Nov 23rd 2002 Yesterday was a end of a era for me, I've been going to the garage I work at for over 20 years and worked there for 15 of them. At 12 noon yesterday my boss Mike and his wife Angie sold the garage to a new owner Les.
I built the car at the garage and when he could he always gave me a hand, he sprayed it when it was bronze, then red and as it is now magenta/peppermint green.
Mike is in the middle of building a Porsche Spyder kit car, he's only waiting for the body to arrive, so he can finish it off and get it on the road.
Its going to be strange going to work with them not being there and I wish them all the best in the future what ever they do.
Nov 11th 2002 Well what a end to the season, the Dinner and Dance was brilliant if not a little sad, as it would be the last time to see Paul from the Bee Sting team, he's selling up and emigrating to Kos at the beginning of next year. I would like to wish him all the best and hopes he gets a drag strip up and running over there.
I ended up with 3 trophy's all for 2nd places, 2nd Wild Bunch Championship and 2nd for the Roy Wilding and Real Steel championships. So it looks like there's going to be a No 2 on the side of the car for next year as well as the new paint job which is planed.
I would like to thank all my sponsors, most of all Alan from Newgate (Newark) ltd  for all there help over this season.
This will be my last news & reviews for a while, only with the planed engine fresh up and the paint job to do over the winter, we normally go to the New Years bash at SCR, but this year we are having my Mum up for the Christmas and New Year.
All that will be done over the winter will be a weekly update to my "Guess Who" competition, which can be found on my home page.
All the best until next year.
Nov 4th 2002 We have decided not to go on our holiday until tomorrow morning, so I'm going to do a quick update before I go.
We got to the track Friday night where it started off dry, but rained throughout the night and most of Saturday, so we did not have chance start the car not alone get a run in. We watched the bonfire and fireworks and it even managed to rain during that.
Sunday It stayed dry overnight until 7.45 when it started to rain hard for the next half hour or so, when we did get up it was wet, but at least it was windy which helped dry the track off. The track was open to street tyre cars at 1 pm and we were told to join the queue for the first run, after a while they sent Crazy Chris down to try out the track, in which he done a on/off/on 12 sec run, it was decided that it would be unsafe for us to run, so it was back to the pits to load up. Just after we started to load the car up it started to rain and the whole meeting was called off.
It was not a good way to end the season and with the points being so close it could have been any ones race for the top four WB places. It looks like I'm going to have to settle for the No2 for next year which is better than last year. For all my new championship placeings click here
Well that is all for this years racing with only the Dinner and Dance next week. I have started my new guess who page for this winter, to go to there click here
There will be a update after the dinner and dance. See you all there.
Oct 28th 2002 Its less than a week before the next and final meeting and as I said below, as there are only 10 points dividing the top 6 places its going to be a "To the wire" meeting. I'm going to be on my holidays at the end of this week, and the WB dinner & dance the weekend after, I wont be able to update this until the following week. On the next update I have a new photo to add on "The body" page, sent to me by Alan Currans, from www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk and hopefully have my winter " guess who" page up and running with the help of www.dragsterworld.com and www.feel-the-noise.com Instead of the normal "showing Pic's of old race cars/bikes, I will be putting up bits of cars/bikes which were running this year. Watch this space.
Oct 08th 2002 We only went to the Doorslammers meeting for the Sunday, we took out nephew Gareth (He's been to the World Finals some years ago.) and picked up Dave on the way.
We got there around 11 and went to watch the racing, the racing was really close, but there was a lot of gaps between the rounds. After a few rounds, the cars which had been knocked out came out to test & tune, so that helped fill in the gaps, with Allan Herridge coming out in the wheelie Stingray and Rodger Gorange  out in Shock Wave trying his hardest to burn down the tower.
All in all it was a very good event with some very close racing inside the index's. (For a full report go to eurodragster.com ) 
My next event will be the "Bonfire Burn-up" see you all there. As I'm second in the WB championship, it's all to play for at this meeting, Read all about it here first.
Sept 29th 2002 I am sorry that the site has not been updated but on the 12th Sept, My Father died peacefully in his sleep after a short illness. I have added a page in his memory so if you would like to take a look, click here
While Down Eastbourne helping to sort out all the arrangements, My van was broken into by some Toe Rag who stole all my Camera equipment, (It was well hidden.) my Fathers mini television and some other stuff, they also compliably trashed the inside including pulling out all the 12/240 volt electric system, (They did not steal it but I had to rewire most of it. ) I then found out when I got home that my insurance would not cover it, so it looks like I'm going to have to dig out and fix my other camera.
