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19:30

Today's pictures have now been posted; you can access the caption-free gallery via the Event Index page. There are sixty pictures in all, so if you don't see all sixty thumbnails when you load the gallery page then click on your Browser's Refresh button.

So now we go into racing; qualifying starts to 9:00 tomorrow so tune back in the morning and we'll bring you all the news.

17:40

Kristian Nyström followed Fred Hanssen in the Chevy Pro Mod. Instant shake at the hit then tyre smoke, 1.164 to sixty feet then a hard right turn and off the throttle, 15.409/79.81. Next up was Patrick Wikström, 250 foot burnout and then 1.007 sixty foot, 4.009/184.91 to half track and 6.120/233.75 at the stripe. More Personal Bests and one hundredth off the European record, well done Patrick!

Next up was a final observed run for Per Håkon Troa in the Islanders Top Methanol FC. A 200-foot burnout then a tiny roll of the beams, 1.016 to sixty feet and 4.048/167.85 at half track by which time the Firebird was getting very close to the guardrail. Per Håkon shut off at about 900 feet and put the chutes out then guided the car away.

Two Pro Stocks to end the day. Last but one was Michael Malmgren with a full pass this time. 0.098 RT, 1.003 to sixty feet, 4.379/159.50 at half track and 6.827/201.42 at the stripe. A tiny bit of shake past the Tree and towards 200 feet but Michael just drove through it.

Richard Sundblom closed out the day. The first burnout sounded a bit odd, as if Richard was changing through all the gears very rapidly and then the motor stopped. A bit of a backfire on the re-start but then a nice burnout out to about 120 feet. Richard then shut off when he got back to the start line.

Tommy Rostgaard didn't make it for his final Top Fuel Dragster licencing pass, where this leaves him for the weekend - since officially you can't licence at an FIA event - we don't yet know but Tommy is due to have a word with Race Director Darren Prentice in a short while.

We are now going to put together today's pictures, give us a couple of hours and we'll have those for you.

17:15

A new Personal Best for Martyn Jones with his first full pass in the Small Fortune Super Pro ET dragster, 7.083/185.72 and that was with shake, far from straight, and looked like a cylinder or two out. Nice one Syd!

Graham Ellis was next round the corner on the Superbird Pro Mod. 1.104 to sixty feet then bad shake and a pedal, on and off the throttle and 7.033/207.07 at the finish.

Having changed the transmission of his Super Gas Willys Jon Giles put in his third run of the day. A bedding-in pass I'd say, 10.157/127.94. Dave Day followed with his roadster set for Super Gas, 0.089 RT and then off the throttle at sixty feet and pulled over to the side of the track. Final observed run for Collin Morrice next, 0.026 RT and 8.608/154.15, a little under the Super Comp index but chute out and licence gained I'd say. Nick Griffin followed, similar to the last run, 10.733/123.06 for the Super Street Chevelle. Roy Walker next to the line in the very pretty Pro ET Cortina, 10.929/122.70. Last pass of the day for Wouter van Leersum was 0.003 RT and 9.320/144.88.

Shake for Mats Eriksson in the Green Goblin Pro Mod, 0.087 RT and 1.032 sixty foot, off the throttle at about eighty feet, 13.368/60.28 at the stripe and I would imaine double vision. Tommy Leindahl next in the Nitro Fish Pro Stock, 1.003 to sixty feet and then a groaning noise from the transmission but Tommy stayed with it, 4.506/156.21 at half track and shutting off and chutes out just before the stripe, 7.072/178.45.

Fred Hanssen is getting his money's worth in the Islanders TMD and must be having the time of his life. His last run of the day was a storming 5.430/261.12. Two goes at staging as he rolled the beams bringing the revs up but calmly reversed and tried again. Then the quickest TMD sixty foot I think I have ever seen, 0.918, 3.569 at a huge 211.01 at half track. What a superb run, eight thousandths off the European ET record, well done Fred!

We have a couple of Pro Mods and a Top Fueller yet to run, stay tuned.

