2007 FIA European Finals
Thursday (qualifying)
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The latest updates are at the top of the page. Click on your Browser's Refresh key to be sure of seeing the latest news. Click here to go back to the event index 19:40 Simon has posted the latest set of pit notes. We're still working on the pictures and will likely take our dinner break before posting them. 19:25 Roger and Peter are still beavering away on their respective contributions but here's an interesting statistic about today's track action courtesy of Andy Marrs of Santa Pod's timing crew. The track was active for seven hours and fifty one minutes and we had only two minutes of downtime related to on-track problems. I think everyone involved, racers and officials, should take a huge pat on the back. Well done guys. One thing we would like to stress about the qualifying standings below is that the UK National Championships work to three decimal places. In the event of a duplicate third decimal it does not go to the fourth place but is decided on who was the first to record the time. So for example in Super Gas below we have Conrad Stanley in first place on 9.9005 ahead of Pete Cresswell on 9.9001. It may look weird but is correct. You may ask "Then why publish the fourth decimal?" but it's just easier for us to type it up as it appears on the timing console and then be aware of the rules. Stay tuned and the latest set of pit notes and today's pictures will be posted soon. 17:15 Junior Dragster qualifying top five after session 7:
No changes to the top five in this session. That's qualifying done for today - I don't think I've ever seen a better or more well-organised day's Sportsman racing, well done to racers and officials alike. Stay tuned as we are now working on today's pictures, Simon is collecting more pit notes, and we will also have a few facts and figures for you. 17:10 Super Comp qualifying top five after session 7:
No changes to the top five in this session. Comp Eliminator qualifying after session 7:
John Tebenham improved but stayed in place so no changes to the standings in this session. 17:05 Sportsman ET qualifying top five after session 7:
No changes to the top five in this session. 16:58 Super Street qualifying top five after session 7:
Mark Watkins took over the lead in the first pairing of the session. In the next pairing, Simon Cooper came in to the top five at #5. 16:55 Super Gas qualifying top five after session 7:
Again the above top two might look weird but we work to three decimal places. No changes to the top five in this session. Congratulations to Stuart Morrice who won the Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award with a 0.0009 reaction time in this session. 16:50 Super Pro ET qualifying top five after session 7:
Rod Harrison lost out on a #2 placing this morning due to a blue line violation but he made up for it in this session by coming into the top five at #4 in the fourth pairing. Steve Pateman clocked what we think is a PB of 8.023 in this session, well done Steve! Trackside conditions are 23.2 C, 62% humidity and 1020 mb of air, track temperature is 30.1 C. 16:35 Pro ET qualifying top five after session 7:
Mick Howling appeared in this session in Paul Marston Racing's Insanity Vega pick-up rather than Grumpy's Dodge so I'm guessing the Dodge is broken. As things stand you have to be within 0.1180 of dial-in to be in the thirty two-car Pro ET field. 16:25 Junior Dragster qualifying top five after session 6:
No changes to the top five in this session. On we go to cycle seven which will be the last qualifying cycle today. 16:20 Super Comp qualifying top five after session 6:
No changes to the top five in this session. The top fourteen qualifiers are in the 8.9s. Comp Eliminator qualifying after session 6:
No changes to the standings in this session. 16:10 Sportsman ET qualifying top five after session 6:
No changes to the top five in this session. 16:05 Super Street qualifying top five after session 6:
Bob Lees took over the lead in the fourth pairing of the session, then in the fifth pairing Paul Spiers ran an identical ET to Bob's to go into #2. The top eleven qualifiers are in the 10.9s. Race Director Darren Prentice has just added a seventh qualifying cycle. 16:00 Super Gas qualifying top five after session 6:
Jon Morton into the top five at #4 in the first pairing of the session. The top sixteen qualifiers are in the 9.9s. Simon has just uploaded another set of pit notes, which you can access via the Event Index page. 15:50 Super Pro ET qualifying top five after session 6:
No changes to the top five in this session. Trackside conditions are 24.3 C, 60% humidity abd 1020 mb of air, track temperature is 33.1 C. 15:45 Pro ET qualifying top five after session 6:
Peter Stevens, one of our visitors from The Netherlands, came into the top five at #4 in the eighth pairing of the session. 15:35 Junior Dragster qualifying top five after session 5:
Matthew Seamarks into the top five at #2 in the first pairing of the session. In the next pairing Scott Hauser moved back into the top five at #5. In the last but one pairing Becky Evans moved into #5 spot with an identical RT to Peter Walters. Pressing on furiously to cycle 6. 14:27 Comp Eliminator qualifying after session 5:
