EDI T I O N 4 0 NOVEMBER 2023
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL DRAG RACING ASSOCIATION
RACINGFORACAUSE HORSEPOWER AND HEART COLLIDE to raise vital funds
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RACING FOR A CAUSE
STAGING
LANES
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TECH TORQUE 10
CHAMPIONSHIP RACER PROFILES POINTS
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ING SPTR IONALS NA
N GOLDES STATE
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Fastlane is produced by the Australian National Drag Racing Association LTD.
Editor: Amanda Cobb (media@andra.com.au) Design: Daniel Goonan - TwoSixOne Design ( www.twosixonedesign.com ) Photography : SPEEDPhotography, High Octane Photos, BrightDesign. com.au, Automotive Event Images, Phil Reeve Sports Photography.
ANDRA Staff
CEO: Tim McAvaney Licensing and Membership: Amanda Geddes & Janelle Mannix Media & PR Officer: Amanda Cobb Technical Officer: Scott Halfyard Chairman : Nathan Peirano
Contact Details
Phone: 08 8271 5355 Email: info@andra.com.au Address: 287 Payneham Road, Royston Park, South Australia 5070
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STAGING
LANES
NEW ANDRA LICENCING PLATFORM ANDRA is pleased to officially release its new online digital licensing platform.
Using the platform, ANDRA members can renew their ANDRA licence when it is due, and upon completion of that renewal, view their current licence and its status, upload medicals and update details – all from their device. In the near future, all licence holders will be able to login and view their current licence, with the system currently being populated with all current and historical licence records. The system will also soon handle logbook and technical applications, with testing on this stage of the system to be completed
before the end of the year. The launch of the online system will increase speed and efficiency for the processing of licence applications and renewals and allows ANDRA members to have more visibility and control over their licence status. Please note that the system will be populated with data as members renew their licence. This will be a gradual process and not every licence holder will be able to access the platform until this process is completed. To learn more, please click here and for any enquiries, please email info@andra.com.au
HAVE YOU GRABBED YOUR
SPECIAL EDITION OF FASTLANE YET? The ANDRA 50th Anniversary special edition Fastlane Commemorative Magazine is now available. With plenty of history, amazing photos and fantastic profiles on some of our sport’s biggest personalities, administrators and competitors over the 50 year journey, the 50th anniversary
of ANDRA special edition of Fastlane Magazine is a must read. Members may purchase the magazine at ANDRA head office, at selected race meetings, or by contacting ANDRA head office requesting postal delivery. To place an order email info@andra.com.au
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UPDATE FROM THE CEO It truly is a unique time in Australian drag racing history, and everyone is doing their best to work together for the best possible future for our great sport.
There are obstacles of course, and lessons have been learnt in the recent months in a number of key areas, but I can assure we are doing all we can for our members and our member tracks. One key area that has been hotly discussed in the recent times is the topic of insurance, and insurance costs. It is no secret that drag racing in Australia currently has some difficulties in relation to public liability insurance. It is very difficult when there are only a handful of insurers around the world that are interested in underwriting the risk in Australia. It is even more challenging when some of those then withdraw from the market altogether. That is what the sport is currently facing. ANDRA is privileged to have had a great relationship with our insurer for more than two decades. That time period has given our insurer confidence in ANDRA, its people, its systems and its risk management. Some competitors complain that our regulation is too difficult, that there is too much red tape and too many hoops to jump through to go racing. However, luckily for ANDRA and its members and member tracks, it is because of exactly this level of regulation that we now have insurance despite the current climate. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult in today’s litigious society. Australian courts are awarding claims where they would not be awarded in other countries. Our laws are different in Australia and need reform, and we are not alone in holding this belief. ANDRA is a member of the Australian Motorsport Council, along with Motorsports Australia, Speedway Australia, Motorcycling Australia and Karting Australia, and all five of these FIA approved Australian Motorsport Peak bodies are working towards the
ANDRA Chief Executive Officer Tim McAvaney same goals, and one of those is legal reform. We see other industries such as amusement rides and other recreational sporting activities also feeling the cost, so the pressure is building on the Government to change legislation so that we can also continue to operate in a strong regulatory environment. This means there is light at the end of the tunnel, and drag racing is not alone in this plight. Hopefully together, change can be achieved soon. In the meantime, ANDRA will continue to work hard towards better solutions to bring better solutions for our insurance needs. Another area of much discussion recently is October’s Spring Nationals at Dragway at The Bend. This was a great event for drag racing in South Australia, but there are a few lessons to be learnt from the weekend. It is undeniable that the massive crowd proved there is a huge appetite for drag racing in South Australia, a state that hasn’t seen a lot of racing in recent years. And the venue is clearly stateof-the-art, made possible directly by
one family – the Shahins – and for what they have created we will be forever grateful. From the Sportsman point of view, things could have gone a lot better, and I would like to personally thank everyone who took the time to tell us of their experiences, both good and bad. ANDRA apologises for the mistakes that we made along the way in our role as the peak body. We can now only draw a line in the sand and learn from our mistakes. I can assure you that ANDRA, Dragway at the Bend and NDRC are all working hard to address the issues moving forward. In the meantime, once again I would like to thank you for your feedback and your continued support as we navigate this new era of drag racing in Australia. If you have further feedback or questions you would like to share with us, please email info@andra.com.au As we approach the end of the year, I would also like to take this opportunity to wish a Merry Christmas to all of our ANDRA family. I wish you a safe festive season and I look forward to seeing you at the race track in 2024.
