2004 Easter Thunderball
Sunday (qualifying)
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23:10
Today's pictures are now loaded, you can access them from the Event Index page. We'll be back in the morning with all the news from eliminations, see you then!
20:00
Final top five in 9.90 Bike qualifying
Final top five in 10.90 Bike qualifying
Final top five in Super Street qualifying
Final top five in Super Gas qualifying
Final top five in Super Street Bike qualifying
Final top five in Comp Bike qualifying
Final top five in Super Pro ET qualifying
Final Top five in Super Comp qualifying
Final top five in Funny Bike qualifying
Final top five in Pro Stock Bike qualifying
Final top five in Super Modified qualifying
We are working on today's pictures, stay tuned.
18:05
Final top five in Pro ET qualifying
Final top five in VW Sportsman qualifying
Final top five in VW Pro qualifying
Final top five in VW Alternate Engine qualifying
17:15
Thomas Nataas, Lex Joon, Andy Carter and John Spuffard turned out for the second Pro Fuel Shootout qualifier. Thomas Nataas went first with another competent burnout but he was then shut off with an oil leak. Lex was next up, great burnout followed by a hard launch, the car started to shake pretty quickly so Lex pedalled, 0.910 sixty-foot time, then he got back on the throttle again but the shake came in again so Lex got off and idled through to an 8.377/102.44.
Next it was John Spuffard v Andy Carter in an FC v TF match-up with a 0.35 head start for Spuff, the Showtime FC looks stunning in its new paintscheme. A great paired burnout then the lights ran, Spuff's tyres went up in smoke at the hit - and Andy Carter was long gone, a slightly better reaction time than Spuff, driving through shake, lightly blackstriping all the way down the track, taking a long way round and backing off slightly early, a tremendous 4.943/292.24 to Spuff's freewheeling 20.683/44.78.
Stay tuned.
17:00
Final Top Fuel Bike qualifying
Final Top Methanol qualifying
Final top five in Custom Car Street Eliminator qualifying
Final top five in Junior Dragster qualifying
Final top five in Sportsman ET qualifying
16:30
John Everitt remains at the top of Super Pro ET after session four, 0.023 over dial-in at 8.823/151.55, from Pat Talbot +0.028 7.828/174.25, John Tebenham 0.037 at 8.267/160.18, Steve Saunders fourth also +0.037 at 8.827/153.69 and Ian Tubb fifth +0.039 at 7.739/174.65.
Mark Fairhurst heads up Super Comp at 8.903/153.70 from Malcolm Francis 8.916/148.05, Paul Ingar Udtian 8.922/130.06, Tim Adam 8.925/148.50 and Paul Letchford fifth at 9.000/127.15.
Neil Midgley is back into the sixes, heading up Funny Bike with a 6.930/189.80, Paul Knapp has smashed his personal best again to go second at 7.289/179.29, Sarah Jane Head third 7.308/181.51, Dave Bailey 7.385/177.13 and Shaun Branch fifth at 7.838/175.00.
Dave Beck is still on top in Pro Stock Bike at 7.358/176.52 from Richard Gipp 7.530/176.37, Tony Clark into the sevens at 7.965/165.26, Martin Bishop 8.070/169.18 and Len Paget 8.246/142.92.
One of the stories of the day is in Super Modified where Paul Brooks smashed his personal best out of sight. Steve Rawlings is still first at 8.078/169.18 but Paul is now second at 8.086/169.86 from Rob Smallworth 8.090/173.08, Tim Garlick improved to 8.132/165.51 and Kev Perkins still in the standings at 8.325/145.62.
Custom Car Street Eliminator is currently underway and we've just seen a tremendous save by Al Simms whose car went hard right, hard left, hard right and up on two wheels, skidded round and then finally came to rest pointing up the track! A great job by Al kept the car out of the wall.
15:45
Steve Ashby leads 9.90 Bike at 9.914/123.99 after the fourth session. Richard Sawatzki is into number two spot at 9.921/122.52 from Fred Furlong's 9.938/140.22, Richard Beck at 9.944/138.15 and Davis Warren now fifth at 9.966/140.23.
