2003 SPRC Summernationals
Saturday (qualifying)
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19:15
Today's pictures are now available, you can access them via the Event Index page.
MSA Top Methanol final qualifying is as follows:
1. Dave Wilson 5.594/253.01
2. Rob Turner 5.613/229.25
3. Steph Milam 6.614/213.00
Here are the top two qualifiers in all other classes:
Super Modified: 1. Danny Cockerill 7.750/177.97, 2. Andy Hone 8.083/165.91
Super Pro ET: 1. Mark Flavell +0.007 7.847/172.34, 2. Steve Johnson +0.008 7.608/174.49
Pro ET: 1. Dave Ward +0.005 10.505/123.70, 2. John Everitt +0.006 9.376/141.88
Sportsman ET: 1. Al Platt +0.014 12.914/108.32, 2. Paul Bishop +0.020 16.520/79.18
Super Comp: 1. Tim Adam 8.919/148.63, 2. Malcolm Francis 8.921/153.41
Super Gas: 1. Dave Day 9.908/145.16, 2. Malcolm Francis 9.925/141.84
Super Street: 1. Bob Lees 10.905/127.30, 2. Stuart Doignie 10.907/130.17
Junior Dragster: 1. Colin Morrice 0.513, 2. Jay Hauser 0.524
Custom Car Street Eliminator (subject to Cruise): 1. Steve Pateman 8.615/168.98, 2. Jon Webster 8.747/166.68
VW Pro: 1. Paul Bate +0.090 12.080/106.65, 2. Justin Aldred +0.157 13.147/104.26
VW Sportsman: 1. Cath Bishop +0.009 16.309/78.05, 2. Phil Barker +0.024 17.524/74.97
VW Alternate Engine: 1. Ian Sewell +0.009 15.509/76.50, 2. Andy Raw +0.010 14.010/93.77
Funny Bike: 1. Neil Midgley 6.877/188.35, 2. Mike Chislett 7.125/184.67
Pro Stock Bike: 1. Richard Gipp 7.659/171.17, 2. Martin Bishop 7.823/167.88
Comp Bike: 1. Klaus Sarembe 8.362/148.78, 2. Phil Leamon 8.545/156.08
Super Street Bike: 1. Matt Nixon 8.351/168.34, 2. Karl Larcombe 8.402/172.06
9.90 Bike: 1. Fred Furlong 9.900/138.10, 2. Paul Stewart 9.919/143.95
10.90 Bike: 1. Dave Burfitt 10.918/123.11, 2. John Hackney 10.955/124.52
Supertwin Fuel: Chris Stebbings 9.525/109.57, 2. Ian Turburville 9.949/136.76
Supertwin Modified: 1. Dave Bartz 9.658/139.78, 2. Simon Hodgson 10.221/139.06
Supertwin Gas: 1. George Laycock 9.711/133.96, 2. Andy Smith 10.114/127.00
Supertwin Street: 1. Mark Earrey 10.001/135.39, 2. Dave Jones 11.035/124.96
That's all from Santa Pod for today, tune back tomorrow and we'll bring you all the news from eliminations.
18:20
Qualifying is now finished here at Santa Pod and it has been a superb day of Sportsman action.
Cath Bishop took over the lead in VW Sportsman after session three, whilst fellow VWSP racer Rob Bowler clocked a 12.767 which was a PB judging by the reaction of his crew. It's as-you-were in the other VW classes. The lead stayed as-was in Junior Dragster, with Colin Morrice #1 at 0.513, although of note was Ricky Emms' 7.914/79.77 in the Cool Green JD, with the JMA index at 7.90 that was fine judgement from Ricky's crew chief.
Mark Flavell was right on the numbers again in the Performance Unlimited dragster, consolidating his lead in Super Pro. We had a great Super Pro match-up in the last cycle with John Ellis in his Pro Mod running against Ian Bishop in what used to be a Pro Mod. John has dialled-in 7.2 all day and ran a 7.3 in the first session, in the last session John was on one until he pulled the chutes just before the finish and recorded a 7.4 at 172 mph.
Four cars turned out for the final session of Super Modified: we have not seen Paul Brooks on track at all today so I guess he has a problem. Steve Rawlings lowered his PB still further with an 8.108/162.71, in the other lane Andy Hone clocked 8.179/153.61. Graham Ellis then ran a single, 8.127/173.29 and Danny Cockerill closed out the session with a 7.750/177.57, the chutes out early.
