Autosport International 2002
Thursday (Press/Trade Day)

Click here to go back to the event index.

It's a remarkably busy day at the NEC, with journalists, photographers, trade guests and other VIPs thronging the NEC halls. The general impression is of a motorsports industry in good health, and drag racing is putting up a an impressive, professional showing on this first day of Autosport International.

The AC Delco stand is one of the first displays you encounter upon entering Hall 6. The display has three main sections; the Malmgren Racing Camaro with one of the team's two six-second engines (named Viper), a video wall showing FIA Pro Stock and Top Fuel coverage, and a great drag race simulator which even features a transbrake! In the interests of better informing our readers, your reporter and photographer went head-to-head in a best of five. Sharkman was the most consistent with a string of 0.43s, winning 4-1, although Tog pulled the quickest RT of the day (so far) with a 0.416. Don't miss the simulator when you visit, as the quickest RT of the weekend wins two VIP tickets to the Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway, and the quickest RT of each day wins a family ticket to the same event.

At the AC Delco stand we met Michael Malmgren's Crew Chief Heikki Parvainen and crew member Magnus Cato. We asked Heikki about his first year as Crew Chief. "I liked it very much", he said. "I had to take the responsibility and I did it! We were the quickest and fastest at every race which is important. We weren't so smart at the Main Event but we got over it! I think we'll win the Championship this year. There are only two cars which are going to win, if we were going to lose it was to Niclas Andersson. Michael and the guys are great, they are very funny, I like spending time with them. Christer Gustavsson and I work very well together, too. And AC Delco are just unbelievable."

Heikki spent ten years working with Anita Makela and Eero Knihtila before Michael asked him to join the AC Delco team. "This year was one of the best years of my life!", he said.

Magnus Cato filled us in on the team's winter work. "We're all done", he said. "We had a struggle with the bus as usual, but we also overhauled our engine! There are just a few small things left to do. We're doing this show, then a show in Sweden, and in mid-February we are putting the car on the boat to America. We're racing at the Gatornationals at Gainesville, then we get a three-week break, then we race in Las Vegas and in Houston the next week. We may also do some testing before Gainesville."

Magnus said that the team are buying a new short block. "We have two complete engines, and two for sale including Viper", he said. "We are buying the new block but we can't afford the heads, that's where the serious money is. We're also trying out a new camshaft and intake combination, we've put it on the dyno although the dyno isn't everything. We will probably also test before the Main Event, maybe at the Press Day."

Nigel Cole of AC Delco took us through his company's plans for the year. "We're sponsoring Michael big-time, for the third year", he said. "It's a bit early to finalise all of our plans but I know that he is going to win this year! We're looking at putting on a couple of events in Europe, a Run What You Brung-type event in Greece at the end of September to which we would take Michael and the car, and a similar RWYB event in Holland, which is tentatively set for the week after the Main Event. We may also get Susanne Callin along with the two-seater dragster."

Not far away, also in Hall 6, is the Custom Car Magazine stand. The stand is a joint venture with Meguiar's Car Care Products, who are launching their range in the UK at this show. The close-packed CCSE display features Steve Pateman's Calibra, Barry George's pick-up, Sue Jackson's 'Vette, Jeff Meads' Pop, and making its public debut Jon Webster's new Mustang. Jon's car is stunning, very clean indeed, and the standard of workmanship and detail is - not surprisingly - very high. The car is finished in silver with yellow stripes over the bonnet, roof and boot.

Custom Car Editor Kev Elliot was very impressed with Jon's car. "It's almost finished", he said. "All it needs is fuel and oil - and a towing hook for Jon's caravan!". Kev confirmed that several new entries are expected in CCSE in 2001. "Every week I hear of another car", he said. "There are five or six Tri-Chevys and an S-10 pickup, and that's what I've heard about so far!". Kev agreed that the CCSE class keeps re-setting its own level of presentation and professionalism each year. "The level of finish has definitely improved", he said.

We found Dave Holland's Funny Bike on the Titanium International Limited stand in the Engineering part of the show, which is situated at the far end of Hall 6. This part of the Show is only open today and tomorrow, and will be replaced by Motorsport News Live (which as you will know is to feature a Top Fuel Dragster plus Santa Pod Raceway's stand) on Saturday and Sunday.

Nigel Hoskinson of Titanium International and Dave Holland told us about the newly-launched Team TIL Funny Bike team. "As well as Titanium International, we have retained a number of sponsors and added others", said Nigel. "They are Brighton Body Care (paintwork), Carrera Leathers, Goodridge (hoses and fittings), Rock Oil (product and crew uniforms), Inside Line Magazine, KEB Cellular services and Turbo Services International." Dave was a very happy man having just that moment agreed a sponsorship deal with Finland's Tylite, who make titanium rods, valves, wrist pins, fasteners and retainers.

"We want to promote our bike and sponsors at the most valuable events", said Dave Holland. "We're not going for the Championship this year; we're mainly promoting to raise the profile of the sport and doing R & D. Having said that, it's not going to get any mercy! I'm going to ride it like I stole it on every occasion". Dave also said that Martin Peck is to rejoin the team this season. "He'll be the mechanic", said Dave. "Last year Brian and I were like Stevie Wonder working on the engine!".

