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17:15

And as the snow falls gently outside Race Control we have now posted today's pictures. You can view them from the event index - if you do not see the pictures when you load up the Gallery page then click on your Browser's Refresh button.

Our Event Coverage will continue with the Easter Thunderball next Friday morning. See you then!

15:35

...and what occurred next was that the heavens opened and we're currently in the middle of a heavy hail storm! So that's all for today.

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

15:30

We're on hold for rain here at Santa Pod. To be honest I don't know how we have got away with it this long since we've been sitting here watching heavy showers all around the track for a couple of hours, sooner or later one was going to get to us.

Shortly before the rain arrived Paul Mander made his first appearance in his long-awaited Plymouth Arrow Super Mod. Paul put in a nice burnout and then went to sixty feet for his first observed run, the sixty-foot time in the 1.5s.

Paul Thomas had wheelspin off the line in his Pro ET Camaro but still clocked 10.303/136.76 and his crew looked very happy with that.

Stay tuned and we'll let you know what occurs next.

14:50

Wendy Clutterbuck's second run of the day on her Supertwin Fuel Bike was an 11.496/122.00, in the next match-up 9.50 Bike racer Paul Hambidge clocked 9.716/143.70.

Next up for the racers was Kev Charman on a Comp Bike, under the supervision of Ken Cooper. Kev put in a 9.422/139.66, if that's his first time on the bike then Kev looks at home. Ken told us that this is last year's Jones and Friend Comp Bike, with a Ken Cooper nitrous engine. Ken will be out himself later this year on TJ O'Brien's bike.

9.50 Bike racers were next, Ian Berry clocking 10.103/139.71, Dave Warren 9.935/140.91 and Alan Young 9.450/151.56.

Joe Kellett and Matthew Seamarks then matched up in their Junior Dragsters. Matthew in a JMA got there first at 10.808/62.75 to Joe's 11.639/52.56 in the Drummin' Man Junior Stock.

14:30

We had a stop into and past the lunch hour for rain and even a brief hail shower! First race car after the enforced break was Pro ET racer Phil Toppin, a nice run into the tens, 10.953/123.99 and Phil's crew were very happy with that.

Next race car up was the Havoc altered, this time the car launched absolutely straight and level, Nick Davies was on the throttle to about half track and it then sounded as if he was feathering it some. 4.902/137.27 at half track and 8.365/123.90 at the stripe. Sharkman at trackside called in on the radio that the altered went through sixty feet on its rear wheels.

Jerry Smith was up next, the beautiful Pro ET Roadrunner put down a nice 10.717/127.06. Another Pro ET racer followed, John Morris in his new Ford Probe. John took it nice and easy for his first run out, 12.311/106.36.

Trackside conditions are 11.0 C, 37% humidity, 29.91 inches of air. Track temperature on the start line is 14.6 C.

12:50

A new Personal Best ET for Roger Goring in the Firestorm Jet FC with a 6.230/249.93, shut off before the finish line so there is more to come. Roger's 192.50 half-track speed was likewise a PB, well done Roger!

Nick Davies' first run of the day in the Havoc blown-alcohol altered was a 10.083/116.92. The altered hoiked up its front wheels and turned right as soon as Nick put the hammer down, he stayed with it for a short while then pedalled and pulled it straight, and gave it some power for the rest of the track, getting a feel for the car.

Funny Bike racer Tim Blakemore had wheelspin at the hit on his first pass of the day, Tim feathered the throttle and then gradually gave it more, clocking 10.523/158.32.

Nigel Payne made a return to Super Mod in his beautiful '62 'Vette. A gentle burnout and then a nice twisty launch, didn't even think of pedalling, 8.572/161.82.

Also making his first run of today was Supertwin Gas racer Chris Mott. Chris clocked 10.827/116.58. Still on two wheels, the mystery black Busa is 200mph member and Straightliners racer GeeBee, who has Richard Stubbins helping him out. GeeBee clocked 8.497/171.65 on his latest pass. 9.50 Bike racers Paul Hambidge and David Warren clocked 9.665/143.25 and 10.036/140.13 respectively.

Another PB for Junior Dragster racer Joe Kellett today at 11.479/53.51.

Trackside conditions are 10.4 C, 38% humidity, and 29.91 inches of air. Track temperature on the start line is 14.9 C.

11:35

Another very nice pass from Pro ET racer Jerry Smith, 10.242/132.29 with a 0.004 reaction time. Regular RWYBer Ian Atkinson clocked 11.220/116.35 in his '65 Belvedere The Menace, a very nice-looking car which wouldn't look out of place in AFX. A very nice Willys carrying the number Pro ET 348 clocked an early shut-off 13.299/105.40 - no name for this guy but we'll find out for you.

Paul Thomas' third run of the day was 10.200/137.62

On two wheels, 9.50 Bike racer Ian Berry clocked 10.549/137.16 and 10.174/137.62 on the DSD-backed Busa. Fellow 9.50 Bike racer Alan Young clocked 10.025/147.46 and Dave Warren 10.887/138.36 and 9.691/140.67.

Wendy Clutterbuck's first run of the day on her Supertwin Fuel Bike was a gentle 12.335/100.90.

Super Street Bike racer Wayne Bradley's second pass of the day was an 8.663/181.47, the bike made a move to the right in the shutdown area and again there was smoke but word came back from the top end that all was well.

Just as we went to post this update, Junior Dragster racer Matt Seamarks made his first run of the day, 10.455/65.77.

Trackside conditions are 9.9 C, 39% humidity, and 29.91 inches of air, and the track temperature on the start line is 13.1 C.

10:40

First racer out this morning was Pro ET racer Jerry Smith whose Plymouth Roadrunner is a very nice piece of work indeed, immaculately turned out. Jerry's first run of the day was a 10.321/131.99. A new name to us, also in Pro ET, is Paul Thomas in Rob Elsom's old Camaro. Paul has made two runs so far today, 12.573/109.27 and 10.830/118.76. Paul was adding more power in the second run so we guess this might be his first outing.

On two wheels, Super Street Bike racer Wayne Bradley clocked 8.889/179.86 with a lot of smoke from the exhaust in the shutdown area. In the other lane was a black Busa which we didn't recognise, carrying the number 611, which clocked 8.518/167.13.

Trackside conditions are 8.7 C, 43% humidity and 29.8 inches of air. Track temperature on the start line right now is 11.7 C.

9:25

Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod. It's the last day of pre-Easter Thunderball testing 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.

We have some high cloud but yesterday's vicious crosswind has abated. Trackside conditions are 8.2 C, 51% humidity, and 29.88 inches of air. Track temperature will follow when the track opens: Sharkman is currently carrying the track temperature gun and he is in the pits - I have an image of him pointing the temperature gun at his bacon and egg sandwich and giving it back. So stay tuned and we'll bring you the track temperature as soon as the track is open for business.

We'll be back as soon as the track opens and the racers start to appear.