You can check our John Woolfe Racing-sponsored reports, pit notes
and galleries by clicking
here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
We were sorry to hear that UK Super Pro ET racer Martyn Jones has had to withdraw from the FIA / FIM Main Event as his truck broke
down on the way to Santa Pod on Wednesday and it can't be it fixed in time to attend. "This is particularly hard on Crunch, considering
the amount of work he's put in on both the race car and the truck since Easter", says Martyn, "and on my former crewman Ant Cook who did
all the difficult work in swapping engines on the truck - essentially working seven days a week for the last three weeks. My heartfelt
thanks to Crunch and to Ant for their efforts."
Smax does Kansas. 27th May: Ex-pat UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Smax Smith has been in touch with the second of two reports of his latest outings
driving the Leverich family's Top Fueller in the NHRA Mello Yello series. This report is from the last weekend's race in Topeka:
Up at 4:00 am on Friday, Dan picked Jake and I up to meet Gary and drive to Detroit Airport. Unfortunately Aidan and Rooz couldn't make it so I was a little lost without them this weekend,
but I needed to qualify to help Gary to get over not qualifying in Atlanta! Gary's dad Bob Leverich had driven the rig straight from Atlanta to Kansas and had the car teched for our arrival on
Friday afternoon. We were parked by Luigi Novelli, a veteran racer who let us plug in our power cord as neither of our generators would start.
We got everything ready, I did the valves on one side. We decided to run to 330 feet on Friday night to make sure we didn't drop a cylinder. The conditions were awesome - Brittany ran
3.67 for a world record as did Matt Hagan 3.86/335! We did a strong burnout and launched with all eight header flames as high as the wing but only did a 0.960 sixty foot and only made
7300 rpm ! We realised our that our four-run blower was already worn so I ripped the blower apart and went over to Scott Palmers trailer to restrip it with his awesome crew guy Rick and
the amazing Ashley, machined down the nilotron then Jake and I reassembled the blower in record time! Gary and Dan pulled the rack out and serviced all that as Jake redid the bottom end
so I put in the clutch in that Bob had ready. I then redid all the valves and changed the bottom pulley. So we had a fresh blower and Scott Palmer gace us a pulley so spun 43% over for race
day. Found a Hooters and met up with two English fans, Terry and his son Alvin who flew over to watch the race but spent nights sleeping in the car in Wal-Mart's car park to save money.
Jake and I grabbed beer and met up at Scott Palmers pit - he had run a Personal Best of 3.87 - awesome job! Then we drove to a hole in the wall bar to meet up with bunch of racers - it
was amazing to be partying with four other Top Fuel drivers.
Had a great night but now it was race day! We had Steve Torrence first round - no pressure there then! We went on stage for the driver introduction and got a great reception from the fans.
Cruz Pedregon came over and said "Hi Smax!"... I didn't know he even knew my name (You should have said "And you are...?"- Ed). Del Worsham also came over and I had a
quick chat with Matt Hagan. It was awesome meeting the stars of drag racing.
The car sounded amazing, hopped up, and we went to the line fully expecting our best run. I had been on my practice tree and was fully concentrated on the first round. I did a real strong
burnout and backed up, then disaster! We dropped number two cylinder and fuel was sloshing out the pipe so we had no choice but to shut it off! I was gutted and whizzed my gloves into
the air - damn!
It transpired that we had reused a set of spark plugs and I guess one failed. It's hard being low budget team but we went home in one piece and are nineteenth in the points!
Antron Brown came over for a pic next to a sponsor decal on our car (the guys who got us plane tickets for Atlanta).
The journey back was drawn out: once we landed at Detroit the shift interlock bust in Gary's car, so we had to fix that then an hour's journey took three hours with traffic, then there was
a then massive line-up at the Canadian border and they didn't like look of me so hauled us in for full search!. Home at 10:00 pm...
Our next race is at New England Dragway in two weeks. For more see leverichracing.com or the Ant Hill Mob
Facebook page.
"We actually began the Anniversary Tour with our land speed cars at the ECTA Ohio Mile event in Wilmington, Ohio", said team owner and principal driver Ron Hope. "However,
the exciting news is that we are now going to Europe for three races. The first event at Santa Pod in England celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Pod. Then we go to Hockenheim,
Germany for NitrOlympX, and then back to Santa Pod for the European Finals. Incidentally, Randy Bradford's Fiat-bodied AA/Fuel Altered will join Rat Trap on the tour."
The Rat Trap story begins in the mid-1960s with original builder Don Green, however, today's Rat Trap is a continuation of the car developed by chassis builder Dennis
Watson in 1968. Unlike the early cars that were conventional in design, Watson's car was revolutionary with independent front suspension, a nitro-burning Chrysler Hemi, and a distinctly
wild paint scheme. Rat Trap was one of the four cars that participated in the celebrated Fuel Altered Tours of 1970, '71 and '72. Running on 90% nitro, Hope's best performance to date
is a 6.35 E.T., and a speed of 229.88 mph
Geoff Stilwell, Managing Director of Beech Underwriting Agencies, also serves on the board of the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame said, "I've been a huge fan of drag racing for many
years and having the opportunity to see Rat Trap perform at Santa Pod - our home strip that opened Easter 1966 - is a boyhood dream come true. And, to be able to help make
that happen is a special privilege.
"Incidentally, Rat Trap will also be displayed at the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Gala, 19th November 2016, at the Sheraton Skyline Hotel at London's Heathrow Airport, England."
The three currently scheduled European Rat Trap events are:
Dragstalgia: 15th-17th July, Santa Pod Raceway, England
NitrOlympX: 19th-21st August, Hockenheim, Germany
European Finals: 8th-11th September, Santa Pod Raceway, England
"This is a terrific opportunity to mark fifty years of success, and to give even more fans a chance to experience the excitement of a bad-to-the bone fuel-altered" added Ron. "Racing in front
of the fans is what drives us to continue, and we're grateful to Geoff, Beech and all our sponsors for helping make this tour possible."
Automaxx Spring Edition cancelled. 25th May: Margot Schmidt has been in touch to let us know that this weekend's AutoMaxx Spring Edition at Drachten Drag
Strip has been cancelled. Margot explains:
Yesterday we had discussions with Drachten City Council, partners and production companies. We visited the site with our crew to view the
state of the venue. There has been a lot of rain in the Netherlands over the past few days; at the moment there are puddles everywhere and
the ground has become soft. The city cannot cut the grass in its current state.
According to the weather forecasts the site gets two days to dry but lots of rain again at the weekend, 15 mm on Saturday and 90% chance
of thunderstorms on Sunday. Looking at the state of the track and the weekend forecasts, we have been advised to cancel the event.
We are very disappointed as we have made all of our preparations and we were looking forward to a nice weekend at Drachten. But drag racing
cannot take place in that kind of weather and we cannot offer our visitors the programme we have promised. So to avoid damage to your cars,
motorcycles and the venue, we have decided to cancel the event for this weekend.
We are sorry to disappoint our visitors and participants who were looking forward to a nice race weekend.
Entry and racing tickets purchased via the ticket shop can be used at our event in France on 4th-5th June or the Quarter Mile Main Event at
Drachten on 22nd-24th July. Of course, you may choose to have your ticket cost refunded to your bank account. If you would prefer to have your
money reimbursed, please E-Mail us at info@402automotive.com.
Thank you for your understanding, and apologies for the inconvenience. We hope to see you and the sun at the next event.
Ålund aims for 10/14. 25th May: This upcoming weekend signals the beginning of Jimmy Ålund's fourteenth year of racing in the FIA European Pro Stock Championship.
The European Championship season starts with the FIA / FIM Main Event held at the historic Santa Pod Raceway in the United Kingdom, also the scene of the final race of the 2015 season in which Jimmy
dominated by qualifying number one and winning the event. The mid-season was more troublesome and Jimmy finished the Championship in second place; less than one round win separated the top
two teams after a whole season of racing.
"Pro Stock leaves no room for margins", says Jimmy. "We reset the European ET and speed records twice but that did not help. 2015 was a real tough season for the racers but an excellent show for
the fans, and I expect this year to be even harder". Indeed, this season will feature three new teams in the class and others with new cars and engines. "The growth and quality of the class is impressive
and we are as focused as ever", says Jimmy. The gauntlet has already been thrown down. Pre-season testing at Tierp Arena should have Jimmy's competitors on edge as he and his crew took the car
down the track at a sub-European record ET of 6.48 seconds.
Jimmy is running an engine out of the KB Racing shop this year, as has been the case for the last three seasons. "We are obviously very happy with the power they supply", he says. "Without KB Racing
and the sponsorship of Summit Racing, we would not have won nine FIA Championships". Jimmy wants to express his gratitude to his sponsors Summit Racing, Viking Industrimålning, Exclusive Cars,
Sverigedemokraterna, KB Racing, Camaroskroten, Tradepac, POs Harley Davidson, All American AB, CFM, Vadstena Klosterhotel, Stigs Axle and Parts, Hydraulakuten, VP Racing Fuels, and X Parts.
The Jimmy Ålund Pro Stock Racing Team is of course looking for a solid start to the Championship. "Yes, a win at Santa Pod would be great", says Jimmy,
"especially as that would mean a follow up to Summit Racing's current success at the beginning of the 2016 NHRA season: eight events and eight wins for Summit
Racing Team drivers Jason Line and Greg Anderson."
FIA / FIM Main Event qualifying commences this Saturday (28th).
Swift snippets. 25th May: Dutch Pro Modified racer David Vegter tells us that if you need energy during the FIA / FIM Main Event then
his pit has copious supplies of Playboy Energy Drink for sale courtesy of his sponsor.
Many thanks to Ian Marshall for sending Version 3 of the official entry list for the SPRC Summernationals, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway
on 25th-26th June. You can check out the SPRC Summernationals entry list by clicking
here. Entry closes on 4th June after which entry, if accepted, will be subject to a Late Entry penalty. You can download the official entry forms from
the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.
Our good buddy Steve Moxley has again been hard at work flying the flag for drag racing with an APIRA Springspeed Nationals review and
an FIA / FIM Main Event preview on the ACU web site at www.acu.org.uk
and a Festival of Power review on the Eat My Ink web site at www.eatmyink.com.
As our John Woolfe Racing-sponsored FIA / FIM Main Event coverage is about to commence
(see below), just a reminder that unless a standing agreement is already in place we take a dim view of the theft of our work
be it report, result, pit note, picture, or screenshot or video grab of our Webster
Race Engineering / Nimbus Motorsport webcast. A polite request in advance usually
results in a positive reply depending upon what it is you want to copy; no request at all or retrospective requests will result, at the least, in a
demand for removal and possibly formal action up to and including sending Kirstie round. Sharing of links is of course fine.
With a little help from our friends... 25th May: Ex-pat UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Smax Smith has been in touch with the first of two reports of his latest outings
driving the Leverich family's Top Fueller in the NHRA Mello Yello series. This report is from the Southern Nationals in Atlanta:
After a marathon thirty-hour drive to Charlotte and back for the Four Wides Aidan posted that we were looking for a sponsor to get us flights to Atlanta in exchange for televised advertising
the car, and Lo and behold Active Collision of Timmings stepped in to help us big time. We got to Toronto on Thursday morning but missed the first flight of three to get us to Atlanta, so we
sweet-talked Air Canada into giving us a direct flight to Atlanta which got us there even earlier than planned - even leaving at 2:00 pm so we could go to the bar for a swift half.
We rented a car in Atlanta, got a room then went to track to see who was around, then met up with Dave Lindsay and Dave Richards nitro Funny Car crew at Applebees for late supper and
pints!
Up early to meet Gary, Bob and Jake who drove the rig from Michigan and went over the car as usual. We got through tech OK and then found that we had issues with new carbon four-hole
injector which we had just bought. Got that sorted and finally fired up and discovered another ignition issue, even though we had traded both of our 44 amp mags and got two good black mags
off the ever-helpful Laganas! A couple of hours later tech said that the slicks which we got off Tim Wilkerson were illegal as of that race. I zoomed around to find tyres and our good friend
Terry Macmillen gave us a pair of slicks with the required serial number. We thrashed to get them mounted and then JR Todd's team asked us to run brand new slicks on rims as they prefer
tyres with one run to new tyres so we did! We decided not to run on Friday as only top the top twelve count and there were seventeen teams there. Got the car fired up and scared the fans with
our nitro blast to seat the clutch and went out for food.
On to Saturday and as we had a poor timing signal on one mag, even though we purchased two good mags from Bobby Lagana, we took the coils and boxes to the MSD trailer and found a bad
box so we put on the spare which they tested two weeks earlier only to find it wasn't any good! Damn! We had to tow down whilst Gary zoomed to buy new box and fitted it in lanes. Gary had
put a little more fuel in and took six grammes off the clutch as the car was responding well to our changes, giving our best 1000 foot of 4.19 lifting early at Charlotte. We were quietly hoping for
our first 4.0-second pass and were all taking bets on it. Aidan belted me in and made sure that the water was down then guided me to the burnout. Aidan did his usual perfect job of lining up the
car and co-ordinating burnout and back-up while Rooz guided me back perfectly.
I mashed the throttle but it strangely dropped number eight cylinder and rattled a 4.4/270 being a thousand horsepwer down. We were sat at number seventeen and had two hours to get ready
to beat Terry Haddock's bump spot of 4.17 - he was damaged and couldn't bump us back. Aidan thrashed and got his clutch done in record time as did Jake with bottom end but we had torched
a gasket and had minor head damage. Dan was doing both heads and now we had to sort another piston, head etc and time was getting tight! Karamesines wasn't running thr fourth session so TJ
from his crew came to help Dan on the heads then Crazy Scott Palmer was over with all his guys then Jeff Diehl and his guy grabbed wrenches. Meanwhile I had snapped a chute line so Scott Palmer
gave us a chute which I fitted while Gary was trying to findout why we didn't have power to the mags when he was programming the timing but realised that the Leahy shut-off system was disconnected
while Scott from Pat Dakin's team was looking at our graphic editor! It was so amazing that everyone was pitching in including the famous Jimbo who is Haddock's Crew Chief.
