2008 FIA Main Event
Pro Peak Performance Day, Thursday 22nd May


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21:30

Today's pictures have now been posted; you can view them via the Event Index page.

We have had some very nice E-Mails today from readers enjoying the coverage. Thanks to Ed O'Connell, Erik Zettervall, Anders Envall, Jon Spoard, Andrea Kloss, Colin Lazenby, Stephen Moon, John Andrews and all those who have contacted us.

So that's the testing all done and dusted, next time we see you it'll be day one of qualifying. Tune back in the morning and we'll be here to bring you all the news.

17:45

Rounding off the day here at Santa Pod was Andy Robinson in his Pro Mod. Burnout to eighty feet, then rolled the beams as it went up on the two-step, the front wheels came up and the tyres started to shake, 1.1163 to sixty feet and the car was making a serious move towards the guardrail, Andy was off the throttle at about 100 feet and idled through to an 11.3063/83.27.

We're done for the day, so the next step is to have a breather and then get today's pictures sorted. So tune back in a couple of hours and we'll have those for you.

17:30

A stormer from Leif Andréasson in his Top Methanol FC. 0.9643 to sixty feet, a little move to the right but Leif stayed on it, 3.7720/199.47 at half track and 5.7427/243.77 at the top end.

We're just waiting on a couple more racers before we're done for the day.

17:25

Dan Larsen hit shake on his latest pass of the day in the Boxter Top Methanol FC, 0.9931 to sixty feet but then the FC started to move about the lane and Dan shut off and put the chutes out, 7.6122/126.12.

Pro Mod next, same result, Mats Eriksson pulled a 0.0406 RT and 1.1017 sixty foot time by which time the tyres were already shaking, Mats shut off immediately and idled through, 18.2250/46.36.

On two wheels Tim Blakemore's Funny Bike left the line gently and Tim shut off early but still clocked 7.6573/159.79.

Back to four wheels and Fred Hansen clocked 8.9779/126.44 in the Islanders Super Comp dragster. Jordan Keelan and Joe Kellett paired up again in their JDs, Jordan clocking 8.0199/81.03 to Joe's 9.0054/71.27. Just as I went to post this update Vic Amato clocked 9.7714/139.44 in his Pro ET Mustang.

Waiting round the corner is Leif Andréasson in his Top Methanol FC, stay tuned.

17:05

Jarmo Kuutniemi made his first run of the day in the OK Repair Top Methanol FC, and hit shake off the line, 1.2151 to sixty feet at which point he was already in trouble, off the throttle and 9.0036/151.61 at the stripe.

Next up was Gary Page in Kenneth Lorentzon's Fuel FC, 0.9561 to sixty feet and off the throttle as the car was moving towards the centerline, 9.1841/90.18.

Pro Stock next, Jonas Dantanus with a very nice pass, 0.0816 RT, 1.0286 to sixty feet, 4.4859/156.08 at half track and 6.9810/195.22 with the chutes out in the traps. Michael Malmgren followed in the other lane, 1.0096 to sixty feet and then the engine started to zing, maybe a transmission problem, off the throttle and rolling through 11.6801/74.50.

On to Top Methanol FC and Ulf Leanders clocked a 0.9715 sixty foot time on his latest pass but then the FC's tyres started to shake, Ulf was off the throttle by 300 feet.

Pro Mod racer Freddy Fagerström made a very welcome return, announcing himself with a 200-foot burnout and then a great pass, shut off early too so there is more to come, 1.0509 to sixty feet, 4.1486/175.71 at half track and off the throttle and the chutes out before the stripe, 6.8131/152.13.

Back to Top Methanol and another Personal Best for Paul Ingar Udtian in the Q8 Oils-sponsored Top Methanol Dragster, 0.9331 to sixty feet, 3.6730/200.09 at the eighth and 5.6377/248.61 at the line.

Vic Amato paired up with Mick Pusey who has been making test passes in PMR's Whoopass Monza. Vic took the stripe 9.7605/140.27 to Mick's pedalled 11.2871/111.55.

Joe Kellett and Jordan Keelan paired up again in their Junior Dragsters, 8.9841/71.64 for Joe to Jordan's 8.0233/80.84. Their previous match-up was 9.0239/71.46 for Joe and 8.0686/81.02 for Jordan. Maja Udtian clocked 13.5985/46.20 and 13.5764/46.67 in the Islanders JD.

Following on for the Islanders was Fred Hanssen with an 8.8775/129.34 in the Super Comp rail.