Steve Venables and Pete Bellenie had a great side-by-side in the last session of Super Street Bike qualifying, 8.622/171.05 to 8.960/161.60. Pete was out of the hole first and Steve chased him down, it was close at the top. Karl Larcombe ran another 8.4, that's three in a row today for the Krazy Kat team. Matt Nixon outdid him at the last though, a new PB of 8.351/168.34 to take the #1 spot.
Rob Turner was the only Top Methanol racer to turn out for the final Top Methanol qualifier. Dave Wilson's Crew Chief Andy Bissett told us this morning that if Dave qualified well then they would only put in the one pass today, and we understand that Steph Milam has suffered some damage. Rob put in a stormer of a run, again no sign of shake and nice and straight, 5.662/250.67.
In Comp Bike, Klaus Sarembe took number one spot with an 8.362/148.78. Klaus shut off early after a backfire towards the finish line. Phil Leamon improved to an 8.545/156.08 and took second spot. Martin Newbury broke back into the sevens in Pro Stock Bike with a 7.993/167.59 to take third spot.
Funny Bike is fast becoming a candidate for class of the weekend. Neil Midgley clocked 6.877/188.35 in the final qualifier, that is the first half of a new ACU record and cemented his #1 position. Neil is getting very close to the best time the bike has ever run, a 6.79 in the USA. Steve French improved his ET still further with a 7.191/183.97.
Chris Stebbings clocked 9.911/134.95 in the last Supertwin Fuel session, Ian Turburville recorded a 10.22, and Dave Witts broke in the burnout.
Mark O'Halloran came very close indeed to taking our money with a 0.501 reaction in the final session of Super Street qualifying. Malcolm Francis consolidated a second place in Super Comp with an 8.921/153.41; the top four of nine Super Comp qualifiers are in the 8.9s.
George Laycock is stamping his authority on Supertwin Gas this weekend, stepping up to a 9.711/133.96 in the last session. Andy Smith held on to second place and improved further to 10.114. Dave Jones took number two spot in Supertwin Street with a last-gasp 11.035. On one of the final runs of today, Dave Burfitt consolidated his 10.90 Bike lead with a 10.918.
Stay tuned and we will bring you the top qualifier in each class at the end of the day, and we are also working on today's pictures.
15:45
Here are the top qualifiers after the second qualifying cycle:
Super Modified: Danny Cockerill 7.762/177.54
Super Pro ET: Mark Flavell +0.007 7.847/172.34
Pro ET: Dave Ward +0.005 10.505/123.70
Sportsman ET: Al Platt +0.014 12.914/108.32
Super Comp: Tim Adam 8.919/148.63
Super Gas: Dave Day 9.908/145.16
Super Street: Bob Lees 0.905/127.30
Junior Dragster: Collin Morrice 0.513
Custom Car Street Eliminator: Steve Pateman 8.615/168.98
VW Pro: Paul Bate +0.090 12.080/106.65
VW Alternate Engine: Matt Attwood +0.056 14.046/97.71
VW Street: Phil Barker +0.034 17.534/73.29
Funny Bike: Neil Midgley 6.972/180.05
Pro Stock Bike: Richard Gipp 7.659/171.17
Comp Bike: Phil Leamon 8.718/153.28
Super Street Bike: Karl Larcombe 8.402/172.06
9.90 Bike: Fred Furlong 9.900/138.10
10.90 Bike: Dave Burfitt 10.934/126.00
Supertwin Fuel: Chris Stebbings 9.925/109.57
Supertwin Gas: George Laycock 9.813/133.35
Supertwin Modified: Dave Bartz 9.658/139.78
Supertwin Street: Mark Earrey 10.206/133.64
Track conditions right now are 21.9 C, 39% humidity and 29.97 inches of air pressure. Stay tuned.
15:20
The second cycle of qualifying is now complete and it's been another excellent session with leads changing hands and some new personal bests.
Dave Ward took over the lead in Pro ET, a 0.502 reaction almost winning him �75 and .005 off dial-in shows that the Rampage team are getting a handle on the car with the FC body. Of note in VW Street was Dan Buzzo who took number two spot with a 19.309 on a 19.20 dial-in - in a VW camper! In CCSE Colin Lazenby was smoking the tyres of his big Chevy for what seemed an eternity yet still clocked a 9.855, whilst Mark Bracking recorded a new PB of 10.781. Jon Webster went straight into second place in CCSE with his first run of the day in John Hales' Chevy, 8.875/168.23.
