PMR 2008 SEASON REVIEW SO FAR

With the second half of the 2008 season just around the corner after the long summer break Paul Marston Racing have been in touch to bring us up to speed. PMR are very pleased to see the welcome return to UK shores of our American representative, none other than Ex-Pat Tony Morris, who flies into Hockenheim next weekend for the Nitro Olympix and will be attending the Shakespeare County Open Nationals over the August Bank Hols. Familiarizing himself the following week, with Spencer Tramm’s Super Pro VW Corrado at Santa Pod’s Peak Perf Test day. Then competing at the Euro Finals in Super Pro. Prior to returning to the States, the following Monday. It’s going to be great to have Tony back over here, prior to Paul Marston’s annual October visit to Orlando. Everyone wishes Tony Morris the very best of luck in Spencers Corrado, having reached the Final of Super Gas with the PMR Whoopass Monza at the Main Event in 06. I would suspect Spencer and Tony Morris would be aiming at the same kind of result to be repeated, - no pressure then Tony!! Here at PMR, there is a lot about to happen but a lot has already happened, firstly we are very sorry to have parted ways with Gary Springford and Drag Race Engineering as marketing partners and business associates. Both ourselves and Drag Race Engineering have enjoyed a fair share of success and PMR wishes DRE every success in any future projects. Steve Bolton also has hung up his racing boots for the 2008 season, Steve has sited business pressures as the main reason, his company is just so busy that Steve is finding it nearly impossible to justify the time off. Steve is also unlikely to return to National Championship Drag Racing under the Paul Marston Racing banner, so again, everyone at Paul Marston Racing wishes Steve every success when he returns, hopefully in 09. Steve Bolton also wants to make it clear that his decision to quit was not because the Crew Chief made him do the washing up! Steve and the Dark Destroyer Plymouth Scamp will be sorely missed in Pro ET and at the track. The positive side of this is that it does leave space in the Paul Marston Racing Team to bring on and develop some new drivers into the National Event Team from the Drag Race Driving School. Talking of which the Paul Marston Racing’s Drag Race Driving School is looking forward to a very busy month with a fair number of drivers going thru the Drag Race Driving School. Meanwhile everyone in the PMR crew is looking forward to our marathon of four consecutive weekends at the track, starting this weekend, you have gotta love it!

