FIA / FIM European Finals
Santa Pod Raceway, 5th-8th September 2019

Pro Peak Performance Test and Tune Day



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17:10

Final few cars, first up was Lloyd Perkins in the Comp Eliminator Olds. 1.3047 to sixty, drove through shake, car was heading right but Lloyd pulled it back, then the car was moving towards the centre lin and Lloyd shut it off, 8.8677/118.96.

Tom Watkins followed in the Pro ET Charger, great 0.0025 RT and 9.4841/142.11 at the stripe.

Ron Bartlett closed the day with his Super Pro ET Anglia. Fine burnout then 8.4465/162.48.

That's the on-track action done, tun eback in an hour or so for today's gallery.

17:00

Sascha Pretzsch 7.9375/157.49 bye

Top Methanol Funny Car licence pass, word on track radio was eighth mile. 1.4381 to sixty, car drifted right, a couple of feathers of the throttle, 5.2411/155.25 at the eighth and still on the gas and feathering it, got off the gas at about 1000 feet.

16:55

Lara Bartlett and Jaqueline Bartlett with their final Junior Dragster match of the day, 0.0824 RT for Lara and a nice 0.0088 RT for Jaqueline, 8.2103/78.13 for Lara and 8.9643/70.04 for Jaqueline.

Scott Hauser followed in the Bang Tidy Super Pro ET dragster. 0.0594 RT and 7.6486/141.03 at the stripe.

Daniel Donat Lencses next round the corner on his Super Street Bike. 1.1883 to sixty, quicker still, motor started to pop towards the stripe 7.1577/189.75.

Next up is Sascha Pretzsch with a Top Methanol Funny Car licencing pass.

16:50

Another sled of the track then Andy Bond was next round the corner in his Street Eliminator Chevy. 1.3282 to sixty, 5.1750/149.68 to the eighth then off the gas, still 8.0374/148.15 at the stripe.

John Tebenham followed in the Lightning McQueen Pro Mod. Rolled the beams very slightly then hit the gas, shake and the front of the car lifted, headed left and crossed lanes past sixty feet 1.1320. Off the gas and idled through.

Collin Morrice next in the Morrice Boys Camaro, set for Super Pro ET. 0.0280 RT, 1.2214 to sixty, 8.9696/147.63 at the stripe.

Simon Fulton followed in the Super Gas Falcon. 0.0543 RT, metallic noises from the motor at launch, sounded to be misfiring in the second eighth, 10.3889/117.78.

Next run for Steve Venables on his Super Street Bike 1.2217 to sixty and 6.9983 at the stripe. Mark Dainty followed on his SSB, 1.3987 to sixty, hesitation form the motor, 7.8893/185.10. Alex Hope next for SSB, 1.2724, motor note briefly dropped, 4.7918/164.26 at the eighth and 7.2066/201.46 at the stripe. The SSB session continued with Dave Thomas, rear tyre spun up at the hit then smoked, 10.0815/161.35. Last SSB racer for this session was Knut Möller, 1.2881 to sixty and 7.7491/163.68 at the stripe, much straighter run this time.

Ethan Lisle followed in the Pro ET Comet, after the burnout the driver side door open and a check inside then a brief conversation between Ethan's crew and Chief Starter Ian Marshall. 0.0968 RT and 10.1969/131.79 at the stripe. 0.0646 RT for David Fulton in the Camaro set for Super Gas, 9.8462/148.69.

16:30

Next match-up between Lara and Jaqueline Bartlett in their Junior Dragsters, squeaker -0.0014 RT for Jaqueline and 0.0942 for Lara, 8.2329/78.14 for Lara and 9.0730/68.85 for Jaqueline.

Tom Watkins followed in his Pro ET Charger, 9.4767/142.57.

Didn't spot Tracey's gestures to Super Pro ET racer Bob Doyle this time, if she told him to run an 8.6695/155.73 then job done.

Margot Schmidt next round the corner on her Super Street Bike, 1.3092 to sixty and 8.1700/155,78 with an early shut-off. Fellow SSB racer Graham Dance next, 1.3281 to sixty and 7.6650/187.38 at the stripe.

Jordan Payne followed in his Comp Eliminator 'Vette. 1.1181 to sixty driving through shake, a pedal and back on it, then off the gas for good before the eighth, rolled through 11.3115/58.72.

