2003 FIA Main Event
Run What You Brung, Sunday 18th May

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16:00

As another gale-lashed torrent of rain cleans the windows of race control we're all done for today.

Thanks very much for their help this weekend to Steve Horn (to whom special thanks for going above and beyond the call of duty), Martin Wallis, Kjell Pettersson, Ian Marshall and the start line crew, Bob Day and the safety crew, and Spencer Tramm, and thanks to all of you for tuning in.

The next part of Eurodragster's FIA Main Event build-up will be from Wednesday's Press Day, we look forward to seeing you then.

This weekend's coverage has been brought to you in association with American Car Imports. See you on Wednesday!

15:45

Here are today's pictures, click on any image to see a larger version:

15:15

The track crew here at Santa Pod did an absolutely bang-up job of drying the track and we were ready to go again at 2:45. First up was Kim Reymond and it was a dramatic race against time as he sat strapped in and watching a menacing black cloud come towards the track. Kim pulled a nice burnout, pulled back, took the thumbs up from his Crew Chief to go into stage, and just as he pulled forward the spots started again and Chief Starter Ian Marshall signalled Kim to shut off. Within about thirty seconds the heavens had opened. And that was that, the event was called so we are done for the day.

Since our last update we had some more racers arrive, Andy Carter pulled in with his rig, towed by a very fit-looking Magnum tractor unit. "The weather has been frustrating for us too, because we have been trying to work on the rig", said Andy. "The car is ready to go, all we will have to do is to get it out and run it". Andy said that he has no less than forty guests coming next week, from First National Telecom, Camberley Auto Factors, Earl's and Lucas Oils. We were very pleased to see Andy's wife Sarah looking fit and healthy after the birth of their son Albert, who had his first piece of drag racing indoctrination yesterday when he was sat on top of a drum of nitro.

Steve French, Jerry Collier and John Williamson were also here with their bikes but didn't get the chance to run. Steve told us that he had re-wired and super-fireproofed his bike as well as changing parts in the carbs. "I split the head at Easter and this replacement head has never run right", he added.

Jerry Collier told us about some of the changes made to the Jade Racing Kawsaki H2 Comp Bike. "Steve changed the electrics from 12 to 14 volts", he said. "I've also got an electric over air shifter, since I hurt my thumb at work last year I don't always shift properly so this will make it a lot easier. When I shift properly I run8.0s! Al Smith is making us a new set of wheelie bars, we have some new pistons coming from Fast By Gast in the USA - they are very helpful even though we're faster than they are now! We've got new front and rear tyres, and next week Chris Hall is going to remount the ignition pick-ups to make them easier to access."

What we are going to do now is to put together today's pictures. Because we only have a few, we will be posting them on his page, so tune back in a little while and they'll be right here.

12:35

Since we left you the rain has come down again, and it's not just any rain, it's build-an-ark stuff. No-one is giving up yet, the track crew plus a number of volunteers are already out on the start line and the tractor and sweepers are back in business.

We caught up with Niclas Andersson and asked him about his pass yesterday. "I enjoyed being in the car", he said. "It was my first run, I need some more runs to get more confident, but it was good although I drifted to the right". Niclas said that he wasn't really aware how close he had got to the guardrail. "You can't see much in this car", he said. "In the Pro Stock you can see all around you but not in the Funny Car, but I was not worried". Niclas said that he will be back at the Press Day on Wednesday to finish his licencing. "I have a very good teacher!", he said.

Kim Reymond is a little concerned that he might have to go home without making any passes at all, and he can't make it here on Wednesday because of his business commitments. However, he has had an idea. "We will leave the car and the tune-up, you're a little guy Tog, you can drive it". Just leave the keys, Kim, and I'll be there.

Supertwin racer Ronny Aasen was another racer doing business with Jon Webster last night after damaging a camshaft yesterday. "We went home after the Speedfreaks Ball last week, we fixed the heads and the camshaft cover, and then we had the problem yesterday. We went to Webster's last night and it is all under control today, we warmed it up and it sounded very good. I hope that all the strange things have now finished happening!"

Stay tuned and we'll let you know what's going on.

10:45

Hello again and welcome from a sunny Santa Pod Raceway. We're here to bring you all the pre-Main Event testing news at today's Run What You Brung in association with our friends at American Car Imports.

We have some Hellos this morning, firstly the traditional Good Morning to Ed O'Connell and Kethy Hileman, our US correspondents who are tuned in from New Hampshire. Hello, too, to Åsa Kinnemar, Gittli Koller and Rob Faulkner whom we know are tuned in, and a heads-up for Turbo - your message has not yet been passed on but will be soon. Finally, hello to Lex and Gerda...start brewing the coffee!

Now, we said a "sunny" Santa Pod Raceway, that was a little disingenuous since this sunshine was preceded by an hour's rain, some of it very heavy indeed. If you have seen the Webster Race Engineering/Dragrace Drachten webcam recently then you will have seen how serious it got. Right now the sweepers, the tractor, and track crew with brushes are out on the track getting the water off.

There has been some discussion of whose fault this rain is. Niclas Anderssson was in the collection area, strapped in and ready to make his second licencing pass in the Kagered Racing TMFC, Kim Reymond had just warmed up his Top Fueller, and Ronny Aasen had just wheeled his Supertwin bike out from his awning. We've got it narrowed down to those three.

We were out in the pits when the rain started to fall, so we and here's what we have found out so far this morning.

If you were tuned in yesterday you will remember that Andy Robinson's Pro Mod put out a lot of smoke at the top end, we asked Andy what occurred. "I've hurt the engine", he said. "Three pistons and two liners. I got no time, no proper computer data, and I burnt the engine!". Andy has a spare engine but he will not be able to get it together in time for next week because of pressure of work at his workshop. "Don't worry, I'm working on it!", he said. "We'll see what we can do!". Andy is fitting the engine into Peter Wacker's Pro Mod starting tomorrow and he also has Andy Hone's Super Mod coming. "Peter wants to run at Press Day so we have to get that finished", he said.

Henri Joosten was another top end smoker yesterday, his problem was a small hole in one head. "We got it fixed, thanks to Jon Webster", he said. "The run was OK yesterday, it was a planned half-pass. We've made some changes and we'll see how it goes today."

Kim Reymond is desperate to get in some passes today after missing out yesterday. The Top Fueller had been warmed up and the team were just about ready to come down to the start line before the rain fell. "We have a completely new combination so we must make some runs to get a baseline before next week", he said.

Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Sue Jackson was shut off on the line yesterday for a fluid leak from the radiator. That was easily fixed and Sue was suited and booted to come down to the collection area before the rain came. Next time you visit the Silver Fox pit be prepared for the team's new line in cheery Sunday morning greetings.

We're now going to go back out into the pits to see who else we can find - Niclas Andersson and Micke Kågered are on our list. The track is drying quite quickly so come back soon and we'll bring you up to speed.