2000 and beyond

Contributors names in brackets after the entries where applicable. All other material researched by myself - Chris. Click on pictures to see a larger view. Text links will open in a new window, close it when you're done.

The majority of news items here are taken from Eurodragster.com and the news page of the Avon Park International Racers Association

2000
January Top Methanol driver Doug Bond announced that for the 2000 season he would be teaming up with Derek Annable. Doug would drive Dereks car (the ex-Barry Sheavills Top Alcohol car) with his own engine while Derek would drive Dougs car with his engine. Shell Oil continued to sponsor the team.

Smax Smith announced that he had purchased Alan Jacksons Oldsmobile Achieva Nitro Funny Car and would be making his fuel car debut at Santa Pods Easter Thunderball Meeting. His old car, the Mainline Meanace Altered was sold to a Sussex racer who would continue to run it with the Supercharged Outlaws.

UK Pro Mod Driver Al Cook announced that he would be retiring from driving. He had run his best ever race at the previous years European Finals at Santa Pod with a 6.70/204 in his  Tim McAmis-built '63 Corvette.

UK Nitro  Funny Car teams Showtime Racing UK, Shockwave and the Carbon By Design Top Fuel Dragster team announced that they would be running 90% nitromethane this season, at least a year in advance of any possibility of NHRA's 90% rule being introduced in Europe.

Avon Park Raceway had a change of identity and was re-named Shakespeare County Raceway
February 4th-6th NHRA Winternationals, Pomona Raceway, California.In Federal Mogul Dragster, the UK's Rob Turner qualified with runs of 5.920/226.20 (9th) and 5.865/219.26 (12th), not bettering this in the third qualifying session to end up 14th. In round one Rob faced Brandon Henkelman and although getting a very slight holeshot clicked it off towards the top end, running 6.044/193.74, and Henkelman took the win.
February 14th It is announced that the Comp Eliminator class would be coming to the UK.Already an established class in mainland Europe, Comp Eliminator was introduced to the UK this year. The index-based class which catered for dragsters, altereds and doorslammers would be tried out over five rounds at Santa Pod Raceway this season, starting at the Thunderball in April and culminating at the October Meet. Talbot Racing were the first competitors to sign up.
March 4th/5th AMA/Prostar Sunshine Nationals, Gainesville, Florida. The UK's Dave Beck faced a nightmarish weekend at this event where he was competing on Jay Regan's Pro Mod Bike. Electrical and nitrous system failures initially prevented Dave from putting in a full pass, and rain delayed proceedings, but it all came together in the last qualifying session where Dave claimed third spot with a tremendous 6.908/197.71. Dave made it as far as the semi-finals. A 6.91 in round one followed by a 6.92 in round two took Dave to the semis where he hit problems, recording a nine-second pass.
March 18th Willowbank Raceway, Australia.Castrol New Year Series. The UK's Steve Read won Top Fuel Dragster. Steve qualified second at 5.548/190.11 and then advanced through the rounds, defeating Roy Smith in round one (11.034/69.53), Darren di Filippo in the semi-finals (5.578/190.11), and Robin Kirby in the final (10.562/70.28). 
April 1st/2nd AMA/Prostar Star Nationals, Atlanta, USA. The UK's Dave Beck qualified 14th with a 7.123/177.18 recorded on his first run. He suffered gearbox problems on his second run and and electrical problem on his third run which led to a blown motor. The meeting was then rained out.
April 8th/9th Doncaster Custom Car Show. Amoungst the entrants are the new Fireforce Chevy Lumina Jet Funny Car of Martin Hill and the nitro Funny Car "Mainline Menace 5" of Smax Smith.
April 22nd-24th Thunderball, Santa Pod Raceway, 22-24 April. Pro Fuel Shootout (Top Fuel Drgasters Vs Top Fuel Funny Cars) MSA Top Alcohol Round One, UK Championship Round One for-Pro Mod, Super Pro, Super Comp, Super Gas, Pro ET, Super Street, Sportsman ET, Junior Dragster, ACU Top Fuel Bike, ACU Pro Stock Bike, ACU Funny Bike, ACU Competition Bike, ACU Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike. Santa Pod saw its first ever Maltese competitor, John Ellul brought his Top Methanol dragster and ran a personal best of 6.03 before wrecking his engine. Len Paget debuted the worlds first Suzuki Hyabusa bodied dragbike in Pro Stock. Also in Pro Stock Bike Dave Beck set new European records of 7.464seconds and 178.13mph. In Super Street Bike Tony Clark ran 8.53/172.82mph to record the fastest mph by a nitrous superstreet bike in Europe.The inaugural Pro Fuel Shootout featured the nitro funny cars of John Spuffard and Gordon Smith racing against the top fuel dragsters of Barry Sheavills and rookie Peter Beck. All cars suffered some mechanical damage but Spuffard was the only competitor to make all three qualifing rounds and ran unopposed to take the final. His third run netted a 5.58, the quickest funny car run in the UK for nearly three years. Smax Smith completed his licensing runs in his nitro FC,  For all class results click here
April 29th-May 1st Super Series 1, Shakespeare County Raceway,  Nitro Funny Car Match Racing, MSA Top Alcohol Round Two, UK Championship Round Two for-Pro Mod, Super Pro, Super Comp, Super Gas, Pro ET, Super Street, Sportsman ET, Junior Dragster, ACU Pro Stock Bike, ACU Funny Bike, ACU Competition Bike, ACU Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike. Highlight of the weekend was the "Dual Of Fuel" between the nitro FCs of John Spuffard and Gordon Smith. Spuffard won the series with two wins out of three, running even quicker than the previous weekend with a 5.51, a new track record for Shakespeare County. The first race was abandoned at the very last moment when someone spotted an aircraft landing on the shut down area.(Not the first time this has happened in the UK, see the April 21st entry in the 1968 section) Smith recorded a new personal best in the final race and got his first five second run with a 5.79, making the Shockwave car the quickest transmission equiped nitro funny car outside the USA. Only one car turned up in Pro Mod for the second round of the championship, that of Nick Davies, last years champion. In Top Methanol Dragster Rob Turner set a new track record of 5.805 in the first round of eliminations. In Super Street Bike Mark Watkins on his 'Terminator' Suzuki set a new track record of 8.399. For all class results click here.
April 29th/30th Columbus, Ohio. AMA/Prostar event. The UK's Dave Beck was racing on Jay Regan's Pro Mod Bike. On day one of the event, eliminations of the previously rained-out race in Atlanta were run. Dave made it to the semi-finals before going out. In the Columbus race proper, Dave qualified fourteenth with a run of 7.335/185.21 and was eliminated in round two.
May 20th/21st Rockingham, USA. AMA/Prostar event. The UKs Dave Beck went out in round one of eliminations at this weekend's race riding Jay Reagans Pro Mod bike. He qualified eleventh at 7.360/188.54, but was eliminated in round one by David Vantine, 6.966/184.22 to 7.539/184.04. 
May 27th-29th FIA Main Event, FIA Round One for- Top Fuel, Top Methanol Dragster, Top Methanol Funny Car, Pro Stock, FIM Round One for- Supertwin Top Fuel Bike, Pro Stock Bike, Competition Bike, UK Championship Round Three for-Pro Mod, Super Pro, Super Comp, Super Gas, Pro ET, Super Street, Sportsman ET, Junior Dragster, ACU Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike.
This event was overshadowed by the tragic death of Top Fuel Bike rider Chris Hampson in a top end accident.

