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Springspeed NationalsShakespeare County
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The Springspeed
Nationals was one of the best national meetings I have been to at Shaky in a
long time, although the recession had kept the number of entries in all classes
down, Shakespeare County Raceway stepped up to the task, and really put a good
show on, not just for the public the sportsman racers as well.
The track
prep, and the organisation of the event was excellent, all of the classes had 6
qualifying sessions, all the classes got to their semi final stages, and
although they didn’t finish the meeting (due to the rain in the morning
and a bike exploding at 6pm) they did everything in their power to finish the
meeting - but it just got too late as they had extended the curfew as far as
they could, without putting other Drag Racing events in jeopardy. In case there
are people reading this that aren’t familiar with Bracket Drag Racing, to
'break out' means to go quicker than your Index or Dial in, if you do go
quicker you lose!!
This is a quick account of how the guy’s and
gal’s from Bristol did over the weekend. |
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Super
Street (10.90 Sec Index) only (I say only 3 out of 8 cars isn’t bad)
had the 3 Bristol Doorslammers entries, as Bob Lees had blown the Ford 476
motor to bits at the Easter Thunderball (the motor is currently being rebuilt
but with bigger cubic inches). Neil Grant with the Zephyr qualified number 2
with a 10.917 @135 mph, John Grant with the little 100e qualified number 4 with
a 10.917 @137mph, and Chris Kenny in the Black Sit Up and Beg Ford Pop
Qualified number 6 with a 10.97 @123 mph.
First round saw Chris vs.
Neil, and due to Chris’s major driver error, Neil sailed through the first
round with a 11.43 @ 96 mph with Chris trying to chase him down with a 10.85 @
123 mph. John Grant was against Mark Watkins, but unfortunately the ultra
consistent 100e decide to cut out at the topend, and Hoch didn’t have any
power. Neil went to the semi final round against Mark Watkins where he broke
out with a 10.88 @ 121mph, he was on the brakes but just not enough. |
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Super Gas
(9.90 Sec Index), saw Conrad Stanley with the freshly painted Panther
racing Firebird qualify number 5 with a 9.905 @155 mph, Conrad did get closer
to the 9.90 second index, unfortunately it was on the wrong side with a 9.899,
and Stuart Doingie who was along side Conrad on that run and took the number 1
spot and the Eurodragster perfect et award with a 9.900. Conrad beat Richard
Davies in the red Willys in the first round, and faced Steve Dunn in the Toko
Toy Camaro, in the Semi’s, but the Team Panther Racing Pontiac went a bit
quick, and even though Conrad was on the brakes hard at the top end they broke
out with a 9.86 @ 142mph. |
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Jamie King was
at the track doing his observed runs with his rebuilt 64 Corvette (as he had
been out of competition for more than 2 years) and due to some technical issues
Jamie didn’t make the first round. The Corvette did attract a lot of
attention, and made the Eurodragster’s Saturday pit notes, with its new
gold colour paint scheme. Jamie did run a 9.88 at a RWYB two weeks before this
event, so should be a contender for later on this year. |
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In Junior
Dragster (Dial In Class) we had Anna Stanley, who was number one qualifier
with a perfect 0.000 reaction time (well done Anna!!). Anna also went the
fastest and quickest she had ever been with an 8.01 @ 83 mph (this in the 1/8
of a mile most street cars are not as quick as this!!) Anna made it through to
the semi’s, but deep staged and with the darkening skies she was a little
quick on the tree and red lit, but in consolation there wasn’t too many of
those Championship points lost, as with all the classes the final wasn’t
run. |
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Wild Bunch
(Dial In Class), Chris Hartnell with the Backdraft Slingshot was having the
time of his life, on Saturday with four 8 second, wheels up in the air passes,
both he and Pete Yates made it through to the semi’s, Chris as did the
most of the Bristol Doorslammers (and a lot of other teams) who raced in the
left lane after the excellent clear up from the late oil down on Monday night,
broke out by the smallest of margins, Chris ran 9.098 @ 136 mph on a 9.15 sec
Dial in, Pete did mange to get through with a 9.508 @130 mph. |
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If there are
other racers from Bristol who want to be included within the reports please let
me know, and I will try to include them next time.
Chris
Kenny |
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DN0901 |
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