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

20:10

Today's pictures have now been posted and can be viewed via the Event Index. The gallery is caption-free and we will post mouseover captions later as we have yet to have anything to eat. If you do not see today's pictures on the gallery page then click on your Browser's Refresh button.

18:35

We're done for the day here at Santa Pod. News from the pits is that we have lost Wayne Nicholson from Pro Mod next weekend with a torched block and head, and we understand we may not see John Bradshaw either. No detail on that one yet save that "It doesn't look pretty".

The first to run since the last update was Steve Venables who had to ride out a big wheelie at 330 feet which robbed him of ET, 8.0287/182.83 at the stripe.

Next up was Martyn Jones with another shot at his first run in his new Super Pro ET rail. A nice burnout and then what I thought was going to be a launch but Syd stayed on it to half track, 5.0573/147.71, and 8.4540/120.26 at the finish.

Next up was Wendy Baker in the Time Warp Nostalgia Fuel FC. Some gesticulating before Wendy found reverse after the burnout, then Wendy just rolled the beams as she staged. Starter Bob Day put his foot in the beam and ran the lights, a twitch from the Mustang at 330 followed by a plainly visible trail of fluid told the tale. After a brief clean-up to remove the worst, involving torching a pool of oil in the shutdown area we went to single lane running.

Paul Wratten put in another launch in the Dirty Harry blown-alcohol altered, 1.0025 to sixty feet and then shutting off at about 330 feet. Paul won your reporter a sweepstake which should cover the Lamb Madras later on, thanks Paul.

Dave Wilson didn't get the tyres to light in the burnout on his second run of the day. The slicks promptly obliged on launch, spinning and smoking so much that the car almost came to a standstill.

Finally for today, Dan Williams clocked 10.3268/107.03 in his Pro ET Nova.

We are now working on today's pictures, stay tuned and we'll be back with those presently.

17:30

Teething problems for Björn Martensson (Fuel Altered) and Martyn Jones (Super Pro ET) on their first runs of the day. Björn couldn't get reverse after the burnout and had to drive down the track, and Martyn inadvertently triggered his electronic chute release on his return from the burnout depositing a drogue chute on the track. Martyn's very tidy new dragster is sat behind Race Control and he is suiting up as I type.

No such problems for Karl Harrison who put in a very nice half pass for his latest observed run in the Super Pro ET FC, 5.5756/126.65 at the eighth. Karl was followed by Bob Glassup who, if I correctly understood his crew's signals, bottled out and launched in second. A nice pass though, 8.086/153.15. Brendan Clancy was next in his Super Pro ET 'Vette with a superb 7.8585/175.73 following it up with a 7.8537/175.76. Steve Taylor has certainly got the hang of his Super Pro ET rail with a 7.6971/163.07.

Having now seen Jem Brittin's Super Street Camaro from the front, it certainly is not Paul Spiers' old car. Jem laid down a nice 11.3466/118.85 and then 10.9714/123.40 last time out. A great pass too for Steve Taylor in the Super Pro ET dragster, 7.6971/163.07. Mick Begley got oh so close to the sevens with an 8.0623/173.02 in his Skyline whilst Dave Day clocked 9.6848/142.92 in his roadster. Crew Spencer Tramm walked away shaking his head so I guess the car was meant to run 9.90. Next time out though Dave was in Super Comp trim and ran 8.9551/150.03, Spencer was a lot happier with that. Mick Howling got a bit closer than Dave to the SG index but still wrong side with a 9.8382/133.93 and Paul Marston was right side with an 8.9476/154.15 from the Super Comp rail. Belinda Bull clocked 7.7408/169.80 having lost the previous run to struck tyres. Rick Denny was again in the 11.2s with an 11.293/119.16 from the Pro ET Firebird.

On two wheels Dave Holland put down an excellent 7.1993/160.78 on his Funny Bike but at the expense of a pair of timing reflectors at the top end. Rene van den Berg followed the break and was on another nice pass but shut off just after half track for a 7.6779/135.63. Phil Pratt was again in the 9.5s at 9.5356 whilst in the other lane Ven again got a wobble on at the top end, shutting off early to an 8.0023/161.23 on his Super Street Bike. Garry Bowe was next for SSB with a fine 7.7667/177.77 and then before we knew it Phil Pratt was back with a 9.6233/123.13.

