European Drag Racing News

Talbots' Oscars speech.
30th September: UK Super Pro ET team Talbot Racing achieved their 2003 target when Pat Talbot blasted into the sixes with a 6.956 in Super Pro eliminations at Santa Pod on Sunday. Pat broke out, having dialled-in a 6.99, but husband and Crew Chief Stephen Talbot is "Over the Moon" and untroubled by little formalities such as losing a race.

"The six-second pass was the result of three years of planning and effort by a lot of people", says Stephen. "We have a lot of people to thank - sorry if this is a long list but we think that Eurodragster is the best medium to thank everyone who has helped us.

"Firstly, thanks to Geof and Ray at Hauser Race Cars and Jon Webster at Webster Race Engineering for giving us a lovely chassis to work with. Thanks also to Rob Loaring and Nick Davies at ICE Automotive for the engine build, tuning advice and patience - they have given us a great Nitrous set-up which hasn't hurt any motor parts all season! - and to Al O’Connor for looking after our transmission.
©Eurodragster.com
"Of course there are all of the Super Pro racers who have given us advice, especially Roger and Dave Moore who have supported us in our first Nitrous season. Thanks to Tog and Sharkman for the support through Eurodragster (Thank you! - Ed) and to all of the fans who have wished us well in the pits.

"Finally, as all racers know, we can’t race the car without our Super Crew. Thanks to Robin, Lisa, Crunch, Jason, Mike, Peter and all the rest who have helped us this season.

"Congratulations to George Chiarella on his Super Pro ET win at the weekend, and we hope that Mark Flavell and Wayne Nicholson are well on the way to recovery and will soon be back racing (Hear, hear - Ed). OK, so this sounded like an Oscars speech - but we'll see you all next season!"

Frost's season of bests.
30th September: Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Andy Frost has had his best-ever season in his Red Victor Vauxhall, coming third in the CCSE Championship, winning a coveted Eight Second jacket, and setting new personal bests not just for ET and speed but at every incremental point on the track. Andy dropped us a line to express his appreciation to everyone who has helped him this year.
©Eurodragster.com
"First a big hand to my sponsors: Knight Racing Services, Aldridge Trimming and Kevin Scott", says Andy. "Thanks to my hard-working crew of Tony Grayston, Steve Potter, Debbie Frost and Gary Frost. Also a big thanks to Jon Webster and to FB Racing for the all the special help they've given me over the season, and to Darren Prentice for the awesome tracks over the last couple of meetings. Big thanks too to Custom Car magazine, who continue to support the fastest street-legal cars in Europe, all the class sponsors (you're welcome - Ed), Lee Child and Dale Reardon for their sterling work, and finally everyone who has supported the Red Victor race team."

Andy will be updating his web site at www.redvictor1racing.co.uk over the off-season, and promises fans more of the same next year. "Watch in 2004 as we continue to set new PB ETs and speeds in the World's fastest street-legal Vauxhall Victor FD", he says.

Speedy Beck takes title.
30th September: Additional information which came to the hand of ACU UK Drag Bike Championship Co-ordinator Ian King has changed the outcome of the 2003 ACU Pro Stock Bike Championship. Dave Beck just squeaked the title from Richard Gipp after setting high speed at last weekend's UK National Finals, which made the difference to win Becky an unprecedented sixth ACU title.

"US racing commitments resulted in Dave being able to contest only four of the six rounds in the UK", says Stephen Moon. "Despite this, the team secured wins at all four meetings, built on a foundation of four number one qualifier spots. This dominant performance was enough to secure a sixth title, against competition with a two round advantage.

"In addition to winning four rounds, Dave set new ET and speed benchmarks for the class earlier in the year, turning in the first sub-7.3 run outside of the US, with a new European ET record of 7.29. A new terminal speed record of 183.07 mph was also set.

"In the ProStar rounds in the US, Dave has also continued to make progress, posting qualifying times in the 6.8-second bracket at Indianapolis. With two Championship rounds still to run in 2003, in Alabama and Gainesville, Dave has high hopes of improving on this mark and making a strong impact on the eliminations.

"Plans for 2004 are already well underway, with a new Roger Upperton motor making its debut last weekend. Discussions with potential sponsors are also well advanced. The ACU Championship will be defended and the US campaign will also continue. In addition Dave is considering, subject to sponsorship discussions, contesting at least one European Championship round with his record-breaking Pro Stocker."
©Eurodragster.com
Big Shootout snippets.
30th September: Mark Needham will be one of a number of Supercharged Outlaw racers attending this weekend's Big Shootout at Shakespeare County Raceway. Mark's car can appear either as a Topolino altered or a Funny Car, and he tells us that the Topo body is currently the favoured cloak for this weekend. "We are awaiting a part from the States, but have been told it should be here by tomorrow", says Mark. "We will most probably be running the Bad Black Topolino alterd body for the weekend as it says more about being an Outlaw than the Funny Car, but then again the Funny could be fun...Hell, just wait and see."
©Eurodragster.com
UK Super Gas racer Rob Elsom is plannnig to return to the track for some fun at the Big Shootout as well as the Halloween Showdown and Flame and Thunder Show. "I was hoping to be out at the National Finals last weekend, but unfortunately had a mains panel go bang in my face leaving me with lots of little green red and blue spots in my eyes", says Rob, "not to mention the mandatory flash burns. It's just Sodd's Law that something like that happens when you eventually get your finger out to go racing! The rest of the year has been taken up making plans for a new arrival as Sharon is expecting a baby in March 2004, giving me a bit of time to prepare for a full season of Super Gas next year - at least I hope so anyway!"

Martin Curbishley will again be eschewing his Roadster for Will Furniss' Toyota Supra at the Big Shootout, after a successful weekend at the Doorslammer Internationals. Will Furniss is still out of service due to family commitments, and Martin has damaged the transmission of his Roadster, so Martin will again be teaming up with Nev Mottershead and Andy Williamson.

For more information about the Big Shootout including entry fees, check out last Friday's news item.

Spuff overwhelmed by reaction.
30th September: MSA British Nitro Funny Car Champion John Spuffard has been overwhelmed by the reaction to his recent accident which seriously injured his left wrist and hand. "The phone hasn't stopped ringing, I have had E-Mails, cards, and even a bunch of flowers from Santa Pod which was a tremendous gesture", says Spuff.

Spuff came up to visit us in Race Control at the weekend and was laughing and joking and enjoying the racing. He is very optimistic about a complete recovery. "The repairs are already underway and the outcome looks very good", he says. Spuff also took a turn around the pits and he tells us that the reaction of fellow racers, officials and fans was just overwhelming. "Everyone has shown so much concern, I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am", he says.

Spuff asked us to say a very special thanks to Turner Racing team member Ricky Gowen. "It was Ricky who rushed me to hospital", he said. "Without his help things could have been a lot worse. I would also like to say again how grateful I am to my partner Jo who has had to drive me everywhere and put up with me generally!"
©Eurodragster.com
On the subject of repairs, Spuff told us that the ex-John Force Racing Mustang body which departed the Showtime FC in dramatic fashion at the FIA European Finals is also well on the road to recovery. "It wasn't very badly damaged", says Spuff. "In fact it was easier to repair than my wrist! Carlo Gandolfi of CG Composites is working on the Mustang. It's in the early stages of repair, say about three to four weeks to complete, but if you look at it now it already looks as if all it needs is a top coat!"

Spuff promised to keep up up-to-date with news of the repair of the Mustang, and hopefully we will be able to persuade the self-effacing FC star to keep us informed about his own recovery.

Timing data, points update.
30th September: The timing data from the UK National Finals is now available courtesy of Andy Marrs of TSI Timers. Click here to view the timing data, or click on the Timing Data link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.
©Eurodragster.com
Thanks also to National Association of Supertwins Championship Co-ordinator Sue Beneke for sending us the final standings in the 2003 NAST Championships, which confirm the Champions published yesterday. Click here to view the NAST points, or click on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

The weekend's timing data is also available on the European Drag Racing Database at www.eurodrag.com.

Erwin Lihtola.
29th September: We were very sorry to hear from our good friend Hannele Höydén of the Finnish Hot Rod Association that much-loved supporter, member and official Erwin Lihtola has died suddenly.

"Erwin was a long term worker in Finnish hot rodding and drag racing, who had the chance to work on every level of the sports, from a racer to a Member of the Board in FHRA", says Hannele. "He had a very positive attitude to life and you always enjoyed his company, now we have lost a very fine and a invaluable person. FHRA would like to send condolences to Erwin's family and friends, and we are confident that the whole Finnish and international drag racing community will conjoin the condolence. We miss you Erwin."

Sharkman and Tog and we are sure all of our readers would like to echo Hannele's sentiment.

UK National Finals results.
29th September: Congratulations to the winners of the UK National Finals which took place at Santa Pod Raceway this weekend:

Top Methanol: Dave Wilson 5.722/239.05 def. Steph Milam 10.444/82.87
Super Modified: Andy Hone 8.127/170.04 def. Steve Rawlings 7.937/169.90
Super Pro ET: George Chiarella (7.92) 7.933/165.41 def. Barry Giles (7.65) 7.719/169.70
Pro ET: Bob Doyle (10.37) 10.398/131.28 def. Rick McCann (10.74) 10.750/123.59
Sportsman ET: Nick South (14.01) 14.171/97.20 def. Andy Raw (12.80) 12.772/102.13
Super Comp: Malcolm Francis 8.931/133.40 def. Tim Adam 8.921/149.54
Super Gas: Frank Mason 9.997/127.57 def. Pete Creswell 10.141/138.26
Super Street: Dave Cherrett 10.957/102.34 def. Mike Bentley 10.892/126.65
Junior Dragster: Nick Mugridge (8.90) 8.964/70.70 def. Collin Morrice 9.008/72.39
Custom Car Street Eliminator: Jon Webster 8.174/177.50 def. Jeff Meads 8.581/161.13
Wild Bunch: Gareth Kent (12.40) 12.603/99.25 def. Alec Coe (10.57) 10.756/110.61
VW Pro: Justin Aldred (12.40) 12.607/106.86 def. Paul Bate (11.75) 11.837/111.34 red light
VW Sportsman: Christos Kouzaris (21.20) 22.494/46.03 def. Graham Fairhead (15.70) 16.397/65.05 red light
©Eurodragster.com
Funny Bike: Dave Holland 7.046/185.12 def. Mike Chislett 7.110/183.82
Pro Stock Bike: Dave Beck 7.445/176.28 def. Richard Gipp 7.526/175.11
Super Street Bike: Ivan Birch 8.476/164.46 def. Graham Dance 8.475/174.07
Comp Bike: Phil Leamon 8.406/156.52 def. Klaus Sarembe 8.551/120.12
9.90 Bike: Fred Furlong 10.015/125.54 def. Shaun Jones 9.993/136.65
10.90 Bike: Andy Burfitt 10.906/112.63 def. Phil Pratt 10.877/124.66 breakout
Supertwin Fuel: Ian Turburville 9.351/143.22 was unopposed
Supertwin Gas: George Laycock 9.639/132.39 def. Andy Smith 10.533/124.38
Supertwin Modified: Simon Hodgson 9.957/143.94 def. Dave Bartz 10.253/135.92
Supertwin Street: Mark Earrey 10.184/132.76 def. Chris Mott 11.108/124.28

In a thrilling weekend of Sportsman action ET and speed records were set in Custom Car Street Eliminator by Steve Pateman and Jon Webster respectively, Sarah Jane Head became the second-quickest female drag bike racer on the planet (only 0.036 seconds behind the quickest), and Graham Dance set a new Super Street Bike speed record, to name just a few highlights. VW Sportsman racer Graham Fairhead took the final Eurodragster Perfect Light Award of 2003 with a 0.500 in qualifying on Saturday.

