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We had been suffering from tyre shake on both previous outings with the car, and the results for the car around the European tour hadn't been any better. Going into the meeting the McDonald team met to assemble the pit the previous weekend and were determined to find the problems. A strategy was formulated to go through all the fundamental systems on the car. Stuart McDonald would lead and co-ordinate whilst I enlisted the very capable skills of Dave Rowe from EPS, a specialist in supply, installation, and tuning of engine managements and data gathering systems. I had removed the MOTEC ADL dash from my MGSV which performs all the datalogging for the car, a system which would more than cope with the requirements of the Top Fuel car. Dave made a custom loom and we used most of the Racepak sensors. By Friday morning Stuart was confident that all systems were at least operating correctly, subject to having the parameters set, the guys and Sarah had assembled the car and Dave had configured the logger to read in a format we would all understand. Due to a few glitches we missed the first session but comfortably made the second. It wasn't a perfect pass, an extended period on the high side seemed to drop the cylinder temperatures and it shook a bit, but not as much as previously. The data was good and continued to be really good on the following passes, allowing Stuart and Rune Fjeld to understand what was required. The last qualifier was outstanding from the hit - it buried the rear and all the way down I was anticipating it raising the rear ready to shake. But once past 660 feet I started to believe it was on one, then it started to pull hard to the left, I did all I could to keep it off the wall and lifted about 100 feet short of the finish line. The reaction of the crew approaching me at the top end suggested it was something special, but I never expected 4.82. Unfortunately we spun a main bearing which meant that we had a long night ahead. We got a block and crank from Rune, but the block needed the deck repairing. Steve, Robin and I went back to my workshop where the block and other bits were repaired. Stuart, Richard, Mark, Steve S, Sarah, Kirsty and Ray, stayed and prepped the car while Jeanette gave moral support and sustenance. At 4.20 am we were done - well and truly. Sunday had highs and lows. The win against Risto Poutiainen was sweet with a pedalling 5.3, but unfortunately a low followed: a broken rod, burnt pistons and liner. Unfazed, Stuart got everyone dancing to the same tune, Rune sorted us the parts, and Risto's guys even chipped in - many thanks, true sportsmen. Needless to say we got done with a stellar effort from everyone. Micke Kågered was our next opponent and a formidable one too. It was a really good race straight from the tree, I think Micke had a problem and again I hung on to a 4.90 pulling to the left. The car survived relatively well on that one. The following phases were all highs, our trusty sponsor Jöran Persåker, a perfect photo opportunity. Winning the final was an obvious high, even though it was with some mixed feelings when the bottom pulley sheared at our quickest 330 of the weekend and I was coasting listening to Jöran pedalling like a man possessed, the nose of my dragster just braking the beams moments before Jöran's. Thank you for the overwhelming support shown to us by the fans, to Rune Fjeld and RF Motorsport, Stuart and Richard McDonald and the above-mentioned crew, Persåkers Speed Shop, Lucas Oil, Dave Rowe (EPS), Kawasaki UK, and of course my family Jeanette and Shelby. A truly amazing weekend made possible by Santa Pod, and the hard work and dedication of Santa Pod Racers Club and the whole of their crew. Jon Webster |
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