2007 Open Sport Nationals
Saturday (qualifying)
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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 18:45 Outlaw Flat Four qualifying top five after session 3:
Bernie Newbury improves but stays in #3. Outlaw Anglia qualifying top five after session 3:
Pete Ashworth improves but stays in #2, Rob Stone into the top five at #3 with what looked from here like an early shut off. That's the end of qualifying for today, stay tuned as we are now working on today's pictures. 18:35 Super Modified qualifying top five after session 3:
Tim Garlick into the top five after problems earlier, Craig Gibbs improved but was bumped down a spot by Timmy G. Wild Bunch qualifying top five after session 3:
Roy Wilding into #2, Eurodragster.com News sponsor Ed Yates makes his first appearance in the top five for today at #4. 18:30 Supertwin ET qualifying top five after session 3:
Steve Partridge improved but stayed in #5 spot. Super Street qualifying top five after session 3:
Ian Brown into the top five at #4, Leigh Morris improves for #2 spot and Mark Watkins gets into the 10.9s. The top six qualifiers are in the 10.9s. Super Gas qualifying top five after session 3:
Dave Billadeau took the lead back, PMR teammates Dave Catton and Mick Howling now on identical ETs for #2 and #3! Mike Bentley improved slightly but ends today #5. 18:10 Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association session 2 (left lane first): Bob Glassup 8.725/97.22, Frank Bennett 7.057/191.16, Jim Usher 8.863/94.07, Clayton Round 11.447/71.87, Joe Bond 7.760/169.87 bye, Tony Betts 7.121/152.84, John Wright 11.045/60.80, Neil Townson 11.338/88.85 bye, Pete Radcliffe 14.302/68.42 bye A nice straight run for Frank, Bob pulled a great wheelie off the line but the Xtreme altered was getting closer and closer to the centre line and Bob eventually shut off. A pair of 300-foot burnouts from Clayton and Jim before their match-up, Jim rolled almost to 900 feet before coming back. A big wheelie for Clayton off the line, he stayed with it and the Rebel T hit the 330 foot reflector as Clayton crossed lanes, Jim shut off as Clayton hit the reflector, I'm guessing he saw Clayton coming. A great straight pass for Joe, clean as you like. A classic Fuel altered match-up next, John did a great driving job as Chaos went out of shape and turned hard left, up on two wheels and heading for the left lane at about 400 feet. Tony in the other lane was heading for the centre line at the same time and shut off at about half track. Neil got reverse this time, he explained to us that he has a new clutch and it was dragging the altered forwards after the burnout. The car stepped to the right off the line, Neil pedalled a couple of times the the car kept heading to the right so he got off the throttle and idled through. Pete made what looked like a planned two hundred foot pass. 17:50 Super Pro ET qualifying top five after session 3:
John Everitt took over the lead in this session whilst Ian Tubb moved into #2 spot. Eurodragster.com News sponsor Derek Flynn followed up Super Pro ET with a demonstration pass in his Top Methanol Dragster. Or that was the intention, Derek shut off the Gold RV car after the burnout. 17:35 Funny Bike qualifying after session 3:
Neil Midgley got a time on the board for the third time of asking. Pro Stock Bike qualifying after session 3:
Improvements for Richard Gipp and Ray Debben but they stay in place. Comp Bike qualifying top five after session 3:
17:20 Super Street Bike qualifying top five after session 3:
Ivan Birch got into a big tankslapper off the line and the bike eventually threw him off at about eighty feet. Ivan very sensibly stayed on the deck whilst the paramedics checked him out. Ivan then got himself to his feet and got into the ambulance for the routine checkout at the medical centre. Word is that Ivan is OK. A nice pass for Graham Dance, 8.133 which we think is his best on his new set-up. Rich Stubbins moved back into the top five at #4. The top seven qualifiers are in the sevens. A very Happy Birthday to Gemma Venables who is fifteen today. Trackside conditions are 25.9 C, 56% humidity and 30.18 inches of air, track temperature is 97.1 F. 17:05 Real Steel Street Eliminator qualifying top five after session 3:
A tiny improvement for Alex McIntosh but enough to move him up a place to #4 at that point. Same story with Splinter, a small improvement but he stays in place. Pro ET qualifying top five after session 3:
Congratulations to Rich Davis who took the Eurodragster.com / Speedflow Perfect Light Award with a 0.000 reaction in this session. Rick McCann moved into the top five at #3. 16:40 Top Fuel Bike session 2 (left lane first): Steve Woollatt 7.710/123.00, Steve Carey 8.053/146.41 Steve Woollatt lost a belt at half track, Steve Carey got off the throttle after heading for the guardrail. Qualifying after this session:
