JapShow Finale 2005 Pro Shootout Report

Report on the Showcase Shootout for Europe's fastest Japanese Cars

Lined up for the competition were some of the most awesome Japanese cars in Europe , including many record holders and plenty more who wanted to make the record books too. The Pro Shootout was run in proper drag racing format, and each competitor was given the chance to make three qualifiers. The final qualifying standings are shown below:

Simon Norris left it until the last minute to enter the Pro Shootout, but we were glad he did in the end, with a frankly stunning 9.7-second qualifying run in the new Evo. Simon's launch was terrible, but the car gathered an enormous amount of speed at the top end, suggesting that there is loads more to come from this car (we can't wait). Andy Forrest's best performance of the day came during qualifying, which was good enough for second place, and Adrian Smith ran a superb 10.3 for third. Some of the recent big-hitters with 9-second cars lingered down in the middle of the qualifying table as they adjusted their highly-strung cars to the track conditions, but the GT-ART cars both put in very strong performances.

Sadly despite running an excellent time in qualifying, Ron Kidell's gearbox let him down again, and didn't make it to the Eliminations. Dee Ireland was testing a new rear-suspension set-up, and failed to clock anything more than a 10.6. Dee made a test run after the qualifying sessions, and before the eliminations, and ran a new personal best of 9.867 @ 144.17. Unfortunately for Dee , this run destroyed his gearbox and put him out of eliminations. Other casualties included Mick Begly, whose beautiful Super Lemon skyline had fuel-line problems that meant it was unsafe to race, and Mick didn't make a qualifying run. Leon Green, Mark Aigin, Keith Cowie and Robert Thornton were unable to make it to the track due to technical difficulties.

Best Qualifying Times:

Eliminations Round 1

Simon Norris was on a bye-run for his first round, and needed to do nothing more than get down the track, but he used the opportunity to back-up his stunning 9.7 with a 9.894, once again showing the top-end potential of the car.

Tim Webster went up against Paul Blamire in round one, and although Paul was off the line quicker than Tim, it wasn't by a big enough margin to stop Tim creeping past by the finish line.

Ron Kidell's broken gearbox prevented him from making it to the startline for round one, and so Gulli Haldorsson had an easy ride through, but still put in an impressive 10.7 to test his set-up.

Clive Seddon took on Geoff Rance in round one, and although Geoff's car was a proven 9-second contender, Geoff threw it all away with a red-light against Clive's slightly weak 11.7.

Andy Forrest was up against Guy Chamberlain in the first round, and launched incredibly hard, lifting the front wheels, but in the process breaking a drive-shaft. Andy limped toward the finish-line making the best of his good launch, but was passed by Guy Chamberlain in the Civic Typre-R, who ran a respectable 12.4. Andy bowed out.

Gary Passingham couldn't believe his luck when Dee Ireland failed to show for round one, and Gary took it easy on his bye-run to head home with a casual 12.6

Adrian Smith took on team-mate Tony Charles in his first eliminator, and ran to the finish with a 10.6 at a safe distance from Tony.

Dan Wrench ran a new personal best of 10.437 against Mikee Singh, who although put in a good time of 10.9, was unable to hold off the awesome GT-ART car.

Eliminations Quarter Finals

Simon Norris Paired up with Tim Webster in round two, and you could not have asked for a more thrilling race. Tim's ever-increasing drag racing experience allowed him to make the holeshot and use his reaction times to beat the Norris Evo. Simon's ET was faster than Tim's by 0.1 of a second, but the superior reaction times saw the skyline cross the line first and Norris was eliminated. Only the race computer could tell who had won. you simply couldn't tell by looking!

Gulli Haldorsson's Subaru lined up with Clive Seddon's Evo in what was looking like a very close race, but Clive's car slowed and coasted across the finish line. lucky for Gulli, who only managed an 11.9.

Guy Chamberlain was hoping for another stroke of luck against Gary Passingham, but Gary was starting to get into the groove now, and his new-found confidence catapulted him to a 10.2- a new personal best. Guy couldn't match those sorts of times in the Civic, and bowed out with a 13.3.

Adrian Smith took on Dan Wrench, who was looking increasingly dangerous in the Skyline, but Adrian 's incredible consistency won the day to see him through to the next round with a 10.6

Eliminations Semi Finals

This time, Tim Webster was on the receiving end of the holeshot, and despite his quicker ET, his reaction times let him down against Gulli Haldorsson's 10.6, but once again, a gnat's hair couldn't have split the competitors at the finish line, and Gulli went through when the timing computer identified him as the winner.

Gary Passingham knew he'd have a tough time against Adrian Smith in the semis, and although Gary had now proven himself to have the potential to beat the Fensport car, he has to work hard to get the best from his car. However, it all came together for Gary at the critical moment, and he ran a stunning new personal best of 10.078, and Adrian just couldn't compete, despite running another 10.6.

Pro Shootout Eliminatilion Tree:

PRO31 +3.146 9.894 147.05 Bye		PRO31 +0.979 10.680 143.23 PRO17 +0.209 10.773 135.95
PRO17 +0.285 10.650 135.10 PRO23 +0.251 10.939 133.18
PRO21 Broke/Abort PRO15 +1.068 10.767 130.49		PRO15 +0.337 11.943 122.86 PRO29 +0.426 20.908 51.66
PRO29 +0.508 11.711 111.11 PRO14 -0.123 14.416 72.94
PRO16 +0.452 12.979 118.68 PRO27 +0.499 12.421 123.29		PRO27 +0.388 13.346 123.34 PRO20 +0.465 10.259 136.24
PRO20 +2.311 12.690 131.93 PRO12 Broke/Abort
PRO22 +0.528 10.623 137.68 PRO28 +0.467 12.037 123.26		PRO22 +0.295 10.650 135.53 PRO19 +0.268 11.551 136.39
PRO19 +0.399 10.437 135.52 PRO24 +0.555 10.910 127.82
Semi Finals / Final
PRO17 +0.602 10.490 135.11 PRO15 +0.368 10.687 134.70		PRO15 +0.346 10.418 137.62 PRO20 +0.529 10.226 130.39		PRO20 Winner - Gary Passingham
PRO20 +0.264 10.078 134.80 PRO22 +0.414 10.649 136.78

Pro Shootout Finals

Gulli Haldorsson and Gary Passingham found themselves together in the finals. Subaru vs Skyline. Gulli's best ever time was faster than Gary's, but Gulli had been struggling with a slipping clutch all day at the JapShow, and Gary had run the better time of the day. As the lights went green, Gulli got away first, but Gary was hot on his heels. The GT-ART car and the Roger Clark Motorsport car hammered up the strip side-by side, with Gary inching closer and closer to his rival. At the finish line, neither driver could have been able to guess who had won. Gulli had run his best time of the day, and Gary knew he's been on a flier too, but at the end of the day, it was the Gary who had crossed the line fractionally quicker to take the Pro Shootout win. Massive congratulations go to Gary and the GT-ART team who finally had everything go their way, and you could tell by the grin on Gary 's face that he was loving every second of it.

Rules:
All Pro Shootout cars are fully "streetable". That is to say, they have full electrics, treaded tyres, factory chassis and engine configuration. Some even get driven to the shops on a daily basis!

The Competitors:

Tim Webster		Dan Wrench		Gulli Halldorsson		Guy Chamberlain
Mikee Singh		Paul Blamire		Gary Passingham		Geoff Rance
Adrian Smith		Clive Seddon		Simon Norris		Andy Forrest
Tony Charles		Mick Begly		Ron Kiddel		Dee Ireland

The JapShow Finale 2005 Report