A season that will be hard to beat!
The season started in 7^th – 8^th of May where we went to the nearly finished Tierp Arena north of Uppsala in Sweden to test the track for the very first time, We were absolutely stunned by the facilities and the track itself when we were walking on the track Friday evening to check the smoothness and the surface of the track. We had extremely good air conditions through out the whole weekend and at lot of tests were carried out in order to find a set up for the upcoming season.

Summary of the weekend:

- As anyone know that have been racing on a totally new track it can be attempting to try to add to much clutch and power just to see if the track can take it, but we just had to try on our last run of the weekend and as a result we ran our very first sub second 60 feet time with a tire smoking 0.99 sec off the throttle, which was very promising for the upcoming UEM Championship for 2011.

Sweden Nationals 10^th – 12^th of June, Tierp Arena Sweden

We had a basic set up from the test runs that we had in May but the weather had changed dramatically compared to May and we had to change the set up to cope with the hot and humid air/track and what a great weekend we had winning at our home track on the first time out.

Summary of the weekend:

- Qualified no1, Winner of the event, New track record of 6.006 sec and Speed 370.37 km/h.

Sunoco Challenge 5^th – 7^th of August, Gardermoen Norway

The track at Gardermoen has always been one of our favourite tracks and since running the “first 5 outside the US” it feels like coming home when meeting all the nice staff and our fans at the grandstands. This year it was raining a lot and we had big problems to hook up the rear tire and qualified only fourth before it all started to rain again.

Summary of the weekend:

- Rained out!

Nitro OlympX 12^th – 14^th  of August, Hockenheim Germany

This was the first time that we entered this event in 15 years and at the last time we won the event, securing the European Title. We have talked to our teammates at Kendall Racing in Sweden and we understood from them and many of the other race teams the track was a bit tricky to get hold of until the 60 feet mark so we started with a soft set up resulting in a new track record. From that run we thought we could run even quicker which we actually did…….

Summary of the weekend:

- Qualified no1, Winner of the event, New European record in booth ET 5.964 sec and Speed 375.55 km/h

European Finals 8^th – 11th of September, Santa Pod England

The final event of the year in the UEM Championship and this was the race were everything really went our way despite new asphalt on the starting line, that many other team had big problems with. During the last qualifying run of Saturday Peter ran an incredible 5.881 sec at only 224.40 mph showing that he got of the throttle just after the 1000 feet mark. This is by far the quickest time ever recorded outside the US and the 3.87 sec / 202 mph on the 1/8 mile shows us that we are on a good track in order to run even faster!!

Summary of the weekend:

- Qualified no1, Winner of the event, European Champion (participating in only four out of seven events), Running the quickest time ever recorded outside the US!

Finally Peter has been voted to be “Drag Racer of the Year 2011″ in Europe in competition with many other top teams from European Dragracing (both car and bike teams) at the European Dragracing Database www.drdb.eu

During the 2011 season we have made a lot of promising tests that hopefully will pay of during 2012 where we hopefully will be able to back up our UEM Champion title and hopefully also finalize the next season by going to the Manufacturers Cup in Valdosta to compete with the US teams.

This and many other things such as some new expected top performing bikes in the UEM Top Fuel Bike class will inspire us and everyone else to run quicker and faster in the upcoming season.

We have made a preliminary race schedule for our team as below and hope that as many of you as possible has the time to come by our team in the pits for a chat during 2012.

     Preliminary Race Schedule 2012

2012 Tierp Arena (test only), Sweden…………………………………………. May 6-7

(2012 FIM/UEM Santa Pod, England…………………………………………. June 2-4)*

2012 FIM/UEM Tierp Arena, Sweden………………………………………….. June 14-17

2012 FIM/UEM Hockenheim, Germany……………………………………….. August 10-12

2012 FIM/UEM Tierp Arena, Sweden………………………………………….. August 23-26

2012 FIM/UEM Santa Pod, England………………………………………….. September 6-9

(2012 Manufacturers Cup Valdosta, USA……………………………………. November 9-11)*

* Depending on available fundings

We would like to take the opportunity to thank ALL our families, team members, friends, sponsors, competitors, track staff, race organizers, our fans, UEM/FIM/SVEMO officials and the staff at Speedgroup.eu, Eurodragster.com, Kingracing.com, Stripbike.com, Dragbike.com, Racebilder.nu, Stefan Boman, Ivan Sansom and Rose Hughes and many more persons for your help and support during 2011 and wish all of You a great start of 2012!!!

