2003 UK National Finals
Saturday (qualifying)
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22:15
Today's pictures are now available from the Event Index page. We are now off to Pat and Stephen Talbot's wedding anniversary party - hope there's some food left...
We'll be back in the morning with all the news from eliminations.
20:15
It's been a great day's qualifying here at Santa Pod Raceway, here are the top five qualifiers in each class at the end of cycle three:
Super Modified
Super Pro ET
Pro ET
Sportsman ET
Super Comp
Super Gas
Super Street
Junior Dragster
Custom Car Street Eliminator after Cruise
VW Pro
VW Sportsman
Wild Bunch
Funny Bike
Pro Stock Bike
Super Street Bike
Comp Bike
9.90 Bike
10.90 Bike
Supertwin Fuel
Supertwin Gas
Supertwin Modified
Supertwin Street
We are currently working on today's pictures, stay tuned.
17:00
Some changes in Super Street after the second session with Conrad Stanley taking over the lead at 10.978/132.21, Brian Huxley now second at 11.074/120.08, Bob Lees third at 11.109/127.46, Mark Watkins fourth at 11.308/119.04 and Matthew Wright fifth at 11.631/118.23.
A number of changes, too, in the Wild Bunch, Gareth Kent having taken over the lead +0.055 on dis dial-in at 12.225/105.85, Tom Coe +0.061 11.361/114.86, Alec Coe +0.062 10.542/112.69, Joe Steven's earlier +0.085 10.485/127.79 now good for fourth, and Dennis Hawkins fifth +0.086 9.316/142.51.
The Super Comp lead changed hands and then changed back again in an exciting session with Malcolm Francis ending up back on to with an 8.901/148.77, Tim Adam into the top five second at 8.922/150.49, Martin Curbishley third also on 8.922 at 150.89, Zane Llewellyn still fourth but now on 8.931/152.31, and Mark Fairhurst fifth at 8.936/153.30.
Andy Hone retained the lead in Super Modified with his earlier 7.766/174.07, Steve Rawlings improved to a 7.888/171.34 for second, Paul Brooks and Tim Garlick still third and fourth with their earlier runs of 8.265/166.22 and 8.302/162.74, and Kev Perkins in fifth at 8.723/156.73. I don't know whether we will see Paul Brooks again this weekend as his transmission appeared to break off the line and then the engine dropped a big trail of oil on the track.
We had a thrilling second session of Funny Bike, Neil Midgley consolidated his lead with a 7.002/180.90, Mike Chislett moved into second at 7.117/185.18, Dave Holland remains third with his earlier 7.161/182.27 - a quicker run in this session was disallowed for a blue line violation - Steve French moved into fourth at 7.236/180.42 and Stu Chamberlain now fifth with his earlier 7.485/174.65.
Dave Beck is running very consistently in Pro Stock Bike with his new Roger Upperton engine, cementing his qualifying lead with a 7.368/176.22. Chris Hope and Richard Gipp had a side-by-side 7.4-second qualifying match-up to take second and third places at 7.456/178.02 and 7.463/176.22 respectively, Martin Bishop stepped right up for fourth at 7.671/173.28 and Paul Watson got back into the sevens for fifth place at 7.965/159.37.
Comp Bike is still led by Klaus Sarembe's earlier 8.376/165.76, Andy Newcombe is now second at 8.516/156.55, Phil Leamon's earlier 8.814/156.05 is third, Vaughan Foster has stepped into the top five for a fourth-placed 8.894/154.84 and Paul Newman's earlier 8.981/156.42 is now fifth.
A big improvement from Steph Milam in Top Methanol in this session, 6.405/212.73 still good for second place, Dave Wilson's earlier 5.791/201.94 is still #1 qualifier after he hit shake and backed off early in this session, 6.094/173.25.
We then went into session three of Custom Car Street Eliminator and this is likely to go down as the best CCSE qualifying session ever with a stack of personal bests (Allen Curtis in the 9.1s and and Al Simms in the 9.0s for example) and another new record. Steve Pateman stays #1 at 8.153/170.71, Jon Webster smashed the best time for John Hales' Chevy with an 8.165 at 177.51 for second - just a little too fast for a new record but it backs up his earlier 175.07. Jeff Meads is third at 8.397/162.54, Andy Frost fourth at 8.694/161.33 and Ian Hook fifth with his earlier 8.912/146.68, and that's how the top five finishes, subject to the Cruise.