Click here to view our American Car Imports-sponsored Event Coverage, or click on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Provisional UK Champions.
29th September: Subject to ratification by Championship Co-ordinators, the provisional 2003 UK Champions are as follow. Congratulations to:

MSA British Drag Racing Championship: Dave Wilson
Pro Modified: Gordon Appleton
Super Modified: Team Steelcraft (Danny Cockerill and Kev Perkins)
Super Pro ET: Ian Bishop
Pro ET: Team Top Banana (Brian and Lee Huxley)
Sportsman ET: Kev Slyfield
Super Comp: Tim Adam
Super Gas: Tim Adam
Super Street: Mike Bentley
Junior Dragster: Collin Morrice
Custom Car Street Eliminator: Steve Pateman
Wild Bunch Series: Tom Coe
©Eurodragster.com
ACU Top Fuel Bike: Steve Woollatt
ACU Funny Bike: Neil Midgley
ACU Pro Stock Bike: Dave Beck
ACU Super Street Bike: Karl Larcombe
ACU Comp Bike: Phil Leamon
9.90 Bike: Fred Furlong
10.90 Bike: Andy Burfitt
NAST Supertwin Fuel: Chris Stebbings
NAST Supertwin Gas: George Laycock
NAST Supertwin Modified: TJ O'Brien
NAST Supertwin Street: Mark Earrey

When we receive final confirmation of the Champions we will run another news item.

Doubled-up ACI On Tour.
29th September: To celebrate their double Championship wins (FIA European and MSA British Drag Racing), the UK's American Car Imports Racing Top Methanol Dragster team are to embark upon an tour of the USA with plans to contest eleven races.

Dave Wilson and the team will be competing in the last two NHRA National Events of 2003 in Las Vegas and Pomona, as well as the 2004 Winternationals, Gatornationals and NHRA Divisional events before returning the dragster to the UK in time for next year's FIA Main Event.
©Eurodragster.com
"The truck is leaving on Wednesday", said driver Dave Wilson yesterday evening. "We fly to pick it up in Florida and then we have to drive it to Las Vegas!"

We will bring you more news on the ACI Racing team's US venture as we receive it.

Get well soon, Sharon!
27th September: Many thanks to Terry and Tina Gibbs for passing on the news that the UK's Super Modified Championship Co-ordinator Sharon Hogarth, husband of race car builder, painter and Super Mod racer Jon Hogarth, is well on the road to recovery after being taken ill last weekend and needing an operation. "Jon Hogarth has been keeping in touch with Terry and I daily", says Tina. "He said that the operation went well and that Sharon is on the road to recovery. Jon has been beside himself with worry but now that the op is out of the way Sharon can make a full recovery."
©Eurodragster.com
Terry and Tina asked us to send their very best wishes to Sharon, which we are very pleased to do and to which Sharkman and Tog and we are sure all of our readers add their own best regards.

If you would like to send a card then you can find Sharon and Jon's address on the Home Page of their Specialist In Design web site at www.specialistindesign.co.uk.

Spuff OK after "argument".
26th September: 2003 British Nitro Funny Car Champion John Spuffard is at home and recovering after suffering serious injuries to his left hand and wrist last weekend. Spuff was doing some DIY last Saturday when in his own words "I had an argument with a circular saw and lost".

Spuff spent five days in Stoke Mandeville Hospital after his accident. "I can't say enough for the Hospital", he says. "They did a superb job. I would like to thank everyone on Ward 21, the surgeon, the registrar, the doctors and the nurses. They've all been blinding, as has my partner Jo."
©Eurodragster.com
Spuff says that although the injuries to his wrist and hand were serious, it is not going to wreck his and the Showtime team's plans for 2004. "It's all there, there's nothing missing!", he says. "I can already move my fingers. It just needs physiotherapy and time to heal now."

Spuff asked us to thank everyone who has written and called. "I am very grateful indeed for all of your support, it is much appreciated", he says. "I'll be glad to shake your hands just as soon as I can."

Finals VW Pro preview.
26th September: This weekend's UK National Finals at Santa Pod Raceway includes the fifth of six rounds of the 2003 Volkswagen Drag Racing Club Championships. VWDRC Championship Co-ordinator Spencer Tramm kindly sent us a preview of this weekend's action in Jon Rathbone Race Cars VW Pro.

"We have a thirteen car field which is one of our best this late on in the season, the Championship looks set to be between Russ Fellows who drives his eleven-second turbo Bug from Chester and Paul Woodhead who is still in his first full season of racing.

"Joining these two is a returning Nigel Green who despite a slow start at Bug Jam is one of the club's most experienced Pro racers and will be back to his low eleven second best here. The Aldred brothers will be looking to continue the round wins after Justin's runner-up finish at Bug Jam and although Jason broke his gearbox (and subsequently nearly broke his Credit Card!) he will be looking to even the score as Justin took him out in round one last meeting.
©Eurodragster.com
"Rob Bowler has added a turbo system to his Beetle in hopes of getting into the elevens, whether Rob has factored in if the extra weight can be towed by his camper van remains to be seen! Richie Webb is back in VW Pro after his Euro Finals venture into Pro ET, although he lost in round one to Marius Blackburn, Richie made great strides towards getting his street legal Bug into the tens.

"Paul Bate is hot off another Bug Jam win, his second in a row, and Paul also has one of the Cal Look Forum top twenty fastest cal-look street cars and the only one outside of North America. Ian Dale is making steady progress deeper into the twelve second bracket with the Stripburner car and Ian has one of the most consistent cars in VW Pro. After his early season spin at a RWYB just before Easter, Brett Lincoln and team owner Duane Brown finally managed their season long task, take the car home in one peice! After taking a couple of race to acclimatise in the car Brett was pulling excellent reaction times and made the semi finals of a twenty three-car field at Bug Jam.

Class sponsor Jon Rathbone will be looking to get more seat time while he waits for his new Mendeola gearbox to arrive in readiness for 2004. Jon is busy in his workshop readying some new Pro cars for next season. Last but by no means last the Fiat's of Cogbox's Pete Englezos (Fiat 600) and Taylor Machine Services's Martin Taylor (Fiat 500) add to an interesting mix of body styles."

You can find out more about the Volkswagen Drag Racing Club on their official web site at www.vwdrc.com.

Go Big at SCR.
26th September: All cars running up to 13.99 are welcome to next weekend's (4th-5th October) Big Shootout at Shakespeare County Raceway. The Big Shootout is a turn-up-and-run event similar to last weekend's Doorslammer Internationals, except that this time around doors are not mandatory. "Whether you've got a Fuel Altered or Super Street car, whether you're blown, carburetted or injected, whether you're long and pointy or short and wide, this is the event for you!", says promoter Lee Child, who sponsors Eurodragster's Links pages through his company LA Racing Parts.

Joining the festivities will be Darryl Bradford in John and Lesley Wright's Wildside Inc Top Fuel Dragster, Roger Goring's Firestorm Jet Funny Car, and a large field of Supercharged Outlaws about which more details soon.

For Big Shootout participants, all classes will run heads-up on a Pro tree. The classes and prize structure for the Shootout are as follow:

Top Eliminator for cars running quicker than 7.25 seconds

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

Super Eliminator for cars running 7.26-8.50

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 Gasser for cars running 8.51-9.75

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

Super Sportsman for cars running 9.76-11.25
©Eurodragster.com
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

Sportsman for cars running 11.26-13.99

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

Open practice will be run in between sessions of the Shootout.

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.

Fireforce 2 II.
26th September: UK Jet Funny Car pilot Martin Hill tells us that he has had a hard couple of weeks since throwing the Chevy Lumina body of the Fireforce 2 Jet FC at the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway just after crossing the finish line at 273 miles per hour. However, a new body has been fitted to the chassis and Martin is all set to take Greece by storm.

"I still don't have a definitive answer to our problem with the body letting go but there are various possibilities", says Martin. "The run itself was normal, as was the chute deployment, but shortly after the canopy opened daylight appeared between the chassis and the body - this happened two years ago also. It had bellowed out again and lifted from the mountings, having broken its back. This in turn let all the air pressure out and the body sat back down, but then the body flexed the other way, unlatched itself, acted like a sail and just peeled off. I watched the body disappear over my head through the roll cage. It was a strange feeling going from being a totally enclosed Funny Car to a dragster in a second or two. Then I focussed forwards again and the front wheels must have been at least a couple of feet of the floor, luckily the car just planted itself back down again as there was no lift with the body off. The car was always in a straight line throughout the ride, and was brought to halt at the end of the strip as normal much to the relief of the fire crews.
©Eurodragster.com
"I do not know whether it is a problem with the manufacture of the body, the materials used, or a more serious problem with airflow on shut down but we will get to the right conclusions as soon as possible. Until it all has been sorted I will run the car more conservatively - in other words slow it down a bit, I think with what else is going off around me 250 mph is fast enough for the time being and just concentrate on a bigger show. it is against my nature to go slower but I hope that everyone will understand.

"The car now has its spare body painted and fitted and is loaded in the trailer ready for our trip to Greece. We will be fulfilling all our commitments with both cars till the end of the year and then re-assess the situation.

"I must thank all involved for their help over the last couple of weeks, not at least Steve from Roadcoal who talked me in to having the spare body done early this year; Trev, Steve and John and all those at B and H Autokraft who have put up with me; Roger at Unity Painters for turning the body round; Paul the fibreglass man for sticking the right bits on and the body itself; Horrace for being Horrace; the rest of the team and the support from the track crew and all the public who contributed to the collection."

You can find the Fireforce web site at www.fireforce.co.uk.

Lots Happening.
26th September: UK Supercharged Outlaw racer Johnny 'Mental' Hall and the Windridge Hall McKenzie team have sold the wild, Tree-hugging Happening slingshot as they aim to go one better next season.

"The Happening was put up for sale recently, so that prospective buyers would have the opportunity to look at the car in action at the Hot Rod Drags and the Big Shootout", says Johnny. "We fully expected to see out the season before selling, but we shot ourselves in the foot as a fan of the car phoned up as soon as he saw the ad in Custom Car magazine. Peter Van Goethem, who owns and runs the Americana shop said that he couldn't make the Hot Rod Drags because his company had a trade stand at the FIA European Finals at the Pod, but that he would come and view the car later that week .

"Well, we are glad that he didn't come to Shakey that weekend as he may have had a heart attack watching the antics of our wild wheelying slingshot. Our first run was an arrow-straight 8.78 beating a quicker 8.77 from Lee Johnstone in his silver Topolino, but later that day the car narrowly missed the Tree for a sqiggly 9.7 against Frank Griffin. On Sunday we were joined by our buddy Bill Felstead who is just coming back on the scene after a layoff of over ten years. We were again paired against Lee and this time he had to shut off with problems to our winning arrow-straight 8.7/150.

"Later in the afternoon we sat in the pairing lanes waiting to race and my Crew Chief Mark Windridge leaned over and told me that he lowered the tyre pressures to 5 psi because we were having traction problems all weekend, and as a result of that he had to raise the wheelie bars because they would be too low in the shutdown area and would unsettle the car when I came off the tyres at the top end. Well, those of you who have seen the startline antics of the Happening are now informed that it is always this way when we lower the pressures. All I can say is thank God for what happened next.
©Eurodragster.com
"Bev gave us the signal to fire up and our opponent Pete Radcliffe in Burning Desire did exactly that and proceded to go round to do his burnout, but we couldn't spin the motor over to get it to fire, and Rad did a solo run. It turned out a wire had come loose, and in the couple of minutes that this was occuring I had got out and then back into the car as we had remedied the problem and were given the all clear to do a run. I did a burnout and was instructed I was on a single. I went into stage and when the lights came down I pulled the biggest wheely of my career, not only that but I went straight past the Tree and into the other lane with the wheels in the air, and if I had been racing Rad I would have landed on top of him...Spooky.

