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30th November: Carter Motorsport are proud to announce that Andy Carter and the Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster will be appearing at the Xtreme Wheels Motor Show in 2010. Following the official announcement that the show will once more form an important part of next year's calendar, Carter Motorsport were only too pleased to accept the invite and be the first official exhibit. "We were involved with Xtreme Wheels from the very beginning and took our car to all three of the Ally Pally events. It was always a fantastic show and I'm delighted to see it back for next year. Obviously it will be very different at its new home but I'm sure it will still be a huge success! We will of course be doing our best to promote the Lucas Oil brand to as wide an audience as possible and will have products on sale at the event," said four-time FIA European Top Fuel champion, Andy Carter. Carter Motorsport PR and Xtreme Wheels show promoter Dan Welberry added; "I think this is the first time I've had to comment with two hats on at once but I'm delighted that Andy has agreed to come to the show with the Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster. He will be in good company as we have some fantastic vehicles lined up already. We'll be putting out regular updates over the coming months, letting you all know what 'Xtreme Machines' you can expect to see at the Haynes International Motor Museum on June 12-13th." As reported on Saturday, Carter Motorsport have just published their 2010 event schedule on their website: www.andycarter.net. Dan said "Once again, the season is jam packed with the full FIA European Top Fuel tour, where Andy will be looking to take his fifth title. As well as the European series, there is a healthy mix of static show appearances and of course, the recently announced trip to Florida, where Andy will be contesting the NHRA Gatornationals next March. The first outing is just around the corner, where the Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster will once again be proudly exhibited on the Santa Pod Raceway stand at Autosport International, NEC, Birmingham. We look forward to seeing you all there." That will be a large one then! 30th November: Paul Marston has been in touch with thanks for the trophy presentation of the Pro ET Championship to team member Mick Howling: 2010 Pro ET UK National Champion Mick Howling's exclamation of 'That will be a large one then' was very apt upon receiving his mighty fine piece of silverware for winning the Pro ET UK National Championship. Unfortunately both Mick Howling and I were either previously engaged or working over the Pro ET bash weekend. But, forever a trooper, young Charlie Chivers drove over to deepest, darkest Norfolk and presented Mick with his trophy courtesy of the Pro ET sponsorship scheme, for which everyone at Paul Marston Racing are very grateful. Both Mick Howling and I were very disappointed on not being able to attend personally, but it was just not meant to be. Mick now has the trophy sitting pride of place on Grumpys Dodge. Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who raced in Pro ET this season, it really is an incredible class to race in, all and sundry at PMR are looking forward to next year being even better. At this stage Paul Marston Racing can confirm that they will be fielding entries from Mick Howling in Grumpys Dodge and hopefully various guest appearances from pupils from the Paul Marston Racing Drag Race Driving School. It's too early to tell for sure but hopefully we will have people coming thru the Drag Race School in 2010 who will go on to compete in Drag Race School race cars. I have fielded quite a few enquiries already so the signs are promising. So if you have any questions on how you can get started in Drag Racing please call us on 07831 650230 or e-mail [email protected]. Otherwise check out the website at www.paulmarstonracing.com. We still have spaces available for the 2010 season. Wild Bunch Presentation. 30th November: Thanks to Claire Meaddows and Chris Hartnell for writing to fill us in with all the details of the night's honorees at the Wild Bunch's annual Prize Presentation held on Saturday, 28th November at Drayton Manor Park, where a great evening was had by all: All the various Series winners were presented with their awards, and winning the Series for the third time were Team Dog's Bollocks with the RamRaider slingshot; many congratulations to them. This is their third win with their third different car (the last win was back in 2001 with the original "RamRaider", after a back-to-back win with their first car, the Nutcracker slingshot). Team Dog's Bollocks with the "RamRaider" also won the Series for the Wild Bunch's main contingency sponsor Real Steel, the Roy Wilding Nostalgia Race Cars Series, and the APIRA Series, as well as the Wild Bunch MSA Challenge cup (held over the 5 MSA events that the Wild Bunch compete in). This is the first ever 'clean sweep' in the club's history, so big congratulations to the whole team, of three different drivers: Ed Yates, Andy Gosling and Ray Ford, for this big achievement. There were various presentations made during the evening, thanking Wild Bunch Chairman Chris Hartnell, Race Co-ordinator Claire Meaddows, website author Ed Yates, and newsletter writer Gina Rumble for all their hard work, as well as gifts for all the lovely ladies of the Bunch who do so much to support their teams. There were flowers for Janet Brown of Shakespeare County Raceway, and for Gina and Claire. There was also a presentation to a surprised Dean Smythe, for his photography of the event for the last several years. And a special award went to 1-year old Beau Durrant for his work as 'Blogger of the Year' (for more info, see the Wild Bunch website, and Mum Gina's newsletters). The winners of all the Wild Bunch Special awards were announced, and a full list can be found on the Wild Bunch website. One award, notable to readers who will be familiar with them, was the 'Derek and Brenda Annable' trophy, which this year goes to Roy and Anita Human of Human Touch Care. It was a fitting recognition for their great contribution to Drag Racing, to racers and spectators alike. The main accolade of the evening was as always, the Don Garlits 'Spirit of Drag Racing' Shield, the most prestigious award in the Wild Bunch, which represents sportsmanship, achievement, commitment, presentation and a host of other attributes. This was awarded to Dave Rowlands of the "Destiny's Angel" Riot Racing Team, who participated in and achieved success at all the 10 events that the Wild Bunch run during their season. Big congratulations to him and the team, and very well-deserved. Many thanks to all who helped make the evening a success, and congratulations to all our winners. We can't wait until 2010 to be back out there racing for our 15th Anniversary year, and to be racing with such a great group of people and racecars. Claire and Chris send their best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy, dry, safe and quick New Year to all racers, marshals and officials, track crew, media, promoters, managers and track owners who work so hard at Santa Pod, Shakespeare County and York Dragway, for this sport of Drag Racing we all love so much. Thank you all for everything you do, and see you all at the drags next season! For full details of the Wild Bunch Prize Presentation, go to their web site. Swift Snippets. 
30th November: Two birthday greetings, the first going to Jeanette and Jon Webster's daughter, Shelby Webster; a very Happy 21st birthday to Shelby for tomorrow, Tuesday 1st December. Birthday greetings to Pro Modified racer Bruno Bader on his birthday today; have a great day Bruno, and see you at the track in 2010.
Allard Chrysler Action Group Chair Brian Taylor has been in touch with something to cheer people up on a rainy day. What has this well known drag racing figure got to do with the Allard Chrysler Action Group? Watch this space. Web site updates. 30th November: Dutch Top Fuel Dragster racer and joint Eurodragster.com webcam sponsor Lex Joon says that his trip to the US, competing at two NHRA National Events, was a very special experience and he intends to extend that into 2010. You can read all about Lex's outing at the NHRA Finals held at Pomona and see pictures from that event on his Racer Blog, which you can check out clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Pro Dutch Racing hires Luke Cage. 28th November: Pro Modified racer Robert Joosten, who readers will recall suffered a crash at the FIA Main Event, is planning to make a return to racing in 2010 with a new car. G-Force Race Cars is building a new '70 Camaro for Robert's Pro Dutch Racing team. Plans are to test the car in the US in the Spring and run all five rounds of the FIA Pro Modified Championship and the Xplosion Drag Racing series at Drachten. Meanwhile the Pro Dutch web site tells the full story, with pictures, behind the comic book character Luke Cage, aka Power Man, becoming part of the team. Readers of Marvel Comics will recall that, in the storyline, Cage has history with the Green Goblin... Swift Snippets. 
28th November: April 17th, 2010 Willowbank Raceway, Australia will not only be a qualifying day for Top Fuel dragsters but also UK Drag Racing Hall of Fame member Steve Read is marrying Heather Bond, writes Brian Taylor. Brian says "They figured most of their friends would be racers so it was cheaper for everybody to attend. UK fans are welcomed to the 'do'." Congratulations from Eurodragster.com to both of you.
Congratulations to Santa Pod Racers Club start line and safety team member Bob Day and Karen who had a baby girl on 27th November at 9pm. Bob says "She hit the scales at 7lb 5oz and is a little diamond, name not confirmed as yet, but Mum and daughter are doing well and I am chuffed to bits." We have received a spy picture of what looks like an altered chassis; no information accompanied it, so the challenge is on to identify the owner and the form it will ultimately take. Web Site Updates. 
28th November: 2009 FIA European Top Fuel Champions Carter Motorsport have an updated web site with a provisional 2010 schedule, and news about Andy's new sponsorship deal with Veidec. You can read all the details at www.andycarter.net.
Julian Hunt has updated his web site with no less than 404 pictures from the 2009 NitrOlympX. Included is this gorgeous burnout shot of Rolf Amman's Pro Mod. You can check out Julian's pictures at www.julianhunt.net. Presentation Day for ACAG. 
26th November: The Allard Chrysler Action Group
held a reception yesterday at the National
Motor Museum, Beaulieu, to celebrate several achievements and update everybody on the progress of this exciting restoration project writes
Alan Currans of the Acceleration Archive:
Members of the ACAG, their guests and the project's supporters enjoyed a sandwich lunch kindly provided by Performance Direct Insurance, of whom more later. ACAG Chair Brian Taylor conducted proceedings and commenced with introductions of the some of the guests. He then went to outline how the restoration project began and has developed and was able to report the welcome news that an order has been placed for the engine with Booth Arons Racing Enterprizes in Michigan. Brian also outlined the ACAG's considerable internet presence which consists of the ACAG web site, a section devoted to the project on Jon Spoard's popular and well-respected UK Drag Racing Nostalgia Forum, and a page on Facebook. Perhaps the most significant development has been the formation of an alliance with Project 1320 who have adopted the restoration of the Allard Chrysler Dragster as an integral part of their own project to log the history of drag racing in film and words. Project 1320's directors and supporters are far too numerous to be listed here, but suffice it to say it reads like a Who's Who of drag racing. This is a hugely significant step in raising awareness of the restoration of the Allard Chrysler dragster and is already opening a great many doors to the project. ©Eurodragster.com Brian then went on to make the first of three presentations. Nick Davies, most recently known as the daredevil pilot of the Havoc Fuel Altered, purchased the originals of two paintings commissioned by the ACAG and these were presented to him by Nick Mason in the presence of the artists Tommy Vågen and Paul Whitehouse. Next up was the SEMA Trophy, which had originally been presented to Sydney Allard in 1963, and which had only recently been re-discovered languishing at the Brighton & Hove Motor Club. The Club very kindly agreed to the trophy being transferred to the National Motor Museum and Alan Allard presented it to the Museum's Public Relations Officer Margaret Rowles on their behalf. The final presentation was the Performance Direct Non Standard Award. As well as standard motor insurance, Performance Direct caters for the drivers of what the industry calls 'non-standard' vehicles - classics, imports, modified and high-value vehicles. Each year they offer special awards to people with unusual motoring ideas and dreams. Very fortunately for us, this year they saw the ACAG restoration project as worthy of an award which was duly made by Matthew Collett of Performance Direct to whom many, many thanks. Pollard into MTC Five-Second Club... 
26th November: AMA Dragbike and MTC Engineering of Cocoa, FL are proud to officially
welcome US Top Fuel Bike racer Geoff Pollard to the MTC Engineering Top Fuel Five-Second Club.
During qualifying at Valdosta Geoff ran 5.963 at a speed of 233.32 mph becoming the fifth member of the Club following Larry McBride, Jimmy Brantley, Tom Perry and Korry Hogan. MTC Engineering will pay out a total of $4,500 in money to eight Five-Second Club members. Geoff will receive $500 as the fifth member of the club and that leaves three open spots remaining to fill the elite Club of eight racers. To qualify as an MTC Five Second Club member, the run must be made during a qualifying or elimination pass at an AMA Dragbike national event. The award will be presented to Geoff and his team at an AMA Dragbike event next season during an opening ceremony. ©Eurodragster.com ...which gives Beck an idea. 26th November: Now at this point you may be wondering why we are running a news item about American drag racing in apparent contravention of our Editorial Policy of only covering European Drag Racing. It just so happens that multiple ACU UK Pro Stock Bike Champion, European and UK PSB record holder and Eurodragster.com Blogger Dave Beck is the UK's largest MTC Engineering dealer and distributor and that his PSB operation is also sponsored by MTC. The announcement of Geoff Pollard's election to the MTC Five-Second Club got Dave thinking. ©Eurodragster.com "I think it's a real shame that no-one is running a Six Second Nitrous Bike Club or a Five Second Top Fuel Bike Club over here", Dave told Eurodragster.com. "So if I am the first Pro Stock Bike racer into the sixes in Europe then I will start a Dave Beck Racing Six Second Pro Stock Bike Club. In fact I will go one step further and set up a Six Second Nitrous/Pro Mod Bike Club. The first six Nitrous bike racers to run in the sixes will get £75 from me." Obviously it is early days and a long way to the start of the 2010 season, so stay tuned and as details are firmed up we will bring you more. Swift snippets. 26th November: Our congratulations and best wishes for a long and happy future to our good buddy and former Photo Editor Sharkman and his now-fiancée Julie who were engaged yesterday. Now then, about those wedding photographs... 
Eurodragster.com Reserve Photographer Peter Donaldson is producing
a 2010 calendar. The full-colour calendar features shots taken at both Shakespeare County and
Santa Pod Raceways and is priced at £7 apiece, or £10 for two copies, or £20 for
five. Click here for more
details including how to order. Fans are certainly spoilt for choice with calendars this year; see
Tuesday's news for Santa Pod's offering and the
16th November news update for details of calendars on offer
from Jon Spoard and the Dragstripper/Sideview Inn.
©Eurodragster.com We would like to wish all of our friends and readers in the United States of America a very Happy Thanksgiving. Have a great day guys and please be sure to make like a member of the Eurodragster.com staff by eating far too much turkey. ©Eurodragster.com Web site updates. 26th November: Many thanks to James Forster of Santa Pod Raceway for letting us know that SPR have posted a 2009 Pro highlights clip on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XFShnEsEc8. "I thought you might like it" said James, and we certainly did. ©Eurodragster.com Feature: Auto Club NHRA Finals. 
25th November: The latest in our occasional series of Features presented in association with
Stroud Safety and
Andy Robinson Race Cars is Roger's
report and photographs from the Auto Club NHRA Finals which took place last week at Pomona Raceway.
