FIA European Finals
Friday (qualifying)
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20:40
We're finished for today here at Santa Pod. It's been a great day's qualifying, very few quarters given and some outstanding performances. Race Director Darren Prentice asked us to pass on his thanks to all of the racers and officials here. "We started an hour and thirty five minutes late, and we finished only fifteen minutes late - and that includes one oildown. The credit for that goes to racers in all classes and to all the marshalls and track crew."
This weekend we thought that we would introduce a new feature to our raceday updates, namely to nominate Tog's and Sharkman's personal runs of the day. No question about it on day one of qualifying, Tog and Sharkman both nominate Micke Kagered's four-second pass in Top Fuel.
Here are the top two qualifiers in each class at the end of the first day's qualifying:
FIA Top Fuel Dragster: 1. Micke Kagered 4.977/296.23, 2. Tommy Moller 6.411/138.14
FIA Top Methanol Dragster: 1. Rob Turner 5.821/242.48, 2. Lindsay Deuchar 6.117/203.95
FIA Top Methanol Funny Car: 1. Micke Kagered 5.853/243.02, 2. Leif Andreasson 5.881/240.48
FIA Pro Stock: 1. Michael Malmgren 6.976/198.36, 2. Niclas Andersson 7.021/196.29
Pro Mod: 1. Patrik Wikstrom 6.554/213.27, 2. Lars Olsson 6.624/209.56
Competition Eliminator (index): 1. Kenneth Feldthusen -0.702 (7.008/191.31), 2. Bruno Bader -0.689 (7.761/174.76)
Super Pro ET (own dial-in): 1. Rob Smallworth +0.009 (8.239/164.56), 2. Paul Jackson +0.040 (8.340/152.97)
Pro ET (own dial-in): 1. Dave Ward +0.007 (10.407/127.14), 2. Rick McCann +0.007 (10.867/125.64)
Sportsman ET (own dial-in): 1. Chris Hodgkins +0.000 (16.410/80.19), 2. Al Platt +0.030 (13.580/103.76)
Super Comp (8.90): 1. Mark Flavell 8.910/150.91, 2. Tim Adam 8.919/148.92
Super Gas (9.90): 1. Martin Curbishley 9.901/137.85, 2. Ritchi Smith 9.916/133.39
Super Street (10.90): 1. Neil Grant 10.908/122.44, 2. Bob Lees 10.908/121.98
Junior Dragster (reaction time): 1. Ricky Emms 0.503, 2. Marcus Habermann 0.523
UEM Comp Bike: 1. Brian Johnson 6.315/223.70, 2. Roel Koedam 6.420/224.25
UEM Supertwin Top Fuel Bike: 1. Anders Karling 6.590/210.28, 2. Ton Pels 7.034/179.10
UEM Pro Stock Bike: 1. Roger Petterson 7.593/172.23, 2. Chris Hope 7.615/172.71
9.90 Bike: 1. Paul Hambidge 9.904/138.85, 2. Jamie Sneddon 9.922/112.32
10.90 Bike: 1. Ady Reade 10.906/118.68, 2. Glenn Randles 10.928/124.67
Today's pictures have now been posted; you can get to them from the race update index.
We'll be back in the morning with all of the developmentd from the pits. See you then!
20:00
The second round of UEM Comp Bike qualifying went as follows:
Sverre Dahl broke, Roel Koedam 6.42/224.25, Ian King 6.52/182.94, Nick Pepper 7.73/172.54, Gary Jones 8.77/160.82, Paul Knapp broke, Joey Bon 14.51/55.04, Shaun Branch 10.68/91.47, Brian Johnson 6.37/216.12, Klaus Brinkmann broke, Klaus Sarembe 14.56/71.89, Steve Woollatt no show, Roald Dogge 7.64/183.76, Dave Abraham 7.63/163.66, Antonio Ferretti 7.71/171.01, Ken Cooper 7.23/178.89.
