FIA Main Event
Pro Racer Test and Tune Day


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16:10

The track is wet and the rain is stopping and starting so we have been called for the day. We are now working on today's gallery and will have that posted shortly.

The webcam will be stopped without warning in a few moments.

14:45

Graham Ellis headed back to the pits to sort out an errant valve spring so fellow Pro Mod racer Robert Joosten was next up when the rain stopped. Aborted the burnout after the Camaro headed for the Tree. All set to pull in to stage and then shut off. Not obvious from here what the problem was but it has now started to rain.

A number of cars have gone back to the pits and one interesting point we spotted was Jon Giles' name on Tim Adam's Falcon Super Comp/Super Gas car.

14:30

Another big move to the left for Guy Chamberlain in his JDS FWD Honda, 10.0496/134.48 before the dynamic lane choice just past the stripe, enough to draw a gasp from everyone in Race Control.

Danny Bellio followed in his Top Methanol FC, left lane this time. Hard right turn in the burnout but had it covered. Fantastic run! 0.9744 to sixty, launched as if shot from a catapault. No sign of shake at all. 3.7900/197.16 to the eighth, pedalled it in the second eighth, shut off and chute out just before the stripe, 5.8406/215.12 at the finish and a very happy crew. Candidate for run of the day so far.

Next up, Steve Hall making his first run of the day in his Pro Mod. Eurodragster.com sponsor Andy Robinson and son Luke are working with Steve this weekend and were out on the start line. Pedalled it most of the first eighth, the 'Vette bouncing up and down. 1.3270 to sixty and 5.0600/136.97 at the eighth, fishtailing a lot in the second eighth, 8.0511/161.92. Eurodragster.com sponsor Graham Ellis followed in his Superbird Pro Mod. Huge burnout but shut off in pre-stage for sprinkles of rain.

14:15

First run of the day for Canada's Nate Gagnon on his Supertwin. 1.1843 to sixty, bike started to move towards the centre line but he stayed with it, 4.4876/170.93 atthe eighth, really leaning to keep it in his lane, shut off a touch early; 6.8298/192.96.

Amanda Cox followed in her Pro ET Nova. Tyre shake off the line but 9.4157/140.79 has got to be somewhere near a PB for Amanda. Super Pro ET next, Johan Oomen in his second run of the day in the Viper. 0.0481 RT, a pedal about 100 feet out, 8.6067/166.04 at the stripe. Staying with Super Pro ET Rainier van Scheldt followed in his pick-up. 12598 to sixty, 5.5291/127.00 at the eighth, 8.7287/152.65.

Into Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator and Colin Lazenby's second was preceded by another huge burnout which drew applause from the grandstand. Tyre spin with pedals to about 120 feet and then off the pedal and idled through, 20.0843/39.77.

Super Comp next and first run of the day for Frank Eijskoot who appears on today's news update. The unique Pontiac Fiero clocked 1.4680 to sixty, 6.4633/111.95 to the eighth and 10.0084/137.81 to the stripe.

14:10

Tyre spin at the hit for Al Cook in Richard Billings' Mustang, a pedal then a big move to the right about 250 feet out and off the throttle, 13.1405/85.86.

Wouter van Leersum up next in the pretend Pro Mod, 0.0745 RT and 8.0850/168.50 for the Super Pro ET Camaro. Fellow Super Pro ET racer Jack Brewster followed, another great burnout then a good run to about 1000 feet when the Firebird made a move to the right and Jack put the chute out. 8.6073/154.67.

First run of the day for the currently-unfired Dave Gibbons in the Rough Diamond Super Pro ET altered. RT we'll keep to ourselves but nice 8.7612/148.61 at the stripe, sounded like the altered was bouncing at the top end.

Elvira Karlsson next up on the Team veidec / Teisad Pro Stock Bike. Elvira was on the start line with Team Veidec owner Roger Lyrén during the break, some last-minute tutelage I guess. Tyre spin off the line, 1.3375 to sixty, 5.0941/143.04 at the eighth, 7.9248/160.78 at the stripe.

Peter Granica opened a session of Super Street Bikes, Thomas held on the line a moment as Elvira Karlsson had to be pushed off the end of the track. 1.5489 to sixty for Thomas, motor was hesitating, 9.5953/146.30, something pretty obviously not right with that bike. Graham Dance next to the line, tyre screeched at the hit, 8.7930/156.34. Graham Balchin followed, very nice run. 1,3785 to sixty, 5.0816/154.25 to the eighth, 7.6253/190.54 to the finish. Next up was Paul Hambidge, tyre up in smoke at the hit again, 8.5249/173.69. Pete Field followed, 1.3414 to sixty feet, sounded like trouble shifting gear, then shut it off by about 300 feet, 13.0042/71.97. Nigel Barker next to the start line, 1.3574 to sixty with a screech of the tyre, 5.164/151.11 atthe eighth and 7.7349/189.70 at the big end. Richard Stubbins followed, very nice run: 1.3659 to sixty, 5.0430/152.64 atthe eighth and 7.6166/188.90 at the stripe. Steve venables closed with a 1.3046 sixty foot, 4.9908/153.18 eighth and 7.5515/18.74 stripe. Trying to think how often I have seen a four-second eighth in SSB, not very often I think. Are you reading Andy Marrs?

