2011 FIA European Finals
Peak Performance Day


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18:00

We're done for the day here at Santa Pod. We will now get working on today's pictures and bring those to you as soon as we can. We will be stopping the webcam very soon, Nitro FM are broadcasting and you can access their broadcast via our Event Index.

17:55

Norbert Kuno having signed on made his first run of the day, nice burnout but instant shake at the hit, 1.6649 sixty foot tells that story, idled through to 13.4789/95.04 at the stripe.

Richard Billings followed in his Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator Mustang, smoked the tyres very slightly but 9.5645/175.09.

Simon Giordmaina was next up on his Super Street Bike, 1.4297 to sixty feet, 7.9802/185.43 but a sizeable puff of smoke right on the finish line.

First run of the day for Malta's Manty Bugeja in the Mister Whippy Top Methanol Dragster. Tyres up in smoke at the hit, 1.1435 to sixty, off the throttle and idled through, 14.1238/79.12.

17:35

We've just heard from Karsten Andersen that Tommy Johnson Jr's appeal has not gone through and that he remains suspended from competition. The Andersens were on the way here with their car so where that leaves them right now is a question which your reporter has just asked and whose answer we will bring you when we receive it... which is that they are staying home.

Kalle Lyrén up next on the Team Veidec Pro Stock Bike. 1.1111 to sixty feet, 4.6277/149.11 at the eighth, shut off early again, 7.4157/155.29. Elvira Karlsson next, shut off after the burnout but then tried to restart, motor fired briefly but stopped again and pushed back. Elvira came back a few minutes later, 0.0491 RT, 1.1544 to sixty feet then the motor started to smoke, off the throttle at half track, 9.3764/93.68.

Danny Cockerill next on his Super Street Bike, 1.3477 to sixty feet, 5.1728/148.15 at the eighth and a storming 7.8623/177.81, great run in these conditions.

Pro ET racer Jon Turner's second run of the day was 10.4548/129.12.

17:20

Great-looking run to start with for Danny Bellio's TMFC, 0.9970 to sixty feet, some shake about 300 feet out which Danny drove through, the car moved for the centre line about 400 feet out, 3.8690/179.09 at the eighth and shut off as the car made a move to the right, 6.6119/153.16 at the stripe.

Ulf Wagnhester next up in the Avenger Pro Stock. Spin and lost drive at the hit, idled through, 17.0404/62.36.

17:10

The usual excellent job by the track crew and we're back in action. First up was Pro Stock Bike racer and Eurodragster.com Blogger Dave Beck, another burnout and shut-off which again looked planned from here. Martin Bishop followed on his Pro Stock Bike, nice 0.0625 RT, 1.1297 to sixty and shut off a touch early, 7.7013/149.66.

Pro Modified racer Bruno Bader was next up, Timo and Dennis Habermann seeing Bruno back from the burnout. Great run, 1.0347 to sixty feet, 4.1421/179.73 at the eighth and 6.3664/201.53. The Vette was blackstriping and moving left and right all the way and Bruno shut it off at about 1200 feet.

The breeze is getting up out there but another great run by Super Street Bike racer Steve Venables, check out that sixty foot time of 1.2843. 4.9865/155.78 at the eighth and 7.5469/189.76 at the stripe. Fellow SSB racer Graham Balchin followed, taking it gently off the line, 1.4820 at sixty, motor popped at every gear change, shut off before the eighth and idled through to 10.2863/84.42. Simon Giordmaina was next on his SSB, gentle 1.4938 to sixty and then piled on the throttle, 8.6524/160.20. Danny Cockerill next on another SSB, 1.3640 to sixty, blackstriped his lane and feather the throttle momentarily, 8.4793/161.37.

Next round the corner was Eurodragster.com sponsor Graham Ellis in his 'Cuda Pro Mod. According to the sound meter on the webcam PC Graham's burnout was louder than Urs Erbacher's burnout in his Top Fueller. 1.0958 to sixty but hellish shake and off the throttle past the Tree, in fact the shut-off was so abrupt that maybe the kill switch was shaken on. 21.4735/31.46 at the stripe and a retrieval in the shutdown area.

We'll be running for a while yet I think, Norbert Kuno just asked if there was enough time to sign on and run his Pro Mod and the answer was in the affirmative.