16:50

Pat Talbot's third run of the day in her Super Pro ET Dragster was 7.963/164.17 with a great 0.011 reaction. Again a huge cloud of smoke in the shutdown area. Fellow Super Pro ET racer Jack Brewster followed with an 8.609/159.54 from the Just Mustard Firebird. Big breakout for Nick Griffin in the Super Street Chevelle, 10.724/122.43. Back to Super Pro ET and Nick Good took the keys of his Super Pro ET dragster back from Simon Rowland and clocked 7.109/184.33. David James next up, again for Super Pro ET, 0.030 RT and 9.130/146.68 at the stripe. Dave Day followed, Super Gas trim again; 0.055 RT and 9.972/144.84. Back again to Super Pro ET, Bob Doyle

Dan Larsen's latest run in the Top Methanol FC was another one of those passes which looked quicker. Very little shake this time, 1.113 to sixty feet, 4.102/188.00 at the eighth and 6.211/231.27. The FC seems to be runing out of grunt in the middle third. Rolf Amman followed Dan round. A much straighter pass, 1.083 to sixty feet, 4.394/161.89 at the eighth and 6.808/206.26 but then no chutes and what looked from here like a handbrake turn at the end of the track.

Another Pro Mod next, Roger Johansson and his amazing yodelling back-up guy. 1.057 to sixty feet, something came off the car at about 100 feet which starter Rich told us was a bit of carbon, spill plate or similar. 4.283/171.65 at half track and a flash of flame on the finish line, 6.549/216.88.

Due up next was Ian Carruthers on Dave Nerbery's Top Fuel Bike, the motor started but then Rush shut it off, not clear from here what the problem was.

Jimmy Ålund's second run of the day in the Klintberg and Way Pro Stock was quicker and faster than the existing European records. A superb 0.008 RT, 0.985 to sixty feet, 4.338/161.81 at the eighth and a cracking 6.743/206.02 at the stripe. Well done Jimmy!

16:15

OK so Paul Ingar Udtian wasn't next up but Dave Day with the roadster in Super Gas trim. 0.076 RT and 9.945/146.23 at the stripe, looking good.

Then it was Paul Ingar Udtian's turn. A very nice pass: left as if shot from a catapult, 0.955 to sixty feet, 3.684/202.49 at the eighth and 5.625/249.61 at the finish.

A first appearance of the day for Chris Hannam on his Supertwin, a planned half pass with a new clutch. 1.265 to sixty feet, blackstriping to 4.816/159.07 at half track and then shut off, 7.832/135.72.

16:00

0.037 RT and 9.345/143.84 for Super Comp racer Wouter van Leersum on his latest pass.

Next up was Richard Sundblom in the Cobalt Motorsport Pro Stock. Not the straightest burnout I've ever seen. Richard shut off for a moment after the burnout but then fired it back up and came back to the start line. Very bad shake at the hit, shut off almost immediately and rolled through, 23.630/20.57.

Peter Schöfer followed in the Bavarian Thunder Top Methanol Dragster. A great pass it was too, 0.925 to sixty feet, normal Top Methanol shake, 3.666/204.01 at the eighth and 5.597/251.85 at the stripe. Top Methanol Dragster is shaping up to be Class of the Weekend at this rate.

Looks like Paul Ingar Udtian is next up.

15:45

We think a bit of a sandbagging job for Michael Malmgren in the Lahega Pro Stock, an absolutely superb run before shutting it off and putting the chutes out early. 1.034 to sixty feet, very clean gear changes, 4.401/160.08 at half track and 6.852/198.86 at the stripe with the chutes already out.

Collin Morrice followed with another checkout pass in the Super Comp Camaro, 9.116/108.82 shut off after half track.

Danny Bellio next around the corner in his Top Methanol FC. A superb pass, 0.970 to sixty feet, driving through shake, 3.911/188.77 at the eighth and then very close to the guardrail at the top end, but a nice 5.971/234.87. Word came from the top end that the front wheels got into a serious judder but Danny had it covered.

The first run of the day for Dave Wilson in the Silverline Tools injected-nitro Top Methanol Dragster was preceded by a very nice 100-foot burnout, Grumpy eventually rolled to a halt in the middle of the eighth-mile time trap. Nice launch, 1.029 to sixty feet, 3.888/208.08 at the eighth and shut off at about 900 feet, 6.106/177.14 at the end.

A quick turn-round for Patrick Wikström in the Thriller Pro Mod. Looking like a good bet for the weekend, 1.000 to sixty feet, there are shake marks on the track but Patrick had it well under control, 4.012/185.64 at the eighth and 6.131/231.36 at the stripe. Both PBs blown away again, well done Patrick!

