2005 Easter Thunderball
Saturday (qualifying)
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22:40
Today's pictures are now available, you can view them via the Event Index page.
Tune back in the morning and we will bring you all the news from the second day of the Easter Thunderball.
19:30
The lights went out, the lights went on, and off we went again with the third session of Pro ET. We have two new entrants in the top five at the end of today:
Martin Hill followed up with a 7.130/119.33 half pass in the Fireforce 2 Jet FC, Martin put the car into stage with one of his throttle slams, nice one Martin!
The track action is continuing with the demo vehicles and firework display, but that's our on-track reporting done for the day, we are now working on today's pictures so stay tuned and we will let you know when those are done.
19:00
The second session of Top Fuel Bike followed Funny Bike. Steve Woollatt had a belt snap right on the line whilst Steve Carey improved although he had to get off the throttle and lean the bike away from the left barrier. Ian King followed up on a bye, carrying a miniature TV camera for the TV crew who are making a documentary for the Discovery Channel. A nice burnout and then a straight and solid pass and straight into #1 place at 6.511/200.73, well done Ian! After session two the qualifying standings in Top Fuel Bike are:
Next up was Pro Modified. Roger Johansson went first, a two hundred foot burnout and then into #1 at that point although there was some smoke at the top end - no problem reported on the radio though. Jörgen Karlsson was next up, a nice burnout then lost fire behind the start line. Jörgen got it started again and then into #1 at 7.067/196.44 - that was creeping off the start line and then with the chutes out before the stripe! At the end of today, the Pro Mod standings are as follow:
Steph Milam and Dave Wilson made their first outings of the weekend in the second session of Top Methanol. Steph's car looks very nice with a red paintjob on the new Avenger body. On the green both cars hit wheelspin, Steph's 'chute shook out whilst the American Car Imports dragster started to move about and Grumpy was quickly off it. But they have both recorded qualifying times so they are in the field. Next up were Rob Turner and Doug Ripley, the Turners' dragster carrying Silkolene, G Max Racing Fuels and NGK stickers on a new black paintjob with multi-coloured lightning. Doug pulled a superb burnout but then word came back from the marshals' radio that he had his blower belt. Doug leapt out of the car - his body language was quite something. Rob took it nice and easy, off the line, squeezing the throttle and pedalling past the stranded TMFC and then giving it some more gas. Trev Capewell and Lindsay Deuchar then paired up, both pulling screaming burnouts. On the green both shot down the track, Lindsay drifted further and further left and eventually got off the throttle. Meanwhile Trev ran almost the entire length of the track down the left side of his lane and very close to the guardrail but he stayed with it and chopped three seconds off his time earlier on - close to his Personal Best if not his best. There was vapour behind the car all the way down the track, and oil was found on the bodywork at the top end, but the track was checked out and found to be OK. After the second session of Top Methanol, the qualifying standings are as follow:
Only Bob Glassup ventured out for the second session of NFAA action, the tyres spinning for a fair way but he still clocked a 9.509/151.98 on a cold track and into the gloom.
Jon Webster was next up with a test run in the Canto Consultancy Top Fueller, 0.907 to sixty feet in these conditions was quite something, header flames up past the rear wing (check the webcam!). Jon pedalled the car at about two hundred feet and then got off it at three hundred feet, 8.499/88.59.
Danny Cockerill was next in his Pro Mod and what a run, driving through shake to record a new PB by a country mile, 6.740/208.15. Danny's run was out of session, so it does not count for qualifying, but he will be very happy with his first six.
Pro ET qualifying session three is now underway, stay tuned.
18:20
Next up after Super Street Bike was session two of Comp Bike. Gary Jones took over the lead with a very nice seven-second pass. Vaughan Foster got very close indeed to the wall on his pass in this session.