Rain was a major disruption on the first two days which meant that on the Monday many finals were not run due to the lack of time. In Top Methanol Dragster Maltas Manty Bugeja took the honours in the ex-Peter Beck car with sponsorship from Mr Whippy. He had a solo run in the final having run Maltas first five at the press day on Thursday and Maltas first side by side five with John Ellul in Saturdays qualifying. In Pro Stock the European record took a hammering. On Monday Michael Malmgren ran a new record with a 7.036 backed up by an earlier 7.086 in qualifying. Minutes later Jari Konola ran 7.015 backed up by an earlier 7.069. Malmgren then reclaimed the record with a 7.003 and bettered it in the final round with a 6.990/196.45, the first European six second Pro Stock run. Top Fuel rookie Peter Beck made number one qualifier with a 5.49 but the final was won by Alan Jackson with a 5.27/248.96 to Anita Makelas engine breaking 5.53/205.23. John Spuffard had only one run in the Showtime Pontiac with new sponsorship from Snap On Tools and recorded a storming 5.39/221.45, shutting off early to run the quickest ever European time for a Nitro Funny Car. In FIM Supertwin Top Fuel Ton Pels took the final honours with a new personal best of 6.89/189. For all class results click here.
June 10th/11th Alastaro, Finland. FIA/FIM Round Two. The UK competitors were Barry Sheavills in Top Fuel Dragster and Dave Wilson in Top Methanol Dragster. Sheavills qualified third out of three but won the first round, beating Pele Lindelow 5.45/247.77 to 5.596/198.09. He ran quicker in the final with a 5.337/280.69 but lost to Anita Makela with a 5.312/257.09. Dave Wilson qualified second out of four with a 5.842/238.46 but lost out in the first round with a 5.982/234.74 to Eero Kilpelainens 5.810/242.81
June 17th-18th Super Series 2, Shakespeare County Raceway, UK Championship Round Four for-Pro Mod, Super Pro, Super Comp, Super Gas, Pro ET, Super Street, Sportsman ET, Junior Dragster, ACU Top Fuel Bike, ACU Pro Stock Bike, ACU Funny Bike, ACU Competition Bike, ACU Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike. With great weather for the two day meeting 12 new track records were set. Jeff Mead ran a new best E.T. for the Custom Car Street Eliminator class of 9.214seconds in his Pop. Jonathon Bond ran a new best E.T. for Junior Stock Dragster of 14.258 as well as a new speed record of 44.73mph. In the Modified Junior Dragster class Phil Cook set both ends of the track record with 8.204 seconds and 79.09mph. Super Street Bike saw Graham Dance set both ends at 8.204 seconds and 173.75mph. In Super Twin Street Steve Piper took his Ducati to new track records of 10.262 and 173.75mph. Super Twin Modified saw John Coombe set a new speed record on his Honda of 129.31 and Super Twin Fuel had Ben Beneke set both ends at 8.045/175.78.For all class results click here.
July 1st-2nd Cannonball, Santa Pod Raceway, MSA Top Alcohol Round Three, UK Championship Round Five for-Pro Mod, Super Pro, Super Comp, Super Gas, Pro ET, Super Street, Sportsman ET, Junior Dragster, ACU Top Fuel Bike, ACU Pro Stock Bike, ACU Funny Bike, ACU Competition Bike, ACU Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike. Photographer Graham Whitehead raffled a picture of Chris Hampson who lost his life at the Main Event and raised a total of £3475.11 for Chris' family. Martin Hill set new European E.T. and speed records for a Jet Funny Car with 'Fireforce II' at 6.265/252.77, managing to break a window in the control tower into the bargain. Brian Johnson set a new Top Fuel Bike speed record of 217.09mph. He ran 6.240 seconds and 6.308 the quicker of the two runs backing up the slower. In Super Street Bike Graham Dance set a new E.T. record of 8.161 seconds. In the Cannonball competition two Methanol Funny Cars made it to the final for the first time in the events history. Micke Kagered took the win over Urs Erbacher with a 6.06/238.54 to a 6.48/217.04. The nitro cars failed to run consistently enough with pre-event favourite John Spuffard suffering two bouts of tyre shake that both deployed the chutes early. For all class results click here
July 1st-2nd AMA/Prostar Chicago. UK Pro Stock Bike racer Dave Beck, riding Jay Regan's MRE Pro Mod Bike, qualified tenth at 7.148/185.84, won the first round against Bruce van Sant at 7.027/187.81, but then went out in round two to Tom Miceli with a 7.043/187.18 to Tom's 6.932/191.81.
July 15th/16th Pitea, Sweden. The Midnight Sun Internationals including The Top Fuel Tour Round One. Britains Al Jackson qualified #2 with a personal best time of 5.070/271.99, just behind Monica Obergs 5.059/280.07. Al won the first round against Pele Lindelow 5.133/283.79 to 11.493/96.25 to meet Peter Lantz in the final. Unfortunately rain stopped play before the final could be run.
July 15th/16th Drachten, Holland. The Dragten Internationals. European Super Street Bike Series Round One. Qualifying saw the numbers one and two spots go to the UKs Tony Clark (#1) with 9.089, and Graham Dance (#2) with 9.265. The final saw Dance face Germanys Frank Hetscher. Dance took the win with an 8.83 over Hetschers 9.27.
July 15th/16th Shakespeare County Raceway. Mini Showdown. Martin Hill continued to improve in the new Fireforce Jet Funny Car. He ran a best performance of 6.163/260.12 to firmly establish himself as the quickest and fastest Jet Funny Car driver outside the USA.
July 29th-30th Super Series 3, Shakespeare County Raceway, UK Championship Round Six for-Pro Mod, Super Pro, Super Comp, Super Gas, Pro ET, Super Street, Sportsman ET, Junior Dragster, ACU Top Fuel Bike, ACU Pro Stock Bike, ACU Funny Bike, ACU Competition Bike, ACU Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike, Super Twins. Top Fuel Bike rider Steve Woolatt became the first year 2000 champion to be crowned with a win over Ian King. Nine new track records were set over the weekend. In Super Twin Fuel Ben Beneke set a new E.T. mark of 7.825 seconds. In Super Twin Modified Bart Salentyn set a new E.T. of 10.241 seconds and a new terminal speed of 135.14mph. Steve Piper set a new speed record of 133.95mph in Super Twin Street. In the European Top Gas Bike class Job Heezen ran a new E.T. best of 8.154 seconds. Tony Clark set a new speed record of 174.42mph in Super Street Bike and a new Funny Bike record of 7.274 seconds went to Chris Hall. The Junior Stock Dragster class saw Jonathan Bond set new E.T. and speed records of 13.975 seconds and 45.50mph. Roger Goring made his first full passes in his new Pontiac bodied jet funny car. He ran a best of 6.474/250.00. John Hogarth debuted his Super Comp Corvette but was unable to complete his observed runs and so could not race. His best run of the weekend was an 8.396/163.04. For all class results and some photos from the meeting click here.
July 28th-30th Mantorp Park, Sweden. FIA/FIM Round Three. A four car Top Fuel field saw the UKs Al Jackson and Barry Sheavills qualify 2nd & 3rd with a 5.887/218.59 and a 5.922/223.56 respectively behind Peter Beck. Barry and Al met up in the first round and Barry took the win with a 5.344/280.69 to Als 5.373/257.09. In the final Barry took the win over Anita Makela with a 5.595/262.06 to a 6.462/146.55. The UKs drivers took the top two places in Top Methanol Dragster qualifying, Dave Wilson at #1 with a 5.912/239.08 and Rob Turner at #2 with a 5.927/221.07. Dave Wilson lost out in the first round with a 6.362/232.25 to Kim Raymonds 6.065/232.87. Rob Turner beat Eero Kilpelainen in round one with a 5.933/223.56 to a 6.154/239.70, Peter Schofer in round two, 5.882/237.22 to 6.111/210.51, and won the final against Kim Raymond 5.878/231.01 to 6.547/223.56. FIM Competition Bike was held over the 1/8th mile and Ken Cooper qualified 6th with a 5.018/144.07. He had a 4.827/138.48 bye in round one when Roel Koedam didn't show, won round two against Oivind Dahl 4.752/149.66 to 4.855/159.59 but lost in the final to Sverre Dahl who ran 4.495/175.74 to Kens 4.732/149.66.
August 5th/6th Tullinge, Stockholm, Sweden. Swedish Top Fuel Tour Round Two. In the final of Round One, held over from July 15th/16th, Peter Lantz took the win with a 5.22/271.99 when Alan Jackson blew his motor and coasted to a 7.05/115.50. Al and the team managed to get the car back together for the first round of the meeting proper but their 5.43/229.14 wasn't good enough to beat Monica Obergs 5.33/217.35 in the tracks first side by side five second race.
August 4th/6th Gardermoen, Norway. FIA/FIM Round Four. In what turned out to be a controversial meeting that was called off early, before the finals could be run, Barry Sheavills qualified 3rd out of 3 with a 6.166. He had a bye in round one and improved to a 5.463/261.98. Top Methanol Dragster saw Dave Wilson qualify at #1 with a 5.773 and Rob Turner at #3 with a 5.874. Wilson had a bye in round one and recorded a 6.409. Turner lost out to Eero Kilpelainen. Ken Cooper qualified at #5 in Competition Bike with a 7.286 but went out in round one.
August 12th/13th Shakespeare County Raceway. Bulldog Bash. Amongst the demonstration runs are Martin hill and Tony Baker in the Fireforce Jet Funny Cars. Over the weekend they put in two side by side runs, the first time this had been seen in the UK since 1986. In the second run on the Sunday Tony managed to holeshot Martin but was unable to better Martin's 6.2/258 mph run. Also putting in demo runs was Smax Smith in his Funny Car. He wrecked the car when an oil line broke on a launch causing the car to turn hard into the barrier.
