2011 FHRA Nitro Nationals
Saturday


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00:35

Thanks to Patrik for going above and beyond the call of duty to get a gallery to us. You can check out the Saturday gallery via the Event Index page. Patrik asked us to thank Johan Samuelsson for access to his internet connection to get the pictures to us.

19:00

The rain has stopped, but we have no power and no internet after lightning struck a transformer.

17:15

We have been hit by a thunderstorm and heavy rain in the middle of Top Fuel Bike. We have also lost our internet connection. That may be all for today, but stay tuned.

17:00

UEM Supertwin qualifying session 4

No#1 qualifier before the session: Roel Koedam 6.72 sec

Torsti Kettula BYE right lane  9.77 sec/ 238 km stays # 15
Christian Jäger BYE run right lane spins the tire from the line and cruises down the track att 11 seconds stays #11
Pekka Parikka BYE RUN right lane some problems off the throttle and cruises the track at 15.57 sec/77 km stays #10 and outside the ladder

The bump spot currently at 7.04 sec Jaska Salakari

Samu Kemppainen BYE left lane 7.53/293 is #11 with that and outside the ladder
Two riders already in the ladder for the moment comes in the next pair; Mark Ashelford 6.88 sec/337 km was #6 moves to #5  / Jaska Salakari 6.69 sec/317 km was #8 and takes the #1 spot! Nice run! White cloud of smoke around the bike over the finish line but the track is ok
Lorenz Stäuble pushed back before the burnout he is at #6 moves to #7 /Greger Johansson 6.87 sec/332 km was #8 and moves up to #5, well done Greger!
Jan Sturla Hegré was and stays #4 Hans Olav Olstad Olstad 7.92 sec/288 km was #8 and stays there . Hegré comes to a stand stil at the track engine after a big bang and he steered to the side of the track .
Per Bengtsson 6.83 sec/318 km nice pass but no improvement and Per stays #3 / problems for Asko Määttä 14.02 sec/122 km stays #17

No. 1 Jaska Salakari 6.691 sec/317 km. The bump stayed at 6.95 sec Olstad.

Lightning in the distance and we have dark  clouds around the area, it may pass to one side, let´s hope so.

16:40

UEM Pro Stock Bike qualifying session 4

Ulf Ögge 7.40 sec/283 km Elvira Karlsson 8.61 sec/243 km
Karl-Heinz Weikum 7.55 sec / 275 km was #10 stays #10 Timo Savolainen 8.13 sec/241 kmwas #11 stays #11
Rasmus Olesen 7.46 sec / 281 km  stays #8 /  Kenneth Vik 7.40 sec stays #7
Martin Bishop BYE run right lane 7.50 sec/246 km is #6
Kalle Lyrén 7.28 sec/293 km is #4 /Dave Beck 7.38 sec/284 km Lyrén #4, Beck #3
Jesper Thiel 7.52 sec/242 km stays #2 / Fredrik Fredlund 7.14 sec/296 km no improvement but stays #1

16:10

FIA Top Methanol Dragster qualifying session 2

Low qualifier before the session: Fred Hanssen: 5.469 sec/424 km

Dennis Habermann 60-foot 0.942 ET 5.48 sec/413 km was #3 now #2 / Esko Raisvuo has no previous time 60-foot 1.04 sec  ET 5.92 sec/409 km good for #4
Timo Habermann ET 5.56 sec/409 is #4 moving Raisvuo down/Dave Wilson no previous time ET 5.42 sec/410 km moves to the #1 position
Fred Hanssen 60-foot 0.935 ET 5.43 sec/410 km was and stays #2 / Derek Flynn no previous time 60-foot 0.960 sec EY 5.447 sec/426 km is now #3

New low qualifier in Dave Wilson 5.421 sec/410 km.

They are speeding this up to be able to complete another full round of UEM and FIA session before the curfew at 20.00. The UEM bikes are lining up again.

15:55

FIA Top Methanol Funny Car qualifying session 2

Not a full field so all qualified have a place in the ladder. Low qualifier before the session Ulf Leanders 5.773 sec/400 km

Jonas Staflund 60-foot 1.07 sec ET 6.19 sec/362 km  /Arvid Grødem 60-foot 1.01 sec ET 5.94 sec/383 km (Grødem did run 5.85 sec yesterday)
Jarmo Kuutniemi 60-foot 0.987 sec ET 5.85 sec/ 388 km / Ulf Leanders who has expressed the difficulties with the right lane runs 60-foot 0.954 ET 5.85 sec /394 km, drifted right and was out of the groove

Finally the methanol dragsters on track.

15:45

FIA Pro Modified qualifying session 2

Bump spot before this session: 19.43 sec (Flamholc) as only 16 cars  are on the list for the 16 car field. But there are of course more on site. For instance Johan Samuelsson crossed the centerline which disqualified his run, while Andy Robinson was pushed back before the run.

First out on track Timo Äikää who did not manage to get an ET friday BYE run left lane. Nitrous injected car. Slow launch and a ball of fire shows a bit out on track. Stops at the track, not able to pass the finish line. Liquid at the track.. some cleaning needed..