16:20

First round the corner after the track groom was David Fulton in the Super Comp/Super Gas Camaro. 0.0853 RT, 9.7763/148.22.

Lloyd Perkins followed in the Comp Eliminator Olds. Up on the revs in stage, at the hit the revs dropped and Lloyd drove it through the gears, 10.2639/139.02.

Andy Bond back in the Street Eliminator Chevy, 1.3085 to sixty and the eighth in 5.1435/150.12 then off the gas, 8.0138/147.24.

Daniel Donat Lencses next up on his Super Street Bike. 1.1956 to sixty, one of the quickest SSB sixties I have seen, 4.6356/164.86 to the eighth then sounded to jump out of gear right on the stripe but still 7.0722/192.11.

Next run for Andy Dibley in the Magic Rat Super Gasser a 9.8634/146.71.

16:10

Reflectors replaced, Super Street Bike racer Knut Möller took to the track. 1.3014 to sixty, started heading for the centre line and backed out of it before the stripe, 7.9874/137.38.

0.1413 RT for Chevrolet Checkett in the Junior Stock Dragster, 12.1743/52.52.

Mark Todd followed in the Super Pro ET Aston Martin. 1.2971 to sixty with a brief tyre screech, pedal and back on it, 7.7995/184.26. Left lane this time for Barry Giles in the Super Pro ET Dragster, all of his other runs have been in the right lane. 0.0168 RT, 7.5230/176.43 at the stripe. The Super Pro ET theme continued with Scott Hauser in the Bang Tidy dragster, 0.1056 RT and 7.6505/171.04. Yet more Super Pro ET with Ron Bartlett's Anglia, the usual excellent burnout then 1.2463 to sixty with shake, 8.4473/161.28.

Quick hold for a spray and sled of the track.

15:55

Second run of the day for Lloyd Perkins in the Comp Eliminator Olds. Very competent burnout then up on the revs, rolled out of stage and got off the gas, idled along the track, 28.8838/47.35.

Next run for Mark Hope on his Super Street Bike, 1.2803 to sixty, drfting left all the way and collecting both top end reflectors, 7.5073/171.09.

15:45

Another match between Lara and Jaqueline Bartlett in their Junior Modified Advanced and Junior Modified dragsters. -0.0339 RT for Lara, 0.0347 for Jaqueline, 8.2740/77.73 for Lara and 9.0320/69.31 for Jaqueline.

Jordan Payne followed in the Comp Eliminator Corvette. 0.0725 RT, 1.1340 to sixty with tyres blackstriping and motor note rising, off the gas and idled through, 11.0327/95.61.

Quick hold for planned track maintenance.

15:30

Second run of the day for Pro ET racer Tom Watkins, 0.0777 RT and 9.5248/142.07.

Dave Thomas followed on his Super Street Bike, 4.4358 to sixty and close to the centre line at th eeighth, off the gas and through the quarter in 9.6278/96.26. Fellow SSB racer Graham Dance followed, 1.3945 to sixty, was heading for the centre line but pulled it back gently, 7.8715/185.09. Staying with SSB Mark Dainty was next up, 1.3274 to sixty, in the glare I think I saw a small wheelie, 7.8917/182.10.

David and Simon Fulton again matched up in their Super Gas Camaro and Falcom respectively. 0.3138 RT for David, 0.0370 for Simon, 9.0503/148.09 for David so Super Comp this time but sounded like a misfire for Simon in the second half, 10.5326/115.65.

Andy Bond again back very quickly with his Street Eliminator Chevy. Went a few feet and tyres spun up, shut it off and idled through, 12.4631/107.42. Quick check of the lane, nothing untoward,

Second run of the day for Margot Schmidt on her Super Street Bike. 1.4978 to sixty with a little tyre screech, drifting left towards the eighth but pulled it back gently, 8.8749/148.64.

Next run for Ethan Lisle's Pro ET Comet a 10.1898/132.51.

Alex Hope followed on his Super Street Bike, 1.2244 to sixty then the motor groaned, shut it off, 14.6559/44.05 and stopped on the shutdown area, top end crew radioed that they were going to Alex's aid but then he refired and rode off the track without assistance.

