Fast Show results, gallery.
30th April: In association with John Woolfe Racing we have posted a gallery from yesterday's Fast Show at Santa Pod Raceway.

Conditions were difficult with a late start due to rain and then drizzle and low temperatures but the strip was open for several hours with FWD and JDS Street able to run to completion. Congratulations to our winners:

Front Wheel Drive: Dan Frost 10.0955/151.59 def. Kiel Prestman 10.1592/140.84
JDS Street: Jeff Ludgate (13.03) broke def. Simon Durrans (13.91) 13.7367/113.91 breakout

Congratulations also to Martin Hill who set a new Personal Best speed of 308.34 mph in the Fireforce 5 Jet Dragster on a pass of 5.063 seconds.

No racing took place at the preceding Saturday Night special due to rain but you can check out a small pitside gallery courtesy of Callum Pudge and Diana Macrae, and today's Fast Show gallery, by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

FIM Championships commence.
29th April: The 2018 FIM European Drag Bike Championships commence today at Hotrod Majális at Kunmadaras in Hungary featuring the first rounds of FIM Europe Super Street Bike and FIM Europe Junior Drag Bike.

You will be able to stay in touch with events at Kunmadaras at www.kunmadarasmotorsport.hu.

Swift snippets.
29th April: We would like to say a big Happy Birthday to UK Junior Dragster racer Thaliah Gibb. Have a lovely day Thaliah.

Williams Brothers head west.
28th April: Further to our spy picture of 15th April, the UK's Williams Bros Racing Modurstang Pro ET team have announced that they will be racing in the USA including at the legendary NHRA US Nationals in Indianapolis:

The 15th April spy shot was the very distinctive green bonnet, or should I say hood, of Nic Williams' 69 Camaro which is now waiting to be loaded into a container to go to the USA. It has always been the dream for Nic and Dan to race in the States; now it is about to become a reality.

The engine in the Camaro had been away to Tilburg Racing Engines for a major rebuild and to try to squeeze every extra horsepower possible and looking at the dyno figures I can only report mission accomplished. Brian Tilburg is one of the most respected and revered engine builders in the USA and this engine is certainly right up there in the power stakes. The Williams Bros Racing team have always been well-known for their dedication to NHRA Stock-legal race cars, and now it is time to take on the Americans at their own game.

At the first event Nic will be behind the wheel as the team head to Lebanon Valley, New York to race at a Lucas Oils Divisional event on 13th-15th June. The next event is the big one, the US Nationals at Indy on 29th August to 3rd September, again with Nic behind the wheel. As soon as Indy is completed the team return to England so that Dan can compete at the European Finals with the '69 Chevelle, then back out to the States to compete in the Dutch Classic, one of the biggest and toughest Stock meetings of the year. Dates for this one are 27th-30th September but this time Dan will be racing. Depending on schedules we may try to get in one more event in by the end of the year before the Camaro heads to Florida where it will be staying until next year when a race schedule can be planned. If all goes well then we could possibly look to send Dan's 69 Nova to race there as well later.

We really cannot wait to do this and fly the flag for the UK. We will of course be telling everyone about Eurodragster.com and will ensure that as many cars out there carry the stickers like they do here in Europe (Thanks! - Ed). We will also be letting everyone know about Santa Pod Raceway and will be promoting them as well.

We should have our new Going Home Tour T-Shirts available very soon and will have them for sale at the Main Event.

It goes without saying that taking on this schedule whilst racing in the UK and running OCS Paint and Williams Bros Racing is a lot to ask but the team are up to the challenge. There are numerous people to thank already: Brian Tilburg for building a kick ass engine and helping with obtaining a race trailer and storage for the car, Joe Gibbs Oils for helping the team with lubricants, Darren Prentice at Santa Pod Raceway, Ian Marshall for helping with the competition licence formalities to name a few. We will of course keep everyone updated through our Facebook pages and here on Eurodragster.com.

Swift snippets.
28th April: After a gap of a few years in which he occasionally contested Pro Modified Sweden's Jöran Persåker has announced a return to Top Fuel Dragster at June's Scandinavian Internationals at Tierp Arena. Jöran will be driving the car previously campaigned by Monica Öberg with Monica's long-time racing partner and tuner Dan Söderberg calling the shots.

Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall for forwarding us Version 8 of the official entry list for the FIA/FIM Main Event which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-28th 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.

European Championships' future discussed.
27th April: Trakbak Racing and Santa Pod Raceway CEO Keith Bartlett writes that all of the track promoters and organisers who hold rounds of the FIA European Drag Racing Championships met in Sweden on Wednesday (25th) to discuss the future of holding European Championship events in 2019 and onwards.

Representing the tracks and promoters were Leo Laurell, Lasse Koskinen and Esko Raisvuo from FHRA (Finland), Jerry Lackey from Hockenheim (Germany), Christopher Hamilton and Urban Axelsson from Tierp Arena (Sweden) and Keith Bartlett from Santa Pod (UK) along with Åsa Kinnemar and Roger Lyrén from Speedgroup (Sweden).

The main issue under discussion regarded whether the tracks and promoters are going to continue with the FIA European Drag Racing Championships in 2019 or to bring about another series. This has been a major ongoing issue for the past three years. What is, today, quite different from the past is that all of the track promoters and organisers along with Speedgroup are now on the same page and singing from the same song sheet - this is a first - and at the same time a major step forward for European drag racing, the teams, racers and track promoters involved. Whatever decision is taken for 2019 will be a joint decision and one to which all of the major tracks involved will agree.

There was an agreed plan of action starting next Tuesday, 1st May, along with a timeframe for decisions to be taken in good time for everyone involved, racers, teams and organisers, to be able to plan and schedule their 2019 season.

Main Event entry closing.
27th April: Today (Friday 27th) is the official closing date for entry to the FIA/FIM Main Event, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-28th May and which is the first round of the FIA European Championships and the first and second rounds of the FIM European Championships as well as a UK and/or SPRC Championship round for Comp Eliminator, Gearhead Garage UK Super Pro ET, Modurstang Pro ET, Super Comp, Terry Gibbs Super Gas Shootout 2018, Super Street, Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator and Lucas Oil Junior Dragster.

Entry after today, if accepted, may be subject to a Late Entry penalty. You can fill in and submit or download the official Main Event entry forms via the Information link of the SPRC web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.

Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall for sending us Version 7 of the official entry list which you can check out 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 get in touch with Ian on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625) or E-Mail [email protected].

Pit Guides sought at Main Event.
11th April: Volunteers are again sought for the Institute of the Motor Industry Students' Day on day one of the FIA/FIM Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway (Friday 25th May).

The British Drag Racing Hall of Fame has been asked to assemble a team of Pit Tour Guides to accompany groups around the pits and to introduce them to the technology, racers and crews. The busy period tends to be between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm, so if you are with a team and not running during those times please get in touch. Or if you have been involved in drag racing and think that you can pass on your knowledge and enthusiasm to students entering the motor industry then get in touch. The BDRHoF will be based in Pitside VIP.

If you are available and would like to join the team then please contact Stu Bradbury at [email protected].

Racetech put Jordan in the chair.
27th April: UK Junior Dragster racer Jordan Payne is delighted to announce a new partnership with Racetech Europe:

Racetech Europe, based in Tamworth, Staffordshire UK, is the official distributor of Racetech safety equipment for the UK and Europe. Their world-renowned composite and carbon fibre race seats can be found fitted to thousands of race cars across the globe, newly including my new ride for 2019. I met Racetech at the Autosport International Show in January. After hearing of their great reputation, I knew that a Racetech seat would be my safest option when strapped into the car, behind the wheel.


