We are also pleased to report that our good and fast-working buddy John Hackney is now taking orders for the promised drag racing colouring book. The ringbound colouring book, which contains
thirty eight pages and is ideal for fans of all ages, is priced at a very reasonable £8 including UK postage. All profits from the sale of the colouring book will go to the support fund for Louise
and her family. Payment can be made via PayPal (please designate as a gift to reduce commission loss) or, if you are local, in cash to John. To order your copy please E-Mail John at
[email protected] and he will send payment details. John asked us to thank all those photographers who
contributed shots.
Continuing with the good news, Eurodragster.com Photographer Julian Hunt tells us that he has raised a sizeable sum for Louise's support fund
selling the camera original of any of his photographs but that it is not too late to place orders. Julian is offering the originals of
his pictures for £10 apiece, all of which is contributed to Louise's support fund. Take a look at
www.julianhunt.net and get in touch with Julian if you would like to purchase
a picture. Julian asked us to thank everyone who has ordered a photograph.
As well as the above offerings, you can of course still contribute directly to Louise's support fund via its
Justgiving page. Many thanks to all of our readers for their
support.
Action replay. 30th December: If you attended the UK National Finals at Santa Pod Raceway at the end of September then you will remember it
as a glorious showcase for Sportsman racing which took place in perfect weather and which featured tight qualifying, close racing, some nail-biting
Championship deciders in car classes, and almost no down time. If you were not at Santa Pod that weekend then you should kick yourself and make a note
to attend next season.
Whether or not you attended this year's event we are pleased to announce that courtesy of Maikel Gloudemans of our streaming service supplier
Doyousee.me you will shortly have the chance to relive, or experience, the 2015 UK National Finals
as broadcast by Eurodragster.com's Webster Race
Engineering / Nimbus Motorsport webcam. Broadcast is planned to commence on Friday
this week, 1st January, with the choice of viewing Saturday (eight hours) or Sunday (six hours) or of course both. We will of course provide the link
as soon as the replay commences on Friday.
Maikel is investigating a replay at least one other event so stay tuned for details.
A former Cooper Cars Chief Mechanic, John joined Sydney Allard as Chief Engineer in the 1950s and few of today's drag racing enthusiasts will know of the
crucial role he played in European drag racing history. As well as tuning and maintaining Sydney's team cars, along with Sydney's Designer David Hooper he
was heavily involved in developing and operating Europe's first dragster, the 1961 blown 354 cubic inch Hemi-engined Allard Chrysler and the blown 1500 cc
Ford-engined Allard Dragon dragsters which followed.
Ill-health prevented John from being involved with the Allard Chrysler restoration but his family kept him informed. The dragster is now owned by the National
Motor Museum, Beaulieu and on display as a restored and working exhibit. The family members are rightly proud of his achievements and our thoughts are with
them at this time. The photo shows John (left) with David Hooper and Sydney Allard early in 1961.
John's funeral will be at 11:00 am next Monday, 4th January, at Newick Church in Newick, East Sussex. The wake will be at the Bluebell Railway, Sheffield Park
following the funeral. Those who knew John or his work are very welcome to attend either event. It would be great to have an Allard or two present. Flowers
to RA Brook Funeral Directors, Ravenoak, Allington Rd, Newick, Sussex, BN8 4NB. Alternately, donations to
www.justgiving.com/teams/louthrunforlife or Louth Run for Life, 16 Pasture
Drive, Louth, LN11 8XA.
SPRC Dinner Dance hotel update. 28th December:Santa Pod Racers Club International Race Director and Eurodragster.com
sponsor Carole Ismail has been in touch with an important message regarding
hotel room bookings for the SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy Presentation which takes place at 6:00 pm on Saturday 6th February 2016 at the
De Vere Staverton Park Hotel in Daventry.
If you have not booked your room for the SPRC Dinner Dance then it is recommended that you do so before close of business this Wednesday (30th)
or you will have to pay full rate, as on that day SPRC will surrender unused rooms back to the hotel for general release at full rate. The
preferential rate available until Wednesday is £85 for a single room and £95 for double or twin rooms including breakfast on Sunday.
To book your room, please call the hotel tomorrow (Tuesday) or Wednesday on 01327 302002 quoting reference SANT060216. Please do not try to book
your room on-line as your attempt at reservation will fail.
SPRC Perpetual Awards vote 3. 28th December: Santa Pod Racers Club and Eurodragster.com are again teaming up to give Eurodragster.com readers the chance of input to the
SPRC Perpetual Awards, which will be presented at the SPRC Dinner Dance and Trophy presentation on
Saturday 6th February 2016.
For several of the 2015 season awards, a shortlist has been decided upon for which votes can be
submitted by E-Mail. Nominations are now also being accepted for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy. The votes of Eurodragster.com
readers will be taken into consideration when the SPRC Committee decides upon their winners.
This week's category is Best Appearing Bike. The SPRC Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order, is as follows. You can see larger pictures
on the official Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or
by clicking on the SPRC Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
For each of the Awards, one vote per E-Mail address per nominee will be accepted: multiple votes for the same
nominee from the same E-Mail address will all be disqualified. And every year we say this, but every year someone
tries it on: please note that blatant attempts at organising mass votes - for example asking workmates, forum members or
Facebook friends to vote en masse - are easily identified and all such votes will be disallowed as they have been in previous years.
Concerted attempts at vote-rigging will result in the nominee being removed from the shortlist whether or not that nominee
knows what was going on. We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. If in any doubt about what constitutes canvassing
then please drop us a line at [email protected].
Additionally, if anyone should have issues with the content of any of the shortlists then please have the courtesy to contact SPRC
direct rather than contacting Eurodragster.com, posting cryptic comments on Facebook, or attempting to hack the Awards E-Mail address
(As some moron has spent the last fortnight trying - Ed). E-Mails to Eurodragster.com regarding the content of the shortlists will
receive neither a reply nor any other acknowledgement.
The next voting category, due next Monday (4th January), will be Most Professional Appearing Team.
Swift snippets. 28th December:Smax and Aidan Smith and the Ant Hill Mob have been in touch from Canada to ask us to wish all of their
friends, fans and extended family "A fast, safe but groovy xmas and hope 2016 brings forth your dreams. Thanx for all the continued support and watch
for us on the NHRA circuit in 2016". Great news Smax, compliments of the season to you and yours also.
More fundraising for Louise. 24th December: The Justgiving page for
Louise Payne of M&S Ambulance Service Ltd is going great guns, approaching £6000 at time of writing, so a big Thank You to everyone who has
contributed. As well as the Justgiving page there are more fundraising schemes in which you can participate.
Inspired by the current fad for coluring books for adults (Not adult colouring books which are something else entirely - Ed) our good buddy
John Hackney of Copyprint Depot is putting together drag racing colouring books
for kids big and small, with all profits to go to Louise's support fund. Hackers has put a call out to photographers for action shots for use in the books.
"Pictures should preferably be side-on", he says, "and do not need to be super high resolution as I will be turning them into line art for colouring purposes.
Hopefully once the images start coming in I can put car and bike books together... apparently it is a very good stress relief to colour in things!". If you would like to send a picture
for use in car or bike books then please send them to Hackers at [email protected].
Eurodragster.com Photographer Julian Hunt is offering the camera original of any of his photographs for £10, all of which will be contributed
to Louise's support fund. Take a look at www.julianhunt.net and get in touch with Julian
if you would like to purchase a picture.
News from Lou's mother kindly forwarded by Matt of M&S Abulance Service Ltd is that she has one eye open and can hear as she responded to a request to squeeze mum's hand, and that
she is not keen on all the tubes. "My girl's on the way now they are maybe looking to wake her fully this week", says mum. We're all thinking of you Lou, keep coming on that trip
back to us.
Louise is a valued member of a team which has saved lives and rendered medical assistance to racers and members of the public at the track and
we are sure that the racing community will want to step up to the plate for her as she has for us. Please either contribute via the
Justgiving page or consider supporting the above two ideas. Many
thanks for your support.
The Foundation at the Gala. 24th December: The Quarter Mile Foundation was fortunate to receive a donation from
Beech Underwriting to allow the filming of interviews of seven British pioneers of drag racing and the performance
aftermarket prior to the Installation Gala Dinner of the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame on 21st November. The
interviews took place at the famed Savill Court Hotel in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire.
Interviewer John Price, long-time Track Announcer at Santa Pod Raceway and presenter of many hot rod
shows and drag racing related TV programs in the UK, drew out some of the early history of
drag racing in Great Britain and how the racers from the United States and the aftermarket companies, influenced the sport and assisted the its transplantation into Britain and Europe.
John's subjects included racers, track officials, and a warehouse distributor. The interviewees were (in alphabetical order):
Stu Bradbury: Longtime Chief Starter (starting in 1967) at the famed Santa Pod Raceway, and serves as the current Chairman of the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame;
Russ Carpenter: Developed the Daimler hemi engine to run on nitro and ran it in a rear-engined dragster;
John Hobbs: A popular drag bike rider who competed in 1960s and 1970s on the Olympus, Olympus 2 and Hobbit bikes, capturing many wins and establishing
many records. The popular Olympus 2 and Hobbitt were radical twin-engined machines;
Gary Page: A versatile racer who raced Altereds, Funny Cars and Top Fuel Dragsters from the 1970s to the present;
Roy Phelps: Founder of Santa Pod Raceway, who took an old USAF bomber base and converted it into a world-class drag
strip. He promoted many events at the track, and Europe, bringing in many big names from the US;
Barry Sheavills: Another very talented and diversified racer in the Altered, Top Methanol Dragster and Top Fuel Dragster classes. He was the FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion
in 1998 and first driver to break the four-second barrier in the UK. He was also the first European racer to exceed 300 mph in the quarter mile. Andy Carter also ran 300 mph in the other lane, but
Barry was credited with being the first, since he was faster than Andy;
Steve Trice: Director of US Automotive, is a major warehouse distributor for US performance parts brands in the UK
and the European continent. US Automotive is one of the major sponsors of the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame.