Shaun Spiers is still on top in 10.90 Bike at 10.926/130.06 from Andy Bird's 10.928/133.08, Phil Pratt is third at 11.042/124.69, John Hackney now fourth at 11.050/120.98 and Nick Holland fifth at 11.085/120.98.
Lee Huxley is in the lead of Super Street after the fourth session at 10.904/120.94, from dave Cherrett's 10.911/94.71, Elisabeth Bredal 10.923/123.29, Ian Brown 10.931/112.27 and Bob Lees 10.932/126.24.
Stuart Doignie still leads Super Gas after session four at 9.929/137.25, from Tim Adam at 9.947/144.65, Spencer Tramm 9.996/130.16, Pete Creswell 10.011/143.74 and Steve Wells 10.032/130.55.
Graham Dance has stepped even further up in Super Street Bike, a hair away from the ACU UK record at 8.165/176.25, Mark Fisher also stepping up at 8.365/175.05, Matt Nixon 8.552/164.81, Steve Venables 8.628/168.56 and Richard Stubbins 8.658/164.66.
TJ O'Brien held onto his #1 spot of 8.250/155.77 in Comp Bike, Phil Leamon improving to 8.369/159.16 for second, Andy Newcombe third at 8.840/142.81, Nick Daniels 9.009/154.64 and Stuart Crane fifth at 9.228/138.04.
Next up is Super Pro ET.
15:05
James Lake heads up VW Sportsman after the fourth qualifying session, 0.035 up on dial-in at 15.035/87.84 from Ollie Dyer 0.043 up at 22.743/55.34, Amy Homewood now third 0.050 up at 20.650/65.19, Christos Kouzaris +0.073 at 21.573/59.03 and Paul Herbert +0.078 at 15.978/82.71.
VW Pro is led by Ian Dale, 0.027 up at 12.427/90.90 from Jason Aldred +0.049 at 11.349/115.90, Nigel Green +0.189 at 13.179/102.99, Ken Blomer +0.253 at 10.243/134.79 and Paul Bate +0.296 at 11.696/113.42. A special mention for Natasha Garcia who very naughtily broke out by a second in her new car, dialling-in a 12.99 and running 11.997 - her crew looked pretty happy with that so I guess she won't be getting a telling-off.
Spencer Tramm took over the lead in VW Alternate Engine 0.004 over dial-in at 9.214/145.61; he told us yesterday that he wants to win the Eurodragster.com/Curblishley Perfect ET Award so that Martin Curbishley can take �50 off his invoice for the super paintjob on the Quantum Leap Corrado. Mark Skeen is second 0.024 over dial-in at 17.524/79.63, Jon Williams third +0.259 at 15.409/82.40, Ian Huggan fourth 0.796 up on dial-in at 14.946/91.10 and Lee Darby now fifth +0.753 at 9.253/142.28. Lee's engine groaned at about three-quarter track, hopefully nothing serious.
Next up are 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike and Super Street, stay tuned.
14:30
It's turning into a very nice day here, 14.6 C on the start line, 60% humidity, 30.18 inches of air pressure.
One change in Junior Dragster after the fourth session, Kevin Ford still leads at 0.014, from Collin Morrice at 0.036, Holly Mitchell now third at 0.058, Scott Hauser 0.074, and Nick Mugridge 0.102.
The top four in Sportsman ET is as-was, Martin Lewis is still in the lead 0.011 over dial-in at 15.611/84.76, Mark Anderson +0.028 at 12.648/107.16, Craig Wright +0.030 18.530/72.50, Nick South +0.062 14.002/99.14, and now Paul Bishop fifth +0.073 at 16.473/80.79.