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ANDRA SECURES
INSURANCE TERMS
ANDRA is pleased to announce it has secured insurance terms for the new policy year. With all insurances due for ANDRA on September 30, it has been a busy time with negotiations through ANDRA’s broker Gallagher with underwriters for the sport’s Public Liability and Personal Accident Insurance schemes.
“With the current extremely difficult motorsport insurance market in Australia, our long relationship of more than two decades with our Public Liability
Underwriters was the key to securing a quality product catering for Drag Racing in Australia to a limit of $100 million”, said ANDRA CEO Tim McAvaney.
“Our Underwriters have been amazing and their faith in ANDRA’s management systems to manage this significant risk is acknowledged and sincerely appreciated. With some unfortunate recent accidents in Australian Drag Racing generally, there is not a lineup of Underwriters willing to back drag racing or any motorsport. The other quotes received were significantly
ARE YOU LOOKING
more expensive and problematic.” “We have also seen some other Underwriters withdraw from the market altogether, and there have been some issues finding cover for motorcycles, which is worrying. However, I am pleased to report motorcycles will continue to race as usual under ANDRA sanction.” For the full details, please click here. Photo courtesy of Automotive Event Images
MEMBER
FOR BENEFITS?
FREE TO JOIN!
The ANDRA Member Benefits Program has been created to offer its loyal members the opportunity to receive discounts to products from supporting companies. By joining the program, your business and products will be promoted to a performance-based target audience. Participating businesses of the ANDRA Member
Benefits Program receive promotion through ANDRA’s database of over 5000 members and race fans, as well as exposure through the ANDRA website and the regular MotorMail email newsletter. This is the perfect platform to launch new products, advertise monthly specials and any other sale promotions you may have.
If you would like more information on the program or want to complete your free registration, please visit www.andra.com.au/andra-member-benefits-program/ To view a listing of all ANDRA Member Benefits Program offers, please go to www.andra.com.au/directory/member-benefits-program-directory
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The ANDRA office will be closed for the Christmas break from Thursday the 21st of December 2023 and will return on Wednesday the 3rd of January 2024. The office will then be closed again on Friday 5th January. All at ANDRA wish you a happy and safe holiday season. If you need anything during this period, please contact your local Division Director.
GET ON BOARD
WITH ANDRA DRAG RACING
As a valued ANDRA business partner, you can receive maximum exposure through the ANDRA Drag Racing brand and its events. Your company will be showcased whenever and wherever possible, for example: racers will carry decals representing your logo, trophies will feature your branding, commentators will make reference to your involvement across events and media reports will highlight your involvement. There is a host of ways you can support ANDRA drag racing, including investment in the listed benefits.
FASTLANE MAGAZINE ADVERTISING (ONLINE) RULE BOOK ADVERTISING (HARD COPY AND ONLINE) MEMBER BENEFITS PROGRAM (FREE TO JOIN) WEBSITE RECOGNITION MOTOR MAIL FEATURE –
MOTOR MAIL IS OUR MEMBERS ONLY NEWSLETTER, CONTACT US TO SEE AN EXAMPLE IF YOU DON’T HAVE AN ANDRA MEMBER LOGIN
FACEBOOK/TWITTER RECOGNITION SPORTSMAN SERIES BRACKET SPONSORSHIP EVENT NAMING RIGHTS (AT SELECT EVENTS, PLEASE CONTACT US FOR MORE DETAILS) OFFICIAL SUPPLIER STATUS R UNNER-UP TROPHY SPONSOR FOR SPORTSMAN SERIES
For more information and to discuss opportunities, contact info@andra.com.au
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The Perth Motorplex’s WA Drag Racing Series opener played host to a very special competition to raise vital funds for two important charities. On October 28, a collision of horsepower and heart entertained at the Perth Motorplex’s WA Drag Racing Series opener while facilitating an impressive fundraising effort for Breast Cancer Care WA and CareFlight. At this event, Therapy on Wheels and Beat the Heat WA locked horns in an electrifying collaboration for a charity challenge where speed met compassion and adrenaline joined hands with generosity to raise funds for these
important charities. Therapy on Wheels is renowned for its innovation in turning stress into smiles through exhilarating motorsport activities, while Beat the Heat is a communitydriven not for profit association dedicated to promoting road safety and reducing illegal street racing incidents. Through a number of marketing and social media efforts, the teams campaigned for donations in the weeks leading up to and during the challenge, with the winner
following five races on-track to claim 60 percent of the total funds raised, while the runner-up would take 40 percent to their nominated charity. Therapy on Wheels raced for Breast Cancer Care WA, an organisation which provides vital support and guidance to individuals and families impacted by breast cancer. “Every day in WA, four women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and Breast
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Cancer Care WA has been there for them, their partners and their families since 2000, providing specialist breast care nursing, counselling, and financial support, throughout the WA community,” Therapy on Wheels’ Andy Kahle said. On the other side of the challenge, Beat the Heat championed CareFlight – an Australian aeromedical charity with a mission to save lives, speed recovery and serve the community, whether it be in the city or the bush. “Everything they do is driven by a desire to help people when the very worst has happened and when lives are in danger,” Beat the Heat WA President, Mike Pearson, explained. Both charities do not receive government funding and their services are provided free of charge. By the time October 28 rolled around, the donations were already rolling in thick and fast, and following five passionate races, a total prize pool of $6615 was ready to be split between the contenders. Kahle piloted the ‘Mamas Toy’ Dodge Hellcat powered Mercedes and was able to draw first blood in the opening round, defeating Beat the Heat WA’s Lee Watson in his ‘Tango 2’ Pontiac GTO. Watson responded in round two with a perfect reaction time (0.000s RT) to win after Kahle left the Startline slightly too early with a red-light disqualification. Round three came in front of the main event crowd, and as the temperature began to drop the cars started to make more power, seeing both Kahle and Watson running quicker than their dialins for a double breakout. By virtue of
having a smaller breakout margin, Kahle was awarded the win, while Watson ran the Tango 2 to another personal best ET.
