Pro Mod racer Mats Eriksson and his team have had a lot of work so far at the European Finals. “We made a lot of changes to the car back at home, and we have now changed them all back”, said Mats. “Since the conditions right at the starting line are a bit different from last year, I think all of the teams have had to search for a new base-line set up. We were happy to get down the track this morning and have very good feeling for the rest of the weekend”. At the very moment your Pit reporter leaves, the team discovered a faulty gear box and intense work started to change it with 20 minutes to get into the staging lanes." Mats overcame the pressure and carded a 6.14 to go second, with sparks from under the car indicating continuing transmission woes.

The Leanders Brothers Top Methanol Funny Car team looked extremely worried when we passed them this morning. The car burned two pistons yesterday and that always brings more work than just changing pistons. When the team started the engine for warm-up this morning they felt something strange and the team worked hard to locate the problem. “The engine did not turn as smoothly as it should when we cranked it by hand” says Crew Chief Jörgen Leanders. “There was a point this morning when we weren’t even sure we were going to run the first qualifying run today”. Luckily the guys decided to go out and be very attentive of how the engine sounded in the burn out. It all resulted in a 5.71 and no.1 qualifier and an even quicker 5.65 in the final session for the first half of a European record ET. The spirit in the team was definitely higher during the remainder of the day and Ulf is now looking to be cutting Arvid Grødem's slim lead in the points.

Turbo from the Gullqvist team and Jonnie Lindberg from the Lindberg Bros are discussing Pro Mod issues. They both agreed on that the track is very tricky at this event. They said "It takes a while to find the right settings because you can’t look at any old set ups from previous events here." Michael “Gullan” Gullqvist then came round and explained further "I think the 6.06 today in the first round was pretty much as fast as we could run with a slightly tricky starting line. The rest of the track is good old Santa Pod. Added to that, the air is not anywhere near ideal at the moment." Gullan was actually confident enough to predict a 6.01 in the weekend's last qualifying run this afternoon. Jonnie smiled and said: “That is the exact number that we are planning as well!"

Top Methanol Funny Car racer Arvid Grødem had a trouble filled run this morning, including hard tyre shake and a broken lifter. A broken lifter usually destroys more parts of the engine and this was no exception. The head was badly broken on that very cylinder and also the camshaft is a write off. “We do have enough spare parts to put it all back together” said Arvid . I thought we had no spare camshaft, but an extensive search in the trailer came up with one that I forgot about!” The team worked very hard to get the Sunoco Mustang together for next round. The chase for the championship is very exciting in Top Methanol Funny Car. There are only 12 points difference between leading Arvid and the chasing Leanders. Bear in mind that eight points go to low qualifier (Ulf Leanders) and three points to the eighth qualifier (Arvid). Also there are five points for low ET of the event. (Leanders at the moment). You do the math!

Pro Mod racer Urban Johansson was winner of the Exhaust-coating.de challenge held as a shoot out during qualifying in Pro Mod by this sponsor of Eurodragster.com. “I was one of the last to qualify in the Shootout so it felt really good to beat the guys from the seventh position” says Urban. “We also had a couple of strange runs at this event. On the first run this morning the battery box came loose, disconnecting the electrical power and the car stopped suddenly. I was about to relax from driving and start swearing, when the power came back and the car started to accelerate again. We ended up as third in qualifying and that isn’t too bad. It is good that our team is one of the few that has gone down the track in a decent way in every single round so far” Urban smiled. “We don’t have much to fight for in the European Championship, but we will definitely fight to win the race tomorrow” he said before analysing the computer readings.

Paul Ingar Udtian's team in Top Methanol Dragster has had a tough season with the loss of brother Stig Udtian in the middle of the season and engine problems both in Tierp and Hockenheim. They had their share this weekend as well. “Most of the problems can actually be tracked to tyre shake, either direct or indirect” said Paul Ingar. After changing eight pistons yesterday the team now has a good base line and is currently fourth in qualifying. The team hoped for a 5.4 to get them in to 3rd place in qualifying but instead scored a 5.56 which made them a possible spoiler against their team-mate Fred Hanssen's championship competion Dave Wilson in round one. Pictured is ex Junior dragster driver Birgitte Bremnes who works on the bottom end of the engine.

Pro Stock Bike racer and Eurodragster.com blogger Dave Beck said "We have worked hard to run slower. We burned a piston very badly on the first run which put us on the back foot. The 60ft time was in the window but from then on it hurt. We put in a new block and piston and did well to make the second round, but we missed the tuneup - I think the carb was not working as it should have." As well as this work, Dave found time to help Len Paget when his clutch basket exploded, for which Len was very grateful.