15:10

Next up Knut Möller on his Super Street Bike, again lost fire after the burnout but refired, 1.3123 to sixty ans 8.0899/142.13 again very close to the centre line at the stripe.

Third run of the day for Barry Giles in the Super Pro ET dragster. 1.0771 to sixty, 7.5497/175.61 at the stripe, not pushed left by the sidewind quite so much this time.

Andy Bond followed in the Street Eliminator Chevy, again a clean launch, 1.2498 to sixty, 5.1015/148.19 at the eighth and off the gas, 8.5278/121.84 at the quarter. Apologies that you missed that run on the webcast, didn't hit the mouse button quite firmly enough.

Chevrolet Checkett certainly getting money's worth in the Junior Stock Dragster. 0.3044 RT this time, 12.0703/53.13.

15:00

Second run of the day for Robin Orthodoxou in the Comp Eliminator Altered. Lost fire on the way back from the burnout but restarted. Bad shake at the hit, 1.1437 ro sixty then again a bounce with all four wheels off more than once, something came off the car about 300 feet out, stayed with it, 7.7057/178.52.

Mark Hope followed on his Super Street Bike, 1.2709 to sixty, bike was drifting right and Mark got off the gas before the 330, 15.0860/43.55. The glare from the track is quite serious but I think the bike was wheelying for some of that drift. Dniel Donat Lencses followed on his SSB, 1.2117 to sixty and 7.1461/189.374 at the stripe, sounded to jump out of gear right in the last few feet.

Third run of the day for Andy Dibley in the Magic Rat Super Gasser, 9.8994/146.22. Let's see... the track was 1.54 inches too short for a 9.9000.

Bob Doyle next in the Super Pro ET Datsun, this time Tracey did "Crush a budgie between your palms and clutch your left arm", 0.0553 RT and 8.7269/154.13 at the stripe.

14:50

Second outing today for Scott Hauser in the Bang Tidy Super Pro ET dragster. 0.0938 RT, 1.0622 to sixty, 7.6739/170.40 at the quarter, again the dragster looked unaffected by the sidewind.

Ron Bartlett's second run of the day in the Super Pro ET Anglia was an 8.4047/162.46 again preceded by a great burnout. Ethan Lisle followed in the Pro ET Comet, 10.1477/132.82, I think I can see where the dial-in will be pitched tomorrow.

Next run for Chevrolet Checkett in the Junior Stock Dragster a 12.0801/54.02 with a 0.1157 RT.

David and Simon Fulton then matched up in their Camaro and Falcon respectively, both set for Super Gas. 9.9119/145.23 for David and Simon with a great 0.0056 RT and 10.0024/143.91.

14:40

A quick sled of the track (planned, not as a result Jordan's run) and we were back on. Jaqueline and Lara Bartlett matched up again in their Junior Dragsters. Squeaker -0.0098 RT for Jaqueline, 0.0760 RT for Lara, Lara in the Junior Modified Advanced Dragster with the quicker 8.3604/76.82 to Jaqueline's Junior Modified 9.1090/68.73.

Geoff Cowley followed in the Pro ET Nova, 9.4188/143.82.

Second run of the day for Steve Venables on his Super Street Bike. Tyre spun up a few feet out, 1.3756 to sixty, but a great recovery and 7.3900/205.17 at the quarter.

14:30

Second run of the day for Mark Todd in the Super Pro ET Aston Martin. Tyres squealed, a brief pedal then back on the gas, off the pedal just before the stripe and another tyre squeal at that point, 8.8915/126.24.

14:25

First run of the day for Dave Fulton in his Super Comp/Gas Camaro. 0.1665 RT, 9.1352/148.19 at the stripe.

next run for Chevrolet Checkett in the Junior Stock Dragster, left lane this time. 0.2819 RT, 12.1784/51.79 at the eighth.

Jordan Payne followed in the Comp Eliminator Corvette. 0.1020 RT, 1.1241 to sixty with high-frequency shake marks, off the gas before the eighth, 9.9268/85.02.

14:15

First run of the day for Bob Doyle's Super Pro ET Datsun. Interesting signals to Bob from wife Tracey before going forward to stage, "Crush a budgie between your palms and then fell a tree" it looked like but probably wasn't that. 8.6582/154.14 off the trailer not at all bad.