16:35 Supertwin Fuel qualifying after session 2:
Wendy Clutterbuck now in the ladder after shutting off in session 1, straight into #2 spot. Super Comp qualifying top five after session 2:
The Netherlands' Wilco Sijm put in his first pass of the day and went into #1 spot at that point. A couple of pairings later Tethys and Chris Isaacs went side-by-side into #2 and #3 respectively. 16:20 Outlaw Anglia qualifying top five after session 2:
Side-by-side improvements for Pete Ashworth and Steve Wells. Same story for Paul Wright and Richard Colby, Richard up into third and Paul staying #1. In the last but one pair Dean White moved into the top five at #5. Supertwin Gas qualifying after session 2:
Side-by-side improvements for Les Harris and Chris Stebbings and they stayed in #1 and #2 respectively. 16:00 Wild Bunch qualifying top five after session 2:
An improvement for Neil Ward and Chris Hartnell into the top five. Outlaw Flat Four qualifying top five after session 2:
Bernie Newbury and Paul Bate into the top five, Pete Englezos improves but ends this session in fifth. 15:45 Super Gas qualifying top five after session 2:
The field is starting to close up now, Conrad Stanley takes over the lead. Paul Marston Racing teammates Mick Howling and Dave Catton now in #3 and #4 respectively and Mike Bentley into the top five at #5. The top seven qualifiers are in the 9.9s. Super Modified qualifying top five after session 2:
A big improvement for Andy Kirk, into #1 spot whilst Craig Gibbs is straight into the top five with his first run of the day. 15:40 Supertwin ET qualifying top five after session 2:
David Shorthouse holds on to the lead whilst John O'Sullivan and Dave Jones leapfrog John Hackney and Steve Partridge moves into the top five. Super Street qualifying top five after session 2:
Neil Grant's earlier pass still good for #1 spot, whilst Martyn Sanger improves for #2, Lee Morris goes right side of the index and Bob Lees and Mark Watkins come into the top five. 15:10 Super Pro ET qualifying top five after session 2:
Steve Neimantas took over the lead and Rick Cooke came in to the top five at #4. 14:55 Pro Stock Bike qualifying after session 2:
Dave Beck into #1 spot with his first run of the day. Comp Bike qualifying top five after session 2:
An improvement for Nick Holland moved him up the standings, even with a fishtail at half track. A nice pass for Conrad Skett to open his account for the weekend, into #2 at that point with more left since the bike hesitated a moment off the line. A big improvement for Roland Chaplain. Trackside conditions are 24.9 C, 57% humidity and 30.21 inches of air, track temperature is 100.1 F. 14:35 Funny Bike qualifying after session 2:
Steve French in at #1 and improvements for Tim Blakemore and Stu Chamberlain. Neil Midgley hit shake off the line and rolled to a halt at about 500 feet, the bike's transmission had locked up solid so Midgo had to be rescued from the track. Ken Cooper into the ladder after being stopped from running in session 1. 14:25 Pro ET qualifying top five after session 2:
And there we go, another almost unrecognisable top five from session 1 as Paul Baynton takes over the lead and Tig Napier, Mike Lacey and John Atkinson leapfrog Charlie Chivers. Super Street Bike qualifying top five after session 2:
Ven took over the lead in the first pairing. Next up was Richard Stubbins who improved but stayed in #4 spot at that point. Scott Baldwin came into the top five at #5 only to be bumped down by Mark Watkins who took over #1 spot in the next pairing. A great side-by-side for Jamie and Dave put them into #2 and #4 spot respectively. The top six qualifiers are in the sevens. 14:10 Real Steel Street Eliminator qualifying top five after session 2:
How about that for Colin Lazenby, his first pass since the rebuild after crashing at the Bug Jam and he takes #1 spot, well done Colin! Impovements all round here and a reconstituted top five. Trackside conditions are 24.5 C, 56% humidity and 30.21 inches of air, track temperature is 98.1 F. 14:00 9.50 Bike qualifying top five after session 2:
Wholesale changes to the top five as Greg Skett, Andy Haley and Andy Burfitt overtake Jason Macan and Dave Burfitt comes in to the top five. The top seven qualifiers are now in the 9.5s. 13:55 Sportsman ET qualifying top five after session 2:
Harrison Brown took over the lead and Kev Long moved into the top five at #3. An improvement for Ian Petrie but he stays in #2. VW Sportsman qualifying top five after session 2:
Graham Fairhead took over the lead, whilst Mark Malone moved into the top five at #4. Dan Smith got the right side of his dial-on but stayed in #5. 13:40 Junior Drag Bike qualifying after session 2:
Improvements for Scott, Giselle and Tyler but no changes in position. Jordan in at #4 with his first run of the day. Junior Dragster qualifying top five after session 2:
Rosie Hunt came into the top five at #5 only to be bumped down a place by Zak Johnson in the next pairing. Next up was Ross Norris and he moved into #2 spot with another 0.002. 13:30 Top Fuel Bike session 1 (left lane first): Steve Woollatt 6.702/211.85 bye, Steve Carey 7.011/193.57 bye, Ian Turburville 7.515/163.76 bye A nice pass for Steve W, the engine note was up and down in the middle third of the track as if the bike was bouncing up and down and there was some blackstriping in his lane. The customary fishtailing run for Steve C but he stayed with it and put down a good baseline. A nice pass too for Turbo, backing off the throttle towards the top end. Qualifying after this session:
13:20 Super Comp qualifying top five after session 1:
A good showing for Spencer Tramm on his first outing in Super Comp. 13:10 Supertwin Gas qualifying after session 1:
Supertwin Fuel qualifying after session 1:
13:00 Outlaw Flat Four qualifying top five after session 1:
A tremendous pass from Richie Webb and we think a new PB, well done Richie! Outlaw Anglia qualifying top five after session 1:
12:35 Wild Bunch qualifying top five after session 1:
We got our first look at Phil Sweeney's new Bone Idle altered and a very nice-looking piece it is. And it goes, too, 8.628 on a 9.80 dial-in! 12:30 Super Gas qualifying top five after session 1:
12:25 Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association session 1 (left lane first): Jim Usher 7.360/150.90, Tony Betts 8.930/90.00, Joe Bond 33.627/13.77, Bob Glassup 7.166/185.69, Clayton Round 7.194/190.73, Frank Bennett 7.024/193.93, Pete Radcliffe 13.350/76.25 bye, John Wright 7.875/115.94 bye, Neil Townson no time bye A good baseline pass for Jim, Tony stayed with it as long as he dared as the altered started to go out of shape and eventually got off the throttle as the car started to fishtail. There was a puff of smoke from The Mob on the finish line but nothing untoward found on the track. A superb controlled 100 foot wheelie for Bob Glassup and a tremendous pass, Joe was off the throttle at the Tree and the altered rolled to a halt just past the finish line. A great match-up between Clayton and Frank, Clayton driving through shake and the cars side-by-side all the way. Pete didn't get the tyres to light up on the burnout and the car sounded to be labouring a little to sixty feet and then Pete was off the throttle by about 200 feet, we are guessing a checkout pass. A nice burnout for John and then staged off his tracks, some shake and a pedal at about 250 feet and then off the throttle at half track. Great to see Neil Townson back and the car is absolutely immaculate, beautifully turned out and gleaming in the sunshine. A couple of attempts to start and then a nice crabbing burnout but no reverse and Neil drove down the track. 11:55 Super Modified qualifying after session 1:
Trackside conditions are 23.5 C, 65% humidity and 30.27 inches of air, track temperature is 90 F. 11:35 Super Street qualifying top five after session 1:
11:30 Supertwin ET qualifying top five after session 1:
11:20 Super Pro ET qualifying top five after session 1:
Trackside conditions are 22.4 C, 66% humidity and 30.27 inches of air, track temperature on the start line is 86.1 F. 11:05 Comp Bike qualifying top five after session 1:
Trackside conditions are 22.1 C, 67% humidity and 30.27 inches of air, track temperature is 79.7 F. 10:40 Pro Stock Bike qualifying after session 1:
Funny Bike qualifying after session 1:
10:30 Super Street Bike qualifying top five after session 1:
For readers of 200mph, it's not a mirage, I just saw Brad O'Connor on a race bike! Brad's first run was an 8.752/173.34. 10:25 Pro ET qualifying top five after session 1:
10:10 Real Steel Street Eliminator qualifying top five after session 1:
Steve Nash was allowed to run out of session and took over number one spot. Trackside conditions are 21.4 C, 70% humidity and 30.27 inches of air, track temperature is 80.5 F. 10:05 VW Sportsman qualifying top five after session 1:
10:00 Sportsman ET qualifying top five after session 1:
9.50 Bike qualifying top five after session 1:
9:45 Junior Drag Bike qualifying after session 1:
Junior Dragster qualifying top five after session 1:
8:40 Good morning and welcome from Shakespeare County Raceway. It's day one of the Open Sport Nationals and we're here to bring you all the news in association with American Car Imports. The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is on-line and is broadcasting a picture every sixty seconds. It's a glorious morning here, hardly a cloud in the sky. Trackside conditions (in the shade) are 19.8 C, 71% humidity and 30.27 inches of air. The track is looking just great and we're all set for the start of qualifying at 9:30. As things stand we won't be posting any pit notes this weekend as Simon has to miss this event for family reasons. Our best wishes to you Simon. Stay tuned and as soon as the wheels start to turn we'll be back with all the news. Reports and pictures ©Eurodragster.com |