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2012 Auto Trader Easter Thunderball
6-9 April 2012, Santa Pod Raceway - England
Words & Photos by Dick Parnham
Easter has become the first round of the UK National Championships. A change in the weather to showers meant we all saw the track crew put in a sterling effort of track drying. This allowed three days of racing before the final day was rained out.
The major feature everyone looks forward to is the annual shoot out between Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars. This brings the added competition of teams from Finland, Germany, and France racing in several classes of cars and bikes.
PRO FUEL SHOOTOUT
This early chance for track action is popular with racers from Europe as well as our UK teams. Racers get 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 5.620 sec, 248 mph (1,000 ft 4.780 sec, 262 mph)
2. Jari Halinen 5.820 sec, 187 mph (1,000 ft 4.731 sec, 222 mph)
3. Risto Poutianen 3.754 at eigth mile shutting down at Top End 5.929 sec, 177 mph
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| Gordon Smith |
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| Jari Halinen |
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| Risto Poutinen |
The good news was that Duncun Micallef had his new Top Fuel Dragster over from Malta for his Top Fuel licencing runs for the 2012 FIA Championship. We have seen him before in his well prepared Top Methanol Dragster. Duncun's bye run was good. He hit 5.105 sec, 278 mph with a superb 1,000 foot lap of 4.336 sec, 273 mph.
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| Duncun Micallef |
TOP METHANOL
The opening round saw Danny Bellio from Belgium put in some runs to get more experience ahead of the 2012 FIA Main Event 1-4th June at Santa Pod.
Derek Flynn has now sold his championship Gold RV Injected nitro Top Methanol Dragster to Christopher Polidano from Malta. Polidano has been driving over there already, having set a personal best of 5.643 sec, 253 mph.
Stephanie Milam was there with her Top Methanol Funny Car, having set a personal best of 6.003 sec, 238 mph. Steph is determined to get into the five-second zone.
Qualifying
1. Chris Polidano 5.696 sec, 267 mph
2. Danny Bellio 6.128 sec, 203 mph
3. Steph Milam 7.185 sec, 141 mph
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| Chris Polidano |
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| Danny Bellio |
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| Steph Milam |
Pro Mod Qualifying
The top three qualifiers in the six second bracket were
1. Roger Moore 6.725 sec, 207 mph
2. Graham Ellis 6.727 sec, 207 mph
3. Andy Frost 6.999 sec, 218 mph
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| Roger Moore |
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| Graham Ellis |
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| Andy Frost |
Copyright - Dick Parnham
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