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17:30

Leigh Morris 12.1025/113.48 v Jess Bishop 9.1410/153.14, Jess doing very well in handling her new dragster. Barry Giles 7.468/177.81 v Kieran Astley 8.608/165.41. Lola-Belle Kent pushed back v Chevy Checkett 9.1799/70.93, Max Taylor pushed back against Emily Crundwell 10.5400/55.48 (all Junior Dragsters), Alia Lester 13.2415/42.89 (JDB), Ian Crichlow 8.4627/161.89 v Rick Sawatzki 9.5161/122.17, Michael Gooding 9.1441/151.55, Patrick Rawnsley restaged after engine cut out to 9.2379/146.65 with a wheelie at 330ft, nicely controlled.

Simon Swarbrick in his black Outlaw Anglia 11.4738/112.22, Marc Huxley in the Corolla 9.8674/133.64 v Mason Griffiths 9.1591/142.97 in his dragster, Adrian Portelli in the Gen 1 Charger 10.8547/122.38 v Simon Rickwood's Pro ET 9.7255/133.72. Nick Mugridge 10.293/129.78 v Ashleigh Clark 18.2461/68.45. Final run of the day, Luke Mugridge 8.5061/77.60.

That's the end of our live report from today, thanks for tuning in. Our galleries will be posted later this evening.

17:15

Darren Huxley in his Sportsman ET Nissan 12.6178/115.79 v Terry Newton's Escort van 9.2894/153.65 which shed a small part and weaved up the track, but he was not getting off the throttle for anything! Anouk Burgering 13.6047/47.44 v Leah Morrison 11.6792/53.28 (JDBs), Jaxon King 24.7637/24.94 v Brad Morrison 15.4655/40.48 (JDBs), Mackenzie Love 8.1332/80.21 (JD); John Mcgill 11.7755/125.48 on his Yamaha ET Bike.

Jonny Hines (8.50 Bike) 9.2045/161.89 v Mark Dainty (CB) 11.9987/70.94, Dan De'ath (8.50 Bike) 8.3462/165.62.

Alan Morrison (SSB) 8.7888/112.07 after lifting half track, then Ryan Davies on the ex Phil Crossley FB 9.9628/139.91, impressive first run. Jake Boden (ETB) 11.9313/103.83, Gary Lake (SPET) 14.2209 94.09 v Debbie Taylor 13.8289/96.04, Andy Bond and Ricky Hale in a tyre spinning duel 9.3852/162.49 v 11.0363/130.62 not the quickest by either but highly entertaining.

Pete Dodd's Camaro 9.1658/147.10 v Bill Wilson 12.6969/101.16.

17:00

Chris Neary (CB) 8.3036/141.58 v Daniel Lencses (SSB) 7.4992/185.05, Rob Stanley 9.4670/140.82 as Ian Crichlow was pushed back, Carl Hester 11.7124/120.88. Anna Sasiak on her new Comp Bike ran her first eight 8.9472/159.65, well done Anna! Jay Roe ran 8.4341/136.58 on his 8.50 bike. Jago Stokes in his Nissan Skyline 13.3972/107.77 v Caitlin Wilson 17.1888/74.68. Chris Todd suffering a misfire after launch to 13.2468/62.3, then Ronnie Mercer in Annie 10.652/124.41. Harley-Jay Darby's second pass a slightly squirrelly 12.1941/64.70 but well controlled following wheel spin. Simon Innes 10.7631/121.09 v John Bean who got close to the centre line for 9.6937/138.60.

Dan Page ran 9.8315/153.10 in the No Hair SG Camaro as Paul Hudson lost fire and was pushed back in his SC dragster.

16:45

Ashleigh Clark (SPET Golf) 18.5828/66.42 v Mark Coulsell with a great, drifting, burnout and pedaling to 8.7945/160.16. Then Steve Mellors pulled over v Simon Rickwood 9.7664/132.90 in his Pro ET Nova. Richard Tunstall (SC) 8.8746/145.32, Will Clark (Pro ET dragster) 9.7498/135.61 v Jack Brewster (Super Pro Firebird) 9.1342/123.16, pedalling after the launch. Allan Schofield in the repainted Scud altered pushed back without reverse having engaged following his burnout 12.0959/65.74 v Steve Saunders 14.8372/46.15, both lifting after the launch, Steve's a 1.1677 60ft.

Rick Sawatzki ran a 9.4747/129.15 on his 9.50 Bike, then Jake Boden 11.8852/104.73. Lara Bartlett 8.0816/80.50 v Jacqueline Bartlett 8.0871/79.38 with Jacqueline first across the line. Alia Lester 13.3035/42.85 on her JDB. Brad Head 8.8235/135.27 on the JKE Race Works supported machine. Michael Gooding 19.31/56.24 v Justin Malton 10.1935/126.98.