©Eurodragster.com You can check out our Auto Club NHRA Finals feature by clicking here or by clicking on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Princess holds court at NEC. 25th November: UK Top Fuel Bike racer Steve Carey has been in touch to let us know that his Purple Princess 2 Top Fuel Bike will be appearing on the NGK stand at this weekend's National Motorcycle show at the NEC, starting tomorrow and running until 6th December. Whilst he was at it Steve brought us up to date with the news from the Purple Princess pit: To fit the racing in around work commitments meant less meetings this year. As I am doing a course at Brighton College, and the way work is at the moment, we are probably looking to do much the same again in 2010: we are likely to contest the FIA Main Event and FIA European Finals, the Bulldog Bash, and the UK National Finals. The UK National Finals this year gave us the most consistent runs the bike has made. Not the quickest, but it showed that the work we have done over the years is starting to pay off in terms of handling, with the bike running straight now. It was a good end to the season to run the Turbo and Carey roadshow again in the final. Most enjoyable. We should be changing the fuel pump to a larger size over the winter, along with general maintenance as well. ©Eurodragster.com Fred Furlong has kindly sponsored us with a tyre this year, and is also going to help next year. Take a look at his web site, as he has put some information on the bike there. Hopefully over the winter I will get around to putting more information on the bike there as well. I would also like to thank Tim Howes and Ray Nicholson at NGK for their help and support this year. I would just like to add thanks to Bob, Ken and Annette for their help and support, Steve and Steve at Weruwise Bexhill, Charley and Colin at Phoenix Motorcycles Bexhill, Colin Wells, John Torring, Earls Performance, Rother Triumph Owners Club, Rick at Cipher Solutions, Antony at G-Max Racing Fuels, Bexhill Bearings, and Rossetts Commercials. Christmas, a month early. 
25th November: A great night was had by all at last weekend Pro ET Xmas Bash and trophy presentation, with
a live band that put in an impressive performance, great and plentiful food and abundant libation opportunities. Carla Pittau writes:
There was also plenty of banter from all comedians in the class - we have an ample supply of those in Pro ET - and for good measure the evening was enlivened by celebrated comedian Woody Stevens who, when he's not upsetting parents by using the C-word inappropriately (you shouldn't really start talking of that kind of thing when there is still a month to go before 25th December), is also a sponsor of Pro ET and a major supplier of garage tools, parts and consumables under the banner of MotorShack, although he uses the more unusual name of Steve Wood when manning his outlet at the Pod. Predictably someone (not saying who, Billy) brought in extra jokes about the price of race fuel, so I hope we won't have to face a revenge increase! The much sought-after awards were given out to the delirious approval and applause by the unruly crowd, and the winners were as follows:
©Eurodragster.com Well done also to Charlie Chivers for running the Pro ET Sponsorship Scheme in 2009 and for working so hard, and to Carl Burton who conceived it, started it and still worked to help with it even after 'retiring' in 2009, you guys achieved great things for the whole class. All in Pro ET would like to take this opportunity to thank their sponsors, Last but by no means least, we would like to thank in advance a new sponsor who incautiously agreed, no doubt when thoroughly pickled, to sponsor the whole Pro ET series. His name is still a secret but perhaps some class volunteers could drop a few spy pictures to hint at his identity, the shots depicting embarrassing or illegal activities can be sent to me first for vetting/blackmailing. Jokes apart, once again, thank you to:
25th November: Ex-pat UK Supertwin racer Paul Castle has given his web site a makeover. "Hopefully it's a slight improvement", says Paul. Check it out at www.freewebs.com/grandpastoyracing and see what you think. ©Eurodragster.com See Beck for MTC software. 
24th November: Now available from Dave Beck Racing is MTC Engineering LLC's new
software created to simulate the functionality of the Gen II clutch.
The software has the ability to take all the variables associated with the clutch set-up and to provide an output in graphical form indicating the pressure load on the clutch. It allows you to maintain the previous set up and then run what-if scenarios of proposed changes. Since the Gen II runs on engine RPM, adding the primary ratio allows the plate load to be associated with engine RPMs in determining required forces to lock up the clutch under varying engine RPMs. The software was co-developed with Mike Sullivan of Applied Physics, who has thirty years of drag racing clutch management experience. Mike has developed several programs in the past from Top Fuel to Pro Stock, which have helped racers win Championships by understanding clutch management. For more details or to order your software contact Dave Beck Racing via their web site at www.davebeckracing.com. ©Eurodragster.com A Frog in the road. 
24th November: Just when Eurodragster.com Photo Editor Roger "What Crash" Gorringe
thought he had seen it all, along came a street-legal, blown, twin-plug V8 trike!
This 5.7 litre monster resides in Venice Beach, California and is owned by ex-pat Brit Tim Cotterill. The former Leicester resident, a self-confessed failure at school, tried his hand at an engineering apprenticeship, building, landscaping and stone masonry before moving to America in 1990. Tim has now become world-renowned for his unique and stunning series of limited-edition bronze frog sculptures. Tim lives and works out of his self contained studio-workshop which he refurbished himself from an old industrial unit to include luxury living accommodation, working studio, garage and a courtyard tropical garden and koi pond. "I built bikes, choppers and a trike when I was in England but now I wanted something really different so sketched my ideas and designs and had it built", says Tim. It was a three year project in which he assisted builders Randy Grubb and Michael Leeds. The 8:71 BDS blown V8 was built by John Arruzza with a ten-gallon fuel cell and three-speed and was delivered in January 2009. The bike has around a 144" wheelbase and although not fully proven is estimated to make 1000 bhp running on pump gas. ©Eurodragster.com 
"The trike was my ultimate dream", smiles Tim. "It is so powerful, it has fulfilled my wildest dreams. It runs perfectly, handles well and does
not leak. I have run 150 mph on it in the desert and am sure there is more in there."
Tim, known as Frogman, was initially drawn to the US by his fascination of American custom motorbikes and the drag racing scene. "I spent many years going to Santa Pod Raceway" he says. He might just also be remembered for introducing the motorised bar stool and bar stool racing to England in the seventies at Santa Pod after witnessing them in San Francisco and coming home to build his own. You can see some of Tim's work at www.frogmancollection.com or www.frogmanpublishing.com. Swift snippets. 24th November: Paul Watson says that DynoSpeed Developments' move to Southend should be complete by 1st December. "Rob is very busy with his long que of Hayabusa motors bespoke built for the hillclimb circuit", says Grumpy. "The Mistral/DSD combination should make for a great package. Together with MotoSpeed we will still be dealers for Vance & Hines, Yoshimura, Akropovic Exhausts, and of course still be a tuning centre for Dynojet using our Dynojet 250 with eddy current brake and real time air fuel. With the introduction of the new Dynojet powercommander V and new range of quickshifters we can fuel your bike to perfection". The new Mistral/DSD address is Unit 5, Rose Way, Purdeys Industrial Estate, Rochford, Essex, SS4 1LY and the new telephone number is 01702 542426. UK Pro ET racer Joe Williams, aka Shrek, asked us to thank Carl Burton for painting his crash helmet. "It only took me five years to get him to do it!", says Joe. "But it was well worth the wait Happy Christmas and a fast and safe New Year from all at FUCC racing." ©Eurodragster.com 
Celebrating a fantastic racing year, Santa Pod Raceway has teamed up with lane sponsor Autoglym to produce a 2010 calendar featuring great drag racing photos from the home of European Drag Racing (above right). At just £4.99 plus £3.99 P+P the calendar would make a great gift for any motorsport fan. You can order yours on-line at www.santapod.com or call 01234 782828. The web site contains the full line of Santa Pod merchandise and 2010 event tickets. Web site updates. 24th November: Our good buddy Jon Spoard has added an Allard Chrysler Dragster section to his UK Drag Racing Nostalgia forum at www.ukdrn.co.uk/forum. "Nick Pettitt will be the main ACAG host but the rest of us can chip in when we feel the urge", says ACAG Chair Brian Taylor. "I hope to get some of the car's American Facebook friends to join in. The board will be open to non-ACAG members." ©Eurodragster.com 
Eurodragster.com Photo Editor Roger Gorringe - the guy who stares blankly at the track as not far off an Alcohol FC is upside down on the
wall - has added three US galleries to his Nitro Exposure web site at www.nitroexposure.co.uk.
The updates cover the 18th NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion, the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals, and the Auto Club NHRA Finals. There are also
a couple of vintage shots on the Home and News pages for those who can remember that far back. Most of the shots on the new galleries have
not been used on Eurodragster.com, including the NHRA Finals Feature due here tomorrow, nor in any other publication.
Chip off the old block Laura Turburville now has her own web site which can be reached via dad Ian's web site at www.turboville.com. The great-looking site features Laura's Junior Dragster and includes video of a test run in her new car, information on the team and car, picture gallery, featured charity Help For Heroes, and more. VEIDEC join Carter. 23rd November: Four-time FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Andy Carter is delighted to welcome Swedish company VEIDEC to Carter Motorsport's growing list of associate sponsors. As the team prepare to defend the FIA European Top Fuel Championship in 2010, the VEIDEC logo will appear once more on the Andersen Racing dragster driven by Andy, having previously been on the car when driven by 2006 Champion Håkan Nilsson. The VEIDEC Group develops, manufactures and markets high-tech, top-quality chemical products, for example cleaners, lubricants, adhesives, sealants, and surface treatments for service, repair and maintenance jobs. VEIDEC products are currently available in eleven countries and are aimed towards professional end-users in many industries. "I'm excited to welcome VEIDEC on board", said Andy Carter. "I first met with them at this year's Swedish round and was impressed by their professionalism. VEIDEC understand drag racing and have previously been involved with Håkan Nilsson and of course they are the longtime sponsor of the the VEIDEC Festival, the Swedish European Championship round at Mantorp Park." "These are very exciting times for Carter Motorsport", added Dan Welberry of the team's Marketing and PR division. "We're seeing huge interest in our team, our program and our marketing partners are receiving similar interest as a direct result of their association with us! We'd like to officially welcome VEIDEC on board and we are really looking forward to working with them in 2010 and beyond." To find out more about VEIDEC, visit www.veidec.com. ©Eurodragster.com Sprout heads for Europe. 
23rd November: The US' Walter Sprout is aiming to contest Super Street Bike in the
UK and Germany in 2010. Walter contested the 2009 SPRC Summernationals and a sprint at Westonzoyland
on Steve Mead's seven-second Hayabusa but is now planning to run on this side of the Pond on a bike of his own.
Walter is one of the world's fastest Street Bike riders and certainly one of the most travelled. This well known and respected tuner travels across the US developing and tuning some of the fastest street-based drag bikes in the world. Not content with a loyal US customer base Jacksonville, Florida-based Walter delivers tuning advice to customers around the world. As well as tuning customer bikes to the highest standards, Walter is a highly accomplished racer in his own right, having competed with and beaten the world's best Street Bike riders in the Prostar drag racing series in the US. 2008 was a breakthrough year for Walter as he went head to head with the multiple-Championship winning Velocity Racing team. In the penultimate race of the season, his 7.28 second quarter mile run at an astonishing 206 mph set at new world record. Early season problems caused Walter to lose the Championship by only three points. Despite this narrow loss, the season was a landmark with season accomplishments including: most final rounds in the class, most wins in the class, quickest and most consistent reaction times in the class, World speed record, and Pro Rookie of the Year. The immaculately turned-out turbocharged Suzuki, prepared by Walter, turned heads wherever it raced. In 2009 Walter concentrated on building his ECS Performance business and also travelled to Europe to race and tune. In 2010 Walter intends to be a major contender in the US Prostar series, in addition to competing on his own Suzuki in the United Kingdom and Germany. The media-friendly rider has appeared in US television shows such as Pinks All Out and several major US motorcycle publications, and is renowned for professionally endorsing sponsors at tracks, exhibitions, and shows. Walter is seeking sponsors to help support his trans-Atlantic race campaign. To discuss marketing opportunities please contact Walter on +1 334 614 1592 or E-Mail or Stephen Moon on 07967 564301 or E-Mail. ©Eurodragster.com Speedgroup exhibit at PRI. 23rd November: The worldwide racing industry gathers in Orlando, Florida on 10th-12th December for the 22nd Annual Performance Racing Industry Trade Show. Speedgroup will participate for the first time at the PRI. In charge of Speedgroup's participation are CEO Michael Gullqvist and newly appointed co-ordinator Åsa Kinnemar. The team will be joined by Gittli Koller, who administrates the European Championship contingency programme, and Leif Andréasson. Some of Europe's most prominent racers will be present at the PRI and in the Speedgroup booth such as Andy Carter, Micke Malmgren, Charley Karling, Andy Robinson, Jimmy Ålund and Ulf Leanders to name a few. "We will promote European drag racing for the American market and talk about the many business opportunities the European Championship and drag racing in Europe can offer", says Micke Gullqvist. "With our presence we also support the European teams running in the Championship, as most of them are doing business in some way or another with US companies. We would also like to welcome any Europeans visiting the PRI show to our booth. Please stop by for a chat." Speedgroup will be found in booth #1547 at the PRI Show. Their special sponsors for the Show will be announced later this week. You can read more about the PRI Show at www.performanceracing.com and for more information about Speedgroup at the PRI or generally please contact Co-ordinator Åsa Kinnemar at [email protected]. ©Eurodragster.com The post-season whirlwind. 
23rd November: Since the FIA European Finals it hss been a hectic time for
ME Racing Service,
ME Platkonstructioner and Mats Eriksson's Green Goblin Pro Mod team, says Lena Perés: not so
much for with the car but more with celebrations and exhibitions.
It started when we came back from Santa Pod. On the fence round our shop one of our fans had put up a sheet congratulating us for the European Championship win. After a few days another sheet appeared, a neighbouring printing company made a very nice picture of the car. Lots of companies came by with flowers and greetings of all kinds. We want to say Thank You all to everyone for everything they have done and are still doing. 
At the beginning of October we had an Open House at our sheet metal company ME Platkonstruktioner AB, where
the local community came and had a look at the fastest Pro Mod car in Europe. One of the guys was so excited
that he had to have to sit in the driver's seat. Then Mats was invited to the town hall to get a award for
being so fast and for running his companies so well, and getting our town a good reputation in Europe. We received
more flowers and a candlestick.
