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18:35

Today's pictures have now been posted, you can view them via the Event Index page.

17:30

Shaun Branch and Joe Kellett were the last racers to run this afternoon. Same again for Shaun: gentle launch, wind up the throttle then off it early, 9.667/102.92. Joe's last two runs were 8.691/76.25 and 8.734/75.87.

Nigel Payne's last pass of the day was a low ten, we understand that Nigel has got a converter problem but doubtless that'll be sorted well before next weekend.

We're now working on today's pictures, stay tuned.

16:20

Kev Slyfield has put in his first pass in his Willys Pro Mod, a very nice piece of kit it is too - pictures later. Kev took it very easy for his first run, the briefest of burnouts and then taking it nice and slowly up the track to a twelve-second pass.

Tethys will be driving the Paul Marston Racing dragster at the Easter Thunderball and so is making observed runs today. His second observed run was a half-pass, 1.16 to sixty feet, 5.228/130.48 at the eighth and 9.183/100.20 at the stripe.

On to two wheels and Shaun Branch's latest pass again featured a gentle launch and then on the power a couple of hundred feet out, then shut off at about 1100 feet, 9.273/119.71. Stayint on two wheels, Fast Harry has got into the 9.2s at 9.259/143.86, this is a new PB or close to it but a long way below the 9.50 index. David Warren stayed right-side on his latest pass, 9.674/142.81.

Back on four wheels and specifically Junior Dragster, Joe Kellett's latest pass in the Drummin' Man Junior Modified was 8.693/75.38 and Rhiannon Bellenie clocked a 0.050 reaction time on her latest pass of 15.895/40.39.

14:00

Luigi Ferretti has made his final pass of the day and it was another six, 6.802/292.57, nice one guys! Antonio was over the moon but is a bit upset that due to work commitments the team can't race at the Easter Thunderball. But it's certainly looking good for the FIA Main Event. Turbo was shut off after the burnout on his second run of the day but quickly came back to run a very sound 7.792/184.22 and that Twin sounded mean.

Also on two wheels, Shaun Branch's second pass of the day was another gentle launch and then squeezing on the power, 9.523/111.34. Dave Branch said that he and Shaun are happy so far.

Gary Drury was having problems with sticking solenoids but his latest pass was an 8.944/152.63 so I guess he has gone some way to solving that. Gary has called it a day for today and will be back next week. Also on two wheels, Fast Harry and Phil Pratt matched up again, Harry going after his PB again at 9.343/145.27 to Phil's 9.793/140.11.

Joe Kellett still needs to add some weight to his Junior Dragster I guess, his latest pass an 8.623/76.25.

Just as I went to post this update, John Morris appeared around the corner and put in a launch in his Pro ET Probe, 1.392 to sixty feet and off the throttle very quickly after.

12:30

Roger Goring has gone back to the pits after a fuel leak sprung when the jet engine started up. I don't think it will be too long before he's back.

Gary Drury's latest pass on the Turboosa Super Street Bike was a 9.652/151.98. Also on two wheels, 9.50 Bike racers Fast Harry and Phil Pratt clocked 9.379/144.67 and 9.851/140.22 respectively. Fast Harry told us that he was after his personal best of 9.2 to start with and then he would go for a couple of 9.5s later on.

It's absolutely heaving here at Santa Pod, we understand that more than 250 vehicles are signed on and I could believe that. All of the pairing lanes are full and the queue goes back down the fire-up road and into the pits.

A big Hello to Pro Stock Bike racer Chris Hope who has been in touch to say that he is enjoying the coverage. Thanks very much Chris!

12:00

If the breeze would drop it would be a perfect day out there. Having said that, it doesn't appear to be affecting anyone on the track.

Ray White put in a very solid half-pass in his Lethal Zephyr Pro Mod. Ray took a bit of a run at the burnout and when he got off the throttle the Zephyr took a big step to the right but he had it covered. A gentle launch and on the throttle to about 500 feet, half-track maximum, 9.001/108.72.

