Peak Performance Day
Saturday 19th March

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23:00

Today's pictures have now been posted; you can reach them via the event index page.

We will be back here at Santa Pod Raceway tomorrow to bring you all the news from the Run What You Brung, at which a large number of today's attendees will be running again. See you then!

17:50

We're now done for the day here at Santa Pod. The last few of today's 301 runs were as follow:

Steve Venables clocked 8.137 at an even bigger 191.46, whilst Mark Fisher's last run of the day was 8.503/166.13 and Graham Dance's was 8.996/167.81.

Nigel Turner put in a fine observed full pass of 8.697/147.58. Derek Flynn, the previous owner of the dragster, has been watching over Nigel all day and looked very happy with the outcome. Well done Nigel!

Well done also to Ashley Bell whose last pass of today in his recently-acquired Cobra was a very good-looking 9.148/144.21. Mark Pointer clocked 8.586/153.56 in his van whilst Belinda Bull's last run of the day was an 11.279/125.68 with a little hesitation off the start line.

17:30

Ian Caseley popped in to see us, he is A-OK and the Roadzombie 2 does not look too bad. Looking at the car, the sidewall closest to the chassis has parted company with the rest of the tyre and the wheel has been damaged. The suspension has also been damaged some. The rear right tyre shredded as the chute opened at the top end, Ian said that the car moved around a bit in the shutdown area but initially he thought it was normal - "I thought that's what happened when you went 230 miles per hour!", he said. Luckily a chute was out and the car is of course long and stable so Ian was able to keep it straight and get it stopped. Ian is taking the car home and will take the rear end apart tomorrow. "I'll order the new parts on Monday", he said.

Let's bring you up to date with the other passes we've had.

Danny Cockerill just clocked a 7.067/202.59 in his Pro Mod, the tyres shook a little but Danny stayed with it, the car started to move for the guardrail and Danny stayed with it as long as he dared, then he pedalled and pulled it straight, got back on it and drove all the way through, and then his 'chutes failed. Danny got it stopped and that's another new experience for him!

Steve Venables had wheelspin off the line on his last pass, losing one and a half tenths before sixty feet, but still recording 8.401 at a huge 190.83. Mark Fisher in the other lane ran 8.482/166.63. Martin Walker has run 10.293/141.01 and 10.390/133.98. Paul Wing clocked 9.721/135.52 on his 9.50 Bike.

Steve Nash clocked 8.504/174.44 in his Cougar and Tim Garlick was into the sevens again at 7.899/171.00.

Malcolm Francis ran with the throttle stop in and clocked 9.505/165.51 in the Air Sea Logistics Grand Am, whilst Carla Pittau clocked 10.375/132.39 on her latest pass. Malcolm has just put in another pass, a 9.080/167.25.

Matthew Rayner ran 17.341/35.45 on his latest pass in the SPR Junior Dragster whilst Scott Hauser ran 8.119/81.98, Jay Hauser 7.847 at a huge 93.35, and Kane Jones 7.892/81.09.

Stay tuned, we are not done yet.

16:30

Steve Nash and Ashley Bell were next and paired up, Splinter finally pulling one of his hundred-foot burnouts before clocking 8.515/173.17 with some shake off the line. Ashley clocked a nice 10.018/138.50, the Cobra not going quite as straight as last time, although Splinter's burnout smoke was still in the air so Ashley may not have been able to see where he was going!

Dave Bailey had a better time of it with his Funny Bike this time round, 8.413/131.99. That was followed by an SSB match-up between Graham Dance and Chris Reed, Graham clocking a nice 8.434/178.54 and Bois on a good one until about half track when there was suddenly a cloud of smoke and we didn't see him again until 10.207/81.40 came up on the scoreboard, the smoke cleared, and we saw Bois parked next to the top end fire crew. There is aluminium and oil on the track and we're stopped for clean-up.

Steve Venables stepped up to see us and said that his seven-second pass was down to his wife. "She phoned up and asked me when I was going to stop messing about and do it, and I ran the seven on the next pass!", he said.

