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30th May: Yesterday's (Monday's) eliminations at the FIA / FIM Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway were ultimately curtailed by heavy rain. Super Pro ET E3, all of Pro E1 and Pro Modified and Super Street Bike E2s were run but the showers which plagued the day eventually turned into a deluge giving race officials no choice but to call the event. The only full result was the first of the two planned Super Street eliminations: Super Street 1: Paul Marston 11.3480/109.26 def. Dave Cherrett 11.4316/105.28 Congratulations to Super Pro ET racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Pete Walters and to Pro ET racer Paul Brown who won the Eurodragster.com / Bad Habit Racing Perfect Light Award and Eurodragster.com Perfect ET Award supporting Bloodwise respectively. Both Awards have been reset to £50 for the SPRC Summernationals at Santa Pod Raceway in June. No records were broken although Anita Mäkelä and Duncan Micallef contested Europe's quickest side-by-side 1000-foot Top Fuel Dragster race beating the previous best by 0.0001 seconds. Europe's first staggered-start Top Methanol Dragster v Top Methanol Funny Car race under the new rules was won by Steph Milam in the She Devil FC. Many thanks to Åsa Kinnemar for forwarding us the post-event standings in the FIA European Drag Racing Championships. You can take a look at the FIA points on our OCS Paint-sponsored Points Standings page which you can reach by clicking here or by clicking on the OCS Paint Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. You can check out our John Woolfe Racing-sponsored FIA / FIM Main Event reports, results, 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. Time to mark Lindström's prep. 
24th May: Swedish Pro Stock racer Thomas Lindström has had a spectacular career so far
but he says that we should wait and see because 2017 will be even better:
2016 was a great year for our team. We managed fourth place in the Championship and we did that in style because we only attended four out of six races and only used the spare engine. Our team also got a little bigger so this year we will bring two small new team members who will experience the world of drag racing for the first time. They will be in our pit at the Main Event so please stop by and visit Jaxson and Freja, the new future young guns. Team R/T bought a new engine from AJ last year but as planned we didn't use it until the last event at Tierp. There it made a 6.56 run right out of the box and has never been run since then so we feel confident that we have the power we need to win. But power isn't everything, power and speed are merely for bragging rights. What count on the track are ET, reaction time and of course tuning. You need to be humble all the time and never let your guard down because someone will run you over if you do. It's not easy to get a Pro Stock car to leave the line and make good numbers. There are so many things which must be adjusted and calculated: weather, gears, carbs, shocks, weight, four-link and third member. I have been racing in Pro Stock for some years now and I am just starting to figure out some things. But then you come to another track and it has all changed. We made the save of the year at the 2014 European Finals... we lost the round, had to repair the car and change underwear for the driver but we ended in style anyway. But I must say that I absolutely love driving a manual 1500 hp race car. Straight or all over the track, it doesn't matter! At the first hit at the Main Event we'll see whether we did our homework properly over the winter or whether we need to go back to the drawing board, Lets see if we have done our winter homework at the first hit at the Main Event or whether we need to go back to the drawing board. Thanks to our proud sponsors: DK Lyft & Transport, CUB, Björnbergs Åkeri, Contractor maskiner, Pro-tools, Verkstadspartner, R/T Bil&Maskin, and Street&Strip magazine. 
2016 was also the year that Nina and I made the decission to buy Sweden's, and perhaps one of Europe's, biggest drag racing magazine, Street&Strip.
The first issue is already out and number two is in the working process right now. The stuff about which we will write inclides the FIA and FIM Championships,
tech articles, NHRA stars, dragracing from the 1970s and 1980s, bad-ass cars and of course a lot more. The magazine sells in stores in Sweden, Norway and
Finland and is mostly written in Swedish but if the pressure gets too much we might do it in English.
There will be six issues a year to begin with and that will hopefully ground the public's interest in drag racing. Thats is one of our goals with the magazine, to raise the value of the sport. Not much printed media writes about drag racing but we will! You can of course support us and the drag racing comunity by subscribing, or why not advertise as company or promote your team and sponsors with a feature. If we get bigger and get more funding then we can make even more pages and more issues and buy in more articles. That will make the sport more visible and it will be easier for organisers and teams to get more sponsorship which will raise the bar even more. So its a win-win situation for sure. Most racers cry that they need more sponsors so now they can do something about it. The strange thing is that some of the racers want the magazine for free and are seeing the big picture. We are not in this for the money, we are in this because we love drag racing and want to do something about it (Welcome to our world - Ed). If you have any questions about the magazine then please E-Mail info@ntlmedia.se. Tooren's long lists. 
24th May: Many thanks to our good buddy Remco Scheelings for forwarding us a preview of the 2017 season
for Dutch Pro Modified racer Michel Tooren and the Pro Dutch Racing team:
The Main Event kicks off Michel Tooren's second season as a driver. After an extremely successful 2016 with two runner-up finishes, number four position in the MSA British Pro Modified Championship, a stunning personal best of 6.005 seconds, and the title SPRC Most Promising Newcomer, Pro Dutch Racing are looking forward to their second season with Michel behind the wheel of the '71 Plymouth Barracuda. It is a bit too much to say that the Pro Dutch Racing '71 Plymouth Barracuda is a brand new car this season, but the list of changes and new parts is almost too long to mention. But let's give it a try. First of all the engine will have new heads designed and fabricated by Post & Dros Racing Engines & Parts in The Netherlands. With the new heads, there also had to be new pistons and connecting rods. Except for the block itself, almost everything inside is new. With the different size of the heads, the spark plug cables and all of the hoses also had to be renewed. The injector is also new. As the rear axle gave some problems at the end of last season, a new billet rear axle was ordered from Tim McAmis Race Cars, the builder of the Cuda. With all the adjustments the team had to make to the four link, the back of the car is almost brand new and as it was when Tim McAmis delivered the car. To reduce some weight, there is a new carbon fibre wheelie bar. And to complete the list there are also new Weld Racing rear wheels and new lexan windows. The gearbox was also checked and rebuilt over the winter. There are no fewer than eleven new sensors in the car, including on the carbon fibre wheelie bar. Because many parts didn't arrive in time, Pro Dutch Racing had to skip the first race of the season at the Festival of Power, which was round one of the MSA British Pro Modified Championship. As it will be almost impossible to win the Championship after missing one round and losing the potential bonus points, Pro Dutch Racing have changed their original plan to contest the British Championship and will now go for the full tour in the FIA European Pro Modified Championship, something on which Michel had his focus from the first moment he started his racing career. The team will only rethink this plan if there are serious problems at the Main Event. 
The Pro Dutch Racing crew will be the same as last year. Jaap Oonincx, Leon van der Linden, Anton Vink, Arjan van Bemmel and Jan Selles are back again
and the same can be said about Alexander Durinck, Bianca Booij and Wim Verkerk, the three team members who work a bit more in the background. Benjamin
Selles, Jan's youngest son, is new to the team. Benjamin joined the team for a few races last season but will be a full time crew member this year.
Last but not least, Pro Dutch Racing moved over to a new workshop at the end of last season. They can now store the race car and truck-trailer combination indoors and have a separatedengine and fabrication room. Pro Dutch Racing will arrive at Santa Pod tomorrow (Thursday) and will try to make one or two test runs at the Pro Peak Performance Test and Tune Day. Another list which is never too long to mention is the list of the thirty partners and supporters of Pro Dutch Racing for 2017: Arton USA Cars & Parts, Burger Ferry Agencies, Climalogic, De Stroming Media, Dockmarks Signs BV, Duraship, Emprove People, Erro BV (Café t'Buisie), FEMM Rotterdam BV, Flanto Shipping BV, Helmacap Belgie BVBA, Hobrand Algebra BV, JICS BV, MST Shipping, Noordtrans Scheepvaartbedrijf, Oonincx Scheepsonderhoud BV, RBC Nederland BV, Riegman & Klaverdijk BV, Rotyle Dakbedekking, RTR Barging, Scheepswerf 't Ambacht, Tribute Space BV, Tristan Shipping BV, Ve woning en scheepsstoffering, Verhaar Omega, VKV Service BV, VOF Saron, Vrooam Powersports Lubricants International BV, Wico Logistics and Rijnaarde Global Trading & Logistics BV. Swift snippets. 24th May: Many thanks to Yvonne Tramm and our own Simon for posting the post-Race, Rock'n'Ride points standings in the 2017 UK National Drag Racing Championships. You can check out the points on our OCS Paint-sponsored Points Standings page which you can reach by clicking here or by clicking on the OCS Paint Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. The thefts are creeping up again and the FIA / FIM Main Event is approaching so just a reminder that, unless you are one of the very few parties with standing permission, you must not copy text, pictures, results, race reports, points standings, webcast video or anything else from Eurodragster.com. The primary consideration here, as anyone with a brain should realise, is that our sponsors have the right to expect our information to be viewed in its proper place accompanied by the banners for which they have paid. We have the right to expect our hours of hard work to be viewed in its proper place and not purloined and posted elsewhere by shabby thieves. Share links by all means, but if you take our work without asking then it is only going to end badly for you. A testing weekend. 
24th May: The UK's Robin Read has been in touch with a report on the testing of his blown-nitro V8 Daimler dragster at Race, Rock'n'Ride:
The first run went pretty much according to plan. The sixty foot time was, but it rattled the tyres so we took some weight off the clutch for the next full pass. It soon became apparent that this change was wrong - in hindsight we should have put more weight on. We either over-revved the motor in the burnout or at the launch, I shifted into second hoping that it would calm things down, nope! Two lash caps on cylinders three and five had come off during the valve float and the poor motor was hurting from then on. The exhaust valve clearances were then way too wide, changing the valve timing on those two cylinders. They ran lean and burnt the plugs. I should have got off the throttle then, but wanted to make a full pass because we had hatched a plan with Brian Cross' family to pack some of his ashes in with the parachute and give him a drag racer's send off. If you look at the run footage you'll see him go! So job done there, but we had sustained some damage to the valvetrain and clutch. We decided that the best plan would be to return to the workshop to inspect and repair before we ended up wounding the car a lot. There were some positives to take away from the test. We had been suffering some excessive main bearing wear and had increased the oil pressure and made changes to the oiling system to create a priority oil flow to the main bearings. Results of preliminary inspection are extremely promising. Hopefully we can get in another test day before Dragstalgia. 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 2017 Eurodragster.com Perfect Awards Scheme. £175 is on offer for perfect performance. 
The Eurodragster.com / Bad Habit Racing Perfect Light Award has been increased to £75 after it went unclaimed
at Race, Rock'n'Ride. The Award 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 £100
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 are available in the Signing On office or from the Eurodragster.com staff. 
The Eurodragster.com Perfect ET Award supporting Bloodwise has been increased to £100 after it went
unclaimed at Race, Rock'n'Ride. The Award 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 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 Run of the event. If not won this weekend
then the Award will be increased to £125 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 Bloodwise; you can donate to Bloodwise at
www.bloodwise.org.uk.
To be eligible to collect the Perfect ET Award, racers are required to carry Eurodragster.com / Bloodwise decals, one on each side of the vehicle. If you pull an event's first Perfect ET but are not carrying decals then there will be no discussion; we will not pay out and the next person to pull a Perfect ET will get the money assuming that they are carrying decals. Decals are available in the Signing On office. FIA/FIM Main Event coverage. 24th May: The Eurodragster.com team will be at Santa Pod Raceway from tomorrow (Thursday) to bring you all the news from the FIA / FIM Main Event in association with John Woolfe Racing. Our coverage commences with tomorrow's Pro Peak Performance Day from which we will be posting a live report throughout the day and a photo gallery at the end of the day. From Friday until Monday we will be posting real-time results and reports on the on-track action throughout each day together with pit notes updates throughout each day and a photo gallery at the end of the day. The Webster Race Engineering / Nimbus Motorsport webcam will be on-line tomorrow, Friday and Saturday then the Trakbak Racing / Track Group Europe Web TV takes over for Sunday and Monday. We will be broadcasting live video and trackside audio tomorrow then live video and commentary / Nitro FM audio on Friday and Saturday. Thanks to Doyousee.me for provision of streaming services. We will post a Home Page link to our coverage as soon as it commences tomorrow, but in the meantime you can check out our FIA / FIM Main Event coverage index, which also contains links to the final official entry list and provisional running orders, by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Event entry update. 23rd May: Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall for forwarding us Version 1 of the official entry list for the SPRC Summernationals, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 24th-25th June. You can check out SPRC Summernationals entry list by clicking here. The official closing date for the SPRC Summernationals is Friday 2nd June after which entry, if accepted, may be subject to a late entry penalty. You can download the official entry forms from the SPRC web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc. If you have any queries about SPRC event entry then please contact Ian Marshall at SPRC on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625) or E-Mail ir.marshall@btconnect.com. Curbishley gets a Fix. 23rd May: UK Super Comp racer Martin Curbishley is delighted to welcome on board Fixauto.com as a main sponsor for this weekend's FIA Main Event: We have been working closely with Fix Auto Penzance putting together a sponsorship deal which hopefully will take us through to the end of the 2018 season. Stuart Cameron, Managing Director of Fix Auto Penzance, is excited to be working with Martin Curbishley and Paul Marston Racing and to be part of such a prestigious event. "This is our first foray into any kind of motorsport sponsorship and to choose drag racing over any other circuit based motorsport made a refreshing change", he says. "We understand that Martin has a good working relationship with Paul Marston Racing and the Drag Racing School and that he had success in 2010 wining the UK National Super Comp Championship. To go rounds at the Main Event is their goal. 
