2005 FIA Main Event
Saturday (qualifying)
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19:10
That's the end of pit updates for today. It's going to be a great second day of pro qualifying tommorrow and the PBs are starting to fall like ninepins! There was some great action on the track today and do look in for more regular updates from 9am onwards.
19:00
Krister Johansson (TMD) said after running a NPB "I am pleased for the first run and we were supposed to shut down early as I didn't want to hurt the new BAE motor. This is my first ever computer and we are just getting used to the Racepak. The car didn't shake and it didn't break traction despite not lighting up the tyres in the burnout."
Timo Habermann (TMD) said his wild snaking ride was a result of wheelspin. "We plan to take air out of the tyres and 10kg weight off the front end to cure this", Timo said. "We ran for 100m in our first run and 200m in our second - we are gradually getting there." There are some unusual parts including an Arias motor. "This is all new and is easy to fix", Timo said. Timo and Werner send their best wishes to brother Dennis who is tuned into Eurodragster, and is unable to attend the race due to school exams next week - Dennis is looking to race in Super Comp to maintain the family tradition.
Dave Wilson (TMD) said "I can't complain" about his two 5.4s runs today! He feels that he could run faster still as he suffered some tyre shake - a condition he noticed several of the more powerful cars suffered to an unusual extent today and may be a result of the wind reducing downforce. Whilst not running near-record ETs, Dave has been looking after a group of children from the ECAS charity for deprived kids - they have been receiving free ACI goodies and have been acting as Dave's "personal fan club" too!
Ulf Leanders (TMFC) was disappointed to not show a time. "We have a lot of new equipment and with the new clutch there is a different staging procedure. It's the first time I've ever rolled the lights!", Ulf said. Ulf says the car will run 5.6s but may take some time to get there. One major change is teaming with Martin Lungqvist. "We're aiming to get all of the same equipment and share all data. We're awaiting a new Firebird body the same type as Martin's and already have the same blower and fuel system. We feel this is the best way to get the championship."
Jorgen Nagel (TMFC) suffered tyre shake on both his passes. "We need more experience and track time. There is too much vibration and we shut off at half track", said Jorgen. "A lack of a permanent track in Germany is hurting us and also we have different parts to a lot of the other guys - instead of an off-the-shelf BAE, we have an Arias with specially made Dart heads and a lot of home-made parts."
Thomas Nataas (Top Fuel) said "We broke the blower belt on our first run and had tyre shake on the second. But we're really happy with the 0.86 60' time. It works out to a 4.8 - but that is theoretical!" Thomas credits his consistent performance to crew chief and car owner Rune Fjeld. Also receiving credit are new sponsors Sunoco.
Kenneth Lorentzen (crew chief for Tommy Moller - Top Fuel) said "We ran through the clutch and destroyed the bellhousing - we've got a spare. The track is awesome! The only motor damage is lifting a blower and breaking a belt."
Joran Persaker (Top Fuel) was trying out a new seat when we saw him. "The motor leaned out and the heads and block were damaged. We'll put our spare motor in overnight and rebuild the car." He said that his driving job (which was truly amazing) was largely instinctive as he had fuel on his visor! Always the optimist, Joran said "We will put in a good run tommorrow."
Crew chief Animal (Chris Andrews - Top Fuel) said "There was a malfunction with the throttle stop which failed on the burnout and resulted in the motor over-revving. We broke a crank, 6 pistons, and a blower but the block is ok. We'll be able to repair for tommorrow but it won't be an early night!"
Lex Joon (Top Fuel) said after his massive wheelstand, "We think it is repairable and the only damaged parts are the front wheels and the A-arm. Eddie is looking at the data concerning the clutch but the stronger headwind in te second run was starting to get under the car when it went up. Despite the damage, we're really happy with the day. We had a great launch and did a 0.86 60' time."
Richard "Nixon" Sundblom (Pro Stock) said "We had a minor problem with the carburettors that kept us in the mid 7s. The other issues are with dialling the car in." It's a new car built by Paul Brand, a former Pro Stock racer. "We drove in Pro Stock in 1998 and ran 2 or 3 rounds in Finland only. I then raced Competition in 2002 and 2003, becoming runner-up in the NDRS championship in 2002, with a 1992 ex-Pro Stock Beretta. We are planning to run the tour this year. The track is fantastic - the car should do high 6s, but I would be really pleased with a 7.0 this weekend."