16:10

Ian Caseley has blasted his personal bests out of sight in the Roadzombie 2 Jet Dragster, a 7.222/230.73 proving that the afterburner is well and truly sorted. We understand that Ian had a tyre shred in the shutdown area but he is A-OK and he got the car stopped with no problem. Stay tuned and as soon as we know more we will bring it to you. That run could just have been a six since the car slid out of stage some before Ian hit the burner.

Steve Nash put in a fine 8.256/173.65 in the Wild Cat. There was some shake off the line and then the tyres hooked up, the engine note took on a demonic quality, and the car just went. Antony Wilkins clocked 11.270/116.87 in his Chevy whilst Belinda Bull put in another checkout pass of 12.093/108.70 in her Super Gas Camaro and then an 11.107/98.44 giving it some more throttle and then getting off it just before the finish line.

Malcolm Francis ran another very rapid 8.076/169.84, whilst Nigel Turner put in a burnout and sixty foot in his Super Pro ET dragster, 11.005/95.39.

Scott Hauser did his Naughty Boy act again with a 7.687/84.92 in his JD, whilst Jay clocked 7.832/82.71 with a 0.002 reaction time. Kane Jones got on the index yet again with a 7.919/92.25.

Vince Gibbs and Mark Pointer ran alongside one another, Vince proving that he has a real handle on the Toyota with an 8.813/149.36 whilst the Hooligan clocked 8.694/153.02. Tim Garlick was next up with a fantastic 7.859/171.03 in his Super Mod, the boy racer in the other lane had a great view of the Cortina getting smaller and smaller. Carla Pittau clocked 10.272/132.37 and Mick Smith 12.981/105.67.

On two wheels, Paul Wing and Nigel Barker paired up, Paul recording 9.913/137.03 and Nigel 9.676/152.11.

15:15

...and Steve Venables does it again, only better. 7.787/188.41! Another very straight run with a wheelie at the eighth, nice one Steve!

Martin Hill has put in his first run of the day in the Firefirce 2 Jet FC, shut off at about 1000 feet but still 5.965/220.56, nice one Martin.

15:05

A very nice second run for Danny Cockerill in his new Pro Mod. Another thoroughly competent burnout, the tyres shook very hard between about twenty and sixty feet, Danny calmly pedalled and the car stuck to the track and went as if it had been fired from a gun, 7.392/206.34.

Mark Pointer's second pass of the day was a fine 8.580/153.56, straight as you like. Be sure to check out Mark's van when we post our gallery later on, Jon Hogarth has done a tremendous job on the paint.

Malcolm Francis has gone even quicker in the Air Sea Logistics Grand Am, a fine 8.022/170.35. Meanwhile Natasha Garcia seemed to have problems off the start line in her VW Pro Beetle and idled down the track, 15.180/117.12.

Chris Reed took a bucking bronco ride on his SSB but still clocked 8.496/156.81, a new PB we think.

Kane Jones and rookie Matthew Rayner squared up again, Kane with another bang-on pass at 7.933/80.94 and Matthew Rayner 18.445/33.36.

A short while ago Jamie Sneddon was walking around the start line accompanied by an American-looking gentleman whom we believe to be Kent Stotz. Does this mean that the Blackbird is here...

14:45

After Steve Venables' historic pass, Scott Hauser set some sort of record with a 7.612/84.72 in his Junior Dragster, that has got to be the quickest JD pass ever in Europe although it would have got him a slapped wrist at a race event, 7.90 being the absolute index. Scott's brother Jay clocked 7.759/82.98 whilst Kane Jones went right on the numbers again at 7.968/80.79. Matthew Rayner in the SPR JD clocked 18.477/33.38 and he has now learned how to red light!

Back on two wheels and Nigel Barker ran 9.751/151.85 on his SSB, Graham Dance is just pulling to the line as I type but on his own bike this time...8.743/172.98.

