Modena to host new challenge.
30th November: Lorenzo Lauro of Italy's Nitro Drag Racing Challenge has been in touch with news of an exciting-sounding new class to be run at the Fast and Furious race at Modena on 9th-10th April 2005.

"Fast and Furious is open to cars up to Super Comp", says Lorenzo. "Our technical and safety rules are FIA compliant, so according to speed and ET roll bars and a parachute might be mandatory. We will run five index classes plus a bracket for cars running slower than fourteen seconds. No racing licence will be necessary for the bracket, but they will be mandatory for the index classes.

"Our new Quick Eight Survivors class is open to full-bodied street and race cars. This means that no tube chassis will be allowed. Cars will have to be self started - this means no push car, no external battery, and no mechanics in the starting area. Upholstery can be removed from the car, but total weight cannot be reduced by more that 10% from the street version, so if you use carbon fibre doors or Lexan you might have to add ballast in order to comply with the weight check at the end of each run.

"Should a car use an engine block and transmission which are original equipment from another car, then the weight will have to comply with the donor car; if you race a 106 Peugeot with a V8 Rolls Royce engine, then total minimum weight will have to be the one of the lightest car on the market installing Rolls Royce engine as OEM less 10%. This rule is also related to the transmission, so should you have an all wheel drive transmission on a car which has never been released as AWD, then the weight will have to comply with the lightest car on the market installing that transmission.

"Competitors taking part in one of the index classes are eligible to qualify for Quick Eight Survivors. The sixteen best ETs will make two qualifying passes for an eight-car ladder. The sixteen qualifiers will race two mandatory consistent qualifying runs. In order to enforce this rule, the worst result will be considered for qualifying criteria (if you race one run in 9.0 seconds and the other in 9.1, then you will be qualified at 9.1). No pit time allowed between the two qualifying runs. Maximum pit time allowed during eliminations is five minutes total, in order to refill fuel tanks and nitrous bottles.

"The purpose of this class is to establish the best European car, best team, and best driver. We want to kick the butts of those who say that drag racing is a short race where you win because a quarter mile is not long enough to fry an extreme car. So the sixteen qualifiers will be admitted to the Quick Eight Survivors only after completing a race in another index class.

"The Quick Eight Survivors winner and runner up will be awarded with €3000 for the winner and €1500 for the runner-up, a trophy, and their travel money refunded."

For more information or for an entry form check out the event's official web site at www.dragster.it or call Lorenzo on +39 335 591 0599.

A Wild night out.
30th November: Wild Bunch Best Newcomer Helen Smythe says that her and husband Dean's first season in the class has been beyond all their expectations. "We would like to thank all those who helped to make it such a great experience", says Helen.

"Thanks to Chris and Claire for all the hard work they put in to organise everything. They put a lot of time and effort in to keep things running smooth and to keep everyone happy (which isn't always an easy task ). Thanks to all the staff at all three tracks for their efforts to keep everything moving and for being welcoming to us new guys who don't always know if we are in the right place!
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"A huge Thank You to all our fellow members of the Wild Bunch. Everybody has been so kind, helpful and supportive, and without such a great bunch of people our first year wouldn't have been anywhere near as much fun. Thanks to our crew, Dave and Christine, for all the help they have given us, and for everything they had to put up with. Thank You to everyone who has spoken to us in the pits throughout the year, encouraged us, congratulated us and not laughed when we were dressed up as witches and devils (Oh, that was fancy dress? - Ed)!

"Lastly, a big thanks to Tog and Sharkman for maintaining Eurodragster(You're welcome - Ed). It is an invaluable source of info for everybody involved in the sport, not least the newcomers. The year couldn't have ended any better as Barry Bohannon announced that we had won the Best Newcomer award. The big grin is still on my face and I think it may be there for some time yet!

"Merry Christmas to everyone, we're looking forward to doing it all again next year."

Swift snippets.
30th November: Our good friend Andy Bissett, former Crew Chief of the American Car Imports Top Methanol Dragster team, sent us this picture from his wedding to Jennifer (right), which took place in California on 19th November. Andy tells us that both he and Jennifer have new jobs commencing in the New Year, Jennifer on a truck racing team and Andy on an NHRA team. We are sure that everyone will join us in wishing Andy and Jennifer a very happy marriage and every success in the future.
©Eurodragster.com
Many thanks to Paul Marston for letting us know that the edition of ITV's Hell for Leather, filmed at the FIA European Finals Press Day is to be screened overnight this Friday, 3rd December. The programme, featuring Jane Omorogbe taking turns down the track in Paul's Insanity Vega pick-up and on Len Paget's Pro Stock Bike, screens on Meridian at midnight. Paul tells us that the programme is well-presented and shows the sport in an excellent light, even allowing for a sighting of Eurodragster News Editor Tog omitting to hold in his stomach. "Viewing figures are monitored, so please tune in if you can", says Paul.

Eagle-eyed readers will have noticed the disappearance of Eurodragster's 2000 and 2001 Event Coverage from the Event Coverage page. This was due to the removal without warning of our Event Coverage archive for those years by ISP Free Online. We have started work on the recovery of the live reports for those years, and their links will be put back on the Event Coverage place as they are replaced.

Ideas for great days out.
30th November: Race Shack will be holding their second open day on Saturday 11th December and Conor Lagrue tells visitors to expect some exciting action.

The tuning, fabrication and racing services company are holding another challenge on their Mustang Dynamometer, this time between Pro ET racers Keith Ridley and Ron Bartlett, and VW racers Richie Webb and Martin 'Stretch' Charles. Keith will be making a transbrake launch and attempting a ten-second quarter-mile pass on the dyno; Ron will be trying to beat his ET, then Richie will step up to the plate with his engine in two configurations, CNC v hand-ported, and finally Stretch will be turning up the boost.

"It beats doing the Christmas shopping!", says Conor Lagrue. "We are hoping that a few mags might make it along, and even a film crew or two". You can find the Race Shack web site, which includes directions to the Tewkesbury facility, at www.raceshack.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
The fourth Drag Racing Night takes place in The Swan pub in Newton Bromswold (near Santa Pod) next Tuesday evening, 7th December. Darren Prentice tells us that Caroline Day of Santa Pod Raceway has come up trumps again by lending pre-release copies of the 2004 FIA, FIM/UEM and NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified Championship Review DVDs for screening on the night. Screenings start at 8:00 pm. The Swan is in Newton Bromswold, near Rushden, not far off the A6: click here for a map of the area. You can call The Swan on 01933 413506.

Web site updates.
30th November: Our good buddy Anders Envall has updated his Blackout Full Size Racing web site with some photographs of his move to the new workshop which his ten-second street-legal SS Impala will be sharing with Patrick Wikström's Camaro Pro Mod. Check it out at www.blackout.nu. Whilst there be sure to have a good look around what is one of the most entertaining drag racing web sites in Europe.
©Eurodragster.com
Wild Bunch racer Gareth Kent has updated his Daze Gone By web site at www.dgbracing.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk. Gareth's web site gives details of his cars past, present and future as well as a Friends and Fun page.

SPRC Perpetual Awards week 2.
29th November: Once again Santa Pod Racers Club and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give readers the chance to have input to the SPRC Perpetual Awards, which will be presented at the SPRC Dinner Dance on Saturday 5th February 2005.

For six of the seven 2004 season awards, the SPRC Committee has decided upon a shortlist for which votes can be submitted by E-Mail. Nominations for the seventh Award, the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, are being accepted throughout the voting period (see below). The votes of Eurodragster readers will be taken into consideration when the SPRC Committee decides upon the winners of all seven awards.

This week's vote, the second, is for Best-Looking Bike. The SPRC Committee's shortlist for Best-Looking Bike is as follows, in alphabetical order:
©Eurodragster.com
Ronny Aasen
Supertwin

Sandra Chaplain
CSMA Motoring and Leisure Comp Bike

Les Harris
Tilly III Supertwin Gas

Chris Hope
Pinnacle Autocentre Pro Stock Bike

Steve Venables
Super Street Bike

For a look at larger pictures, and to place your vote, go to the official SPRC Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the SPRC Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page. Voting is per category, so if you voted for Best-Looking Car last week then you may of course vote for Best-Looking Bike this week.

The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, for which nominations are now being taken, was first awarded to Santa Pod Raceway's late Chief Marshal, Alex Brachtvogel, in 2001 to mark his outstanding contribution to Santa Pod Raceway and the sport as a whole. After Alex's death the trophy was named in his memory and continues to be awarded for contribution to drag racing.

There is no shortlist for the Alex Brachtvogel award. Nominations are invited for racers, race officials, track and safety crews, club officials, media, or anyone else who has contributed to the sport. Last year the trophy was awarded to Kjell Pettersson and David Lloyd-Jones of Santa Pod Raceway. Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprc.awards@btinternet.com specifying SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Trophy as the subject and your nomination in the body of the mail.

Next week's category will be Most Professional-Appearing Team.

Saluting the Wild and the Outlaw.
29th November: The UK's Wild Bunch and Supercharged Outlaws Champions were presented with their trophies on Saturday night at a Dinner Dance at the Tower Ballroom at Drayton Manor Park in Tamworth. Congratulations to:

Wild Bunch Series Champion: Tony Smith
Roy Wilding Nostalgia Race Cars Series Champion: Joe Stevens
Real Steel Series Champion: Tony Smith
Wild Bunch Best ET: Paul Harvey
Wild Bunch Top Speed: Paul Harvey
Wild Bunch Best ET with a British engine: Dave Southworth
Big Bang Trophy: Sid Slattery
Best Newcomer: Helen Smythe
Best Slingshot: Chris Hartnell
Best Altered: Tony Smith
Best Dragster/Radical: Tony Wynne Jones
Best Turned-Out: DASH Racing
Best Achiever: Joe Stevens
Perseverance Award: Sid Slattery
Services to the Wild Bunch: Ed Yates, Sarah Howells and Claire Meaddows

Daddy Cool (Sags) Personal Achievement: Jenny Archer and Tom Coe
C and C Sportsperson: Darryl and Sarah Howells
Derek and Brenda Annable Trophy: Janet and Wayne Schreier
Don Garlits Spirit Of Drag Racing Trophy: Team B'Sting
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Supercharged Outlaws 7.50 Champion: Chris Round
Supercharged Outlaws 7.50 top speed: Chris Round
Supercharged Outlaws 8.50 Champion: Frank Griffin
Supercharged Outlaws 8.50 top speed: Keith Charman

"The Wild Bunch would like to congratulate all their winners and thank everyone for their support during the 2004 season, especially our main contingency sponsors Real Steel, and again all those who provided trophies and prize money during the season and raffle prizes on the night!", says Wild Bunch Co-ordinator Claire Meaddows. "On a personal note, I would like to say thank you very much to all those who contributed towards my new bike, presented on the night to replace the one I had stolen at the track during the season. I was overwhelmed at the time and very grateful for everyone's kind thoughts and warm wishes behind the presentation. I didn't attempt to ride it at the time, as I was sporting some high-heel red metalflake shoes, complete with Backdraft graphics to match the car!

"The Wild Bunch would like to thank all marshals and officials, and everyone who works so hard at all the tracks, and we wish them and all racers a very Merry Christmas and a Wild 2005! We are now very much looking forward to next season, which will be our tenth Anniversary year!"

Sharkman and Tog would like to thank Claire Meaddows and Chris Hartnell, the Wild Bunch, and the Supercharged Outlaws for the invitation to the Dinner Dance and for a most enjoyable evening.

Eurodragster honoured.
29th November: Eurodragster.com was also honoured with an award at the Wild Bunch/Supercharged Outlaws Dinner Dance last night. Tog and Sharkman were awarded with special salvers for Services to Drag Racing, with the following citation read by Barry Bohannon who together with Jerry Cookson did the usual thoroughly competent job of hosting last night's presentation:
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"This is to recognise their services to drag racing, for all their hard work with the Eurodragster.com web site. Many people treat the site as their first port of call for all information relating to current drag racing topics and news, and the guys work hard to keep the news fair and unbiased, and both personal and professional, and always informative. This award recognises that they tirelessly promote the sport of drag racing and foster a community spirit of sportsmanship and recognition for the achievements of racers throughout European drag racing and beyond. Thanks for all your hard work, guys!"

We would like to say a huge Thank You to the Wild Bunch for the most unexpected award. As ever, the honour is due to everyone who participates in drag racing be they racer, crew, official or fan since all we do is to report upon what you do, so without your efforts we would not have a web site worth visiting. Thank you very much everyone!

NAST AGM report.
29th November: A good time was had by all at the National Association of Supertwins Annual General Meeting in Burton upon Trent on Saturday, writes photo-journalist Ian Turburville.

"Chairman Don Irvine sorted out all the club business very efficiently and bid a fond farewell to retiring club treasurer Rodger Attaway, who formed the club in the early nineties, and secretary Sue Beneke who is jetting off to Australia to see her new grandchild", says Turbo. "The usual awards were presented, but the award for outstanding services to the club was named the Bernie Hepworth Trophy in remembrance to our lost member. It was then presented to the previous chairman of the club, Ian 'Rush' Carruthers, who held the position for eight years. A minute's silence was held for Bernie and a collection made for the hospice which looked after him in his final hours.

"A full report and all information on the Club can be found at www.supertwins.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Swift snippets.
29th November: Courtesy of 2004 FIM/UEM European Supertwin Champion Ton Pels comes news of more Supertwin contestants taking to the track in 2005. "Urs Erbacher finally saw the light", says Ton. "He is building a Top Fuel Harley. He is still learning how to ride a bike (sorry Urs) and will therefore continue to race the Top Methanol Funny Car in 2005. One of his crew members will ride the bike for him. Gunter Sohn is also building a Fuel Harley."
©Eurodragster.com
Having mentioned our good buddy Barry Bohannon a few paragraphs above, we now turn to the distaff side to wish a very Happy Birthday to our equally good buddy, Barry's fiancée Alison Gowlett. We're sure that everyone will join Sharkman and Tog in wishing Ali very many happy returns.

Web site updates.
29th November: Santa Pod Raceway's official Run What You Brung web site at www.rwyb.com has received a major update including an all-new look, new pictures, new dates and information about for 2005 events, and updated factsheets.
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SPRC Dinner Dance hotel update.
27th November: Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall tells us that the Club's block booking of rooms at the Bedford Moat House Hotel for the SPRC Dinner Dance on Saturday 5th February is going quickly.

"There are only fourteen twin rooms and one single room left in our allocation for the Dinner Dance, so you had better call them quickly on 01234 799988, quoting Santa Pod, if you are planning on staying", says Paula. "The Moat House have advised that they will release other roooms, providing that they are available, but they will be at the normal room rate. If the Moat House is fully booked I have spoken to the Bedford Swan Hotel (across the bridge) and they have allocated some rooms for us. Again, the sooner people try to book, the more chance they will have of getting a room. You can call the Bedford Swan Hotel on 01234 346565, ask for Reservations and quote reference SP05025. The cost is more than the Moat House but will include breakfast. The Swan Hotel is happy to hold rooms until 14th January and again, the same applies that they will release other rooms after this date but only if they are available.
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"Please also remember to send me your booking form with your meal selections. It is no good booking a room if you are not down on my list to attend the evening and enjoy your meal!"

Dinner Dance tickets are 25; no disco-only tickets are available. You can download the SPRC Dinner Dance form (Word format) by clicking here, or via the Entry Forms page of the SPRC web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.

Swift snippets.
27th November: Tickets are already available for next year's three eXplosion Club events at Drachten. You can find the on-line booking form on the Lex Joon Racing web site at www.lexjoonracing.nl. Lex Joon's Team Manager Gerda Dijkstra tells us that Lex's recently-acquired Top Fuel Dragster will be appearing at the MPM Internationals on 15th-17th July.
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UK Pro ET racer Carl Burton, who administers the Pro ET sponsorship scheme, says that he is already working on 2005 and asks that all Pro ET racers check out the Pro ET web site at www.pro-et.co.uk for details of registration. Carl also says that anyone who wishes to sponsor Pro ET in 2005 is welcome to contact him via the web site.

Web site updates.
27th November: The Dragster.gr web site at www.dragster.gr has been updated with results and photographs from last weekend's final round of the 2004 Greek Dragster Championship.
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Christmas catalogue.
27th November: Santa Pod Raceway are offering an ideal Christmas present for race fans between eight and seventeen years old, with 2005 bookings now being taken for their Junior Dragster. "Hire can be for one day with full tuition at a Run What You Brung, or for two or three days at a UK Championship Round", says David Lloyd-Jones of Santa Pod Raceway. "To enter a full race meeting, you must have completed your tuition and obtained your competition licence at a RWYB day. The fee for a single day RWYB is 99 plus VAT which includes all equipment and attire, admission, sign on fee and tuition. Available early dates are 30th January, 6th February, 19th February, 20th February, 27th February, 13th March, 19th March and 20th March. The fee for a race meeting is 199 plus VAT including all equipment, attire admission and race entry fee. Race meetings start with the Easter Thunderball on 26th-28th March and the FIA Main Event on 27th-30th May 2005". For more information, or to make a booking, contact David at david@santapod.fsnet.co.uk or call him on 01234 782828.
©Eurodragster.com
Our good friends at Quarter Mile High have added another DVD to their already-extensive collection. The Smoke and Thunder DVD, previously only available on video, features eighty minutes of burnouts and launches from Top Fuel, Pro Mod, Jets, Custom Car Street Eliminator, Super Modified, and the last runs by the late Sammy Miller. Smoke and Thunder is 14.95 and is available on-line at www.quartermilehigh.com as well as the 2004 and 2003 Ultimate Power Championship and CCSE reviews. Stay tuned for Eurodragster's review of the 2004 Ultimate Power and CCSE DVDs.

Ian Turburville tells us that he is having a sale on his web site, with the price of just about everything reduced, and that he could be your only source of one of the current hot items. "Simpson are having delivery problems with their much sought-after pit and crew shoes", says Turbo. "There are none available anywhere until January 2005. In the meantime I have been able to round up a two pairs of crew shoes, UK sizes six and seven. I also have some Pro-Pit shoes, as worn by all Top Fuel teams. They are slightly sturdier than the crew shoe and have a protective rubber toe cap. I have UK sizes seven, eight, nine and ten. Also worthy of note, ready for the increase in the number of Nitro bikes next year, I have just received a shipment of Sure-Shot sprayers, don't start your bike with anything else! Collectors please note, I have some very desirable Milestones 1/16 scale dragster replicas, including just one Vancil! As with the shoes, it's first come first served I'm afraid! Lots of bargains to be had anyway so take a look at www.turboville.com/turbo-7/stop.htm."

MDRA pay tribute to Bernie.
26th November: Malta Drag Racing Association President Anthony Borda has been in touch on behalf of the MDRA Executive Committee and the members of the Association to pay tribute to Bernie Hepworth, whose death was announced yesterday.

"We would like to give our deepest sympathies to all of Bernie Hepworth's family and all his friends all over the world", says Anthony. "This sudden news was really really sad to hear. No one was expecting such news about a nice guy like Bernie Hepworth. The last time I talked with him was when he brought his Fuel Bike over to Malta. He seemed like he had no illness at all but when God calls, everyone has to go, I guess.
©Eurodragster.com
As you said in your obituary, Bernie had his second home here in Malta and for a fact everyone will miss him over here, especially the Borg Brothers and all their families. For them, Bernie was one of the family as well. As I said before, our deepest sympathies and may he rest in peace. One thing for sure is that Bernie will never be forgotten here in Malta."

Corr on Carter departure.
26th November: If you were tuned in on Monday you will have read that Andy Carter's erstwhile Crew Chief Eddie Corr has moved to Lex Joon Racing. Eddie has been in touch with his thoughts on his departure from Carter Motorsports after one of the longest tenures of any Crew Chief in European drag racing.

"I've worked with Andy since 1996, eight of those years as Crew Chief", says Eddie. "Andy took a chance on me tuning his car, and we learned a lot about running Fuel cars, and now we have a record unrivalled in the sport in Europe.
©Eurodragster.com
"Andy is probably the hungriest driver I've ever worked with, in any motorsport, and the team we built is the best in the sport in Europe.

"Were on good terms, but I know he's the last person I'll want to line up against!

"When you spend that long with a team, it becomes like a family and so it's with some difficulty that you make a decision to go elsewhere. But I have, and we'll see the results next year. See you all at the track!"

ATD début year success.
26th November: France's Association du Dragster (ATD) has had a successful year after its creation to promote drag racing in France, says Frederic Pueyo. The ATD insituted the Trophée ATD and successfully ran several events in 2004:
  • A car-only drag race combined with a French FFM drag race at Lanas, which was a joint ATD/Custom Gang event
  • A Run What You Brung, combined with an ATD Trophy round, organised by the French Mopar Owner's Club and ATD
  • An ATD drag racing weekend at Lurcy Levis
  • Turtmann (including ATD Trophy)
  • Nancy (including ATD Trophy)
"In 2004 we have had a total of two hundred racers, who made an average of eleven runs per event", says Frederic. "We were awarded with almost a billion smiles on their faces! Because of the success of this year, at which we had an average of a hundred cars per event, we decided to repeat the existing races in 2005 and to add new events:
  • 7th-8th May: Aubenas-Lanas
  • 28th-29th May: Broyes Les Pesmes (Dijon)
  • 18th-19th June: Chambley (Metz)
  • 6th-7th August: Lurcy-Levis
  • 2nd-4th September: Turtmann, Switzerland (TBC)
  • 17th-18th September: Roanne
"All European drag racers are welcome at our events to enjoy the French ATD Trophy! We welcome VW racers, dragster racers and street racers!"
©Eurodragster.com
For more information about the ATD and French drag racing, check out the France Drag web site at www.francedrag.com.

