Rounds four and five of this year's
sizzling American Super Stock championship at York Raceway didn't get off to
the best of starts – round four, on the Sunday, was a complete rain-off. Still,
that didn't stop a superb field of 22 qualifiers taking to the track on Spring
Bank Holiday Monday for round five.
On pole position was Joel Kerr in the Dodge
Lancer, his 12.000 on an 11.99 dial-in being tough to top, but Dave Billadeau
was right behind him, the big-inch Hemi Superbird rep storming to a 9.77 at
140mph on a 9.75 dial. You know it's going to be a tough day when an 11.64 on
an 11.3 dial puts you in the bottom four.
Joel
Kerr’s unusual Dodge was number one qualifier and had it all its own way until
the quarter finals. This superb pair of retro Stock-style A-bodies belong to
Mark Harrison and Kiwi Thompson. Daz Chandler’s 10-second Nova hoists its
wheels.
With everyone knowing that the rain was
unlikely to hold off all day, the first heat got underway with Joel Kerr
maintaining his qualifying form, an 11.996 on the same dial-in being almost
impossible to beat for reigning champ Sam Carter-Chiles. Vic Parsons' big red
Belvedere was way off form, but still beat a breaking out Mark Harrison in the
'Dirty Harry' Dart, while a 0.002 break-out from Andy Boz let Ivan Jones
through in the eleven-second Chevy pick-up. A 13.72 on a 13.65 dial was enough
to give Mick Elsworth the win over Kris Thoburn's Mustang, while Adam Nowak's
11.05 on an 11.02 dial beat Daz Chandler's 10.15 on his 10.05 dial in what must
have been a very tight finish. Nigel Preston in the Camaro red lit his chances
away against Ethan Lisle's Ram pick-up, while in the battle of the Mustangs,
Dave Smith's Fox beat Alan Medley's S197 on quicker reactions. Andy Reynolds'
'Rodzilla' Chevelle redlit and broke out against an ever-improving Karen
Gregory in the Lightning, followed by Claire Johnson's Olds Omega running bang
on the numbers against a breaking out Gill Medley. Razor-sharp reactions from
Dave Billadeau weren't enough to beat 'Kiwi' Thompson, though both of the
big-inch Mopars were way off their dial-ins. The heat was rounded out with a
nail biter from two of the masters – Des Taylor in the Mustang and Lee 'Cookie'
Chiles in the Dodge D50 pick-up. Des ran a 16.26 on a 16.20 dial, but that wasn't
enough to counter Lee's 11.50 on his 11.38 dial coupled with a 0.50 reaction.
There must have been an inch in it.
The
heat was rounded out with a nail biter from two of the masters – Des Taylor in
the Mustang and Lee 'Cookie' Chiles in the Dodge D50 pick-up.
Into the second round of eliminations,
which started with Mick's Dodge beating Ivan's Chevy on sharper reactions,
while in a pick-up pairing, Karen's Lightning snuck ahead of Ethan's Ram, 13.55
on a 13.50 dial beating 16.68 on a 16.60 dial. Vic ended Kiwi's day, while Dave
managed a 14.908 on a 14.90 dial against a breaking-out Adam Nowak. Cookie red
lit and broke out against Claire Johnson, while Joel took a bye through to the
quarter finals.
Things were really hotting up in the
quarter finals, with Karen coming out top in the ladies' pairing, her 13.536 on
a 13.53 dial being almost untouchable for Claire. Mick's Dodge won cleanly
against Vic's struggling Plymouth, while Dave beat Joel on reaction times to
set up the semis. Mick had the bye in the semis, and would meet the Ford of
whoever won out of Karen and Dave. Dave left first but, despite being on the
brakes at the finish line, still broke out hugely to hand the win to Karen.
Mick's
Dodge won cleanly against Vic's struggling Plymouth, while Dave beat Joel on
reaction times to set up the semis.
The final lined up late in the day; Karen's
Lightning pick-up versus Mick's Dodge Coronet. With similar dial-ins, they both
left within a tenth of each other, Karen being marginally sharper off the line
and on the brakes at the top end to take the win, a 13.64 on a 13.53 dial
enough to beat Mick's 13.82 on a 13.60. A nice, clean final to finish off
another superb day's racing. Later, Mick admitted that he had no problem being
beaten by a girl, but being beaten by a Ford was a shame he couldn't bear, so
expect retribution at the next meet in July.
