2005 FIA Main Event
Friday (qualifying)
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21:15
Today's pictures are now available, you can view them from the Event Index page.
Tune back tomorrow morning and we'll bring you all the news from day two of qualifying - we are scheduled to start at 9:00 so we will have our morning greeting posted at about 8:30. See you then!
18:30
The fifth and final session of 9.50 Bike saw changes to the top five with an improvement for Andy Burfitt and Paul Hambidge in at number four. Today's
Super Pro ET was next with its fifth session today, a fantastic session. Ian Tubb moved into second and Andy Frost into fourth, Pat Talbot in fifth, and the field is really starting to bunch up. The top five at the end of today are:
The paint on Steve Johnson's dragster is quite something, the metalflake catching the afternoon sun beautifully. Steve is running very consistently having just run 7.408 on his 7.40 dial-in. Mick Payne made his first run of the day in his blown-alcohol Coronet, a great burnout and then an apparent rear end failure off the line, hopefully that's something Mick can fix.
Next up was the fifth session of Super Gas, no changes in the top five in today's final qualifier:
The final session for today of Sportsman ET saw NIck Gay take over the lead, and Dave Nelson move into the top five:
Junior Dragster had no changes to the top five in today's final session:
Finally for today was the re-instated Comp Eliminator although only Stefan Giese made this session:
We're now going to work on today's pictures and Simon is typing up the latest batch of pit notes, stay tuned.
17:30
The fifth and final qualifying cycle for today started with Pro ET, Tony Morris' trip from the USA well worth it as he took number one spot from Chris Isaacs, whilst Spencer Tramm moved into the top five:
Next up was the fifth session of Super Street, no changes in the top five at the end of today:
The fifth session of Super Comp followed, no changes in the top five in this class either:
Paul Wright said he wanted to do it and he did it, breaking out by nearly a second in his blown-alcohol Pop at 7.987/167.93!
17:10
Congratulations to Frank Mason who is now £100 better off courtesy of Eurodragster.com and LA Racing Parts after clocking 9.900 in the fourth session of Super Gas to take the Eurodragster.com/LA Racing Parts Perfect ET Award. Well done Frank! We have had some changes in the top five after this fourth session, with Frank moving up and Brendan Clancy coming in whilst Mort improved:
Rick Denny moved up the top five of Sportsman ET in the fourth session, Ian Petrie improved but stayed in fifth:
Some big changes to the top five in the fourth session of Junior Dragster as Holly Mitchell took the lead, Jayne Kay went into second, Robin Kadi third, and Collin Morrice fifth:
16:45
Stefan Giese turned out for the fourth session of Super Pro ET qualifying with the door and window of his very rapid Corvette taped up. Stefan clocked a 7.501 in this session with the chutes out before the finish line. The top five did not change in this session:
Ashley Bell had what looked like a huge nitrous burp at about 100 feet in his Cobra, as the car drew to a stop a huge fire ignited from under the bonnet as the safety crews rushed to his aid. Ashley got himself out of the car and clear as flames appeared from the bonnet, the crew got the fire out and Ashley was taken to the medical centre for a routine check-out.
We had a tremendous match-up between Derek Flynn and Pat Talbot in this session, Pat dialled in 7.35 and tan 7.130 and Derek Flynn dialled-in 7.30 and clocked a PB by a country mile of 7.027, well done Derek!
15:45
Martin Hill's first run of the weekend in the Fireforce 3 Jet FC was a 6.216/208.65, shut off just after half-track.
Following on was session four of Super Street qualifying, Leigh Morris moving into the top five and John Grant improving:
Bob Lees pulled a 0.001 Reaction Time in this session of qualifying.
Next up was session four of Super Comp, no change in the top five but the top seven of fifteen are in the 8.9s:
Paul Wright and Mark Pointer matched up for an Outlaw Anglia match-up in this session, Paul getting there first 8.321 to 8.455 and you're a pair of naughty boys!
The fourth 9.50 Bike qualifier followed on, Andy Burfitt came in at number two, bumping Paul Watson from the top five:
Pete Bellenie joined in the SSB naughtiness with an 8.517 in this session as did Mark Fisher with an 8.337, then up stepped the Godfather of Naughtiness Graham Dance with an 8.106/179.99 - but he is still third with his earlier 9.531 checkout pass! It didn't stop there as Dave Smith clocked 8.182/180.05 at the end of the session.
15:10
Chris Isaacs took over the lead and Kev Slyfield moved into the top five of Pro ET in the fourth session of qualifying:
Next up is the Fireforce 3 Jet FC.
15:00
The third session of Super Pro ET saw Barry Giles move in to the top five:
Graham Allen moved into the top five in session 3 of Super Gas, only to be bumped out again by Jon Morton, whilst Spencer Tramm improved his ET:
The top nine in Super Gas are now in the 9.9s.
Sportsman ET followed, Keith Crampton moving up whilst Rick Denny improved and Ian Petrie nudged Jon Turner from the top five:
Cycle three ended with Junior Dragster, Holly Mitchell bumped Birgitte Brenmes from the top five:
We're going straight into cycle four with Pro ET.
Trackside conditions are 26.8 C, 53% humidity and 29.83 inches of air.
14:10
Next up after the shower break was session three of Super Street. Mike Bentley improved his placing in the top five which otherwise didn't change:
The third session of Super Comp followed up, Paul Ingar Udtian took over the lead only for Martin Curbishley to take it away from him in the next pairing! Zane Llewellyn improved his ET but stayed where he was:
9.50 Bike was next, Steve Wood and Chris Jones moved up into the top five after session three:
Next up is Super Pro ET.
