Fastlane Magazine - Issue 24 by ANDRA Drag Racing

fastlane EDITION 24 A U G U S T

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NING HEARTS

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL DRAG RACING ASSOCIATION

INTO OUR

At times it may have been a bumpy ride, but Victoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Swan Hill Dragway is now open and ready for racing with big plans ahead for the regional facility. CHAMPIONSHIP RACING TECH STAGING MEMBER TRACK FACES POINTS PRACER LANES NEWS ROFILE AT RACES TORQUE B E N E F I T S SUMMIT

SUMMITRACING.COM

contents CLICK TO VISIT

STAGING LANES

ANDRA MEMBER

BENEFITS

PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW

TYRE PRESSURE

TECH

TORQUE

FEATURE ARTICLE

SWANNING

INTO OUR

HEARTS

TRACK NEWS

WINNERS ARE GRINNERS

CHAMPIONSHIP

RACERPROFILE

FACES AT THE RACES

POINTS & CALENDAR

RACE REPORTS

SUMMIT RACING QLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Fastlane is produced by the Australian National Drag Racing Association LTD. Editor: Amanda Salmon (media@andra.com.au) Design: YBI Creative (www.ybicreative.com.au) Photography: DragPhotos.com.au, DragsSA.com, HighRPM, Craig Radcliffe Action Sports Photography, Rogue Snapper Photography, Outlaw Images, Wayne Scraba and Summit Racing

ANDRA Staff

General Manager: Brett Stevens Accounts: Susan Branscombe Business Manager: Jackie Mills Business Development Manager: Jennifer Harrison Licensing and Membership: Kylie Hazelhurst Media & PR Officer: Amanda Salmon Technical Officer: Scott Halfyard

NITRO UP NORTH

Contact Details

Phone: 08 8271 5355 Fax: 08 8721 6988 Email: info@andra.com.au Street: 11 McInnes St, Ridleyton SA 5008

DESERT NATIONALS

ANDRA Board

Terry Jongen (WA) - On leave Murray O’Connor (WA) – Alternate Director Nathan Peirano (QLD) - Chairman Grant Wilson (SA) Peter Kapiris (VIC) Wayne Downes(QLD) Grant Hamon (NT)

staginglanes ANDRA ANNOUNCES 2018/19 SUMMIT RACING SPORTSMAN SERIES CALENDAR The Australian National Drag Racing

now successfully completed in the Territory,

round calendar for the 18/19 Summit

Sunset Strip (Mildura) for round three – the

Association recently confirmed a nineRacing Equipment Sportsman Series.

By the time the championship chase concludes in April of 2019, the 18/19 Summit

Racing Equipment Sportsman Series will have unfolded across nine events in four divisions:

Northern Australia, Victoria/Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.

With the first two rounds of the season

the series is preparing to head to Victoria’s Sunset Strip Nationals - across September 22-23.

For the full calendar, click here. PLEASE NOTE: In the event that Junior Drag

Racing continues to be suspended in WA by

the time Portland’s January event is held, then a Junior Grand Finals event will be

held at Mildura’s February 15-16 event). With

track works scheduled for both Victoria’s Calder Park Raceway and South Australia’s Adelaide

International

Raceway,

possible additional dates for these venues may be added to the 18/19 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series, if works are completed on time. Should these or any other calendar amendments be made they will be communicated to ANDRA members with as much notice as possible.

RULE SUBMISSIONS CLOSING

Following the distribution of the 2018/19 rulebook to all ANDRA members and member tracks, the rule submission period for the next rule book is now open until the 14th of September.

The rule submission policy and paperwork can be found by clicking here The rulebook is available by clicking here and as always can be found under the Technical Tab of www.andra.com.au

GET Arty TO WIN PRIZES!

Our friends at YBI Creative recently designed our 2017/2018 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Champions special-edition poster and also a special ‘colouring in’ edition just for the young and the young at heart!

Entries will be judged in the following age groups with each of the winners and their artworks to be published in the November 2018 edition of Fastlane magazine:

For your chance to win some cool prize packs, print out the colouring in artwork by clicking here, get colouring and then email us a scan or photo of your/your child’s artwork along with your full name, date of birth and address to media@andra.com.au by 5.00pm AEST on the 15th of October, 2018.

• UNDER 8 YEARS OF AGE • 8-12 YEARS OF AGE • 12-16 YEARS OF AGE • 16 AND ABOVE Download the poster artwork by clicking here, or to download the colouring in artwork, click here and get colouring!

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ANDRA HALL OF FAME AWARD NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN! The ANDRA Drag Racing Hall of Fame has been established to acknowledge those persons who have made significant contributions to all aspects of drag racing, including those who have excelled in drag racing competition, business, history or engineering. ANDRA is pleased to announce that Hall of Fame nominations are now open for 2018. Please be sure to lodge your nominations by no later than September 30, 2018.

Over the past five years, we have seen many worthy recipients receive the Award, including: • George Bailey • Michael Atholwood • Paul Rogers Snr • Graeme Cowin • Dennis Syrmis • Jim Reed • Joseph Gatt • John Taverna • Jim Read • Harry White To download the 2018 nomination form, please click here.

SEARCHING FOR THE GALLAGHER VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR ANDRA Drag Racing events held all across the country would not be possible without our valued volunteers.

OPS). The nominee must also have demonstrated professionalism, commitment, integrity and accomplishment in ANDRA Drag Racing.

The Gallagher Volunteer of the Year award is designed to recognise the outstanding contribution and passion of volunteers donating their time to ANDRA Drag Racing.

ANDRA thanks Gallagher for their support of this award. Gallagher has an extensive national broking network in metropolitan and regional Australian locations and provides broking solutions to a wide range of clients from small to medium enterprises through to large multinational corporations, as well as affinity partners and associations, such as ANDRA.

Nominations for this prestigious award are currently open until the 30th of November, 2018. To be eligible, nominees must currently serve as an ANDRA Steward, ANDRA Official and/or on an ANDRA subcommittee (IRC, NRC, DC, or

To nominate your 2018 Gallagher Volunteer of the Year, download the form by clicking here.

CROW CAMS RENEWS ANDRA SUPPORT ANDRA Associate Partner Crow Cams recently renewed its partnership with ANDRA for a further 12 months. Crow Cams is a long-time sponsor of ANDRA drag racing, and in particular sponsors the prestigious Crow Cams Best Engineered Award. For the full story, please click here. From burnouts to blown alcohol, street and strip, Crow Cams’ valve train technology has you covered with world class performance and reliability. The Crow Cams product range includes Next Gen Camshafts, Next Gen Stainless Roller Rockers, Next Gen Race Pushrods, Crow Cams Billet Timing Chain Sets, Crow Cam Followers and Crow Cams Hot Rod Camshafts. Also included are Crow Cams Valve Springs and

Retainers, Ford XR6 Turbo Camshaft packages, Next Gen LS V8 Cams, Modular Ford V8 camshafts, Next Gen blower camshafts and more. For more about Crow Cams, visit www.crowcams.com.au

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TILECO-THESHOWERPEOPLE AND KC TOOLS BACK TOP QUALIFIERS The Top Qualifiers of all brackets across the 18/19 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series will once again receive a special award thanks to TileCoTheShowerPeople and KC Tools.

Both companies have renewed their support of the popular Top Qualifier Medallion accolade, with racers who set the fastest time in their qualifying sessions for their bracket to receive a Medallion, a

25 percent off RRP voucher for any KC Tools outlet, and a Summit Racing Equipment pack. TileCo-TheShowerPeople is the company of long-time ANDRA supporters Eddy and Maria Carranza. The Carranzas are also involved in ANDRA championship drag racing directly as the parents of Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster competitor Daniel, whose racing program

seeks to raise awareness for children with autism. For further details, please click here. To learn more about TileCo - The Shower People, please visit www.facebook.com/ tilecotheshowerpeople For more information on KC Tools, please visit www.kctools.com.au Image: DragPhotos.com.au

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THE MOST POWERFUL SHOPPING CART ON THE PLANET! Purchase from the full range of ANDRA merchandise 24-7 at www.andrashop.com.au From stubby holders and t-shirts to aprons and beanies, it’s all here and it’s all ANDRA!