As well as the wide range of racing seats which Racetech have on offer, they also stock harnesses, steering wheels, roll cage padding and many other racing accessories. To find out more about Racetech Europe visit www.racetecheurope.co.uk/

I am looking forward to begin testing in the Sticky Situation Racing Corvette later this season and I fully intend to compete in Super Pro ET throughout 2019. To find out more information about Sticky Situation Racing please visit www.jordanpayne.co.uk and our Facebook page.

Swift snippets.
27th April: Karen McGarrigle asked us to say a big Happy Birthday for today to Hutchison & Dibley Sportsman ET racer Jon McGarrigle. Our pleasure, have a great day Jon.

Of legends and lakesters.
27th April: The UK's Geoff Stilwell has been Pond-hopping supervising his 7707 Salt Shaker Land Speed car but also visited Los Angeles last weekend to attend a birthday party for three of the sport's icons:


The birthday boys were Top Fuel Guru Bill Schultz who was 81 and my dear friends Marvin "Who" Graham (76) and the one and only TV Tommy Ivo (82). Held under the lovely clear California Skies and on a warm evening the birthday party took place Sharon and Bob Muravez' (the latter aka Floyd Lippecotte) hacienda in Burbank where Sharon supplied the amazing food, cakes and drinks. Joining the birthday boys to celebrate one of the all-time greatest racers and now part of the 7707 Landspeed Team Al Teague with his wife Jayne. Also there were Jerry Glenn, Top Fuel racer and driver of the Schultz and Glenn Nostalgia Top Fuel Car, Top Fuel racer Joel Limbeck, legend and sponsor of the 7707 Landspeed car Ed Iskenderian, plus numerous other family members and friends.


Of course there was lots of bench racing and story-telling from the birthday boys. Bob Muravez also gets all racers to sign the huge poster hanging in his workshop and Ed Iskenderian took time to climb the ladder and sign it.

Geoff adds that he has constituted his Land Speed team including the above-mentioned Crew Chief and Top Fuel guru Bill Schultz, buddy, Top Alcohol FC racer and tuner Sparky Perry, Bob Muravez and Al Teague who will be consulting and giving guidance:

I cannot thank everyone involved in this project enough but I need to mention well-known tuner Norm Grimes who has serviced all the heads and has made them look like new; I cannot recommend him highly enough. Thanks also to Isky for his amazing support and help in supplying the cams and lifters for our two 482 ci KB motors, a huge thank you also to Carl Olson and Mike Kuhl for helping us put together an amazing parts inventory, and Hilborn Injection for servicing the fuel pumps and giving us a fully flow-tested system.

So where are we currently? Many old-time racers will remember Howard Cams, well Howard Cams built many years ago an amazing cam which would take up to 4000 BHP. Over the years it didn't get used but I am glad to say that Bill Schultz has located it and a very quick refurb is underway. Our target is to get our main motor built and on the dyno for testing before we put it in the car. That will give us a baseline tune-up so that we can get out and test the car before Bonneville which is creeping us on us very quickly. We have to be ready to be on the salt by 10th August.


Many small jobs have already been completed such us cleaning the DJ Safety parachutes and buying spare drogues as the salt eats those up very quickly. All the safety equipment has been refreshed and recertified, we have new blower restraints and a new seat harness from Simpson, and I took delivery of my new firesuit and helmet Allen Bridges at Simpson. Again I have to thank Allen and the crew for giving me the very latest technology in my firesuit and helmet.

So there we are... it's now time for building up and getting everything ready. If anyone is planning on visiting Bonneville this year then please make that sure you book your hotel rooms right now as they sell out very quickly.

Swift snippets.
26th April: Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall for forwarding us Version 6 of the official entry list for the FIA/FIM Main Event which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-28th 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. You can find the official Main Event entry forms on the Information link of the SPRC web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.

We would like to say a big Happy Birthday to longtime Eurodragster.com reader and occasional News contributor Stephen Billings. Have a great day Stephen and thanks for the long support.

Through the bubbles for Nan.
 25th April: SPRC marshal Caroline Boncey is again taking part in a charity Bubble Rush to benefit the Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted, where her late grandmother was cared for, and would be pleased if any Eurodragster.com reader could sponsor her for this good cause.

"The Bubble Rush is a 5 km walk / run in Gadebridge Park in Hemel Hempstead on 29th April", says Oscar.  "They have four bubble stations - pink, blue, yellow and green - each of which we go through twice. The first year I looked like a smurf and the second year Oscar the Grouch. 

"What colour this year? Every year I look forward to raising as much as I can to help the hospice which cared for my nan".

You can find out more and donate on Oscar's Justgiving page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/caroline-boncey3.

State of the Union.
25th April: Our good friend Markus Münch has been in touch with a pre-season update on the Drag Race Union Super Pro ET and Pro ET Championships:

The start of the season is looming and so far we have twenty entries in Super Pro ET. Best wishes to those teams who are no longer racing with us this year and a very warm welcome to the teams who have joined us. Entries so far: Oliver Petzold (willing to defend his Championship), Stefan Eisenhauer, Eric Angeloni, Jochen Beck, Franz Aschenbrenner, Jens Könnecke, Billy Gane, Alain Dürr, Robert Gassner, Enrico Bailo, Fabio Cassinelli, Walle Strobel, Florian Uebel, Alex Halter, Beat Rechsteiner, Simon Rudiferia, Marc Henney, Gerhard Dold, Fabien Dubois and Elodie Dubois.

Another big thank you to our sponsors, many of whom have stood with us for a long time, and welcome to those who are supporting us for the first time in 2018. We are happy to announce that the winner will take home 2500€ at the end of the season. Thanks to all sponsors and participants: Eisenhauer KFZ Service, Team 74 (Mike Bruckmüller), Hillbilly Hellfire Racing, Geiger Cars München, Spedition Schumann, Skull Racing, Farber und Steigner GBR, Alex Halter, Racepoint.it, Rechsteiner Bedachungen, and BDRC.

The Bechyne race unfortunately got cancelled again but I'm looking forward to seeing you all at Rivanazzano, Santa Pod, Clastres, Kiskunlachaza and Hockenheim.

Meanwhile, twenty five teams have registered for Pro ET. There are many familiar faces, but also some newcomers. The full list of participants is published on the Drag Race Union web site at www.dragraceunion.eu. If you click on the start number or the team name then you will be taken directly to the driver profile.

We would also like to thank our sponsors US Speed Shop, Spedition Schumann, Glas Schöninger, Zollshop.de, Computech, All Automotive, Skull Racing, Färber and Steiger GBR, Hoosier-Rennreifen.de, Quick Performance and Sacotec.

The Challenge scoring runs are fixed and can also be found on the homepage. They are marked with a "ProET Siegerkranz".

The first race, Wide Open in Rivanazzano, is a few weeks away so do not waste any time in finishing your race car and equipment.

Swift snippets.
25th April: We have a birthday in the extended family today in the person of our good buddy Maikel Gloudemans of our streaming service provider Doyousee.me. From Gijs and from the Eurodragster.com team have a great day M@ik.

We have firmed up our plans for coverage from Santa Pod Raceway this weekend. As well as a Webster Race Engineering / Nimbus Motorsport webcast of the Saturday Night Special, we will in association with John Woolfe Racing post an end-day gallery. We will also post an end-day gallery after Sunday's Fast Show. Kirstie has been granted an exeat to tend to a singed Camaro so Callum Pudge has kindly agreed to join Diana Macrae and Tog. You can check out our 2018 coverage schedule by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

FIA/FIM Main Event entry update.
24th April: Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall for sending us Version 5 of the official entry list for the FIA/FIM Main Event, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-28th May and which is the first round of the FIA European Championships and the first and second rounds of the FIM European Championships as well as a UK and/or SPRC Championship round for Comp Eliminator, Gearhead Garage UK Super Pro ET, Modurstang Pro ET, Super Comp, Terry Gibbs Super Gas Shootout 2018, Super Street, Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator and Lucas Oil Junior Dragster.