16:30

Another JDB match, Anouk Burgering 13.2179/50.01 v Brad Morrison 15.1971/41.90. Pause for glueing the track. Andy Bond next out in Ugly Sister, spun the tyres on launch and then 11.2015/101.64 to the finishing line. Then Stuart Morrice 10.0533/147.13 and Kieran Turner in his Super Gas Chevrolet S10, left before clocks ran and then smoke or liquid out of the car in the shut down area. Pause for sledding the shut down area.

16:15

Marc Huxley 9.8508/134.49, some engine work on the Corolla we suspect, Adrian Portello 10.8485/122.71 in his Gen 1 Charger. Paul Adams new to 8.50 Bike 12.8538/133.23 after getting a box of neutrals on the way. Alan Morrison's debut SSB run on the ex Steve Howe machine, 1.3423 60ft and then lifted to 22s, we suspect it got his attention in a good way.

Maarten Zijlstra's second attempt on his Funny Bike resulted in a hop, skip and jump and a close inspection of the left wall, then some smoke from the engine in the shutdown area after clocking 14.6521/49.74, we hope all is ok with the engine.

First run for Emmy Crundwell in her Violet Haze Junior Dragster, 9.935/60.29. Then Jack Taylor in Black Magic Junior, 8.2658/72.25. Leah Morrison 11.6346/53.83 v Jaxon King 14.8424/49.65 on Junior Drag Bikes.

16:00

Caitlin Wilson 17.1154/75.02 in her Beetle, then Barry Giles in the Giles & Hartley dragster 7.4892/176.29, straight down the track and not missing a beat. Mark Dainty spun the tyre on his Comp Bike and shut off to 27.152/21.90. Anouk Burgeing 12.8902/50.30 v Alia Lester 13.2295/42.81 on their JDBs.

After a pause for track grooming, Teddy Howe 17.7212/38.93 v Lola-Belle Kent 9.127/69.19 in Junior Dragsters, Teddy the sole Junior Stock here this weekend in a class of 30. Patrick Rawnsley (8.50 Bike) 9.6352/143.01, feathering the throttle. John Mcgill on his ETB YamahaVmax 7.8931/93.70 to the eighth, unusual engine note. Leigh Morris in his Pro ET Jaguar 12.1691/113.20 vs Debbie Taylor 14.7631/96.01 in a Mustang.

Stevie Gates in his Hayling Island Duster 9.4840/139.82 to Brett Featherstone 9.5044/136.55, then more Pro ET with Mason Griffiths 9.2376/143.38 to Dan Holloway 10.0468/94.22 early shut off for Dan with a new engine. Simon Swarbrick in his black Outlaw Anglia popped a wheelie to 11.9886/115.52 to Gary Lake's 14.2161/94.23.

15:45

Bill Wilson's Ford F100 15.8731/84.89 v John Bean 9.6575/142.51 in a Pro ET matchup, Bill familiarising himself in his first event. Margot Schmidt (SSB) spun her tyre to 10.2325/109.09 v Rick Sawatzki 9.4471/145.77 on his 9.50 Bike. Maarten Zijlstra's engine cut out before staging and his yellow Funny Bike (ex Eric Richard?) was pushed back. Carl Hester 11.4707/122.08 (ETB), Jake Boden 11.8791/106.77 (ETB).

Ellie May Brown in her Junior Dragster went 8.5767/76.57, Jaxon King 13.8097/52.34 v Leah Morrison 11.5212/54.83 on JDBs. Then 8.50 matcup Jay Roe 8.3197/161.32 v Dan De'ath first 8.2573/169.16 with the better 0.03 light. Gary Hester 8.7475/150.07 (ETB), then Ian Chrichlow 8..4881/159.05 to Rob Stanley's 10.3541/138.66. Lee Huxley 8.873/143.39 to Andy Bond's 12.9086/92.15, Lee's car accelerating smoothly as he is in Super Pro now; then brother Darren Huxley 12.8022/108.04 in his Pro ET Nissan. Jago Stokes first run in his SPET Nissan Skyline 13.431/108.29.

15:30

Nick Mugridge's re-liveried Junior Comp dragster 10.326/130.13 v Warren Watts 9.1225/149.08, then Jaxon King to another licensing pass 14.5769/49.58 on his JDB. Jacqueline Bartlett 8.2309/72.37 v Chevy Checkett 9.0415/71.14 in their Junior Dragsters, then Anouk Burgeing 12.7850/50.52 v Alia Lester 13.2952/43.14 on JDBs, better for Anouk.

