TURNER MOTORSPORT

This year I decided to stay out for the Scandinavian tour and not to fly back in between. So Rob, Steve Vicky and I travelled in our new truck to Immingham dock Saturday evening 22nd July.

We decided to purchase a new DAF truck as our old one was a smaller motor and we were taking various parts to Sweden for racers, and even the Xmas Tree! So it was essential that we got to Mantorp for everyone. We had a really smooth crossing on the ferry for the 30 hour duration and we even got to see the engine room.

We were unable to race in Finland this year for the 2nd FIA event, due to my illness (MS) I have been diagnosed a year and I hoped that it wouldn't affect my drag racing life, but unfortunately at the Main Event I had a relapse of the disease, together with a kidney infection which made it the worst meeting of my life. I really can't remember much about the race apart from we were No 1 qualifier and we raced Peter Shofer in the final and lost. I wasn’t able to walk to the start-line and I was devastated as I wasn’t able to do any of my main jobs like packing the chutes, changing the main jet, together with various other duties to help in my capacity as Team Manager. The Finland meeting was too close for me to be able to walk on and off planes, so we decided to not go (Rob and Steve won’t race without me being at the track, so that was that!)

Monday morning we arrived at Gothenburg and were on our way to the track. We arrived mid afternoon and were the first car there. We were pitted with the Sportsman’s class as last year, which we think is a disadvantage to us. We are unable to see what’s happening on the track and as we’re part of the FIA Championship, should be included in the pro pits!

We started unloading, setting out our pit area for the arrival of the rest of our crew on Thursday afternoon. The weather was perfect and I hoped the meeting this year wouldn't be a rain off. By Thursday morning most of our competitors had arrived and we were ready for our crew who appeared mid afternoon, Simon, Richard B, Darren, Terry and Richard H.

Friday morning, and we towed down to the start-line. We were qualifying with Krister. The track looked excellent as Rob burned out in the right lane. I watched the run, saw no tyre shake as it launched straight down the middle of the lane. I thought the time would be better than what came up on the board, a 5.56, but we were all so happy to be back in the 5.50's since this was the first we had run this season! We arrived at the top and looked around the dragster to see all looked okay and returned to the pits.

We serviced the car ready for the 2nd qualifier and Steve studied the computer for changes and then towed down to the start-line. We were last to qualify alongside Dave Wilson. The corrected air for this run was 2500 feet, but we hoped we could step up on our previous time. All the routine on the start-line went as always and Rob rolled into stage and left hard. The time that came up was a 5.60, which really surprised me as I thought the time would improve as the car looked effortless going up the quarter mile. We remained No. 2 qualifier and this was our final run of the day, all servicing on the car showed no damage, as Steve then assessed the computer again for changes. The temperature, even in the evening was unbearably hot, but I didn't complain as the thought of last years meeting came back to me, with torrential rain flooding our pit.

Saturday morning we fired up the dragster in the pits, it sounded great so we towed down to the start-line once again hoping to improve our qualifying position. This time we would be alongside Timo. We have only two race radios, which Steve and I have to communicate with Rob, if needed. Always after the burnout Rob talks to Steve "In low gear and all okay" I look forward to hearing his voice as his confidence echoes through my ears. The dragster once again launched well and into the distance it went. At Mantorp I can never see when the chutes get deployed, as the race track is uphill until the finish then down through the shutdown. The elapsed time was 5.59. Well we’re consistent but not good enough to take the No. 1 spot.

We had the last qualifier later that day, and the corrected air was still around 2500 feet, I was keeping an eye on the tyres as they had started to show signs of blistering. We had a new pair ready to put on, but hoped the old ones would last the rest of the weekend. We fired the car up alongside Dave Wilson. As both cars came into stage, now with rpm on I prayed for a better e.t. but it wasn't to be, a 5.65. Now after 4 qualifiers we finished No. 3 in ladder, Dave and Peter before us.

On our return to the pits we noticed one slick had blistered badly so we had no alternative but to change the tyres for the 1st round tomorrow. We were confident going into the eliminations tomorrow as the track was excellent and our 60 foot times were on par with our previous best, so we hoped that if we could get down the track with no shake, we could improve our elapsed time.

Sunday morning, and we were ready in the left lane for the first round of eliminations against Timo, I was very nervous knowing that we had changed to Hoosier tyres for the first time in 2½ years, but as I felt them just before Rob went into stage, I was now confident they would work well.

As Rob left the line, I could see we were on a good pass, no shake and down the middle of the lane. We won with a 5.55! I was so relieved and pleased for Rob, Steve and all the crew, as I walked back to the tow car. We returned to the pits, and now everyone servicing the car, ready for the semi final against Peter Shofer. On checking the heads we found we’d damaged 2 push rods, and Simon reported that we had spun a bearing. All the crew worked so well together to get the dragster ready in the short time we had. I remember our pit Marshall checking how much time we needed, I said "ten minutes" and pleaded with her to check exactly how long before we would be called to the start. She assured me that we would be okay, and we towed down to the staging lanes and took the left lane again.

Rob burned out and as he reversed into his tracks perfectly, I went over and again felt the tyres, they felt very sticky, and Steve was now on the radio telling Rob what launch rpm to leave at.

Rob left first, and I concentrated on the dragster all the way up the ¼ mile. I couldn’t believe we’d lost as the time came up, 5.78. I knew something had happened to the motor, as the e.t. was down. When we reached the car, I always check to motor for damage, or oil leaks, but I could not see anything wrong apart from the appearance of more oil in the breathers than normal.

We were all feeling pretty sad as we checked over the car, and I downloaded the computer and noticed that one cylinder was a lot colder than the rest. Steve said there must be something wrong with cylinder No. 6 as 1 second into the run, the cylinder died. We checked the heads and noticed that we had dropped an exhaust valve.

So if only the motor had ran on all cylinders, who knows we may have won, but it wasn’t meant to be this time. Dave Wilson went on to win the meeting and we serviced the car ready for Norway. This is what I enjoy so much by racing at Mantorp, we always have only 4 days to wait to the next event. Roll on Gardermoen.

Monday afternoon we were on our way to the camp site at Karlstad. I’ve never been there before and was looking forward to a few days rest before racing again. We had brought with us remote control; planes, helicopters, boats and a rocket! On arrival I noticed that most of the racers stop here also, so it was like being on holiday with our crew and competitors!

I think I can say on behalf of all the crew, we had an excellent time. It was still very hot in Sweden and most of the crew managed to fit in swimming in the lake, riding the bikes around the mountain bike trail, badminton, crazy golf and football. I must admit by Wednesday afternoon, most of the crew were feeling the effects of the football match. I’m not saying they’re not used to this much exertion, but out of everyone, I was probably the fittest after 2 days! Darren our Clutchman seemed to excel at everything we tried, but even he was aching. I just hoped everyone would be fit for the racing!

We left the camp site early Thursday (Rob’s Birthday), and we were all eagerly awaiting the start of our next meeting at Gardermoen. Darren, Terry and both Richards had never been there before, so I told them the track should be excellent.