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.

Standard-rate entry closes on Friday of this week (27th) after which date entry, if accepted, may be subject to a Late Entry penalty. You can fill in and submit or download the official Main Event entry forms via the Information link of the SPRC web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.

If you have any queries about Main Event entry then please get in touch with Ian 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 for today (Tuesday) to our good buddy, Heaven and Hell and Earsplittenloudenboomer crew and Honorary Eurodragster.com Staff Member Colin Roaf. Have a great day Colin.

Geoff Stilwell asked us to say a big Happy Birthday for today to his friend and Crew Chief on the 7700 Land Speed car Bill Schultz, seen at right tucking in to a birthday cake at a weekend party with fellow US legends Tommy Ivo and Marvin Graham. We were lucky enough to meet Bill at Piteå and elsewhere in Europe in the early 2000s and have good memories of some great laughs including Bill's classic take on weather forecasters somehow keeping their jobs despite screwing up daily, which is as true now as it was back then and ever shall be. Have a great day Bill.

Web site updates.
24th April: The latest updates on the Drag Racing Europe Blog include news of VP Racing Fuels' official partnership with Speedgroup and a catch-up with 2017 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Duncan (The Maltese Lion) Micallef. You can check it out at www.dragracingeurope.eu

The Mad Welshman has updated his Flickr site with pictures from the recent Saturday Night Special at Santa Pod Raceway. You can check out Mad's pictures at www.flickr.com/photos/the_madwelshman.

Also posting pictures is Paul Lister whose Festival of Power Friday pictures you can check out on the Drag Car Anon web site at www.dragcaranon.co.uk.

Roland Pratt.
22nd April: We were very sorry to learn of the death of Roland Pratt of the UK's 1960s-70s Hillbillies team.

Roland and Mike Derry of the Hillbillies fielded a classic short-wheelbase Topolino-bodied Comp Altered, campaigned Funny Cars with Vauxhall VX, Avenger and Scimitar bodies, and a former Skilton rear-engined dragster. A top end crash in the VX Funny Car and a huge fire in the Avenger earned Roland a reputation for being indestructible. Roland also built one incarnation of the Stones' Tee Rat Fuel Altered.

We never had the privilege of meeting Roland but as fans of long standing we were well aware of his good reputation and of course of his occasionally-spectacular career. Our sympathies to Roland's family and friends.

Take a bet on The Doorslammers.
 21st April: Santa Pod Raceway, in collaboration with Argyll Entertainment, the UK licensed operator of RedZoneSports.bet, are pleased to announce the first-ever on-line betting on drag racing at the Doorslammers event to be held over the weekend of 19th-20th May. The prize money and the atmosphere will set The Doorslammers apart from Santa Pod's other traditional drag racing events and the competition will be open exclusively to door-bodied cars. With the growing popularity of TV shows such as Roadkill and Discovery Channel's Street Outlaws this eagerly-anticipated, street-style racing event is expected to attract intense interest from fans and racers alike. 

Especially for the event, the lanes of Santa Pod's famous drag strip will be renamed Red and Black, and a number of exciting betting opportunities will be made available throughout the racing weekend. The first specials are now live at RedZoneSports.bet/SantaPod.

Warren Llambias, Co-Founder of Redzonesports.bet, commented "As the British home of American sport, RedZoneSports.bet is delighted and immensely proud to be the first on-line bookmaker to offer odds on drag racing. Customers in the UK will receive the exclusive opportunity to bet on races from Santa Pod via mobile or desktop, when the famous Doorslammers event returns to Santa Pod on May 19th/20th. Although this is a one-off event, we very much hope to provide betting on a wider range of drag racing events in the future."

Keith Bartlett, CEO of Trakbak Racing and Santa Pod Raceway, added "Santa Pod has been looking to develop on-line drag racing betting for some time and we're delighted to have found the perfect partner in Redzonesports.bet. Our new Doorslammers event is the ideal occasion to introduce this exciting new element to drag racing and further to enhance our spectator experience. As a high-profile venue and host to such a spectacular sport, we are always looking to add value and enjoyment to our events. Therefore we look forward to working with Redzonesports.bet in the future to add a new dimension to the sport of drag racing."

Swift snippets.
21st April: Congratulations to Glenn Ramsden of UK Event Safety who suggested the best name for Santa Pod Raceway's new counter-rotator. We had several entries but Glenn's Sled Zeppelin takes the £25 put up by our good friend Bob Roberts, to whom many thanks. This name is, of course, neither official nor binding but we had a good time reading everyone's suggestions.

This weekend's Saturday Night Special at Santa Pod Raceway is scheduled to be our first Webster Race Engineering / Nimbus Motorsport webcast of the season. If you are running at any of our webcast events this season then the best address to give sponsors, fans, family and friends will always be www.eurodragster.com/webcam. The forwarding address from that landing page may change, but eurodragster.com/webcam is guaranteed to get you there. For our current webcast schedule click here or click on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

FIA/FIM Main Event entry update.
19th April: Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall for sending us Version 3 of the official entry list for the FIA/FIM Main Event, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-28th May and which is the first round of the FIA European Championships and the first and second rounds of the FIM European Championships as well as a UK and/or SPRC Championship round for Comp Eliminator, Gearhead Garage UK Super Pro ET, Modurstang Pro ET, Super Comp, Terry Gibbs Super Gas Shootout 2018, Super Street, Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator and Lucas Oil Junior Dragster.

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.

Standard-rate entry closes on Friday of next week, 27th April, after which date entry, if accepted, may be subject to a Late Entry penalty. You can fill in and submit or download the official Main Event entry forms via the Information link of the SPRC web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.

If you have any queries about Main Event entry then please get in touch with Ian on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625) or E-Mail [email protected].

Off to a Flyer.
19th April: After spending what seemed to be a lifetime in the garage over the winter helping Scott Crookston with his new Outlaw Anglia, Fyfe's finest Colin Millar got to spend some time with his own car and had it ready for testing at Santa Pod Raceway last weekend:

I got it all back together in one piece and was desperate to get back in the driving seat and actually run down Santa Pod's new concrete track. It was a very last-minute decision to load up and head down, just Lynn and I and no Scott, his car will be back down the last weekend of April for testing. A couple of phone calls and Ronnie Mercer jumped at the chance as he has also been very busy in the garage over the winter. "See you Friday night" was the call on the phone.

Down the road and got all set up with a view to race Sunday, but the sun came out on Saturday and we couldn't help ourselves. So a few launches and a squirt to 300 feet then off the gas, car back and check everything was all good. Three runs, all checkout passes.


Sunday and it was very overcast, with the sun trying so hard to peer through the haze, the heat did start to come through though and off we went for a full pass, but not full out-and-out. All good with a 9.1 and nice and straight. Break for lunch but Ian Marshall kept on prepping the track, another glue session and the track felt great underfoot so I made the decision to give it some. A nice long rolling burnout, back into stage then a sensible launch rpm and away we went. 8.0/170, was well happy with that. Back around again for the last one of the day with an 8.1 which was great, hooked and went lovely and straight. So for me the track was great and we were as always well looked-after by Ian, Dave and Darren and all the fabulous Santa Pod marshals.

