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23:00

We have now posted today's pictures, which you can view from the event index. If you do not see the pictures when you load the Galley page then click no your Browser's Refresh button.

We'll be back tomorrow with all the news from the Run What You Brung.

18:45

The track had to close at 18:30 because the paramedic team had to leave to go to their evening job.

The last couple of runs were by Junior Dragster, 10.710/62.82 for Matt Seamarks and 13.195/46.07 for Joe Kellett.

Jon Webster closed the day with another run for the cameras in the Two-Seater Dragster, 8.180/160.63.

Sharkman is now working on today's pictures, come back in a couple of hours and we'll have those for you.

18:30

Fast and furious here now, it's fun trying to keep up!

Stacey Good clocked 13.630/96.14 in Steve's TR8 followed by Pro ET racer Lance Richards on what was obviously a checkout pass, 14.982/109.47.

Mats Eriksson was next up in the Green Goblin Pro Mod. Mats told Sharkman that he was overjoyed with the tyres spinning up earlier because now they can start bringing the suspension settings back in. Same result this time, the tyres spun at the hit.

Micke Gullquist followed in his Pro Mod with the Chevy/Hemi engine as we revealed earlier. The car sounded very strong indeed on the burnout. Kirk Kuhns was overseeing operations on the start line, 1.077 to sixty feet, 2.928 to 330 feet where Micke got off the pedal, 9.393/82.71 at the stripe that was a very good-looking run whilst Micke was on the throttle.

Crunch was next in Martyn Jones' dragster, again a very nice burnout and then feathering the throttle all the way down the track, 9.648/131.22. Lawrie Bamford followed, a nice wheelstand off the start line and 10.671/127.08 at the line.

Michael Malmgren then made his first pass of the weekend in the Lahega Racing Pro Stock, the new paint design by Löörs looks just great. A nice burnout and very rapid backup, a slight hesitation off the line but still 1.082 to sixty feet, the car started to drift left and Michael was off the throttle before half track, 8.575/100.94 at the stripe. Next up for Pro Stock was Tommy Leindahl in Michael's previous car, a very strong launch, 1.037 to sixty feet, off the throttle at about 500 feet, 9.109/91.67 at the stripe.

Nev Mottershead made his first pass with the new engine in the Valvoline-sponsored Toyota Supra, a gentle 11.391/107.41 to check that all the nuts and bolts were tightened.

Urs Erbacher was next in the Midland Oil, SCS IT and Techno AG-sponsored Top Fueller. Quite a short burnout and then shake kicked in at about twenty feet, 0.896 to sixty feet and off the throttle at eighty feet, the chutes came out at half track and the dragster stopped just past the finish line, 12.971/47.52 on the line.

18:10

Lorenz Stäble has made his first run of the weekend on the Fat Attack Supertwin. A very nicely-controlled burnout and then an absolute stormer. 1.170 to sixty feet, 4.407/173.74 at half track and 6.726/202.84 at the line. Well done Lo!

We stayed on two wheels with a couple of Super Street Bike match-ups and a single. First up were Sean Mills and Gary Drury, Gary pulled a wheelie and had to feather the throttle, 8.434/178.01 for Sean to Gary's 10.027/151.61. Next up were Nigel Barker and Pete Bellenie, Pete's SSB threw its exhaust at about 400 feet and the bike sprayed fluid onto the track, a slowing 8.764/125.69 for Pete to Nigel's 8.448/182.96. Dave Warren was the last SSB, some more boost this run but a slight hesitation off the line and the long way round, 8.631/162.99. Pete's bike put water and antifreeze in the right hand lane but rather than stop for clean-up we've gone single lane.

Making a very welcome return to Santa Pod was European Top Gas racer Job Heezen and a very nice run it was too banging up on the wheelie bars a couple of times off the line, 8.326/151.47. Staying with the Twins, Ian Turburville was next on his Supertwin Fuel bike, the bike seemed lazy off the line and started to head left so Turbo feathered the throttle, 10.100/135.63. Turbo was followed by Tony Clark with a test run on Stephen Moon's new Comp Bike, a nice burnout although it sounded like the engine was misfiring, and the engine cut out off the line.

