Topspeed Street Eliminator racer Brian Payne had a problem with his transmission, a carbon fibre ring having broken, and the team were replacing the trans as other racers were going out on the cruise. The car has a hi-tech 362cu in twin turbo engine and was fabricated by Eurodragster.com sponsors Webster Race Engineering.

NFAA racer Jon Best was a DNS on his only pass. "The blower gasket went on the start line. While our blower is being freshened, this borrowed item is new to us, a magnesium 8/71. I had problems with the brakes and was holding the car on the clutch like an alcohol car. It has cost us �6000 to get to this meeting and thanks to Bob Glassup, Ashley Bell and the Gleadows we were able to get other parts to try to start, but it wasn't to be. Our next outings will be at the Truck Show and the Summer Nationals.

As well as a custom car exhibition a number of film cars or replicas have been hired in and put on display. So the fans could see Del Boy's van alongside the Delorean as used in Back To The Future. The breadth of displays at this event is greater than ever before and has drawn in a very healthy crowd.

Wild Bunch racer Dick Sharp had an incident on his hands when the throttle jammed open. "I killed the ignition but there was no engine braking so I pushed the pedal as hard as possible. The back wheels locked and the car was unsettled over a bump. The left side of the rear wing hit the wall and as I went round in a circle it rolled on its side. I climbed out of a narrow gap between the roof and the wall. Fortunately the chassis is intact and the damage is repairable.

Jet dragster racer Julian Webb ran a PB of 6.82/230 earlier today. He said "The car is going quicker and I thank Colin Fallows who used to own the car for his help on it. We are running minimal engine pressure on the Rolls Royce Viper engine and I have a more powerful engine in the workshop so there is a lot of scope. We run the car mainly at York. Colin ran the car to an average speed of 338mph at RAF Fairford in July 2006; I have not yet had a go at land speed records but if I did I would need to spend �20,000 per day on RAC and MSA licenses and hiring safety crew including helicopters. Julian is based in Leeds working in property maintenance

Wild Bunch racer Jimmy Hibberd is making a return to the sport after a two year break in this 32 Willys. "I have had the car for 15 years and raced it for 13 years. I was in Super Gas in 1999-2000 and ran Super Gas and Pro ET in 2005. I have also run it at Brighton, Goodwood and Hockenheim. I am just getting used to the car again. I had to update the safety equipment and get the chassis tagged to 8.5. The limiting factor is my C-6 gearbox; when I ran my best of 9.2/148 it broke and in spite of an Andy Frost rebuild it still slips gear. I am thinking about getting a two speed Powerglide." Jimmy runs the Valley Gas Speed Shop rod and custom business and won the Best of Show at Wheels day on Good Friday.

Super Comp racer Steve Wells replaced his old Liberty shift 'push' mechanism with a new 'push and pull' type and has had problems. "On the first pass the air gap was too small and it went as soon as I was on the limiter. On the second, I got the routine wrong and pushed the wrong way and on the third run, fourth wouldn't engage on the burnout which meant the line-loc didn't work. To get a time, I ran in first three gears and backed off. We have solved the problem."

Pro ET racer Rick McCann is displaying immaculate new artwork from Andy Stroud and paint from Trueline Paint. "The cars are both running as expected but Carla has been having trouble breaking out in the red car and she has run her best ever 9.70." The original red Heaven & Hell has a 60lb lighter roll cage in chrome moly and freshened engine. Rick's blue car has had one head repaired by Kenny Coleman after an epoxy sleeve came out at the National Finals resulting in an oil bath. "There is a new engine in a crate at Phoenix ready for our trip to run GT/CA or GT/DA in Stock/Super Stock at Mantorp Park - Carla's car will be at Hockenheim."

Pro ET racer Gordon Northway is running The Edge Cavalier for the first time. "It's new to me but our crew chief Steve Good used to run it with a Rover Engine as Pulse Rate. Now it has twice as much power with a 552cu in nitrous engine. The car was built by Rob Chilton. I ran it just at the Webster Test Day and on film for Transworld Sport to create awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. Two members of my crew have MS and they are really excited about going racing." The car is being run soft. "It has 780hp and I am launching on the footbrake and not using nitrous; eventually it will potentially run high eights. Thanks to my crew Markie, Stuart, Kaz and Mel."

