Mopar EuroNationals
Santa Pod Raceway, 28th-30th July 2017

Sunday


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Latest update 17:25


Pro Mod racer Mick Payne ran a 7.38/147 to go seventh in qualifying, after a fuel line came off on his first run. He said 'On the second pass the burst panel went which caused valve damage and a small fire. We had to stay up to 2am in the rain to repair the damage and thanks to Bert Englefield, Eric Monsegno and Andy Robinson for their help. We fired up this morning with no leaks and the weather delay helped us. We are building a stock of spare parts and have been pleased with the performance in the Summernationals and here.


Top Sportsman racer Bob Doyle and wife Tracy are running to test after damage early in the season. She said 'There are still some gremlins and we found some wear and tear on the ring and pinion but nothing else. If there are no other problems we will run Super Pro at the three remaining National Events this year'.


In RWYB this blown BBC '55 Chevy was running low tens.


The Plymouth Fury of Surrey Muscle racer Jerry Raymond has a Luty-built 440ci B-1 engine with 12,5 to 1 compression and NOS.


Nostalgia Super Stock racer and class co-ordinator Don Scott has this Superbird in addition to his Richard Petty tribute car, but suffered problems which put him out of competition.


Super Gas racer-in-waiting Dave Fulton has rebuilt the car formerly run by Paul Spiers. Dave said 'I bought the car in May 2017 after Paul had the body and chassis repaired but had not reassembled it. I came here for seat time and have run a best of 8.97/147. I used to run eights in my '41 Willys truck. the car is running well with just a small transbrake problem, and after using the throttle stop I ran a 9.88 on the first pass with it'.


RWYB racer Simon Smith runs this Ford Skyliner called 'Skyriser'. He said 'I bought the car three and a half years ago and built it over the last eighteen months. It is based on the remains of a '54 Skyliner steel rolling chassis with new interior, roll bar, glass and running gear. The engine is a 440ci RB engine with twin Edelbrock 600s on a tunnel ram, but am planning some winter upgrades. The gearbox is a 727 Torqueflite from TCI and my best time so far with NOS is a 10.8.


Duncan Watts owns this nitrous Pinto which is raced by his daughters Dana, Carly, Demi and Shelby and some friends. Duncan said 'It has a 302ci Ford engine which has been stroked to 330ci with C4 transmission and runs reliable 11s'. Duncan has a swap meet which he has held at the meeting for 20 years and if you live near Crewe and want transmission work done he can be contacted on 07974 088375.


Glenn Boardman runs his '69 Roadrunner under the Watts Racing Transmissions banner. The 440cu engine produces 550hp.


Duncan Watts' Dodge Avenger is a recent import from the US where it was built but not run. He said 'It was built for Top Sportsman and has a chassis certified to 6.0s. The engine is a 732ci B-1 TS with twin Dominator 1500cfm carbs on a tunnel ram dynoed at 1500hp. The transmission is a three speed Lencodrive and the car should run a low seven without NOS and a high six with it'. Immediate plans are for some test launches and then running the car at lifestyle events.


Gasser Circus racer Neil Harris's Austin Devon Gasser is for sale, powered by a 3900cc Rover engine with Holley carb and Jag rear end. At the end of June, five other members of the class made their way to Jurby on the Isle of Man to run at a race organised by the Manx Drag Racing Association and Straightliners. Class organiser Nick Brook-Langham said 'We had a fantastic reception and after the competition were invited to the local museum which stayed open late especially for us. We fired up and all drove along the public roads to the museum then back to the track to pick up the trailers. The organisers were even kind enough to lend us the keys to the track to lock up, which is probably the first time in drag racing history that a visiting class has been allowed such a privilege!'