And to top that lot, on the Thursday when I started back to work, I found out that my mate John (Hooker) who's Rover V8 engine'd trike I work on, Died the day before (25th Sept) of a heart attack at 40 years old. RIP John. Life's a Bitch.   
I hope to go and watch the Door slammer's  event, but will not be racing until the weekend of the 2/3rd Nov. If I go to the slammer's, read all about it here.
Sept 9th 2002 As Linda had to work until 3, time we had picked up the caravan we was not up the track until after 6 on Sat evening. Dave and Vicki had got there at 3.30 hoping to a run in, but just after they got there the heavens opened up and that was it for the day.
Sun. It was going to be a very busy day for the track crew, with a full house of cars ready to got down the track. After we managed to get scrutineered  it was join the queue and a long wait, on the way round we picked up Alec Coe to tow him down to the start line and it was him that Dave would run against.
I backed Dave into the burnout box and he done a strong burnout and got ready for the run, I pulled out the chute safety pin and called him to the line, he ran a quite straight 12.30 @ 111 mph to Alec's 12.16 @ 98 mph, but Alec had stalled it on the line and had a 5.3 reaction time.
We drove down and picked them both up and Dave was please with his run and said it was problem free. It was then straight round back into the queue to get another run in, I altered the timing back to 18 dec static while Kevin (Alec's crew man re gapped his plugs.) (these were both done on the move while in the queue.) We had not long got into the pairing lanes proper and I was taking a quick walk around, a fire started in the pits, it was Mark Needham's Chain Reaction car, it started with just a few small flames and ended up with the car completely gutted out. The fire crew were not long on the job and the fire was out in minuets, Mark and some of his crew had burns, these were treated on the spot by the medical teams, the air ambulance turned up to take mark to the Birmingham burns unit and the others were taken by normal ambulance to the local hospital. We wish them all the best and hope they get better soon.
There was a trophy up for best burnout and I told Dave to keep it going a bit longer, when he started the car and put it in drive it seamed to bog a bit, I didn't think to much about it as the engine was on the cold side after the long wait, but when Dave backed it into the water box, he skidded straight through and had to put it in neutral to stop, he put it in first and drove back out and I stopped him on the edge of the water, he went from first to second and the car just started to come around to the right, he had to stop, I called him to the line and again ran what I thought was a good run with a 12.35 @ only 105 mph. When I picked him up he said it had started to hop a bit at 3/4 track and he had just come off it and re floored it, It was a pity as it would have been a 12.0 at the least.
As we got the both car's connected up, it started to rain and we thought that would be it for the day as it was well after 4 by then, so it was to the pits and get the car loaded on the trailer, by then the rain had stopped and we heard that the jet car was going to go down, we just stopped doing what we was doing and went down to watch, when we got down there, there was a few cars running so we went to the stands and watched then all done there runs.
Just as a note Barry was up the tower for the two days on the PA , he done a great job and even dressed as a man from Mars in a tin suit to hold the tree while the Jet car went down the first time in the day.
The next meeting for me wont be until the 2/3rd Nov, but I have a small local show to go to in two weeks time so I will tell you all about that after the event. I'm hoping a few other race cars can get there, so I will have to wait and see.
August 27th 2002 We left here for Dave & Vicki's at about 6 pm and after picking up the car we got to the track just after nine. Not far from the track we had a phone call from my sister in Eastbourne saying that my father was not well in hospital, it was arranged that they would phone again if he got any worse.
Sat. I was up not long after six to get the car ready for scrutineering, we were the 4th class out and it was a nine o'clock start. When we were called for the first round of qualifying I dialled in 12.15, the car sounded strong in the burnout but was slow of the line and run a 12.35 @ 11 mph. We went back to the pits and adjusted the timing to 18 deg's (Static.) and got ready for the next session. Not long after, Linda came and found me and said that they had called from Eastbourne and I had to phone back, I phoned my Mum and within 10 minutes we were one our  way down.  After visiting my Father, the family had a get together and it was decided due to his condition, were would all be better off doing what we were doing and wait for any more news.