13:35

9.6930/138.24 for Nick Curtis on his third run of the day in the Southern Belle Super Gasser. Slightly less naughty, but still naughty. Al Cook next up in Richard Billings' Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator Mustang, shut off after the burnout as we have rain in the air.

12:55

Third run of the day for Pro ET racer Simon Gough. 0.0440 RT, 9.9916/135.21, nice pass. Also for Pro ET, Sarah Howells followed in Eurodragster.com sponsor Ed Yates' slingshot. 0.0162 RT, quickest today I thin, 9.3461/133.68 at the stripe.

We're on a break for lunch now, back in half an hour.

12:50

First run of the day for Eurodragster.com Blogger John Bradshaw, running his Nissan in Super Pro ET this weekend. 1.1860 to sixty feet, 4.5496/161.86 at the eighth, 7.0366/193.61 at the stripe.

Mark Todd next up with his second run of the day in his Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator GTO. Good-looking run to start with, 1.4533 to sixty and then a bang and puff of smoke right on the eighth and Mark shut tt off, still 9.5528/97.50 at the stripe.

Malcolm Motler followed in his Super Comp Morris pick-up, 9.3306/143.46. Jon Turner next up in the Greenfish Super Comp Cuda, 9.9801/134.17.

Second run of the day for Danny Cockerill on his Super Street Bike, 1.2915 to sixty - quickest SSB sixty of the day - but then got off the throttle in the second eighth but still 7.8636/152.20. Steve Veables next on his SSB, 1.3109 to sixty feet, 5.0069/153.18 at the eighth and 7.5898/187.30 at the stripe.

Chris Hannam followed with his first run of the day on his Supertwin, which sounds very mean. Burnout had everything moving around up here in Race Control. 1.3211 to sixty feet but the motor sounded to be labouring and Cannon shut it off about 150 feet out. 15.5156/49.33.

12:35

Chris Orthodoxou shut off after the burnout in his first run in the Super Pro ET Viper. Pushed back and sat behind Race Control as I type. 10.1339/145.30 for Guy Chamberlain on his second run of the day in his JDS FWD.

A hairy Crew Chief and huge burnout announced the return of Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator racer Colin Lazenby. Tyre spin at the hit, pedalled then sounded to be feathering the throttle most of the way down, 10.7246/150.17.

12:30

Second run of the day for J Reffeltrath in his Super Gasser. Slight hesitation on the launch, 10.0004/146.17. Johan Oomen next up for The Netherlands, Super Pro ET Viper and a very nice-looking car at that. Tyres screeching on the launch, a quick pedal. 9.1031/150.07 at the stripe.

Fellow Super Pro ET racer Reinier van Scheldt next up for his second run of the day. Staged crooked but a nice run, 8.6846/152.66. Pro ET racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Mike Lacey followed on in his Camaro, second run of the day for Mike. 0.0155 RT, 9.4341/142.46 at the stripe.

Back to The Netherlands, Pro Modified racer Robert Joosten next around the corner. Quick check of wheelie bar and nose levels on the start line before the run. Instant spin and screaming motor at the hit, Robert got off the throttle and stopped about 250 feet out.

12:05

Marc Meihuizen next up in the MPM Oil-sponsord Pro Mod. 200-foot burnout, Eurodragster.com sponsor Andy Robinson an interested spectator on the start line. Rolled the beams very slightly on the launch, 1.1291 to sixty, 4.1800/181.30 at the eighth, 6.3267/229.06 at the top end.

12:00

First run of the day for Garry Bowe on his Super Street Bike, nice run it was too: 1.3767 to sixty, 5.1090/147.21 at the eighth and staying on it all the way, 7.8432/170.43. Steve Venables followed on his SSB. Quickest sixty foot of the day for an SSB at 1.3081, 5.0399/151.61 at the eighth, 7.6311/187.39 at the top end. Very long burnout for Paul Hambidge on his SSB, then another burnout at the hit, brief feather of the throttle, 9.1492/120.26 at the top end.

Super Gas trim for Stuart Morrice this time, 9.8582/146.71 at the stripe and a small puff of smoke in the shutdown area.

11:55

Nice run for Danny Bellio, 1.0647 to sixty, 3.8990/198.58 at the eighth then one chute deployed but Danny stayed on the throttle for a few hundred feet more before shutting it off, 6.4660/150.13.