Please find enclosed some photos by our good friend Ivan Sansom.

Best Regards Peter and Soren Svensson, Team Kendall Racing Top Fuel Bike

Last picture of the bike with the old GSX-R fork

The R1 fork test mounted in our work shop December 2011

Better late then ever THANK YOU!!! Martin Chesworth.

View all photos here http://www.billetracing.se/gallery/

Less than two weeks after the Nitro Olympix in Germany we were on our way to the last race of the season for our team and after the race in Germany we had serious thoughts about trying hard to win the 2011 UEM Top Fuel Bike class entering this race at the same points as Petri Paljakka and Ian King at only 18 point lead which would be possible to reach if everything was going our way, which it really did.

We arrived early on Thursday afternoon, in order to get ready for scrutineering and qualifying run number one on Friday morning. The qualification was already ongoing in the Sportsman classes when we arrived at the track and after checking the track we found out that the track owner have had to put on some new asphalt on the very first part of the track in both lanes, which made it a bit hard to know what tune up to use for Fridays Q1.

Friday morning and we were called to the lanes for Q1. Peter met Ian King and after a long nice burnout the guys were in pre stage. The green light came on and we were more or less surprised that Peter passed the 60 feet mark without smoking the tire (which most of the other guys had did) but after about two seconds into the run something fell of the bike and we later found out that it was the chain which caused the motor to go way too high in revs, hurting all eight valves and some more minor parts. Peter was still running 9.82 sec. on that run which gave us the number 5 spot after the first qualifying session.

We started to fix the engine immediately after the run and had about half an hour more work when we were called to the lanes for Q2 but decided to take it easy in order to be ready for Q3 on Saturday morning when all the fuel cars have had two qualifying sessions which should help us a lot to get good traction on our next run.

Saturday morning came around and we decided to keep our previous set up in order to get a good run, knowing that Ian King had ran a 6.25 sec. run in Q2.

Peter was up against our good friend Steve Woollat and both guys were in pre stage. Steve left a bit before Peter but at the 60 feet mark had passed him and the bike was going for a good run with the front tire hanging high in the air. Peter clicked of the throttle a bit early and the winning light came on, showing 6.003 sec. which meant that we had passed Ian and we were no.1 qualifier.

The Racepak showed us that the previous run was very smooth and since we already had qualified with an a low 6.0 sec we decided to add some more fuel and ignition to try to run a 5 second run on the upcoming Q4.

Q4 was coming up and the weather changed a bit with some cold winds late Saturday afternoon that made us a bit worried if the track could take the added power.

Peter made a nice long burn out and it felt like the track had became a lot better since last run when I was pushing him back to the starting line. Ian and Peter were in pre stage and they booth got the green light and our bike was almost flying, respond were well to our tune up and Peter crossed the finish line at an incredible 5.881 sec at only 224.40 mph showing that he got of the throttle just after the 1000 feet mark. This is by far the quickest time ever recorded outside the US and the 3.87 sec / 202 mph on the 1/8 mile shows us that we are on a good track in order to run even faster!!

We got back to the pits and checked everything after the last run and put in a softer set up for the E1 on Sunday in order to be ready for the race.

Sunday came around and our first elimination run was up against new comber Otto Knebl. We were called to the lanes and everything went as good as we planned the night before when the scoreboard showed a 6.05 second run after that Peter was off the throttle around the 1000 feet mark due to a bad head/cross wind, taking out Otto who unfortunately crossed the centre line around 1000 feet. In E1 Petri Paljakka took out Steve Woollat and Sverre Dahl took out Ian King which meant that there would be a definite run of the UEM title in the upcoming semi finals were Peter should meet Petri.