We are now into cycle three - stay tuned for news, we will bring you the top five in each class at the end of today.
15:40
Ian Tubb still leads Super Pro ET +0.001 7.581/178.13 from Al Golding +0.006 8.796/152.06, but Trev Capewell is now third +0.056 8.186/157.52, Dave Moore now fourth although improved to +0.091 8.051/169.72 and John Tebenham now fifth at +0.101 8.371/161.12.
A change in the lead in Super Gas now sees Dave Townsend in the lead 9.930/140.42 from Malcolm Francis' earlier 9.938/142.57, Conrad Stanley third at 9.972/131.76, Pete Creswell 9.998/144.52 and Peter Lane 10.003/141.81.
No change in order in Supertwin Street, Mark Earrey at 10.316/130.02, Ian Tomsett next at 11.007/124.60, Chris Mott still third but improved to 11.044/125.16, Neil Dickson 11.151/123.51 and Ian Radanke 11.223/130.01. No position changes in Supertwin Modified either, TJ O'Brien up top at 9.766/143.07, Simon Hodgson 9.790/143.74, Les Harris third with an improved 10.485/131.87 and Dave Bartz now in the game at 10.932/130.65. George Laycock still leads Supertwin Gas improved to a 9.615/135.29 from Andy Smith 10.233/126.70, Dave Hirst 10.244/126.74, Ric Naylor 10.463/121.06 and Don Irvine 11.876/116.37.
Ian Turburville still leads Supertwin Fuel with his earlier 9.990/139.43, and has now been joined by Chris Stebbings at 13.819/54.47 and Bernie Hepworth at 16.110/49.06.
15:00
Karl Larcombe retained his lead in Super Street Bike but stepped up big time, clicking 8.164/174.56. Tony Clark is still second at 8.467/174.79, Graham Dance a little quicker at 8.540/144.90, Pete Bellenie now third at 8.606/165.75 and Bradley O'Connor still fifth with an improved 8.633/174.99.
Steve Pateman backed up his earlier pass and still leads Custom Car Street Eliminator at 8.153/170.71 and a new ET record. Jeff Meads took 0.3 off his personal best to take second spot at 8.397/162.54, Jon Webster now third at 8.411/175.07 (speed not backed up in this session), Andy Frost fourth at a slightly improved 8.694/161.33 and Ian Hook fifth with his earlier 8.912/146.68.
Tony Baker just rocked Race Control with a 7.254/223.87 in the Fireforce Jet FC.
Next up is Super Pro session two, stay tuned.
14:30
We had some changes to the top five in the second cycle of Junior Dragster qualifying. Collin Morrice still leads at 0.505 from Ricky Emms at 0.540, third is now Nick Mugridge at 0.556, fourth is Charlotte Watts 0.572 and fifth Tom Watts 0.580.
The top five of Sportsman ET has completely changed around with Andy Raw now leading +0.007 at 13.607/96.22, Kev Slyfield +0.009 12.009/114.75, Rick Denny +0.024 14.624/89.82, Robin Orthodoxou +0.077 18.977/71.93 and Paul Bishop +0.083 16.483/81.80.
A completely new top five in Pro ET after the second session, Malcolm Motler now leads +0.002 on his dial-in 10.912/119.58 from Keith Herbert also +0.002 11.442/116.31, Terry Wareham +0.006 11.586/118.59, Paul Marston +0.008 10.208/129.57 and Steve Wells +0.027 9.877/130.66.
A new top two in VW Sportsman with Natasha Garcia +0.010 18.410/75.60, Graham Fairhead +0.015 15.615/74.83, Mason Griffiths +0.041 16.041/83.31, Simon Longman +0.065 15.565/72.57 and Andy Brooke +0.095 16.395/80.50. The previous top two in VW Pro are now good for third and fourth, Justin Aldred now leads +0.035 12.535/109.52, Russ Fellows +0.042 11.242/119.18, Brett Lincoln +0.047 at 12.647/106.69, Paul Bate +0.122 12.022/110.41 and Jason Aldred +0.193 12.183/106.88.