August 12th/13th Indianapolis. AMA/Prostar Pingle Thunder Nationals. The UK's Dave Beck qualified fifth in Funny Bike at 7.116/185.14, won round one against Bob Bodven 7.183/180.90 to 7.271/177.54 before going out to Bryan Bennett in round two, Bryan's 6.854/198.45 too good for Dave's 7.845/126.08.
August 12th/13th York Dragway. PDRC Northern Nationals. Roger Goring put in some more low speed check out passes in the 'Firestorm' Pontiac Firebird Funny Car. After some initial fuel delivery gremlins earlier in the day, Roger ran an eighth-mile speed of 183.29 mph in 4.403 seconds. In the Pro Drag display, Steve Green powered his Ampar-supported Rover assisted Cortina to a day's best of 8.973/154 mph. The Wild Bunch 'On Tour' event fell to the 460ci big block Ford slingshot dragster of Pete Loveridge, from Clayton Round's 'Shortshot' Fiat Topolino. Although the drivers elected to run over the eighth mile, the 'Crazy one' Chris Hartnell put in a storming 9.6 run over the quarter on Saturday. Best reaction time went to Tony Smith in the 'Cunning Plan' Minivan. In eliminations, the hotly-contested Street Shootout went to defending PDRC Points Champion Dave Rushforth with consistent mid fourteen second runs from his road legal Mustang over Steve Gilmore's Ford 100E. The final for the Pro Shootout bracket was all about startline reactions as Dave 'Tig' Napier stole the win from Paul Hudson's Camaro by virtue of a quicker reaction time of .588 to .601, 12.77/103 to 12.919/104. The final of the north of England's true street racer series coupled the Chevy powered Cortina of John 'Moose' Hollingworth against the Model B Coupe of Steve Neimantas. But the race was won on the startline when Neimantas pulled a cherry, 11.50/123 to 10.21/132. Saturday's results included another popular win for Pro ET star Dave Billadeau. Dave pushed his Plymouth GTX past twenty other entries in the tracks 'Big Bracket' over the Hemi Cuda of Derek Gregson 10.94/123 to 11.31/120.
August 19th/20th Hockenheim. Nitro Olympics. Rico Anthes won the Final of the Top Fuel Challenge at 5.253. Peter Beck launched a blower off the start line. Barry Sheavills ran a best of 5.382, Fred Farndon took the low ET of the meet at 5.09. Gordie Bonin did not manage to get down the track.
August 23rd Dave Grady died after  being involved in a motorcycle accident. Dave was known as the father of UK Super Gas racing.
August 26th-28th Super Series 4, Shakespeare County Raceway, MSA Top Alcohol Final, UK Championship Round Seven for-Pro Mod, Super Pro, Super Comp, Super Gas, Pro ET, Super Street, Sportsman ET, Junior Dragster, ACU Pro Stock Bike, ACU Funny Bike, ACU Competition Bike, ACU Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike. Andy Carter returned to UK Top Fuel racing at the wheel of Barry Sheavills spare car. In a best of three match race Carter took the win with a best run of 5.222. A four car field of Top Fuel Funny Cars saw the debut of Alan Bates new Avenger. The final was between John Spuffards 'Showtime' and the Jungle.com car of Tony Betts. Betts pulled a red light, handing the win to Spuffard. The following new track records were set; Top Fuel; 5.222 (Andy Carter) 274.99 (Andy Carter), Jet Funny Car; 6.154 (Martin Hill) & 261.65 mph (Martin Hill), Super Street Rover; 9.163 (Martin Moore) & 144.69 mph (Martin Moore) Street Eliminator; 9.161 (Steve Pateman) & 154.11 mph (John Sleath), Pro Stock Bike; 7.525 (Dave Beck) & 179.28 mph (Chris Hope), Funny Bike 7.187 (Chris Hall), Super Street Bike; 178.57 mph (Tony Clark). After a sucession of oildowns and outbreaks of rain the meeting was unfinished. (Thanks to Jerry Cookson for the record info)
August 26th-28th Malmo, Sweden. Swedish Top Fuel Tour Championship. The UKs Alan Jackson qualified at #2 but went out in the first round to eventual winner Peter Lantz. In the third place race between Jackson and Pelle Lindelow Alan took the win when Pelle left the start line in a cloud of smoke.
September 8th-10th FIA European Finals, Santa Pod Raceway, FIA Final Round for-Top Fuel, Top Methanol Dragster, Top Methanol Funny Car, Pro Stock, FIM  Final Round for-Supertwin Top Fuel Bike, Pro Stock Bike, Competition Bike, UK Championship Round Eight for-Pro Mod, Super Pro, Super Comp, Super Gas, Pro ET, Super Street, Sportsman ET, Junior Dragster, ACU Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike. In Top Fuel Anita Makela and Barry Sheavills met in the first round of Top Fuel Dragster, Anita took the win in the race that decided the FIA Championship. Rookie Tommy Moller took the event win and set low E.T. of the meeting. After qualifying there was an all five-second field in Top Methanol Funny Car for the first time. Jarmo Roivas became the first ever European Top Methanol racer to top 250 mph with a run of 5.76 at 250.18 mph. He backed the run up with a subsequent pass for the record. Brian Johnson ran a superb 6.149/216.40 in FIM Comp Bike and backed it up with an even quicker 6.12 for a new European Record. Hakan Nilsson in Pro Mod clocked 6.499 at 216.02. Nilssons back up run for the record was a quicker 6.493/217.86. It looked as if the new record would not stand for long as Micke Gullquist ran quicker with a 6.47 but he failed to back it up. Nilsson made it to the final and took the win with a new low of 6.33. In FIM Pro Stock Bike Roger Pettersson set a new E.T. record of 7.523/176.85 backed up by 7.532/176.47. (Thanks to Andy Marrs for the record info) For all class results click here.
September 23rd/24th Super Series Finals, Shakespeare County Raceway, UK Championship Round Nine for-Pro Mod (Final), Super Pro, Super Comp, Super Gas, Pro ET, Super Street, Sportsman ET, Junior Dragster, ACU Pro Stock Bike, ACU Funny Bike, ACU Competition Bike, ACU Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike. The final round of the Super Series Championships, and the penultimate round of the UK National Drag Racing Championship, was rained out. Good weather on Saturday saw some good qualifying, notably a pass of 8.141/176.47 by Tony Clark in Super Street Bike. Also in Super Street Bike there was an attempt on the altitude record as James Curnick's SSB went vertical and actually left the track, depositing James in a heap. James escaped with heavy bruising. On four wheels, Tim Adam and Nick Davies put in perfect 9.900 runs in Super Gas qualifying, and Tim doubled up by also qualifying first in Super Comp. Bob Hancox put in a 9.379 in his Outlaw Anglia. No racing took place at all on the Sunday as rain started long before eliminations were scheduled to commence, and got heavier as the day went on. A riders' and drivers' meeting was held in the early afternoon at which the owner of Shakespeare County Raceway, Anthony Hodges, and Super Series co-ordinators Obsession Motorsports offered racers the chance to come back at the end of October to run the eliminations and finish the Super Series. The offer was put to a vote but neither side had the required two-thirds majority.
October 7th/8th October Meet, Santa Pod Raceway, UK Championship Final Round for-Super Pro, Super Comp, Super Gas, Pro ET, Super Street, Sportsman ET, Junior Dragster, ACU Pro Stock Bike, ACU Funny Bike, ACU Competition Bike, ACU Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike. Once again the weather took its toll on the proceedings with Saturday washed out and Sunday reduced to one-shot qualifying and then eliminations. Some of the finals were run but the rain returned and called an early halt to the meeting. For all class results click here.
November 4th SPR. Flame and Thunder Show. Al Platt was the winner in the Car ET Bracket while Lee Workman took the honours in the Bike ET Bracket. The VW Drag Racing Club held their finals at this meet and Ali Southcombe won the VW Pro class while Steve Lee won VW Sportsman. In the demonstration classes Paula Atkin, in her newly Nitrous-equipped Ford Rapid Fit-backed 105E, ran a storming 7.99/166. Martin Hill had predicted a five second run in the Fireforce 2 Jet Funny Car and came very close with a 6.1/255. Tony Baker in Fireforce1 put in two low sevens at 204 mph and 223 mph. Martin and Tony rounded off the day with a side-by-side flame and smoke show in the dark, Tony then shut down whilst Martin stabbed the afterburner and ran down the track.
November 15th-18th AMA/Prostar World Finals. Gainsville Florida. UK Top Fuel biker Brian Johnson qualified top with a new personal best E.T. of 6.101 and ran a best speed of 232.27 mph in round one against fellow UK racer Ian King who recorded his own personal best of 6.676 . Johnsons drive belt broke in the semi-final against Chris Hand, who ended up runner-up of the class which was won by Larry McBride. Other Brits present were Ken Cooper, who went out in round one but ran a new personal best time of 7.119 and speed of 187.38 on his Pro Mod Bike, Chris 'Cannon' Hannam who qualified at #16 with a 7.497/175.71 and went out in the first round of Funny Bike and Dave Beck who failed to qualify in Pro Mod Bike with a 7.314/180.97.
For all the 2000 season Championship winners click here

