2010 FIA European Finals
Pro Peak Performance Day


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20:05

Today's pictures have now been posted and are available via the Event Index page. There are 110 pictures in all; if you do not see all 110 updated thumbnails when you load the gallery page then click on your Browser's Refresh button.

Tune back in the morning and we'll bring you all the news from day one of qualifying.

17:20

The rain was heavy enough to wet the track so we are done for the day. We'll be stopping the webcam very shortly.

Tune back in a couple of hours and we'll have today's pictures for you.

17:15

Second run of the day for Martin Bishop on his Pro Stock Bike and much improved even though the motor revs dropped back down when Martin went up on the revs in stage. 1.1624 to sixty feet, 4.8050/144.92 at the eighth and 7.5837/169.18 at the stripe. Harri Piensalmi followed on his Pro Stock Bike. 1.1935 to sixty feet and the rear tyre was shaking by then, shut off and cruising through to a 14.9342/62.62.

Last run of the day for Roger Johansson's nitrous Pro Mod; incidentally I am told that both of Roger's gargantuan motors are for sale so if there are any Street Eliminator racers reading this who want to be the envy of their friends then they should have a word with Roger. Roger was pulling forward to stage when he was shut off for a report of spots of rain at the top end.

17:10

Ismo Mäenpää's second run of the day started a lot better than the first attempt. A nice thundering burnout then 1.3810 to sixty feet, the bike started to drift to the right and then took out the eighth-mile reflectors.

Next up was Laszlo Papp on his Pro Stock Bike. Sat up on the launch again. 1.1941 to sixty feet, 5.1081/139.07 to the eighth and 7.9684/169.19 at the stripe.

Side-by-side Pro ET passes for Amanda Cox and Jon Turner were next up. 10.1248/133.60 for Jon and a wayward 10.6735/125.91 for Amanda with a pedal as the Nova took a step to the right at half track and then again in the second half.

Dan Larsen followed in his Top Methanol FC. 0.0721 RT and 1.0077 to sixty feet, driving through some shake, a little move to the right and left around half track 3.9126/191.18 and shutting off just before the stripe, 5.9676/227.89.

Another Super Gas match-up for Jon Giles and Collin Morrice followed. 0.0056 RT for Collin, 9.8929/143.49 breakout for Jon to Collin's 10.1364/145.75. A twenty-minute burnout beneath my perch in Race Control could only mean Steve Venables' Super Street Bike. What a run! 1.2956 to sixty feet, 4.8628/157.42 at the eighth and 7.3768/191.30 at the stripe.

16:50

What was Steve Kellett's Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator Mustang is now in the hands of Richard Billings and he made his first run under the supervision of Eurodragster.com webcam sponsor Jon Webster. 1.4507 sixty foot time drifting to the right as the tyres spun. Motor sounded to be misfiring some and Richard was taking it easy, 10.3049/106.41 at the stripe.

Next up was Marc Meihuizen in his Pro Mod. Marc would have good reason to be wary of test days after what happened here back in May but here he is. 1.0601 sixty foot but tyres shaking by then and shut off at about 100 feet, 13.3639/61.77 at the finish line.

Still no luck for Tim Blakemore, motor cut out at the hit on his Funny Bike. Next up was Bert Englefield in his Pro Mod. A screaming burnout and then 1.0984 to sixty feet, the Coupe started to move to the right so Bert pedalled, 4.9003/121.55 at the eighth, another pedal as the Coupe got close to the guardrail and then shut off in the second half, 8.5209/140.77.

16:35

First up after the rain delay was Adam Flamholc in his blown-alcohol Pro Mod. Very impressive 0.9764 to sixty feet, a small amount of shake but the car was moving to the right and Adam shut it off just before the eighth. 7.5747/123.55 at the stripe.

Kalle Lyrén was next on the Veidec Pro Stock Bike. 1.1253 to sixty feet with visible shake marks on the track, 4.6346/151.71 to the eighth and 7.2984/179.21 at the stripe.

Next up was Sarah Howells in Ed Yates' Ramraider slingshot. The briefest of burnouts then -0.0023 red light, 9.1866/143.43 at the stripe.