Gasser Circus racer Martyn Hallam won £100 from the Eurodragster.com/Bad Habit Racing Perfect Light award. He said 'I missed the first two rounds of the Gasser Circus championship but ran at Dragstalgia and here, and the next round at the Hot Rod Drags is the final round of the season. The car is reliable with no issues and I am grateful to my team members Mike Couch and Jim Hallam for their help'. Martyn's '33 Willys Coupe runs a SBC with tunnel ram. 'It did big wheelies and I calmed it down, but now I am missing them'.


Pro Mod racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Andy Robinson suffered damage on his second qualifying pass yesterday. A 6.37 in session one was followed by a 6.23 but a spark plug caused damage and we had to take the pistons and bores out. He said 'The track is goood this weekend and the weepers caused by the rain have not been a problem to us at all as the marshals are giving them their full attention. The run was also affected by the fuel timers not running as smoothly as they should have'. After repairs, he qualified first with a 6.15/235. In eliminations, a bye caused by Jon Webster's withdrawal was followed by a win over a red lighting, but quicker, Bert Englefield. In the final his 6.14/234 gave him a brilliant holeshot victory over Marck Harteveld in an exciting race, Andy wrestling to keep the car straight down the track.


Pro Mod racer Michel Tooren is a welcome returnee after major damage at the Tierp International in mid-June. He ran a best of 6.45/221 in qualifying to go sixth but a 6.25/230 with a 0.27 RT gave Bobby Wallace the win in round one.


Pro Mod racer Marck Harteveld qualified second with a 6.17 and then ran a 6.65 against a slowing Mick Payne followed by the best times of the event, 6.112/234 (low ET of the event) against Bobby Wallace and 6.129/234 against Andy Robinson in the fnal.


Pro Mod racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Jon Webster got down the track but as it was an observed run it was not a qualifying pass. 'I launched it in second gear as I was having problems selecting first gear. The main reason we weren't able to make more runs was that the engine was burning pushrod tips which were going blue. We need to modify the oiling system which is a not uncommon problem with the billet turbo hemi engine. I took some advice but the heat was still building up. We will figure a way round it using our machine tools and test before the Euro Finals'.


RWYB racer Jamie Hughes has this turbo diesel fuelled Land Rover with manual trans .


This 'Pro Zodiac' is set up to run nines with NOS.


Huseyin Yalcin is the owner of this Anglia, driven on the road complete with wheelie bars and 'chute.


This road driven Ford Pop has a 632ci BBC engine with Merlin heads.


Nostalgia Super Stock racer Andrew Bosomworth beat Jack Bishop in round one with a 11.216 on 11.15 dial.


This Nostalgia Super Stock truck driven by Tom 'Cherry' Watkins ran on 12.00 index and went 12.23/101 in round one.


Nostalgia Super Stock racer Dave Billadeau builds muscle cars for a living, and is busy. 'I have four engines in, which I work on with EDA and have also recently had three cars to work on, a '69 GTX, '65 Belvedere and '69 Road Runner. I like to work on one car at a time and will only work on Mopars'. Dave's Belvedere wagon was imported from Arizona two years ago, he worked on the paint and body and installed a 500ci B-1 engine which produces 705ci, good for ETs of 10.6. He was class winner today.


Nostalgia Super Stock racer Chris Layram is being crewed by former Top Fuel racer and tuner Tony Pearson. He said 'The car is a '65 Falcon imported more than 10 years ago and tuned with a C4 transmission and 8" rear axle. It's my second meeting and my ETs have dropped from 15.5s to 13.4 thanks to Tony's help'. The car has been prepared with input from Eurodragster.com sponsors OCS Paint and Hauser Race Cars.


Nostalgia Super Stock racer Andy Robinson runs this Dodge Coronet down into the high nines with its B-1 engine of 572ci and 1450cfm Holley carb.


Nostalgia Super Stock racer Richard Granger from Wakefield has owned his Roadrunner for over six years and runs mainly at York Raceway, coming south for the Mopar Euronats and sometimes Dragstalgia. He said 'The car has a 500ci with six pack carb setup and Torqueflite gearbox. It runs low elevens.' He said that in order to compete in MSA permit rounds he would need to do roll cage modifications, but here the MSA construction rules are waived.


