Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association
The Chicago format for NFAA competition was really hit by the weather with just a single round to decide who would run off for the event title. The alky burners were able to dial into the track in short order and supply both finalists in the form of the Topolinos of Frank Bennett and Dennis Wratten. Wratten tied down the trophy with his first 6 (a 6.948/194) from the Flowtech car. Go on guys, chuck some pop in the tank, you know it makes sense.
On Two Wheels
After a major revision over the winter, 2005 European Top Fuel Bike champion Ian King really needed track time for his Puma Yamaha. The Main Event washout and then losing two days over the Summernationals weekend wasn’t exactly the best preparation, but it gave the Anglo-Dutch crew a chance to chase down some fuel delivery and spark issues in the pits. Qualifying third on a half pass, King got around Steve Carey with 6.749 and Steve Woollatt in the final with a 6.725, both passes being not as clean as the team would like at the top end, but providing a base line from which to work from for the challenges on the European tour ahead.
Having bought the ex-Tom Perry Suzuki Funnybike from Chris ‘Cannon’ Hannam over the winter, Neil Midgley is now threatening to fly right into the record books in the UK, European, and, dare one say it, the world. A first round 6.792 was a pretty impressive pass early in the development curve, but this was overshadowed by a semi final 6.661/202.62 (close to Perry’s best from the bike on the AMA/Prostar circuit), and then a 6.768/200.08 to set the ACU Funnybike TS record and take the event win over Ken Cooper. The potential left in this bike is mind-boggling, all this being achieved with low boost settings, a small motor between the frame rails, and the 6.6 coming on a less than perfect pass.