Steve Coombs has been demoted to fourth in 9.90 Bike, Martin Walker now leads at 9.909/145.01, Shaun Jones is second at 9.924/137.90, Geoff Connor 10.063/112.68, Steve Coombs 10.145/136.43 and Lewis Honey fifth at 10.184/132.48. All change in 10.90 Bike, too, with Dave Warren now leading 10.924/115.96, Phil Pratt 10.945/125.49, Dave Burfitt 10.947/125.90, Paul Coombs 11.270/86.83 and Neil Curtis 11.403/122.75.
Super Street Bike qualifying is underway, Rachel Pattison just suffered a turbo failure right on the finish line after an 8.7 pass, the bike disappearing in a cloud of smoke. Rachel is quite OK but the turbo is probably scrap.
Action has just recommenced, stay with us.
13:20
The first cycle of qualifying is now finished, let's take you through all of the remaining classes.
Dave Wilson leads Top Methanol with an early shut off 5.791/201.94 from Steph Milam's 7.455/130.02. There was a puff of smoke from Dave's car at about 1000 feet, he was off the throttle early and had the chutes out before the traps.
Super Street is led by Bob Lees at 11.117/127.87 from Matthew Wright 13.064/101.98, Mike Bentley leads the breakouts at 10.822/132.49, Ian Brown fourth at 10.873/118.63 and Brian Huxley at 10.756/122.71.
Joe Stevens is first in the Wild Bunch 0.085 over his dial-in at 10.485/127.79, Mark Coulsell is next up +0.164 10.664/124.20, Chris Hartnell +0.192 9.692/133.61, Alec Coe +0.252 10.532/113.35, and Tony Smith +0.568 12.518/109.77.
Malcolm Francis is currently doubling-up for #1 spots with an 8.929/148.41 in Super Comp from Mark Fairhurst 8.973/152.99, Shaun Lathan 9.158/148.06, Zane Llewellyn 8.884/153.11 and Brian Pateman 8.868/154.56.
Andy Hone heads Super Modified with a 7.766/174.07 from Steve Rawlings 7.907/170.87, Paul Brooks 8.265/166.22 and Tim Garlick 8.302/162.74. Kev Perkins is driving Danny Cockerill's car this weekend but was shut off on the line for a fluid leak in this first session.
Onto two wheels and Neil Midgley is at the top of the tree in Funny Bike at 7.036/175.43 from Dave Holland 7.161/182.27, Mike Chislett 7.209/183.97, Stu Chamberlain 7.485/174.65 and Tim Blakemore's troubled 11.383/71.53.
Pro Stock Bike is led by Dave Beck with a 7.383/175.24 from Richard Gipp's 7.514/176.64, Chris Hope at 7.572/175.23, Martin Bishop 7.985/166.37 and Paul Watson's 8.032/152.82 which looked quicker.
Klaus Sarembe heads up Comp Bike at 8.376/165.76 almost half a second ahead of Phil Leamon's 8.814/156.05, Paul Newman at 8.981/156.42, Nick Daniels' first Comp Bike outing at 9.511/144.04 and Ian Berry at 10.102/149.54.
The anonymous VW Pro racer whom we mentioned earlier was Paul Bate, who didn't have any race numbers on his car.
We're now into cycle two, stay tuned.
12:30
When we left you last, Super Pro ET qualifying was underway. Lee Darby unfortunately oiled the track with his VW Funny Car, no news on damage as yet. Ian Tubb took the qualifying lead +0.001 on his dial-in at 7.581/178.13 from Al Golding +0.006 8.796/152.06, Dave Moore +0.123 8.083/168.65, Paul Davies +0.124 8.824/147.69 and Barry Giles +0.177 7.747/167.32.
Next up was the first session of Super Gas which is led by Malcolm Francis at 9.938/142.57, by no means a straight pass so it could have been a breakout had he gone straight. Pete Creswell is second at 9.998/144.52, Pete Lane next at 10.073/142.02 from Conrad Stanley 12.381/82.16 and Martin Curbishley fifth leading no less than seven breakouts at 9.895/144.60.