Second run of the day for Graham Dance on his Super Street Bike. Motor stopped in the burnout but at least it didn't stop dead which is never a good sign. A number of attempts to re-start but pushed back in the end.

Brief burnout this time by Al Cook in Richard Billings' Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator Mustang... but then reversed and took another shot at it. Strange-sounding run, not as much forward progress as you'd expect from the engine revs. 9.2487/168.54.

11:50

Double wheelie off the line for Eurodragster.com sponsor Paul Foote in his Super Gas pick-up. 0.0697 RT, 10.3103/130.65 at the top end.

Danny Cockerill shut off after the burnout on today's first run on his Super Street Bike. Something spotted by Chief Starter Ian Marshall although nothing on the track and no clean-up so maybe not a fluid leak.

Jon Turner next in the Greenfish Cuda Super Gasser. 9.9573/134.86, nice pass.

Start line crew having pumped up Danny Cockerill's front tyre he came back for his pass. 1.3253 to sixty, tyre screeched and then Danny shut it off about 200 feet out, 16.8388/31.18. Fellow SSB racer Peter Granica next for his third run of the day. 1.6053 to sixty, 5.8151/126.25 at the eighth, 9.0080/149.62 at the top end.

Next up is Danny Bellio in his Top Methanol FC.

11:35

From Morrice to Morris, quick turn-round for Malcolm Motler in his Super Comp pick-up. 0.0470 RT, 1.3195 to sixty, 9.2875/144.84 at the top end. Nice pass, on the limiter for a brief moment before shifting out of first.

Second run of the day for Graham Balchin on his Super Street Bike. Lost fire coming out of the burnout, re-started after a few seconds. 1.3886 to sixty feet and then a bucking bronco ride and shut it off by about 300 feet. 10.9999/91.77 at the stripe.

Top Fuel Bike action next, Ian King on the Gulf Oil Drag Racing TFB. Great burnout. 1.0701 to sixty, the bike fishtailed slightly and Ian got off it about 200 feet out - my guess would be a planned launch. Quick squirt of the throttle around the eighth and chute out in the shutdown area.

Steve Mead next on his Super Sreet Bike. 1.5129 to sixty and 8.4154/165.45 at the top end, looked like an early shut-off. Fellow SSB racer Nigel Barker next for his second pass of the day. 1.3126 to sixty, 5.0980/149.67 at the eighth and 7.6877/189.70 at the finish. Quickest SSB sixty foot so far today, storming.

11:25

Sarah Howells next up Eurodragster.com sponsor Pete Yates' slingshot. 1.3936 to sixty, 6.0160/115.79 at the eighth and 9.5371/128.66 at the finish line.

J Reffeltrath next in his Super Gasser, tyres spun at the hit and a brief pedal which lost him time, 10.1782/145.23 at the stripe.

First run of the day for Richard Stubbins on his Super Street Bike. 1.5191 to sixty then the motor really sounded to pick up, 5.4203/147.69 to the eighth, 8.0913/181.34. Pete Field next on his SSB, 1.3907 to sixty with the rear tyre screeching protest, 5/2045/147.18 at the eighth and 7.8880/179.24 at the stripe.

First Pro car today was Eurodragster.com sponsor Graham Ellis in his twin-turbo Superbird Pro Mod. Excellent last-photographer burnout... OK, he was the only photographer but he was stood about 100 feet out. Fantastic baseline run, after machine-gunning us all in stage 1.1238 to sixty, a brief pedal before the eighth as the 'Bird was heading for the other lane, 4.2930/176.18 at the eighth, 6.4835/224.51, very gusty drive as the car car moving left and right in the second eighth.

Eurodragster.com sponsor Mike Lacey and Simon Gough next out for a Pro ET pairing. 0.0201 RT for Mike, 9.4595/143.82 at the stripe. 10.4603/134.12 for Simon.

JDS FWD racer Guy Chamberlain next, 10.0279/145.25 with some smoke at the top end and the car crossed lanes beyond the stripe.

Second run of the day for Steve Venables on his Super Street Bike. 1.3413 to sixty, 5.2376/148.16 at the eighth and 7.8708/184.29 at the top.

First outing for today for Jack Brewster in his Super Pro ET Firebird. Great burnout to sixty feet. 1.2802 to sixty feet, 5.4453/132.90 at the eighth, 8.4695/162.44 at the top end. Nice straight pass and I am thinking somewhere near a PB for Jack.

The Morrice boys' Camaro next to appear, Super Comp or Super Gas? 0.046 RT, 5.7103/124.55 eighth, 8.9261/151.63 at the stripe, team had walked away byt the time I looked up again so I guess that was Collin... no, mum Christine tells us that it was Stuart! Stuart is doing all the testign today. Christine asked us to say a big hello to all of her family and friends in New Zealand who are watching and listening this week.

