2003 Allstar Nationals
Saturday (qualifying)
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21:25
Today's pictures are now posted, you can reach them from the Event Index page.
That's all for today, tune back tomorrow and we'll bring you all the news from day two of qualifying.
20:25
We're all done here for the day at Shakespeare County Raceway, Roger Goring rounded off the day with a pass of 6.600/240.60 in the Firestorm Jet FC - but only after he broke a strip light in the Press Office!
Before we take you through the second qualifying cycle, the news on Dick Sharp is that he has a broken wrist and two black eyes. He is being kept in for observation overnight but Bunt Wilcox tells us that he is in good spirits and is even cracking jokes.
Because of the downtime we didn't quite make it to the end of the second cycle, but we're going to take up where we left off in the morning and we have another full day. Let's take you through the second cycle in the order in which it ran.
There was no change in 9.90 Bike, with Richard Sawatzki and Fred Furlong numbers one and two at 9.926/133.14 and 10.066/138.46 respectively. Third is Martin Walker at 10.102/140.19. Iain Jack took over the lead in 10.90 Bike at 10.962/126.05, currently the only rider in the 10.9s. Andy Burfitt's earlier 11.003/128.94 is now good for second place whilst Shaun Spiers is third at 11.006/126.40.
Andrew Irvine still leads Junior Drag Bike but now 0.315 over dial-in, 12.315/52.82, followed by Jake Curruthers 1.343 over with a 14.891/44.47 and Jennifer Hurcomb 1.531 over at 10.531/69.55. We'll come back to you on Junior Dragster as we don't have the standings to hand and the timing crew are busy right now.
No change in the top two in Sportsman ET, Linda Platt and Cath Bishop +0.033 and +0.034 over dial-in with times of 12.903/109.22 and 16.034/79.09 respectively, Nick Gay is third +0.036 with a 15.836/85.39. It's all change at the top of Pro ET, Steve Richards taking over the lead 0.005 over dial-in at 11.995/110.84, Kev Taylor second 0.009 over dial-in at 10.489/130.06, and Ron Bartlett third also 0.009 over dial-in at 9.909/136.36.
Graham Dance still leads Super Street Bike but has gone quicker, 8.296/177.87 and I think we all know who the Daddy is right now. Dave Bailey's earlier 8.330/170.45 and Tony Clark's 8.472/172.41 are good for second and third. Dave Back took the Pro Stock Bike lead away from Richard Gipp with a fine 7.480/180.00, Richard's earlier 7.723/173.08 is now second and Ray Debben is third at 8.227/164.23.
Neil Midgley's 7.007/192.31 still leads Funny Bike, Steve French has taken over second place with a great 7.117/184.43. Dave Holland's earlier 7.190/183.67 is good for third place. Sarah Jane Head had a moment on her Funny Bike when a suicidal rabbit ran across the track just before she arrived at that location, the rabbit lives to run across the track again tomorrow but it is not behaviour which we would recommend.
It's all change in Super Gas as Frank Mason has taken an unassailable number one spot with a perfect 9.900/141.96. Tim Adam improved to a 9.902/145.16 to take second and Conrad Stanley's earlier 9.914/136.78 is third. Steve Pateman is still top dog in Custom Car Street Eliminator with his earlier 8.561/169.81, second place has now been taken over by Colin Lazenby at 9.304/161.29; Ian Hook's 9.400/134.33 from earlier is third. Ian didn't turn out for the second session. Steve Nash pulled a Pro Mod-worthy burnout in the second session before clocking 9.633/128.94 on a pass which, you have to believe us, was shut off at eight hundred feet.
Next up was Comp Bike, Klaus Sarembe took the lead with an 8.171/166.05 from Andy Newcombe who also improved to 8.392/161.87, Phil Leamon is third with his 8.556/156.79 which previously led. No change at the top of Supertwin Street, with Mark Earrey and Ian Thomsett still one and two at 10.298/131.96 and 10.776/124.65, Chris Mott is third at 10.904/123.97. TJ O'Brien now leads Supertwin Modified qith a 10.066/137.61, Les Harris' earlier 10.525/130.06 is now second, and Dave Bartz is third at 11.215/114.21.
