Veidec Festival coverage. 31st July: Svensk Dragracing and Eurodragster.com are collaborating on the live Event Coverage of the Veidec Festival at Mantorp Park. Our joint event coverage as usual consists of frequently-updated reports of the on-track action every day of the event, together with pit notes updated several times each day, and a photo gallery at the end of each day. With the kind permission of Event Director Fredrik Ström we are also running the webcam, which is broadcasting a picture every two minutes. ©Eurodragster.com Click here to view our Veidec Festival coverage, or click on the Event Coverage link on the left hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Hello Cleveland! 31st July: Paul and Brian of the UK's PSP Solutions Super Pro ET team say that their rare alloy Ford 351 ci Cleveland engine block has returned from Porting Dynamics of Maple Grove Minnesota, after the attempt to enter the 2004 Engine Masters dyno competition. ©Eurodragster.com "The engine is now 410 ci with Custom Darton Sleeves, Custom JE Pistons, a steel stroker crank and rods, fitted crank scrapers, and a Custom Stef’s alloy sump, and also a beautiful CNC machined front cover-motor plate", says Paul Harvey. "The team are now making preparations to fit the engine to the dragster, and with any luck get out to make some test runs later this season. Thanks to Dave Storlien of Porting Dynamics for the excellent work and assistance over the past eighteen months. Watch this space all you Cleveland lovers, if you want to see a piece of Ford racing history." Paul also tells us that he has started a new auction site at www.psp-2go.co.uk. The auction site, run by drag racers for drag racers, allows image uploads and accepts payment by Paypal. Swift snippets. 31st July: We were very pleased to hear from Terry Homan that Trevor Duckworth has had all charges against him dropped by the Isle of Man police in regard to the incident which occured at Port Erin last year. "This is excellent news for Trevor, who runs a lot of events particularly at Elvington and in the IoM", says Terry. "It also has a major impact on our sport. I understand that Trev is now enjoying a well deserved drink or twelve, and is likely to be seriously drunk for sometime." ©Eurodragster.com Europe goes to Bahrain: official. 30th July: Final contracts were signed at Mantorp Park today for the FIA Invitational and European Championship rounds at the Bahrain International Circuit. The Invitational is to take place at the BIC on 9th-10th November with the opening round of the 2006 FIA and UEM European Championships to be held there in the spring. Speaking exclusively to Eurodragster.com, FIA European Drag Racing Championship Promoter Keith Bartlett and Bahrain International Circuit Operations Director Mark Hughes explained the details. "I am really pleased to announce officially that that FIM/UEM Championships are going to Bahrain for their first round of 2006", said Keith Bartlett. "The event will be held in late March or early April at a date to be decided. This means that the FIM/UEM Championships begin in the spring. In my opinion it's a major step forward. "On a personal note I'm extremely delighted to take the Championships to Bahrain and the incredibly impressive Bahrain International Circuit. The hosting of rounds of the Championship at the BIC will truly take both Championships to another level, especially given that the majority of competitors have never raced at such a state-of-the-art facility. The BIC is truly one of the superior motor racing facilities in the whole world and it's a privilege for us to take the Championships there. These events have been brought about as the result of much hard work between Power Racing Group, Bahrain International Circuit and the Bahrain Motor Federation over the last twelve months, and I cannot wait to go drag racing in Bahrain! The teams have an awful lot to look forward to and I'm sure the reception they will receive will be as good or better than any new venue we have previously visited." "The team at the Bahrain International Circuit, the Bahrain Motor Federation and the Bahrain Drag Racing Club are extremely pleased to be hosting the first-ever international professional drag race in the Middle East", said Mark Hughes. "As the home of motorsport in the Middle East we felt it essential to host an event of this calibre and we're confident that the competitors will be blown away by our facility. The Kingdom as a whole is extremely excited by the prospect of seeing top-level competition and we will give the competitors a rapturous reception." Mark added that representatives of the Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain Motor Federation and the Bahrain Drag Racing Club are at Mantorp Park this weekend both to observe and to participate in the organisation of a large Championship event. "We also been to Santa Pod Raceway and Alastaro under the tutelage of Kjell Pettersson in order to ensure that our track is prepared to the highest possible standard", said Mark. The Invitational on 9th-10th November will include a number of European teams. "The Invitational is an FIA calendar-listed event", said Keith. "It will be the precursor to the international Championship round coming to Bahrain in the spring. The Invitational contestants have been selected on a country basis to ensure a European spread, and on the basis of previous commitment to the FIA and UEM Championships. There will be approximately twenty car teams and twelve bike teams, and the Invitational will be organised as a package for the teams including travel arrangements." "The exact format of the Invitational has yet to be decided, but the event will include participation by the racers of Bahrain's domestic Championship", added Mark. ©Eurodragster.com "I know that we will receive a huge and warm reception from the people of Bahrain and both myself and the staff are fully looking forward to working with the management team and the drag racing enthusiasts of the Bahrain Drag Racing Club", said Keith. "It really would not surprise me if in the period of the next twelve months we have teams from Bahrain entered in one or more classes in the FIA European Drag Racing Championships, and that would be very good for everyone in drag racing." One racer definitely going to the Bahrain Invitational is 2004 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Andy Carter, who said that he jumped at the chance. "I can't wait to go", Andy told Eurodragster.com. "I am really up for it. It will be very good indeed for the growth of the sport. When Keith Bartlett rang me I couldn't say yes quick enough! I would like to thank Keith for his work putting this deal together and for inviting me to take the B&Q Top Fuel Dragster. I will give the fans in Bahrain something to remember!". Andy added that he will be making four runs over the course of the two-day event. Stay tuned and we will bring you more news of the Invitational teams and other details as we receive them. Swift snippets. 29th July: A couple of snippets to stop the presses. Firstly, Swedish Top Fuel Dragster racer Monica Öberg will be contesting Top Fuel Dragster at the Veidec Festival. Monica, Dan Söderberg and team arrived at Mantorp Park yesterday afternoon taking the Top Fuel entry up to nine. Secondly, Susanne Callin will now be driving the Carbon By Design Top Fuel Dragster originally scheduled to be driven by Chris Andrews. Susanne will be on double duty as she is also taking VIPs for rides in the two-seater dragster. ©Eurodragster.com 2004 NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified Champion Håkan Nilsson clocked bests of 4.16 seconds and 282 kmh over the eighth mile in last-minute testing at Malmös Meca Raceway on Wednesay evening. Team member Ulf Stadig has updated the Nilsson Motorsports web site with a preview of the Veidec Festival, check it out at www.nilssonmotorsports.com. Rick Cuthbert of Trakbak Racing says that fans of Dodge/Mopar and American cars in general should head for Santa Pod Raceway this weekend for the Mopar Euro Nationals which features two full days of car-only Run What You Brung as well as static displays and demo vehicles including the Fireforce Jet Funny Car and racers from the UK national series. RWYB is open until 8:00 pm on Saturday, with sign-on for unlimited runs at £20 on Saturday and £15 on Sunday. Gates open at 10:00 am today, and tickets are available on the gate. For more information call Santa Pod Raceway on 01234 782828 or visit the event's web site at www.moparnats.co.uk. Congratulations to Andy 'Spud' Cunningham of UK Street Eliminator team FB Racing and his partner Ali on the birth of their baby who arrived on Wednesday and weighed in at 7 lb 8 oz. "No name yet but Spud says that Ali wasn't too pleased with the his suggestion of Ford!", says Ian Hook. "Best wishes to all the family from the FBs. We look forward to seeing Spud back on the crew so that we can wet the baby's head!". We're sure that everyone will join Tog and Sharkman in congratulating Spud and Ali on the new arrival. NFAA fixing for next date. 29th July: UK Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association Co-ordinator Lawrie Gatehouse has been in touch with an update from the workshops of the Association members: Current points leader Clayton Round in the Rebel 'T' has no problems and is looking forward to the continuation of his consistent runs. Number two in the points are The Mob, who have dug deep to get a new billet block, new crank, rods, pistons, etc. They expect to rebuild the engine in the next two weeks. Bob Glassup's Extreme Racing Topolino has a heavily reworked 'box with stronger internals to take the power being generated. ©Eurodragster.com Time Warp, shoed by Wendy Baker, has had its damaged heads repaired and Wendy and Paul are also tweaking the chassis to ensure more predictable full passes. Harry the Spider, driven by Jim Seward, is awaiting the imminent arrival of the the fine-splined reverser shaft, which should not take long to install. The Bennett Racing BB/FA was found to have thrashed second and high gears in the three-speed Lenco. New parts have arrived and the fuel system is also scheduled to be reworked. Our next scheduled event is the NSRA Hot Rod Drags at Shakespeare County Raceway on 17-18th September, when we expect to field all six cars to continue the Series. Perfect Awards won on Day 1. 29th July: Both of the Eurodragster.com Perfect Awards were won on day one of the Veidec Festival at Mantorp Park. The Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award was won by Junior Dragster racer Niklas Andersson. Emulating the lightning-quick reactions of his Top Methanol FC namesake, Niklas clocked 0.000 in yesterday's fourth qualifying session to take #1 spot in Junior Dragster and to pick up the 750 SEK (approximately £50) prize. ©Eurodragster.com Shortly afterwards, and even more shortly after Eurodragster.com News Editor Tog said "I think the Perfect ET Award is safe for today", Super Gas racer Pelle Norén clocked 9.900 for #1 spot and took the 750 SEK Eurodragster.com/LA Racing Parts Perfect ET Award. Both Eurodragster.com Perfect Awards will be reset to £50 for the Custom Car Magazine Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. Congratulations to Niklas and Pelle! Funeral details for Dennis Stone. 28th July: Many thanks to Lesley Wright for forwarding us details of Dennis Stone's funeral. Dennis' funeral will take place at 2:00 pm next Thursday, 4th August, at the South Chapel, Corbets Tey Crematorium, Ockendon Road, Upminster, Essex RM14 2UY. Directions: M25 Turn off at Junction 29 (A127) heading towards, Basildon and Southend. Continue straight into the B186 which is Warley Street, then turn right into B1421 Ockendon Road. You will then see the Crematorium on your left hand side. Click here for a map. After the service, when you leave the Crematorium turn right out of the gates, the Huntsman and Hounds is a few hundred yards on your left. All are welcome. Flowers or donations to Cancer Research may be sent to West and Coe, 620 Rainham Rd South, Dagenham, Essex RM10 8YP. Telephone 0208 592 0164. Doorslammers sought for Hockenheim. 28th July: Terry Gibbs of Obsession Motorsports has been in touch to invite seven- or eight-second doorslammers to join the Super Modified demonstration at the Nitrolympx at Hockenheim. Your car does not need to be a Super Modified to join in. ©Eurodragster.com "Due to breakages we need one, possibly two, cars to join us in Hockenheim", says Terry. "If anyone with a door car which can run between 7.50 and 8.50 would like to join us in an exhibition race we would appreciate them contacting us urgently as deadlines are approaching. Don't worry about being Super Mod-legal, a good deal is on offer." If you would like to take part then please call Terry on 01483 236262 (daytime) or 07976 644929 (evening). York hosts Super Pro Shootout. 28th July: The Super Pro ET racers are set to return to York Raceway on 6th-7th August as part of the annual August Shootout. Mark Flavell Racing, the formidable team of Ian Tubb and Kenny Coleman, York favourites Chris and Clayton Round in their dragster, and Steve Nemantis will all be contesting the Shootout. Mark Flavell says that Chris Round was not happy that he took Chris' track record earlier this year. "Chris will certainly be gunning for his record back", says Mark. "Ian’s domination in the National Championship and his ‘Drive it like you hate it’ style is always popular. He’s not afraid of anything or anybody and he’s going out the back door...hang on!. Steve’s looking to upset the dragsters as his slick, beautifully turned out machine drives away from the dragsters going every which way but straight. Chris has the advantage as York is his home track and his experience and clutch settings will see him ready to race out of the box whilst the rest of us need to find the combination which will put us out in front." ©Eurodragster.com There will be two qualifying sessions on Saturday afternoon (6th August) a third qualifier on Sunday morning, and then eliminations on Sunday afternoon. "This race is not restricted to the four of us", says Mark. "If the long spell between National rounds is to long for you then you are very welcome to join the Shootout, so pack your barbecue, beer and race car and head north to a very appreciative venue for a very enjoyable and relaxed weekend's racing". For more information call 07785 226782. Top Fuel taxi! 28th July: Nitrolympx PR Christine Calwer says that the drag racing display at the weekend's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, organised by promoter Rico Anthes, went down well. "On Saturday Rico presented and drove for the first time his double-seater Top Fuel Dragster", says Christine. "The first passenger was well-known German Formula 1 TV reporter Kai Ebel, who was deeply impressed by the run. More than 50,000 spectators in the Hockenheim motordrome were enthusiastic about the show and millions of TV viewers could see the the story on Sunday directly before the TV broadcast of the F1 race. ©Eurodragster.com "The following drivers presented their dragsters on the Hockenheim quarter mile with burnouts and demo runs on Sunday: Ronald Jütting, Germany - New Beetle Dragster Danny Bellio, Belgium - Top Methanol Funny Car Marc Meihuizen, Netherlands - Pro Mod Business Coupe 1937 Timo Habermann, Germany - Top Methanol Dragster Gary Page, Great Britain - Top Fuel Dragster Roger Kirschner, Germany - Jet Funny Car Rico Anthes, Germany - Top Fuel Double Seater "The drivers, as well as the spectators, enjoyed this presentation very much, and it was good publicity not only for the NitrolympX, but also for drag racing in general." For more pictures of the Hockenhaim demo follow the News link at www.dragster.de. Swift snippets. 28th July: Swedish Top Fuel Dragster racer Tommy Möller clocked a 5.09-second pass at yesterday's Veidec Festival Press Day. Also impressing the media was 2004 FIA European Pro Stock Champion Jimmy Ålund who ran a 7.05. ©Eurodragster.com Thanks to Anna Christell for letting us know that the Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge is to be televised on Scandinavian satellite channel Viasat Sport 1 at 16:40 tomorrow (Friday 29th July), 20:30 on Sunday 31st July, and 18:00 on Wednesday 3rd August. We would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to Simon Groves, one of the UK National Points Co-ordinator and Eurodragster.com's pitside reporter. Simon is at Mantorp Park today collecting pit notes but hopefully we will be able to persuade him to take a lotion or two at some point. Blomer avoids a wreck. 28th July: UK VW Pro racer Ken Blomer has been on touch to thank Santa Pod's track crews for their help after his turbo blew at Bug Jam at the weekend. "The top end safety crew were on me before I knew it", says Ken. "It was a very comforting feeling hearing them calling to me to get the car stopped, as the car was full of smoke and I was driving blind. A big thanks to the sweeper crews for not sweeping all the way up to the wall, it was only the stones being flicked up into the rear tub which alerted me to the fact that I was about to hit the concrete wall and needed to steer away sharpish! ©Eurodragster.com "It was a bit of a disappointment after many weeks of hard work sourcing, building and fitting another engine after my spare was lost in a 'machining incident'. Our first run of the year very nearly ended up with a wrecked car. The turbo is now back with the company that built it, and we hope to have it back on thecar in time to run at Ultimate Street Car. "Apologies to all the people who made the trek to the 'Pod to watch the car, we will be back!" Estonia Rocks to the Race. 27th July: Priit Vaikmaa tells us that the weekend's Rock Race event in Estonia proved again that drag racing is growing rapidly in Estonia and the Baltics, with support from sponsors and fans. "It rained hard in the morning, but even then more than 12,000 visitors came to see Tommy Möller's Top Fueller (right) on an old Russian airfield in Pärnu, Estonia", says Priit. "The attempt was powerful but the track conditions set the limits. Next time when Top Fuel comes to Estonia we should here a perfect drag strip to see what Top Fuellers are really capable of. There has been some discussions and business planning to build a drag strip but over five years the situation remains the same. ©Eurodragster.com "This year we had first competitors form Sweden. Mathias Westman took the win in outlaw class. His Chevy Nova was the fastest Outlaw car with an 8.804. Mathias was also the youngest competitor, the young man is only nineteen years old, but still he beat more experienced guys. Next year we hope to see more cars from Sweden and Finland." The Class winners at the Rock Race event were: A (Cars up to 4000cc): Simas Bilevicus 12.805 B (Cars over 4000 cc): Jussi Tukiainen 10.793 C (Big Block cars): Jyrki Aukio 11.247 D (Outlaw): Matthias Westman 8.804 E (Bikes up to 600 cc): Kimmo Rantala 10.671 F (Bikes over 600 cc): Mika Saroma 9.081 I (Harley Davidson): Tanel Talve 11.691 Priit has posted some great photographs on the Rock Race web site at www.rockrace.ee/files/2005. Pro Mod promise. 27th July: This weekend’s Veidec Festival at Mantorp Park in Sweden has the right ingredients to be the greatest battle so far in the history of European Pro Mod, says European Pro Mod Association President Micke Gullquist. "With twenty eight teams from seven countries, the qualifying battle will be more exciting than ever", says Micke. "Last year we had twenty six cars qualifying for the sixteen-car field and the bump spot was 6.968. This year we have five drivers who have been in the 6.4s, seven in the 6.3s and one in the 6.2s. The bump spot should be a lot lower this year, if the weather permits running four qualifying rounds. The last run on Saturday will hopefully be one the best shows ever in European Pro Modified. ©Eurodragster.com "There are also a number of new cars that has not been seen on the European Pro Mod scene before such as Bruno Bader, Urban Johansson and Jan Arve Nygård who all bring '63 Corvettes to the battle. "The event will also decide the 2005 Swedish Champion, a very prestigious title among the Swedes, but which is also open to all regardless of nationality." Wright's truck bites! 27th July: UK Super Gas racer Matthew Wright has decided to step up even further with his mean black Chevy pick-up. Matt's truck is currently in the Skunk Works of B+J Nostalgia having an full tube chassis after which he is planning to contest Super Pro ET for the remainder of 2005 and Street Eliminator next season. "The truck is looking great, and it's going to be a bit trick!" says Matt, who sponsors Eurodragster.com's Home and News pages through Gleeson Wright Security. "It looks like it's going to jump up and bite you! Bill Felstead's work is tremendous, he is as good as anyone out there. I want the truck to stay street-legal and I really want to run in Street Eliminator - it depends how light we can get it. The truck will be eight inches lower, will have a Funny Car roll cage, and might have a wing fitted over the winter. I've got new carbs which I got from Joe Williams, or Shrek as we call him, and a new converter. With the horsepower we've got we should be looking at mid or low eights." ©Eurodragster.com Matt was originally scheduled to go to the Nitrolympx but he says that he is aiming to compete in Super Pro ET at the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway in August. In the meantime the engine is headed to Knight Racing Services in mid-August for another dyno session. "I already hold the record for Peter's dyno but I want to get it over 1000 hp!", says Matt. Matt asked us to say a big Thank You to John Sleath for all of his help with the pick-up. Stay tuned for some shots from the workshop. Swift snippets. 27th July: UK 9.50 Bike racer Steve Knapp is still seeking opinions on his suggestion for a new UK Bike class, either 8.90 Bike or ET Bike. If you have any thoughts then please drop Steve a line at stevekarenamyscott@ntlworld.com. Steve will also be leafletting at the next UK Championship round. ©Eurodragster.com Tributes to Dennis Stone. 27th July: Andy Kirk: I just thought I'd send a short note to offer my deepest condolences to the Stone family. As a young upstart in the early 1980s trying to tune a succession of methanol-powered vehicles, I held the Stones in the highest regard. What they didn't know wasn't worth knowing...period. I had the honour of visiting the Dagenham workshop just once, where I picked up some parts and shared a fag and a cuppa with Dennis and Dave. I sat in awe as Dennis told a couple of stories and then came down to earth when he told me to bugger off 'cause he was busy! In those days as a newcomer in the sport, if Dennis nodded or even acknowledged you in any way you thought you had arrived. He was a fountain of knowledge and an inspiration to all of us upstarts. The sport has lost a true pioneer and a gentleman. The European Top Methanol Racers Association web site at www.etmra.com has a tribute page and Dave Alexander is accepting anecdotes and tributes for inclusion on that page. You can also continue to send your tributes to us at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com and we'll publish them here and also pass them on to Dave for the ETMRA page. Grateful Gibbs. 27th July: UK Super Modified racer Craig Gibbs has been in touch to thank everyone who helped him out both before and during last weekend's Bug Jam at Santa Pod Raceway. Craig also tells us that the Obsession Camaro may have a substitute driver on its outing next week. "John Atkinson (Jumping Black Flash) came down and stayed the weekend before last and pretty much re-wired the ignition side of the car, as well as making a few alterations - thanks John", says Craig. "Thanks to Jon and Sharon at SID for getting the car in so quickly to carry out some rectification work, to Darren and Marie for all their help and hard work over the weekend and the season so far, sorry you missed the Queen tribute band guys! Thanks to Andy Robinson and family for their continued help, advice and support, and ot all the Super Mod guys who stayed up until 2.00 am on Sunday morning helping us cure a nitrous leak, and thanks especially to Graham Ellis for the continued humour and keeping us laughing! ©Eurodragster.com "After completing four full passes without a burp, cough or bang, fingers crossed I think we can now say that our elusive problem is now behind us. All we need to do now is to get the car back down into the sevens and give the other guys a run for their money. "The next outing for the car will be demo runs at Ultimate Street Car the weekend after next, where there is a possibility that someone else will be behind the wheel, getting a feel for the car. Then the car goes off to Hockenheim for the Nitrolympx." The one fan you don't want... 27th July: After an unfortunate incident in the pits at Bug Jam with a steel-bladed fan and a severely mashed finger (Yeurgh - Ed), UK VW Pro racer Martin Charles has asked us to thank some very special people within the VWDRC and VW community. "Thanks to George Georgiou who drove me to the hospital on Saturday night, sorry for dragging you away from the party", says Stretch. "Thanks to Matt Walker who drove me and Pooh (Crew Chief) home from the Pod to Cardiff at 11.30 Saturday night, what a star. I'm really sorry you had to miss the rest of Bug Jam mate; Chris Danielson who drove my camper home from Santa Pod; Scott Cutler who towed my car to Wayne Allman's Intergalactic Custom Shop) place on Sunday; Wayne Allman for storing the car until I can get it - soon mate, I promise. ©Eurodragster.com "Thanks to all of the EBC racing crew (especially Andy Kelly, aka Kelster) for sorting out everything in the pits on Saturday night whilst I was in hospital. You guys are the best team in the pits. Finally thanks to all the racers and members of the VW community for all their get well wishes, it really makes me proud to be associated with such a great group of people. "Hopefully we'll be at Shakespeare County Raceway in August. Fingers crossed eh (If you can - Ed)?" Web site updates. 27th July: Many thanks to Yvon Bakker for letting us know that De site van Yfje has been updated with a number of pictures of Dutch Pro Mod racer Marc Meihuizen and the K and H Racing team's appearance at Hockenheim at the weekend. "It was great to give a demo in front of 113,000 people!", says Yvon. "Driving on the grid in front of the pit boxes. The car got a lot of attention when it was towed onto the grid and beside the grid". Check it out under Dragracen at www.yfje.nl. ©Eurodragster.com Andrew Kirk's Drag, Rod and Classic Review magazine at www.drcreview.com has been updated with a story about Mark Fullard's front-engined Nostalgia dragster which he imported from the US in 2004. Additionally, there are a couple of stories about the Goodwood Festival of Speed and a report from the recent Rally of the Giants. Ready for the Pro Mod wars! 26th July: UK Pro Mod racers Gordon Appleton and Andy Robinson, who have both run on the 6.3s this season, are headed for this weekend's Veidec Festival at Mantorp Park to take part in the huge twenty eight-car NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified field. Gordon Appleton's Crew Chief Adrian Spencer says that after the Wheelgame Racing Camaro's performances at the SPRC Summernationals he thinks that UK Pro Mods are on a par with the rest of Europe. "The SPRC Summernationals was the best race meeting for as long as I can remember", says Adrian. "Running a 6.34/220 and then backing it up with a 6.32/222 was unreal, that was fairy tale stuff. We thought it would run fast, but not so soon." Adrian says that the best part of the SPRC Summernationals was getting home and finding no damage at all. "We pulled the motor, Lenco, clutch,in fact the whole car has been torn apart and put back together", he says. "Everything is working really well on the '67 but there is room for improvement. We have a good team around us now and a very good driver who has made the switch from nitrous to blown look easy - good job Gordon. He had a few wild rides until we found what the car liked, but Andy Robinson who built the car soon put that right, "A little tweak on the four link" in his words. "Andy and Gordon leave today with the cars and the rest of the crew travel on Thursday. At last it seems the British Pro Mods are on a par with the rest of Europe, it's been a long time coming but I for one hope it is worth the wait." ©Eurodragster.com Waiting patiently in Sweden for Gordon Appleton and Andy Robinson is Krister Peterson of Patrick Wikström's OFAB Motorsports Pro Mod team, who says that he has been impressed by the times which the UK Pro Mod racers have recorded recently. "It looks like we have a Pro Mod war, that´s fun!", says Krister. "It's also close in the points chase with Patrick one point ahead of Roger Johansson, so would be good if we didn't mess it up this weekend. There will also be some new cars in the class at this race, and it is always nice to see how they look and how they run." Malmgren looks to Meca. 26th July: Swedish Pro Stock racer Michael Malmgren and his team have been taking the chance to test at Malmös Meca Raceway ahead of this weekend's Veidec Festival. Team member Magnus Cato says that Meca provides fantastic opportunities. "The start of the season didn't go as we expected, and it left us with a lot of questions to be answered", says Magnus. "After a good test session the expectations were high for the Finnish round, but the track at Alastaro suffered from rain and the track crew didn't have the time to prepare it to the usual standard. The Grand Am was set up for a good track and we didn't back it down as quickly as we should. ©Eurodragster.com "For the last couple of weeks we've tried set-ups for both sides of the scale, as we need to prepare for good and bad weather. Actually we went to Malmö again to test at the weekend. To be able to go to a well-prepared track every Wednesday is fantastic, and to meet our friends and supporters close to home means a lot to the team. Meca Raceway three to four thousand visitors on a regular Wednesday night and it's just darn fun to go there. During a normal test we're paying 20 SEK - less than three Euros per head!" Arlo sets Gold standard. 26th July: The UK's Gold RV Racing will be represented at this weekend's Veidec Festival at Mantorp Park as Junior Dragster racer Arlo Reddick is part of the huge fifty-car Junior Dragster field. "Andy Carter is taking the Junior Dragster, many thanks to him", says Super Pro ET racer Derek Flynn. "Arlo is very excited about the trip: before we could finish asking him did he want to race in Sweden and Norway, the answer was "Yes, when do we go?"! Arlo has admitted to being a little apprehensive though, with fifty Juniors qualifying for a thirty two car field, but he sees it as a great opportunity and believes it will be a good experience. We have told him that there is no pressure, he is only racing for England, no sorry Great Britain! ©Eurodragster.com "We have a few people to thank who have helped us to make this happen: thanks to Andy Carter for transporting the Junior, Paula Marshall for sorting out Arlo's International Licence at short notice, thanks also to Tog for the info on where and how to enter etc, and thanks to Hannele Höydén who confirmed some of the Scandinavian rules etc. "It is going to be a busy couple of weeks as Gold RV Racing Crew Chief Michael Howell and myself are also helping the Turners again in Top Methanol Dragster. We would like to wish Rob and the team all the best and we will see you there!" More Turtmann adventures. 