With the rework complete and a trip to Andy Robinson race cars for chassis baseline and general pep talk! complete – Electromec Racing was ready for the Webster Race Engineering test day at Santa Pod.

On the Day we were to meet up with Clive bond of Ultimate Race cars and start the next stage of our new engines development. Conditions on the day were good, with the sun shining down on the track; it looked like it would be a good day if the car could live up to expectations. With fresh faces amongst the crew - on the day standing in for our tyre and mechanical specialist – Richie ‘4x4’ Green, there was a mixture of confidence, nervousness and excitement building. The day started off slowly with all the usual checks and Mark trying to get into his new race suit. Clive Bond arrived to help Curtis with the final checks before the car was fired up. With a strategy agreed for the day, Mark was strapped in for the off!

The first run was uneventful, just a short squirt up the track. This was purely to get Mark settled in. The next run however was a little more eventful you might say. Just off the line, the transmission oil cooler decided it was time to leave this world and go on eBay as memorabilia. This resulted in Ian Marshall’s awesome left lane being nicely oiled for the entire length, Sorry Santa Pod Crew!! Having took stock of the situation and the advice of the afore mentioned chief starter we ran without the oil cooler and without the advantage of the transbrake.

On the third run going into stage none of us could have dream't what Mark was about to experience. With the car in subdued trim, Mark left the line on the throttle. The car decided it would be appropriate to wheelstand much to the amazement of all assembled particularly the driver. At which point, Mark decided that it would be a good idea not to carry on with the run. As not even John Force has seen Jesus at 60 foot!

With that behind us and everyone agreeing to the wheelie bars being a fantastic idea, we commenced with run 4. A beautiful burnout proceeded by a good run culminating in an ET of 8.75 @ 156mph.

If we could have wished of finishing the day without hurting anything and running an 8 we would have been overjoyed. Utopia was achieved!

Many thanks to Clive Bond of Ultimate Race Cars, Andy Robinson of RRC, Paul Summerville of WOFTAM Racing, Webster Race Engineering for organising the day Sam ramplee on his return to the crew , James Hope for the camera duties , Claire "Ramplee" for Keeping everybody fed watered and happy all day and lastly but not least all the Santa Pod staff for making it all happen.

 See you at Easter!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYffHOEvND0