Vose Breaks thru in Qatar

Arabian Drag Racing League round 3
when: January 23-24, 2014
where: Qatar Racing Club in Doha, Qatar

story by Tim Hailey, photos courtesy of Khalid Saif Al-Mesalam

Watch Billy win—the full Round 3 eliminations video

Billy Vose races into the Qatar sunset and his first Pro Bike win of 2014

Although it’s hard to tell from this angle, Vose got a jump on 2X winner Terry Schweigert for a 4.08 to 4.06 holeshot, final round win

Vose and the Kuwait-based MRB/Drag965 team in the QRC winners circle

Awww, he doesn’t look so evil….William Francis Vose and the QRC hardware

We all know that Pro Mod bikes breed drama, and if The Bard wrere alive today he’d agree that there is no better theater than the QRC. There was more controversy this Round in the pits and the weigh station. Rumors and accusations were flying around the pits regarding weights, “scale strategies,” and quick ETs. There were direct confrontations in the pits and words in the lanes between the rival teams from Kuwait—the Drag965 team with Billy Vose and the Q80 team with Dan “DTM” Wagner. “The officials got involved and had each bike go escorted and under watch, single file, to the scales during quals and in eliminations,” said one railbird. “All riders were asked if they wanted to check leathers for weight.” Remember, former AMA Dragbike boss and Pro Mod veteran Scott Valetti is one of those officials.

Dan “DTM” Wagner took the body off of Terry Schweigert’s bike for inspection of “loose” weight. One of the track officials thought he saw crewman Al Lash adding something to Schweigert’s bike, but it turned out he was putting a screwdriver in the axle for a foot peg to push the bike. Shit was getting tense!

After the first round of eliminations the bikes were escorted to the scales again. Q80’s Schweigert weighed first, and MRB/Drag965’s Mohammed Bourashid and Will Jones—TT’s son—each lifted a corner of the scale. QRC official David “Boo” Koch called out “550 pounds!” What?

“Then everyone laughed when they showed Boo what they had done and Terry came out at 5 lbs over— 630,” said the railbird. “That eased the tension and Boo asked all of the riders if we were happy and if anyone wanted to check leathers, body’s etc. No one did and all is fine!”

Yeah…fine…until those blue bottles start purging for Round 4…LOOK OUT!

As for this race, it was only a matter of time before Vose notched a win. “I’ve been overwhelmed with work over here,” said the multi-time champ. “They’ve has us working on all the bikes, cars and everything.”

Vose has also reported struggling with some issue on his bike that has it stumbling. “I’ve been afraid to push the bike because I haven’t been able to determine the problem. Hopefully I get that resolved and can go back to my good tune-up.”

Billy says he went light on the tune-up in the Round 3 final because of a damaged cylinder. “If anybody doesn’t think I have anything in reserve, how can I run 4.0s on 3 cylinders? I’ve got plenty in the bag, I just don’t want to blow engines every round.”

Vose thanked Drag965, Falicon, CP Pistons, Web Cam, APE, Schnitz Racing, Robinson Industries, MRB, Timblin Chassis, Nitrous Express, FBG, Ward Performance, NGK, American Suzuki, and Mickey Thompson Tires.

With his final round appearance, Schweigert may have built up an unstoppable lead for the championship. “I think one more final and we will have the championship wrapped up,” said Wagner, who was able to claim the 4.046 ET record for Schweigert while Vose holds the other end at 176 mph.

“The same motor has now made it to three finals,” said Wagner, who also pointed out that a Timblin chassis has won all three races. “We’re living the good life. I can’t wait for the next three races.”

ROUND 1
1 BILLY VOSE USA 08 SUZUKI HAYABUZA   .081  4.074 171.58
5 MOHD ALAWWAD KUWAIT 04 SUZUKI GS   .040  4.141 170.17
2 MOHD BUORASHID KUWAIT 12 SUZUKI GS   .037  4.135 172.45
10 MOHD AL DARWISH QATAR 09 SUZUKI HAYABUZA   .040  5.270  96.30
11 TT JONES USA 12 SUZUKI HAYABUZA   .012  4.131 168.72
3 MESHAL AL SABER KUWAIT 12 SUZUKI GS   .056  4.162 169.68
9 TERRY SCHWEIGERT CANADA 12 SUZUKI HAYABUZA   .030  4.073 168.24
4 AHMED AL NUKHILAN KSA 10 SUZUKI GS   .214 14.365  25.52
ROUND 2
1 BILLY VOSE USA 08 SUZUKI HAYABUZA   .048  4.135 175.71
11 TT JONES USA 12 SUZUKI HAYABUZA   .024  4.163 168.70
9 TERRY SCHWEIGERT CANADA 12 SUZUKI HAYABUZA   .008  4.069 173.12
2 MOHD BUORASHID KUWAIT 12 SUZUKI GS   .035  4.098 173.49
FINALS
1 BILLY VOSE USA 08 SUZUKI HAYABUZA   .033  4.083 176.93
9 TERRY SCHWEIGERT CANADA 12 SUZUKI HAYABUZA   .069  4.062 173.78