GEORGIA ON MY MIND

Paul Marston as usual spent the second two weeks of October in the States on one of his bi-annual fact and parts purchasing trips to Florida. This time however Paul Marston was not accompanied by Drag Race Engineering Proprietor Gary Springford, business commitments at the shop meant that Gary had to pass this time. Paul Marston has sent in this report of what he found and how he spent his time. ‘Every time I visit the States it feels like you get a snapshot six months down the line on how things have progressed since your last visit to the racetracks of the Southern States, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, The Carolinas, and Kentucky. I have spent the past six years visiting twice a year, and am always surprised as to how quickly things change. The motors that are used in the upper Sportsman Classes just get bigger and bigger, 572ci BBC is an average size in Super Comp Dragsters with 170+ terminal speeds, these things are land based rocket ships. Silver Dollar Raceway in Georgia is a great ¼ mile Dragstrip and hosted the last Division Two Event of 07, there was for the first time I can remember not one Super Comp door car out of 70+ entries, they were all Dragsters. Doorslammers have now nearly completely disappeared from Divisional NHRA Super Comp classes. A far cry from the UK Super Comp Class from where you would obviously draw a comparison. These Dragsters are fast too, most of which are 4-Links (with rear suspension, the same as the Paul Marston Racing Ugly Stick Dragster) some very brave drivers run a slip joint chassis, that makes for a wild ride sometimes, you really have to be on your game to tame one of these babies, this to his credit is what our buddy Tony Morris drives. You may well ask why are the Doorslammers leaving Super Comp, the answer is very simple really, competitiveness. With the current level of competition at NHRA Events, it is perceived that you have to give yourself the very best chance of winning, the fastest, lightest, most stable racecar allows you to be more repeatable and more capable of driving the finish line at tremendous speed. You simply cannot do that as accurately and safely in a Door car, try standing on the brakes at 175mph in a door car and you will begin to understand why most people use 4-link Dragsters! Super Gas is no different evolution wise, although you do still see Chevrolet Vega’s and Monza’s there is a clear trend to larger and larger displacement lightweight roadster style entries. The Brogie Roadsters that began that trend having been slowly replaced with more swoopier and very attractive looking early and late model Camaro, Mustang, Cavalier and Corvette Roadsters. 555ci BBC being a popular Weapon of Choice, again with terminal speeds in the 160+ mph range. Even Super Street is seeing Racecars with terminal speeds approaching 150MPH for a Super Street Car?? Its pretty obvious to see that the Super Comp doorslammer drivers are now in Super Gas and the older Super Gas Cars are more plentiful in Super Street. This cavernous gap in choice for Doorslammers that opened up between Super Gas and effectively Pro Stock/Pro Mod obviously lead to the inception by local Track Operators (quick 16 or 32 Bracket races) and eventually adopted by the NHRA. Called Top Sportsman it fills the gap nicely between Super Gas and Pro Stock/Pro Mod. Doorslammer Teams can race on a Sportsman budget without having to use a Throttlestop and remain competitive. Top Sportsman is a Doorslammer only class with a 16 or 32 spot qualified field, you have to run a minimum of 7.99 and the field comprises of the fastest 16 or 32 Top Sportsman entries on the property. It runs as a bracket class on a Sportsman Tree with Full Electronics, which makes for close racing with some stunning machinery, it is a winner on all counts. What was absent from this NHRA Divisional Event was thankfully no big crashes, this has been of growing concern over the past few years, with competitors going faster and faster, the dice had been rolling and the wrecked car count was growing, it seemed to average 2-3 cars an event. This Silver Dollar Lucas Oil Divisional bucked the trend and will hopefully be the norm from now on. No-one who is a driver or a true race fan goes to the track to see some poor guy reduce a $130,000.00 racecar into scrap in one run. It costs a lot of time, money, sacrifice, bravery and dedication, mentally I always feel a little piece of what makes a driver dies when they endure a bad crash. That makes returning to the drivers seat a little more difficult for them, providing he or she escapes uninjured. It was good to catch up with all the Racers, a majority of which are the same anywhere really, real friendly, nice people who are totally committed to racing hard and having a great time doing so. The Silver Dollar Event was affected by rain from Wednesday to Saturday morning, but from Saturday the sun shone on the righteous and the 8.00am Sunday Morning Chapel Service in the Grandstand was greeted by a beautiful Sunny Georgia sky and a packed house! The event was completed, my good friend Steve Deatherage driving his JW Transmissions backed Super Comp Dragster, made it thru 5 rounds. Everyone else, Tony Morris, Scott Dickens, Tim Hutcherson, Mike Mixed Nuts, Mike Ruff and Scott Lamar, some went some rounds, others had a very early bath! Edmond Richardson was in town with Kurt Damron Senior and Junior of Undercover Chassis. Edmond needed to win Stock to take the World Crown and in Super Comp he needed to go 4 rounds to become World Champion for I think the 3rd time, which I believe has never been done before. Well this was not to be Edmonds day as he was eliminated in the first round in both classes, in Super Comp by his own team mate no less (Super Comp first round is random pairing in NHRA eliminations), that said Kurt Junior did go on to win Super Comp and for that matter also Top Sportsman as well. The level of competition is so good that even the very best can go out any round. Whilst at Silver Dollar I got with Brent the Goodyear Tyre dealer who looks after all the Southern Drag strips and placed our tyre order for 2008 and of course picked up the obligatory event t-shirt. That was all in the first week, the end of the second saw us at Orlando Speedworld and the Fastest Streetcar Shootout. With the World Famous Race rock Restaurant now sadly closed, the Fastest Street Car Cruise, normally held there was hurriedly moved to a Hooters some distance away. Although well (read overrun) attended with fans the racecar attendance was poor to say the least and the night was disappointing for everyone who managed to find the place, shame really because traditionally it’s a great night and all the Drag Race Brits in Florida to meet up to see who made it over this year. Prior to the Fastest Streetcar I decided I would only visit the track Friday, this actually turned out to be a really smart move as the event was washed out and abandoned Monday night, already a whole day late. This is not to say that there was not some stunning racing over Saturday and Sunday but it is true to say it was weather affected. Friday not only bought the best track action after a good walk around the pits, but with the extra grandstand seating amongst the long list of improvements that Speedworld has enjoyed, it really is looking good. There qualifying was very smooth too, plenty of track time with nearly no downtime, a start contrast to past years, it looked like most teams had their act together right off the bat. It was also good to meet up with some real good friends whilst there, Tony Morris’s sister Andrea and her husband Renne from Germany who were over visiting Tony and Lynn . For those who have yet to sample what is Drag Racing in Florida, you are missing a great time, for those who have been, see you there next year. In closing I must thank the following in no particular order, Vic Fera - Brevard Cylinder Head, Tony & Lynn Morris, Larry Nadeau – Pro Mod PT Cruiser, Everyone at ARTS Deli (The Best Cheeseburgers in Orlando and probably the World), Everyone at BLP who make the very best Drag Racing Carburetors in the World, Robbie at Automotive 1, all the Division 2 Race Teams.’

