FIA European Finals
Press Day, Wednesday 12th September
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15:45
It's started raining here again and that looks like the end of the day.
One of the last runs was from Stuart Peck who put in a very good Super Street pass, 0.518 RT and an ET of 10.905. Race Director Darren Prentice was taken for an 8.50/163 passenger ride by Susanne Callin, he had the added nervousness of being started by Tog but enjoyed his run.
Today's pictures have now been posted, you can get to them from the race update index.
That's the end of our coverage of the European Finals Press Day, thanks for tuning in. Your reporters were Tog and Sharkman of Eurodragster.com, photographs by Sharkman of Eurodragster.com. Our next report will be from the race itself when qualifying starts on Friday morning.
14:30
We're back on again here at Santa Pod. One of Susanne Callin's recent passenger rides was with Sarah Carter, wife of Top Fuel Dragster pilot Andy. Susanne drove Sarah to an 8.17/164, we haven't got Sarah's reaction yet but when we do we'll let you know! Santa Pod's Race Director Darren Prentice is due a passenger ride shortly.
Super Street racer Stuart Peck has been busy with runs of 10.95/122.18, 10.93/122.03 and 10.88/123.10. Super Modified racer Rob Smallworth has given two passenger rides in his Tri Chevy, 8.49/159.73 and 8.51/160.10.
Jim Draper is now running with a wheelie bar on the Pro ET altered, one out-of-shape pass and then a 9.99/128.10. Tim Adam is making the most of his day here, yet more runs in both Super Comp and Super Gas trim, 9.02/146.65 and 10.00/143.97.
Finally Ricky Emms put in a pass of 9.01/70.68, the Cool Green team looking to have found a way to slow the car down.
Some more trailers have arrived, the Turner Racing TMD and the Canto Consultancy TMD trailer which contains the ex-Turner Racing car.
13:00
A shower of rain has forced a temporary halt to the action here at Santa Pod. Before the rain, Jim Draper put in passes of 9.37/134.76 and 9.18/137.01 in the Pro ET altered, Martin Bishop clocked 8.156/161.03 on his Pro Stock Bike, Sandra Chaplain 10.91/127.19 and 10.68/120.43 on her 10.90 Bike, Ian Warren a 10.52/134.84 on his 10.90 Bike, and Tim Adam 8.95 in Super Comp trim and 9.95/144.95 in Super Gas trim, the car going a lot straighter now.
The rain has stopped and the track is drying very quickly so I think we'll be off again very soon. Stay tuned.
12:00
Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway on the European Finals Press Day. It's a sunny but breezy day, the track looks just great, and a number of racers have already put in passes.
Because of events elsewhere the press attendance is low, but the racers are unperturbed and are taking the chance to test. Running are Brian Johnson, Susanne Callin, Martin Bishop, Tim Adam, Jim Draper, Rob Smallworth, Ricky Emms, Ian Warren and Sandra Chaplain; in the pits are the rigs of Manty Bugeja, Leif Andreasson, Barry Sheavills, Micke Kagered, Pelle Lindelow, Lars Wahlberg and Martin Hill.
Susanne Callin was first on track, getting back on the horse with passes of 8.73/107 and 8.05/146.59 before starting passenger rides. Susanne told us that she had no warning before her crash on Sunday, the car just moved and that was that.
Top Fuel Bike racer Brian Johnson put in a 7.16/136.45 a little while ago. The bike sounded very strong indeed and went so straight that you could use the rear tyre track as a ruler. BJ clocked 171.88 at half track before backing out. "I'm the only old part left on the bike now!", said BJ earlier. "It's got a completely new fuel system to accommodate the Waterman pump so it should be more reliable."
Tim Adam is testing his roadster in Super Comp mode, a quickest of 9.00 so far, the car going out of shape on a couple of passes too. Ricky Emms in his Junior Modified Dragster has clocked 8.75/72.01 and 8.68/72.10.
Anita Makela's team warmed up the engine of her Top Fuel Dragster a short while ago, it sounded very strong indeed and a nice yellow nitro haze hung in the air for a while.
Fellow Top Fuel Dragster racer Barry Sheavills is probably going to pass up the chance to put in a pass today, in the absence of any press. "The car is ready for the race now", he said. We asked Barry what his game plan would be for the weekend. "Win!" he replied. "It will be great to be part of an eight-car field. Number one qualifier will have to run a four, I hope it's me! But I wouldn't be surprised if there were ar least four cars in the fours this weekend, nor if three hundred miles per hour were to go". Barry is not planning to ease himself in at the weekend. "We've got to come out on Friday and stamp our authority on the race", he said.
Jim Draper is taking the chance to test before a new injector is added to the Pro ET altered. "Nigel (the owner) wants to add a blower next year!", he said. A little while back Jim put in a 9.24/137.34.
10.90 Bike racer Ian Warren has run as quickly as 10.61/136.26 today, testing a new tyre before son David takes over the reins at the weekend.
As mentioned above this is quite a low-key press day, but stay tuned and we'll bring you any more news from the track.