Super Streetbike

Mishari Al-Turki watches as Yaqoub Al Ali goes red

Al-Turki with tuner Fahad Al-Hamoud (in blue) celebrate a Saudi victory

Turki has been the performance leader for two years, and after sweeping Bahrain finally scored at Qatar. Word on the street, though, is that their will be a well-known bike from the US heading over to challenge Al-Turki’s records the second half of the QRC season.

ROUND 1
1 MASHARI AL TURKI KSA 10 SUZUKI HAYABUZA   .077  4.471 172.10
SINGLE
12 MOHD ALBDAH KUWAIT 05 SUZUKI HAYABUSA   .092  4.575 168.47
16 MISHARI AL OTAIBI KUWAIT 14 SUZUKI HAYABUZA   .232  4.702 154.62
2 YAQOUB AL ALI KUWAIT 09 SUZUKI HAYABUZA   .256  5.228 129.52
3 MOHD AL DARWISH QATAR 03 SUZUKI HAYABUZA   .059 10.356  40.76
7 BADER BINEIDAN KUWAIT    SUZUKI GS   .046  5.015 144.50
SINGLE
ROUND 2
1 MASHARI AL TURKI KSA 10 SUZUKI HAYABUZA   .086  4.409 172.81
12 MOHD ALBDAH KUWAIT 05 SUZUKI HAYABUSA   .189  4.747 152.40
2 YAQOUB AL ALI KUWAIT 09 SUZUKI HAYABUZA   .160  4.555 161.15
7 BADER BINEIDAN KUWAIT    SUZUKI GS  -.013  4.782 154.28
FINALS
1 MASHARI AL TURKI KSA 10 SUZUKI HAYABUZA   .018  4.402 174.19
2 YAQOUB AL ALI KUWAIT 09 SUZUKI HAYABUZA  -.285  6.727  70.40

Streetbike

Bader Ben Edan (far lane) gets a big jump on Khaled Al-Fouzan in the Streetbike final

Bader and the Kuwait-based Drag965 team in the winners circle

You can find Bader winning many races in 2010 and ’11 on YouTube

W/L CAR # DRIVER COUNTRY YR/MAKE/MODEL R/T ET MPH
W 7 BADER BINEIDAN KUWAIT 09 SUZ BUSA – 63″   .027  5.385 134.03
L 21 MOHD BOURASHID KUWAIT 10 SUZ BUSA – 62″  3.361
W 2 IBRAHIM AL JOUFI KSA 08 SUZUKI BUSA 61″   .107  5.331 139.62
L 19 MUSA AL BALOOSHI KUWAIT 08 SUZ BUS   .132  5.379 137.34
W 4 KHALED AL FOUZAN KUWAIT 08 SUZ BUSA – 63″   .010  5.185 137.11
L 20 RASHID AL HAJRI QATAR 08 SUZ. BUSA – 62″  -.186  7.349  66.75
W 1 MISFER AL MISFER KUWAIT   .112  5.760 105.88
L 15 KHALID AL DOSSARY KSA 07 SUZ BUSA – 61″
W/L CAR # DRIVER COUNTRY YR/MAKE/MODEL R/T ET MPH
W 4 KHALED AL FOUZAN KUWAIT 08 SUZ BUSA – 63″   .214  5.201 137.51
L 1 MISFER AL MISFER KUWAIT   .148  6.323  79.36
W 7 BADER BINEIDAN KUWAIT 09 SUZ BUSA – 63″   .068  5.358 136.28
L 2 IBRAHIM AL JOUFI KSA 08 SUZUKI BUSA 61″   .181  5.318 139.41
W/L CAR # DRIVER COUNTRY YR/MAKE/MODEL R/T ET MPH
W 7 BADER BINEIDAN KUWAIT 09 SUZ BUSA – 63″   .038  5.402 135.43
L 4 KHALED AL FOUZAN KUWAIT 08 SUZ BUSA – 63″   .217  5.319 136.73

