FIA Main Event
Private test, Saturday 19th May
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18:30
Today's pictures have now been posted, including a great picture of Peter Beck's engine explosion which was very kindly provided by, and copyright of, Stefan Boman. You can view today's pictures via the Index page.
That's the end of today's report, thanks for tuning in, we hope that you have enjoyed it. We will be back here at Santa Pod tomorrow for the RWYB when we expect some of the Pro racers to test again.
Join us again tomorrow - have a good evening.
18:15
Lex Joon closed the day here with a very nice checkout pass. A long burnout and then on the run a brief pedal at about 300 feet before backing out of it very gradually towards the top end. The crew looked very happy indeed. Lex's times were: RT 0.485, 60 feet 0.954, 330 feet 2.598, eighth 3.997/171.77, 1000 feet 5.241, ET 6.522, Speed 168.88
That's the end of the action for today; we're just loading up today's pictures. Stay tuned for news of those.
17:15
We've had two passes from the Top Fuel contingent now and very dramatic they were too. First out was Anita Makela who took several attempts to get the engine running, but once the engine lit Anita put in a great burnout and then her planned 60-foot squirt. The launch was very strong indeed, one of those Fuel launches which you think are turning the world on its axis and this with one cylinder out. Anita went a little further than sixty feet and it was going so well that she must have been reluctant to get off it. Anita's times were: RT 0.575, 60 feet 0.994, 330 feet 2.615, eighth 4.550/108.02, 1000 feet 6.885, ET 9.436, Speed 89.23
Peter Beck was the second Top Fuel racer on track. The burnout was very languid, almost as if there was too much throttle stop on it. On the green the car launched strongly but then at sixty feet there was a huge explosion, a huge cloud of flame and fuel vapour and that was the end of Peter's run. It may possibly have looked worse than it was since very little fluid or anything else was left on the track. Peter's times were: RT 0.703, 60 feet 0.977, 330 feet 3.353, eighth 6.650/63.02, 1000 feet 10.676, ET 15.758, Speed 40.08
Micke Kagered is still waiting for his Top Fuel ride (we understand that there is a problem with the clutch timers) so he brought his Quaker State TMFC out for a pass, and how easy did he make it look? 5.898/238.03, that's how easy! It was by no means a straight run either. Micke's times were: RT 0.995, 60 feet 0.955, 330 feet 2.591, eighth 3.884/193.08, 1000 feet 4.944, ET 5.898/238.03
The two Pro Stock racers have also put in another pass each. Niclas Andersson was first, another consistent pass within a hundredth of his previous two runs. Niclas' times were: RT 0.486, 60 feet 1.061, 330 feet 2.995, eighth 4.608/152.92, 1000 feet 5.954, ET 7.161, Speed 192.76
Michael Malmgren put in his first full pass of the day, not the straightest run ever but good and solid nonetheless. Michael's times were: RT 0.472, 60 feet 1.098, 330 feet 3.038, eighth 4.654/152.52, 1000 feet 5.999, ET 7.205 Speed 192.78
We understand that Lex Joon is planning another pass, and the race officials are currently in the pits polling the other racers for their intentions. As things stand we have another half hour to go, so stay tuned and we'll bring you the news.
15:45
Another pass from Michael Malmgren, creeping up on it as he goes further each time - this time a half pass. A much longer burnout this time to about seventy feet and then just like advertised, straight as an arrow. The times were: RT 0/479, 60 feet 1.081, 330 feet 3.004, eighth 4.620/147.76, 1000 feet 6.188, ET 7.916, Speed 122.51.
Next up was Anders Karling and this pass was almost a carbon copy of the first, including the dynamic lane choice. Anders pulled a great burnout, then on the green the bike had a good go at throwing him off although Anders kept control and shot down the track with huge nitro flames on both sides of the bike. But again he was veering left and crossed lanes in almost exactly the same place as last time, in fact the tyre mark from his previous run is still there and the track from this run is about a foot to the right of it and almost perfectly parallel. Anders' times to that point were: RT 0.669, 60 feet 1.185, 330 feet 2.984, eighth 4.457/156.76.
Still no sign of any of the Fuel racers although there have been several warm-ups in the pits. Stay tuned.
14:40
Three runs within a few minutes of each other now and first up was Lex Joon in the newly-bodied TMFC. Lex pulled a very nice burnout and then on the green the car shook very severely and headed towards the Tree. Through the viewfinder of my camera the body was shaking so hard that I feared it may come off, but it must have been a lot worse for Lex! Lex's times were: RT 0.496, 60 feet 1.092, 330 feet 3.581, eighth 5.771/110.25, 1000 feet 7.730, ET 9.784, Speed 105.90.