The Foundation also received a digital recording of the Bench Racing session later in the afternoon with a number of the US contingent participating
in front of a select audience. The participants were Eileen Daniels (NHRA Nostalgia Series Administrator), Ron Hope (Rat Trap Fuel Altered racer), Fred Larsen (the Sundance Kid team,
Norway's first drag racing team), Bruce Larson (USA-1 Funny Car and 1989 NHRA Winston Champion, now a Nostalgia Funny Car racer), 'Waterbed' Fred Miller (the Blue Max Funny Car
team) and Bob Muravez aka Floyd Lippincote Jr (driver of the legendary twin-engined Freight Train Top Gas dragster). The stories which were told regaled the audience for nearly two hours, and
set the tone for the Induction Gala to follow.
The seven interviews added to the international history of the sport in the Foundation's interview inventory. The inclusion of these seven interviews increased the total interviews collected to
240 interviews, before the addition of interviews done at the 2015 Performance Racing Industry Show in Indianapolis and Detroit in December.
Traci Hrudka, Chairman of the Quarter Mile Foundation, said "The inclusion of these interviews, along with the Bench Racing session, is a significant step to expand the Foundation's interview
process to include the international aspect of the sport and industry outside of North America. The Foundation would like to extend its sincere thanks to Beech Underwriting, and its Managing
Director Geoff Stillwell, for the welcome contribution that allowed the interviews to be captured."
UK season's greetings. 24th December: Jerry Cookson of Shakespeare County Raceway
asked us to share the Raceway's Christmas card with our readers:
No news update yesterday so we were unable to wish Jerry a Happy Birthday on the day; belated birthday greetings Jerry and hope you had a great day.
Ian Marshall of Santa Pod Racers Club writes that the SPRC Committee would like to wish a very Merry Christmas to all of
its members, racers, crew members, marshals, medical staff, Eurodragster.com (Thanks! - Ed), sponsors, families and fans. "Thank you all for what you do
and have done in 2015, we hope you all have a great and successful 2016 and look forward to seeing you all in the new season", he says.
Drag Racing Unplugged XVII. 24th December: As has become traditional on our last pre-Christmas update, we have posted a page of the best quotes from
this season's Eurodragster.com Event Coverage including Tog's, Simon's, Kirstie's, and Julian's personal Quotes of the Year, together with
a few one-liners we didn't publish at the time.
In association with Event Coverage sponsor John Woolfe Racing we are pleased to
present Drag Racing Unplugged XVII, the 2015 collection. Click here to view Drag Racing Unplugged
XVII, or click on the John Woolfe Racing Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
2015 Champions' Champions. 24th December: Honorary Eurodragster.com staff member Andy Marrs of TSI
Timers and our own Simon have again been hard at work to compile lists of European and UK
Champions' Champions. The Champions' Champions tables show the all-time
highest points earners since the FIA and FIM European Championships began in 1996 and 1992 respectively, and since the UK National Championships
began in 1999.
Andy Marrs writes that eighty drivers scored points in the 2015 FIA European Drag Racing Championships: sixteen in Top Fuel Dragster,
five in Top Methanol Dragster, seven in Top Methanol Funny Car, forty two in Pro Modified and eleven in Pro Stock.
In the table of all-time FIA career points, Pro Stock racer Michael Malmgren remains #1. 2015 FIA European Pro Modified Champion Micke Gullqvist
moved up from #11 to #9. 2015 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Micke Kågered became only the second racer to win 6000 FIA European Championship
points whilst Top Methanol Dragster racer Dave Wilson and Pro Stock racer Jimmy Ålund passed 5000 points and Top Methanol Funny Car racer Johan
Lindberg passed 2000 points.
Anita Mäkelä moved up from #3 to #2 in FIA Top Fuel Dragster career points and passed 3000 points. Eurodragster.com sponsor
Urs Erbacher passed 2000 points and moved up from #5 to #4 whilst Stig Neergaard
moved up from #7 to #5 and Jari Halinen moved up from #12 to #10.
Dave Wilson passed 5000 FIA Top Methanol Dragster career points whilst Dennis Habermann moved up from #9 to #6. FIA Top Methanol Funny Car
racer Johan Lindberg passed 2000 points.
Mats Eriksson moved up from #3 to #2 in FIA Pro Modified career points whilst Roger Johansson moved up from #7 to #5 and David Vegter passed
1000 points. 2015 FIA European Pro Stock Champion Thomas Lindström moved up from #9 to #6 in career points whilst Jimmy Ålund
passed 5000 points.
You can check out the FIA Champions' Champions by clicking here or by
clicking on the Champions' Champions link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Sixty four riders scored points in the 2015 FIM European Drag Bike Championships: eleven in Top Fuel Bike, six in Supertwin, twenty in
Pro Stock Bike and twenty seven in Super Street Bike.
In the table of all-time FIM career points, Top Fuel Bike racer Roel Koedam remains #1. 2015 FIM Europe Top Fuel Bike Champion Ian King
moved up from #3 to #2 whilst 2015 FIM Europe Pro Stock Bike Champion Fredrik Fredlund moved up from #5 to #4, fellow Pro Stock Bike racer Martin
Bishop moved up from #9 to #8, and Funny Bike racer Rikard Gustafsson (running in Top Fuel Bike) moved up from #14 to #10. Martin Bishop also
passed 2000 points.
Rene van den Berg moved up from #13 to #10 in FIM Top Fuel Bike career points. There were no changes in the FIM Supertwin career
point standings.
Anders Larsson moved up from #6 to #5 in FIM Pro Stock Bike career points whilst Gert-Jan Laseur moved up from #11 to #9 and Martin
Bishop passed 2000 points.
There is a new leader in FIM Super Street Bike career point standings as 2015 FIM Europe Super Street Bike Cup Champion Garry Bowe moved up
from #2 to #1. Steve Venables moved up from #3 to #2, Rick Stubbins from #8 to #7, Pete Field from #12 to #9 and Daniel Donat Lencses moved up
from #11 to #10.
You can check out the FIM Champions' Champions by clicking here or by
clicking on the Champions' Champions link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Simon writes that scoring for the UK National and ACU UK Championships Champions' Champions is based on an event having to be completed for
a win to be registered. Race wins are ranked by number based on the driver or rider. Points however are scored and ranked on a team basis, as are
numbers of Championships. For teams with multiple cars or drivers changing teams during or between seasons, the compiler's decision is final.
2015 started promisingly with Championship meetings completed until Bug Jam. Later in the year, however, we lost the eliminations in the Mopar
EuroNats, the Open Sport Nationals and the Extreme Performance Bike Weekend. However, across the whole season five of the meetings, involving most
car and bike classes, were completed.
One remarkable statistic is the number of first-time Championship winners was an all-time high of eleven out of a total of eighteen classes competed
at National level.
In MSA Pro Modified, congratulations to Kev Slyfield on his first Championship in the class. Eurodragster.com sponsor
Andy Robinson leads numbers of Championships with four, event wins with fifteen,
and also career points.
In Super Pro ET, Simon 'The Package' Gough won his first Championship. Scott Hauser, Martyn Jones, Steve Green and Ian Tubb have two
Super Pro Championships each since 1999. Barry Giles leads wins with fifteen in total and as Giles & Hartley leads aggregate points from longtime, but
now retired, racer Steve Johnson. The move of Carla Pittau and Rick McCann to Sweden in 2015 appears to have left the door open for Team Dark Horse
(Brian and Lee Huxley) to challenge for top spot in the Pro ET standings. Rick McCann is now joined by 2015 Champions Dark Horse as the only
Pro ET racers to win three Championships. Lee Huxley has won eleven races over the years under review. The Huxleys' Team Top Banana and, latterly, Dark
Horse have now exceeded the points tally of Team Heaven & Hell. Craig Wright joins Geoff Cowley and Team Rainy City Lightning (Al and Linda Platt) in
winning three Sportsman ET Championships. Craig won four events in 2015, the most event wins of any class in the year, and now leads Geoff Cowley
and Rick Denny who both have seven wins. With their greater number years in the class, Team Rainy City Lightning still lead the points aggregate. Other
points contenders have departed for other classes and so Rainy City Lightning's lead in that category may be unchallenged for some time.
In Super Comp, second generation racer Stuart Doignie won his first Championship (and the double with Super Gas). Brian Pateman has three Championships
and thirteen wins, and a points margin of 7430 over Tim Adam gives him a clear lead on all three measures. Stuart Doignie's double Championship - Super Comp
and Super Gas - means he is only the third driver to attain this feat, although Brian Pateman and Tim Adam both achieved it twice. Jon Morton and Tim
Adam have both won four Super Gas Championships. Jon and Frank Mason both have twelve race wins in the period, whereas Frank continues to lead points scored.
In Super Street, Karen Stevens has attained back-to-back Championships, a feat achieved by four others in the class. In terms of overall tallies, Leigh
Morris leads in all three categories with four Championships, seventeen wins, and a lead of 4180 points over Bob Lees in the points aggregate by.
Congratulations to Lottie Bradford on her first Lucas Oil Junior Dragster title. Joe Kellett has the most Championships with three, Nick Mugridge
continues to have the most wins with nine and Joe Kellett leads aggregate points by 6320 over Nick Mugridge.
Mark Todd won his first Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator title, congratulations to him. Steve Pateman still dominates the overall listings with
five Championships, seventeen wins and a 4880 points lead over Ian Hook.
You can check out the UK car class Champions' Champions by clicking here or by
clicking on the Champions' Champions link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Rene van den Berg's win in ACU Top Fuel Bike at the Festival of Power which gave him a lead which could not be overcome. Steve Woollatt's ten
Championships over the period covered, twenty three event wins and aggregate points lead of 7120 are unassailable in the near future.
Alex Hope won his second ACU Pro Stock Bike title in two seasons, albeit in a sadly depleted class in the UK. Dave Beck continues to lead all
overall categories in ACU Pro Stock Bike and his eight Championships and record thirty five wins to his name in ACU competition is unlikely to be beaten
any time soon.