The second session of Super Modified was next up. We had our first look at the new paintjob on Graham Ellis' Oldsmobile, with Kev Perkins in the driving seat, a stunning paintjob. Graham was entered to race the car but he is due to become a father at any moment so Kev is driving in case Graham has to leave. Kev went straight into number one spot, nice one Kev! Craig Gibbs went into the top five on his first outing of the day, and Paul Brooks improved big time on his previous pass. The top five qualifiers after session two are:
Pro Stock Bike was next up. Len Paget improved on his earlier pass, as did Ray Debben. Paul King broke off the line, whilst Dave Beck seemed to have trouble shifting. After session two the qualifying standings are:
Next up was the second session of Funny Bike. Neil Midgley got a lot further this time but the bike was really moving around and you could hear the tyre squealing so he got off it. Stu Chamberlain likewise got down the track this session, an 8.6 bucking bronco ride. After this second session of Funny Bike the top five is as follows:
18:00
Trackside conditions are 10.3 C, 89% humidity, and 29.68 inches of air.
We went back into Junior Dragster after the track was dried, Scott Hauser took the lead just before the rain came, the top five after session two is as follows:
Super Street Bike followed on, this session included a pairing between Jamie Sneddon and Steve Venables and it didn't disappoint. Steve ran the first seven in competition with a 7.991 (I'll accept apologies from those who sent me hair-splitting E-Mails last week!) and is also on a speed record - nice one Steve! - whilst Jamie Sneddon backed up his 8.006 with an 8.071 so his earlier 8.006 is the new ET record, well done Jamie! Steve Venables did a great riding job as the bike kept lifting, this was after a burnout which seemed to go on for five minutes.
17:00
We're almost there with the track now.
A couple of minutes ago we were very pleased to meet Funny Bike racer Sarah Jane Head, who suffered a terrible top end crash at the Thunderball here last year. Scary is looking well and is in irrepressible form. This weekend Scary is organising a collection for the local air ambulance, the collection starts tomorrow and carries on to the end of the event so if you are coming along to Santa Pod this weekend be sure to bring plenty of spare change with you.
Jet FC pilot Martin Hill told us that his pass in Fireforce 2 was a planned one thousand foot run, as he had a new parachute to check out. Martin's run of 288 mph was the fastest-ever Jet FC pass in Europe. "I think we'll put down a 290 mph pass before the weekend is out", he said.
We'll be back very soon with the continuation of qualifying. We're going into Junior Dragster then Super Street Bike, Comp Bike, Super Mod, Pro Stock Bike and Funny Bike, then Top Methanol, Top Fuel Bike, Pro Mod, and NFAA. Lex Joon and Jon Webster are putting in test passes and then there may be another set of Pro ET and Junior Dragster qualifying, before the exhibition vehicles close the day.
15:20
The second session of Super Gas qualifying saw some big changes to the top five as Lee Pike took top spot, and Jon Morton and Martin Curbishley came in. Tim Adam improved but couldn't get his #1 spot back.
Next up was Sportsman ET, after the second session Martin Lewis retained the lead and Rick Denny his second place but the rest of the top five changed:
14:40
Martin Hill's first pass of this weekend in the Fireforce 2 Jet FC was a great 5.937 at the fastest-ever speed by a Jet in Europe, 288.86 mph, well done Martin! Martin was off the throttle early, too, so there is more there.
14:30
Eric Teboul put in his first pass of the weekend on his Rocket Bike after the Pro Fuel Shootout. Eric moved out of stage after the lights ran so the displayed ET was not correct, but 11.381/118.99 were the time and speed displayed when the huge clouds of steam cleared!
14:20
Pro Fuel Shootout qualifying session one (of three), left lane first:
The Pro Fuel Shootout this year is running on an index system. Top Fuel has an index of 5.00 and Fuel Funny Car 5.35. For each qualifying run, the racer's performance to index is calculated and then aggregated after the third qualifier on Monday morning. The racers with the two best aggregate performances to index will meet in the final, regardless of class.
