Big Bang results. 29th April: Congratulations to the winners at this weekend's Big Bang at Santa Pod Raceway: VW Pro: Glynn Morgan (12.30) 12.4852/101.58 def. Peter Christie (12.70) 12.8062/109.73 VW Sportsman: Graeme Freeman (14.21) 14.2791/90.87 def. Paul Herbert (13.30) 13.5628/97.02 VW Alternate Engine: Laurie Craig (9.40) 9.8268/126.09 def. Paul Braithwaite (12.20) 12.5798/106.18 Super Modified: Tim Garlick 7.6221/174.94 def. Andy Hone 7.7090/177.14 9.50 Bike: Chris Jones 9.6331/143.18 def. Julian Harris 9.6661/140.18 red Real Steel Street Eliminator: Steve Nash 8.1442/179.10 def. Colin Lazenby 8.2229/181.36 Outlaw Anglia: Mark Pointer 7.5290/182.93 def. Paul Wright no time ©Eurodragster.com Congratulations to VW Sportsman racer Paul Herbert who took the £50 Eurodragster.com/LA Racing Parts Perfect ET Award with an 11.4500 on an 11.45 dial-in this morning, and who came within a whisker of winning the £100 win bonus. So far in 2007 the Perfect ET Award has only paid out to racers with the surname Herbert. Click here to view our American Car Imports-sponsored coverage, of the Big Bang, or click on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. You can also find pictures on the official Big Bang web site at www.big-bang.co.uk. Springspeed snippets. 29th April: Glenn Stockton tells us that scrutineering for next weekend's Springspeed Festival at Shakespeare County Raceway will take place between 17:00 and 20:00 on Friday and then re-starts at 8:00 on Sunday. "On Saturday we will be visiting cars and bikes in class running order so if you are out last you will be scrutineered last", says Glenn. "All the scrutineering team are now qualified for cars and bikes, and the Chief Technical Official for bikes will be in attendance from 8:00 on Saturday. Paul Knight, Dave Cherrett and Andy Williams please note that the scrutineers will be hiding from you three." ©Eurodragster.com The Outlaw Flat Fours will be making their first outing of the year at next weekend's race. Mat Sanchez of OFF tells us that there will be at least one new car appearing, Joe Gallagher's Fiat 850 The Sting, and that Bernard Newbury will be back on track with a fully revised Stitch Up. "Most of the rest of field have been making changes to their cars over the winter too so there could be a few surprises on the ET front", says Mat. You can read a race preview on the Outlaw Flat Four web site at www.outlawflatfour.com. Springspeed snippets. 28th April: Further to yesterday's news item, any racer wishing to obtain additional tickets for next week's Springspeed Festival at Shakespeare County Raceway can do so at half the list price by calling 01789 414119. Advance spectator tickets are still available for purchase up to Thursday 3rd May again by calling 01789 414119. All major credit cards are accepted. ©Eurodragster.com Gone in a Split Second. 28th April: The PrimeTime team of Colin Fallows and Mark Newby have sold their Jet Dragster Split Second - fastest car in the country - to Julian and Roy Webb. PrimeTime had the car built by Hauser Race Cars in 1998 and have used it almost exclusively for record breaking and air show appearances. In a rare drag strip appearance at Avon Park in 2005, the car match-raced Roger Goring's Firestorm Jet Funny Car in the first Jet v Jet heads-up race in twenty years. With Colin taking care of the tuning and Mark the driving, the car reset the British Land Speed Record twice, and also posted an MSA timed average speed of 339.74 mph in July last year, with a terminal in excess of 350 mph - making it officially the fastest car in the country. ©Eurodragster.com "It is time for a change", said Colin Fallows. "We have achieved everything we set out to achieve with the car, and fresh pastures and new adventures await us!" "What a privilege it has been to drive this car", added Mark Newby. "It has done everything we asked of it safely and successfully and we hope that Julian and his team get as much fun and pleasure out of it as Colin and I have done." Colin and Mark are in the enviable position of having their long-standing posse of sponsors waiting in the wings and ready with full backing and commitment for their next project. "Other than the fact that we will certainly be continuing with our partnership, we have made no firm plans just yet", said Colin. "With Funny Cars and jets having featured so strongly in both our backgrounds, anything could happen" added Mark. PrimeTime will be helping Julian and his team get acquainted with Split Second over the coming months. "We are delighted for Julian and his team and wish them every success" concluded Colin. Springspeed Festival racer tickets. 27th April: Julie Willcox has been in touch to let us know about arrangements for racers' tickets at next week's Springspeed Festival at Shakespeare County Raceway. SCR have had their hands forced by a cock-up by their printer so tickets will only be available on the gate: "Gates will be open from 12:00 midday next Friday, 4th May, and all racer tickets will be on the gate", says Julie. "We apologise but this is due to circumstances completely beyond our control. If you sent an SAE then we will return it to you. ©Eurodragster.com "If you are planning on arriving at the track before midday next Friday then please contact me on 0121 355 8011 or 07050 108043 so that we can arrange your entry. After Tuesday of next week I will be at the track and so you can contact me on my mobile number above or on the track number which is 01789 720180. "Please also use the above numbers if you have any queries about tickets or anything else connected with the Springspeed Festival." Milams down but not out. 27th April: After another torrid Easter Thunderball, UK Top Methanol Funny Car racer Steph Milam says that anyone who thinks that lightning doesn't strike twice is wrong. "On Saturday I made a checkout pass, 7.19, not bad after the winter lay off", says Steph. "On the second pass it left well, I saw the shift light for which I had instructions to wait, then the belt let go. 6.90, not bad for a half pass. "The third run was on Easter Sunday. I saw both shift lights this time, it pulled hard at the top end, great pass, smooth as you like. 6.1239/235.84 then all hell broke loose. Flame flashed from under the bulkhead and straight between my legs. I went for the fire bottle lever, chutes and brakes - I think in that order, but it all happened fast. The fire went out and I stopped with a lot of people and vehicles round me. By the time my crew arrived the Paramedics had taken me away to the medical centre to cool down. ©Eurodragster.com "My thanks go to Nimbus Motorsport for my CarbonX underwear, Simpson for my race suit and Coldfire for the extinguishers, they all worked as they should and I emerged only slightly singed. The engine did not fare so well, a rod out each side and we say goodbye to a short motor. The explosion heard and felt by some of you and the flash fire caused body and cockpit damage. "The latest news is that we are working hard to get the body repaired and we sourcing parts to rebuild a motor, thank god the dollar rate is good. We have entered the FIA Main Event so keep your fingers crossed and if we don't make it, it won't be for the want of trying. "Finally my thanks to everybody who has phoned and dropped by to ask how I am. We will update our web site at www.shedevilracing.co.uk as soon as we can, time permitting." Bringing the new baby home. 27th April: Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor Air Sea Logistics Ltd has been in touch to thank Swedish Pro Stock racer Michael Malmgren for again choosing the company to transport his new Lahega-sponsored Jerry Bickel-built 2007 Pontiac GTO from the USA to Sweden. ©Eurodragster.com "Michael contacted us earlier this year to request our services", said Malcolm Francis of Air Sea Logistics Ltd. "In 2004 we shipped his then-new Pontiac Grand Am from the USA to Sweden so we were delighted to assist him again. Michael and his crew loaded the race car in a forty-foot container following the NHRA Gatornationals in Florida in March and it was then put on a vessel from Miami to Helsingborg in Sweden. The container was delivered to Michael's race shop last Friday and his team are now busy preparing it for this year's FIA European Pro Stock Championship. We wish Michael and his team the best of luck for this year's Championship. This isn't the only Pro Stock car that we have on the move from the USA at the moment - ore news on that soon. "Air Sea Logistics continue to be the number one choice for many drag race teams and companies in Europe for arranging worldwide transportation of race cars or spares and we would also like to say good luck to all the of the other teams who use our services when they contest this year's FIA European Drag Racing Championships, UK National Championships and Nordic Drag Racing Series." Close but no cigar. 27th April: Jeff Rainbird tells us that Martin and Lisa Lewis of the Nova Blaze Sportsman ET team had an informative weekend at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball whilst new team member Steve Partis lived up to his Axeman nickname. "I gave Steve the Axeman name when he shoed the Skoda with a string of zero reaction times", says Jeff. "But to go rounds in Sportsman Et is hard and front wheel drive makes it a lot harder. If Steve keeps hitting zero lights then he will be a strong contestant. ©Eurodragster.com Nova Blaze 1 had slicks fitted during the winter and this change confirmed that the motor combination would runs in the fourteens - just load up the grip. I did get it down to 15.1 on street tyres but with the slicks fitted Martin ran a new Personal Best of 14.9 and consistent 1.9 sixty foot times to boot. I will now spend time making the chassis work better and source the parts needed to step the motor up as the tune is not good, but it is all I have to work with. The numbers the car has run will be hard to beat with stock engine parts except intake and carbs, front wheel drive, sll steel body, and stock suspension parts. Changes will be made to to get a tighter dial-in but funds are very short so Martin and Lisa will keep fighting rounds with this little hot rod with Axeman running shotgun. They just need the £ fairy to pay them a visit! "Congratulations to Anna Metcalfe on her nice win, six to seven thousandths breakout is close but no cigar, but Team Nova Blaze has been a tough team to beat these last few years. You beat us, we just have to come back better, and you can be sure we will." Swift snippets. 27th April: We were sorry to see Jan Arve Nygård's Corvette Pro Mod appear on our Jeff Bull Race Engines and Performance Parts-sponsored Swap Meet. Our good buddy Patrik Jacobsson of the European Pro Mod Association tells us that Jan Arve and the team cannot afford to run without sponsorship and that anyone wishing to purchase the car will get a good deal as it is capable of 6.2s. ©Eurodragster.com Many thanks to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for sending us Version 6 of the official FIA Main Event entry list which you can view by clicking here. If you have any queries about FIA Main Event entry then please contact SPRC Club Secretary Paula Marshall by E-Mail at [email protected] or on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625). USAutomotive sponsors Hall of Fame. 27th April: USAutomotive Ltd has stepped in with valuable sponsorship for the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame. The BDRHoF was launched in 2005 to help recognise the innovators, drivers and personalities involved in British drag racing from the sport's inception. Initially, the BDRHoF attracted backing from Santa Pod Raceway, Santa Pod Racers Club and Eurodragster.com, but now with additional support from USAutomotive Ltd, the organisation will be able to operate on a completely different level. "The cash injection with allow us to be more efficient, more professional and to move the BDRHoF forward in a way we had always hoped", says Stu Bradbury, one of the originators of the organisation. "This is good news for everyone involved with the BDRHoF, and we are very grateful for the support USAutomotive is providing. Even with this boost though, we are still some way off achieving our ultimate goal", he adds. The BDRHoF is run by a team of eleven key people with strong drag racing credentials, whose task is to shortlist a group of deserving individuals each year to be nominated and inducted into the BDRHoF. Each inductee receives a specially-designed, commemorative glass trophy (a "Bootsie" in recognition of the late British drag racer Alan "Bootsie" Herridge) in acknowledgement of their contribution to the sport. USAutomotive Ltd, enjoys its tenth anniversary in 2007 and has close ties with drag racing and drag racers, having supplied automotive components to quarter mile enthusiasts for many years. Click here to find out more about the BDRHoF or for more USAutomotive information go to www.usautomotive.co.uk. ©Eurodragster.com Web site updates. 27th April: As promised earlier this week, Dutch Top Fuel Dragster racer Lex Joon's exclusive Racer Blog has been updated with Lex's answers to the first two questions sent by readers, this week's questionmeisters being Dave Jones and Tethys. You can find out about Top Fuel chassis and electronic management issues by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blog link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. ©Eurodragster.com FIA Main Event entry closing. 26th April: Racers in all classes, Pro and Sportsman, are reminded that tomorrow, 27th April, is the deadline for entry at normal fee to the FIA Main Event which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-28th May. Entry after tomorrow, if accepted, is liable to a penalty of up to one hundred per cent. You can find the entry forms for the FIA Main Event on the Entry Forms page of the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc or on the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se, or on the official European Championships web site at www.powerracing.eu. ©Eurodragster.com You can check out version 5 of the official FIA Main Event entry list by clicking here. If you have any queries about FIA Main Event entry then please contact SPRC Club Secretary Paula Marshall by E-Mail at [email protected] or on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625). Springspeed Festival entry list. 26th April: We are indebted to Julie Willcox for forwarding us the official entry list for next week's Springspeed Festival at Shakespeare County Raceway. ©Eurodragster.com You can view the entry list by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page and selecting the Springspeed Festival. Swift snippets. 26th April: We have received this spy picture of two Top Fuel Dragster drivers appearing to square up to each other during a promotional photoshoot at Santa Pod Raceway yesterday (click on picture for large version). One is Andy Carter of the Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster whilst the other is the as-yet unidentified pilot of Santa Pod Raceway's own Top Fueller. Before it appeared to light off Andy had told Eurodragster.com that he plans to test the car at the pre-FIA Main Event Peak Performance Day on 19th May, and that he thinks that it will take consistent 4.7s to make the grade this year. Tracey Cowen of Shakespeare County Raceway tells us that a number of SCR media accreditation applications have appeared to have gone astray. If you have applied for media accreditation at SCR and have not heard back then please E-Mail Tracey at [email protected] or call her mobile 07734 851755. ©Eurodragster.com David Lloyd-Jones of Santa Pod Raceway says that racers wishing to hire portable toilets for the FIA Main Event and FIA European Finals can take advantage of a deal negotiated by Santa Pod with A Plant Accommodation for a portable toilet at a price of £100 plus VAT which includes cleaning. Orders must be placed two weeks before each event and you can find out more or place an order by contacting Darren Prentice at [email protected]. Jason Yates of the Orange Pop Outlaw Anglia team tells us that Simon Barlow has had to withdraw from OA competition at this weekend's Big Bang at Santa Pod Raceway. "We are trying very hard to get the car ready for the Springspeed Festival", says Jay. We know that a lot of our readers are also Land Speed Record fans and if that's you then you will be interested to hear that one of the themes of this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed is Bonneville Speed Week and that a display on the cricket pitch will include Challenger 1, The Blue Flame, Al Teague's streamliner and the JCB Dieselmax. Entry to the FoS, which takes place on 22nd-24th June, is by advance ticket only and you can find out more at www.goodwood.co.uk. Web site updates. 26th April: The official web site of the above-mentioned Andy Carter has been updated with a report from team member Jan Broersma as well as an updated schedule of appearances including a display in London in July, about which more shortly. Check it out at www.andycarter.net. ©Eurodragster.com All better now... 25th April: UK Pro ET racer Vic Amato tells us that he and his Crew Chief Dave Barlow are fit and healthy and looking forward to the FIA Main Event. Why would he tell us this now? Because it wasn't quite like that at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball. "It all started in the chemist waiting to get a prescription for my sinusitis: hot and dizzy, pains in the head, I was just ready for four days' racing", says Vic. "Then up behind me walked Dave (aka Slim), also clutching a prescription. "What are you doing here?" I asked. "Oh I've got this boil", he replied. "Where?" I said loudly. "Well it's sort of in between my legs quite high up (We'll let you imagine the rest - Ed)". "Not good" I said, noticing that Dave was moving from one foot to the other with a rather wide gait. "My next stop was the chiropractor. I put my back out three times in the last month and could only just get my socks on with a fight. The chiropractor said "I know you are a bit mad if you drag race, but how are you going to drive that car with back shaped like a question mark and one shoulder two inches higher than the other?". Fifteen minutes and thirty pounds later she said "You are going to be sore for a couple of days, drink lots of water and be careful". I heard "Have a few big whiskies and forget about it" - normally works for me. "I took my son Ryan and his mate James to Santa Pod with me as I knew i would not be able to unload some of the heavy stuff when we got there. They were a great help. The next day Dave arrived, still with his wide gait and in some pain, unable to lay under the car without considerable discomfort. I could not sit down because standing up straight afterwards was agony. We spent the next days taking our antibiotics and painkillers and ripping the pee out of each other. "Then Nigel Holland arrived and asked if we could put up his tent for him. I left it to the boys who after twenty minutes called "Dad, we can't work it out". On my knees because I could not bend over, I gave up after ten minutes, telling Nigel that what his tent needed was "A quart of racing fuel and a match". Nigel directed us all from his wheelchair and the tent was up in ten minutes! I told him he was mad and going to be very cold camping, I gave him one of our sleeping bags so that he had two. The next morning he told me that I was right and that he'd been very cold and that he wouldn't be doing that again. ©Eurodragster.com "We all got better as the meeting passed. Getting in and out of the car was a challenge, but I don't think any of our fellow Pro ET racers noticed anything untoward in our pit. Nigel had a bad oil leak and had to drop out but did qualify #2 for a good part of the event so he was happy. "Dave and I are almost one hundred per cent now and looking forward to having a fit and healthy Main Event. As I type this Nigel Holland has just called to tell me we are both now showing as entered in the Main Event. Meanwhile we will be discussing the web site which Nigel is building for us, that's his job in the real world. He is looking for more of that work so he's the man if anyone else wants one. Nigel also tells me that he has "Put that tent on E-Bay". "I look forward to seeing all my Pro ET mates and the Santa Pod track staff soon, and thanks to Eurodragster for their dedication to our great sport (Thanks! - Ed)." Vic's web site at www.jhrimports.com has details of his business specialising in Japanese car imports as well as people carriers and 4x4s. Nasty noise stops play. 25th April: In a slightly healthier state at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball was the 2005 triple Championship-winning Comp Bike team Jones and Friend Racing, back on track after spending just over a year building their new bike. Dave Friend got in touch to let us know how the bike's début went: Unfortunately due to business commitments primary sponsor and team member Eric Humphrey of Saunders Specialised Services Ltd was unable to attend the meeting. Gary Jones (Rider - Ed) and I took a steady approach to setting up the new bike, but this turned out to be easier said than done as the bike destroyed clutch plates on every pass, no matter which set up was tried. On the third pass of the four we had, we ran a 7.607/173 with a dead clutch and the plenum tube disconnecting itself from the plenum at a thousand feet. On our fourth and final pass of the weekend the clutch let go again, but this time the engine hit the rev limiter and Gary aborted the run. Back in the pits another clutch pack hit the bin and in went yet another pack and set-up, but upon starting the bike there was a nasty noise coming from the engine. Unable to find the cause of the noise the team took the decision to withdraw from meeting rather than risk further engine damage. ©Eurodragster.com Upon inspection of the engine in the workshop, it was found that #4 piston pin was bent and snapped in half, the small end bush was galled, and #1-3 piston pins were all cracked as well. A big Thank You to Stuart and Shaun of Predator Racing, who unfortunately also suffered engine damage, for sending us their spare set of piston pins to help get us back into competition. Unortunately we will be unable to make the Springspeed Festival, but we will be racing at the FIA Main Event. For 2007 we have the continued support of Eric Humphrey as our primary sponsor with his new business Saunders Specialised Services Ltd, as well as all our long term associate sponsors Mistral Engineering, World Wide Bearings, Universal Turbos, FAB-Racing who continue to support us for another racing season. Jones and Friend Racing also welcomes three new associate sponsors: Frozen Solid, Gridstar Networking, and Dawson Motorsport FL. Please check out all of our sponsors' web sites. The Outlaws are coming! 25th April: With the first round for the UK's Supercharged Outlaws only a few weeks away, Lee Gallimore made a very successful first outing at the weekend's Test and Tune at Shakespeare County Raceway. Dave McKenzie got in touch to let us know how Lee got on and to bring us up to date with the rest of the news from the Outlaw camp. "Lee's altered is the same as when Ian Hanson owned it, except that Lee has fitted a Small Block Chevy", says Fuzzie. "The car sounded strong on the Saturday and Lee ran a low nine second pass with the throttle stop on. On the Sunday he took the throttle stop off and during Sunday afternoon ran 8.1/171, not bad for the first time out. Lee was well pleased with his weekend's work. "Our next event is the Super Street Shootout at Shakespeare County Raceway, which is our first points round. I will be joining Lee in the Alkyoneus car, no chance to test striaght out and race. Also at this event will be Alec Coe with the refurbished Shy Torque slingshot. Alec has put a lot into the car over the winter and he should get into the seven second bracket this year. "The second round of the Outlaws will again be at Shakespeare County Raceway over the weekend 2nd-3rd June. This is the Yanks Weekend and always attracts a big entry and crowd. Bill Felstead of Felstead Race Cars is sponsoring us for this event with £100 and a trophy for the winner. I hope this will entice more of the Outlaws to come out and race. I am also negotiating a sponsorship deal for the round at York in August - more details of that event later." ©Eurodragster.com Big Bang Perfect Awards. 25th April: This weekend's Big Bang at Santa Pod Raceway is the second event in this year's Eurodragster.com Perfect Awards. £100 and a £100 bonus are on offer for perfect performance. The Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award has been reset to £50 after it was won by Junior Dragster racer Matthew Seamarks at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball. The noney will be awarded to the first racer this weekend to record a perfect Reaction Time of 0.000. The Award is open to all classes and is available during qualifying or eliminations, but will only be awarded for the first Perfect Light of the weekend. The Perfect Light Award is jointly presented by Eurodragster.com and high-performance hose and fitting manufacturer Speedflow whose web site you can find at www.speedflow.co.uk. ©Eurodragster.com The Eurodragster.com/LA Racing Parts Perfect ET Award has also been reset to £50 after it was won by Pro ET racer Keith Herbert at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball. The money will be awarded to the first racer this weekend to run to the thousandth on their index or dial-in. The Award is open to VW Pro, VW Sportsman, VW Alternate Engine and 9.50 Bike and is available during qualifying and eliminations, but will only be awarded for the first Perfect ET of the weekend. The Perfect ET Award is jointly presented by Eurodragster.com and performance supplier LA Racing Parts whose web site you can find at www.laracingparts.com. Should the winner of the Perfect ET Award go on to win the event then a bonus of £100 will be paid by LA Racing Parts. Eurodragster.com/LA Racing Parts decals must be carried on both sides of the vehicle to qualify for the Perfect ET Award. As with other contingency schemes the decals are available from the signing-on office. Swift snippets. 25th April: Lizz McCarthy of Paul Marston Racing has been in touch to ask us to wish a big Happy 16th Birthday to Junior Dragster racer Matthew Seamarks. No sooner said than done Lizz, have a great day Matt. ©Eurodragster.com Web site updates. 25th April: As regular readers will be aware Brian Taylor is hard at work writing a book on the history of British drag racing entitled Crazy Horses - British Drag Racing's Heritage. Brian has written an author's diary which gives an account of what he has been up to so far, which you can find on Alan Currans' excellent Acceleration Archive at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk/crazy_horses/blog_01.html. Alan tells us that the plan is to update the page every month with news of Brian's progress and discoveries. ©Eurodragster.com Busy times at SCR. 24th April: With a mixture of sun, people and an assortment of road and race machinery it was another busy weekend for everyone attending Shakespeare County Raceway's second Public Track Day of the season, writes Jerry Cookson: With over 340 signed on over the weekend, the high spots from Saturday's events included Keith Cowie's first ever eight with the fearsome RB Motorsport Skyline GT-R32 and Steve Murty's record-breaking wheelstand with the Backdraft fire truck. With the track in excellent condition, building up through a series of test passes Keith's main focus for the day was achieving his first ever eight second quarter mile and when it came, boy did the earth rotate; 8.868 seconds at 161.45 mph setting both new personal and track record figures for import cars even though the 1200 bhp specially prepared OS Giken engine developed a misfire towards the end of the run. With television cameras rolling, York Dragway's Steve Murty demonstrated the art of a controlled wheelstand by taking the Backdraft fire truck past his existing record of 547 metres. With flame belching from the truck's fire stacks, Steve drove the truck well down into the shutdown area to a new record of 600 metres. With the Springspeed meet at Shakey a mere fourteen days away, several National Championship teams took the opportunity to gain some early event track knowledge. This included the 9.50 Bikes of Lee Baxter (9.41) and Chris Jones (9.52), Nigel Barker's Super Street 'Busa (9.2), Harrison Brown driving dad's Super Street Thatadoo Camaro (hoping to run three classes this year) and Nick Gay's Metro pick-up. APIRA Tech wizard Simon Day spent his first seat time in fifteen years in Tony Smith's Cunning Plan Minivan and forgot everything he had previously learnt and cruised to a seventeen-second ticket. Sunday was even busier with the Jap Racer Day series taking to the track for the first of five outings this year. Topping the timing league table for the Unlimited category was Steve Guirey's Type R Scooby. Sporting a 2.5 litre SMG engine kitted out with AET turbo and Piper Cams, Steve was in fact the only driver to run under ten seconds twice, at 9.747 and 9.814. Second quickest was MGT Racing's Dean Buxton. Running a full spec engine with an HKS fuel system, turbo and a triple plate clutch, Dean carded a best of 11.422 with plenty more to come. Team Tomlinson and Farrer ran 11.577 from their RePerformance Centre 2.6 R32 Skyline. Quickest of the Front Wheel Drive racers was Paul Jones with the TDi North Honda Civic Type-R following a couple of consistent 11.9s. Second and third quickest with two 12.1s and a 12.52 to their credit were the Honda Civics of Scott Whitelaw and Guy Chamberlain of CPL Racing fame. A popular addition to the Public weekends is the Shakespeare County Street Challenge. Taking the Four Cylinder category was Danny Clarke in a WRX STi with a time of 12.22. The Six Cylinder award went to Kris Gilbert's twelve-second Nissan Skyline R33 GTR whilst the eight-cylinder trophy fell into the lap of Craig McManus for his low tens in an '83 Chevy Camaro. Quickest bike was, of course, a Suzuki, E Stannard's with a time of 9.51. The next Public Track Day is the Super Street Car Shootout on 19th-20th May. ©Eurodragster.com Swift snippets. 