"Since then, lots has happened. Peter has put a deposit on the car and will be coming back over in October to pick it up after Bill Felstead and myself put a new lower roll cage on it and take it to Martin Curbishley's paint shop for a new '60s paint job. It will be on display at the shop in Belgium as well as coming out to play at various Rod Runs and Shows and hopefully some Supercharged Outlaw meets in the UK and maybe abroad.

"As for Windridge Hall McKenzie, we are building a 225" AA/Fuel slingshot, and in fact have already got a rolling chassis finished, also on the chassis table in our Northern branch a blown altered is starting to take shape. So plenty is "Happening" in our camp. Whatever happens elsewhere on the Nostalgia scene in this country, we will be there to meet the challenge, and the message is 'We don't need no stinking Hemis'. Yes, we are laying down the Gauntlet."

You can see pictures of the ex-Wheeldon Plan X car taking shape at Johnny's workshop on the Windridge Hall McKenzie web site at www.alkyoneus.co.uk.

PMR's double act.
26th September: With so much going on this year, Paul Marston Racing have found themselves with very little time to let us all know what they've been up to recently. But Paul managed to find some time to sit at his computer and sent us the latest from the PMR pit.

"We have found ourselves flat out with the Drag Race Driving School and Passenger Ride Experiences", says Paul. "We have taken advantage of every single opportunity to get on the track at Santa Pod, and I simply cannot thank Santa Pod staff, Paul Marston Racing and all our sponsors enough for their co-operation. For without their forward thinking and belief in the programme we simply could not achieve what we have.

"Just prior to the European Finals at Santa Pod earlier this month, we managed within three days to run twenty seven passes in Grumpy's Dodge alone, without counting the runs in the Insanity Vega. Eurodragster's very own Tog held the record for the fastest pass by a pupil at 10.669/126.06, everyone at PMR thought that would stand for the rest of the season as it was quite an outstanding effort on his behalf. But at the last Webster Race Engineering Test Day, whilst teaching two more pupils this was surpassed and a 10.64/128 is now the new mark. Not that the teaching is about speed, it is about driving skills and learning them, but it does demonstrate the human competitive streak we all have in us (I'll be back - Ed).

"We must also congratulate Dave Gibbons for his stellar efforts in the Alien altered at Shakespeare County Raceway in August, to smash a personal best held for nearly twenty years was a joy to see and a 7.87/163 is no mean feat. The Alien was scheduled to make an appearance at Santa Pod this weekend but that plan has been changed, more on that further down.

"Last weekend Paul Marston Racing returned to Shakespeare County Raceway for the Doorslammer Internationals. A welcome return of our first pupil to enter competition, Michael Pusey driving Grumpy's Dodge for a second time, the first being at the Main Event at Santa Pod earlier this season. With plenty of track time available Mick had the added bonus of plenty of practice before eliminations commenced (see Tuesday's news item Doorslammer PB Fest for more - Ed).

"Everyone at Paul Marston Racing was very happy and proud of Michael, our first graduate of the Paul Marston Racing Drag Race Driving School. Sometimes you have to wait a very long time for the first win; to win a round at the second event in which you compete is no mean achievement. With the added bonus of being able to run some more passes in the RWYB, Michael went on to run a flat out pass of 10.33/130, a new mark for Grumpy's Dodge in its current set-up. I also took to the wheel again and ran a couple of passes, taking two attempts to better Michael's time with an eventual 10.27/129.
©Eurodragster.com
"So with this weekend being the last National event of the season at Santa Pod, the UK National Finals, I will be entering the fray with Grumpy's Dodge in both Super Street and Pro ET. It is the first time I have driven Grumpy in a double class situation and I am looking forward to it immensely. I ran the Insanity Vega at Easter and really had a great time with the Super Street competitors and Pro ET is new territory for me, it is the only class I have never raced in. Both are fiercely competitive classes with some really good teams, with a whole season of experience on their backs. They are going to be tough, no easy rounds, but I am going to savour this. I have nothing to lose as I am not in the points chase and I will be driving my favorite race car.

"We will also be seeing the return of some familiar faces at Santa Pod this weekend. Logistics Manager Dave Kalisz has been absent for most of the season due to work commitments and general laziness...only joking Dave, major business commitments have kept Dave away, not much else would! We also see the welcome return of Anthony Middleton from ChryslerCard who will be spending some time with us as our guest and will as usual be roped into crewing at the same time.

"With so many plans for the future still in the pipeline, but some close enough to be able to tell you, we can confirm that the Drag Race Driving School and the Passenger Ride Experience Programmes will both run next year. Paul Marston Racing will be fielding the PT Bruiser next year, competing at all major events, most probably double classing Super Comp and either Super Pro ET or Super Gas as the other. A major new sponsor will be announced over the off-season which will be backing the PT Bruiser campaign in 2004.

"We must thank our tireless heroes, the crew at Paul Marston Racing; ChryslerCard; ATI Performance Transmissions; Disco Equipment Hire; especially London Road Tyres who repaired a puncture in the rear slick on Grumpys Dodge while we waited after the WRE Test Day; MAC Tools; Jeep Club; and Black Box London Ltd.

"Finally, the Brighton Speed Trials were run last week and we were amused to hear that no-one ran a faster time than ours of last year, and in fact the competitor who finished second to us last year won the event this year.

"Just a small reminder regarding the Paul Marston Racing Drag Race Driving School and the Passenger Ride Experience. We are at present inviting enquiries for the 2004 season, particularly for the Driving School as the spaces are more limited and we already have firm bookings, so if you were considering it now is the time to be talking to us. The office number is 0208 597 4575, visit our web site at website www.paulmarstonracing.com, or E-Mail office@pmracing.fsnet.co.uk.

Births and birthdays.
26th September: Congratulations to Nick Davies of our Home and News Page sponsor ICE Automotive and his wife Jo on the birth of their son Callum, who arrived at 12:30 yesterday afternoon and weiged in at nine pounds. Nick tells us that Callum and Jo are both fine, and asked us to thank everyone for their congratulations and good wishes.

A very Happy Birthday to Santa Pod Raceway's Chief Starter and occasional Super Modified racer Ian Marshall. "Ian is not quite over the hill yet - that's next year!", says Ian's wife, SPRC Club Secretary Paula Marshall. Ian's brother Paul celebrates his birthday tomorrow; Paula tells us that Paul is the younger brother but that looks can be deceptive.

Sharkman, Tog and we are sure all of our readers would like to send their very best wishes to Nick, Jo and Callum, and to wish Ian a very Happy Birthday and the same to Paul for tomorrow.
©Eurodragster.com
Larsson to prove a point.
25th September: An unexpected, and very welcome, name on the entry list for this weekend's UK National Finals at Santa Pod Raceway is that of Swedish Pro Stock Bike racer Anders Larsson, who is taking one last chance to prove that his engine woes are over.

"Since we finally got the bike to run really well in Finland last year, it has been all uphill with steps in the wrong direction and stupid errors occurring when we least expected them", says Anders. "But I think I am known for never, ever giving up no matter what. This year we entered the FIM/UEM series a little late due to the marketing department (that’s me) failing to rise the proper funding to run the whole series.

"Nevertheless we still invested in quite a lot of new parts to be competitive at our planned events. But when we look back on the races at Mantorp, Gardermoen and Hockenheim everyone could see that we were still lacking behind quite a lot. Before Hockenheim we went to Jimmy's workshop and tuned the engine on the dyno, and the engine proved that it had the BHP we always thought, and even more. But it didn’t show on the track and we didn’t know the reason for the power loss when we put the engine in chassis. It’s very frustrating when you know that the engine has the power one day but not the next, even if we had the same tune-up as on the dyno.

"The funny thing with this mystery was that the performance up to three hundred feet was the best that we have ever had, but after that it was like running in glue, you could really feel how the power just went away from you. For the last year and a half we have been working on a new clutch set-up so at least we could carry on working on that part so we could have some fun out of this mess. Hockenheim really proved that we were finally very close to our ultimate goal. The track was slippery but the set-up proved that we were able to run 7.6 when everybody else was running eight and nine-second runs. Some have said that it was pure luck, lack of power (true) but the run data showed something else, our settings had really begun to kick in.
©Eurodragster.com
"Between Hockenheim and the European Finals we found the stupid little thing which was causing the lack of power. We knew more or less that it was fuel related in some way, but we never realized that a small hose could cause a pressure drop in the fuel cell. The hose was shortened by four centimetres from last year and that was actually enough to make a vacuum in the fuel cell. So on the second run on Press Day, with a slow sixty foor time and an early shut-off, a 7.46 showed that we were on the right path. So we stepped it up for the third run and had a solid launch, the bike was really pushing forward and then the main fuse was pulled out by dropping the exhaust valve on the second cylinder. End of story? No, not yet!

"The run data made good reading, we had never had a launch like that before. So with big help with parts from Chris Hope's camp we slowly began to build up an engine for the Finals. My engine was beyond repair at the track, so we took the healthy parts like crank and gearbox from my engine, and cases and other stuff from Chris, and flew in a top end from Sweden. Thanks to Anders Abrahamson for letting us use his 1640 Raptor top end (which I built). Sadly even this engine was suffering with wear down, so it popped head gaskets on every run, but it took us to the semis which was more than we expected on Wednesday. The best pass was 7.50 after being on the throttle for 6.9 seconds - after that the gasket was blown.

"So to end this season with some self-confidence we decided to run the National Finals with a one hundred per cent cured engine, to finish the unfinished business hopefully with some really competitive runs, and to prove to ourselves that that setting was not just one-off luck."

NAST Championship outcomes.
25th September: Many thanks to National Association of Supertwins Championship Co-ordinator Sue Beneke for dropping us a line about the possible outcomes in the NAST Championships.

"Overall I dont think there will be any upsets", says Sue. "The various class leaders - Mark Earrey, TJ O'Brien, George Laycock and Chris Stebbing - are unlikely to be toppled from the number one spot. Runner-up position, though, is still up open in Street with Chris Mott and Dave Jones both vying for STS 2 next year. Unless Andy Smith doesn't come out in Top Gas this weekend he should take STG 2. Likewise Dave Witts should be runner up in Top Fuel.
©Eurodragster.com
"In Modified there has been a battle royal going on all year between TJ and Dave Bartz with both setting new class records. If Dave can pull another two out of the bag, he just might be able to knock TJ off the top of the list. But it seems unlikely now that he can make up the requisite number of points."

UK National points updated.
25th September: We are grateful to UK Championship Points Co-ordinators Simon Groves and Yvonne Tramm for sending us the points standings in the UK National Drag Racing Championships going into this weekend's UK National Finals.
©Eurodragster.com
Click here to view the UK National points, or click on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page. Don't forget that you can find the ACU UK Drag Bike Championship points standings on the King Racing web site at www.kingracing.com.

National Finals running order.
25th September: We are indebted to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall and SPR's International Race Director Darren Prentice for forwarding us the running order for Saturday's qualifying at the UK National Finals. As ever the running order is subject to change due to weather or track conditions or any other reason at the discretion of the Race Director.
©Eurodragster.com
Click here to view Saturday's running order.