Sun. It was another 6 o'clock rise and we made our way back to the track and got there at 10.30, just missing the last round of qualifying. I went up the tower and asked Tina if there was any chance to get a run in, Tina said that if it was OK with the Wild Bunch and due to the circumstances there would not be a problem. Chris said OK and it was into the car and make my way down the pairing lanes. Not long after Tina came over and said that due to the computer already having done the pairings for the afternoon (I had already qualified 8th) that this run was just to dial in the car. I had no problems with that as all I wanted to do is get down the track. I had changed my dialling to 12.25 for this run. Dave backed me into the water and I tried to do my burnout, but instead the car just bounced up the track, I put it in reverse and again backed into the water, this time the wheels spun up and I did a half decent burnout.  (He told me after that they had scraped the startline over night and had put some grip juice down.)  I settled into the car and on the green it was the normal flat to the floor job, this got me a 12.27 @ 109 mph. (This would have put me in No 1 spot, but then there you go.)
For the first round I had Keith in the Alki mist car, only to find that he had torched his engine on the last run and it was going to be a solo for me. I kept my 12.25 dialling and ran a breakout 12.13 @110 mph. The next round was to run on the Monday.
When we got back to the pits we found that we had Mark in the Limited Funz dragster who had broken the input shaft of the diff, I told him if he could find a welder I would repair it for him, by then he had already sorted it but the welder which was used was not very good and he decided to contact Roy Wilding and get another flange, so he had a quick run up the motorway and early evening the car was fixed.
Mon. I had a little lay in and didn't get up until about 8, I had a quick walk around the pits and went back to make the breakfast. We were one of the first classes out again so it to the pits and decide what to dial in, We decided that as we ran quicker on the last run but the car normally was slower on the first run of the day on a 12.20 dialling. In the pairing lanes, Bob V said that Anni would be down the bottom end and for me to pull the chute. I am getting set in my ways with getting to the line and if against a car that crosses the start line on the burnout, I sit in the water until they start backing up before doing my burnout. I did this with Mark and after my burnout took the car out of gear and was just about to get settled when Mark went straight into stage. It was a quick flick into 1st and get myself into stage and before I knew it my green was on and I just stuck my foot down, I've got a small mirror on the right of the car so I can see the other driver when I turn off at the end of the run, but this time I could see Mark soon catching up then passing me, Just before the line I saw him back out and pull his chute, I though shit I was meant to have done that but by then it was to late. I was hoping that Mark had broken out but it was not to be and he had beaten me on the startline with a reaction time of 0.46 to my 0.84 with me only running 0.017 off my dialling with a 12.217 @ 110 mph. To his 10.75 @ 100 mph on a 10.55 dialling. Mark went on to meet Tom Coe in the final and win the event and maybe win the Super Series championship. (To be confirmed.) Well done Mark and Tom. STOP PRESS!! Mark did in fact win the series with Tom coming second. Well done both. (I came 5th overall.)
I for once spent to rest of the day in the stands just missing the only incident of the meeting where two dragsters collided in the shutdown area, Both drivers were OK with one having to spend the night in hospital. (For full news on this and all the Top Fuel cars times and speeds go to eurodragster.com.
The next event is the Hot Rod Drags. More news after the event.
August 12th 2002 Wild Bunch on Tour. Friday. Straight after work, it was quick shower, a bite to eat and get on my way to York via picking up Dave and the car at Abergavenny, after a wet and long six and a half hours (Including a short detour. (I took a wrong turning.)) we pulled into York Raceway.
Sat.  We were due out at 11, but due to the wet track, it was well after 1 before our first run and then it was not much better. The tyres spun off the line and then again as soon as I hit second, I eased off a little put it in third and run it through the top end, this netted me with a 14.4 @ 85 mph (78 mph at the 1/8th.). After a few more showers it was not until 4.30 before my next run, I had decided to try pulling off in 2nd and see if this helped, it did in a way as I ran a 13.8 @ 103 mph, only to hit problems in the shut down area with the car going all ways but straight and bouncing like fun, I pulled the chute hoping it would keep me straight but by then I was going to slow for it to work. It was a while before I got towed up the track back to the pits and I decided to just turn the car around and give it another go. I done my burnout and pulled to the line (This time in 1st.), it was not to bad in 1st but turned towards the Armco when I put it in 2nd, I again eased off and put it in 3rd and took it down the track running a better but still well off 13.46 @ 105 mph, this time I left the braking until late, using the engine to slow the car down, it helped a bit but it was still a bumpy ride. The last run was much the same but with a 13.6 @ 101 mph.
Sunday.  The last time we ran at York we only run over the 1/8th mile, so first thing it was a drivers meeting to see over what distance we were to run for the day, every one said to run over the full quarter as they had sprayed the start area with grip juice.
Due to the lack of any good times it was a guestemate for me and many other teams for our dialling times, I put down 13.00 as I was over a second and a half of my normal times on Sat but thought at least I could get it down to near that.
The first run went well but I could only manage a 13.4 @ 107 mph. For the second run I ran in the left hand lane and at about three quarter track the car just went away from me, so I had to take my foot off and ran a 13.2 @ only 85 mph (89 mph 1/8th.). For the third run I knew I would have to run a 12.6 to get anywhere near back on my times, this run was very good but still had to slow down before the finish line, when I was heading towards the top end timing lights. I netted a 12.8 @ 96 mph for my efforts.
As they had moved our rounds back a hour before out final run we got the van & trailer ready to load the cars after our last run. We were called up and it was back down the staging lanes ready for my last bumpy ride down the track. Even thought it was still well off my normal, I managed to run a 12.6 @ 106 mph. It was straight back to the pits and get the car loaded, by the time we had done this it was down to the startline for the trophy presentation, after the spot prizes, it was to the top 4, I was very surprised to get 2nd place with Joe Stevens winning the event. With Joe and myself being tie 1st in the championship before the event, its now Joe in first and myself in second with only one even left. (Bonfire test and tune in November.)
I would like to say, even though the track is not on par with the Pod and SCR you could not ask for a better welcome, we were looked after very well and it was a very enjoyable weekend and I would like to thank the crew at York Raceway for looking after us all. Also I would Like to thank Sarah and Mark for the use of the tow car and getting us back to the pits.
My next event is going to be the event of the year, with top fuel dragsters, funnys, altered's & Bikes  and also top methanol Dragsters and funnys, just to name a few classes. This is at SCR on the August Bank holiday weekend. Be there or miss out.   
July 29th 2002 Sorry about the delay with this entry, but we have been on our Hol's and only got back last night.
14th July. I was invited to race at the Mini Showdown, but as we had our holiday the week after and Dave & Vicki were already on theirs, I decided not to take the car and just go up on the bike for the Sunday. As I didn't want to do nothing all day I signed on and helped in the staging lanes and on the startline.
After the first lot of race cars went down, the organizer decided they would not be able to come out to play again until the Mini racing had finished for the day, (Which was about 4 pm.) This was as they were taking so long to get down the track. It seams like some teams did not know it was a Mini only event with invitation cars/bikes only and just turned up. (The less said on that the better.)
20th July. It was the start of our holiday week and we left here at 10 to go and pick the race car up from Dave's, We put the car on the back and made our way up to Newark, to Alan & Jeanette's where the car was staying for the week. We stayed there overnight and went to stay just outside Pickering for a couple of nights, touring around the moors and going to the local seaside towns. We went from there and looked around the Dales, (Which was the only time we had some bad weather to talk of.)  At the end of the week we had ended up just outside Skeggy,  from there back to Newark for the night and then to Donnington for the demos on Saturday. We would like to thank Alan & Jeanette for looking after us for the two nights and the car for the week, it made it so easy leaving the car there.
Donnington Park Sat. We arrived at the track at about 12 ish and waited for Ian (From FAST) to turn up to give us a hand for the weekend, we were told our first demo would not be until the end of the day, but was then told it was at 1.30, so it was a mad dash to get the car unloaded, but the old slicks on and get it ready. The Saturday demo was on the short straight just after the hair pin, I thought this would be easy, but as normal nothing goes to plan and the track was so hot it was difficult to get the tyres to spin, so after putting on lots more water it was a short'ish but smoky burnout and a run up the track, I shut down and went around the top bend and coasted back down towards the pits, by the time I got there, we could not get past as there were so many minis in the way, as they were using this part of the track that day for short circuit racing with lots of Auto Grass and Mini Stocks turning up. As we parked the car by the edge of the track, someone said they wanted a driver to drive one of the minis on the parade lap while the diver sat on the roof, so me being me I volunteered, the circuit they were using was nearly 1/2 ml round and by the time all the cars had come out of the pits, it was three abreast nearly all round this track, I had never seen so many minis in one place before.
We were asked if we would do another demo at the end of the day, but as there were so many racing there was just not the time.
