Speedgroup Club Europe

Already before the Championship season starts, we know with certainty that defending Champion Jonnie Lindberg from Sweden will not repeat his achievements this season.

Jonnie Lindberg

The reason for it being that Jonnie keeps his Chevy Monte Carlo Funny Car in the US and fly back and forth a few times during this summer to participate in NHRA Drag Racing also. The plan is to race in Chicago, Indianapolis, Las Vegas and Pomona, and if possible one or two more races in between.

During the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte (Jonnie's forth race in the USA), he made it all the way through to the final, where unfortunately a broken gear put a halt to Jonnies competition at the hit in the final. If interested please check out Lindberg Bros channel on You Tube.

Johan Lindberg

So..in the FIA European Drag Racing Championship 2014, it is brother Johan Lindberg who is the one to watch out for. With Jonnie as crew chief and one car less to focus on at each race, I predict it is going to be a successful season for Lindberg Bros. A loss for the class of course to not have Jonnie in competition, but hopefully somewhat less hectic for Linberg Bros. Johan Lindberg is on the entry list for Main Event, as one of five drivers entered. Johan has the quickest PB of the five, 5.549 sec/417,31 km That is no guarantee whatsoever of course, but I think it makes an impressive statement and proof of Lindberg Bros capacity. I gather an important part in it is also the top notch suppliers Jan-Cen Racing Engines/Mike Janis Superchargers, NRE heads and Leanders Clutch (and possibly some more).

Lindberg Bros are going for the European championship win this season and say they hopefully will be able to improve Jonnies European records. They have during the winter also rebuilt Johans car to more look and act like Jonnies. Lindberg Bros media manager Patrik Larsson stresses that they are very happy and proud that most of their sponsors have decided to continue to support them and would especially wish to mention their sponsor Pålplintar, which has been supporting them for a number of years now and will continue doing so also this season.

Johan´s car was rebuilt at ME Racing´s premises in Borlänge Sweden (which is owned by Pro Mod driver Mats Eriksson)

Gareth Ellis

The two UK based drivers, veteran Stephanie Milam and "half rookie" Gareth Ellis. Ellis, who started his funny car career in 2013 (assisted by and in the car of ex-champion Dan Larsen from Denmark), ran his first 5 second run already during the Main Event 2103 and recently polished his personal best to an impressive 5.782 sec/403,08 km. That was during the Festival of Power at Santa Pod Raceway april 2014. So it seems like Ellis has warmed up for some Championship racing! Maybe 2014 will also be the season where "Steph" Milam in the She Devil Racing Dodge Avenger joins the 5 second Club. She has been close (personal best being 6.00). As the name of the team "She Devil" indicate, Stephanie is a tough (but sweet) lady and I wish her and her fellow competitors the best of luck and happy racing for the upcoming event!

The "She Devil" Stephanie Milam

See the entry list for Main Event under a separate headline in this Newsletter and follow the action during Main Event via Eurodragster.com!