We were called to the lanes for the semi finals and booth drivers made great crowd pleasing in burn outs. We could all feel the nerves in the air and the guys were in pre stage. Peter away first on a 1.03 sec 60 feet and the clutch management system did the job on the first part of the track, Peter clicking off the throttle a bit early getting the winning light at 6.01 sec. at only 198.99 mph meaning that we had won the UEM title 2011, what a great achievement for the whole team!!

The final against our good friend Sverre Dahl was supposed to be the anti climax of the race since we know that Sverre is a hard hitter, if he finds the right tune up.

Peter made a really long burn and Sverre just a short one after being forced to put on a new tire after the semi finals against Steve Woollat. Both guys were in pre stage and the green light came on and they both hit the throttle at about the same time. Peter on a 1.02 sec. 60 feet time and unfortunately Sverre’s tire went up in smoke. Peter had a storming pass off the throttle at about 1000 feet, getting the winning light a great 5.96 sec. / 210.10 mph.

We could not be anything else than satisfied with the weekend, no 1 qualifier, running the quickest time ever outside the US, UEM Champions 2011 participating in only four out of seven UEM events and winner of the race!!!

This race ends the 2011 season and what a great season it has been for the team, track record at Tierp in Sweden, track record and two new European records in Hockenheim and a new track record at Santa Pod, together with the 2011 UEM title!!

A big THANK YOU to all that makes this possible:

• Kendall Motor Oil in Sweden, supplied by Sollebrunns Oljeservice www.sollebrunn.com/oljeservice/

• Samek Tool AB, who makes some of the best moulding tools in the automotive industry in Sweden www.samektool.se
• CemeCon A/S, one of the best coating companies in Europe when it comes to camshaft coating etc www.cemecon.se
• Real Form, product development within mechanical design www.realform.se
• Romnet, consultants within computer network favours etc www.romnet.se
• AF Konsult AB, consultants within most electrical installation areas www.konsultel.se
• Pippi, No 1 when it comes to marketing www.harleydrags.com
• All the nice and hard working staff at Santa Pod that helped us running quicker then ever on a new refurbished starting area!!!
• All our fans and family members that are supporting us towards new achievements every year!!

For more information about our previous achievements and updates please visit www.billetracing.se (in English).

“

Please find some photos by our good friend Patrik Jacobsson from www.racebilder.nu enclosed with this report and a wild “wheelie photo” of Peter at 1000 feet from Martin Chesworth.

Link to 5.881 sec run by our good friend and sponsor Tony Zetterstrom’s movie at Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1ki-rqZepU&feature=channel_video_title

Best Regards from Peter and Sören Svensson, Team Kendall Racing Top Fuel Bike

After the rain out at Gardermoen in Norway where we only qualified fourth due to a problem with our new M/T tire we were really looking forward to go to Hockenheim in Germany to run some serious numbers.

We arrived early on Thursday around noon, in order to get ready for qualifying run number one on Friday morning. The track preparation was ongoing when we arrived and after having a short discussion with Kjell Pettersson that was the manager over the track crew at this event we decided to try the same set up as we ended up with at the race in Gardermoen to get a feeling of the traction since we had not been at this track since 1995.

Saturday morning came around and we were called to the lanes for Q1 and ready to see what the track could take performance wise. Peter made a long new burn out and staged, the green light, the bike launched smooth and run really straight, the scoreboard showed 6.11 sec. and we had just set a new track record for Top Fuel Bike at Hockenheim and we were no.1 qualifier after the first round. What a great way to start a day!

After the first round we checked the Racepak and decided to make some minor changes to the bike in order to run a bit faster since it seemed like almost all car classes were running fast on Q1, which always is a good sign.

We were called to the lanes for Q2 and after the burnout we noticed that the starting area were a bit stickier than before and we all kept our fingers crossed when Peter got the green light and hit the throttle. The bike made some minor fishtailing around 200 feet but than it got worse and Peter crossed the centre line. We remained no.1 qualifier after this run with Petri Paljakka as no.2 on a 6.55 sec run.

