Fuelers at Avon Park..

[themighty]

I came across some old pics the other week, so while I had access to a neg scanner I thought I'd get a few into the world on zero's and ones.

Now this was an event when I was pretty much away from the sport in the mid nineties... university and no money and all that, but I remember taking the trip to Avon Park but haven't a clue as to what meeting and what year. Anyone any ideas?



CP

[drags06]

Funny to see them lined up as if the starter man is saying 'gentlemen start your engines' like they used to do years ago at the races!

[dwphil]

I believe it was the ETFA European Championship round held at Avon Park in 1996 .

Top Fuel entry was

Jens Nybo
Tommy Haapanen
Vivica Averstedt
Andy Carter
Pelle Lindelow
Gary Page
Rico Anthes

Also featured Funny Cars,Pro Mods, Top Methanol [dragsters and funny cars]

Edited by dwphil on Thursday 8th February 10:22

[CRR]

Yes, Phil is correct. This meeting was promoted by Keith Bartlett who had taken over at the Pod earlier in the year and was supposed to be the beginning of KB promoting regularly at Avon Park.

Wasn't this the meeting where the strip had to be quickly resurfaced because somebody had dumped something on the racing surface and it couldn't be removed? I believe that the contractors were already at the Pod getting ready to resurface that but they had to dash up to Avon and resurface that before doing the Pod.

[hodgy587]

Dont think it was etfa if i remember correctly it was the 1st ever FIA round.I was there all weekend and i think Jens Nybo won. unless ive had total brain fade

[Andy Marrs]

I'm pretty certain Avon Park has never held an FIA round, if my memory serves it was a promotional/ehxibition event. Apart from the FIA regulations stating that there can be no more than 2 rounds of the championship held in the same country (and there were 2 at SPR that year) Avon Park is not and never has been, as far as I am aware, an FIA sanctioned track.

[CRR]

I believe the Avon Park meeting was a ETFA (European Top Fuel Association) round. I was correct about Avon Park being resurfaced just before the meeting. I've just reread the programme (should have done that before) and KB said that the strip had been resurfaced in the past 5 days. No wonder there wasn't a great deal of traction!

[hodgy587]

Hmm going to have to dig out my old box of flyers now that used to adorn my bedroom wall, sure it was billed as the 1st fia even if it actually wasn't.

[Jon C]

I think it was meant to be an FIA round, but there were last minute 'issues' regarding the TV package, amongst other things. It replaced the Main Event at SPR that year.
It was the first event that Peter Schoeffer ran his small block Rick Santos setup in TMD. Anita was there, and Jens Nybo won Top Fuel and I remember it was a very tortuous tow back for Jens, the long way back round behind the startline and back to the pits. I know this because he towed back against the flow of traffic (myself included) trying to get out of the car park. Think he beat Rico in the final.

Nice pic Chris. With the exception of Jens' car, dont those old style injectors look tiny and low down now?

Edited by Jon C on Friday 9th February 23:22

[hodgy587]

I noticed most of them had the horrible small go kart style wheels too.

It was nice to see all those cars at shakey, and the meeting was completed within curfew.

Can anybody else remember Tony Baker running a blown small block dragster in super pro at that meeting? Think it may have been a Bob Nixon car.

[Jon C]

hodgy587 said:

Can anybody else remember Tony Baker running a blown small block dragster in super pro at that meeting? Think it may have been a Bob Nixon car.

That would be the ex Tom Conway, ex Juha Leppänen, ex Paul Jackson Top Alcohol Rail.

Edited by Jon C on Saturday 10th February 22:11

[flying toilet]

Jon C said:

hodgy587 said:

Can anybody else remember Tony Baker running a blown small block dragster in super pro at that meeting? Think it may have been a Bob Nixon car.

That would be the ex Tom Conway, ex Juha Leppänen, ex Paul Jackson Top Alcohol Rail.

Edited by Jon C on Saturday 10th February 22:11

Did that become the car that Fay Fishcer drove 1st in Top Methanol? Later by Andy Frost? If not where is it now?

[MotorPsycho]

nope, that was the ex Jim Read Le-Patron car then Doug Bond's TAD, purchased by my Dad and Uncle Mick, driven by Mick then Fay Fischer, Andy Frost had a go driving it when Martin Canto bought it off us later driven by Darryl Bradford

[Andy Marrs]

[quote=Jon C]It replaced the Main Event at SPR that year.

There was a Main Event that year, I have the timing data to prove it (I've emailed it to you Jon as per the "fellowship of the anorak" rules ). Viveca, Rico, Andy Carter, Gary Page, Pelle Lidelow and Jens Nybo took part with Viveca winning the event in relatively easy fashion with a no-show from Gary in round 1, Pelle breaking off the line in round 2 and Rico no-showing in the final.

[Jon C]

Andy Marrs said:

[quote=Jon C]It replaced the Main Event at SPR that year.

There was a Main Event that year, I have the timing data to prove it (I've emailed it to you Jon as per the "fellowship of the anorak" rules ). Viveca, Rico, Andy Carter, Gary Page, Pelle Lidelow and Jens Nybo took part with Viveca winning the event in relatively easy fashion with a no-show from Gary in round 1, Pelle breaking off the line in round 2 and Rico no-showing in the final.

to greater knowledge.

Thanks Andy

[Andy Marrs]

Jon C said:

Andy Marrs said:

[quote=Jon C]It replaced the Main Event at SPR that year.

There was a Main Event that year, I have the timing data to prove it (I've emailed it to you Jon as per the "fellowship of the anorak" rules ). Viveca, Rico, Andy Carter, Gary Page, Pelle Lidelow and Jens Nybo took part with Viveca winning the event in relatively easy fashion with a no-show from Gary in round 1, Pelle breaking off the line in round 2 and Rico no-showing in the final.

to greater knowledge.

Thanks Andy

Not so much knowledge as the ability to file stuff , if I relied on my memory I couldn;t tell you what I did this morning