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21:45

Today's pictures have now been posted, you can view them from the Event Index page. If you don't see the pictures when you load the page then click on your Browser's Refresh button.

FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Champion Lex Joon has given us another on-site update to his exclusive Racer Blog which you can view by clicking here or via the usual route on Eurodragster.com.

That's the end of our coverage of the Easter Thunderball, thanks very much for tuning in. Our next live Event Coverage will be from the Shakespeare Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway at the end of this month.

This weekend's Event Coverage has been brought to you in association with American Car Imports.

19:55

Race Director Darren Prentice has just called the event. It has started to rain again and there is no way that the track can be dried in time to get things going again before our curfew of 21:00.

Jouko and Björn from the Swedish fire crew have asked us to say a big Thank You to the Santa Pod Raceway track crew for all of their help and hospitality this weekend.

A big Thank You from us to Andy of Eurodragster.com News sponsor Adoorable Handles who bid �100 for the limited edition John Force interview CD. The money will be going to The Pituitary Foundation in memory of Terry Gibbs. Many thanks to Nigel and Julian of Nitro FM for their help with the auction. The E-Bay auction for copy #1 is open until Wednesday.

Sharkman is working on today's pictures so stay tuned for those.

19:50

MSA Top Methanol final:

Rob Turner 5.831/215.35 def. Dave Wilson staged

Grumpy had damage to the back axle of the Nemesis TMD so he staged for points. A good pass for Rob in these conditions, 0.974 to sixty feet, 3.769/197.46 at half track, moving about the lane some.

Pro Modified final:

Mats Eriksson staged, bye

No competition for Mats, he staged and Chief Starter Ian Marshall then signalled him to reverse to the collection area and shut off. A good call on Ian and the crew's part as it started to rain almost immediately after.

19:05

Pro Fuel Shootout third/fourth place run-off:

Leif Helander 6.065/174.34 def. Lex Joon 6.774/122.22

Leif and Lex sat patiently through a long rain delay. Great burnouts from both racers. 0.233 reaction for Leif to 0.193 for Lex, 0.946 to sixty feet for Leif and 0.880 for Lex. Lex hit shake at about 200 feet and got off the throttle at 330 feet, Leif was not getting off it for anything, 3.711/194.01 at half track, at about 800 feet the engine gave out and there was a fire which went away after a second or two but then the car suddenly lit big time, going down the shutdown area on fire with the safety crews in pursuit. The car went to the left and sideswiped the guardrail, Leif doubtless not being able to see where he was going. Word soon came from the top end that Leif is quite OK.

Shortly afterwards, Leif was interviewed on the PA, although he started the questions himself by asking what ET he ran. When told it was a 6.06, he replied "Oh, shit!". Leif explained that he saw the fire through the fire windows and that he got off the throttle but then the fire grew and he couldn't see where he was going. He said that he hit the guardrail right about the location of the first gate (which was of course closed). The engine is history and Leif also said that the body is damaged. He has spares at home but he does not know whether he will be at the FIA Main Event. "I am most worried about going home and telling my wife", he said.

17:50

Pro Fuel Shootout final:

Micke Kågered 5.185/230.74 def. John Spuffard 5.633/190.69

Allowing for the 0.35 head start for the FC, Micke had the better reaction 0.180 to 0.293, 0.906 to sixty feet for Spuff to Micke's 0.921. 3.396/266.17 at half track for Micke to Spuff's 3.502/230.59. Just before half track Spuff's clutch let go in a huge shower of sparks. The safety crews chased Spuff down the shutdown area but word quickly came back that Spuff was A-OK.

Trackside conditions are 13.6 C, 45% humidity and 29.88 inches of air, track temperature 17.7 C.

Just after the Shootout final it started to rain, but the guys are already out drying the track. Stay tuned.

17:45

Another break for sprinkles of rain and next up was Roger Goring in the Firestorm Jet FC. We got a nice ride in Race Control again and then a 6.291/252.48, clicking off just a touch early.

Then, more sprinkles of rain, but finally on to...