SHOP NOW SUNOCO ANNOUNCED AS ANDRA’S OFFICIAL FUEL SUPPLIER Earlier this year, Sunoco Race Fuels and the Australian National Drag Racing Association announced a partnership between the two organisations which will see Sunoco as the official fuel supplier for all ANDRA-sanctioned events.

Other Homologated race fuels are still eligible for use in ANDRA drag racing, for the full list please click here. Sunoco Race Fuels has been associated with racing excellence for decades, and today has a reach around the world which covers all types of professional motor sports and other activities where premium race fuels make a

difference. It is the largest manufacturer of racing gasolines in the world, with a 60-year track record of winning performances. Under the partnership, the top qualifier for Super Stock/SuperComp at each round of the 2018/2019 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series will be known as the Sunoco 260GT Plus Top Qualifier, and if they are running Sunoco 260GT Plus fuel in their car, will receive a cash prize of $1000. Other benefits of the partnership include each of the 11 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series championship winners receiving a $1000 Sunoco racing fuels voucher. Sunoco Race Fuels has also committed to a contingency programme for competitors in

the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series; with winners and runners-up in the respective categories who are showing the appropriate Sunoco signage and are able to provide a proof of purchase able to claim $300 for a win and $100 for a runner-up. For more on this exciting new partnership, please click here. For more on Sunoco Racing Fuels, visit www.sunoco.com.au, www.facebook.com/SunocoAustralia or follow @sunocoracingfuelsau on Instagram.

NEW ANDRA MEMBER BENEFITS NOW AVAILABLE The ANDRA Member Benefits Program continues to deliver savings to ANDRA members with the list of companies signing up to offer discounts and special offers getting longer and longer. THE CAMPAIGN COMPANY

10% OFF DESIGN SERVICES

The Campaign Company has been in the advertising industry for more than 25 years and will offer ANDRA license holders 10 percent off of its design services. “We started out creating press advertisements, corporate identities, signage and all printed media,” The Campaign Company Co-Owner, Nick Horsburgh, said. “Due to a love of cars we have always been geared toward the automotive industry, and as such in the early days looked after clients such as Honda Racing, BMW and Rolls Royce. “We cater to any business that requires corporate identity, static and race car signage or any advertising or promotional material. We now also focus on 3D modelling, providing artist impressions or 3D renders for clients wanting to visualise what their new home/office/factory or workshop will look like when built, so we are also extending a 10 percent off offer on all artist impressions and 3D modelling to ANDRA members.” To find out more, call Nick (0403 178 787) or Bree (0409 861 401), email studio@thecampaignco.com.au or visit www.thecampaignco.com.au

COOLSHIRT SYSTEMS AUSTRALIA

10% OFF PRODUCT RRP

Coolshirt Systems Australia is a dealer of COOLSHIRT SYSTEMS products. The family operated business is offering a 10 percent discount off their RRP of their products for all ANDRA members. “COOLSHIRT SYSTEMS is the leading brand of personal cooling systems for race car drivers, industrial works, fire and emergency services and surgeons. The active cooling systems helps manage body heat in extreme environments,” CoolShirt Systems Australia’s Daniel Fardella said. “Drag racing is our passion and we know how hot it can get out there in those staging lanes. When we found out about the ANDRA Member Benefits Program, we thought it would be a great way to connect with the wider ANDRA community. “COOLSHIRT SYSTEMS driver cooling technology can help you maintain a safe body core temperature, reduce dehydration and aid in recovery while keeping you cool, comfortable and focused which helps to reduce errors and improve focus, which can mean improved reaction times! “We are looking forward to not only offering ANDRA members the 10 percent discount off our RRP, but also to working with the drivers and teams to make sure we understand exactly what they need and ensuring they have the right system and set-up.” Coolshirt Systems Australia is located at Unit 4, 8 Saggart Field Road, Minto NSW 2566. For more information, contact Daniel Fardella on 0421 955 284 or coolshirtsystemsaustralia@yahoo.com

fastlane

PERFORMANCE TOWING WA

20% OFF

ALL STANDARD TOWING RATES

C & R Motorsport Developments specialises in Engine Dyno Testing and Development for all types of Motorsport applications including Drag Racing, Speedway, Circuit Racing, Marine, Street Hi-Performance and more. “With 30 plus years of drag racing experience and 15 years of dyno testing knowledge, C & R Motorsport Developments are able to help our customers achieve their goals,” said C & R Motorsport Developments’ Geoff Chaisty, a former Australian Super Stock Champion and father to successful racers Jake and Jamie Chaisty. “We see that ANDRA are committed to its members and the sport, and so we are very proud to become a member of the ANDRA Member Benefits Program.” For more information, contact C & R Motorsport Developments on 0417 922 879 or crmd@tpg.com.au or visit them on Facebook by clicking here.

WHAT IS THE ANDRA MEMBER BENEFITS PROGRAM? The ANDRA Member Benefits Program has been created to offer loyal ANDRA members the opportunity to receive discounts on products and services from supporting companies.

Participating businesses of the ANDRA Member Benefits Program receives promotion through ANDRA’s database of over 5000 members and

race fans, exposure through the ANDRA website, the quarterly FASTLANE digital magazine and the fortnightly MotorMail email newsletter. If you would like more information on the program or want to register, please click here. To view a listing of all ANDRA Member Benefits Program offers, please click here

A WHOLE HOST OF BENEFITS AWAIT

These new members join a growing list of companies who are ready and waiting to help ANDRA members, including:

PRECISION TURBO & ENGINE

HUSSEY PERFORMANCE, LLC

FAST & LOUD INDUSTRIES

ANDYK DESIGN

VISNER ENGINE DEVELOPMENT

STREET MACHINE

ARC - APPLIED RACING COMPONENTS

SHANNONS INSURANCE

C & R MOTORSPORT DEVELOPMENTS

THE MOVING MAN

2015 was a big year for the Swan Hill Drag Racing Club (SWDRC), seeing the initial build to turn what was farming land into Swan Hill Dragway being undertaken by a dedicated and passionate group of volunteers.

The build started five years after the site, opposite the Chisholm Reserve Motor Sports Complex, was identified as a priority for development into a drag strip in Swan Hill Rural City Council community meetings. With the Coalition Government’s investment of $2.45 million through the Regional Growth Fund, the green light was given and the Club soon got to work building what is now Australia’s newest quarter-mile track to bring drag racing to Swan Hill. As with all great journeys, it wasn’t without its ‘bumps’, with an initial opening in November of 2016 leading to

the identification of further surface work being required when it was found the concrete surface had ‘moved’ more than anticipated. Again the Swan Hill Rural City Council (SHRCC) got behind the track and backed the grinding of the surface, laying of new sections of asphalt and improvements to track drainage.

Once that work was completed, the track re-opened to much excitement from the Victorian and national drag racing community in May with the Swan Hill Nostalgia Drags which hosted more than 100 racers across two great days of action. After a Winter break, the club is now

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NING preparing for some great events coming up in the second half of 2018 – starting with a bracket event on the 13th of October ahead of RUSH Race Your Mates (3 November), the November 2018 Street Machine Drag Challenge (13-15 November) and a round of the Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars in March of 2019. “It has been a great journey so far, no journey worth having ever went smoothly after all!” Swan Hill Drag Racing Club President, Gary Rovere, said. “It was brilliant to get racing underway in May with the Swan Hill Nostalgia Nationals event – with more than 100 cars here it was a big test for us and if that wind had been

INTO OUR

HEARTS

even two kilometres stronger, we would have had to shut down due to dust, but we were really pleased with how it all played out. “As a completely volunteer-run facility, I am immensely proud of what we have been able to achieve so far and of what is coming up. “Over the past few years thanks to the funding ($2 million State Government, $450,000 + $500,000 SHRCC and $220,000 SWDRC) and a lot of hard work by a dedicated group of people we have built the track, undergone the repair and drainage works which are now being completed; built the control tower; installed some

power upgrades as well as irrigation fencing, a shed, credentials office and water storage; bought track equipment and the list goes on – it all takes time but we are very determined to succeed. “I have to thank our racers and our community for being patient with us – we have had a lot of questions from people who are understandably keen to race on this new circuit, as to why we aren’t running more meetings at this stage and in particular, big events like the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series. “This is a brand-new race track and we are really proud of how far we have come, but the reality is we are a bit behind where we

want to be with how things have played out and we have had to work hard to claw our way back to be up and running. “With the track needing grinding and the other work required we had to rebuild again from where we started and then that old bugbear of drag racing, the weather, also threw some curveballs our way! At the crux of it, what we are doing now is taking it slowly – we want to do things right. “So for now, we are running a few private tests while getting ready for some great events we have just announced starting with a bracket meet on the 13th of October which we are holding in conjunction with The Melbourne Drag Racing Club and The

Victorian Drag Racing Club. “As far as big national-level events, we certainly want to hold them in the future, but we have a way to go before we are ready for that kind of step. We have dirt pits which can be an issue as no one wants to turn up to a meeting only to be ‘dusted out’. And while we now have a shower block which is great, there are a lot of facilities that need to be completed before we are ready to hold events of that magnitude. “So for now we are working on that side of things and once we are ready, we will see what we can do. At the end of the day we want to make sure that we do it right,

has been a great “ Itjourney so far, no journey

worth having ever went smoothly after all! As a completely volunteer-run facility, I am immensely proud of what we have been able to achieve so far and of what is coming up!

