Auto Trader Easter Thunderball, Santa Pod Raceway, England

Words and pictures Ivan Sansom & Rose Hughes
Thanks to TSI Timers (Europe) for access to the timing data

Whilst much of the world is moving over to recycling, it is hoped that we won’t be joining the trend this season with a rehash of last season’s European race reports where the weather was the headline more often than not. The Auto Trader Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod wasn’t a good start as yet another major meeting was badly affected by cold and wet conditions (somewhat ironic given the minor April heatwave the UK has basked in either side of the Easter weekend) with the first qualifying cycle taking close to 2 and a half days to complete thanks to the onset of persistent rain after the first two classes headed down track. At least it didn’t snow this year.

Pro Fuel Shootout

The annual Pro Fuel Shootout held at the Thunderball mixes up Nitro Funny Cars and Fuel Dragsters for a time accumulator to determine the final round representatives. Whilst tire shake was persistent feature of all the runs made over the weekend, John Spuffard and the Showtime team managed to take the trophy when Anita Makela nudged the centerline in the run for all the marbles. The Showtime crew were sporting a new body and paint scheme in the initial passes, but interference with the management box resulted in a body swap on the Monday with the supporting tree to be reworked for the next outing.

After six years away from the hot seat, Finland’s Anita Makela (right) finally wrestled the keys to the R20+ Energy Drink Dragster from husband Tommi Haapanen and relicensed in fairly short order despite some pre-race nerves. Anita ran low ET of two of the preliminary rounds and low ET of the event on her final round match up with Spuffard; the 5.185 at only 208 mph would have been a whole lot better but for the need to lift to try and keep the car from crossing the centerline.

MSA Pro Modified

Although the MSA Pro Modified series is ostensibly a domestic championship, the real headline makers at the season opener were both Dutch. Henri Joosten accounted for reigning champion Bert Englefield in the first round and then gained a bye in the semis when Graham Ellis was shut-off prior to staging, and then defeated Roger Moore in an all nitrous match-up with a 6.895.