The 2015 ACU Funny Bike Championship was won by Dave Peters and congratulations to Dave on his first title. Neil Midgley continues to lead all three
categories with five Championships, seventeen event wins and a sizeable points total. Congratulations to Kevin Osman who won the ACU Comp Bike
Championship this year, his first National title. Phil Leamon and Ivan Birch each have three Championships, both have ten wins and Phil also leads the points
with a margin of 11650 over Stu Crane.
In ACU Super Street Bike, Garry Bowe won his first ACU UK Championship to add to his 2013 and 2015 FIM European Championships. Steve Venables leads
the number of Championships with six, has twenty four victories, and leads the points total by a substantial margin.
Jake Mechaell won his first Championship in UK National 8.50 Bike to add to his two titles in 9.50 Bike; congratulations to him. Jake's three event
wins this year (equalled by newcomer Jay Roe) means he is leading the wins total with seven. Mick Winyard continues to lead numbers of Championships won
(three) and the points total with a margin of 1310 over Jake. In UK National 9.50 Bike, Rick Sawatzki's Championship means that he and Eurodragster.com
sponsor Fred Furlong both have four Championships. Rick's fifteen wins head Fred's eleven, and Rick
assumes the overall points lead with a margin of 1,980 over Fred.
The Junior Drag Bike Championship was won by Liam Holgate and congratulations to him on his first title. Scott Collier leads the total of Championships
with four and wins with ten wins. He also leads the points tally with a margin of 3320 over second placed Louis Davies.
You can check out the UK bike class Champions' Champions by clicking here or by
clicking on the Champions' Champions link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
The Perfect scheme works. 24th December: As if his work on the Champions' Champions was not enough Simon has also found time to produce an
analysis of the various cash awards posted by Eurodragster.com and our sponsors
since 1999:
The Eurodragster.com Perfect Light Award was introduced at Super Series 4 at Shakespeare County Raceway in 2000, and the Eurodragster.com Perfect ET
Award followed at the start of the 2004 season. The awards have been sponsored by various companies and our grateful thanks go to
Gold RV (Perfect ET Award for the last eight years),
Speedflow (Perfect Light Award 2004 to 2010), Bad Habit Racing (Perfect Light Award for
the last three years), LA Racing Parts (Perfect ET Award 2005 to 2007),
ModUrStang (Perfect Light Award 2012),
Cotsweld Race Cars (Perfect Light Award 2011) and
Curbishley Automotive (Perfect ET Award
2004). Thanks also to AFP Services for sponsoring a Perfect Numbers award for the Super
classes, to Lee Child of LA Racing Parts for adding the occasional win bonus, and to Syd
McDonald for topping up the prize fund on more than one occasion.
The total payout by Eurodragster.com and its sponsors over the years is impressive at £12,065 to date. This is made up of £6,420 for
the Perfect Light Award, £5,270 for the Perfect ET Award, £100 for the Perfect Numbers Award, £125 for two Moment of the Meeting Awards
in 1999 and £50 for Best Burnout at the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Borlänge Street Opens.
The Eurodragster.com Perfect Light Award has been made available at 171 meetings and has been awarded 106 times to 92 racers in 16 classes. The
Eurodragster.com Perfect ET award has been made available at 134 meetings and has been awarded 87 times to 75 racers in 13 classes. The Perfect Numbers
award was paid out to two Super Class racers in 2010.
The first winner of the Eurodragster.com Perfect Light Award was Dave Billadeau (Super Street) and the first winner of the Eurodragster.com Perfect ET
Award was Pete Creswell (Super Gas).
A number of racers have won the Eurodragster.com Perfect Awards more than once:
Eurodragster.com Perfect Light Award
4 wins: John Grant
3 wins: Mark Watkins
2 wins: Gino Bernadine, Marius Blackburn, Rick Denny, Steve Johnson, Joe Kellett, Jacob Kopasz, Bob Lees, Matthew Seamarks
Eurodragster.com Perfect ET Award
3 wins: Lee Huxley
2 wins: Mark Bailey, Richard Beck, Ian Brown, Stephen Cherrett, Pete Creswell, Marc Henney, Keith Herbert, Mike Lacey, Paul Marston, Jon Morton
Pro ET leads class wins for both Eurodragster.com Perfect Light and Perfect ET Awards. The top five winning classes are as follow:
Eurodragster.com Perfect Light Award
Pro ET, 27 wins
Junior Dragster, 24 wins
Super Street, 15 wins
Super Pro ET, 10 wins
Sportsman ET, 6 wins
Eurodragster.com Perfect ET Award
Pro ET, 23 wins
Super Pro ET, 14 wins
Super Gas, 10 wins
Super Comp, 9 wins
VW Sportsman, 8 wins
There has been one Pro winner of the Eurodragster.com Perfect Light Award, Top Methanol Dragster racer Timo Habermann who clocked a 0.000 Reaction Time at
the 2007 Veidec Festival at Mantorp Park in Sweden.
You can find a full historical analysis of Eurodragster.com Perfect and other awards including winners by event, amounts paid out, individual winners, winners
by class and more by clicking here.
Eurodragster.com's Christmas break. 24th December: We will now be taking our Christmas break. News updates and postings to our
Jeff Bull Race EnginesSwap
Meet will resume on Monday (28th), but votes for the SPRC Perpetual Awards will of course
still be accepted. Keep those news items coming to us at [email protected]
and we will post them on Monday.
In the meantime we have compiled our usual requests to Father Christmas, together with our New Year resolutions:
Top of Tog's Christmas list: A repeater cable for the webcam which actually does what its manufacturer claims.
Top of Simon's Christmas list: At least two Championship tracks in the UK. Surely not too much to ask for, Santa?
Top of Kirstie's Christmas list: An automatic burnout rubber fleck deflection spray.
Top of Julian's Christmas list: Louise Payne to recover well and we see her back at the track soon.
Tog's New Year resolution: To continue to do this regardless of medical diagnoses and briefing-against.
Simon's New Year resolution: Not to injure my back two days before the first big meeting of the year.
Kirstie's New Year resolution: To wear my sun hat!
Julian's New Year resolution: Not to walk through a bleach box still slippery after fire burnouts and fall over in front of loads of people.
Tog, Simon, Kirstie and Julian would like to wish all Eurodragster.com readers and their families the very Happiest of Christmases, and to thank everyone
who has sent us personal Christmas wishes and cards.
For several of the 2015 season awards, a shortlist has been decided upon for which votes can be
submitted by E-Mail. Nominations are now also being accepted for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy. The votes of Eurodragster.com
readers will be taken into consideration when the SPRC Committee decides upon their winners.
This week's category is Best Appearing Car. The SPRC Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order, is as follows. You can see larger pictures
on the official Perpetual Awards page which you can view by clicking here or
by clicking on the SPRC Perpetual Awards vote link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
For each of the Awards, one vote per E-Mail address per nominee will be accepted: multiple votes for the same
nominee from the same E-Mail address will all be disqualified. And every year we say this, but every year someone
tries it on: please note that blatant attempts at organising mass votes - for example asking workmates, forum members or
Facebook friends to vote en masse - are easily identified and all such votes will be disallowed as they have been in previous years.
Concerted attempts at vote-rigging will result in the nominee being removed from the shortlist whether or not that nominee
knows what was going on. We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. If in any doubt about what constitutes canvassing
then please drop us a line at [email protected].
Additionally, if anyone should have issues with the content of any of the shortlists then please have the courtesy to contact SPRC
direct rather than contacting Eurodragster.com, posting cryptic comments on Facebook, or attempting to hack the Awards E-Mail address
(Some moron tried the latter in the last week - Ed). E-Mails to Eurodragster.com regarding the content of the shortlists will
receive neither a reply nor any other acknowledgement.
The next voting category, due next Monday (28th), will be Best Appearing Bike.
Swift snippets. 21st December: The last Eurodragster.com News update before Christmas will be posted on Christmas Eve, Thursday
of this week, and will include those perennial favourites Drag Racing Unplugged - can you believe this is the seventeenth! - and the
FIA, FIM and UK National / ACU UK Champions' Champions after the 2015 season. Simon also has another little project on the go for the
Christmas update. If you will be submitting a news item for the Christmas Eve update then please have it in the mail to us at
[email protected] before 21:00 UK / 22:00 European this Wednesday (23rd). If
it's a long piece then please send it as far in advance as you can; all you need do is to make it clear that it is for the Christmas Eve
update.
We were amused to hear from a reader yesterday that "Eurodragster.com appears to be the only site on the web not hosting Star Wars
spoilers". There is at least one big Star Wars fan on the staff but we can guarantee that not a word will be posted
here.
PMR's Christmas on-track deals. 21st December: Paul Marston Racing are offering special Christmas deals for Eurodragster.com readers on racing tuition
and passenger rides:
Our racing courses are tailored around what the pupil wants to achieve. Tuition is one-to-one and can provide the building blocks for a successful drag racing career
or just a-once-in-a-lifetime experience without having to buy a race car and all the associated equipment. The Doorslammer course consists of full instruction at your
pace and covers every aspect; safety equipment is of course provided. You are taught how the race car operates then taught to drive it, again at the pace with which you are
comfortable. Once this is completed and the pupil is confident then it goes to the next stage on the track. There is no target or goal, no pass or failure. It is simply a course
at your pace, in which you learn how to control one of these race cars. You will be taught to be competent and to be in control at all times. In most cases we have the pupil
performing full passes by the end of the day. Nevertheless whatever you achieve it will be a day you never forget. As a special deal for Eurodragster.com readers we are
offering a full day course for £695 plus track fee; this is a genuine saving of £100.
We also now offer a course in our Super Pro ET / Super Comp dragster. Naturally as the dragster is a lot quicker and there is a lot more to learn this course takes place
over two days. Again as a Christmas offer exclusively to Eurodragster.com readers we offer this course at £1395 plus track fees.