"This is what Fix Auto is all about. Fix Auto is a Global collision repair franchise with repair centres in the UK, Canada, USA, France, Turkey, Australia and South Africa, and continues to build on high standards and quality, ethics and performance across the world. "We are no ordinary bodyshop. An automobile collision is a big disruption in your daily life, everybody values continuity and keeping things moving along smoothly. Fix Auto understands this, which is why we offer the convenience of one stop shopping. Fix Auto not only handle your vehicle repair, but also the processing of your claim. Any repair undertaken by a Fix Auto bodyshop is guaranteed for life across our network, no ifs, ands or buts. With us, you're choosing the route of security and peace of mind. The Fix Auto lifetime guarantee is endorsed by a network stretching across the UK. Wherever you are, you're never far from worry-free service at a recognised repairer. "Please visit Fixauto.com to find your nearest repairer. "Stay safe everyone and have a great weekend racing." Maurischat seeks a smooth ride. 23rd May: German Pro Modified racer and Eurodragster.comp sponsor Marco Maurischat opens his season at this weekend's FIA / FIM Main Event and says that his race operation will stay in the UK for the rest of the year: We will run the MSA British Drag Racing Championship this season. Because of the pressure of running my Cerakote Ceramic company PBN here in Germany it's way easier for us to fly back and forth instead of driving the truck to every race. We haven't made any big changes to the race car. We will run a new shock system which we hope will improve our sixty foot times as well as the stability of the car at the top end. The engine is the same Lindberg Brothers Hemi which we first ran last year. It's a great engine, at lastyear's UK Nationals we ran 6.13 with a set-up which was not all that aggressive. So we are pretty sure that we can improve this number with a more rideable suspension and shock set-up. We will be at the Pod for some test runs on Thursday. Our sponsor remains the same, our Cerakote Ceramics High Temp and Firearm coating brand. Thanks to Mike Strasburg from B&J Transmissions who gave us some great help on transmission parts. I'm looking forward seeing you all at the track. Laseur's narrowed rear end. 23rd May: Having taken the 2016 title, FIM Europe Pro Stock Bike Champion Gert-Jan Laseur decided it was time to step up. Consequently he will be contesting FIM Europe Supertwin this year: My whole life revolves around Harleys so a Nitro Supertwin was of course the only option. The week after the European Finals I heard that Chris Hannam had his one-year-old bike for sale. After a call we sealed the deal and I sold my Buell to my friend Charly Abraham two days later. The bike lifted the head at the finals and that is how we took it. I rebuilt the engine, changed the transmission to an Owens two-speed, made some mods to the clutch, changed the air system, added a chute, put a shorter tyre on the rear, made the seat smaller for my little ass and moved the pegs. We still have Eurol Oil as our main sponsor, and Zodiac have stepped up seriously in their support. Big thanks to Paul and Petra for their support and of course my crew Patrick and Sander who have worked their asses off. Special thanks to Jonnie Vickers and a lot of thanks to Marius van der Zijden for being a great mentor. The only problem we have is me. I have to learn to drive this animal and my first ever run will be at the Main Event! Swift snippets. 23rd May: Steph and Dave Milam and the UK's She Devil Racing Top Methanol Funny Car team say that the FC is clean and ready for the weekend. The team are pleased to announce continued sponsorship from NGK, Nimbus Motorsport and Torco. 
UK Comp Eliminator racer Robin Orthodoxou is pleased to announce Ziebe Förch as a new sponsor for his 2017 campaign. "Ziebe Förch can supply all your consumables, pit and workshop equipment", says Robin. "We are also grateful for the continuing support pf Hauser Race Cars and Blackett Photography. Thanks also to my team - Crew Chief Darren, Catering Manager Tracey, Motivational Speaker Jake and Sheep Rustler Darrell - for all of their hard work preparing the altered. See you in six seconds." 
Nick Brooke-Langham says that the UK's Gasser Circus Showdown will again be contested over five rounds in 2017. "We start the season at Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend, and will conclude at the same venue at the Hot Rod Drags in September", says Nick. "This weekend we have fourteen Gassers entered, and after a long winter lay-off we are all raring to go." Frøya's Paul Ingar Udtian will be contesting FIA Top Fuel Dragster next season. You can read more at wwwfroya.no. Thanks to Ian King for letting us know that the post-Race, Rock'n'Ride points standings in the 2017 ACU UK Drag Bike Championships are now available on the King Racing web site at www.kingracing.com. Many thanks to Andy Marrs and SPRC's timing crew for forwarding the official Timing Data from Race, Rock'n'Ride, which you can check out by clicking here or by clicking on the Timing Data link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. The British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Benevolent Fund (see below) is appealing for volunteers from the ranks of Junior racers to help shake a bucket, with adult supervision, at this weekend's FIA / FIM Main Event. Collections will take place on the spectator bank and in the pits at 11:00 and 15:00 on Saturday and Sunday and at 10:00 and 13:00 on Monday, event timings permitting. Collections should last for a maximum of an hour and collectors will be lent secure charity buckets with BDRHOF Benevolent Fund signage, a BDRHoF shirt to wear during the collection, and an ID badge to identify them as an official part of the collection. If you would like to play a part in making the collection at any of these times, please get in touch with BDRHOF Benevolent Fund Trustee and Eurodragster.com Pit Reporter Simon Groves at simon@eurodragster.com or via Facebook. Gibbs receives HoF Achievement Award. 23rd May: The British Drag Racing Hall of Fame and Lucas Oil Products UK are pleased to announce that long-time NHRA Vice President and drag racing pioneer Steve Gibbs is to receive the 2017 BDRHoF Lucas Oil Global Achievement Award. The Award will be presented later this year at the BDRHoF Gala Awards Dinner at the historic Oatlands Park Hotel in Weybridge, Surrey on 18th November. 
Those of you who were at the Gala last year will know that Steve attended the event to accept the 2016 Lucas Oil Global Achievement Award
on behalf of the National Hot Rod Association. But early in 2017 Steve shocked the drag racing community when he announced his retirement
from the NHRA after forty eight years. At the time Steve said "I will be eternally grateful to Wally Parks for the opportunity to do the
things I did, and for so long. I'm proud of the fingerprints I have left on the sport. But it's time to move on."
In truth, Steve's fingerprints are more like huge footprints and this year he is attending the BDRHoF Gala to accept the same award, the difference being that this time it is for the work and commitment which he personally has shown to drag racing since the late 1950s. It is Steve's name on the Award and you will have to look a long way to find anyone who doesn't think that he is most deserving. On hearing that he was to receive this award Steve said "This is all a bit overwhelming. I will be extremely honoured... humbled... and eternally thankful to accept the award. It would mean a great deal at any point in time, but is particularly rewarding at the present moment. I cannot adequately express my heartfelt thanks to the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame and the date is circled on my calendar." Although probably best known as a former NHRA Competition Director and for re-establishing the NHRA Safety Safari Programme, and refining track preparation, Steve Gibbs started his involvement with drag racing in 1961 when he became a part-time official, with a wide variety of duties including track reporter for Drag News and Drag Sports Illustrated, at San Gabriel drag strip. Between 1965 and 1968, Steve managed Irwindale and Fremont Raceways. In 1969 Steve was hired by Wally Parks at the NHRA and he remained there until this year. Initially he was Advertising Director for the NHRA's National Dragster Magazine, but within six months was promoted as Assistant to Jack Hart running NHRA events. In 1973 he became Competitions Director and later Vice President of Competition where he managed approximately four hundred NHRA National and Reunion Events during a forty eight-year career. Many of the safety developments in place at NHRA events that continue to today are attributed to Steve Gibbs and his Safety Safari team. In the early 1990s Steve formed NHRA Historical Services and in 1992 he helped launch the first California Hot Rod Reunion at Bakersfield, a living history bringing to life the sights and sounds of the early days of drag racing, with the proceeds of the original meeting and subsequent Reunion events going towards the creation and maintenance of a Drag Racing Museum, to be based at Pomona, which opened in 1998. Its first Executive Director was of course Steve Gibbs and he remained involved in the Museum and the Hot Rod Reunions from his retirement from full-time NHRA activity in 2003 until early this year. He was inducted into The Don Garlits International Drag Racing Hall Of Fame in 2006 and, at the age of seventy seven, he remains committed to his calling. He is now involved in organising Nostalgia Events in his own name so the sport has not lost his amazing talent and enthusiasm. Steve says "My goal is to follow many of Wally's original concepts of the sport, and to provide events that celebrate and respect our rich drag racing and hot rodding heritage." Someone once said that if the California Hot Rod Reunion had a face it would be that of Steve Gibbs. It is for his long and tireless service to the sport of drag racing along with his extensive expertise that Steve Gibbs has been awarded the BDRHoF Lucas Oil Global Achievement Award. We thank him for the role he has played in creating our sport and wish him well with his future plans. 
Morgan Lucas, Senior Vice President of Sales for Lucas Oil, said "We are so pleased that a trophy with our name on it is being presented
to someone whose commitment to drag racing goes back to the very early days and his positive influence on so many aspects of our sport
will act as a guiding light for others in the industry. He has played a leading role in laying the foundations that have served drag racing
well and will continue to be part of his legacy. We thank the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame for enabling us to be part of honouring Steve
this way. You have chosen well."
The BDRHoF is now taking reservations for the 2017 Gala Awards Dinner by E-Mail at stuart@britishdragracinghof.co.uk or by telephone on 01933 279102. This year the tickets are priced competitively at £65 which includes a pre-dinner reception. The event always sells out well in advance, so if you would like to join us for the occasion we suggest you make your reservation sooner rather than later. On receiving your reservation you will be given the procedure to book rooms at the negotiated room rate that includes breakfast and VAT as well as parking. On-going news about the Gala, sponsors and other events in which the BDRHoF is involved will be published on the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame web site at www.britishdragracinghof.co.uk, on Eurodragster.com, and on Facebook and Twitter. Look for the gold logo. 23rd May: The British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Benevolent Fund was established by the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame and registered with the Charities Commission in 2016 as Charity 1167197 to create a professional fund-raising platform to support injured racers and the Air Ambulances which support the tracks. 
The fund is run for drag racers by trustees who have had many years' experience in the sport: Stu Bradbury, Simon Groves, Robin Jackson,
Ian Messenger, Graham Beckwith, Ian Marshall and Phil Cottingham. A bank account has been set up and a BT MyDonate internet fund-raising
page is now live at mydonate.bt.com/charities/bdrhofbenevolentfund.