24th April: We are indebted to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for forwarding us version 2 of the official FIA Main Event entry list, which you can check out by clicking here. If you have any queries about FIA Main Event entry, which closes this Friday (27th), then please contact Paula by E-Mail at [email protected] or on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625). ©Eurodragster.com Paul Watson of Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor DynoSpeed Developments has been in touch to congratulate Phil Leamon on his win in Comp Bike at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball. "We have £50 waiting for Phil", says Grumpy. "A big congratulations to all the DSD riders in 9.50 Bike, especially Fast Harry on his superb win at Easter." UK Pro ET racer Marius Blackburn tells us that he is again producing the class notes for the official FIA Main Event event programme. Pro ET racers with news or other contributions are asked to send them to Marius at [email protected] as soon as possible as his deadline is next week. Jennifer Gustavsson has asked us to wish a big Happy 50th Birthday to JD Racing head honcho Christer Gustavsson. "Many hugs from Jennifer, Jessica, Evelyn and the other team members" says Jennifer. We'll settle for a manly handshake, but have a great day Christer. Thanks to those readers who sent questions and subjects for Lex Joon to address in his exclusive Racer Blog. Lex has now started to send us his replies and the first will be posted in the next Blog entry which will be posted at the end of this week. NSCC Round 1 report. 24th April: A nineteen-car field contested the first round of the National Street Car Challenge at Shakespeare County Raceway, writes Shaun Wilson: Russ Pursley took the number one qualifier with a 9.90, closely followed by necomer Mark Todd in the John Sleath-prepared twin-turbo Pontiac Firebird who ran a 10.11. Karl Wilkins stepped up the boost in his turbo'd 5.0 Mustang, running a new PB of 10.95 but destroying the motor in the process - the excess boost splitting the block clean in two. Elsewhere in the field it was good to see the return of Keith Bryant in his V6 Pop and new girl Stephanie Wainwright who was having an absolute ball in her V6 Pontiac. The traditional Saturday evening cruise out was very succesful, with all the drivers attending. With a thirty-two car ladder to work through we were concerned that we might not get through all the rounds on Sunday, so the first round was held almost immediately that the track opened, with a couple of upsets as Mick Rogers was unable to stage with gearbox problems in his black Cosworth Cortina and Mick Wilkes pulling a cherry to allow Keith Bryant through into the second round. Barry Woodford had plenty of fun with the new stroker 383 Chevy motor in his Pop, pulling the left front wheel into the air on each run and running a new PB of 12.2 although a confrontation with Steve Stringfellow's 400 ci Herald, being driven by Crew Chief Ian Armitage, ended his day in the second round. Mark Todd and Russ Pursley provided the fastest race of the day in the semis, the 350 ci Dutton just getting off the line faster than the Firebird and managing to fend off Mark with a close 10.38 victory over a 10.45. In the finals it was Russ up against Ian Armitage, the Dutton posting a winning 9.94/134 against an 11.5/121. With such a promising start to season it's great to see so many cars out running, with John Payne winning the AW Upholstery Reaction Time award with a stunning 0.005. Steve Stringfellow's Herald now has the points lead (2800), with Russ Pursley in second (2600) and Al Williamson in third (2500). With fifty seven cars signed-up for the series it's certainly going to be busy! For a full list of competitors, cars and points visit www.hotrodgazette.com. ©Eurodragster.com Web site updates. 24th April: The UK's Showtime Racing Fuel Funny Car team have relaunched their web site at www.showtimeracinguk.com. The very nicely-designed new site includes news, photo galleries and video clips, details on the car and team, team history, sponsor page, and a lot more. "We are delighted with the job which Nigel Holland of Mantisweb has done on the new site, and we would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a web site", driver John Spuffard told Eurodragster.com. Still over the moon from dad Frank's first six-second pass at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball (click on picture at right to see a lot of happy bunnies) Luke Bennett has updated the team's web site at www.bennettracing.co.uk with several pictures from the Autotrader Easter Thunderball. Continuing the growing and highly laudable trend for in-car footage, the Dave Wilson Racing web site at www.silverlinedragracing.com has been updated with a great on-board clip of one of Grumpy's five-second Top Methanol Dragster passes at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball. You can ride along with Grumpy, courtesy of webmaster Bob Roberts, by clicking on The Car. Our Reserve Photographer Peter Donaldson has updated his Fotopic gallery site with his full set of pictures from Saturday's Test and Tune at Shakespeare County Raceway. You can check out Peter's pictures at peterdonaldson5305.fotopic.net. ©Eurodragster.com Also updating a Fotopic site is Sue Whyte of drag racing sponsor Motorshack, who has posted some great off-track shots from the Autotrader Easter Thunderball at suewhyte.fotopic.net. To see the Thunderball pictures click on Motorsport events, Racers and Shows for 22nd April. Our good friend Alan Currans has updated his Acceleration Archive with a twentieth gallery of readers' photographs containing thirty pictures from five contributors with plenty to interest car and bike fans alike with shots of Dennis Priddle's Hot Wheels dragster, Clive Skilton's first Funny Car, Asmodeus, no less than three versions of the Page brothers' Panic, Houndog 6, Ratcatcher and much, much more besides. You can find the latest Readers' Gallery at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk/readers/gallery_20.html. As if that wasn't enough, Alan has also posted a number of pictures from the weekend's Test and Tune at Shakespeare County Raceway, which you can find at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk/alan_currans/2007/2007_01.html. The Shakespeare County Racers web site at www.shakespearecountyracers.com has been updated with a large number of pictures from the weekend's Test and Tune at the Warwickshire track. Back to Nostalgia and you can find some pictures from Santa Pod between the years 1988 and 1996 on John Hutchinson's Webshots site at community.webshots.com/user/nitromaniac. USAutomotive press release. 24th April: USAutomotive celebrates its tenth anniversary this June - that's ten years of sourcing and supplying automotive components to over 20,000 UK-based American car enthusiasts, including footballers, film stars, and even a Formula One driver. It's quite a tally. To celebrate the occasion, the company is hosting an open-day party at its Bedford premises, on Saturday, 28th July - the same weekend as the National Street Rod Association's Supernationals, at Old Warden in nearby Biggleswade. This year's NSRA Saturday cruise features USAutomotive's premises as its final destination, but it's not just street rodders who are invited to the party. All American car enthusiasts are welcome, which should mean a packed house. On display will be USAutomotive's popular range of Mr Gasket components, paints, books, and other components usually too large to transport to shows, plus there will be a 'blow-out sale' on a wide range of components. Put the date in your diary now, as this will be one summer party not to be missed. ©Eurodragster.com Get your education at the track. 23rd April: UK Super Pro ET racer Wayne Nicholson has been in touch with a heart-warming story for anyone who thinks that kids learn nothing at the race track. "My twelve-year-old son son Joseph was given some science homework to do, the assignment was about friction and forces", says Wayne. "He based his presentation on drag racing and related it to tyre compounds, temperatures, centre of gravity etc. I knew that Joe had been asking a lot of questions recently, but presumed that it was because we were out with the new car and he was naturally more interested as he was getting older. Joe handed in his work and it was duly marked, and the result was a 7A which is the top mark available!" ©Eurodragster.com It turns out that Wayne's fourteen-year-old son Gareth has also been taking a quiet interest. "We were driving somewhere today and we started talking about the race car and racing in general", says Wayne. "I was again surprised by how much he had taken in, as he was referring to the datalogger we use and the suggestions he was making. It probably won't be long before I am asked to step aside and start crewing on my own car! "Ain't drag racing great?" Turners connect with GRP. 23rd April: UK Top Methanol Dragster team Turner Motorsport have announced that GRP Connecting Rods have increased their sponsorship for the 2007 season. GRP Connecting Rods are world leaders in manufacturing billet aluminium and titanium connecting rods. This year they celebrate their seventh year in Denver in a climate-controlled shop employing thirteen people in both product development and manufacturing. GRP Connecting Rods continue to supply high-quality billet aluminium connecting rods for some of the fastest race engines in the world. ©Eurodragster.com "Brian and the team at GRP have the knowledge and skill to work with racers and help them to determine exactly what they require, and to deliver the goods on time every time", says Steve Turner. You can find the GRP Connecting Rods web site at www.grpconrods.com. MT runners reap the benefits. 23rd April: Mickey Thompson tyre users had great success at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball which as well as the UK Championship season kicked off Mickey Thompson's generous contingency sponsorship scheme for 2007. ©Eurodragster.com "Jon Morton took the Super Gas title in his '69 Big Block Camaro and was the first to claim the contingency money", says Lee Child of Eurodragster.com Link sponsor LA Racing Parts. "Jon now takes the points lead into the second round of the Championship and this is a great testament to a dedicated team and a great tyre. Exactly in the same position is Neil Grant, one of the most respected Sportsman racers, who took holeshot Super Street title over Sweden's Jenny Gustafsson. The Swedish Dodge Challenger was also on Mickey Thompson ET Drags slicks and it was a close final, 10.91 to a lose-out 10.90. "For more information on Mickey Thompson tyres, wheels and the contingency programme contact LA Racing Parts on 01803 554308 or E-Mail [email protected]." Making Darren's day... 23rd April: UK Super Gas and Junior Dragster team Panther Racing UK welcomed two very special visitors to their pit at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway: Darren Locke, a service user at the Thorpe Life Skills Centre in Knuston Spinney in Northamptonshire and Carla Matthews, one of Thorpe's Team Leaders and tutors who has been with Thorpe Life since before the centre opened last May. "Thorpe specialises in providing life skills and personal development training in a residential setting for people with learning disabilities and Autistic Spectrum Disorders", said Carla. "The centre provides its users with a safe and caring environment that encourages independence." ©Eurodragster.com Darren got to meet the team and sit in the team's brilliant red Firebird, a spot usually reserved for former UK National Super Gas Champion Conrad Stanley. "Let's face it, we were all as keen as mustard to get back to the tracks and get racing again, but this guy absolutely made our day" said Panther Racing UK Marketing and Media Manager Wayne Corbitt. "I gave Carla my card and promised to forward a couple of photos from the weekend and in return received a great E-Mail thanking the team and letting us know that Panther Racing UK had made Darren's day. "Darren recently celebrated his twenty first birthday with a party at his mum's house for family and friends. That must have been quite some night if his personality, energy and enthusiasm are anything to go by…I was tired just watching him, and when all is said and done he put a smile on all our faces." For more information on Panther Racing UK and Thorpe Life Skills Centres visit www.pantherracinguk.com. Swift snippets. 23rd April: UK Top Fuel Bike racer Ian Turburville would be pleased to hear from anyone who is leaving the UK for Europe after the SPRC Summernationals and who could transport a bike to Alastaro and Gardermoen and then back to the UK. If you can help then please drop Turbo a line at [email protected]. ©Eurodragster.com Frost's thanks. 23rd April: It all turned out well in the end for Real Steel Street Eliminator UK racer Andy Frost as he won the class at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball and in the process set a new speed record which Andy tells us makes his Vauxhall the world's fastest pump gas street-legal car. Andy asked us to thank all of those who are involved with the Redvictor2 team in 2007. "These include Altiss Engineering, Mickey Thompson Tires, Castrol Edge, Hilton Auto Gas Services, Electromotive Engine Controls, Nimbus Motorsports, Powerpour, Cam Auto Developments, Street Rodding In Motion, Pacet Fans, LA Racing Parts and Knight Racing Services", says Andy. "Special mentions must go to Jon Webster and the guys at Webster Race Engineering for going beyond the call of duty for us once again, my underworked (now) crew of Tony Grayston, Rob Kearns, Deb and Gary Frost, and my lucky charms Arthur and Alex who haven't seen me lose yet. Please keep coming to watch. ©Eurodragster.com "A big Thank You also to all the fans and supporters of the team who E-Mailed, called or texted me after the weekend, and finally to the Street Eliminator sponsors who keep supporting the class we race in. "Watch out for Redvictor2 breaking more records during the course of 2007." Returning favours to PMR. 23rd April: Gary Springford's company Drag Race Engineering (020 8597 9484) has come to the rescue of Paul Marston's season after the PT Bruiser suffered a broken rod at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball potentially leaving Paul without a ride. "With the time involved with ordering the parts needed to repair the Pro Stock motor in the PT Bruiser, I that knew Paul was up against it timewise", said Gary Springford. "It is simply going to take too long to get the parts made, and most of the season will be over before we can get the motor back in one piece. I also agree with Paul that replacing the motor is a waste of time: the motor is not badly hurt, it's just the ordering time and the fact that we only have a six month season over here. "Drag Race Engineering were looking to raise their profile in Sportsman drag racing and to let people know what my company can do. Paul needed a ride so DRE will be principal sponsor of the Pro Mod Vauxhall Calibra which Paul acquired from Mick Cheley over the winter from Mick Cheley. The Calibra is in the Drag Race Engineering workshops at the moment having its 555 ci Chevrolet Big Block fitted and will hopefully be ready for the next UK Championship round at Shakespeare County Raceway on 5th-7th May. I have seen how hard Paul has worked over the past couple of seasons helping other drivers, he even gave up his seat in the Whoopass Monza at the end of last season so as I had a shot at the National Pro ET title. I am simply repaying the favor by having my company Drag Race Engineering get this Calibra together so Paul has a ride in Super Pro ET for the rest of the season." ©Eurodragster.com "Firstly I must thank Gary Springford for this incredibly generous deal", says Paul Marston. "I am humbled and most grateful .It's true that the Pro Stock motor in the PT Bruiser is going to take time to put back together and it's absolutely the worst timing for such a major breakage. With the Drag Race Driving School so busy, there was no available ride and I was looking at crewing for the next three or four months! The ex-Pro Mod Calibra was scheduled to appear later during the season, a project for the Summer break, but as Gary Springford suggested it just makes sense to bring it forward. "As previously reported on Eurodragster.com PMR would eventually like to compete in Super Modified with this car. It would be PMR's first venture into heads-up racing and to have backing from an associate who brings expertise to the table makes for a strong foundation for a team. If all goes to plan the Calibra will appear at Shakespeare County Raceway in the same paint scheme as when Mick last drove it, then after the event the Calibra will be delivered straight to the painters' in a race against time to have it début at the FIA Main Event resplendent in the specially-designed Drag Race Engineering paint scheme. "I would like to express my thanks again to Drag Race Engineering for investing in their future and seeing the potential marketing opportunity that which UK National Championship drag racing offers today." Web site updates. 23rd April: Thanks to Chris Blows for letting us know that the official web site of the UK's Nobby Hills Racing Fuel Funny Car team has been updated with a video clip of the new Houndog Fuel FC being fired up for the first time. Turn up those speakers and check it out at www.nhracing.com/gallery.htm. ©Eurodragster.com Peter stepped over to Shakespeare County Raceway on Saturday to photograph the first day of the weekend's Test and Tune. You can check out Peter's pictures, presented in association with American Car Imports, by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Last week for FIA Main Event entry. 21st April: Racers in all classes, Pro and Sportsman, are reminded that next Friday, 27th April, is the deadline for entry at normal fee to the FIA Main Event which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-28th May. Entry after this date, if accepted, is liable to a penalty of up to one hundred per cent. You can find the entry forms for the FIA Main Event on the Entry Forms page of the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc or on the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se, or on the official European Championships web site at www.powerracing.eu. ©Eurodragster.com You can check out version 1 of the official FIA Main Event entry list by clicking here. If you have any queries about FIA Main Event entry then please contact SPRC Club Secretary Paula Marshall by E-Mail at [email protected] or on 01933 313625 (outside the UK +44 1933 313625). Wright and Felstead Dare to Win. 21st April: Matthew Wright of Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor Gleeson Wright Security plans to enter Nostalgia Fuel Altered association competition in the summer. Matt will be campaigning the altered with Bill Felstead. "We've got the ex-Jungle.com Funny Car from Tony Betts and this year we're going to run it as a Fuel Altered with a Model T body and call it Who Dares Wins", Matthew told Eurodragster.com. "We've had the car for two and a half weeks and we are working to have it ready to run with the NFAA at the Summernationals in June, with some test runs at Shakespeare County Raceway beforehand." ©Eurodragster.com Bill Felstead, who is preparing the Altered at Felstead Race Cars in Romford, told us that he expects the car to be complete within five weeks or so. "I've had to modify the chassis to get Matt into it but now everything is in place - we just have to screw it all together", he said. "We'll be running smaller kit than came with the car, with a tune-up from the USA designed for direct drive. The motor is 496 ci with Veney heads, and we've got shedloads of spares - a big order has just come in from Good Vibrations in California. We've got two engines, two injectors, I've never had this much stuff to play with and I can't wait! With all these parts we can afford to wring its neck." Matt and Bill plan to run the car as a Nostalgia Funny Car in 2008 but they are seeking a suitable body, and Matt has a request. "Can Santa Pod Raceway please give us access to the old Funny Car bodies they have in storage so that we can take a mould off them", he said. Gleeson Wright Security have recently launched a web site to showcase their services. The site includes details of the wide range of security services on offer as well as client list, accreditation and company history. To check out the web site either click on the logo at right or visit www.gleesonwrightsecurity.co.uk. Swift snippets. 21st April: Our good friend Patrik Jacobsson tells us that Sweden's Lindahl Brothers Pro Mod team now have their new race car back from chassis painting and that they are hard at work preparing the Camaro for the 2007 season. You can take a look at www.kendallmotoroil.se/teamkendall/nyabilen.html. Jan Phersson has been in touch to show us the official T-Shirt for this year's Gasoline Stock/Super Stock Series. You can find out more and buy your shirt on the class' web site at www.sssa.se. Thanks to Yvonne Tramm for sending us the post-Autotrader Easter Thunderball standings in the 2007 Santa Pod Racers Club Championships. You can check out the SPRC standings on our Simpson Race Products-sponsored Points Standings page by clicking here or by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. ©Eurodragster.com Further to Monday's news item, Real Steel Street Eliminator racer Ron Haslett tells us that Matthew Wright of Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor Gleeson Wright Security has donated the running costs for his weekend of passenger rides at Santa Pod on 9th-10th June. "Thanks Matt, I'm still trying to get my head round the call", says Ron. Ron's offer of passenger rides for Santa Pod Raceway race officials on Saturday 9th June in return for a donation to charity is still open: if you are interested then call Ron on 07710 403378 or E-Mail [email protected]. We have upgraded next weekend's Big Bang at Santa Pod Raceway to full Event Coverage in association with American Car Imports. We will post live reports on Championship classes, pit notes and end-day galleries, and the Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam will be broadcasting a picture every sixty seconds. Peter (photographs) and Spencer Tramm (pit notes) will be joining Tog on the coverage team next weekend as Roger and Simon have commitments. Web site updates. 21st April: All Folked Up webmaster Dan has been in touch to let us know that he has moved the web site's forums to a dedicated UK drag bike forum site at www.ukdragbike.co.uk. ©Eurodragster.com No FIA at Drag Challenge. 20th April: Norsk Dragracing Gardermoen have announced that this year's Drag Challenge, which takes place at Amcar International Raceway on 3rd-5th August, will not be an FIA European Championship round. The Club cite the loss of a sponsor preventing the finance to run the FIA classes this year, but they hope to return to the FIA European Championship for next season. ©Eurodragster.com The Drag Challenge will still feature the FIM/UEM European Drag Bike Championship, Toyo Scandinavian Dragracing Series and the domestic Norwegian Championship, and Professional racers are invited to the event to make demonstration or test passes. We suspect that this will not be the last word on this particular subject and we will of course bring you more information as we receive it. Big Bang update. 20th April: We are indebted to Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall for sending us the final official entry list for the Big Bang, which takes place at Santa Pod on 28th-29th April and which is a Championship round for VW Pro, VW Sportsman, VW Alternate Engine, Super Modified, 9.50 Bike, Street Eliminator, and Outlaw Anglia. You can view the entry list by clicking here. ©Eurodragster.com Paula has asked us to inform racers that Santa Pod's gates open for the Big Bang at 12:00 noon next Friday, 27th April. Racers are also reminded that to run at Big Bang they will need to bring both Competition and DVLC licences. Swift snippets. 20th April: German Top Methanol Dragster racer Peter Schöfer will be putting circuit fans straight at the Hockenheimring this weekend. "The German Touring Car Championship season opener is held at Hockenheim and we have been invited to make a demonstration run right before the DTM race starts", says team member Gittli Koller. "The place will be packed and we are looking forward to it. The race will be broadcast live by two of the main German broadcasters - maybe they will catch us if they are quick enough." ©Eurodragster.com Nobby Hills Racing have announced that Junior Olley has left the team and that Jason Phelps will be the driver of the new Houndog Fuel Funny Car. Licencing commences shortly. You can find out more on the Nobby Hills Racing web site at www.nhracing.com. UK Super Comp racer Belinda Bull was the first beneficiary of Toyo Tyre's generous contingency programme for the UK National Championships after her win at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball. Toyo have celebrated Belinda's win with a feature on their web site at www.toyo.co.uk/releasedetail.php?id=67&identity=latest_news. Web site updates. 20th April: In the latest entry in his exclusive Racer Blog, Easter Thunderball Pro Fuel Shootout winner Lex Joon gives more of the inside story from the MPM Top Fuel pit at last week's race. You can check out Lex's Blog by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blog link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. ©Eurodragster.com UK National Championship standings. 19th April: Yvonne Tramm and our very own Simon have forwarded us the post Autotrader Easter Thunderball points standings in the 2006 UK National Championships. ©Eurodragster.com You can view the UK National points on our Points Standings pages sponsored by Simpson Race Products by clicking here, or by clicking on the Points Standings link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. The standings in the Santa Pod Racers Club Championships, including Top Methanol, will be posted shortly. Coltrane's Incredible Wheelie Challenge. 