Street Eliminator racer and Eurodragster.com webcam sponsor Jon Webster continues to improve the times for Ian Jackson's twin turbo 'Vette, running an 8.41/170 this weekend. Jon said "We are still developing the fuel map having got the ignition right and will look to increase the boost level in the next run which is a bye. Being based in New York on the New York Post and Wall Street Journal Ian is working six days a week but has been keeping an eye on the race through the coverage and by phone. Once we have finished developing the car it will be up for sale and I will be back in the MG ZX at the Summer Nationals."

Super Street racer Dave Cherrett is competing in Pro ET as well for all of 2008. "Running in Pro ET gives us the opportunity to run the car all out and adjust the dial-in according to the condtiions. I was no. 1 in Super Street straight off the trailer and ran a 9.91 on a dial in of 10.00 in Pro ET in the second session." Dave is up against Dan Page in the second round of Pro ET. Crewman Dave Shacklock oversees operations.

In Street Eliminator Ian Hook continues to run a borrowed engine while he works on a new 600 cu in nitrous motor that will put out in excess of 1500hp. The engine will have a dry sump and being ally, it will be 100lbs lighter than currently. He said "The I hope we can be racing with the new engine by Bug Jam or the Open Sport Nationals. We then plan to run Super Pro or Comp Eliminator at the Euro Finals." In the meantime the emphasis is on preparing the new engine - hence the team going back to base after the rain started to work on it.

Fellow Street Eliminator racer Steve Pateman said "The season has got off to a slow start at the Thunderball and we had suspension problems at the Big Bang. This weekend we had fuel issues leading to an 11 second run but we are confident we have solved these".

Funny Bike rider Tim Blakemore said "During the winter we changed the plenum, headers, turbo and waste gate. These changes were designed to get better boost on the launch and increased boost down the track. The bike ran a 7.50 which is good considering we haven't been able to get a race tune-up into it so far. Our next run is a bye and then it's against Chris Hall who has been testing his bike on our dyno. I'm looking forward to racing the bike in UEM Top Fuel at the Main Event.

Comp bike racer Kev Charman is now racing the ex-MRE bike formerly campaigned by Dave Holland. "We bought the bike as a rolling chassis and added a Kenny Cooper engine which he built over the winter. It's been a rush and we were still fitting brake lines on Friday." Kev is looking for 7.2s and has so far gone 7.5 with the nitrous engine in only its second meeting. Thanks go to team members Big Chris and Ian and sponsors Zone Security, Rycroft Design Services and Ensys Air Conditioning.

Super Twin Gas racer Ric Naylor has a new frame and Yamaha RD450 engine. "Our runs so far this weekend have had clutch slip and then too tight clutch settings but have been clean runs nevertheless. I have only done six runs with the new bike, but want to chase the class records. The bike took two years to build and I've been crewing for Dave Beck in the meantime."

Super Street racer Ady Lockley ran to 8.7s to no.7 qualifier and a race with Chris Reed in the first round. He said "I have a new front end with 16" wheels and Pzycleworks Yokes and run the maximum wheelbase of 108" and minimum ground clearance of 50mm. The engine is turbo assisted. It's a seven second bike." The team's name Shady racing is an amalgam of wife Sharon's name with his name.

9.50 Bike racer Martin Walker ran two 9.41s in qualifying and was really pleased with the improved performance in spite of being under the index. "It wasn't the bike, it was me," he joked. "The trouble was the clutch setting being too fierce off the line and on nine out of eleven runs at the Big Bang we had wheelies off the line. Now we have something to work from." Talking about the Big Bang and the short interval between the two events, Martin said the class had a good reception and great entertainment at the Big Bang and there was no problem in turning the bikes around in a week as they are mainly road legal machines.

Fellow 9.50 Bike racer Rick Sawatzki qualified fourth in the Big Bang and went out in the first round. This weekend he has qualified second and is through to round three of eliminations. He is running the same setup as last year on his normally aspirated Hayabusa. Thanks go to support from wife Debbie and sponsors Spalding Agricultural Supplies and James Associate Financial Services.

Outlaw Anglia racer Dave Sidaway's Crew Chief Gary Bird (above, right) said "It's been a good weekend with consistent performance and great launches. We finally decided to put wheelie bars on which have helped the consistency. The Outlaw Anglia class is a great bunch of competitors and always help one another. We want to run a nine and will put the gas on for the next meeting. Wayne Allman built the car and I can't say enough about the build quality - we haven't had to alter the suspension or the rear end since the car was delivered."