Cougar coming along.
26th November: Adam Charnley says that the construction of his Cougar Racing Topolino Altered is going pretty well. Longtime readers will recall that Adam was closely involved with the F1 In Schools scheme, which involved building model dragsters and then racing them against other schools' teams, but he has now moved up to the real thing.

"The construction has been a little slow for my liking but not too bad", says Adam. "With any luck the car will be rolling and have the engine in place in two weeks. We are on a tight schedule at the moment because the car is meant to be appearing at Autosport International in January - it will be good to see how far we have come since the F1 In Schools competition.

"We have picked up our first sponsor: Frankley CLC who are a City Learning Centre in Birmingham specialising in CAD/CAM. They have recently purchased two laser cutters as well as having CNC millers and routers. Also a huge Thank You to Turbo for the shirts and coat.

"If anyone is interested in sponsoring the car, please contact me at chara003@sgfl.org.uk even if it's the smallest amount."

Swift snippets.
26th November: Colin Lazenby tells us that Dale Reardon has been overwhelmingly elected Co-ordinator of the UK's Street Eliminator class for 2005. "I'm still receiving the odd belated vote", says Colin. "Jeff Meads (you old geezer) I got yours on Tuesday, and I for one can't wait for you to return, you're long overdue a spanking. I also got a further reply on Wednesday, and for the life of me I cannot make out whose signature it is. So, whoever sent a reply slip back on Monday or Tuesday, please give me a call to confirm who you are."
©Eurodragster.com
Bernie Hepworth.
25th November: We were saddened to hear this morning of the death of Bernie Hepworth after a long illness which he bore with characteristic grit and fortitude.

Bernie had a long and varied career in drag racing in the UK and elsewhere, starting on bikes before moving to cars and a Top Alcohol Funny Car and Top Alcohol Dragster before returning to two wheels and fielding a Supertwin. His last appearance on his bike was at the Bike Drags at London City Airport.

Bernie was also deeply involved in drag racing on Malta from its very start, and provided tuning advice to the Borg Brothers Top Methanol Dragster team amongst others, continuing until very recently even though unwell.

Bernie was well-known around European drag racing and widely respected for his tuning skills, and he could always be relied upon to provide an honest opinion in his trademark Yorkshire accent. His larger-than-life presence will be missed at the track both in the UK and in his second home on Malta.

Bernie's funeral is to take place at 2:30 pm next Wednesday, 1st December, at Huddersfield Crematorium in Fixby, Huddersfield. To get to Huddersfield Crematorium, exit the M62 at Junction 25 and follow the A62 to Fixby (map, crematorium at bottom left). Ian Turburville tells us that Bernie's family have requested any donations in Bernie's memory to be made to Kirkwood Hospice, whose web site can be found at www.kirkwoodhospice.co.uk.

Tog, Sharkman and all of our readers would like to offer our very deepest sympathies to Bernie's family and friends.

Torgny Mattsson.
25th November: We were also very sorry to hear from Erik Zettervall of the death of Torgny Mattsson of the FHRA Resque Team after a car accident at the weekend.

We are sure that everyone will join Sharkman and Tog in sending their deepest sympathies to Torgny's family, his colleagues on the FHRA Resque Team, and all of his friends.

You can read more on the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se.

Ready in the first Quarter.
25th November: Elliott Jones of the UK's Northern Quarter Altered team tells us that the Between Heaven and Hell Bantam is coming together nicely and that we should see the car on track next year.

"The car it is currently in the workshop of Dave 'Brucey Bonus' Leighton who has so far mounted the body and installed the majority of the cockpit controls", says Elliott. "The body will soon be off to well-known Northern hot rodder Derek Gibson for preparation and a lick of paint
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"We're definitely looking on-target for the car's début at the beginning of next season after many setbacks have slowed the project down".

The team have signed sponsorship deals with Hi-Tek Design Group, who are putting together a web site, and mobile phone ringtone, logo and screen supplier Cheaptones. "Any sponsors wishing to join the team are still more than welcome and can contact us at billyboywunda@hotmail.com", says Elliott.

Triple Trouble.
25th November: UK Super Comp and Super Gas team Double Trouble Racing are pleased to announce their recent merger with young 'top gun' Elliot Day (right). Elliot will continue the teams traditional double-entry at Easter 2005 in Junior Dragster and Sportsman ET (Sarah was class champion in 1997). Sarah and Dave Day tell us that Elliot understands the transition of running the family Roadster from Super Comp/Gas trim down to Junior Dragster and strongly believes it to be well within his capabilities.

After numerous discussions with Crew Chief Andy Pandy, Elliot feels that an initial throttle stop setting of around three and a half hours should suffice. This will be coupled with a quick feed from mum and a purge from dad.
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Elliot would like to take this opportunity to thank his sponsors for their total dedication and belief in him: Jeff Bull Race engines for the cuddly toy, Webster Race Engineering for shipping in his dedicated Simpson race seat, Yvonne Tramm Knitting Services for the SFI-approved woollen race suit and Belmont Racing for bottle heating services. He also hopes to sign up Air Sea Logistics for nappy changing and Curbishley Automotive for future paints and crayons.

Elliot Day also thanks everyone at Santa Pod Racers Club for waiving the usual three observed runs for new-comers and instead letting him have a little sleep, waving a lot and looking cute.

Ask Beardy Bloke for a date.
25th November: UK Supertwin Gas racer Les Harris has the perfect Christmas gift idea for lovers of Twins. Beardy Bloke has produced a calendar with each month featuring a different bike including National Association of Supertwins competitors, which will help to raise funds for his race team as well as promoting the sport.

"The calendar features photographs by Sharkman, Anni Valder and team member Caz", says Les. "It is A4 size and is printed in full colour. Each month's page is sponsored by my current sponsors and some new ones, and I am very grateful to them for getting involved."
©Eurodragster.com
Amongst the bikes included are all three of Les' TLs, George Laycock's Championship- and record-holding bike, and a caricature produced by Les' buddy Yorkie. "There are some pictures of girls, too, but they've got clothes on so the calendar is suitable for the whole family!", says Les.

The calendar costs 5 plus 1 postage and packing and can be ordered from Les by phone on 01603 412798.

Les also tells us that the next issue of Backstreet Heroes magazine, which is due out next week, includes a sizeable feature on the Eastern Thunder event which he organised at the King Edward pub in Norwich in September.

Swift snippets.
25th November: Many congratulations from Sharkman and Tog and, we're sure, all of our readers to Anne and Dave Barker on the birth of their son David, who arrived at 1:11 this morning and weighed in at 8 lbz 12 oz. David's arrival also makes grandparents of Anne's mum and dad, 2004 FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champion Dave Wilson and his wife Linda, to whom congratulations also, as well as Anne's brother David. Dave sounded far from Grumpy when he called us and long may that continue.
©Eurodragster.com
Tog and Sharkman would like to wish all of our readers in the USA a Happy Thanksgiving. Have a great day, guys.

Web site updates.
25th November: The official web site of Germany's Dragracer.de magazine has had a complete makeover. The German-language web site includes details about the magazine, purchasing information, an archive, links and more. Check it out at www.dragracer.de.
©Eurodragster.com
Persåker almost ready.
24th November: Swedish Top Fuel Dragster and Pro Stock racer Jöran Persåker is amongst the first to declare for 2005 as he says that he has almost finished planning for next season.

"I have been speaking to King Knut Söderquist", Jöran. "I will be buying Knut's black trailer and will put the Pro Stock on the upper level and the Top Fuel Dragster on the lower level. We plan to run the Pro Stock Dodge Avenger at three races in Scandinavia, with Jari Konola as Crew Chief, and all five FIA Championship events with the dragster.
©Eurodragster.com
"Knut and Chris Andrews are currently working on the dragster ready for next year. We will have the dragster here in the Speed Shop on 15th December, and we will put the new one-piece body on it in the Spring."

Jöran tells us that the recent move of Persåker's Speed Shop to kers Styckebruk went very well. "We love it, but we have a lot of work left", he says. You can check out the new shop on Jöran's web site at www.nitroz.se/persaker.

November Nitro.
24th November: Although the UK season is over, fans can take a last opportunity for 2004 to see nitro flames and breathe in those wonderful fumes as Johnny 'Mental' Hall and the Windridge Hall Felstead Mckenzie Nostalgia Fueller team will be firing up their new slingshot at the Ace Café in London next Wednesday (1st December).

"We will be firing the car up at 9:00 pm next Wednesday, in the car park of the Ace Café", says Johnny Mental. "It is also an Executioners Hot Rod Meet so there will be plenty of interesting vehicles around."
©Eurodragster.com
You can find out more about the Ace Café including a map of its Stonebridge Park location, on its official web site at www.ace-cafe-london.com.

Meanwhile the B+J Nostalgia web site at www.bjnostalgia.com has been updated with a very enjoyable illustrated report covering the NSRA Hot Rod Drags and the Halloween Showdown. Johnny would be pleased to hear from anyone with photographs or video of the car in action; you can contact him via the B+J web site.

Awards aplenty.
24th November: It was a weekend for prestigious award presentations as Svenska Bilsport Frbundet presented their award for Drag Racing Sponsor of the Year and Bilsport magazine presented their Drag Racer of the Year awards at the Bilsports mssan in Stockholm, whilst the Norwegian Carsport Federation presented their own Drag Racer of the Year award in Lillestrøm.

SBF's Drag Racing Sponsor of the Year was presented to Top Methanol FC racer Leif Andréasson's primary sponsor Kamasa Tools (right, picture courtesy Anna Christell) for the Kamasa Tools Mechanics' Challenge which took place in Stockholm's Kungstrdgrden the week before the Veidec Nitro Festival. You can read more on the Andréasson Motorsports web site at www.andreassonmotorsports.com.
©Eurodragster.com
At the same show, Bilsport magazine presented 2004 NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified Champion Håkan Nilsson with the Driver of the Year Award, whilst 2004 NDRS Junior Dragster Champion Lina Åberg was presented with the award for Junior Drag Racer of the Year. You can find out all about it on the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se.

2004 Swedish Dragracing League Super Street Champion and Europe's Fastest Grandmother Elisabeth Bredal was presented with the Drag Racer of the Year award by the Norwegian Carsport Federation at their ceremony in Lillestrøm. Again you can read more on the Svensk Dragracing web site.

Congratulations to Kamasa Tools, Håkan Nilsson, Lina Åberg and Elisabeth Bredal.

ACW/UK Street Racers Awards.
24th November: Carrying on the awards theme, American Car World and the UK Street Racers held their 2004 Presentation at the Needle and Awl, near Rushden, last weekend. Being a street legal series, some of the racers turned up in their cars in the middle of November. Pete Thornton and Rich Nicholls dropped us a line to tell us all about it.

The evening went very well with a relaxed atmosphere, with most of the conversation along the lines of 'You'll have to wait until next season to see what I've done or am doing to my car". Grudge matches starting already! Order was called so that the awards could get underway.

Starting with the V8 class, first place was Andy Bond with his '69 Camaro. He received a glass trophy and a year's subscription from ACW, a pair of Flowmaster exhausts and Flowmaster jacket from Webster Race Engineering, plus a cheque for 400. Second place was Roger Cassidy, also with a '69 Camaro. Roger got a glass trophy and a year's subscription from ACW, plus 275. Third went to Mark Walkley with his orange Mk3 Cortina, with a year's subscription to ACW and 175, while fourth place was Ian Mather (A-series Manta) who got a cheque for 125. Last we had Simon Davies ('55 Chevy), who received 100.00 from our sponsors.

Next came the 4/6 class and in first place was Ben Tomkins (Turbo Dutton), who received a glass trophy, a NOS shirt and a year's subscription from ACW, plus a cheque for 400. Second place went to Danny Kirk (Sapphire Cosworth 4x4), who got a glass trophy, year's subscription from ACW, plus 275, while third place was Terry Davies (Mk2 Escort Cossie), who got the trophy and subscription, plus a nitrous kit from Bespoke N20 and 175. Fourth place was Mark Westwood (Plymouth Coupe turbo), who got 125, while fifth went to Karl Ellis (Golf Mk2 on nitrous) who received 100.

The last two awards were special in that they were awarded to those we thought deserved it. First was a Twisted Sanity Nitrous Controller, awarded to Andy Blankett ('68 Camaro) for his efforts throughout the year. Next was Peter Salmons' Sponsorship for 200; Pete requested that this went to somebody lower down the class, and nobody complained about it going to Danny Bates, whose Sapphire Cosworth had a fire at the top end during the last round, resulting in extensive damage.
©Eurodragster.com
American Car World and the UK Street Racers would like to thank all of our sponsors: W-A-S-P, Ray Comer at Oaktree Property Management, Chris 'Binky' Jenkins, Mike Smith, Peter Salmon, Webster Race Engineering and Flowmaster, Bespoke N20 and last but not least Twisted Sanity.

For those who need reminding about next year's action, the first (practice) round is just seventeen weeks away! The dates are:
  • 19th-20th March (Santa Pod Raceway, practice only)
  • 2nd April (Shakespeare County Raceway)
  • 14th May (Shakespeare County Raceway, ACW Nats)
  • 2nd July (Santa Pod Raceway)
  • 30th July (Santa Pod Raceway, Mopar Nats)
  • 3rd September (Santa Pod Raceway)
  • 2nd October (Shakespeare County Raceway)
A Bunch of gratitude.
24th November: Sarah Howells of UK Nostalgia racers the Wild Bunch has been in touch to thank those who have supported the Series throughout 2004, and the donors of raffle prizes at this Saturday's Wild Bunch Dinner Dance.

"We are all very excited to meet and greet the Championship winners, and can't wait to find out who will be receiving the merit awards and of course the Don Garlits Spirit of Drag Racing Shield, which was won last year by Tony Smith and the Cunning Plan team", says Sarah. "In no particular order, Thank Yous go to Real Steel, Roy Wilding Nostalgia Race Cars, Eurodragster (You're welcome - Ed), York Raceway and Demon Scream for their continued support throughout the season.
©Eurodragster.com
"Thanks also to Custom Car, Speedflow, Shakespeare County Raceway, MotorShack, Every Bottom Drawer, American Car World, Feel the Noise, Time Travel Videos, Santa Pod Raceway, NSRA, Quarter Mile High, Colin Stevens of Mister Six T-Shirt fame and Eurodragster for the fantastic raffle prizes which they've all parted with!

"I look forward to seeing everyone on the night which is sure to be full of surprises (as always) and a right good knees-up!"

Web site updates.
24th November: 2004 MSA British Drag Racing Champion, Top Methanol FC racer Doug Ripley, has launched a web site at www.freewebs.com/ccracing. The CC Racing web site features news, biography of Doug and team run-down, sponsor and links pages, and more including a competition with a fantastic prize.
©Eurodragster.com
Our good buddy Patrik Jacobsson has updated the official web site of the European Pro Mod Racers Association with the latest gossip from the Pro Mod workshops, in this case about Håkan Fallström. You can stay in touch with all the Pro Mod news and tattle over the winter at www.promod.nu.

Corr leaves Carter, joins Joon.
22nd November: 2004 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Andy Carter has announced that longtime Crew Chief Eddie Corr has left the team to join Dutch Top Fuel Dragster team Lex Joon Racing. Eddie joined Carter Motorsport in 1995 and in his nine years with the team tuned Andy to two FIA European Championships, European ET and speed records, the still-talked-about side-by-side first 300 mph passes with Barry Sheavills, a number of event victories, and several track records.

"I got the surprise call last night and was even more surprised to hear that Eddie has decided to join Lex!", says Andy. "I saw the potential in Eddie after he joined the team in 1995, and shortly afterwards I asked if he would like to be the team Crew Chief. As most will know he has more than risen to the task. Eddie's record speaks for itself, we have won two FIA Championships, we hold the European records, we have been over 300 mph more than anyone else, and we've won several events over the years. He also went to the USA with me in 1997 when we were looking at racing there. Eddie is an absolutely first-class guy and I consider him to be one of the best Crew Chiefs in Europe. I would like to thank him for everything he has done for me and wish him all the best at Lex Joon Racing."
©Eurodragster.com
Andy plans to work with car owner Rune Fjeld in 2005. "We won the 2004 Pro Fuel Shootout and the Nitro Nationals at Alastaro, both when Eddie was away on business", he says. "When Eddie was not available Rune stepped in and won us the race, and we will be working with him next season."

SPRC Perpetual Awards week 1.
22nd November: Once again Santa Pod Racers Club and Eurodragster.com are teaming up to give readers the chance to have input to the SPRC Perpetual Awards, which will be presented at the SPRC Dinner Dance on Saturday 5th February 2005.

For each of the 2004 season awards, the SPRC Committee has decided upon a shortlist for which votes can be submitted by E-Mail. There are seven awards in all: voting commences this week with the award for Best-Looking Car and will continue over the next six weeks as each category is announced. Voting for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy will also be open for the whole of this period (see below). The votes of Eurodragster readers will be taken into consideration when the SPRC Committee decides upon the winners.

The SPRC Committee's shortlist for Best-Looking Car is as follows, in alphabetical order:
©Eurodragster.com
Tim Adam
Blitzkrieg Super Comp/Super Gas Ford Falcon

Jerry Denning and Lee Pike
Honky Tonkin' Super Gas/Pro ET '57 Chevy

Malcolm Francis
Air Sea Logistics Super Comp/Super Gas Pontiac Grand Am

Chris Isaacs
Pro ET Standard Vanguard

Spencer Tramm
Quantum Leap Volkswagen Alternate Engine/Super Gas VW Corrado

For a look at larger pictures, and to place your vote, go to the official SPRC Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or by clicking on the SPRC Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

The Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy, for which votes are also now being taken, was first awarded to Santa Pod Raceway's late Chief Marshal, Alex Brachtvogel, in 2001 to mark his outstanding contribution to Santa Pod Raceway and the sport as a whole. After Alex's death the trophy was named in his memory and continues to be awarded for contribution to drag racing. There is no shortlist for the Alex Brachtvogel award. Nominations are invited for racers, race officials, track and safety crews, club officials, media, or anyone else who has contributed to the sport. Last year the trophy was awarded to Kjell Pettersson and David Lloyd-Jones of Santa Pod Raceway. Again see the official web page for more details or E-Mail your nomination to sprc.awards@btinternet.com specifying SPRC Alex Brachtvogel Trophy as the subject and your nomination in the body of the mail.

Next week's category will be Best-Looking Bike.

Marston goes rounds.
22nd November: Paul Marston's month-long stint in Florida culminated in the Bradenton five-day bracket event Best Of Both Worlds in which he competed in Tony Morris Super Pro ET dragster. Paul wraps things us for his US tour by telling us about the last four days of the event.

Thursday was again an early start. I cleaned the dragster whilst Tony made some small adjustments to the BLP 1050 alcohol Dominator carb, upping the main jet to 186 and air correctors to 34. This was done it was a quick trip to Tech for the days tech cards and back to warm up the motor. The changes Tony made seemed to have cured the slight stumble in the motor when we went up on the transbrake, as the weather changes here can affect the fuel system. It was however another glorious day, beautiful Florida sunshine. I was up first this time for my time trial run, I was feeling very positive, quite confident and most importantly comfortable driving this brutally hard-leaving race car. After warming up the motor and trans and refuelling I got suited-up and drove down to the staging lanes. My pairing came up quickly as the staging lanes move really fast. The burnout was good, using the Pro Start system I pulled a 0.021 light and ran 8.224/159.26, Tony was up soon after and ran 8.286/158.08. The first round was called around 1.30, as I have said before it's random pairing: no qualifying ladder so you run who you are paired with, its a real lottery and with so many race cars there you can never tell who you will get.