 

2001
April 1st Atlanta. AMA/Prostar Star Racing Nationals. The UK's Dave Beck qualified seventh in Pro Mod Bike on Jay Regan's MRE machine and made it to the quarter-finals.
March 4th Gainsville, Florida. AMA/Prostar MRE Sunshine Nationals. The UK's Dave Beck failed to qualify on Jay Regan's Pro Mod Bike while Ken Cooper qualified 10th with 7.123/185.95. In round 1 he was defeated by Charlie Farrar 7.228/176.43 to 7.396/177.13.
April 14th-16th SPR. The Thunderball/Pro Fuel Shootout. MSA Top Alcohol Round One, UK Championship Round One for Super Pro, Super Comp, Super Gas, Pro ET, Super Street, Sportsman ET, Junior Dragster, ACU Top Fuel Bike, ACU Pro Stock Bike, ACU Funny Bike, ACU Competition Bike, ACU Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike. In the Pro Fuel Shootout John Spuffard was the winner for the second year running in the Showtime Funny Car. The final was between him and Andy Carter, both cars unable to find traction on the cold track. In top Fuel Bike Brian Johnson ran 6.116/225.26 in round one but was unable to back up either for new records. Steve Pateman set a new speed record of 156.33 mph in the Custom Car Street Eliminator class. In the final he ran 164 mph but could not back this up. For all class results click here.
May 5th-7th Shakespeare County Raceway. Super Series One. UK Nitro Funny Car Championship Round One. MSA Top Alcohol Round Two, UK Championship Round Two for Super Pro, Super Comp, Super Gas, Pro ET, Super Street, Sportsman ET, Junior Dragster, ACU Top Fuel Bike, ACU Pro Stock Bike, ACU Funny Bike, ACU Competition Bike, ACU Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike. John Spuffard took the first round of the 2001 Fuel Funny Car Championship from Gordon Smith in a race which culminated in a top end speed of 281.25 mph, the fastest ever speed by a Fuel FC in Europe, which broke not only Shakespeare County Raceway's Fuel FC speed record but the absolute track record which up to that point had been held by Andy Carter in Top Fuel. Smax Smith had problems in his Mainline Menace Fuel FC on Sunday after a valve hung open resulting in a fireball on the car's second pass since its rebuild. Smax was unhurt and the team put the car back together overnight, but were not allowed to compete in the eliminations. Alan Bates also had trouble, drifting out of the groove and eventually tagging the guardrail. Al suffered engine damage on that pass and was unable to take part in the eliminations.In Custom Car Street Eliminator Steve Pateman became the first competitor into the eights with a pass of 8.868 on Sunday which he backed up for a new record. Steve also set a new speed record of 167.29 mph. Super Comp racers Brian Pateman and Paul Marston both spun out at the finish line but neither Brian nor Paul were hurt, and Brian's Firebird and Paul's PT Bruiser were similarly OK. For all class results click here.
May 7th SPR. The Big Bang VW Festival. Martin Hill became the first Jet Funny Car driver outside the USA to record a five-second pass. He ran 5.807/273.34 on an exhibition pass with a 1.07 second 60ft time and 3.973/204.54 at half-track.
May 7th Shakespeare County Raceway. Super Series 2 UK Championship Round Three for Super Pro, Super Comp, Super Gas, Pro ET, Super Street, Sportsman ET, Junior Dragster, Pro Stock Bike, Funny Bike, Competition Bike, Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike. European Top Gas Series Round One. Supertwin Modified racer Tim Boutle set a new world record for a twin-cylinder production bike on his Honda CX650 at 11.151 seconds and 132.39 mph. Supertwin Gas racer Jerry Collier re-set his own world record of 9.671 with a 9.612 on his Jade Racing machine, the quickest two-stroke drag bike in the world. Super Street Car driver Rich Gilbertsons Ford Pop turned very hard right just after launching and flipped up onto its side, sliding across the track and coming to rest against the opposite barrier. In the second session of Custom Car Sue Jackson was in the right hand lane and drifted out of the groove towards the armco, as she corrected the car moved hard to the left, crossing the centre line before the car flipped over onto its roof and came to rest at about 3/4 track. Job Heezen reset the track speed record for Top Gas bikes with a 166mph run. Tim Blakemore recorded a 7.24 in the semi final of funnybike to advance to the final before losing out to Ken Cooper. Steve Pateman reset the Custom Car speed record again with a 168mph run. Mark Newby took his Viper Jet Dragster  to new track records of 203.62 mph on the Saturday and an E.T. of 7.655 seconds on the Sunday. For all class results click here.
May 26th -28th SPR. The Main Event. FIA Round One for Top Fuel, Top Methanol Dragster, Top Methanol Funny car, Pro Stock and UEM Round One for Competition Bike, Supertwin Top Fuel, Pro Stock Bike, UK Championship Round Four for Super Pro, Super Comp, Super Gas, Pro ET, Super Street, Sportsman ET, Junior Dragster, Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike. Saturdays qualifying saw Brian Johnson take out the 1000-foot marker and then plough through the top end lights on his Top Fuel Bike. In Custom Car Street Eliminator Ian Hook got into the eights with a pass of 8.992/154.86. On Sunday in UEM Supertwin Top Fuel qualifying Carsten Andersson bailed out of his badly out-of-shape bike at the top end, going through the speed traps at 140 mph on his back. The sum total of Carsten's injuries was some scratches and a broken hand. In UEM Comp Bike Brian Johnson failed to qualify. In FIA Top Fuel Dragster Anita Makela took the number one qualifying spot with a 5.177/251.32 while Rookie Micke Kagered took number two spot with a 5.221/269.42.  Martin Hill in the Fireforce 2 Jet Funny Car took another trip into the fives with a 5.94/264.60. As Martin went through the top end the FC's body cracked in several places. Monday saw the quickest ever Top Fuel race in Europe with Barry Sheavills 5.00/285.72 (low E.T. of the meeting) defeating Andy Carters 5.08/286.20 in Round One. In the next round Barry was beaten by Peter Beck whos 5.60/246.36 just edged out Barrys blower belt breaking 5.66/158.05. Unfortunately Beck damaged his motor beyond repair leaving Anita Makela to solo to a win in the final. UEM Supertwin Top Fuel saw Anders Karling run a 6.70/186.98 to defeat Erik Nielsen. Anders' 6.70 would have been a new European record but he failed to back it up. For all class results click here.
June 8th-10th Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland. FIA Round Two for Top Fuel, Top Methanol Dragster, Top Methanol Funny car, Pro Stock and UEM Round Two for Competition Bike, Supertwin Top Fuel, Pro Stock Bike. Andy Carter won the Top Fuel class with a 5.23/218.59 against fellow Brit Barry Sheavills who lost traction and went up in smoke. Carter had qualified at #1 with a 5.21/248.40, had a bye run in the first round, and beat Pele Lindelow, who also went up in smoke, in the semis. Sheavills ran a tyre smoking 5.83/199.34 to defeat Peter Beck in Round One and a 5.12/286.90 to beat a blower-belt-tossing Anita Makela at 5.88 in the semis. In Top Methanol Dragster Rob Turner took #1 spot with a 5.78 and took the win in the final with a 5.78 to Miki Falkstedts 6.27. He had byes in the first round and the semis. Dave Wilson qualified with a 5.81 but lost fire in the first round against Falkstedt. In Competition Bike Ian King ran a new personal best of 6.52 in qualifing and progressed to the final with a 6.53/208.03. He finished as runner up to Sverre Dahl when he had mechanical problems.
June 16th/17th Shakespeare County Raceway. Super Series Three. UK Championship Round Five for Super Pro, Super Comp, Super Gas, Pro ET, Super Street, Sportsman ET, Junior Dragster, Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike. In the Outlaw Anglia class Jeff Mead set a new track record of 154.11mph in his 468ci Ford Pop. For all class results click here.
June 29th-July 1st SPR. "Captain Gumball"/The Cannonball. UK Nitro Funny Car Championship Round Two. MSA Top Alcohol Round Three. UK Championship Round six for Super Pro, Super Comp, Super Gas, Pro ET, Super Street, Sportsman ET, Junior Dragster, Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike. The Cannonball Funny Car Shootout took on a different form for this year, to incorporate the second round of the UK Fuel Funny Car Championship. Seperate eliminations were held for the Methanol and Nitro cars, with the winners meeting to run off for the Cannonball trophy. John Spuffard won both the Nitro eliminations and the Cannonball trophy. Along the way he set new European E.T. and speed records of 5.339 seconds and 259.12mph. There were also personal bests for Smax Smith with a 5.74, his first five second run, and Gordon Smith with a 5.67. Top Methanol saw one of the closest races of all time with Rob Turner and Dave Wilson both running 5.85 in Round One. The difference at the start line was 0.002 seconds and at the finish line it was 0.004 seconds, Turner taking the win. This meant that Turner was virtually assured of the Championship title at the next round. The Custom Car Street Eliminator saw its third eight second runner, Jeff meads, and its first side-by-side eight between Jeff and Steve Pateman in qualifying. Brian johnson was having problems again with his Top Fuel bike and failed to make the final against Ian King. Amongst the attractions over the weekend was an F1 Tyrrell who was soundly beaten over the quarter mile by first Tim Adam in his Super Comp roadster, and then Barry Sheavills in his tyre-smoking Top Fueler. For all class results click here.
July 27th-29th Sko Uno Drag Festivall. Mantorp Park, Sweden.  FIA Round Three for Top Fuel, Top Methanol Dragster, Top Methanol Funny car, Pro Stock and UEM Round Three for Competition Bike, Supertwin Top Fuel, Pro Stock Bike. There were Brits in competition in Top Fuel, Top Methanol Dragster and Competition Bike. Top Fuel saw Andy Carter qualify at #3 with a 5.223/251 followed by Barry Sheavills at #4 with a 5.265/280. the pair met in the first round, Carter redlit to a 5.241/275 while Sheavills took the win with a 5.240/285. Sheavills met Top Fuel rookie Kim Reymond in the semis and lost with a 5.183/280 to a holeshot 5.216/253. Reymond went on to win the final. In Top Methanol the Brits dominated. Rob Turner qualifyied at #1 with a 5.77/242 and Dave Wilson made #2 spot with a 5.82/239. The two met in the final where Wilson took the win with a 5.804/235 to Turners 5.905/236. In Competiton Bike (run over the 1/8th mile) Ian King qualified at #2 while Ken Cooper was at #4. The two met in the final where King took the win with a 4.540/170 to Coopers 4.683/155.
August 4th/5th Gardermoen, Norway.  FIA Round Four for Top Fuel, Top Methanol Dragster, Top Methanol Funny car, Pro Stock and UEM Round Four for Competition Bike, Supertwin Top Fuel, Pro Stock Bike. Rain hampered proceedings and eventually curtailed the meeting early. In Top Fuel Barry Sheavills ran a 4.986 in round one making him the first driver to run a four in a Scandinavian country. Rob Turner consolidated his lead in the Top Methanol Dragster championship with a new personal best, and on two wheels there were personal bests for Ken Cooper, with a 7.102 on his Pro Mod bike, and Ian King on his Top Fuel Bike.
August 11th/12th Shakespeare County Raceway.. The Bulldog Bash. Among the many demonstration vehicles putting in runs over the biker weekend were Martin Hill, who took the Fireforce 2 Jet Funny car to a new SCR track record of 6.099seconds, and Jerry Collier who took his 400cc RD Yamaha to new track records of 9.522seconds (an unofficial world record) and 136.78mph.
August 25th-27th Shakespeare County Raceway. Super Series Four. UK Nitro Funny Car Championship Round Three. MSA Top Alcohol Round Four. UK Championship Round seven for Super Pro, Super Comp, Super Gas, Pro ET, Super Street, Sportsman ET, Junior Dragster, Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike. Ten years after his last appearance in the UK Norm Wilding returned to take the driving seat of Mark & Jackie Hawkins Avenger in the UK Fuel Funny Car Championship. He defeated favourite John Spuffard in a race for grip in round one and went on to beat Gordon Smith in the final with both cars again searching for traction. The Showtime team of Spuffard and Bob Jarrett however secured enough points to take the Championship title for the year and put in a solo run for third place resulting in low E.T. and Top Speed of the weekend with a 5.591/277.78 blast. Smax Smith suffered a huge fireball run in his Fuel FC which saw him out of competiton but unhurt. Rob Turner secured another MSA Top Methanol Championship title despite suffering engine damage in eliminations. He earlier set new SCR track records of 5.771/245.90. Also securing a Championship win was Ian king who took the ACU Top Fuel Bike Championship with a win over Steve Woolatt, and Tony Clark took the informal European Super Street Bike Championship with Graham Dance in second place. For all class results click here.
September 14th-16th SPR. The European Finals. FIA Final Round for Top Fuel, Top Methanol Dragster, Top Methanol Funny car, Pro Stock and UEM Final Round for Competition Bike, Supertwin Top Fuel, Pro Stock Bike, UK Championship Round Eight for Super Pro, Super Comp, Super Gas, Pro ET, Super Street, Sportsman ET, Junior Dragster, Super Street Bike, 9.90 Bike, 10.90 Bike. In a very close finish Andy Carter became the 2001 FIA Top Fuel Champion with an event win over Anita Makela. Both Anita and Micke Kagered had dipped into the fours over the weekend. Kagered went out in round one when his motor fireballed and blew out both rear slicks. He was back out later the same day in his TMFC to set a new European record of 5.799. Also in TMFC Lex Joon and Ulf Leanders ran the quickest side by side race in Europe with 5.892 and 5.897 respectively. In UEM Competition Bike Brian Johnson closed his retirement year in the UK with new records of 6.119 and 229.20mph. New records were also set in Pro Stock where Michael Malmgren set both ends at 6.940 and 198.99mph, Pro Modified where Patrik Wikstrom set both ends at 6.323 and 221.45mph, and UEM Supertwin Top Fuel where Anders Karling set both ends at 6.590 and 206.54. For all class results click here.
September 22nd/23rd Shakespeare County Raceway. Super Series Finals. Once again there was a demo class in the form of Super Modified. Dan Cockerill ran the first seven second pass and followed with a string of 7.90s. His new track records for the class were set at 7.922 seconds and 173.74mph. In Funny Bike Tim Blakemore set a new track record of 7.149 seconds and in Supertwin Modified Lynn Mason-Roe set a new track record of 138.46mph. For all class results click here.
October 6th/7th SPR. UK National Finals. As at the previous years finals rain curtailed the proceedings with no classes being completed.
November 5th/6th SPR. The Flame And Thunder Show. Gary Page was back on the track  for the first time in three years with an early shut off pass in Rune Fjelds Top Fueler. Tyre shake was the culprit. Later in the day Barry Sheavills matched up with Andy Carter for a 'grudge race'. Carter hit tyre shake and shut off while Sheavills ran a half pass for the win at 5.61/176. The car bracket was won by Al Platt while Richard Every took the Bike Bracket win. nigel Green won VW Pro, Steve Lee took VW Sportsman and Joe Bond was winner in Junior Dragster. Martin Hill was back in the fives in the Fireforce 2 Jet Funny Car with a 5.99/255
November 10th/11th AMA/Prostar World Finals, Gainsville, Florida. The UKs Brian Johnson made his final trip to compete in the event before his retirement from racing. He initially lead qualifying in Top Fuel Bike with a 6.487/220.80 but by the start of eliminations was at number three. He went out in Round One with a 6.334/226.13 to Ron Webbs 6.195/218.07. The other Brits competing had little luck also. In Pro Mod Bike Dave Holland failed to qualify with an 8.231/152.33 while Dave Beck qualified at #12 with a 7.016/191.08. Beck went out in Round One with a 7.021/188 to Charlie Farrars 6.931.

