Super Twin Gas no.1 qualifier Chris Mott had a broken clutch after a 9.36 run on his Harley V-Rod yesterday and Chris's racing partner Gavin Cupit brought a new clutch up specially from High Wycombe. Chris then proceeded to improve his time to a 9.31, short of his PB of 9.1 but recording a best 60ft time of 1.28. Chris said "I'm very pleased with this. It's the sixth year I've been running the bike and thanks to Gavin for getting the replacement out of our second bike."

Eurodragster.com webcam sponsor John Webster is having a busy weekend running B&H Automotive Street Eliminator and 9.50 Bike. "It's my second meeting on the bike and I feel it's more luck than judgment that I qualified third. Tim Blakemore has set the bike up and maintains it. It is more difficult to be consistent with a bike to balance between launching with too much power and wheelies or too little and bogging on the line. It will be different on race day when I have to get a good reaction time as well. Riding the bike gives an insight on the track as you feel more of it on the bike. I haven't yet worn leathers in the car but will need to be careful if we go rounds. The objective with the car is to underline the performance. We have had to soften the car at the launch and put more in at the top end.

Outlaw Flat Four racer Jim Smith suffered a problem with his turbo boost controller, running a best of 10.68. He said "I've taken the controller out and will be relying on the springs in the wastegate to control the boost." Jim has also had issues with his carburrettor and thanks Tony Morris for helping to look at this and make some useful adjustments. Jim's aim is to run a nine this weekend.

B&H Automotive Street Eliminator and Outlaw Flat Four racer Martin Taylor is out for the rest of the weekend after the car broke both half shafts on his launch against Steve Pateman. "The car has been a ten year ongoing project, I did most of the engine build, Paintbox did the body and Jon Webster the chassis. The engine puts out about 520hp and is turbocharged by a Garrett 88/44 with AEM engine management and fuel injection." Martin thanks RC Developments for engine mapping work, Jon Webster for getting the car so much traction with the rear suspension setup and wife Julie for her help at the track. Martin is a machinist and will fabricate his own half shafts for future use to get the car down in the low eights.

B&H Automotive Street Eliminator racer Jerry Charles said "We are getting back to where we were running 8.3s. The engine melted a piston at the Summer Nationals and we had to rebiuld it. The first two runs this weekend were without gas and with a mild tune and we will check the plugs lean it out and probably give it some nitrous. The nitrous helps burn off the oil that has been causing the smoke out of the car." Jerry thanks his newphew DJ Spoony, Brantwood Auto Breakers, Visions and new sponsors Vetura Developments (Antigua). Jerry is of Antiguan descent and this may be the last year that we see the Capri in the UK as he plans to ship the car to Antigua in 2009 to display it and represent the West Indies in competition at Antigua's local track. Jerry's team is Dave Pollen and Roger Cassidy.

Paul Marston Racing have three entries, Paul in Super Gas, Mick Howling in Pro ET and Dave Catton in Super Comp. Paul said "We are working on a Super Gas setup. My reaction was 0.04 on the first proper start this weekend (the previous ones were spoilt by transbrake problems) and my first time in the class for three years. Dave is no.1 qualifier in Super Comp and leads the National and track championships." Eurodragster.com editor Tog is making runs in Grumpy's Dodge at the Peak Performance event at Santa Pod next weekend and had a seat fitting on Saturday. "The car is more lively on methanol. We taught three people last weekend at Santa Pod and got them all to license standard on the day. That's just about achievable for a rookie but it's a steep learning curve. After instruction, students drive the car around the track, then make two runs down the track and then get comments from me before two more runs. Procedures in the burnout and at the start line are crucial but it's also important to keep in the comfort zone."

Outlaw Anglia racer Richard Colby's engine has stepped up in the engine department this year. The small block Chevy is up to 400 cu in from 350 last year, the boost on the 6-71 Weiand supercharger is increased and a nitrous system has been added for good measure. "I'm happy with the car and with the nitrous off the line there is plenty of power and I need to drive it a lot more than before."

Sportsman ET racer Brian Huxley said that the Cando Mustang had suffered a broken HT lead which accounted for times being half a second off the dial-in. Brian mentioned that Top Banana will likely be seen in competition no more after this season as a buyer has been found and the car will return to street use. The replacement will be another Pro ET car and a deal is being sought for a Jon Webster-built Mercury Comet, currently in storage in Scotland.

Nick Holland (left) and father Barry Holland (right) now form a two bike team. Barry, who was Comp Bike champion in 2000, had run the bike for a few years. Nick, who had run 10.90 bike in 2003-4, stepped up to the Comp Bike in 2007 and won the Best Newcomer award and sixth place in the championship. The Comp Bike is the smallest engine in the class with a Z1000 at 1075cc with turbo but no gas. Performance is a best of 8.0/162 and 8.2/157 this weekend. Barry runs a Honda VTR Firestorm 1000 in Supertwin ET.

Super Street Bike racer Graham Dance is running with a new nitrous system. He said "My bike is now the only nitrous one in the class and it has been reliable; I ran three passes last weekend at Hockenheim and another three here without any trouble and three of these were in the sevens. The track is a bit difficult for Super Street Bikes and we are all spinning our tyres. I want more power so I am leaning out the fuel system but don't want to melt anything. The nitrous system was designed by Brad O'Connor of BTC Motronics and I'm grateful for his help. The bike also has a new Len Paget clutch and this helps give me the best sixty foot times in the class." Graham has been racing for twenty years, in Pro Stock for a number of years which has influenced his smooth tucked-in riding style. Along with Steve Venables, Graham Balchin and Jamie Sneddon, he will be running an exhibition race at the European Finals.

Outlaw Anglia racer and class co-ordinator Paul Wright is pleased with a number of high sevens in qualifying. "We are here to maintain our points lead but not to set ET records. I'm pleased with the quality of cars and the numbers which are improving all the time." The 20th Anniversary Hot Rod Drags on 12-14 September is the championship decider for Outlaw Anglia this year and Paul expects it to be a great event.

The new Competition Bike of Bob Brooks is a very detailed piece of engineering. The engine is a Puma billet bottom end with Suzuki stock patterned heads that were 'skulled' by Bob. Bob built the frame and also constructed the gearbox casing which houses a unique arrangement of two Bentec gearsets matched together to create a three speed box, with a Bentec clutch. The only common parts with Bob's previous bike which was also a work of art, are the cylinder head and Sprintex supercharger which will be updated after the initial passes. Nigel Brooks, Bob's brother said "Bob did 100% of the work himself in two years out of his garage, working after his day job. The old bike ran a best of 7.8 and the last observed run was a half throttle 9.01 so we hope for an eight this weekend.