The National Anthem was played and soon after I had my first round against a much faster dragster. He dialled a 7.84, I dialled an 8.23 as the track had slowed a little, on the Tree I felt I hit it pretty good and at the finish line I played my own tactics and took the stripe. When I got to the timing booth I picked up my ticket, I had not broken out and won. I could not believe it at first, I took a two thousandths stripe and ran 8.238/156.14. To say I was pleased was an understatement - I had won fair and square, yes they can be beaten! Tony also went through in round one running an 8.281 on an 8.28 dial-in, his opponent broke out by six thousandths. Second round and I had a problem staging the dragster, as I pressed the transbrake button the dragster rocked and flickered the second bulb, the tree went red on my side, game over. A simple mistake by me due to inexperience with the car, but I had gone a round: prior to coming here going a round was the target I had set myself. Tony on the other hand was gone! He was just mowing down the opposition, going a total of seven rounds, eventually succumbing to Scotty Richardson, several time Super Gas World Champion and a big money winner in bracket racing, One of Tonys highlights was a 0.000 reaction - perfect! Still, finishing in the last eight meant a nice $500 paycheck, not bad for a day's competition. After that Tony entered the eighth-mile second-chance race and promptly lost first round, yes the competition is really that tough! And that was despite Tony pulling yet another 0.000 RT.
©Eurodragster.com
Friday, another hot day and yet another early start, top temperature was 82 degrees (sorry!), more teams arrived today. A few had left so their pit spaces were quickly filled. Once again we got our tech cards and another $140 barrel of methanol delivered to the trailer, not bad at all! Once again I went first, a 0.024 RT and a 8.27. The dragster moved around a little at the top end, mainly due to the cross wind which had been picking up every day, but no dramas. Tony made a couple of changes to the BLP carb, going a little bigger on the mains to 190 and the air correctors to 36, plus a little more on the intermediate to 73. Tony ran an 8.299/157.37 on his time trial run, the wind slowing him down a little. First round, a longer drive round to the staging lanes on the other side and a three point turn to get in line, at least you get to choose you own lane, left or right. I was once again nicely-focused and had a pretty even match-up first round, I dialled an 8.26, and the other dragster dialled an 8.34, so for the first time I left second. I thought I pulled a reasonable light and chased him all the way to the stripe, just as well as he broke out by five thousandths and I didnt, yes another win. Tony unfortunately lost first round so it was just me, next round and I had another really fast one - a dragster dialled-in with a 7.60. This time he was a little too quick with his reaction and drew a red on the tree, so I was off to the third round. Here it ended - I once again had a small problem staging and could not reset the timers on the Prostart, I did not know if the flinch option was enabled and was not about to second guess, consequently I could not pull a competitive reaction. But I had got to the third round, again much better that I could have expected given the quality of competition. Tony entered the second-chance race and went three rounds before being eliminated which took us to Saturday.

Saturday and it was my turn to go red, up against another really fast dragster, he dialled a 7.33 and I went 0.17 red, that was my day done. Tony was similar, losing at the top end as the other dragster drove around him, that was our day done. As you have probably guessed, a vast majority of the race cars present are dragsters but it was around an 80/20 split, this was due to there being quite a few Super Street, Super Gas and Pro ET cars present. Super Pro is usually ninety nie per cent dragsters nowadays in NHRA Divisional Events. Sunday, last day, a few teams have now left including Dave Hartman of HartBeat Racing making an early start for home. After the non-denominational chapel service in the stands it was down to business. Time trial then first round, I had yet another quick dragster: she dialled 7.77 and I was on an 8.23. I had her off the startline but in the end took too much stripe (half a car length) and gave it away with a breakout, drat! Tony also went out first round, despite running within two thousandths of his dial-in and pulling a 0.023 RT, it really is that tough here. So we loaded up, after digging out the RV which had sunk nearly up to its axles in the soft sandy ground - a big thank you to Henry from Learn to Fly Racing for helping pull us out with his Dually. Then with the stacker trailer loaded up, off we set for the long journey back to Orlando with nothing more to do but eat the leftover ice cream in the freezer box on the journey back, life does not get much better!

Would I do it again? You bet I would, given the opportunity. What an experience. Could a similar format work in England? Without doubt. Once again a big thank you to Tony and Lynn Morris for their hospitality, Tim and April Hutcherson, Tonys Race Team Partner, Steve and Ro Deatherage who are racing at Moroso this weekend, good luck guys. Thanks to everyone at Bo Laws Performance (+1 407 422 0394) who make me feel part of the family, they really are great people; JW Performance Transmissions; Dave Hartman and all the guys at CRE; and all the Florida racers whom I am honoured to call my friends. Thanks to my family for all their support, all the crew at Paul Marston Racing, everyone at work, Peter, Tony and Tony at Black Box and Disco Equipment Hire. Last but not least thanks to the guys at Eurodragster (Thanks! - Ed), we truly would be blind without you.

Web site updates.
22nd November: Eurodragster's Photo Editor Sharkman has launched a web site to promote his new photographic business. The Capture Your Life web site at www.captureyourlife.co.uk showcases all of the services on offer as well as prices and contact details.
©Eurodragster.com
UK 9.90/10.90 Bike future.
21st November: Avon Park International Racers Association and Santa Pod Racers Club are inviting feedback from UK 9.90 Bike and 10.90 Bike racers on the future of the two UK National Championship bike classes. Changes to one or both of the classes are a regular subject of off-season debate, and after discussion between the two Clubs the following options are being considered:

1. Keep 9.90 Bike and 10.90 Bike
2. Change the index for each class, to 9.50 and 10.50
3. Change the index for each class, to 9.50 and 10.40 (as is run in NDRS)
4. Replace both classes with one dial-your-own Bike ET bracket with a range of 9.00-11.99

"Please E-Mail, post or fax your comments or suggestions either to Wendy Talbot or myself by 4th February 2005", says SPRC Club Secretary Paula Marshall. "It would help us enormously if you could give your race number and Club membership number as well as your name. Racers should note that this is not a vote: we are asking for constructive feedback, preferably from current 9.90 Bike and 10.90 Bike racers, before discussion takes place at the Riders' and Drivers' Meeting in February."
©Eurodragster.com
If you would like to send comments to either Paula or Wendy then their contact details are as follow:

Paula Marshall
Santa Pod Racers Club
PO Box 12
Rushden
Northamptonshire
NN10 0ZU

E-Mail: paula.marshall@btconnect.com
Fax: 01933 355558

Wendy Talbot
Avon Park International Racers Association
121 High Road
Wortwell
Harleston
Norfolk
IP20 0E

E-Mail: wendy@apira.org.uk
Phone and Fax: 01379 740100

Staflund steps up.
21st November: 2004 NDRS Super Comp Champion Jonas Staflund has announced that he is to contest Top Methanol Funny Car in 2005.
©Eurodragster.com
Jonas will be driving Magnus Larsson's Firebird TMFC which was last campaigned by Freddy Fagerström in 2003, and he plans to contest as many events as he can. Meanwhile Jonas' Championship-holding Volvo FC can be found for sale on our Jeff Bull Race Engines and Performance Parts-sponsored Swap Meet.

Our good buddies at Svensk Dragracing broke this story and you can read a lot more about Jonas' TMFC plans on their web site at www.dragracing.se.

Racers in credit with SPRC.
21st November: Paula Marshall of Santa Pod Racers Club tells us that all racers who entered either or both of the UK National Finals and the Flame and Thunder Show, both at Santa Pod Raceway, are to receive a rainout credit of 20 per event. The credit can be offset against race entry to any event at Santa Pod in 2005, or against SPRC membership renewals.

"These credits are non-transferable and must be used by the end of the 2005 season", says Paula. "If a racer is not planning on racing next year then they should contact me for a refund. When sending in an entry form next season racers should please make a note on the form if they are offsetting their credits against the entry fee, so that I can cross them off my list of eligible racers."
©Eurodragster.com
If you have any queries then please contact Paula by E-Mail at paula.marshall@btconnect.com or call her on 01933 313625.

Web site updates.
21st November: Andy Kirk has updated his excellent Drag, Rod and Classic Review magazine with a feature on the legendary Paula Murphy, and a story about Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond's recently-purchased Dodge Charger (which will be featured on tonight's edition of the show on BBC2 at 8:00 pm). Check it out at www.drcreview.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Continuity for Street Eliminator.
19th November: UK Street Eliminator racer Colin Lazenby has been in touch to bring us up to date with the latest developments in continuing the class in 2005.

"I am indebted to Kev Elliott for parting with the database of racers who registered for Custom Car Street Eliminator in the 2003/2004 seasons", says Colin. "Without that we simply could not have got round so many people in such a short space of time. Heck, we even managed to add a couple of extra names, these being the result of the earlier Eurodragster posting a couple of weeks ago - thanks for that guys (You're welcome - Ed).

"Dale Reardon, a former CCSE builder and racer himself, stepped forward with a view to managing the new Street Eliminator class. He has helped out in the past and seemed to provide us with an element of natural continuity. Anyhow, our postal vote simply confirmed Dale's appointment, having received 94.2% of a positive vote, and he is now duly 'sworn in' as our new Class Organiser.

"It will be Dale, along with secretarial assistance from past and current racers, who will be charged with the task of forming a Racers' Association. Importantly, they also aim to secure the 2005 season race dates, both with Santa Pod and Shakespeare County Raceway. As an aside, we've also been invited to attend York Raceway should we (as an Association) believe that this can be accommodated within our 2005 race calendar. Certainly both the Pod and Shakey have indicated that the new Street Eliminator class would be a welcome sight once again.
©Eurodragster.com
"Many thanks to all those who took the time, or showed interest in the vote. And for those who are currently building, or in the final stages of completing a Street Eliminator car: crack on, the new season is only four months away.

"I for one am positively encouraged by the many words of support from tech and track officials, other racers and even the die-hard supporters of the class. Clearly we were right to reinvent, or rejuvenate, the wheel on this one.

"Pat*man - it starts here, assuming you've got the balls for 2005."

Swift snippets.
19th November: Today (Friday) is a very special day for former American Car Imports Racing Crew Chief Andy Bissett and his fiancée Jennifer as they are due to be married on the beach in California. We are sure that everyone will join Tog and Sharkman in wishing Andy and Jennifer a great day today, every happiness in the future, and a long life together: it couldn't happen to a nicer couple.
©Eurodragster.com
Santa Pod Raceway have confirmed that they will again have a presence at next year's Autosport International at the NEC in Birmingham. We understand that the Santa Pod Top Fueller and Funny Car will be in attendance as well the Fireforce 2 Jet FC sporting its Santa Pod Raceway body, the Santa Pod Raceway Junior Dragster, and other vehicles possibly including one of the big names in the rapidly-growing Modified scene. Santa Pod's display will as usual be in the unfortunately-named Oval Racing section on the two public days, Saturday-Sunday 15th-16th January. For more information about Autosport International check out the Show's official web site at www.autosportinternational.co.uk.

Many thanks to those who volunteered to test the upcoming code change to Eurodragster pages. Martin Wilson, Lars Andersson and Eddie Fannon kindly tested out the new pages for us using their particular Browser versions and we will be installing the minor cosmetic change at the start of next week.

Fuzzie hits the USA.
19th November: Dave 'Fuzzie' Mckenzie of the Windridge Hall Felstead Mckenzie nostalgia team has just returned from a trip to the USA where he and wife Denise (right) took in the Goodguys Fuel and Gas Finals, Gary Burgin Enterprises, and Good Vibrations to pick up parts and information for 2005.

"This was my last chance to catch some racing in 2004, and also look up the Fuel slingshots to try and get some information on our problems with the Windridge Hall Felstead Mckenzie car", says Fuzzie. "As usual the racing was fast and furious. One exception was when the engine of Bill Dunlap's Fuel slingshot let go in the lights - it looked frightening from the stands. A good picture sequence of this can be found on the Drag Racing List under Fuel and Gas Finals picture review.

"Whilst in the pits I ended up in the Nitro Thunder pit with no other than Billy (The Kid) Robins, co-owner of the car. Billy was very interested in our car and was only too helpful with our problems. He knew exactly where our problem is and how to resolve it: it lies within the fuel tank, and after a good look how they do it I was sure of the cause and the remedy. Many thanks to Billy and the Utah Posse team.When I got back to the motel on Saturday night I was on the phone to Johnny Hall and he realised the problem as soon as I explained what I had found out. It is now down to Bill (Fester) Felstead to rework the fuel system before next season.
©Eurodragster.com
"Billy also took a photo with his own digital camera of myself and the wife Denise with the Nitro Thunder car, he also gave Denise a signed poster of the Nitro Thunder car going through the top end showing all the tyre and bodywork distortion and the butterflies wide open. The Utah Posse collected the Goodguys Championship for 2004 at this event, so our team are now getting help from the Goodguys Champions! I will also have some pit photos on our web site soon.

"We then had a break from racing and went to Arizona, and I was not allowed to mention racing for a week. The following Monday I was back in LA on the racing trail. New parts had been ordered for the Alkyoneus project and so it was down the coast to Gary Burgin's to pick up some parts. When I arrived at Gary's inside were no other than Lex Joon and Gerda Dijkstra who were also collecting parts presumably for his new ride. I chatted with Lex and Gary for about an hour, Lex talked about his new ride and the ups and downs of 2004. All I can say is watch out for Lex in 2005, he promised some surprises for next year but did not let on what. The new parts for our car included a crankshaft, ally rods and some mechanical roller lifters.

"I said my goodbyes and then it was a drive up the freeway to Good Vibrations Motorsports for the rest of our parts including fuel pump drives, piston rings, blower pulleys, gaskets etc. When we came back Denise's and my suitcases were bulging with parts. It is now up to Mark Windridge to get the engine together for 2005 so that we can be a two-car team next year. Hopefully there will be another blown car at the track in 2005, an altered. After the news about an Altered series we might enter the fray, our car will only be tagged for 7.50 but it will be fun to mix it with the bigger cars."

Web site updates.
19th November: Alan Currans has upated his excellent Acceleration Archive web site with a seventh page of pictures by Peter Jones. "The update includes a series of pictures of Top Fuel Bike champion Bo O'Brochta, the Houndog Funny Car in its Fuel Altered guise, Slam'n Sammy Miller's Oxygen dragster, and some shots taken at Mantorp Park including one of drag racing celebrity Linda Vaughn. There are also three pictures of Norm Wheeldon and Steve Rose's Plan-X slingshot Pro Comp entry. As many readers will be aware this is very topical because this car has recently been brought completely up to date by B&J Nostalgia and recently made shakedown passes at Shakespeare County Raceway in the hands of Johnny Hall - but now loaded with nitro!". You can check it out at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Santa Pod Raceway's web site at www.santapod.com has had a hefty update including details and an order form for the three 2004 European Championship Review DVDs, a 2004 season review, 2005 calendar and 2005 ticket prices.

Santa Pod Raceway have also launched a web site for the 2005 Fast Show, SPR's first Modified event of the year. The web site at www.thefastshow.com tells you everything you need to know including RWYB details, rules and regulations, event schedule, 2004 review and more.

2005 UK Riders' and Drivers' meeting.
18th November: Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for letting us know that the joint SPRC/APIRA 2005 UK Riders' and Drivers' Meeting will be held on Sunday 20th February 2005 in the Kimberley Suite of the Diamonds Centre, otherwise known as Rushden and Diamonds' football ground, in Nene Way in Irthlingborough (click here for a map). The meeting will commence at 1:00 pm with a break at approximately 2:30 during which tea and coffee will be available for a small fee.

Items to be discussed include the 2005 UK National Championship (ratification of dates as well as Championship matters), event entry fees and prize funds, as well as Any Other Business.
©Eurodragster.com
"Racers are invited to submit items for the agenda", says Paula, "but please note that your item will only be discussed if you actually attend the meeting."

If you have any items for the agenda of the 2005 Riders' and Drivers' Meeting then please send them either to Paula Marshall or to APIRA Club Secretary Wendy Talbot at the following addresses by Friday 4th February 2005:

Paula Marshall
Santa Pod Racers Club
PO Box 12
Rushden
Northamptonshire
NN10 0ZU

E-Mail: paula.marshall@btconnect.com
Phone: 01933 313625
Fax: 01933 355558

Wendy Talbot
Avon Park International Racers Association
121 High Road
Wortwell
Harleston
Norfolk
IP20 0E

E-Mail: wendy@apira.org.uk
Phone and Fax: 01379 740100

Marston lives the dream.
18th November: Paul Marston has entered the last week of a month-long stint at Floridas drag strips, realising a lifelong ambition of gaining an NHRA licence and racing the very best America has to offer at one of their legendary monster bracket racing events. Paul has sent us another report on his progress:

The Bradenton five-day bracket race The Best Of Both Worlds is the reason I have made this trip, the culmination of two weeks' preparation, licencing and learning to compete at one of the richest bracket races in America and race against the very best. Before this trip I had never, ever driven a dragster! 2004 FIA European Top Fuel Champion Andy Carter told me to expect to love it: "One run and youll be hooked" he said. I must say, having now driven one I can understand why he said that. Before I go any further I must thank my great friend, ex-pat Tony Morris, my family, Tim Hutcherson, Dave Hartman, Steve Deatherage, Ro Deatherage, everyone at BLP, all the Florida racers, the NHRA and track officials who helped me along the way. Without their help I could not have done this, I am forever in your debt.

Tim and April Hutcherson were too ill to make this one ( both had the early stages of pneumonia, due to working too hard and playing equally hard, get well soon guys!), it was just Tony Morris and myself on this one. Arriving on Wednesday, the first day of competition after a 5.00 am start, we were greeted by an already-packed pit area. You pit on both sides of the track, the nearside was full so we were on the far side, nearly 300 yards past the finish line! We unloaded and set up quickly with our buddy Dave Hartman of Hartbeat Racing Engines quite close by. Dave also works at CRE Machine, the machine shop based in the same building as Bo Laws Performance.

Bradenton is typical of most Florida drag strips: huge pit area, well laid-out, capable of running a lot of race cars down the strip quickly and effectively, and with a track surface which is first class. Its concrete up to the eighth and asphalt for the remainder. The deal at Bradenton is just an orgy of competitive drag racing, with more than three hundred race cars in attendance. Starting at 9.00 am every day is a Big Bracket: one class, all-run, one or two timed runs then eliminations. $150 entry, no buy-back, $10,000 to win, $2500 runner up, paying down to thirty two cars. Once down to 32 cars, the second chance race starts eliminations, $75.00 to enter, $5,000 to win again paying down to thirty two cars, this time eighth-mile competition, which is tougher than the quarter. Along with this there is the daily Dash For Cash on the first time trial run. For $10 you dial your own ET and the best ET/RT package wins the cash, which was around $600 bucks. There are contingencies for best eliminations package and many others. Hot Rod Fuller won the best elimination package with a Perfect Reaction and a Perfect ET. The closest victory margin? How about 0.000! Finally the Win the Dragster eliminator: $250 entry, thirty two spots, the winner won a brand new turn-key dragster - not a bad day's work!
©Eurodragster.com
As you can see from the picture I am painting, this kind of event is one heck of a lot of seriously intense hardcore bracket racing. Not everyone enters every race, with eighth-mile only race cars which are very popular here, also some racers leave after a couple of days burned out by the intensity or lack of success. Others arrive closer to the weekend due to work commitments, attrition and breakages count too, its got it all. The pits are always a hive of activity with the racing going late into the night if necessary.

Back to Wednesday, the first day. Good weather forecast, all day in the low 80s (sorry everyone). We bought our Tech cards, filled them in, got our event souvenir T-shirts. Tony and I got the dragster Tecched, Tony had very kindly got Dan at DG Design and Paint to produce another near-identical hood scoop for the dragster, so all we had to do was swap hood scoops between myself and Tony to change the race numbers between Tonys Division 2 number and my Division 8 number (Division 8 is for all foreign competitors).

Tonys Dragster is a 2004 Kurt Damron Undercover Chassis Slip Join Chassis, running a 468ci BBC, BLP 1050 Dominator alcohol carb with BLP crank-driven pump, JW Transmissions Pro Glide Trans Brake transmission, Goodyear 17x33x15 tyres, B+M Shifter, and K & R Pro Cube. Tony runs 186 Main Jet 34 Air Correctors and for this event startline chip was 5200.

Once called via the track radio system it was off to the staging lanes to run our first time trial run. As is usual everywhere in drag racing, you just want to get the first run done and dusted to get back in the swing. Tony went first as tech card #1s had been called. They use a numbers system here, your tech cards are numbered one to five, so when all the number ones are nearly done they call two, and so on. Just to make it more fair, they start with #2 on the second day, #3 on the third etc., it's very democratic. Tony ran a 0.007 light and an 8.28/158.98 with no problems.

Bradenton is quite narrow compared to Santa Pod; I wanted to get a good look at how much the dragster moved about, as at Gainesville, where I completed my licensing runs, it moved about on a much wider track. On Tonys run it seemed okay, then tech #4 was called. When I got the Tech number issued I ensured that we had enough time to get the dragster turned round. I put on the baggy trousers, Tonys spare Simpson race suit trousers and my new training shoes - no one here wears race boots, they simply wear out too fast. Off I went down to the staging lanes, although I only had seven passes under my belt in a dragster I was feeling confident.

I did however have to learn how to use the Prostart System, there was no getting away from it. For the first time ever this event would run exclusively Prostart on a full cross-talk tree. Bradenton is accredited by a lot of racers as being the smoothest and fastest track in Florida; this is most probably true, as it is indeed very smooth, and just as well as the groove is only about seven feet wide. Once back in the dragster it was down to business, everything here runs so quickly and efficiently on the start line that you have to really work at it to keep up. There are always three pairs of race cars running; with four start line crew all running their own pair, feeding race cars from staging lanes on both sides, a good system. I have noticed that at every track I have been to here in the USA, the time between both race cars staging and the tree running is typically at least twice as long as in England - I guess thats how PortaTree Autostart works. I ran a 0.399 light, 8.66/158 which was not what we had expected. I should have been faster than Tony, but it looked like a timer malfunction so no problem.

