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

20:15

Today's pictures have now been posted; you can view them via the Event Index page.

Tune in tomorrow and we'll bring you all the news from the Run What You Brung. The weather station is showing a big cloudless sun for tomorrow and the forecast is for the wind to drop. We'll see you then.

17:50

Andy Carter had the rear slicks go up in smoke at the hit on his second pass of the day in the Lucas Oil/Andersen Racing Top Fueller. The tyre marks from here look like a pair of hourglasses, thick / thin / thick. When the smoke cleared there was a lot of "stuff" lying on the track and we feared that something had broken, but it turned out to be racer tape which was providing a grease seal on the coupler.

Tommy Leindahl followed on in his Pro Stock, a very nice pass indeed. 1.0330 to sixty feet, 4.4600/157.38 at the eighth, and 6.9402/199.11 at the stripe.

Jeff Meads stayed on the throttle all the way for his last run of the day, far from straight but into the eights, 8.8319/156.31. Jeff had a very wobbly ride on his previous pass, the Pop darting left and right, 9.3980/128.18. Laurie Bamford and Lance Richards closed out today's accounts with a 10.1342/130.77 and 9.6210/139.35 respectively. Finally for today, Pro ET rookie Mark Bishop put in a checkout pass of 17.3409/63.11 in his new vegas Hustler altered.

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

17:30

A great pass from Mats Eriksson in the Green Goblin Pro Mod, 1.0233 to sixty feet, 4.1473/177.06 at the eighth, 6.3413/224.82 at the stripe. A small amount of smoke from the car in the second half of the track but difficult to tell from here whether it was the engine or a tyre rubbing. But the fun really started at the finish line, we waited and waited for the chutes to deploy but no sign. Then the car disappeared into a cloud of smoke which we guessed was Mats standing on the brakes, word came back from the top end that Mats' Chevy was right at the end of the track but not in the field. When Mats' heart stops fibrillating we would imagine that he will be delighted with a 6.3 on his second pass on the new chassis, well done Mats!

Martin Hill clocked 6.2399/256.15 in the Fireforce 3 Jet FC, we noticed that Martin built the revs way up, a lot higher than normal, before starting the smoke and flame show.

Next up is Andy Carter in the Lucas Oil/Andersen Racing Top Fueller.

17:05

The next Pro racer up was Richard Gipp on his Pro Stock Bike, a nice-looking pass, 7.8018/165.53. Stefan Iwanowitsch has made his first run of the day on his Supertwin, a very languid-sounding burnout and then 1.5082 to sixty feet, a feather of the throttle, 5.1760/139.80 to half track and off the throttle at about 900 feet, 8.6432/116.22 at the stripe.

Back on four wheels and Henri Joosten drove through shake in his Pro Mod, 1.1090 to sixty feet, the car got every close to the centre line and Henri backed out before half track and put the chutes out, 7.6320/116.30.

John Tebenham went to the top of second gear on his latest pass, 11.9100/71.63. Matt Eley pulled a 0.004 reaction on his 10.0608/117.19 pass in the Risky Trip Pro ET Pop. Just as I went to post this update Matt put in another pass, 10.0309/131.21, looking very good. Also for Pro ET Laurie Bamford pulled a nice wheelie on his way to a 10.1181/130.01. Martin Curbishley's latest pass in his roadster was a 9.0602/152.92 in Super Comp trim.

Steve Bolton is getting his money's worth today, his latest pass in the wheelying Scamp was a 9.5680/140.66. In the other lane Mark Perkins clocked 10.4582/133.84 in his RSSE Mustang. Fellow RSSE racer Ian Jackson clocked 8.6319/165.52 in his 'Vette.

Malcolm Francis has his feet firmly in the sevens today, 7.7719/174.45 his latest pass in the Air Sea Logistics Grand Am. Here's hoping he remembers he's on 8.90 and 9.90 next week. Martin Curbishley got very close to index again in his roadster, 8.8980/154.24.

Joe Kellett and Zak Johnson matched up again in their Junior Modified Dragsters, Joe got there first 9.3161/67.85 to Zak's 9.3659/67.55. Zak later took a bye, 9.2497/69.06.

