Run What You Brung
Including Øyvor Jacobsen's return to Top Fuel
Santa Pod Raceway, 6th April 2003
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17:30
We're done for the day here at Santa Pod. Let's take you through the last few runs by racers. Trev Capwell pulled another superb burnout in his altered followed by his first use of the transbrake. Despite pretty bad tyre shake Trev recorded 8.42/159.49. Paul Duxbury put in a couple of passes in his Trans Am, 13.21/103.16 and 13.38/103.03, fellow Sportsman ET racer Rick Denny clocked 16.21/65.77 and Neil L'Alouette 13.41/98.90.
Today's pictures are now posted, you can get to them from the event index.
That's the end of our coverage of today's Run What You Brung. Thanks for tuning in, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did although you were, of course, highly likely to have been considerably warmer than us! Thanks for their help today to: Steve Horn, Ian Marshall, Bob Day and his crew, Nigel Anniwell and the start line crew, David Lloyd-Jones, Martin Wallis, Robin Shone and Spencer Tramm.
Our next event coverage will be from next weekend's APIRA Test and Tune at Shakespeare County Raceway, our next event coverage from Santa Pod will be from the Webster Race Engineering Test Day on 16th April. This event coverage has been brought to you in association with American Car Imports.
16:45
We won't be seeing Øyvor Jacobsen out on the track again today. The jump in revs when the car lost traction resulted in a blackened crank. "It's Rune's call when we do the rest of our runs", said Øyvor. "We may come to the test day on 16th April or maybe run on the Friday before the Thunderball."
Gino Bernadine just put in a very stout 9.66/132.40 in his Ford Escort, a huge jump up from his last passes, nice job Gino. Trev Capwell pulled a great out-of-shape burnout in his altered but was then shut off for a fluid leaek. Darren Hulkes clocked 12.39/112.44 in his Camaro alongside Al Simms who recorded 12.68/108.81. Another few Sportsman ET racers have also put in passes, Johnny Beech stil learning his trade with a 15.00/66.47 and Neil L'Alouette 13.70/98.65. Paul Duxbury clocked 13.38/101.89, his crew jumping up and down on the start line when the time and speed came up on the top end display.
On two wheels, Sarah Jane Head clocked 8.97/151.27, and Richard Barton on the Paul Rose Racing Pro Stock Bike clocked 13.41/103.42.
Right now our weather station tells us that it is 46.0 degrees on the start line, 66% humidity and the pressure has dropped to 30.36. The fire-up road has just been closed so we are now running everything which is queued up. Stay tuned and we will let you know who does what should any more racers run.
15:45
A delighted John Everitt popped up to pay us a visit here in race control. "I won't be making any more runs tpday", he said. "I think we've proved everything we needed to with that last run and if I save a run that might be a run I need for the Championship at the end of the year". Owner Ray Eldred has trailered the car back to the workshop, with a mile-wide grin on his face.
After Øyvor Jacobsen ran we had a lengthy session of racers, let's bring you right up to date with their passes. Super Pro ET racers Trev Capewell and Ian Bishop put in great showings in far from ideal conditions. Trev put in a storming burnout and a more-than-storming 8.39/160.80, followed by Ian who laid down another great burnout and a fine 8.14/169.17. Ian's earlier pass was a very early shut-off 13.69/59.66, the car was all over the place so Ian saved himself any further trouble. Steve Wells looked to be on a nine in his Pop pick-up but had to pedal for a moment as the car wasn't going straight for anything, recording 10.48/125.18. In the other lane, Gino Bernadine ran another tidy 10.18/126.83.
Also paired up were Al Golding and Chris Johnson, Al taking it gently at 11.33/85.83 and Chris also conservative with a 15.34/69.50. It is very cold outside, currently 47.8 degrees, so it's not easy sticking anything to the track. Darren Hulkes and Al Simms had a great side-by side with almost identical passes, Darren at 12.37/111.19 to Al's 12.37 at 111.05. Bill Mason has put in two passes in his Dodge since our last update, 10.69/130.32 and 10.59/130.13. We also have a yellow nostalgia slingshot named Cheap Thrills here today, we missed the first pass but its subsequent runs have been 13.09/104.69 and 14.59/92.12 - we haven't found out who that is so stay tuned on that.