Tonys next pass was okay, mine was good, a solo: 0.022 RT 8.231/159.09, what we expected because I am thirty pounds lighter than Tony. Next was eliminations. Tony was up first, random pairings as is usual here. Tony pulled a 0.023 light, his opponent a 0.003...that was it, game over! Tony ran an 8.262 on an 8.26 dial, his opponent a 7.616 on a 7.61. Bye bye! I went the same way, a 0.041 light and an 8.208 on an 8.21, trying to push my opponent out but no chance of that. He ran a 0.001 RT and a 7.447 on a 7.43 dial-in. I was mad at losing, but you have to respect the quality of opposition: you are racing the very best, unless you are really on top of your game you will lose period! I was pleased that I gave a fair fight and lost to the better man, getting used to a Pro-Start system (this race was only the fourth time I had ever used it) is not easy. Today being the first day we both elected not to run the second chance race and went out shopping to stock up the RV, it was going to be a long tough week!

So game over for Wednesday, still there are still four more days to go! My sincerest thanks go to Tog and Sharkman for enabling me to keep in touch whilst here in Florida - thank you (No problem - Ed).

My life as a drag racer.
16th November: UK Volkswagen Sportsman racer Dan Buzzo is holding an exhibition of his photography in Bristol starting this weekend. The exhibition, named PetrolHead: portraits from my life as a drag racer features a number of excellent shots (example, right) taken around the drag strip by the man with the fan-favourite VW camper.

"PetrolHead, and akciddento by that token, started as a portrait project to take pictures of the racers, crews, marshals, scrutineers, hangers-on etc. to try to capture them doing what they do at all times of the day and night", explains Dan. "To try to investigate what it was all about and perhaps to try and find out a little bit more about myself. The project was supposed to be just for one season, three months or so, but has rolled into a monster of a project lasting nearly two years and almost consuming me in the process."
©Eurodragster.com
Dan tells us that the fourteen frames to be hung and the additional twenty in folio at the exhibition have been selected from over twenty thousand original shots. "Filtering and selecting to get to the final pick has been an entertaining job!", he says. "As soon as the show is finished all work along with other images from the project will be for sale in the on-line shop at akciddento.com."

The exhibition is taking place at Centrespace in Leonard Lane, Bristol (click here for a map) starting with a special preview evening this Friday (19th November) between 7:30 pm and 10:00 pm, and then between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm every day until Wednesday 24th. You can find out more, and see more examples of Dan's work, on his web site at www.buzzo.com.

Dan also tells us that Team Akciddento have a new project bus for 2005. "It's another daily driver, but this time a 1980s transporter van", says Dan. "The plan is to go a lot faster than the '65 Samba we have been racing, although not as a straight drag racer. The new bus is being built more as a full-on nasty street racer but should see some strip action next season". You can find out more about Team Ackciddento on their web site at www.akciddento.com.

Who needs an excuse...
16th November: UK Super Pro ET racer Mark Flavell is holding a party this Saturday (20th) to which all are invited. Mark says that being able to drive at all this year, after his well-documented back problems, is cause for celebration but that he doesn't really need an excuse.

"2004 was a good year for a number of Northern teams", says Mark. "We have numerous personal bests, event winners and National Champions. So this Saturday night is party time at 'The Flavs'. I've phoned around and invited most northern folk I know, but everybody with a drag racing connection is welcome.

"Please don't wait for an invite: just come along, bring your crew, and have an enjoyable evening with a good laugh, a drink and a bite to eat. Long stories about defective timing eqipment causing red lights is a house speciality."

If you need directions to the Flavell residence then drop Mark a line at flavellwelding@btconnect.com, or just follow the party noises.

SPRC Dinner Dance update.
16th November: Rounding off a news update of social events, Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall tells us that tables are going quickly for the Santa Pod Racers Club Dinner Dance, which takes place at the Bedford Moat House on Saturday 5th February 2005. "It's never too early to send in your booking form, as a lot of people have already decided!", says Paula.
©Eurodragster.com
Dinner Dance tickets are 25; no disco-only tickets are available. If you are planning to stay overnight then SPRC have negotiated with the Moat House a discounted bed and breakfast rate of 30 per person for double/twin rooms and 35 for single rooms. To book your room call the Bedford Moat House on 01234 799988 quoting Santa Pod.

You can download the SPRC Dinner Dance form (Word format) by clicking here, or via the Entry Forms page of the SPRC web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.

ACU #1 PSB for sale.
15th November: UK drag bike owner Paul Rose has been in touch to let us know that is is reluctantly selling the Pro Stock Bike upon which Tony Clark won the 2004 ACU UK Pro Stock Bike Championship.

"This bike has run 7.71/171 mph with novice rider", says Paul. "It runs 1.19 over sixty feet and has the potential to run 7.40 in the right hands with no more expense. It has appeared in four finals in its first season, and runs straight and true. If required, support will be available to run the bike in 2005."
©Eurodragster.com
The PSB features a Trac chassis, GSX 1570 Upperton and Beck Engine which has just been refreshed, MTC Snowflake clutch, MC3 Digital ignition and Racepack computer.

"Credit cards or cash, either way it will be available after 15th November", says Paul. "I Will part-exchange the bike for large Right Hand Drive motorhome, motorcycles and cars. Give me a call on 01784 251941 (Home) or 07710 319883 (Mobile)."

Swift snippets.
15th November: Many congratulations to our good friends, Shakespeare County Raceway track announcer Barry Bohannon and his now-fiancée Alison Gowlett on their engagement which took place in Lytham St Anne's yesterday (Sunday). "I hit one knee and proposed to Ali, and do you know the damnedest thing? She said yes!", says Barry. "It was the scariest moment of my life and that inludes the first time I drove B'Sting and commentating my first drag race!". We're sure that everyone will join Sharkman and Tog in wishing Barry and Ali all the very best for the future.
©Eurodragster.com
 Colin Stevens has been in touch with news of his latest UK Nostalgia T-Shirt which has been issued just in time for Christmas. A fine successor to the Summer of '73 shirt which features Don Schumacher and Paula Murphy, the Mister Six shirt remembers the legendary Dennis Priddle's first six-second pass (right, click on picture for large version). "The T-shirts are 16 each plus 2.50 post and packing", says Colin. For more details or to order your shirt give Colin a call on 07792 752939 (mobile) or 01992 634262, or E-Mail him at colinhotrodts@btinternet.com. "I would also like to hear which other British nostalgia shirts people would like to see", adds Colin - if you have any ideas then you can contact him as above.

Frans Steilberg has been in touch to remind us that Jerry Lackey's Patriot Jet Dragster is now for sale, Jerry having completed his last season of driving. The Jet Dragster, currently based in Germany, is powered by a J46 engine, is good for seven-second passes and is for sale turnkey complete with truck, trailer, spares and the promise of assistance to the purchaser. For more information you can contact Jerry on +49 (0) 61 81 21150 or by E-Mail at bigdaddy-jl@t-online.de. "Jerry started drag racing in Germany over thirty years ago", says Frans. "He will stay involved in drag racing as a part of the German governing body DMSB, and will also be a source of information and help to every racer."

The closing date is fast approaching for a couple of the items on the World Street Race Auction on E-Bay. There are some very desirable items on offer including a unique timepiece which has clocked (Sorry - Ed) 150 mph and a copy of the famous Drive It book featuring the history of UK drag racing. You can reach the WSR Auction by clicking here.

Web site updates.
15th November: Our good friend Elias Vathias has updated the Dragnews.gr web site with a number of video clips from this year's fourth drag race at Serres in Greece. The excellent videos include some in-car footage: we can particularly recommend the ride-along with Filippos Papafilippou. You can check out Elias' videos at www.dragnews.gr/videos/races/041031Serres/index.htm.
©Eurodragster.com
No sleep 'til Gainesville.
14th November: UK Super Street Bike racer Steve Venables is back in the UK although "Not sure what time it is" after contesting Street Shootout at last week's AMA/Prostar World Finals in Gainesville. Steve went deep into the sevens in testing on his Kawasaki and says that he learnt a lot which will be of use in the UK next season.

"We got to Barry Henson's Velocity Racing on the Monday two weeks before the race, and we did seven days' solid work on the bike", says Steve. "Barry and his guys gave us the run of the place. We stripped the bike to the floor and started again. We reduced the rake on the front end and lowered the bike, and Barry told us how to balance it so we moved the weight around. Track Dynamics built me a new swinging arm which we ordered on the first Tuesday, and we had in on the Thursday all the way from California!"

Steve and Crew Chief Graham Balchin worked some very long hours preparing the bike before heading for the Florida track. "We were working from ten in the morning until midnight every day, until the Monday before the race when we worked until 11:30 at night and then set out for Gainesville", he says. "We got there at six in the morning, parked up outside the gate and I got my head down. Then at eight o'clock Barry was banging on the door saying that two hours' sleep was enough!"

The team took advantage of private test sessions to test the changes made in the preceding week. "We used Tuesday's private Test and Tune to set up the bike - working on the fuelling and so on", says Steve. "My first sixty foot time was a 1.38, which I was very happy with but Barry said it wasn't good enough! My last run of the day, just before the track closed at six in the evening, was a 7.81 and we were well chuffed with that.

"The track was booked by Muzzy Kawasaki on Wednesday but they kindly let us run. We messed around with the chassis, clutch and fuel and ran a 7.69/195. The track had been fully prepped for Thursday's test but we spent the day working on the bike, we had to weld the headers because they had cracked."
©Eurodragster.com
A new spring in the suspension proved to be Steve's undoing when the race event proper started. "The new spring was too stiff, and the front end kept coming up", says Steve. "On Saturday we thought we had it right but on the first run it spun and went sideways, and on the second run it wheelied. I qualified sixteenth with an 8.001. I went out in the first round on Sunday, the front end came up at half track and that was it. We were just trying too hard. I was disappointed not to run a seven for the lads and ladies who came over."

Steve's Kawasaki is now on its way back to the UK where it will be prepared for the 2005 season when Steve has spent some time with his family. "The first thing we have to do is to repair the engine, after we lowered the bike we had to modify the sump again and there are oil starvation issues", says Steve. "But we have the settings and we know what we have to do. Hopefully we can run a couple of 7.8s at Easter! Barry says that there are 7.5s in the bike and he has offered to come over to help next year."

Steve plans to make as many trips down the track as he can in 2005 as he plans to take in as many test days as possible as well as race events, and not just in the UK. "We'll be going out to the USA again next year and hopefully go a few rounds", he says. "I've also been invited to go to race in South Africa, that would be cool!"

Steve asked us to say "Big time" thanks to Graham Balchin for the long hours, a big Thank You to Barry and Frankie at Velocity Racing for the facilities, and Thanks to all the lads from the UK who were rushing around helping him.

Swift snippets.
14th November: We were very sorry to hear of the death on Thursday of legendary US racer Tony Nancy. Tony led the US team which came to the UK to demonstrate drag racing in the 1960s, and also made the trip to Santa Pod Raceway in the early 1970s to race his very tidy rear-engined dragster. Tony will be very fondly remembered on this side of the Pond for his contribution to European drag racing and we are sure that everyone will join Tog and Sharkman in sending their deepest sympathies to Tony's family and friends.
©Eurodragster.com
WSR adds more sponsors.
14th November: Andy Frost has been in touch with more additions to the roster of sponsors for the World Street Race which takes place in Louisiana next March.

"The latest sponsors are top chassis builder Webster Race Engineering, ace paint shop Curbishley Automotive, and long time fan and future racer Jason Weir, who runs Total Heating Services", says Andy. "The WSR welcoms and thanks these three companies for their contribution and support for the WSR team."
©Eurodragster.com
You can find out more about the WSR including the full list of sponsors on the event's official web site at www.worldstreetrace.tk.

Wikström pulls a hat-trick.
13th November: Swedish NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified racer and European record holder Patrick Wikström and the OFAB team pulled off a hat-trick of Championships in 2004, says Crew Chief Krister Peterson.

"We won the Swedish Championship, the UK National Championship, and the Swedish Dragracing League Championship", says Krister. "We are also the European ET and Terminal Speed record holders, and were runners-up in the NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified Championship.
©Eurodragster.com
"A big Thank You to our sponsors, who make it possible for us to race at this level: OFAB, Orust Fartygservice, Lady Ellen, Rogers motorborrningar, Karlssons bilverkstad, Sweden Cubic Oil, Dockhouse Film and Television, MDS and Prospons.

"We would also like to take the opportunity to thank all of the people around Europe who works on drag racing events so that we can race and have some fun. And last but not least a big thank to you at Eurodragster for your hard work in keeping Europe updated about drag racing (Thanks! - Ed).

"Looking forward to the 2005 European Pro Mod season, it looks like it will be the toughest-ever Championship to win. I'm pretty sure that we will see over thirty Pro Mod teams at the Vediec Nitro Festival."

Serres entry form.
13th November: Our good friend Elias Vathias of the Dragnews.gr web site has been in touch to let us know that the entry form for the last Greek Drag Race of 2004, which takes place at Serres next weekend (20th-21st November), can be downloaded from the Dragnews.gr web site by clicking here.
©Eurodragster.com
"Please print the form, fill in all the details and fax it back to LE.N.O.TH. at +30 2310 574192", says Elias. "For details about payment, please call +30 2310 574192 or E-Mail me at webmaster@dragnews.gr."

Swift snippets.
13th November: Congratulations to UK Super Comp and Super Gas racers Sarah and Dave Day on the birth of their son Elliott who arrived at 5:45 this morning. Our good friend Spencer Tramm tells us that Elliott weighed in at 8 lb 11 oz, and that both he and Sarah are fine. We're sure that everyone will join Sharkman and Tog in sending their congratulations and best wishes to Sarah and Dave and in looking forward to welcoming Elliott to the track.
©Eurodragster.com
We have posted our initial, highly provisional calendar of Eurodragster's 2005 Event Coverage. You can check out our Event Coverage schedule by clicking here, or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

SPR barbecue update.
13th November: Glenn Ramsden of UK Event Safety has been in touch with the outcome of a discussion about barbecues with Santa Pod Raceway's Local Authorities.

"After we presented a list of suggested rules, the inspectors have agreed (subject to agreement with the content) to a trial period of allowing BBQs under the rules agreed at the meeting", says Glenn. "These rules have yet to be confirmed by the Health and Safety guys from Bedfordshire, but it looks like they will allow us to use them.
©Eurodragster.com
"What we need to understand is this: if folk had used them sensibly in the first place, then we would not have ended up in this situation. Secondly, if we don't use them sensibly from now and abide by the rules, we will definitely lose them, forever! As soon as the rules have been ratified, I will send them to Eurodragster to publish. My understanding is that David Lloyd Jones of Santa Pod Raceway will also send the information to SPRC and other interested parties.

"All that remains is for me to pop off to my counsellor and lay on the couch in an attempt to cure the flashbacks of charcoal, BBQs, matches, sausages, lighter fluid, and all of the other associated words that I never want to hear again! Seriously, it has taken a lot of hard work from the guys at SPR to bring this one round, so let's give it a good shot."

Web site updates.
13th November: The latest issue of the excellent Drag, Rod and Classic Review magazine features a stunning Willys Gasser and an update from Bonneville where a movie is currently being made about a motorcycle racer. Check it out at www.drcreview.com.
©Eurodragster.com
James Hands has updated his fan site with a number of photographs from last weekend's Flame and Thunder Show at Santa Pod Raceway. You can find James' site at pages.123-reg.co.uk/jimmy43-617944.

Incoming!
11th November: UK Fuel Altered fans will be getting an extra-large dose of their favourite class in 2005 as the newly-formed Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association will be fielding their wild short-wheelbase cars at at least four events next year including two UK National Championship rounds.

"We have been speaking to Santa Pod Raceway and the National Street Rod Association to lock in the dates", says Series Promoter Lawrie Gatehouse whom longtime fans will remember as a well-respected photo-journalist. "So far the Altereds should be appearing at the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod, the NSRA Nostalgia Nationals and NSRA Hot Rod Drags at Shakespeare County Raceway, and the UK National Finals at Santa Pod. We have also requested the SPRC Summernationals, and Santa Pod are also interested in our supplying two cars to make demonstration runs at other events."

Lawrie tells us that the NFAA will be fielding both Fuel and Methanol-burning altereds, with the aim to provide an eight-car field at every event. "We want to put on a professional show, to make it affordable for the racers, and to have fun", he says. "There will be the burnouts, bunny hops and hard racing you'd expect from Altereds but we also place a high value on presentation, for example well-turned-out and well co-ordinated teams. There will be points awarded for burnouts and presentation as well as for the racing, and appearance money will be on offer with a bonus for the Championship winner and runner-up at the end of the year."
©Eurodragster.com
The Series rules are currently being discussed with the UK Tech Committee but cars will confirm to the appropriate MSA and SFI requirements, and regulations will be put in place to limit the size of fuel pumps and overdrive and provide weight breaks to keep the Fuel and Methanol Altereds on a level playing field. "We have had tremendous enthusiasm from officials, authorities and racers alike", says Lawrie. "A number of racers have already been in touch to find out how they can become involved."

The Altereds will be out on the Show circuit in the run-up to the season with appearances at the Xtreme Wheels Show and at Stoneleigh Park already being planned. Stay tuned for more details.

Any racers interested in running in the NFAA in 2005 can contact Lawrie by E-Mail at info@psilpump.com or by phone on 01604 786828.

Stadig stands in.
11th November: Members of 2004 NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified Champions Nilsson Motorsports recently returned to Sweden from a trip to the USA where they spent the IHRA World Finals weekend hanging out with IHRA Pro Mod racer Ronnie Hood.

"We learned a lot of new stuff", says team member Ulf Stadig. "Ronnie and Parsons Brothers Racing are all good friends. Ronnie qualified sixteenth with a new personal best of 6.22 and upset some major teams with his shoestring budget and smart racing, just as we like to work!". Ulf is unforthcoming on exactly what was learned and what Håkan Nilsson's plans are for 2005, save to say that some "serious talking" is currently going on within the team.
©Eurodragster.com
Ulf also had the privilege of receiving the NDRS Championship trophy at the NDRS Banquet as Håkan's wife Michellé was celebrating her birthday that day and it was probably more than even Håkan's life is worth to have been elsewhere. "It was a fantastic evening", says Ulf. "This is the fifth time that we have been Pro Mod Champions, it is a stunning feeling and it makes you so happy to be able to take part in this kind of achievement. We in the Nilsson Motorsports team would like to say a big Thank You to NDRS and to all the organisers and track crews who make it possible for us to come out and race year after year. We especially have to thank Rickard Plsson at Veidec for his encouragement, and we are looking forward to trying to put his company Veidec in the winners' circle every time we go out there."

Ulf has updated the Nilsson Motorsports web site at www.nilssonmotorsports.com with a report on the NDRS Banquet, including some thoughts on the season.

Swift snippets.
11th November: Anne-Marie Seamarks of UK Junior Dragster team Gingerman Racing has been in touch to thank everyone who bought a quiz sheet at the UK National Finals in October. "We raised a total of 151 for Hargrave House", says Anne-Marie. Anne-Marie has also supplied the answers, so if you want to know if Marie Curie could have owned a pair of roller skates then click here to find out (Word format).
©Eurodragster.com
Tog and Sharkman would like to thank everyone who has been in touch to congratulate us on the award of the Svensk Dragracing Eagle Award. We are touched that so many of you have taken the time to write or call, and it is very much appreciated.

S, M, L, XL and FB.
11th November: UK Street Eliminator racer Ian Hook and the FB Racing team have entered the clothing market just in time for Christmas.

T-Shirts featuring the teams eight-second street-legal 34 Ford are now available from FB Racing for 12.95 plus postage: for more details or to order your shirt drop Fatty a line at ian.hook@blueyonder.co.uk. You can see the rear of the T-Shirt by clicking on the picture at right.
©Eurodragster.com
"If you want to help the team a little more, then you could always join the FB Associates", says Ian. "For just 25, or 30 for businesses and web sites, youll get a free T-Shirt, E-Mail updates on the car throughout the year, and your name on the Coupes bootlid. There are a lot of names on the car already but there are five spots currently available". For more information get again drop Fatty a line at the above E-Mail address.

Ian tells us that fundraising is going well for his trip to the World Street Race in Louisiana next March. "I have had a lot of help in raising funds, but I would like to take this opportunity to thank Terry and Tina Gibbs and Hot Rod Tees in particular for their recent donations", he says.

2004 VWDRC Champions.
10th November: We are indebted to Volkswagen Drag Racing Club Championship Co-ordinator Spencer Tramm for sending us the final 2004 standings in the three VWDRC Championships. Congratulations to the 2004 Champions:

Jon Rathbone Race Cars VW Pro: Ken Blomer, Runner-up Russ Fellows
Beetlemania VW Sportsman: Mick Geraghty, runner-up Graham Fairhead
AMR Motors VW Alternate Engine: Spencer Tramm, runner-up Mark Skeen
©Eurodragster.com
You can view the full 2004 VWDRC points standings by clicking here, or by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.

Dahl departs.
10th November: Danish Top Methanol Funny Car racer Dan Larsen has bid a sad goodbye to Crew Chief and Fuel expert Torsten Dahl after eight years with the team.

