Drag Racing List - 2010 Main Event - FIA/UEM European Championship Story & Photos


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Drag Racing Stories
Jun 19, 2010

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2010 Main Event - FIA/UEM European Championship Photos

European correspondent Dick Parnham checks in with the race results and 25 amazing photos of action from the 2010 Main Event - FIA/UEM European Championship at Santa Pod, England.

The Main Event – FIA / UEM European Drag Racing Championship - Round 1, 28th-31st May 2010
Santa Pod Raceway - England
Words & Photos by Dick Parnham

Eric Treboul's rocket powered motorcycle set a new world record.

As the major launch of the 2010 European Championships the entry listings with Pro Modified Cars, Super Street Bikes and Funny Bikes each as separate new classes is impressive.

The professional approach from everyone enabled this massive pit entry to finish in style despite the Saturday rain off and Pro Mod oil down through to the shut down area. And as another Pro Mod took out the Christmas tree start lights they were certainly announcing their arrival in the FIA Championship!

TOP FUEL DRAGSTER

Andy Carter, Top Fuel

Andy Carter took the Top Fuel Title in 2009 making his 4th Title and was keen to set a qualifier in this the first chance of 2 or possibly 3 only remaining chances before eliminations the next day

Andy Carter in the first qualifier hit tyre shake early and shut off for3rd qualifier on 8.752 sec / 86 mph with Jari Halinen top shot on 5.206 sec / 269mph and Anita Makela second on 5.787 sec / 171mph

The second and last Top Fuel Qualifier saw Andy Carter overcome a broken clutch linkage but with forward gear still engaged the crew pushed it back after the burn out into stage for an 8.014 sec / no speed as 7th qualifier.

Urs Erbacher stepped up after his first bottom qualifier to set Top Qualifier on 4.753sec / 319mph helped by his racing experience in the USA in his updated winning car.

Top Fuel Qualifying

No1 Urs Erbacher 4.754sec / 319 mph
No2 Risto Poutianen 4.801 sec / 292 mph
No3 Stig Neergaard 4.851 sec / No Speed
No4 Micke Kagered 4.991 sec / 247mph
No5 Jeri Halinen 5.090 sec / No speed
No6 Anita Makela 5.787 sec / 171 mph

Urs Urbacher, Top Fuel

First Round of Eliminations saw Erbacher after a hard hit off the line probably then with tyre shake thought better of it and just idled through on his bye run.

Risto Poutianen and Andy Cater on bump spot was looking good as Carter left 0.0626 sec ahead of Risto after which both hit tyre shake but Risto’s tyres refound grip and was long gone on 4.889 sec / 319 mph and possible record as Carter shut off after it was reported something fell from his car in 6.334 sec / 167 mph

Micke Kagered, Top Fuel

Next pairing saw Micke Kagered after his long funny car style burnout leave 0.0426 secs ahead of Jari Halinen but after driving through tyre shake Micke shut off after losing the blower belt. By coincidence Jari had also had to shut down losing to Micke’s 5.789 sec / 158 mph to 5.973 sec / 158 mph

Anita Makela, Top Fuel

Final of this first round saw Anita Makela off the line ahead of Stig Neergaard with Stig on and off the pedal to such an extent that Anita thought again after slowing from tyre shake and got to the finish line just ahead of Stig despite the resultant Fire from her engine in 7.803 sec / 109 mph to 7.868 sec / 105 mph.

Stig Neergaard, Top Fuel

Round 2 saw Urs Erbacher shoot ahead of Kagered off the line to in a magnificent 4.785 sec / 278 mph to Kagered’s shut off 6.455 sec / 132 mph

Risto Poutianen took an easy bye to the final after Anita Makela was shut down with a fluid leak was spotted before moving to the line.

The Top fuel Final just saw Urs Erbacher and his team finish in style in a great European Speed Record 4.785 sec / 314 mph that Risto could not match like his qualifying 4.8 second form to finish in 8.056 sec / 97 mph

TOP METHANOL DRAGSTER

Qualifying was less affected by tyre shake than the Top Fuel cars as qualifying showed a new Top Qualifier order.