The BDRHoF would like to thank all those who have so far contributed £1,518 so far. Trustee, Treasurer and Eurodragster.com Pit Reporter Simon Groves said "Many thanks to all those who contributed at the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Gala last November, and Santa Pod Racers Club, Avon Park International Racers Association and Pennine Dragway for further contributions." Fund-raising efforts in 2017 will be focused on the key events with BDRHoF presence: the FIA / FIM Main Event (see above), Dragstalgia and the FIA / FIM European Finals. Look out for the gold logo. As mentioned above there will be bucket collections along the spectator bank and at the Nostalgia marquee on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday at this weekend's FIA / FIM Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway. Collections will be announced by the Track Announcers at an appropriate point in proceedings. Please give generously by placing cash in the donation buckets. The BDRHOF Benevolent Fund is grateful to Santa Pod Raceway for granting us permission to raise funds in this way. There will also be collections at BDRHoF events and through corporate giving by sponsors. The overall 2017 target is £10,000 which will give the BDRHoF resource to make a sizeable grant to those in need. Race, Rock'n'Ride results. 22nd May: Congratulations to the winners at the weekend's Race, Rock'n'Ride at Santa Pod Raceway: Pro Stock Bike: Len Paget 7.3804/177.13 def. Alex Hope 9.2299/95.09 Funny Bike: Eric Richard 7.4337/177.83 def. Allan Davies 8.6446/131.06 Super Street Bike: Rick Stubbins 7.3524/198.14 def. Graham Balchin 7.9145/197.15 Comp Bike: Eddy Smiley 7.6828/183.55 def. Paul Hambidge 7.7214/179.97 8.50 Bike: Augy Harrison 8.7067/137.00 def. Ian Chrichlow 9.2150/146.66 9.50 Bike: Mark Dainty 9.8119/139.54 def. Brett Cordelle 9.7236/129.04 ET Bike: Gary Hester (10.65) 10.6877/120.42 def. Phil Pratt (9.04) 9.3965/146.68 Junior Drag Bike: Blade Dummer (9.00) 9.0706/69.50 def. Liam Holgate (9.70) 9.6976/64.04 DQ breakout Saturday's qualifying was badly affected by rain, which also led to weepers holding up the start of Sunday's racing. A big Well Done to the track crew who never stopped working, to the race officials and Santa Pod Raceway staff who got the event finished, and to the racers for their co-operation. Neither the Eurodragster.com / Bad Habit Racing Perfect Light Award nor the Eurodragster.com Perfect ET Award supporting Bloodwise were won and they have been increased to £75 and £100 respectively for this weekend's FIA / FIM Main Event. You can check out our John Woolfe Racing-sponsored Race, Rock'n'Ride 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. Please join Tog in a big Thank You to Grace, Kirstie and Simon for their hard work on the event coverage. Main Event snippets. 22nd May: UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Liam Jones and team are more confident than ever that they will be serious contenders for the FIA Championship with the improvements made to the Rune Fjeld Motorsport dragster. "We plan to run the full season", Liam told Eurodragster.com. "We have better cylinder heads, an improved fuel system, and the car has been front-halved. Paint and sponsors remain the same, with one minor adjustment - we have new logos on the canards for the Movember foundation: a charity for which our photographer Nicki, my friend Joe Taylor and I will be scaling Mount Kilimanjaro in January 2018. Luke Williams will be joining Gary Page on the bottom end." Swedish Top Methanol Dragster racer Jonny Lagg and team have done a lot of work on the car in the off-season. "The dragster has a new back frame as the old one was badly twisted", said Jonny. "Krister Johansson working on a new engine and clutch set-up to get rid of our tyre shake problems. We have also got some weight off the car as we have been 140 lb too heavy for a few years now. Our main sponsor 76 Oil has changed to Phillips66." 
Swedish Pro Stock racer Bengt Ljungdahl plans to test at Santa Pod Raceway to continue successful testing at Malmö. "We got what we needed and quickly found time in the run and in the pits between races - we were very pleased with what we were doing", he said. "We have made some minor updates which we believe will take us forward. We will contest the whole series and our aim is to take home the European title. We have a joint venture with VP Racing Fuels by which we have the agency and market their products in Sweden. The car looks the same with the addition of the sponsor decal on the door." This week's FIA Main Event will be Swedish Pro Stock racer Robin Norén's first visit to Santa Pod as part of his first full season. "We made some small updates to the car over the winter after testing our motor for this season at Malmö last September", said Robin. "We were very happy with the results of that test. I want to say a big Thank You to my Club Jakobsbergs Bilsport Förening who support me very strongly. It's going to feel really funny to race at every event this year and that would not have been possible without all our fantastic sponsors. Skandinaviska Teknik & Smörjsystem, Snahr Production, Blenco Speedshop, A3 Design, JOMS Entreprenad, SixPack Custom, Turebergs who have all continued from last year and new sponsors Westers Mark & Transport, Teknik Service, Bygg & Kakelarbeten." Fellow Swedish Pro Stock racer Simon Gustafsson says that the team hope that they have sorted out last season's engine problems. "The engines have been at Allen Johnson in the USA for service and updates", Simon told Eurodragster.com. "We tested in Malmö last weekend with times close to our Personal Bests. We are looking forward to coming back to Santa Pod this year as we missed last year's races due to the engine problems. Mikael Sjökvist is our Team Owner and Crew Chief, Jan Jönsson is doing the engines and we have two new guys, Göran and Tommy who help out wherever needed. Our main sponsors are CHM Maskin, AXS Nordic and Glas & Bygg and a big thanks to them, we really appreciate it." Swift snippets. 
22nd May: Not exactly a spy picture but one which we were requested to post and which we
present without comment. An amusing (and repeatable) caption to editor@eurodragster.com
may win you some Eurodragster.com goodies, though.
Lizz and Kev Charman and everyone at Nitrous Junkie asked us to say a big Happy 18th Birthday to Jake Charman. "We are very proud of you Jake", says Lizz. Have a great day Jake. Web site updates. 22nd May: Thanks to our good buddy Steve Moxley for letting us know that his Festival of Power and APIRA Springspeed Nationals reports are now available on the ACU web site at www.acu.org.uk. The Mad Welshman has updated his Flickr gallery with pictures from Saturday of the APIRA Springspeed Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. You can take a look at www.flickr.com/photos/the_madwelshman. They do move in herds... 20th May: Nick Mugridge, himself multiple UK National Champion when he raced Junior Dragster, has revealed that Monday's spy picture was part of the spectacular new colour scheme of his brother Luke's Junior Stock Dragster. 
"I've always wanted to do a Jurassic-themed race car, ever since I was racing Junior Dragster myself", Nick told Eurodragster.com. "When I asked Luke last year what he wanted on his dragster, his reply was "I want Jurassic World". Well, it didn't take me long to say "Hell Yes" to the idea! I immediately got in contact with good friend Peter Walters of Peter Walters Race Design to make some temporary decals for Luke's first year. They turned out brilliantly and Luke was pleased with them, we would always be stopped in the fire-up road by families asking about the car after their kids were attracted by the dinosaurs. "Starting this year I contacted Pete again to evolve the design into a full vinyl wrap to complete the transformation. The result was this fantastic design! "Paul and the guys at Paul Foote Ink did a great job of producing the vinyls and turning the car round. I'd never had a wrap done before and I've got to say it's awesome. We took the dragster to PFI on Thursday morning and got it back yesterday afternoon so thanks to them. "Good luck to the rest of the Junior Dragster teams... unlike the dinosaurs we don't intend to break out!" FIA/FIM Main Event racer update. 19th May: Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall for forwarding us details of the arrangements for next week's FIA / FIM Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway: Thursday 25th May 08:00 Santa Pod Raceway's gates open for the duration of the event 10:00 Signing On office opens (earlier for Pro Peak Performance Day entrants) 12:00 Scrutineering commences for Sportsman cars Sportsman car scrutineering details Friday 26th May 07:00 Signing On office opens 07:00 Scrutineering commences for Sportsman cars Sportsman car scrutineering details 09:00 Scrutineering commences for Pro Bikes Pro Bike scrutineering details 09:30 Track opens for qualifying 12:10 Scrutineering commences for Pro cars Pro car scrutineering details Saturday 27th May 07:00 Signing On office opens 07:00 Car scrutineering commences 07:00 Bike scrutineering commences 09:30 Track opens for qualifying and eliminations Sunday 28th May 08:00 Signing On office opens 08:00 Car scrutineering commences 08:00 Bike scrutineering commences 09:30 Track opens for qualifying and eliminations Monday 29th May 09:30 Track opens for eliminations The provisional running orders are 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. Super Comp and Al's Gasser Super Gas Shootout racers please note that your Sunday and Monday running orders have changed since being sent out. 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 ridden. Non-observation of curfew will result in exclusion from the event. Junior racers please remember the rule about pushing vehicles back to the pits once through the arch beside Scrutineering. Only race officials and SPR staff are allowed in Race Control whilst racing is underway. Should racers wish to raise any matter with race officials then please do not visit Race Control; please firstly see Race Secretary Kathy Taylor who is based in Signing On. Colour commentators are requested to come to Commentary only when their class is at the head of the lanes, to vacate Commentary as soon as their class has run, and not to bring guests to Commentary with them. The Eurodragster.com office at the Bankside end of Race Control is similarly out of bounds during racing except to Eurodragster.com staff, Zeon TV crew and racers or crew collecting Perfect Award money. Faster still Fil. 19th May: Greece's Filippos Papafilippou goes into the 2017 FIM Europe Top Fuel Bike season with his plans already set for 2018 as he will step off his brace of six-second PXM Bikes and climb on board a five-second Top Fuel Bike. 
"2017 will hopefully be an easy-going and hopefully calm year for the 300 Spartan Warrior team
before I jump on the King Racing Top Fuel Bike in 2018" says Fil.
"The PXM bike is as it was after the win at the 2016 European Finals. We have not made any improvements or other changes over the winter, just the minimum service and maintenance. "The team's strategy this year is to study all our best runs since 2013 and to see what we can do to improve our PB of 6.54 and to maintain our already high level of consistency. We know that the bike has the power and the potential to run numbers below the mid-sixes, but we still need to research such an achievement. We do have the world record quarter mile speed for a nitrous PXM bike of 206.17 mph and we have backed that up many times, so we know that we have the power to get the bike in the 6.4s or even the 6.3s and become more competitive against the five- and low six-second nitro Top Fuel Bikes. "My team is supported and sponsored this year under a strong brand shop, DragStore EU, and we are all looking forward to this new co-operation. "We are also looking forward to having a great year and many more ahead of us, especially in 2018 on a real nitro-fuelled bike with the support of the King Racing team. "We will have two almost-identical nitrous PXMs in the Dragstore truck this year. They are almost clones and both are mid-six machines. We are presently looking for a capable and reliable driver to rent the second bike and race it, hopefully in the sixes. It is a great opportunity for someone with the experience and ability to jump on a six-second machine and feel the noise, smell the nitro and live the magic of FIM Top Fuel Bike. If you are interested in racing our second bike then please enquire via the DragStore EU Facebook page." From Stavdal to Santa Pod. 
19th May: Multiple FIA European Pro Modified Champion
Micke Gullqvist and his
newly-augmented team spent the off-season constructing then moving in to a new workshop, but are
now getting ready to retrieve record-holding blown-alcohol Camaro, close the door of the trailer,
and travel to England.
"I'm very pleased with how the workshop turned out", Micke told Eurodragster.com, "even if it's not completely finished. Right now we're doing the last jobs to be ready for the FIA Main Event. The car is race-ready and this week has been on display at one of our partners, Stavdal, who have opened another new rental centre for construction equipment. "The team has changed slightly for this season with the addition of Kenny Steibert and Alex Kunc. I think we are pretty well-prepared to get after it when we need to. Between seasons I always try to find something between to improve upon and I always have an idea of changes to speed it up a bit. However sometimes the weather forecast is shaky and we just need to play it safe and qualify well. But whenever the conditions are good and we are firmly qualified, we'll get after it." For more information about Micke Gullqvist racing check out the team's web site at www.mickegullqvist.com. Main Event snippets. 19th May: Åland's own Pro Stock Bike hero Fredrik Fredlund was able to sum things up for Eurodragster.com very succinctly. "I don't have anything new, I will not test before the Main Event, and the plan is to run the FIM Championship!", he said. Questions anyone? 
Hussain Al Shammari told Eurodragster.com that his humungously-motored nitrous-assisted Pro Modified Camaro has reached the UK from Kuwait. "We made a couple of changes to the car including alterations for unleaded fuel", he said. "If the weather helps then I hope we can run 5.7. That's the plan." Reigning FIM Europe Supertwin Champion The Netherlands' Martijn de Haas says that although close runner-up Samu Kemppainen is not contesting FIM Europe Supertwin this year, he realises that the other teams will provide tough competition. "The Zodiac boys have made some impressive improvements, Gert Jan Laseur has a very serious bike, and Roman Sixta is getting stronger every time we race him" says Martijn. "So over the winter we made changes to the fuel system and clutch: more fuel to improve on the last hundred metres and changes on the clutch to improve our sixty foot times." Regular readers of Eurodragster.com will understand the circumstances of the announcement that Sandro Bellio will replace dad Danny Bellio in the Danny Racing Top Methanol Funny Car. You can read more on the Drag Racing Europe Blog by clicking here. Top Gas at Malmö. 18th May: Herman Jolink has again been in touch with a report of the latest round of the European Top Gas Series which took place over the eighth at Malmö Raceway last weekend. 