 

2002
January Following his retirement from Drag racing at the end of the previous season Brian Johnson announced that he had sold the Imperial Wizard, his Top fuel bike, to Jimmy Brantley of Florida. Jimmy had previously ridden a Suzuki Hayabusa street bike.
January 19th Willowbank Raceway. Australia. ANDRA 2002 Nationals. UK ex-pat Steve Read took the win in Top Fuel Dragster at the ANDRA 2002 Nationals at Willowbank Raceway in Australia. Steve qualified #1 at 4.943/287.54 before running another 4.9 at 296 mph in the first round and taking out Jim Read in the final with a 5.01 at a slowing 268 mph.
March 30th-April 1st SPR Easter Thunderball. 3rd Annual Pro Fuel Shootout. SPRC & National Championships Round One. For the second year running defending Champion John Spuffard, in the Showtime Pontiac FC, faced the Top Fuel Dragster of Andy Carter. This time Carter took the win as Spuffard lost traction in spectacular fashion. In Top Methanol Dave Wilson took his newly imported car to an off-the-trailer 5.597/252.84. He backed it up the next day with a 5.61/241.89 for a new British record, taking over a tenth of a second off the previous record. He shut off in round one and went out to Steph Milam who was runner up in the final to Rob Turner. For all class results click here. For Eurodragster live updates click here
May 4th-6th Shakespeare County Raceway. Super Series Springnationals. Rob Turner took the win in Top Methanol with late entry Lex Joon taking runner up spot. Earlier on the Sunday Lex set a new terminal speed track record of 234.38mph. In qualifying he had set the TMFC E.T. record at 6.075/227.27. Also in Top Methanol Steph Milam set a new personal best of 6.864/209.30 in her 'She Devil' TMFC. In Fuel Funny Car John Spuffard won the first round of the Championship setting a new track record E.T. of 5.48 in the first round. For all class results click here. For Eurodragster live updates click here
May 11th/12th Santa Pod Raceway. The Speedfreaks Ball. RWYB Bike meeting with demo bikes and thrust vehicles. Sammy Miller made a return to the UK and brought the Vanishing Point Rocket Funny Car out of retirement for the event. His first pass turned out to be the quickest of the weekend, he shut off very early to record a 5.105 at only 197mph. On his second run he clocked 5.429/193.01 but had to take evasive action at the top end. The car steamed up inside and with no vision Sammy spun the car off into the field to avoid a more serious crash. The car was repaired in time for a final blast on the second day but problems led to a 6.258/182.52. Other highlights included a Top Fuel Bike versus Supertwin Top Fuel Bike shootout, won by Ton Pels with a 6.99/198.40 over an 11.29/94.09 from Steve Woolatt, and a Super Street Bike Shootout, won by Mark Fisher with an 8.83/163.74 over Pete Bellinies 9.17/155.51. For photos click here. For Eurodragster live updates click here
June 1st-3rd Santa Pod Raceway. The Main Event. The FIA Top Fuel class saw its first side-by-side fours and its first 300mph runs this weekend, in the same race! Qualifying on the Sunday saw Barry Sheavills clock a 4.970/304.71 while alongside him Andy Carter ran 4.897/303.07. Barry was officially the first to the 300mph mark even though he pulled a red light. Later on in Round One of eliminations Carter ran a 4.92/288.26 to back up the previous run for a new European E.T. record while Sheavills ran 4.95/301.65, the previous 304 backing up the speed for a new European speed record. Carter went on to the final where he was defeated by Kim Reymond  who ran his first four, a 4.99/283.96. In the second round of the Nitro Funny Car Championship John Spuffard took the win with a 5.38/286.05, the highest funny car speed outside the USA. Top Methanol Dragster saw Dave Wilson set new European E.T. and speed records of 5.56seconds and 252.84mph. For all class results click here. For Eurodragster live updates click here
June 15th/16th Shakespeare County Raceway. Super Series Midsummer Nationals. In Super modified Danny Cockerill set new track records of 7.693 seconds and 180mph. The Custom Car Street Eliminator class saw Steve Pateman set new track records of 8.746 seconds and 171.10mph. Dave Beck set a new Funny bike track record of 7.506 seconds while in Super Street Bike Tony Clark set a new track record of 179.28mph. In the European Top Gas Bike class Riccardo Giliberto set the track record at 8.099 seconds and Dave Bartz set new records of 10.065 seconds and 140.19mph in Super Twin Modified. For all class results and photos click here. For Eurodragster live updates click here
June 29th/30th Santa Pod Raceway. Summernationals. For all class results click here. For Eurodragster live updates click here
August 24th-26th Shakespeare County Raceway. Super Series Fallnationals. In a Top Fuel match race Andy Carter took on Suzanne Callin. In the first round Andy took the win and set both ends of the track record with a 5.191/288.46 after Suzannes tyres went up in smoke off the line. Round two saw an easy win for Andy after Suzannes car would not start. In the third round Andy made it 3-0 with a 5.417/284.81 as Suzanne hit tyre shake and shut off. John Spuffard won the third round of the Nitro Funny Car Championship with a 5.858/251.40 to Gordon Smiths 8.587/102.97. In Top Methanol Rob Turner ran a new personal best and set a new track record  of 5.614/247.25 in the first qualifying session. He went on to clinch the 2002 Championship by making it to the last pair. In a close final Dave Wilson beat Turner 5.688/251.40 5.756/240.64. Pro Stock Bike saw Martin Bishop run a new personal best of 7.667/175.78 in qualifying. Funny Bike saw a new track record of 7.167/166.67 from Tim Blakemore in qualifying. For all class results click here. For Eurodragster live updates click here
September 6th-8th Santa Pod Raceway. FIA European Finals. In the second session of Top Fuel qualifying Barry Sheavills made number one spot with a 4.94/277.46 but the chassis broke at the top end and and the car disintergrated. Barry was ok but the car was written off.  Number two qualifier Micke Kagered (5.006/295.46) met rookie Darryl Bradford in Round One and took the win with a 4.97/282.58. However as he rossed the line the motor exploded destroying the car and sending Micke in the safety cell into the field. He was taken to hospital but was ok. Despite being unable to continue in competiton Micke clinched the Top Methanol Funny Car Championship by virtue of a better head-to-head record with Urs Erbacher whom he tied on points with at the end of the event. In Top Methanol Rob Turner improved on his personal best with his first 5.5 second pass, a 5.58/244.45 in the third qualifying session. Peter Schofer set a new European E.T. record of 5.543/249.21 in the final qualifying session. In Top Methanol Funny Car Qualifying Leif Andreasson ran the quickest ever in Europe with a 5.72/243.67 (he failed to back this up for the record). In the same session Urs Erbacher set the record at 5.78/244.91. Lex Joon went on to re-set the record with a 5.77/242.30 in the first round, backed up by an earlier 5.82. John Spuffard won the Nitro Funny Car fourth round and clinched the Championship for the second year running. For all class results click here. For Eurodragster live updates click here
September 28th/29th Santa Pod Raceway. UK National Finals. For all class results click here. For Eurodragster live updates click here
October 5th/6th Shakespeare County Raceway. Doorslammer Shootout. For all class results click here.
November 2nd/3rd Santa Pod Raceway. The Flame And Thunder Show. Rained Out!
  All the 2002 Champions can be found here on
2003
April 6th

Santa Pod Raceway. Run What You Brung. A number of racers took the opportunity of using this as a pre-season test day.  Among them were Gordon Smith and Dave Bryant, with a new body on their Shockwave Fuel Funny Car, and Oyvor Jacobsen who was making a return to Top Fuel racing with the Rune Fjeld Team. Her single visit to the start line, in very cold conditions, saw a lack of traction on the launch which resulted in a blackened crank. John Everitt ran a new PB in his Pro ET Toyota of 9.48/144.83. Junior Dragster racer Johnny Walker appeared with a rare sight, a twin engined stock JD described as "an experiment" by his Dad. He ran 12.89/46.54, and 13.04/47.14.
April 19th-21st

Santa Pod Raceway. Easter Thunderball & Pro Fuel Shootout. This years shootout saw the debut of Smax Smith in a Top Fuel car. He ran his licencing passes in the first rounds, recording 5.57/175.99, 5.47/185.77 and an early shut off 6.31/144 after tyre shake. These times were enough to put him into the final round against Gordon Smith in the Shockwave Funny Car, who ran 8.89/102.09, 5,78/190.94 and 10.05/85.72. Andy Carter ran 6.35/175.99, 6.19/230.04 and 5.47/197.97. Micke Kagered recorded a best of 12.32/79.70, the car failing to stick to the track on the launches. Oyvor Jacobsen ran her licensing passes also, recording a best of 7.30/110 after tyre shake. Bill Sherratt was in the seat of the Showtime Funny Car, his first pass quickly produced a blower belt throwing boom, which forced him to sit out the second round. In round three a similar situation occured with the burst panel blowing off the front of the body. In the final the Shockwave car went up in smoke on the hit, while Smax took the win with a terminal speed of 283.36 with no E.T. being recorded after an erroneous 4.55s came up on the finish line display. Dave Wilson qualified at number one in Top Methanol with a 5.665/253.63, followed by Rob Turner at 5.688/247.32. Third was Steph Milam at 6.673/213.45 and Doug Ripley finally at 11.113/115.58. Wilson and Turner made the final, both running 5.63 in the semis. Wilson hit tyre shake but drove through it, but Turner took the win with a 5.65/238.22 to a 5.70/245/31. In Super Pro ET qualifying Pat Talbot ran new PBs in the first two rounds, culminating in a 7.13/185.84, but it was Mark Flavell who made the number one spot with a 7.918/173.78, 0.008s followed by Ian Bishop with a 7.941/169. Bishop made it to the final where he faced Danny  Cockerill, taking the win with a 7.940/155.07 to a 7.971/168.56. In Custom Car Street Eliminator John Sleath hit the wall twice at half track in his Audi. He was declared ok after check ups. Steve Pateman took his Chevy powered Calibra to number one qualifier spot with an 8.600/171.86, a new class speed record. Jon Webster made number two with an 8.734/166.73. Pateman made it to the final where he defeated Sue Jackson with an 8.653/168.81 to an 8.723/155.06. In the bike ranks Bob Brooks recorded a new PB of 7.83 in Comp Bike and Dave Beck had a very good weekend in Pro Stock. He qualified at number one with a 7.295/183.08, a new ACU ET record, and a new speed record. He went on to win the final round against Richard Gipp with a 7.434/174.07 to an 8.189/160.41. Eric Teboul put in two passes on his rocket bike. The first was a 6.39/181.85, the second a 6.17/181.05, which produced a 3.889/203 at the eighth, the quickest and fastest ever recorded for a bike.