19th April: Actor Robbie Coltrane has set himself a unique and formidable challenge writes Shakespeare County Raceway's Marketing Manager Jerry Cookson. In a mission to discover the real Britain, he is winding back time by travelling the length of the country in a classic 1950's Jaguar XK150. He is shunning busy motorways in favour of winding B-roads which, this Saturday, will lead him to Stratford-upon-Avon's Shakespeare County Raceway where he will attempt a world record wheelie as one of the attractions at the weekend's Public Track Day. Robbie's chosen method of transport will be Steve Murty's incredible wheel standing 20-ton Fire Truck 'Backdraft'. With filming due to take place on Saturday for an ITV1 series entitled Robbie Coltrane's Incredible Britain, Robbie will be trying to beat Steve's 1991 Guinness World Record of 547 metres achieved at the seaside resort in Blackpool by hopefully increasing it to 600 metres. Besides Robbie's wheelie attempt, the show's segment will feature interviews and action with some of the sports history making characters including Gerry Cookson who, now in his mid-seventies, is still very much active in a sport which has rewarded him with countless race wins and championships since 1966. The show is expected to go to air sometime in the summer on the ITV national network in the UK. Robbie will also tour heavy industry in Newcastle to new age organics in the Cotswolds, innovative architecture to crumbling castles, stately homes to council estates and millennial raves to medieval re-enactments. In doing so he hopes to uncover the places that define Britain and, more importantly, the people that make our country unique. The Gold RV Lane beckons…. 19th April: Derek Flynn of Eurodragster.com news sponsor Gold RV says that he will be attempting to complete his Top Methanol licensing at Shakespeare County Raceway at the Spring Speed Festival on 5-7 May. "After a rather disappointing debut in TMD at Santa Pod, we are really looking forward to our weekend at Shakey, after speaking with Jerry Cookson, and his kind invitation that we could complete our final licence pass and do some demo runs at the Spring Speed Festival, we just can't wait to try and beat our previous best at Shakey of 6.7 at 199.7 mph, in the Gold RV Lane. "We have now overhauled our Lenco and inserted the thrust washer that was previously missing in our 3rd gear. We have completely rebuilt our Bruno Torque Converter to ensure lock-up in 2nd and 3rd. We also hope our new MSD Pro Mag sorts out our number 8 cylinder problems and ensures we can burn all the fuel we are throwing at the engine. "With the NFAA attending along with some of our Dutch friends from Explosion, I am sure that the weekend will be a real crowd-pleaser and we can not wait to see you all there!" Embroidering Street Eliminator. 19th April: Real Steel Street Eliminator racer Ray Comer has been in touch to let us know that Embroidery Solutions (contact 01268 515102 or [email protected] ) have joined the ranks of the sponsors supporting the quickest and fastest street legal class in the World. "Based in Essex, Embroidery Solutions are able to embroider your team name, logo etc onto any item of clothing i.e. t-shirts, crew shirts, caps, jackets etc including your own apparel if required. Martin Richardson, owner of Embroidery Solutions has been involved in the American car scene for several years through his other business interests and has also done his fair share of motor racing, having been involved in circuit racing for many years. Looking to improve your team's start line image this year? Then give Martin a call. Ray added "Martin has very kindly agreed to sponsor the Most Improved Team award for 2007 by supplying the winning team with 4 crew shirts embroidered with their own team name and logos as well as a very nice trophy for the cabinet. Its thanks to people like Martin and all of the other sponsors that are supporting the Street Eliminator teams this year that there has been such an increase in the number of entries into SE." "With our main title sponsor Real Steel, contingency sponsors WRE, Powerpour, Stroud via ARRC, B&H Autokraft and of course support from our very own Eurodragster.com, ACW, Quartermilehigh.com, Motorsport Marketing Solutions and now Embroidery Solutions the future is looking very good. I'd still like to find a sponsor for one of the most appreciated of awards in the class, the Spirit of Street Eliminator award, which goes to a person nominated by the other racers as most deserving. This could be a hardcore racer who has raced against the odds all season, someone who helps out in the pits or someone who goes that extra mile to help the class. If there are any companies out there who want to be associated with the worlds quickest and fastest pump gas class then please get in touch via email at [email protected] or on 07967 368996. See you all at the Big Bang." Malmgren re-signs Oakley. 19th April: FIA Pro Stock team Malmgren Racing has announced that they have signed Oakley to supply the team with latest gear for 2007 season. Driver Michael Malmgren said "We are very proud to have Oakley onboard and they will supply us with the latest and coolest stuff in racing clothing.". New for 2007, Oakley has launched a racing division that will launch a new Racing collection this summer that includes Racing boots, crew shoes, gloves, underwear, cool shirt, team shirts, bags etc. Also for example Oakley serves most F1 teams with safety eyewear for pit crew that is fire-resistant. Super Modified update. 19th April: Super Modified webmaster and long-distance travelling crew chief Lee Kirk has updated the site with an Easter Thunderball report and Rob Smallworth's own take on the event. Lee says "There will be more racers' reports as well as a points update in the coming days too, so stay tuned. "Once again many thanks to our supporters for the 2007 campaign, Centerline Wheel Corp, Heliarc Welding Technology, Obsession Motorsports, Andy Robinson Race Cars, ICE Automotive Racing Engines, Stroud Safety Equipment, Motorshack, Webster Race Engineering, Power Race Graphics, Oak Industrial Supplies and Turboville." Web site updates. 19th April: Andrew Bamford has updated his Racing Green website with some pictures from the Autotrader Easter Thunderball. Santa Pod's Main Event VIP opportunities. 18th April: Santa Pod Raceway is delighted to announce details of their special prize draw for one lucky person to win a passenger ride in the exhilarating Santa Pod Raceway two-seater dragster. Anybody who books a minimum of two VIP hospitality tickets for the Main Event, by Friday May 11th will be entered into the FREE prize draw to win the passenger ride in front of over 25,000 Drag Racing fans as part of their VIP experience. The winner will be picked and notified during the week commencing 18th May. ©Eurodragster.com Adding to the whole VIP experience, everybody with a VIP hospitality ticket will be able to test their reaction times on the Santa Pod drag racing simulator against the legendary Top Fuel Dragster pilot Barry Sheavills and Fireforce 3 Jet Funny Car driver Martin Hill. This exclusive opportunity will take place in your own hospitality marquee during the Main Event. VIP Packages for the Main Event, being held from 25th to 28th May, are available from £119 plus VAT per person. For those that book before Friday 20th April, an early bird discount package of £99 plus VAT per person applies. For more information and to book VIP Hospitality tickets, please contact Donna on 01234 782828 or visit www.santapod.com. Outlaw Anglia Reaction Time Challenge. 18th April: The Outlaw Anglia teams would like to welcome back Steve Borland of Moving Parts as associate sponsor, this time of the 2007 Reaction Time Challenge. Moving Parts will provide a voucher for its excellent shipping service to the driver with the best reaction time during qualifying, at each of the six championship rounds. The Outlaw Anglia Championship kicks off with the Big Bang on 28-29 April at SPR, immediately followed by the Springspeed Festival on 5-7 May at SCR. Steve said "We were very pleased with the response from last season's Burnout Bonanza sponsorship and have this season increased our drag racing involvement with advertising at SCR." Steve is also in discussion with SCR about staging a Corvette Challenge to be incorporated in the Yanks weekend. Please contact Steve for details. ©Eurodragster.com The Outlaw Anglia class still has opportunities for main and associate sponsors for the 2007 season. With the first 2 rounds fast approaching please contact Paul Wright for information. JE Pistons sponsor Peter Schöfer Racing. 18th April: Peter Schöfer Racing is proud to announce and welcome a new sponsor on board, JE Pistons. With over 50 years of experience JE Pistons is the industry leader in forged racing pistons. JE makes pistons for vehicles racing in ALMS, NHRA, IHRA, NASCAR, AMA Superbike, AMA Supercross, and the FIA European Drag Racing Series. ©Eurodragster.com Gittli Koller said "We went to JE Pistons' shop in California and it was very impressive. The company is huge and the standards in quality control are very high. It was amazing to see how carefully the parts we use are built." Peter Schöfer Racing, runner-up in Top Methanol in the 2006 FIA Drag Racing Championship are planning to contest all 2007 FIA rounds and several other races and events. Stay tuned for more news. Pro ET at the Thunderball. 18th April: Carla Pittau has sent a report on the Pro ET class at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball: The Thunderball made up for so many previous Easter meetings when the weather was awful (I even remember one that was snowed off), the clear, blue sky and the cold air giving most racers great ETs. Early mishaps included Neil Hunter's 7 Year Itch Mopar motivated Capri giving up after a 10.23 pass, the gearbox spinning a bushing and damaging the converter neck. Neil went on to crew for Jerry Smith, carried out numerous wind up missions with other racers and still had a great time. Another early breakage – gearbox too, I'm told – put Liz Malcolm's pretty Jus'4 Fun dragster out of action before the first round. There must have been a bit of a gearbox virus around though, as another victim to malfunction was Nicky Frost in the gorgeous bright orange 67 Camaro who did not survive first round against Dan Page at the wheel of the equally orange "Panic" Firebird. Carl "Diamond Geezer" Burton enjoyed the number 1 qualifying position for a while with a +.001, and you would have expected this position to be fairly safe, but poor Carl had to give it up to Keith Herbert in the "Mr Furyous" Plymouth Sport Fury in the sixth qualifying round when Keith pulled a treble zero out of the bag and claimed the big money, the trophy and the vouchers from the Pro ET sponsors Inkwell Printers, Penn Autos, Sandy Scooters, A1 Motor Stores, W.A.S.P., Toxico Clothing, Black Bear Harley Davidson, Alley Jax, Motorshack, Hauser Race Cars, Real Steel, Top End Tales and the big money from the perfect ET contingency sponsors Eurodragster and LA Racing Parts. Keith said that the money would finally allow him to buy shoes for his children but we know he has spent it on shiny bits for his car and the rest he just squandered. The first round saw Rick McCann in the Heaven & Hell Camaro (after a hasty trip home to once more swap engines) run a 10.267 on a 10.26 dial in against Gary Springford in the Whoopass Monza, who pulled a cherry. Steve Bolton in the shiny black Plymouth Scamp had the benefit of Chris Hodgkins's red light but pulled an 0.01 reaction time for good measure. Chris's good dial-in went to waste in the balance and the 383ci SBC motivated silver dragster was on the trailer. In the meantime, Mike Lacey in the finally straight-running Metamorphosis Camaro was putting Diamond Geezer on the trailer, by overcoming Carl's start-line snooze with a .003 RT. Mike shaved the tree a bit too close in the following round, though, a -0.03 followed by a 2 thousandths breakout for good measure giving Steve Bolton the win light. The big first round upset, however, was John Atkinson in the normally rapid Cortina, which was unusually running mid tens due to a new converter that didn't quite deliver the goods. John pulled a 0.01 RT against a snoozing Nigel Green at the wheel of the WV Beetle and then, to crew chief Tom's consternation and utter dismay proceeded to break out by 8 thousandths despite the fact that Nigel had problems and was about 3 miles behind. John has had to take a lot of stick because of this and there was excellent banter in the Pro ET pits, with the set-up of the Naughty Chair (see previous news by Rachel Blackburn) for first round losers. Charlie Chivers in the Taxi Express Capri was the victim of a cherry in the second round against Vic Amato, who also red lit but did it second. Charlie went on to run dead-on with a 0.009 over dial, while Vic decided not to be outdone and went one better and ran even more dead-on with a 0.004 over dial. Apart from the cherries, which spoilt the fun too early, this would have been an excellent, close race. Other second round victims were Brian Huxley in the Top Banana roadster who after getting by Gino Bernadine's 9 second 2 litre Capri in the first round, proceeded to break out against Nigel Green despite the better reaction. Big money Keith Herbert gave up the chance to bag all of the awards by redlighting against Jerry Smith at the wheel of the nicely presented Grim Beeper Road Runner, allowing Jerry to nick the bye run in the quarter finals which should have gone to number 1 qualifier. Rick McCann in the meantime was paired with Marius Blackburn who uncharacteristically pulled a slow RT to Rick's .04, which forced the lovely Escape from Reality altered to break out by 2 hundredths to try to pass the red Camaro which slowed to a braked 10.33 on a 10.25 dial-in. Rick was next to meet Vic Amato's yellow "Inabit" Mustang in the quarters. The two racers pulled virtually identical .05 reactions, with Rick enjoying only a 4 thousandths advantage on the tree, then went on to clock a double breakout with Vic taking the finish line but breaking out the most. A nice close race which could have easily gone either way. On the other side of the ladder Nigel Green succumbed to Paul Baynton's Chevy powered Capri despite the better reaction, by running a slowing 11.84 on an 11.64 dial-in - while Mike Howling was busy launching the Paul Marston Racing Dart a tad too early and unfortunately also suffered axle damage during the run against team mate Steve Bolton who took the win. Steve went on to trailer Paul Baynton in the semis, both racers pulling near identical reds but Paul doing it first, and both racers breaking out by 5 hundredths and 7 hundredths respectively. Meanwhile Rick McCann was getting past Jerry Smith with a sizeable advantage on the tree and braking to a 10.34 on a 10.24 dial-in to Jerry's 2 thousandths breakout run and landing in the final. And here Steve could have gallantly followed the script and repeated the premature acceleration in the previous round, or made some other mistake - but no, he threw a .006 light back at Rick who pulled a respectable .027, the 2 hundredths advantage being then instrumental in Steve's victory in the top end battle. The finish line split was .008, you couldn't have had a closer race - with both contenders braking too late and both breaking out, alas Rick breaking out the most. As we always say there are 2 races in any one round: the first at the start-line, the second at the top end, where decisions have to be made with partial data and at lightening speeds - Rick hesitated for a couple of hundredths of a second before hitting the brakes, and that cost him the race. Congratulations once again to Steve for an excellent performance during the whole weekend and for a well deserved win (and did he get the girl?), to Keith Herbert for cunningly depriving the whole class of the big booty and many thanks to our great sponsors : Inkwell Printers, Penn Autos, Sandy Scooters, A1 Motor Stores, W.A.S.P., Toxico Clothing, Black Bear Harley Davidson, Alley Jax, Motorshack, Hauser Race Cars, Real Steel and Top End Tales. First blood: Fast Harry and DSD. 17th April: Autotrader Easter Thunderball 9.50 Bike winner Julian Harris says that a lot of pre-season work and testing was behind his first win. "Grumpy (Paul Watson) of DynoSpeed Developments has helped me to develop the Bandit from the early days in 10.90 Bike, when Dave Stanley was riding and I prepared it, through 9.90 Bike when I took over riding, until now running in 9.50 Bike", says Fast Harry. "This year Grumpy became my main sponsor which involved DSD having the bike over the winter. DSD stripped everthing then rebuilt the motor and recommended some chassis/setup mods. The engine duly made 164 bhp and 96 ft/lb of torque, still only 1186 cc but now on pump fuel. MC Technics took care of the suspension and we were ready to test. "We now had plenty of power and the bike ran 9.2-second time on a cold day in March, equalling my personal best time. ©Eurodragster.com "We were off the pace in qualifying at the Easter Thunderball mainly due to adding weight to slow the bike down a bit. This changed the clutch and suspension set-up, but by the first elimination round we were back on course. Monday was wheel-to-wheel racing all day, looking at each other at 140 mph side-by-side as we crossed the finish line. Fantastic! I got my first win and it means so much because this is a very competitive class where it always comes down to a few hundredths of a second. "Thanks must go to aforementioned Grumpy at DSD for his ongoing advice, Leanne for her passion, support and help at the track, the other racers who support you after they have "slipped" out, and finally Kathy in the signing on office who sorted everything out for me, including lending me £15 after I turned up with last year's ACU licence and en expired SPRC membership. D'oh! "See you all at the Big Bang." NSCC Round 1 beckons. 17th April: This weekend some of the fastest and most colourful street cars in the country will be taking to the track at Shakespeare County Raceway in the first round of the National Street Car Challenge, writes Shaun Wilson. The drivers have already had the opportunity to collect points by attending cruises around the country, with twenty four cars now already on the leader board: For the first round we are expecting to see the return of the NSCC record holder Russ Pursley with his phenomenally quick Dutton Phaeton. The Chevy-powered projectile posted a 9.6 at Santa Pod last year and Russ was at the Leeds Cruise this weekend proving that his car is a streetable as it is quick. We hear that Nigel Parkin, whose 502 ci Jaguar XJS has also run into the nines, may be unable to compete this weekend due to a suspected dropped valve. The car is over at series sponsor John Sleath Race Cars where an assesment of the damage will take place this week. ©Eurodragster.com Many of the drivers are sticking with the tried and trusted combinations of last season, with a number of cars running down on the eleven-ten second second border. Graham Bell (427 ci Mustang) and Steve Stringfellow (400 ci Herald), who finished first and second last year, are both sticking with the combinations that they proved last year, whilst John Osborne will doubtless be continuing his tinkering with the nitrous on his 427 ci 100E which saw him dip into the tens at the last event of 2006. Al Williamson, who had a season developing a new injected big block in his '54 Chevy truck following a very succesful 2005 campaign, also looks set to be a major contender. A number of the guys from Riverside Rod and Custom have stepped up their game with some winter tuning, Barry Woodford having run a 12.6 in his Ford Pop at the first shakedown meet of the year and Dave Sidaway still getting the handle on his 502 ci Fordson van. Newcomers who could throw the reckoning out include Karl Wilkins, driving the ex-Richard Nichols 5.0 Turbo LX, Paul Hughes with a wild 383 ci Hillman Imp and Tony Cox from Rotherham whose ProStreet Sierra has the biggest engine in the series at 540 ci. For details of the fifty four drivers so far signed up for the challenge this year, log on to www.hotrodgazette.com, or better still get yourself along to the track and take in the action first hand! Swift snippets. 17th April: Eurodragster.com Swap Meet sponsors Jeff and Belinda Bull have been in touch to ask us to say a big Happy Birthday to Mick (The Fish) Smith. "Thanks to Mick for all his help and support, we don't know where we'd be without him", say Jeff and Belinda. "We hope he has a great day". We second that, have a good day Mick. ©Eurodragster.com Web site updates. 17th April: The official web site of the UK's BA Racing Pro Mod team has been updated with a report and pictures from the Easter Thunderball. Check it out at www.b-a-racing.com. ©Eurodragster.com If you've ever wondered what it's like to drive a blown-alcohol Pro Mod then Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor Andy Robinson's web site has been updated with an on-board video clip from the Easter Thunderball together with some pictures from the race, which you can find under Racing - Current at www.robinson-race-cars.co.uk. ARRC's E-Bay shop at stores.ebay.co.uk/Andy-Robinson-Race-Cars has also been updated with some souvenirs from the team's nitrous days. See for yourself... 17th April: Guests of Drag Racing USA - The Trip To America 2007 might be interested to know that NHRA's first visit of the season to the magnificent Las Vegas Motor Speedway took place this past weekend and produced some memorable moments. While Mike Ashley clocked Funny Car's fastest-ever speed, 334.32 mph, the longest qualifying streaks in Top Fuel and Funny Car both ended. John Force failed to make the field for the first time since 1987, ironically on the return to competition of his three remaining team cars following the death of Eric Medlen. Team driver Robert Hight made amends by winning the event. Doug Kalitta also missed the cut after 164 consecutive Top Fuel qualifications. Brandon Bernstein won in Top Fuel, Greg Anderson in Pro Stock. ©Eurodragster.com The Trip To America will attend NHRA's second Las Vegas race, the AC Delco Nationals, followed a week later by the Auto Club Finals at Pomona. These two races will host the final-four shootout of NHRA's exciting new Countdown To The Championship in each Pro category. The Trip's guests will enjoy official premium seating and hospitality at both events plus an array of interesting attractions, along with quality hotels, car hire and flights arranged by Trailfinders, the UK's leading independent travel company. The Trip's manager/host will guide and assist throughout, a particular benefit for guests making their first US visit. The Trip's programme is fully detailed at www.trip2america.co.uk or click on the Trip logo in the column at left. Trailfinders can be contacted for information and bookings on 0845 0505 955 and at [email protected]. VP Racing Fuels press release. 17th April: Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor VP Racing Fuels, the world leader in race fuel technology, today introduced its newest unleaded racing fuel: Motorsport 109E. Designed to complement VP's popular Motorsport 109, MS109E offers the same substantial power gains using ethanol as an oxygenate, making it legal for use in all fifty US states including those that restrict the use of MTBE in fuels. "For those customers who are prohibited from using an MTBE-oxygenated race fuel in their state, MS109E is a direct pour-in substitute for MS109", said Jay Farnsworth, VP's Tech Director. "It won't require re-jetting or timing but will provide the same horsepower and torque. In fact, both MS109 and MS109E produce more power than any unleaded fuel on the market. We recommend both for higher boost applications with compression ratios up to 11:1 or naturally aspirated engines up to 13:1. "While MS109E has application across the board, one of the most popular uses for it will be in crate motor racing where you're limited to production engines and need the oxygenated fuel to make decent power gains. With 12-15 hp increases over pump gas, MS109 has been extremely successful in this market and we expect MS109E to follow suit." MS109E is available in 5-, 15-, 30- and 54-gallon drums. Technical questions on application and use of Motorsport 109 or 109E can be directed to VP's Technical Department at (+1) 812-878-2025 or [email protected]. Questions regarding purchase and delivery can be directed to the appropriate VP regional distribution centre, each of which is listed with contact information on VP's web site at www.vpracingfuels.com. ©Eurodragster.com A wheelie great weekend. 16th April: Carla Pittau says that she and Rick McCann enjoyed the Autotrader Easter Thunderball immensely despite another overnight trip home to change an engine in their Heaven & Hell Camaro: The track seemed to be stickier than ever before, although we never smelled the glue. They must be using something different and whatever it is the Camaro loved it, and loved the new surface so much that she finally produced wheelies to be proud of. Still on nine inch slicks and leaf springs, together with John Calvert's unbeatable Caltracs, the Heaven & Hell Camaro produced proper Super Stock launches and a 1.29 sixty foot, as well as running the best-ever time of 9.71. The first wheelie took Rick by surprise and by the time he had steered straight he was late shifting, hence the 9.92 ET. By the third wheelie we had the Caltracs adjusted right, no steering was necessary on landing and he could hit the shift the instant the front came down. What a great feeling, Rick said afterwards that it's the only way to launch. We were on top of the world and having a whale of a time. This is what we love, this is where we really have fun, by launching with a perfect weight transfer, the momentum carrying the 3000 lb body in free fall, almost rendered weightless as it glides forward gently and comes down gradually and gracefully, at times adding a couple of bounces but generally looking like pure dynamic poetry. Happy times. Alas, she also had to live up to her name, otherwise she would be just called Heaven. After four flawless runs she coughed and screamed after the burnout. And yes, on our return to the pits and after whipping off the intake we saw that another rocker stud snapped off and another lifter stuck in the bore. The valve train obviously needed some careful looking at - and after towing back home (this is becoming something of a habit) and stripping the engine we decided that it was best to swap back to the trusty 383 once again, leaving the repairs to a more awake and less stressed moment. However the 383 didn't mind being awaken from its well earned hibernation and responded well, by letting us dial it in after just one breakout run. So we got past Gary Springford in the first round running a 10.267 on a 10.26 dial-in, helped along by Gary's unneeded but generous red-light. No wheelies but hey, if we can't wheelie we may as well try and go rounds. After the first round we were just happy we could race on race day - the downside of a class with five rounds being that if you don't survive the first round you are left with nothing to do far too early, and that's where the worst hangovers may well originate! The following day we managed to get past Marius Blackburn, Vic Amato and Jerry Smith to land in the final, something unexpected after the troubled interlude. And here unfortunately things didn't work out according to the script, and so we are considering protesting the result. ©Eurodragster.com The reason is that everyone knows that in all movies when the underdog blows up his engine and he's out of the race, when he goes home or wherever he meets an old geezer, who used to be the god of engine building before Noah was born, with an ancient engine which used to be the best during the Pleistocene races rusting in a shed. He then installs the engine in five minutes by waving a big spanner in the general direction of the engine bay, gets back to the race just in time and invariably wins against all odds, gets the girl, the big golden trophy and the big money. I didn't really want to get the girl, but I would have liked the big money, the big golden trophy and the accurate compliance to the script. I am now searching the internet for the original script for the Easter Thunderball movie, and as soon as I find it that will be my proof of foul play, and I will be marching to see the Race Officials, explain the whole thing, our protest will be upheld and we'll get the big trophy, the big money but not the girl. If any of you is interested in the girl we could agree a price for that (Rick need not apply). However should the Race Officials not be impressed by my theory the win will deservedly stay with Steve Bolton in the beautiful wheelstanding black Plymouth: he pulled a killer light, raced the top end with great skill and basically ran a better race than we did, the double break-out going his way mainly due to the difference on the tree. So well done Steve, only kidding about the protest! Shame we didn't have the 434 engine in the final, nothing looks better than two American muscle cars wheelstanding together on the startline, hopefully