Gordon Smith 11.335/74.66, Andy Carter 5.583/173.77
Gordon got a 0.35 head start but his 0.503 to Andy's 0.262 negated a lot of it - although that doesn't matter
in qualifying, of course. Andy clocked a great 0.887 sixty foot time, driving through shake and staying
on it to half track (3.309/234.53). Gordon's tyres started to turn at about two hundred feet and he
was off the throttle way before half-track.
Thomas Nataas 7.460/106.11 bye, Jon Webster broke
The Canto Consultancy dragster started and then shut off, and Jon was towed back to the pits. Thomas
was on a strong pass to about three hundred feet when the clutch almost visibly locked up and the tyres
went up in smoke.
Lex Joon pulled a great burnout in the new MPM Oil Top Fuel Dragster but then could not get reverse and drove down the track.
Pro Fuel Shootout qualifying after session one:
The vote on James Hands' fan site had Andy Carter favourite to win the shootout with Lex Joon second, Gordon Smith and Jon Webster third favourite and Thomas Nataas fourth favourite so the first place is going with the vote!
13:55
The first outing of the National Fuel Altered Association was contested by Mickey Moore (Fuel) and Bob Glassup (Alcohol). Mickey Moore took Best Burnout this time out, nice header flames from the Mob, Bob Glassup appeared to have a couple of cylinders out as he pulled to the line. A great pass from Mickey, 7.335/199.13, pretty straight and looked as if he was off the throttle a touch early, 10.953/121.99 for Bob.
The second session of 9.50 Bike followed, Fred Furlong has the dubious privilege of the first 9.50 breakout with a 9.493, Jamie Sneddon followed it up with a 9.489 then Richard Sawatzki with a 9.485! Andy Bird took the lead in this session with our first 9.5 of the weekend.
Trackside conditions are 13.4 C, 72% humidity and 29.71 inches of air pressure.
The exhibition vehicles are collecting, Eric Teboul is there with his Rocket Bike, and the first round of the Pro Fuel Shootout is due soon. Stay tuned.
13:40
Nigel Turner still leads Super Pro ET after session two, although we hear from Nigel that he is broken in a big way. We've had a lot of changes to the top five after this session including Mark Flavell's first pass in the new MFR dragster.
Next up was Jörgen Karlsson with his next observed run in Pro Modified, which we understand counted as a qualifier, Jörgen clocked 7.396/193.16, nice work!
13:15
Elisabeth Bredal still leads Super Street after session two, but there are a number of changes in the next four places:
We're on hold for spots of rain, stay tuned.
13:05
The second session of VW Alternate Engine followed, it transpires that Ian Huggan's pick-up is his tow vehicle, thanks to Paul Venners for letting us know about that. Spencer Tramm takes the lead after this session, right side of the index now.
Session two of VW Sportsman was next, and some changes in the top five as Matt Dolby and Christos Kouzaris come in:
Street Eliminator was next up, we are now up to six as Steve Nash turned out in this session and he took the number one spot although John Sleath improved, as did Jerry Charles and Pete Smith. Colin Lazenby gave it all he had in this session with a 0.017 RT but the tyres were spinning and eventually he got off it.
Super Comp session two was next and Andy Williams took the Eurodragster.com/LA Racing Parts Perfect ET Award with his 8.900, well done Andy! In fact Andy's ET was 8.900000! Phil Bennett moved into the top five and Martin Curbishley improved.
12:35
Some changes in the top five of Pro ET after session two, Antony Wilkins taking over the lead with a tremendous pass:
Wayne Hiscock broke out spectacularly with what we think is a new PB of 9.746/134.28.
VW Pro also had some changes in its top five after session two, Scott Cutler taking over the lead:
12:10
The last-but-one class of this qualifying cycle was Pro Stock Bike. Paul King looked to be on a good pass but then it sounded as if the bike would not shift and he had to be rescued from the shutdown area. Dave Beck sounded as if he had a serious misfire.
