Euro Season Opens with England’s “Main Event”

Europe’s 2012 major event drag racing calendar flew out of the starting gate last weekend at England’s fabled Santa Pod Raceway….

The international field was made up with classes from all over Europe and the Canadian entry in Super Twin Bike and although the financial climate was hitting race fan attendance, promoter and racers hard they also had to contend with HM Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee celebrations going on all over Great Britain, plus the weather was somewhat inclement for most of the long weekend as well as a multitude of oil downs, non injury crashes and political wrangling within the sport all contributing to displeased race fans.

Ultimately the race was completed in the Pro classes but not the Sportsman categories.

FIA Top Fuel – Risto Poutiainen, had it all his own way over the weekend. New to Europe this year is the one-thousand foot distance and Poutiainen’s number one qualifier of 4.101/293 set the pace .0137 ahead of Denmark’s Stig Neergaard in the seven car field. A bye run of 4.442/186 got Poutiainen to round two where a magical pedal-fest with fellow Finn Jari Halinen ensued with a non-too pretty 5.997/153 beating the equally distressed 6.524/139 from Halinen. The final should have been against Neergaard but the he had suffered damage and lack of parts leaving Risto Poutiainen in the Multilotto.com backed machine to run an unopposed 4.215/277 for the initial lead in the points.

Top Fuel winner Risto Pautiainen from Finland

FIA Top Methanol Dragster – Dave Wilson hung up his fire-suit last year but entered the game again and came from number two qualifier behindMalta’s Monty Bugeja, 5.353/265, 5.365/265 respectively to win the event.Wilson’s first dealt outFinland’s Esko Raisvou then a 5.323/268 beat a tyre shaking Dennis Habermann whose 5.444/260 was caught and passed. The final was a solo as Bugeja’s semi final flash fire in the lights 5.292/259 win against Timo Habermann had caused irreparable damage giving Dave Wilson a 5.339/262 win.

England's own David Wilson scored in TMD with his injected nitro car

FIA Top Methanol Funny Car – Danny Bellio, a small field of floppers was led by Belgium’s finest, a 5.827/246 led the pack and it was solo drive in round one, a bye of 5.767/239 that ended up in the field at tracks end when the parachutes failed to open, then a 5.912/234 as opponent Rob Turner got crossed up hitting the blocks and crossing the centreline at three quarter track leaving Bellio’s Dodge Charger the winner.

Danny Bellio scored in TMFC with his very cool Dodge Charger based from Belgium

FIA Pro Stock – Thomas Lindström, the rookie from 2011 made good this year taking the first win of the series, coming from number two qualifier of 6.735/204 as fellow Swede Micke Callin sat on pole with a 6.720/206, proving the track was in great condition. Callin took a first round bye then faced Lindström on the money run, Callin in his GTO red lit allowing Thomas Lindström in the Ernryd Cars backed Dodge Stratus a 6.716/206 win.

Sweden's Thomas Lindstrom woin in Pro Stock with his Dodge Stratus

FIA Pro Mod – Bruno Bader, the Swiss driver manages to be superbly consistent, he did not have the quickest car but he manages well. A number four qualifier of 6.421/200 sat behind Sweden’s Bert-Ove Olofsson ( 6.336/223), and two Dutch drivers, Marc Meihuizen and David Vegter on pole, 6.210/230 and 6.185/232 respectively. Bader took his ‘GothamCity’ ‘Vette to wins over Kev Slyfield, a red lighting Robert Joosten andEngland’s Graham Ellis before running a lone 12.181/108 in the final.

Switzerland's Bruno Bader won over an exciting Pro Mod program

UEM Super Twin Bike – Nate Gagnon, the Canadian came, saw and conquered, leading the field on a 6.604/211 pass and decimating the opposition. A 6.561/219 kept ahead of Norwegian Jan Sturla Hegre’s 7.541/167, then a bye in the semis of 6.624/217 before a solo for the trophy asHolland’s Job Heezen had broken, a 6.685/215 got the win.

Canada's Nate Gagnon scored in the UEM Super Twin category

UEM Top Fuel Bike – Ian King, the Brit on his newly debuted last year Gulf Oil Racing backed machine was at the head of the pack on a 6.410/173. A stage and roll the green light started King’s eliminations day as opponent Otto Knebl had broken. Round two was a bye run and an early click-off 6.278/196 got him into the final. Every fuel bikes nightmare is the Funny Bike of Sweden’s Rikard Gustafsson and that’s who King faced for the final, surprisingly Gustafsson was late on the lights but chased King, both getting close to the centreline but Ian King got the light and the win.

Ian King won in the Top Fuel Bike category

UEM Pro Stock Bike – Kalle Lyrén ended up number one qualifier with a 7.243/171 from the Swede putting him well ahead of the pack. On his way to the final Lyrén won against Brit Martin Newbury, 7.202/171 to a 7.793/164 then a 7.175/182 beatFinland’s Fredrik Fredlund before Lyrén’s Veidec Racing Suzuki was due to meet Ulf Ögge’s Buell for the trophy, unfortunately Ögge no-showed due to breakage allowing the 7.163/183 from Lyrén the win.

Swede Kalle Lyren rolled to victory in UEM Pro Stock Bike action

Graham Balchin, came from number eleven qualifier to meet fellow Brit Chris Reed in the final. Reed took the lead off the start line but his slowing 7.816/184 was beaten by Graham Balchin’s 7.343/198. Balchin had earlier beaten Dave Holland in the first side by side 200mph pass, a 7.325/201 taking the nod over the losing 7.394/201.

Super Street Bike winner - Graham Balchin

Event Essentials:  FIA Main Event – Santa Pod England(June 1-4th, 2012)

Posting and Photos by :  Roger Gorringe (Copyright June 2012)