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01/03/2004 ACI RACING DRAGSTER LAUNCHES ON ITS WAY TO 260MPH! ACI Racing are back in the USA!!!! Driver Dave Wilson drove the ACI Racing TMD into the 5.3s at Pomona last November. The team were especially proud of this effort as it was not only a personal best, but the ACI Flyer was the 3rd quickest supercharged car on the grounds that weekend! Moreover, the aim is that the pre-season test sessions and National event experience will help refine the combination and push deeper into the 5.3 second zone. With the new rule changes for the a-fuel cars coming into effect this season, the team are hopeful of a strong showing to start the year.  "We have a very busy schedule planned", says Wilson. "Weve been back in the States now for a 3 weeks and have just completed the Blast-Off test weekend at Las Vegas on 29th-31st January and the National Time Trials at Firebird in Arizona on 7th-8th February. That went very well, with a lot being tried and learnt about tuning for the American tracks. From there the team headed back to Pomona for the K&N Winternationals on 19th-22nd February. After spending 3 weeks building up to racing again, alas the first event of the 2004 Powerade tour was dogged by rain and shortened qualifying sessions. Qualifying at the teams highest place ever at an NHRA race at 5.54 257 mph numbed the pain of the weather somewhat. Unfortunately the rains stayed and the team had to return to the UK eager to race, but frustrated all the same. At the point a very special mention must go to 2 major team players on the US tour. Harry Palmer 'H' has been with the team for a while and is an invaluable help wherever he turns up, even when he gets his wires crossed! Also Jenn Saltis has one of the most difficult jobs on the team, mainly due to the fact she is crew chief Andy Bissetts fiancé! That aside she does many jobs on the team including running back and forth across the US using her pick up truck as a support vehicle!  The rest of the team haven't been idle since returning home to England after the November Pomona event either. The highlight of Wilson's 30 year career was standing on stage at the FIA award ceremony in Monaco to take his place among the Worlds elite of Motorsport. It was also a fascinating spectacle to see the ACI display car alongside the F1 Ferrari of Michael Schumacher. The most humorous event of the evening came when ACI team principle Anthony Cohen introduced himself to Formula 1 World Champion Schumacher himself, with the immortal line 'You may not know me Michael, but my racecar is much faster than yours…….!' , much to the Ferrari driver's surprise! The ACI Racing team's schedule never really lets up as they then plan to attend five events in six weekends: The Lucas Oil Divisional event back at Firebird on 12th-14th March, the Mac Tools Gatornationals at Gainesville on 18th-21st March, Lucas Oil Divisional event in Tucson on 26th-28th March, the NHRA Summitracing.com Nationals in Las Vegas on 1st-4th April, and finally the O'Reilly Spring Nationals in Houston on 15th-18th April. "After the Houston event we are three quarters of the way back to the East Coast", says Dave. "We'll put the car on the boat and come home ready for the FIA Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway in England, and the title defense will definitely be on..."
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