On two wheels Tim Blakemore looks to be getting his clutch sorted with a very early shut off 7.6141/147.33 from the Kawasaki Funny Bike. Ivan Birch followed on with a 7.7009/172.74 on his Funny Bike.

A nice pass for Jon Giles in his Super Gasser, 9.9902/132.00.

16:20

It's great to see Danny Cockerill back on track in his Chevy Pro Mod, I would imagine his brain is hurting right about now as he hit shake about ten feet out on this run, 1.1973 to sixty feet, a brief pedal but the car made a move to the right and Danny got off the pedal, 14.0885/65.58.

Next up for the Pro Mods was Micke Nord, another big burnout and then a very nice pass, 1.0598 to sixty feet, the car moved to the left but Micke stayed with it and gently straightened it out, 4.1477/178.85 at half track and then 6.3698/218.66 at the stripe.

Fred Hanssen followed with an 8.9480/129.01 in the Islanders Super Comp rail.

Next in the pairing lanes are Jarmo Kuutniemi's Top Methanol FC and Kenneth Lorentzon's Fuel FC with Gary Page at the wheel.

16:05

One brief power failure later here we are. Ivan Birch made another pass on his Funny Bike, nice-looking pass, 7.8487/178.21. Neil Midgley also took another go on his Funny Bike, 1.0866 to sixty feet but the bike was trying to go left again and the tyre was shaking and Midgo was off the throttle by 300 or so feet, 10.1045/80.22.

Back on four wheels and Simon Rowland was back in the Pro ET dragster, 9.1191/144.69 his latest pass.

Next up was Roger Johansson in the 830 ci (count 'em) Pro Mod, a big smoky burnout and then horrifying shake a few feet off the line, 1.0590 to sixty feet and idling through, 13.4318/71.06, word on the track radio is that Roger's wheelie bars snapped.

15:45

The Eurodragster.com sponsors are certainly getting their namechecks today as Home and News sponsor Andy Robinson was next out on track in his Pro Mod. Bob Roberts of ARRC told us that this was scheduled for a half pass but it was academic anyway, shake about twenty feet out, 1.0688 to sixty feet, the Stude turned hard right and Andy got off the throttle rather than spoil the nice new paintwork, 11.2566/81.15.

Next up was Jimmy Ålund in the Klintberg and Way Pro Stock, into the left lane after Andy shook in the right. 0.0679 RT, wheels up, a tiny bit of shake but Jimmy stayed with it as the car had a little twitch when the wheels came down, 4.3932/161.06 to half track and 6.8195/203.80 at the stripe, that would have been a new European speed record in competition, nice one Jimmy!

15:30

Dan Larsen was next round the corner in his Top Methanol FC, 0.9760 to sixty feet and then the tres appeared to be shaking, 4.0140/186.10 at half track and 6.1121/232.69 at the finish for the Eurodragster.com sponsor.

Mats Eriksson followed on in the Green Goblin Pro Mod, 0.9650 to sixty feet which is meteoric, then the tyres started to shake but from up here the right tyre clearly shook before the left, the car turned hard right and Mats got off the throttle, 11.8010/70.77.

Stuart Morrice and Malcolm Francis paired up, Stuart away first 0.0140 to 0.0905, 7.8988 for Malcolm and it was fast but he wasn't doing the displayed 229.50 mph, 10.0160/144.83 for Stuart in Super Gas trim.

15:20

A tremendous second pass for Chris Hannam on his Supertwin. We'll draw a veil over the reaction time but 1.2339 to sixty feet, pretty straight, 5.0135/141.60 at half track with some feathering of the throttle, 7.9720/159.74 at the stripe. Nice one Cannon!

Simon Rowland switched to the Super Pro ET rail and clocked 8.0073/167.72 with a 0.0153 RT. Fred Hanssen was next up in the Islanders Super Comp rail, 8.87588/124.58.

For the Juniors Jordan Keelan clocked 8.1203/80.45 against Joe Kellett's 9.0132/71.53. Next up was Maja Udtian with a 13.7083/46.37.

Dan Larsen and Mats Eriksson are next up, stay tuned.

14:50

A great first pass by Bob Glassup in his ex-Gold RV Racing dragster. A big burnout under the gaze of Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor Derek Flynn and then 7.4202/192.25, some shake off the line but Bob stayed with it, lots of smoke at the top end but no oil or anything found on the track so hopefullly all is well.