Next up is Martin Hill in the Fireforce 3 Jet FC.

16:25

Micke Kågered has made his second run of the day in the Bahco Express Top Fueller. We noticed this time around that Micke was on the move for his burnout almost as soon as the motor had fired, no waiting - it's interesting to see the difference in start-up methods between teams. A cylinder was out on the left bank at the hit, 0.9559 to sixty feet, the tyres started to shake at about 150 feet, Micke got off the throttle as the 'chute shook out and Micke pulled acros to the side of his lane at 900 feet.

Micke Gullquist's first run of the day ended prematurely. Micke was stabbing the throttle in the burnout, and then drove the Chevy Pro Mod up the track, I am guessing he could not get reverse.

For the Sportsmen, Steve Bolton pulled another monster wheelie on his latest pass of 9.6561/141.05 in the Pro ET Scamp, whilst fellow Pro ET racer Lance Richards clocked 9.6680/138.11. For the index guys Dave Day clocked 9.0278/145.14 and Stuart Morrice very close to the Super Comp index again at 8.9830/146.12.

16:05

A touch of the shakes for Roger Johansson on his latest run, 1.0251 to sixty feet but the car was going for the centre line and from here the shake marks kick in at about 150 feet, Roger was off the throttle before 300 feet, 9.3660/91.47 at the stripe.

Tim Garlick was next to the line in his Super Mod, 1.1273 at sixty feet and looking good until the car twitched at half track and Tim got off the throttle, 8.8691/108.88.

Vince Gibbs is looking very comfortable in the Sanity Assassin Firebird, 1.0898 to sixty feet, 4.7939/145.12 at the eighth and the chute out at about 1000 feet, 8.1009/115.37. Next ET class down and Lance Richards' latest run in his Pro ET Capri was a good-loking 9.5817/139.02. Back to Super Pro ET and Paula Atkin is just going quicker and quicker, 7.6942/175.86 on her latest pass which must be approaching a Personal Best. In the other lane Pro ET racer David James clocked 9.3271/142.24. Gino Bernadine's latest pass in his Pro ET Escort was 10.4639/119.37 whilst Sportsman ET racer Nigel Holland clocked 16.7598/64.47 on his latest pass.

Martin Curbishley again got very close to index with a 9.8909/146.19 in his roadster in Super Gas trim whilst Laurie Bamford's latest pass in his Pro ET Nova was 10.1931/129.68.

On the street-legal side Ray Comer clocked 9.6489/132.44 although something didn't sound quite right, it sounded as if Ray was feathering the throttle. Ian Jackson drove through wheelspin and ran 8.7920/164.11 in his 'Vette whilst Jeff Meads backed off early again and clocked 9.9431/97.41.

Micke Gullquist and Micke Kågered are in the pairing lanes, stay tuned.

15:35

Timo Habermann went for a good wander around his lane on his first run of the day. The engine hesitated off the line, 1.1620 to sixty feet, when the dragster got to about 300 feet it started to move left and right, 4.3872/173.58 at the eighth and then the car made a hard move and Timo got off the throttle and put the chutes out by 900 feet, 7.4851/113.35 at the stripe.

Next in the Auto Glym lane was Micke Lindahl in Lindahl brothers' new Pro Mod. Micke backed up almost to the Barn and then took a run at the burnout, a great burnout it was too. 1.0281 to sixty feet, the tyre tracks appear to show shake just on the left side, Micke stayed with it, 4.2072/164.82 at half track and then Micke shut off and put the chutes out at the eighth, 7.7392/97.18 on the line.

Joe Kellett and Zak Johnson paired up again in their Junior Dragsters, Joe getting there first 9.1538/69.31 to Zak's 9.1711/69.74. Steve Bolton pulled another nice wheelie in his Plymouth Scamp, feathering the throttle slightly and then shutting off at about 1000 feet, 9.9551/113.38.

Trackside conditions are 61.7 F, 47% humidity and 29.47 inches of air, track temperature when Timo Habermann ran was 82.2 F.