After two rounds of qualifying, UEM Comp Bike stands as follows:
1. Brian Johnson 6.315/223.70
2. Roel Koedam 6.420/224.25
3. Ian King 6.522/182.94
4. Ken Cooper 7.237/178.89
5. Roald Dogge 7.577/181.82
6. Dave Abraham 7.636/163.66
7. Antonio Ferretti 7.710/171.01
8. Nick Pepper 7.739/172.54
9. Gary Jones 8.774/160.82
10. Joey Bon 10.295 76.54
11. Shaun Branch 10.684/91.47
12. Klaus Sarembe 14.561/71.89
The second round of UEM Supertwin Top Fuel Bike qualifying went as follows:
Ton Pels 7.03/179.10, Per Bengtsson 15.65/59.90, Anders Karling no show, Vaclav Hutla 9.40/141/04, Trond Alm no show, Willem Been 7.61/171.99, Lars Wahlberg 15.87/45.18, Ronny Aasen 9.95/110.55, Vidar Ravnsborg no show, Rob van Geffen no show, Stefan Junerud 7.93/174.40, Sven-Olav Rolfstad no show, Jaska Salakaro DQ (crossed lanes), Svein Gottenberg 7.52/180.55.
After two rounds of qualifying, UEM Supertwin Top Fuel stands as follows:
1. Anders Karling 6.590/210.28
2. Ton Pels 7.034/179.10
3. Jaska Salakari 7.226/198.35
4. Stefan Junerud 7.505/149.36
5. Svein Gottenberg 7.527/180.55
6. Willem Been 7.615/171.99
7. Vaclav Hutla 9.402/141.04
8. Ronny Aasen 9.950/110.55
9. Per Bengtsson 11.532/75.21
10. Vidar Ravnsborg 12.450/79.99
11. Svein-Olav Rolfstad 12.845/59.19
12. Lars Wahlberg 13.858/70.90
Stay tuned as we're now going to post today's pictures and the top two qualifiers in all the classes on which we haven't been concentrating today.
19:40
The second round of Pro Mod qualifying went as follows:
Patrik Wikstrom 6.55/213.67, Steve Hall 8.28/181.52, Mikael Lindahl 22.69, Robert Koper 9.06/98.03, Urban Johansson 9.68/105.07, Henri Joosten no show, Jallo Makimaa no show, Lars Olsson 6.62/209.56, Jan-Arve Nygard 6.78/202.31, Roger Johansson 7.84/114.97, Micke Gullquist no show.
Mikael Lindahl showed us both sides of his car during his burnout, a real wild ride, before breaking on his run.
After two rounds of qualifying, Pro Mod stands as follows:
1. Patrik Wikstrom 6.554/213.27
2. Lars Olsson 6.624/209.56
3. Jan-Arve Nygard 6.789/202.31
4. Urban Johansson 7.108/203.28
5. Henri Joosten 7.108/191.50
6. Robert Koper 7.759/165.49
7. Roger Johansson 7.842/113.87
8. Steve Hall 8.284/181.52
9. Mikael Lindahl 10.227/75.04
The second round of UEM Pro Stock Bike qualifying went as follows:
Anders Larsson 7.76/172.96, Kenneth Stromberg 11.77/65.04, Roger Petterson 7.59/172.25, Chris Hope 7.70/175.16, Len Paget 8.28/151.43, Richard Gipp 7.96/163.94, Michael Ponca broke, Bo Thorselius 20.71/26.43, Martin Bishop 7.99/162.93, Chris Tombleson no show.
After two rounds, UEM Pro Stock Bike stands as follows:
1. Roger Petterson 7.593/172.23
2. Chris Hope 7.615/172.71
3. Kenneth Stromberg 7.679/170.40
4. Anders Larsson 7.764/172.96
5. Chris Tombleson 7.850/171.17
6. Richard Gipp 7.891/163.54
7. Martin Bishop 7.995/162.93
8. Len Paget 8.280/151.43
9. Bo Thorselius 20.712/26.43
The rest of the UEM qualifying will be posted very shortly. Stay tuned!
19:20
The second round of FIA Top Methanol Dragster qualifying went as follows:
Dave Wilson no show, Rob Turner no show, Lindsay Deuchar 6.11/203.95, Darryl Bradford no show, Wendy Baker 7.89/170.29, Doug Bond 6.50/203.50, Manty Bugeja 6.23/173.08.
