Drag News Magazine Issue One

N E W S W R A P - E D I T O R I A L - F E AT U R E S - P R O F I L E S H O T - S H U T T E R S P E E D

ISSUE ONE NOVEMBER 2014 FREE

2014 AUSTRALIAN

NATIONALS

Diary of a first time

Australia's quickest natmo altered

DRIVER

Gordon Carlsen back into Modified

FUNNY CAR

Harvey's six cylinder 6.12 statement Richie Crampton, Aussie champion

EDITORIAL Hello and welcome to the pilot issue of Drag News Magazine. This is a project we have been working on for some time to introduce to the Australian drag racing community and we hope you enjoy it.

Allow me to introduce myself and the Drag News team. My name is Luke Nieuwhof and I've been writing and photographing drag racing throughout the country since 2001. I have a column in The West Australian newspaper each week on drag racing and also spent two years as media manager at the Australian National Drag Racing Association, as well as racing in Modified Bike.

Grant Stephens is one of the 'originals' when it comes to Australian drag racing on the internet. He started cacklingpipes.com which was Australia's biggest drag racing news site for some time and also spawned a famous, or should that be infamous, discussion forum.

Grant is now a photographer and feature writer for a number of national magazines and is something of a fixture on the Sydney Dragway track wall.

Rob Sparkes has been attending drag racing events since the 80s when he first went to Castlereagh and has been passionate about the sport ever since. A forum moderator and then a partner in the dragnews.com.au website, Rob is keen to see drag racing media coverage grow.

Between the three of us we formed dragnews.com.au which has since grown to be Australia's most popular drag racing website and now we have a new project to see if we can help fill a gap for the sport.

This free first issue is something of a test for both us and you. For us, it was to see if we could do it. It has probably been harder than we expected, especially when it comes to producing content that is timely and making it look good in a magazine format. You'll notice a few of the articles are already dating as a result of a long lead in process and this is something we would vastly improve on should this pilot prove viable.

For instance we will do more in the way of event coverage, but timeliness is essential.

For you, it is to see if there is a demand out there for premium content from Australian drag racing and whether or not the e-magazine format is viable. If you like what you see here, we hope you would subscribe for future editions.

The first Drag News Magazine has been kept simple with its design, if it grows as we would like then perhaps we can employ professional designers, until then we hope you appreciate a bit of 'home brew' flavour. I guess we are focusing on content first, while of course producing something that is still pleasing to the eye.

If this pilot issue attracts enough views and people rate it as something they would like to pay for then we will aim towards having our next issue out in December or January and focus on providing you premium Australian drag racing content that you will feel is value for money.

Enjoy the read.

Luke Nieuwhof Editor

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CONTENTS AN INTRODUCTION TO OUR REGULAR SECTIONS

5 - Quarter Reporter

Editorial - Thoughts and musings on Drag News Magazine or the sport of drag racing.

18 - It all comes down to this: Australian Nationals coverage

Quarter Reporter - This section features short articles and includes both exclusives and the most important stories from the past month on dragnews.com.au.

Shutter Speed - The best drag racing photography from around the world including settings so you can improve your own images.

Profile Shot - A fact file on racers from across Australia - you might be surprised by some of the answers! Inspired by Dragster Australia magazines of old.

Chutes Out - A lighter look at scenes from the drag strip.

BEST WAY TO VIEW THE MAGAZINE This first issue of Drag News Magazine utilises Issuu. We recommend clicking the full screen option to make it easier to read. By clicking on any part of the magazine you are able to zoom in and then use your mouse to easily move around the page.

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14 - Shutter Speed

58 - Richie Crampton Aussie champion The fairytale story of a man who went from crew guy to NHRA Top Fuel driver.

64 - Dream catcher What's it like to drive a Funny Car for the first time? Renee Cockerill tells us.

70 - All natural The philosophy behind Kyle Putland and Australia's quickest naturally aspirated altered.

74 - How'd you do it, Harvey?

Rod Harvey lets us in on where his amazing six cylinder pass came from.

78 - 14 year itch The drag racing bug never leaves, a Modified racer gets back into the sport.

84 - Shed built smasher Too much horsepower for a street car? Just make it into a racer.

How one Sydney DIY enthuisast did just that.

88 - Viva Las Vegas

Photo essay from The Strip. No, not that strip.

96 - Product Spotlight

Fancy taking a US tour?

96 - Mr Yes and Mr No

Was ANDRA right to get rid of Super Street?

44 - Profile Shot 45 - Chutes Out

QUARTER REPORTER National dates released ANDRA has released its long awaited calendar for the shortened 2015 season and surprised many by releasing its 2015/16 season at the same time, giving racers dates through to June 2016.

ANDRA faced criticism for delays in releasing the calendar, which was complicated by the return to a financial year just two years after changing to a calendar year season.

Behind the scenes negotiations between ANDRA and Top Fuel Australia were understood to be one of the reasons behind the delays, as well as venues taking time to sort out their dates.

Contrary to popular belief, ANDRA doesn't set dates for venues but instead collates venues' preferred dates and brackets and then provides the final say on which venues will get to hold which events on which dates.

With the coming short season, the sportsman points cap has been reduced to just 160 points but will return to 300 points for the followingseason.

No new tracks have yet been added to the calendar, though ANDRA noted three new international-class venues are on their way.

A flare up on the west coast ensued when Top Doorslammer was removed from Perth Motorplex's Westernationals, however this was solved by moving the Westernationals to January, away from its traditional March date.

Willowbank Raceway has changed its Santo's Super 3 event to a single day, to be held on Easter Saturday as the track pushes its 'short, sharp show' format.

2015 Sportsman Season January 17-18 – South Coast Raceway, Portland January 30-31 – Perth Motorplex February 7-8 – Calder Park March 14-15 – Adelaide International Raceway April 11 – Willowbank Raceway May 1-3 – Sydney Dragway June 4-7 – Winternationals, WillowbankRaceway

2015/16 Sportsman Season July 25-26 – Desert Nationals, Alice Springs Inland Dragway August 15-16 – Palmyra (TBC) September 26-27 – Springnationals, Adelaide International Raceway October 17-18 – Calder Park November 6-8 – Australian Nationals, Sydney Dragway December 4-5 – Mildura Sunset Strip January 16-17 – South Coast Raceway, Portland January 23-24 – Calder Park February 5-6 – Westernationals, Perth Motorplex March 12-13 – Adelaide International Raceway April 2 – Willowbank Raceway April 29-May 1 – Sydney Dragway June 9-12 – Winternationals, Willowbank Raceway Pro dates on next page.

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QUARTER REPORTER

Pro dates 2015 PRO SEASON January 9-10 – Perth Motorplex Top Doorslammer Round 1, Top Fuel Motorcycle Round 1 January 30-31 – Westernationals, Perth Motorplex Top Alcohol Round 1, Top Doorslammer Round 2 February 7-8 – Calder Park Top Fuel Round 1, Top Fuel Motorcycle Round 2, Pro Stock Round 1, Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 1 February 28-March 1 – Perth Motorplex Top Fuel Round 2 and 3, Top Fuel Motorcycle Round 3 and 4 March 14-15 – Adelaide International Raceway Top Alcohol Round 2, Top Doorslammer Round 3, Pro Stock Round 2, Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 2 April 4 – Willowbank Raceway Top Fuel Round 4, Top Alcohol Round 3

May 1-3 – Sydney Dragway Top Fuel Round 5, Top Alcohol Round 4, Top Doorslammer Round 4, Top Fuel Motorcycle Round 5, Pro Stock Round 3, Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 3

June 4-7 – Winternationals, Willowbank Raceway Top Fuel Round 6, Top Alcohol Round 5, Top Doorslammer Round 5, Top Fuel Motorcycle Round 6, Pro Stock Round 4, Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 4

2015/16 PRO SEASON July 17-18 – Hidden Valley Drag Strip Top Alcohol Round 1, Top Doorslammer Round 1 September 26-27 – Springnationals, Adelaide International Raceway Top Fuel Round 1, Top Doorslammer Round 2, Top Fuel Motorcycle Round 1, Pro Stock Round 1 October 17-18 – Calder Park Top Alcohol Round 2, Top Doorslammer Round 3, Pro Stock Round 2 November 6-8 – Australian Nationals, Sydney Dragway Top Fuel Round 2, Top Alcohol Round 3, Top Doorslammer Round 4, Top Fuel Motorcycle Round 2, Pro Stock Round 3, Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 1 November 27-28 – Perth Motorplex Top Doorslammer Round 5 and 6, Top Fuel Motorcycle Round 3 and 4

January 23-24 – Calder Park Top Fuel Round 3, Top Doorslammer Round 7, Pro Stock Round 4, Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 2 February 5-6 – Westernationals, Perth Motorplex Top Alcohol Round 4, Top Doorslammer Round 8 March 5-6 – Perth Motorplex Top Fuel Round 4 and 5, Top Fuel Motorcycle Round 5 and 6 March 12-13 – Adelaide International Raceway Top Doorslammer Round 9, Pro Stock Round 5, Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 3 March 26 – Willowbank Raceway Top Fuel Round 6, Top Alcohol Round 5 April 29-May 1 – Sydney Dragway Top Fuel Round 7, Top Alcohol Round 6, Top Doorslammer Round 10, Top Fuel Motorcycle Round 7, Pro Stock Round 6, Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 4 June 9-12 – Winternationals, Willowbank Raceway Top Fuel Round 8, Top Alcohol Round 7, Top Doorslammer Round 11, Top Fuel Motorcycle Round 8, Pro Stock Round 7, Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 5

QUARTER REPORTER

QUARTER REPORTER

DRAG NEWS MAGAZINE STAFF Editor: Luke Nieuwhof (luke@dragnews.com.au) Content: Luke Nieuwhof, Grant Stephens, Rob Sparkes Photography: cacklingpipes.com (grant@cacklingpipes.com), Luke Nieuwhof Design: Luke Nieuwhof Accounts: Rob Sparkes

FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHERS Joe Maday 0468 413 124 maday@mail2joseph.com Dave Reid 0412 686 478 sales@dragphotos.com.au Lee Davis 0425 886 072 photorequest@westernautopics.com .au

WANT TO SEND US CONTENT? press@dragnews.com.au

Outlaw 10.5 VC breaks cover Danny Makdessi has hit the track for the first time with his Outlaw 10.5 Valiant VC. The car spent two years on the show circuit before making its first hits in anger at a recent Sydney Dragway test day (above, image by cacklingpipes.com) and since running into the six second zone at the Australian Nationals.

The story goes that the car started being built some 15 years ago by John Somoracz of JB Race Cars. Makdessi walked into the shop one day and couldn't resist, having to make an offer.

Somoracz accepted and Makdessi finished the car off with help from Craig Burns.

Zammits head to Modified Ray Zammit, brother of multiple time Sydney Dragway Super Street track champion Joe, has recently imported a 2004 235" Fritz rolling chassis out of Colorado, USA. The car has run as quick as 7.002 at high altitude in Denver so should be capable of sixes at sea level with the 600ci powerplant which Ray also bought.

The brothers' cousin Martin Borg will initially drive the car later this year after the engine is checked out by BK Race Engines. He will then hand the wheel to Ray with Joe even planning a stint. .

ADVERTISING advertising@dragnews.com.au Or call Rob Sparkes on +61418411684

WANT THE LATEST? www.dragnews.com.au is Australia's most popular drag racing website and carriers all the up to date news you need on Australian drag racing.

LEGAL All content is copyright to Drag News Australia Pty Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without express written permission.

Wilson finding his way Jeff Wilson has endured trial by fire in entering Top Doorslammer, the most recent experience being a heavy crash in his current Corvette.

There seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel however after the team recorded quick passes recently at Sydney Dragway in the rebuilt car (pictured above, image by cacklingpipes.com). Wilson was certainly relieved to finally make the big step in performance with straight, representative passes.

"Since the crash and relaunching the car with the new paint scheme there has been very little changes," said

Wilson.

"I think you will find that since the crash the car has been going straight pretty much the whole time, granted the old car (when painted orange) did cause a few issues and in retrospect our thought process was taking us down another path but with the rebuilt car we have not changed much since its relaunching, it has only been fine tuning."

Wilson admits the team may have set the bar too high from the outset.

"It could be said that perhaps in the past we were trying to run a five second pass straight up, since the crash we have been working on slowing the car down and listening

to the car telling us what it does and does not like," he said.

"We still have a long way to go but now we can certainly see light at the end of the tunnel and have a solid platform to continue building on.

"I would like to thank Craig and Shellie Burns from SCF Race cars for building and repairing the car, Noel Parker for his perseverance and persistence, then the rest of my crew Brett, Dave, Alan and my father. Whilst I am the lucky person that gets to drive the car I also understand that without the people listed we could not have achieved what has been done," he said.

QUARTER REPORTER

QUARTER REPORTER

Beaut ute almost ready After seven years of labour and love, NSW racers Dave and Todd Erickson are about ready to put their Supercharged Outlaw Holden ute on to the track.

The ute is steel bodied bar the front clip, packing a 540ci BAE Hemi fed by a 14/71 blower and backed by a three speed Lenco.

Both Dave and Todd have been involved in the sport for a long time dating back to the Castlereigh days and crewing on such cars as Al Fountain's "Hot Cargo" ute, Steve Dupond's '48 Ford Doorslammer, Mal Gower's Swamp Rat and more. Â The car sports a tribute to long time friend Gower, who passed away recently, and both feel honoured to have crewed with him on his last pass earlier this year.

Both Dave and Todd plan to have a steer and with nearly everything complete hope to be on track before the end of the year.

Left: A fitting tribute to fellow Supercharged Outlaws racer Mal Gower, who passed away earlier this year.

Catalano makes comeback Shane Catalano returned to the race track recently, nearly two years after a devastating crash in what was then a virtually brand new Top Doorslammer.

Catalano's Studebaker, nicknamed the 'Rude Stude' has since been totally repaired and reworked and with first laps in pre-season testing going to plan the team is looking forward to the season ahead.

Catalano explained that he had some mixed emotions as the car fired up for the first time since the accident.

“I wouldn't say I was nervous, more

apprehensive and worried about crashing the car again after all the work and money,” he said. “After it ran straight in the burnout I was fairly confident it would be okay.”

There was plenty of work for the team to get stuck into in the preceding two years including a rebuild of the chassis from the firewall forward and a replacement of the rear suspension with a strong set up.

The shopping list of repairs continued with a strong Final Drive Engineering diff, new front suspension, new wheelie bars and a

Clockwise from above: Shane Catalano's crash in his debut Top Doorslammer event set the team back, but two years later they have returned to the track.

Image: ANDRA TV

new set of wheels, plus a variety of body panels.

While the car was off the track, Catalano also took the opportunity to add some new technology in the form of a lock-up clutch and ignition timing control.

“My initial goal is to get the car running consistently and come to terms with the new clutch and ignition timing management,” he said. “We will try to run the full season if the budget allows.

“Going forward I would like to attract corporate support and chase the national championship.”

QUARTER REPORTER

Harker on Top Alcohol tear Steve Harker has become arguably Australia's most dominant drag racing export, taking yet another NHRA Wally, this time at Las Vegas Motor Speedway's Toyota Nationals.

Harker, who wrapped up the world championship just weeks earlier, took out Sweden's Ulf Leanders in a close final round where both cars ran 5.548. Harker's better reaction time got him the stripe.

The team were using Las Vegas as an opportunity to try some new clutch parts.

Harker will close out his season at the NHRA World Finals in California.

Keys winner of opening Perth round Wayne Keys (above) has taken out the opening round of the WA drag racing season in the premier Top Comp category, emerging the winner on a cold, wet day of racing at Perth Motorplex.

The weather cut qualifying to just one session, leaving Keys without the opportunity to test a number of changes the team had made.

