Funny Car made a welcome return to European racing this Easter, back from several years in the doldrums and back in bigger numbers. But in the final outcome of the Pro Fuel Shootout, the Top Fuel cars made the best of things.

Fine English weather heralded the start of spring as the sun shone on crisp mornings and delivered warm afternoons during the four-day Easter Thunderball, the opening event on the British calendar.

It attracted contestants from all over Europe to headline in the Pro Fuel Shootout, a long-running contest pitting Top Fuel against Funny Car, the latter being afforded a slight starting line advantage. Two Swedish drivers, Patrik Pers and Håkan Fällström, were there licensing. Pers suffered a flash fire on his last run and Fällström had the fuel pump malfunction, which ended with the Pennzoil Dodge body being blown fifty feet in the air. Both drivers have to complete one more lap at the next event to gain their licence.

Funny Car made a welcome return to European racing this Easter, back from several years in the doldrums and back in bigger numbers. But in the final outcome of the Pro Fuel Shootout, the Top Fuel cars made the best of things.

Fine English weather heralded the start of spring as the sun shone on crisp mornings and delivered warm afternoons during the four-day Easter Thunderball, the opening event on the British calendar.

It attracted contestants from all over Europe to headline in the Pro Fuel Shootout, a long-running contest pitting Top Fuel against Funny Car, the latter being afforded a slight starting line advantage. Two Swedish drivers, Patrik Pers and Håkan Fällström, were there licensing. Pers suffered a flash fire on his last run and Fällström had the fuel pump malfunction, which ended with the Pennzoil Dodge body being blown fifty feet in the air. Both drivers have to complete one more lap at the next event to gain their licence.

The Top Fuel cars of Holland’s Lex Joon and Switzerland’s Urs Erbacher gained the best overall numbers after three qualifiers. Erbacher had a best single of 4.812/310, thanks to help from U.S. tuner Glen Mikres. For his part, Joon posted a best run of 4.750/274. The trophy run was between them, with Erbacher leaving first only to fireball at half-track, allowing the MPM Oil-backed car of Joon to zoom to a 4.788 at only 274mph win. Britain’s John Spuffard lowered Europe’s Funny Car numbers with a third place clocking of 5.115/305.98.

Mechanical attrition plagued the MSA British Drag Racing Pro Modified ranks, knocking out three cars before the first round. European speed record holder (229.43mph) Andy Robinson suffered severe tyre shake in the first and second rounds, going out to Dutchman Robert Joosten. Joosten took the win, his 6.371/224 to the losing 10.573/80. The final was a lonely one for Joosten, and he idled up the track to take the honours with a 12.767/100.

Top Methanol saw longtime Crew Chief Steve Turner licence in the team dragster but his best ever 5.902/213 was outdone by Sweden’s Freddy Fagerström’s 5.944/246. Stephanie Milam recorded her best in the Funny Car but at huge expense as the 6.123/235 destroyed the motor, knocking her out of competition. Top qualifier was FIA Top Methanol Dragster Champion Dave Wilson, whose 5.513/255 ruled the roost as Fagerström finished second with a fine 5.783/247. The final came down to nothing, though, as Wilson shut of with no oil pressure after the burnout and inexplicably Fagerström shut down, leaving the final unrun.