2005 Power Nationals
Sunday pit notes

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Top Fuel Dragster pilot Darryl Bradford said that the Wright Racing team's non-appearance yesterday was down to "The usual last-minute things". The team started work at seven o'clock yesterday morning and some had also worked on the car on Friday evening. "It wasn't for want of trying!", said Darryl. "I am really grateful to everyone who worked all day in the freezing cold. But the car is all in one piece now and we are ready to go. I am really looking forward to getting in the car again, it has been far too long, and I am pleased to be here representing John Woolfe Racing, LA Racing Parts, Shakespeare County Raceway and our new sponsor IMAX Cinema. Big thanks to John and Lesley and everyone who has helped. The car looks gorgeous."

Funny Bike racer Dave Holland said that Ken Cooper had changed the clutch for this track. "We have plenty of power, and this morning we have some warmth in the the track so we have put the six-second tune-up back in it for today". Dave said that he has been having stability problems with the bike. "At Easter when the front wheel came down it was trying to go out from under me", he said.

Pro Stock Bike racer Len Paget said that his engine needs replacing. "It's so flat and gutless you wouldn't believe", he said. "It's George Bryce's old John Myers engine, that's how old it is - it can't be making more than 180 horsepower...my road bike feels faster than this! I need to get a new top end for it". When we left Len he was attending to one of the cylinders which was running cold.

Supertwin Gas racer Don Irvine said that he was going to listen to his instincts in future. "I'm going to put the settings back to basics and then work up again and try to get into the tens. I ran 11.001 yesterday!". Don added that son Andy's Junior Drag Bike was being "A bit unpredictable".

Andy Rowe, dad and Crew Chief for Junior Drag Bike racer Mickey Rowe, said that he was finding working on the Junior very enjoyable. "It's something you can get your hands on!", he said. "I had a good tutor in Don, too."

Super Street Bike racer Steve Venables said that his bike has "New ignition, new plugs, new coils, and a new rider!". Fellow SSB racer Richard Stubbins said that he was trying to replicate last week's seven-second pass. "I haven't been leaving as hard on the clutch", he said.

Wayne 'Jap' Bradley is in the field this morning after Chris Reed broke. "I've not had a decent run yet this year", he said. "I have had a lot of teething problems so far. It's Carl Gray's old bike but I have put a lot of electrics on it since I got it. I have spent out two grand to go a second slower!"

Pro ET and Super Street racer Kev Slyfield expressed himself "chuffed" with yesterday's 10.9-second pass on his first run in Super Street, which he attributed to slightly larger nitrous jets. "Double entry certainly keeps you working", he added.

Paul Watson said that he was having difficulty getting Jamie Sneddon's Super Street Bike up the track. "This track is different to Santa Pod", he said. "On yesterday's second pass we backed everything off but then the footpeg broke off the start line which unsettled Jamie a little. All being well we'll put the seven-second settings back in it today - we desperately want to run a seven here, but it's a gamble and I don't want to change it drastically."

Outlaw Anglia #1 qualifier Mark Pointer was singing the praises of Webster Race Engineering who took two inches out of his Fordson van's wheelbase this week so that he could compete in Outlaw Anglia. "Jon Webster has done a mint job", said Mark. "You know your car is safe in his hands, he does what he says he will, and this car goes so straight". Mark said that just over an inch had been taken out by moving components and the rest from the four-link. He added that he will be putting a Pro Charger on the engine. "That will get it singing!", he said.

Colin Lazenby, who will win Street Eliminator by taking the green this morning, although he won't be wanting just to do that, said that he had a tough day yesterday. "We had a problem with the transmission and had to pull it out after the second run", he said. "We've also been chasing an electrical problem. Last night you couldn't see the floor for spanners, it looked expensive! Then when we started it up before going on the Cruise the engine sounded awful, but we could find nothing wrong and we went out anyway. I let Luke drive and I stuck my head out of the car to listen to the engine and I thought it was something to do with the headers. We found that at least one port of the header gasket was missing". Colin said that the Cruise route last night took him through the middle of Stratford-upon-Avon and that he encountered every red traffic light in the town.

Dave Ward, who is running with the Wild Bunch this weekend, was overjoyed with his nine-second passes yesterday. "This is a new engine and there is a lot more in it", he said. "I was very happy with the first run out of the box! They told me to take it easy, I did to start with but it felt so good that I stayed on it to 1000 feet."

Super Mod racer Andy Hone was happy with his new engine built on a spare from sponsor Matthew Wright. "We're fully run-in now!" he said, adding "as usual we choose the most difficult route to the final!".