Top Methanol dragster racer Dennis Habermann has the benefit of an Alan Johnson block which is 7.5 kilos lighter and larger capacity than the old piece (471cu in compared with 433cu in). Team principal Werner Habermann said that Dennis's old engine is now in 2009 FIA Champion Timo's car and Timo's last year engine is now a spare. "We want to run 5.2s this year and it will be good to have some backup."

VW Sportsman racer Sam Young (right) drove the electric motored Black Current Beetle to a best of 12.2 which is a new record outside the US. Sam said "This is the third evolution of our electronic Beetle. The first was six years ago with a milk float engine." The latest version has twin DC motors from a fork lift truck, coupled together with a Gearvendor overdrive unit. Sam's brother Olly designed the car and said "there are 60 12 volt batteries pushing out 380 volts and 2000amps DC." The run came after a series of low 14s indicating the Hungerford-based car can be very consistent. The batteries take 35-40 minutes to recharge from a 13 amp socket. The chassis and body are by Jim Smith from Cotsweld.

Top Methanol dragster racer Eskvo Raisvuo had difficulties getting off the start line "We worked on the car to get it off the startline better as it was leaving lazy. But now we will have to use the tricks available to us to calm it down and reduce the startline power again. We will run the whole tour if possible. My business of motorcycle sales is slow and the spring is slow to arrive in Finland."

Fuel Funny Car racer Gordon Smith was pleased with a 5.47/246, clicked off at 1000ft. "That was down to both the crew chief who gave me a soft tune-up that we needed and me driving it down the track. Dave (Bryant) took out mag, timing, fuel and clutch. We knew if we could get to half track and all the clutch came in it would do a good time. On a full pass it would have been 270-280mph. We won't change a lot because we want to be consistent and hopefully that will get us a result."

Wild Bunch racer Chris Hartnell is now running a canopy in matching candy apple red. "The canopy was an early 50th birthday present. Driving the car with it is noisier for me because the engine reverberates in it." The candy apple paint was applied by Jay Staynings.

Wild Bunch racer Adam Price has had parts attrition at the start of the season. "We did the box and a head gasket at the test last weekend and had the gearbox rebuilt at the start of the week. The car was back together by Thursday. This morning the car was great in the burnout and then went lumpy. We pulled the head off and found a valve had snapped and a pushrod bent. We will go back home near Stansted Airport to get replacement parts and then have a head rebuild overnight. Team Gridlock is living up to its motto 'Go Hard or Go Home' already."

Super Comp racer Paul Spiers has moved up by acquiring Mark O'Halloran's old fibreglass Camaro body and chassis and then getting the whole car completely reworked at an estimated cost of �35,000-�40,000. "We had Mark Ramplee at Electromec do the chassis work to get the car tagged to 7.5, then fitted new bonnet, wing and headers. Andy Robinson Race Cars then baselined the tuning and we bought parts from Jon Webster and from our trip to the US. We will get used to the car this year and compete next year, starting in Super Comp then double entering. It is still being worked on - we are back to ARRC for door work on Thursday and then need to work on the suspension and paint." Paul's team is wife Sue, daughter and boyfriend and Mick from

Pro ET racer Paul Brown is in his first competitive race in his 21st year. He came to spectate with his dad and then crewed with Mark Fairhurst, then spending a year with Rob Turner's team on the European tour. Last October he bought a dragster that has seen service in the hands of Mark Flavell, Derek Flynn and Nick Good. Paul said "It's a nice car. I started my licensing a month ago at a rwyb then got it signed off last Sunday. Now I am no.1 qualifier being two thousandths off my dial in." The car was a turnkey purchase and support comes from Paul's parents who run Clapham Classic Events (car shows in the Bedford area), Paul's friend Lee and Mark Fairhurst.

Super Mod racer Rob Smallworth has had work done on the engine by ICE Automotive. "We got the block back on Tuesday after being dynoed at the weekend and being re-rodded. We then bought the car up without the heads on for tech inspection and have spent today reassembling the heads. I'm really pleased with the improved torque of the engine and will try for a low 7.6 or even a 7.5 soon. We have a mild steel chassis which cannot be tagged lower than 7.5, so that is the cut-off point for us."

Super Mod racer Belinda Bull and husband Jeff sponsor Eurodragster.com and as well as the motor building business, they have had a successful 2009 in Super Mod. "At the end of the season, we had our heads round it and during the winter made changes to the fuel system. The car went really well today and I ran my best 60ft time of 1.07 and ran quick even though it stepped to the left and caaught me by surprise."

Brothers Paul and Steve Coombs have been in 9.50 Bike for several years. Paul had a rod exit the block at SCR last year and decided on a new bike "as it was cheaper than a replacement engine". It's the orange Suzuki GSXR K4, on which Paul has lowered the front, extended the back and fitted a launch controller and lockup clutch. The engine is as it came with just testing so far. Steve has replaced the bodywork on his GSXR1100M with one from a GSXR1000. Steve's bike has a swing arm rear and the engine is normally aspirated. Steve said "I have had three championship runner up spots and will go for it again this year. His best time is 9.39 with a larger engine in the workshop if needed.

Super Street Bike racer Nigel Barker had some pre-season problems with the bike which precluded a visit to last Saturday's testing. "Thanks to Brad, Grumpy and Rob for getting it sorted; I will start with a gentle pass and then turn it up." Nigel bought the bike last year and has run a best of 7.91 although previously it ran a 7.5 in the hands of Brad O'Connor.

Super Street Bike racer Dave Holland has returned to the class he won the 1997 and 1998 championships in. "I was in Funny Bike since 2000. These days Super Street Bikes have about as much power as Funny Bikes and are more of a challenge off the start line. The class is in a totally different league to ten years ago. Then we were running nitrous, the engines were putting out 300hp and my best time was 8.56. Now we have turbos, engines are making 500hp and times are mid-sevens. Dave is supported by Crescent Suzuki.

9.50 Bike racers Peter Austin and son Michael both have street-legal Kawasaki bikes. 19 year old Michael has a ZX-10 which our webcam captured as he exited it at the end of last season. Undeterred, Michael is back on his ex-Super Stock circuit bike (left) which has been lowered and all electrics moved to the front to help weight distribution. The engine produces 173hp, good in theory for a 9.2. Peter's bike produces 175hp but is 75kg heavier; this has a swing arm and nitrous bolted on.

Funny Bike racer Mike Olie from Amsterdam is at his second Thunderball. His best ET is 8.3 at 170mph and Dutch bike builder Jan Smit fabricated the GSX1100 and is helping on the team and sponsoring it. Other sponsors are Eurol and VDB Works. The engine is 1425cc with MTC clutch and Birg Warner turbo.

Super Street Bike racer Joroen van den Belt is teamed with Mike Olie. Joroen's bike is a Yamaha XJR 1200 with Turbocharger, fuel injection and KMS motor management system. It has a water based charge cooler and water injection and produces 400hp. Without fairing and with subtle touches in body and suspension preparation, the bike looks a lot more stock than others in the class, but in fact is all modified. Joroen's best time to date is 8.5 in the Czech Republic.

Funny Bike racer Christian Jager has undertaken an engine rebuild but no major new parts. Performance target this year is to run a six - the German Funny Bike record stands at 7.28. He said "We are testing here in advance of running the UEM Funny Bike Cup which has its first round at Kumundaras in May and is proposed for rounds at the Main Event and Euro Finals.

Pro Stock Bike racer and Eurodragster blogger Dave Beck, pictured with Ric Naylor is looking to run tomorrow (Sunday). "The bike was fine through scrutineering and looks good. A lot of the running gear is off the old bike which went out on a high, setting records and winning its last event." Support comes from TVR and Stephen. "Thanks to Stephen and also to Tom and Rick." Dave's schedule is to run both SPR rounds, Sweden and Norway.

Super Pro ET racer Nigel Turner ran an 8.68 on his initial pass after an eighteen month layoff. "The only change is new tyres so I had to do a big burnout. The car runs a normally aspirated 406 cu in engine on methanol. Nigel said "I prefer being in my race car to crewing but there was not a lot of grip on the start line as it was so cold earlier."

Pro Modified racer Jean Dulamon is racing an ex-Vinnie Budano Camaro built by Tim McAmis and running a 738 cu in Scott Shafiroff nitrous engine. Jean arrived this morning and has still to make his debut pass in the car as we type. The car ran a best of 6.29/223 in the US.

Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator racer Bill Macdermid has been busy with the acquisition of the new class sponsor which "takes up seven days a week of my time." Eurodragster.com sponsor Topspeed Automotive is a car accessory and US performance parts business. Meanwhile, Bill had ICE Automotive rebuild the engine which runs a Procharger

Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator racer Ian Hook ran an 8.98 "off the bottle" in the first session and then did an extraordinary driving job after getting out of shape on the launch. "We had concerns about high oil temperature and clearances on our new lightweight flexplate but otherwise are happy with the car."

Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator racer Richard Billings bought his Corvette from Ian Jackson. This is Richard's first ever race car and his experience in drag racing is "spectating at a couple of events and seeing the car on video." On his first observed run the car "bogged off the start line but picked up afterwards to the eighth." Richard's team is Quietus Racing, Quietus meaning a final fatal hammer blow, or the collection of a debt. Sponsor is www.monkey-spunk.co.uk a company selling a nano technology dry washing and polishing system which you spray and wipe just once to give a valet finish. Crew chief is Al Cook who won the SE Championship, with Ian Jackson driving, in the same car with a small block engine a few years back. Al said "Family commitments have kept me away from the sport for a time and it's good to see old friends again."

Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator racer Ray Comer is returning with his Camaro for the first time for over a year. "We're back to square one, concentrating on getting the launch right. Peter Knight rebuilt the engine and I took a year out for business. It's good to be back with a strong field of Street Eliminator cars and the class in the National Championship."

Junior Dragster racer Billy Everitt has an identical paint scheme to the Alien Altered, justifying its name Lil' Alien. The nose of the Junior Dragster has an Alien face and the artwork and paint was applied by Simon Mitchell at Mitchville Autobodies based in the Isle of Sheppey, Kent.

Billy Everitt, son of 2009 Super Pro ET champion John is ten years old and is making his first runs after taking 2009 out. Meanwhile Dad has had the Alien rebuilt by Eurodragster.com sponsor Hauser Racecars. He said "Geof's service is immaculate. After two weeks in the shop it came out just like brand new, just like a car valet."

Santa Pod Raceway's Two Seater Dragster has a fresh engine and new paint job. On its initial run driver Steve Warner ran an eight with three zeroes.

Super Street Bike racer Stephen Mead is racing his first full year and is supported by Lucas oil. The former NSA Sprint racer is "getting to terms with all the grip" and riding his bike which US visitor Walter Sprout raced at the 2009 Summer Nationals. The bike is a Hayabusa with GT35 turbo and Motec engine management putting out 500hp. "I was at Autosport International and got talking to Les Downey; Lucas is also supporting Sandra Chaplain this season." Solenoid issues were causing trouble with gear selection in today's sessions.