15:20

I hope I'm wrong but Urban Johansson may just have had an expensive burnout, the engine zinged and then there were a couple of bangs and the engine stopped. Ubbe was pushed back and towed to the pits.

Craig Gibbs followed on with his Super Mod, a nice straight run, 7.8618/171.00.

Next up was Dan Larsen of Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor Dansk Auto HiFi with his Top Methanol Funny Car. An interesting burnout, from the engine note it sounded as if he changed gear in the middle of it...I know he didn't so no E-Mails thank you. A great pass for Dan, 1.0462 to sixty feet, 3.9289/195.69 at the eighth, and backed off just a touch early, 5.9181/247.13 - a good one for his first run of the season.

Michael Malmgren followed on in the Lahega-sponsored GTO Pro Stock. At the hit the back end of the car jumped up, the revs shot up, and the car went nowhere...3.0588 to sixty feet shows you just what happened. The car idled to about 300 feet then Michael found a gear and cruised down the track. No ET as the clocks had timed out before Michael got to the finish line.

Stuart Morrice and Malcolm Francis paired up, Stuart's first run of the day with the Morrice Boys Camaro pretty obviously set for Super Comp, 8.9251/146.97 whilst Malcolm's Grand Am was again set to kill, 7.8137/173.74.

Timo Habermann's Top Methanol Dragster is in the collection area, Timo was all set to go until someone pointed out on the track radio "He's not going anywhere until he's signed on". As I type Timo is putting his crash helmet back on and getting into the dragster.

15:00

Tommy Leindahl was the next Pro to run with his Camaro Pro Stock. A very nice run it was too, 1.0258 to sixty feet, 4.4680/156.22 to half track and then off the throttle at around 1100 feet and the chute out in the traps, 7.080/170.38 at the stripe. With all this backing off early going on in today's Pro Stock testing one starts to wonder whether lights are being kept hidden under bushels for next week.

Mats Eriksson has made his first pass with the newly-chassis'd Green Goblin Pro Mod. A great 100-foot burnout, then 1.0118 to sixty feet, some shake between 100 and 300 feet but Mats stayed with it, 4.2098/164.36 at half track and off the throttle at about 900 feet and the chutes out before the traps, 7.2558.132.44.

Andy Carter followed on with his first pass in the Lucas Oil/Andersen Racing Top Fueller, there seemed to be a little consternation as the car started, the idle did sound a little fast but Per and Karsten were happy enough and off Andy went. A nice burnout and then 0.8309 to sixty feet, that's the second quickest sixty foot time I can ever remember seeing, as Andy passed the Tree the rear tyres blazed, the engine started to zing but Andy was off it very quickly indeed and idled through, 14.5768/55.98 at the stripe.

Mark Perkins again pulled a rolling burnout off the line in his RSSE Mustang, the car made a bit of a move to the right and Mark pedalled, 11.5469/131.90. Gino Bernadine was next up with his Pro ET Escort, off the line quite gently but still a very consistent 9.7589/140.22. Martin Curbishley followed on with a 9.8939/144.20 with his roadster set for Super Gas. Finally for this update Pro ET racer Matt Eley and Dave Day paired up, Matt's Pro ET Pop clocking an early shut off 11.0257/84.43 and Dave 9.0041/145.62.

Trackside conditions are 61.0 F, 52% humidity and 29.47 inches of air.

14:25

Tim Garlick opened the post-lunch session with a superb 7.6639/169.88, there's more to come there as the run wasn't conpletely straight and the tyres spun a little in the first sixty feet or so.

John Tebenham, who would have been next up when the rain started to spot, followed on and clocked 9.4659/100.88 in the Comp Eliminator Probe, that was early shut off and the chute was out before the finish line.

Steve Venables and Dave Smith were next up on their Super Street Bikes, Ven clocked 7.4947/190.67 blackstriping the length of his lane whilst Dave ran 7.5857/191.74, a nice-looking pass and like Ven a good speed for this headwind.

Joe Kellett and Zak Johnson paired up in their Junior Modified dragsters, Joe got to the stripe first 9.1510/69.42 to Zak's 9.3198/69.47.

