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Click on any image to get the bigger picture |
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After a long lay off I started taking drag
racing pictures again seriously in 2002. Well, I say seriously, perhaps you had
better be the judge of that. |
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On to Shakespeare County Raceway for the Super Series Spring Nationals. Pictured in the sunshine is Chris Hartnell's 355 cubic inch Backdraft slingshot dragster. As you might imagine I like these old cars and it is great that the Wild Bunch gives them a chance to keep competing. This picture was taken on 5 May 2002. |
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Another casualty was Mark Turton's Growler competition altered, another Wild Bunch runner. The wheels locked up at the top end and it went through the lights at 79.65 mph, very nasty. Fortunately, Mark was not badly injured and the car was re-built and appeared later in the year. |
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Smax Smith burns out in his funny car at Shakey on 5 May 2002. |
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The final picture from the Spring Nationals is Steve Wells' excellent Ford Pop Pro ET entry called Team Orange. Al O'Connor would be proud of the boy! |
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I foolishly went for a wander round the Santa Pod pits at entirely the wrong time, i.e just before the top methanol funny cars were due to run. Anyway I got this picture of the Power Pack-sponsored Top Methanol Funny Car of Dezsoe Krivan as he prepared to reverse back to the start line after his burn out. This picture was taken at the Main Event at Santa Pod on 1 June 2002. |
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Still at the Main Event here is Micke Kägered warming up the hides on his Quaker State Express Top Methanol Funny Car. |
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We now move forward in time to 29 June 2002 and the NSRA Nostalgia Nationals held at Shakespeare County Raceway. Driver Dick Sharp stands with one foot on the front wheel of the immaculate Dorset Horn Austin A35 bodied Wild Bunch competition altered. I think I am right in saying that this is the 6th incarnation of this car, pictures of versions 1, 2 and 4 can be seen on page 4 of the Competition Altereds (version 3 was destroyed on its maiden run so I missed out on a picture of it). |
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Another historic car at the Nostalgia Nationals was the Hemi Hunter blown slingshot dragster. This was previously campaigned by the Stones' team and driven by Gerry Andrews before he moved on to a rear engined car. My thanks to Tog of Eurodragster who tells me that Roy Wilding is the owner and driver of Hemi Hunter, he certainly turned the car out superbly well. |
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On again to the Super Series Fall Nationals at Shakespeare County on 25 August 2002. This is the Showtime funny car owned by Bob Jarrett and driven by John Spuffard. At the time that this picture was taken Showtime had recorded the fastest terminal speed (286 mph) by a fuel funny car outside the USA. |
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I love Fuel Altereds and The Mob is a great example of the breed. It is pictured in the pits at Shakespeare County Raceway on 25 August 2002, Wendy Baker was driving the car at this meeting. |
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Also at Shakey on 25 August was Robert Brooks' absolutely immaculate Yellow Metal. It looks a treat as it waits in the staging lanes to run. |
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The remaining pictures on the page were taken at the European Finals at Santa Pod. This picture of 'Fast Freddy' Fagerström's fabulous pro modified Chevrolet pick up truck was taken on Saturday 7 September 2002 and shows work continuing apace in the pits to ready the car for qualifying after it hit the safety wall on a lap the previous day. |
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' The show must go on' it says on the side of the truck - a reference to the shunt on Friday. This picture of Fast Freddy was taken during the eliminations on Sunday 8 September 2002. After all his misfortune he went on to win Pro Modified at this meeting. |
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Thomas Nataas burns out his 1937 Chevrolet-bodied Batmobil Pro Mod on Sunday 8 September 2002. |
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Norwegian Svein Gottenberg aboard his mighty 2750cc Harley-powered Fastcat waiting for a push back to the start line after his burnout. You can see why some of the riders wear chainmail chest protection with that lot underneath them. |
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Nitro funny cars - there's nothing like them. Gordon Smith burns out in Shockwave in front of a packed spectator banking. |
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George Chiarella burns out in his blown 350 cubic inch 1937 Ford Straight to the Point 2 Super Comp entry. |
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The rear tyre let go on Ulf Leanders' Ford Mondeo Top Methanol Funny Car and destroyed the surrounding bodywork. They were a bit premature with their sign because believe it or not the bodywork was actually repairable. |
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Up close and personal with Anders Larsson as he launches his 1500cc Pro Stocker off the line. |
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