2005 Power Nationals
Saturday (qualifying)
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21:45
Today's pictures are now posted, you can view them via the Event Index page.
That's all for today, tune back in the morning, by which time we hope to have fitted in a pit walk, and we will also bring you all the news from eliminations.
20:10
Here are the top five qualifiers in each class:
Super Modified
Super Pro ET
Pro ET
Sportsman ET
Super Comp
Super Gas
Super Street
Street Eliminator (subject to Cruise)
Steve Pateman, Steve Nash and Jerry Charles have all broken so Colin Lazenby will be taking the Cruise on his own tonight and taking the win tomorrow if he passes the Cruise. Steve told us that he has suspected bearing damage and that although he could run tomorrow it's not a risk he wants to take.
Junior Dragster
Wild Bunch
Outlaw Anglia
VW Pro
VW Sportsman
VW Alternate Engine
Top Fuel Bike
Steve Woollatt has trailered up and gone home, so Steve Carey will take the event win tomorrow if he stages.
Pro Stock Bike
Funny Bike
Comp Bike
Super Street Bike
9.50 Bike
Supertwin Fuel
Supertwin Gas
Supertwin Modified
Supertwin Street
Junior Drag Bike
Stay tuned and we will let you know when today's pictures are posted.
18:10
The final session of Junior Dragster followed on from the Jet FC. Matthew Seamarks moved into the final top five and then got bumped out by Peter Waters. The final top five is:
Harry Steadman took the lead in the second session of Junior Drag Bike, the final standings are:
Qualifying is now finished, stay tuned and we will bring together all of today's top fives whilst Sharkman works on today's pictures.
17:45
Chris Stebbings and Steve Clutterbuck made the second session of Supertwin Fuel and they had a fine side-by-side qualifier, both improving on their standings:
Steve Carey was next up to contest the second session of Top Fuel Bike qualifying and it was almost a carbon copy of his earlier run as the bike started to drift to the right and Steve got quite close to the guardrail before getting off the throttle, 10.622/72.23. As things stand Steve Woollatt is not qualified but I would imagine that the TFBs will get another session tomorrow.
Roger Goring followed up with a 6.347 at a personal best speed of 253.52 in the Firestorm Jet FC.
We have Junior Dragster and Junior Drag Bike left to qualify, stay tuned.
17:35
Mark Fisher made history in the second qualifying session of Super Street Bike as the first SSB racer to run a seven second pass at Shakespeare County Raceway, and the fifth SSB racer to run into the sevens (one in testing), well done Mark! The final standings are:
17:30
Super Gas was next up, Belinda Bull moving right up the standings with her first 9.9, well done Belinda! Frank Mason stayed in top spot, whilst new entrant Graham Allen moved into the standings on his final observed run.
The final qualifying session of Super Modified followed on. Kev Perkins is on new ET and speed records if he can back them up, but takes #1 spot in the meantime, well done Kev! Tim Garlick broke on the line whilst it sounded as if Andy Kirk was having problems selecting gears and he got off the throttle just after half track. The final standings in Super Modified are:
17:15
Following on from Street Eliminator was Supertwin Gas, Andy Smith backed up his 9.470 with a 9.470 for a new NAST record, well done Andy! The final standings are:
The final session of Comp Bike was no luckier for Andy Newcombe as he broke off the line, but he is in the field for tomorrow with his earlier time. Much more fortunate was Gary Jones who ran a personal best to take number one spot from TJ O'Brien who improved as did Phil Leamon:
Next up was the final session of Pro Stock Bike, another 8.0 from Ray Debben in this session but the final placings didn't change:
The last session of Funny Bike fulfilled its earlier promise as Chris Hall improved, and Dave Holland Dave Bailey and Stu Chamberlain also improved on their earlier times:
16:45
In the second session of Super Comp, everyone got the right side of the index, Paul Knight moving up to third. The final qualifying is:
Paul Hensher and Ray Guy improved big time in the second session of Outlaw Anglia, second and third respectively. The final top five is:
Only Jerry Charles and Colin Lazenby turned out for the final session of Street Eliminator qualifying, Steves Pateman and Nash reportedly broken but we don't know how seriously. Jerry broke off the line and Colin put in an 8.471. After this session the final standings are:
16:35
After the second session of Sportsman ET, the final qualifying is:
Next up was the second session of Wild Bunch qualifying. Sarah Howells moved up to second, Mike Creswell moved up, and Dave Ward went into the final top five:
Dave Cherrett ran another 10.905 in the second session of Super Street qualifying, that's consistency for you! The final top five is:
16:10
Changes in the top five of Super Pro ET, too, after the second session:
Stay tuned for the final top five in VW Pro and we will bring you that at the end of today.