Again the top four haven't changed in Pro ET, Marius Blackburn still +0.001 at 9.451/141.01, from Carl Burton also +0.001 at 11.001/120.61, Bob Doyle third +0.007 at 10.407/132.36, Keith Herbert +0.011 at 11.351/115.73 and Moose Hollingworth now fifth at 0.014 over dial-in at 10.364/133.18. Eleanor Kitney is getting a good handle on the blown Escort with an 11.464 in this round of qualifying - a break-out but you get the idea that dad Trev wasn't that bothered!
Some changes in the top five of Custom Car Street Eliminator, Wayne Saunders still number one although improved still further at 8.262/171.82, now from Colin Lazenby who finally got the power to the track with an 8.513/170.39, Steve Pateman third at 8.576/166.79, Ian Jackson fourth 8.600/164.87 and Andy Frost 8.724/162.99.
Next up was Bert Englefield putting in a checkout pass in his blown-alcohol Coupe, a classic Pro Mod all-over-the-place burnout followed by a far from straight 6.681/209.67 which promises even more!
Eric Teboul followed on his rocket bike, a fine pass of 6.242/182.83 with a 204.32 speed at the eighth.
Martin Hill rounded off the exhibition session with a 6.207/235.41 in the Fireforce 2 Jet FC.
13:45
Steve Rawlings just held on to his lead in Super Modified with yesterday's 8.078/169.18 from a determined charge by Rob Smallworth in this session, 8.090/173.08. Tim Garlick is third with yesterday's 8.180/166.81, Kev Perkins is still officially in the standings fourth at 8.325/145.62 and Andy Kirk up to fifth with what we think is a PB, 8.399/163.03.
That's the end of the first cycle of qualifying, stay tuned for news of the second cycle and Eric Teboul's first rocket bike pass.
13:25
Rob Turner took the lead in Top Methanol with an arrow-straight 5.616/245.05, whilst Doug Ripley in the other lane hit violent shake at the hit and got off the throttle after the FC turned hard right. Doug stabbed the throttle a couple more times but his 9.320/109.54 of yesterday is still good for second place.
13:00
Andy Carter (TF), Thomas Nataas (TF) and Gordon Smith (FC) appeared for the first round of the Pro Fuel Shootout. Andy Carter hit shake at 200', pedalled and got off it at about three-quarter track to clock 5.400/203.65. The car was moving around a fair bit. Thomas Nataas put in his planned three-quarter pass, a very soft setting by the look of it and a cylinder out all the way down, clocking 5.981/167.27. Gordon Smith put in a great long burnout, as soon as he left the line the car headed towards the centre line, the car hit the 330-foot reflector, Gordon pedalled and pulled it straight and then backed out of it, clocking 7.901/107.35. There was a flash of flame from the FC towards the top end, a cloud of smoke and an oil trail in the shutdown area.
Next up is Top Methanol, stay tuned.
12:50
John Everitt still leads Super Pro ET 0.023 on his dial-in at 8.823/151.55 from new #2 Pat Talbot, 0.028 over at 7.828/174.25, John Tebenham is third at 0.037 8.267/160.18, Ian Tubb +0.039 at 7.739/174.65 and Steve Johnson 0.076 over at 7.576/176.43. Gary Malin got into the sevens in his new Super Pro rail whilst Mark Flevell broke out big time with a PB in the 7.3s on a 7.5 dial-in.
Mark Fairhurst leads Super Comp at 8.903/153.70 from Malcolm Francis at 8.916/148.05, Paul Ingar Udtian 8.922/130.06, Tim Adam 8.925/148.50 and Shaun Lathan 9.061/152.62.
Neil Midgley increased his Funny Bike lead with a 7.109/184.44 from Sarah Jane Head's 7.371/172.49, Dave Bailey third at 7.385/177.13, Paul Knapp 7.387/179.49 and Dave Holland's 8.404/126.00.
Dave Beck still leads Pro Stock Bike at 7.358/176.53, Richard Gipp still second at 7.530/176.37 from Martin Bishop 8.070/169.18, Len Paget 8.246/142.92 and Tony Clark 8.478/164.11.