Pro Stock Bike racer Fredrik Fredlund is being assisted by Gary Stoffer, husband of NHRA Pro Stock Bike racer Karen Stoffer. He said "The racing in Europe is at a high level and I am always following Fredrik on Eurodragster.com. Fredrik is doing a great job but he needs lighter leathers to go quicker. The headwind is a problem today." Fredrik will be racing at the NHRA Finals at Pomona in November. Gary said "Karen is starting no.3 in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship. She has one of the quickest bikes and will be using her best engine to move up and testing on the Monday after the event when she can."

Pro Stock racer Tommy Leindahl ended up not qualifying after suffering tyre shake. He said after the third session "I pedalled in 2nd gear then it calmed down and stayed on it." At the end Tommy's best time was 7.44.

Pro Stock racer Conrad Stanley was also on the outside looking in. He said "The clutch setting is so tricky. We were cautious with the engine having rodded it in Hockenheim. It was just good to be able to get down the track." Conrad's best time of 7.04 was just five hundredths off the bump spot.

Pro Stock racer Jimmy Ålund is Pro Stock champion and has the quickest and most consistent car here running in the 6.75 to 6.80 range. He said "We had shake in first gear but managed to drive through it."

Pro Stock racer Thomas Lindström was delighted with a 6.82 in this morning's session to qualify fourth. "We went for it and got a good time. Yesterday was really bad and we talked to Jimmy. He said 'That's why we race - to fight back from the bad times.' So we touched the wheelie bars and the team made a good call. I shall sleep well tonight."

Pro Stock racer Sampsa Palos qualified third with a 6.82. "We had a little shake in second gear and while it wasn't perfect, it was not so bad. We started with the same setup as the main event and then backed the clutch and rpm down. It is the same for everybody."

Pro Stock racer Jonas Dantanus was worried after the car hesitated in first gear. "It was like it came to a sudden stop." The car is for sale but Jonas emphasised he is not quitting. "If there is a suitable buyer it will enable me to buy a more recent car for 2012."

Santa Pod's Thrill Ride Two Seat Dragster has been busy this event and is incredibly consistent. This morning's passenger was Jason Wood (pictured left) who was given the run as a 40th birthday present. He said "I have been coming here since five any way I could. It was a tremendous ride, every part of it, the burnout, launch and the speed at the top end. Driver Steve Warner, who is recording consistent 0.0 reaction times, said "I still get a thrill every time I drive the two seater. It is great to drive and you feel part of the race." Prospective passengers should apply to Santa Pod.

Super Street Bike racer Thomas Granica has had a torrid weekend, destroying an engine on Thursday and having to bed in a new clutch. He said "We are still in the field at the bottom end but it has been difficult." Thomas's best at this event so far is 7.85/180.

Super Street Bike racers Wayne Saunders, Garry Bowe and Rick Stubbins are discussing race conditions. Wayne ran a 7.53 for no.3, Garry a 7.58 for no.5 and Rick a 7.62 for no.6. Garry said "The racing will be interesting and there could be some big upsets."

Super Street Bike racer Mick Templeman is in 18th with 7.98. Mick is resplendent in new leathers following his off at the Springspeed Nationals. He is riding his old bike while repairs are being made to the more recent one. He said "I could go faster with more fuel and although I wheelied I had enough wheel speed to keep on it."

Super Street Bike racer Mark Wells was in a relatively precarious 15th position with a 7.89. He said "It's another one in the books and the bike is still running."

Pro Stock Bike racer Rasmus Olesen was the quickest in qualifying, running mid 7.1s. He said after session three "The track is much better this morning although the first 60ft in the left lane is still a struggle. Which lane is the bast? I reckon it is 50:50. The bike is excellent and it is great to have George Bryce with us - he loves coming to Europe."

Pro Stock Bike racer Ray Debben said "I am enjoying riding but there are too many quick bikes here! It's a hobby for me - I frighten myself and then smile." Ray will be racing in the 16 bike field and for this event has new barrels, a lighter crank and cylinder head repairs by Stu Crane which should help the bike's performance.

Pro Stock Bike racer Timo Savolainen is no.12 in the sixteen-bike ladder with a 7.97. He said this morning "We have had a new clutch and did one good run, but this one was not. The track is good but the clutch is too soft and it almost burnt out. We need to tighten it up. This is my first time in the England and first time at Santa Pod. I ran at Alastaro and two meetings at Tierp earlier in the year. We plan to rebuild the bike with Vance & Hines parts and run the whole series next year." Timo has been Nordic and Finnish champion twice in Super Gas Bike.