“The plan was to run the afternoon qualifier to try some things that had been discussed amongst the crew,” he said. “After starting the car, I completed the burnout procedure and was reversing the car back when unfortunately the rain came.”

Wet weather would be the least of Keys' concerns come the compulsory qualifying session when all hell

broke loose.

“I staged the car hoping for a good run, when I drove away from the start line the wheelie bar broke from hitting the track and the front of the car started heading skyward,” he said. “I finally aborted the run when I lost sight of the track.”

The team rushed some repairs on the wheelie bar before taking an elimination round win with a 6.21 which was enough to put them into the A-final, where they were able to run to victory over Russell Ladbrook with an improving 6.04.

“The car left really well, it shook slightly, I got it back quickly and drove it through, backing off slightly early,” he said. “All in all, a great first meeting for the Keys Family Motorsport Monaro and we will be ready for our next outing on 15 November.”

ANDRA adds Reed, Miocevich to Hall of Fame ANDRA has inducted two new members into its Hall of Fame – 'Gentleman' Jim Reed and Gary Miocevich.

'Gentleman' Jim is Australia's equivalent to America's Don Garlits and Connie Kalitta. At 78 years old, he has been modifying and racing cars for sixty-five years and has spawned three generations of drag racers – himself and wife Nelma, son Steven and daughter in law Debbie and grandchildren Daniel and Fiona.

Gary Miocevich has a considerable history in drag racing from many angles. Whether you look at his career as a racer, administrator or as track builder and operator, his vision has always been consistent to

provide the most sustainable long term drag racing environment for all stakeholders.

Drag News would like to congratulate both Jim and Gary on their induction into the ANDRA Hall of Fame.

Cannuli races in USA John Cannuli raced in his first NHRA event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, doing some driving for Kon Rodz Racing in Top Alcohol Funny Car. Unfortunately it was not to be a fairytale debut as the car rolled the beams on its first two passes and then got into the wall in the final qualifying session.

Cannuli will be back for Pomona's NHRA World Finals.

Rapisardas to compete at NHRA finale Speaking of the NHRA World Finals, Rapisarda Autosport International will return for the final round of the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello season.

Dom Lagana will again assume driving duties after his excellent performance at the US Nationals when the team qualified eighth and then caused a massive upset by defeating NHRA superstar and then points leader Doug Kalitta in the first round before losing to seventime NHRA fuel champ Tony Schumacher in the second.

“My boys, Santo and Santino are keen to return to race in America,”

said team owner Santo Rapisarda.

“I sat down and said 'do we want to race in Sydney, jump on a plane and go to Pomona' and they said ‘yes!’.

"Dom Lagana will be driving for the team again. He did a great job at Indy and proved that we can give the Americans a run for their money.”

Young replaces Thompson for AONFC Night of Fire USA driver Clint Thompson was announced as the pilot for Paul Shackleton's Funny Car at the upcoming Aeroflow Night of Fire but medical issues have sidelined Thompson before he got to come out to the country.

Thompson suffered a stroke while driving back from a race in the USA and has also been told he will have to sit out of his Top Alcohol Funny Car for the last two events of the season.

Bazz Young, driver of the 'Down

Under Thunder' Nostalgia Funny Car (above), will now be coming to drive Shackleton's car.

“I have told him (Thompson) that when he is able, he can come out and drive the car at another race sometime next year,” Shackleton said.

Young meanwhile is looking forward to the opportunity.

“Paul has given me given me his brand new race car to drive and I’d like to break it in with a few win lights for him,” he said.

Kanoo sets new 2JZ record Shortly after we finished typing up our feature story on Rod Harvey for this first issue of Drag News Magazine, Ebrahim Kanoo had to go and spoil things with a new 2JZ world record of 6.054 seconds in his Toyota Supra in Bahrain.

Of course you can still read all about Rod's amazing run further on in the magazine.

SHUTTER

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Jason Both ignites race fuel in spectacular fashion as he gets on to the twostep rev limiter prior to a run down Willowbank Raceway.

ISO 4000, 1/60sec, F4.0, Canon 1DX at 300mm. Image: cacklingpipes.com

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NHRA Mello Yello Series Top Fuel champion Shawn Langdon burns out under a setting sun at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis during the 60th running of the US Nationals.

ISO 800, 1/640sec, F5.0, Canon 7D at 10mm. Image: Luke Nieuwhof

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IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS It's the oldest and most prestigious event on the Australian drag racing calendar.

It's the final round of the ANDRA championship.

The thunder cracks overhead and the heavens open and suddenly you have just a small chance to make a field or conditions that rapidly change and test your dial in.

But on Sunday the heavens bring perfection and it's just you, the Australian Nationals and Sydney Dragway. It all comes down to this Race report by Grant Stephens Images by cacklingpipes.com and Joe Maday.

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John Lamattina won his first Top Fuel event, taking the final round out from Peter Xiberras. Brother Phil won the championship in a very successful weekend in Sydney for the Lamattina family.

Top Fuel The addition of a third Rapisarda Autosport International team car to the fold pushed Top Fuel into oversubscribed territory.

Top Alcohol veteran Wayne Newby took up the offer to drive for the team and licensed during the week leading up to the event, the extra car being used by the team as a blocker against points leader Phil Lamattina, who was locked in a extremely tight tussle with RAI's Allan Dobson for the national championship.

Under darkening skies Top Fuel qualifying launched with Steve Read and Mark Mariani, Read blazed the tyres while Mariani with the donated Make A Wish livery shut off early to a 5.25.

Before the next pair could fire the another spectacular electrical storm smashed the venue and all remaining teams rush their cars back to the pits. With the venue flooded and a long time needed to dry the track, ANDRA decided to abandon the session, resulting in Read and Mariani's runs being struck from the record.

Thus a second first session began once the track was dry. John Lamattina clicked off at 1000ft for a 5.24 while there was some flame out from the cylinder heads for Terry Sainty on a 5.30.

Dobson had an unusual situation in the next pair, with the throttle staying open on the burnout and the RAI dragster motoring on down the track. Dobson got the car to shut down safely but with only one qualifying shot left the pressure would be on the team to keep his championship dream alive. Peter Xibberras was left for a solo in the Premiair Hire dragster and spun the Goodyears at half track for a 5.95. Phil Lamattina threw a blower belt but went solidly into the field with a 4.94, with Damien Harris on similar fortunes for a 4.94 in the other lane. Newby made his first competition Top Fuel pass a good one as he shot straight to the top of the field with a 4.88, but the jubilation was short lived as Read made the most of his second chance with a head

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gasket-melting 4.87. The Mariani team did not return for their first round rerun and would have to rely on a last ditch effort in the second and final qualifier.

By the time the second session rolled around the night time air had rolled in and the track looked racey. Dobson was first out for session two and needed to make a solid lap to ensure he would be racing for the championship. The engine lit up through the traps but a 4.78 flashed up on the boards and the team breathed a big sigh of relief.

Opposite, Xiberras went up in smoke and would have have a nervous wait to see if his earlier 5.95 would stay in the field. John Lamattina, the assistance of US crew chief Mike Domagala on board for the event, stepped things up with a 4.67 at 326mph but only got to bask in the glory for a short time as brother Phil blasted a 4.64 at 329mph.

Mariani would not make the field with a troubled eight second run, a disappointing result for the team after their respectable abandoned qualifier. Newby could not improve on his earlier time but suffered the wrath of the nitro gods with his first big boomer on a solo pass. Sainty and Harris would close out qualifying, unusually Harris' dragster repeated what happened to Dobson in session one with him continuing down track after the burnout, while the Sainty dragster ran an unusually lazy 5.73.

Sunday race day commenced with Read and Newby, Read smoked the tyres at half track and was all out of shape, as Newby also started turning the tyres but was safely ahead and chalked up his first Top Fuel round win with a 5.48. John Lamattina hazed the tyres during his match up with Sainty, the Fuchs dragster still powered to a 4.86 at 306mph, a trailing Sainty was on fire from half track and well into the braking area. First of the marquee match ups was next with Dobson taking on team mate Harris. A win for Dobson would keep his championship hopes alive but a loss would end

them right there. Team owner Santo Rapisarda was explicit in there being no team orders and with Santo Jr on tuning duties for the Harris car decked out in a Louie Rapisarda tribute livery they wanted a win. Dobson's car started mixing up the cylinders and exploded the engine as Harris laboured to the line first with a 4.92 over a 5.36. It was a bittersweet moment for the RAI team, but their integrity was never in question. With Dobson watching on, the loss became more brutal with Phil Lamattina losing against Xiberras 5.02 to a 4.92, leaving the Western Australian fireman to lament what could have been and the Victorian carrot farmer to celebrate what was.

The championship may have been decided but the event was still there to win and the first semi final saw two Top Fuel rookies in Newby and Xiberras.

Both cars were out of shape, but Xiberras' 4.94 accounted for Newby who clicked early after a big sideway kick. It was some redemption for the Premiair team following their disqualification for a technical infraction at the X-Champs that left them out of the final. Harris set fire to the "Trackburner" at 60 feet in the second semi final, with the Rapisarda dragster bellowing flames all the way to the braking area while John Lamattina pedalled like a veteran in the other lane for a 4.91 and a finals berth, guaranteeing there would be a first time winner.

The final was as they say a barn burner with side by side runs, but it was Lamattina's 4.83 nipping Xiberras' 4.89. It was a long awaited positive weekend for the Lamattina family at Sydney Dragway, a venue that has long been their bogey track, but also well deserved for their support of Australian Top Fuel.

The 'Trackburner' retro scheme was an emotional tribute to Louie Rapisarda. In round one, driver Damien Harris raced heads up with Allan Dobson in a championshipcritical race.

Tribute car an emotional surprise One of the coolest sights at the Australian Nationals was one of Rapisarda Autosport International's three Top Fuel dragsters covered in a 'Trackburner' scheme, a design last driven by the late Louie Rapisarda.

The retro look was orchestrated by Santo Rapisarda Jnr and his team as a surprise for father Santo, one which seems to have been very effective.

“It was a great surprise for Dad and it worked out just the way I hoped it would,” Santo Jnr said.

It started back in Adelaide when Santo Jnr spoke about the idea with his team, who were all enthusiastic about it, including driver Damien Harris.

Santo Jnr liaised with Brett from Kenny Signs, who has been doing all the transporter and car work recently for the team, and the wheels were set into motion.

“Me and Matt got to work early one morning and we loaded up the spare body for the B-car which was still brand new and carbon fibre, no paint or stickers and never run since we purchased the car from David Baca, but it was set up and ready to go,” he said.

“We took it down the M5 and dropped it off at Brett's for about two weeks to be done.

“We had recently changed the way we parked our trailers in our shop to where it made the body on the wall less visible, which worked in our favour, but I had a plan that if Dad was to notice and ask where the spare body was we would say it was away getting the 21 degree windshield.”

The team took the car out to the track with the standard RAI body on, with Santo Jnr, girlfriend Brooke and crew member Andy sneaking away from the track midafternoon on Thursday to pick up the fresh body.

Some stealthy moves were needed to keep the body from his father's eyes.

“Dad was still there cooking the barbeque as he does, so we had to contact Matt on what to do,” Santo Jnr said.

“We ended up having to drive in the gate and down towards the Junior Dragster pits, then back up to Premiair's hospitality marquee where we stashed the body for a few hours.

“We wrapped our car up in its cover as if we were ready to go home, lights off and all, until Dad drove off in his car and that's when we set about doing the body switch.

I was 98% sure that the body would fit right on and luckily it did with minor mods.”

Job done, the dragster was quickly covered up again so nobody would notice the vibrant yellow colouring. On Friday morning Andy got in early to dummy up a motor to ensure the car would look race ready when it was unveiled.

“Dad arrived at the track and we got everyone behind the car and said we were having a team photo,” Santo Jnr said. “By this stage I suspect that he was starting to get a bit suss as the car was still covered up and my sister Gianna was at the track along with Brett that did the design.

“I said to the guys to pull the covers and the second he recognised it he burst into tears. I wasn't sure that I had done the right thing to start with but soon realised they were tears of emotion and happiness also. It really touched home with him and he love it. He mentioned later that it was the best thing anyone had ever done for him.

“We rolled it into the sun and got some pictures with the family and then the crew. Tino (brother Santino) laughed and said 'Hey dad, Louie's got a set back blower!'"

- Luke Nieuwhof

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Terry Sainty endured a tough weekend at Sydney Dragway.

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Left: WA firefighter Allan Dobson was desperate to win a Top Fuel championship but came up just short.

Right: John Lamattina wasn't going to race at the Australian Nationals at first, but we bet he is glad he went now.

Lamattina takes two Phil Lamattina achieved a long awaited second Top Fuel championship following a torrid fight through the last half of the season with Allan Dobson.

Lamattina said he was relieved more than anything else.

“To all of the boys on the crew and crew chief Aaron Hambridge, this is a tribute to their hard work and the huge effort that they put in,” he said.

“We had a great fight with Dobbo all year. Obviously, I want to win but he’s just such a good bloke, I almost wanted him to win too.”

Although the championship battle was somewhat of an anticlimax when both Lamattina and Dobson went out in the first round, Lamattina said that having John come

up to win his first final made up for it.

“The Nationals was just an unusual event, we smoked the tyres and got beaten, which is normally a downer, but we won the championship, which was really something,” he said.

“Then my younger brother John comes through and wins his first meeting, we were all excited again.

“I’m proud of John and his guys as well. It’s their first big win and we all knew it was a matter of time, he’s going to be one of the hardest guys to beat next year.

“It will be a new look LTFR next season. The one thing we are working hard to keep the same is the results – I think I like this championship winning feeling.”

"We had a great fight with Dobbo all year."

Phil Lamattina

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Top Alcohol Going into the event it was almost a lock out for Gary Phillips to take his 17th Top Alcohol crown, with nearest challenger Steven Ham needing a bunch of results to go his way, but the only certainty in drag racing is that there is no certainty.

With 12 cars in the pits and only two qualifying sessions available the plot was already beginning to thicken in the championship chase.

Qualifying opened with Pete Zelow zinging the tyres and popping the blower while opponent Russell Mills could not fire his sweet and unique front engine dragster.

Rob Ambruosi performed his burnout next before the Funny Car stopped running while Mark Hinchelwood was all out of shape off the start line and aborted his run. Jon Sting finally laid down the first representative run of the session with a 5.72 from his dragster against a wounded 6.01 from Wayne Price, Steve Reed went into the show with a 5.90 as Debbie O'Rourke smashed into the timing blocks on a very wild pass. Qualifying continued with Ham shaking to a 5.85 but getting safely into the field, as Brett White

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was shut down after his dragster dropped a lot of fluid during the burnout. After the cleanup more fluid was dumped on the track, but this time from Mother Nature with only Gary Phillips left to run in the session. With the track dried, Phillips did not go more than a few feet before blazing the tyres and despite a number of stabs at the throttle the funny car could only muster a 9.28. Though in the field, the chances of the ET holding up through the final session were slim.

Ham signalled his intentions by ripping off a 5.64 to start the final qualifying session, Ambruosi ran 5.96 in the other lane, while both O'Rourke and Zelow barely went sixty feet before striking trouble and would not qualify. All eyes were on Phillips next and in a shock development he smoked the tyres and crossed the centre line. In the opposite lane Steve Reed had better fortunes with a 5.63 to move to number one spot. Mills bumped Phillips down another slot with a 5.73 personal best. White went into a power wheelstand but kept the boot in for a 5.77 as Hinchelwood muscled the Sainty funny car to a 6.37, bumping Phillips out of the field and moving Ham into a

championship box seat. Sting closed out Top Alcohol qualifying with a squirrelly 5.68 to improve on his earlier effort.

The championship equation was simple: if Ham reached the final he would become the 2014 Top Alcohol champion.