For all class results click here. For Eurodragster live updates click here.
May 3rd-5th

Shakespeare County Raceway. Excitement Nationals. In the Wild Bunch Dick Sharp, driving the Dorset Horn Altered, ran a 9.60 which was almost a new personal best. The crankshaft in the car was reported to be the same one that the team had been using when they began racing in 1973. In Custom Car Street Eliminator qualifying Sue Jackson's Corvette crossed lanes and had a head on with the guardrail. Sue was OK.  Rain brought an early end to the proceedings on Saturday. Smax Smith and Darryl Bradford were present with their Top Fuel cars for a series of match races. In the first round on Sunday Bradford (using a HANS neck & head support, the first in UK Drag racing to do so) took too long to come into pre-stage and was disqualified. Smith shut off before the eigth mile to a 6.874/127.84. The nitro Funny Cars of Gordon Smith (Shockwave) and John Spuffard (Showtime) ran together for their first qualifier. Spuffards engine popped and blew the pressure relief plate on the hit while Smith hit tyre shake quickly and tagged the guardrail, coasting to an 8.889/100.45. The first round of Top Methanol saw Dave Wilson get out of shape after tyre shake and use the whole width of his lane before straightening up and clocking a 7.645/119.05. In the other lane Doug Bond took evasive action and shut off early to a 10.344/73.77. Rob Turner also suffered tyre shake that was so severe it broke the rear axle brackets. The second session saw Wilson hit tyre shake again, but he drove through it and went to number one qualifier with a 5.762/245.90. Doug Bond got a full run in and took the number two spot with a 6.719/207.37. Steph Milam soled after Doug Ripley lost fire after the burnout. She hit tyre shake and shut off early to an 11.248/107.40. Ripley re-started and also hit tyre shake, recording a 14.341/39.59. Pro Mod qualifying saw John Ellis put in a strong pass with no time recorded. Gordon Appleton was debuting his new Camaro which had apparently only been finished by Robinson Race Cars on the Friday night. His first run got out of shape and he hit the timing reflectors. Personal bests in qualifying went to Funny Bike riders Dave Holland, with a 7.131/182.19, which put him in numer one spot, and Stu Chamberlain with a 7.400/177.17, which put him in number two. Paul Watson ran his first seven with a 7.982/166.67 in Pro Stock Bike. Lucy Thorn in the other lane clocked an 8.891/154 before parting company with her bike in the shut down area. Lucy was unhurt. TJ O'Brien qualified at number one and ran a new record in Supertwin Modified with a 9.959/141.9. Nick Stephenson went to number one qualifier in Super pro ET after running 8.700/160 on an 8.70 dial-in. On Sunday the wind was strong enough that the motorcycle classes ran their first rounds by racing to the eigth mile. After that the wind died down and they resumed running to the quarter. John Spuffard and Gordon Smith ran their final qualifier. Both cars launched well but at half track the Showtime car lost it's relief panel and blower belt with a bang and burst of flame. Smith was drifting towards Spuffard's lane and got off the throttle. In their final round Spuffard took the win with a 5.633/263.16 as Smith shut off at half track to record at 6.343/183.67. In the first round of Top Methanol Dave Wilson got a bye and then drove through tyre shake to record a 5.696/252.81. Doug Bond defeated Rob Turner 6.322/171.10 to 6.992/141.51. Both cars hit tyre shake and shut off early. Doug Ripley defeated Steph Milam with both cars getting out of shape and pedalling due to tyre shake. In the semis it was Bond who took the bye, running 8.059/117.19. Ripley put in his best pass of the weekend with an 8.034/179, but lost out to a strong 5.710/235.60 from Wilson. In the final it was Wilson who took the honours with a 5.716/235.60 to a 5.940 from Bond. His speed was not recorded as Wilson's chute had disturbed the finish line reflector and tripped the clocks. Gordon Appleton ran a 6.740/206.42, getting to grips with the new car. In Super Modified Danny Cockerill took the final round win with a 7.794/180.72 as opponent Andy Hone got out of shape, clipped the guardrail and then had a battle on his hands to get the car straight, before turning hard left and hitting the rail again. T J O'Brien was looking to back up his 9.959 from the previous day, but ran too quick with a 9.844. He took the final with a 9.926/139.32 win over a 9.893/135.95 from Dave Bartz. In Pro Stock bike Paul Watson upped his personal best again with a 7.629/173.08 bye in the semis. He went on to beat Richard Gipp in the final with a 7.660/175.78. Jamie Sneddon and Max Nixon both ran new personal bests in Super Street Bike with 8.56 and 8.41 respectively. Jennifer Hurcomb became the winner of the UK's first ever Junior Drag Bike elimination with a 10.354/70.98 win when opponent Dan Baldwin failed to make the call.

For all class results click here. For Eurodragster live updates click here.

May 9th-11th

Santa Pod Raceway. Speedfreaks Ball. After a couple of hold ups for rain on Saturday Martin Hill took the Fireforce 2 Jet Funny Car to a solo 6.41/251.07 before lining up alongside Tony Baker in Fireforce One. He improved on his earlier performance by winning with a 6.04/271.79 to a 7.21/189.95. Jerry Lackey put in a couple of test half-passes in the Patriot Jet Dragster, a 9.21/84.14 and an 8.84/95.09. Eric Teboul put in a 5.968s pass on his rocket bike, but had less luck with his Top Fuel Bike entry which shattered a sprocket. Roel Koedam led the way in Top Fuel Bike with a 6.60/180.63 half pass, followed by a 7.23/194.61. Steve Woolatt ran a 6.87/198.39 followed by an early shut off 7.06/169.50. Ian King slowed to a 14.01/51.62 after his blower belt broke. Ton Pels was the quickest of the Super Twins with a 7.39/197.07 and a 7.23/194.61. In Funny Bike Neil Midgley led the way with a brace of 7.19s passes at 185.55 and 186.85mph. In Super Street Bike Matt Nixon qualified at number one with an 8.494/160.19, followed by Graham Dance (8.642), Karl Larcombe (8.664) and Pete Bellenie (8.733). In Eliminations on the Sunday Dance and Nixon made their way to the final where Dance ran his quickest time of the weekend to win with an 8.48/169.17 to an 8.84/162.22. In the Top Fuel/Super Twin Shootout Roel Koedam took the final win with a strong 6.43/222.05 against Ton Pels whose engine died on the launch. Ian King and Jamie Millership raced for third and fourth place, King taking it with a 7.61/180.80 over a 9.12/124.70. Eric Teboul put in a 6.123/190.83 on the rocket bike and Martin Hill and Tony Baker held two more Fireforce match races. Hill won both with a 6.34/260.20 and a 6.73/252.29.

Eurodragster Live Updates
May 24th-26th

Santa Pod Raceway. Main Event. After a promising star weather-wise the first day of qualifying was interrupted a couple of times for rain showers. Fuel Funny Car saw two new drivers licencing. Lex Joon, with the ex-Showtime Avenger, and Leif Helander with his Starkotter Saab entry. The second day of qualifying saw Andy Carter lead the way in Top Fuel with a 4.884/288.64 in the final session. Anita Makela followed with a 4.892/261.37, then Kim Reymond with a 5.005/261.16. John Spuffard in Showtime led Fuel Funny Car with an early shut off 5.555/190.4 followed by Gordon Smith's Shockwave at 5.650/183.87. In Top Methanol Funny Car Urs Erbacher became the first in Europe to the 5.6s with a 5.694/246.51 that put him at number one qualifier and set the European record at 5.771. Pro Modified saw Roger Johansson become the first in Europe in to the 6.3s with a 6.397/207.07 for number one qualifier. Very close behind was Hakan Nilsson, also in the 6.3s with a 6.398/216.26. The UK's Gordon Appleton ran a new personal best of 6.615/209.80. Top Fuel Bike saw Steve Woolatt set a new personal best of 6.541/211.25 on The Dealer. Number one qualifier was Roel Koedam with a 6.263/221.20. In Pro Stock Bike Roger Pettersson made the number one spot with a 7.396/178.94, one thousandth of a second quicker than the European record. He backed this up on his next pass with a 7.456/174.91 for a new European record. Martin Hill put in a 5.793/275.71 in the Fireforce 2 Jet Funny Car. On race day in Top Fuel number one qualifier Andy Carter ran a 5.008/233.22 with smoke coming from his engine as number eight qualifier Smax Smith powered his way to a 4.899/303 win. Oyver Jacobsen beat Tommy Moller with new personal bests of 5.131/286.19 to 8.688/87.89 as Moller's engine expired. Gary Page advanced to the next round with a defeat of Anita Makela whose engine went up in flames, and Kim Reymond ran a 4.932/286.54 to defeat Micke Kagered's 5.490/171.61. Smith advanced to the final in the next round with a 5.056/294.62 over a 5.182/236.30 from Jacobsen, and Page took a 5.175/256.02 win over Reymond whose tyres went up in smoke on the line. In the final it was Smith who took the win with a 4.959/280.53 to a 5.382/211.65. In Fuel Funny Car John Spuffard ran a solo 5.288/266.57 in the first round, the quickest FC pass outside the USA. He went on to win the final against Gordon Smith with a 5.410/265.59 to a 7.053/124.36. This backed up his earlier 266.57mph for a new European record. The Top Methanol Dragster final produced the quickest side-by-side race outside the USA as Dave Wilson took the win with a 5.461/244.44 over a 5.488/247.57 from Peter Schofer. Top Methanol Funny Car saw Urs Erbacher reset the record again with a 5.755/245.86 in his semi final defeat of Dan Larsen who ran 5.857/239.66. Erbacher took the final win with a 5.715/248.36 that backed up his earlier 5.694 for another European record. His final opponent was Leif Andreasson who ran 5.901/241.70. Pro Modified saw Gordon Appleton reset his personal best again in the semis with a 6.580/208.99, but he lost to a 6.453/215.52 from Roger Johnasson. Johansson went on to win the final against Henri Joosten with a 6.462/215.58 to a 6.880/196.43. In Top Fuel Bike Roel Koedam ran a new personal best of 6.237/223.44 to defeat Tim Blakemore's 7.305/163.93. The Pro Stock Bike semi finals saw Roger Petterson's bike lose fire as he approached the start line. He restarted and took the win with a 7.514/175.57 over an 8.261/157.67 from Chris Hope. The restart was judged to be against the rules and Hope was brought back in to face Oivind von Essen in the final. Von Essen pulled a red light and Hope took the win with an 8.482/149.92.

For all class results click here. For Eurodragster live updates click here.
June 14th/15th

Shakespeare County Raceway. Power Nationals. Darryl Bradford and Susanne Callin held a best of three Top Fuel match race. The first round went to Bradford with an early shut off 5.986/180.72 whilst Callin experienced tyre shake, which appeared to be on one side only, and coasted through to a 7.237/111.66. In the second round it was Callin that took the win with another early shut off after shake and an 8.041/97.61 as Bradford rolled through the staging lights and collected a red. In the deciding third round both cars got it together before shutting off before the finish and it was Bradford that took the win with a 5.543/240.64 to a 5.457/220.59. Mickey Moore and Jim Seward were on hand with their Fuel Altereds, also for a best of three. Moore took the first round with a 7.937/183.67 to an anyway but straight 7.815/128.94. Seward took the second round, 7.301/171.76 to 8.632/181.45. In the decider Moore had mechanical problems and Seward soloed to a 6.928/177.17. Gordon Appleton ran a best of 6.715/211.27 in a series of three races with John Ellis. Appleton's speed was a new track record for the class. Martin Hill took the Fireforce 2 Jet Funny Car to the tracks first five second jet car pass on his first outing, a 5.920/271.08. He bettered this on his next outing with a 5.885/272.73. Roger Goring also ran his Firestorm Jet FC with a best of 6.627/238.10. In Super Modified Steve Rawlings ran a new personal best of 8.241/165.44 in the first round, having qualified at number two with an 8.660/160.14. Danny Cockerill qualified at number one with an 8.266/169.81. The final was won by Graham Ellis with a solo 7.744/181.45 aftter Rawlings broke. Custom Car Street Eliminator qualifying saw Sue Jackson turn her Corvette on it's side before hitting the guardrail. She was OK and the car not too badly damaged. Steve Pateman led qualifying all the way through in his Calibra, finishing with an 8.763/167.91 ahead of John Hales at 8.842/166.05. Both drivers made it to the final, Pateman taking the win with a 9.741/145.16 to a 9.575/166.67. In The Wild Bunch Dick Sharpe took his Dorset Horn Altered to a new personal best of 9.541s. In Pro Stock Bike qualifying Richard Gipp set a new personal best of 7.605/173.08 to take the lead. Dave Beck then immediately followed with a 7.538/171.76 to knock him down to number two. Gipp improved again in eliminations with a 7.569/177.17 but failed to make the final. Beck faced Chris Hope in the last round and took the win with a 7.641/171.10 to an 8.543/167.29. In a hotly contested Funny Bike field Neil Midgley made number one qualifier with a 7.183/177.17 followed by Dave Holland at 7.261/171.10. In eliminations Holland won his first round pairing with Paul Knapp with a 7.256s at a new track record MPH of 186.72. Two competitors ran new personal bests in the first round, a 7.196/183.67 from Mike Chislett, and a 7.180/192.31 from Steve French, setting a second new MPH track record. In the semis Neil Midgley ran the tracks first six second Funny Bike pass with a 6.988/182.93. He went on to win the final against Holland with a 7.058/189.08 to a 7.273/178.57.

