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16:15

It all started so well and many racers had an opportunity to make some passes down the track. Unfortunately after lunch it started to rain. Before the deluge of the wet stuff I got to speak with some racers in the pits.

I caught up with racer Adrian Wigley who competes in Sportsman VW. He informs us that he is here purely for consistency and startline proceedure.

"This will be my first full year in Sportsman VW, I've competed at Shakespeare County and Santa Pod in previous years" Last year Adrian competed in just three rounds, two of them at Santa Pod. He also informs us he is a previous winner of the Eurodragster perfect ET award which he actually ran to four decimal places. Adrian's car is not hard to miss, he drives a yellow Skoda Octavia."I might upgrade to a Golf later in the year" he continues, "But we will see how things go".

I spotted Lee Cohen with his very tidy Ford Pop which runs in Outlaw Anglia sitting in the pits. Lee tells me the car has had a massive upgrade over the winter months by Chris Isaacs and this weekend he is here to see if the car can run a 10. The ever busy Chris Isaacs is also here to lend a hand this weekend and Lee would also like to mention his other crew members, Stuart Lowes, Nick Bruce, Martin Davidson and his two daughters Kayleigh and Rebecca. Major upgrades include a blown 363 small block chevy which runs on methanol, a front mounted fuel tank and wheelie bars. The car is called The Devil after former racer Keith Potter hence the race number 666. Lee says he will be competeing in Super pro ET at Easter under this number too. New for 2008, Lee is pleased to announce a new sponsor, Prolong.

Mark Slade who runs in 9:50 bike tells me he is running all ACU meetings this year funds permitting. Last year he entered Straightliners events. He hopes to break into the nines at some stage this weekend for the first time ever with a 10.1 at 145mph being his personal best to date. This season he will be sporting a longer wheelbase and a lock up clutch. He is sponsored by Jennifer Slade Photography which you can find at jenslade.com.

Eurodragster.com sponsor, Pete Walters is looking forward to sitting in the hot seat in his Donovan small block powered rail. "I can't wait, really looking forward to next weekend "he tells me. Pete's father, Richard will take the drivers seat to make sure all is well before Pete takes control. Pete has previously run in Junior dragster for six years, 2007 being his last. The team fired it up in the pits earlier on today at which Pete describes as a "really good feeling". The engine is a Donovan 320 small block chevy previously owned by Clayton Round's brother and in the past has run a 7.70 also in a rail called Rebellion, although Pete's rail is heavier so hopes to run eights in the future.

I caught up with an elated Jon Giles who drives the big block chevy Willys, previously owned by Kev Moore, in the pits after his second run of the day. "I absolutely love it! I knew I'd like it but not to this level" he says. After a small trans leak at the RWYB in Febuary he is here to complete his licensing runs. "I need to run a 10.40, launch it and pull the chute today as it gets busy at Easter. I thought I'd get it out of the way" he goes on to say how well the car is handling "It's running really well, I can't complain at all". Jon notes that the rather distinctive tall rear wing might be chopped down in size in the future too. One final snippet is that Jon would like to say a big hello to Super gas racer Tim Adam. Tim is havinga sabbatical this year due to becoming a dad to Lucy Violet.

Carla Pittau and Rick McCann are chasing an electrical problem in their newly acquired '84 Camaro. The car has been purchased from a friend in California and was previously a super stock car. The engine is the spare which they have been using as a back up should their first engine expire which is a 383 cu in small block Chevy. Carla adds "We won't have the privilege now!" and adds that they are to run both cars in Pro ET and will both share the driving duties. Carla will be driving the '84 Camaro at the Thunderball, hence she is in the driving seat this weekend.

Wayne Saunders and son Josh are here this weekend testing with their colour coordinated team rides. Josh is testing his newly acquired junior modified dragster which has only just been imported from the 'States. His personal best is a 9.19 over the eighth so far with an index of 8.90. "Josh is right where he needs to be and the car is running really consistently". Wouldn't you say a chip off the old block? Wayne tells us that he will also be on duty in 9.50 Bike this year with his 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa. "The bike itself is awesome" he says. With a personal best so far of a 10.58 and only four runs under his belt there is room for improvement. Wayne informs us the bike has a stock wheelbase and factory fitted tyres with the only modification being that the bike has been lowered.