TOP drag racer John Spuffard entertained several thousand motorsport fans who flocked to the Shakespeare County Raceway on Bank Holiday Monday for the opening round of the Super Series National Drag Racing Championships.

Spuffard, an engineer from Northampton driving a 5000 bhp nitro burning Pontiac Funny Car, saved his best race till last for the 'Showtime' team when he beat Gordon Smith in the final quarter-mile dash for British Championship points, a track record and an unofficial European speed record for the class, an astounding 281 mph terminal speed in just 5.5 seconds.

Smith, driving a similar powered car in a every detail and called the 'Shockwave' exploded his supercharged engine on the startline.

The Bond Racing family from Cheltenham, father Doug and 12-year- old Jonathan, under went a successful weekend with a win and a runner-up finish in two separate classes.

In Junior Dragster, aimed at kids aged between eight and 16 to get involved in drag racing with a family interest racing 5 hp stock dragsters, young Jonathan started his championship quest by leading qualifying, and beating Tom Watts in a 15-second final timed over a shorter eighth of a mile course.

With Jonathan adding to the family silverware, attention swiftly focused on father Doug in his bid for final found honours in the more powerful 200 mph Methanol burning dragsters in round two of the British Champion-ship. Doug, who has driven most types of dragster for over 20 years, lined up his dragster, against five-time champion Rob Turner.

As the lights blinked green Doug, in an attempt to beat Rob away from the line, anticipated the green too soon to put himself out of competition.

Worcester's Lee Huxley pulled off another popular win in the Super Street Car final against Essex housewife Anne Peck.

Huxley, a former national champion, drove his seven litre Ford Model B 'hot rod' into championship contention by outdragging the 'girl power' Chevy Camaro.

In Competition Bike for out-and-out drag bikes local interest continued when Andy Newcombe from Warwick, riding on 1188cc Yamaha FJ, lost the class final to rising star and former Streetfighter rider, Helen Curran on a 1230cc Suzuki owned by Paul Rose, 8.17 seconds to 8.77.