Michael Malmgren was next in the AC Delco Pro Stock, another solid burnout and a nice straight run to 330 feet. Michael's times were: RT 0.505, 60 feet 1.099, 330 feet 3.021, eighth 4.882/118.92, 1000 feet 6.856, ET 9.084, Speed 94.05
Niclas Andersson put in another full pass, almost identical to his last run. Niclas carried the wheels to about eighty feet again too, the car staying nice and straight, and the chutes out a little later. Niclas' times were: RT 0.496, 60 feet 1.065, 330 feet 2.993, eighth 4.602/153.17, 1000 feet 5.948, ET 7.159, Speed 190.64.
13:45
Our third run today was by Anders Karling on his Supertwin Top Fuel Bike. A nice burnout and plenty of nitro fumes as he was pushed back by crew Kristian. The bike started to go left almost as soon as it left the line, Anders eventually crossing the centre line and getting off it at about 900 feet. The incrementals up to that point were: RT 0.832, 60 feet 1.213, 330 feet 3.039, eighth 4.509/162.43.
12:35
Not far behind Niclas Andersson was Michael Malmgren on his first pass, a planned 60-foot squirt. Another great burnout (as you will see from the pictures later on) and a thumping launch then off it right on the button. Times: RT 0.512, 60 feet 1.122, 330 feet 3.069, eighth 5.203/101.84, 1000 feet 7.559, ET 10.438, Speed 70.24
We'll be back as soon as we have the next run - wouldn't like to say who it will be. Anders Karling, Lex Joon and one of the Top Fuellers have had warm-ups so hopefully we'll see some more action very soon.
12:15
The honour of the first run today went to Niclas Andersson in his Pro Stock. A great burnout to about eighty feet and then on the launch he was wheels up to about sixty feet. Niclas had the chutes out before the finish line but still put in a respectable time and speed. The run was as follows: RT 0.599, 60 feet 1.063, 330 feet 2.989, eighth 4.599/153.24, 1000 feet 5.944, ET 7.153, Speed 192.42
We've had a couple of warm-ups in the pits but no-one else is headed this way yet. Stay tuned.
11:00
Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway on a dry and mild morning. We have a number of Pro racers in the pits getting ready to run. We've had a walk around the pits and had a brief chat with most of the teams.
Before we start, the good news is that every team has given us permission to post all of their times and speeds today. Thanks very much guys!
FIA Pro Stock Champion Niclas Andersson is going straight into full passes today. The team ran at Mantorp Park last weekend but crew chief Jonas Larsson told us that the team were not very satisfied with their testing there. They will be running last weekend's engine again today, and then if all goes well they will change engines and run their spare tomorrow.
Supertwin Top Fuel racer Anders Karling is also trying for full passes today. The team have spent the winter working on the bike's chassis: the bike has new custom-built Ohlins front forks which are very rigid, and there are some new tubes on the chassis proper and new wheelie bars. "Almost everything on the bike is Swedish now", said Anders. "We even added ISR brakes!". If you are at the Main Event next weekend, check out the front disc brakes on Anders Karling's bike - they are huge!
TMFC racer Lex Joon has the ex-Kagered Camaro body on his car, and very nice it looks too in black and gold; the stickers have yet to be applied but you can tell it's going to be a looker. Lex is planning launches today. "We have a new clutch, and a new ignition system, so we have to learn about them", he said. "We'll see how the launches go and work from there."
Top Fuel racer Peter Beck is testing a new fuel management system, including two bigger fuel pumps. "It's completely different to last year", said crew member Horst Pauli. "We are going to put in a launch and then maybe a half pass". The car also has a bigger front wing after Peter experienced top end drift towards the end of last season. Peter is also due to run at the Press Day on Wednesday.
European Top Fuel Champion Anita Makela asked us to say "terrve" to Heli. Anita's firm plan for today is for a burnout and a launch, to strip down the engine then if it all looks good to put in a half pass. "If everything is OK today, then we will run again tomorrow", she said.
Pro Stock racer Michael Malmgren has both a new crew chief and a new motor to try out this weekend. The team is however short-handed with only three members present today; the rest of the crew are flying in on Thursday. "Our new motor is in the trailer", said crew member Magnus, "we will either put it in tomorrow or on Wednesday. But it will definitely be in the car by Saturday!". Michael and the team plan a launch or two and then full passes, and are also planning on running tomorrow morning.
Micke Kagared's Top Fuel pit was a hive of activity. US tuner Bill Schultz and our very own Alan Jackson are overseeing finishing touches to the Bahco Tools car. Alan told us that Micke can't wait to get going.
The finishing touches are being applied to the track now, stay tuned and we will bring you the news as it happens.