Stu Bradbury writes: Peter Bartlett's part in British drag racing history goes back to the very beginning when he was a member of the Highwaymen Hot Rod Club along with
Allan Herridge and joined the British Hot Rod Association when it was formed in 1960. At the BHRA's first get together in 1962 he turned up in his customised '47 Plymouth Coupe
complete with pinstriped dash and record player. The BHRA formed its first Committee at the end of 1962 which included Peter Bartlett as Treasurer, a position he continued to hold
after the BHRA became the British Drag Racing and Hot Rod Association.
Peter's wife and fellow BDRHoF member Erica served alongside him as BDR&HRA General Secretary from 1970 before both retired in 1980.
Our deepest sympathies to Peter's family and friends.
Any racer who didn't pick up their Championship trophies from last month's Awards Presentation can do so this weekend at Signing On.
Following February's Riders and Drivers Meeting there has been a clarification of safety requirements in the Staging and Fire Up lanes at Shakespeare County Raceway. From the
Springspeed Nationals on wards, no crew members under the age of seventeen may enter these areas. Under age Junior crew members can still watch their respective teams
race from the grandstands. The grandstands can be accessed from the top of the lanes by the Signing On Office. We understand that this may upset some of the Junior crews, however
your safety is paramount and must be considered at all times. These rules obviously do not apply to under-seventeens who are riding or driving a race vehicle which is in the pairing lanes
(for which you must be a holder of an MSA / ACU licence or you are participating in observe runs). All children remain the responsibility of their parent / guardian at all times. Thank you
for your co-operation.
If you have any queries about entry to the Hillingdon Speed and Spares APIRA Springspeed Nationals, then please contact the Raceway office at
[email protected] or call 01789 720180 / 414119 (outside the UK
+44 1789 720180 / 414119).
Legend Larson joins HoF Gala. 29th April: If stardom is measured by the number of Halls of Fame into which you have been inducted then American Funny Car
driver Bruce Larson is definitely a superstar. Check out the list: the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, the East Coast Drag Times Hall of
Fame, the Eastern Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, and the Super Stock Magazine Drag Racing Hall
of Fame.
Bruce has never had the chance to race in Europe. But we can live in hope and the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame has invited Bruce and wife
Nancy to join Ron Hope of Rat Trap fame, Bob Muravez (aka Floyd Lippencote Jr) of Freight Train fame, and Waterbed Fred Miller of Blue Max fame
to be special guests at this year's BDRHoF's Gala Awards Dinner being held at the Savill Court Hotel, Windsor Great Park on November 21st. This
is Bruce's first trip overseas. What a fantastic line up; and the 2015 BDRHoF Inductees have not even been announced yet! That happens in July.
Their induction ceremonies will be made all the more memorable with these drag racing legends attending. Truly a Night of Stars.
Competing in his 1932 Ford, Bruce Larson began drag racing as an East Coast sixteen-year-old. By the mid-1960s he was working at a Chevrolet
dealership and he formed a Chevrolet-based Funny Car team with the dealership owner Greg Sutliff. At this time the Funny Car class was still
being born and the cars were still described as Factory Experimentals. They initially built a fiberglass-bodied injected Chevrolet Chevelle
(now in the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing). This was followed by a Camaro and they toured the country in match races. He added the famous
USA-1 license plate and painted the cars red, white, and blue and applying USA-1 decals to the side. The Bruce Larson brand had arrived.
Bruce put down a 7.41-second run in 1967 which broke the existing Funny Car elapsed time record. After a Funny Car fire in 1972 destroyed his
machine, he began to do some Pro Stock racing and his familiar red, white and blue USA-1 livery was this time seen on a 1970 Camaro and later
on a 1972 Chevrolet Vega. He returned to the Funny Car ranks in 1975 with a Chevrolet Monza and later a Corvette.
Bruce did not have a major sponsor until he found Datcon/Sentry in 1985. That year he switched from Chevrolet to Oldsmobile and teamed up with
World Champion Joe Amato. The two shared information and Larson won his first National Funny Car event at the Cajun Nationals.
He then hired Pennsylvania sprint car racer Maynard Yingst as his Crew Chief and the duo started 1989 by winning the Winternationals followed
by the Springnationals, Mile-High nationals, Seafair Nationals, Fallnationals, and the Winston Finals, plus finishing second at five additional
events competing against Don Prudhomme, Kenny Bernstein, John Force and Ed McCulloch. He led the season point's standings from start to finish
claiming the 1989 NHRA Funny Car National Championship; more than justifying being voted Car Craft magazine's Funny Car Driver of the Year.
After taking over the driving duties on Don Garlits Swamp Rat 32 dragster in June 1992 when Don retired due to a detached retina, Bruce raced
his first Top Fuel Dragster and went on to win four IHRA National events. Don closed his racing operation in 1995, but Bruce returned to help
Big Daddy work on his dragster during 2002 when Don made a comeback.
Bruce's Championship-winning Sentry Olds Funny Car was donated to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington DC and since
1995 he has been collecting and restoring drag racing vehicles which he displays in his own museum, Bruce Larson's Barn. But he has still been
out on the track racing Nostalgia Funny Cars because for 2013, Worm Inc created a replica of the Camaro. The chassis meets current safety rules,
but maintains the appearance of the original car and Bruce entertains fans at tracks across the country.
On being invited to the BDRHoF Gala Awards Dinner Bruce said "I've heard a lot about drag racing in England and it's always been my wish to race
there one day – particularly now the Nostalgia Funny Car scene is beginning to take hold. Big Daddy told me what a great time he had at the 2014
British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Gala Awards Dinner and it sounds like quite a show. It's great to be invited and get a chance to meet the British
racers and fans."
BDRHoF Chairman Stu Bradbury said "We are celebrating the tenth year of presenting these awards so it's fabulous to have so many great drag racing
pioneers from the USA attending. Being invited to the 2015 International Drag Racing Awards Dinner held in Gainesville enabled us to make contact
with so many new friends and it is rewarding that they want to join us to celebrate our own pioneers. It is a rare opportunity for British fans to
meet and greet them."
Ticket prices for the Gala Dinner will remain as last year at £60 per person. Corporate tables of ten are available at £580. Room prices also
remain as last year, £99 for double and £79 for single including breakfast. Complimentary use of swimming pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and
free car parking are also part of the package. For advance booking of Gala Dinner tickets contact
[email protected] or telephone Stu Bradbury on 01933 279102. No deposits will be required
until the summer but when other plans come together this will again be an early sell-out event.
For room bookings call the Savill Court Hotel on 01784 472000 quoting Hall of Fame dinner 21st November.
Meanwhile the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the launch of its new web site at
www.britishdragracinghof.co.uk.
Developed by Bedford-based bespoke web site design company Aptitude, the site delivers updated reports of the
Hall of Fame’s events and activities, along with sponsorship links and opportunities, merchandise and ongoing news of its 2015 Gala Awards Dinner as it builds towards its 21st
November climax, with booking details. In addition, the site is a growing compendium of historical information, with detailed profiles of the forty Hall of Fame members inducted
since its inception in 2006. This year’s new membership will be announced on Eurodragster.com during Santa Pod’s Dragstalgia event in July.
Stu Bradbury said: "We are delighted to see our new website in operation and we’re indebted to Lee and Ian Messenger for the exceptional support they have provided in its
development. We intend that it should become a valuable resource for the British drag racing community for posterity."
Vacancy at SPR. 29th April: Santa Pod Raceway are seeking applicants to fill a vital raceday management post due to become available in the summer.
After some seventeen years in the role, Sue Morris intends stepping down as Manager of Santa Pod's Media Centre and the search is on for the ideal candidate to
replace her.
The Media Centre is generally open at ten events during the Santa Pod season. In addition to maintaining the Centre's smooth operation in all its aspects, the Manager
provides a welcome to visiting members of the press and media and serves as the point of liaison between them and the event's organisers and participants. The Manager
will offer guidance regarding safety rules and procedures for media members and will clarify the regulations surrounding the event, especially to those less familiar with drag
racing. The Manager will also keep abreast of the event's activities and proceedings and provide advice to media members in need of direction.
The post calls for a dedicated and friendly personality combining mature tact and quiet assertiveness. Santa Pod particularly welcomes candidates from within the drag racing
community as familiarity with the venue and its layout, the sport and its procedures, and the key individuals involved, is a central requirement.
If you feel you might be interested in taking on this important role and would like to discuss it in greater detail, please contact Santa Pod Raceway by E-Mail at
[email protected] or by telephone at 01234 782828.
Web site updates. 29th April: Motorcycle racing is in the Karlsson family’s blood. So it was no surprise that after father Robert, then sister Elvira in Pro Stock Motorcycle, Ellsa was the next
to join the family tradition. Ellsa Karlsson made her Pro Stock Motorcycle début at the age of sixteen last season and although it was tough, the now seventeen-year-old student is back for more.
You can read more in Remco Scheelings' latest report on the EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Series web site at
www,edrspro.com.
Family flowers only have been requested. If you would like to send a tribute to Brian then the family have requested donations to the British
Heart Foundation which can be sent to the Funeral Director Lines Bannister at 69 High Street, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7HP (telephone 01344 620266).
Event entry update. 28th April: Thanks to Jerry Cookson for forwarding us Version 2 of the official entry list for the
Hillingdon Speed and Spares APIRA Springspeed Nationals, which takes place at Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend (2nd-4th May).
You can check out the entry list by
clicking
here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Thanks to Ian Marshall for forwarding Version 7 of the official entry list for the Main Event, which takes place at Santa
Pod Raceway on 22nd-25th May. Entry closes this Friday (1st May) after which a Late Entry penalty may be applied. You can download entry
forms from the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc, and you can
check out the Main Event entry list by clicking
here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Kjell Pettersson tells us that entry is open for the Tierp Internationals, which takes place at Tierp Arena on 4th-7th June.
Entry forms and Supplementary Regulations are available at www.dragracing.eu;
please note that if you are planning to enter the event then you should register on the Drivers Registration page so that you
can provide pitting and other information. If you have already registered and your information is up-to-date then you can go directly to
the event entry page at www.dragracing.eu/event_details.asp?id=237.
Are you in Shockwave's future? 28th April:Shockwave Fuel Funny Car racer Gordon Smith has been in touch to remind us that the team are
seeking a successor to drive the car from 2016:
As many will know I am looking to retire from the driving seat of the Shockwave nitro Funny Car at the end of 2015. It may be that
I will have to postpone my retirement if we are not able to find a suitable replacement by the start of 2016 season.
I would like to make it clear that there is a huge opportunity here for the right Pro-licenced driver to take the wheel of the number one
nitro Funny Car in Europe, someone who is able to negotiate the right financial package and work with one of the best Crew Chiefs in the
nitro ranks. All financial packages are open to discussion so if you feel you are up to it and can work with our friendly hard-working team
then please contact me at [email protected].
Swift snippets. 22nd April: Many thanks to Yvonne Tramm and our own Simon for passing us the post-Big Bang points standings
in the UK National Drag Racing Championships and Santa Pod Racers Club Championships. You can check out the UK and SPRC points on our
OCS Paint-sponsored Points Standings
page by clicking here or by clicking on the
OCS Paint Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Thanks also to Andy Marrs of TSI Timers Europe for forwarding us the official timing data
from the weekend's Big Bang at Santa Pod Raceway. You can check out the Big Bang timing data by clicking
here or by clicking on the Timing Data link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Not the best of starts. 28th April: The Festival of Power did not work out as expected for Paul Marston Racing, and in fact Paul Marston says
that it could be described as their worst start in years:
All the Paul Marston Racing crew their job perfectly, but our recently-purchased Miller four-link Dragster had other ideas. With the first
day of qualifying lost to the weather, which is not unusual for Easter, qualifying was even more important. After our first session we had
numbers on the board in both Super Pro and Super Comp. But come the second qualifying session, the dragster's first gear assembly broke virtually
at the hit. This breakage was a problem in two areas. First there were no more qualifying sessions so we could not improve our qualifying position.
Secondly the dragster uses a Shorty Powerglide transmission, the only transmission for which we do not yet have a spare - we have three spare conventional
Glides but no Shorty. There was no time to go get another race car and qualify that either - the rules state that you can substitute your entered car for
another but all of your previous qualifers are null and void - but it only works if there is another qualifying session, which there was not!
That meant that that we were done for the event, but the PMR crew amused themselves with the removal of the dead transmission before packing up and heading
home. To add insult to injury, the new motorhome had already got in on the act by breaking down on the way to the track and on the way home it did so again
but worse. This meant an unscheduled overnight stop at Junction 10 of the M1 and a double recovery of the motorhome and trailer on Easter Monday.
Many thanks Zane Llewellyn for the supply of a replacement set of first gears, and to everyone else who tried to locate me a set (you know who you are),
and a big thank you to my mate Gary Springford at Drag Race Engineering for repairing and reassembling the transmission in double quick time. Last
weekend Gary, Mick Howling and I were due at DRE to put the transmission and a new convertor in the dragster, go through a full systems check, and finish
off repairs and dial in a replacement propshaft for the Whoopass Monza which will most probably return to competition at the Main Event with none
other than Mick Howling making his debut in Super Pro.
All of this is on top of our new workshop / base which is still taking shape. Anyone who tells you that competitive National Championship level drag racing
isn't tough can come see what we have been through in the last six months. I am in no way complaining, just looking at the hours we have racked up over the
winter. The new enclosed trailer for our doorslammers is now just about finished and should be seen at North Weald Drag Strip on Sunday 11th May where we
will be taking part in the first Quick 8 Eliminator, weather permitting of course. PMR should also show up at North Weald as a two-car team.
Our next event is this weekend's Springspeed Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway - this is when we find out if the motorhome is fixed.
Many thanks to all our great Paul Marston Racing crew, all our sponsors and associates Gary Springford at DRE, Geddex, CTM Performance and Machine, Mac
Tools, Disco Equipment Hire, Black Box, London Road Tyres, and last but by no means least Eurodragster.com for all their great coverage and support
(Thanks, you're welcome - Ed).
Web site updates. 28th April: Less than a year ago Thomas Olsen had yet to make his first pass on a Pro Stock Motorcycle. "It was amazing!", he said. "I have never been put in a position
which requires so much of me, in such short amount of time". Now the twenty four year old Norwegian rider is heading towards his first full season in the EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Championship
and although he knows he still has to learn a lot, and wants to do it step by step, Brothers in Arms Racing is on its way to the top. You can read more in Remco Scheelings' latest report
on the EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Series web site at
www.edrspro.com.
Eurodragster.com News Editor Tog has updated his SmugMug site with photographs from Friday's Big Bang Run What You Brung at Santa Pod Raceway. You can check out Tog's pictures at
eurodragster.smugmug.com.
Click
here to check out our John Woolfe Racing-sponsored reports and galleries or
click on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Swift snippets. 27th April: Andy Wheeler asked us to say a big Happy 60th Birthday to his uncle
Geoff Howe, who crews with Junior Dragster racers Paige Wheeler and Holley Marshall. Our pleasure
Andy, have a great day Geoff.
Entry is still open and you can download entry forms from the SCR web site at
www.shakespearecountyraceway.co.uk.
Please note that phone camera pictures of entry forms are not accepted; please either scan and E-Mail or post entries.
If you have any queries about Springspeed Nationals entry then please call APIRA 01789 414119 (outside the UK +44 1789 414119) or E-Mail
[email protected].
Swift snippets. 25th April: German Sand Drags racer Sebastian Lindau is pleased to announce that one of Iceland's biggest transportation
companies, Eimskip, will sponsor him in 2015. "Eimskip are making us possible for us to attend the Sand
Drag Races in Iceland this season", says Sebastian. "This is a huge succes for our small team and through their support Eimskip keep us in the game and help to develop the sport. It's just
great to have such a big company as a partner and we look forward to representing them at the races. Of course I also want to say a big thank you to our other sponsors and supporters
Projektart, Special GFK Construction,
Philipp Sondermaschinebau, United Arts and the
Bílaklúbbur Akureyrar."
Europe is again well-represented at this weekend's O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Springnationals in Houston with Jimmy Ålund contesting
Pro Stock, Mike Manners of Eurodragster.com sponsor Cosmo Residences contesting
Top Alcohol Dragster and Jonnie Lindberg and Ulf Leanders contesting Top Alcohol Funny Car. Qualifying continues today and you will be able to
stay in touch with our heroes' progress on the Drag Race Central web site at
www.dragracecentral.com. Good luck guys and stay safe.
We would like to say a big Happy Birthday to Maikel Gloudemans of our webcast streaming service
provider Doyousee.me. Have a great day M@ik.
If you have any queries about Main Event entry then please contact Ian Marshall at SPRC on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625) or
E-Mail [email protected].
Swift snippets. 24th April: We would like to say a big Happy Birthday to Heaven & Hell team member and Honorary
Eurodragster.com staff member Colin Roaf. Have a great day Colin.