After two rounds, FIA TMD stands as follows:
1. Rob Turner 5.821/242.48
2. Lindsay Deuchar 6.117/203.95
3. Manty Bugeja 6.231/173.08
4. Douyg Bond 6.500/203.50
5. Wendy Baker 7.897/170.29
6. Dave Wilson 9.539/65.89
Pro Mod is just starting, and we have all the UEM classes to post, stay tuned.
19:15
The second round of FIA TMFC went as follows (in order of running):
Ulf Leanders 6.14/229.58, Leif Andreasson 5.88/240.49, Steph Milam 7.83/174.66, Urs Erbacher 5.97/238.78, Lex Joon 7.24/156.27, Urs Embacher no show, Dezsoe Krivan 6.48/178.20, Arvid Grodem left before lights ran, Jorg Johnsson 7.67/127.43, Micke Kagered 5.85/243.02, Leif Helander 7.28/136.24.
After two rounds of qualifying, FIA TMFC stands as follows:
1. Micke Kagered 5.853/243.02
2. Leif Andreasson 5.881/240.48
3. Urs Erbacher 5.979/238.78
4. Ulf Leanders 6.146/229.58
5. Dezsoe Krivan 6.486/178.20
6. Arvid Grodem 6.950/153.67
7. Lex Joon 6.964/144.52
8. Jorg Johnsson 7.241/154.56
9. Leif Helander 7.287/136.24
10. Steph Milam 7.834/174.66
In FIA Pro Stock, Michael Malmgren set a new speed record of 198.36 mph on a 6.976 pass, which will do his Championship chances no harm at all. The second round of FIA Pro Stock qualifying went as follows:
Niclas Andersson 7.04/195.12, Michael Malmgren 6.97/198.36, Christer Andersson no show, Rune Berg 7.35/161.31, Jacob Ferrer 7.05/195.66.
After two rounds of qualifying, FIA Pro Stock stands as follows:
1. Michael Malmgren 6.976/198.36
2. Niclas Andersson 7.021/196.29
3. Jacob Ferrer 7.057/195.66
4. Rune Berg 7.207/192.88
5. Christer Andersson 7.286/190.68
We're just waiting for tonight's session of FIA Top Methanol Dragster to finish - stay tuned.
19:00
A dream start to qualifying for Micke Kagered as he ran 4.97/296.23 in the first round of FIA Top Fuel. Here's how the first round of qualifying went:
Alan Jackson no show, Tommy Moller 6.41/138.14, Pelle Lindelow 10.40/75.59, Micke Kagered 4.97/296.23, Andy Carter 9.65/87.82, Kim Reymond 10.97/77.99, Anita Makela broke, Barry Sheavills 6.41/175.83.
Alan Jackson didn't show because he is tuning Micke Kagered's dragster but we hope to see him tomorrow. Pelle Lindelow, Andy Carter, Kim Reymond and Barry Sheavills all fell prey to tyre shake. Anita Makela was stuck in reverse after her burnout.
After one round of qualifying, FIA Top Fuel Dragster stands as follows:
1. Micke Kagered 4.977/296.23
2. Tommy Moller 6.411/138.14
3. Barry Sheavills 6.417/175.83
4. Andy Carter 9.655/87.83
5. Pelle Lindelow 10.405/75.59
6. Kim Reymond 10.971/77.99
Stay tuned as we have the rest of the FIA and UEM classes plus Pro Mod to type up, although Pro Mod is on hold for an oildown at present.
14:30
The first round of UEM Comp Bike qualifying went as follows (in order of running):
Gary Jones broke, Nick Pepper 7.87/168.19, Paul Knapp broke, Joey Bon 10.29/76.54, Brian Johnson 6.31/223.70, Klaus Brinkmann broke off line, Klaus Sarembe 21.97/90.75, Roald Dogge 7.57/181.83, Ken Cooper 8.00/152.12, Ian King broke off line, Roel Koedam 6.96/214.31.
BJ's 223.70 will be a new UEM record if backed up.