The last class of this cycle was Funny Bike, Neil Midgley had a bit of a hairy ride, the rear tyre going up in smoke and the bike turning right, a great riding job by Midgo kept the bike upright. He rolled to a halt at three-quarter track, meanwhile in the other lane Stu chamberlain had also rolled to a halt, at half track. Chris Hall made a great return to Funny Bike, straight into the 7.1s. Steve Venables and Dave Bailey both took bucking bronco rides, whilst Dave Holland put in a stormer.
We're now into cycle two of qualifying, stay tuned.
11:50
Top Fuel Bike followed Pro Mod, first up was Steve Carey with a great-looking straight pass, the run looked much quicker than the 8.495/173.06 which came up on the boards but a sixty foot time in the 2.2s told the story. Steve Woollatt was next up, a nice burnout then the bike left the line very softly and then picked up at about 200 feet, 7.323/197.37.
Next was Super Modified. A nice pass from Tim Garlick took the lead, Rob Smallworth rolled through stage just as the lights ran, but the run looked good. Paul Brooks' engine sounds different to last season, we'll have to visit him on the pits to find out what he has been up to in the off-season. Andy Hone's Gleeson Wright-sponsored Scorpio looks great in its new paintjob. I'm guessing a no-gas pass for Kev Taylor.
11:40
The first session of Top Methanol was contested by two cars, Lindsay Deuchar and Trev Capwell. Nice burnouts for both cars, Trev went to the top of second gear as predicted, 1.016 to sixty feet, no sign of shake and looking very good, 9.276/85.34. Lindsay did not leave the start line and was pushed back. So as things stand Trev Capewell is the top and only qualifier.
Next up was Pro Modified. The first pairing was Roger Johansson and Danny Cockerill. Tremendous burnouts by both cars and then on the green Danny hit terrible shake, pedalled and then hit it again, 'chutes out before the finish line, 7.324/182.88. Roger was off the throttle before half track, 8.886/104.39 but clocked a very solid 1.078 sixty foot time. Jörgen put in a great burnout and then a very solid half-pass, chutes out at half track, 8.580/94.50.
11:30
A good start for the TJ O'Brien Comp Bike qualifying, taking the lead even after getting off the throttle for a moment:
Stuart Crane had a bit of a hairy ride, hitting the eighth-mile reflectors but not crossing the centre line, Roland Chaplain in the other lane got off the throttle when he saw Stuart.
Next up is Top Methanol.
11:05
Sportsman ET followed on and Martin Lewis took the lead in session one:
Junior Dragster is already very close with our Swedish visitor Jennifer Gustaffson taking the lead after session one:
There are some very nice colour schemes on display in Junior Dragster, this is the first time I've seen Joe Kellett's JD for example and it looks very tidy.
Super Street Bike was next up, some personal bests in the first session, including a spectacular PB for Dave Warren. Jamie Sneddon is on an ACU ET record and Brad O'Connor on an ACU ET record if they can back them up, nice ones guys!
10:40
What a great start for Super Pro ET new boy Nigel Turner, licenced last weekend, rebuilt his engine on Thursday night, #1 qualifier in his first ever competitive session! Well done Nigel!
Steve Johnson had some excitement in the burnout as the car got a fair way out of shape and he had it up on two wheels at one point!
Next up was the first-ever qualifying session for 9.50 Bike. The honour of the first #1 spot goes to Richard Sawatzki, obviously meaning to go on as he finished last year!
The first session of Super Gas qualifying was next, the re-run of the Twentieth Anniversary Shootout and Tim Adam has taken the early lead with his roadster beautifully repainted in the same Blitzkrieg scheme as his Falcon. Belinda Bull makes the top five on her first competitive pass, nice one Belinda!
10:05
Martin Curbishley was almost bang-on in the first session of Super Comp:
Elisabeth Bredal leads Super Street after session one:
9:55
VW Sportsman was next up and James Lake is in the lead after session one:
Five cars made the first session of Street Eliminator and we saw the first outings for Pete Smith and Ron Haslett's new cars, both taking it nice and easy and getting a feel. John Sleath took up where he left off last season, taking the lead, whilst Colin Lazenby ran a big speed even though the chute was out before the traps:
VW Alternate Engine followed up, this is the first time I've seen Ian Huggan's pick-up which looks just great with the nitrous bottle on the flatbed!