The track was very well-prepared by Lee Child of the GB. The Top Doorslammer cars were able to make runs in the 3.7s and 3.8s. It was very windy on Friday and Saturday but nice and sunny with almost no wind on Sunday. We had six qualifying runs. With the spectators there was a nice atmosphere. Qualifying:
E1: Schack 4.754/232 bye run - Schleichert out at the start with an electric al problem. Jolink 5.555/194 bye run - Foit with the gearbox problem. Jolink was wheelying every time he shifted gear, for the next round the team put the wheelie bar a little lower. Malmberg 4.882/222 bye run - Niklas broke. Lymant 4.967/231 def. Braune 5.974/181. E2: Schack 4.712/233 def. Jolink 5.519/200, the track was too sticky for Jolink and pulled the motor down. Lymant 5.190/224 def. Malmberg 4.891/226. Final: Frederick Schack DK 4.731/231 def. Jorg Lymant D 5.404/210. RTs Schack 0.077, Lymant 0.088, after about one hundred metres Lymant was close to the guardrail and shut off. Top Gas Championship:
School's in. 18th May: Paul Marston says that his Drag Race School is already busier this season than it was in 2016: This is a healthy sign for the great sport of drag racing. We have already been at the track with the doorslammers this year and we have had interest in dragster courses too, with a couple scheduled over the next few weeks. So the Drag Race School will be a more regular sight at Santa Pod in 2017. There is also a healthy resurgence in the Race Car Rental Scheme, with no less than three drivers at the FIA /FIM Main Event, plus myself. Add in UK Top Sportsman and the No Prep event at North Weald and it all adds up to an exciting 2017. If you are interested in anything which the Drag Race School has to offer then please visit our new web site at www.paulmarstonracing.com. Race, Rock'n'Ride Perfect Awards. 18th May: This weekend's Race, Rock'n'Ride at Santa Pod Raceway is the latest event in the 2017 Eurodragster.com Perfect Awards Scheme. £125 is on offer for perfect performance.
The Eurodragster.com / Bad Habit Racing Perfect Light Award has been reset to £50 after it was won by Topspeed
Automotive Street Eliminator racer Mark Todd at the APIRA Springspeed Nationals. The money will be paid in cash to the first racer
at the event 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 FIA / FIM Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway; if it is won then it will be reset to £50 for the FIA / FIM
Main Event. 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 in the Signing On office or from the Eurodragster.com staff.
The Eurodragster.com Perfect ET Award supporting Bloodwise has been increased to £75 after it went unclaimed at the APIRA
Springspeed Nationals. The money will be paid in cash to the first racer at the event to run an ET to the thousandth of a second on dial-in
or index. The Perfect ET Award is available during qualifying or eliminations in 8.50 Bike, 9.50 Bike, ET Bike and Junior Drag Bike, 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 £100 for the FIA / FIM Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway; if it is won then it will be reset to £50 for the FIA / FIM
Main Event. The Perfect ET Award is presented by Derek and Fiona Flynn of Eurodragster.com sponsor Gold
RV in support of Bloodwise; you can donate to Bloodwise at www.bloodwise.org.uk.
To be eligible to collect the Perfect ET Award, racers are required to carry Eurodragster.com / Bloodwise decals, one on each side of the vehicle. If you pull an event's first Perfect ET but are not carrying decals then there will be no discussion; we will not pay out and the next person to pull a Perfect ET will get the money assuming that they are carrying decals. Decals will be available in the Signing On office. Web site updates. 18th May: In the latest instalment of his exclusive Racer Blog presented in association with Gearhead Garage Paul Marston brings us up to date with the construction of his twin-turbo Cortina. You can take a look by clicking here or by clicking on the Gearhead Garage Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Straightliners back BDRHoF Gala. 
18th May: The British Drag Racing Hall of Fame
have announced that Straightliners Events are joining the list of
businesses sponsoring the Gala Awards Dinner the historic Oatlands Park Hotel in Weybridge on 18th November.
Straightliners Events was established over twenty years ago by Trevor Duckworth. Its ethos was to make motorsport, sprint and speed events more accessible to motorcycle enthusiasts by removing much of the red tape yet retaining the safety and all other aspects of a motorsports which enforced rider and spectator safety. It has opened doors to thousands of motorsports enthusiasts and spawned a cult following of not only motorcycle fanatics but also the car tuning fraternity. 
Trevor has spent forty seven years in the sport and holds twenty seven World Records and numerous British National Records over a quarter
mile, kilometre and mile on both two and three wheels. His Straightliners Events business continues to grow and is now involved with a range
of meetings which encompass Championship Sprints, Drag and Drift meetings and Speed Events. The venues include Santa Pod Raceway, East
Kirkby (Lancashire Raceway), York Raceway, East Jurby on the Isle of Man (right), Elvington, Pendine Sands, Dakota Raceway in Devon
and Spitfire Raceway in Cornwall.
Trevor said "There is a great deal of cross over between those attending Straightliners Meetings and the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Gala Awards Dinner. Many of its members compete at our meetings and of course drag racing in the UK grew out of sprint and speed events. Both organisations celebrate the roots of drag racing in our different ways and we are pleased to add our support to what has become a fabulous occasion with the spotlight shining on the sport's pioneers." BDRHoF Limited CEO Brian Taylor said "It's always good to welcome a new sponsor - particularly one which has broadened the opportunities for sprint and speed events to take place throughout the country. Straightliners meetings provide a key entry point to the sport, being accessible from Yorkshire to Cornwall and Wales to the Isle of Man. They also give out-and-out drag racers the chance to try out other forms of straight-line motorsport. Looking back, many drag racers went to Bonneville in the USA and people like Dennis Priddle, Clive Skilton, Tony Densham and John Hobbs all set records at Elvington. Today, quite a few of our two-wheeled drag racing legends find the more relaxed atmosphere of these events a welcome addition to their drag racing schedule and very useful for final tuning. The Gala could not exist without sponsorship and I thank Trevor for his support." Details about Straightliners events and how to enter can be found by visiting the Straightliners Events web site at www.straightlinersonline.co.uk or on their Facebook Page. The BDRHoF is now taking reservations for the 2017 Gala Awards Dinner by E-Mail at stuart@britishdragracinghof.co.uk or by telephone on 01933 279102. This year the tickets are priced competitively at £65 which includes a pre-dinner reception. The event always sells out well in advance, so if you would like to join us for the occasion we suggest you make your reservation sooner rather than later. On receiving your reservation you will be given the procedure to book rooms at the negotiated room rate that includes breakfast and VAT as well as parking. On-going news about the Gala, sponsors and other events in which the BDRHoF is involved will be published on the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame web site at www.britishdragracinghof.co.uk, on Eurodragster.com, and on Facebook and Twitter. Race, Rock'n'Ride Friday gates change. 17th May: James Forster of Santa Pod Raceway has been in touch to let us know of a change to the gate times for this weekend's Race, Rock'n'Ride. For those entered in ACU and UK National competition, Santa Pod Raceway's gates will now stay open until 22:00 on Friday (was 20:00). This applies to those with racer tickets only, whether you have already received them through the post or will be picking them up at the gate. If you have any queries then you can contact Santa Pod Raceway on 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44 1234 782828). Roadworks near SPR next week. 17th May: Neale Saunders of Santa Pod Raceway tells us that roadworks are being undertaken near the track next week: On Wednesday 24th May Wymington Road, in the area of Podington village, will be closed for re-surfacing works (map). Diversions will be in place to help you round the closure. The council have assured us that works will be suspended over FIA Main Event weekend so access via this route will be restored for the duration of the event. Anita's bid to scare Stig. 17th May: Reigning FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Anita Mäkelä has been in touch to let us know how things are shaping up for 2017: L-G of ME Racing Services has put a brand new front end on the car. I remember when Thomas Nataas said how good his new chassis was to drive; maybe our chassis was getting a bit tired as it was restless at high speed at the top end. We have invested in AJP Stage 7 heads. We have kept the Stage 5 heads as spares because you can still run decent numbers with those. But most of the tracks are taking more and more power, so it was a high time to use Stage 7s. Another good reason for the investment was that the guys were getting closer and closer to our European record. I will be surprised if the current record remains after the Main Event or the Tierp Internationals. All of the Top Fuel racers on the Main Event entry list can run below four seconds so the racing will be tough. We will have Nitro Ninja Dom Lagana and Jake Sanders with us. I know that once I say those names Stig is shaking, right Stig? We will arrive at Santa Pod next Wednesday and make a test run or two on Thursday. The car looks the same. There is no new paint just one new decal, TF1, which we shall try to keep on the car. Phoenix Dragway arises. 17th May: Our good buddy Benni Voss tells is that "The best German Dragway which no-one knew about" is now history, but that the phoenix has already risen: Diggers have torn up the famous taxiway of old US airbase in Bitburg. This track had been operated by 1on1 Motorsport since 2002 and countless runs were made on the unprepped but grippy track. Many Personal Bests were set there. 1on1 Chair Silke Beer was not amused to get the final "No" from the authorities only weeks before the first race in 2017, but she maintained a poker face because she had an ace up her sleeve. Long-term negotiations were ramped up and now German Sportsman racers are looking forward to the weekend of 26th-27th May when they will set their SatNavs to Industriepark Pferdsfeld where a new quarter mile will be inaugurated on this former air base and recent GM test centre located closer to the Rhine-Main area and Ruhrgebiet with easy access to the nearby autobahn nearby. Phoenix Dragway will rise from the ashes of Bitburg: for more information visit www.1on1-motorsports.de or look at their Facebook page. Swift snippets. 17th May: Swedish Pro Stock racer Stefan Ernryd has a new main sponsor for 2017, Dico by Belgetti who provide finance solutions for contractors and their customers. "The Dico by Belgetti Dodge Dart is going for the full Tour in the FIA Championship 2017 as PRO 5", says Stefan. "We tested at Malmö this past weekend and we are now loading up for the Main Event at Santa Pod." 
Thanks to Bianca Booij for sending us a season preview from Michel Tooren and the Pro Dutch Pro Modified team. You can check out the Dutch-language PDF by clicking here. We would like to say a big Happy Birthday to Super Pro ET racer and Eurodragster.com brother-in-law Tom Atkinson, to Sweden's leading Fawlty Towers afficionado Anders Envall, and to Nick Mugridge. Have a great day guys. Top Gas at Hoskovice. 
16th May: Herman Jolink writes that the latest round of the
European Top Gas Series took place at Drag Day 1 in Hoskovice in the Czech
Republic on 6th-7th May:
This is one of the nicest drag races in Europe with a good start crew, a very good concrete track and friendly Czech people. We had a lot of luck with the weather, just a few drops of rain but the track dried quickly. Qualifying:
E1: Lauer bye run 9.770/186, crossed lanes but not a problem when you have a bye run as you only have to leave the start line under power. Raeymakers 8.141/251 def. Petranek 8.983/234 kmh. Bajer def. Sevara 9.858/216new Pb for Savera, he was ferry happy. Jolink 8.750/237 def. Braune 9.483/224, RTs Jolink 0.139 and Braune 0.272. E2: Raeymakers 8.116/260 def. Laur 8.269/268, Jolink 8.682/236 def. Bajer 8.844/251, RTs Jolink 0.188 and Bajer 0.437. Final: Raeymakers 8.047/264 def. Jolink 8.887/238, reactions Jolink 0.130 Raeymakers 0.404. We are going back to Hoskovice for one day on 15th July and then again on 2nd-3rd September. My Ducati 1198 RS bike has a new special paint job (right) by Cees v d Bosch of Moto Paint, Kruisland, and I have sponsorship from Putoline Motorcycle Oils and Premier helmet from their Dutch importer IGM Trading. The Ducati Panigale-1 bike is moving forward, it is not easy modifying the engine. Swift snippets. 16th May: UK Fuel Funny Car racer Steve Ashdown asked us to say a big Thank You to Geof Hauser and all at Eurodragster.com sponsor Hauser Race Cars for all of their help in getting all of his fire safety equipment sorted for the Undertaker FC, and to Simpson for their great equipment as usual. Sixteen go to No Prep Nats. 16th May: Paul Marston writes that a sixteen-car field is already assembled for the inaugural running of the No Prep Doorslammer Nationals at North Weald Drag Strip on Sunday 2nd July: This will be the first of its kind on UK shores as far as we are aware. With £1000 cash up for grabs for the winner it's going to be brutal! The format is simple: eighth-mile, first to the stripe wins, no ETs or speeds, no prep, random pairings all the way other than call-outs first round. There is simply no way of telling who will win as it has never been done before. All I can tell you is that you will see some great close racing. We would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Mick Pusey and Gearhead Garage who are supplying T-Shirts to all of the entered racers as a token of their appreciation. Gearhead Garage are a sponsor of many forms of drag racing, including title sponsor of the 2017 SPRC Super Pro ET Championship, Eurodragster.com and UK Top Sportsman. Mick has also been known to compete himself and will feature in UK Top Sportsman later in the year. Gearhead Garage specialise in locating American pick-up trucks, parts and American cars. So if you're looking for something American it's worth checking them out. Vegter: We'll make it. 15th May: With less than two weeks before the FIA European Drag Racing Championship season commences Dutch Pro Modified racer David Vegter and team have an awful lot of work left to do. Our good buddy Remco Scheelings writes: 
"We will make it" says David, driver and driving force behind PTTM Drag Racing who have been amongst the frontrunners in FIA Pro Modified. "Finally we have
all the parts we were waiting for and we can start building again. The Main Event finally kicks off the Championship on Saturday 27th May and I'm really
looking forward to the coming season."
