2004 Allstar Nationals
Saturday (qualifying)
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21:40
We've now posted today's pictures; you can access them via the Event Index page. Tune back in the morning and we'll bring you all the news from day two of qualifying.
18:55
Here are the top five qualifiers in all dial-your-own classes.
Super Pro ET
Pro ET
Sportsman ET
Wild Bunch
VW Pro
VW Sportsman
VW Alternate Engine
Junior Drag Bike
18:00
After the third session of VW Pro, Justin Aldred is still #1, +0.027 at 11.427/108.93.
The third session of Funny Bike qualifying was contested by Paul Knapp and Neil Midgley, but Midgo was shut off on the line. After session three, Funny Bike stands as follows:
Frank Mason moved into the top five in Super Gas in session three, so the top five in Super Gas is as follows:
The top five after the third session of Comp Bike is as follows:
A big improvement from Paul Wright, with a huge terminal speed, moved him to the top of the pile in Outlaw Anglia, improvements also from Pete Ashworth, Peter Moore and Steve Wells. The top five after session three of qualifying is now:
Next up was the third qualifying session of Pro Stock Bike. Tony Clark improved, but the top five didn't change.
The last but one class to run today was Supertwin Gas, a stunning pass from George Laycock, first into the 9.4s and over 140 mph, backing up the 138.45, well done George! A new PB for Les Harris and oh so close to his nine, whilst Ian Worthington improved slightly. After session three the top five is as follows:
We closed up for today with the third qualifying session of Super Comp, but the top five didn't change:
We're now going to get hold of the current top fives in the dial-your-own classes, and start work on today's pictures. Stay tuned.
17:15
Andy Kirk put in his first appearance of the day in the second session of Super Modified qualifying, moving straight into the top five, whilst Andy Hone moved up to third. Steve Rawlings was again pushed back and so has yet to record a time but with at least two sessions scheduled for tomorrow he will get into the field. Kev Perkins has a sizeable lead but the rest of the field is starting to bunch together.
Malcolm Motler leads Pro ET qualifying after session three, with his earlier +0.000 10.350/128.02.
17:05
Only Trev Capewell turned out for the second Top Methanol qualifying session. Trev hit severe tyre shake but stayed with it, then the tyres started to smoke. Trev briefly pedalled and pulled the car straight, then backed off early to clock 9.287/112.74.
Roger Goring followed in the Firestorm Jet Funny Car. Roger's partner Helen is now acting Crew Chief on the JFC, and Colin Fallows is crewing this weekend. Roger has a new parachute to test so the first pass was a checkout, after a great flame and smoke show Roger edged through stage, starter Tony Byng very neatly triggered the Tree as the car's rear wheels were in stage so Roger got a valid terminal speed of 191.55 having shut off just after half track.
We're now going into Super Modified session two, then carrying on into the third cycle of qualifying.
16:40
Chris Stebbings turned out solo again for the second session of Supertwin Fuel qualifying, a consistent 9.277/136.54.
Next up was the second session of Top Fuel Bike, Steve Carey (left lane) and Steve Woollatt (right lane) pairing up this time. Steve Carey had a bit of a hairy ride, the bike getting into a serious wiggle towards half-track, 8.331/164.21. Meanwhile Steve Woollatt went straight and true to a 6.693/218.50, we believe a new PB speed for Steve.
Mickey Moore followed with a demo pass in the Mob Fuel Altered. A great burnout from Mickey, the car sounding very strong indeed, then the straightest pass I've ever seen that car make, 7.397/196.62 and the crew were very happy with that.
The first qualifying session for Fuel Funny Car a pairing between Gordon Smith (left lane) and John Spuffard (right lane). On the green there was a huge bang from the Sockwave FC, the relief panel flew, and the body briefly lifted. Gordon Smith immediately sidelined the FC. Meanwhile Spuff put in a 7.893/107.99, the car left the line quite gently but looked solid towards half-track until the revs suddenly edged up a little as if the tyres had started to spin and Spuff got off the throttle. When Shockwave was pushed back behind the start line, the blower was clearly sitting askew; as I type Crew Chief Dave Bryant is having a close look at the front of the blower.
Stay tuned.
16:10
After session two of Wild Bunch qualifying, Mark Coulsell still leads +0.077 on dial-in at 10.577/124.85.
Super Pro ET is led after session two by Steve Johnson +0.010 on dial-in at 7.610/176.48.
Next up is a quick groom of the track then Fuel Funny Car, Top Methanol, and Top Fuel Bike qualifying plus demonstrations by the Fuel Altereds and Roger Goring in the Firestorm Jet FC, and then we continue with qualifying. Stay tuned!
