Santa Pod's Easter Thunderball 2006
Words by Phil Cottingham ~ Photos by Gary Cottingham
After the long cold winter, European Drag Racing fans were looking forward to the start of the 2006 season and the first big event of the year, the Easter Thunderball held at Santa Pod Raceway in England. Not only was it the first major event of the season, but it was also the 40th anniversary of the first ever drag race meeting held at Santa Pod, Sunday 11th April 1966. Many stars of the past 40 years were invited to attend and there was even a demonstration of how things were before electronic timing by the original starter Stu Bradbury who flag started several races as he did 40 years ago. In addition, the first 10 members were inducted into the long overdue UK Drag Racing Hall of Fame.
The highlight of the event for nitro fans was the Pro Fuel Shootout, featuring top fuel dragsters and nitro funny Cars. This year saw a bumper field of four top fuel dragsters and three nitro funny cars battle to become the shootout champion. Not only were there seven nitro cars contesting the shootout, fans were also treated to two more top fuel cars being tested by rookie drivers which bodes well for the upcoming FIA series. Ten car plus fields are expected at most events starting at Santa Pod at the end of May.
The format for the Pro Fuel Shootout was for all entrants to make three runs, which where possible, would be top fuel dragster verses nitro funny car with the funny cars given a 0.35 second advantage. The fastest aggregate top fuel dragster and nitro funny car would then meet in the final with the winner being crowned shootout champion for 2006. Although the nitro cars were the headline class, there were nearly 300 competitors overall ranging from pro mods to junior dragsters, top fuel bike to super street bike. We also saw the super classes and ET classes battling it out. The Nostalgia Fuel Altereds, Jet Cars, rocket bike, stunt cars, monster trucks, and stunt bike riders further entertained the fans. As billed, it was a true ‘motorsport extravaganza’!
The first round of the shootout was held on Saturday afternoon. The first pair were Andy Carter in the B&Q top fuel dragster and Sweden’s Leif Helander in the Saab Funny car. Andy ran a superb .850 60 foot but then suffered tyre shake and shut off to an 8.974 @ 95mph. Leif also had problems and ran an 8.436 @ 99mph. The second pair saw Micke Kagered’s Bahco top fuel dragster slow to 8.809 @ 75mph when the chute deployed mid track. Opponent John Spuffard in the Showtime funny car ran a 6.675 @ 212mph, peddling once, the car sounding very strong.
The final pair had the MPM Oils Top Fuel dragster of 2005 FIA Champion Lex Joon running 5.453 @ 215mph, shutting off around the 1000 foot mark and losing the blower belt. Gordon Smith in the Shockwave funny car went up in smoke off the line and ran 13.535 @ 74mph. Tommy Moller did not show. The times were not anywhere near the entrants' capability, but it was the first time out since last September for most teams. This combined with the cool weather conditions meant that four second runs were not expected on the first day.
Earlier in the day, Haken Fallstrom in the second Pennzoil top fuel dragster of Moller and Lorentzon ran his final licensing pass and did he license in style! He ran 5.081 @ 249mph shutting of at 1000 feet. His time would stand as low ET of the meeting.
Round two of the shootout was run on Sunday afternoon around 5.45 after a shower delayed proceedings. Tommy Moller tried to make his first run of the weekend but failed to start. Leif Helander ran 7.984 @ 105.83mph, shutting off with tyre shake. In the other lane, Micke Kagered also shut off early, coasting through to a 7.869 @ 115mph. Gordon Smith in the funny car then faced Andy Carter’s top fuel dragster. Smith lost the race with an up in smoke 10.929 @ 135mph to Andy’s 9.088 @ 90mph. Carter again suffered tyre shake but ran another great .85 sixty foot time, lifting the front wheels high off the ground.
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| Andy Carter - Photo By Gary Cottingham, DragsterWorld.com |
The final pair saw Lex Joon run another 5.5 @ 174mph with a flash of flame coming from the dragster at around 1000 feet, and John Spuffard ran a peddling 7.44 @ 207mph.
The last qualifying round for the shootout was run midday Monday. Tommy Moller again tried to put down his first pass of the weekend but was shut down with a leak. Andy Carter ran another .86 sixty foot but again suffered huge tyre shake and shut off to a 10.958 @ 76mph. In the other lane, John Spuffard’s Showtime funny car ran nearer to the car's four second potential with a 5.586 @ 204mph – the low terminal speed indicating there is a lot more to come from the car. Micke Kagered and Gordon Smith faced off next with Micke shutting off early to a 5.487 @ 187mph. Smith was up in smoke again to run a shut off 9.923 @ 85mph. The final pair saw Lex Joon fail to get reverse and Leif Helander struggling for traction and idling through to a 9.923 @ 85mph.
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| Micke Kagered - Photo By Gary Cottingham, DragsterWorld.com |
The two cars with the best aggregate times raced in the final for the Pro Fuel Shootout title and these were Micke Kagered’s top fuel dragster and John Spuffard’s funny car. The final was run at around 5.30pm after numerous brief showers delayed it. This turned out to be the best race of the event. Spuffard left first with the .35 advantage and it was anybody’s race until the funny car's clutch let go in a shower of sparks, slowing the car to 5.633 @ 190mph. Kagered powered by to take the win with a 5.185 @ 230mph.
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| John Spuffard - Photo By Gary Cottingham, DragsterWorld.com |
The third and fourth place run off saw Leif Helander run a new personal best but as he crossed the finish line, the car erupted in flames. Unable to see, Leif clipped the wall. He stopped the car with the safety crew alongside and was fine. Although very costly, the damage was not as bad as first feared. In the other lane, Lex Joon shut off early with tyre shake.
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| Lex Joon - Photo By Gary Cottingham, DragsterWorld.com |
Other highlights were John Sleath in his Audi running the first ever 7-second pass in street eliminator. Although not quite as it rolled off the Audi production line, the car is fully street legal and features some world-class engineering. The Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association racers put on a great show, in particular the Havoc car, which looks, sounds, and runs fantastic. The class is growing in popularity and could have 16 car fields soon. Roel Koedam set new ACU records in Top Fuel Bike of 6.208 @ 219mph.
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| Havoc! - Photo By Gary Cottingham, DragsterWorld.com |
Unfortunately due to the brief showers on Monday, none of the sportsman classes got to finish their eliminations despite the best efforts of the track crew. After another shower late Monday, the race was called off as it was too late to dry the track before the 9pm curfew.
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| John Everitt - Photo By Gary Cottingham, DragsterWorld.com |
Overall, it was a good start to the season, which was only slightly affected by the weather. The organisers had considered the often-inclement Easter weather and did a good job providing other entertainment such as monster trucks and stunt shows to keep the large crowds happy.
The next major event is the FIA / UEM Main Event at the end of May. This will be the first round of the FIA / UEM European Championships with possibly ten plus top fuel dragsters on hand, plus alcohol dragsters and funny cars, pro stock and pro modified, top fuel bike, super twins, and pro stock bike plus the usual sportsman classes.
Words by Phil Cottingham
Photos by Gary Cottingham
www.dragsterworld.com
