FIA/FIM-E Euro Finals
Santa Pod Raceway, 7th-10th September, 2023

Pro Peak Performance Test and Tune Day



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17:05

Daniel Giles 7.5351/175.05, again with a small mid track wiggle. Followed by Martin Hill in FireForce 3 Jet Funny Car, the jets planned to run 12 times this event, either in pairs over 1000ft or singly over the quarter. 6.0934/242.36 (1.2722 to 60ft and 4.1833/198.83 to half track).

That's all for today's testing report, come back later for our galleries from Diana and Julian.

17:00

Victoria-Smith in her twin turbo Street Eliminator Buick ran 9.2930/170.44 with a gentle launch and a slight shriek from the tyres going into 2nd gear. Leah Morrison (JBM) on her 17th pass ran 11.8741/49.44. Rob Smallworth (Comp Eliminator '55 Chevy) launched with a 1.1579 then the car went left after 60ft and Rob lifted to a 14s pass.

Emmy Crundwell (JM) ran 9.3982/69.50. Leah Morrison (JBM) 11.8302/49.74. Brad Head (8.50 Bike) 7.7368/171.72, new PB ET for Brad, well done Brad, Jake and team! Kriszti�n-J�sz 6.8908/209.92 more team applause for backing up his earlier pass in the 6.8s and in the 210s. Daniel Lencs�s ran 6.7920/220.03 to more applause for his best run of the day.

16:30

Leah Morrison (JBM) 11.8540/49.53, Brad Head 11.9217/65.04 (lifted before half track). John Bean 9.6861/136.95, nice pass with sponsor Jeff Bull in attendance. Jeff remained on the start line for Collin Morrice who ran his Camaro in Super Pro mode, without throttle stop, to 8.6753/154.22. Ozzie Brown 10.9169/121.16, Harley-Jay Darby 9.2549/150.55, non-nitrous pass.

Terry Newton (Comp Eliminator) 9.2110/159.02, Dave Crowhurst 9.3540/145.27. Leah Morrison 11.8107/49.41, Susie McClure 13.1289/83.32, bit of a wiggle mid track and off the throttle. Erich Gruber made the launch, the bike got sideways at 60ft and he got back on it for a 8.6056/179.96.

Ahmed-Jamshaid (FWD Civic) had a 1.4858 60ft and lifted before half track to a 10.3768/91.94. Jess Bishop in her Pro ET dragster ran another consistent 9.2783/152.61.

16:15

Kriszti�n J�sz 6.9205/210.80, great performance and new PB speed, his PB coming into the event was 7.094/198, well done Kriszti�n and team! Team mate Daniel Lencses then ran 6.8691/214.79, nice pass showing that Team Brothers have a handle on the track. A big Hello to Margot Schmidt who for family reasons can't be here with her team and competing.

Leah Morrison's 13th run on her Junior Modified Bike 11.8609/49.31. Ozzie Brown 10.8964/121.43, well under the Pro ET cut off. Mark Hope 7.0756/204.29, great run, not far short of his 7.02/205.33 PBs.

16:00

Peter �stlund (SSB) 7.3544/186.61. Susie McClure in Eye Candy ran 10.9880/121.16. Jess Bishop 9.2806/153.08, Clemens-Walleit 7.6224/191.36, Ozzie Brown 10.9319/121.83.

15:30

Ahmed Jamshaid suffered traction problems on his launch to a 19s pass. Frankie Kent 12.0373/52.88 v Teddy Howe 12.6210/50.68. Steve Venables 8.3245/147.19. Leah Morrison's 11th run was 11.6089/55.21 and 12th 11.5029/55.76. Erich-Gruber on his SSB Kawa ran 7.7214/189.00.

15:15

John Bean 9.7302/137.27, Susie McClure (Pro ET dragster) 11.0870/106.13, each run quicker than the last. Dave Crowhurst (Pro ET Camaro) 9.3431/145.25. Brad Head (8.50 Bike) 7.8173/163.67, I wonder if Brad is looking to move up a class for 2024 (he did tell us no)?

Grace Smith (JMA) launched and the engine sounded unwell almost immediately, Grace feathered the throttle and it could be the team is in for some work finding the source. Short pause to recover Grace's car. Daniel Giles ran a 7.4743/177.08, the car much straighter but the conditions taking about a tenth off his usual time. Collin Morrice ran 9.9142/149.06.