PiranaZ to back PMR in 08

Paul Marston Racing are pleased to announce that along with all their sponsors and partners from 07 that they will be returning to the track in 08 having formed an alliance with hard-core race wear clothing and apparel manufacturer PiranaZ, as primary sponsor for 2008 and beyond. Throughout the season Paul Marston Racing will showcase PiranaZ race wear and apparel. Paul Marston Racing will continue their association with Paul Marstons Drag Race Driving School and Passenger Ride Experiences, Drag Race Engineering, CTM Performance & Machine, London Road Tyres, and all our great friends who have supported us over the years. PiranaZ is a Stateside based company, some race fans will know, offer much sought after clothing with attitude, a line that is completely unique in Drag Racing today. PiranaZ currently sponsor NHRA Pro Stock driver Mark Whisnant, who they have backed since 2001, when Mark drove in the NHRA Pro Stock Truck Championship. A lot of their new range of clothing is not drag race specific which is a major secret to their success, it has a hard edge attitude to living life on the edge, so is appealing to many extreme motorsport. This is PiranaZ first endeavor into the English market. PiranaZ would like to learn about the UK market and make sponsorship of a Drag Race Team work for their company. Paul Marston has a long association with the owners of PiranaZ, (the Paul Marston 4-Link Dragster being painted in PiranaZ colours and design for example) PiranaZ respected that commitment and started talking about putting something together with Paul Marston Racing at the beginning of the 2007 season. PiranaZ Z has recently launched a completely new image, they wanted to get away from the run of the mill T-shirts and apparel that you see at the racetrack, Their new look is raw and edgy. It is Hard-Core race wear for the Hard-Core Drag Race fan. The new look speaks for itself, and fits perfectly with the Paul Marston Racing image, our association is a good match. Paul Marston Racing had a great 2007 season and the whole team is looking forward to building on that success and hitting the ground running in an aggressive fashion in 2008. It is our goal to see PiranaZ backed Paul Marston Racing drivers visit the winners circle again in 2008 as we did in 2007. A decision has not yet been announced as to if another of the Paul Marston Racing Drag Racecars will be painted in PiranaZ colours. There are currently two candidates but Paul Marston is tight lipped as to which two they are or when a decision will be made, all we can say at the moment is watch this space. Paul Marston Racing are lucky enough to be able to offer a limited range of PiranaZ clothing and Apparel which fortunately does include some of their wicked decals. Details of which will be released soon, in time for Christmas, so if you are looking for a competitively priced, extra special Christmas present, that is truly unique, stay tuned to Eurodragster for where to find it. Due to the demand for PiranaZ apparel in the states, the next stock shipment is not due at present until March 08 so don’t miss out.

TALK THE TALK, WALK THE WALK

Further to the Press Release earlier calling for prospective Naturally Aspirated Super Modified competitors for 08. Paul Marston Racing are looking for a driver with funding or a sponsorship package in place to drive their Super Modified Vauxhall Calibra for the 08 season. Paul Marston had this to say ‘After discussing the Calibra and Super Modified with the whole PMR team, we felt that this was an exciting opportunity to offer a driver. The response to the call for new naturally aspirated Super Modified teams with the perspective rule changes is exciting and has stimulated interest without a doubt. Its about time Super Modified became recognised as the great class it is in its own right and not just looked upon as a feeder class/ stepping stone for the lucky few who are rich enough to afford Pro Modified from their own pocket. Paul Marston Racing would like to hear from any perspective driver who is interested in competing in Super Modified during the 08 season, Paul Marston Racing would supply full crew, logistics support and develop the performance into a hopefully competitive package. We already enjoy support from Drag Race Engineering (020 8597 9484) and CTM Performance & Machine (020 8592 1180) with the project, without their help and support we would not be able to offer this package, it really will be a joint effort. There are options for sponsors to have the Calibra painted in their colours, crew uniforms, etc. There is also the exposure that the filming and TV package accompanying Super Modified in 07 which hopefully will continue in 08 offers. Anyone interested please contact us and share your ideas and proposals, the sooner we know where we are going the quicker we can start to put the foundations into place needed for a serious heads up class like Super Modified. Contact us on office@pmracing.fsnet.co.ukn call Paul Marston on 07831 650230 or come see us in the pits at the National Finals at Santa Pod at the end of the month.’

