For less than UK£1 a week, we'll design and host your team's web site. For more details, email webmaster@eurodragster.com Sorry, offer only available to bona fide European drag racing teams
Drag Racing Clubs: let us know your event dates and we'll advertise them here - FREE!
PBR Top Fuel Bike team disbands. 31st August: Top Fuel Bike team owner Phil Baimbridge has decided to disband his Top Fuel Bike
operation. Phil writes:
"I have given the matter of my future involvement in Drag Racing a lot of thought over the past few months.
Taking account of recent events, combined with growing personal and work commitments I have decided to disband the
PBR Fuel Bike team.
"It would take too long to list all the people who merit mention for the help they have provided over the
last fifteen years, but here are some of the notables: Nigel Batsford; Dave Burlow (Dave Burlow Engineering);
Pete Goodgame; Chris Hampson; Wilf "the tow" Hathaway; Ade "the push" Hemmings; Roy Kennard; Alan Roberts (Fearnley
Engineering); The Trett Family; Steve Woollatt
"And, of course, Teresa, family and friends who have always supported me.
"I sincerely hope the sport of Drag Racing and particularly my own passion, Fuel Bikes, prosper in the future."
Everyone at Eurodragster wishes Phil, Teresa and the rest of the PBR team the very best for the future.
Top Fuel, Pro Mod at Sunday's RWYB. 31st August: Swedish Top Fuel Dragster candidate Tommy Moller will be at this Sunday's Run What You
Brung at Santa Pod Raceway, putting in his final licencing passes in the ex-Peter Lantz Top Fueller, which he
recently purchased together with Kenneth Lorenzon. Tommy has entered next week's FIA European Finals but has so far
only completed in the first of three mandatory licencing passes, so Top Fuel fans should see a half-pass and a full pass on
Sunday if Tommy completes his licence.
We also understand that Gordon Appleton is planning to test his Pro Mod on Sunday.
Entry to the RWYB on Sunday is £8; a further £10 and the production of a valid DVLC driving licence
(Competition licences are not valid for RWYBs) will get you as many passes down the track as you can fit in. Gates are
open at 9:00 am and the strip is usually open by 10:00 am. For more details see the Run What You Brung page on
Santa Pod Raceway's web site at www.santapod.com.
Eurodragster.com will be reporting live from the RWYB on Sunday.
Latest Finals entry list. 31st August: We've just posted the very latest version of the entry list for the FIA European
Finals. As mentioned yesterday the Top Fuel Dragster entry is now up to seven, and the FIM class entries have
gone up with Supertwin Top Fuel notable. You can find the Finals entry list on the Next Event page
of Santa Pod's web site at www.santapod.com.
Fuel sale. 31st August: Fuel distributors JFDI are having an end-season sale. Mike Kason writes:
"As advertised in the Eurodragster Swap Meet, we are pleased to announce an
end of season clearout sale on 110 octane leaded 76 racing fuel at a price of £6.70 per gallon. There is a limited
supply and it is available for collection from North London. This is barrelled first-quality racing fuel and represents
a saving to racers of almost fifty per cent. So purchase your fuel early for the finals at SPR. Contact Mike Kason on
0589 733833."
Web site updates. 31st August: Swedish Top Fuel Tour Champion Peter Lantz's web site has been updated with
news and final Top Fuel Tour points standings. Check it out at www.plr.nu.
The latest Custom Car Street Eliminator Points Standings are now available on the FB Racing
website at www.fbracing.co.uk. Ian Hook's race report
will follow shortly, along with all the latest news from the world of 'Street Legal Pro-Mods'.
UK Super Comp team Phil Bennett Racing have updated their web site at
www.supercomp323.8k.com with a report from
Super Series 4 and new photographs.
Turners win MSA Championship. 29th August: Congratulations to Rob Turner, Crew Chief Steve Turner and the
Turner Racing team on their victory in the 2000 MSA Top Methanol
Championship. The final round of the Championship, at Super Series 4, was drama-filled as Dave Wilson and Team Nemesis
came to Shakespeare County Raceway with the Championship lead and qualified first, only to go out in round one as the
clutch blew on the Nemesis TMD and didn't get to the finish line. The Championship then depended upon the outcome of
Rob's next two races, which he won.
You can stay in touch with developments in the Turner Racing camp on their web site at
www.turnerracing.com.
Lantz wins Tour after Öberg victory. 29th August: More congratulations, this time to retiring Top Fuel racer
Peter Lantz who won his second
consecutive Swedish Top Fuel Tour Championship after his runner-up place in this weekend's race at Malmö.
Congratulations also to also-retiring racer Monica Öberg who won this
weekend's event. Peter Lantz's webmaster Lars-Åke Henriksson takes up the story:
"In the first round Peter didn't give Alan Jackson a chance by stopping the clock at 3.45/373 km/h. In the second pair,
Monica took an easy victory when Pelle smoked the tires off the line. The third place race between Pelle and Alan was an
easy win for Alan when Pelle left the start line in a cloud of smoke for the second time that afternoon.
"The final was a thriller and the crowd loved it. After two long burnouts they finally backed up and staged. Monica
was out of the hole first and Peter really tried to get round but had to see Monica cross the line first. It was a really
close race. Monica recorded 3.69/320 km/h to Peter's quicker 3.68/368 km/h.
"So was Peter a true gentleman and let Monica take the win in her last race? No, I don't think so!"
Tributes to Dave Grady. 29th August: We have received more tributes to Super Gas leading light Dave Grady, who died
last week.
Fuel tuner Jon Wright and his wife Lesley write: "Dave Grady was a really special person and we would not
have had the Super Gas class introduced in England if it wasn't for him. Along with Graham Beckwith, Mark Flavell,
Mick Bettison and others, he formed the G Force - Super Gas Drag Racers Association - around 1980 and started
running the class at York Dragway. Amongst much turmoil between the clubs they stage-managed a
Championship which ran across all three tracks with everything equal, fair
and square for all the racers that took part. This really was the forerunner
to the whole National Championship system in UK Drag Racing. He was so
involved back then and brought much sponsorship, publicity and exposure to
the sport, not only for York but for all tracks. He also gave us racers a
lot of laughs along the way and really made competitive racing fun. We've
already missed him from the sport now we shall miss him from our lives."
Fuel and Top Methanol racer Smax Smith writes: "What a shock! The Anthill Mob drag racing team and I have known
Dave for over twenty five years. Back in the good old days of York Dragway when he had the coolest High Spirits with
the plate BAD4U and we raced a collection of dustbins, before hitting his favourite haunt - the Damn Yankee. What
a weird year, losing Chris Hampson and Maz Harris, but all left this dirtball doing the things they
loved."
Semcon Drag Finals preview. 29th August: Our good friends at Svensk Dragracing have
updated their web site with a preview of this weekend's Semcon Drag Finals at Mantorp Park, which is the
final round of the Nordic Drag Racing Series. Not only that, but there are Pro Mod and Pro Stock shoot-outs,
a decider between the NDRS Pro Mod and NPSC Super Pro Mod Champions, and much more (if anyone would like to
sponsor the Eurodragster staff on a freebie to Mantorp then you know our e-mail address - Ed).
The Nordic Drag Racing Series is again very close in a lot of classes, particularly Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street
and Junior Dragster. "I don't know if I will be able to commentate the race without losing my
voice this weekend!", says Christer Abrahamson of Svensk Dragracing. "I am going to
be so excited!"
The Semcon Drag Finals preview is now showing on the Svensk Dragracing web site at
www.dragracing.se.
FHRA moves house. 29th August: The Finnish Hot Rod Association has moved HQs and so their address and
phone numbers have changed. The FHRA is now located at:
FHRA
Sahaajankatu 27
FIN-00810 Helsinki
FINLAND
Telephone +358-9-2515 250
Fax +358-9-2515 2515
The old telephone numbers now reply with a message giving the new numbers.
Last chance to join the crew! 22nd August: Entry closes at midnight (European time) tonight in our contest to become a crew
member of the Malmgren Racing Pro Stock team for a day at the FIA European Finals. All you have to
do is to answer three easy questions. Click here for details and to enter, or click on
the Malmgren Racing Contest link on the left hand side of any Eurodragster page.
Web site updates. 29th August: Dutch Top Methanol Funny Car racer Lex Joon has updated the News
page of his web site with a report from the Nitro Olympics at Hockenheim, where his participation in the Top Methanol
Cannonball was eventful to say the least. You can find Lex Joon's web site at
www.eurodragster.com/lexjoonracing.
The DTE Racing web site at www.dteracing.com has been updated with a
report and pictures from this weekend's Nordic Pro Street Cup event at Thulin Raceway.
The Top Fuel UK web site is to be closed down. The TFUK team tell us that they are
to go their separate ways since they do not have the time to maintain the site. The pictures and videos used
on TFUK are, of course, available on the web sites from which they were sourced.
Join Dave on his 'Last Ride Out' on Friday 1st September 2000. From his home by the Owston Park Lodge Public House off the A19,
South towards Doncaster, Junction 34 off the M62.
Departing 12.30, to arrive at St Benedict's, Garforth for 1.00pm. All 'Show & Go' vehicles welcome. Lifts can be arranged, please
phone 01422 843651, and also phone this number for any further details or help with arrangements.
Top Fuel Tour latest. 26th August: Thanks to Stefan Boman for keeping us up to date with the latest on the Top Fuel
Tour's final round at Landskrona.
"Everyone went up in smoke directly from the line, and the eighth-mile ETs would hardly get you in the field in Pro Stock over the quarter mile",
says Stefan. "The qualifying order was: 1. Monica Öberg, 2. Alan Jackson, 3. Peter Lantz, 4. Pelle Lindelöw".
We hope to bring you news of tomorrow's eliminations, stay tuned.
Web site updates. 25th August: The web site of Custom Car Street Eliminator and Pro-ET racer Ian Hook has been
updated. Latest positions for the various special awards are now up to date. These include "Fastest Street Car" (V8s r Us)
and "Most Improved" (Robinson Race Cars). There are also details of some of the many new cars appearing/being built for
the rapidly expanding Street Eliminator Series. Check it out on www.fbracing.co.uk.
Finally FB Racing would like to offer their thanks to the Mid-West American Car Club for their hospitality during last
weekends American Car Show at Cheltenham Racecourse. A good time was had by all!
The Fantasy Drag Racing Championship at www.fantasy-sports-web.com has been
updated following the Nitro Olympics at Hockenheim. With Roger Petterson and Rob Van Geffen both in dominant form, those
who selected them did particularly well. Spencer Tramm has an eleven-point lead from Sharkman and Andy Marrs. There are
still a number of races left in this season's competition, and another is planned for the Australian season which starts in
November.
Top Fuel Tour farewell for Monica and Peter. 24th August: The 2000 Swedish Top Fuel Tour ends at
the Big Drag Nats at
Landskrona this weekend, and with it the distinguished twenty-year racing careers of two of Europe's most popular Top Fuel Dragster drivers:
Monica Öberg and Peter Lantz, both of whom are retiring from racing after Sunday's eliminations.
Reigning Top Fuel Tour Champion Peter Lantz has an all-but unassailable lead in the 2000 Championship: in fact, he has
yet to lose a round of racing since the Top Fuel Tour started in 1999. Monica Öberg
will want to go out on a
winning note and also gain revenge over Peter after he won the last TFT round, at Tullinge, by overtaking her right on
the finish line.
The second, third and fourth TFT places are by no means set, with the UK's Alan Jackson only thirty points
in front of Monica in second place, and Pelle Lindelow looking to tune his fast-improving combination still
further.
Obviously both racers can't win this weekend, but everyone at Eurodragster would like to say good luck to both Monica and
Peter, and many thanks for all of the pleasure and excitement we've had from watching them race over the years.
You can find more details on the Top Fuel Tour on the official web site at
www.topfueltour.com, and more details on the Big Drag Nats on
the SHRA Malmö web site at www.shra-malmoe.com.
Ozzy's FAST weekend. 23rd August: Our good friend Ozzy Ewing, who is a member of the APIRA Tech Crew at Shakespeare
County Raceway, spent last weekend at Hockenheim as an honorary member of the FAST Team, SCR's safety crew who
always officiate at the Nitro Olympics. Ozzy's experiences have obviously had a deep effect upon him, as he writes:
"FAST will be ready and prepared for the NITRO cars at Super Series 4, and anybody who says otherwise should
have been at Hockenheim.
"As an honourary FAST member the annual trip to Hockenheim for the 2000 Nitro Olympics was going to be more than a
memorable occasion. My normal job of tech crew was replaced by track spotter between start line and the 1/8th so
issued with my radio and instructions I set off to take up my position.
"I know Drag Racing is exciting but when you get to stand a couple of feet away from a Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Cars
there's no other experience in the world like it. You don't hear these cars, you just feel them shaking you to bits as
they thunder past, and then you have to remember to check the track for any debris or oil. My collection of trophies
now includes a belt, piece of sprocket, various bolts, a fuel filler cap of a Fuel Harley, a piece of a blower belt of
a Funny Car, and oil-covered boots from a Top Fuel Dragster.
"Over the weekend I got first-hand working knowledge of what FAST do and how they do it. All I can say is FAST run a
very professional crew covering all eventualities in a controlled and precise manner. I even got to help on oil downs
until the early hours thanks to Fred Farndon and his ever-leaking Top Fuel engine. What I saw over the weekend has
really given me a new perspective of the service that FAST provide to the sport of Drag Racing, and I have to say they
are clearly the best Safety Crew outside of the States. For me this is one experience that I will not forget and
I will probably still talk about until they take me back next year!"
You can find more details on the activities of the FAST Team by clicking on the FAST logo on the APIRA web site at
www.eurodragster.com/apira.
The Tokyo Toy is back! 23rd August: UK drag racing fans of more than a few years' standing will remember the
Tokyo Toy Toyota, which was driven by Steve Dunn. We have received the very welcome news that the Tokyo Toy
team is back on track. Jon Evans writes:
"Three years after the unfortunate demise of the original Tokyo Toy Super ET Celica, we (Steve Dunn and
Jon Evans) are now, at long last, back on track with a brand new car - bigger, better and quicker than before. It is
another Toyota Celica, but this time with a full Andy Robinson Race Cars tube chassis underneath, and a 454 LS6
big block. Fresh out of Martin Curbishley's paint shop last weekend, the first outing was at the Ultimate
Street Car event at Santa Pod, where it ran an arrow-straight 10.68/127 on only its second pass down the 1/4 mile,
immediately running quicker than we had dared to hope it would. We're now really looking forward to joining in
the Pro ET wars at Super Series 4 this weekend, and for the rest of the season."
FIM points posted. 23rd August: The latest (post-Hockenheim) standings in the FIM Drag Bike Championhsips are
now available via the FIM Championship button on the King Racing web site at
www.kingracing.com.
Web site updates. 23rd August: Swedish Top Methanol FC racer Leif Andreasson's web site has been updated with a
number of news items, and an updated Photo Gallery. "I apologise to our fans for not having updated our site in proper order during the
Mantorp/Gardemoen sweep this summer", says crew member and webmaster Anders Magnusson. "I hope to compensate for this with new interesting stories and lots of new pictures
from this season in Europe - and soon also from the USA including pics of Leif when he drove the Nascar. Stay tuned, we are going to make a web-drive for the finals at the Pod!". You
can find the Andreasson Motorsports web site at www.andreassonmotorsports.com.
Fellow Swedish TMFC racer Micke Kågered has updated his web site with a report and pictures from Hockenheim. Check it out and keep an eye open for one of the more
unusual sponsor's gifts that we've seen. The Kågered Racing web site can be found at www.kagered-racing.com.
Swedish Pro Street News Magazine webmaster Hasse has kept his promise by posting another large batch of pictures from Tullinge on his web site at
www.swedishprostreetnews.com. Hasse also tells us that he has a contact in search of a Pro Mod or Comp Eliminator car,
potential vendors can mail him at info@swedishprostreetnews.com.
The entry is massive with something for everyone from Top Fuel Dragster, Fuel Funny Car, Fuel Altered and
Top Methanol to the usual large complement of Sportsman racers, the Wild Bunch, Outlaw Anglia, Custom Car
Street Eliminator, National Association of Supertwin classes, and of course the Fireforce Jet Funny Car team.
You really should not miss this one! Ticket and other details are of course available on the Super Series
web site.
Danish National results. 22nd August: Our good buddy Tommy Nilsson has updated his European Drag Racing Database with
full qualifying and elimination results from the weekend's Danish Nationals at Vandel. Check it out at
www.eurodrag.com.
Can't afford a Junior Dragster? 22nd August: If you can't afford a Junior Dragster then there is an option open to you,
at least in Sweden: as long as you are sixteen years old then you could pick up a second-hand car and
go ET racing. Tomas Lindblad is one such racer, and he takes up the story.
"I run a Toyota according to ET racing rules in Bracket or ET Racing classes. I'm sixteen years old and earned my
licence this year: I'm the only racer in Sweden of my age with a licence for a full-sized race car, the other juniors
drive Junior Dragsters. I am not allowed to run quicker than 16.00 seconds on the quarter mile and 10.50 seconds on
the eighth mile. My best so far has been 17.400, which is about 11.00 seconds over the eighth, so I am not far behind
the Junior Dragsters. My Toyota cost me at the most 2000 Swedish Kroner, which is very cheap compared to some
Junior Dragsters."
Tomas and his father are very keen to hear from, and to help, anyone who may be interested. If you would like to
talk to Tomas then his e-mail address is
tomas_lindblad@hotmail.com.
Web site updates. 22nd August: The web site of UK Fuel Funny Car team Showtime Racing has been updated with the
latest news from the Showtime camp as they prepare to race at Super Series 4 this weekend, and some additions to the
Parts For Sale page. The Showtime Racing site can be found at
www.showtimeracing.co.uk.
Santa Pod Raceway's web site at www.santapod.com has been updated with this year's
TV coverage schedules, and the latest additions to the FIA Finals entry list.
One week left to join the crew! 22nd August: Entry closes next Tuesday in our contest to become a crew
member of the Malmgren Racing Pro Stock team for a day at the FIA European Finals. All you have to
do is to answer three easy questions. Click here for details and to enter, or click on
the Malmgren Racing Contest link on the left hand side of any Eurodragster page.
"Everybody in the team has to dig deep in their pockets for travel money", said Pelle. "But on the other
hand we've had a pretty good and healthy season so far - not at all like last year - so we think that we can afford it. We
have almost given up hope for the FIA title this year so that was not the incentive for the trip. We know that we
have a chance to run really well at the Pod if they prepare the track as well as they usually do. We are also looking
forward meeting all the fans, fellow racers and friends we've made at Santa Pod over the years"
Pelle knows that it will not be easy to win Top Fuel at the Finals but he has grounds for optimism. "I'm sure
that the 'new' competitors in Top Fuel will do their best to push us old-timers out of the ladder, but we will do
everything we can to be one of the two teams in the Final on Sunday afternoon", he said. "Our best run so
far this season, 5.15 in Piteå, is still not the best that this car can perform. We know that there is a 4.9
in the set-up, that's been proven."
Pelle is also bringing some back-up in the hunt for victory. "We have contracted Monica Öberg's Crew Chief
Dan Söderberg for this race, so we will come armed to the teeth!"
You can stay in touch with the latest from Pelle Lindelöw and the team on his web site at
www.pgracing.nu.
Finals entry on-line. 21st August: The official entry list for the FIA European Finals is now available by clicking on
the Next Event button on Santa Pod Raceway's web site at www.santapod.com.
The list shows a healthy entry with Pro Mod particularly noteworthy. Thanks to Paula Marshall at Santa Pod Racers
Club for supplying the entry list.
Although entry is now officially closed, we understand that a number of additional entries are expected and the entry list
on the SPR web site will be updated as and when amendments arrive.
Last Hockenheim report. 21st August: We have now posted the last update from the Nitro Olympics at Hockenheim, which
includes the final results in most classes. You can read the update by
clicking here, or via the Race coverage link on the left
hand side of any page on Eurodragster. The official Nitro Olympics web site is available at
www.nitrolympics.de.
Many thanks to Jerry Cookson and Ozzy Ewing of APIRA for keeping us informed.
Zane: it all went a bit wrong. 21st August: UK Super Comp racer Zane Llewellyn has
returned home early from his Scandinavian tour after hitting a number of problems.
"We had a number of fairly big upsets during our tour this year", says Zane. "My new phone didn't work,
hence the lack of reports (in the light of what follows, we'll let you off Zane - Ed). Wendy, my wife and No.2
crewchief injured her knee and had to be flown home for an emergency operation. We were plagued with rollout/chassis
reaction problems resulting in LOADS of red lights. My old faithful thirteen-year-old 460 let a rod go in the second
round at the Night Race at Alastaro. Then we had to drive all the way to Germany to get an earlier ferry after not
being able to race in Denmark this weekend. Other than that, we had a great time!"
Everyone at Eurodragster sends Wendy their very best wishes for a rapid recovery. Zane will be publishing more
of his tour diary on his web site at
www.bootsoop.freeserve.co.uk.
UK National and Super Series points. 21st August: The latest (post-Super Series 3) standings in the UK National Drag Racing Championships
are now available on our Points standings page.
The latest standings in the Super Series are now also available via the Results page of the Super Series web site
at www.eurodragster.com/superseries.
Thanks to Yvonne Tramm, Simon Groves and Spencer Tramm for supplying the points to us.
Web site updates. 21st August: Swedish Super Pro Street and Super Small Block team DTE Racing have updated their
web site at www.dteracing.com with the latest news and a whole bunch of
new pictures.
Andy Holden has posted a number of his drag racing photographs on his web site at
www.holten.demon.co.uk/Drag. Of particular interest are photographs
from York Dragway (UK) back in the days when it was called Melbourne, but there are also pictures from NHRA races
with the promise of more to come.
Nitro Olympics coverage. 20th August: The official Nitro Olympics web site is now being updated
with qualifying and elimination details from Hockenheim, and pictures and the first movie have also been
added. Check it out at www.nitrolympics.de.
Also, Eurodragster's guest reporters Jerry Cookson and Ozzy Ewing
are reporting for us from the Nitro Olympics, quite some feat since they
are also working at the race. Thanks guys! Click
here to see their reports, which you can also reach from the Race coverage link
on the left hand side of any Eurodragster page. A brief report of Saturday's events is now in place. Jerry and
Ozzy will be reporting in with a report on eliminations at the end of the day.
Juniors feature on UK TV. 20th August: UK Junior Drag Racing is featured on BBC1's Xchange programme tomorrow
morning (Monday 21st). The programme runs from 9.25 am to 9.55. Filming took place at the recent Super Series 3
at Shakespeare County Raceway. As well as interviews and race action, the coverage is expected to feature in-car
footage taken on board Katie Gibbs' Junior Modified Dragster. We suggest that watching parents have their
cheque books ready!
Gordon will be joined in Pro Mod at Super Series 4 by Bill Weston.
More Super Series 4 news. 18th August: Terry Gibbs of Obsession Motorsports informs us that he has arranged for lighting
in the pits at next weekend's race. "It's to assist racers arriving late in the evening", he says, "the
entry is huge and so the lighting will help us to ensure that everyone gets their allocated pit space whever they
arrive. We have extended the pits, but we still need the fullest co-operation from everyone. Please help us to help
you by following the directions of pit marshals and being considerate to your fellow racers when pitting."
Terry also tells us that Super Series 4 is to be televised. An Outside Broadcast unit will be in attendance, and the
race will be shown stand-alone (rather than as part of a general motorsports programme) on Sky Sports. As well as
on-track action the TV crew will be conducting interviews in the pits. "This is your chance to impress - make sure
that your vehicles are well turned-out and that you wear your team uniforms!" says Terry.
Last but by no means least, we hear that there may well be a Fuel Altered at Super Series 4 in the shape of Jim
Seward's Harry The Spider. That's not all though - Terry Gibbs tells
us that a deal is in the works to bring two (and maybe even four) US Fuel Altereds to Shakespeare County Raceway next
year to do battle with UK Fuel Altereds at a Super Series event. We will of course bring you more on this story as it
develops.
Lantz's incredible pedalling job. 18th August: Swedish Top Fuel racer Peter Lantz's web site has
been updated with the latest points standings in the Swedish Top Fuel Tour, and three great video clips from the
1999 season, provided by Nils Malmhäll and processed for the Net by Ulf Mårtensson.
One particularly dramatic video clip is of Peter's huge wheelie at Pite Dragway last year; it can be seen from the
video just how incredible a double-pedalling job Peter did to get the car down safely - then he naturally puts his foot
straight back in, only for a front tyre to deflate at the Top End (and you can clearly see the point at which that
happens in the video, too). The other new video clips feature a burnout, and a great clip of the engine starting
which just begs for your speakers' volume to be turned up to eleven. Check it out at
www.plr.nu.
Jets in action this weekend. 18th August: UK Jet fans who fancy a fix have a choice of venues this weekend. Roger Goring will be
appearing with his Firestorm Jet Funny Car at the Street Machine/UK Street Racers Sunday at North Weald Airfield on
Sunday. For more details of events at North Weald check out the UK Street Racers web site at
www.ukstreetracers.com or call 01932 228350.
Meanwhile Martin Hill and Tony Baker will be appearing in their Fireforce
Jet FCs at the Ultimate Street Car event at Santa Pod. More details on this event at the USC web site at
www.ultimatestreetcar.co.uk.
Web site updates. 18th August: The European Drag Racing Database at www.eurodrag.com
has had a mega-update with FIA and FIM points standings, new Comp Eliminator indexes, and a new batch of historical
results including a season's worth from Santa Pod Raceway in 1997.
The Swedish Pro Street News magazine at
www.swedishprostreetnews.com has been updated with some new
photographs from Tullinge. "Now I only have 150 more pictures from Tullinge to post", says webmaster Hasse whose
birthday it is today! Happy Birthday, Hasse!
In the Super Series 4 news above, we mentioned Jim Seward and his Harry The Spider Fuel Altered; Jim has updated the
HTS web site at www.geocities.com/hts_racing with a report on his
outings at last weekend's Bulldog Bash.
FIA/NDRS points posted. 17th August: Our good friends at Svensk Dragracing have
updated their web site with the latest points standings in the FIA European Championships and the Nordic Drag Racing
Series.
The last NDRS round, last weekend's Night Race at Alastaro, also had a points issue. "The race was scheduled to
run during Saturday night, but rain stopped it. So they ran it Sunday night instead", explained Christer
Abrahamsson of Svensk Dragracing. Christer went on to explain that several racers had ferry tickets for Sunday
and so had to leave the track before eliminations continued. There is an explanation of how the points for this race
were determined on the Svensk Dragracing home page at www.dragracing.se,
together with a preview of the coming dual-race weekend.
ACU points posted. 17th August: Also on the subject of points, the latest (post-Super Series 3) points standings in
the ACU UK Drag Bike Championships are now available on the King Racing web site at
www.kingracing.com.
Mid West tally grows. 17th August: The roll of drag racers appearing at this weekend's Mid West American Auto Club Show at
Cheltenham Racecourse is getting longer and longer. Organiser Les Sanderson tells us:
"Many thanks to 'Crazy' Chris Hartnell, we have at least five Wild Bunch cars
coming to Cheltenham. Also the full Shell Oils team (both Top Methanol Dragsters and the Junior Dragster), Team Top
Banana are bringing two cars, FB Racing; Andy Williams is bringing his Roadster - he hasn't got his bits through yet,
so I said bring the broken bits and BEG! Bob Lees and Neil Grant will be there, as will Dave Baldwin, at the last
meeting I did see Timmy Hines trying to persuade Mick Cheley to come. Now I know Mick likes to party, and that's what
the Mid-West is all about - have fun with your car and party. There are also at least five other cars from different
classes, we want to show the diversity clases.
"If anyone wants to promote their sponsor but can't get to the event, we are producing 500 goody bags to
distribute to exhibitors. If anyone wants to send me anything to put in these bags, I will be happy to do it."
You can get full details on the Mid West Show on the Club web site at
www.mid-west.co.uk.
Pro Stock contest: keep 'em coming. 17th August: Entries are coming in thick and fast for our Pro Stock contest, announced on
Tuesday, the prize for which is the chance to become a crew member of the Malmgren Racing Pro Stock team for a day
at the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway. The answers to three simple (honest) questions could win you this chance
of a lifetime. Click here for details and to enter, or click on the Malmgren Racing
Contest link on the left hand side of any Eurodragster page.
The Eurodragster team would like to say a big Thank You to our friends at the Svensk
Dragracing and UK1320 web sites for plugging this contest on their
pages.
SS4/FIA Finals entry closing. 16th August: A final reminder that entry to Super Series 4 at Shakespeare County Raceway and
the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway are both closing imminently, so be sure to get that paperwork in if
you want to be sure of competing at these events! The entry secretaries of both events are willing to fax out entry
forms to make things easier.
Enquiries about Super Series 4 entry should be addressed to Wendy Talbot of APIRA on 01986 788114 (from outside the UK
+44 1986 788114), and enquiries about the FIA Finals should be addressed to Paula Marshall at SPRC on
01933 313625 (from outside the UK +44 1933 313625).
UK ET Racers Association re-organises. 16th August: The UK ET Racers Association has been reorganised. Committee member and
Super Street racer Anne Peck writes:
"The ETRA has been reorganised to form the Sportsman Racers Association, which encompasses the three
Super classes as well as the bracket classes, so that all Sportsman racers are included. A newsletter is out
at long last which explains this re-organisation. One of our aims this year is to produce a Sportsman Racers'
Register, along the lines of the ET Racers' Register which was last issued about 6 years ago! We will be giving
out forms to complete at the next two meetings, and one has gone out with the newsletter. The Committee of the
SRA currently consists of myself, Carla Pittau, Ian Turnbull and Paul Marston, and we desperately need more people
so volunteers would be welcome! Please come and see any one of us at the track if you are interested."
Web site updates. 16th August: Dutch Top Methanol Funny Car racer Lex Joon has updated the News page
of his web site with a preview of this weekend's Nitro Olympics at Hockenheim, at which he will be competing in the
Top Methanol 'Cannonball'. Check it out at www.eurodragster.com/lexjoonracing
Swiss Top Methanol Funny Car racer Dezsoe Krivan has given his web site a makeover. The site features news,
photo gallery, team run-down, links, and more. You can find Dezsoe's web site at
www.dragracing.ch.
"Friday was a busy day for a change at the Bash these days with over 500 pairs of vehicles running down the strip.
Events of note for the day began with Cooky (Nigel Cook - Ed) parting company with his beautifully
prepared Funny Bike after a terrifying looking tank slapper at about the 1/8th mile mark at over 100 mph. This was
followed by a tyre shaking run for Mickey Moore resulting in a very expensive looking meeting wih the armco about 100
feet out from the line leaving Mickey and his crew with a severely bent chassis. Demos for the day also included a
spectacular launch from Smax, with the Mainline Menace Fuel car lifting the front wheels from the line before tyre
shake forced him to shut off just after the 60 foot lights. Racing for the day closed with an awesome display of Martin
Hill and Tony Baker running side by side in the Fireforce Jet Funnycars (well it might have been closer if Tony hadn't
fallen asleep on the line!).
"Sunday demos were brought to a premature close in the first session when an oil line let go on the Mainline
Menace as Smax left the start line causing the car to turn hard left under full power and go nose first into the
barrier at around 70 mph before spinning around and coming to rest against the opposite barrier just in front of the
grandstand where an unhurt Smax immediately appeared through the roof hatch to take a bow to the crowd.
Damage to the car was extensive with a badly damaged body and bent chassis & wheelie bars. As Smax is off to Canada
on holiday on Tuesday it is not known at this time if the car can be repaired in time for Super Series 4.
"Demos were closed for the day at 6 o'clock by a second side by side run for the two Fireforce Jet cars this time with
Tony managing to holeshot Martin but unfortunately not being able to better Martin's 6.2/258 mph run.
"For those of you interested in reading about the rest of the event, a full report can be read on the Biker's Web site
at www.bikersweb.co.uk."
Thanks very much, Simon.
Alastaro Night Race results. 14th August: The official web site of the Finnish Hot Rod Association has been updated with
full qualifying and elimination results of this weekend's Night Race, one of the most popular races in the Finnish
calendar. You can get to the results by going to the FHRA site at www.fhra.fi and
then clicking on Tapahtumat & Tulokset.
PDRC Northern Nationals report. 14th August: It must be the month for updates from APIRA, as
APIRA's Press Officer Jerry Cookson
kindly sent this report of the PDRC Northern Nationals which took place at
York Dragway this weekend.
"With York Dragway celebrating 25 years of active competition with the PDRC
Northern Nationals, jet jockey Roger Goring put in some more low speed
check out passes in the 'Firestorm' Pontiac Firebird Funny Car. After some
initial fuel delivery gremlins earlier in the day, Roger lit the blue touch
paper and set the track alight with a thundering eighth-mile speed of
183.29 mph in 4.403 seconds.
"In the Pro Drag display, Steve Green powered his Ampar-supported Rover
assisted Cortina to a day's best of 8.973/154 mph to the appreciation of the
many northern drag fans.
"The Wild Bunch 'On Tour' event fell to the 460ci big block Ford slingshot
dragster of Pete Loveridge, from Clayton Round's 'Shortshot' Fiat Topolino.
Although the drivers elected to run over the eighth mile, the 'Crazy one'
Chris Hartnell put in a storming 9.6 run over the quarter on Saturday.
Best reaction time went to Tony Smith in the 'Cunning Plan' Minivan.
"In eliminations, the hotly-contested Street Shootout went to
defending PDRC Points Champion Dave Rushforth with consistent mid fourteen
second runs from his road legal Mustang over Steve Gilmore's Ford 100E.
The final for the Pro Shootout bracket was all about startline reactions
as Dave 'Tig' Napier stole the win from Paul Hudson's Camaro by virtue of a
quicker reaction time of .588 to .601, 12.77/103 to 12.919/104.
"The final of the north of England's true street racer series coupled the
Chevy powered Cortina of John 'Moose' Hollingworth against the Model B
Coupe of Steve Neimantas. But the race was won on the
startline when Neimantas pulled a cherry, 11.50/123 to 10.21/132.
"Saturday's results included another popular win for Pro ET star Dave
Billadeau. Dave pushed his mighty Plymouth GTX past twenty other entries in
the tracks 'Big Bracket' over the Hemi Cuda of Derek Gregson 10.94/123 to
11.31/120.
Thanks very much, Jerry.
On-sale Super Gasser in seaside trip. 14th August: UK Super Gas racer Shaun Saunders has put his Datsun 240Z Super Gasser for sale on
our Swap Meet section.
"I have raced the Datsun for five years both in the USA and here, I just fancy a change" Shaun told us.
"If I don't get a serious response then I am going to ship it back to the states where I might run at a few
events in California and Arizona. I am often in the States so if something comes along at the right price then I
might purchase it".
Shuan has one more date lined up with the Datsun. "I am running the car at the Brighton Speed Trials this year,
on Saturday September 9th. It's a pity that it clashes with the European Finals as I would prefer to race there.
I have tried to get my name on the Fastest Time of Day trophy many times without success, so fingers crossed for
this year!"
If you are interested in buying a proven Super Gasser then check out Shaun's advertisement in our
Swap Meet section, and don't forget that you can place your own classified ad there
at no charge.
Beck rides out at Indy. 14th August: The UK's Dave Beck was back in USA Competition this weekend at the AMA/Prostar
Pingle Thunder Nationals at Indy. Dave qualified fifth in Funny Bike at 7.116/185.14, won round one against
Bob Bodven 7.183/180.90 to 7.271/177.54 before going out to Bryan Bennett in round two, Bryan's 6.854/198.45
too good for Dave's 7.845/126.08.
Ultimate Street Car 2000. 14th August: This weekend (18th-20th August) sees the annual Ultimate Street Car event at Santa Pod
Raceway. Over to Trakbak Racing's Ed Titheridge:
"What's got 20,000 legs, drinks 60000 cans of lager,
uses 9,000 rolls of loo paper and knows how to party? Answer - Ultimate
Street Car 2000. You can Run What Ya Brung on the quarter mile drag strip,
or watch Martin Hill hit 200mph in under 7 seconds in his Jet Car!
Check out our burn out arena, show n shine competition, helicopter
rides, fun fair, Miss Ultimate Street Car (offering £400 and a Fast
Car photo shoot to the winner), and Miss Moneypennys marquee including
the gorgeous Lisa Pinup and legendary Alex P. So go and spread the
word, Ultimate Street Car 18-20 August 2K at Santa Pod Raceway (Nr Jct
14, M1). Where else can you get all this and camping for only £25?"
Hockenheim entry list on-line. 14th August: With only a few days to go to the Nitro Olympics at Hockenheim, which
take place this Friday to Sunday (18th-20th August), the entry list is available at the Nitro Olympics web site at
www.nitrolympics.de, although be aware that you will need
Acrobat Reader to be able to view it.
The Nitro Olympics is one of Europe's biggest drag races and this year features the return of the Europe v USA
Top Fuel match race including the return of Gordie Bonin to the driving seat of a Top Fueller, a Top Methanol
'Cannonball', a round of the FIM European Drag Bike Championships, the second round of the informal European Super
Street Bike Series, and much more including the Nitro Olympics' famed Saturday Night Show.
We hope to be able to bring you updates from Hockenheim; stay tuned for more details. In the meantime you can
read all about the Nitro Olympics either at www.nitrolympics.de or
www.dragster.de (which requires Flash).
Web site updates. 14th August: Norwegian Super Comp racer Linda Rønning has upped sticks and moved web
sites. You can now find Linda featured on her sponsor's web site at
www.simlane.com.
The Fantasy Drag Racing Competition at
www.fantasy-sports-web.com has been
updated with the results from Super Series 3 and the Sko Uno Drag Festival.
Spencer Tramm is out in front with his Quantum Leap team, closely
followed by Eurodragster staffer Sharkman and Andy Marrs. A new
feature of the site is an updated Links Page, where you can now post a
link to your own web site, under a list of categories - this can be accessed at
www.fantasy-sports-web.com/asp/links.asp.
We've had so much news in August that the News page was beginning to take a very long time to load! We have
therefore broken up August's news into two parts. For European Drag Racing News from August 1st-12th inclusive please
click here.
Eurodragster.com aims to bring you links to all the best European Drag Racing web sites. To add your site to Eurodragster's listings, simply email links@eurodragster.com with your URL and a little information about your site and we'll do the rest. When you update your site, drop us a line at news@eurodragster.com and we'll feature your site in our "What's New" section.
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