We need to add the left lane is what all teams prefer to run in the classes like Pro Mod and Methanol funny car. There is a bump problem in the right lane as many drivers mantion when talking to them.

Andy Robinson BYE run right lane 60-foot 1.17 sec  6.81 sec/355 km on and off the throttle now #10
Adam Flamholc BYE run right lane 60-foot 0.990 6.25 sec/368 km now # 4 big improvement, looked smooth and straight
Linda Thun 60-foot 1.04 sec 7.21 sec/273 km now #13 / Martin Lundkvist with the turbocharged car pedaling 60-foot 1.131 7.64 sec/294 km now # 15
Johan Lindberg 60-foot 1.10  ET 7.21 sec/273 km now #13 / Jari Parén nitrous injected 60-foot 1.07 ET 6-78 sec/316 km now #11. Lindberg seemed to pedal while Parén drifted.
Johan Samuelsson 60-foot 1.15 ET 9.00 sec/ 146 km  / Kristian Nyström 60-foot 1.03 ET 6.56 sec/353 km is # 11

bump spot now at 7.21 sec (Thun). Absolute barometer at 30.31 33 degrees Celsius air temp

Tami Brander 60-foot 1.051  ET 6.34 sec/363 km is now #5 / Urban Johansson pushed back after the burnout
Bruno Bader 60-foot 1.02 sec ET 6.27 sec /362 km moves up to #5 / Robert Joosten 60-foot 1.04 sec  ET 6.94 sec/228 km is #8
Mikael Lindahl 60-foot 1.03 sec  ET 6.23 sec/356 km was #3 stays #3 / Jan Gunnarsson 60-foot 1.08 sec ET 6.30 sec/364 km was #7 is now #6
Mats Eriksson 60-foot 1.05 sec ET 6.305 sec / 346 km stays  #1 / Michael Gullqvist 60-foot 1.00  ET 6.19/337 km stays #2
Marc Meihuizen 60-foot 1.02 sec ET 6.24 sec/ 354 km was #10 now #4  Per Svedberg 60-foot 1.21 sec ET 7.67 sec/258 km  #15 now #15

Low qualifier: Mats Eriksson at 6.15 sec still

Coming up next Andy Robinson in BYE run. Yesterday the burst panel burst in the burnout. Hopefully this time it will be ok.

14:50

FIA Top Fuel Dragster qualifying session 3

As one session was rained out Friday this is in reality the 2nd attempt on track for the Top Fuel teams

Bump spot before this session: 6.470 sec  (Mäkelä), 10 cars on site to compete for 8 spots in the elimination ladder.

First pair both outside the ladder before the run: Jari Halinen 4.78 sec/298 km  now #5 / Håkan Fällström dropped cylinders but manages 4.65 sec/390 km good for #4 . Track checked for fluid and parts after Fällström. 10-15 min break to clean up.

Carter currently on the bump spot at 6.07 sec

Before the rain came Friday evening 3 Top Fuel cars had been on track. Kågered, Mäkelä and Fällström. Kågered 5.17 sec/Mäkelä 6.67 sec and Fällström 4.64 sec. Their runs were not counted as the rest of the field could not run due to the brief thunderstorm.

Mikael Kågered who had a big fire during the 5.17 run yesterday is next in line as is Anita Mäkelä, Mikael Kågered currently  #7 Anita Mäkelä currently #10.

Still some cleaning before we can let Micke and Anita out on track.

Continuing with Top Fuel...

Mikael Kågered pushed back and shut off after the burnout, leaving some fluid on the track. Micke currently #8 / Anita Mäkelä .904 60-foot   4.71 sec/287 km now #5
Tommy Johnson Jr 60-foot 0.877 sec 4.34 sec/358 km is  #3/ Risto Poutiainen 0.877 60-foot with an ET of 5.26 sec/221 km now #8 on the bump spot passing Kågered outside the ladder
Urs Erbacher 60-foot 0.939 5.28 sec/234 km was #4 stays #4 / Andy Carter 60-foot 0.921 5.12 sec/241 km up in smoke last part of the track  was #10 now #8 bumps Risto out...
Antti Horto started his season at the last event in Tierp and has a fresh top fuel license. 60-foot 0.945 sec 4.43 sec/437 km no improvement / Timo Lethtimäki, last years FHRA Nitro Nationals winner 60-foot 0.915 sec 4.31 sec/437 km was #2 stays # 2

Low qualifier:  Antti Horto 4.274/428 km. Kågered and Poutiainen currently outside the ladder.

We move on to Pro Mod where we are bound to be in for some swaps in the lists as well as improved ETs. Low qualifier currently Mats Eriksson with 6.159 sec followed by Micke Gullqvist 6.167 sec. Gullqvist ran 5.91 sec and won this event last year. He is going to aim at running in the 5´s no doubt..

The track is super hot , the air temperature 34 degrees Celsius and the barometer shows 30.29. Track temperature 117 degrees Fahrenheit /76 degrees Celsius (!)