Top Methanol Funny Car Preview Less than a week to go until the FIA European Drag Racing Championship will kick off with Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway. Already before the Championship season starts, we know with certainty that defending Champion Jonnie Lindberg from Sweden will not repeat his achievements this season. Jonnie Lindberg The reason for it being that Jonnie keeps his Chevy Monte Carlo Funny Car in the US and fly back and forth a few times during this summer to participate in NHRA Drag Racing also. The plan is to race in Chicago, Indianapolis, Las Vegas and Pomona, and if possible one or two more races in between. During the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte (Jonnie's forth race in the USA), he made it all the way through to the final, where unfortunately a broken gear put a halt to Jonnies competition at the hit in the final. If interested please check out Lindberg Bros channel on You Tube. Johan Lindberg So..in the FIA European Drag Racing Championship 2014, it is brother Johan Lindberg who is the one to watch out for. With Jonnie as crew chief and one car less to focus on at each race, I predict it is going to be a successful season for Lindberg Bros. A loss for the class of course to not have Jonnie in competition, but hopefully somewhat less hectic for Linberg Bros. Johan Lindberg is on the entry list for Main Event, as one of five drivers entered. Johan has the quickest PB of the five, 5.549 sec/417,31 km That is no guarantee whatsoever of course, but I think it makes an impressive statement and proof of Lindberg Bros capacity. I gather an important part in it is also the top notch suppliers Jan-Cen Racing Engines/Mike Janis Superchargers, NRE heads and Leanders Clutch (and possibly some more). Lindberg Bros are going for the European championship win this season and say they hopefully will be able to improve Jonnies European records. They have during the winter also rebuilt Johans car to more look and act like Jonnies. Lindberg Bros media manager Patrik Larsson stresses that they are very happy and proud that most of their sponsors have decided to continue to support them and would especially wish to mention their sponsor Pålplintar, which has been supporting them for a number of years now and will continue doing so also this season. Johan´s car was rebuilt at ME Racing´s premises in Borlänge Sweden (which is owned by Pro Mod driver Mats Eriksson) Gareth Ellis The two UK based drivers, veteran Stephanie Milam and "half rookie" Gareth Ellis. Ellis, who started his funny car career in 2013 (assisted by and in the car of ex-champion Dan Larsen from Denmark), ran his first 5 second run already during the Main Event 2103 and recently polished his personal best to an impressive 5.782 sec/403,08 km. That was during the Festival of Power at Santa Pod Raceway april 2014. So it seems like Ellis has warmed up for some Championship racing! Maybe 2014 will also be the season where "Steph" Milam in the She Devil Racing Dodge Avenger joins the 5 second Club. She has been close (personal best being 6.00). As the name of the team "She Devil" indicate, Stephanie is a tough (but sweet) lady and I wish her and her fellow competitors the best of luck and happy racing for the upcoming event! The "She Devil" Stephanie Milam See the entry list for Main Event under a separate headline in this Newsletter and follow the action during Main Event via Eurodragster.com!	Danny Bellio Danny Bellio from Belgium is consistent, skilled and a hard task to beat for anyone. Bellio has already run 5.7 flat at Santa Pod in April during the Festival of Power and that is only 6 hundreds of a second away from his personal best. And the Championship season have not yet started. Bellio will definitely be one top contender for the Main Event win. Active in the class since 2007, Bellio knows his business. The Methanol Funny Car class in Europe consist of a highly interesting mix of young drivers and "slightly older" veterans. Top Methanol Funny Car veterans - Jürgen Nagel (left) and Leif Andreasson Jürgen Nagel, Germany is THE veteran in the class and has been in it since the mid 90´s without interruption (if the statistics tell the truth). That is truly amazing and says a little something about the long term commitment that also most other people I know in the sport of Drag Racing are known for. In 2013 Nagel took a big step forward performancewise and has a PB of 5.79 sec. currently. With potentially great air and a thoroughly prepared track which I anticipate the Santa Pod track crew will have prepared for us all, Nagel might well improve his personal best before long! Johnny Oksa Positive facts are that Finland´s Johnny Oksa and Ari Pietilä both join the FIA Championship at the next round in Finland, the FHRA Nitro Nationals July 3-6th. Oksa who has a personal best ET of 5.78 sec is also a serious contender for event wins and a top ranking position in the Championship. Johnny Oksa is a natural talent when it comes to piloting his funny car. Possibly he got some of it in his blood, as he is the son of Finnish Methanol Funny Car driver Jarmo Kuutniemi, who sadly passed away a few years back. Johnny practically grew up at the race track. Courtesy of Johnny we can also include a sneak peak of what the funny car body will look like this season. The plans are uncertain as for which events Oksa and crew participats in, but the goal is set to take the first event win of Johnnys career and improve the performance and personal best even further! Oksa´s ride for the season! Ari Pietilä, Finland Ari Pietilä joined the circus in 2013 and is still on a learning curve, but is already a member in the 5 second Club and it will be interesting to follow Ari and crew when the FIA Championship moves on to Finland. Mikael Larsson, Micke Larsson Motorsport (based in Sweden), tells me the team plans to run part of the championship, where the events in Sweden, Finland and possibly Germany will have Micke´s name on the entry list. With a new engine (BAE-NRE-PSI), a new Leanders Clutch and Lenco transmission, the team anticipate this season will be a lot about testing and learning. Micke Larsson and crew are in this long term and the major upgrade is also a step to be as competitive as can be for 2015. Leif Andreassons and Ulf Leanders cars are in the US and none of them are on the entry list for Main Event. They will be missed of course.
The She Devil, Stephanie Milam, is soon to enter the Santa Pod quarter mile again!
Text: Åsa Kinnemar Photos: Remco Scheelings, Lena Perés Photo of Gareth Ellis by Simon Groves for Eurodragster.com This article is part of the Speedgroup Club Europe Online Newsletter May 2014 Published by Speedgroup www.speedgroup.eu All material, text, images and logtypes are the property of Speedgroup AB Any use of the above requires permission from Speedgroup email: asa.kinnemar@speedgroup.eu © Speedgroup 2014