At the end of October The Borlänge Dragracing Club had a big party to end the racing season. There we congratulate our members, and of course Mats was one of the biggest there and the audience gave him a standing ovstion. He was overwhelmed. Ludvig had a good season as well so he got a prize, but he wasn't too happy to get a hug from mum as she was the prizegiver during the ceremony. 
On the weekend after that amazing party it was time to pack for another. Svensk Dragracing had the Nordic
Dragracing Series banquette which was in Sollentuna. It was a really nice dinner and we had a big table full of cups.
Ludvig got third place in the Swedish Dragracing League, but he sent big brother L-G to get that prize. Dad
Mats got a big Cup for being the Pro Mod winner in NDRS as well as European Champion.
But the biggest thing this weekend was that Mats got the Svensk Dragracing Eagle Award for all his work for the sport and of course for this amazing season. The greatest thing is that he now shares this award with another guy who has drag racing in his heart, Christer Gustafsson, also from Borlange. Two friends and two racers by heart who work hard for the sport. We also want to thank all our fans out in Europe, and a special Thank You to all the youngsters who give us so much attention. We get drawings and letters, mails and so on. And these are so heart-warming and nice to get. Here are some of the nice drawings we got this year, and we are looking forward to more of this art. 
News from the garage. A new body is under construction, and the Green Goblin is undergoing ordinary service. If the body is ready for the start of the season, then no-one knows what it is going to look like more than Ray Hill himself, and I'm not sure that even he knows. 
A new Top Fuel chassis is taking shape. It is Monica Öberg's team who have placed an order on a new
chassis for upcoming season. So LG is busy making that ready for delivery. After that Leif Helander is next in
line to get his nitro Funny Car chassis. He has been waiting for a while now and he thinks it's about time
he got the new car on its wheels as quickly as possible.
So there is no time to rest in the chassis shop in Borlänge. In this branch there are no bad times. It's having fun which makes us want to go on, and that makes us go through bad times much more easily. Now we're looking forward to the prize ceremony for the European and Swedish Championships, and this seems to be at the end of January next year. But first, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Swift snippets. 23rd November: The honorary Eurodragster.com staff member tasked with passing this information back to base didn't do so, and words will of course be had about that, but now that Roger is back in the country he has let us know that he encountered fan-favourite Swiss Top Methanol Funny Car racer Dezsoe Krivan and his wife Iris at Pomona and that Dezsoe gave Roger the excellent news that he is planning to return to the FIA European Championship Tour in 2010. If you like your American drag racing DVDs and videos then you could do a lot worse than check out the on-line shop at www.dragshop.net. The site offers DVDs of the legendary Jackson Brothers videos as well as the remastered classic American Nitro and die cast models although Steve Jackson tells us that he will not be expanding upon the die cast side of the business. With Christmas coming this could be the time to check out what Dragshop.net has to offer. ©Eurodragster.com As usual we will be running our Christmas Gift Mart news item on 1st December. If you would like to include your own products or services then please send a paragraph and, optionally, one picture to [email protected]. Even if you have already had Christmas gift suggestions published here on Eurodragster.com in recent weeks then please do not hesitate to send them for a second posting. Items will be posted in the order in which they arrive so get typing. Twins Cup set for 2010. 
23rd November: A new addition to the world of modern day motorcycle sprinting is set to be introduced next year.
Called the Twins Cup, the new class is intended to run alongside existing National Sprint Association classes is the brainchild of racer and organiser
Phil Steele.
"Those who were at the recent NSA Southern Section AGM will know that I proposed that we should have a Twins Cup in 2010", says Phil. "We have already devised a very simple set of rules, and when the calendar is finalised further announcements will be made about the dates which will count towards the Cup." A trophy will be awarded to the overall winner at season's end, and the winner of each meeting will br presented with an award at the following event on the calendar. If you would like to know more about the 2010 Twins Cup including how to register your interest then you can get in touch with Phil Steele at [email protected] or call 07918 612068. ©Eurodragster.com The Best of seasons. 23rd November: UK Fuel Altered racer Jon Best has been in touch with a review of his first season in the six-second Chevy-powered Felstead, Best and Lotsabeera altered: The SPRC Summernationals was the on-track début for the car since it had had been updated from its Timewarp days. For me it was back to square one again in terms of learning how to drive, as this would be a whole different ball game to driving the front-engine fuel car. Having not driven since late 2008, I felt rusty to say the least! The event itself didn't go brilliantly, with the mag kill switch playing up, causing the engine to diesel just a few feet after leaving the start line. Later it shed the blower belt into many impressive pieces on the burnout, so we didn't complete any of the mandatory licensing runs to standard. I was a bit gutted, but we'd managed to get the first event with the car out of the way. The first event tends to always be the worst. Next up was the UK Truck Show, entered in Supercharged Outlaws to get some track time and hopefully get this licencing deal out of the way, and things went a little better. A sixty foot high-gear launch of 1.13, followed by a half pass attempt, where driver error meant I shut it off far too early culminating in a 10.0 timing ticket, about which I was pleasantly surprised. In hindsight, it wasn't a bad weekend, but we still had. two more license runs to make. Onto Bug Jam, and by this point I was getting wound up about licencing taking forever, and it showed by the time I got on track. Some delays to our run time meant a lot of running around last minute, only to be shut off when the heavens opened briefly. This was to be the half pass licencing run, and so, regardless of how ugly it was, I wanted to get this run out of the way. At the green it struck the tyres instantly. Having been suited up for a while, and since I really needed a wee, I kept my foot in as it smoked the tyres all the way to the eighth. It wasn't pretty, but it was signed off. Sodd's law then kicked in on Sunday and rain stopped play. On another note, Bug Jam was the first event where I temporarily took charge of Nitro FM in the evening, with some small DJ sets. This was the start of something, with some additional work with Nigel and Julian throughout the season. Back on topic, it was time to finish off licencing, this time at the Open Sport Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. By now we just had the full pass to do. I say "just", but running at this level is quite hard work and expensive when things don't go to plan. The one run we managed in the weekend was sufficient to get my licence signed off, with a 6.711/209.32. A lash cap had fallen off at around 1000 feet, and the resultant carnage meant it nosed over and slowed down towards the finish. I wasn't that bothered about the damage as it meant I was finally licenced, and could now just get on and race. Following on from the Open Sport Nationals, we attended the FIA Euro Finals as part of the NFAA showcase. I'd never raced in front of such a big crowd, though once the starter motor starts whirring, you can't tell if there's are one or forty thousand people on the bank. The single run we did managewas far from pretty - we'd tamed the whole car down a bit, which we didn't really need to as the track was possibly the best it's ever been and would have taken every bit of power you could throw at it. With taming the car down, the result was it sounding like a wet fart and droning down the track to a 7.003/200.55. It got a bit interesting in the lights when the blower belt departed, burst panel blew and I had a brief BBQ whilst having a small fight with the controls to keep it off the wall. I'm told I collected the right hand lane win light with a chute, but I couldn't see anything at the time due to being drenched in some very tasty 70W Lucas Oil (brilliant oil though, thoroughly recommended for nitro use) and the odd lick of flame. Thank you to Angie and co for doing a superb job sorting out the fire. The crank was in big trouble this time though, along with the blower, which put us out for the weekend. To be blunt, the crank was a bit soft. An $800 crank shouldn't really survive in a fuel motor, but we managed fourteen burnouts, five launches, one very long cacklefest, one 9000 rpm burnout, one 9000 rpm half pass and two full passes before it went to the skip, so clearly the cheese they put in these forged cranks is better than it used to be. We'd qualified quite well, so it was a bit gutting, but it was a nice feeling to know we could keep pace with everyone. That was essentially it for the season, too much damage and no money to fix it. For next year there are a few upgrades planned. 2010 will be a big step up for us and for a lot of guys in the class, so to keep pace with the likes of Borat Betts, we're essentially harvesting bits of the current engine to put together a new Chevy motor with a fair amount of extra power (and Cowbell). This year was very much a case of just get to the track, make some noise and see what happens. Over the winter I've enlisted the aid of an aerospace consultancy that I used to work for, to assist in sorting out an aero package to help keep the car stuck to the track, since at the moment it's lifting the front end from the eighth mile or 180 mph, a very strange sensation. None of the above would be possible without my crew Bill, Johnny, Dave M, Dave E, Mark, Eddie and Pit Rat. The whole crew worked their socks off all year so that their driver could enjoy mashing the loud pedal, and drinking Red Bull and Monster in vast quantities. I can't thank you guys enough, next year I'll make it worth all the hours you've worked and time spent away from families. In addition, a big thank you to all the NFAA teams for welcoming us, and to Lawrie Gatehouse for his devotion to the class, it wouldn't have been born without him. He deserves a relaxing retirement, but I imagine he'll be as active and busy as ever with Chaos in 2010. Also I'd like to thank you for my award at the NFAA Awards Evening. It was quite a shock, and again I have my crew to thank for helping me live the dream. A few individuals need a mention, for their assistance at the track, and for helping keep me partially sane the rest of the time: Adam Gleadow, Tasha Chant, Tara Reeve, Nigel Fitzmaurice, Lizz McCarthy, Kirstie Tramm and lastly Dave and Helen at www.quartermilehigh.com – if you haven't already then please check out the 2009 NFAA DVD, it's superb, and a brilliant Christmas present for a Fuel Altered fan! The only thing left to say is a big thank you to Eurodragster.com – the event coverage in 2009 was superb, the best to date, and the team assembled are world class, keep up the good work (Thanks - Ed). To all racers, spectators, officials, media, photographers and my parts suppliers, have a great Christmas, be safe and see you in 2010! Just a Reminder... 23rd November: auto-reminder.co.uk is a new web site which any motorist can't afford to be without. We can all forget when our MOT is due, as up until now there has been no form of reminder service available. We often forget our Road Tax too, despite a postal reminder being sent out. auto-reminder gives you the reminders when it matters most, reminding you via E-Mail of all the important dates that you need to keep motoring safely and within the law. Did you know:
As well as the free MOT reminder, you will also be reminded of your road tax renewal date completely free. Simply specify when your current disk expires and thereafter, the frequency that you like to renew your road tax, e.g. six monthly or twelve monthly, and based upon this information your reminder will be automatically sent until you ask otherwise. You can switch from six to twelve months or vice-versa at any time. This is just the beginning for auto-reminder.co.uk. With many new and exciting web site features being developed, the site looks set to become one of the most important on the web to any motorist. ©Eurodragster.com Feature: Two Rockingham races. 
22nd November: The latest in our occasional series of Features presented in association with
Stroud Safety and
Andy Robinson Race Cars is a double-header
with Steve Moxley's report and pictures from the All Harley Drag Racing Association Jim McClure Nationals, and a
brief report and pictures from the IHRA Summit Team Finals, both at Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina. Both
reports are in the one Feature, with an additional Photo Gallery at the bottom of the piece.
©Eurodragster.com You can check out Moxey's reports and pictures by clicking here or by clicking on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Many thanks to Steve for the offer of a Feature and for his hard work, and to Vic Marland for his help with getting the pictures to us. Blog update. 22nd November: In the latest entry in his exclusive Racer Blog, multiple ACU UK Pro Stock Bike Champion and European and UK PSB record holder Dave Beck gives us a first look at the new TVR Power Pro Stock Bike frame on its way from the USA. As ever you can check out the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. ©Eurodragster.com 2010 eXplosion race dates. 21st November: Thanks to Alex Damstra and Aldert Tjoelker for passing on the dates for the eXplosion Drag Racing Club's dates at Drachten Airfield, The Netherlands, in 2010: ©Eurodragster.com 18th-20th June: Drachten Nationals 9th-11th July: Drachten Internationals 20th-22nd August: Dutch Finals (reserved date, alternate date 27th-29th) For more information check out the Club's official web site at www.explosiondragracing.com. Drag Bike history in work. 21st November: Information about a new book on drag racing in the pipeline comes from Keith Lee, who is busy collecting information for a first book to cover Drag Bike racing in the UK, and scheduled for publication in the second half of 2010. "There is a real need for a book on the exploits of riders over the formative years of the sport, when the variety of machinery was quite amazing", says Keith. "Sadly, but inevitably, the sometimes weird and wonderful machines of days gone by have all but disappeared as the sport has progressed. Regulation changes in more recent times have led to a greater standardisation of bikes. Performances now are just phenomenal, as I witnessed at Santa Pod in September, but the home brewed specials of days gone by had a different appeal - and produced some stunning performances." The book will concentrate on the racers over some twenty years, starting with the first Drag Fest in 1964, when the sport had its first real exposure to a major audience. It will also look at the American riders who have had an influence on the sport over here, and the stellar performers from mainland Europe as the sport spread its roots. "My focus will be on the racers and their very individual approaches to the sport, which I hope will make for a fascinating read", says Keith. The author was an awestruck twelve year old spectator at that first Blackbushe meeting, and was instantly hooked on the sport. Over the years Keith has been involved in most areas of the sport, starting as a local area rep for the BDR&HRA, followed by a period racing one of the silliest bikes ever built. Sanity prevailed, and Keith was offered the chance to write the race reports for the Club, which started a long association with Drag Racing News. Over a ten year period he was also a commentator at Santa Pod and a Club Committee member. His photographs and articles appeared in many publications at home and abroad. Bikes and cars were enjoyed in equal measure - drag racing being one of the few branches of motor sport where both compete at the same meetings - but bikes were a speciality, as evidenced by a long period spent as Dragstrip Correspondent for Motor Cycle Weekly. Some of Keith's bike and car pictures will be appearing on the excellent Acceleration Archive web site run by Alan Currans in the near future. There will also be some interesting snippets of information turned up by him in his research for the book, and these will appear from time to time over the next few months on the Archive. On Jon Spoard's UKDRN forum there should also be a few interesting pictures posted, which should provoke comment by visitors to another invaluable site for race fans. Keith can be contacted at [email protected]. ©Eurodragster.com All hail "Step Back" and "What Crash?". 21st November: There have been congratulations, awe, hero-worship, and a lot of ribbing after the numerous stills and ESPN footage of the Steve Gasparrelli Top Alcohol Funny Car crash which was aired during the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Pomona last weekend. There in full view is Honorary Eurodragster.com Staff Member Andy Willsheer doing his job of recording the bizarre incident. Then there is Eurodragster.com Photo Editor Roger Gorringe nearer the start line looking rather blankly at an empty track whilst all hell is let loose next to Willsheer. "Yes, I have taken some stick on this" says Roger, grinning, "on both sides of the Atlantic, and deservedly so. However, I was filmed looking dumbly at the track because I had just shot opponent Mickey Ferro and was then suddenly lightly peppered by small bits of shrapnel. Whilst wondering what the heck it was I noticed debris in the lane next to me - it was the ESPN camera which is usually mounted looking at the Christmas Tree. "Aha", I thought, "something amiss" so I turned to look up track and noticed the errant car half over the wall and the sometimes spritely Willsheer taking a long, quick step backwards, whilst all the time keeping the upside-down car in frame. That's when I started shooting. 