We got everything done but unfortunately missed the call by ten minutes. What a bummer after all that! At least the car was ready for Kansas following week. Sunday was hot and we watched a great
day's racing then Aidan, Rooz and I shot to Atlanta Airport to try to switch our flight to Sunday night but it wasn't happening. We decided to drive the rental car back to Canada but we went via Illinois as
I had sold the motor from our Funny Car and so we went to look at a Funny Car operation there. We did a deal and drove home but it took thirty hours in total!
Team Principal Ian King said "All of us at King Racing are extremely pleased that Gulf Oil International has decided to extend their partnership with our team activities in 2016. We are very proud to carry
the most iconic brand in motorsports history on our record breaking machine for a sixth consecutive season alongside Grand Prix Originals and all of our blue chip technical and service partners who have
committed to help make this another record-breaking season."
The Gulf Oil Dragracing team will contest the FIM European Drag Bike Championship, have been invited to appear once again at the world's biggest and most diverse motorsport event the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and
are planning an attempt to break an official FIM land speed record – news to follow.
If you wish to see the Gulf Oil Dragracing Top Fuel Bike run "Up The Hill" then tickets are running out fast. The event attracts over 100,000 spectators and is always sold out well in advance.
Weekend and Saturday entry tickets now sold out and other days extremely limited and likely to sell out very soon.
Click
here to purchase tickets for the world's biggest and most diverse motorsport event. For a taste of the action you can see on track, check out the
promotional video on YouTube which includes the Gulf Oil Top Fuel Bike leaving the start line.
The Gulf Oil – GPO Dragracing team uses and endorses exclusively Gulf Oil greases and lubricants in their history-making machine. The team is extremely proud to be supported by many leaders in
their chosen markets in their endeavours to secure a tenth European Championship:
APE - The world's most innovative manufacturer of aftermarket parts for drag bikes Bell Helmets - The most iconic name in helmets, since 1954 Cometic Gaskets - The premier manufacturer of racing gaskets Drift Innovation - Europe's leading source for action sports cameras Gates - The world's most trusted name in drive belts, hoses and hydraulics Goodridge - The original and the best in fluid transfer systems Grand Prix Originals - The brand for drive and lifestyle, past and present Graphite Additive Manufacturing - A leader in 3D printed technologies and rapid prototyping Gulf Oil International - The world's most iconic brand in automotive fuels and lubricants Hotrod Hangar– Home of the world renowned custom artist Knud Tiroch Hyperpro - The leading producer of progressive suspension products for motor bikes JE Pistons - The world's premier manufacturer of high performance forged pistons John and Dea Morgan Racing - The creators of the world's most advanced New Age Funny Bike Kibblewhite Precision Machining, Inc -The highest quality valve train components on the market King Racing - The most successful Top Fuel Bike team in European drag racing history Mickey Thompson Tyres - Simply the best drag race tyres in the world MRE - Leaders in trackside support for drag race components and air shifting systems MTC Engineering - Manufacturer of clutches for the fastest motorcycles in the world NitroShutter - Europe's leading drag racing photo-journalists NCT Engineering - Manufacturer of the world's leading non contact torque sensors for motorsport NGK Spark Plugs UK - The world's number one spark plug manufacturer Pär Willen - Master webmeister and proprietor of HarleyDrags.com Portable Shade - The best custom branded collapsible canopies available Pro Alloy Motorsport - UK's leader in fabrication of alloy racing tanks, intercoolers and radiators Puma Engineering - Manufacturers of the world's most powerful motorcycle engines RSG Customize - The UK's most creative website designers and vinyl artists Supertough - Custom cases and covers for the Film, TV, Music and Motorsports Industries Spies Hecker - The world's leading supplier of paint for car, commercial and industrial finishing Tryka LED - The UK's cutting edge LED lighting manufacturer Van Es mobility - The leading manufacturer of telematic products for management of moving objects Vanson Leathers - The most iconic brand in motorsport leather goods Web Camshafts Inc - Simply the company for Top Fuel Bike camshafts Worldwide Bearings - The world's leading supplier of ceramic bearings for racing Zodiac - Europe's largest supplier of performance and aftermarket HD parts
Team SDR double up. 24th May: German Sand Drags racer Sebastian Lindau has been in touch with an update from the workshops of the
SDR Sand Drag Team, which includes news of a new bike and a second rider:
The off-season in Sand Drags is a bit longer and because of this we are still in the preparation phase for 2016. One big change is that SDR has a new bike in the stable.
We purchased a Hayabusa last winter which is currently being built up. The Yamaha FZR which I raced for the last two seasons will stay in the team at least for this year and will
be raced by a young and talented rider from Iceland named Hilmar Þór Magnusson. Hilmar comes from a motorsports family: his father Magnüs has raced his
front-engined dragster for a long time and has been very successful in the premier Icelandic dragster class Opinn Flokkur. Hilmar himself has also a achieved a couple of
successes and SDR look forward to having him in the team this year.
Sadly we will be not able to take part in the Icelandic Championship this year because the current flood of tourists has prevented us from booking a spot on the ferry.
In February I tried to book for September and there was nothing available - that gives you an idea what is currently going on up there. Unfortunately that means that
we will be on a very limited schedule with only one race this year, the Freeriders Offroad Drag Race in
Switzerland on 16th-17th September. We will celebrate this as much as we can and everyone who is interested is invited to visit us in the pits and also to keep up
to date via our new Facebook page.
I don't want to miss this opportunity to say a big Thank You to Rene Ehrismann of Switzerland's Drag
Team Orangli. Because I started a new job my girlfriend and I moved to Switzerland last winter. Rene was extremely helpful throughout on many occasions. Without
Rene and his numerous contacts I would still have no workshop, for example. A very helpful and friendly guy and I'm very pleased and proud to know him.
FIA/FIM Main Event Perfect Awards. 24th May: This weekend's FIA / FIM Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway is the latest event in the 2016 Eurodragster.com
Perfect Awards Scheme. £175 is on offer for perfect performance.
This weekend's Eurodragster.com / Bad Habit Racing Perfect Light Award has been reset to £50 after it was won by Pro ET racer
Brian Huxley at the APIRA Springspeed Nationals. The money will be paid in cash to the first racer this weekend to record a Reaction Time of 0.000
seconds. The Perfect Light Award is available to racers in all classes during qualifying and eliminations, but will only be awarded for the first Perfect
Light of the event. If not won this weekend then the Award will be increased to £75 for the SPRC Summernationals at Santa Pod Raceway; if it is won
then it will be reset to £50 for the SPRC Summernationals. The Perfect Light Award is presented in association with Bad Habit Racing (Cath
and Tig Napier, Pro ET).
Decals are not mandatory for the Perfect Light Award but we would appreciate it if Eurodragster.com decals are carried. Eurodragster.com decals
will be available from the Signing On office first thing on Thursday morning.
This weekend's Eurodragster.com Perfect ET Award supporting the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has been increased to
£125 after it went unclaimed at the APIRA Springspeed Nationals. The money will be paid in cash to the first racer this weekend to run an ET to the
thousandth of a second on dial-in or index. The Perfect ET Award is available this weekend during qualifying or eliminations in Super Pro ET, Pro ET,
Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street and Lucas Oil Junior Dragster (eliminations only), but will only be awarded for the first Perfect ET of the event.
If not won this weekend then the Award will be increased to £150 for the SPRC Summernationals at Santa Pod Raceway; if it is won
then it will be reset to £50 for the SPRC Summernationals. The Perfect ET Award is presented by Derek and Fiona Flynn of Eurodragster.com
sponsor Gold RV in support of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children;
you can donate to the NSPCC at www.nspcc.org.uk.
To be eligible to collect the Perfect ET Award, racers are required to carry Eurodragster.com / NSPCC decals(left), one on each side of
the vehicle. If you pull this weekend's first Perfect ET but are not carrying decals when the run is made then there will be no discussion; we will not
pay out and the next person to record a Perfect ET will get the money assuming that they are carrying decals. Eurodragster.com / NSPCC decals will be
available from the Signing On office first thing on Thursday morning.
Lucas Oil Main Event give-away. 23rd May: Courtesy of Les Downey of Eurodragster.com sponsor Lucas Oil
Products we have ten new Lucas Oil crew shirt and baseball cap sets to give away at this weekend's FIA / FIM Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway.
We have two each of the Small, Medium, Large, XL and XXL shirts to give away and each comes with a cap. The give-away is open to racers, fans,
officials, everyone; the only condition of entry is that you are at Santa Pod Raceway on Saturday or Sunday to pick up your prize.
To be in with a chance of winning a shirt and cap all you have to do is to send the following details to
contest@eurodragster.com:
Your name
Your shirt size
Your E-Mail address
Your mobile phone number
The rules of the give-away are:
One entry per E-Mail address
You must be attending the Saturday or the Sunday of this weekend's FIA / FIM Main Event
Entry closes at 23:59 UK time this Friday (27th)
We will be in touch with winners with details of where and how to pick up their prize. Good luck!
Promising starts in Supertwin. 23rd May: Pasi Uponen writes that three Supertwins contested the opening round of the Finnish National Series at Alastaro this
past weekend:
Samu Kemppainen was testing his new shorter first gear and made three really good runs. 6.912/193.9 mph, 6.772/207 and 6.806/ 204.7 bode well for Santa Pod.
Vesa Lipponen ran his first ever six-second pass whilst testing his bike. Unfortunately the sprocket suffered some damage during the run and so that was his only pass of the weekend.
However, he got a very promising time and excellent speed 6.930/224.7 mph.
The third bike in this group was run by Aku Lantto (left) who made licencing runs. First he performed a couple of burnouts and then he made a pretty good sixty foot run.
He finished with a really nice eighth-mile pass. Aku's goal is to attend the race at Tierp Arena in June.
Olstad: Back at work. 23rd May: Norwegian Supertwin racer Hans Olav Olstad tells us that he had a busy off-season, but that none of it was
down to his bike:
My partner Anne Marit was in hospital for two months undertaking cancer treatment, and but is healing well now (Great news, hope that continues, love and hugs - Ed). I have been off work with a back injury.
In late January I was on a two-month training régime for my back, and right now I have been back at work for a month. I have prioritised my health by training at least three times a week and it is a lot better
now.
Because of all this the bike has been on hold the whole winter. Mostly, we have replaced all the parts which were burned at Mosten last year. We are going to upgrade the fuel system, we are making a new camshaft,
and we have interesting new exhaust pipes. We feel that he motor is working well after last year's struggle, but you know Nitromethane can do bad things to an engine now and then.
Our plan for this season is to contest both Championships, Nordic and European. The goal is of course to win, but I think that this will be a challenge. With Samu Kempainen and Per Bengtsson on an entry list
it will always be a hard race to win. Martijn de Haas also seems to be very consistent, and if he shows the same consistency this season he will also be a hard nut to crack.
My sponsors for 2016 are ENI, Lena Anleggsservice, Hydroscand, GMS Bike Store, Knapphus Energy, Kulelagerhuset, DekkTeam, Tech-Con, GB-Tech and Billakkspesialisten. I have a few new team-members
and some of the old crew continue to wrench as usual.
We are looking forward to racing at Santa Pod again. News and updates will be posted on Facebook at Olstad Racing.
Adding spice to Junior Dragster... 23rd May: UK Junior Dragster racer Ruaridh Hart is pleased to announce sponsorship from local Indian
Restaurant Le Spice Merchant. The restaurant is also offering discount on
sit-down meals and take-aways. Ruaridh's dad Ian Hart writes:
It has become a tradition for the Eliminator Junior drag racing team to visit our local curry house when returning from events. Le Spice Merchant in Wellingborough has also
hosted many of our good friends from the world of racing including reigning FIA Pro Stock Champion Thomas Lindström and the Green Goblin Pro Mod team of Mats
Eriksson. And now, Le Spice Merchant restaurant are taking the relationship further with an agreement to sponsor Ruaridh's Junior Dragster for this weekend's Main Event.
"After Ruaridh won at Big Bang in April, I discussed some sponsorship for the car with the team, and we have come to an arrangement for the Main Event", says Imran of Le
Spice Merchant. "I am really looking forward to visiting Santa Pod for the first time and to see the cars and bikes that I have heard about and also to support Ruaridh.
It will be a thrill to see the restaurant name on the side of the car, and maybe it can win again with our help."
Le Spice Merchant is the number one restaurant in Wellingborough as described by Trip Advisor. With each meal individually cooked by the passionate chefs, all nut free, and
with a low carb and low calorie menu available, Le Spice Merchant deserves its reputation as number one Indian Restaurant in the area. As an additional part of the sponsorship,
Le Spice Merchant will offer a discount to any racer or race fan who quote Eliminator Racing when ordering a take-away or restaurant meal either over the phone or in person.
Le Spice Merchant can be found at 1 Farm Road, Redhill Farm, Wellingborough NN8 4UF, call 01933 679218, or visit
www.lespicemerchant.co.uk.
FIA/FIM Main Event webcasts. 25th May: Attentive readers will know that broadcasts of this weekend's FIA / FIM Main Event will be provided
firstly by Eurodragster.com's free Webster Race
Engineering / Nimbus Motorsport webcam and then by
Trakbak Racing / Track Group Europe's excellent free Web TV. Below is your cut-out-and-keep reminder for the schedule for the webcasts
and Web TV:
Thursday 26th May Pro Peak Performance Test and Tune Day
Links to both webcasts as well as to live reports, pit notes, galleries, provisional running orders and entry list are available on our
John Woolfe Racing-sponsored FIA / FIM Main Event coverage index which you can check
out by clicking here or
by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Margot Schmidt writes that Pro cars and bikes, Junior Dragsters and Junior Drag Bikes and Quads are invited to test free of charge at the
Automaxx Spring Edition at Drachten Airfield next Friday-Sunday 29th-29th May. "Don't miss the opportunity to test your machine at the beginning
of the season on a safe and fully-prepared track", says Margot. "All you need is a weekend entrance ticket which is €45 per person and which includes
camping, showers, toilets, electricity etc. Entry is free for Junior participants. Tickets can be purchased at
402automotive.vstrs.nl/shop.
To participate please sign up at
www.automaxxspringedition.nl.