For the Juniors Matt Seamarks has run 9.5191/45.31 and 7.9628/81.78, Joe Kellett 8.9514/71.30 and 8.9506/71.06, and Josh Saunders 7.8301/92.56 and 8.0006/81.31.

16:10

Dan Williams was first out in the next session with a 9.8981/137.71 from his Pro ET Nova. Nigel Payne clocked a superb 7.6456/179.25 in his Super Mod 'Vette, no chutes but stopped OK. Matt Eley and Dave Day paired up for a Super Comp pairing, Matt clocking 10.9024/86.17 and Dave 9.3668/147.56. A short while ago Dave Day was back for another SC pairing with Paul Marston, or so we thought, Paul clocked 9.1635/149.01 with a pedal as the dragster made a move and Dave turned out to be set for Super Gas with a 9.9525/143.37. Tim Garlick answered Nigel Payne straight back with a superb 7.6540/173.72 from his Super Mod Cortina.

Roger Goring followed in the Firestorm Jet FC, the afterburner shrieking a little on the way to a 6.6527/227.74.

Mick Begley put in a nice pass in his Skyline, 8.3396/167.86. Next up was Rick Denny in his Pro ET Firebird, 11.2722/119.84 on top of an earlier 11.2895/119.56. Ray Tucker followed with a 9.4450/132.98 in his Street Eliminator 'Vette.

Chris Reed ran 8.3061/144.29 on his latest SSB pass, in the other lane the yellow Busa clocked 7.9357/179.19. Phil Pratt was next up on his 9.50 Bike with a 9.5324/122.02, in the other lane was Steve Venables whose SSB got a wobble on so he shut off to an 8.0341/155.15. Wayne Saunders' latest 9.50 Bike pass was a 10.1301/142.03, in the other lane Rich Stubbins clocked 8.8333/171.69. Steve Mead put down a very nice 7.9430/175.62 whilst Dave Buttery got close to the wall again on Stephen Moon's Outlaw Bike on his 10.1161/127.22. Mick Templeman put in an 8.5715/154.09 solo. Garry Bowe's latest pass was a 7.8220/177.71 alongside Ven's troubled 9.2079/109.58.

Josh Saunders and Joe Kellett paired up again in their Junior Dragsters, Josh there first this time 8.2075/80.44 to Joe's 8.8537/71.84.

Finally for this update Rene van den Berg clocked 7.9730/132.83. That was a nice looking pass to start with, 1.1364 to sixty feet then a feather of the throttle at half track and again in the second half. Very straight this time.

Trackside conditions are 15.8 C, 38% humidity and 30.03 inches of air.

15:00

Dave Wilson has made his first pass of the day in the Silverline Tools Top Methanol Dragster. 1.001 to sixty feet, a pedal for shake past the Tree, then the tyres started to smoke and Grumpy pedalled again, 6.1177/252.38 at the stripe. An interesting ride for Bob Glassup in the Xtreme Racing altered, a 45-degree wheelie then shake and the chutes deployed all in short order, Bob idled it to the end of the track. Next out for the NFAA was Tony Betts, the Venom 2 altered respelendent in a new colour scheme, 1.0172 to sixty feet and shut off before half track to 8.1844/105.29.

Rene van den Berg's Top Fuel Bike again headed for the guardrail on his second pass of the day, 1.1547 to sicty feet and shut off at about 330 feet. Fellow Netherlander Mike Olie got a time for the third time of asking, shut off very early and a 15.7513/42.64 for the very good-looking Funny Bike.

A couple of runs for Paul Marston Racing, the man himself clocking 8.4832/158.52 in the Ugly Stick Dragster whilst Mick Howling's second run in Grumpy's Dodge was a 9.9149/133.67. Stu Doignie continued the Super Gas form with a 9.9692/148.10 from the BMW whilst Dave Day had the roadster set for Super Comp and clocked 9.1048/148.05. Licence won for Joe Williams I'd say with a very nice 9.2855/124.56 from the Marina can although it got a bit lively at the top end. Rick Garrett's Super Pro ET Dodge Dart clocked 9.8340/142.11 and Jem Brittin 11.3773/118.30 in the Super Street Camaro.

