2008 Extreme Performance Bike Weekend
Saturday (qualifying)


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19:05

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We're due to start at 9:00 tomorrow morning so tune back then and we'll bring you all the news from eliminations.

18:20

200mph.net Charity Grudge Races:

Garry Bowe 7.8817/177.78 def. Scott Baldwin 8.1114/187.93
Steve Venables 7.5255/196.18 bye (Chris Hannam no show)
Dave Bailey 7.0755/182.87 bye
Ray Debben 7.8368/166.01 def. Dave Smith 9.1048/155.15
Richard Stubbins 7.5706/190.37 def. Thomas Granica 7.9658/180.61
Stuart Crane 7.7245/171.04 def. Graham Dance 8.0557/170.32
Dave Beck 7.5232/177.78 def. Brad O'Connor 7.7288/192.02

Paul Watson of DynoSpeed Developments was our Chief Starter for the grudge races which will be raising money for the local Air Ambulance.

17:05

Super Street Bike qualifying top five after session 3:

  1. Steve Venables 7.4599/191.33
  2. Richard Stubbins 7.4614/191.21
  3. Brad O'Connor 7.5757/193.56
  4. Mark Watkins 7.6496/191.13
  5. Scott Baldwin 7.7152/184.20

Trackside conditions at the start of this session were 18.5 C, 64% humidity and 29.80 inches of air, track temperature is 26.4 C.

8.1183 for Pete Bellenie in this session which we think may be a PB, well done Pete! A new PB also for Brad O'Connor a couple of pairings later, good for #3 spot at that point, well done Brad! A small improvement for Richard Stubbins but he stayed in #2.

We're now back into Straightliners but stay tuned as we're planning to give you the outcomes of the 200mph.net charity grudge races which are due to take place at about 17:30.

16:45

Funny Bike qualifying top five after session 3:

  1. Neil Midgley 6.9544/195.23
  2. Chris Hall 6.9748/191.94
  3. Tim Blakemore 6.9933/181.35
  4. Dave Bailey 7.0959/180.62
  5. Dave Holland 7.1112/152.12

A tremendous side-by-side six-second match between Neil Midgley and Tim Blakemore put them into #1 and #3 spots respectively. Dave Holland was next up with a fantastic-looking pass with great incrementals, 1.0592 at sixty feet and 4.3647/160.17 at half track but then just past half track the engine positively groaned and there was a cloud of smoke. Word came back from the top end that Dave's motor now has a hole in it, but his pass was food for #5 spot at that point.

16:40

Comp Bike qualifying top five after session 3:

  1. Ivan Birch 7.4257/178.34
  2. Dave Peters 7.6235/187.30
  3. Stu Crane 7.7380/169.76
  4. Phil Leamon 8.2388/157.88
  5. Bob Brooks 8.4164/162.42

An improvment for Dave Peters but he stayed in place - there is more to come from Dave's bike, too, as he had to feather the throttle in the second half as he approached the centre line and the 187.30 will be a new ACU Comp Bike speed record if he backs it up in eliminations, well done Dave! A big improvement for Phil Leamon but he stayed in #4 at that point. Same story for Bob Brooks, improving but staying in place.

Pro Stock Bike qualifying top five after session 3:

  1. Len Paget 7.3683/179.21
  2. Dave Beck 7.3848/177.63
  3. Richard Gipp 7.7415/155.70
  4. Ray Debben 7.7889/171.69
  5. Jerry Collier 7.8154/167.29

Dave Beck blasted into #1 on his first run of the day. Another improvement for Ray Debben moved him up a spot to #4, then Jerry Collier improved but stayed in #5. Len Paget had the timing system lock on him during his pass so he was given a re-run and took #1 spot away from Dave Beck, close to a PB for Len I think.

16:20

Supertwin ET qualifying top five after session 3:

  1. John Hackney +0.0410 9.9410/139.83
  2. Pete Harrison +0.0479 12.2470/110.07
  3. Joe Elliott +0.0757 10.6657/134.72
  4. Aaron Sparks +0.0825 12.2825/107.22
  5. Mike Nelthorpe +0.1068 13.1068/104.55

Aaron Sparks improved in the first pairing but stayed in #4 spot at that point. Mike Nelthorpe came into the top five in the last pairing but two.

Supertwin Gas qualifying top five after session 3:

  1. Chris Mott 8.9010/141.99
  2. Andy Smith 9.3951/139.35
  3. Les Harris 9.6763/140.23
  4. Ric Naylor 9.9721/133.24
  5. Dave Jones 10.4767/132.84

The tiniest of improvements for Les Harris staying in #3 spot at that point, a new Personal Best ET and he always wanted to run 140 mph here at Santa Pod. Well done Beardy Bloke!

