European Drag Racing News

Testing, NDRS Finals coverage.
30th August: We're at Santa Pod Raceway this weekend to bring you all the news from the Professional Test and Run What You Brung in association with American Car Imports.

The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is online and broadcasting a picture every two minutes.
©Eurodragster.com
Click here to view our coverage, or click on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Our good buddy Christer Abrahamson of Svensk Dragracing is reporting live from this weekend's NDRS Finals at Alastaro. Christer is doing a great job of posting a live running report, end-day results, and Photo Gallery from Finland. Check it out at www.dragracing.se.

Sportsman Saturday kick-off.
31st August: Sportsman classes will have their first rounds of eliminations on the Saturday of next weekend's FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway, says SPR's International Race Director Darren Prentice.

"There will be three cycles of Sportsman qualifying on Friday, and one Sportsman cycle on Saturday morning, and then most Sportsman classes will have their first round of eliminations on Saturday afternoon - some classes will have two rounds of eliminations", says Darren. "The exception will probably be Comp Eliminator which only has five entries and so that will start on Sunday."
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There will be two cycles of Pro qualifying next Friday, scheduled for 10:30 and 16:30, and another two cycles on Saturday, scheduled for 10:30 and 14:30. NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified will be part of these Pro qualifying cycles, and is scheduled to open eliminations at 9:45 on Sunday with a sixteen-car field.

We will bring you more detailed running orders for Saturday and Sunday during the week, but in the meantime the simplified draft running orders are available on Santa Pod Raceway's web site at www.santapod.com.

Pre-Finals snippets.
31st August: Sweden's Anders Envall broke his personal best at yesterday's Professional Test at Santa Pod Raceway in a run which made his street-legal Chevrolet Impala SS the fourth-quickest on the planet. Anders clocked 10.887/124.44 on a previous best of 11.20, on what was far from a full-power pass as the blower belt stripped at about half-track. "I break a lot of belts in this car", says Anders. "In fact I broke a belt on the motorway when I was driving here. Now I have no spares but the rest of my team will be arriving on Tuesday and they are bringing a lot of belts with them!"
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UK Tech Inspector Mark Norton kindly got in touch to tell us that he has inspected the Top Fuel Dragster which Jon Webster is due to be driving at next weekend's race, and that the chassis passed with flying colours. Jon was originally scheduled to test at yesterday's Professional Test at Santa Pod, but the car was not quite ready and so will be running for the first time at today's Run What You Brung. "When I left Webster Race Engineering at 21.00 last night (Saturday), the car was virtually complete and the team were just getting up oil pressure ready to fire it for the first time", says Mark. "Alan Jackson was there in an advisory capacity and Lindsay Deuchar was also lending a hand, as was Johnny Mac. They were hoping to load the car at around 8:00 this morning and do any finishing work at the track."

Santa Pod is undergoing a number of improvements in time for next weekend's race. The approach road is to be tarmacked from behind the barn into the pits, and the amount of hard standing in the pits is being drastically increased. The 'playpen' has been expanded on both sides, with hard standing now bounded by the security gate on one side and the toilet/shower block on the other. The toilet/shower block in the pits is also receiving attention. Replacement cabling for the top end terminal speed displays has also been prepared by Chief Marshal Steve Horn and will be installed starting on Monday morning.

Andréasson finally jubilant.
30th August: The last races of 2002 and the first three races of 2003 were test sessions for Swedish Top Methanol Funny Car racer Leif Andréasson, says team member Anders Magnusson. The team have been testing parts and different set-ups with the priority on getting the quickest runs possible.

"Running 5.8-5.9 is not good enough to win races any more", says Anders. A lot of effort has gone into getting the car run the first hundred meters very quickly without shaking tires. Leif has been shaken and maybe stirred too, understandably he started to complain more and more about the car's (mis)behaviours.

"The turning point was after the first qualifying pass in Norway when the car was worse than ever and team spirits were under the Nordic ice. All hope was not lost, however, as tuners Frank and Anders knew that the solution was close and that being 'almost there' could make the car a nightmare. The decision was taken to go one step further in the set-up plans, instead of backing off and ducking for the safety of a 5.8 or a 5.9. That step paid off big time, a 5.744/399.45 kmh with no tyre shake whatsoever took the team from despair to jubilation. Some more adjustments were made and a new personal best of 5.705/400.33 was recorded in the last qualifying session.
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"The bye run in the first round of eliminations spoilt the executive plans when both the rear end gears and the carefully-adjusted East West Engineering clutch broke, with no suitable spares available. But that pass was the best run by the car all way up to 150 metres when things fell apart. On the 5.705 run the incremental times were 0.949 at sixty feet and 2.508 at 330 feet. The aborted run clocked an identical 0.949 at sixty feet and sensational 2.493 at 330 feet. Keeping up the same acceleration as during the 5.70, it would have been 5.690, or if it had maintained up the 60' to 330' acceleration all the way down the track, it would have stopped the clocks at 5.658! Speculation and a serious case of bench racing...oh yes, we love that, don't we!

"Hockenheim was to slippery for any kind of performance but Santa Pod is well known for its premium traction. What is it going to be for Andréasson Motorsports? Heaven or hell? Tyre shakes or 5.6 runs? We will see within a week at the European Finals."

You can find Leif Andréasson's web site at www.andreassonmotorsports.com.

SCR photos, anecdotes sought.
30th August: Shakespeare County Raceway marshal Beth Satchell is asking for Eurodragster readers' help to track down a particular photo sequence. "I am trying to trace a set of photos taken of a car jump at Shakespeare County Raceway (then Long Marston Raceway) in 1987", says Beth. "The pictures were taken with a motor drive camera and it was a sequence of action shots showing the whole jump. If anyone knows who took them and where they can be contacted please contact me by E-Mail at satch@globalnet.co.uk."
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Beth tells us that she is currently compiling a book of anecdotes based on experiences at Shakespeare County Raceway (aka Avon Park Raceway and Long Marston Raceway). "If anyone has any stories they think need to be preserved forever in print then let me know and we can discuss, with photos if possible - but must be action shots, not static shots", she says.

E-Mail problems.
30th August: We have been experiencing problems with our E-Mail server in the last couple of days, so if you have sent a news item or other E-Mail to any Eurodragster address and it has either not been published or acknowledged then please re-send it to eurodragster@btinternet.com and we will be straight back to you.
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
30th August: UK Pro ET racer Steve Wells has updated his web site with news of his testing at the last Webster Race Engineering Test Day and his weekend at the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. You can read Steve's reports at www.teamorange.org.uk.

Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Ian Hook has updated the FB Racing web site at www.fbracing.co.uk with his account of a victorious weekend at the Allstar Nationals.

Eurodragster staffer Sharkman has updated his personal web site Sharkman's Top End Tales with photographs from the Allstar Nationals together with a number of new Windows wallpaper files. Check it out at www.topendtales.com

Fellow Eurodragster staffer Tog has also finally found time to update his personal web site Tog's Drag Racing Page with pictures from the Allstar Nationals, as well as adding pictures from the first Webster Race Engineering Test Day of this year and properly indexing all of his other photographs from this season. You can find Tog's web site at www.togsdragracing.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Testing, testing.
29th August: This Saturday's (30th August) Professional Test at Santa Pod Raceway is offering racers just about the last chance to test before next week's FIA European Finals. The test, which is open to the public, is scheduled to be attended by:

Jon Webster (Top Fuel Dragster)
Dave Wilson (Top Methanol Dragster)
Malcom Francis (Super Gas/Super Comp)
Pat Talbot (Super Pro ET)
Anders Envall (Pro ET)
Ian Brown (Super Street)
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Spectator entry to Santa Pod on Saturday is £10. Saturday is also a Street Machine Saturday Special, for which pre-registration is necessary.

Santa Pod are also holding a Run What You Brung on Sunday (31st August), which is of course open to the public. We understand that some of Saturday's racer contingent will be running again at the RWYB. Admission to the track on Sunday is £10, and an additional £15 and the production of a valid DVLC licence will buy you as many runs as you can fit in. For more details including safety requirements check out Santa Pod Raceway's web site at www.santapod.com.

If you cannot make the test sessions at Santa Pod this weekend then you will be able to stay in touch with events here on Eurodragster as we will be covering both days in association with American Car Imports, and the Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is also scheduled to be on-line and broadcasting a picture every two minutes.

Stay for the 'slammers.
29th August: European racers attending the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway have been invited by LA Performance Services' Lee Child to stay on for the Doorslammer Shootout which takes place at Shakespeare County Raceway on Saturday-Sunday 20th-21st September. As its name suggests, the Doorslammer Shootout is a turn-up-and-compete event exclusively for cars with doors, and offers substantial cash prizes for winners and runners-up. "If any European doorslammer racer fancies extending their stay in the UK, then we will be very pleased to see them at the Shootout" says Lee, who sponsors Eurodragster's Links pages through his company LA Racing Parts. "You will be more than welcome!"

All classes will run heads-up on a Pro tree. The classes and prize structure are the same as last year's and are as follow:

Outlaw for cars running quicker than 7.50 seconds

Entry fee: �150
Eight-car field winner/runner up: �2000/�1000
Sixteen-car field winner/runner-up: �3000/�1500

Top Gun for cars running 7.50-8.75

Entry fee: �125
Eight-car field winner/runner up: �1250/�750
Sixteen-car field winner/runner-up: �1500/�1000
Thirty two-car field winner/runner-up: �2500/�1500

Top Sportsman for cars running 8.75-10.50

Entry fee: �100
Sixteen-car field winner/runner-up: �1200/�600
Thirty two-car field winner/runner-up: �2000/�1000

Sportsman for cars running 10.50-11.75
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Entry fee: �75
Sixteen-car field winner/runner-up: �750/�400
Thirty two-car field winner/runner-up: �1000/�650
Sixty four-car field winner/runner-up: �1500/�750

Street for cars running 11.75-15.00

Entry fee: �55
Sixteen-car field winner/runner-up: �500/�300
Thirty two-car field winner/runner-up: �700/�500
Sixty four-car field winner/runner-up: �1000/�750

Entry to the track will be �15 each on Saturday and Sunday. Weekend tickets (which include camping) are available for �26 on the gate or �20 in advance.

For more details, or to order advance tickets, contact LA Performance Services on 01803 554308 (outside the UK +44 1803 554308).

Allstar reviews, Finals previews.
29th August: UK Super Pro ET racers Roger and Dave Moore are on a high after setting a new best with their Shakespeare Engineering-backed Triumph Herald at the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. "We had a great meeting at Shakespeare County Raceway ", says Roger Moore. "The track was as good as I've known it, and I set a new personal best time of 8.035 at 167 mph. It cost me the race as I broke out, but I knew that it was a flier so I stayed on the power. Into the sevens at the European Finals? A big thanks to Chris Isaacs for his help with four-bar settings. Chris' trackside support is second to none. And very reasonably priced except the bakewell tarts! Thanks also to Andy Robinson for clutch and data logging advice. Dave and I are looking forward to the European Finals and hope to go even faster."
©Eurodragster.com
UK Pro Stock Bike racer Paul Watson has been suffering some problems getting his bike off the line at the last few races. "We have now changed everything bar the engine", says Paul. "I must say a big Thank You to Paul Rose and Ritchie for all their help last week. We all worked very late but the problem still eludes us. Whilst on the subject I would like to thank Dave Beck for all his help at the track. We are confident that once we have eliminated the problem we can run 7.5s but it's not looking good for the European Finals. However a deal may be struck with Dave Beck Racing, we are looking at the possibility of hiring his bike or engine whilst he is in the States."

Alien II.
29th August: Paul Marston Racing had a what Paul describes as "A rather successful weekend" at the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. The weekend marked the début of PMR's recently-acquired Alien altered in the hands of returning racer Dave Gibbons.

"Dave was kept busy reacquainting himself with old adversaries from his Rough Diamond days", says Paul, "along with being the tuning consultant for the altered's methanol injection system. There was some work to be done on the altered upon arrival at the track, namely the replacement of the front oil seal which pushed out in testing at Arena Essex. That done we fired it up and all systems were go, so after being scrutineered all was set for Saturday. After prelubing and checking valve lash on the motor we performed a spring check and discovered that the valve springs were soft, luckily Jeff Bull of Jeff Bull Racing Engines had a selection of spring sets and havign selected the best match we then set about borrowing the necessary tools to change them. Many thanks at this stage must go out to Jeff for always being there with the spares racers need at a good price. Many thanks also to fellow Mopar Super Pro racer Ian Bishop, who kindly lent us the spring checker, leak down tester, compressor and generator which enabled the Paul Marston Racing crew to change all the valve springs. This is where you realize the value of such a good crew, within forty minutes we had changed all the valve springs, excellent work. Unfortunately this meant reluctantly we missed first round, it was the only logical option.

"With the probability of only one more qualifier on Saturday and with the permission of the Race Director Dave was allowed to perform his sixty foot launch, and then to back up and make his second observed run which is a half pass and a chute deployment. All this was fine and so on to Sunday. Sunday arrived and with such a busy schedule it soon became apparent that there would only be one shot at qualifying, we were out quite early and had plenty to do as some contaminated methanol was found in the injectors, a quick clean out was required so that we did not miss our qualifying shot. The run was a good 8.50/152, which was the first time the Alien had run a full pass in over two years. But it was firing on all eight holes and ran straight and true, watching the video playback it did sound a little flat but Dave was happy that the Alien handled well and reminded him of just how bumpy, jarring and vibration-filled an altered is!
©Eurodragster.com
"Monday dawned and the Paul Marston Racing pit was the subject of many visitors and fans, old and new. ChryslerCard PT Bruiser Crew Chief Mick Pusey liked the Alien for its simplicity of operation and speed of between-round servicing. Even though we had stripped the whole top end of the injection system and cleaned it out, finding very little of note, it all went back together quickly and very nicely. The whole weekend experience was a revelation for all of us really; this is after all Paul Marston Racing's first solid-chassis race car.

"In the first round we had drawn the Moore brothers with their awesome Shakespeare Engineering Lenco-shifting nitrous-assisted Big Block -powered Triumph Herald, this weekend being advised by none other than Chris Isaacs of Chris Isaacs Race Cars. We were put in the left lane, although the track was real good in both lanes all weekend. Dave performed a storming burnout and with all the start line procedures carried out I sent Dave to the staging beams. When the Tree ran Dave was a whisker too soon (.012) and pulled a cherry but was off anyway! I was concentrating on the hit which the rear tyres took out of the hole but I saw the cherry straight away as Dave left. As I watched the Alien disappear into the distance, I knew it was on one, arrow-straight but you could have knocked me over with a feather when the numbers came up. It took a couple of seconds to sink in a 7.87/163, over six tenths quicker than the last one, that�s possibly the season�s quickest non-supercharged altered pass - wow! That shattered Dave's PB by nearly a second, what a great way to lose! On returning to the PMR Pit we checked the motor and there was no damage, a little work but no problems.

"With such a successful outing everyone at Paul Marston Racing is looking forward to the next outing with the Alien, stay tuned for more news on that. Our sincerest sympathies to the Dorset Horn and Motor Mouse teams, I hope we will see you back at the drag strip soon. Big Thank Yous must go to Dave Gibbons for being an excellent shoe and Alli Gibbons for being so supportive of Dave�s endeavours, all the Paul Marston Racing crew - you all know who you are and you are all true stars in my eyes - all our sponsors: Mac Tools, ATI Performance Transmissions, 76 Racing Fuels and Oils, Gary at Jeep Club (020 8501 4471), Disco Equipment Hire (Barry, 020 8597 4575), Black Box Productions (Dave, 07970 029424) and last but not least Lee Child, Jerry Cookson, Wendy Talbot (speedy recovery), Tog and Sharkman at Eurodragster, Bruno and the FAST Crew, the pit marshals and everyone else involved at Shakespeare County Raceway last weekend.

"Due to work commitments PMR will not be at the FIA European Finals this year, but we will be at the Press Day at Santa Pod on Wednesday providing passenger rides. The crew and I will be at the Finals at certain times over the weekend, and I will probably provide some colour commentary during the event which by all accounts will one of the best ever. See you there!"

Allstar Nationals timing data.
29th August: We are indebted to Ozzy Ewing of Shakespeare County Raceway's Tech Crew for forwarding us the timing data from the Allstar Nationals. The timing data is in Excel format and can be viewed by clicking here or by clicking on the Timing Data link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.
©Eurodragster.com
Signal theft.
29th August: A few paragraphs back we were talking about Lee Child of LA Performance Services, and whilst we were talking to Lee about the Doorslammer Shootout he asked if Eurodragster readers could help with a mystery.
©Eurodragster.com
"Twenty two arrows, posters and banners advertising our events at Shakespeare County Raceway were removed from the A46 between Evesham and Warwick over last weekend", says Lee. "So many were taken that it must have been a concerted effort - this wasn't just trophy hunters. And these things aren't cheap! If any Eurodragster reader has any information then please contact me and shop the rascals - any information leading to the missing items will be rewarded."

If you have any information about the missing material then please contact Lee by phone on 01803 554308 or by E-Mail at la.racing@virgin.net.

Web site updates.
29th August: Our good friend Carl Wadkin-Snaith has moved the official UK Junior Drag Bike web page to its own URL at www.juniordragbike.co.uk. "Over the next few weeks there will be a number of updates including the inaugural Championship results, team/rider profiles and much more, watch this space!", says Carl, who would also like to hear from Junior Drag Bike teams at carl@turnertech.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Teboul's world bests.
28th August: Congratulations to France's Eric Teboul who is now the quickest two-wheeled drag racer on the planet after running a pair of 5.6-second passes on his Rocket Bike at last weekend's Nitrolympics at Hockenheim. Eric ran the first five-second bike pass outside the USA at the Speedfreaks Ball at Santa Pod in May, and went to Hockenheim with the intent of breaking Larry McBride's 5.8-second world best, which was set on a Top Fuel Bike.
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"Whilst on holiday with my family in the South of France a week before the Nitrolympics, I met with Eric and at his request gave him a secret combination for his ex-Sammy Miller rocket as it was his wish to make the bike go quicker and faster than before", says Antony Billinton of G-Max Racing Fuels. "As the rocket motor on the bike is one with which I had previous experience I made many calculations and came up with a formula which Eric ran."

The outcome was these two stunning passes which Eric made on Saturday and Sunday:

	Saturday	Sunday
60 feet	1.07	1.07
Eighth mile	3.69/217.43	3.72/217.50
Quarter mile	5.649/217.49	5.654/235.50

"I calculate that the speed of the bike peaked at just over 250 mph at three-quarter track as this is where the fuel load was designed to expire", says Antony. "I think that this is now the quickest bike in the world. Last weekend's runs are really only a touch of what this motor can do, and I have no doubt that this bike is capable of four-second passes. All in good time though!"

Eric will be back on his Top Fuel Bike for the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway next week, although we understand that he will be back on board the rocket at Santa Pod's Flame and Thunder Show at the start of November. You can read more on Eric's web site at www.teboulracing.com.

Joon trying to concentrate.
28th August: Dutch Fuel Funny Car racer Lex Joon and partner and Team Manager Gerda Dijkstra have had very little time to get over Lex's fireball at Shakespeare County Raceway last weekend, as they are promoting this weekend's Dutch Finals at Drachten. "I'm not looking forward to it, but we have to do it", says Gerda.

"We will leave the Fuel Funny Car at home because it looks very bad", Gerda adds. "We will be taking our Top Methanol car to Drachten but it will only be on display, it does not mean that Lex will be running alcohol again. His heart is still in the Fuel car."
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Gerda says that the team are still not over Lex's fire. "What happened was terrible", she says. "The team spent the whole day on Monday cleaning the car but you can still smell burning everywhere. Knowing that Lex was in a burning car with no oxygen in the helmet because everything was melted makes you realise that things could have been much worse. We 'only' lost the car and not Lex. The car was on fire from front to back and for Lex it was like a sinking ship which he saw go down having just left in time. When they sprayed the water on the car there was nothing more to save. We at Lex Joon Racing are very sorry that we could not give the fans the show and competition they were hoping for, and we want to thank them for their support and all the great E-Mails which we have received in the last few days."

You can find Lex's inside account of his fire on Monday's pit notes on our Allstar Nationals Event Coverage.

Lex and Gerda are now concentrating on the Dutch Finals. "It will be a very exciting weekend because everybody still has a chance to become Champion", says Gerda. "We also have Michel Kooy with his jet quad Pyromaniac giving a show on both days, and we are very pleased to see that Swedish Pro Modified driver Kent Trennemann has found his way back to Drachten. The MPM Internationals in July was the first time that he was on a Dutch track, and he ran a personal best and won the event."

Gerda kindly send us the official entry list for the Dutch Finals, which you can view by clicking here. The action at Drachten starts at 10:00 on both Saturday and Sunday; tickets are €15 Saturday, €20 Sunday or €30 for the whole weekend. Under-twelves go free. You can find more information on Lex Joon's web site at www.lexjoonracing.nl and on the Explosion web site at www.explosion.nl.

Close finish in NDRS.
28th August: Europe's biggest Championship, the Nordic Drag Racing Series, comes to a close at Alastaro this weekend with the NDRS FInals which start tomorrow. Our good buddy Christer Abrahamson of Svensk Dragracing tells us that it's going to be a very close thing in a lot of classes.

"Bruno Bader has a ninety nine per cent chance of winning the Comp Eliminator Championship", says Christer. "The other one per cent is a theory about Peter Eliasson qualifying number one winning a 120-car field or something like that! But it seems like the rest of the classes are open for a good fight! As you probably know by now, the points system includes counting five or six (depending upon class) races, of which the best Norwegian race must be counted, the best Swedish race, and so on. But the NDRS Finals always count in the points, so look out for some good racing in Alastaro this weekend". The weekend's events will be covered on the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se starting tomorrow, although Christer will be posting a preview on the Svensk Dragracing web site today to join the other new update, pictures from the recent Norwegian Finals which are now showing.

Two NDRS Championships are already decided; congratulations to Erik Johansson (Junior Dragster) and Mattias Carlsson (Street Bike).
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This weekend's race at Alastaro is also the finals of the Finnish Hot Rod Association Championship, and our good friend and part-time stuntman Asko Määttä tells us that he too will be covering the event on-line, as he is not yet allowed to race after his top end crash a short while ago. "The reports will be in Finnish with short summaries in English at the end of each day", says Asko. The reports will be on FHRA's web site at www.fhra.fi/fin/index.php?cmd=51,xxxx&id=46&view=raportti."

Swedish Super Gas racer Håkan Mattsson, who also wrote to tell us how close things are in the NDRS, tells us that he is sorry that he didn't come to Santa Pod this year. "But I promise Tim Adam I'll be there next year!", he says.

Beck's perfect return.
28th August: Swiss Top Fuel Dragster racer Peter Beck couldn't have had a better return to the track after an absence of two years. Teaming up with Rune Fjeld, Peter won Top Fuel at the Nitrolympics and ran personal bests during the weekend. Regula Stucki of Top Fuel Team Switzerland gave us the inside story on Peter's weekend.

"We got to Hockenheim on Tuesday night", says Regula. Rune and Linsay were waiting for us and immediately Peter started to smile. Within a view minutes he sat in 'his' TF Dragster and his smile got bigger. On Wednesday, Peter sat in the car again and concentrated on the job he would soon have to do. Later, Rune's and our crews came to the track and on Thursday they started to work together and discuss all the things which had to be done.

"On Friday Peter did a burnout and a launch to get used to the handling of the car, then on Saturday he launched very hard but the tyres went straight up in smoke and a big bang followed. Unfortunately the engine overreved and an intake valve broke. This was the end of our qualifying and we were bottom qualifier.

"We met Kim Reymond in the first round of eliminations. Up to this point Peter hadn't made a full pass which put him under some pressure. As soon as the car was started we all forgot to be nervous. The burnout was good and after Rune made some adjustments, Peter was ready. Kim went into stage first, Peter followed. Yellow, green, go! Peter launched first and disappeared down the track, followed by Kim. The win light went on in our lane! What a great moment!"
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Peter later explained "It really got fast but I never heard Kim and I kept saying to myself, stay on the throttle! It was my fastest run at 466 km/h and the best ET I've ever run."

"After a bye run in the semi, we met Tommy M�ller in the final round", continues Regula. "Peter again launched first and ran a very nice, straight pass. Again the win light went on in our lane! It was great, excellent, gorgeous, actually I can't find the words. Peter has not been on the track for two years, but he came back and did a great job."

"I feel very comfortable with Rune, the crew and of course with this excellent Top Fuel Dragster ", said Peter afterwards. "Now I'm ready for Santa Pod and I'm really looking forward to it! I would like to say thank you to Rune and the great crew - thanks for the hard work, the support and the great spirit! Also thanks to my family, friends and fans, who have been there for more all the time."

Smax regains lead.
28th August: If you were tuned in yesterday you will remember that UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Smax Smith promised a full report on his weekend at Hockenheim. Less than twenty four hours later Smax's account popped up in our mailbox. Smax made it to the semi-finals at the Nitrolympics, but this was enough to give the Purple Loans-sponsored racer the lead in the FIA Championship with one round left.

"What a blast we had in Germany", says Smax. "I took my son Aidee (who wanted to race his alky junior dragster ) and met up with Al Jackson, Spiky Sparky, Mark and Mack at the airport. Animal Mark had driven the rig to Hockenheim with buddy Kev, and Knut and Debby drove the Suburban. We landed at 9pm and jumped on a train, and immediately saw how clean and organised everything was - no smashed up trains etc. Got to track at almost midnight through five security checkpoints!

"The car was almost ready from Norway so we were ready for qualifying on Friday, however after walking the track it was obvious that it was in poor shape so we watched the other classes slipping and sliding down the amazing new Hockenheim track. The Top Fuellers decided to miss the Friday sessions but Brady Kalivoda and Peter Beck (great to see him back out) did burnouts with the throttle stoops left on! After a drivers' meeting on Friday night Kim Reymond persuaded the tractor guy to lay down some rubber for us till 2:00 am which made all the difference! We all went out gingerly for the first qualifier on Saturday. Kim overpowered the track but we got number one qualifier with a 5.38 smoking the tyres for two hundred feet! Tommy Möller was closest with a 5.60 but everyone was struggling - I'm glad we had Al Jackson! As we're on a tight budget we had to sit out the second qualifier so I climbed to top of grandstands to watch Kim go last and get number one with a 5.24, he dropped two cylinders which got him down the track with no tyre spin. This meant that I had points leader and team-mate Micke Kågered in the first round. Tommy had Brady first round and Kim had Peter Beck.
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"This was to be my most important race of the season, as I wanted my points lead back to go to Santa Pod, and I also needed Peter to beat Kim. On Sunday morning we were up with the sparrows checking everything over and then I met Micke with lane choice in my favour. The purple rocket charged down the track recording 5.14/290 to take the win and also set low ET and top speed, and I got the points lead back. 290 mph smoking the tyres for three hundred feet - incredible! Then Peter beat Kim so we were ecstatic! So in the next round I was against Tommy Möller, Tommy has been my gremlin this year as I have had a red light and a leaky air pipe to hand him the win. Was this to be third time lucky? We rocketed down the track and had almost two tenths lead then disaster - the blower belt snapped and Tommy came past me like an express train as my motor stopped. Bummer!

"In the final Peter beat Tommy in a fine drag race, so at the Finals it's a four-horse race as Micke, Kim, Tommy and I could all still win this deal - don't miss it.

"Rico Anthes put on a stunning show on Saturday night, all the nitro methanol cars were paraded on track and fired up together, followed by fireworks, jet cars and a nutcase on roller skates with a rocket pack on his back which was funny when he fell over! My long time friend Harry came from Stuttgart with buddy Michael to spend the weekend with us which was awesome, and Aidee helped with the car and video! Belfast Ray turned up and spent nearly all weekend cleaning parts for us so he deserves a medal!

"The track commentator got me on the start line for an interview, and this was well received by the enthusiastic German crowd. It was a real pleasure to be there. Rico put on a free food and beer fest at the awards ceremony to round off a top weekend. Big thanx to Al Jacksons for his skills and to all of the team for their hard work. Even Knut did bottom end! I can't wait for the Finals!"

Nitrolympics FIM/UEM report.
28th August: We are as ever grateful to FIM/UEM European Championship Co-ordinator Lars Andersson for forwarding a report of the two-wheeled action at Hockenheim.

The preparation of the track was not of the standard that we all wanted. The first round on Friday was dangerous and the last one on Friday was cancelled because of this. But after Thor Larsen from Norway gave some small tips the track was acceptable on Saturday. But it never reached the standard of what was possible. Hopefully will all learn from this. Maybe should they look on what happened to Mantorp which also had a new surface and also only is used once a year for drag racing. But there was also as usual a very good crowd, and a more friendly atmosphere then the last time I was at Hockenheim.

Qualifying was very strange due to track conditions. Roel Koedam was the quickest in Top Fuel Bike and was for the whole event. By winning the event he secrured the Championship for 2003. Roel's times were half a second slower than his personal best, this says a little about the track. Now is he waiting for Santa Pod and a good track, then he will really make an attempt at the record. Ian King was number two in qualifying but made a mistake in elimination which led to a win for Martyn de Haas, who met Peter Bossert on his Funny Bike in the next round and that was an easy win for Peter. Peter ran 7.1 on most of his passes. We are hoping that he will come to some more races in the future.

Roger Pettersson did the same - he is now European Champion. He made his way to the final by defeating Herman van Driel and his new team-mate Helen Curran. Helen rode what had been Øivind von Essen's bike with Roger's spare engine and did a very good job. Her first race of the year on a new bike and a new personal best of 7.67 were very good. What will happen in England? The team had only good things to say for Helen, and the computer also showed that she did everything right. She even defeated Chris Hope in the first round. Anders Larsson qualified very well and showed that his bike is strong and that he is also very good in taking care of the bike. But a red light in the final finished his race this time. Vesa Rautio also had a red light in his first round. The beams on the timing equipment are very small and a very small move at the same time as the starter activates the timing can easy result in a red light. We also had one racer from Greece and three from Italy who tried to qualify. But the standards are very high and it is not so easy.

Super Twin is the only class which does not have a Champion. It is open between Ton Pels (195 points), Per Bengtsson (193 points) and Ronny Aasen (181 points). Ton was number one qualifier so he had a solo run and met Rob van Geffen in the next pair. Ton took an easy win and was then in final. Ronny Aasen was number two after some very good runs, he showed that he really could handle the bike. Ronny was up against Per Bengtsson in the semi-final, but Per was the strongest. The final between Per and Ton turned up to be too exciting. Per started to drift towards the wall and did touch the wall about a hundred metres out. The win was Ton's but nobody was celebrating because we all wondered what happened to Per. The safety car didn't come out and the race continued. Later I found out that Per was not hurt. The bike hade some small marks, the magnetos were the most damaged. Per had some pain in his foot but was okay.

This is almost the story from Hockenheim. The facilities are the best of all tracks. The public is the biggest and makes most noise. The track could be very good. Hopefully it will be a Championship again race next year. We need a track in the central Europe just to make it easier for riders from southern Europe to race in the Championship. We now twenty one in the Pro Stock and Supertwin Championship standings and thirty one in Top Fuel Bike. This is very good.

The finals at Santa Pod on the first weekend in September will be very interesting. Hopefully we will have a lot of racers at that event (we sure have, and the bike entry went up again yesterday - Ed).

You can find the FIM/UEM Championship standings on the King Racing web site at www.kingracing.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Points and records updated.
28th August: We are indebted to National Association of Supertwins Championship Co-ordinator Sue Beneke for sending us the post-Allstar Nationals standings. You can view the NAST points by clicking here, or by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

The official web site of the European Top Methanol Racers' Association has been updated with timing data and points standings in the MSA British Drag Racing Championship after last weekend's round at Shakespeare County Raceway. You can find the ETMRA web site at www.etmra.com.

Andy Marrs of TSI Timers Europe has kindly sent us an updated version of his European Bests log sheet which includes John Spuffard's Fuel FC speed record which was set at Shakespeare County Raceway last weekend. You can view the record sheet by clicking here, or by clicking on the European Bests link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
28th August: Nitrolympics Top Methanol Dragster winner Peter Schöfer's web site has been updated with an account of the team's weekend at Hockenheim. Check it out at www.p-s-r.com.

Eurodragster staffer Sharkman has updated his personal web site Sharkman's Top End Tales with several pictures from last week's Webster Race Engineering Test Day at Santa Pod, including a few shots of your News Editor getting to grips with Paul Marston's Super Gasser. You can find Sharkman's web site at www.topendtales.com.

David Myre is offering the domain name www.dragracing.org for sale. "This premium name is taken in every other major extension and it will be difficult to acquire a better name directed at this great sport", says David. We feel that it is best to contact businesses, groups, and individuals who would use the domain name efficiently, instead of abusing it with adult content. DragRacing.org is registered through namescout.com and will not need to be renewed until 21-Aug-2004". For more details check out the eBay auction page at cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2749904848 or E-Mail David at davidmyre@hotmail.com.
©Eurodragster.com
First Champions confirmed.
27th August: Many thanks to FIA European Championship Co-ordinator Kjell Pettersson for confirming that we have our first European Champions of 2003 in the persons of Urs Erbacher (Top Methanol Funny Car) and Michael Malmgren (Pro Stock) who won their titles at the Nitrolympics at Hockenheim at the weekend. Congratulations to Urs and Michael, from whose team we will hear in a moment. Top Fuel Dragster, with four racers in contention, and Top Methanol Dragster will go down to the wire at the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod in a couple of weeks' time.
©Eurodragster.com
The top runners in each class after the Nitrolympics are as follow:

Top Fuel Dragster

1. Smax Smith 303
2. Micke Kågered 294
3. Kim Reymond 274
4. Tommy Möller 271

Top Methanol Dragster

1. Peter Schöfer 399
2. Dave Wilson 378
3. Rob Turner 167

Top Methanol FC

1. Urs Erbacher 480 Champion
2. Leif Andréasson 296
3. Ulf Leanders 246

Pro Stock

1. Michael Malmgren 403 Champion
2. Jan Murén 297
3. Jimmy Ålund 264

The official entry list for the FIA European Finals has been updated with another two NDRS Bilsport Pro Mods joining the fray to bring the total to twenty two, as well as increases in FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike - now twenty - and FIM/UEM Supertwin which now numbers ten. You can check out the Finals entry list by clicking here.

Five wins, two titles.
27th August: Magnus Cato of newly-crowned FIA European Pro Stock Champions AC Delco/Malmgren Racing is promising a surprise or two at the FIA European Finals now that the Championship is clinched for the second year running, although he says that there was almost a hiccup for the Swedish team at Hockenheim.

"As you probably noticed from Christer's Hockenheim reports, the track wasn't what we're used to seeing", says Magnus. "There was a lot of discussion in the pits about how to deal with it. Some guys were real upset, but being a loudmouth won't help, so a group of racers sat down with the organisers and solved some problems. After a tremendous effort from the Nitrolympx crew, the surface was safe to race upon. The Pro Stock racers only got one opportunity to qualify on Friday and we were number one with an 8.08/185.

"The weather was fantastic all weekend so we calculated the best run had to be the first run on Saturday, which proved to be correct. Jan Murén was number one qualifier and we were number two with a 7.17/195. That evening we had a long discussion about our raceday set-up, and went to work in order to make sure that we had a good chance to win the race. As I said last week, winning this event would be nice, as it would be the fifth win in a row at Hockenheim. In the first round of Pro Stock Jan Murén faced 'Guten', losing to Guten in a surprising manner. I personally didn't realise the situation but Christer told me we just needed one more point to secure the title at Hockenheim.
©Eurodragster.com
"In the next round we met strong-running Jimmy �lund and we saw Michael driving to a win. What we didn't see was the car almost going out of control at the top end. Michael later explained that he was close to lifting but saw Jimmy behind so he kept the pedal down. A win secured our second Championship so we were ecstatic on the startline. The voice of Nitrolympx, Benny Voss, saw us dancing and asked me over the PA system: "Have you secured the title?" and the smile on our faces said everything. The big crowd went bananas, and I tell you there wasn't a single hair on my arms which was not standing up, what a feeling with that roaring crowd. I'm very grateful for this experience, and we just love the people at the Nitrolympx. This has to be our lucky track, winning five years in a row.

"The AC Delco Pro Stock team would like to thank our sponsors AC Delco, Myresj�hus, Sparco, Nordea and all our parts suppliers. We also want to say a special Thank You to the Hockenheim spectators for their enthusiasm, the Habermann family for their hospitality, Benny Voss for explaining the Pro Stock class in a great way to the audience, and of course Bob Ingles and Jim Yates and his family for their assistance when we were in trouble. I'm also very grateful to the Eurodragster staff for making it possible for me to share my feelings after a weekend - and season - like this (you're welcome - Ed).

"I'm just sitting here with a stupid smile on my face. Next stop will be the FIA European Finals, and if I'm not mistaken there will be a surprise or two from us."

If you were tuned in last week you will recall that AC Delco Racing team member Tomas Nilsson and his wife Camilla have became parents again with the birth of their second son, as yet unnamed. Tomas wrote to let us know how everyone is getting on. "I'm happy to tell you our son is doing just fine", said Tomas. "He was 51 cm long and weighed 3,775 kg at birth. Hopefully he'll take after his bigbrother Aleczander as a mechanic/driver. We haven't decided on a name yet, maybe Benjamin, we'll see. Right now I'm just staying home with my family('49 Panhead, '64 Dodge Polara #26, wife and two kids), and I sure miss racing. I try to help Mikael and the guys as much as I can betwen races (if you saw me at Mantorp you'd probably say they're better of without that sort help)."

Koedam's power management.
27th August: Two European Championships were also wrapped up on two wheels at Hockenheim at the weekend. The first was the FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike Championship which was taken by Holland's Roel Koedam, and the second was the FIM/UEM Pro Stock Bike Championship which was won by Roger Pettersson of Sweden's Veidec Racing team. Congratulations to both teams. We'll hear from the Veidec Racing pit shortly but first bite of the cherry goes to Roel Koedam's Crew Chief Marius van der Zijden who kindly sent a Nitrolympics report.

Under excellent summer conditions the biggest event of the year (crowd wise) was held in Hockenheim Germany. This state of the art venue has the best facilities by far, with a Formula One-style pit area, free showers and a smooth and wide track which has plenty of run-off area. This year it was the return of the official FIA and FIM/UEM European championship rounds at this event. It was a real shame however that bad mistakes were made during the preparation of the track. This became clear not long before the first qualifying day and it looked more like an ice skating championship then a drag race event. Even Pro Stock bikes were having tyre spin all down the quarter mile. The event came to a halt several times that day. In the afternoon the decision was made to halt further qualifying and concentrate on the track first. The organiser of Gardermoen Raceway, who has the best prepared track in Europe, stepped in to offer his expertise. With a lot of combined effort they tried to make the best out of it.

As we were sitting out the first qualifying session anyway it didn�t affect us to begin with. We tried to figure out what would be the best setting for our first attempt on Saturday. When the first cars and bikes made their qualifying passes it seemed that the track had improved a bit, but traction was still far below average. On our first pass we drove it out instead of nailing it from the line in order to try to make the best of it. Despite this and being on and off the throttle several times, the bike smoked the tyre badly twice during that run. A poor 7.1/337 kmh pass was the result. Still it was the best ET in our field. The organisers' nightmare scenario continued as around noon the timing computer went down as well. This forced them to replace it completely and qualifying again came to a stop for another hour and a half. Because of all these delays there was only one more qualifying shot remaining. With the data gathered during our first slip and slide we adjusted the clutch system, in fact we took almost all clutch out. Because the track was improving very slowly our last pass resulted in a 6.65/327. Still a lot of tyre spin and the bike was real loose over the last part of the track which explains the low speed at the top end. Though this 6.65 was far below our average, we obviously did better (or should we say less badly) than anybody else in our class, as it was the only six second pass and we remained the number one qualifier.
©Eurodragster.com
We won our first round of elimninations on Sunday, however we had detuned the bike so much that it even misfired because there was little load on the engine. The good thing was that we learned that the traction was starting to go in the right direction, so we decided to take a few steps back towards a more acceptable clutch set-up. This proved to be a good decision as not only did we win the next round, the semi-final, but we also reset our own track record to a 6.37! The data showed that this was the maximum that the track could take. Also because there was little time between the rounds, we left the tune up of the bike as it was for the final round. When it was time to fire the engine for our final round appearance little did we know that drama would strike as the engine refused to run on nitro; Top Fuel Bikes are always started up on methanol and once running they are switched over to nitro. We made two attempts and our opponent Peter Bossert waited patiently (thank you once again Peter!). As we couldn�t find a reason, we were just about close to throwing in the towel when we discovered that the lanyard-controlled safety fuel shut-off was apparently accidentally hit, therefore totally blocking the fuel transfer to the engine. After resetting this safety valve the engine came to life. A narrow escape, we nearly had to give this one away! Despite slowing to 6.43, we won the final round. Another perfect score; number one qualifier, event winner and a new track record.

But hold on, there�s more. With one more round to go we have clinched the European Top Fuel Bike Championship title for 2003, this is our third European championship title. The last round of this season will as usual be at Santa Pod Raceway in two weeks' time. Again a record number of Top Fuel Bikes have signed in for this event. Being relieved of the pressure of the championship title gives us a little more room to play. No need to explain what our goal will be for that last round.

Pettersson bears pressure...
27th August: Sweden's Veidec Racing Pro Stock Bike team went to Hockenheim with pressure on both of their racers. Roger Pettersson had the chance to clinch his seventh European Championship, and new team member Helen Curran was making her début on the #2 bike. Both racers delivered, says Crew Chief Roger Lyrén.

"We raced at Hockenheim last year and the track was OK then, so we thought that it should at least be as good as last year", says Roger. "But it was slippery! Roger did a three hundred metre burnout which would almost have got Fredde Fagerström jealous, a bad start for him. As Helen was on a Pro Stock Bike for the first time this year, we decided to start with a soft set-up. Helen ran an 8.01, the first run is always the worst but she made a good pass.

"The second qualifying runs were better, 7.67 for Roger and Helen ran a 7.75, one hundredth off her personal best, and then in the third session Roger set a new track record of 7.41 and Helen set a personal best of 7.71. This put us on top of qualifying fifth time this season, and Helen was an impressive fifth of fourteen with only three passes on the bike. We repaired the gearbox on Roger's bike just to be sure that everything was a hundred per cent for eliminations, because he only needed to go one more round to secure the FIM/UEM Championship for the seventh time!
©Eurodragster.com
"Roger showed his best again with a good reaction time against Herman van Driel so we were Champions again. Helen Curran also showed her best taking out Chris Hope in round one on a hole shot, 7.69 (another personal best!) whilst Chris ran 7.67. Unfortunately the Veidec riders faced each other in the semi finals, Roger took the win with a new track record of 7.39/293 kmh, Helen spun the tyre from the start line and ran a 7.85. Roger took the event win against Anders Larsson and won his third race in a row.

"So once again the Veidec PSB Team are in the winners' circle, both Roger Pettersson and Helen Curran did a super job on both Suzukis. Of course none of this could work without the team, so big thanks to the whole team!

"Now we are preparing for the European Finals at Santa Pod and the goals are as they have always been. There is only one left and that is to run in the 7.2 zone! We hope that the weather and the track give us the chance to do it."

...as does Helen.
27th August: The UK's Helen Curran says that her first event with the Veidec Pro Stock Bike team was fantastic. "Everyone was very happy with me and my riding", she says. "I have to say that I was very happy too, after almost twelve months not racing at all it all just came back to me, much to my relief.

"The first pass as you can imagine was a little unsettled for me, not only a new bike to get used to but a new team and crew as well. However it all went well and from there on it just got better every run. On the third pass I bettered my personal best with a 7.71/172 which qualified me fifth. In the first round I went quicker again, 7.69/172 to beat Chris Hope (sorry Chris). The semi final saw me against team-mate Roger Pettersson. Some tyre spin on the line sent me right towards the centre line and after correcting that as fast as possible the ET was affected, 7.83 to Roger's 7.39 (a bit quick for me yet), well done Roger.
©Eurodragster.com
"I am now eagerly looking forward to the European Finals at Santa Pod, we are looking forward to some good times as the bike is stepped up some more. I would like to thank Roger Lyren, Roger Pettersson, my crew men Atle and Pal from Norway and all of the Veidec team for making me so welcome and so comfortable. I would also like to thank everyone who made this possible for me with sponsorship; Ken of Cooperized Race Products, Dave Holland, Cannon Engineering, Brad of Dyno Speed Developments and Ken's mum Peggy Cooper. Thanks also to Andy and Kate Robinson of Robinson Race Cars for the lift to and from Germany.

"I am still looking for sponsors for the finals, if you can help then please get in touch with me at ken.cooper1@virgin.net, any help will be much appreciated."

Pels does it all.
27th August: Another racer to have a fantastic weekend at Hockenheim was Dutch Supertwin racer Ton Pels who qualified number one, won the event, and took back the number one spot in the FIM/UEM Championship, says Monique Pels.

"Coming to Hockenheim Ton was third in the Championship, right behind Per Bengtsson from Sweden and Ronny Aasen from Norway", says Monique. "Although there were traction problems, Ton managed to run the only six-second pass during qualifying, and was number qualifier again with 6.99/322 kmh (200 mph).
©Eurodragster.com
"On Sunday it was Ton and Per Bengtsson in the final and whoever won would be leading the Championship standings. Ton had the better light and left hard, but just before the eighth mile the engine dropped a cylinder, slowing the bike down. However, Per had even worse problems. His bike went sideways and even hit the concrete wall at some point, so Ton took the win as well as the lead in the Championship. Luckily Per didn't have any serious injuries, so we will be seeing him at Santa Pod for the last round of the Championship.

"You can read the complete story on the News page of the Zodiac Racing web site at www.zodiacracing.com.

"Congratulations to European Champions Roel Koedam, Urs Erbacher, Roger Pettersson and Michael Malmgren."

Honey-coated Funny Car.
27th August: Swiss Top Methanol Funny Car racer Dezsoe Krivan had a long weekend at the Nitrolympics but the FC was running sweet as a nut, says team member Steve Wilson.

"On Thursday we hauled up the E35 from Basel to Hockenheim and set up camp on the start/finish straight at Hockenheim, just positioning the truck on Schumi's skid marks where he fell off the track at the start this year, ho ho!", says Steve. "We got the car ready and did a warm-up, no problems. Up bright and early on Friday, prepped the car and did a warm up, disaster! A couple of push rods busted. We have been struggling with an oil starvation problem since the beginning of the season. So thinking hats on, then we had a bit of luck: the track wasn't doing its stuff, cars were not getting traction so there would be a delay while they sorted the track. We used the time to fettle the car, putting oil lines everywhere to get oil into the heads and fired the car up. Sorted! Thinking caps were stored away for future use!
©Eurodragster.com
"With the track crews working all hours to get the track suitable to race we were ready to go for the qualifier on Saturday. So with more oil in the heads than the deserts of Saudi (well, more than you could sheik a stick at), Dez snaked down the track to a 6.398/361.13 Kmh. The car had performed, Dez had performed, the team had performed, and during the night the girl in the tent across the way...oh, that's another story! On Saturday evening we towed the body down to the start for the 'Gathering', we had not finished the motor so we turned up with the body, to stand on the track with all the motors running was just awesome.

"In the first round eliminations on Sunday we were paired with Niclas Andersson, the track was improving all the time as more rubber was being laid. Dez did a 6.113/361.31 pass, it was a very very close run with us losing to Andersson who ran a 6.095/385.35 pass.

"So that was the end of our meeting, however we were all pleased that the car was in one piece and running as sweet as a nut - a nut that is covered in honey. The boys from Krivan drag racing would like to thank the girls from Krivan drag racing for their support over the long weekend. We would also like to mention the UK's FAST team, thanks to some of their number for being there and also for their quick reaction time when Martin Lindkvist flamed down the track. Also congrats to our fellow Swiss racers - Peter Beck, Urs Erbacher, Peter Wacker and Bruno Bader for doing the business."

Weekend thanks.
27th August: UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Smax Smith has retaken the lead in the FIA European Championship after making it to the semi finals of the Nitrolympics in the Purple Loans-sponsored rail. Smax dropped us a quick line and promises more soon. "I'd just like to say a quick Thank You to Knut Soderquist, Alan Jackson, all my team, and all the fans who supported us on the german leg of the Tour", says Smax. "We set low ET and top speed in competition as well as regaining my points lead, so going to the Finals with everyone playing catch-up is great! The track was very tricky so Al starred - we ran 5.14 and 290 mph smoking the tires for three hundred feet! we had Tommy Möller covered in the semis but our blower belt snapped at 1100 feet handing him the win - but thats drag racing, ask Øvyor Jacobsen and Andy Carter! The competition will be wanting to knock the smile off my face going to Santa Pod - no chance! We are ecstatic!"

The UK's Dave Gibbons returned to the track after nearly twenty years at the weekend, and showed that he had lost none of his touch since the days of Rough Diamond as he blew away his personal best and broke out by a mere 0.6 seconds at the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. "I�d like to take this opportunity to publically send a huge debt of gratitude to Paul Marston for allowing me the opportunity to drive the Alien altered", says Dave. "As well as Paul thanks must also go to the regular PMR team of Sam, Mick and young Max, and of course my wife Alli for making it possible, as well as the staff and crew of Shakespeare County Raceway. OK, so it�s been nineteen years since I put in a full pass on a drag strip, and OK I redlit with a .488 on a .500 tree, and I broke out too! But to be able to run a 7.87 at 165 mph on only my second full pass was just fantastic, it all came back to me real quick! The best I ran in Rough Diamond was an 8.64. Having no data on the car we always figured on being first round fodder. The plan was simply get the car down the track, find out how quick it was and have some fun - we succeeded on all points. It was also great to see so many old (sic) faces again, and to be racing in a class with previous adversaries such as Steve Johnson, Barry Giles and Mick Cheley. I only got to nod to a few people, but managed a chat with a few more. I have no idea if or when I�ll be back again, but I�m re-licenced now so who knows. Alli and I will go back to occasionally going round corners again (sorry about that) and see what happens. We�ll be at the Brighton Speed Trials again this year, but sadly not in a PMR car. Finally, as this may have been a one-off, I�m hoping that one of our illustrious photographers got a couple of decent shots of the car for posterity, if so then I can be mailed on gibb@webtribe.net."
©Eurodragster.com
Another returnee at Shakespeare County Raceway was UK Pro ET racer Chris Johnson although his absence was not quite as long as Dave's. Chris announced his return with a 9.500 on a 9.50 dial-in with his beautiful MG Rover race car. "It must be third time lucky", says Chris. "After the disappointment of low oil pressure last year and destroying the engine at the beginning of the season, to go to Shakespeare purely to see if we could get from one end of the track to the other and having number one qualifier on our first full pass down the track was icing on the cake! We would like to thank all of our sponsors that have stayed with us: Viking Garages, Scorpion Racing, Owslebury Crankshafts, Oran and Alresford Motor Services. We hope to do them proud at our next race, the European Finals at Santa Pod. We will be attending the Press Day next Wednesday to get my rusty right thumb some much needed practice on the transbrake - this will hopefully avoid another early bath!"

UK Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Ian Hook almost called it a day at the weekend after suffering engine damage, but luckily was talked out of it and went on to win the event, his first win in six seasons. "I'd like to say thanks to all those who've mailed and phoned to congratulate us", says Fatty. "I'd also like to say a big thanks to my crew, the Fat Boys, who kept me going on the Saturday when I felt like throwing the towel in, as well as to all of our sponsors and Associates. A report on the CCSE action and the latest CCSE points are now available on my web site at www.fbracing.co.uk.

Custom Car Street Eliminator welcomed another contestant at Shakespeare County Raceway, and Steve Large, whose immaculate Zodiac turned heads all weekend, tells us that 'welcomed' is the operative word. "I'd like to say thank you to every one in CCSE for making us welcome at our first meeting", says Steve. "Although alternator gremlins put paid to our weekend after five or six miles of the cruise (the furthest it has been driven) we enjoyed ourselves immensely having achieved what we had set out to do, which was to make the observed runs and to get my license signed. Running 11.93 on my first full pass was more than we could have hoped for. The interest in the car from fellow racers and spectators was phenomenal and took me by surprise somewhat, but was very satisfying after a seven-year build. Finally thanks to Neale (co-owner of the car), to our crewman Keith, and to Roger and Ruth who came up from Kent to support us."

New SCR track records.
27th August: Thanks to APIRA Press Officer Jerry Cookson for confirming the weekend's new track records at Shakespeare County Raceway. They are:

Fuel Funny Car: 5.383 seconds, John Spuffard
Super Modified: 182.93mph, Graham Ellis
Custom Car Street Elininator: 8.441 seconds, Steve Pateman

You can find the full track records list on the APIRA web site at www.apira.org.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Wayne Schreier of Shakespeare County Raceway's tech crew has very kindly forwarded us the weekend's ladders, which you can view by clicking here, or by clicking on the Timing Data link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Fireforce diary still filling.
27th August: The UK's Fireforce Jet Funny Car team have added several more dates to their calendar, says team owner and driver Martin Hill. "This Saturday, 30th August, sees us in the Republic of Ireland for the first time at a show just outside Dublin, which will see Fireforce 2 performing two flame and vapour shows", says Martin. "Fireforce 2 will then be at the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod. Fireforce 1 will be at Ringwood at Bournemouth on Saturday 21st September for a Hot Hatch show, then the following weekend will be at the National Finals at the Pod. 12th October sees Fireforce 1 at Mallory Park for a show during the Bike racing, and Fireforce 2 will be off on its holidays to the event in Greece, but it will be back in time for the Halloween event at Avon Park, where we will be looking to reset our track record established back in May."
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
27th August: The Racebilder web site at www.racebilder.nu has been updated with a number of great pictures from the Scandinavian Dragracing Championship Finals which recently took place at Landskrona.

On the same weekend that Cannon was suffering a mystery lack of boost on his Fuel bike, the UK's Team Fang suffered very similar problems whilst at 'secret' tests in Devon, says Carl Wadkin-Snaith. "Our supercharger shaft sheared, still at least we haven't broken a blower belt...yet". You can find a full report and pictures at www.thefang.co.uk/news2003.htm.
©Eurodragster.com
Ultimate Power Champions.
26th August: We are indebted to UK National and APIRA Championship Co-ordinator Simon Groves for forwarding us the provisional final Championship standings in the 2003 Ultimate Power Drag Racing Championship, which ended at the weekend's Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway.

Congratulations to the Champions, subject to ratification:

Fuel Funny Car: John Spuffard
Top Methanol: Doug Bond
Pro Modified: Gordon Appleton
Super Modified: Danny Cockerill
Super Pro ET: Barry Giles
Pro ET: Team Top Banana
Sportsman ET: Mark Anderson
Super Comp: Tim Adam
Super Gas: Malcolm Francis
Super Street: Mike Bentley
Junior Dragster: Colin Morrice
Custom Car Street Eliminator: Steve Pateman
Wild Bunch: Alec Coe
Outlaw Anglia: Paul Hensher
©Eurodragster.com
Top Fuel Bike: Steve Woollatt
Funny Bike: Neil Midgley
Pro Stock Bike: Richard Gipp
Comp Bike: Phil Leamon
Super Street Bike: Karl Larcombe
9.90 Bike: Wayne Hobbs
10.90 Bike: David Warren
Junior Drag Bike: Jennifer Hurcomb

You can see the full provisional Championship standings by clicking here.

FIA European Finals entry list.
26th August: We are indebted to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for forwarding us the official entry list for the FIA European Finals, which takes place at Santa Pod on 5th-7th September.
©Eurodragster.com
The entry is one of the largest ever seen at Santa Pod Raceway and in the European Championship classes comprises nine Top Fuel Dragsters, currently five Fuel Funny Cars, four Top Methanol Dragsters, eleven Top Methanol Funny Cars, eight Pro Stocks, twenty NDRS Bilsport Pro Modifieds, eighteen Top Fuel Bikes, nine Supertwins and twelve Pro Stock Bikes. The UK National Championship classes are also heavily subscribed with five Comp Eliminator, twenty two Super Pro ET, twenty nine Pro ET, twenty Sportsman ET, twelve Super Comp, twelve Super Gas, thirteen Super Street, fourteen Junior Dragsters, thirty two 9.90 Bikes (including a sizeable Super Street Bike contingent) and twelve 10.90 Bike.

You can view what must be the most eagerly-awaited entry list of the year by clicking here.

For ticket prices and other information check out Santa Pod Raceway's official web site at www.santapod.com or call 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44 1234 782828).

Racers: It's not too early to send us your FIA European Finals previews, nor too late to send your Nitrolympics and Allstar Nationals reviews. Drop us a line at news@eurodragster.com and we'll post your news here.

Comfortable Carey.

26th August: Europe's newest Top Fuel Bike racer Steve Carey made his competitive début at the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway at the weekend (right). Steve was robbed of the chance to race by a fluid leak in the first round of competition but told Eurodragster that he enjoyed his qualifying passes very much on the ex-Roald Dogge Purple Princess II.

"My previous personal best was a low twelve", said Steve, "and that was on a wobbly Triumph! I'm getting more comfortable each time I go out. If I remember to change gear I might go quicker!". Steve planned to take his first passes down the track at the Speedfreaks Ball at Santa Pod Raceway in May, but the engine cut out after the burnout on both attempts. "We changed the idle and the clutch and that seems to have done the trick", he said.
©Eurodragster.com
Steve started his career in the mid-1980s by putting a nitrous kit on a street bike and then moved into Supertwins, racing to the end of the decade on a Triumph. "I renewed my licence each year", he said. "I saw the Purple Princess for sale on Roald's web site last August, ,so I went over to Holland to take a look at it. Russ Cook started the build and Roald then bought and finished it, and put in a Phil Baimbridge engine. I bought the and we have left it as it was as a tribute to the work which Roald did."

Steve is sponsored by Rossett's Commercials of Eastbourne, Bikes of Brighton, Eastbourne Sign Works, and Paul Brinley, and he is supported by crew John Bewick, Graham Banfield, Paul Webster, Perry Reeves and Team Nurse Annette.

Steve's next outing is planned to the the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway where he will be one of eighteen contesting FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike.

Nitro FC Championship points.
26th August: We are indebted to British Nitro Funny Car Championship Co-ordinator Jim Broome for forwarding us the standings after the Allstar Nationals:
©Eurodragster.com
1. John Spuffard 354
2. Gordon Smith 290
3. Lex Joon 93
4. Gary Page 75
5. Leif Helander 15

Allstar Nationals results.
25th August: Congratulations to the winners at this weekend's Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway:

Fuel Funny Car: John Spuffard 5.641/190.68 def. Gordon Smith 16.364/64.94
Top Methanol: Steph Milam 6.308/219.57, Doug Bond broke
Super Modified: Graham Ellis 7.511/182.93 def. Andy Hone 7.861/173.08
Super Pro ET: Barry Giles (7.70) 7.709/169.81 def. Al Golding (8.94) 8.955/149.01 red light
Pro ET: Bob Doyle (10.35) 10.372/131.58 def. Lee Huxley (10.90) 10.824/120.64 breakout
Sportsman ET: Mark Anderson (13.02) 13.132/102.27 def. Matt Attwood (13.85) 13.800/94.74 breakout
Super Comp: Tim Adam 9.013/145.63 def. Phil Bennett 9.031/141.96
Super Gas: Peter Lane 9.942/140.19 def. Martin Curbishley 9.895/141.96 breakout
Super Street: Mike Bentley 10.917/130.43, Bob Lees broke
Junior Dragster: Collin Morrice (9.30) 9.293/67.57 def. Joe Bond (9.50) 9.437/67.16 red light
Custom Car Street Eliminator: Ian Hook 9.276/151.01 def. Andy Frost 18.918/64.66
Outlaw Anglia: Paul Hensher 8.849/153.06 def. Pete Ashworth 9.025/145.16
Wild Bunch: Gareth Kent (12.42) 12.524/102.51 def. Tom Coe (11.40) 11.313/113.35 breakout
©Eurodragster.com
Top Fuel Bike: Steve Woollatt 7.105/177.17 was unopposed
Funny Bike: Neil Midgley 12.470/46.06 def. Dave Holland 7.309/180.00 red light
Pro Stock Bike: Dave Beck 7.536/171.76 def. Richard Gipp 7.689/169.81
Comp Bike: Phil Leamon 8.550/154.11 def. Paul Newman 10.836/127.12
Super Street Bike: Dave Bailey 8.334/169.17 def. Graham Dance 8.421/173.08
9.90 Bike: Wayne Hobbs 9.854/145.16 def. Richard Sawatzki 9.831/127.12 lesser breakout
10.90 Bike: David Warren 11.925/97.61 def. Paul Coombs 11.984/117.80
Supertwin Fuel: Chris Stebbings 10.960/83.49, Jerry Collier broke
Supertwin Gas: George Laycock 9.819/131.58 def. Ric Naylor 10.412/121.29
Supertwin Modified: TJ O'Brien 9.941/134.73 def. Dave Bartz 11.527/110.84
Supertwin Street: Mark Earrey 10.431/129.68 def. Ian Tomsett 11.055/123.63
Junior Drag Bike: Jennifer Hurcomb (10.00) 13.135/43.90 def. Jake Carruthers (13.00) 16.388/41.32

The Allstar Nationals included a new world record as Jerry Collier recorded 8.890 on his RD400 Supertwin, a new national speed record in Fuel Funny Car of 272.73 set by John Spuffard in the newly-rebodied Showtime FC, and several track records. Less enjoyable were a top end fireball suffered by Fuel FC racer Lex Joon in the MPM Oil-sponsored Avenger and Dick Sharp's finish line crash in the Dorset Horn altered, but both racers escaped serious injury.

Super Gas and Super Comp racer Tim Adam took Eurodragster's Perfect Light Award of £50 with a 0.400 light in qualifying on Sunday.

You can view our American Car Imports-sponsored reports and pictures by clicking here, or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Gareth Evans has also posted end-day reports and photographs from Shakespeare County Raceway on his UK1320 web site at www.uk1320.com.

Nitrolympics FIA, FIM/UEM report.
25th August: Our good buddy Christer Abrahamson of Svensk Dragracing very kindly sent us one last race report from the Nitrolympics, covering yesterday's FIA and FIM/UEM eliminations.

Very good racing today indeed. My own unofficial calculations (including the teams) say that we have four new European champions. Roel Koedam, who won Top Fuel Bike at the event, Urs Erbacher, who won Top Methanol Funny Car at the event, Michael Malmgren who won Pro Stock at the event and Roger Pettersson who won Pro Stock Bike at the event! But if my calculations are right we have a battle between no less that four racers who can win the Top Fuel Championship during the European Finals!

In Top Fuel Peter Beck really made a point in the first round running a 5.16 to take Kim Reymond out! Smax took Kågered out in the first round and Tommy M�ller took Smax out in the semis. So at the end it was Möller v Beck. And it was a very good drag race between them with Peter Beck winning the event at the same track that he run his last race before his two year absence from the sport. The ETs were 5.21 for Peter to Tommy's losing 5.26.

Roel Koedam took the win in Top Fuel Bike after being the low qualifier. The final was actually an easy match for him defeating Peter Bosset, 6.43 to a losing 7.29.

Top Methanol Dragster had guess who in the final. Yes you are right! Peter Sch�fer and Dave Wilson, the two who have shown such an extraordinary performance through this season. Peter Sch�fer took a homeground victory with a 5.64 to a 5.76. The American Car Imports team did fantastic work changing the complete engine before final since they blew a hole in the previous engine defeating Rob Turner in the semis.
©Eurodragster.com
Fredde Fagerstr�m made everyone look foolish when he took out the #1 qualifier Ulf Leanders. Later Urs Erbacher was too much for Fredde. Niclas Andersson had a good racing weekend finishing up as third qualifier and taking Dezoe Krivan out in the first round and Leif Andreasson in the semi. In doing that he blew his engine and the team worked very hard to change the engine and repairing the intake manifold. During the last ten minutes they actually had Niclas strapped in to the car with his helmet on. Sadly they were about four minutes late and couldn't do it to the final where they should have met Urs Erbacher. So it was an easy win for Urs.

It was very interesting racing in Super Twin where all top three in the top of the Championship went into the Semis. Ton Pels defeated Rob van Geffen who had the longest reaction time I've seen in the class! Per Bengtsson took Ronny Aasen out on his way to the final. Ton had a slight head start in the final but Per was drifting left, in the left lane. At about 150 metres he hit the concrete wall and was sliding towards the wall for a long while before being able to take the bike away from it.

There was a big upset in Pro Stock in the first round when Christer "Guten" Andersson took low qualifier Jan Mur�n out of competition with a holeshot. After very good and tight racing Michael Malmgren and Magnus Hansson were in the final. Michael run a 7.16 from Hansson's losing 7.42.

Roger Pettersson claimed the Pro Stock Bike Championship in the first round and went to the final round defeating among others his temporary team mate Helen Curran. The final was between the two old rivals Roger and Anders Larsson. Anders pulled a red light (stage foul?) and it was Roger all the way.

Nitrolympics results.
24th August: Peter Beck (Top Fuel Dragster), Peter Schöfer (Top Methanol Dragster), Urs Erbacher (Top Methanol FC), and Michael Malmgren (Pro Stock) were the FIA-class winners, and Roel Koedam (Top Fuel Bike), Ton Pels (Supertwin) and Roger Pettersson (Pro Stock Bike) were the FIM/UEM-class winners at this weekend's Nitrolympics at Hockenheim.

You can find Nitrolympics results at www.nitrolympics.de/ergeb_main.html, as well as Top Fuel and Top Methanol FC results on the Kågered Racing web site at www.kagered-racing.com, and Top Methanol FC on Dan Larsen's web site at www.funnycar.dk and Leif Andréasson's site at www.andreassonmotorsports.com. The Turner Racing Top Methanol Dragster team have also posted reports on their web site at www.turnerracing.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Nitrolympics Day 3 notes.
24th August: Our good buddy Christer Abrahamson of Svensk Dragracing has been in touch again from Hockenheim with some pit notes for which we are very grateful.

10:15 There are nitro warm-ups going on all around me at the moment and my eyes are watering There should be a law against reporters being so stupid that they choose the Top Fuel pit area to write the morning report!

I have heard a lot about the Night Show at this place, but it went beyond all my expectations! Just to hear the gigantic crowd cheering whistling and blowing their horns makes goosebumps come up all over my arms, even today when I think about it. A number of different jet vehicles made a good show. The guy with two small jet engines strapped to his back going on rollerblades was just awsome! Qualifying was really good yesterday afternoon. The teams are running a little bit slower than usual, but it is obvious that some teams have adjusted quicker to different conditions.

Top three in Pro Stock are Jan Mur�n 7.173/314, Michael Malmgren 7.199/317 and Jimmy �lund 7.201/315. Top Methanol Dragster put up a great and tight show, as always, even if they are just three of them here. Qualifying is Peter Sch�fer 5.649/403, Rob Turner 5.654/403 and Dave Wilson 5.734/389.
©Eurodragster.com
Martin Lundqvist's Top Methanol Funny Car caught fire right before the finish line during the afternoon session yeasterday. Martin was OK but there is a lot of damage to the car and the body looks just awful. "I saw the fire and immediately released my fire extinguisers", he said. "That was not enough and it was getting hotter and hotter by the seconds so I braked as hard as possible. When the car slowed down a little I undid my belts and and actually stood up in the car pulling the brake handle. I was out of the car almost before it stopped and the fire crew arrived within seconds. Actually the worst thing was standing there and watch my car in flames". The team will try to repair the car for the European finals with some help from Hans Kadi.

Leif Andréasson had a problem-filled day, ending up in the last qualifying session without a previous run. He made it to second spot but it cost him an engine so they changed the engine during the night. The top three are Ulf Leanders 6.028/374, Leif Andreasson 6.059/349 and Niclas Andersson 6.067/388. Fredde Fagerstr�m and Jurgen Nagel are outside the eight-car field, but Fredde will fill Martin's place.

In Top Fuel Dragster, Peter Beck did his engine in his first pass yesterday and the Fjeld Motorsport team has spent a lot of time rebuilding that one. The Fjeld Team had a lot to do also working on Brady Kalivoda's car and Rico's car which was used in the Night Show. The top three are Kim Reymond 5.24/451, Smax Smith 5.386/414 and Brady Kalivoda 5.583/341.

I am really sorry that I don't have any notes from the bike classes, but they always clash with th ework which I am doing in the pit area.

Nitrolympics Day 2 notes.

22nd August: 20:30 Joan Larsen of Dan Larsen's Top Methanol FC team wrote with news of a frightening-looking meltdown which Swedish TMFC racer Martin Lindkvist suffered at Hockenheim earlier today.

"The engine burned", says Joan. "At the moment they are not sure about what happened. The burst plate has gone from the blower though. They will take it apart and see what happened.

"Martin says that he will try to get to Santa Pod, but look at this picture. If he is to make it to Santa Pod then he will have to work very hard."

Our good buddy Christer Abrahamson of Svensk Dragracing has also been in touch from Hockenheim with more news.
©Eurodragster.com

12:30 All credit to the Hockenheim track crew who worked until early this morning prepping the track. Pro Stock saw Jan Mur�n run 7.173 in the first pairing this morning. Jimmy �lund shook the tyres hard and aborted the run. Magnus Hansson and Rune Berg ran 7.31 and 7.32. Then a couple of teams shook tyres and in the last pairing last pair Michael Malmgren ran a 7.19 pass. In Top Fuel Kim Reymond went up in smoke fifty metrtes out and shut off, idling to the finish line, 9.72. Tommy M�ller and Micke K�gered went together, Micke smoked the tyres and went back on it producing a 7.44. Tommy ran a 5.63 making black stripes all the way to the finnish line. Smax was all over the track in his run but ran a 5.38 to take the low qualifying spot. Peter Beck lifted the blower at a hundred metres, whilst Brady lifted early. I had a quick walk in the pits, Kim says everything is OK. Micke droped a valve and they dont know at the moment how much damage it caused. Smax found a lot of metal in the oil but too early to say anything about any problems. Peter Beck is going for an engine change.

SPR seek Press Day stars.
23rd August: Santa Pod Raceway are seeking more racers to make demonstration passes at the FIA European Finals Press Day, which takes place on Wednesday 3rd September. A large number of media usually attend this event which will give racers and their sponsors an unrivalled chance for exposure and, Caroline adds, there are other benefits.

"Not only does it keep the media entertained, but's a great opportunity to sneak in some extra track time!", says Caroline Day of Santa Pod Raceway. "As ever, I'll be happy to put up a few extra European Finals tickets to those who want to come along."
©Eurodragster.com
If you would be interested in appearing at the FIA European Finals Press Day, then please drop Caroline an E-Mail at caroline@santapod.fsnet.co.uk with some information about your team, or call her direct on 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44 1234 782828).

Night Event III.
23rd August: The Malta Drag Racing Association are organising their fifth event of the season, the third Night Event at Hal Far Raceway next weekend (29th-31st August).

"The main attraction as usual will be Top Methanol Dragster with three competitors", says MDRA President Anthony Borda. "We should see some great races especially between the National record holder, Mario Borg of Borg Brothers with their impeccable Small Block Dragster with the help of Bernie Hepworth, against the Elbros' Yellow Mighty Fontana Dragster, which lately is being tuned by Carmel Ellul, John's Brother. As well as Top Methanol, there will be more dragsters competing with regular fuel, Pro Stock cars, and lots of other cars, bikes and the mighty Diesel-powered trucks. Spectators will be able to watch races on the big screen once again - they love to watch the finish line from the start line!"
©Eurodragster.com
You can find more details, and everything you could want to know about the Maltese racing scene, on the excellent MDRA web site at www.maltadragracing.com.

Nitrolympics Day 1 notes.
22nd August: Our good buddy Christer Abrahamson of Svensk Dragracing is at Hockenheim for the Nitrolympics, and will be endeavouring to send us reports as his TV duties allow.

19:30 The track picked up a lot during the afternoon, but still a way from what we are used to. All credit to the track crew though, they are working really hard out there now after the race. They really want the track in a lot better state. Top Fuel only had two cars out with Brady Kalivoda making a pass which sounded like he still had the throttle stop on, and Peter Beck just doing a test pass in the car that which we were used to seeing Øyvor Jacobsen driving. The K�gered crew made a miracle set-up in Niclas Andersson's Top Methanol Funny Car, and he ran 6.28 for low qualifier. The leaders are:

Top Fuel - Brady Kalivoda 8.24/289.68
Top Methanol Dragster - Peter Schöfer 6.94
Top Methanol Funny Car - Niclas Andersson 6.289/379.62
Pro Stock - Michael Malmgren 8.085
Pro Mod - Andy Robinson 7.435/324.22
Comp - Gerd Habermann -0.689 (7.301)
Super Gas - Jan Hardekopf 9.902
Top Fuel Bike - Siegmar Kloss 8.07
Super Twin Bike - Thomas Sulek 8.869
Pro Stock Bike - Anders Larsson 7.66

Gruss gott - I'm off for a beer now!

17:30 Everything here is just amazing. Big, well-organized and wonderful facilities, a new huge grandstand! There is not much to be said about the traction at all right now. Pro Stock wouldn't run before the lunch break and the track crew spent the break sledding rubber. Schöfer and Wilson ran and the Turners went back to the pits after watching them. I guess that the track crew will be working all night. I thought maybe they were cancelling the last session but right now Top Fuel are coming out from the pits, and the other FIA/UEM classes are also preparing to run.
©Eurodragster.com
11:30 This facility is huge! It is much bigger than I thought! It is fascinating to see the Top Fuellers in the Formula 1 pit garages. I saw the Lorentzon and M�ller Top Fuel team talking together with very serious faces - more serious than I've ever seen them. So I just quietly passed them assuming that they were talking about engine and clutch set-up. They were talking about pancakes, jam and the lack of cream!

More of the same as and when Christer is able.

VWDRC Allstars.
22nd August: The UK's Volkswagen Drag Racing Club makes its annual pilgrimage to Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend as seven of the VWDRC's finest will be attempting to win Sportsman ET, writes Spencer Tramm. The seven strong group is headed by Chairman Cath Bishop in her buggie Rosie. Cath is a multi-Championship winning driver in Street VW. Fellow committee member Steve Lee managed a runner-up at SCR in 2001 and will be aiming to go one better. This year Steve will be accompanied by former crew chief Graham Fairhead in his Type 3 Fastback. Graham currently sits second in Sportsman VW points.
©Eurodragster.com
Neil Davies will be hoping to carry on the form he showed at Bug Jam where he took the win over a thirty car field and took �500 in prize money after he and fellow Sportsman drivers beat Pro VW in a shootout on the Saturday of Bug Jam. Matt Attwood in his Rover V8-powered Fastback is not only the current Champion but also the points leader in this year's Alternative Engine class. Matt's car is proving the model of consistency with high thirteen-second runs. Rounding out the group are VWDRC rookies Sarah Rollin and Mike Geraghty, Sarah has been impressing many under the tutelage of Scotty Evison and Mike is proving a handful with the more established racers, as he has never lost a first round!

This will be the third year in which the VWDRC have mixed with the National class bracket racers, and the Club hopes to make a full return with its three classes to Shakespeare County Raceway in the near future.

Whilst we're on the subject of the Allstar Nationals, Lee Child of promoter LA Performance Services tells us that the Red Arrows are due to perform one of their breathtaking displays over Long Marston Airfield, which houses Shakespeare County Raceway, tomorrow afternoon (Saturday). The display is scheduled to commence at 4:25 pm.

Wild Bunch finish first Series.
22nd August: The UK's Wild Bunch nostalgia racers had a great round at the UK Northern Nationals at York Dragway, writes Championship Co-ordinator Claire Meaddows. The York round saw the conclusion of the Roy Wilding Nostalgia Race Cars Series, one of four Wild Bunch Championships.

"We had a seventeen-car field at York", says Claire. The winner of the Roy Wilding Nostalgia Race Cars Series was Joe Stevens, WB 1, in the Back in Black altered, second place was Tommy 'Gun' Coe, WB 33, in the Psycho slingshot, third place were Tony Smith and Dave Williams, WB 2, in the Cunning Plan Minivan altered, and fourth place was Crazy Chris Hartnell, WB 3, in the Backdraft slingshot.

"Some of the highlights of the York Summer Showdown at the UK Northern Nationals were: Joe Stevens and Tony Smith exactly the same off their dial-in in the first round (.012), plus Joe's PB of 10.515, three tenths off his previous best; Chris Hartnell running 9.493/136.98 mph; Tony Wynne-Jones' first run in the elevens with an 11.824; Clayton Round running a 9.761 on his first-ever run with a new Chevy lump with injection system; Sid Slattery's slingshot pulling a huge wheelie on the way to a 12.158 PB; Derek Annable running 8.453 and an 8.594 on an 8.50 dial-in in the Brenda's Life Force Top Methanol Dragster - fourth place after two rounds; and Tom Coe's début as a magician, received very well by a crowd of a hundred plus - watch out for his second show at the Allstars.

"Plus good old Northern hospitality! Many thanks to all the hard-working marshals and officials, and promoter Steve Murty for another great event at York Dragway!

"The Allstar Nationals will be Round 5 of the Wild Bunch Series, as well as Round 7 of our main sponsor's Real Steel Series. There is still everything to play for in the Ultimate Power Series. Alec Coe is hoping to continue his good run, hotly followed by Ray Ford, and Chris Hartnell has been tuning and hoping to improve his ET's again. They are followed by Mark Coulsell and quite a few others who are still in hot contention for the coveted first Ultimate Power Series Championship! So we're all looking forward to this weekend as it should see some really exciting close racing again!"

You can find the official Wild Bunch web site at www.the-wild-bunch.co.uk.

SPR European Finals latest.
22nd August: Thanks to Rick Cuthbert of Santa Pod Raceway for letting us know that popular UK ticket agent Ticketmaster is now taking on-line credit and debit card bookings for the FIA European Finals. "This will be of particular use to our overseas visitors", says Rick, "but please note that a booking fee may apply". You can book European Finals tickets on-line with Ticketmaster by clicking here.

Rick also tells us that the Pod Shop and trailers will be selling a new range of Santa Pod goods at the European Finals, including limited-edition T-shirts and a new range of die-cast car and bike models from both the UK and the USA.
©Eurodragster.com
Meanwhile Kelly Ingall of Santa Pod tells us that bookings are now being taken for the new VIP Suite and balcony on the pit side of the track (previously the Press Office - Ed). Santa Pod are offering a hospitality package for £149 which includes weekend admission; one day's VIP/hospitality which includes access to the new Suite, marquee, dedicated grandstand seat, catering and more. For more details or to make bookings contact Kelly by E-Mail at kelly@santapod.fsnet.co.uk or call 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44 1234 782828).

The latest news we have on the entry for the FIA European Finals is that five Fuel funny Cars will contest the final round of the British Nitro FC Championship, and that FIM/UEM Pro Stock Bike now numbers twelve. Super Pro ET and Sportsman ET stand at twenty two and twenty respectively. Stay tuned for the official list which will be available soon.

Wells hails WRE test...
22nd August: UK Pro ET racer Steve Wells has written to publically thank everyone involved in Wednesday's Webster Race Engineering Test Day at Santa Pod Raceway.
©Eurodragster.com
"It was the best £120 I have spent in a long time", says Steve. "The race track was by far the best-prepped track I have ever tested on, better than I have raced on some occasions. The track was so good that even my truck went straight, at least until I started to fiddle! Jon's advice was great and he was very helpful. All in all a great day and worth every penny."

...as does Sparky.
22nd August: Bike racer Mark 'Sparky' Wiffen also had a great day at Santa Pod on Wednesday. "I smashed my goal of running my first nine on my road-legal Horsepower Shootout GSX1100G Sparky's Hippo with a first nitrous run of 9.49", says Sparky. "I improved later in the day to 9.33 running a very tired motor and only a sniff of gas, with a best sixty foot of 1.46 (cheers Grumpy!) My gearbox shift problems were eradicated and then a whooping 0.75s taken off my previous PB of 10.08. Thanks to Paulie 'Safe Pair of Hands' Cranfield, and the excellent track and testing conditions provided by Jon Webster and Santa Pod."
©Eurodragster.com
Mark tells us that the bike was Big CC/Streetfighters Horsepower Shootout runner-up in 2001 and 2002 with 295 bhp and, running normally aspirated, won the Streetlegal Unlimited class at the Ramsey Sprint in 2002.

