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.

SO WHO'S GOT THE MAP?

Paul Marston Racing are once again off to the States after finishing off the end of a very busy and successful UK Drag Race season for both the Paul Marston Drag Race Driving School and Paul Marston Racing. Having attended both the Saturday Night Special and on the previous weekend Jap Show, teaching perspective new drivers thru the Driving School programme and giving some more of those infamous Drag Race Passenger Rides. Our UK season is most certainly nearly done, so Paul Marston and Gary Springford of Drag Race Engineering, one of Paul Marston’s principal sponsors are sneaking off to the States but will be back in time for our very last 06 event, the Flame and Thunder Event at Santa Pod Raceway. The purpose of this stateside trip is firstly to crew for Tony Morris and Tim Hutcherson with their BLP backed Super Comp Dragsters as they attend the last in the NHRA 2006 Division 2 series at Reynolds, Silver Dollar Raceway in Georgia. A quick trip up to Rockingham in North Carolina takes in the IHRA World Finals, then just a short 600 mile trip back to Orlando for the Fastest Streetcar Lunacy at Speed world. Paul and Gary are honoured to have been invited to crew on Larry Nadeau’s awesome Pro Modified PT Supercharged PT Cruiser at Orlando Speed worlds Fastest Streetcar Event, something both of them are very much looking forward to. Before anyone asks, No Gary has not seen the map and has no idea how far Paul has got them travelling or how much they will be doing!! All Gary knows is its too far to walk and thinks it’s going to be a break by the pool for three weeks to work on his tan. It’s a major achievement for Paul to actually get Gary on a plane, anyone who is old enough to remember the A-Team will remember BA Barakas and the immortal line `Aint Getting On No Plane Fool` Paul has assured us that just seeing the look on Gary’s face when they close the door on the plane makes the trip worthwhile and the expression on Gary’s face as the plane takes off is actual proof that Gary is indeed the offspring of Spitting Image Puppets!!! There will also be a trip up to Valdosta to take in a Nostalgia Event, this is also out of state but we don’t have to fly! As usual Paul will be on his usual parts buying mission along with checking out the latest Sportsman Racing technology. There is also the possibility that he will be competing whilst out there, so he will keep us up to date on that one whilst out there. This visit to the Land of the Brave sees more progress with an ongoing project that Paul Marston Racing have been working on for some time now. Paul will be attending various meetings whilst in the States. It is potentially one of the most exciting things that Paul Marston Racing have ever been involved in so watch this space, as soon as we have any news we will let you know. Stay tuned into EuroDragster over the next three weeks to monitor Paul Marston and Gary Springfords progress reports as they travel the Deep Southern States. Once again Paul and Gary would like to express their deepest gratitude to their families for allowing them the freedom and support required to embark on this trip, you truly are special people. They would also like to personally thank all the crew at Paul Marston Racing who work so hard throughout the season, without you guys we are nothing, absolutely nothing!

I BELIEVE IT WILL FLY!!

