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Welcome to our report of today's pre-Easter Thunderball Peak Performance Day at Santa Pod Raceway, brought to you in association with Alamo Rent-A-Car. The weather was just fine and there was a healthy entry of racers.

Morning session

Luca Carbonera opened the day on his Super Street Bike, taking up where he left off yesterday with an 8.538/175.08, blackstriping all the way and taking the long way round so more to come. Luca's next run was an 8.383/171.76, again a long way round and very close to the guardrail but Luca stayed with it. A tremendous 8.144/147.17 for Luca on his third pass, still blackstriping but not quite so long a way round this time. Big wheelie off the start line for Luca on the next run, feather of the throttle and 9.167/132.21 at the stripe.

Eurodragster.com sponsor Jon Webster is testing out a very tidy ES Escort on which Webster Race Engineering have been working. The motor reportedly rates more than a thousand horsepower. A couple of shut-offs for leaks yesterday but no problems first time out today, a good-looking and straight eleven-second pass to open the car's account. 10.933/131.82 for Jon's second pass, gentle launch but 103.51 by half track. 10.073/137.84 for the third run, again looked gentle off the line and then picked up, 11.12 at the eighth.

A great match-up followed Jon's first run, between Pro ET racer Mike Lacey and Outlaw Flat Four racer Matt Keane. Mike, running mufflers for the first time on the Metamorphosis Camaro, got the jump and got there first 9.363/144.29. A very nice 10.0767/134.51 from Matt who looked like he was right with Mike. Mike came back and ran against Super Gas racer and Eurodragster.com decal sponsor Paul Foote, 9.515/152.97 for Mike to Paul's troubled-looking 14.602/101.02. Great run for Matt Keane second time out, 9.884/134.13 and an ecstatic crew. Well done Matt! There's more to come there as Matt lost a moment to tyre shake and a pedal coming off the wheelie. Fellow OFF racer Lee Maynard clocked 11.215/114.50 in his very pretty Renault Dauphine followed by a big wheelie then shut off. Matt Keene's third pass of the day was 10.267/139.50, then just before lunch Matt clocked a superb 9.563/146.25.

Next bike racer on track was Graham Balchin who clocked 9.083/109.51 on his Super Street Bike, sounded like gear selection problems then shut off at 1000 feet or so. Top Fuel Bike legend Brian Johnson and his wife Anne are again here working with Graham. Graham's second run was 9.471/99.85, languid off the line and shut off early. Next up was fellow SSB racer Pete Field with an 8.160/168.56 from his very nice-looking bike, then came back and clocked 8.463/152.65 on his next pass and just before lunch 8.278/172.38. Chris Reed followed and picked up where he left off yesterday with an 8.068/181.39, next pass was 8.305/172.42. Steve Venables has made some changes to his SSB including new wheels, blackstripe off the line and on and off the throttle between 200 feet and half track, 9.298/168.53. Next up was fellow SSB racer Nigel Barker who took up from yesterday with a 7.948/179.21 opener. Nigel's second pass of the day was 7.930/176.43, straight down the middle of his lane. Third pass was 7.907/179.89, another straight blackstriping pass, lazy-looking sixty foot time so still conservative on the boost I guess.1.329 to sixty feet for Ven's second pass and looking great but then one of the gears would not engage and Ven shut off, 8.228/127.02. First run of the day for Danny Cockerill on his Super Street Bike was 8.733/169.19, nice straight pass with some blackstriping. Paul Watson and Ray White were in attendance helping Danny out.

First outing for his 8.50 Bike, we believe, for Augy Harrison. A 14.645/114.95 check-out followed by a 10.829/146.65 then 10.321/144.76 with a feather of the throttle off the start. Augy was followed first time out by fellow 8.50 Bike racer Phil Bloomfield who took a bucking bronco ride 12.241/72.27, leaving a trail of oil down the track and shutdown area. Phil Pratt's first run of the day on his 8.50 Bike was 9.195/149.61 followed by a 9.258/147.65 then 9.060/148.13. Phil Bloomfield clocked 10.020/149.67 on his second run of the day.

Robin Orthodoxou also had a bit of a wild ride in his Super Pro ET altered but we are all well used to that and Robin wasn't going to get off the throttle, 7.308/187.25 and his crew very happy with that. The webcam microphone got a real run-out courtesy of Nick George and his blown-alcohol Camaro, 8.170/162.63 for the new Super Pro ET racer. Eurodragster.com sponsor Jeff Bull is here this weekend supervising a very pretty white '66 Nova which yesterday was clocking mid nines, first run today was 9.272/141.14, sounded to be on the throttle way after the finish line but got it stopped OK.

First outing for Junior Dragsters today was a match-up between Paige Wheeler and Brad Jackson. Paige pulled a red but clocked 9.163/70.60 to Brad's 7.755/84.57. For their second outings Brad and Paige ran byes, Brad first 7.882/82.99 and Paige 9.151/69.62. Stacey Reed and Rhiannon Bellenie paired up next, 7.9616/80.36 for Rhiannon in her new car to 10.698/58.34 for Stacey. Paige then lined up against Rhiannon, 9.113/70.34 for Paige to Rhiannon's 0.047 and 7.881/80.65. Joe Kellett made his first run of the day just before lunch after pushing back earlier, 7.844/82.56 to Brad Jackson's 0.047 and 8.013/81.66. Stacey Reed followed with a 10.666/58.65.