On Q3 Saturday morning we added a bit more power since the Pro Mod cars ran as good as 6.0 sec rounds that usually shows us that we can step up a bit. We were called to the lanes and when Peter got the green light and hit the throttle we new that this was going to be a good run. The scoreboard showed 6.01 second which meant that we had a new track record! We remained no.1 qualifier after this run with Petri still no.2.

The Racepak showed us that the previous run was almost too smooth  and since we already had qualified an a low 6.0 sec we decided to step up a bit more to try to run a 5 second run.

Q4 late Saturday afternoon was a success when Peter run a 5.96 sec. run that was backed up by the 6.01 sec that we run in the previous qualification run to be a new European ET record! The crowd went wild and after this run a lot of our new found fans came over to us in the pits to check out the bike or to have a chat. We remained no.1 qualifier also after this run with Petri still no.2.

During Saturday evening we ran 6.15 sec. run at the Night Show, using a very mild set up in order not to hurt any parts since this run only as a show run for the great crowd a Hockenheim.

We got back to the pits and checked everything after the last run and put in a new set up for the E1 on Sunday in order to be ready for the race.

Sunday came around and our first elimination run was a bye run since we didn’t had a full 8 bike field. We were called to the lanes and everything went as good as we planned the night before when the scoreboard showed a 6.00 second run.

Unfortunately it started to rain when we were called to the lanes for E2 and it kept on raining for about one hour that delayed the race and cooled down the race track. Once again we were called to the lanes and knew that we had to hurry because of a lot of clouds hanging over our heads. Peter was supposed to meet Kai Sälkämää but he was not able to repair his engine damages from the run before and we had a new bye run. The green light came on and we could all see that this was a nice run and the scoreboard showed 5.99 seconds at 372.78 km/h, that was good enough for backing up our previous 375.55 km/h on the 5.96 sec. run to a new European speed record!

The final against our good friend Steve Wollat was supposed to be an anti climax since Steve had run some good numbers on his previous two runs, where he first took out Ian King and after that Petri Paljakka, but just before we should have been called to the lanes the official UEM coordinator came over to our team and told us that the all racing would have to be stopped due to lack of permission to run after 6 pm at the Hockenheim Ring 2011.

It’s always a bad thing not to bee abke to finish a race but there is nothing anyone could do to prevent this.

We could not be anything else than satisfied with the weekend, no 1 qualifier, two new European records, and a semi final win before the permission run out!

Our next appearance will be at the FIA/UEM European Finals at Santa Pod in Great Britain the 8^th – 11^th of September, be there!

A big THANK YOU to all that makes this possible:

• Kendall Motor Oil in Sweden, supplied by Sollebrunns Oljeservice www.sollebrunn.com/oljeservice/

• Samek Tool AB, who makes some of the best moulding tools in the automotive industry in Sweden www.samektool.se
• CemeCon A/S, one of the best coating companies in Europe when it comes to camshaft coating etc www.cemecon.se
• Real Form, product development within mechanical design www.realform.se
• Romnet, consultants within computer network favours etc www.romnet.se
• AF Konsult AB, consultants within most electrical installation areas www.konsultel.se
• Pippi, No 1 when it comes to marketing www.harleydrags.com
• Jonas Alholt, for welding assistance at most of our races
• Kjell-Owe Andersson, for lending us his motorhome during the whole season as always

For more information about our previous achievements and updates please visit www.billetracing.se (in English).

Please find some photos by our good friend Patrik Jacobsson from www.racebilder.nu enclosed with this report.

Link to the finals from RMA’s Amatuer Footage Archive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49HorMigYx8

Link to our good friend and sponsor Tony Zetterstrom’s movie at Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaGZZ3BtOAQ

Best Regards from Peter and Sören Svensson, Team Kendall Racing Top Fuel Bike

http://www.billetracing.se/gallery/

Picture courtesy Patrik Jakobsson, more pictures from Patrik at racebilder.nu

We arrived early on Thursday afternoon, in order to get ready for qualifying run number one on Friday morning. The Arena had almost been totally finished and the track preparations looked great, keeping in mind the performance that we were able to put down at our last test run in May, it really looked promising for the weekend.