Qualifying

1 / Fred Hanssen 5,397 sec / 264 mph
2 / Peter Schofer 5.404 sec / 259 mph
3 / Derek Flynn 5.420 sec / 260 mph
4 / Dave Wilson 5.426 sec / 265 mph
5 / Timo Habermann 5.439 sec / 247 mph
6 / Paul Ingar Udtian 5 .506 sec / 254 mph
7 / Dennis Habermann 5.509 sec / 253 mph
8 / Krister Johansson 5.527 sec / 253mph

The racing after such close qualifying shows as always reactions have to be so sharp for the virtual side by side shoot outs.

Dennis Habermann, Top Methanol Dragster

In the end it was a virtual repeat of the Thunderball as Dennis Habermann took the win in 5.480 sec / 257 mph after a hole shot over Timo Habermann’s quicker 5.376 sec / 259 mph.

Timo Habermann, Top Methanol Dragster

TOP METHANOL FUNNY CAR

Qualifying

1 / Dan Larsen 6.118 sec / 192 mph
2 / Arvid Grodam 6.254 sec / 226 mph
3 / Jurgen Nagel 6.307 sec / 165 mph
4 / Danny Bellio 7.258 sec / 130 mph
5 / Rob Turner 7.484 sec / 175 mph
6 / Steph Milam 7.506 sec / 198 mph

Arvid Grodem, Top Methanol Funny Car

The field of cars would have been very low compared to previous years but fortunately Arvid Grodam has bought a new Mustang bodied Sunoco Express replacement to stay in the sport.

Rob Turner, Top Methanol Funny Car

Rob Turner of Top Methanol Dragster fame had just debuted the Teams new Top Methanol Funny Car.

J Nagel, Top Methanol Funny Car

In the Final Jurgen Nagel took the win after Dan Larsen failed to show and ran 6.285 SEC / 227 MPH

MSA & FIA European PRO MODIFIED Championships

Pro Mod in the UK is big and with the FIA European Championship even bigger.

So when Michael Gullqvist went to the USA to help drive in the Travis Rice Team and in the process made runner up at the Gatornationals and an historic win at the NHRA Southern Nationals.

Melanie Troxel, Pro Modified

This then lit the fuse for Pro Mod driver Melanie Troxel to take the opportunity to race in the UK adding to the promotion of a new massive Pro Mod World Series.

Melanie drove the R2B2 Roger Burgess owned Pro Mod setting qualifier times at 6.573sec / 223mph and 6.243sec / 239 mph.

It was great to see Melanie and the Team but she lost in the first round on 6.601 sec / 228 mph to Adam Flamholc on 6.304 sec / 218 mph.

Johan Lindberg, Pro Modified

Overall Pro Mod honours went to Johan Lindberg rewarding his consistent 6 second laps taking the win finally in 6.042sec / 236 mph

Delays on the day they say “ Always come in three’s” which include two 2 blown engines with oil downs for Andy Robinson and one broken Christmas Light System by Swiss driver Rolf Amman!

PRO STOCK

Richard Sundblom, Pro Stock

New to the Pro Comp Field of cars Was Richard Sundblom’s Jerry Bickel built Chevrolet Cobalt from racer Tom Hammonds and looked great on the track but as delivery was only a week ago was having carburettor problems but went from first Round in 7.012seec / 199mph over Jan Palmqvist‘s losing 7.143sec / 195mph.

Blown Caddy, Pro Mod

In the next round Richard’s engine cut as he began staging but after checks was allowed to stage but lost on his slower 7.808src / 180mph to Michael Malmgren’s 6.781sec / 202 mph.

Micke Callin, Pro Stock

In the Final Malmgren ran a great 6.788sec / 202 mph but honours went to Micke Callin with a great holeshot in 6.7912sec / 2903mph.

TOP FUEL FUNNY CAR

Only a 3 car field but it was the first chance to see Gary Page check out the new car before fully competing