26th July: Andrea Wucher of Swiss Top Methanol FC team Fat Attack racing has been in touch with the second part of her story of FIA European Top Methanol FC Champion Urs Erbacher's exploits at Switzerland's Turtmann Airfield at the weekend. "In the evening the weather cleared up and we even got some sunny spells on the track, which was dry again within minutes. The show classes had one more round and everyone tried to get as much power to the track as it would hold. Sometimes it was too much, sometimes not enough. The Fat Attack team secured their top spot with a 6.84/344 kmh. Dezsoe Krivan had to pull the chutes after the eighth mile, Rolf Amman tried to see if if the other lane could hold more in the second part of the track, Marcus Hilt produced too much power, and Bruno Bader made a nice clean eight-second run in his Corvette. But the trophy for Low ET and High Speed again went to Arlesheim and the team of Urs Erbacher. ©Eurodragster.com "Lorenz Stäuble made two demonstration passes with the Supertwin. Twice he clicked off at about half track as the top end at Turtmann is quite short, and without chutes there was too much risk and no fun! Everything is alright and bike is ready for Mantorp. For the Funny Car and the Supertwin it was also an additional practice for Hockenheim. About the same track conditions to start with and then we will see… "Thomas Stiefel won Competition, which was his first event win in his ex-Rolf Ammann Hawaiian Tropic car. Congratulations from all of us. We would like to thank the organiser of the Swiss Drag Challenge for an great event with A1 organisation for the race teams and the spectators." Bailey off to see the Wizard... 26th July: Trevor 'The Wizard of Nos' Langfield and UK Pro Mod Bike racer Dave 'More Nitrous!' Bailey have teamed up to try to create the Worlds quickest Pro Mod Bike. Trevor's twenty five years of experience with state-of-the-art nitrous systems combined with Dave's 'performance at any cost' attitude will create some exciting racing, if not World-beating performance. The prototype for the radical nitrous system has already been built and installed in Dave's Scalded Cat Pro Mod Bike. The single stage system, capable of delivering in excess of 500 bhp, is shown at right. "Assuming I can get a complete working motor from my two ex-Ken Cooper engines, the first outing will be at the August Webster Race Engineering Test Day", says Dave. "We plan to check the nitrous/fuel jetting ratio and put down a few baseline passes ready for the next race at Shakey. Weather permitting, I hope to be in the sixes by the end of the year, then build a couple of strong engines for next season's shot at the UK and World records. I'm currently racing on a sponsor-free shoestring and am very grateful for the assistance Trevor and all the guys at Highpower Systems International Ltd are giving me". ©Eurodragster.com Close to heaven at Elliniko. 26th July: Our good friend Elias Vathias has been in touch with more details of the first-ever seven-second passes by a race car in Greece. "Filippos Papafilippou, or Fil, and the Drag Warriors team broke the eight-second barrier, scoring a 7.953/282.28 kmh right out of their trailer early last Saturday morning with ex-John Ellis Lethal Calibra", says Elias. "Pro Mod Driver Fil backed up his ET four times during the weekend with a 7.856/284.70, 7.888/283.82 and a new National record of 7.841/279.80. It's not the first time that Fil has got into the sevens - he has a personal best of 7.4/185 mph on Malta, which is the local Maltese national record for doorslammers, but for Greece it is the first time for a car racer in the seven second club. Makis Nefram also made some very good runs, and achieved his personal best of 7.9 but could not beat Fil's 7.8. "This meeting was the fifth in a row for the Greek drag racing society since the beginning of June. Triad Communications Promotion Company, with the assistance and knowledge of the DRC and Iron Team clubs, supported by the Greek RAC (ELPA, member of FIA) managed to come to an agreement with Greek government to open the old international Airport of Elliniko, located almost in the center of Athens, for drag racing events for the rest of 2005. "Triad, supported by the clubs, managed to build a whole small town inside the huge old airport, which can easily exceed standards which not even permanent tracks have to offer. Everyone together managed to organise and successfully complete four RWYB meetings in June and July and a "Main Event" drag race. Fhe last RWYB meeting on 16th-17th July the entry was more than 150 and more than 1100 passes were made. Owners of imports, drag racing cars and bikes, street cars, and big trucks made their best effort to put on a nice show for the spectators and drag racing fans. "Three main Greek TV channels covered several parts of the race and they played the highlights on all the main news reports on Sunday evening. 'Mototech' covered all the events with four different magazines "Drive", "Burn-Out", "Faster" and "Moto". There was plenty of sun, heat and nice Mediterranean girls at the event. Triad, DRC and the Iron Team group plan to run at least six more RWYB Test and Tune meetings in the Autumn and two more drag race Main Events. The three major events have a prize fund of €35000 Euros for the drag racers. The last meeting will take place in October in the same area together with the two weeks' duration Auto-Moto Exelixis 2005 International Show. ©Eurodragster.com "We found Fil in the pit area and managed to get some of his thoughts about the last weekend meeting: "Compared with the very dangerous and short North Greece Serres track, Elliniko looks like driving in heaven", said Fil (Well, it is close to Olympus - Ed). "Traction has to be improved but we have to give time to the people who are behind all these achievements. I congratulate all of you who are behind these great moments in Greek drag racing history and especially you Elias for the good job you do with your Greek Dragster web site. "For the first sixty feet traction has been really good because the tarmac itself is of very good quality, being an old runway with specification for 747 Jumbo Jets. This fact, plus the addition of melted rubber and plenty of LC21 VPCote and the good preparation for five subsequent meetings every weekend since the beginning of June, gave us sixty foot times of 1.18 seconds. All the big class cars and bikes had good launches between 1.2 - 1.3 seconds. After sixty the track became tricky and slippery but again the twenty five metre width and 1700 metre length give you the confidence to spin the tires but not fully get off the throttle. "I have to thank John Ellis because he gave us lot of assistance two weekends ago when he came and stayed with us for a week and we entered a RWYB meeting. At that meeting we did several 8.4 with no NOS at all and a very mild tune-up trying to get familiar with the car. We solved some gremlins with the electronics which were a mystery even for John. "I also have to thank Nick Davies who helped me a lot with advice and parts rebuilding the gearbox. I kept him on the phone plenty of times as I tried to explain to him what the problem was with Calibra's CS1 Lenco. We found that it was a rolled sprag bearing. Now that we have rebuilt the transmission with a new clutches and big sprag bearings the future looks better and bright, and that's how we managed to get into the sevens. We run the car with only 200 hp of Nos with first stage fogger since we noticed that the more horsepower and clutch we put on the car the trickier and more dangerous our passes were...and the ET got worse as well!" "I must not forget to mention the superb race cars from Cyprus which participated as show cars in our friendly drag race. Mike Charalambous and his Lancia ran 9.787/240.94, Christos Thrasivoulou and his Subaru Impreza did a 10.059/234.45 and finally Stavros Sntoniou and his astonishing Escort ran an 8.856!" You can find videos and pictures from the race and RWYB on the Greek Dragster web site at www.greekdragster.com. Swift snippets. 26th July: Mention of Filippos Papafilippou's C5 Corvette Pro Mod leads very nicely into this picture of Fil's car in its new colours. "Tony of Bodytone and Neil of Pro Sign did a great job", says Fil. Click on the picture for a larger shot from another angle. ©Eurodragster.com Making welcome returns to competition at this weekend's Veidec Festival at Mantorp Park are Swedish Pro Mod racer Lars Inge Johansson and Supertwin racer Anders Karling. Lars Inge is now able to flex his right ankle after a second operation and is looking forward to getting back into his blown-alcohol station wagon whilst Charley is looking forward to building upon a successful test recently when, team member Carina Dahl told us, "The bike went straight!". Oliver Kläffling tells us that Timo Habermann's Top Methanol Dragster exhibition at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim at the weekend went perfectly. "Timo made a perfect burnout and launch, because the F1 tyre barriers were in the way on the drag strip, and the crowd of eighty thousand was very excited", says Oliver. "All in all a pretty good promotion for the sport and good motivation for the Werner Habermann Racing Team." A big apology to Swedish Top Methanol FC racer Jonas Staflund for the coding error and compunding typo which appeared to omit him from the initial list of contestants in our Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge report. Tributes to Dennis Stone. 26th July: We have received a number of tributes to the late Dennis "Daddy" Stone, who died last week. Keith Bartlett: It was with deep regret that I learnt of the death of Dennis ‘Daddy’ stone last Friday. Drag racing in Europe has truly lost one of its original pioneers. He will be missed by many people. As I will be away in Scandinavia with the next two rounds of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship, it is unlikely that I will be able to attend Dennis Stone's funeral. I therefore would like to at least say a few words from my own perspective in relation to my involvement with Dennis Stone, his son David, plus the whole Stones drag racing family, which of course would include Gerry Andrews. When I first started going drag racing in the very early 1970s, the cars that had the biggest effect on me and fuelled my desire to actually get into drag racing were Dennis Priddle’s ‘Mr Six’, nearly all the Pro Stock cars and for pure excitement Dave Stone driving ‘T’ Rat, the wild Fuel Altered that the Stones ran, along with several other cars as the 1970s progressed. The whole family, led by Dennis, were drag racing icons to me. Back in the 1970s when I was very keen to get into actually drag racing myself, I was picking up the odd drive in Pro Stock and involved in some great racing wars with Sam Connell and Mick Cheley in Street Modified, I not only looked up to the Stone family as icons, but was actually terrified to even talk to them or go into their pit, as I considered myself so far below their level. How wrong can you be, the whole family was always there to talk to any prospective racers or fans and Dennis would always love to ‘chew the fat’ as they say, but I did not realise that back then. When in the mid to late 1970s I set up Slick Trick Racing and lived just round the corner to Santa Pod’s HQ in Shortlands, Bromley, I often saw Denis down with cars at FGR (the Santa Pod workshop) and would just walk round stand outside looking at his cars and admire the whole scene. I was also scared of Roy Phelps in those days but that is another story and one which had a wonderful twist in the end. I do remember one day at some time in 1979, Roy Phelps must have told Dennis on one of his trips down to FGR, that some guy (little-known me actually) had bought in a Funny Car from the USA and was planning to run it at Santa Pod Raceway the next season. Although the car was at the Slick Tricks Racing race workshop, Dennis came round outside my house and looked in the front window to see if it might be in the back garden, imagine my delight to see the Dennis Stone looking into my house to see what drag racing car I might have. That I considered an honour at that time, as that was the level that I held Dennis stone in. Many years later between 1989-1995 when I set up and ran the European Top Fuel Association and Dennis Stone was involved in promoting and running of the Top Alcohol class, I got to know Dennis and not only liked him very much but still looked up to him as one of the legends of British Drag Racing, which is how I still see him today. After I had purchased Santa Pod Raceway and began to run the FIA European Drag Racing Championship in 1996, both Dennis and Dave did not at the time agree with some of my planned directions for drag racing and in particular the Top Methanol class, but they both were always prepared to listen to my views and points and give credit if you were right. Drag Racing in Britain and Europe had to in my opinion change direction and move on from the sport that it was in the 1970s and 1980s and I hope that I have been able to play a major part in that process and development. But if it was not for Dennis and Dave Stone and many of the other 1970s pioneers I may never have had the motivation to do that! Dennis wherever you are up their in the big sky now, probably ‘chewing the fat’ talking about the old days of drag racing with Alan ‘Bootsie’ Herridge and many others, down here I will always be looking up to you as one of the true pioneers of British Drag Racing and when my time comes to join you all up there, I will still likely be a little scared of approaching you as Dennis Stone is one of the serious drag racers and will always remain so! Jim, Charlie and Dave Draper: Dennis was always helpful, and always made time for us in our early years, his stories were many and varied and it was always great having a chat with him in his workshop in Dagenham, a simple search for info would result in burnt dinners all round (but well worth it) he was as genuine a man as they come and was truly respected by every one in our family and team. I am sure someone's put the kettle on for him and if not you can bet that they soon will. Our sympathies to his family. Bill Martland: I knew Dennis Stone pretty well as he and Dave looked after my Trans Am at their Dagenham garage in the 1970s and 1980s and then later my Corvette. Having a muscle car I'd heard of the Stones through drag racing and was delighted to find them both real gents to deal with. As well as being excellent mechanics Dennis had a hundred tales of drag racing particularly in the early days through to their tremendous success with T Rat and beyond. My memories of him will be having a mug of tea in the garage while listening to his stories about DLT, John Rodeck, Roy Phelps, and the like. I'd like to think I went from being customer to friend in a relationship which has lasted over twenty five years. I often met other drag racers like Ronnie Picardo in there and used to look forward to getting my car serviced so they could update me on the latest gossip (this before the days of Eurodragster). The Stones were as far as I could tell well liked by everybody on the scene and were absolutely top in nearly every class they ever competed in. In later years Dennis was heavily involved in the running of the European Championships and used to tell me then of his dealings with Bernie Ecclestone and the various promoters. The last time I saw him was actually at Santa Pod at the Main Event in 2003, he looked pretty sprightly for a man of his age though he was less chatty than in the past. He was always a true gentleman with me and I am very sad to hear of his death. Andy Bissett: It was my pleasure to be involved in the British Top Alcohol Championship with Dave Wilson's team whilst Dennis was still in charge. We were always relieved to see him standing at the head of the staging lanes because that meant someone there actually knew what was going on. I particularly enjoyed his no-nonsense attitude, colourful nicknames for the people in the sport he wasn't too keen on and the way he could settle any disputes using hot drinks and a nice sit down. He will be sorely missed among the racing community and my thoughts go out to the rest of his family. May there be plenty of hot tea and comfy chairs in heaven... Stuart and Craig Lowes: We are sorry to hear of the passing of Daddy Stone. Our memories of his involvement in British Drag Racing would fill a book, suffice to say that his energy over race weekends was impressive, you always knew exactly what he thought on any particular subject and the respect that the racers had for him was absolute. Where do you start with stories? A couple of memorable ones; a dozen of us returning from the “Poofy Woofy” (the “Gay Dog” pub near Long Marston) one race weekend and Stuart’s wife had been persuaded to drive our Econoline crew-bus (her first time in this large, left hand drive, automatic vehicle) back down those country lanes. This nerve-wracking journey culminated in our arrival at the hotel with Daddy Stone turning to the relieved driver and saying, “If you sold tickets for that ride you could make a fortune!” At a Pro Comp policy meeting in Sweden, at breakfast in the hotel, he took the milk jug and poured it into his cuppa. Unfortunately it contained porridge so with a twinkle in his eye he complained to the waiter that the milk had gone off while the rest of us laughed until it hurt. And one that was doing the rounds at the time (it must have been true) was that, having a problem getting into the Hockenheim track in Germany, part of the conversation with the staff on the gate included “…the last time I came down here I was in a Churchill Tank!” It’s not an exaggeration to say that Stuart and I wouldn’t have got started in Top Alcohol without the patience, knowledge and kindness of Daddy Stone and Dave. Not content with just selling us our first motor, they invited us down to their workshop and built it in front of us – telling us what to do and what not to do. The first time our motor started, the Stones were there. Daddy Stone’s advice was always reliable and his sense of fun never left him. We’ve lost a great drag racer and a true gentleman. The European Top Methanol Racers Association web site at www.etmra.com has a tribute page and Dave Alexander is accepting anecdotes and tributes for inclusion on that page. You can also continue to send your tributes to us at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com and we'll publish them here and also pass them on to Dave for the ETMRA page. Web site updates. 26th July: The Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se has been updated with the results from Borlänge Street Open along with updated Nordic Drag Racing Series and Swedish Dragracing League points standings. ©Eurodragster.com The UK Junior Drag Bike web site at www.juniordragbike.co.uk has been updated with profiles of the two latest competitors, Tyler Clutterbuck and Scott Collier. "Our current riders are becoming really professional and making the most of Run What You Brung opportunities to hone their skills", says webmaster Carl Wadkin Snaith. "It's also great to hear that Andrew Irvine will be moving up to the adult classes soon." Our good buddy Gwynn has updated his Slimboyfat web site with pictures from the weekend's Bug Jam at Santa Pod Raceway. "The gallery is obviously loaded with VWs, but there are also Super Modified and Street Eliminator pictures" says Gwynn. Check it out at www.pbase.com/slimboyfat/bug_jam_19. Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge report. 25th July: As promised on Saturday, we have now posted our report and photographs from Saturday's Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge which took place in Stockholm's Kunsträdgården and which was won by Sweden's Andréasson Motorsports Top Methanol FC team. You can view our Kamasa Tools-sponsored Mechanic Challenge event report and pictures by clicking here, or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Aasen: It's a war out there! 25th July: Norwegian Supertwin racer Ronny Aasen says that this weekend's Veidec Festival at Mantorp Park is sure to be closely-contested, not least by Ronny himself who is bringing two guns to the fight. "We managed to take the win at Alastaro after putting down good times and speeds on a tricky track", says Ronny. "We felt that we had a good set-up and good control over the new Boss Bentec clutch. We have made some changes from last year with the Boss clutch together with Per Bengtsson of Bentec, and the solutions we applied during the winter seem to work. Big thanks to Per and Bentec Engineering for putting in the time and effort to develop this new primary drive with us. ©Eurodragster.com "The rest of the bike is in great shape. We;ve done some maintenance on the engine and we are bringing our 2006 motor, a brand new 175 ci PRP Dominator, with us to Mantorp Park just in case of trouble! We are looking forward to improving our best ET and speed at Mantorp. I think the Supertwin field is full of heavy hitters and it is going to be an exciting weekend for everybody. Eighteen bikes but only eight in eliminations - it is going to be a war zone!" Borgs into 5.7s for Bernie. 25th July: Many thanks to Malta Drag Racing Association President Anthony Borda for letting us know about the highlight of the MDRA's latest event at Hal Far Raceway. albeit a highlight tinged with sadness. "This event was held under artificial lighting once again, since over here in Malta the temperature is over 33 degrees", says Anthony. "The event was another successful one, although the number of competitors was a bit smaller than usual, but everyone was satisfied with all the outcome of this event. ©Eurodragster.com "During this drag meet there were lots of happy faces and I personally would like to congratulate every competitor for a good show, especially the Borg Brothers Racing Team, who stole the whole show. In the absence of the late Bernie Hepworth, whose death left the Borg’s Family and everyone here in Malta stunned, the Borg Brothers still had everything going well for them. Mario Borg and the whole Borg Brothers Racing Team managed to beat John Ellul of Elbros Racing Team in the DTA final and clocked their Personal Best time of 5.791 seconds. The Borg Brothers have the fastest Small Block Top Methanol Dragster in Europe and they should be proud of their achievements with the jewel they have. "I went and congratulated Paul Borg, one of the brothers, for the achievement but what I saw was that there was a lot of emptiness in the hearts of all the team with Bernie's absence. They wanted him around to watch them run 5.7s for the first time. All you could hear was "We wish that Bernie was still around". But as people say, life must go on. "Apart from Mario Borg and all his team, I would like to congratulate drivers like John Ellul of Elbros and his team for doing their utmost, Chris Polidano and his team, Tommy Agius of Maksar Racing Team and many more for getting the best out of this event. "Results and timing data can be seen on our web site at www.maltadragracing.com. The hills are alive... 25th July: Whilst their Top Methanol FC colleagues were spannering like crazy in Stockholm, the Swiss racing teams were enjoying themselves in Turtmann in the Valais. Andrea Wucher of 2004 FIA European Top Methanol FC Champions Fat Attack Racing dropped us a line to tell us how Urs Erbacher and the other Swiss racers fared. "It was a relaxed atmosphere and a lot of fun", says Andrea. "A big croud enjoyed a great racing weekend from public race to TMFC, Jet Funny Car shows, all kinds of bike classes and a lot of bike stunts and aerobatics. We race here on a non-permanent race track at an ex-military airfield, so the traction is very poor. With a 7.236 we were far away from any amazing times but with one run Urs got ahead of the Show team which also consisted of Urs Embacher, Ötschi Krivan, Rolf Ammann, Markus Hilt, Bruno Bader, and 'Stiefel'. All of the drivers had a hard job as the track conditions are not easy. Rolf Ammann was all over his lane and Urs Embacher ruined his beautiful Hawaiian Tropic body when he hit the timing gear at the top end. We hope to see him back on the track as soon as possible and race again him in Hockenheim. ©Eurodragster.com "Bruno Bader was on the track for the first time with his new Pro Mod. Finding a basic set-up and getting used to the handling of his powerful Corvette was his main goal for the weekend. Rolf Ammann and Stiefel recorded great times over the quarter mile with 7.3 beating more than one TMFC. "On Sunday it rained more or less the whole afternoon so we gave way to the public racers to finish their eliminations before we burn some rubber again. "Congratulations to Leif Andréasson's crew on their win in the Mechanic Challenge. We are impressed by their performance and as we have said before we would stand no chance beating them - our strengths lie elsewhere (smile)." A Perfect 1500 SEK. 25th July: This weekend's Veidec Festival at Mantorp Park is the sixth event in this year's Eurodragster.com Perfect Awards scheme, with a total of 1500 SEK up for grabs. The Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award has been reset to 750 SEK after it was won by Aidan Kenny at the SPRC Summerationals. The money will be awarded to the first racer this weekend to record a perfect Reaction Time of 0.000. The Award is open to all classes and is available during qualifying or eliminations, but will only be awarded for the first Perfect Light of the weekend. If the Award is not won this weekend then the prize fund will increase to £75 at next month's Custom Car Magazine Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway; if the Award is won then the prize fund will be reset to £50 at the Allstar Nationals. The Perfect Light Award is jointly presented by Eurodragster.com and high-performance hose and fitting manufacturer Speedflow, whose web site you can find at www.speedflow.co.uk. ©Eurodragster.com The Eurodragster.com/LA Racing Parts Perfect ET Award has been reset to 750 SEK after it was won by Keith Herbert at the SPRC Summernationals. The money will be awarded to the first racer to run to the thousandth on their index or dial-in during qualifying or eliminations. The Award is open to System Edström Super Comp, Twinlab Super Gas, Rod and Race Super Street, Stock/Superstock (eliminations), Junior Dragster, Super Gas Bike and Street bike, but will only be awarded for the first Perfect ET of the weekend. If the Award is not won this weekend then the prize fund will increase to £75 at next month's Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway; if the Award is won then the prize fund will be reset to £50 at the Allstar Nationals. The Perfect ET Award is jointly presented by Eurodragster.com and performance supplier LA Racing Parts, whose web site you can find at www.laracingparts.com. Lycka till! Swift snippets. 25th July: Many thanks to Jan Ekström of Skåne Racers Ideella Forening for letting us know that the SRIF web site has been updated with an invitation and entry form to the Winternationals, which take place at Meca Raceway on 16th-18th September. The Winternationals is the final round between the North and South divisions of TTDS. UK Super Street racer Mark Watkins tells us that his blown Datsun developed a case of Flooziosis (right) at the Japanese Auto Extravaganza at the East of England Showground at the weekend. The growths were later surgically removed and Mark tells us that the Datsun generated a lot of interest in the sport. "It seems that we may have some new drag racing fans coming to the tracks as they loved the noise and the car", says Mark. Our good buddy Patrik Jacobsson has been in touch to remind readers that entry to the Pro Mod Bump Spot Contest for the Veidec Festival closes at midnight tonight. You can find the rules and enter on the European Pro Mod Association web site at www.promod.nu. ©Eurodragster.com Carl Wadkin-Snaith tells us that his Supertwin Fuel bike The Fang performed fine on its first outing at last week's Mini Showdown at Shakespeare County Raceway. "It was just the crew and rider that were the problem!", says Carl. "Lack of experience and time for preparation, and the relentless sun meant that we were somewhat disorganised. Read what not to do whilst having a day at the races at www.thefang.co.uk/news2005.htm." Web site updates. 25th July: Our good buddy Alan Currans has posted a twelfth page of readers' submissions on his excellent Acceleration Archive web site. "The update includes a mixed bag of cars and bikes including the famous Vincent-powered Satan of Ian Ashwell, a picture of Monique Pels as a young girl sitting on one of the late Henk Vink's bikes, a Santa Pod programme signed by Gene Snow, Barry Bowles and the late Slam'n Sammy Miller, and much, much more", says Alan. Check it out under Readers' Gallery at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk. UK Top Fuel Bike racer and current FIM/UEM Championship leader Ian King's web site has been updated with some more video clips including excellent on-board footage of a 6.5-second pass at the Easter Thunderball. Check it out at www.kingracing.com. ©Eurodragster.com From Johnny "Mental" Hall comes word of the latest update from the Crow Lane Skunk Works of B+J Nostalgia. The news update at www.bjnostalgia.com includes all the latest from the workshops including news of the début of "The Kent Car" and Johnny and Bill Felstead's latest escapades with their own Nostalgia Top Fueller as well as the latest jobs in the workshop. The Racebilder web site at www.racebilder.nu has been updated with pictures from Saturday's qualifying at the SDC round in Gothenburg and pictures from the latest Toyo Tyres event at Meca Raceway. Dennis "Daddy" Stone. 24th July: We were very sorry to hear from Lesley Wright of the death on Friday of Dennis Stone, patriarch of the UK's Stones racing team, who was involved in UK drag racing almost since it started. Dennis will be remembered for many things, not least his legendary capability to tell it exactly how it is (A verbal skill somewhat rare these days - Ed): no-one - be they promoter, racer, race official, journalist or fan - ever forgot an encounter with Dennis and such anecdotes are the stuff of legend. It would not be unfair to say that Top Methanol, or its predecessor Pro Comp, in Europe would not be what it is today without Dennis' influence. We will post a longer obituary in due course; in the meantime the European Top Methanol Racers Association web site at www.etmra.com has been updated with a tribute page and Dave Alexander is accepting anecdotes and tributes for inclusion on that page. You can also send your tributes to us at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com and we'll publish them here and also pass them on to Dave for the ETMRA page. We are sure that everyone will join Tog and Sharkman in sending their deepest sympathies to Dennis' family and friends. Bug Jam rained out. 24th July: Today's eliminations at the Bug Jam were rained out when the heavens opened after only three cars made it down the track at the start of the day. "We were scheduled to finish at 17:00 so the Race Director called the event off at 15:00", says our good buddy David Anniwell. "On a positive note, this year has seen one of the healthiest numbers of competitors at Bug Jam and the Street Eliminator and Super Modified performances certainly made an impact on the VW spectators." David kindly forwarded us the top fives at the end of yesterday's qualifying: ©Eurodragster.com VW Sportsman 1. Richard Merriman +0.009 16.409/81.23 2. Paul Day +0.024 16.724/79.08 3. Graham Fairhead +0.034 15.634/84.28 4. Mason Griffiths +0.042 13.942/95.93 5. Christopher Bray +0.052 15.402/88.17 VW Pro 1. Travis Rider +0.016 11.816/111.74 2. Chris Emmens +0.040 11.440/114.10 3. Martin Taylor +0.042 12.542/109.19 4. Paul Hamilton +0.051 9.951/137.62 5. Darran Chandler +0.056 12.556/104.87 VW Alternate Engine 1. Spencer Tramm +0.012 9.752/138.80 2. Matt Attwood +0.094 13.674/97.79 3. Mat Finney +0.095 15.185/91.48 4. Andy Raw +0.151 11.761/110.61 5. Wayne Allman +0.160 11.560/117.23 Street Eliminator 1. Steve Nash 8.166/171.18 2. John Sleath 8.465/177.86 3. Andy Frost 8.470/171.04 4. Colin Lazenby 8.616/174.47 5. Steve Pateman 8.868/170.33 Super Modified 1. Graham Ellis 7.679/175.74 2. Andy Kirk 7.914/169.21 3. Andy Hone 8.136/165.58 4. Craig Gibbs 8.191/162.54 5.Ian Marshall 8.445/164.11 Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge result. 