Eliminations begun with Ambruosi rolling the beams, handing the win to Sting, a 5.56 from the dragster would have been a tall order either way. Step one for Ham was up next, facing Price. It was over at the tree as Price went red, gifting Ham into the semi finals. A strong 5.52 , which would hold low ET of the event, rammed home the win over Price's 5.67. Hinchelwood cleaned up the centreline against Reed who laid down a solid 5.57 and White popped the blower against Mills who went quicker again with a 5.60.

The moment of truth had arrived for Ham after a long tension filled wait following a massive oil down which incited a late lane swap by the TSP team against opponent Sting. The ambers flashed and Ham moved, was it early? No, he axed the tree with a .000 reaction and stopped the timers with a 5.64 to Sting's 5.57, an unbelievable holeshot win to the now Top Alcohol champion.

This semi final match up in Top Alcohol was perhaps the most important race of the season for the category. A perfect light for Steve Ham helped him take a holeshot win against Jon Sting.

How close was it? A .025 or slower light for Ham would have seen Phillips walk away with his 17th title.

Once everyone gathered their collective breaths, Mills, who picked up ANDRA's Best Engineered Award, rattled the tyres horribly in the other semi final against Reed's 5.78 to set up an all Queensland funny car final.

The final was a wild one, the Reed funny car made a big right hand move at three quarter track and clouted the wall hard, tearing off a header, while the situation was not much better for Ham as he began mowing down centreline timing reflectors. Ham was declared the winner under the first or worst rule with Reed infracting on the boundary line first and Ham capping off an awe-inspiring race meeting.Going into the event it was almost a lock out for Gary Phillips to take his 17th Top Alcohol crown, with nearest challenger Steven Ham needing a bunch of results to go his way, but the only certainty in drag racing is that there is no certainty.

With 12 cars in the pits and only two qualifying sessions available the plot was already beginning to thicken in the championship chase.

Qualifying opened with Pete Zelow zinging the tyres and popping the

Ouch: Steve Reed gave the wall more than half a rub in the final, disqualifying him from the race. To add insult to injury, Ham crossed the centreline shortly afterwards, which would have gifted Reed the Nationals Christmas tree.

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blower while opponent Russell Mills could not fire his sweet and unique front engine dragster.

Rob Ambruosi performed his burnout next before the Funny Car stopped running while Mark Hinchelwood was all out of shape off the start line and aborted his run. Jon Sting finally laid down the first representative run of the session with a 5.72 from his dragster against a wounded 6.01 from Wayne Price, Steve Reed went into the show with a 5.90 as Debbie O'Rourke smashed into the timing blocks on a very wild pass. Qualifying continued with Ham shaking to a 5.85 but getting safely into the field, as Brett White was shut down after his dragster dropped a lot of fluid during the burnout. After the cleanup more fluid was dumped on the track, but this time from Mother Nature with only Gary Phillips left to run in the

session. With the track dried, Phillips did not go more than a few feet before blazing the tyres and despite a number of stabs at the throttle the funny car could only muster a 9.28. Though in the field, the chances of the ET holding up through the final session were slim.

Ham signalled his intentions by ripping off a 5.64 to start the final qualifying session, Ambruosi ran 5.96 in the other lane, while both O'Rourke and Zelow barely went sixty feet before striking trouble and would not qualify. All eyes were on Phillips next and in a shock development he smoked the tyres and crossed the centre line. In the opposite lane Steve Reed had better fortunes with a 5.63 to move to number one spot. Mills bumped Phillips down another slot with a 5.73 personal best. White went into a power wheelstand but kept the

boot in for a 5.77 as Hinchelwood muscled the Sainty funny car to a 6.37, bumping Phillips out of the field and moving Ham into a championship box seat. Sting closed out Top Alcohol qualifying with a squirrelly 5.68 to improve on his earlier effort.

The championship equation was simple: if Ham reached the final he would become the 2014 Top Alcohol champion.

Eliminations begun with Ambruosi rolling the beams, handing the win to Sting, a 5.56 from the dragster would have been a tall order either way. Step one for Ham was up next, facing Price. It was over at the tree as Price went red, gifting Ham into the semi finals. A strong 5.52 , which would hold low ET of the event, rammed home the win over Price's 5.67. Hinchelwood cleaned up the centreline against Reed who

When the door opens, step through Steve Ham could hardly believe his eyes when his championship rival Gary Phillips didn't qualify for the Australian Nationals. Not only was there light at the end of the tunnel – it was blinding.

“We needed Gary to go out first round which we thought at the time was not going to happen,” Ham explained.

“Then when he DNQ'd the ball was in our court and we had to stay composed.”

Staying composed isn't always easy with 3500 horsepower under the right foot and it almost came completely unstuck in the semi finals. In fact you could

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say Ham won the championship, or nearly lost it, by one thousandth of a second when he reacted with a perfect .000 light against Jon Sting. Some racers call a perfect light a bad job of red lighting, but Ham needed almost all of it to take a holeshot win.

“The .000 light was having a red hot go at the tree as Jon Sting is also killer on the lights,” he said. “But .000 is way too close to red.”

Speaking after the Nationals, Ham said the emotions and feelings had yet to settle in for the team.

“The championship and the win still have not sunk in as we are all tired,” he plainly said.

laid down a solid 5.57 and White popped the blower against Mills who went quicker again with a 5.60.

The moment of truth had arrived for Ham after a long tension filled wait following a massive oil down which incited a late lane swap by the TSP team against opponent Sting. The ambers flashed and Ham moved, was it early? No, he axed the tree with a .000 reaction and stopped the timers with a 5.64 to Sting's 5.57, an unbelievable holeshot win to the now Top Alcohol champion. How close was it? A .025 or slower light for Ham would have seen Phillips walk away with his 17th title.

Once everyone gathered their collective breaths, Mills, who picked up ANDRA's Best Engineered Award, rattled the tyres horribly in the other semi final against Reed's 5.78 to set up an all Queensland funny car final.

The final was a wild one, the Reed funny car made a big right hand move at three quarter track and clouted the wall hard, tearing off a header, while the situation was not much better for Ham as he began mowing down centreline timing reflectors. Ham was declared the winner under the first or worst rule with Reed infracting on the boundary line first and Ham capping off an awe-inspiring race meeting.

Above: Brett White smokes the hides big time. He would qualify for the field but pop a supercharger in round one against Russell Mills.

Below: Gary Phillips had a new look car to honour Lucas Oils but it didn't prove lucky for the at time superstitious racer as he failed to qualify and watched Steve Ham steal a championship.

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Top Doorslammer John Zappia had already claimed his seventh straight Top Doorslammer title going into the event, leaving the rest of the field to squabble over the minor positions.

Qualifying saw the Ford Mustang of Stephen Dupond produce a 6.28 personal best off the trailer to open proceedings. Geoff Gradden also manufactured his best with a 6.24 from his Saratoga opposite a tyre smoking Jeff Wilson. A pair of very different Camaros were next, Bill Goonan had his '75 shut down with a leak while Johnny Roso's gorgeous '69 version went a lazy 6.46. Yet another Camaro, belonging to Stuart Bishop, soloed to a 6.17.

Peter Kapiris was in test mode following by a disappointing year and fired the first real shot with a 6.03 against Maurice Fabietti, who was sporting a striking new livery in the Holden Trade Club Monaro and ran a 6.08. In an all West Aussie match up, Marty Dack pumped out

plenty of smoke through the lights with a 6.25 as Pino Priolo put his Budget Forklifts Chev down track with a 6.17. Zappia was all over the place on his lap but still carded a 6.07 while Grant O'Rourke was straight as an arrow with a 6.08, shooting both into the top half of the field and ending Q1.

Victor Bray towed out first in Q2 after missing the first session, the new livery looking the part, however the famed '57 spun the hides off the line and a nine second ET would mean the big guy would be spectating for eliminations, as too would Goonan after a pedalling 6.72 in the opposite lane. Roso had the Camaro pointed at wall before recovering with a 6.42, Wilson also got his Corvette crossed up and both would not qualify. Dack made a big jump up the standings with a 6.03 against an out of shape Priolo, Gradden could not improve and Bishop fired up the Camaro to take the top spot with a 5.95. Zappia was out next with O'Rourke again, neither improving, Zappia

Carnage all round in the Top Doorslammer semi finals as Marty Dack blew a supercharger clean off the top of the motor and Stuart Bishop smoked a transmission.

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performing an epic steer to keep paint on the panels. The final pairing of Kapiris and Fabietti began with Kapiris totally sideways in the burnout and crossing the centreline, but not an unfazed Kapiris ripped a 5.79 to put daylight between himself and the rest of the field. Fabietti put a 5.96 on the boards but crossed the centreline on the way.

With qualifying a little subdued by Top Doorslammer standards you could be assured that would not be the case in eliminations. First pairing of eliminations was suppose to be Fabietti and Zappia, but oil pressure problems ruled out Mr Fabulous, leaving Zappia to cruise into the semi final. Nothing in Top Doorslammer is that easy however.

Zappia went for the throat on the solo, the Monaro shook hard before making a hard right turn then swinging back and thumping the left hand wall hard around quarter track. With body work askew the car was towed back to the pits and assessed where it was determined

Geoff Gradden's years of hard work were rewarded with his first Top Doorslammer victory at the Australian Nationals.

that the damage was extensive enough not to risk fixing in a rush, withdrawing Zappia from the event.

Priolo hit the go pedal before the tree was activated against Bishop, though the jeweller was looking strong with a 5.91. Both Dack and O'Rourke had untidy passes in their encounter, Dack faring the best with a winning 6.18. The final pairing of round one saw the two Dodge Saratogas of Kapiris and Gradden throw down and in the biggest upset of the event Gradden a massive personal best of 5.96 on the Batmobile, defeating a 6.01 from Kapiris.

Gradden would now go to his first final after just accepting the green in first semi final due to Zappia's withdrawal. Meanwhile all hell broke loose in the second semi final.

Dack had the slight start line advantage before going into some serious tyre shake, pedalling and backfiring the supercharger, lifting it completely off the top of the engine.

Bishop was in bigger trouble with a transmission failure at about 250 feet, dumping copious amounts of oil under the rear slicks. The Camaro went into a wild tank slapper before impacting the left hand wall then careered across track heavily into

the right wall. Bishop climbed out unhurt, but the Camaro was a mess with the entire front chassis missing from the firewall forward, the race win went to Dack who fortunately was clear of the whole situation occurring behind him.

It was a final no one would have predicted and it would also produce a first time winner in the category.

The holeshot went to Dack .116 to a .180 at the green, but the Falcon banged the blower again around 300 feet and Gradden powered past to a 6.03, completing a fairytale event for the Top Doorslammer underdog.

Top: Geoff Gradden took a win for the underdogs as well as running his first five second pass

.

Left: John Zappia had an unceremonious end to his seventh championship season, clouting the wall in round one.

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A win to gladden Gradden If Geoff Gradden's win wasn't a shock, then it was still the most unexpected of the event.

While Gradden himself may not have been game enough to predict the win, he and his team were quietly confident they had the equipment to be there when it all came together.

"I guess we were rightly underestimated going into this event," he said.

"Testing the week before, a fast run was shut down with an electrical fault, and our eight place qualifier at 6.24 was an early shutoff. We expected to go better in the final qualifier, but a plug lead problem saw only 6.44 on seven cylinders all the way.

"Coming into the first eliminator against top qualifier Peter Kapiris we knew we could go 5.9 and just needed Peter to rattle the tyres. That’s exactly what happened and we managed to get over the line seven hundredths in front.

"In the final against Marty Dack we knew both cars could run fast and it would be down to driving and tuning. I certainly made a few mistakes, shook hard, but was lucky to be over the line first with a 6.03 that would have been quite a bit faster in the good conditions if we had more tuning experience.”

Gradden has been developing the car for several years now and has experienced the lowest of lows in that time.

The team have battled to overcome tyre shake and smoke constantly, but through gritty determination and some experienced advice they have found what they were looking for.

"There is no easy way, it’s just lap after lap and learn a

bit each time,” he said, “Getting the car set up to go straight, shake less, and finding a tuning window to go with all the track data we collected over the last four years.

"I’ve known for a while from testing that we had a competitive race car. As you can imagine, it does not work until everything is correct, and I have learned a lot over the past four years, since we built this car.

"I’ve also had a lot of help, initially from Murray Anderson, Peter Kapiris, Jeff Cutajar and Mark Brew and lately from Stuart Rowland and in particular Maurice Fabietti. Without those guys, we could have taken another ten years and got nowhere.

"Although we’ve had some help, the dedication of my family and crew is still far more important. We’ve all worked together for 10 years and there have been a lot of highs and lows along the way.

"Winning a gold Christmas tree at the 2009 Nitro Champs in our Supercharged Outlaws Dodge Viper and backing that up with a runner up at the 2009 Nationals really got us hooked. Blowing our first Doorslammer motor into tiny pieces and crashing the Saratoga a couple of years ago really tested our resolve.”

Gradden is still being the realist post event despite the success and change in form.

"Of course success at one event does not guarantee success at the next one, maybe we were lucky. The only part we broke all weekend was the towing hook on the ute," he quipped.

- Grant Stephens

Victor Bray was running a new paint scheme after the end of his contract with primary sponsor Sidchrome.

Unfortunately it did not help with Bray missing the field on his one qualifying shot.

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Pro Stock With 15 Pro Stock cars in the lanes qualifying would just be about position in the 16 car field. The championship was down to the Tremayne brothers with Aaron having a healthy lead over Tyronne, though as we saw with Top Alcohol, strange things can happen in drag racing.

Much of the pre event hype was surrounding Lee Bektash as the Mopar team turned Pro Stock on its head with blistering ETs and speeds, running 6.90 and 198mph to be well under and over the class records.

Qualifying conditions for session one were not conducive to those numbers with gusty winds and a temperature in the mid 30s so the interest would be in who could handle it the best. Almost all 15 racers made successful runs in the conditions, with Bektash running 7.03 at only 194mph, followed by fellow Dodge racer Nino Cavallo in his Stratus with a 7.07. Emilio Spinozzi was confident on the back of strong testing and went 7.09. The rest of the field followed as such: Bill Kotsias 7.11, Tyronne Tremayne 7.11, John Barbagallo 7.15, Bill Perdikaris 7.16, Aaron Tremayne 7.17, Chris Soldatos 7.18, Rick Chilton 7.18, Jason Grima 7.21, Jason Hedges 7.25, Paul Beauchamp 7.25, Bruno

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Cavallo 7.26 and Grace Howell bookended the field with a problematic 19.23.

The second and final session saw Hedges improve marginally to a 7.17, Howell ran an identical 7.17 with the Mustang and Grima moved into the top half with a 7.12. The pairings continued with Chilton going slightly quicker with a 7.16, Nino Cavallo consolidating the number two position with a 7.056 and Aaron Tremayne gained a couple of places with a 7.12. No one else could improve until Bektash stepped up with a sub record 6.944 at 196mph, gapping the field by over a tenth of a second, something unheard of in modern Pro Stock.

Tyronne Tremayne was the last car down the track in qualifying, stealing the number two position from Cavallo by one thousandth with a 7.055 but still a light year from Bektash's Avenger.

Eliminations ripped into action with a cracking race between Chilton and Barbagallo, a 7.048 from the Grand Am of Chilton was trumped by Barbagallo's 7.044. Conditions were literally perfect for Pro Stock given the hellish previous day. Grima left the groove in his face off with Hedges, the Mustang paying with a 7.11 to Hedges' 7.05. Howell dropped a 7.01 on Kotsias who pulled the laundry at half track.