Lucas Oil back BDRHoF Gala. 23rd April: During the next few months there are many exciting announcements to be made
about this year's British Drag Racing Hall of Fame
Gala Awards Dinner, which is returning to the fabulous Savill Court Hotel in Windsor Great Park on 21st November. There
have already been announcements about the MQQNEYES sponsorship of the Sydney Allard Media Awards and the appearances
of Ron Hope (Rat Trap), Waterbed Fred Miller (Blue Max) and Bob Muravez (Freight Train) as special guests. Once again it
promises to be a night to remember. As is traditional, the announcement about this year's inductees will be made during the
weekend of Dragstalgia which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 10th-12th July.
Another exciting piece of news which can now be made public is that
Lucas Oil Products UK is again sponsoring and hosting the
pre-dinner reception drinks and providing table gift items. Les Downey, Managing Director and Director of European Operations,
Lucas Oil Products UK said "We are delighted to be supporting this fantastic drag racing social event again. Last year's occasion
was one of the best we have attended covering any of the sports that we are involved with and I look forward to another great
night this year. I know the attention to detail that the organisers give to this Gala Dinner and it certainly shows through."
BDRHoF Chair Stu Bradbury said "A huge thanks to Les who is a long-time sponsor of drag racing. He has been an enthusiastic
supporter of the BDRHoF's strategy to increase the prestige and profile of the sport by injecting a bit of razzmatazz to the social
side of things, making it appealing to sponsors and the media. Thanks to people like Les we now have an enhanced global
presence that would have been thought impossible a couple of years ago. Bookings are already being taken from people who
enjoyed the 2014 Gala Dinner so get in quick."
Ticket prices for the Gala Dinner will remain as last year at £60 per person. Corporate tables of ten are available at £580. Room prices also
remain as last year, £99 for double and £79 for single including breakfast. Complimentary use of swimming pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and
free car parking are also part of the package. For advance booking of Gala Dinner tickets contact
[email protected] or telephone Stu Bradbury on 01933 279102. No deposits will be required
until the summer but when other plans come together this will again be an early sell-out event.
For room bookings call the Savill Court Hotel on 01784 472000 quoting Hall of Fame dinner 21st November.
Swift snippets. 23rd April: Europe is again well-represented at this weekend's O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA
Springnationals in Houston with Jimmy Ålund contesting Pro Stock, Mike Manners of Eurodragster.com sponsor
Cosmo Residences contesting Top Alcohol Dragster
and Jonnie Lindberg and Ulf Leanders contesting Top Alcohol Funny Car (Mike and Jonnie, right). Qualifying
starts tomorrow (Friday) and you will be able to stay in touch with our heroes' progress on the Drag Race Central
web site at www.dragracecentral.com. Good luck guys
and stay safe.
Thanks to Ian Marshall for forwarding Version 5 of the official entry list for the Main Event, which takes place at Santa
Pod Raceway on 22nd-25th May. Entry closes tomorrow (Friday) after which a Late Entry penalty may be applied. You can download entry
forms from the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc, and you can
check out the Main Event entry list by clicking
here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
US photo-journalist Thomas McCarthy has written a fine tribute to Brian Johnson which is now showing on
Dragbike.com. You can check out Tom's tribute to BJ by
clicking here.
Junior Dragster noise meeting. 22nd April: Further to Friday's news item, Phil Evans tells us that immediately
following the MSA Anti-Doping Seminar in Bankside VIP at Santa Pod Raceway this Saturday (25th) a further meeting will be held with the Junior
Dragster racers to discuss the results of noise testing which was conducted at the Festival of Power.
"We need to reduce the noise output of many of the cars and I want to hold a general discussion to determine the next course of action regarding
this important matter", says Phil.
As qualifying does not commence until 16:00 on Saturday this additional meeting will also not impact upon the timing or number of Junior Dragster
sessions.
Springspeed Nationals racer update. 22nd April: Thanks to Jerry Cookson for an update on the Hillingdon Speed and Spares APIRA Springspeed Nationals, which
takes place at Shakespeare County Raceway at the end of next week (2nd-4th May):
Those racers who have already entered and who included an SAE with their entry form have had their envelopes dispatched and we shall continue to send
envelopes out until next Monday (27th). From Tuesday onwards racers' envelopes will be retained at the Raceway and will be available on the gate from
Friday 1st May, as will those for entries received without an SAE.
Entry is still open and you can download entry forms from the SCR web site at www.shakespearecountyraceway.co.uk.
Please note that phone camera pictures of entry forms are not accepted; please either scan and E-Mail or post entries.
If you have any queries about Springspeed Nationals entry then please call APIRA 01789 414119 (outside the UK +44 1789 414119) or E-Mail
[email protected].
Want to join the Santa Pod crew? 22nd April: Donna Finnegan writes that Santa Pod Raceway are holding a
Recruitment Day between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm on Saturday week, 2nd May:
All are welcome to attend, simply complete the application form at www.santapod.co.uk/vacancies
and return it to us at [email protected]. Full details on job roles can also be found at the above link.
Applicants who complete an application will be prioritised; the deadline applications is next Wednesday, 29th April.
Busy Jayne's new sponsor. 22nd April: UK Super Pro ET racer Jayne Kay was very excited about returning to the track at the Festival of Power, but she
and her team firstly put her very smart altered on display at a couple of shows:
We went to the Ultimate Stance show at Telford International Centre for our long time sponsor Wheel Whores, where we were amongst some of Europe's finest modified cars, and shortly
after we also attended the Ultimate Custom Show in our home town of Manchester. During the build up to this show I was promoting the sport through BBC Radio, which was also used as a replay advert for the show throughout the weekend. As well as these shows we
also planning on attending the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power in June where I will be performing burnouts.
After a long time spent polishing the car for these shows, we were more than excited to get it back out on the track! The Festival of Power was only our second time out on track since owning the car, and without having much track time we have a lot to learn,
so we can then begin to work on getting that magic six-second pass. During the weekend we had a few issues with starter motors, unfortunately meaning we couldn't make it to the start line in time for eliminations on Sunday. However from the hard launch it is
showing great potential for a full pass. We are planning on testing at Santa Pod before the Main Event so that I can get some more seat time and the team can start tuning the car to get competitive again.
Pink Lady Racing also has a new sponsor to announce. As a lot of you will have noticed, Liam Jones' new Top Fuel Dragster has had a bit of a makeover courtesy of the fantastic work of
Peter Walters Race Design and a complete car wrap by WrapKings who have decided to come on board with JK Motorsport and join the
Pink Lady Racing team as our newest sponsor. We are really excited to show you what is in store for the Main Event.
"We are pleased to announce we are now an official sponsor of Jayne Kay for the Pink Lady Racing 2000 bhp Fuel Altered" says Ben Hamblin, owner of WrapKings. "We were given the opportunity to sponsor her with a new full digital wrap on all official
JK Motorsport transportation. We have been working closely with Peter Walters Race Design on a new look for the team. The new custom wrap will represent the Pink Lady Racing image, while withstanding the daily transportations around the country to
showcase the real speed of Jayne Kay! So expect PINK to be in the wrap... watch this space! We are based in West Midlands, Number One 3m Authorised Wrappers and will be using IJ3080 to supply and the fit the custom wrap."
Also a big thanks to our continuing sponsors; Wheel Whores, Peter Walters Race Design, Trophy Queen Handbags, Richard Walters Custom Paint, SimpsonLids and Custom Coach Trimming. To check out what we are up to, on and off track you can visit our
web site www.jaynekay.com for regular news updates or follow us on the Pink Lady Racing Facebook page.
Swift snippets. 22nd April: Many thanks to Yvonne Tramm for passing us the post-Festival of Power points standings in the
Santa Pod Racers Club Championships. You can check out the SPRC points on our
OCS Paint-sponsored Points Standings
page by clicking here or by clicking on the
OCS Paint Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Steve Dudley writes that the last Chelmsford slot drags of the 2014-15 season at MrD Raceway will take place at 8:00 pm
this Friday (24th) at The Cathedral Primary School, Victoria Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1PA. "There is a
small car park in the school grounds but please park carefully as it is narrow", says Steve. "Entry and racing are
free, all we ask is that you make a donation of a couple of pounds to help toward the hire of the hall, although it's
not obligatory. I have loan cars for anybody wishing to try out this exciting form of slot car racing. We usually run a couple
of eliminations, for added tension. Come and have a go, it's great fun!"
A short-lived return. 22nd April: The UK's Dave Rudd had an extended winter break due to a cracked crank suffered in July last year, and then his
return to the track at York Raceway in his Banzai Cobra this past Easter lasted approximately ten seconds. Dave takes up the story:
I used the additional downtime to fully strip down and rebuild the front end of the Cobra. Also with the help of Kenny and the lads at Engine Data Analysis I rebuilt the 461 BBC - many
thanks for the parts, help and advice guys - and had the TH400 gearbox refreshed and upgraded by Paul Granger of Lagonda Garage, all of course in addition to the usual post- and pre-season
work. Pictures and details of this work can be seen on the Banzai Cobra Facebook page.
Following several engine warm-ups in the pits and the usual check over under our nice new pit marquee, off to the track Banzai went. After a nice long smoky burnout with the fresh engine
sounding sweet I pulled onto the line for a test run. From the launch Banzai never settled and at around the 80-100 foot mark I backed off and all hell broke loose. Banzai
started to fishtail and ultimately hit the barrier hard at just under ninety degrees.
The paramedics were on the scene seconds after Banzai came to rest. I had to stop myself leaping out of the car and was a good boy, sitting there with my thumbs up as they drove
towards me. I was fully checked over and apart from a few sore bits I was all OK. Once reunited with my two daughters, who were both very distraught, we walked back up through the pits
whilst the track crew did a wonderful job of carefully picking up the remains of Banzai and bringing her back to her own pit area, even managing to get her onto the trailer for us.
I was somewhat surprised and touched by everybody's concern. I hadn't had a proper look at Banzai until a spectator came up and said he had a video on his phone which I duly
watched. Ah! Then I understood all the upset and concern, the crash looked a lot worse than it felt!
Anyway a huge Thank You to all at the track (and after, via Facebook etc) for all the comments and well wishes, it does mean a lot. Also more huge thanks to all those who put their hands
in their pockets or wallets and contributed to the rebuild fund. Finally a big hug to the person who, unbeknown to me, went round the pits with a "help" bucket. I was very nearly brought to
tears several times that afternoon - it just goes to show what a great family we have in our little world!
Looking back, viewing all the videos and photographs, and from my own recollections, I think quite simply I had Banzai on that "bitter" spot between a soft run and hooking up, which
combined with me lifting too hard at the wrong time... the main thing is though, thanks to a strong chassis and all the safety gear I am all OK.
Looking forward, so far all the damage appears to be forward of the front bulkhead, so basically all the work we did over the winter has been undone. The gearbox is out and back with Paul
at Lagonda Garage to be checked over. I have checked the engine over and it has had a new sump pan fitted, a few auxiliary parts replaced and is now ready to go down to Engine Data Analysis
to be put on the dyno to be fully tested. Once the whole body has been removed in a few weeks' time, the chassis / frame is going to Northrace Speedshop to be jigged, measured and rebuilt.
Unfortunately this is as far as the rebuild and planning has progressed due to time and mainly cashflow, or lack of it. I still need to source a complete new front suspension, brakes, hubs, steering,
radiator, a new front body, four new tyres and probably four new wheels as well as new helmet with Hans device and harness. No doubt the list will get longer as time goes by! If there are any race
car builders, parts suppliers etc out there who would like to help sponsor the rebuild by any means, please contact me at
[email protected] or via Facebook. Any form of help, no matter how big or small, would be greatly appreciated.
Banzai will return to the track but, just for the moment, I am not sure when.
Taz Racing: A mostly good weekend. 22nd April: We were very pleased to hear from Chris Skinner that after five years on the same motor in his wild
Taz Racing Fiat he made it at the Central RS meeting at Santa Pod Raceway on
Sunday running 9.93/136. It wasn't just a banner weekend weekend for Chris, either:
I have run a nine before but that was using gas. With a lot of the other Taz racers - Kev, Jeff, Dave, Darren and Lee - running a lot faster I had to have my own personal goal and that was it.
I think I am at the limit of my car, but I have said that before.
There were a few other Personal Bests over the weekend. My daughter Lucy ran 11.77 in her Toyota MR2 turbo-powered Fiat, nephew Adam 11.99 in his, and he is now putting on a new turbo
on as he doesn't like being beaten by his cousin. Brother Mark ran 10.57, not a PB but very close, Colin in the yellow Capri ran 10.97, Lee in the green Capri 9.74 with his new nitrous system and
lots more to come there, Darren in the yellow Escort 9.83, again not his best but very close, Essex Mark in his immaculate 100e an 11.2 PB. Brian ran a 10.1 in his Anglia on Saturday but on Sunday
he let his daughter Rachel drive the car. Rachel ran a 10.4 but on her second run she noticed that the car didn't sound right on the burnout and ignored dad's instructions to carry on.
As we have since found out there was some engine damage, so Rachel probably saved it from completely wrecking itself. Note to dads: listen to sons and daughters!
My main reason for this report was to thank the Santa Pod crew for their speedy response to put out an engine fire in Dennis and Caroline's Corvette on Sunday. The damage could have been a lot
worse and I know they would like to thank the crew and buy them a drink on our next visit. If I know Den and Caz the car will be repaired and out again later this year.
Thanks again Santa Pod from all at Taz Racing.
Big Bang Perfect Awards. 22nd April: This weekend's Big Bang at Santa Pod Raceway is the second event in this season's Eurodragster.com Perfect Awards
Scheme. £125 is on offer for perfect performance.
This weekend's Eurodragster.com/Bad Habit Racing Perfect Light Award has been reset to £50 after it was won by Sportsman ET racer
Ricky Hale at the Festival of Power. The money will be paid in cash to the first racer this weekend to record a Reaction Time of 0.000 seconds. The
Perfect Light Award is available to racers in all classes during qualifying and eliminations, but will only be awarded for the first Perfect Light of
the event. If not won this weekend then the Award will be increased to £75 for the Hillingdon Speed and Spares APIRA Springspeed Nationals; if it
is won then it will be reset to £50 for the Hillingdon Speed and Spares APIRA Springspeed Nationals. The Perfect Light Award is presented in
association with Bad Habit Racing (Cath and Tig Napier, Pro ET).
Decals are not mandatory for the Perfect Light Award but we would appreciate it if Eurodragster.com decals are carried. Eurodragster.com
decals will be available in the Signing On office or from the Eurodragster.com office in Race Control (entry via Spectator Bank side stairs
only).
This weekend's Eurodragster.com/Gold RV Perfect ET Award has been increased to £75 after it went unclaimed at the Festival of
Power. The money will be paid in cash to the first racer this weekend to run an ET to the thousandth of a second on dial-in or index. The Perfect
ET Award is available this weekend during qualifying or eliminations in VW Pro, VW Sportsman, Sportsman ET, Lucas Oil Junior Dragster (eliminations only),
8.50 and 9.50 Bike, but will only be awarded for the first Perfect Run of the event. If not won this weekend then the Award will be increased to £100
for the Hillingdon Speed and Spares APIRA Springspeed Nationals; if it is won then it will be reset to £50 for the Hillingdon Speed and Spares APIRA
Springspeed Nationals. The Perfect ET Award is presented in association with RV sales and service specialists Gold RV. For more details about the services
which Gold RV can provide see Derek Flynn or visit www.goldrv.co.uk.
To be eligible to collect the Perfect ET Award, racers are required to carry decals, one on each side of the vehicle. If you pull this
weekend's first Perfect ET but are not carrying decals then there will be no discussion; we will not pay out and the next person to pull a Perfect
ET will get the money assuming that they are carrying decals. Decals will be available in the Signing On office from Thursday.
Racer updates. 21st April: Further to yesterday's news item, APIRA have informed us that their scrutineers will also be
checking 9.50 Bike and Super Street Bike wheelbases at the Hillingdon Speed and Spares APIRA Springspeed Nationals
at Shakespeare County Raceway on 2nd-4th May.
Thanks to Ian Marshall for forwarding Version 4 of the official entry list for the Main Event, which takes place at Santa
Pod Raceway on 22nd-25th May. Entry closes this Friday (24th) after which a Late Entry penalty may be applied. You can download entry
forms from the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc, and you can
check out the Main Event entry list by clicking
here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Another legend at Beaulieu. 21st April: Andrew Carpenter tells us that dad and British Drag Racing Hall of Fame member Russ Carpenter's
legendary Daimler-powered rail is being made ready for display at Beaulieu including a fire-up:
We've been busy rebuilding the supercharger after the seals failed after thirty five years, and we've got the heads and main bearings to check ready for the appearance at Beaulieu.
The dragster will be there from 18th May until 21st June to promote the annual Hot Rod and Custom Show. It is to be placed alongside the Allard in the museum for the month
and then on the day of the Show, 21st June, we will be firing it up.