Chris Murty says that next weekend's Volkspower Powerfest at York Raceway offers
four days of Volkswagen Festival with two days of drag racing and three nights of live music. "Gates open on Friday (27th) with camping and the first
night of our live music", says Chris. "On Saturday we will have a static display by VW Clubs from the north of England, as well as live music though
the day leading up to the evening. Sunday is the first day of non-stop drag racing action featuring Round 4 of American Super Stock, JDM-DRC, Pro FWD
and NSCC. We will also have our first VW Run What You Brung to find a home for our £500 for the quickest VW. Amongst all that there is our Ultimate
RWYB. Then once the final pass of the day is made it's time to party in the main marquee for our final night of live music. On Monday the track action
continues with even more racing, our full schedule of: American Super Stock, JDM-DRC, Pro FWD, NSCC, Volks Stock, Pro ET, Sportsman ET, Super Cup, RWYB
and VW-RWYB - the final chance for the quickest VW to take home the £500 prize money. On the show field there will be a VW Show'n'Shine. There
will be plenty of caterers and trade stands and shows put on by Julian Webb in the Split Second Jet Dragster, Steve Murty's Backdraft
Wheelie Fire Truck, and the return of the hugely-entertaining internet sensation the Pat Van". More details at
www.yorkraceway.org.uk.
A Picnic for the BHO slingshot. 21st May: Joe Bond says that the Bond, Hannis and Osborne team have been overwhelmed by the response since they débuted
their new slingshot last year and that they are all set for this year's first outing:
We are very proud of the car, and we were very pleased to get to the NSRA Hot Rod Drags and leave the event with the first full run on the car, its
first seven at 7.92/180.
At the end of last year, our beloved Nuthin' Fancy Topolino was sold to Richard Broms who drove all the way from Sweden to collect the car at
Easter. I look forward to seeing him have a lot of fun with that car!
The dragster's racing season starts with the Supercharged Outlaws at next weekend's Gary's Picnic / Yanks Weekend at Shakespeare County Raceway. We
hope to continue baselining the car and creeping up on performance. This car is so different to the altered; both having four wheels is about the only
comparison. We look forward to racing at Dragstalgia in the newly-formed Slingshot Showdown class (Yummy - Ed), hopefully the class has a strong
turnout!
We'll have our new T-Shirts for sale at all of the events which we attend. The white shirts are available for £10 in sizes S to XXL. We also have prints of a piece of artwork of the
car produced by the legendary John Mitchell from California. These full-colour A3 prints will be for sale for £1 each. Come to see us in the pits and pick one up!
Can I once again say a massive Thank You to Martyn Hannis, Doug Bond, Lawrence Osborne and all of the team for the work over the winter to get the whole operation ready to go once
more. We are all looking forward to getting the season underway.
Swift snippets. 21st May:Michel Tooren and the Pro Dutch Racing Pro Modified
team are ready to testing before the FIA / FIM Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway. You can check out the team's preview and workshop update (Dutch-language
PDF) by clicking here.
Looking back, we had a great season last year! After a rain-out at Tierp Arena in June and an extremely disappointing first round exit after a red
light at Alastaro, we really could not afford to make any more mistakes for the rest of the season if we were to keep our Championship hopes alive.
It worked out extremely well as we won the three last events back-to-back, which led to our fifth FIA European Pro Modified Championship.
A move to a new workshop over the winter took quite some time and effort and we could not start preparing for the 2016 season until late March of
this year. However we have a performance benchmark from last year of setting Low ET at all events and having the current ET record at every track,
so I think we have a pretty strong baseline to work from. We have made some minor changes to the car and we should not be too far from getting it
working, but we need a couple of runs to tune it.
I predict that the competition this year will be tougher than ever with some teams stepping up their game and hiring tuners. They'll chase us hard
for sure, but they'll have to fight hard for it and I'm really excited about the increased level of competition. Bring it on guys!
I also want to say thanks to some great companies who support us such as Lucas Oil, Stavdal, Kjelland, Aeromotive, AirMobile, Pampas Marina and
Blenco Racing.
Crane's innovative ride. 20th May: UK Funny Bike racer Stuart Crane's new bike will be making its competitive début in FIM Europe
Top Fuel Bike at next week's FIA / FIM Main Event. Stu says that the bike is the first of its kind in Europe:
The bike has been manufactured in its entirety by Warpspeed Racing and uses the latest technology in engine, chassis ,and electronics. It has a 14" rear rim with a 10.5 tyre and
has a longer wheelbase than my previous bike. It also has fixed rear axle adjusters and runs a pre-tensioner on the chain for tension adjustment. I have attended one test session
and made one pass so far, and on that first pass the bike went 7.9/172 which was a very promising result (and then some - Ed).
The whole team will be doing the full FIM Tour. I will be tuning the bike myself and I have two goals this season: to run a 0.9-second sixty foot time and to run quicker
than the 6.89 which Chris Hall recorded on his bike . This would make me the most successful British rider in history using nitrous oxide.
Thanks to my great crew and also to my sponsors MPM Oil and Warpspeed Racing.
The Main Event, live. 20th May: There is a bumper entry list of Pro cars and bikes plus Sportsman classes and an action-packed off-track line up
including the Red Arrows at next week's FIA / FIM Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway. Drag racing fans from all over the country and further afield
will be making their way to Santa Pod next weekend but if you are unfortunately not able to come to see the action first hand then fear not. Trakbak
Racing Ltd and Track Group Europe are pleased to announce there will once again be a free to watch Live Web Broadcast featuring multi-camera
coverage from Sunday (29th) qualifying through to the eliminations and finals on Monday, and this year's production will be the best yet.
You will be able to view the Live Web Broadcast at www.santapod.co.uk/webtv where you
can also set a reminder now, or follow Santa Pod on Livestream at www.livestream.com/SantaPod
to get updates on all future live broadcasts.
Swift snippets. 20th May:Thursday's news item has been amended but Pro Modified and Pro Stock racers please
note that scrutineering for your classes at next week's FIA / FIM Main Event will take place in the Parc Fermé building (to the left side of the
tunnel through scrutineering, as viewed from the pits). The error in the original news item was your News Editor's and not SPRC's; apologies for the
misunderstanding.
Many thanks to Ian Marshall for sending Version 2 of the official entry list for the SPRC Summernationals, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway
on 25th-26th June. You can check out the SPRC Summernationals entry list by clicking
here. Entry closes on 4th June after which entry, if accepted, will be subject to a Late Entry penalty. You can download the official entry forms from
the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.
Further to the news item above, Eurodragster.com's
Webster Race Engineering / Nimbus
Motorsport webcam will be broadcasting next Thursday's (26th) Pro Peak Peformance Test and Tune Day and days one and two, Friday and Saturday, of the FIA / FIM Main
Event. We will post a ready reckoner of who is broadcasting when early next week but our John Woolfe
Racing-sponsored FIA / FIM Main Event coverage index, which you can check out by
clicking here or by clicking on the
John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page, already contains links both to our own webcast and the
Trakbak Racing Ltd / Track Group Europe Web TV.
Les Downey of Eurodragster.com sponsor Lucas Oil Products passed on an interesting testament
from a satisfied consumer. Mike Miller, an engine builder in southern California, dyno'd one of his customers' drag boat motors firstly with 5W30 Delo Chevron oil and then, after tuning and
running in the engine at full power, Lucas Oil Racing 5W-30 Synthetic and promptly picked up twenty horsepower. The motor involved was a 583 ci inch Big Block Chevy sporting Brodix SR 20 cylinder
heads and the test was carried out with the same oil levels and at the same oil temperatures. You can find out more about Lucas Oil Products on their web site at
www.lucasoil.co.uk. Stay tuned for a Lucas Oil give-away in the run-up to the FIA / FIM Main
Event.
European Top Gas Round 1 report. 20th May: Herman Jolink writes that the first Euro Serie Super Twin Top Gas round of 2016 took
place over the eighth-mile at Malmö Raceway last weekend:
The track gave very good traction, prepared by the GB's Lee Child.
Friday evening qualifyng from took place in nice dry weather between 18:00 and 22:00. On Saturday afternoon there was some rain, but after 18:00 we had a good dry track, and the first elimination rounds
took place in car and bike classes. Sweden's Rikard Gustafsson made some test runs on his new Top Fuel Bike, he rode it like he has been riding it for years. 1.077 seconds to sixty feet and a very quick
4.029/305 kmh over the eighth.
Super Twin Top Gas qualifying:
Fredrik Schack DK on 2622 V-Twin 4.651/232 and 4.788 run (his best time is 4.594 at Malmo in 2015)
Birch Anderssen DK on 2622 V-Twin. The team did a lot of work on the engine to get more power out it, 5.266/201 and a 5.338
Bernd Foit D on 2750 V-Twin 5.623/194
Jorg Lymant D on 1900 Blower V-Twin 6.304/173 with some adjustment problems but he found the right set-up for eliminations
Anders Jensen DK on 2000 mechanical Turbo V-Twin 10.771/180 with clutch problems
Eliminations took place on Saturday evening and Sunday. It was a four-bike field and Anders Jensen was first alternate.
E1: Schack 5.254-222 beat Lymant 5.823/190, Schack had a broken tube on the wheelie and the bike was jumping but Schack was first to the stripe. In the final Schack 4.752/232 with a repaired wheelie
bar beat Anderssen 5.521/189. RTs Schack 0.270, Anderssen 0.283.
Germany's Team Oakland Orange were planning to come to Malmö but overnight 17th-18th April they had a burglary, five bikes and the team's camper were taken.
The bikes were John Hansen's 2400 V-Twin Top Gas Bike, two V-Rod Destroyers Drag Bikes and two road HD bikes.
Championship points:
Fredrik Schack DK 605
Birch Anderssen DK 470
Bernd Foit D 360
Jorg Lymant D 350
Anders Jensen DK 340
The next rounds of Euro Serie Super Twin Top Gas are as follow. Six of the seven rounds count towards the Championship.
27th-29th May: Auto Maxx Spring Edition, Drachten NL
3rd-5th June: Grand Nationals, MSTO-Predators, Bechyne CZ
1st-3rd July: Main Event, DHRA, Drachten NL
22nd-24th July: The Main Event, Drachten NL
19th-21st August: NitrOlympX, Hockenheim NL
2nd-3rd September: Mosten Race Days and Top Gas Finals, Allingabro DK
"We are looking for two more cars or bikes to make up our three-vehicle display", says Phil. "Ideally we are looking for one nostalgia style and one
modern style to showcase the sport. The actual show will have 400+ Aston Martins of all eras, trade stands, Red Arrows flypast and much more."
If you are interested in displaying your car or bike then please contact Phil at
phil.cottingham@googlemail.com, call 01536 511123 during the day, or seek him
out at mid-track VIP on the Friday of next week's FIA / FIM Main Event.
Mopar: The Next Generation. 19th May: After a turbulent off-season 2015 "Very humble" FIA European Pro Stock Champion Thomas Lindström and
Team R/T are ready to head to England for what will be the first of a limited schedule
of races in 2016. Thomas writes:
After our sponsor withdrew in favour of racing an operation of his own, we found ourselves facing a tough challenge as the heart of the car,
some of the Hemi engines, were lost in the process. We have been working hard to raise funds to buy a new powerplant from Allen Johnsson to
be able keep on racing in 2016, and we have managed to clinch some valuable sponsors for the European Mopar Pro Stock team. I can tell you all
for sure that without our sponsors and their loyalty and the support they have given us we would not have been racing this year. So from the
bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in us DK Lyft & Transport, Verkstadspartner, Contractor Maskiner AB, Flinks Järn, Björnbers
Åkeri, Wrapzone, R/T Bil and Maskin and Pro Tools. They stepped up their game and with their support we could finally close that engine deal
with AJ.
At time of writing we have run one test session in Malmö and it went really well. 4.23 over the eighth on a pretty cold and tricky track certainly
proved that we are still in business. As usual the team worked well together and it felt good to be back on track after a winter during which we almost
had doubts about what we would be doing.
A lot of people wonder how we will handle Jimmy Ålund's run in testing at Tierp when he basically drove through the sound barrier with that blue car.
Well, first of all I will welcome the newbies to the Pro Stock field. We have three new drivers in Pro Stock, a couple of new cars entering the field and
two of them have as much horsepower as money can buy. So this season will be awesome in every way. It will be the toughest ever year for Pro Stock in Europe
and there is going to be hard core racing at every track to get the points needed to be crowned 2016 Champion. So it's not only that blue Camaro we need to
keep up with, but a new Camaro and a new Dodge which will make our lives hell on the track. But then we have the rest of the cars, and although some of them
might not run any 6.5 times they are killers on the Tree and you can't count anyone out. They are all enemies of mine at the start line, enemies which
every fast car needs to pass before winning bragging rights.
With that in mind let's look back at 2015. Ours was not the fastest car at all, we didn't qualify better than #2 and sometimes #3 or #4 or worse.
But we won the Championship anyway: not because of engine power, not because others in the field where faster, but because we simply did it best
all the way. In every round our heads were in an ice bucket to keep us cool. So let them all come with as much horsepower as they have money for,
we will be ready and we will do what we do best: race on race day and keep everything together as we always have.
We have had the same team for seven years now and that is important. As I driver I am getting better on each run and it finally feels like I'm the one
driving the car and not the other way around. But to finally come to that realisation takes a lot of seat time and it isn't something you can achieve
with the turn of a hand. Driving and tuning a Pro Stock car is more than horsepower and cool stuff, it's much more complicated then that. I would say
that it's 50-50 between track time and sitting at home doing the mathematics at the computer. Comparing graphs, finding the good stuff and the bad things
which didn't work. Plainly, if you want to be on top in this game you need to do the homework before you go to school. And we did that 2015. We must have
in a thousand hours going through the car between races and working with different theoretical scenarios with the Racepak graphs.
The car has been uppdated with new shocks and electronics and is ready to fight for a win at Santa Pod. We have a new look for the car, the trailer and
the crew. The car has already been wrapped by Wrapzone, I have a new driving suit from Simpson and cool new shirts for the team will make us look even
better than we usually do at the track.
But this year will be a little different for Team R/T... we will be expanding the team a little. My wife Nina and I are going to have a little one.