Spinozzi showed his hand with a

6.93, well under the national record and bettering Bektash's qualifying time, as well as defeating Soldatos' 7.03. The big numbers kept coming with Nino Cavallo also sub record with a 6.94 in sending Beauchamp home with a 7.07 PB. Tyronne Tremayne also went into the sixes with a 6.97, driving around Bruno Cavallo's 7.02 as all eyes turned to Bektash who was up next on a solo.

With the team predicting 6.8's and 200mph if the conditions were right, anticipation was tense, the Avenger lighting up on the readout boards with an astounding 6.877, teamd up with a screaming top end charge of 199.85mph as history was made. With jubilation abundant there still was one pairing to run in round one with the important stipulation that if Aaron Tremayne won against Perdikaris he would become the Pro Stock champion.

Tremayne made a decent advantage at the tree on the Perdikaris Escort and would need every bit of it, a holeshot win 7.029 to a 7.027 claiming the title in a dramatic round of Pro Stock!

The Tremayne brothers would open the quarter finals, with the championship now decided this would be for bragging rights. Aaron went .005 on the tree and Tyronne into tyre shake, the new champion driving away for a 7.13 win.

Temperatures had climbed for this

round and tune ups would have to be compensated.

Spinozzi was impressive again with a 6.95 which was more than a match for Howell's 7.03.

Barbagallo took a shot at the tree and went red by three thousandths against Bektash who was a little vulnerable on the run when the Avenger left the groove and flirted with the wall, forcing him to push the clutch in but still running a 6.98 at only 182mph. Nino Cavallo ensured he would see the semi finals with a 6.99, though he needed to drive around Hedges; better reacting 7.02 to bring a close to round two.

Semi final time and Cavallo's 7.02 ended Tremayne's run as he trailed the Stratus with a 7.10, as Spinozzi and Bektash had the potential to deliver the quickest side by side Pro Stock pass ever.

Spinozzi was in the race with a .04 advantage off the line, but was too aggressive, the Camaro madly out of shape and across the centreline, Bektash romped in with a 6.91 and over 199mph again backing up his earlier national record runs.

So the final would be a pair of Bob Book powered flying Mopars, conditions had cooled and the 200mph talk was all around. Reaction times from both racers were near identical but there would be no stopping the Bektash Mopar team this weekend as the win light came on in their lane but perhaps more importantly it came with 200.14mph, the first 200mph pass in the history of Pro Stock! Cavallo was gallant in defeat with a 6.98 for a side by side six second final and Pro Stock racing at its finest.

Right: Tremaniac Racing shows why reverse is our favourite gear.

Below: Is this a rare photo of Spinozzi Racing crew chief Mick Marriott sharing some of his secrets?

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Bektash: barrier breaker The first 200mph Pro Stock pass was one of the few barriers left to be broken in Australian drag racing and it has to be said it came much quicker than expected.

When Lee Bektash went 198mph in testing questions about 200 started to be raised, but it was still a giant leap in Pro Stock terms. Come the first round and a 6.877 at a jaw dropping 199.85 made people see that 200mph was a reality.

Most Pro Stock pundits had said 200mph was several years away yet. The Mopar team have always been in the game, but have suffered bad luck and recurring issues that have prevented the team reaching its full potential - that was until they switched to power provided by the USA's Bob Book from BRE. "After speaking with Bob Book at the 2013 Winternationals I was convinced that this was the right direction with the small block future, 200.11 mph does speak for itself,” Bektash said. “Since we have made that switch to BRE horsepower we have been the fastest car at every event, he has really given us the reliability and horsepower to run with the Tremaynes who have dominated Pro Stock since my debut.”

Having the power is only one piece of the jigsaw, getting that power to the track to produce results is the challenge and that comes down to team work and the right team members. Bektash praised American import crew chief Tomi Laine for his success.

“Tomi Laine is the spine in our team, he calls the shots and directed this team to where it is today," he said.

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"Pro Stock racing is split into quarters: crew, set up, power and driver. This has taken Tomi three years to put together and I'm glad I rewarded the team, sponsors, Tomi and Bob with our achievements, they deserve a lot more exposure and credit for the milestone.”

The event win filled an empty slot in the Lee Bektash trophy cabinet.

"From sportsman through to Pro Stock, I've won a sportsman championship and every major event over the years throughout my drag racing career bar the Nationals, so it's great," he said.

Bektash's Mopar outfit heavily supports future champions in Junior Dragster. He is still drawing on the sportsman scene for inspiration.

"My involvement with Junior Dragsters has really opened my eyes on how drag racing is such a family sport,” he said. “I love all the kids, parents and families and try my very best to encourage all JD drivers on how great they really are as drivers.

"I've never lost touch and my respect for all sportsman drivers, I am always around the sportsman pits getting ideas and being encouraged on how to keep that hunger to win.

"None of this would be possible without the support of Fiat Chrysler/Mopar Australia( Aaron Moorcroft), Bob Book, Retreat Caravans, VP Racing Fuels, Global Traffic Management, Mackays Furniture Transport and Comp Engines and crew Tomi Laine, Bill Elsayegh, Paul 'Plucka' Drady, Tony Caroscio, Zani Resi, Obe Ward, Ian Ward, Lindon Bektash, Craigar and Jeff.”

- Grant Stephens

running time. The failure, a repeat of testing a week earlier, was put down to weakened cylinder heads from the repair work of previous boomers. Just goes to show how much 'bang' a nitro motor contains!

Round one of eliminations shaped up with four bikes. Matheson finally debuted 'Jack Hammer', the ex-Doug Vancil nitro Harley and one time quickest of its breed anywhere on the planet.

Matheson's fuel shut off automatically engaged at 300 feet however, silencing the big V-twin as opponent Guillory road away to the final with a 7.50. Spann brought back some dignity for the nitro bikes with a nice 6.91, leaving Parker's 12 second haul in his tracks.

A tear down in the pits of the nitrous bike uncovered a torched piston so the team was out of the final, leaving Spann to solo for the Nationals crown. The Spannerman clicked the final run early, coasting the Noodle Box machine to a 7.54 on a day where just surviving was the main goal.

Left: Gavin Spann won a survival of the fittest Top Fuel Motorcycle event.

Top Fuel Motorcycle Top Fuel Motorcycle had a lack of entries with just five riders and breakages dominated the racing. The championship had already gone to Mark Drew who was not entered, Chris Porter had been having a terrible time keeping the heads on the block with his Harley, Chris Matheson was unable to get in any testing on his new Harley, nicknamed 'Jack Hammer', and so that left Gavin Spann and Phil Parker to make up the rest of field along with the surprise entry of American Darian Guillory aboard his former nitrous bike now owned

by Sydney's Rod Barchet.

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Qualifying opened soundly enough with Guillory going 7.05 at 191mph, the quickest and fastest nitrous bike pass in the land. Beside him Spann went 7.52, shutting off early. Parker was the only other bike to make a pass with am ugly 8.09, Porter did not show and Matheson had elected to sit out qualifying.

The second session only saw Porter and Guillory appear, Guillory headed for the centreline and rolled off the throttle for a ten second pass.

Porter though suffered a monumental explosion on the hit, the bike then continued to run with the fuel shut off lines vaporised in the explosion and Porter unable to reach the shut off manually. With the bike pulled up against the wall the crew manage to get the bike shut down after well over a minute of

Below: Surprise USA entry Darian Guillory ran Australia's quickest and fastest nitrous bike pass.

Spann returns to the top It has been a very long time between gold Christmas trees for Gavin Spann and his return to Top Fuel Motorcycle has been an arduous one.

A win was a deserved pay off to reach the event and put on a show for a class that was operating far from its optimal potential at the event.

“After our Winternationals engine blow up, it took a lot of time and money to get the bike ready for the Nationals," he said.

"We had to make a new crankshaft from scratch and a lot of other engine parts. There was 60 hours of work to complete the rebuild and d-day was the weekend before the Nationals, but we got it done and everything was sweet with the engine so off to Sydney we went.”

The short field was made even shorter after qualifying leaving just two rounds of eliminations.

"After putting up with the heat, thunderstorms and wind I finally got a qualifier in, come race day I knew there was only two rounds so I wanted to make my first one a

beauty," Spann said.

"I won the first round with a 6.91 and into the final I was and then found out I was on a solo. "'Wow!' I said, 'I win!' Anyway winners are grinners and it was the easiest meeting I had ever run in all my life.

"I haven't had a gold Christmas tree in a long time, thanks to my great crew, otherwise this would not be possible.”

The Noodle Box team will be looking to run a limited schedule next season and develop their nitro combination further to challenge the front of the pack.

"Next year we plan on still running the X Champs, Winters and Nationals and hopefully test Easter time at Willowbank to get that tune up on the back half of the run, that's all I want to happen, then the bike will haul arse.”

- Grant Stephens

Drew gives Nationals a miss Top Fuel Motorcycle had a small field at the Australian Nationals and no racer left a larger gap in their absence than Mark Drew.

With the championship already wrapped up, the rider of Australia's quickest nitro Harley elected to save his funds for next season where he is planning a full defence.

“We didn't go to the Nationals because we didn't need to, we had enough points and the cost of travelling is a constant battle on the pocket,” he said. “This was our first season doing all the championship rounds so we are happy to have walked away with the number one plate.

“We will defend our championship next season which is only six months long.”

Drew explained that his new Harley has proved itself in the two events it got to run.

“The new bike has a few more little tricks up its sleeve,” he said. “I reckon with what I've learned I should be able to run in the 6.2 - 6.3 second zone consistently. “(We will test in) Perth and start off where we were in Brisbane with a 6.30 tune up and hopefully by the end of the night get the bike into the 6.20 region.”

It's not just straight line motorcycles when it comes to Drew, he is also a passionate speedway sidecar rider. He will be chasing a unique accomplishment next season, a kind of double that has never been done.

“I'm hoping to get some speedway in next season with the hope of racing the Australian Sidecar Championship at Alice Springs at Easter,” he said. “To my knowledge no one has ever won two Australian championships in the same year in two different motorcycle categories so it's been a plan of mine for a

while to hopefully one day achieve this.”

When asked on what it would take to grow Top Fuel Motorcycle given its poor showing at the Australian Nationals, Drew thinks it comes down to racers needing to learn how to run the equipment they have.

“It needs fellas with nitro Harleys to get the right advice on how to set up and tune their bikes from the couple of people in the country who know how to do this,” he said.

“Or buy a bike off me that is already running down the track doing good numbers.

“These bikes take a lot of fine tuning to make them work, it isn't very hard for someone who isn't very experienced to lose their tune or set up without even knowing what they have done – and they struggle to find it again."

- Luke Nieuwhof

"The new bike has a few more little tricks up its sleeve."

Mark Drew

IGNITION

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Chris Porter experienced one of the most spectacular and dramatic moments of the Australian Nationals.

After a torrid run in recent events with startline failures, the jinx continued again with another set of fireworks during qualifying. To add insult to injury, the nitro Harley then refused to shut down. Every time Porter reached for the spark plug leads he was electrocuted!

The team believes that repairs from previous damage on the cylinder heads may be the cause of the explosions.

Image by Michael Wyllie/cacklingpipes.com

Pro Stock Motorcycle Pro Stock Motorcycle barely made up a field after a couple of racers pulled out during the week after suffering engine damage in testing which left a field of just four - and the mechanical mayhem wasn't over yet. Luke Crowley became the Australian champion by virtue of

rolling out for the first qualifier, but he was lucky that was all he had to do as the Suzuki made a horrible mess of a piston on a 7.50 pass and the team were virtually done for the weekend. The state of affairs was in fact worse in the other lane for Denis Ackland aboard the Jason Grima owned Buell. After barely firing and no burnout, Ackland just idled down track and the bike was not seen again for the rest of the event. Scott White and Maurice

Allen had it together though going 7.40 and 7.55 respectively to end the session.

Momo and White were the only racers to appear for the second qualifying session, both bikes showed they were consistent with Allen carding a 7.53 and White a 7.44.

Crowley fronted for the first round of eliminations against Allen to make a field but the wounded Suzuki would not come to life, Allen left to go on a solo into the final with a improving 7.33. White was also on a single with no signs of the Buell and clocked a 7.51 to set up the final match up.

The final was one saving grace for the bracket at the event with possibly the best Pro Stock Motorcycle race of the season. Allen had the jump .036 to a .071, but the Suzuki of White narrowed the gap rapidly as they traversed the 1320.

Allen hung on with a holeshot victory 7.29 to a 7.26 with a margin of victory of just two thousandths of a second.

Excalibur Crowley's sword of choice Many racers would be going home grinning from ear to ear after winning a second pro championship, but for Luke Crowley his joy was tempered by yet more engine damage to his Pro Stock Motorcycle Suzuki.

Crowley had an engine, nicknamed 'Black Betty', he planned to run out the rest of the season with but damage early at the Fuchs Springnationals in Adelaide meant a change back to his main motor, called 'Excalibur'. One more personal best time later, Crowley was sure Black Betty would get her chance for the Nationals but it was not to be this time around either, with what Crowley called a 'much larger issue' being discovered with the motor.

If Excalibur had a weak point, it was in the form of a used piston that was put in to replace some damaged metal earlier in the season at the Fuchs Winternationals.

That move would come back to haunt Crowley.

“We got to the first qualifier on Saturday where that darned used piston decided it had enough and completely let go, causing too much damage to fix at the

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track,” he said. “So I had to be content with winning a second championship and missing out on a perfect season.

“It was a very bitter sweet pill to swallow, not being able to race, and one that will drive me harder to ensure my gear is 100% at all times from now on.”

Crowley had plans to sit out the short 2015 season but admits he probably won't be able to help himself from racing.

“I'm currently looking for a sponsor and marketing partner to go into 2015/16 with everything I know we are capable of doing and a brand new engine is on the top of the shopping list, as is a much larger truck and trailer,” he said.

Pro Stock Motorcycle endured a tough Australian Nationals where just a handful of bikes made it to eliminations.

Even before the event proper started, former champ Locky Ireland, Phil Howard and the Jason Grima Motorsports Buell which was to be ridden by Denis Ackland all had to withdraw with technical issues.

Luke Crowley made just one pass at the Australian Nationals, leading to a championship winning, but frustrating, weekend.

“I wish I knew what the magic formula was to get all the bikes across Australia out of the sheds and on to the black stuff again but I just don't know,” Crowley said.

“Apart from if there were possibly more dollars on offer to race as an incentive but I don't see that any time soon.”

Crowley fondly remembered the mid-2000s era of Pro Stock Motorcycle when fields were full and the category was the closest of all the pro brackets. That was until a rule change came in permitting larger motors which in retrospect might have been one of the greatest mistakes made in the history of the bracket.

“I know that when I wanted to race Pro Stock Motorcycle back in 2005 it was an awesome category with over subscribed meetings,” he said. “But going to the larger engines unfortunately reduced numbers as many teams realised their old parts would no longer be fast enough and many guys just gave up and sold off what they could and were never seen again.

“Maintenance has become high and if you haven't got 50-60 grand a year to throw away it has all got too much

for so many.”

Crowley said he would like to see more TV time for the bracket to help them attract sponsorship.

“We could double or triple the airtime we currently get to help give the interested TV viewer a better insight into these highly technical bikes,” he said. “Remember, the viewer tuned in to watch what was advertised, we don't need to fast forward through what the TV gurus consider 'not interesting'.

“From the feedback I get from people that watch, they are really disgusted with what they only get to see, two or three qualifiers and then fast pace through eliminations.

“By giving us a leg up with the time allocation it would help get good paying backers behind these teams that are there meeting after meeting and I'm sure it would also help some of these guys that are sitting at home to find some sort of sponsorship that would help get them back to the track, making the show better."

- Luke Nieuwhof

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IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS

From left: Phil Howard makes a guest appearance on Luke Crowley's Pro Stock Motorcycle team.