we'll fix it soon and we'll ensure it's more reliable this time! We would like to pass heartfelt thanks to Santa Pod for the excellent surface we raced on, Pomona couldn't be any better, the whole Pro ET class for making racing so much fun, the Pro ET class sponsors (remember to support the companies who support your racing: Inkwell Printers, Penn Autos, Sandy Scooters, A1 Motor Stores, WASP, Toxico Clothing, Black Bear Harley Davidson, Alley Jax, Motorshack, Hauser Race Cars, Real Steel, Top End Tales), Carl Burton for being a diamond geezer and organising the Pro ET shirts, so that we could also be the best dressed class, and Eurodragster.com for uploading news so quickly that we received texts congratulating us on the wheelies as we were walking back to the pits (All part of the service - Ed)! Also well done to Team Metamorphosis for their splendid victory in Sportsman ET and watch out for Anna Metcalfe - she's not really a blonde (Editor opens his mouth then thinks better of it)! An old Shoebox in the 8.0s. 16th April: Real Steel Street Eliminator racer Colin Lazenby says that he was elated with Team 56's success at the Easter Thunderball, at which the big Chevy ran into the 8.0s. "We recognised that on a new track surface the conditions were always going to be marginal from the outset - and they were", says Colin. "But by the Saturday, and following lots of hard work with the track prep, our sixty foot times were heading in the right direction and the old Shoebox was once again beginning to dig in. The boys then elected to make a couple of key suspension changes and from that point on the heavyweight '56 began to haul ass with closing ETs of 8.23, 8.15, 8.12, and finally a new Personal Best of 8.01. We missed out on taking the class ET record by a measly three hundredths of a second and recorded our best ever sixty foot time of 1.31. "In our final qualifying session on Sunday the '56 shook the tyres so hard that it tore the valve right out of the inner tube, almost immediately deflating the tyre. Back in the pits and in relatively quick time me and our kid ripped out both tubes returning instead to our 2005 tubeless state...now, where's that beadlock catalogue (pauses to dial Andy Robinson Race Cars). ©Eurodragster.com "We were frustrated not to go all the way (again, not for the first time) and given the number of laps that the class was afforded the weekend was frantic and the racing was closer than it has been for a long time with more than its fair share of upsets. "As always, a big thanks to Clive Bond and Andy Robinson, along with my immediate team and master tuners Garry Coull, Luke Robinson and our kid. I know we all went through hell and back this weekend guys but we came through it relatively unscathed - thanks. Also a special thanks to Steve Clark of Nimbus Motorsports for our fresh supplies of Torco oils and lubricants, we couldn't run without out it." Where the Predator went. 16th April: Shaun Howard of UK Funny Bike team Predator Racing has been in touch to explain Stu Chamberlain's non-appearance in the Easter Thunderball Funny Bike final: In the first round an ignition trigger had worked lose and at that stage, unbeknown to the team, the damage was already done. Pre-ignition had caused several cracks in the crank cases during the run. The loose crank trigger was spotted and replaced and the bike sounded fine during the warm-up. We were looking forward to giving a back-on-form Chris Hall a run for his money. However Chris' bike stopped after the burnout and he was unable to get it started, so we had a bye run into the final. ©Eurodragster.com It was during the bye run that the engine let go in a big way.The cracks were found in both halves of the cases and indeed the two halves had even separated far enough to get a hand inside! Therefore we couldn't therefore make the final - sorry. The team would like to thank the following for their help in diagnosing and remedying the problem: Dave Branch Engineering, for fixing the crank; Jones and Friend, for the offer of spares; Augy Harrison, for analysis and advice - good to see you back racing on a bike Augy. At this stage it seems unlikely that the team will be able to make the Springspeed Festival at Shakespeare County Raceway, but we will be back. Simpson backs NDRS. 16th April: The Nordic Drag Racing Series and Simpson are pleased to introduce Simpson as a contingency sponsor in NDRS Comp Eliminator and Super Gas. Winners and runners-up will be rewarded with a voucher of 1000 SEK and 500 SEK which can be traded in when purchasing Simpson products at www.simpsonshop.se. The sponsorship applies at all NDRS races in Sweden, Norway and Finland. The minimum number of cars to be qualified in a class is seven, and participants must carry a Simpson decal on each side of their race car to qualify for awards. Simson will be on-site with their Trackside Service trailer at most events to support racers with information and safety products. For more information regarding Simpson or the sponsorship deal contact Jan Phersson at [email protected] or call +46 70 66 27 400. ©Eurodragster.com Charity passenger rides on offer. 16th April: Real Steel Street Eliminator UK racer Ron Haslett is again offering passenger rides in his wild Cortina to benefit the Macmillan Cancer Trust and is offering rides to race officials for a donation. Ron is also looking for the help of Eurodragster.com readers to make it a viable proposition for the charity. "As lot of you may rember we took passengers down the track at last year's Classic Ford Day", says Ron. "We are going to do it again this year but with a slight twist. We will be giving the usual passenger rides on Sunday 10th June but I will be going up to Santa Pod on Saturday 9th June. I would like to offer to take any Santa Pod's crew down the track on the Saturday for a donation. I will make five runs and it will be first come first served, not how much you donate. ©Eurodragster.com "Now for the begging bit: due to changes in the law we have to raise our expenses separately. We think that we will need to raise around £500 to cover fuel and nitrous for the weekend. We will do the same as last year, if anyone who makes a donation has stickers we will put them on the car. Powerpoint Communications have agreed to come down and film the madness, so come on it's all for a good cause - Macmillan Cancer Support." If you would like to take a ride or make a donation or both then please get in touch with Ron on his mobile on 07710 403378. We have reserved one of the passenger rides on Saturday 9th June for a Eurodragster.com reader so stay tuned for details of how you can win a seat in Ron's Cortina. Swift snippets. 16th April: Lizz McCarthy of Paul Marston Racing has been in touch to ask whether we agree that UK Wild Bunch racer Chris Hartnell and Swedish Top Methanol FC racer Freddy Fagerström might have been separated at birth. Given that both are adept at showmanship, share a passion for flames, and have reasonably similar hairstyles and facial furniture we think can see Lizz's point. But if Lizz is right then was Chris originally Swedish or was Freddy originally English? Theories on a postcard to the usual address... ©Eurodragster.com Chris Blows has been in touch with the great news that the Nobby Hills Racing team fired up the new Houndog Fuel Funny Car for the first time yesterday (Sunday). Chris says that there will be more news soon but in the meantime you can check out the team's official web site at www.nhracing.com. Editor's note: Could Lyn Everitt and Matthew Wright please get in contact with Tog at [email protected]. Thunderball 9.50 Bike review. 16th April: We are indebted to Chris Jones of Team Breakout for sending the first of this season's 9.50 Bike reviews, this one from last week's Easter Thunderball: Climbing out of hibernation straight into the first round of the season was an absolute delight, global warming had its part to play, and the sun was shining with a vengeance. Great to see the usual suspects in the 9.50 camp and some new additions to boot, though Geoff Connor (Team Breakout flagship) and Andy Bird (Team Breakout and 2006 Champion) were notable by their absence, though old gun Birdie did show up later in the event to assist with a bit of liquid refreshment and entertainment in the pits - yes, the tarmac off the back of a pit bike isn't any softer! Nice new paint job on Martin 'Chunk' Walker's Team Hyena 'Busa too. On to qualifying and a mishap from Mark Fisher had us down the left hand lane to shake off the cobwebs. The strip true to form with good air quality proved to be extremely quick. Carl Atkinson ended this bout with a first blood 9.51/147 #1 qualifier, though Andy Healy slipped into #2 with a 9.52/144 and by the end of the day a 9.54/143 from Jason Macan's Busa held Team Breakout's Shaun Spiers into #4. Mike Powell finished the day #5 with a 9.56/148 meaning that those old (I use the word loosely - honest!) favourites Fast Harry, aka Julian Harris, and Fast Freddy Furlong were out of the top five. Saturday continued to blaze. The strip reciprocated in excellent conditions which of course led to some very quick times. I myself managed a couple 9.3s on the old R1 having played with the gas timers, a PB for me. Someone must have told the bike about the 'Busa, due out later in the year. Richard 'Boss' Hann also had a PB with 9.4, to our delight, but it doesn't lend itself to a 9.5 index, still it does make you giddy! Tony Smiley (Team Smiley's People) eventually showed up on the line with his turbo GSXR, following some issues filling the wrong parts of the engine with oil decided continual running on top note would do the trick. Weirdly enough, once the smoke had cleared all seemed OK and off he went for his first season's racing. Chris 'Boycie' Reed of Team Hyena, former Super Street rider, was having problems with wires everywhere although eventually he did get sorted and away he went. Qualifying was getting extremely tight, with the top fourteen qualifying in the 9.5s and of course an extremely heavy sprinkling of breakouts, Fast Harry pulling in a 9.2 on his aspirated Bandit. Steve Coombs put in an appearance in #1 spot at the start of the day with a 9.50 but was knocked into #2 at last try by a blistering and consistent Jason Macan in turn unceremoniously chucking Carl Atkinson into #3 position. It's hello in #4 spot from Ed Smiley, now pleased that dad Tony no longer indiscriminately removes vast amounts of parts from his bike between runs. Dad who has his own problems to deal with has left the younger part to it - what was all that extra oil for Ed? Richard Sawatzki, last year's Championship #2, finished the day bumped into #5. ©Eurodragster.com Sunday - can't believe it, the sun's still shining with a gentle breeze, it's obviously going to be more of the same! Boss now mastering the new progressive kit, commenting "I can't believe I've never done this before", soared into the #1 spot with a 9.5051/143 just nicking in front of Jason Macan's 9.5058/142. Good job the Pod's new timing system is to four decimal places now (Not when you're the one typing it all up - Ed) and of course that's how tight the field was at this event. Only two qualifiers today then into the first round of eliminations. The field was halved ready for Monday's racing. This first round saw all but one of the Hyenas out, Steve Coombs survived to the next round, and Boss, who will be returning to the next event looking like a scooter on steroids with all the mirrors and some, blasted off to a breakout not realising that his opponent had problems getting away (He's behind you!) and spent the night beating himself up. Monday's eliminations saw some real tight racing including Ed Smiley who when the lights dropped stalled his bike, unbelievably so did the other lane, so it was now a Monte Carlo style race - who could bump start first. Ed got it going and took the win with a 13.55 pass to a losing 14.00. I myself went out in the second in a cracking race with Steve Ashby who rode up nice and straight, gas armed just in case I tried to get round him. Steve's better reaction caught me dreaming in the blocks, after a little skyward action the bike dug in and off I went. I thought I might have done enough but Steve's reactions got me with a 9.61 losing by 0.006 to a 9.67, close race! Steve smiled saying he had the button ready should he have needed it. Fast Harry was busy scything through the field taking out a consistent Richard Sawatzki with a 9.56 which took him to the final matched up against Greg Skett. Talking through the race, Fast Harry commented "I felt quite confident, realising I was coming against a gas bike as I knew getting out of the blocks first would give me space where Greg would be waiting for the gas to come in". This was borne out in the race as Harry got out with a 0.07 reaction against a 0.15. Greg had it to do and so attempted to ride around Harry. Harry went on to say "We were side by side at the thousand foot mark so I kept my aspirated Bandit pinned". This did the trick as Harry ran through to the win with a 9.59 forcing Greg to break out with a 9.4. Well ridden Harry. So that's the first round taken care of. An absolutely brilliant time was had by all in the 9.50 camp, see you at the next round, the Big Bang, at the end of the month. Baldie continues Funny business. 15th April: Finnish Funny Bike racer Asko Määttä says that he spent the winter thinking about radical changes to his Baldie's Gun III over the off-season, but that after some serious thought and discussions with son Crew Chief Mika he decided to carry on as before. "I have invested such a lot on the race bike in the last couple of years", says Asko. "Electronics (too much to count, anyway thanks to Connie, Schnitz Racing), a new turbo system by Pro Turbo Systems with a control unit by ourselves, nitrous dry/wet system, fuel system and many other parts which we must use as a working combination. ©Eurodragster.com "That's why we have decided to concentrate to get the Suzuki GSX Funny Bike going down the track as it should with all the stuff we've invested. I did a complete overhaul on the engine before last year's Finnish Finals, and over the next few weeks we'll inspect and renew the electrics and the blow-through fuel system. "We'll be on track at the Finnish Championship CB/FB races and maybe in Top Fuel Bike at the FHRA Nitro Natonals at Alastaro. Depending how the testing and the early season go we might also race in the Nordic series and some Swedish Championship races too." Nicholson's new backer. 15th April: UK Super Pro ET racer Wayne Nicholson has announced that his Lucky Devil Corvette has a new sponsor. "Quarry Motors are BMW specialists established in 1989 as a family business based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire", says Wayne. "The company has gone from strength to strength over the years and has a very well-equipped workshop with staff that know all you need to know about servicing and repairing of your BMW: their diagnostic equipment alone shows the amount of investment. The other side to Quarry Motors is their huge parts opperation. They can supply anything from a headlamp to a full engine, new or used, for almost any BMW. They have a daily packing and shipping service which literally covers the world to places as far away as Thailand! You can imagine that in order to supply parts regularly worldwide they have a massive stock of both new and used parts, so getting something for your 3 Series the next day shouldnt be a problem! ©Eurodragster.com "Neil at Quarry Motors is a big motorsport fan and realised that the amount of spectators at Santa Pod who drive a BMW makes it an obvious place to promote his business. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Neil and his team for their support, and when you contact Quarry Motors please remember to mention where you found out about them! You can find the Quarry Motors web site at www.quarrybmwspares.co.uk. "I would also like to thank Jon at Webster Race Engineering and Kenny at EDA for their continued support of the Lucky Devil Corvette." A Golden Easter. 15th April: UK Super Pro ET team Talbot Racing were facing a miserable Easter weekend. Pat and Stephen Talbot's race car was was ready to rock and roll but but they had no way of getting it to the track as their tow vehicle developed a major fault four days before the race. So they put out an emergency request on Eurodragster.com for the loan of a tow vehicle and got an offer within an hour. "Fellow racer Derek Flynn of Gold RV phoned and asked if one of their B-class motorhomes would be of any use", says Stephen Talbot. "We jumped at the chance and although Derek was two hundred miles away - and therefore involved us in an eight hundred-mile pick-up and drop-off, it made our crew's weekend as we had spent the previous four weekends working on the car and we were totally depressed at the prospect of not getting to the race meeting. ©Eurodragster.com "The last motorhome I drove was a 1980s model and it was not at all happy towing the race trailer, so I approached the job with apprehension. However the Dodge Roadtek we borrowed from Gold RV was a revelation. It was extremely quiet, controlled and towed our thirty foot trailer without a problem. Economy was good, cruising on the motorway at 70 mph was fine and reduced by about fifteen per cent when towing. During the delivery back to Alton we were diverted off the motorway through the centre of Gloucester - while we were on the A-roads and dual carriageways it was more like driving an American car than a motorhome. "I can only say that if you are looking for a combined accommodation and towing package you should definitely check out Gold RV's stock. Again thanks to Gold RV from Stephen, Pat, John, Matthew and Dean in fact all at Talbot Racing." Some Greek numbers. 15th April: Our good friend Elias Vathias has released the results of months of hard work on Greek drag racing statistics. Stats are now available down to individual driver level going back to 2004: We divided our statistics in three main categories: Per race at www.greekdragster.com/database/stats_PerRace.htm which shows classification for each race and the best drivers' records. Per year at www.greekdragster.com/database/stats_PerYear.htm which is divided into two subcategories, the first showing the top tens for sixty feet, 330 feet etc. and the second which shows the best drivers' records for the year. ©Eurodragster.com Per Driver at www.greekdragster.com/database/db_drivers.php which shows summary information about each of the (currentl)y 383 drivers we have in our database, sorted by their surname. If you click on any driver's name you will see a summary of his personal information, a portrait and pictures of his vehicle, statistics of his entries, runs and wins per class, and his best records per class. We currently have information from all drag races since 2004 which is made up of 17 races, 383 drivers, 1662 entries, 7948 valid runs, and 694 invalid runs. We will add each new drag race and we are currently working on older races. I hope that you find all this interesting: when we started in October 2001 we felt that drag racing is a very special sport and we needed to do something for the sport. With all this work, we feel that we have managed to show how much we love the sport by providing really useful information for anyone who is interested. We have a lot of work yet to be done. I would like to thank my friend Yiannis Chloptsios who is a database expert and designed this project, and my brother Michael Vathias who took care of all the data entry and verifications. As it happens Andy Marrs of TSI Timers has been working on a similar project for racers at Santa Pod Raceway; stay tuned for details. Swift snippets. 15th April: Awaiting first round losers in the Pro ET pits at last weekend's Autotrader Easter Thunderball was the Naughty Chair (right, click on picture for large version), says Rachel Blackburn. "Gangmaster Carl Burton has had a celebrity make-over", says Rachel. Also a merry group of reprobates was modelling the latest Pro ET attire. There are many more of these guys and gals on the loose, easily spotted as they are wearing the most popular T-Shirt in the pits! Stop Carl and buy one, they're only a fiver!" UK Super Street racer Chris Kenny has asked us to say a big Thank You Dave Cherret, ZaNNetec Motorsports, the Panther Racing Team, and the rest of the Bristol Doorslammers for all the advice and help given either by text or at the track last weekend. "Sorry I eased off a little early in the semis to deny us an all-Bristol final in Super Street", says Chris. "A big well done to Neil and Julie Grant who got the win in the final, and to Chris Hartnell and team who won the Wild Bunch final. I have written a report, with pictures, of the Bristol Doorslammers at the Thunderball at which you can find it at the ZaNNetec web site at www.zannetec.com." ©Eurodragster.com UK Super Gas racer Frank Mason and his wife and Crew Chief Maureen have been in touch to thank everyone who helped after Maureen burned her hand at the Easter Thunderball. "Thanks to the help of the first aid team, the hand is healing well and fully functioning. It was a problematic weekend but the support from racers and crew across all classes was much appreciated: from helping to push and tow the car, to giving advice and parts, and a generous amount of sympathy. Thank you." Congratulations to Mikael Helander of Sweden's Starkotter Racing Fuel FC team and his partner on the birth of their son, Leif Helander's second grandson, on Friday evening. John and Lesley Wright have been in touch with best wishes to long-standing crew member Sean Milsom who suffered an accident whilst lopping trees. "Sean has broken two vertebrae and is at home in a body cast for at least six weeks", they say. "We'd like to wish Sean a safe and controlled recovery, and if anyone has borrowed from his extensive drag racing and hot rod collection of books and DVDs could he have them all back now please!" Editor's note: If you send news items direct to Tog at his day job then please ensure that you also CC them to [email protected]. If you use the Send a News Item link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page above then is is done automatically. Inside Top Fuel press release. 15th April: So, you've still got the first whiff of this season's nitro lingering in your nostrils. The tears that streamed down your face as an 8000 bhp monster breathed its potent breath on you are not long dry. Your ears have only just stopped ringing from the unbelievable noise as the beast thundered its way down the 1320. Don't you just love Top Fuel drag racing? Whether or not you made it to the Easter Thunderball you will no doubt be looking forward to a full weekend of nitro action at this year's FIA Main Event, taking place over the weekend of 25th-28th May. Once again, the Carter Motorsport/Andersen Racing/Lucas Oil Top Fuel Drag Racing Team will be offering its unique spectator package Inside Top Fuel with limited space available on 27th and 28th. Our guests tell us there is no other way to really get behind the scenes of a Pro team than with this exciting programme. But don't just take our word for it: "We would whole heartedly recommend Inside Top Fuel to any fans and we cannot thank Carter Motorsports enough for a most memorable day at the Main Event. In fact it was so good we signed up for the finals as well!" (Ed and Dawn Garman) We promise you a day you will never forget for just £120+VAT per person. The day includes: Admission to the event Access to the Carter Motorsport Pit and Hospitality Area Refreshments throughout the day Cold buffet lunch Souvenir Carter Motorsport T-shirt Signed Andy Carter poster Complimentary ear plugs Once at the pit, the Carter Motorsport hospitality team will be on hand to serve refreshment and spend time with you answering any questions you may have about drag racing in general, the format for the day or our team and the work that they are carrying out. You will be given a VIP pass, which will get you right up alongside our Lucas Oil-backed 8000 bhp monster. Where possible, the crew will be able to comment on the work they are undertaking and give you a bit more of an insight into a day in the life of a Top Fuel crew member. Andy Carter will be on hand to spend time answering the questions you've always wanted to ask a modern-day fuel pilot, as well as offering his views on the days progress. He will also be available for photograph opportunities where possible. This experience is available in limited numbers, therefore early booking is advised. To register your interest, please E-Mail [email protected] and we will contact you as soon as we can to arrange your day with us. ©Eurodragster.com Improvements for the NFAA. 15th April: After the long Winter break, the Easter Thunderball turned out to be the best event ever for the Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association, writes Lawrie Gatehouse: All of the teams had new combinations and parts and no-one was totally certain if the investment in time and money would yield results in the season's first meeting. The reality was better than we dreamed for. Virtually all the teams recorded Personal Bests, many lowering their ETs two or three times. We had the benefit and expertise of ace-tuner and AA/FA racer Dave Benjamin, over from Seattle, who oversaw the fuel system revisions to Chaos and The Mob to great effect. The Mob ran back-to back passes of 6.81/209 and 6.78/206. On their final qualifier they were expecting a 6.60, but had to shut off prior to staging when Chief Starter Ian Marshall noticed a nozzle leak – good call Ian. Chaos was struggling due to a hurried build, having had to ship in an ex-Jim Murphy block when the two new Rodeck billets did not arrive. John Wright launched hard and recorded a 1.07 sixty foot time prior to the blower belt breaking, showing the potential that has yet to be unleashed. Venom, shoed by Tony Betts, had a torrid time. The late arrival of pre-ordered parts which needed modification to fit coupled with magneto problems, meant that he could not perform to his usual standard. Clayton Round, Frank Bennett, Bob Glassup, Dave Grabham and Joe Bond all put on an impressive show with close racing and improved PBs. Rebel 'T' (Clayton) and Relentless (Frank) both recorded their first sixes. Bob Glassup, with the superb new paint scheme on Xtreme, ran a best of 7.04, surely a sixsecond runner in the near future. Dave Grabham improved his time to a 8.30 with the mouse motor, before succumbing to crank woes. Joe Bond improved to a 7.49 on only his twenty first - much more to come as the season progresses. The quickest four qualifiers were thus set for the run-offs. Frank and Joe squared up for the third and fourth positions, Frank taking the win light with a stout 6.91/195.67, his first six, to Joe's 7.8/168.4. For the trophies, the duel was between Clayton and Bob. After long smoky burnouts, it was Clayton first to the stripe with a fine 6.95/190.48 to Bob's 7.35/188.10. Overall, a great meeting, blessed by ideal weather, the elation far outweighing any disappointments. Many thanks to Santa Pod, Santa Pod Racers Club, the track crews, announcers and media for a memorable Easter weekend. Stay tuned, we will be back. The Venom Racing web site at www.venomracing.co.uk has been updated with an Easter Thunderball report. ©Eurodragster.com PMR chalk up win #3. 