Dave also filled us in on his trip to Gainesville for the AMA/Prostar World Finals where he rode one of Jay Regan's bikes. "Rent-a-ride is of great benefit to anyone considering it", he said. On my first run the bike was underpowered and went out of shape. On the second pass, the bike wouldn't shift from second to third. And despite the best efforts of the English and MRE, on third run a twenty dollar part failed and fuel leaked, so I went through the top end on fire. I still had a great weekend though."

Dave's old Super Street Bike was on display at the adjacent Trade Partners Pavilion. "The bike is now owned by Adam Lancaster", said Dave. "I'm still involved with him, helping him out with his move to Super Street Bike this year, and of course he very kindly let me ride the bike in Brighton last year. We'll also be using the bike as a promotional tool this year."

Back at the AC Delco stand we met Micke Kagered and Barry Sheavills. Micke had had a hairy arrival in Birmingham when the plane almost ran out of runway. "It was very scary!", he said. But don't worry Åsa, as you can see from the picture Micke is quite OK.

Micke confirmed that he will be doing the whole of the FIA tour this season. "I would have done the whole tour last year except that one of the dates clashed with the Swedish Top Fuel Tour", he said. "There are no clashes this year. The Swedish Top Fuel Tour is definitely going ahead too, it will be Monica, me and...someone!". Micke also said that he planned to race the Top Fueller at Hockenheim in August, and that he will be testing before the Main Event in June.

Micke will be appearing at a number of shows for Bahco Tools before racing this season. "We're going to Automekanik in Sweden, then to a big show in Germany", he said. "At the moment, though, the car is on its way to Mats Eriksson to have a new front and back end. Only the cockpit will be left from last year!". I asked Micke if it was true that he didn't really want to sell his Top Methanol FC. "Yes", he laughed. "I think I'll keep the Funny Car, but I definitely won't drive it. Maybe someone else will drive it. Of course, we have to decide the issue about blowers, we are having a meeting tomorrow and I hope that it will be sorted out."

Barry Sheavills was a little less definite about 2002. "Nothing is signed yet", he said. "It's a difficult time of year for doing deals, but there will hopefully be something big to announce in February. What I can tell you is that it's the same car, and hopefully the same team. Rune Fjeld is in the USA right now getting new parts including a new computer so that we can get a handle on everything which has been wrong with the car". Barry revealed that the computer on the car had broken very early last season, and so the team had been without some of the most vital tuning information for the rest of 2001. "Hopefully with the new computer we can get some better data", he said. "Without the computer data Rune can't use his expertise on that car, whereas he could tune the old car in his sleep!".

Barry and Rune are both convinced that the car can be sorted out. "It's very frustrating to see the old car winning", he said. "When we ran well in Norway last year it proved that this car can do it. When we get it right it will be consistent. All I can say to the fans is to stick with us - it's just as frustrating for us as it is for you!".

We were also very pleased to meet Manty Bugeja and clutch man Chris Farrugia, who had come along for a look around the engineering part of the Show. "We hope to come back this year", said Manty. "We've made some modifications to our new heads, at the European Finals we only had the time to put them on quickly". Manty asked us to say hello to everyone in Malta, and to all of his racing partners. "I wish everyone a good racing season!", he said.

Caroline Day and Kelly Ingall of Santa Pod Raceway filled us in on the latest news of their display, which launches on Saturday. "We are directly behind the Suzuki stand", said Kelly. "We have the Showtime Funny Car, the Shell Racing Top Methanol Dragster, Martin Bishop's Pro Stock Bike, and maybe Dave Holland's Funny Bike" added Caroline.

Also to be found in Hall 6 not far from the CCSE display is the F1 in Schools project. You may remember that a short while ago we published a piece on Eurodragster News about this scheme in which schools build carbon dioxide-powered model dragsters using CAD and CAM technology, and then race them against other schools in regional Championships culminating in a grand final. This grand final happened to take place at the BETTS show at Olympia in London yesterday.

"The scheme is sponsored by Denford together with Jaguar and BAE", said Bob Rose. "It sets out to introduce children to the government's CAD/CAM initiative. The idea originated in the USA but we are now sending ideas back to America. For example, we have a virtual wind tunnel. The Americans do all of their CAD and then they have to build their models and put them into a real wind tunnel". Bob said that yesterday's quickest time was 1.19 seconds over 24 metres. "We'll be here all weekend so come along and have a go!", he said.

Plenty to see, then, so make a note in your diary to come along to the NEC on Saturday and Sunday if you can. Almost all of the drag racing is to be found in Hall 6; and although Motorsport News Live and Santa Pod Raceway are officially in Hall 20 on Saturday and Sunday, this is actually the far end of Hall 6.

We are indebted to Nigel Cole of AC Delco and Nigel Hoskinson of Titanium International Limited for their assistance and facilities in the production of this report.