We weren't dreaming about Johnny Walker having two engines in his Junior Stock dragster. His dad explained that it was just an experiment since anything goes at a Run What You Brung. Johnny went up against Ricky Emms and recorded 13.04 at a rapid 47.14 to Ricky's 8.07/77.81. As far as we know this is the first time that a Junior Dragster has ever run with two engines - unless our readers know different.
Sportsman ET racer Rick Denny put in a run of 16.35/99.33, Paul Duxbury clocked 14.18/95.94 and Neil L'Alouette a 13.46/99.17.
On two wheels, SSB racer Dave Bailey ran a consistent 9.05/150.21. Dave told us that he was not using gas, probably best in these conditions. Phil Pratt ran another 10.9 with a 10.95/128.52. Kev Charman clocked 9.85/141.55, whilst SSB 66 (sorry still no name) ran 9.42/156.25. John Hackney clocked 10.89/128.12 on his bike after a number of 11.0s, back up in race control he said "And now I have to learn to slow it down!". SP7 clocked 10.17/136.33.
The Shockwave Fuel FC has been fired up and sounded fierce. We're just about to step round to the pit to see what the guys say, and we'll also see how Øyvor Jacobsen is doing.
14:45
We've now had Øyvor Jacobsen's first pass in the Top Fuel Dragster. A short burnout followed by a launch and in such cold conditions there was only one thing which was going to happen on the hit of the throttle, nice header flames and a huge cloud of tyre smoke - the car seemed to jump into the air. Øyvor was straight off the throttle as a yello nitro cloud enveloped the start line and she idled down the track to a twenty three second pass at thirty seven miles per hour. Regardless of the outcome it must have been a great confidence booster for Øyvor to get out there and do the deed.
Stay tuned and we will bring you up to date on the rest of the racers' passes.
13:45
It's very cold down on the start line with a chill breeze, the weather station reads 48.0 degrees, 69% humidity and the pressure steady at 30.39 inches. Although I can't see the car from here I have an image of Rune turning the wick down and down on the Top Fueller. No sign of Øyvor yet but if they are looking to put in two runs then I wouldn't imagine it will be much longer before we see her.
Bill Mason has put in a strong pass in his Dodge, 10.65/131.22, drifting left towards the centre line at the top end. Also drifting was Steve Wells who looked to be on a very strong pass in his Pop pick-up, the car wanted to go left so Steve eventually backed off the throttle some, clocking 11.06/106.12. Gino Bernadine put in a pass of 10.09/126.39 in his Pro ET Escort, the car sounded very strong indeed. A new name to me, Tanya Partridge, recorded 16.27/89.59 in a Firebird which I guess is headed for Sportsman ET.
In the collection area right now is Super Pro ET racer Ian Bishop with his Dodge Avenger, tune back to see how he gets on.
13:30
Chris Johnson is here with his very nice Super Pro ET Rover MG, sporting a rear wing and really looking the part. The car seemed to have a little trouble smoking the slicks during the burnout but Chris put in a very gentle 14.00/89.45, obviously a checkout pass. Also on four wheels Ricky Emms recorded another .50 reaction, 0.503 on a pass of 8.14/77.79 against fellow Junior Dragster racer Johnny Walker who appears to have two small engines in his car. Yes, we did say two! Johnny clocked 12.89/46.54 which is a very high speed for a Stock Junior.