"After many years in Top Methanol Funny Car racing, firstly with Bjrn Ardin and then with Dan Larsen, Torsten is taking a break", says Joan Larsen. "It has been an exciting few years for our team together with Torsten. He is a clever guy who managed to get the car to run 5.72 and 401 kmh in 2003, where we also won the FIA European Finals and won second spot in the Championship, for which we are grateful. Torsten has always shown the utmost interest, for example when he went to USA to get a TMFC licence, just so that he knew what it was like to drive such a car: that was of great benefit to both Dan and Torsten, both knowing what to expect. Dan Larsen and the team would like to thank Torsten very much for all the years that he has given us."
©Eurodragster.com
The Boxter-backed team are now looking for a new Crew Chief and Fuel mechanic to succeed Torsten. "Our team is not only Danish", says Joan. "Torsten is from Sweden and so is our clutch guy, and we have also had guys from Norway in our team with great success: all nationalities are welcome. "If you are interested and have the experience then you can write to Dan at dan@funnycar.dk. For more information please visit our web site at www.funnycar.dk."

The team have put their current trailer up for sale having bought a bigger truck. "We have started the rebuilding work to make it into a useful race trailer", says Joan. "We hope to have it ready for the 2005 season."

Race suit recertification offer.
10th November: Regular readers will be aware that SFI 3.2A15 and SFI 3.2A20 race suits without a date stamp (manufactured prior to 2001) must be recertified for next season, and that arrangements for this must be made with the original manufacturer.

"Andy Robinson Race Cars is arranging a bulk shipment of race suits back to Simpson for recertification at the beginning of December, and the suits will then return on one of our regular shipments", says Kate Robinson. "We will arrange this on a completely non-profit basis to help racers keep their costs to an absolute minimum."
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On the subject of recertification Kate adds that Andy Robinson Race Cars can recertify Stroud harnesses, engine diapers, blower restraints, window nets and transmission blankets in the UK, and can supply new safety equipment at great prices.

For further details on any of the above contact Kate on 01256 880589 or E-Mail robinson_racecar@yahoo.co.uk. You can find the Andy Robinson Race Cars web site at www.robinson-race-cars.co.uk.

Smith: Don't worry.
10th November: The UK's Shockwave Fuel Funny Car team have put their 5.4-second Firebird up for sale as a rolling chassis, but 2004 British Nitro FC Champion Gordon Smith tells us that this does not mean that the team are quitting.

"As you are aware, we are all in desperate need of more cars in the class, and it seems like a good time to sell our Firebird Funny Car and look for something a bit more recent in construction", says Gordon. "Dave Bryant (Crew Chief and co-owner - Ed) will be in the USA this weekend to try to source a new car, but if we don't sell the Firebird then we will campaign it for another year.
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"This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to get into the Funny Car ranks at ground level. We will give any help required to get you going - this is how we started, and without the help of the Showtime team we would not have made it, so anything we can do we will."

You can find the Shockwave FC for sale on the Cars For Sale section of our Jeff Bull Racing Engines and Performance Parts-sponsored Swap Meet.

Santa Pod round-up.
10th November: Santa Pod Raceway's PR Caroline Day has confirmed that the date of next year's Easter Thunderball at SPR is 26th-28th March and not 25th-28th as originally supplied to Eurodragster and published in the Flame and Thunder Show event programme.
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Santa Pod Raceway have also announced that ticket-holders for last weekend's Flame and Thunder Show and RWYB should hold on to their tickets as they have been assigned a rainout value as a goodwill gesture after the weather severely affected the weekend. The following discounts will be available on any one event up to and including next year's Flame and Thunder Show at Santa Pod, on production of your ticket from last weekend:

10 for weekend tickets
10 for Saturday full-day ticket
5 for Saturday 'after 3:00 pm' ticket
10 for Sunday Run What You Brung ticket

"Additionally, as a special concession, all Saturday and weekend tickets will be valid in exchange for any one-day ticket at the 2005 Easter Thunderball", says Rick Cuthbert of Trakbak Racing.

Santa Pod Raceway's web site at www.santapod.com has been updated with a very good review of the action which did take place at Saturday's Flame and Thunder Show.

WSR Auction on-line.
10th November: Trevor Kitney has been in touch to let us know that the great 'World Street Race E-Bay Auction', to raise money for the UK team in the World Street Race, is up and running.

"If you visit E-Bay and search for item number 5138011770 it will show you the most unique auction item we have so far", says Trevor. "Then click on View seller's other items and you will see the list of stuff which has been donated so far. Actually that is not true, the listed items only represent about half of the donated items, the remainder should be listed by the end of Sunday.
©Eurodragster.com
"If you have any items which you would like to donate, please E-Mail worldstreetrace@fsmail.net giving a description and preferably supplying a photo. Please also specify an initial bid price, and tell us whether you would like us to sort the shipping/postage, or you would like to do it yourself.

"Don't have any goodies you want to give? Then look through the E-Bay items and bid on one. They are mostly car-related, so justifying the cost shouldn't be an issue - and Christmas is coming!

"Want more details of the race/competitors/teams/sponsors? Visit www.worldstreetrace.tk and all your questions will be answered.

"We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of those people who have donated items to date, all of the sponsors without whom it just wouldn't happen, all of the racers who are working so hard to make it happen, and all of the E-Bay bidders, both actual or prospective. Thanks for being a part of the World Street Race!"

Web site updates.
10th November: The Feel The Noise web site at www.feel-the-noise.com has been updated with Anni and Bob Valder's pictures from last weekend's Flame and Thunder Show at Santa Pod Raceway. "As usual, the latest updates can easily be found by following the 'red and green dots' in the category listing, or by clicking on the Recent additions link, says Bob Valder.
©Eurodragster.com
UK Wild Bunch racer Tony Smith has started his annual Guess Who contest on his web site at www.cunningplan.net/guesswho.html.

A winter in the workshop.
9th November: Germany's Kath Brothers Pro Modified and Comp Eliminator team have a mammoth building job on their hands before the start of the 2005 season. The team's Comp Beretta has been sold, and their Pro Mod Corvette - damaged in a top-end collision with Marcus Hilt at the Nitrolympx - is to be rebuilt for Comp Eliminator. The team will also be putting together a new Pro Mod.

"We have sold the Beretta to Jonas Wangenfors of Sweden", says Torsten Kath. "He would like to stay in Competition with this car, and will be putting in his own engine and trans. We will be completely rebuilding the Pro Mod Corvette after its crash - all of the parts are already on order. Jürgen will drive this car in Competition, in AN/A with a big Nitrous engine and Powerglide.
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"New for 2005 will be our new Pro Mod project. We ordered a chassis from Tim McAmis, but we would like to stay with the C5 Corvette body. Therefore the body has come from Richard Earles Suncoast Performance. We hope to get all of the parts in the first week of January, and will finish the project at the start of May."

You will be able to stay in touch with the latest from the Kath Brothers workshop on the team's official web site at www.kathbros.de.

I liked it so much...
9th November: UK super Pro ET racer Derek Flynn has returned from a very successful and enjoyable trip to Palm Beach in Florida where he purchased a replacement race car for the 2005 season. The dragster (right) has been purchased from US racer Ed Abruscato and Derek saw the car in action before taking delivery.

"After a great first year in drag racing - on this note I would like to thank all the other Super Pro ET teams for making us feel so welcome - we have all very much been bitten and smitten with the drag racing bug, and we want to go faster", says Derek. "The car we have purchased is a 245 wheelbase, 2003 Tube Carz Chassis with a blown 509 BBC motor (there you go team, you said you wanted a blower), dynod in excess of 1,500 hp, a Powerglide, and fully-floating rear end.

"I must thank Ed Abruscato and his family (and friends) who sold us the car. I was a little apprehensive before the trip, but I could not have met a nicer family. They were terrific hosts, picking me up from the airport, putting me up for the weekend, taking the whole race team set-up to Moroso Park, and demonstrating the car on what proved to be a very slick RWYB track.

"We went to the track on Friday evening and when the guys got the car out the trailer and the setting sun hit it - wow! Then the warm-up, more wow (cant really say what I said and thought as it would be censored)! Suffice to say the hairs on my arms and the back of my neck just stood up. Ed took the car to the line and performed the burnout, more expletives and the hairs up again, the launch was a wheels-up all-out assault on the track, but the track could not take it and Ed had to lift to avoid crossing the centre line put down a disappointing 8.9 at 98 mph.
©Eurodragster.com
"Ed was very concerned that I had not seen the car at its best and agreed to give it another go, this time in the other lane. He had another dragster go up first and try to lay down as much rubber as possible. Ed did a burnout to die for, backed it up and before staging made it bark another two or three times (hairs again) before going into pre stage, full stage, up on the converter and pow he was off. 1.072 sixty foot, 4.5/153 at the eighth and 7.06/194...sold! After we advised Ed of the time we shook hands and agreed the sale, packed up the car and trailer and took it home. After a weekend spent on Ed's launch fishing and diving, we took the car to the docks at Jacksonville, a ten-hour round trip which Ed kindly agreed to make for the cost of his gas. We now have the nervous wait for the ship to arrive with our precious cargo, due in at the end of this month.

"I think the car looks and sounds awesome and we cant wait to get it on the track, although we do appreciate this is a totally different animal and it is going to be another steep learning curve for yours truly and my team, and I do hope we have not bitten off more than we can chew. So who knows with a little luck and some help from our friends, we are looking forward to some low sevens ourselves next season. We would absolutely love a six and that magic 200 mph before the year was out, providing we get our heads around the new set-up and I am brave/good enough to drive it, we shall see.

"I would like to thank Geoff Martin, Terry Gibbs, Bob Glassup, J & W Automotive and Charlie Collata for their good advice and assistance with our new acquisition, and thanks to Andy Robinson, J & W Automotive, and Geoff and the Tech Team for their offers of assistance once the car arrives.

"The cars first official appearance will be at the Xtreme wheels show, see you there!

"Should anyone be interested in our yellow dragster and its new trailer, check out our web site at www.goldrvracing.co.uk."

Holley misses out.
9th November: Also on the subject of Gold RV Racing, if you were tuned in to Eurodragster News on 12th October then you will recall that second-generation drag racer Holley Glassup was due to make licencing passes in Derek Flynn's current dragster at the Flame and Thunder Show, at the same time raising money for the NSPCC charity. Holley didn't get to run at the weekend because of the weather, as Derek writes.

"So close", says Derek. "Twice called to the fire-up road, all ready to go, but alas it was a no-go! Holley seemed to take the disappointment better than the team - probably due to her years of experience - but we did feel for her. Twice ready to run, and over four hours waiting in the fire up road, we think she still deserves a great deal of credit for her attempts and the way she handled it.
©Eurodragster.com
"The Glassups have also asked that we pass on our thanks to everyone who supported Holley, especially Santa Pod Racers Club and all the Santa Pod race crew and staff who desperately tried to get Holley to the line, if only to do a sixty foot, but the mist and drizzle thwarted us all.

"We would like to thank everyone who donated or pledged money towards our NSPCC fund and we will announce the total raised soon. Thanks again to the Go Gold crew for all the effort put in, and commiserations to Gary and Michael who were to drive the car for the first time at Sunday's RWYB."

A Heavenly season.
9th November: carla Pittau and Rick McCann of 2004 UK National Pro ET Champions Heaven and Hell Racing have been in touch to thank everyone who helped them to win the #1 plate.

"The season didn't seem to get off to a good start, with several parts still on the ocean waves instead of being installed in the Camaro, and our expectations were quite low", says Carla Pittau. "However a little luck and good driving by Rick helped the team go through round after round, accumulating points. Several problems were solved during the season, especially a mind-boggling intermittent problem which altered the sixty foot times by up to two tenth which was tracked down to fuel delivery and finally fixed at a Webster Test Day.

"Incidentally, we really hope that Jon will still organise these Test Days in some format or another in 2005, as we found them absolutely invaluable in our quest for power and consistency. Jon Webster and his team are always very approachable and they give racers help and advice on-track. The track is normally well-prepared and everyone works relentlessly to keep it in good shape. This obviously has a cost and we imagine Jon will have to look at ways to make it feasible in the future. Shootouts in the evening, pre-booking with guaranteed attendance, whatever solution or recipe is found for the Test Days will be fine by us, as long as they continue!

"We feel very grateful to John Gianoli of Reggie Jackson High Performance. He was our mentor in the building of the 383 small block Chevy which we have used for four seasons and it never missed a beat, producing more power than we expected and only needing minor maintenance over the years. Thanks John, we will be building our next one with your help and advice. Thanks also to Mike Lacey, who crewed for us every time God forsook him and his splendid Metamorphosis Camaro during the season, which was quite often, and Mike put aside his own troubles to run to help Heaven and Hell win.
©Eurodragster.com
"Our battle during the season was mainly with Ian Brown, a racer for whom we have great respect. His achievements with the '68 Camaro are impressive, especially with the simple set up he has at the moment. Like us, he has tended to do more with less and we have learned a great deal from him. He should be our arch-enemy and yet our teams couldn't be more friendly. Sportsmanship is the name of the game in our books, the sport would just not be the same without the great people in it, and it makes us proud to be part of a class where the real battle is exclusively on the track, whilst in the pits everyone is always ready to share advice, spares, fuel, beer, laughter and song! Thanks to all Pro ET racers for making the class what it is.

"More than a little help was supplied by the class sponsors this year, thanks to the selfless work of Carl Burton of English Rose fame (if you fancy a tattoo you must visit his web site), who organised the Pro ET Sponsorship scheme which, incidentally, will also run in 2005, so hurry up and register for it. There are prizes for number one qualifier, including a trophy, 50 cheque and 50 vouchers, plus vouchers for winner and runner-up (50 and 30) - what more do you want?

"Another selfless racer worthy of mention is of course Bob Regis from Marius Blackburn's Escape from Reality team. He designed, uploaded and maintains the Pro ET web site for nothing, out of love of the class. Bob will also prepare a free page for any Pro ET racer who sends him the information. Thank you Bob, hopefully a few more Pro ET racers will send you details during the off season and maybe I will update the very old news on the Heaven and Hell page!

"We would also like to thank the following specifically for their support of Pro ET: class sponsors Andy Robinson Race Cars, Black Bear Harley Davidson, Hauser Race Cars, Hoosier (via Andy Robinson), Webster Race Engineering, as well as Curbishley Automotive and Speedflow for paying out Pro ET on several occasions on both perfect ET and perfect RT. Thanks to Kenny Coleman of EDA for his help, advice and rescuing us with swift part supplies.

"Thanks to the track crews for their hard work during a season where the weather was less than kind on many occasions. We got as much racing as was possible to get, and sometimes more than other classes, due to the high numbers in Pro ET which caused the class to be first to run.

"Last but certainly not least Heaven and Hell would like to thank the indefatigable Sharkman and Tog of Eurodragster. The duo work as hard as anyone to report the news at every event, and I am a definite junkie for their outstanding photos - soon enough my house will not need any wallpaper in any of the rooms. Thanks guys, UK drag racing would be largely unheard of if it wasn't for you (Thanks! - Ed)!

"Look forward to seeing you all at the Dinner Dance!"

Web site updates.
9th November: Our good buddies at Svensk Dragracing have updated their web site with a plea for video footage of Håkan Nilsson and Lina Åberg. If you can help then check out the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se.
©Eurodragster.com
Joon acquires 2005 ride.
8th November: Dutch Top Fuel Dragster racer Lex Joon has acquired a Top Fueller from US racer David Baca. The MPM Oil-backed team concluded the deal to buy Davids 2003 car at last weeks AC Delco Nationals at Las Vegas. "We are really excited, and David was really excited about the whole deal" says Team Manager Gerda Dijkstra.

The new MPM Oil dragster has a prestigious history, having taken David Baca to top qualifier at the 2003 US Nationals at Indianapolis with a 4.499/326.32. "If you wanted to put a Top Fueller together then this is what you would build", says Gerda. "We could take this car to the Finals at Pomona next week and qualify in the top half of the field. There were other parties interested in buying the car but David told them "Ive already got a customer"!"

The car comes turnkey with an engine between the rails as well as two spares. "We knew exactly what we wanted and we got it!", says Gerda. "Everything is A1 quality and there are a lot of nice touches. For example we have titanium headers and titanium valve covers. We have the very latest Racepak datalogger, and well be the first in Europe to run a setback blower!"
©Eurodragster.com
The deal was done by the MPM Top Fuel Racing Foundation, a new foundation set up between primary sponsor MPM Oil and Lex Joon Racing. "We have a beautiful partnership with MPM Oil", says Lex Joon. "They are more partners than sponsors and we are very pleased and proud to be taking this huge step in association with them."

The dragster will arrive at Lexs Zaandam shop early in the New Year. "After Pomona David will go back home to San Francisco and prepare everything", says Gerda. "We will join David on the Tuesday after the NHRA Finals. We are looking at whether we can buy a trailer out in the USA, if not then we will put the dragster and spares in a container. The car will arrive here at the end of January or in early February."

Lexs call for crew here on Eurodragster in October was more than successful as the MPM Oil team have a full complement of crew as a direct result. Gerda says that the team will be collecting early in the New Year to start to learn their way round the new car. "When the car has arrived then we will train the crew", she says. "The US teams can strip a car in ten minutes and we want our crew to do the same. We will be going for the FIA European Championship in 2005!"

The Lex Joon Racing web site at www.lexjoonracing.nl has been updated with the team's calendar for 2005.

Lessons from the guardrail.
8th November: UK VW Pro racer Conor LaGrue says that he has learnt a lot from his top end crash at the Flame and Thunder Show at Santa Pod Raceway on Saturday, and that he has a lot of people to thank for their response. Conor's car crashed head-on into the guardrail in qualifying on Saturday but he was able to walk away due to the car's solid construction.

"I make no bones about the car being a handful to drive - it is!", says Conor. "It's always been a bit of an animal, but then we've never wanted it to be a clockwork toy and to be honest I liked the fact that it gets my heart going a bit! we've taken advice from some of the best in the business to calm it down and this has paid off with us taking over a second off our PB last round.

"The front was always light at the top of the track. It was as low down as we can make it, however the air getting underneath as we broke through 100 mph was producing some lift. We had already hatched a plan to flip front the car allowing the wings to be mounted higher up and so letting us get the front end closer to the ground. Ironically eighty per cent of the damage will be removed in this process.

"I had a crap sixty foot but second pulled really strongly and I got into third cleanly too. I was doing 93mph by the eighth, and I had no reason to doubt the available grip as about sixty feet short of the gantry I grabbed fourth, but as soon as my foot went back down the rear spun up, the shift light came back on and the rear stepped out. From here on in I was a passenger and the rear end was walking side to side as I went through the finish line at 119 mph.

"The root cause of the crash was the back end breaking free when it did. It had nothing to do with the fact the car was running swing axle, nothing to do with any cross wind at the top, and I've done a dozen 100 mph plus passes in the car so I'd like to think it wasn't me napping. I know both Russ and Richie had traction problems too so I wasn't on my own.
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"Thanks to Paul Venners at Derbotcheinvolks for putting together a cage system, harness mounting and seat mounting which not only kept me safe when I hit the armco at over 100 mph but also kept the car together enough that it can be easily rebuilt. Paul and I discussed what would happen in a front end incident and how the car would behave. He was absolutely spot on in his analysis and I cannot thank him enough! Big respect!

"I'm humbled - it's every racers nightmare to have a top end high speed crash but Santa Pod's fire and safety crew were simply amazing and I can't thank them enough. As soon as I stopped I was out of the car fast as I could hear the Nitrous escaping where the impact shock had snapped a solenoid apart at the rear end. To be honest I thought I was on fire and I wanted to get that bottle off. I came out through the top of the cage, jumped down and turned off the nitrous and the main power. Ass soon as I looked up the medic and safety crew were there! Absolutely first class!

"My crew Simon and Clare ran from the start line to the shutdown area to make sure I was OK - thanks you two! The rest of the team, especially my fantastic and very understanding wife Nicola, looked after me and my bent car for the rest of the weekend. I could not wish to go racing with a nicer bunch of human beings, and despite it all we still had the mother of all parties last night even if I did retire a little early. Race hard - party hard.

"Thanks to all the other racers. I don't think I've ever had so many hugs in a day. Sorry I held up what little dry track we had, and thanks for your understanding and concern!

"What we learnt:
  • It bloody hurts hitting the armco at over a ton
  • Painkillers and alcohol makes you sleepy
  • Get your car built by someone who understands loads and how they spread. Even the top end crew commented on how well the car held together and they have swept up enough crashes to have a view.
  • Building a safe car before you spend money on making it a fast car means you will walk away should the worst happen.
  • My friends are fantastic and I'm proud to know them all.
"The car will be rebuilt, but not for a while. There's no rush, I've got some other stuff to play with in the meantime. See you back on the Track at Easter."

160 mph in sixty feet!
8th November: UK Nostalgia Fueller race Johnny 'Mental' Hall had an initially-frustrating weekend at the Halloween Showdown at Shakespeare County Raceway with the blown-fuel Small Block on the Windridge Hall McKenzie Felstead slingshot cutting out on a number of occasions. However the team persevered and Johnny made it down the track to record a 160 mph blast at the end of the weekend. Johnny dropped us a line to tell us how the weekend went from his perspective.