15:25

A good first run of the day for Collin Morrice in the Morrice Boys Camaro, 1.1884 to sixty feet and then shut off at about half track, 11.199/72.51 at the stripe.

Rolf Amman the next Pro to run in the Blown Nugget Pro Mod. Quite a short burnout then 1.083 to sixty feet, shake about 200 feet out and the Coupe turned hard left and went up on two wheels. A shout of "Get away from my sponges!" from timekeeper Sharon next door and I guess Rolf heard her as he did a great job to get the car down and straight. 9.312/94.66 at the stripe.

Next up was Paul Foote in the Super Gas pick-up, 11.261/119.51 and again sounding as if the power wasn't quite there. Jack Brewster followed in the Super Pro ET Firebird, 8.704/157.86. Another familiarisation pass for Simon Rowland in Nick Good's Super Pro ET dragster, a superb 7.029/185.08 to blow away his Personal Best, well done Simon! Next up was a car we have been waiting to see, Simon Cooper's blown-alcohol Nova. Gentle launch, on the throttle to 300 feet, 15.617/60.90. Nick Griffin clocked 10.804/121.76 in his Super Street Chevelle. Dave James made his first run of the day in his Super Pro ET Chevelle, nice wheelie and 9.320/146.62. Bob Doyle's second run of the day in his Super Pro ET Datsun was 10.6176/128.27 followed by Dave Day with the roadster in Super Comp trim, 8.901/149.65 and crew Spencer Tramm very happy with that one.

Another go for Harald Sturhan in the Mercedes Pro Stock, the first time we have seen this car at Santa Pod. 0.061 RT and a big wheelie, 1.085 to sixty feet and headed hard left but stayed on the throttle and pulled it straight only to head for the right guardrail so Harald got off the throttle, 8.970/111.95.

Mats Eriksson next in the Green Goblin Pro Mod. The dreaded shake a few feet off the line and Mats shut off, 15.216/66.33. Patrik Wikström next for the Pro Mods, staged left of the groove and instant tyre spin, 19.333/69.81.

Tommy Leindahl opened his Pro Stock account with the best burnout of the day so far. 0.040 RT, 1.027 to sixty feet, 4.594/151.02 at the eighth and 7.205/177.83 at the stripe, looked quicker than that from here. Particularly straight pass too.

Tommy's Best Burnout award didn't last more than a couple of minutes as Graham Ellis trumped him with a superb smoker from the Superbird Pro Mod, which I am convinced Graham deliberately stayed on until he got to the last photographer, Ed out at 200 feet. 1.035 to sixty feet, a pedal for shake, 4.322/172.96 at the eighth and 6.534/226.65 at the big end, Robin Jackson tells us that that was a Personal Best speed for Graham, well done Blakey! The Pro Mods just keep on coming, Bruno Bader next with the Gotham City 'Vette. A superb pass for Bruno, 1.015 with a squeeze of the pedal for shake, 4.118/179.76 at the eighth and moving about the lane but staying with it, off the throttle and chutes out just before the line, 6.344/201.53. Nice one Bruno!

14:50

Track checked and clear, Dave Day and Wouter van Leersum matched up for a Super Comp encounter. Wouter away first 0.014 to 0.063 but Dave to the strip first 8.921/151.02 to Wouter's shut off 10.236/95.58. Roy Walker next in the Pro ET Cortina, 11.429/125.14.

Jimmy Ålund then made his first pass of the day in the Klintberg and Way Pro Stock. 100-foot burnout then -0.0009 RT, 0.995 sixty feet, shut off just about at half track at 4.392/158.59 and 7.482/126.30 at the stripe.

Roger Johansson next up in his 870 ci Pro Mod, the usual nice burnout and our friend below us yelling his head off on back up. Then 1.0155 to sixty feet and bad shake as the rear tyres passed the Tree, the Mustang turned hard left and Roger shut off, 12.709/82.43.

Pat Talbot's second run of the day in the Talbot Racing Super Pro ET dragster was an 8.039/163.55, huge cloud of smoke in the shutdown area and word came from the top end to hold the next car whilst the track was checked.