After one round, UEM Comp Bike stands as follows:
1. Brian Johnson 6.315/223.70
2. Roel Koedam 6.969/214.31
3. Roald Dogge 7.577/181.82
4. Nick Pepper 7.875/168.19
5. Ken Cooper 8.003/152.12
6. Joey Bon 10.295/76.54
7. Klaus Sarembe 21.976/90.75
The first round of FIA Top Methanol Dragster qualifying went as follows (in order of running):
Manty Bugeja shut off on line (fluid leak), Dave Wilson 9.53/65.89 (chute out at 330 feet, shut off at half track), Rob Turner 5.82/242.48.
After one round, FIA TMD stands as follows:
1. Rob Turner 5.821/242.48
2. Dave Wilson 9.539/65.89
The first round of Pro Mod qualifying went as follows (in order of running):
Mikael Lindahl 10.22/75.84, Robert Koper 7.75/165.49, Urban Johansson 7.10/203.28, Henri Joosten 7.10/191.50, Lars Olsson 6.87/200.97, Roger Johansson 11.89/71.37, Jan-Arve Nygard 7.07/198.38, Patrik Wikstrom 6.59/210.95.
Congratulations to Henri Joosten on a new Dutch best.
After one round, Pro Mod stands as follows:
1. Patrik Wikstrom 6.592/210.95
2. Lars Olsson 6.874/200.97
3. Jen-Arve Nygard 7.071/198.38
4. Urban Johannson 7.108/203.28
5. Henri Joosten 7.108/191.50
6. Robert Koper 7.759/165.49
7. Mickael Lindahl 10.227/75.84
8. Roger Johansson 11.897/71.37
Number one qualifiers in the classes upon which we are not concentrating today are as follows:
Comp Eliminator: Bruno Bader -0.689 (7.761/174.76)
Super Gas: Martin Curbishley 9.901/137.85
Super Street: Neil Grant 10.908/122.44
Super Comp: Tim Adam: 8.922/150.52
Sportsman ET: Chris Hodgkins +0.000 (16.410/80.19)
Pro ET: Dave Ward +0.007 (10.407/127.14)
Super Pro ET: Paul Jackson +0.040 8.340/152.97
9.90 Bike: Jamie Sneddon 9.922/112.32
10.90 Bike: Ady Reade 10.906/118.68
Junior Dragster: Marcus Haberman 0.523
Stay tuned and we'll be back after the next FIA/UEM/Pro Mod cycle.
14:15
The first round of FIA Top Methanol Funny Car went as follows (in order of running):
Urs Erbacher 5.99/234.90 (chute our before the finish), Steph Milam 9.93/121.85 (pedalled then backed off), Lex Joon 6.96/144.52 (out of shape, backed off at half track), Dezsoe Krivan 14.57/54.13 (bad tyre shake), Arvin Grodem 6.95/153.67 (chute out for most of the run), Jorg Johnsson 7.24/154.56 (tyre shake), Micke Kagered 5.94/241.90, Ulf Leanders 6.89/140.09 (half pass), Leif Helander 13.11/57.40 (bad tyre shake), Leif Andreasson 6.05/233.69.
Urs Erbacher and Leif Helander were subsequently found to be underweight so their times were DQ'd.
After one round, FIA TMFC stands as follows:
1. Micke Kagered 5.940/241.90
2. Leif Andreasson 6.050/233.69
3. Ulf Leanders 6.899/140.08
4. Arvid Grodem 6.950/153.67
5. Lex Joon 6.964/144.52
6. Jorg Johnsson 7.241/154.56
7. Steph Milam 9.935/121.85
8. Dezsoe Krivan 14.571/54.13
The first round of UEM Supertwin Top Fuel went as follows (in order of running):
Vaclav Hutla 10.27/130.41, Lars Wahlberg 13.85/70.90, Ronny Aasen 10.51/127.85, Vidar Ravnsborg 12.45/79.99, Stefan Junerud 7.50/149.36, Jaska Salakari 7.22/198.35, Svein-Olav Rolfstad 12.84/59.19, Svein Gottenberg 8.15/170.20, Ton Pels 7.56/171.17, Anders Karling 6.59/210.29, Per Bengtsson 11.53/75.21.