9:30
Weather conditions at the start of qualifying were 10.3 C, 89% humidity and 29.77 inches of air.
The top five in after the first round of Pro ET qualifying is as follows:
Jörgen Karlsson followed Pro ET with a test pass in his Mustang Pro Mod. This is Jögern's first time in the car, Roger Johansson supervising. A very nice burnout, 0.335 RT and 1.117 to sixty feet, nice one Jörgen!
Next up was VW Pro, in which Jonathan Grigg went into the twelves, judging by the reaction of the crew that's a PB for Jonathan, well done Jon! The top five in VW Pro after this first session is as follows:
8:00
Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway on a very pleasant spring morning. It's the first day of the 2005 UK season and we're here to bring you all the news in association with American Car Imports.
The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is on-line and broadcasting a picture every two minutes.
The weather station sensor has just been set up outside so stay tuned and we'll bring you the temperature and humidity very shortly.
The first of this weekend's Good Mornings is to our good friend Gittli Koller who is tuned in from Germany. Hello also to Andrew Mackenzie who is tuned in from Essex. Have a good day and enjoy the coverage folks.
The first piece of news here this morning is that we have lost 10.50 Bike for this weekend. All three 10.50 Bike racers will be running in 9.50 Bike. Also on two wheels, if you are a keen reader of entry lists you will have noticed that Super Street Bike racer Steve Venables had entered his seven-second SSB into Comp Bike this weekend, this was to get extra track time. Steve has now moved to Funny Bike.
After we finished setting up and testing the webcams yesterday evening we had a walk around the pits and here's what we found out.
Sportsman ET racer Nicola Lagrue said that she is very excited about racing for the first time this weekend. Nicola's previous drag racing experience has been to put her Honda Civic R on the dyno at Race Shack, and she has been practising launching and full-throttle shifting.
Top Methanol Funny Car racer Doug Ripley had not long fired-up the MSA Championship-holding CC Racing TMFC before we visited. "It all went OK", said Crew Chief Cliff Gould. Doug plans a checkout pass this morning and everything being OK will then be making full passes. The team look very smart in their new shirts supplied by A1 Motor Stores, and Doug added that Colin at Allglass has been a fantastic help to the team.
The new National Fuel Altered Association will be making seven outings this weekend. Co-ordinator Lawrie Gatehouse told us that the NFAA is now attracting interest from racers in Sweden, Finland, Germany and France. "If we can find a ferry sponsor then they all want to come to play with us", said Lawrie. The Eurodragster.com staff have been nominated as Best Burnout judges for each round, as well as Best-Appearing Car and Crew at the end of the weekend.
NFAA racer Dave Grabham is not sure that he will be on track tomorrow as there is an issue with his chassis. "I just want to get out there and race!", he said. Fellow NFAA racer Bob Glassup expressed himself very excited about the class' first outing. "Six cars is very good this early in the year and we are all very optimistic about it", said Bob.
FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Champion Dave Wilson celebrated his birthday yesterday, Happy Birthday for yesterday Grumpy! We visited at just the wrong time as the American Car Imports team were just settling down to dinner, but Grumpy pointed out carbon fibre extensions to the front wing which will stop the car getting lively at the top end.
Although he was setting up his car and eating birthday cake, Grumpy found time to help out VW Alternate Engine Champion Spencer Tramm whose stud girdle needed machining at short notice. "Many thanks to Dave, I really appreciate his help", said Spencer.
TMD new boy John Parkinson won his race against time to get here this weekend, although the car is not quite finished. "The cannon fodder is here", said John. "We're not quite ready but we felt it was important to get here, and we can finish it here". Amongst the things with which John has had to contend this week has been a brand new Moroso pan which didn't fit the bottom of the engine, so Andy Robinson has had to alter it.
