Trakbytes News Archive

News Archive Previous updates to the site

1998

30/12/98 Welcome to the last update for '98. Hope you all had a great Christmas and I would like to take this oppourtunity to wish you all a very happy new year.

A minor redevelopment to the History section, each decade covered is now on its own page. The Questions page is proving popular so some more updates there and another mystery photo. A big thanks to Ron of 'Show Associates' who has provided me with a wealth of information which I will be including over the next few updates, he has also provided a 'follow on' from Togs anecdote about Ronnie Picardo so watch out for that soon!

New Additions; In the 1979 section there is a link where you can download a sound clip of Sammy Miller running the first 300mph terminal speed in the UK. Tog sent me this some time ago so thanks to him, there are also some dates relating to the Stardust Funny car in the following sections; 1976, 1978, 1980 and 1983. I obtained them from Jon Spoards Nostalgia Website which includes a history of the famous car with some great photos, the following are from Ron; 1978 the last NDRC meet at Snetterton and Sammys fireworks flip, 1988 the death of Bob Phelps.

Ron also pointed out that September 1978 was not the European debut of Sammy Miller, the entry has been ammended accordingly. There are also updates to the 1974 August Supernationals and the inaugural NDRC meet at Snetterton. thats all for now, see you next year!

30/12/98 Welcome to the last update for '98. Hope you all had a great Christmas and I would like to take this oppourtunity to wish you all a very happy new year.

19/12/98 First things first, David Kiplings 60s Nostalgia site has a new URL and his server will not be re-routing from the old one. The new URL is; http://oxy5.athena.bcit.bc.ca/dkipling Click here to go straight there. I now have an answer at last to one of the mystery photos on the 'Questions' page, thanks to Bob Jarrett for sorting that one out. I have put a new mystery picture in to replace it.

New Additions; Two more from Andy Carter in 1989, 1993 yet another record for 'Outrage', 1992 Norm Wilding records the best time ever for a UK top fuel funny car driver, 1998 Bob Jarrett has supplied details of what he regards as being the first five second UK funny car run,

12/12/98 First let me say thanks to our very own Andy Carter, Top Fuel driver now based in the States, who has sent me some details for inclusion, they are all about his own achievements in Drag Racing which is fine,I will be putting them in over the next few weeks. Any other racers out there want their moments of glory included? Send me the details. Jon Spoards Nostalgia Website 'Movie Centre' now has a great clip of Don Schumacher performing a flame burnout in the Stardust Funny Car at Santa pod in July 1973. Also David Kipling has contacted me again to tell me that his site now has some new pictures from one of the US Commandos tours in the early sixties.Click here to visit Davids site; David Kiplings Homepage

New Additions; 1995; Sammy's back again, 1993; National Dragster sponsor the Summer Nationals, New regulations for Alcohol superchargers, record entry for Top Alcohol at the Thunderball, the first Nostalgia Nationals at APR. 1985; Andy Carters Street Championship win, 1986; Another victory for Andy.

4/12/98 Another small update for you. A few new entries in the 1990s section and as promised a new Anecdote sent to me by Mack from Essex.

New Additions; 1993, the creation of the FISA Drag Racing Commision, another record for 'Outrage', 1991, a speed record for the Vance/Lovett Top Fueller, and a track record for them at Avon Park (does anyone know the date for this one?), 1990, Liv Berstad runs best of the meet at the Thunderball, 1994, Sammy Miller returns to the Pod.

28/11/98 Another small update this time. I have a stack of new entries to add to the History but time is not on my side at the moment. I will be updating at least once a week though for the next few weeks. On the next update there will be some new material on the Anecdotes page. The new site is coming along nicely, watch this space for details soon.

New additions; 1995, Bob Jarrett has supplied the details of the quickest European run by a Funny Car and a very close pass at the 1997 Finals, 1991, Johnathan Lovetts new top fueller and engine, the introduction of the Top Sportsman class, 1993 a couple of results from the Main Event, 1994, the signing of the IHRA/UK Drag Race Consortium agreement.

20/11/98 There is now a link in the 1966 section to a picture of E.J.Potters V8 bike. (Thanks to David Kipling for the pic). Only a small update this time as I am in the process of constructing a new site. It's another drag racing site and it will concentrate on one particular aspect of the sport. More details on this soon. Once the new site is up and running it will take less of my spare time to maintain and I should be able to keep regular updates coming on both sites. I have added three more links towards the bottom of the 'Draglinks' page. While you're here don't forget to sign the very unpopular guestbook! (link on front page)

New Additions; 1972, Barry sheavills first 'Stagecoach', 1986 Rob Turners speed record,1996 Rob Turners ET record,1998 Barry Sheavills Alsatro record, 1988 Barry begins his Top Alcohol campaign, 1997 Barry is Top Fuel Rookie of the year.