Pearson said he was so pleased for his organisation to have been part of such a successful fundraising initiative.
In round four it was make or break time for the Beat The Heat team to try and tie the scores heading into the fifth and final round. The nerves must have sunk in slightly for Watson, as it was his time to pluck a red light, handing the win to Kahle for round four and the overall challenge win.
“Speed, adrenaline, and compassion are a potent combination, and this event has already left a lasting mark on both the track and in the lives of those supported by these organisations,” Pearson said.
While the final round would see redemption for Watson and the Beat the Heat WA team, with the majority of wins the Charity Challenge would be awarded to Therapy on Wheels, with Andy claiming 60 percent of the prize pool for Breast Cancer Care WA and also claiming a special perpetual trophy thanks to the Perth Motorplex, while Beat the Heat WA delivered the remaining 40 percent to Careflight. “This event was testament to the unbreakable spirit of the racing community and its ability to create positive change,” Kahle said. “It is safe to say that our very first Charity Challenge has been a resounding success, raising more than $6,600 – an achievement which is a testament to the incredible generosity and support of everyone involved. “Winning was a rush, and the fact that the races were so close made it an even bigger thrill. “Sharing the victory with Breast Cancer Care WA and CareFlight also made this win so much more special than usual competitions.”
“This year’s inaugural Charity Challenge was a great way for Beat the Heat and Therapy on Wheels to join together to raise awareness and some much-needed dollars for two great charities. “It was also a fantastic medium for Andy and I to showcase our teams, our sport and our venue, and have a whole heap of fun doing it. We look forward to doing it all again next year!” “I am just so awestruck at the amount of support we received from everyone, and I am really looking forward to doing it again,” Kahle added. “It was a team effort that made it all possible, and we can’t thank everyone enough for their support. Here’s to an unforgettable race, and we can’t wait for the next exciting chapter in our journey.” To learn more about Therapy on Wheels and Beat the Heat WA, visit www.therapyonwheels.asn.au and www.beattheheatwa.org.au To learn more about Breast Cancer Care WA or CareFlight, visit www.breastcancer.org.au/ and www.careflight.org Photo courtesy of Phil Reeve Photography and Therapy on Wheels
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HEATWAVE BLUES A SIMPLE COOLING SYSTEM THAT WORKS Story and Photos by Wayne Scraba
Our grasp on how weather works is tenuous at best, but we do know that when it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, it is summer down in Australia. That means a cooling system story is timely for Aussie racers and hot rodders even as snow threatens my area of Canada. Back in our summer season, I was a victim of cooling blues. I’ll share my setup, my simple mistake, and how I fixed it. My Nova is powered by a relatively stout 565 cubic inch big block. It is a very fresh combination with what I thought was a good cooling system, including a highquality DeWitts aluminium radiator. On a trip to town the temperature gauge started to skyrocket once I left the highway and entered stop-and-go driving. Once home, the fix turned out to be incredibly easy. I had replaced the radiator cap that came with the radiator with a 15 PSI reproduction AC RC-15 cap. It was a no-name swap meet find and I never gave it a second look until the car started acting up. With the coolant temperature reasonably hot, I placed a
towel over the cap and cracked it. Nothing happened. No steam, no coolant spray, no anything. I removed the cap and examined it closely. As it turns out, there’s zero evidence of it ever seating on the radiator neck. That meant the radiator was never pressurised. Typically, each pound of pressure in the system will raise the boiling point by three degrees. In theory, the boiling point of my system should have been 257 degrees F. Clearly mine didn’t work that way! The solution was to install the cap supplied by DeWitts and test it. I let the car idle outside in 90+ degree ambient temperatures, well-protected from any wind (the nose of the car up against a closed garage door). This simulates what are close to the worst possible conditions. As I watched the temp gauge, you could see the cooling system cycle through the thermostat’s opening and closing points. It slowly crept up to 195 degree F, dropped back to 180, then started the process all
over again. The radiator wasn’t overly hot, and no coolant was spewing out of the overflow. In other words, the system was working as it should. I tell this story not as a warning about defective radiator caps, but as a classic example of how one small part can cause chaos in an automotive system. It is also a lesson in the KISS Principle – Keep It Simple, Stupid. My cooling system is nothing fancy, but I did carefully choose the parts to make it efficient enough to keep my big block Chevy running nice and cool. A similar setup might be just the ticket for your car—let’s take a look at the components.