Sunday.  Today it was all ford day with lots of different classes, including Formula  Ford, Formula 2000, XR2s, Montego V6s and V8s to name just a few and we were to do the demo on the main start finish straight. They also had a motor cycle stunt team doing there stuff and we were after them. Again it was very hot and the only way we could keep the tyres cold was to park at the side of the track and kept them covered with water until the stunt team had finished, when I was called forward, I spun the tyres in the water and drove to the centre of the track, as they did not want me to stay to long in one place once the engine was flat in second I slowly edged forward, all was going well until the car started to point to the right, so I just corrected it  and as I did the tyres dug in and sent the car violently to the left and I was heading towards pit wall, as the line lock was on the front tyres were just skidding and I could not stop, I manage to knock of the line lock and stopped about a foot away from the wall and about 15 ft away from the stunt bikes, "WHOOPS" . As soon as I was stopped Ian was next to me and asked if I was OK. I gave him a thumbs up and reversed back onto the track and lined un on the start line. I floored the pedal, it spun the tyres of the line and I quickly hit it into 2nd, when it was flat in second I pulled the chute pull,  and just hit neutral, knocked the engine off and coasted to a stop half way around the other side of the track, I only then stopped due to the hill, it was a brilliant feeling driving around the bends and even went through the chicane. ("NO" I'm not converted but I would love to give it a try, any offers.) When I did stop, Ian and Linda stopped in front of me and the coarse car behind, I got out to put the chute in, to find, that in my haste I had left the startline before Ian had a chance to take out the safety pin, and the pull cable was all broken as I had pulled it so hard. (Today I made a new cable ready for the next meeting.) I was towed back to the pits.
As it was by then 1 pm we packed up and made our way back to Dave & Vicki's to drop the car back off. Ian stayed there to watch the rest of the racing and we would like to give him a big thank you for all his help over the weekend.
The next meeting is the Wild Bunch on tour and we are again back up North to York Raceway.
July 2nd 2002 The weekend started on Monday, when I while checking the car over, I found it would not tick over. On Tuesday dinnertime I took the carb off, stripped it down and blew out all the jets and passage ways, I put it back on and it started first time and ticked over as normal.
The rest of the week was used by loading up the van with all my old ford 302 engine and bits,  as I had sold them to Gary with the Dream Machine dragster after his engine went at the last test & tune.
Sat. As I had to work until 12 and Linda 1, we did not get to the track until 4, I would like to thank Elliott, Gary and who ever helped to get the car unloaded and the Body off. (We had decided not to use the body this meet to see how fast it would do.) As the engine was cold I drove the car round to scrutineering where as normal there was no problems, it  was then down to the track for my first run. When I started it ready for the run again it would not tick over, so I had to keep the revs up to stop it cutting out, I done my burnout and managed a 11.93 @ 115 mph. Elliott towed me back to the pits and I waited until the engine had cooled a bit before we went down again. This time after my burnout the engine cut out and would not restart, I was pushed back to the wall and I looked to see if I could find the problems, after checking, I restarted the engine and all was fine until I started to pull off, where it cut out again, as it was nearly the end of racing for the day we took the car pack to the pits.
In the pits when I put the ignition on, the fuel pump was going like the clappers, at first I thought there was a problem with the pump as I had fuelled it up in the week and was expecting to get more than one run on what I had put in, but it looks like I was wrong and it was all down to the lack of petrol, I put some in and restarted the engine again and low and behold no problems.
Sunday. Dave and Vicki got there about 9.30 and we got the car ready for the first WB round at about 11, as I knew it could do it we dialled in 11.85 for the day and just hoped for some luck. Dave was doing the driving this meet so I strapped him in nice and tight for the round, I don't know why but as soon as he started the car it started to play up again and would not tick over, He done the burnout and it cut out, we managed to restart it (Thanks for waiting Chris.) and he headed for the line when it cut out again, it started and Dave leapt  into deep stage and as he did the lights came down and he was off, he ran a 11.96 @ a NPB speed of 118.42 mph. We got the car back to the pits and had another look at the carb, we again took the jets out and blew it out as best we could and started it again where it was running fine, by the time we had done this, it was time for the second round. The car was running fine now and Dave done a good burnout and ran a 11.98 @ 116 mph.
As I had paid for the both days I asked if he minded if I done the last round, he said there was no problem, so I was over to the van and changed ready. We joined the queue and I just got strapped in when there was a oil down. As there was only 35 mins before the end of the meeting they said they was going to run the other lane only. When it was my turn I done my burnout and staged , as normal I floored it and ran a 11.74 @116 mph, as it was my last run I pulled the chute and still managed to miss the first turn off, so it was a bumpy trip down to the bottom of the track. Not long after I got there I could feel rain and after Crazy Chris got down there it became worse and they stopped the meeting with only about 1/4 hour to go. The rain got so bad that I had to put my helmet on just to get towed back to the pits.
