European Doorslammers Report Saturday 8th July 2006 Obsession Motorsport and Santa Pod Raceway present European Doorslammers.

The event, a co-operation between Santa Pod Raceway and the idea of the late Terry Gibbs pushed forward by his wife Tina and son Craig of Obsession Motorsports was an undoubted success which heralds bigger such race meetings in the future. It all seemed low key at first but the forty odd competitors divided into five classes got maximum track time and actually had time to enjoy the racing.

Like most classes it was a mixed bag machines that ran in Outlaw made up of Street Eliminator, Outlaw Anglia, Super Comp and Super Pro ET but at the end of the day it was Paul Wright's usual seven second Ford Anglia that ruled the day. An 8.104/169 took pole then he blasted his way past John Atkinson and a bye run to face Steve Pateman's big motored street Calibra for the final. Despite a good leave by Steve Pateman Paul Wright powered past as the Vauxhall slowed, 8.140//154 to an off pace 11.128/79.

What a return debut Chris Orthodoxou made in his stunning 604 cubic inch powered Dodge Viper in the Top Sportsman class, he ran careful tests getting used to the new vehicle before getting past Steve Rawlings, Belinda Bull and a bye to the final. Chris Johnson managed to push his neat MG ZS ahead of Paul Marston, Shaun Lathan and finally Steve Green to face Orthodoxou. Chris Johnson carded a fine leave and held the lead all the way through the lights with an 8.910/146 as Orthodoxou tried in vane to catch up with his 8.136/164.

The Top Gun class saw Pete Creswell's Mustang take top qualifier with a 9.008/150 then make it to the final with defeats over Jon Webster and a bye run semi final. Meanwhile Brian Pateman pushed his trusty red Firebird from second qualifier to wins against Bob Doyle who suffered breakages then a close dual with Stuart Morrice, 9.096/144 to a 9.134/143 lose. The final saw Brian Pateman take advantage of a holeshot then run a 9.025/151 as Peter Creswell broke out with an 8.998/147.

Another full field made up Sportsman that was headed by the 10.005/134 from the Mustang of Vic Amato who was then seen off in round one when he lost to Stuart Doignie's 496ci powered BMW. Doignie pushed on past Tethys to face the Super Gas champion Frank Mason. Mason had held fourth in qualifying and managed a holeshot win over Steve Wells then a breaking out Wayne Hiscock. Frank Mason and his early Corvette worked their magic again with a good leave coupled with a 10.051/128 that stayed ahead for the win as Stuart Doignie runner upped with a 10.041/143.

Kevin Slyfield had a great weekend starting with a top qualifier in Street when his Plymouth managed an 11.830/113 to lead the field.

Slyfield's progress was part easy part hard work as in round one he ran an unopposed win as Dan Page had broken then had a bye to the semi final where an 11.768/106 with a better leave bested the 12.567/104 from Brian Burrows VW. The little Mini of Paul Webster was on a roll all weekend as he put away some big motors in the shape of Michael Smith's Camaro then Simon Cooper's Pop, both with better leaves then a bye run took him to the final. On the money run Paul Webster's 12.802/102 was not quite enough as Kevin Slyfield, despite an off the throttle then back on at the top end secured the 11.905/100 win.

Report & Photos Roger Gorringe. NITRO exposure. © July 2006.