17:55

Ray White followed on in his Pro Mod on an observed run. Ray made a very nice burnout with the right-hand door flapping open for good measure, Sharkman says it looks great in the picture. 0.240 reaction time, 1.468 to sixty feet with a little shake, parachute out in the shutdown area and job done on the first observed run.

Jon Webster was next with the Two-Seater Dragster, the TV crew had been filming TV presenter Chris Barrie strapped into the car but he could not make a pass because of his insurance so this was filmed as if it was him in the car, 8.210/161.97.

Jeff Thurston, who was next up when it started to rain, clocked 10.579/132.26 for his patience. Neil Hunter and Carla Pittau then had a Pro ET match-up, Carla getting there first 10.064/131.57 to 10.494/130.35. That was Carla's first run in the car in its new configuration so I am guessing her first big wheelie. Carla and Rick have kindly offered your reporter a drive of the Heaven and Hell Camaro in July so I'll get back to you on what it's like to pull a wheelie.

Martin Curbishley followed in his Super Pro ET rail, 0.061 reaction and 7.812/172.40. Anna Metcalfe was then back in her Mustang after Mike Lacey tried it out, 13.858/100.93 whilst in the other lane the white Cortina Estate which is carrying the name Guinea Pig Racing clocked 12.886/106.70.

17:45

Håkan Nilsson has made his first run in the Veidec/Landmeco Top Fueller. A very nicely-controlled burnout, team member Ulf slipped over as he ran to see Håkan back. At the hit it all happened very quickly - 0.785 reaction time, it sounded as if Håkan hit the throttle three or four times in rapid succession, cylinders went out, the engine stopped dead and the car rolled to a halt at half track.

Next up is Ray White in his Pro Mod.

14:10

The crew dried the track and off we went again. Under threatening skies, Mike Lacey took a turn in his partner Anna Metcalfe's Mustang, a 0.083 reaction time and 13.250/102.98 at the stripe.

Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor Malcolm Francis then took his first turn of the day in the Air Sea Logistics Grand Am which is sporting a new scoop. Super Comp trim this run, Malcolm clocked 8.553/160.18 with some smoke in the shutdown area, but nothing bad enough to stop him driving back to the pits.

Pro ET racer Neil Hunter and Jeff Thurston were ready to go and then it started to rain. We are currently on hold so stay tuned, again.

12:40

We had a brief hold again for drizzle but just before that started Paul Webster clocked 14.817/91.80 in his Mini followed by a 14.672/92.41 just as I went to post this update, then fellow Sportsman ET racer Steve Good's daughter Stacey took her first turn in Dad's TR8, 14.468/92.05. Mick Smith has made two passes in a Sportsman ET Mustang bearing the name Penny Pincher in shoe white, 17.005/78.51 and 15.866/86.86. Lawrie Bamford made his first pass of the day in his Pro ET Nova, 11.198/124.68.

Making his first pass in his new car was Jason Weir in his Street Eliminator Plymouth Savoy. What a beautiful car that is, even better in the flesh than in Geof Hauser's photo on yesterday's news. Jason naturally took it very easy for his first pass, 16.684/82.14.

Regular RWYBer Jeff Thurston clocked 10.478/131.57 in his Mustang. In the other lane was a very well-turned-out Cortina Estate which has so far run as quick as 12.913/105.38. Also in RWYB is a very rapid Nissan Skyline which has so far clocked 10.855/123.63 and that was with a...let's say languid gear change from second to third.

Stuart Morrice and Dave Day paired up with their cars set for Super Comp, 9.149/143.74 for Stuart to Dave's 9.001/145.13.

Junior testing started with Joe Kellett's 13.479/45.04 in the Drummin' Man Junior Stock Dragster, and a 10.579/57.38 from Matt Seamarks in the Gingerman Racing Junior Modified.

It has now started to rain again so we are on hold, stay tuned.

12:20

Funny Bike racer Dave Bailey had a strange one. He pulled his burnout but the engine revs never went down after the burnout, as if the throttle was stuck open although the bike wasn't moving. Dave shut off and right now is behind me in front of the barn.