Steve Woollatt has taken over the lead in Top Fuel Bike with a superb 6.595/209.16 which we had understood to be a checkout pass, Antonio Ferretti is second with yesterday's 7.098/190.85 and a new personal best for Steve Carey at 7.624/167.23.
The first Pro Fuel Shootout qualifier is taking place, stay tuned and we'll bring you the news as soon as it finishes.
12:15
Super Street Bike is still led by Graham Dance's 8.347/176.42 from an improving Matt Nixon at 8.552/164.81, Steve Venables 8.628/168.56, Richard Stubbins 8.658/164.66 and Dave Smith at 8.679/162.40.
TJ O'Brien's personal best has lowered still further with an 8.250/155.77 to lead Comp Bike, from Phil Leamon at 8.381/156.81, Andy Newcombe 8.840/142.81, Stuart Crane 9.228/138.04 and Klaus Sarembe 9.257/99.80.
12:50
Finally we see the sun here at Santa Pod, 11.1 C, 65% humidity and 30.18 air pressure at the start line.
Shaun Spiers leads 10.90 Bike at 10.926/130.06 from Andy Bird's 10.928/133.08, John Hackney 11.050/120.98, Phil Pratt at 11.073/124.70 and Lizz McCarthy at 11.092/129.77.
9.90 Bike is still led by Steve Ashby at 9.914/123.99 from Fred Furlong 9.939/137.52, Richard Beck 9.944/138.15, Geoff Connor 9.982/130.85 and Steve Coombs 10.048/134.90.
The lead in Super Street has gone from a Norwegian NDRS racer to a UK racer who contests some of the NDRS rounds, Dave Cherrett now #1 at 10.911/94.71 from Elisabeth Bredal's 10.923/123.29, Lee Huxley at 10.923/119.40, Ian Brown 10.931/112.27 and Bob Lees 10.932/126.14.
Stuart Doignie is at the top of Super Gas at 9.929/137.25 from Tim Adam's 9.947/144.65, Spencer Tramm's 9.996/130.16, Steve Wells at 10.032/130.55 and Malcolm Francis' 10.061/140.55.
Super Street Bike, Comp Bike and Super Pro ET are next up.
11:20
Custom Car Street Eliminator is still led by Wayne Saunders at 8.497/169.04, from Steve Pateman now number two at 8.576/166.79, Ian jackson 8.654/164.90, Andy Frost 8.800/161.81 and Colin Lazenby 9.326/162.42. Wayne and Steve had a superb match-up in this session, Wayne pulling a huge holeshot and Steve chasing him down.
VW Sportsman still has Amy Homewood at the top of the pile 0.050 up on her dial-in at 20.650/65.19, from Phil Barker +0.125 15.125/84.60, Paul Cox 0.147 up at 17.647/72.77, Ollie Dyer +0.195 at 23.195/54.61 and Roy Ayton +0.220 at 15.820/86.04.
In VW Pro, Ian Dale heads up qualifying 0.027 over dial-in at 12.427/90.90, Jason Aldred 0.146 up at 11.946/109.53, Nigel Green third +0.189 at 13.179/102.99, Paul Bate fourth at 0.296 over dial in 11.696/113.42 and Justin Aldred fifth 0.336 over dial-in at 11.736/105.12.
Mark Skeen still leads VW Alternate Engine 0.024 over dial-in at 17.524/79.63, Spencer Tramm holds on to second +0.150 at 9.350/145.13 after breaking out in this session, Jow Williams is third at 0.259 over dial in 15.409/82.46, Ian Huggan is fourth 0.746 over dial-in at 14.946/91.10 and Lee Darby fifth, 0.753 over dial-in at 9.253/142.28.
Next up are 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike and Super Street - stay tuned.
10:15
Rookie racer Kevin Ford has taken over the lead in Junior Dragster with a reaction time of 0.014, from birthday boy Collin Morrice at 0.036, Scott Hauser 0.074, Nick Mugridge 0.102 and Holly Mitchell 0.108.
