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

Welcome to our report of today's Peak Performance Day, brought to you in association with Alamo Rent-A-Car.

We had a number of stars of the show today. Gareth Ellis put in a brace of superb runs in the Top Methanol Funny Car to complete his licencing in time for next week's FIA Main Event. Gareth's first run was a 6.273/226.73 to great jubilation from dad Graham and the crew, followed by a 6.432/222.21 and a handshake for Graham from Chief Starter and observer Ian Marshall. Tethys continued his familiarisation passes in the Dave Wilson Racing Top Methanol Dragster. The first pass was shut off a touch past half track 7.122/151.62 and then in the first run after the lunch break Tet stormed to a 5.935/251.81. 4.009/201.33 at the eighth, vapour from the top of the motor but it must have felt OK to Tet as he stayed with it and ran the coveted five-second pass.

Paula Atkin impressed yet again in the Rare Breed Mustang, carrying Comp Eliminator ANA numbers for next week. Paula opened her account with a fine 7.041/192.83 then on her second pass was pushed back after burnout problems but returned to storm into the sixes and over 200 mph, 6.855/203.27. This is looking food for next weekend with the ANA index a 7.26. Super Pro ET racer and regular RWYB attendee Roy Walker was a candidate for Most Runs of the Day, getting the Ventora turned around very quickly. His best was a very rapid 8.765/152.64.

On two wheels Super Street Bike racer Martin Wilson (aka TC) ran his first seven-second pass at 7.995/185.00 backed up with a 7.994/177.81 under the supervision of Brad O'Connor. Fellow SSB racer Graham Dance with usual sidekick Len Paget was in awesome form, deep into the sevens with a best of 7.452/191.34 looking good ahead of next weekend's first round of the FIM European Cup. Jemma Venables got her money's worth with several runs on her Comp Bike, dad Steve turning the screw a little each run culminating in a superb 7.535/192.95. How long before Jemma starts tugging dad Steve's sleeve for a go on his Super Street Bike was one of the questions discussed at trackside. Martin Brookes stayed on from yesterday's testing and ran more nine-second passes on his Supertwin Comp bike, the best a 9.566/137.79 which we think is a PB or somewhere near.

Carla Pittau and Rick McCann's new Pro ET entry Heavy and Hell made its first outing, the very pretty Catalina clocking 12.928/100.72 with a lot of smoke from the motor in the second half. The track was checked and found to be OK. Carla told us that the dipstick had been blown out on that first pass. The second run was a 12.799/102.16, less smoke this time but water was found in a cylinder indicating possible engine damage. The Heaven and Hell team trailered up and headed for home at that point, such is Carla and Rick's dedication that the motor probably is already being taken apart as I type.

Another new car making its début today was Alan Williamson's Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator pick-up which has been rebuilt at Eurodragster.com sponsor Chris Isaacs Race Cars. The front end of the pick-up proved very keen to come up on launch making for good pictures. Alan put in a couple of checkout passes, the best a 10.629/128.67. We also got our first look at Simon Barlow's new Ford Pop van which is destined for Outlaw Anglia. The van had been with Eurodragster.com sponsor Webster Race Engineering before coming to the track and Jon was on hand to oversee the first few passes. Simon was concentrating on launches, his best run an 11.736/76.59.

Super Pro ET racer Martyn Jones put in a couple of passes in his dragster which regular readers know is pretty much a Top Methanol Dragster save some parts not legal for TMD which Martyn deliberately has on the car to prevent him taking the plunge. First pass was 7.009/166.02, Martyn was audbily feathering the throttle. Second pass was a stormer at 6.268/222.22. Collin Morrice was on the numbers in the Morrice Boys Camaro, the dual-duty car set to Super Gas judging by a series of 9.9-second passes the best of which was 9.918/148.19. Collin pulled a 0.000 Perfect Light on a breakout pass.

Jon Giles' Super Comp/Super Gas Willys was set for Super Comp, the motor was smoking at the top end on each run but Jon clocked a best of 9.118/150.11. Another welcome returnee was Mick Howling in Grumpy's Dodge, a 0.006 RT showed that he had lost nothing during his downtime. Mick clocked a best of 9.727/136.91.

Holley Marshall, daughter of Paula and Ian Marshall, is the new driver of Santa Pod Raceway's ADI Group-sponsored Junior Funny Car. Given that both parents were no mean racers themselves you won't be surprised to hear that Holley is a natural. She clocked a best of 8.474/78.41 from today's four runs. The Alamo duo of Paige and Belle Wheeler continued on from yesterday's testing. Paige's best run of the day was 8.210/76.94 with a best RT of 0.020 whilst Belle clocked a best of 12.972/50.36 in her Junior Stock Dragster. Reigning Champion Joe Kellett's best run of the day was an 8.159/78.28 with a best RT of 0.026. Thomas Cook-Abbott also remained from yesterday's testing and continued the nine-second passes with a best of 9.292/68.42 and a best RT of 0.053.