Saturday morning came around and we were called to the lanes for Q1 and ready to see what the track could take performance wise. Peter made a long new burn out and staged, the green light came, nice and straight run 3.95 sec / 321.05 km/h (almost 200 mph) A NEW PERSONAL SPEED RECORD on the eight mile and than a white cloud from the bike, Peter got of the throttle and stopped the clock at 6.02 sec and we were number one qualifier after the first round.

We had to change a piston after the first run and decided to skip Q2 on the afternoon that day in order to be ready for Q3 on Saturday morning and we were still number 1 qualifier after Q2, with Ian King on his new good looking bike as number two qualifier, running 6.66 sec on the quarter mile.

On Q3 Saturday morning we added a lot more clutch just after the 60 feet mark and unfortunately the bike started to black tracking really bad so Peter had to abort the run, still number 1 qualifier after this run. On our last qualifying attempt on Saturday afternoon the bike was more ore less going sideways from the 60 foot mark until the eight mile mark and Peter had to get of the throttle, still number 1 qualifier after this run and Ian King as number two qualifier, running 6.36 sec

Sunday came around and our first elimination run was early in the morning so we decided to run the bike on the safe side, since we were supposed to meet Jaska Salaakari who always runs fast. However, just before we were called to the lanes we heard from Jaska that he was not able to fix his engine damages from the last run and we got a bye run. If we would have known this just an hour earlier we would have been able to step up the bike a bit, but that’s the way it is and we were satisfied with our first round performance anyhow, running a 6.04 sec / 370.37 km/h.

On E2 we already knew that we would have a bye run and we tried to add some more power, but the engine couldn’t take all the added fuel so we ran just a bit slower but still a very good 6.05 sec / 366.10 km/h.

The final against Ian was supposed to be an anti climax since Ian had run some good numbers on his previous run where he took out Sverre Dahl, but when we were called to the lanes we found out that Ian would not be able to race due to engine damages. We had to run another bye run to get the trophy and since we had prepared the bike to run against Ian and didn’t had the time to make any further changes so we had to keep our set up and we were almost able to run a five second run at 6.006 sec / 354.56 km/h dropping a cylinder, which we were very satisfied with knowing that we had an sampled air reading of almost 3000 feet in the finals.

We could not be anything else than satisfied with the weekend, no 1 qualifier and winner of the event, that was what were aiming for!

Our next appearance will be at the UEM Sunoco Drag Challenge at Gardermoen in Norway
the 4^th – 7^th of August, be there!

A big THANK YOU to all that makes this possible:

• Kendall Motor Oil in Sweden, supplied by Sollebrunns Oljeservice www.sollebrunn.com/oljeservice/

• Samek Tool AB, who makes some of the best moulding tools in
  the automotive industry in Sweden www.samektool.se
• CemeCon A/S, one of the best coating companies in Europe
  when it comes to camshaft coating etc www.cemecon.se
• Real Form, product development within mechanical design www.realform.se
• Romnet, consultants within computer network favours etc www.romnet.se
• AF Konsult AB, consultants within most electrical installation areas www.konsultel.se
• SHARK Energy Drinks, supplied by Herrljunga Cider www.herrljungacider.se
• Pippi, No 1 when it comes to marketing www.harleydrags.com

Please find some photos by our good friend Patrik Jacobsson from www.racebilder.nu
enclosed with this report.

Link to the finals from national Swedish Television SVT2/Sportspegeln:
http://svtplay.se/v/2451919/motor/fartvidunder_i_495_knyck_pa_tierp_arena

Link to our good friend and sponsor Tony Zetterstrom’s movie at Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_-zHfloTbE

Best Regards from Peter and Sören Svensson, Team Kendall Racing Top Fuel Bike

http://www.dragracingonline.com