We did plan for a birth after the season, but you all know me: when I need to be fast I go slow and when I need to keep cool I go fast, and this
time I did it fast. The due date is 10th September, yes the date of the European Finals at Santa Pod. So sadly we will not come visiting you there this
year and kick ass. But this is one of the biggest things which has happened in my life and i will be home taking care of my wife and my son. I will
gladly replace the #1 on the car for this because I know I will take it back later.
And we have another fast guy in the team, even faster actually! Tony our chassis specialist will also have a little one, a baby girl, who will arrive
during the race in Hockenheim so that is another race which we not will attend.
The outcome of all of this is that we will have more children than adults in the team, if you count Roffe and I children of course.
So let us raise some Mopar family this year and breed the next generation of Pro Stock drivers and then we'll come back 2017 to take back
that number one from whoever has it.
Ernryd steps up. 19th May: Having been Team Manager for Team R/T for five years, Sweden's Stefan Ernryd is stepping up and driving
his own Pro Stock, an Allen Johnson Dodge previously campaigned in the USA by Richie Stevens.
"After testing and gaining an NHRA licence we shipped the complete race-ready car to Sweden", Stefan told Eurodragster.com. We have done a few
small jobs on it as well as rewrapping it in a new colour as well as the trailer I bought from Jonnie Lindberg.
"We tested at Tierp Arena and after struggling with some electrical problems we made a full run of 6.70 so we still have some work to do before
we come to Santa Pod for the Main Event. The competition is tougher than ever with Jimmy Ålund making two 6.4-second runs at Tierp, Bengt
Ljungdahl also ran a nice 6.52 at the same test. Our car will be in the same range, we just need to get more rounds and experience.
"My Crew Chief is Ulf Wagnhester who used to drive Pro Stock in the car which Simon Gustafsson drives now. My clutch guy is Jari Eerola who has
been with me for several years with my previous Super Street Dart, he also worked on Bo Pettersson's Pro Stock team as clutch guy. Erik Almström
works with the transmission and rear end, he has raced Street cars and worked in Pro Stock a few years ago. Pekka Lampinen is a true Mopar enthusiast
and is our all-round guy.
"Our sponsors are Ernrydcars, my own company which celebrates thirty years in business this summer; Hansen Racing, the biggest parts supplier for US
cars in Sweden which is also celebrating this year with fifty years in business; Navterra, a US / Swedish car export company located in Detroit, is
also on board.
"We are aiming to contest the full season this year. It's going to be interesting and we are all excited!"
Ljungdahl means business. 19th May: Ian Hart writes that Sweden's Bengt Ljungdahl has made some considerable steps forward in his quest to run with the Pro Stock big boys
during the 2016 FIA European Championship season:
The opening round of Pro Stock at the FIA / FIM Main Event at Santa Pod will be the competitive début of Bengt's new wheels, a Gray Motorsports 2015 Camaro, in which Bengt
has achieved a personal best of 6.517 at 210 mph. He ran 6.52 in testing at Tierp; when we consider that the European record is 6.498, set by Jimmy ålund in 2015 and backed up
with a 6.50, it is easy to see that Bengt is taking things seriously this year and that the team really mean business.
"We know the car can run at the top", says Bengt, "so now it is up to us. We have a lot to learn to catch up to our competitors, but with hard work we are sure we can reach our goals."
The team consists of Bengt himself as owner and driver, whilst between rounds having responsibility for the engine and rear suspension crew. Christer Ilar works with the clutch and
gearbox, whilst overseeing the whole operation is Crew Chief Markus Svensson who has Pro team experience on both sides of the Pond. Sponsorship is from Kinnan, Entrade, Safety
Alarm, Varmt & Skönt, Däck Partner, and Lindgren Bil.
Swift snippets. 19th May: Santa Pod Raceway RWYB photographer Ian Blackett
grabbed this awesome shot of Super Pro ET racer Mark Flavell all-wheels-off during pre-Main Event testing last Sunday. "It gives a whole new
meaning to the term "Leaving the start line"... cleared for take-off comes to mind", says Flav. "With a new clutch on board Team MFR were testing
some new ideas which clearly need further research but we had a good day out overall. We left a lot wiser and, as usual when you try new approaches,
with more questions than answers."
German Super Street Bike racer Thomas Granica says that he and brother and tuner Peter will be trying to get the best out of a limited budget
this season. "The bike is ready and we have two fresh motors", he says. "There is nothing new apart from a new turbo as the old one quit its job at the
last race. The plan is to contest all races of the FIM European Super Street Bike Cup and we will again try to get in the money at every race and go as
many rounds as possible. Tuning is Peter's job as he is the best to suit my crap riding!"
Good luck and stay safe to ex-pat UK Top Fuel Dragster Smax Smith who is again driving the Leverich Family's Top Fuel Dragster at this
weekend's NHRA Kansas Nationals in Topeka, and to Jonnie Lindberg who is contesting this weekend's NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event in
Norwalk. Qualifying commences in Topeka tomorrow (Friday) and in Norwalk on Saturday; live updates will be posted on Smax's Facebook page at Ant
Hill Mob Dragracing and the Lindberg Brothers' web site at www.lindbergbros.com.
In both cases you will be able to find results on Drag Race Central at
www.dragracecentral.com.
Racepak, MSD trackside support 2016. 19th May: Remco Scheelings writes that with effect from next week's FIA / FIM Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway, Racepak and MSD
trackside support will be based in the Pro Dutch Racing Pro Modified pit:
Eurodragster.com sponsor Post & Dros Racing Engines & Parts, based in Dronten, The Netherlands,
are the European distributor for Racepak and MSD and many other major engine parts and motorsport suppliers. Almost two years ago Post & Dros, in the person
of Dick Koster, introduced a trackside support service at FIA European Drag Racing Championship races.
From now on, Dick will work from the Pro Dutch Racing trailer in the Pro Modified pits. If team needs assistance or parts for Racepak, MSD and Clevite
bearings then go to the bright yellow, blue and red Pro Dutch Racing trailer and you will find Dick there, or the team will know where he is.
As it is Michel Tooren's first season in Pro Modified, Pro Dutch Racing will not attend the Scandinavian races of the Championship so at those races
Post & Dros will co-operate with their Racepak and MSD sub-dealers in Sweden and Finland. At Tierp Arena Dick will work from Mats Brag's pit area and
at Alastaro Jari Soini's KLS Teknik trailer.
Super Pro ET Challenge is go! 19th May: Our good buddy Markus Münch writes that going into its ninth year the Super
Pro ET Challenge has a bigger entry and a more international flavour than ever:
You must register before the season and then you simply race. Your best four results will be counted for the overall points. No more than than two results from a single race track
are allowed for the overall points.
Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France are in the game. The first to collect points was Silvio Strauch who competed at Malmö this past weekend. Many others will follow this weekend
at Rivanazzano Dragway in Italy and then next week there will be some drivers at the Main Event at the Pod. As you can see we are quite international.
The racers for 2016 are Enrico Bailo (IT – Team AMP), Fabio Cassinelli (IT-Atomic Orange), Simon Rudiferia (IT – Team Racepoint.it), Nicole Rechsteiner (CH-Fancy Fly), Alain Dürr (CH-Drag
Racing Dürr), Oli Petzold (GER-Schumann Motorsport), Robert Gassner (GER), Fränky Richter (GER-Customizers East), Franz Aschbrenner (GER – Team Bavaria Customs),
Stefan Eisenhauer (GER-Eisenhauer Racing), Mike Bruckmüller (CH-74 Racing), Florian Uebel (GER-Skull Racing), Jochen Beck (GER-Hillbilly Hellfire), Eric Angeloni (F), Marc Henney (GER-Ethanol
Guzzler), Karl Heinz Kleider (GER-Team 69Time Racing), Frank Wambach (GER – Team GTÜ), Silvio Strauch (GER – Team Engineghost) and Walle Strobel (GER – Team Wasttuning).
Our sponsors for 2016 are MSTO, Schumann Motorsport, Beat Rechsteiner, Turboscheune.com, Ehrismann AG, Mike Bruckmüller-Team '74, Eisenhauer KFZ Service and Hillbilly Hellfire Racing.
You can stay informed with results, driver profiles and more at www.suproet.de.
Pro Modified and Pro Stock racers please note that your cars will be scrutineered in the Parc Fermé building
(to the left side of the scrutineering tunnel as viewed from the pits). This is to help to speed up the scrutineering process for
both Pro and Sportsman cars.
Scrutineers have also asked that all racers remove their safety kit, helmet, leathers, firesuits etc from their bags and have them ready
for inspection prior to entering the scrutineering building. This will again help to speed up the scrutineering process.
The provisional running orders are now available and can be checked out by
clicking
here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com
page. Please note as ever that running orders are subject to change due to weather or track conditions or for any other
reason deemed necessary by race officials.
No race vehicle motors are to be fired up before 09:00 or after 21:00 on any day of the event. Before 09:00
vehicles should be pushed or towed to scrutineering, not driven. Non-observation of curfew will result in
exclusion from the event.
Junior Dragster racers please remember the new rule about pushing vehicles back to the pits once through the
arch beside scrutineering.
Swift snippets. 18th May: The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com
came with the words "To the Frozen North came additions to the armoury". If you know more, or if you would
like to send your own spy picture, then drop us a line at
eurodragster.com@btinternet.com.
Congratulations to Duck Team's Donald Pottier who
clocked the first five-second quarter mile on French soil at Chambley last Wednesday. Donald's Armageddon
Jet FC clocked 5.958 seconds in front of TV cameras from TF1 who will be screening the feat on Auto-Moto on
22nd May. You can read more (PDF format) by clicking here.
James Forster of Santa Pod Raceway writes with a final call for racers entered for the FIA / FIM Main
Event who wish to test at this weekend's Race, Rock & Ride. Racers are most welcome to attend and
to take advantage of what will be a fully-prepped track but SPR request that any racers planning on attending
this event and looking to set up their pits for the Main Event notify the track in advance so that pit space
can be planned accordingly. Please contact either James at
james@santapod.com or Darren Prentice at
darren@santapod.com or call 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44
1234 782828). "If we don't know that you are coming then your pit bay will be used for something else!",
says James.
So long as you are entered for the FIA / FIM Main Event then it is not too late to enter the
Pro Peak Peformance Test and Tune Day at Santa Pod Raceway on Thursday of next week (26th), the day
before the race proper. Entry is limited to maximise track time and the event offers a race-prepped track
and full safety cover. A discount is available for early entry. For more information or to enter check out
www.rwyb.com.
SPRC test class calls by smartphone. 17th May: SPRC International Race Director and Eurodragster.com sponsor Carole
Ismail says that SPRC will be trialling call-outs by smartphone for some classes at the FIA / FIM
Main Event:
This will be a trial for Sportsman classes and we would like as many racers as possible to take part.
This is a beta test, so whilst we encourage you to download the app and to give us feedback during and after the weekend, you
must not rely on it at this stage. Nor will we be doing so: a pit marshal will still call your class as well
as the usual announcements by the track announcers and posts on Eurodragster.com.
The app required is called App.net and is available on both the App Store for iPhone and the Play Store for Android. All you need to do is
to download it, follow the instructions to create an account, then search for and follow the SPRC channel. You will then start
to receive notifications as messages are sent. We recommend that you download the app and follow the SPRC account prior to the event so
that you start to receive notifications for the first round of qualifying.
The app relies on mobile network or wi-fi so you will need some kind of connection throughout the weekend for it to work.
Linn takes the TMFC tiller. 17th May: Bjørn Arild Sjøblom of Karlsen Racing writes that Arvid Grødem's Top Methanol
Funny Car has a new owner:
The TMFC has been sold turnkey to Arvid's crew member Tore Karlsen. Tore's daughter Linn Engan Karlsen will drive the car. She ran 5.91
after only four passes when licencing at Gardermoen Raceway in 2013. Linn will drive at the reopening of Gardermoen Raceway in August but
Tore hopes that the team can make more appearances in 2017.
All of the Westside Racing team will be on the crew of Karlsen Racing which is the team's new name.
In 2015 we had three major engine failures. However we made some real progress on the chassis side of the car, making runs from A to B consistently culminating in a win
at the UK National Finals with every run on race day between 6.13 and 6.15. This gave us a real boost over the winter and we entered the 2016 season with an air of positivity.
Over the winter we decided to make some key changes to the chassis, most notably relocation of the fuel tank further forward to alter the balance of the car. We also constructed
some new lightweight stainless steel headers and made some changes to the engine's oiling system in the quest to improve reliability. Work commitments and an unusually early
Easter caused the planned modifications to rung late and we did not actually finish the car until late on Maundy Thursday evening, less than twelve hours before the first qualifying
session at the Festival of Power.
We missed the first qualifying session due to some delays on the Friday morning but we were all set for the afternoon session. The car left the line reasonably well, if a bit sluggish,
but by a thousand feet you could see the car nosing over. A flash of flame and the run was over. We had torched a head gasket due to low fuel pressure. We got the car back to the
pits and started tearing it apart; we had very few spares with us but the motor was fixable so we got right to work. After a huge effort by the crew (and an 02:30 finish) the Camaro
was ready to run again. The weather wasn't so co-operative on the Saturday but fortunately we did get another session of qualifying. Similar settings to the Friday netted us a soft
6.37 to take the #1 spot. At this point I should mention that the track conditions were outstanding for this time of year, a credit to the Santa Pod and SPRC crews, and we really
underestimated how much grip was available.
The Sunday proved to be a tough test for all courtesy of the weather. We had a bye run in the first round but that was as far as eliminations went. We came away from the event
with many positives: the chassis modifications had the desired effect and every run went from A to B, Dad commented that the car was the easiest it has ever been to drive. I was
however a little disappointed as I felt that we could have gone much faster if we had pushed the car a bit more. I was certain the track would have held a low 6.2 or even a high 6.1.
For the Main Event the car is being fitted with a brand new BAE block with fresh rotating assembly, parts which didn't quite make it in time for Easter. We are aiming to test at the
Peak Performance Day on the Thursday to try a few things with the driveline combination which, with the chassis modifications we have made, will improve our sixty foot times. I
won't be happy unless we get back into the 0.98-0.97 range.