15th April: Paul Marston has sent the following account of the team's winning weekend at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball: We kicked off the 2007 season in style with an event win from Steve Bolton and his Black 1972 Plymouth Scamp in Pro ET. This was Steve's first National event win, and in a car that regularly pulled huge wheelies on launching. During the winter the car had been to our business partner Drag Race Engineering (020 8597 4575), and a new custom built torque converter was installed and also some extra chassis tuning tweaks by DRE proprietor Gary Springford. Our hats go off to Carla Pittau and Rick McCann for making it to the final after breaking their #1 engine on Friday. Steve Bolton's 0.002 light secured victory. Once again Pro ET delivered some of the most competitive bracket racing, in front of a large Easter crowd. Everyone at PMR would like to congratulate Steve Bolton on a job very well done. Until Steve went through the Paul Marston Racing Drag Race School two years ago, he had never even driven down a drag strip and now he is standing on the top step accepting his event winner's trophy. He is the third PMR driver to score an event victory. For Paul Marston Racing to hit the ground running in 2007 is a great confidence booster for the rest of the team and bodes well for the forthcoming season. We are also exceptionally pleased with the début of our brand new four-link Dragster. With Tethys at the controls the dragster competed in both Super Pro ET and Super Comp. There were a few early teething problems, but after qualifying #3 in Super Comp and #12 in Super Pro Tethys went two rounds in Super Pro ET to cap off a solid début performance of a great car, the UK's and probably Europe's first four-link dragster. In Tethys we have a pretty handy driver who did an excellent job. "Mick Howling was once again on top form with débuts in Super Gas and Pro ET, running 9.4s. He qualified #3 in Super Gas with a 9.9018, and in Pro ET faced eventual event winner and fellow PMR driver Steve Bolton where an axle failure put paid to a very promising start to the 2007 campaign. Gary The Razmus Springford and Dave Racing Snake Catton were sharing the drive in the PMR Whoopass Monza, competing in Pro ET and Super Gas respectively. With some refinements to the Whoopass Monza still untested from last year, there was some anticipation as to what it could or would do. It rewarded us with its first ever naturally aspirated eight second runs. ©Eurodragster.com I was once again back in the hot seat of the PT Bruiser competing in both Super Pro ET and Comp Eliminator. I qualified #2 off the trailer in Super Pro ET and #2 eventually ending #9 in Super Pro ET and #2 in Comp. Unfortunately during eliminations in Comp the PT Bruiser kicked the #8 rod at around 1200 feet, which pitched the Bruiser sideways through the finish line at around 150 mph. I managed to save the Bruiser and bought her to a safe stop. Luckily the breakage remained inside the motor and did not oil the track. I must thank the safety crews at Santa Pod who do such a great job. Obviously I am bitterly disappointed at losing the motor, especially after consulting the aluminum rod manufacturers over the winter to confirm that I was well within their recommended safety limits and fine for the whole of 2007. However I didn't lose the car, the damage seems reparable and I guarantee you it will be rebuilt with billet steel rods. As it is a Pro Stock motor it could take a while to get the parts, though. Thanks go to our many fans, sponsors and business partners, in particular Drag Race Engineering. Very special thanks to Santa Pod Raceway for such a great event, for all of their support of Paul Marston Racing Drag Race Driving School and belief in us, without your help we could not do what we do. Finally all the improvements at the track do not go unnoticed, thank you very much. To all the staff at Santa Pod, management, start line and fire crew for all your hard work and long hours. Tog, Simon and Roger at Eurodragster, we are all forever in your debt for so effectively spreading the word of European Drag Racing throughout the world (Thanks - Ed). Last but not least our team which is such a genuinely great bunch of people, who all know how to enjoy themselves. If we go the whole season and win nothing else, we can be proud of what we achieved at the Easter Thunderball. Web site updates. 15th April: The official web site of Silverline Tools-backed Top Methanol Dragster team Dave Wilson Racing has been updated with a race report from the Easter Thunderball together with a twenty one-picture Anatomy of a Run which you can view by clicking on The Car. Check it out at www.silverlinedragracing.com. The construction of Kev Slyfield's recently-débuted Willys Pro Mod has been documented on the web site of Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor Andy Robinson Race Cars. Check it out under Customer Cars at www.robinson-race-cars.co.uk. ©Eurodragster.com The official web site of the UK's All Folked Up 9.50 Bike team has been updated with some notes from the Easter Thunderball as well as other features such as rider Steve Gwatkin and Corki singing. Check it out at www.allfolkedup.co.uk. Goring/Hanna programme announced. 14th April: UK Jet Funny Car pilot Roger Goring and US Jet operation Hanna Motorsports have announced more details of their development deal which was revealed here on Eurodragster.com during the week: In late 2006 Al Hanna, President of Hanna Motorsports, contacted Roger Goring, owner of the Firestorm Jet Funny Car to discuss the sharing of technology the US-based team had experienced with the center-drive concept Eastern Raider and Top Secret. The Eastern Raider was the first Jet Funny Car to be built with the engine located behind the driver. Bob Jinkens Race Cars of New Egypt, NJ worked with the Hanna Motorsports team to build the original machine. Roger Goring observed the creation, and followed by ordering a similar machine, and taking it back to the UK, where he currently campaigns his Firestorm version of this unusual concept of a Jet Funny Car. Since the original centre-drive Eastern Raider appeared on the cover of Super Stock magazine in March 1994, the Hanna team has worked diligently to improve the design and keep the car competitive with others in the category. "We were told this car would never start and, for sure, would never run well or be competitive" said Al Hanna. "The fact is that this car has run competitively with all the Jet Funny Cars in the States and we recently introduced our new Top Secret centre-drive version, and immediately ran in the 5.60 range with speeds in excess of 280 mph in testing. We believe this newest car will run 300 mph in 2007." The Hanna and Goring teams are working closely to bring the Firestorm team up to speed in terms of all the innovations and learning tips the Hannas have experienced throughout the period since the original car was created. "We are proud of the fact that Roger chose to believe in our original centre-drive concept, and we hope to reward his belief with support from all our learning processes", said Rich Hanna. "Looking at the Firestorm web site is like looking into a mirror of our own team." Roger and Helen of the Firestorm team agree that these are very exciting times for the team and they are proud of the association and the friendship with Hanna Motorsports. "I had a plan for the 2007 season and then I got an E-Mail from Al Hanna - boy how things change", said Roger Goring. "Going forward we will be working closely with the Hanna family developing Firestorm. Both teams agree that a sensible approach to an increase in performance should be in small increments as safety is of paramount importance." The specifics of what information is being shared is staying between the two teams. On-track results will be the measure of whether the innovations shared work across the huge Atlantic Ocean, but both teams believe that Jet Funny Car racing is the same worldwide, and what works in the US will surely work in the UK. "The début of our shared information débuted was the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod", said Al Hanna. "We were at an event in Roxboro, NC, with our First Strike Firebird, and went to the internet each night (Guess where - Ed) to see how Roger was running. When we saw a photo of Roger's car with our Hanna Motorsports logo affixed, followed by his best ever ET and speed, all we could do was smile. There's more to come, for sure. We expect that Roger and Helen's Firestorm will continue to be seen as one of the premier Jet Funny Cars in the world." Hanna Motorsports is one of the most active and successful Jet car teams in the world, and fields three Jet car teams: the Top Secret Firebird, the First Strike Firebird, and the 300 mph Queen of Diamonds Jet Dragster. Hanna Motorsports teams run more than eighty events per season in the USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Editor's note: Only a short news update today but the full service will return tomorrow (Sunday). ©Eurodragster.com Antriebskraft. 13th April: A team from TV production company The Gamma Project attended the Easter Thunderball to shoot footage for a pilot for a planned eight-part series for the Discovery Channel. The programme, titled Valley Of The Drag Kings, will take a behind-the-scenes look at Urs Erbacher's team at all of their main races in 2007. ©Eurodragster.com The Gamma Project already have a series showing worldwide called Engineering the World Rally and are awaiting confirmation for the new series. "We plan to travel around Europe with the Erbacher Racing team to follow their entire operation during the season", said Executive Producer Nina Carbone. "We have already visited their shop in Switzerland including the custom bike business, and would like to show what the operation is like behind the scenes." Stay tuned to Eurodragster.com for further announcements (Thanks to Gittli Koller for the translation of Driving Force - Ed). Bell rings for help. 13th April: UK Super Pro ET racer Ashley Bell took the class win at the Easter Thunderball, but if you were tuned in to our Event Coverage you will know that the victory came at a cost. Ashley is looking for the help of Eurodragster.com readers to get him back out on the track. "On my last run against Martyn Jones I spun out of control at the finish line and the Cobra smacked the concrete wall", says Ashley. "The damage caused to the car is serious. I would like to say a big Thank You to Martyn Jones who generously donated his winnings to the repair of the Cobra, and to John Everitt and everyone else who made contributions. ©Eurodragster.com "The irony of it all is my new Big Block Chevy has arrived from America and I now have no chassis to put it in. The Cobra may take some time to repair. Is there anyone who can repair fibreglass bodywork - please E-Mail me if you can, or if you know someone who can do this sort of work. My other thought is that I have a nice new shiny Big Block Chevy waiting for its first run or the Small Block Chevy from the Cobra. I am looking for a rolling chassis for sale for either engine, or alternately is there anyone who would be willing to allow me to hire their chassis, using my engine/s and box until I am sorted out? Unfortunately I do not have deep pockets, as I have the Cobra repairs to pay for. "If you can help with any of the above then please E-Mail me at [email protected]." FIA Main Event update. 13th April: Geoff Myers of Power Racing Promotions has been in touch to remind teams wishing to compete in the first round of the FIA and FIM/UEM European Championships, the FIA Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-28th May, must have paid their registration fees in full by 24th April in accordance with FIA/UEM rules. Registrations cannot be accepted after this date. You can find all the necessary forms on the Santa Pod Racers Club web site at www.eurodragster.com/sprc or on the Svensk Dragracing web site at www.dragracing.se. ©Eurodragster.com Santa Pod Racers Club Secretary Paula Marshall has asked us to remind racers that the official FIA Main Event closing date for all classes Pro and Sportsman is Friday 27th April. If you have any queries then you can contact Paula at [email protected] or call 01933 313625 (outside the UK +1933 313625). The return of the Menace. 13th April: If you were tuned in to Eurodragster.com News on Tuesday then you will have seen that we were promised news of ex-pat UK racer Smax Smith's plans now that he would no longer be driving the McDonald Racing Top Fuel Dragster. Aidan Smith has been true to his word and has been in touch to let us know that Smax's Mainline Menace altered (right, click on picture for large version) is to return to the track, initially in Smax's hands: Since getting in the drivers seat of the ex-Southern Rebel altered, I have been looking for the old '35 Chevy body which my dad had in the 1980s and which in my eyes was the most popular car he ever owned. At the track last year a couple of guys came over to the car and asked "Where did you get that Ant Hill Mob sticker because I knew a guy back in the mid 1980s who had that, I think his name was Smax". I just smiled and said "That's my dad". They were asking about the '35 Chevy and since that day I was really keen on pursuing it and finding out where it was. Thanks to Adam Gleadow we found that it was on Eurodragster.com's Swap Meet. The owner of the body was Darren Burkitt and when we E-Mailed him he was blown away and couldn't believe that we were asking for the body. Better yet all he wanted was an automatic shifter, electric water pump, and 500 five hundred pounds, so we jumped right on it. We were blown away when we got the pictures from Darren, the body was still its original paint and everything. ©Eurodragster.com Anyway, after months of sorting out funds and shipping, we finally got the body. The plan was to run the car with just the 350 Chevy but it brought back memories for my dad so he decided to sack that idea and go big! The first thing was to get the body mounted onto the chassis, so with help from new sponsor Garth Webber of Webber Chassis we are getting the body mounted, re-tinned, and fabricated. Meanwhile dad has been down to Stratford and found a deal on a load of Big Block Chevy parts and a 468 Chevy motor which is ready to go, so now we have a complete spare motor ready to run. We are currently getting our other engine machined and built by Engine Technology which is another one of our sponsors for this season. As soon as we get the car back home, we will get the engine in and get the car race-ready. After that we will send the body off to be sanded, repaired and vinyl-wrapped instead of paint. We are keeping the original paint because everyone knew the car that way and to be honest I couldn't think of it looking any different. When all is done and the trailer is stickered up and the car has been fired and tuned, the plan is for dad to be the first to drive it. He says he wants to make sure its safe for me to drive but deep down I know he just wants to race the car and bring back some old memories. It won't be running 6.90s/200+ but it'll be fun I'm sure. Then after it's safe, or when dad decides to quit hogging, the plan is to get me in the hot seat before my nineteenth so then I know for sure that I could be the youngest blown altered driver, and can answer Joe Bond's question. The track opens for testing on 28th April so we are aiming for mid May to get the car out, and with a new team, new trailer, motor home, live pit bands, and car, this will be one fun season. Easter Thunderball snippets. 13th April: Top Methanol Dragster racer Steve Turner asked us to say a big Thank You to Rob and Carmel Turner for the chance to drive the Turner Motorsport Dragster and for all of their support at the Easter Thunderball. "They kept me calm and focused over the weekend", said Steve. "Thanks also to the team for all their hard work - we had some new team members who settled in well and did an excellent job - and to the other racers and spectators for their support. Finally thanks to our sponsors Fuchs Silkolene, NGK Spark Plugs, Rushden Graphics who applied the new design on the car, and Alleyjax. We settled the team in and we're really looking forward to the Main Event with Rob back in the car." Sweden's JD Racing Pro Stock, Super Street and Junior Dragster team went to the Thunderball aiming to get Jonas Dantanus (right) his Pro Stock licence and to get he and Jennifer Gustafsson comfortable in their new rides. But Crew Chief Christer Gustavsson tells us that the team achieved even more than they expected. "Jonas got his licence so quickly that he could race in Comp Eliminator where he ended up as low qualifier. The other Comp racers broke so he won the class with a 7.22/189.92. Jennifer also became comfortable very quickly in Challenger and qualified #11, and in eliminations her winning instincts came through and she went all the way to the final which she lost by 0.012 seconds even though she ran 10.905. Pontus Dantanus qualified #5 but lost first round. JD Racing are looking forward to the rest of the season and I am very proud of my drivers and my crew guys and girls." Super Comp winner Belinda Bull says that she couldn't have had a better start to the season. "Thanks to everyone who has called, texted and E-Mailed to congratulate me on my win, it means a lot", says Belinda. "The biggest and most deserved thank you is to Jeff who has worked so hard to get me to that number one on the podium. He says he always knew that I could do it and that's why he put me in the seat. This weekend was definitely a joint effort though but I think I got the fun part. Thanks for everything! Thanks also to the Santa Pod track crew and staff for the excellent track, keeping us safe and for such a well staged event; to MC, Shaun, Chris, Dave and Peter for the close and exciting races, thanks guys! Thanks to Smithy for all his help and encouragement; Sharon and Jon Hogarth at SID, Joe ad Peter at Britannia Storage Systems, Doug Herbert, Transmission Specialties, BLP, Zak and Scott and everyone else who stopped by the trailer with copious amounts of encouragement in between rounds." ©Eurodragster.com Super Gas racer Paul Spiers has asked us to say Thank You to his friend, European Snowmobile record holder Max Croot for his help over the closed season, not only with the re-building of Paul's Camaro, but going the extra mile in everything from giving up his spare time to help build the car to loaning equipment and tools and collecting drums of VP Racing fuel. "It's people like Max that make the drag racing community a close-knit bunch, always willing to help", says Paul. "Good luck with the build of your Top Fuel Bike Max." Pro ET racer Jerry Smith's beautiful Grim Beeper was running a new engine at the weekend, 605 ci on pump as with Indy 572-13s and a custom cam. "The best we ran at the Thunderball was 9.81/136 but shortly after that run we put some timing in the motor, and tinkered with it generally", say Jerry and Marc Smith. "We lost first gear after a burnout, so we ran two qualifiers and got through to the semis launching in second. We would like to say thank you to everyone who helped us to get the car finished or who helped us at the track: Lindsay Deuchar, Steve Neimantas, Neil Hunter, Geof Hauser, Jon Webster and anyone else who gave encouragement. Thanks also to all in Pro ET for a great weekend." Sarah Johnson has been in touch to say a big Well Done to her son, now Junior Modified racer Zak Johnson. "Although we had problems with the car Zak still managed to pull a 0.003 reaction not once but twice, qualifying fourth as Matt Seamarks, Jayne Kay and Ross Norris all pulled perfect lights, well done. Finally a big well done to our sponsors Chris, Gill and Clayton Round of the Rebel T NFAA altered, not only for running their first six but winning the race, it doesn't get much better than that. Roll on the next meeting where Zak will hopefully will be running the numbers. Many thanks to Santa Pod and Shakespeare County Raceways and yourselves at Eurodragster.com. Real Steel Street Eliminator racer Ron Haslett says that his nitrous problem at the weekend was user error. "The controller has a feature to set upper and lower rev ranges", says Ron. "I must have put in a lower setting but never connected the rev wire, so the controller didn't think the engine was running and wouldn't fire the nitrous. Although frustating at the time it proves your better off not letting the driver do the technical things - just let him point the thing and everything else will work. The plugs came out perfect, they all looked the same and there was no damage to the electrodes which was really pleasing as we put 450 bhp though this system which was over double what we used last year." The inside track on the ups and downs of Super Modified racer Craig Gibbs' weekend can be found on the excellent Obsession Racing web site at www.obsessionracing.mfbiz.com. Also updating web sites is Sportsman ET newbie Nigel Holland who has updated his Aveago Racing web site with a report from the Thunderball which was his first-ever competitive event. You can check out Nigel's report at www.aveagoracing.co.uk and you can also check out his photographs from the weekend, which he took after his exit from eliminations, at www.nigelholland.co.uk. The 2007 Volkswagen Drag Racing Club Committee have been in touch to congratulate its Thunderball winners and runners up. "Massive congratulations to VW Sportsman winner Pauly Herbert and runner-up Graham Fairhead, VW Pro winner Dude Ellis and runner-up Glynn Morgan, and VW Alternate Engine winner Mark Skeen and runner-up Ian Huggan", says Chris Bray. "All the VW classes were very close fought but we seem to have lost a few gearboxes over the weekend! It looks like club sponsor Bears Motorsports Transmissions (0121 742 2200) is going to be busy before the Club's next round at Big Bang marking the long awaited return of VW v V8 racing when the VWDRC play host to the Outlaw Anglias! For more news and information about the UK's largest and longest running VW drag racing club visit www.vwdrc.com." We are indebted to Andy Marrs of TSI Timers Europe for sending us the official timing data from the weekend's race and a new table of European Bests including the new MSA Pro Modified and ACU UK Super Street Bike records set at the Easter Thunderball. You can check out the weekend's timing data by clicking here or by clicking on the Timing Data link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page, and you can check out the new European Bests table by clicking here or by clicking on the European Bests link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Race reports from the weekend are now available on Santa Pod Raceway's web site at www.santapod.co.uk/e_easter.php and the official MSA British Drag Racing Championship (for Pro Modified) web site at www.msadragracing.co.uk/reports.htm. Lauren Molden of the White/Slight Noise team would like to say a big Thank You to all her family and friends for making her eighteenth birthday so special at Santa Pod last weekend and for the cards and presents which she recieved. "It was a great weekend, and we all thoroughly enjoyed it", says Lauren. "Hope to see you all at the next meeting." So what happened to the promised remainder of yesterday's news update? You're looking at it. We had one of those days yesterday when we started with a backlog anyway, and the more we caught up the more news items arrived. In fact your News Editor took the afternoon off from his day job to try to catch up but still this update took several hours. Apologies for keeping you all waiting. Blues for Gold RV. 13th April: Derek Flynn of Eurodragster.com News sponsor Gold RV had a Top Methanol Dragster début to forget with his new car save the knowledge that the Gold RV Racing team can turn the new car round as quickly as Derek's previous dragster. "The carnage included blower problems, broken reverser, burnt out torque converter, Bruno pump failure, number eight cylinder did not want to play all weekend, various Lenco problems which meant that we had no third gear and slipped gears for all but the last run when yours truly missed the shift button, d'oh!", says Derek. "I would like to thank my crew who put in a huge effort to get us to the track and who just did not give up all weekend once we were there, working to the wee small hours changing the torque converter, along with various gear box bits which were kindly provided to us by Dave Wilson. Our new crew members John and Sarah Foster and Andy May proved to be invaluable and slotted right in, and I am sure this all bodes well for the future! ©Eurodragster.com "Thanks also to everyone at Andy Robinson Race Cars for all the help and assistance in upgrading our chassis ensuring it sailed through scrutineering, and thanks to Darren Prentice for giving us the maximum track time possible and thanks also to Ian Marshall for the push back when we had no reverser, just to try and get us qualified. I am just a bit embarrasses that we did not do better. "Congratulations to Steve Turner for his first six closely followed by his first five, and well done to Steph and Dave Milam for their PB of 6.1 oh so close to that UK Funny car record, congratulations to Craig and the Flavell team on their string of sixes, not that they mentioned they were quicker than us all weekend...much! Congratulations also to Dan Giles on his victory in Junior Dragster. "It was a shame we did not make the qualifying as I was really looking forward to racing Fast Freddy and watching him perform those calmed down burn outs - yeah right Freddy - in the lane next to me. Oh well, maybe next time. Thanks to my sponsors Gold RV, Buff, and Dataprint. As it used to say on my school report, Derek could do better! PS Get well Sharkman, I really missed you at the track I had no marker for my burnouts!" Six seconds in three runs. 13th April: The Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association added some members to its Six Second Club at the Easter Thunderball, including Frank Bennett in the Relentless Topolino. Luke Bennett has been in touch to give us the inside story from the Bennett Racing pit: We first fired the car at about noon on Friday and it sounded strong, there was some concern whether the starter was going to spin the motor fast enough as we had just had the blower refurbished, but it was fine. I had to adjust the idle speed slightly and just general checks, but everything was OK - no leaks and no problems. For the first run the plan was just to do a shakedown pass, basically small burnout and gentle pass to bed engine in, this was not to be as on the burnout dad spotted that the distribution block for the ports was leaking, so every time he gave it some revs it leaked, this is why he only did the launch, still it did what we needed it to and gave me a baseline, and got him used to the car again. On the first run on the Saturday all I wanted was a full pass and no grief, so I was very happy when it ran a 7.12/192, our best speed to date and it nosed over big time at the eighth due to being fat so I was chuffed. Then we got our customary bit of aggro. On the next run the shaft inside the snout sheared at the top of first gear, we had a nightmare trying to find one as no one had anything, then two came up at once: one from Ollie Burn and one from Martin Hannis. We had to drive to Martin's workshop to pick it up and also had to wait for Danny to drop off the other snout in the morning, fitted it and we were sorted. On the next run out we made a few adjustments and it ran 7.01/194, both bests with the car, so we were happy. Again it had nosed over so lots more to come. When we got back to the pits we checked the motor over and it was perfect, the lash didn't even need adjusting. ©Eurodragster.com As we had only made two of the qualifying runs we were fifth overall but Jim Usher was unable to make the third/fourth place race so we were called up to race Joe Bond. After running the 7.01 last run I was hoping in the back of my mind that the six would come and just went through the normal start line procedure. When the car left it didn't look any faster than the last launch but motor sounded stronger and it ran a 6.901/195.67. I was very happy to say the least, the third run of the year and we got our six. When I got back to the pits we opened the champagne we have been saving for a while and dad got very wet, we all had a glass and took some really good photos which will be on the web site soon. We were all over the moon. Thanks to everyone who came over to congratulate us, really nice of all of you, and thanks to all the racers and fans who were cheering and clapping on the the fence on the way to picking the car up. Last but not least big thanks to Sarah for saving her champagne all that time! All that is left now is to run more sixes and get the 200 mph. The next race is three weeks away and I can't wait. Swift snippets. 13th April: Darren Gould has been in touch to ask us to with a very Happy 40th Birthday to his brother Cliff Gould who works on Håkan Fällström's Fuel FC team. No sooner said than done, have a great day Cliff. ©Eurodragster.com Slightly belated but Happy Birthday for Wednesday to Collin Morrice. Belinda Bull asked us to wish Collin a Happy Birthday and good luck with the driving lessons. Web site updates. 