2004 FIA European Finals
Professional Test, Saturday 4th September
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17:20
We're done for the day here at Santa Pod. Let's take you through the last few runs:
Tim Adam put in a very wiggly 10.182/128.62 in his Blitzkrieg Super Gasser, also not in the middle of his lane was Ian Bishop who got close to the guardrail at the top end in his Super Pro ET Avenger on a pass of 7.877/169.86.
Ian Caseley made another burner-free run in the Roadzombie II Jet Dragster, 9.093/173.67 and again really picking up in the second half.
An astounding performance by John Floyd on his Supertwin Gas bike, obviously finding the fuel problem, 9.365/138.76.
Finally Chris Isaacs put in another pass in the Standard Vanguard, wheels up again and 9.365/138.76.
Today's pictures are now available, you can view those via the Event Index page.
Tune back tomorrow and we will bring you all the news from the Run What You Brung.
16:15
The afternoon session is in full swing, let's take you through the highlights.
Supertwin Gas racer John Floyd put in a storming 9.582/107.89, this shut off at a thousand feet so there is plenty more to come there. John has reportedly been suffering fuel problems so when he's sorted those out the bike is set to break some hearts.
Ian Jackson has run a best of 9.044/161.21 so far this afternoon, the run looking quicker than it was. On a similar subject, Mark Pointer put in his first-ever pass in the Fordson van which was originally being built for CCSE competition. Everyone's favourite hooligan recorded a 10.677/115.67 on and off the throttle a couple of times as the short-wheelbase van twitched this way and that. Just as we went to post this update he put in his second pass of the day, 10.549/124.96 and again very twitchy.
Tim Adam's first full pass in his new Super Gasser was a 10.192/122.25 and that was not by any means on full throttle, Tim was off it early as well.
Chris Isaacs' first pass this afternoon was a storming 9.252/143.81, we guess that Chris has put on the Nitrous! He is lined up behind Race Control as I type...0.11 RT, wheels-up, 9.082/146.10! Fellow Pro ET racer Rick McCann clocked 10.391/130.08 on his one run so far this afternoon, now it's his turn to run again...0.051 RT, 10.412/129.59.
Liz Malcolm has put in a couple of gentle passes in her Pro ET rail, a best terminal speed a touch over 100 mph on the second pass.
Ian Caseley is continuing the no-afterburner passes, on the latest run the car really wanted to get going, Ian pulling another red and recording 9.796/177.13 - the car was visibly accelerating very hard in the second half of the track.
Ian Bishop's second pass of the day in his Super Pro ET Avenger was not as successful as the first, Ian hit shake off the line and the car turned hard right. Also having trouble this afternoon is Funny Bike racer Shaun Branch who after a pass with ominous metallic noises told us that he took off the output sprocket then reached for the bearing and it came apart. "The ball bearings went everywhere", he said. The output shaft is also bent. Shaun has already headed for home.
On the Street Racer Saturday front Mark Bracking has run a couple of ten-second passes, a 10.973/129.22 and a 10.976/122.27, Ray Irish has put in a best of 10.232/131.59; his crew thought that the heat of the day was affecting Ray's performances. Roger Cassidy clocked a 9.974/137.71 which judging by the reaction of Dave Pollen and crew was a PB. A lot of the SRS racers are recording ten-second passes and making it look very easy.
Stay tuned.
13:30
We're now on the lunch break here at Santa Pod. The weather is now glorious, 23.3 C and 65% humidity on the start line and 30.39 inches of air pressure.
Lat's take you through who has done what in the morning session.
Custom Car Street Eliminator racer Ian Jackson has put in a number of passes, his best so far an 8.941/161.37. The 'Vette has overpowered the track on some passes and on Ian's last run before the break the right front wheel came up at about a hundred feet.
Rick McCann has put in a best of 10.395/129.32 in the Heaven and Hell Pro ET Camaro, with a 10.437/129.42 and 10.466/129.32 his other passes. Rick pulled a 0.036 reaction on his quickest run.
Shaun Branch told us that he is here with his Funny Bike to try to cure tyre shake. Shaun ran a personal best speed of 180 mph at Hockenheim, and told us that the second eighths are getting stronger. Shaun hit shake on his first pass this morning and was off the throttle for a couple of seconds on his second pass but still clocked 8.676/131.57.
Ian Caseley has put in a couple of passes in the Roadzombie II Jet Dragster, his plan today to start off just on pure jet with no afterburner. Ian pulled a spectacular red light on his first pass of 9.748/168.69 and almost did the same on his second pass as the dragster started to slide through stage as he built up the power.
Fellow Ian, Ian Bishop has made one pass in his Super Pro ET Dodge Avenger, a very strong-sounding and -looking 7.467/179.32 for Low ET and high speed of the day so far.
Chris Isaacs has put in a couple of passes in his Vanguard, the best being 9.813/134.69 with a nice wheels-up launch. Mark Ramplee appears to have some problems with the Electromec Sierra, his best pass so far a 10.925/114.20 during which the car went out of shape a couple of times.
We got our first look at Tim Adam's new Ford Falcon Super Gasser, let's just say that the Best-Looking Car trophy just got another contender. The build quality of the car and its paintjob are stunning, don't miss our Photo Gallery later on. Tim put in a burnout and launch and then went back to the pits.
Of the Street Racer Saturday contingent Andy Bond has been of note in his Camaro, clocking 9.843/142.92 and 9.872/143.79 under the supervision of Rob Loaring of our Home and News page sponsor ICE Automotive Racing Engines. Erstwhile CCSE racer Mark Bracking is also taking part, running 11.887/113.27 and then 11.867/111.73.
Stay tuned and we'll be back with all the news from this afternoon's session.
10:30
Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway on a very pleasant late summer's day. The FIA European Finals start here with the Professional Test and we're here to bring you the news in association with American Car Imports.
The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is already on-line and broadcasting a picture every two minutes.
Trackside conditions are 19.2 C, 80% humidity, and 30.36 inches of air pressure.
In the pits we have Tim Adam with his new Ford Falcon Super Gasser, Chris Isaacs who will be trying the nitrous for the first time on his Pro ET Standard Vanguard, Ian Caseley's Roadzombie II Jet Dragster, Carla Pittau and Rick McCann's Heaven and Hell Pro ET Camaro, Johnny Beech's Sportsman ET Mustang, Mark Ramplee with his Electromec Sierra, Liz and Iain Malcolm with the Jus' 4 Fun Racing Pro ET rail, Ian Jackson with his CCSE Corvette, and Paul Marston who is giving passenger rides in Grumpy's Dodge.
A piece of news trackside is that the start line has been resurfaced - and we mean literally the start line. A narrow strip of asphalt, from the pre-stage beam to the guard beam, has been relaid to remove the grooves left by front wheel drive cars at Run What You Brung events. The new strip of asphalt is already starting to disappear beneath rubber and prep and by the end of this weekend we would guess that you would have to know that it is there to notice it. In addition, another large part of the pits has had tarmac laid.
Also of interest is the appearance of a couple of large Powerade banners, one at the front gate and one in front of the grandstand. If we encounter any of the track management today we shall see what we can find out about that.
We have had two racers run so far. Rick Denny, who is running in Street Racer Saturday in his Sportsman ET Firebird, a 13.620/99.12, and Ian Jackson whose tyres lit off the line.
Stay tuned and we'll be back soon with more news from the Professional Test.