16:55

Richard Billings followed in his Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator Mustang. Nice big burnout, OK to about 100 feet then the tyre marks suggest shake, a feather of the throtle and back on it, 9.0374/182.10 at the stripe. Next up was Guido Uhlir in his Opel which is running in Super Pro ET this week. Nice run, wheels up off the start line, a pop from the motor as Guido shifted then a brief pedal about 500 feet out, the Opel was moving around the lane but Guido stayed with it, 8.6257/160.16.

Chris Hannam next up on his Supertwin, there's a black stripe in front of the Nitro FM studio where Cannon chirped it to get to the bleach box. 1.2984 to sixty, 4.8966/150.61 at the eighth then drifting to the left and taking out the finish line timing reflectors. Word came on the track radio that Cannon is A-OK, "Happy as Larry except for hitting the blocks".

16:00

We're on hold for a sharp shower, stay tuned.

15:55

Unless Urs mugged Robin Orthodoxou and stole his Super Pro ET altered that was not Urs who was next around the corner but he did tow round whilst Robin was running. The usual shaky and bouncy launch, visiting the photographers at the guardrail, 1.1375 to sixty feet, 7.5859/187.25 at the stripe.

Urs next up. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that this week's race might be our last chance to see Top Fuel Dragsters running over the quarter mile in Europe. Nice burnout but then couldn't get out of reverse on the return and Crew Chief Robin Grice shut off the motor. That motor really did not want to stop - in fact a fuel motor not wanting to stop is one of your reporter's favourite sounds in drag racing (the first pair of an event firing up being his absolute favourite).

Now, are they fiddling with the car or taking it back to the pit? Right now it is staying where it is in front of the Nitro FM studio and the tow vehicle has gone back to the pits.

15:40

Sounded like a footbrake launch for Tim Stanbury's Pro ET Camaro this run, 0.0577 RT and 9.9017/137.34 at the stripe.

First run of the day for Vidar Ravnsborg on his very nice-looking Supertwin. Long burnout and very crisp-sounding motor. Staged well to the left of centre, good call as it turned out. 1.1922 to sixty feet and 4.7183/157.98 at the eighth, 7.2145/192.12 at the stripe. Very straight run for a Supertwin, too.

Paige Wheeler next around the corner in her Junior Dragster closely trailed by the TV crew. 0.040 RT, 8.1682/78.82 at the eigth.

First run of the day for Supertwin racer Trond Høiberget who I still say resembles a Christmas cracker in those leathers. Nice nitro fumes came up through the floor after the burnout. 1.1888 to sixty feet with shake marks clearly visible on the track out to about 100 feet. 4.6869/160.21 at the eighth and 7.2397/175.73 at the stripe, another straight run.

Jon Giles followed with his Willys which is running in Super Comp this weekend, scent in his fuel reminded me of custard. 0.0910 to sixty feet and 9.0833/142.99 at the stripe, quicker and quicker and he'll be on the Super Comp index before you know it. Stuart Morrice next in the Morrice Boys Camaro, 0.028 RT, a move to the right but Stuart stayed with it, 9.9796/145.31.

Eurodragster.com sponsor Urs Erbacher's Top Fuel Dragster has been sat in the collection area for an age, word on the radio was that Urs was next up after Stuart. Stay tuned.

15:20

Elvira Karlsson back after being shut off on her last attempt. 0.0828 RT, 1.0969 to sixty, 4,7347/142.98 at the eighth drifting to the left and then crossed the centre line between 1000 feet and the top end. Very sensible riding from Elvira, with no-one in the other lane she let the bike go where it wanted to rather than try to wrench it back into its own lane at high speed.

Martyn Jones followed with his first run of the day in his rebuilt Small Fortune Super Pro ET dragster, great to see Syd back. Nice burnout with a huge twitch as Syd got off the throttle but then shut off on the way back from the burnout.

Graham Balchin next up on his Super Street Bike. Tyre up in smoke at the hit and the bike turned hard right, feathered the throttle, went through the gears then drove it gently up the track, 17.5646/76.84. Simon Giordmaina followed on his SSB, 1.3763 to sixty, off and on the throttle, then off it again by 300 feet, 11.8249/67.20. Another SSB next, Danny Cockerill, again a long-duration burnout. 1.3869 then sounded like trouble changing gear, off the throttle for a second or so then back on it, shut off early, 9.2595/125.56.

