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

Today's Run What You Brung had the worst of all starts as despite a favourable weather forecast it rained in the morning including one downpour when the track was close to being dry. However we got there in the end and the track opened at lunchtime. The sun eventually came out mid-afternoon and the track almost visibly picked up as indeed we all do when we get some sun on our faces.

As we were all out photographing today this report, brought to you in association with American Car Imports, has been compiled from the timing system run log. We think that we have covered most of the racers in attendance since the timing crew used their race numbers on the system but apologies to any racers whom we have missed.

Sportsman ET racer Nigel Holland is returning to the track this year and his Aveago Racing Mustang is now sporting a large blue bottle in the boot. Today Nigel was leading the charge for Motorsport Endeavour, a group which promotes participation in motorsport for those with disabilities. Nigel opened his account with an easy 16.3661/70.73 and his best was 14.1417/96.90. Also returning to the track was the Gecko Racing Sportsman ET Mustang which will this season be driven by Sara Unsworth. Sara made several passes with a best of 13.7962/93.29 and then husband Steve took a go at the end of the day.

A new name to us in Sportsman ET was Steve Taylor who is fielding a very good-looking Anglia Estate which was sporting both Sportsman ET and Outlaw Street numbers. Steve's first pass was a 15.5871/85.70 checkout and his best 13.5545/101.72. There were a number of Outlaw Street racers at the track today and in fact there were times when the collection area resembled a Mustang Owners' Club paddock with some immaculate examples taking to the track.

Joe Kellett was first of the Junior Dragster racers to leave the line today with a 0.0368 reaction in his first pass. Joe is now running in Junior Modified Advanced; his first run was an 8.9245/72.26 and then the team started working towards the 7.90s. Progress was made but they never quite got there with a best of 8.5834/74.43. Fellow JMA racer Josh Saunders was looking for a baseline setting which would allow tweaks either way for the prevailing conditions and ran a best of 8.1750/80.21 and best RT of 0.0348. Zak Johnson's Monster Racing JD is sporting new paintwork, another change is that Zak appears to have put on a foot and a half and lost two octaves in his voice over the off-season. Zak's best run was 8.6376/78.54.

Supertwin Gas racer Andy Watson had a number of new parts in his motor and took it easy on his first pass of the day, 16.3980/90.52 but then did not appear on track for the rest of the day. 9.50 Bike racer Jake Mechaell opened his account with a 9.9044/136.97 with a very unusual -0.0216 red light, in fact the first red light I think I have seen Jake pull. His best run of the day was 9.5399/140.80. Joe Elliott has moved from Supertwin ET to the heads-up Supertwin Gas for 2010. Joe put in a number of runs, his first a 10.0222/134.95 and the best 9.8776/136.13.

One of the stars of the day on two wheels was undoubtedly Super Street Bike racer Chris Reed. Bois' bike looks superb in its new paint and he matched that with performance on the track with a 7.8522/192.11 first run when the track had not yet had time to warm up and come round. Graham Balchin was working on clutch settings all day. He blackstriped off the start line on his first passes and in the end ran a best of 9.0429/161.47. Fellow SSB racer Mick Templeman ran a best of 8.4874/148.58 whilst Garry Bowe started his day with an 8.7591/171.75 and improved to 8.2802/174.39. Paul Hambidge's first run of the day was an 8.8476/173.70. An Italian SSB team were here testing their new Super Street Bike under the gaze of Brad O'Connor and the as-yet anonymous rider ran 9.0180/155.84.

Vic Hammond made a couple of passes in his Speed Demon blown-alcohol slingshot, off the throttle early both times, for a best of 11.5352/79.66.

Gordon Northway put in a number of passes in his Cavalier which we noticed has moved from Super Pro ET to Pro ET on next week's entry list. Under the gaze of the car's former owner Steve Good Gordon clocked a best of 10.5422/139.51. Kaz Aston also ran her big pick-up which is headed for Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator next weekend. Kaz' best run of the day was 14.1724/109.78.

Paul Watson was holding one of his drag racing schools here today. These courses of Grumpy's always generate very positive feedback as Grumpy knows his stuff and has a talent for imparting his knowledge, although Paul said that this may have been the last course. Here's hoping he changes his mind.

We have now posted today's pictures, which you can view via the Event Index. There are sixty five pictures in all; if you don't see all sixty five thumbnails when you load the page then click on your Browser's Refresh button.

Tune back tomorrow and we'll bring you all the action from the Peak Performance Day.