After the show the dragster will come back to us so that we can prep it for Dragstalgia. We are currently in negotiations to fire up or to run the car on the airstrip at the big Wings and
Wheels Car and Air Show at Dunsfold Aerodrome near Guildford on August Bank Holiday.
That dreaded "crunch". 21st April: For returning UK VW Pro racer Andrew Angroment the Festival of Power wasn't his easiest ever event
as he had a few teething problems:
The first run was all over the place. The car felt loose and got a bit of a wiggle on down the track, which luckily was easy to change - all we did was to lower the rear tyre pressure
and lower the back of the car which transformed it. On the second run I took it easy again just to make sure that everything was A-OK.
On the third and sadly final run we wanted to step up our game. I went to do a burnout and nothing - the motor spun but the rear wheels didn't. Tried twice but nothing happened so
I just went on the run. Crunched into second and fourth and then, in the shutdown area, nothing. No drive at all. It turned out that the clutch had completely toasted itself. Thanks to Santa
Pod's top end crew for the tow to scrutineering.
It also didn't help that we were struggling all weekendwith a battery which was quickly dying and is now in need of replacement
We managed to get the engine out this weekend and collected a bag full of clutch plate out of the flywheel. I am now researching a new clutch plate, and luckily everything else looks good.
All going well we will be back out for the Sunmernationals.
I would like to say a huge Thank You to all the guys and girls in the VWDRC - such a helpful bunch, couldn't have done it without their help. Once again a Thank You to the staff at Santa Pod
for all their hard work, to Eurodragster.com for their coverage and for including a picture of my car on all three days at Easter (Thanks, you're welcome - Ed), and special thanks to
my dad Steve as without him none of this would ever be possible.
Cannon's new gun. 21st April: The UK's Chris Hannam was recently spotted in the USA at the MANCUP season-opening event, which was rained out on race day, 12th April.
Tom McCarthy writes:
During the rain delay, Chris was called to the tower and interviewed live by MANCUP premier announcer Bill Hahn Jr. Chris made it known that he was in the States not only to see some top level motorcycle
drag racing, but to be fitted to the new Fuel Supertwin being made for him by Johnny Vickers and his staff at Hawaya Racing.
Chris' new Nitro Harley is nearing completion and Chris was in town to have his vital foot peg locations set as well as proper seating. The machine features a 196 cubic inch Johnny Vickers five inch bore by five
inch stroke motor seated in a Pete Brown chassis. The machine will be built complete ready to race and Chris is delighted to take delivery this summer.
During his live interview, Chris indicated that he will begin racing the new bike in the MANCUP series as soon as it's ready.
Web site updates. 21st April: Our good buddy Alan Currans has updated his excellent Acceleration Archive with a page of pictures of
Saturday's action at Shakespeare County Raceway's season-opening Public Test Weekend. You can check out Alan's shots via the What's New
link at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk.
The Mad Welshman has updated his Flickr site with pictures from the Saturday of the Festival of Power at Santa Pod Raceway. You can take a look
at Mad's work at www.flickr.com/photos/the_madwelshman.
Also updating from the Festival of Power is Paul Lister whose Sunday pictures you can find at www.dragcaranon.co.uk.
Ashdown leaves Comanche. 21st April: It has been announced that the UK's Steve Ashdown will be leaving Comanche Race Cars with immediate effect.
Steve's friend Paul Marston writes:
As one season finishes and another follows, we take on a whole mountain of tasks, work all the hours god sends just to ensure that the money is there and the race car is ready with
whatever spares we can afford for the new season. Paying scant regard to the fact that we are a year older, we just do whatever has to be done to get where we need to be.
Personally I do not know how I do it myself sometimes, perhaps seeing how hard my friends in the States work to be able to go race is the measure I always use against myself.
But for the title sponsor of 2015 UK Top Sportsman for 2015, Steve Ashdown of Comanche Race Cars who has become a very good friend of mine, the price paid with his health and the
struggle back have proven too much. Hard business decisions have had to be taken; after all you only live once. It was prompted by the doctor asking Steve how he was taking it easy.
When told that Steve was currently attempting to run three companies, plus still campaigning a Junior Dragster with his son Tyler Ashdown, the doctor had to go for a lay down himself.
Steve was instructed in no uncertain terms that there was no way he could take on any extra commitments. Going back to Comanche, from which he had effectively been absent since
June 2014, was out of the question. Steve has to put family first and keep his recovery on track, however hard a decision it may be.
It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that Steve is stepping down from Comanche Race Cars with immediate effect and handing over the company to Bill Felstead, who currently runs
the shop, as he feels that he is holding the company back. This also means that Steve has no longer has any financial interest in the company. Steve wishes Comanche Race Cars every success
in the future.
Steve will be paying for the title sponsorship of UK Top Sportsman from his own pocket. He believes that the exposure which Comanche has already received has bought in new customers and
will continue to do so; it has been an excellent investment and has really raised the profile of the company.
Please note that MSA and ACU licences can now be accepted for Run What You Brung.
Please remember the curfew: no race vehicle motors are to be started before 09:00 or after 20:00.
Breach of curfew can result (and has resulted - Ed) in exclusion from the meeting. If going to
scrutineering before 09:00 on Saturday or Sunday then please tow or push, do not drive.
Attention 9.50 Bike, SSB racers. 20th April: Following checks carried out at the Festival of Power at Santa Pod Raceway the Chief Bike Scrutineer
has asked that the following regulations are noted for both 9.50 and Super Street bikes, and that modifications are carried out prior to the Main
Event and SPRC Summernationals:
9.50 Bike
Please refer to the ACU Handbook page 363 sub section 8.5. Frame Maximum wheelbase permitted is 1730 mm, measured with the rear wheel in the most extended position allowed by
the swinging arm.
Super Street Bike
Please refer to the ACU Handbook Page 364 sub section 9.5. Frame Maximum wheelbase permitted is 1730mm, measured with the rear wheel in the most extended position allowed by
the swinging arm.
Please note any bike not meeting these regulations may fail tech inspection.
We have also heard from APIRA that scrutineers will be checking bikes at the Hillingdon Speed and Spares APIRA Springspeed Nationals
at Shakespeare County Raceway on 2nd-4th May.
Feature: OCS Paint and Williams Bros. 20th April: For the latest in our occasional series of Features presented in association with
Lucas Oil Products Simon visited the workshops of Eurodragster.com sponsor
OCS Paint and
Williams Bros Racing.
Nic and Dan Williams have been part of the UK National Championship drag racing scene since 2009, racing in Pro ET. Nic runs Eurodragster.com
sponsor OCS Paint which does paintwork for hot
rods and customs, and Dan carries out engine and other mechanical work as Williams Bros Racing.
The Feature covers Williams Bros Racing's competition plans and development of OCS Paint with new facilities and a spray booth for top quality
finishes. There is a look at projects currently in progress and a review of past successes including three cover cars for monthly magazines.
You can check out Simon's interview by clicking here or by clicking
on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Interview: Rodger Attaway. 20th April: We were delighted and privileged to receive an early copy Rodger Attaway's new book Street Rod and Custom Showtime
chronicling the history and heyday of the UK indoor custom shows. The period covered is from the origins of hot rodding in the US, and UK shows from their
inception in 1963 to 1982, the last year of multiple indoor shows around the country.
For the latest in our occasional series of Features presented in association with Lucas Oil Products
Simon interviewed Rodger, who with his wife Corrine and Graham and Brenda Kelsey managed the show at Belle Vue in Manchester from 1976 to 1982.
The book includes many interviews from almost 100 people involved as exhibitors, organisers, journalists and visitors to shows around the country.
The scale of the book is enormous with 872 photos and 312 pages of text. The influence of the drag racing scene and Custom Car magazine on the
shows is apparent throughout the book, from the early shows at Crystal Palace through to the National Custom Car shows at Alexandra Palace and Olympia.
You can check out Simon's interview with Rodger Attaway by clicking here or by clicking
on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Street Rod and Custom Showtime will be officially launched at the NSRA Billing Fun Run event on 29th-31st May and will be supported by famous vehicles
from the period. The print run of this unique and authoritative account will be limited to only 1000. If you would like to order a pre-launch copy at
£29 plus P+P please E-Mail [email protected] with your name,
address postcode and selected payment method, Pay Pal or BACS. After 28th May copies will be available from Eurodragster.com sponsor
John Woolfe Racing or American Automags.
Event entry update. 20th April: Entry is still open for the Hillingdon Speed and Spares APIRA Springspeed Nationals, a round of the UK National, ACU
UK Drag Bike and other Championships, which takes place at Shakespeare County Raceway on 2nd-4th May. You can download entry forms from the SCR web site at
www.shakespearecountyraceway.co.uk. If you have any queries about Springspeed Nationals
entry then please call APIRA 01789 414119 (outside the UK +44 1789 414119) or E-Mail
[email protected].
Entry closes this Friday (24th) for the Main Event, the first round of the FIA and FIM European Championships and a round of the UK National Drag
Racing Championships for selected classes, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 22nd-25th May. Entry after Friday, if accepted, may be subject to a
Late Entry penalty. You can download entry forms from the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.
You can check out the Version 2 of the official Main Event entry list by
clicking here or by clicking on the John
Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. If you have any queries about Main Event entry then please contact Ian
Marshall at SPRC on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625) or E-Mail [email protected].
Swift snippets. 20th April: Many thanks to Yvonne Tramm and our own Simon for passing us the post-Festival of Power points standings in the
UK National Drag Racing Championships. The Santa Pod Racers Club standings will follow shortly. You can check out the UK National points on our
OCS Paint-sponsored Points Standings page by
clicking here or by clicking on the OCS Paint Points Standings
link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Kit White, a young, enthusiastic fan with a genuine interest in racing, engines, hotrods, engineering and practical mechanics, is looking for a chance to lend a hand crewing for this season.
"Anything considered, I just want to learn more and gain more experience", says Kit. if you are looking for crew then please give Kit a call on 07972 697065.
A chip off the old block. 20th April: Swiss Top Fuel Dragster racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Urs Erbacher
tells us that his daughter Jndia has made her first licencing passes in an A/Fuel Dragster rented from Antony Dicero from Nitro University in USA:
After Jndia's runs in a Super Comp dragster at Doug Foley's last October we decided to go ahead with her dream to drive my Top Fuel Dragster, and to try to licence in the A/Fuel car in Las Vegas.
There were a lot of Pro cars testing on Monday after the NHRA race so Jndia was only able to make two runs, the second of which was a five-second pass.
We wanted to carry on on Tuesday. We know about rainouts from Europe but that almost never happens in Vegas, that's why we chose The Strip. But on Tuesday and Wednesday there was a heavy
sandstorm and the track was closed. Not a rainout but a sand-out. So we needed to stay on Thursday which meant changing flights etc.
Early in the morning Jndia started with a strong 5.75/206 shut down at about 600 feet. She made two more runs in the sixes and with a total of six runs Mike Rice of NHRA and Ashley Sandford the A/Fuel
Girl signed Jndia's licence. I don't know from where she worked out so quickly to drive this Fuel car (Chip off the old block - Ed). Staging and back up were super great and it's not so easy to stage a
car with a pedal clutch and change the fuel lever and then drive it down the track straight.
We will keep you posted on how we will continue Jndia's path to Top Fuel.
Web site updates. 20th April: UK Super Pro ET racer Brad Jackson's web site at www.bradjacksonracing.com
has been updated with the 2015 red theme and pictures of Brad at the Festival of Power. A new feature for this year is a Ywitter feed which will be updated with Brad's progress at race events.
Web site updates. 19th April: Eurodragster.com sponsor VP Racing Fuels have updated their on-line guide with new product information and
distribution list. You can check it out at www.vpracingfuels.com/europe.
Our good buddy Steve Moxley's Festival of Power bike report is now showing on the ACU web site at
www.acu.org.uk.
Swedish Super Street Bike racer Leif Larsson is loud and clear when asked about his goals for this season. "I want to win the Cup and hope to ride a low seven-second run". Ambitious,
but as a real racer you have to go for the highest possible and if that's the EDRS Pro Nordic MC Super Street Bike title, why not? But there are many other riders with the same goal and so it will
be a tough championship race that might go down to the last race of the season. You can read more in Remco Scheelings' latest report on the EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Series web site at
www.edrspro.com.
SPR seek display car. 17th April: Santa Pod Raceway are seeking a Wild Bunch or Supercharged Outlaw race car for display at the
Vintage Nostalgia Show at Stockton Park in Wiltshire on 29th-31st May. If you are interested then please get in touch with Phil at Santa Pod
at [email protected] and he will give you details.
An Anthem for the Allard Chrysler. 17th April:Allard Chrysler Action Group Chair Brian
"DJ ACAG" Taylor writes from a thumping dance floor of a new fund-raising download for the restoration project:
A few years ago Canadian rock / blues artist Ked Dieter and American drag racing enthiusiast Sam Eidy created an excellent tribute song for download to
raise funds for the Allard Chrysler Dragster. Called Ally
Blue, it is straight from the rock and blues music box featuring lyrics by Ked and Sam with all music, main vocals and wild guitar from Ked and backing
vocals from Mack Sanders. There is even the sound of the Allard Chrysler plus sound bites from Sydney Allard and Tommy Ivo recorded in 1964, the final year
that the dragster was run in anger.
But times move on along with tastes in music so what next? As I travelled on Saturday afternoons to work on the Allard Chrysler I found myself
listening to Danny Howard's Dance Anthem programme on Radio One. Not the sort of thing a respectable 73-year-old should be doing and don't tell
anyone or Danny's credibility will be completely destroyed and his show moved to Radio Two. I started to think it would be great to have a
Dance Anthem Allard track as a companion to Ked's original rock song. Thanks to a musical collaboration between Essex-based
Hipnotic Jazz and Ked
in Canada, we now have the Anthem ready for download at
hipnoticjazz.bandcamp.com/track/ally-blue-hemi-fusion.
The brief was to create music which reflects the sound of a Chrysler Hemi on idle, and an early fire-up of the recreated 354 Chrysler Hemi engine in Europe's first dragster
features on the track. As well as pointers to modern Dance Anthems, I gave Glen at Hipnotic Jazz samples from late '70s disco music and Tangerine Dream
(Good boy - Ed). The final seven-minute Dance Anthem mix – Hemi Fusion - features Glen's remixed anthem track with its constant pulsating and
sometimes hypnotic electro rhythm, plus the Allard Chrysler Hemi and Ked's screaming guitar. Is it a true Dance Anthem? I don't know. But it is pretty close and
certainly, to my ears, is a modern musical reflection of a Hemi. A mix was used at the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Gala Dinner last November and you can hear
it on YouTube at youtu.be/788SEhVETYM.
Ked Dieter said "I just sprinkled a shaker full of guitar on this already fantastic track created by Hipnotic Jazz. Just to be given the opportunity to contribute to another
song for a great cause – the restoration of Europe's first dragster - and have my name attached to the project, is payment enough."
Glen, aka Hipnotic Jazz, said "I think Ked understates his contribution, but like him I approached the idea of working on the track as helping the ACAG promote the
project and raise funds, plus I enjoy making music. It has been something quite different to my normal album tracks. If we can gather money from downloads all
the better."
The download is available from Bandcap on the above link on a "Pay what you think it's worth" basis. All proceeds will go towards the restoration
and maintenance costs of the Allard Chrysler Dragster.
You can check out the Version 2 of the official Main Event entry list by
clicking
here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com
page.
If you have any queries about Main Event entry then please contact Ian Marshall at SPRC on 01933 313625 (outside the
UK +44 1933 313625) or E-Mail [email protected].
Daft Scotsman Flyin' west. 16th April: Outlaw Anglia racer Colin Millar has one of the longest tows to most tracks in the UK and so his latest
plan, to race in the USA, will likely seem relatively easy. Colin writes:
Last season was a great year with lots of fun as always with exciting close racing great rivalry and great banter from everyone in Outlaw Anglia camp
(come on "The Cooper Race B*nders"), the Championship looked good as continual improvement was being made with a fastest ET of 7.58 which was
very exciting for everyone concerned, but as always when you're moving forward there are always obstacles which just pop up and a big offering to the
aluminium god in the sky put an end to it.
We still managed to smile on at the Open Sport Nationals after the engine let go but I'm sure that most of the smiling was due to releasing 20 lbs of NOS within the confines of our awning
on Saturday night (Craig Wright is still laughing). The theory behind this was that had we raced the weekend we would have used it all up anyway so it wasn't really classed as a waste.
The season ended and within one week I had become a grandad, turned fifty, and got my first tattoo. Mid-life crisis, never!
I received a special fiftieth present from Lynn which was a long weekend away at the California Hot Rod Reunion at Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield which was fantastic. We had a ball and
spent time with some great people, you all know who you are. There was however a big problem, a plan was being hatched.