”

we do it properly, we do it confidently, and make sure it is a success.” While slow and steady is the mantra, there is no doubt that there are exciting things on the horizon for Swan Hill Dragway. “We were extremely proud as a committee to announce the March 2 date recently for the Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars,” Gary explained. “Before we get to March however there is plenty of cool stuff on the docket. From October’s bracket event to the Street Machine Drag Challenge in November which will be our biggest event to date by far, there is a lot coming up!”

When you consider the fact that the club and venue is run entirely by volunteers, the magnitude of what the Swan Hill Drag Racing Club and its members have been able to achieve to date becomes even more apparent. “We have the passion and we put so much time into making sure we get things right and in spending the time to be as good as we can be,” Gary said. “It is a bit different here to a lot of other tracks, we don’t have paid staff here, we all work during the week and just do the best job that we can. “I am really excited about what lays ahead for us and want to thank everyone who has

supported us and our volunteer team over the last few years. “We are up and coming and laser-focused on building what we have to offer – the future is looking bright.” Swan Hill Dragway is located at 6418 Sea Lake-Swan Hill Road in Swan Hill, Victoria. You can contact the Swan Hill Drag Racing Club on info@swanhilldragway.com.au or visit www.swanhilldragway.com.au or www.facebook.com/pg/swanhilldragway for further information. Photos by Outlaw Images

techt UNDER

PRESSURE JERRY BICKEL SHARES DRAG TYRE PSI AND TRACK TEMPERATURE BASICS Story by Wayne Scraba - Photos by Wayne Scraba and Summit Racing

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torque

Everyone seems to have a different opinion when it comes to tyre pressure. Sure, tyre pressure varies from car to car, but according to chassis builder Jerry Bickel, there are some basic guidelines you can follow. Bickel notes this information is for tyres designed for drag racing and that street car radial tyres will react differently. He also notes the temperature of the track surface definitely affects how much heat you have to put into the tyres – and we’ll get to that too. Here are his insights:

Adjusting Front Tyre Pressure Bickel always starts with the front tyres. “The more air you run in your front tyres, the quicker your car will lift out of the staging beams, but don’t exceed the tyre manufacturer’s maximum recommendation,” he explained. “This can help your reaction times and reduces rolling resistance. “One exception to the high front tyre pressure rule has to do with irregular track surfaces. Hard inflated tyres may jump off a bump and cause some loss of directional control. Lowering the tyre pressure a couple of pounds will often help minimise this problem. You can expect slightly higher driver reaction times and increased rolling resistance as a result of this adjustment.”

Adjusting Rear Tyre Pressure Tyre pressure for your slicks is dependent on the weight of the car, the tyre type (radial or bias ply) and the wheel rim width, amongst other things. Bickel offers this advice: “The wider the rim, the more tyre inflation pressure you need. The narrower the rim, the less inflation pressure you need. With flexible sidewall drag slicks, the normal pressure range is 4-12 PSI. Check with your tyre supplier and talk to some successful racers in your class to find a good starting

point,” he said. “Drag slick inflation pressure must be exactly the same in both tyres on every run. Remember that all tyres leak slightly. To make sure your tyres are not under-inflated before a run, add a little extra pressure before driving your car to the staging lanes. Bleed the tyres down to the correct pressure just before the car enters the water box.”

Pressure gauges, tyre covers and towing If you use a low-pressure tyre gauge, keep in mind they can lose calibration easily. Bickel’s experience has shown there can be a 25 percent variation between tyre gauges. Since no two read the same, smart racers will always use the same gauge. If you’re at a large event and there is a drag tyre service truck in attendance, you can check your gauge against their standard to see how much yours varies. Another point is the fact air (like other gasses) will expand as the temperature rises. That’s why tyre covers are so important. Bickel suggests you cover the tyre if it is exposed to direct sunlight while waiting in the staging lanes. This will prevent the sun’s rays from heating the tyre and increasing the pressure. Summit Racing offers all sorts of different tyre covers and most are white or light-coloured to reflect the heat, rather than absorb it. Bickel also says you need to consider tyre pressure when towing the car to the staging lanes or back to the pits. “When you tow your car, add enough air to the drag slicks to remove the wrinkles from the sidewalls. This will help prevent the development of sidewall distortions and stress cracks,” he said. “Inflate both tyres to the same pressure and

don’t exceed the maximum recommended by the manufacturer. This will prevent tyre rollout changes from happening while the car is in transit.”

What to do when track temperatures change If you have an infrared heat gun, use it to measure both track and tyre temperature. Once the burnout is completed, check the track and tyre temperatures and record them. The data you log won’t help with that particular run, but it will tell you if you need to put more or less heat into the tyre for the next round. “Never assume the temperature of the track is the same as that of the surrounding air,” Bickel advised. “The dark colour of the race track pavement absorbs sunlight, quickly heating the surface. Unless there is a heavy cloud cover, daytime track surface temperatures will be about 20° to 30° F higher than that of the ambient air.” Bickel groups track temperatures in four ranges, each with considerable differences in traction characteristics:

COLD TRACK (BELOW 90° F)

“While the general rule of thumb for track temperature is the cooler the better, there is a point at which the available traction diminishes,” Bickel said. “If the track temperature falls below 90° F, conditions can become rather tricky. Closely monitor the runs made by cars in front of yours and be ready to make whatever changes time allows. Below 75° F, you can expect significant traction difficulties, especially if water has begun to condense on the surface. “Cold track temperatures really cool off the tyres quickly. Ask the driver to make a hard

burnout to put as much heat into the tyres as possible. Once the burnout is complete, your goal should be to get the car to the starting line as soon as possible.”

COOL TRACK (90° TO 105° F)

“This is the most desirable surface temperature range for most race tracks. If the track surface also has a good cover of rubber, it will usually take all you can throw at it,” Bickel explained. “Be aggressive with engine, clutch, and chassis tuning. If the air is dense and the surface is smooth, you should record the best times your car is capable of making.”

WARM TRACK (106° TO 130° F)

“At these temperatures, the rubber on the race track begins to soften and pull loose from the surface. It is in this range that chassis tuning becomes paramount,” Bickel said. “Excellent runs are still possible if you don’t overpower the surface and pull the rubber up. Softer clutch engagement and chassis settings are the key, but you’ll need a lot of experience with your car to determine how to dial back just enough without compromising performance.”

HOT TRACK (ABOVE 130° F)

“This is where everything seems to wilt, including the driver and crew,” Bickel said. “Expect greasy track conditions and reduced engine power from the thin air. Traction will bottom out somewhere between 12 noon to four or five o’clock in the evening – usually the time when eliminations are run. “This is no time to try to impress the world with the performance of your car – in these conditions almost everyone has enough horsepower to win. Your challenge is to avoid overpowering the track and get to the finish line ahead of your competition.”