"I was hit twice by camera bits! The original shrapnel, then by bigger bits hurled carelessly over the wall by a very irate ESPN employee. Good buddy Andy got a great sequence; mine are somewhat lacking as well as late as I was not on the ball and shooting toward the sun. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it." 
"I was thinking of leaving for lunch along with most of the start-line photographic fraternity, when along came the Top Alcohol Funny Cars for Saturday's round one of eliminations", says Andy Willsheer. "Thinking I'd best ensure I had shots of all sixteen qualified cars, I instead opted to stick around, along with photo editor Roger Gorringe, until the class completed the opening stanza. A couple of pairs had run when along came West Covina, CA-based flopper campaigner Steve Gasparrelli with the Mustang-bodied entry owned by him and veteran racer father, Lou, facing Connecticut's Mickey Ferro's Ryco-backed Monte Carlo. Both cars did their burnouts and staged, the lights ran down and Steve, racing in the far lane from me, was away a fraction ahead. ©Eurodragster.com 
"Then it all went wrong: as the Monte Carlo shot past where I was positioned about thirty feet past the Tree, through my peripheral
vision I noticed that the car in the other lane seemed a little awry. In fact it was making a hard right turn! I quickly focussed on the
errant entry as it started to come towards me, keeping my finger firmly on the motor-drive button. Through the camera's viewfinder
I could see matters clearly unfolding, the car turning turtle and rolling backwards toward the concrete guardwall. I made a split-second
decision that it was unlikely to surmount the wall, but with the possibility of the body coming over took a calculated step back and kept
shooting. Noting the left rear wheel filling one of the frames as the car went by, it seemed to bounce on the wall before falling back on to
the track, landing upside down but, strangely, with the body now perched on top, the parachute lines presumably preventing it from
being ejected. The engine was revving at high rpm before shutting down, and the Safety Safari team and others were quickly on hand to
help the uninjured driver out of the flipped race car.
"Moving to digital-hunch mode, I swiftly checked that the camera had dutifully recorded the wild incident and have to say it was indeed all there. It wasn't until the action was replayed shortly thereafter on the big screen that it dawned on me that it would perhaps have been more prudent to take two steps back. But c'est la vie. No one was hurt, though Roger was the target of minor debris as the pony car demolished the ESPN camera positioned right in front of the Tree, and following a lengthy clean-up of both lanes (an oil line came off the car's engine at the hit of the throttle, spraying the viscous liquid under the right-side slick, causing the vehicle to make the hard turn) proceedings thereafter carried on in more conventional fashion. "On my part, it was purely a case of right place, right time, right lens...and it turned out alright apart from, that is, the Alcohol Dragsters unfortunately having their first round postponed until after the second Pro session was run because of the time it took to make the track fit for racing to resume. Oh well..." Swift snippets. 21st November: Best wishes to US Top Alcohol tuner and Eurodragster.com Blogger Will Hanna who gains a co-Crew Chief as he marries Kelly McBride today (Saturday). Here's to a long and happy life together guys and we look forward to seeing you next season. It came too late to make yesterday's news but it's not too late to make a donation to Children In Need to support Scott of Les Harris Racing, who spent yesterday resembling a leopard in aid of the TV appeal. For more details check out www.lesharrisracing.co.uk. ©Eurodragster.com As Christmas approaches, Eurodragster.com sponsor Andy Robinson Race Cars has added some gift items to the PayPal shop on their web site at www.robinson-race-cars.co.uk. Bob Roberts tells us that there are old favourites such as Ringer's gloves and damaged engine parts, plus some packs of promotional goodies from the last couple of years. You can use the shop with any card; a PayPal account isn't necessary. Sincere apologies to four Santa Pod Racers Club Race Officials whose birthdays we managed to miss due to the temporary loss of a crucial sheet of paper which finally surfaced last night. So, we hope that Nikki Wright and Crispin Quaife had great birthdays on 5th November, that Bob Day had a great birthday on Thursday, and that Simon Brown had a great birthday yesterday. Santa Pod back at Autosport. 21st November: Whatever your agenda for this year's Show, make some time to visit the Santa Pod Raceway stand at Autosport International at the NEC, Birmingham on 14th-17th January 2010, packed with a selection of the finest and fastest machines in the sport! The main drag racing stand is open on Saturday and Sunday and is situated in the Oval Racing section on stand 9370. Why not come and meet the team, find out about this season's events and check out some simply unbelievable machinery? As one of the most popular show and race venues in the UK, Santa Pod Raceway continually lifted the bar in terms of content, diversity and attendance throughout the 2009 calendar and there's even more in store for 2010. Some of the highlights of the show will be: Drag racing's premier class is represented by FIA European Champion Andy Carter with his 300 mph Top Fuel Dragster. Sponsored by Lucas Oil, this 8000bhp missile is capable of over 300 mph in less than five seconds and Andy will be happy to enlighten you about his experiences behind the wheel! Martin Hill's world record-breaking Jet Funny Car Fireforce 3 has in the past clocked a spectacular 336 mph at Santa Pod and never fails to impress the crowds. Powered by a Pratt and Whitney engine from a Skycrane helicopter this fire-breathing beast guzzles 120 litres of aviation fuel per appearance on the track! The Showtime Fuel Funny Car, driven by John Spuffard, débuted at Santa Pod this year and turned many heads. Wild runs with speeds reaching 300 mph. Nurturing young talent in the sport is close to the heart of the Pod and the latest acquisition to the fleet is the superbly engineered Junior Funny Car. As a perfectly formed miniature of the real thing, this pocket rocket is available to propel the stars of tomorrow down the strip in 2010. Completing the drag racing line-up will be Santa Pod's very own Top Fuel Bike, and a tip of the hat to the circuit racing fraternity with Paul Cowland's Santa Pod-sponsored Golf Gti race car. This modified hot hatch also reflects the massive variety of 'tuner' events which the Pod has to offer throughout the year Showcasing one of Santa Pod's more outrageous steeds, we will also be bringing back the ever-popular Podzilla, the Pod's very own extreme Monster Truck. Driven by ex-World Champion Drew Thornton, Podzilla is several tons of nitro-burning nonsense that looks the part even when parked up. Taking a well-earned break from car and caravan crushing, it's a fantastic photo opportunity during the show. Santa Pod also welcomes the younger race fan and has proved to be a very popular venue with families. If you visit the stand this year then bring your camera and have a very special souvenir picture taken with Nitro our dragon mascot whilst sitting in Santa Pod's very own Junior Dragster. Don't forget to visit the merchandise trailer for some great Santa Pod gifts and souvenirs. Before you leave, pick up your free copy of the Guide to Santa Pod Raceway and all the 2010 events on your free poster/wallplanner. ©Eurodragster.com Web site updates. 21st November: Part nine of the Fuel Altered Files on the excellent Drag List web site features a number of the Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association's finest featuring pictures by our good buddy Alan Currans of the Acceleration Archive and text by Danny White. You can check out the feature at www.draglist.com. ©Eurodragster.com 2010 NitrOlympX English/Deutsch. 20th November: Hockenheim NitrOlympX Race Director Jerry Lackey has confirmed that the 25th Anniversary NitrOlympX is to take place on 13th-15th August 2010. "The event will host the fourth round of the 2010 FIA European Drag Racing Championship for all classes", says Jerry. "Two new classes will be added to the program: Super Pro ET and Pro ET. Our wish for a round of the UEM in 2010 must again be postponed due to the many other plans for the celebration of our 25th Anniversary and the limit of three days of activities by the City of Hockenheim. We will of course invite the same bikes which competed in 2009 to compete and make show runs again in 2010. ©Eurodragster.com "We will also conduct our annual Public Race on 6th-8th August, one week prior to the NitrOlympX, and offer dragster teams making less than 100db noise a chance to test and tune before the main event. "We are also interested in a few spectacular show vehicles from any where in Europe for our traditional and world-famous NitrOlympX Night Show. Anyone who feels qualified to conduct a show with 40,000 spectators looking on please send your offer and information by E-Mail to [email protected]." Deutsch: Der Termin für die 25. Jubiläumsveranstaltung der NitrOlympX steht fest: 13. - 15. August 2010. Die Veranstaltung wird die 4. Runde FIA Drag Racing "All Classes" durchführen. Zwei neue Klassen werden dabei sein: Super Pro ET und Pro ET. Unserem Wunsch für eine UEM in 2010 müssen wir leider nochmals verschieben, aufgrund diverser geplanter Highlights für unsere Jubiläumsveranstaltung und der Erlaubnis für eine maximal 3-tägige Veranstaltung der Stadt Hockenheim. Natürlich werden für 2010 die Bikes wieder eingeladen, die 2009 angetreten sind. ©Eurodragster.com Unser alljährliches Public Race Event wird eine Woche vor den NitrOlympX stattfinden: 06. - 08. August 2010. Hier haben Dragster mit weniger als 100dB Lärmpegel die Chance auf ein "Test & Tune" vor dem Hauptevent. Weitere Informationen folgen demnächst. Xtreme Wheels Show returns. 
20th November: Following successful years in 2004, 2005 and 2006 the Xtreme Wheels Show is set to return in 2010.
The Show will have some major differences to the previous event held in London.
The 2010 Xtreme Wheels Motor Show will be held at the Haynes International Motor Museum near Yeovil and will offer an outdoor event with the venue's track facilities providing space for live action. The other major difference will be the move from February to the summer: the show will now be held over the weekend of 12th-13th June. The event will be organised by a number of the original team including Bob and Cathie Glassup and Dan Welberry of Eurodragster.com News sponsor 3t Creative. "Xtreme Wheels was a very successful show, enjoying three very positive years at Alexandra Palace", says Dan Welberry. "Right from the beginning I must say that nothing would have been achieved without the vision and drive of Terry Gibbs who headed up the first events and gave so much to the drag racing and custom car scene. We'd like to thank Tina Gibbs for giving us her blessing to continue under the Xtreme Wheels banner, and as a mark of respect to the family we will be naming the Show's main prize in honour of Terry. "For 2010, we are aiming to maintain the event's high standards but with a fresh feel. The Haynes International Motor Museum will provide us with a perfect venue. Show visitors will be able to enjoy this outstanding museum as part of their admission, as well as a packed show field and a live action track! The show field will feature the very best of the custom car scene, drag racing machinery, American muscle, tractor pulling, imports, Vdubs and many more 'xtreme machines'! In the live action arena we intend to offer daily displays including dragster burnouts, jet car demos, drifting, monster truck car crushing, cacklefests and much more! "Our event title sponsorship has already been agreed and will be announced shortly, along with a number of other associate partners and major exhibitors. We're well on our way to putting on what promises to be a very exciting event with a number of key partners ready to back what they see as an event that could easily become a prominent part of the show calendar." Xtreme Wheels Motor Show 2010 are now offering you the chance to be a part of the exciting event as they need your car or bike to form a part of the Show. You can enter by contacting Bob or Dan by E-Mail at [email protected] or [email protected]. Sponsorship opportunities are also available from as little as £1000, as well as trade places which will be offered on a first come-first served basis. Again, please E-Mail Bob or Dan to confirm your interest. One of the main features which the organisers are looking to produce is the finest collection of historic drag racing machines ever assembled in the UK. If you're the proud owner of a part of our sports history or know of anything which you feel should be bought back into the public eye once more, then the organisers would love to hear from you. The Show's official web site will go live soon, as well as news of the latest exhibits and partners as soon as details are confirmed. "We really hope that everyone will see this event as a unique and exciting addition to the 2010 event schedule", says Dan. ©Eurodragster.com Manners tallies the Wallies. 20th November: Sitting at his desk suffering severe nitro withdrawal, ex-pat UK Top Alcohol Dragster racer Michael Manners of Eurodragster.com News sponsor Cosmo Residences has been in touch with a summation of his season on the NHRA Divisional and National scene: Despite winning the Las Vegas Divisional meet the car has not performed as we wanted for some time. Since making some changes to the motor and fuel system we have been unable to run in the 5.2s. We are going to go through the car a few times over the Winter, and hope to test in late January and get back to running decently. ©Eurodragster.com Despite our recent disappointments my rookie TAD year wasn't too bad. We won a Wally and were placed ninth in the National standings and third in our Division. We will wear number nine next year. In addition to the TAD Wally we also won a Top Dragster shootout, bringing our lifetime total to six: three TAD, one Top Sportsman, one Top Sportsman shootout and one Top Dragster shootout. Not bad for a poor boy from Gloucestershire, Oh R. Swift snippets. 20th November: We would like to wish a big Happy Birthday to Swedish Top Methanol FC racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Ulf Leanders. Have a great day Ulf. Ulf and Jörgen are preparing for the PRI Show in Florida in mid-December where Leanders Performance Products will be occupying Booth 2143. ©Eurodragster.com Upton resets record. 
20th November: In a spectacular turnaround multitime Australian National Top Bike Champion, ex-pat UK racer
Jay Upton, blitzed the time sheets to re-set the National Elapsed Time record with 6.11 in a dominating display. In the process he and the team
also took out the meeting, winning the Golden State Championships held in Perth, Western Australia.
