Top Fuel 2012

[Justin Stage]

The Enthusiast said:

Looks like The World Finals has gone up to £35 a day with the exeception of 1000ft.

£70 in advance for four days seems like a bargain to me - why would I be anywhere else?

[The Enthusiast]

Justin Stage said:

£70 in advance for four days seems like a bargain to me - why would I be anywhere else?

Even less if you booked as an early bird. Great stupendous value for the whole weekend. Weekend!!

Edited by The Enthusiast on Tuesday 20th March 21:07

Edited by The Enthusiast on Tuesday 20th March 21:11

[robc3303]

Can't fault the value for money. Kids go free too... FREE. Its a top value weekend for a family of four who camp for free too. I think the Waltzers on the funfare are a bit pricey tho !!

[leffehoegaarden]

robc3303 said:

I think the Waltzers on the funfare are a bit pricey tho !!

I hear ya buddy!

Also, I would say; the pits are so far from the grandstand, I can believe Keith Bartlett hasn't installed a trav-o-lator so I can save on wear and tear on my footware! That guy hasen't got a clue.

Outrageous!

Back in the real world: What are our predictions for the Top of the Heap in Top Fuel come the end of the season? I'd like to see Risto do it, he deserves it. Whoever dirves for the Andersons' has a pretty good chance but I think that might be a pretty tough seat to fill for a whole season. I can't think of a more exciting way to spend 100,000 grand myself but strangely Top Fuel isn't like F1, with cash heavy drivers queuing up to buy their seat. Looooonacy! Not much noise from Urs on who's replacing Robin, the crew cheif who has led him to numerous titles. Could be a game changer if the correct appointment is not made, Carter struggled terribly when it happened to him.

Outsiders? Stig runs well, a bit of reliability could see him through. Anita has the numbers in her car but rarely gets the luck, I'd like to see her do it too. I don't think there's much chance of the winner coming from outside this group though.

Edited by leffehoegaarden on Tuesday 20th March 21:43

[Barry B]

Yeah but... which World Finals ??? Netball ? Show Jumping ? Gymnastics ?

[Flying Toilet]

firewalker said:

If you wish to scrutinise my posts at least give a balanced public summary, without checking I'm sure you'll also find a lot of support for SPR going on and my only beef with the FIA is the lost 320ft along with a lot of other people.

I'm afraid that is not the case. I didn't scrutinise your posts, merely remember them from the previous threads about night racing at the Pod and the like.

With regards to the 100ft racing in Australia, it already happened in mid February, mainly due to the short shutdown area of Calder Park. I am not sure on the other tracks facilities apart from Sydney as I know they were actually looked at by the NHRA as they had a different catch net setup to the States.

Whilst I agree it is a shame that we have lost 320ft at the Pod I think parity needs to addressed across the board if we are to taken seriously as a sport.

[Flying Toilet]

firewalker said:

January 20th 2012.
I doubt they even could run TF to 1000ft there at all??? - but if you can elaborate on your sources I'll check it out.

Report from Calder after the 1000ft event.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2012/02/21/competitors-pr...

ANDRA approve 1000ft or even 1/8th mile events.

http://www.andra.com.au/latest-news/announcements/...

Plenty more info if you bother to google.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=australia+drag+racing+1000ft+...

[Flying Toilet]

The Enthusiast said:

Looks like The World Finals has gone up to £35 a day with the exeception of 1000ft.

Well with inflation I am not surprised.

The last World Finals was held in 1996 so I imagine quite a few things have gone up in price since.

Jesus wept.

[NitroWars]

Barry B said:

Yeah but... which World Finals ??? Netball ? Show Jumping ? Gymnastics ?

Must be something to do with the Monster Trucks...

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_Jam_World_Fin...

[DWphil]

leffehoegaarden said:

I hear ya buddy!

Also, I would say; the pits are so far from the grandstand, I can believe Keith Bartlett hasn't installed a trav-o-lator so I can save on wear and tear on my footware! That guy hasen't got a clue.

Outrageous!

Back in the real world: What are our predictions for the Top of the Heap in Top Fuel come the end of the season? I'd like to see Risto do it, he deserves it. Whoever dirves for the Andersons' has a pretty good chance but I think that might be a pretty tough seat to fill for a whole season. I can't think of a more exciting way to spend 100,000 grand myself but strangely Top Fuel isn't like F1, with cash heavy drivers queuing up to buy their seat. Looooonacy! Not much noise from Urs on who's replacing Robin, the crew cheif who has led him to numerous titles. Could be a game changer if the correct appointment is not made, Carter struggled terribly when it happened to him.

Outsiders? Stig runs well, a bit of reliability could see him through. Anita has the numbers in her car but rarely gets the luck, I'd like to see her do it too. I don't think there's much chance of the winner coming from outside this group though.

Edited by leffehoegaarden on Tuesday 20th March 21:43

A bit different in Andys case as Urs will still have mostly the same crew in the same car running out of the same trailer , Andy had a completly different crew including the crewchief last year to 2010,a new car and new trailer.

[clausy26]

right enough of 1000ft already if you wana discuss it make a new thread lets get down to business
who do you reckons coming to of the pile ?
has anyone heard anything from urs ?
and does any now why the second shockwave entry has dropped out of the thunderball at a guess i think its not ready but can anyone confirm that ?