Swift snippets.
25th September: With a little help from Pro Mod racer, race car builder and event sponsor Andy Robinson, UK Super Comp racer George Chiarella finally found the cause of his throttle-closing problem at the Doorslammer Internationals, and promptly ran into the 8.0s with his beautiful blown-alcohol Straight To The Point '37 Coupe. "It was because the engine was moving back", says George. "We are in the process of stiffening the engine mounts, because Andy Robinson found the problem we compensated which gave us our 8.0 passes. Thanks to Shakespeare County Raceway and Lee Child for a great meeting, many thanks to the crew Al, Ben, Baggy and Phil, and thanks also to Steve Black for the loan of the E Type. Many thanks to Andy Robinson (Gus) for spotting our nightmare problem which has bugged us all season, to much criticism from other drivers and crew. mentioning no names you know who you are!"
©Eurodragster.com
A very Happy Birthday to Ryan Motler, son of UK Pro ET racer Malcolm Motler. "Ryan is really looking forward to the National Finals this weekend as he hasn't been able to come racing much this year because of work commitments", says Malcolm. "We're all chomping at the bit!"

Last Perfect Light of 2003.
25th September: This weekend's UK National Finals is the final qualifying event in 2003 for the Eurodragster Perfect Light Award. Martin Curbishley won the money at the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway with a 0.400 RT in qualifying, so the Perfect Light prize fund has been reset to £50. All racers in all classes are eligible for the Perfect Light Award: it will be awarded to the first racer at this weekend's event to record a perfect Reaction Time, 0.400 or 0.500 as appropriate. The money can be won in either qualifying or eliminations. Good luck everyone!
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
25th September: The official web site of the UK's Showtime Fuel Funny Car team has been updated with a report of their weekend at the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway, at which John Spuffard took the 2003 British Nitro FC Championship title. Team member Chris Dossett's report is as usual very insightful and entertaining and is well worth a read at www.showtimeracing.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Chris Dossett has also updated the official web site of the British Nitro FC Championship with details of the final round of the Championship which took place at the European Finals. Check it out at www.showtimeracing.co.uk/championship.html.

The UK's Flying Dutchman Comp Bike and 10.90 Bike team have updated their web site with a report of their weekend at the Allstar Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. You can find the site at www.flyingdutchmandragbikes.co.uk.

FAST depart SCR.
24th September: It has been announced that the Fire and Accident Safety Team (FAST) will no longer be providing safety services at Shakespeare County Raceway. The decision, which was taken for reasons which track owner Anthony Hodges would prefer to remain confidential, was announced this afternoon.

"I would like to thank FAST for their devotion and duty to the sport", said Anthony.
©Eurodragster.com
"This is a decision not of our making and is due to circumstances beyond our control", says a FAST press release. "We would like to thank everybody who has ever supported us, on and off the track.We have yet to decide what the future of FAST will be but in the meantime, wish you all 'Safe and Happy Times'."

Next week's Big Shootout at Shakespeare County Raceway will go on as planned, since arrangements have been made for safety cover at the event and for the remainder of the season at SCR.

Söderquist thinking of 2004.
24th September: Carbon By Design Top Fuel Dragster team owner Knut Söderquist has already been hard at work preparing for 2004 with new trailers already purchased and a new car on order for Sweden's Micke Kågered.

"On the Monday after the European Finals I went to Liverpool and bought two new double-deck trailers", says Knut. "It is mainly so that we don't have to transport all of our cars in one trailer - it was a real nightmare this year."

Knut is also attending to the comfort of his large team. "After much pushing from my crew, I have decided to build bunk beds in each trailer", he says. "After they saw Micke Kågered's trailer they decided that they are sick and tired of deluxe hotel rooms and first-class gourmet restaurants."
©Eurodragster.com
On Monday a deal was done with Swedish chassis builder Mats Eriksson (of Green Goblin Pro Mod fame - Ed) to build a Top Fuel Dragster for Micke Kågered to race in 2004. "I think everyone who has seen Mats' Crown Victoria Pro Mod will agree that there's no finer race car builder", says Knut. "He is building a brand new Top Fuel car which when complete will be moved to Micke's shop in Eskiltuna. I am delighted to have Micke and his team with us again in 2004. We were struggling with Micke's 2003 car and we were disappointed even if he was Championship runner-up. But I told Micke at the start of the season that there are good days and there are bad days."

Knut says that he was very pleased by the performance of the whole Top Fuel field this year. "But I am personally very disappointed that we only managed a the Main Event winner and runner-up, the Alastaro winner and runner-up, the winner at Piteå, the winner in Norway, and the winner and runner-up at the European Finals", he says. "I would say to Alan Jackson (Crew Chief - Ed) please keep up the bad work!"

Knut says that 2003 FIA European Champion Smax Smith did a good year's work. "He worked hard and did what he was told", says Knut. "Now comes the real trick - to do it again next year. And Smax shouldn't think that I'll forget how to scream at him!"

Records fall in Serres.
24th September: Elias Vathias of the dragster.gr web site writes with news of this year's fourth Hellenic Dragster Race at Serres in Greece.

"It was the best race ever!", says Elias. "New tarmac gave the racers the chance to run faster on almost every pass! We had new Hellenic records in the following classes:

Auto - Open: 9.6 Mr Nefraim and then 9.3 Mr Androulakis
Moto - Open: 8.4 Mr Svrahnos
Auto - T3: 10.27 Mr Dimitriadis
Auto - T2: 10.9 Mr Tzampazoglou
Auto - T1: 11.96 Mr Zafeiris
Auto - A3: 11.47 Mr Hatzimoisiadis and then 11.21 Mr Papadopoylos
Auto - A2: 12.08 Mr Loukos
Auto - A1: 14.16 Mr Daravigas
©Eurodragster.com
"It was a great race and on almost every pass we were expecting a new world record."

You can find 342 photos of the race at www.dragster.gr/images/Shows_Races/030907Serres/index.htm.

UK Championship outcomes.
24th September: The story of the 2003 UK National Drag Racing Championships is that in the car classes most Champions are virtually decided bar major problems but that the runner-up places are very tight, whereas in 9.90 and 10.90 Bike the Championships are running down to the wire, says Simon Groves who together with Yvonne Tramm Co-ordinates the National points. Going into this weekend's UK National Finals at Santa Pod, this is how things are panning out:

Pro Modified: Congratulations to UK Champion Gordon Appleton ('67 Camaro), who beat other UK regular John Ellis (Vauxhall Calibra). NDRS champion Roger Johansson ends in third despite only attending two out of four events. Team Steelcraft are Champions in Super Modified, Danny Cockerill (Rover 220 Coupe) having won three of six events so far; congratulations to Danny. Graham Ellis (Olds Cutlass) is second, having won two events, but is only fifty points ahead of third-placed Andy 'Fred' Hone (Gleeson Wright Ford Granada), so expect a war between these two!

Super Comp: With three wins in seven events so far, Tim Adam (Brogie Roadster) is over four rounds ahead of Malcolm Francis (69 Camaro Z28, with two wins) and Tim would have to falter badly for Malcolm to win the Championship. After another superb performance at the Doorslammer Nationals, Brian Pateman ('67 Firebird) could take second from Malcolm if he goes a couple of rounds further, but 2002 champion Martin Curbishley (Brogie Roadster, crewed by Spencer Tramm) is only a round further back. Tim Adam is also looking very good in Super Gas with three event wins and could pull off the 'double' for the second time since 2001. 790 points back, Martin Curbishley is only just over two rounds ahead of Conrad Stanley (Chevy Vega). In Super Street, Mike Bentley (Ford Sierra) has three event wins and a runner-up to be a consistent scorer in this category. Conrad Stanley has two event wins but is less than one round of racing ahead of Bob Lees ('71 Ford Mustang).

Ian Bishop (Dodge Avenger) has won one event in Super Pro ET but attended more events than most to build up a Championship-winning lead of 860 points - congratulations to Ian. Second and third places are very close between Al Golding (Grounds for Divorce Vauxhall Firenza) with one event win and Mark Flavell but unfortunately Mark is out for the rest of the season. Fourth-placed Barry Giles (Giles and Hartley dragster) needs to qualify a couple of places better than Al and win two more rounds to snatch second place in the Championship. Pro ET: Congratulations to Champions the Huxleys (Team Top Banana '32 Ford Roadster) with three event wins, a superb achievement in such a competitive class. Malcolm Motler (Morris Minor Pickup) is only one qualifying position ahead of Steve Wells who is only three qualifying positions ahead of Team Heaven and Hell (Camaro). Malcolm and Steve have each won an event. Kevin Slyfield (Plymouth Belvedere) has emerged as a real force in Sportsman ET with two event wins and two runner-up places. Mark Anderson (C.R.A.P. Conversions Capri, 590 points further back) has also won two events but is only three qualifying places ahead of Team Rainy City Lightning (2001-2 champion Al Platt and his wife Linda, Chevy Camaro) who will also obtain 100 bonus points from attending all eight rounds. Nick Gay, Nick South and Rick Denny are close behind too, and second place could be any of these five racers.
©Eurodragster.com
In Junior Dragster, Colin Morrice is just over three rounds ahead of Jonathan Bond, who needs at least to qualify better and win the event and have Colin go out in round one to win the Championship. Tom Watts and 2002 champion Ricky Emms are too far back to have any chance of runner-up.

Fred Furlong (Suzuki GSXR 1000), with one 9.90 Bike win and one runner up is 150 points (less than two rounds) ahead of Steve Coombs (Suzuki GSXR 1200), who has two event wins. Steve needs to qualify more than six places ahead of Fred and go one round further (or qualify less than five places behind and go two rounds further) to take the Championship. Two more riders could grab second place if Steve has a bad weekend: Geoff Connor or Martin Walker. 10.90 Bike is the closest title race this year, as David Warren (Suzuki GSXR 750), is only 50 points ahead of Phil Pratt (Suzuki RF900). Phil could get the Championship by qualifying at least five places ahead of David and going at least as far in the event.

The post-European Finals National points are just undergoing final ratification and will be posted here on Eurodragster very soon.

Swift snippets.
24th September: The Nordic Drag Racing Series Annual Banquet and Prizegiving Ceremony takes place at the Scandic Infra City near Stockholm on Saturday 25th October. For the invitation and more details including ticket and hotel bookings check out the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se.

The European Pro Mod Association will be holding their annual meeting in Stockholm, Sweden, also on Saturday 25th October. You can find more details on the EPMA web site at www.promod.nu.

UK Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Andy Frost was "Chuffed to pieces" with a new Personal Best of 8.77 which he ran at the Doorslammer Internationals at the weekend. "We were especially chuffed as it got us in front of Fatty (Ian Hook - Ed) in our private battle", says Andy. "A big thanx to my hard-working crew this weekend, and a big mention to Deb who finally found out what it's like to ride in a CCSE car on the Cruise. She was smiling on the return to the pits that's for sure...". You can find a race report on Andy's web site at www.redvictor1racing.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
UK racer Keith Crampton is in the final stages of getting his new bracket car together. "It is the ex-Trevor Kitney Anglia from a few years back", says Keith. "I must say a huge Thank You to Ian Harben for his help and commitment to the project, and to Steve Mardle for helping us out mechanically. After many years as a spectator it really brings home what a commitment it is to run even a modest race car, let alone a team travelling around Europe."

Neil Tanser is looking for news of the whereabouts of the Malibu Express rear-engined dragster which ran in the UK in the 1970s-80s. Neil would appreciate photographs as well as information about the car's current location, state, name etc. If you have any news then please drop Neil an E-Mail at ntanser@aol.com.

Web site updates.
24th September: Swiss Top Methanol FC racer Dezsoe Krivan's official web site at www.dragracing.ch has been updated with a report and photos from the Nitrolympics at Hockenheim as well as pictures of a pleasant Sunday spent in Engelberg where the team had their Summer barbecue and Grand Day Out.
©Eurodragster.com
The UK Junior Drag Bike web site at www.juniordragbike.co.uk has been updated with more guidelines for bike builders, the first three illustrated Rider Profiles and, for budding drag bike riders, the Turnertech designed, two wheeled flavoured, reaction time game. Webmaster Carl Wadkin-Snaith asks that teams who don't have their profile yet and those building for 2004 get in touch with him by E-Mail at carl@turnertech.co.uk.

