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End day report by Jerry Cookson

Although strong headwinds continued to be a major factor in Sunday's events at Shakespeare County, the April sunshine certainly played its part in bringing out the public to the Warwickshire drag strip as 175 vehicles, including additions to Saturday's National Championship teams, took their places on track to contest one of the four ET Challenges backed by lane sponsor Motorshack.

Taking his second challenge trophy home to Wolverhampton was 'Mad Mick' Rogers with an 11.538 second pass in his 1600 cc Cossie powered Cortina. The six-cylinder category went to a very excited Brummie Dave Kidner. Dave was extremely pleased with his Rover Vitesse's 14.596 especially as he had only purchased the car for £1 and the only expensive piece of kit on the car was an NOS system, The eight-cylinder category went to Paul Hilton's 302 cubed Ford Cortina with a 12.646 ticket and the quickest road-legal bike was Wayne Osman who clocked a 6.3 over the shorter eighth-mile distance.

For the National Championship teams, Richard Davis continued to make shakedown runs with his immaculate Pro ET Willys Coupe which packs a monster big block and a dual port injector hat. Rich ended the weekend with an improved 11.140/122.12. Another new car breaking cover for the first time at SCR was Dave Sidaway's 1940s Fordson Van. Dave managed a couple of shakedown runs to bed in the 502 ci monster Chevy. Everyone said over the weekend that this is going to be one hell of a ride for Dave, especially when he mixes it with the Outlaw Anglia crew in May.

Super Street racer Dave Cherrett continued to run in the new differential in his Dark Revenger Model A van, whilst Charlie Chivers in the Taxi Express continued his learning curve preparing to run two classes, Super Street and Pro ET, next weekend. Wild Bunch racers Tony Smith, Ed Yates and Darrell Howells continued to educate the appreciative audience what nostalgia drag racing is all about with some stunning burnouts and quick times.

Bob Hancox continued to learn the potential capability of his Ford Prefect by registering a strong-sounding 12.7. John Atkinson brought his awesome Cortina Estate along for the cameras of Classic Ford magazine and laid down a stunning off the bat 9.501 at 141 mph. Brian and Lee Huxley continued to swap seats with dad testing the Top Banana Roadster to the tune of 10.8s while Lee ran the Sportsman ET Mustang at a moderate pace! Staying with Sportsman ET for a moment, defending champ Geoff Cowley made significant times in his Z28 Camaro but for Nick Gay the day's test ended with a broken gearbox four days before the National season opener.

Although the bikes were limited to the eighth, Comp Bike rider Nick Holland brought out his 1200 cc Kawasaki and laid down a 6.33 at 103 mph. 9.50 rider Lee Baxter was also in the low sixes with a 6.20 but breaking into the fives was Super street racer Adie Lockley at 5.74, and Twins rider Peter Harrison continued to show form with his street 944cc V-Twin Ducati.

Carolynne Campbell continued to make significant progress with her rocket powered dragster Laffin Gas. Following on from the progress made towards the end of last season, Carolynne ran under full power run up to the eighth mile.

In closing I would like to say a big thank you to all the drivers, riders, officials and marshals who supported the day and made it into a tremendous early season success both for the track and for APIRA. Shakespeare County Raceway's next Public Track Day Test and Tune is in three weeks' time on 21st-22nd April.