Jean Dulamon followed in his nitrous Pro Mod. Pretty good run although some hesitation off the line, 1.2696 to sixty feet but really picked up, 4.5148/171.74 at the eighth and 6.7837/211.90 at the stripe. John Bradshaw followed in his honorary Pro Mod Nissan 350Z. 1.2027 to sixty feet, straight as you like, 5.1717/135.67 at the eighth and shut off at about 1000 feet, 8.2260/145.27 at the big end.

Eurodragster.com sponsor Graham Ellis was next around the corner with his Cuda Pro Mod. Nice seventy-foot burnout. 0.0224 RT, 1.0116 to sixty feet with tyres shaking and crossed lanes to the left before 300 feet. A quick stab of the throttle in the left lane to get it straight but left breather parts on the track.

Trackside conditions are 20.1 C, 59% humidity and air pressure of 29.32 inches.

15:20

Slight problem for Tim Blakemore as his Funny Bike's motor stopped before the burnout but restarted with no problem. Nice burnout then motor cut out at the hit. Tim pulled back and restarted again but the same happened at the hit.

Next around the corner was Danny Bellio in his Top Methanol FC. 100-foot burnout to the left of the lane. Staged off his tracks then instant shake at the hit and off the gas before the Tree, 15.2691/66.86.

Next run for Steve Venables and another 7.4; 1.2966 at sixty feet, 4.9578/155.25 at the eighth and 7.4908/192.14 at the stripe. Ismo Mäenpää started up his Supertwin but it was throwing out a lot of fuel so he shut off and went back to the pits.

Dave Wilson was next up in the Silverline Tools Top Methanol Dragster. 0.9627 to sixty feet, looked like shake from about 200 feet and Grumpy shut off just before the eighth, 3.6888/179.10 at half track and 6.6908/121.23 at the stripe.

There are spots of rain in the air so we are on hold.

15:00

Second run of the day for Lazslo Papp on his Pro Stock Bike. Very shaky run, the bike was really wobbling. 1.1578 to sixty feet, 5.5895/132.59 at the eighth and 8.5641/161.91 at the stripe.

We have empty pairing lanes right now but doubtless they will fill up again very shortly.

14:55

Next up after Dennis Habermann was Jack Brewster on his second run of the day in his Super Pro ET Firebird. 0.0886 RT, 5.5466/127.31 at the eighth and 8.6589/157.93 at the quarter.

Second run of the day too for Trond Høiberget on his Supertwin. Great run! 1.1952 to sixty feet, 4.4962/166.07 at the eighth and clicked off at about 100 feet but still into the sixes at 6.9866/173.07. There'll be celebrations on the streets of Toten this evening, maybe they shouldn't have given a weekend's leave to the entire police force.

Collin Morrice followed in the Super Comp/Super Gas Camaro. 0.0153 RT, another loooong throttle stop and 10.1399/144.33 at the stripe.

Fourth run of the day for Steve Venables on his Super Street Bike, great run! 1.3179 to sixty feet, 4.9447/155.74 at the eighth and a superb 7.4641/193.05 at the stripe.

Trackside conditions are 20.3 C, 60% humidity and air pressure of 29.32 inches.

14:50

Now would be a good time to say Hi to Frans Steilberg who wrote earlier to say nice things about our event coverage (thanks Frans) and to tell us that Dennis Habermann would be making a checkout pass with Timo Habermann's 5.3-second motor. And here comes Dennis...100-foot burnout, 0.0825 RT, 0.9730 to sixty feet, 3.6831/204.31 at the eighth and then shut off at about 900 feet. 5.9499/179.25 at the stripe.

14:40

Eurodragster.com sponsor Graham Ellis next up in his Pro Mod, second ever run in the car which only arrived at Graham's workshop last Friday. Very straight and well-controlled burnout, then 0.0378 RT, gentle-looking 1.0895 to sixty feet with a tiny feather of the throttle, then off the throttle before the eighth as the car moved about a bit. 4.5987/141.56 at half track and 7.9688/126.90 at the stripe.