15/11/98 First things first, there are now downloadable movie clips on Jon Spoards Nostalgia Website, the first of which is the writing off of the Hillbillies Funny Car at Santa Pod in 1972.(there is also a link to Jons site in the 1972 section of the History page after the entry about this crash). I'm pleased to say that David Kipling has got in touch, (see update below dated 1/11/98). His site is up and running again so check it out, there are some great Drag Pix from the sixties and loads of Stock car pix from the same era. (And an amusing pic of 'the milk snatcher'!). (see Draglinks page). David also sent me a question which is as follows; "Did anyone see (I didn't) Allan Burgess (editor of Karting Magazine) run his hydrogen-peroxide-rocket kart at Santa Pod? Any photos? Any times? It was 1964 I think." Can anyone out there help David with some info on this? If so click here to send mail straight to him. Another question has been added to the 'Questions' page regarding the Scandinavian Pro Stocks. All entries added on the most recent update will now be highlighted by the addition of this symbol; This should make it easier for regular visitors to find the latest entries.

New additions; 1998 Main Event, December 1997 (The arrival of the new Showtime car), 1998 Thunderball, 1970 Barry Sheavills first appearance, 1982 Sheavills builds first UK Super Gasser, 1997 Summernationals, 1997 Simon Paynes seven second Pro Street Eliminator victory and the departure of Vivica and Andy,1989 Alan Packmans ten second run on street tyres, 1997 Cannonball, 1998 Avon Park Super Series dates.

Updates: 1997 Euro Finals, (Gary Pages best run to date, Gordon Appletons 'with passenger' record, Leif Andreassons first European TAFC five. Thanks to Andy Marrs for the Andreasson entry and to Dave Alexander of the ETARA for confirming it), 1997 International Doorslammers, (Dan Cockerills 180mph terminal speed, Vivica Averstedts best ever launch), some more details added to Alan Bates first Funny Car Five in 1986.

12/11/98 Some people have pointed out that when bookmarking the first page of the site the title comes up as 'Intro' and not 'Trakbytes'. Well you could just re-name it I suppose but I have now re-named this page. The URL remains the same but if you now reset your bookmarks on the Intro page the correct title will appear in your lists. Also contributors names only will now appear in brackets after their entries in the History. A big thankyou to Mark Coles (yes him again), who has supplied a wealth of information once more. The following are down to him; New entries; 1980 World Finals, 1989 Supernationals,1989 World Finals, 1990 Springnationals, 1990 European Records Weekend, 1990 World Finals. Thanks to the nice people at Bravenet Web Services I have added a guestbook, so please go to the 'Intro' page, click on the button that says 'sign my guestbook' and........sign my guestbook! You can leave your comments there as long as they are clean, relevant, interesting and/or amusing.

8/11/98 Back from the Pod today and, although it was cold, thankfully the rain held off all day Saturday. I spent a very interesting day with Bob Jarrett, John Spuffard and the Showtime Funny Car team, and got to meet Tog at last, one of the sites regular contributors. I have received another mail from Mark Coles and, before you all start mailing me, Mark has pointed out that I misquoted him on the matter of the first Funny Car into the fives, it was of course Alan Bates and not Gary Page, my fault, sorry Mark (and Alan + Gary!). Also from Mark come the following new entries; 1975, the Aintree Racecourse meet, Brian Johnsons Top Fuel Bike record in 1991, Andy Carters ET record for a Ford Pop, 1994. The matter of Alan Packmans Pro Mod record is nearer a conclusion as well. It appears that at the time he was blacklisted by the Pro Mod association and was running exhibition passes, it is possible that for this reason the record was not officially recognised.

6/11/98 The site is one month old and expanding rapidly. Thanks to all of you that have supplied material over the last few weeks, and to those of you who have sent your comments and suggestions, the response has been great. Keep it up folks! As a result of one of the questions on the question page there is a new entry in the 1979 section regarding the 'quickest Funny Car race ever' at Santa Pods World Finals in September. (Tog again! thanks mate). A new question added in its place. There are a couple of new links in the Draglinks section. A big thank you to Mark Coles, a Brit living in Australia, who has sent me loads of details for inclusion. The following are down to him; Updates in The 1990 Cannonball, the 1991 Cannonball, and the 1994 World Finals, + Added 1992 Dragster Classic at Avon park, Gary Pages 'first in the fives' in 1986. Also Alan Packmans Pro Mod record in 1994 (6.748) has been added but there is a conflict here with Bert Englefields record in the 1996 section (6.873). Can anyone out there help sort this one out? One other thing, I have been 'lucky' enough to be included in the Sharkmans 'School of Excellence'. To have a laugh at some works of photographic genius visit Sharkmans Top End Tales. There will not be any updates over the weekend as I will be at Santa Pod for the Flame and Thunder meet, getting cold and quite possibly wet into the bargain.

