Team Kendall Racing Team Report, Tierp Arena May 2011
The first test of this season for our team was planned to be at the first ever event at the new built Tierp Arena, about 1.5 hour drive north of Stockholm and we arrived early on Friday evening, in order to get ready for our four planned test runs during the NDRS race last weekend. After we have passed the scrutineering we checked the track preparation and we were amazed both by the preparation but most of all of the grinded concrete surface, it looked just like we were standing on some of the very best US tracks!
We woke up early on Saturday morning to be ready in time for our first run at lunch time, the weather was nice and sunny and after checking the air we were stunned when we got a read out of -600 feet below sea level. After checking the air we decided not to step up the power that we have decide the day before, in order to see what the track could take with the same set up as we used at the European Finals at Santa Pod in England last year.
We were called to the lanes at about 1 pm and ready to make our first test run of the day. Peter made a burnout, staged the bike, and the green light was on. We could all notice from behind that the new rear wheel combination worked great since the fishtailing just after getting in to the second gear was all gone and it looked like it was going to be a good run. Peter got of the throttle just after the 1/8 mile as planned and he passed the1/4 mile mark at 6.44 seconds which was really great. We were all very pleased with the performance of the run, performing a 3.99 sec / 317 km/h on the 1/8 mile, first time out on a new track.
When we got back to the pits we decided to make some changes for our second run of the day later on the same afternoon. On the next run Peter had to abort the run after crossing the centre line. Peter ran a 1.03 sec. at the 60 feet which was promising for the next run on Sunday. After getting back to the pit we decided to keep our set up since we never really had the possibility to test it on this run.
Sunday morning came around and we all woke up to a nice and sunny day, the air was just about as good as the day before and we were all ready for our next test run at around 11 am. We were called to the lanes just before 11 am and lined up behind the Super Twin Harleys, just to see that they were having some small traction issues that somewhat confused us all. Peter made a nice burnout, staged, and the green light came on, the bike ran really strong until the 1000 feet mark where he got off the throttle as planned and crossing the1/4 mile mark at 6.08 seconds. During the run Peter set a new personal best on the 1/8 mile at 318 km/h, which we were really pleased with, knowing that there is all lot more power to add, if the track could take it.
After our first run of the day we decided to add a lot more power just to see how much the track could take, making major changes to our base set up to test some new ideas.
We were called to the lanes at about 3 pm and Peter made a nice long burnout. We could all hear that the engine really sounded strong and after Peter nailed the throttle we all knew that this was going to be a fast run if the track could hold the power. Unfortunately he smoked the tire at about 70 feet in to the run, still running a personal best on the first 60 feet, recording our first ever sub second time at 0.99 seconds. What a great way of ending the day!
Now we all know that we have the power to run a 5 second run during the Sweden Nationals that will be held at Tierp Arena between the 9th and the 12th of June.
Don’t hesitate to come to this race if you would like to see some top performing racing at one of the very best tracks around in Europe.
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
For more information about our previous achievements and updates during the off season 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.
Best Regards from Peter and Sören Svensson, Team Kendall Racing Top Fuel Bike
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