Pro ET racer Ian Brown, pictured with wife Ozzie and grandchildren Oliver and Felix, had problems with the starter motor on the Thatadoo Camaro. "The starter motor was playing up and it took some teeth off the flywheel and flexplate. Thanks to Andy Gosling of Ramraider for helping us fit the parts." The car is for sale to finance Ian's project, a Super Pro '67 Camaro. "we have a rolling chassis and some engine parts so we are doing a reduced season, just attending the May and August meetings here."

Super Modified racer Tim Mugridge was delighted that the car is again running to its potential. "We have had clutch and head gasket problems and needing to reset the MSD ignition unit. We then ran 60ft times of 1.109 and 1.108 and ran in the 7.58/7.60 area back to back. We have found the sweet spot with the clutch, know where we are and will try to adjust for the track. Last year the car burnt the clutch up and when we put in new discs and floaters it was gripping high spots on the flywheel and slipping. We hope we have solved that and any clutch slippage is controlled."

Pro ET racer Liz Malcolm has had trouble breaking out. Husband Iain from Super Street sponsors Apsley Transmissions said "When we dialled in a lower time this weekend we always ran quicker. But at least the car is running consistently. The sump has a heating element which Liz and Iain have found necessary to get the oil flowing in the methanol-fuelled engine. Between rounds maintenance includes removing rocker covers to check the valvetrain and changing oil.

Outlaw Flat Four racer Joe Gallagher with teammate Simon Cook has had multiple problems this weekend. Joe said "We had clutch problems and didn't race yesterday. We sorted those this morning and then had running problems. When we solved them we had gearbox problems. The nose came loose on the first run and on the second run I missed second gearbut still beat Bernie. This is the car's fourth season in competition. It was built by Paintbox with Bernard Newbury interior, Cogbox gearbox and engine by Machine Services." The Outlaw Flat Fours will be running at Gary's Picnic, five MSA meetings, Hot Rod Drags, the Nostalgia Nationals and there is talk of running in Spain at Bugspain.com at Alcañiz.

Wild Bunch competitor and Eurodragster.com sponsor Ed Yates is qualified no.1 for the second meeting in a row with a 9.335 on a 9.33 dial-in. "The car is running well and doing consistent times. We will be running Pro ET at the Main Event. Between races all we do is change oil and refuel. The engine runs on methanol and the block retains heat well so once we warm it up in the morning. We couldn't do this without DS racewear."

Super Street Bike racer Graham Dance has suffered his first DNQ in twenty one years. "We tried to run by changing the fuel system round but in the end we were getting desperate. There is a short field this weekend and with only ten bikes running there will be an eight bike field. There are plenty of other Super Street Bike racers out there so why keep a £20,000 machine in your garage when there is good weather forecast, a good track and the chance to do six passes with so few rounds in the championship. I'm not going to go turbo route and I am looking for settings that will work with this bike. Sometimes what you get on the dyno and on the track don't match." G's adherence to the no-turbo nitrous combination is inscribed on the bike's fairing.

9.50 Bike racer and no.2 qualifier Jemma Venables aged 16 has come a long way after her initial runs at the Test & Tune here. "I have never ridden the bike on the road. It was quite scary to begin with and nervous. You need a driving license to race at SPR and I learnt here and got down to a 10.0. Then at this event I went from no.17 to no. 1 at that stage with a 9.5. I have got more used to the launch with the clutch and was more aggresive off the line which helped. This is a learning year." Dad Steve Venables built the bike with a stock engine and a low and long profile that makes it difficult to wheelie it. "The only problem has been a burnt foot on the exhaust". Steve and wife Jo are pictured with Jemma.

Super Street Bike no.1 qualifier Steve Venables is in touch with Barry Henson of sponsor Velocity Racing. This remote assistance is not just by phone. Barry has access to and control of Steve's laptop here via a program called Team Viewer thanks to a wireless 3G internet connection and from there using Magneti Marelli Vision Barry can change settings on Ven's ECU - from over three thousand miles away! Steve said "We are trying to progress the technology and the latest innovation I am trying is setting up a two step launch control. We have a new clutch and ran a 1.27 60ft time."

NFAA racer Bob Glassup had a brush with the wall with the Xtreme Racing Topolino. "I possibly staged out of the groove and at the wrong angle. We launched in second gear but as it left it was at the wrong angle and next thing my rear wheels had hit the guardrail. I thought I could correct it by getting out of it and then nailing it but when I hit the throttle it just snapped back and went into the wall a second time. The only damage we have found is red paint from the guardrail on the tyres." Pictured are team members Leah and Sarah cleaning the paint from the rear tyres.