This meeting is in two halves, as the rear engine dragsters cant run at this meeting and the other WB cars cant run at the Mini Showdown (Rear engines only.) we are going to have to wait until after that event to see who won the round. We did get the Best burnout trophy and as I didn't know which one of us done it I let Dave take the trophy as both of his were good.
I was able to run at the Mini meet, but as we are going on holiday the weekend after, I have decided not to take the car but go up on the bike for the Sunday instead.
I have got that demo at Donnington park on the 27/28th, we are taking the car up to Alan's in Newark and leaving it at the factory for the week while we go touring the north.
Our next WB event is the one on Aug 10/11th at York Raceway's Northern Nats. (inc Wild Bunch on tour.)
June 17th 2002  Linda had to work on Saturday and as I had to qualify to race on Sunday, she had to stay home for the weekend, I had company for the trip, as Gus (From the FAST team) has moved to W / Wales and blagged a lift. We got to Dave & Vicki's, picked up the car and got to SCR about 9 ish where the first job was to unload the car ready for early scrutineering in the morning.
Sat. We were third class out and I dialled in what I thought was a over the top first dial in at 12.25 (Normally the first run is slow and we dial in about 12. 4/5.) and went out and ran a breakout 12.21 @113.07 mph.  For the next round I dialled in 12.21 and again broke out with a NPB of 12.06 @ 113.92 mph. It was tight but we managed to get another qualifying, so for this round I dialled in 12.05 and ran a 12.14 with a NPB speed of 114.21 mph. This made me 7th in qualifying. Andy in the Bee Sting car being only 002 of his time and Eddie by the same amount being 1st & 2nd.
Sunday. I was racing Eddie in Ram Raider for the first round,. I dialled in a 12.10. I floored it off the line and just before the finish line I saw Eddies front wheels come past and then he backed off, he won with a 10.26 on a 1014 to my off 12.45 @ 110.84.
At the end of the day there was time for some grudge racing and I collared Darrel for a race, we normally
Run about the same times. I was going to take the body off but in the end decided not to, I wish I had as Darrel whipped me with a 12.07 to my 12.35.
As Dave wont be up until the Sunday of the Nostalgia Nats, I've got the car down the garage, so all we got to do after work is get onto the M4 and  we're on our way.  Dave will be driving on the Sunday so if I have time I will do a couple of runs on the Sat to see how it goes.
June 03rd 2002. As this meeting was to be held on the Sunday & Monday and Linda had to work until 4 pm, we did not get to SCR until after 8.
I had arranged for Jacko to bring up a 750 cfm Holley for us the try to get into the 11 s with the body on and get a faster time with it off if we had the time. As soon as we had the car unloaded we changed the carb and checked it for leaks, as we could not start the engine until the morning all we could do put the car to bed and go to the clubhouse.
As soon as we could start it in the morning we found that it was running too rich, so I went and found Jacko who had his box of bits, we changed the power valve and put smaller jets in and tried it again, it was a lot better but I was still unhappy with the way it sounded but as the track was open we went down to give it a try anyway. The starter motor inhibitor switch decided to play up and I could not start it, so Dave had the reach into the engine bay and press the solenoid switch to get it going, after I backed into the water the engine cut out and had to be restarted, as it did not want to tick over I had to keep the revs up and get it to the line after a short burnout, it missed of the line and did not sound to good all the way up the track but it still ran a 12.51 @ 109 mph.
If the event was not a points round I would have tried get the carb sorted out but as it was we went straight back to the pits and put the 600 cfm back on.
The car was running good with the old carb so it was time to give it another try. I done my burnout and went to the line, on the green I just floored it, it engine missed a bit in second and went on the run a 12.42 @ 11.66 mph. We went straight round again and joined to queue and this time ran a 12.11 @ 122.50 mph, then it was round again to run  a 12.25 @ 111.94 mph.
As I now had something to work on for me to dial in the morning, we went and took the body off to give it one more go. We got to the pairing lanes just in time to find there had been a oil down and they were cleaning up the shut down area, just as they were finishing  up, it started to rain and that was it for the rest of the day.
When we got up it was cloudy but dry and we were told that the track would open at 10, but it was going to be as just after 9 it started to rain and by 12 the meeting was called off. As soon as the was a brake in the rain we loaded up and made our way home.
Thank you Jacko for bringing the carb up with you, we will have to have another go when its not a points round and we can have a play.