Also available are doorslammer passenger rides. You sit beside the driver in this one! Again as a Christmas special for Eurodragster.com readers passenger rides are
£225. Please note that our passenger rides are not available at any National Championship events.
For further details and availability please E-Mail [email protected] or call Paul on 07831 650230.
Don't forget that we are also offering Geddex Dial-in, Wheels-up and Burnout Gard / Nose Gard; for more details see our news item of
3rd December.
Web site updates. 21st December: Our good buddy Steve Moxley has had his Extreme Performance Bike Weekend review published in the latest
edition of the ACU on-line newsletter. You can check out Moxey's work at
www.acu.org.uk.
Purchase any Racepak product over €300 and receive a free Racepak T-shirt, or purchase any Racepak product over
€500 and receive a free Racepak hooded sweatshirt. Two suggestions are:
Complete set of Exhaust Gas Thermocouples at €1299; part number 220-VP-TC-XXXX (where xxxx indicates cylinder order and
application, e.g. 1357, 2468)
Eight thermocouple probes
V-Net junction boxes
V-Net tee cables
Welding attachments
Nuts and ferrules
Available in BBC, BBF, SBC and Hemi configurations (please specify when ordering)
Single Channel Air Fuel Ratio at €325; part number 220-VM-AF1
Controller
Harness
Sensor and header bung
The T-Shirt / Sweatshirt offer is valid until next Wednesday (23rd) so get your enquiries and orders in to Dick
sharpish at [email protected]. Dick tells
us that this is the first of several offers for the long off-season.
Swift snippets. 18th December: We were very sorry to read of the death earlier this week of
US Jet pioneer Roger Gustin. As well as his many innovations Roger was primarily responsible
for the safety developments and tireless campaigning which resulted the return of Jet Dragsters and Jet
Funny Cars to NHRA after a long ban. You can read more in Competition Plus' tribute by
clicking
here. Our deepest sympathies to Roger's family and friends.
BTC Moto's stellar year. 18th December: Brad O'Connor writes that it has been another great year for BTC Moto
customers and the NLR product range:
BTC Moto provides technical support on and off the track as well as designing the electronics infrastructure for drag bikes and road bikes.
This year is the ninth year of our involvement with Garry Bowe and his Super Street Bike and it's been a triple Championship for Garry, winning
his second FIM European Super Street Bike Cup as well as the ACU UK and SPRC titles. Garry's NLR-equipped Super Street bike has the BTC
Moto Point2Point wiring system and a computer-controlled NLR air clutch system. This clutch system has been used for the first time in Super
Street Bike and came with zero set-up information, as the units are banned from use in the Pro Street series in the USA. With many days testing
Garry has been able, with the help of BTC Moto, to develop the clutch to Championship-winning level and this is now the ninth year of Personal
Bests under the BTC Moto banner which culminated in the quickest side-by-side run in European Super Street Bike history when Garry went 7.03
to Dave Holland's 7.02, Dave Hollands bike also running under the BTC Moto track tuning banner. Dave later went on to run a stellar 7.01 at the
same meeting.
Two other riders are tuned trackside by BTC Moto and again it was a year of improvement for these racers. Richard Hann ran a string of 7.3s,
his sixth year of PBs, and made the Super Street Bike final at the Festival of Power, with Garry Bowe taking the win. Pete Field, on the Super
Street Bike owned by his brother Frank, also made a step up with a PB 7.17 entering the teens for the first time this year; this was his seventh
year of PBs with BTC Moto.
Rick Stubbins has also had a great year chosing the BTC Moto Point2Point wiring system and the NLR AMS2000 boost controller, as used
by 99% of the Superstreet bikes, to fantastic effect, tuning the bike himself down to a stunning 7.06!
It's not all drag race though. BTC Moto products and support have helped Becci Ellis to back up her stellar 264 mph from last year with a
stunning 263.7 mph, consolidating her position as the world's fastest woman over a standing mile! BTC Moto have also work closely with
Big CC Racing supplying and programming all of the electronics products for their record-breaking 776 bhp Hayabusa turbo set-up.
Running on petrol, this is now the world's most powerful petrol-driven Hayabusa turbo set-up and this new set-up should hit the track
next year!
It has been a great year and an honour to work with these guys. I'd like to wish all racers a Merry Christmas and a Happy safe, quick and
fast New Year.
Thinking of you, Louise. 17th December: We were shocked to hear from Lizzie Whiting of M&S Ambulance Service Ltd that
Louise Payne, Ambulance Technician and a regular member of the medical team at Santa Pod Raceway, collapsed whilst working last Friday evening.
Louise is in intensive care after surgery for a burst aneurysm in her brain. Lizzie writes:
Louise has now had two operations and although it is very early days they have managed to stop the bleeding. At this moment Lou has a chest infection and
is incredibly swollen due to fluid build-up. The doctors have found another aneurysm on the other side of her brain but at the moment they are not too worried
about it. Once Lou's infection is under control they will start to decrease sedation in preparation for waking her possibly next week; at this moment she is totally
sedated and on life support.
Lou's life is in critical danger and we have all been asked that if we are in the area of the
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery London,
Queens Square, London WC1N 3BG (map) then
we should please take some time to visit her and to ask her to come back to us. She needs to fight back.
It is going to be a long road to any sort of recovery, and we would like to try and arrange some fund-raising for Louise. We all have bills to pay and Louise is not
able to work, we also need funds to help her family travel to and from the hospital and they will have to stay in hotels. I will leave everyone to think about this.
Please keep Lou and her family in your thoughts and prayers. I am in touch with Lou's family every day and I will update you all shortly with more information regarding
Lou's condition and our plans for a fund-raiser.
Editor's note: It goes without saying that Eurodragster.com and, we're sure, all of our readers will strongly support fund-raising efforts for Louise as soon as
they commence. The sport could not take place without safety services and we all owe Louise and her colleagues a huge debt of gratitude and, in not a few cases, our lives.
Please do not send any money yet; this shouldn't stop you from starting to collect it but we will let you know where and when to send it.
Pro Mod for sale. 17th December: Do you race in Pro Modified but find that the other racers are always too quick for you? Or you want to step up to the
fastest doorslammer class in drag racing, but you think winning is out of reach? Not any longer! Our good buddy Remco Scheelings writes that one of Europe's quickest,
fastest and most consistent Pro Mods is for sale: no less than Marc Meihuizen's '68 Pontiac Firebird. Remco says:
Your dreams of winning races in the FIA European Championship can come true! After many seasons as a front runner in the FIA European Pro Modified Championship, Marc
eihuizen decided to take a break from drag racing this season. His company's increasing business and the growing interest in his second motorsport hobby, drifting, decided
Marc to park the Firebird. Now that it's unlikely that Marc will make a comeback soon, he has decided to put the beautiful Pro Mod up for sale. "It feels much better for me
to see another driver win with this car than to leave it in the workshop for maybe another two years and then decide to stop", said Marc about his decision.
The Andy Robinson Race Cars-built '68 Pontiac Firebird has always been kept in perfect condition. At the moment the car is better than ever before, as this year it was equipped
with many new parts, for example a brand new four-link. "With the latest updates we have applied, the Pontiac can go into the 5.8s" said Marc, and he is absolutely sure of it.
The Firebird was not only one of the fastest and quickest Pro Mods in Europe, but also extremely consistent, a key factor to winning races. Time after time and at almost every
European track the car has run low 5.9-second passes. Marc has scored top three qualifying positions several times, was the winner of the Finnish round of the 2013 FIA European
Championship, and a finalist in the 2013 and 2014 FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway. In consecutive years Marc was fourth in the FIA European Championship twice, third
once, and sixth once.
The car is now for sale with engine and numerous spare parts included. If you are really interested in acquiring this state-of-the-art drag racer then please contact Marc Meihuizen
on +31 653 607 178 or E-Mail [email protected].
Swift snippets. 16th December: Sent in time for Sunday's Gift Mart but caught in our Spam folder was Liz Rowland's offer
of her book Drag Racing Through The Eyes Of A Woman which is an autobiography of her Pro Comp and Pro Fuel racing career
as Liz Burn. Liz says that she has two copies of the book left which she can autograph and send for £17.50 apiece; E-Mail
[email protected] or you can buy it from
Amazon
as a soft cover or E-Book. For a review of Liz' excellent book check out our news item of
23rd March 2010.
Christine, Sandy and Collin Morrice, Megan and Charlotte have asked us to say a big Happy Birthday for today (Wednesday) to Stuart
Morrice. Our pleasure folks, have a great day Stuart.
The last Eurodragster.com News update before Christmas will be posted on Christmas Eve, Thursday of next week, and
will include those perennial favourites Drag Racing Unplugged - can you believe this one is the seventeenth! - and
the FIA, FIM and UK National Champions' Champions after the 2015 season. Simon also has another little project on the go for
the Christmas update. If you will be submitting a news item for the Christmas Eve update then please have it in the mail to us
at [email protected] before 21:00 UK / 22:00 European next
Wednesday (23rd). If it's a long piece then please send it as far in advance as you can; all you need do is to make it
clear that it is for the Christmas Eve update.
It didn't take long, and it proves that at least some out there either can't read or think that we're BSing, but just before 17:00 on
Monday an attempt was made to organise a mass vote for one of the SPRC Most Promising Newcomer candidates. If the responsible
party wants the removal of their favoured candidate from the shortlist on their conscience then by all means give it another shot. If
anyone is in any doubt about what constitutes canvassing then please drop us a line at
[email protected].
On a similar subject, Monday's Perpetual Vote news item also said "If anyone should have issues with the content of any of the shortlists then
please have the courtesy to contact SPRC direct rather than contacting Eurodragster.com or posting cryptic comments on Facebook".
That's twice now and your slightly fed-up News Editor knows that his English is reasonably comprehensible.
For several of the 2015 season awards, a shortlist has been decided upon for which votes can be
submitted by E-Mail. Nominations are now also being accepted for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy. The votes of Eurodragster.com
readers will be taken into consideration when the SPRC Committee decides upon their winners.