I saved my pennies and returned for another whistlestop tour for the March Meet, Scott Crookston, Jedd Guy and left on the Thursday and went back home again on the Monday, phew!
But we saw and did loads, it's amazing how much you get done when you don't sleep and just enjoy yourself. We were again were joined by many good friends and spent some quality time
with fellow Outlaw Anglia racers "The Cooper Race B*nders" who went on to enjoy two full weeks of pure enjoyment (I'm not jealous at all!).
I came home with my NHRA license and I am now in the process of trying to make my dream a reality. We are focusing our activities again on running the Outlaw Anglia series albeit a
shortened series with another visit to Stornoway to support the Lewis Car Club who have raised more than £100,000 for charity since 2011. Anyone is more than welcome to come
along for a wee holiday, the event date is Saturday 6 June and I can tell you first hand these chaps really look after you.
We are again heading to Hockenheim (if we are allowed back) and really looking forward to it, with the added bonus of the lack of any F1 activity we can enjoy a quality well-prepared track
on this the thirtieth anniversary, good luck Jerry Lackey see you there.
But on my return I will lose The Flyin' Fyfer as hopefully it will be getting shipped to LA for what I hope will be five weekends of racing and living the dream before returning home. I promised
myself a treat when I turned fifty and most probably I will never do it again, I have a lot still to do but I am working towards it now. I didn't expect it to take two months to get there but these
are the surprises when you start looking into it, the shipping is double price out and half price back as no one ships anything out there, unless you're a daft Scotsman!
The dream is the ANRA on 16th-18th October then the CHRR 23rd-25th, both at Famoso, then off to Vegas for the Nationals 29th to 1st November, then 5th-8th November a grass roots NSRA Lucas
Oil Series again in Vegas, then down to Pomona for the NHRA Finals on 12th to 15th, nothing yet finalised but this is the plan.
If any person or organisation would like their name on the car for this special trip then please get in touch at [email protected].
Other than that I'm looking forward so much to catching up with all my friends at both Shakey and the Pod. See you all soon at Big Bang, be fast and be safe.
Swift snippets. 16th April: The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com came with the words
"No it's not an SBC". If you know more, or if you would like to send your own spy picture, then drop us a line at
[email protected].
Outlaw Anglia racer Phil 'Ginner' Middleton and friends have asked us to wish a very Happy 60th birthday to Bob Sargent. " Bob is a very familiar face to spectators and racers alike",
they say, "and since attending Santa Pod's very first meeting in April 1966, Bob has not missed a major race meeting since that date forty nine years ago and has attended in excess of five
hundred race days. Wow, what an accolade". Nice one Bob! Have a great day.
Many thanks to Andy Marrs of TSI Timers Europe for forwarding us the official timing data
from last week's Festival of Power at Santa Pod Raceway. You can check out the Festival of Power timing data by
clicking here or by clicking on the Timing Data link on the left-hand side
of any Eurodragster.com page.
Thanks also to Andy Marrs for forwarding us a table of UK bests including Mark Todd's Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator ET
record set at the Festival of Power. You can check out the table by clicking
here or by clicking on the European Bests link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Back in the hot seat. 16th April: Crew member Tom Margesson had a run out in Andy Williams' Super Comp rail in 2013 but whilst working
on the car during the off-season the question of who would drive in 2015 never occurred to him. Tom takes up the tale:
After last year's engine damage it took longer than expected to sort the motor out, lots of trips back and forth to Andy's all of a sudden became worth it
as eventually all was good: the drivetrain was back in and it was all running and working! Then it was Easter, the Festival of Power, Andy Williams the owner of the car asked me
"Tom, are you driving at Easter?". I was still trying to figure out why he's letting someone else have that much fun and how I could not take up this offer - we all know what the answer
was! The little thing stopping us was that we had to get me a licence.
Weather conditions delayed the first chance so all we had left was the Test and Tune on Maundy Thursday. After meeting at the gates of Santa Pod at eight we got the car ready
and tracked down Ian Marshall, who gave us clear instructions of exactly what was needed from me. Then away we went. Still wary of the car, as it had a lot of new parts and changes
made, I took it as it came and completed the sixty foot and eighth with chute. It was then time for my full pass and it felt fast, faster than when I previously ran the car but I didn't know
how much. I had to wait like a kid at Christmas to see the ticket, 8.93/150. I was beyond happy as my goals had been ticked off, I was signed off by Ian so could now compete over the
weekend and I had hit 150mph!
In to Q1 running 8.43/157 the Eurodragster.com commentary says it all: "Huge breakout by Tom Margesson in Andy Williams' rail, feigned concern from the crew then they cracked up
laughing". If you know them, you will understand. Beating my PB in ET and speed wasn't strictly the plan but I'll accept it! Slowed the car down for Q2 and ran 8.81/157, d'oh! Not slow
enough, but I was still smiling!
We paired up for eliminations on the Sunday with Richie Webb in that bonkers Beetle! My first proper drag race, anything could happen, and it did. I got away first but up at
the top end it got close, Richie on the brakes trying to stay over 8.90, me wondering where he was. We had a chat at the top end and we were both unsure but knew it was close.
I knew it was close across the line, 0.0041 of a second or 10.28 inches, Richie had me fair and square but it was so much fun. Well done Richie!
That weekend was a massive learning curve for me, learning about the track, new things on the car and respecting the car itself and what it's capable of. I am back out at the Main Event,
still learning. Huge thanks to my crew, I cannot put the car down the track without you, and its made a massive dream of mine come true: Andy, Maggie, Sandy, my dad Pete and girlfriend
Amy for dealing with the annoying version of me approaching the event. Have a safe year.
The girl with the slow dad. 16th April: After Laura Baynton's first competitive outing in Pro ET at the Festival of Power, dad Paul compiled a check list:
Observed Runs ✔
Beat Dad's speed ✔
Beat Dad's ET... not yet girlie!
After an eventful day on Wednesday we finally arrived at Santa Pod and set up ready for Thursday's Test Day with the target of three licencing runs.
The first sixty footrun didn't go as planned as Laura lifted too soon and Ian Marshall indicated that we needed another attempt. No problems on the
second run as a thumbs-up was given. Next the eighth mile run, we also got the thumbs up on that one. So the final full pass and Laura ran an 11.0491/124.19
receiving the final approval from Ian. After a brief break Laura went to try one run in the left hand lane. The Capri seemed a bit loose at the top end but
it was an 11.0119/124.44.
After that we got the car scrutineered ready for qualifying. Friday was unfortunately spoilt by the weather, qualifying on Saturday and Laura already knew
she was only six miles per hour off my best speed. We dialled in 10.85 and Laura ran 11.0351/129.48, very close to my 130.77 best in the Capri. So to the
final qualifier, we dialled in 10.95 and Laura was off on a mission. I knew it was her quickest run and up popped a 10.4894 at 130.97! She had beaten my
speed on only her third fully licensed run. The rest of the weekend was of course all about taking the mickey out of me for being slow.
Race day dawned and Laura was due to race Mark Bailey. Unfortunately Mark had head gasket woes and Laura had a bye into the second round. This time she was
up against Lee Huxley. Laura was too keen and left a red light on the tree but ran a good 10.6390/130.13. An excellent result for a first meeting in the car
(Damn straight - Ed).
It's Dad's go next at Shakey, but Laura will return for the Main Event. Thanks to the Santa Pod Raceway crew and all the racers for their help and
support.
Grumpy's back. 16th April: UK Super Comp racer Paul Watson and team started to prepare his Camaro soon after the 2014 season ended,
and the car was ready for 2015 nice and early with help from Gary Springford at Drag Race Engineering and all of Paul's other sponsors. The old
saying about best-laid plans then came into play:
Before we went testing I tore a back muscle at work, putting me out for a couple of weeks but with the help of Gary and my team we tested at a Saturday Night Special. The track was still cold
and it was hard to dial in the new set up, still it all worked so we came home happy.
Unfortunately, a week before Easter I overdid it again with the back and by Thursday I couldn't move. It was so frustrating with the crew all there ready and the race car loaded. We waited all day
to see if it would ease off but sadly no. In fact on Friday, after being harrassed by my loving crew, I was taken to A&E - those who know me know that that is something I would never
do. With very strong drugs and lots of rest the situation has resolved itself.
A big thank you to everyone for their response and offers of help. We will hopefully be at the Main Event, however my racing future is in the balance at the moment with other things beyond my control.
Fingers crossed they can be sorted out (Hell yes - Ed), if not then everything may be up for sale later in the year. I would like to thank all of my sponsors who have helped me over the years -
Farm Fresh Speed Shop, Gary at Drag Race Engineering, Image Worx and Brad at BTC - and my fantastic crew Kim, Jose and Andy.
Merriman's bad run. 16th April: It has not been the easiest start to the season for VW Pro and Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator racer Richard Merriman:
After sitting out the whole of last year waiting for parts and rebuilding the engine I thought things were finally on the way to coming together and a plan was hatched for the season.
I intended to double enter a few events with both the VWDRC and Street Eliminator.
The engine was completed and back in the car, the whole fuel and oil system was refreshed with new lines. The engine fired up first time and the whole system was checked and was
leak free, success! This is where the car decided it was going to start being awkward. After the initial leak check and warm up I let the car cool down check fluids and double check fuel
and oil lines were tight. So I then fired the car up only to notice it wasn't running on all four. After checking all the usual I whipped the rocker covers off to find all the studs were now
loose and one had lost a nut. It appears that when the heads were freshened up the studs were only nipped back in. Lesson learnt and problem solved. Car now running happily.
Next stop MOT, the week before Easter. It failed on a number of small jobs but to my disbelief one was a crushed fuel line! Yes one of the new lines I had run got damaged and required
replacement, once again my own fault but I hadn't noticed it. Oh and I lost a Porsche wheel centre cap on the way.
Things had to improve, right? It was race week and the car was off to the dyno for some last minute tuning and hopefully a bit more power. So we drove the forty five miles to Advanced
Motorsport in Silverstone with no dramas on the way and it was good to be back behind the wheel. The car was put on the hub dyno and the baseline checks were done, time to get it rolling.
Dan engaged first gear and let it idle only for the car to begin bobbing up and down like a clown's car! We stopped pulled the car off the dyno and noticed the rear hub appeared to be bent. So
that was that, no more dyno I was now on the hunt for a VW Fastback rear hub and get it re-drilled to Porsche pattern all within a couple of days.
Right, finally at the track, and with a misfire issue also resolved we got the call for the first run with the VWDRC. Having not raced since the end of 2013 I thought the best thing was to just go for it!
Nice launch and into second, all felt good until I went for third and was met with a bang! Dipped the clutch very quickly and tried again, no drama and drove through with no other issues. Next up
the call for Street Eliminator. Fired up the car and tried pulling out only to find that first gear wasn't there! Despite much waggling that was it, no first and decided to call it a day in case something
serious was rattling around in the ‘box. So we enjoyed the rest of the weekend but travelled back with a black cloud over our heads wondering what was up with the gearbox and more importantly
how much it was going to cost to fix.
Our train of thought was interrupted however when the camper jumped out of fourth gear, strange it's never done that before, it then proceeded to carry on jumping out of fourth and required a bit
of teamwork to hold it in and get it home.
So there we are, two broken gearboxes over a weekend along with all the other issues. However I am determined not to give in just yet, I know how to build engines so a gearbox can't be that hard right?
Just want to say a huge thanks to my long-suffering partner Claire who has been very supportive and patient with the time spent on the cars. Thanks also to Andy Cowen at C&C Race engineering, Matt
Attwood, and Jason Anslow. Without you guys I wouldn't have even made to the track.
Festival of Power JDB review. 16th April: Thanks to Lizz McCarthy for passing on the Junior Drag Bike racers' accounts of the Festival of Power:
Jasmine Cordelle: It was the first meeting of the season, and as usual it was freezing cold and raining. We arrived Thursday to get set up and
scrutineer, all went well.
Friday we didn't get any racing done as it was raining all day, but the Santa Pod crew didn't stop trying to dry it for us so we could try and race, but
unfortunately the rain wouldn't go away so they called it for that day. Saturday, the weather was looking better so we could qualify. We got out at about
4 o'clock I was still getting used to my new 400cc engine, so I dialled in 8.50 and ran 9.19, we had one more qualifier in the dark which wasn't my favourite
thing to do, as Jordan had an accident just before my run. I'm glad your okay Patch and not too hurt! I dialled in 8.95 and ran 8.93.
Sunday morning race day! I had Blade in the first round so I dialled in 8.75 and Blade dialled in 9.60. The bike gripped a bit too much on the start line
and gave me a little shake so I had a more pressure to catch him up! Sadly I ran 8.73 which means I broke out, but it was a personal best so its fine!
Well done to Louis who won the meeting and Blade who came runner up.
Stacey Reed: What an amazing first meeting back! Luckily the weather managed to hold off for two qualifiers on the Saturday.
On the first run I stuck with my last dial in from last year which was a 9.74 and ran a 9.78. This got me to 1st qualifier! Woohoo!
Next run I dialled the same and broke out with a 9.53.
Elims came around too quickly but luckily I had a bye in the first round. I dialled a 9.64 and broke out with a 9.45.
Next round I met Liam. I dialled a 9.44 and ran a 9.89 but got to the line first so took the win. Next round was against Louis. I dialled a 9.44,
but stupidly forgot to pump up my air shifter so did the race in third and only got a 10.93. Well done Louis!
I'm pretty proud of my first meeting back and it's made me want to step out of my revision in May and pop off to Shakey only two weeks before my GCSEs haha.
Thanks to everyone for a good weekend and can't wait to see you all next meeting. P.S. Hope you feel better soon Patch!
Jordan Kenway: Well we arrived at Santa Pod with some amazing weather and high hopes. Friday morning we unfortunately woke up to rain, this meant
racing would be delayed. Due to really bad weather we didn't get down the track which was rather annoying.
Saturday we woke up to cloudy conditions but I didn't really care as long as it was dry. We got the call and headed down to the pairing lanes.
After completing my burnout the bike cut out due to the air shifter wire earthing the frame, we couldn't get it started again on the track so had to be
pushed back meaning I wasn't able to get a run in. Hours passed till I was next able to have a chance to qualify. However, this meant night racing, we dialled
in a 9 flat, completed my burnout and everything was amazing... The bike launched the best it ever had and was zooming through the gears, just before the eighth
mile the bike went into a massive wobble / tank slapper, it was so violent that I couldn't hold on and got thrown off the back of the bike and hit the deck with
some force. Unfortunately I was referred to hospital complaining of neck pains.
After five hours on a back board and in a neck brace I got the all clear to leave. Just want to say a massive thanks to everyone involved, this is from the
medical staff at Santa Pod and at Bedford Hospital, to Kerryanne driving us back from the hospital and everyone giving kind words. We have already started
to repair the bike ready for round 2. See you all there.
Jack Shook: Arrived at Santa Pod Thursday afternoon, managed to get my bike scrutineered straight away, all ok. We then set up for the weekend.
Friday's racing was called off due to weather conditions. Saturday Q1 dialled in a 9.60 ran a 10.24. Q2 Called to pairing lanes around 8:00 pm so clear
visors were required. Dialled in a 10.20 ran a 10.15.
Sunday - Eliminations Round 1 against Louis Davies. Dialled in a 10.10 ran a 10.17. Great run but lost by 0.0905. Well Done Louis.
I really enjoyed my first competition. Thanks to all the Junior Drag Bike Club for making me feel part of the team. I was also glad to hear that after
Jordan Kenway's crash, he is recovering well.
Blade Dummer: Well what a start to the season. Dad worked really hard with his friend Herm to build me a new bike from scratch but couldn't sort
out the MSD ignition in time. Thanks Simon and Jerry for sorting it but the biggest thanks go to the Davies family for loaning me the Tigger bike for
the weekend it was much appreciated thank you.
We arrived on Thursday morning so had a day to get used to a different bike and engine size it went well and when we got some qualifying runs, we ended up
Q3 so I was really happy with that.
We drew Jasmine as first round of eliminations this was going to be a tough round as Jasmine is real good but we took the win!
Round 2 we had Charlotte and her new bike is a flyer so this was going to be another hard race unlucky for Charlotte she broke out handing us the win but
set herself a new PB so congrats on that. Round 3 we had a bye run so nice and steady there.
Round 4, the final, was against Louis this was going to be hard as Louis runs so well and he dialled his time just right and beat us well done Louis
was a great race. Runner up for first event on a new bike I'm well pleased.
Jordan I hope you feel better soon we will see you at the next event. Well done to Jack at his first event as well.
Santa Pod and their staff as normal do a great job keeping the track race ready.
I was so glad to be back at the track racing and next will be on my bike so learning again. Can't wait to see you all again.