23rd July: Within minutes of the Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge finishing we are able to bring you the result, courtesy of Eurodragster.com News Editor Tog who has flown out to Sweden to cover the event. A full report and accompanying photos will be posted by Tog upon his return, but for now a big congratulations goes to Leif Andréasson's Kamasa Tools-sponsored team for winning their sponsor's event (right, picture courtesy and ©Sara Magnusson). ©Eurodragster.com After winning their first round by two minutes and their semi final by one minute the Andréasson Motorsports team advanced to the final where they faced off against last year's winners, Kågered Racing. In the final Tog reports that "Leif Andréasson's team pulled a head and the blower, dropped the oil pan, pulled out a piston and showed it to the judge before reassembling the motor and firing it up, all in under six minutes, to take the event win by two minutes." From Drachten to Hockenheim. 22nd July: Erwin Raets has been in touch from Belgium to let us know how the Danny's Racing Team Top Methanol Funny Car (right) fared at the MPM Internationals at Drachten at the weekend. Erwin also tells us that the team will be joining Timo Habermann and Gary Page in putting on demonstrations at this weekend's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim to promote August's Nitrolympx. "We decided to move to Top Methanol FC with our 2000 Dodge Avenger this year after spending several years in Competition Eliminator", says Erwin. "We worked all winter to prepare the car, and three weeks ago we made our first test runs on a French track at Le Pechereau, where an annual bike event invite us to make demo runs. On an unprepared track we managed to clock 4.6 over the eighth mile. ©Eurodragster.com "Last weekend the Funny Car was to meet a good track, and its first real test at the Drachten MPM internationals, where we clocked a 4.14 at 287 kmh. This was even better than expected for the first outing, and it meant a new personal record for our team. We backed up the run with a 4.18 at 282 kmh the next day. We received a lot of good comments from visitors and fellow drag racers alike. "This Sunday, we will be joining Timo Habermann at the Hockenheimring for a demo burnout before the start of the German Formula 1 Grand Prix, as Nitrolympx organiser Rico Anthes really wanted a funny car to join the show. As you can guess, we are all very excited about doing this demo, and we will get back to Eurodragster.com with a report of the event." Thanks very much Erwin, we look forward to hearing all about it. Swift snippets. 22nd July: Dickman has been in touch from Holland to let us know that Dutch Pro Mod racer Marc Meihuizen will also be appearing in the Nitrolympx promotion at this weekend's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim. Marc will be pulling burnouts in his awesome '37 Chevy Business Coupe. "Let's see what they make of that!", says Dickman. We say that if they don't rip up their F1 tickets and come back to the Nitrolympx for some decent motorsport then there is something seriously wrong with the world. Also on the Show trail this weekend is UK Super Street racer Mark Watkins who is taking the Forge Motorsport and Opie Oils-sponsored Datsun 280ZX to the Japanese Auto Extravaganza at the East of England Showground in Peterborough. "This is one of the biggest gatherings of the best Jap cars in Europe", says Mark. "We will be on the Opie Oils stand representing drag racing and of course our sponsors Forge Motorsport and Opie Oils". You can find out more about the Japanese Auto Extravaganza at www.japcarclub.com/jae. ©Eurodragster.com We have reason to believe that a number of E-Mails to our News address have gone astray recently. If you have sent us a news item and it has not been published, then please re-send it to our backup address, which is eurodragster.com@btinternet.com. Just as we went to post this update we heard from our good friend Filippos Papafilipou that he set new Greek National records, as well as track and personal bests, of 7.841/279.80 kmh at the weekend in the Lethal Calibra (right). "I backed it up four times", says Fil, adding that more details will be on their way to us shortly as well as pictures of his blown-alcohol Pro Mod Corvette in its new colours. We're headed to Stockholm for tomorrow's Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge but we would be very pleased to receive racers' Veidec Festival previews to run over the next few days. Drop us a line at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com and we'll publish it here. Koedam Racing Drachten report. 22nd July: Marius Ven Dar Zijden, Crew Chief for 2004 FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike Champion Roel Koedam, has been in touch with his regular report of Roel's latest outing, this time the MPM Internationals at Drachten: As written in our previous Team Report we would try to squeeze in an extra test session to try to solve our engine problems. Luckily the MPM Internationals at Drachten fit our tight schedule. As the bike returned from its long journey to Alastaro on Saturday 9th July we were left with less than a week to prepare the bike. Preparation in this case meant servicing the bike, making new cylinder liners, fabrication of a new oil pan, and trying to figure out where it was all going wrong. "When double-checking the engine tune-up we found that both the magnetos had too much advance due to a timing mark misalignment. We also found that during the process of making our new combustion chambers the compression ratio went up from what we used to run. There was a difference from the actual combustion chamber volume and the calculated volume. Both values were not off by very much, but altogether it was enough reason for detonation. So with this in mind we went to Drachten with very high hopes. The weather outlook was excellent for the whole weekend and the track was in better condition then ever before, ideal conditions for the badly needed extra track time. Once again we could combine our testing with some demo runs for the large number of enthusiastic spectators. We ran our first pass on Saturday late afternoon. A good solid run, but we spotted some oil mist escaping from the breather tank at the end of the run. When we opened the engine back in the pits we found that our tune-up change hadn’t had any effect at all. There were still indications that the top piston rings didn’t seal due to detonation. The damage to the new JE pistons and the new Goedhals cylinders was however minimal. We were able to fix the pistons and prepare the bike for another demo/test run the next day. At the same time we had to come up with a different solution to solve our problems. After long thinking and many conversations with other people we decided to richen it up and make a drastic change to the fuel system this time. We put in bigger port nozzles and blocked all the returns to the tank, so all the fuel delivered by the pump would go to the engine.To everybody involved that should at least have some effect on the engine. The next pass was, like the first one, a good run from the spectators' point of view. However, much to our surprise, we again spotted a small oil mist from the breather tank towards the end of the run. Once again no change at all! When we took the engine apart again we found just a little more damage then the day before, but not too bad either. Our next strategy includes lowering the compression ratio, a new bigger fuel pump, new dimension piston rings, and new pistons. On the last item we are glad that JE Pistons are preparing a special set of pistons for us and offered to deliver them within one week! Good job guys. We think we performed two good looking demo runs for the spectators, but the test didn’t bring any improvement to the engine situation. For the organisation it was a good weekend with a record number of entries and visitors, national records broken and very few, or no, oildowns. During the last month and a half we have already received lots of help from our supporting companies, both in advice and in materials. But their support gets even bigger and bigger as our engine problems grow deeper. We consider it a privilege to be working with them, therefore we think they deserve to receive some extra attention this time (and hope I didn’t forget one): Zodiac International, Goedhals Machine Fabriek, JE Pistons, Jan Roelofs Race Service, Total Seal, Torco Oils, and Jan Smit’s Power Parts. Thank you all! Together we will work towards a solution for our so far “unsolved mystery”. The next event ahead of us is the third European Championship round at Mantorp Park in Sweden next week. Again little time left, as we have to leave home on Wednesday. Still, we will do everything we can to come as well-prepared as possible. ©Eurodragster.com Web site updates. 22nd July: Our good buddy Erik Zettervall has updated the Svensk Dragracing web site with the latest points standings in the Nordic Drag Racing Series and the Swedish Dragracing League. Check it out at www.dragracing.se. ©Eurodragster.com VP Group go to the wire. 21st July: Sweden's Velocity Performance Group Top Methanol Funny Car team will be working right up to the last minute in their preparations for Saturday's Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge in Stockholm. Ulf and Jörgen Leanders, Martin Lundqvist and their teams are fielding both Top Methanol FCs in the Challenge and want to be as well-prepared as possible. "Before last year's event we didn't have time to practice, and we didn't know what to practice on anyway", Ulf Leanders told Eurodragster.com. "This time we are holding a practice camp for both cars on Friday evening. We don't want to rush around on Saturday and damage things." Ulf said that the team didn't go too far in last year's Challenge but that the event is a good day all round win or lose. "We will all put on a good show, and it will be a very good promotion for drag racing", he said. ©Eurodragster.com The two-car team didn't have the best of starts to 2005 with both Ulf and Martin DNQing at the FIA Main Event although things improved at the FHRA Nitro Nationals where both cars qualified and Ulf made it to the semi-finals. "We are aware that our results have not been good so far this year", said Ulf, "This year has been a bit too much for us, a lot of work and a lot of money. We rebuilt my car, put Martin's car together, and we are still working on both trailers. "We bought a new clutch because although the old clutch was good we were having problems with it and we knew that it would break some day. The new clutch is good but we needed time to get used to it and that was what happened at the Main Event." Ulf said that the team were encouraged by their outing in Finland. "We got no data at all at the Main Event, but we got a lot of good data in Finland", he said. "We've got something to work on so now we have to go to the Veidec Festival and beat Urs!" The official web site of the Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge at www.ktmc.se has been further updated with more information about the event and exhibitors. No limits at Lurcy Lévis. 21st July: Frederic Pueyo has been in touch with news of an exciting new event at France's Lurcy Lévis track. "Denis Chavey’s DCR Engineering is presenting Lurcy Levis 2005 DCR No Limits on 6th-7th August", says Fredric. "This event is for all racers, regardless of make, engine size or power: you just have to be motivated and to choose between our six trophy classes, three Public and three Semi Pro: Street Race A, index 12.000 seconds Street Race B, index 13.000 seconds Street Race C, index 14.000 seconds Super Comp, index 8.900 seconds Super Gas, index 9.900 seconds Super Street, index 10.900 seconds "The rules are easy: it is a quarter mile race, two lanes, with a Christmas Tree, huge ET and speed displays and timing tickets, it's a serious business now! You will have the chance to test your car’s limits, in a race-addicted organisation, with all required safety. You’ll return home with plenty of souvenirs and images! It's an opportunity to race against your buddy, fine-tune your ride, take the adrenalin of a real race, or be prepared for a podium... Anyway, don’t miss this opportunity to take the advantage of an exceptional race track as well as the support of a seasoned and race-dedicated team! "The race track will open for qualifying from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on Saturday, and for eliminations from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on Sunday. There will be no rest, no peace for the chicken! "We are accepting entries by post until 30th July. The fee is €70 for a car and driver. Additional entry tickets for crew can be purchased for €10 for the weekend, please enquire when you will register. After 30th July we will only accept entries at the track until noon on: Saturday: you may then have to pay €100 euros. "No licences are needed for this race, just a car, a helmet and a huge smile on your face: this race is for everyone! "Registration forms and detailed information are available on the ATD link on the Association Trophée Dragster partner web site at www.francedrag.com, or by post from: ATD, chez M. Dubois Christophe 2, Rue des Jardins 69360 Saint Symphorien D'Ozon France "Of course, we also welcome also all race fans, American car owners, rodders, custom riders, and VW owners. We are waiting for you to enjoy the race at the friendly meeting. You can visit the race track for €10 a day or €15 for a weekend. No registration or pre-booking are needed. Racers and fans are welcome at the track from 8:00 pm on Friday 5th August. Come and enjoy what is becoming a major French Drag Racing event: come with your buddies, friends, and family. Come to challenge the specialists, come to enjoy yourself, come to blow up away your limits! Limits? We don’t have any, this is the 2005 DCR No Limits!" ©Eurodragster.com Swift snippets. 21st July: Tog and Sharkman would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to UK Super Gas racer Nev Mottershead. Hope you have a great day, Nev, and that the breakage which Libby reported to Tog on Saturday has been fixed. ©Eurodragster.com Santa Pod snippets. 21st July: Rick Cuthbert of Trakbak Racing has been in touch to let racers know that the Pod Shop will be selling Cool Blue 106 octane race fuel at the Bug Jam at Santa Pod Raceway, which starts tomorrow (Friday). Cool Blue sells for £39.99 for ten litres, and £79.99 for twenty five litres. The Bug Jam features Championship rounds of the VWDRC, Super Modified and Street Eliminator as well as Jet Funny Car demonstrations and Run What You Brung and off-track entertainment. For more details check out the event web site at www.bugjam.co.uk. ©Eurodragster.com Rick also tells us that free track time is on offer for sub-nine second doorslammers to make exhibition passes at SPR's Ultimate Street Car event on 5th-7th August. "USC has become a massive part of the Santa Pod calendar, and has opened the eyes of a new generation to the appeal of the quarter mile", says Rick. "However, USC is also an important opportunity to show these guys and girls the next stage in drag racing and so we would like to invite racers to make passes at the event. Take the chance to test before the European Finals and have an entertaining weekend to boot!". If you have an eight-second or quicker doorslammer and would like to run at USC then drop Rick a line at rick@trakbak.com. Orange fluff, pink fluff. 20th July: UK Jet Dragster pilot Ian Caseley and team spent the weekend at the Mini Showdown at Shakespeare County Raceway testing changes including a new methanol and water injection system on the Roadzombie 2 Jet Dragster. Ian says that the team had a great weekend and learned a lot even though the new kit didn't quite work out. "Having not run the Roadzombie 2 since the May Bank Holiday weekend had caused a few problems, mainly down to the amount of tinkering we had done over the past weeks", says Ian. "We didn’t really have a baseline or starting point from which to tune the afterburner. Now this isn’t a lame excuse because the car didn’t run fast times - one of our ongoing objectives is to develop and learn, and this weekend was no different. So much learnt, but little practical progress made. "Since last time out we had re-manufactured the afterburner chamber to change the airflow and introduced a secondary fuel manifold, and we also thought we would also make a water/methanol injection set-up to see if it helped in any way. I must mention the good work put in by Crazy Chris Hartnell to fabricate a custom pressure vessel for the injection system – a great job by Chris, not only did he make the thing but he also supplied our methanol for the weekend. "We had four runs on Saturday and started off with the additional manifold plumbed in but with afterburner fuel pressure backed off. It was only once we fired up that I realised it was a mere 15 psi of pressure. But she lit up off the line and we got a 210 mph run. The second run used the water/methanol system. We had five litres of 60% water 40% methanol which kicked in as the burner lit off the line, and although the turbine did well out of it - helped increase air density - the afterburner was a bit fluffy. Yes, that is a technical term! The flame was nice and blue whilst the water methanol mix was going through, but once it ran out the flame went back to the usual orange colour. We set it up to use one litre per second so it ran out at the top end. Bottom line is that this was a disappointment, although again we got a circa 200 mph run. "Next up we ran with no water/methanol, no secondary fuel manifold, and a hike in afterburner fuel pressure. That was a good run with good flame in the burner. This was a bit of a sanity check and was as near as we could get to the May fuel set-up. Again we got in a 210 mph run. The last run was with water/methanol added back in but with a reduced liquid volume. The burner lit off the line, then stalled. I gave it a stab to relight and she duly obliged, again she stalled and again relit, this happened three times until flame managed to self-sustain. We think that the amounts of fuel we had were too far off the mark to be of any benefit and caused this problem, but this did give us the fastest speed of 214 mph, so it must do some good. "Sunday morning was a repeat of the Saturday evening run, after sleeping on it we just wanted to confirm that it wasn’t a one-off. It wasn’t a one-off! I don’t think we will pursue water methanol injection in this application at least. This is where the fun started: in the shutdown area the motor was making an unusual rubbing noise as it spooled down. One of the new afterburner internal parts had ‘settled in’ and was now against the turbine. We did a full removal of the burner and strip down, filed away the offending metal, and re-built inside an hour. That’s the first time we have had to do anything as major as that at the track, and the team really came up with the goods. "We then got in our second run, no water/methanol and the one fuel manifold in the afterburner, a slight pressure increase an away we went for another drive. It was a real pleasure to light it up and go. I was so happy that I forgot to close the motor off at the finish line and kept on going for another hundred and fifty yards. I was happy, but the fire crew crapped themselves as they watched me go by with the afterburner still fully on. I had no problem stopping since once the 'chute is out it pulls up fairly quickly. The fire crew later told me that they thought I couldn’t shut her off and was going all the way. This situation cannot arise with our car, or indeed any Jet car that has the correct controls and failsafe devices fitted. This was just a poor call by the driver. "We asked if we could get one more run in, we could but had to be quick, so we fuelled her up, packed the chute, Huw, Chris and Kate attended to the safety checks and we were ready inside fifteen minutes. With the other people all trying to get a last run in, things went on for some time. We had a minor fuel leak and had to shut down, Chris attended to this and we final got the run in. ©Eurodragster.com "Throughout the weekend we also had to contend with a fuel control valve problem similar to what we had at the start of the year. Luckily our experiences early this year made it easy to understand the problem and get by, otherwise we could have been off home early. This needs to be investigated further, and if needed I can make a modified valve. The real feedback for us was that our jet wasn’t getting enough oxygen to perform. Usually I need to work the footbrake so hard that my leg is twitching – I have to press that hard, otherwise I just cannot hold it in stage, and in fact if the track isn’t prepped we have been known to slide through. But over this weekend it was easy to hold her even at 108% engine speed. We also do not appear to be getting enough un-burnt oxygen into the afterburner. The hot air at the weekend didn’t help, but in general terms this appears to be the case all of the time. Now we have tried the water methanol and additional fuel rings we can look at other possible cures to this situation. We have two future experiments to try, and will keep you informed of progress. "We obviously aspire to get respectable speeds and times from our car and although the weekend was a failure in that we got neither we have gathered a lot of valuable info about what not to do. The team had a great week end at the Mini Showdown and we would like to convey our sincere gratitude to everyone who helped arrange, manage, run and attend the event – it was a cracker. "A special thanks to Bev, our start line angel. She commented on the ‘nice’ pink fluff on our car. I told her that I dye all my body hair pink and now she wants to see inside my firesuit bottoms – I don’t know how I’m going to explain this one to Fay. Only joking Bev, but thanks for the help pushing us to the fire up area. To be honest this typifies the good spirit of the folk at Shakespeare County Raceway." UK National points update. 20th July: We are as ever indebted to UK National Drag Racing Championships Co-ordinators Simon Groves and Yvonne Tramm for forwarding us the latest, post-SPRC Summernationals, points standings in the UK Championships. "In 2005, Super Pro ET has seen Ian Tubb, last year's Champion, on top from the very start of the season but at the Summer Nationals Steve Johnson and Barry Giles made some serious inroads to Ian's lead", says Simon. "In Super Modified, Graham Ellis and Kev Perkins maintain their lead over the rapidly improving seven-second Rat Fink Camaro of Andy Kirk. The next Super Mod round, as with Street Eliminator, will be at the Bug Jam at Santa Pod Raceway this coming weekend. "In Super Comp Brian Pateman is ahead of Chris Johnson's MG ZS by a tiny margin, while Malcolm Francis has closed the gap to third. Frank Mason's lead over early-season leader Spencer Tramm in Super Gas has shrunk by 130 points, with Conrad Stanley a few round wins further back. ©Eurodragster.com "In Super Street, John Grant has a fairly healthy lead over David Cherrett and Bob Lees. John Atkinson, who has led from the start In Pro ET, saw his lead dwindle further to 2003 Champions Team Top Banana; John Morris and Heaven and Hell (the latter bouncing back in fine style) are also in the frame. "In Sportsman ET Rick Denny, who has missed the two Shakespeare County Raceway rounds so far, has increased his lead over second-placed Tanya Partridge. Junior Dragster has been a remarkable Championship this year with five different leaders in five rounds, Jay Hauser now taking on the mantle, his brother Scott having led after the Power Nationals, this being to my best knowledge a first in UK Drag Racing (answers on a postcard!). "9.50 Bike is also proving extremely competitive with four hundred points covering the first five Championship spots. At the Summernationals, Steve Coombs relinquished his lead to 2003 Champion Fred Furlong." You can view the latest UK National Championship standings by clicking here, or by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Habermann to shatter F1 illusions. 20th July: German Top Methanol Dragster racer Timo Habermann will be unleashing more than 2500 hp at this weekend's Formula 1 round in Germany – proving that any attempt from a Kimi Raikönnen or Fernando Alonso to overtake him would be a waste of time. Before the Formula 1 cars enter the Hockenheim race track on Sunday, the fans will witness an event which is sure to shatter their belief in the ultimate strength and speed of their favourite racing series. Twenty one-year-old Timo is planning an exhibition run in the six-second, 400 kmh dragster which will excite the eyes and ears of the tens of thousands of spectators. Timo is in his rookie season in the FIA European Drag Racing Championship and, of course, his car was built in the US – home of the sport. The obligatory parachutes on the car are not a decoration, they are vital: after only twenty metres the young man from Langenselbold has already reached 100 kmh and only parachutes can prevent his dragster from making an unintentional visit to the Hockenheim forest. “I am very excited to have the opportunity to rock the grandstands and accelerate in front of the F1 crowd", says Timo. "It may only be a demonstration run – but I am an ambassador for drag racing, so I will give my best.” A few weeks later things get more serious for Timo and many other Teams as the Hockenheimring will host the twentieth NitrolympX, one of Europe’s biggest and most prestigious drag racing events. Timo had his first racing experiences in a Junior Dragster and later raced in Competition before entering the professional sphere of the sport. “Timo has always been an exceptional talent", says Timo’s father and team owner Werner Habermann. "His European record in AA/Dragster proves that.” If you ask the Top Methanol Dragster Team if they could help the current world champion Michael Schumacher find a few more horsepower for his Ferrari, Timo Habermann answers, winking, "Sorry, company secret." ©Eurodragster.com Stock goes Modified. 20th July: Further to yesterday's Swift Snippet about Scott and Jay Hauser's Junior Dragster performances at Santa Pod Raceway, Gary Kay has been in touch to claim the title of quickest Junior Stock Dragster for his daughter, "Wild Bunch Kid" Jayne Kay. ©Eurodragster.com "After running four Personal Best ETs and Speeds at Shakespeare County Raceway on Saturday, Jayne finished the day with an ET of 12.188 and speed of 51.43 mph, all on unleaded fuel", says Gary. "As the index is 12.90 for Junior Stock Dragster (I'm glad you brought that up before the E-Mails started arriving - Ed) we will be moving into Junior Modified so that we do not have to slow Jayne down. Is this the first Junior Stock Dragster to run in Modified? Many thanks to everyone at Shakey, we had a great weekend." Gary adds that he has just taken delivery of a 500 ci blown and injected Keith Black from Pete Radcliffe for his own new project. "We will be building a Junior Fuel slingshot", says Gary. "We are awaiting delivery of a two-speed Lenco which is due soon. The chassis will be built in the off-season - I am too busy crewing for Jayne at the moment!" Swift snippets. 20th July: Urban Olars of VP Group has been in touch to remind racers attending next week's Veidec Festival that methanol can be ordered in advance from Swed Handling and will be delivered to Mantorp Park next Thursday (28th July). For more information check out the VP Group web site at www.vpgroup.se/mainpages/News.htm. ©Eurodragster.com The organisers of this Saturday's Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge at Kungsträdgården in Stockholm have published the official schedule for the event. You can find the KTMC schedule on the event web site at www.ktmc.se, or click on the logo at left. Mini Showdown report. 20th July: Street racer Stuart Meads has retained the title of owning the World’s quickest Mini despite some stiff opposition from various twin-engined and bike powered Minis at the weekend, writes Shakespeare County Raceway Press Officer Jerry Cookson. Competing at the British Mini Club’s eleventh running of the British Mini Showdown, Meads' mid-engined 2000 cc Cosworth-powered Mini cooking on gas provided by Nitrous Solutions, shaved almost a second off from last year's winning time of 11.471 seconds. The record now stands at 10.557s at 131.93 mph. Chasing Mead for most of the weekend was regular Shakespeare County test and tuner Carl Austin and his unique twin-engined ‘A’ series saloon. Although an overall quarter mile time of 11.648s won him the third place trophy, Carl still went home having retained the title of the Quickest ‘A’ series of the event. Second in class was Andrew Rattcliffe. Mother and son Lynn and Ashley Edwards shared the family owned spaced frame circuit race Mini Clubman. Powered by a normally aspirated 16v 2-litre Vauxhall engine, both Lynn and Ashley topped the timing sheets with a 12.571s, again knocking almost a full second off last year’s time. Sharing premium track time with the Minis was several national championship teams testing mid season tune-ups together with a mix of Wild Bunch nostalgia dragsters and altereds and NAST Super Twins. UK Kawasaki-backed rider Tim Blakemore brought out his Funny Bike and laid down an absolute stormer of a run. Despite problems with the bike persistently losing fire at the line, it all came together perfectly mid afternoon with a top time of 7.376s at 168.48 mph. ‘Mr Entertainment’ Chris Hartnell topped the Wild Bunch timing sheets with his crowd-pleasing wheel-standing antics in the injected Backdraft slingshot dragster with a barrage of high eight second passes. Speaking of slingshots, former Wild Bunch champ Tommy ‘The Gun’ Coe took his first ride in dad Alec’s new blown front engined dragster, and promptly rattled Alec’s cage with a 9.094/157.14. Has dad lost the ride already! Tony Smith won the Wild Bunch round with Helen Smythe second, Steve Field third and Smokin Joe Stevens in fourth. In the Twins, Chris Mott pushed his Thames Valley Harley V-Rod to a 10.05 while former twins star Jerry Collier swapped his eight-second H2 Comp Bike for Scott Collier’s 50cc Junior ‘Jade’ Drag Bike and promptly pulled a -.057 red light and lost to Jake Carruthers, 12.752 to 15.231. Also testing new equipment was Ian Caseley’s Road Zombie Jet Dragster. Running with an experimental water and injection system on the RR Viper 500 jet, Ian ran several sevens at over 200 mph. All in all, with over 280 vehicles signed on and 1832 runs made over the two days, the BMC’s 2005 edition of the Showdown has been hailed as another success by event organiser Dave Hollis who wishes to add his thanks to all the APIRA marshals, track and safety crews for working the weekend in hot and sometimes humid conditions to ensure the event ran smoothly and safely. ©Eurodragster.com Web site updates. 20th July: Jeroen Dondorp has updated his fan site with a number of links to pictures from the weekend's MPM Internationals at Drachten as well as a video clip of one of Lex Joon's runs in the MPM Top Fuel Dragster. Check it out at dragrace.startkabel.nl. The official web site of the UK's Nobby Hills Racing Fuel Fc team has been updated with the latest news on the Houndog including the team's latest promotional appearances. Read the latest at www.nhracing.com. ©Eurodragster.com The official web site of the UK's Freddy's Revenge NFAA altered has been revamped and now includes photographs and video of Dave Grabham's huge wheelie at the SPRC Summernationals. You can find the Freddy's Revenge web site at www.freddysrevenge.co.uk. Bug Jam, European Finals update. 19th July: Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall has been in touch with an update for racers planning to attend this weekend's Bug Jam and/or to enter September's FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway. "Racers planning to participate in this weekend's Run What You Brung sessions should remember to bring your DVLC licences as well as competition licences", says Paula. "You will need your DVLC for the Run What You Brung." ©Eurodragster.com Paula also says that she is already receiving entries for the FIA European Finals and is advising racers to think about entering soon. "It may seem like a long way off, but entry to the European Finals officially closes on 9th August for Pro classes, and 18th August for Sportsman classes", says Paula. "If things go the way they did for the FIA Main Event then we will be closing entries for everyone on the official closing dates, so don't be disappointed if we can't accommodate entries after those dates." If you have any queries then please contact Paula at paula.marshall@btconnect.com or call 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625). Paula has also forwarded us the latest version of the official entry list for the Bug Jam, which you can view by clicking here. Stilwell family thanks. 19th July: Geof Stilwell has been in touch to say Thank You to the drag racing community for their support after the passing of his wife Wendy last week. "My little boy Matthew, who is eight, and my daughter Leanne, who is thirteen, want to say a big Thank You to everyone who has sent messages", says Geoff. "Can I also say a special Thank You to John Price whom I have known for so many years. He is a True Friend. ©Eurodragster.com "We have already raised about £2,000 for the Heart of Kent Hospice and our aim is to raise £10,000. So please keep the sponsorship rolling in for James Woolerton who is running 27 Km for Wendy and Jonathon." if you would like to sponsor James' run in memory of Wendy and Jonathon then please E-mail him at james_woolerton@mail.com. Joon's first Threes. 19th July: Current FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Championship leader, Holland's Lex Joon, went into the history books at the MPM Internationals at Drachten at the weekend when he ran the first three-second eighth-mile passes in Holland and also set a new Dutch record of 3.64. Lex's feats rounded off a perfect weekend as the MPM Internationals, which he promoted with partner and Team Manager Gerda Dijkstra, were a massive success and increased the exposure of Dutch drag racing still further. Lex says that it was initially difficult to decide how to set up the MPM Top Fueller (right, picture ©Remco Scheelings). "We went for a soft tune-up", says Lex. "Our Crew Chief Eddie Corr was not at Drachten but he had set up the clutch for us in Finland and we did the tune-up at the track. Kent Trenneman brought his Pro Mod along and had said that he was concerned about the traction on Friday, but then on Saturday he ran a personal best for the eighth of 4.2 seconds and he came back to us and said that the track was just fine! That gave us hope for our run." With the set-up decided, the next consideration was the Top Fueller's position on the track, which is an airport runway for the rest of the week. "The main thing was to keep the car off the painted white lines, so we took a lot of care lining up", says Lex. On the green, Lex made a run which will doubtless go into the books as the shot heard all around the Netherlands. "It was just amazing, the car stuck to the track and we ran a 0.88 sixty foot", says Lex. "I clicked off the throttle at 2.5 seconds and recorded 3.67. That was the first three-second eighth mile in Holland and it certainly stunned the crowd. After I got off the throttle there was a moment of shocked silence, and then you could hear all the car alarms going off! Our sponsors and VIPs all had tears in their eyes, everyone said they had never seen or felt anything like it before - they felt it in their stomachs. It was very emotional for us too because there was a lot at stake." Sunday saw the largest crowd ever at an event at Drachten and they were treated to plenty of good, close racing. Lex says that he too wanted to put on a good show and back up the previous day's run. "Because I wanted to run within one per cent to back up the record I clicked off at exactly the same spot, and ran a 3.64 which became the new official Dutch record!", says Lex. "We got a huge ovation when we towed back." The news spread fast and Lex's run ended up being repeated every hour on Dutch TV yesterday. "It was a good weekend for the sport and it was a good weekend for our sponsors", says Lex. "Drag racing has had a lot of exposure." Lex and Gerda were exhausted when we spoke to them yesterday but Lex says that the hard work was all worthwhile. "It was a long weekend, and a very tiring weekend, but we all feel really good about it", he says. "The track crew did a wonderful job, my crew guys did a wonderful job, it was just a splendid weekend all round. It was a good achievement for drag racing in Holland and we are all proud." Also enjoying his weekend at the MPM Internationals at Drachten was 2004 FIM/UEM Supertwin Champion Ton Pels (right, picture ©Remco Scheelings) who set the quickest ever eighth-mile ET and Speed for a Supertwin bike on on Dutch soil with a 4.44/271 kmh. "The Zodiac Team outran the supercharged Nitro burning four-bangers with our normally-aspirated Nitro Harley", says Monique Pels. "For more news and photos, please visit the News page at www.zodiacracing.com." Swift snippets. 19th July: Geof Hauser writes to ask if his sons Jay and Scott have Europe's quickest and fastest Junior Dragsters after testing at Santa Pod at the weekend. "We decided to remove the ballast we use to keep the cars to the 7.90 index", says Geof. "Jay went 7.362/86.20 and Scott ran 7.273/87.04. The hard bit now is going to be getting used to going half a second slower to keep it legal! Of note is Scott's sixty foot time of 1.487 and our data recorder showed 0-60 in 2.97 seconds, not bad for an old sidevalve. Also in attendance was Matthew Seamarks testing his new motor, knocking over three seconds off his previous best with runs in the 10.7s." ©Eurodragster.com Congratulations to the UK's Nick Daniels who set new PBs of 8.6 and 152 mph on the ex-Paul Willis Bike at the Mini Weekend at Shakespeare County Raceway. "After spending most of this season missing meetings for various reasons (bits not being ready, being made redundant from job just as bike was finished, etc) it was important to get as much track time as possible on the rebuilt bike, in order to be competitive at future meetings." said Shaggy. "As always, huge thanks to Paul Rose, Andy Haley, Kev Sharman and Jerry Collier for all their help, advice and bits from their bikes!". Shaggy's next outing is the Custom Car Magazine Allstar Nationals at SCR in August. UK 9.50 Bike racer Steve Knapp would be interested to hear from fellow bike racers about his idea for a new UK bike class. "What I would like to happen is a new class to replace 10.50 Bike, as nobody enters it any more", says Steve. "It seems 9.50 Bike has become the entry class, and Super Street is a long way off for many people who want to move up a class. So we would like a class in the middle - maybe 8.90 Bike or even Bike ET with an upper and lower limit". Steve would be pleased to receive comments from bike racers at stevekarenamyscott@ntlworld.com. Web site updates. 19th July: The Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se has been updated with results from the Gold Town Summer Nats and the FHRA Summer Nats. ©Eurodragster.com Challenging talk from Andréasson. 18th July: Sweden's Andréasson Motorsports Top Methanol Funny Car team are eager for revenge in this Saturday's Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge, says team member Anders Magnusson. "We know that Kågered Racing have been practicing and will push their times even lower than in 2004, so have to find ways to be even better than they are", Anders told Eurodragster.com. Leif's team was runner-up to Kågered Racing in last year's inaugural event, which was designed to bring team mechanics to the fore. Anders explained the tasks involved in the Mechanic Challenge. "We warm up the car and then wait for the Go", said Anders. "On Go we disassembled fuel lines, take off the blower belt, throttle cable and sensor cables before taking off the blower with manifold. Under the car the oil tray comes down and one piston rod is undone to take the piston-rod assembly out from one cylinder. On one side the sensor cables, leads, spark plugs and valve covers come off before removing the rocker arm assembly then the cylinder head with the headers. The head gasket comes off as well before pushing out the rod and piston to show the officials. Then we reverse the whole process, put on the starter and crank up the engine...preferably faster than the other teams!" ©Eurodragster.com Anders said that the Kamasa-backed team have been practicing to find ways to do the job quicker. "There is always a faster way, but we have to keep within the boundaries of the rules", he said. "All of the other teams in the competition are very competent as well." Andrésson Motorsports and Team Kågered take on the two Velocity Performance Group TMFCs of Ulf Leaders and Martin Lundqvist, Germany's Jürgen Nagel, Jonas Staflund and Kjell Sjöblom at Stockholm's Kungsträdgården on Saturday. In addition Jöran Persåker will be firing up the Team Nasty Toys Top Fueller. Anders said that the event, a week before the Veidec Festival at Mantorp Park, makes a good promotional vehicle for drag racing. "The Mechanic Challenge has brought drag racing to a lot of people who have not been to the strip, and it has increased media interest in the sport", he said. The Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge takes place in the Kungsträdgården in Stockholm this Saturday, 23rd July, starting at midday. For more information check out the event's official web site at www.ktmc.se. Eurodragster.com will be attending the KTMC and will be posting a feature and Photo Gallery very soon after the event. Stay tuned as we hope to get the thoughts of the other KTMC challengers during this week. Swift snippets. 18th July: You can find reports of the weekend's FHRA Rautia Nats at Kalajoki, courtesy of on-the-spot reporter Hannele Höydén, on the Finnish Hot Rod Association web site at www.fhra.fi/fin/index.php?page_id=134. ©Eurodragster.com The official entry list for the NDRG Drag Challenge, the fourth round of the 2005 FIA and FIM/UEM European Championships which takes place at Gardermoen's Amcar International Raceway on 5th-7th August, is now available on the Norsk Dragracing Gardermoen web site at www.norskdragracing.com. UK Super Gas and Pro ET racers Wayne and Pam Hiscock have asked us to say a big Happy 14th Birthday to Sammy Jackson, their number one fan and special little helper. No sooner said than done, have a very Happy Birthday Sammy! Web site updates. 18th July: The official web site of Sweden's Kågered Racing Top Fuel Dragster and Top Methanol FC team has been updated with photographs from last Wednesday's appearance at the SHRA Nyköping Thirtieth Anniversary celebration. Check it out at www.kagered-racing.com. ©Eurodragster.com FIA Champions' stats. 17th July: Our good friend Andy Marrs of TSI Timers UK has supplied us with another interesting statistical analysis of the FIA European Championships. ©Eurodragster.com Andy's latest work analyses the annual performance statistics of each year's FIA European Champions since the Championships began, showing points margins, qualifying, final round appearances, Low ET, high speed and more. You can view Andy's Champions stats by clicking here. Andy hopes to produce a similar sheet for FIM/UEM Champions when he has tracked down each round's results. Web site updates. 17th July: UK Top Fuel Bike racer and current FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike Championship leader Ian King has launched a completely redesigned web site at www.kingracing.com. The new site, by sponsor Pixeleye Interactive, features the ever-popular Pit Lane Gossip as well as bike specifications, team biographies, race calendar and more. ©Eurodragster.com Swift snippets. 16th July: Sweden's Lindahl Brothers will be taking their Kendall Oil-backed blown-alcohol '57 Chevy Pro Mod to race in the USA later this season. Stay tuned and we will have a word with Magnus and Micke at the Veidec Festival and bring you more. Rapport på svenska hos ttela.se. ©Eurodragster.com Norwegian Top Methanol FC racer Arvid Grødem tells us that his arm is getting better day by day and that he expects to be racing at the Veidec Festival. We would like to wish a very Happy Wedding Anniversary to our good friends Nev and Libby Mottershead. Hope that you have a good day, guys. Carolina visits Thorny. 16th July: Nigel Taylor of Carolina Classics tells us that he had a very enjoyable weekend at the Victory Wheelers' Run What You Brung event at Thorny Island last weekend. "We watched some of the die-hard hot rodders running down the concrete quarter mile with the help of the Straightliners organisers", says Nigel. "An excellent turnout on what is still trying to be turned into a monthly drag race meeting point! The runners included the Gasser Circus, Taz Racing, a snowmobile, Jeff Thurstons Mustang, the ex-Street Eliminator '68 camaro, a ten-second Fordson van on street treads, Mark Lemude's flying '55 Chevy, a few Anglias, lots of American iron and stacks of hot rods. A superb weekend was had by all, apart from the three-hour queue to get in on the Sunday for the day trippers!" ©Eurodragster.com Nigel has also asked us to remind readers about the Charity Custom Car Show at Thruxton on 4th September. "There is free entry for pre-entrants", says Nigel. "Forms are now available, and for trade stand enquiries and more information telephone Liz Cosgrove on 01264 345848, E-Mail liz-cosgrove@enham.org.uk or phone Carolina Classics on 01264 321170. You can read more in our news item All invited to Charity Show of 23rd June. Carolina Classics offer American car sales, advice, servicing, and MoTs, offer discounts on parts and insurance, and maintain excellent relations with US engine builders and racing suppliers. You can find out more at www.carolinaclassics.co.uk. Web site updates. 16th July: The official web site of next week's Bug Jam at Santa Pod Raceway has been updated with full running orders and entry list as well as details on all the off-track activities. Check it out at www.bugjam.co.uk. UK Junior Dragster racer Peter Walters has started a sideline in race car design. "I have done a lot of have had some interest", says Peter. "Even a young girl in the USA named Christina Dewing asked me to design a paint job and it is actually being used on the car!". You can see Peter's work on his web site at www.piczo.com/walters-dragracing. Wendy Stilwell. 15th July: We were very sorry to hear from John Price of the death of Wendy Stilwell, wife of former UK Pro Stock Bike racer Geoff Stilwell. Wendy, who was well-known and loved by the UK drag bike contingent, passed away on Wednesday evening this week after a short illness. Wendy's funeral is to take place at 2:00 pm on Monday 25th July at Vinters Park Crematorium in Maidstone, near Junction 7 of the M20 (map). James Woolerton is to go on a twenty seven kilometre sponsored run to raise money for the Macmillan Cancer Trust and the Heart of Kent Hospice in memory of Wendy and of another close friend who died at the age of twenty seven. If you would like to sponsor James then please drop him a line at james_woolerton@mail.com. We are sure that everyone will join Tog and Sharkman in sending their very deepest sympathies to Geoff, his and Wendy's two children, and their family and friends. Important Veidec Festival notices. 15th July: Mantorp Park PR L-O Jonsson has been in touch with some important messages about the Veidec Festival, which takes place at at the Swedish track on 28th-31st July: Event Director Fredrik Ström has announced that entry is now closed for the Veidec Festival. "We had to take this decision because of the fantastic number of entries, which has now passed over 340 race teams from all over Europe", says Fredrik. "Exceptions are made for entries currently being dealt with the organiser, which means that the official entry list still may change." The latest official entry list has been posted on the Veidec Festival web site at www.veidecfestival.com. Racers are advised to check the list to make sure that their the information is correct. ©Eurodragster.com Swedish racers without a race number on the entry list are advised to check the number on their competition license, which contains their race number, and relay this information to Mantorp Park as soon as possible. All foreign racers without a race number have been issued with a race number on the entry list, and this is the race number they need to display on their vehicle during the event. FIM/UEM Bike racers have been issued with race numbers which are displayed on the entry list, and racers in Street Bike and Super Gas Bike will be issued with a race number by SVEMO. When the Mantorp Park organisers have received these numbers they will be added to the official entry list. "The organisation behind this huge event is currently doing everything they can to give both the attending teams and the spectators one of the best events ever", says Fredrik. Joon's exhausting pace. 15th July: Lex Joon of Holland's MPM Top Fuel Team, current leader in the FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Championship, says that running his own Top Fuel Dragster operation is busier than he could have imagined. As well as their busy European Championship schedule, Lex and partner and Team Manager Gerda Dijkstra promote this weekend's MPM Internationals at Drachten and have now announced that they will be running at the Nitrolympx at Hockenheim. Lex made the semi-finals at the FHRA Nitro Nationals at Alastaro which on top of his win in the FIA Main Event was good enough to retain his lead in the FIA Championship. "Finland was the hardest race because of the track conditions", Lex told Eurodragster.com on Wednesday night. "The guys prep the track very well, but the track does not get enough use in the year and it also had a lot of oil over the weekend." Lex said that Crew Chief Eddie Corr is getting a handle on the MPM Top Fueller. "Eddie made made some changes and this time we were getting past the eighth without any traction problems", said Lex. "Our sixty, 330 and eighth times in Finland were really good. They even surprised Eddie! We had no damage in qualifying, then we lost a gasket in round one and two gaskets in round two. You lose traction and you lose cylinders, and that's what causes you to lose gaskets. In the semi final it started to spin the tyres at 1000 feet. Thomas Nataas said that he could see me but then we torched the gasket and I felt the power go away and I shut off." Although disappointed not to win in Finland, Lex said that he achieved his aim. "I wanted to stay ahead in the points and I did", he said. After the final I congratulated Andy Carter on his win and he thanked me and said "I'm hungry but I know you are too! It will be a tough fight". The other teams are circling. Rune Fjeld is good, he is always the man to beat. Tommy Möller is getting better and as the other independent racer I hope he can sort out his problems. But we can outrun anyone as long as we don't outrun ourselves and we are very confident about the rest of the season. Our car will suit the tracks coming up, we understand the problems we've had and Eddie has the solution. If we can make it at Drachten this weekend we will make it anywhere, and we're really looking forward to the next two races. Mantorp was good last year and it will be good again this year, Norway was good last year, and Santa Pod is always good." Lex said that the team have decided to take part in the Nitrolympx at Hockenheim in mid-August. "It will be very busy looking at our schedule", he said. "But it's a great event for our sponsors and our crew, we can all let off steam and have some fun and be ready to get serious for the European Finals". ©Eurodragster.com When the European Finals do come around there could be fireworks. "If the track is as good as it was at the Main Event and we are looking good for the Championship then we will throw everything in it", said Lex. "It should run a very quick time and Eddie agrees. We have been running incrementals similar to David Baca as far as the eighth. We want to show the fans what we can do and we want to go under power all the way down the track. I promised myself that if I ever went Top Fuel then I would run full passes if I possibly could." Lex was full of praise for his crew. "I never thought that Eddie and I could work together so well", he said. "He is a real smart guy and great to work with. The whole crew like him, he works well with them and keeps them informed. We're lucky to have Eddie both for his skills and for his attitude. And the crew just get better all the time. Andrew Gibb, who was with us for the first time in Finland, said "I am not worried about driving the truck from Holland to Finland but I am worried about working on the car!". But he was fine, we were trusting him with work which normally you'd have to be on the team a year to do, we are very pleased to have him on the team. We're down to one head guy in Sweden and Norway, but one of David Baca's guys is coming from the USA to help out." When we spoke to Lex he was on the way to Drachten to prepare the airstrip for this weekend's MPM Internationals. Lex will be making demonstration runs in the MPM Oil Top Fueller and is hoping to give the fans and media something to talk about. "We've got some work ahead of us to get the facility ready for the weekend but it will be OK", said Lex. "I hope we can make the traction good for runs in the MPM Top Fuel Dragster, but we have to be careful because it is an airfield and we got complaints from the pilots that the surface got slippery when it rained! This weekend we want the Dutch record, and I want to go under four seconds for the eighth. If we could do that then it would generate huge interest for the sport, then maybe we can start to think about getting our own permanent drag strip in Holland. We have never sold so many advance tickets, the weather is looking good and it's all coming together. MPM Oil are really excited." Lex said that running his own Top Fuel Dragster operation this year has been a shock to the system. "It's a busy season for us", he said. "We've got the FIA Championship, this weekend's event at Drachten, and we have to run our business as well. The Top Alcohol Funny Car was busy but this is much more work. Gerda works on the racing full-time, the crew are there every weekend, and I am busy with it too. I didn't realise that it would be so intense. It's exhausting but we are managing and I am really pleased with the way it is going. It's also amazing to see the reaction we get for our work. We get E-Mails from all over the world every time we run - we have had E-Mails from as far away as South Africa and Sri Lanka - and Remco Scheelings does the stories in the press and it's great to see our picture there. We're really proud." Nilsson's pre-mix testing. 15th July: 2004 NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified Champion Håkan Nilsson and the Nilsson Motorsports team had a successful test session at Meca Raceway on Wednesday evening, says team member Ulf Stadig. The team are now looking forward to their main sponsor's event, the Veidec Festival at Mantorp Park on 28th-31st July. ©Eurodragster.com "Håkan made three passes, and with sixty-foot times around 1.03 - 1.04, and 330 foot times in the mid-2.7s, it was an awesome oppertunity for us to test some new things that the guys have been working on", says Ulf. "We have to thank Meca Raceway and the SRIF crew at the super track down in Malmö for the opportunity they give racers to test their cars and bikes on Wednesday evenings. It's like going to an eighth mile track on the East Coast of America, it was crowded and the Veidec Racing/Nilsson Motorsports team had a very nice and pleasant evening. "The Veidec Rocket is now ready for the real competition at the Veidec Festival, and we are looking forward to mixing it up with the record field of twenty eight Pro Mods!" More support from Flint Insurance. 15th July: We are very pleased to announce that David Taylor, Director of the UK's Flint Insurance Group, has again kindly provided travel insurance for the Eurodragster.com staff on their trips to Stockholm for next Saturday's Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge and to Mantorp Park for the Veidec Festival on 28th-31st July. Flint Insurance can provide for all the usual personal and commercial lines such as building, motor, breakdown, and travel insurance, as well as insurance for race vehicles. "Flint Insurance has a special transit and storage scheme to insure race vehicles - cars or bikes - whilst in the workshop, in transit from the workshop to the track, or whilst sitting untouched in the pits at the track", Dave Taylor told Eurodragster.com. "For more details please call us on 0870 011 5252". ©Eurodragster.com Flint Insurance Group, a longtime supporter of drag racing, provides insurance for a number of racers, both for their race vehicles and for their trailers. For more information about the services which Flint Insurance Group can provide, check out their web site at www.flintinsurance.co.uk. We would like to thank David Taylor and Flint Insurance Group for their continued support of Eurodragster.com. Swift snippets. 15th July: Our good friend Hannele Höydén tells us that she will be reporting live from this weekend's FHRA Rautia Nats at Kalajoki. "The coverage won't be the same detail as the FHRA Nitro Nats, but it will be something like it", says Hanski. You will be able to find the FHRA Rautia Nats coverage at www.fhra.fi/fin/index.php?page_id=134 starting tomorrow (Saturday). DJ of Santa Pod Raceway has been in touch to remind readers that the closing date of 31st July is fast approaching for the contest to win a limited-edition print of the tremendous Keith Hill painting Sign of the Times, which captures the atmosphere of Santa Pod Raceway whilst preserving a link with the site's World War 2 heritage. For more details check out Santa Pod's web site at www.santapod.co.uk/g_competitions.php. ©Eurodragster.com DJ also reminds us that Santa Pod's Saturday Night Special earlier this year was so successful that another has been scheduled for Saturday 15th October. "The track will be open until 9:00 pm with free camping for those wanting to stay over for the Sunday RWYB, as well as additional attractions such as 270 mph Jet Car, sideshows, bar and music, and catering", says DJ. More details at www.rwyb.com. A very Happy 30th Birthday for yesterday (Thursday) to UK 9.50 Bike racer Andy Burfitt. Sarah and all the family asked us to send all their love and to say "We hope that Andy enjoys the weekend, and we look forward to seeing all the guys and girls at the track soon". No sooner said than done Sarah, and we hope that you had a good day Andy. Apologies to our readers for the lack of a news update yesterday, which was mainly down to Tog preparing for his return to his day job. Get a grip with ARRC. 15th July: Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor Andy Robinson Race Cars has been appointed sole UK outlet for the Gripper Diffs range of limited slip differentials to fit Ford eight- and nine-inch axles, writes Bob Roberts. These UK-built diffs have been available for some time to fit European and Japanese FWD applications, and now new versions have been developed which will fit the axles found under a host of classic FoMoCo products such as Mustangs, Comets, Falcons and Thunderbirds. Whilst based on the well proven multi-plate principle, these differentials embody unique features of detailed design which make them unusually progressive in action and extremely compact, such that they can be installed in applications where hitherto no LSD has been available. Their performance and durability has been validated both by extensive testing and by successful usage on both track and stage. ©Eurodragster.com Gripper Diffs can be set up with varying amounts of pre-load to suit individual driver preference and particular conditions. This flexibility allows for a variety of uses up to serious race or rally. Maximum practical horsepower is around 600 although this will depend on the weight of the car, torque of the engine and the use of aftermarket half shafts. ARRC offer a comprehensive installation and axle rebuild service based on the Gripper Diffs and Strange shafts, or they can supply a kit of parts for others to install. More information including contact details can be found at www.robinson-race-cars.co.uk or by clicking on the ARRC logo at right. Go north for Nationals. 15th July: "What are you doing this Sunday?", asks York Raceway PR Howard Holmes. "Cowering in the corner of your garage, or do you want to go racing? "It's the Northern Sportsman Nationals this Sunday, 17th July at York Raceway. The Northern Sportsman Nationals - ­what's that then? Let's spell it out: Northern means a friendly and efficiently-run track, Sportsman means an opportunity to enjoy your car, enjoy your sport and be a hero at York. Nationals? Well there ain't too many opportunities for a drag race at this time of the year, with no drag racing events for several weeks nationally, so we is gagging for a race! "So it's a good opportunity for those further south or further north to come and run some numbers at York Raceway, a great opportunity for tough doorslammers to prove the point and get track time, with a trophy for the day's quickest doorslammer, plus there¹s the Northern Drag Racing Championship, Super Cup Class, American Super Stock, Hot Rod Challenge, Air-Cooled Eliminators and some time for Run What You've Brung. ©Eurodragster.com "Air-Cooled Eliminators? York Raceway also started a new race series this year, dedicated to that seventy-year-old design classic, der Beetlen. A dial-yer-own series, but some of these cars are pulling the wheels in the air and running tens. Someone called Straightjacket Hamilton wants to spank V8s. Well, Mr Hamilton, Steve Neimantas will be debuting his new Road Runner (newish,it got a couple of runs last year before engine destruction). Steve tells us the Road Runner's new Hemi has dynod 820 hp and he's looking for a nine first time out this Sunday at York. "It'll be a great day's racing, the Met Office is forecasting a sunny Sunday. Come and have a race (or spectate) at York Raceway this Sunday. Camping available from 6:00 pm Saturday, for more details check www.york-raceway.co.uk or call 01422 843651 for further information." Web site updates. 15th July: The official web site of the UK's Street Eliminator class has been updated with the latest class news including their next round, which takes place at next week's Bug Jam at Santa Pod Raceway. Check it out under Latest News at www.streeteliminatoruk.com. ©Eurodragster.com If you are a fan of Alan Currans' excellent Acceleration Archive web site and you like your drag racing two-wheeled then you will be delighted by Alan's latest update to the site. A seventh page of drag bikes has been added to the Alan Currans Collection, devoted entirely to the Dutch riders who were such a force in the 1970s and 1980s. "This is a veritable Who's Who of Dutch riders, as it contains no less than fifty pictures of the bikes of Age de Vries, Anton de Vos, Cees van Dongen, the late Henk Vink, Jan Jansen, Jos Smit, Ton Pels and Willi Vos-Dijkstra", says Alan. "I am greatly indebted to Ton and Monique Pels for kindly providing identification of many of the pictures on this page". Check it out at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk. John Hutchinson has updated his Nitromaniac fan site with a large number of photographs from the recent NSRA Nostalgia Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. You can find John's web site at community.webshots.com/user/nitromaniac. No licencing at FIA European Finals. 13th July: Santa Pod Raceway's Race Director Darren Prentice has been in touch with the following very important announcement for racers about the FIA European Finals, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 8th-11th September: ©Eurodragster.com "Please note that we will not be allowing licencing runs in any class, Pro or Sportsman, at the FIA European Finals. Racers should make every effort to make licencing passes before the event: there are plenty of opportunities including Run What You Brungs, the Webster Race Engineering Test Day on 20th August, and the Peak Performance Test on 3rd September." Biggest ever MPM Internationals. 13th July: Holland's eXplosion Drag Racing Club's MPM Internationals start this Friday (15th July) with more teams than ever from all around Europe attending the event at Drachten Airfield, says Henriette Selles. "This three-day event is the most spectacular of the season", says Henriette. "Lex Joon will make a demonstration pass, but that's not all, he is trying trying to get the Dutch speed record. Roel Koedam is currently the proud holder of that title...surely Roel will defend his Dutch speed record! But then there's Joey Bon who will try to be the third man to walk away with the prize. ©Eurodragster.com "So far five Pro Mods have signed up. Of course the MPM-sponsored Robert Koper will be there, and the German Kath Brothers, but Peter Ritscher will also bringing the Vanishing Point Dodge Avenger to our strip. K and H Racing have told us that everything looks very promising and that they expect to bring the Chevrolet business coupe ready to race. Kent Trennemann is also coming to Drachten with the Old 51. "Of course there is off-track entertainment. When the racing is done on Friday there is music from live artists, and a drive-in show on Saturday evening." Tickets for the MPM Internationals can be purchased on-line at www.lexjoonracing.nl/kk_300000.html, and the official entry list can be found at www.explosiondragracing.com/D2-2005.htm. Grumpy on top of it. 13th July: 2004 FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champion Dave Wilson says that the American Car Imports Racing team have eradicated the oiling problem which caused damage at the start of the season. Dave was the class of the TMD field at the FHRA Nitro Nationals at Alastaro, qualifying number one and taking his third event win of the year. "We're on top of the oiling problem now and we're looking forward to Mantorp Park!", Grumpy told Eurodragster.com. "We didn't make a vast number of changes at Alastaro. We had new heads on the car but they were just fresher, there wasn't any performance advantage in them. We were happy to run in whichever lane - the right lane started out better but our performances in the left lane weren't much different and proved that it came round." ©Eurodragster.com Grumpy also told us that the winglets attached to the front spoiler for this season were helping with the car's top end stability. "They're doing the trick, but Mantorp is going to be the acid test because that's where the front end always gets light", he said. Back in the workshop a crank damaged on only its third run from new at the FIA Main Event has gone back the USA to be reground, straightened and rechromed, whilst local company Allgear have repaired another crank which is now back in the spare engine. "Allgear did a very good job on the crank", said Grumpy. Team member Phil James has written another of his superb event reviews which you can find on the Race Reports page at www.americancarimportsracing.com. Swift snippets. 13th July: UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Gary Page has been invited by Nitrolympx promoter Rico Anthes to put in a demonstration burnout at Hockenheim before next week's German Grand Prix. In a repeat of last year's hugely-successful promotion, Gary will pull a burnout in one of Rico's Top Fuel Dragsters before Saturday's Formula One qualifying session. 2004 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Andy Carter has confirmed the next of his promotional appearances for primary sponsor B&Q Power Tools. Andy will be exhibiting the race car next Thursday, 21st July, at the Reading B&Q Warehouse in Reading Gate Retail Park, Acre Road, Reading, just off Junction 11 of the M4 (click here for a map). "We will be there from 9:30 am onwards", says Andy. "If you're in the area then please come by and say hello. We will be showing the race car, not the Show Car, which will then go on the ferry for Mantorp on the following Sunday." ©Eurodragster.com If you're anywhere near Nyköping in Sweden today (Wednesday) then don't forget that SHRA Nyköping are celebrating their thirtieth anniversary with a special show tonight at Nyk&oum;ping Harbour where a Top Fuel Dragster, Pro Stock, Supertwin and Pro Mod will be fired up at the weekly car meet. For more details check out Big noise for SHRA Nyköping 30th of 8th July or check out the Club's web site at www.shra-nykoping.com. Thanks to those readers outside the UK who have coninued to write expressing their sympathy and support after the terrorist attacks in London last Thursday. There is to be a two-minute silence in the UK tomorrow, Thursday 14th July, at midday UK (11:00 GMT/13:00 European), and we invite all of Eurodragster.com's readers to observe that silence with us. If you are outside the UK then you can find out your local time against midday UK by clicking here. King Racing press release. 13th July: When UK Top Fuel Bike racer Ian King (right, picture ©Stefan Boman) clinched the opening rounds of Top Fuel Bike at both the British Championships at Easter and the European Championships in May many could have been forgiven for believing the early success was due to home advantage. However, the second round of the prestigious drag racing championship held in Alastaro, Finland showed the team had the mettle to cope – home or away, after taking the event title and building a commanding lead in their quest to repeat the European Championship crown of four years ago. Upon collecting the race transporter from Turku Harbour after its long four day journey from England the rain started and did not bode well for the weekend, but the outlook was good and the entry list for the class was very strong. Indeed, the weather turned and remained hot and sunny throughout the race, presenting additional problems for the track crew. Races in Finland are subject to unique environmental regulations that mean `traditional’ methods of track preparation using traction compound and solvents are not easily achieved, and careful methods of controlling chemical evaporating to the atmosphere must be maintained. The result was an enormously tricky surface for clutch tuning. Indeed it was not until the final round of qualifying that the King Racing team managed to find a soft enough clutch setting to actually launch the 1000 horsepower machine without it stepping dangerously out of line at the start. Tactical manoeuvres then came into force when King elected to shut the bike down early in order that he should meet the number one qualifier and reigning European Champion Roel Koedam of the Netherlands in the first round. Koedam was suffering engine problems and King realised that the Dutchman was unlikely to make the first round. In the meantime, the tricky surface was causing problems for the other riders too, resulting in no little damage to Swedish rider Peter Ström who broke a crankshaft in half when losing traction at mid track during qualifying. Despite the fact that King did indeed benefit from an unopposed bye run in the first round he elected to run the round as fast as possible with the soft clutch, resulting in the quickest run of the class for the weekend. King’s closest contender left in the field, Norway’s Sverre Dahl was caught out by the track in his semifinal, seeing local rider Olli Koskinen ride through his tyre smoke and on to meet King in the final – an excellent result for the Finn in what was only his second ever drag race event. However, by then the British team had the measure of the track and coupled with King’s impressive reaction time the final saw King speed away from Koskinen for the all important win. King Racing’s next event is the Veidec Festival at Mantorp Park, Sweden on the 29th – 31st July. King Racing are proud to be supported in their 2005 campaign by Mickey Thompson Tires, Gates Power Transmissions, Performance Machine, Pinnacle Autoparts, Wackyshack Paintshop, Turboville.com, RSG Customize, House of Kolor UK, Murdoch Racing Enterprises, Goodridge UK, Vanson Leathers, White Line Cycles (Athens), Cometic Gaskets UK, Aerotek Fasteners, Straightline Racing, Pixeleye Design, Web Camshafts, Mark and Jackie Hawkins, Ivan Sansom and Rose Hughes, Kath Taylor, Obsession Motorsports and Pro Alloy Motorsports. ©Eurodragster.com FIM/UEM statistics sought. 13th July: Our good buddy Andy Marrs of TSI Timers Europe has been in touch to ask for the help of Eurodragster.com readers to complete his FIM/UEM statistics sheets. Unless otherwise noted Andy is looking for qualifying and elimination details as follow: ©Eurodragster.com Alastaro 2002: Eliminations for Top Fuel Bike, Supertwin, Pro Stock Bike Hockenheim 2002: TFB, ST, PSB Hockenheim 2001: TFB qualifying, PSB eliminations Alastaro 2000: TFB Gardermoen 2000: TFB, ST, PSB Alastaro 1999: TFB, ST, PSB Mantorp Park 1999: TFB, ST, PSB Gardermoen 1999: TFB, ST, PSB Hockenheim 1999: TFB, ST, PSB Alastaro 1998: TFB, ST, PSB Mantorp Park 1998: TFB, ST, PSB Gardermoen 1998: TFB, ST, PSB Hockenheim 1998: TFB, ST, PSB If you can help then please drop Andy a line at andy@tsitimers.co.uk. Veidec Festival just gets bigger! 12th July: The Veidec Festival, which takes place on 28th-31st July at Mantorp Park, is set to break records with one of, if not the, biggest entries ever for a European drag racing event. No less than 335 teams from twelve countries have entered the FIA, FIM/UEM, NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified and NDRS Championship round, says Mantorp Park PR L-O Jonsson. The facility is currently being extended to accommodate the huge entry, a new timing system is on order, and the organisers are also asking for racers' help with spare slicks to help prepare the surface. "Many of the classes are showing record entries and of course this is very positive for the sport", says L-O. "We will do our very best to give all of our guests an even better experience than usual. We have noticed a big spectator interest from all over Europe. ©Eurodragster.com "To accommodate the huge number of race teams we have upgraded and extended the pit area with even more asphalt (right), and we also have made a big investment in a new timing system from TSI Timers, which is on its way from the United States as I speak." Mantorp Park are also asking racers, especially in the area between Linköping and Stockholm, if they can supply used slicks to help with track preparation which commences on Monday 18th July. "A collection is planned in Stockholm tomorrow, Wednesday 13th July, so if you can have any slicks then please contact the Mantorp Park office on +46 142 29 88 50", says L-O. L-O adds that tickets sales are going very well indeed. "We recommend that all drag racing fans contact us as soon as possible to book their tickets to be sure of seeing the heart-stopping action", he says. "You can call the Veidec Festival ticket line on +46 771 260 260." For more information about the Veidec Festival, including the latest entry list, check out the event's official web site on www.veidecfestival.com. Big Jam gates, entry. 12th July: Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall has been in touch with the latest news about Big Jam, which takes place at Santa Pod on 22nd-24th July. "Gates will be open for racers on Thursday 21st July from 10:00 to 21:00", says Paula. "Gates will then open again at 9:00 on Friday 22nd." ©Eurodragster.com Paula also has in important message about entry. "We currently have a postal strike at the local sorting office", she says, "so if racers have sent off their entries and are not showing yet this could be why." You can see the latest version of the Bug Jam entry list by clicking here. 326 mph in a Split Second. 12th July: Testing continues on Colin Fallows Mark Newby’s Split Second Land Speed Jet following their recent series of heads-up match races against Roger Goring in the Firestorm Jet FC at Shakespeare Raceway. Despite having re-installed the smaller, less powerful Rolls Royce Viper which originally powered the car, Colin's new tune-up saw Mark post a best flying speed of 326.3 mph at Bruntingthorpe Proving Grounds on Sunday. “We ran back-to-back speeds of 326.3 mph and 325.4 mph within thirty five minutes of each other, demonstrating obvious repeatability", says Mark. "Moreover, these speeds were posted with an outside air temperature at a searing twenty nine degrees Celsius with very low humidity, which is not ideal for jets at all, so we reckon there may be more to come yet!. ©Eurodragster.com “This kind of repeatable performance is the key to the substantial sponsorship we have enjoyed for the eleven years that the pair of us have worked together” says Colin. “Although the car is being developed for another attempt on our own outright British Land Speed Record, it is clear that an associated advantage will also be to improve the car’s performance on the drag strip too.” You can find the team's web site at www.primetimelandspeed.co.uk. Swift snippets. 12th July: Crew Chief Kenneth Lorentzon of Sweden's Lorentzon and Möller Top Fuel Dragster team tells us that a five-disc clutch is to be installed in the Swedanes' new dragster in time for the Veidec Festival. "Our biggest problem has been inside the clutch can", says Kenneth. "We are now convinced that you cannot take a complete set-up from one car to another. We just have to win at the Veidec Festival." ©Eurodragster.com Web site updates. 12th July: The King Racing web site at www.kingracing.com has been updated with the latest standings in the ACU UK Drag Bike Championships and the latest ACU UK records. ©Eurodragster.com Thanks to UK Street Eliminator racer Ian Hook for letting us know that a video clip of the King of Europe event, which he recently win, is now available at www.streetracingmania.com/castorftp/Moteurs_KOE.wmv. Page's hat trick. 11th July: UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Gary Page is celebrating his third straight Top Fuel win at the Midnight Sun Internationals at Piteå. Gary took the final against Susanne Callin with a 5.517/397 kmh to Susanne's 5.773/420 and is now the proud owner of his third traditional hat. "The wizard Alan Jackson got us down the track", Gary told Eurodragster.com from Pite Dragway last night. "It was very hot indeed and that affected the track. If we'd taken any more power out then we would have to have taken the engine out of the car! The final was a great race, a good show for the crowd. Of course Susanne wanted to win but it's tough - I wanted another hat!" Carbon By Design team owner Knut Söderqvist was reportedly seen smiling in public. "Alan pulled out all the tricks", he said. "In the end it worked very well and we were very pleased. Alan judged exactly how much the track would take and gave it just the right amount. Now we're cleaning the cars up and then we will take them down to Mantorp - we've done it here and now we have to do it on the big tracks!" ©Eurodragster.com Knut was full of praise for the refurbished Pite Dragway which has had its start line relocated and concrete guardrails installed amongst other improvements. "The Club (SHRA Luleå - Ed) have done a fantastic job on the track", he said. "It looks super-professional. We've got power to every pit, water, great toilets. On behalf of the racers I'd like to say how much we appreciate it." Crew Chief Alan Jackson, who tuned both Gary and Susanne's mounts, said that it was time for some payback. "It's about time we had some luck after the season we've had!", he said. "It took us two runs to get a handle on the conditions. I have never run a car this backed-down - I've never dared! We were taking out nitro percentage, blower, fuel, and clutch." Gary said that the weekend was a real team effort for the CBD operation. "We had a limited crew", he said. "In fact my crew was Terry and me! But everyone mucked in together. We're just finishing up on the cars and then there is beer waiting in the fridge!" You can find full qualifying and elimination results from the Midnight Sun Internationals on the SHRA Luleå web site at www.shra-lulea.bd.se. Vandel Motor Festival. 11th July: Thanks to Holger Dueholm for letting us know that Dragbike Club Denmark, National Dragracing Club Denmark, and Road Racing Fyn are proud to present the first annual Vandel Motor Festival, on the 10th-11th September. The Festival is a joint venture between Road Racing and Dragracing. At the far end of the track the Danish Road Racing finals will take place whils the Danish Drag Racing finals will take place in the usual location only with the shutdown area reduced to seven hundred metres to accommodate the road race. The following classes will be run: Bike: Street Bike 10.40, Super Gas Bike 9.50, Super Drag Bike, Super Twin Top Gas, Pro Street Harley, Harley Break Out 11.30, Nitro Bike, Test ©Eurodragster.com Car: Super Street 10.90, Super Gas 9.90, Super Comp 8.90, Competition, Extreme Street 7.60, Pro Mod, Top Fuel, Test, Junior Dragster Stock, Junior Dragster Modified In addition to the above classes, a number of National classes will be run. The Pro Street Harley class is a combination of the Scandinavian Harley Drag, and the European Modified, Super Street Twin classes. "We dare all the European Harley riders to show up, so that we can once and for all crown the fastest Pro Street Harley in Europe", says Holger. "There is a big trophy for the winner." More information and online registration will be available at www.ndcd.dk; bike rules can be found at www.dragbike.dk whilst the Road Racing rules can be found at http://www.roadracing-fyn.dk. Gates will open at 12:00 on Friday 9th for both teams and spectators. Spectator camping is available Friday to Monday right next to the track. Food and beer will be available at reasonable prices, and showers are free. Advance tickets are available from www.biletnet.dk and cost 100 DKr for Friday and Saturday 100, 150 DKr for Sunday, and 200 DKr for the weekend. Tickets on the gate are 50 DKr more. Camping Friday - Monday is 50 DKr, and the grandstand is 50 DKr (no advance booking). For both general and bike information contact Holger Dueholm at hollister@get2net.dk or call +45 23 22 80 18. For both general and car information contacct Andreas Nielsen at bindslev-koreskole@adslhome.dk or call +45 40 44 87 01. Swift snippets. 11th July: Tog and Sharkman would like to join Yvonne, Steve, Spencer and the rest of Quantum Leap Racing in wishing our good friend Kirstie Tramm a very Happy Birthday. Hope you have a lovely day, Kirstie. ©Eurodragster.com Web site updates. 11th July: Our good buddy Erik Zettervall has updated the Svensk Dragracing web site with Nordic Drag Racing Series and Swedish Dragracing League results from the weekend's Midnight Sun Internationals at Piteå, as well as updated NDRS and SDL points standings after this event. Check it out at www.dragracing.se. ©Eurodragster.com Carter back on form. 10th July: With the most wins, number one qualifiers, and event low ETs in European Top Fuel drag racing, it is no coincidence that London’s very own Champion Andy Carter and the B&Q Power Tools team are back on form, and ripping it up following their triumph at round two of the FIA Championship in Finland. Andy dominated the Alastaro track by taking the number one spot in round one of qualifying, holding on to it, and then blasting all-comers back to the pits with the greatest performance in European Top Fuel drag racing this season. The massive 103 clicks on the ladder leaves Andy just fifteen points behind Holland's Lex Joon. Away from the track, the team’s schedule has been well co-ordinated and focused. Andy’s “show car” has been cleaned and polished, and is currently taking centre-stage at B&Q’s Bruntingthorpe centre during a week-long session of conferences. The response has been amazing, and we can expect a massive influx of new fans to the sport over the next few months. With his commitment to promoting the sport and B&Q’s fantastic range of power tools, Andy is also scheduled to appear at B&Q’s Reading Warehouse Store before leaving for Sweden to contest round three of the FIA Championship. If that were not enough, the team’s web site at www.andycarter.net has also been updated with the full range of branded merchandising which is now available by mail order. ©Eurodragster.com One of our best exports... 10th July: Longtime readers of Eurodragster.com will be familiar with our good friend Andy Bissett, former Crew Chief and legendary report writer for the American Car Imports Racing Top Methanol Dragster team, who went to the USA to marry Jennifer and to seek his fortune on the NHRA Tour. Andy has been in touch to tell us that after a false start he has got a job with no less a racer than Ashley Force. "In January I went to work on Darryl Hitchman's A/Fuel dragster", says Andy. "It turned into a nightmare and several wise men told me I wasn’t doing my career any good. So I resigned and started getting my truck licence instead, because the top teams want their crew guys to drive the rigs too." ©Eurodragster.com As well as the truck driver's licence, getting a job in the USA required various formalities including the acquisition of a Green Card, which Andy approached in his usual no-nonsense manner. "It was a hard process because, I was too tight to hire an attorney and did it myself", says Andy. "I went on to get a California car licence so that I could then apply for a provisional truck licence. I could already drive a car in the USA on my English licence and could have quite legally driven home after the driving test if I’d have failed! Bureaucracy, you’ve gotta love it..." Whilst Andy was studying for his truck licence he had a call from Jerry Darien, joint owner of the A/Fuel Dragster driven by Ashley Force. "Jerry offered me a full-time job on Ashley Force's dragster", says Andy. "As you can imagine it took less than a second to hurl the Highway Code out the window and change the oil in my car to Castrol. Tomorrow I have a meeting with Bernie Fedderly at John Force’s California headquarters to sort out my contract, then I’ll be back out on the road for Ashley’s next race, the National event in Seattle." Andy describes himself as very excited about the dream opportunity. "What drag racer can ask for more than a job with John Force Racing?", he says. "Ashley’s sponsorship deal is already finalised through the end of 2011 so I should have some job security. Assuming I don’t blow it I’ll be back at the end of the season to let you know how it went." We're sure that everyone will join Tog and Sharkman in wishing Andy all every success in his new job. Swift snippets. 10th July: Michel Stubb has been in touch to tell us that Finland's BigFish Racing and Leather Heaven Racing Super Gas teams have joined forces for the 2005 season. "Our goal is to give everyone a enjoyable and exciting drag racing season in 2005!", says Michel. "The visibility of the whole team is certainly incredible". The team has a new web site at web.maxinetti.fi/maxi.mstubb/bigfishracing. ©Eurodragster.com UK Pro Stock Bike racer Dave Beck has for sale a couple of Pro Stock Bike top ends, which have a good pedigree as they have been used in ACU UK ET and speed record-setting passes. For more details see the Bike Parts For Sale section of our Jeff Bull Race Engines and Performance Parts-sponsored Swap Meet. The ultimate birthday gift? 10th July: We would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to Gordon Callin of Sweden's Callin Racing, who celebrates his fiftieth birthday today, Sunday. Gordon tells us that his family and friends have got together and come up with what must be the ultimate birthday present. "My most beloved daughters Susanne and Nathalie, my girlfriend Linda and the rest of my family and friends have arranged for me to do a burn out and launch in one of Knut Söderqvist’s Top Fuel Dragsters", says Gordon. "I would like to give everyone involved a big Thank You, I couldn’t think of a better birthday gift." ©Eurodragster.com We're not jealous, oh dear me no. Happy Birthday Gordon! LCA entry still open. 9th July: Terry Homan of Motorsports Promotions tells us that entry is still open for the quarter-mile sprint which takes place at London City Airport on Saturday 6th August. Last year's very popular and well-organised sprint was attended by a large number of bike racers, all of whom were glowing in their comments afterwards. "The racing format will be the same as last year: two lanes over a quarter mile", says Terry. "This year it will be bikes only and no demos, the idea being to maximise the time available - 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm - as running time for the riders. The entry fee is £38, please E-Mail me at homantj@aol.com for an entry form and regulations. ©Eurodragster.com "For spectators the event is only open to advance ticket holders at £5 per adult and £2 for children. Please E-Mail me at homantj@aol.com for a ticket application." Swift snippets. 9th July: A very Happy First Birthday to Indy, daughter of our good friend Monique Pels and her partner Bert Kors. Monique tells us that Indy is having a birthday party today, hope that you have a great day Indy! ©Eurodragster.com Thanks to those readers outside the UK who have written expressing their sympathy and support after the terrorist attacks in London on Thursday. It has been announced here in the UK today that there is to be a two-minute silence this coming Thursday, 14th July at midday UK (11:00 GMT/13:00 European), and we invite all of Eurodragster.com's readers to observe that silence with us. If you are outside the UK then you can find out your local time against midday Thursday UK by clicking here. More millinery for Page. 8th July: UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Gary Page is looking forward to winning a third hat at this weekend's Midnight Sun Internationals. The legendary racer has won the Top Fuel Tour match race at the equally legendary event for the last two years running and this year will be taking on Monica Öberg and Carbon By Design team-mate Susanne Callin. "We'll be making two runs on Saturday and two on Sunday", Gary told Eurodragster.com. "The black Carbon By Design dragster has been going well, so I am really looking forward to it because Piteå is such a great track. I've been lucky enough to win there the last couple of years, and I want to add to my collection of hats! We always get a great reception at Piteå from the fans - and from the bloody mosquitoes!" Gary is hoping that the CBD team will be able to make up for a bad weekend, by their standards, at Alastaro last weekend. "An air line came off Jöran Persåker's car, Chris Andrews put a rod out, Micke Kågered got shut off on the line, and I had Andy Carter covered in our race but then the tyres started to haze", says Gary. "I grabbed a handful of brake but Andy went past me. But you know what this sport is like - onwards and upwards, it could be all four of us in the semis at the next race." Gary says that he likes this time of year. "I always look forward to Piteå", he says. "Then we go to Mantorp Park and that's going to be a tremendous race. Then we go on to Norway and then Tullinge. It's busy but I love it." You will be able to stay in touch with events at Piteå this weekend via the Midnight Sun link of the SHRA Luleå web site at www.shra-lulea.bd.se. All change for two-seater. 8th July: Sweden's Rod'n'Race Speed Shop two-seater dragster has a new engine and a new sponsor this year, says Johan Hässler of Rod'n'Race. The dragster, driven this year by Susanne Callin, was out on the track testing one day after its new engine arrived from the USA. ©Eurodragster.com "Last Friday we received the new blown 598ci engine from Pat Musi Racing Engines", says Johan. "We wrenched all night and we were at Tullinge Raceway on Saturday morning. We made six runs, all between 7.94 and 8.32 - due to insurance we can't go faster then 8.00." As well as a new engine the car has new bodywork which is adorned in the colours of new sponsor DePalma Hot Rod Clothing (right), whose excellent web site you can find at www.depalma.se. Big noise for SHRA Nyköping 30th. 8th July: A big Congratulations to Sweden's SHRA Nyköping, who are celebrating their thirtieth anniversary this year. President Roffa Anderson tells us that the Club has a special event lined up next week to mark their anniversary. ©Eurodragster.com "We are going to celebrate at Nyköping Harbour on Wednesday 13th July", says Roffa. "The citizens of Nykoping are in for a real treat of wonderful noise! Starting at 19:00 we are going to crank up Micke Kågered's Bahco Tools Top Fueller, Charley Karling's Uddeholm Supertwin Bike, Jan Muréns new Pro Stocker and Bertan's Pro Mod! This will take place as part of the weekly car fest which we hold every Wednesday night during the Summer." For more details check out the SHRA Nyköping web site at www.shra-nykoping.com. Cannon's TFB emigrates. 