All found to be OK so the word given to fire the next one. From here it looked as if Harald Sturhan's Mercedes Pro Stock was next but then Harald climbed out of the car so Kristian Nyström fired up his blown-alcohol Pro Mod. Instant shake and a long pedal, another stab and then shut off, 15.882/53.27.

14:35

The cars and bikes keep coming, quite a queue built up during the rain delay. Fred Hanssen next up in the Islanders Top Methanol Dragster. 0.066 RT, 0.944 to sixty feet, 3.639 at a huge 207.15 at half track and 5.523/259.50 at the stripe, another little drift to the right in the shutdown area but Fred had it covered.

Clutch fixed, Christian Jager put in his second run of the day on the Funny Bike. Great burnout but then a hesitant launch and sounded as if there was a misfire. 5.480/132.58 at the eighth and 8.487/153.16 at the quarter. Lorenz Stäuble followed on his Supertwin, didn't sound at all right as the motor was popping and banging even by Fuel motor standards. Lo shut off before burning out.

Another go for Tommy Rostgaard in the Top Fueller. The car sounded much better on start-up this time. Short burnout with heat doubtless still in the clutch. More work by Stig on the idle as the car backed up but again it sounded better than the last couple of runs. In stage and Stig looked to want to go to the motor again but then he jumped the guardrail and ducked down behind it...what did he know that we didn't? Gentle launch, 1.016 to sixty feet, lots of clutch dust, then shut off at about 250 feet and a cloud of smoke from the motor. 8.594/89.44 at the stripe. Word came from the top end that the back of the motor and the rear axle were coated in oil so the crew checked the track. Word then came that the source of the oil was the catch can.

14:15

Another great job by the track crew to dry what was a very wet track. When the rain came, all of the Pro cars which were in the pairing lanes were put in the garage (formerly the barn) and it was a great sight.

Peter Schöfer first to emerge on the re-start, a 200-foot burnout and this run planned for a launch...well, that's what we understood anyway. 0.952 to sixty feet, driving through the usual Top Methanol shake, 3.7795/198.73 at the eighth and then shut off and the chutes out at about 1000 feet, 5.917/195.35. Nice run!

Dan Larsen next to the line in his Top Methanol FC. 1.045 to sixty feet, 4.079/187.17 at the eighth and 6.181/233.74 at the stripe. To be honest the run looked quicker than that and we were all surprised when the ET came up.

Tommy Rostgaard's second stab at an observed half pass was more or less the same as the first. Stig Neergaard again kept a close eye on the idle after starting up and was working on it as the Fueller backed up from a very nice burnout. The motor sounded as if it were going to lean out at one point, all OK after that but then as Tommy was in full stage Stig walked up to the motor - rather him than me with a Top Fueller in stage! - and pulled the fuel line from the injector to shut it off. Tommy was pushed back to the garage.

Per Håkon Troa next up in the Islanders Top Methanol FC. Nice burnout then 1.067 to sixty feet, a pedal as the car got out of shape, back on the throttle and 4.322/168.46 at half track. Then the car made a hard move to the left and took out the 990 foot reflector and Per Håkon shut off. 6.829/169.79 at the stripe.

12:25

Nick Good's Super Pro ET dragster was next around the corner, but Nick was out front so who was driving? We dispatched Nigel Turner to find out and the answer was Simon Rowland. Nick told us that if all goes OK Simon will be driving the car at the next race. A nice pass too, 1.0559 to sixty feet and shut off at about 900 feet, 7.633/124.39. First run of the day for Super Pro ET racer Bob Doyle was a 10.737/126.51, first pass with his spare motor.

It has just started to rain again, stay tuned.

12:15

Rain done and dusted and the track cleared, a nice baseline pass for Pat Talbot in the Talbot Racing Super Pro ET dragster, 8.191/160.11. Great to see our good buddy and Talbot Racing team member Sharkman looking healthy and happy, when he came running around the corner I thought someone had dropped a tenner. Nick Griffin followed with a nice 10.973/121.08 from the Super Street Chevelle, a few pedals off the start line and nice and close to index.

A launch for Michael Malmgren's first pass of the day in the Lahega Pro Stock. 0.0861 RT, 1.035 to sixty feet then the car drifted to the left, Michael wrenched it straight then shut off at about 300 feet. 9.959/85.37 at the stripe.