Next after VW Pro was the second session of 9.50 Bike and Adrian Lockley went into #1 with the closest run to 9.500 since the class started. The final top five is:
Rachel Prevett improved and Bev Riley made her first pass in the second session of Supertwin Street, the final qualifying is:
Tony Legg improved still further in the second session of Supertwin Modified, and Steve Hillary improved, the final qualifying is:
VW Alternate Engine and VW Sportsman followed, stay tuned and we will bring you the final top five at the end of the day.
15:45
Roger Goring's first pass of the day in the Firestorm Jet FC was a very nice 6.523/193.22, we guess a checkout pass for the first run of the season as Roger was off the throttle just after half track and the chute was opening in the traps.
Junior Dragster was next and is already closely-fought with three drivers already in the .00s, the top five after this session is:
Finishing off the first cycle of qualifying was Junior Drag Bike, Scott Collier taking the #1 spot on his first competitive outing, well done Scott!
Next up was the second session of Pro ET and we saw changes to the top five although John Atkinson stays #1 with an improved pass.
15:05
The first session of Top Fuel Bike followed Super Street Bike. Steve Woollatt went first, but the Dealer's engine cut after a very strong burnout. Steve Carey was next up, a great burnout and then a very strong launch but the bike started to drift to the right, Steve feathered the throttle and the bike made another move to the right and Steve got off the throttle, rolling through to an 11.846/70.19. Steve Woollatt wanted to run again but had a problem with his starter motor.
Supertwin Fuel was next, Chris Stebbings' bike looking very nice indeed in its new paint. Chris put in a nice pass, getting off the throttle just before the finish line. Steve Clutterbuck followed, a slight hesitation off the line but a very good run for Bear. The qualifying stands as follows:
14:55
Frank Mason took the lead in Super Gas in a session which saw a number of breakouts, not least a 9.262 from Belinda Bull...have a word, Jeff! The top five after the first session of qualifying is:
Next up was the first session of Super Modified, a new PB for Tim Garlick, nice one Tim! A good pass also for Andy Hone with his new engine which was previously sponsor Matt Wright's spare.
The first session of Super Street Bike was next up, a lot of overpowering of the track including by Steve Venables and Jamie Sneddon. For the benefit of our friends on 200mph here is the complete qualifying list after this session:
14:35
In the first session of Super Comp, Chris Johnson took the lead in his MG at 8.918 from Shaun Lathan 8.977, Malcolm Francis 9.643, Andy Williams 9.884, Paul Knight 8.839 and Martin Curbishley 8.814.
Mark Pointer made a great entry to Outlaw Anglia with a new PB to take first place. Cliff Griffin and Ray Guy returned to competition with excellent first passes. After this session the top five is as follows:
Simon Barlow made his first pass in OA competition, a 22.342 taking it nice and easy.
Street Eliminator followed up, a worrying sight as Steve Pateman returned to the pits after a knocking sound could be heard from the engine. Colin Lazenby put in a stormer of a first run then Jerry Charles and Steve Nash paired up, a great burnout from Splinter and then both cars hit wheelspin for the first few feet. The standings after this session are:
The first session of Supertwin Gas was next. We had a mouth-watering match-up between Andy Smith and George Laycock, George unfortunately broke off the line but Andy us in a new ET record, well done Andy! A personal best for Les Harris, Beardy gets into the nines, nice one Beardy!