8th July: UK Top Fuel Bike racer Chris Hannam tells us that he has sold his Top Fuel Bike. Cannon's Puma-powered bike will soon be making its way to New Zealand and its new owner Athol Williams. "Athol and I spoke some time ago when I advertised for a Crew Chief or I would sell the bike", says Cannon. "At the time Athol was crewing on a Top Fuel Dragster and could not commit, then out of the blue came the call and a deal was done. After speaking with Neil Midgley (widely rumoured to be taking the bike over - Ed) I decided to let it go although with sadness as I feel like it's unfinished business. I never back out on a deal, I have stood by my word, so I would appreciate all the budding Crew Chiefs not to come out of the woodwork as it's gone. "Athol is also a good friend of Martin Peck and will be traveling around with him. He plans to race in Australia and the USA, he has ordered a new double deck trailer and plans to do the job right. As we all know Top Fuel ain't easy, the plan is for myself and Neil to get the bike ready to run, which we will do and we will then take it to Elvington to run it up and make sure that every thing is OK so that when it gets down south its ready to run. Athol has requested thet Midgo and I go out to New Zealand and show him and the team the way round the bike, although I think the best man would be Frank Bratchvogel as he built the bike..so there you go, fancy a free holiday Frank? We will see." ©Eurodragster.com Cannon says that he does not know where he goes from here. "As some of you know I have been doing track days in my Mitsubishi and have just ordered a new Evo9 GT from Japan, and I intend to build a monster track car for now as it's easy and fits in with the big work load I have with the new factory", he says. "In time I'm sure things will level out and I may start another project, maybe even a Pro Mod the same as Danny Cockerill's as its an awesome piece of kit, who knows? "Support and help will be there when required for Midgo, Martin Bishop and Steve Venables and I will get to the track as and when I can. Lastly I would like to thank everybody who has helped and been involved with the Fuel bike and for helping me to achive my goal. I wish Athol good luck with his new bike." Doignie scores Ten. 8th July: Stuart Doignie has been in touch with the great news that dad Bob has made it into the tens in his street-legal Toyota Celica, which made its competitive début in Pro ET at the FIA Main Event, albeit a curtailed appearance. "Dad only managed one pass at the Main Event, which was a bit of a disaster for us as we had to retire with engine damage", says Stuart. "After the first pass we discovered that water was leaking into the cylinder and on further inspection it turned out we has a cracked cylinder. However we got the car home and started on the repairs. It took some time to get it all fixed but we managed to get in some testing at last weekend's Peak Performance Day. ©Eurodragster.com "It was a great day and we hit our long-term goal - to run a ten-second pass without nitrous, in street trim and on eight-inch treaded tyres - on just the second pass! The best time of the day was a 10.96/124. This was also achieved coming off the line using the footbrake on tickover. We are all over the moon with this and cannot wait to get back to the track as we think there is more to come. Next on the shopping list will be a nitrous kit to see whether we can hit the nines with the same combination." Stuart also tells us that although he originally planned to sit this season out, he has decided to race his BMW later this season. "I will come out for the European Finals and perhaps the UK National Finals", says Stuart. "My new engine should arrive in the next week or two and it seems such a waste to just look at it! It will also help me set things up for Super Gas in 2006." Double Fat Attack success. 8th July: Switzerland's Fat Attack Top Methanol Funny Car and Supertwin team had a successful weekend at Alastaro, with 2004 FIA European TMFC Champion Ers Erbacher taking another event win and Lorenz Stauble recording a six-second pass at only his second competitive event on the Supertwin. Team member Andrea Wucher tells us that although it was business as usual for the four-wheeled side of the team, the bike team had their work cut out to get Lo into the sixes. "At the Main Event, the bike crew spent more time working on their engine then the Funny Car crew", says Andrea. "Definitely not the way it should be. So Lo and his mechanics Daniel, Dario and Wini arrived in Finland uncertain what to expect. Getting shut off on the start line was not the ideal start to the weekend, but was not really a problem. On the second run they were at least in eighth place but the transmission shaft broke. With no replacement in the trailer they were dependent on the help of their competitors, and the Superwwin class has really a good sporting spirit. "Ronny Aasen gave us his spare transmission shaft. Thank you again Ronny, we really appreciate it. Kruse then just had to find somebody to adjust it to our transmission. In the Janne Ahonen's trailer we found a turning lathe but it did not work. So where to go on a friday evening in Alastaro? V-Twin City in Loimaa was the name of our saviour. Kruse took his bike, drove over to Loimaa and the mechanics at Erik "Eepi" Parviainen's workshop stayed a little bit longer just to work on the transmission shaft for Lo. Thank you again! "The third qualifying run was a 7.81, seventh place. It was getting better, but we were still not safe from the bump spot. Lo experienced for the first time how much power there is in a nitro engine. He got off the throttle as the bike behaved like a wild mustang. As soon he was more or less straight again he went back on the throttle, shifted, and the bike was still accelerating and accelerating. He came back to the pits saying "Great, I wanna have more!". In the last qualifying session everybody went crazy on the starting line. Urs was jumping up and down with Kruse in his arms, everbody was screaming...Lo had just run his first six-second run, 6.91/318 kmh! Everybody came to us, shaking hands, congratulations and respect for what the guys had achieved on just their twelfth run on a Supertwin bike. Thanks to all the people who helped us to get rid of all the gremlins, Lo and his team would like to say thank you to everybody who helped him in England and in Finland, the six-second run would not been possible without all the tips and tricks from our experienced competitors. ©Eurodragster.com "On Sunday Lo staged for the first elimination round in his young drag racing career. Hans Olav Olstad was in the other lane. His experience paid off, as he won with a holeshot. Lo's reaction times were getting down by a tenth with every round but it was not enough. With a nice 7.0 we were out of the race. But it was not so bad, as the Fat Attack Supertwin team achieved more than they ever expected when they arrived at Alastaro. "Our clockwork Funny Car just ran smoothly and fast. From the beginning we felt comfortable about the set-up and did made minor changes. Our crew was a mix of rookie mechanics and experts. Bruno Soldati was back in business after few hours working on the engine, and Martin Pauli was at his first drag race - he just heard about it from his brother Horst. After he drove the rig up to Finland he got a nice list of duties for the weekend: fuel and oil job and a helping hand at the start line, and after two runs he did his job like an old drag racing mechanic. "To meet Dan Larsen again in the final was great. We love to race Dan. As we waited whilst Janne Ahonen's oildown was cleaned up, Dan was very nervous and not looking at all happy. He told us that four of his crew members should already be at the airport. "So what Dan", I said, "send your crew to the airport, we have enough crew members here with the bike crew who know Funny Cars inside out and will give you a hand firing the car up and getting you into stage!". Dan looked a little bit puzzled and I didn't know if he believed me. So I just checked that we had enough crew members in the line up ready to help. In the meantime Tommy Möller's crew showed up and offered their help to Dan. As they were Danish too, that was probably the easier way. But we never would have let Dan sit there in his car without a crew to run the final... "Urs enjoyed his final run as it felt like a limousine: easy, smooth and without any difficulties to drive. It was a close one. Dan Larsen is able to run the same times and speeds as us, so it comes down to reaction time and the fine tuning of the car. We would have loved to have stuck Dan in the water barrel!" Swift snippets. 8th July: Our good friend Carl Wadkin-Snaith tells us that he is working hard to get the new Fang Supertwin ready to test at next weekend's Mini Showdown at Shakespeare County Raceway. "With the bodywork unfinished and wheelie bars to make it will be touch and go", says Carl. You can read more, and listen to a sound clip of the bike running, on the Fang web site at www.thefang.co.uk/news2005.htm. Andy Marrs has further updated his sheet of FIA Championship statistics, which you can view by clicking here. ©Eurodragster.com Eurodragster.com News Editor Tog is pleased to be able to report that after a visit to the cardiologist yesterday his heart has checked out OK following the problems he suffered shortly before the FIA Main Event. "The cardiologist even told me that I was OK to drive race cars again if I wanted to", says Tog. "I would like to thank all of Eurodragster's readers for their concern and support over the last couple of months, with particular thanks of course to Mrs Tog and to Gittli Koller and Monique Pels. Normal Tog will be resumed over the next few days." Mechanic Challenge latest. 8th July: It will be far from quiet when Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge 2005, this summer’s major crowd-pleaser, rolls into Kungsträdgården park, Stockholm, on 23rd July. The event will kick off at noon and includes an FMX freestyle motocross display, a ‘change the spark plug’ competition for the public and live music. “The Mechanic Challenge is a major attraction. The best teams in the world of drag racing compete to assemble and start up an engine in the shortest time. The teams compete for prize money totalling €10,000. The noise will be unbelievable, and admission and earplugs are free of charge”, says Anna Christell, Project Manager for Kamasa Tools at KG Knutsson AB. The event was staged for the first time last year. “We had a tremendously positive response, the public came in their tens of thousands, drag racing as a sport gained a new audience, the title car mechanic had a new ring to it and our associated activities were highly appreciated. This year we’ve got more activities and a big screen so everyone can follow what’s happening in the area. Commentators during the competition include Peter Sundfeldt, motoring personality and presenter of Motorjournalen on Swedish TV.” Last year’s winner of Mechanic Challenge, Team Kågered, faces tough competition from, amongst others, three times European champion Leif Andréasson’s team. A round in the European drag racing championship will take place at Mantorp Park the following weekend which has encouraged several teams to come early and also take part in Mechanic Challenge. The major exhibitors, Daimler Chrysler, ESAB, Mantorp Park, KGK, Suzuki and Uddeholm have various activities in the area. Last year’s great success with the ‘change the spark plug’ competition for the public is also being repeated with commentary by radio personality Jesse Wallin. “It will be a day focusing on motor sport for the whole family. FMX Freestyle Motocross featuring two professionals from the world cup will be a real highlight. Live music will be provided by rock band Jug McKenzie and artist Alexander Schöld, who will be performing his new summer hit Dé é sommar. EA Games, Wheels, Street & Strip and Vi Bilägare will be at the event. Mechanic Challenge is a knockout event with quarter finals, semi-finals and a grand final. These will take place at 13:00, 15:00 and 17:00. After the grand final and prize giving ceremony, the event will draw to a close at 18:00. Then it’s time for After Mech at the Hard Rock Café,” says Anna Christell. For more details check out the Kamasa Tools Mechanic Challenge web site at www.ktmc.se or click on the logo on the left-hand side of this page. ©Eurodragster.com NFAA's mixed bag. 8th July: The NSRA Nostalgia Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway was a mixed bag for the UK's Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association, says Co-ordinator Lawrie Gatehouse. "We only fielded four cars, as the others were awaiting parts from the US to repair the damage from the SPRC Summernationals the previous weekend", says Lawrie. "The highlights were the consistent performances from Clayton Round, the current points leader and the welcome return, after a three-year break, of Frank and Luke Bennett's Topolino. ©Eurodragster.com "The low points were the damage to the Nitro cars The Mob and Time Warp. The Mob, having bought and fitted a new two-speed Lenco in five days, laid down a tremendous out-of-shape burnout on Mickey Moore's second run, with all four wheels off the track as he pivoted on the headers. Mickey ran a personal best for SCR of 7.30/203.81, but smoke and a small fire at the finish line heralded problems. A rod had broken, jammed on the crank and split the block from top to bottom. "Wendy Baker was getting to grips with the handling of her car, but had head damage on her last half-pass, sidelining the car late on Saturday. Frank Bennett débuted the substantially new Topolino with a launch and half-pass, recording a sixty time of 1.09. When the bugs are ironed out, this combination will be a strong contender for honours. "Now the teams have to replace or repair the damage in time for the NSRA Hot Rod Drags in mid-September." Koedam Racing Alastaro review. 8th July: Marius Van Der Zijden, Crew Chief for 2004 FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike Champion Roel Koedam, has been in touch with the latest of his regular event reports, this time from the FHRA Nitro Nationals at Alastaro. Our first race of the year, the Main Event, was not exactly as we hoped for. We were plagued by sealing problems with the piston rings which we blamed on a mistake made in the cylinder finishing process. After the event we decided to refinish the cylinder bores and temporarily step back to an 'old' spare set of pistons. The plan was to squeeze in an extra test session at our country’s first race of the year, the Drachten Nationals. Unfortunately it rained quite a lot during that event and all we could do was to fire the engine a couple of times without being able to run it on the track. All seemed to be OK and we were forced to wait for the next event, which was last weekend’s second European championship round in Alastaro Finland. This time however we came as well-prepared as possible with plenty of piston rings and a new set of spare JE pistons which were delivered right on time as promised. The pistons once again were of good quality and more than enough within the requested specs. As last year, the long journey of the bike and equipment to Finland was arranged by our sponsor Zodiac. The weather outlook for the weekend promised plenty of sunshine and the entry list for our class looked very strong. All the ingredients were present for a good race weekend. It looked like we were ready to release the 1000 hevosvoimaa (Finnish for 1000 hp). Early Friday afternoon we made our first qualifying attempt. With a soft tune up we managed a 6.85/344 kmh. All looked well until we picked up the bike on the return lane. There was lots of oil in the catch tank that had escaped from the engine! The following investigation also showed a deformed oil pan, clearly indicating that there something was not right. We had to take the engine apart. What we discovered was a set of scuffed pistons and a number of broken piston rings. This could be caused by detonation. We skipped Friday’s second qualifying session to prepare the bike for Saturday. In went a new set of pistons, a new set of rings of different type, we repaired the oil pan (thanks Gunnar!) and made some changes to the tune-up. When we fired the bike on Saturday everything seemed to be A-OK again. However during the burnout of our next qualifying run, the bike dropped some oil on the track and we were shut down by the start marshal. Back in the pits again we found a small leak at the oil pan which we had overlooked. What was even worse was that the oil pan was even more deformed (due to excessive crankcase pressures) than the day before and this time in the burnout! To our disbelief a leakdown test strangely enough showed no real big deals! Not at all happy with this, we started to take the engine apart again. We discovered that the new set of pistons were again severely scuffed and though not broken, the rings were badly damaged as well. At that time we didn’t had a clear answer to the cause of our problem. The only thing we knew was that if we continued like this, there would be a reasonable chance that the bike would be throwing oil on the track and possibly in front of our own rear tyre. A situation you definitely don’t want on a 1000 hp 230+ mph drag bike! Because safety comes first, both for ourselves and for our fellow riders, we made the difficult decision to stop there. We really hope the Finnish spectators will understand our decision. Because our competion also had different kinds of problems, either technical or traction, our poor and only 6.85 qualifying run remained the #1 spot. As mentioned we didn’t take part on Sunday’s eliminations and therefore didn’t win any elimination round points. Despite it all we climbed from #5 to #2 spot in the Championship points standing. In order to find the reason for our problems we talked with a number of people including some Top Fuel Dragster teams. At this moment it looks like we have a detonation problem. On a static leakdown test everything looks OK, but during detonation the piston rings are 'floating' and don’t actually seal. This causes the blow-by, giant crankcase pressures and washing the oil film from the cylinders. It looks like that we have found out the hard way that our Winter cylinder head modifications made it so much more effective. This will call for some drastic tune-up changes. We will try to do our best to get the bike ready for the MPM Internationals at Drachten in a week and half, for some necessary testing before we go to the Swedish and Norwegian rounds of the European Championship. ©Eurodragster.com York fills the gap. 8th July: The UK drag racing scene goes a little quiet at this time of year, with a long gap between the last UK Championship round, the SPRC Summernationals at the end of June, and the next, the Custom Car Magazine Allstar Nationals. However York Dragway PR Howard Holmes has been in touch to let us know that the Yorkshire track is more than ready to fill the gap. "There is the Northern Sportsman Nationals at York on Sunday 17th July, with the third rounds of the Northern Drag Racing Championship for Pro ET and Sportsman ET, American Super Stock, Hot Rod Challenge, Air-Cooled Eliminators and Run What You've Brung sessions", says Howard. ©Eurodragster.com "There will also be a round of the Super Cup Class - the anything-goes dial-your-own race series, for those running quicker than 10.99 - a great opportunity for tough doorslammers to prove the point and get track time. Because there is little happening nationally at this time of the year, we hope to be able to extend a nice warm welcome to the drag racing fraternity from further afield. "So if you feel the need to race, test your set-up, tune, shakedown, or put on a show because you need to be turning fossil fuel into tyre smoke, York Raceway is the place, at the Northern Sportsman Nationals on Sunday 17th July. For further details about York Raceway, directions, camping etc, go to www.york-raceway.co.uk or call 01422 843651." Two tons of Lakester fun. 8th July: Having performed a handful of exhibition runs at the Goodwood Festival of Speed just the other week, the Thacker and Shine ’28 Model A Lakester made its one and only UK drag strip appearance last weekend at Shakespeare County Raceway’s NSRA Nostalgia Nationals, writes SCR Press Officer Jerry Cookson. Brought over to the UK by the National Street Rod Association for the club’s annual Billing Fun Run last month the car, put together by So-Cal Speed Shop employee’s Jimmy ‘Shine’ Falschlehner and former Hot Rod and Custom UK (Still sorely missed - Ed) editor Tony Thacker, is a true hot rod in every sense of the word. You won’t find any tricked-out mass-produced parts here but pure creativity to the highest degree. Although the rod covered an 800 mile trip from California to Bonneville with only a flat black ’58 Ford support truck for company, the 427 cubic inch small block Chevy engine dyno’d at 519 bhp never misbehaved once which in itself is true testament to Bill Mitchell’s Hardcore Parts Source and World Products concern, the supplier of the old skool builder's off-the-shelf number. Originally built and raced by Kiwi Steve Davies, the dry lakes of Muroc and El Mirage first saw the roadster establish the D class Street Roadster record in 1997 at 165 mph. From then on the next goal was 200 and beyond spurred on by Hot Rod magazine’s David Freiburger. Once at the famed salt flats, the mecca of speed trialing, both Thacker and Shine took it in turns to see just who the fastest was over the five mile course and whether they could beat Alex Xydias, founder of the So-Cal Speed Shop, record run of 198 miles per hour set in a belly tank racer some fifty years ago. Competing in the Street Roadster category, it was Jimmy who edged out his ex-pat friend with a terminal speed of 181 mph before driving the car back to California for another 800 miles! Entrusted to Custom Car editor Kev Elliott, the Bonneville hauler was only good enough for a 15.35) at 95.73 mph despite being held back by the tall gearing installed for the early season record attempts! Thacker and Shine are due back on the salt in October for another crack at the magic two hundred, but in the meantime the car has spent time at The Dove Company in Norfolk in the hands of aerodynamics and rodding enthusiast Pete Stevens (Pete drove the car at Goodwood) before embarking on extensive wind tunnel tests at MIRA in rural Warwickshire. “Nobody has ever put a hot rod in a wind tunnel,” says Thacker who came back to England to take in the recent NSRA Run. “We want to see how much we can improve the aerodynamics with the rules. Our plan is to return to the States, install a new motor, go back to Bonneville in October and try to get a record at over 200 mph.” Boys, we wish you the best of British in your endeavours in obtaining that elusive first two-ton speeding ticket. ©Eurodragster.com K & H: the story continues. 6th July: Marc Meihuizen and Holland's K & H Racing Pro Mod team will be returning to the track shortly, says team member Jan Selles. The blown-alcohol Coupe (right) will have more power and reliability after off-season work. ©Eurodragster.com "The car was sent off to Andy Robinson Race Cars in January for some new parts, whilst we were very busy with the motor", says Jaap. "Unfortunately we had some bad luck getting some of the parts, which caused us to miss the Main Event and the first race in Sweden. We found some real improvements thanks to the testing we did at Quest Racing in America, we have about two hundred horsepower more than last year and the car should be more reliable." Sponsor UPS was due to pick up the motor from the USA yesterday and it is scheduled to arrive in the Netherlands this Saturday. "The crew will give it all they’ve got to get everything ready to run at the MPM Internationals at Drachten on 15th-17th July", says Jaap. "K&H Racing will use this event to test, so that the Chevrolet can race as usual the rest of the season! Our next event will be the Veidec Festival in Sweden on 28th-31st July." The Crew Chief's perspective. 6th July: Ben Allum, Crew Chief for 2004 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Andy Carter, has given us a unique perspective of Sunday's Top Fuel final at Alastaro, which Andy took in the B&Q-sponsored dragster. If you've ever wondered what it's like to stand on the start line and watch your car go down the track then Ben's account will give you a good insight. Over to Ben... The car was pointing down the track in the start up area and I got the signal to fire. After a quick glance to the other lane to make sure Rune was ready, I gave the nod to John Ogden (Assistant Crew Chief) to arm the ignition system. I put a charge of fuel into the blower and gave John the signal to go. He triggered the starter motor and as the motor got to speed I pulled the kill leads and fired the motor. It lit immediately and seconds later as the nitro came through, the engine started to bang out the familiar rhythm you only get from a fuel motor. It sounded strong. I leaned the motor out ready for the burn out and walked to the front of the car. Thomas Nataas was moving forward in the other lane so I signalled Andy forward. As he released the brake the car moved forward, positively, a good indication that the clutch issue that had hindered us in round two (against Möller) was gone. Andy knew, as I did, that everything was as good as it could be. He gave me a thumbs up as he approached for the burn out. I could read his mind through the opening in his crash helmet, all I needed to see were the eyes. Totally focused! All weekend Alastaro had been a one lane track for Top Fuel, lane choice was a big advantage which we had lost with a clutch issue in the second round, we were in the left hand lane. Nobody had won a round of Top Fuel in this lane. Andy and I had spoken about running this lane and we knew he would need to be at the top of his game if we were to have a chance. Prior to the run I had walked the track during an oildown and could see that the left lane was starting to come round. There was a chance we could do this! I relayed my thoughts to Andy who was already strapped into the car in the pairing lanes. Confidence was building. Andy hit the throttle for the burnout and the car went up on the tyres perfectly. The motor was loaded right through the burn out. It was the best burnout I have ever seen Andy make. He never let the revs get too high, protecting the motor. We backed the car up, exactly centered in the lane, the throttle stop was removed, the last systems set and then I brought Andy to the line. He was so focused on the Tree it took a couple of moments for him to respond to my signal that his visor was up. He closed it down and I left him on the blue line. From that moment on it was all over to him. As a Crew Chief or any crew member, this is the hard bit. You have done everything you can. Now it is all down to someone else. The car moved forward into pre stage, the engine tone dropped as the fuel went on the high side, the car moved into stage and it seemed an eternity before the orange lights came on. The motor roared its battle cry and the light was green. Andy cut a great light and got a significant holeshot, a .060 against a .105. He did an exceptional driving job down a very tricky lane. From the green light Andy was ahead and looked good. The tyres smoked lightly and Andy pedaled a couple of times to keep the car true and then we were there. The win light was up in our lane and against the odds; in the ‘bad’ lane we had done it. I had made it to about the sixty foot mark by the time Andy crossed the line, screaming at him and willing the car down the track. The transition from ultra tension to total elation took 5.41 seconds and it is a rush that you just cannot describe. Not a sylph, but still... 6th July: UK Pro Stock Bike racer Richard Gipp was happy with his final round appearance at last week's SPRC Summernationals, which he says is a good achievement for an overweight bike. ©Eurodragster.com "We are only running at Santa Pod this season due to family commitments (right, letting go of the clutch)", says Richard. "It is somewhat frustrating that this year could have been the one - but then again so could the last two. "It's a fine tribute to Chris Tombleson at Straightline Racing to have built such a reliable and fast motor which needs very little maintenance (touch wood) and which is carrying fifty pounds over the weight limit due to home cooking and the lack of Championship aspirations for this year. But that does prove that you don't have to be a waif to run decent numbers, and Pro Stock only gets expensive when you want that extra tenth, as does all racing. It's about time someone bought Paul Rose's Stocker and had some fun! "Thanks to Dave Varey who was my only crew at the Summernationals." The Bennetts make it. 6th July: Luke Bennett of the UK's Bennett Racing blown-alcohol altered team tells us that although they made it to Shakespeare County Raceway at the weekend for their first run in three years, it was a close thing. "We nearly didn't even get to the track", says Luke. "I picked up the body on Friday night, we finished loading everything at 11.30 pm Friday and decided to drive up in the morning. We then broke down on the way due to a fuel solenoid wire on the lorry, but found it and sorted it and we were on our way again. We began to sort the car ready for its first start-up since the total rebuild, but things didn't begin well as we forgot a toolbox which had all the important tools such as feeler gauges etc. We did all the usual jobs like oil, fuel etc and wiring up the starter which then decided to smoke a tad, sorted that then finally fired up at about 9:00 pm on Saturday night, and it sounded strong, not to blow our own trumpets! The tune-up we had in the car was a lazy one but capable of a six with ease, so was very fat and my eyes and throat noticed it big time! ©Eurodragster.com "On Sunday morning we did the lash and checked everything over and we were ready to fire up, then found we had no second gear. We had a few other problems (mainly due to being out of practice after three years) but sorted them all out and went for a sixty foot pass at about three o'clock. "Frank did a nice wispy burnout which was tame for the old man, as we were backing up the start line crew noticed a small oil leak, which I found was from the Oberg. We tightened and cleaned it, and had another go. A small burnout this time as there was plenty of heat in the engine, and launched at 2000 rpm. A 1.09 sixty foot, and a 9.1 but we were not worried about times, we just wanted to make a checkout pass. The car sounded strong and I have no doubt we will run a six - and who knows about that Altered record? "Thanks to everyone who helped out with tools and that over weekend. It's good to be back!" Swift snippets. 6th July: Neil and Tracy Townson of the UK's Northern Spirit blown altered team tell us that the team are working hard (right) to get the altered ready to run in the Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association in 2006. "This includes chassis tagging to 10.1, and updating the engine spec", say Neil and Tracy. "We would like to thank the fans for their concern and their support on and off track - we were at Shakespeare County Raceway at the weekend and a lot of people asked us why we were not racing." Bill Macdermid tells us that he was very pleased with the first outing in his street-legal '69 Camaro just imported from the USA. "My first ever run in the car was 10.58/132", says Bill. "Driver error in the second run - pulled away in second gear - but a 10.50 in the third run. I dialled in some power for the fourth run, spun the street tyres and blew the intake manifold gasket! All in all I was really pleased, I would like to thank CCSE champion Ian Jackson and brother Scott for all their help." ©Eurodragster.com We would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to UK Street Eliminator racer Colin Lazenby. Hope that you have a great day, Colin, and that the G8 protestors haven't trashed the birthday cake shop. Nitro Nationals FIM/UEM review. 