13th April: Our good friend Alan Currans has added the final page of the Dennis Priddle Collection to ihs excellent Acceleration Archive at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk. "The update is something of a slingshot fest and features pictures of the Swedish Sub Sonic and Valkyrian rails, as well a number of the US cars which attended the 1965 Dragfest at Blackbushe Aerodrome", says Alan. "There are several other interesting pictures and a fascinating collection of magazine clippings, press releases, etc from the 1960s and 1970s. The captions have been extensively researched by Dave Riswick, Kjelle Gustafson, Nick Pettitt and Anders Olsson and make very good reading." ©Eurodragster.com Richard Smith has updated his Fotopic site at richardsmith.fotopic.net with pictures from York Raceway's first event of the year. "The weekend opened with the Mini v Beetle Shootout, which the Minis won, and the following day saw the first rounds of the Modders Shootout and Air Cooled Eliminator", says Richard. Dave Billadeau has a new web site for the formerly Brighouse-based Billadeau Speed and Automotive, which you can find at www.billadeau-speed.co.uk. Springspeed entry update. 12th April: Shakespeare County Raceway Marketing Manager Jerry Cookson has asked us to confirm that the Springspeed UK National Championship round at SCR on 5th-7th May is a three-day event and not two days with Monday RWYB as rumour reportedly has it. ©Eurodragster.com Julie Willcox adds that any racer experiencing problems downloading the official entry form from the APIRA web site should call 01789 720180 or 0121 355 8011 for assistance. Julie also says that with the Easter Thunderball only just out of the way, some leeway will be allowed on the official closing date. Believe me, it won't blow up! 11th April: UK Fuel Funny Car racer John Spuffard says that his tremendous 5.1159/305.98 in the Showtime FC at Santa Pod Raceway on Monday came about partly as a result of his having to ignore the instincts of twenty three years in Funny Cars. "I have been driving FCs since 1984 and when the engine noses over you get off it or there's going to be a big bang", Spuff told Eurodragster.com. "The way these cars work now, when the clutch locks up it drags the engine down, but you're so used to reacting to the drop in engine note that you get off it. Bob (Jarrett, Crew Chief - Ed) has been trying to convince me that it won't blow up so I've had to re-educate myself. That's what happened just in case anyone thought I was in there with a stuck throttle trying to pull it up off the floor! "I would like to thank the team and the fans and everyone who has supported us for so long, especially our sponsors ATI Europe Distribution, ATI Stellram, Poggipolini Titanium, œerlikers Balzers Coating, Hardcore, Ringers Gloves, Torco, James Lister and Sons, Ferrea Racing Components, Nimbus CarbonX, Racing Communications and IronCAD. ©Eurodragster.com "I was very pleased to see so many Funny Cars at Santa Pod and there will be at least one other car this year because we sold this one at the weekend. I would like to wish the car's new owner every good fortune - I hope he has as much fun with the car as we have had, and we're looking forward to more of the same with the new car which we hope to run at the FIA Main Event." As to who that new owner is, if you were tuned in to Eurodragster.com News on 31st March you will recall that Norwegian Top Fuel Dragster racer Thomas Nataas said that a fellow Norwegian was interested in buying Showtime and that if the deal worked out then the new owner had invited Rune Fjeld and Thomas to run the car. As Spuff mentioned the deal has now been done and Bjørn Andersen is the proud owner of Showtime. Thomas will be driving the car at Gardermoen and Hockenheim. If you can read Norwegian then you can find out more on the Norsk Dragracing Gardermoen web site at www.ndrg.no/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=225&Itemid=9. Gordon Smith of the Shockwave Racing Fuel FC team has been in touch to congratulate Spuff, Bob Jarrett and the team on their performance at the Easter Thunderball. "Once again they set the bar for all the Funny Cars in Europe, a truly great performance from the whole team", says Gordon. "Well done to Leif Helander for his consistent fives. I would like to think that it won't be too long before Shockwave is back on track pushing all the FCs to even greater marks." Finally Spuff would be pleased to hear from anyone with video of the 305 mph pass: if you have any video then please drop us a line at [email protected] and we'll put you in touch. Frosty's extra Edge. 11th April: Easter Thunderball Real Steel Street Eliminator winner Andy Frost now has an extra edge on his seven-second Vauxhall Victor, the Edge in question being new sponsor Castrol Edge oil. "We're very pleased and honoured to be associated with a worldwide company which has such racers as John Force and Victor Bray in its stable", says Andy. "The development knowledge they can bring us is second to none and of course the oil, like the Vauxhall, is at the cutting edge of technology." ©Eurodragster.com "Castrol Edge is proud to sponsor Andy and his Red Victor racing team", says Brand Manager Sam Reid. "Andy came to our attention after winning the Castrol Challenge at a Run What You Brung at Santa Pod in 2006, and we are excited by his achievements breaking records in a street-legal car. We are happy that we could provide Andy with the same Castrol Edge oil used by Victor Bray in Australia for his 2007 campaign and look forward to a successful year for Andy and Castrol Edge." "The whole Redvictor team would like to thank Sam and Castrol for seeing the potential in the car and for backing it with their great product", adds Andy. Nicholson's thanks. 11th April: UK Super Pro ET racer Wayne Nicholson says that he learned a lot at the Easter Thunderball where he set new Personal Bests of 7.51/181 and a 1.06 sixty foot time with his blown-alcohol Lucky Devil 'Vette. ©Eurodragster.com "We came away with some very important information that will help us go even quicker and faster!",says Wayne. "At the moment we are running at our own pace with the car, and enjoying it...touch wood! I would like to thank all the following people who have helped with the race car this weekend: Kenny and Dennis at EDA , Luke Smith, Bryan Whitfield, Ian Tubb, my sons Gareth and Joe, and not forgetting Belinda my wife who supports both the team and myself. I can't thank you all enough. "We will have some more good news later this week." Swift snippets. 11th April: UK Jet FC pilot Roger Goring's Firestorm Firebird is now carrying Hanna Motorsports decals as part of a development programme with the US Jet team. Roger tells us that he was delighted with his new Personal Best of 6.1573 at Santa Pod on Saturday (About which the Hannas read on Eurodragster.com - Ed) and adds that a formal announcement will be made about the Hanna Motorsports programme very shortly. Entry is now open for the Springnats at Gardermoen on 12th-13th May. Entry at the normal rate closes on 1st May. You can find the entry form at www.ndrg.no and our good buddy Patrik Jacobsson tells us that he will translate the form if anyone needs help. You can contact Patrik at [email protected]. Aidan Smith tells us that the answer to the question "What will Smax Smith do now that Jon Webster is driving the McDonald Racing Top Fuel Dragster?" will be answered here on Eurodragster.com very shortly, so stay tuned. Germany's 'Hot Rod' Ove Kröger will be contesting Super Gas in 2007 in a new 1932 Ford Roadster. You can find out more on Ove's excellent web site at www.hotrodove.com. ©Eurodragster.com Many thanks to Kjell Pettersson for forwarding us a provisional running order for the FIA Main Event which takes place at Santa Pod Raceway on 25th-28th May. You can check out the Main Event running order by clicking here. Our good friend Hanski tells us that the Finnish Hot Rod Association's August Nats has been cancelled even though it can still be found on some calendars. Also in FHRA news, the Finnish-language section of FHRA's web site at www.fhra.fi has had a facelift. Hanski tells us that the English version will follow shortly. UK Super Pro ET racer Vince Gibbs says that Ray Eldred's Sanity Assassin Toyota should be ready to race at the FIA Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway in May. Santa Pod Raceway's radio station Nitro FM will be joined by two new staff members at the FIA Main Event. They are Sarah Tempest, who is experienced in broadcasting having presented on Hereward FM and Northampton 96, and Annick Chaplain, daughter of Comp Bike racers Roland and Sandra, who conducted some interviews on Nitro FM at the Easter Thunderball. "We are looking forward to working with Sarah, and we were impressed with Annick's interviews at the weekend, particularly with Eric Teboul", says Nigel Fitzmaurice. "Thanks to all the teams who were so good with Annick." Our good buddy and former Photo Editor Sharkman could be home from hospital today. Shark has been under observation in Bedford General with a suspected heart problem (What is it with Eurodragster.com and hearts - Ed), but all test results so far are pointing to Shark's heart being OK and the problem laying elsewhere. If you would like to send Sharkman a Get Well message then his [email protected] address is still active. Sunshine and attrition. 11th April: UK Top Fuel Bike racer Ian Turburville said that the Easter Thunderball was one hell of a start to the ACU season: Team Turboville.com had practiced the weekend before and found some new form so we were quietly confident of making a decent showing amongst the big guns at Santa Pod. We arrived to find Europe's premier race venue bristling with improvements, bathed in hot sun, and packed to the gates! I have never seen an Easter meet like it, fantastic! Brum, Steve and myself set up our camp in the Fuel Altered pits along side Ton Pels, Harry and Steve Carey, and got to work. On Saturday we all got our bikes out and warmed them up, the air quality was good and Ton's bike sounded real mean on the new MSD ignition. Ours, however, developed a misfire, very dangerous on nitro. This lead to a whole day of wrenching and hair pulling trying to chase the problem and to add to the stress we missed both rounds of qualifying on Saturday! Exhausted and frustrated we changed everything we could and packed up for the night hoping the gremlin would get bored and leave. I last saw it sitting on Fast Freddy's fuel tank in his Funny Car and he promised to lock it in his tool chest. Unfortunately it did manage to sneak into Ton's pit beforehand and, on Roel's first ever Supertwin run, his new motor threw two rods at a thousand destroying his motor. Everyone was distraught, such a hard thing to cope with and it dampened our sprits somewhat. Sunday morning and another glorious day. Refreshed, we wheeled it out and tried again: it didn't sound perfect but it sounded safe and we needed to qualify so gave it our best shot. The grandstands were full and there was a real buzz about the place, everyone was having fun. We got the helicopter finger from the starter and fired up Mr Spokehead. It sounded rough but then seemed to clean-up so we rolled into the bleach-box and did a half decent burnout. I tried to shake off all the worries and misgivings from the previous day to concentrate on the Tree. The rest of the world disappeared leaving just the light bulbs and the finish line in my head. Ian Marshall and Brum looked nervous for some reason but gave me the thumbs-up so I staged and locked down the visor on my Simpson Diamondback, the world tuned orange and the contrast of my vision sharpened. Hand wrapped right round the front of the throttle, front brake gently applied, chest pressed against the back-bone of the Puppet chassis, tense everything (yes everything) the amber lights go out. Snap the wrist as hard as you can and the motor explodes into life! I felt the bike squat nicely onto the big rear slick, I flicked my feet straight onto the pegs and held on. It pulled very smoothly, bit too smoothly really, and went nice and straight. Through the traps at the top end feeling good, must be a decent run, ease off the throttle, bang/shudder! What the hell? The bike almost stopped dead on the track and the fire crew rushed out to help me pull it off the track, it was smoking from everywhere so I told them to radio down and check the track for oil, there was none. The motor was hurt bad and I knew it. We tore it down and I had demolished both pistons and cylinders but luckily I had spares but no more racing that day, just a lot of work. It seems Steve Woollatt had suffered a similar fate and was out of the game. This meant I was #4 qualifier behind Lorenz and Scarey as Roel and Steve were out, not all was lost! ©Eurodragster.com Monday, eliminations day, guess what. Freddy forgot to lock his tool box and the gremlin sneaked back with a d evious plan! The bike seemed OK in the warm-up so we suited and booted, put our best uniforms on and headed down for the first round against Scarey. Thank god we didn't have Lorenz who seemed to be on a mission all weekend with one wild mid-six after another. We let Steve start first, he has a longer routine than us, then fired up and headed to the water. I grabbed the front brake and hit the throttle but it just dropped a cylinder and they quickly shut me down, good call, thanks guys. The feeling of despair was overwhelming though, I desperately wanted to do well this weekend but it was not to be. Three weeks of hard work now to repair the bike for the Springspeed Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway on 5th-7th May. Congratulations to Lorenz and team on a great performance. Sorry to everyone for not putting on a better show but big thanks to all my supporters and fans who made it all bearable. Steve and Brum were great, you have to remember that the crew have to put up with all this disappointment also, and worked tirelessly all weekend for just tea and hot cross buns. Special thanks to my sponsors without whom I wouldn't have any spares or a chance of running in this class, so please support Simpson, Gates, Arias, Custom Chrome, Innovate Dataloggers, Red Line Oil, Jims, S & S Cycle, Zodiac, Curbishley Automotive, A & A Business Supplies, Sprint Dampers, Fast Lane Racing, King Racing, Rush Racing, RST Wheels and...? We are desperate for a barrel of nitro for the rest of the season as we have nearly run out...hint, hint! Easter Thunderball web updates. 11th April: Our good friend Graham Rice has updated his Fotopic gallery site with pictures from Monday's eliminations at Santa Pod. You can check out Graham's pictures at www.gjrphotography.fotopic.net. Next up with pictures from Santa Pod is Gwynn Clark. Gwynn invites us to see if we can spot the errors amongst his shots at www.pbase.com/slimboyfat/easter_thunderball_07. Onto moving pictures and Ben Sharich has posted video from the weekend on YouTube at www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=Speedblood. Ben tells us that the video clip includes everything from Super Gas to Spuff's 305 mph pass. ©Eurodragster.com Also posting video as well as photographs from the weekend is Brian Fawcus whose work you can find at drag.fawcus.com/movies2007. Back to static shots and James Hands' pictures of Sunday and Monday's action can be found at jhphotography2007.moonfruit.com. Jamie Dyks has moved his photographs, which include shots from the Easter Thunderball, to topnitro.fotopic.net. Toby Dyks, who one assumes is related, has posted spectator-side video clips on his web site at www.fullthrottlevideos.piczo.com. Michael Fordham has updated the Blazing Wheels web site with shots from the weekend. You can check out Michael's pictures at www.blazingwheels.co.uk. Finally we have had a number of very kind E-Mails congratulating us on our Event Coverage of the Easter Thunderball. The American Car Imports-sponsored coverage attracted over forty thousand visitors who generated more than two million hits on the server. Many thanks to everyone who wrote. USAutomotive press release. 11th April: Borla Performance, highly regarded throughout the vehicle after-market and tuning industries as an innovative designer and manufacturer of premium quality, high-performance stainless steel exhaust systems for road and track, is continuing its support of UK distributor, Bedford-based USAutomotive. This relationship with Borla was announced back in 2003, and since then USAutomotive has supplied hundreds of exhaust systems for both racers and road users alike. Borla's latest road system is developed for the 2005 Mustang, as well as the very latest Shelby GT500. It can be ordered with the compact, and louder, 'Stinger' silencers, or the standard, quieter, oval designs. Whichever is chosen, the system boosts performance and adds real menace to the exhaust note. Borla utilises patented, award and race-winning technology in the design and construction of its exhaust systems. Additionally, all Borla street products are American-made and carry a one million mile warranty. It's a little-known fact that Borla supplies virtually all of the major American automotive manufacturers with exhaust systems for their performance aftermarket product ranges. For further information about the vast Borla range contact USAutomotive on 01234 273155, E-Mail [email protected] or visit the company's web site at www.usauto.co.uk. ©Eurodragster.com Easter Thunderball results. 10th April: Congratulations to the winners at the weekend's Autotrader Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway: Pro Fuel Shootout: Lex Joon 4.7880/274.59 def. Urs Erbacher 7.1930/100.00 Top Methanol: Freddy Fagerström shut off, Dave Wilson shut off MSA Pro Modified: Robert Joosten 12.7679/100.84 bye Comp Eliminator: Jonas Dantanus (7.81) 7.2430/188.91 bye Super Modified: Andy Kirk 7.6342/179.06 def. Tim Garlick 7.6708/173.82 Super Pro ET: Ashley Bell (8.65) 8.7620/145.15 def. Martyn Jones (7.75) 7.7329/171.07 Pro ET: Steve Bolton (9.70) 9.6798/135.52 def. Rick McCann (10.25) 10.2161/130.39 Sportman ET: Anna Metcalfe (13.30) 13.3219/101.35 def. Martin Lewis (15.20) 15.1932/86.84 Super Comp: Belinda Bull 8.9362/145.98 def. Pete Cresswell 9.0311/151.34 Super Gas: Jon Morton 10.0347/127.52 def. Frank Mason 12.7101/86.24 Super Street: Neil Grant 10.9180/131.97 def. Jennifer Gustafsson 10.9052/127.09 Junior Dragster: Dan Giles (8.80) 8.8896/72.37 def. Nick Mugridge (7.90) 7.9420/81.22 Street Eliminator: Andy Frost 9.5620/128.54 bye, Steve Pateman no show NFAA: Clayton Round 6.9550/190.48 def. Bob Glassup 7.3510/188.19 VW Pro: Neil Ellis (12.30) 13.0768/110.27 def. Glynn Morgan (12.60) 12.5100/99.59 VW Sportsman: Paul Herbert (13.57) 13.7149/88.04 def. Graham Fairhead (14.75) 14.7292/89.92 VW Alternate Engine: Mark Skeen (13.54) 13.3658/100.71 bye Wild Bunch: Chris Hartnell (9.99) 10.0742/125.69 def. Darryl Howells (10.51) 11.2548/127.44 ©Eurodragster.com Top Fuel Bike: Lorenz Staüble 7.4692/136.70 bye Funny Bike: Steve French staged, Stu Chamberlain no show Pro Stock Bike: Richard Gipp 7.7441/168.56 def. Dave Beck 8.2519/108.72 Super Street Bike: Steve Venables 7.6800/189.01 def. Dave Smith 7.6620/192.32 Comp Bike: Phil Leamon 8.3810/154.75 def. Dave Peters broke 9.50 Bike: Julian Harris 9.5632/141.11 def. Greg Skett 9.4179/144.65 Congratulations also to the following new record holders (subject to official ratification): MSA Pro Modified ET: 6.3541 seconds, Robert Joosten MSA Pro Modified speed: 225.91 mph, Robert Joosten Street Eliminator speed: 186.57 mph, Andy Frost Super Street Bike ET: 7.4251 seconds, Dave Smith Super Street Bike speed: 197.42 mph, Dave Smith Congratulations also to the Showtime Fuel FC team on John Spuffard's storming 305.98 mph pass in the Pro Fuel Shootout third-fourth place run-off: as far as we know that is the first 300 mph Fuel FC pass outside the USA. Junior Dragster racer Matthew Seamarks and Pro ET racer Keith Herbert are both £50 better off after winning the Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award and Eurodragster.com/LA Racing Parts Perfect ET Award respectively. Both Awards will again be £50 at the Spring Speed Festival at Shakespeare County Raceway in a few weeks' time. Super Street Bike racer Dave Smith is £250 better off courtesy of Sean Mills of Big CC Racing for the first sub-7.5 second pass by a bike qith a Big CC hybrid turbo system. You can check out our American Car Imports-sponsored Event Coverage by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. We must say a big Thank You to our ISP Selfnet who postponed a server upgrade over this weekend specifically for us - had they continued then the live coverage could not have happened, or at least not on our primary server. Thanks very much guys. Our Eurodragsternorth.com partner Tezzii spent the weekend with JD Racing and posted some updated from the team's pit as Jonas Dantanus licenced in his new Pro Stock, Jenifer Gustafsson made her very successful first outing in Super Street, and Pontus Dantanus made his first racing visit to Santa Pod. You can read Tezzii's reports at www.eurodragsternorth.com. Web site updates. 10th April: If you would like to know what Pro Fuel Shootout winner Lex Joon thought about his victory, his early shut off 4.7500 or indeed his weekend as a whole then check our his exclusive Racer Blog, which was updated from Santa Pod on Saturday, Sunday and yesterday. You can check out Lex's Blog by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blog link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. ©Eurodragster.com Day's thanks. 9th April: Regular readers will remember that Super Comp and Super Gas racer Dave Day had a big moment at the Peak Performance Day at Santa Pod Raceway last weekend when the Double Trouble Chevrolet roadster collided with the barrier during the burnout. Dave told Eurodragster.com that it was self-inflicted but that the response was overwhelming. "We ran differently from our usual routine by burning out across the start line in an attempt to scrub rubber off a new pair of tyres", said Dave. And it jumped up and bit me big-time. "Almost by the time I got back to the pits the body panels were off and on their way to Curbishley Automotive, and the car was dropped off to Webster Race Engineering at the end of Saturday. On Monday the engine and gearbox were out and the damage assessed and on Monday afternoon the body panels were back and Ian Marshall contacted me to tell me it was ready. ©Eurodragster.com "Everyone involved in the repair went above and beyond the call of duty and they are all gems: Jon Webster, Ian Marshall, Jeff and Belinda Bull, Martin and Ruth Curbishley and not least my Crew Chief Vince Pinhorn. I actually think Martin only did it to get one up on me and take the piss. After all, if we've got a Winnebago with an electric step, he gets one with two, and if we get a twenty eight-foot foot long trailer he gets a thirty-foot one. "I was really nervous on the Friday at the Easter Thunderball. But we had a team talk first and I did what Frank Hawley advised, a launch to sixty feet, then half track, and then a full pass. When I ran an 8.88 on Saturday morning, I was over the moon. I realise what a community drag racing is and who your friends are." Lazenby: Who needs turbos? 8th April: In a unique sponsorship deal Real Steel Street Eliminator racer Colin Lazenby has teamed up with soon-to-be RSSE competitor Martin Taylor for 2007. "Martin is putting together the finishing touches to his turbocharged split window '52 Beetle", says Colin. "I have known Martin, his madcap wheelstanding Fiat 500 Lil' Woper, and his immediate family for some time. We share an immense appreciation for each other's race hardware. We don't run turbos on the '56 - actually I freely admit that I don't know whether whether the things suck or blow - but Martin has supplied his turbos to a number of prominent racers and is able to specify turbos for almost any application. ©Eurodragster.com "Taylor Machine Services can also offer a full range of engineering services including CNC machining, I've seen some of Martin's billet machining and it really is first class - I look forward to this unique partnership and at the track I hope to lift the profile of the services available from Martin's company". You can find contact details on the Taylor Machine Services web site at www.taylormachine.co.uk or E-Mail [email protected]. Web site updates. 8th April: In the latest update to his exclusive Racer Blog, Dutch Top Fuel Dragster racer Lex Joon reports direct from his pit at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball where he is taking part in the Pro Fuel Shootout. You can check out Lex's Blog by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blog link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Our good buddy Patrik Jacobsson tells us that Jonas Torstensson went to the Custom Show in Jönkping and that his pictures can be found at www.racebilder.nu. Following his trip to South Africa's Tarlton Raceway as a guest of Brad Anassis UK Top Fuel Bike racer Ian King has posted a gallery of pictures from the event at www.kingracing.com/gossip_images/tarlton0307/index.htm. ©Eurodragster.com Colin Donisthorpe has updated his Fotopic site with a small gallery of pictures of yesterday's action at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball here at Santa Pod Raceway. You can check out Colin's pictures at colindonisthorpe.fotopic.net. UK Comp Eliminator rule change. 7th April: UK Comp Eliminator racers' attention is drawn to an amendment to the UK rule book which took effect on 1st April 2007. Page 12, Section 11.3.3 Competition Index Control (CIC) to read as follows: 11.3.3 Competition Index Control (CIC) In attempt to control runaway Index situations in Competition Eliminator, CIC will be in effect at all events. Any contestant running -0.50 or quicker during eliminations (not during qualifying or time trials) will have their index adjusted by the amount they exceed -0.50 for the following round of eliminations. Any competitor running -0.610 or greater in eliminations will cause their class Index to be permanently adjusted by an increment equal to the second decimal of the infraction, following the event as follows: ET under index Index adjustment 0.610-0.619 0.01 0.620-0.629 0.02 0.630-0.639 0.03 0.640-0.649 0.04 0.650-0.659 0.05 0.660-0.669 0.06 0.670-0.679 0.07 0.680-0.689 0.08 0.690-0.699 0.09 ...And so on ...And so on In cases where two cars of the same class are paired, the race is conducted on a heads-up basis, regardless of any CIC considerations. The current Competition Eliminator index list can be found on the www.dragracing.se. Top Fuel, new drivers for Eagle Racing. 6th April: Finland's Eagle Racing Comp Eliminator team is now a Comp Eliminator and Top Fuel Dragster as Janne Ahonen has announced that he is to contest this year's FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Championship in Rune Fjeld Motorsport's third car. Regular readers will recall that Janne gained his Top Fuel licence in one of Rune's dragsters last year. Former Top Methanol Dragster racer Jari Halinen will drive the Top Fueller at the Nitrolympx at Hockenheim. The car involved will be the Top Fueller formerly driven by Thomas Nataas. Thomas has moved to RFM's newest dragster whilst Siw Nystad remains in the car previously driven by Andy Carter. ©Eurodragster.com Eagle Racing PR Hannele Hoyden tells us that the team's two Comp Eliminator dragsters will have new drivers in 2007. Juuso Pykälistö, better known as a World Rally Championship racer, is to take over the seat of Janne's six-second ride whilst the team's own rookie Tero Tupala will drive Antti Horto's car. Antti will be taking a step back from driving and will give the newcomers the benefit of his experience (click on team picture at right for large version). You can find out more on the Eagle Racing web site at www.eagleracing.fi. Picture courtesy and ©Heikki Malinen, Promosport Welcome to Simpson. 