Sweden's 'Big Stan' Mellström has updated his personal web site with a large gallery of excellent Junior Dragster pictures. You can find Stanley's web site at www.bigstan.se.

UK National Finals entry.
23rd September: We are as ever indebted to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for passing us the official entry list for this weekend's UK National Finals at Santa Pod Raceway. The entry is very healthy indeed, with all of the usual suspects joined by the Volkswagen Drag Racing Association, Wild Bunch and National Association of Supertwins.
©Eurodragster.com
Click here to view the entry list.

For more details about this weekend's event, including ticket prices, check out Santa Pod Raceway's web site at www.santapod.com.

British Top Methanol preview.
23rd September: This weekend's UK National Finals hosts the final round of the British Drag Racing Championship, writes Championship Co-ordinator Dave Alexander. After four rounds the Championship points standings are:

Dave Wilson 334
Steph Milam 324
Rob Turner 288
Doug Ripley 227
Doug Bond 195

There are only two entries this weekend, but they are the top two contenders and there are only ten points between them in the Championship. The winner of the meeting will get twenty points more than the runner up, so it is literally a case of winner take all this weekend. In an echo of the epic Top Methanol Dragster final at the FIA Finals a couple of weeks ago, whoever gets to the finish line first without fouling will win not only the meeting but the Championship as well.
©Eurodragster.com
Going into the final round, Dave Wilson leads the points in the American Car Imports Racing dragster. Already crowned the FIA Champions, Dave and the team are determined to make a clean sweep of the Championships this year.

Steph Milam will be looking to repeat her performance at the last round of the MSA Championship, where she secured her first ever National event win in Top Methanol. The She Devil Racing team are determined to make their mark, and are just as keen on taking the Championship honours back to Sussex as Dave Wilson is to see them head for Farnborough.

"We've got some parts left" says Dave Wilson, "let's see what we can do with them!" and the opposition are equally confident. Crew Chief Dave Milam says "We'll give it our very best shot. This is a great opportunity to show potential sponsors what we can do.".

You can stay in touch with all matters Top Methanol on the ETMRA web site at www.etmra.com.

Stay tuned to Eurodragster this week for more Championship scenarios.

Racers: It's not too late to send us your UK National Finals previews. Drop an E-Mail to news@eurodragster.com and we'll publish your news here.

Leanders declines tattoo.
23rd September: Swedish Top Methanol Funny Car racer Ulf Leanders has turned down a suggestion from 2003 FIA European Champion Urs Erbacher to have a tattoo after he beat the Swiss racer and also ran Europe's quickest TMFC ET at the FIA European Finals.

"I would like to say to Urs that any tattoo is out of question", say Ulf and brother and Crew Chief Jörgen. "It will get too expensive to get new tattoos all the time as we plan to stop a lot of people from winning and break a lot of records in the future. I also think that it was for the best that we didn't back the up the 5.666. We now have the time to make a specially-designed, laser-cut, razor-sharp Käserhobel for the tattoo on your arm. We are all nice people here so a good tool will ease the suffering for both you and us!
©Eurodragster.com
"I have to say to Urs and his great crew that they really were unbeatable this year. We and the other racers tried hard to beat them, but we did not succeeded until the last race. To get the car first over the finish line so many times is proof of a great job done.

"We also want to thank the other racers in the class for good competition under the season. We can only congratulate Dan Larsen to the win at Santa Pod and second place in the Championship; a drag race is not over until one car passes the finish line so he deserved the win. Dan also showed that he can run the numbers earlier in the season. Leif Andréasson is always there, Niclas Andersson is running better and better, and big congratulations to our Fast Freddy for his 5.8-second runs and a great-looking spark plug tool. Martin Lundqvist has won the positive thinking race and will be very hard to stop next year, he will for sure be running well in his Moon car when they get some more runs under their belts.

"As for us, when we started this season we knew it would be a tough year. After the tyre explosion at the 2002 European Finals destroyed most of the chassis and a quarter of the body we had many new things to sort out. The body was fixed by the plastic surgeon Hans Kadi from Forsa, and he would later join us for the whole year as a mechanic and also brought his and son Robin's Junior Dragster along to the races around Europe, resulting in two finals and one win.

"The new chassis was a brand new Plueger chassis sitting at the John Force shop in Yorba Linda, California. The chassis was all bare except A-arms, spindles, steering and a brake handle. This gave our sheet metal guru Stefan Lundaahl something to do, he made a seat which fits me perfectly with a lower back support, all the chassis panels, fuel and oil tanks, all the tin work inside the body and a lot of welding and other work. During this build-up we also had great help from Lars Göllas who lives closest to us. In this project we also got a lot of help from Mats Eriksson at ME Racing Service in Borlänge, he provided us with wheelie bars, brackets, fasteners, extra chromoly tubes and a lot of good advice. Göran Persåker at Persåkers Speed Shop also helped a lot again as he has done for many years.

"The only things which were OK after the tyre explosion were the engine and transmission. We still decided to buy a PSI blower with 92% pulley and a new fuel system, so that we would have all the best parts in the car from the beginning. At a show race at our club SHRA Avesta after the Main Event, an intake valve broke and the heads were a total mess. We sold the heads as they were and our brilliant engine man Tomas Nygren finally got some new parts to work with. Behind the engine we have our clutch and transmission wizard Börje Mattsson who makes sure that the drive train and clutch are in perfect trim at every round. Anders Nordén also deserves big thanks for all his help and service during this season and for many years.

"Bosse and Curta from SHRA Avesta are also there andwant to help all the time, and I really have to say that we couldn’t wish for a better club to drive for! We mustn't forget all the help from Nisse at Avesta Bildemontering who stepped in big time when our old truck started to break down after Norway, thanks to him we are now driving around in a white 400 hp Scania R143 and actually enjoying the travel between the races, and to Benny Edvardsson who takes care of our website and is helpful in many ways during off season. Also thanks to all our friends that have helped out in any kind of way under the years.

"IronCAD and all of our other sponsors also deserve a big thanks, and everybody knows that we would not be able to do this without you.

"It feels great to have a race-ready car after the last European race, and as there won't be any major changes we know that we will be competitive right from the first race next year. This makes us sure that we can give Urs and the others a good fight for the Championship in 2004!"

You can find the very nice Leanders Brothers Racing web site at www.leandersbros.com.

Top Fuel snippets.
23rd September: 2003 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion, the UK's Smax Smith is already working on his 2004 Championship defence and the Purple Loans-sponsored racer and team owner Knut Söderquist are seeking more crew to assist. "King Knut needs four crew who are ready and willing to work soon, as our off-season is as busy as racing!", says Smax. "We would like people from the Santa Pod area as there is no budget for crew so travelling shouldn't be a problem for applicants. The up side of course is working with the top team in Europe and travelling expenses-paid to all the FIA rounds abroad. The faint-hearted need not apply - this is hard work but rewarding, I know because I've done it for thirty years! If you're interested then call Knut on 0772 044 6695."
©Eurodragster.com

Fellow UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Andy Carter (right, with son Albert) told us last week that he was to be involved in a promotion for B and Q, and the appointment was duly kept late last week. "We did a burnout each day at 11:00 and a warm-up on the stands each day at 2:00", says Andy. "I didn't do the customary short 'serious racing' Andy Carter burnout, Rune Fjeld gave me the OK to do three storming burnouts! I felt really comfortable and natural in the car which is great after the accident in Norway."

Ex-pat Swedish Fuel racer Viveca Averstedt and her husband and Crew Chief Håkan enjoyed their weekend spectating at the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod. "We really enjoyed being back and meeting everybody, and to be there 'live' when Kim run 4.64, wow!", says Viveca. "We were very impressed with all the cars and bikes, lots of professional teams, great performances and a part of that is of course all the people from Santa Pod Raceway and Santa Pod Racers Club, who did an awesome job to prepare the track. Good job, guys! It was great to see the improvements around the track too. Drag racing is growing in Europe, that's for sure! We are certainly going to try to be part of the European Championship next year. We also would like to take the opportunity to thank John and Alison Hackney from Santa Pod Racers Club for their hospitality."

Doorslammer PB fest.
23rd September: Personal bests were falling left, right and centre at the Doorslammer Internationals at Shakespeare County Raceway at the weekend.

Custom Car Street Eliminator Ian Hook was one of the many in CCSE to run new bests, breaking his SCR eight-second duck in some style with an 8.79. "I'm absolutely over the moon", says Ian. "To break the Shakey duck with a respectable 8.79 was icing on the cake. Although I obviously wasn't there at the time I have heard the start line reaction when the ET came up (via our 'launch' video) and can only say thanks for the support.

"We weren't the only ones garnering good numbers. As well as Steve Pateman's awesome record-setting 8.22 many other Street Eliminator racers (running anything from twelves to eights) set new personal bests. An excellent reflection of the super state of the track and the hard work and enthusiasm of all the CCSE racers and their crews. We're really looking forward to the coming weekend's UK National Finals where we'll be throwing the 'kitchen sink' tune at the '34. Andy Frost, who's now gone two hundredths quicker than us, is threatening the same approach so it should be entertaining". Ian's event report is available on his web site at www.fbracing.co.uk.

The UK's Never Again Racing team didn't think things could get any better after Dave Evans ran a personal best of 9.64 in the Coco Connection Camaro at the Hot Rod Drags at Shakespeare County Raceway, but that was just a dress rehearsal, writes team member Andy.

"Sunday mornings pairings elimination's saw Coco paired with Mick Cheley, a formidable match-up with the eight-second black and red Calibra", says Andy. "Dave was eliminated by a 9.107 but pushed Coco to a fantastic new personal best of 9.470/141.96. This ET represent the fastest Coco Connection has ever run in this country, irrespective of owner, in the last thirteen years. As far as we are know the car's best ET Stateside, a 9.6, was beaten.
©Eurodragster.com
"But it gets better, after being eliminated Dave took Coco out in the Run What You Brung lane and was paired with Peter Lane in his Earsplittenloudenoomer Camaro on Sunday afternoon. Peter's experience shone through and he treed Dave taking the win with a 9.927, but Dave pushed the Camaro even quicker to a 9.446/141.96 (incidentally exactly the same mph as the other 9.4 pass).

"The recent success with the Camaro has followed many upsets this year with balancer problems, head gasket problems etc, and this fillip was a long time coming. The better ET comes from our playing with the stock front suspension set-up, Dave managing to get some use out of the transbrake (even though it's only working at fifty per cent capacity), and Jeff Bull's magic dust which he sprinkles on the motor (but that's our secret)."

Michael Pusey did a deal one week prior to the Doorslammer Internationals to drive Paul Marston Racing's Grumpy's Dodge for the first time since the FIA Main Event. "Saturday started with glorious weather and a 10.75 straight off the trailer", says Michael. "This was against the 10.50 cut-off for the highly-subscribed Sportsman class. All our other runs on Saturday were in the 10.40s so the 10.75 ended up being our qualifier. Such was the level of competition that I have no idea where that put us but it certainly couldn’t have been near the top! A surprise added bonus was that we had qualified for the Quick 32, 32nd! This meant that we drew John Ellis in the Pro Mod Lethal Calibra. I tried too hard on the start line and pulled a red light and then John shot out of the hole and I watched him disappear into the distance with a 7.77, just slightly quicker than my 11.3!