1/11/98 More details in the rapidly expanding 1979 section, 'Panic' officially the quickest ever British Pro Comp car. Also I have added results from the Sports Nationals meet at Snetterton, August '79. Another entry in 1978, 'Panic' goes into the sevens. Another entry in the 1993 world finals section. Tomi Laines European Pro Stock record is entered into the 1997 section. There are also two new additions to the Questions page. I am currently compiling the first of a series of photo pages with pictures from my brothers and my own collections. I have removed the link to David Kiplings page from 'Drag Links' as his site has disappeared without trace. A shame as there were some great pictures from the sixties there. If you're out there David get in touch please! Jon Spoard has supplied the dates and details for the first side by side race between two British built nitro dragsters, you can find it in the 1968 section.

28/10/98. Lots of questions. The Medicine Man question has been answered. Only a day after I put it out as well. And guess what? It was that man Tog again who came up with the info! This guy is a walking encyclopedia of Drag Racing! He has also provided an explaination of what constitutes an actual 'blowover' (click here to see it) So there, that puts me right! Also, while on this matter, Jon Spoard who runs the excellent UK Nostalgia Website, has written to tell me that pictures of the Medicine Man crash are available on his photo page. He has also supplied details of the accident which took the life of my hero, Allan Herridge. This has been added in the 1983 section. Thanks Jon. The entry in the 1998 European Finals section regarding Ronnie Bergstroms Pro Mod 'record' has been ammended in view of the controversy surrounding this run. The 1979 section has been expanded again with the addition of results from Santa Pods 'Big Go'.

I have added another page, devoted to questions that need answering in order to expand the history. Instructions; Go to the 'Intro' page and click on 'Questions', take a look, say to yourself "I know that", E.Mail me the details, sit back and feel smug!

26/10/98 Question, can you help?

A question has arisen! In the 1993 section I have credited Rico Anthes with the UKs first 'blowover'. Peter Davidson has written to me however recalling a similar display put on by Mick Naylors 'Medicine Man' sometime in the late seventies. I don't recall this myself but the chances are someone else out there will. So if you can verify this please drop me a line and put our minds at rest. (Albeit temporarily).

New entries; 1979 Easter Internats. SPR. There is also a link to all the class results from this meeting. The question about Jan Honee's records set at the 1998 European finals has now been settled. Thanks to Ian King and Mathijis Bakker for the details. There is also a link in the 1979 section to the results from the May Day Internationals at SPR. The August Supernationals at SPR 1979 has been updated and there are full results to go with this event as well.

21/10/98 There is now a link in the 1979 section of the History page to a report from Drag Racing News about Allan Herridges crash in the Gladiator funny car..+ Updated the 1991 Cannonball entry. + Another update on the Vanishing Point vs Oxygen races, with correct times and speeds for the Sunday runs supplied by Tog. Does anyone out there have the data for the Saturday runs? The 'Ramblings' section is now up and running with some hazy memories of my first time! Also thanks to Warren Parkinson of 'Rock Knocker Racing' for pointing out that I had missed the details of Rico Anthes blowover at the 1993 World Finals from the history (doh!). The 1993 Cannonball entry has also been updated.

18/10/98 Added details in 1981 of the Vanishing Point vs Oxygen rocket car match races at SPR. Also in 1984 there is now a link to Andrew Urwins site where you can download a short clip of Sammy Millers Vanishing Point rocket funny car in action at SPR. There are more links in the Draglinks page.

Coming soon Al Eierdam who drove the Vanishing Point funny car against Sammy Miller at SPR in 1981 recounts his memories of the event on the Anecdotes page. I have a transcript of this and am trying to contact Al again to update it for me.

14/10/98 The site is given a minor facelift. Also the Draglinks page is expanded and there is now a selection of non-drag racing links on the 'Thanks' page.

12/10/98 Updated the links page. All links should now work. Also the Anecdotes page is now up & running

7/10/98 Added three new entries in 1977, 1980 and 1984, supplied by Tog.

6/10/98 This site is uploaded onto the web after much researching and more than a few late nights. It is not complete at this time, (Not all the pages are up yet) but then it will probably never be finished!

www.trakbytes.co.uk