Martin Lewis is still in the lead in Sportsman ET, 0.011 over dial-in at 15.611/84.76, Mark Anderson +0.028 at 12.648/107.16, Craig Wright into the top five at number three, +0.030 18.530/72.50, Nick South +0.062 14.002/99.14, and Linda Platt +0.115 at 12.925/108.39.
No change in the top two of Pro ET, Marius Blackburn +0.001 at 9.451/141.01, from Carl Burton also +0.001 at 11.001/120.61, Bob Doyle now third +0.007 at 10.407/132.36, Keith Herbert +0.011 at 11.351/115.73 and Aidan Kenny +0.019 at 11.519/117.85.
We're currently in the middle of Custom Car Street Eliminator qualifying, Alex McIntosh has had a moment in the shutdown area after his radiator boiled over and dropped water and antifreeze under the car. Alex had a skate but kept it in his lane and he is quite OK. We're just finishing clean-up and then we'll be continuing with CCSE and then the three VW classes.
Trackside conditions right now are 7.7 C, 73% humidity and 30.18 inches air pressure.
8:00
Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway on day two of qualifying for the Easter Thunderball. It's chilly - 6.4 C, 80% humidity and 30.15 inches of pressure at the start line - but dry 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 a picture every two minutes.
A couple more Hellos this morning, firstly to our friend Gittli Koller who is tuned in from Germany, and also to Steve and Jacky Young who are in sunny Southampton: if you could send us some of that sunshine today, guys, that would be just great.
It was a very cold night last night and we found a lot of pits dark or buttoned up against the chill, but we found a few racers to talk to and here's what they had to say.
We met Thomas Nataas in the queue for pizza and as you can imagine he was very happy to have got into the Top Fueller and gone down the track. "It's different to the Pro Mod", he said. "In the Pro Mod you build the revs up before you go but you just stand on this one and it kicks you in the butt! It's a lot more violent". Thomas said that the plan was to make a pass to between half and three-quarter track and then to make a full pass.
We also met Funny Bike racer Paul Knapp in the pizza queue, he too was very happy having run in the 7.3s yesterday. "It scared the crap out of me!", he said. "All these months riding this bike and then it does that!".
There was a lot of activity in Lex Joon's pit where the MPM Oil team were putting a new motor in the dragster. "We're putting another motor in", said Alan Jackson. "That run was on six or seven cylinders, two pushrods jumped off during the burnout. I knew something wasn't right when Lex staged and cylinders were out". We commented to Lex that we were surprised that the car stuck to the track. "We only ran on the first set of clutch fingers so it wasn't going to go up in smoke", said Lex. "I knew when I hit the throttle it would shake or just go, and it went! I thought "Yea,it's going!" and it felt good". Lex had a minor drama after his burnout when he had trouble selecting reverse but he said that car owner Knut Soderquist saved the day. "Knut was great", said Lex. "He said that if there was any trouble then he would be there to help out, and he was there just like he said he would be. He was very calm and helped me to get it into reverse". Lex said that he already feels very comfortable in the car and that his crew make it even easier for him. "Per and Alan are working together very well", he said. "They talk about everything and it's..." - here Lex held his thumb up. "After the run I got back to the pits and told them crew how it was and they said "OK" and went to work on the car. They found a problem with the reverser, for example, I thought maybe I had done something wrong". Lex's Team Manager and partner Gerda Dijkstra said that she was very nervous before Lex ran, but that when she walked out in front of the car for the burnout she felt a lot better. "We have the radio again, and that's good", she said.
Walking down the pit we met Super Modified racer Kev Perkins who walked away from a top end crash yesterday afternoon. Kev confirmed that the cap came off the radiator and that fluid got under one of the rear tyres. "I'm gutted both for me and for Graham Ellis, because it's his car", said Kev. "It's always the two-bob part which does for you". Kev said that the the Olds got out of shape in high gear, then snatched a bit in fourth. "I felt it slewing to the left", he said. "I was conscious of Rob Smallworth being right there with me because I'd seen his fender. I pulled it back and then suddenly it was steering itself. The front tagged the rail then I knew I couldn't do any more. I prepared for the impact and as soon as it hit I turned off the fuel and rode it out". The damage to the car is nowhere near as bad as we feared. "The chassis damage is superficial", said Kev. "I will give it back to Graham as I found it, if not better. I can do quite a lot of the work myself."