Pro Extreme

Brandon Snider (near lane) stopped Alex Hossler’s Pro Extreme win streak

ROUND1
1 ALEX HOSSLER USA 68 CHEVY CAMARO   .013  5.636 109.83
6 ERIC DILLARD USA 69 CHEVY CAMARO
5 BRANDON SNIDER USA 63 CHEVY CORVETTE   .035  3.570 212.56
2377 VON SMITH KINGSTON TN 68 CHEVY CAMARO  -.002  3.616 211.66
FINALS
5 BRANDON SNIDER USA 63 CHEVY CORVETTE   .028  3.580 212.26
1 ALEX HOSSLER USA 68 CHEVY CAMARO   .090  3.587 211.46

Pro Modified

Von Smith and Dr. Moon’s Rage

Mike Castellana’s .001 light wasn’t enough to overcome his troubles on the run in the final against Smith

Howard Moon, Von Smith and the Dr. Moon’s Rage crew

ROUND 1
5 MIKE CASTELLANA USA 12 CHEVY CAMARO   .012  3.931 190.27
2 FADI TAMOUR SYRIA   .021  4.115 178.76
2377 VON SMITH KINGSTON TN   .122  3.849 194.04
4 EMAD ALJASSIM KUWAIT 01 CHEVY CAVELIER   .512  9.334  46.01
3 KHALIL ALANSARI UAE   .030  3.912 187.26
10 BADER KHOURSHEED KUWAIT 1968 CAMARO  -.040  5.609  85.88
ROUND 2
2377 VON SMITH KINGSTON TN   .080  3.844 194.18
3 KHALIL ALANSARI UAE   .026  3.915 187.55
5 MIKE CASTELLANA USA 12 CHEVY CAMARO  1.623
SINGLE
FINALS
2377 VON SMITH KINGSTON TN   .040  3.838 194.32
5 MIKE CASTELLANA USA 12 CHEVY CAMARO   .001  3.925 184.32

Pro Nitrous

Mahana Al-Naemi (far lane) redlit in the PN final, handing another win to Mike Castellana

Stevie Fast Jackson belching flame

Shannon Jenkins, Mike Castellana, Rich Kassa and the Western Beef/Al-Anabi crew

ROUND 1
6 KHALID MOHAMMED BAHRAIN 69 CHEV. CAMARO   .029  3.838 193.24
SINGLE
1 MIKE CASTELLANA USA 12 CHEVY CAMARO   .000  3.787 197.91
3 STEVIE JACKSON USA 69 CHEVY CAMARO   .021  3.778 195.85
5 MAHANA AL NAEMI QATAR 12 CHEVY CAMARO   .027  3.765 200.77
2 KHALID AL BALOOSHI UAE 68 CHEVY CAMARO   .026  3.796 199.32
ROUND 2
5 MAHANA AL NAEMI QATAR 12 CHEVY CAMARO   .005  3.781 200.05
6 KHALID MOHAMMED BAHRAIN 69 CHEV. CAMARO  -.317 14.369  43.42
1 MIKE CASTELLANA USA 12 CHEVY CAMARO   .014  4.101 141.53
SINGLE
FINALS
1 MIKE CASTELLANA USA 12 CHEVY CAMARO   .084  3.789 187.57
5 MAHANA AL NAEMI QATAR 12 CHEVY CAMARO  -.036  3.772 200.47

4.5 Index

Round 2 winner Tariq Hadi (near lane) lost in the final this time around to the Screamin’ Yellow Camaro of Hisham Al Mola

