Following the Gulf Oil Dragracing – Grand Prix Originals Top Fuel team success at the opening round of the USA Championship in June they headed to the opening round of the 2014 European Championship `Main Event’ at Santa Pod Raceway, with high hopes UK this weekend.
Along with the usual members the team was joined over the three days by a TV crew of five people from Discovery Canada’s in-house production company who were filming the team as the subject of an episode for season two of the series `Megaspeed’.
However, inclement weather led to cancellation of the first day of qualifying and with the weather radar showing better conditions for the next day but forecast a return of wet weather for Monday race day all teams had to take best advantage of the two remaining qualifying runs.
And the team hit the ground running with an off the trailer shakedown pass of 6.26 secs @ 189.64 mph (3.997 secs @ 194.2 mph at the 1/8th) to put the team into number one qualifying position despite Ian having to come off the throttle early as the wind caught him towards the top end.
The second and final qualifying run was an `oh so close’ 6.06 secs @ 193.05 mph (3.874 secs @ 197.09 mph in the 1/8th) again despite King clicking off way early around the 1000ft mark as the wind pushed him towards the centreline.
And this was the end of the team’s weekend as the forecast proved true raining off the final day of qualifying.
However, despite their disappointment the team once again made history as their European Championship lead coupled with their US Championship lead made them the first team to lead these premier Top Fuel Championships on both sides of the Atlantic at the same time.
The team move on to Alastaro in Finland for the FHRA Nitro Nationals on the 4th – 6th June for the second round of the FIM European Championship.
For more information about Gulf Oil Dragracing go to www.gulfoildragracing.com
The Gulf Oil – GPO Dragracing team uses and endorses exclusively Gulf Oil greases and lubricants in their history making machine. The team is extremely proud to be supported by many leaders in their chosen markets in winning the 2013 European Championship and in their 2014 endeavours:-
APE – The world’s most innovative manufacturer of aftermarket parts for race bikes
ACTION CAMERAS – Europe’s leading source for action sports cameras
BLACKCAT MOTORSPORTS – The leading V Rod Harley race team
COMETIC GASKETS – The Premier Manufacturer of racing gaskets
GATES – The world’s most trusted name in drive belts, hoses and hydraulics
GOODRIDGE – The most innovative and the best in fluid transfer systems
GRAND PRIX ORIGINALS – The brand for drive and lifestyle, past and present
GULF OIL INTERNATIONAL – The world’s most iconic brand in automotive fuels and lubricants
GRAPHITE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING – A leader in 3D printed technologies and rapid prototyping
HOTROD HANGAR – Home of the world renowned custom artist Knud Tiroch
HYPERPRO – The leading producer of progressive suspension products for motor bikes
JE PISTONS – The world’s premier manufacturer of high performance forged pistons
JOHN AND DEA MORGAN RACING – The creators of the world’s most advanced New Age Funnybike
KIBBLEWHITE PRECISION MACHINING – The highest quality valve train components available
KING RACING – The most successful Top Fuel Bike team in European Dragracing
MICKEY THOMPSON – Simply the best drag race tyres in the world
MRE – Leaders in trackside support for drag race components and air shifting systems
MTC ENGINEERING – Manufacturer of clutches for the fastest motorcycles in the world
NITROSHUTTER – Europe’s leading dragracing photojournalists
NCTENGINEERING – Manufacturer of the world’s leading non-contact motorsport torque sensors
NGK SPARKPLUGS UK – The world’s number one spark plug manufacturer
PAR WILLEN – Master webmeister and proprietor of HarleyDrags.com
PORTABLE SHADE – The best custom branded collapsible canopies available
PRO ALLOY MOTORSPORT – The UK’s leading fabricator of alloy tanks, intercoolers and radiators
PUMA ENGINEERING – Manufacturer of the world’s most powerful motorcycle engines
RSG CUSTOMIZE – The UK’s most creative website designers and vinyl artists
SUPERTOUGH – Custom cases and covers for the Film, TV, Music and Motorsports Industries
SPIES HECKER – the world’s leading supplier of paint for car, commercial and industrial finishing.
VAN ES MOBILITY – The leading manufacturer of telematic products for management of moving objects
VANSON LEATHERS – The most iconic brand in motorsport leather goods
WEB CAMSHAFTS INC – Simply THE company for Top Fuel Bike camshafts
WORLDWIDE BEARINGS – The world’s leading supplier of ceramic bearings for racing
ZODIAC – Europe’s largest supplier of performance and aftermarket HD parts
Picture courtesy of Ivan Sansom and Rose Hughes