I would like to thank a few people who have helped us just to get ready My Dad for all his time he's put in haymen #hermfab for building my new
frame / bike, Vizman for the wiring, FBM Turbos, Magic Bullet Fuel Additives for their continued support and after the weekend and meeting Mark
we have new support from On the Bottle. Thank you guys it's going to be another great
season for all the Juniors!
Alfie Udall: What a great weekend at Santa Pod! This was my first weekend riding on the new RD chassis.
Unfortunately the first day of qualifying was a washout so I didn't manage to get a run down the track. On the second day I managed to get two runs.
On my first ever run I was quite nervous. It was also my first time riding with a slick tyre. I slipped the clutch and ran a 9.6 second pass. The
bike was missing so wasn't running properly. On the second qualifier we was racing in the dark. I was extra nervous as I just saw my friend Jordan
come off his bike. I just hoped he was alright. Despite this I dropped the clutch on this run feeling a bit more comfortable while on the two step.
The bike was missing again but I ran a 9.4 second run.
After this we attempted to fix the bike but unfortunately in the first round of eliminations the bike was still missing and not running properly.
We thought it was going to be better so we dialled in 8.0 seconds and I ran 9.0 seconds giving Charlotte the win. This weekend I wasn't bothered if
I won or lost I had so much fun and can't wait to get back out on the bike in May! I would like to say a big thank you to the Colliers for letting me
ride the RD.
Charlotte Hales: An interesting weekend on many levels for me at the Festival of Power... Dad and Martin Dust were building a 500cc twin
sprinter over the winter when the new capacity rules were announced. The restricted AR125 was sold and the sprinter measured for my legs. Thursday
was my first ever ride - and crash. The Dyna 2 step caught me out, the back wheel spun and I took a trip down the left wall.
The Santa Pod medics did an awesome job taking care of me and Les Harris and Ian Marshall said if the bike was ok, I could carry on.
A quick trip into Rushden for parts got the airshifter repaired and within a few hours I was back on the track... The two step was taken off for
the time being and I went out for a very soft launch. A 13 second pass to set me up. Then it was PB after PB ending the day with a 9.9.
Friday was a day of wet from the sky. Saturday was dry but cold with a tailwind. With the crash in my mind I went out with a dial in of 9.85
and promptly broke out with a 9.501/79.55 another PB. We got another run late in the evening. Jordan Kenway fell off and my nerves came back. After
a delay (Jordan was ok if a bit battered) I went onto a dark track. Dad dialled in a 9.35 and after another soft start I ran a 9.64/76.31, moving
me from ninth to fifth qualifier.
Sunday was a mild, warm day and I was full of confidence for eliminations. Round 1 was against Alfie. Alfie sold me my first bike and is an "old pro"
so I knew he would be tough to beat. Dad dialed in 9.35 and yet again I put in another pair of PBs running 9.48/80.22 beating Alfie.
Next up was Blade, and we all know Blade doesn't do "slow." Dad tried to play safe and dialed in 9.73 and told me to let Blade stage first. Unfortunately,
Ollie told Blade to do the same so we sat in pre stage psyching each other out until I went in. Now it gets bad but good. I did a very soft start and Blade
was a scalded cat. But as expected, mid track, the big Suzuki raced past Blade and I broke out giving Blade the win.
The good part was another PB of 8.95/76.83. That's a four second gain over one weekend which made all of us really happy. This meeting we pitted with the
Juniors as Dad wasn't racing 9.50 Bike and I had a fantastic time hanging out with the Junior "crew" during down time in the rain and dark.
A nice and friendly crowd. I'd like to thank Dad for giving up racing for a while so I can race more and for building a great bike with chassis builder
Martin Dust. Thanks to Mum and my sister Emily for your support and the Ashby family for cheering me on. And a final thanks to the Junior Drag Bike Club
for making this class great!
Liam Holgate: We got to the Pod on Thursday but it was too late to get the bike scrutineered.
Friday first thing we signed on and got the bike scrutineered, it was a boring day as we did not get any runs in as it was raining all day.
On Saturday the weather was better but was still very cold. First run off the line I struggled for grip and did a massive wheelspin and ran a 10.02
good enough for number three qualifier. Second run we were running quite late and it was dark and still cold, I set off and did another massive wheelspin
and almost went over the centre line but managed to keep it on my side of the track but still managed to run a 10.62 but didn't better my qualifying position.
On Sunday things were slow again but the weather was a lot warmer. First elimination I had a bye run so we set a low ET so I didn't break out, I ran a 9.37
with no wheel spin because the track was warmer. Second elimination I was against Stacey this was going to be a hard race as she was very close to her times
this weekend. I set a 9.35 ET and ran a 9.99 with loads of wheelspin again. Stacey beat me but I wasn't unhappy as I had such a good weekend catching up with
all of my friends.
Louis Davies: After a long winter it was good to be back at the track, over winter we had made some mods to the barrel and head and the bike needed
some setup time but due to the weather I didn't get much in. Q1: I dialled in a 9.65 and with a 0.032 reaction time I ran a 9.76 which put me into the number
two spot for qualifying which was a great start. Q2: After long waits I finally got to run but in the dark and raised the dial in to 9.70 I had a red light
off the line but I ran a 9.83 which left me in the number two spot behind Stacey, well done to Stacey. Unfortunately Jordan came off his bike but is ok, hope
to see you back on it soon.
E1: first round of the year and I was against Jack Shook and I dialled in a 9.70 and won the round with a 9.75 going through to have a bye run in the next round.
E2: with a bye run I dialled in a 9.70 and took it flat out all the way to set a Dial In for the next round, I ran a 10.35 but red lit by rolling out of stage
and then lost 0.5 seconds due to not going straight away, we worked out the time would have been approx. 9.80. In the semis I was against Stacey the number one
qualifier so it was going to be close I dialled in a 9.70 and then after Stacey having air shifter problems went on to win the round with a 9.73 So I was into
the final against Blade who was riding my old bike , the pressure was high I knew I couldn't let my old bike beat me so I Dialled In as usual a 9.70 because I
had been running 9.7-9.8 all day and then ran a 9.75 winning the final but it was really close.
Thank you to everybody that has helped me this weekend also Rene van den Berg and Eurol for sponsoring me again this year, Grandad for building the bike, Mum and
Dad and all at Gipp Racing.
Thanks as always go to the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame, Dragbike.com, Eurodragster.com (You're welcome - Ed) and Ian at King Racing, plus all the
photographers who kindly allow us to use their pictures.
Festival of Power SE review. 16th April: The Festival of Power has always been a struggle for many teams as although there are six months following the UK National
Finals everything seems to come down to a two week scramble before the event. Ben Barnwell writes that this year was no different for the Topspeed Automotive Street
Eliminator racers:
A collection of sixteen cars entered and turned up for what was set to be a stunning weekend of racing. This is the best turnout the class has had since 2009 and a sign
of how far the class is progressing. Unfortunately we lost Rich Merriman in his beetle before he could get a qualifying run in due to breaking his gearbox running in VWDRC,
we're hopeful that Rich and crew will be back out with us soon. With fifteen cars all ready to qualify we had to wait until Saturday afternoon to get out for round one qualifying.
The weather had played havoc with Friday's plans although two cars made a test pass each at the Pro Peak Performance Test Day on Thursday: Jon Webster making good
use of his winter upgrades running an 8.3/173 whilst Mark Todd had a few issues which needed tweaking after his twenty three-second run. Under the impression this would
be a one shot qualifier it was as important as ever to run under the class cut off of 13.5 seconds. In the first round fourteen cars took to the track as Martin Smith had issues
on the line and was pushed back leaving a trail of fluid underneath the GTR. Martin was left praying there was time for a second qualifier. Stu Williams started back pretty much
where he left off last year picking up number 1 qualifier on his first run, an 8.07/175. Mark Todd was straight in at number two following his year out and despite suffering tyre
shake and numerous peddles put in an 8.53/182, the speed clearly showing lots more to come from the GTO. Our number three qualifier Matt Smith back after a chassis upgrade
in the off season by Jon Webster after his tag smashing runs last year, the Escort ran 8.75/160. Davey Murdoch in the ever improving '33 Willys was straight into number four with
an 8.95 at a slowing 136 mph, still running on the same tune from last year's European Finals. Newcomer to the class and a member of the growing Team Extreme Gary Gooding
put down a stout 9.06/144 in his first run with Street Eliminator. Alex McIntosh back out for the first event on the back of running his first set of seven-second runs last time out, a few
upgrades at Webster Race Engineering and the car lost some weight and gained aero work, unfortunately a lack of grip for Alex meant a 9.15/179, which was a new PB in mph and
this was good enough for number six spot. Qualifiers seven and eight were the two Alans, Al McSweeney fresh out in the stunning blown Volvo put down a 9.42/143 and Al Williamson
a 10.02/161 with a lot of wheelspin, top end power showing what the truck will be capable of. Andy Bond back out to defend his block tread title for another year, a 10.30/157 shows
that Andy and crew are on top of the Mustang much earlier in the season than last year. 10.83/126 was good enough for number ten with Nick Hale at the wheel of his Pro Street
Mercedes, a well sorted car and when he turns the gas on a sniff of a nine maybe? Up for number eleven was last year's newcomer Anthony “Butch” Wilkins in his one of a kind
Hillman van, Butch made the switch from block treads to drag radials but unfortunately still couldn't find grip of the line resulting in a 10.92/125. Another new driver to street eliminator
Nigel Hale brother of Nick in his Procharged 1500 hp truck, put down a clean 12.03 PB in his first run in the class. Slightly down the order from where he is normally found was Jon
Webster in at thirteen with a 12.56/148, the Comet struggled for grip off the line and just couldn't get the power in quick enough. Back out for the first time in a couple of years was
Mats Andersson in his stunning Volvo sporting some very cool technology, Mats simply driving down the track after a long few weeks finishing the build a 12.57/109 was enough
to get qualified and put a big smile on his face.
After a short discussion with the Race Director it was announced we would get a second qualifier, much to the delight of Team Extreme's Martin Smith who just needed to get a
time on the board. Into the second round of qualifying and Al Williamson made a move up to number sixwith a 9.07/169mph, a new PB mph for Al. Jon Webster with a big move
up to number two, a smooth 8.16/176 got him in the region of where he likes to be. Stu Williams laid down the first seven-second run of the season with a steady 7.73 to consolidate
his number one spot. Gary Gooding next up to number three with 8.17/166 clearly getting the car sorted quickly. Mats Andersson again another checkout pass improved but stayed
at number fifteen. Martin Smith finally getting to run took number nine qualifier with a 9.37/169, turbo issues plaguing Martin again but still enough to see him qualified. Andy Bond
with a great driving job to keep the sideways Mustang in his lane, and pulled over to make sure no fluid had leaked onto the track. Nigel Hale in the last pair got his first run in the
elevens whilst Butch recorded a new PB 10.43/132.
After the second round of qualifying an hour's notice was given for the cruise, a nice twenty six mile spring cruise in the cool evening air. Mats Andersson elected not to take part
in the cruise as a few worries needed sorting before he could use the car again, a superb weekend overall though and a great debut for the Volvo. Other than that the remaining
fourteen cars met at the gate at 8.15 pm ready for a bit of night time cruising. Most people arrived at the petrol stop with cars all intact and no issues however Mark Todd had a
problem that he was struggling to trace, the car cut out multiple times and Mark dropped back a long way, he made it to the fuel stop with only two minutes to spare. Everyone
fuelled up and headed for the hot start. On arrival at the hot start the fourteen cars grabbed a lot of attention with a big crowd gathering to have a look around some of Europe's
fastest street cars. Unfortunately the two minute deadline to get the cars started after all the heat had soaked in to the engine was too much for Nick Hale, whose battery had
unfortunately died, an issue out of his control. Al Williamson got his truck started but did not wish to continue with the truck as it was running extremely hot at over 245 degrees.
There is a five minute deadline set for each car as it arrives at each destination, this means that the last car has to get into the gates within five minutes of the car in front.
Twelve cars headed back for the track and with more issues the GTO continued cutting out, Mark just made it back into the track gates within the five minute deadline set by
the car in front but only just, never the less, he qualified. Last into the gates was Andy Bond who also only just made the five minute cut off as he had kindly waited with Al to see
if the truck cooled down, racers on the track but friendships are strong off it. This meant we had twelve cars ready for competition, the race was on to get the cars ready for first
thing Sunday morning.
Ahead of eliminations we had an opportunity to show off our new class sponsor On The Bottle. On The Bottle are the place to visit for your nitrous solutions as well as refill service
and the ordering of VP Race Fuels. Mark from On the Bottle is providing a cash prize at each event, all of the competitors who qualified are entered into the hat with a winner drawn
at random by Mark. On this occasion it was Davey Murdoch with the purple Willys who took the cash prize but a big thanks to On The Bottle for their support and we look forward to
working with them over the course of the year.
Onto the first round of racing which saw a bye for newcomer Al Mac, who was clearly not taking it easy with a number that equalled his qualifying time. Alex McIntosh took on Martin
Smith in what was going to be the closest race of the first round, both left with instant wheel spin but Alex the first to leave and with less spin meant he progressed to the next round
with an 8.60/178 to Martin's slowing 10.43/131. Gary Gooding took on Nigel Hale in the Procharged truck which weighs three times Gary's Supra! Gary away first and never looked
back with an effortless 8.25 at 169 to Nigel's 11.01/121, another PB for Nigel and despite being put on the trailer he was extremely pleased with the truck's performance. Butch
Wilkins and Matt Smith was set to be a good race, unfortunately for Butch a red light meant Matt automatically progressed with an 8.56/166. Jon Webster on a bye and clearly
wanted lane choice as he went 8.07/179, a PB speed for Jon. Andy Bond had the hard task of taking on the Willys of Davey Murdoch who had been getting quicker all weekend,
Andy with one of his standard 0.03 lights did everything he could but Davey drove around him and moved into round two with a 8.13/167 to Andy's 9.02/160. Mark Todd on a bye
and would obviously take it easy after the problems on the cruise, or not as it would seem, a 7.48/190 set him up for lane choice and a new ET record if he could back it up. Stu
Williams had a bye and went through with a 7.65/182 doing everything he could to try and match Mark's run but a great ET nevertheless.
In round 2 Jon Webster took on Al Mac, an interesting race as the two have raced in previous years and Jon had never managed to beat Al. This time though the Comet really
was moving with a 7.84/178 to Al's 9.44/142, Al running within 0.04 of his best time all weekend. David Murdoch and Gary Gooding were next out and another close race was
set to take place as the pair were only separated by four thousandths of a second from the previous round. Gary away first but Davey finding some serious power to drive around
the Supra and run his first seven, Davey taking the win with a 7.91/175 to Gary's 8.17/169. Next up Matt Smith alongside Mark Todd, Matt with everything to do after Mark's previous
pass however Mark was away first with a very nice 0.038 light and followed through with a 7.473/192 to take the win and set a new class ET record! Well done Mark and team great
effort. Last pair out reigning champion Stu Williams against the ever improving Alex McIntosh, Alex with a 0.05 light, but Stu a 0.03 light, Stu took the win with a 7.63 to Alex's slowing
12.1.
After a small wait for the semi-finals we had two very interesting match ups. First up Mark Todd in the new record holding GTO, taking on 2014 Champion Stu Williams, Mark away
first but unfortunately too early handing the win to Stu despite Mark running 7.60/190mph pedalling to Stu's 8.52, Stu knowing he'd already won and booked his place in the final.
Mark only found out after getting out of the car in the pits that he had red lit! Next up Jon Webster and Davey Murdoch, Davey with the work to do as Jon a consistent on the tree and
the Comet on song, this time though Jon struggling to build boost it was Davey with the 0.0 light and Jon left hunting him down. Jon did everything he could but losing with a 7.83/180
to Davey's 7.95/171. Jon's first run over 180 and just 0.0206 difference between them at the stripe.
The final was set to be interesting with Stu a regular finalist and Davey's first in five years. Both asleep at the lights but Stu away first and not looking back, Stu's 7.62 defeating
Davey's 9.54/106mph suffering from tyre shake. A huge congratulations to all participants this weekend and a warm welcome to all the newcomers. We look forward to seeing
you all at the next round at Shakespeare County Raceway in just a couple of weeks' time.
Web site updates. 16th April: Thanks to Robin Jackson for letting us know that the MSA British Drag Racing Championship report from the Festival Of Power
is now available at www.msadragracing.com.
Remco Scheelings writes that the EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Championship is loaded with young, and in some cases extremely young, talent. In Pro Stock Motorcycle
three of the top four riders in the 2014 Championship were under thirty and two were not even twenty years old whilst in Super Street Bike the runner-up was only twenty six
years old. Young talent has a fair chance in the series and they can race against the best, at the greatest events and in front of a big crowd. You can read more on the Series'
web site at www.edrspro.com.
Thanks to Markus Münch for letting us know that the German on-line magazine Der Beschleuniger will from now on work together with the German site
Dragmag.de. News, team and race reports will now be available at this address although Markus tells us that they
will continue to contribute news to Eurodragster.com as they have for the last five years. Thanks very much guys.