The NAST then had their first qualifying cycle, first was Supertwin Street which is led, believe it or not, by Mark Earrey at 10.316/130.02, Ian Tomsett next at 11.007/124.60, Chris Mott 11.117/124.50, Neil Dickson 11.151/123.51 and Ian Radanke 11.223/130.01. The three Supertwin Modified bikes are led by TJ O'Bruen 9.766/143.07, Simon Hodgson 9.790/143.74 and Les Harris at 10.508/130.93.
George Laycock leads Supertwin Gas with a 9.696/135.81 from Andy Smith 10.233/126.70, Dave Hirst 10.244/126.74, Ric Naylor 10.463/121.06 and Don Irvine 11.876/116.37. Only Ian Turburville ran in the first session of Supertwin Fuel and is perforce number one at 9.990/139.43.
We'll be back soon with more of today's first cycle of qualifying.
11:00
Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway on a beautiful Autumn morning. It's the last weekend of the 2003 UK National Championships and we're here to bring you all the action in association with American Car Imports.
The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is online and broadcasting a picture every two minutes.
Qualifying started at 9:30 with the trackside temperature at 11.2 C, 79% humidity, and 29.80 inches of air pressure. Let's take you through the first few classes.
Collin Morrice has started his Junior Dragster Championship charge with a 0.505 to take the lead in Junior Dragster qualifying after session one. Ricky Emms is second at 0.540 from Jay Hauser at 0.623, Holley Glassup 0.638 and Johnny Walker 0.670.
The VW Alternative Engine racers have moved into Sportsman ET and it's one of the VW/Alt racers who leads the way +0.100 at 14.090/98.68. Nick South is second +0.136 at 14.116/99.33, from Ian Turnbull +0.537/14.227/101.20, Andy Raw +0.679 13.879/96.38 and Rick Denny +0.705 15.305/82.00.
There were a lot of breakouts in Pro ET, the air and excellent track conditions obviously catching us all out. Rick McCann leads +0.036 on his dial-in at 10.546/129.57 from Aidan Kenny +0.049 11.599/114.14, Paul Baynton +0.099 11.299/120.56, Bob Doyle +0.104 10.304/132.51 and Steve Dunn +0.116/9.966/135.17.
A huge VW Sportsman field is led by Mason Griffiths +0.041 16.041/83.31, Simon Longman +0.065 15.565/72.57, Graham Fairhead +0.087 15.687/83.64, Andy Brooke 0.095 16.395/80.50 and Sarah Rollin +0.166 17.666/77.20. VW Pro was next up and is led by Brett Lincoln +0.047 at 12.647/106.69, Paul Bate +0.122 12.022/110.41, Jon Rathbone third +0.581 10.881/132.86, Justin Aldred +0.929 13.429/107.89, and Peter Englezos +0.934 12.134/111.28.
9.90 Bike is led by Steve Coombs at 10.145/136.43 from Dave Oliver 10.188/142.79, Carl Gray 10.190/140.30, Ilse Lambert 10.341/136.04 and TJ O'Brien 10.386/136.11. Phil Pratt leads 10.90 Bike at 10.952/125.81, Paul Coombs is next up at 11.287/101.95, Neil Curtis third at 13.643/121.22, then into the breakouts with Steve Knapp fourth at 10.860/112.77 and John Hackney fifth 10.849/127.28.
Karl Larcombe is at the top of Super Street Bike after session one at 8.406/172.39 from Tony Clark 8.467/174.79, Graham Dance 8.631/177.50, Adam Lancaster 8.777/167.95 and Bradley O'Connor 9.015/161.55.
New records are on the cards in Custom Car Street Eliminator with Steve Pateman leading the way at 8.153/170.71 for a potential ET record - do you think he's after a seven this weekend? - from Jon Webster in John Hales' Chevy 8.411 at a potential speed record of 175.07, a new PB for Andy Frost at 8.699/162.04, Ian Hook fourth at 8.912/146.68 and Ian Jackson fifth at 8.937/170.33.
Stay tuned!