Howard's own engine issues prevented him from making it to the even. Mark Mariani failed to qualify when weather dealt the team a cruel hand. Elvis isn't dead, he just goes Top Fuel racing.

Russell Mills' 'funster' was a deserving winner of the ANDRA Best Engineered Award.

Centre: Peter Xiberras smokes the tyres early, but spectacularly, during qualifying for the Australian Nationals. The team would recover to go on to a runner up spot.

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Competition Competition Eliminator had 12 entries doing battle for an Australian Nationals gold Christmas tree, the two protagonists in the championship duel were the class hopping Craig Geddes running E/DA and Al McClure with his potent BB/FCA. All sportsman racers were fortunate enough to receive their allotted three qualifying sessions albeit in trying conditions and after those sessions West Aussie David Dequen with his small cube E/AA altered stood on

top with a 7.420 (-0.48). Closely following him was Wanyne Cartledge in his wheelstanding B/DA dragster on a 7.15 (-0.44), Greg Leahy in the first of the blown cars was next with a 6.53 (-0.41), followed by Lyle Gilmore's screaming small block Ford powered CC/AA which was giving the tyres an absolute hiding with half track skids and still carded a 6.92 (-0.39). Tony Bellert went into the sixes with his aspirated A/DA dragster recording a 6.96 (-0.38) best, 'Pistol' Pete Pisalidis had his turbo AA/APIA Camaro on song with a 6.84 (-0.35) and championship hopeful McClure

was struggling with set up back in seventh with a 6.59 (-0.35). Back halfing the field was Mike Nola and his BB/APN nitrous sucking Pontiac 6.62 (-0.17), Kit Hunter in his AA/APIA twin turbo VL Commdore 7.21 (0.01), Craig Hewitt with his new AA/GA Monaro on a 7.10 (0.08) and championship hopeful Craig Geddes not having the event he had hoped for as he was unable to complete a pass in qualifying with transmission problems.

The first round of eliminations featured on the delayed Saturday program and was pushed back well into the evening in untested

Al McClure - Competition terrorist

Alistair McClure got off to a rough start before the Australian Nationals even began but fought back for a Competition championship, his first.

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conditions for the teams. Geddes had made an emergency call to Fred Soleiman at Pro Trans to thrash out a rebuild of his transmission to make round one against Pisalidis, with the rebuild a success Geddes smashed his 8.00 index with a 7.45 to stay ahead of the Camaro's 6.80 (7.20). McClure was equally hard on his 6.95 index with a 6.43 and did not need to be when opponent Cartledge's chute popped out just off the line.

In round two Geddes would face Leahy who had done little damage to his BB/FCA index with a win over

Nola. A decent holeshot for Leahy compounded Geddes' problems and the dragster was mowed down in the top end 7.41 (7.72) to a winning 6.57 (6.86). With Geddes on the trailer, McClure would only need to win against Bellert and take a semi final solo to become champion. The tension did not have time to build as Bellert left before the third amber leaving McClure to perform a victory idle down track. The consolation for Geddes was that he would receive the John Storm Memorial trophy for scoring the most points of the season in the Aeroflow Sportsman

You can probably imagine the quizzical look on the faces of airport security when confronted with an xray of a bulky torque convertor. It looks for all the world like a massive land mine.

Several nervous security agents and one extremely nervous Competition racer later, Alistair McClure was on a plane to Sydney.

It started with transmission damage in testing ahead of the Australian Nationals.

“We borrowed a transmission and damaged that on the first pass, bearing in mind the car was getting loaded for the Nationals the next day,” McClure said.

“This left Gonzo (Simon Travaglini) at Allfast working through the night and many nights prior to put together my primary trans.

“We fitted the trans Sunday morning with no convertor as they needed cleaning and would have to come on the plane.

“A new convertor was built for the spare transmission and loaded into luggage bags for my flight. I finally sat down and caught my breath for a minute only to get pulled into a back room to explain what the two 20kg bomb looking things were in my bags.”

We'd like to say that from there McClure's luck improved, but he still faced transmission dramas when he got into qualifying at a blistering Sydney Dragway.

“I got to the track on Thursday and fitted the trans and all seemed well until we qualified and the car was doing terrible early numbers,” he said. “Conditions were hot and we made some tune up changes but it was getting slower and we ended up in number seven qualified spot with a match up against number two.

“After looking through all the data I came to the conclusion that the convertor was dead and we fitted the spare trans and an untested convertor for eliminations.”

Drag Racing Championship.

McClure knocked out Dequen in the semi to set up an all funny car throw down in the final, both teams had the screws wound right up, easily running their quickest passes of the event with Leahy crossing the stripe first clocking a 6.32 (6.67) to McClure's 6.39 (6.69).

Thankfully that would prove the turning points for McClure's BB/FCA. “This was a good call as the car came alive, going sub record in the first round and again in the final. The joys of 2200hp and an automatic,” he said.

McClure is a budget racer through and through but hasn't let that stop him from being a force in Group Two. We asked what advice he had for racers who are thinking about getting into index racing.

“I think its important to look for a class within your means and one that gives you the ability to swap between two or three other classes to keep yourself at the pointy end,” he said. “I also progressively bring in improvements as there is no point bombing the record to win one event.

We have set the record at every event this season but with small clips.”

Championship Christmas tree in hand, McClure has attained a long held ambition.

“This was the last goal for me and something that I have dreamed of for 20 odd years,” he said. “I had a bit of a go in 2007 with Super Sedan and got third in Comp in 2012 but those were half assed attempts.

“My good mate Jeff Clarke inspired me to chase this dream at all costs so with no sponsors and no budget we set off on a 26,000km road trip to collect 300 points and fight for this thing. I really feel numb at the moment but with a real sense of contentment and I feel like we will park the car for a bit.

“I've got to shout out to all the family and have crew who have paid their own way around the country. And (championship rival) Crag Geddes is an absolute champion man and racer and it's an honour to race him and his team. They will be the team to beat next season."

- Luke Nieuwhof

Super Stock A full field of sixteen Super Stockers were in attendance, championship contender Mario Barbon left it until the final session to make a qualifying pass in his D/G VL Calais, a 8.39 (-0.43) left him precariously in eighth meaning he would have to face the number one qualifier in round one with Super Stock's split seeding.

That racer would be a returning Daniel Camilleri, the DD/GA Pontiac racer back on track after a complete rebuild following a big wreck at Calder Park earlier in the season. Camilleri had the tune up set to kill, a -0.78 under 7.56 annihilated the class record, in fact the top four were also under their respective records, with the other championship contender Jake Chaisty holding down second with a H/MSA 9.28 (-0.65), George Sardelis going an A/MPA 8.25 (0.56) and John Kuiper hitting a C/G 7.98 (-0.55), rounding out the record breakers.

Track conditions seemed to be challenging for Super Stock in round one on Saturday night with numerous out of shape passes, the

the top qualifier Camilleri who had the Pontiac horribly out of shape off the line and Chaisty put a wheelstanding Fred Soleiman on the trailer to advance.

Chaisty subsequently held off charges from Jim Ioannidis and debutant Con Soldatos in his nice A/AP GXP to reach the final, while on the other side of the ladder Clint George (pictured, left) was making his presence felt by downing Moran, then ending Barbon's championship run in the semi while saving his index better than Chaisty.

A .037 to .109 start line advantage to George was what he needed to chase down and just nose past Chaisty at the finish, the Cavalier's 7.33 (7.60) pass won on a holeshot over the Commodore's 9.29 (9.59).

biggest when Jason Simpson stepped his G/GA Capri out of the groove to the point of no return, impacting the wall at the finish line.

Simpson was relatively unscathed thought the veteran Capri has significant front end damage. Also in round one, Steve Norman saw his championship aspirations slip slide away while crossed up in his Cobalt against Shane Moran, Barbon got by

Competition Bike Going into the final round of the series, Ross Smith had all but sewn up the Australian Championship aboard his Suzuki Hayabusa, being 95 points ahead of the Suzuki of Daryn Schuster.

Like father, like son Young Western Australian driver Jake Chaisty followed in the championship footsteps of his father Geoff by winning the Super Stock title at the Australian Nationals.

work done on the car which has helped to increase performance. I drove the car to the best of my ability, with no strategy in mind."

Chaisty reached the final and runner upped which was enough to take the points victory over South Australian Mario Barbon.

Although the feat is in need of some more detailed research, it is believed Chaisty is the youngest ever Super Stock champion in Australia.

Chaisty said it felt good to follow in the footsteps of his father.

“My dad was very happy about the win and is very proud of what I have achieved,” he said. “I am really pleased that I have won the championship just as my dad once did. I would not have accomplished this without his support and guidance.”

It seems that with the exception of not winning the event overall, everything came up roses for Chaisty and his Holden Commodore.

“The car ran well throughout the event, with no hiccups,” he said. “We have recently had some engine

- Luke Nieuwhof

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A top qualifying D/AB 8.25 (-0.63) from Schuster carried some bonus points and meant Smith would at least have to win round one to prevent any Hail Mary play from the Queenslander.

Schuster played his part in the game by winning round one over a cherry picking Andy Roberts and then profited from a solo into the final, which he would need to win and set both ends of the national record to have any hope. Smith played the spoiler defeating Michael Mitchell's nitrous bike in round one and another championship was heading West. A red light against Peter Everett in the semi final deflated Smith's chance to double up and the number two qualifier would face the number one in the final.

Reaction times in the final were less than ordinary and somehow Everett overcame a .333 light astride his Kawasaki with a D/SB 9.69 (9.99) to down Schuster's .131-reacting, off pace 8.67 (8.69).

"I think we have pretty much found the limit."

Ross Smith

Longer, faster, winner

Ross Smith's C/AB Suzuki Hayabusa appeared in new, lengthened form last year and has since been finding itself lower and lower into the eight second zone.

The horsepower was always there, but now Smith has the wheelbase with which to use it. Simply put, keeping the front wheel on the ground means you are going to get to the finish line quicker on a street bike.

“It’s really just my trusty old A/Streeter with a long swing arm and a very nicely made slider clutch,” he said. “We got a handle on the clutch setup quite quickly and have since just been fine tuning it to get where it is now.”

Smith's Nationals campaign came to an end in the semi finals, but by then he had secured enough points to take out the Competition Bike championship.

As far as hiccups went, they were only personal.

“Not really any dramas, I just had to keep my head clear,” he said. “The huge red light in the semi was a bit of a bummer but we had done enough to seal it by then. It was a long wait between Pete's tree and mine to come down, I think I got bored waiting!”

Smith doesn't have unrealistic expectations about where he can go with the current combination.

“As it is, I think we have pretty much found the limit,” he said. “There may be a few hundredths more to be had with some really good air and a good track.

“From here I might look at getting a heap of weight out of the bike and move up to B/Altered Bike, there should be some gains but of course the handicap will be harder.

“Not really any firm plans (for next season), we’ll just have some fun in the local rounds for now.

The travel puts a load on everyone, time to kick back now."

- Luke Nieuwhof

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Sport Compact The high revving, flame throwing Super Compact machines only had a small field of six cars come out and play. Po Tung bombed the AA/OM index to rubble in qualifying, running nearly a second under the index in his Toyota Supra with a 7.19 (-0.95), the nearest rival was the Pac Performance Mazda 6 on a 0.41 under 6.78.

The field was reduced to four for eliminations including the withdrawal of the PAC team, as a result Domenic Rigoli would claim the national title with his Eclipse. As fortune would have it, Rigoli was ousted in round one by Phillip Karpathios and his unassuming 3SGTE powered CC/SM Scion, a relative new car to the track.

Karpathios would then show Tung the door on the back of a monster holeshot 8.12 (7.66 IN) to a 8.26 (8.03 IN) and in return open the door to the final for the Scion.

Karpathios' final opponent would be Kiwi Rod Harvey, who on the back of world record setting performances recently, had eyes around the globe on him this weekend. The 2JZ powered Celica was not co-operating however, Harvey unable to construct a full power pass all event and only

making the final via two bye runs.

The final was no different, the Celica shook hard and Harvey pulled together a 6.87 (6.80 IN) against a personal best 7.67 (7.66 IN) from Karpathios, the number meaningless though with a glowing red light in Harvey's lane gifting Karpathios a most unexpected Nationals crown.

Supercharged Outlaws The Supercharged Outlaws national championship was wide open with around ten racers still within striking distance of the main prize, setting up fascinating eliminations.

Qualifying saw Darryl Walford's Thundebird funny car closest to the 6.50 cut off with a 6.520, however terminal engine damage left the team as spectators. Qualifying also delivered a white knuckle moment for Danny Makdessi and his recently debuted VC Valiant, when the 10.5 tyres became unstuck, snapping the Valiant sideways. As Makdessi countered the car tipped up onto its side, only the dragging exhaust pipes prevented a roll over. The car continued to sashay left and right in a wicked tank slapper, almost rolling over four or five times before a scrape on the concrete wall ended the wild ride. Damage was somehow

Phillip Karpathios was an unexpected winner in Super Compact, getting down the track when it counted.

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kept to a minimum thanks to Makdessi's lock to lock steering which made for some impressive in car footage and the Val returned later in the day to run a 6.77 PB. Upset of the first round was the elimination of championship leader Mark Kuhn by the wheel of Rodney Hansen who was also in contention, while reigning champ Marsden beat long shot Justin Russell in a quest for back to back titles.

Round two was set up with a bevy of titanic deciders, Doina Day starting 70 points behind Kuhn in the championship had luck on her side after breaking out only to have Paul Anderson cross the centreline, reinstating the dragster driver into round three. Chris Vant'Hof was a distant 90 points behind but defeated Dave McGaw to move on.

In a championship critical match up, last event start winner Paul Stephen had his hopes dashed, losing a double breakout scenario against Ryan Van Dyk and ditto for another pair of contenders in Jake Donnelly and Hansen, with Hansen also succumbing to a double breakout loss. The final race of round two had John Ward nail his dial in, forcing a breakout from Marsden and seeing another championship dream bite the dust.

Moving into the business end of eliminations with contenders starting to dwindle, Van Dyk was on the better end of another double

breakout dual against Ward, while Vant'Hof pulled the race of his life with a perfect 6.700 on a 6.70 dial in to force Donnelly's .009 reacting run to a break out, ending Donnelly's championship wish. Day moved on with a solo.

The equation became simple now at

the semi final stage, whoever won the event would lay claim to the national championship. Vant'Hof was blessed with a solo to the final and he would be joined by Day when Van Dyk went -0.34 red.

The ultimate sedan versus dragster showdown was upon us for the final,

Day would leave first with a .097 reaction as Vant'hof started the chase with a sluggish .190. He would not catch the dragster. Day crossed the line first with a tight 6.908 on a 6.90 dial to claim the event and national crown ahead of the Corvette's 6.690 on his 6.65 dial in.

A good Day Every season there is usually one championship story that surpasses the rest and this year it came from Supercharged Outlaws.

Doina and Peter Day from country Victoria were having a solid season with their Drysdales Chaff Mill dragster and coming into the Australian Nationals were a long shot chance, being 70 points behind in a field of seven other contenders.

"We came to the Australian Nationals at Sydney knowing that we had the same chance as everyone else in the field of winning the event and a mathematical chance of winning the championship. Our plan as always was to take it one round at a time and have fun,” Doina said.

"We had some damage earlier in the season and when we had it repaired we took the opportunity to make some minor changes and though we had raced since and the car felt fast we had not run it over the quarter mile, so we were excited about that.

With a few false starts due to weather, the championship fight was underway and when points leaders Luke Marsden and Mark Kuhn were eliminated early the championship was there to be had.

"In the first round we were called out three time to run but the weather had different ideas and we just got wetter and wetter, until the fourth time when the battle between the track staff drying the track and the rain gods wetting it was won in favour of the track and we got to do what we came for and race,” Doina said.