6th April: We are very pleased to welcome Simpson Race Products on board as a sponsor of our News and Points Standings pages. "Since it was established by founder Bill Simpson in 1959, Simpson Performance Products has been the leading manufacturer of racing safety equipment and apparel to the motorsports community. Simpson believes in putting safety first and is dedicated to elevating the standards of racing safety through continuous development, refinement and testing. Simpson helmets and restraints are manufactured at the corporate headquarters, located in New Braunfels, Texas. In December 2006 Simpson opened their new state-of-the-art firesuit manufacturing facility and Simpson World Store are based in Harbor City, California. The sole distributor of Simpson products for the UK and Western Europe is Simpson UK at www.simpsonraceproducts.co.uk which operates from premises in Silverstone managed by GPR Direct. Marketing Manager Trevor Keir said, "We are delighted to be supporting UK drag racing via Eurodragster.com. We plan to have a stand at the Easter Thunderball and other major meetings at Santa Pod this year where racers and the public can inspect Simpson products first-hand". Simpson's dealer network numbers forty, including many retailers in the UK and also representation in Ireland, France, Holland, Portugal and Spain. ©Eurodragster.com In addition to helmets, gloves and shoes, Simpson market drag racing-specific products such as parachutes, firesuits and boots for the nitro classes, in-cockpit safety restraints and the revolutionary HANS device. It is an honour for us to welcome another high-profile company onto the sponsor roster of Eurodragster.com and we are very grateful to Trevor Keir and Simpson Race Products UK for their support which strengthens Eurodragster.com's position not just as the leading European drag racing web site but as a one-stop shop for products and services. B & H Autokraft join RSSE. 6th April: Real Steel Street Eliminator racer Ray Comer has been in touch to let us know that Trevor Hirst and John Betts of B&H Autokraft have joined the list of sponsors behind the worlds quickest, and fastest, pump gas street-legal class this season. "It's really exciting to have Trevor and John putting their considerable knowledge of the sport, and support, behind Street Eliminator", says Ray. "The sponsorship deal will not only give each round winner a cash prize but they have also very generously donated £500 worth of their services to the racer who puts in the most qualifying laps this season. That could be spent of dyno time on their new 1600 hp Dynamometer facility; crank grinding, cylinder head work or any of the other motorsport related services they offer. For details of their services check out their web site at www.bh-autokraft.com, or if you want to see what they can do in the flesh take a look at Steve Kellett's carbon-bodied Mustang. Honest, it's enough to make me swap to a Ford!" "Here at B & H Autokraft we have been involved with drag racing for many years having built and raced our own cars and latterly with the building and maintenance of many vehicles" added Trevor at B&H Autokraft. "Back in the early days we built and raced cars in the Pro Mod Class with our Chevrolet V8 powered Rover Fastback and Saloon. "Using our experience gained from the racing world we can offer all our customers a full range of engineering services from simple head skims to crank balancing and dyno testing. Our machine shop utilises Berco Block Boring Machine, Rottler HP6A Automatic Honing Machine, Rottler SF7M Block and Head Surfacing Machine, Serdi S3 Valve Seat & Guide Cutting Machine, Prince Crank Grinder, Sunnen DCB-750 Computerised Crank Balancer, Land and Sea 1600 HP Dynamometer. Check our web site for more details." Swift snippets. 6th April: Swedish Top Methanol Funny Car racer Leif Andréasson has announced that the team's ten-year association with Kamasa Tools has come to an end. You can read more on the team's official web site at www.andreassonmotorsports.com. ©Eurodragster.com Webster to drive for McDonalds. 5th April: UK Top Fuel Dragster team McDonald Racing have announced an association with joint Eurodragster.com webcam sponsor Webster Race Engineering. As part of this association, Jon Webster has taken over the driving seat of Stuart and Richard McDonald's Top Fuel Dragster, which was previously driven by Smax Smith, for the 2007 season. ©Eurodragster.com Jon is no stranger to Top Fuel having driven the Knight Racing Services Top Fueller to a best of 4.979 and he has experience of several other classes, most recently Real Steel Street Eliminator which he is contesting at this weekend's Autotrader Easter Thunderball with his WRE-built MG SV. You can find out more on the McDonald Racing web site at www.mcdonaldracing.co.uk. Joon: We can't wait. 5th April: Dutch Top Fuel Dragster racer Lex Joon and the MPM Top Fuel Racing team can't wait to go racing at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball. Lex and the guys have been working continuously on the car and their racing programme since January, but Lex told Eurodragster.com that everything is in place and that in terms of preparation it is the team's best season so far. "We've changed a lot of things to make the car better and more consistent", said Lex. "We proved at the European Finals that we can put together a consistent car and hurt nothing. Sebastian and I have been working on the second eighth for more consistent 300 mph passes. We also have a couple of new team members and this will be their first-ever drag race. They had not heard a Fuel engine before we fired it up." ©Eurodragster.com Lex said that he has a good feeling about the changes made to the dragster. "This is a test weekend in that there is a lot of new stuff on the car, but not in terms of making short passes", he said. "I have a good feeling about the changes and in fact about the whole weekend. Knowing Santa Pod the new surface will be OK, there are some good cars, and the performances will be OK. I expect a full house because plenty of fans will be eager to smell the nitro again." Even though the season has not yet started, the MPM team are already thinking about the latter part of 2007. "We have been invited to race in Australia, and we are also looking at racing in NHRA events at the end of the year", said Lex. "The car is full NHRA spec anyway, eighty five per cent nitro and the current spec tyres. Urs Erbacher is also looking at racing in the USA so maybe we'll go together and kick ass! As for the European season, I like Urs very much but we want some European records in the Netherlands." Lex added that he was badly affected by Eric Medlen's death. "I am still down now", he said. "I know it's part of the game but it lasts a long time." Feature: Paul Watson. 5th April: For the latest in our occasional series of features in association with John Woolfe Racing Simon travelled to the premises of Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor DynoSpeed Developments to interview Paul Watson, car racer turned bike racer turned Pro Mod Team Manager and one of the very few racers to win a Championship on both four wheels and two wheels. ©Eurodragster.com Simon asked Paul about his racing career on various numbers of wheels, his various rides, DynoSpeed Developments and the racers supported by the company, Paul's thoughts on Super Street Bike, his new job as Team Manager for Ray White's Lethal Zephyr Pro Mod, winning the James Edgar Memorial Trophy, and more. Click here to read our Feature, or click on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Out of the chrysalis... 5th April: UK Super Gas racer Paul Spiers has been in touch with another Thank You, this time to Mark, Kurt and Claire of Electromec Services and Fabrication (02380 619211) for transforming his car into a Super Gasser. "It all started out as a quick job, to connect up my new CC3 Command Centre throttle stop, as Mark is possibly the best auto electrician on the south coast", says Paul. "No more than a couple of evenings' work! ©Eurodragster.com "Then Mark started looking at the car, saying "If we did this" and "If we changed that" and before you looked round Mark and Crew Chief Kurt turned a very average car into a much more competitive one. They realigned the complete drive line, fabricated new engine and gearbox mounts and brackets, fitted a front motor plate, redesigned the alternator mounting, manufactured and fitted twin Optima battery trays, re-positioned the fuel lines, pump and filters, the list is endless. Mark and Kurt, still not satisfied, decided to fit a parachute which involved some really good tube work on Marks CNC tube former, coupled with some really excellent tig and mig welding. "Now for good measure they are going to be at the track to advise and set the car up in its first season in Super Gas. My apologies to Claire for taking up so much of Mark's valuable time in the name of drag racing. I look forward to the return of Electromec Racing and Fabrication in their Super Comp Ford Sapphire later in the 2007 season." Swift snippets. 5th April: UK National Championship racers are reminded that entry forms for the Springspeed national drag races at Shakespeare County Raceway on 5th-7th May are still available from the Downloads page of the APIRA web site at www.apira.org.uk. APIRA officials would also like to remind racers to check the appropriate entry fees before sending their completed forms to Shakespeare County Raceway, Long Marston Airfield, Long Marston, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 8LL as some entries received are incomplete - these racers will be notified in due course. Sweden's JD Racing team is on the way to Santa Pod for this weekend's Thunderball, says Christer Gustavsson. Jonas Dantanus will be licencing in his ex-Malmgren Pro Stock Grand Am using one of Michael's spare engines. Christer's daughter Jennifer has moved up to Jonas' Championship-winning Super Street Challenger and Jonas' son Pontus will be racing in Junior Dragster. "We will arrive at the track on Thursday", says Christer. Our Eurodragsternorth.com partner Tezzii will be spending the weekend with JD Racing and will be posting reports from Jonas' pit. Chris Orthodoxou says that his Super Pro ET Dodge Viper will be on display at the Wheels Day Rod and Custom show at Rushmoor Arena near Aldershot tomorrow (Friday). "The Viper will be part of the Technasales Specialist Tool Suppliers trade stand", says Chris. Technasales, based in Farnborough, supply professional quality precision tools and workshop equipment to various fields of industry and I'm extremely pleased to announce that they will be supporting me during 2007. Technasales can be contacted on 01252 547709/511448 or check out their web site at www.technasales.co.uk." UK Junior Dragster racer Matthew Seamarks says that the Gingerman Racing Junior Modified Advanced Dragster will this year be sponsored by PanelCraft (paint), The Curry Garden, Motorshack (fuel), Royal Purple UK (oil), and Maximus Design (decals). "We would like to say well done to Scott Hauser who laid down the first 89 mph Junior Dragster pass outside USA, and good luck to everyone in 2007", says Matthew. Des Taylor is putting together a low-buck bracket car for American Super Stock at York Raceway but needs the help of Eurodragster.com readers to complete the job. "It's a 1955 Buick Super, and so horrible and ugly it looks really good", says Des. "I've fitted the running gear from a 1970 Thunderbird but I don't think the stock trans will cut it. I need a race-spec Ford C6 automatic transmission and high-stall converter for which I will exchange five assorted stock American transmissions and torque converters". If you can help then please drop Des a line at [email protected] or via his newly-updated web site at www.huddersfieldexhaustcentre.co.uk. ©Eurodragster.com Luke Bennett has been in touch to let us know that the blown-alcohol Topolino NFAA altered driven by dad Frank is now to be named Relentless. "The car is all ready for the Thunderball", says Luke, "just a few sponsor stickers to go on at the track. We're crossing our fingers and hoping for a good year. Good luck and safe runs to all racers during 2007." Andy Rudd has started to offer graphic design work and tells us that you can see an example of his work on the trailer of Mike Lacey's Metamorphosis Pro ET Camaro at Santa Pod this weekend. You can contact Andy Rudd's Photographics on 07903 810417. Christmas in April. 5th April: Wayne Corbitt tells us that sponsor Borla Performance Industries have come through for UK Super Gas and Junior Dragster team Panther Racing UK. "FedEx turned up at my house first thing yesterday morning to deliver some goodies", says Wayne. "I ripped open the boxes, sellotape, staples and shipping documents everywhere, thinking Christmas had come early The team were meant to be loading the cars and making final preparations for the journey up to Santa Pod for the Easter Thunderball, but having seen the mufflers and tips it was well worth the wait. ©Eurodragster.com "We're really looking to make Borla proud of our efforts and results this season. When you're involved with a partner like Borla, who support several NHRA teams including Brandon Bernstein and the Bud King Team, you know you're onto a winner! "All the team at Panther Racing UK are really looking forward to seeing everyone at the track. Please take the time to visit us in the pits, you are more than welcome." Ready for launch. 4th April: We are again indebted to Micke of Patrik Pers Motorsport for sending us these pictures of the Speedghost Fuel Funny Car after its completion at Knut Söderquist's workshop in Åstorp (click on any picture for large version): ©Eurodragster.com Patrik will be making licencing passes and then entering the Pro Fuel Shootout at this weekend's Autotrader Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway. Funny business in the Square. 4th April: Swiss Top Methanol Funny Car racer Dezsoe Krivan tells us that not everyone who is not racing at Santa Pod Raceway this weekend is sitting at home doing nothing. "Krivan Drag Racing will shake the other end of Europe performing some show runs with our Toyota Celica Funny Car on the runway of Tököl Airport in Budapest on Sunday", says Dezsoe. "On Friday and Saturday we will have some engine warm-up sessions at several famous places in the center of Budapest such as the Hero Square, very similar to Red Square in Moscow! ©Eurodragster.com "We are a bit anxious, because people have been arrested doing funny things on Red Square. I hope they know that a Funny Car also can be serious! "We will show the Hungarian people that the western European drag racing community is ready and willing to spread our activities to the new countries in Europe." You can find out more at www.futam.hu. Swansong for the Fat Boys? 4th April: Real Steel Street Eliminator UK Champion Ian Hook and the FB Racing team are looking forward to their first outing of the year at this weekend's Autotrader Easter Thunderball. The team's eight-second road-legal '34 Ford hot rod will be proudly displaying number one on the spill plates of the rear spoiler for the first time on the race track. "I did drive the car to last year's awards ceremony with our new race number but this will be the first time I'll have run the number at a Street Eliminator round and I'm very proud to do", said Ian. Fatty says that we should not look for an early return to the car's 8.1 second form. "We're still running the motor Tim Jackson kindly lent us after our meltdown last year", he said. "It performed well with a no-adder 10.02 at the Finals but is some way off our old 545, although we will be giving it a sniff of gas to try and get us in the nines". The team hope that performances will pick up in mid-year when they will début the new 605 inch motor for which they are currently collecting parts. "The increase in displacement won't give us a lot but the redesign of the piston crown that the increase in bore size allows will give us the ability to make the most of our Highpower nitrous system", said Fatty. "We're really looking forward to trying it out towards the end of May." The team is also excited to be competing against the very best European street legal drag racers. 2007 looks set to be an awesome year for Street Eliminator. The line up for the first meeting looks stunning with four Street Eliminator Champions (and both European and World Champions amongst that number), a whole bunch of eight-second cars - welcome aboard Wilf! - the return of some famous old faces and new cars and new drivers. This could be SEUK's best year for a long time. The team is very pleased to announce the addition of a new sponsor for FB Racing. A big thanks goes to Gary and Linda of Alpha Tank Services who are specialists in the supply, installation or relocation of oil and fuel storage tanks. Support for the 2006 Champions also comes from A & E Fire Equipment, Messier-Dowty, www.hotrodtees.co.uk, RS Auto Services, Len Francis, the Everest Restaurant and, of course, the FB Associates. Despite the support of their sponsors the big surprise from Ian and the team is that this is likely to be their last season. "Unfortunately the time has come to hang up my racing boots", sais Fatty. "I've tried very hard to secure increased sponsorship for the team but, as any racer knows it ain't easy and whilst very grateful for the support I have received it wasn't enough to allow us to continue racing. With the engine damage we had last year a lot of expensive parts were needed to continue. Our relatively small budget means that this season is being financed largely by plastic and that will have to be repaid before the end of the year from the sale of the car (and everything else!). I have loads of Thank Yous and acknowledgements yet to be made but I'll save that for another day. "In the meantime the '34 (and much, much more) will be officially up for sale mid-season, but if you want to get in early please feel free to get in touch with me beforehand at [email protected]. Alternately if you'd like to help keep this team afloat, get your company's name on Europe's quickest and fastest street rod, and receive some excellent exposure as well please get in touch. I'd be very pleased to talk to you." ©Eurodragster.com Laffin all the way to the eighth. 4th April: Carolynne Campbell and the Laffin-gas Rocket Dragster team, having spent the off-season re-designing, re-engineering and re-wiring the car, went to Shakespeare County Raceway at the weekend hoping for a quiet day's testing. When the team arrived they found that 174 other racers had had the same idea and so they were testing in public again. "We have installed an all-new throttle control system which gives us full throttle control - not easy with rockets!", says Carolynne. "We'd gone up to twenty four volt systems with capacitor discharge to fire the pyros to avoid the voltage drops that plagued us last year, and generally applied all that we'd learned during last season. So there shouldn't be any unknowns, right? Wrong! We had ordered the same fireworks as last year, opened the box and out came something completely different. They were noticeably smaller. We checked and double-checked and were assured they were the same. Oh no they weren't: the manufacturer had changed them and our supplier hadn't been informed. It was now too late to go on the hunt for a more powerful substitute. So a new unknown was thrown in at the very last moment. Ah, the joys of rocket science! "The team is now a well-oiled machine, and the car was made ready and gassed up with no input from me. Glenn Stockton came along for his usual thorough scrutineering job and all the new systems were explained and demonstrated. I had serious butterflies in the old tummy as I walked down to the start, not because I was particularly worried about the drive, but very worried about the effectiveness of the pyros. A failure now would really hurt the project. They did struggle, only lighting three rockets, but she still went like stink. So when we get four lit it should be an interesting ride. ©Eurodragster.com "I shut off just past halfway, as I am still learning about the car at speed and we promised to take it carefully. She really pushed hard, and the further and faster she goes the more she accelerates…quite the opposite of a traction car. So a good, mostly successful, start to the year and, of course, we were delighted. "Now we're working on some bigger and hotter pyros, the last link in the chain. Next time out? Hopefully we'll get a full pass on four rockets. And that should be a very quick run! After three very hard years, Laffin-gas is showing what she can do - and it's going to be a great show." Enter the proper race engine. 4th April: UK Super Gas racer Paul Spiers has been in touch to say a big Thank You to engine builder and Eurodragster.com Swap Meet sponsor Jeff Bull for transforming his tame 9:1 540 ci World Products street engine into something a little more meaty. ©Eurodragster.com "In Jeff's words "You've got a proper race engine now boy"!", says Paul. "It's now 13.5:1 and producing some real power around the 760 hp. Jeff also supplied me with a new matched Transmission Specialties torque converter. With Jeff's engine build quality, it's the attention to detail and the small things that make it all work and keep Jeff Bull at the top of the tree. It was also good to see the new engine building facility with state of the art balancing machine. It must be the cleanest workshop I have ever seen. "Once again, thanks Jeff." Look out boys, Anna's in town. 4th April: The weather was to be both friend and foe to any racers keen to get back into the driving seat of their respective rides at the Test and Tune at Shakespeare County Raceway at the weekend, with glorious sunshine on one hand and blustery winds on the other - not ideal conditions. The wind and bright sunshine were to prove absolutely no problem for Anna Stanley, Panther Racing UK's Junior Modified Dragster racer. "With eager expectation Anna made her initial pass" said Team Manager Trevor Graves. "An excellent run, clearly proving she had lost none of last season's racing prowess. We couldn't have hoped for a better start. The car is spot on, Anna is spot on! She's started as she means to go on - focused, determined and definitely back in the groove. Anna gave us a flat out run to bed the in engine and set some excellent reaction times. She should be very pleased - I know I am." ©Eurodragster.com "Anna made a further three passes during the day proving the first run was no fluke!" added Anna's dad and team-mate Conrad, himself a former National Champion. "Panther Racing UK are looking forward to the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod. With today's consistently good start line reactions and excellent ETs Anna will be sleeping soundly." Anna has the final word: "Sleep tight boys". Up to £200 for Perfect performance. 4th April: This weekend's Autotrader Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway is the first eligible event for the 2007 Eurodragster.com Perfect Awards Scheme and at least £100 and potentially £200 is on offer for perfect performance. The Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award of £50 will be awarded to the first racer this weekend to record a perfect Reaction Time of 0.000. The Award is open to all classes and is available during qualifying or eliminations, but will only be awarded for the first Perfect Light of the weekend. The Perfect Light Award is jointly presented by Eurodragster.com and high-performance hose and fitting manufacturer Speedflow whose web site you can find at www.speedflow.co.uk. Decals are not necessary for the Perfect Light Award but if you would like to carry Eurodragster.com decals then they will be available from Simon, Roger or Tog at Santa Pod Raceway this weekend. ©Eurodragster.com The Eurodragster.com/LA Racing Parts Perfect ET Award of £50 will be awarded to the first racer to run to the thousandth on their index or dial-in during qualifying or eliminations. The Award is open to all ET classes, all Super Classes, Junior Dragster, 9.50 Bike, all VW classes and the Wild Bunch and is available during qualifying or eliminations (Junior Dragster during eliminations only), but will only be awarded for the first Perfect ET of the weekend. The Perfect ET Award is jointly presented by Eurodragster.com and performance supplier LA Racing Parts whose web site you can find at www.laracingparts.com. In addition, should the winner of the Perfect ET Award go on to win the event then a bonus of £100 will be paid by LA Racing Parts. Eurodragster.com/LA Racing Parts decals must be carried on both sides of the vehicle to qualify for the Perfect ET Award. As with other contingency schemes the decals will be available at the signing-on office at Santa Pod Raceway this weekend. Although Santa Pod Raceway's timing system now works to four decimal places, the Perfect Award Scheme will continue to work to three decimals. The fourth decimal place will be truncated and not rounded up or down. IDRHOF honours 2007 inductees. 4th April: Roger was privileged to be a guest at the seventeenth annual Banquet and Induction Ceremony for the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame at the Gainesville Paramount Resort in Gainesville, Florida back in February (right, click on picture for large version): ©Eurodragster.com The IDRHOF is closely associated with the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing based just outside Orlando, Florida and it was their board of selectors that chose this year's ten inductees. The list portrays a plethora of drag racing talents which included Kenny Bernstein team owner and racer of Funny Car and Top Fuel machines, Frank Bradley long time Top Fuel racer and now retired Crew Chief, Don Hampton T/F, F/C and Altered driver and manufacturer of the Hampton Blowers, Ted Jones track owner, IHRA Vice President and Race Director, the late Jim McLennan, driver, speed shop and track owner, Dale Pulde fabled Funny Car driver, Don Schumacher legendary Funny Car driver and now multi team owner, Dave Uyehara driver and well known chassis builder, the late Dave Zeuschel engine builder and finally Darrell G. Zimmermann driver and NHRA official. Erbacher: Pull faces, I don't care. 3rd April: Swiss Top Fuel Dragster racer Urs Erbacher is looking to take up where he left off at the end of the 2006 season. Urs set new European ET and speed records at last year's FIA European Finals and will be making his first outing of 2007 at this weekend's Autotrader Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway. "Over the winter we have made the mandatory changes for the regulations, and we have changed the timers", says team member Andrea Wucher. "Last year we had to run the pneumatic timers, as the electronic equipment we already had on the dragster was not allowed in Europe. This year we are allowed to run the electronic timers and you could not hold Horst back to replace the pneumatic system. The electronic timers are much more precise and easier to handle. It is a good thing which will make Top Fuel racing more consistent." This weekend Urs will be facing off against the Fuel Funny Cars which will mean waiting whilst the FCs get a head start. Andrea says that Urs won't find it easy since he can hardly hold back when there is a Top Fueller in the other lane. "Urs is an experienced driver and he is used to focusing on what he is doing", says Andrea. "Urs told me "I will sit there on the tree and focus on my side, as I always do. What happens in the other lane doesn't interest me at all. The other guy can pull faces or put his dragster or Funny Car into stage the wrong way round, I just don't care. Before I raced on a Pro tree I had to handle this situation at every round, so it is nothing new to me. Everbody knows I get pretty angry when I see a car's rear end. So I will just think about overtaking it the whole 402 metres and when I've done it you will see the smile coming back to my face". "Glenn Mikres will be with us at the Thunderball to get the mechanics fit again for the new season and to get most out of the first runs in 2007. We are looking forward to a great weekend with all of our teams on the track: Top Fuel, Supertwin, Destroyer Harley and even our youngest teammate Noah Stutz with his Junior Dragster. As Fast Freddy is also running at the Easter Thunderball with the ex-Championship Top Methanol FC I am sure you will see some of the Erbacher crew giving him a helping hand if he asks for it." ©Eurodragster.com Andrea says that Urs' plan for 2007 is to contest the full FIA Tour and that we have known him long enough to know that the plan is to win the races and win the Championship. "The best moment of the weekend is seeing Urs going mad on top of the podium and the crew going wild", she says. "That is the moment we all work towards for the whole weekend." Whilst we were at it, we asked Andrea what Urs thinks about the resurgence of Fuel Funny Car and whether it threatened Top Fuel Dragster. "We like the growth of the class", says Andrea. "It is good to see them race and the crowd love them. But you need at least six Fuel FCs to have some competition. Four is not enough, as it is boring to have two rounds on race day. We will see how things develop, but as long as the Top Fuel Dragsters get quicker and more consistent every year the class will not be affected. There are always ups and downs in the numbers of cars in each class. There were times when we had three or four Top Fuellers running and last year we had up to thirteen teams entered. The class will never die. Some Top Fuel racers will switch to Fuel FC, and some will come to Top Fuel, but there is room for both." Feature: Heaven and Hell Racing. 