Burnout and shut off again for Pro Stock Bike racer and Eurodragster.com Blogger Dave Beck. That was the plan last time so wouldn't be surprised if that were the case this time too.

15:05

Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator racer Richard Billings also getting his money's worth here today. Usual big burnout filling the Mustang with smoke and then blackstriped off the line, a couple of pedals, 10.5789/169.16 at the big end.

Kalle Lyrén followed on the Veidec Pro Stock Bike. 0.0617 RT, 1.0947 to sixty feet, down the middle of the lane and shut off just a touch before the stripe, 7.3248/165.47. That was a very nice run.

Chris Hannam next on his Supertwin, the motor not quite so crackly this time but the burnout made stuff move around on our desk. Shut off after the burnout, small fluid leak.

Jack Brewster followed in his Super Pro ET Firebird. 8.53 on the back of the car from his last competitive outing, let's see how close he gets. Burnout to the Tree, 0.0794 RT, 8.5714/159.01 at the stripe so pretty close! Rick McCann next out in his Pro ET Camaro, not quite as big a wheelie this time, 10.342/126.13. Simon Gough and Roy Walker next in a Pro ET pairing, 0.0522 RT for Simon and 10.2756/129.43, 9.7940/138.18 for Roy.

Great run from Steve Venables on his Super Street Bike to open today's account. 1.3177, 4.8973/158.01 at the eighth and 7.4189/192.94 at the stripe.

14:45

Fourth run for Sarah Howells in Eurodragster.com sponsor Ed Yates' slingshot which is running in Pro ET this weekend. 0.0977 RT and 9.3964/138.59 at the stripe.

Dave Wilson followed in the Silverline Top Methanol Dragster. Nice burnout and as always the motor had us worried as it always sounds as if it is leaning out after a burnout. Instant tyre smoke at the hit, 1.3783 to sixty feet and idled through to 15.1225/58.27.

14:35

Second run of the day for Elvira Karlsson on her Pro Stock Bike... never took place as she was shut off after her burnout for a fluid leak.

Germany's Guido Uhlir next up with his Opel which runs in Comp Eliminator at home but which is running in Super Pro ET this weekend. 1.2119 to sixty feet and then made a move about 300 feet out, shut off to 13.3075/59.71. Tim Stanbury followed with his Pro ET Camaro, 9.8328/136.95.

Danny Bellio back after his earlier rain shut-off. Hooked up for a few feet but then tyres shook badly, 1.1084 to sixty feet by which time he was off the throttle and idled through to a 15.8987/66.57.

14:20

Rain stopped Danny Cockerill returned for another shot on his Super Street Bike. Long burnout again then a screech of the tyre at the hit, 1.4096 to sixty, feather of the throttle for a wheelie, 8.6976/171.07.

Pro Stock Bike action next and first run of the day for Martin Bishop. 1.1392 to sixty feet with some shake which Martin rode through, 4.8017/143.92 at the eighth and shut off a touch early as the bike got close to the centre line, 7.7337/145.31.

Eurodragster.com sponsor Graham Ellis followed in his Pro Mod 'Cuda. Burnout to the Tree then shake at the hit, 1.1925 to sixty and pedalled, leisurely drive to the stripe, 10.7157/103.96.

Eurodragster.com Blogger Dave Beck was next up on his Pro Stock Bike with new motor. Very, very long burnout then shut off but word had come over the radio that the plan was just to do a burnout.

Next around the corner was Junior Dragster racer Paige Wheeler with a TV crew from Newsround in attendance. -0.0304 red and 8.2514/77.73 at the eighth.

13:45

A flurry of Pro ET activity next with Roy Walker taking a bye, 0.0771 RT and 9.8516/135.30 followed by Simon Gough 10.3097/129.80 paired up with Jon Turner, Jon Turner 0.0598 RT and 10.4649/128.42. Sarah Howells' third run of the day was a 9.3677/136.97 in Eurodragster.com sponsor Ed Yates' slingshot.

Super Comp action next from Jon Giles with a 0.0564 RT and 9.1291/142.18 followed by Stuart Morrice with the Super Gas set-up in the Morrice Boys Camaro, 0.0142 RT and 10.1302/144.38. On to Super Pro ET and Robin Orthodoxou put in a superb drifting burnout followed by a big wheels-up launch, 7.5218/185.00.

