FIA Main Event
Santa Pod Raceway, 24th-27th May 2013
Run What You Brung


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


Welcome to our report of today's Run What You Brung, brought to you in association with Alamo Rent-A-Car.

It was overcast most of the day but stayed dry and the track held everything which was thrown at it including an injected-nitro Top Methanol Dragster. We lost a couple of hours this morning as one of the Run What You Brung bikers parted company with his machine and had to be taken to hospital; in the absence of the ambulance we could not run. The ambulance returned at what was nominally lunchtime but the M&S crew happily went back on station and snuck lunch when they could, so a big thumbs-up to them.

We did not have too many racers here today, we are expecting more tomorrow, but let's take you through those who ran.

Tethys made his first couple of passes in the Dave Wilson Racing Top Methanol Dragster. Both very competent passes as one would expect given Tet's licencing experience in a blown-alcohol TAD and the storied Grumpy as a tutor. First up was a launch, sixty foot was a gentle 1.184 and then off the gas. Bigger burnout on the second pass, 1.132 to sixty, on the gas to just before the eighth 4.319/163.59 and 7.551/119.20 at the quarter. On the second pass the car was visibly accelerating hard as it came past Your Reporter about 100 feet out, Tet likely having the ride of his life.

A very welcome returnee was Colin and Barbara Weber's Mustang Sally, carrying Super Street numbers and driven by Martin Lewis. The car as ever looks very pretty indeed. Martin had his final licence pass to make, 11.2 the target. A gentle 13.802/93.88 for the first pass and then came back towards the end of the day only to suffer a carb fire after the burnout.

Some new names in Junior Dragster, all of them ladies. Bonnie and Annie Wallace, sisters of Pro ET racer Bobby, licenced in their Junior Modified dragster last weekend and shared testing duties today - dad tells us that another JMD is on order. From where we were stood it was impossible to tell who was who in the car but both girls impressed with a number of 8.9-second runs, the best being 8.928/71.60. Another new JMA racer was Shannon Kiddell, the new owner of Callum Bradshaw's dragster. With help from the Alamo team Shannon took to the dragster very quickly, with a best RT of 0.084 and best run of 8.129/78.55. Paige and Belle Wheeler of the Alamo team were also testing, Paige's best RT a 0.064 and best run of 8.318/75.43 whilst Belle who was in full practical joke mode at the start of the day had a best run of 13.197/48.95. Reigning Champion Joe Kellett pulled a best RT of 0.062 and his best run was 8.216/76.94. Aaron Fensome pulled a best RT of 0.015 and had a best run of 8.239/79.24. Finally for JD Thomas Cook-Abbott clocked a best RT of 0.032 and best run of 9.506/65.69.

On two wheels Jake Charman made a number of runs on his Junior Drag Bike with a best RT of 0.057 and best pass of 10.362/64.52. Every one of Jake's RTs was in the 0.0s.

Regular RWYB attendee Julie Nataas again came all the way from Norway to test and Thomas is getting a real handle on the throttle stop although the Top Fuel racer must suffer a real crisis of conscience having to slow the car down. Julie's nearest run of the day was an 8.903/165.46. It was great to see Pro ET racer Julian Davison's very pretty 100E out on track after work at Eurodragster.com sponsor Chris Isaacs Race Cars. One thing we noticed was that Julian wastes absolutely no time between burnout and getting into stage, really eager to get going. His best run of the day was an 11.107/123.50 and best RT was 0.042.

On two wheels Comp Bike racer Allan Davis led the way with a best of 8.131/166.09 from his four runs, second quickest ET of the day car or bike. It's not his fault but Allan's bike became Your Reporter's bogey vehicle today, just could not get a decent photograph of it. Supertwin Comp racer Martin Brookes also put in four passes with a best of 9.779/132.55.

8.50 Bike Champion Mick Winyard was taking the first chance to test since an ignition failure at Easter. Mick's closest to the 8.50 index was a fine 8.516/173.06 although he also went quicker with an 8.418 also at 173.06. Ignition solved we'd say!

9.50 Bike racers Ian Chrichlow and James Roe both put in a number of passes; slight problem giving you their bests as they appear to have run in the Castrol Challenge and we don't have their CC numbers. We will however make enquiries and get back to you.


Reports and pictures ©Eurodragster.com