Team Kendall Racing Team Report, European Finals 9th – 11th September 2011
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).
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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
Comments
awsome guys,,well done
Congratulations to your well worth 2011 titel. Such nice runs at Santa Pod. Good done !!