Top Methanol Funny Car racer Trev Capewell has made a number of changes to the Southern Rebel TMFC after having his bell seriously rung by tyre shake on his last outing. "I have a new head cage installed by Hauser Race Cars", said Trev. "I am also trying out a chin strap, quite a few racers are trying them out now. The tyre shake did a lot of damage to the car, it's unbelievable what shake can do to a narrow chassis". Trev has a new team member in the person of workmate Chris. The plan for today is to go to the top of second gear on the first run and then a full pass if the data download looks OK. "We've done so much to the car that we must check it out properly", said Trev.
Top Fuel Dragster racer Lex Joon arrived just as we were walking through the pits. The paintwork of the MPM Oil Top Fueller has now been finished with some spectacular airbrush work and looks very nice indeed. "The car is ready, we just need to warm it up and get out there!", said Team Manager Gerda Dijkstra. "The first run will be to sixty feet, or maybe a little further if Lex is happy". Crew Chief Eddie Corr is away this weekend so Lex and Sebastian will be tuning the dragster with input from Eddie via mobile phone.
Andy Carter's Top Fuel Dragster looks very nice indeed in its B&Q paintjob, in the corporate colours of orange and black of course with white lettering, and with the rig in matching colours. Crew Chief Ben Allum and car owner Rune Fjeld were busy working on the clutch management system when we stopped by so we left them to it and will catch up with the team over the weekend.
Also in new colours this weekend is the Turner Racing Top Methanol Dragster, which is now black with red lining. The team were applying vinyls as we passed so stay tuned for today's photo gallery to see more. The Shockwave Fuel Funny Car has a very colourful new scheme which Crew Chief and co-owner Dave Bryant told us is down to sponsor Fuel Records and Image Works.
Super Street Bike racer Pete Bellenie said that everything was well after last weekend's testing. "I made a lot of modifications and alterations over the winter and I wanted to make sure that the bike still went straight", he said. "Hopefully I will be able to shut up a few people by going faster than I have before!"
On the subject of Super Street Bike, Jon Webster of Eurodragster.com joint webcam sponsor Webster Race Engineering confirmed that WRE will still be awarding gold Seven Second rings to the first four Super Street Bike racers to record seven-second passes at a race event.
Jon went on to tell us that the Canto Consultancy Top Fuel Dragster was done and dusted on Wednesday. "We just need to warm it up and run it", said Jon. "It's pretty much the same set-up as at the European Finals. We had an issue with the piston rings which we have addressed, and we had some work to do on the mags". "We fired the car up in the workshop on Wednesday!", added Crew Chief Peter Knight.
Top Fuel Bike Champion Steve Woollatt has new pistons, new spec valves courtesy of sponsor G and S Valves, new Web camshaft with Elmer Trett profile, new valve springs and a new clutch system which the Dealer team have not yet tried, featuring clutch arms designed by engine guru Phil Baimbridge.
Fellow TFB racer Ian King said that he was only sure that he would be here two days ago. "I have a new clutch and fuel management system", said Ian, "but this weekend I am only using parts of the clutch management."
Finally, a couple of diversions for you. We didn't publicise it but we tested out our spare webcam yesterday evening by broadcasting a few hours of pictures of the gentlemen of Nitro FM in action. Once testing started, Nigel of Nitro FM quickly provided us with an early candidate for Quote Of The Year by offering a prize to listeners with access to the webcam if they would "Text and tell me what I am wearing, and tell me what it says on the back of my fleece". Secondly, our good buddy Christer Abrahamson having stayed with Tog on Thursday night has signed a sworn affidavit that Mrs Tog does actually exist, just when you thought she had the same corporeal existence as Mrs Mainwaring or Maris Crane.
Qualifying is due to start at 9:00 am, stay tuned and as soon as we get going we will bring you all the news.