Water Pump A quality water pump such as the Edelbrock mechanical pump I use is really the heart of the cooling system. A critical feature found in high performance pumps is the impeller design. For example, the Edelbrock pump has a large, CNC-machined cast iron impeller. Unlike stamped steel pieces, the iron impeller is considerably stronger and allows
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the pump to flow up to 20 percent more coolant at a much higher pressure. At high RPM, this produces less cavitation and allows for more equal coolant flow throughout the engine. The Edelbrock water pump has superior flow balance when compared to a stock pump. This means it can reduce bankto-bank temperature variances. The combination of increased coolant flow, equalised pressure, and superior sideto-side balance means the pump doesn’t have to spin as quickly to achieve the same flow rate when compared to say, a factory HD pump.
Water Pump Bypass Engines with thermostats typically need some type of bypass arrangement between the water pump and the engine. The idea here is to provide for quick warmup and to prevent pump cavitation. This helps minimise steam pocket buildup and localised water jacket hot spots. On something like a small block Chevy, the pump bypass is internal. On a big block,
a hose from the top of the water pump to the intake manifold acts as the bypass. Many performance intake manifolds for big blocks are not drilled and tapped for a bypass hose, but some do have a boss for that purpose. There are alternatives to running a bypass hose. For racing, a water restrictor can be used in place of the thermostat to slow down the coolant flow. This is the reason most race-style intake manifolds are not machined for the bypass. The other solution is to use a thermostat with holes drilled in the flange area. For example, the high-flow EMP Stewart thermostat I use has three 3/16-inch bypass holes machined in it. These holes work just as efficiently (if not more so) as a bypass hose.
Radiator I am a big fan of modern aluminium radiators. Yes, copper-brass has better heat dissipating properties than
aluminium. But according to DeWitts, there are a couple of caveats, as follows. Tube Size: the primary source of cooling in any radiator is the tubes. Heat dissipates from the coolant through the tube walls. This heat is then transferred to the fins that are in contact with the tubes. As air passes through the fins, the heat is carried away. Wider tubes are more efficient because there is more tube-to-fin contact area. Modern aluminium radiators have 20 percent more tube-to-fin contact surface area than an identically sized copperbrass unit, so they are better able to remove heat from the circulating coolant. According to DeWitts, an aluminium radiator with two rows of one-inch tubes is equal to a brass-copper unit with four rows of smaller tubes. Tests from various sources document a 28 percent increase in performance over a brass-copper equivalent, provided both radiators are identical in size. Construction: older copper-brass radiators have copper tubes bonded to
fastlane 12 the fin with solder (lead) that has very poor heat transfer properties. The tanks are made of brass and the side channels are steel. That makes them strong, but also heavy. Modern aluminium radiators are not only more efficient, they are lighter and as strong (or stronger) than their copper-brass relatives. You can build a copper radiator the exact same way high tech aluminium models are constructed, but it would weigh about 90 pounds!
Radiator support
396-375HP Nova accessory drive. The pulleys are driven by a conventional Dayco V-belt. I made sure the pulleys were aligned and the belt was the correct width and depth (there are some differences out there). Obviously, keeping the belt properly tightened is important too. As far as hoses are concerned, I use replacement OEM-style hoses for a stock 396 Nova. These are formed hoses with an internal wire reinforcement in the bottom hose to keep it from collapsing at high RPM and causing an overheating condition. Avoid corrugated “fits-all” hoses if possible, they tend to reduce coolant flow.
Many cars have radiator supports designed for specific engine options. For example, my Nova was originally a sixcylinder car. The radiator support for the six and a small block V8 has a smaller opening than one for a big block. It also positions the radiator differently.
Transmission Cooler
If you attempt to squeeze a big block radiator in the smaller support, it will be partially blocked and mounted in the wrong spot. Since Novas came from the factory with a big block option, I used a reproduction radiator support for that combination. If you have a custom-size radiator or an engine swap (an LS in a GM A-body, for example), you might have to modify a support to fit it.
A conventional radiator with a builtin transmission cooler doesn’t have adequate capability to cool the transmission fluid in high performance application. In fact, a heavily taxed builtin cooler can increase engine coolant temperatures. A small diameter torque converter can also increase transmission fluid temperatures, putting further stress on the cooler.
Fan Shroud A well-designed fan shroud is critical. I use a reproduction OEM style fan shroud on my car which seals and covers the entire face of the radiator. The top and the bottom of the shroud are both tightly secured as well. There is no easy way for air to escape – the shroud channels it through the radiator core. That means more efficient cooling. If you can’t locate a factory style shroud, there are many aftermarket versions available, or you can fabricate your own.