Burnout Considerations Bickel offers this advice on adjusting tyre pressure for a burnout: “Remember the goal of the burnout. Tyre manufacturers recommend that you heat the slicks so they are 30° F hotter than the track temperature. Take all race day conditions into account. “The final tyre temperature after completing the burnout varies with the ambient (outside) air temperature, track temperature, and the burnout length. “If your run is stopped for any reason after a burnout, your tyres gain pressure. There is no reliable means to determine exactly

Low-pressure tyre gauges like this one aren’t 100 percent accurate. If you can, compare your gauge against a standard gauge at a major race tyre service truck; they typically turn up at larger events. Never use two different gauges to check tyre pressure on your car—you’ll never know which reading is correct.

Summit Racing sells several different types of laser heat guns. A great example is this model from the folks at Intercomp (www.summitracing.com/ parts/icp-360018-e). It reads in Celsius and Fahrenheit in .1-degree increments with an accuracy of +/-2 percent of the reading. The range is from -52° below zero all the way up to 1022° F.

how much heat is still in the tyres. The best option is to assume the first burnout never happened. Reset the air pressure in the tyres again before entering the water box and then conduct a normal burnout. “A well-adjusted race car will come straight out of the water box on the burnout and lay down nice, straight rubber tracks. If your car comes out sideways, it is not only dangerously out of control, but it will lay down tracks that are skewed and useless. “Wheel weight distribution affects how straight the car will come out of the water. This works the opposite way from what happens on the actual run. If the rear end starts going to the right out of the water, you have too much right rear bite and you need to take spring from (loosen) the left front. If the car goes to the left out of the box, you have too much left rear bite and you need to add spring (tighten) the left front.” As you can see, there’s a lot to consider. Reading the track, working tyre pressure to your advantage, and making the car work under varying track conditions can spell the difference between going rounds or ending your day early. It all adds up. For more from Jerry Bickel Race Cars, visit www.jerrybickel.com

Summit Racing tyre covers (www. s u m m i t ra c i n g . c o m / p a r t s / s u m g1990andra) prevent the sun from heating and expanding your slicks. The vinyl covers are available as wraparounds for dragsters and roadsters, or with suction cups for doorslammers with fiberglass or steel bodies. You can even get this one with the ANDRA logo on it. Summit Racing covers for doorslammers have a soft fabric inside layer that won’t damage your paint.

Behind the Wheel with Jr. Dragster Michelle Abel. “I love everything about racing. The adrenaline rush, the smell, the noise, the community, the friends I’ve made. I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world.”

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TAMWORTH STRIVING AHEAD WITH PLANS FOR NEW DRAG STRIP When the Tamworth Drag Racing Association was established in 1990, the club aspired to build a drag strip right there in the country town.

While land has long been ear-marked for the new 1/8th mile international-spec drag strip, it has been a lengthy journey for the club’s dedicated group of members. Now, Club President Matt Edwards says he is pleased to confirm they have received approval of the necessary Development Application (DA) from council. “We have had the land there ready to go for a long time in the Tamworth Motor Sports Complex, but it has been a big task to get the DA across the line so it is pretty exciting to now have that step completed,” Edwards explained. “We have teamed up with the local sports car club to help get it over the line and we are now working together on lobbying for the funding necessary to make the track a reality. “This will be no easy task either, but we are one step closer to seeing Tamworth having its only purpose-built 1/8th mile drag strip and we are really happy to now be focusing on this next step of gaining funding.”

While the club may have been working hard at making its dreams of building its own drag strip a reality, that hasn’t stopped them from keeping drag racing fans and competitors happy over the years.

“In 1992 we started running events on closed public roads – as far as we know, we are the only ones in the country to have ever had a Top Fuel dragster on a public road!” said Edwards. “We had everything on-deck over the years – from modified and sports cars to Top Alcohol Altereds and Nitro-fuelled Bikes as well as the Wild Bunch, as they were called then, including the likes of Victor Bray and Ben Gatt. “We ran those events until around 1994 and then in the year 2000, we started running at the Gunnedah Airport where we continue to run today. “We hold four events on the air strip each year – weather permitting of course – and we will continue to do so as we search for the funding for the 1/8th mile track.” An event was held as recently as August 11 and 12 at the Gunnedah Airport, with more than 60 racers turning out to compete in the two-day event. “It was a great weekend and we are already getting ready for the next one – our last event of 2018 – which will be held

across October 20 and 21,” Edwards said. “Once again the event will feature test and tune racing on the Saturday before we get into qualifying and racing on Sunday. “As the last event of the year we are expecting a good line-up of entrants and it should be a great weekend for all involved who enjoy true no-prep, grassroots drag racing.” While the club might be small, the efforts of this dedicated group of volunteers is far from it. “We are actually a pretty small club which I think makes what we have been able to put together over the years quite remarkable,” Edwards explained. “Nowadays we have a core group of around 10 to 12 people – I have been President for 10 years now and we have had pretty much that same core group working behind the scenes to put everything together. I am really proud of our team.” For more information on the Tamworth Drag Racing Association, search for ‘Tamworth Drag Racing Association’ on Facebook or contact Matt Edwards, Club President, on 0407 627 782 or tdrainc@hotmail.com

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT GETS BEHIND THE HIDDEN VALLEY DRAG STRIP Summit Racing Equipment was unveiled as a new supporting partner of the Hidden Valley Drag Strip during round one of the 2018/2019 Summit Racing Equipment Series, Nitro Up North.

The US automotive performance powerhouse has signed on as sponsor of the right-hand lane of the popular Darwin facility which hosted a fantastic opening to the 18/19 season in July – for the full event report, click here. Hidden Valley Drag Racing Association President, Matt Abel, said he was extremely pleased to welcome Summit Racing Equipment on-board. “Summit Racing Equipment are a leader in automotive performance and particularly in the field of drag racing, and we couldn’t be happier to have them throwing their support behind our

Association and the Hidden Valley Drag Strip,” Abel said.

“To be able to unveil Summit Racing Equipment’s new lane signage at our biggest event of the year, Nitro Up North, was really special too.” For more on Nitro Up North and the Hidden Valley Drag Strip, please visit www.hiddenvalleydrags.com

About Summit Racing Equipment For 50 years, Summit Racing Equipment has set and reset the standard for fast shipping, customer service, and tech expertise while following a simple formula: give customers the parts they want at a fair price, deliver those parts fast, and back them with the best

customer service on the planet.

Customers can order online at SummitRacing.com or via the free Summit Racing app with millions of parts in stock from more than 1,4000 name brands, with racing, street performance, off-roading, restoration and resto mod, tools and shop equipment, gearhead collectables and apparels all reflected in the range. As a Summit Racing Pro Shop member, ANDRA racers qualify for exclusive discount pricing and are also granted the same access as their US counterparts to expert tech advice, plus fast and easy special ordering on those hard-to-find parts. For more information or to become a Summit Racing Pro Shop member, visit www.summitracing.com/proshop Photo by HighRPM