Andy Bond quickly returned in the Street Eliminator Chevy. Much better launch, sounded to have taken some out, off the gas before the eighth and through the quarter 9.4042/103.03.

Jordan Payne just suiting up for his next run on his Comp Eliminator Corvette.

14:10

Next around the corner Mark Hope on his Super Street Bike. 1.2816 to sixt, brief blackstripe, 7.8809/177.08 at the stripe and crossed lanes just after the quarter. Fellow SSB racer Knut Möller next, 1.3181 to sixty and 7.7523/161.92 very close to the centre line at the stripe.

Margot Schmidt next on her Super Street Bike, motor hesitated off the line then just seemed to lose the rhythm with the gear changes and shut it off, 10.7271/91.04. Second run of the day for Mark Dainty on his SSB a 7.6643/188.13. Alex Hope followed for his second SSB run of the day, 1.3460 to sixty and 7.3068/199.64 at the stripe, bike didn't seem to be too affected by the side wind.

Latest run for Comp Bike 550 a 9.7315/143.47 then 9.4856/142.47.

Ethan Lisle followed in his Pro ET Comet, 0.0106 RT and 10.0860/132.95.

14:00

Second run of the day for Chevrolet Checkett in the Junior Stock Dragster. -0.0360 red, 12.2412/52.82. Lara and Jaqueli nBartlett followed in their Junior Modified Advanced and Junior Modified Dragsters. 0.0260 RT for Lara and 0.0346 for Jaqueline, 8.3367/77.20 and 9.0416/69.61 respectively.

Meggie Talbot next with the first run of the day on her Junior Drag Bike, 10.0420/64.71.

Staying on two wheels, first outing today for Daniel Donat Lencses on his Super Street Bike. 1.2311 to sixty with a little shake, 7.1911/192.96.

Simon Fulton followed in the Super Gas Falcon, second run of the day. 0.0194 RT, 9.9529/144.84.

First run today for Super Pro ET racer Sylvain Nowak in the very rapid Corvette, nice 8.3979/163.65. Mistakenly given a Pro Tree, crew got quite animated about that.

Second outing today for Andy Bond in the Street Eliminator Chevy, 1.2696 sixty, off the gas before the eighth, 9.4476/100.09 at the stripe.

Second outing too for Graham Dance on his Super Street Bike. Motor stopped at the hit. Pushed back behind the start line and refired. 1.3487 to sixty, 7.8277/182.01 at the top end. Erich Gruber followed on his Super Street Bike, 1.3937 to sixty then something came off the bike, possibly a drive belt, shut it off, 10.0704/75.57 at the stripe and stopped on the shutdown area.

13:50

Second run of the day for Andy Dibley in the Magic Rat Super Gasser, Dibley and Spencer popped up during the break and expressed themselves satisfied with the first pass. I think they'll be even happier with that one, 9.9939/144.84.

John Tebenham next up in the Lightning McQueen Pro Mod. 1.0443 to sixty, drove through high-frequency shake which stopped pssoing the Tree. Drifted left towards the eighth 4.1713/180.66, held it but stayed left of centre of the lane, 6.3407/223.45.

13:00

Back to Super Pro ET and the day's first outing for Scott Hauser in the Bang Tidy dragster. Car didn't seem at all affected by the sidewind, straight down the middle of the lane, 1.0735 to sixty and 7.6973/170.40 at the top end.

Dave Thomas next on his Super Street Bike, word on the track radio was just a launch planned. Maltese sixty foot... idled off the line then gently opened up the throttle, 10.3639/171.10.

We are now on lunch break, resuming at 13:30.

12:55

First run of the day for Mark Dainty on his Super Street Bike. 1.4279 to sixty, a red haze from the right side of the bike, 8.0567/182.85.

Geoff Cowley followed for his second run of the day in his Pro ET Nova. 1.3318 to sixty, sounded to be feathering the throttle in the second half, 9.4068/144.34.

Geoff was followed by Ron Bartlett in the Super Pro ET Anglia. The usual great burnout then an even better 0.0071 RT, shut off before the eighth, 10.1664/88.19.

First outing today for Steve Venables on his Super Street Bike. 1.2395 to sixty, very slight drift left, 7.2978/202.36.