14.528/64.56 first run of the day for Pro ET's Matthew Seamarks, shut off in the second half, then 14.466/67.74 on his second pass. Matt was followed first time out by fellow Pro ET racer Amanda Cox. Hard right turn at the hit then a pedal to straighten it out and the Nova appeared to want to go left. Amanda got off the throttle and idled up the track to a sixteen-second pass. Simon Parker in the Nitemare Camaro clocked 11.639/120.12 for his opener alongside Colin Millar's Outlaw Anglia 11.215/114.50, the Anglia then clocked 10.912/119.32 on its next pass. Simon's second pass was 10.767/126.87 and his third 10.764/127.59. Sara and Steve Unsworth went head to head just before the lunch break, Steve first to the stripe 13.229/102.08 to Sara's 15.620/91.61.

Sportsman ET racer Steve Unsworth started his day with a 13.389/101.40 alongside Pro ET racer Rick Denny who pulled a 0.023 RT and 11.372/119.56. Steve's second run of the day was 13.239/101.96. Sara Unsworth in Nigel Holland's Sportsman ET Mustang clocked 15.555/91.20 on her first run of the day and then 15.590/91.24. Pro ET racer Dan Williams pulled wheelie of the day on his first pass, a brief pedal and 10.612/102.76 at the stripe. Dan's second pass of the day was 0.078 RT and 9.614/139.03. No name on this one but a beautiful old school Pop with a blown motor, carrying the name Kool Spirit and Sooty's Parts decals clocked 11.730/120.59 on its second pass of the day. Run three was 11.724/120.23 and run four 11.919/119.48.

150-foot burnout for returning Super Modified racer Nigel Payne before his first run of the day, at the hit the back end jumped up as did the engine revs and Nigel got off the throttle and idled through, 12.941/88.90. First run for Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator racer Andy Bond was 12.668/73.60 shut off before half track, observed run maybe and it looked just fine from here. Great pass from Marc Lamude in his 55 Chevy, 8.313/166.68. Steve 'Splinter' Nash told us that that was a PB, well done Marc! Splinter added that the aim today was to get into the 8.2s and they'll go home happy with that.

Rob Smallworth closed out the morning session with a pass in his Chevy Super Mod. Nice burnout to get the cobwebs off the tyres then a great pass to open his account. 1.2416 to sixty feet, 5.040/142.15 at the eighth and 7.804/174.36 at the stripe.

Afternoon session

Graham Balchin opened the afternoon for Super Street Bike with a great 7.806/196.22, nice-looking run. On Graham's next run the bike didn't launch at all, just rolled off the line, but he made up for it on the next pass with a 7.831/186.62. Graham's fourth run of the afternoon was an 8.042/183.58 and then he closed his day with a 7.958/182.83. Next SSB to the line after Graham's first run was Peter Field, 1.303 to sixty feet and 8.007/177.79 at the stripe, nice straight run. Peter's next pass was a great 7.765/180.63, the seven heralded by a sixty foot time of 1.298. 7.761/179.21 for Pete's third run of the afternoon and a PB for him, well done Pete!

Danny Cockerill's first run of the afternoon on his SSB was an 8.237/171.10 with slight hesitation about 100 feet out and then an 8.713/155.79 with a screeching rear tyre off the start line. Danny's third run was curtailed by a couple of wheelies, on the fourth run it sounded as if the motor was misfiring for the first couple of gears but Danny stayed with it, 8.751/166.68. Nigel Barker started his afternoon with an 8.041/182.85, much quicker sixty foot time on this first pass even though some time was lost to spin. Nigel's next pass was 7.935/182.09 with some shriek from the tyre at the hit. 8.059/185.81 for Nigel's third run of the afternoon. Chris Reed's first run of the afternoon was 7.697/189.73, a great run and that was with spin off the line and a wheelie. Bois ran towards the end of the afternoon and clocked 7.561/185.81 again with a shrieking rear tyre off the line.

For 8.50 Bike Augy Harrison opened his afternoon account with a 9.833/147.65, Augy said he needed to do some work on the clutch back at base. The next run was 10.017/140.81, When you are in the pits next week go and take a look at Augy's bike, it's an immaculate, well-engineered piece. Phil Bloomfield's first run of the afternoon on his 8.50 Bike was a 9.022/166.08. Phil Pratt was next 8.50 Bike racer to the line, 9.093/150.13 and then into the eights next time out, 8.973/157.97, Phil's first eight I think. Well done Phil!