Gordon Northway next around the corner in his Pro ET Cavalier. 0.0161 RT and again a gentle-looking launch but 9.952/140.5 at the stripe.

14:30

Third run of the day for Harri Piensalmi on his Pro Stock Bike and the same as last time, motor cut out. You could see Harri's sigh from up here in Race Control. Steve venables followed on his SSB, 1.3370 to sixty feet, 5.0004/155.27 at the eighth and 7.5313/192.05 at the stripe.

Next round the corner was Holley Glassup in the Xtreme Racing Super Pro ET dragster. Very brief burnout then the motor spewed a huge puddle of transmission oil onto the track and the start line crew fratically signalled Holley to shut off. Spencer at trackside said that a line came off between the transmission and the cooler.

Robin Orthodoxou next in his Super Pro ET altered, in the left lane for the first time in recorded history. 1.1095 to sixty feet, 4.6826/150.05 at the eighth and then off the throttle at about 1000 feet, 7.7914/129.76.

Final observed run attepmpt for Conrad Stanley in his Pro Stock. Long, straight burnout then lost fire on the way back. No problem, just started it up again and came back to the start line. 0.1032 RT, terrible shake, a pedal and appeared to lose drive, 20.4008/46.61.

14:20

First Pro Mod of the afternoon was his second run of the day for Roger Johansson in his nitrous-assisted Mustang. 1.1037 to sixty feet, front wheels up and heading for the guardrail, Roger was off the throttle by 100 feet, 10.754/71.51.

John Sleath's Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator Audi was next with Fifth Gear TV presenter Johnny Smith in the passenger seat. Tremendous pass! 7.883/187.35 and that was off the throttle and chute out a touch early.

Jon Turner was next around the corner in his Pro ET 'Cuda. Huge -0.2212 red, 1.4615 to sixty, 6.3853/109.48 to the eighth and 9.9920/134.53 at the stripe. Next up was a Super Gas match between Jon Giles and Collin Morrice...or it was to begin with as Collin shut off before staging with another fluid leak. Jon took the bye and clocked 9.9634/143.82. Sarah Howells followed in the Ramraider slingshot, 9.2189/144.74 and that was with some big moves left and right and a just about perceptible feather of the throttle. Staying with Pro ET Amanda Cox was next with a 10.0307/132.81 from the Yenkonova.

Adam Flamholc next for the Pro Mods with his second run of the day. Sixty foot burnout then 0.9853 to sixty feet and the engine note started to rise, shake again and shut off, 10.484/81.68.

Leak fixed Collin Morrice clocked 10.203/144.89 with the Camaro in Super Gas trim.

14:00

First to run this session was Steve Venables with his third run of the day on his SSB. 1.3437 to sixty feet, 5.0448/140.34 at the eighth, rolling off the throttle at that point, 8.6924/111.39 at the stripe. Paul Spiers next with the second run of the day in his Super Comp Camaro. A couple of goes at the burnout then 12773 to sixty feet, 5.7169/120.80 to the eighth and 8.9537/146.64 at the quarter, consistent with his first pass.

Next up was Dan Larsen in his Top Methanol FC. Sixty foot burnout 1.0212 to sixty feet, no visible shake but the Stratus started to head to the right, 3.9052/195.21 at the eighth and off the throttle before the stripe as the car got close to the guardrail, 6.0683/198.00.

Eurodragster.com Blogger Kalle Lyrén next on his Pro Stock Bike. The Veidec team checked the wheelie bar height and other settings in both lanes over the lunch break and identified sweet spots on the start line for each lane - Roger Lyrén told me that it really can make tenths of a second difference where you put the bike on the start line and how high the bars are set. Excellent 0.0094 RT, 1.1417 to sixty feet, 4.6666/50.40 at the eighth and 7.332/176.43 at the stripe, a very good baseline. Fellow PSB racer Martin Bishop next, 1.1838 to sixty feet, 4.8323/145.78 to the eighth and 7.6033/173.06 at the top end.

Tim Blakemore followed on his Funny Bike. Safely out of the burnout this time but real problems on the launch, the motor was making the revs but the bike was hardly moving, 23.5641/20.49.