The Main Event field looks great with twenty two entries; if the top sixteen cars run close to their PB then we could see a bump spot in the 6.3 range, so we will have to work hard
to be competitive. Our main focus right now is the prestigious MSA Championship but we love racing at the FIA rounds with our European friends and we hope to make one round in
Europe later on this season.
Many thanks to our sponsors NGK Spark Plugs, Torco Oils, Nimbus Motorsports, BMRS Hose and Fittings, PAC Racing Springs, Aerocom, Aurora Bearing Company, Hoosier Tyre and
Ringspann RCS. A big thank you also to our dedicated crew of Mark Balzaretti, Jerry Clayton, Ben Fisher, Nick and Jim Chandler (who were very much missed at the Festival of Power),
Martin Dunks and Stefani Robinson. Without their help none of this would be possible.
Swift snippets. 16th May: Due to work and ill-health UK Super Comp racer Paul Watson has missed out on his plan to commit to the whole
UK Championship in 2016 but he is all set for next week's FIA Main Event. "Hopefully we can showcase the car which is up for sale", says Grumps. "If anyone is
interested them we would be happy to show them what goes in to running a Super Comp car in one of the toughest classes out there. The car is same as last year so we
are hopeful that we have a competitive package again. If the car does not sell then we will run on an event-by-event basis."
On behalf of the team your News Editor spent yesterday at Santa Pod moving the Webster Race
Engineering / Nimbus Motorsportwebcam control PC to a less harsh environment after some
(expensive) problems at Big Bang. All looks good after initial testing; two Ordeals by Fireforce are scheduled for this weekend's Race, Rock'n'Ride which will make sure of it. A big thank you to
Julian Parsons of Nitro FM and AMP Audio Solutions for giving up his day to do all the clever bits and to solve the problems.
Web site updates. 16th May: The latest update to our good buddy Alan Currans' excellent Acceleration Archive is a gallery of yesterday's action from
Shakespeare County Raceway's Late Spring Track Madness Public Track Weekend. As ever you can stay in touch with the latest updates via the What's
New link at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk.
The start line beckons... 15th May: UK Pro Modified racer Roger Moore had a successful end to 2015, finishing third in the MSA British Drag Racing Championship
and reaching the final at the last two events. The team then regrouped over the winter as Roger's daughter and crew member Lucy Moore writes:
No major changes were planned for the car during the off season; all the annoying mandatory regulation changes are complete and a few little improvements
were made here and there during the general rebuild. The main alteration for this season is the change from Venolia to JE Pistons with a new Total Seal ring
package. This will hopefully improve the reliability of the pistons allowing for a more aggressive tune-up to help us to chase down the quickest UK-based Nitrous
Pro Mod racer, Rick Garrett.
The plan for this season is to compete in all of the remaining MSA Pro Modified rounds and to make steady progress always with the same goal: to get to the
end of the track quicker!
I'm especially looking forward to the race season this year as I have passed my seventeenth birthday so I will get the experience of being on the start line.
Dad said that I can do the backing-up after the burnout, but I don't fancy falling over in front of a big European crowd so it may have to wait until I've had
practice at a smaller meeting (You'll be fine, just go for it - Ed).
Hopefully less of the crew will be moving house, having children, getting knocked off bicycles and travelling overseas this year. The team would like to say
Get Well Soon to our Northern crewman Chris who is struggling with ill-health (Seconded, Get Well Soon Chris - Ed). We would also like to say a huge
Thank You to our sponsors for their continued support this year: Shakespeare Engineering,
Generator Power Systems and
Challenger Solutions.
Packing an extra bullet. 15th May: UK Pro Stock Bike racer Mark Smith says that he is going in to next week's FIA / FIM Main Event with
two motors:
My bike has a new complete spare Warpspeed Racing engine which was built over the winter. It has been run up and all seems good. Warpspeed have also refreshed my 1755
cc motor and both now have new Warpspeed RPM-driven clutches. The bike itself has lost a bit of eight.
The team plan to contest three European rounds and ACU rounds for any testing we need to do. Our aim for this season is to try to go faster and to beat my PB but to keep it
safe. The crew remains the same as it has been for six years. Crew Chief Kerry Smith, aka my wife, whose main job this season is to stop me making stupid decisions. Kerry now
calls all the shots. Mark Green my crewman is up to speed with the new clutch set-up, I hope! We are all looking forward to a season with great things happening for us.
Sponsors this year are MPM Oil, Draper Tools, MDH Repair Centre, Greens Plumbing, TW Metals and of course support from Stuart Crane of Warpspeed Racing - without him
I'd be nowhere. Thanks Crane. The team would like to thank Richard Stevens and Sam Stevens from MPM Oil for their continued support this season.
Swift snippets. 15th May: The post-APIRA Springspeed Nationals points standings in the ACU UK Drag Bike Championships
are now available on the King Racing web site at www.kingracing.com.
We are very pleased to announce that Santa Pod Raceway CEO Keith Bartlett has kindly given us
the go-ahead for a Webster Race
Engineering / Nimbus Motorsportwebcast of the
pre-Main Event Peak Performance Day and the Friday and Saturday of the FIA / FIM Main Event. Per
Thursday's Snippet the excellent Trakbak Racing / Track Group Europe free multi-camera HD
Web TV will broadcast on the Sunday and Monday.
Racer VIP going fast. 15th May: Santa Pod Raceway's Commercial Manager Caroline Holden tells us that SPR's special deal for FIA / FIM
Main Event VIP hospitality for racers' sponsors and supporters is proving popular, so she recommends booking your places soon:
Guests can enjoy balcony viewing from one of SPR's exclusive mid-track hospitality suites conveniently located near the race paddock.
The ticket includes day admission, refreshments throughout the day, complimentary programme, ear plugs, and use of the VIP shuttle
bus service.
These VIP tickets are available for the Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the event and are on sale on a first-come
first-served basis. Adult tickets are £45 and child tickets £22.50. To book your tickets, or if you have
any queries, then please call us on 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44 1234 782828). Tickets can be collected on arrival
and proof of race entry must be provided.
You can stay informed on the team's web site at www.nitrohunter.com. Social media
will follow.
If the new bike is not ready for Hockenheim then Christian would not be shy about riding a Fuel bike or Funny Bike for another team so if you
need a rider then you can contact Christian at jaeger@nitrohunter.com.
Fredlund set for title defence. 14th May: 2015 FIM European Pro Stock Bike Champion Fredrik Fredlund has been in touch with an update from the
PAF.com-sponsored team:
We destroyed the engine in the final run at last year's European Finals so we needed to get a new one. Eddie Krawiec and the guys at Vance & Hines Motorsport helped
us with a new engine with the latest tricks and bits. We have also made some more updates to the bike.
Our schedule for this year is to contest the FIM European Championship and we will also run one event at Tierp Arena in August. We aim to defend our Championship gold
and also to try to go quicker and faster! We know that our competitors have stepped up and want to beat us, so we need stay sharp and smart and it won't be a walk in the
park to stay at the top.
The team will be almost the same as last year. Brian Glaesner and I will tune the bike, Peter Janning Jensen and our new guy Lucas Ståhlman will be the mechanics
and we have support from our US friend Gary Stoffer if we need help with tuning. My girlfriend and our excellent chef Jessica Karlsson Guligs will feed us and is my helping
hand when its comes to keeping the team bus clean and ready for every race.
This would not be possible without our sponsors PAF.com, Ålands Färg & Tapet, Schakten AB, Rökeri Kiosken, Bärgarn AB, Ålcom, Bo-Bil AB,
Budbilservice and Vance & Hines. Thank you all for your support!
Cancelled TMFC transforms to Altered. 14th May: Eagle-eyed readers will have noticed the disappearance of Top Methanol FC from the
FIA / FIM Main Event entry list. Steph Milam's was the only
name in TMFC but the class has now been removed from the event.
"We can't remember when Top Methanol Funny Cars last didn't run at the Pod, it has been so long", say Steph and Dave Milam.
"But we have no one to race so our entry has been returned. Fear not, She Devil Racing has gone into Altered mode and will be
out at Dragstalgia so we'll see you there.
"As for later in the year, we will have to wait and see."
Swift snippets. 14th May: Santa Pod Raceway are seeking photographs of Rico Anthes' Top Fuel Dragster blowover which
occurred at the 1993 World Finals. If you have any pictures whether trackside or spectator-side which you would be willing to allow
Santa Pod to use then in the first instance please drop a line to Eurodragster.com at
editor@eurodragster.com.
The team suffered an unfortunate setback at the Festival of Power when we managed to damage the impellers on both turbos. With the introduction of SFI turbos being mandatory from 2017,
we had the dilemma of fixing our existing turbos or to saving up and buying new pieces which would likely set us out for the rest of the year.
We sent the old turbos to Scott at Owen Developments, whom we thank for taking the time to take them apart and
evaluate the damage. However we came to the decision it wasn't worth repairing the turbos for five races.
Upon reading about our issues one of the first people who contacted me was Camp Stanley; his message was simply "Call me", which I duly did. Camp put me in touch with Roger Conley of
Precision Turbo who upon hearing our story offered us an amazing deal. I have to thank Roger and his staff who have been
amazing in getting everything in place and shipped in very short order to give us a shot at being at the FIA / FIM Main Event. I am very keen on making the Main Event because firstly we have
never missed a meeting since we finished the car, and secondly we are the only turbo car entered in Pro Mod at the race and we can't have an FIA Pro Mod round with no turbo cars!
How was this all possible? Well, firstly we have some great sponsors and I have to thank both our main sponsor Direct Plastics
for their ongoing support, and to introduce and thank our new sponsor as well as introducing new sponsor Oxberry who are #1 for
support for Crestron products which control heating, lights, AV, security in homes, offices, hotels etc. Also joining the team is the Bradford Group, a Stafford-based group of accountants and
business advisors. I also have to give a massive thank you to my parents Steve and Yvonne Tramm without whom we would be sitting out 2016 and planning for 2017 instead.
Now Chris, Jedd and Vince and the team are getting to work readying the car for the pre-Main Event Peak Performance Day. Watch this space...
Cannon's European return. 13th May: After a racing absence of three and a half years, on this side of the Pond at least, UK Supertwin racer Chris Hannam
is looking forward to the European début of his new Hawaya Racing-built Top Fuel Harley at the FIA / FIM Main Event:
This bike was custom-built for me by Johnny Vickers to race in the USA, as we have our blown Top Fuel Twin in the UK. The new bike has the best of everything with a 196 ci / 3200 cc motor equipped
with B&J two-speed and HRP clutch. The bike really is a work of art and has Cannon Motorsports input also. Its sister bike in the USA has run down to the low 6.2s and has many event wins under its belt.
As I said the original plan was to race this bike in the USA and our blown bike in the UK. However at the back end of last year our biggest customer made 260 people redundant and this made me reconsider
my options as the team is solely funded by Cannon Engineering with a few associate sponsors. So we decided to bring the bike home, as the budget for racing had not been available due to purchase of a new
Doosan DNM 650 milling machine for the workshop. Whilst this wasn't the plan, sometimes you cut your cloth according to the way things are and the workshop ultimately pays the bills so that has to be
protected at all costs. I guess you could say the USA's loss is Europe's gain as we plan to run the full European Championship in what will be my last year in the seat ,so the pressure is on to run a six-second
pass on a twin-cylinder bike and finish the re build on my blown-fuel twin which we hope to use in the Night Show at Hockenheim. Later in the year I will post more about next year's plans but I'm hoping
that Neil Midgley will take over the ride of the blown bike; the Hawaya bike will either be sold or sent back to the USA.
So on to the Main Event we go, and I have to say that I'm looking forward to getting on track again with my European friends, in the hope that they can drag my performance back to the top of my game.
We have raced in the USA but the only tests over here so far are the two Run What You Brungs we have attended at Santa Pod Raceway. So far the bike is reacting well to the changes and we are fitting a
new Goodyear tyre in the hope that the stiffer side wall will better cope with my weight and keep me going straight down the track. Roll on the Main Event and more of this sunny weather!
I would also like to say a special Thank You to Les Downey and Tom Bogner of Lucas Oil Products for their continued support of my team.
I met Tom when he was over at the Main Event many years ago. The Lucas product sorted out a big end bearing problem we had on the blown bike and since then we have had tremendous backing
from Lucas Oil for the bikes and for my off-road race car. I have to say that I would buy Lucas products even if we did not have the support as they really are that good.
We also have Portable Shade for the best race awnings and team shirts - Portable Shade are the company to get you covered; APE for the best aftermarket engine components, Hawaya Racing
for tuning support of the bike; MRE for all things drag racing and trackside support; and finally Phat Wheels for changing all my tyres. If you have any damaged car or bike alloy wheels then Paul at
Phat Wheels is your go-to man.
Swift snippets. 13th May: Swedish Pro Stock racer Michael Malmgren tells us that apart from new Penske rear shocks there is nothing
new on his Pontiac GXP. "Bob Ingles is still working on the engine to get more power up high", says Michael. "We don't yet know if it will be ready for the Main Event but we will be there
regardless, and we will be contesting all rounds of the Championship. We have a new crew member and we have already tested at Malmö with good results, so we are ready to challenge for
a top three spot even though it is tougher than ever before with Bengt Ljungdahl and Stefan Ernryd buying cars turn-key from the USA. This is very good for the class of course but very tough for
the competition as both have top-shelf stuff."
2015 FIM Europe Supertwin Champion, The Netherlands' Martijn de Haas, says that he plans to defend his title with a full Tour this season and
also to contest a race in Scandinavia if finances allow. "I have not made too many changes on the bike", Martijn told Eurodragster.com. "At the
European Finals last year we broke the primary shaft in the gearbox so we changed that to a bigger, stronger piece. Our target this year to get in the 6.5s, we have fitted a
braking chute as braking is getting more scary each time especially at Santa Pod. We have a new sponsor but we will update you later about that. We are looking forward to
the Main Event and we will see you there."
With the FIA / FIM Main Event approaching Dutch Pro Stock Bike racer Gert-Jan Laseur says that his motor is still on the work bench. "We've got some faster
heads from Star Racing and little more cam, and we have changed the exhaust again to improve flow", he says. "We hope to go 7.0 this year. We won't be testing, just full throttle at Santa Pod.
We still have Eurol Oil as our main sponsor together with Zodiac International, Jongerius Amersfoort and of course Laseur Motors."