Fan The fan I use is a simple five blade affair identical to the fan Chevrolet used on 396 Novas. The fan is positioned relatively tight to the shroud and sits about halfway inside it, which is the recommended positioning. Big block Novas did not use a fan clutch or a fan spacer – there is no room between the water pump and the radiator for them.
Pulleys and Hoses I use the crank pulley, water pump pulley alternator pulleys designed for a stock
I use a big stand-alone Earl’s stacked plate fluid cooler mounted ahead of the radiator, making sure to leave a small gap between the two. You would think positioning the cooler like this would reduce airflow to the radiator, but it doesn’t have much of an effect on engine cooling.
Coolant Engine coolant has a higher boiling point when compared to plain water. It also lubricates the water pump and helps prevent rust and sediment buildup. You can’t use it at the drag strip because it’s a royal pain to clean up if your car leaks. It’s an even bigger pain if your engine springs an internal gasket leak. There are plenty of additives that improve the cooling capabilities of plain old water. I use Redline Oil’s Water Wetter. According to Redline Oil, water alone has very high surface tension. This makes it difficult to release water vapor from the metal surfaces. Additives like Water Wetter lower water’s surface tension, improving heat transfer from the engine’s water
jackets to the coolant. Water Wetter also inhibits internal corrosion and provide lubrications for the water pump. It seems to work for me.
Ignition Timing I run my big block with 12 to 15 degrees of initial timing. Less than that usually makes it run warm. Something else I do (and some might scoff at this) is to run a distributor with an operational vacuum advance system. It does not hurt performance and can help keep engine temperatures under control. And that’s my not-so-trick cooling system. It keeps a pretty healthy, siamesed-bore 565 big block running cool in a tight engine compartment at ambient temperatures exceeding 90-degrees F. Feel free to copy it or modify it for your own car!
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1 This is the no-name, swap meet reproduction radiator cap that caused my Nova’s cooling issue. It looked right but didn’t even come close to seating on the radiator neck.
2 I use an Edelbrock long style water pump right out of the Summit Racing catalogue. It has a large, CNC-machined cast iron impeller. Unlike stamped steel pieces, the iron impeller is considerably stronger and allows the pump to flow up to 20 percent more coolant at a much higher pressure. At high RPM, this produces less cavitation and allows for more equal coolant flow throughout the engine.
3 The bypass on the water pump is blocked off because the Brodix intake manifold isn’t machined for a bypass hose. No worries, my high-flow EMP-Stewart thermostat is modified with three internal bypass holes. That does the job the stock-style bypass hose normally would.
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4 Using the right radiator support can be important. The size of the support’s opening and how it locates the radiator is often dictated by the type of radiator you’re using. For example, I used a factory-style big block radiator support in my Nova. A support for a small block V8 has a smaller opening and would block airflow to a big blocksized radiator.
5 Summit Racing offers a wide range of radiators for custom and stock applications. I use this DeWitts aluminum radiator. They’re more expensive than many others but the performance is off the chain. The black coating provides a factory look. It is an option offered with many DeWitts radiators.
7 The top of the shroud is sealed to the radiator support with this rubber seal assembly. This is exactly how Chevy sealed radiators on big block Novas. The idea here is to force all airflow through the radiator core.
6 A fan shroud is extremely important if you’re using a mechanical engine driven fan. This is a reproduction shroud for a big block Nova made by OER. It fits tightly on the sides and covers the entire radiator.
8 Fan clearance is another important part of the puzzle. About half of the fan sits inside of the shroud with the blades fitting very close to the shroud.
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9 I use OEM-style molded hoses, nothing fancy. The lower hose has a reinforcement spring to keep it from collapsing under high RPM and causing an overheating issue. Modern radiator hose is much stiffer than the hose made back in the 1960s, so they don’t need a spring to keep them from collapsing. I like the extra insurance the spring provides.
10 The pulleys are stock reproductions for a 396-375HP Nova accessory drive. The Dayco belt came from Summit Racing.
11 The Nova has an ATI TH-400 automatic transmission with a custom 10-inch ATI torque converter. The best way to cool the transmission is with a large stand-alone cooler such as this Earl’s plate-style cooler. There is no automatic transmission cooler in the radiator. This way, transmission temperatures won’t directly affect engine temperature, and vice-versa.
12 I don’t use ethylene-glycol coolant in the cooling system. I use tap water along with Red Line Water Wetter. It lowers the water’s surface tension, improving heat transfer from the engine’s water jackets to the coolant. Water Wetter also inhibits internal corrosion and provide lubrications for the water pump.
13 Ignition timing is important too. Too little initial timing can cause overheating. Not using a distributor with a vacuum advance system can also create cooling issues in some engine combinations. As you can see, my car uses vacuum advance.