The first voting category is SPRC Most Promising Newcomer.
Nominees for SPRC Most Promising Newcomer have impressed whilst contesting their first full season or making
their on-track début in 2015.
The SPRC Committee's shortlist, in alphabetical order, is as follows:
For each of the Awards, one vote per E-Mail address per nominee will be accepted: multiple votes for the same
nominee from the same E-Mail address will all be disqualified. And every year we say this, but every year someone
tries it on: please note that blatant attempts at organising mass votes - for example asking workmates, forum members or
Facebook friends to vote en masse - are easily identified and all such votes will be disallowed as they have been in previous years.
Concerted attempts at vote-rigging will result in the nominee being removed from the shortlist whether or not that nominee
knows what was going on. We know all the dodges so it's just not worth trying. If in any doubt about what constitutes canvassing
then please drop us a line at [email protected].
Additionally, if anyone should have issues with the content of any of the shortlists then please have the courtesy to
contact SPRC direct rather than contacting Eurodragster.com or posting cryptic comments on Facebook. E-Mails to
Eurodragster.com regarding the shortlists will receive neither a reply nor any other acknowledgement.
The next voting category will be Best Appearing Car.
2015 Zeon TV DVDs review. 14th December: This year's eight Zeon TV DVDs of UK drag racing
action are a superb way to reflect on the past season and anticipate the next year of competition, friendship and mechanical challenge. Simon has
been having a look:
The Springspeed Nationals DVD looks at the Hillingdon Speed and Spares-sponsored
event at Shakespeare County Raceway. Highlights of qualifying and eliminations for each class in succession are shown, all indexed for easy reference.
The editing is tight and action is continuous, with enthusiastic commentary from Colin Theobald. All classes are covered. Camera work is at start line
and mid-track with the scoreboards providing information in qualifying, and captions in racing.
The NSRA Nostalgia Nationals and Hot Rod Drags DVD is an hour and fifty minutes of the September Hot Rod Drags with highlights of June's Nostalgia
Nationals. Paul Venners is the commentator and he correctly identifies each car and information on it, no mean feat in the Run What Ya Brung format. There
are plenty of off-track shots to emphasise the lifestyle nature of the event. Not many of the entrants race in the UK National Championships, even so many
of them record very quick times. At the Nostalgia Nationals, members of the National Sprint Association put in some runs on their historic bikes and footage
of the Supercharged Outlaws and Outlaw Anglias are shown as well as the RWYB action. The Hot Rod Drags includes Flathead Meltdown, Super Stocks, Supercharged
Outlaws and Outlaw Anglias and RWYB. Cacklefest footage includes great slow-motion footage and you can almost feel the heat from the flames of the fire
burnouts. These two events are organised by the NSRA; the overlap in RWYB compared with Dragstalgia is small and nostalgia fans are urged to get both DVDs.
The JS Secure UK Top Dragster and Comanche Race Cars UK Top Sportsman DVD is an extended version of the TV shows seen recently on Motors TV.
Many driver interviews and an in-depth description from race organiser Paul Marston add considerably to the depth of the show and then it's on to Top Dragster
qualifying at the BMW Show in the first year of staging this competition. The mix of cars is one you wouldn't see in National competition. Camera angles
include Tower footage from Eurodragster.com's Webster Race
Engineering / Nimbus Motorsport webcam. The racing is presented in the order it occurs
and whilst the events were rain affected, there is still enough footage for an action-packed one hour and thirty five minute DVD. This disc is a great
showcase for the sport in the UK and Bryn Lucas is an excellent commentator.
The Mopar EuroNats DVD has been produced for more years than most of the Zeon range and, with the input of the organisers, is a faithful record
including both on and off track action of this wonderful lifestyle event. This year's production is no exception and all aspects are included with Run
What Ya Brung, Show and Shine, MSA Pro Mod, Gasser Circus, Top Sportsman and the Show winners. Camerawork for this event includes some Segway-based footage
which adds a whole new dimension - more please! Graham Beckwith is the experienced and knowledgeable commentator.
The Dragstalgia DVD is for drag racing nostalgia enthusiasts and is divided into the various competitions which took place: Super Stock, Wild Bunch,
Outlaw Anglias, Willys Wars, Supercharged Outlaws, NSA historic bikes, and Funny Cars with each stage of eliminations depicted. Interviews with competitors
again add a further dimension and contrast to the race action including memories of how racing used to be. Commentary from Colin Theobald has much background
on the machines being raced. With so many car débuts at this event, the DVD showcases how Dragstalgia inspires construction of new nostalgia vehicles
as well as encouraging the cars of old to be restored and make a return to the track. This DVD is two hours of awesome action.
Pro Mods 2015 covers qualifying and eliminations from each round of the MSA British Drag Racing Championship and at two hours includes a lot of
background shots in the pits and interviews with drivers and teams. The inclusion of FIA rounds increases the variety of cars and combinations taking
part. We see cars that have not competed for some time, some making their first runs in the class, and the much-missed Robert Joosten. Darryl Bradford
is the knowledgeable commentator. This is a very full account of a highly competitive class, with many wild moments.
Hardcore Street is the account of the Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator Championship. All rounds with eliminations are included with footage
of the Cruise and the many record runs and Personal Bests. The class has plenty of drama and Paul Venners is the entertaining commentator. Those who
have enjoyed this DVD in prior years can look forward to another great production.
A new DVD for 2015 is Wild Bunch, celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the nostalgia competition car class, an important element of the
sport in the UK. Footage from Springspeed, Nostalgia Nationals, SPRC Summernationals, Dragstalgia, Hot Rod Drags and the UK National Finals means much
variety in the cars racing as well as the chance to see historic cars restored and newly built vehicles true to the spirit of nostalgia. Series Champion
Phil James sums up well the fun and camaraderie of the class. Wild Bunch racer Sarah Howells makes her commentating début and does a great job,
ably scripted by class organiser Claire Meaddows.
As well as footage from our webcam the eye-catching covers of all DVDs include photographic contributions from the Eurodragster.com staff.
As ever, Zeon TV deliver a top quality product with detailed indexing, great definition and camera angles and detailed commentary. There is even a
post-title bonus of a few minutes of tractor pulling from Great Eccleston.
You can purchase any or all of these superb Zeon DVDs for £14.95 each (£12.95 for the Wild Bunch DVD) plus £1.50 postage per order to
UK and £1.75 to anywhere else in the world. All DVDs are in PAL format. Various deals are available for the purchase of multiple titles. You can
order on-line at www.quartermilehigh.com.
Many thanks to Helen Todd and David Coleman of Zeon TV for again providing review copies of all of their drag racing DVDs.
Our good friends Helen Todd and David Coleman at Zeon TV have released a number of 2015 Season Review DVDs
of various UK classes and events. Anyone who knows anything about drag racing DVDs knows that the Zeon TV name guarantees high quality and with
something for everyone there will be at least one, and probably several, DVDs worth putting under the Tree.
The range of DVDs covers the MSA Pro Modified Championship, Hillingdon Speed and Spares APIRA Springspeed Nationals, Dragstalgia,
NSRA Nostalgia Nationals and Hot Rod Drags, Hardcore Street (Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator), Mopar EuroNats, UK Top Sportsman, and a special
DVD to mark the twentieth anniversary of the Wild Bunch. A review is coming shortly but you already know that these DVDs will be good. Each DVD is
£14.95 plus postage save the Wild Bunch DVD which is £12.95 plus postage, and several package deals are available. Take a look, check out
clips and place your orders at www.quartermilehigh.com. Eagle-eyed readers will
spot that Zeon TV are good judges of a photograph, too.
Elaine Southworth of Cool Engineered Art is offering a Christmas Tree made from powder-coated steel tubing
which comes complete with baubles. The Christmas trees are 70 cm tall, and the top bar is 26 cm across. The base is 22 cm x 12.5 cm in size. "I believe these are the only Christmas Trees of this type
in the world!", says Elaine. "The Christmas tree is free standing, and is very sturdy. Available from eBay, Amazon and Etsy. The response to this Christmas Tree has been overwhelming, and I have
a very limited number left. I have been making metal art from pre-used automotive parts for over fourteen years, and this is the first time I have made something specifically for drag racing fans.
I have been actively involved in drag racing since 1980, and currently help with our modest Daddy Cool rear engined rail dragster in the Wild Bunch". You can check out Elaine's Christmas
Tree and place your order at
Amazon, on
E-Bay, or on
Etsy.
Bob Roberts writes that this is probably your last chance to buy 2015 Special Edition Andy Robinson Race Cars T-Shirts. "We have just a few available in adult sizes XL, L and M at
£15 plus £2.50 P+P; kids' sizes M and S at £12 and XS at £10, both plus £1.50 P+P", he says. "To order call 01256 880589 or E-Mail
[email protected]. An ideal gift for all the family."
Looking for that special Christmas gift for the VW drag racing enthusiast in your life? Then look no further than a limited edition His and Hers Volkslife gift set.
Jerry Cookson writes that the gift set consists of a Hoodie for him and a T-Shirt for her! Hoodies are available in black or grey with a single white design on front and three-colour
design on the back. T-shirt: three colour design on the back available in green only. Every order receives two Volkslife Car Stickers. The items available in all popular sizes (Chest
Size: S 34-36, M 38-40, L 42-44, XL 46-48, XXL 50-52). Yours for £20. Men's T-Shirts are also available separately in black, grey or military green at £10
plus free Volkslife stickers. Hoodies are available separately at £15. All come with free P+P. Orders can be placed by E-Mailing
[email protected] or by calling 01789 720180, but they are selling fast so
order yours today!
Julie Steele has published Behind The Speed, her fourth book about Sprinting at Westonzoyland. "This time it's all about what the riders who race at this old historic
airfield feel", says Phil Steele. "Eighty contributions by riders including John Hobbs plus forword by Keith Parnell and afterword by Bill Douglas Grandson of William Douglas of
Douglas Motorcycles. Lots of nostalgia and modern quarter mile racing and 170 images. You can buy your copy at
www.blurb.co.uk.