No changes to the standings in this session. 15:25 Super Comp qualifying top five after session 5:
Martin Curbishley back into the top five at #2 in the last but one pairing of the session. The top thirteen qualifiers are in the 8.9s. 15:20 Sportsman ET qualifying top five after session 5:
Paul Herbert back into the top five, in at #3 in the second pairing of the session. 15:10 Martin Hill followed Super Gas with a 6.094/273.27 in the Fireforce 3 Jet FC. Martin has certainly got those 270 mph terminals nailed, I think that's the third in a row I've seen. Super Street qualifying top five after session 5:
No changes to the top five in this session. The top nine qualifiers are in the 10.9s. Trackside conditions are 25.1 C, 58% humidity and 1020 mb of air, track temperature is 33.7 C. 15:00 Super Gas qualifying top five after session 5:
Conrad Stanley ran another perfect ET in the first pairing of the session shaving off some more ten thousandths, nice one guys! Not to be outdone, Pete Cresswell also ran a perfect ET and the above probably looks wrong but we work to three decimal places and Pete was the second to go to 9.900 so he goes second. But well done Pete! The top fifteen qualifiers are in the 9.9s. 14:50 Super Pro ET qualifying top five after session 5:
Steve Johnson joins Barry Giles on a perfect ET, good for #2 spot, also +0.0009 when you go to the fourth digit. How close is this getting? The Race Director has just confirmed that there will be at least a cycle 6 this afternoon. 14:35 Pro ET qualifying top five after session 5:
Steve Bolton back into the top five at #5 in the third pairing of the session. 14:25 Junior Dragster qualifying top five after session 4:
Rosie Hunt back into the top five at #2 in the first pairing. Trackside conditions are 23.9 C, 59% humidity and 1020 mb of air. Track temperature is 33.6 C. On we go to cycle 5, at this rate there will be at least a cycle 6! 14:20 Comp Eliminator qualifying after session 4:
Another 7.723 for Andy Frost, this time 7.7231, staying in second spot. 14:15 Super Comp qualifying top five after session 4:
Dave Catton took over the lead in the last run of the session. 14:10 Sportsman ET qualifying top five after session 4:
Steve Parfitt moved up from #4 to #2 in the first pairing of the session. Four sessions later Ian Jackson took over the lead in a Camaro side-by-side with Al Platt. In the last but one pairing Steve Phillips took over the lead. 14:03 Super Street qualifying top five after session 4:
No changes to the top five in this session. The top nine qualifiers are in the 10.9s. 14:00 Super Gas qualifying top five after session 4:
Frank Mason came into the top five at #5 in the first pairing. Conrad Stanley having been bumped out of the top five by Frank got his own back by recording a perfect run to take #1 spot, well done Conrad! Next pair up and Steve Dunn went into #5 spot. The top thirteen qualifiers are in the 9.9s. 13:45 Super Pro ET qualifying top five after session 4:
A great first pairing between Barry Giles and Steve Johnson, Steve into #5 spot and Barry taking over the lead and the £125 Eurodragster.com/LA Racing Parts Perfect ET Award, well done Barry! Steve was bumped out of the top five by Rick Cooke who moved into #2 spot in mid-session. So this time Phil Sweeney breaks out by 0.0002! 13:30 Pro ET qualifying top five after session 4:
Big changes to the top five as Dan Page moved into #2 spot, only to be bumped down a spot by Paul Baynton in the next pairing, and then Charlie Chivers bumped him down another spot in the next pair! That was a frantic few moments for your reporter and his trusty calculator...every time I looked up someone else had changed places. Again please note that even the above may look weird, we are working to three decimal places and in the event of a clash then it's the first racer to do it who takes the higher placing. Trackside conditions are 24.9 C, 57% humidity and 1021 mb of air pressure, track temperature is 35.6 C. 13:20 Comp Eliminator qualifying after session 3:
No changes to the standings in this session; only Jason Weir turned out. On to cycle 4! 13:15 Junior Dragster qualifying top five after session 3:
Anna Stanley took over the lead in the first pairing of the session. Three pairings later Noah Stutz moved into the top five at #4. 13:10 Super Comp qualifying top five after session 3:
Paul Knight moved up from #4 to #3 on his bye. Two pairings later Frank Mason ran an identical ET to Paul but he took #4 spot as Paul ran the 8.9130 first. The top eleven qualifiers are in the 8.9s. 12:50 Sportsman ET qualifying top five after session 3:
Jacob Bailey improved but stayed in place. 12:45 Super Street qualifying top five after session 3:
Mark Watkins and Ian Brown went side-by-side into #2 and #4 spot respectively. The top nine qualifiers are in the 10.9s. Trackside conditions are 25.8 C, 54% humidity and 1020 mb of air, track temperature is 34.7 C. 12:40 Super Gas qualifying top five after session 3:
Tim Adam into the top five at #3 in the third pairing of this session. In the last pairing of the session Conrad Stanley came in at #5. 12:30 Super Pro ET qualifying top five after session 3:
Spencer Tramm into the top five at #4 in the third pairing of the session. Late in the session Paula Atkin came into the top five at #5. A nice pass for Roy Wilding in the S & K dragster, 8.135 and although a big breakout I'm guessing that'll be a new PB, well done Roy! In the other Lane Phil Sweeney broke out by 0.0001 seconds, how close can you get? A big breakout too for Mick Payne with the big Coronet, 7.621, we think a PB, well done Mick! I guess that's what wheelie bars will do for you... 12:15 Pro ET qualifying top five after session 3:
Carl Burton took back the lead in the third pairing of the session. Trackside conditions are 27.0 C, 54% humidity and 1021 mb of air, track temperature is 32.9 C. 12:00 Junior Dragster qualifying top five after session 2:
Joe Kellett made a move from #5 to #3 spot, and a couple of pairings later Scott Hauser came into the top five at #5. Straight into qualifying cycle 3, we are about three quarters of an hour ahead of schedule right now. 10:40 Comp Eliminator qualifying after session 2:
John Tebenham goes way under index to take over the lead, Frosty back into the sevens for #2 spot. 11:55 Super Comp qualifying top five after session 2:
Tethys tok over #1 spot in the second pairing of the session. One pairing later Martin Curbishley wheelied his way into the top five at #4. Pete Cresswell then moved into the top five at #5 but then his Mustang diappeared into a cloud of smoke at the top end. The track was checked all was OK there so hopefully all OK for the car too. The top eight qualifiers are in the 8.9s. The last run of the session was a bye for Jon Morton and he took over #2 spot. 11:45 Sportsman ET qualifying top five after session 2:
Lee Huxley moved up from #5 to #3 in the first pairing. Then in the next pair Kev Long took over the lead and Paul Herbert went into #3, one pairing later Steve Parfitt came in at #4. 11:35 Super Street qualifying top five after session 2:
No changes to the top five. 11:30 Super Gas qualifying top five after session 2:
Mike Bentley took over the lead in the first session. Next pairing up and Pete Creswell came into the top five at #3. Bob Doyle with another 9.904 stayed in #2 spot at that point. 11:20 Super Pro ET qualifying top five after session 2:
Barry Giles into #2 spot in the second pairing of the session, but in the next pairing Ashley Bell took #2 away from him. Steve Saunders then moved into second place also +0.002 on dial-in, and then Nigel Payne was next to go +0.002 It's getting real tight - although the timing system provides four decimal places we work to three decimal places which means the first to run the third digit is the leader so if the above looks weird then be assured it is OK. Dave Crunkhorn aka Crunch is a late driver replacement, taking over the seat of Martyn Jones' dragster, and he laid down a superb 7.6381/169.86 in this session. Huge breakout but he won't be bothered about that! Trackside condition are 25.2 C, 59% humidity and 1020 mb of air, track temperature is 30.0 C. 11:10 Pro ET qualifying top five after session 2:
Big changes to the top five as you would expect this early in qualifying. Paul Vrind came in at #5 but was then bumped down when Dan Page took over #1 spot in the next pairing. Mike Lacey then moved into the top five at #5 in mid-session, and three pairings later Billy Gane took over the lead. One pairing later Steve Bolton moved in to #2 spot. 10:55 Junior Dragster qualifying top five after session 1:
That's the end of qualifying cycle 1, on we go straight into cycle 2. 10:40 Comp Eliminator qualifying after session 1:
Trackside conditions are 24.3 C, 62% humidity and 1020 mb of ait; track temperature is 27.6 C. 10:30 Super Comp qualifying top five after session 1:
10:25 Sportsman ET qualifying top five after session 1:
10:15 Super Street qualifying top five after session 1:
Something obviously wrong for Dave Cherrett as he doesn't run the traditional huge breakout in session one...I guess he means business! 10:10 Super Gas qualifying top five after session 1:
Nine of seventeen qualifiers are in the 9.9s. 10:05 Super Pro ET qualifying top five after session 1:
Rod Harrison was #2 qualifier but was disqualified for a blue line violation. Trackside conditions are 21.7 C, 70% humidity and 1020 mb of air, track temperature is 22.5 C. 9:45 Pro ET qualifying top five after session 1:
8:50 Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway for the first day of qualifying for the FIA European Finals. 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 posting a picture every sixty seconds, and will be on-line twenty four hours a day until the track closes on Sunday evening. Simon is back with us this weekend and is just about to depart for the pits to get the first tranche of notes. The good news, for all those who asked, is that he has taken his camera with him. It is a beautiful day here at Santa Pod, not a cloud in the sky. Trackside conditions are 17.5 C, 82% humidity and 1019 mb of air. Track temperature on the start line is 19.1 C. As you will now have worked out, the vote went in favour of degrees centigrade and millibars of air for the weather conditions. The vote was two to one and thanks to everyone who wrote in. A very Happy Birthday to Brian and Mark Fawcus, hope that you have a great day guys. We are due to start at 9:30 with Pro ET; five complete cycles of qualifying are scheduled today. Stay tuned and as soon as the wheels start to turn we'll bring you all the news. Reports and pictures ©Eurodragster.com |