This is a major reversal of form for the team after a disappointing start to the season and a horror crash just six months ago. "Yes, it's been an extremely tough road back after our crash earlier in the year", said Jay. "The thing is, though, we never give up. The team, the sponsors and all associated with this effort firmly believe we are on the right track especially with our new bike set-up and last weekend proved it." It's no secret that the team has been working very hard to put this new package together with plenty of issues to overcome. It now seems that they have turned the corner as far as some of the tuning changes being made and not only are the times getting quicker but the speeds are also very much up there, and according to Jay, still more to come. "It's been very pleasing to make the changes and get the direct improvements", says Jay. "We have always known that there is still more to come from our Honda powerplant as we tap into an area that is delivering great results as far as response to those changes. It's also very pleasing to know that the Scooter can go even quicker as we continue down this current tuning path." The event started on a very positive note with Upton qualifying on top in the first session with a National record run of 6.12. The team then lowered and backed up that record up with a 6.11 in the second session. Remaining very consistent throughout the course of the weekend Upton took the event win in the final with 6.13 pass and the team also secured the bonus points with the top speed of the round of 220 mph (355 kmh). The win in Perth is major boost to the ANDRA Pro-Series Championship chase for Jay. With a big points haul the team now sits in second place just ten points off Chris Matheson of Queensland. With three rounds still remaining in the series the team are looking forward to chasing down the opportunity for a fifth National title. ©Eurodragster.com Ready for custom. 20th November: Further to last Friday's news item, 2009 B&H Automotive/LA Racing Parts Street Eliminator Champion Colin Lazenby tells us that he and wife Ann-Marie helped Wild Stacey with his move to Lincolnshire and that he was impressed with Wilf's new set-up: The first time we set our eyes on the new homestead was day one. We were greeted with maybe fifty well-packed boxes with what must have been twenty years' worth of collectables. Wilf's stuff was predictably all hot rod-based and Diane's was all housey stuff. Though to be fair Ann-Marie made Di throw half of it out - not that it was all crap, more that it wasn't to Ann-Marie's liking. We had two days with them and despite all the hard work and good food, we left them in a reasonably settled-in state. ©Eurodragster.com Some two months later and knowing that Wilf, Di and a number of others have all worked their nuts off to get the paint shop up to point of completion, if I had the time here I'd tell you some of what went on, most of which would make a grown man cry or make your hair curl, take your pick. When I fell through the extractor hole in the roof I thought Wilf was going to pee his pants laughing and the heavy bruising has by now improved. We recently had another couple of days down with the Staceys and I can tell you the transformation from barn to paint shop is nothing short of tremendous: painted walls, roof and floor, the floor so clean you could eat your dinner off. Did I say Wilf's shop was clean? There's a compressed air and electrical ring main, proper heating and top-notch lighting with all the supporting gear which any self-respecting top class paint shop ought to have. By now of course the paint bays themselves are fully finished and big enough to take two cars at any one time. Wilf is currently working on a near concours '55 Chevy with potentially a '37 truck waiting for a slot. He also has ample dry storage space to take additional cars. Hopefully he'll find the time to take in the '56 for a little TLC. Introducing a good guy. 20th November: We all know how hard it is to build hot rods and dragsters here in the Europe when all the parts come from the USA, writes Ian Turburville: It can turn into a nightmare trying to source parts from companies sometimes less than helpful to people who are not in the USA! So good, reliable, friendly suppliers can be a godsend to us. Most of us have used either Gary Burgin or Christer Carling at some time or other and they keep our sport going. I would just like to share with you the name of another good guy who has been helping me a lot recently. His name is Dale Wilch and he has a great shop and web-site which can source most parts, and he is glad to ship to us any way you like. He has another resource which is proving invaluable for finding and selling parts new or used and that is Gone Today, a swap meet in your mailbox! ©Eurodragster.com Basically, anything you want to buy or sell, just send it in and he will put it straight out to his ever-growing list of clients world-wide. Everyone on the list then gets a regular Nitro Blast E-Mail with items for sale and wanted. I tried it by asking for some nostalgia spoke wheels for my dragster and got two replies from the USA within the day. Result: I now have some sexy old skool front wheels on my car at half list price! Check it out at www.gonetoday.com and check out Dale's shop site at www.dalewilch.com. For his own part Turbo is having an end-of-season clearance clearance with lots of bargains for car and bike racers including Juniors and up to fifty per cent off Simpson stock. You can find out more at www.turboville.co.uk/turbo-7/classifieds.htm. Editor's note: We're still working on our backlog of news and will catch up over the weekend. Tune back tomorrow and Sunday for the latest news from ME Racing Services, home of Europe's only five-second Pro Mod, Fuel Altered racer Jon Best's season review, a Blogger's nuptials and more, and please keep those news items coming to [email protected]. Big Daddy backs King of Europe. 
19th November: FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion
Andy Carter is proud to announce
a new marketing partnership with one of, if not the biggest name in drag racing
history: Big Daddy Don Garlits.
In probably the most exciting deal in the history of Carter Motorsport, the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing will be backing Andy to race at the Gatornationals, at Gainesville in 2010. The race takes place over the weekend of 11th-14th March and will again see the biggest name in FIA European drag racing go head-to-head with the the biggest names in NHRA drag racing. Having tasted the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series at the Winternationals in Pomona in February this year Andy is hungry to make his presence felt as he did then, qualifying thirteenth. With the current Top Fuel class being so competitive, just to qualify within the sixteen-car field was a major achievement. However, Andy's joy was short-lived as Brandon Bernstein ended the British driver's ambitions in round one. ©Eurodragster.com The backing of the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing will allow an aspiration to become a reality for Andy who in an incredible 2009 season was only two rounds away from a complete European season undefeated. For Don Garlits and the museum, it's a perfect opportunity to promote Don's incredible collection of drag racing history which visitors to the Gatornationals should be sure to visit. Situated in Ocala, a stone's throw from Gainesville Raceway in Ocala, the museum house's Dons incredible collection of world famous Swamp Rat dragsters, as well as many other treasured collections which will simply blow you away! The museum is a a unique experience, as you would expect from the legend behind its creation. "I'm delighted to be representing Don Garlits and his Museum of Drag Racing at the Gatornationals", says Andy Carter. "It will be a real honour to carry Don's name on the car and we will be doing all we can to emulate some of his success on the track. "We will have the Top Fuel Dragster which I will be driving at the Gatornationals at Don's museum the weekend before the race, so come along and get up close and say hello." You can find out more by visiting www.garlits.com. Beware Beelzebob! 
19th November: Dave Armstrong has been in touch to introduce himself to prospective
competitors and fans as Team Beelzebob plan to enter Pro ET in 2010 with this very tidy 1968 Superbee
owned by Bob How.
"Bob brought the car over from Chicago in 2008 and it had its first real outing at the 2008 Mopar Euronats" says Dave, aka Two Lanes. "The bodywork is all lightweight panels. The car is now undergoing a full rebuild. It will run a 545cu in Koffel engine, one of three he built, with ally B1 heads. It will make about 800 bhp plus nitrous. The gearbox is a 727 full of parts from John Cope Racing and put together by Blue from the Mopar Muscle Association.We will probably get John Cope to make the converter for us. The back axle is a Dana on ladder bars and coilovers, and we are converting the front end to A-arm/coilovers built by Bob and Mark using Jag brakes and Ford steering parts. ©Eurodragster.com "The team is Bob How owner, myself driver, Mark Cavendish, James Shelley, Tony Hathaway and Hamdi Halawi. Lymara Ruffel is helping out with some PR work and giving us at least one pretty face on the team, and we have occasional contributions from Jemma Harrison. "For most of the team this is the first go at drag racing, although most of us have been attending Run What You Brungs for many years, and James and I have driven and crewed on the Scorpion Stinger for a number of years." Web site updates. 19th November: Jan Phersson of Eurodragster.com News sponsor Simpson Sweden has been in touch to let us know that he has set up a Swedish-language Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/#/pages/Simpson-Sweden. It's not just any old fan site though as the page is hosting general tips, tricks, news, and how-to guides about personal safety equipment so is well worth checking out. Steve Dunn of the UK's Team Tokyo Toy Super Gas team tells us that good friend and former Pro Rover and Super ET racer Dave 'The Wozza' Worron has posted on YouTube clips of the team's Camaro in action, including on-board footage, which you can check out at www.youtube.com/watch?v=3449trh7FlE. "Jon and I would also like to congratulate all of the 2009 National and Club Champions, especially 2009 UK National Super Gas Champion and all-round good guy (Hear hear - Ed) Jon Morton", says Steve. "We will be looking forward to some more close and exciting races in 2010." ©Eurodragster.com Editor's note: The next news update was actually scheduled for tomorrow but despite day job pressures we've had to squeeze in this update due to an unfortunate incident with embargoes on press releases. Of course we still have to bring you most of the backlog mentioned yesterday so tune back next time and we'll get that posted. We also have some new arrivals including an update from ex-pat UK Top Alcohol Dragster racer and Eurodragster.com News sponsor Mike Manners and the latest news from ME Racing Services, home of Europe's only five-second Pro Mod. Please also keep those news items coming to [email protected]. Ålund for USA in 2010. 
18th November: Six-time back-to-back FIA European Pro Stock Champion Jimmy Ålund
is to race at selected NHRA events in the USA during the spring and summer 2010 instead of defending his European Championship.
The Klintberg and Way-sponsored team have four events on their schedule starting in Charlotte, NC with the inaugural NHRA Nationals at Z-Max Dragway on 25th-28th March before continuing to Atlanta on 14th-16th May, Chicago on 3rd-6th June, and ending in Englishtown on 10th-13th June. During their stay the car will be stationed in the race shop of Pat Musi Performance in Carteret, NJ, where Pat and Robert Hallberg will provide support services. They will not only host the car between races but also support Jimmy Ålund Racing with the use of a race transporter and trailer. Jimmy Ålund Racing's long-time engine builder Bob Ingles and J&B Performance are currently updating the engine of the Klintberg and Way Pontiac GTO and the team is confident that they will have the horsepower to meet the American Pro Stock performance. The car will be shipped in the good hands of Geodis Wilson Freight Management Company and is scheduled to be back in Sweden in time for the Veidec Festival at Mantorp Park. This will be the team's first European event in 2010 and the plan is to continue the FIA tour after this with the events at Hockenheim, Germany and Santa Pod, England. "It will be a big thrill and a great challenge to race against the world elite in the tightest professional drag racing class around", says Jimmy Ålund. "We know we have the material to be in the field but do not come close to having the same experience as the American professionals and this is the big challenge for us. It will not be easy but we are not going there to have a picnic." For further information, or if you wish to be involved in this project, please contact Jimmy Ålund through his web site at www.jimmyalund.com. ©Eurodragster.com Swift snippets. 18th November: The Annual General Meeting of the UK's Volkswagen Drag Racing Club is set for noon on Sunday 6th December at the Marriott Hotel, Eagle Drive, Northampton. Abi Tether has asked that VWDRC members ensure that votes and points for the agenda are sent to Chair Chris Bray at [email protected] by Friday 27th November. ©Eurodragster.com ACAG reception at Beaulieu. 18th November: The Allard Chrysler Action Group is holding a special reception at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu on Wednesday 25th November. The reception is by invitation only and all ACAG members should have received their invitations by now. Other drag racing fans wishing to attend and who plan to join the ACAG should contact Brian Taylor at [email protected]. Visitors to the museum are of course welcome to join us for the presentation part of the day. The reception and presentation are to celebrate several achievements and to update everybody on the progress of this exciting restoration project. The format of the day will be:
Web site updates. 18th November: Something different for Bennett Racing's exclusive Racer Blog this week as instead of usual author Luke Bennett, team member Alan Scott describes his first season on the blown-alcohol altered team. As ever you can check out the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. ©Eurodragster.com Editor's note: We have a small backlog which we will clear on the next news update. Stay tuned for an introduction to a new UK Pro ET team, more on Wilf Stacey's move to Lincolnshire, a season review from a UK Fuel Altered team and more, and please keep those news items coming to [email protected]. Welcome RaceAmerica. 16th November: We are very pleased to welcome RaceAmerica Timing Systems as a sponsor of Eurodragster.com News. Founded in 1991, RaceAmerica is the industry leader in advanced event critical timing electronics. RaceAmerica is recognised worldwide for their innovativeness, reliability, speed, and accuracy. The company designs and manufactures a complete line of portable timing systems, software and LED-based scoreboards and displays. RaceAmerica equipment is used in both single and multi-lane snowmobile, autocross, mud bog, soap box derby, ATV, and drag racing, as well as a variety of customised solutions for private, commercial, and industrial applications. ©Eurodragster.com The company produces the world's only state-of-the-art, fully wireless drag race timing system and continues to innovate with the flexibility to match unique customer needs. RaceAmerica's T-Link wireless system is revolutionary in the drag race industry and can be used to communicate with RaceAmerica timing trees, scoreboards, sensor/emitters, computers and printers. RaceAmerica also produces the most advanced sensor/emitter packages providing quick alignment and anti-vibration/reflection features. Shortly RaceAmerica will be announcing another new ground breaking product for drag racing as well as adding additional items for its oval/road race circuit product line. RaceAmerica supports the thousands of systems that it has operating in over forty countries with unrivaled customer and technical assistance. Learn more about RaceAmerica at www.RaceAmerica.com or by clickong on the logo at right. We would like to thank RaceAmerica for their support and particularly James Viola with whom we have been working. If you are looking for timing applications then please be sure to support our sponsors by taking a look at what RaceAmerica has to offer. Lucas with Carter into 2010. 16th November: 2009 FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Andy Carter is proud to announce that Lucas Oil will once again be backing the 'King of Europe', four-time Champion again in 2010. "We are also delighted that many of our associate sponsors have already agreed to renew their marketing partnerships for the coming season", says Team PR Dan Welberry. "In addition to the full FIA European Top Fuel Championship, we also have a very busy show schedule lined up, where we will be doing our best to obtain maximum exposure for Lucas Oil and our associate sponsors brands and products. Our busy season will commence at Autosport International at the NEC in January, where the Lucas Oil Top Fuel Dragster will be proudly on display at the Santa Pod Raceway Stand." "I am so proud to be supported once again by Lucas Oil for the coming season", said Andy Carter. "Over the years we've built up a fantastic relationship with Les Downey in Europe and Forrest, Tom and many others in the USA, and in 2010 we'll be doing all we can to make sure the association continues long into the future. I'd personally like to thank them all for their faith in my team and I and for the incredible reception they give me whenever we meet up. We all have one common objective, to promote the brand to as many as possible. On track, I know that the performances of 2009 will be hard to match. We were dominant at pretty much all the rounds but there are some great competitors in Top Fuel and I will not take anyone for granted. I'm hungry and there is the small matter of a third FIA European Top Fuel crown in a row and my fifth in all. The competition will have to fight pretty hard to take that from me. ©Eurodragster.com "The 2009 season was amazing when you think about it. We were just two rounds away from a complete season unbeaten! No FIA European Top Fuel team has even come close to this achievement. To maintain such high levels of performance requires the very best support and we have this in Lucas Oil. Their products are second to none and I know that many European and US racers would agree with that statement. The brand has an incredibly high profile in America and Europe where Lucas Oil is involved in class, event and team sponsorship at the highest level. We're honoured that they look to us to achieve their desired coverage in Europe. Throughout the season, we will carry stock of Lucas Oil products and are happy to receive orders from racers, for pick up at the track or to their workshop or business." "Carter Motorsport continue to seek further backing for the 2010 FIA season and a complete list of marketing partners will be issued once finalised" added Dan Welberry. "If you'd like to be associated with the most successful Top Fuel racer in European history, please E-Mail us at [email protected]." Swift snippets. 16th November: The Board of Selectors of the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame in association with USAutomotive met yesterday to decide the inductees to be admitted in 2010. Letters of invitation will drop through letterboxes in four UK and one overseas location this week, and the identities of those inductees will be revealed here on Eurodragster.com on 1st February 2010. Starting with the 2011 selection process, which will take place in late 2010, Eurodragster.com readers will be invited to submit nominations for the Board's consideration. ©Eurodragster.com Don't forget that Eurodragster.com News sponsor Custom Cruisers UK is currently offering a Christmas special of 10% off Simpson helmets and accessories. You can check out Custom Cruisers UK's range of products at www.Simpson-helmets.eu and stay tuned for news of more deals. 2010 calendars on sale. 16th November: Our good buddy Markus Münch tells us that the 2010 Dragstripper and Sideview Inn drag racing calendar is almost ready for delivery. "The calendar is in A3 format with great live action pictures", says Markus. "Featured teams and drivers include Sverre Dahl, showing teeth on a storming run at Santa Pod Raceway, Andy Carter, Urs Erbacher and Anita Mäkelä side by side in the dark, Rick McCann with a giant wheelstand, German Super Pro ET Champion Ingo Ekert, Mats Eriksson, Timo Habermann, Tony Brandes, Marco Maurischat, Graham Ellis and more. "Thanks to those who have already ordered their copies. You can order yours for €19.90 plus shipping dependent upon location by E-Mailing [email protected]." ©Eurodragster.com Another good buddy, Jon Spoard of the UK Drag Racing Nostalgia web site, is offering a 2010 desktop calendar featuring Nostalgia drag racing pictures. Jon's calendar comes in at £6 including postage and you can find out more or place your order at www.ukdrn.co.uk. Europe hits Pomona, day 4. 15th November: Swiss Top Fuel Dragster racer Eurodragster.com sponsor Urs Erbacher is last European standing going into today's Top Fuel Dragster eliminations at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Pomona. In what appeared to be tricky track conditions yesterday joint Eurodragster.com webcam sponsor Lex Joon, Thomas Nataas and Stig Neergaard and their teams put in valiant efforts but didn't make the cut. ©Eurodragster.com After a long wait due to incidents and oil Eurodragster.com sponsors Derek Flynn and Mike Manners made first-round exits in Top Alcohol Dragster whilst Sweden's Micke Nilsson was a second round casualty in Super Comp. On the subject of casualties, almost, UK Super Pro ET racer Martyn Jones alerted us to a couple of photo sequences showing Eurodragster.com Photo Editor Roger and Honorary Eurodragster.com Staff Member Andy Willsheer holding their ground whilst Steve Gasparelli's Top Alcohol FC paid them an unscheduled visit. You can check out the photo sequences on Drag Race Central by clicking here (sequence 1) and clicking here (sequence 2). Note Willsheer coolly doing the Digital Hunch checking his photographs in the last frame of sequence 1. You will be able to keep in touch Urs' progress on the excellent Drag Race Central web site at www.dragracecentral.com. Swift snippets. 14th November: Celebrating a special birthday today is UK B&H Automotive/LA Racing Parts Street Eliminator racer and European Burnout Champion candidate Steve Nash. Have a very Happy 50th Birthday Splinter. Speedgroup appoints Co-ordinator. 