ACU Top Fuel Bike final:

Roel Koedam 6.146/224.79 def. Lorenz Stauble 9.147/96.57

Lo away first 0.137 to 0.460, Roel was catching up by 330 feet, the difference was that Roel was going straight and Lo was heading for the guardrail and he eventually had to get off it. Roel backs up his 6.208 and 219.70 from qualifying as new ACU records as this run was too quick and fast to be backed up by those!

16:45

Comp Bike eliminations round 1 winners: Chris Hannam 7.820/163.60 bye, Kev Charman 7.680/169.20

16:40

Pro Stock Bike eliminations round 1 winners: Dave Beck 7.501/175.10, Len Paget 8.172/156.75

Paul Watson's exhaust came off the bike at sixty feet in his match-up with Len Paget, there was smoke from Len's bike at the finish line but nothing found on the track.

16:35

A brief stop for stunts and then a light sprinkle of rain and then we were on with Martin Hill in the Fireforce 1 Jet FC. A great flame and thunder show as ever and then 7.542/208.17 shutting off just before the finish line.

Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association session 6 (left lane first): Tony Betts 8.969/98.00 observed run (bye), Clayton Round 7.361/182.41, Frank Bennett 7.603/181.34, Bob Glassup 7.412/186.05, Nick Davies 7.866/169.20, Dave Grabham 10.791/97.83 bye

A nice burnout from Tony Betts, all OK with the reverser this time. Then Tony's crew literally saw him up to the Tree, i.e. about forty feet past the start line. Chief Starter Ian Marshall took over at this point, signalling that Tony should go back to the start line. A nice-looking pass though, 1.083 to sixty feet, then the car made a move to the left at 300 feet and Tony got off the throttle.

Clayton and Frank paired up again, great burnouts by both cars then 0.144 to 0.367 in Frank's favour off the line. 1.045 to 1.054 to sixty feet in Frank's favour, then his Topolino headed straight for the centre line whilst Clayton was drifting right. Neither driver was getting off the throttle, though, and Clayton got there first by 0.019.

Bob laid down the gauntlet to Nick with a 100-foot burnout and he really had to hang on to the car at the end, Nick took up the challenge with a 100-foot stormer himself. Nick left first 0.161 to 0.311, 1.192 to sixty feet for Nick to Bob's 1.231. Havoc then started to move around its lane but Nick stayed with it, squeezing the throttle gently, but this gave Bob the leeway to get past and he got there first by 0.303 and clocked a new personal best ET, well done Bob!

Next up was Dave Grabham, from here it looked as if he either lost fire or had problems getting reverse but he made it back eventually. A gentle launch and a straight pass, not full power so there is more to come from Freddy's Revenge.

We had a break for rain at that point, Jim Usher was next up for an observed run but he shut off the Mob's engine shortly after starting up.

15:15

Eric Teboul followed Pro Mod on his Rocket Bike. The rocket burned a lot more cleanly on this pass, 212.21 mph at half track and 8.987/199.81 at the stripe, although Eric rolled out of stage so the ET is not representative. Eric later told us that after taking out the effect of his rolling through stage the pass was a 5.7.

15:05

Pro Modified eliminations round 1:

Mats Eriksson 6.444/223.94 def. Bert Englefield 7.363/173.64

This, I guess, was also the final. Mats strapped a huge 0.101 to 0.449 holeshot on Bert, 0.994 to sixty feet for Bert to Mats' 1.086, then the revs on Bert's engine went up and he pedalled, Mats meanwhile was on a storming pass, 4.228/174.50 at half track, Bert was back on the throttle with the car moving left and right but Mats was there first by 1.267 seconds.

John O'Sullivan was next up on another observed run. A very fast burnout, going way out of shape, the car up on one wheel at one point and everyone in the place thought it was going over but John saved it. After John backed up his 'chute deployed and he shut off on the line.

Robert Joosten followed up with another observed run again under the gaze of Lex Joon, with his partner Gerda helping the crew to line up the 'Vette. On the green the car rolled off the line just before Robert hit it, so the incrementals would be a little misleading, 7.079/209.21 at the stripe.