After the season kick-off in England, David Vegter and his team PTTM Drag Racing will travel to Tierp Arena, Alastaro, Hockenheim, Tierp Arena again and then back to Santa Pod Raceway where it all started. As a result of the closer co-operation with sponsor and partner PedalToTheMetal Musclecar Performance, the name of the team has changed to PTTM Drag Racing. The changes in the crew are less dramatic. "Gerard, Willem, Johan and Elin are back for another season", says David. "Nik will help us in the workshop, but has no time to come to the races. After a one-year break, Gijs is back in the crew and will be with us at three races. Last, but not least, I will tune the '67 Camaro again". Last season at Tierp Arena David broke the six-second barrier for the first time with a stunning 5.958 seconds and ended the FIA European Pro Modified Championship in fifth position. 
The team are working around the clock to get their operation ready for the Main Event. "Unfortunately not everything went according to plan", says David. "Last
week the last parts arrived, and finally they sent us the right ones. We can start assembling the engine and we can finish the rebuild of the car which was stripped
and updated over the winter. There is still a lot of work to be done, but we will make it. I'm really looking forward to it. Last year was extremely busy and hectic but
this time we will focus on the FIA European Championship and nothing else. There are twenty three entries for the first race of the season and several teams will do
the full Championship tour, so competition will be tough."
New for this season is the team's truck and trailer combination. "After many years, we had to say goodbye to our team bus", says David. "A trailer is so much easier for the ever-increasing number of race parts and other stuff we have to take with us. We bought the trailer from another race team so we didn't have to change that much. It's in the paint shop at the moment but the decals will be in the right place before the Main Event." Longtime loyal partners WVB Holland and HKR Techniek have extended their partnership with the team, and the PTTM Drag Racing '67 Camaro will also be supported again by Sonic, DutchBoxx Golfkarton and PTTM Musclecar Performance. Red Line Oil Scandinavia is the team's new lubricant partner for 2017. Swift snippets. 15th May: Defending EDRS Pro Top Fuel Bike Champion Thomas Pettersson (Funny Bike) and Super Street Bike racer Robert Häggblom, collectively Team 817, have tested in what Thomas says was a cold and rainy Sweden and are now getting set to travel to Santa Pod Raceway for the first rounds of FIM Europe Top Fuel Bike and the FIM Europe Super Street Bike Cup at next week's FIA / FIM Main Event. "We are looking forward to this season and our efforts to place ourselves in the the upper half", says Thomas. The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com (below left) came with the words "Life... uhh... finds a way". 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. 
Lee Huxley of the UK's multiple Championship-winning Cando, Top Banana and Dark Horse teams tells us that on old friend will be paying a visit on the Sunday of the FIA / FIM Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway. "The visitor is the one and only Top Banana Roadster (above right)!", says Lee. "It does look a bit different now but still has a stance. I built this car in 1988 with a little help and it was raced until sold in 2008. The current owner uses it on the road when possible. It will be parked in the Dark Horse pit area on the Sunday if anyone wishes to see it again." If you are planning to tune in to our Webster Race Engineering / Nimbus Motorsport webcast from this weekend's Race, Rock'n'Ride at Santa Pod Raceway then please be sure to read the important message about the broadcast as you pass through the webcam landing page. Any queries indicating an omission to read the message may incur an unimpressed reception from a busy coverage team. Bob Roberts of Eurodragster.com sponsor Andy Robinson Race Cars tells us that he availed himself of one of the new roll-up banners offered by Eurodragster.com decal sponsor Paul Foote Ink and that he was very impressed. "The banner duly arrived in the forty eight hours promised and it's absolutely great", says Bob. "Top quality and top service". You can find out more on the PFI web site. When Smax out-qualified Brittany... 
15th May: After missing out on qualifying for the Four Wides by 0.02 seconds, ex-pat Top Fuel Dragster
racer Smax Smith and the Leverich Racing team decided to contest the following weekend's NHRA National event in Atlanta as
with sixteen teams entered they were guaranteed to qualify and to make up for the money lost in Charlotte. Smax writes:
The forecast was dodgy for Friday (The trick is not to look - Ed) but looked good for the rest of the weekend. We drove over four hours to Detroit Airport taking Mark Morris from the Patons' team who was off to help Scott Palmer on clutch. Sadly we were missing Aidan again as work deadlines beckoned. We hoped that we had addressed our dropped cylinder issues by restripping the blower... we found out why top teams restrip every two runs! We had quite a bit of work to do after our the damage to the heads. I rebuilt the rocker assemblies, mixed the nitro, set the clutch pedal and did the chutes whilst Jake got stuck into the heads as the bottom end was ready. Torrence's guys helped us out with blower rotor bearings and Dave Richards gave us a rocker shaft. It was raining on and off on Friday but we fired up and Gary did a couple of nitro whacks. I commented it seemed flat and I suggested checking the lash whilst I checked the nitro percentage and found we had dropped an exhaust valve. Damn! We put our spare head on and discovered our geometry was getting borderline, which happens when you get old used parts and keep repairing them! We got it all done and headed to Jeff Diehl's Nitro Funny Car pit for a pint before heading to Applebees with Jake as Gary and Bob went back to Atlanta Airport to pick Dan up. We hung out with Jim Dunn's guys and the amiable Jim Campbell. Up for a good brekky then back at the track Jake started rebuilding our last shaky head and got ready for Q3 as Q1 and Q2 were rained out. We paired with Bob Vandergriff Jr but we only planned a squirt to make sure that we left on all eight cylinders. I wasn't going to try to cut a light either as we as needed to check that our stupid brake issues were addressed. We did a perfect burnout (6300 rpm) and our new guy Truitt let his girlfriend Kristen don boots and back me up perfectly. I did a good launch on all eight and shut it off to qualify #15 amazingly ahead of Brittany Force. We turned the car around and as Gary downloaded Racepak he discovered that discovered that the DJE we took off actually returned forty gallons so it was a good job I shut off after a second and a half! It was an easy fix for Gary and we were all ready for race day. We sat out Q4 and I watched Brittany from the start line expecting her to bump me to #16 but she instantly smoked again so stayed #16 herself. Force has all that trailer set up and little us outqualified them! We headed out to a Mexican near the track for pints and nosh then Jake and I went back to the track to hook up with Scott Palmer's crew. I've gotta give a big shout out to this amazing team. I feel they took us under their wing as not only did they restrip our blower rotors but they gave us a pair of slicks and a bunch of oil. Up early and a drive-through brekky on raceday. We did last-minute stuff on the car and were ready to face good friend Steve Torrence. He was on rails having run two 3.738s so thought it best not red light as the only way we were going to win was if he smoked or blew up, which of course he didn't but we looked good on TV! Weirdly we dropped #5 cylinder but the motor was happy and the belt stayed on. We ran 4.41/270 on seven cylinders but we were confused why. This thing is ready for a three at three hundred if we can keep all eight lit. The turnaround revealed we had dropped another exhaust valve at the hit, bummer. We suspected mismatched keepers and retainers but more on that soon. Still, mission accomplished we did qualify and we addressed the tune-up side of the dropped cylinders, plus Atlanta was the only track at which I had failed to qualify (by five minutes). The next outing is at Englishtown in two weeks with Aidan our new screw-blower Funny Car, hooking up with Iron Maiden... watch this space. Simpson Voyager 2 helmets recalled. 12th May: Job Heezen of the FIM Europe Drag Racing Commission has been in touch with an urgent and important message for racers: Yesterday we were informed about safety issues with the Simpson Snell SA 2015 certified Voyager 2 helmet. According to the bulletin, there are serious problems with the attachments of the chin straps, making the helmet unsafe to use. Helmets in use will recieve a recall notice. Until further notice, the Snell SA 2015 Voyager 2 helmet will not be allowed for racing and the FIM will instruct scrutineers on duty to pay special attention to this subject. Should you be using this specific helmet, make sure that you have an alternative when going racing. You can check out the Safety Bulletin (PDF format) by clicking here. Swift snippets. 
12th May: The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com came with the words
"Old Fords never die and may resurface this weekend!". 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.Graham, Leong, Emery for BDRHoF Gala. 12th May: The British Drag Racing Hall of Fame have announced that US legends Marvin Graham, Roland Leong and Dale Emery will join the regulars at November's Gala, courtesy of supporter DialAFlight: 
Part of the multi-million pound Lotus Group and protected by both ATOL and ABTA, DialAFlight is in its thirty sixth
year of trading. They organise travel for over 450,000 people every year and the business has become the BDRHoF
Official Travel Partner during 2016-17, helping to fly in the many drag racing legends who now attend the event.
DialAFlight has three hundred travel managers. Working closely with their major travel partners in all airlines, car hires
and hotels, they can tailor-make itineraries suiting individual needs to virtually any destination in the world from a
first-class round-the-world ticket, to a European city break or maybe arrangements to get you to the USA for a
major drag race meeting. And, as the name suggests, DialAFlight does not believe in operating an on-line transactional
service but instead offers customers the opportunity to book over the phone which is a more efficient, friendly and
customer-focused experience.
