This letter has been sent to all the Top Fuel teams that took part in the FIA European Championship at Santa Pod... scroll down to read Smax's reply to the letter.


I feel that I have to write to all of you after the Main Event, and Round 1 of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship.

It was great to see 10 teams out at the first round and I think it was very good for the Championship. It means that the whole qualifying takes on a whole new perspective.

Having around 10 teams at each round will offer several increased opportunities to both the teams and the track promoters. It will allow PRP to film the qualifying rounds (which we did for the first time this past weekend), so enabling us to put into the TV shows any very fast or spectacular runs. In addition it gives the track promoters more to promote and to attract bigger spectator attendances. It will make better television and give the track promoters more to promote and market. Finally it will make for a stronger Top Fuel class in attracting sponsorships, both for us and the teams. With the increased number of teams and larger TV Production package we can hopefully begin to attract some commercial partners into the class.

However with that said I must say that what happened in the semi-finals in Top Fuel was a total disaster. Having two cars on bye runs is bad enough, even although I accept very unfortunate and not planned. But for both cars on byes to just idle down the track it is a complete joke and very bad indeed for everyone. The result of the action of the two teams concerned (Hakan Fallstrom and Smax Smith), was that we really upset thousands of spectators, Santa Pod received many complaints and comments from our spectators, who were very upset, plus we are unable to put together a worthwhile round on TV from the semi finals (I will not show either team in the semi finals now). We must somehow together find a way to avoid this situation, although I do accept it has not happened like this for many years, where there are two bye runs in the semi finals. Ideally we should be looking to at least make a launch wherever possible and parts allowing. One point that I would like you to keep in mind is that most spectators miss the first round, as it is too early and are often gone for the finals, especially if they are running late. But before the semi finals we have a full house at all the tracks. This is when they hope to see their best days racing. With the very unfortunate situation at Santa Pod last weekend, we had many spectators who felt cheated by Top Fuel, with two bye runs in the semi-finals.

Of course I do understand that teams need to save parts, especially the lower budgeted teams, but we also have to think of the show and what the class represents to everyone connected to drag racing. I had two new promoters present on Monday from two new European countries and both could not understand what happened and why. I am trying to get FIA Championship rounds to these tracks, which is costing me hundreds of thousand of pounds, to even just get to happen. Together we must find a solution to this situation as it is us together who want to achieve more sponsorship and higher prize funds into the class.

I am also aware at the other end of the story most teams in Top Fuel blew up several motors at high cost to each team. I can assure you that I know only to well just how much you are all spending and your commitment to the Championships. For that I thank you for all the support. Please take my comments not as just criticism, but as comments to enable the class to attract more money, secure more sponsorships, new tracks and better television, in addition to helping the track promoters to increase attendance at these events. We have to work together to continue to achieve this goal.

Best Regards

Keith Bartlett
CEO


SMAX'S REPLY

Hi top fuel gang
Here are my comments to letter posted by keith (bartlett)

Firstly it is taken as read that money no object EVERY driver and team want to put on a good show - try 'n run as fast as possible and acquire data.

Its very difficult in Europe to fund a top fuel operation even when heavily sponsored, so when a situation like the semi finals happens the underfunded teams are faced with more than one dilemma.

Firstly the cost factor - In our case we didn't even have a spare block and with already damaging a rear main we would have been foolish to risk engine damage on a bye.

Secondly as we are a new team turning the car around fast enough may have been an issue if we suffered repairable engine damage - by idling down we also forfeited lane choice 4 the final but it was not an easy decision to make!

We wanted to run our first four in the final.

I appreciate what keith says as he wants the sport to go fwd and was embarassed by having key people watching but his exaggerations of thousands of complaints puts added pressure to underfunded teams.

Remember that we did 3 passes (was almost 4 as we missed the call by 2 mins) to get paid 500 quid for qualifying no 8!!!!!

When Clay Millican was in the semis last weekend at Grand Bend he immediately idled down the track when Kris Karamasines red lit!!!!!

Lets all stay positive and trust we are all doing the best we can with what we've got.

Keep the faith
Full revs
Smax

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