UK National Finals
Saturday (qualifying)
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20:00
Today's pictures are now posted; you can get to them from the event update index.
Here are the top two qualifiers in all classes which are finished qualifying:
Pro ET (own dial-in): 1. Bob Doyle +0.001 10.921/127.79, 2. Carla Pitau +0.006 10.616/129.12
Sportsman ET (own dial-in): 1. Nick Griffin +0.016 12.816/107.56, 2. Martin Lewis +0.022 15.822/83.90
Junior Dragster (Reaction Time): 1. Joe Bond 0.504, 2. Ricky Emms 0.504
Custom Car Street Eliminator (subject to Cruise): 1. Steve Pateman 8.458/170.95, 2. Steve Neimantas 8.626/159.93
VW Pro (own dial-in): 1. Scotty Evison +0.076 12.176/107.96, 2. Paul Bate +0.347 12.847/100.67
VW Sportsman (own dial-in): 1. Conor la Grue +0.011 19.621/68.17, 2. Stuart Hinds +0.014 16.214/82.62
Wild Bunch (own dial-in): 1. Pete Yates +0.010 10.110/129.23, 2. Paul Croston +0.052 12.552/102.68
Super Street Bike: 1. Tony Clark 8.321/173.24, 2. Graham Dance 8.405/174.57
9.90 Bike: 1. Ian Warren 9.904/137.66, 2. Paul Newman 9.906/137.19
10.90 Bike: 1. David Warren 10.900/122.18, 2. Darren Winnard 10.902/130.25
Supertwin Street: 1. Les Harris 10.716/126.77, 2. Mark Earrey 10.845/130.44
Here are the current top two qualifiers in those classes which have not finished:
Super Modified: 1. Danny Cockerill 7.583/178.04, 2. Rob Smallworth 7.604/179.05, 3. Andy Hone 7.895/170.62
Super Pro ET (own dial-in): 1. Ashley Bell +0.002 8.902/154.32, 2. Ian Tubb +0.005 8.555/155.38
Super Comp (8.90): 1. Mark Fairhurst 8.912/152.49, 2. Brian Pateman 8.923/153.38
Super Gas (9.90): 1. Peter Lane 9.902/143.46, 2. Frank Mason 9.926/139.24
Super Street (10.90): 1. Conrad Stanley 10.905/130.01, 2. Mark O'Halloran 10.914/108.14
Pro Stock Bike: 1. Chris Hope 7.404/181.73, 2. Nick Pepper 7.619/173.98
Funny Bike: 1. Tim Blakemore 7.038/179.11, 2. Neil Midgley 7.089/183.28
Competition Bike: 1. Phil Brachtvogel 7.049/159.02, 2. Ian King 7.437/180.07
Supertwin Gas: 1. George Laycock 9.744/133.33, 2. Rich Davies 9.746/130.59
Supertwin Modified: 1. TJ O'Brien 10.362/130.03, 2. Nigel Mason 11.384/129.10
That's all for today, tune back tomorrow for the rest of qualifying and eliminations.
19:00
Super Street Bike qualifying session 4
Matt Nixon 8.941/158.21, Dave Smith 8.796/163.31, Fiona Moor 10.201/148.58, Steve Venables 8.567/173.54, Graham Dance 8.405/174.57, Peter Bellenie 8.854/162.49, Paul Watson 9.016/155.42, Abi Jacobus 9.505/142.33, Paul Wing 10.827/88.80, Hensley Eugenia 9.946/140.76, Richard Stubbings 8.880/157.18, Rachel Pattison 9.553/155.21, Karl Larcombe 8.811/165.92, Kev Charman 19.175/32.89, Dave Bailey 8.663/151.54
Paul Wing went through the top end in a cloud of smoke and the top end crew found oil and pieces of gearbox on the track. Graham Dance told us to look out for his third run of the day and he did indeed step up although Tony Clark still leads.
We're running quite late here and the light is going, so Race Director Darren Prentice has already decided that a number of classes will finish qualifying tomorrow morning. Stay tuned for the qualifying standings at the end of today.
18:25
Custom Car Street Eliminator qualifying session 4
Andy Frost 9.404/158.11, Moose Hollingworth 19.747/69.50, John Hales 9.180/164.41, Allen Curtis 11.355/118.53, Ian Hook 9.336/149.68, Steve Neimantas 8.626/159.93, John Ricketts 9.985/136.40, Mark Bracking 12.128/114.94, Jeff Meads 9.325/146.93, Steve Pateman 8.490/171.06. Steve Pateman runs like a bracket car, another 8.4 to hold on to the #1 place.
18:15
Funny Bike qualifying session 3
Dave Holland 7.279/180.38, Tim Blakemore 7.038/179.11, Neil Midgley 7.169/180.95, Ken Cooper 7.432/174.29, Gary Jones 7.897/173.67, Neil Diggens 7.440/180.50
Tim Blakemore smashes his own personal best and does the first half of taking away Neil Midgley's new ACU ET record in taking #1 spot.
Comp Bike qualifying session 3
Jerry Collier 8.971/115.72, Sarah Jane Head 8.619/152.82, Klaus Sarembe 8.309/159.79, Tim Whetton 11.811/76.49, Phil Leamon 8.726/153.93, Vaughan Foster 9.048/142.82, Andy Newcombe 8.699/138.30, Phil Brachtvogel 7.149/181.66, Ian King 7.437/180.07. Phil and Ian are now #1 and #2 in Comp Bike.
Pro Stock Bike qualifying session 3
Ray Debben 8.211/158.18, Dave Beck 7.634/154.30, Martin Newbury 8.036/166.30, Al Cook 8.202/163.20, Chris Tombleson 7.725/174.96, Richard Gipp 7.784/168.33, Martin Bishop 7.687/172.72, Chris Hope 7.404/181.73, Helen Curran 7.765/174.16
Chris Hope sets another new ACU ET record and does the first half of the job of a new ACU speed record with his pass which keeps him in #1 spot. Martin Newbury's new PB puts him on the bump spot.
Super Modified qualifying session 3
Andy Hone broke, Rob Smallworth 7.604/179.05, Danny Cockerill 7.645/178.17
Andy Hone had a couple of attempts at a burnout and then had a nitrous burp on the line.
17:45
Conrad Stanley has taken over the Super Street lead with a fine 10.905/130.01.
Super Comp qualifying session 3
Brian Pateman 8.964/152.62, Zane Llewellyn 8.928/151.61, Tim Adam 11.301/85.65, Sarah Day 9.174/150.52, Mark Fairhurst 8.969/152.56, Paul Marston 8.635/163.66, Martin Curbishley 8.950/148.633, Paul Knight 9.558/143.26, Malcolm Francis 9.993/136.75. Mark Fairhurst stays #1 at 8.912.
Ashley Bell stays #1 in Super Pro ET with his +0.002 earlier. Trev Capewell put in another storming burnout and an 8.43/156.02 in his new altered, whilst Ian Tubb moved up the field with an 8.555 on an 8.50 dial-in. The top of Super Pro is getting very tight with six thousandths separating the top three, Barry Giles in third place with a 7.606 on 7.60 dial-in.
Super Gas qualifying session 3
Paul Hudson 10.738/127.71, Dave Townsend 9.936/138.36, Stuart Peck 10.036/135.76, Frank Mason 9.926/139.24, Malcolm Francis 9.969/136.80, Peter Lane 9.994/142.15, Dave Day 12.542/84.90, Martin Curbishley 10.052/145.00, Tim Adam 10.018/143.48, Martin Boiling 9.620/127.88 observed run. Peter Lane is still leading Super Gas with this morning's 9.902.
17:10
Stuart Hinds has taken over the lead from Cath Bishop in VW Sportsman, clocking 16.214 on a 16.20 dial-in. In VW Pro, Scotty Evison has moved up to #1 with a 12.176 on a 12.10 dial-in.
Wild Bunch qualifying session 3
Derek Annable 8.294/167.83 (7.80 dial-in), Nick Connor 10.626/125.90 (10.40), Pete Yates (10.10) 10.110/129.23, Chris Hartnell 10.463/125.69 (9.50), Mark Turton 11.931/102.07 (11.20), Paul Croston 11.931/102.07 (12.30). Pete Yates takes over the lead at +0.010.
Superwin classes
After round three of qualifying, Les Harris leads Supertwin Street at 10.716, TJ O'Brien leads Supertwin Modified at 10.362, and George Laycock has taken over the lead in Supertwin Gas at 9.744/133.33 with what must be a new personal best.
Dave Wilson's second test pass in the American Car Imports Top Methanol Dragster was a 7.138/122.69. The tyres shook off the line and the car headed determinedly for the centre line, Dave stayed in it and missed the 330-foot reflector by inches, and we mean inches. The car was all over the place, but not for the first time this season Dave's experience showed as he kept the car in his lane and upright when to objective observers it appeared to be destined for an upside-down trip. Great driving job Dave!
16:45
10.90 Bike stays as-is after the third session of qualifying with Darren Winnard on the top at 10.902. In this session of 10.90 Bike Sandra Chaplain took a spill from her bike at about 150 feet, the bike pulled a wheelie and Sandra came off whilst the bike carried on quite a way up the track. Sandra did exactly the right thing, staying down until the paramedics got to her which was just about as she stopped sliding. She was checked out on the track and then got to her feet smiling and waving to us here in Race Control. Sandra was taken to the medical centre for a routine check-out and the word is that she has gone for a precautionary X-ray. The bike didn't look to have suffered more than cosmetic damage.
9.90 Bike also stays as-is after three sessions with Ian Warren on top at 9.904.
Super Street Bike qualifying session 3
Pete Bellenie 8.836/164.92, Abi Jacobus 9.445/145.30, Kev Charman 9.363/157.10, Dave Bailey 8.752/150.15, Steve Venables 8.546/170.82, Paul Wing 10.200/133.82, Matt Nixon 9.203/148.25, Mark Fisher 8.579/169.04, Tony Clark 8.438/172.00, Rachel Pattison 10.778/149.16, Richard Stubbings 8.628/163.74, Hensley Eugenia 10.836/129.74, Fiona Moor 9.977, Dave Smith 9.039/162.66, Paul Watson 8.836/154.09, Karl Larcombe 8.460/167.04, Graham Dance broke. Rachel Pattison pulled a huge wheelie and is probably very glad that she wasn't a man when the bike came back down. Tony Clark stays #1.
15:50
We now have two Junior Dragsters on a 0.504 reaction time, Ricky Emms having pulled that RT in the third session, but Joe Bond stays #1 as he recorded the time first.
Nick Griffin remains in #1 after the third qualifying session of Sportsman ET, 0.016 up on his dial-in.
Jack Brewster has won the Eurodragster Perfect Light Award with a 0.500 light in Pro ET qualifying, he is now �75 better off and the last winner of the PL award for 2002. Congratulations Jack! Kev Taylor briefly took over the lead in Pro ET with an 11.181/118.97 on an 11.15 dial-in, but one pairing later Bob Doyle took it away with a 10.921/127.79 on a 10.20. Carla Pitau gave it everything on the next pass and recorded a 10.616 on a 10.61 dial-in, but Bob ended up #1 at the end of the third session.
Custom Car Street Eliminator qualifying session 3
Moose Hollingworth 11.133/125.37, Andy Frost 9.115/157.40, Al Simms 12.156/74.25, John Reynolds 9.698/142.94, John Hales 9.159/164.26, John Sleath 8.694/156.17, Jeff Meads 8.813/156.93, Mark Bracking 12.02/114.84, Allen Curtis broke, Steve Neimantas 8.714/159.51, Tony Hill 10.863/128.87, Steve Pateman 8.569/170.00, John Ricketts 9.704/136.80, Ian Hook 9.216/140.82
Al Simms' car belched black smoke and then blue smoke and he got on the brakes pretty sharpish, nothing on the track so hopefully nothing wrong. New PBs for John Reynolds and John Hales who now has the nitrous on, and also a new PB for John Ricketts. Steve Pateman keeps the lead.
15:20
After session 2, Darren Winnard still leads 10.90 Bike with his 10.902/130.25 earlier on, whilst Ian Warren took over the 9.90 Bike lead with a 9.904/137.66.
Mark O'Halloran now leads Super Street at 10.914/108.14. In Super Pro ET Ashley Bell has taken over the lead with an 8.902 on an 8.90 dial-in; Steve Johnson has gone faster still in his Motor Mouse dragster with a 194.16, also a six-second pass at 6.926. John Ellis broke out big time in his Pro Mod with a 7.181/190.05 new PB on a 7.35 dial-in, the Calibra launched very strongly indeed and shot up the track. John's car just edged into the field at the end of the shutdown area.
Former Pro ET Chris Johnson has returned to the track in Super Pro ET, his Rover MG-bodied car is very nice looking indeed. Chris' crew chief said that the car was finished at three o'clock this morning and that the team have had two hours' sleep! Another new car in Super Pro is the Southern Rebel of Trevor Capewell, the Plymouth-bodied altered is very well turned out. Trevor is theoretically on observed runs this weekend, although on his first pass he pulled a superb rolling burnout and a full pass 8.609/147.60.
Super Gas qualifying session 2
Paul Hudson 9.957/137.00, Peter Lane 9.898/143.42, Dave Townsend 9.957/139.20, Frank Mason 9.898/139.77, Stuart Peck 9.690/130.01, Dave Day 9.674/148.26, Malcolm Francis 9.875/137.97, Martin Curbishley 9.928/146.80, Tim Adam 9.799/147.70. Peter Lane stays at #1 with his earlier 9.902.
Funny Bike qualifying session 2
Shaun Branch 7.676/168.27, Stu Chamberlain broke, Gary Jones 7.933/162.46, Neil Midgley 7.097/186.64, Ken Cooper 7.199/182.93, Dave Holland 7.294/175.39, Neil Diggens 7.450/183.47
Neil Midgley backs up his new ACU ET record giving him vital points in the Championship and consolidating his #1 spot. New personal bests for Neil Diggens and we think Gary Jones.
Comp Bike qualifying session 2
Sarah Jane Head broke, Klaus Sarembe 8.068/166.03, Tim Whetton 9.162/131.84, Phil Leamon 8.802/150.99, Vaughan Foster 9.626/142.53, Jerry Collier 8.445/150.37, Andy Newcombe 8.397/143.75, Ian King 7.739/149.16, Phil Brachtvogel 7.178/155.52.
Ian King and Phil Brachtvogel ran side by side on their Top Fuel Bikes, Ian King was close to the centre line and got off it whilst Phil looked to be on a six but maybe shut it off a little early. Phil Brachtvogel stays at number one.
Pro Stock Bike qualifying session 2
Dave Beck 7.947/165.51, Chris Tombleson 7.891/157.75, Al Cook broke, Martin Bishop 7.718/168.28, Ray Debben 8.217/157.31, Helen Curran 7.860/162.06, Martin Newbury 8.376/156.97, Chris Hope 7.450/176.67, Richard Gipp 7.751/167.87, Nick Pepper 7.697/171.27
Chris Hope with this pass sets a new ACU record of 7.450 seconds, backed up by his earlier 7.48. Ray Debben consolidates his PB with another 8.21. A new PB also for Martin Newbury.
Super Modified qualifying session 2
Rob Smallworth 7.641/174.96, Andy Hone 8.483/150.71, Danny Cockerill 7.671/176.04
Danny Cockerill was chased down the shutdown area by the fire crew, and there was a trail of fluid down the track which has turned out to be water. He stays #1.
14:00
After session 2 of VW Sportsman qualifying, Cath Bishop remains #1 qualifier +0.023 on her dial-in at 16.223/77.85. Russ Fellows took over the lead in VW Pro with an 11.336 on a 10.97 dial-in.
Wild Bunch qualifying session 2
Derek Annable 8.189/156.66 (9.00 dial-in), Nick Connor 10.496/126.40 (10.40), Pete Yates 10.167/129.74 (10.20), Chris Hartnell 9.909/136.37 (9.50), Paul Croston 12.35/103.35 (12.50). Paul retains the lead with his first-round pass. Derek breaks out big time in the Shell Racing Top Methanol Dragster.
Supertwin Street qualifying session 2
Nigel Mason 11.752/119.84, Brian Udall 11.451/104.74, TJ O'Brien 10.365/129.41. TJ O'Brien maintains his lead.
Supertwin Modified qualifying session 2
Mark Earrey 10.846/131.27, Paul Coombs 11.648/114.08, Pete Richardson 13.166/101.03, Neil Dickson 12.337/108.29, Dave Jones 11.476/115.29, Les Harris 10.716/126.77, Wayne Guerrero 11.922/115.86, Chris Stebbings 12.370/106.44, Chris Mott 11.84/113.27, Pete Harrison 11.957/108.89, Alec Widden 12.644/106.16. Les Harris improves on his #1 spot.
Supertwin Gas qualifying session 2
Barrie Gregory 11.476/116.18, Don Irvine broke, Andy Smith 10.175/126.29, Rich Davies 9.877/130.90, Sefton Whitlock 9.951/128.72, Nick Daniels 10.561/110.41, Mick Bubb 11.273, Dave Hirst 10.568/121.83, George Laycock 9.962/133.83. Rich Davies stays at number one.
Dave Wilson followed up with his first pass of the weekend in the American Car Imports Top Methanol Dragster, recording 5.664/248.13 which included a lot of tyre shake from about sixty to 200 feet. The car was accelerating very hard indeed towards the top end.
13:20
We're now back in action after a quarter-mile oildown from one of our Dutch 9.90 Bikes.
Super Street Bike qualifying session 2
Steve Venables 8.859/169.79, Rachel Pattison 9.511/154.89, Dave Bailey 8.927/150.19, Dave Smith 9.187/158.83, Mark Fisher 8.911/169.24, Matt Nixon 8.762/158.77, Karl Larcombe 8.472/166.49, Graham Dance 8.615/171.27, Fiona Moore 10.247/159.45, Abi Jacobus 9.545/143.89, Paul Wing 9.854/138.36, Tony Clark 8.321/173.24, Richard Stubbings 8.612/164.59, Pete Bellenie 9.830/148.75, Paul Watson 9.171/157.77, Hensley Eugenia broke
Rachel Pattison's bike went through the top end with a lot of smoke from the engine, no oil on the track though so hopefully no problems for Rat. Karl Larcombe stepped up nicely with his pass, taking the lead for a couple of pairings until Tony Clark came out and stamped his authority with the 8.321/173.24 for #1.
12:25
Custom Car Street Eliminator qualifying session 2
Moose Hollingworth 11.380/125.18, John Reynolds 9.928/139.77, Andy Frost 9.297/158.44, John Hales 9.108/155.07, John Ricketts 9.918/136.23, John Sleath 8.913/157.01, Ian Hook 9.270/145.80, Sue Jackson 9.281/158.79, Al Simms 10.394/127.30, Mark Bracking 11.975/115.06, Tony Hill 12.720/102.37, Steve Neimantas 8.677/159.78, Jeff Meads 8.738/157.32, Steve Pateman 8.458/170.95
Ian Hook's '34 dropped what looked like a drive belt just before the finish line, but it's still a best for this hybrid engine. Steve Neimantas recorded a new PB whilst Jeff Meads also ran a new best and believe me he took a very long way round - getting close to the guardrail but not getting off it for anything. Steve Pateman took the qualifying lead off the trailer with his 8.458/170.95 which will be a new ET record if backed up.
After two sessions of qualifying, the leaders in the other classes which have run so far are as follow:
Junior Dragster: Joe Bond 0.504
Sportsman ET: Nick Griffin +0.016 12.816/107.56
Pro ET: Carla Pitau +0.033 10.573/129.53
11:50
Pro Stock Bike qualifying session 1
Martin Newbury 23.129.27.36, Dave Beck 8.563/110.89, Nick Pepper 7.619/173.98, Al Cook 8.450/162.15, Martin Bishop 7.639/170.79, Helen Curran 7.839/169.32, Ray Debben 8.214/158.68, Richard Gipp 7.731/169.17, Chris Tombleson 7.711/171.86, Chris Hope 7.486/177.46
Chris Hope with we think a new PB takes the lead at 7.486/177.46 from Nick Pepper's 7.619/173.98.
Super Modified qualifying session 1
Rob Smallworth 7.624/175.14, Andy Hone 7.895/170.62, Danny Cockerill 7.583/178.04
A new PB for Andy Hone, Danny Cockerill takes the lead in this session.
11:35
Funny Bike qualifying session 1
Neil Midgley 7.089/183.28, Shaun Branch 7.427/177.92, Tim Blakemore 7.615/170.29, Neil Diggens 7.866/163.19, Stu Chamberlain 8.061/154.47, Ken Cooper 7.677/163.09, Dave Holland 7.247/174.95, Gary Jones 8.147/154.47
Neil Midgley 7.089/183.28, which if backed up will be a new ACU ET record, and Dave Holland 7.247/174.95 lead Funny Bike after session 1.
Comp Bike qualifying session 1
Phil Brachtvogel 7.049/159.02, Klaus Sarembe 8.556/155.62, Phil Leamon 8.764/153.19, Sarah Jane Head 8.690/158.56, Rich Fielding 10.598/128.54, Tim Whetton 8.891/155.83, Klaus Brinkmann 7.769/166.50, Vaughan Foster broke, Andy Newcombe broke, Bob Brooks 13.614
Phil's run on Jon Morton's Top Fuel Bike was shut off early, and a quick check with the ACU information on the King Racing web site suggests that Phil has taken 0.2 seconds off the ACU record for Comp Bike if he backs up the run, as well as taking number one qualifier. Unfortunately the top end crew were picking up pieces from Phil's lane after the run, here's hoping it's nothing serious. Vaughan Foster suffered a huge nitrous burp off the line.
11:15
Much naughtiness in Super Comp where George Chiarella at 8.68 and Paul Marston at 8.58 find themselves at the bottom of the pile after breaking out big time. George's team didn't look too upset about it though!
In Super Pro ET qualifying, Steve Jonson pedalled after vicious tyre shake off the line and then recorded an astounding 193.99 mph terminal speed. Martyn Jones leads Super Pro ET at 7.585 on a 7.55 dial-in.
Peter Lane leads Super Gas with a 9.902/143.26. Tim Adam committed a deep-stage foul and then recorded an 8.896/149.68. The story behind Tim's time could well be that he had some sort of problem in Super Comp qualifying and with several more sessions left of qualifying he might have wanted to check the SC settings.
10:45
Custom Car Street Eliminator qualifying session 1
Jeff Meads 8.903/157.78, Mark Bracking 12.048/116.77, Andy Frost 9.762/160.04, John Sleath 8.815/157.76, Moose Hollingworth 12.366/112.54, John Reynolds 10.161/135.74, Sue Jackson broke, Steve Neimantas 8.722/160.58, Ian Hook 9.465/146.38, John Ricketts 11.475/101.11
The top two qualifiers after session 1 of CCSE are Steve Neimantas 8.722/160.58 and John Sleath 8.815/157.76
Super Street Bike qualifying session 1
Mark Fisher 8.891/169.13, Graham Dance 8.628/170.08, Karl Larcombe 8.686/169.67, Matt Nixon 8.612/160.63, Dave Bailey 9.856/137.40, Steve Venables 8.687/165.50, Paul Wing 10.441/136.70, Dave Smith 9.014/156.29, Pete Bellenie broke, Richard Stubbings 9.505/137.84, Fiona Moor 9.863/158.29, Tony Clark 8.590/172.09, Hensley Eugenia broke, Paul Watson 9.038/159.89
The top two qualifiers in Super Street Bike so far are Tony Clark 8.590/172.09 and Matt Nixon 8.612/160.63
The top qualifers in other classes which have run so far today are as follows:
Junior Dragster: Stuart Morrice 0.583
9.90 Bike: Paul Newman 9.906/137.19
10.90 Bike: Darren Winnard 10.902/130.25
Supertwin Street: Les Harris 10.825/126.60
Supertwin Modified: TJ O'Brien 10.362/130.03
Supertwin Gas: Rich Davies 9.746/130.59
VW Pro: Paul Jackson +1.595 9.895/121.19
VW Sportsman: Cath Bishop +0.023 16.223/77.85
Wild Bunch: Paul Croston +0.052 12.552/102.68
Super Comp: Brian Pateman 8.923/153.38
Super Street: Matthew Wright 11.059/123.06
Pro ET: Carla Pitau +0.033 10.573/129.53
Sportsman ET: Nick Griffin +0.016 12.816/107.56
10:00
Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway on a beautiful morning. Not a cloud in the sky, not even a breeze - this can't be drag racing in the UK can it? It sure is! It's the last round of the UK National Drag Racing Championships and we're here to bring you all the action in association with our friends at American Car Imports.
Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Andy Frost says a big "moi" to Makke, Tommi and all of his friends in Finland. "I hope to run some good numbers for you today", he said. You can be sure that we'll keep you informed of all of the goings-on in CCSE so stay tuned, guys! Andy has just this minute run 9.762/160.04 to open his account this weekend.
We had a brief turn around the pits last night and again this morning and this is what we found out. Super Street Bike racer Steve Venables hasn't touched his bike since running in the 8.4s at the Run What You Brung prior to the European Finals. Steve is leaving the bike alone for the first pass hoping that those settings will be good for this morning. If the bike bogs then he plans either to take clutch out, or put clutch in to force the tyre to break traction for a moment. Steve tells us that he now wishes that he had entered 9.90 Bike at the FIA European Finals since the track was so good. Having said that, the track looks just great here this morning so Steve should have no problems.
Fellow Super Street Bike racer Graham Dance is wired. He has a shot at the Championship and is reportedly so excited that he has cleaned his bike and lock-wired everything whether it needs it or not. Graham has the same settings for his first pass as he had on his 8.32 run at the European Finals (in 9.90 Bike, the naughty man). On the second pass he plans to put in bigger nitrous jets and detune the bike slightly. "If it goes to plan then watch out for the third pass!" he said.
Funny Bike racer Dave Holland is one of a number in with a shot at the ACU Championship. Hasn't touched the Titanium International-sponsored bike since his successful weekend at the European Finals and he is on a real high coming off that event. "I've got everything to gain, and nothing to lose", he said. Dave took out the timing reflectors on his last pass at the European Finals, and still has the bruises to prove it. The TIL team do however think that the pass was a 7.1 based on the computer traces.
Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Jeff Meads has a cold this weekend, for which he blames his wife. "I told her to stay on the other side of the bed, but I think she moved over in the middle of the night", he said. Jeff and his crew have changed the gearbox and converter since the last race, and have also "put fresh air in the tyres and fresh oil in the engine".
Funny Bike racer Neil Midgley's crew chief Cannon said that he had a few ideas. "7.2s all weekend should do it, although I would love Neil to run a 6.9 and then put it on the trailer for the rest of the day and say 'There you go guys!'. I just hope it doesn't take four runs to qualify like it usually does!". Cannon also said that Neil and the team are hoping to get to the end of the weekend with no breakages since the bike is headed for Gainesville in a couple of weeks' time. He also added that for his own part he hopes to run in Top Fuel Bike next year.
CCSE racer Ian Hook is this weekend running a hybrid of his old 429 engine with his new ally heads and roller cam. "It has run a 9.3 in this state but I don't like to push it since it is on stock driving-down-the-street rods", he said. This 429 engine is for sale with its iron heads on, check out Eurodragster's Jeff Bull Race Engines-sponsored Swap Meet for more details.
Zane and Chevy Llewellyn are sharing a crash helmet in their Super Comp and Sportsman ET racer cars this weekend. "This is my last race this year in the dragster", said Zane. "I'll take it apart over the off-season". Zane already has one ambition for 2003 - to race at a track new to him. Given that Zane has raced the vast majority of European tracks - most of them this season too! - this will be quite some feat.
Super Comp racer George Chiarella got into the eights at Shakespeare County Raceway last weekend with an 8.90. "We found 200 hp on the dyno", said his crew chief. "The engine was dying off after 5500 revs, Kenny Coleman found a problem with the mag. We've also made the fuel tank bigger because it was running out at the top end."
Super Gas racer Frank Mason is within a whisker of clinching the UK National Championship, getting through the first round should do the trick although Frank said that he would like to do it in style by winning the event. "I last won it in 1996 when there were a lot more cars", he said, "you would think with less cars it would be easier but it isn't because because everyone is so good now. But if the car is reliable as usual we should do it."
Pro Mod racer John Ellis is running in Super Pro ET this weekend, testing for next weekend's Doorslammer Shootout at Shakespeare County Raceway. "We're going to run it to within a quarter of an inch of its life, and then run it even closer next weekend!" said Crew Chief Ray White. "I don't expect to get past the first round this weekend because the Super Pro guys are so well dialled-in", said John.
Qualifying has now started. Stay tuned because we are going to update frequently throughout the day with complete session details in some classes and post-session standings in all others, as our typing speed allows! We'll be back very soon.