Full details about the company can be found by visiting www.dialaflight.com, or why not telephone Travel Manager Bobby Tuggey on 01732 592997 or E-Mail bobby.tuggey@dialaflight.co.uk. Bobby says "We are proud to be supporting the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Gala Awards Dinner again. The evening was a fabulous affair last year and I am already looking forward to the 2017 event. It has been a great privilege to organise travel for some of the greatest names in drag racing who attended in 2016 and again this year. In fact we now arrange travel for many businesses involved in the sport and have made lots of new friends and it has been a thrill to be involved with team transport supporting the Havoc Fuel Altered Tour of the USA." So who from the USA is joining the party to celebrate our own drag racing pioneers this year, those whom we can announce today, anyway? For a start we have BDRHoF Honorary International Ambassador and the most successful driver of the twin Chevy-engined Freight Train Gas Dragster, Bob Muravez (aka Floyd Lippencote Jnr) who is returning for a third year. Then we have Gigi Carleton who is President of the Margie and Robert E Petersen Foundation which supports the world-famous Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles as well as several cancer research and childrens' charities. Gigi is joined by SEMA Hall of Fame member Gentleman Joe Schubeck, the drag racer who started Lakewood Products. Long-time former NHRA Competitions Vice President and Nostalgia Supremo Steve Gibbs is returning, as is one of America's most popular Funny Car and Top Fuel Dragster drivers and tuners Ed 'Ace' McCulloch. One of the BDRHoF sponsors, Ron Hope, is joining us again after a very successful world tour with his Fuel Altered Rat Trap, and we also welcome back Blue Max Funny Car tuner Waterbed Fred Miller. Both are Honorary BDRHoF International Ambassadors. World-renowned and award-winning automotive journalist, author and photographer Bob McClurg will again be with us hosting the Bench Racing Session and we will also be joined by three Gala first-timers. The first is Top Fuel legend Marvin Graham (sometimes known as "Marvin Who?"). Marvin was Technical Advisor on the film about Shirley Muldowney, Heart Like a Wheel. The second is chassis builder, Top Fuel Dragster driver and Funny Car Crew Chief and Tuner Roland 'Hawaiian' Leong. Finally we will be able to welcome Dale Emery who first visited the UK in 1976 driving the Chadderton and Okazaki Vega Funny Car. Along with many other achievements he went on to become Crew Chief for Raymond Beadle's Blue Max Funny Car. Bobby Tuggey says "There are more legends to be announced but their names must remain a secret for a few weeks yet. Once again it is going to be quite a drag racing CelebFest: a unique occasion to talk with drag racing pioneers from both sides of the Atlantic and a fitting tribute to those who helped grow drag racing this side of the Atlantic." The 2017 BDRHoF Inductees will be announced on Eurodragster.com during Dragstalgia weekend at Santa Pod Raceway on 14th-16th July and will be presented with their awards at the Gala in November. The BDRHoF is now taking reservations for the 2017 Gala Awards Dinner by E-Mail at stuart@britishdragracinghof.co.uk or by telephone on 01933 279102. This year the tickets are priced competitively at £65 which includes a pre-dinner reception. The event always sells out well in advance, so if you would like to join us for the occasion we suggest you make your reservation sooner rather than later. On receiving your reservation you will be given the procedure to book rooms at the negotiated room rate that includes breakfast and VAT as well as parking. On-going news about the Gala, sponsors and other events in which the BDRHoF is involved will be published on the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame web site at www.britishdragracinghof.co.uk, on Eurodragster.com, and on Facebook and Twitter. Race, Rock'n'Ride racer update. 11th May: Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall for forwarding us details of the arrangements for next week's Race, Rock'n'Ride at Santa Pod Raceway: Friday 19th May 12:00 Santa Pod Raceway's gates open for entered racers only 16:00 Signing On office opens 17:00 Scrutineering commences (details) 20:00 Signing On office closes 20:00 Scrutineering ends 22:00 Santa Pod Raceway's gates close Saturday 20th May 07:00 Signing On office opens 07:00 Scrutineering commences (details) 08:00 Santa Pod Raceway's gates open for the remainder of the weekend 09:30 Track opens for qualifying Sunday 21st May 07:30 Signing On office opens 09:30 Track opens for qualifying and eliminations The provisional running orders are 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 20:00 on any day of the event. Before 09:00 vehicles should be pushed or towed to Scrutineering, not ridden. Non-observation of curfew will result in exclusion from the event. Junior racers please remember the rule about pushing vehicles back to the pits once through the arch beside Scrutineering. Only race officials and SPR staff are allowed in Race Control whilst racing is underway. Should racers wish to raise any matter with race officials then please do not visit Race Control; please firstly see Race Secretary Kathy Taylor who is based in Signing On. Colour commentators are requested to come to Commentary only when their class is at the head of the lanes, to vacate Commentary when their class has run, and not to bring guests to Commentary with them. The Eurodragster.com office at the Bankside end of Race Control is similarly out of bounds during racing except to Eurodragster.com staff, Zeon TV crew and racers or crew collecting Perfect Award money. Swift snippets. 11th May: Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall for forwarding us the final version of the official entry list for the FIA / FIM Main Event which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 26th-29th May. You can check out the FIA / FIM Main Event 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. The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com came with the words "About time we had a proper paintjob again!". 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. 
Kerryane van den Berg writes that Shark Attack Racing's Tonnie van den Berg will be contesting his first Championship round in FIM Europe Pro Stock Bike at the FIA / FIM Main Event. Shark Attack are looking forward to seeing what the bike, built by Eurodragster.com sponsor Psycleworkz, can do. Eurodragster.com sponsors Racepak and Post en Dros have extended their partnership in Speedgroup's contingency programme for 2017. You can read more in the Drag Racing Europe Blog by clicking here. Editor's note: Apologies for the lack of a news update yesterday. Your News Editor did not have the requisite server access where he was located. More tributes to Phil Cornish. 11th May: We were very pleased to receive more tributes to Phil Cornish, who died last week. Sam Freeman writes: I was greatly saddened to hear of the passing of Phil last week. Despite not seeing other very often, whenever we did it was like it was yesterday, the mark of a true friend. We first met at Santa Pod when Clive Skilton roped me in to help with refuelling the ex-Kuhl and Olson Car. Don B and Phil were both involved with preparing the car at that time. I spent many weekends staying with Phil and his family in North Harrow either to help on the cars or when arriving back late on a Sunday night. Phil was without doubt one of the most knowledgable engineers I have the pleasure to meet and a great asset to any team he worked for or advised. Rest in Peace my friend. My sincere condolences to Bernie and Phil's family. Bunt and Dinah Willcox say: We have known Phil since the seventies through drag racing and his move to Bridport. We became close friends with Phil and Bernie sharing several holidays to California with them, and the most memorable visit to Las Vegas to be witnesses at their wedding followed by a trip along Route 66. We shared many experiences and moments of laughter. In the last few years Phil was happiest at home with Bernie and his animals, and passed away at the place he loved most. Lots of love to Bernie. RIP Phil. UK Top Sportsman update. 11th May: Paul Marston writes that entry forms will be available at the FIA / FIM Main Event for JT Construction UK Top Sportsman, whose two races will be contested at the Mopar EuroNationals at Santa Pod Raceway on 28th-30th July: This is the roughest, toughest, hardest-fought, richest, no-rules, no holds barred, Heads-Up and Fast Bracket Sportsman Doorslammer drag race of the year. This year John Tebenham returns, stepping up as title sponsor of the event as well as posting a hefty prize fund bonus for the winner and runner up in the Heads-up race. This is in addition to posting travel money €100 for any European competitor who wants to race with us. Many thanks Jon! There is also the usual JT Construction UK Top Sportsman prize money to fight for. There has been a fair amount of rumour mill stuff going on regarding who is entering and what have they built. Remember: other than safety there are no rules, no weight limit, no cubic inch limit, as many power adders as you can spell! This really is the event where, for once in the year, you really can throw the kitchen sink at it. The track will hold it - MSA Pro Modified run at this event so you know the track is National Event standard. With an average of a thirty two-car field there is a lot of track action and a lot to play for. For more details E-Mail pmdragracing@gmail.com, call me on 07831 650230 or search for UK Top Sportsman on Facebook. Feature: Famous names in France. 
9th May: The latest in our occasional series of Features presented in association with
Lucas Oil Products is a gallery of Christian Bailly's
historical shots from France kindly sent to us by Perry Antoniou. Perry writes:
Most people know how I am involved in a lot more than drag racing. A few years ago I became Chairman of the Sunbeam Lotus Owners' Club. We have close contact with several of the key participants of the Sunbeam Lotus Rally cars of the 1980s and these include the drivers, team and even the media people involved as well as the current owners of the remaining two hundred and fifty cars and eleven Works cars. Sitting in our archives are things like Jean Todt's Contract of Employment with Chrysler / Talbot Competitions Department (£11,000 per annum as co-driver in 1981). One of the great guys of the time and closest friends of our little French FIA friend is Christian Bailly, known to those around at that time as French Chris. At the time Chris was on the payroll as Team Photographer to Chrysler / Talbot. After those golden years of rallying, he moved on to Citroen who at that time got involved with drag racing. Chris gave me a set of pictures from his personal archives to share with my drag racing family. It is highly unlikely that anyone reading this has seen any of these photos before. Most of you can easily identify where these drag races were held. Most of you can easily identify why French Chris has given me the privilege of having these photos. Most of you will easily identify some very famous heroes of our past in these photos. Please enjoy them, please do not screenshot them or post them on social media. Please do not ask for copies. They have been given to me as a mark of respect for my hard efforts from one person involved to another person involved because of my love for more than one form of motorsport and for my drag racing family to see. All images are ©Christian Bailly / KIN Conseil Automotive Artprints. You can take a look at Christian's shots by clicking here or by clicking on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. FAO Coldfire users. 9th May: Martin Hill has been in touch to ask that any race team requiring new DJ Safety Coldfire bottles at the FIA / FIM Main Event pre-order for guaranteed delivery. Martin says that this does not affect recertification or refills, just out-of-date cylinders. For orders or enquiries please get in touch with Martin at martin.hill@fireforce.co.uk. Latest spy picture revealed. 9th May: Santa Pod Raceway Track Announcer and Pro ET racer-eagerly-in-waiting Colin Theobald writes that yesterday's spy picture shows the latest full build to be unleashed from the workshops of Williams Brothers Racing and Eurodragster.com sponsor OCS Paint: 
James Oliver is the proud owner and driver of this 1973 Pontiac Firebird which two years ago was metallic blue with a faded white interior. It is
destined for Pro ET then in due course will receive an engine swap so that it is a full-on NHRA-legal stocker.
It goes without saying that everything is immaculate on this car, which was painted by OCS Paint. Dan Williams built the 454 ci race engine which has registered way more than 700 bhp on the dyno. The car made its first test runs over the weekend and went straight into the very low tens, with more testing next weekend. Expect to see this car run mid nines and, although the team will try and calm it down, the trademark wheels-up launches will probably appear at some stage this year. James will be making his racing début at the FIA /FIM Main Event so please visit the team in the pits and check out the latest build. The PMR quartet. 9th May: Paul Marston Racing are very proud to announce that no less than four National Champions will be driving for the team at the FIA / FIM Main Event, contesting four classes in all. Paul writes: Our driver line-up has an international flavour once again with the return of ex-pat Tony Morris. Tony will be competing in Super Gas in the 100% Pure Whoopass Chevy Monza. Tony currently drives Bruce Guertin's Ford Fairmont in NHRA Division 2 Super Street, attending the NHRA National event at Atlanta prior to flying over for the Main Event. Second on the list is Martin Curbishley who will pilot the PMR Miller four-link dragster. Martin is very comfortable with the dragster having previously driven it to victory in Super Comp, and he will again drive it in Super Comp this time. It will be great to have Martin back with us. Third in our line-up is our very own Mick Howling, who fits quite comfortably in the Miller car as it has a bigger cage than our previous S&W dragster plus he has lost weight. In fact Mick insisted before we even bought the Miller dragster that he try the cockpit for size to make sure that he could drive it! It will be simply fantastic to have Mick behind the wheel again and now in a Super Pro ET dragster instead of a doorslammer. Finally I will be driving the Monza in the Super Street double-header. This will be the first time that entrants in Super Street will be able to enjoy two eliminations at a UK National Event. Santa Pod Racers Club and Santa Pod Raceway are hoping to expand this to other classes in future but for now it is just Super Street. Along with his expertise, Tony Morris will be bringing over a Lightning Performance alcohol Dominator carb especially built for the Monza to sharpen her up for Super-class throttle stop racing. For more details of this, and any questions you may have, pass by the PMR pits over Main Event weekend. Phil Cornish's funeral. 8th May: Many thanks to Mickey Bonome for passing on details of Phil Cornish's funeral. Phil's funeral will take place at 14:30 on Tuesday 16th May at Weymouth Crematorium, Quibo Lane, Weymouth DT4 0RR (map). If desired, donations can be made in Phil's memory to Fortuneswell Cancer Trust or to Weldmar Hospicecare Trust by visiting www.grassby-funeral.co.uk or c/o Grassby Funeral Service, 8 Princes Street, Dorchester DT1 1TW (telephone 01305 262338). Presenting the Ugly Sister. 8th May: Last week's series of "Barn find" spy pictures came courtesy of UK Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator racer Andy Bond. Andy writes: 
After five years racing the Mustang, fun but frustrating, a new project was needed. It had to be a shoebox, Big Block,
twin-turbo 'real' car with original chassis number and very Rock and Roll. I've always had a passion for the shoebox
Chevy and already have a really clean Nitrous assisted '55. I wanted the new car to stand out from the other 'polite'
cars in the pits so the idea of the Ugly Sister was born.
There are a few select companies who have helped turn the heavy old timer into a genuine street racer. Thanks to Martin 'Brain' Kerr of Tubeworks Custom Fabrication, for being committed throughout the build with innovative designs and amazing fabrication skills; Nick Davies and Rob Loaring of ICE Automotive Racing Engines / Rooster Racing Equipment who have sourced, supplied and built an awesome engine and drivetrain and supplied us with knowledge which cannot be bought; Nick Williams of OCS Paint for great preparation and paintwork in super quick time; Neil and Jacob Melliard of Prosign whose brilliant vision and incredible airbrush skills have totally nailed my idea for her image; and Mark Harrison of Owen Developments for providing the wizardry that is Motec. It's taken six years to build up my pit equipment, persuade a seasoned crew to reform and find the right car. I reckon there are ten years left in my drag racing career and I'm gonna make them count! I've assured my ever-supportive wife that this is the last car ever, but if anyone hears of a blown '57 Pro Mod let me know. The above picture and last week's associated spy pictures courtesy and ©Matt Woods Photography Swift snippets. 