Carla Pittau clocked 10.168/131.98 on her second run of the day, whilst Ashley Bell's second pass in his Cobra was 10.166/137.26. The Cobra goes arrow-straight, you would expect a relatively short and narrow car to want to go all over the place but this one is set up just right.

Tim Garlick's second pass of the day was a tremendous 8.483/120.70 - but this was not much more than a half pass! The car launched hard and straight and was obviously on a good one, Tim was off it very early and it was still a very respectable Super Mod time!

Next up was Belinda Bull in her Super Gas Camaro, this her first time in the car. A very tidy 0.686 RT for a first time, and gently down the track, 18.9782/67.17. Fellow rookie Nigel Turner was next in his Super Pro ET dragster. A nice burnout, 0.444 reaction time, 1.181 to sixty foot and then off the throttle and gently for the rest of it, 14.187/67.17.

14:20

A historic first afternoon pass for Steve Venables as he clocks 7.918/186.83 on his Super Street Bike. Well done Steve! A superb straight pass with one wheelie at about 100 feet, more to come yet I think!

Steve's incrementals were:

60 feet: 1.391
330 feet: 3.590
Eighth ET: 5.293
Eighth speed: 149.42
1000 feet: 6.676
ET: 7.918
Speed: 186.83

14:10

We had a word with Steve Wells who sideswiped the guardrail in his fan-favourite Ford Pop pick-up this morning. Steve, who is A-OK, is mystified over what caused fluid to get under the tyres since the motor is intact, and all plugs and hoses are still attached. He said that there was a lot of water in the exhaust but that until he took the head off it would not be clear where it had some from. Steve said that the new top end guardrail did a great job. "The wall kept me upright, it would have rolled otherwise", he said. "It just kept me straight and I got it stopped". The right-hand side of the car is scuffed and bent, Steve said that the rear axle is way out of line and the whole chassis is skewiff. Steve is unlikely to be out again this season but he will be back.

13:55

Johnny Hall has just been up to tell us about his pass in the B & J Nostalgia Fuel slingshot. "We've broken a rocker arm", said Johnny. "I saw the cylinder out off the line and I stayed on it hoping it would clear, but by three hundred feet I could see it wasn't getting any better so I got off it. The car was slowing very quickly and I didn't want to get stranded on the shutdown area so I hit the throttle to give it some speed and the blower burst plate blew". The B & J Nostalgia team are currently tearing down the engine and Johnny said he would be back later with an update.

13:35

Mick Smith's second pass in the Money Hungry Camaro was another gentle run, 14.929/90.39. Next up was Vince Gibbs in the Sanity Assassin Toyta, a full pass this time and an absolutely superb 9.026/148.97. Looks like we've got a natural in the Toyota!

Antony Wilkins clocked 11.494/114.23 in the Rat Poison Chevy, which is on next week's entry list. A nice straight pass for Antony. next up was a battle of the Eurodragster sponsors as Malcolm Francis squared up to Jeff Bull. Malcolm was away first with a superb 0.009 reaction, then a best ET and speed certainly for this car, if not for Malcolm, 8.096/171.17. Malcolm's 'chute failed but he got it stopped OK. Jeff was left for dead off the start but put in a great 8.563/161.45, we think this is his first time in the car.

Steve Venables then took another crack at the sevens on his SSB, a big wheelie off the start line and two more downtrack but he still recorded 8.062/186.82. Paul Wing and Martin Walker followed, 9.575/138.05 for Paul to 10.454/140.17 for Martin.

Kane Jones and new boy Matthew Rayner paired up in their Junior Dragsters, Kane clocking 7.774/80.94 in the JMA to Matthew Rayner's 18.320/33.73.

Mark Pointer was next in his Super Pro ET van, with a stunning new paintjob by Specialists In Design, just beautiful. A great pass from the Hooligan, a little out of shape off the start line but stayed with it and clocked 8.638/152.62.