On two wheels Super Street Bike racer Dave Bailey put in a pass of 9.01/151.07 - the bike went straight and hard and the pass looked quicker. Phil Pratt ran 11.11/128.18 on his 10.90 Bike. We have a couple of bikes of whose identity we are not absolutely certain; SP677 clocked 11.07/122.51, SB10 (Bob Wood?) a 12.13/116.51 and SSB66 a 9.38/150.87. John Hackney of SPR's timing crew ran a 10.99 on his bike, we understand that he plans to run in 10.90 Bike at the Thunderball.
Just as we went to post this update John Everitt blew away the best time of the Sanity Assassin Pro ET Toyota, recording 9.48/144.83. The car was obviously on a stormer from the moment it left the line and sounded very strong indeed. Nice one guys! Finally Sportsman ET racer Rick Denny clocked 13.73/99.40 in his Firebird.
Stay tuned!
12:30
If you've been tuned in to the webcam you will have noticed that not much has been happening for a while, can you believe that after the glorious weather we've had in the last few weeks, today it decides to drizzle. Your reporter's personal opinion was that this was caused by someone undoing the cap on a barrel of nitro, but bike racer Ken Cooper thinks that he may be responsible as he was in Florida a couple of weeks ago and it rained there too. At time of writing the drizzle has stopped and the track dryer is out. Startline conditions are 46.4 degrees, 78% humidity and 30.39 inches of mercury. The humidity shot up to 89% as it was drizzling and is now plummeting again.
Øyvor Jacobsen has had her first warm-up in the Top Fueller, and you won't be at all surprised to hear that she was smiling quietly to herself whilst the engine was running, and she said that she felt very comfortable. "I want to do as many runs as possible today", said Øyvor. "I need the practice!". Car owner and Crew Chief Rune Fjeld said that the team plan to put in two runs today. "It's really not the right weather for this", he said. Rune said that he hopes to do the full FIA Tour but that Gardermoen was definitely on the schedule. "Hopefully that's where we'll get the sponsors", he said.
Øyvor is confident of her chances in 2003. "I've got Rune, and that's why I think we'll do well in the Championship", she said.
The new body on the Shockwave Fuel FC looks very nice indeed in a grey, red and black colour scheme. "I told you it would look a bit different, didn't I!" said Crew Chief and co-owner Dave Bryant. The rear wing is huge and in fact from some angles the car looks like a pick-up! "It was tested in a wind tunnel and produced five thousand pounds of downforce", said Dave. "We think that it will stick to the track now since we start to turn the tyres at 220 miles per hour". The car is to be fired up at some point this afternoon but will not be running on the track.
We're now back in business on-track, stay tuned for news.
10:30
Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway. The season is fast approaching and a number of racers are taking the opportunity to get in some testing before the Easter Thunderball, and we are here to bring you the action in association with American Car Imports.
It's an overcast morning, startline conditions are 48.6 degrees and 63% humidity on the start line, 30.39 inches of air pressure. Action has already started with Junior Modified/Advanced racer Ricky Emms firing a warning shot to his competitors with a 0.500 light and a pass of 7.94/78.86 - what a way to start the day!
The pits are already very busy, a lot of street cars but we have already spotted Øyvor Jacobsen (Top Fuel Dragster), Gordon Smith (Fuel Funny Car), Al Golding (Super Pro ET), Jon Everitt (Pro ET), Steve Wells (Pro ET), Trev Capewell (Super Pro ET), Gino Bernadine (Pro ET), Paul Watson (Super Street Bike), Darren Hulkes (Sportsman ET) and Al Simms (Custom Car Street Eliminator) and Phil Pratt (10.90 Bike) and that's just from race control - we'll bring you news of the other racers here as the day goes on. We also have Al Platt's daughter Jennifer here to take a turn in the SPRC Junior Dragster.
If you check out the Webster Race Engineering/Dragrace Drachten webcam you can spot Rune Fjeld's rig next to the grandstand. That's where we're headed now to have a few words with Øyvor Jacobsen. Obviously today's coverage is going to be a little skewed towards how Øyvor gets on but the other racers here won't be forgotten.
Tune back soon and we'll let you know what's occurring.