Run three for Ethan Lisle in the Pro ET Comet. 1.5291 to sixty, 10.1377/133.23 at the stripe.

12:45

Comp Bike 550 hot-lapping, latest run a 9.6444/142.09.

First run of the day for Simon Fulton in the Super Gas Falcon, 0.0290 RT and 9.8285/144.44 at the stripe. Barry Giles followed immediately on in the Super Pro ET dragster. 1.0685 to sixty, 7.5172/175.68 at the top end getting close to the centre line again.

First run of the day for Mark Todd in the Street Eliminator Aston Martin, running in Super Pro ET this weekend. Tyres up in smoke at the hit, idled through with a couple of squeezes of the throttle, 15.6305/102.30.

Robin Orthodoxou next round the corner in his Comp Eliminator Altered, a big Hello to Chris Orthodoxou who is usually tuned in. Motor popped and stopped on the way round from the pairing lanes which triggered a camera change from Yours Truly, sorry about that. Restarted in moments then the same again, a pop and stopped. Restarted again and made the bleach box. Perfectly good but restrained burnout by Robin's standards. Shake off the line, 1.2695 to sixty, a pedal but the car was bouncing up and down and the motor note was goign with it. Shut off before the eighth and rolled through 14.2428/53.70.

12:30

Always good to see The Daddy Graham Dance out there on his Super Street Bike. Sorry about the near-whoopsie with the webcam as Graham staged, simple finger trouble on Your Reporter's part rather than a mad conspiracy. 1.4949 to sixty with a screech from the tyre, sounded to be taking it easy, 8.7537/164.88. Knut Möller next on his SSB, lost fire after the burnout but quickly restarted. Motr stopped off the line but pushed back for another go. Motor really sounded to be objecting to the restart, a bang in there amongst the starter motor noises. 1.3561 to sixty, hesitation from the motor which continued all the way, shut it off before the thousand as the bike went for the centre line, 10.4983/90.67.

Dirk Peiler followed in his Comp Eliminator Dart, very nice run off the trailer. 1.0903 to sixty driving through a little shake and 7.5781/178.47 at the top end, first chute of the day.

Comp Bike 550 followed, 9.7300/142.04.

12:20

It turned out to be Pro ET racer and recent Eurodragster.com/Bad Habit Racing Perfect Light Award winner Tom Watkins. 0.1915 RT, front end jumped up on launch and looked from here as if the tyres turned a couple of times before the car really moved forward, 9.5153/142.05 at the top end. Fellow Pro ET racer Ethan Lisle followed, 0.1243 RT and 10.0829/133.30.

The mystery bike 550 followed for a second run, in the other lane today's first outing for Super Street Bike racer Erich Gruber. Quite the collection of people on the start line as is usual for SSB. 550 to the stripe in 9.5867/142.97, 8.0557/166.08 for Erich rolling off the throttle right on the stripe as the bike got close to the centre line.

Alex Hope next up on his Super Street Bike, 1.2898 to sixty feet but off the gas at 1000 feet or so as the side wind started to move the bike left, 7.4519/159.70. Mark Hope followed on his Super Street Bike, 1.3001 to sixty then same story, backed out of it before the thousand and through the top end at 8.6219/115.06.

12:10

Arndt Putzmann next up in the Super Comp Beetle. Lost fire coming out of the burnout but restarted, with a bang but restarted which is the main thing. Up on the revs then rolled out of stage and the motor died again. Refired and reversed for another go. 1.3150 to sixty, hesitation on the second gear change, then more hesitation from the motor in the second half, 9.5449/125.94.

Ethan Lisle back in the lanes as well as one of the Watkins clan - from here I can't see which car but I know it's a Watkins from the unmistakable crew guy.

12:00

That was Kev out front so I am guessing Lloyd Perkins in the Comp Eliminator Olds. Brief burnout, quick check below the car before staging, all OK. All the way through on very light throttle, 13.5002/123.18.

Comp Bike 550 next, no name at present but we will find out. Nice run, 0.0581 RT and 9.9190/130.40.

Super Gas racer Andy Dibley snuck round the corner before Jordan Payne. Our good buddy and Honorary Eurodragster.com Staff Member Spencer Tramm, who knows his Super Gas stuff and a fair bit more, in attendance. Rather large red light which we won't mention, OK we won't mention it again. Good baseline run, 10.0012/144.89.