13th November: Speedgroup has announced the assignment of Åsa Kinnemar
to handle administration and co-ordination with effect from 1st November. With her past as
Team Co-ordinator for Top Fuel driver Micke Kågered for fifteen years, this is
familiar ground for Åsa.
Speedgroup Managing Director Michael Gullqvist comments "This year has been extremely busy with the FIA Drag Racing Championship administration and all other related activities. We had a big need for someone to work with this daily on a professional basis and this will enable us to move on at a much greater rate. "Previously we've run the company on pure enthusiasm, and a lot of people have made great efforts to help, but it's now time to take this to the next level. Now is the time to start working for next year, not in May as this year. We got the go-ahead to assign the TV production for the first event this year only a couple of weeks before the race which was an almost impossible task, especially when it comes to distribution of TV shows to the broadcasting channels. TV broadcasters are normally contracted many months beforehand to put it in their schedules; it's just not possible to do it well on a few weeks' notice. "Another thing which will be improved is the information flow, which has been suffering a lot from the lack of resources. We are currently working hard on several hot projects as the release of the 2009 Season DVD, the PRI Show, and launch of the new web site. Stay tuned for more information soon." About her new assignment Åsa Kinnemar says "It is a great mixture of something at which I am already skilled feel strongly about, and yet something completely new. Most matters in which Speedgroup is involved have an impact on teams as well as organisers and sanctioning bodies. I see this as a way to make good use of myself, and it gives me the opportunity to keep working with drag racing and all the great people involved in it. My co-operation with Team Kågered is still ongoing to some extent and they will always feel like "My" team as we have worked together for so many years." Speedgroup AB is a limited company registered in Sweden whose objective is to develop the growth of the European Drag Racing Championships. Speedgroup was assigned as official administrator for the FIA European Drag Racing Championship in 2009. Shareholders in Speedgroup include a majority of the teams competing in the European Drag Racing Championships. Stacey goes east. 
13th November: After selling his body shop with the idea of moving
away to the countryside, UK B&H Automotive/LA Racing Parts Street Eliminator
racer Wilf Stacey has finally found the right property not only to house his
own vehicles, but also to return to custom body and paint work.
"I am now based on the East Coast in Lincolnshire and I am able to offer full concours restorations and paintwork both for race cars - including being able to offer fast turnaround on urgent between-rounds damage and upgrades - and for customs and street rods", says Wilf. "Collection and delivery can be arranged to and from your home or the race track. "Now that the move is now out of the way I will be able to return to competition in Street Eliminator. With all the upgrades I have planned during the coming months I am hoping to return at the begining of the next season." You only have to take a look at Wilf's race car and at the picture at right for testament to the quality of his work. For more information about the services which Wilf provides drop him a line at [email protected]. Project 1320 hooks up with ACAG. 
12th November: The Allard Chrysler
Action Group has formed an alliance with the USA's Project
1320 team who have adopted the restoration of the Allard Chrysler dragster as an integral part of their
own project to log the history of drag racing. Project 1320 are actively raising funds for the Allard Chrysler
to appear in the USA in a planned exchange deal with the legendary Mooneyes dragster which competed
against the Allard in 1963, the first appearance of an American dragster in the UK and a major driver of the
sport's growth this side of the Atlantic.
There is much work to do but if it all comes together the Allard Chrysler will appear in the USA at venues such as Bakersfield and the NHRA Museum. At the same time Mooneyes will appear at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, and other venues. It is hoped that the cars will appear together at some point in both countries - the first time since 1963 and the first time ever in the USA. Project 1320 has been created by the Quarter Mile Entertainment Foundation with the aim of producing a series of films documenting the sport's history from the perspective of drag racing's pioneers. Chairman of the Foundation is Traci Hrudka (on the right in the picture below) whose father and uncle created the Mr Gasket business. Traci worked for Mr Gasket for some twenty years before starting her own company Ellakit LLC, of which she is President. The Quarter Mile Entertainment Foundation has a Board of Directors which consists of a Who's Who of drag racing legends. Along with Traci Hrudka are Harry Hibler, Steve Cole, Don Ewald, Carl Olson, Doug Dwyer and Wayne Wolfe. Advisory Directors are Don Garlits, Wally Booth, Darwin Doll, Stephen Krystek of Synthetic Human Pictures and Bill Pratt. Others involved include the legendary track announcers Jon Lundberg and Dave McClelland. It is supported by such organisations as NHRA, IHRA, NHRA Motorsports Museum, Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, SEMA, Petersen Automotive Museum and many more - with the project's stand at the recent 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas featuring the Allard Chrysler. ©Eurodragster.com 
As well as creating awareness and raising funds, the Project 1320 web site at
www.project1320.com is becoming a new
and powerful internet social network for drag racing enthusiasts, racers, car builders, journalists and
suppliers.
"We need to seek the support of the National Motor Museum Trustees before this exciting car swap can be finalised, but having the support of Traci and her team in the USA is a fantastic development", says ACAG Chair Brian Taylor. "As well as raising funds for the proposed swap, they will be able to monitor the progress of work being carried out for our restoration project in the USA and help obtain 'gifts' from relevant suppliers. "For our part we will continue to raise funds for the restoration of the dragster by selling merchandise, seeking donations and further project sponsors. The serious work can commence, and clearly now that we have the Project 1320 team's support the pressure is on for us to complete the restoration. But it is also clear that the benefits to sponsors have been extensively enhanced by this alliance. As soon as all aspects of the proposal are in place a report will be prepared for the National Motor Museum Trustees who will make the final decision regarding the Anglo-American dragster swap. "We will also be helping the Project 1320 team with aspects of the sport's history regarding the tours by Americans to the UK in the 1960s-1990s. The research carried out during the writing of Crazy Horses - the history of British drag racing will be useful, as will input from the UK-based nostalgia web sites and British Drag Racing Hall of Fame Historian Nick Pettitt. I also hope to visit the USA early in 2010 to attend a book signing at the NHRA Museum in association with Project 1320 and many of the American racers who toured the UK." "We are really excited to be working with the ACAG and the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu on this historically important project to restore Europe's oldest dragster and bring it to the USA", said Traci Hrudka. "Sydney Allard provided that vital bridge to Europe for American drag racers during 1963 through to 1965, and so for drag racing enthusiasts across the world, Sydney and his Allard Chrysler dragster provide a unique marker in internationalising the sport. This is why Quarter Mile Entertainment Foundation and its board members are overwhelmingly enthused about being involved with this restoration and bringing these two iconic cars together. Uniting this history is what Project 1320 is all about, and to be given the opportunity to make it happen is a privilege awarded to few." Central Europe update. 12th November: The season is finished and the Central European climate is closing in to give us sub-zero temperatures until the end of February, writes Paul Fischer of CeDrag.com: Snow chains are now manadatory and are easy pickings for bored traffic cops. Cedrag.com has recently agreed deals with its first commercial partners so we'd like to say thank you to Mike Magrauer at Doc Stinger's Mopar Garage, Heinz Schenk at CoolChevy Raceparts and our good friends down at Andy Robinson Race Cars who all say they see the central European region as an emerging market. We are certainly doing our best to help that process. Not to be left out, Chris Isaacs of Chris Isaacs Race Cars is working in partnership with us to help out with technical advice about chassis and four-link set-ups for some of the local racers. The working committee which was put together after a 'heads-of-agreement' meeting in Budapest are working hard to organise international events within the Central European region for 2010 and, it has to be said, they are finding things much tougher than we'd thought. There are so many rules to be harmonised, race classes to be unified, so many languages (they are all working in English) plus a very competitive scene to secure the best dates...it goes on. Something good will come of it but we still don't have a clear view of how big it will be. It looks as the southern states may not be part of it as they use only Super Gas-style index racing whereas the northern states all use heads-up categories based on technical specifications. Both camps are too far in to change so, unless the racers change the way they compete from one event to another, the region will be split along those lines. Work continues. Mick Payne's former ride, the Dodge Coronet is now safely berthed in Doc Stinger's Mopar Garage and awaits its new mountain motor. Doc's old ride, the Agent Orange Dodge Challenger. has been sold to a guy in Hungary who is undecided whetther to put it back on the street ("Nooooooooo") or race it is full-blooded mode ("Yessssssss"). Either way, we now have another real drag car to the ever growing collection. Tom Tuboly of Tuboly Brothers Race Car Fabrication has committed to building another big doorslammer to go "eights" so we really are getting soem heavy hitters round these parts. Zoltan Kohari, the biggest promoter in the region, has gone on record as saying he will prepare the tracks at his meetings with a new traction compound from VP Fuels. This is music to the ears of the owners of sub-ten second cars, they see this as a good reason to go racing and maybe get some grip. We are all working to assist this process and Chris Isaacs is helping out to educate us on getting a handle on our set-ups. That's the key matters arising in October. For the latest central European news, check out www.cedrag.com where November is already proving to be quite lively. The organisers in the Czech Republic have opened their drag bike series to all comers. We reckon they will get a lot of people next year, some of whom will challenge perennial Comp Bike winner Otto Knebl. ©Eurodragster.com Swift snippets. 12th November: It's the Gibb family's third birthday in a few weeks and today it's the turn of UK Pro ET racer Andrew Gibb. Have a very Happy Birthday Andrew. ©Eurodragster.com Getting OFF on a DVD. 
12th November: Courtesy of Powerpoint
Communications you can now step inside the spectacular world of Outlaw Flat Four right through the exciting 2009 season and enjoy wheels-up,
heads-up drag racing action from the class which has taken the UK drag racing scene by storm.