Mackenzie Love with new livery on his JD ran 8.0737/80.80, then Lara Bartlett ran 8.1456/80.50 in her Slick Tricks car, the brand also being a lane sponsor at this event. Will Clark's Junior Comp Pro ET dragster hesitated vs Kieran Astley's LS Super Pro Car which went 8.1475/174.95, we believe a new PB, well done Kieran!

Perfect ET sponsor Andy Hadfield in Twister then ran a great 7.4302/184.28, new PBs, well done to Fadster, Purdie and team!

Steve Mellors 15.5457/85.21, then pause for track grooming.

15:15

Caitlin Wilson 17.770/73.44 v Debbie Taylor 13.286/100.27 (SPET), Steve Mellors 15.765/84.26 v Simon Innes 10.7658/120.85. Then also in SPET the new Jaguar XK8 of Liam Sturman, which was pushed back following a small leak. Harley-Jay Darby's first run in Lee's Chevrolet 3100 pickup, a confident 1.64 launch and clicked to 18.217/39.35. Anouk Burgering 20.1217/29.56 v newcomer Alia Lester 13.2917/42.97 on Junior Drag Bikes.

Patrick Rawnsley 9.734/144.77 v Daniel Donat Lencses who spun the tyre off the line to 15.2863/57.17, then Rick Sawatzki 9.5539/144.83 in 9.50 Bike, great start to the 2022 champion's racing year. John McGill's first ETB run 13.903/97.97, then Mike Olie's Funny Bike to a great 7.4511/180.70.

Jess Bishop in her Pro ET dragster ran 9.2137/153.61, great start for her. Gary Lake's Sportsman ET Trans Am 14.2394/94.27. Ricky Hale in the Chevrolet c30 twin cab (SE) ran 11.8288/127.95, then an Outlaw Anglia (582) 12.267/113.47, followed by Ronnie Mercer's Pop 10.7427/123.42.

15:00

Anna Sasiak on a 12.1385/110.05, feathering the throttle down the track after a 1.81s 60ft. Luke Mugridge 8.5791/76.41 and McKenzie Love 8.2143/80.22 in their Junior Dragsters followed. Then first time down the track for a while for Stuart Morrice with Collin watching, Super Gas trim to 9.9659/150.12. Dan Page in the No Hair Camaro ran a 9.6831/154.22 in Super Gas mode.

Ian Chrichlow 8.5847/159.04 vs Rob Stanley 19.1361/71.85 on their 8.50 and 9.50 Bikes, then Carl Hester 12.1936/115.78 and Scott Collier 9.6388/135.33 on their ET Bikes, good to see Scott here after their race van broke down on the way to the track. Justin Malton 10.2619/128.29 v Jake Boden 11.9723/106.15, then Chris Neary 9.0356/172.40 (Comp Bike) vs Jay Roe 8.2235/160.76 (8.50 bike). Michael Gooding stalled off the line and on the restart went 9.8099/154.14 on Anna Sasiak's former machine.

14:45

First on track Steve Mellors in the newly supercharged Hulk MX5 and Caitlin Wilson with the Havoc Beetle, 0.085 light for Caitlin and 17.6825/73.23 to Steve's 17.0286/84.41.

Followed by Dan De'ath, great first pass without problems to 8.4018/169.17 and 0.0778 light. Then the Junior Dragsters of Ellie Fagg (white with black flames) 8.5645/76.67 and Max Taylor 10.1539/62.86. Junior dragsters Finley Fagg who stopped just short of 330ft and Chevy Checkett 9.0041/71.27 next.

Junior drag bike racer Jaxon King did a licensing pass to 20.4303/27.55, nice and straight too.

14:30

The track has been dried and glued, so we are unofficially looking at a start within 15 minutes.

13:35

It started raining again and track drying operations have recommenced.

12:20

Drying is proceeding well, with just the shut down area receiving attention now. Marshals have brought out the startline brooms and mops, surely a sign that a start is getting ever nearer. Stay tuned.

11:00

Good morning and welcome to Santa Pod Raceway for the testing day prior to the 2023 STP Springspeed Nationals. We had quite a bit of rain earlier, however rain has now stopped and the tractors and sweepers are clearing the track. Temperature wise we are currently at 10C with a high of 11C expected.

The testing day was a sell-out so we are expecting some action on track once it is dry. We will report times from testing and try to get a few snippets from racers as well. In the meantime, have a look at our preview to see what's new for the event.