VP fuel the Classic. 16th April: Leading UK fuel brand and Official Fuel Partner of Silverstone Classic 2015, JET, has chosen Eurodragster.com sponsor
VP Racing Fuels to provide on-site race fuel service for this year's Silverstone Classic. This year's event is scheduled for 24th-26th July
at Silverstone Circuit, site of the 2015 Formula 1 British Grand Prix and numerous other high profile events.
Following a very successful Silverstone Classic 2014 where VP fuelled many cars to flawless performances and drivers set personal best lap times on a variety of VP products, it was a natural progression
for VP to participate formally in 2015. Pete George, Managing Director at JET, comments "2015 marks JET's second year as Official Fuel Partner of Silverstone Classic. Last year was a fantastic event but
we wanted our involvement to be even bigger and better for 2015. VP Racing Fuels is well-established and has a strong track record in large motorsport events, so we're delighted to work in partnership with
them to supply on-site race fuel for competitors at this year's event."
"Being selected by JET to provide on-site race fuel service at the world's biggest classic motor racing festival, with more than 1100 entries and many capacity fifty eight-car grids, is an exceptional
accomplishment for us", said Jim Kelly, VP's Regional Manager for Europe. "Silverstone has an incredible racing heritage and we are honoured to have been chosen by JET. We look forward to working with
those great racers and classic car enthusiasts this summer."
With 2015 marking VP's 40th Anniversary, its race season began in Daytona where VP fuelled the Rolex 24 Hours, followed by the Pirelli World Challenge at Circuit of the Americas in Texas and the 12 Hours
of Sebring. In addition, VP will provide season-long control fuel service for IMSA, Rally America, Indy Lights and Trans Am as well as trackside sales at the Isle of Man TT and Classic TT and the SVRA vintage
race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In addition to Silverstone, VP has been selected as fuel provider by several other high profile tracks including Watkins Glen, Lime Rock, Laguna Seca, Sebring and Road
Atlanta in the U.S. and Santa Pod Raceway in England.
For technical information, fuel recommendations, tuning tips and a complete menu of unleaded and leaded fuel options including detailed spec sheets and a discount pre-order form participants can E-Mail
[email protected] or phone 07771 590176. For additional information visit
vpracingfuels.com/europe, silverstoneclassic.com and
jetlocal.co.uk.
EMA Computer Solutions: EMACS is a West Yorkshire based company who are making a big impact in the
Bodyshop industry with their award-winning software, supplying anyone from ted in a shed up to the likes of TrustFord and many more big body shop groups.
Marshall Body Repair and Restoration: Based in Mansfield, family-run Marshall
Body Repair pride themselves in the work they do; from minor bumps and scrapes to a full restoration anything is possible.
Martin's Auto Centre: Martin's Auto Centre is a locally-based MoT and repair centre providing
MOTs for classes 1, 2 and 4 and a recovery service so you know help is going to be at hand.
Engine Data Analysis: EDA is a fairly well-known company through out the drag racing scene in England but, if you haven't heard of them before, EDA is based in
castleford and has been running for more than twenty five years. They specialise in competitive engines for all forms of motorsport. Ever in need of a bit of advice?
Or maybe a few spare parts? EDA is what you need.
Of his crash in Pro Modified qualifying last weekend, Wayne says "I have had a few people say "We thought you had saved it".... so did I. Looking at the footage it could easily have
been far worse, I think I got away lightly. I am not the first person it happened to and maybe not the last.
"Always looking for the positive, some of the early numbers on the run were very encouraging, all the work and changes over the winter are working. I just need to repay everyone in the team,
sponsors and family with some good numbers now.
"It's been very humbling , the amount of people offering help in many ways, thank you all. Thank you to all the safety crew who appeared almost from nowhere, you guys rock!
Regarding the car, it was round at Webster Race Engineering before Sunday evening, and Andy Marshall at Marshall's Restoration and Body are taking care of the fibreglass. Allyfab
have stepped up to remake the tanks that were damaged and many others are involved with various other aspects. The Main Event is the goal for a few reasons.
"A big Thank You to my wonderful wife Belinda for putting up with it all, and sorry for scaring you , Gareth and Joe."
The Package returns. 12th April: Eagle-eyed readers will have noticed that one of the unthinkables occurred over the off-season as UK Super Pro
ET racer Simon Gough put his operation up for sale on our Jeff Bull Race Engines-sponsored
Swap Meet. Simon says that this was the result of a very bad couple of months but that a week into
the New Year circumstances changed for the better with the help of a couple of special people, business advice from a successful team being the
best advice he had ever taken. Even so, his attendance at the Festival of Power was in doubt until quite late on:
The race got nearer and nearer and with my current work commitments a day off is a bit of a nightmare due to the amount of input I have day in and day out. But we worked it out that we could do it, and
we then needed to get the car ready. I put a call out to Jon Giles asking if he would give me a hand for the day. Finny, Jon's crewman, came with him and took the lorry to Northampton for some work.
Two weeks later we were at the Festival of Power.
Day one was testing which didn't go to plan. After changing the starter motor three times all we could do was put it down to electrical fault... until we thought about checking the batteries. Problem found,
furring on the terminals wasn't giving us full power.
Starting qualifying the next day we dialled in 8.29 knowing full well we weren't going to hit that but it would give us a indication of where the car wanted to be on the next run, knowing only too well that
the track would get better over the course of the day when others would be laying plenty of rubber down. When we arrived in the pairing lanes for Q2 our weather system was telling us a very low 8.55.
With the track coming round I called a 8.54, bang on yet again with another number one qualifier. Happy team once again. The Package was back.
In eliminations we were up against Mark Flavell. After waiting in the pairing lanes for a while I was told that he had broken and wouldn't be racing today so I had a trial run for the next round.
Round two was against my mate Jack Brewster. I dialled an 8.45 but ran an 8.48, stood a bit on the brakes to make sure not to breakout. Nice win and a bye in round 3, dialled 8.43 as the track was looking
better but the air took a bit of a knock so I ran 8.47. Just before the run Sharron gave me an 8.46 but I changed it as I didn't think about the air quality. So into round 4 up against Paul Przybyl. He was on it
the weekend and we put on an 8.46 not knowing that I was going to pull my best light in the last twelve months of 0.0023, a solid good light and knowing full well that Paul had been carving the tree
all weekend we knew it was now or never. When I we got to the gantry I could see that Paul wasn't there so I jumped on the brakes and ran an 8.48 which gave me the win.
Into the final against Scott Hauser, twice Super Pro ET Champion and no mug on the dial-in and Tree. Our reactions were 0.0023 apart with the advantage to Scott. Again we dialed in 8.46 but broke out
with an 8.4467 - I looked for Scott and couldn't see him and scrubbed off five miles per hour over the stripe but too late. Scott put a 7.54 on the board and ran a 7.55. Well done to Scott on the win and a
big well done to my team.
We're now getting prepared for the Main Event knowing that we're just behind Scott in the SPRC Championship. A great start to the season and hopefully be a bit better at the Main Event. Big thanks
to all my crew and sponsors: Sharron Gough, Dan Devlin, Jon Giles, Chris Wing, Jim Massey, LAS Motorhomes and Service, Opie Oils, K&N Filters, NGK, The Awning Company and our suppliers who
make us consistent: Woody Mays Race Cars USA, Jeff Bull Race Engines, BLP Carbs USA and Chris Isaacs Race Cars.
The fairy tale of new Yorker. 12th April: Many thanks to Connor Holt for sending us a report of Sportsman ET at the Festival of Power:
As the European drag racing season sprung back into life after what seemed an eternal winter, the girls and boys of drag racing's entry-level adult-class lined up for their first round with some
new talent on display. One of the biggest stories in Sportsman racing over the past few years has been Santa Pod Raceway's increasingly successful Dial-in-Days, and after three years several
graduates of the taster days have now made their way into Sportsman ET. This year's DiD winner Gillian Medley received an additional prize on top of the trophy, a paid entry into Sportsman ET
at the Festival of Power. Not to be outdone, Gillian's husband Alan also entered the event, continuing a tradition of racers from York Raceway's hugely popular American Super Stock series
entering SP/ET. What no one knew was just how incredibly Gillian's weekend was going to unfold…
After Saturday's rain-delayed first qualifying session, it was Matt Moxon sat on top of the pile, his very pretty Mustang running 13.25 on a 13.20 dial in. In second place was Gillian in the Hemi-powered
Jeep 0.10 seconds off her 15.20 dial-in, and last year's debutante Felicity Gibb in third running 17.13 on a 17.10 prediction. Unfortunately, Gillian's Jeep had developed an oil leak and, as it seemed unlikely
that the class would get a second qualifier, Gillian and Alan left the track to try to effect repairs. So when the racers were called for Q2 late of Saturday evening, it seemed that Alan and Gillian would miss
out. Then at half past eight when Dave Nelson's weekend went horribly wrong (commiserations Dave, hope to see Dorris back soon), the second session was rescheduled for race-day morning, and the
racers all returned to the pits.
Come Sunday morning, when Gillian and Alan returned to the track they were greeted with the news that there would be a second session. At that point, they were about to report the Jeep as a mechanical
casualty and withdraw from the event, the oil leak proving to be a trickier fix than first thought. However, some of Gillian's fellow racers in the class pointed out the Eddie Hill rule, which allows a racer to
substitute a different vehicle, as long as the car used in eliminations has been used in qualifying. The Race Director confirmed this to be the case, and Gillian's workhorse Passat was hurriedly emptied of
suitcases and scrutineered. A committee of fellow racers came up with a guesstimate dial-in, and Gillian and the rest of the class headed down the pairing lanes for Q2. Here Matt Moxon cemented his
number one place with a +0.003 over index run. Ricky Hales showed why he is the defending National Champion with a +0.02 pass. Gillian broke out big time in the Passat, but crucially had a qualifying run
in the car and would be able to take part in eliminations. It is fair to say that her weekend was about to get a whole lot better.
In the first round of eliminations, Alan Medley broke out by 0.1 seconds handing the win to Stephen Cherrett. Ricky Hale took the Eurodragster.com / Bad Habit Racing Perfect Light award in his race against
Jon Crawford, but Jon ran close enough to his index to force Ricky into breaking out. Gillian Medley and newcomer (and fellow Dial-in-Day alumnus) Holly Sanders had the closest race of the round, both
running within 0.02 of their dial-in, with Gillian keeping twenty five inches ahead of a rapidly catching Holly. Reigning SPRC Champion Craig Wright reminded us why he is a multiple Champion by leaving
a tenth of a second before Felicity Gibb, forcing South London's finest to break out by a hundredth of a second. Finally, Matt Moxon took advantage of his Number One Qualifier bye with another consistent
pass just 0.03 away from his dial in.
In the second round, rising star Gillian Medley lined up against former champion Stephen Cherrett. In a rare (and very close) 0.004 red-light, Stephen handed the win to Gillian. Number one qualifier Matt
Moxon came up against Craig Wright and it was a Battle of the Breakouts (Price, J. 2001) which resulted in Craig taking the win whilst Jon Crawford's reward for beating Ricky in the first round was a bye
through to the semis.
There Jon would meet Craig, and after an even start Craig was reeling Jon in. The Black Sharan was still in front as they crossed the line, but a massive two-tenths breakout meant that it would not be an
all-Volkswagen final, as Gillian lined up to take her bye. However, she sent a very powerful message to her opponent, laying down the class's second 0.000 reaction time of the day.
So, as the two finalists rolled round for their last run of the day, would Craig be able to end the fairy-tale, or would Gillian and Alan continue their 100% record of trophy collection at Santa Pod?
The question was settled early as Craig left before the green light came on, meaning that Gillian Medley was the hugely popular winner of Sportsman ET at the Festival of Power. She now takes an early
points lead over Craig into the next round, with Jon Crawford in third and Matt Moxon very close behind in fourth place.
A fairy tale end to a great elimination, and as the racers headed for home it was clear that if Ricky and Craig are going to retain their titles this year they are going to have some tough opposition standing
in their way.
Meanwhile at York Raceway... 12th April: PDRC and Ash Digital write that York Raceway's first event of the year took place last weekend in
good weather and dry conditions:
All classes were well supported and respectable times were posted by all competitors with the excellent race conditions.The venue was well supported with good attendances as
trackside and grandstand spectators watched the action throughout the day. On Sunday the Drag Racers' Test and Tune gave an insight to Monday's Nationals. By mid morning
on Sunday Mini drivers were posting respectable qualifying times setting the benchmark for the day's racing. Run What You Brung was in full swing between qualifying
and eliminations rounds to keep everyone entertained throughout the day.
Carl Austin (above left) posted 111.66 mph to take the Mini Showdown with James / Gavin Bowers in a creditable second place. Stuart Thompson
(above right) took the honours in American Super Stock at 127.79 mph with Lee Chiles in second place. The good weather and great racing ensured that
everyone was catered for.
Swift snippets. 12th April: A reminder that UK Super Pro ET racer Phil Toppin will be appearing on Racers Reunion Radio overnight tomorrow
(Monday-Tuesday). You will be able to tune in at 01:00 UK / 02:00 European Tuesday at
www.zeusradio.com/racersreunion-radio.
Reduced price entry closes soon for the 20th Drag Power Show at Chambley, France on 1st-3rd May. The event includes a round of the
ATD Championship, appearance by Swiss Top Fuel Dragster racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Urs Erbacher, jet vehicles, wheelstanders,
Night Show and much more. You can find out more (French-language PDF) by clicking here or via
the Duckteam web site at www.duckteam.fr.
Kazimierz Suszniak writes that Automaster are organising three drag races at Kamień Śląski in Poland. The Automaster Speed Cup takes place on 26th April, 27th-28th June and
27th September. You can find out more at www.grupaautomaster.pl.
Flamholc's team grows. 12th April: Sweden's Adam Flamholc says that another car has been added to the Flamholc Racing operation this year:
One of my best friends, Mats Lusth, bought a Rick Jones built Pontiac GTO, and will compete in Pro Street in Sweden this year. Mats been a professional hockey player for over twenty years, and is now
head coach for Malmo Redhawks. 2014 was his first year as a driver in a bracket car, and he turned out to do an excellent job. I'm sure that Mats will do well and win races in his first year in the new car.
I have a feeling that this is just the start of something really good.
I will compete with the Viper in Europe and the Corvette in US, Mattias Flamholc and Lucas Karlsson will run their updated Junior Dragsters in Europe - both are aiming for the Swedish Championship!
Malmo Motor-Renovering and I will assist ME Racing in FIA Pro Mod, Team TeeCee Racing in Top Doorslammer, and of course Mats Lusth in Pro Street. I will work as a tuner / consultant and MMR
will provide parts and machine work.
Outlaws set for 2015. 12th April: Dave McKenzie writes with an update from the UK's Supercharged Outlaws:
Our annual Presentation Night took place in February preceded by the AGM. Both were very well attended, and the Presentation Night was a great evening
with both Outlaws and track crew from Shakespeare County Raceway having a great time.
Everyone is looking forward to the season with a good contingent from Europe again this year. We are hoping to get a round in Europe in the near future,
talks are ongoing, any news will be published as soon as we can. There are a number of Outlaw teams returning in 2015 including Dave McKenzie / Mark Windridge
with the Team Thing funny car, Ian Hanson and Roy Wilding along with newcomers to the class including Jim Usher. More news on the returning and new entrants
at a later date.
The 2014 trophy winners were:
Joint Series winners: Paul Watts and Lee Gallimore
Runner-up: John Reeve
Third place: Andy Osborne
Spirit of the Outlaws: Charlie Chivers
Melanie Dalton Memorial: Andy Hadfield
Best Burnout: Ian Kerr
Best Looking Car: Neil Townson
Wildest Ride: Joe Bond
Most Improved Team: Trace Froome
Best Newcomer: Andy Osborne
Best European: Kirsten van Croonenborgh
The Supercharged Outlaws calendar for 2015 is as follows:
Round 1: Yanks Weekend, Shakespeare County Raceway
Round 2: NSRA Nostalgia Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway
Round 3: Dragstalgia, Santa Pod Raceway
Round 4: Bulldog Bash, Shakespeare County Raceway
Round 5: VW Action, Santa Pod Raceway
Round 6: NSRA Hot Rod Drags, Shakespeare County Raceway
The Supercharged Outlaws are also pleased to announce our continued association with Good Vibrations Motorsports as Jim Maher has renewed his sponsorship
of our Series for a fifth year. Team Thing racing were over at Jim's shop after attending the March meet to receive the sponsorship cheque from Jim (left).
The team were guests of Good Vibrations at the March Meet and Jim and the team's hospitality was second to none, whilst there we also met up with Roy Wilding,
Lesley Prior and Norm Wheeldon. Again we cannot thank Jim enough for his continued support of the Supercharged Outlaws.
