:
NSRA Hot Rod Drags
Santa Pod Raceway, 18th-20th September 2020

Friday



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16:55

Ray Colclough in a Watts Shop Dart (DM068) alongside a Mk1 Cortina (100) to 9.6214/139.40, the Cortina running 13.172/106.96. Andy Park's last run of the day 9.7712/138.17, well done Andy! Ronnie Mercer's last run of the day to 8.9675/146.77, Ronnie's first ever 8, well done Ronnie! 1.2430 to 60ft, great run. Jim Tanner had a checkout pass in Shindigger, 10.0371/140.35. Alongside him a gold Nova (570) went 9.509/138.98. Dave Simcock (NSS710) Watts Speed Shop Challenger ran 10.0880/132.61, Billy Jones in his Willys Coupe (WW37) ran 11.4169/118.24. Another Watts Speed Shop entry driven by chief Duncan Watts (PRO69) ran 9.9233/141.71. A grey Vauxhall Victor ran alongside Camaro OS59, 9.3156/150.16 to a 15 for the classic Vauxhall - which is for sale. In its final run, the Heavy Chevy (OS48) ran 9.2333/147.64 with slight tyre shake in the first 60ft. Bobby Wright (WB42) improved further to a new PB of 10.3053/136.91, well done Bobby and team! Philip Moules (WW007) with 10.0666/136.03 followed by Frite's last run of the day 10.3135/123.86. Ben Rushforth then staged and ran 9.4156/155.75, best for him, well done Ben! Great run to end the day, we'll post our galleries in a couple of hours' time.

16:30

Bobby Wright in Alturd 23T bucket ran a new PB of 10.6160/138.13, well done Bobby! Beavis Allen to a 10.2246/132.44, best run of the day for him and his third consecutive PB, well done Beavis! Heavy Chevy with 'This one's for u Tommy' on its rear window and runs a 9.3512/148.10. Paul Watts in the pickup (SO51) 8.6782/142.15, great start for them. Stuart Flitton to 11.6080/127.69 in his 100e (ME007). Short pause to clear some particles in the start line area. Luke Hoskins' Outlaw Anglia (OA75) to a 9.5046/141.71 alongside fellow OA competitor (OA75) 9.4562/143.84. Then dream match-up of Ain't no Saint driven today by Lee Johnstone and Frite 11.2350/91.62 to 10.2623/125.95 for Steve Gotz first across the line, new PB for Steve, well done!

16:00

Fantastic looking black Impala coupe, keep an eye out for it in our gallery courtesy of Julian.

The Jumping Jalopeno Falcon gasser (GC61) running a 12.9973/105.18, then the Frite to a 10.4698/123.21, not as quick as earlier but still a good run for Steve Gotz. Graham Barton v Mick Allen in Gasser Circus matchup, 10.9187/118.89 to 12.0120/113.35 for Mick.

15:45

On the restart, Glenn Boardman in the Watts Shop Roadrunner ran 10.8337/119.79. Followed by Steve Heaven, with our Diana as back-up girl, 8.3343/158.04, new PB for Steve, well done Steve and Russ! Then the immaculate Ben Rushforth Outlaw Anglia (OA731) with show quality paint by Dave McCallan to 10.5379/104.06 on its first run, the car having been completely rebuilt. Andy Stones brought out Frantic, his new Topolino altered to an 18 second checkout pass. Kev Whiting then ran his Topolino Tio Top with some front wheel wobble, and off the throttle. Car stranded at 1200ft, retrieval called.

15:40

Whilst clean-up is progressing, Jane Broome of Robin Read's team has reported that after the engine started leaking at around 330ft the "blower case is junk. Looks like a fuel line split and leaned the engine out causing the damage." We wish the team best of luck for the rebuild and to remember their massive achievement in being the first British engined car to run less than 7 seconds and over 200mph.

15:30

In Don Scott v Steve Matthews, a match-up that has been built up over 10 months on social media, Steve off the line first 0.2957 to 0.4213 and Steve after a huge wheelie with 9.6004/136.57 to 12.0145/60.47, Don lifting before the finish line. More banter imminent...Don's Superbird stranded on track so on hold for retrieval and clean-up.

15:00

Stuart Flitton's 100e ran 11.4690/127.00 on its first run. Mitchell Looker with 10.97, Ronnie Mercer with 9.0113/146.76, so close to that eight that he wants. Eurodragster.com sponsor Andy 'Fadster' Hadfield with his second run, male back-up person, 7.6279/178.51, great pass, close to his best official time here of 7.56/177.84. Followed by Simon Boot's first run this year, 10.0218/140.80. Darren Peart with his Mk3 Cortina 9.2778/156.90 against a Buick Slylark running a mid 10. Gary Parkes' second pass in Purple Daze, 8.1536/166.68, 1.1964 60ft, arrow straight and consistent. Dave Mace with 8.1684/161, phenomonal runs for him. Phil Moules down to a 9.8729/137.29 for a new PB, well done Phil! Followed by Alfie Wratten in a Opel Kadett to 9.5166/141.59, nice run Alfie!