Eurodragster.com sponsor Nimbus Motorsport say that Christmas is
the perfect opportunity to kit out your full team with gloves for next season, Ringers Authentic Mechanics gloves are now a stunning
three pairs for £20 inc VAT or just £7.50 each. These gloves normally retail at £23.94 inc VAT so order now to
save yourself up to £17.27 per pair. Designed to meet the specific needs of a mechanic, offering hand protection and comfort
whilst maintaining dexterity and sense of touch, even on the smallest of components. To place your order call Nimbus Motorsport
on 01377 236170, E-Mail [email protected],
or order on-line at www.nimbusmotorsport.com.
Please remember to specify your preferred sizes in the Order details section.
There is plenty on offer from Eurodragster.com sponsor Jeff Bull Race Engines
and Performance Parts including LSM Racing Products for whom Jeff is the sole UK distributor. The
1T-100 Universal Valve Lash Adjusting Tool at £58 includes four bushings to accept the following T Handles all at £5: 1T-1/8 T Handle 1/8”,
1T-5/32 T Handle 5/32”, 1T-3/16 T Handle 3/16, and 1T-7/32 T Handle 7/32”. The TQ 100-3 Valve Lash Adjusting Torque Wrench comes with 1/8, 5/32 and
3/16 hex keys at £168, The FH-500 Feeler Gauge Holder holds two sets of feeler gauges on the same handle. Will accept various styles of 1/2" wide feeler
gauges depending on your application (gauges not included), £36. The PC100 Adjustable on-head Valve Seat Pressure Tester for various shaft and
stud mount roller rocker systems comes equipped with 0-600lbs liquid filled gauge, £230. Also available are the Jerry Bickel Screw Countersink Tool
with Bit - Adjustable depth setting makes it easy and fast to precisely countersink window screws to proper flush mounting depth, £68; Jerry Bickel Coil
Over Shock C Spanner - Makes adjusting coil over shocks much easier than the hammer and screwdriver methods, at £20; Jerry Bickel Window Border
Spray Paint - Covers easily, is scratch resistant and dries fast to a hard finish, at £12; Dial-In Window Marker - Dries bright white. Stain free on Lexan,
wipes off fast! £8; Burnout Guard - Water soluble layer protection between rubber and panel. Wet with water and wipe off, £12. Call Jeff on 07834
381804 for these plus pricing and availability on any LSM Racing Products.
Ian Turburville writes with Christmas gift ideas for Kool Kats(sic). Bad Blood baseball caps, flat peak, snap back, fully embroidered £15;
BloodLines Racing caps, flat peak, snap back, fully embroidered £15; Turboville Racing T shirts, last few to clear £10 (some ladies fit sizes);
Bad Blood Hot-Rod work shirts, heavy cotton traditional style, racing stripes and Bad Blood brand on sleeve, just £29.00 (can add name etc embroidered above pocket
for additional £5). All orders get a free Bad Blood top quality hero card! All plus post from Ian or Laura at
turbovilleracing.bigcartel.com. "Merry Christmas to all our supporters and all Eurodragster.com readers",
says Turbo.
VW Pro: Champion - James Hodson, runner-up - Sam Young
VW Sportsman: Champion - Paul Herbert, runner-up Ross Chisholm Brown
2015 Sir Brian Burrows Rookie of the Year: Ross Chisholm Brown
2015 Dennis Cox Memorial Award (for most consistent qualifier): Sam Young
2015 Wagenmaster (Driver of the Year): Paul Herbert
2015 RNJ Motorsport Car of the Year: Shaun Hyde (accepted by Tom Herbert)
2015 Becky Sutton Memorial Award (services to the VWDRC): Luke Stevenson
A few thanks, firstly to Eurodragster.com for keeping us all up to date throughout the season (Thanks, you're welcome - Ed). As always we would like to thank our racers,
fans and of course the Club sponsors who have supported us through the year:
Bio-Cam (national CCTV and biometrics door entry system supplier and fitting company),
WRP Paint and Restoration (paint and body shop based in Wellingborough,
also race number decal supplier ), Herbies Autos (Oxford based mobile mechanic) 07906 601430, Trackstuff Racing Fuel and Tyres (as
named, supplier of race fuel and slicks), DC Customs (Birmingham-based paint and body shop, vehicle customiser and performance
upgrades), Reichspeed Aircooled (aircooled restoration, race preparation, custom
race parts, engine balancing services), Bears Transmissions (performance VW gearbox builders and parts suppliers),
James Hodson (VW Pro Champion and all-round good guy),
Vanology / Rockingham Performance Ltd (T4/5 conversions, custom remaps, rolling road, turbos, intercoolers and more),
Brickfield Autos (vehicle paint, restoration, race preparation and custom modifications), and
Kleen Freaks (awesome car cleaning products and lifestyle apparel).
That just leaves me to say have a fantastic Christmas, and we look forward to seeing you again in 2016. For more about the Club and latest news check out our
Facebook page or our web site at www.vwdrc.com.
Swift snippets. 12th December: Brad Jackson Racing are pleased to announce that Brad's Lucas Oil-sponsored Super Pro ET dragster will be on display at the joint
Lucas Oil / Santa Pod Raceway stand at Autosport International at Birmingham's NEC on 14th-17th January. Santa Pod's Two Seat Dragster will also be featured on the stand.
"This will give Sportsman racing a premier showcase at the biggest motorsport show in Europe and bring an insight into our sport to a mass audience", says Wayne Jackson. "Everyone
is welcome to come along and say hello and help to fill the long winter without racing!"
Having raced successfully in Junior Dragster and Comp Eliminator, Sweden's Robin Norén will be racing a Pontiac GTO in Pro Stock in 2016. You can read more
courtesy of our good buddy Remco Scheelings on Speedgroup's FIA European Championships site at
www.dragracingeurope.eu.
We would like to say a big Happy Birthday to UK Super Comp racer and longtime Eurodragster.com supporter Paul Watson. Have a great day Paul.
Thanks very much indeed to all of those who have submitted items for the Eurodragster.com Christmas Gift Mart, which will
be posted here tomorrow (Sunday). It is not too late to send your Christmas gift offering; drop brief details (including price and how
to order) and a picture to us today at [email protected].
Voting opens in this year's SPRC Perpetual Awards here on Eurodragster.com on Monday. The first vote will be Most Promising
Newcomer and nominations will also open for the Alex Brachtvogel Memorial Trophy.
Web site updates. 12th December: The Mad Welshman has updated his Flickr gallery with pictures from the Sunday of October's Halloween
Bonfire Burn Up at Shakespeare County Raceway. You can check out Mad's pictures at
www.flickr.com/photos/the_madwelshman.
"Whilst alcohol is fun in Nostalgia racing, we have had it confirmed that nitro has the edge, so when Chaos was parted-out and there was a 417 Donovan going begging
it was pretty obvious what to do, right?" say Nick and Rob.
"The tape measure indicates that with a bit of encouragement, the entire drivetrain from Chaos - from the front of the motor to the back of the gearbox - should fit. It will
need a larger fuel tank and a smaller blower, different mag and oiling system, but apart from that, it should be like walking the dog.
"Time will tell, but we had such a blast at Dragstalgia in 2014 that it would be a shame to miss the 2016 event. So who else is going to build one to race us?"
Swift snippets. 8th December: We were sorry to hear via Geoff Stilwell of the death of radio presenter Mike Allen who in his days with
Capital Radio did a lot to promote the sport from racing himself, plugging drag racing on his shows, and providing voice-overs for TV coverage. You
can read a tribute to Mike at www.radiotoday.co.uk.
Our deepest sympathies to Mike's family and friends.
Congratulations to 2015 NHRA Lucas Oil World Top Alcohol Funny Car Champion (I'll never get tired of
typing that - Ed)Jonnie Lindberg on being named one of Drag Illustrated magazine's 30 under 30 list of the most
talented and promising young people in the sport. You can find out more at
www.dragillustrated.com.
Eurodragster.com's annual Christmas Gift Mart will be posted here on Eurodragster.com News on Sunday (13th. If you are
offering Christmas presents for drag racing fans then drop brief details (including price and how to order) and a picture to us at
[email protected]. We will post the gift ideas in the order in which they
are received so the quicker you respond the higher up the news item your piece will be.
Steve Dudley writes that the third Kent-based slot drags meeting of the 2015-2016 Winter season will take place at 2:00pm at the Higham Memorial Hall, School Lane,
Higham, Kent ME3 7JL. "Please note that this hall is chargeable", says Steve. "If you would be kind enough to carry on the tradition of a couple of quid in the pot it would be appreciated.
I have loan cars available, if you do not have your own and would like to take part in eliminations."
Web site updates. 8th December: After a very difficult start to his first season in Pro Modified, Thomas Stiefel had an FIA European Finals he could only have dreamed of. The Swiss
Pro Mod rookie couldn't make a run at the FIA Main Event, but back at Santa Pod Raceway in September the beautiful orange Bel Air really took off. Thomas reset his Personal Bests almost every
run, was the number five qualifier, and could only be stopped by FIA European Champion Micke Gullqvist in the quarter finals of eliminations. With such a great performance the Swiss combination
was the big surprise of the last race of the season. You can read more courtesy of our buddy Remco Scheelings at
www.dragracingeurope.eu.
Web site updates. 7th December: Thanks to Brian Taylor for letting us know that a new issue of ACAG Update is now available describing
all the work undertaken on the Allard Chrysler this year including the engine rebuild. You can take a look at
www.drceurope.co.uk/acag/dec2015 or by clicking on the image at right.
As promised we have now posted a YouTube video of Liam Jones' second Top Fuel Dragster
exhibition pass at the Flame and Thunder Show at Santa Pod Raceway as seen by our Webster Race
Engineering / Nimbus Motorsport webcam. The video clip is available in standard
and High Def and can be viewed by clicking here or by clicking on
the image at left. You can also check out a video of Robin Read's second exhibition pass of the day by
clicking here and a video of Bob Hawkins' fire burnout by
clicking here.