"Sunday morning brought more of the fantastic weather and we found that our first round was against Cliff Puddle who usually races in 10.90 Super Street. We knew Cliff was running the numbers and would be hard to beat. So when I was coming back down the return road to see the crew all leaping about and waving I had a good idea that we had had a result. Cliff ran an oh-so-close 10.501 but as I managed to get out of the hole first my 10.54 got us the win. This was my first ever win in competition. I’m still sporting the huge grin! Second round we drew birthday girl Carla Pittau. My instructions were to just keep the nose in front and not break out. Due to no other reason than my lack of experience I lost because I backed off earlier than I should have done and Carla went blasting past to take the win.

"So that was the end of that but we (Paul) decided that we should take advantage of the test and tune time available. I went out and ran my new personal best of 10.33 which was awesome! Then we did a swap; Paul took on his more usual role of driver and I resumed my more usual role as crew. The result, 10.34 (ha!). All of the runs so far had been off the footbrake so Paul went round and did a transbrake wheels up banzai and netted a 10.27, the quickest Grumpy has gone with the current set-up.

"All in all a great weekend to round off a superb year for me. I would like to say a huge Thank You to Paul, Sam and Max of Paul Marston Racing for putting up with me and allowing me the chance to get behind the wheel. You ain’t seen the last of me! If you’re thinking about doing the same then don’t think, just do it!"

Finally, UK Pro ET racer Malcolm Motler asked us to say a big Congratulations to Steve Saunders for running an 8.93 at the weekend. "Nice one mate!", says Malcolm.

Birthday boys and girls.
23rd September: We would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to two of Eurodragster's honorary staff members: Andy Marrs of Santa Pod's timing crew who celebrates his birthday today, and Santa Pod's Chief Marshal Steve Horn who celebrated his birthday at the weekend.
©Eurodragster.com
Happy Birthday, too, to Marcie Motler of the UK's Spellbound Pro ET team. "A big Happy Birthday for today from me and all of the crew", says Marcie's husband Malcolm. Slightly-belated birthday greetings to Pro ET racer Carla Pittau, whose birthday it was on Sunday, and also to Chris of John Ellis' Pro Mod crew who clocked up another year on Sunday.

We hope that all involved have or had a very Happy Birthday!

Doorslammer Internationals results.
21st September: Congratulations to the class winners at this weekend's Doorslammer Internationals at Shakespeare County Raceway:

Custom Car Street Eliminator: Steve Pateman 8.240/171.76 def. Ian Jackson 9.260/167.29

Top Gun (7.50): Danny Cockerill 7.695/171.76 def. Nick Stephenson 7.705/177.17
Top Sportsman (8.75): Brian Pateman 8.768/154.64 def. Mick Cheley broke
Sportsman (10.50): Conrad Stanley 10.831/94.54 def. Stuart Doignie 14.692/51.31
Street (11.75): Brian Payne 11.877/100.00 def. Simon Davies 15.538/54.81
©Eurodragster.com
Quick 32: Danny Cockerill 7.396/191.49 def. John Ellis 15.775/42.02
Outlaw Street: Simon Davies 10.713/125.70 def. Chris Skinner 11.086/122.95
Gasser Circus: Jimmy Hibberd 9.973/133.53 def. Jerry Denning 11.727/126.05

Congratulations also to Steve Pateman on setting a new CCSE ET record of 8.223.

Click here to view our American Car Imports-sponsored summaries and pictures, or click on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Karling ready for Indy.

19th September: Four-time FIM/UEM European Supertwin Champion, Sweden's Anders 'Charley' Karling is ready to contest his first AHDRA event in the USA, this weekend's Joker Machine Indy Nationals at Indianapolis. The team have spent the last couple of weeks in Milwaukee with half a million bikers for the Harley Davidson Hundredth Anniversary, and also participated in the annual Global Trainers Conference to be updated for new training which is going to take place in Sweden during the winter. The team moved the bike into the Harley Davidson University at Juneau Ave during the training, where it was on display at the third floor. Jim McCaslin (the company's president), Willie G. Davidson and many other employees from the main office came to see the bike and talk with Charley and Carina during the week.

After the visit in Milwaukee the team moved to Indianapolis the week befor the race to participate at a North America Die Cast Association event (right, click on picture to view a shot of the team and bike at the HD University) together with Karling Racing Team partner Uddeholm. The bike attracted a lot of attention for the brand, Uddeholm Steel is known as one of the best tool steels on the market and is used all over the world. The connection between Karling Racing Engines and Uddeholm was established ten years ago when Charley designed the motor which has won the team four European Championship titles and also a lot of National Championships; the material for all of the main components in the engines is supplied by Uddeholm.

You can read more about the Karling Racing USA tour on the team's official web site at www.karlingracing.com, and you will be able to view results from Indy on the AHDRA web site at www.ahdra.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Beck relishes comeback.
19th September: Swiss Top Fuel Dragster racer Peter Beck had a great comeback, writes his partner and Team Manager Regula Stucki. "With the win at Hockenheim and three 4.9-second runs at Santa Pod, we were very pleased", says Regula. "Teaming up with Rune Fjeld and his crew turned out to be a very good combination. From the first minute, Peter felt comfortable and this gave him the chance to do a great job.

"It was great to return to Santa Pod for the European Finals, and we enjoyed the real home of Drag Racing. In the middle of nine Top Fuel cars was definitely the best place to be. On the Friday, we missed the first qualifying run because the reverser didn't work. But we were ready at noon on Saturday and Peter ran his very first four-second pass, 4.941! It was a great feeling to come out of the trailer and get down the track like never before! The speed of 263 mph was not really high because the blower belt disappeared at the top end. A view hours later we backed up our personal record with a 4.936/287! Although far behind Kim Reymond with his storming 4.6 run, we ended up in second spot.
©Eurodragster.com
"On Sunday morning, we faced Micke Kågered in the first round. Unfortunately Peter had problems holding the dragster in pre-stage and rolled into stage before he was ready to go. This gave Micke the chance to launch first and take the win a 4.92 against our 4.91. Even though we lost too early, we are very happy with our three consistent runs in the fours!

"Our congratulations to the new Top Fuel Champion Smax and his crew, and we congratulate Kim and crew for the incredible 4.64 and 317, well done guys!

"To Rune and Lindsay, Ben, Ian and Paul, Christian, Roland and Beat: thanks very much for the great Drag Racing! Also we would like to thank Remco, Martin, Ivan and Andre for taking pictures to keep great moments unforgettable. A big Thank You to our friends on the track and to those who had to stay back home! And of course to Tog, Sharkman and everybody else who is always nearby..."

Wildside loving life.
19th September: There is a reason that the European Finals is the most important and eagerly-awaited race of the year, writes Wildside Inc Top Fuel Dragster driver Darryl Bradford. "For our team it was the best and the most frustrating race we that have all enjoyed together. From the first flaming wheels-up launch on Friday, to just making the show ahead of none other than former FIA Champion Anita Mäkelä it was a weekend to remember.

"The highlight had to be the stunning, dare we say upset, victory over the number one qualifier, defending European Champion and the fastest man outside the USA, Kim Reymond. When you race a man who has that many accolades, a win is always special. We'd all like to say well done on a stunning performance by the whole USA Autodele team, and we know you'll all be tougher than ever to get around next year!
©Eurodragster.com
"The downside was not being able to get reverse in the semi against my old tutor and our good buddy Smax. When we said last week that we would like to help him to the title, this wasn’t the way we anticipated doing it! But at the same time we were thrilled for Smax and the whole team to take the title in true thrilling Smax style!

"I know that Simon our clutch man said this in an earlier piece (11th September - Ed), but I have to say an enormous Thank You to everyone who stood and cheered for us. Weekends like that are made special by the people you share them with, and to everyone who was there with us I can't thank you enough! And sharing it with the great Wildside bunch including Sean, Simon, Ian, Lee, Clive and Tom was fantastic!

The spectators I unfortunately can't thank individually, but those we can thank I can proudly say are not only our sponsors but also our valued friends and racing partners. A huge Thank You goes to: Racing Champions, Lipsync Post, Datron Technology, Royal Purple, White Contract Services, Flint Insurance, Cambridge Motorsport, MT Drains, KG Freeman, La Vista Restaurant, Webbs Power Tools, Simon Dale and Russell Hill, Doc at Roberts Builders and Derek, Teresa and Hannah Todd who kept us all fed watered and smiling all weekend!"

You can find the Wildside Inc Top Fuel team's official web site at www.wildsideinc.co.uk.

Already missing you...
19th September: "The European Finals are over, we miss racing immensely, we miss all our friends a lot, the winter is yet to come, what can you say?", says team member Magnus Cato of 2003 FIA European Pro Stock Champions AC Delco/Malmgren Racing.
©Eurodragster.com
"I can't say anything about next year so far, maybe we are in for a surprise or two. Some steps have to be taken for next year, Pro Stock has been tough this year, and I bet it's going to be even tougher next season! Now we have to start the planning for the off-season, but first there are a couple of events to attend. Right now we are preparing the car for some passenger rides at the Swedish Touring Car Finals next weekend. Our car and Micke Kågered's car both on display.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors and fans for this year. We had a struggle, but we came out on top. AC Delco Racing also wish Charley Karling's team all the best as they start their US trip this weekend."

Will furnishes Curbishley ride.
19th September: 2002 UK National Super Comp Champion Martin Curbishley has teamed up with fellow Super Comp and Super Gas racer Will Furniss at this weekend's Doorslammer Internationals at Shakespeare County Raceway, says crew member and Honorary Eurodragster staff member Spencer Tramm. Recent Eurodragster Perfect Light Award winner Martin will be driving Will, Nev Mottershead and Andy Williamson's Toyota Supra in the 10.50 bracket since his Championship-winning roadster can't make the cut.
©Eurodragster.com
"Will is unable to make the last couple of meetings on the calendar due to family commitments, and with Martin casting about for a ride due to the Brogie's lack of doors and his unwillingness to take an angle grinder to the body, a one-race deal was agreed", says Spencer. "The group met up at the Webster Race Engineering Test Day on Wednesday and after a couple of familiarisation passes and Nev and Andy's fettling, the car made a host of 10.5/10.6 second runs in preparation for the weekend. Meanwhile Martin's crew, which comprises his wife Ruth and myself, will be busy heckling from the stands."

Spencer tells us that Will will be back behind the wheel of the Supra next season with Crew Chief and co-owner Nev turning wrenches. For this weekend, though, Martin would like to say a big Thank You to Will, Nev and Andy. "You've made an old man very happy!", he says.

Angry Antoniou's challenge.
19th September: UK Super Street racer Perry Antoniou is one of several outraged by the story which we broke yesterday about the dismissal of drag racing in the latest issue of Top Gear magazine (incidentally don't buy it, stand in WH Smiths and read it - Ed). Perry saw our challenge yesterday to critic Dick Hammond to learn to drive a race car and has raised the stakes.

"On the obscure off-chance that Dick contacts either yourself or Paul Marston, tell him that I will gladly pay for him to have a go in Grumpy's Dodge", says Perry. "How can he comment on something he knows nothing about. It is the typical thing with circuit people: too much money, and not enough bottle. 'Too much oversteer, too much understeer' and they don't know the difference between the two. I wonder just why the circuit racers are booking track time at Santa Pod Raceway to improve their launch and gear change tactics, then (good point - Ed)?
©Eurodragster.com
"When we are still racing at 8:00 pm, sharing our tools, spares, knowledge and resources, and staying up all night to change axles and head gaskets, they are already sleeping, and probably on their own."

If Dick would like to get in contact with us at eurodragster@btinternet.com we will gladly put him in touch with Perry.

Garlick champions Super Mod.
19th September: UK Super Modified racer Tim Garlick still has not come down from his victory in Super Pro ET at the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway. Not only did he take the event title, but he also became the quickest and fastest Rover-powered doorslammer racer on the planet with bests of 8.26/162. However, Tim is looking forward to returning to his beloved Super Modified at next week's UK National Finals at Santa Pod Raceway.