14:30

Heavy Chevy v Brian Savidge was 9.1502/146.70 for the Chevy to 10.3307/129.54 for Brian. Drama for Chris Cockburn when he did a perfect 360 in the car's fluid, however the spin happened at low speed at around 60ft after tyre spin, and the car did not impact anything so we hope he will be back later this weekend. The 'shoe' came out to sweep up what hadn't evaporated from the fluid spill. On hold.

14:10

Mark Haswell (ME572) smoked the tyres to a 11.7013/132.07. Robin Read brought his new car out (69) and ran his first ever 200mph in a Daimler powered dragster, 6.7873/200.67! Incredible run, there was what looked like smoke or raw fuel coming out of the engine from half track onwards, incrementals 1.0574 to 60ft and 4.3597/161.77 to half track. Well done Robin and team! No other British engined car has run sub-7 seconds or over 200mph, so a massive achievement.

13:40

Steve Matthews in Honky Tonkin' (GC12) an early runner in the afternoon session at 9.7111/136.16. A few pairs later the ex-Antony Wilkins 'Butchers Shop' Hillman Super Minx Estate, with a new rust patina look, came to the line (HNK735C) and went 12.2156/105.93 alongside Beavis Allen's (PT059) 10.2424/131.67 in the monster Impala. Al Williamson pedaled to a 9.0190/160.26 after wheelspin off the line. Dave Simcock (NSS710) Watts Speed Shop Challenger ran 10.2645/131.06.

Joe Bond brought Nuthin Fancy II to his first pass of the year, a tyre-spinning launch from pre-stage, as the car wouldn't go into stage, and then off the throttle without times. Brian Savidge's dickey seat came open on his run to a 10.4266/128.81. Then Ollie H-Smith in his Couped Up Topolino comp coupe (WB88) and 10.9139/122.20. Mitchell Looker's High Roller Falcon (GC59) went 10.7622/124.20. Geoff Hawksworth's slingshot (SO67) ran 10.286/134.12 in his first run, against Scott Collin's 10.6397/127.95.

12:40

OS59 Camaro ran 9.4309/148.68, sorry no name on this. Keith Freeman on his first run (SO222) with slicks went straight to a 11.3603/82.50 easy run. Chris Cockburn then 13.1362/106.51 to Gary Atkinson's Ford Coupe (WB34) 11.1203/120.33. Mick Payne's Willys Coupe (WW13) to a 9.8420/133.73. Ronnie Mercer a massive PB 9.0110/145.81 so close to the 8s. Ain't No Saint with Lee Johnstone aboard (OG1) went 10.4190/132.45 for a new PB, well done Lee! OA75 went 10.6523/129.05. Graham Barton in the High Anxiety Austin Devon went 11.0638/120.44 on his first run, and Lee Johnstone in the Ain't No Saint Volvo improved his PB further to a 10.3530/133.24. Simon Glenn in his Gasser Circus car to a 13.34/94. We're now on a lunch break with some highlights of Not The European Finals on the live stream.

The Vauxhall Cresta of Dave Mace went 8.0675/164.85, great pass and his first of the event!

12:20

After a clean-up the High Roller of Mitchell Looker (159) went 11.2581/120.58 alongside a rust patina Chevy Nova (03) which went 11.0046/119.16. Troy Bull (1172) went 10.6788/132.60. Graham Scriven's Anglia (CSL367) went 9.9821/134.46. Gary Parke with Purple Daze went 8.2097/166.07, great run from a car which was very consistent at its previoius appearance at VW Breakout. Then 100e OS-58 drew to a halt at the 60ft mark and was pushed back.

NSS340 Barracuda ran a 11.0679/120.59, not entered for the National Finals but planned for 2021 Nostalgia Super Stock?

Al Simms in his pickup (SO6) ran 9.7651/137.36. Matt Hollins Willys ran 11.96 and Glyn Boardman in the Watts Shop entry ran 10.5410/128.68. A very pretty blown rod in brown metalflake (401) went 10.4231/127.58. Darren Peart (SM240) to a 8.9733/156.87.

11:55

Eurodragster.com sponsor Andy Hadfield made his first run of the weekend, 8.5853/111.93 lifting at 1000ft, car looks sorted. The run was a passenger ride for Rachel Nutter, a 40th birthday present from husband Shaun. The Morgan (159) ran a 10.8416/128.32.

