2005 FIA Main Event
Friday (qualifying)
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19:00
That's all the pit notes for today - hope you enjoyed them and do tune in tommorrow or better still come to the track for a superb day of Professional and Sportsman Qualifying - you know it makes sense!
18:30
Ron Bartlett, crewed by "Tush", has changed his rear suspension to a 4-bar setup installed by car builder Frank Griffin. The result is that the car launches squarer than before. Ron has found the 60 foot times have suffered a little and hopes to cure this. Having said that the Pro ET/Super Gas Anglia 105E has broken out,the power from the BBC 454ci via Al O'Connor Powerglide getting to the track well.
Tony Morris (Pro ET) is racing at SPR for the first time since the 1990 World Finals, in which he won Super Pro ET over Ian Lloyd. Since moving to Florida, Tony has built up his racing to his current Super Comp dragster and runs the NHRA Super Comp championship on a national basis (best 5 out of 8 divisional meetings and 5 national meetings counting towards points). Tony said "Santa Pod looks well organised and the calibre of cars has increased a lot since I last raced here". Tony arranged for Paul Marston to visit the US and race at Orlando. "You have to experience the competition in the States. There, the racing is sophisticated even in the setup of things like weather stations and fine tuning the cars. It took me 5 years to win a race but when you do, you are given full credit as a player. The number of runs you get in the US is fewer per meeting though!"
Brendan Clancy (Super Gas) has got back on form very quickly. On his third run he ran a 9.904 to go 3rd. Brendan said "I missed the Thunderball as we were working on the car which was a shame. However, it is great to be back in the thick of it now!" Brendan expects to run the Championship meetings this year after having taken the last two years off with business commitments. "The other racers say they missed the car, but not me!", joked Brendan. "The black all-steel '67 Nova won the NHRA Super Gas championship in 1989 and the owner sold it the year afterwards. He now wants to buy it back, but I'm not selling!" The setup is almost stock with Jon Webster just having tweaked the front suspension a little." The car has a 427ci BBC with Powerglide and no nitrous.
Stuart Peck is also pleased with a 9.918 and a 0.041 RT. "I would like to thank my crew chief Peter Lane of Mac Tools who shared the driving with me last year. The car is a brilliant job from Jon Webster and thanks go to the guy from Mac Tools for the paint".
Derek Flynn (Super Pro) is over the moon about his 7.02, but wishes so much that it had been a six. "It moved better towards the end but rocked a little on the gear change. We discovered no problems with the motor and my thanks go to my crew chief Michael Howell".
Dave Cherrett is pleased at running well, even if he broke out. "The motor is running a bit rich which makes up for the bad air, but I am still pleased at running 10.5 - the car has no throttle stop. We are planning on going to Mantorp Park in July again!"
Malcolm Francis (Super Comp and Super Gas) said the track is hot and a little slick. His car is built by Andy Robinson race cars with a Jeff Bull engine and fibreglass copy of a current NHRA pro stock Grand Am. His firm Air Sea Logistics Ltd is a medium sized company that imports and exports by air, sea or road including courier. The car is a rolling billboard and the paint was designed by Greg Obzuko at GOS Motorsport Design in Atlanta. Sponsors are ACI, G Max, Luca Oils and Transmission Special.
Wouter van Leersum (Super Gas) has another early model Nova which unusually is blown with twin Holleys. "We had a problem with the fuel system and were only able to run a 9.88 and 10.5, but we think we have solved it. We will have to wait until tomorrow to see whether we are right!" It is Wouter's first time in the UK with this car but has raced it successfully in Holland beating a field of 26 cars at last year's big Drachten meeting.
16:00
Michael Lacey (Pro ET)has been involved in drag racing for 13 years, firstly as a marshal at Santa Pod and then as crewman for the multiple championship-winning Heaven & Hell team for three years. In 2004 he raced his current Camaro and immediately had big-time brakages - 2 motors and a gearbox in 3 meetings. "I have a brand new company called Alleyjax", said Michael. I have acquired 600 alloy jacks from the US - they are the same ones that they use in NASCAR and are marketed in the US under MacTools and Stanley labels". Alleyjax is contingency sponsor for the UK National Drag Racing Championship - racers will need to display decals though!
Steve Pateman (Champion of the World Street Race)is looking to run a Big Number this weekend. "We had a great time in the States, the people were great and the car ran really well." A broken first gear has not deterred Steve and hopes to run 8.2 or quicker. "We're just here to have some fun and we're not really in the championship race this year".
Gino Bernadine (Pro ET) has unfortunately had to withdraw after sustaining engine damage in the red Escort. "We either broke a gudgeon pin or a big end boltsnapped, dislodging no.3 cylinder. It can't be mended here", said Gino. The team's best with the BDT 1.8 litre engine (ex-Ford RS200 rally car, but bigger turbo and beefed up internals) is 9.03 "but we are trying to run it with the power turned turned down". See you soon hopefully guys!
Also on the trailer is Simon Cooper with the ex-Bob Doignie Anglia.