Web site updates.
22nd August: The new official web site of the European Pro Mod Racers Association is, in the words of webmaster Patrik, "Working correctly" (it always looked just fine to us - Ed). The EPMA web site at www.promod.nu is a credit to the class, professionally-presented in both English and Swedish and featuring news, rules, results, points, team run-down, pictures and much more.
©Eurodragster.com
Alan Currans has been in touch with news of the latest update to his Acceleration Archive which is rapidly becoming essential viewing if you like your Nostalgia. "Andy Barrack has been a good friend and frequent contributor to the site, helping me out with missing information more times than I can remember", says Alan. "It is therefore a particular pleasure for me to be able to show you his pictures which I am sure you will find as interesting as I do. Andy has adopted a novel format for his first page by comparing pictures taken in the 1970s with quite recent shots. You will see how great oaks can grow from little acorns...". You can find Alan's web site at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk.

10.66 and all that.

21st August: If you have been tuned in over the last week or so you will have read more than a few references to the latest student of Paul Marston's Driving School, who was due to take the wheel of the Grumpy's Dodge Super Gasser at yesterday's Webster Race Engineering Test Day.

That student was none other than Eurodragster staffer Tog, who spent a very exciting and enjoyable day under Paul Marston's tutelage (right). Although not officially applying for a competition licence, Tog followed licencing procedures with burnouts and progressively longer runs culminating in a full pass of 10.669/126.05 on his fifth pass of the day.
©Eurodragster.com
"If Tog had been officially licencing then I would have signed his licence", said Santa Pod's International Race Director Darren Prentice at the end of the day. "With a couple more full passes under his belt I would be more than happy to take a passenger ride with Tog driving."

"This has got to count as one of the best days of my entire life", said Tog. "I have been a fan of drag racing since 1976 and driving a race car has been a dream since the beginning. I can tell you that the reality was even better than the dream, and also that it is nowhere near as easy as every racer makes it look. Actually taking the wheel has given me a much better appreciation of what racers go through and hopefully will make my reports that bit better.

"When I write the feature for Eurodragster there will be a full list of Thank Yous, but I am very grateful indeed to Paul Marston for his excellent training and patience, and to Paul's wife Sam and son Max and crew member David for all of their help yesterday. A big Thank You also to Fay Fischer for the loan of a firesuit, and to Sharkman for his solid support and encouragement and for some excellent pictures."

Tog's Super Gas drive will be the subject of a special feature on Eurodragster very soon.

On a similar subject Sam Gardiner, who won the Junior Dragster Driving Experience donated by Santa Pod Raceway to Eurodragster's Fifth Birthday Give-Away, took his drive at Santa Pod's Run What You Brung last Sunday. "Chris' best time was 17.01 and his best speed was 37.01", says dad Trevor. "He's sold on it now and wants more power! Sam had three solo runs and then a race with another Junior, the pressure got to him and he red-lit! Thanks are due to Chris and Ricky Emms for their patience, to Kelly at SPR for sorting all this out and Eurodragster for putting up the prize!"

Kågered takes nothing for granted.
21st August: Swedish Top Fuel Dragster racer and FIA Championship leader Micke Kågered isn't taking his points lead for granted as he goes into this weekend's Nitrolympics at Hockenheim, says Team Manager Åsa Kinnemar. "Top Fuellers are tricky machines, and you can never know for sure whether or not things will turn out as planned", says Åsa. "However, Micke says that he likes the track in Hockenheim very much as he always feel so safe driving there. The actual strip has a very high standard of security, both in the way it is built and the staff around it. Micke is looking forward to this race and is more eager than he has been all season now that the car is working better. We know that the Hockenheim track can be tricky to adjust the cars to, and it is Micke's first time ever in a Top Fueller at the track, but if the confidence he has in the car and his crew right now counts for something then he will go a long way."
©Eurodragster.com
Meanwhile, team-mate Niclas Andersson who drives the Sandflex-sponsored Top Methanol FC hasn't had such a successful season so far, says Åsa. "Niclas is new to Top Methanol and driving the Funny Car is more difficult than he anticipated", she says. "Having been used to winning a lot of events in Pro Stock category, Niclas is in an unfamiliar position. The car is a winning one, but we have to view this season a learning one for Niclas. It is getting better and better, but the improvements are not as rapid as Niclas might wish. However, we are aiming for a win at Hockenheim, the car will be set up to perform at its best, and we will see where that leads us. Urs Erbacher is a tough call and we know he has done great in the last seasons at Hockenheim, but we will try and give him the best shot we can, and as we have seen before even the best get in trouble sometimes."

The Kågered Racing web site at www.kagered-racing.com will be updated from Hockenheim over the weekend with qualifying and elimination results in Top Fuel Dragster and Top Methanol FC.

Weekend snippets.
21st August: Dutch Supertwin racer Ton Pels will have two other bikes on display at the Nitrolympics at Hockenheim this weekend, in addition to his 6.6-second bike. "We're bringing a beautiful 'Softail Sportster' and also a bike called 'Predator, which is a modified twin-cam softail with a paint job that matches the Godfather Dragbike", says Monique Pels. "Furthermore we will have some cool new goodies for sale, such as Zodiac Racing Coffee Mugs, our brand new Zodiac Racing T-shirts - which came in just two days ago - and of course the latest four-inch-thick Zodiac catalogue. If If you're coming to the Hockenheimring this weekend, come pay us a visit at the Zodiac pit."

After burning up a set of pistons in June, the UK's Wicked Lady Wild Bunch team have been burning the midnight oil to replace them, get the crankshaft trimmed and hardened and basically get the engine together for this weekend�s Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway, says Eddie Winship. Driver Denis Hawkins and Crew Chief Bob Callander are hoping that reduced compression will let the recently-replaced torque converter do its stuff, although the first couple of passes might have to concentrate on the first sixty feet.
©Eurodragster.com
This weekend's race at Shakespeare County Raceway will be the first event which the Czechmate Sportsman ET team will not be making the show, writes Jeff Rainbird. "Axeman's much better half Nicky is hanging on to the baby longer than expected", says Jeff. "As of this moment it's still not making an apperance, which has left me with no choice but to keep the Skoda in the workshop and race another day. I hope that Axeman can change nappies better than I can get the Skoda to change gear because Nicky will not spare him a serious tongue lashing. The Team Czechmate banner will be championed by Martin Lewis in the little Nova."

Sweden's AC Delco/Malmgren Racing Pro Stock team have welcomed a new team member just in time for the Nitrolympics. "Tomas the clutch wizard and Camilla the catering wizard had a lovely baby boy last week", says team member Magnus Cato. "Mother and child are fine. When Tomas and Camilla introduced their first baby to the Camaro, he immediately stood in the driver's seat with one hand on the wheel and the other hand on the gear shifter! What a talent. Now we are looking forward to bring our newest member to the workshop". Sharkman and Tog would like to send Tomas and Camilla our very best wishes, and we are sure that all of our readers will join us.

York Charity RWYB.
21st August: This Saturday afternoon (23rd), York Raceway will be holding its annual Rotary International Event, says York PR Howard Holmes. "This successful fund-raiser is in support of Polio Plus in its mission to rid the world of polio", writes Howard. "It's a 'fun' event, however it also provides the opportunity for a bit of RWYB and Test and Tune since it's all marshalled, TSI-timed etc. It's only �5 admission and �15 sign-on, fancy dress is optional! The only down side is that you may be paired against the likes of a '56 Rolls Royce Silver Summat rather than a Tri-Chevy. The track will be open from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm, so come and have a run with some fun and the rosy glow of knowing that it's all going to charity!
©Eurodragster.com
Wildside Rocks!
21st August: Whilst everyone else is busy racing this weekend, the UK's Wildside Inc Top Fuel Dragster team are doing their bit by helping Santa Pod Raceway to promote the FIA European Finals at the Lego Racers 200 event at Rockingham Motor Speedway, writes Lesley Wright.

"It�s going to be quite special as we�re going to do a burnout show in the pit lane during the lunch break", says Lesley. "The facility boasts 100% visibility from the 52,000 all-seater stadium and we�ll be on show after the Pick Up Truck Racing and before the headline race of the Days of Thunder ASCAR in the afternoon. There are also lots of activities for the kids with a Ramp Park, quad bikes and the Lego Activity Centre. If you are not going to Hockenheim or SCR, come by and see us on Sunday and have some fun!"
©Eurodragster.com
Schöfer set for home event.
20th August: FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champion Peter Schöfer and his team believe that they are on the right track going into this weekend's Nitrolympics at Hockenheim, which is the German team's home event. Top Methanol Dragster is currently the closest FIA Championship of 2003 with a mere six points between leader Dave Wilson and Peter, and the pair have been trading the lead and the records all season.
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"We are looking forward to the Nitrolympics", says team member Gittli Koller. "Hockenheim is five hundred kilometres from our home town. We are very happy that it is back on the FIA calendar and we hope to run well there. After the race at Gardermoen where we ran the quickest ET outside the USA (5.43) and found some more speed (259 mph) we think we are going in the right direction. We learned a lot about the car in Norway and also about what can happen when a small part breaks - the car didn't start in the final."

You can find Peter Schöfer's web site at www.p-s-r.com.

Joon finds time for Fuel FC.
20th August: With a lot of work already on his hands such as moving house, promoting drag race events at Drachten and attending shows, Holland's Lex Joon has found the time to turn his mind to preparing his MPM International Oil Company-sponsored Dodge Avenger Fuel Funny Car for the this weekend's British Nitro FC Championship round at Shakespeare County Raceway, closely followed by the final round at the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway two weeks later. This will be Lex's second competitive outing in the FC, the first being at the FIA Main Event in May, although he has in the meantime pulled some spectacular burnouts at the events which he promotes at Drachten.

"In spite of the busy times we have been having, the whole team is looking forward to the two upcoming events in the UK", says Lex. "With the indispensible help of Gary Burgin, who helps us European racers to collect all the necessary parts which are made in the USA, we have managed to get things together in order for our two most interesting Funny Car races in the last decade. The LJR team have carefully checked the Fuel Funny car to be sure that nothing will impede my getting down the quarter mile."

"We will run our first five-second passes in the MPM Dodge Avenger at the Allstar Nationals", says Team Manager Gerda Dijkstra, who is looking forward to her first visit to Shakespeare County Raceway the Fuel FC. "Lex is Top Methanol FC track record holder at Shakespeare County and I know that he is looking forward to visiting the cosy track near Stratford Upon Avon. With the four cars attending this race the crowd can be sure they will see the best Funny Car action seen in Europe in a long time."
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Gerda has designed new hero cards which will be available at the first time at Shakespeare County Raceway thie weekend. "During the Question and Answer session on Sunday morning Lex will hold an autograph session", she says. "This gives the fans the opportunity to talk to Lex, because during the weekend when he is working hard in his new office - which he enjoys very much - he almost has no time left to talk to them, although he thinks that fans are the most important tools in a good race.

"The Allstar Nationals the next step in the learning curve for our team. The crew is learning really quickly, and every opportunity is being taken to gain better knowledge on the car and nitro racing. We are very proud to welcome our new crew member Martin de Bruijn who works at TNO, a big research centre here in the Netherlands."

Gerda tells us that Lex is very much looking forward to renewing one old acquaintance in particular. "Lex can't wait to meet Gary Page, who was his opponent in the 1996 Cannonball final which Lex won", says Gerda. "Driving a car with Gary in the other lane brings back memories and we know for sure that Gary want to level the score!"

After the Allstar Nationals the LJR team will leave the car in the UK and travel back to Holland for the Dutch Finals at Drachten on 30th-31st August, then return to the UK for the FIA European Finals on 5th-7th September.

You can find the Lex Joon Racing web site at www.lexjoonracing.nl.

A couple of paragraphs back we were talking about Gary Page, and as it happens we heard from Gary as we were putting together today's news update. "I'll be very happy to return the compliment to Lex!" he said. "I've got a long memory! I would also like to say good luck to ever