NATURALLY ASPIRATED SUPER MODIFIED 2008

Paul Marston Racing have been in touch regarding the 2008 Super Modified season and the rule changes on the table currently being considered for the Naturally Aspirated Super Modified option. Paul had this to say ‘The Super Modified Association has over the past years heard plenty of Drivers and Teams say that they would run the Naturally Aspirated option in Super Modified if there was a little more of a concession made to this and a bigger weight break for an automatic transmission, which to be fair is the most common combo currently used in Sportsman Drag Racing Classes. Paul Marston Racing would like to hear from any and every team that would consider running Naturally Aspirated Automatic or Lenco in the 2008 Super Modified series that does not currently compete. The rule changes being looked at are the first revision to the rule book for three years and will be seriously considered at the Super Modified AGM, which will be held within weeks. The SUMO AGM will be held earlier than usual to allow the maximum time for teams to take advantage of these new weight breaks. I do emphasize that the proposed new rules are designed specifically to allow Naturally Aspirated Automatic competitors to become potentially more on par with the nitrous cars. This is no easy ticket, even with full implementation of the proposed changes you will not be instantly competitive with the Nitrous, Lenco teams that currently dominate SUMO. You will have to develop, just the same as the nitrous teams have. Ideally we need 4-6 new teams to all learn off of one another in the same way as the Nitrous, Lenco, combos have. It will take time but this is a real opportunity, if you have been considering, then this is the time to decide. Remember Super Modified also ran rounds at two non National Events, Big Bang and Bug Jam during 07. If there is enough interest in this exciting new development then Paul Marston Racing will hold an informal meeting of perspective new teams to answer any questions and gauge support for 08. Please contact Paul Marston on 07831 650230 or e-mail on office@pmracing.fsnet.co.uk immediately or sooner, the meeting will be held before or at the National Finals, your cooperation would be appreciated.