"As the meeting went on the other racers with a chance at the championship fell away and we started to see that we were getting closer to the championship, the car was

performing perfectly, smashing our personal best again and again. We stuck to our game plan and just looked at the round we were running but we did have one eye on who else was still in.

"When we came to the semi against Ryan Van Dyk we knew we were now serious contenders for the championship as well as the meeting but we tried to not focus on that. We got through that round and faced Vant'Hof in the final.

"We thought that if we could win that round we would win the championship, but it wasn’t until after that run and the officials at the end of the track told me I had won that I knew for sure. It was a fantastic moment.”

Unfortunately daughter Jasmine could not make the family double. Like her mother, Jasmine had to win the event in Modified only to fall tantalisingly short of achieving the feat, though a championship second was still an outstanding result.

"It takes a lot of people to make this happen so we would like to thank John Drysdale from Drysdales Chaff Mill who has been there for us from the beginning of the bracket,” Doina said. “Rod Rainford from Advanced Engine Dynamics in Bendigo for a motor that always exceeds our expectations and Paul Topping from Straightline Data for our Motec sales service and track support, because great data is what allowed us to run a personal best 6.90 on a 6.90 dial in in the final when it counted.

"I would also like to thank Swarf King for a great car and my crew Peter, John, Chris, Sarah, Jasmine and Glen, it is memories like this that make life wonderful.”

- Grant Stephens

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Modified Modified was down to five in the chase for the championship with Shane Wynd the top dog, holding a points advantage over Jasmine Ryan, Jess Turner, Cory Dyson and Ken Stewart.

Top qualifier medal went unsurprisingly to Andrew Musgrave with a 6.63 at 210mph from the twin turbo altered. Qualifying really showed how quick Modified is becoming as a bracket with 22 of the 32 cars in the seven second zone or quicker.

Jess Turner was the first championship victim in the hardhitting field, losing a round one match up to Kelly Bettes, whose 7.455 pass on a 7.45 dial in showed she had lost nothing in sitting out the season until this event.

In round two we really saw some moving and shaking. Dyson went cherry picking against Gordon Carlsen, Alan White wrapped up a tight package putting Michael Braggs on the trailer and Ken Stewart tried too hard on the tree and went red against Bellert. That left Ryan and Wynd running for the championship and they would face each other in the round.

The scenario stood that if Wynd won then another championship would be his. Ryan, who has contested only two events this season and won both, dropped a .016 light on Wynd's .040, pushing Wynd to a break out against Ryan's safe 7.97 (7.94). The situation now arose that Ryan would need to win the event to steal the championship off Wynd

and make it a family double (Jasmine Ryan being Doina Day's daughter for those not up to speed with the family relations).

Outgoing champion Craig Baker was a stout third round opponent, but the dragster of Ryan was too good in the match up with a 8.06 (7.93) package and she would now meet Bettes in the semi final, with the other semi between Jenny Petrie and odd male out Alan White.

Ryan's sudden death fight with Bettes ended at the tree, a -.004 reaction meant it was all over and Wynd would hang on for the title through being the one who managed to always go rounds, though not reaching a final all season. Jenny Petrie would compose an all girl final as she won a cracker of a race against Alan White with a 8.43 (8.45) to the old stager's 8.65 breakout (8.68 DI).

Petrie hit another double zero light in the final but the rapidly cooling condition may have just caught the team out as the altered broke out with a 8.41 (8.44) and Bettes, who was by no means late with a .017 reaction time, recorded a 7.50 (7.47) for some retribution in losing the final of last year's Australian Nationals against her brother.

Super Sedan The championship title for Super Sedan was a closed book with South Aussie John Kapiris already writing the final chapter, securing consecutive championships going into the event.

Qualifying gave us a glimpse of what

is to come with the introduction of the new ANDRA bracket Top Sportsman, with the twin turbo animals of Rob Campisi and Steve Petrovski going at it, a 6.07 at 250mph from Campo owned the top spot.

It was fortunate for Kapiris that the championship was already safe, with the HQ driver leaving the event with no points in round two courtesy of Daniel Morris. Morris would then dish out the same treatment to Jason Stares, have a bye in round three and advance to the final when Darren Nichele red lit in the semi.

On the other side of the ladder it was a NSW local in Michael Little cutting a swathe through the field.

Little has been on a tear in the local NSW championship with a number of final appearances as he carries the form through this event. Little started his campaign with a round one win over Ronnie Palumbo, Neil Maxwell came up red against the Torana in round two in a rerun when a tree issue affected their first attempt to race, a win against Phil Youlten was next and then a colossal result by defeating big time player Neil Constantinou. Another local heavy hitter blocked his path to final in Joe Zammit. A .009 light in the semi by Zammit's VL Commodore had the pressure on, but fortunately for Little Zammit broke out by just a few thousandths.

In the final it was Morris on the tree with a .006 and chasing hard, Little was exposed with a .063 light. That allowed the Holden Statesman of Morris to round up the Torana in the top end with a 8.274 (8.26) to a 9.529 (9.50).

Daniel Morris took out 2014 national champ John Kapiris on his way to a Nationals win.

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Bettes finds the best Kelly Bettes seems to have a knack when it comes to the pressure events of the ANDRA calendar.

Kelly Bettes is not sure what quite it is about her and gold Christmas trees, but whatever she is doing is working.

The Nationals Modified winner said she doesn't know exactly what it is about the big gold Christmas tree events that see her do well.

“I'm not sure exactly, I guess all I can put it down to is the drive and wanting to go home with a Christmas tree or a win in general,” she said. “But we all want that no matter what event we go to.

“The big events are good, you get to race people you don't normally race and are generally excited for the whole experience.”

Bettes said she was able to stay consistent as a driver throughout the event. “(My) reaction times during the event were all fairly similar and we were confident in our dial in selections for the car,” she said. “Having confidence in your car, in yourself and your team are a major factor in doing well. The rest just falls into place.”

Bettes makes it sound simple, but to take a Modified dragster to the winner's circle of any event requires both staying on top of the combination when dialling in and a driver that is in peak condition.

She explained the philosophy behind the way they run their car.

“Well, the way these cars are set up is to be as less affected by changing conditions as possible,” she said. “Big tyres, four link rear end, wings, low rpm, keeping the fuel mixture rich so it doesn't change too much with different air conditions.

“With all those things working for you, all you can then do is keep your maintenance up and make sure you regularly check over and look after the car so that you don't have avoidable issues at the track.

“Anything can happen and as we all know sometimes even our big tyred, lazy revving dragsters can be very affected by track and weather conditions no matter what you have or do - and it's still a low seven second car running over 180mph.”

A machine is one thing, but the organic part of the car is just as important to keep in touch.

“I've always tried to keep a level head at the race track,” Bettes said. “I think it's important to concentrate on being well rested and fed so that you're not overly tired and have energy to keep mentally strong. This means no partying (laughs).

“Bracket racing is a huge mental game, you can blink at the wrong time and it'll cause a slow light. Concentration is at the max. You need to find a happy medium of not being over confident but also having confidence in your car, team and yourself.

“When you hit that burnout pad, all you should be thinking about is the race.”

Thankfully for her competitors, Bettes said she does not plan on running the dragster too much next season.

“I will just race an occasional event if time and budget allows,” she said. “I will also be running the Jett Racing Ute at the specific events that it races at."

- Luke Nieuwhof

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Morris finds his groove in Super Sedan Queenslander Daniel Morris has been somewhat of a quiet achiever, slowly stepping up the Super Sedan ranks since the purchase of his current Statesman which most will recognise from its long patronage in Super Gas. The change up from a previous Torana has proved to be a challenging transition.

"At the beginning of the year we struggled with the car a lot, trying to make it consistent, but after talking to a friend who suggested we try a couple of things, which we did just before the Winternationals, the car turned a corner and has not looked back since," said Morris.

"This has then allowed me to concentrate on my driving and getting me consistent, which I am a lot happier with now, but I am still not quite where I want to be just yet."

After a quarter final showing at the Winternationals, a win at the Benaraby national round and solid results during the QDRC, the Australian Nationals prize capped off an outstanding year.

Morris' Australian Nationals win started with some trepidation after an uneasy test day.

"Starting out on Friday with the hot weather, I was feeling a little nervous as we didn’t test particularly well on Wednesday due to a slippery track from the heat and build up of rubber on the start line, so I wasn’t really sure what we were going to expect come the first qualifier," said Morris.

"I needn’t have worried though as the track crew had turned the track around and it was awesome straight away. The weather got worse during the day but the car was pretty well dead on what it should have run each pass, so my confidence was reasonably good going into eliminations on Saturday morning.

"Saturday, had pretty similar conditions to Friday but it was a little cooler. The boys did a killer job with our dial in and we were able to force a break out and get the win.

"Sunday rolled on and the weather turned to some of the best weather the our team has ever raced in at Sydney. Knowing that everyone was in the same boat we just wanted to set the dial in so that if there was a break out situation we were going to break out by the least amount, funnily enough that was the way it turned

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out and we also ran a new PB in the process.

"For only the second time in racing, round three for us was going to be a round where we got chased, so cutting a better light was key for me. This then gave us a bye to step up our aggression on the tree, but I was slightly out of the groove and this affected both reaction time and ET. "Into the semi final I left everything as it was and we ran bang on the dial in but went slightly red, but so did our opponent and luckily for us he went red first.

"Final time, backing off the delay a little and with the weather improving a little, we changed the dial in accordingly. As I left I made sure that the light was green and went about chasing him down, passing Mick (Little) just before the first trap marker, I lifted slightly to give us a bit of safety.”

The team were ecstatic with the result, which also awarded Morris a silver Christmas tree for running second in the national championship.

"The last month of racing has been nothing short of amazing for our team, to get our very first national event win in Benaraby and then to back that up here with a Nationals win and runner up in the Aeroflow Championship is simply awesome,” he said.

“I can't thank the boys enough for what they do for us, Tony Menck, Brett Kujawski, James Howe, Tony Rogers and Luke Murry that stepped in to help for my wife Kelly who couldn’t make it down, and Tony M while he is away in the US, plus all the boys' wives who let them come away racing, thank you so much.”

Now looking to the future and a championship chase in the inaugural Top Sportsman year is the mission.

"Plans for next year for the short season are to step into the new Top Sportsman class and chase the national championship, as for the 15/16 season plans have not been finalised yet at this stage," he said.

"Thanks also to our sponsors All Site Demo, John White Racing Engines, Autobarn Lawnton, ET Chassis & Racecars and Matt Performance Paint Shop.”

- Grant Stephens

"The last month of racing has been nothing short of amazing for our team."

Daniel Morris

Modified Bike It was tight at the top in Modified Bike championship wise, whoever went the furthest in eliminations out of David Carroll, Edgell Mallis and Joe Khoury would ride away with the title.

In qualifying Alex Borg blitzed everyone with his turbo Suzuki Hayabusa, a 7.80 at 177mph putting daylight between him and second place. Niki Zakrzewski stepped off her Harley Destroyer in the braking area during the first round of qualifying which was the only mishap of the class, Niki was fortunately unhurt in the fall.

Of the contenders in round one, Joe Khoury knocked himself out by just three thousandths against Bryan Finn as the others advanced. Carroll left his championship in the balance with a red light start against Matthew Hunt, leaving Mallis only needing to win against Stephen Barrett. With both racers sleeping on the lights a 9.35 (9.15 DI) from the Mallis BMW could not get the job done against the Harley's 8.83 (8.74 DI) and the championship was now in the hands of a lucky Carroll.

Barrett would continue onto the

semi finals with his new nitrous VRod only to be halted by Finn with the little eleven second bike that could, Hunt was in the other semi final and scored easy passage to the final when opponent Wally Hosta left way too early.

In the final it was all Hunt, the experienced local racer had a substantial start line advantage onboard his Kawasaki, gathering up Finn's Honda with a 9.30 (9.24 DI) to snatch his first Christmas tree.

Super Street Super Street was a race between two South Australians for the championship: Joe Jurkovic with his Dodge Dart, who also topped the qualifying time sheets with a 11.11, against Kylie Tanner, a racer with a load of success at Sydney Dragway.

Both racers moved through the first round without a hitch, the first to falter would lose the championship.

In round two Jurkovic continued to survive when Belinda Welch broke out as Tanner faced Winternationals winner Robert Winterburn to stay in the hunt. The jump went to Winterburn and the Queenslander held the gap at the finish for the win,

giving Jurkovic the championship.

Jurkovic crossed paths with the outgoing champion in the next round, Carl Taylor. In a virtual match of pride or a bit of friendly retribution both racers had their game on off the line with identical .009 lights. Taylor's very tight 11.145 on a 11.14 dial in was too good at the other end and Jurkovic's event was done.

Taylor's Bubbletop Chev rolled into the final on the back of a red light from Stan Niktaras and Winterburn was also still alive in competition, benefiting from a semi final solo enroute to the final. With Taylor looking to win three consecutive Australian Nationals and Winterburn his second Gold Christmas tree of the year this was take no prisoners, however with a flash of red it was over for Taylor, a .007 cherry gave Winterburn a Winternationals and Nationals double. While insignificant to the result in the end, the numbers told how close the race would have been, Taylor's 11.125 (11.12) package would have won against Winterburn's .025 reacted 11.292 (11.29) with a .022 light or quicker.

On the Hunt Matthew Hunt brought good local form to the big stage claiming the most prestigious prize in drag racing, an Australian Nationals gold Christmas tree.

"The Australian Nationals started off for great for me with a new PB of 9.26 first run Friday morning, then as the heat set in the times went up leaving me not knowing what to dial in for Saturday," he said.

"So I dialled lower than I thought I would run to make sure I didn’t break out, but thanks to Wayne (Quinnell) having way too good of a run and breaking out by a lot I got the win.

"Then Sunday came with very cold weather, I stayed with my dial in from Saturday for my race against the new Australian champ Dave Carroll. When he left a red on the tree I forgot I should have been testing my dial in and missed two gears while celebrating in my head.

"I had my head on straight for the bye run, getting a new PB of 9.24, and the semi final had me against very good friend Wally (Hosta).

"To be honest I picked a bad spot on the line and should have lost that race after I went into wheel spin straight away but Wally gave me a gift and red lit.

"The final had me and Mr Finn from South Australia at the finish line there wasn’t much in it and he was on his game all weekend, this was by far the best race I had all weekend.

"I would like to thank Cassandra, Tim and family for always supporting me and of course I wouldn't be able to do what I do without Adam, Amy, Angela, Simmo and BJ, not only do they make the days fun but are very good friends too.”

- Grant Stephens

Taylor moving on Outgoing Australian Super Street Champion Carl Taylor made his final Super Street national event one to remember even if it did not end how he dreamed it would.

"The 2014 Australian Nationals was a special event for me, we had previously gone back to back Nationals wins in 2012 and 2013 resulting in a Super Street Australian championship," he said.

"Not only were we going for three in a row but prior to the race I decided that this would be my last outing in Super Street. I didn’t travel this season due to other commitments so the championship wasn’t a concern, so I felt relaxed and confident of doing well."

As fate would have it, Taylor would face new champion Joe Jurkovic during eliminations for a chance at some retribution and a highlight of his racing career.

"The quarter final against Joe would probably have to be up there as one of my most memorable races to date,” he said. “We had met each other at the X-Champs semi-final earlier in the year with the outcome not in my favour by only 0.0099 seconds.

"Joe deservedly had the championship wrapped up in the second round but I still had the number one on my car and you don’t see two number ones race against each other very often, this was an epic show down.

"We both cut 0.009 lights and luckily the win light shone in my lane, and a special moment was after the race when the Brickie, Graeme Cooper, wrote the #1 on Joe's car in front of the crowd."

