The latest updates are at the top of the page. Click on your Browser's Refresh key to be sure of seeing the latest news.

Click here to go back to the event index

22:30

Conrad Stanley, who made his Pro Stock debut at the FIA Finals here at Santa Pod last year, and was out testing at the Easter Thunderball, still feels his car is in test mode. He was pleased with his first qualifying pass of 6.92 at 198.00 putting him at #4 after the first session. He was planning a more aggressive clutch setup for Q2 as every pass was part of the learning curve. Conrad observed that driving skills from 15 years in Super Gas don’t really carry over to PS in terms of technique or controls.

Top Fuel driver Timo Lehtmäki was disappointed because they couldn’t get the RPM up and get into reverse forcing them to abort the run. They plan to run the same set-up for Q2 hoping for a 4.90. Current plans are to contest the FIA circuit at Tierp, Alastaro, Hockenheim, and will decide on competing at the Finals based on their position in the points race.

Karsten Andersen explained the reason for the shut-off of the Anderson Racing Top Fuel Dragster at the top end in Q1 was due to a problem with the new fuel system causing a few cylinders to go out and tossing the blower belt. The team was pleased with the 1/8 mile time of 3.66 at 266 MPH. Driver Tommy Johnson Jr (seen with FIA Commission Chair Graham Light) was pleased with the run, but disappointed the belt came off. He said he felt very little difference driving a Top Fuel car in the US and Europe, common elements being nervousness before the first pass, disappointments of tossed belts on a good pass.

Andy Carter of the Lucas Oil Team West-Tec Top Fuel team was planning a 440 foot Pass for the second qualifying session which he acknowledged takes a disciplined driver to accomplish, since a full pass is always more satisfying. Andy spoke of the wisdom of creeping up on successively longer runs rather than than destroying a lot of parts early in sorting out a new set up, and mentioned that anything could happen on Monday.

Top Fuel Dragster racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Urs Erbacher credited the track with being better than the team had anticipated as the reason for tire shake in the first qualifying round. The team performed a complete engine change before the second round of qualifying as they had spun a main bearing in round one.

Anita Mäkelä's Top Fuel Dragster Crew Chief Sami Lehtimäki explained that not enough wheel speed was the problem in their first qualifying attempt. The tires shook at one second into the run. Adjustments were made to increase power to the wheels for the second qualifying session

11:00

L.O. Jonsson crew member on Per Bengtsson’s UEM Supertwin bike spoke of changes made to the bike after an unsatisfying outing in Hungary. Changes were made to facilitate spinning the clutch rather than the tires on the launch finding the narrow area between tire smoke and tyre shake. A recent successful test in Malmö resulted in a 1.11 60 foot time with the G- Meter reading 2.6 G’s, up from previous readings of 2.2. The team is optimistic with their chances for another Championship bid in the 7 event UEM season.

UEM Supertwin rider Job Heezen is looking forward to his first outing of the season having made numerous changes in the off season. The bike has new cams, fuel systems and new piston rings to solve a problem with rings that plagued him last year. Job also has a new titanium clutch. Job is no stranger to titanium. Back in his Top Gas days he had ran a set of titanium connecting rods machined from metal obtained from a Finnish source with Russian connections to titanium used on MIG fighters. The rods served him well for 3 seasons with no failures, but those who tried to copy him found themselves getting a lower quality metal and having no luck.

Defending UEM Supertwin Champion Lorenz Stäuble is racing an essentially unchanged bike from his Championship year. He was unhappy with the outing at Hungary, but felt it was due to not finding the right set-up for the track. He pointed out that the quicker and stronger the run, the greater tendency for the bike to run straight.

Jesper Thiel UEM Pro Stock winner, low qualifier, and track record holder from the recent Hungary meeting, has legendary tuner George Bryce from the US working with him this weekend. Team Sovereign had sent its riders to the US this winter for training and then asked him to come over and train the bikes. George, who lives in Georgia was not crazy about the wind and cold said “We would call this ‘January’ and wait for summer to race”.

Stepping up to UEM Supertwin this year Christian Jäger noticed quite a difference in the handling from his Funny Bike. The Supertwin is heavier and doesn’t respond to any subtle attempts to change direction. The vibration is also more intense but he finds is enjoyable. He plans to go for a full run on his first qualifying attempt today looking to duplicate his first ever run on the bike, a full pass straight and smooth.

Chris Stebbings is riding a Suzuki Pro Stock bike in Pro Stock for the first time. All of his previous experience in various bike classes has been on Harleys. His only previous run on the bike was a licensing pass required because of a 3 year lay off.