2004 FIA European Finals
Run What You Brung, Sunday 5th September

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17:30

We're done for the day here at Santa Pod. The weather has not let up, the weather station is reading 30.6 C, 34% humidity and 30.33 inches of air.

Ian Caseley's last run of the weekend netted him a 9.023/178.75 in the Roadzombie II Jet Dragster. The car dropped a trail of fuel on the track, Ian told us that the team already had a solution for that problem. Ian said that he really knew about it when the afterburner came in on this morning's run. "It shot forward!", he said, "I couldn't believe it went 173 at the eighth, the burner had only just come in then!".

Pro Mod racer Bill Weston appeared right at the end of the day to put in a test run in his Pro Mod before his return to competition next week. Bill put in a superb burnout but stopped on the track and was pushed back.

The two Junior Dragsters were joined this afternoon by Matt Seamarks, whose first pass was a 16.100/38.69 followed by 16.038/39.36 and then into the fifteens on his last couple of passes, the last a 15.811/39.92. Michael Smith clocked 16.953/35.66, 16.793/37.58 and 16.624/38.07 in the Santa Pod Junior Dragster. Collin Morrice's last passes today were 9.151/72.60 and 9.143/72.10.

Mark Pointer has made three passes this afternoon, 10.704/112.98 which was very wiggly again, 10.231/112.45 and finally a 9.733/135.94 which is his best time of the weekend even with a pedal as the van got a little out of shape. Pro ET racer Chris Fox clocked 11.083/126.45, 11.196/120.64 and finally a 11.180/120.97 in his petite dragster.

Sandie Gibb also had the wiggles in the Pro ET Opel, 12.228/114.18 her first run and then a very wobbly 14.401/99.73 whilst fellow Wild Bunch racer Terry Meakins' second pass in the Topo altered was a nice-looking 12.681/102.49. Finally in the wobbly stakes, Pete Ashworth's last pass of the day in his Outlaw Anglia was a 10.220/110.84.

Paul King joined Rafael Ross to test his Pro Stock Bike, both riders hitting problems before putting in their passes. "I've not been out for a while", Rafael Ross told us. "I'm testing with a view to running next year. I've got one of Roger Upperton's baby motors, h esays I can't have a big one until I run the times!". Rafael said that he ran 9.4 at Elvington last week without a burnout and was hoping for an eight-second pass this afternoon. "I'll be doing the Halloween Showdown at Shakespeare County Raceway and then ovet the winter I'll be fitting a new fairing on the front and a new motor", he said.

Paul King said that it had all been bad news for his Pro Stock Bike recently. "We traced the misfire to a bad connection", he said. "Hopefully that will resolve our hiccups. The arming switch disconnected itself, luckily we found that here and not at a race. Steve King is trying to get us a new motor built before the National Finals, but you know how it is, you're waiting for parts all the time. With a Yamaha you have to make the parts."

Today's pictures are posted, you can view those from the event index page.

That's all for today, tune back on Tuesday when we will be bringing you a report on all the work which is taking place to prepare Santa Pod Raceway for next weekend's FIA European Finals.

13:30

It's very hot here at Santa Pod, 25.7 C, 53% humidity, and 30.39 inches of air pressure. Phew! We're currently on the lunch break so let's take you through what happened in this morning's session.

Low ET and high speed of the day are held by Ian Caseley in the Roadzombie II Jet Dragster, the afterburner was on for a couple of seconds during his pass and it had an immediate effect on his time and speed, 8.082/182.23 and plenty more to come.

Outlaw Anglia racer Pete Ashworth has made a couple of passes in the Dayglo Twister, a 9.378/139.78 and a very wiggly 9.516/122.52 in which he backed off early.

Andrew and Sandie Gibb have their Wild Bunch Opel here, we believe that Sandie is driving. A couple of very consistent runs for the Opel, a best of 12.592/113.29 and 12.593/112.16.

Mark Pointer has put in a couple of passes in his Fordson van, both passes a lot straighter than yesterday, Jon Webster's advice on shock settings obviously doing the trick. Hooligan has clocked 9.943/130.05 and 9.835/130.44.

On two wheels, 10.90 Bike racer Phil Pratt has put in several passes with a best of 10.964/124.59 and also in the tens was a 10.967/123.98. 9.90 Bike racer Steve Knapp is also getting his money's worth with a number of passes, the best two so far a 10.124/130.49 and a 10.211/131.50. Rafael Ross on his yellow bike in Vance and Hines colours clocked 9.286/147.56 after problems keeping the motor running.

Collin Morrice and Michael Smith are testing in their Junior Dragsters, Collin's best so far a 9.021/72.69 and a 9.086/72.13. Michael's best so far is a 16.748/37.69 with the next run a 17.196/36.20 on the following run.

A name new to us, Terry Meakins, is now driving an altered with the ex-Scottie Durrant Wild Bunch Topo altered body and made a good job of his first pass, 12.833/105.60 whilst Pro ET racer Chris Fox clocked 11.307/106.89.

We're about to start this afternoon's session, stay tuned.

10:00

Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway on another glorious morning. It's the last chance for racers to test before the FIA European Finals and we're here to bring you the news in association with American Car Imports.

The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is already on-line and broadcasting a picture every two minutes. We've moved the webcam to a new location this morning, see what you think!

Trackside conditions are 21.7 C, 72% humidity, and 30.39 inches of air pressure.

As with yesterday we will bring you an update when we get to the lunch break, which is scheduled for about 13:00, and then another update late this afternoon. See you then!