14:55

ACU Top Fuel Bike eliminations round 1:

Roel Koedam 6.572/159.62 def. Ian Turburville no time

Turbo got the jump 0.309 to 0.351 but he was quickly off the throttle and rolled to a stop just before the finish line. Roel was on a stormer, a very straight pass, at about half track there was a haze from the engine and Roel got off the gas. A light spray of oil was found in Roel's lane and there was a very short break for clean-up.

Lorenz Stauble 11.423/70.00 def. Steve Woollatt 20.439/32.23

0.090 to 0.094 reactions in Lo's favour, 1.136 to sixty feet for Lo and 1.111 for Steve, at that point both shut off - so abruptly that I am guessing they both had belts break or similar, then it was a momentum contest which Lo won.

14:30

MSA Top Methanol eliminations round 1:

Rob Turner 5.680/245.84 bye

Steph Milam having broken, Rob took the bye but resisted the temptation to take it gently. 0.965 to sixty feet, the car drifted to the left at about 100 feet, 3.708/201.84 at half track, and the dragster ran right by the centre line all the way down the lane.

Dave Wilson staged, bye

With rain in the air Grumpy pulled into stage and took the green, then went back to the pits.

14:25

VW Pro eliminations round 1 winners: Brian Burrows (12.69) 12.748/100.67, Glynn Morgan (12.85) 16.434/68.50 bye, Tim Bell (12.99) 14.537/91.96

VW Sportsman eliminations round 2 winners: Graham Fairhead (15.40) 15.407/84.32, Chris Bray (21.40) 21.822/59.92 bye, Kev Metcalfe (17.00) 17.557/57.23

14:20

Funny Bike eliminations round 1 winners: Neil Midgley staged, Chris Hall 7.167/176.64 bye, Stu Chamberlain 7.816/170.34, Shaun Branch 8.152/131.55

Super Street Bike eliminations round 1 winners: Jamie Sneddon 8.308/163.60 bye, Nigel Barker 8.223/161.21, Graham Dance 8.136/169.86, Gary drury 8.628/169.16

Ade Lockley pulled a huge wheelie in his match-up with Graham Dance and got close to the wall when he put the front end down, a great riding job by Ade kept him out of trouble.

9.50 Bike eliminations round 3 winners: Phil Pratt 9.712/134.29, Steve Coombs 9.861/119.32, Dave Hall 11.732/76.28

13:45

We had a fine tribute to Terry Gibbs, with the Obsession Camaro on the start line and the minute's silence immaculately observed by all present. Craig then idled Obsession down the track to the applause of the crowd.

Super Street eliminations round 2 winners: Mark Watkins 10.909/117.50, Leigh Morris 10.911/119.32, Jonas Dantanus 10.892/129.66 bye, Dave Cherrett 11.211/95.70

Wild Bunch eliminations round 1 winners: Helen Smythe (9.60) 9.726/133.88, Pete Yates (9.80) 10.266/114.22 bye, Chris Hartnell (9.26) 9.392/112.50, Darren Law (11.10) 11.196/122.55 bye

Trackside conditions are 15.2 C, 35%, 29.88 inches of air, and the track temperature at 200 feet is 28.2 C.

13:15

After the Pro Fuel Shootout we had a stunt show and then Roger Goring put in a pass in the Firestorm Jet FC. Roger had Race Control rocking again and then a 6.305/249.93, the car making a small move towards the centreline in the last few feet.

Next up is a tribute to Terry Gibbs including a minute's silence.

12:50

Pro Fuel Shootout qualifying session 3 (left lane first): Tommy Möller shut off (bye), Andy Carter 10.950/76.39, John Spuffard 5.586/204.74, Micke Kågered 5.487/187.60, Gordon Smith 12.584/74.14, Lex Joon no time, Leif Helander 9.923/85.90