6th July: We are indebted to FIM/UEM Championship Co-ordinator Lars Andersson for sending us his regular post-event review, this time of the weekend's FHRA Nitro Nationals at Alastaro: I am now back from Finland and the race in Alastaro after a weekend of nice weather but with too many oildowns and other problems. First let me talk a little about a bike class which not is in the UEM rule book and never would be as it is for the moment. The Finnish organiser was running Super Pro Street Bike. This is a racing bike but without wheelie bars. We did have an accident which turned out not to be as bad as it looked from the start. But the problem is that running 500 – 600 horsepower on a bike without wheelie bars is dangerous. The bike went right up in the air and turned around and fell down on the rider. This kind of racing should not be allowed. I also heard that we had the same problem in Sweden on Sunday. The other main problem was the time taken on all the oildowns. It was not the organiser's fault but the new synthetic oil are much harder to take up and they are not so easy to find on the track. The track looked very good. It is smooth and in good condition but it is a tricky track for clutches. Many people had problems finding the right set-up and with one round missed due to oil it was even harder. In Pro Stock Bike there were six riders, four Swedish and two English riders. After qualifying finished we had three Swedish riders first then a mix of English and Swedes. As is almost usual it was Roger Pettersson in first place and then Anders Larsson followed by Anders Abrahamsson. All of them had small problems but nothing serious. It was also very nice to see Martin Bishop in Finland. In the first round on Saturday Roger Pettersson beat the current Championship leader and in the other Swedish part it was Anders Abrahamsson against Örjan Gustavsson. Anders took that, and in the last pair Anders Larsson caught a red light against Chris Hope. Roger Pettersson had a bye run to the final but ran a 7.306 and was hoping for lane choice in the final. But Anders Abrahamsson also liked to have lane choice so he ran a 7.301 so had five thousandths on his side. In the final, delayed due to oil again, Roger proved that he still is the man to beat. In Supertwin the biggest news was that Lorenz Stauble from Switzerland qualified with a time of 6.91. This is a completely new bike which we first saw in England but at that time they had a lot of problems. Now have they solved many of them. It will still take a little time to sort everything out but to do a six at the second race is very good. The rest looked as usual. Ton Pels in first place and Ronny Aasen in second place. Then all other Norwegians plus Joachim Riemer from Germany. I am waiting for the race in Sweden then we finally will see some Swedish riders again. This class which was once dominated by Swedes is now dominated by Norwegians. The first round was a win for Ton Pels but at the cost of a crank. Olstad took out Stauble, who had a faster time, with a better reaction time. Svein Gottenberg won the next pair over Rolstad and Ronny Aasen won over Riemer. In the semi final Ton didn't have enough tiem to change all things he needed so it was a bye run for Olstad who also had a problem with a connecting rod, he should have made an easy run but he did a 6.98 instead and that is his personal best. Ronny Aasen won Gottenberg so we had an all-Norweigan final with Aasen and Olstad. Ronny proved that he was the fastest bike of all in the event with a 6.750. Top Fuel Bike looked very strong on the paper. But it turned out to be something completely different. It was very nice to see Peter Andersson Ström outside Sweden for the first time. But a crankshaft which decided that it should be two instead ended his race in the first qualifier. Roel Koedam who is normally one of the most reliable bikes had the same problem which ended his race at the Main Event at Santa Pod. So the Crew Chief decided that it was unsafe to ride the bike due to the fact that so much of the compression was leaking down into thee crank and pushing out all the oil so it was more a safety reason not to ride. Sverre Dahl made also his season debut but some problems with the new ignition spoiled at least one of the qualifiers. So the two Finnish Funny Bikes also qualified without any bigger problem. The seven-bike field was reduced to four bikes because Nils Ole Lund did not come to the race due to engine problems. In the first pair it should have been Koedam against Ian King but it was a solo run for Ian due to Koedam's problems. The next pair should have been Asko Määttä against Peter Andersson Ström so that was also a single run. The last pair was finally a race between Koskinen and Sverre Dahl. Sverre had problem with the gearbox and lost very suprisingly to Koskinen. In the semi Ian King had a solo run and the Finnish guys had to fight for the other place in the final. Koskinen was the winner of that race, so Ian had to race Koskinen in the finals. This was a easy win for Ian King who finally had understood how to manage the clutch against the tricky track. That's the race in Finland. Nice weather this year with a lot of spectators. We're hoping to come back to Finland next year. This race ended up with very interesting point standings in two of the classes. In Pro Stock Bike Roger Petterson is in the lead again. But Martin Bishop and Anders Abrahmansson are very close to him. In Supertwin Rolstad is still in the lead but with only one point from Ronny Aasen and then Olstad before the Champion Ton Pels. But the diffrence is very small, one win for anybody and it will change a lot. I am now waiting for the race at Mantorp. Maybe will we see one of the best Supertwin fields in the world. I also am hoping for several Pro Stock Riders down into the 7.2s and hopefully we will also see a big Top Fuel Bike field. ©Eurodragster.com Web site updates. 6th July: The Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se has been updated with the points standings in the Nordic Drag Racing Series after the weekend's Aros Nats and FHRA Nitro Nationals, and an update to the Swedish Dragracing League page by our good buddy Christina Bodén. Our good friend Alan Currans has updated his excellent Acceleration Archive with an eighth page of pictures by Peter Jones. "This update features a unique series of pictures of the revolutionary front-engined small block Plan-X dragster of Norm Wheeldon and Steve Rose under construction", says Alan. "There are also a series of pictures taken at Mantorp Park in 1982 which include a couple of shots of the First Lady of Drag Racing Linda Vaughn presenting a trophy to Monica Öberg. I am appealing to all those scholars of Swedish drag racing out there to help with details on several of the cars featured on this update". You can find the Acceleration Archive at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk. ©Eurodragster.com Eurodragster.com Photo Editor Sharkman has updated his personal web site Sharkman's Top End Tales with a large number of pictures from the weekend's NSRA Nostalgia Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. Check it out at www.topendtales.com. VP release methanol additive. 6th July: Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor VP Racing Fuels today introduced an improved formula for M2, its highly-regarded upper lube and performance additive for methanol fuel. Now in a more concentrated form, M2 “Provides maximum protection for valves and guides, aluminum fuel system parts and cylinder walls”, said Steve Burns, VP’s Director of Research and Development. Because the new formula is more concentrated, M2 is now packaged in pint-size containers as opposed to the previous quarts, while each container will still treat the same amount of methanol, i.e. one bottle per 35-55 gallons of methanol, depending on the engine’s specific requirement. “M2 is the perfect complement to VP’s top-rated M1 methanol,” added Burns. “M2 protects the investment in your alcohol-powered engine and will more than pay off at rebuild time. It does this by lubricating and protecting valve stems, guides and fuel pumps; inhibiting valve seat deterioration; protecting cylinder walls from oxidation; and preventing oxidation of aluminum fuel lines and fittings.” “M2’s lubricants will not form gums or deposits, and it inhibits acid and formaldehyde formation that attack the piston and rings,” Burns continued. “It doesn’t affect burn rate or performance in any way. M2 also does not affect specific gravity at the recommended dose rate and will not cloud in the presence of moisture.” Rated for superchargers, M2 still comes in two versions – regular and 'candy scented'. The formula change also involved removal of some components such that M2 now can be shipped as a non-hazardous material, thus it’s available for order via the internet at VP’s web site at www.vpracingfuels.com. ©Eurodragster.com Andréasson's weight loss. 5th July: Sweden's Andréasson Motorsports Top Methanol Funny Car appeared clad in its new Roush Composites Dodge Stratus body at the weekend's FHRA Nitro Nationals at Alastaro. Team member Anders Magnusson tells us that the preparation work went almost to the wire. "The body arrived in Sweden two weeks before the Alastaro race", says Anders. "It was a raw casting without paintjob or anything else. The first thing to do was to cut away excess material and send it to the paint shop. To make things simple and fast it was painted all in black and sent back to the garage where the sheet metal interior, windows and struts were made and fitted. Some parts were used from the old nitro body and some new parts were made". ©Eurodragster.com The work was almost finished the night before leaving for Finland, and the Kamasa Tools-sponsored team made the final touches in the pits on Thursday evening. "The whole crew worked on the body", says Anders. "The decals were applied on one side whilst the windows were fitted on the other, and the sheet metal was bolted inside. It was quite a rush and we didn't get much sleep, but the result was nice: it looks pretty good even though it's only one colour and decals, including the sticker headlights and grill." The main reason for the new body was weight reduction. "We got what we were looking for", says Anders. "We went from sixty three kilogrammes over minimum weight to more sensible thirteen kilos. This weight reduction will in theory make the car 0.081 seconds faster, and will put less stress on the chassis and transmission. The body is lighter because the thickness of the material is adjusted for the substantially lower aerodynamic strain on a methanol body compared to a nitro body. Less sheet metal was used for the interior as well." Anders adds that the change of body also means a change of set-up. "There is a few kilos difference in the distribution of ballast weight", he says. "The clutch can be made softer with the same chassis reactions, and/or the gearbox ratios can be lower with less weight to move." You can see a nice picture of Leif Andréasson's TMFC sporting its new body by clicking here. Pels goes through a bad batch. 5th July: Monique Pels tells us that 2004 FIM/UEM Supertwin Champion Ton Pels has found the reason for the damaged crankshaft he suffered in the first round of eliminations at the FHRA Nitro Nationals. "On Sunday evening Vincent had a chat with European Champion Top Methanol Dragster Dave Wilson at the track restaurant and he told Vincent that they had trashed an engine earlier, which turned out to be caused by a production failure in the soft metal bearing shells they had used", says Monique. "The shells with batch number 8/00 were a bad batch. Vincent went back to the pits to check ours and the ones we had in were also 8/00. ©Eurodragster.com "It's a shame our race ended the way it did, but we still managed to climb one spot in the Championship rankings and we're now #4, so the weekend wasn't entirely without result and we are very much looking forward to round three at Mantorp Park." For more news from Zodiac Racing and a complete report of the Supertwin class at Alastaro, check out the News page at www.zodiacracing.com. Baldie's Nitro nightmare. 5th July: Finnish Funny Bike racer Asko Määttä says that preparing his bike Baldie's Gun III for the FHRA Nitro Nationals was a nightmare. Asko was only able to work nights, his business commitments took almost all of his time from mid-May to the start of July, and the changes made to the bike over the winter were such that he had no baseline. "I had no idea what would happen in Saturday’s first qualifying session", says Asko. "Not much happened - the engine died after two metres. I should have remembered that the race track is not two but 402 metres! A broken clutch basket and primary gear was the result. After working with them I found out that I could make a soft pass to get in to the Top Fuel Bike field in the second round on Saturday afternoon. In the evening I drove back home to Jyvaskyla to get the new basket and gear - only about 400 miles. ©Eurodragster.com "Anyway I was ready on Sunday morning. Still no baseline, I had to guess the set-up and hope that it worked. The result in eliminations was two burnt clutches. I had to be happy with being third of six TFBs. But that’s drag racing: the one on track who goes over the quarter mile line first is the winner. "Thanks to our sponsors ProTurbo Systems, AO Jyvaskylan aikuisopisto, Kopparin Kukka , JMK Jyvaskylan Moottoriklubi and Baldie Racing and Media Relationships." Enter "The Kent Car". 5th July: Fresh from the workshop of B&J Nostalgia, the brand new Mad R’s Drag Racing blown and injected methanol slingshot dragster (right) made its long-awaited début at last weekend's Nostalgia Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. Crew Chief and joint owner Kev Mortimer got in touch to let us know how Alec Coe fared in the car. "We named the new car Shy Talker as a tribute to our last car Shy Torque, which we had to scrap after some unfortunate cracks showed up in the tube work", says Kev. "We picked the car up from the the B&J Nostalgia Skunk Works on Friday, and towed to SCR to set up camp ready for our first ever run on Saturday. On Saturday we had some work to do setting up the blower and engine, which I couldn’t have managed without our good friend Mark Windridge and the rest of the B&J Nostalgia Nitro Digger crew. We fired up in the pits, and the engine sounded as sweet as a nut. It was now getting late, so we towed down for our first run. "Unfortunately I hadn’t mastered the art of starting an engine using a washing up bottle full of petrol, and flooded the engine so it wouldn’t start. We towed back to the pits, feeling more than a little deflated. ©Eurodragster.com "Next morning we started up in the pits, then towed down to try again. We needed a dial-in for the Wild Bunch, so Alec just said "How about ten seconds". This time I asked Bill Felstead to start it for me. Alec was under strict orders just to do a short burnout, and a launch. The burnout was good and the launch tuned into a full pass of 9.99 seconds at 113 mph. When questioned, Alec said "It just felt alright, so I kept going"." "That ten-second dial-in was just off the top of my head", says Alec, "and it was a billion to one fluke which made me laugh as I was only .007 off!" "Back in the pits we did all the usual checks, put some more timing in and went down for another go", continues Kev. "This time, now with a smaller hole in my washing up bottle, I managed to fire it up and it sounded awesome. Alec did a fantastic smoky burnout, followed by a softish launch which ended up as a 9.2 at 144. We were all over the moon! "I was very nervous being towed down, and still nervous when fired up, but as soon as the wonderful Bev beckoned me round, the nerves disappeared", says Alec. "Many many thanks to Bev for helping me to be relaxed and unhurried on the début. That area at the fire-up line can make so much difference to how good a driver feels in the cockpit and Bev is great." "Back in the pits, to punish Alec for disobeying orders on the first run, we decided not to run again. We all had a fantastic weekend, and to round it off we won trophies for nearest to dial-in, and Best Slingshot. What really blew me away was the attention the car had. We were surrounded by press photographers and video crews and drag racing fans for the whole two days, which is a great tribute to the workmanship and attention to detail of Johnny Hall and Bill Felstead." "We will be back in two weeks for the Mini Weekend", says Kev. "Thanks to Tom Coe and our wives Janet Rita and Jen, all the Wild Bunch, Mark Windridge, Johnny and Bill, and everyone who wished us well." Bug Jam entry. 5th July: Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall has been in touch to inform racers that Friday (8th July) is the extended deadline for entry to the Bug Jam, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 23rd-24th July. The Bug Jam is a round of the Volkswagen Drag Racing Club Championships for VW Pro, VW Sportsman, and VW Alternate Engine Championships as well as Championship rounds of Super Modified and Street Eliminator. "All entries received this week will be accepted at the normal entry fee", says Paula. "If anyone still has not sent their forms to me by this Friday then we may still accept their forms the following week but they need to contact me first and, if accepted, will incur the late entry fee." ©Eurodragster.com You can download the Bug Jam entry form from the SPRC web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc. If you have any queries then please call Paula on 01933 313625. You can view the current official Bug Jam entry list by clicking here. Swift snippets. 5th July: Sweden's Kågered Racing Top Fuel Dragster and Top Methanol FC team didn't have the best of weekends at Alastaro as Micke Kågered was shut off for a fuel leak which subsequently couldn't be found on the Bahco Tools TF, and Niclas Andersson suffered a pushrod failure which wrecked an engine and did other damage putting the Sandflex TMFC out of competition. You can read more on the Kågered Racing web site at www.kagered-racing.com. UK Outlaw Anglia racer Pete Moore, still on a high from running a string of personal best ETs in his Fordson van, arrived home from the Nostalgia Nationals on Sunday to find that his sponsors Rural Scene Land Agents were just as delighted with his performance. "They presented me with a barrel of race fuel for my efforts", says Pete. "Thanks guys!". When was the last time you went to a wedding and the bride took a solo on the saxophone (right)? Courtesy of Graham Motler here is photographic evidence of another first for the UK's Spellbound Pro ET team as Malcolm and Marcie Motler played in the band at the reception after their marriage last Saturday. "On behalf of everyone who went to the bash I would like to say thanks for a great and full-on do", says Graham. "The live music was tops." ©Eurodragster.com UK Wild Bunch racer Phil Sweeney has been in touch to ask if any Eurodragster.com readers have picures or video of his first run at the Nostalgia Nationals last Saturday. "My slingshot has been pulling wheelstands quite consistently, but my first run on Saturday was the highest and hardest landing yet", says Phil. "The run was scrapped but I'd love to have a pic of that launch. Obviously I will pay, cover costs etc. I can be contacted at antisocial86@hotmail.co.uk". Phil adds that he would like to say Well Done to all the Wild Bunch racers. This Saturday's (9th July) and then the following Sunday's (17th July) Run What You Brungs at Santa Pod Raceway will be the last for four weeks. "The grandstands and Pod Shop will be open and Car Clubs are welcome", says DJ of Santa Pod Raceway. Entry is £10 and sign on is £15 on production of a valid DVLC licence. For more details check out Santa Pod Raceway's dedicated RWYB web site at www.rwyb.com. Our good buddy Patrik Jacobsson tells us that the European Pro Mod Association are running another Bump Spot Contest for the Veidec Festival at Mantorp Park on 28th-31st July. "There are twenty eight Pro Mods on the entry list for a sixteen-car eliminator", says Patrik. "To enter our contest, guess what time you will need to be #16 qualifier and E-Mail the ET to contest@promod.nu together with your name, address, and T-shirt size. We need your entries no later that 00:00 CET on 25th July and the winner will be announced at www.promod.nu on Monday 1st August." Nostalgia Nationals NSCC review. 5th July: The UK's National Street Car Challenge had a terrific weekend of racing at the weekend's Nostalgia Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway, with a sixteen car field including some old faces coming out of the woodwork writes Hot Rod Gazette editor Shaun Wilson. "Saturday saw open time trials with plenty of track time – Kelly Bacon in the blown ’29 A Sedan Delivery recording no less than thirteen passes and a new PB of 13.5", says Shaun. "Keith ‘Milner’ Freeman in his pee-yellow Deuce Coupe got in eleven runs too. Big Al Williamson managed a PB of 12.6 from the Pro Street Chevy Stepside, although he was scratching his head to work out where he’d managed to shave off the time from! Russ Pursley recorded the fastest time of the day with a 10.1 from the Chevy-powered Dutton whilst the welcome return of Ian Walley in his twin-turbo’d and supercharged V6 Cortina bagged the second spot. "The usual cruise out on Saturday night saw most of the competitors drive to the Cottage of Content which, after a change of management, we will be unlikely to use again. Still, another 300 points for those who did make it and suffer the food, and full marks to Mick Wilkes who drove over from Santa Pod to pick up some cruise points, nipped home to change his gearbox and then returned to race on Sunday. That sort of dedication is what puts him at the top of the points! "Sunday was superb with brilliant weather and no problems with track time. Damian Bacon blew the diff clean apart in the Modal A in the first round, Gary Bird picked a cherry off the tree in his quest to oust Ian Walley in the first round but otherwise the form book went pretty well as expected with the whole field looking very quick and very closely matched. "It was Mick Wilkes in the 2.0 Vauxhall Viva who made it through to the finals, against the formidable Russ Pursley. Russ ran a 10.15 to victory, uncontested as the Viva spat its gearbox out at half track…d'oh! Still, a couple of days to repair it before the next cruise night mate! "A superb weekend – thanks to all the crew at SCR who did a top job in getting so many cars through so quickly. Check out the Hot Rod Gazette at www.hotrodgazette.com for full details of the racing, including the RWYB action and phenomenal times and footage of the Outlaw Anglias." ©Eurodragster.com Results and points updates. 5th July: We are grateful to FIA European Championship Co-ordinator Kjell Pettersson for forwarding us the post-FHRA Nitro Nationals points standings in the FIA Championships. You can view the FIA Championship standings (PDF format) by clicking here, or by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hnd side of any Eurodragster.com page. The post-Nitro Nationals FIM/UEM Championship standings, courtesy of Championship Co-ordinator Lars Andersson, are now showing on the King Racing web site at www.kingracing.com and on our Points Standings page. Stay tuned for Lars' event review which we will be publishing tomorrow. Andy Marrs has updated his sheet of FIA Championship statistics to include the weekend's FHRA Nitro Nationals. You can view Andy's FIA statistics by clicking here. Our good buddy Erik Zettervall has updated the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se with results from the weekend's Aros Nationals at Västerås and the FHRA Nitro Nationals at Alastaro. Simon Groves has as promised forwarded the post-Shakespeare Nationals standings in the UK National Junior Dragster Championship, which you can view by clicking here. ©Eurodragster.com Simon has also forwarded the post-Shakespeare Nationals standings in the Ultimate Power Drag Racing Championships, which you can view by clicking here. The official web site of the European Pro Mod Association has been updated with provisional post-FHRA Nitro Nationals standings in NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified. You can find the Pro Mod points at www.promod.nu. The European Top Methanol Racers Association web site at www.etmra.com has been updated with detailed Top Methanol Dragster and Top Methanol FC timing data from the FHRA Nitro Nationals. FHRA Nitro Nationals results. 4th July: Andy Carter, Dave Wilson, Urs Erbacher, Jimmy Ålund, Ian King, Ronny Aasen, Roger Pettersson and Patrick Wikström were the European Championship and NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified winners at this weekend's FHRA Nitro Nationals at Alastaro, whilst Antti Horto, Markku Lahoniitty, Harri Forsten, Lasse Koskinen, Senni Somppi, Viivi Pesonen, Kari Ollilainen and Juha Ollinainen were the Sportsman class winners. You can find full qualifying and elimination results in PDF format on the Finnish Hot Rod Association web site at www.fhra.fi as well as a photo gallery which you can find under the Kuvagalleria link. ©Eurodragster.com Hannele Höydén (cars) and Jouni Vesterlund (bikes) produced some great live coverage which you can find at www.fhra.fi/fin/index.php?page_id=129 and www.dragbike.fi/online/online.htm respectively whilst photos can also be found at www.bongaa.com/fi/kisat/dragracing/?x=fhranitronationals2005. The Kågered Racing web site at www.kagered-racing.com has also been updated with Top Fuel Dragster and Top Methanol Funny Car notes and stats. One of the best for Woollatt. 4th July: SPRC Summernationals Top Fuel Bike winner Steve Woollatt says that he and the Dealer team are happy with the progress they have been making recently. The 2004 ACU Top Fuel Bike Champion set a new best speed for Santa Pod of 216.51 mph and he says that there is room for more. "I rolled off the throttle early in the final because I hit shake", says Steve. "I set a new best sixty foot time for this year's new clutch set-up, I was one hundredth off a personal best, and I set my best speed for Santa Pod. So we're very pleased with the way it went." Steve and the team had to deal with a problem on the Sunday morning of the event. "A fastener failed on the inlet manifold on Sunday morning", says Steve. "A thread stripped and the seal opened so we were losing some power. Luckily 'Rebore Rod' Ambler was there to help, and Chris Hall kindly lent me the right size helicoil kit, so we were able to reseal it." ©Eurodragster.com Steve wasn't happy with the start to his season but is content that things are starting to work out. "We've been scratching our heads a bit this year as you know", he says, "so this is quite encouraging. We're going in the right direction and now we've room for some fine tuning." Steve's next event is his traditional appearance at the Bulldog Bash at Shakespeare County Raceway in August. Swift snippets. 4th July: Tog and Sharkman and, we're sure, all of our readers would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to Santa Pod Racers Club Race Secretary Kathy Taylor. Hope you have a lovely day, Kathy, and we'll give you your hugs next time we see you. ©Eurodragster.com We'd also like to wish all of our readers in the USA a very happy 4th July. Have a great day guys! Nostalgia Nationals day 2 report. 4th July: Talk about turning a class on its head! Outlaw Anglia racer Paul Wright certainly did just that during Sunday’s action at the NSRA’s Nostalgia Nationals at Shakespeare County. Although sevens figured in team’s game plan today I don’t think anyone was expecting to see a 7.5 second ET pop up on the boards or even a massive terminal speed figure of 180 mph to establish new class, track and national records, writes SCR Press Officer Jerry Cookson. In front of a very appreciative audience, the Outlaws were simply stunning right from the word go and worth every penny of the gate price alone. From the outset nothing, not even Messer’s Hensher and Pointer was going to get in the way of the Alco Pop's earth shattering performance. A 7.765 was quickly followed by a 7.645 before firing the big artillery resulting in a 7.578 at a whopping 180.32 mph to take away Andy Carter’s national ET record (subject to official confirmation) which had stood for over ten years since 1993! Also running personal best ETs was Paul Hensher when he took the 498ci Chrysler powered Pop Gas Attack as low as 8.181 at 159.43 mph. It was a similar story in the Pete Moore run camp when his 509 ci Sonny's prepared ’48 Fordson van not only dipped a toe in the water with a 9.5s followed by a 9.4s but then produced a 9.368 at 142 mph. On the Nostalgia Altered front, Frank and Luke Bennett’s two-week stretch of nights working till late in their Essex based workshop paid off handsomely with not only turning out a visually stunning looking race car but also a slick sounding one as well. Sounding strong in the burnout, Frank got the car to stand on the tyres loud and proud but having been away from the cockpit for some three season’s decided to take the radically altered 511 ci KB powered ’32 Fiat Topolino to the eighth before clicking it off to a 9.1. Other highlights included a barnstorming run from Ian Hanson’s 23 T registering a 7.527/172.08, a fantastic pair of 'Maltese' nines from Alec Coe’s new retro-looking sixties blown and injected slingshot dragster, despite coming under orders from son Tom to take it easy, and in the Gasser Circus the Denning and Pike show featuring the high riding Honky Tonkin ’57 Chevrolet continued to roll on with a barrage of 9.9s and 9.8s but everyone is now wondering how long their domination will last following the rapid performance gains made by Daz Selwynn in his Rob Loaring-prepared 493 cubed Chrysler powered Dodge Coronet now turning wheelstanding 10.1s. Johnny Hall brought out the B&J Nostalgia Top Fuel slingshot dragster to two very powerful eighth mile squirts which at the close of play unfortunately ended in the transmission coupler parting company from the dragster's rear axle and not the prescribed bulletproof gearbox as was first thought. Better luck next time. The NSRA’s Quick Six pick included Crusty’s 1927 Model T Roadster, Kelly Bacon’s Model A Delivery van, Wobbly Bob’s Chrysler powered Bedford CF, Tim Sparks 1929 Model A Roadster, Stuart Smith’s 32 Pick-up and Keith Freeman’s Model B 5 window coupe. Congratulations guys as both Stuart and Keith are regular quarter milers in the National Street Car Challenge. All in all, a fantastic event as all ways presented by the NSRA and Shakespeare County Raceway as we now look forward to the Hot Rod Drags in September. ©Eurodragster.com Web site updates. 4th July: Our good buddy James Hands has updated his photo site with pictures from Saturday's Peak Performance Day at Santa Pod Raceway. You can check out James' pictures at jameshands.smugmug.com/gallery/618501. ©Eurodragster.com Direct from Alastaro... 3rd July: 17:30 Monique Pels has been in touch again with the final word from the Supertwins at Alastaro: In the first round of eliminations #1 qualifier Ton Pels (6.95) defeated Hans Christian Nilsen (7.48) and #2 qualifier Ronny Aasen (6.87) defeated Joachim Riemer (7.21). The other two quarter finals turned out to be upsets when Hans Olav Olstad (7.14) took a holeshot win over Lorenz Stauble (7.04) and Svein Gottenberg (7.10) defeated Svein Olav Rolfstad (7.25). In the semi finals Olstad took a bye run because Pels broke the crankshaft in the first round and could not fix the bike in time. The Norwegian ran his first ever six-second pass (6.98) and made it to the finals. Next up was Ronny Aasen (6.86) who took out his fellow countryman Svein Gottenberg (10.95). The all Norwegian final was decided in favour of Ronny Aasen (6.75) who defeated Svein Olav Olstad (7.29). Our congratulations to Ronny on the event win and also to Lorenz and Hans Olav for their six-second passes (Hear, hear - Ed)! Hiscocks doubly grateful. 