Forum Activity For @John-R-Bockelman

For my pick as Racer of the Week for February 10, 2014, I have selected Paul Martson and his Drag Racing School from Chadwell Heath, Romford, Essex, England. Paul has raced in the United States, England and Europe for the last several decades. Here is a severly condensed history of Paul's adventures.

Paul Marston's early career focused on finance, quickly rising to the position of Governor of the Bank of England. His 15 year term ended in 1874 when Paul was 22 at which point the mechanic in Paul drove him to an apprenticeship with a growing firm of mechanics in Germany. His first world-acclaimed invention was the Internal Combustion Engine which debuted in the 1897 Daimler-Benz motor car.

Having secreted millions away for later life from the patents, Paul turned his hand to Politics. Having dabbled in Chinese Politics and been crowned Emperor of China in 1906, Paul decided to return to the UK and help the domestic situation.

During the First and Second World Wards, Paul was instrumental in destroying 471 Zeppelin airships with a home-made catapult and his travels inspired him to name the countries he visited 'Europe'. Paul's trusty tank was later re-painted and can now be found in the PMR pits masquerading as Grumpy's Dodge.

The early 50's were Paul's glory days, using his status as war hero and National Treasure to secure the rights to the music of many famous Bands. Elvis was his first major signing and the royalties from his music now funds the PMR team transporter.

The 70's was a bit of a blur, between causing and then ending the fuel crisis by driving and then resting his stable of drag racers, Paul started working on what was to become an 80's sensation - Duran Duran. Constructed from military grade titanium, these robots were nothing short of ground-breaking, although a little wooden in their acting on stage. The prototypes were replaced by the more feminine mkII robots which he named 'The Spice Girls' in the 90's who moved with more fluidity at the expense of reduced vocal harmony.

It was the 90's when Paul retired from serious business and started drag-racing full-time. Moving from Capri to Camaro, Paul proceeded to buy cars without selling any of the old ones. Grumpy's Dodge was next, fresh from having the gun-turret removed, followed by the PT Bruiser which was created by the American Air Force using stealth technology. The Vega appeared in early 2001, and in 2003 the Alien Altered was re-appropriated from a bunch of French Bandits in Toulouse through winning an arm-wrestle with Arnold Schwartzenegger. The Chevy Monza was won in a game of chess against former World Champion Garry Kasparov that lasted nearly 4 months, bringing the car tally to 7.

In 2004, Paul started the UK's first Drag Race Driving school and Passenger Ride school. Among his first 5 guests were Margaret Thatcher, Stephen Hawking, Bruce Forsyth, Prince Charles and Monica Lewinsky. It was about this time that the patented 'turd-proof' seat covers were invented and fitted to the Passenger Ride cars, an invention that still provides over 1.6bn of net income per year to the team.

Paul will also be trying out for the 2014 Olympic gymnastics team and on his free evenings, hopes to perfect a cure for the common cold. His progress on this front was held up by his intensive training for the 2006 Boat Race which he won with 7 amateurs, netting him an honorary degree in advanced Bio-Genetics from Oxford University.

The Monza arrived early 2005 to both compete in the National Championships and be put to work as one of the PMR Drag Race School cars. Pre-PMR, Ashley Bell ran this car successfully in Super Comp and Super Gas and before him this was the ex-Dave Mingay Hell Raiser Pro Mod.

Running down to 9.0 seconds for the 1/4 mile, The Whoopass has become a firm favourite at PMR due to it's pin-straight launch and smooth ride. The Monza currently has a 477ci Big Block Chevy engine under the hood which produces around 700hp+.

PERFORMANCE 0-60 mph 1.28 0-100 mph 5.0 1/4 mile ET 9.06 1/4 mile mph 148 Fuel Consumption 3 gallons per mile

in 2001 and 2002 we won the Brighton Speed Trial, reportedly the oldest motor race in England. In the past the likes of Don Garlits and Tony Nancy have both won it. We achieved this with the PT Bruiser, its a real dangerous race and was nearly stopped this year on account of a competitor being killed in 2010. The event was not run in 2011 out of respect.
In 2010 PMR introduced and organised Top Sportsman to UK Drag Racing, its run slightly different to the US version, its two races over three days. First race is kinda like the US version, its a fast bracket race but there are no electronics and its a .400 Pro Tree with a blinder. The second race is a quick 16, one shot qualifier and then heads up elims, again on a .400 Pro Tree. We were lucky enough to get a TV deal after the second year and have car counts around 30. In 2014 we will expand to two events and hope to keep the TV for both rounds. All entry money goes into the prizefund so its a 100% payback.
Thruout all we do at PMR the most important is to have fun, there is time to be serious on the track. But for the most part, its great to go racing with our friends. We try to help promote the sport thru the Drag Race School and the Top Sportsman programme, to give something back.

Paul sent several links to me and I will post these videos and text files showing the performance of his stable of cars as well as the story of his 2 trips to America to participate in some drag racing events. They are great reads, but time wouldn't allow them in my segment tonight. Check out Paul Martson Racing.com/uk for the whole story. It is incredible, folks.

Paul Marston. Racer of the Week. Best wishes and good luck in the future, Paul.

Y'all be sure to tune in tomorrow night at 7 PM Eastern on Racers Reunion Radio for Racing Through History. It's a Goat Rodeo you don't want to miss. Thanks, I'll see y'all next week.

updated by @john-r-bockelman: 12/05/16 08:53:23AM

@john-r-bockelman
12/09/13 11:27:31AM
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