Sportsman icon Graeme Cooper had been helping Taylor over the past 12 months or so to hone his craft. Taylor also said he was privileged to meet Wally Clark who was crewing for Cooper at the event. Clark was the first Australian to

win a NHRA Wally.

Unfortunately for Taylor the final did not pan out how he hoped.

"I ended up in the final again and to Rob's (Winterbunrn) credit he did a great job of taking out the event in Super Street, but for all the great support, I’d like to thank my wife and kids, Burson Auto Parts Brookvale, Peninsular Engine Services Brookvale, Max at Hoosier, and the Brickie.”

With the future of Super Street up in the air, Taylor has decided the time is right for a change.

"I’m looking forward to competing in Super Sedan next season, all the uncertainty with ANDRA and the future of Super Street has led me to take a proactive approach and step up into Super Sedan," he said.

While critical of some of the proposed changes, Taylor can see Super Street not being in the long term vision as a national championship class.

"In my opinion the writing is on the wall, the class is a great stepping stone into the sport and I know heaps of guys that have learned their craft in Super Street and have now stepped up into other classes from it," he said.

"The whole deal with ANDRA is confusing to say the least but I fully understand that Super Street days could be numbered at a national level.

"I also believe that you can’t have un-teched, unprotected street cars running against fully teched, caged, fire suited Super Sedan cars no matter what the cut off is, it’s just crazy to even suggest that this could be a possibility.

"I think ANDRA are between a rock and a hard place with Super Street, the new Top Sportsman class will definitely grow in numbers and so will Super Sedan making the event longer if Super Street was to continue at a national level."

- Grant Stephens

Left: An impromptu championship handover took place on the side of the return road for Super Street.

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Junior Dragster Junior Dragster was a NSW whitewash with the five championship contenders still active coming into the event all from the Premier State. Top qualifying kudos went to one of those contenders in Toby Austin with a perfect 8.000 pass.

All championship hopefuls advanced through the first round.

In one of the most unique situations of the Australian Nationals as a whole, two racers that did not advance were Dale Duffy and Jake Cartledge, when both were disqualified for taking too long to stage - moral of that story would be not to mess with the Sydney Dragway starter when you're directed to stage.

The championship potentials thinned out after round two with Natalie Bishop losing to Eden Ward and Cory Burns coming up red against Austin.

Austin's win knocked out Bradley Bishop mathematically even though he defeated Emma Hazzard, as David Roberts was left the only other racer now able to dispute the title by defeating Ethan Oberg.

Roberts ran into Maella Ward in round three, the Mopar backed race deciding the championship in favour of Tony "Tobster" Austin who rammed home the championship point by reaching the semi finals himself.

The semi finals though were a Ward sibling ambush, with Eden getting through over Austin and Maella joining her brother in the final when Bishop red lit his semi finals hopes away.

The final was an all Moparemblazoned family affair that saw Maella cut a .009 on her older brother to his .015. At the finish line it was tight, Maella breaking out by a fraction with an 8.644 (8.65) to Eden's tough 7.964 (7.96) lap.

Super Gas Even with an epic undefeated season for Matt Forbes in Super Gas, mathematically six racers still had a chance of winning the title if Forbes was unable to front for eliminations.

There was no chance to build any qualifying drama with Jake Culmone going 9.900 with his Camira on the very first pass in Q1, though Naomi Lightowler did repeat the feat in session two as the former Junior Dragster racer warmed to her

new class of choice.

Forbes defeated Bruno Romeo 9.896 to a 9.885 in round one which knocked Colin Griffin, David Gauldie and Darryl Stephen out of contention for the championship, though a punctured slick left the Stephen Probe out of eliminations anyway. David Gauldie finished Graeme Spencer's aspirations with a 9.973 to a 9.986 victory and Culmone wiped Forbes' last championship opposition from the scene with a 9.859 to 9.784 win against Danny Buccella.

With the title secure for Forbes, an undefeated season was the next goal. Enter the spoiler Culmone, a double breakout 9.874 to 9.857 handed Forbes his first loss of the year and Culmone continued his perfect event run into the semi finals. A 9.906 to 9.890 win for Simon Isherwood over Lightowler decided the first finalist, Lightowler's form suggested she we will be one to watch in the future within the class. Culmone was too good against Gauldie with a 9.920 to the Cutlass' 9.947.

The dream run continued in the final for Culmone as Isherwood illuminated that red bulb with a -.014 RT, Culmone claiming an Australian Nationals win for the old school stick shifters.

Left: The Junior Dragster final saw the Ward family battling it out for bragging rights.

Below: The Super Gas final between Jake Culmone and Simon Isherwood played out in Culmone's favour.

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Clockwise from top row left: Shane Wynd was all smiles after winning his first Modified title.

Sportsmanship on show in the Junior Dragster ranks. Robert Winterburn claimed a win in Super Street. Getting the best angles. Sacrifices to the aluminium gods. JD to the lanes! Trying on a dragster cockpit for size. Start line celebrations. Enjoying the sideshow alley at Sydney Dragway.

That awkward moment when you look like a Toyota commercial. Competition Bike stares down the Christmas tree.

Centre: Ominous clouds gather around Sydney Dragway. The weather would challenge the event

R

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RICHIE CRAMPTON AUSSIE CHAMPION Australian Richie Crampton set the world on fire with his US Nationals win and a story that is without comparison in the modern era of professional drag racing.

Story by Luke Nieuwhof.

An Adelaide boy who begun with just a dream of being part of the world of the NHRA Mello Yello Series, Crampton's story is a fairytale that most drivers or riders who have been down the quarter mile have dreamed of at some stage.

Crampton put his life on hold in Australia to head to the USA during one of Graeme Cowin's forays to the NHRA but whereas Cowin chose to return down under, Crampton decided to stay. It has been a decision that has now resulted in a win at drag racing's most prestigious event – the US Nationals.

It might have echoes of the comedy Talladega Nights, where crew member Ricky Bobby goes from the sidelines to the hot seat of a stock car, but Crampton's form has been no laughing matter for his competitors.

Crampton is a long way from home to be sure.

“I'm on the other side of the world watching NHRA drag racing, hoping and dreaming that someday I would get to come over and compete,” he said. “That seemed like such a

pipe dream when I was a kid.

“The Cowin family and the Lucas family most recently have given me some great opportunities to work on Top Fuel cars and be around the industry.

“I didn't know if I would ever get close (to driving). When Morgan decided to step away last year, it was a dream come true to have this opportunity coming from so far away with no major backing behind me.”

Crampton felt somewhat sentimental to be competing at his first US Nationals. It was ten years earlier at the same event that he first began crewing with Andrew Cowin, the team enjoying limited success over the following 18 months.

“They (the Cowins) taught me a lot and gave me the foot in the door to compete in the USA,” Crampton said.

“When they decided to return to Australia, I chose to stay and work down the path of being a crew member first at Don Schumacher Racing and eventually Lucas Oil Racing.

“It was a great experience working for the

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Cowin family and I thank them a huge amount for bringing me over here.”

Crampton was content to simply be a part of this new world, applying himself to new opportunities as they came by. Just to be involved with the drag racing industry on a full time basis is rare.

He had plenty of racing in the blood though, racing first go karts and then a supercharged FC Holden in Australia, a car that nowadays would probably be a good fit in Supercharged Outlaws. When he left for the northern hemisphere ambitions at the wheel were on the back burner, though he took some vital early steps such as getting his Top Alcohol licence. He was even a driving instructor at Bill Blomgren's Drag Racing School for some time.

“When I left Australia I didn't have a lot of time and I wasn't able to afford to get into the driver's seat of many cars here in the States,” he said.

“When I freshened up my alcohol licence, that

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opportunity that Anthony Dicero gave me opened their (Morgan Lucas and team) eyes to the fact that I really wanted to do it and they saw a small amount of talent there that eventually gave me the opportunity to licence in a Top Fuel dragster.”

It wasn't finances that got Crampton the seat, but a combination of loyalty, luck and passion.

“The Lucas family like to promote from within,” he said.

“I know the family well, this wasn't a situation where they just gave this to me, they knew how much I had sacrificed by leaving my family behind in Australia to pursue this and saw some potential.”

Though Morgan Lucas wanted Crampton to take the wheel, their did remain one hurdle. How was America's most famous gecko going to take it?

“The ultimate decision was up to Geico (primary sponsor of Morgan Lucas) so I can't thank them enough for allowing an unknown rookie to step into the NHRA and begin his career at 34 years old,” he said.

The corporate aspect is one that provides nearly as must challenge as steering a nitro dragster at 330mph and one that Crampton has quickly had to come to terms with.

“The corporate world has been a steep learning curve, just like driving the car,” he said.

“Until you are put into that position where you have to talk in front of a lot of people and do live interviews it is hard to prepare for that.

“For the most part I was shy and reserved when I grew up in Australia. A lot of people were curious to hear my story, I've just had to learn how to handle it and not let nerves get the best of me.”

It's a rags to riches element that has already made Crampton popular in the NHRA Mello Yello Series. The crowd reaction when Crampton knocked out nine-times US Nationals victor Tony Schumacher in the semi

Left: Richie Crampton's Geico dragster was the car to beat at the US Nationals, here outpacing Tony Schumacher in qualifying. Image: Luke Nieuwhof

Above: Richie Crampton celebrates in the winner's circle of the 60th US Nationals. Image: Luke Nieuwhof Below: Driver introductions at Lucas Oil Raceway, Indianapolis

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finals of the 60th version hinted that he has more people on his side than he thought.

“It's still surreal that anyone would want my autograph and my name is on a t-shirt and I get to drive in front of fans all over the USA,” he said. “I love interacting with everyone because that was me not too long ago.”

The glitz and glamour must always give way to being on the top of your game when you take the staging beams. Crampton's form so far this season has at times been below where he would like. He doesn't cut the tree down in the same way as Shawn Langdon or Antron Brown but that is improving rapidly.

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“It's extremely hard every round, every race. You've got to battle with the best in the world,” he said.

“I know what good drivers are capable of and I don't feel I'm at that place yet. But being my rookie season I am pretty happy with my progression. Every race car driver is always looking to do something better. I don't get a lot of pressure from the team owners but I try and put as much pressure on myself as I can to progress.

“The fact I haven't gone out there and done anything crazy like hit cones or hit walls - I'm very happy with that. I'm happy that my team are behind me as a driver.”

Going from clutch guy to driver, it

Fired up: Richie Crampton now has plenty of American fans to count among his patriotic Australian contingent.

Image: Luke Nieuwhof

would be interesting to know if Crampton still takes more interest than is healthy in what is going on tune up wise. He said as he gathers experience he is feeling the dragster out more, but the data logger is still far ahead of him in that regard.

“The runs progressively start to slow down for you as a driver, so I can be a litte bit more analytical now as I get more comfortable,” he said. “It seems like a basic concept to drive in a straight line for four seconds or less but there is so much going on.

You need to be aware of how the motor sounds, whether or not it has a cylinder out or not. I leave the feedback for the crew chief who can get that from the data logger.”

Crampton made the NHRA's Countdown to the Championship, an achievement that will put him in good stead for the AAA Road to the Future award. The team are pulling out all stops with the second car, to be driven by Morgan Lucas, appearing at a number of countdown events.

“We're going to have two Morgan Lucas Racing cars for all but two of the races at this point,” he said. “It's going to be a bonus for us to have identical race cars running together.

We just need to continue to go round and the points will fall where they fall.”

There is one question that a few Australian fans have perhaps

wondered. Will Crampton ever get to show off his talents on this side of the planet?

“There's been a few phone calls about racing in Australia - I would love to do it on home soil,” he said.

“I don't know if it will ever happen as busy as our schedule is here in the States. But everyone in the team would love to go and be a part of that at some point.”

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DREAM CATCHER

Renee Cockerill gets the opportunity of a lifetime.

Story by Luke Nieuwhof.

Drag racing is a sport where people frequently live out their dreams, but for many people involved those dreams must be restricted, be it because of finances, time or other reasons.

Sometimes for those lucky enough, opportunities come to live out a dream that they could never have imagined. Earlier in this issue we covered Richie Crampton's near impossible promotion from crew member to driver - in the case of fellow South Australian Renee Cockerill it may not be at the top end of the NHRA but it was her chance to explore the methanolfuelled realms of her imagination in Australia's outback.

Cockerill said it took her a while to understand a question her good friend Dan Hodgins asked her.

“What type of driving suit do you own?”

Once Cockerill had wrapped her mind around just what Hodgins was suggesting, plans were afoot to get her into the seat of his 463 cubic inch, supercharged Funny Car known as the Territory Tremor.

It took eight months from initial question to sitting in the hot seat, but Cockerill said it culminated in one of the most amazing weeks of her racing career.

“I arrive at Dan’s workshop with my heart already pumping, thinking is this for real?” she said. “I was excited to finally sit in car to get a feel for my surroundings.”

Sitting in an unfamiliar car required a few adjustments for Cockerill's small frame, with the hand brake being adjusted and the seat raised so she could see over the supercharger and looking at the shifter position.

An honest Cockerill admitted the closed environment of a Funny Car caught her nerves by surprise.

“Putting on Dan’s suit and helmet and getting strapped in I started feeling very claustrophobic and overwhelmed,” she said. “It was time to get out quickly before I threw up.

“It had been a long few days of

Above: Renee Cockerill had plenty of reasons to smile in Alice Springs.

About 2000 horsepower's worth. driving so decided to get some rest and head off to bed and give it another go the next day. I hoped the crazy feeling of attempting something bigger than me would go away overnight.”

It soon came time for Cockerill to experience the Funny Car as a living and breathing beast, one that sucks in lungfuls of oxygen and exhales eye-burning methanol fumes.

“Dan ran through the procedure first of warming up the gears,” she explained. “(Husband) Steve handed me a rag for the fumes as we were parked under the roof of the carport. The engine fired and all my anxieties went away.

“I ran through the gears on the stands as instructed then was asked to get it up to six grand (6000rpm).

I’m gestured to give it a short blip. I shut the fuel off and then sat in the car with adrenaline running and the biggest smile on my face.”

"I hoped the crazy feeling of attempting something bigger than me would go away overnight.”

Nerves faded, the team spent some more time with Cockerill changing the cockpit around and getting her comfortable in her race suit. The breathing assistance system was trialled and a new shifter extension fitted.

As part of a routine to get used to the race environment, Cockerill spent 30 minutes all suited up and going through the procedures – burnout, back up, launch. This mental game would prepare her for when the imaginary situation became reality.

Sitting in a car in a shed is one thing, but the prospect of driving a 2000 horsepower race machine becomes very real once you are driving to the track with trailer behind. The countdown is on and the pressure ramps up.

Cockerill was fortunate that they had a day to spare and so they would be able to engage in some more of 'Funny Car 101' at Alice Springs Inland Dragway. She said it might have looked stupid but the team suited her up and then towed her around the pits in the car – though this sounds like a procedure more than a few new drivers, even some experienced ones, could benefit from.

“The steering was so much heavier than I expected,” she said. “My stupid glasses kept fogging up so took them off. I was assured this would not happen when the air is on.

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“I made blown engine noises to make it a little more real and to lighten the mood a little to get relaxed.

“Back in the pit space I removed myself out of the hatch and slid down the side of the car.”

Cockerill was pleased with the gradual progress and so the team towed out to the start line to simulate a run, but with people power.

“The team took me through a burnout procedure and start line procedure, pushing me through the water, past the start line just like I was doing a burnout, back to the start line for a run through the start line procedure and then a people power launch,” she said. “I should have had video going.”

The antics at least put Cockerill in a chilled mood that would hopefully last until the following day.

“I was definitely not wanting to back out now; not that It was every really an option,” she said. “I like to prove to myself that I can beat my demons.”

Through the following night, Cockerill's Funny Caroriented mind was frequently alive with the procedures she would need to make her supercharged foray successful. Confidence high, she was able to resume sleep and ready herself to face the Christmas tree.

