NSRA Hot Rod Drags  6/7 September 2003

Shakespeare County Raceway

Entrants

Qualifying

Track & Weather conditions were excellent, producing a brace of personal bests during Saturday's 3 qualifying sessions, & a  few more during  Sunday's eliminations

1. OA 16     Pete Ashworth             8.92 / 148 mph (p.b)
2. OA 1       Rob Stone                    9.53 / 139 mph
3. OA 3       Cliff Griffin                  9.76 / 136 mph (p.b.) 
4. OA 65     Gary McCormack        9.99 / 133 mph
5. OA 25     Martin Fuller             10.18 / 134 mph
6. OA 63     Martin Davidson       10.56 / 121 mph (p.b.)
7. OA 54     Bob Hancox               10.72 / 126 mph
8. OA 51     Mike  Callan              11.09 / 123 mph (p.b.)
9. OA 44     Martyn Payne           11.37 / 121 mph
10. OA 66     Bloompy & Squeaky 11.43 / 120 mph (p.b.)
11. OA 11      Paul Wright              11.55 / 120 mph
12. OA 76     Rick Hooper              12.34 / 112 mph
13. OA 52     Matt Cooper              13.05 / 102 mph
14. OA 64     Graham Rawlings      13.50 /   98 mph

Unfortunately bookies favorite OA 2 Paul Hensher suffered transmission problems during the burnout of his 1st qualifying pass on Saturday. Forcing him to make an early start on the ale.... well it was his stag weekend.

Eliminations

 1st Round  SPORTSMAN

 OA44 Martyn Payne v OA76 Rick Hooper

Martin dialled-in 11.37 & ran 11.51 to beat Ricks 12.38 on a 12.30 dial-in by virtue of a quicker reaction time.

OA56 Squeaky v OA52 Matt Cooper

Sqeaky's race was a far simpler affair 12.12 on an 11.60 dial-in beating Matt's 15.67 0n a 12.70 DI.

OA11 Paul Wright v OA 64 Graham Rawlings 

Graham's axle expired in the Burnout leaving Paul on a solo. Less clutch than yesterday made for a more controllable 9.88 at 154mph

1st Round  PRO

OA16  Pete Ashworth  v  OA51 Mike Callan

If the race was won on burnouts it would have been a close call, but unfortunately for Mike its not. Pete's 9.30 smoked  Mike's 11.42 all the way to the trailer.

OA3  Cliff Griffin   v   OA63  Martin Davidson

This was the upset of the weekend, Martin pulled a 10.26 (p.b.) out of the bag to beat Cliffs 10.66.

OA2  Rob Stone   v   OA54  Bob Hancox

Rob was trying out some different setting this weekend, & was starting to reap the rewards his 9.59 beating Bob Hancox's valiant 10.45

OA65 Gary McCormack v OA25 Martin Fuller

Marin Fuller, usually Pete Moore's Crew chief, was on the other side of the lexan this weekend, having qualified no 5 was in the closest match up against fellow Fordson driver Gary McCormack. Gary was back on form taking the win 9.34 but not before Marin ran a personal & team best of 9.65. I hope Pete makes nice Tea or he could be out of a job.

Semi-Final  SPORTSMAN

OA44 Martyn Payne - Bye

Martin Payne suffered a punctured slick, not found until in the fire up road & couldn't  make his bye.

OA11 Paul Wright v OA 56 Squeaky 

Paul had a lean condition on idle that after the burnout that caused the headers to overheat, igniting the flip front behind the wheels. The FAST team soon had the fire out, leaving Squeaky on a solo, trying a sniff of gas for the 1st time & running a p.b. 11.60.

Semi-Final  PRO

OA16 Pete Ashworth  v  OA63 Martin Davidson

Martin was again into the low 10's with 10.40 but Pete was also back on form with an 8.96 to take the win

OA1 Rob Stone  v  OA65 Gary McCormack

This was a good un, Rob was finding success with a different start line technique,& ran a  9.44 (p.b.) to Gary's hard charging 9.54

Final  PRO

OA16 Pete Ashworth v OA1 Rob Stone

A quick turn around from semis didn't seem to upset either driver, both drivers got away together, but Rob's shifter snagged in 1st gear, when eventually shifted Rob had 9.65/140mph on the board, but Pete. saved the best till last 8.915/149mph  & another (p.b.)