SHAKESPEARE SUCCESS FOR PMR

Paul Marston Racing are justifiably proud of their drivers performance at The Open Nationals at Shakespeare County Raceway over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Our star of the show was a resurgent Dave Racing Snake Catton who, competing in Super Comp and Super Gas took the Whoopass Monza to the final of Super Gas. Loosing a very tight Final to the current class of the field Panther Racing’s Conrad Stanley. When asked Paul Marston had this to say ‘Yet another Paul Marston Racing Drag Race Driving School Graduate in a Final, this is already easily our best, most successful year yet. The whole crew here at Paul Marston Racing are very very pleased for Dave Catton, its success that is richly deserved. Paul Marston was taken out by Conrad whilst driving the Whoopass Monza at the Summer Nationals in the Semi Finals, PMR made some changes to tighten up the Whoopass Monza and got to the Final this time. Panther Racing are a class act, but even they knew they daren’t leave anything on the table against Dave Catton, believe me anytime a driver is .006 on the tree you know he’s trying. David knew Conrad was tough, gave it his best shot and went .008 Red, there ain’t no shame in that for sure. How about that Whoopass Monza 8.85 @ 152 MPH all from a little Drag Race Engineering developed 477ci Big Block Chevy on a BLP Alcohol Carb and a JW Performance Converter, way to go! Add to that, it was the first time that Dave Catton had driven since the FIA Main Event in May, everyone in Super Comp and Super Gas better watch out this weekend, that is one bad Hombre!!’ Steve Bolton really had a baptism of fire with a new but suspect Rear Slick that oh so nearly put Steve Bolton’s beautiful Plymouth Scamp in the wall on his first pass when it rapidly deflated without warning. The offending tyre was taken to a local tyre shop that repaired the apparent rim sealing problem. On Steve’s next pass the tyre did the exact same thing and rapidly deflated whilst on a full pass, a driver’s worst nightmare. Upon removal of the slick and careful inspection Paul Marston discovered that the steel band in the bead was in fact broken. Steve Bolton would like to thank everyone at the track who helped out. Our special mate John Everitt and the Alien crew (well done and congratulations for reaching the Final of Super Pro) for the portable compressor. The absolute star, fellow Sportsman Mopar racer Jon Turner who lent Steve a Mopar Bolt pattern wheel so as we could recover the Plymouth Scamp from the end of the track and get her back to the Paul Marston Pit. Super Gas and Comp racer Johnny Morton for supplying a used pair of slicks so as Steve could continue racing. Jeff and Belinda Bull for the tyre Irons and Bead Breaking tool (once again Paul Marston would like to publicly say sorry for bending the hook on Mr. Bulls bead breaker). Everyone else who helped out and showed concern as to Steve Bolton’s plight, we really do have a great bunch of people in Drag Racing. Last but by no means least the Fire and Safety Crew at Shakespeare County Raceway who took care of Steve Bolton and took great care of his Plymouth Scamp, moving her without even chipping the paint Steve Bolton qualified and bowed out gracefully in round one of Pro, but never the less stayed right to the end helping out the rest of the team as they all went rounds. That is a team player ladies and gentleman, Steve Bolton and his Dark Destroyer are looking forward to the FIA European Finals, there is unfinished business to be taken care of – going rounds! Tethys, shoeing the Ugly Stick 4-Link Dragster went 2 rounds in Super Comp and had a solid weekend, really getting to grips with this exciting and revolutionary racecar. Due to the weather this year still yet to show its true potential, with such a bumper entry in Super Comp at the FIA European Finals. This combo of hi-tech Dragster and a driver with so much pure talent could prove deadly, watch out for it in the late rounds. So what of Grumpys Dodge? Well Grumpy driven by Mad Mick Howling in Pro and Super Gas suffered an extremely rare engine failure in first round qualifying Saturday morning, just on the hit. A cylinder wall fractured, caught the piston, stopped the Big Block Chevy dead and punched No's 3 & 4 crank journal right off of the crank, leaving the crank in three pieces. The motor we reckoned has done around 3,000 passes in the past six years so it’s lasted pretty well all things considered. The main thing is that both driver and racecar are safe and Grumpy did not oil the track. Due to the nature of the damage the block just needs a liner replacing then it will probably go again, along with a complete new rotating assembly of course! Oh and some new valves as well please!! Upon hearing of Grumpy`s plight Saturday evening by phone, in steps Drag Race Engineering Proprietor Gary Springford, commiserating Mick Howling, but promising Mick that Drag Race Engineering would have another bullet built and fitted into Grumpy ready for the FIA European Finals. That kind of gesture goes above and beyond anything other than doing what’s needed to get the job done, without the kind of support that Paul Marston Racing get from our great friends at Drag Race Engineering we would not be able to function at the level that we do, its just that simple. Gary Springford would like to thank Mick Howling for coming into Drag Race Engineering last Saturday to help and assist in the assembly of the new motor for Grumpy, once again teamwork works! Subject to how things pan out over the next few days, Paul Marston himself hopes to make a return to competition in Super Pro at the FIA European Finals driving the DRE backed Super Modified naturally aspirated Vauxhall Calibra. This is subject to everything going well and the last remaining work that the Calibra needs being done. Paul Marston has already said, ‘As long as Drag Race Engineering have the time and I personally feel comfortable and will be able to focus on driving and do not think that it will stretch the crew running my entry then you will see the DRE Calibra out there. I am and will always be a team player, so I will do what’s best for the team, that’s why I elected not to drive at Shakespeare County Raceway, you always have to look at the big picture. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of one. Special thanks once again to Gary Springford at Drag Race Engineering (0208 597 9484), the backbone of our operation, you need something done? This is the man to do it. Extra special thanks to all the great Crew at Paul Marston Racing, time and time again they prove that they are just the best. All our sponsors, London Road Tyres, Black Box London, Disco Equipment Hire, Drag Race Engineering, CTM Performance and Machine, JW Performance, BLP Products Inc, and all the rest of the gang who keep the faith. PMR are expecting a lot of Special Guests and Fans over the weekend, please come and say hi over the weekend, everyone is welcome. Do excuse us if we appear a little busy, especially Thursday and Friday, we do not go Drag Racing to lose!!

Dave Catton

A very big well done to Dave Catton for coming runner up in Super Gas at the Open Sports Nationals at Avon Park!!