Gasser Circus racer Tim Holmes who ran a Dodge D100 pickup, now runs a Dodge Polara 500 with altered wheelbase and classic gasser front end attitude.


'65 Plymouth is resplendent with its period-correct lettering.


RWYB racer Kristen von Croonenborgh's 1970 Plymouth Cuda has a great trailer and ran regular 8.6s/150 at Dragstalgia.


Pro Mod racer-in-waiting Chris Orthodoxou has completely rebuilt his Dodge Viper. 'The chassis is modified to current NHRA spec with a 2015 Mike Janis engine with an updated injector hat which runs 5.8s in the US. The blower is a setback billet item and the trans is a Quick Drive Auto, with a Neal Chance convertor in front of a three speed B&J Big Boy gearbox and Pro-Bel can. The rear axle is a Mark Williams modular billet item. So it's an all new drivetrain.


Chris Orthodoxou continued 'The body is a new carbon fibre one made from the mould from the original Viper body with higher wheel humps. My plan is to get down the track and do some licensing passes. Then, seeing as I am working in Kazakhstan, I have arranged my holiday to be back here for the Euro Finals and National Finals'. Chris is crewed for by Steve Saunders.


Top Sportsman racer Simon Gough qualified no.8 for the heads up competition with 8.84, defeated Pete Youhill in round one with a 8.76/154 and then was defeated by Dave Moore with a 8.78 to Dave's 7.02.


RWYB racer and car painter Marc Manning runs this '34 Ford three window.


Top Sportsman racer Dave Moore is happy to be in the driver's seat which he is sharing with team member Gary Butters. He said 'I did drive our old Triumph Herald about 17 years ago when we ran Super Pro ET and did a best of 7.8/170, which was quick for such a short wheelbase. I have run four sixes here and a best of 6.76/200, the 200mph being my objective for this weekend. When you drop the clutch, it's difficult to keep your foot on the gas, I managed to do that and then missed all the shift points. As well as the hit on the launch there's quite a hit when the chutes come out. But I mainly need to work on my reactions'. Dave thanks co-owner and brother Roger.


Top Sportsman racer Jack Brewster has fitted a new supercharged engine. 'I decided four years ago I wanted one and Kenny Gomez has given me a lot of help on the basic engine and I have done the ancillaries and made the headers. The supercharger is a 14-71 SSI with magnesium components. I didn't have to make chassis changes as the car had already been built to house a blown engine. We are just running checkout passes to get used to and adjust the new setup.' Jack is joined by Csaba Toth, Nick Curtis and Peter Lane and will run the remaining meetings of the championship 'as they come'.


Pro Mod racer Bobby Wallace has found a sweet spot in the tuning of his car, and is running quick and reliably. 'The track is very good this weekend and I underestimated it in session one. So we fed more power back and it went well'. The sole nitrous-assisted car in the field, he ran 6.314/221 in session two, 6.247/222 in session three and beat Micjel Tooren on a holeshot with a 6.348/217 before going out in the semi final to Marck Harteveld.


Pro Mod racer and Eurodragster.com sponsor Marco Maurischat lost the consistency that rewarded him in the Summernationals with a place in the finals. 'I ran 6.8s in the first session with tyre spin and overpowering the track, then after backing it down, still had tyre spin. My best of 6.306/228 should have been a 6.1.' He red lit against Bert Englefield who had big handling problems, Marco running his best of the event 6.28/227.


Pro Mod racer Wayne Nicholson suffered a failed transmission seal, resulting in fluid coming out. 'There was a lot of smoke in the car from the trans fluid, fortunately there was no damage, but I couldn't see how close I was getting to the wall and the rear wheels locked up so the front of the car just grazed the wall, so there is an Elastoplast on it now'.



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