NSRA Hot Rod Drags  18/19 September 2004

Shakespeare County Raceway

Entrants

Qualifying

The sky was grey  & the track damp for most of Saturday,  the cold conditions & occasional showers meant for an exciting one-shot afternoon qualifying session

1. OA 1       Paul Hensher                8.82 / 155mph
2. OA 2       Pete Ashworth             9.06 / 136 mph
3. OA 11     Paul Wright                  9.18 / 172 mph
4. OA 5       Gary McCormack         9.31 / 147 mph
5. OA 289  Steve Wells                   9.89 / 132 mph
6. OA 80     Al O'Connor               10.25 / 129 mph
7. OA14      Ian Norman                10.69 / 131 mph
8. OA344    Ray Guy                     10.97 / 113 mph
9. OA 76     Rick Hooper               11.03 / 124 mph
10. OA 51     Mike  Callan               11.15 / 123 mph
11. OA 54     Bob Hancox                11.19 / 125 mph
12. OA 44     Martyn Payne            11.43 / 121 mph
13. OA 79     Justin Krekelaar        11.64 / 111 mph
14. OA 66     Bloompy & Squeaky  11.71 / 125 mph
15. OA 9       Matt Cooper               12.23 / 113 mph
16. OA 590   Aidan Kenny              14.53 /   61 mph

Eliminations

 1st Round 

OA1 Paul Hensher  v  OA590 Aidan Kenny

Aidan had to bee keen on the lights, & picked up a cherry for his trouble 12.49/118mph. To Paul's winning 9.08/155mph.

OA344 Ray Guy  v  OA76 Rick Hooper

Ray pleased with his 10 in qualifying must have liked his 9.94/132mph pb,1st 9-second pass & a win light even more. Rick was so-close to a 10, 11.09/124mph

OA5 Gary McCormack  v  OA79 Justin Krekelaar

Gary was back in the 9.1's again 9.16/147mph taking the win against Justin's first-10 10.94/124mph with a sniff of gas

OA289 Steve Wells  v  OA44 Martyn Payne

Martyn left before the tree had been activated, Steve takes the automatic win 9.81/132mph

OA2  Pete Ashworth  v  OA52 Matt Cooper

Matt recorded a 0.002 reaction but it didn't do him a whole lot of good 12.29/113mph to Pete's 9.23/142mph

OA14 Ian Norman  v  OA51 Mike Callan

Ian couldn't get Popeye fired up in the lanes (not enough spinach), leaving the way clear for Mike to progress into the 2nd round on a solo 10.63/132mph

OA11 Paul Wright   v   OA66  Team Bloompy & Squeaky

The Norfolk Duo had a problem in the burnout & were pushed back, Paul Wright recorded a new pb. et of 8.468/174mph on his way to the quarter finals.

OA80 Al O'Connor  v  OA8 Bob Hancox

Al was 1st away from the lights (no change there) taking the win in the closest race of the 1st round, 9.90/133mph to Bob's 10.23/133mph

2nd Round   PRO

OA1 Paul Hensher  v  OA344 Ray Guy

Both cars left Together but It was all over by the 1/8th Paul progresses 8.69/163mph while Ray exits with another pb super gas style 9.91/132mph

OA5 Gary McCormack  v OA298 Steve Wells

Gary suffered transmission woes causing a red light but still managing 9.29. Steve is in the semis 9.86/130mph

OA2 Pete Ashworth  v  OA51 Mike Callan

Mike had upped the Nos a bit for this one, recording a pb & his 1st 9-second et 9.84/137mph. Pete however still blatted past on his 1st 8 of the weekend 8.90/146mph

OA11 Paul Wright  v  OA80 Al O'Connor

Al was bang-on another super-gas time 9.93/133mph, fortunately for Paul it was Heads-up another et pb 8.44/166mph doing the job.

Semi-Final  PRO

OA1 Paul Hensher  v  OA298 Steve Wells

Steve was away half a second before Paul but Mr Hensher had that covered & another half a second for good measure. PH 8.75/157mph SW 9.77/134mph

OA11 Paul Wright  v  OA2 Pete Ashworth

Another semi final match up for Paul & Pete. Both keen off the tree Pete 9.26/144mph, to yet another pb & new track record 8.317/174mph securing his place in the final.

Final  PRO

OA11 Paul Wright  v  OA1 Paul Hensher

Paul was definitely going to win this final, but which one?  High tension after the burnouts both cars were shut down as the timing equipment wouldn't reset. 2 minutes later problem solved, Paul Hensher elected to do another short burnout while Guv proceeded into stage. Not much in it off the line, but Alco-pop was in front by 330ft & stayed ahead, taking the win with yet another pb & resetting both et & mph records 8.230/176.36mph to Paul Hensher's 8.64/164mph in Gas Attack.

Final  Sportsman

The sportsman competition is run for the competitors that don't get past the 1st round of  Pro & anyone that didn't qualify. 8 cars took part over 3 rounds this weekend, culminating in this pairing.

OA44 Martyn Payne  v OA66 Bloompy

Martin dialed in 11.10 & ran 11.32/122mph to take the win over Bloompy's 11.36/124 on a 10.98 dial in