racing's eponymous driver Ian Hook. Nice work, Trev.
Earlier news
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