ROUND 1
7 SALEM AL TEMEEMI KUWAIT    WILLIS   .185 4.50  4.486 154.39
SINGLE
2 TARIQ HADI BAHRAIN 69 CHEVY CAMARO   .020 4.50  4.501 153.61
5 MOHAMED SALAMA BAHRAIN 01 PONTIAC  -.004 4.50 18.082  33.97
4 HISHAM AL MOLA KSA 67 CHEVY CAMARO   .067 4.50  4.522 150.15
3 ALI HUSSAM HAJI BAHRAIN   .116 4.50  4.503 155.31
11 SALMAN AL ERAIER KUWAIT 96 CHEVY S10   .195 4.50  6.115 135.99
1 TAREQ AL QADEERI KUWAIT 90 CHEVY BERATTA   .211 4.50  4.496 157.63
ROUND 2
2 TARIQ HADI BAHRAIN 69 CHEVY CAMARO   .142 4.50  4.555 142.73
11 SALMAN AL ERAIER KUWAIT 96 CHEVY S10  -.003 4.50  5.182 142.34
4 HISHAM AL MOLA KSA 67 CHEVY CAMARO   .021 4.50  4.493 156.46
7 SALEM AL TEMEEMI KUWAIT    WILLIS   .056 4.50  4.489 154.00
FINALS
4 HISHAM AL MOLA KSA 67 CHEVY CAMARO   .015 4.50  4.510 153.26
2 TARIQ HADI BAHRAIN 69 CHEVY CAMARO   .026 4.50  4.529 149.50

Outlaw 10.5

Kuwaiti Jassim Alsolaiteen took the Outlaw 10.5 win in his beautiful ‘Vette. “Thank god for everything that was givingen to us ,” Alsolaiteen said on Facebook, with some spelling and editing corrections made here. “We took first place in super street Outlaw 10.5 . And big thanks to my team, and Sheikh Mohammed Alsbah, Anwar Alytama and all the DRAG965 team for their support . Also Proline Racing and Pro Torque.”

ROUND 1
19 MOHD QASSIM KUWAIT 06 FORD MUSTANG   .032  4.793 148.04
21 ABDULLAH AL-SHAMSI KSA 99 FORD MUSTANG   .105  7.753  54.13
17 JASSIM AL MUQAHWI KUWAIT 04 CHEVY CORVETTE   .202  4.474 180.77
1 STEVE JACKSON USA 92 FORD MUSTANG   .030  4.949 147.75
6 SAAD ALMARAN BAHRAIN 92 FORD MUSTANG   .049  4.868 158.13
4 HASSAN YOUSAF QATAR  -.362  4.921 151.65
23 FAISAL AL ESSA KSA 89 FORD MUSTANG   .913  4.795 152.62
11 TALAL OTHMAN KUWAIT 85 FORD MUSTANG
ROUND 2
17 JASSIM AL MUQAHWI KUWAIT 04 CHEVY CORVETTE   .090  4.405 181.89
23 FAISAL AL ESSA KSA 89 FORD MUSTANG   .115  4.759 151.22
6 SAAD ALMARAN BAHRAIN 92 FORD MUSTANG   .034  4.611 177.46
19 MOHD QASSIM KUWAIT 06 FORD MUSTANG   .014  6.171 137.58
FINALS
17 JASSIM AL MUQAHWI KUWAIT 04 CHEVY CORVETTE   .040  4.426 181.86
6 SAAD ALMARAN BAHRAIN 92 FORD MUSTANG   .039  4.624 175.30

 

Super Street 8

Turki Al Humaidi kept the Kuwait party going with his Super Street 8 win

ROUND 1
9 YOUSAF ALI UAE 01 PONTIAC   .077  4.351 164.11
8 HUSSAIN AL SHAMMARI KUWAIT 89 FORD MUSTANG   .070  4.482 161.04
11 TURKI AL HUMAIDI KUWAIT 04 FORD MUSTANG   .123  4.207 189.73
SINGLE
14 ABDULLA WAHAB AL-SALEEM KUWAIT 06 FORD MUSTANG   .226  4.253 186.25
SINGLE
ROUND 2
11 TURKI AL HUMAIDI KUWAIT 04 FORD MUSTANG   .060  4.215 190.75
9 YOUSAF ALI UAE 01 PONTIAC   .018  4.326 163.18
14 ABDULLA WAHAB AL-SALEEM KUWAIT 06 FORD MUSTANG  -.008  4.387 143.31
SINGLE
FINALS
11 TURKI AL HUMAIDI KUWAIT 04 FORD MUSTANG   .370  4.166 189.76
14 ABDULLA WAHAB AL-SALEEM KUWAIT 06 FORD MUSTANG

Super Street 6

A nitrous purge in the winners circle?? Mohammed Haji’s Bahrain crew has raised the bar my friends. If you have any bottle pressure when you see me in the winners circle this summer, be prepared to use it!