"For the Affiliation Code please E-Mail [email protected]
or call our office between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm", says Jerry. "Please include your existing membership number with your correspondence.
2016 ACU licence applications are open but please note that you must be a current member of your Club for the code to be issued."
Answer C: Jersey. There were no suitable trailers available in Jersey so the cars were towed to the
Springfield Ballroom from the docks, which was great advertising for the Show.
2. How many competitive passes did Clive Skilton make with this wing configuration?
A: 0
B: 1
C: 2
D: 3
Answer A: 0. The photo was taken at Crystal Palace by Roger Phillips and the side aerofoils were
replaced before the Easter meeting with a more standard wing.
3. George Brown ran 10.86/136 on Super Nero at Silverstone in 1963. How many world records did George hold simultaneously?
A: 2
B: 24
C: 8
D: 18
Answer B: 24. At the time of Mike Woods' photo, George had two world records (visible in the picture)
but later accumulated twenty four.
4. The Nick Butler-built Sonic was the world's first fly-by-wire car but when cold the computer was temperamental. What
was used to warm it up at the Brands Hatch demo in 1980?
A: Hot water bottle
B: Thermoblanket
C: Heat exchanger
D: Bag of hot doughnuts
Answer D: Bag of hot doughnuts. Barry Tracey recognised the computer problem and solved it with the
doughnuts. When cold, the computer would bring the engines to maximum revs regardless of what the driver
wanted.
5. When, where and by whom was nitromethane first used at a sanctioned drag race meeting...
A: When? April 1949
B: Where? Goleta, California. Recognised as the first sanctioned drag race and organised by
Santa Barbara Acceleration Association, part of SCTA.
C: Who? Fran Hernandez in his Model B Ford / Edelbrock flathead V8. The driver was Don Towle.
Fran was working at Vic Edelbrock's at that time and went on the create the first 'flopper' at Ford/Mercury
in 1966 (source: Hot Rod magazine).
If you enjoyed that, then you'll love Rodger Attaway's book Street Rod and Custom Showtime. You can read
more in our Lucas Oil Products-sponsored interview
with Rodger published in April 2015, which you can check out by
clicking here or by clicking on the
Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page.
Super Pro ET party time. 5th December: Thanks to UK Super Pro ET racer Pete Walters of Eurodragster.com sponsor
Peter Walters Race Design for sending us details of the
always eagerly-anticipated Super Pro ET party:
The party takes place on Saturday 27th February 2016 at the same venue as the last party:
Tickets will be £20 per head and include an amazing hog roast buffet, courtesy of Rod and Kim Harrison, a disco, our special awards as
per last year and a cash raffle with two prizes ,winner and runner up. We have reserved the whole hotel; rooms are available now at £70
per room, call 01354 602890 and quote Super Pro ET Group.
The following hotels are also close by: Ye Old Griffen (01354 652517), Causeway Hotel (01354 650823), King William (01354 653378),
and Classics (01354 680363). RV and caravan parking is also available at the Harrisons'.
To order tickets please get in touch with Richard Walters as soon as possible at
[email protected], or on 07729 266191 or 01278 663804
to let us know how many tickets you require. Cheques should be made payable to Super Pro ET Group at:
Richard Walters
The Old Dairy
Hulkshay Lane
North Petherton
Somerset TA6 6NZ
Alternately bank details are:
Account name: Super Pro ET Group
Sort code: 20-85-26
Account number: 73900320
2. How many competitive passes did Clive Skilton make with this wing configuration?
A: 0
B: 1
C: 2
D: 3
3. George Brown ran 10.86/136 on Super Nero at Silverstone in 1963. How many world records did George hold simultaneously?
A: 2
B: 24
C: 8
D: 18
4. The Nick Butler-built Sonic was the world's first fly-by-wire car but when cold the computer was temperamental. What
was used to warm it up at the Brands Hatch demo in 1980?
A: Hot water bottle
B: Thermoblanket
C: Heat exchanger
D: Bag of hot doughnuts
5. When, where and by whom was nitromethane first used at a sanctioned drag race meeting...
There are no prizes on offer, just a large slice of personal satisfaction for anyone who gets them right. Come back tomorrow to see how
you fared.
Swift snippets. 3rd December: Santa Pod Racers Club have again asked Eurodragster.com to host the vote for this season's SPRC Perpetual
Awards. The first vote, Most Promising Newcomer, will be posted on the Eurodragster.com News update on Monday week, 14th December. We have
also been asked to host Avon Park International Racing Association's Perpetual Awards vote and we will have more about that a bit closer to the time.
Eurodragster.com's annual Christmas Gift Mart will be posted here on Eurodragster.com News on Sunday week, 13th December. If you are
offering Christmas presents for drag racing fans then drop brief details (including price and how to order) and a picture to us at
[email protected]. We will post the gift ideas in the order in which they
are received so the quicker you respond the higher up the news item your piece will be.
On a similar subject, the final date for Christmas orders from Santa Pod Raceway will be Wednesday 16th December. For your SPR Christmas gift
ideas check out www.santapodshop.com or call 01234 782828 (outside the UK +44 1234 782828).
On-line orders for discounted tickets for next year's events at Santa Pod Raceway will of course be available 24/7.
In the pink (et al) for Christmas. 3rd December: Staying on the theme of Christmas, Paul Marston writes that Geddex' Dial In and Wheels Up, which have been available at the track through Paul Marston Racing, will again be
available in 2016 and that deliveries of both these and a new product should arrive in time for Christmas:
Dial In: Simply the very best thing you can use in a dial-in class for writing your ET or race number on your car window or bodywork. Unlike shoe whitener, which burns into the Lexan or
paintwork and can be virtually impossible to remove, Dial In can be very easily removed with just a soft cloth. Ask anyone who has used this product - it just works and leaves no mark.
New for 2016 is an exciting range of new colours, which includes pink as well as white, orange, blue, yellow and green (Note to racers: this is not a challenge to burn out the
webcams' CCDs - Ed).
Wheels Up: A must for wheelie bar wheels as you can see the trail left after the car or bike has launched. This product also has a brand new range of colours.
New product: Burnout Gard and Nose Gardian: Invisible protection against dirt, rubber, insects, etc which once sprayed on simply washes off with water. Use it for the front end of
your car and the rear wheel arches, chassis, shocks, axle case etc.
For all of these very handy products just stop by the PMR pits during any UK National event, or if you would like to order some for an unusual but handy Christmas present then E-Mail us
at [email protected].
Wild Bunch salute the winners. 3rd December: Back to Nostalgia and Wild Bunch
Race Co-ordinator Claire Meaddows writes that the nostalgia racers had a fantastic evening at their Twentieth Anniversary Prize Presentation at
Drayton Manor Park last Saturday:
All the various Series winners were presented with their awards, with the 2015 Wild Bunch Series win going to Keith Crampton of the Soul Town Shaker slingshot team,
his first ever Wild Bunch Series win. Many congratulations to Keith and his whole team on this achievement! The Spirit of Nostalgia Challenge Series trophies were also
presented, and the winner this year was Phil James with the Rampage Funny Car, his first ever Series win of any kind. Phil also won the Springbridge MSA Challenge
Series Cup, held over the five MSA events that the Wild Bunch compete in. Keith Crampton also won this year's Roy Wilding Nostalgia Race Cars Series, presented by the
very man himself, and Darryl Howells with the DASH Racing Chemical Reaction slingshot won the APIRA Series, with this trophy to be awarded at the APIRA Trophy
Night in March.
Presentations made during the evening to thank former Chairman Chris Hartnell, who retired at the beginning of the year; long-time Committee member Tony Smith, who also
retired at the beginning of the year; a special presentation to Bruno Sanderson-Brown in recognition and gratitude for his many years of safety services; to Race Co-ordinator
and Treasurer Claire Meaddows; web site author Ed Yates; newsletter editor Josh Coulsell; and Secretary Lynne Coulsell. Presents were given to all the lovely ladies of the Wild
Bunch who do so much to support their teams' participation. Flowers were presented to Claire, kindly donated by Mark Coulsell of Team Limited Funz.
This year's Guest of Honour was due to be none other than recent British Drag Racing Hall of Fame inductee and Wild Bunch member Ken 'Mr Flathead' Cooper. Unfortunately
Ken was unable to attend so his son Bradley, driver of their Back from the Past Flathead-powered slingshot, and his partner Denise were there to collect a special crystal
star award on Ken's behalf in honour of all of his achievements... so far! The whole Wild Bunch would like to wish Ken all the very best for his forthcoming treatments and hope that
he returns to health quickly and that he would like to come back to join us racing again next season! It is truly an honour to have Ken and the team racing with us. All the very
best Ken, to you and to your family.
The winners of the Wild Bunch Special Merit Awards were as follow:
Big Bang Trophy: Bob Hawkins, Time Traveller II
Quickest ET by a British-engined dragster (Martin Holgate Trophy): Alan Loten, Paranoia, 9.123 seconds
Best ET: Bob Hawkins, Time Traveller II, 6.918 seconds
Fastest speed: Bob Hawkins, Time Traveller II, 203.42 mph
Best Newcomer (Roy Wilding trophy): Rob and Pete Brown, Wrathchild
Best Radical/Dragster: Phil James, Rampage
Best Slingshot: Bob Hawkins, Time Traveller II
Best Altered: Alan Loten Paranoia
Best Turned Out (Roy Wilding trophy): Black Pig Racing Black Pig Too
Perseverance Award: Bob Hawkins, Time Traveller II
Best Achiever: Phil James, Rampage
Personal Achievement (Daddy Cool Sag Trophy): Bob Hawkins, Time Traveller II
C & C Sportsperson: Dave Williams, Time Traveller II and Committee
Crew of the Year: Steve Cassisi, Ballbreaker
Crazy Chris Showmanship Award: Team Limited Funz, Ballbreaker
Derek and Brenda Annable Trophy: The Molden family
The greatest accolade of the evening was as always, the Don Garlits Spirit of Drag Racing Shield, the most prestigious award in the Wild Bunch, which represents sportsmanship,
achievement, commitment, presentation and a host of other attributes. This was awarded to Bob Hawkins with the Time Traveller II slingshot, who achieved the fantastic
goals of running six-second passes at over 200 mph, the club records for ET and Speed, after persevering through breakages and rebuilds. Whilst racing he also put on a great show,
including internationally-renowned fire burnouts! Bob is a modest and well-respected man
who always has time to help others. He has also demonstrated great commitment to the Wild Bunch and drag racing in general, and is very well-liked. Big congratulations to Bob and his
whole team, a very well-deserved and popular win!