"We had a busting weekend at the European Finals", says Tim, "but Super Mod is where my heart is. There is a lot more to come yet - we've had hiccups with nitrous, heads lifting and gaskets shifting, but you have to be careful. I think we'll get into the sevens eventually but I guess we'll do a couple of gearboxes or something along the way!"
©Eurodragster.com
Tim not only enjoys racing in Super Mod but enjoys being an ambassador for the class just as much. "It's a good heads-up Sportsman class", he says. "The rules are changing to slow things down a little to keep performances to the times and speeds originally envisaged - low eights with maybe very high sevens. I want to help potential Super Mod racers to run and to support the class as best I can, so please come and talk to me in the pits. In fact come and talk to any Super Mod racer, they are the friendliest people you could meet!"

Tim tells us that he has the world's best crew. "They are amazing and no-one else can have them!", he says. "Ricky and Paul Dawson and Big Chief Paula Garlick! And not forgetting Rob Loaring and Nick Davies of ICE Automotive, I couldn't do it without them even if Rob takes the pee about my gear shifts when we read the computer trace!"

Erbacher: thanks for beating me.
18th September: 2003 FIA European Top Methanol Funny Car Champion Urs Erbacher has said a big Thank You to all of the Santa Pod Raceway staff and officials for the FIA European Finals, as well as to all of his competitors for a great Championship.

"It was a fair competition and everybody was helping everyone to keep things going", says Urs. "Believe me, it was scary even for us to win every race during the season and I didn't feel too bad to see that we can lose when we were kicked out in the second round. As some fellow racers said: 'Now you are human again'! Unfortunately I blew an engine at the Finals, the first in four years. Despite this the season was very low on damage, just the usual parts wear.
©Eurodragster.com
"I would especially like to congratulate Ulf Leanders. He was the first to beat us after over a year, or 430 days, of victories. Wouldn't it be a good occasion to get your first tattoo, Ulf? Something like "I beat him" or "The guy who stopped Urs' one year winning streak". A big compliment to the Leanders Brothers team for the fantastic 5.66 they smashed out on the track at Santa Pod, and a big thank you for not backing it up! So we are still the official record holder.

"At the moment we are recovering from the season, thinking about all the memorable moments we were able to share with all of you on the track and in the pits. It was a lot of fun, of course it is always is when things run that well, but I really enjoyed every fight out there on the track. A big thank you to my crew, they did an excellent job during the whole season. We had a lot of fun and they even let me win when we were playing cards or beach volleyball to keep my motivation high."

Urs' web site is currently getting a facelift; he has promised to let us know when it is on-line.

Swift snippets.
18th September: David Wilson, son of 2003 FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champion Dave Wilson, took a turn in the American Car Imports Racing TMD at the Webster Race Engineering Test Day at Santa Pod Raceway yesterday. David clocked a best of 6.54/176 on what was only his fourth pass in the car. "David ran a fifteen, then 8.12, then 7.0, then 6.54 - a reasonable progression!", said Dave Wilson. "David has spent nearly thirty years around me working on cars, so we thought it was time he found out what it was like to drive. He did extremely well, he did everything I told him, and I think it has given him a real insight. He said that there was a lot of work to do before launching, then you launch and hang on for a couple of seconds, and then a little light comes on and you've got another lot of work to do!"

Swedish Pro Modified racer Lars-Inge Johansson is recovering fine from his top end crash at the FIA European Finals and is expected to be returned to Sweden from hospital in the UK soon, says Micke Gullquist. "Lars-Inge has been on the phone with team member Peter Nilsson, who told us that Lars-Inge was fine, except for some pain", says Micke. "His wounds included broken ribs, punctured lungs, a cracked pelvis and snapped ligaments in one leg". Sharkman and Tog and all of our readers send their best wishes to Lars-Inge for a continued rapid recovery and return to the track.
©Eurodragster.com
Also in the wars, although not as seriously, is our good friend Monique Koedam, wife of the world's second-quickest Top Fuel Bike racer and 2003 FIM European Champion Roel. Monique is hobbling around on crutches after landing heavily from "Jumping in the sky" when Roel's 6.04/235 qualifying pass came up on the top end boards at the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod. "It's going to take me six to eight weeks to recover so I am never going to jump again, not for a five-second pass or anything quicker!", says Monique. Best wishes also to Monique for a swift recovery.

Vote against Top Gear tirade.
18th September: Enraged Eurodragster reader Chris Smith and Supertwin Gas racer Ric Naylor have written with news of a surprising attitude taken towards drag racing by Top Gear magazine, the paper offshoot of the popular UK TV programme which is usually very positive towards the sport.

"The latest issue of the magazine has a section for and against drag racing", says Chris Smith. "For drag racing, and putting forward a very good case, is Pete Trafford. Against is Dick Hammond". Chris goes on to quote and comment on some of Dick Hammond's observations, which copyright and libel laws prevent us from quoting, but suffice to say that Dick's comments consist of well-worn and ignorance-fed can't-go-round-corners, anyone-can-do-it, no-skill-necessary cliché.
©Eurodragster.com
Eurodragster's readers do, however, have the chance to have their say. "You can cast a vote on the Top Gear web site at www.topgear.com/polls", says Chris. You know what to do, folks. Please note that to vote it will be necessary to leave a name and E-Mail address which may be a ruse by the magazine to send you junk mail about circuit racing.

And if you are reading this, Dick, then we challenge you to contact Paul Marston's Drag Race Driving School (www.paulmarstonracing.com), book some lessons in Grumpy's Dodge, and then come back and tell us all how easy it is...

Museum seeks race car.
18th September: And proving that drag racing is a respectable motorsport, the British Museum of Road Transport in Coventry is planning an exhibition on Speed and Racing in the Spring of 2004 after a multi-million pound redevelopment, and the Museum's Lucy Rumble is looking for a representative of drag racing to be considered for a part in the exhibition.
©Eurodragster.com
"We already own the two Thrust Land Speed Record cars, have close links with World Rally, and are sourcing cars, cycles and motorbikes to represent key motorsport and cycle-sport competitions", says Lucy. "I am in the process of drawing up a list of items which could potentially be represented. This will then be tightened to around fifteen to twenty which will be eventually displayed. As with all of our exhibitions we will be using our extensive contacts around the motorsport and transport heritage industry to support it. However, we do not know very many people representing drag racing and feel that the sport should at least have the opportunity to be represented in our initial list.

"At the moment we don't have dates or duration, but are trying to pull together contacts which may help us to pin this down a little. If you might be interested in being included or have any ideas for other contacts please do not hesitate to contact me either by E-Mail at Lucy.Rumble@coventry.gov.uk or by phone on 024 7683 2425."

Web site updates.
18th September: Not strictly a web site update, but the final standings in the 2003 FIA European Pro Stock Championship have been slightly amended. You can view the amended standings by clicking here (PDF format).

Similarly not a web site update but very important since UK Tech Inspector Geoff Martin has sent us a higher-resolution version of yesterday's SFI chassis spec change, which you can view by clicking here, or by clicking on the link in yesterday's news item.

The official web site of 2003 FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champions American Car Imports Racing has been updated with the latest of Crew Chief Andy Bissett's unrivalled race reports (Andy hard at work - right), in this case from the FIA European Finals, together with an updated photo gallery and the addition to the Media page of every piece of press coverage which Dave Wilson and the team have enjoyed. Check it out at www.americancarimportsracing.com.

Michael Buhagiar has updated his Maltese Drag Racing web site with photographs and results from the latest Night Race at Hal Far. You can find Michael's excellent web site at www.geocities.com/dragraceway.
©Eurodragster.com
Alan Currans continues to develop his keen sense for what nostalgia buffs like to see, with the latest update to his Acceleration Archive being another gem from the archives of John Woolfe Racing. "The update contains pictures of Dennis Priddle's two Chrysler Avenger-bodied cars and the later Chevy Monza", says Alan. "There are pictures of the first Avenger under construction, rare pictures of it with Shellsport sponsorship as it appeared at Santa Pod on one occasion only, even rarer pictures of the completed Shellsport paintjob, and of course the familiar STP-sponsored cars. There are some great burnout shots of the second Avenger and the Monza is pictured at various venues including a stately home and outside John Woolfe Racing's facility at Bedford where it is safe to say it caught the attention of the neighbours". You can find Alan's site at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk.

Eurodragster's American Car Imports-sponsored Event Coverage of the recent FIA European Finals has been updated with another photo gallery featuring a small number of mainly off-track pictures from Finals week. You can view the extra pictures by clicking here, or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

SFI Rollcage update for TF and TMD.
17th September: Many thanks to UK Tech inspector Geoff Martin for giving us the latest SFI Tech Advisory note for Top Fuel and Top Methanol dragsters. It is SFI spec 2.3K and concerns the back brace section of the roll cage. Full details are available in the note, available here (Jpeg Format). Should anybody require clarification on this you can contact Geoff using geoffrey.martin4@btopenworld.com
©Eurodragster.com
More 'slammers sponsors.
17th September: Fresh from yesterdays news of RRC's backing of this weekends Doorslammers Internationals at Shakespeare County Raceway LA Performance Services have announced more sponsors for the event. "Both Webster Race Engineering and Gleeson Wright Security have joined the growing list of sponsors for the event" reveals promoter Lee Child.
©Eurodragster.com
Both WRE and Gleeson Wright Security will be contributing to the prize fund and Gleeson Wright will also be providing a recovery truck should the need arise to trailer a car off of the track or shutdown area, in addition to their usual role of supplying the security at the Ultimate Power events. Lee adds "I would like to say a big Thank You to Gary Gleeson and Matt Wright for their continued support of the Ultimate Power series of events and its a pleasure to welcome Jon Webster and WRE on board as well"

SPRC Dinner Dance.
17th September: Paula Marshall of SPRC has been in touch to ask us to give you the first information on one of the highlights of the off season, the SPRC Annual Dinner Dance. "The Dinner Dance is to take place on Saturday, 21st February 2004 at the Bedford Moat House." says Paula. "Forms will be going out to people shortly when the menu selections have been finalised. The Dinner Dance will also feature the presentation of the SPRC Sportsman Championship trophies to winners and runners up and it is also the SPRC's turn to present the National Championship trophies."
©Eurodragster.com
We will bring you more details and the relevant forms as soon as we get them, but until then, we are off to brush up on doing the Timewarp!

Another Chain Reaction.
17th September: UK Supercharged Outlaw racer Mark Needham returned to action at the Hot Rod Drags at Shakespeare County Raceway exactly one year after a devastating pit fire destroyed his "Chain Reaction" altered. "We have just got back from a fantastic weekend at the Hotrod Drags, It was the first time out this season and although we are still in the process of setting up, the new car is already showing its potential" says Mark.
©Eurodragster.com
"We lost everything in the fire last year so it was great to be back in time for this years event. We have said our thanks to everyone involved and we are greatful to so many people. Lots of you have been in touch to say you managed to get some pics from last year, as we were in not position to take any ourselves we would be very greatful if anyone with photos or video footage could email them to marknolimits@aol.com. We are trying to put together an album and some pics of what happened would just finish it off.

FIA Euro Finals Anorak Stats.
17th September: Many thanks to our good friend Andy Marrs of TSI Timers Europe for once again supplying with a full statistical breakdown of the European Finals.
©Eurodragster.com
Blue lights (Tower ready): 715
Pairs: 583
Single runs: 109
Byes: 23
Total vehicles entered in pc: 1298

Made it to the finish line: 1255 (inc. 73 jd's)
Made it to 1/4: 1182
Average ET (not inc jd's): 9.731
Average MPH (not inc jd's): 143.85
Lowest ET: 4.645 Kim Reymond
Highest MPH: 317.56 Kim Reymond

Closest Race (Eliminations): 9.90 Bike R1, Fred Furlong v Steve Coombs (Win) 0.000. (Further inspection showed a split of 0.000134, approximately 0.305 inches or 7.75mm.)

Closest to dial in: Barry Giles (Super Pro ET) spot on, 7.630 (15:36 on Friday).
Frank Mason (Super Gas) spot on 9.900 (10:19 on Saturday).
Alan Didwell (Pro ET) spot on, 10.410 (13.58 on Sunday).

Best reaction time: Martin Curbishley (Super Comp) 0.400 (10:27 on Friday)
Gordon Appleton (Pro Mod) 0.400 (11:45 on Saturday)
Robin Kadi (Junior Dragster) 0.500 (15:03 on Saturday)

Total run time (all cars that reached finish line inc. JD's): 3 hours 26 minutes 47.73 seconds

Runs under 5 seconds: 6
Peter Beck x 3
Kim Reymond x 1
Micke Kagered x 1
Tommy Moller x 1

Runs under 5.5 seconds: 19
Tommy Moller x 4
Smax Smith x 3
Peter Beck x 3
Kim Reymond x 2
Micke Kagered x 2
Susanne Callin x 1
Jon Webster x 1
John Spuffard x 1
Dave Wilson x 1
Darryl Bradford x 1

Runs Under 6 seconds: 58

Runs Over 300 mph: 1
Kim Reymond x 1

Runs Over 250 mph: 29

Runs over 200 mph:132

Notes :
2nd quickest event ET average ever 9.731 (current fastest 02 Finals 9.643)
3rd fastest event MPH average ever 143.85 (current fastest 00 Finals 144.44)

Web site updates.
17th September: Pro ET racer Terri Lee has updated her website with the great news that the team have sourced a new block and are starting on the rebuild of the engine for the "van formally known as Blown It". Full details at www.terrileeracing.co.uk/
©Eurodragster.com
Eurodragster staffer Sharkman has updated his personal website with over 500 pictures from the European Finals. There are no wallpaper files from the event yet, but Sharkman promises them as soon as he gets a chance! Sharkman's site can be found at www.topendtales.com.

Carter minds his B & Q's.
16th September: For the first time since his crash in Norway Andy Carter will be getting back into a Top Fuel Dragster and he is really looking forward to it! "I think it is important that I do this before the end of 2003, even if it's just 3 warm ups and a burn out each of 3 days at Bruntinthorpe airfield." says Andy. B & Q are releasing a brand new range of power tools and Carter Motorsport have been asked to help market the brand, the event at Bruntingthorpe being part of the product launch. With their own car awaiting repairs the team will be joining up with the Rune Fjeld of RF Motorsport for this promotion. "It's really great to be working with the Wizard, Rune Fjield, again. I tried out Runes Silver car on the Friday of the European Finals and we found that the pedals need to be further away, the steering column needs raising slightly, but besides that its a ok!"
©Eurodragster.com
As well as letting us know about his plans for the rest of this year, Andy has also taken the time to look back over 2003 and forward to 2004 and he was keen to share those thoughts with all the fans of Carter Motorsport. Obviously the first thing that most fans ask Andy about is the car, badly damaged after a top end crash in Norway. "The week after the accident in Norway the dragster was delivered to WRE (Webster Race Engineering) where owner Jon Webster gave us an appraisal on the car and whether any of the chassis was usable again. As we feared only the cockpit section survived the crash intact, so it is having a new chassis from the cockpit forward, new chassis from the cockpit back as well as new A arms, front spindles, steering rack, steering column, front and rear wheels, rear wing strut, rear wing, axle mounts, and some new body panels! It will basically be a new car when it leaves Jon's shop"

It was far from the season that Andy and the Carter Motorsport squad were hoping for, but Andy is still able to take some on track highlights from the year, those being

Number 1 qualifier at the Main Event.
Running the 4.88 at the Main Event, still the 3rd fastest European et ever behind Kim's 2 awesome runs.
Getting to the final at Sweden before Smaxs rain dance put a stop to it!
Ending another season still holding the FIA European ET record (4.89), still holding ET and speed records at Shakespeare County Raceway
Despite everything we still came 6th in the points. Not the end of the world by a long way!

One of the hardest things for Andy was having to sit out the biggest race of the year, the FIA European Finals, held in front of his home fans at Santa Pod Raceway. " As I said earlier I had a meeting with Rune on the Friday which went well and I managed to have a coffee with Kim Reymond and say hello to a few of the other TF racers and wish them good luck. But that was it, I was out of there! Make no mistake, Drag Racing is a great motorsport, but I'm not a great Drag Racing spectator and to watch 9 TF cars battling for an 8 car field would have hurt to much, particularly when we so badly wanted to be there and involved in the title decider. My wife Sarah and I decided to concentrate on business commitments over the weekend, but of course after every qualifier / round we got about 10 texts so we did know what was going on. Well done Kim and team on that run, awesome! Well done to Smax, King Knut and the Purple loans / CBD team on the Championship. Well done to all at Santa Pod for the road and pit improvements and for putting on probably the best race in European history" said Andy, before ending with a heart felt "I really wish I could have been part of it."

Moving on to looking ahead to next season Andy reveals "I will start by saying that nothing is 100% confirmed at present for 2004. My aim is to compete at all rounds of the 2004 Fia European Top Fuel Championship, win the Championship and get maximum exposure for Carter Motorsports sponsors. First National Telecom and many of our sponsors have already committed 95% to next season but it's 7 months away and if you know anything about business in general you will understand that things can change. Dan is working away as hard as usual and I'm sure will add a few more before 2004. I must mention that Dan has been major player in helping to turn Carter Motorsport into a really professional race team. He does a fantastic job and doesn't get much glory, so thanks Dan. The first race in 2004 will be the Pro Fuel Shoot out at which we placed 2nd in 2001 and won in 2002, wouldn't it be great to see 4 Fuel Funny Cars and 4 Top Fuel Dragsters at this event running heads up. Then of course its on to the Main Event, lets hope there's 10 cars going for the 8 car field, I will be ready, of that you can be sure!"

Andy says that there are not many highlights in 2003, "but at lkeast there are some!". He lists Number one qualifier at the Main Event, running the 4.88 at the Main Event, still the third fastest European ET behind Kim Reymond's two awesome runs, and "Getting to the final at Sweden before Smax's rain dance put a stop to it! And of course we have ended another season still holding the FIA European ET record (4.89), we still hold the ET and Speed records at Shakespeare County Raceway, and came sixth in the FIA points. Not the end of the world by a long way."

Andy would like to thank First National Telecom Services; Wynns Lubricants; Lucas Oils; NGK; Binamic; S.I.D.; Global Commercial; Yuasa Automotive Batteries (Europe) Ltd; Earls Performance Products; Sigma Signs; Rainbow Conference Sets; I.P.A. Print Associates Ltd; Juice Creative Media Ltd and K and N Filters. "I would also like to thank my my wife Sarah who has always fully supported me, but this year has been extra tough for us, on and off the track", says Andy. "Thanks to all of those people who have been sending us their best wishes and come back soon E-Mails.

"It's just left to say from all of us at the First National Telecom/Carter Motorsport Top Fuel Team that we want to offer our sincere thanks to all the fans, sponsors and friends for their support. Look forward to seeing you at the Flame and Thunder Show, I can't miss the comeback of arch rival Barry Sheavills can I?"

RRC back Doorslammers.
16th September: LA Performance Services have announced another sponsor for this weekend's Doorslammer Internationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. Race car builder Robinson Race Cars are to back the doorslammer-only event for the second year running with a contribution to the prize fund. RRC owner Andy Robinson had a good weekend himself at last year's event, taking the title in Outlaw and running into the 6.6s on the first trip to Shakespeare County with his Studebaker after crashing his Rover.
©Eurodragster.com
"It's absolutely fantastic that Andy is repeating his sponsorship of the Doorslammer Internationals", says Lee Child, who sponsors Eurodragster's Links pages through his company LA Racing Parts. "Andy has been a solid supporter of racing at Shakespeare County Raceway this year with backing for the Ultimate Power Drag Racing Championship as well as the Custom Car Street Eliminator, which also has a round at Shakespeare County this weekend. Andy will be well-represented by customers at the track this weekend and I would not be surprised to find them in the winner's circle."

One run short for Zodiac.
16th September: Coming into the final round of the championship Team Zodiac were optimistic of their chances, holding a slight lead in the points and with a bike that was running well. Things didn't quite go according to plan for them though, as Monique Pels explains;

"Having a 2 point lead in the Championship and being qualified no.1 running steady 6.6 passes things were looking good for us. But in the semi finals we suddenly lost 3 tenth of a second, running 6.90, and 10 mph top speed, causing us to lose the race and ultimately sliding us back into the runner up spot in the championship (Congratulations to Per Bengtsson and his team on winning the Championship).
©Eurodragster.com
"When we checked the engine after the semi's it turned out that we had 20% leak on the cylinders, so after 2 entire seasons running the exact same cylinders and pistons we had lost them one run too soon... (read the full story on the News page of our web site).

"Being no. 1 qualifier at five out of six events and running lowest ET and highest Top Speed at most events, we clearly have a very strong combination right now. The one thing that is keeping us from running lower ET's is the frame, which can't handle the full potential of the engine. We are therefore going to design and build a new chassis for the 2004 season.

"The Zodiac team would like to express their thanks to their main sponsor: Zodiac Performance Parts for Harley Davidson for their continuing support as well as to our other major sponsors: Supertrapp and Accel. Also, a big THANK YOU to Bauke Strobos for helping us out at the races Crew Chief Vincent was unable to attend. Very much appreciated Bauke!"

Crew needed for WRE day.
16th September: Superstreet Bike racer Dave Bailey will be attending the WRE test day tomorrow to continue his quest to run a 7 second pass on his bike before the end of the year, as he is moving into Funny Bike next season. However there is a slight technical hitch in tomorrow's plans; "Maybe you could put a request out for a brave soul to crew for me and ride the pit bike from hell (Yes, THAT pit bike - Photo ED) on Wednesday?" asks Dave. "They'll only need to tow me around - nothing technical (unless they want to). I'll be doing no more than 7 passes. All going well, (the kiss of death, that statement!) at least one of them should be a 7! If anyone's interested they can phone my house Tuesday Evening (01634 378515)."

Don't forget that the WRE Test Days now accept entry's on the day and offer a superb opportunity to test in race conditions from and the track time to experiment with set-ups. The track, which will be open from 10:00 - 17:00 with a break for lunch, will be fully prepped and full marshal and paramedic cover will be in place. Catering is also available on-site. The Test Day is open to both car and bike racers. Entry is £120 per driver or rider. In the event of a rain-off, 75% of the entry fee can be carried forward to another Test Day. A full DVLA driving licence must be produced to sign on, with the obvious exception of Junior Dragsters.
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
16th September: Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Andy Frost has updated his web site with a race report on the Allstar Nationals, held at Shakespeare County raceway over the August bank holiday weekend. It was a mixed weekend for Andy with a runner up finish offset by some engine damage. For the full story head over to Andy's site at www.redvictor1racing.co.uk

Fresh from producing Eurodragster's awesome new shirts, UK Nitro Harley rider and journalist Turbo has updated the classifieds section of his site with more bikes for sale. You can find Turbo's site at www.turboville.co.uk
©Eurodragster.com
Nicholson returns home.
15th September: We were very pleased indeed to hear from UK Super Pro ET racer Wayne Nicholson. If you were tuned in last week you will recall that Wayne suffered a devastating accident