NFAA racer Tony Betts said "The car did a 1.0 sixty foot time and looked to really be on one. But then the clutch didn't lock up as it should and the blower belt went. The fuel kept pumping in and next thing the engine hydrauliced. The damage was extensive: cracked block, eight rods broken, broken crank. There was also a fire which burnt the Lenco blanket, diaper and blower bag which I could see as the car was slowing. I am still hoping to get to the Main Event with the help of my sponsors."

B&H Automotive/LA Racing Parts Street Eliminator racer Colin Lazenby said that being without several of the heavy hitters this weekend, he has an opportunity to test some changes to the setup. "We ran an 8.5 to start with and on the second qualifier stepped up to an 8.2. We had changed the four link and the shock settings which helped. Then we changed the nitrous system to starting on the first stage and then going to the second stage, rather than starting on the second stage. This moved us backward rather than forward as we ran an 8.9 in the third session. While we might have a margin on the field, we can't be complacent." We saw fellow SE racer Mark Todd on his trailer as we drove towards the track and understand he is out with cylinder head damage.

Super Pro ET racer Mark Flavell is running bests with his Saab Funny Car this weekend including a 7.049/190.64 this morning. On the second run yesterday the fire extinguishers deployed leaving the crew with a big cleanup job. "The second run was a checkout as some oil had come out of the transmission. Then in the shut down area there was an 'organic error' when I went to put the trans into park and pulled the wrong lever and the bottles emptied out. It's our first weekend without our crew chief Craig Owens for about twenty years and he's been on the phone several times."

Super Modified racer Nigel Payne was delighted with a new class speed record of 182.91. "We've been chasing it all year and knew the car had it in it. Every pass we have done this year is above 180mph but we have been struggling to get the car off the line and we have been adjusting the four link and shocks over the last three meetings. On our second pass yesterday some fluid on the track caused the car to go off-line and it hit the foam block at the top and it also hit a bird, which the aerodynamics sent over the top of the car. Conditions are more normal today. The normally aspirated car does not need as much between rounds maintenance as nitrous Super Mods, just checking the valve lash and changing the oil and checking tyre pressures. As it is automatic there is no clutch adjustment necessary."

Super Pro ET racer Ashley Bell is in second place after four qualifying session. "It's surprising because I had transbrake problems on the line earlier; I pressed the button but when I put the foot on the throttle it released and I got no time. We fixed the problem, thanks to my team Martin, and Ian who is standing in for my usual crew this meeting." Ashley's firm Guylirn Building Services (01945 450313) is on the side of the car. "I do small extensions and alterations and specialise in sand and lime mortar. Thanks to Mr de Luca from Pembrokeshire for keeping me busy."

Top Fuel Bike Rene van den Berg has sorted the bike and is a regular attender of events in spite of a four hour road journey on top of the eight hour ferry from Holland. "The team arrived on Wednesday to meer and make a plan for the race. There are three Brits on the team, Craig Boulton, John Hunt and Tony Harbour. I also have tuning advice from Jan Smit at Power Parts in Holland. We are working on getting the best setup for each track we run at by tuning the clutch and fuel system. The last two runs we had too much fuel and are leaning it out. On the first round we ran a 6.9 lifting at 1000ft and on the third another 6.9 going the full quarter so we have to make adjustments." The risers on the handlebar have been brought back 15cm and the seat brought forward 15cm to help Rene's position on the bike. Rene's crew includes Craig Boulton, John Hunt and Tony Harbour. The team will be contesting the UEM tour including the Hungary round. Support comes from Eurol who also support daughter Ivana's Junior Dragster and supply methanol fuel and oil to the team.

Top Fuel Bike racer Ian Turburville suffered a torched cylinder head on his third pass the distortion of which you can just see in this shot. He said "The front cylinder went out with too much fuel and overloaded the rear cylinder causing the flash of flame. I could feel the heat coming through my helmet so I knew it had a problem", he said. "I have a spare engine at home and will rebuild for the Main Event."

Outlaw Anglia racer Simon Barlow have been running personal bests of 9.3 without nitrous. "We took weight off the car and put new springs on over winter", he said. "We want to get as much out of the engine as possible before we put our nitrous kit on it. The team has done all the work on the car apart from the chassis which Jon Webster has worked on." The engine is a Scott Shafiroff item which is the team's third and best power plant. The team which will be running Outlaw Anglia only this season include up to five members. "We are looking at a wide open championship run with recent top runners Paul Wright and Rob Stone running reduced schedules and the cars here running close ETs."