Next up was Super Street Bike racer Nigel Barker, under the gaze of Paul Watson of Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor DynoSpeed Developments and Brad O'Connor, Nigel clocked 8.555/179.38 for his first run of the day. Fellow SSB racer Pete Bellenie made his first pass of the year, Brad O'Connor told us that this was to be an aspirated pass, a nice 9.831/135.54. Dave Warren's first run of the year on the Krazy Kat SSB was a tremendous 8.576/143.47.

Back onto four wheels and Stuart Doignie's first pass of the day in his Super Gasser was a 10.201/143.47, Stuart looked to be taking it (relatively) easy on that one. Next up was Martyn Jones' Super Pro ET rail but with Martyn's Crew Chief Crunch in the driving seat. Crunch put in a great burnout, looked like he had been doing it all his life. On the green I'd say that the car certainly got Crunch's attention, sounded as if his foot was pushed off the throttle then back on the gas to sixty feet. Mike Lacey followed with a nice big wheelstand and 10.357/126.85 from the Pro ET Camaro, and regular RWYBer Ray Irish ran 10.936/119.98 in his pick-up.

Dave Bailey then gave it another shot on his Funny Bike, another burnout but then shut the engine off.

12:05

The rain's gone, and now it's a nice day. 14.7 C at trackside, 45% humidity, and 28.85 inches of air.

The first racer to run after the rain break was Dave Day, with the Double Trouble roadster in Super Comp trim. Dave clocked 9.191/143.72. Next up was Anna Metcalfe in her Sportsman ET Mustang, 13.973/97.40. Jon Webster then took a TV reporter for a ride in the Two-Seater Dragster, 8.291/160.18.

The first Pro racer to get out on track today was Urban Johansson in his very nice Corvette Pro Mod. A long, straight burnout but as Urban rolled to a stop there was a big cloud of white smoke from the left bak of headers and the engine stopped. Urban started it up again but the team were obviously not happy as the car never moved and Urban shut it off again, a couple of pops and another cloud of white smoke from the left bank.

Mats Eriksson had started up before Urban but shut off almost immediately. It transpired that as soon as Mats fired up, he realised that he had not put in his ear plugs. One of the Green Goblin team went back to the pits and then Mats went for his run. A very nicely-controlled burnout to the Tree and then at the hit the tyres spun right up and the car hardly moved. Mats stopped, calmly put the car into reverse and backed into the collection area.

During the rain break we grabbed a very quick word with Håkan Nilsson who is all set for his first Top Fuel licencing pass. Håkan said that he was quite calm and feeling confident. We also had a chat with Micke Gullquist who has turned up today packing the world's first blown-alcohol Chevy/Hemi Pro Mod engine. I get the idea that this is some sort of Holy Grail in Pro Mod and Micke is the first having worked on the project with the USA's Kirk Kuhns for eighteen months. The Keith Black Chevy block totes Sonny Leonard hemi heads which are based on his IHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock heads - believe me, these heads are so big that you could sit six people around them and use them as tables. Stay tuned to Eurodragster.com News for details.

11:00

As soon as the track opened we had a sprinkle of rain, very brief though and didn't need the services of the track dryer. The first racer out on track was Paul Webster (Sportsman ET) who clocked 15.018/90.57 in his Mini. Paul came straight back down the fire-up road and his next pass was 15.014/91.27.

After Paul's second run it started to rain, so we're on hold. Stay tuned.

10:30

Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway. It's the first day of pre-FIA Main Event 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 had some rain overnight but the track crew have already dried the surface, the track has been sprayed and we are almost ready to go. Trackside conditions are 13.8 C, 50% humidity, and 28.82 inches of air. There is a very strong headwind, hopefully that will die down. As I type this, Ian Marshall is on the PA declaring the track open and encouraging racers to the collection area.

The entry list for today has some ninety racers, the pits are looking quite full. There are a lot of rigs in the way but from here I can see the Shockwave Fuel FC, Stuart Doignie's Super Gas BMW, Mark Pointer's Super Pro ET van, Urs Erbacher's Top Fuel Dragster, and Mats Eriksson's Pro Mod. Santa Pod Raceway's two-seater dragster is here, we understand that Jon Webster is in the driving seat today.

Stay tuned and as soon as the action starts we'll bring you the news.