|
|
|
Click on any image to get the bigger picture |
|
|
Welcome to my last page for 2009 which features pictures from various meetings held at Santa Pod Raceway during the year. Peak Performance Day, Santa Pod Raceway, 4 April 2009 |
|
|
|
|
Introducing Bob Glassup, driver of the Xtreme Racing Fiat Topolino methanol-burning altered. Although Bob did not know it at the time this picture was taken he was to finish the year as the new NFAA promoter following the retirement of Lawrie Gatehouse from that position. I am also very pleased to see that Bob will be involved in the re-launch of the Extreme Wheels
Show in 2010. |
|
|
|
|
Here is Bob doing one of his characteristically enthusiastic burn outs, so far so good . . . |
|
|
|
|
. . . but at the hit things started to get a little bit out of hand . . . |
|
|
|
|
. . . and what's more - the run went from bad to worse. |
|
|
|
|
Tony Betts was the last NFAA member testing at the Pod in his nitro-burning car called Venom. He really nailed it at the green with one front wheel pawing the air and the slicks really working hard. |
|
|
|
|
There was more nitro in the air courtesy of Rene van den Berg on the ex-Brian Johnson Imperial Wizard Top Fuel Bike. The shot below shows the perfect TFB launch - front wheel up and sitting down hard on the wheelie bars. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wayne Nicholson had a new blower on his Lucky Devil Pro Mod, unfortunately he torched the block and head on one of his passes which put him out of competition at Easter. |
|
|
|
Easter Thunderball, Santa Pod Raceway, 11 April 2009 |
|
|
|
|
How can I describe the weather on the day that I attended the Easter Thunderball? Ah yes - WET! |
|
|
|
Main Event, Santa Pod Raceway, 23 May 2009 |
|
|
|
|
A couple of Pro Stock launch shots for you. |
|
|
|
|
Belgium's Danny Bellio is a hard-charger in his top Methanol funny Car. He qualified number two with a 5.8104 second effort and had the highest terminal speed during qualifying of 249.59 mph. |
|
|
|
|
Very unusually for them, the Leanders brothers were a little off the pace. Driver Ulf Leanders could only manage 5th place with a 6.0774/240.92 lap. |
|
|
|
|
Kev Slyfield has had more than his fair share of problems getting his 526 cubic inch blown Willys Sedan Pro Mod to run how he would like it to. Full marks to him for sticking with it. Kev qualified on the bump spot with an 8.5356 second run at 155.80 mph. However, I am pleased to report that his persistence paid off because at the Euro Finals he moved up to 12th in the qualifying ladder with greatly improved numbers of 6.8113/207.21. |
|
|
|
|
Graham Ellis' fantastic Andy Robinson-built Plymouth Speedbird has a real 'stealth bomber' look about it (apart from the colour obviously, stealth bombers tend to be a bit dowdy really). Anyway, Graham was on good form at this meeting where he qualified number 11 but it took a stout 6.5886 second pass at 219.21 mph to put him there. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is Bert Englefield launching hard in his 521" blown Ford Coupe. Sadly Bert could do no better than 13th spot with off-form figures for him of 7.2620/211.91. |
|
|
|
Andy Robinson not only builds cars for others he believes in showcasing his skills in the most compelling way of all. How about number one qualifier with a pass of 6.1024 seconds at 226.60 mph? He also got the European elapsed time record on this run. |
|
|
|
It's not really a subject spoken about in polite society, in fact it's more a doctor and patient thing, but there comes a time in many people's lives when they need a little 'Fartygsservice'. Well when that time comes, it is reassuring to know that all you need to do is to get yourself round to Patrik Wikstrom's pit and he will point you in the right direction. |
|
|
|
|
It was good to see Gordon Smith out in the Shockwave Funny Car. |
|
|
|
This was obviously not quite the picture I was hoping of Joe Bond in his Nuthin' Fancy NFAA entry. However, it does seem to sum up the frenetic action and sheer madness of fuel altered racing. How can you fill up a car with tyre smoke when it has no roof? |
|
|
|
|
Jim Usher in The Mob nitro-burning altered. |
|
|
|
And finally from the Main Event this is Ronnie Picardo's Little Blue Wagon wheelie truck entertaining the crowd. |
|
|
|
European Finals, Santa Pod Raceway, 12 September 2009 |
|
|
|
|
Ian King has now sold his Top Fuel Bike but I imagine the fact that he was able to wring a storming 6.1213 seconds 222.18 mph pass out of the bike to put him in second spot got the attention of a few prospective purchasers. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rapid though Ian was, Peter Svensson stormed to a simply stunning 5.9179/236.54 lap to put pole position beyond everyone's reach. Needless to say Peter came away with both ends of the European record although annoyingly the 5.91 was too quick to back up an earlier 5 second run. |
|
|
|
Not another wheels-up launch by Rene van den Berg I hear you say. Well you are obviously not wrong but I make no apology. |
|
|
|
|
Per Bengtsson's Supertwin entry The Beast is only 1680cc and, uniquely, it is a vertical twin. This shot shows Per making his slick really work for its living as he cranked out a 6.7018 second pass at 'only' 188.86 mph which put in second qualifying position. |
|
|
|
This is Lorenz Stauble on his 2850cc V-twin. Those people in the background can testify to the fact that it is very, very noisy. But then, when you can run 6.5552/216.92 laps I suppose it would be . . . |
|
|
|
|
The funny bikes get to race in Top Fuel at the FIM/UEM meetings. What they lack in raw power they make up with better consistency. This is Gary Jones launching his 1428cc Suzuki Hayabusa. Gary just missed the cut with a best of 7.1793/191.24. |
|
|
|
Andy Carter was low qualifier with a fine 4.7816/310.61 pass and, although he did not win the meeting, he was crowned the European Champion for the fourth time. |
|
|
|
|
Anita M�kel� manged fourth qualifying spot with a 4.8691 second run although her terminal speed of 'only' 270.52 mph hinted that she could have improved on that with a full power run. |
|
|
|
Gary Page and the team are still dialling in the Mongoose Performance Exhausts-sponsored Funny Car so times and speeds are not yet representative. Nonetheless, it was very good to see Gary in action again. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J�ran Pers��ker runs a turbocharger on his 516 cubic inch Pontiac Trans Am Pro Mod. J�ran managed 13th spot with a 6.8503/188.84 effort. |
|
|
|
I have drawn extensively on the excellent Eurodragster.com |
|
|
All material on this site is copyright |
|
(First posted 27 December 2009) |
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)