20.5 C trackside, 60% humidity and air pressure of 29.29 inches.

13:15

Another nice run for Sarah Howells in the Ramraider slingshot. 1.3001 to sixty feet, 5.7988/118.84 at the eighth and 9.1387/144.75 at the stripe. Up to Super Pro ET for the next runner, Jack Brewster's first run of the day and looks like Jack is now in touch with the missus via a headset radio. 0.0545 RT, 5.5177/128.38 at the eighth and 8.6142/158.47 at the quarter. back to Pro ET and Amanda Cox followed Jack in the Yenkonova. Hesitation on the launch but then on it all the way, 10.1794/133.29 at the stripe.

Eurodragster.com sponsor Derek Flynn was next up in his injected-nitro Top Methanol Dragster. Lots of nitro fumes up here in Race Control and boy was that a crisp burnout, very abrupt on the throttle. 0.1893 RT and tyres up in smoke at the hit, Derek off the throttle before the Tree, 20.3863/35.59 at the stripe for the Gold RV car. Another injected-nitro TMD next, Dave Wilson in the Silverline Tools dragster. Very smoky burnout and the throttle note much more gentle than Derek's. Very nice checkout pass. 0.9871 to sixty feet, no shake, off the throttle at 330 feet, 7.8813/104.22 at the stripe.

First run in his new car for Eurodragster.com sponsor Graham Ellis in the former AMS 'Cuda. Nice drifting burnout, the nose of the car trying to go right but Graham had a good hold of it. 0.0150 RT, 1.0872 to sixty feet and then the car started to drift to the left. Graham feathered the throttle then shut off before 330 feet, 12.9053/65.14 at the stripe.

Next around the corner was Gordon Northway in the Pro ET Cavalier. 0.0841 RT and looked like a gentle pass, checkout I guess after the recent engine work, but still a 9.8294/141.62.

Back to Pro Mod and Bert Englefield is back in the seat of his blown-alcohol Coupe. Great burnout then a nice baseline pass, relatively gentle 1.1053 to sixty feet, 4.4592/163.02 at the eighth and 6.8641/207.21 at the stripe. Very straight especially for that car.

We're now on lunch break until 13:45. Trackside conditions are 19.9 C, 66% humidity and air pressure of 29.29 inches.

12:50

Second run of the day for Harri Piensalmi, would this be a full pass? Nope...the motor cut out at the hit in the way that PSBs motors do sometimes.

Second run too for Jon Turner in the Pro ET Cuda. 0.0650 RT, 6.4190/109.61 at the eighth and 10.0240/134.80 at the quarter.

Pro Stock Bike racer Lazslo Papp was next to the bleach box. Strong burnout followed by some fussing around the bike. Not a great launch, sat bolt upright on the bike at the hit, 1.5792 to sixty feet. 5.9049/135.33 at the eighth and 8.8564/163.50 at the stripe.

Danny Bellio followed in his Top Methanol FC. 100-foot burnout then a nice run, 0.9586 to sixty feet, driving through a little shake, 3.8883/190.39 at the eighth and he took a bit of a long way round in the first 200 yards or so heading for the guardrail but pulling it straight, 5.9289/227.79. Chutes didn't fully deploy as they tangled but got stopped safely.

12:35

The Morrice family asked us to let all their family and friends in New Zealand know that they are thinking about you. Hope you are all OK guys. Collin Morrice put in his first run of the day, 0.0186 RT, throttle stop was in almost to the eighth, 10.1724/143.39 at the stripe.

Next round the corner was Adam Flamholc in his blown-alcohol Pro Mod. 1.0061 to sixty feet, tyres starting to shake past the Tree and off the throttle about 200 feet out. 12.6799/58.80 at the stripe. Roger Johansson followed in his nitrous PM. 100-foot burnout then 1.0221 to sixty feet and shake started about 100 feet out and Roger shut off. 9.6136/87.53.

12:20

Second run of the day for Steve Venables on his SSB was 7.528/194.51, nice straight pass in ths right lane this time. 1.3650 to sixty feet, 5.0122/154.83 to the eighth.