15:00
Peter Schofer's TMD has a new rollcage and the chassis from there back has been completely rebuilt. There is also a new engine setup. Peter tested at Monza, Italy (a venue used as long ago as the mid 60s when Tony Nancy made some demonstration passes).
Svein-Olav Rolstad (Super Twin) is on top of the pile with a 7.09/189. "We had a decent 60' but have found a leak around the cylinder head. We can fix it but don't know if we will be out next session".
Ian "Turbo" Turburville is crewing for Ronny Aasen's ST team. Ian said "The bike launched well but lit the tyre up. The headwind is less a problem for Super Twins as they are heavier than, say, Pro Stock Bikes."
Jimmy Alund (Pro Stock) was delighted with his first run. "Our final run in the Euro Finals was a 6.97 and we then run the same numbers. We have changed the suspension setup and put a new gearbox in. Driving into the headwind has reduced our speed by 1.5mph."
Ulf Jonsson (Pro Stock) said "It's our first time out since the Euro Finals. We have new chutes as well as the new Jari Konola motor. On our first run we had too much clutch and spun the tyres." Ulf said there is a temptation to err on the side of two much clutch to avoid burning it.
As we walked by Richard Sundblom, he was busy taping up a damaged rear wing in preparation for the second session.
Jon Webster (Top Fuel) said that he clicked it off at 1000'. "I felt there was not enough power and it appears that we may have missed our 90% nitro mix slightly, having run only 88% at Easter. We want to repeat the 4 second run and have found no real damage on the 5.2 pass. We have a fully prepared spare motor as well." Jon is hoping to get funding to run in Sweden and Norway providing his business commitments permit.
Peter Wacker (Pro Mod) said "We left hard and hooked up, and then moved right and left and I had to lift. We changed the 4 link for this run but the chassis is very sensitive to changes so we will revert to the previous setup." Peter's wheelie which has featured extensively in the media, was the result of a broken wheelie bar, which has been replaced in the last week by Andy Robinson Race Cars. "I didn't see any birds flapping through the windows this time!" joked Peter.
Andy Robinson (Pro Mod) was delighted at his Personal Best of 6.57. He said of the new blown setup "We're all on a learning curve, but we've had a huge amount of help from Dave Wilson."
Fast Freddy Fagerstrom (Pro Mod) said "We had a problem with too much clutch and the rear shock settings. We are also awaiting a new Brad Anderson motor from the US to enable is to be competitive on the tour." Freddy's sponsors are Pordran and Lotus.
Mats Eriiksson (Pro Mod) was excited with the Green Goblin's performance, a PB of 6.339/225.21. "We ran a 40 last year but always tended to have tyre shake before second gear. This time, we had a little tyre shake later in the run and were able to drive through it. I had to drive it a lot but was really happy when I crossed the finish line!"
Rolf Ammann (Pro Mod) said "My clutch burnt on the burnout. We need to adjust it because the the traction here is so much better than Hockenheim, where we ran last year. We will grade the clutch on the machine and put it back. We have never run the car on a track other than Hockenheim, and the Swiss Airfield at Turtmann where there is no grip. The car has run 6.2 in the US with a nitrous setup that was putting out 400hp more than our blown motor. The previous owner was Gary Greglat. Our target is to run a 6 this weekend, with 6.5 being the longer term aim."
Ian Bishop (Pro Mod) was pleased with his 7.3 checkout pass. "The clutch slipped in 3rd and 4th and we will adjust it for the next run. We are using the same motor as last year but are using just one stage of nitrous so far."
13:00
Tommy Moller's crew chief Kenneth Lorentzen said "We are stting the car up for a 4.60, which is a relatively soft setup for a US track. The main difference from last year's car is that this (ex-Doug Herbert) car is much lighter and the chassis has more flexibility. We are running a similar motor which is a 496ci TFX on 89% nitro."
Andy Carter was sporting the orange colours of B&Q in more ways than just his uniform...There will be 20 B&Q visitors during the weekend, including Guy Burtonshaw, who is the mastermind of the sponsorship deal from B&Q and a keen supporter of drag racing. John Andrews, PR Officer for Carter Racing said "B&Q are applying great imagination to the opportunities to expose drag racing machinery to their customer base, including jet cars for a promotion for gas fittings!"