"We were itching to get to Shakey for weeks after we débuted the car at the Hot Rod Drags in September", says Johny, "especially after not having had time to make a set of wheelie bars which meant we had to be content with burnouts and no launches. Myself and Fester (Bill Felstead) pulled the engine apart and found everything in fine shape, so we put it back together and waited for the Halloween Showdown. In the meantime we managed to get oil sponsorship from Prolong which really helps with lowering the cost of running these monsters, as we use and change two gallons of 70w every run. Fester knocked up a really trick set of folding Wheelie bars, which can quickly be raised and lowered with one pin so that they are at waist height for towing and pit work.

"The non trailer situation reared its ugly head, and it was again our good buddy 'Uncle' Jeffro Thurston who came to the rescue and loaned us his seventeen-foot open flatbed trailer. Now those of you who have seen the car will instantly smile as you will be aware we had six feet of Digger hanging off the end, and I can tell you we had plenty of thumbs up and smiling faces on the M25 and M40 on the way up there. We arrived at about 6:00 pm on Friday evening and set up the pit, only to realise we had forgotten the shelter - and guess what, it started to rain. At about 10:00 that night an old guy came up to us and said "This is the only Fuel Slingshot in Europe, and it's sitting out in the pissing rain!

"Saturday dawned damp and horrible although there was no rain, so we asked the Race Director if we could just do a burnout and a sixty-foot squirt when slick cars where allowed on track. During the day the pit had loads of die-hard Nostalgia guys turn up including Alan Currans, Mark 'Gredzo' Gredzinski, Rob Loaring, Roy Wilding, Ronnie Picardo, Dougie Bond and loads of others, and they where all around giving encouragement when we warmed her up on petrol and then fed the nitro into the system.
©Eurodragster.com
"Later on we pulled the car down to the back wall with the new bars bolted on the back, and eventually the lovely Bev gave us the fire-up signal. I rolled the car through the water and gave it some leg, and tried to be smart by doing a double-throwdown super enveloped-in-smoke burnout and knocked it into neutral. It came to a halt and died. Good start! Later in the afternoon we tried exactly the same, but this time the burnout was strong and the engine sounded awesome. But guess what, it died just as I was starting to reverse. The same thing happened on the first run on Sunday, and when we got back to the pits we found an inlet gasket and blower gasket blown. We had the blower gasket covered but had to walk round the pits to source an inlet manifold gasket, and it was our one of our heroes - Chris Skinner (the nutcase in the ten-second Fiat 126) - who came to the rescue. When we got back to the pit we tried the gasket out and it didn't fit. So what did we do, we used the cardboard packet and made up a new one from that, so Chris we still have your gaskets.

"We knew what was wrong, but we wanted to do the fix properly and not have a guy out at three hundred feet ready to jump over the armco with a sqeezy bottle to keep the engine primed like the old guys used to do. We weren't so much annoyed at ourselves, as we are on a learning curve, but the people who came and paid to be entertained must have thought we were muppets. At about 4:30 we had one last chance, and all we needed to do was get the car into stage and go sixty feet. We tried one more time, but the same again - it wouldn't quite hold fuel long enough for the engine not to die.

"We were pushed back to the wall and Bill asked if we could just go through the water and go into stage to do the sixty foot. The race officials agreed to this. We fired her up, I went through the water and gave it a quick chirp to try to get some of the liquid off, and went into stage. When the lights came down I did my sixty foot which smoked all the way to the eighth and through the lights at 160 mph, and it felt really good.

"We know what needs to be done to cure the fuel problem, and we can promise some hot action next year. We were encouraged by the amount of people who showed genuine interest and told us we where on the right tracks and to keep at it, thanks guys. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Prolong for an excellent product."

You can read all about the Windridge Hall McKenzie Felstead nostalgia slingshot on the B & J Racing web site at www.bjnostalgia.com.

Swift snippets.
8th November: Hot on the heels of Friday's news item from Santa Pod Raceway, Lee Child of LA Performance Services tells us that he too will be pleased to accommodate the successor to Custom Car Street Eliminator at Shakespeare County Raceway next season. We understand that discussions are already underway to continue the class under a different name next season; stay tuned for details.
©Eurodragster.com
UK racers Dave Beck (usually Pro Stock Bike) and Steve Venables (usually Super Street Bike) both gave good accounts of themselves at the AMA/Prostar World Finals at Gainesville at the weekend. Dave Beck went to the third round of Pro Mod Bike eliminations after qualifying #7 at 6.938/189.39, and Steve Venables made a first-round exit from Streetbike Shootout after qualifying #16 at 8.001/188.48 although he is of course very happy with his seven-second passes in testing. You can find out more via the AMA/Prostar web site at www.amaprostar.com.

Although we don't usually give disk space to rumour and gossip on Eurodragster, we are very pleased to squash the rumour doing the rounds that News Editor Tog is about to quit Eurodragster. Tog is not quitting Eurodragster, and neither is Sharkman, and that's all the time we need spend on that.

At last another UK diecast.
8th November: Santa Pod Raceway track announcer Graham Beckwith arrived at the track on Saturday toting a very special die cast model which is now available from Lledo's Vanguards collection. The very accurate forty third-scale model is of Steve and Val Green's Mark One Cortina (Right, click on picture for large picture from another angle) is bound to become a collector's item very quickly.
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"It is a very accurate rendition", says Graham. "The original Rover V8 Championship contender, LBJ 975D, is modelled in all its John Woolfe Racing glory, which represents the car as campaigned circa 1990/1. Decoration is very accurate - right down to the slightly shaky shoe-whitener numbers on the windows! - and is missing only a couple of NCK Racing stickers, and the Rover V8 Championship decals from the side windows. A picture of the prototype is on the Acceleration Archive web site.

"If you spot one, snatch it up, they are disappearing quickly. Expect to pay around 15.00 for one now, but be warned, the collector demand will see the price rise dramatically as the Ford collectors start buying, let alone the Cortina fans. The pictures show the quality. The only down side is the Boy Racers legend on the clear display plastic box, but that's only a sticker."

You can find and order the replica of Steve's Cortina at www.lledo.com.

Marston appears in Winners' Circle.
8th November: As regular readers will be aware, the UKs Paul Marston is currently in Florida as Tony and Lynn Morriss guest for the winter series events. Pauls latest report is on the progress of the Super Comp teams for which he crewed at last weekends NHRA Divisional race at Gainesville, Florida.

After getting licenced on Thursday, Friday was back to serious business with timed runs prior to the Saturday eliminations, as is quite common with Divisional races here its all done and dusted by Saturday. As is usual here the weather is perfect for drag racing, sunny and in the 80s to 90s (sorry again).

With the replacement 509ci BBC fitted to Tim Hutchersons dragster, these timed runs would be essential as no-one was really sure how the motor would perform, it had been sat idle for two years. Tony Morris on the other hand had new tyres fitted to his Super Comp dragster to factor into his equation. All went well with Tims dragster consistently going faster with each pass as the motor bedded itself in.

This event at Gainesville saw a lot of out-of-Division entrants, as it was one of the last opportunities to gain valuable points which could affect final position standings in their respective divisions.

Tim Hutcherson was shooting for a top ten spot in Division 2 and a coveted single-digit number for the 2005 season. Tony Morris had not run the complete season so was not in the points chase and Steve Deatherage was out for the first time in a while with his awesome Super Comp dragster. Meanwhile in Super Street Big Mike Ruff with his immaculate 1989 BBC Camaro was also looking at moving up. Currently second in Division 2 Super Street, fresh from his victory at Super Chevys Sunday Bracket Race., Mike would be gunning for Tony Fuller, Hot Rod Fuller Seniors son, who currently enjoyed the Division 2 Super Street #1 spot in the points.

In addition to that, Vic Fera of Brevard Cylinder Head was also looking to close out a Championship, this time Division 2 Super Comp. As you can imagine, as this was just the people I knew there was a lot hanging on this race for plenty of people!

As usual everyone was dialing in his or her race cars to the last few thousandths, the racecars here are all well-dialled and the drivers regularly record 0.000 reaction times. There were no major problems and no rain, so the days time trials went without a hitch. With a fairly early finish on Friday everyone was ready to eat, but limited transport saw five of us all crammed in to Tony Morris Mini heading for Gainesville! To say we got some strange looks would be an understatement. When we left the whole restaurant emptied out to watch these five guys all get in the Mini; it was a good night!
©Eurodragster.com
Saturday dawned bright and sunny as is usual for this time of year. One last qualifier on Sunday morning for Sportsman classes, followed by the first round of Top Sportsman. Top Sportsman is a doorslammer ET class in which you have to run quicker than 8.00 to qualify, and it is real popular here at the moment. This was followed by Comp Eliminator, Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car. The Sportsman classes got back out around 2:30 pm with everyone making it through the first round. Although it is random pairings, Tony Fuller in his mean-looking black and flamed 1969 Camaro was doing his best to be paired up with Mike Ruff. The intention being that Mike had to go at least third round to overtake Tony Fuller, so taking him out early gave Tony the Championship. Tony never quite managed it, missing out by one pairing ,but he did try!

The second round saw us lose Tony Morris and Steve Deatherage in Super Comp but Tim, Vic and Mike were all still in. We lost Mike in the third round and so he narrowly missed out and finished runner-up in the Division 2 Championship for Super Street. As he was defending Champion, not bad at all.

Tim Hutcherson and I continued on, the dragsters hastily-located and -fitted motor had now levelled out performance-wise and was consistent. Tim continued to go rounds all the way into early evening and the semi-finals where as luck would have it Tim met Vic Fera, the guy who had helped us fit the motor in Tims dragster!.

Vic had already clinched the Division 2 Super Comp title in the fourth round, having now gone enough rounds, and Tim took out Lindsey Wood in the second round - one of only two racers who could have beaten him. It was a real tense race with both drivers showing great sportsmanship. Vic had some small problems turning around but Tim patiently waited in Vics pits until Vic was ready and they both travelled down to the staging lanes together. It was by now well past 9:00 pm. At the line Tim pulled a red, handing the race to Vic. Once back in the pits, everyone helped Vic get the dragster turned round as fast as possible and back up to the staging lane.

In a fairytale ending Vic went on to win the final against Sherman Adcock. A great end to a really hard days racing. We all got to stand in the winners circle, grinning like idiots with Vic Fera, wearing his sponsor Ocean Potions T-shirts. In most cases, especially for me, probably a once in a lifetime achievement where Vic received his Wally.

Well another late night over and much celebrating saw us all leave around midnight for the two-hour drive back to Orlando. Many many thanks must go to my family, all the Paul Marston Racing crew, everyone at Black Box London and Disco Equipment Hire in England for taking care of things. Thanks to everyone who has made me feel so welcome especially Lynn and Tony Morris, Tim and April Hutcherson, Steve and Ro Deatherage, everyone at Bo Laws Performance, Dave Hartman and all the guys at CRE, Vic Fera, Santos Volpe and everyone at Brevard Cylinder Head, and all the Orlando Racers who have made me feel like just one of the guys. Last but not least in any way, thanks to Eurodragster for enabling us to share this with you whilst I am so far away.

Web site updates.
8th November: 'Fatboy Slim' has updated his photo site with an excellent set of photographs from the few qualifying sessions which took place at Saturday's Flame and Thunder Show at Santa Pod Raceway together with some great off-track shots. You can find Gwynn's photos at www.pbase.com/slimboyfat/flame_and_thunder_04.
©Eurodragster.com
Weather dampens Flame and Thunder.
7th November: Racing had to be cancelled at yesterday's Flame and Thunder Show at Santa Pod Raceway after rain, drizzle and damp repeatedly thwarted the ceaseless efforts of the track crew.

On the racing front the first qualifying sessions in three classes were completed, and on the exhibition front Thomas Nataas beat Andy Carter in a Top Fuel match race, both drivers putting in short passes in treacherous conditions. Wendy Baker and Mickey Moore put in burnouts and launches in the Time Warp and The Mob Fuel Altereds, Wendy Baker also putting in 'dry' hops on a very damp track towards the end of the day. Martin Hill and Tony Baker provided Jet FC action in the Fireforce cars, Martin Hill's car sporting a new body in Santa Pod Raceway's colours, and Tony Baker having a dodgy moment at the end of the day when Fireforce 1 spun round in the wet after a spectacular side-by-side flame and smoke show. Ronnie Picardo must have set some sort of record for the number of vehicles fielded at an event with his various jet-powered vehicles and the wheelying Stingray.
©Eurodragster.com
VW Pro racer Conor LaGrue walked away uninjured from a frightening-looking head-on crash into the guardrail just past the finish line during yesterday's qualifying. Kev Metcalfe told us that the front of the car was a bit banged up but that the car should easily be reparable. Shaun Lathan's Super Comp Calibra was slightly damaged after getting out of shape and tagging the guardrail; Shaun was just fine.

Yesterday's results were as follows:

Top Fuel match race: Thomas Nataas 9.376/85.77 def. Andy Carter 15.679/88.72
VW Pro #1 qualifier: Peter Englezos +0.127 11.027/121.23
VW Sportsman #1 qualifier: Martin Ayton +0.018 15.218/89.32
VW Alternate Engine #1 qualifier: Andy Raw +0.187 11.687/118.03
ET Bike Bracket #1 qualifier: Julian Harris (aka Fast Harry) +0.060 9.960/134.00

 SPR take it to the Street.
5th November: Santa Pod Raceway have confirmed that they will be amenable to accommodating a successor to Custom Car Street Eliminator in 2005.
©Eurodragster.com
"A number of racers have been in touch to ask if the class will continue to be run at Santa Pod", Track Manager Kjell Pettersson told Eurodragster yesterday. "We appreciate that the class is very popular and we will be happy to run with it under the previous technical configuration and in a similar self-administered package. We are already discussing with Santa Pod Racers Club how to carry on with it. In the meantime we would like to thank Tim Baggaley, Kev Elliott, Ian Jackson, Lee Child, and Sue Jackson for their efforts in the past."

Flame and Thunder running order.
5th November: We are indebted to Santa Pod Raceway's Race Director Darren Prentice and SPRC Club Secretary Paula Marshall for forwarding us the official running order for tomorrow's Flame and Thunder Show at Santa Pod Raceway. As ever the running order is provisional and subject to change due to weather or track conditions or any other reason deemed necessary by race officials.

You can view tomorrow's running order by clicking here.

Eurodragster's Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is making its last broadcast of 2004 from tomorrow's Flame and Thunder Show. The webcam will be on-line from approximately 8:00 in the morning and will then be scheduled to broadcast a picture every two minutes until the track closes.
©Eurodragster.com
We will post a direct Home Page link to the webcam as soon as it goes live, but in the meantime you can find the webcam page by clicking here.

Eurodragster will not be reporting live from the Flame and Thunder Show but we will post a news item on Sunday's update with the winners, runners-up and #1 qualifiers in each class as well as the outcome of the Top Fuel and Fuel Altered match races and runs by the Jet FCs.

A warm welcome.
5th November: Carbon By Design Top Fuel Dragster team owner Knut Söderquist has completed his move back to his native Sweden, having taken a detour to the USA where he added to his stable of Top Fuellers. Knut tells us that he had a very pleasant surprise when he arrived back in Sweden.

"I shipped my cars and furniture over to Sweden in six double-decker trailers", says Knut. "I got home from the USA expecting to start work on unpacking everything and found that Johnny Nilsson and Chris Andrews had unloaded everything. The job they did was stunning. The furniture was in the house and all of the race cars were in the workshop and the place is spotless."

Knut and Johnny have been friends for thirty years and have now gone into business together in Åstorp. "When Johnny picked me up and took me home there was a big sign saying 'Welcome home Knut', and there were hot dogs with mashed potatoes and a bottle of champagne waiting for me. Johnny's wife Jessika is treating me like her own husband. Just unbelievable, these guys are real friends."

Knut tells us that he purchased two Top Fuellers in the USA. "I can't yet tell you who I bought them from", he says, "but there is more news to come. Chris Andrews has been working on Jöran Persåker's car ready to move it to Jöran's new shop, it will be race ready in about three weeks. We also have a new crew member, Johnny's son Dennis Nilsson, and I am pleased to say that we are about seventy five per cent there with a deal for Chris Andrews to drive one of my Top Fuellers next year."

Joe joins JD ranks.
5th November: Last weekend was a busy one for UK Junior Drag Racing as Joe Kellett joined the ranks of JD racers after making his licencing passes in Santa Pod Raceway's Junior Stock dragster. Joe's dad Peter dropped us a line to tell us how Joe got on.

"After an hour of tuition from Dave Mills and his lovely daughter Katie, Joe made his first run, but hit the cut-off switch at the eighth after his visro steamed up", says Peter. "I suppose that was the correct thing to do. Joe's next run was great with a reaction time of 0.025 and a speed of 38.13 mph which turned out his best overall after eight runs.
©Eurodragster.com
"We had a great day and are now enquiring about buying a new car with help and advice from Nev Mottershead. Watch this space, as it will be the best Junior Dragster about: a custom paintjob theme is being sorted as we speak. A big Thank You to all the staff at the Pod - really nice people."

Regular readers will know that Super Gas racer Nev Mottershead kindly gave Eurodragster's News Editor Tog a run out in his race car last weekend; Peter dared us to publish this picture of Nev either reacting to Tog's second run or wearing a Halloween mask. When will people learn never to dare your News Editor...

Swift snippets.
5th November: Mention of Nev Mottershead leads very nicely into an appeal from Tog for photographs of his Super Gas drive at SCR last weekend to illustrate his forthcoming report. If you have any photographs of Tog in Nev's car which we could publish then please drop Tog a line at eurodragster.com@btinternet.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Further to yesterday's news item about the Twisted Sanity Rocket Dragster's run at Shakespeare County Raceway at the weekend, team member Paul Cann has been in touch with an extrapolation of Sunday's pass. "Sixty foot time of 1.57, 0-60 in 2.2 seconds, ET/speed 8.54/187", says Paul. "These times were calculated using a program simulator for jet engines (couldn't find one for hybrid rockets), so it is probably a second out one way or the other. Looking forward to next year now!"

We're sure that everyone will join Tog in wishing a very Happy Birthday to Eurodragster's Photo Editor Sharkman. Have a great day, buddy!

Teams flock to charity karts.
5th November: If you were tuned in last Thursday you will recall that Santa Pod Raceway's Race Director Darren Prentice is organising a kart event for charity in January or February. Darren tells us that he has had a big response, but that there is room for more.

"We have already had team entries from APIRA, Webster Race Engineering, Mike Kason and the old timers, Chris Issacs, Motorshack, Steve Talbot, Kev 'the Kiwi' Taylor, Phil Cottingham, Paul Venners and Team Botch, Santa Pod Raceway, and Ian Marshall with Team Rucksack", says Darren. "Eurodragster will be covering the event and will be raising sponsorship for us by selling advertising spaces on the report (More about that later - Ed). If you fancy having a pop with any of these guys going round corners you can E-Mail me at darren@sprcrd.fsnet.co.uk".

For more details about the charity kart event, check out last Thursday's news item.

Darren also tells us that Tuesday's Drag Racing Night in The Swan pub in Newton Bromswold was a great success. "About sixty people, if not more, turned out to watch the DVDs", says Darren. "We watched the 2004 Main Event and 2004 Hardcore Street and both went down very well - both would make excellent Christmas pressies! Ian Marshall won a copy of the Hardcore Street DVD on a football scratch card. The hot dogs and chips went in record time. I'd just like to thank everybody for turning out, and hope to see you all again on the first Tuesday in December."

SeaFrance's Xtreme offer.
5th November: SeaFrance, one of Europe's leading cross-Channel carriers, has confirmed its support for February's Xtreme Wheels International show with several highly competitive cross-Channel offers for European exhibitors and enthusiasts travelling to the event. The tie-up includes a five-day SeaFrance Calais to Dover return crossing for a car and five passengers for only €120 and competitive freight prices for exhibitors. These will be available on request.

In 2004 Xtreme Wheels International was successfully supported by several top class exhibitors from the continent, the arrangement with SeaFrance allows the show organisers to put on display an even greater array of Europe's finest extreme vehicles.

"The public are in for a very big treat", says Terry Gibbs, Organiser of Xtreme Wheels International. "Our objective is to make Xtreme Wheels a truly international show and, with the support of SeaFrance, we can achieve this goal. Many of the specialist publications that support the show have a loyal European following and this competitive travel offer has been enthusiastically welcomed by them all."

"We have strong traditions of working with major exhibitions and motoring events and are delighted to be supporting Xtreme Wheels International", says Emeric Avot of Passenger Sales, SeaFrance. "We hope that reduced travel costs will encourage exhibitors and enthusiasts from across Europe to participate in this impressive two-day event."

Taking place at Alexandra Palace, London, on the 19th-20th February 2005, the Xtreme Wheels International show will include the finest performance cars, mods, imports, Europes top dragsters, custom cars, hot and street rods supported by live action, demos, trade stands and glamour.