Pro Stock Bike racer Elvira Karlsson who is just sixteen years old, finished in eighth place with a creditable 7.51, a new PB. Elvira is now part of Team Veidec and is racing under the guidance of Roger Lyrén. She said "I am pleased with the performance and am looking forward to next season."

Pro Stock Bike racer Jesper Thiel who is 2011 champion, qualified third with a 7.20. He said "It is difficult to run our best times with the air being poor and quite a bad headwind today."

SuperTwin racer Mark Ashelford was delighted with a 6.69 in the third session for no.5 in the ladder. He said "Thanks to everyone for making us so welcome on our European tour."

SuperTwin racer Trond Hoiberget was no.9 and not qualified for eliminations. However he was not downhearted. He said "This is the sixth run without hurting anything and we are going in the right direction as conditions allow. We suffered tyre shake in the first two runs."

SuperTwin racer Roel Koedam had a scary incident when his visor came off at half track. I asked him if he he kept on the throttle and he said "Of course, the bike hadn't gone past the finish line! It was a bit windy though." The wheelspin on the run melted the rubber causing traction compound to stick to it.

SuperTwin racer Lo Stauble ran two entertaining passes today in his customary style which as his crew said, we shall all miss after his retirement. He commented "With the headwind and the poorer air it is pleasing to run 6.66."

Top Fuel Bike racer Peter Svensson gave an indication of what the bike is capable of when he ran 6.03 in the morning session. He said "I had to correct once but it was pretty straight." The run in cooling air in the afternoon was a great one, 5.8817/224, the quickest outside the US and putting Peter fourth on the list of all-time list of Top Fuel Bike ETs. After this morning's session in which Peter wore a minuature camcorder on his helmet, he had to brake so hard, rubber dust came off the front tyre and coated the lower fairing.

Top Fuel Bike racer Kev Charman, riding Rene van den Berg's bike again suffered a broken belt in the last session but got down the track fine in the morning session with a 6.90. The new sprocket on the bike is still at the lower ratio. Kev said "I am happy with the bike which is running straight. We are looking at doing a deal for next year. Rene will have a new bike that Jan Smit and Gerard Willemse have been working on."

Top Fuel Bike racer Ian King said "This is a tryout year for the new bike and we didn't plan to be in contention for the championship. But I am still getting used to riding it. I feel as if I am catching up with the bike. It is a matter of technique and how you move around with the bike rather than strength. We have taken a lot of power out of it. On the bike's best pass so far of 6.25 I was off the throttle well before the finish line.

Top Methanol Funny Car racer Steph Milam (husband and crew chief Dave pictured) ran a best of 6.07 in the tricky conditions and as the team said, she is really racing the elusive five second pass rather than the rest of the field. Steph is also entered for the National Finals to make some more passes and hopefully pass the landmark the team have searched so long for. Many thanks to the team for giving your pit reporter a lift back from the top end.

Super Pro ET racer Nick Good ran what is believed to be the class's first side-by-side six second passes with John Bradshaw in the other lane. Sponsor Beovax are in attendance today and Nick has kept as quiet as he can about the team's second car raced by Dave Catton. So they were surprised and delighted to see them both come to the line in today's first session.

Top Fuel Bike racer Steve Carey has done much work to the bike for this year and it has paid off in a new PB of 6.59 in three passes at the Bulldog Bash. Here, he started with a broken primary belt at three quarter track and then came back to run 6.646 and 6.668 in the next two sessions for no.5 position.

Top Fuel Bike racer Sverre Dahl said his new bike has come along seadily with a best of 6.3 this season. "But we're really testing here as we are not championship contenders. We ran Tierp, Finland, Gardermoen and Mosten and won King of Mosten with a 4.17 over the eighth."

Top Fuel Bike racer Peter Svensson ran a 6.03 in this morning's session. Brother and crew chief Soren said "In the first session the bike's chain broke and took the belt out and caused damage to the valves, so we replaced all eight of them and welded the wheelie bars. The air valve was broken and thanks to Svein Olaf Rolfstad for lending us one and to Steve Woollatt for his help." Peter missed the second session but was back to the form he showed recently at Hockenheim this morning.

