Earlier discussion regarding track quality ay Santa Pod appears to have taken a back seat following the weather and track problems at previous events.  My experience of the track running sportsman cars in the first days of the event suggests that the track is back into a decent condition.  The ever present bumps may still cause issue but the track surface and start line are comparable to Santa Pod at its best.

Thomas Lindström is leading the championship entering the European finals from Jimmy Ålund.  Thomas’ lead is 45 points, so statistically, Thomas can win this championship by making it through one round of competition, or if Jimmy fails to qualify.  Neither eventuality is impossible in the world of pro stock, but equally, neither is guaranteed.

Alongside Thomas and Jimmy will be Micke Callin, Ulf Wagnhester, Michael Malmgren and Conrad Stanley.


Michael Malmgren

Conrad’s Panther racing Pontiac came out of the trailer on Thursday missing a vital part.  The engine was not installed and was not at the track yet.  Parts were on the way from the US, to be delivered to the track.  Conrad was then taking these parts back to base, where he and Zane Llewellyn would rebuild before trekking back to the track to install the engine before racing on Friday.  Another example of the devotion of pro stock teams. Everyone else reports that their cars are ready to run and that they are looking forward to racing.

Friday Q1
Conrad has his engine back in the car, but is not ready to run for Q1.  Michael Malmgren is the first to run, with the motor hunting hard before Michael approaches the line, hitting heavy tyre shake at the hit.  Michael drove through it, but was off the power early to run an 8.19. Ulf Wagnhester and Micke Callin pair up next, with Callin hitting heavy shake for a 20 second pass while Wagnhester runs through in 6.945 Jimmy and Thomas run last with Jimmy putting in a solid 6.719 to Thomas’ early shut off  6.909.  Both looking for data passes

Friday Q2
Conrad makes it for Q2, but is pushed back before staging.  Micke hits shake again for a 14 second pass, Michael and Ulf approach the line next Michael hitting  heavy shake again for a 12 second pass, while Ulf was able to drive through his shake attack for a 7 second run. Thomas and Jimmy head up the track next in the quickest Pro Stock race in European racing history 6.6869 in both lanes, Jimmy getting there first courtesy of an enormous holeshot, but also carrying another 2.5 mph on Thomas’ time.

Saturday Q3
Conrad Stanley makes it out for Q3 and puts in a 8.475 check out pass.  Micke Callin makes his first shake free pass to take a respectable 6.738 time.  Ulf and Michael pair up again with Michael having a relatively shake free run for a 6.805 against Ulf’s 7.097 Jimmy and Thomas pair up last with Jimmy securing he European speed record at 208.36 whilst Thomas goes number 1 with one of his trademark 6.66 passes

Saturday Q4
In the pairing lanes we have the bizarre situation of a mixed up lane ladder.  A rapid trip to the tower sorts this out, with a new ladder to give everyone the correct lanes.  Sadly, Conrad is pushed back, as his crew signal him to shut down.  Michael has to reverse out of stage after his crew get a bit keen at calling him forward.  Michael stays  calm though and runs a clean 6.801.  Micke hits shake again in the next pair to roll through in 19 seconds against Ulf’s 6.875 in the right lane. Thomas and Jimmy round off the session with Thomas taking a long ride out right at the hit and drifting up the track in 6.746 whilst Jimmy has an uneventful 6.670 pass


no 1 qualifier - Thomas Lindström

Winner Jimmy Ålund left with runner-up and new European Pro Stock Champion Thomas Lindström. Well done both teams!

Sunday - Eliminations
Overnight, the problems in Conrad Stanley’s pit were identified.  Members of Michael and Ulf’s teams were working hard with Conrad’s crew until 3am trying to get around some issues including oversize pistons hitting the heads and valves marking the piston crowns. Unfortunately even with the combined efforts of all the crews, they are unable to repair the engine and so Thomas will have a bye run to go through his first round, and his European championship is almost assured.

Due to an oil down in the preceding top fuel round, the drivers are forced to wait in the sun before taking to the track for their first elimination round.  It is quite hot in just a t shirt so it is hard to imagine how hot it is strapped in the car in a fire suit and helmet.

Michael Malmgren is in the left lane against Micke Callin, both have good smokey burnouts.  Michael is first in to stage, Micke makes him wait a little, but then gets away first, a visible holeshot that Michael cannot quite claw back.  Micke takes the win and progresses. Callin´s winning time 6.825 compared to Malmgrens 6.865

Ulf Wagnhester and Jimmy Ålund make up the next pair.  Again we are treated to a good smoky pair of burnouts.  No messing about with these two, the move straight in to stage and leave almost exactly together, but it is Jimmy all the way and Ulf is out of the throttle by the eighth as he realises he can’t catch Jimmy. Ålund´s winning ET 6.698 at 206.11 mph


Stanley

Conrad Stanley will not make it, so Thomas Lindström has this run as a bye.  Assuming he makes it through this round (and there are not many ways he could fail) he will be European Pro Stock champion.  Make it through he does with a decent light and an arrow straight pass, no shake and it doesn’t sound like Thomas was pushing it hard at all.  Thomas Lindström is the new European Champion and he completes the title it in grand style while running 6.683 at 205 mph.

Eliminations Round 2
Thomas has a bye run to the final courtesy of a six car field and number one qualifier position.  Round one winners Micke Callin and Jimmy Ålund will face each other
Thomas crew have a collection of Swedish flags and hats as well as new T-Shirts and some graphics on the car proclaiming it to be Pro Stock 1 European Champion.  Team member Andy Hâgglund comes to the line in a chef outfit making a bit of a point about the Swedish Chef from the Muppets. Thomas is not a man who takes bye runs easily, and he puts in another solid performance to go to the final.
 
In the next pair, Micke Callin tries a little too hard and goes red against Jimmy. Ålund´s ET 6.704 sec this time.

So the finals are set, it will be the new European champion against the outgoing European champion.  And this time there is no chance of rain.  This final will happen.

Sunday Final
Both teams want this win.  Thomas wants everything this weekend, he is not going to roll over and accept a European Championship without an event win and possibly a low ET or top speed as well.  Jimmy likewise is on the route back to having his European crown back. He wants to beat Thomas and take this event win.  It is important to both of them.  And it is Jimmy who prevails, he is quicker on the tree, fastest to 60, driving through shake to a faster eighth and then holding on to the advantage through to the line.  Thomas had no visible issues, but just couldn’t make it back up to Jimmy. Ålund first over the finish line 6.697. Lindström 6.717.

And so the event winner and European speed record holder is Jimmy Ålund.  Runner up but new European Champion is Thomas Lindström.

Once again I have had a brilliant time with the Pro Stock teams and I look forward to reporting on your progress again in the 2013 season.  Have a good break one and all and see you on the track next year! 

Link to full Results: click to open pdf-files
QUALIFICATIONS
ELIMINATIONS LADDER

courtesy of TSÍ time keepers and Santa Pod Raceway

Check the Championship points table under a separate headline in this edition.