A nice burnout from Tommy, then he was shut off before staging for a fluid leak and went back to the pits. Burnouts to the Tree for both Andy and Spuff, Andy's reverse took a long time and some help from Crew Chief Ben Allum to engage. Spuff waited patiently, his Crew Chief Bob Jarrett eventually started waving at Andy. On the green Spuff pulled 0.191 reaction to Andy's 0.060, 0.869 to sixty feet for Andy to Spuff's 0.955, Andy hit shake at the Tree and got off it, meanwhile Spuff stayed with it, 3.623/223.87 at half track and off the throttle at 1000 feet, nice run! A one hundred foot burnout from Gordon before his match-up with Micke, Micke taking it a lot easier. 0.210 to 0.281 reaction in Micke's favour, Gordon's tyres went up in smoke before the Tree and the car made a hard move to the right, 1.158 to sixty foot betraying the smoke. Micke clocked 0.926 to sixty feet and was on a real stormer, no obvious shake, the car visibly accelerating hard to about half track where Micke got off the throttle. Burnouts to sixty feet by both Lex and Leif, Lex couldn't get reverse and drove off the track. Leif was held on the start line a long time whilst Lex cleared the track, on the green Leif clocked 0.941 to sixty feet, 2.668 at 300 feet, then his tyres went up in smoke and the car made a hard move to the right and Leif got off the throttle.

Pro Fuel Shootout standings after this session:

1. John Spuffard +3.658
2. Micke Kågered +7.165
3. Leif Helander +10.293
4. Lex Joon +13.630
5. Andy Carter +15.012
6. Gordon Smith +20.996
7. Tommy Möller +37.046

It's John Spuffard v Micke Kågered in the final, and Leif Helander and Lex Joon are scheduled to run off for third and fourth place.

Urs Erbacher followed up with another Top Fuel observed run, 0.504 reaction, 0.902 to sixty feet, then Urs pedalled at about 300 feet, slapped the throttle a few times then got off it, 9.152/85.39 at the stripe and a lot of smoke in the shutdown area.

12:20

Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association session 5 (left lane first): Clayton Round 7.328/182.23, Frank Bennett 7.293/184.43, Jim Usher 12.076/69.33 observed run (bye), Bob Glassup 8.994/137.93, Wendy Baker 14.205/49.83, Nick Davies 7.423/185.35 bye

Great side-by-side burnouts for Clayton and Frank. One the green Clayton was away first 0.298 to 0.520, Clayton's altered drifted to the right, then went to the left, he went a lot further than 440 yards on this pass! Frank's altered drifted left a little but then he pulled it straight and went right down the middle of his lane. Next up was Tony Betts in the Venom AA/FA, a great burnout and then the car sat at 400 feet, it looked as if Tony couldn't get reverse and he eventually shut it off. A great burnout from Jim Usher, too, a good launch, 1.213 to sixty feet, a brief pedal and on the throttle again, another brief pedal then off the pedal at 330 feet or so. A nice burnout from Bob, Wendy's tyres didn't light. A couple of nice chirpies from Wendy and then she got the jump off the line 0.218 to 0.524. The Time Warp was going great guns to about 200 feet then it made a move to the left and Wendy got off the throttle, Bob drove past her and it certainly sounded as if the misfire was gone. The usual hide-boiling burnout from Nick, then a great pass, 1.206 to sixty feet, 4.841/153.04 at half track. The chutes were a long time coming out but Nick got it stopped.

12:00

Pro Modified qualifying session 5 (left lane first): Bert Englefield no time, Mats Eriksson 12.205/56.33, Robert Joosten 6.719/211.95 observed run (bye), John O'Sullivan 11.181/76.51 observed run (bye)

A scary match-up for Bert and Mats, on the green Bert's tyres shook and at about seventy feet the Coupe turned hard right - it was almost a carbon copy of what happened last year. Bert kept a good hold on the car, kept it away from Mats and pulled it back into his lane, and rolled to a stop just before the finish line. Mats hit vicious shake at the Tree and his chute deployed, Mats pedalled and then got off the throttle. A nice burnout for Robert and then a tremendous pass, not a foot wrong, 1.118 to sixty feet, straight as you like. Robert's licence is signed and he's in the field, well done Robert! A much straighter run for John this time, the car only drifted gently to the right rather than made a violent move, but John had a good hold on it and shut off at half track.