Many congratulations to all our winners. We can't wait until 2016 to be back out at the drags for the twenty first year of the Wild Bunch!
Full details will be posted in due course on the Wild Bunch web site at www.the-wild-bunch.co.uk.
Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy, dry, safe and quick New Year to all racers and teams, marshals and officials, track and safety crews, photographers, media, promoters,
managers and of course the Eurodragster.com staff, all of whom work so hard at Santa Pod, Shakespeare County and York Raceways for this sport of drag racing which we all love so
much. Thanks everyone for everything you do - see you all at the drags next season!
It is recommended that you book your hotel room as soon as you can. Rooms are available at a preferential
rate of £85 for a single room and £95 for double or twin rooms, including breakfast on Sunday morning.
To book your room, please call the hotel on 01327 302002 quoting reference SANT060216. Please do not try to book
your room on-line as the electronic reservations system has been told that the entire hotel booked for that evening,
so your attempt at reservation will fail.
Last year's SPRC Perpetual Award winners are asked to return their trophies as soon as possible. To arrange
trophy return please call Ian Marshall on 01933 313625 or E-Mail
[email protected].
For full details about the 2016 SPRC Dinner Dance please see our news item of
6th October.
You can download the SPRC Dinner Dance booking form (PDF format) by clicking here.
A Word format form will be available on the Entry Forms section of the SPRC web site at
www.eurodragster.com/sprc. Please note that booking forms should be sent to Yvonne
Tramm at the address specified on the form and not to the SPRC office.
If you have any queries about the SPRC Dinner Dance then please contact Yvonne Tramm, not the SPRC office, at
[email protected].
BDRHoF's best-ever Gala. 2nd December: Brian Taylor writes that the tenth annual British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Gala Awards
Dinner, held on 21st November, once again showed that this occasion is the most prestigious social gathering on the drag racing
calendar, and one of the top gala events in UK motorsport. The visiting American guests said that it even topped most
of their presentation dinners:
The evening included the induction of three new members of the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame, presentation of the Sydney
Allard media awards, the Lucas Oil Global Achievement Award and special presentations for the US visitors to the event and
the individuals that have overseen the growth of the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame since its inception.
It was rewarding to see drag bike pioneer John Clift, Flathead powered dragster racer Ken Cooper and long-time club, race and
Committee Secretary Yvonne Tramm inducted into the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame with a total between them of over one
hunderd years' experience of the sport. Trophies were sponsored by the Santa Pod Racers Club.
The Sydney Allard media awards for photo journalism and one for written journalism went respectively to photographer Jeni
Long for her dramatic photo of Bob Hawkins' fire burnout, and Rodger Attaway, author of the magnificent book Street Rod
and Custom Showtime. This year the trophies were sponsored by Mooneyes – the company which helped Sydney Allard
increase awareness of drag racing throughout the UK in 1963.
The Lucas Oil Global Achievement Award was presented to Detroit based Pietro Gorlier, the President and Chief Executive
Officer of Mopar Brand Service Parts and Customer Care as well as Global Chief Executive Officer Fiat Chrysler Components.
It was awarded for the key role played in drag racing by its famed HEMI V8 engine. Donna Garlits, Chief Financial Officer of
the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing joined the presentation team. The trophy is now on display at Chrysler headquarters
in Auburn Hills (right).
As well as the awards, there was a memorial for club organiser Peter Bartlett and Top Fuel Bike legend Brian Johnson and
his wife Ann all of whom sadly passed away during the last year.
Special presentations of newly commissioned paintings by Paul Whitehouse were then made to guest US legends NHRA
Nostalgia Series administrator Eileen Daniels, long-time Funny Car racer and 1989 NHRA Winston Funny Car Champion
Bruce Larson who now runs a Nostalgia FC, 'Waterbed' Fred Miller of the Blue Max Funny Car team, Rat Trap
Fuel Altered pilot Ron Hope and Bob Muravez who drove the twin-motor Freight Train slingshot.
Finally surprise presentations of crystal trophies were made by Beech Underwriting Agencies Managing Director Geoff Stilwell
to BDRHoF Chairman Stu Bradbury, General Secretary and Treasurer Bev Bradbury and Commerce and Marketing head Brian
Taylor. The evening was completed with the American visitors holding a Grand Autograph Session.
The Gala day also included face-to-face interviews with UK pioneers which were filmed for inclusion in a TV series covering the
history of American drag racing and the performance parts industry. Not only that but the afternoon featured an entertaining
Legends Bench Racing Session with the guest American and Norwegian racers and personalities telling stories about back in the
day with questions from the floor. The sessions were introduced by Traci Hrudka, Chair of the Cleveland, Ohio based Quarter
Mile Foundation and facilitated by US Network TV announcer Jack Korpela.
On display during the evening, as part of celebrating sixty five years since Chrysler first introduced the Hemi engine as an option
on production cars, was Europe's first dragster, Sydney Allard's 1961 354 cubic inch Hemi-engined Allard Chrysler owned by the
National Motor Museum, Beaulieu along with the resident Hemi ready from the Garlick and Antonious Apache Nostalgia
Funny Car.
The event would not have been possible without practical help and major sponsorship from Beech Underwriting Agencies and
US Automotive, and event sponsors Lucas Oil Products UK, Mooneyes, Flint Insurance, Santa Pod Racers Club, Julie Braskett,
Institute of Professional Drivers, National Street Rod Association and Atlantic Fluid Tech.
The date for the 2016 event is Saturday 19th November. Put it in your new diary.
Editor's note: Due to the usual quotidian calls on our time we have a backlog of news, including a fascinating
quiz for you Nostalgia buffs, which we shall post on tomorrow's news update which is due this evening (Wednesday). Tune back
then and please keep the news coming to
[email protected].
22nd December: We were shocked and very sorry to hear of the death of US clutch expert Tim Hyatt. Tim raced in Funny
Car before setting up Hyatt Clutch Service and travelling the NHRA tour providing clutch support to racers accompanied by his wife Beth who is
involved in DRAW. Tim was of course very familiar to European racers as one of the inspectors on the annual European SFI Recertification Tour.
We had the pleasure of meeting Tim on the Tour several times and it was easy to see why he was so popular as he was a friendly, cheerful and very
helpful gentleman and never slow to make a joke. Our deepest sympathies to Beth and to Tim's family and friends.
Keith Lee has an exclusive offering for drag racing fans, which would make a great Christmas present. He has put together a limited edition eighty page hardback book
featuring some of his favourite racing photographs - most in full colour, entitled British Drag Racing in the 1970s - A Photographic Memory.
This unique collection of photographs showcases a wide range of machinery that made history on British tracks in the era. From classic slingshots, fabulous Funny Cars,
crazy blown altereds and top street machinery, to the best bikes as well. Not surprisingly, Dennis Priddle is well featured, as are so many other great racers and cars, like
Clive Skilton, Allan Herridge, Houndog, Panic, the Stones, Pat Cuss, Liz and Ollie, Al O'Connor, John Hobbs, Pegasus, Jeff Byne, Keith Parnell, plus a number of our
American visitors among this super array of photographs. This signed and numbered edition is limited to 100 copies, and is only available from the author. Size is 10 x 8 inches,
and price is £32 + £5 recorded delivery in the UK. There are a limited number of copies available for Christmas delivery, so if you would like a copy of this book,
then please contact Keith via E-Mail at 
Elaine Southworth of 
Bob Roberts writes that this is probably your last chance to buy 2015 Special Edition Andy Robinson Race Cars T-Shirts. "We have just a few available in adult sizes XL, L and M at
£15 plus £2.50 P+P; kids' sizes M and S at £12 and XS at £10, both plus £1.50 P+P", he says. "To order call 01256 880589 or E-Mail
Looking for that special Christmas gift for the VW drag racing enthusiast in your life? Then look no further than a limited edition His and Hers Volkslife gift set.
Jerry Cookson writes that the gift set consists of a Hoodie for him and a T-Shirt for her! Hoodies are available in black or grey with a single white design on front and three-colour
design on the back. T-shirt: three colour design on the back available in green only. Every order receives two Volkslife Car Stickers. The items available in all popular sizes (Chest
Size: S 34-36, M 38-40, L 42-44, XL 46-48, XXL 50-52). Yours for £20. Men's T-Shirts are also available separately in black, grey or military green at £10
plus free Volkslife stickers. Hoodies are available separately at £15. All come with free P+P. Orders can be placed by E-Mailing
There is plenty on offer from Eurodragster.com sponsor 
12th December: Brad Jackson Racing are pleased to announce that Brad's Lucas Oil-sponsored Super Pro ET dragster will be on display at the joint
Lucas Oil / Santa Pod Raceway stand at Autosport International at Birmingham's NEC on 14th-17th January. Santa Pod's Two Seat Dragster will also be featured on the stand.
"This will give Sportsman racing a premier showcase at the biggest motorsport show in Europe and bring an insight into our sport to a mass audience", says Wayne Jackson. "Everyone
is welcome to come along and say hello and help to fill the long winter without racing!"
6th December: FIA Drag Racing Commission Vice President Lars Pettersson writes from
Malta that he is very proud to confirm that the island will host the final round of the 2016 FIA European
Drag Racing Championships and to furnish initial practical details about the event.
5th December: Thanks to UK Super Pro ET racer Pete Walters of Eurodragster.com sponsor