Running VW Flat Four engines these cars thrill the crowds wherever they go with their wild-launching, highly-tuned machines. Turbos, nitrous and a healthy dose of cool gives one of the most exciting drag racing classes out there. ©Eurodragster.com See them taking on and wiping the floor with monster-engined muscle cars at chilled-out lifestyle events like the Hot Rod Drags, and also running side-by-side in full-on competition at MSA Championship rounds at Santa Pod and Shakespeare County Raceway. This class is all about enjoying the racing and putting on a show for the fans, and it does this in bucket loads. Once you watch them you'll be hooked! The DVD costs just £14.95 plus P+P. Secure online ordering is available at both www.offdrc.co.uk and www.quartermilehigh.com, or cheques to Power Point Communications (UK) Ltd at Unit 3, The Greaves Way, Bishops Itchington, Warwickshire CV47 2PY. Swift snippets. 11th November: After having an unbelievable half season in 9.50 Bike in 2009, the UK's Jake Mechaell is looking forward to competing in a full season of 9.50 Bike in 2010 and is pleased to announce a sponsorship deal with Webster Race Engineering. ©Eurodragster.com Dutch Pro Mod racer Marc Meihuizen's '37 Business Coupe is still for sale and Marc would rather see it out on the strip than hanging in the rafters of his workshop. $35000 will get you the Competition Cars-built roller with modifications by Andy Robinson Race Cars, 4.56 rear axle for blown-alcohol Pro Mod, and tuning help at the track. For more information check out the Cars For Sale section of our Jeff Bull Racing Engines and Performance Parts Swap Meet. Eurodragster.com News Editor Tog would like to wish a very Happy 17th Birthday to his favourite niece* Jennipher. Have a great day Jenn (*his only niece - Ed). Web site updates. 11th November: In the latest entry in his Racer Blog, FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Andy Carter tells of a visit to the California base of main sponsor Lucas Oil. As ever you can check out the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. ©Eurodragster.com Good Manners takes Vegas win. 
10th November: Ex-pat UK Top Alcohol Dragster racer Michael Manners of Eurodragster.com News
sponsor Cosmo Residences had a great
weekend at the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series NHRA Divisional event in Las Vegas, and he has the Wally to prove
it.
"We still don't have the Cosmo/Aquygen/Anglia car running as we think it should, but it did pick up and Shane Conway got it down the track every time", says Mike. "The whole crew did a stalwart job. We changed heads after the third qualifying run, as the spark plug porcelain was messing up the valves. "In the final the car got a little loose on the top end, it could have been me with a fogged-up visor, but we dropped a couple of cylinders and still ran low ET and top speed of the event with a 5.332/265.33 to beat a tyre-smoking Hillary Will in Tom Conway's car. ©Eurodragster.com "An additional pleasure was winning in front of my parents, sister and brother-in-law who are over here for the last two races of the season. It was also good to have Derek Flynn competing and to meet Dave 'Grumpy' Wilson and Martyn Jones. I seem to have a bit of a cold, which I don't notice when I'm in the car, but hope will be gone soon as it messes up my beauty sleep, which I desperately need." Mike thinks that the team are pretty well set up for this weekend's NHRA Finals at Pomona, although he is cautious. "Last year we went from number one qualifier in Vegas to twenty first out of twenty one at Pomona so never any guarantees", he says. "The weather looks good so there should be some low ETs. There will be a full field, with about twenty five cars already entered all hoping to secure one of the sixteen spots for the last race of the year." Swift snippets. 10th November: The Annual General Meeting for the UK's Super Modified racers will take place as ever at the Tewin Memorial Hall at 10:00 am sharp on Sunday 29th November. Any questions or points for the agenda should be addressed to SMRA Chair Rob Loaring on 01327 858992. ©Eurodragster.com Eurodragster.com News sponsor Custom Cruisers UK is offering a Christmas special of 10% off Simpson helmets and accessories starting today (Tuesday). You can check out Custom Cruisers UK's range of products at www.Simpson-helmets.eu. The UK's Team Heaven & Hell Pro ET team would like to wish their Crew Chief and reserve driver Dave Buckland the happiest of birthdays, and to take the opportunity to thank him once again for his hard work during the season. "Have a great day mate!" says Carla Pittau, and we second that. Web site updates. 10th November: In the latest entry in his exclusive Racer Blog, Luke Bennett of the Bennett Racing blown-alcohol altered team tells of the team's evening at the Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association trophy night. As ever you can check out the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. ©Eurodragster.com Feature: NHRA Las Vegas Nationals. 
9th November: The latest in our occasional series of Features presented in association with
Stroud Safety and
Andy Robinson Race Cars is Roger's
report and photographs from the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals which took place last weekend at The Strip At
Las Vegas.
©Eurodragster.com You can check out our NHRA Las Vegas Nationals feature by clicking here or by clicking on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Contest: Win a free web site! 9th November: Eurodragster.com News sponsor 3t creative are celebrating the launch of their new web site at www.3tcreative.com and their new range of web packages by offering a race team a free web site package worth £750. "All of us know the importance of the internet in our modern world", says Dan Welberry. "For many in business, this was recognised some time ago and a web site was built which now looks a little tired and in desperate need of a refresh. Others are simply so caught up in the day-to-day running of their business or organisation that the web can wait! "In these tough times, the need to promote via the web has become more important than ever and 3t creative have come up with a number of solutions to suit all budgets. From as little as £250, you can have a professionally-produced web site which will give your company the presence you need. There are three products on offer: Basic web design package for only £250, Starter web design package at £450, and the Small Business web design package for just £750. All packages include free .co.uk or .org.uk registration, E-Mail, and hosting for a year. For full details on each, please see our flyer which you can check out by clicking here. ©Eurodragster.com "We are now offering one lucky race team the chance to win one of our Small Business packages worth £750! Having been involved in motorpsort marketing, PR and sponsorship, we know how important it is to reflect a professional image in all areas of presentation and we believe our site will help the team to achieve this on the web. "All we want you to do, is tell us why you feel your team deserves a free web site?. It really is that simple! All we will ask in return is that you carry a 3t creative logo on your car or bike for the 2010 season and let others know what a great job we did for you! "All submissions are to be sent to [email protected] with the title I want a free web site! The closing date for submissions is 30th November. Any E-Mails received after this date will not be taken into consideration." This contest is being run on Eurodragster.com and on the GT Cup web site so come on racers, get your entries in to support our sponsor and to show those circuit guys that we can beat them at anything. A sponsor for Freddy. 9th November: The UK's Freddy's Revenge blown-alcohol altered team are thrilled to announce a sponsorship deal with Valley Carpets Ltd, contract and domestic carpet specialist. "After the devastating loss of our Rodeck motor at the UK National Finals, it was looking like we were going to have to sit out the 2010 season", says Dave Grabham. "But thanks to this financial support, along with the continuing support of Huw and Mark, the Freddy's Revenge blown-alcohol altered will hopefully be able to contest the 2010 Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association Championship. Many thanks to Gordon Northway whose own race car The Edge will be representing the Multiple Sclerosis Trust and will be sporting their colors and logos in 2010. ©Eurodragster.com "The MS Trust is a UK charity, providing information for anyone affected by Multiple Sclerosis, education programmes for health professionals, funding for practical research and campaigning for specialist multiple sclerosis services. The Freddy's Revenge Nostalgia Fuel Altered will also carry MS Trust decals in 2010. "You can contact Gordon at Valley Carpets Ltd on 01753 831310. I would also like to thank Cable-Tec, for all your cables, controls and control system needs, visit www.cable-tec.co.uk or call 01623 440398; Huw; Mark; the Freddy's Revenge crew; Bob Glassup for his big-hearted gesture; all our fellow NFAA competitors who have offered sympathy, help and advice; Bill Todd at Gary Burgin's; all the hard working Santa Pod and Shakespeare County track marshals and crew; all the photographers who have so generously provided images to us; and last but not least Lawrie Gatehouse for being the driving force behind the NFAA. Good luck in your retirement. "See you all at the track in 2010." Swift snippets. 9th November: Congratulations to Mike Manners of Eurodragster.com News sponsor Cosmo Residences on his win in Top Alcohol Dragster at the weekend's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series NHRA Divisional event in Las Vegas. Mike qualified #3 but set Low ET and High Speed of the event in the final where he beat Hillary Will. You can find out more on the excellent Drag Race Central web site at www.dragracecentral.com. We were very pleased to hear from Dutch Top Fuel Dragster racer and joint Eurodragster.com webcam sponsor Lex Joon that he has acquired a new rear axle and so will be contesting the NHRA Finals at Pomona this coming weekend. You can read all about Lex's outing at last weekend's NHRA Las Vegas Nationals and check out a number of excellent pictures on his Racer Blog which you can check out clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. If you are already looking for Christmas ideas then the Pod Shop Online at www.santapod.com offers everything from men's, women's and childrens' clothing to toys and collectables, event DVDs and booked to Santa Pod Christmas cards and drag racing wrapping paper. Gift vouchers are also available for event tickets or purchases in the Pod Shop. Orders must be placed by close Tuesday 8th December for Christmas dispatch. Alternately you can visit the Pod Shop during the Drift What You Brungs at Santa Pod between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm on 11th and 21st November and 2nd and 12th December. Entry is free if you tell gate staff that you are visiting the Pod Shop. ©Eurodragster.com Charlie Chivers tells us that there are a few £18 tickets left for the Pro ET End of Season Bash which takes place in Cambridgeshire on Saturday 21st November. "We have a live band, comedian, raffle and prizegiving", says Charlie. "If you want to be there then E-Mail [email protected] or call me on 07890 661854. There are also only a few days left to vote for the Pro ET Season Awards at www.pro-et.co.uk/vote". Eurodragster.com News Editor Tog would like to thank Eurodragster.com readers for the huge number of Happy Birthday messages on Saturday. It was very much appreciated folks. Web site updates. 
9th November: Andrew of Eurodragster.com News sponsor
Greekdragster.info has been in touch with
news of updates to the web site. "Last summer six Greek teams participated in NitrOlympX at Hockenheim and
at the Extreme Bike Weekend at Kunmadaras. Two of our teams returned with second and third places. Fastfil also participated with his
orange Corvette. You can find a lot of multimedia stuff in our new Multimedia gallery at
www.greekdragster.info/content/gallery/InternationalRaces/photos
and we have a Facebook group for the two events at
www.facebook.com/greekdragster#/group.php?gid=103198984389&v=wall.
We also have a Greekdragster.info Facebook group at
www.facebook.com/greekdragster."
©Eurodragster.com UK B&H Automotive/LA Racing Parts Street Eliminator racer Ron Haslett has launched a new web site at www.insanecreations.net. The very neatly-designed site includes details about the car, calendar, gallery, links, a page about Ron's favoured charity Macmillan Cancer Support, and more. Europe in Las Vegas II. 7th November: European fans have a few racers to cheer for at this weekend's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series NHRA Divisional event at Las Vegas. Ex-pat UK racer Mike Manners of Eurodragster.com News sponsor Cosmo Residences and Derek Flynn of Eurodragster.com sponsor Gold RV will be contesting Top Alcohol Dragster, Derek again on the Battery Pack Tour in the seat of Larry Miersch's injected-nitro car in a last-minute driver change, and Honorary Eurodragster.com staff member Spencer Tramm will be contesting Stock Eliminator in Jim Rizzoli's E/SA Camaro. ©Eurodragster.com Of his 5.663/241.89 qualifying run yesterday Derek told us "The new clutch worked well and the changes to the fuel system seem to be working early on but we dropped cylinders at half track. The data showed that we need more fuel downtrack. We are hoping for better today but it looks like the bump will be in the 5.3s which will be tough." Qualifying continues today and as ever you will be able to stay in touch with our favourites' progress on the excellent Drag Race Central web site at www.dragracecentral.com. Swift snippets. 
7th November: The UK's Team Heaven & Hell Pro ET team would like to wish their reserve
driver and honorary team member Tog a very happy birthday indeed, and to announce that a giant portrait commissioned
by the team has now been delivered to the National Gallery and given front of house honours (right).
Kirstie, Roger and Simon would like to join in the birthday greeting and we are sure all of our readers will also wish News Editor Tog the happiest of birthdays. ©Eurodragster.com Blog updates. 6th November: We have two Blog updates for you today. First by a few hours is UK Top Methanol Dragster racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Derek Flynn who tells the tale of his first weekend racing on the Battery Pack Tour in Las Vegas and reveals that he will now be driving Larry Miersch's Top Alcohol Dragster at this weekend's Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series NHRA Divisional event, again in Las Vegas. ©Eurodragster.com A few hours after Derek's submission came an update from US Top Alcohol tuner Will Hanna who tells how the Foster Racing Top Alcohol Funny Car team, for whom he tunes, took this year's NHRA Division 3 Championship. Will's piece gives a fascinating insight into working on the NHRA Divisional tour, which doesn't get as much exposure as it deserves although Eurodragster.com sponsor Mike Manners has of course been helping us with that. As ever you can check out the latest Blog updates by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. We are expecting a Blog entry from Dutch Top Fuel Dragster racer and joint Eurodragster.com webcam sponsor Lex Joon, but Lex has quite rightly excused himself whilst he gives priority to the acquisition of a new rear axle in order to make next week's NHRA Finals at Pomona. Good luck to Lex on that front. Welcome Patterson Racing. 
5th November: We are very pleased to welcome the US'
Patterson Racing Performance
Warehouse as a News sponsor on Eurodragster.com. The Patterson Racing team boosts
one hundred plus years of combined experience in their racing shop in Augusta, Kansas,
where they specialize in a variety of engines, pistons and other racing
components. The knowledgeable staff designs and creates engine combinations
that are raising performance levels, keeping customers' race cars
running competitively, and winning races.
"We welcome the opportunity to be associated with Europe's premier drag racing web site", said Todd Patterson. "Patterson Racing has several customers in Sweden including Jan Kretz, National Record holder with our 316 ci SB-2 GM Engine. ©Eurodragster.com "Patterson Racing is considered the industry expert in Custom Piston Development. Our multiphase procedures produce measurable horsepower and performance increases. Two CNC machining centres mean a quick turn-round to get you back to the race track in record time." Racers can visit Patterson Racing's on-line catalogue at www.pattersonracing.com or click on the logo at right, or call their knowledgeable sales staff to place an order for a wide range of performance parts. Patterson Racing is a distributor of over one hundred aftermarket product lines to service all your high performance needs. E-Mail at [email protected] twenty four hours a day and you'll receive quick response to your parts request. We would like to say a huge Thank You to Todd Patterson and Patterson Racing Performance Warehouse for their support. It is a privilege for us to be able to bring another American company onto our roster of sponsors, especially one which already has proven success in Europe. We are sure that our readers will repay the support of Patterson Racing Performance Warehouse by considering them when looking for goods or services. Swift snippets. 
5th November: The latest spy picture to arrive at the offices of
Eurodragster.com arrived with neither words nor any other type of clue. If you know more, or if
you would like to send your own spy picture, then drop us a line at
[email protected].