Cliff Gould, Crew Chief for Doug Ripley's Top Methanol FC said that a pushrod was burnt on yesterday's familiarisation pass. "We also have some issues with the fuel system, but we're very happy", he said. "The car did what we wanted it to do, and it's all back together now and ready to go."
Rookie Super Pro ET racer Derek Flynn had a hairy ride in qualifying yesterday as his dragster got out of shape, and then got more out of shape. "I've got my licence", he said, "they were happy that I controlled it". Derek is looking forward to seeing Andy Carter in action today, as he sponsors Andy through his company Gold RV.
We had a very brief word with Super Street racer Ian Brown, who swapped the qualifying lead with Elisabeth Bredal in yesterday's second qualifying session - not that he knew until we told him. "We didn't have too bad a day", he said. "We're certainly enjoying ourselves. And I didn't know that I'd been in the lead. That's great!"
Super Gas racer Peter Lane was having oil pressure problems yesterday and found that his oil filter was blocked. "I was only getting thirty pounds of pressure", he said. "I blipped the throttle but it didn't improve so I shut it off". Peter is driving Stuart Peck's Rat Rage Camaro and says that he is enjoying the drive. "Jon Webster did a good job on the car", he said, "and Stuart is very pleased. The sixty foots are a lot better."
VW Alternate Engine racer Lee Darby's blown-alcohol Beetle is launching well but all four wheels are coming off the track. "I know it's doing that but I stay with it!", said Lee. "It's fine in first but the engine isn't loading enough in second", said Lee's Crew Chief. "We have the wrong rear end ratio".
Paul Venners kindly brought us some more updates from the VW pit.
VW Pro racer Ken Blomer couldn't get any boost at the Peak Performance test day last weekend, had problems with a misfire yesterday and after a full stripdown found that the end of a pushrod had come off. The engine is now back together and Ken will be out today for his first test runs under full boost.
Fellow VW Pro racer Conor Le-Grue has finished plumbing his Holley double-pumper/turbo upgrade in the pits and will be making his first boost-assisted runs this morning.
VW Pro racer Natasha Garcia is feeling confident after her successful test runs yesterday. We expect to see her into the twelves today. VW Sportsman racer Amy Homewood took the number one qualifying spot in her first run at her first event, this in her daily drive. "Does this mean I stay number one qualifier?", she is reported to have said.
It was a day of attrition on two wheels yesterday with Dave Holland and Martin Bishop reportedly damaging engines in their Funny and Pro Stock Bikes respectively, and Neil Midgley having clutch trouble. Funny Bike racer Sarah Jane Head told us that she was having problems maintaining pressure in her nitrous bottle. Scary was lined up for the second qualifying session but decided not to run after a short delay with rain in the air. "We're qualified", she said. "On the first run we had it set for a twenty and it ran a forty - the bottle pressure is dropping too quickly. We have borrowed a bottle warmer from Dave Holland and we'll see what difference that makes."
Super Modified racer Steve Rawlings and Norwegian Super Comp racer Paul Ingar Udtian both found out how they were getting on via mobile phone calls from people at home reading Eurodragster's reports. "My missus texted me and said congratulations on being number one qualifier and I didn't know!", said Steve. "I think she's phoning everyone she knows to tell them because I've tried to call her back and the phone is constantly engaged". One of Paul Ingar's crew popped up to Race Control just as we finished last night to let us know that he had been receiving phone calls from Norway congratulating him on his prgress. All we can say to that is Thank You to everyone for tuning in, we will do our very best to keep you informed for the rest of the weekend.
We're scheduled for a 9:20 start with the young ladies and gentlemen of Junior Dragster so stay tuned and we'll be right back with all the qualifying news.