Final qualifying standings:

1. Mats Eriksson 6.348/227.23
2. Andy Robinson 6.370/219.60
3. Danny Cockerill 6.604/207.40
4. Robert Joosten 6.719/211.95
5. Bert Englefield 6.795/204.30

Trackside conditions at the start of Pro Mod qualifying were 15.6 C, 38% humidity, 29.88 inches of air, and the track temperature on the start line was 26.8 C.

11:35

Pro ET eliminations round 2 winners: Lee Huxley (10.60) 10.647/123.97, Nicky Frost (9.88) 10.029/114.19, Ian Atkinson (11.32) 11.408/113.00, Clive Cox (10.37) 10.368/131.18, Chris Hodgkins (9.92) 9.927/135.97, Gary Springford (10.14) 10.092/127.05, Paul Marston (9.38) 9.463/134.29, Mike Lacey 910.17) 10.195/118.76

9.50 Bike eliminations round 2 winners: Steve Coombs 12.251/83.96, Phil Pratt 9.983/134.00, Paul Coombs 9.825/138.00, Carl Atkinson 9.912/140.67, Dave Hall 9.800/146.59, Fred Furlong 10.212/105.35

Super Pro ET eliminations round 2 winners: Nick Spence (8.15) 8.233/164.79 bye, Rich Gilbertson (8.22) 8.248/161.95, Steve Johnson (7.30) 7.408/158.32, Mark Flavell (7.36) 7.399/181.28, Martyn Jones (7.70) 7.809/152.50

Super Gas eliminations round 2 winners: Wayne Hiscock 9.926/111.91 bye, Jon Evans 9.948/143.34, Steve Wells 10.090/113.13, Pete Cresswell 9.920/123.21, Tim Adam 9.903/144.41 bye

11:05

Super Modified eliminations round 1 winners: Tim Garlick 7.858/170.54, Andy Kirk 7.721/176.40, Graham Ellis 7.660/176.42, Rob Smallworth 7.947/171.85

Junior Dragster eliminations round 2 winners: Jayne Kay (8.10) 8.064/80.06, Zak Johnson (14.65) 14.665/40.71, Jay Hauser (7.90) 7.865/82.59, Nick Mugridge (7.94) 7.972/80.50, Peter Walters (9.12) 9.245/70.87

10:55

VW Sportsman eliminations round 1 winners: Chris Bray (21.50) 22.016/59.44, Graham Fairhead (15.60) 15.624/70.31, Abi Tether (16.40) 17.061/80.92, Kev Metcalfe (17.00) 17.011/74.13, Becky Allen (15.59) 15.764/80.47

Super Comp eliminations round 1 winners: Andy Williams 8.516/156.14 bye, Shaun Lathan 8.967/149.94 bye, Matt Gatland 9.238/146.58, Paul Letchford 9.248/152.37, Chris Isaacs 8.968/142.07, Belinda Bull staged

10:35

Sportsman ET eliminations round 1 winners: Nicola Lagrue (15.80) 15.997/89.46, Martin Lewis (15.60) 15.899/83.59, Mick Smith (12.02) 12.024/110.55 bye, Nick Gay (13.50) 13.882/88.08, Sandie Gibb (12.02) 12.264/110.63, Brian Huxley (15.95) 16.070/83.52 bye

Happy Birthday to Mick Smith, +0.004 on his dial-in a great birthday present!

Super Street eliminations round 1 winners: Paul Spiers 10.802/121.90 bye, Neil Grant 10.926/131.12, Leigh Morris 10.875/120.36, Mark Watkins 9.380/141.51 bye, Jonas Dantanus 10.972/124.59, Scott McCarthy 11.990/118.99, Dave Cherrett 11.064/95.96

The finish line margin on the timing console for Neil Grant v Nick Griffin was 0.000 but Nick broke out. Mark Watkins broke out on his bye by a mere second and a half!

10:25

Super Gas eliminations round 1 winners: Wayne Hiscock 9.913/124.97, Steve Wells 9.968/128.64, Jon Evans 9.929/130.78, Christer Uhlin 10.013/129.72, Tim Adam 9.912/137.20, Brendan Clancy 9.890/123.56, Frank Mason 9.886/138.60 bye, Pete Cresswell 9.951/131.17

Trackside conditions are 12.5 C, 46% humidity, and 29.88 inches of air. Track temperature on the start line is 16.4 C.