championship points

TOP SPORTSMAN

PTS

SUPER STREET

PTS

SUPERCHARGED OUTLAWS

PTS

MODIFIED BIKE

PTS

Jason Arbery Darren Saliba Ricky Smith Eddy Tassone Vlado Turic

Mark Hunt Paul Stephen Troy Wittwer Mike Evans Adam Murrihy

MODIFIED

Jess Voigt Chris Farrell Ashley Johnson Adam Mundy Glenn Bull

230 210 180 110 110

100 80 60 60 20

PTS 210 130 110 100 80

Nikolas Karanovic Tim Bryan Theo Karamanidis Stephen Greenfield Craig McGregor

Colin Sainsbury Brian Hotker Johnny Ireland Mark Tattingham Bryan Finn

JUNIOR DRAGSTER

Jake Berias Aidan Abel Daniel Carranza Michelle Abel Maddison Harris

150 110 100 80 80

160 110 110 100 100

PTS 250 200 130 80 60

SUPER SEDAN Peter Tzokas David Todd Brian Thomas Martin Mirco Alex Gkroidis

CLICK HERE

PTS 250 140 120 110 90

FOR FULL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

championship calendar ROUND 1

HIDDEN VALLEY DRAG STRIP - NT NITRO UP NORTH

JULY 13-14, 2018

ROUND 2

ALICE SPRINGS INLAND DRAGWAY - NT DESERT NATIONALS

JULY 21-22, 2018

ROUND 3

THE SUNSET STRIP - MILDURA, VIC SUNSET STRIP NATIONALS

SEPT 22-23, 2018

ROUND 4

SOUTH COAST RACEWAY - PORTLAND, VIC

NOV 10-11, 2018

ROUND 5

PERTH MOTORPLEX - WA GOLDENSTATES

DEC 1, 2018

ROUND 6

SOUTH COAST RACEWAY - PORTLAND, VIC SOUTH COAST 660

JAN 12-13, 2019

ROUND 7

THE SUNSET STRIP - MILDURA, VIC

FEB 15-16, 2019

ROUND 8

PERTH MOTORPLEX - WA WESTERNATIONALS

MAR 2-3, 2019

ROUND 9

PERTH MOTORPLEX - WA GRAND FINALS

APR 6-7, 2019

COLIN ‘BALDY’ SAINSBURY

racer profile Age 59 years old Hometown Moulden, Palmerston; NT Occupation Telehandler Operator Started Racing 1997 in Street Bike Classes competed Street Bike and Modified Bike Best ET and Speed 8.90s at 152mph Sponsors Hutchinson Builders, Alicross Motorcycle Engineering, Wilkinson Engineering, Darwin River Diggers, Rogues Social Motorcycle Club and the Footy Tips Mob. Favourite Race Vehicle Top Fuel Motorcycle and Pro Bike, I like both! Favourite TV Show Speedweek Favourite Food Pasta Favourite race track Darwin and Alice and while I haven’t raced there yet, the Perth Motorplex!

How does it feel to be leading the Modified Bike points standings after two rounds of the 18/19 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series?

It is all going good so far and I am very happy that I have gotten as far as I have. I did have a crack at the Series last year but we blew the bike up in Darwin at the start of the season and that put me out for a year while we worked on the bike to make it stronger. It has a big motor and we were just continually breaking things. We put in a new billet gearbox from the United States and a new clutch and we are slowly getting back to where we were in early 2017. This is a great start, and I am very happy with the bike – Richard Cross of Alicross Motorcycle Engineering has done a beautiful job with it and Wilkinson Engineering have done some great machining as well. You were the runner-up at round two’s Desert Nationals in Alice Springs – how did that event unfold for you?

While I was happy with the bike I was very disappointed in myself – I red lighted in the final and I should have taken that out! I got anxious though and that is just racing, it is the way it goes sometimes. I know Finny (event winner Bryan Finn) and he is a top bloke as are all of the other racers, so my regards go to all of them, they are a top mob. What do you love about racing?

I love the excitement and the thrill of it, but especially the people – the people you meet along the way. It is a way of life really and it is hard to explain, but I just love it. It is one of those things and I don’t think there is anything else that I could do, I am so glad that I did choose to start. What are your favourite highlights?

22 fastlane

Being involved in the Trans-Tasman Drag Bike Challenge in 2005 and again in 2008 was a big highlight for me. I have to say thank you to

Athol Williams and also his crew chief Roger Bloor for all the help they offered while we were over there. A lot of things unfolded in our time over there including trips to the NZ Nationals and some great racing, and it was really great to meet all of the racers over there. They would later come over here to race at Darwin and Alice Springs – we have a good rivalry going! As far as local highlights, it has to be when I Top Qualified at Alice Springs back in 2016! With rounds one and two now complete, what are your goals and expectations for the rest of the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series?

Living in Darwin it is hard to get to all of the events but I am going to try and get to as many events as possible from December onwards. I know I can be competitive so I would really like to have a go at the Series. I am looking forward to heading down South and hopefully over to Perth as well, I would love to race there, it is a really fantastic track. I am looking out for sponsors at the moment to help me get the trailer over there so if anybody wants to help me out that would be terrific! This will be the second time I have tried to chase the series, last season we were going to but then we had the breakdown, hopefully we can have a proper crack at it this time around. Is there anyone you would like to shine the spotlight on for their role in your racing career?

A mate of mine who we all used to call The Flying Doctor Flick (Wayne Bird) was in Modified Bike and racing in Alice Springs and he got me into the sport – I used to pit crew for him and it was a big highlight for me, and in the end I ended up saying ‘you are having too much fun, I am going to get a bike together and start doing this myself’ and I did that in 2004. I have to thank him and his Centreforce Drag Racing team for getting me into Modified Bike. Photo by HighRPM

PROUDLY SUPPORTING ANDRA

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JAKE BERIAS

racerprofile AGE 14 years old

HOMETOWN Werribee, VIC OCCUPATION Student STARTED RACING 2015 CLASSES COMPETED C, B and currently racing A BEST ET AND SPEED 7.77s at 84mph SPONSORS Harley Heaven Melbourne, Werribee South Farm Supplies, D Berias & Sons, Casabene Group and LT Egg Farms FAVOURITE RACE VEHICLE Doorslammer FAVOURITE TV SHOW Street Outlaws FAVOURITE FOOD Mum’s lamb roast FAVOURITE RACE TRACK Sunset Strip, Mildura VIC

What do you love about racing?

I love the adrenalin of going fast and racing in a family friendly environment. How did you get into racing?

I am the third generation of Berias Motorsport’s racers, following in the footsteps of my grandfather, Alec Berias, and my father, Chris Berias. What do you consider as your racing highlights?

Winning my first ANDRA Tree at the Andrew Rowe Memorial held at Calder Park Raceway in 2017 was definitely a highlight! Also Top qualifying and winning the Darwin event in 2018 and being successful in backing it up the next weekend at the Desert Nationals in Alice Springs What do you love about Junior Dragster Racing?

Junior dragster racing is a great family-orientated sport. It is amazing how many families you meet from all around Australia and how all of the racers and support crew work and support each other even though it is a competition.

The competition is tough out there on the drag strip. I can only hope for the best, but obviously a win would be fantastic!

What is your ultimate racing goal/dream?

Firstly, I have to thank my dad Chris who is prepared to transport the car and family around Australia to race meetings. Also I have to thank my family including my mum Wendy, sister Tayla and my Grandfather Alec; and also the Bishops for all of their endless help and support.

My ultimate racing goal is to win a Championship in Junior Dragster. What do your school mates think about what you do?

My mates are supportive of me and always interested in my events.

24 fastlane

Your 18/19 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series journey has gotten off to a brilliant start with two wins from two events – was that expected and do you think you can take out the title this year?

Is there anyone you would like to thank for being part of your drag racing journey?

Photos by HighRPM (dragster photo) and DragsSA.com (presentation photo)

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PALMYRA SU

FAREWELLED WITH With the laying of a new racing surface imminent at Palmyra Raceway, the Palmyra Drag Racing Club farewelled the existing surface in style earlier this month with the Sunstates Pro Tree Shootout.

The 17/18 August event had big prize money on offer for the competitors, including a $5,000 cash prize for Supercomp thanks to Coalroc Contractors, $1,000 in cash and prizes for the Junior Dragsters thanks to CFZ Racing, $1,000 in cash for the street class thanks to Torque Enterprises, $1000 cash for Super Street thanks to Down Under Training, $1000 cash for Race

Bike thanks to Filtawash Mackay and $1000 cash for Modified Bike thanks to Vassallo Buses in Sarina.

Modified Bike, Race Bike, Junior Dragster, Street, Super Street, Competition and Super Comp competitors all came out in support of a great day of racing ahead of the track’s temporary closure for the resurfacing. Taking out victories on the day were Michael Brice (Modified Bike), Greg Martin (Race Bike), Harrison Thwaite (Junior Dragster), Ron Shaw (Street), Adam McNichol (Super Street), Nathan Rose (Competition), and Michael Obst (Super Comp). “What a great day the Sunstate Pro Tree Shootout was for all involved and a great way to celebrate all that we have here at Palmyra Raceway and all that is coming – with the new

track surface being laid soon, it is certainly an exciting time for all of us at the club,” Palmyra Drag Racing Club President, Glenn Cunningham, said.

“Our congratulations go to all of the racers on a fantastic weekend of racing – we look forward to welcoming you all back when the track re-opens later this year.” The impending laying of a new hot mix surface down from just past the 60 foot mark (after the concrete) to 40 metres past the quarter-mile finish line has been made possible thanks to $160,000 of funding the Palmyra Drag Racing Club has received from the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Infrastructure Stream. Upgrades to safety barriers will also be undertaken which will also help with flood

URFACE

H EPIC EVENT water mitigation in the long term.