Full details relating to the competitive SeaFrance rates are available on the Xtreme Wheels International web site at www.xwishow.com, or contact Tina Gibbs on +44 (0)1483 236363.
©Eurodragster.com
Web site updates.
5th November: Our good friend Alan Currans has updated his excellent Acceleration Archive web site with a seventh Readers' Gallery. "The new gallery contains some great pictures of the early Gloworm and Transcontinental Funny Cars, Slam'n Sammy Miller's Vanishing Point rocket-powered Funny Car, Bruce Brown's Age Machine, the Firefly Pro Fuel Fragster and the famous Stripteaser Minivan. I am also very pleased to publish some very interesting shots of Wild Honey donated by the late Chris Ison's son Mark". You can view all of these great pictures on Alan's web site at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk.
©Eurodragster.com
Venables aims for 7.50s.
4th November: Further to yesterday's news item about UK Super Street Bike racer Steve Venables breaking into the sevens, Jay Regan has been in touch to let us know that Steve went even quicker in testing at Gainesville yesterday (Wednesday).
©Eurodragster.com
"Steve 'Just call me Mr. 69 from now on' Venables ran a 7.85 off the trailer and then a new PB of 7.69 at a whopping 190 mph in the afternoon test session", says Jay. "The '69' came with a sixty foot which was slower than the 7.85 so Big Steve has plans to hit the 50s next. Rumour has it that the Velocity Boys are taking Steve and G down the road to the Café to celebrate his stellar performance.

"When told of the news, Steve's only major sponsor, Chris Hannam, roared that if Steve hits the 50s he is doubling his participation next year and is also considering throwing in a trip to Memphis next year to boot!"

The sweet noise of success.
4th November: Charles Berg and the Twisted Sanity team attended the Halloween Showdown at Shakespeare County Raceway with their twin-engine hybrid rocket car. Team member Paul Cann explains that pressure of business have prevented more outings this season, but says that Sunday's testing was successful.

"We have spent most of the year building up the nitrous oxide business and trying to attract sponsorship for the new car for next season, so we haven't had much track time this season", says Paul. "We were testing new fuel sources, which we found kept blowing seals on the rockets due to the increased energy. We decided to go back to basics and use the plastic tubing which we had been using before. We made a test run at Shakespeare County Raceway and we were absolutely astounded by the noise and thrust the twin rockets made when they fired up as were most of the spectators judging by their facial expressions!

"We recorded a good sixty foot time of 1.5 seconds and had no problems at all performing a half pass. The car left the line with much more power than before, and ran straight and without any hitches
©Eurodragster.com
"We are all looking forward to next season when we will be working with some more interesting fuels and announcing details of our sponsors. Weve been working hard all year thinking of different ways to promote the car and the sport in general, and although were not giving away any details just yet were hoping that what we have in store will be good enough to fetch a large amount of both media attention and public interest.

"We would like to thank all the track and safety staff at both Santa Pod and Shakespeare County Raceway for their patience and support throughout the last two years. The sales department for the Twisted Sanity nitrous business will close on 1st December through to the New Year for some restructuring, but the Tech dept will remain open until 20th December."

FB TV.
4th November: Street Eliminator racer and World Street Race contender Ian Hook has been spreading the gospel according to Mickey Thompson. He was interviewed by local TV station Central News South last night about his participation in the World Street Race next March. To add a bit of action he has spent an afternoon at Shakespeare County Raceway with his eight-second FB Racing '34 Ford street rod doing a few burnouts and some less-than-straight launches in front of the cameras.

"It's always good to be able to spread the word on drag racing and street-legal drag racing in particular", says Fatty, "but I hope that this appearance will help in my campaign to raise some more sponsorship to get the '34 across the Atlantic (and back!)."

The interview will be part of the Central News South sports preview tomorrow (Friday 5th). The programme kicks off at 6:00 pm.
©Eurodragster.com
"I'd like to say a quick thanks to Nick, Daz and Whale for helping out today, and to Lee Child for making the Shakespeare County facility available to us", adds Fatty.

You can keep up to date with all the World Street Race news at www.worldstreetrace.tk.

Swift snippets.
4th November: Simo Patoharju has been in touch to tell us that he has sold his Mad Bomber Racing Top Methanol Dragster operation to fellow Finnish racer Mats Bjrklund, who last raced in Competition Eliminator. "We have sold the Meyer 271" dragster, spare engine, trans and rear end, spare parts supply and trailer" (right), says Simo. "The deal also includes technical support for the 2005 season". The Mad Bomber Racing team themselves will be back in 2006. For more information check out the MBR web site at www.madbomber.fi.
©Eurodragster.com
Trakbak Racing have announced that this year's FIA, FIM/UEM and NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified season reviews will for the first time be available on DVD this season. Three DVDs will be on offer, the FIA and FIM/UEM reviews offering more than three hours' action apiece, and the NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified DVD offering more than two hours including previously-unseen footage. Prices and exact release dates have yet to be confirmed, but a pre-order form will be available in the Pod Shop at Santa Pod Raceway this weekend with delivery guaranteed in time for Christmas.

Rocket dragster pilot Carolynne Campbell is asking for readers' help to track down the owner of a particular Range Rover. "My partner David ran into a guy running what he thinks is a blue Camaro with a stock body, which he was dollying behind what turned out to be David's old Range Rover!", says Carolynne. "David meant to get a phone number to discuss buying it back, but then he got sidetracked and didn't get the number. If the present owner, or someone who knows, would like to get in touch could he please E-Mail us at autodiverse@tiscali.co.uk?"

Fansfueler returns to SPR.
4th November: Chris Parker of the Fansfueler project, which aims to raise the funding to return Barry Sheavills to Top Fuel Dragster competition in 2005, tells us that the project team will be at the Flame and Thunder Show at Santa Pod Raceway this weekend.

"The Fansfueler team will be enjoying the last sniff of nitro for 2004 and promoting the Fansfueler project once more before the end of the season", says Chris. "We will also be running a raffle with the prize of a voucher worth up to 1000 towards the cost of a set of wheels and tyres, kindly donated by Fansfueler partners AEZ. The winner of the prize will be able to choose and collect their wheels from any branch of Motorworld. Many thanks to AEZ and Wheelwright for helping us to organise this.

"Whilst on the subject of Fansfueler partners, we would also like to welcome Carlube Triple R, NGK, and Process Systems International, who will all be working alongside the Fansfueler project and Barry Sheavills Motorsport."

You can stay up to date with the latest on the Fansfueler project on its official web site at www.fansfueler.co.uk, and those race fans who have already pledged to become Club members can now sign up to the new members-only forum."
©Eurodragster.com
Marston's long story.
4th November: The UK's Paul Marston is currently residing in Florida for a month, where he is crewing and driving on the US Divisional circuit. He has sent us an update on his progress so far:

"The first event was Super Chevy, a Car Show cum drag race event at Gainesville, which is a two-hour drive from Orlando. Once there join the queue at the pit gate, get your credentials and drive to your designated pit area. The usual unload and set-up follows and once the dragsters are unloaded its off to tech to be tecched in. Then you wait to be called for your timed run (there is no qualifying, you have timed runs only). Once called, off they all go - no-one is towed here in the Sportsman classes. So you just have to imagine the spectacle of sixty dragsters descending on the staging lanes all at once, plus less than a handful of door cars. That said, the staging lanes at Gainesville are eight wide, an eighth of a mile long and dead straight.

With a full field of Sportsman classes on hand, and Nitro Coupes (Pro Mods with 30% nitro in their tanks) headlinig, it was a busy day of timed runs in some intense heat, peaking at 112 degrees on the start line. Sunday dawned and instead of a last scheduled timed run on Sunday morning we were straight into eliminations. Unfortunately upon returning from his last timed run Saturday afternoon, Tim Hutcherson had run a little slow (7.85 on a 7.75 dial) and thought the tickover on his 540 BBC in his dragster a little odd.

Upon closer inspection it seemed the front damper was turning unevenly, yes it looked like the crank had broken! That was Tims day done, no Sunday eliminations, that also sidelined Tim for the Gamblers race on Saturday Night. Tony Morris however did compete in the Gamblers race - $30 entry all run, all class big bracket with a first and second round $25 dollar buyback - going three rounds and succumbing to a Chevy Cavalier running tens. After finishing at 10.30 it was a lay in with a 7.30 start come Sunday, yippee!

During the two days of racing I got a chance to have a quick look around the Swap Meet and have a gander at the Show Car displays, which is a big part of what Super Chevy events are all about. With Tim out we loaded his dragster back on the Stacker trailer early, before it got too hot, and concentrated on Tonys dragster. Tony made first round with a close race won on the start line, a .016 RT and a 8.881 double breakout at the top end, Tony taking it due to his quicker reaction. The second round was close of play for us with yet another door car, a Chevy Vega this time in Super Comp, 0.026 RT and 8.900 ET were not enough. All done for the weekend we packed up, that took exactly twenty minutes and we were on the road for Orlando!

As Tims motor was junk, another motor was quickly located: there was not enough time to repair Tims 540 and Tim badly needed to compete the following weekend at Gainesville at the postponed Darlington Division 2 event, the last points scoring event of the year. Tim had a good shot at getting a top ten spot and a much-coveted single digit number for the 2005 season. Tim was at that point eleventh and had a second round defeat to improve upon - only your best five of eight Divisional results count. A motor was located by Tuesday as a complete car deal fell through, so Tim and I drove over to Vic Fera, Tims good friend and fellow Super Comp racer who is currently number two in the Divison 2 points standings. Vic's shop Brevard Cylinder Heads is located in the Cocoa Beach area, where we unloaded the Dragster with the intention of using Vic's shop facilities to pull the motor and fit the replacement after we had collected it.

Meanwhile we took the opportunity to call in at JW Transmissions, which is also located in Cocoa, to drop off a couple of torque converters of mine which needed work. I was privileged to be able to talk with the owner John Winters again, John is one of the nicest people you could ever meet and I always value any time that can be spent with this great man. Then after the tour of the facility conducted by his daughter Tracy, it was back to Brevard Cylinder Heads. Upon returning to Vic's we set about removing the damaged 540 from Tims dragster, this took us into the small hours, which pleased the local mosquito population immensely as with all the bright lights in the shop on. They dined all night on my arms and legs as I forgot my sweat pants and sweatshirt! With no motor to fit as yet, Vic very kindly allowed us to leave the Toter, Stacker trailer and dragster in his shop overnight, Vic even lent Tim his brand new Dodge truck to drive home in and return the following day, what a guy!

Wednesday saw us return to Cocoa (a 120-mile drive each way) and Vic's shop, we finished pulling the motor and then went off to collect the replacement. Once back Tim, Vic, Santos - anyone who knows sportsman racers will be familiar with the name Santos Volpe, who is simply an awesome hired sportsman drag race driver who has won some very big money races - and I started swapping what needed swapping and checking over the motor which had sat for two years. After a long evening, a trip out for dinner at Hooters, and calling at K-Mart for some oil we fired the 510 ci BBC up about one o'clock in the morning. Everything was fine, so we loaded the dragster back into the Stacker trailer. We drove straight back to Tims place; I finally got into bed at around 4.00 am after showering and packing for the big day. I knew I would be up early as this was the day I would be getting licensed in Tony Morriss Dragster at Gainesville.

After the 4:00 finish and 7:00 start I did what any hardcore drag racer would do: drank lots of coffee, ate chocolate and drank Red Bull! I knew I needed to be on the ball and could look forward to an early night that night. After a quick stop off at the car wash to get the rig cleaned, we arrived at a sunny 80+ deg (sorry folks!) Gainesville and got set up in the pits near our friends, just by the finish line.

Firstly we had to get Tony Morris Dragster tecched in for the Division 2 event, and get Tonys and my Tech cards validated. Once that was done we had to then see the Track Manager to advise that I would be doing licensed runs. That was no problem and as tech was close to the startline I got suited up straight away and Tony Morris explained the controls and what he wanted me to do.
©Eurodragster.com
Let me explain briefly: licensing in the States is a little more complicated that in England. Luckily I was able to have my full medical performed in England after confirming with the NHRA and faxing a copy for their approval. You have to complete six passes to obtain your full licence for a Super Comp dragster: one half pass, four moderate and two full. There is also a blindfold cockpit orientation test and an escape test, all of this must be signed off by two licensed drivers and the Track Manager. The completed form plus the Run Tickets must then be sent off to the NHRA Head Office to have your competition number allocated. As you can see, quite a process!

This was the first time I have ever driven a dragster, unless you count driving Tony's dragster around the pits here last year to get it tecched for the Gatornationals. The first run was just a launch and run up to the eighth no problem. I was quite surprised just how smooth it was, as the throttlestop cuts in just after the launch and when it comes off the dragster accelerates so smoothly. The whole process was a lot less dramatic than I had expected, but the wind and the seating position gave me a whole new perspective, it really is a lot different to driving a door car. The test and tune was not too busy, which is normal out here, even if it is busy you would never notice as they run the pairings through so quickly. I made three runs in quick succession, having to repeat one as the dragster had rolled back a little when I staged and knocked the second bulb out so when I launched it recorded no time. The level of electronics in a Super Comp dragster and the amount you have to do certainly keeps you occupied, which is why I never noticed the Tree, my fault!

Once we had performed three runs, Tony Morris wanted to fit a brand new set of Goodyear tyres so that we could compare the first three eighth-mile runs to the second three. So we removed the wheels and rolled them over to the Goodyear tyre dealer on site to have the new boots fitted. Meanwhile the menacing clouds did what clouds usually do when you dont want them to, it rained. By the time we had the new tyres fitted it was drying out so we drove down to the staging lanes and had a short wait whilst the track was checked. The next three passes went without a hitch, it stayed dry and I got more comfortable with the dragster. The last full passes really impressed upon me how fast these dragsters accelerate through the last thee hundred feet to the stripe. With a little time left Tony Morris suggested we make another pass, this time a full pass no throttlestop and using the Autostart.

Autostart is the electronic method used by 95% of all Sportsman racers out here in Bracket Racing to obtain consistency. It goes something like this: as you approach the Tree you light the top staging bulb, hit the Autostart reset button on the butterfly steering wheel. Once you have done this the throttle pedal falls to the floor, effectively you have very little throttle, just above tickover. You stage the Dragster, hit the transbrake button, mat the accelerator, although it does not effectively do anything, you are ready. Once your opponent has also staged you will then release the transbrake button when the Tree is activated, reacting to the top bulb. The Tree will run as a Sportsman tree, both top ambers come on at the same time on both sides of the Tree but will delay the countdown sequence on the bulbs for the faster car.

The Autostart delay box is set by the driver to take this delay into account and will then go wide open on the throttle and launch the dragster for you, with the delay you have dialed into it. It will take some time to get used to but will make for some fascinating racing when I get to Bradenton next week for the Big Money Monster five-day Bracket event.

On the final full throttle pass the dragster really showed my what it can do, it was brutally fast running an 8.351/157.72 with a 1.191 sixty foot. That was me done for the day, as you would expect the adrenaline kicked in as soon as I got in the dragster, so the lack of sleep was no problem, but I slept well that night for sure!

Seven up for Venables.
3rd November: UK Super Street Bike racer Steve Venables has broken into the seven-second zone in testing for this weekend's AMA/Prostar Nationals at Gainesville.

If you were tuned in on 24th October you will recall that Steve and Crew Chief Graham Balchin were headed to Velocity Racing to work on his bike with Barry Henson, the world's quickest Street Bike rider, before testing ahead of this weekend's event. It sounds as if the fifteen- to sixteen-hour days in the workshop paid off as Steve pulled the number on his first day of testing.
©Eurodragster.com
"Steve started testing at Gainesville yesterday", says Steve's wife. "He's had to get used to the bike all over again as they have changed so much on it. His last run of the day was a 7.81, with a 1.36 sixty foot. Steve said that he came back knowing that it felt fast, but that he was speechless when Graham told him the time!"

Steve is testing at Gainesville again today.

Low-flying Hill hunts records.
3rd November: UK Jet Funny Car pilot Martin Hill says that he is looking forward to this weekend's Flame and Thunder Show at Santa Pod Raceway, as he will be trying to return to the form which he says has been lacking this season. The Fireforce 2 Jet FC has been lifting towards the top end but Martin demonstrated that he has cured the problem by smashing Shakespeare County Raceway's Jet FC track record with a 5.812/277.45 at the weekend.

"Since losing the body on Fireforce 2 last year and fitting the replacement, we have have had serious aerodynamic problems at the top end", says Martin. "The front end has been up to eighteen inches in the air. This has not done a lot for confidence on every pass. It has taken until now to get enough video and still photography to pinpoint the exact time at which the instability starts to happen.

"The body has now been modified. There are two vents behind the front wheel tubs, which stop air pressure building up inside the frontal area, along with an intake screen which shrouds the intake and isolates the intake air from the body.
©Eurodragster.com
"With these modifications the car is stable again, which lets us concentrate on performance and not stability. We have only had two events with the body mods, but it is all looking promising. The first outing was a 5.87/260 and the second was unrecorded as we disturbed all the timing equipment. Our last outing was at the Halloween Showdown at the weekend, the first run was our third-quickest ever at 5.812 and the terminal speed was our fatest ever at over 277 mph. our second run was backed down as the track was becoming cold and the car was moving about too much past the half track, but we still ran in the 5.8s.

"If track conditions are good we are looking to set some more records at Santa Pod on Saturday!"

Martin says that the off-season gives him time for new projects, adding that there may be a début next year. "I will let you know", he says.

Flame and Thunder Contest winner.
3rd November: Mention of one of this weekend's headliners at Santa Pod leads very nicely into our congratulations to Nicola Bicknell, who is the winner of Eurodragster's Flame and Thunder Show Contest. Nicola wins two tickets to Saturday's Flame and Thunder Show at Santa Pod Raceway.

The correct answers were as follow:
©Eurodragster.com
A: What is Andy Carter's official European Top Fuel Dragster ET record?
3. 4.832 seconds

B: In which class did Thomas Nataas compete before Top Fuel Dragster?
1. Pro Modified

C: What is the frequency of Nitro FM?
2. 96.2

Of all of the entries we received, only two were incorrect, so a big Well Done to our readers. Many thanks to Caroline Day of Santa Pod Raceway for posting the prize.

Teboul cancels.
3rd November: Santa Pod Raceway's Track Manager Kjell Pettersson has been in touch with the sad news that French Rocket Bike pilot Eric Teboul has had to cancel his appearance at the Flame and Thunder Show on Saturday.

"The cancellation is due to a short delay in the final stage on the completion of the team's rocket fuel production plant which was due to be producing HTP rocket fuel by this juncture", says a statement from the team. "Earlier this year the team decided that to be able to establish a source of high purity rocket grade fuel to their exact requirements they would have to invest substantially in their own production facility. The first batch of the new HTP fuel will be produced very shortly but frustratingly not quite in time for this event.
©Eurodragster.com
"Once the new fuel is produced the bike sould have no problem running consistent five-second quarters with ease.

"Eric Teboul and his team look forward to seeing their fans in the 2005 season, thank everyone for their support this year, and wish all their supporters a great festive season."

One Junior Dragster, two juniors.
3rd November: It was a busy weekend for the Talbot family's Matrix Junior Dragster the Halloween Showdown at Shakespeare County Raceway as two rookie racers took to the track on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

First up, on Saturday, was Scott Collier, son of Jerry and Sharron Colier of UK Supertwin team Jade Racing. Scott had already had one outing in the JD but once wasn't enough - and indeed one race vehicle wasn't enough, says Sharron Collier.

"Scott was awesome!", says Sharron. "On saturday he ran 15.21/40 in the Matrix dragster, which we sadly had to give back on Sunday morning as it was hired to someone else (well done Zak!). So Scott signed on with his trusty PW50 motorcycle, and promptly ran 15.65/40! He was absolutely brilliant, and followed Jerry's instructions to the letter. To swap from car to bike in a weekend takes such adaptability - has any other racer done that before? I'm not sure! The word 'proud' doesn't say enough, I feel completely humble that he is so small yet full of quiet courage and determination.

"Also a big Thank You to Anna Stanley and her Mum and Dad for their patience and understanding. Scott loved racing against Anna even though she was quicker than him. Conrad was very kind and offered Scott a drive in Anna's car if he was very upset at handing Matrix back. But bless him, he looked sad for a while, then put his leathers on and started his bike!
©Eurodragster.com
"On Sunday Jerry did two passes on the H2 without the gas, just to check that all the changes we have made are working, everything went fine so he parked it as he said it was more fun watching Scott! Also our favourite 'Bald but Fast' Rick Davies made a return to the track on his RD, helped by Scott who drew him a map of the track and return road and stuck it on his tank! Scott, we are honoured to be your Mum and Dad!"

On Sunday the Matrix was turned over to Zak Johnson, who has been waiting for five years to have a go, says mum Sarah. "Having turned eight years old on 22nd October he got down the track", says Sarah. "After a tentative first two runs he raced Matthew Seamarks and ran a 15.6/39, ending the day with a 15.4/40. Zak took to racing like a duck to water, it looks like we are going to have to put in plenty of overtime to ensure that he returns in one of his own! A big thanks to Dick Talbot and the girls for their support on Sunday."

Whilst we're on the subject of Junior Dragster, JD new boy Matthew Fannon is the subject of a piece in this week's issue of Motorsport News.