ROUND 1
5 ALI AL HOSANI UAE 93 NISSAN GTR   .074  5.400 135.40
11 MOHD NAWAR KHALED 93 TOYOTA SUPRA   .406  5.431 144.57
2 YOUSAF AL-ZAYANI BAHRAIN 84 NISSAN ZX300  1.404
SINGLE
3 MOHD HAJI BAHRAIN 92 NISSAN GTR   .249  7.876  97.55
SINGLE
19 FAHAD AL RAEESI UAE 93 NISSAN GTR  1.603  5.528 119.70
19 FAHAD AL RAEESI UAE 93 NISSAN GTR  1.603  5.528 119.70
ROUND 2
3 MOHD HAJI BAHRAIN 92 NISSAN GTR   .445  4.706 162.31
5 ALI AL HOSANI UAE 93 NISSAN GTR
19 FAHAD AL RAEESI UAE 93 NISSAN GTR   .930  8.129  72.10
2 YOUSAF AL-ZAYANI BAHRAIN 84 NISSAN ZX300
FINALS
3 MOHD HAJI BAHRAIN 92 NISSAN GTR   .496  4.673 162.67
19 FAHAD AL RAEESI UAE 93 NISSAN GTR   .141  5.829 110.74

Al-Anabi Dragsters

Hold up Big Guy! Ahmad Al-Abdulla blows the tree and gives the win to Faisal Al Mohammed in the Canadian College of the North Atlantic car in the far lane

ROUND 1
11 DUAIJ AL SABAH KUWAIT 0.098 4.80 4.826 143.35
2 MOHD AL KAABI -0.014 4.80 4.84 143
4 FAISAL AL MOHD QATAR 0.011 4.80 4.803 142.88
13 MAJED AL KUMAITI UAE 0.037 4.80 4.791 144.23
10 JABER AL MAGHRIB KUWAIT -0.008 4.80 4.838 135.28
9 NASSER AL SHATTI KUWAIT -0.04 4.80 4.832 143.26
16 AHMAD AL-ABDULLA QATAR -0.005 4.80 4.826 142.06
14 MUBARAK AL MANSOURI UAE -0.015 4.80 6.557 74.7
ROUND 2
4 FAISAL AL MOHD QATAR -0.177 4.80 5.562 87.41
10 JABER AL MAGHRIB KUWAIT 4.80
16 AHMAD AL-ABDULLA QATAR 0.019 4.80 4.821 143.52
11 DUAIJ AL SABAH KUWAIT 0.006 4.80 4.851 144.04
FINALS
4 FAISAL AL MOHD QATAR 0.385 4.80 8.777 51.11
16 AHMAD AL-ABDULLA QATAR LBTA 4.80

Qatari stunters! Jesus man, this bike has more crashbars than a WOO sprint car

Hmmm…..this Supra doesn’t understand that drag racers are supposed to run parallel with the walls

The usually late arriving QRC crowd hit the stands early for Round 3

And as the Traction Twins lay down the PJ1, the sun sets over the QRC shutdown area

EARLIER: Vose leads Qatar Round 3 Qualifying

Billy Vose’s 4.064 at 176 mph leads Pro Bike qualifying heading into the morning’s final round. “Bike is stumbling through first gear, killing my front half,” Vose said, typically. “The G meter drops like a rock and doesn’t pick back up until the middle of second. I don’t want to step it up in the back until if find my gremlin! Working on my 2 step delay two—.02 lights then .002.”

Terry Schweigert, who’s won both rounds in Qatar so far, is 2 ticks behind Vose with a 4.066

Qatari Mohammed Al-Darwish inproved to a 4.09 with Scott Gray setting the dials

Schweigert’s teammate Meshal Al-saber ran a 4.10

With Ronnie Mitchell tuning, Al-Darwish also road the old “Bounty Hunter” in Super Streetbike

Speaking of bikes built in The States, Bader Ben Edan’s on Dave Norris’ old MIRock Outlaw champion bike—the final MIRock Outlaw champion

EARLIER: Rounds are Fast and Furious in Qatar

Terry Schweigert’s 2 for 2 so far in Qatar

Al-Anabi bought this TT Jones bike for Mohammed Al-Darwish to ride, and Scott Gray’s tuning is bringing it around

Alex Hossler actually ran .008 quicker than this in testing, but this a better picture….

With a Tundra headlight sunrise behind him, Von Smith hopes to break through in Round 3