16:05

9.50 Bike qualifying top five after session 3:

  1. Martin Walker 9.5142/132.40
  2. Steve Ashby 9.5222/133.62
  3. Fred Furlong 9.5299/143.80
  4. Wayne Saunders 9.5506/148.67
  5. Richard Beck 9.5797/141.10

Richard Beck into the top five at #3 spot in the third pairing of the session. A couple of pairings later Steve Ashby came back into the top five at 2#. Wayne Saunders ended the session with a bye and came into the top five at #4.

8.50 Bike qualifying top five after session 3:

  1. Paul Watson 8.5789/154.62
  2. Richard Hann 8.5933/149.54
  3. Chris Jones 8.7371/168.49
  4. Andy Fawcett 8.9449/161.85
  5. Paul Hambidge 8.9767/155.22

Richard Hann and Chris Jones into #2 and #3 spot side by side then Andy Fawcett back into the top five at #4 in the next pair.

Trackside conditions are 20.0 C, 58% humidity and 29.80 inches of air, track temperature is 35.2 C.

14:45

Funny Bike qualifying top five after session 2:

  1. Chris Hall 6.9748/191.94
  2. Dave Bailey 7.0959/180.62
  3. Neil Midgley 7.1682/190.54
  4. Kev Charman 7.4401/173.60
  5. Ken Cooper 7.5555/167.76

Chris Hall into the sixes and into #1 spot in the first pairing. Side by side improvements for Kev Charman and Dave Holland but both stayed in place. In the next pairing Neil Midgley moved up to #3 spot at that point. Another PB for Dave Bailey but he stayed in #2, in the other lane Ken Cooper came into the top five at #5.

Super Street Bike qualifying top five after session 2:

  1. Steve Venables 7.4599/191.33
  2. Richard Stubbins 7.4794/189.61
  3. Mark Watkins 7.6496/191.13
  4. Brad O'Connor 7.7077/179.11
  5. Scott Baldwin 7.7152/184.20

Ven into #1 spot in the first pairing of the session. An improvement for Mark Watkins moved him up a spot to #3 at that point. In the last but one pairing Brad O'Connor improved and moved up to #4 spot. The top eight qualifiers are in the sevens.

We're now back into Straightliners, the next qualifying session will commence in one hour.

14:30

Comp Bike qualifying top five after session 2:

  1. Ivan Birch 7.4257/178.34
  2. Dave Peters 7.7071/173.61
  3. Stu Crane 7.7380/169.76
  4. Phil Leamon 8.4657/154.60
  5. Bob Brooks 8.6123/154.15

Another PB for Phil Crossley of 8.8718, well done Phil, although the displayed terminal speed of 189.54 was probably dodgy. An improvement for Phil Leamon but he stayed in #4 at that point. Bob Brooks in at #5 in the last pass of the session, a best for the new Yellow Metal bike and doubtless more to come.

Pro Stock Bike qualifying after session 2:

  1. Len Paget 7.4486/173.67
  2. Richard Gipp 7.7415/155.70
  3. Jerry Collier 7.8505/165.32
  4. Ray Debben 7.8658/169.76
  5. Paul King 8.4204/155.70

An improvement for Len Paget to consolidate his #1 spot at that point. Jerry Collier up into #3 spot in the second pairing and an improvement for Paul King but he stayed in #5.

14:15

Supertwin ET qualifying top five after session 2:

  1. John Hackney +0.0410 9.9410/139.83
  2. Pete Harrison +0.0479 12.2470/110.07
  3. Joe Elliott +0.0757 10.6657/134.72
  4. Aaron Sparks +0.1477 12.3977/106.52
  5. Dave Shorthose +0.1973 11.3973/124.70

Dave Shorthose into the top five at #5 in the fourth pairing. John Hackney closed the session with a bye and took over #1 spot.

Supertwin Gas qualifying top five after session 2:

  1. Chris Mott 8.9010/141.99
  2. Andy Smith 9.3951/139.35
  3. Les Harris 9.6830/139.40
  4. Ric Naylor 9.9721/133.24
  5. Dave Jones 10.4767/132.84

A great pass from Ric Naylor put him into #3 spot after the first pairing. Next up was a great match between Chris Mott and Les Harris, both improving, Les up into #3 and Motty consolidating #1.

14:05

Chris Hannam preceded the second qualifying session with an 8.5005/115.05 pass on his Supertwin. A feather of the throttle at half track and then off the gas in the second half.