Barry Giles has taken over the lead in Super Pro ET, 0.023 over dial-in at 7.673/171.10, from Roger Moore's earlier 0.053-over 8.353/164.84, and Ian Bishop is third, 0.071 over dial-in at 7.991/169.17. Ian Brown still leads Super Street but improved to a 10.905/120.00, Cliff Puddle is second at 10.910/100.00 and Mike Bentley third at 10.921/131.20. The top eight qualifier in Super Street are in the 10.9s. Also of note was Matthew Wright's burnout in the second session, completely cloaking the start area in smoke, a contender for best Super Street burnout ever.
Paul Hensher is still in the lead in Outlaw Anglia, his earlier 8.869/153.58 ahead of Pete Ashworth's 9.226/145.63 and Rob Stone's 9.698/137.20.
In Top Fuel Bike, Chris Hannam and Steve Carey paired up in the second session, Cannon running another 7.2 and Steve Carey a twelve-second checkout. So Steve Woollatt still leads with his earlier 6.733/204.55, Steve told us that he short-shifted on his run and was kicking himself.
So tomorrow morning we have to finish this cycle with the Wild Bunch, Supertwin Gas, Supertwin Fuel, Super Comp and Super Modified.
We are now working on today's pictures so stay tuned for those.
15:45
After an eventful Wild Bunch qualifying session Keith Charman leads the way 0.089 over his dial-in at 9.289/114.80, with Tom Coe 0.130 over at 11.430/113.64 and Chris Hartnell 0.299 over at 9.499/137.20.
Back to two wheels and Supertwin Gas is led by George Layocok with a 9.768/133.14, from Ric Naylor 10.480/119.05 and Andy Smith 10.614/120.97. Jerry Collier is at the top of the tree in Supertwin Gas at 9.247/141.96, Chris Stebbings is next up at 9.586/119.36, and Ian Turburville is third at 9.808/140.62.
Brian Pateman leads Super Comp after the first session at 8.907/154.11, with Martin Curbishley at 8.976/153.58 and just behind him Malcolm Francis 8.978/147.06. Martin Curbishley pulled a 0.401 light, a thousandth off being fifty pounds richer. We had our first look at Nick Payne's SC Dodge Coronet, a very nice piece indeed powered by a methanol-burning KB.
Next up was Super Modified and Andy Hone took the lead with a 7.989/167.91, from Steve Rawlings so close to a seven at 8.001/169.17 and Graham Ellis with an 8.116/172.41. Tim Garlick is also in the eights with an 8.895/153.06, the big shock was Danny Cockerill appearing to have trouble off the line, it then picked up, and then Danny got off the throttle recording 9.066/122.28. Paul Brooks was off the throttle by half-track and clocked 12.246.
All three Top Methanol cars turned out for their first qualifying session. Doug Ripley and Steph Milam were first in their Funny Cars, Doug on a planned short pass to test the new Whipple charger. Doug pulled a 1.390 sixty foot, whilst in the other lane Steph hooked up and went, off the throttle and on the chutes a touch early, 6.864/207.37. Next up was Doug Bond who has new pistons in his engine, the plan was to go to half track and see how it felt. The car sounded very strong indeed, Doug pedalled a couple of times and was off the throttle at about eleven hundred feet, recording 6.564/173.08 and taking the #1 spot.
The first cycle was rounded off by Top Fuel Bike. First to the line was Steve Carey with his new Purple Princess II bike. A great burnout and a sixty-foot squirt, the bike sounded very strong. Next up was Chris Hannam, a very solid pass of 7.239/161.29, the bike sounded a little lazy so there is more to come from Cannon. Last up was Steve Woollatt on his return to competition after wrecking his engine at the Main Event. No mistakes at all from Steve, a fine straight pass at 6.733/204.55.
Right now it's 27.0 C, 47% humidity and 30.03 air pressure on the start line.
The second cycle is now starting, this time around we're going out to the start line to get some photographs so the updates may be a little longer. Stay tuned.
14:30
When we left you at 12:15, Wild Bunch was next up. We had a half-track clean-up after Trace Froome's engine blew, luckily just about all of the parts stayed inside but there was a lot of oil on the track. On the very next pass, in the other lane, Dick Sharp had a top end crash in the Dorset Horn altered. The car turned hard left just before the finish line then rolled over. Dick was extracted from the car conscious and talking, and has been taken to Warwick Hospital for a check-up. We'll bring you more news on Dick's condition as we get it.