Ray Tucker got a time on his second attempt in his Street Eliminator 'Vette, 9.5161/123.88 with an early shut-off. Josh Saunders' last couple of runs in his Junior Dragster were 7.9428/81.20 and 8.0556/80.84. John Bradshaw was next up, another great burnout and 7.8227/166.59, not quite such a long way round this time. Tim Garlick launched hard again in his Super Mod, 1.1484 to sixty feet and a very straight 7.7569/171.74. Karl Harrison was off the throttle at 330 feet on his second observed run in the Super Pro ET FC, 3.8729 to that point. Paul Wratten clocked 0.9451 to sixty feet on his first run in his blown-alcohl altered, driving through slight shake and shutting of at 330 feet, 11.6858/64.62 at the stripe. Word came back from the top end that the throttle cable came off.

Just before we went to post this update Wayne Nicholson appeared around the corner in the Lucky Devil Pro Mod. Another nice burnout then 1.0129 to sixty feet and 6.7275 at the stripe, the timing system showing 276.24 for the speed which implies that the finish line beam was triggered early and thus that the ET might not be right - I'll have a word with the timing crew to see what they think. There was a puff of smoke from the motor right on the finish line but nothing found on the track surface.

Steve Taylor made his first run of the day in the Black Magic rail, formerly the Mark Flavell Racing dragster. This was for the second time of asking since the dragster would not start earlier on. A nice controlled burnout and then a wheels up launch, 8.0280/138.16 shut off a little early.

On two wheels Kev Charman's second run of the day on his Funny Bike was an 8.4401/121.85, shut off early and sounding as if it were misfiring. Also in Funny Bike Dave Holland made his first pass of the day, 1.1054 to sixty feet and either the bike wouldn't change gear or Dave planned an early shut off anyway, 9.9174/82.72 at the stripe.

Garry Bowe's latest run on his Super Street Bike was 7.8477/179.83 alongside Steve Mead who clocked 8.1192/178.34. Steve Venables spun up the tyre on his latest pass, 8.6201/184.30 whiist in the other lane the mysterious 655 clocked 8.6442/173.58. Paul Hambidge and Rich Stubbins paired up, Paul clocking a troubled 10.3202/82.83 and Rich straight as you like to a 7.8913/175.70. Mick Templeman clocked 8.6493/158.99 alongside STG14 which ran 10.6403/127.95.

Phil Pratt got close to the 9.50 with a 9.4950/123.80 on his latest run whilst Wayne Saunders has made two runs since our last update, 9.9334/147.58 and 9.8812/146.13.

13:25

A couple of tremendous passes in the last few minutes. First up was Belinda Bull with her first full pass with the pick-up in Super Modified trim, wheels up and straight as you like to a 7.7263/170.44. The rest of the Super Modified guys have just been warned I think. A couple of pairings later John Bradshaw laid down another huge burnout and then 7.8062/170.98 in his Skyline and that was not straight so there's more to come there.

Roger Goring's first pass of the day in the Firestorm Jet FC was a 6.9336/188.92 with the afterburner shrieking and a lengthy...well, if it was a piston car we'd say that there was a lengthy pedal in the middle of the run.

Tim Garlick's first run of the day in his Cortina Super Mod was to about 330 feet, 1.1482. Nigel Payne's second run of the day came to nought as the tyres lit at the hit. Joe Williams made his second observed run in the Pro ET Marina van, 5.9668/117.44 at half track looking very comfortable. Also looking at home was Paul Marston in the Ugly Stick dragster, his first run of the day 9.0364/142.11. Jem Brittin's first pass today in the Super Street Camaro was a 12.0806/110.41, I'm thinking that that was Paul Spiers' old car. Adam Price put in a 13.2170/92.82 in his Wild Bunch altered, whilst in the other lane Mick Rogers laid down an 11.1137.124.76. A couple of Super Gas runs followed, Mick Howling opening today's account with a 9.9351/133.33 in Grumpy's Dodge whilst Stu Doignie's third run of the day was 9.9572/121.79.