Adam Flamholc and Roger Johansson are still in the pairing lanes with their Pro Mods; Adam is strapping in right now.

12:10

The Morrice Boys' Super Comp/Super Gas Camaro was next around the corner. Burnout but then shut off for a fluid leak.

I guess all the cops in Toten are eating doughnuts right now as Trond Høiberget and his colleagues are here at Santa Pod. Nice first run for Trond. 0.0246 RT, 1.2808 to sixty feet, 4.6716/161.28 at the eighth and 7.1164/191.32 at the stripe. A very straight pass and the front wheel took its timing coming down, nice one Trond!

His crew sprinting around the corner with a fire extinguisher could only mean that Robin Orthodoxou would be next to appear in his Super Pro ET altered. First racer to take the right lane today. Staged way off his burnout tracks, up on the revs a little and then the Tree didn't run. Problem corrected in moments, back into stage, 1.0960 to sixty feet and heading left, wrenched the car straight and stayed on the throttle, 4.6768/148.14 at the eighth, shut off and chute out before the stripe, 7.429/159.60.

Paul Spiers next in his Super Comp Camaro. 1.3193 to sixty, 5.7202/122.10 at the eighth, 8.9510/147.11 at the top end, nice run to open his account. Pro ET Jon Turner followed. 0.0938 RT, 6.3350/110.01 at the eighth and 9.9102/136.49 at the stripe.

Next up looks to be Adam Flamholc in his Pro Mod.

11:40

OK I was wrong, although not as wrong as those who have been spreading word that Melanie Troxel is testing here today...unless she is going to stand Simon up for their lunchtime interview appointment in London which I somehow doubt. Next up was Tim Blakemore on his Funny Bike. A nice burnout then lost fire as he rolled to a stop. The crew ran to Tim's aid with the starter trolley but he pushed the bike back.

Pro ET racer Amanda Cox followed in the Yenkonova. 1.6047 to sixty feet, a pedal at about 400 feet, 6.6692/105.02 at the eighth and 10.4115/130.51 at the stripe. To me that looked like a checkout rather than going for a full-bore pass.

Then it was Sarah Howells' turn in the Ramraider. Nicely controlled burnout, deep-staged, a couple of feathers of the throttle on the launch - maybe her foot got pushed back, it sounded that way, 1.5355 to sixty feet, 6.4934/113.49 at the eighth and 9.9200/142.45 at the stripe. Apart from the feathers off the line that was a full pass and Sarah looked comfortable in the car.

11:30

First run of the day for Super Street Bike racer Steve Venables was a 7.5874/193.04. 1.3636 to sixty feet, 5.0421/152.60 at the eighth and a little hesitation just before half track so more to come yet. That was a fine baseline pass.

Next up looks like Sarah Howells in Eurodragster.com sponsor Ed Yates' Ramraider slingshot.

11:10

First to take to the track was Pro Stock Bike racer Harri Piensalmi. Harri and the guys arrived here yesterday and walked the length of the track (and I mean right to the very end) and back. 1.1149 to sixty feet, a tiny bit of tyre shake which he rode through, went a few gears and was off the throttle before the eighth. 4.8026/120.43 at the eighth and 9.1521/91.44 at the stripe.

10:30

The track has been sprayed and is being sledded right now, the timing kit is all set up, I don't think we're far off starting.

09:30

Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway for our coverage of the Pro Peak Performance Day brought to you in association with American Car Imports.

The Webster Race Engineering/Nimbus Motorsport webcam is on-line and will be streaming live video and trackside audio until the track closes.

Right now it is very gloomy here at Santa Pod. The end of the track is not visible for mist although on the up side it's not raining. Trackside conditions are 14.0 C and 98% humidity and the air pressure is 29.26 inches (no more E-Mails about that thank you) or 991 mb.

The initial entry list for today was twenty four from various classes including TMD, TMFC and PM and entries were expected on the day. Hopefully the sun can burn this mist off and we can get going. Stay tuned and as soon as there is anything to report we'll bring you all the news.


Reports and pictures ©Eurodragster.com