8th May: No sooner do we reveal one spy picture than another arrives, this one without words.
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.Help urgently sought. 7th May: Ray White, who runs Eurodragster.com's Complaints Department, has been in touch with an urgent call for help: I need a cylinder head brought over from the Isle of Wight and wondered if any of the good people of Eurodragster.com Land will be travelling to Santa Pod and could bring it over for me. I will happily pay. If you can help then please drop Ray a line at ray@si-electrical.com. Swift snippets. 
7th May: The week's "Barn find" spy picture saga concludes with one final shot from our mole. 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.
Many thanks to our own Simon for calculating and posting the post-APIRA Springspeed Nationals points standings in the 2017 APIRA Ultimate Power Championships. You can check out the points on our OCS Paint-sponsored Points Standings page which you can reach by clicking here or by clicking on the OCS Paint Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Web site updates. 7th May: The Mad Welshman has updated his Flickr gallery with pictures from the Festival of Power at Santa Pod Raceway. You can take a look at www.flickr.com/photos/the_madwelshman. SPR Junior Fun Day entry open. 6th May: Santa Pod Raceway's Junior Drag Racing Fun Day returns for a fifth year on Thursday 24th August. Donna Finnegan writes: Since the first Junior Day, held in 2013, almost 13,000 spectators have attended the event with over £9,000 being raised for various charities. Our chosen beneficiary for 2017 is the Helping Harry Trust based in Daventry. Harry suffered severe brain damage after a traumatic birth and as a result he now has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy along with many other complex needs. As always, the track action is dedicated to the Junior racers and an entry form is now available for Junior Dragster, Junior Funny Car and Junior Drag Bike racers wishing to take part on the day. The entry form can be downloaded (PDF format) by clicking here. Racers will need to telephone the Santa Pod office on 01234 782828 to book their race voucher (outside the UK +44 1234 782828). There is a sign-on fee of £20 which will go towards the Helping Harry Trust. For more information on the junior day and The Helping Harry Trust, please visit www.santapod.co.uk/e_junior_day.php. Swift snippets. 
6th May: The week's "Barn find" spy picture saga contines with another shot from our mole. 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.Smax at the Four Wides. 6th May: Just before strapping in for this weekend's Lucas Oil NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta, ex-pat UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Smax Smith has been in touch with an account of his weekend in the Leverich family's Top Fuel Dragster at last week's NHRA Four Wide Nationals in Charlotte: On the Wednesday night I had couple of pints and hit the sack at midnight as I was going on the long drive to North Carolina with Aidan and Jakena. At 5:00 am I woke up and dashed down thinking I'd overslept but it was 1:30 am! I was really excited to be going to the 4 Wides again. I went back to bed until 4:00 am then set off on our epic journey through West Virginia and the Virginia Mountains to North Carolina for 6:00 pm. Gary and Bob had driven the rig down but blew a driveshaft when they got there, so they put out a Facebook plea for help and Jess from Simpson sent her dad Bill with a 2016 truck on loadn whilst Bob's truck was fixed. Amazing cyber family or what! We took beers over to Scott Palmer's pit and visited Wayne Butler on Samsel's A/Fuel team - we bought our new alky Funny Car off them for Aidan, more on that soon. After Gainesville's brake problems we still had air in the system so we proceeded to bleed brakes but ended up taking the caliper apart to service it so I at least had a pedal. I borrowed bigger chute bags off Dave Richards' Funny Car and we were all ready for Q1 on Friday. We were in the quad with Ike Maier, Chris Karamasines and Shawn Langdon. I was pre-staged and saw The Greek roll the beams so they backed him up again, we had been running for ages so I was hoping it wasn't me who would stage first and time The Greek out but he eventually staged! I shot away with a 0.080 light but 300 feet out it kicked the tyres, put the car sideways and threw the belt. It also had a hole out at the hit! I qualified #15 with an 8.0/75 (better than yhe 26 mph at Gainesville!). The track temperature was hot and air not great so we sat out Q2 and got car ready for Saturday. It was great to have our Aidan back as he is such a machine doing clutch then helping everyone else! Jake did the bottom end in pro time whilst Dan and TJ did the heads and Gary's brother Dan did the fuel. We spun the blower to 44 % and Gary put another tenth compression in the motor and added his timing curve. Troy Coughlin from Kalitta's team asked us to scrub their new tyres - the big teams know the tyres perform better after one run - so we fitted their new rims and tyres which would help us on this hot track. We then went to Steak'n'Shake for supper and went back to the motel. 
Up early, went for brekky at the Waffle House then went to the track and adjusted throttle stop and last minute stuff. We let Scott Palmer fire up first as he was pitted by us and he now does a big nitro whack, as does Del Worsham since he went independent again, then we fired and Gary did two huge nitro whacks to the delight of everyone. It should be mandatory! That warm-up got us over 10,000 hits on Facebook alone. We sat out Q3 and watched the Pro cars, amazing being in the stands at 4 Wides but many teams struggled in the heat. Terry Haddock bumped us with a 4.40 run. When we returned someone must have complained to tech that our blower mainfold was outdated and they said that we had to get another for Q4. Huge panic as the car was ready to go. Huge thanks to the amazing Laganas as Dom loaned us his spare and Bobby tracked us an AJ manifold for Atlanta this weekend. The boys thrashed and we fired up with no issues. We made it down to face Leah Pritchett and Scott Palmer. We did out burnouts but I had issues which transpired to be a failing master cylinder. I pumped the brakes while Aidan guided me in to pre-stage but the car rolled into stage. Aidan beckoned to the crew to push me back so I let go of the brake but they didn't push me so it deep-staged! I hit the fuel shut-off so had to wait for the pump to recover for a few seconds so I left after the other two. It was an ugly run - it dropped a cylinder at the hit again and rattled down to a 4.42 so we missed quailifying by two hundredths of a second. Bummer! We also shredded the belt, I guess the smaller pulley allowed the belt to catch the belt guard. Back in the pits crew thrashed to get ready for Atlanta. Although the block and crank were fine one head was toast and there was slight damage to the other. It also damaged a couple of pistons, snapped an exhaust rocker and bent the intake shaft but luckily didn't hydraulic. Gary sorted what we needed to do, so we loaded everything up and decided that Bob would wait around until Monday to watch the car count for Atlanta as we really needed to get the qualifying money to survive! When I wrote this there were sixteen cars so we decided to go. We hung around the Palmers' pit to party on Saturday night before Wendy's and bed. It was great to meet Bob Bode and Aidan and I had pics with him then went to say hi to Del Worsham and chatted with Cruz Pedregon. There are lots of highs at NHRA! We decided to get brekky and drive back to Canada on Sunday morning as we would have another few days off this weekend. We are ready for our first three-second and 300 mph thousand foot pass - we just need to go down on eight cylinders! Good Luck and stay safe to Smax, and to Jonnie Lindberg (Fuel Funny Car) who is also contesting this weekend's race. You will be able to stay in touch with our heroes' progress on the Drag Race Central web site at www.dragracecentral.com and on Smax's and the Lindbergs' Facebook pages. Off to a flyer at York. 6th May: Chris Murty writes that the UK's York Raceway hosted Rounds 3 and 4 of the Pennine Drag Racing Club's Championships last weekend: Some cars made their début this weekend and those new cars had to find their feet quickly. There was a strong crosswind causing havoc for some racers. In American Super Stock Kris Thoburn took number one spot In qualifying, but was asleep in the first round and lost to Dave Billadeau in his station wagon. Dave went on to take the round win against 2016 Champion Lee Chiles. In JDM-DRC, Shaun in the V8 Lexus was number one in qualifying but was also asleep on the line and Peter Richardson in the blue Civic took full advantage. Peter went on to win the round, meeting CJ Murty in the final in his £50 race car. CJ dialled in 18.0 and Pete an 11.4. Despite the excruciating wait of over six seconds, Peter cut a great reaction to take the round win. Pro FWD was the perfect round for Peter Richardson and the Civic taking the number one spot and the round win against Stephen Ray in the Astra van who in over-eagerness ran a red light in the final. 
In Super Cup, Nigel Preston was on top of the qualifying list but Des Taylor in the Thundergod comp altered was winding up the pressure and finding his feet in the
new car, having to learn fast. Des went on to meet reigning Super Cup champion Paul Grainger in the final. Knowing Des was getting faster on each pass, Paul turned
the Anglia up to eleven and, as you can see from the picture, sent the car in to a huge wheelie. Unfortunately the landing was hard putting the car out of action for the
rest of the weekend. Paul managed to nurse it back to the pits. Volks Stock went the way of a new racer to the class, it was a perfect round taking the number one in
qualifying and the round win.