Leif Andreasson (TMFC) said "The set-up is largely the same except some changes to the ignition system. However we are awaiting a new and very special Stratus body which is being worked on in our sponsor Chrysler's wind tunnel." The current body, to which Leif's handling difficulties are attributed is a converted Fuel FC one.
Gunther Sohn is racing a brand new Supertwin Fuel Bike for the first time. Gunther said "I raced in Super Twin Gas last year and came runner up twice". The bike has a Weekend Frame with a PRP Mike Romine engine and Bentec transmission. The combination is good for 800hp on 98% nitro. The bike took 6 months to build.
Lorenz Stauble is also a first time Supertwin Fuel racer, although he tested at the RWYB last weekend. "We were glad to have our first full pass then", he said. The bike spec is the same as Gunther Sohn's and Lorenz said "We are working together to help each other but not strictly as a team!"
11:00
The news on Ashley Bell, who had a firey moment following a nitrous burp, is that he should be out of the Lister Hospital in Stevenage today or tommorrow. Matthew Wright, who has been in touch with Ashley's partner, said "It has improved his looks!" Ashley passed on his thanks to the paramedics who treated and transferred him so speedily and also to everyone in the pits who sent their best wishes.
Matthew Wright is back in the programme after his new motor destroyed his torque converter. "I would like to thank Steve Pateman for the loan of his spare converter, and also to Fred (Hone) and Gary from Malcolm Motler's crew."
Smax is back! The irrepressible transplanted Brit now living in Canada said "My e-mail has been going crazy with people wishing me luck and wanting to come to the track to see me! My thanks must go first to the McDonald Brothers who have worked so hard in building the car up and putting the team together and having faith in me. I also thank the organisers of the Bulldog Bash for their marvellous support and to MPM for the oil sponsorship. Also the First Stop Body Shop and Fastco UK. We must have the happiest crew in the pits!" Smax said he plans to run all qualifying sessions with a test half pass first. Smax's car has a great pedigree as it was the first to run a 4 in Europe in the hands of Peter Lantz. The motor is the same that ran a 4 at the Euro Finals.
Mikael Kagered said "We haven't changed a lot on the car from last year but have a ew setback blower." Mikael's crew chief is Thomas Ankaras.
Joran Persaker has changed his fuel and timing electronics with bigger fuel pumps and a new injector. US legend Bill Schultz is acting as crew chief this weekend.
Chris Andrews is at his first UK meeting in Top Fuel, although he raced in the Swedish Top Fuel Tour in 2004. Chris said "We are running the same car as last year because we are used to it, although we have changed the fuel and ignition systems. We will be taking each pass as it comes and we don't feel any pressure." Chris's crew chief is Mark "Animal" Bodimeade. Chris plans to run the whole FIA series this year.
Gary Page said "We will run this afternoon as I am also working on Joran's car." Gary's car is the ex-Lex Joon car from 2004. It has a new fuel management system and new injector hat. Gary said of the Knut Soderquist stable "We try to use the same parts across all 4 cars, although it can be difficult to achieve this sometimes. The conditions should be good. The air is better than yesterday, although the headwind doesn't help!"
09:00
Good Morning to all of you! It's a cooler day with mostly sunny skies and a stiff headwind up the track. This will present a challenge for most teams not least of all the bikes.
We'll be walking the pits today and concentrating on the Pro teams, but keeping in touch with Sportsmen where we can.
Some Pro Stock snippets to start with. Defending champion Jimmy Alund has bought a new gearbox and clutch, whilst the rest of the car remains the same. Michael Malgmren meanwhile has done a fair degree of testing and dyno work with engine builder and former Pro Stock driver Jari Konola. Jackie Hansen has two potential Pro Stock racers from Germany shadowing him this season, who are planning to race a Mercedes in Pro Stock in the future! Most of Jackie's setup is unchanged from last year.
Magnus Hansson has had the biggest change of equipment with the acquisition of the ex-Greg Anderson record setting Pontiac Grand Am. Magnus's engine is the same Barry Grant one as last year. Ulf Jonsson (who is an airline pilot in his day job!) has acquired a new engine from Jari Konola with new wheels and brakes and a new carbon fibre interior. The new team is Rickard "Nixon" Sundblom, back after a break of 8 years and teamed with ex-Pro Stock racer Paul Brander; their car is a new 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier with a Steve Schmidt Olds motor.