What was also fantastic was that Rocket Ronnie Mercer ran his first ever nine, well done that man.

Special thanks also to Mick Taylor, Rob Chilton, Ginner, Ronnie, Annette and Lynn for crewing, food, banter and an all-round great time. Roll on the last week in April when I hope to help Scott. And roll on the Doorslammers, that's gonna be busy!

Pictures courtesy and ©Blackett Photography

Clear your diary...
19th April: After a successful move into new premises, it's time to finally open the doors for Williams Brothers' Racing's first OCS Group Open Day:

Finding a suitable day was always going to be a challenge but the date is set and we hope that many drag racers, fans, hot rods, muscle cars and classics can come along on Saturday 5th May. OCS Paint and Williams Bros Racing have become very highly-regarded and are responsible for many stunning cars that have emerged from their workshops, many of which will be on display at the event including Fast Company, Jon Webster's Pro Mod Mustang, Jon will also have his fantastic Ford pick-up three as well. 00 Heaven, the Doignie and Lane multiple-Championship winning Vauxhall Victor, James Oliver's stunning Firebird Formula along with his WBR built '32 Ford, Allan Davies' Top Fuel bike along with WBR apprentice Louis Davies and his 8.50 Bike, and SPRC Pro ET Championship-winning WBR Chevelle to name but a few.

There will be absolutely loads of project cars for you to see from '50s pick-ups, vans, E-Type Jags, '30s hot rods, muscle cars, the list goes on and you will be surprised at some of the cars we will be showing, but you will have to come along and see for yourselves. You will also have a chance to see inside our engine dyno room, main engine shop, spray booth and main workshops. Knowing some of the people attending the car park will be a show of its own as many of our customers and friends will be bringing along a wide and diverse range of vehicles.

We will have live music performed by The Whatevers, a local band who will be on stage for two forty five-minute sets, burger van, ample parking and loads of other attractions including some of our suppliers on hand including Snap-on Tools, Earls Performance Products, Webster Race Engineering, Topspeed Automotive and more. Knowing Dan and Nic Williams, things will probably get fairly noisey with various engine fire-ups during the day.

The day runs from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. We are located just off the A5 four miles north of Towcester, Northamptonshire. It will be signposted on the day but please check out our Facebook page for more details as more attractions are being added almost daily.

Swift snippets.
19th April: Martin Black has been in touch to say that at the weekend he spoke to some of those involved in running drag racing in Spain. "These guys are really struggling out here and have been since 2009", says Martin. "Are there any racers out there who would be interested in travelling to Spain and putting our sport on the map in 2019?". If you are interested in helping the Spanis racing contingent then drop Martin a line at [email protected].

Editor's note: Apologies for the delay in getting this news update posted, which was due to a perfect storm of laptop problems and non-materialising forwarded E-Mails. All sorted now.

Bank Holiday threesomes.
19th April: Paul Marston has been in touch with an update on Gearhead Garage No Prep Nationals 2 which takes place at Rockingham Dragstrip on 7th May:

Advance spectator tickets are now available from Rockingham's on-line ticket provider at rockingham.seetickets.com/. Tickets are £10 in advance and £12 on the gate. Gates open at 08:00 and racing starts at 09:00.

The event at Rockingham Dragstrip is part of a three motorsport-activity event named RD3. Drag racing takes place in front of the main grandstand, the Drift Arena is in the outer paddock and the National Circuit plays host to a Track Day. Your ticket allows you entry to all three. More details from the Rockingham web site at www.rockingham.co.uk.

Rockingham Dragstrip track action offers No Prep Nationals 2: Heads Up, No Time, No Speed, grass-roots, Street Outlaw-style flashlight start racing at its best. The fastest No Prep racers in the country are attending for a prize fund which just keeps growing. Someone is going to go home considerably richer: at No Prep Nationals 1 at North Weald in 2017 Dave Wiggins went home with £1250 cash for his day's work, the winner at Rockingham will be taking more than that and a very substantial trophy. The next class is Grudge / Call Out in which you pick your opponent and how much you want to race for, again heads-up. Details can be found on the entry form. Lastly No Prep, No Time RWYB, anyone can enter. We are now welcoming bikes and karts.

For more details and entry forms, E-Mail [email protected], Like our Facebook page Rockingham Drag Strip, or call or text me on 07831 650230.

Swift snippets.
18th April: Geoff Stilwell asked us to say a big Happy Birthday to US former Top Fuel racer and his dear friend Marvin Graham, and also to legendary US racer Tommy Ivo who is 82 today. Our pleasure Geoff, have the best of days guys.

 The Hustler, new in Town.
 17th April: The European Nostalgia Funny Car contingent has increased by one courtesy of the UK's Paul Harris who has acquired the Chi-Town Hustler FC from Troy Martin in the USA. The plan is for the Dodge Omni to make its first appearance at Dragstalgia at Santa Pod Raceway in July.

"My first visit to Santa Pod was in 1972", Paul told Eurodragster.com. "I have come and gone over the years. I lost count of the stuff we ran! I used to be involved with Doc Claydon, I was on his Fuel Altered team then ran the Willys, and worked with John Sultuna on the black Manta. I had a couple of street cars, including a '71 Barracuda convertible. I'd drive to the track, put the hood up, put slicks on it, put on my crash helmet and run twelves. Then I'd put the tyres back on, put the top down, and go home. I stupidly sold it - I think it's in Norway now!"

Paul said that he had wanted a Funny Car for a long time. "I am quite friendly with Dennis Priddle", he said. "I talked about getting a car. I purchased one of the Budweiser cars which was driven by Harlan Thompson, bought it as a roller with a Ken Cox chassis and an '82 Trans Am body. In fact I still own it. I spent a lot of time looking to make it a race car. I went to see Rob Loaring and Nick Davies at ICE Automotive, I walked in and Rob looked at me and said "I know you! Didn't you wrench for John Claydon?". We talked about the logistics of getting the car up to race spec but they said would be post-2018 whatever.

"I thought more about the logistics and just after Christmas I told my wife that I was going to start browsing the net and I found the Hustler on Racing Junk. I looked at other cars, including one of Paul Romine's. I left Troy Martin an E-Mail and he got back to me. At that point the Hustler was sold, in Outlaw Funny Car set-up, but the guy let him down. I said to Troy that we don't have a class for Outlaw, could it be run as a Nostalgia Funny Car? He said that it used to be a Nostalgia FC, he would have to buy some parts to get it back to Nostalgia spec, but yes. When Troy said he could do it I said "Let's do it" - even down to the 34½" slicks!

"The chassis is a 2016 Conode, the motor is John Force with Schumacher rods and pistons. I have a spare motor which is identical even down to the camshaft grind. I bought as much as I could!"

Having been purchased in January the Hustler is in a container and headed for the UK where it will be readied for its first outing at Dragstalgia. "When the car arrives we will check the car over", said Paul. "Troy said that it is pretty much ready to run, we just need to check the bearings and reset the clutch, that is how confident he is. But we will probably take it to Dave Milam who is a friend, a racer and a bloody good engineer.

"The plan is to have Troy over to drive the car at Dragstalgia. He will be bringing his crew Ken and Tom. He will set the car up and put it down the track at Dragstalgia, then will run me through the procedures and put in a user-friendly tune so that I can get used to the car. I won't drive at Dragstalgia, I will be licencing at a later date. The crowd at Dragstalgia have come to see full passes, they don't want to be bored by me sodding around!"

Swift snippets.
17th April: Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall for forwarding us Version 2 of the official entry list for the FIA/FIM Main Event which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-28th 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. You can find the official Main Event entry forms on the Information link of the SPRC web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.