The next meeting is the Mid Summer Nationals so more news after this event.
May 20th 2002 Well what a brilliant weekend, not one trophy but still brilliant. We went up Sat afternoon after work, Dave & Vicki had gone up Friday night, I had told him to get a few runs on it Sat and I would run on Sunday. The weather was cloudy but dry all the way up to Evesham, then the roads were wet, when we got to SCR it had not long stopped raining and they were just drying the track. It was treaded tyres until they prepped the track and they put 1/2 hour on the end of the day for racing. Dave said I should do the driving and it was 5 O'clock before my first run. The car was OK in the burnout, it started  missing in second but cleared and I ran a 12.49 @ 111.94 mph. The second run was much the same but I done a slightly better 12.44 @111.94 mph. This time we went straight back round and I ran my new personal best (Body on.) at 12.08 @113.82 mph. (12.15 @113 78 mph.)
Sunday.  we decided to dial in 12.2 secs for the day. The first run was a 12.27 @ 113.07 mph, this was still with a slight miss in second. The second run was a better 12.22 @ 113.35 mph. We decided that the problem was the engine was not hot enough, for the next round we started the engine in the pairing lanes, after I wish we hadn't as when we was called to the line we go held up and I could see from the smoke coming from the engine it was getting hot. On the green it bogged on the line and ran through at 12.57 @ 112.22 mph. For the forth and final round we did not know what to do about warming to engine or not, in the end were decided not to, as I was not held up, after my burnout I put the car in neutral and gave it a few revs but all was not to be as again it missed a bit in second and I ran a 12.54 @ 111.11 mph.
We had already said that if there was time we would try the car without the body, so after the last run we went straight to the pits and got the body off quickly and back into the pairing lanes, we were only just in time and I just suited up and it was off to the startline, I done a short burnout and went into stage, on the green I just floored it, the car went like a dream and for once I got the gear changes right, I went through the finish line and as it was the last run pulled the chute, it didn't come out (The nut had come off the back of the pull and the cable just came out of the holder. Its sorted now.) so I ended up down the bottom of the track. I stayed there until Dave & Vicki came to pick me up, they pulled up with big smiles on there faces so I knew it was going to be a good time and it was a NPB at 11.67 @ 117.80 (11.78 @   117.19 mph.) That's why the weekend was so brilliant, two new personal bests in two days.
It seems like we are going to have to fit some type of temperature gauge to the engine so we can see  how hot or cold we need it before we go into stage, the cars back at Dave's so well have to see what we can do before the next meeting in two weeks. (click here for event) More after the event.
May 13th 2002 Yesterday we were meant to have taken the race car to Drayton Manor Park Spring Nats, but in the we decided not to, in the end we went just for the rides and look at the other cars. We met up with my sponsor Alan from Newgate (Newark) ltd and family and it was nice to see some old friends from the past. Wobbly Bob was there with some of the NSCC and he won a trophy, which made his day.
Next weekend is the second round of the Wild Bunch Championship at the  American Car Nats SCR.
More after the event.
May 7th 2002. Super Series, Spring Nats. We got  to SCR Friday night and set up ready for the morning scrutineering, I was up and over by the car by 8 and waited for the scrutineer to arrive and when he came there were not problems, I started the engine and gave it a quick check over and as we were to be third out,  it was suit up and get to the pairing lanes ready. Mark Turton in Growler was one of the first WB out, just before the finish line the car took a right turn and barrel rolled into the field, the FAST team were there straight away and Mark walked away from the wreckage. The car was totaled but he came out without a scratch.
I done my burnout and staged, the car was running strong off the line but started to miss, there was a loud backfire and the engine picked up again. I ran a 13.64 @ 96 hph on a 12.40 dial in. We went to the pits to check the carb where we found the air filter had come off braking the fixing point of the carb. Dave sorted this out while I did the float levels to find the secondary float was to high, I adjusted this  and by then it was nearly time for the second qualifying session. I again dialled in 12.40. The car still did not seem right but ran a 12.42 @ 110 mph making me No1 qualifier.
Sunday  We was again third class out. I again dialled in 12.40 and ran a breakout 12.29 @ 111 mph. As there was time at the end of the day we were able to do another round, so I dialled in 12.25 this time but ran a 12.35 @ 109 mph. But I was still No 1 qualifier and earned a bye in the first round of competition.