On to two wheels, Simon Giordmaina out for his second pass of the day on his Super Street Bike. 1.3518 to sixty feet, strange shrieking noises on each gear change, close to the centre line in the second eighth and shut off a touch early, 8.1098/164.86. Staying with Super Street Bike, Danny Cockerill was next on track, very long burnout but then shut off on the line for spots of rain at the top end.

13:30

First to run after the rain was Nick Davies in Eurodragster.com sponsor Graham Ellis' Superbird. Gentle launch this time, the Pro Mod equivalent of a footbrake launch I'd say. 1.1943 to sixty, 4.7128/156.35 at the eighth, shut off at about 1000 feet and chutes out before the traps, 7.7210/164.27. Richard Billings followed in his Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator Mustang, pretty much a second burnout at the hit, feathered the throttle then back on it, 9.7173/175.05.

Supertwin action next from Chris Hannam, the bike sounded as strong as I have everheard it sound, when it went to nitro from methanol I swear that machine grew fangs. Great burnout but motor leaned out and Cannon shook his head and shut it off.

Andy Frost followed in his street-legal Pro Mod. Nice run, got off the line pretty well, sixty foot time 1.2377. Blackstriping all the way, 4.8599/149.66 at the eighth and getting close to the centre line, feathering the throttle to 7.4245/189.75, very good opener.

Nick Griffin was next, 0.0915 RT and 10.6450/97.10 in the Southern Belle Super Gasser. Rick McCann and Tim Stanbury then paired up, Pro ET Camaros aplenty. -0.0166 red for Rick, nice 0.0520 for Tim. Good wheelie for Rick, the idea of the new gearing was to bring the wheelies back I understand so mission accomplished there. 10.3176/126.50 for Rick and 9.8181/138.17 for Tim.

12:40

Jack Brewster was next up in his Super Pro ET Firebird. Tyres didn't light on the burnout but a nice pass, 1.252 to sixty feet and 8.5679/159.02 at the stripe.

Dennis Habermann followed in his Top Methanol Dragster. 100 foot burnout then storming pass, 0.9290 to sixty feet, 3.5606/207.85 to the eighth, little wander around the lane in the second eighth but stayed with it, 5.4521/257.56. Great run! Danny Bellio next in his Top Methanol FC. Superb drifting burnout with a hard right turn but he had it covered, alas shut off for sprinkles of rain before staging.

12:20

Fourth run of the day for Tim Stanbury in his Pro ET Camaro. Carla Pittau tells us that Tim is launching off a transbrake for the first time. His RTs are certainly coming down as he gets used to it, almost at a point we can publish now. 9.8333/137.74 at the stripe.

Next up Eurodragster.com Blogger Kalle Lyrén and new Team Veidec member Elvira Karlsson on their Pro Stock Bikes. Ladies first; nice 0.0957 RT for Elvira, 1.1164 to sixty feet, 5.0459/110.04 at the eighth but right by the centre line and shut off at that point, 9.7651/85.22 at the stripe. Kalle followed. First run on the new motor we think. Long burnout then 0.0356 RT, 1.142 to sixty feet, looked like planned shut off at 330 feet 3.0744, 11.0010/66.57 at the quarter.

Sarah Howells followed in Ed Yates' slingshot. Nice pass, 9.3422/138.66.

12:05

Instant spin at the hit for Super Street Bike racer Graham Balchin, off the throttle before the Tree, 21.2667/44.27. 1.4345 to sixty feet for SSB racer Simon Giordmaina, feathering the throttle as the bike headed for the centre line, I suspect the stiff breeze had something to do with that. Shut off to 10.0835/86.54.

Eurodragster.com sponsor Graham Ellis followed in his Pro Mod 'Cuda. Nice straight burnout with a star appearance from a spanner which had been left on the wheelie bar netting. Instant spin at the hit, off the throttle before the Tree, 12.9085/93.65.

Stuart Morrice next up in the Morrice Boys Super Comp/Gas Camaro. 0.0357 RT, throttle stop in SG trim, 10.1411/143.97. Jon Giles followed in the Roar Willys which is running in Super Comp this weekend. 0.0660 RT, 9.1414/143.46 at the stripe, I suspect that's the quickest Jon has ever run, if so then well done Jon!

Next around the corner was Ulf Wagnhester in the Avenger Pro Stock. Screaming burnout then deep stage, intant spin at the hit, a pedal then drove it gently down the track, 13.8466/77.90.