Anders Karling wasn't joking about going for a new record, 6.59 will do very nicely if backed up.
After one round, UEM STTF stands as follows:
1. Anders Karling 6.590/210.28
2. Jaska Salakari 7.226/198.35
3. Stefan Junerud 7.505/149.36
4. Ton Pels 7.569/171.17
5. Svein Gottenberg 8.155/170.20
6. Vaclav Hutla 10.278/130.41
7. Ronny Aasen 10.513/127.85
8. Per Bengtsson 11.532/75.21
9. Vidar Ravnsborg 12.450
10. Svein-Olav Rolfstad 12.845/59.19
11. Lars Wahlberg 13.858/70.90
Stay tuned as we're about to post UEM Comp Bike, Top Methanol Dragster, and Pro Mod.
12:15
The first round of UEM Pro Stock Bike qualifying went as follows (in order of running):
Len Paget 8.75/123.34, Chris Hope 7.61/172.71, Richard Gipp 7.89/163.54, Michael Ponca broke, Martin Bishop 8.04/164.65, Chris Tombleson 7.85/171.17, Anders Larsson broke, Roger Petterson 9.71/83.83, Kenneth Stromberg 7.67/170.40.
Congratulations to Roger Petterson on winning the UEM Pro Stock Bike Championship for 2001.
After one round, UEM Pro Stock Bike stands as follows:
1. Chris Hope 7.615/172.71
2. Kenneth Stromberg 7.679/170.40
3. Chris Tombleson 7.850/171.17
4. Richard Gipp 7.891/163.54
5. Martin Bishop 8.040/164.65
6. Len Paget 8.752/123.34
7. Roger Pettersson 9.718/83.83
The first found of FIA Pro Stock qualifying went as follows (in order of running):
Rune Berg 7.20/192.89, Christer Andersson 7.28/190.68, Jacob Ferrer 7.06/194.68, Niclas Andersson 7.02/196.29, Michael Malmgren 7.05/197.77
After one round, FIA Pro Stock stands as follows:
1. Niclas Andersson 7.021/196.29
2. Michael Malmgren 7.052/197.77
3. Jacob Ferrer 7.067/194.68
4. Rune Berg 7.207/192.88
5. Christer Andersson 7.286/190.68
Michael Malmgren's 197.77 is good for a new record if he can back it up, and it would gain him crucial points in what is a very close Championship.
We have the other UEM classes, Top Methanol and Pro Mod due soon so stay tuned and we'll let you know how they go.
11:03
The three-minute silence for our friends in the USA was immaculately observed. The track, spectator banks and pits absolutely still, and then the US National Anthem on the PA. A very touching moment and especially poignant on this ex-USAF base.
10:00
Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway on a bright and sunny morning. The track is looking just great which is a tribute to Kjell Petterson and the track crew here at SPR since it received rather a lot of rain on Thursday.
So here we are on day one of the 2001 FIA European Finals, as Graham Beckwith just said on the PA "It's September already". The European Champions will be crowned this weekend at various points in qualifying or eliminations, and we will of course keep you up to speed on that.
Before we start, a few hellos; firstly to Bob Meyer and Bill Schultz who were due to join us from the USA this weekend but couldn't get here for obvious reasons. Good morning also to Rick Green, Caroline Waters and Natalia Drytchak who are stuck at their places of work when they really should be here with us.
On the subject of our friends in the USA, at 11:00 we will be observing the Europe-wide three minutes' silence in tribute to those who lost their lives on Tuesday. You're in our thoughts now and always.
We got here last night and had a walk around the pits, let's tell you what we found out.
We're very pleased to say that Susanne Callin will be in competition this weekend, after crashing her Super Comp dragster on Sunday. Johan Hassler, the owner of the two-seater dragster, offered Susanne the chance to run the two-seater in competition and she has taken up the kind offer. Susanne will be running in in Super Pro ET with a dial-in somewhere in the 8.0s. She is however worried about the Tree, since she has become used to a Pro Tree and Super Pro uses a Sportsman Tree. "I'll go two seconds before the green, or I'll go two seconds after the green!", she said. Susanne modestly omitted to mention that when she ran in Junior Dragster she used to pull electric reaction times on a Sportsman Tree.