The last run before lunch was Ian Caseley in the Roadzombie 2 Jet Dragster, a few thumps from the afterburner and a tremendous pass, 8.012/199.17.

The track will open again at 14:00, stay tuned.

13:05

Graham Dance and Chris Reed squared off on their SSBs. Bois clocked 8.669/165.53 whilst Graham ran 9.178/160.63 having lost some time off the line. Nigel Barker then paired up with Funny Bike racer Dave Bailey. Nigel was on a great pass but towards the top of the track the engine was hitting the rev limiter, 10.000/123.29. Meanwhile Dave's rear tyre chattered off the line, the bike went nice and straight but it looked like a checkout pass to me, 13.024/95.73. Dave's new painwork is very nice indeed.

Natasha Garcia's first outing for today in her VW Pro Beetle was a 13.374/98.45. It sounded as if Natasha was taking it nice and easy, checking things out. Next up after Natasha was Matthew Rayner in the SPR JD, 0.338 reaction and 18.236/33.50 at the stripe.

Carla Pittau is taking the wheel of the Heaven and Hell Pro ET Camaro today, the car has some great additional paintwork. Carla put in a nice-looking 10.337/132.75 with what looked a soft launch.

Johnny Hall followed in the B & J Nostalgia Fuel slingshot, a superb burnout, rolling to half-track, whilst Race Control was saturdated with nitro fumes, thanks Johnny we loved it! A cylinder went out off the line and by half-track there were other cylinders out so Johnny got off the throttle. The car was visibly under heavy braking, 16.146/44.90 at the strip, then there was a bang and the slingshot disappeared in smoke. No word yet on what happened, we have some oil on the top end.

12:45

Eurodragster.com sponsor Malcolm Francis was first up after the re-start, 9.655/94.91 for the Air Sea Logisitics Grand Am. The car moved a little off the line and then again towards half-track, Malcolm got off the throttle but this may have been a planned half-pass anyway.

Steve Venables was next up on his SSB, some wheelspin off the start line lost him 0.2 seconds to sixty feet and he clocked 8.259/187.57.

Scott Hauser followed in his Junior Modified Advanced dragster, he'll need to slow things down a bit for next week, 7.742/84.88. Jay Hauser went next, a nice JMA pass, 8.070/82.86.

Danny Cockerill was next up for the first-ever pass in his new blown-alcohol Pro Mod. A superb burnout, up on the revs, great wheels-up launch, hit shake at about seventy feet, off the throttle then back on for a short while and off it at half track, 9.379/92.19 with the chutes out before the finish line. Nice one Danny!

Ashley Bell followed in his Super Pro ET Cobra, a very competent first pass in the car, 10.262/134.69. Well Done Ashley!

Ashley was followed by Steve Nash in his Street Eliminator Cougar. Another superb burnout and a wheels-up launch, wheelspin to 100 feet or so, a pedal and then back on it and the car shot down the track, engine running very rich judging by the black smoke, 9.167/164.96.

Mark Fisher ran 9.020/156.67 on his latest pass although he had to feather the throttle as the bike turned towards the Tree off the line. Also on two wheels, Martin Walker clocked 10.577/141.00 on his latest pass.

Next up was Tim Garlick in his Super Mod, the car looking beautiful in colours of new sponsor REHM. 0.078 RT, very straight, off it before half track, 11.911/70.83.

11:50

Ian Caseley's Roadzombie II Jet Dragster sounds very strong indeed, Ian and the team have been working on the afterburner and the work has paid off. Ian was shut off for a leak on his first pass and then ran low on fuel in stage. He will be back shortly and says he will be going for a half-pass with burner.

Steve Wells (Super Gas) made his first run of the day, a 10.300/106.38 which Jayne told us was a planned half-pass. The pick-up went very straight indeed, as straight as I have ever seen it run. Steve has just run a second time and clocked an arrow-straight 10.171/115.37, suddenly right on the finish line there was a cloud of smoke and when the smoke cleared there was a trail of fluid on the shutdown area and Steve had tagged the guardrail. Steve was straight out of the car, and is A-OK. The new top end guardrail earned its pay.