Comp Bike racer Bob Brooks' machine is "the bike equivalent of a Top Methanol car". The bike is almost wholly self-built and the only main engine part purchased is the Puma crankcase. "I even had the cylinder head cast from a pattern," he said. Bob is joined by brother and crew chief Stig (Nigel), Tony Bye and nephew Chris Brooks. "We have done eleven runs on the bike and it is way off the pace. We ran an 8.4 and are looking for sixes eventually. The engine had a split head and we put in a different fuel system over the winter. I am still learning to ride it." Bob has been in the sport since 1983 and has only raced in Comp Bike, longer than anyone else. "For this event we worked 18-20 hours a day to get the bike ready and then on the first run the engine blew the crank seals out."

Super Gas racer Richard Davies has a very clean Willys Coupe. "I started racing it in Sportsman ET with a 355cu in small block in a tube chassis. Then I took the fibreglass body off and replaced it with a '32 Ford Roadster and ran Pro ET for three years. Jon Webster built a tube chassis for the Willys body and I bought a blown small block engine from Ian Hanson's old altered running Pro ET for another two years. This year I have changed to Super Gas without a throttle stop and after 9.8s last year can only run 10.0s. The boost on the 6/71 blower needs to be higher but I'm not sure the bottom end of the engine can take it." Richard's gearbox is a two speed Powerglide and fuel goes through twin Holley 750cfm double pumpers before reaching the blower.

Super Gas racer Stuart Doignie the Eurodragster.com/Gold RV Perfect ET Award, the second time the family have won an award with father Bob having won the Perfect Light award in a previous year. Stuart said "We are happy with the car after taking a year out in 2008 when my wife and I had a new baby. We spent a lot of time at the end of 2007 getting the car right and won Super Gas at the Euro Finals and getting to the semis in the National Finals. We didn't touch the car last year and came runner-up at the 2009 Thunderball, our first race back. In the previous nine races my average light was 0.013 and in the last five runs my worst light was 0.02. So we are now going for the championship in 2009."

The Paul Marston Racing team had a challenge on their hands when they found they could borrow John Everitt's spare oil pump and pickup to repair Grumpy's Dodge. Meanwhile Sefton Whitlock went to Doncaster to collect some fresh bearings for the crank (see yesterday's pit notes). The target was to get the car ready for the final qualifying session today for a checkout pass.

Super Comp racer Brian Pateman has raced the same Pontiac Firebird since he started in the sport in 1981. "I ran Street ET, Modified ET, Super Gas and Super Comp. I am only contesting one class but will go back to double entry if I can get a methanol setup back on the engine." Brian does all the work on the car himself apart from chassis updates which are by Jon Webster. "I used Pontiac engines for years and had nitrous on the car as early as 1984 but have left the nitrous off in 2009 and put in a 540cu in Chevy. The fuel I use is a mixture of C16 and unleaded." Brian is a proven championship winner with three Super Gas championships and a SPRC Super Comp championship. A telephone engineer by trade, he rents out houses in Florida through www.floridaland.org.uk

2008 Super Pro ET Champion Rick Cooke played safe on the dial-ins and this proved to be a canny move as he achieved no.1 qualifier with a +0.006 8.206/162.51 in the first session on Saturday. "The track is fantastic and well prepped, the crew here deserve a pat on the back. The car is similar to last year but with 400rpm more on the limiter. It is now pulling a lot more at the top end when previously it hit the limiter at 1000ft." Rick has an alcohol system to put on the car which now uses C14 petrol. "C14 is now extremely expensive at £1400 a drum compared with methanol at £150 (nitro is £1500). The conversion is quite extensive though as it involves new carburettor parts, new shut-off valves on the Chet Herbert mechanical fuel pump, new hoses, rings and rods as well as a learning curve to tune the new system."

Top Fuel Bike racer Steve Woollatt (right) was grateful to Rene van den Berg for the loan of a chain. Steve said "I had a clutch management problem at Easter and had some parts remachined after that event and tested at high pressure. On my last pass the bike was like a bucking bronco in the left lane and the front sprocket broke, so I am really grateful for the spare chain." Steve's problems persisted in the next run in the right hand lane, shutting off to a 7.834/125.58, his best time at this event so far being a 7.001/166.49.