©Eurodragster.com We have no less than three birthdays today. First up is former Eurodragster.com Photo Editor and good buddy Sharkman. Two birthdays at Santa Pod Raceway as Santa Pod Racers Club Race Official Rikki Wright and Crispin Quaife of Santa Pod's safety team are also celebrating today. Have a great day all of you. A Hustler for sale. 5th November: After an up and down season (literally), UK Super Pro ET racer Mark Bishop has decided to put his Vegas Hustler altered up for sale. "The car is available either in two specs, Super Pro or Pro ET, depending on your budget or your desire for speed", says Mark. "It is being sold as a complete turn-key operation, right down to the trailer and dial-in board, everything you need to go racing. For full details please see the Jeff Bull Swap Meet or my web site at www.vegashustleracing.co.uk. ©Eurodragster.com "Many thanks to my Dad, to Webster Race Enginering for building me a great race car, and to everyone else who has helped over the years. I'm not giving up racing, just raising funds to move onto the next project which we will announce here on Eurodragster.com when it comes to light." Welcome Dave Beck! 4th November: As mentioned yesterday we are very pleased to welcome multiple ACU UK Pro Stock Bike Champion and European and UK PSB record holder Dave Beck to the Eurodragster.com Blog team. ©Eurodragster.com Dave's first Blog entry describes the TVR Power team's entry into European competition in 2009 and the work already being done for the 2010 season. As ever you can check out the latest Blog entry by clicking here or by clicking on the Racer Blogs link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. As if a new Blog on Eurodragster.com was not enough, thanks to Stephen Moon for letting us know that Dave is currently Person of the Week in a very interesting Q&A on the excellent Dragbike.com. Dave is the first non-US racer to be featured in PotW on what is a very popular and influential web site. No thanks at all... 4th November: Glenn and Mandy of UK Event Safety, who look after public safety at Santa Pod Raceway, would like to thank (not) the kind person who stole the amber lights from their van at the track on Saturday. "The vehicle was clearly marked Event Safety Team and was parked in its usual place ready to respond to any accident investigations which needed to be carried out", says Glenn. "I went to get the van for a safety job only to find a snapped cable and no light bar, and some nice muddy scuffs up the side of the paintwork. Not only was it hazardous, but it was extremely difficult trying to get through the Flame and Thunder traffic without the help of the flashing ambers. ©Eurodragster.com "To the person that did it, it's not the cost but it's the principle: please don't mess with support equipment at Santa Pod or any other venue. Staff at the venue all have their jobs to do, and you just made it harder." If anyone knows anything about this then please shop the responsible party via the UK Event Safety web site at www.uk-event-safety.co.uk. Web site updates. 4th November: Paul Lister has updated his Drag Car Anon web site with pictures from the Flame and Thunder Show at Santa Pod Raceway. You can check out Paul's pictures at www.dragcaranon.co.uk. ©Eurodragster.com Swift snippets. 3rd November: We are very pleased to announce that multiple ACU UK Pro Stock Bike Champion and UK and European Pro Stock Bike record holder Dave Beck has joined Eurodragster.com's Blogging team. The first Blog entry will be posted here on Eurodragster.com tomorrow. Dave Murton asked us to thank brother Andrew for taking him on a nine-second passenger run in his Nevermind Camaro at the Flame and Thunder Show at Santa Pod. "Thanks also to Darren Prentice and the Pod's track crew for agreeing to let me do so", says David. "I would recommend that all drivers do this for their Crew Chiefs as I don't think I will be so readily telling him to go quicker any more!" As mentioned yesterday, Dutch Top Fuel Dragster racer and joint Eurodragster.com webcam sponsor Lex Joon and his team were voted the Best Appearing Team at the weekend's NHRA Las Vegas Nationals. Lex forwarded us a shot of the team, which appears to us to break the fondly-remembered John Ellul's long-standing record for the number of crew members. 
In a plethora of ghostly figures and monsters from the unknown, congratulations to UK Sportsman ET racer Geoff Cowley for carrying off his impersonation of Gomez Adams from The Addams Family. Although Geoff didn't get to run his Championship-winning Z28 Camaro at Shakespeare County Raceway's Quick 32 Bracket Gamblers Race - now rescheduled for April 2010 - he did come away with top prize in the mens' competition organised by Janet Brown. Fan Tina Skipp took the ladies' prize for her scary witch. Eurodragster.com sponsor Derek Flynn, wife Fiona, the Gold RV Racing team and Gold RV staff have asked us to say a big Happy Birthday to team member Alastair Cole, aka Mole. No sooner said than done, have a great day Mole. Web site updates. 3rd November: Photographer Julian Hunt has updated his web site with no less than 385 pictures from this year's Bug Jam at Santa Pod Raceway. You can check out Julian's pictures at www.julianhunt.net. ©Eurodragster.com Sue Whyte has updated her Photoparazzi gallery with pictures from the weekend's Halloween Bonfire Burn Up at Shakespeare County Raceway. Sue's shots as ever cover both on- and off-track and can be found at www.photoparazzi.com. In a Frenzy at SPR. 3rd November: Santa Pod Raceway presents Fireworks Frenzy, a fun filled evening of live stunts, action, roaring jets, bonfire and fireworks which takes place this Thursday (5th): This will be your last chance of the year to witness Monster Truck action at Santa Pod with our very own Championship-winning Podzilla which will be crushing cars, caravans and anything else that gets in its way! The formidable Terry Grant Stunt Academy will be putting on an unbelievable stunt display with a collection of Terry's cars, but also keep your eyes peeled for a very special guest in the form of the Fireforce 3 Jet Car giving you one final Jet blast! That's not all though, as there will be funfair rides, full catering and bar facilities as well as a dedicated kids' entertainment area to keep the little ones busy all night long. The climax of the evening will be a spectacular fireworks display which kicks off at 7.45 pm so be sure not to miss it! Gates open at 4:00 pm, main attractions from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Entry is £20 per car, maximum of five people per car. More details at www.santapod.com. ©Eurodragster.com Tale of a rookie Champion. 2nd November: UK VW Sportsman racer Lucy Matthews was a rookie at the start of 2009 but found herself 2009 VWDRC VW Sportsman Champion at the end of it. Lucy got in touch to tell us how her season went: It all started at the 2009 Auto Trader Easter Thunderball where I got a Perfect ET in my first round of eliminations. I was amazed, but didn't truly know what I'd done until I was congratulated by Roger Goring, the driver of Firestorm, on my way back from meeting Tog in the tower to say thank you for the Eurodragster.com/Gold RV prize money. I got a bye into the semi finals and then met the driver who was to be my nemesis for the season, Russ Weir. I broke out and Russ went on to take winner of the meeting. My first meeting and I came third, I also won an in-club trophy too, the RNJ Motorsport VWDRC Car of the Meeting. I wasn't going to stop smiling for a very long time. Then when I got home I found my name on Eurodragster.com, congratulating me on my Perfect ET and wondering if I really was a rookie. Then it was time for Big Bang, could my season get any better? I didn't think so, but how wrong was I? Qualifying started, to me it was all about seeing what the car wanted to run at the meeting, she was the boss. Then into eliminations, as always it was nerve-wracking. Through round one and onto round two. I had to be knocked out, no, I was moving up to the semi finals and for me it was a bye into the final. Wow, my second meeting ever and my first final. Who did I meet in the final, yes you guessed it, Russ Weir. Russ redlit and I won the meeting. Standing on the balcony of the VIP suite waiting for all the trophies to be given out, I was shaking like a leaf but was overjoyed to hear the cheer as my name was called. Back off home for me and wait for SPRC Summernationals as I wasn't attending Springspeed Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway. There was a new entrant in VW Sportsman at the SPRC Summernationals: my other half Ian. I'd never raced against him as he was normally in VW Pro and was hoping I wouldn't have to race him. But, shock horror, who did I meet in the first round of eliminations, yes it was Ian! It was a close race but I narrowly took the win by 0.003 seconds. Round after round and I kept moving up, I got through to the final and who should I meet in the finals, Russ Weir. I won my third meeting and couldn't believe it, I was moving up in points table of our Championship. ©Eurodragster.com It was onto the biggest field of the season, Bug Jam. The Championship could be won or lost on this meeting! It started well for the racing, three rounds of qualifying completed. We were in the fire up lane for the fourth round of qualifying, the first pair ran and then the rain fell. The racing was over and I moved into the lead on the points table. I then had a decision to make: should I enter the Open Sport Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway or wait until the UK National Finals at Santa Pod? I entered the Open Sport Nationals, I had to. I was knocked out in the second round of eliminations by Chris Bray, who went on to win the meeting with a perfect ET. The points were added up and I was still leading, but going into National Finals the Championship was open. The UK National Finals arrived, how would it all turn out? After qualifying I was second, above Russ which is what I needed. First round of eliminations and I was against Dean Clatworthy. Dean redlit and had some technical difficulties, I went through to second round. Here I met Luke Stevenson and I was knocked out. Now it started to get nail-biting. Russ went through to the semi-finals and then had a bye into the final, which he had to win to take the Championship. Luke and Russ were lined up ready to stage, and the whole of the VWDRC was at the start line. Russ set off, then Luke went, the race seemed to last forever, yet I knew it was less than twenty seconds. The left hand lane lights came on to tell us all that Luke had won the meeting, which meant that I had won the Championship by ten points and won Rookie of the Year 2009. The VWDRC both cheered and commiserated in the same breath. I got hugs galore and was shaking, but I had to tell my other half Ian, who was sat in his race car ready to race in the final of VW Pro. I wanted to see Russ, but first wanted to see Ian run his race, he won the meeting. I was on Cloud Nine and couldn't believe it. There are so many people I would like to thank for helping me through the season. Huge thanks go to everyone who has encouraged me over the season, special mentions to Roy Wilding, Wayne Allman, Andy Frost, Roger Goring and the VWDRC. Thank you to my sponsors Volkstorque and Rods'n'Sods, and a massive thank you to my brother Simon Matthews and my other half Ian Huggan - without these two it would never have happened. Thanks also to Lucy for confirming the 2009 VWDRC Champions and runners-up. Congratulations to: VW Pro Champion: James Hodson Runner-up: Richard Merriman VW Sportsman Champion: Lucy Matthews Runner-up: Russ Weir Swift snippets. 
2nd November: The UK's Norm Wheeldon made his first run with his Two Much twin-motored slingshot at Shakespeare County Raceway on Saturday.
"We did a burnout which seemed to go down quite well", said Norm "That's all we went to do, check out the link between the two motors.
It was a great moment for me to get strapped in again after twenty six years. It was a bit tight in the cockpit and I could
hardly see round the engines, but if it was easy everybody would be doing it! After a few runs it will get easier and we will be sticking to
our one-step-at-a-time plan."
All of the European racers took first round exits at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals yesterday. You can check out results and pictures on the Drag Race Central web site at www.dragracecentral.com. Our US Correspondent Ed O'Connell tells us that Stig Neergaard and Thomas Nataas were interviewed during the TV coverage of qualifying, and Eurodragster.com webcam sponsor Lex Joon and team had the honour of winning Best Appearing Crew. Eurodragster.com sponsor Mike Manners (Top Alcohol Dragster) and Honorary Eurodragster.com Staff Member Spencer Tramm (Stock Eliminator) will be in action at this weekend's NHRA Divisional event in Las Vegas. ©Eurodragster.com Mike Chadwick has been in touch to inform readers that Eurodragster.com News sponsor Custom Cruisers UK will be offering a Christmas special of 10% off Simpson helmets and accessories starting next Tuesday, 10th November. We will post a reminder on the day but in the meantime you can check out Custom Cruisers UK's range of products at www.Simpson-helmets.eu. Brian Taylor tells us that Crazy Horses, his history of UK drag racing, is currently the third best-selling motorsport title at Borders bookshops in Australia. "I hope that Steve Read has bought a copy!", says Brian. Santa Pod Raceway's resident Run What You Brung photographer Ian Blackett says that he spent no less than one hundred days working at Santa Pod Raceway this season (Is that all - Ed). "We are looking forward to putting our feet up for a few weekends, and then cracking on with 2010 which will no doubt prove to be even more exciting than 2009", says Ian. You can see the fruits of Ian's labours at www.blackettphotography.com. Web site updates. 2nd November: Day two of Shakespeare County Raceway's Halloween Bonfire Burn Up was rained out but as promised Peter has provided us with a gallery of shots from Saturday's on-track action. You can check out Peter's pictures, which are 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. ©Eurodragster.com Also posting a gallery from the Halloween Bonfire Burn Up is our good buddy Alan Currans, whose shots you can reach via the What's New link at www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk. Webmaster DJ has posted a Flame and Thunder Show gallery on Santa Pod Raceway's official web site at www.santapod.co.uk/e_flame.php. UK Pro Mod racer Wayne Nicholson has updated his web site at www.luckydevil777dragracing.com with a season review and new pictures in the gallery. Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! 
1st November: It's race day at the NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas and Europe has
four representatives in today's eliminations.
Firstly a big well done to Micke Nilsson who made round 2 of Super Comp and to Honorary Eurodragster.com staff member Spencer Tramm who qualified and made round 1 of Stock Eliminator. Commiserations to Eurodragster.com sponsors Lex Joon and Derek Flynn who didn't make the cuts in Top Fuel Dragster and Top Alcohol Dragster respectively. Thomas Nataas (8th), Eurodragster.com sponsor Urs Erbacher (13th) and Stig Neergaard (14th) are all flying the flags for Europe in the first round of Top Fuel Dragster, and ex-pat UK Top Alcohol Dragster racer Mike Manners (16th) of Eurodragster.com sponsor Cosmo Residences is also taking part in today's eliminations. ©Eurodragster.com You will able to keep in touch with results on the excellent Drag Race Central web site at www.dragracecentral.com, and a live audio stream is available on www.nhra.com. Roger has sent us a small gallery of shots from the first couple of days of the event. You can check out Roger's pictures, which are presented in association with Stroud Safety and Andy Robinson Race Cars, by clicking here or by clicking on the Features, Interviews, Tributes link on the left-hand side of any Eurodragster.com page. Thanks to Roger for again going above and beyond and to Spencer Tramm who got the pictures to us. Good luck to those racing for Europe today. Stay safe and make us even more proud than we are already. Earlier news |
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