It's great to see Brendan Clancy back out in his Super Pro 'Vette, repaired after a guardrail encounter last year. A couple of goes at a burnout and then a launch, 1/2702 to sixty feet. Rick Garrett started his day with a 10.0343/120.91 from his Super Pro ET Dodge Dart which looks just great in the sun. Rick Denny's latest run in his Firebird was an 11.3375/118.81, and inally for four wheels for this update Matt Seamarks put in a 7.8646/82.23 in his Junior Dragster.

Steve Venables was again into the sevens on his Super Street Bike, a 7.8995/186.40 his latest. Ven told us that he is having trouble getting used to the new clutch. In the other lane fellow SSB racer Garry Bowe clocked 9.6059/122.68. Paul Hambidge followed with an 8.5094/167.20 on his SSB whilst in the other lane Steve Mead ran 8.7474/122.40 shut off early. Next up were Rich Stubbins and Chris Reed on their SSBs, Rich smoking the rear tyre to a 9.3318/156.78 whilst Bois pulled a great 8.3708/165.36. Kev Charman started his day with a 9.2778/138.51 from his Funny Bike, I am guessing a no nitrous pass, in the other lane Dave Shorthose ran 11.3037/123.13 on his Supertwin ET bike.

Trackside conditions are 15.5 C, 42% humidity and 29.97 inches of air.

12:30

Karl Harrison has made his first observed pass in his Super Pro ET Funny Car, a very competent burnout then a launch and off the throttle at sixty feet. Also on observed runs is Joe Williams in the very today Marina van, a competent burnout and solid launch.

Steve Venables reached for the stars on the second run on his Super Street Bike, off the throttle to get it settled then back on, shut off just before the stripe, 8.1559/142.56. Also on two wheels, Dave Shorthose's latest pass on his Supertwin ET bike was 11.5812/116.40. Two Super Street Bikes were next up, Chris Reed clocking 8.7546/163.57 and Steve Mead 8.5451/165.41.

The mystery black Nova isn't Dan Williams as Dan has made his first run of the day and his Nova is black and white. A very nice pass by Dan, 9.7683/137.74. The black Nova, still unidentified then, clocked 11.6909/114.63 on its latest pass. Rick Denny's next run was 11.3624/118.58, and Dave Day had the Double Trouble roadster launching straight and true, a nice run in Super Comp trim, 8.8556/147.71.

Wayne Nicholson has a new blower on his Pro Mod, a nice burnout before his first pass then shake off the line but still a 1.1113 sixty foot time. A long pedal then back on it at about half track, the ET on the board was 4.714 courtesy of litter at the top end. Next up were Joe Kellett and Josh Saunders in their Junior Dragsters, Joe clocking a nice 0.0063 reaction time and 8.5252/74.11 to Josh's -0.0046 red light and 7.8769/81.70.

Garry Bowe's first run of the day on his Super Street Bike was 8.5069/158.51, in the other lane the mystery yellow Busa with no race number clocked an early shut off 8.2771/142.93. Dave Buttery was next up on Stephen Moon's Outlaw Bike, very close to the left guardrail all the way down, 10.0912/140.66. Les Harris has some nice new front bodywork on his Supertwin Gas bike, 10.0861/130.12 his first run of the day. In the other lane a Busa carrying the number 655 clocked 8.4978/165.98. Wayne Saunders' second run of the day on his 9.50 Bike was a 9.8052/146.74. Finally on two wheels for this update Rene van den Berg clocked 1.1352 to sixty feet on his Top Fuel Bike, then shut off as he got close to the left guardrail.

11:30

The traditional anonymous racer today is a Harley V-Rod which on its last pass clocked 9.7035/133.19. NAST Chair Les Harris himself doesn't know who it is so we feel slightly less bad about not naming him. We will find out the guy's name and get back to you. STG14 clocked 10.831/123.06 on his latest run, overseen by Les Harris' partner Lin who was audibly pleased with the pass.

Steve Venables has taken Low ET of the day so far with an off-the-trailer 7.8563/186.45 from his Super Street Bike (this is the 'new' bike). Ven has also taken a turn on daughter Jemma's 9.50 Bike, 11.0564/143.28. Also for 9.50 Bike Wayne Saunders' first run of the day was 10.2983/147.18 whilst Martin Walker clocked 11.138/130.17. Chris Reed's first run of the day on his lipstick-equipped Super Street Bike was a 9.6424/142.93. Supertwin ET racer Dave Shorthose's first run today was 12.6781/108.56. Rich Stubbins was straight into the sevens off the trailer too, 7.9825/181.35 for the Super Street Bike whilst Eurodragster.com sponsor Jamie Sneddon opened his account with an 8.8529/157.40. Finally for two wheels on this update Phil Pratt clocked 9.3336/147.09 on his 9.50 Bike.