3rd April: For the latest in our occasional series of features in association with John Woolfe Racing we travelled to South London to talk to UK Pro ET racers Carla Pittau and Rick McCann who have campaigned the Heaven and Hell 1970 Camaro RS since 1993 and who in that time have won three National Championships, four Club Championships and have finished in the Top Three of the UK National Championships since 2001. ©Eurodragster.com In a wide-ranging and humorous interview we asked Carla and Rick about their racing history, the history of the Camaro, how they decide who drives, the secret to winning Championships, why they think Pro ET is so popular, their future plans, and more. We could not quite bring ourselves to ask who wears the trousers but maybe you will will find the answer in the interview anyway. Click here to view the Feature, or click on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Frost on the gas. 3rd April: UK Real Steel Street Eliminator racer Andy Frost has announced a new sponsorship deal for the Red Victor Racing Team. "Hilton Auto Gas Centre is a company local to us but who are national in their outlook and very relevant to the drag racing/V8 scene", says Andy. "The company specialises in gas conversions for V8 trucks, cars, 4x4s etc. It is a small but very customer-oriented company which prides itself on top quality workmanship. ©Eurodragster.com "We all know everyone who owns a V8 loves to drive it but winces when it comes to fill up time. If this is you then maybe you're aware of the incredible which can be made, particularly on petrol V8s. Figures of 9p-11p per mile can be achieved with the conversions, which is staggering in comparison to the figures without gas! "I will have comprehensive information available with me at the track or you can give Hilton Auto Gas a call on 01902 866266 with all your details and they'll be glad to help. The team thanks everyone at Hilton Auto Gas for supporting drag racing and seeing it as a growing sport." Swift snippets. 3rd April: This year's Pro Fuel Shootout at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway will again be run on an index basis. Top Fuellers and Fuel FCs will have a class index which will also decide the handicap on the Christmas Tree. There will be a penalty for non-appearance. The Top Fuel Dragster and Fuel FC with the best aggregate performance against index after three runs will face off in the final on Monday afternoon. Steve and Jayne Wells of the UK's Team Orange Super Gas team were pleased with their weekend's testing."We had help from the Motlers, Harry for towing duties, support from Ian at Exaustwrapshop.com, and advice from Steve Clark of Eurodragster.com sponsor Nimbus Motorsport", says Steve. "We are on a very steep learning curve as we have never had anything to do with methanol or mechanical injection. We started off very rich with just a launch and the clutch set very soft. The Pop felt really strong. On the final run, still with the clutch very soft and backing off about three quarter track, we netted a 9.88. The best ET we achived with the carburettor was 9.70, so we went home very happy. A few things to sort out and we will be back for the Easter Thunderball." We must be getting good at April Fools, since Sunday's stories engendered next to no response. The April Fools were the story about Andy Carter testing a Top Fuel drag boat, and the Swift Snippet about UK journalists refusing to give coverage to any vehicle without a clearly-visible race number. The drag boat story was Andy's own idea and he even went as far as to get permission from Les Downey of sponsor Lucas Oil UK and Europe to take his name in vain, then we did the rest. We have Sharkman to thank for the suggestion about race numbers although this is in fact a constant source of frustration for photographers and so could afford to be taken seriously. ©Eurodragster.com Our good buddy Sharkman tells us that he will have to miss this weekend's Autotrader Easter Thunderball as he has been unwell for a while and his doctor has prescribed complete rest. Shark says that he will be tuned in to our live Event Coverage and that he will be in touch the moment he spots a typo or factual inaccuracy (I guess that means we won't hear from him, then - Ed). Make sure you get that rest Shark. Look after #1 and get well soon, we'll all still be here when you're back fit and healthy. Martin Gleadow has been in touch to ask us to say a big Happy Birthday to Time Machine Racing Crew Chief Darren Galloway. "Darren is recovering well after his recent trip to hospital", says Martin. "He has his canister of nitro and will use it if he needs to!". Have a good day Darren. Martin adds that 2007 is the fortieth anniversary of the Gleadow family's entry into drag racing. "In 1967 the Gleadow Brothers started racing their Pop called The Mangler which was soon renamed Motor Psycho", says Martin. "The name lives on today in our 1934 altered which is receiving finishing touches before returning to the track at the Easter Thunderball this weekend." Web site updates. 3rd April: Peter Donaldson, who provided the photographs from Shakespeare County Raceway for our Event Coverage of the UK Test Weekend, has now updated his web site with the full set of pictures from the Test and Tune at Shakespeare County Raceway. You can find Peter's pictures at peterdonaldson5305.fotopic.net. MT sponsor UK Championships. 2nd April: Mickey Thompson Tires have posted a prize fund of £25000 for the 2007 UK National Drag Racing Championship and the MSA British Pro Modified Drag Racing Championship. The Ohio-based company's contingency support for racers in USA is awesome and is now bigger and better in the UK. Mickey Thompson can see the great potential of UK racers and the Championship as it grows and strengthens each year. £300 will be awarded to the winner and £150 to the runner-up in Super Modified, Super Pro ET, Pro ET, Super Comp, Super Gas and Super Street at all seven rounds of the UK National Championships: 6th-9th April: Easter Thunderball, Santa Pod Raceway 5th-7th May: Spring Speed Festival, Shakespeare County Raceway 25th-28th May: FIA Main Event, Santa Pod Raceway 16th-17th June: SPRC Summernationals, Santa Pod Raceway 25th-27th August: Open Sports Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway 6th-9th September: FIA European Finals, Santa Pod Raceway 29th-30th September: UK National Finals, Santa Pod Raceway Mickey Thompson will also support the MSA British Drag Racing Championship for Pro Modified. Mickey Thompson ET Drag slicks have recently propelled blown methanol-burning doorslammers into the 5.9s in the USA, so it was a natural choice for the company to support the pinnacle of British Drag Racing Championships. £800 will be awarded to the winner and £400 to the runner-up at the five MSA British Championship rounds at Santa Pod Raceway: 6th-9th April: Easter Thunderball, Santa Pod Raceway 25th-28th May: FIA Main Event, Santa Pod Raceway 16th-17th June: SPRC Summernationals, Santa Pod Raceway 6th-9th September: FIA European Finals, Santa Pod Raceway 29th-30th September: UK National Finals, Santa Pod Raceway To qualify for the Mickey Thompson contingency racers must use Mickey Thompson ET drag slicks and carry Mickey Thompson decals on both sides of their car. Proof of purchase from an official UK Mickey Thompson dealer will be needed to support your claim which must be submitted to LA Racing Parts. European racers visiting Santa Pod Raceway can pre-order tyres from LA Racing Parts and have them delivered to Santa Pod Raceway by LA Racing Parts so that they can also qualify for this contingency programme. LA Racing Parts can be contacted on 01803 554308 (outside the UK +1803 554308) or E-Mail [email protected]. ©Eurodragster.com Dutch Championship on tour. 2nd April: After losing their temporary track in Drachten last year, The Netherlands' eXplosion drag racing club has been very busy trying to find a location for this year. Some were very promising, but the search is over for 2007 and there will be no races in The Netherlands this year. The season is starting and a calendar had to be set but thankfully eXplosion has found other tracks all around Europe including Santa Pod and Shakespeare County Raceways which have provided them with the chance to have their own National Championship including Super Pro ET not only in the UK but also at Vandel in Denmark. The Dutch Championship is built around the following races: 28th-29th April: Test and Tune, Luckau 5th-7th May: Speed Festival, Shakespeare County Raceway (includes Super Pro ET) 25th-28th May: FIA Main Event, Santa Pod Raceway (includes Super Pro ET) 16th-17th June: St. Truiden (Super Gas, SB, SSB and USB, ST and SST) 22nd-24th June: Vandel (includes Super Pro ET) 29th June-2nd July: Grand Nationals, Luckau 7th-8th July: St. Truiden 13th-15th July: Wittstock 25th-27th August: Open Sports Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway (includes Super Pro ET) 29th-30th September: UK National Finals, Santa Pod Raceway (includes Super Pro ET) A racer's three best results will be used for the result at the end of the season. By counting equally, the rest of the races will be important to encourage and reward eXplosion members who take part in more than three events. eXplosion would like to thank all of the organisers for embracing them and providing the chance to do what they like best: drag race! eXplosion are still hard at work to find a location within The Netherlands and hope to announce some good news in the future. For mroe information check out the Club's web site at www.explosion.nl. ©Eurodragster.com Note to self: check the driver. 2nd April: Swedish Fuel Funny Car owner and tuner Kenneth Lorentzon had to make a last-minute change to his new Fuel FC after driver Håkan Fällström came for a fitting. Håkan will be licencing at this weekend's Autotrader Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway and will enter the Pro Fuel Shootout once licencing is complete. "Håkan came to sit in the car and we found we would have to raise the roll cage by an inch and a half - he's the wrong shape!", Kenneth told Eurodragster.com. "The body was with the vinyl company when the roll cage was raised to we couldn't check that it still fit." The car came from fellow Swede Joachim Dahlmgren who had only made a few passes. "I got a very good deal, it was right on what I could afford", said Kenneth. "It's a 1990s McKinney chassis with a 2001 Dodge Avenger body - the last model which actually looks like a car! We've put in a brand new rear end but the engine is from the Top Fueller which Håkan drove last year but with a new set-up and we've gone back to a four-disc clutch. The clutch set-up is different with a Funny Car, it locks up further out. This should be a 5.0 car - that's what I'm looking for. If Urs are Lex are running well this weekend then we will need to run 5.10 or 5.15. The difference between Top Fuel and Funny Car right now is way too big since the tuning differences are not that much." ©Eurodragster.com Kenneth thinks that Håkan will make a great Funny Car driver. "He was great in the Pro Mod and he is used to steering!", he said. "I have very high hopes. Håkan has brought all of his crew from the Top Fueller apart from the bottom end guy who has come from my team." The car will be sponsored by Pennzoil, Man Trucking, Decor and Design who are doing the vinyl work on the car and the truck, and Snap On Northside Tools. Kenneth said that he hopes to run at the FIA Main Event and that other dates are lined up at Sundsvall and Piteå. "With luck we will do five or six races this year", he said. Bell is back. 2nd April: UK Super Pro ET racer Ashley Bell is all set to return to the track at this weekend's Autotrader Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway after finding time to move house and have another child, son Hudson, with partner Mariee (right). "We moved to Cambridgeshire last October", says Ashley. "After building a new garage for the Cobra, I got in touch with Daryl at Fastco Autos USA to see if he could put together a new engine for me. After much deliberation we came up with a 565 ci Chevy engine. Unfortunately due to the time it has taken to build and ship the engine, it will not be installed for the Easter meeting. ©Eurodragster.com "I contacted Andy 'Fred' Hone to ask for help in revamping the Small Block, so that I could compete at the Easter Thunderball. Although Andy was busy putting together Jerry Charles' engine as well as building his own Ford Scorpio for Super Modified, he came to my rescue. The new paint job will have to wait, so it is business as usual. I look forward to racing against the guys and gals new and old in Super Pro ET. "The Small Block will be up for sale after the Easter Thunderball, complete carb to pan for £4800 firm. After the Easter Meeting the small block will be up for sale, complete Carb to Pan £4,800.00 firm. If you are interested you can speak to me at Easter or E-Mail me at [email protected]." Turbo's bendy butterfly. 2nd April: UK Supertwin racer Ian Turburville says that his weekend testing at Santa Pod was hard work, but that he was pleased with the outcome which included a new Personal Best speed: We spent all day saturday rebuilding the top end so didn't see the track, then didn't sleep all night because of the wind trying to kidnap my awning! The new clutch was always going to be a stab in the dark at the first attempt, and it did blow the tyre away on the cold track but it cleared the cobwebs. I shut it down on the second attempt for a simple fuel leak. Softened everyhting up just as the track got better and a very easy 7.7 gave my best ever terminal speed of 184 mph, great! We put some clutch back in it for the third attempt but it was really too cold for normally aspirated nitro and as we tried to start the motor it sneezed back through the injector and bent the butterfly double, oops! ©Eurodragster.com A good weekend though, and we start this season exactly where we left off last season so I am happy. Brum and Steve were a great help and we will soon be back in the routine. The Santa Pod staff were really helpful and I would like to thank them for their efforts. The new improvements to the facility are coming on in leaps and bounds. See you at Easter for the real fun! Cracking up early in the season. 2nd April: The weekend's Test and Tune at Shakespeare County Raceway turned out to be more than a shakedown for the freshly-built 8.5 litre engine in Trevor Kitney's Kiss My RS Pro ET Escort. "After spending Saturday morning chasing an ignition problem, all seemed well", says Trevor. "We've done a huge amount of work to the Enderle injection, and it was nice to see it coming together and making power. Saturday's full-monty rolling burnout showed massive potential and no shortfall of power, but an oil leak forced us to shut down before making a pass. ©Eurodragster.com "The oil leak was nothing more than a badly fitted rocker cover gasket - the problem with doing all your own work is that there's no-one else to blame! - but on re-starting the engine it was obvious that all was not well as the left-hand bank was pumping out water quicker than a Thames dredger. Removing the cylinder head in double-quick time, thanks to the team work of family Marie, Eleanor and Brian, revealed a crack running down number five bore of the freshly built 512, and a section missing from the piston crown. But all is not lost! Thanks to an amazing offer of a replacement block from Nigel at UK Blowers we can at least see a return to the track before the end of the season. We really can't thank him enough." Swift snippets. 2nd April: We will bring you more from the Erbacher Racing pit on tomorrow's news update, but team member Andrea Wucher tells us that US tuner Glenn Mikres will again be working on Urs Erbacher's Midland Oil-sponsored Top Fuel Dragster at this weekend's Autotrader Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway. Although Santa Pod Raceway's timing system now works to four decimal places, please note that the Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award and the Eurodragster.com/LA Racing Parts Perfect ET Award will still work to three decimal places. The fourth place will be truncated, not rounded up. There will be more news about the Perfect Awards scheme later this week. UK Sportsman ET racer Nigel Holland says that his first outing in his 'ave a go Racing Mustang was a blast. "It's been three months of hard work to get the car ready and I wouldn't have done it without my good friend Graham Dale from DriveCars, thanks Graham", says Nigel. "The day started of with a lot of wheelspin. I tried not to punch it too hard but it didn't help. Vic Amato shouted at me across the track 'Let some air out'. After taking his advice and reducing the back tyres pressure down to 10 psi I started to get better traction. Warming the tires up with a burnout definitely did the trick. My best time 14.90 but I think low fifteens will most likely be the dial in time". You can find out more at www.aveagoracing.co.uk. Adam Charnley also had a good weekend, setting a new personal best of 13.31/101.35 in his Legend. "I just need slicks now", says Adam. "I am looking into getting those this week. Slicks will hopefully give me a bit more consistancy and better acceleration." Andy of Never Again Racing got in touch to let us know that the attendance of Victoria Highams' 1968 Nova at Shakespeare County Raceway at the weekend was an even tighter thing than our end-day report supposed. "I spent all day Friday working on the car and trying to put a final tune on everything including fitting the Hauser prop shaft", says Andy. "The car was literally completed to a state in which it could run five minutes before it was loaded on to the trailer! Such is life and such is the last push. The car is still lacking some final refinements such as the final bonnet fix but we had set our target for the weekend so début it did albeit in a 99% state. I hope you agree she is a beautiful thing." ©Eurodragster.com UK Real Steel Street Eliminator racer Wilf Stacey had a few Thank Yous after his eight-second pass in testing on Saturday. "Thank you to Peter, Murray and Charles at Real Steel for the engine, and thanks also to Webster Race Engineering", said Wilf. "I am also grateful to my crew Richard and Matt and to my family Diane, Ryan and Shivy for their backing. Finally thank you to all the staff and crew at Santa Pod who are always helpful and accommodating." Des Taylor asked us to say a double Congratulations to UK Super Pro ET racer Mark Flavell both on reaching the half-ton last week and on running a brace of six-second passes at Santa Pod on Saturday. "A big well done to all", says Des and we second that on both counts. Our readers come through, again. 2nd April: Many thanks to those readers who responded so quickly to Stephen Talbot's call for help here on Eurodragster.com this morning. The Talbot Racing team now have a vehicle to tow their trailer courtesy of Eurodragster.com News sponsor Gold RV. "Crewman Matthew and I are currently on our way south to Gold RV as Derek Flynn has very kindly offered us the use of one of his motorhomes to tow the trailer to the track and back home afterwards", says Stephen. "We would like to say a Talbot-sized Thank You to Derek and Gold RV for their help. ©Eurodragster.com "The team and I have been blown away by the response to our appeal for help. It really does sum up everything that is great about drag racing and the people involved in it." We second that but then we knew that our readers would come through as they always do. Consider yourselves patted on the back. Whilst we are on the Thank Yous, even after all these years we are still surprised and grateful for the response to our American Car Imports-sponsored Event Coverage, in this case of the weekend's test sessions at Santa Pod and Shakespeare County Raceways. We have had a number of complimentary E-Mails and calls which are much appreciated. Those who noticed the new (and more frequently-updated) Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam struggling to cope with the unaccustomed direct sunlight at Santa Pod will be pleased to hear that we are already scouting out a new location which won't be in the line of fire of the reflection from the track surface. Web site updates. 2nd April: Graham Rice has updated his photographic site with a number of pictures from Saturday's Peak Performance Day at Santa Pod Raceway. You can check out Graham's great pictures at www.gjrphotography.fotopic.net. ©Eurodragster.com Next up with pictures from the Peak Performance Day is our good friend Sharkman who has posted some one hundred and eighty pictures at www.topendtales.com Finally for Saturday we have Jamie Dyks whose shots from Santa Pod raceway can be found at www.freewebs.com/topnitro. UK Test Weekend coverage. 1st April: The UK drag racing season starts next week at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway and racers have plenty of scope to test as both Santa Pod and Shakespeare County Raceways are hosting test sessions. Eurodragster.com will be reporting from both tracks in association with American Car Imports. Roger and Tog are at Santa Pod Raceway to cover the weekend's Peak Performance Day and Run What You Brung. We will be posting frequently-updated reports on the on-track action together with a photo gallery at the end of each day. Some forty racers are lined up for the Peak Performance Day ranging from Pro Mod to Sportsman ET and Top Fuel Bike to Super Street Bike. Peter is at Shakespeare County Raceway to photograph both days of the Test and Tune and our good friend Jerry Cookson will be providing end-day reports as his schedule permits. Pre-entry is not necessary for the Test and Tune and so the cast list will be a surprise although we understand that Carolynne Campbell is planning to test her Laffin' Gas Rocket Dragster at SCR this weekend. You can find out more about the SCR Test and Tune below. ©Eurodragster.com The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam will be broadcasting from Santa Pod Raceway all weekend and is scheduled to post a picture every minute. You can reach our Test Weekend Event Coverage index page by clicking here or by clicking on the Event Coverage link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Not quite walking on water... 1st April: UK Top Fuel Dragster racer Andy Carter is to test a Top Fuel Drag Boat in the USA later this season. Andy was invited to try the Nitro Bullet for size by retiring IDBA racer Jim Falkerson whom he met in the USA in February. "Jim's boat has run over 300 mph in 4.9 seconds", Andy told Eurodragster.com. "When I was in the USA I was asked if I had ever thought of trying a drag boat. I had never given it any thought because we don't have drag boat racing in Europe. But I sat in the boat and felt comfortable (right) and then it was suggested that I test it. I know that driving a drag boat is different to driving a Top Fuel Dragster but drag racing is drag racing and the basic driver skills required are exactly the same. And there is certainly not a lot of difference between a Top Fuel Dragster engine and a Top Fuel Drag Boat engine. I have to start with short passes and gradually build up the speed. ©Eurodragster.com "My wife Sarah doesn't like it because she has read that at a high speed water is as hard as concrete. I am comfortable around water because I dive as a hobby and I don't see the difference between hitting a concrete guardrail at speed and hitting water at speed so I am going for it. Sarah has never stood in the way of anything I wanted to do and she wouldn't stop me doing this but I don't think she will be there to watch." Andy had to choose the timing of his test carefully so as not to impact on the FIA European Championship season. One of the first to be consulted was Andy's primary sponsor. "Les Downey of Lucas Oil UK and Europe told me that as long as I don't drive the boat until the European season ends then he is all for it", said Andy. "The FIA Championship is the priority and Les wanted all of my concentration on that and to be honest I think he wanted to make sure that I stayed in one piece until I had the number one plate! But Lucas Oil sponsor drag boat racing in the USA and Les agreed that a European racer in US drag boat racing would open up new promotional opportunities with the parent company. I know that I would have novelty value but I don't want it. I will be taken as a serious contender or I won't do it." Andy's test is scheduled to take place on the drag boat lake at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix at the end of September. Ready to take on all comers. 1st April: Next weekend's Autotrader Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway will be the last for the current Showtime Fuel Funny Car, says driver John Spuffard. The team's new FC, Robert Hight's 2006 chassis, is currently being put together at the team's workshop and the 2005 Mustang body is with Curbishley Automotive for painting in its new colours ready for its planned début at the FIA Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway in May. ©Eurodragster.com John told Eurodragster.com that the Showtime team are looking forward to the new competition which will firstly come from Håkan Fällström and Patrik Pers at Easter. "The Funny Car scene is not dead and the new cars show it", he said. "We're pleased to have carried the Funny Car standard for so long but we're not going to bow down to any of the new guys. We're looking forward to the 2007 season." Spuff has won the Pro Fuel Shootout twice and has appeared in four final rounds, an event record he shares with Top Fuel Dragster racer Andy Carter. "The Easter race is always interesting", said Spuff. "Urs, Lex, Thomas and Siw are always going to be hard to beat. Personally I think the start line handicap should be the difference between the European records but that would make the dragsters look a little slow! We will take on the challenges as they come along both at Easter and throughout the year." Swift snippets. 1st April: Swiss former Top Fuel Dragster racer Peter Beck has taken up circuit racing and should start competing later this year says his partner Regula Stucki. "There are quite a lot of mountain races here in Switzerland and the circuit races are all abroad like France, Germany and Italy - we are looking forward to be back on the race track!", says Regula. "We gave up searching for sponsors for Top Fuel - it's too hard and we have been away from drag racing for too long now. But we're still reading all the news on Eurodragster.com and one day I will come and visit you at Santa Pod. And if someone is looking for a driver, Peter is still interested." Santa Pod Raceway's timing software has recently been upgraded and one of the results of this upgrade is that all ETs and incremental timings on timing slips will now be shown to four decimal places and not three. Speeds will continue to be shown to two decimal places. ©Eurodragster.com Effective from next weekend's Autotrader Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway, a number of UK photographers and journalists have agreed that race vehicles which do not display clearly-legible race numbers, and whose drivers or riders are thus difficult to identify, will no longer be featured in magazine articles and race reports in other media. If you have a small or otherwise illegible number on your vehicle and don't fancy explaining to your sponsors why your event win was not featured then you know what to do (It will also help the timing crews - Ed). Malta's Mibrum Racing Team Supra-powered dragster has been featured in Turbo magazine which is published in USA/Canada (right, click on picture for large version). "For me it's a success to be featured in such a popular magazine", says Gary Curmi. "It means that both I and my team, especially Mechanic/Crew Chief Joseph 'Sieheb' Tabone of Sieheb Racing Team and Mike Charalambous of JMC Power Automotive in Cyprus are recognised for their great jobs in their respective aread. I didn't know that I was featured and it is interesting to see that the fastest Supra 7MGTE in the world is attracting more and more attention". If you would like to sponsor the dragster then you can contact Gary at [email protected]. We would like to wish a very Happy Wedding Anniversary to Ian and Paula Marshall, Santa Pod Racers Club Chief Starter and Club Secretary respectively. "This is not an April Fool", says Paula Marshall. "We were married on 1st April, but not until 1:00 pm". Have a very happy day guys. Earlier news