2008 Open Sport Nationals
Saturday (qualifying)
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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 20:40 We have posted today's pictures, but will post the captions when we have had dinner. Simon has also posted another batch of pit notes. You can view both via the Event Index. 18:30 We've been stopped for sprinkles of rain in the middle of Sportsman ET session 3. We were over time anyway so the Race Director called a halt when the rain carried on for more than a few moments. We're now going to work on today's pictures, and Simon has some more pit notes for you, so stay tuned. 18:20 Pro Stock Bike qualifying after session 3:
Ray ran another 7.948 in the first pair of the session. Improvements for Richard and Jerry but they stayed in place. Funny Bike qualifying after session 3:
No changes in this session. 18:10 Outlaw Anglia qualifying top five after session 3:
An improvement for Simon but he stayed in #4 at that point; same story for Richard Colby into the eights but staying in #3. Paul Wright did a great driving job to hang on to his blown-alcohol Pop after it made a hard right turn just after half track. VW Alternate Engine qualifying after session 3:
Matt in a camper rather than his usual Fastback. Super Pro ET qualifying top five after session 3:
Jack up to second in the last but one pairing of the session. 17:45 Outlaw Flat Four qualifying top five after session 3:
A wild ride for Phil West as his Beetle got way out of shape coming down from a wheelie, Phil kept it off the guardrails and got it stopped pointing at the other lane. Super Street Bike qualifying top five after session 3:
Graham into the top five at #5 in the first pairing. 17:30 Pro ET qualifying top five after session 3:
No changes to the top five in this session. The top fourteen qualifiers are separated by 0.067. Nostalgia Fuel Altered qualifying session 1 (left lane first): Tony Betts shut off, Dave Grabham 7.194/182.33, Nick Davies 7.990/152.90, Tony Betts shut off, Frank Bennett 10.085/99.87 bye, Jim Usher 6.921/201.58, John Wright 8.792/115.92. No burnout for Dave, but some pretty impressive tyre shake instead. Wheels up launch for both, Nick's front wheels didn't come down until nearly 300 feet and he had to pedal as the car was right by the centre line. Dave took the long way round but still blasted his Personal Best, well done Dave! Tony Betts having shut off immediately after firing up at the start of the session did the same thing after Dave and Nick ran. Next up was Frank, a steady controlled burnout and then wheels-up launch, one slick slipped on some fuel on the track and the car took a left turn. Frank pedalled a couple of times, stayed on it a few more seconds, then shut off and put the chutes out at about 1000 feet. Great burnouts from Jim and John and a superb pass from Jim, the usual gentle launch and a very straight pass then the car disappeared in a huge cloud of smoke on the finish line, John meanwhile hit shake at about 100 feet, pedalled a couple of times then got off the throttle. Trackside conditions are 17.9 C, 57% humidity and 29.80 inches of air, track temperature 25.1 C 16:55 VW Sportsman qualifying top five after session 3:
Abi Tether in at #2, and Polly Naylor into the top five at #5. 9.50 Bike qualifying top five after session 3:
Dave Hall into #2 spot in a run alongside #1 Andy Haley. Jon Webster backed off and sat up very early but still clocked a 9.270. Supertwin ET qualifying top five after session 3:
Steve Partridge into the top five at #2 and Bev Riley improved to stay in the top five. Trackside conditions are 18.8 C, 52% humidity and 29.80 inches of air, track temperature is 27.0 C 16:30 Junior Drag Bike qualifying after session 3:
Giselle improving further to consolidate her lead, Joe into #3 spot. Jorden got closer to dial-in but still the wrong side. Junior Dragster qualifying top five after session 3:
Michael and Matthew into #1 and #2 respectively in the first pairing, Michael on his return to the seat of a JD, well done Michael! Three pairings later Anna took over the lead. A couple of pairings later Josh Saunders came into the top five at #3, followed by Harry Elliott into #1 in the next pair. 16:20 Supertwin Fuel qualifying after session 2:
16:15 Top Fuel Bike qualifying session 2 (left lane first): Steve Woollatt 6.487/228.74 bye, Ian Turburville DQ (bye), Rene Van Den Berg 7.819/165.59 bye, Steve Carey 10.790/166.91 bye A tremendous pass for Steve W, straight as you like, looked a little gentle off the start line so more to come I think. Apologies to Steve, we completely missed it, but Andy Marrs got in touch to point out that Steve's speed is the first half of an ACU UK Top Fuel Bike speed record. Turbo off the throttle at about 100 feet, the engine sounding as if it was struggling. Mister Spokehead was headed for the 330 foot reflector, Turbo lifted his foot off the pegs in an attempt to miss the block but hit it, disqualifying his time of 15.655/85.85. A nice pass for Rene and a new Personal Best, that with cylinders out in the last couple of hundred feet, well done Rene! Steve C launched towards the 330 foot reflector, how he missed it I don't know, then he ran just alongside the centre line, stabbing the throttle then staying on it a few seconds towards the stripe. Qualifying after this session:
Trackside conditions are 18.9 C, 56% humidity and 29.80 inches of air, track temperature is 29.0 C 16:05 Wild Bunch qualifying top five after session 2:
Darren took over the lead, and Pete into #3 spot. VW Pro qualifying after session 2:
Super Comp qualifying after session 2:
Improvements from Frank and Jon but they stayed in place. 15:45 B&H Automotive Street Eliminator qualifying top five after session 2:
A small improvement for Jerry but he stayed in #2 spot at that point. Next to improve was Jeff in next next pairing, making up one place. Next pair and next into the eights, Jason moved into #2 spot. Jon immediately took over #2 from Jason with a run which sounded right on the edge of spinning the tyres, nicely-judged. A well-judged pass from Splinter, too, to consolidate his #1 spot at that point. Steve P into #2 spot with the last pairing of the session, more to come from the Calibra since Steve had to pedal as the car went out of shape. Super Street qualifying top five after session 2:
Martyn into the top five at #2 in the last-but-one pairing of the session. In the last pairing of the session, Harrison took over #1 spot. 15:30 Supertwin Gas qualifying top five after session 2:
An improvement for Andy but no change in position. Simon has posted today's first set of pit notes. 15:25 Super Gas qualifying top five after session 2:
No changes to the top five in this session. Comp Bike qualifying top five after session 2:
Stu into #2 spot in the first pairing of the session. Phil L and Nick into #3 and #5 respectively in the next pairing. Next up was Roland taking back his #3 spot from Phil. An improvement for Ivan consolidated his #1 spot, no speed record this time but a lot left because Ivan went the long way round and backed off early. 15:05 Sportsman ET qualifying top five after session 2:
Ian Petrie is out for the weekend after putting out a rod in this session, lots of oil on the shutdown area but the track crew did a good job of the clean-up. Nick into the lead in this session, Steve U into #4 spot and John into #5. Pro Stock Bike qualifying after session 2:
A big improvement for Dave consolidated his #1 spot. Len into #2 spot but a lot of smoke from the bike, nothing found on the track. Funny Bike qualifying after session 2:
A big improvement for Tim moved him up to #2 spot. 14:30 Super Pro ET qualifying top five after session 2:
Big changes to the top five. John into the lead, Rick Cooke improved but now #2, and Nigel Turner and Dave Ward into the top five at #3 and #4 respectively. VW Alternate Engine qualifying after session 2:
No changes in this session. Trackside conditions are 19.2 C, 46% humidity and 29.80 inches of air, track temperature is 29.2 C 14:05 Outlaw Anglia qualifying top five after session 2:
An improvement for Simon moved him up a spot to #4 in the first pairing even though he smoked the tyres off the line. Super Street Bike qualifying top five after session 2:
Richard into #1 spot in the second pairing of the session. Two pairings later, Mark came into the top five at #4 followed three pairings later by Steve Venables in at #2. Dave and Scott went side-by-side into #2 and #3 in the next pair. 13:45 Supertwin ET qualifying top five after session 2:
Joe into #4 spot, and Bev Riley in at #5. Outlaw Flat Four qualifying top five after session 2:
Dave moved into #2 spot in the fourth pairing of the session, and Jim came into the top five at #3 with his first run of the day. Trackside conditions are 18.8 C, 46% humidity and 29.83 inches of air, track temperature 32.0 C 13:35 Pro ET qualifying top five after session 2:
Every one of the top five places replaced in this session, Liz taking over the lead. The top fourteen qualifiers are separated by 0.100. 9.50 Bike qualifying top five after session 2:
Jon into the top five at #2. Chris Jones ran an 8.558 in this session, very naughty! 13:20 VW Sportsman qualifying top five after session 2:
Martin into the lead, Adrian into the top five at #5. 13:10 Junior Drag Bike qualifying after session 2:
Giselle took over the lead in the second pairing. Jorden into the standings with his first run of the day. Junior Dragster qualifying top five after session 2:
Matthew into the top five in the first pairing, in at #3 at that point. Two pairings later Rosie came in at #4, then in the next pairing Scott Hauser took over the lead. 13:00 Nostalgia Fuel Altered Test and Tune (left lane first): Dave Grabham 10.844/117.10, Paul Wratten 7.467/139.40, Frank Bennett 10.517/120.20 bye, Jim Usher 9.137/88.87, Joe Bond 10.559/74.13, Nick Davies 10.298/86.20 bye, John Wright shut off (bye), Tony Betts shut off (bye), John Wright 11.035/72.26 bye Trackside conditions at the start of the session were 18.7 C, 49% humidity and 29.85 inches of air, track temperature 28.5 C. Charlie Draper not present with the Wrattens, I'm guessing he is on Malta. 300-foot burnout by Paul. On the green Dave's altered headed for the guardrail whilst Paul drove through shake, the tyres flapping. Dave got within a fag paper of the guardrail, and every time he hit the throttle the Topo made a violent move, he really had his hands full. Paul got off the throttle at about half track, the engine sounded to be labouring at that point. Shards of metal were found in Dave's lane after his run. First run for Frank on the new set-up, wheels-up launch and 0.990 to sixty feet and whilst the wheels were in the air the car made a hard move to the right and Frank pedalled, then got off the throttle altogether. Word came back on the track radio that there was oil on the car, no oil found on the track though. Two hundred foot burnout for Jim. Joe on the first outing with changes to the set-up. The Mob left the line quite gently but picked up, the car disappearing into clutch dust, a straight pass for Joe to begin with but then the Topo made a move for the guardrail and Joe got off the throttle for a second or so then hit it again but the Top didn't want to go straight so he shut off. A 200-foot burnout for Nick and then a launch, wheels up and staying that way until the car made a move for the centreline and Nick shut off. John Wright shut off after his burnout, a fuel leak the cause. First time on track for Tony Betts in the new Venom car, shut off by the Tree on return from the burnout. Fuel fitting fixed, John Wright returned. Front wheels high in the air on launch, 1.029 to sixty feet then tyre shake and off the throttle about 120 feet out. 12:15 Supertwin Fuel qualifying after session 1:
Wendy on her first outing on a bike new to her, completely rebuilt by Wendy since its last outing three years ago. 12:05 Top Fuel Bike qualifying session 1 (left lane first): Steve Woollatt 10.112/80.40 bye, Ian Turburville shut off, Steve Carey 13.997/63.76 bye, Rene Van Den Berg 8.000/168.81 bye Steve W's rear slick didn't really light in the burnout and the engine note went up and the tyre blackstriped about 100 feet out, Steve got off the throttle. Turbo didn't look happy as the bike started, shaking his head, and the motor shut off as Turbo pulled forward for his burnout. Steve took the bye and the Purple Princess went out of shape off the line, Steve feathered the throttle and tried again but the bike didn't want to go straight so he shut off. Raw fuel from the exhausts during Rene's burnout, and a straight pass into #1 spot. Qualifying after this session:
11:55 Wild Bunch qualifying top five after session 1:
Super Comp qualifying after session 1:
11:45 Super Street qualifying top five after session 1:
0.002 Reaction Time for Harrison Brown, having a good go at the Eurodragster.com/Speedflow £75. VW Pro qualifying after session 1:
11:40 B&H Automotive Street Eliminator qualifying top five after session 1:
Trackside conditions are 19.3 C, 48% humidity and 29.85 inches of air, track temperature is 30.0 C 11:20 Comp Bike qualifying top five after session 1:
We had our first look at Bob Brooks' new Yellow Metal Comp Bike, a very nice piece of kit. Bob was on an observed run this time out, burnout and launch and taking it gently. Ivan Birch did the first half of a new ACU UK Comp Bike speed record, well done Ivan! Supertwin Gas qualifying top five after session 1:
11:05 Sportsman ET qualifying top five after session 1:
10:55 Super Gas qualifying top five after session 1:
Trackside conditions are 18.5 C, 53% humidity and 29.91 inches of air, track temperature is 27.2 C 10:45 Super Pro ET qualifying top five after session 1:
VW Alternate Engine qualifying after session 1:
10:30 Pro Stock Bike qualifying after session 1:
Funny Bike qualifying after session 1:
Trackside conditions are 17.5 C, 58% humidity and 29.91 inches of air, track temperature is 25.2 C 10:15 Outlaw Anglia qualifying top five after session 1:
We think a new Personal Best for Cliff Griffin, well done Cliff! 10:10 Outlaw Flat Four qualifying top five after session 1:
10:00 Super Street Bike qualifying top five after session 1:
9:55 Supertwin ET qualifying top five after session 1:
9:45 Pro ET qualifying top five after session 1:
Trackside conditions are 15.7 C, 67% humidity and 29.88 inches of air, track temperature is 19.6 C. 9:30 VW Sportsman qualifying top five after session 1:
9.50 Bike qualifying top five after session 1:
9:20 Junior Drag Bike qualifying after session 1:
Junior Dragster qualifying top five after session 1:
8:45 Good morning and welcome from Shakespeare County Raceway. It's a beautiful day and we're here to bring you all the news in association with American Car Imports. The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is on-line and posting a picture every sixty seconds. There's not a cloud in the sky. Trackside conditions are 14.2 C, 74% humidity and 29.85 inches of air and right now the temperature on the start line is 16.8 C. Qualifying is due to start at 9:00 with Junior Dragster and Junior Drag Bike. Stay tuned and as soon as the wheels start to turn we'll be here with all the numbers. Reports and pictures ©Eurodragster.com |