In 10.90 Bike, Dave Burfitt took over the lead with a 10.934 from SPR's own John Hackney at 10.955 and Phil Pratt at 10.958. 9.90 Bike session two was notable for a very large number of breakouts, although Fred Furlong consolidated his position with a 9.94 to follow up his earlier perfect 9.900. George Laycock was another racer to consolidate a lead with a 9.813 in Supertwin Gas, and Dave Bartz took over the Supertwin Modified with a 9.658/139.78 - we will have to check in with Sue Beneke's stats but we think that may be the first half of new NAST records for both time and speed. Mark Earrey cemented his Supertwin Street lead with a 10.206 whilst Ian Radanke took over #2 at 11.059.
Dave Day took over the Super Gas lead in this session with a fine 9.908. Al Golding recorded a new PB at 8.861/150.66 in Super Pro ET - earlier on Al asked us how he was going to top a PB, event win, and Eurodragster Perfect Light award at the Main Event, we would say he has started pretty well. Dave Moore had a wild ride in the Herald, weaving about the right hand lane and then suffering a nitrous burp at half track whilst travelling at 117.60 mph.
Stuart Doignie looked to have consolidated his Super Street lead with a 10.908 until one of the last passes of the session when Bob Lees stole it away with a 10.905. Tim Adam stays in the lead in Super Comp with Malcolm Francis chasing his heels with an 8.935. Steve Rawlings recorded a new personal best in the second Super Modified qualifying session with a storming 8.138 which wasn't straight so there is more to come from Steve yet we'd say.
Back on two wheels, and in Super Street Bike Ivan Birch recorded a new PB of 8.671/160.35 and Matt Nixon also clocked a PB at 8.442/167.42. Karl Larcombe showed consistency with an 8.422 at a huge 173.14 and Pete Bellenie improved to an 8.647/166.47. Dave Bailey is back on his SSB this weekend and recorded 8.908/152.45 on his first pass.
Phil Leamon took over the Comp Bike lead from Paul Newman with an 8.718/153.28. Germany's Klaus Sarembe toasted the track at about six hundred feet with a huge backfire. In Pro Stock Bike Martin Bishop improved to a 7.823/167.88, Richard Gipp was on the start line with his camera and told us that he was saving nhis bike for Finland.
Funny Bike was the astounding session we have come to expect from the guys with Neil Midgley leading the way at 6.972/180.05, and Mike Chislett stepping up to a 7.125/184.67. Steve French recorded a massive 190.06 on his pass of 7.218. Sarah Jane Head is really getting to grips with her new bike, clocking 8.232/157.05.
Ian Turburville recorded a new best of 9.949/136.76 on his new Supertwin Fuel Bike whilst Dave Witts put in his first pass of the weekend at 10.323. We noticed Steve Woolatt's Crew Chief Chris Powell working with Turbo.
Stay tuned as we are just putting together the qualifying leaders after cycle 2.
13:00
We've had a great first cycle of qualifying here at Santa Pod. Here are the top qualifiers in each class after this cycle:
Super Modified: Danny Cockerill 7.762/177.54
Super Pro ET: Mark Flavell +0.007 7.847/172.34
Pro ET: John Everitt +0.006 9.376/141.88
Sportsman ET: Al Platt +0.014 12.914/108.32
Super Comp: Tim Adam 8.919/148.63
Super Gas: Tim Adam 9.975/145.10
Super Street: Stuart Doignie 10.907/130.17
Junior Dragster: Collin Morrice 0.543
Custom Car Street Eliminator: Steve Pateman 8.615/168.98
VW Pro: Russ Fellows +0.277 11.477/116.49
VW Alternate Engine: Matt Attwood +0.056 14.046/97.71
VW Street: Stuart Hinds +0.069 16.369/82.71
Funny Bike: Neil Midgley 7.096/183.81
Pro Stock Bike: Richard Gipp 7.659/171.17
Comp Bike: Paul Newman 8.836/138.34
Super Street Bike: Karl Larcombe 8.402/172.06
9.90 Bike: Fred Furlong 9.900/138.10
10.90 Bike: Phil Pratt 11.016/125.12
Supertwin Fuel: Chris Stebbings 9.925/109.57
Supertwin Gas: George Laycock 9.907/129.63
Supertwin Modified: Simon Hodgson 10.221/139.06
Supertwin Street: Mark Earrey 10.314/130.56
Dave Wilson leads Top Methanol with a stormer of a pass on the #2 car and #3 engine, 5.594/253.01. Championship co-ordinator Dave Alexander tells us that the MSA Championship record is 5.597 so Dave is on for additional points if he can back it up. Rob Turner is not far behind at 5.613/229.25, another great-looking pass with not much sign of shake, and Steph Milam is third at 6.614/213.00. Dave Alexander tells us that Steph has a new clutch set-up from AFT in the USA, the car launched very strongly and was visibly accelerating very hard at the top end.
