|
|
|
2010 Auto Trader Easter Thunderball
2-5 April 2010, Santa Pod Raceway - England
Words & Photos by Dick Parnham
 |
| Janne Ahonen |
Easter has become the first round of the UK National Championships and apart from limited action on the first day was blessed with fine but blustery weather with only minor breaks for rain. The cold air was certainly an aid for the motors despite the cool track.
The major feature which everyone looks forward to is the annual shoot out between Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars which brings the added competition of teams from Finland and from Germany and France for other classes of Car or Bike.
PRO FUEL SHOOTOUT
This early chance for track action is popular with racers from Europe as well as our UK teams to check out the close season updates and repairs ahead of the opening Round of the FIM, UEM Championship.
The head to head racing gives the Funny Cars a 0.35-second head start at the Start line.
The resulting shootout figures over the qualifying rounds are combined to decide the winner.
After the first qualifier the table was started at
1. Gordon Smith FC 5.472 sec
2. Janne Ahonen 5.621 sec
3. Jari Halinen 8.315 sec
4. Risto Poutianen 11.101 sec
5. John Spuffard FC +25 as shut off
The cold tract resulted in multiple pedalling going on and tyre shake, which was great action for the crowd especially Janne’s move over to the right to avoid Gordon’s Shockwave Funny Car that moved well over to the right crossing the centre line and taking out the timing lights in the process.
A well deserved thanks to all the teams as Janne Ahonen took the 2010 Shootout Title with Gordon Smith’s Funny Car runner up.
 |
| Gordon Smith |
The other Shootout Teams
 |
| Jari Halinen |
 |
| John Spuffard |
 |
| Risto Poutianen |
TOP METHANOL
The opening round as with Top Fuel is used by other teams from Europe an advantage in competing as a vital check out for the UEM Championship.
Qualifying was less affected by the cold track than Top Fuel cars as qualifying showed a new Top Qualifier and eventual winner in Dennis Habermann with previous UK driver Dave Wilson in at No. 4 as he still continues to dial in his injected Nitro, Methanol system instead of the previous Blown methanol.
Qualifying
1. Dennis Habermann 5.453 sec, 259 mph
2. Esko Raisvuo 5.573 sec, 263 mph
3. Timo Habermann 5.630 sec, 252 mph
4. Dave Wilson 5.778 sec, 249 mph
5. Stephanie Milam 6.148 sec, 214 mph FC
6. Danny Bellio 9.659 sec, 89 mph FC
The racing was sharp for the Top Qualifiers with front wheels held up until well up to the 60 foot mark.
In Round 1 Stephanie lost to Esko Raisvuo on 6.0212 sec, 237 mph but after correcting a drift to the barrier still recorded a personal best close call on 6.095 sec, 221 mph.
Timo Habermann went through after Dave Wilson went up in smoke from the line as Dennis Habermann had a bye run after Danny Bellio failed to show from engine damage.
The semis saw Timo leave well ahead of Esko who was recovering well but after Timo’s blower belt Esko was through to meet Habermann.
The final went on a bye run to Habermann after Esko Raisvuo shut off.
 |
| Dennis Habermann |
 |
| Esko Raisvuo |
 |
| Dave Wilson |
 |
| Timo Habermann |
MSA PRO MODIFIED
It took the 2009 Champion Andy Robinson with his experience to find a way of dealing with the cold track in setting Top Qualifier on 6.261 sec, 231 mph
Along with Graham Ellis also running in the 6 second bracket with a new clutch system they were to meet in the final.
This was when Robinson was caught out when his car shook and swerved slowing to 7.49 sec, 148 mph but this was still a winning result as Ellis had Red Lit on 6.60 sec, 219 mph.
A welcome new Pro Mod competitor was Jean Dulamon from France who was keen to get in his licensing runs in the ex USA car of Vinny Budano. The unblown Nitrous Camaro had won the NMCA Street Championship in three consecutive seasons and in the third licensing run came in at 7.20 sec, 191 mph.
 |
| Andy Robinson |
 |
| Jean Dulamon |
NOSTALGIA FUEL ALTERED
The Fuel Altered with their short wheel base can usually have handling problems so with the cold track this only added to it.
 |
| Paul Wratton vs. Gary Page |
Bob Glassup had taken his first Nostalgia Altered event victory at the 2009 National Finals and was keen to match that again but after early reverse gear problems he had let Joe Bond take a bye run on storming 6.622 sec, 205 mph which was a much improved personal best.
Gary Page is one the UK’s most experienced Funny Car drivers and was driving the ‘Chaos ‘ Fuel Altered but leaving hard in the left hand lane against Paul Wratton it was a total shock to see the Chaos Altered suddenly turn left into the barrier at the 60 foot mark.
 |
| Gary Page after hitting the barrier |
Gary Page was conscious and after the Emergency Crew could squeeze him out of the car he was taken for a check up at the hospital, Gary was back at the track later that afternoon.
Paul Wratton didn’t see all this as he finished run in 6.90 sec, 201 mph and was to take the event win in 6.787 sec, 178 mph over Jon Best’s slower 9.674 sec, 76 mph.
TOP FUEL DRAG BIKES
The field of Top Fuel Bikes was limited but Steve Woollatt was keen to check out his new fuel system which he hopes should help towards his 14th ACU Top Fuel Bike Championship!
 |
| Rene Van den Gerg |
The Qualifying
1. Roel Koedam 6.593 sec, 193 mph (Blown TF Super Twin)
2. Steve Woollatt 6.664 sec, 159 mph (Blown Puma)
3. Rene Van Den Berg 7.554 sec, 132 mph (Blown Puma)
For Steve Woollatt it was new fuel systems to dial in to get to his usual reliability but in his qualifying he was off the throttle at about 1000 feet.
Roel Koedam had a bye run on 7.591 sec, 123 mph.
As Steve Woollatt completed his burn out his crew spotted a problem and he shut down leaving Rene van den Berg with a bye to the final.
 |
| Steve Woolatt |
The final saw Rene off the line 0.31 sec ahead of Koedam but on the run a fire was noticed had started at the back of Koedam's Super Twin.
 |
| Roel Koedam |
Koedam’s bike then lost a couple of body panels at half track and continued undaunted to finish on 7.666 sec, 170 mph but with a view to his right of Koedam, Rene he continued to finish just ahead by 0.183 secs thanks to his sharper reaction off the line for the win.
| |
Copyright 1996-2022 by