Serres results.
3rd November: Our good friend Elias Vathias of the Dragnews.gr web site tells us that the fourth race of 2004 at Serres went very well. "Lenoth, the North Drag Racing Club of Greece, did an excellent job once more", says Elias. "The only problem during the two-day race was fog early in the morning. The track was well-prepared and many new personal records were established."

Elias kindly sent us a summary of the weekend:

Makis Nefraim won the Open Auto class with his Pontiac Firebird. Makis' best run was 8.73/265 Kmh, which is also the best auto ET of the race. Filippos Papafilippou took second place with his Ford Sierra at 9.21/247. Kostas Koutroufinis (and Nikos Zampathas) took the third position with a personal record of 9.22/235. Christos Zagaris (record holder of T3) won Auto T3 with a 9.98/233. Second was Iakovos Melanitis with a new personal record 10.4 and third was Dimitris Barbaris with an 11.9. Dimitris Roumelis with a new personal record 11.0 was the winner of Auto T2. Dimitris Zafeiris and Panagiotis Menemenoglou of the Drag Warriors team shared the second and thirrd positions. Dimitris Zafeiris, record holder of the Auto T1 class, won the race and set a new class record of 11.69. Panagiotis Menemenoglou came second and Panagiotis Letsios came third with a new personal record.

Anestis Papadopoulos won Auto A3 with an 11.16 and Stefanos Chatzimoisiadis came second with an 11.13. Third was Yannis Zerzelidis. Nikos Loukos, record holder of teh Auto A2 class, won the race with an 11.64. Tasos Mitroudis took second position. Panagiotis Daravigas was the only racer in Auto A1 and ran a 13.0. Tasos Papoutsis won the BT class with an 11.2 and Stelios Oustabasidis the BA class with a 14.2.

Stavros Svrahnos (8.26 best ET) won the Moto Open final due to an exceptional reaction time, so Antonis Zafeiriadis (8,27 best ET) took the second place and Panagiotis Polonidis the third. Christos Agapidis, class record holder, again won Moto 5 class with an 8.99 et. Second came Yannis Manetas with an 8.96 and third was Yannis Sarlis. A new Moto 4 class record was set by Loukas Kouzouloglou as his best ET was 9.68 but Kostas Memetzis won the class with a 9.83. Christos Keis was the only racer in Moto 3 and ran an 11.5/ Stavros Andreadis ran a 10.6, very close to the Moto 2,2 class record. Nikolopoulos and Tzanidakis of Xenarios Drag Team shared the first and second position in Moto 2,1, Finally, in Mini Open, Savas Michailidis ran a 13.9.

Elias has updated his web site with nearly six hundred pictures from Serres, with video to be added soon. You can check out Elias' pictures at www.dragnews.gr/images/Shows_Races/041031Serres/index.htm.
©Eurodragster.com
Carter seeks last 2004 title...
2nd November: 2004 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Andy Carter says that his match race appearance against Thomas Nataas at this weekend's Flame and Thunder Show at Santa Pod Raceway is a great way to finish off his successful season. Victory in the match race would provide a book-end to a season which started with victory in the Pro Fuel Shootout and continued with new European ET and speed records, the lowest ET of the season at 4.760, and the FIA European Championship.

"The Flame and Thunder Show is always a nice laid-back event and I enjoy appearing there", says Andy. "Obviously I want to beat Thomas two-nil, even if it is meant to be a relaxing day! The team and I will be doing our best to put down some good times for the fans, and in between races I am looking forward to meeting everyone so please come along to my pit and say Hello. It's going to be a long wait until the start of next season so this is a nice way to round off 2004."
©Eurodragster.com
Andy says that he is always excited at the chance to run in dark conditions, which will be the case for the second match race which is due at 16:30 (The first being 13:00 - Ed). "The car is a bit more interesting to drive when it gets dark", he says. "I know the fans love to see Fuel cars in the dark and I love to do it!"

Andy tells us that nothing is yet confirmed for his title defence in 2005. "My PR guys John Andrews and Dan Welberry are already working very hard on next year", he says.

You can stay in touch with all the news from Carter Motorsports on the team's official web site at www.andycarter.net.

...and confirms Xtreme Wheels.
2nd November: Talk of Andy Carter's appearance at this weekend's Flame and Thunder Show leads very nicely into the following press release from the Xtreme Wheels International Show:

Andy Carter, the 2004 FIA European Top Fuel Drag Racing Champion, has confirmed that he will be attending the 2005 Xtreme Wheels International Show, taking place at Alexandra Palace on 19th and 20th February. The two-time European Champion and current record holder - posting a 306mph pass - will be supported by his full pit crew and awesome 6,500 brake-horsepower dragster.

Andy will present at least one seminar on his racing experiences and be available throughout the weekend for signing autographs. Xtreme Wheels International will also enable the European Top Fuel star to thank in person the fans that have supported him throughout his racing career and to promote the power and excitement of drag racing to a wider audience. On Show Saturday (19th February), his Carter Motorsport Team will undertake a timed engine strip down in The Great Hall.

"This show gives me an opportunity to thank all of those people who have supported us in the build-up to winning the Championship", says Andy Carter. "As a Neasden boy it will be fantastic to be back in North London as European Champion. Over the two days of the show I shall be providing the public with an insight into racing over a quarter of mile in less than five seconds and reaching speeds above 300 mph."

"The 2005 show will provide the public with a feast of extreme machinery and securing the services of Andy, his team and the best Top Fuel dragster in Europe further demonstrates the high quality of the show's content", says Terry Gibbs, Organiser of Xtreme Wheels International. "Andy Carter is not only the current European Champion and record holder but one of the most popular characters in drag racing. He has a huge following from all over Europe and we are delighted that he will be involved."

Although in drag racing circles Andy Carter is a household name, for many of those people attending the show it may be the first time that they have seen a Top Fuel dragster at close quarters and travelling from 0-300 mph in less than five seconds may be difficult to imagine, even with expert tuition.

For further information relating to Xtreme Wheels International 2005 visit the official website at www.xwishow.com.
©Eurodragster.com
Looking to a street-legal 2005.
2nd November: Although Custom Car magazine will not be supporting its Street Eliminator series in 2005, the racers are looking at ways in which they can continue a street-legal series next season. Class speed record holder Colin Lazenby has been in touch to let us know what has happened so far and what he would like to see in 2005.

"Before I go on, I would personally like to thank Custom Car magazine, and of recent years, Kev Elliott for their unrivalled support of the class", says Colin. "Together, they have provided a platform to promote and publicise all things that were Street Eliminator. A sincere thanks to both.

"Certainly for our car we have continued the development just to stay in the game. The other racers, and our following of loyal class supporters, simply help to make all our hard work so much more rewarding. So, having now spoken to the majority of the 2004 teams, new blood currently building cars (intended for 2005 competition), along with a select number of track and tech officials, it seems that sufficient interest exists for a version of the CCSE class to continue.
©Eurodragster.com
"We now have more than one magazine which seems to be willing to produce the features, aimed at covering our events, and I still have one or two ideas for someone who may be willing to marshal, or manage, the class at all of our points events. I don't doubt that new sponsors will step up to the plate - given a slightly different format.

"In truth I don't know how to progress this, but I do know for us that a similar class, with little or no rule changes, simply must continue. Whilst I cannot speak for the other racers, I don't doubt they too feel a similar passion - it's simply too good to lose. With a view to running at the same events as our Super Mod friends, I see this having potential for a six- or seven-event series.

"I would like to hear from anyone up for the 2005 challenge. Those who are serious about their racing, and anyone else who would like a shot at kicking my butt. I want to arrange a meeting and/or be part of a committee aimed at protecting the ongoing interests of the class."

Racers interested in running in a street-legal series next season, or anyone interested in helping to organise the class, can contact Colin by E-Mail either at lazenbyam@aol.com or c.lazenby@kelvinkbb.com.

Meanwhile fellow CCSE racer John Sleath is 100 better off after CCSE fan Jon Best posted the money for the first racer to exceed 180 mph, a feat John achieved with an 180.06 blast at the UK National Finals. "For me, that is what makes it all worth it", says John. "All the cars trying to do their very best and the fans taking a real interest in what we are all doing. I now believe that the class will be back next year with a new name, bigger, badder and with luck faster. Cheers to Jon and if you need a ride on the Cruise next year then just let me know and I will leave the girlfriend in the pits."

Dad, can I borrow the car?
2nd November: One of the traditions of Shakespeare County Raceway's Halloween Showdown is driver and rider changes as crew and family members (And journalists - Ed) get the chance to try out the vehicles which they have supported throughout the year. UK Outlaw Anglia racer Bob Hancox talked his daughter Debbie into trying his Runaway Ford Prefect for size at this weekend's event, which gave him the chance to see the car on-track with his own eyes for the first time.

"After a word with Richard Warburton (Race Director - Ed) we took the car down to the shutdown area and explained the controls to Debbie", says Bob. "As Debbie has never driven the car or been down the drag strip before, Dad sat by the side of her as she moved away. She got the hang of this straight away so she had a drive on her own and proved that she could handle the car. We went back to the pits and waited for the track to be prepared, and late afternoon we took Debbie down to the fire up road.

"My stomach was churning as soon as we left the pits, Debbie showed no sign of nerves as she pulled round to do her first run, eighteen seconds at seventy one miles per hour. On Sunday morning Debbie was back in the car for a second run, but as she was in the fire up road we realised that the Outlaw Anglias were also coming down the fire up road and I was running in that class! Debbie completed her second run in sixteen seconds at seventy seven miles per hour.
©Eurodragster.com
"So it was a quick dash to the end of the strip to tow the car back for me to go out with the Outlaws. I got myself ready in the back of the pick-up coming up the return road, as we only have one race suit which we have to share at the moment. In the afternoon Debbie was going for her third run but the Outlaws went out on track again. We had to do a quick changeover so that I went out first, and then I brought the car back for Debbie. On Debbie's third run she ran sixteen seconds at eighty six miles per hour.

"Dennie enjoyed every run and we are hoping that we will be able to get her some more track time before the start of next season, so that she can practice burnouts and launches. If all goes well Debbie and I will share the driving for the 2005 Outlaw Anglia season.

"We would like to thank Shakespeare County Raceway for being patient with Debbie, John for the fuel, Dave Eady, Bolton's Autos and everyone else for keeping us going all year."

WSR adds sponsor.
2nd November: Many thanks to Andy Frost for letting us know that another US company has joined the list of sponsors of the World Street Race, which takes place at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, next March.

"Racing vacuum pump specialist GZ Motorsports from California is the latest sponsor of the World Street Race", says Andy. "The WSR team welcome and thank them for supporting the event. We also hope that all racers and fans will support the all of the companies which are supporting us."
©Eurodragster.com
You can keep in touch with the latest on the World Street Race on the event's official web site at www.worldstreetrace.tk.

Swift snippets.
2nd November: If you are definitely, or considering, racing in FIA Top Methanol Dragster in 2005 then TMD's representative Gittli Koller has asked if you could get in touch to register your intention or interest. If you are looking at FIA TMD in 2005 then please drop Gittli a line at dragrace.bdrc@t-online.de.
©Eurodragster.com
Les Sanderson has been in touch to let us know that the off-duty police officer who ran into his bike last year was finally brought to court last week on a charge of driving without due care and attention. "After four days he was found not guilty", says Les. "Jill and I would like to thank our large family of drag racing friends for thier continued support and help over the last eighteen months. We know they are there with loads of support when we need it. We wish you all Best Wishes for the coming holiday season."

Ian 'Turbo' Turburville has moved his entire operation to a new address. "This will be more efficient as everything will be under one roof from manufacture to sales and supply", says the racer, photo-journalist, designer, and clothing manufacturer. You can now find Turboville at 93 Valley Road, Nottingham NG4 1NG, telephone 0115 955 2963, or E-Mail sales@turboville.com.

Web site updates.
2nd November: Andrew Kirk has been in touch with an update on the latest issue of his excellent on-line magazine Drag, Rod and Classic Review. "I think I'm right in saying that DRCReview is one of the first publications, whether on-line or otherwise, to carry driving impressions of the new Ford Mustang, probably the most eagerly-awaited new car to come out of the US for a decade", says Andrew. "It's undeniably great looking but a shame the production version has lost some of the macho appeal of the original concept. Andy Willsheer and Bob McClurg spent some time having a thrash in a V8 version around California recently and Andy's initial impressions are now on the web site for you to read. When you think of sports cars capable of over 200 mph, the names of Ferrari and Lamborghini with exotic V engine configurations inevitably spring to mind, so how do you account for a four-cylinder 2.0 litre powered '34 Roadster that can top 210 mph? You can find out more about this unlikely, yet highly effective marriage in Tony Thacker's story. Finally, the second and concluding part of 'The Commuter' story has now been posted and contains a full report of the British land speed record breaking runs and a rare action sequence of the dragster travelling at over 200mph. Other photos show the car restored to its former glory with metalflake paintwork and gold leaf lettering - a truly beautiful car". You can check it all out at www.drcreview.com.
©Eurodragster.com
UK Wild Bunch racer Tony Smith has been in touch to remind readers that he will be starting his annual Guess Who contest next Tuesday, 9th November, and that it is not too late to register your entry. The Guess Who contest challenges readers to identify race vehicles from small excerpts of pictures supplied by Anni and Valder of the Feel The Noise web site. This year's prizes included a ride in Andy Frost's eight-second Vauxhall Victor and a trophy from Avondale Composites, and similar prizes are on offer this time around. The contest will be taking place on Tony's web site at www.cunningplan.net, and you can enter by dropping Tony a line at cunningplan@btinternet.com.

Also running a contest is Dave Alexander of the European Top Methanol Racers Association. Dave has posted a photograph on the ETMRA web site at www.etmra.com and will award a bottle of Jack Daniels for the best caption. "Call it Tony Cohen's revenge" says Dave, referring to the previous ETMRA caption contest which featured a picture of the ACI Racing Team Principal in a compromising position with an amenable goat.

On the wings of Eurodragster.
1st November: Over this weekend we were shocked but very honoured to discover that Svensk Dragracing had awarded their prestigious Eagle Award to Eurodragster.com this year. The Eagle Award (right) is one of Svensk Dragracing's Perpetual Awards and is presented for contribution to the sport.

At the NDRS Banquet in Stockholm on Saturday night, Isabel Randisek of Sunspot Productions kindly read our speech of thanks which is reproduced below:

"Sharkman and I were shocked and stunned to hear that we had won this very prestigious award. For the first time in forty one years, Tog was at a loss for words!

"Firstly we would like to thank our heroes - the racers. What we do at Eurodragster is simply to report upon what you do. It is the racers who put in the hours of work, spend the money (which we know some of you don't really have!), and drive all around Europe to race for a few seconds at a time. And when you are not doing that then you are patiently answering our E-Mails or phone calls. So to every racer in the room tonight, thank you very much for giving us the material: without you there would be no Eurodragster.

"Secondly we would like to thank all of the race, club and track officials and the promoters. Every year when we go to races we are warmly welcomed and given no end of help and facilities, and as much food as even Tog can eat! In between races we are kept advised of the latest rule changes, points standings, entry lists and other information so that we can get the news out to the racers and fans as soon as possible. Again, without you there would be no Eurodragster.

"Drag racing in Europe has never been so united and one of the biggest reasons for this is the Internet. We can all remember waiting months for magazines to tell us what had happened at a race, but now news and results are routinely available to everyone within minutes. Eurodragster is just a small part of a bigger picture: Christer and Erik, for example, were there first with the Svensk Dragracing web site and were posting race results from the track before we even thought about it. Hanski and her colleagues at FHRA were also there from the start. We all work together very closely and we could not hope for finer colleagues, or better friends.

"To our loyal sponsors who support you by supporting us, to our fellow members of the media who set us a fine example, to the fans who visit the web site every day, and to Mrs Tog who never moans about the time which Tog spends on drag racing, thank you all for your support and help.

"Every one of you in the Crystal Ballroom tonight has contributed to the success of Eurodragster either because you are a racer or an official, or because you work with us, or because you visit our web site on a regular basis. So this award is for you as much as it is for us.

"Thank you very much to the Committee of Svensk Dragracing. We are very honoured to accept this award, which we will do on behalf of everyone involved in drag racing in Europe."

"I can tell you that when Isabel read your speech it went completely quiet in the ballroom", says our good buddy Christer Abrahamson of Svensk Dragracing. "As we said afterwards, the first ten seconds might have been because there was a good looking girl on stage, but after that it was all down to that speech!"

The Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se has been updated with the Eagle Award jury's citation as well as a brief report and some great photographs from the NDRS Banquet.

Tog and Sharkman would like to congratulate Sweden's Mantorp Park on winning the 2004 Driver's Association's Team Choice award, which is presented for the best event of the year. Fredrik Ström of Mantorp Park accepted the trophy which was awarded for the 2004 Veidec Nitro Festival. Again you can find more details on the Svensk Dragracing web site.

Third 2005 UK event at SCR.
1st November: Proving that the word 'provisional' means just what it says, Lee Child of LA Performance Services informed us at the weekend that a third UK National Championship event has now been confirmed on Shakespeare County Raceway's 2005 calendar, the first version of which was revealed here on Eurodragster last Monday.

The as-yet unnamed UK Championship event takes place on 18th-19th June 2005. Shakespeare County Raceway's 2005 calendar is now as follows; UK National Championship events are in red.
©Eurodragster.com
19th-20th March: Run What You Brung (APIRA Test and Tune)
2nd April: Run What You Brung
3rd April: Jap Racers Day
16th-17th April: 3rd Power Nationals
30th April-1st May: Ford Weekender
2nd May: Vauxhall Speed and Show Day
14th-15th May: 2nd American Car World Nationals
29th-30th May: 2nd MRC Rotostock in association with Japanese Performance magazine
18th-19th June: UK National Championship event
3rd-4th July: NSRA Nostalgia Nationals
16th-17th July: Mini Showdown
13th-15th August: Bulldog Bash
27th-29th August: Custom Car Magazine Allstar Nationals
17th-18th September: NSRA Hot Rod Drags
2nd October: Jap Racers Day
15th-16th October: Run What You Brung
29th-30th October: Halloween Showdown

A windscreen full of Tree.
1st November: If you were tuned in last week then you will have read that Eurodragster's News Editor Tog was due to spend this weekend taking on all comers in Paul Marston Racing's Grumpy's Dodge at the Halloween Showdown at Shakespeare County Raceway, but that the drive had to be postponed for reasons beyond PMR's control.

On the day that word of the postponement hit Eurodragster News, Tog heard from Super Gas racer Nev 'The Rev' Mottershead, one of his weekend challengers. Nev very kindly offered Tog a ride in his nine-second Toyota Supra, suitably calmed down for Tog's rookie status. "My wife Libby suggested that I put down a time and then we put you in the car and try to beat it - that's a bit like racing!", said Nev at the time. Tog accepted Nev's very kind offer and took the seat of the Supra at SCR yesterday (Sunday).
©Eurodragster.com
After some expert and very patient tutelage from Nev, who took the first run and clocked a 12.621/102.51 to check out the tune-up, Tog was strapped into the Supra and recorded 11.450/115.03 with large doses of throttle stop to get a feel for the car. Nev unselfishly passed up his second pass to ensure that Tog got a shot at his Personal Best of 10.669, and together with crew Andy Williamson set up the car for a 10.5-second pass. On this run the Supra overpowered the track at the hit, turning left and giving Tog a head-on view of what suddenly looked a very large Christmas Tree. Tog pedalled and tried again, only for the car to turn right after which 'Not My Car' syndrome kicked in and he idled down the track.

Tog is already working on a feature which should be published here on Eurodragster within the next week to ten days, but in the meantime he would like to say a huge Thank You to Nev and Libby, and to Andy and his wife Sharon, for a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and for trusting Tog with the car. Thanks also to APIRA Marshals Bev and Beth for taking special care of Tog, and to all of the racers and RWYBers for their patience. Stay tuned for Tog's special report.

Tuesday reminders.
1st November: Don't worry, we've not been addled by the time change or too many transbrake launches; we know that today is Monday but we have a couple of reminders for our readers about events which take place tomorrow.

First up is the third Drag Racing Night which takes place in The Swan pub in Newton Bromswold (near Santa Pod) tomorrow evening. As well as the video of the 2004 FIA Main Event supplied by Caroline Day of Santa Pod Raceway, DVDs of this year's Ultimate Power Championship and Custom Car Street Eliminator Championship, supplied by Lee Child of LA Performance Services, will also be screened. Santa Pod's Race Director Darren Prentice tells us that the Hardcore Street DVD will also be up for grabs. Screenings start at 8:00 pm. The Swan is in Newton Bromswold, near Rushden, not far off the A6: click here for a map of the area. You can call The Swan on 01933 413506.
©Eurodragster.com
23:59 tomorrow is the deadline for entry to Eurodragster's Flame and Thunder Show Contest, with a prize of two tickets to this Saturday's traditional season closer at Santa Pod Raceway. For your chance to win two tickets to this Saturday's event, check out the official Contest page by clicking here, or click on the Flame and Thunder Show Contest link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster page.


Earlier news


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