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!!
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