Personal bests and semi-final finish for Vegter Pro Mod Racing at Tierp Arena
Vegter Pro Mod Racing can look back at a very successful Tierp Internationals, the second round of the 2016 FIA European Drag Racing Championship. At Tierp Arena, David Vegter reset his personal best ET and top speed twice, advanced to the semi-finals, and the Vegter Pro Mod Racing ’67 Camaro was the third fastest combination of the field. Vegter was close to breaking into the 5-second zone in the semi-final with 6.002 seconds. “We are extremely happy with our performance in Sweden, and the way the Camaro runs now,” said the Dutch Pro Modified driver about the Swedish race.
After the season opening round at Santa Pod, the state-of-the-art drag racing facility at Tierp Arena, 100 km north of Stockholm, was host of the second round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship. With extremely fast Scandinavian teams on the entry list, the Tierp Internationals had a very competitive Pro Mod field.
Unfortunately, qualifying was badly affected by the rain and so the four planned sessions had to be rescheduled to two qualifying runs on Friday evening. On the ‘green’ and cold track Vegter recorded an encouraging 6.36 seconds, at least good enough to qualify for eliminations. In the second run, Vegter had a problem with a fuel leak, causing the tyres to spin at the start line. With the 6.36 seconds from the first run, Vegter was number five qualifier, a good result in the 17-car field. But Vegter knew there was more to come. “We have a new short block, and with the tuning Adam Flamholc has in mind, we can improve dramatically. We changed the chassis set-up this season and the car feels much better now,” said the Vegter Pro Mod Racing driver after qualifying.
In the first round against Fredrik Fagerström, Vegter immediately proved it wasn’t wishful thinking. In a great run the Vegter Pro Mod Racing ’67 Camaro stormed to a winning 6.003 seconds at 389.9 kmh. Vegter not only reset his personals best from 2013 (6.05 seconds), but the 6.003 seconds was also the best ET of the first round. In the quarter final Vegter had to face the always consistent Bruno Bader, winner of the first race at Santa Pod. Vegter and Bader both suffered traction problems at the start line, but the Dutch racer got control of his Camaro and took the win light in 6.41 seconds.
In the semi-final Vegter had to face Mats Eriksson, the number one qualifier and last year’s runner up in the championship. Eriksson had a much better reaction time and although Vegter’s 6.002 seconds at 390.5 kmh were quicker and faster than Eriksson’s ET and top speed, it was not enough to beat the Swede. With 6.002 seconds and 390.5 kmh Vegter again reset his personals bests and was the third quickest and fastest Pro Mod at Tierp Arena.
Vegter knew he had lost the race at the start line and that made him angry, but after all, he knew he could only be happy with the way the team and the car performed. “The car immediately rolled into stage and at the same moment a warning light lit up. I lost my concentration for a moment and then you know it’s over. But after all, we did a great job and I’m very happy with how the team and the car performed. The ETs and top speeds were very good and we have one of the quickest and fastest combinations in the field. This a real boost for the next races.”
In the FIA European Pro Modified Championship points standings after two races, Vegter is fifth. The third race of the championship is the FHRA Nitro Nationals, July 8 – 10 at Alastaro, Finland.
Vegter Pro Mod Racing is supported by Playboy Energy Drink, HKR Techniek, WVB Holland, PedalToTheMetal Musclecar Performance and Sonic Equipment.
Text and photos: PR