9:55

9.50 Bike eliminations round 1 winners: Julian Harris 11.279/130.03, Phil Pratt 9.816/135.94, Paul Wing 9.906/127.08, Paul Coombs 11.173/132.75, Alan Young 9.673/143.30, Richard Hann 10.185/135.10, Steve Coombs 9.946/127.45, Fred Furlong 9.562/140.13, Carl Atkinson 10.389/140.24, Dave Hall 9.695/142.93, Geoff Connor 10.901/106.12, Richard Sawatzki 9.700/142.87

Street Eliminator eliminations round 1 winners: Jerry Charles 8.459/169.80 bye, Ian Hook 8.430/160.78 bye, Colin Lazenby 8.638/178.56, Jon Webster 9.601/141.91 bye, Steve Nash 8.326/167.92, John Sleath 9.651/155.05 bye

Congratulations to Jerry Charles on a PB. John Sleath pulled a huge wheelie off the line, pedalled and then had the Audi up on its bumper a second time!

9:40

Super Pro ET eliminations round 1 winners: Steve Johnson (7.35) 7.305/177.91 bye, Martin Curbishley (7.73) 7.779/173.81, Nigel Turner (8.42) 8.449/155.17 bye, Martyn Jones (7.70) 7.733/165.88, Vince Gibbs (8.89) 8.923/147.08, Rich Gilbertson (8.24) 8.237/148.06, Mark Flavell (7.40) 7.380/180.51 bye, Pat Talbot (7.83) 7.817/171.15 bye, Nick Spence (8.20) 8.158/165.47

9:25

Junior Dragster eliminations round 1 winners: Zak Johnson (14.60) 14.950/39.36 bye, Millie Bond (9.00) 9.282/68.90, Joe Kellett (12.90) 13.098/37.85, Lottie Watts (13.10) 13.121/45.17, Jay Hauser (7.92) 7.891/82.24, Jayne Kay (8.10) 8.125/80.17, Pete Walters (9.10) 9.161/71.32, Scott Hauser (7.90) 7.982/75.38, Tom Watts (9.50) 9.658/64.11, Nick Mugridge (7.90) 7.980/81.83

Pro ET eliminations round 1 winners: Lee Huxley (10.55) 10.928/96.75, Vic Amato (9.91) 9.943/134.70, Clive Cox (10.36) 10.381/130.48, Chris Hodgkins (9.91) 10.080/121.60, Keith Herbert (11.49) 11.797/95.31, Nicky Frost (9.91) 10.536/96.14, John Atkinson (9.35) 9.421/135.94, Gary Springford (10.14) 10.224/117.80, Paul Marston (9.38) 9.528/119.01, Mike Lacey (10.17) 10.176/113.89, Lee Darby (9.59) 9.772/111.37, Nick Good (9.22) 9.290/141.86, Ian Atkinson (11.31) 11.461/113.38, Rick McCann (9.97) 10.000/121.32, K Moseley (11.54) 11.632/113.65, Carl Burton (11.27) 11.345/116.07

8:00

Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod. It's race day at the Easter Thunderball 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.

It is a beautiful morning, not a cloud in the sky and a gentle breeze. Trackside conditions are 9.4 C, 56% humidity and 29.88 inches of air. But right now you don't need that stuff, it's a nice spring day and if you are within driving distance you should just get in your car or on your bike and get here.

The usual raceday greetings to our US correspondents Ed O'Connell and Kathy Hileman who are tuned in from Rye, NH. Hi also to John Parkinson, Richard Nicholls and Jon Best who have written in to say they are enjoying the coverage, thanks guys. Another birthday today, Andy Holten is forty and is off to the Ace Café so that his friends can commiserate with him, have a great day Andy.

We kick off with Sportsman eliminations at 9:00. The final qualifying sessions for Pro Fuel, Top Methanol, Pro Mod and Top Fuel Bike take place at 11:30 and their eliminations start at 14:00. Stay tuned and as soon as the track opens we'll bring you all the news, and don't forget that Simon will be bringing you pit notes on a regular basis.