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Shopping is Simple. Use the Summit Racing Mobile App to easily browse parts, add items to your cart, and check out right from your phone. Shipping is Fast! And our Landed Cost Shipping includes all duties, taxes, and clearance fees, so you can spend more time racing and less time waiting for parts. EXPERT ADVICE. HUGE INVENTORY. FAST DELIVERY. WORLD-CLASS CUSTOMER SERVICE. Get The Summit Racing app for Apple and Android devices. Int’l: 1.330.630.0230
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CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS LEADERS JR DRAGSTER
TOTAL
COMPETITION
TOTAL
TOP SPORTSMAN
TOTAL
SUPER SEDAN
TOTAL
CRAIG GEDDES
100
VLADO TURIC
230
ANTHONY MISKELLY
210
SETH JARVIS
270
JON FERGUSON
100
LEON DAVIES
190
DAVID TODD
190
COOPER PLUMMER
260
CONNOR MCCLURE
80
RICKY SMITH
180
LANCE LARCOMBE
160
LACHLAN WALKER
170
MORENO GULLOTTO
80
DEAN CLEARY
150
MARTIN MIRCO
150
SARAH OSBORNE
110
MATTHEW FORBES
60
GLENN HENLEY
130
CHRIS LIOULIOS
130
TYLER JARVIS
110
SUPER STOCK
TOTAL
SUPERCHARGED OUTLAWS
TOTAL
SUPER STREET
TOTAL
SUPER GAS
TOTAL
STEVE NORMAN
240
SHAUN KERKMAN
190
TONY ANTONINO
260
ROBERT BERGAMIN
120
KIM FARDELLA
120
MARK HUNT
150
MICHAEL JENNINGS
230
JASON WILSON
100
GRAEME SIMMS
120
DALE TUCKER
120
JASE DOBRA
100
RENEE COCKERILL
80
RAY OXLEY
40
KASEY MCCLURE
120
PAUL JENNINGS
100
COLIN GRIFFIN
60
MATTHEW PUGLIA
40
BRODIE ZAPPIA
100
ASHLEIGH WROE
100
JORDAN SPENCER
60
COMPETITION BIKE
TOTAL
MODIFIED
TOTAL
MODIFIED BIKE
TOTAL
WAYNE PATTERSON
220
ASHLEY JOHNSON
150
LOUISE RIDGWAY
210
JOSEPH KHOURY
120
SIMON BARLOW
150
JOHNNY IRELAND
150
JAKE HAMILTON-MODERATE
110
CODY HODGINS
140
LUCAS NEAGOE
120
DANIEL NATALOTTO
110
KENNY STEWART
100
DERRYN MCGREGOR
110
ROBERT CHURCH
100
NEIL GANNAWAY
100
SIMON GARBUTT
100
CLICK HERE OR GO TO
ANDRA.COM.AU
FOR FULL CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS Photo courtesy of Automotive Event Images
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NAME: DANIEL CARRANZA AGE: 18 BASED IN: MELBOURNE OCCUPATION: APPRENTICE PLUMBER STARTED RACING: 8 YRS OLD CLASSES COMPETED: JUNIOR DRAGSTER. SUPER COMP IN NHRA USA, MODIFIED IN AUS BEST ET AND SPEED: 7.12@186MPH MAJOR SPONSORS:
TILECO-THESHOWERPEOPLE. PENRITE OIL, DRAFTMODE DESIGN, LEE MEEHAN ROOFING.
SUPPORTING SPONSORS:
JTR FABRICATIONS, COSTANZO AUTOMOTIVE REPAIRS, NATIONAL COLLISION CENTRE, CAMPRINT, SOLAR RUN WOLLERT, SUNRAYSIA MOWER CENTRE.
FAVOURITE FOOD: MUM’S PASTA FAVOURITE RACE TRACK: LAS VEGAS
Photo courtesy of SPEEDPhotography
DANIEL ‘BATDAN’ CARRANZA MODIFIED
When you reflect on your time in Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster, what key things come to mind? The amount of friends I have met along the journey is overwhelming, the individuals I have surrounded myself with make me feel like I am part of a family. Travelling throughout the country to compete and see the many tracks that Australia has to offer was another enjoyable experience for me. What are your highlights from that time? One of the highlights of my junior drag racing career was when I won my first ever gold Christmas tree. I was over the moon to finally realise a childhood dream of mine that had been a goal ever since I started racing at the age of eight. When it came time to move to the senior ranks, you actually did your licensing in the US – tell us about that. We had purchased a Super Comp dragster in California just as COVID ended and before sending the dragster over to Australia we were invited to take a trip to America and licence in NHRA and test the dragster, so as a family we decided to take a trip. Little did I know that I would pass the licencing, test my car, and then actually enter an event with it, where I took it all the way to the semi finals. All of a sudden a dream of mine had come true! You are now racing in Modified in Australia – how are you finding the bracket so far? It is completely different from a junior dragster, that’s for sure! I found it challenging in the beginning converting from juniors to modified, learning how the car operates and what needs to be done to get the results we need, but once we started picking up on how the car was performing it was straight forward from there on. There is always something to learn with this new technology though, but we will eventually get there! The next Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series round for you is at Portland’s South Coast Nationals – what do you think about racing at Portland? This year will mark ten years since I’ve been attending South Coast Raceway since the SlamFest Top Doorslammer series came to Portland, when was only 8 years old. Since then, I’ve been racing my Junior Dragster and attending all the events up to offer at Portland. I am unsure how the modified dragster will perform, but I am sure it will run pretty fast once we learn the car’s performance.