Jonas Dantanus followed on in his Pro Stock, looks great in its new paint. Big 200-foot burnout and some very crisp stabbing of the throttle after the burnout, that car sounds mean. Prolonged work on the wheelie bars before staging, 0.1374 RT, 1.0332 sixty foot time and then big shake and Jonas got off the throttle, idling through to 13.9873/57.50.

Michael Malmgren is the latest Pro Stock racer nursing a headache after hitting shake more or less at the hit on his first pass of the day. 1.2999 to sixty feet and idling through to 9.8871/92.11.

Vic Amato clocked 9.7616/140.23 in his Pro ET Mustang on his second run of the day.

14:30

First up post-lunch were Jordan Keelan and Joe Kellett in their Junior Dragsters, Jordan 8.2022/79.82 to Joe's 9.0425/71.23. Also for the Juniors, Maja Udtian's latest run was a 13.4500/46.87.

Onto two wheels then, Neil Midgley's first run of the day on his Funny Bike, 1.1295 to sixty feet then crossed lanes. Next bike was Ivan Birch also on a Funny Bike, a nice run, 7.7872/180.00 and that was with wheelspin as he blackstriped the length of his lane so plenty more left there.

Stuart Morrice clocked 10.0407/145.58 with the Camaro set for Super Gas, followed by Malcolm Francis with another seven, 7.9886/172.14. Pro ET racer Simon Rowland's first run of the day was a 9.1007/145.49 which was quite impressive given that we kept putting a 9.10 dial-in up on the boards for him yesterday!

First Pro this afternoon was Magnus Hansson in his Pro Stock, 1.0705 to sixty feet, looked like wheelspin most of the way, 4.4540/160.14 at half track and 6.8619/202.16 at the stripe.

We have Michael Malmgren and Bob Glassup waiting round the back, stay tuned.

13:40

Next up was Andy Carter in the Lucas Oil/Landmeco Top Fuel Dragster. Tyres up in smoke at the hit, 1.0590 to sixty feet gives it away, Andy off the throttle immediately and rolling through to a 12.7503/67.76.

Roger Johansson was next in his Pro Mod, had I not seen the car then I would still have known it was him because I could hear his crew below me yelling directions over the radio as Roger backed up from his burnout. A tremedous run for Roger, 1.0258 to sixty feet, just a hint of shake which Roger drove through, 4.1386/177.02 at the eighth, chute out in the traps, 6.3446/215.93 which I think is one of Roger's quickest passes here at Santa Pod although he ran 6.2 in the USA so not a PB.

Next around the corner was Eurodragster.com News sponsor Ulf Leanders in the Leanders Brothers Top Methanol FC. 0.9475 to sixty feet, pedalling for a fraction of a second for shake at about 330 feet, 3.8935/192.55 at half track and 5.8971/246.17 at the line.

Last before lunch was Micke Nord in the second MSS Motorsport Pro Mod. Only 738 ci in this one! 1.0464 to sixty feet, the tyres were spinning some and the car was moving about, and I didn't hear a gear change, Micke was off the throttle at about 330 feet (2.7951) and went through at idle 8.2558/101.49.

Fred Hanssen clocked a 0.081 reaction and 8.8725/124.89 on his latest run in the Islanders Super Comp dragster, and Super Gas racer Matt Eley made his first run of the day in his Pop, 10.3435/139.62 with a jump through the beams affecting the ET.

We're now on lunch until 14:10, see you then.

13:10

A stormer from Jimmy Ålund in the Klintberg and Way Pro Stock. 0.0896 RT, 1.0047 to sixty feet, 4.3661/160.59 at half track and 6.790/203.71 at the strip, one hundredth over the European ET record and just above the European speed record, well done Jimmy!

Tim Blakemore's Funny Bike hesitated off the line but then Tim nailed it, 145.63 at half track and 8.4394/164.95 at the finish line. Then we had another Junior Dragster match-up between Jordan Keelan and Joe Kellett, Jordan clocked 8.0965/80.32 to Joe's 8.9992/71.12. Right behind them in the pairing lanes was Maja Udtian who ran 13.4090/46.46.

We have a lunch break scheduled for 1:30, right now the pairing lanes are empty. Stay tuned.

12:55

A superb first pass by Chris Hannam on his Supertwin acquired from Rob Van Geffen. If I didn't know better I'd have said that Cannon had been on the bike before, a very competent run. Nice burnout then 1.2632 to sixty feet, the bike started to move to the right but gently so and Cannon stayed with it feathering the throttle, 5.2981/116.88 at half track and shutoff early but still clocking 8.8535/128.97.