Paul Marston Racing enjoyed the record breaking European Finals at Santa Pod very much. Marred only by the tragic incident that happened late on Sunday, on behalf of everyone in Paul Marston Racing we would like to offer our sincerest condolences to the family involved. The event ran smoothly and with so many new records set, it is a real credit to everyone who works at Santa Pod. The success of the European Finals only comes with a huge effort and massive preparation, credit in particular to the track staff whose stellar work on the oil downs kept the downtime to a minimum. Here at Paul Marston Racing we also noticed parity in track performance over the weekend that can only be attributed to again the hard work that the track prep crew were putting in, thank you from everyone at PMR. It was great to have so many fans visit us over the weekend, thanks for stopping by, it kept all of the drivers busy. The new Paul Marston Racing Drag Race Driving School flyers went down well too, with the planned expansion of Paul Marstons Drag Race Driving School in 07, its all about spreading the word. With five drivers in competition, Paul Marston, Gary Springford, Mick Howling, Dave Racing Snake Catton and Steve Bolton we had a great event with varying results. Paul Marston was rewarded for being our top qualifier by being allowed to drink his coffee from the ceremonial Grumpy Mug! Paul, once again back in the PT Bruiser qualified 6th in Super Pro and went three rounds before succumbing to Pat Talbot in her six second Dragster. Paul Marston had another developmental Event, enjoying 100% mechanical reliability which bodes well for the future. The RONS Alcohol Fuel Injection is still being refined, at this event we found plenty of stuff that we put right. Increasing our understanding of the RONS System and in turn being rewarded with some fast times. Culminating in a pair of 8.22’s at 160+ mph, a good spot to pick up from at the National Finals this coming weekend at Santa Pod Raceway. Gary Springford in Pro, 2nd in the National Championship qualified just 11 thousandths off of his dial and was 23rd!! Qualifying in Pro ET at the European Finals was the tightest qualified field we have ever seen in Sportsman Drag Racing History, the bump was 33/1000ths. Gary Springford driving the Whoopass Monza made it no further than 1st Round where Gary pulled a very uncharacteristic red, Gary was mortified!! Putting him on the trailer early for once. The Monza, now running on its newly installed BLP Alcohol Carburetor system ran very well with no problem and was a picture of reliability. Dave Racing Snake Catton shared driving duties competing in Super Gas, qualifying in 10th; Dave went out first round in a valiant effort against the master himself Tim Adam in his Brogie Roadster. We must also thank Tim and his team for refilling the air bottle on the Whoopass Monza, very sporting. Mick Howling competing in Super Street driving the mighty Grumpys Dodge had a great event running some really close to the index numbers but all just on the wrong side. Qualified 8th Mick which is where Mick’s day was done, loosing a close one in round one. Mick was also hosting two of his biggest sponsors, who unfortunately had to leave before Mick ran; they were truly two of the biggest men Santa Pod has ever seen. Both guys are American Football Front Linemen, you could see why! They both enjoyed their first visit to Santa Pod and were very impressed with what they saw and will be back for the Sportsman National Finals. Steve Bolton rounded out the Paul Marston Racing Squad, driving his mean looking Plymouth Scamp in Pro. Steve was hampered with inconsistency over the weekend which was eventually diagnosed as debris from the fuel hose. This was probably caused when the Plymouth was run on alcohol in the States and was now showing signs of rubber erosion. With this inconsistency it would have been pure luck if Steve had managed to qualify and luck was now with him so Steve along with many others went DNQ. But with a simple fix and no harm done, the mighty Plymouth will be ready for next time. The Whoopass Monza was returned to the Drag Race Engineering (020 8597 4575) workshops after the European Finals for some servicing. Whilst there Paul Marston and Gary Springford discovered something that will probably unlock alot more horsepower in the Monza next weekend. When asked Paul Marston said ‘I have always believed that the Monza was playing a game with us, it was far too weather sensitive, the larger camshaft and BLP Alcohol system fitted just prior to the European Finals had little or no effect performance wise. This convinced me that there was a Gremlin in there somewhere. Gary Springford and myself started on the Monza last Friday afternoon, I guess we were on the right path as we believe we have found the problem once and for all, this weekend will tell. Considering what Gary and I found it’s quite staggering that we had such stunning performances out of the Whoopass Monza so far! So watch out!!’ Big Big Big thank yous must go out to all the Crew at Paul Marston Racing, the Crew Chief, Lizz and Sefton, Mad Mick, Mark from DRE, Robin, Ferret and of course our stats man Anthony Middleton. Big ups to the drivers as well, helping out crewing their own cars and their team mates on Thursday Sportsman qualifying when crew was a little thin. With only minor servicing to be done to the Racecars and a high speed lean out system to be fitted to the Bruiser, everyone at Paul Marston Racing is looking forward to the Sportsman National Finals very much. See you all there.

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