We're a few minutes off starting again, so stay tuned and we'll bring you more news from the first qualifying cycle.
12:15
Next up in the first cycle of qualifying was Super Gas, which is led by Conrad Stanley at 9.914/136.78, a squeak ahead of Martin Curbishley's 9.919/147.06 and Tim Adam's 9.921/145.16. Steve Pateman leads Custom Car Street Eliminator qualifying with an 8.561/169.81, from Ian Hook at 9.400/134.33 and Andy Frost at 9.466/151.01. There was much consternation as Ian Hook went through the top end with the FB Racing coupe, the safety crew chased him down the track, a small fire reportedly the cause. Making a welcome return to the track are Ian and Sue Jackson in their 'Vette, the car currently in black looking for all the world like a stealth bomber. Trev Jones put in his first couple of observed runs in the ex-Richard Homewood Willys, putting in his sixty foot and half passes.
Back on two wheels, Phil Leamon leads Comp Bike with an 8.556/156.79 from Peul Newman at 8.952/153.58 and Bob Brooks with an 8.924/169.81. Mark Earrey and Ian Thomsett lead Supertwin Street at 10.298/131.96 and 10.776/124.65 whilst Supertwin Modified is led by Les Harris with a 10.525/130.06, both Nick Botting and TJ O'Brien hitting problems on their qualifiers, but they have two more sessions today and all of tomorrow to put things right.
Roger Moore leads Super Pro ET, +0.053 on his dial-in at 8.353/164.84 - a far from straight pass so he may have broken out had he run on rails! Ian Bishop is not far behind +0.071 with his 7.991/169.17, and Mick Cheley is third at +0.094 at 8.664/157.89. Super Street is led by Ian Brown with a great 10.909/119.68 from Martin Green's 10.952 and Bob Lees at 10.974/128.21. Outlaw Anglia number one qualifier is Paul Hensher's 8.869/153.58 from Jeff Meads on 9.715/140.19 and Pete Ashworth at 9.964/139.75.
Next up are the Wild Bunch, stay tuned.
10:55
Good morning and welcome from Shakespeare County Raceway. It's the first day of qualifying for the Allstar Nationals 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 broadcasting a picture of the start line area every two minutes. You can get to the webcam from the Event Index page.
Start line conditions are currently 23.8 C, 62% humidity and 30.03 inches of air pressure.
If you are in the catchment area of radio station The Bear, tune in since they are broadcasting live from Shakespeare County Raceway this morning. You can find The Bear on 102.0 FM and at www.thebear.co.uk.
As mentioned on Eurodragster News yesterday, no pit notes this morning but they will be back in place tomorrow. Qualifying has already started, so let's take you through the leaders.
Junior Dragster is led by Nick Mugridge with a 0.523 reaction, from Johnny Walker at 0.540. In Sportsman ET, Linda Platt is in the lead at +0.033 on her dial-in from Cath Bishop who is +0.034 over - it's already close! Pro ET is led by Malcolm Motler, +0.049 at 11.029/119.05 with Tig Napier 0.062 over dial-in at 12.362/110.84.
On two wheels, Richard Sawatzki leads 9.90 Bike with a 9.926/133.14 from Fred Furlong at 10.066/138.46. 10.90 Bike is led by Andy Burfitt at 11.003/128.94 from Dave Warren at 11.097/132.35. Andy Irvine is +0.458 on his dial-in to lead Junior Drag Bike, 12.458/52.69 from Jake Carruthers +1.877 with a 15.377/39.27.
Graham Dance made the most of his Wednesday testing to lead Super Street Bike with an 8.305/175.78, Dave Bailey not far behind with a PB of 8.330/170.45, Tony Clark is third at 8.472/172.41. Pro Stock Bike is led by Richard Gipp with a 7.723/173.08 from Ray Debben at 8.266/160.71, Paul Watson at 8.927/158.45 and Len Paget at 10.146/115.98. Dave Beck hit problems off the line.
Neil Midgley is at the top of the pile in Funny Bike with a 7.007 at a huge 192.37, not at all bad off the trailer and an ACU speed record if he backs it up. Dave Holland is next at 7.190/183.67, and Steve French third at 7.314/177.17.
The first cycle is continuing apace, stay tuned and we'll bring you more soon.