Back to the Funny Car theme, albeit present-day, and the Drag Racing Europe Blog has been updated with interviews with Top Methanol Funny Car racers: the returning final FIA European Top Methanol FC Champion Johnny Oksa and the taking-up-where-he-left-off-last-year Sandro Bellio of Eurodragster.com sponsor Dyno Unlimited. You can check it out courtesy of our good buddy Remco Scheelings at www.dragracingeurope.eu.

Geoff Stilwell of 7707 Salt Shaker Land Speed team tells us that US Top Fuel Dragster star Clay Millican has joined the team and will be present at Speed Week in Bonneville in August. Geoff has just launched a Facebook page for 7707 which you can check out by clicking here.

Swift snippets.
15th April: We have two spy pictures for you today. The first came with the words "Pipe of peace ready to smoke with the gods of traction"...


...whilst the second came with the words "Coming home". If you know more, or if you would like to send your own spy picture, then drop us a line at [email protected].

Feature: 2018 March Meet.
 13th April: The latest in our occasional series of Features presented in association with Lucas Oil Products is photo-journalist Steve Moxley's account of the recent Good Vibrations March Meet in Bakersfield.

You can take a look by clicking here or by clicking on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

Web site updates.
13th April: In a one-off entry in his former Racer Blog, Eurodragster.com sponsor Derek Flynn explains why he and wife Fiona will no longer be sponsoring drag racing. You can check it out by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

FIA/FIM Main Event entry update.
11th April: Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall for sending us Version 1 of the official entry list for the FIA/FIM Main Event, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-28th May and which is the first round of the FIA European Championships and the first and second rounds of the FIM European Championships as well as a UK and/or SPRC Championship round for Comp Eliminator, Gearhead Garage UK Super Pro ET, Modurstang Pro ET, Super Comp, Terry Gibbs Super Gas Shootout 2018, Super Street, Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator and Lucas Oil Junior Dragster.

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.

Standard-rate entry closes on Friday 27th April after which date entry, if accepted, may be subject to a Late Entry penalty. You can fill in and submit or download the official Main Event entry forms via the Information link of the SPRC web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.

If you have any queries about Main Event entry then please get in touch with Ian on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625) or E-Mail [email protected].

Swift snippets.
11th April: Didier Canicave has been in touch to remind racers that they are welcome to attend the Association Trophée Dragster race at Clastres Dragway on 23rd-24th June. "Clastres is located 120 miles from Calais and 60 miles north of Paris", says Didier. "The quarter mile track is 1800 metres long and eleven metres wide. The ATD staff do a great job of preparing the track and the Drag Race Team have a lot of experience on timing systems and Christmas Trees. You can run in RWYB, Super Pro ET, Pro ET, Street Cars and Junior Dragster. See you at the track". For more information or to enter please contact the ATD at [email protected] or call +33 673 5836.

We were unfortunately unable to get near the server to post a news update yesterday (Tuesday) so we were unable to say a big Happy Birthday to Lizz Charman, Thomas Cook-Abbott, and Colin Theobald. Colin got in touch to add that yesterday was also Keith Williams' 60th birthday. "Hope you liked the velcro shoes from everyone at OCS Paint and Williams Bros Racing", says Colin. Hope you all had great days.

We have had a number of great suggestions for a name for Santa Pod Raceway's new counter-rotator sled. The final choice of winner of the £25 put up by Bob Roberts has now been placed in the hands of Your News Editor so his own suggestions won't be winning. We will keep entry open for another couple of days so if you would like to suggest a name for the counter-rotator then please drop us a line at [email protected].

Lucas Oil back The Doorslammers.
11th April: Lucas Oil Products UK have confirmed sponsorship of the Pro Street Class at The Doorslammers on 19th-20th May.

"As a big fan of this kind of racing, Lucas Oil was always favourite to sponsor one of the classes" says Les Downey, Managing Director of Lucas Oil Products (UK). "It was just too good an opportunity to miss."

Lucas Oil is a major sponsor of drag racing. Doorslammers is an exciting format and it's expected that the prize money will attract a lot of Lucas Oil-sponsored drivers. The Pro Street Class is an ideal showcase for the Lucas Oil brand:

"Every car on the track must be taxed and must have a valid MoT certificate", says Les. "It will attract lots of racing enthusiasts and that makes it very likely that lots of them will feature the Lucas Oil logo. Everybody watching will be able to buy the Lucas Oil range of oils, lubricants and additives from the Santa Pod Shop. It's a win-win for us."

Lucas Oil join other class sponsors VP Racing Fuels, Turbo Technics, Spal Automotive, OCS Group, Webster Race Engineering and EBC Brakes to complete the line-up of class sponsors for the event. For more information on The Doorslammers, the latest entry list, and to book tickets visit www.santapod.co.uk/doorslammers.php.

FIM Championship rule changes.
9th April: Many thanks to Job Heezen of the FIM European Drag Bike Commission for sending us news of recent rule changes for the 2018 FIM Europe Drag Bike Championships:
  1. DR10.10.7 Parachutes. New: Any use of the parachute in the opponents lane which jeopardises his or her safety can be reason for disqualification from the event.

  2. DR14.4.4.1 and DR14.6.21 Wheels. New: Both rules have been removed.  For further information on the use of carbon wheels please read the information on the FIM-E Championship Facebook page.

  3. DR14.7.5 Frame. New: Can be purpose-built of tubular construction or use a stock frame, utilising a rigid rear end. Riders must be able to reach all controls safely and be able to place both feet flat on the ground. Wheelie bars are mandatory.

  4. DR14.3.6 and DR14.5.4 Body. New: Body to resemble manufacturer's stock bike whose engine is used.
For more information check out the FIM-E Championship Facebook page. The schedule for the 2018 FIM European Drag Bike Championships can be checked out by clicking here or by clicking on the 2018 FIA/FIM Championships Schedule link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

A fund for Jack.
9th April: UK Super Pro ET racer Pete Walters of Eurodragster.com sponsor Peter Walters Race Design writes on behalf of the Super Pro ET Group that a fund has been set up to assist Jack Brewster with the repair of his much-loved Just Mustard Pontiac, which was badly damaged in a crash at the Festival of Power:

As no racing took place, racers who entered the event have each agreed to donate their personal share of the prize fund to Jack. This will not be a regular occurrence; the racers agreed due to certain circumstances at the weekend, it is only fair, and I'm sure that you can all understand this.

In addition, there has also been a very generous £500 personal donation from Steve Johnson, as well as £200 from Derek Flynn and £100 from Richard Walters. If any other racer, supporter, sponsor or anyone else would like to add to this fund then please contact the Super Pro ET Group through Richard Walters either through Facebook or E-Mail [email protected].

We all wish Jack a speedy recovery and hope that he can return to the track as soon as possible (Hear, hear - Ed).

Swift snippets.
9th April: Longtime Eurodragster.com supporter Bob Roberts has been in touch to offer a £25 prize for the best name for the new counter-rotator sled built for Santa Pod Raceway by Eurodragster.com sponsor Andy Robinson Race Cars. Sleddy McSledface has already been submitted but if you would like to suggest a name for a shot at £25 then please drop us a line at [email protected].


No news update yesterday so we were unable to say a big Happy Birthday to UK Super Gas racer and sit-down comedian Simon Gough. Hope you had a great day Simon.

2018 British Hall of Fame Gala.
9th April: The British Drag Racing Hall of Fame is pleased to announce that its 2018 Gala will take place on Saturday 17th November at the historic Oatlands Park Hotel in Weybridge. The BDRHoF also welcomes two new Directors and a new adviser to the Board.