15:45
After session two, Junior Drag Bike is still led by Harry Steadman +0.143 on his dial-in at 9.543/68.91
We've had a change in the top five in Junior Dragster with Collin Morrice moving up to second after session two:
After session two of qualifying, Sportsman ET is led by Linda Platt +0.043 on her dial-in at 12.743/110.27.
After session two Super Street has several 10.9s on the board with Ron Haffenden ending up with the lead, which changed hands several times in a couple of minutes.
15:15
Spencer Tramm still leads VW Alternate Engine after the second qualifying session, but is now +0.050 on dial-in at 9.680/141.28. Showing how your luck can change, Lee Darby's VW Funny Car threw a blower belt during his burnout.
Next up was VW Sportsman in which Jonathan Grigg has taken over the lead +0.040 on dial-in at 14.290/91.09.
The top five in 9.90 Bike after the second qualifier has changed with Martin Walker in at #2. The top five is now:
The standings in 10.90 Bike after the second qualifier are:
The top five in Supertwin Street after the second qualifying session has changed with Dave Jones entering the fray:
The top five in Supertwin Modified after the second qualifying session are:
The top five in Super Street Bike has changed with Steve Venables taking over the lead from Mark Fisher and then Graham Dance pushing Mark into third, so after two qualifying sessions SSB stands as follows:
14:40
The top five places in Supertwin Gas haven't changed, but the third to fifth places have all improved their ETs. After their second session, the STG top five is as follows:
Brian Pateman has taken over the lead in Super Comp whilst Mark Ramplee has improved and Chris Johnson has come into the top five. Andy Williams gave it some welly in his new dragster, breaking out but getting a good feel for the rail. After two qualifying sessions, Super Comp stands as follows:
The second session of Custom Car Street Eliminator qualifying saw improvements from Colin lazenby, Ian Jackson and Allen Curtis, and a first outing today for Steve Nash. The top five after the second session of CCSE is:
14:25
TJ O'Brien and Roland Chaplain stepped up in the second session of Comp Bike, new PBs for both, congratulations guys! Phil Leamon moved up the standings whilst Dave Peters also stepped up some. The top five in Comp Bike after this second session are:
Big improvements for both Midgo and Paul Knapp in this second session of Funny Bike qualifying, and Stu Chamberlain joined them in this session. The standings after this session are:
Some improvements in Outlaw Anglia, with second and third changing places. Paul Wright went a very long way round in his blown-alcohol car, getting very close to the barrier. The top five after the second qualifying session is:
The second session of Pro Stock Bike qualifying saw improvements from Richard Gipp and Martin Bishop, another PB for Bish. Paul Watson then stepped up to the plate with a new PB, nice one Grumpy, whilst Ray Debben stepped up with an 8.69. Dave Beck then put in his first appearance of the day and took the #1 spot from Paul.
14:05
Malcolm Motler is still at the top of Pro ET qualifying, and will remain there, with his earlier +0.000 10.350/128.02.
After the second session of VW Pro, Justin Aldred has taken #1, +0.027 at 11.427/108.93. Conor La Grue disappeared down the shutdown area in a cloud of smoke, no word on what was wrong and the track was fine afterwards.
We've had some changes in the the top five in Super Gas after the second qualifying session, Mark O'Halloran took over the lead from Peter Lane, but Peter took it straight back again! Jon Morton made his first pass in competition, a 9.136/139.33 which won't do him any favours in qualifying but which looked pretty good!
13:25
The first session of Top Methanol qualifying was contested by all four cars.
First up were Trev Capewell (left lane) and Doug Ripley (right lane) in a TMFC/TMFC pairing, both hit shake but drove through it. Trev started to drift right, crossed the centre line and punted the half-track and thousand-foot reflectors high into the air, on the throttle until he was back in his own lane at anout 1100 feet, recording 6.724/177.49 which is a PB but the time will be disqualified from qualifying as Trev crossed the centre line. Doug seemed to have a lot less shake and was going straight as you like but we suspect that he spotted Trev crossing lanes and pitching timing reflectors and got off the throttle, 7.814/138.66.
Doug Bond (left lane) and Lyndsay Deuchar (right lane) went next. A nice side-by-side run from the two TMDs, Doug got the jump off the line, looked to be blackstriping in the second half of the track, 6.247/226.69. Lyndsay pedalled briefly and clocked 6.415/219.15.
We're now going into the second cycle of qualifying, stay tuned. Trackside conditions are 17.6 C, 58% humidity and 29.80 inches of air pressure.