15:00

Clemens Walleit suffered another engine cut-out as he went up on the chip, pushed back again, it's what testing's for, guys. Next Harley-Jay Darby, engine cut out, leak found, pushed back. Then Victoria Smith launched and fed power in which caused the car to make a big move to the left at 60ft she skilfully corrected it and idled to a 15s time.

Daniel Lencses 7.4799/213.90 (1.6125 60ft so looked more like a checkout pass). Emmy Crundwell (JM) 9.5283/68.52.

14:45

Rob Smallworth (Comp Eliminator '55 Chevy) went to the right at 60ft corrected and went left, lifted by half track to 10.4679/89.75. Next Andy Bond on his, half pass to 8.8029/109.09, they must have an awful lot of data now. Then Leah Morrison to 11.6446/54.42. Ozzie Brown (Pro ET Camaro) 11.1164/121.73, the team wanting to get into the tens to be competitive.

Erich Gruber (SSB) 8.0018/188.21, tyre spin at 60ft but nicely recovered. Then Clemens-Walleit on his similar green Kawasaki SSB, engine cut out on start line and was pushed back. Kriszti�n J�sz ran a new PB 6.8880/207.98 to the delight of his crew, well done Kriszti�n and team! Leah Morrison followed, 11.6629/54.23 on her eighth pass of the day.

Terry Newton 9.3242/152.61, first full bore run of the day for him. Then Jess Bishop 9.2716/152.12, three consistent runs so far. Andy Bond 8.2100/130.28 still with some wheelspin mid track.

14:30

Emmy Crundwell (Junior Modified Dragster) 9.4664/66.71. Frankie Kent 12.1361/51.85 v Teddy Howe 12.8678/49.27, then Susie McClure 14.1966/53.70 in Eye Candy followed by Ozzie Brown 10.9256/119.92 and shorter time on the limiter. Pause for track check in the Kestrel Beer (left) lane.

Mark Hope (SSB) 7.2176/199.75, nice pass, on the limiter for a microsecond at the top of first.

14:15

Dirk Peiler returned, the reverser problem cured and ran 7.5018/181.31 (1.1042 60ft), nice pass, throttle feathered in second half we'd say. Terry Newton made a launch and 13s pass in his FWD Escort van (lettering missing from the rear). Then Collin Morrice made another pass 9.8731/147.21 with throttle stop again.

First run for Ozzie Brown in the Thatadoo Camaro running in Pro ET, 11.1395/114.04 hitting the limiter in the second half. Then Steve Venables (SSB51) 7.0714/211.88, great to see Ven has made the decision to join the party and hopefully ensure a 16 bike ladder. The first Pro Mod out was Andres Arnover who had experienced gearbox problems at Hockenheim, 5.8817/246.36 great first pass 0.9904 60ft and 3.8942/195.29 to half track.

Victoria Smith brought her Buick Skylark but staging problems with the twin turbo setup resulted in no time. Peter Östlund from Sweden on his SSB 7.2654/187.28 (1.2075 60ft). Ozzie Brown's second pass was 11.0390/121.50.

13:05

Dirk Peiler in his Comp Eliminator supercharged Dodge Dart, car wouldn't back up after the burnout, track crew ran to it to assist, Dirk shut off and was pushed back. The car has a Chris Alston chassis and the 470ci engine is from Keith Black, sounds great and should be back shortly after the lunch break with the gear shift mechanism being looked at with the car just behind the ready line.

Now on a 30 minute lunch break, see you later!

13:00

Next Susie Mcclure on a licensing pass in her Eye Candy dragster 18.4774/40.47 launch which looked good. Leah Morrison 11.6157/54.82. Ahmed-Jamshaid (Comp Eliminator Honda Civic) 8.4239/179.93 first pass.

Brad Head (8.50 Bike) second pass 7.7828/178.50 with team boss Jake Mechaell pleased with the full-bore pass. Followed by Erich Gruber (SSB) 7.6912/187.45, heading slightly towards the centre line and steered away.

12:40

Junior Stock Dragsters Frankie-Kent 12.0814/51.91 v Teddy Howe 13.0951/48.90, Harley-Jay Darby 9.1297/152.09 with just a smidge of tyre screech first to second. Daniel Giles in the Giles & Hartley dragster, the team run at virtually every test day. The car wandered a bit at half track and Daniel lifted to 9.0319/92.56. Pause for track inspection and sledding.

Jess Bishop's second pass in her Pro ET dragster a consistent 9.2458/152.57, Dave Crowhurst (Pro ET Camaro) 9.4486/143.42. Then the SSBs of Daniel Lences a strong 7.0058/214.10 and Mark-Hope 9.2105/97.71 followed by Leah Morrison (JDB) 11.643/54.68.