In the Nemesis pit, another hybrid engine is in the TMD. "It's Zippy with bits of Bungle", said Crew Chief Andy Bissett. "And Bungle has got rods from the box marked 'use only in an emergency'!".
Just along the TMD pits, the Turners had to change their plans for the weekend after a new block was stranded in Los Angeles, along with weekend guest Bob Meyer. The team's primary engine was damaged at Super Series 4 and so Crew Chief Steve Turner has put in the spare, which would have been this weekend's standby engine if circumstances were different. The Turners should clinch the FIA European Championship by qualifying for the race.
Wendy Baker and Paul Stubbings haven't made any changes to the Krypton TMD since their last outing. "We gave it a fifty thousand mile service!", said Wendy. An interesting sight in the Krypton pit last night was a samovar full of oil from the Nemesis TMD. "We boil it to evaporate the fuel and then it's good for another two runs", said Paul.
FIA European TMFC Champion-elect Leif Andreasson plans to put in a solid qualifying pass and then turn the wick up. "We want to make the car run real fast", said crew member Anders Magnusson. "We want to go quicker than 5.84 and we want to win the race!". Anders tells us that the infamous Booze Moose was last seen at Spa in Belgium, but added ominously "Moose can swim".
Top Fuel Bike racer Ian King, who currently leads the UEM Comp Bike Championship, had some nice words for Roel Koedam, one of his Championship rivals. If you read Eurodragster News yesterday you will remember that Ian is a little worried about all the changes he has had to make to his bike, and that he thinks that Roel will take the Championship. "Roel is reaching his peak just at the right moment", he said.
Top Fuel Dragster racer Anita Makela has a new block and a new blower on her and Tommi's Top Fuel Dragster after her problems with tyre shake last weekend. "We have been taking power out all season", she said, "and now it's shaking because it has too much power".
Pro Mod racer Patrik Wikstrom has fitted new pistons and rods to the blown-alky engine of his Camaro. "We have also had the blower re-stripped", he said. "It will make 300 to 400 more horsepower which we can use on this track. I want to go below 6.35!".
UEM Supertwin Top Fuel Bike Championship leader Anders Karling says that his bike is good for a new European record. Anders holds the record at 6.79 but has run a lot quicker including a 6.48 earlier this season. "The 6.48 was fun - it was good and straight", said Anders. "We have moved the exhaust pipes ten degrees and the bike is going a lot straighter now."
Fellow STTF racer Stefan Junerud was at Mantorp Park last week to test. "There's a lot of power in the bike", he said. "We can run some good numbers as long as I am brave enough to stay on the throttle! We haven't done anything special this year so far, but we know we have the power". Last year, Stefan had a hairy moment here at Santa Pod when he hit a bump at the top end at 209 mph. "I was off the bike apart from my two hands on the handlebars", said Stefan, "and I came down on the back bodywork. It was scary."
Pro Mod racer Henri Joosten had a thrash to get here from Holland after damaging four pistons at Drachten. "We had some three o'clock finishes this week", he said. "We've got bits from everywhere on the car! After this race we'll take it all apart and put new pieces in". Henri is one of ten Pro Mods here qualifying for an eight-car field. "It's going to be very tough!", he said. "I want to break my Dutch record of 7.20."
If you're coming to Santa Pod this weekend (if not, why not) then be sure to check out the radical injector hat on Alan Jackson's Top Fuel Dragster. Designed by AJ himself, the injector features openings angled at 45 degrees downwards which enables the use of larger butterflies.
Malta's Manty Bugeja has a new tune-up on Joe Carabott's Top Methanol Dragster. "We've put Brad Anderson fat heads on it", says tuner Charley Draper. "We're planning a half-pass to begin with, because we're not sure how different it's going to be. We'r erelying on the weather being OK on Saturday!".
Qualifying has now started, stay tuned and we will bring you news from the first FIA, UEM and Pro Mod sessions very soon.