Then it was Jordan Payne's turn in the Sticky Situation Racing Comp Eliminator Corvette. A big Thank You to the Payne family for the cake which Jordan brought up to us first thing this morning, as well as for the commentators' notes which didn't taste quite so good but useful nonetheless. Here we are at a test day and still the team are all in their team attire, how's that for professionalism. 0.0858 RT, tiny bit of shake, 1.1242 to sixty and off the gas before half track. Still 9.7213/86.65 at the top end.

Andy Bond followed in the six-second Street Eliminator Chevy, again a big Thank You to those Eurodragster.com readers who submitted bids for one of the six crew shirts and raised £1126 for Bloodwise. Tyres up in smoke about ten feet out, idled through, 15.9672/79.83.

11:50

Quite a stiff sidewind here, wondered whether it would affect Barry Giles in the Super Pro ET dragster. 0.0781 RT, car drifted a little left at the eighth and was right by the centre line by the stripe, 7.5522/175.01.

Geoff Cowley followed in the Pro ET Nova. 0.1661 RT, feather of hte throttle abotu 100 feet out then was audibly fethering it all the way, still 9.6974/138.21.

A pair of Comp Eliminator cars in the lanes now, Kev Perkins and Jordan Payne.

11:35

First run of the day for Pro ET racer and recent Eurodragster.com News contributor Ethan Lisle, now with added decals for new sponsor Core Sports. Start line safety crew noticed something and held Ethan back from staging, not clear from here what the issue was but both doors open and both crew leaned in and quickly sorted. 0.1840 RT, 10.1440/132.82 at the quarter.

The Giles and Hartley Super Pro ET dragster is in the lanes and Barry Giles is suiting up, stay tuned... oh, and just been joined by Geoff Cowley's Pro ET Nova.

11:15

Next up, one of the few people on the facility to make Your Reporter look tall, Chevrolet Checkett in the very smart Junior Dragster formerly campaigned by Bonnie Wallace, currently set up for Junior Stock. Lifted bodily into the car by dad, must get a picture next time. Bonnie and Saskia Fensome-Jell on hand to assist on the start line. 0.2798 RT and 12.0734/52.40 at the eighth.

11:05

First round the corner Collin Morrice in his Super Gas/Super Pro ET Camaro, question was which configuration? "SP Tree" in shoe white on the rear window so Super Pro it was. 0.0754 RT and 9.0818/144.74 at the stripe.

07:30

Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the Pro Peak Performance Test and Tune Day brought to you in association with John Woolfe Racing.

We had some rain overnight; right now the rain has gone, it's a mix of sun and overcast but quite breezy out there. There are already some dry patches and Ian is in the tractor sweeping the track.

The plan for today is a real-time report of the on-track action throughout the day - keep hitting Refresh - a gallery at the end of the day courtesy of Julian, and the Webster Race Engineering/Nimbus Motorsport webcam which will be on-line broadcasting live video and trackside audio so long as the track is open. We will not start the stream until the track is ready to go, but keep an eye on this report and we will give you plenty of heads-up.

On the subject of the webcast, some viewers have had trouble getting the stream to work on Chrome. This is not our fault, and it is not the fault of our provider Doyousee.me but is down to changes made by Google. If you have problems with Chrome then Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Firefox and mobile device browsers are all happy enough to display the stream.

Before anyone asks, we don't have an entry list for today. SPR are unable to provide us with an entry list citing GDPR, the last thing we want is for them to get into some kind of trouble with data registrars and so on. Speaking personally I enjoy the suspense, part of the pleasure of these Test Days is seeing who is next round the corner.

A big Good Morning to the Eurodragsterholics, with a special wave to Kai Plathan and the faithful Otto in Vehkataipale, Finland, Ivar Kolberg in Norway, today anyway, Benni Voss in Germany, and Bob Roberts here in Blighty. A big Hello also to our Eurodragster.com colleagues Kirstie and Simon and off-track photographer DD (Wakey wakey) all of whom will be here tomorrow. To those 'holics on their day jobs, we will do our best to get the news to you quickly but please don't get yourselves in trouble with management.

Stay tuned and we'll give you another update in about an hour.


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