In Sportsman ET, George Chiles in his Chrysler Crossfire nearly pulled off the perfect round - he was sat on top in qualifying but broke out against Dave Mears in the final. In Pro ET, Richard Granger and his street-legal Plymouth Road Runner and Mia in the Wraith pick up met in the final, a very close race with Mia taking the round win. In HRSC, Derek Beck in the TVR was in the final against Andy Crolla in his 1990s Camaro - both cars on paper very evenly matched but Derek's reaction gave him an advantage all the way to the finish line. Monday Round 4: In American Super Stock, Kris and his Pro Street Mustang's luck was in, taking the round win against Richard Granger who ran a red light then broke out as well. In JDM-DRC, Shaun Rounthwaite in the V8 Lexus, met CJ Murty in the £50 banger in the final. A very close race but Shaun, right on the numbers, took the round win. Pro FWD was a repeat of Sunday - Pete against Stephen Ray and the Astra van, Pete taking the round win and running a new PB of 11.0. In Super Cup Des Taylor was getting to grips with the newly-purchased Thundergod, matching the car's PB with an 8.8 and taking the round win for the double. Ben Rushforth was in another Jaguar-powered race car, this time in the Mouse Trap 2 front-engine dragster. A best of a 9.00 at less than half throttle shows huge potential for the car once the team get it dialled in. Volks Stock had many breakages, all David Downes had to do in the Maher Beetle was stage to take the win. In Sportsman ET Dave Mears got the double, meeting Stephen Gilmour and the Pinto Cortina in the final. A double break-out but Stephen by the larger amount, gifting the win to Dave. In Pro ET, Richard Granger found himself in the final again but this time things went his way - a break out from Vic Parsons and his Belvedere gave Richard the round win. We will be doing all again at the end-May Bank Holiday at our VW, Music and Drag Racing Festival. Two rounds of Volks Stock, JDM-DRC, Pro FWD and NSCC and one round of American Super Stock, Sportsman ET, Pro ET, Super Cup and HRSC, and we welcome the Nostalgia Superstock series. Web site updates. 6th May: Our good friend Callum Pudge tells us that the official web site of the UK's Outlaw Anglias has been updated with an illustrated report from last week's second round at the APIRA Springspeed Nationals. You can check out out at www.outlawanglia.co.uk. Phil Cornish. 5th May: Keith Lee writes that drag racing has lost a talented tuner, and a well-loved character, with the passing of Phil Cornish on Tuesday after a battle with cancer. Phil was a well-known figure on the strips in the seventies as, along with Geof Hauser, he was mechanic on Clive Skilton's highly-successful race cars. Phil and Geof went to college together in the Harrow area to study mechanical engineering, and made great team mates in those hectic times. "Phil was always very meticulous in the way he worked - and a deep thinker", remembers Geof of their time together working on Top Fuellers and Funny Cars. Phil had a real feel for all things mechanical, and was always in demand to help out other teams with advice and assistance. Wearing his trademark woolly hat, and shambling around the tracks, he was an instantly recognisable figure, but was never one to seek the limelight. His idea of happiness would be to simply go fishing - something he could enjoy when he moved down to West Dorset to live, and to look after Mickey Naylor's dragster Medicine Man. Sharing a garage with the Dorset Horn and Fire Injun teams was a happy time. Phil moved on to successfully working on classsic cars and racers in later years, but just very occasionally he had his arm twisted to help out with the odd drag car. Our thoughts go out to his wife Bernie at this sad time. Details of the funeral have yet to be finalised, but will be updated when available. Clive Skilton writes: Wow. What a shock. I had lost contact with Phil and had no idea of his health problems. What a great guy. Phil was absolutely instrumental in our racing successes and development of our race cars. So calm in his approach to the hectic race scene. When he prepped a racer I had 100% confidence to drive to the max. In my mind I see him exactly as he was. Instantly recognisable. He has gone where the good guys go. Dick Sharp says: I've known Phil since his early days in Clive Skilton's team. We became friends almost straight away. He was always eager to help with any problems we had as a team. I would always take his advice above anyone else's when it came to engines and tuning. I knew from the start that he was the man! He could be working on Clive's car and hear another on the track and diagnose a fault just by hearing it in the distance. He always prided himself on not breaking parts, he could get the best out of the parts available without breaking - Jim Seward will attest to that. When Phil first started crewing for him Jim hadn't got the best in the kit he'd bought with the car but Phil got it all working and gradually between them they kept improving until Jim ran his first six. When Clive left for America and Phil took on Mickey Naylor's Medicine Man dragster they had nowhere to house it and Phil came down with the car to our garage in Bridport and lodged with our team member, Tim Russ, and he never left Dorset after that. He even took up fishing and had a small boat moored at West Bay. He helped out on Dorset Horns 6 and 7 when Bunt and I decided to get back into it in the late '90s. RIP Phil, I'm glad I knew you. Steve Legg says: During my very limited time involved with drag racing and its family, no-one warranted my engineering respect more than Phil. This unassuming, modest and friendly guy never ceased to amaze me with his all-round skill with anything that had an engine - petrol, diesel or nitro. I am sure the name Phil Cornish will be remembered for ever. RIP Phil, condolences to Bernie. Liz Burn writes: I was shocked and very sad to hear of the passing of Phil. He was such a lovable character, quite and unassuming, but his mechanical talent was well-known in the drag racing family during my time in the sport. I send my condolences to his wife and those closest to him who will now have a void in their lives. RIP Phil. Brian Taylor says: Really sad to hear about Phil Cornish leaving us. A key member of Clive Skilton's team and helping many others during the 1970s. One of the characters of my era as track announcer. RIP Phil. If you would like to send a tribute to Phil then please E-Mail tributes@eurodragster.com. Pick-ups invited to Truxx Factor. 4th May: The organiser of a new truck festival at Santa Pod Raceway has been in touch to invite pick-ups to display and/or make passes on the track. Truxx Factor at Santa Pod on 13th-14th May features truck racing, displays, parades and shows, model trucks, truck pull and more. If you have a pick-up and would be interested in appearing at Truxx Factor then please call Steve Horne on 07831 373425. When it can only get better... 4th May: UK Pro ET racer Paul Baynton writes on behalf of himself and daughter and co-driver Laura that Team Capricious have not had the best start to their season: 
We nearly didn't arrive at the Festival of Power at all. We made a detour up the M40 after the M25 was showing delays
of up to an hour and a half. The detour was OK until heading along the A43 dual carriageway, a very kind lady decided
to stop to let someone join from the slip road. With everything locked up we managed to stop inches from the back of
her car and thanks to the observant lorry driver in the other lane, who clearly saw what was going on and managed to
also stop, we avoided a major accident! We continued our journey to Hauser Race Cars for some set-up changes on the
rear of the Capri before heading on to Santa Pod.
Qualifying went OK and Laura qualified seventh which put us up against Paul Brown in the first round. The Capri was running well when we headed down for the first round on Saturday. We sat in the pairing lanes for a while and then we decided to get some heat into the engine. Two pumps of the throttle then thump! The cable snapped and that was it, game over. Gutted! The annoying thing was we had a new cable in the motorhome but no time to fit it. Thanks to Jim Massey for the loan of the coolest recovery vehicle and to Steve Hudson for the driving duties. 
On to the APIRA Springspeed Nationals for round two and after an uneventful trip we got set up at the track. Qualifying
went well and at the end of day one and after four qualifiers we were fourth. Sunday produced a stiff crosswind and on
our second run we improved slightly but remained fourth. Sunday night it rained and rained some more. On Monday we were
greeted with a few more showers. After another heavy shower just after lunch we decided to load up ready to head home.
The sun came out and so we waited as the track crew were working hard to dry the track.
Once it became apparent that we were going racing we took the Capri back off the trailer and got ready. We were waiting in the pairing lanes and then there was an untimely oil down. We were then told that we would all only be getting a first round. Not unexpected as time was marching on. All weekend I'd been cutting good lights so I didn't expect such a poor red handing the win to my opponent. All in all it was an enjoyable weekend. The track didn't feel as good as usual this weekend but the effort put in by all the track crew and officials could not be faulted. Well done everyone. See you all again in August. Next up the Main Event where we hope things will improve for us. Hosts sought for Main Event VIPs. 4th May: Former racer, co-owner of the Apache Nostalgia Funny Car, and all-round good egg Perry Antoniou has been in touch with a request to racers to help to promote the sport to a brace of VIPs at the FIA / FIM Main Event: I need a favour from the pits on the Sunday of the race (28th May). I have two VIP guests with me and I have been asked to give them a close-up and personal pit tour of the all classes and teams on that day. Obviously I know how busy the Top Fuel, Top Methanol, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Modified pits can get particularly during turn-round. But if any teams would be happy for me to spend ten minutes or so showing my guests around their pit, vehicle and team to explain what's going on then please let me know. We won't get in your way and I know enough to show and explain to my guests what is going on whilst the crew and driver are hard at it during the day. Obviously several teams and drivers know who I am, but I still always feel obliged to be courteous and ask if it is OK for me to snoop in with two guests. For those who don't know my face, I'll wear a red rose! This is mainly for Pro classes as I know that all the Sportsman teams are always welcoming to visitors. Except for Rob Smallworth whom I know never wants to be interrupted when he's having breakfast, not even for a qualifying round... If you can help Perry with his VIPs then please drop him a line at perry@n2oxide.com. Swift snippets. 4th May: Thanks to Ian King for letting us know that the post-APIRA Springspeed Nationals points standings in the 2017 ACU UK Drag Bike Championships are now available on the King Racing web site at www.kingracing.com. Terje Håkensbakken writes that Norway's Junior Drag Bike team has a new member in the person of John Rolfstad, son of Supertwin star Svein Olav. John's bike has a new 600 cc motor and will be capable of high sevens over the eighth. At the weekend John met the public at a show in his home town of Skreia. 
We have received another spy picture of the "Barn find" from this week's mole. 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. Web site updates. 4th May: Thanks to MSA British Drag Racing Championship PR Robin Jackson for letting us know that a report of the first round of the Pro Mod Championship is now showing on its official web site at www.msadragracing.co.uk. Our good friend Alan Currans has updated his excellent Acceleration Archive with shots of Saturday's action at the weekend's APIRA Springspeed Nationals. As ever you can check out the latest updates via What's New at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk. Paul Lister has updated his Drag Car Anon site with pictures from the Saturday of the Festival of Power at Santa Pod Raceway. You can take a look at www.dragcaranon.co.uk. BDRHoF Allard Award entry open. 4th May: The British Drag Racing Hall of Fame has announced details of the 2017 Sydney Allard Media Awards for Written and Photographic Journalism, which will be presented for the fourth consecutive year at the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Gala Awards Dinner at the historic Oatlands Park Hotel, Weybridge, on Saturday 18th November. In 2017 a new Award has been added for Best Video. 
Established in 2014 in memory of the founding father of British drag racing, the Sydney Allard Media Awards celebrate the best of the
past year's written, video and photographic drag racing journalism and salutes the vital contribution which the media makes to the sport's
well-being and success. Entries are now invited from writers, photographers and those producing videos, amateur or professional, posted on
YouTube and reflecting coverage of British drag racing and associated activities during the twelve months ending July 2017. This means that
anything taken or written since August 2016 is eligible and entry is open now.
This year's entries must be submitted by the end of August 2017 then the winning entrant in each category will be invited, together with a companion, to attend the Hall of Fame Gala to receive a crystal trophy in recognition of his or her achievement. The Written Journalism Award will be presented to the author of the year's best article, feature, book or blog, published or unpublished, in print or on-line in the designated time frame. The Photographic Journalism Award will be presented for the best picture, and the Video Journalism Award will be presented for the best video, covering the same period. Writers, video editors and photographers may make multiple entries but each entry must be accompanied by a separate entry form to enable the judges to collate them accurately. Full entry details are available on the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame web site at www.britishdragracinghof.co.uk. The judging panel will include Guild of Motoring Writers President, racer, motoring connoisseur and Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, and the Editor of Octane magazine, David Lillywhite. Previous winners include Nick Brooke Langham, Jon Spoard and Julian Hunt. The Andy Willsheer photo at left shows happy 2015 winners Rodger Attaway and Jeni Long. The BDRHoF is now taking reservations for the 2017 Gala Awards Dinner by E-Mail at stuart@britishdragracinghof.co.uk or by telephone on 01933 279102. This year the tickets are priced competitively at £65 which includes a pre-dinner reception. The event always sells out well in advance, so if you would like to join us for the occasion we suggest you make your reservation sooner rather than later. On receiving your reservation you will be given the procedure to book rooms at the negotiated room rate that includes breakfast and VAT as well as parking. On-going news about the Gala, sponsors and other events in which the BDRHoF is involved will be published on the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame web site at www.britishdragracinghof.co.uk, on Eurodragster.com, and on Facebook and Twitter. Swift snippets. 3rd May: Many thanks to our own Simon and Yvonne Tramm for calculating and posting the post-APIRA Springspeed Nationals points standings in the 2017 UK National Drag Racing Championships. You can check out the points on our OCS Paint-sponsored Points Standings page which you can reach by clicking here or by clicking on the OCS Paint Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Swedish Pro Modified racer Mats Eriksson has confirmed that the Green Goblin team will be sitting out 2017 whilst a new race car is built. You can read more on the ME Racing web site at www.meracing.com. 
We have received two more spy pictures from the same mole who slipped us yesterday's barn find. 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. Editor's note: An unavoidable short news update today. We will catch up with the backlog for tomorrow's update, and please keep the news coming to news@eurodragster.com. Springspeed Nationals curtailed. 2nd May: Yesterday's eliminations at the APIRA Springspeed Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway were badly affected by rain. Only the first cycle of eliminations could be run after late start only made possible by an epic and repeated drying job by the track crew and race officials who refused to give up. Only two classes ran finals: Super Comp: Conrad Stanley 9.024/127.14 def. Andy Williams 8.858/152.41 DQ breakout Jap Series Pro: David Nicol no time def. David Greenhalgh no time DQ David Greenhalgh escaped uninjured but for a banged elbow from a hideous crash after his seven-second Jap Series Pro doorslammer turned hard left and impacted the guardrail head-on. A rapid avoiding manoeuvre by Dave Nicol in his dragster averted would could have been an even worse accident; Dave N's dragster suffered minor damage to its front wing as David G's car touched it on the way through. Congratulations to Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator racer Mark Todd who won the £50 Eurodragster.com / Bad Habit Racing Perfect Light Award with a 0.000 Reaction Time in qualifying. The Perfect Light Award has been reset to £50 for Race, Rock'n'Ride at Santa Pod Raceway on 20th-21st May. The Eurodragster.com Perfect ET Award supporting Bloodwise was not won and has been increased to £75 for Race, Rock'n'Ride. Clerks of the Course Glenn Stockton, Jane Read and Tony Smith asked us to publish this message of appreciation to racers and crew: "After observations from the MSA Steward, competitors and crew will have noticed that passes are being checked more thoroughly in the staging lanes and on startline. SCR is famous for being a friendly and lenient place to race, but we have had to tighten up on the number of people in the startline area purely for safety reasons. We would like to thank all the teams for their good-natured co-operation." Apologies for the brief break in webcam service as the racing commenced. From where we were sitting the broadcast software was reporting that that everything was just fine, there were no hints of any problem elsewhere in the process path, but after a timely query from a viewer we restarted the broadcast service anyway and that sorted it out. You can check out our John Woolfe Racing-sponsored APIRA Springspeed Nationals reports 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. Please join Tog in thanking Simon for his hard work on the live race reports and Grace for her half (or more) of the daily galleries. Swift snippets. 
2nd May: The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com came with the words "Barn find".
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.Earlier news |
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