That funding commitment follows on from the club receiving $120,000 as part of the Palaszczuk Government re-election promise late in 2017, which played a significant part in the track being able to access this new level of funding which was announced recently by Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, and the Federal Member for Dawson, George Christensen. “Our current track surface is approximately 28 years old, so it was very exciting to confirm this resurfacing activity thanks to this new funding along with the club’s own substantial cash contribution,” Glenn said. “This new surface will allow us to bring some bigger events back to regional Queensland,

and we are very excited about what the future holds. “Special thanks has to go to the Mackay Regional Council which helped us with engineering feasibility reports as well as helping us with a report to explain the economic benefits which would be possible for the region if the funding went ahead.

surface has to sit for about a month after it is laid before we can use it. We hope to be back out racing in October or November.

“ANDRA also was a great help when it came to reports on the safety barriers and track surfaces along with their support to help us get some big events back to Palmyra.

“With 2018 being the 50th anniversary of the Palmyra Dragway facility, I am just so excited about what the future holds for this track for all those involved.”

“Our thanks go to these people and also to all our members old and new for their support while we undertake these repairs – it will mean a few months of no racing, but we need to get it done before the wet season as the

For more information on Palmyra Dragway, please visit www.palmyradragway.com.au Track photo: Palmyra Drag Racing Club Action photos: Rogue Snapper Photography

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FIRST TIME

WINNERSARE

GRINNERS The northern swing to open the 2018 / 2019 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series saw a number of first-time winners ‘crowned’ across the Nitro Up North and Desert Nationals events at the Hidden Valley Drag Strip and Alice Springs Inland Dragway.

Fastlane Magazine caught up with them to find out what they thought about it all.

MARK TATTINGHAM

MODIFIED BIKE WINNER, NITRO UP NORTH “My wife makes most of my trophies live downstairs but this one is going in the lounge room, I don’t care what she says,” the Allicross Engineeringsupported racer laughed. “This is my first Christmas tree, I have been trying the last three years and we were getting knocked out in the first round, so it is pretty happy days that we have gotten through.”

THEO KARAMANIDIS

SUPER STREET WINNER, NITRO UP NORTH

“This feels awesome, I have been trying to get one of these for three years!” Karamanidis said. “It was a special weekend for us too being the John Sorensen Memorial – John Sorensen was our original crew chief and he started Beat the Heat. He died 11 years ago (on the Saturday of the event) so it was quite good to take the win on this day. “We had a good start to the weekend, the car was really consistent which it always is. We had good qualifying times, the weather was good to us, and I can’t complain about how it all unfolded. Qualifying was good and (on Saturday) all of our runs were pretty consistent up to the last run which was good and we actually went a bit quicker. “I have to thank my team from Beat the Heat, they are a great bunch of people to do this with, as well as our sponsors SCF Constructions, Penrite Oils, Repco and Toward Zero.”

JESS VOIGT

MODIFIED WINNER, NITRO UP NORTH “I saw (runner-up Warren Bull) next to me so I was a bit unsure (if I had it), but I was very

happy to come home with the win,” Voigt explained while thanking Matt’s Paint N Panel, Dear Lyla, Sherwood Estates and Mark Lewis Signs for their support. “This is pretty exciting, it is my first Christmas tree! “I wasn’t really expecting it, it is a good win. We were pretty consistent all weekend, all of our qualifiers were pretty spot on and consistent and then on Saturday again we were running very consistently which was good. “I never like to go into a competition expecting to win, that is my mindset, I don’t want to get my hopes up I guess, but it was a great finish for the weekend.”

NIKOLAS KARANOVIC SUPER STREET NATIONALS

WINNER,

DESERT

“The weekend started out well, it was looking like a really interesting weekend and everyone was very competitive so I knew I had to bring my A-game,” Karanovic said. “Having the qualifier (on Sunday morning) helped me get my head around the tree and really focused in on it. In the first round I came out and cut a good light and ran close to my dial-in too – there is not much more you can really do and it was a really close

NIKOLAS KARANOVIC

race to the finish line. “In the second round it was the same sort of thing; really all of the racing over the weekend was really close and competitive. Coming into the final I had to chase my opponent Steve all the way to the finish line, it was a good race! “Alice Springs is always a great track and it was awesome all weekend, I can’t fault the track or the running of the event, it was amazing. My thanks goes to all of the great people, volunteers, ANDRA and everyone who puts in their time and effort to make the event what it is. “I also have to thank my mum and dad, my sister Carmine, Gawler Mechanical, Wayne Cleaning Systems, Fresh Fruit For You, Michael Jennings, Mike Braun from The Coffee Barun, all of the people we travelled with and also all of the racers for making the event what it was.”

ADAM MUNDY

MODIFIED WINNER, DESERT NATIONALS “The Desert Nationals was a fantastic weekend. The car was on-song all weekend and I managed to pull some very good lights too – some double zeros and a triplezero in the last round of qualifying too,” Mundy enthused.

“In the first round I had a bye with a last minute withdrawal by Dave Hutchen, and then I was up against Jess Voigt and we both broke out – but luckily I broke out less!

ADAM MUNDY

“The track was getting better and better all day, I was even able to up my launch as the track was that sticky I didn’t get any wheelspin. “In the final it was side by side over the line and neither Simon (Barlow) or I knew who won. When I found out it was me, I was over the moon as this is my first ANDRA Christmas Tree.

MARK TATTINGHAM

“I have to say a big thank you to my crew, my dad and crew chief Des Mundy, John Boundey, Leon and Lisa Davies for all of their help and Steve and Leanne Braggs for an awesome car and all of their assistance over the last 12 months. “Finally I have to say a big well done to ANDRA and everyone at Alice Springs Dragway, what an awesome weekend! I am still floating!”

THEO KARAMANIDIS

For full results from Nitro Up North and the Desert Nationals, please click here. Image credits (Mundy and Karanovic): DragsSA.com

Image credits (Voigt, Tattingham and Karamanidis): HighRPM

JESS VOIGT

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QLD CHAMPS

FINAL ROUND BEC With round two of the Summit Racing Queensland Championships run and won at the Palmyra Drag Racing Club recently, the final round is all that stands between the racers and their prestigious copper ANDRA Christmas Tree trophies.

Hoping to continue their winning momentum in Gladstone will be Anthony Walker (Super Street), Matt Halpin (Street Bike), Earl McCallum (Super Sedan), Rodney Hansen (Supercharged Outlaws), Dale Sonogan (Modified/Top Sportsman), Tayla Kelly (Junior Dragster), Sonja Wagensveld (Street) and Laeith Skinner (Modified Bike) who all claimed victories after two intense days of racing in Mackay across June 29-30. Taking the runners-up honours were Richard Dawe (Super Street), Rachel Wilkins (Street Bike), Gavin List (Super Sedan), Randall

Mohr (Supercharged Outlaws), Michael Obst (Modified/Top Sportsman), Sarah Brett (Junior Dragster), Sarah Langridge (Street) and Peter Johnson (Modified Bike). After coming home as the runner-up for round one in the Outlaws bracket, Hansen was happy to go one better at Palmyra Raceway for round two. “It was a good weekend, it is always good to turn up at a race track and see huge improvements, that is always a great thing,” said Hansen, who thanked Gilroy’s Automatics, Paigepower Race Engines and Hansen’s Automotive for their support of his racing.

“We were happy with where we qualified and then went into racing and unfortunately there were a few guys with some breakages which left a few bye runs and so forth. “All in all though the car went well, and my crew Jason Page and Cory Hess did a great job – it makes my job easy when we have the car doing everything as it should.

“You never expect a win – it is always a tough bracket to race in and we all have to race to the same conditions and be able to adapt to the conditions of the day. The Palmyra club and its guys and girls have got that pretty well down-pat now and they gave us a good surface to race on. They also did a great job with the BBQ for the racers on the Friday night followed by breakfast on the Saturday morning – it is great to see stuff like that which brings everyone together and adds a social aspect to the event too. “The Summit Racing Queensland Championships is a great series, we all need to get behind it and keep it moving forward and evolving so the brackets and the series can grow.” Another racer who built on their round one efforts to take victory at round two was Street Bike racer Matt Halpin, who went all the way to the win after taking the runner-up honours at the opening event. “It was a good weekend for us, everything

CKONS went smoothly. It was our first trip up to Palmyra and we were really happy with the track and how it all went, it was a well-run show,” Halpin said, while thanking Yamaha dealership Halpin Motors for their support of his racing.

