UND 1:  21-24 March 2008:  Auto Trader Easter Thunderball, Santa Pod Raceway

Against all odds, Round 1 of the MSA British Drag Racing Championship was completed successfully. Easter's Arctic weather threatened abandonment - snowstorms and high horsepower do not mix - but the race was compressed into Monday after much of Friday and all of Saturday and Sunday were lost.

Racers expecting five qualifying rounds ended up with a single Monday shot in frigid conditions which played havoc with tune-ups and tyre-grip. Unruly handling was the order of the day, typified by reigning MSA champion Andy Robinson's wild rides to victory. Indeed, Robinson's semi-final clockings (6.885sec.-228.07mph) were remarkable achievements from such a bucking-bronco drive.

RESULTS

Eliminations:

Semi-final:

Philip Englefield 10.906sec./121.22mph bye run - Danny Cockerill broke in qualifying

Andy Robinson 6.885 / 228.07  def.  Mats Eriksson 7.056 / 183.37

Final:

Robinson 7.275 / 209.24  def.  Englefield 8.225--153.53

Low Elapsed Time of the Event:  6.885sec. - Robinson

Top Speed of the Event:  228.07mph - Robinson