BHRHoF Chairman Stu Bradbury said "We are delighted to have made a firm booking for the dinner and awards ceremony which will once again take place in the York Suite of the hotel. The main focus of the event will be on inducting our new members of the Hall of Fame for 2018. There will be a Bench Racing session in the afternoon, and we will be welcoming an array of sponsors and special guests whom we will announce in due course."


At the 2017 Gala, British drag racing fans took part in a Bench Racing session sponsored by Beech Underwriting Agencies in the hotel's Terrazza, or terrace, during the afternoon before the evening's three-course dinner and prize ceremony. A large contingent of special guests included Connie Kalitta and Jim Oberhofer from Kalitta Motorsport and Steve Gibbs, former NHRA Competitions Director and now organiser of the Nitro Revival nostalgia gathering to take place this year in May at WeatherTech Raceway, Laguna Seca. Steve was presented with the Lucas Oil Global Achievement Award for his long career in the sport.

The BDRHoF is also announcing changes to its Board of Directors. Ian Hart has joined as Director in charge of sponsorship, and Nigel Payne is Director helping with transport arrangements. Ian and Nigel are known for their involvement in UK Junior Dragster racing, with sons Ruaridh Hart and Jordan Payne helping the BDRHoF alongside their racing activities. 2017 BDRHoF inductee Lesley Wright has joined as an Adviser and Guy Loveridge, previously a director, has become Adviser for Historic Motorsport.


The BDRHoF will be taking reservations for the 2018 Gala Awards Dinner by E-Mail at [email protected] or by telephone on 01933 279102. This year the dinner tickets, which include table wine, are competitively priced at £70, £5 more than 2017 due to price increases. The BDRHoF have managed to keep the same rates for hotel rooms of £115 for double rooms and £94 for single rooms which includes breakfast and VAT as well as parking. The event always sells out well in advance, so if you would like to join us for the occasion we suggest that you make your reservation sooner rather than later. On receiving your reservation you will be given the procedure to book rooms.

On-going news about the Gala, sponsors and other events in which the BDRHoF is involved is regularly published on the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame web site at www.britishdragracinghof.co.uk, here on Eurodragster.com, and on Facebook and Twitter.

Test Day entry for FoP / BB racers.
7th April: Further to Thursday's news item regarding rescheduled events at Santa Pod Raceway, in order to redeem the promised free admission for the All Torque Test Day on Sunday 15th April please contact James Forster at [email protected] or 01234 782828 so that your new tickets can be arranged.

Please remember that this offer only applies to those entered but whose classes did not run eliminations at the Festival of Power, and those who were entered for Big Bang.

Swift snippets.
7th April: Many thanks to Yvonne Tramm and our own Simon for posting the post-Festival of Power points standings in the UK National Drag Racing and Santa Pod Racers Club Championships. You can check out the UK points on our OCS Paint-sponsored Points Standings page which you can reach by clicking here or by clicking on the OCS Paint Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

Amazon is offering a Kindle-edition book Junior Dragster Racing - A Beginner's Guide. Written by Richard Chrichton the book covers equipment selection, techniques, technical details and racing tips designed to aid everyone, whether just curious or considering starting racing or seasoned racer who wants to understand more about the technical side. The download is £4 and can be purchased on Amazon by clicking here.


Many thanks to Mike Collins for sending us a preview of his column in the latest issue of Street Machine magazine, available if you are quick, plus for Nostalgia fans a Legends Edition featuring European fan favourite Harlan Thompson. Click on the images above for the PDF downloads.

Racer credits from SPRC.
6th April: Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall has been in touch with an important update for those racers who did not race at the Festival of Power and for those racers who had entered Big Bang:

After a very trying Festival of Power, and following consultation between SPRC and Santa Pod Raceway, it has been decided that racers whose classes did not get to run eliminations will receive a £50 credit towards any race meeting within the next twelve months. This will include the 2019 Festival of Power even though that event falls slightly outside the twelve month period.

Obviously this credit will not include those classes whose eliminations ran to conclusion.

SPRC and Santa Pod Raceway would like to take the opportunity to thank all of the racers and crew present for sticking with us during a very testing weekend for all concerned, and we look forward to much better weather and warmer temperatures the next time we meet.

Following on from Santa Pod Raceway's unfortunate but necessary announcement cancelling the racing aspect of Big Bang, and moving the date of the Festival part of Big Bang, all racers who have entered the Big Bang round of the UK National Drag Racing Championships will of course receive a full refund of their entry fees. Please note that this is only for racers entered for this event.

We are actively seeking an alternative date to allow us to run the missing round of the Championships. As soon as we have details of the proposed date, we will keep you informed via Eurodragster.com.

On behalf of the whole SPRC Committee, thank you for your understanding.

Swift snippets.
5th April: Many thanks to Andy Marrs for passing us the official Festival of Power timing data. You can check it out by clicking here or by clicking on the Timing Data link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

We would like to say a big Happy Birthday to Derek Flynn, long-standing sponsor of both Eurodragster.com, and to former Top Fuel Dragster racer Kim Reymond. Have a great day, both.

As a result of yesterday's announcement by Santa Pod Raceway we have updated the schedules for our John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage and Webster Race Engineering / Nimbus Motorsport webcam. You can take a look at our coverage schedule by clicking here or by clicking on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.

Santa Pod reschedule events.
5th April: Santa Pod Raceway have announced that they are rescheduling some of their forthcoming events, including the cancellation of the racing element of the rearranged Big Bang. Santa Pod Raceway CEO Keith Bartlett writes:

It will come as no surprise to any of you reading this that all of us here at Santa Pod had perhaps one of the most difficult Easter events for many years – if not the most difficult event ever! After a very difficult winter period in which we were unable to lay the new concrete track in the time-line we had hoped for - we were not only looking forward to some easy times, but hopefully towards having some clear weather windows to allow us to get the track prep completed to the standard we wanted. Alas and yet again the weather stepped in to prevent that in the build up to the Easter Festival of Power. May I add that this was the first Easter event where we have actively discouraged spectators and fans from turning up due to waterlogged fields.

We were not alone in this, as several other major motorsport venues had the same problems over the Easter weekend.

The early Easter brought with it numerous challenges for the Santa Pod venue and racers alike, both on and off the track; wet weather conditions in the run-up to the event meant that our fields very soon became difficult to cope with and the cold temperatures during the event had a direct effect on the new track. 

The Sunday before Festival of Power saw a Peak Performance Test and Tune blessed with some rare sunshine, the heat that this instantly put into the surface of the track had a transformative effect; traction levels immediately increased and a few PBs were recorded. Our own Two Seater Dragster produced performances a whisker away from numbers recorded at the European Finals the previous September. This tells us that the new concrete track is sensitive to temperature in a way that the previous asphalt surface was not. As I said to many teams, drivers and riders over the weekend, the concrete track is going to behave very differently to our old asphalt track, especially in colder weather – and Easter was very cold and very wet.

We believe that traction issues experienced on Sunday were mainly down to the very low temperatures and how this affected the performance of the prep that had been applied leading into the event. Quite simply, the lower the temperature, the less effective the glue will be. You then must add to that, the fact that we are trying to prepare a virgin track to take rubber and all in cold conditions.

The concrete itself will take much longer to absorb heat so when the sun goes in after only a few hours on a cold day, the warmth in the surface dissipates very quickly. Conversely after a long period of warm sun, the concrete will retain heat as it has longer to soak the warmth up. This is just one of the ways in which concrete behaves differently, the track crew will constantly be learning lessons as we go through the season with the new track. As we move towards the busier period of the season the 2.6 to 3.7 degree temperatures we experienced at Easter will of course be a distant memory and all the processes involved in prepping the new surface will become much easier and reliable as things warm up.