A nice pairing after the JDs as Laurie Bamford took on Ian Jackson, Ian's RSSE 'Vette got there first 8.5142/164.74 to Laurie's 10.1452/130.49. Fellow RSSE racer Jeff Meads was next up, 9.2089/147.08.

Great to see Henri Joosten back here with his Pro Mod, a nice burnout and then 1.1219 to sixty feet, a trip towards the centre line but he stayed with it, 4.3567/171.87 at half track, off the throttle at about 1000 feet and 7.4599/125.32 at the stripe for his first run of the year.

Shaun Branch followed on, off the throttle at 1000 feet and the wind almost visibly slowing the bike when Shaun shut off, 9.7321/99.52.

Andy Carter is in the pairing lanes for his first run in the Lucas Oil/Andersen Racing Top Fueller, stay tuned.

13:15

Another seven for Craig Gibbs, 7.9089/170.50 for the latest run in the Obsession Super Mod.

Next up was Mark Bishop in his new Vegas Hustler Pro ET altered, a gentle pass for familiarisation, at about 300 feet the car started to shudder and Mark pulled over to the side of the lane.

Vince Gibbs followed with his second run in the new Sanity Assassin Firebird which is destineed for Super Pro ET, 1.1363 to sixty feet, 5.0701/117.48 to half track, Vince had shut off by then, 9.7221/82.55 at the stripe.

Tim Garlick was pulling into stage in his Super Mod when we started to get spots of rain, Tim was shut off and we're now on lunch break. Stay tuned.

12:40

No problems for Roger Johansson on his second pass of the day, 6.4023/216.16 for the MSS Motorsport Pro Mod. The Mustang did most of the pass a few feet from the centreline but Roger was obviously happy enough as he stayed with it.

Richard Gipp was next Pro racer up in his Pro Stock, 7.9008/162.56 for his first run of the day. Also on two wheels, Steve Venables and Dave Smith have made their third passes of the day on their SSBs, Ven went first at 7.5212/183.65, from here he looked to be fighting the bike all the way, Dave went next and clocked 7.7839/180.19. Just as I went to post this update Shaun Branch made his first pass of the day on his Funny Bike, a very strong burnout

We in the UK got our first look at the Lindahl brothers' new Camaro Pro Mod, a real stealth machine and very good-looking. 1.0189 to sixty feet, slight shake to sixty feet and then almighty shake after sixty feet, the car made a move to the left and Micke got off the throttle.

Becca West clocked 15.8632/36.58 on her latest run in one of Santa Pod's Junior Dragsters, Becca is consistently pulling great reaction times and this time out pulled a visible holeshot on the JD in the other lane. Zak Johnson's latest pass in his JMD was 9.3372/68.57.

Malcolm Francis of Eurodragster.com sponsor Air Sea Logistics has made his first run of the day in his Super Comp/Super Gas Grand Am, under the supervision of Adrian Spencer of Gordon Appleton's Pro Mod team. Neither Super Comp nor Super Gas this time, super something though - 7.831/173.08 and Adrian was laughing his head off. In the other lane Lance Richards clocked 9.6849/138.09 in his Pro ET Capri and must have wondered if something was wrong as the car in the other lane shouldn't have been that far ahead for an 8.9!

On to the street and RSSE racers Ian Jackson and Jeff Meads have been out again, Ian had to pedal for wheelspin but still clocked a very tidy 9.1769/164.26 and Jeff backed out of it early and ran 9.9168/101.41. Johnny Mac who popped up to say Hi tells us that Jeff is concentrating on launches today.

First run of the day for Craig Gibbs' Super Mod was a very nice 7.9233/169.20. Next up was a pair of roadsters, Dave Day and Martin Curbishley, Dave Day was set for Super Gas and clocked 9.7390/142.81 and Martin set for Super Comp ran 9.3916/150.53. Paula Atkin and Steve Bolton paired up in their Super Pro ET Ford 100E and Pro ET Plymouth Scamp respectively, Paula clocked a very nice 7.7351/174.28 and Steve pulled the wheels up in his usual manner and ran 9.6251/140.58. Fellow Pro ET racer Paul Thomas almost became a Super Pro ET racer with his latest run, 9.0009/147.46.