We are hoping to get a new web site up and running before the season starts, again we will let you know all the news via Eurodragster.com
(Thanks - Ed).
Reacting badly? Write your will. 12th April: Regular readers will recall that Eire's own Top Fuel Dragster racer Gabrielle McDonald sought guinea pigs to take
reaction tests to help with her thesis. Gabby got in touch to thank everyone who took part:
I really appreciate it! You helped make my final year in Psychology a little more bearable by helping me study something that I love the most.
I want to make sure that people don't get confused when I talk about Reaction Times and Anticipation Times. The type of starting system us drag racers use doesn't actually test reaction times, it tests
anticipation time (AT). So whenever I refer to AT I mean the Christmas Tree. It was found throughout that there was no expert and novice difference, which has been backed up by other studies. But
what was interesting was that experts were more consistent on the RT task but were slightly less consistent on the AT task, which I found weird as they wouldn't have been experts on the RT task.
Novices were just ever so slightly quicker on the Christmas Tree, which could be down to age, as it has also been found that RT decreases with age. So I'm sorry old timers, if your RT and AT are slow
you might just be getting closer to your death bed (according to other researchers).
There were no differences between males and females, females were more consistent overall though. However, males did score higher on most of the self-efficacy statements, which tested confidence.
Also a very funny finding: those who predicted they were going to do well did significantly worse than those who predicted they would do worse. This goes to show that some have just over- and
underestimated their abilities, which goes against majority of the research in Self-Efficacy (confidence).
I hope to repeat the study with more people and hopefully out on the race track. Thanks again for those who got involved!
Web site updates. 12th April: Not being able to crew for the Timewarp Nostalgia Funny Car due to engine damage did allow Chris Eyre
the opportunity to get back behind the camera lens at the Festival of Power and you can check out his pictures at the Eurodragpics web site at
www.eurodragpics.com.
Our good buddy Alan Currans has updated the official web site of the Chaos Fuel Altered with a report and pictures from the Festival of
Power together with a video of Nick Davies' 6.1-second pass in the NFCC final. You can check it all out at
www.chaos-fuel-altered.com.
With four Finnish championships in Pro Harley at his credit, Ismo Mäenpää was ready for a new challenge. The Finn and his team found it in Supertwin. "At first we didn't
know what to do, but little by little and with help from other teams we learned, and are still learning every race", he says. Ismo ended the 2014 season with a new Personal Best at Tierp Arena
and finished third in the EDRS Pro Nordic Super Twin Championship. "In 2015 we want to do even better and as always, go for personal bests", Ismo says. Remco Scheelings has more on the EDRS
Pro Nordic Motorcycle Series web site at
www.edrspro.com.
The Norwegian National Drag Bike Team was founded in 2013. In co-operation with the Norwegian Motorsport Federation as a new way to help Norwegian drag racers with sponsorship,
marketing and all issues they encountered when running their own team. In its third year six riders in three different classes will represent the Norwegian National Drag Bike Team and
they will try to attract attention to Norwegian drag racing with outstanding performances. Again Remco Scheelings has more on the EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Series web site at
www.edrspro.com.
Entry is still open for the following round of UK National, ACU UK Drag Bike and other Championships, the Hillingdon
Speed and Spares APIRA Springspeed Nationals which takes place at Shakespeare County Raceway on 2nd-4th May. You can
download entry forms from the SCR web site at www.shakespearecountyraceway.co.uk.
Thanks also to Ian Marshall for forwarding us Version 1 of the official entry list for The Main Event, the first round of
the FIA and FIM European Championships and a round of the UK National Drag Racing Championships for selected classes, which takes place at
Santa Pod Raceway on 22nd-25th May. You can check out the Main Event entry list by
clicking here or by
clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Entry closes on Friday 24th
April after which entry, if accepted, maybe subject to a Late Entry penalty. You can download entry forms from the Santa Pod Racers Club web
site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.
Swift snippets. 11th April: Good luck and stay safe to Sweden's Jimmy Ålund who has extended his racing stay in the USA and is
contesting Pro Stock at this weekend's Summitracing.com NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas. After day one of qualifying Jimmy is ninth at 6.647/208.07
having set a new track speed record in Q1. Qualifying continues today and you will be able to stay in touch with Jimmy's progress at
www.dragracecentral.com.
Similarly good luck and stay safe to Sweden's Adam Flamholc who is contesting Pro Extreme this weekend's PDRA Spring Nationals in Rockingham.
After day one of qualifying Adam is seventh at 3.611/208.33. Again you can stay in touch with Adam's progress at
www.dragracecentral.com.
Santa Pod Raceway Track Announcer and Eurodragster.com Blogger Colin Theobald asked us to say a big Thank You to everyone who got in touch
with birthday wishes yesterday.
Event entry update. 8th April: Thanks to Ian Marshall for passing us the Version 5 of the official entry list for Big Bang, which
takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on Friday 24th to Sunday 26th April (racing 25th-26th) and which is a VWDRC and Outlaw Flat Four Championship
round as well as a UK National Championship round for Sportsman ET and Lucas Oil Junior Dragster, a Championship
round for Outlaw Anglia, JDS Pro and JDS Street, and an SPRC Club round for 8.50 Bike and 9.50 Bike. You can check out the Big Bang entry
list by clicking here or by
clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Entry is also open for the following round of UK National, ACU UK Drag Bike and other Championships, the Hillingdon
Speed and Spares APIRA Springspeed Nationals which takes place at Shakespeare County Raceway on 2nd-4th May. You can
download entry forms from the SCR web site at
www.shakespearecountyraceway.co.uk.
Yo ucan check out out John Woolfe Racing-sponsored reports and
galleries by clicking
here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com
page.
'Waterbed' Fred Miller is one of the most respected tuners in drag racing and it was in that role that he joined Raymond Beadle on
the Blue Max Funny Car Team during the visits to Santa Pod Raceway in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Fred said "I was glad
to do what I did in the era of Prudhomme, McEwen, Garlits and Shirley. I think it was a lot more fun back then and I miss hanging
out with Raymond. We had great fun during our visits to the UK, and meeting up with Stu Bradbury at the recent International Drag
Racing Hall of Fame Awards Dinner in Gainesville brought back a lot of memories.
"I'm really looking forward to attending the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Gala Dinner with my wife Diane and to meeting up with
some old friends from back in the Blue Max era."
Unfortunately we have not seen the second legend racing in the UK. When you talk about the old Top Gas Dragster eliminators in the
USA one car comes to mind and that is the fabulous twin Chevy-engined Freight Train dragster owned by John Peters. From its
début in 1959 right up to its demise in 1972 it dominated the class. The dragster's most successful driver was Bob Muravez
who made over 1,300 passes in the car. Unknown to many at the time, Muravez came from a rather well-to-do family who simply did not
approve of him driving any of those dirty drag racing machines. Their disapproval was so strong that for a short period he actually
stepped out of the seat to appease them, despite the fact that his driving in 1962 netted the team a win at the March Meet, the first
major race for the Top Gas class.
After several other top drivers had failed to get the same performance out of the car Bob was persuaded to return and drove it under
the car owner's name for a while. Later, NHRA Race Director Steve Gibbs gave him the nickname Floyd Lippencotte Jr and under this
pseudonym he would drive the car to six NHRA national event wins, this in the days when there were only two to three such events each
year. He took to coming into the winners' circle in his fire mask and there are some great old ads in the pages of Hot Rod magazine
showing head shots of famous drag racers and there was always one guy still in his fire mask.
In 1970 and 1971 Peters teamed up with Walt Rhoades to run the car with Bob still in the driver's seat. They ditched the Chevy motors for
a pair of 428 ci Chrysler Hemis. They also painted the car black, a departure from the traditional red scheme it had sported for a decade.
Despite the additional weight of the big Chrysler lumps, the car was still unstoppable and the team won the 1971 GatorNationals with this
se- up. It was to be the last big win for the car as the class was scrapped the following year and Peters had no interest in going down the
Super Comp road.
Bob retired from drag racing at that time and didn't drive again until John Peters restored the Freight Train in 1993 and ran
exhibition passes at four national events. The dragster's home these days is the NHRA Museum where is can be seen beautifully restored with
Chevys back between the frame rails. Not just a static display car, the Freight Train participates in the CHRR cacklefests.
Bob said "I'm so looking forward to being at the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Gala Awards dinner in November. We have heard so much about
it and it will be a great privilege to meet up with drag racers and racing fans in the UK. Along with my wife 'Big Red' Sharon, I expect my
friend Floyd Lippencotte Jr will be with us as well, so watch out for some special photo opportunities."
British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Management Group Board Director Geoff Stilwell said "What can I say? The news just gets better. People asked
"How are you going to top the 2014 event?". I think you can already see that the evening is going to be another drag racing milestone so book
early is my advice. I think we may well need a longer table for the after dinner autograph session."
Ticket prices for the Gala Dinner will remain as last year at £60 per person. Corporate tables of ten are available at £580. Room prices also
remain as last year, £99 for double and £79 for single including breakfast. Complimentary use of swimming pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and
free car parking are also part of the package. For advance booking of Gala Dinner tickets contact
[email protected] or telephone Stu Bradbury on 01933 279102. No deposits will be required
until the summer but when other plans come together this will again be an early sell-out event. There is more exciting news to come...
For room bookings call the Savill Court Hotel on 01784 472000 quoting Hall of Fame dinner 21st November.
Lucas Oil launch discount scheme. 3rd April: Visitors to the Festival of Power will be among the first to get an opportunity
join the Lucas Oil Racer Discount Club.
The LORDC scheme is designed to give racing enthusiasts access to racing oils, engine additives,
workshop lubricants and car care products at better than retail prices.
'It's a club for racers that will help racers do what they want to do around the track much more
economically and much more successfully, too", says Lucas Oil Managing Director Les Downey.
"Anybody who races cars, bikes, scooters, karts or trucks anywhere in the UK can become a LORDC
member. Members are entitled to exclusive offers and discounts on a wide range of Lucas Oil products."
Posters around the track will direct visitors into the Pod Shop. The scheme will be rolled out UK-wide
after the Santa Pod event.
Also in Santa Pod-related Lucas Oil news, Podzilla Monster Truck driver Drew Thornton and the rest of the Santa Pod crew
prepared for the Easter weekend's Festival of Power with the help of Lucas Oil.Lucas Oil has agreed to supply products from its ranges of oils and additives to make sure
that everything runs smoothly before, during and after all Santa Pod events in 2015. Everything they use will also be on sale from the Pod Shop.
"Anyone who's here to watch the Festival of Power weekend, or plans to run a car in events like Run What You Brung, or Drift What You Brung - and even the FIA/FIM European
Championships - can buy and use what the professionals at Santa Pod use in their vehicles", says Les Downey.
Podzilla's oil, and the oil in any engine that needs to generate the kind of power that produces wining performances
on the Santa Pod track. Lucas Hot Rod Oil is the brand of choice for many hot rod racers throughout the racing world, but Lucas Oil's additives and oils ranges are just as suitable for
everyday cars as they are for cars on the track. The Lucas Oil range of additives includes Octane Boosters, Deep Clean engine products for most types of engine and fuel additives
designed to improve fuel economy and reduce engine emissions.
John Hackney has asked us to say a big Thank You to everyone who sent hero cards, T-Shirts, photographs
and more for his American buddy AJ who is fighting cancer. "As you can see you have all brought a great smile to AJ's face", says Hackers.
For Swedish Pro Stock Nike racer Kenneth Holmberg drag racing only has positives. As a racer it is fun and gives him the competition he is looking for, as the owner of
Swecomposite drag racing is for testing and research and to show customers what carbon products can do, and finally the track is the place to meet his customers and find new ones.
You can read more in You can read more in Remco Scheelings' latest feature on the EDRS Pro Motorcycle Championship web site at
www.edrspro.com.
Yesterday's news update contained not one, not two, but three April Fools. Cath and Tig Napier's
Challenger has quite enough power without adding electric motors, Colin Theobald is not racing one of the Williams Brothers' cars at
this weekend's Festival of Power, and (Regrettably - Ed)Melanie Butler will not be acting as a presenter on our webcasts. Thanks
very much to Cath and Tig and to Colin for writing their own April Fool news items, and to Melanie for willingly going along with our
own idea.
Top Sportsman, Dragster entry open. 2nd April: Paul Marston writes that entry forms will be available from his pit this wekeend for Comanche Race Cars UK Top Sportsman and
Tasty Puffs Top Dragster which will be contested at the Back With Mods Scooter and Ska event at Santa Pod Raceway on 12th-14th June.
UK, European and Scandinavian teams are very welcome. Remember that other than safety there are no rules: this is an outlaw event, so you do not need an MSA licence.
There are two races over the event. First a fast bracket race with a buyback into round two, and secondly, the Heads Up race, the fastest sixteen qualify in Comanche Race
Cars UK Top Sportsman. The Tasty Puffs Top Dragster qualified field will reflect entries as it's the first of its kind. Tasty Puffs Top Dragster also covers Funny Cars, Altereds
and Roadsters. There has been a lot of interest in both classes and the organisers expect to see some real top quality Sportsman teams in attendance. This will be one hell
of a weekend for everyone involved. It will once again be filmed by Zeon TV and later shown on Motors TV, which incidentally is now available to everyone on Freeview, and
Eurodragster.com plan to webcast the event. A promotional video has recently been uploaded to YouTube and you can watch it at
www.youtu.be/DfCfEZRLbUs. Please spread the word, this really will be one not to miss either as a
competitor or a spectator.
Put simply, both Comanche Race Cars UK Top Sportsman and Tasty Puffs UK Top Dragster are the richest payout, roughest, toughest, hardest fought Heads-Up and Fast Bracket
Sportsman races on the calendar. If you want to be the best you have to beat the best, this is where you can get it done.
For teams looking to compete please Like the UK Top Sportsman Facebook page where the latest updates are always available, and stay tuned to Eurodragster.com for
more.
Travelling via Wollaston? 1st April: The village council of Wollaston have been in touch to ask anyone going to this weekend's Festival of Power at
Santa Pod Raceway and who go through Wollaston not to turn down Hookhams Path, as their Sat Nav may direct, but to continue straight on. A
police camera van will be in Hookhams Path on at least one of the three days of the event.
Garlits to cackle at Goodwood. 1st April: Coming close to the Elapsed Time record for stories we had to sit on patiently, it has now been confirmed that
Don Garlits will be attending the Goodwood Festival of Speed with Swamp Rat 1. The car will not just be on static display but
will be fired up as part of the usual parade in front of Goodwood House. More details about the event, which takes place on 25th-28th June,
at www.goodwood.co.uk.
Hyde's unique Bug. 1st April: With less than forty eight hours to go until the first outing with his new set-up, UK VW Pro racer Shaun Hyde thought that now would be a good time
to thank all of those who made the long off-season changes possible:
The last two events of the 2014 season were a bit of a disaster, coming home from the Open Sport Nationals early with fuelling issues, then breaking a drive shaft on the start line at the UK National
Finals, but it was still an awesome first season for us.
We decided that twenty five pounds of boost was too much for the little Eaton M90 blower we were using, so we started looking for a bigger and better alternative. The first person I would like to
thank is Svein Olav Rolfstad of the Rolfstad Top Fuel Bike Drag Racing Team in Norway, whom we contacted to ask for some info on the supercharger they use as we are a similar displacement.
Svein Olav was very helpful with all the questions I had and in the end he sold us one of his spare blowers which was brand spanking new, so that was job sorted.
Next we needed a new fuel system as we had nothing but trouble with the four-barrel Edelbrock we ran last year. Enter Mr Mike Chilando of Alkydigger in Nashville, Tennessee. We spoke to him
about going down the mechanical fuel injection route and we soon had a 100 mm Enderle throttle body, DSR fuel pump and a range of jets and nozzles turn up in the post. Mike is a brilliant man to
deal with and really knows his stuff, his baseline settings worked from the off and were very good considering that we are doing something no-one in the world has done before, i.e. supercharged
Subaru in a Bug running fuel injection on methanol. I would like to thank Mike and advise anyone wanting to go down this route to speak to him, he has been at the end of the phone with advice since
and is always willing to help us. On a side note I'd like to thank Dick Koster for a brilliant service from Post en Dros for very quick delivery of some extra jets we needed for the new system.
This leads to my biggest thank you of all which goes to my Dad and Crew Chief, Mark Hyde. Most of these crazy ideas are his and he has spent countless hours organising parts and drawing the new
inlet manifold on CAD then hand machining most of it from a billet block - it's a work of art in itself. Theres so many changes since last season that it's practically a new car again and I can't wait to get
out on the track with him and start to learn how to make a Bug go fast.
Now the last person I will thank is my awesome wife. Like most racers' wives she puts up with these wild ideas and sometimes virtually never sees me while I'm playing with cars, but she is always there
at the end of the day so that I can explain to her why I'm late home!