Pro ET racer Amanda Cox is at her first MSA meeting after running a Javelin bought six years ago for cruises and club meets. "Then Phil Caswell of Surry Muscle asked me if I would like to do a rwyb. I loved that and then I crewed for Phil Toppin and Vicky Higham of Coco Connection sold me the Yenko Nova. There was a lot of preparation and with the weather I only did one run at the test session last weekend. I have just done my first full pass as the master cylinder went on Friday. Dave Eady brought up a replacement and then there were temperature issues. I am really grateful to Paul Marston, Gary Springford, Terry Robbins who came and spent a couple of hours on the carb and tuning it." Amanda's pass was a 11.24 on a 10.80 to qualify 21st. "It wasn't a full pass and I am hoping for tens with a transbrake launch. The crew are fantastic and we are all on a learning curve."

Super Pro ET racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Chris Isaacs is returning after a break from competition of almost two years. "After the Main Event 2008 we had to replace all moving parts in the engine. It is now a 540cu in with lower compression so that it can run on pump gas. Before the rebuild, it was on C12 and nitrous at the cost of �200 for two drums, now we have to pay �60 for two drums of unleaded and less for nitrous. My first pass was a trundle, then we had issues and the third pass was a 9.44 which is three tenths better than my previous best in the car without nitrous. On our next pass which will be in the first round I will try a 100hp shot of nitrous to get down to an 8.9." Chris says he still has a healthy waiting list in spite of the recession, which is good news for the sport.

Super Pro ET racer Vince Gibbs suffered a dropped valve on its first pass. Crew member Simon Hodder said "The heads, pistons and valve were all new and are badly damaged and on the opposite bank a lifter broke probably damaging the cam, bit we hope not the bores. We still have our old heads and will fit those back for the Main Event. Over the winter we fixed the torque converter and the engine was producing more power than ever." (Photo courtesy darkcult.com)

Super Street Bike racer Chris Reed has had an up and down season so far. The highs have been the new paint job by Spraypoint in Southend (who specialise in custom bikes) and a PB of 7.69/192 in testing. This came after fitting a MTC Gen II lockup clutch and a freshened engine. The low point was drifting towards and then scraping the left wall yesterday. "I had wheelspin and leant over so the exhaust dug into the ground and scraped the fairing and air filter". Boisie was able to return in Sunday's first session which produced another, harder, guardrail swiping moment on the right side of the track, Chris and the bike again being able to return on another session.

Super Street Bike racer Steve Venables and daughter 9.50 Bike racer Jemma Venables were alongside in the fire-up road. Steve said "I'm trying to tame my Velocity Racing bike still, running 7.6s here and getting used to it. This is my third year with Crescent Suzuki and thanks to them, Ray Debben, LA Racing and Ray Debben who does my engine work." Steve also runs a MTC Gen II clutch. Seventeen year old Jemma said "I am pleased qualifying sixth out of twenty with no road experience. The bike can run under 9.5s easily." Jemma's 1000cc GSXR bike is tuned by Crescent Suzuki.

9.50 Bike racers Fred Furlong (front) and Aaron Sparks (rear) run identical GSXR 1000s. Aaron said "this is my second year in 9.50 after a spell in Super Twin with my road bike." The bikes are naturally aspirated but Eurodragster.com sponsor Fred said "We may run nitrous for part of the year and enter 8.50 Bike at the Big Bang. Fred's son is also likely to be at the Big Bang on a Honda Fireblade.

Comp Bike racer Ivan Birch ran a 7.4 yesterday undeterred by smoke which only came out of the breather. "The settings worked for me and while the bike shook and my 60ft was slower, it was set up to run better in the second eigth. I have built a new engine to go quicker and not smoke", he said. "The engine is 1570cc with a billet crank. I am looking to run in the UEM Funny Bike Cup SPR rounds."

NFAA racers Gary Page (left) and John Wright (right) have both been behind the wheel of Chaos and as of this morning have both suffered on-track incidents, as the car took a hard left into the wall with Gary driving today. Gary was unhurt and the body looks undamaged, the wheels absorbing some of the impact. Earlier John explained "We have put a four plate clutch in with new rear end and gearbox gears so we don't know where we are on setup. But the intention is to launch harder and to wrinkle the slicks. The track is freezing and we can't take fuel clutch or mag out of it like the modern cars can - that's why we call them Nostalgia!"