Paul Hensher's West Coast Racing entry had been suffering teething problems with the new 605cu in Clive Bond engine but it all came together at SPR last weekend when he ran an 8.3. He said "I want to run a seven before we use nitrous. This weekend, the car has had a broken water pump so only ran 9.25 in qualifying." The next outing for the Outlaw Anglias is the American Car World Nationals here at SCR. Class organiser Paul Wright will return to racing at that event following propshaft damage at the Big Bang.

outlaw Flat Four runner Jim Smith is pleased that after having oil pressure issues for the last eighteen months, the switch from synthetic to mineral has instantly solved the problem for the methanol-fuelled 2442cc engine. The car was originally built in 1998 with a new chassis and was initially normally aspirated. A turbocharger with a Holley carb has been added. The first run resulted in an eighth mile time that indicated an ET in the low nines. Jim is aided by father Brian who builds the engines and Mendiola gearboxes and, as a toolmaker, fabricates many of the parts> Support also comes from partner Sharon. Jim runs Cotsweld which constructs roll cages and other parts for the Outlaw Flat Four. Jim said "Thanks to Dave Southcombe for installing a data logger this weekend."

Bernie Newbury of the Outlaw Flat Four first raced at the opening event at Santa Pod in April 1966 and continued in Sportsman classes until 1981 when he took up offshore powerboat racing for the next twelve years. Since then he has solely raced VWs and acquired his current car as a UK road car in 2000. Bernie runs Auto Interiors and the main parts for the car are from Hauser (roll cage), Jay Cee (engine), Cog Box (Pete Englezos's gearbox firm), Paintbox (paint) and Prosign (lettering). The car has run a best of 10.001 and won the OFF championship in 2007. Thanks go to crew Ben and EVe.

Peter Shattock is another Outlaw Flat Four racer and started racing in 1987 having a break at the end of the nineties. He imported this Beetle from Sweden and normally runs a small 1776cc engine with no turbo or nitrous. Peter does his own engine work with help from Ian Clark's firm Wolfsburg Performance Services.For this weekend Ian has lent a 1850cc engine and Peter has not only beaten his own PB but also Ian's with this engine, running a best of 12.1. The rollcage is by Cotsweld and gearbox by Cogbox.

The Paul Marston team are running four cars here. Dave Catton is driving the dragster and commented how different a drive it is from the doorslammer, with a harsher ride even in spite of the four-link setup and less visibility. Steve Bolton's Scamp was lacking power but the team think it has been cured. Paul said he was fighting the Monza as engine work has resulted in more torque. Away from the team's busy track schedule, a new trailer is due to arrive on 10th May which will aid preparation of their Super Mod Calibra which will be reworked and hopefully will reappear before the end of the year. Paul mentioned that sportsman racers can learn much from attending U.S. Divisional events where the non-Pro classes have more track time.

2007 Pro ET Champion Paul Baynton said "We had an excellent year after switching from a two speed 'Glide to a TH350 which improved the reaction times and made the car more consistent." This year he has made the final at the Thunderball and is qualified no. 2 this weekend. But there are two big scalps in the class that he is still after: Rick McCann and Lee Huxley. Paul has done the work on the car himself (new cage and 327 SBC). Support comes from partner Mandy and daughter Laura.

Super Modified rookie Tim Mugridge is pictured warming the engine assisted by Ricky Emms (left) and son Nick (right). "I imported this as a roller two years ago. It was an unfinished project from long-time U.S. Pro Mod racer Robbie Vandergriff. I did the plumbing, wiring, mechanics and 9.5" Strange centre section myself with help from Jon Webster when my work commitments increased" (Tim is a Corgi plumber and heating engineer). The engine is from Graham Ellis's Cutlass and four speed Lenco from Gordon Appleton's nitrous Pro Mod. The body is a configuration of the early Camaro that has become popular in Pro Mod and notably run by Shannon Jenkins. Nick will move into the seat after gaining his road licence and some driving experience. Tim mentioned that the Super Mod ranks will be strengthened further with the return of the '63 'Vette previously campaigned by Jon Hogarth and now in the hands of Martin Curbishley with a new 588 cu in engine.