Good luck and stay safe to ex-pat UK Top Fuel Dragster Smax Smith who is again driving the Leverich
Family's Top Fuel Dragster at this weekend's Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta. "A few upgrades and changes on the car should hopefully
get this thing quicker!", says Aidan Heatley-Smith. "Lots of live videos and updates will be posted on our Facebook page at Ant Hill Mob Dragracing". Qualifying commences
today and as well as the Facebook updates you will be able to stay in touch with Smax's progress on Drag Race Central at
www.dragracecentral.com.
We would like to say a big Happy Birthday to Dick Koster of Eurodragster.com sponsor Post en
Dros. Have a great day Dick.
Shakey Spring Madness. 13th May: Now that Spring has finally sprung it's time for this weekend's
Shakespeare County Raceway Late Spring Madness Public Track Weekend, writes Jerry Cookson:
In addition to the usual Run What You Brung for all models of cars and motorcycles, the latest round of the Bracket Gamblers on Sunday is another chance for drivers to spin the dice and win some money!
The Honda Drag Series, backed this year by Krystal Kleen Detailing, gets under way with Round 1. The VW Eliminator also gets into gear on both days and if you like your nostalgia then it's the opening round
of the Wild Bunch Series and Round 3 of the Spirit of Nostalgia Challenge.
Along with an eclectic mix of cars and bikes all looking to outdo each other on the quarter mile in RWYB all roads this weekend should lead to Shakespeare County Raceway. The track opens at 10:00. If
you're taking part don't forget your driving licence and crash helmet. Full details can be found at
www.shakespearecountyraceway.com or the Raceway's Facebook Group page.
Swift snippets. 12th May: Chris Murty tells us that York Raceway will be putting up
£500 for the quickest pass at the Volkspower Powerfest VW Festival on 29th-30th May. "The VW racing scene is hugely diverse, with the retro
air-cooled engines being as just as quick as their modern water-cooled counterparts", says Chris. "We have decided to put up the prize money in celebration
of the scene and it will be awarded to the quickest pass of the weekend by anything VW or VW-powered including dragsters and fibreglass replicas. The money
is also open to anything else with in the VW Audi Group umbrella."
Finnish Top Fuel Dragster racer Anita Mäkelä says that it is business as usual in 2016. "There are no major changes to the team or car", she
says. "Dom Lagana and Jake Sanders will be with us at the Main Event - Jake worked with us at Alastaro last year. We have been updating bits and pieces but
our combination works well. We will arrive at Santa Pod on the Wednesday before the Main Event and we hope to make some test runs on Thursday. I know the
other guys in the class have got a lot of good parts and I'm sure that there will be more racers in the threes. But we are ready, too. I have a good crew and a
good car, what more could a woman hope for!"
Fellow Finn, Supertwin racer Samu Kemppainen says that he has not made any major changes to his six-second bike over the
off-season just basic maintenance, pistons, con rods, bearings etc. "We have a pretty hectic schedule this year", says Samu. "I'm planning to do contest
both the FIM European Championship plus the EDRS Pro Series and three events at Alastaro where we will race for the first time this year on the weekend before
the Main Event. My goal this year is to run a new PB in the 6.4s, anything else will just be a bonus! Mika Sjöstedt remains as my Crew Chief and the team
is the same as it has been since I started to race in 2008."
We are currently collecting and collating more FIA / FIM Main Event previews and will run them very shortly including
quite possibly the most detailed and informative Fuel news item ever written. Thanks very much to those
teams who have already submitted pieces, and to everyone else in any class Pro or Sportsman we say that we have plenty of room for
more. Send your Main Event previews to news@eurodragster.com and we'll
do the rest.
Many thanks to Ian Marshall for forwarding another slightly tweaked final version of the official entry list for
the FIA / FIM Main Event. You can spot the difference by
clicking
here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com
page. If you have any queries about FIA / FIM Main Event entry then please contact Ian Marshall by E-Mail at
ir.marshall@btconnect.com or call 01933 313625 (outside
the UK +44 1933 313625).
Darren Prentice writes that Santa Pod Raceway are pleased to announce
that the Pod Shop has been re-stocked with the ever-popular VP Racing Fuels jugs including new styles and colours V-Twin
and pink. "Get your VP Racing Fuel Jug in your choice of colours while stocks last", says Darren. "Colours available are pink,
V-Twin, purple, green, red, blue, white, orange and black. All jugs come with a filling hose included in the price of £34.99".
Jugs can be collected at the FIA / FIM Main Event; to reserve yours please contact Darren at
darren@santapod.com.
If you can't make the FIA Main Event (If not then why not - Ed) then a reminder that Trakbak Racing and Track Group Europe will
again be broadcasting their awesome free-to-air, High Def, multi-camera Web TV on the Sunday and Monday of the race. You can set
your Sunday-Monday bookmark now at www.santapod.co.uk/webtv.php; we
will confirm the plan for coverage of the Pro Peak Performance Day, Friday and Saturday as soon as it is settled but you can stay in
touch with our own schedules by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing
Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Tierp Arena was open for Test and Tune this past weekend. Lena Perés writes that weather and track conditions could not
have been better, the sun shone all weekend and the track preparation crew headed by Kalle Brinell did an excellent job.
You can find out more about the weekend's events at Tierp Arena at
www.dragracingeurope.eu.
One of the teams testing at Tierp Arena was Mats Eriksson's Green Goblin Pro Modified team who made a promising start with
changes to gearing and other updates. You can find out more on the team's web site at
www.meracing.com.
The UK's Barry Holland writes that he is trying to locate the Flying Dutchman Kawasaki Comp Bike which the team campaigned before its
sale in 2001. If you have any information then please drop Barry a line at
barry1903@hotmail.co.uk.
We would like to say a big Happy Birthday to Matthew Wright of Eurodragster.com sponsors
Wemoveyourcar.com and
Wobblebox Motorhome and Caravan Hire. It's a special one (think
Sportsman Tree); have a great day Matt.
Web site updates. 12th May: Allard Chrysler Action Group Chair Brian Taylor writes that the latest issue of ACAG Update covers the work carried
out on Sydney Allard's dragster since December 2015. "We should be firing the car up later this month and hope to make appearances at Beaulieu (Hot Rod and Custom Show), Santa Pod
Raceway (Dragstalgia and European Finals), Burghley (Aston Martin Owners) and the Brighton Speed Trials", says Brian. "Work on the dragster takes priority so everything is yet to be confirmed.
I have used the front cover to pay tribute to Sydney Allard who died fifty years ago on the same weekend on which Santa Pod opened in 1966. I think it is important to remember the Father
of British Drag Racing as we celebrate Santa Pod's fifty years (Damn straight - Ed)". You can catch up at
www.drceurope.co.uk/acag/may2016.
The Mad Welshman has updated his Flickr site with a gallery of shots from the Saturday of the recent APIRA Springspeed Nationals at Shakespeare
County Raceway. You can take a look at Mad's pictures at
www.flickr.com/photos/the_madwelshman.
Brian and Lee are also seeking pistons to help repair damage suffered by the Dark Horse Mustang at the APIRA Springspeed
Nationals. The pistons are SRP/JE P/N 240856. We know that Brian has at least £50 to front up for these pistons as he
won the Eurodragster.com / Bad Habit Racing Perfect Light Award on the pass in question. If you can help then please contact
Brian on the above address or phone number.
Fans to choose Havoc's rival. 10th May: James Forster has been in touch to let us know that
Santa Pod Raceway are giving fans the chance
to choose the opposition for the Havoc Fuel Altered at Dragstalgia
which takes place at Santa Pod on 15th-17th July.
Regular readers will know that in one of the most logical, wished-for and popular moves in the history of UK
drag racing Rob Loaring and Nick Davies of ICE
Automotive are converting the previously blown-alcohol Havoc altered to blown-nitro in time to take
on our US visitors Ron Hope in the Rat Trap and Randy Bradford in the Bradford's Topolino. Now
you can decide which of our American friends is to get his arse kicked by face off against Nick in what
will be one fantastic Transatlantic grudge match.
You can place your vote, Rat Trap or Bradford's Topolino, on Santa Pod's Facebook page by
clicking here.
Staying with the subject of Santa Pod Raceway the Drag Racing Europe Blog has been updated with a 50th
Anniversary interview with SPR CEO Keith Bartlett and Marketing Executive Caroline Holden, which you
can check out by
clicking
here.
Crowded out of a grudge race. 10th May: Continuing the grudge match theme, Paul Marston tells us that his
planned '94 Mustang v IS200 Lexus best-of-three with Gary
Springford, scheduled for last Sunday at North Weald Drag Strip, did not take place due to
the sheer popularity of the event which attracted a record attendance:
Sunday 8th May 2016 will probably go down in history as the busiest-ever event at North Weald. With a queue of three hundred
cars at eight in the morning you can get the picture. Usually when you show up at North Weald at that time you expect to see
maybe forty cars queueing but seeing three hundred tells you two things: firstly you will not be running on the drag strip today, as
being that far back in the queue, all the spaces will be taken, and secondly that with such great weather yo may as well just enjoy
a great day at the drags, which we did. It was just the Crewchief, Kingsize and I so we figured that was the best plan.
Everybody who is anybody was there as you would expect and a great day's racing was had by all in fantastic sunshine. Although
the numbers were completely unexpected, the event ran very smoothly. I did get to run the Mustang in the Heads Up Street Car
Eliminator and got down to the last four before being taken out by Chris Skinner of Taz Racing in his SBC-powered Fiat 500. The
Shootout was won by George from Guinea Pig Racing with his Ford Zephyr running a big Small Block with a fogger. George
ran 10.50, not bad for a proper street car on street tyres.
In the Quick 8 final UK Top Sportsman competitor Julian Davison in his Half Pint manually shifted gas-burning Rover V8 Ford Pop faced
off against Kev Preston's SBC altered driven by his daughter Becca who put down a 9.80 to take the first title of the year. Well done to
both teams.
The next event at North Weald will be on 5th June and we will be there competing in the Quick 8 Heads Up. If you are coming, make
sure that you come early (Don't say it... don't say it... Editor's note to himself).
The end of 2015 was not ideal - one day I will take a win against Richie, ha! The car was packed away with a good idea of
what we wanted to do next. Some life bits and pieces got in the way of my getting down to Andy and Maggie's place in Westbury on
Severn, but once I finally did got there the list was written on the white board and we started to tick off the jobs. New brake pads and
fluid as brakes were getting used a bit more with the new gearing and faster top end; compression checked out OK; then we dropped
the sump to double-check the correct oil capacity. There was still a question mark over what was causing the oil smoke. Then the awkward
silence...
Me: Andy, look at this
Andy: What's that?
Me: I know exactly what that is, it's part of an oil scraper ring
Andy and Tom in unison: ****, ****, ****
A lot of the off season had passed, the Festival of Power was getting closer, and the motor was about to get less and less complete!
Once the motor was stripped we called Super Comp racer (he'll be back ) Zane Llewellyn at Zannetec and sent all the important components
to him. We told Zane when we needed the bottom end back, and give Zane his due he got it done and sorted for us with no problems. Cheers
Zane! In fact at the APIRA Trophy Presentation the bottom end had just been picked up and was still in the boot!
Andy and Maggie's son's stag do took one out weekend for getting the motor in and running so a deadline was set. Bearing in mind it's a
260-mile round trip from where I live to Andy's place it's not as easy as popping over for a hour to get something done, but now it seems a
simple journey as regular weekend visits were the only way. That deadline came and went and the engine was in but not running, and by
now my name was on the Festival of Power entry list - you know us, the glass is three-quarters full, still positive thoughts. Another visit and
a few hours later, a few tweaks, it fired up sounded strong. That's it, all systems go, car back in the trailer until the Test Day.
Once set up at the Test Day there was lots of head scratching and timing light swapping, MSD plug ins, questions asked to other racers etc
and we came to the conclusion that the MSD wasn't working correctly and we couldn't change it on the laptop. The motor ran, but not with
the timing we wanted. By the time this was all figured out the Test Day was done due to rain.
Qualifying began the next day and I was ready for the buzz of driving again! We were expecting a break out but not as much as it did
so that was pretty funny really, in the grand scheme of things! But it got down the track and all that effort seemed worth it. On the Friday
night qualifier something didn't seem right in the shutdown area, had a quick check out and couldn't see anything obvious but here was
definitly something which sounded strange. Fired up and moved off towards the pits but had to kill it and start pushing along with Paul
'Dave' Hudson's Camaro which also had issues, in fact very similar. Thanks for the extra shoves which helped me get back to the pits.
When I got back we confirmed that a cylinder was definitely down. The glass three-quarters full team said this isn't the end of our weekend
and we will fix it! In the end we found a fault with a rocker which meant having the top end valvetrain apart, checked and reassembled thus
missing a qualifier on Saturday morning. The next run was going to be a race.
I was up against Pete Cresswell whose car can run 8.90 and who can pull a good light! Having said that, I knew that the dragster could win
a race like this - the question is whether the pilot can pull a green light which is also good, it's possible! Unfortunately for me Pete took the
win this time round as I had a bit of a rubbish light (green though, last year a lot of reds), however it was a strong run for the motor. The new
thing for me was something which Stuart Doignie suggested was to try to see the win light after the finish line. I knew that the left-hand win
light wasn't working at the time so I had to glance across and, sure enough, Pete's win light was on... looking brighter than normal because
it wasn't mine! I was cursing myself but well done Pete and team. After that, unfortunately for the other guys, the weather didn't allow the
race to continue.
On to the APIRA Springspeed Nationals, five Super Comp cars entered but only four qualifying as Jon Morton was suffering some problems.
Although short on crew we managed a 9.00 putting Andy in #2, Paul Brown's 8.90 was #1 with Paul Hudson #3 and Conrad Stenley # 4 with
a breakout. Race day and it was Andy and Conrad.
Talking to Andy before the race I could tell he was looking forward to racing Conrad; two dragsters and two different styles of racing. Happy
days! Andy took the win this time round by getting Conrad on the Tree. But sadly again the event was rained off so Andy didn't get to race
Paul Brown in the shorty. But overall a trouble-free second meeting.