3rd July: Wayne and Pam Hiscock have been in touch to thank all of the Super Gas racers and crew who made them feel so welcome at last weekend's SPRC Summernationals at Santa Pod Raceway. "Wayne normally enters our '71 Chevelle in Pro ET but decided to do double-duty this weekend to gain more track time following the recent engine implant, and to see how suited he and the car would be to Super Gas and to a Pro Tree", they say. "In eliminations we were successful, and ecstatic to get through to the Final. ©Eurodragster.com "Unfortunately Wayne's race against Brian Pateman ended rather early, as he deep-staged incurring an immediate disqualification. We were disappointed at not being able to race Brian to the finish line but are very pleased to achieve runner-up position in our first meeting in Super Gas. "Thanks also to Al Didwell for taking time out to help, and to all the guys and girls in Pro ET who we understand were rooting for us. And big congratulations to Rick Denny for getting that long-awaited twelve!" Big CC Racing post contingency. 3rd July: UK bike performance supplier Big CC Racing are offering a contingency program for riders running their Hybrid Turbo system. Team rider Rick Stubbins has already achieved seven-second passes in Super Street Bike at both Shakespeare County Raceway and Santa Pod Raceway, and sponsored rider Dave Smith has dialled in to the seven-second pass gang also using the latest Big CC Hybrid Turbo System. Rick has also run 150 mph in the eighth mile and several 190+ mph runs in the quarter with a lot more power still to dial in. Dyno-wise the system has been tested to over 600 bhp yet has excellent track characteristics at low boost settings allowing for good controllable launches with the right chassis combinations. Phil Wood in the Straightliners Championship is also currently placed first in the Top Bike class with Big CC's Turbo system. For future riders using the all-new British-made turbo kit Big CC Racing are pleased to offer a contingency as follows for owners who break the following benchmarks: ©Eurodragster.com First sub-8.5: £50 cashback First seven-second pass (sub-8.0): £100 cashback First sub-7.7: £200 cashback "Further targets will be added as the above are achieved but £350 cashback for starters hopefully gives Super Street riders something to aim for", says Sean of Big CC Racing. For more information on Big CC Racing and their Hybrid Turbo systems check out their web site at www.bigccracing.com. Nostalgia Nationals day 1 report. 3rd July: Outlaw Anglia racer Paul Wright stunned his fellow classmates yet again at yesterday’s Nostalgia Nationals by resetting both ends of the Shakespeare County category record, writes SCR Press Officer Jerry Cookson. In the third of three time trial sessions for the day Paul pushed his 555 ci KB-powered shovelnose Alco Pop to a straight and true 7.693/178.6. Second quickest so far is Mark Pointer’s big inch Fordson van. Having just returned from having a new nitrous kit was fitted, not one to take it easy on its very first run of the day the Hooligan shot down the Warwickshire quarter mile in 8.260/167.77 which was improved later with an 8.243. Following last weekend’s carnage at Santa Pod, the Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association fielded six cars. After trashing the transmission seven days ago Mickey Moore and the rest of the Mob crew putting in two crowd-pleasing burnouts before splitting the thirty-year-old block in two at the top end resulting in a small engine fire. Nevertheless, Mickey achieved another of his ambitions by collecting his first 200 mph speeding ticket at the Raceway at 203.81. Back in the sevens again was Clayton Round’s Rebel T. First time out at Shakey after a minor rebuild from last weekend, Clayton put down a slick-looking 7.974 at 175.79 mph Making a welcome return to the Gasser Circus was Daz Selwyn’s high riding AFX Dodge Coronet replica. Now sporting an injected 493ci Chrysler, Daz put in a best of 10.5 with more to come. But the star turn of the show was as ever Jerry Denning and Lee Pike’s Honky Tonkin ’57 Chevy running a perfect 9.900! Custom Car editor Kev Elliott has begged, stolen or borrowed the Thacker and Shine 1928 Model A lakester which saw action at last weekend’s Goodwood Festival hillclimb. Although over-geared for drag racing (still running its 201 mph Bonneville record combination) Kev coked the flat black lakester to several high fourteens. Also making a return to the Raceway was Nick Stephenson’s injected ’88 Corvette. After its initial 8.5 second pass, it would appear on its second run that the steering linkage may have failed sending the errant ‘Vette from the left lane into the right before tagging the armco at the thousand foot mark side-on before scrubbing off speed across the grass. Nick was okay but the side of the ‘Vette received a few nasty scuff marks. ©Eurodragster.com Swift snippets. 3rd July: Our good buddy James Hands of Racing 05 web site fame completed his Junior Dragster licencing passes at Santa Pod Raceway yesterday. James put in seven passes in Santa Pod's JD (right) with a best RT of 0.209, and bests of 17.572/32.81. "I had a really good day out!", says James. "Two of my runs were races against someone else." ©Eurodragster.com PMR race and test. 3rd July: Paul Marston Racing fielded three race cars at last weekend's SPRC Summernationals. Paul got in touch to let us know how the PMR team fared. The weather played its part but the event ran smoothly, allowing for some seriously good drag racing. Paul Marston Racing entered the Alien in Super Pro ET, shoed by John Everitt, Paul Marston Drag Race School graduates Tethys and Michael Howling shared the driving duties of the Whoopass Monza in Super Street and Pro ET, and I drove the Insanity Vega in Pro ET. First and foremost I would like to thank Race Director Darren Prentice for making room for the third qualifier on Sunday morning after only getting two rounds on Saturday due to the weather. All of our drivers did very well: John took out Andy Robinson in the first round of Super Pro ET to add to his impressive points tally in the National Championship hunt. Tethys is now quite settled in the Monza after competing at the Shakespeare Nationals the previous weekend and is now cutting some extremely good lights. He was very unlucky to come out a first round loser in an amazingly close race. A little more experience will see him coming out on the right side of the close ones for sure. Michael Howling had a tall task this weekend: get licenced, learn how to use a transbrake and a throttle stop, you could say he had a busy day in the office. Mike's reward for all his hard work was Dave Cherrett in the first round - one of the trickiest opponents in Super Street. All in all a steep learning curve but one that he enjoyed every single minute of, good boy! I chose to drive the Insanity Vega more to test and tune, ironing out the bugs it had in National Event conditions rather than to be realistically competitive. That said, Nicky Frost in her beautiful '67 Camaro crushed me first round to ensure that I was on the trailer early, no easy round there! But I was very happy with the weekend having put to bed a lot of the errant handling issues and putt Insanity back into the tens. ©Eurodragster.com PMR are back at Santa Pod again this weekend for the Peak Performance Day with both Insanity and Grumpy's Dodge. The plan is a thorough weekend's testing and a couple of Passenger Rides (victims) thrown in for good measure. We will be joined by Gary Springford who unfortunately had to miss last weekend's race due to work commitments at Drag Race Engineering. We intend Gary to give Grumpy a full workout with the recently-repaired axle being put to the test. Not only has the axle been repaired but a full remap of the axle and four-link was also performed at Drag Race Engineering. Grumpy had to miss the Summernationals due to the non-arrival of parts. With so much development being carried out on Grumpy over the winter we considered it only right that we baseline the rear end to ensure it was not a contributory factor in the axle failure at the Main Event. The Insanity Vega also will benefit from a full day's testing to develop the performance potential of the recently fitted Big Block Chevy. On checking last weekend's stats we have a low terminal speed to deal with, I have a good idea where we went down a different avenue over last weekend which may explain the loss of terminal speed but we need track time to be sure. This weekend offers the perfect opportunity. A big thank you goes out to Gary Springford at Drag Race Engineering for all the race car preperation. He didn't miss a beat all weekend. Thanks to the relentless hard-working Paul Marston Racing crew of Darren Barthell, Anthony Middleton, Michael Pusey; the drivers, John, Tethys and Michael; all of our sponsors Chrysler UK, Drag Race Engineering (0208 597 9484), Paul Marston's Drag Race Driving School, London Road Tyres, and all the associate sponsors and fans. Direct from Alastaro... 1st July: 20:00 Monique Pels has been in touch again with the word from the Supertwins at Alastaro. "Last night there were some traction problems and the third qualifying session this morning showed that a lot of bikes still had some trouble with the traction. Not many riders improved, and Ton Pels kept the #1 spot. This afternoon the track was better and the fourth and last qualifying session showed an amazing improvement for Lorenz Stauble who ran his first six-second pass. Svein Olav Rolfstad also went into the sixes." ©Eurodragster.com 17:15 2004 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Andy Carter sat out both of today's qualifying sessions at Alastaro. "I sat out the first session just to see how everyone else did and to see if the track was coming around", Andy told Eurodragster.com from Finland. "I went down for the second session, but because I was number one qualifier everyone else ran ahead of me. Thomas Nataas was the closest with a 5.1 so my number one was secure. We went back to the pits and right now we are just checking over the car. Then we'll cover it up and have an early night and we'll be nice and fresh for the race in the morning." Veidec Festival entry list. 2nd July: With the FHRA Nitro Nationals in full swing, the entry list for the next round of the FIA and FIM/UEM European and NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified Championships, the Veidec Festival at Mantorp Park, is now available on the event's official web site. The entry for the Veidec Festival currently stands at a whopping 327, which has got to be one of the largest entries ever for a European drag racing event. Nine Top Fuel Dragsters, including Rene Hersland's first competitive outing, seven Top Methanol Dragsters including Kenneth Arntzen's first competitive outing, eleven Top Methanol FCs including Kjell Sjöblom's first competitive outing, nine Pro Stocks, twenty seven Pro Mods including the Championship débuts of Bruno Bader and Torsten Kath's cars, eleven Top Fuel Bikes, eighteen Supertwins including the return of Anders Karling, and seven Pro Stock Bikes make up the Professional ranks whilst the NDRS classes are also massively subscribed with thirty two in Mickey Thompson Comp Eliminator, thirty five in System Edström Super Comp, twenty nine in Twinlab Super Gas, twenty three in Rod and Race Super Street, twenty eight in Stock/Super Stock, forty seven in Junior Dragster, twenty four in Super Gas Bike and eleven in Street Bike. ©Eurodragster.com You can view the Veidec Festival entry list by clicking here (PDF format) or by visiting the official Veidec Festival web site at www.veidecfestival.com which also includes ticket details and other event information. FIA driver profiles offered. 2nd July: Our good buddy and Eurodragster.com honorary staff member Andy Marrs of TSI Timers Europe has been in touch to offer a new service to FIA European Championship racers. "As a result of all of the work I have been doing on event statistics, I can now produce driver profiles for any contestant in the FIA European Championship", says Andy. "The profiles list qualifying performance, round and event wins, final appearances, Low ET and High Speed and can be used for promotional purposes or on web sites providing that appropriate credit is given. I produced have a profile for Andy Carter and he has given me permission to publish it on Eurodragster.com." ©Eurodragster.com You can view Andy Carter's profile, which was current up to this weekend's FHRA Nitro Nationals, by clicking here. "I will only produce these profiles for drivers themselves", says Andy. "If you would like your profile then please E-Mail me at andy@tsitimers.co.uk. I hope to be able to provide the same service for FIM/UEM riders shortly." Swift snippets. 2nd July: Very many congratulations to UK Pro ET racer Malcolm Motler and his partner, and now wife, Marcie on their marriage today. A nicer couple you couldn't hope to meet, and we're sure that everyone will join Tog and Sharkman in wishing Malk and Marcie all the very best for a long and happy future. ©Eurodragster.com Points updates. 2nd July: We are indebted to UK National Drag Racing Championship Co-ordinators Simon Groves and Yvonne Tramm for forwarding us the post-Shakespeare Nationals standings in the UK National Championships for all classes except Junior Dragster which will follow shortly. You can view the UK National points by clicking here, or by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. We should have the post-SPRC Summernationals standings shortly. ©Eurodragster.com We are also indebted to National Association of Supertwins Championship Co-ordinator Lorraine Laycock for forwarding us the post-SPRC Summernationals standings in the NAST Championships, which you can view by clicking here, or again by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. SPRC Summernationals Pro ET review. 2nd July: We are grateful to UK Pro ET racer Carla Pittau for sending us the latest of her regular event reviews, this one of last weekend's SPRC Summernationals at Santa Pod Raceway: Despite the storms the Summer Nationals at Santa Pod was a very successful and enjoyable event, organisation was good, and we were all grateful for the third qualifying run granted on Sunday morning, a bit daring in the light of the changeable weather situation but showing that the club knew what they were doing. It was a good, well organised sportsman meeting where we had lots of space and we got all of the racing the weather permitted, and I would like to thank all involved for making it happen. The Pro ET class took the honours of Perfect Reaction and Perfect ET, the latter compliments of the ineffable Keith Herbert with the Plymouth Fury who took the money from Eurodragster and LA Racing Parts, while Aidan Kenny in the Ford Pop took the cheque from Eurodragster and Speedflow for Perfect RT and wouldn't share it with Rick McCann when he also belatedly pulled the magic .000 and chased him round the pits for half the money. Being a bit of an anorak myself (obviously) I always check the stats for the meeting when published on Eurodragster by the hard-working Andy Marrs of TSI Timers, and couldn't help but smile at the five hits on Perfect ETs and RTs all in Pro ET. Aidan Kenny showed he meant business by also qualifying #2 with a +.004, but as per usual the double zeros went down the list to #6 qualifier, with Anthony Wilkins, Mo Blackburn, Terri Lee and Paul Baynton all less than one hundredth off their dial-ins. Great to see Ian Brown couldn't stay away from racing for too long (his 10.750 being one of the perfect ETs), but unfortunate for us not to be able to borrow son Harrison for our crew. Ian got as far as the semi-finals by getting past Vic Amato’s well presented Mustang in the first round, Lance Richards’ Moody Blue Capri in a close race in the second, and then used his dead on to defeat Carl Burton in the much tattooed English Rose Sierra. Ian was then stopped by Top Banana Lee Huxley who beat him with a holeshot on his way to his third final this year. Points leader John Atkinson didn’t qualify as high as he normally does, although he made up for it by beating Kev Slyfield in the Yellow Belly Belvedere with a +.009 ET in the second round after getting past a red-lighting Terri Lee in the first. John was then stopped by...you guessed, Lee Huxley, who responded to John’s respectable .070 light with a .009 and continued his advance. Paul Baynton in the SBC powered Capri qualified well and was disappointed to win by default when Phil Toppin again did not make the first round, this time with a broken valve spring retainer. He then got past red-lighting Joe Stevens in the Back in Black altered, only to pull a cherry himself against Rick McCann at the wheel of our Heaven and Hell Camaro in the third round. Nicky Frost in the beautiful bright orange Camaro nailed the tree in round one against Paul Marston, then proceeded to beat Malcolm Motler when both racers had .05 reactions, but Nicky ran a dead on with a 1 and Malc broke out. Nicky then enjoyed a bye into the semis, where she tried to put her lipstick on while staging the car and setting the transbrake and missed the tree big time against Rick McCann. Wayne Hiscock in the big orange Chevelle was working hard by driving in Pro ET and Super Gas, and although he redlit in the first round against Clive Cox, he did us all proud by reaching the final in Super Gas. Clive then redlit in the next round against Lee Huxley. It was nice to welcome back Mo Blackburn and the Escape from Reality team after nearly a year out. The roll cage and the top chassis rail in the pretty altered had to be replaced to allow for more headroom. The team would like to extend a big Thank You to Steve Large for his excellent work. With the engine rebuilt, a new converter and gearbox fitted, Mo and Chris were unsure how the car would perform but by the third qualifying run the team were back like they had never been away and were very happy with the car's performance. A wing has also been fitted which has greatly improved top end stability. So welcome back to Mo even though he put out our mate Mike Lacey in the first round, Mike had the better light but Mo ran a dead on with a 2, while Mike broke out but was happy to have run his quickest ever time. Mo was then out of competition when he unusually snoozed on the start line against Carl Burton. Carl progressed to the third round by getting past new Pro ET racer Lee Derby in the first round. Lee was doing his observed runs and gained his licence in the third qualifier with a 9.65 sec. run in the gorgeous 585ci powered Chevy pickup. Carl was then defeated by Ian Brown’s dead on with a zero in the third round. Nick Griffin, with the Precious Metal white Chevelle, back to Pro ET after a short spell in Super Street, beat #3 qualifier Anthony Wilkins in the Rat Poison '55 Chevy in the first round, but was then out against Rick McCann in the second with a double breakout, Rick having the better reaction and breaking out the least. After the race we topped up the fuel cell with the last of our cans and got past Paul Baynton to get to the semis with Nicky. By this time we were running quite low on fuel despite Phil Toppin’s loan but were saved by the generous swift action of Custom Car Eliminator racer Jerry Charles who gave us four gallons of super unleaded which he could not use due to a broken transmission. Thanks a lot Jerry, hope you fix it soon. In the final the Heaven and Hell Camaro and the '32 Roadster were rushed to the front of the queue as the Top Banana team had also to contest the Super Street final (well done Brian). Both racers knew it was going to be a tough one and they had to be sharp on the lights, Lee was a tad too sharp and went red, while Rick pulled a 0.007 to take the win. Although unfortunately the expected close race did not materialise we were still over the moon with the win, especially after the previous week’s unfortunate outing – and happy with the car’s performance on Sunday. A great weekend made even better by many little things, like pitting next to the Zed Case team again, wonderful atmosphere and great racing. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the whole experience, in particular to Tog and Sharkman for working hard as always and well done to the Top Banana team for getting to four finals this year, with two in the same day and winning Super Street! See you all at the next one! Unofficial points standings for the SPRC championship will shortly be posted on the Pro ET site at www.pro-et.co.uk but as always please refer to the official points when published. ©Eurodragster.com Direct from Alastaro... 1st July: 23:00 Monique Pels has kindly been in touch with the news from the FIM/UEM Supertwin pits. "In the first qualification session this morning the Norwegians Olstad and Rolfstad did very good passes straight from the trailer, 7.0 for Olstad, 7.1 for Rolfstad", says Monique. "Ton was third with a tyre shaking 7.2. "The second round showed two 6.79 passes for both Ronny Aasen and Ton. The timeslips had to tell us who was first and second. Svein Gottenberg seems to be well on his way to another six-second pass and Finland's Petri Kaltonen fired up the bike about a hundred times today and it looks like this was not in vain, because he had a solid first outing (8.6 seconds)." 15:50 Andy Carter consolidated his lead in Top Fuel with a 5.070 in session two of qualifying. "It was a good clean pass", Andy told us from Alastaro. "It was still getting a bit loose at the top end so I backed off a fraction early, but I was happy with the run. The weather is good too." Lex Joon took second place in this session with a 5.153. "It was a one thousand foot pass, because we are still checking the car out", Team Manager Gerda Dijkstra told us. "But guess what, the head gaskets are still in!" 11:30 After session one of Top Fuel Dragster qualifying, Andy Carter was in number one spot with a 5.370. Andy got in touch from Alastaro to let us know how things went. "The car was set very soft, but I was glad to get down the track", said Andy. "I clicked off at about nine hundred feet because the car got loose in the second half. No-one else is reporting that it's loose, though." ©Eurodragster.com Gerda Dijkstra of Lex Joon's MPM Top Fuel Team said that the sunny weather was affecting traction. "The track temperature was 102 F when Lex ran", said Gerda. "It was a bit slippery and Lex ran 6.165." Stay tuned and we will bring you updates as we receive them. Super Mods book Nitrolympx date. 1st July: The UK's Super Modified racers will be contesting an exhibition eliminator at August's Nitrolympx at Hockenheim following a deal negotiated over the last few weeks between Nitrolympx promoter Rico Anthes and class sponsor Obsession Motorsports. "We will be taking eight cars", Terry Gibbs of Obsession told Eurodragster.com. "Eight Super Mods are confirmed, and should any not be able to go then we have had expressions of interest from other racers. We are very proud to be attending the twentieth Nitrolympx, we plan to put on a good show and launch Super Modified in Europe." ©Eurodragster.com "Rico expressed interest in running a no-index, out-the-back-door doorslammer class", added Terry. "Originally he was looking for a Pro Mod/Super Mod Cannonball but in the end agreed to let us run our own eliminator. Rico is putting up prize money and trophies and on behalf of the Super Modified Racers Assocation and Obsession Motorsports we would like to thank him for the invitation, for the prize money and trophies, and for his support for the class." Terry also expressed his gratitude to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall who assisted with the paperwork to upgrade racers' licences. "Paula responded very rapidly to our request, thank you very much to her", he said. "We are also very grateful to David Higgs of Allsport Logistics who is assisting with competitive travel rates. If anyone is interested in sponsoring the Super Mods' trip to Hockenheim then please contact Obsession Motorsports on 01483 236262." Oops, not number one. 1st July: The UK's Jones and Friend Comp Bike team missed out on their fourth consecutive #1 qualifier by five thousands of a second at the SPRC Summernationals. Dave Friend says that the team found that drag racing is full of surprises. "TJ O'Brien seems back on form, well done team", says Dave. "Both TJ and our team got surprises, TJ clipping the block after a straight launch and Gary Jones having a gearbox niggle which allowed the bike to go into a false neutral, we were both off home for early baths. Congratulations to Phil Leamon on his win and to Sandra Chaplain on her runner up trophy. ©Eurodragster.com "We know what is causing this gearbox problem; it is the shift fork shaft, as this has had some serious abuse during the course of the season. A new one will be fitted during our break before the August Bank Holiday meeting. Our development of our EFI system is making good progress and with some more mapping which we have developed we hope to see another performance increase at the next race. But we really need to get the new chassis underway so that we can have a big tyre, as we were spinning the tyre at mid track and the top end on nearly every pass, even after we had taken power out of the bike. Still all systems are now working effectively so we will continue our deveopment. "Thanks to our sponsors Extreme Electrical Ltd, Universal Turbos, Worldwide Bearings USA, Mistral Engineering, BEK Wholesale, and Ian Carver." Fun for all the family. 1st July: The UK's Top Banana Pro ET and Super Street team are overjoyed with their double final appearance at the SPRC Summernationals. The father and son team took the Super Street win and the Pro ET runner up in what must have been a family first for UK drag racing. ©Eurodragster.com "To get to the final in two classes is something else", says Brian Huxley. "It was such a shame we couldn't do the double but two finals is the stuff of your wildest dreams. Thanks to everyone at the Pod for a great and smooth-running meeting. We can't wait to the next race and we'll keep trying to get the double. "Thanks to our sponsors OK Motor Factors, Universal Banners and Sneddon Roof Tiling Co." Hill's detective work. 1st July: After his recent accidents, at Santa Pod and in Ireland, with his Fireforce 3 Jet Funny Car, pilot Martin Hill has been trying to find a reason for the car's unpredictability and says that he and his team have managed to get it down to three possibilities, all related. "The more we look into it, the more we are convinced that the incident in Ireland and the incident at Santa Pod are connected", says Martin. "I took full responsibility for the incident in Ireland as it was wet, but the more we evaluate both incidents the more we find that there are too many similarities. It may have been that with it being wet I was not going as fast and that could have saved greater damage: if it was dry as I would have surely gone a lot quicker not realising that it could only be a matter of time before a major failure would occur. ©Eurodragster.com "We are getting on with the repairs, and the car will be back on track for the Bug Jam at the latest. We'll make a couple of shakedown passes to make sure that all is in order and then we will be going for it again. I will have the Santa pod livery back on by the August and then hopefully prove that we can still run the big numbers. "I am not going to comment now on what we suspect to be the root cause of our dilemmas. When we have got the car back up and running and got to the end of the season without any related incidents will I make our findings known. These two incidents have damaged my credibility in the Jet world and both may have been avoidable. "One more point away from the above; I note that the jets are being classed as invitational only this is not so. Any jet vehicle which meets current SFI specifications and whose driver holds a current MSA license can attend any permitted race meeting by submitting an appropriate entry form along with the entry fee and will be given track time within the race programme." Ten up for Eldred. 1st July: Geof Hauser has been in touch to let us know that today (Friday) marks the tenth anniversary of Ray Eldred's appointment as General Manager of Hauser Race Cars. "When Ray (right) first arrived back in 1995 he was full of enthusiasm and eager to help and learn", says Geof. "I'm glad to say he has the same qualities now. Ray's knowledge and experience are well respected and he will always take the time, even when we're snowed under, to ensure that our customers get exactly the right parts or information for their application. ©Eurodragster.com "Ray handles all areas of operating the business from general sales enquiries, customer liason, ordering and despatching parts, whilst also finding time to keep his Super Pro ET Celica running in top form, and still manages to get home on time to help with the kids! "Ray has been a valuable asset to the company over the last ten years, and helped us grow to where we are now. I look forward to the next ten years." Swift snippets. 1st July: Europe's newest Top Methanol FC racer, Sweden's Jonas Staflund is due to complete his licencing passes at Alastaro today and subject to sucessful completion will then be competing in this weekend's FIA Championship round. ©Eurodragster.com Our good buddy James Hands wil be making his Junior Dragster licencing passes at tomorrow's Peak Performance Day at Santa Pod Raceway. James has promised to keep us up to date with his progress. Malin has to sell up. 1st July: UK Super Pro ET racer Gary Malin has had to put his Serious Playtime dragster up for sale for medical reasons. Gary recently suffered a brain haemorrhage and although it sounds to us as if he is bouncing back admirably, he has had to make the decision to stop racing. "I was sitting with Lin then suddenly thought who hit me with the sledge!", says Gary. "Lin very promptly took me to A&E, for which I was very grateful considering that fifty per cent die on the spot and eighty per cent don't make A&E - a bit close for comfort. I am still on medication and have been instructed to take it easy, and that includes no work, by my nonsultant neurosurgeon Mr Maurice Williams who is a top consultant in his field along with the team of people who took care of me. "First of all they decided to use neuro radio surgery which meant going in through my groin all the way to the brain and implanting platinum coils to effect a cure. Unfortunately this operation failed on the Thursday, resulting in open major brain surgery for the Monday. I have nicknamed my neuro consultant the "Black and Decker" man - he certainly had some good tools in his bag. And I have a Frankenstein scar to prove that he had a handy bit of kit! "We did of course try to research what would have caused all of this, there are a few theories to try and make sense of, and all have to be considered and taken seriously. I have been advised to minimise future risk by the people who know best. This is exactly the code I will follow - you can't sod about with headaches this bad, and the "Black and Decker" man scares me! "We have therefore decided to call it a day as far as drag racing is concerned. The dragster is for sale now, rolling or turnkey, with trailer. People interested can contact me at alkyRail@aol.com. This is a winning car! Not an easy choice to make, but a wise one. "I would like to thank everyone for the Get Well cards, E-Mails and calls." Earlier news

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