We have spots of rain in the air right now, but nothing serious, so we're on hold. Stay tuned.

12:00

Michael Malmgren just had his new GTO Pro Stock out on the start line for clearance checks, the car looks very nice indeed in the flesh, even better than in pictures. Kirstie Tramm who is sitting with me up here in Race Control pointed out that the car tapers noticeably at the back. Take a look for yourself if you are coming along next week.

Micke Kågered has made his first run as the owner of the Bahco Express Top Fueller, having previously rented the car from Knut Söderquist. The car sounded very strong indeed in the burnout, some consternation from the start line crew when he returned from the burnout but all OK. 0.5387 reaction time, lots of header flames, 0.9822 to sixty feet (looked quicker from here), 2.5941 to 330 feet although Micke was already off the throttle by then. 9.3471/85.42 at the stripe.

Next Pro racer to the line was FIA European Pro Modified Champion Urban Johansson. Sixty-foot burnout and then rolled forward before hitting the throttle, I am guessing that will have taken about half a second off his ET. Off the throttle at about 1100 feet, 7.2030/131.93.

Steve Venables' second run of the day on his SSB was a much improved 7.4530/193.20. Dave Smith ran a few pairings later, also into the sevens, 7.9421, eary shut-off betrayed by the speed of 150.91.

We got our first look at the new Sanity Assassin Firebird with Vince Gibbs at the wheel, his Brains Trust on the start line included Geof Hauser, Ray Eldred, John Everitt and (Sharkman you will be pleased to hear this) the one and only Bez. A very nice-looking car and Vince made a good account of it, 1.1500 to sixty feet, making a gentle move to the left but Vince was off the throttle anyway, I guess an observed launch, cruising through to 14.8260/61.88.

First runs of the day for John Tebenham (Comp Eliminator) at 10.1109/130.54 and Dave Day with the roadster in Super Comp trim, 9.0159/144.67. Jeff Meads was next up with a half pass, 12.2729.69.66 for the RSSE Pop. Zak Johnson and Joe Kellett paired up in their Junior Dragsters, 9.3597/68.09 for Zak to Joe's 9.1859/68.70.

A couple of Pro ET passes followed, Gino Bernadine's second run of the day netted him a 9.7509/136.35 and Paul Thomas also on his second run for today laid down a very nice 9.1650/147.80. A few pairings later David James clocked 9.2291/142.82.

A Happy Birthday for yesterday to Richard Henry of the Fireforce Jet FC team, Richard's partner Angie bought him a ride in the Two Seater Dragster as a present and Steve Warner has just driven Richard to a 7.9471/167.76.

Trackside conditions are 58.6 F, 65% humidity and 29.47 inches of air. Track temperature is 81.1 F.

11:15

Next out onto the track was Pro ET racer Lance Richards, a very solid 10.2464/130.73 and that was with a pedal at about 200 feet. Laurie Bamford followed on in his very pretty Pro ET Nova, a great wheelstand off the line and 10.7269/125.69 at the stripe.

Tim Garlick was next up with his second run of the day, watched by Rob Loaring of ICE Automotive from the grandstand. A little shake off the line which Tim drove through, the car really moved around for the first eighty feet or so but Tim stayed with it, 7.794/168.56.

Ray Comer was shut off for a fluid leak before his second pass of the day, fellow RSSE racer Ian Jackson was also shut off for fluid after his burnout. Another RSSE racer was next up, Jeff Meads in his Pop, and he shut off and was pushed back just before staging.

Nigel Holland's second pass of the day in his Sportsman ET Mustang was a 15.5411/89.05. Up to Pro ET and Steve Bolton clocked 9.7040/139.32 on his first pass of the day in his Plymouth Scamp.

Next in the AutoGlym lane was Tommy Leindahl in his Pro Stock. A nice eighty-foot burnout and then a very nice-looking pass, 1.0289 to sixty feet, 4.4670/157.37 at half track, off the throttle at about 1100 feet but still a very good 7.1690/159.03 at the stripe.