9.50 Bike qualifying top five after session 2:

  1. Martin Walker 9.5142/132.40
  2. Fred Furlong 9.5299/143.80
  3. Richard Sawatzki 9.5808/143.80
  4. Shaun Spiers 9.5998/no speed
  5. Steve Ashby 9.6070/128.33

Steve Ashby into the top five at #5 in the third pairing of the session. Fred Furlong improved but stayed in #2 at that point.

8.50 Bike qualifying top five after session 2:

  1. Paul Watson 8.5789/154.62
  2. Paul Hambidge 8.9767/155.22
  3. Andy Fawcett 9.1744/163.01
  4. Chris Jones 9.1876/165.45
  5. Jon Webster 9.7243/149.51

Paul Hambidge into the top five at #2 in the last but one pairing. Paul Watson improved to consolidate his #1 spot/

Trackside conditions are 20.1 C, 59% humidity and 29.80 inches of air, track temperature is 30.1 C.

12:45

Super Street Bike qualifying top five after session 1:

  1. Richard Stubbins 7.4794/189.61
  2. Steve Venables 7.5718/190.39
  3. Scott Baldwin 7.7152/184.20
  4. Mark Watkins 7.7764/188.16
  5. Brad O'Connor 7.7834/188.13

We're now going into Straightliners who run all-in so stay tuned and we'll be back when the UK Championship classes are back on.

12:35

Funny Bike qualifying top five after session 1:

  1. Dave Bailey 7.1383/174.88
  2. Kev Charman 7.6092/169.78
  3. Neil Midgley 7.6851/135.22
  4. Dave Holland 7.9648/169.86
  5. Gary Jones 8.0218/174.84

A Personal Best for Dave Bailey, well done Dave!

Pro Stock Bike qualifying after session 1:

  1. Len Paget 7.6064/142.48
  2. Richard Gipp 7.7415/155.70
  3. Ray Debben 7.8658/169.76
  4. Jerry Collier 7.9471/164.20
  5. Paul King 8.5830/163.80

12:20

Comp Bike qualifying top five after session 1:

  1. Ivan Birch 7.4257/178.34
  2. Dave Peters 7.7071/173.61
  3. Stu Crane 7.7380/169.76
  4. Phil Leamon 8.4768/154.63
  5. Sandra Chaplain 8.6517/154.10

We think a PB for Phil Crossley of 9.161, well done Phil!

Supertwin Fuel qualifying after session 1:

  1. Martin Blackwell 9.1630/133.19
  2. Duncan Hocking 16.3722/45.16

Track temperature is 27.3 C.

12:05

Supertwin ET qualifying top five after session 1:

  1. Pete Harrison +0.0479 12.2470/110.07
  2. John Hackney +0.1020 9.9520/140.16
  3. Aaron Sparks +0.1477 12.3977/106.52
  4. Joe Elliott +0.2654 10.7754/133.92
  5. Steve Partridge +0.2868 11.2868/121.02

Supertwin Gas qualifying top five after session 1:

  1. Chris Mott 8.9982/139.82
  2. Andy Smith 9.3951/139.35
  3. Les Harris 9.8061/135.24
  4. Dave Jones 10.4767/132.84
  5. Don Irvine 10.6316/124.14

11:55

9.50 Bike qualifying top five after session 1:

  1. Martin Walker 9.5142/132.40
  2. Fred Furlong 9.5687/143.80
  3. Richard Sawatzki 9.5808/143.80
  4. Shaun Spiers 9.5998/no speed
  5. Wayne Saunders 9.6823/150.03

8.50 Bike qualifying top five after session 1:

  1. Paul Watson 8.9029/156.23
  2. Andy Fawcett 9.1744/163.01
  3. Chris Jones 9.1876/165.45
  4. Jon Webster 10.2936/147.66
  5. Mark Winder 12.6661/122.14

The first run out for 8.50 Bike and Grumpy takes the first #1 spot. Paul Hambidge the first to break out in 8.50 Bike with an 8.4008.

Trackside conditions are 16.7 C, 77% humidity and 29.74 inches of air.

9:45

Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway for our coverage of the Extreme Performance Bike Weekend presented in association with American Car Imports.

The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is on-line and is set to post a picture every sixty seconds until the track closes tomorrow.

If you were tuned in to Eurodragster.com News yesterday you will have seen that there was a chance that we would be short-staffed this weekend. The good news is that Roger is here so the coverage plan is live reports and end-day galleries, no pit notes as Simon is not with us and Kirstie is at the NSRA Nostalgia Nationals.

Right now the track crew are doing their thing after a damp night, and what was a heavy mist is starting to burn off. We were due to start at 9:30 with 9.50 Bike but obviously we're a bit behind now. Stay tuned and as soon as the bikes start to run we'll bring you all the news.


Reports and pictures ©Eurodragster.com