Nice run for Nick Curtis in the Malibu Super Gasser although slightly naughty, 9.6024/139.11.

11:05

First Pro to run today was Elvira Karlsson on the Team Veidec / Teisad Pro Stock Bike. Nice 0.0770 RT, 1.3414 to sixty, didn't sound like it was shifting smoothly, off the throttle before the eighth 5.3937/117.65, cruising through to 10.1217/79.24.

Nigel Barker next up on his Super Street Bike which is also the Fastest Mirror on the Planet. 1.4160 to suxty, drifting to the left, 5.3586/142.65 at the eighth, straightened out and 8.0579/183.57 at the finish line. Fellow SSB racer Paul Hambidge followed. Big shriek from the rear tyre at the hit, a feather of the throttle, 10.0368/93.66.

Reinier van Scheldt next up in his Super Pro ET pick-up. 1.2750 to sixty, 5,6249/123.82 at the eighth and shut it off, 9.7631/96.03 at the line.

Mark Todd followed in his Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator Pontiac. Very smooth launch, 1.4632 to sixty, 5.8786/128.40 at the eighth, on the throttle all the way, 8.8052/171.77. Exhaust slightly black so I am guessing some tweaking to do on the fuel.

Pro ET next, Keith Herbert in his Plymouth Sport Fury. 1.3874 to sixty, 6.3385/108.17 at the eighth, 10.0088/132.12 at the stripe.

Half-hour burnout presaged another Super Stret Bike, Peter Granica out for his second run of the day. Very langiud launch, 1.8580 then picked up, 6.6501/119.95 at the eighth and 9.9821/144.84 at the finish line.

Al Cook followed in Richard Billings' Topspeed Automotive Street Eliminator Mustang. Tyres up in smoke at the hit and the car turned right, feather of the throttle, 10.3630/160.18 at the top end, motor sounded to be misfiring in the second eighth.

10:50

First Super Pro ET racer to emerge this morning was Wouter van Leersum in his Camaro... if Spencer Tramm's street car is a "Pro Mod in disguise" then I'd like to know what this car is, as when I first saw it I thought it was a Pro Mod until I saw the race number. Pro Mod racer Marc Meihuizen an interested spectator. Short crisp burnout. 1.1892 to sixty, couple of pedals at the eighth 5.5066/118.63, off the throttle a touch before the stripe, 8.6399/159.59.

Nick Curtis next up in the Southern Belle Super Gas Malibu. 1.4375, up on the limiter a while before shifting, 6.7025/107.94 at the eighth, 10.3470/136.55 at the line.

10:45

Graham Dance next to run on his Super Street Bike. 1,3702 to sixty, no eighth ET or speed came up, 7.9568/175.72 at the stripe. Very easy sounding run.

Great to see Malcolm Motler back with his Morris Minor pick-up, now Prochargered. fellow Super Comp racer Steve Wells in attendance. Strong launch, 1.3406 to sixty, no eighth again but the timing crew are on it. 9.5315/143.47 at the finish, taking a slightly long way round.

10:35

First out for Pro ET this morning was Simon Gough in his very pretty Camaro. 0.0433 RT, 6.3201/109.61 at the eighth and 9.9140/136.44 at the big end. Nice pass.

10:30

First on to the track were Super Street Bike racers Steve Venables and Graham Balchin. Steve went first, the usual very long burnout then 1.3711 to sixty, 5.2482/145.33 at the eighth just after what sounded like a brief gear selection problem, and 7.8961/184.32 at the stripe. 1.3267 to sixty for Graham, 5.0236/152.72 at the eighth, 7.6061/185.01. Some popping from the motor all the way down but didn't seem to affect the run.

Next up was fellow SSB racer Steve Mead. 1.3978 to sixty, 5.1791/150.11 at the eighth and 7.8497/179.23 at the stripe. Good baseline run for the Lucas Oil-sponsored bike. Peter Granica next to appear on his and Thomas' very pretty new SSB. Tyre spun at the hit, 1.9833 to sixty, feather of the throttle, 7.1802/117.44 at the eighth, 10.5346/144.84.

08:30

Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the Pro Racer Test and Tune Day brought to you in asociation with Alamo Rent-A-Car.

The Webster Race Engineering/Nimbus Motorsport webcam will broadcast live video and trackside audio as long as the track is open.

Despite the name of the event we have a large number of both Pro and Sportsman racers on today's entry list and I wouldn't be surprised if others entered now that they are here.

Today's plan is a frequently-updated report on the on-track action and an end-day gallery.

Right now we have no power here in Race Control but the Tech Crew are on the case and as soon as it comes back we will turn the webcam on. Stay tuned and as soon as the wheels start turning we'll bring you the news.


Reports and pictures ©Eurodragster.com