13:20

FIA Pro Stock qualifying session 3

Bump spot before this session: 6.870 Palmqvist, 13 cars on site for an 8 car ladder

Conrad Stanley 7.03 sec/315 km / Ulf Wagnhester 6.95 sec/319 km both still outside the ladder
Bo Pettersson who was out only once Friday 14.18 sec/96 km is in #12  / Michael Callin nice and straight 6.92 sec/321 km now #9 Thomas Lindström 6.759/329 km nice straight and fast now #1 and passing Ålund to #2 / Tommy Leindahl 9.66 sec/153 km still #8
Richard Sundblom 7.08 sec/ 263 km stays #3/ Sampsa Palos 6.81 sec/327 km was #7 now #5
Jimmy Ålund 1.009 60-foot 6.76 sec/328 km stays  #2 / Michael Malmgren 6.83 sec/326 stays #6

No 1 qualifier: Thomas Lindström 6.759 sec/329 km. Bump spot 6.848 (Leindahl)

Top Fuel Dragster lined up to enter the track next.

12:50

UEM Top Fuel Bike qualifying session 3

Not a full field in the class so everyone will be in the elimination ladder

Jaska Salakari  BYE 6.82 sec/294 km which is good for #3 . Petri Paljakka was supposed to run against Salakari but was backed away
Petri Mattsson 6.98 sec/312 km Mattsson now #4  / Samu Kemppainen broke on the line. Kemppainen doubles in Super Twin and Top Fuel Bike
Sverre Dahl 7.58 sec/338 km out of the groove /  Ian King 7.60 sec/272 km up in smoke early

No #1 after this session Sverre Dahl 6.57 sec/332 km with Ian King #2 at 6.62 sec

The track is being sprayed before we move on to Pro Stock. Temp 32 degrees Celsius, Barometer 30.17.

12:50

UEM Supertwin qualifying session 3

Bump spot before this session: 7.123

Pekka Parikka 7.43 sec/290 km
Asko Määttää 13.83 sec/115 km / Per Bengtsson 6.99 sec/322 km Määttä slow pass all the way for Määttää currently #17, while Bengtsson is #1 with no improvement
Hans Olav Olstad BYE  6.95 sec/303 km currently #4
Christian Jäger  crossed the line / Samu Kemppainen 7.90 sec/292 km. Jäger #11 and Kemppainen #12 the bump still at 7.123 and we have a short break as Jäger took some photo cells while passing the center line.

Torsti Kettula 9.58 sec/243 km / Jukka Kuuru 16.97/71 Kettula cruising down the track Kuuru having problems but slowly made it all the way to the finish line and the lane is checked for leaks afterwards
Next up Jaska Salakari who doubles in Super Twin and Top Fuel Bike this weekend against Mark Ashelford, the Australian contender in the class who are in Europe for the full UEM Championship. Jaska Salakari 7.04 sec/295 km in a cloud of white smoke when passing the finish line the track cleared /Mark Ashelford 6.97 sec/313 km with the chute out when passing 1000 foot
Greger Johansson 7.02 sec / 326 km now # 6/Lorenz Stäuble 7.11 sec/288 km now #3 Stäuble out of the groove as it seemed

Bump now at 7.046 sec

Roel Koedam 6.72 sec/301 km takes the lead from Bengtsson / Jan Sturla Hegré 6.85 sec/313 km now #3

No #1 Roel Koedam 6.725 sec/301 km

On to Top Fuel Bike now

12:25

UEM Pro Stock Bike qualifying session 3

During Friday it was Fredrik Fredlund who showed that with the the new Vance & Hines engine bought from Stoffer he could continue to run quick also without Stoffer on site in Alastaro. Team Ögge who have had a disappointing start to their season was content after day one telling that data showed they are on track and without damage.

The bump spot before the session was 7.39 seconds.

Elvira Karlsson BYE 7.97 sec/241 km
Timo Savolainen broke before the line /  Jesper Thiel 7.218 sec/292.54 km
Kenneth Vik 7.48 /282  Ulf Ögge 7.64 sec/280 km
Martin Bishop 60 foot 1.17 7.45 sec/291.66 km  / Karl Heinz Weikum broke on the line
Dave Beck 7.34 sec/285 km / Rasmus Olesen 7.42/282 km
Fredrik Fredlund 1.12 60 foot 7.156 sec/300 km Kalle Lyrén 7.31 sec/295 km

Fredlund #1 with 7.086

10:20

Very humid and hot day at Alastaro, with sun and pretty clear skies.

Sportsman classes on the track the moment. Pro rounds scheduled at 12 and 16 with the following running order;

UEM Funny Bike
UEM Pro Stock Bike
UEM Super Twin
UEM Top Fuel Bike
FIA Pro Stock
FIA Top Fuel Dragster
FIA Pro Modified
FIA Top Methanol Funny Car
FIA Top Methanol Dragster

Friday evening was interrupted by rain as the Top Fuel Dragster class had just started and the runs for Mäkelä, Kågered and Fällström will not be counted. In addition to the UEM Bike classes Only FIA Pro Stock had round #2 completed.


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