The litany of weather related problems stemming from Easter includes the necessary re-scheduling of certain events: The Fast Show and Big Bang. Because of The Fast Show's heavy reliance on the camping and parking fields we have had to move the ever popular modified event to the end of the month where Big Bang was scheduled to be (though the MSA permitted round remains in place and the FWD and JDS classes will still run). Unfortunately, relocating The Fast Show to the Big Bang weekend will mean that the National rounds and racing element of Big Bang will have to be cancelled, this is not a decision we have taken lightly and we have never before pre-emptively cancelled a round but the weather cannot be ignored and we have little choice. There will now be an opportunity to get some track time on the weekend that Fast Show was originally scheduled for. We are now holding a late night RWYB followed by and All Torque Test Day on the vacated date. 

The non track-based element of Big Bang (camping and evening entertainment) will join on to the new Doorslammers weekend and the Doorslammers event will now enjoy another day of testing with the track now opening on the Friday. We are also actively searching for ways to re-accommodate the racers that will lose a round of racing at a new date later in the season, with August being a possibility - we'll keep you posted on these efforts. All those racers who were entered and unable to run at Easter and those racers who will be losing a round at Big Bang will now qualify for free admission with their racer tickets on the 14th and 15th April test days (track fees will still apply).

Date Was Now
Saturday 14th April RWYB / Saturday Night Special RWYB / Saturday Night Special
Sunday 15th April The Fast Show All Torque Test Day
Saturday 28th April Big Bang RWYB / Saturday Night Special
Sunday 29th April Big Bang The Fast Show
Friday 18th May - All Torque Test Day / Big Bang
Saturday 19th May The Doorslammers The Doorslammers / Big Bang
Sunday 20th May The Doorslammers The Doorslammers / Big Bang

In closing all of us here at Santa Pod are very disappointed to find ourselves in this situation and making last minute changes to our events calendar – something we have never done before. But I can assure everyone that we are doing this with the best possible intentions for both the racers and spectators alike. We are always looking to improve the facility for both the racers and spectators and will continue to do so for many years to come. I have not invested £1,000,000 over the winter to do anything but improve Santa Pod, however sadly I cannot improve the weather – well not just yet – that's going to be our next big project. We have the staff - we just need to learn the rain dances required! I am sorry for all of you who had such a poor Easter at Santa Pod and those that will be missing out on racing at Big Bang, but I am sure that better times are ahead.

See you at the track.

 Tanaka SFI 16.1 harness recall.
4th April: Many thanks to Maxim Spaans for letting us know that the SFI have announced that driver restraint assemblies manufactured and certified to SFI Specification 16.1 by Ruian Dragon or Ruian Dongjinlong, and sold under the Tanaka brand, have been found to be non-compliant. The use of these harnesses should be stopped immediately and they should be returned to Ruian Dongjinlong.

For full details please check out the SFI's Recall Notice, released last Monday, which you can read by clicking here (PDF format).

Big Bang entry update.
4th April: Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Ian Marshall for sending us Version 3 of the official entry list for Big Bang, which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 28th-29th April and which is a Championship round for VW Pro, VW Sportsman, Outlaw Flat Four, Hutchinson & Dibley Sportsman ET, Lucas Oil Junior Dragster, 8.50 Bike (SPRC Championship), 9.50 Bike (SPRC Championship), ET Bike, Outlaw Anglia, Nostalgia Super Stock and the FWD Drag Series. 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.

Standard-rate entry closes this Friday, 6th April; entry after that date, if accepted, may be subject to a Late Entry penalty. You can fill in and submit or download the official Big Bang entry forms via the Information link of the SPRC web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc.

If you have any queries about Big Bang entry then please get in touch with Ian on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625) or E-Mail [email protected].

Day return to the bleach box.
3rd April: Following on from last Wednesday's announcement of the construction of a new European Championship-standard track at Kauhava in Finland, mentioned in last Thursday's Swift Snippets, Esko Raisvuo got in touch to give us some background:

The Finnish Hot Rod Association has signed a long-term co-operation agreement with very some wealthy people to have have a full-sized drag racing arena on their premises, which they purchased from the Air Force a couple of years ago. The Air Force had had their flying school there since 1929 and the local people got mad because the noise meant they had no lives. Hawks and Hornets used to fly day and night, but now it is too quiet.

The idea is to have a race track and arena only. Quarter mile and standing mile events, no circuit racing. This is to regenerate the area and to increase tourism. Since everything is in working order we have hotels and common rooms available, a great kitchen, plenty of saunas, showers and an indoor hangar for a couple of thousand people to party - or to find shelter from elements.

This place is located practically in the middle of the countryside town of Kauhava. There are supermarkets and service stations within a mile. The railway station is about two kilometres from the burnout box. It is about three hours' train trip from Helsinki Airport and other cities, travelling smoothly in the restaurant wagon, and five hours' drive from Helsinki. PowerPark, one of the biggest amusement parks in the north, is within twenty kilometres. The area itself is the most active Hot Rodding area.

Naturally we have co-operated with local authorities and businesses. This is a place to stay for decades - very long-term and very serious.

A white Dark Horse.
3rd April: With the exception of the weather, the Festival of Power was a good meeting for the Championship-holding Dark Horse team who added a gorgeous and instantly-successful Hutchinson & Dibley Sportsman ET Mercury Comet to the Modurstang Pro ET Mustang. Brian Huxley writes:

The Mustang had a leaking oil cooler, which we found and fixed after discovering a oil slick under the car on Saturday night. On Sunday we made our first run on the new track and did well, with a 9.45 dial-in I ran 9.64 which we thought was good, we had no problem with the track we were just being careful. So we were well pleased, especially with a fresh engine and axle thanks to Tim Hines and Wayne Allman.

Marc Huxley, driving his dad's freshly-imported Mercury Comet, did well in a completely unknown and untried car. The car was built in the States but had never raced. So it was a completely unknown quantity in qualifying. We dialled in a hopeful 14.00 and ran 15.70, we thought the axle was slipping so we tried it again on the next run and the axle started to work OK as the car ran 14.14. We were all stoked, we couldn't believe it.

Getting to the final and winning in a car which had never raced has make the Dark Horse teams well pleased, to say the least. Congratulations to Marc for being our guinea pig test driver and thanks and praise go to the Santa Pod team and crew for working very hard to give us what we got. We think that the track is going to work just fine, well done everybody.

Many thanks to our sponsors Lucas Oil Products, ETB Tyres Worcester, Sneddon and Sons Roofing, Bradfords Building Supplies and Tool Hire, Worcester Produce, Cars Car Sales and Servicing Worcester, M F Hydraulics, B A Irons Block Paving, Adley Developments Ltd, Forge Motorsport, Przym Clothing, Pipercross Air Filters, Hashtagsixty6 and Huxley Motorsport.

50 years of John Woolfe Racing, Part 1.
3rd April: Dave Riswick, CEO of Eurodragster.com sponsor John Woolfe Racing, is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of involvement in drag racing as Easter 1968 marks the date of the first appearance of the JWR name and colours on a drag racing car. Below is the first of ten instalments of the story of John Woolfe Racing's involvement with our sport. Mouse-over any picture for a caption:

It was early 1966 when the formula for permanent drag racing began. Londoner John Woolfe was 33 and had been racing powerful cars for the past ten years. Most, eventually became icons in motor racing history.