12:20

Chris Newsam (Pro ET MG ZS) 9.6516/136.94 v Bill Wilson 12.5962/102.62, Andy Bond 8.6343/107.32.

Brad Head (8.50 Bike) 8.0130/177.10, Peter-�stlund (SSB) 7.2302/195.49 (front wheel up on the pass), Kriszti�n J�sz (SSB) 7.0914/203.35

Fourth run for Andy Bond 8.9163/107.27.

12:00

Terry Newton (Comp Eliminator FWD Escort Van) 10.2004/135.72, easy pass. Then Victoria-Smith in her potent Buick, spun the tyres on the launch and idled down track to a 15s run, hopefully without damage. the team will be trying for a seven this event. Second run for Leah Morrison, 11.5543/55.01 to half track on her JDB.

Grace Smith in her Junior Dragster 8.037/81.22. Third run for Leah Morrison 11.5403/55.01. Erich Gruber 7.6569/189.80, nice run steered away from the centre line and compares to his 7.52 PB.

11:45

Kriszti�n J�sz (SSB) 7.1634/205.35 (1.2496 60ft), new PB speed for Kriszti�n. Harley-Jay Darby 11.6680/72.97, early lift in the twin turbo Chevy Pickup. Track sledded and left hand lane sprayed.

Collin-Morrice back in the seat of the Morrice Bros Camaro, the team doing double duty in Super Gas and Super Pro ET, 9.8217/147.72 with throttle stop. Followed by Dave Crowhurst in his Camaro (rather than the Subaru engined Beetle), entered for Pro ET, 9.2699/145.34.

Next the Kawasaki Super Street Bikes of Clemens Walleit (Germany) 8.1902/127.59 v Erich Gruber (Austria) 12.5069/67.76. Junior Drag Bike of Leah Morrison 11.4921/55.15. John Bean then brought his 598ci Pro ET Mustang to the line and ran 9.7198/137.29, feathering towards the end. Bill Wilson's Ford F100 pickup with a misfiring engine went 12.2153/106.69, Bill in his second event in Pro ET after a cage was installed prior to the Summer Nationals.

11:30

Jessica Bishop brought her Pro ET dragster to the line and went 9.2582/152.65, a good time for the car, gearbox issues earlier in the year solved before the Summer Nationals.

Next the Junior Stock Dragsters of Teddy Howe 14.0895/46.60 and newcomer eight year old Frankie Kent, son of FC racer Kevin, 12.0612/52.15.

11:00

The fog has cleared, the track has been rubbered by the counter-rotator and sledded. We should be starting shortly as there is a rumbling in the pairing lanes.

The rumbling was Andy Bond in the Ugly Sister Street Eliminator Chevy 210. 1.2905 launch, broke traction just before the eighth and lifted to 8.8135/109.77. A second run around 15 minutes later produced the same 60ft time to withing 1/10000 sec, and Andy lifted at half track to 9.3625/100.97.

09:30

Good morning and welcome to Santa Pod for the Euro Finals test day. The weather is currently foggy after temperatures dipped to 15C overnight however we expect the fog to burn off very quickly and for the temperature to rise to 29C with a 7mph wind from the north east. Density altitude for which we thank airdensityonline.com, is currently 1120ft and is predicted to rise to 2400ft or so, with 77-84 grains of water.

With the test day format the flow of vehicles varies throughout the day and usually increases in the afternoon; we will provide times and speeds of those we see going down the track, so come back and see how the day progresses. We expect some Pro teams to be running but these teams often don't put in full passes to avoid mechanical damage. The launch is the crucial area for testing.

Hi to Eurodragsterholics out there. A special greeting to Nic and Dan Williams with Spencer Tramm, Lorne Denny and team who were racing over in the US last weekend at the US Nationals. Dan qualified their gold Nova #2 in A/S with -1.129 below the 10.95 index, reached the semi final of class eliminations, aa great achievement also was qualifying #31 in one of the most competitive fields of NHRA competition, with 146 competitors trying for a 128 car field!

We will be posting a gallery from today's action and will also post in our report any news snippets we hear from the pits. To any who are travelling to Santa Pod today we wish a safe journey and will see you all here tomorrow. Happy Birthday for today to Supercharged Outlaw crew member Martin "The Duck" Hill, to former Top Fuel Bike racer Roel Koedam and to former Supertwin racer Brian Udall, we hope you have a great day.

Come back later for the latest news.


Reports and pictures ©Eurodragster.com