In the Outlaw Anglia, sorry Super Comp pits Paul Wright who ran 8.3 earlier said the car "has a misfire and we are hoping to go quicker". Bring on the sevens!
Next door, Mark Pointer said "We're here to test mainly". The Fordson van is running as straight as a dye and Mark said "The rear wing helps, and also our car is 7" wider than a Pop". The chassis is by D&H Autocraft, with finishing touches by Jon Webster and paint and Fibreglass by Jon Hogarth. The motor is from Jon Hogarth's Super Mod Corvette. Mark is hoping to fit a Procharger (a belt driven turbo which is the same type as John Sleath's Street Eliminator Audi (John's is prop driven). This is expected to raise the power from 1000p to 1700hp (aka Superhooligan). "We will creep up on it though as we don't want to spoil the consistency of the chassis."
Steve Johnson (Super Pro dragster) has a new 555ci BBC Chevy Bowtie with new internals - the only old part is the ever-faithful Hilborn injectors. Steve will run witout nitrous this weekend, hoping to get down to 7.3s. When he does switch the Nitrous on, Steve is hoping for a return to the 6.7s performance that the car showed a couple of years ago.
Rich Gilbertson is new to Super Pro and he has opted for US suppliers, with a Sunco chassis and Corvette roadster body and Steve Schmidt 565ci motor. The motor has been dynoed at 957hp without nitrous. Utilising a Powerglide 2 speed trans, Rich has run a 8.7 so far. "We're really just playing with it and there's an awful lot further to come. I have computed that in theory the car can run sevens. I would like to thank my crew Justin, Steve and Wayne". Rich has raced in Pro ET before with a best of 9.6s. It's not every weekend you improve your PB by that much!
Steve Good bought his new Pro ET TR8 from Phil Baker after blowing the Pulse Rate motor. "My original intention was to buy Phil's motor but then found it was not up to spec", said Steve. I then bought the car because I used to drive one and Phil kept on winning when we raced!" Steve has a new 4.9 Rover V8 with a Holley 4-bbl carb. "Thhe short wheelbase is good fun - Tony Pond (rally driver in a TR8) was a hero!"
13:00
Graham Allen, in the wheelstanding Ford Maverick Super Gasser, had never driven down a dragstrip before his 10.000 llicensing pass at Shakespeare County in April. He said "We're on a learning curve this year and hope to run the championship meetings. I bought the car from Simon Oxberry and it has a small block Chevy and TH400 - without a throttle stop!
Craig Owen, standing in for Mark Flavell whose Silver Wedding anniversary falls this weekend (congratulations to you both!),has been a member of Mark's team for over 20 years. "My previous experience has been driving a Monza and various bikes at RWYBs. I know the car well (being crew chief), but driving it is a bit of a shock to the system - it works weel though!". Craig thanks Mark on his support.
Derek Flynn was delighted with his PB 7.36/182. "We know there's more in it as we were down on a couple of cylinders", said Derek. "I would like to thank Steve and Carmel Turner for their help on the motor." Derek's target is a 200mph pass before the end of the year. The motor is a 509 BBC by World Products with Merlin Dart heads and 8-71 Lttlefield blower, with Powerglide trans.
Ian Hook said the first pass was an easy checkout and the second would be with one stage of nitrous. "We've a new torque converter built by Neil Chance. It is a rebuildable part and we want to get the stall speed higher, it is now 4000rpm and we got 4800 with the old converter". Ian said that a team of Street Eliminator competitors is headed to Belgium for the King of European Street event at the end of June.
Malcolm Motler said his new CNC cylinder heads by Protopline in the Spellbound Morris Minor Pickup give 42hp more than the old setup. "We've had it on the dyno at 562hp. "My aim is to get into the 9s without nitrous - we did a 10.12 at the Euro Finals last year with a strong tail wind".
Dave Ward has a new 500ci Chrysler motor which has so far netted 9.6 time from the ex-Priddle and ex-Page funny car that now runs in Pro ET. "We have a problem with the motor leaning out at 1000ft which we hope to solve this weekend", said Dave. The car has a single 950 Holley carb, no nitrous and a 727 Torqueflite trans. The two-tone Chromaflare paint needs to be seen to be fully appreciated!
Matt Gatland's Super Gas Firenza is a project that he has run with over a period of 5 years or so. The car was previously run in Pro ET initially by Jerry Clayton and then by Ray Pool but Matt did 90% of the work on the car. Andy Robinson helped with the rebuild and ICE supplied a 461ci BBC running on methanol with power going through a 2-speed Powerglide. "The car ran a 9.7 with a big throttle stop and is capable of 8.2 or 8.3", said Matt. "I would like to thank ICE and Andy Robinson and a Big Thankyou goes to Tim Adam!"
Stefan Giese in the Corvette ran a PB of 7.48/180. "Our previous best was a 7.7 at an airfield in Germany". However the run was not without its problems as a door flew off in the lights. Stefan confirmed it is repairable. The car was built at RMG Drag Racing/HPC and sports a 632ci Pat Musi motor running a single fogger nitrous setup through a PTC Powerglide trans.