Next up on two wheels was Ivan Birch on his Funny Bike running in TFB this weekend. The bike was headed for the centre line and Ivan had to feather the throttle and pull it straight, 8.3275/154.42.

12:45

Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor Dan Larsen followed Paul Ingar in his Top Methanol FC. A long, long burnout and then 0.0357 RT, 1.0092 to sixty feet then visible shake marks from about 100 feet to 300 feet but Dan stayed with it, 4.0425/185.41 at half track and 6.1090/239.23 at the stripe.

Magnus Hansson had his second go of the day, 0.0544 RT and shake almost at the hit. 1.1598 to sixty feet then a pedal and back on it after a moment's thought, 156.19 at half track, 7.5579/159.23 at the finish.

Stuart Morrice and Eurodragster.com Home and News sponsor Malcolm Francis paired up, Stuart in Super Gas trim with a 9.8381/144.41 and Malcolm in Super Who-knows trim with a 7.9668/172.01 from the Air Sea Logistics Grand Am.

Maja Udtian's latest run in her JD was 13.4419/46.98

12:30

Mats Eriksson clocked a 1.0250 sixty foot time on his pass but his tyres started to shake as he passed the Tree and he was off the throttle by 100 feet, idling through to a 13.0364/62.59 from the Green Goblin Pro Mod.

Next up was Paul Ingar Udtian, a tremendous pass and we think a PB or right on it. Excellent 0.0626 RT, 0.9610 to sixty feet, driving through shake which made his tyres visibly flap about, 3.7174/200.98 at the eighth and 5.6803/148.48 at the stripe. There is some oil on the back of the motor at the top end, but none on the track, hopefully nothing serious.

12:10

Still a bit of reticence from the Pro racers but Paul Ingar Udtian (Top Methanol Dragster) and Magnus Hansson (Pro Stock) have ventured out. Paul put in a 200-foot burnout but was then shut off for a fluid leak. Magnus pulled a 100-foot burnout but hit instant shake at the hit, 0.0794 RT and the timers had stopped before he got to the finish line, probably wondering which of the six start lines he could see he should aim for. Tim Blakemore pulled a huge burnout and then his Funny Bike's motor cut out at the hit.

Paul Ingar's daughter Maja is getting her money's worth in the Q8 Oils-sponsored Junior Dragster, 13.4571/47.09, 13.3661/47.04, 13.3635/47.44, 13.5817/47.05, 13.4163/47.13 and 13.3244/47.12. Fellow JD racers Jordan Keelan and Joe Kellett have again paired up for a couple of runs. First time out, second run of the day, Jordan clocked 7.9695/81.69 to Joe's 0.0020 RT and 9.0255/71.45, second time out Jordan clocked 8.1946/80.32 and Joe 9.0896/71.02 with another good RT, 0.009.

Making their first runs of the way were Super Gas racer Stuart Morrice with a 0.0616 RT and 9.8350/143.95 and Pro ET racer Vic Amato at 9.6957/140.67 which I'd have thought was close to a Personal Best. Fred Hanssen's second run of the day was 8.8921/132.35

Some action in the pairing lanes, we have Mats Eriksson, Dan Larsen and Paul Ingar Udtian ready to run. Stay tuned.

11:05

Right now there appears to be a bit of brinkmanship going on in the pits. None of the racers wants to be the first to run because they won't get the benefit of rubber on the track from those who run before them. So everyone seems to be waiting for someone else to run before they do, and it's a case of who blinks first, but no-one has blinked yet. Quite amusing when you think how much it has cost some of these guys to get here and then to enter the event today but then that's easy for me to say since it's not my money if everything comes apart.

So far we have have had Fred Hanssen in the Islanders Super Comp dragster who clocked 8.8650/128.68. Also for the Islanders Maja Udtian has made three passes in her Junior Stock Dragster of 13.4580/43.99, 13.4571/46.88 and 13.3236/47.53. Jordan Keelan has some great-looking new paint on his Junior and his first run of the day was 7.8989/83.62 alongside Joe Kellett who clocked 9.0040/71.78 with a 0.0305 RT.

10:00

Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway for our coverage of the last day of testing for the FIA Main Event in association with American Car Imports.

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

Today's entry list has some thirty racers ranging from Top Fuel to Junior Dragster and SPR confidently expect others to sign on when they arrive.

Stay tuned and as soon as things start to move on the track we'll bring you all the news.


Reports and pictures ©Eurodragster.com