Drag racing was relatively unheard of to the general public until Santa Pod opened up and the seed of accelerating began to germinate with Woolfe. By the end of the year John had answered an ad in Autosport placed by a well-known engineer, John Tojeiro, credited for designing the AC Ace Sports Car which developed into the AC Cobra. John and John had known each other as far back as the late '50s when they were competing with Jaguars around the UK tracks. Woolfe purchased not one but two 427 Ford full house AC Shelby Cobras from Mr Tojeiro with the help of his race partner Arnold Burton. Soon, Cobra Chassis Number CSX 3167 would enter the Guinness Book of Records as the world's quickest accelerating road car. It currently resides at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.


In early September of 1967 Mark Stratton's Hustler Drag Racing Team were celebrating, having just clinched the British Drag Racing Championship Super Eliminator Title. At the same time, Woolfe had set the Fastest Time of Day at the Brighton Speed Trials in one of his seven litre Cobras. John had read about an up and coming drag race meeting in early October and entered his Cobra for the Last Chance Meeting at Santa Pod. Things were never the same again. John got his doors blown off of the AC Shelby by Mark's little 283 Chevy BSA Scout.


Well this just had to be the best thing to have happened to drag racing. John was so shattered by the realisation of the events that had just unfolded, and being the gentleman he was, he went over to Mark in the pits and introduced himself and started asking questions as to how a mighty AC Cobra could be beaten by a little small block Chevy. The drag racing bug had bitten and this led to John sponsoring Mark and his Hustler team in the from of financing a brand new 427 Chevrolet L-88 engine.

At the start of the 1968 drag racing season John Woolfe Racing's blue and yellow race colours, along with the now famous Woolfe Head, were firmly written into drag racing. It represented the very first semi-professional drag racing team in the UK and things began to happen. John was also keen to drive this Stratton-built beast, and in early May Woolfe took the BSA-based Altered to Silverstone fitted with this new Big Block Chevy V8 for a press interview with Motor magazine, plus some other machinery in his stable and a full three-page colour feature was written about this new venture. Many roundy-roundy racers took note and soon there were some very interesting entries appearing at the Pod.


In that year's final, Mark drove Hustler, the John Woolfe Racing-sponsored seven-litre Chevy BSA Scout and won the British Drag Racing Super Eliminator Trophy for the second year running.


There were other projects within the same year with John and Mark. One in the form of a twin-engine Chevy V8 dragster, Hustler II and this too was featured in the May Motor magazine article from Silverstone. In October John entered the Stratton-built twin 283 Chevy engine dragster in the over eight-litre class of the International Sprint Organisation's World Records Weekend held at RAF Elvington in Yorkshire. Stratton set the firing order of the two engines and timed them as a V16, and as the Standing Start quarter mile record for over eight litres had never been established, all John had to do was make the two way passes and the record was his. Mark was there in support of John and the event went smoothly. John Woolfe established the FIA World Record of 73.02 mph in 12.33 seconds. Not much to shout about but nevertheless!


Before the end of first year of sponsoring the Hustler Drag Racing Team, John formally announced his intentions to continue support for 1969 in the form of a 427 Chevy-powered Reliant GTE. This too became a winner for the Hustler team in the hands of a young West Country lad: Dennis Priddle...

Swift snippets.
3rd April: We had one or two other things to think about yesterday so we didn't get round to 'fessing up about this year's April Fool, which was Sunday's Pit Note featuring Hayley Fyfe bemoaning officially-sanctioned frumpiness in our John Woolfe Racing-sponsored Festival of Power coverage. If that story had been true then Your News Editor would have been at the front of the mob armed with a pitchfork or torch. Apologies to any SJW who took the Pit Note seriously. Sunday's conditions did not allow us to post our decoy April Fools so Roger Goring building a Jet Altered and Nitro FM introducing phone-ins at the FIA/FIM Main Event will have to wait until next year. A big Thank You to Hayley for readily agreeing to our putting a tissue of whoppers in her mouth, and for posing for a picture for added authenticity.

Minor point of order: If others can get upset on social media then we can get upset on here. If others can criticise us on social media then we can criticise them on here, however infrequently we have historically done such things, although we will not stoop to the disgusting and Social Media policy-breaching language with which we were described yesterday. Anyone who wishes to discuss should feel free to E-Mail.

Web site updates.
3rd April: First with the Festival of Power-related picture updates is The Mad Welshman whose pictures from the Peak Performance Day of Sunday 25th March are now available for viewing at www.flickr.com/photos/the_madwelshman.

Not far behind is Paul Bryan whose shots from the race proper you can check out at www.flickr.com/photos/paulbryan_photopedia.

Gold RV pull Perfect Award support.
2nd April: As if spending several days wetter than a haddock's lingerie and colder than a bucket of penguin crap then seeing much-loved racers suffer accidents were not reason enough to be upset, this morning we have been informed by Derek and Fiona Flynn that they have withdrawn the support of Gold RV from the Eurodragster.com Perfect ET Award with immediate effect. This is due to grief which they received from racers over the weekend; we are not aware of the full details but it must have been bad to produce this outcome and it is an absolute disgrace.

Whoever it was who tipped the balance: well done, we hope you are proud of yourselves. As things stand that is the end of the Perfect ET Award. Thank you so much for kicking the teeth of a couple who have put thousands of pounds of sponsorship and prize money into the sport and who have supported Eurodragster.com for a very long time. We hope that you also feel proud that you have robbed your fellow racers of hundreds of pounds of prize money this season.

Anyone who even thinks about getting in touch with Tog and playing the victim, it is probably best that you don't. Anyone who plays the victim on Facebook, be warned that Tog may break his usual rule and post a response. And if Tog doesn't then any supporter of Eurodragster.com should feel free to do so on his behalf.

Derek has stressed his and Gold RV's continued support and sponsorship of Eurodragster.com as a site; a big Thank You to Derek and Fiona for this and for their long support both of Eurodragster.com and of the Perfect ET Award until some ingrate screwed it up for you all.

Festival of Power results.
1st April: Congratulations to the winners at the weekend's Festival of Power at Santa Pod Raceway:

Hutchinson & Dibley Sportsman ET: Marc Huxley (14.50) 14.4818/81.22 def. John McGarrigle (18.95) 18.9016/72.49 b/o
Lucas Oil Junior Dragster: Jordan Payne (8.04) 8.0527/80.93 def. Caitlin Wilson (8.07) 8.1548/81.81
VW Sportsman: Polly Judge (15.65) 15.7185/90.87 def. Jon Crawford (16.40) 16.5136/85.36

8.50 Bike: Jake Mechaell 8.5349/146.16 def. Jay Roe 8.4947/142.09 b/o
9.50 Bike: Dave Bowe 9.6834/140.74 def. Lewis Burgess 9.6619/137.37
ET Bike: Bradley Head (10.00) 11.4682/132.86 bye
Supertwin Top Gas: Jack Shook 10.0760/132.45 bye

No qualifying was possible on Friday or Saturday due to the weather and yesterday's planned one-shot qualifier and eliminations were abandoned for all but the above classes due to the conditions. Modurstang Pro ET racer Nigel Green and Gearhead Garage UK Super Pro ET racer Jack Brewster suffered crashes; Nigel was unhurt whilst Jack was taken to hospital as a precaution after reporting back pain.

You can check out our John Woolfe Racing-sponsored Festival of Power reports, results, pit notes 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. Please join Tog in a big Thank You to Pit Reporter Simon, Photographers Julian and Kirstie, and Off-Track Photographer Diana for their hard work and lack of complaint in what have been very unpleasant working conditions these last couple of weekends.


Earlier news