On four wheels Belinda Bull made her first run of the year in her pick-up and her first ever pass in Super Modified trim. A superb launch, 1.1325 to sixty feet and then shut off. Also first-footing is Billy Gane in the former Banzai Cobra, now headed for Pro ET, hesitation off the line but still a nice 10.4287/133.52 and the straightest I have seen that Cobra run in a long while. Dave Day put in another launch and early shut-off in the Double Trouble roadster, 11.4255/141.09.

HKS Pro, Super Pro ET and Comp Eliminator racer John Bradshaw put in a huge burnout before his first run of the day, some trouble getting off the line but then picking up, shutting off after half track to 10.4927/98.41. Jon Giles, to whom thanks for the tea and T-Shirt, has made his first run of the day, from here it sounded as if the motor was misfiring but Jon hung on gamely for a 10.9491/118.37. Matt Eley, running in Super Comp this season, clocked 9.8307/137.70 on his first run of the day.

Next up was Super Modified Champion Nigel Payne. A nice burnout to about 100 feet then very careful staging, all for nought as the tyres struck off the line. A lengthy pedal then 10.0671/150.60. A tremendous 0.0067 reaction for Stuart Doignie on his second pass of the day, 9.8656/149.62. Finally for this update Matt Seamarks and Josh Saunders paired up in their Junior Dragsters, a big 7.6786/83.67 for Josh to Matt's 7.9147/73.63.

10:40

First racer to venture out onto the track was former Sportsman ET Champion and now Pro ET racer Rick Denny, a nice pass to start the day at 11.4915/116.39. Also on four wheels Mick Rogers has made three passes with his wild Cortina, apologies for missing the first one but the second and third runs were 10.9899/125.11 and 11.0021/124.41.

On two wheels Martin Walker and Phil Pratt paired up on their 9.50 Bikes, both having trouble finding grip on the cold track surface, 10.2788/125.42 for Martin to Phil's 10.4818/141.58. Phil came back for another go a few minutes ago and clocked 9.6578/123.51 shutting off just before the finish line. We have a Supertwin Gas racer here on observed runs, STG14 but no name yet, a nice burnout and then 11.7126/114.05.

An interesting pass for Josh Saunders in his Junior Dragster, sounding as if he shut off at about 400 feet but still 9.6946/54.73.

Next up was Stuart Doignie, great to see his Super Gas BMW back out there. 0.0433 reaction and a great pass of 9.9723/148.63. As we went to post this update Dave Day made his first run of the day in the Double Trouble Super Gas/Super Comp roadster, a nice launch then moving slightly left and shutting off at about 330 feet.

A very tidy-looking black Chevy Nova is making passes here, no race number but it is definitely a race car so I wonder if it isn't Dan Williams who is due to contest Pro ET here next week. Either way the car has clocked 11.922/108.85 and 11.7939/113.62.

Adam Price has made his first pass of the day in the Go Hard or Go Home Wild Bunch altered, shut off at half track, 19.4299/37.31.

Trackside conditions are 11.8 C, 67% humidity and 29.94 inches of air and now the sun is well and truly out. Stay tuned.

10:00

Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway for our coverage of the pre-Easter Thunderball test weekend presented in association with American Car Imports.

The Webster Race Engineering/Lex Joon Racing USA Tour 2009 webcam is on-line and broadcasting a picture every sixty seconds. You can access the webcam via the Event Index page.

The entry today is more than eighty cars and bikes most of which are race vehicles. We have a pretty wide spread from Top Methanol and Pro Modified through Super Pro ET and Pro ET to Comp Bike, Super Street Bike and 9.50 Bike.

The skies are currently grey, trackside conditions are 11.7 C, 71% humidity and 29.94 inches of air, but there are tiny patches of blue and the forecast is for brighter conditions and higher temperatures as the day goes on.

Stay tuned and when the racers start to run we'll bring you all the news.