Leah Morrison starts us off this episode with her view of the year:
I really enjoyed the whole 2024 season, my first season on a geared bike (Kawasaki 250cc), all my friends and family around me such as the Morrison racing team, other juniors and their families and my dad going on to win the European championship!
Going into the 2024 season from a Sym 125cc to a Kawasaki 250cc required me to adopt a whole new routine and have to get used to the bike, which I think i adjusted to rather quickly. I did struggle with a few things like getting used to the start line routine, hitting shifts, e.t.c but nothing I couldn’t get used to. The bike seemed to be running consistently and getting me into good qualifying positions throughout the year, also managing to run bang on the ET sometimes! I ended up finishing the 2024 junior drag bike championship in 3rd!
Winter upgrades have already started, I will be having a bigger and faster engine next year which I’m looking forward to and hoping to get some new PB’s. I am really looking forward to the 2025 season and what it has to bring!!!!!
Next out the start is Jess Bishop with her "Nightmare" Pro ET Dragster:
At the start of the 2023 season, I debuted the Pro ET “Nightmare” dragster as my own. With a rich history, I knew this car would be an incredible drive. At just 16 years old I gained by licence only weeks before the season started therefore, we had limited testing.
At the first event, Springspeed Nationals, in my second ever qualifying run, I managed to get NO.1 qualifier and running a perfect dial in. The remainder of the event I focused on staying calm and doing what I love in the new class. I managed to get to the semi-finals with no breakages, which unfortunately wouldn’t be the case for the rest of the season…
The Festival of Power caused the biggest problem the team have had in racing. In the second round of eliminations, around 60ft, the car stopped. I instantly knew something wasn’t right and was towed back to the pits. Here we found out that the gearbox had seized solid, with damage to the input shaft and plates. Absolutely gutting but humbling at the same time as we realised the highs and true lows of drag racing. At this point I began to realise how lovely the Pro ET class is as everyone who could come to help or give advice, to which we are forever grateful for.
At the Main event, the issue was still not fixed, unfortunately, as the box was stuck in reverse. No runs for us that event, which made us realise how hard it was to just sit back and watch after racing for a few years. However, yet again, everyone who could was at our pit to help in any way they could.
Summer Nationals came along, and the issues were finally fixed! We spent this event getting back into the swing of things hoping everything was race ready, which it was.
Euros yet again gave us issues. During the second qualifying run, whilst on the trans brake, the car launched. Unusual. After missing 5 qualifiers and having troubles in the other 3, we found the issue. The RMP wire had come loose from the MSD box. The last qualifying round was the test for the hopefully solved problem, and thankfully everything was working perfectly again.
As the event continued, I went rounds seeing the win light and, in the finals, Pro ET were the last class able to run due to the delays and curfew and I managed to get another win light and the event win! This was my first event win in my 3 years of racing and with many tears from myself and the crew, it was safe to say we all will cherish that moment forever.
The national finals began as I was leading the championship points but after a leaking oil cooler and semi-inconsistent numbers, we unfortunately had struggles getting the car to perform to usual standards and lost the first round of eliminations. We ended the 2023 season second in the championship just behind Leigh Morris who was so deserving of the title.
2024 was an odd year to say the least. With dad, Paul, having a medical complication leading to him losing his driving licence and job at the start of the year, we had no choice but to have this season out and get him recovered, which I’m glad to say he fully is now! I luckily am surrounded by some of the kindest people in the world who gave me the opportunity to still come to the track and enjoy this year from a different perspective. I have so much respect and gratitude to everyone who asked about my dad and let me come with them this year. Although it was strange not racing myself, it was so nice to have a season to watch European records being set, friends winning events and being surrounded by my racing family.
2025 over the past few months, we have been making progress to get back racing in 2025 and hopefully, racing the full season. Dad has still not been able to have his HGV licence back, so some plans have changes. He’s working ridiculously hard while I’m studying at university to make sure we are able to be back next year. The checklist is slowly going down as plans begin to fall into place as we now have a trailer and tow vehicle. We still have the dragster to work on, but fingers crossed, will get everything done. With any luck, we should be ready for pre-season testing in March to get both myself and the team back into routine and prepped for a hopefully exciting year!
Crossing the finish line to conclude this episode is drag racer and piano maestro, Elliot Day:
The 2024 SPRC Street Eliminator was challenging for us at Double Trouble racing. We started off at the Easter Nationals doing a PB for very cold conditions and managed an 8.32 on a cold track (2 degrees). We then progressed onto the Doorslammers which we thoroughly enjoyed, although at this point it was more and more evident that the car was getting violent in the first 300 ft, so chassis tuning was needed. After reducing the anti squat % the power was pushing the car forwards rather than up! 2024 was the first season of me completing and driving the cruise, which was absolutely awesome. When my mates at home have their fast BMWs etc and I show them my racecar, their reaction is priceless.
We have been struggling with carburettor issues a little, particularly on the adjustable power valve but will be in contact with Kevin at CSU soon to address it.
After getting faster and faster, it was evident that the RJS chute was not working too well, as a lot of ‘dead air’ was being tangled up (due to the nature of the body shell). So an investment for a wind up spring c02 cannon will be on the cards.
Though being only 20 years old and now going into my 4th season of SPRC Street Eliminator i am balancing a degree in law alongside my motorsport; so, next year will be a challenge to complete fully but i’m sure we will make some of the big events and hit that elusive seven second run.
See you all in 2025,
Elliot