Top Fuel Dragster racer Janne Ahonen ran a 5.27 in yesterday's session to go top, but the car shook badly this moning on a cooler track. "It's a good start to the season and I lifted at 1000ft. It felt quite good going down the track but I was surprised when the time came up. We want to run about the same today. I will be racing the FIA Championship in this car." Janne recently finished fourth in the Winter Olympics Ski Jump event having been in a medal winning position earlier. "I came very close but had hurt my knee before the competition."

Fuel Funny Car racer John Spuffard had to shut off in yesterday's Pro Fuel session. "It rained as I burnt out and I actually skidded to a halt. We have tried to detune the car but you can only take so much out before you start hurting it. It's just too cold to run well." John's run this morning was hit by bad shake. He is supported by Eurodragster.com sponsor .

Wild Bunch racer Dave Williams bought his pretty altered from Roy Wilding. He said "I ran the Cunning Plan altered with Tony Smith doing most of the driving, winning the title five times. After Tony got involved with officiating race events I bought this car two years ago and then spent six months sorting out my Mopar 383cu in engine with EDA cam and rockers. For this year I have upgraded the running gear to MSA specs. I qualified second here and had a stuck throttle in the shut down area but it was fine by the turn off."

Super Gas racer Nicky Frost has made a return after a break of over a year. "I had a problem with the starter motor taking teeth off the flywheel and then decided to have a break. The car is 3160lb and backhalfed so being quite heavy Rob and Nick at ICE Automotive recommended me getting a ready built crate motor. I got in touch with Steve Schmidt from the US and when the 584 cu in engine arrived set about installing it. The only problem was the sump being too far forward and thanks to Chris Isaacs for doing work on the tubing and steering rack and to John Atkinson for help. My first full transbrake launch produced an 8.95 compared to my best in Pro ET of 9.63.

Super Gas racer Dan Page bought Brendan Clancy's Chevy Nova two weeks ago and was no.1 qualifier after two sessions. "We only have had time to change the oil and plugs, check the nuts and bolts and take the old stickers off. My first-ever pass in it was a 10.005 and it felt lovely. I may also run it in Pro ET or Super Street; there is no throttle stop so I am just using guesswork. My old Firebird is still for sale and I thank Homestead Timber Buildings for storing my NOva.

Junior Dragster racer Paige Wheeler's dad Andy moved to Wellingborough two years ago and brought his then nine year old daughter to the track for the first time. "She wanted to give the sport a try and for her birthday we hired the track's Junior dragster. She loved it and we ran at rwybs and made her debut at the National Finals. I work for Alamo Rent a Car and talked them into sponsorship." The deal is Alamo giving 10 per cent discount on car rentals to drag racing people. To book your discounted hire car check out www.alamo.co.uk/dragster "The Juniors won a competition with web site design by Dan Welberry at 3T Creative and I have worked with him to set up a web site for Junior Drag Racing at www.juniordragracing.co.uk.

Sportsman ET racer Steve Taylor's Anglia Estate is incredibly clean in and out. Running in the 13s with a 305cu in engine, Steve is a Hod Rodder who has decided to have a try at drag racing. The car is street legal and the team compete under the name Norfolk & Hope. Steve said "My MSA license was signed off last weekend. I have had the car since 2003 and built it myself apart from the paintwork and Jon Wester roll cage." Steve's day job is a maintenance technician in the Bespac pharmaceutical factory in Kings Lynn.

Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator racer Ron Haslett has had a beautiful new paint job with subtle flames. The car has been upgraded with the engine now displacing 545cu in but bugs have kept it from running to its eight second potential. The car broke the trans yesterday and the team had to go back to Havant to get replacement parts, arriving back at 2am and putting it back in the car this morning.

Pro ET racer Nic Williams had run this road legal '32 Ford Coupe in RWYB and Nostalgia events and decided to enter this time after brother Dan Williams has raced here since last year. "The car was built by my family four years ago and the top has been chopped by five inches from stock. At the start it had a 400cu in Cleveland engine and then I put a 454cu in big block Chevy, naturally aspirated, which has run 9.85. We changed the torque convertor for this event and it is running back down in the mid tens." Nic owns Werx Paint and his dad Keith Williams runs KW Hot Rods which built the exhaust for the car.