[firewalker]

Flying Toilet said:

firewalker said:

If you wish to scrutinise my posts at least give a balanced public summary, without checking I'm sure you'll also find a lot of support for SPR going on and my only beef with the FIA is the lost 320ft along with a lot of other people.

I'm afraid that is not the case. I didn't scrutinise your posts, merely remember them from the previous threads about night racing at the Pod and the like.

With regards to the 100ft racing in Australia, it already happened in mid February, mainly due to the short shutdown area of Calder Park. I am not sure on the other tracks facilities apart from Sydney as I know they were actually looked at by the NHRA as they had a different catch net setup to the States.

Whilst I agree it is a shame that we have lost 320ft at the Pod I think parity needs to addressed across the board if we are to taken seriously as a sport.

Ah, case of selective memory then.
Thanks for the links I was surprised Calder Park ran to 1000ft even.

With ANDRA, it seems they're taking on 1k' where necessary to get TF into other facilities safely whilst maintaining the 1/4 as and where it stands*. From this point of view there is no argument imo. Their series will distinguish between the two options I'm guessing as they have quite a lot of smaller race tracks down under. ANDRA already has an 1/8th mile series for a number of classes ran at smaller facilities.

• "The change will allow the use of more facilities throughout Australia that have been designed for shorter distances, while tracks with adequate length and safety for the traditional quarter mile (402.2 metres) format will still run that distance."

Back on Topic then ~

I reckon Risto and Stig could be well in the running this year, and as an outside shot Anita....

[The Enthusiast]

Flying Toilet said:

Well with inflation I am not surprised.

The last World Finals was held in 1996 so I imagine quite a few things have gone up in price since.

Jesus wept.

Yep. Still call it the World Finals myself. tut tut.

[Flying Toilet]

firewalker said:

Ah, case of selective memory then.

Maybe, maybe not. You have to see my point that posts moaning about something out of the Pods control will stick in the mind more than one that flows with the topic.

firewalker said:

Thanks for the links I was surprised Calder Park ran to 1000ft even.

With ANDRA, it seems they're taking on 1k' where necessary to get TF into other facilities safely whilst maintaining the 1/4 as and where it stands*. From this point of view there is no argument imo. Their series will distinguish between the two options I'm guessing as they have quite a lot of smaller race tracks down under. ANDRA already has an 1/8th mile series for a number of classes ran at smaller facilities.

• "The change will allow the use of more facilities throughout Australia that have been designed for shorter distances, while tracks with adequate length and safety for the traditional quarter mile (402.2 metres) format will still run that distance."

Back on Topic then ~

I reckon Risto and Stig could be well in the running this year, and as an outside shot Anita....

Possibly but there is rumblings that the series will become 1000ft soon. Nothing confirmed but with the big TV deal and the sponsorship deals they feel they need to mirror the NHRA. A shame if true but that is what I was told by someone who crews over there.

[firewalker]

Flying Toilet said:

firewalker said:

Ah, case of selective memory then.

Maybe, maybe not. You have to see my point that posts moaning about something out of the Pods control will stick in the mind more than one that flows with the topic.

Possibly but there is rumblings that the series will become 1000ft soon. Nothing confirmed but with the big TV deal and the sponsorship deals they feel they need to mirror the NHRA. A shame if true but that is what I was told by someone who crews over there.

Agreed.
I hope ANDRA can prove that mirroring the NHRA isn't compulsory as they up their profile. A good role model but not omnipotent. Surely, as far as TV goes drag racing is already criticised as being too short and quick to be viewer friendly.

...anywaaaay....

I admit to losing a lot of interest in TF over the matter, but I'd still like to see Risto, Stig or Mikaela run off with a trophy on past progress and effort.

And am wondering if Lex Joon is anywhere in range of returning to the fold...

Also TMD which was a blistering tournament the other year, would be good to see a return to that level of competition in 2012.

[WJM]

Notice that the Thunderball's rather thin fuel entry includes somebody called Duncan Micallef from Malta, is this just another RF rent a ride or another car I wonder.

Bill

[Turn7]

RF licensing deal I think?

[DWphil]

WJM said:

Notice that the Thunderball's rather thin fuel entry includes somebody called Duncan Micallef from Malta, is this just another RF rent a ride or another car I wonder.

Bill

As usual its all on Eurodragster,see Feb 15th

[robc3303]

Just to come back to the issue of costs for a moment, Pod is good value judging from this observation:

Pod, FIA event, 1 person 4 days plus camping, pay at gate TOTAL COST £80

Tierp FIA event 1 person 4 days plus camping pay at gate Kr 1850 plus Kr 600 camping fee (3 nights) TOTAL COST Kr2450 / £237


Of course Tierp is all new and I am not passing any judgements. May well pay it a visit when I can. Presuming my maths is correct, then Pod is almost 3x cheaper for an FIA weekend.

Note: Grandstand seat included at Tierp but extra option at Pod

[WJM]

I went to the England v Ireland match at Twickers last weekend and it cost me £80, most rock concerts cost at least that sort of money now and so do decent theatre tickets. I don't tend to buy advance tickets at the Pod as I don't want to drive all that way if it's pissing down but even just paying on the day I don't think it's expensive. My main complaint is that it never runs to time where the 2nd Pro cycle should start early in the afternoon but always in fact starts at 5 or 6 o'clock which is a bit late for those of us with a long journey home.

Bill