For all class results click here. For Eurodragster live updates click here.
June 28th/29th

Santa Pod Raceway. Summer Nationals. In Top Methanol Rob Turner ran a new MSA Championship record of 5.586/238.84 in his first round bye run. This was backed up by a 5.613/229.25 qualifier. Only two cars made the eliminations as Steph Millam damaged two valves in her She Devil FC on a personal best qualifying run of 6.614/213.00. Dave Wilson's first round bye produced a 5.636/245.45 and he went on to win the final with a 5.684/248.90 to Turner's 5.6878/244.75. In Super Modified Steve Rawlings ran a new personal best of 8.138 in qualifying. On his next outing he lowered it again with an 8.108/162.71. In the final round of qualifying on the Sunday morning he improved yet again and ran his first seven second pass, a 7.960/169.51. In the first round of eliminations he ran 8.012/168.58 to defeat a 10.281/142.31 from Paul Brooks. Danny Cockerill had qualified at number one with a 7.704/179.60 and took a bye at 7.701/180.37 in the first round. Graham Ellis advanced to the semis with the quickest and fastest Super Mod run ever of 7.553/183.50 against a 7.996/166.11 from Andy Hone. Ellis ran quicker and faster again in the next round with a 7.510/184.26, but a holeshot 7.610/183.71 from Cockerill took the win. In the final it was Cockerill again who took the honours with a 7.552/184.62 to an 8.075/167.78 from Rawlings. Neil Midgley took his Funny Bike to a 6.877/188.35 to lead qualifying. He backed this up in the second round of eliminations with a 6.877/189.96 for a new ACU record. In the final against Mike Chislett he went quicker still, re-set the record, and took the win with 6.831/189.83 to a 7.430/182.73. Ivan Birch ran a new personal best of 8.671/160.35 in the first round of qualifying for Super Street Bike, as did Matt Nixon with an 8.442/167.42. Nixon improved on this on his next outing with an 8.351/168.34 which gave the top qualifying spot. Neither rider made it to the final which was won by Tony Clark with an 8.819/171.15 over a 9.844/162.94 from Steve Venables. There was also a personal best for Al Golding in Super Pro ET of 8.861/150.66.

For all class results click here. For Eurodragster live updates click here.
July 24th- 27th

Mantorp Park. Veidec Nitro Festival. In Top Fuel Smax Smith just missed out on running the first four second pass at the track in the first round of qualifying. His 4.954/466.38 (289.79mph) came shortly after Kim Reymond's 4.952/483.14 (300.20mph), putting the pair at the top of the seven car field, which is where they stayed as neither driver improved on this in the second round. Andy Carter put in an early shut-off 5.584/309.10 (192.06mph) in the first session, and improved to a 5.248/399.89 (248.48mph) in the second round, qualifying at number six. In eliminations Smith went out in the first round when he pulled a red light against Tommy Moller, who took the win with a 4.965/470.45 (292.32mph). Carter defeated Anita Makela in close race, 5.115/461.72 (286.89) to Makela's 5.134/337.05 (209.43mph) with an early shut off when smoke began to come from the engine. In the semis Carter pulled a holeshot on Moller before beginning to lose traction. He pedalled and took the win with a 5.374/452.46 (281.14mph) to a 5.396/432.46 (268.71mph). The final between Carter and Kim Reymond never happened as rain swept in and brought an early end to the meeting. Top Methanol Dragster saw Brits Rob Turner and Dave Wilson in the five car field. Wilson took an early lead in the first round of qualifying with a 5.571/413.64 (257.02mph) and Turner made number three with a 5.641/402.92 (250.36mph). Peter Schofer sat between the pair at 5.604/400.24 (248.69mph). In the second qualifier Schofer ran a new track record of 5.545/405.15 to push Wilson down to second. Turner improved to a 5.636/396.95 (246.65mph) but remained at third until the third session, where he produced a 5.562/405.54 (251.99mph) to move up to number two qualifier. In eliminations Turner lost a blower belt in his first round match with Krister Johansson, who took the win with a 6.204/355.39 (220.82mph). Wilson ran a 5.503/419.79 (260.84mph) for another new track record, and the first half of a new European speed record (the first European 260mph Top Methanol pass), in his defeat of a 6.441/262.45 (163.07mph) from Jari Halinen. In the semis Wilson secured the speed record with a 5.492/420.02 (261.04mph), but this was not enough to catch a holeshot 5.510/403.40 (250.66mph) from Schofer. In Top Fuel Bike Ian King qualified at number five but was unable to compete in eliminations. He suffered some burns to his legs when his bike errupted in a ball of flame during the second round of qualifying. In Pro Stock Bike the UK's Chris Hope and Richard Gipp qualified at numbers 3 and 7. Hope with a 7.634/280.41 (174.23mph) and Gipp with a 7.727/262.49 (163.10mph). In the first round Gipp lost out to Vesa Rautio, 7.464/287.76 (178.80mph) to 7.725/273.25 (169.78mph). Hope defeated Anders Abrahamsson, whose bike broke before half track, with an 8.812/269.16 (167.24mph). He then also got beaten by Rautio in the next round, 7.481/280.63 (174.37mph) to 7.591/279.60 (173.73mph). In Super Street Dave Cherrett and Bob Lees made it to rounds 4 (semi finals) and 2 respectively.
August 23rd-25th

Shakespeare County Raceway. All Star Nationals. In Fuel Funny Car John Spuffard was debuting a new ex-John force Mustang body on the Showtime car. In the first round of qualifying he put in a strong 5.383/271.08 which placed him at the top of qualifying for the weekend. In the second round he set a new UK speed record with a 272.73mph blast in 5.409s. In the other lane Lex Joon suffered a huge fireball near the top end which burnt the chutes off. He managed to get the car stopped safely and was ok with minor burns to his hands. In the first round of eliminations Spuffard ran an early shut off 5.862/218.45 as opponent Gary Page suffered an engine failure which left oil along the second half of the track. Gordon smith soloed to a 12.943/81.82 after striking the tyres on the launch. In the final Smith had the same problem, idling to a 16.364/64.94 as Spuffard took the win with a 5.641/190.69. Doug Bond qualified at number one in a three car Top Methanol field with a 6.564/173.08. In the final his burst panel blew, leaving Steph Milam to take the win with new personal bests of 6.308/219.57. Mickey Moore and Jim Seward were on hand with their Fuel Altereds for a series of match races. Seward took the first round, 7.200/148.03 to a 9.563/160.71, and the second with a 7.023/164.73 to a 9.755/153.06. In the third Moore made the better start, but Seward soon caught and passed him, shuttting off early to a 10.466/72.82. In the final round it was Seward again with a 6.935/173.75 to a 9.616/166.67. Dick Sharp rolled the Dorset Horn Altered at the top end in the first round of qualifying for The Wild Bunch. Dick was taken to hospital and found to have broken his wrist.. In Custom Car Street Eliminator Sue Jackson was back with her Corvette, having crashed at the Power Nationals in June. Steve Pateman set a new class record of 8.441s in the third round of eliminations, despite losing to an 8.495 from Steve Nash. Super Modified saw a new personal best of 7.925s for Steve Rawlings in qualifying. In the third round of Super Pro ET qualifying Steve Johnson lost control of his Motor Mouse dragster and managed to keep the car on the track and upright through two 360 degree spins, still crossing the finish line at 116mph. Frank Mason qualified at number one in Super Gas with a perfect 9.00/141.96. In Top Fuel Bike Steve Woolatt led qualifying with a 6.773/204.55 on his return to the track after wrecking his engine at the Main Event. In qualifying on the Saturday he set new personal bests of 6.478/215.31. In eliminations he took a first round bye with a 6.587/207.37, which secured him the 2003 ACU Top Fuel Bike Championship. Both the other competitors in the class, Chris Hannam and Steve Carey were shut down before gettiung to the start line, leaving Woolatt to solo for the final round with an early shut off 7.105/177.17. In Supertwin Fuel qualifying Jerry Collier took his RD400 to a new world record for an RD of 9.141/139.75 to take an early lead in qualifying. He further improved on this with an 8.938/137.20, and then, in Round Two of eliminations, an 8.890/138.89. In the final he met Chris Stebbings and broke, leaving Stebbings to take the win with a 10.960/83.49. Roger Goring put in some demo passes in the Firestorm Jet Funny Car, running a best of 6.451/241.94 on the final run of the weekend.

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September 5th-7th

Santa Pod Raceway. European Finals. In Top Fuel qualifying Kim Reymond became the first in Europe to put in a 4.6s pass, and the first to top 310mph. His 4.645/317.56 put him at the top of the pack. Championship leader Smax Smith managed a best of 5.045/290.83 which put him in the number four spot. Susanne Callin was just behind him with a personal best of 5.097/284.45. Peter Beck and Tommy Moller were both in the fours, Beck at number two with 4.936/287.66, and Moller at three with a 4.988/299.48, a personal best speed. In eliminations Smith took a first round win with a leisurely 9.849/104.49 after going up in smoke of the line. Opponent Callin suffered an engine explosion. Micke Kagered ran a new personal best of 4.927/287.23 in his defeat of Peter Beck's 4.915/264.05. Smith advanced to the final with a launch and idle run after opponent Darryl Bradford shut off after his burnout. Kagered took the other semi win with a 5.192/268.34 to a 5.490/182.09 from Moller. With just eleven points between Smith and Kagered the final would decide the championship. It was Smith that took the win with a 5.055/292.64 as Kagered slowed following an engine explosion to 5.642/194.04.Top Methanol Dragster was also down to the final round for the championship title. Dave Wilson emerged victorious with a 5.559/252.83 win over a 5.598/247.25 from Peter Schofer. In Fuel Funny Car a first round bye for John Spuffard secured him the 2003 Championship title. In the final against Gordon Smith an engine explosion launched the cars body off while Smith crossed the centre line ahead of him and finished in the wrong lane, giving Spuffard the win. Christer Jacobs qualified at number one in Pro Modified with a 6.379/216.54, lost to Norbert Kuno in the first round after shutting off due to tyre shake. Kuno went out in the next round to Gordon Appleton whose engine went up in smoke at the finish, allowing Roger Johansson to take an easy route to the final and accumulate enough points to secure the championship title. In the last round he met Freddy Fagerstrom and took the win with a 6.435/213.41 to a 6.557/206.67. In Super Pro ET Barry Giles took an early lead in qualifying with a 7.630/169.30 on a 7.63 dial in, but failed to make it past the first round of eliminations. Roger Moore was second with his first ever seven second pass, a 7.965 on a 7.95 dial in, making the Moore Brothers Herald the quickest 400ci Pontiac Doorslammer on the planet. He went out in round two. In Super Gas Frank Mason qualified at number one with a 9.900 for the second meeting in a row. Top Fuel Bike saw Roel Koedam set new European records of 6.113/229.99 in qualifying. He then bettered this with a 6.046/235.89 in the next round. His good form ran out though in the semi final against Ian King when his engine destroyed itself. King had left before the lights ran so Koedam had a place in the final, but stood no chance of making it. Sverre Dahl took the final win. In qualifying for 9.90 bike on Saturday Steve Coombs matched up with Fred Furlong and beat him with a holeshot 10.110 to a 9.990. A later examination of the timing data showed that the margain of victory of 0.000134 seconds, or about 0.3 inches. Martin Hill lost the body off the Fireforce 2 Jet Funny Car in the shutdown area on a 5.897/273.17 pass.

For all class results click here. For Eurodragster live updates click here.
September 20th/21st

Shakespeare County Raceway. Doorslammer Internationals. This event was run as a RWYB event with entries divided into eight classes. Steve Pateman set about lowering the Custom Car Street Eliminator record with a series of low eight second passes. he began with an 8.383 and then beat it with an 8.317 on the Saturday. On Sunday he went even quicker, advancing to the final round and leaving the record at 8.223. In the final he beat Ian Jackson 8.240/171.76 to 9.260/167.29. Roger Goring put in some mid-six second demonstration passes in the Firestorm Jet Funny Car with a best of 6.390/247.26.

For all class results click here. For Eurodragster End-day Reports click here.
September 27th/28th

Santa Pod Raceway. UK National Finals. In Top Methanol Dave Wilson began qualifying with a 5.791/201.94 with an early shut off as smoke came from the engine. In the other lane Steph Milam clocked a 7.455/130.02. She improved on this in the next session, running 6.405/212.73, Wilson shutting off to a 6.094/173.25 after hitting tyre shake. In the third session Wilson improved to a 5.617/250.58. Wilson secured the 2003 MSA Championship title with a 5.722/239.05 win over a 10.444/82.87 from Milam in the final. In Custom Car Street Eliminator the Calibra of Steve Pateman ran a new personal best and new ET record of 8.153/170.71 in the first round of qualifying. The session also saw a personal best of 8.699/162.04 for Andy Frost, and a potential new speed record of 175.07mph from Jon Webster in John Hale's Chevy. He ran 177.51mph in the third session, which was too fast for the new record, but backed up the 175.07. In the second round of eliminations he took a win with a 8.288/176.54 which backed up the 177.51 for another new record. He went on to win the final against Jeff Meads with an 8.174/177.50 to an 8.581/161.13. Funny Bike saw Neil Midgley in line for new ET and speed records with a 6.732/197.24 in the final round of qualifying. However, in the first round of eliminations against Shaun Branch he crossed the centre line and failed to make the records official. Dave Holland took the final win with a 7.046/185.12 to a 7.110/183.82 from Mike Chislett. Super Street Bike saw Graham Dance set a new ACU speed record of 178.86mph with an 8.179/178.63 win in the second round of eliminations. He made it to the final and ran 8.475/174.07, but lost to a slight holeshot from Ivan Birch who won with an 8.476/164.46.

For all class results click here. For Eurodragster live updates click here.
October 4th/5th

Shakespeare County Raceway. Big Shootout.
October 18th/19th

Shakespeare County Raceway. Halloween Showdown.
November 1st/2nd

Santa Pod Raceway. Flame & Thunder. Barry Sheavills returned to Top Fuel in the seat of Knut Soderquist's "red car" for a match race with 2003 FIA Champion Smax Smith. First to the eigth mile was the order of the day. The cold conditions proved to be an issue as both cars hit tyre shake with Sheavills reaching the eigth first in 5.327/110.90 to Smith's 5.747/75.71. At the quarter Sheavills was still ahead, crossing the line in 10.000/77.82 to 12.283/62.94. The Fireforce 1 and 2 Jet Funny Cars, with drivers Tony Baker and Martin Hill, made a handful of passes, with a best of 7.121/224.93 (top speed of the meeting) for Baker, and 6.214/213.05 for Hill. Eric Teboul took his Rocket Bike to times of 6.147/176.20 and 6.587/156.10.

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November 1st/2nd

Las Vegas. NHRA Divisional race. The 2003 FIA Top Methanol Champion Dave Wilson qualified ninth with a best of 5.518/259.16, just missing out on a place in the eight car field.
November 6th-9th

Pomona. NHRA Finals. Dave Wilson qualified at number 16 with a best time of 5.479/262.13. In the first round he faced number one qualifier Alan Bradshaw. Bradshaw took the win with a holeshot 5.24, but a 5.386/262.74 from Wilson made him the first European Top Methanol driver into the 5.3s, and put him in the top twenty TM drivers in the world.
 

2003 FIA Champions

2003 UK National & Santa Pod Racers Club Champions
2004
April 10th-12th

Santa Pod Raceway. Easter Thunderball. As part of the fourth Pro Fuel Shootout competiton two rookie drivers were making licencing passes in Top Fuel. Norweigan Thomas Nataas was in the seat of one of Rune Fjeld's cars, and Knut Soderquist was supplying another for Dutchman Lex Joon. Andy Carter opened the first round with a 5.400/203.65 after a couple of pedals to try and maintain traction. In the next round he lined up alongside the Showtime Funny Car of John Spuffard and drove through tyre shake to record a 4.943/292.24 as Spuffards tyres went up in smoke at the hit. After the run it was found that the Showtime car had broken a ring & pinion in the rear axle, putting the team out of action for the rest of the meeting. In the final qualifying round Carter and Gordon Smith, in the Shockwave Funny Car were due to run together. Carter's team struggled to get the car started and it finally fired as Smith came back over the start line from his burnout. It was then shut off again to allow Smith a solo run, which resulted in a huge bang at the hit which split the blower in two, lifted the body and sent the pressure relief plate skywards. Thomas Nataas started next, but the crew were unable to detach the starter, the engine evntually being shut down again. Carter then put in his run, a 5.793/172.76 with a pedal due to tyre shake and an early shut off. Lex Joon was next up with a 5.606/182.37 half pass, followed by Nataas with a 5.883/189.13. With both Funny Cars out of action the final it was between the two top qualifying fuellers, Carter and Joon. A holeshot from Carter got him to the finish line first with a 5.049/290.75 to an engine-destroying 5.046/280.95 from Joon who crossed the centre line after the finish. Top Methanol saw Rob Turner qualify at number one with a 5.616/245.05. The only other car in the class was the Funny Car of Doug Ripley, who managed a new personal best of 7.404/175.74. Turner took the final win with a 5.635/242.07, but Ripley beat his personal best again with a 7.021/189.80. Super Modified qualifying began with a new personal best for Tim Garlick of 8.180/169.18 that put him at number one after the first session. In the second he was pushed down to third by an 8.078/169.18 from Steve Rawlings and an 8.151/171.17 from Rob Smallworth. The Oldsmobile of Graham Ellis was being driven by Kev Perkins and took a hard turn into the wall at 1000ft when the radiator cap came loose, putting fluid under one of the slicks. The car was damaged but Kev was OK. Rawlings held on to his first place until the last round, despite a new personal best of 8.086/169.86 from Paul Brooks that put him in the number two spot. In the final session Rob Smallworth leapt over both of them and recorded a 7.997/173.23, the first seven second SM run under the classes new rules. Custom Car Street Eliminator saw Andy Frost take his Red Victor Vauxhall to a new personal best of 8.393/165.36 which put him in the number two spot. Reigning champion Steve Pateman qualified at number four and went out in round two to number one qualifier Wayne Saunders. Round three saw Saunders and Ian Jackson both out of action leaving Andy Frost to take his first win with an 8.574/165.45. Martin Hill put three runs over the three days in the Fireforce II Jet Funny Car with a best of 6.072/212.23. Top Fuel Bike qualifying saw Steve Woolatt make the number one spot with a 6.595/209.16. Antonio Ferretti was number two with a personal best of 7.098/190.85 and another new personal best of 7.394/175.10 from Steve Carey was good enough for third. Ian King made fourth with a 13.322/61.81 that saw a flash of flame and bang from the bike that resulted in a snapped camshaft, split manifold and torched head, along with some bodywork damage. Woolatt improved in the first round with a 6.475/213.11 bye, but he suffered a rear brake failure which prevented him making the finaL. Steve Carey took the honours with an 8.155/156.26, feathering the throttle as the bike drifted to the left. In Funny Bike Neil Midgley got back into the sixes after three rounds of qualifying with a 6.930/189.80 that gave him the number one qualifier spot. Paul Knapp ran a personal best of 7.289/179.29 to take number two. The pair made it to the final where Midgley took the win with a 7.195/182.29 to a 7.267/182.23. In the semi finals Sarah Jane Head took a nasty spill at the top end which resulted in her being airlifted to hospital. Comp Bike saw TJ O'Brien set about repeatedly lowering his personal best, leaving it at 8.015/157.43 which was good enough for number one spot in qualifying. He bettered this again in the final where he took the win with an 8.000/157.15 over a 9.816/106.64 from Vaughan Foster. In Super Street Bike Graham Dance took an early lead in qualifying by being half a second ahead of the rest of the field. He continued to improve on this in each round, ending up at number one with an 8.165/176.25. He made his way to the final and then went quicker again, setting a new ACU Super Street Bike record with an 8.108/166.83 and taking the win over an 8.446/171.89 from Mark Fisher. Eric Teboul put in two runs on his Rocket Bike, a 6.242/182.83 on Sunday and a 5.795/200.96 on Monday, the quickest two-wheeled pass at the track ever.

For all class results click here. For Eurodragster live updates click here.

 

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