Kane Jones made his first pass in Junior Modified advanced and ran right on the numbers, 7.921/90.61. Kane's family were very pleased indeed with that, well done to them. Santa Pod's own Junior Dragster has a trainee in the seat today, Matthew Rayner. He clocked 18.415/33.23 on his first-ever pass with a 0.671 reaction. Mick Smith put in his first pass in the Money Hungry Camaro, taking it gently and recording 15.391/81.79.

Also putting in his first pass is Vince Gibbs in Ray Eldred's Toyota Celica. Vince looked like he had been driving the car all his life, a great wheelie off the line, kept on it and got the car straight, and then eased off after half-track clocking 9.867/99.98. Nigel Turner made his rookie pass in the ex-Derek Flynn dragster, a quick burnout and then gently up the track applying a little more throttle as he went, 14.187/91.67.

Street Eliminator racer Steve Nash put in the usual great burnout although shorter than usual, followed by a 9.540/124.32 with a lot of wheelspin and off the throttle early.

The gentlemen of Super Street Bike have been out again, Mark Fisher with an 8.540/169.85, Chris Reed with a 9.085/168.05 with some wheelspin off the start line, Nigel Barker followed up at 9.346/151.98, and Graham Dance on Mark Pointer's old bike clocked 9.510/144.16 which looked quicker. Paul Wing was next up on his 9.50 Bike, 10.025/132.77.

We have a number of import and modified cars with us today and the RC Developments car recorded a great 10.359 at a huge 146.59.

We are on hold for cleanup at the top end, in the collection area are Malcolm Francis, Danny Cockerill, and Steve Venables. Stay tuned.

10:55

A great first run from Steve Venables (Super Street Bike), 8.033/175.91, not bad for a start! Mark Fisher (Super Street Bike) followed, 8.540/169.85.

10:30

Martin Walker's second run of the day was much-improved 10.182/140.66. Nigel Barker (Super Street Bike) has made his first pass of the day, and as far as we know the year, on the Adrenalize SSB and clocked 9.654/145.63.

Steve Venables is in the collection area, stay tuned.

10:15

The first racers to venture out were Chris Reed (Super Street Bike) and Martin Walker (9.50 Bike). Chris put in an 8.718/167.76 and Martin an 11.652/130.39 which looked from here as if he had backed well out of it. Paul Wing clocked 10.498/131.98 on his 9.50 Bike.

10:00

Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway. It's a slightly misty morning but we know that the sun is up there all ready to burn it off and it's going to be a beautiful day. It's the last weekend before the Easter Thunderball and we're here to bring you all the action in association with American Car Imports.

The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is already on-line and broadcasting a picture every two minutes. You can view the webcam via the event index page.

Don't forget that our good buddy Gareth Evans will be reporting from the APIRA Test and Tune at Shakespeare County Raceway this weekend; Gareth is planning to post end-day reports and pictures which you can also access via the event index page.

It's going to be pretty busy here. From our vantage point in Race Control we can see Steve Nash (Street Eliminator), Tim Garlick (Super Modified), Steve Wells (Super Gas), Malcolm Francis (Super Comp/Super Gas), Jeff Bull (Super Gas), Natasha Garcia (VW Pro), Dave Bailey (Funny Bike), Chris Reed (Super Street Bike), Graham Dance (Super Street Bike), Steve Venables (Super Street Bike), Paul Wing (Super Street Bike), Mark Pointer (Super Pro ET), Martin Hill (Jet Funny Car), Ian Caseley (Jet Dragster), Nigel Turner (Super Pro ET), Danny Cockerill (Pro Mod), Vince Gibbs (Super Pro ET), Johnny Hall (Nostalgia Fuel slingshot) and Mick Smith (Pro ET). And that's just the racers we can see without moving from our seat!

Stay tuned and as soon as the racers venture onto the track we will start to post regular updates on their progress.