“I ran both of the bike classes, Street Bike and Modified Bike. We had a bit of luck I think in the Street Bike class and in Modified Bike I just wasn’t quite as good as a few of the others on the day. “It was certainly busy racing two bikes, we did it at round one and will be doing it again at round three too – it will be good to go up there and have some more fun; Benaraby is always a fun track and I love going up there.” The third and final round of the 2018 Summit Racing Queensland Championship will be held at Benaraby Raceway on the 22nd of September, 2018. For more information on the Summit Racing Queensland Championship, please visit www.facebook.com/andra.QLD.Champs/ Photos by Rogue Snapper Photography

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NITROUPNORTH SETS COMPETITIVE SPIRIT ALIGHT An enthusiastic crowd soaked up two days of Nitro Up North racing at the Hidden Valley Drag Strip in July (13-14), with the popular event officially opening the 18/19 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series.

Day one was all about who would take out the top qualifying honours. By the end of an epic day and night of racing action in Darwin, it was Jake Berias (Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster), Leith Darrach (Modified Bike), Gavin Pocock (Super Street), Ashley Smith (Super Sedan), Chris Farrell (Modified), Adam Murrihy (Supercharged Outlaws) and Darren Saliba (Top Sportsman) who laid claim to the fastest qualifying times for their respective brackets. In recognition of their Top Qualifying efforts, each of the racers were presented a Top Qualifiers Medallion thanks to TileCoTheShowerPeople as well as a 25 percent off RRP voucher for any KC Tools outlet, and a Summit Racing Equipment pack. Come Saturday, it was time for the racing to get serious. When all was said and done, it was Jake Berias (Summit Racing Equipment

Junior Dragster), Mark Tattingham (Modified Bike), Theo Karamanidis (Super Street), Peter Tzokas (Super Sedan), Jess Voigt (Modified), Mark Hunt (Supercharged Outlaws) and Jason Arbery (Top Sportsman) who would hoist their ANDRA Christmas Trees to great applause.

McGregor (Rosbery, NT) and his Holden Rodeo booked their spot in the final round by taking on and defeating last year’s event winner Tim Bryan in the semi-final with that win coming hot on the heels of victory over Sarah-Mae Bates in round one.

Also celebrated at the presentations were runners-up Aiden Abel (Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster), Heath Costello (Modified Bike), Craig McGregor (Super Street), Dave Todd (Super Sedan), Glenn Bull (Modified), Paul Stephen (Supercharged Outlaws) and Rick Smith (Top Sportsman).

To find out what Karamanidis had to say about it all, click here.

To the delight of the spectators, NT locals were well represented in taking the qualifying, runner-up and outright victory honours, with Pocock, Darrach, Smith, Murrihy, Karamanidis, McGregor, Tattingham, Costello and Abel all calling the Territory home. In the Super Street bracket, a maiden ANDRA Christmas Tree win came on a poignant day for Beat the Heat NT racer, Theo Karamanidis. He found himself in the final aboard his Holden VY Commodore after taking a bye in the semi-final following on from victories against Justin Neck (round two) and Top Qualifier Gavin Pocock (round one). Runner-up

For Arbery, the Nitro Up North results represented back-to-back success at the event and a perfect start to his Top Sportsman title defence. The 2017 John Storm Memorial Winner from South Australia took on Victoria’s Smith in the final after dispatching Eddy Tassone (semi) and Vlado Turic (round one) earlier in the night. Smith meanwhile had faced off against Top Qualifier Darren Saliba (semi) and Daniel Johnston on his way to the final match-up. “It couldn’t get any better, I am really happy with the results. To come up (to Darwin) last year and win was huge for us and I didn’t think in my wildest dreams that we could back it up this year and we have,” Arbery said while thanking sponsors Komatsu Forrest, Henley Chassis and Trident Tyre Centre. “I am extremely proud of the boys, a lot of

people have come up to help me and the family were here with me. It has been a great team effort – everyone has a team but you can’t do this without a great team and I certainly have a great team. Thanks also to my sponsors of course, they help get me here, I just have to thank everyone for backing me; I am stoked.” Like Karamanidis, Voigt was another first-time winner, claiming the victory in the Modified bracket during her maiden trip to the Hidden Valley Drag Strip. The South Australian took on local racer Bull in the final after having earlier dispatched Ashley Johnston (semi) and Mick Bowden (round one) while enjoying a bye run in round two. Bull had his own bye run in the semi-final after having earlier faced off against Sergio Bonetti (round two) and David Hutchen (round one). The victory came as quite a surprise for Voigt, who confessed she had not been expecting the result. For more on what she had to say, click here. Earlier in the racing proceedings, Modified Top Qualifier Medallion recipient Farrell continued his speedy work of Friday to reset the national A/MA speed record to 188.17 miles per hour – becoming the first to set a national record at the Hidden Valley Drag Strip in the process. “I was pretty confident we would be able to set the record in Darwin as I tested at Swan Hill Dragway three weeks before the event and I ran a 188.97mph pass as well as a couple of ‘188s’,” Farrell explained while thanking Daniel Collings Auto Electric, Craig Carrison Race Engines, Matt Despirit Transmissions, his wife Jenny, nephew Joshua and his whole family for their ongoing support; as well as Steve and Leanne Braggs and his South Coast crew who travelled with him to the event. “As long as the air was good I was pretty confident we could do it, and it was. The track was brilliant too of course and I knew the car could do it. “When we ran that pass on the Saturday in the first round of eliminations I could feel that

we had nailed it. We launched it hard, with the track being good we knew we could wind it up a bit and traction wouldn’t be a problem. “After that we switched our focus to the racing in round two, but unfortunately, I missed the light – my visor fogged up a bit and I struggled with a light shining on the tree, but that is racing and you just have to learn and be ready next time.” For Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster racer Berias it was a good weekend from start to finish with the Victorian youngster claiming the Top Qualifying honours before going on to take the win in the final over local racer (Marlow Lagoon) Aiden Abel. On his way to the victory Berias also raced and won against Madison Harris (semi) and one of Aiden’s sisters, Danielle Abel (round one), while also taking in a bye run in round two. Aiden meanwhile defeated his sister, Michelle Abel (round one), before going on to take the win over Zara Board in round two ahead of a bye in his semi-final. “From the start of the weekend it was good, we came out a bit slow but from the second qualifier we were a bit faster and we stayed number one,” said Berias, who thanked Harley Heaven Melbourne, Berias Vegetable Farms and Werribee South Farm Supplies as well as his mum and dad. “As it got cooler, we tried going a bit faster and went a bit too fast; and then (Saturday) was just brilliant. All day was good, we won the first round and had a bye into the semis, and then we won that and the final was that close you couldn’t even see it.” In the Modified Bike bracket the spectators were on tenterhooks for what was an all-NT final when Tattingham (from Leanyer) and Heath Costello (Howard Springs) faced off for the event honours. Winner Tattingham and his Kawasaki ZX12R had booked his ticket to the final stand-off after earlier defeating Mick Day (semi) and Edge Mallis (round one) and Leith Darrach (round two).

Unfortunately, the race against Darrach saw the Top Qualifier come off his bike in the braking area and he was transported to hospital for observation. The racer was soon on social media assuring everyone that he was going to be A-okay. Costello meanwhile had an easy ticket to the final aboard his Harley Davidson with a byerun earned courtesy of earlier wins over Colin ‘Baldy’ Sainsbury and Johnny ‘Hog’ Ireland. To hear what Tattingham had to say about his break-through win, click here. It was an all-South Aussie final in Super Sedan with reigning champion and event winner Tzokas and runner-up Todd putting on a show for the fans. Todd had earlier taken wins over Mick Fenton (semi) and Bill Ausling in his Holden Gemini after earlier enjoying a bye run in round one. Meanwhile on his way to what was a back-toback Nitro Up North victory, Tzokas had taken victory in his Holden Torana over Michael Dureau (round one) and Ned Karanovic (round two) before taking a bye run in the semi-final. In the Supercharged Outlaws bracket, South Australian Hunt found himself in the final against New South Wales’ Stephen after having defeated Mike Evans in the semi-final and Butch Morrison earlier in the night in his 1956 Ford Customline. Stephen and his 33 Dodge meanwhile took a semi-final win against Troy Wittner who had the chutes out early and also Adam Murrihy (round one), who had earlier this weekend taken out the Top Qualifier Medallion for the bracket. ANDRA thanks the Hidden Valley Drag Racing Association as well as all of the volunteers and sponsors for an outstanding race track and a well-run event For full results from Nitro Up North at the Hidden Valley Drag Strip, please click here. Images thanks to HighRPM

34 fastlane

SPORTSMAN RACING

SEES DESERT ROAR TO LIFE Alice Springs Inland Dragway’s Desert Nationals saw the desert come to life across July 21-22 for what was round two of the 2018/2019 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series.

