Race Report -EDRS Drachten Nationals
With three events scheduled 2012 Drachten Raceway in the Netherlands is the center for sportsman racing in Central Europe. The location is easy accesible from as well Scandinavia, the UK and the neighbour countries. A one and a half hour drive from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for Speedgroup´s  Åsa Kinnemar and Aila Striem, who was eager to be on site when the first event ever included in the new EDRS European Drag Racing Series at Drachten was run ..

The organizers eXplosion is a Drivers Club with a few hundred members. The heart of the event organization consist of a handful people all skilled and with experience also from FIA and UEM Championship racing in addition to running the sportsman events at Drachten. For instance Jaap Selles the chairman of eXplosion is in Danny Bellios crew (FIA Top Methanol Funny Car winner at Main Event) while brother Jan Selles is a member of Robert Joosten´s team (FIA Pro Modified).

Striking about the organization is how important family is. The families that are the heart of eXplosion live an breathe drag racing; as organizers at Drachten, crew members in the FIA/UEM Championship , as drivers of their own race cars and last but not least as Junior Dragster parents.. one example of the next generation is Lisa Selles, daugther of Jaap Selles who successfully drive the Gold RV Jr Dragster at events all over Europe!

The Drachten drag strip itself was spoken well of by the teams on site, where many plan to enter all three events during the season. The next event is scheduled July 20-22nd and the last one August 17-19, which is perfect for EDRS teams that have been competing at Hockenheim the weekend before and can manage the Drachten race on the way back to Scandinavia, the UK or wherever they have base.

We met a lot of genuinly sincere people during the days at the track and felt very welcome and made new valuable contacts as well as met with old and new friends.

The organizer eXplosion have supported EDRS European Drag Racing Series from the first meeting and for 2012 Drachten Raceway is the base of EDRS Division South. We truly value the support and interest the teams in the Central Europe Region have shown, despite a "weaker than we would have hoped for series" 2012 in most classes (EDRS Funny Bike is the only exemption thanks to the organizers in Hockenheim and Bechyne). It is clear that European drivers and riders enjoy being part of an international Series and compete for points and series rankings (and in addition some prize funds). As for Drachten it is the home track also for participants in some of the neighbour countries.

The classes run at this event under EDRS flag was:

- Junior Dragster
- Super Gas
- Super Comp
- Pro ET
- Super Pro ET
- Funny Bike
 
Weather interferred also with this event (as a few previous ones as you may have noticed) and the event was not completed in full, but as the organizers made a flexible (and wise) decision to start eliminations on Saturday and the curfew was long after  it went dark at least part of the event could be concluded.

Results EDRS Drachten Nationals - click the links to open files (please note, the results in the classes not run as part of the EDRS series at the event have been left out below)

QUALIFICATIONS:
- Junior Dragster
- Super Gas
- Super Comp
- Pro ET
- Super Pro ET
- Funny Bike

ELIMINATIONS:
- Junior Dragster
- Super Gas
- Super Comp
- Pro ET
- Super Pro ET
- Funny Bike

Karin de Haas - skilled and appreciated race director at Drachten


Speedgroup´s Aila Striem handed out EDRS stickers to the drivers & riders - here with Jr Dragster driver Gene Wedemeyer, who we believe has one of the coolest Junior Dragsters in Europe!




Cheerful Super Pro ET drivers in the line-up! Johan Oomen (left) and  Wouter van Leersum. 23 cars entered in the class at this event


Speedgroups Åsa Kinnemar visited drivers Norbert and Anton Schneider in the pits. Anton is active in Jr Dragster while Norbert compete in Super Pro ET.. look further down this page to see his stunning car!


Both are members of the Speedgroup Drivers & Riders Club - click the link to find out more!

.. also Don´t miss to check out the separate article about EDRS Super Pro ET driver "Schuby" Schubert!

The Drachten track - an airfield where the track preparations made to the first 200 meters
can be left in between events. Everything is mounted and demounted for each race,
which mean the organizers put in a huge effort to make the races at Drachten happen..   


Norbert Schneiders Super Pro ET


Some of the most gorgeous cars on site..



Benni Voss - photographer at Drachten, but maybe more recognized as announcer at the NitrOlympx at Hockenheim


Funny Bike rider Luc Raemaeker from Belgium is  member in the Speedgroup drivers & Riders Club - Luc qualfied with 8.24 sec at 246 km/h		  
Derek Flynn, ex-methanol dragster driver and this season crew chief for Chris Polidano in the same car and class. On site at Drachten to support the Gold RV sponsored  Junior Dragster piloted by Lisa Selles (below)



Sandro Bellio, son of FIA Top Methanol Funny Car pilot Danny Belio, runs in Super Pro ET with this stunning nostalgia funny car. The Bellio family was all on site to crew for young Sandro..

Danny Bellio with Speedgroups contingency program assistant Aila Striem (left) and co-ordinator Åsa Kinnemar



Luc Raymaekers Funny Bike in the near lane
In the far lane Thomas Joswig from Germany


Speedgroup´s base during the event where we had opportunity to talk with Cees (to the right)
the announcer who has been commenting the events at Drachten for 36 (!) years!


.. and of course Aila could not resist having a bit of fun at work with Cees
(actually warming her hands as it was freezing outside during the late evening).

Pictured right parts of the eXplosion race directory;
Karin de Haas left with starter Marcel and Jan Selles (right)


Michael Maderer from Germany active in Pro ET (strapped in his car to the left) is
one the EDRS Division South drivers who plans to fill his event quote to the
"max allowed to be counted" 5 events by competing at the three events in Drachten
and two in Scandinavia!


Text: Åsa Kinnemar Speedgroup
Photos: Åsa Kinnemar & Aila Striem for Speedgroup 
This article is part of the Speedgroup Club Europe Newsletter #8/2012

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