Monday This time we were 15th class out so we had lots off time to hang about and watch so other racing. For the first round I dialled in 12.35 and lucky I was on my own as I only ran a 12.53 @ 108 mph. I had Sarah Howells in Nut Cracker for the next round, it was a game of catch up but it seems that Sarah had launched in second and I had passed her by mid track and I backed out long before the finish line but still running a 12.47 but at only 90 mph. For the Semis I was with Eddie in Ramraider in the other lane, I had dialled in 12.40. After the burn out I was just starting to stage when the engine backfired again and died, I thought it was all over but it started running again and I just staged and on the green, I just floored it, as I could not hear Eddie I shut down before the finish line and crossed the line before him. To be honest I thought I had got the win only to find I had broken out again, running a 12.33 but this time at 102 mph. So it was Eddie and Mark in the Limited funz car in the finals. Pity to say that Eddie had a easy win when Marks car cut out after the burnout and would not restart. Well done the both of them.
I'm starting to enjoy racing it again now the car is back on straight and narrow and the engine is really running strong, all I got to do is get it consistent again and we are in for a chance with the championships.
This is for Crazy Chris "I HAD A DREAM"
I would like to thank Claire (The Boss) for all the cups of tea all weekend. And don't mention B Stings cooker. LOL.
Next Sunday its of to Drayton Manor Park for the Spring Nats.   
April 22nd 2002. That's the first event over and done with and unlike the last two years, without any incidents.
We got to SCR at 3 pm and I unloaded to car ready for Dave & Vicki to arrive, as soon as they were there it was down to scrutineering and off to the pairing lanes. We were nearly at the front when a car dropped oil right down the whole quarter but to be fair to the FAST team it was not long before the track was up and running again.
I started to engine but was held up again for a while and again after the burnout, so by the time I got to the line there was a lot of smoke (All the winter grime burning off.) coming from the engine and it was getting hot. I staged and when the other driver went into stage, the dreaded red light came onto my tree, I was going to back out but instead floored it, the car bogged of the line and as soon as I put it in third the car went away a bit  so I shut it all down and cruised through the finish line, as it was smoking quite bad by then, I pulled over to the left and turned left into the turn off just in case there was oil coming out somewhere, by the time I got out of the car the Fire crew was there just checking it over , all was OK so it was back to the pairing lane to see if I could get another run in, but it was not to be so, I would have to wait to the morning.
I was up early Sun morning and made the breakfast and it was to the pits to check the car over. We went down to the track to get a run in before the first round of Wild Bunch competition. I done my burnout and before going to the line I stuck it in neutral and gave it a few revs. It still bogged a bit of the line but I managed a 12.44 @ 112 mph and the car felt good.
I dialled in 12.50 and we was back down for the first round. I ran a to fast 12.32 @ 113 mph. There were so many cars and bikes there it was straight back into the queue again, I went into the left hand lane and again staged first, as soon as the other car staged my red light came on and I just floored it but with no times or speeds.  I was told as it was a computer fault, if there was time I could have a rerun. It was getting late time we got back to the start line and I knew there was no more time to do two runs. It was Andrew Wilcox in the other lane and we both staged together, on the green I was off and could see Andrew just to my left all the way down and I just pipped him to the line, I know sometimes Andrew goes down to the bottom turnoff and as I could not see him I didn't want to cut him up so I just went straight down there myself. I had run a 12.44 @ 113 mph.
When I got back to the pits I was told that as there was not any time to do another run I could use my first timing ticket to make up my three runs.
After we had put the car on the trailer, we went down the prize presentation just to see who had won and was dumbfounded to find out that it was me with about 20 cars running in the class. Well what a start to the season.
The car is now down Dave's who will be giving it a makeover ready for SS1.
See you all there. 
April 6th 2002. With the start of My season only two weeks away, I thought it was about time I started with updating this page.
The car is still on the trailer from the last meeting last year and will not be taken of until I get to SCR for the first T & T. I can work on it as it is and some times it is easier, All I got to do is change the oil & filter, check the trans oil and tart the body up. (I forgot I've got to get the shifter back from Keith.)
With the oil, I have taken everyone's advice and got some fully synthetic, I hope its worth it, at normally over £30 for 5 litres (£25 to me from Dicky at Bikes & Bits in Porth)
I have already started the engine about 3 weeks ago and it started with no problems and sounded good, I will get it going in the week, then dump the old oil and filter , then put the new synthetic in.
With the bodywork site of things, as I will have to change all the fixing points when (It will come) I get the other chassis up and running, so all I am going to do is repair only where it needs it and then touch up the paintwork.
That's all for now and all the news will be here after the first event.
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