Fans and racers alike were delighted by two great days of racing action, but especially ecstatic at how things turned out were Jake Berias (Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster), Bryan Finn (Modified Bike), Peter Tzokas (Super Sedan), Nikolas Karanovic (Super Street), Adam Mundy (Modified) and Darren Saliba (Top Sportsman), who all hoisted ANDRA Christmas Trees after taking victory in their respective brackets. Claiming the runner-up honours were Aidan Abel (Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster), Colin ‘Baldy’ Sainsbury (Modified Bike), Brian Thomas (Super Sedan), Steve Greenfield (Super Street), Simon Barlow (Modified) and Jason Arbery (Top Sportsman). For Peter Tzokas, the defending Super Sedan champion, the win in Alice Springs was his second event win in just over a week after he was victorious at Nitro Up North. The result also marked his third straight win at Alice

Springs’ Desert Nationals event.

On his way to facing Brian Thomas in the final, Tzokas dispatched Alex Gkroidis, Kevin McIvor and Ned Karanovic (round one). Thomas meanwhile had faced off against Martin Mirco (semi-final), Rob Evans and Debbie Robb. Earlier in the day, Andrew Thompson had claimed the Top Qualifier Medallion – thanks to TileCo-TheShowerPeople and KC Tools – before losing out to Gkroidis in round two. “It was fantastic to get two wins and two ANDRA Christmas trees from two events and all in less than eight days, but you know what, nothing beats taking three Desert National events in a row,” said Peter while accepting his trophy and thanking his wife and his sponsors Marz Civil, Joe’s Towing and Des Jeffree. “I am absolutely stoked. This is a pretty great start to our season too and now we are off to Mildura to do it all again. “It is a big ask to get three wins in a row, but I am going to give it my best shot! It is always a big ask to win in Super Sedan, there is such good competition in the bracket.” Also claiming back-to-back round wins was Jake Berias in the Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster ranks, with the final in this category bringing about a Nitro Up North re-

match with Berias once again taking on and defeating Aidan Abel in the final.

On his way to his second win of the season, Berias took on Daniel Carranza, Sarah Osborne and Madison Sparrow while Abel enjoyed a bye run in his semi-final after having earlier taken wins from his sister and Top Qualifier Michelle Abel, and also Brodie Zappia (round one). The excitement of the repeat winners was rivalled by that of Super Street winner Nikolas Karanovic and Modified winner Adam Mundy, with each claiming their first ANDRA Christmas trees this weekend. To find out what they had to say about their respective victories, click here. For Karanovic, the Super Street victory came after a close race against Steve Greenfield which followed wins over Michael Giannovos, Robyn Phillis and Des Jeffree. Greenfield booked his ticket to the final by defeating Top Qualifier Cory Read, Tim Bryan and Lisa Sherry. On his way to defeating Top Qualifier Medallion recipient Simon Barlow in the Modified finale, Mundy took victory from Nitro Up North winner Jess Voigt after enjoying a bye in the opening round. Barlow had emerged victorious from battles against Chris Farrell (semi) and Gavin Chisnell and

while he couldn’t take out the event win, he did reset the A/MD national ET and MPH records to 6.871s and 197.87mph. “We are always happy to reset records, even though we don’t actively chase them,” Barlow said. “The car was running really well in Alice Springs and the numbers we ran were a little better than expected for the conditions, considering we were running at effectively 3500 foot of air which isn’t the best for making power. I was expecting low 6.90s, so to pull out a 6.87 second pass was rather pleasing. “The last time we raced in Alice Springs was in 2015 when we were lucky enough to come away with a win. We were hoping for a repeat and we gave it our best shot but could only manage to snare the runner up result. Our congratulations go to Adam Mundy in his dragster on his first Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series win. “All in all it was a great event – the Alice Springs track is a great track to race at, the club do a great job along with the volunteers. All of the team at Alice Springs really turned on a brilliant event.” For Modified Bike racer and former champion Bryan Finn, the Desert Nationals marked another fun and “lucky” chapter in his drag racing journey. “Once again I have been lucky! I could stand here and say I am super talented and that is why I won, but the reality is I just have some Irish luck on my side,” laughed Finn. “At the end of the day as long as I am laughing and having fun, it is all good.

“We got up to Alice Springs on Wednesday and had a grand old time in the lead-up, and when it came down to the racing we just went out, did some laps and had fun, and it all worked out great for us! “I have to send my thanks to Deon McHugh Signs, American Muscle Cars, McLEOD Drilling, Toll Port Augusta, Northern Motorcycles and Butlers Mechanical. Also to Archie, Fabian and Brian (Brains) Moore – party on!” In the Top Sportsman ranks, electrical issues battled since Darwin couldn’t stop Darren Saliba from Top Qualifying and then taking the win over reigning champion Jason Arbery. On their way to the final, Saliba had successfully faced off against Rick Smith (semi) after enjoying a bye run in the opening stanza while Arbery had taken on Vlado Turic (semi) and Greg Damiani. “It was a total shock to take the win in Alice Springs, to be honest we didn’t expect to get through the meeting the way the engine was,” explained Saliba, who thanked his family, crew and sponsors Creative Concrete SA, Competition Automotive and Autobarn Elizabeth as well as Howard Springs Caravan Park for their support during the Alice Springs event. “In Darwin we Top Qualified and then we hurt the engine, we put a new lifter in and kept going and went out in the semi-final to Rick Smith. “Then we were off to Alice and continuing to have problems, seeing us trying to work out why one bank on the car was not working, and we still have that problem now!” Saliba said after the event.

“We still managed to Top Qualify and then had a bye run into the semis. Once again, we faced off against Rick Smith in the semi-final but this time we were able to get the win and we went on to race the Australian number one, Jason Arbery, in the final. “Jason is one tough competitor to beat, but I cut a good light and we were able to take the win. It was a very pleasant surprise as we didn’t know how we were going to make it through the meeting or if it was going to pull up or blow up, luckily it didn’t blow up! “We had a really enjoyable time and we can’t wait to see what we can do across the rest of the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series season,” concluded Saliba while giving a nod to ANDRA, Summit Racing Equipment, the Central Australian Drag Racing Association and Hidden Valley Drag Racing Association for their support of the recent events. ANDRA thanks the Central Australian Drag Racing Association as well as all of the volunteers and sponsors for an outstanding race track and a well-run event. For full results from the Desert Nationals at Alice Springs Inland Dragway, please click here. Round three of the 18/19 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series, the Sunset Strip Nationals, will be held at Mildura’s Sunset Strip across September 22 and 23. For more information on that event, please visit www. andra.com.au or www.sunsetstrip.org.au Images by DragsSA.com Images thanks to HighRPM

36 fastlane

SUNSET STRIP

JUNIOR NATIONALS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

A host of junior dragster racers descended on Milduraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sunset Strip in early August for the Sunraysia Drag Racing Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inaugural Sunset Strip Junior Nationals.

Held over two days, it was impossible to

Our congratulations go to the Sunraysia Drag

competitors and their families and friends as

was a great event, and to all of the racers and

wipe the smiles off the faces of the young

the community came together for a weekend of fun and racing.

Such was the success of the event, the club has already announced dates for the 2019 running of the event: August 9-11, 2019.

Racing Association and all involved on what

their families on a great weekend of racing.

In celebration, please enjoy this photo collage courtesy of Outlaw Images. For more on the event, please visit www.sunsetstrip.org.au Photos: Outlaw Images

faces r

at the

races

Photos by Jeremy Horvath, HighRPM

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