The National Finals 2006 Saturday 30th Sep - Sunday 1st Oct

Unfortunately the National Finals 2006 were called off due to persistant rain on Sunday. As the Saturday had also been affected by adverse weather the following Rain-off Values have been announced; Saturday - £10, Sunday £15, Weekend £20. There is no rain-off value for grandstand seats.

We apologise that the weather affected the action, but we can assure you that our track crew did absolutely everything in their power to master the conditions.

How to take advantage of rain-off values: HOLD ONTO YOUR TICKET! You will need to bring this ticket to Santa Pod to get a discount on the next event you attend (excluding some events held at Santa Pod by other companies). There is no cash alternative, but the rain-off values are valid up to and including The National Finals 2007. Rain-off tickets can only be used pro rata.

The National Finals 2006 Report

The sweltering heat of the drought ridden mid year months, then the fine skies of the Indian summer suddenly came to an abrupt end with late season thunder storms that deluged the valiant attempts at wrapping up the end of season National Finals Drag Race. Most classes in the busy Sportsman dominated event got just one qualifying pass in each on Saturday before autumn suddenly descended with heavy rains that ended any further chances of track action. Finals day faired even less with overnight storms necessitating hours of track drying only for it to continue with the wet stuff just as the track was readied calling a sad end in the early afternoon to any form of racing.

Championships had to be wound up with just the qualifier with points accumulated on Saturday culminating in a frustrating end to a fabulous racing year. The MSA Top Methanol Championship was taken by Rob Turner once again, putting Dave Wilson into second in the home Championship. Turner struggled with his one qualifier running what was pole position with a 7.266/141 as Stephanie Milan suffered severe tyre shake and did not cross the finish stripe.

Click photos to enlarge.

In the UK National Drag Racing Championship, the winners were in each class: Super Modified; Graham Ellis who sat in sixth qualifier position with a below par 8.184/135. Rob Smallworth headed the cast with a great 7.689/177 from his big yellow Chevy Bel Air and ended runner up in the accumulated points.

Super Comp had Chris Johnson in the neat MG ZS making it back to back Championship wins, he sat in ninth place in qualifying with Peter Creswell sitting in pole position on an 8.962/149 from his Mustang. Shaun Lathan runner upped in the Championship.

Super Gas saw Tim Adam take the Championship but was placed tenth in qualifying with a 10.084/144 in the Brogie Roadster whilst last years Champ, Frank Mason sat atop the qualifying pile with a 9.925/138 from his Corvette. Runner up in the overall points was the Steve Dunn/Jon Evans team.

Super Street had Bob Lees wrap up the Championship with a second place qualifier in his Mustang, an 11.034/126 which sat behind defending Champ John Grant’s 10.972/135 who gained the Championship second spot.

Super Pro ET had Martyn Jones wrestle the Championship title from Nick Spence at the end of the wet weekend, Jones managed a one shot qualifier place of 7.899/167 and the class was headed by Rick Cooke’s dragster with an 8.281/155.

Pro ET saw Lee Huxley’s Roadster take the points Championship title ahead of Kevin Slyfield. In the event qualifying though, last years Champ John Atkinson led the way with a 9.457/142 leaving Huxley in forth place with a 10.724/124.

Sportsman ET’s Geoff Cowley in his Camaro wound up a great rookie year by becoming the Champion in a points battle with Brian Huxley who lost out having won just one event to Cowley’s three during the year. In qualifying at the rained out National Finals Huxley topped the pile with a 15.597/85 leaving Cowley in fifth spot on a 15.942/88.

The Junior Dragster Championship went to Scott Hauser, keeping it in the family as brother Jay won it last year. Scott sat in fourth qualifier spot with an r.t of 0.024 coupled with an 8.099/79. Runner up was Nicholas Mugridge. Zak Johnson led the qualifiers with a fine 0.015 r.t. alongside a 15.062/40 timing.

In the VW classes: VW Pro Championship went to Glynn Morgan over Martin Charles, though Ian Dale sat on top of the event qualifying pile with a 12.389/102; VW Sportsman had Paul Herbert take the trophy over Graham Fairhead but leading the qualifier was Richard Merriman and lastly VW Alternate Engine saw Matt Finney wrap up the trophy over Mark Skeen, Finney also managed to obtain pole with a 15.569/85.

Onto the two wheel heroes and in the ACU classes the Top Fuel Bike Championship saw Steve Carey deservedly clinch the title over a close Ian Turboville in his first year. Heading the event qualifying though was Ian King on a 6.696/191 with Carey managing a 7.529/189 for number two.

The Funny Bike title went to Neil Midgley before the wet event ahead of Tim Blakemore and in the one shot event qualifier Midgley stood out with a 7.025/192 pole well ahead of the other riders.

Pro Stock Bike saw Dave Beck secure another title in front of Len Paget with the former also obtaining the top qualifier before the rain a 7.580/173 was ahead of Paget’s 7.741/171 qualifier.

The Competition Bike Championship was also wrapped up before the National Finals with Kevin Charman finalising the points ahead of Phil Leamon. Charman was also able to lead the way in qualifying with a 7.833/167 ahead of Leamon’s 8.431/155.

The Super Street Bike wars ended up a victory for Jamie Sneddon over Steve Venables, a roll reversal of last years Championship. Sneddon managed an 8.204/180 for second qualifier position behind Nigel baker who pounded out a fine 7.911/184 to lead the rained out qualifiers.

It has been Andy Bird’s year in 9.50 Bike as he managed to tie up the Championship ahead of Richard Sawatzki but it was Andy Haley that led the one qualifier with a 9.602/142 ahead of Bird’s second qualifying spot 9.614/141.

The Supertwin Top Fuel Bike Championship was sealed by a lady, Wendy Clutterbuck managed to keep the majority of points ahead of Duncan Hocking. Top qualifier this weekend though was Ian Curruthers on his stunning looking machine on an 8.872/146.

Supertwin Top Gas Bike saw John Floyd take his Yamaha to the overall points total he also managed to head the field in qualifying with a 9.072/140.

Supertwin Street Bike had the Championship go to Dave Jones on his V-Rod staying ahead of Steve Folds for the title. Jones managed to keep ahead in qualifying with a 10.238/131 to Fold’s 10.630/125.

Text and photos by Roger Gorringe. NITRO exposure. © October 2006.Thanks to Simon Groves of Eurodragster.com for supplying Champion and Runner Up names.

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