Next round the corner was Paul Ingar Udtian in the Islanders Top Methanol Dragster. Paul was reportedly heartsick at rolling the beams yesterday, no such problems today with 0.072 RT, 0.9564 to sixty feet, a brief pedal for shake at 300 feet, 3.805/196.04 at half track and 5.805/180.57 at the top end.

8.998/149.61 for Dave Day in his next pass with the roadster in Super Comp trim. We then got our first look at Roy Walker's Pro ET Cortina, and what a beautiful piece of work it is - on a par with Chris Isaac's Standard Vanguard for classic looks. 11.473/122.14 for his first pass of the day.

11:15

Another gentle run from Jon Giles in his Willys Super Gasser, 11.026/129.04. Next round the corner was Jack Brewster in his Super Pro ET Camaro. A nice pass, 8.506/159.58. Immediately behind Jack was Dave Day in the roadster, big wheelie at the hit and 8.913/150.62 at the stripe. Paul Foote next up in the Super Has pick-up, a gentle launch then squeezing in the power and the pick-up started to move around and Paul shut off, 15.299/58.66. Regular test day attendee Nick Griffin next in Super Street Chevelle, 11.047/120.11.

We were very interested to see what Patrick Wikström would do after yesterday's great pass as with the shake and the car moving around the lane there was obviously more left in the Thriller Camaro. A 150-foot burnout then 0.984 to sixty feet, driving through shake and a drift to the left, 4.109/179.00 at the eighth and 6.279/227.96.

We're now on hold for a shower.

10:55

First run of the day for Super Pro ET racer Nick Good was a very nice 6.989/185.01 with a very rapid 1.040 sixty foot time. Dave Day followed with the Double Trouble roadster, scrubbing in some new tires first time out, 9.496/144.36.

Danny Bellio was next up in his Top Methanol FC. A nice 300-foot burnout and then 1.111 to sixty feet with the rear tyres blackstriping, then shake at about 80 feet and then the car made a hard move to the left and Danny got off the throttle, 10.116/84.42.

10:45

No go for Tommy Rostgaard's first run, which would have been his second TF observed run. A fair bit of adjustment to the idle speed after firing up, then a very well-controlled burnout. Some consternation around the motor from Stig Neergaard as the car returned from the burnout and more adjustments to the idle. As Tommy put the second fuel pump on there was a bang and a flash of flame and the motor stopped almost dead. The car is being taken back to the pits.

10:30

A weird noise from Wouter van Leersum's Nova on his first run of the day - a nice burnout and then what can only be described as a honk and the engine stopped. Fired up immediately again though, then 0.0278 RT and 9.2922/144.30 so I guess the car was in Super Comp trim.

Next up is Tommy Rostgaard with a Top Fuel Dragster observed run.

10:15

First on track this morning was Christian Jager whose Black Seven Funny Bike is running in FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike this weekend. A long warm-up of the motor and then sounded like a transmission problem, off the throttle by about 100 feet, 14.157/51.75. It transpired that Christian now has one clutch plate made up of all the others stuck together.

Next up was Jon Giles in the Roar Willys, looked like a planned checkout pass, 11.679/126.88. Fellow SG racer Paul Foot followed, a nice burnout and then shut off very early, no time on the boards.

First Pro to the line was Roger Johansson in his nitrous Pro Mod. We knew it was Roger without looking because we could hear his crew guy yelling to him over the radio as he backed up from his burnout. Roger shut the motor off as he pulled forward to stage and he was pushed back.

9:00

Good morning from Santa Pod Raceway for our coverage of today's Pro Peak Performance Day brought to you in association with American Car Imports.

The Webster Race Engineering/Lex Joon Racing USA Tour 2009 webcam is on-line and posting a picture every sixty seconds.

It's a nice day here at Santa Pod. There wasn't a cloud in the sky at the start of the morning; it has clouded over a little now but the sun is breaking through on a regular basis. Trackside conditions are currently 17.5 C, 57% humidity and 29.56 inches of air.

Some twenty five racers in various classes are pre-entered for today's test and we know that a number of others are planning to enter this morning. The track will be up and running some time between 9:30 and 10:00 so stay tuned and as soon as the wheels start turning we will bring you all the news.