11:45

A Chevy C10 (122) ran 12.392/105.68 with a bit of wheelspin off the line. Then a car from the Mopar Muscle Association, a Dart (MMA111) against Dave Shelley's Malibu, no time for the Dart and 11.25/121 for Dave. Brian 'Star' Savidge brought his immaculate '32 Ford (32R) to the line and ran a 10.3140/ 129.55. Then Al Williamson with his Howlin' Hauler Street Eliminator Procharged pickup (SE333) went 8.3357/164.25, looking like a contender for the National Finals, well done Al and team! Mighty Mouse of Ted and Katie Booth on a 10.4084/133.28, Katie drives it in Gasser Circus and Ted in Outlaw Anglia.

Steve Matthews with Honky Tonkin' ran 9.7233/135, going towards the centre line. He will be matched up against Don Scott later today. The 'Frite of Steve Gotz went 11.0189/124.43.

11:30

Ollie H-Smith in Topolino comp coupe (WB88) went into the tens for the first time, 10.8442/119.96, well done Ollie and team! Followed by Ronnie Mercer 9.2002/144.81, a big PB, well done Ronnie! Ronnie has a new water pump on the car which clearly worked.

Next was Ian Fraggle's Rover 105 (R110) (with a 532ci engine) vs Mick Checkett's slingshot (SO77). Mick went straighter to 8.0446/171.10 to the Rover's 10.5564/132.06, well done Mick as it was only his second time in the ex-Alec Coe Shy Talker car! Then Phil Moules for his first nine, 9.9650/135.34, well done Phil!

Steve Mitchell with Snow White 9.3977/140.85, his best yet with the car. Next pair was the Cougar of Pete Grange which went 8.9565/151.06. Billy Jones came out with a Willys Coupe (WW37) went 11.5493/116.86 on his first run.

Beavis Allen's first run in his Impala (PT059) webt 10.2880/131.43 on his first run of the day.

11:10

Brian Watson pushed back on his first run in the Interest Free WB slingshot, in the other lane Dave Day went 10.4171/132.58. Derren Brown (Dez) in his chopped MG Magnette (OS43) went 12.0392/127.26 getting quite squirrelly at half track.

GC61 Falcon went 13.2098/104.48, next was Mark Haswell's 100e (ME572) 11.965/108.59 v OA888 10.6856/127.72, Peter Jones in the OA. Scott Collin improved to 10.5856/129.04. Chris Cockburn in his '41 Willys (WW31) went 13.5249/101.2 on his first run.

Seen out earlier was the Heavy Chevy (OS48) with Barry Grimes on the startline and Dave Caruso driving, aiming to get into the eights. 9.5878/139.96 on his second run, improved to 9.2932/146.26 on this run alongside Don Scott who went 9.8596/138.17.

10:35

The sledding tractor has become immobilised on track with a broken front wheel so there is a pause in the running.

09:35

Philip Moules (WW007) with Willys Wars an early runner, 10.3572/132.97 and 10.0384/135.33. David Shelley's red Malibu (MM65) ran a 11.4282/120.15. Don Scott was on track with the NSS Superbird (NSS43).

Mick Checkett's new blown slingshot (SO77), looks and sounds great, came to the line and made a move to the right. Steve Mitchell in Snow White (012) spun the tyres in both lanes the second run a 11.0506/114.20. Dave Mahoney (OS68), after an easy half pass, did an initial realistic-looking 8.4841/129.93 with an unlikely 0.7252 60ft time. Andy Park (SO33) ran as did Richard Warburton (WW2). Darren Peart's orange Cortine (SM240) was pushed back for a problem.

Modified 100E runner Scott Collin went 11.2750/125.83. A 67 Mercury Cougar, owned By Pete Grange with 557ci big block Ford did a mid-10 checkout pass, the car can run in the 8s. Matthew Hollins Willys (WW52) ran a 12.0260/113.35.

09:25

Good morning and welcome to our John Woolfe Racings-sponsored coverage of the NSRA Hot Rod Drags. The weather is again very pleasant here at Santa Pod Raceway and the temperature 13C (56F) rising to 19C (66F) with wind of 13mph.

You will be able to see the event timetable at Santa Pod's web site. It will be RWYB today from a few minutes' time to 17:00. We'll report the quicker times from cars we can identify. Invited classes will start at 09:30 tomorrow. There will also be a live video stream of all three days at Santa Pod's Youtube channel so enjoy the action.

Welcome to all Eurodragsterholics who are tuned in, particularly to Kai Plathan and Otto in Finland, Bob Roberts and others in the UK and our team members Kirstie and Kieran who are at home. Julian and Diana will be doing photographic duties in the current environment for which numbers are limited. We'll be back when the wheels start rolling.


Reports and pictures ©Eurodragster.com