13:00
The top five in Super Modified is as follows after session one. Congratulations to Kev Taylor who clocked a personal best of 8.599 in this session. Steve Rawlings was shut off on the start line for a fluid leak.
12:55
Both Steve Woollatt and Steve Carey turned out for the first round of Top Fuel Bike qualifying. Steve Woollatt went first; the bike left the line very gently and then the front wheel came up, the gear change was clearly audible, 7.274 at a huge 210.29. Steve Carey followed, a strong wheels-up launch and a new personal best, 7.075/182.79 - with more to come as Steve was off the throttle a touch early.
Only Chris Stebbings turned out for the first session of Supertwin Fuel qualifying, Chris putting in a 9.242/131.17.
12:40
Sportsman ET is led by Mark Anderson +0.132 on dial-in at 12.832/106.76.
Super Street hasn't seen any 10.9-second passes yet but a lot of familiar names in the top five:
After session one of Wild Bunch qualifying, Mark Coulsell leads +0.077 on dial-in at 10.577/124.85.
Next up was Super Pro ET which is led by Martyn Jones +0.029 over dial-in at 7.769/174.51. Bob Glassup gave us the first competitive look at his beautiful blown-alcohol Topolino altered, a burnout worthy of a fuel altered and then Bob had a problem with the steering, the front wheels canting right over.
12:00
The hooligans of Super Street Bike were next up and the top five after the first session is as follows:
The boys and girls of Junior Dragster followed on, the top five after this first session are:
11:45
The top five in 9.90 Bike after the first qualifier are:
The standings in 10.90 Bike after the first qualifier are:
After session one of qualifying, VW Sportsman is led by Graham Fairhead +0.162 on dial-in at 15.562/84.55.
The top five in Supertwin Street after the first qualifying session are:
The top five in Supertwin Modified after the first qualifying session are:
Harry Steadman leads Junior Drag Bike qualifying +0.143 on his dial-in at 9.543/68.91.
11:20
Lee Darby holds today's record for the best break-out with an 8.854/144.76 on a 9.50 dial-in in VW Alternate Engine. We believe that to be a PB for Lee so we're sure that he won't be worried about breaking out! Spencer Tramm leads VW Alternate Engine +0.089 on dial-in at 9.689/140.18.
11:15
Andy Williams made his first competitive outing in his Wild Child Super Comp rail, a very nice-looking car it is too. The top five in Super Comp after the first session are:
In Custom Car Street Eliminator qualifying, we saw Steve Large and Jerry Charles' first competitive outings this year, welcome back guys. Jerry put in a very good-looking 9.815/152.78 with the 706 ci engine sounding very strong. The top five in CCSE are:
The first session of Pro Stock Bike qualifying was contested by six bikes, Martin Bishop recorded a new PB - well done Bish! The order after this round is:
The gentlemen of Supertwin Gas followed PSB and George Laycock has done the first half of a new STG speed record, nice one George. After their first session this is how STG stands:
10:50
Outlaw Anglia top five after the first qualifying session:
Vaughan Foster set a new PB in the first round of Comp Bike, congratulations Vaughan! Roland Chaplain is riding the Think Pink bike this weekend and we believe that his run is a new best for that bike. The top five in Comp Bike after this first session are:
The first Funny Bike qualifier was contested by two bikes, the standings after this session are:
10:30
A great start to VW Pro qualifying with Rob Bowler and Russ Fellows both +0.075 on their dial-ins, Rob at 10.875/127.66 and Russ at 10.675/126.22 in the number one and two spots.
The top five in Super Gas after the first qualifying session is:
10:15
Well, we had been running for about three minutes when the Eurodragster.com/Curbishley Automotive Perfect ET award was taken in Pro ET, Malcom Motler running 10.350/128.02 on a 10.35 dial-in. Congratulations to Malc and Marcie, that's the nappies sorted for the next week or so and the #1 qualifier unassaible all weekend. Fellow Pro ET racer John Atkinson came very close to taking the Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award with a 0.001 RT on his first pass of the weekend.
9:30
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 every two minutes.
Weather conditions at trackside are 14.5 C, 79% humidity, and 29.80 inches of air pressure There's a high overcast but it is a very pleasant day and the sun will be breaking through.
The plan today is to bring you the top five in heads-up and index classes during today and the leaders in dial-your-own classes, and then to bring you the top five in all classes at the end of the day. We have three cycles of qualifying scheduled today with Top Methanol and Top Fuel Bike scheduled for the end of the first cycle, and a test and tune session for Fuel Funny Car, Top Methanol, Top Fuel Bike, Fuel Altered and Jet FC scheduled for 4:00. Stay tuned and we'll be back with the news from qualifying when it commences at 10:00.