Super Street Bike racer Graham Dance said "The conditions are challenging and even Ven has been smoking the tyre. We are launching soft and then leaning on it a lot down the track. I am pleased we are third with a 7.5 but want to run a 7.4. Graham is pictured with crewman Andre Cross.

Happy Birthday wishes to Super Street racer Danny Cockerill's wife Dee who is 40 today. Danny said "We are creeping up on it. We are not setting the world alight and enjoying Super Street a lot - the riders are great, the work is more relaxed than Pro Mod and there is less pressure." Crewman Paul 'Grumpy' Watson said "Danny is doing a great job in his first year in the class and running 7.7s with his broad physique is impressive." Danny, Paul and Ray White each have karts which they race in Essex and Kent. "It's very competitive", Paul added.

SuperTwin racer Chris 'Cannon' Hannam is making great progress with his bike developed with the help of former Funny Bike champion Neil Midgley. "We have been working on for four years. We have now put a leanout valve on it to take the fuel out after the burnout and avoid damaging the plugs in the burnout. We have a new ex-Larry McBride blower on and have achieved 40psi boost with it in the burnout. Our runs have been 7.12/7.12 and 7.13, but the G force has been moving my wrist off the throttle. If we get a new grip I am sure the bike will run in the sixes at over 200mph."

SuperTwin racer Vidar Ravnsborg is planning to run the full series next year, depending on funding. This year's events have been at Tierp, Gardermoen and here. He said "We haven't run a good time yet as I am trying out different things to get on the ladder. But our rear head is damaged and we won't be able to repair it here."

SuperTwin racer Samu Kemppainen who is in no.7 position with a 7.15 said "We would like to be quicker. The first run was an easy 7.1, on the second the bike was quicker to the eighth but went to the left at half track, went out of the groove, the tyre spun and a cylinder went out. We ran our first six at Hockenheim and would like to run one here too." Samu will also be running the full series next year, the only Finn to do so.

Super Street Bike racer Dave Smith said "We don't understand why we are in the high 7.6s. We have been losing time up to 330ft and our 60ft times are a tenth off what they should be. The tyre is turning but not much more than normal but the revs have gone up high in all gears." Dave is finishing a new bike, which he is looking at running on E85 if a supplier can be found - "If I run E85 I will have to find a way of heating the injectors up to stop them icing."

SuperTwin racer Hans Olav Olstad said after his 6.89 yesterday "We set the nitro level too low by 1 1/2% so will step up." In this morning's session he improved to a 6.69 but with "Terrible tyre shake." Hans Olav has sold the bike to Ulf Ledström, from Umeå who last drag raced 15 years ago with a Kawasaki two stroke and has been ice racing for many years since then. Hans Olav said "Ulf will be starting in the Nordic SuperTwin cup. I will be bringing out a new bike with a parallel twin that Gerard Willemse is building complete with frame and transmission. Gerard's own parallel twin design has separate barrels and a unique two piece crank. Hans Olav said "It would be good to run a new best quicker than 6.67 for my old bike before I sell it."

SuperTwin racer Jan Sturla Hegre has had a disappointing end to his rookie season with a series of broken crankshafts and his second retirement in a row. He said "We started with two FastCat engines and two cranks. But one broke in Finland and when we repaired it it broke immediately at Gardermoen and we had a broken crank at Hockenheim. Felix from Greger Johansson's team helped with repairing it after I couldn't get the original maker to give us a new one in time but it was too badly bent to work." Jan Sturla will be buying a new and stronger Overkill motor over the winter with new block and heads and the same fuel system. The valve train and fuel system are also the same as team-mate Svein Olav Rolfstad's OCR engine. "We have run the quickest Fastcat engine on the planet but now it is RIP," he said.

SuperTwin racer Ronny Aasen learned he was racing here instead of bike owner Ron Houniet. Ron said "My usual rider Nate Gagnon is back in Canada as he is in contention for the Canadian championship riding a clone of this bike. I couldn't get through all the hoops for insurance purposes when I tried licensing and so I invited Ronny who I have known for over eight years to ride for me and he has also helped with transport." The bike has much potential as it has run as quick as 6.37/221 in Canada. Ronny, pictured spraying water over the hot drivetrain to save the belt, has achieved a 6.75 on his unfamilar ride and after a break from competition.

SuperTwin racer Martijn de Haas suffered a big explosion at Tierp and after repairing things ran strongly at the Bulldog Bash. Here he has been struggling with clutch and ignition, going off the line too hard. He said "We have new heads and crank for next year. We have got through this year with some borrowed parts, the class is so friendly and I would like to see a 16 bike field next year."