Robinson sorts his problems
SPRC Summernationals Organiser: Santa Pod Racers Club When: June 25/26 Starters: 9
The third round of the MSA British Drag Racing Championship featured nine entrants in the Pro Modified category trying to make a move at the critical midpoint in the season.
Qualifying ended up with newcomer Steve Rawlings not quite completing his licensing passes and Mick Payne sidelined with valve train damage.
That left just seven for eliminations. On top of the heap was Andy Robinson in his supercharged Camaro. He set the lowest elapsed time in each of the three qualifying sessions, culminating in a 6.0888s/232.87mph blast and that earned him a bye in the first round of eliminations.
Solo passes would also be the order of the opening stages for Wayne Nicholson (when opponent Bert Englefield’s ’36 Chevy’s motor quit at the startline) and Kevin Slyfield (after Chris Isaacs was another to report in with transmission problems).
The only side-by-side match up was decided in favour of the visiting Dutch rookie Michel Tooren, who picked up his first round win with a 6.1775s/230.49mph from his Barracuda. Opponent Roger Moore red lit away a 6.7098s run.
In the semi-finals , Tooren continued his winning ways with a consistent 6.1547s/234.05mph taking out Slyfield’s wayward 6.9675s/190.50mph from his supercharged Thunderbird.
Robinson also progressed with a slightly quicker 6.1442s/231.69mph to earn lane choice in the final, when Nicholson’s Corvette left 0.0078s too early to light another red light on the starting tree.
In the trophy showdown, Robinson got close to matching his quickest run of the weekend with a victorious 6.0921s/232.87mph. Tooren kept pace with a run of 6.1435s/233.74mph to earn his first podium finish.
Robinson was delighted with the progress made over the course of the weekend.
He said: “I’m really happy, we seem to have found the ignition problems that caused us problems in the early parts of the year and we can now tune the car and look forward to the rest of the season.”