Pro ET racer John Morris' Probe has grown a hood scoop over the off-season. John pulled two burnouts and then put in a very nice pass, 9.327/146.61.

Luigi Ferretti clocked another six on his Top Fuel Bike, 6.977/204.48, the engine sounded a touch hesitant in the second half. Also on two wheels Shaun Branch made a gentle pass on his Funny Bike, off the throttle towards the finish, 11.031/91.42. David Warren got into the nines on his second pass of the day, 9.966/143.72.

Finally for this update Joe Kellett has made his first run of the day in his Junior Modified Dragster, slightly under the JM index with an 8.622/76.68. Joe's dad and Eurodragster.com sponsor Pete said that Joe has a couple of big blisters on his hand from yesterday's altercation with the exhaust.

Roger Goring is next up in his Jet FC, stay tuned - it will be interesting to see how the car goes in this cold air.

10:55

David Warren is taking a turn on the family's 9.50 Bike today, his first pass a 10.073/138.11. Next up were Julian Harris aka Fast Harry and Phil Pratt on their 9.50 Bikes, Harry getting there first 9.378/143.74 to Phil's 9.527/143.01 which looks good for 9.50 Bike next week.

Gary Drury's rear tyre smoked off the line on his second pass of the day, 10.125/156.26 from the Turboosa SSB.

Rhiannon Bellenie's second run of the day was a 15.280/41.74 in the SPRC Junior Dragster.

No sign yet of any of the other race vehicles we have here. From my perch in Race Control I can see Nigel Payne's Super Mod and Roger Goring's Jet Funny Car, both cars are in their pits at present. Ray White's Pro Mod is still with us and I think we're expecting that quite soon.

10:25

An early candidate for run of the day from Italian Top Fuel Bike racer Luigi Ferretti with a tremendous 6.789/209.40, we think a PB, well done to Luigi and the guys. The bike went straight as you like and sounded very strong, yesterday's misfire long gone.

Next up was Supertwin racer Ian Turburville, Turbo feathered the throttle not far off the line and then got back on the power, 9.079/148.57.

The only other racer we've had so far is Super Street Bike racer Gary Drury who clocked 9.642/156.73 on the Turboosa. Fellow SSB racer Pete Bellenie is here with his daughter Rhiannon who is driving the Santa Pod Racers Club Junior Dragster. "Rhiannon is racing at the Main Event - I knew I'd get into that race some way!", said Pete. Rhiannon's first run was 15.697/40.35.

8:55

Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway for our coverage of the pre-Easter Thunderball Run What You Brung, brought to you in association with American Car Imports.

The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is already on-line and is broadcasting a picture every sixty seconds. You can reach the webcam via the Event Index page.

Not raceday but nevertheless a big Hello to our US correspondents Ed O'Connell and Kathy Hileman who are tuned in from Rye, NH. Hello also to Gittli Koller of Peter Schöfer Racing who is also tuned in from Germany. Hope you are having a good weekend guys.

For our live weather report I can do no better than quote Chief Marshal Steve Horn who has just come in from outside and said "I'll tell you something, it's chilly out there". We still have the stiff north-easterly breeze which as you will remember from yesterdays almost amounts to a tailwind. The sun is breaking through the low cloud and once it gets a little further up in the sky I think it will burn off the low cloud and the track will warm up. Certainly the track came right round yesterday the moment it got some sun on it. Incidentally we were asked what happened to the weather and track temperature reports yesterday...what happened was that your reporter left the weather station and temperature gun at home. Normal service will be resumed next week.

We still have a number of racers in the pits from yesterday and others have arrived this morning including Kev Slyfield with his new Willys Pro Mod. Your reporter is on his own today so is going to be a bit stretched taking photographs and posting reports but I'll do my very best to keep you all up to speed.

Right now the track crew are applying the finishing touches to the track; stay tuned and when the action starts we'll be right back.