10:50

First on track this morning was Tim Garlick in his Super Mod. The Cortina hit bad shake off the line, Tim was off the throttle by sixty feet (1.2000) and rolled through to a 25.6761/23.98.

Next up was Junior Dragster rookie Becca West whose eleventh birthday it is today, 0.006 reaction time for her first-ever run was pretty good! Becca just made her second run of the day and clocked 15.9919/36.06 alongside Zak Johnson who recorded 9.4447/67.66 in his Junior Modified Dragster.

Ray Comer's first run of the day in his Real Steel Street Eliminator Camaro was a gentle 10.9073/127.42, the gear changes seemed a long time coming, I guess a checkout pass. Fellow RSSE racer Mark Perkins pulled a rolling burnout at the hit, 13.2363/109.17.

Pro ET racers Dave James and Paul Thomas clocked 9.546/141.90 and 9.7501/138.03 respectively. Next ET class down and Nigel Holland clocked 15.3080/88.94 in his Sportsman ET Mustang. Back to Pro ET and Gino Bernadine opened his account with a 9.9557/133.59, a much harder launch than last time I saw the pretty red Escort on-track.

Onto two wheels and Steve Venables clocked 8.4692/189.01 on his first run of the day on his Super Street Bike, the rear tyre spun up and smoked and Ven had to feather the throttle but when the tyre hooked up the bike was off and running and that's a big speed into this headwind. Next run was Dave Smith on his SSB, a good launch but then there was a bang and a puff of vapour, Dave feathered the throttle and then got off it, 11.8142/127.50.

Our first Pro racer of the day was Roger Johansson in his Mustang Pro Mod. A very smoky eighty-foot burnout and then 0.5140 reaction, pedalling for shake at about fifty feet and a sixty foot time of 1.0860, from here it sounded as if Roger either had trouble getting gears, that or else he had decided to go to the top of second gear but he was off the throttle before 300 feet and cruised through to a 7.9480/116.28.

Karsten Andersen and one of his Lucas Oil/Andersen Racing colleagues took his track recorder for a walk along both lanes a short while ago. This will be Andy Carter's first outing in the Andersens' dragster so I am guessing a launch or 330 foot pass will be the plan for the first run.

Trackside conditions are 59.2 F, 62% humidity and 29.44 inches of air. Track temperature is 77.1 F.

9:50

Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Racewat for our coverage of the pre-FIA Main Event Test Weekend brought to you in association with American Car Imports.

The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is on-line and broadcasting a picture every sixty seconds, and will stay on-line throughout the weekend until the track closes tomorrow evening. You can access the webcam via the Event Index page.

The pits are full enough for this weekend to be a race event in itself. The view into the pits from my perch in Race Control is a little obstructed by the new grandstand but at a glance I can see Micke Kågered's Top Fuel Dragster trailer - in fact Micke fired the car up a few moments ago - together with Mats Eriksson's Pro Mod, Dan Larsen's Top Methanol Funny Car, and Stefan Iwanowitsch's Supertwin. Most of the Pro racers are already in their berths for next week so they are behind the Cafe/Pod Shop block and I can't see them. But as I type Roger Johansson's Pro Mod crew are checking out the start line and Tommy Leindahl's crew were here a little while ago. On the Sportsman side I have already spotted Nigel Holland (Sportsman ET), Dave Smith and Steve Venables (Super Street Bike), John Tebenham (Comp Eliminator), Ray Comer and Jeff Meads (Real Steel Street Eliminator), and Gino Bernadine, Steve Bolton and Lance Richards (Pro ET). I must also say that the track looks pristine from here.

Weather-wise it's a little cloudy but the main feature of the weather is a very strong headwind. People who know about such things tell me that the wind is due to die down later on. We'll bring you the weather station's word on things very shortly as the base station and remote sensor have obviously had a tiff since they are not talking to one another right now.

The track has just opened, so stay tuned and as soon as the racers start to emerge we'll bring you all the news.