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Photo courtesy of SPEEDPhotography
NAME: VANZ PEIRANO AGE: 11 HOMETOWN: JACOBS WELL, QLD GRADE AT SCHOOL: YEAR 6 STARTED RACING: 2022 PERSONAL BESTS: WON AT THE GRAND OPENING OF DRAGWAY AT THE BEND (SPRING NATIONALS) SPONSORS: BECZ HAIR LOUNGE, MICK KING TRANSPORT, ISSA CARE SERVICES AND DH SEAFOOD FAVOURITE RACE VEHICLE: FUNNY CAR FAVOURITE TV SHOW: TOP GEAR FAVOURITE FOOD: BURRITOS FAVOURITE TRACK: DRAGWAY AT THE BEND
VANZ PEIRANO
SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT JUNIOR DRAGSTER
JD RACER PROFILE
How did you get into racing? I come from a family of racers. My dad, my grandpa (Mick King Hearse Top Doorslammer) and my uncle (Nathan Peirano) all have raced. So, my dad was happy to buy me a Junior Dragster when I asked for one. What do you consider as your racing highlights? My 0.000 light at Benaraby Raceway and my win at the Dragway at The Bend’s Spring Nationals. What did you think about Dragway at The Bend after racing there at the opening Spring Nationals? The atmosphere was exciting, and to be there for the opening of a race track was amazing. The tree was great, and they have the best dial boards. What do you love about Junior Dragster Racing? It is fun, especially with the friends I’ve made, and now I get to race alongside my brother Jett and soon my cousin Nash. The best thing is I get to race my best mate Kade. What is your ultimate racing goal/dream? To race a nitro funny car anywhere! What do your school mates think about what you do? My school friends think it is pretty cool. What future goals do you hold for yourself in your racing, and also away from the track? To win a championship. Is there anyone you would like to thank for being part of your drag racing journey? My mum and dad, my grandma and grandpa, my brothers Jake and Jett, my uncle Nathan and Aunty Raquel, as well as Team Fowler Family Racing, SCG Race Parts and Team Bray Racing.
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Behind the Wheel with Jr. Dragster Racer Seth Jarvis “I didn’t think I’d win the Top End Nationals final. But getting my first event win is just wicked, it feels really good.”
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G N I R P S TIONALS NA
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN DRAG RACING
ROARS INTO LIFE The Spring Nationals at the brand-new Dragway at The Bend, featuring more than 300+ Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series competitors alongside group one racers for NDRC Top Fuel, Dananni Hot Shots Top Doorslammer, Top Fuel Motorcycle and Pro Stock Motorcycle, saw drag racing come back to South Australia in exceptional style in October. The October 21 and 22 event marked the grand-opening of the new Dragway at The Bend, which is part of the impressive Shell V-Power Motorsport Park precinct of the Shahin family. Australian National Drag Racing Association (ANDRA) Chief Executive Officer, Tim McAvaney, said the event marked a milestone moment for Australian drag racing. “35,000 race fans poured into Dragway at the Bend over Saturday and Sunday and were treated to a long list of incredible
performances from some of Australia’s best drag racers across Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Pro Stock Motorcycle, and of course, the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series,” McAvaney said.
“I could not be more proud of all of the racers for their commitment and dedication to putting on the best show they could as South Australia enthusiastically welcomed drag racing back to the state with the opening of this world-class Dragway at The Bend.” Sunday saw the sportsman racers launch straight into racing, battling for the chance to be able to call themselves the first ever Dragway at The Bend event winner for their bracket. Vanz Pierano (Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster), Craig Geddes (Competition Eliminator), Shane Baxter (Supercharged Outlaws), Kim Fardella (Super Stock), Matt Rossow
(Super Street), and Jason Hoctor (Super Sedan) took out the wins from runnersup Zayne Condello (Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster), Terry Waterman (Competition Eliminator), Kasey McClure (Supercharged Outlaws), Tim Triantafillow (Super Stock), Andrew Ricketts (Super Street) and Mick Aston (Super Sedan). Jason Young and Chris Dalton were also matched up for the Top Sportsman final, but the final itself was not run. In regard to championship points, each sportsman (group 2, 3 and 4) entrant was awarded 20 points, to ensure fairness for championship contenders given the unavoidable weather-driven disruptions to qualifying. For more from ANDRA, visit www.andra.com.au
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Photos courtesy of BrightDesign.com.au
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GOLDEN STATES
Steve Norman
GOLDENSTATES GLORY
FOR SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT SPORTSMAN SERIES RACERS
