Big Bang 2008

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Big Bang  26/27 April 2008

Santa Pod Raceway

Big Bang Website

Entrants

bulletOA81    Simon Barlow
bulletOA70    Mark Bracking
bulletOA666  Lee Cohen
bulletOA82    Richard Colby
bulletOA19    Paul Hensher
bulletOA84    Dave Sidaway
bulletOA5      Rob Stone
bulletOA298  Steve Wells
bulletOA1      Paul Wright

Qualifying

  1. OA 1        Paul Wright                   7.59 / 180mph
  2. OA 19      Paul Hensher                 8.39 / 159mph
  3. OA 82      Richard Colby               8.79 / 153mph
  4. OA 5        Rob Stone                      9.43 / 137mph
  5. OA 81      Simon Barlow               9.550 / 140mph pb.
  6. OA 298    Steve Wells                  9.555 / 134mph
  7. OA666      Lee Cohen                    10.08 / 140mph pb.
  8. OA 84      Dave Sidaway               10.26 / 130mph
  9. OA70       Mark Bracking             10.42 / 128mph

There were 4 qualifying sessions, in the third Paul Wright had a propshaft U-bolt fail, as the propshaft detached itself from the axle it took out the track locator bar destabilising the car somewhat! Putting an end to Guv's weekend.

 

Eliminations 1st Round

OA19  Paul Hensher   V  OA70  Mark Bracking

Paul was unable to fire the car in the staging lanes, which was latter traced to a carburettor adjustment. Mark ran his best of the weekend 10.39/132mph

OA81 Simon Barlow   v   OA298 Steve Wells

This pair were only separated by 5 thousandths in qualifying. Simon with a new powerplant & Steve having clutch issues, the new motor worked for Simon  9.57/143mph. to Steve's 9.61/133mph.

OA5  Rob Stone  v  OA666  Lee Cohen

Lee was on a steep learning curve here, only his second time out with the car since a major engine transplant & already he'd knocked 2 full seconds off his pb. & had to wrestle the car on one wheel during a practice run on Saturday, but with the help of his crew & Chris Isaacs The Devil was being tamed. Lee was a couple of tenths late on the tree & despite a valiant top end charge that saw the windscreen burst out of its rubber & slam backwards onto the rollcage his 9.37/152mph (p.b) was not enough to beat Robs 9.50/137mph.

OA82 Richard Colby   v   OA84 Dave Sidaway

Richard didn't make it out of the pits looking for the cause of an oil pressure problem,  leaving Dave on a solo 10.53/124mph.

 

Eliminations 2nd Round

OA81 Simon Barlow   -   bye

Simon should have faced Paul Wight if the ladder had worked out, but with Paul not making his 1st round bye due to breakage Simon was on a solo & opted for a leisurely 10.50/97mph

OA70  Mark Bracking   -  bye

Not only was Mark luck enough not to have to race Gas Attack in the 1st round he also picked up the bye in the 2nd 11.54/116mph

OA5 Rob Stone   v   OA84 Dave Sidaway

Not much in it off the line, but 3 tenths at 60feet was extended to a second at the stripe, Rob's Mopar powering through 9.50/138mph. to Dave's 10.49/123mph

 

Semi-Finals

OA81 Simon Barlow   v   OA70 Mark Bracking

Simon gave up 2 tenths on the tree but had the power to drive round Mark to take the win & a new pb. 9.50/143mph.to Mark's 10.41/132mph

OA5 Rob Stone   -   bye

 The bye moved to Rob in this round 9.64/137mph

 

Final

OA5  Rob Stone  v  OA81 Simon Barlow

Simon & team were on a high, first time in a final & the nerves were showing a little. Simon missed the tree & wasn't able to make it up 9.54/145mph to Rob's winning 9.67/136mph

 

Congratulations to Rob & the team, also to Simon & the Orane Pop Crew & Lee Cohen & team.

Thanks also Santa Pod for inviting us to this excellent event.