13:30
The third qualifying session commenced with Pro ET and the top five saw a dramatic realignment and the top two now both on 0.009:
Ron Bartlett has come closest to taking the Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award with a 0.002 Reaction Time in this session. Spencer Tramm is next closest at 0.004.
We're on hold for a clean-up and a few sprinkles of rain, stay tuned. Don't forget that Simon is updating the Pit Notes page on a regular basis.
12:50
Next after 9.50 Bike was session 2 of Super Pro ET, Again some changes in the top five:
Gary Malin's Serious Playtime dragster threw a body panel at three-quarter track on his pass which put him second; Gary is A-OK. A tremendous final observed run by Craig Owen in the Mark Flavell Racing dragster, 7.910/163.65, well done Craig!
Session 2 of Super Gas was next up, Conrad Stanley moved into the top five only for Mark O'Halloran to bump him out again:
Graham Allen pulled a huge wheelstand off the line in this session, a great driving job by Graham put the car down gently and carried on up the track to clock a 10.369. Tim Adam is running very consistently with another 9.90 in this session, 9.909/143.36, although his earlier run still stands as his qualifier.
The second session of Sportsman ET followed, Keith Crampton moving into the top five in the last pairing against Jon Cohen whose 2005 Mustang looks very nice indeed with body kit and Shelby stripes:
"Tell my boss I'm off sick" is the legend in shoe white on the back of a certain red Mustang, we had better not name the guilty party just in case...
We finished this session with the second Junior Dragster qualifier. Ross Norris took over the lead in the first pairing of this session, and Birgitte Bremnes moved into the top five which now stands as follows:
Trackside conditions are 24.8 C, 60% humidity, 29.85 inches of air...and would you believe that as I type this we have stopped for rain! It's a brief shower, stay tuned.
12:05
The second session of Super Comp followed Super Street after a tremendous clean-up job by the track crew in very hot weather - right now the weather station says it is 23.7 C, 68% humidity and 29.85 inches of air outside. Shaun Lathan moved into the top five in this session:
We then moved on to the second session of 9.50 Bike, Paul Watson and Steve Wood move into the top five, all of whom are in the 9.5s:
Graham Dance clocked 8.215/179.28 in this session, giving his new SSB a good run out! He remains in the top five with his previous run. Dave Smith was also a naughty break-out merchant at 8.255/177.85.
11:00
Changes to the top five in Pro ET after session 2 as John Atkinson, Carl Burton and Chris Isaacs all step up:
Next up was session 2 of Super Street and Elisabeth Bredal, Bob Lees and Mike Bentley all improved to change the top five, Elisabeth taking the lead:
We're on hold for clean-up after Simon Cooper's Pop left a trail of oil from 330 feet and into the shutdown area. Stay tuned.
10:40
Comp Eliminator will not be running this weekend as a withdrawal has reduced the class below the threshold of three. The remaining Comp Eliminator racers have moved into Super Pro ET.
Session 1 of Super Pro ET followed 9.50 Bike and we had some drama in the match-up between Stefan Giese and Rich Gilbertson as Stefan's Corvette threw its right-hand door at the finish line right in front of Rich Gilbertson. Stefan and Rich are A-OK. The top five after this session are as follow:
A great start for Steve Johnosn with his new engine, sponsor Sierra Training and new paintwork!
Next up was the first session of Super Gas and the top five are already in the 9.9s, and six of nineteen broke out. The top five after this session are as follow:
Penultimate in this first cycle of qualifying was the first session of Sportsman ET, Sandie Gibb taking her first #1 of the season. The top five after this session are as follow:
We finished this session with the first Junior Dragster qualifier and the top five are already within one hundredth of reaction. The top five are as follow:
We're now into cycle two, stay tuned.
10:00
The first session of 9.50 Bike was next up and Adrian Lockley continued his excellent form at the Speedfreaks Ball and in testing last week to take #1 spot. The top five are as follow:
Probably entirely coincidental but Graham Dance ran a 9.5 on his first-ever run on his new Super Street Bike.
We're on hold for a minor clean-up, stay tuned.
9:40
The top five qualifiers in Pro ET after session 1 are as follow:
A good start for Bob Doignie who goes into the top five on his first competitive outing in his street-legal Toyota.
Next up was the first round of Super Street, five of eleven broke out in this first session but the top five are as follow:
The first session of Super Comp followed on, and we already have four in the 8.9s. The top five are as follow:
Ex-Super Street Bike racer Mark Pointer carried on the Big Breakout tradition with an 8.378 from his van.
Next up is 9.50 Bike, stay tuned.
8:45
Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway on a beautiful morning. It's the first day of the 2005 European Championships and we're here to bring you all the news in association with American Car Imports.
The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is on-line and is broadcasting a picture every two minutes.
All of Eurodragster.com's FIA Main Event coverage is dedicated to the memory of the late David Elden, who was a clutch technician on the Carbon By Design Top Fuel Dragster team. David passed away in February after bearing a long illness with good humour, bravery and dignity, but he will always be remembered.
As we said it's a beautiful morning, not a cloud in the sky right now, trackside conditions are 17.8 C, 90% humidity, and 29.91 inches of air pressure.
A special Good Morning to everyone who is stuck in their workplace this morning, don't get yourselves in trouble with the boss but tune back often because we'll be updating very frequently!
We have already got this morning's first set of pit notes posted, they are available via the Event Index; as I type Simon is stood next to me getting his notebook, pen, and sun-screen together for his first pit visit of the morning.
We're 100% Sportsman qualifying today with at least five full cycles scheduled; we are due to start at 9:00 with Pro ET so stay tuned and we'll bring you all the news as soon as we get going.