Rick Denny's first run of the afternoon was a test launch, shut off the Pro ET Firebird at 300 feet then back on it gently, 14.398/96.73, his second pass a 13.467/104.57 alongside Jon Webster in the customer's Escort. Jon rolled out of stage before building up the revs and so his fifteen-second pass was nowhere near the actual ET. The car's owner was next up and clocked 10.071/136.58 then 10.115/134.54. Rick Denny's third run of the afternoon was a full pass 11.487/119.29 with a 0.057 RT. Nice first run of the afternoon for Robin Orthodoxou, wheels up and shake but 7.398/180.59 for the Super Pro ET altered. Robin made his second pass of the afternoon not long before we finished for the day. You know the story, wheels up and shake but staying on the throttle, the chute deployed at half track but still recording 7.449/175.69.

Andy Bond followed Robin's first run in his Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator Mustang, 10.357/136.16, nicely controlled pass followed by a 10.285/137.41. Andy closed his day with a news PB of 9.659/152.15. Next in the bleach box after Andy's first run was Colin Millar's Outlaw Anglia, 11.088/120.28. Colin's Anglia then went up against the Kool Spirit Pop, the Anglia there first 11.320/121.58 to 11.834/121.44. Bye for the Pop next time out, 11.634/121.89. Colin went up against Mike Lacey's Pro ET Mustang for his third run of the afternoon, 10.5318/126.49 to Mike's 9.3966/144.80 then took a bye for his last run of the day, 0.092 RT and 10.528/124.88 at the stripe.

Joe Kellett and Brad Jackson paired up in their Junior Dragsters to start the afternoon. 0.061 RT for Brad, 7.975/81.97 at the eighth to Joe's 8.101/80.21. Paige Wheeler and Rhiannon Bellenie went head-to-head next, 7.964/81.81 for Rhiannon and 9.077/70.78 for Paige. Stacey Reed closed out the first JD session with a 10.599/59.24. Pauge Wheeler's second run of the afternoon was 9.074/70.28, -0.072 red on that one. Joe Kellett and Brad Jackson followed, -0.007 red for Joe and 7.994/81.37 to Brad's 8.009/81.94. I guess we're looking at an 8.00 dial-in for Brad next weekend! Brad and Joe went head-to-head for a third time, Brad away first and first to the stripe 8.027/81.67 to Joe's quicker 8.014/81.23. Paige Wheeler followed alongside Stacey Reed, a pair of huge red lights, 9.065/70.28 for Paige to Stacey's 10.795/58.95. Stacey and Joe paired up next time out, 8.004/81.23 for Joe and 10.652/58.96 for Stacey with a red light.

Much straighter run for Amanda Cox to start the afternoon, shut off at about 1000 feet, 10.630/111.10 at the stripe. Full pull for Amanda next run, 10.441/129.11 and not long after that a 10.361/131.01. Right turn at the hit on the next run. 10.619/124.19 on the next pass, staying on the gas even though the car was moving left and in the second half. The white Nova mentioned earlier belongs to Ashley Troupe, after his low nine this morning Ashley wisely shut off on his first run of the afternoon when the car got a wobble on. Ashley came back within an hour and clocked 9.241/144.39 then 9.205/144.84 on his last pass of the day. Phil Peck's very tasty Mustang is on good form, 10.278/131.03 on his first run of the afternoon, in the other lane this time was Simon Parker who clocked 10.355/131.29 in the Nightmare Camaro followed by a 10.240/130.56. First run of the afternoon for Mike Lacey's Pro ET Camaro was 9.429/142.96. Just a launch for fellow Pro ET racer Matthew Seamarks on his first run of the afternoon, twenty one seconds to the stripe.

Nigel Payne's Super Mod was next to the line, bad shake which we all felt up here in Race Control, 1.290 to sixty feet and idled through to 16.274/63.95. Nick George followed with his Super Pro ET Camaro, very crisp-sounding burnout but stuttered the launch so Nick got off the hard pedal. Near the end of the day Andy clocked 8.474/157.39, the car moving around a little but Andy stayed with it, 'chute out just a touch early. One run this afternoon for Super Mod racer Rob Smallworth, shake at the hit and a pedal by the Tree, 8.399/177.06. Towards the end of the afternoon Nigel Payne put in another pass, shake and spin at the hit and off the throttle, 15.332/70.08.

Sara and Steve Unsworth faced off in Nigel Holland's Sportsman ET Mustang and their own Sportsman ET Mustang respectively, 15.513/89.0 for Sarah to Steve's 13.410/102.32 with a red light. Next time out Steve was in Nigel's car and Sara in their own car. Steve got the jump at the lights but Sara was there first 13.445/99.58 to Steve's 15.496/91.58. A quick swap and they were back again, big start line advantage for Steve in the Gecko Mustang and there first 13.411/101.61 to 15.347/91.98. Same story next run, Steve with a start line advantage and there first 13.144/102.65 to 15.281/93.31. Would Marc Lamude's Chevy make the 8.2s with his first run of the afternoon? Yes it sure would! 8.253/167.94, excellent pass blackstriping all the way.

Towards the end of the afternoon a stock Lamborghini appeared around the corner and clocked 12.305/120.57, 8.190/91.03 at the eighth which does of course give you an appreciation of how quick Junior Modified Advanced dragsters are. On its second run the Lamborghini clocked 11.647/126.64, 7.716/97.29 at the eighth. Third run was 11.560/126.55.

Today's pictures will shortly be available via the Event Index page.