Comp Bike followed, TJ O'Brien taking the lead from Phil Leamon. Andy Newcombe on his return and Vaughan Foster both had problems and cruised through whilst Gary Jones could not keep the engine running. The qualifying after this session is as follows:
Next was Pro Stock Bike, a new PB for Ray Debben, well done Ray! Dave Beck took the lead and the standings after this session are:
Straight into Funny Bike, and a tremendous pass from Chris Hall to take first place and a great run from Stu Chamberlain for second:
14:00
After the first session of Sportsman ET, Jon Turner leads at +0.003 on his dial-in, from Keith Crampton in his Camaro at +0.174, Paul Bishop +0.196, Nick Gay +0.342, Tanya Partridge +0.389, and Tony Petrie +1.139. A new name to us, Mick Cutts in a kit car, had a very wild ride, the car turning hard left; Mick calmly slalomed the 330 foot reflector and carried on.
The first session of Wild Bunch qualifying was interrupted by a plane landing on the shutdown area. Helen Smythe is in the lead +0.047 on her dial-in from Tony Smith +0.101, Mike Creswell +0.116, Sarah Howells +0.225 and Steve Field +1.111. Congratulations to Chris Hartnell who achieved two ambitions in one run with an 8.885 at 150.03, breaking out by a huge amount but he won't care! Congratulations too to Dave Ward who clocked a superb 9.618 in the Rampage FC, also breaking out but his crew were ecstatic.
Next up was Super Street, with 10.9s abounding in this first session. Dave Cherrett leads at 10.905 from John Grant 10.913, John Spiers 10.921, Kev Slyfield 10.931 and the top five is rounded off by Leigh Morris at 10.959. Mike Bentley, who is planning to run Super Gas, clocked a very naughty 10.175 in this session.
13:20
During the clean-up from Tony Benton's oildown the timing crew kindly ran us off the qualifying standings for most classes which have already run, you can see those below.
13:00
Three Supertwin Street racers made the first session and the first session standings are:
Supertwin Modified was next up, Tony Legg taking a big lead after the first session:
VW Alternate Engine followed and Andy Raw got all the headlines in this session with a huge wheelie which saw the car up on its back bumper before thumping back down to earth. Spencer Tramm in the other lane clocked a superb 0.001 Reaction Time before taking #1 spot. Qualifying after the first session is as follows:
12:45
As you probably noticed we have been having a problem or two with the webcam, apologies for that, we think we have it sorted now.
We got going at 12:05 after the track dried, first up was Pro ET and Tig Napier took Wild Ride of the Day as his Dodge turned hard right off the line and then pulled a wheelie after he straightened it out and hit the throttle again. Joe Stevens also had a bit of a moment at about 990 feet but kept a good hold of the altered. Chris Hodgkins made his first competitive run in his dragster and went very close indeed to dial-in, a 10.7 on a 10.65 dial-in, whilst Lee Huxley went very close indeed to taking the Eurodragster.com/Speedflow Perfect Light Award with a 0.004 RT. The top five after this session is:
VW Pro was next up, Pete Englezos treating us to a wheelie and wild twitch off the line, whilst Glynn Morgan clocked a personal best of 11.969 in his Beetle, on a 12.00 dial-in but we're sure he won't be worried about breaking out! Again we will bring you the top fives in VW at the end of today.
Congratulations to Rick Cooke who took #1 spot in Super Pro ET with an 8.938 on an 8.90 dial-in, on one of his first competitive outings, well done Rick! The top five is:
Next up was 9.50 Bike and Andy Bird took the lead with a great 9.563. The top five after this session is as follows:
10:15
Good morning and welcome from Shakespeare County Raceway. It's qualifying day at the Power Nationals and we're here to bring you all the action in association with American Car Imports.
The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is on-line and broadcasting a picture every two minutes.
It's cloudy but dry, it had rained overnight but the track crew have done a great job of drying the surface and we'll be off and running quite soon. Trackside conditions are 7.7 C, 79% humidity, and 29.80 inches of air.
The plan for today's coverage is to bring you the top fives in all heads-up and index classes and Junior Dragster as the day goes on, and then at the end of the day we will bring you the top five in those classes plus ET and other dial-your-own as soon as we get them from the timing crew when qualifying finishes.
This weekend LA Performance Services and APIRA are welcoming a delegation from the Bahrain Drag Racing Club, the guys are currently variously on the start line, in Race Control and in the pits being shown how events are organised here.
A couple of Hellos this morning, firstly Good Morning to our good friend Gittli Koller who is tuned in from Germany, hello also to our buddy James Hands who has already written to say that he is on-line.
Stay tuned and as soon as qualifying commences we'll bring you the news.