Here's to another good season with the VWDRC and brilliant people.
Laura gets the keys. 1st April: The UK's Laura Baynton made her first runs in dad Paul's Pro ET Ford Capri at Santa Pod Raceway on Saturday.
Paul got in touch to tell us how Laura got on:
For a little while now I've struggled with motivation for racing and I guess that my daughter has been the only one who has made me hang on to the Capri. Laura has grown up with the car, as I
bought it shortly after she was born and has always been keen to have a go. Over the past couple of years she has been wanting to learn about the car and help with the maintenance. Last year
Martin Curbishley sorted the body and paint and that was really done in preparation for Laura to drive. It's an ideal size car for her whereas for me it's always been a bit cramped.
I had hoped that Laura could get her observed runs completed at the Run What You Brung on Saturday but unfortunately we left home later than planned due to me having a disagreement with
some antibiotics (Ow, hope you are OK - Ed). Although we made good time, getting to the track at 10:00 am, by the time we unloaded the car and got Laura signed on it started to rain.
As soon as the rain stopped we took a drive around the pits to explain everything to her.
The first run was a planned drive up the track. A lot of wheelspin when Laura launched and a drive-through twenty-second pass. The second run was a 1.80 sixty foot then off the throttle at
half track and a 14.35 at 72.98. The third and final run was preceded by a poor burnout which again resulted in a lot of wheelspin but Laura controlled it well and ran through with a 13.85 at 91.57
(See video - Ed).
Laura thoroughly enjoyed her day and is now looking forward to Thursday's Pro Peak Test and Tune Day where we hope that she can make all of her observed runs in preparation for the Festival
of Power.
Race on Sunday, recharge on Monday. 1st April: Eurodragster.com sponsors Tig and Cath Napier fired up the new incarnation of their Bad Habit
Challenger for the first time on 22nd March. Having sorted some minor issues with the front motor, they were able to turn their attention to
their revolutionary new power adder, which was the subject of Monday's spy picture:
We now have a hybrid motor set-up including electric motors (below right) in the rear axle which can run either in conjunction with or separately from the petrol unit. A couple of PSU fans in
the boot floor should provide sufficient cooling for the batteries. The two motors should give another 150 hp collectively.
This is the culmination of a lot of research and work, from finding the electric motors to working out a transmission set-up to remembering to ask if this set-up is actually legal to race! Luckily we were told that
nothing in the rules excludes hybrid set-ups and in fact we had a lot of encouragement as this may bring motor manufacturers back into the sport.
We're wondering if this will be the first hybrid car to run in competition in the UK?
If you know the answer to that question then please drop us a line at [email protected].
Saskia goes West (Ten). 1st April: UK Junior Dragster racer Saskia Fensome Jell has unveiled a new sponsorship for 2015 after an interesting
and enjoyable 2014 for herself and brother and fellow Junior Dragster racer Aaron Fensome:
In 2014 we got to experience many new opportunities which we'll never forget. My dad Andy Fensome was asked to crew for the Shockwave Funny Car team and later on in August
we were able to travel over to Germany to race at Hockenheim which was an amazing and unforgettable experience, something I had previously dreamed of doing, but then became reality!
We met many new people, made new friends and learned lots of new things and the atmosphere out there was electric and exciting. It was without doubt worth every second of the twenty hour
hour road trip!
Whilst we were out there, we had the pleasure of pitting next to Shelley Pearson and Kevin Kent of the West Ten Motorsport Funny Car team, who were very friendly and approachable. I've
always admired Shelley and what she has achieved in her own drag racing career, which I have followed since I very first went to Santa Pod as a spectator, and I thoroughly enjoyed the time I
spent talking with her over those few days.
Since I began racing a few years ago, I'm happy to say I have improved and progressed each year. I'd like to thank my grandparents who helped me financially to buy my car; my dad Andy Fensome
who has tirelessly given up his time to dedicate himself to making sure that Aaron's and my cars are running their best; mum Lisa Jell, who is my Crew Chief; and my brother Aaron for all his help
and support when we are at race events. I'd also like to thank CB Tuning who refreshed my engine over winter and to WRP Paint and Restoration who sponsored my last race in 2014.
Finally I'm really excited to announce that the West Ten Motorsport Funny Car team are going to be sponsoring me in 2015! When Shelley Pearson first approached me and said she would like to help,
I was a little shocked but also very grateful and appreciative that she and the team have shown an interest in my racing. I will be proud to display their stickers on my car and to be associated with such a
great team, and I will do the best I possibly can. I feel incredibly lucky to have this opportunity and it has only strengthened my opinion that drag racing is like having a second family, everyone is looking
out for and supporting each other.
I'm looking forward to this new season more than ever. I'd like to finish by wishing everyone good luck in their class... drive fast but stay safe!
Ready for battle. 1st April: UK Super Comp racer Paul Watson has been in touch to bring us up-to-date with off-season work on his Camaro
as he prepares for the Festival of Power:
The car was taken to Gary Springford of Drag Race Engineering soon after the UK National Finals. The motor was removed and the gearbox was checked and recertified.
The motor was checked and refreshed; the only problem we found was that the head gaskets were slightly blown so all was looking good. With the motor and trans refitted
the car went off to Chris Isaacs Race Cars to modify the front suspension and exhausts and to be re-baselined. We hope that these changes will benefit should be have a
a marginal track.
The car was then taken to the paint shop and all the white was re-done so that new logos could be put on by Matt at Image Workx.
We now have a new throttle stop controller which we have our heads around with the help of Dave Day. We tested at the last Saturday Night Special at Santa Pod and ran 9.1
seconds which was a good baseline even though the track was tricky.
We are now ready for the battle ahead, and what a great line up of racers in Super Comp. It won't be easy, that's for sure.
I would like to say a big thank you to Darren Smart of Farm Fresh Speed Shop for all his support; Gary Springford of DRE for all his knowledge and hard work - Gary has supported me
from the beginning; Matt at Image Workx for great work as always; and Brad at BTC Moto for everything. None of this would be possible if not for my Super Crew Pixie, Jose and Andy.
See you all at the track.
Upstairs, downstairs. 1st April: Santa Pod Raceway Track Announcer and Eurodragster.com Blogger Colin Theobald will of course be in the
commentary box with Darryl Bradford at this weekend's Festival of Power, but he will be taking a few breaks to fulfil his life-long dream
by competing in his first ever Championship event. Colin explains:
Having taken part in the fantastic Dial-in Day with Bruce, my '69 Camaro, the next step was to go into competition. After long
discussions with Nic, Dan and Keith Williams of Williams Bros Racing a deal has been agreed for the Festival of Power. I'll be licensing
tomorrow at the test day, then hold on tight as I prepare for my first ever adventure into Pro ET. If I manage to go some rounds I will
enter for the rest of the season, with the team preparing the car, I'll just come down from the tower for each run, then back to work
again straight after.
This of course means that there will now be three Williams Bros cars in Pro ET this weekend.
Massive thanks to the management and staff of Santa Pod for allowing me the time to do this, and I really cannot thank the whole team
enough especially as I haven't driven the car before, but I would be foolish to miss this incredible opportunity!
Another addition to the family. 1st April: If you were tuned in to our Webster Race
Engineering / Nimbus Motorsport test webcast last Saturday you will likely have noticed improvements in
picture quality, an additional camera angle, caption card etc. These were not the only improvements we had planned and we are very pleased to announce that Eurodragster.com has
signed up Melanie Butler as a presenter for our webcasts.
Melanie (left) is well-known within the drag racing and hot-rodding communities for her modelling work including acting as official model for the Allard Chrysler Dragster and her work for
Nostalgia Drag World magazine and the Victory Wheelers, and she has built up a reputation for hard work and professionalism. Melanie is of course blown-alcohol racer Joe Bond's
partner and mother of recent arrival Hayley. When the Eurodragster.com team discussed the idea of a presenter for our webcasts it took a frighteningly long time to dawn on us that if we
wanted "Someone like Melanie Butler" then it might be an idea to ask Melanie herself.
Luckily the answer was yes and Melanie is looking forward to her first appearance. "Presenting is a logical extension from modelling and I have always fancied trying it", she said. "I am excited
and nervous at the same time! Tog has been very reassuring and Joe and Hayley have enjoyed watching me rehearse. Well, Hayley didn't cry!"
Initially Melanie will appear on-screen at the start and end of each day to introduce and close our webcasts but in future she will also record interviews and features to be played in the event
of down time. Her first appearance in front of the High Def camera will be at the Hillingdon Speed and Spares Springspeed Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway at the start of May.
29th April: If stardom is measured by the number of Halls of Fame into which you have been inducted then American Funny Car
driver Bruce Larson is definitely a superstar. Check out the list: the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, the East Coast Drag Times Hall of
Fame, the Eastern Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, and the Super Stock Magazine Drag Racing Hall
of Fame.
Bruce put down a 7.41-second run in 1967 which broke the existing Funny Car elapsed time record. After a Funny Car fire in 1972 destroyed his
machine, he began to do some Pro Stock racing and his familiar red, white and blue USA-1 livery was this time seen on a 1970 Camaro and later
on a 1972 Chevrolet Vega. He returned to the Funny Car ranks in 1975 with a Chevrolet Monza and later a Corvette.
Bruce's Championship-winning Sentry Olds Funny Car was donated to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington DC and since
1995 he has been collecting and restoring drag racing vehicles which he displays in his own museum, Bruce Larson's Barn. But he has still been
out on the track racing Nostalgia Funny Cars because for 2013, Worm Inc created a replica of the Camaro. The chassis meets current safety rules,
but maintains the appearance of the original car and Bruce entertains fans at tracks across the country.
This weekend's Eurodragster.com/Bad Habit Racing Perfect Light Award has been reset to £50 after it was won by Sportsman ET racer
Ricky Hale at the Festival of Power. The money will be paid in cash to the first racer this weekend to record a Reaction Time of 0.000 seconds. The
Perfect Light Award is available to racers in all classes during qualifying and eliminations, but will only be awarded for the first Perfect Light of
the event. If not won this weekend then the Award will be increased to £75 for the Hillingdon Speed and Spares APIRA Springspeed Nationals; if it
is won then it will be reset to £50 for the Hillingdon Speed and Spares APIRA Springspeed Nationals. The Perfect Light Award is presented in
association with Bad Habit Racing (Cath and Tig Napier, Pro ET).
21st April: Andrew Carpenter tells us that dad and British Drag Racing Hall of Fame member Russ Carpenter's
legendary Daimler-powered rail is being made ready for display at Beaulieu including a fire-up:
16th April: The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of Eurodragster.com came with the words
"No it's not an SBC". If you know more, or if you would like to send your own spy picture, then drop us a line at
Stacey Reed: What an amazing first meeting back! Luckily the weather managed to hold off for two qualifiers on the Saturday.
On the first run I stuck with my last dial in from last year which was a 9.74 and ran a 9.78. This got me to 1st qualifier! Woohoo!
Next run I dialled the same and broke out with a 9.53.
Jack Shook: Arrived at Santa Pod Thursday afternoon, managed to get my bike scrutineered straight away, all ok. We then set up for the weekend.
Blade Dummer: Well what a start to the season. Dad worked really hard with his friend Herm to build me a new bike from scratch but couldn't sort
out the MSD ignition in time. Thanks Simon and Jerry for sorting it but the biggest thanks go to the Davies family for loaning me the Tigger bike for
the weekend it was much appreciated thank you.
Charlotte Hales: An interesting weekend on many levels for me at the Festival of Power... Dad and Martin Dust were building a 500cc twin
sprinter over the winter when the new capacity rules were announced. The restricted AR125 was sold and the sprinter measured for my legs. Thursday
was my first ever ride - and crash. The Dyna 2 step caught me out, the back wheel spun and I took a trip down the left wall.
The Santa Pod medics did an awesome job taking care of me and Les Harris and Ian Marshall said if the bike was ok, I could carry on.
16th April: The Festival of Power has always been a struggle for many teams as although there are six months following the UK National
Finals everything seems to come down to a two week scramble before the event. Ben Barnwell writes that this year was no different for the Topspeed Automotive Street
Eliminator racers:
After a short discussion with the Race Director it was announced we would get a second qualifier, much to the delight of Team Extreme's Martin Smith who just needed to get a
time on the board. Into the second round of qualifying and Al Williamson made a move up to number sixwith a 9.07/169mph, a new PB mph for Al. Jon Webster with a big move
up to number two, a smooth 8.16/176 got him in the region of where he likes to be. Stu Williams laid down the first seven-second run of the season with a steady 7.73 to consolidate
his number one spot. Gary Gooding next up to number three with 8.17/166 clearly getting the car sorted quickly. Mats Andersson again another checkout pass improved but stayed
at number fifteen. Martin Smith finally getting to run took number nine qualifier with a 9.37/169, turbo issues plaguing Martin again but still enough to see him qualified. Andy Bond
with a great driving job to keep the sideways Mustang in his lane, and pulled over to make sure no fluid had leaked onto the track. Nigel Hale in the last pair got his first run in the
elevens whilst Butch recorded a new PB 10.43/132.
Onto the first round of racing which saw a bye for newcomer Al Mac, who was clearly not taking it easy with a number that equalled his qualifying time. Alex McIntosh took on Martin
Smith in what was going to be the closest race of the first round, both left with instant wheel spin but Alex the first to leave and with less spin meant he progressed to the next round
with an 8.60/178 to Martin's slowing 10.43/131. Gary Gooding took on Nigel Hale in the Procharged truck which weighs three times Gary's Supra! Gary away first and never looked
back with an effortless 8.25 at 169 to Nigel's 11.01/121, another PB for Nigel and despite being put on the trailer he was extremely pleased with the truck's performance. Butch
Wilkins and Matt Smith was set to be a good race, unfortunately for Butch a red light meant Matt automatically progressed with an 8.56/166. Jon Webster on a bye and clearly
wanted lane choice as he went 8.07/179, a PB speed for Jon. Andy Bond had the hard task of taking on the Willys of Davey Murdoch who had been getting quicker all weekend,
Andy with one of his standard 0.03 lights did everything he could but Davey drove around him and moved into round two with a 8.13/167 to Andy's 9.02/160. Mark Todd on a bye
and would obviously take it easy after the problems on the cruise, or not as it would seem, a 7.48/190 set him up for lane choice and a new ET record if he could back it up. Stu
Williams had a bye and went through with a 7.65/182 doing everything he could to try and match Mark's run but a great ET nevertheless.
After a small wait for the semi-finals we had two very interesting match ups. First up Mark Todd in the new record holding GTO, taking on 2014 Champion Stu Williams, Mark away
first but unfortunately too early handing the win to Stu despite Mark running 7.60/190mph pedalling to Stu's 8.52, Stu knowing he'd already won and booked his place in the final.
Mark only found out after getting out of the car in the pits that he had red lit! Next up Jon Webster and Davey Murdoch, Davey with the work to do as Jon a consistent on the tree and
the Comet on song, this time though Jon struggling to build boost it was Davey with the 0.0 light and Jon left hunting him down. Jon did everything he could but losing with a 7.83/180
to Davey's 7.95/171. Jon's first run over 180 and just 0.0206 difference between them at the stripe.
16th April: Leading UK fuel brand and Official Fuel Partner of Silverstone Classic 2015, JET, has chosen Eurodragster.com sponsor
14th April: We were very sorry to hear of the sudden death of legendary bike racer and British Drag Racing Hall of
Fame member Brian Johnson. Brian was particularly renowned as one of the small number of European racers who raced with huge success in the USA.
12th April: Although UK Pro Modified racer Wayne Nicholson's Festival of Power ended on a bad note there was good news on the way in
as he welcomed four new sponsors:
Starting qualifying the next day we dialled in 8.29 knowing full well we weren't going to hit that but it would give us a indication of where the car wanted to be on the next run, knowing only too well that
the track would get better over the course of the day when others would be laying plenty of rubber down. When we arrived in the pairing lanes for Q2 our weather system was telling us a very low 8.55.
With the track coming round I called a 8.54, bang on yet again with another number one qualifier. Happy team once again. The Package was back.
1st April: Santa Pod Raceway Track Announcer and Eurodragster.com Blogger Colin Theobald will of course be in the
commentary box with Darryl Bradford at this weekend's Festival of Power, but he will be taking a few breaks to fulfil his life-long dream
by competing in his first ever Championship event. Colin explains:
Melanie (left) is well-known within the drag racing and hot-rodding communities for her modelling work including acting as official model for the Allard Chrysler Dragster and her work for
Nostalgia Drag World magazine and the Victory Wheelers, and she has built up a reputation for hard work and professionalism. Melanie is of course blown-alcohol racer Joe Bond's
partner and mother of recent arrival Hayley. When the Eurodragster.com team discussed the idea of a presenter for our webcasts it took a frighteningly long time to dawn on us that if we
wanted "Someone like Melanie Butler" then it might be an idea to ask Melanie herself.
