Europeans in the US -
NHRA Gatornationals Report  
by Remco Scheelings and Roger Gorringe
No less than three European drag racers at the entry list for this year’s NHRA Tire Kingdom Gatornationals, the third round of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. All three showed great form, qualified for eliminations and let their opponents run for their money in the first round. But still they did not survive that first round in the world’s most competitive drag racing championship.


Photo: Ögge with mechanics Ola and Peter

Ulf Ȍgge, Sweden - Pro Stock Bike

For the first time in his career Ulf Ȍgge entered the NHRA competition. For the former UEM European Pro Stock Bike champion the difficult task to qualify in the top 16 of the 25 bike ultra-competitive field. Bad luck on Friday as on the first run a two dollar part in the transmission broke and Ȍgge had to abort the run. Even more drama in the second run as the bike broke in the burn out. The next run Saturday morning was already much better but heavy wind sent Ȍgge to the wall and he had to lift with a 7.374 sec as a result. But in the last run everything fell into place and with a great 7.034 sec Ȍgge climbed from the 23th to the 16th position and was in the ladder! A great performance after all the problems and only one full pass. But as the number 16 qualifier the Swede had to face Eddie Krawiec, the number one qualifier. Ȍgge did his very best but Krawiec’s 6.831 sec was too much for the Swede’s 7.054 sec.


Ögge in action

photo: In addition to being a founder and co-owner of the Tierp Arena, Leif is a racer with a passion for the methanol funny car class

Leif Andreasson, Sweden - Top Methanol Funny Car

For Leif Andreasson the Gatornationals was his first outing with the new and great looking Disab-Tella sponsored Monte Carlo. After two successful test runs at Valdosta the first qualifying pass at Gainesville was a good 5.804 sec. In the next run the ex Stever Harker car made too much power and went up in smoke. But Saturday morning Andreasson ran 5.619 sec, a new personal best and the number eight position in the eighteen car field. In the first round of eliminations the former European Top Methanol Funny Car champion had to face Andy Bohl. With almost identical reaction times (0.018 against 0.023) Bohl had a slight advantage at the lights. But soon Andreasson ran into problems (9.603 sec) and Bohl took the win light. So all three Europeans were out in the first round but had a great time and are looking forward to their next American (Flamholc) race or the start of the European season (Ȍgge and Andreasson).


Adam Flamholc, Sweden - Pro Modified

Adam Flamholc is a regular USA competitor this year. The Swede will do the full ADRA Series tour and if it fits his busy schedule also competes in selected rounds of the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by ProCare RX. This prestigious series had its first round at Gainesville. Friday Flamholc made two qualifying passes, a 6.147 and a 6.146 but had to solve transmission problems in between the rounds. At the end the 6.146 sec was the 14the qualifying position in the 18 car field. In the first round of eliminations, Saturday afternoon, the Swede had to face Rickie Smith the number three qualifier. With a great 0.049 sec reaction time Flamholc left first but his great 6.064 could not match the 5.927 sec of Smith. But Flamholc was happy with the run and the fact the team solved the Friday problems.


Flamholc in action


UK based editor and photographer Roger Gorringe was on site in Gainesville and bring us his personal report accompanied by some stunning photos!

2012 NHRA Tire Kingdom Gatornationals 8-12 March 2012
Auto Plus Raceway at Gainesville, Florida
European Racers at the Gators


Ulf Ögge the Swedish Pro Stock Motorcycle rider made his first race in the US at the NHRA Gatornationals, he shipped his complete machine over and was helped by John hammock of Vroom Racing. The team had tested earlier at a windy Valdosta in Georgia but here at the Gators suffered two bad qualifying rounds as a broken shim or washer caused problems in the transmission the first session ending up with Ögge’s bike being manhandled back to the startline. Session three delivered a 7.374/151 that was bettered in the final session with a 7.034/187 that put him in the number sixteen spot which proved somewhat un-nerving having to watch as other riders tried to put him off the bubble as he sat astride the bike at the top end being interviewed and shown on the big screen. Opponent for round one of eliminations was the new national ET record holder Eddie Krawiec who sat at number one with a stunning 6.750 with a speed of 198.03mph. The Sunday had changing weather conditions but it was all over in round one as Krawiec sped to the win with a 6.831/196 leaving Ulf Ögge to follow with a 7.054/186 try. Ögge was pleased to have made round one and overcome the frustrating earlier qualifying problems.


Ögge on screen..



Adam Flamholc driving his ’68 Camaro Pro Mod made the change from running the complete ADRL Series to race at the NHRA Gatornationals and arrived late Thursday evening from a test session at Valdosta. The team suffered transmission problems when their new Lenco three speed auto air shifter played up but that was sorted before they lost a cylinder on the third session resulting in a tear-down. All was fine as they were slotted into the number fourteen spot but had to face eventual winner Rickie Smith in the first round. Flamholc’s holeshot 6.064/234 was beaten by Smith’s 5.927/238.



Leif Andreasson was driving his new ’04 Monte Carlo from Steve Harker and had completed some testing at Valdosta before entering the NHRA Gatornationals. A 5.804/257 was the first qualifier and subsequent tries were affected by tyre shake and Leif admitting that he overpowered the track as he was still getting used to the car with slightly different controls. He ended up number eight qualifier that put him against number nine Andy Dohl and it was Dohl’s race as he went to round two with a 5.567/259. Leif has not ruled out another NHRA event before hopefully shipping the car back and readying for the Main Event.
Roger Gorringe.
Copyright: March 2012.


Text by Remco Scheelings  and the on site report at the bottom by Roger Gorringe
Photos by Remco Scheelings, Speegroup and team Andréasson
This article is part of the Speedgroup Club Europe Newsletter #2/2012
www.speedgroup.eu

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