Last year´s Main Event was surrounded by speculations and debating of a revelant but not so positive nature. The issue was the  track quality. Bumps had developed over a few years and it had finally gotten to a point where the shorter wheelbase vehicles, including Pro Mod cars, was heavily affected. Partly due to it, the entry list in Pro Mod was down to 13 cars, where a majority was domestic teams. Performance that time was a low ET of 6.17 (Bruno Bader which also won the event).

The decision was taken that the track should undergo ground work and be resufaced in time for Main Event 2013.

The preparation of the track or skills of the track crew was never an issue. The Santa Pod Racers Club/Trakbak Racing track crew is top notch and before and during the 2013 Main Event they got and took the chance to prove it. 

19 Pro Mod teams on the entry list, whereof 8 domestic (the event also counted as a round in the British  championship)

A repaved track surface meant totally new conditions and the teams had little to go on when choosing setup for the first round of qualifications.

Reigning champion Micke Gullqvist was one contender who experienced a nightmare battle against the track in 2012 and I gather I was not alone to wonder where the level of performance would be this time and if the Santa Pod track could be mastered by Gullqvist, who started his season in May at Tierp running a stunning 5.89 sec which proved at what level he can play. 

Another driver with potential to run fast and who tried his best to join the 5 second club all 2012 (but halted at 6.05 sec for that season) was Marc Meihuizen.

I think this is probably where I need to stop beat around the bush and confirm that Meihuizen did earn his membership in the 5 second club at Main Event. He did it already during the qualifications.. and not only that.. he also managed to stay no. 1 qualifier through all 4 sessions! Meihuizen´s 5.91 sec beat Gullqvist´s 5.94. 

Mattias Wulcan (who ran a stunning 5.93 at Tierp in May) stayed 3rd qualifier at a fine 6.00 sec With no US tuners assisting on site neither at Tierp nor Santa Pod and the team was content to have managed such a good start to the season.

Consistent like usual Bruno Bader delivered.  He noted 6.10 sec which was 4th quickest.


Bruno Bader


Jean Dulamon (the only French competitor in the FIA classes) experienced a nitrous explosion after launch in the first round of eliminations. 


Marcus Hilt Switzerland


Andy Robinson had no luck at his home track during Main Event..


..while Meihuizen had things going and both joined the 5 second club and was low qualifier!


Steve Hall, UK

At the podium - Micke Gullqvist Sweden (left) winner and David Vegter, the Netherlands runner-up

LINK TO FULL RESULTS:
Link to the final qualification list  (pdf)
Link to results eliminations ladder (pdf)

Results files provided by TSI Timers Europe and Santa Pod Raceway.

Comments Eliminations round 1
Top drivers that did not enjoy success at Main Event included Mats Eriksson and Andy Robinson. Eriksson qualified 8th and struggled with tire shake and traction all weekend long. Eriksson was taken out by Vegter during the first round of eliminations. As for Robinson, as 17th qualifier he was just outside the 16 car ladder, and also damaged the body of the car, when he got out of the groove and touched the barrier. 

UK based driver Graham Ellis has not chosen the easiest path and is still on a learning curve with a turbocharged combination. Ellis, 15th qualified, lost first round to Micke Gullqvist. He was however happy for son Gareth, who did an impressive first event in methanol funny car  and Ellis also said he is prepared that it will take time before the combination he runs has been tried out properly, but that he will get there in the end..

Jean Dulamon´s event ended in a non wanted way with an nitrous explosion after launch in the first round. Dulamon ok but out of competition and with repair work needed.

Bader took a clear win over Steve Hall. while Wulcan won with some luck, winning time 8.11 and a better reaction time over Kev Slyfield (8.16).

Andy Frost enjoyed a bye run when Mats Wicktor due to damage was unable to compete.

Joosten (6.84) lost a close race to Hilt (6.78). Hilt was ahead with 0.03 sec over the finish line.

Comments Eliminations round 2
Running consistent again Bader won over Marcus Hilt in the quarter finals. Bader´s winning time this time 6.13.

The two MPM Oil sponsored teams with David Vegter and Marc Meihuizen behind the wheels met in the quarter finals, Vegter came out with a win at a fine 6.10 sec. Meihuizen was shut off due to a leakage and the chance to repeat a 5-second run with that was gone.

Andy Frost stood no chance against a Gullqvist. Winning time for Micke a fine 6.02 sec/233 mph, while Frost battled with traction problems and shut off early.

Norbert Kuno took a holeshot against Mattias Wulcan who battled the track with visible tyre smoke and problems keeping the car in the groove. 6.29 winning time for Kuno. 

Comment semi-finals:
On one side of the ladder Kuno (6.82) faced and was outrun by Gullqvist (6.12). while the other semi-finals was between Vegter and Bader. Just when it was most needed team Vegter managed to set up the car for a new personal best 6.093 which put an end to Baders further competition at this event. Bader a loosing time of 6.18 sec.

Final
It was Vegter and Gullqvist who made it to the final, where "Gullan" got to end his event in the 5´s. The ET 5.987 also backed up his 5.945 from the qualifications to be a new European record. while Vegter lost the run performing at his personal best level, his ET in the final 6.106 and the team was also happy for a place on the podium.

Low Elapsed Time of the Event:  5.9136 sec. – Marc Meihuizen
Top Speed of the Event:  242.51 mph – Marc Meihuizen


Personal bests:
As many as seven of the drivers managed to improve their personals best´s during the event (thank you to Robin Jackson for keeping track of the figures!);

Andy Frost (UK) - ET 6.506 sec and speed 226.91 mph/365.18 kph

Wayne Nicholson (UK) - ET 6.456 sec and speed 220.12 mph/354.25 kph

Robert Joosten (NL) - ET 6.153 sec

Marc Meihuizen (NL) - ET 5.913 sec and speed 242.51 mph/390.28 kph

Mats Wicktor (SE) - ET 6.666 sec

David Vegter (NL) - ET 6.093 sec

Norbert Schneider (DE) new in the class - ET 8.187 sec and speed 158.48 mph/    255.05 kph


Happy crew! David Vegters team had a lot to be content about after a successful Main Event