PMR "do " The States!!

Paul Marston and PMR Driver Gary Springford from the major PMR Sponsor, Drag Race Engineering have sent this report about their latest trip to the States, its one of their more ambitious and is covering half a dozen states and Dragstrips in just under three weeks.The trip started off well with the stop off at Charlotte, enroute to Orlando and security being very interested in our Torque convertor that is destined for John Winters at JW Performance Transmissions. Gary was randomly picked to be searched, was taken behind the screen and asked lots of questions, Paul found all of this hilarious, knowing Garys temper Paul was just waiting for the rubber gloves to come out, then here crunch thud!! This all passed no problem accepting our reasons for carrying the torque convertor back to whence it came from.Paul did his usual job on the Hire Car Desk at Orlando, this time a Chrysler 300C with six miles on it, the speedo currently has nearly three thousand showing, there should be a photo opportunity there when we return it! Trip wise, after the usual visits to BLP Products Inc to see our racing buddy and all round good guy, ex-pat Tony Morris and place our usual orders with the finest Alcohol and Gas Carb specialists there are - period, Applied Race Technology ordering parts again, our Great Friend Larry Nadeau with his Pro Mod PT Cruiser and a very interesting conversation regarding the TV Show PINKS - watch this space. JW Transmissions to deliver our Torque Convertor to the very best in Florida. This along with all the rest, Jegs, Summit, Biondo, RONS, etc, etc.The Road Trip this time is a monster, first stop was last Friday, Reynolds Georgia and Silver Dollar Raceway for the last Division 2 Event of the 2006 season, we met all our racing buddies there, Steve Deatherage and his father Ro and their JW Transmissions backed Super Comp Dragster. Tim and April Hutcherson with their BLP Backed Super Comp Dragster, Dave Hartman driving Tony Morris`s BLP Backed Super Comp Dragster that is currently for sale, anyone interested please call Paul for details and he will put you in touch with Tony. Tony could not make the event due to commitments elsewhere. Mike Ruff the infamous Super Street King of Florida. Vic Ferea in his Ocean Potion backed Super Comp Dragster, Vic made good use of the Event runnering up in the final and making a massive move in the final Division 2 Championship points table. Even my old buddy the legend that is Edmond Richardson was there again competing on his brand new Carbon Fibre everything Super Comp Dragster.Silver Dollar was just a one day visit then the long drive up to Rockingham North Carolina for the IHRA World Finals. Arriving Saturday after a 450 mile drive it was well worth the effort. Pro Mod bump was 6.10, No1 Qualifier 6.01, with records broken in nearly every class it was a truly awesome event. Racing till after 10.00pm at night a truly memorable spectacle. The venue and the racing just blew you away. Yes the Pro Mods did get in the 5`s with a 5.99 in eliminations. Plenty to savour during the 700 mile drive back to Orlando.The Fastest Street Cars on the Planet kicked off with the usual RaceRock Cruise on Thursday, this event is now so huge that the Police have a real headache dealing with it, security was very tight, no Burnouts in I-Drive! but the new addition of a Live Band helped the event go down very well with all who attended. The following all want to say hi to everyone left in England in that chilly weather, Jeff and Belinda Bull, Mick da Fish, Ray and Jackie White, Fat Fred, Pete and the rest of the Big Red Bus Smoke City Wheelers, The Executioners, Steve Patemen and Family, Matt Wright, Paul Jackson. Lee Darby, Moose Hollingworth, Gary Hall, Paul Bentley, The Crowlando Boys and anyone else I have missed.Friday saw Paul, Gary and Tony Morris down at West Palm Beach for Gary to work his magic on a 1928 20/25 Vintage Rolls Royce that belonged to the girlfriend of one of the other guys at BLP. To Gary’s dismay when we arrived it was not a 20/25 but a Phamtom instead that dated back even further to when Mr Royce was still alive.It took a little longer to fix but Gary who is a Vintage Rolls Royce Specialist along with all being a pretty good Drag Racecar Builder got it running beautifully. Just in time for us to pass by Moroso Motorsports Park and take in the Friday Night Test and Tune, its a great Dragstrip, one that we will be visiting again for sure.Saturday was off to Speedworld and the Main Day of Qualifying at the Fastest Streetcar, Sunday saw us back in Georgia, taking in the Nostalgia Event at Valdosta. Paul and Garys sincerest thanks go out to everyone at BLP, Joe Hillerio, Joe Hollerfeld, Tony Morris naturally and all the rest of the guys for their incredibly generous hospitality. Everyone at JW Performance Transmissions and all the Division 2 Racers for trying to understand our version of English.