In hot and humid conditions, Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series racers well and truly delivered for the fans at the Perth Motorplex across November 24 and 25 for the 49th annual Goldenstates. Lining up alongside Nitro Funny Cars, Top Doorslammers, Top Fuel Motorcycles and Pro Alcohol, the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series competitors delivered no shortage of great performances all weekend long. When all was said and done, it was Brock Ferguson (Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster), Ashleigh Wroe (Super Street), Simon Garbutt (Modified Bike), Nick Puglia (Super Sedan), Neil Gannaway (Modified), Rocco Salvo (Top Sportsman), Kasey McClure (Supercharged Outlaws), Daniel Natalotto (Competition Bike),
Steve Norman (Super Stock) and Jon Ferguson (Competition) who took out the prestigious silver ANDRA Christmas Tree trophies. Taking out the runner-up spots were Seth Jarvis (Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster), Gavin Donnelly (Super Street), Luke Seaton (Modified Bike), Martin Mirco (Super Sedan), Nicholas Wroe (Modified), Yvette Gregg (Top Sportsman), Brodie Zappia (Supercharged Outlaws), Chris Allen (Competition Bike), Graeme Simms (Super Stock) and Moreno Gullotto (Competition). It was Kasey McClure’s third straight Goldenstates win. On her way to the final, McClure took on Vince Belladonna (round one) before a semi-final bye, while Brodie Zappia had dispatched Norbert Claite (round one) and Decoglaze Glass
Splashbacks Top Qualifer, Greg James. Taking his first ANDRA Christmas Tree after four decades of trying was Neil Gannaway, who took the Modified victory over Nicholas Wroe following earlier wins over Andrew Frost (round one) and Paul Garbellini. Nicholas Wroe meanwhile had taken on Top Qualifier Michelle Morrison (round one) before a semi-final bye. In Super Street, Ashleigh Wroe claimed her first ANDRA Christmas Tree trophy, emerging victorious from the final over Gavin Donnelly following earlier wins over Jamie Chappell (round one), Darren Isaac, John Szabo and Steph Gullotto. Donnelly meanwhile had defeated Jase Dobra (round one) and Michael North ahead of a round three bye run and round four success from Andy Oorschot. Lee Watson was the Top Qualifier.
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Rocco Salvo
In Modified Bike, Simon Garbutt took another Goldenstates win for his collection with victory over Luke Seaton in the final. Garbutt had earlier defeated Shaun McGarry (round one), Hamish Cunningham, David Partington and Christopher Fryer, while Seaton had taken on Chris Morgan (round one), Iain Reed and Graham Jennings before a semi-final bye. Connor Wood was the top qualifier. In Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster, Brock Ferguson took the win over Seth Jarvis. Brock had earlier raced against Mason Hamilton (round one), Blake Taylor and Angel Bakranich, while Jarvis had emerged victorious from battles with Beau Ferguson, his brother Tyler Jarvis, and Tahlia Martin. Lucas Green was the top qualifier. It was a case of a father-son victory in the Ferguson household, with Brock’s dad Jon Ferguson taking the Competition Eliminator win over Moreno Gullotto. Jon booked his spot in the final by taking wins from Top Qualifer Michael Buckley (round one) before a round two bye, while Gullotto had dispatched Madison Brown (round one) and Connor McClure on his way to the final stand. In Super Sedan, Nick Puglia took the win over Martin Mirco in a double breakout final. Puglia had booked his spot in the final with wins over Christine May (round one) and Dean Whisson before a semi-final bye, while Mirco meanwhile had faced off against Craig Carter (round one), Top Qualifer Mick Wormall, and Kathy Regan. In Super Stock, Steve Norman backed up his Top Qualifier result with the event win, resetting the national ET and MPH B/SMA records to 8.264 seconds and 164.29mph in the process. Norman took the win from runner-up Graeme Simms in the final, following an earlier win from Kim Fardella, while Simms had defeated Matthew Puglia in the opening round.
Kasey McClure
Ashleigh Wroe
Neil Gannaway
Simon Garbutt
Brock Ferguson
Daniel Natalotto
Nick Puglia
Jon Ferguson
In Top Sportsman, Salvo took the victory over Yvette Gregg, who made it to the line first but broke-out. Top Qualifier Salvo had earlier taken a round one win over Geoff Chaisty before enjoying a round two bye, while Gregg had earned her place in the final with a round one victory over Roger Moorhouse and a round two win over Alby Bakranich. In Competition Bike, Top Qualifer Daniel Natalotto made it a perfect weekend by claiming the ANDRA Christmas Tree. The bracket employs a three-round Chicago Shootout format, and Natalotto found himself in the final following three successful match-ups (solo, Morry Cantarella and Wayne Gummow). Runner-up Chris Allen also had three wins (David Edge, solo, Morry Cantarella)
and also set a new national record along the way, rewriting the BB/CB mph record to 190.44mph. Also claiming national records were Morice McMillin (F/C – 4.802) and Sam Treasure (TA/A – 5.661) as they raced for National Drag Racing Championship (NDRC) honours. Taking the victory in the NDRC brackets were McMillin (Nitro Funny Car), Russell Mills (Pro Alcohol), Russell Taylor (Top Doorslammer) and Wayne McGuinness (Top Fuel Motorcycle). For more Goldenstates info, please click here (results) and here (full event report). Photos courtesy of High Octane Photos