Regrettably I have not entered the Main Event and it sucks big time, really big time! But finances play a big role in this sport and this
time they were just not there! So whilst having some time off we are going to make a few changes to the car, one being a larger deflector plate
between engine and driver. But I think shall pop up to the Main Event, good luck and stay safe everyone!
Thanks to everyone who helped at Easter... Paul Hudson, whom we know as 'Yorkshire Dave' conveniently not from Yorkshire nor called Dave
but he was a lot of help even when having trouble of his own. He's not a internet man as yet so won't even see this (The trick would be to
slag him off and then people would be very generous about showing him - Ed)! Also to all the others who helped out. From me thanks to the
crew, you know who you are, for giving me the opportunity of running WildChild again. Hopefully we will be back out later in the year,
meanwhile check out our Facebook page for more
updates.
Wheeler joins BDRHoF Board. 9th May: Former Junior Dragster team principal and Europcar UK Group Business Services
Director Andy Wheeler has joined the British
Drag Racing Hall of Fame Management Board as Social Media Director.
Andy has over twenty years' experience in the highly competitive global car rental industry. He ran a multi-car
Junior Dragster team with daughters Paige and Belle from 2009 to 2015. The team raced in the US and attended
events at several venues including the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, Gainesville Raceway, Bristol
Dragway and The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. During their time in the US Andy, Paige and Belle met and
networked with many stars of the sport including Melanie Troxel whose team at the time, R2B2 Racing, recruited
Paige as her Junior Dragster team-mate.
In 2013 Andy played a key role in helping to launch the Junior Drag Racing Fun Day at Santa Pod. This event,
held in August when all schools are on holiday, incorporates a day's racing with charity fund-raising and
free entry for spectators. The Fun Day is an important part of promoting Junior Drag Racing and the sport in
general. Santa Pod Raceway have announced that their charity partner for 2016 is Harry's Rainbow which is
committed to supporting bereaved children and their families in the Milton Keynes and surrounding areas.
Andy Wheeler said "I am excited to be joining British Drag Racing Hall of Fame management board and to develop
my involvement with the sport from what I experienced in six years of running a Junior Dragster team. Our
experience as a team with social media has enabled us to utilise it to the best interests of promoting the sport
and I hope this can bring an added dimension to the BDRHoF."
BDRHoF Chairman Stu Bradbury said "We are really gathering some fabulous expertise on the Management Board now
and I am so pleased that Andy has agreed to join us. With the plans for the Awards Gala Dinner and associated
events now proceeding at some pace we will need plenty of hands to ensure everything runs smoothly for those
attending. We already announced many great personalities from the world of drag racing who are attending and
when everyone hears about the others they will be amazed. Watch this space but make sure you book your tickets."
Current Management Board Members of the BDRHoF are Stu Bradbury (Chair), Bev Bradbury, Guy Loveridge, Phil Cottingham,
Phil Evans, Simon Groves, Robin Jackson, Geoff Stillwell and Rob Ward. Brian Taylor acts as General Advisor and Julian
Parsons as Gala Audio Visual Advisor. Selection Board members are Stu Bradbury (Chair), Keith Bartlett, Graham
Beckwith, Jeremy Cookson, Phil Cottingham, Phil Evans, Robin Jackson, Keith Lee, Ian Marshall, Ian Messenger, Darren
Prentice, and Andy Rogers (aka Tog). Keith Lee and Nick Pettitt act as Drag Racing History Consultants.
Ticket prices for the 2016 BDRHoF Gala Awards Dinner remain as last year at £60 per person. Corporate tables
of ten are available at £580. For advance booking of tickets contact
britishdrhof@aol.com or telephone Stu Bradbury on 01933
279102.
As in previous years, Santa Pod is working in association with a children's charity as beneficiary of the Fun Day. For 2016, Santa Pod Raceway
has chosen Harry's Rainbow which was set up following the unexpected death of Odette
and Lee Mould's son Harry in March 2009. Odette and Lee found it very difficult to get bereavement help and support for Harry's twin Jessica, then five years old, and
as a result set up the charity in October 2011. Harry's Rainbow is committed to supporting bereaved children and their families in the Milton Keynes
and surrounding areas, and all voluntary donations received on the Fun Day will go towards funding this great cause.
For 2016 there is a sign-on fee of £20. Junior racers wishing to take part in the Junior Day will need to telephone the Santa Pod office to
book their race voucher. Entry forms (PDF format) can be downloaded by clicking
here. Forms submitted without payment will result in the racer not being entered for the event.
Swift snippets. 7th May: We were very sorry to hear of the death yesterday of Safety Group Sweden
co-founder and top bloke Björn Eskelund(below left). Björn was highly competent,
one of those guys who exuded quiet confidence, always a reassuring sight for racers and crew alike and very
cheery and welcoming company when we met him around Europe. His passing is going to leave a void all around
the track. Our deepest sympathies to Björn's family, friends and colleagues.
A big Well Done to SPR marshal Caroline Boncey and her goddaughter Chloe(above right)
who raised just over £300 for the Hospice of St Francis in the Bubble Rush. As you can see Chloe and
especially Oscar were thoroughly bubbled. "Thank you to everyone who sponsored us", says Oscar. "The money
raised will go towards the Hospice to help out residents and their families."
Many thanks to our own Simon and to Yvonne Tramm for providing us
with the post-APIRA Springspeed Nationals points standings in the UK National and APIRA Championships.
You can check out the latest points on our
OCS
Paint-sponsored Points Standings page by clicking here
or by clicking on the OCS Paint Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Many thanks to Ian Marshall for forwarding a slightly tweaked final version of the official entry list for
the FIA / FIM Main Event. You can spot the difference by
clicking
here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com
page. If you have any queries about FIA / FIM Main Event entry then please contact Ian Marshall by E-Mail at
ir.marshall@btconnect.com or call 01933 313625 (outside
the UK +44 1933 313625).
We would like to say a big Happy Birthday to Hayley Fife of the UK's Wrathchild Wild Bunch team
and to Lars Pettersson of the FIA Drag Racing Commission. Have a great day guys.
Ready to roar... 7th May:Allard Chrysler Action
Group Chair Brian Taylor writes that more friends have come on board with support to restore Europe's first
Dragster, Sydney Allard's 1961 Allard Chrysler owned by the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu:
During a recent ACAG work session in the museum workshop the team removed the exhaust headers to check how much
they had warped at the block end flanges. Both sides looked pretty bad. The headers were taken to Andy Robinson
Race Cars for advice on building up the metal because there wasn't enough existing material to machine back the
worst distortion. Andy's advice was to replace the flanges with stainless steel units.
Paul Garston at Whengparts.com came to the rescue and
kindly donated two custom-made stainless steel exhaust flanges using the existing exhaust gaskets to locate the
port openings. Whengparts, based in Derby, offer a range of parts and other items mostly hot rod-related and they
know their stuff. When the replacement flanges returned they were welded to the chrome-plated headers using an
alignment jig. After some work on opening up the retaining holes they fitted perfectly with the team replacing
all header studs with those featuring an unthreaded portion of the shank in the centre. Fluid leakage via the
header studs has been a problem with existing studs.
All of the fuel system hoses and components needed to be replaced in line with the decision to return the engine
to its roots as a methanol burner. The team located a company to supply the period correct black fuel lines plus
some other plumbing bits and pieces. That company was A1
Hydraulics based in Leicester (0116 276 1131), and drag racing enthusiast Guy Davenport gave us a very special
deal. Guy has been very much involved in developing the Willys Wars event for Dragstalgia at Santa Pod Raceway.
ACAG Chairman Brian Taylor says "We have to thank all the small specialist businesses who have helped during this
restoration. Without their financial support and technical expertise it would not have been possible to see and
hear the sound of Europe's first dragster. Our mantra is Treasuring the past by keeping it alive and lots
of people have helped us in this quest and we thank them all. Their names are now on two pull-up banners displayed
with the car."
The successful and fast-expanding company from Sneek can now be mentioned in the same breath as the at least as successful and fast Dutch Pro Modified team,
front runners in the FIA European Drag Racing Championship.
The team have also announced that Adam Flamholc will be tuning the Camaro this season. David made his first test run of the season at Malmö Raceway last
weekend and was the quickest and fastest combination of all teams attending the two day test.
PedalToTheMetal Musclecar Performance are an all-round Speed Shop specialising in classic American cars, trucks and bikes. PTTM buy and sell, repair, restore and paint,
have numerous different parts including driveline components, and offer know-how of all American muscle car engines. It was only three years ago that the company moved
to a new location in Joure, but as PTTM expanded so quickly they moved again in January to a much bigger and state-of-the-art shop in Sneek. In the new facility PTTM have
their garage, body shop, restoration shop, parts store and showroom under one roof.
"PTTM's activities match perfectly with the Pro Modified class, the fastest doorslammers on earth and the class in which David Vegter is racing", said a spokesman for PTTM.
"We have our own drag race team, but lack of time forced us to put racing activities on hold. By teaming up with Vegter Pro Mod Racing, PTTM stay in close contact with the
world's fastest motorsport and its technology and know-how."
Main sponsor PTTM Musclecar Performance join Playboy Energy Drink, Sonic Equipment, WVB Holland and HKR Techniek whom Vegter Pro Mod Racing presented earlier this
year as their 2016 partners. "I'm very happy with this package", said David. "I'm sure that it's going to be a great season and that all our sponsors will get plenty of exposure.
I'm sorry that we had to part ways with Post en Dros Racing Engines and Parts, and I would like to thank them for our long and successful cooperation."
Vegter Pro Mod Racing have more breaking news as Adam Flamholc will be the team's tuner for this year. The Swede not only has a long track record as a driver, but also as a
tuner. Last year Mats Eriksson and Thomas Stiefel both improved on their performance thanks to Adam's tuning advice and this year David will join the Swedish and Swiss racer.
Their first on-track test at Malm&oum;l was a great success as in his single full pass David's elapsed time over the eighth was 3.978 seconds at 306.9 kmh which made the
Dutchman the quickest and fastest racer of the weekend. "I'm very happy for the opportunity to work with Adam", said a very happy David. "This deal also makes it possible to
have another, more powerful blower."
Vegter Pro Mod Racing will again contest the full FIA European Championship Tour in 2016. The first race of the championship will be at Santa Pod Raceway at the end of May,
and with more than twenty cars already entered it looks like Pro Modified will again be the most competitive and spectacular category in the FIA European Drag Racing
Championships.
An invitation to test. 5th May: James Forster of Santa Pod Raceway writes that racers entered for the FIA / FIM Main
Event who wish to test at Race, Rock & Ride on the preceding weekend (21st-22nd May) are most welcome to attend and
to take advantage of what will be a fully-prepped track.
SPR do however request that any racers planning on attending this event and looking to set up their pits for the
Main Event notify the track in advance so that pit space can be planned accordingly. Please contact either James at
james@santapod.com or Darren Prentice at
darren@santapod.com or call 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44
1234 782828).
Swift snippets. 5th May: Many thanks to Andy Marrs of TSI
Timers Europe for forwarding us a combined and updated sheet of European and UK Bests. As well as the
usual records, chronological records, closest races, best bump spots and more the sheet now also includes Santa Pod
Raceway's track records with others to be added in future. To take a look
click here or click on the European and UK
bests link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Season-opening grudge match. 5th May: London's own drag strip at North
Weald kicks off its 2016 season this Sunday (8th). Paul Marston writes that as well as the grass-roots RWYB for
cars and bikes plus Quick 8 Eliminator, there is a grudge match to be settled:
In the red corner is Gary Springford of Drag Race Engineering with his unique IS200 Lexus into which Gary shoehorned
a Lexus 400 motor - for which read 4.0 32V Toyota V8 - in place of the standard 2.0l straight six. Then he added a supercharger.
Whilst Gary will freely admit that it's still a work in progress, this is one mean all Japanese machine.
I am in the blue corner, driving a Procharged 331 ci '94 Mustang, built in the States and then virtually imported as-is. This is the American
muscle side.
Both of these cars are completely street-legal, taxed and MoT'd and can be (and are) used as daily drivers. Both cars will be driven to the track,
none of this trailer nonsense, and will run on street tyres. Bets of three, the only limiting factor will be traction. It's gonna be loads of fun which
is what drag racing is all about.
If you want to take part in the RWYB then gates open 08:30 and the maximum sign-on is 200, so arrive early because it will be busy!
For more information on this and any North Weald event check out its official web site at
www.maitlandracing.com.
Web site updates. 5th May: The Mad Welshman has updated his Flickr gallery with pictures from the Sunday of
the Spring Madness Public Track Day at Shakespeare County Raceway which took place on 17th April and which featured the Supercharged Outlaws
and the NSA. You can check out Mad's pictures at
www.flickr.com/photos/the_madwelshman.
Al Shammari: Main Event and more. 4th May: If you were tuned in to Eurodragster.com News on 29th
April then you will have read that Kuwait's Hussain Al Shammari, who has raced in PDRA in the USA as well as the Arabian Drag Racing League
winning events in Qatar and Bahrain, was set to join the Pro Modified entry at the FIA / FIM Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway on 27th-30th May.
Hussain has appeared on the final version of the entry list (see below) and he confirmed to Eurodragster.com that he will be driving Norbert
Kuno's second blown-alcohol Avenger. Hussain plans to contest the whole FIA Tour.
Hussain raced a Ford Mustang in Outlaw 10.5 before moving to Pro Mod and campaigning a Nitrous-assisted 1970½ Camaro. He contested six events
in PDRA as well as racing in the Arabian League. His best performance over the eighth is 3.80 seconds at 196 mph and he has so far clocked a best quarter
mile of 6.05 seconds. His Camaro has run 5.8s over the quarter.
"I will be driving Norbert's blower car at Santa Pod but I plan to bring my own car to Europe", said Hussain. "Maybe my car will be at
the NitrOlympX at Hockenheim. I want to race for the Championship; my team will be coming with me and we will work as one team with Norbert's team.
"I would like to thank the FIA guys for the invitation to race, big thanks to Norbert and his team, to my own team for coming with me to race, and
to the Basel Salem Al-Sabah Motor Racing Club in Kuwait for their help."
Holmberg to the rescue of Holmberg. 4th May: Swedish Pro Stock Bike rider Kenneth Holmberg had a choice to make after injuring his hand in a motorbike crash a few
weeks before the season-opening FIA / FIM Main Event. Luckily Kenneth's expertise helped him to make the decision.
"This is not good timing", said Kenneth. "My hand is going to take eight weeks to heal so I would have to wear flexible plaster... or I could manufacture a
plaster from carbon fibre!
"Events at Santa Pod are great and we don't want to miss the atmosphere and all of our fans in the UK. We will compete in all of the FIM rounds."
Three weeks to RV3's return. 4th May: Eagle-eyed readers will have noticed that Andy Frost and his street-legal and five second-bound Red Victor 3
are on the official FIA / FIM Main Event entry list, Frosty's first appearance since September 2014:
There's a lot of water gone under the bridge since then, as anyone who follows us will know. And we certainly overcame all of that, with a fat middle finger to show everyone who was
involved in those shenanigans. But I digress...
We are almost back with the help of the fantastic members of the Red Victor 5 Second Club, and
a host of companies such as Lamude Racing Engines, Precision Turbo, Steve Morris Engines, Race Flow Development, Turbosmart UK, KA Sensors, Total Seal Piston Rings, Red Line Oils, Trackstuff
UK, Turbowerx, Just Electrical Design, Fast Motorsports, Goodridge UK, Cam Auto Developments, Pro Torque Converters, Hard Knocks Speed Shop, Pro Alloy Motorsport, Powerlite, Diamond
Pistons, Victory Performance, Wilson Manifolds, PE Composites, Radtec Radiators, Activ8, Braille Batteries, Plastics4Performance, Zircotec, Hutch Transmission Service, Cartek, Club Calibra,
Protec Fuel Systems, Prestige Group, Precision Shaft Technologies, Manton Pushrods, Magnecor, C&C Engineering, and Intergalactic Custom Shop.
Obviously we'll not be in Pro Mod any more. Their rules, my car and I don't mix. So it will be Comp Eliminator for us, as all we want to do is go fast and keep the car safe! The car is currently at
Pro Alloy Motorsport for some alli fabrication, and next will be Chris Isaacs Race Cars for baseline and final little jobs. Then back to RV HQ for final finish... it's going to get manic!
Thanks to the super crew of Jan Broersma, Gary Frost and Deb Frost for putting the basis of the car back together. From 21st May they will be joined by Mathias Sapa Edelsteen and the famous
Shane T to finish and get it running again. There is a lot of work to do in the next three weeks, but we're confident it will all be done to make the Peak Performance Day on the day before the
race.
Swift snippets. 4th May: Concluding the FIA / FIM Main Event news items, many thanks to Ian Marshall for forwarding the final version
of the official entry list for the FIA / FIM Main Event. You can check out the entry list by
clicking here or by clicking
on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. If you have any queries about FIA / FIM
Main Event entry then please contact Ian Marshall by E-Mail at ir.marshall@btconnect.com
or call 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625).
You can check out our John Woolfe Racing-sponsored APIRA Springspeed Nationals
reports and pictures by
clicking
here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
NHRA's happiest loser. 1st May: Although ex-pat UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Smax Smith now lives in Canada, he still thinks of himself
as English so going NHRA racing at Charlotte on the only four-wide Top Fuel track felt as big as it could get for an underdog from Lancashire:
My boys Aidan and Ronan and friend Jake set off on the fourteen-hour trip in Ronans less than glamorous CRV with a leaky tranny and dodgy
wheel bearing to meet up with the Leverich family (who own the Top Fuel car) driving down from Michigan. Their drive down was full of the
usual dramas, two trailer tiyes blown out and a five-hour delay caused panic as we had to pass tech by 5:00 pm on the Thursday! I had already
sent my race suit etc with gary so that we could tech the car and my stuff same time - a good job as we only got there at 6:30! We got tech sorted,
the only upgrade was new bolt on the inner diaper for $600 but trust me you don't want to oild own an NHRA track as the fines are huge and fans
hate it!
With car ready to go the first qualifying session came around and I was so buzzing to race with three other 10,000 HP cars. I was in lane two but
not only did two teams not show for the session but Pat Dakin in lane four broke and was shut off so I was on a solo. The car left well and ran a
4.3/278 to 1000 feet even with blower belt breaking! The car was perfect and ran like a Cadillac Escalade, so smooth that I even questioned if
one of our mags had quit as it was a little flat. We ended up eighth after the first session which was amazing!
We stripped the car completely as we had a little crack in the crank, but it never moved and all parts were re-used. We didn't even hurt a spark
plug! Aidan did his usual amazing job on the clutch, racing with the amazing Jake on the bottom end to see who was quickest, and Dan from Waterloo
did one head while our new guy Russ from Michigan did the other with Kevin, Gary and brother Dan filling in all other necessary jobs.
With the car ready to go we went over to crazy Scott Palmer's Top Fuel pit and partied till 4:30 am... and Scott hadn't even qualified yet.
We had decided to sit out Saturday's qualifying and light rain caused the second session to be cancelled. We got to watch lots of racing on Saturday
with my boys and still ended up being number thirteen qualifier! Ronan met Antron Brown who came over to give us tribute T-Shirts to wear on stage
for Mark Lyle, the NHRA Chief Starter who was killed in an accident. I met antron and had him sit in our car as it was his 2010 car, and he said
how his newer car is an improvement. He is a really nice guy!
As our car was ready Gary was going to fire it up on Sunday morning in time for the first round at noon but Aidan was insistent that we fired the
car on Saturday night to double-check everything. Good call as the initial fire-up revealed a huge fuel leak as the broken belt had whacked a fuel line.
We then refired and found one mag not firing. It turned out that the MSD box plug was hit and damaged wiring. We put on our spare box but that
didn't work either! We then fixed the plug on the original box and it worked. I took the spare box to MSD to fix but it tested out no problem... what?
For the tune-up we wanted to get the RPM up higher and a quicker sixty foot so we took twelve grammes off the clutch and also put our nitro up from
85% to 88%. Finally we were happy with the car and went for food a few beers and a sensible 12:30 am bedtime!
I woke around 5:00 am buzzing for the race. We were first quad out at noon but NHRA has driver introductions on a stage so I went with all the drivers
and had pictures taken with Brittany and Courtney Force, Scott Palmer, Chris Karamesines and Antron Brown to name a few. When they called Top
Fuel number thirteen qualifier Smax Smith onto the stage no-one really knew me but as I was dancing about they will remember me as the crazy English
guy and the man ready to take on Doug Kalitta, Clay Millican and Scott Palmer.
It was time to really concentrate as the lights are a bit of a mind-bender so no messing up. Aidan got me dressed and sat in the car tight and comfy,
then we went to burn out but the startline guys failed to put water down. Our dragster just accelerated on the hot sticky track so I lifted but worried
about no burnout although I remember having a similar deal in out FIA days with Rune Fjeld and no issues. Ronan started backing me up but the track
ripped his shoe off, and four cars' worth of nitro burning his eyes had me snaking back rather than the usual straight back but it was funny!
We pre-staged but poor Scott had an idler pulley fail and was shut off. I staged and left right with the big guns and although we were third we ran our
best ever 4.19 at 1000 feet, only 276 mph as I lifted early not wanting to risk oildown once I knew we were beaten, but hey a 0.915-sixty foot with
no burnout and an arrow-straight run with no dropped cyliders did it for us... we were the happiest losers in the NHRA! It was the equivalent of a
4.90/300 run over the quarter.
We watched the rest of the racing but decided to leave before the finals as it was so packed that I knew we would
be hours getting out of Charlotte plus at least fourteen hours home. We did pop over to say Hi to Jonnie and Johan Lindberg, Ulf Leanders and Karsten
Andersen but it was really great to connect with Tony and Elaine Betts. We go back a long way to our Supercharged Outlaw days and for those who
remember I took Tony's alky altered record by five thousandths of a second in 1999 with a 6.92/203 and mine was only the altered over 200 mph for
years. I sat Tony in our girlie car - he now drives Nostagia Nitro Funny Cars - which was his first time sat in a dragster. Then Dicko (of Bulldog Bash
fame), his niece and her boyfriend came to say hello and took pics, it made for a memorable weekend!
Big thanks to Gary and Bob Leverich who are really the unsung heroes of NHRA being brave enough to do what they do with no dollars and
to let me drive. We all believe there is a sponsor out there who will see our marketing potential across the world! Big thanks as usual to my boy
Aidan who really has my back, I would struggle to race without him, Rrooz my other boy for helping and making this whole deal fun, Jake for
being reliable, hard-working and fun, Dan for sticking with us, helping and becoming a firm friend, and welcoming newcomers Russ and Kevin
is always a blast. We are watching low car counts now and we may go to Atlanta in a couple of weeks to do this all over again. Of course televising
qualifying and the race helps too.
It was fun with the boys blogging to Facebook all weekend so go to our Ant Hill Mob Drag Racing page on Facebook for more of that.
Web site updates. 1st May: Remco Scheelings writes that after licencing in 2014, Björn Mårtensson made his official
Top Fuel début in 2015 with three races in the FIA European Championship. This year the Top Fuel driver and his Nitrobear
team are stepping up their operation and with five races, including at Santa Pod Raceway, they intend to contest almost a full Championship tour.
"There's nothing as cool as racing a Top Fueller!", says Björn. "We learned so much last year with the tuning but also about
working together as a team. This season we want to go faster, but also to keep the car in one piece". You can read more on the Drag
Racing Europe Blog at
www.dragracingeurope.eu.
"We actually began the Anniversary Tour with our land speed cars at the ECTA Ohio Mile event in Wilmington, Ohio", said team owner and principal driver Ron Hope. "However,
the exciting news is that we are now going to Europe for three races. The first event at Santa Pod in England celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Pod. Then we go to Hockenheim,
Germany for NitrOlympX, and then back to Santa Pod for the European Finals. Incidentally, Randy Bradford's Fiat-bodied AA/Fuel Altered will join Rat Trap on the tour."
24th May: Sweden's Stefan Gunnarsson is leaving his injected-nitro Top Methanol Dragster in the workshop for the foreseeable
future. Tuner and longtime Eurodragster.com supporter Peter Lantz told Eurodragster.com that running both a Top Fuel Dragster and a Top Methanol
Dragster was a crazy idea and that this season's goal is to get Stefan's Top Fueller into the threes - the sooner the better.
Team Principal Ian King said "All of us at King Racing are extremely pleased that Gulf Oil International has decided to extend their partnership with our team activities in 2016. We are very proud to carry
the most iconic brand in motorsports history on our record breaking machine for a sixth consecutive season alongside Grand Prix Originals and all of our blue chip technical and service partners who have
committed to help make this another record-breaking season."
This weekend's Eurodragster.com / Bad Habit Racing Perfect Light Award has been reset to £50 after it was won by Pro ET racer
Brian Huxley at the APIRA Springspeed Nationals. The money will be paid in cash to the first racer this weekend to record a Reaction Time of 0.000
seconds. The Perfect Light Award is available to racers in all classes during qualifying and eliminations, but will only be awarded for the first Perfect
Light of the event. If not won this weekend then the Award will be increased to £75 for the SPRC Summernationals at Santa Pod Raceway; if it is won
then it will be reset to £50 for the SPRC Summernationals. The Perfect Light Award is presented in association with Bad Habit Racing (Cath
and Tig Napier, Pro ET).
20th May: Santa Pod Raceway's Commercial Manager Caroline Holden tells us that SPR's special deal for FIA / FIM
Main Event VIP hospitality for racers' sponsors and supporters is closing soon, so she recommends booking your places:
The opening round of Pro Stock at the FIA / FIM Main Event at Santa Pod will be the competitive début of Bengt's new wheels, a Gray Motorsports 2015 Camaro, in which Bengt
has achieved a personal best of 6.517 at 210 mph. He ran 6.52 in testing at Tierp; when we consider that the European record is 6.498, set by Jimmy ålund in 2015 and backed up
with a 6.50, it is easy to see that Bengt is taking things seriously this year and that the team really mean business.
18th May: The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com
came with the words "To the Frozen North came additions to the armoury". If you know more, or if you would
like to send your own spy picture, then drop us a line at
16th May: Due to work and ill-health UK Super Comp racer Paul Watson has missed out on his plan to commit to the whole
UK Championship in 2016 but he is all set for next week's FIA Main Event. "Hopefully we can showcase the car which is up for sale", says Grumps. "If anyone is
interested them we would be happy to show them what goes in to running a Super Comp car in one of the toughest classes out there. The car is same as last year so we
are hopeful that we have a competitive package again. If the car does not sell then we will run on an event-by-event basis."
14th May: 2015 FIM European Pro Stock Bike Champion Fredrik Fredlund has been in touch with an update from the
Darren Prentice writes that 
Sunday 8th May 2016 will probably go down in history as the busiest-ever event at North Weald. With a queue of three hundred
cars at eight in the morning you can get the picture. Usually when you show up at North Weald at that time you expect to see
maybe forty cars queueing but seeing three hundred tells you two things: firstly you will not be running on the drag strip today, as
being that far back in the queue, all the spaces will be taken, and secondly that with such great weather yo may as well just enjoy
a great day at the drags, which we did. It was just the Crewchief, Kingsize and I so we figured that was the best plan.
Everybody who is anybody was there as you would expect and a great day's racing was had by all in fantastic sunshine. Although
the numbers were completely unexpected, the event ran very smoothly. I did get to run the Mustang in the Heads Up Street Car
Eliminator and got down to the last four before being taken out by Chris Skinner of Taz Racing in his SBC-powered Fiat 500. The
Shootout was won by George from Guinea Pig Racing with his Ford Zephyr running a big Small Block with a fogger. George
ran 10.50, not bad for a proper street car on street tyres.
9th May: Former Junior Dragster team principal and Europcar UK Group Business Services
Director Andy Wheeler has joined the 
Andy Wheeler said "I am excited to be joining British Drag Racing Hall of Fame management board and to develop
my involvement with the sport from what I experienced in six years of running a Junior Dragster team. Our
experience as a team with social media has enabled us to utilise it to the best interests of promoting the sport
and I hope this can bring an added dimension to the BDRHoF."
We are almost back with the help of the fantastic members of the 