Ronald Jutting has enlisted Jon Webster's help to get the VW roadster to run straight. "Our target is Bob Fisher's 7.28 in the US. Our best to date is 7.8". The car has a 4-link setup without springs and the body was tested in the wind tunnel at the VW factory. The chassis is by Bob Meyer with a trick VW engine behind the driver - Powder block, turbo from Innovative Turbosystems and Motec fuel and ignition. The trans is a Powerglide. Ronald said "So far we have only been able to test on an airfield in Germany - it's a shame there is no permanent facility". He also said a big thankyou to primary sponsors Liqui Moly.
Ray Eldred has the popular Sanity Assassin Celica for sale owing to increasing family commitments. "The car is a fantastically consistent Super Pro runner and all the fans identify with it as it does great wheelies!" Ray said it has been on a "proper UK dyno" at 700hp, a first.
10:00
Brief snippets: In Pro ET, Dave Ward is sporting a new 500ci Hauser-built motor in the Rampage Monza Funny Car.
Bob Doignie's yellow Celica is in street trim and is intended to be driven to the strip.
Malcolm Motler has a new motor in the Spellbound Morris Minor Pickup and he wants to run nines - without nitrous!
Steve Good has a new Triumph TR8.
John Morris's orange Reliant Scimitar GTE is for sale.
Terry Spenceley is now driving an Anglia with the historic name "Wild Thing". We'll find out more about its history later...
In Super Street, it is Ful Lievaart's debut in the UK in his tidy Bel Air.
Simon Cooper's Super Street Anglia is ex-Bob Doignie.
In Super Comp, Martin Curbishley has a beautiful dragster bought from Yngve Sjorberg.
Paul Ingar Udtian's S/C dragster reportedly has no throttle stop and uses his "foot and brain" instead!
In 9.50 bike, Graham Dance's beautiful new Super Street bike built by Jon Hogarth "unintentionally" went to no. 2 with a 9.53 on its debut!
We heard that Comp Eliminator is now cancelled due to cars transferring to other classes and the field falling below the minimum number of 3 required.
In Super Pro ET, Ronald Jutting had a wild ride in the second eighth with the VW funny car.
Steve Johnson's dragster is sporting smart new paint, a new 555ci motor and new spnsorship from Sierra Training.
Craig Owen has taken to driving Mark Flavell's car like a duck to water. He is standing in while Mark takes his wife to St Lucia on their wedding anniversary!
Rich Gilbertson's new Corvette roadster is sporting a superb twin-tone paint job.
Some bits came off Stefan Giese's Vette in the other lane from Rich. We'll find out exactly what shortly...
8:30
If you are coming to the track this weekend then be sure to bring some money with you as we have two charity collections. The first is in Top Fuel Dragster racer Jöran Persåker's pit where the Nasty Toys team are running a Top Fuel Bump Sport competition with an autographed John Force T-Shirt up for grabs. All the team ask is that to enter the contest you make a contribution to Christie's Hospital Charity in memory of the team's late clutch technician David Elden, who died in February. Jöran's car is carrying some very nice decals in David's name, which were designed by Richard Karman.
Also collecting this weekend is Funny Bike racer Sarah Jane Head who is recovering from her terrible top end crash at last year's Easter Thunderball. Scary is collecting for the local Air Ambulance which came to her aid that day. Scary makes a good point that if it were not for the air ambulance then we may well not be enjoying her company so if you are confronted by a Funny Bike racer with "a bucket and a club" then you know what to do.
Steve Turner, Crew Chief of the Turner Motorsport Top Methanol Dragster, said that the team are hoping to run into the 5.4s this weekend. "We found a couple of things on the computer", said Steve. "It will either work or fall flat on its face!". Steve has also purchased a miniature USB video camera to place on the car and said that if the experiment works then the team would sell the cameras after each run together with a certificate of authenticity.
Fellow TMD racer John Parkinson will not be running this weekend as he was not able to complete his licencing passes last weekend due to the weather. The Every Penny team have the car out, however, and will be firing it up over the weekend. "We're very happy to be here", said driver John Parkinson. "We'll be getting the car ready for the Summernationals."
On the subject of Top Methanol Dragster, it sounds as if the TMD racers have been given some very serious news by the FIA about their future. Stay tuned and when we can get someone to go on the record we will bring it to you.
Horst Pauli of Urs Erbacher's Top Methanol FC team said that they were very pleased indeed with Urs' 5.716 last Sunday. "We said to Urs to stay on it as long as it felt good", said Horst. "Urs was very happy with his timing slip from the first run because it said the Reaction Time was 0.400 but then someone told us that they changed it to show 0.000 for a perfect time!"
We had our first look at the Prolong Super Lubricants Top Fuel Dragster, which is to be driven by Chris Andrews. The car looks very nice indeed in mainly red and blue and is complemented by a trailer in full Prolong colour scheme.
Finally for this update we had a visit from Kenneth Lorentzon, Crew Chief of the Lorentzon and Möller Top Fuel Dragster. Kenneth told us that the new dragster threw a blower belt on the 5.6-second test pass last Sunday, which accounts for the sudden move it made at half-track.