2011 Season
We had decided not to make any changes to the set up over the winter, so it was just a matter of undertaking the usual engine and transmission service and checking the slingshot over before the start of the season.
The season opener was the Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod, and this year Easter was late in April so there was a prospect of good weather. As it turned out it was the best 4 days of weather and racing I can ever remember at The Pod. It was so mild that we were sitting out until late in the evening playing cards and drinking beer! Andy even brought the Mk1 Golf Cabriolet along and we were able to cruise out to the pub in the evening.
We managed to qualify with some reasonable times over the weekend, and made it through to the semi finals on raceday eventually finishing third overall.
Due to the Royal Wedding the usual May Bank Holiday meeting had been moved back to mid May, so this was the second meeting of the season. We ran some consistent times around 10.3 secs @ 128mph and finished 5th overall.
This was closely followed by the 3-day Garys Picnic meet at Shakey at the end of May. It was a mixed weekend of weather, and it was decided to run the first points round on Sunday which was a good idea as Monday was a rain off. We finished second overall just 0.004secs behind the first place.
The Shakey Super Pull meeting is a combined with a round of the National Tractor Pulling Championship so there is some amazing machinery around. The weekend weather was again very poor, though a points round was managed late on Saturday in which with a first place finish was obtained. This put us in first place in the Wild Bunch and Real Steel series.
The very enjoyable Nostalgia Nationals weekend followed with yet more mixed weather, which was now the trend for the season! Our three qualifying rounds were all within 2 hundredths, but race day was more inconsistent and we ended up in fifth place, but managed to still lead the Wild Bunch and Real Steel series.
Next was the Mini Nationals with slightly better weather and 4 rounds of racing completed for the first time this season! It proved a rather inconsistent weekend and we finished seventh overall and dropped back in the championships.
The inaugural Dragstalgia event at Santa Pod took place in Mid July. There was a lot of expectation around this event, but once again the weather played havoc, but overall it was a success and will be repeated in 2012. There was a very strong head wind and times were affected badly with an eighth place achieved. We took part in the Cacklefest on Saturday evening but not the flame burnouts which were spectacular.
It was back to Shakey at the end of August for the Open Sports Nationals. We ran some consistent 10.3sec @ 128mph runs and finished second qualifier. Eliminations took place on Monday and for the second year running we managed to win the event. This made us winners of the Ultimate Power Series at Shakey, and moved us the first place in Real Steel Championship, second in the Wild Bunch series and leading the MSA challenge.
The final race weekend was the National Finals at Santa Pod. The weather was good but our times were inconsistent though we did manage to qualify in fifth place. However the last run off the day resulted in a badly smoking transmission and a horrible burning smell. There was a quick trans oil change but during the first round of eliminations there was virtually no drive and we coasted to the side and were pushed back. A disappointing end to the season.
However, our consistency over the season paid off and giving us our best season so far.
Team Achievements for 2011
Winner – Real Steel Championship
Winner – APIRA Ultimate Power Championship
Winner – MSA Challenge
Second Place – Wild Bunch Series.
Second Place - Roy Wilding Nostalgia Race Cars Series
Best Overall Achiever 2012 Season
However the best award was still to come. At the prize presentation evening the team won the most sought after award in UK Nostalgia Racing – The Don Garlits Sprit of Drag Racing Award. It was a real honour to win this award and to join the other proud winners who have their names on the shield.
As well as the racing weekends the team took part in the Victory Wheelers South Coast Internationals show at Beaulieu, and came away with yet another prestigious award. The Victory Wheelers Best Club Member award. This award is a beautiful scale model of a Jaguar rear axle, and once again it is an honour to win it.
The team also attended the NSRA Hot Rod drags and took part in the Cacklefest, this time with the newly acquired crew car (a 1967 Ford Falcon Sports Coupe), which we used as a push start car for the cacklefest and tow car.
We were invited to attend the Wessex Ferrari Show in aid of Naomi House Children’s Hospice. This is a one day show with a multitude of classic Ferraris and other exotics machines, as well as classics and up to date fast road cars. The day raised over £5000 for charity which was great result.
We’d like to thank all the track officials and crews for running all the events and keeping us safe and look forward to the 2012 season.