Track conditions right now are 19.9 C and rising, 46% humidity, and air pressure 29.97 inches.
We are now into the second cycle, now that we've caught up we are going to try to bring you some session highlights as well as just stats so stay tuned.
10:00
Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway on a very pleasant summer morning. It's 18.5 C on the start line and rising, humidity 68% and falling, air pressure 30.00 inches and rising, and we're here to bring you all the action in association with American Car Imports.
The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is on-line and broadcasting every two minutes.
A couple of qualifying-day greetings, firstly to Super Street Bike racer Richard Stubbings who is recovering at home after a spell in dock earlier this week, everyone here sends their best wishes to you Richard and we'll see you next time. Hello also to our good friend Lorne who apparently found the lure of B and Qs more tempting than a weekend's drag racing.
There was a very busy atmosphere in the pits this morning, lots of busy racers getting into the queue for scrutineering. We managed to pin a few racers against their trailers to find out how they were doing, though.
Pro ET racer Jon Everitt is also running in Super Gas in the Sanity Assassin Toyota this weekend. Car owner Ray Eldred explained that the team are working on the suspension and so they want to get in as many passes as they can. When we were in the Sanity Assassin pit, Jon was applying the logos of the car's newest sponsor, the Secrets escort agency. I might be wrong but I don't think we're talking Ford Escorts here, and certainly not judging by the company logo.
Fellow Pro ET racer Steve Good is a happy man having run in nines at both Santa Pod and Shakespeare County Raceways. "I'd like to think that we'll run nines again this weekend!", he said. "We have been trying to set the suspension up right because the car wasn't moving off the start line". Whilst talking to Steve we got onto the subject of non-attendant spouses. Regular readers will know that your reporter's wife is no fan of drag racing and Steve is in a similar position. "It's just as well that my wife doesn't come racing", he said, "or she'd find out the money I spend!".
Next door in the Pro ET pits, Malcolm Motler told us that that his Spellbound Morris Minor will be appearing at a school fete next weekend, at Westmoors Middle School in Dorset on Saturday 5th July. Westmoors is the school attended by the nephews of Malcolm's partner Marcie. "They said to me that I didn't have to fire the car up, and I asked them, why?", said Malcolm. So if you are in the area next week then why not go along and help to persuade Malcolm to perform a burnout. "They said that they were worried about my tyres and I told them don't worry about that!", laughed Malcolm.
In the Super Pro ET pits we found Roger Moore nursing a broken foot and some frightening bruising after his motorbike had a difference of opinion with a BMW a few days ago. Roger told us that brother Dave is "reluctantly" driving the eight-second Herald. "Actually, now that Dave is driving, my foot doesn't feel so bad!", joked Roger. The Moores have renowned race car builder and onetime Eurodragster sponsor Chris Isaacs crewing with them this weekend. "Chris thinks that he is here to work on our chassis, but actually he'll be going for the tea and bacon sandwiches!", said Roger.
In the Custom Car Street Eliminator pit, Andy Frost has a new nitrous system this weekend. "It's either going to run mid-to-high eights or nine eighties!", said Andy. Just along the pits, John Hales' Chevy is to be driven again by Jon Webster this weekend. "At the last race we did the gearbox", said crew member Johnny Mac. "Then we had another look and found a problem with the axle". "Jon Webster will do anything to get out of cutting the grass!", said Jon's wife Jeanette. John Hales' son Mark is 21 on Monday so a win would be a great early birthday present.
Fellow CCSE racer Ian Hook tells us that the FB Racing team are "Trying a few things" this weekend. "We're moving the nitrous around", he said. "We may actually change it so that it hits off the line, to improve the sixty foot times. We should run a healthy eight but we're not going to put a number on that!". The boot of Ian's '34 Ford is covered with the names of associate sponsors, with not much room left, so if you would like to join the scheme then you had better get in quick.
Qualifying is now well underway, we will be back at the end of the first cycle to bring you all the leaders. Stay tuned!