11:35

Paul Spiers' car recovered, Rick McCann and Tim Stanbury went side-by-side in their Pro ET Camaros. 0.0282 RT for Rick, 10.2913/126.50 at the stripe, 9.7823/137.75 for Tim. Sounded from here as if Rick's car was on the rev limiter towards the top end, I understand that he has new gears in the car so maybe down to that.

Also for Pro ET was Sarah Howells in Eurodragster.com sponsor Ed Yates' slingshot which usually runs in the Wild Bunch. Rolled the beams as the lights ran, 12.5212/93.26 at the stripe.

Super Street Bike racer Richard Hann next around the corner on the tail of PBs at the Open Sport Nationals. Blackstripe off the line, 1.7020 to sixty feet, feathered the throttle in the second eighth then shut it off, 9.0070/132.14.

11:05

Super Comp racer Paul Spiers next to the line. Smoked the tyres all the way to 200 feet, then the car turned hard right. Paul had a hold of it and got it pointing down the track again but the car had too much right momentum and the rear right quarter hit the guardrail pretty hard. Paul is A-OK and hopefully the car is not badly damaged.

That was not an earthquake or Paul's collision which moved the webcam just about then; we have people here working on cladding and so on and one of the guys inadvertently moved the camera.

11:00

First run of the day for Nick Griffin in the Southern Belle Super Gasser was 9.862/132.96. Nice pass off the trailer and not too big a breakout - we know the car is capable of it.

Danny Bellio followed in his Top Methanol FC. 150-foot burnout with a pedal about half way through. Nice run, 1.0131 to sixty feet, then driving through shake moving towards the centre line, 3.9200/172.20 at the eighth and just barely missing the eighth-mile reflectors. Shut off to 6.7676/147.67.

Next up was Robin Orthodoxou in his Super Pro ET altered. The usual long burnout, shake at the hit but a clearly-perceptible short-shift, hit the rev limiter in the second eighth, 7.8065/179.82 at the stripe.

Nick Davies followed in Eurodragster.com sponsor Graham Ellis' Superbird Pro Mod. Lots of popping and banging in stage as befits a turbo motor then instant spin at the hit and shut off, 23.4081/57.25.

Next up was Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator racer Richard Billings. Nice burnout then a second burnout at the hit, gave it another go but gave up and idled through, 14.9891/70.40.

Super Street Bike racer Danny Cockerill next to the line, blackstriped off the line, 1.5066 to sixty, 5.4616/143.45 at the eighth, 8.1650/180.65 at the big end.

10:40

First to emerge was Pro ET racer Tim Stanbury, screeched the tyres briefly at the hit then on the gas all the way 9.805/137.37. Your reporter jokingly commented that Tim would be back within a few minutes and he did just that, 9.728/138.19. Reaction times were commensurate with what one would expect first thing in the morning.

Next up and first Pro of the day, Roger Johansson in his Pro Mod. 150-foot burnout although sounded to be misfiring and it was more haze than smoke. Roger's famous yodelling crew member didn't let us down on the way back from the burnout. Roger then did a second burnout, motor sounded much cleaner and more smoke second time. Hooked up at the hit but then shook about thirty feet out, 1.3232 to sixty feet and already shut off. Stopped on the track just past the eighth. When he got his vision back Roger fired up and came back to the start line for another go. Shake at the hit this time, 1.2502 to sixty feet, 14.8118/57.39 at the stripe.

09:30

Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway for our coverage of the Pro Peak Performance Day brought to you in association with Alamo Rent-A-Car.

The Webster Race Engineering/Nimbus Motorsport webcam will be broadcasting live video and trackside audio as long as the track is open. Thanks to our good friends at Doyousee.me for the provision of streaming services.

It's dry but cloudy and quite breezy here at Santa Pod although nowhere near as windy as when we were setting up yesterday, when it was like an eight-hour version of having Martin Hill running below us.

Today's pre-entry list has everything ranging from Pro ET to Pro Mod and Top Fuel Dragster, and Pro Stock Bike. We are also expecting entries on the day.

Today's plan is to bring you frequent reports on what happens on-track, plus a photo gallery at the end of the day. Stay tuned and as soon as the wheels start to turn we'll bring you the news.


Reports and pictures ©Eurodragster.com