The night cold of the outback still gripped the air as Cockerill and team unpacked the truck with the arsenal of tools that would be needed to manage their plastic fantastic.

“Dan introduced me to Andrew McGaucie who was the ANDRA official to sign my licence at the end of the day,” Cockerill said “He was a very calm fellow and understood the fear and anxiety that comes with a different experience.

“He equated it to standing on top of a 20 foot pole when he was in Fiji. I told him bugger that.”

Cockerill went through another warm up with the car and then the blindfold test that is a requirement before heading on to the track.

“Closing my eyes, I ran through the procedure to shut down the car in a fire,” she said. “Being watched by others felt like I was auditioning for a movie. The officials were both happy with this. One step done.”

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Audition complete, it was time for Cockerill's starring role. She donned the costume, race suit rather, and the team towed out to the staging lanes.

“I was getting excited but wary of what I was embarking on,” she said.

“Standing there for a bit I decided to make my own way into the driver’s seat without the pressure of being told.

“Climbing in was an awkward movement but I eventually got in without All good: The cockpit assistance. The crew were was claustrophobic at very calm and didn't rush the process of connecting first for Cockerill. the harness and tightening. By this time I was starting to take in some deeper breaths just to keep self-centred but amazingly I didn't have the claustrophobic feeling I thought would happen. It was time to fire up.”

There's a moment of silent before a supercharged drag car of any kind is fired up. The last run ahead has finished, the team attaches the starter. Officials signal that the track is clear and the team is free to begin their procedure.

“I got the hand signal to open the butterflies and it was time,” Cockerill said.

Eight cylinders filled with fuel and fired up. The body came down and Cockerill's small office became quiet.

Reaching for the shifter she engaged first gear and then pressed second and third to be ready for a top gear burnout. Her foot pressed slightly on the throttle, bringing up 4000rpm on the tachometer. The clutch was eased out and the big rear tyres came to life, spinning in an aggressive display of smoke and noise.

“Hell yes, that's how burnouts should feel,” our pilot said. “Adrenalin pumping, I felt the brake was a little spongy and hard to pull up.

“Coming to a stop I composed myself, clutched and hope that reverse would cooperate. Backing up was a little slow but I got (reverse gear) Josie to a slow jog. Stopping for the hatch to be opened to let out some smoke, the whole moment was feeling surreal.”

After checking that the shift buttons were out Cockerill was directed to the beams and it was all in her hands.

Into pre stage, dial up 6000rpm. White knuckles on the brake handle, the clutch heavy on her foot but no time to worry about that now. Blinding cluch dust fills the cabin, further restricting vision in an enclosed environment.

But through the particles Cockerill can see the staging beam light up as she releases the brake slightly.

3. 2. 1. Green.

“All together I let go of the brake, drop the clutch and plant the throttle,” she said. “The feeling of being kicked in the back on the hit was apparent.

“The car steered to the right and the throttle was off at 60 feet. Oh my God. Did I just do that?

“Rolling down the strip I clutch in and give the engine a couple of small blips for the few people on the mound.

“My mind now turns to shutting the car down but with such a long run off I drive it to the bottom of the track but then realise that shutting off the fuel and turning the steering wheel can't be done at the same time so end up not quite making the corner and parking it just off the bitumen.”

Cockerill emerges from the fibreglass and is alive with the rush of just a short second of full throttle.

“The crew greeted me with squeals and claps,” she said.

“I was on my knees, over-exaggerating kissing the ground. After hugs all around the crew pushed the car around the corner and off we towed back to the pits.

“If that was amazing I couldn't wait to see what my next run felt like to 330 feet.”

Rinse and repeat. The team performed the necessary in between maintenance and before long it was time for take two.

“The start line procedure was the same as before but this time I was more aware of how the car acts on the start line,” Cockerill said. “There seemed to be more clutch dust this time and the same intense feeling of the pedal trying to push my leg back was there, but not uncomfortable.

“I drop the clutch. Again I'm kicked in the back and force my head into the roll cage. Arms outstretched and foot planted firmly on the throttle I'm taking off like a rocket and the front end feels light to steer.

“I'm pinned and there is nothing to do except watch the horizon and keep it straight. It gets a little movement on the track and I punch second, not realising if I've seen the shift light or not. I was in the moment listening to

"The car steered to the right and the throttle was off at 60 feet. Oh my God. Did I just do that?"

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68

the engine and just as I got to 330 feet I felt the car move so I buttoned off it and rolled to the finish line, this time shutting everything off early to ensure I could steer it around the corner and do a little victory jig.”

Cockerill now had her first set of respectable numbers on a time car.

1.035 seconds to 60 feet, 2.82 seconds to 330 feet. The indication was for somewhere between 4.25 and 4.30 seconds if she had have been able to go to the eighth mile.

“With wobbly legs Steve grabbed me but I had to grab Dan and give him the biggest thankful hug I could to show how appreciative I was for the experience he has offered me,” she said. “I was l looking for Josie and she was also there with a big grin and a hug. If it wasn't for their generosity, I would not be able to fulfil a dream such as this.”

The team were ready to turn around the car one more time and get Cockerill to the eighth mile stage of her licence.

“There was a lot of banter going around the pits too with poor Dan copping it from the team saying he was losing his ride,” she laughed. “A bit of fun and banter was good for team cohesion.”

The moment of truth arrived and after a final pep talk from Hodgins, Cockerill was getting the fire up signal.

Funny Cars, in the general sense of all quick drag racing vehicles, can be equal parts savage and fragile.

Cockerill was soon to discover this.

“I forgot one major step and that was shifting it to top gear for the burnout,” Cockerill confessed. “Revs up and into the burnout I go but notice the tachometer had swung all the way round way too quick, so I backed off but by then it was too late.

“I couldn’t hear what the engine was doing but as I came to a stop there was a pop from the motor and then silence.

My heart sank - what had I done?”

The crew arrived at the now dead in the water Territory Tremor. The question came from outside the windows.

“Was it in top gear?”

As soon as she heard those words Cockerill knew what was wrong.

“I was devastated to know I have potentially screwed all ideas of running that final eighth mile pass and of course damaged my mate’s engine,” she said.

“This was the end of the day for us.

“Getting it back to the pits and on removal of the rocker cover the guys discovered a valve let go and the tacho memory was showing 11000 rpm. My heart sank further but Dan reassured me and said don’t worry about it, it’s just a race car.”

Trying her best to lighten the mood, Cockerill shouted the team pizza and drinks as the engine was pulled down and the car loaded up.

More damage was found later with only one valve coming out without a

hammer and a broken roller lifter damaging most rods.

“Spirits were kept high with slugging one another and sharing the blame making me feel a little less uncomfortable for damaging the engine,” Cockerill said.

“We delivered the damaged heads to Dan’s sponsor Neill Automotive at Port Augusta to repair - apart from robbing a bank it was the least we could do.”

Although the ending was not a fairytale one, it brought Cockerill

another step closer to her goal of going six seconds and 200mph in the quarter mile in a Funny Car. “This by far, apart from bringing life to the world, is a moment in my life I will never be able to forget thanks to two wonderfully patient, big hearted and giving friends with the support of the Territory Tremor crew,” she said.

“I’d much rather look back at my life and say I can’t believe I did that, instead of saying I wish I did that.”

Above: Cockerill's current Super Gasser in action at Sydney Dragway.

Image: cacklingpipes.com Right: Cockerill has enjoyed a few different styles of cockpit now, including this open air roadster.

Image: cacklingpipes.com

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ALL NATURAL

NATURAL A bright yellow altered has been raising eyebrows in Competition – demonstrating that when you have ambition and a plan you can make an impact.

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Story by Luke Nieuwhof.

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Kyle Putland might only be in his mid twenties, in fact his entire existence is probably shorter than some racers' careers, but that hasn't stopped him from quickly progressing up the ranks and now commanding the quickest naturally aspirated car in the country.

If there was such a thing as a Pro Stock Altered class, this car would be a great fit. Five hundred cubic inches of big block Chevrolet sits between the frame rails and has propelled the car as quickly as 6.58 at 205mph.

Putland said that a passion for drag racing took root at an early age.

“I have always been involved with drag racing and love it,” he said. “Working away gave me the opportunity to be able to afford a race car and I have never looked back.”

Formative days at Ravenswood and Perth Motorplex provided plenty of inspiration for his future.

“My uncles used to take me to Ravenswood at a young age,” he said. “Greats like Victor Bray and Allan Dobson were always my favourites.”

Years rolled by, a driver's licence came and so a Holden Commodore came to find its way on to the track at one of Perth Motorplex's Whoop Ass Wednesday events for street cars.

Putland cut a 14.2 second run in what was a rather anonymous start for a name that would soon be making some waves in Group Two competition across the country.

Fourteen second street cars would not be enough and Putland knew that he wanted to go quicker His first true drag car was a Modified altered. It was no standard entry level ride – it was a very quick car that saw him run 7.40 on his first full pass, or just shy of half the time it took his Commodore.

Putland enjoyed limited success in Group Three but

.

Winners are grinners: Kyle Putland earned a Fuchs Winternationals win earlier this year. Image: cacklingpipes.com

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72

the next rung on the ladder was appealing to him. He loved altereds and sought one that would be both a test for his skills and a winner.

“I wanted a challenge and getting the lightest Comp car with high horsepower was a challenge,” he said. “A lot of people said it couldn't be done but I think on the first full pass the car went under the national record with a 6.85 which made a few people pay a little more attention.”

With the car weighing in at 1700 pounds (775kg), Putland said the engine puts out 1350 horsepower and will push the car to 3.4Gs on launch, revving out to 10,000RPM. “Because the car is light with carburettors it makes it really important to get the car off the line smooth and bring power in,” he said.

“Initially we had some air/fuel issues which ended up being the design of the scoop; after 1000ft two cylinders would shut down. But now

we don't have any problems with it.”

Putland took two wins in the WA state series last season and went within one race of taking out the championship – veteran Allen Puglia pinching it at the last gasp.

But his biggest highlight came when

“It was the best experience learning different tracks and bringing different tuning ideas back to the Perth season should make us faster,” he said.

“We are about to introduce a new clutch into the car which is 10 pounds lighter which will be interesting.”

There are no regrets for the enthusiastic driver – he said that the car has fulfilled his expectations in every way.

“The car is state of the art, everything on the car is so easy to work with,” he said. “The chassis works so well for the class and definitely makes running 6.50s more consistent and easier.

“We want to run low 50s with the current car and one day I'd like to run a Top Alcohol Funny Car.” We don't see any reason why Putland's progress will slow now.

"A lot of people said it couldn't be done but I think on the first full pass the car went under the national record." the team went travelling to the east coast. There he came away with victory at the Fuchs Winternationals.

Putland said applying his car's copious output to new surfaces helped educate him on what the tune up is asking for.

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HOW'D YOU DO IT

HARVEY?

By Luke Nieuwhof. By By Luke

Story by Luke Nieuwhof. Images by dragphotos.com.au.

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That was the question everybody around the world wanted to know after Rod Harvey dropped a 6.1 2 second bomb on the sport compact scene.

The run was the quickest ever pass by a sport compact car, setting a new standard for the famous Toyota 2JZ straight six.

The humble New Zealander cracked the record pass at the famous Jamboree at Willowbank Raceway, an event that is now the mecca for any self respecting six cylinder, four cylinder rotary or turbo fan – indeed anything with a high tech edge.

Harvey explained that the run seemed to be a big step for the team that came from extracting the most out of what they have.

“To be honest we haven't changed anything with the engine or tune up, we have mainly been playing with gear ratios and clutch and general set up; we have been working on that pretty hard,” he said. “It sort of worked out which doesn't always happen.”

The team has been a leader in the terminal speed ranks for a long time with their Toyota Celica and with that advantage it has come down to utilising the power in the best way.

“Our tune up has not changed in

the last six months or a year really but we had to get everything out of the car that we had,” he said.

“We definitely have speed on our side, something we have done must be working pretty good. We've always had good speed, even back when we went 224 and no one was doing that.

“They (the other teams) will figure it out and catch up, but we've got some good data and the car seems to be doing the same thing now every time. We can start building on that and we can hot our tune up a bit more.”

The reliability of the 2JZ has been proven, along with their horsepower. To add to that

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Celebrations were wild following Rod Harvey's record pass at Willowbank.

reliability Harvey has been one of those experimenting with a billet block.

“I put it in for one meeting and I ran four passes and I checked all my bearings and didn't have a problem with anything,” he said “The billet block is only an advantage in the way of reliability. It is a little bit lighter too.

“I went 6.19 on the cast iron block, all the stuff I am using was always there for the last few years, it is just how I'm using it.”

Some of what is attached to the block has improved however.

“The turbo technology has gotten better. I still have an M800 Motec but there is a new Motec out and that could make things better again. The base engine is still the same deal,” Harvey said.

“I'd like to shift to the new Motec but at this point I won't because I'm not finished with this one. I don't need to change to go faster, I just need to work a few things out.

You can make a change like that and lose six months or a year going backwards.”

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The critical launch section is where Harvey plans to make his most extensive changes, though he is cautious of losing recent gains.

“The sixty foot is where we will work, it is going fairly good to half track, we have a bit more to use up yet, but we will do it carefully with small steps,” he said. “It is easy to make a big change and get lost again.

“We're trying our best to chip away at it, we haven't been trying to go out there and win things or win classes and meetings, just trying to go as fast as we can of late. It was a bonus to win the Jamboree at the same time. It seems to have caused a bit of a thing around the world who will run the five.”

That hot talk following the pass was how soon a five second run might be possible for a sport compact car, most likely one from the 2JZ ranks. It was only a decade or so ago that Australian Top Doorslammers broke into the fives.

“There is a lot of talk about the five second pass on the internet and Facebook, but to run a 6.12 and to run a

POSTSCRIPT: Since this article was written, Ebrahim Kanoo of Bahrain has since lowered the record to an amazing 6.05. The battle sure is heating up!

5.99 is a big jump,” Harvey said. “The turbo cars always run more speed but we still haven't got the cubic inches like a Doorslammer, we are still only 186ci or whatever it is. We might go a little bit faster and then it might get really hard for everyone.

“Time will tell, we just need to keep trying.”

The international aspect of sport compact is one of its most exciting parts. With New Zealand, Australia, Puerto Rico and Bahrain all battling it out across borders, the excitement is reaching fever pitch.

“We have created a lot of talk around the world,” he said.

“Kanoo with the Supra in Bahrain made everyone think it maybe had something to do with money but when we go that fast it has made it achievable for everyone.

“Quite a few guys have got a similar package, they just need to refine it. It is definitely heating up, it has put some hype into it.”

The Factory Xtreme bracket cars like Harvey's compete in was recently made an official ANDRA exhibition class in a step closer to a pro championship.

One issue with the group has been consistency and Harvey acknowledge the bracket is at its best when the cars are making it down the track.

“Factory Xtreme is not a bad sort of a deal when everyone has a good day, but most of the guys struggle with running the cars into the 6.40s,” he said. “If one of us runs a five I don't know if you will have a bunch of them running fives and being consistent and put on a show.

“That's the problem with these cars, making them do the same thing twice. Some of these guys struggle and go fast once then don't do it again. It is hard to have a bunch of them running fives.”

Harvey's next opportunity to run the five will be at the Australian Nationals in November – possibly.

“That would be ideal, but I haven't got anything solid,” he said. “I haven't got a sponsor other than my local boys who help me, it is funded off my own back and I am flat out at work trying to make enough money to go to the race track.”

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14 YEAR ITCH

Gordon Carlsen proves that no matter how long you stay away, the drag racing bug is always there.

Story by Grant Stephens.

NSW racer Gordon Carlsen had not strapped himself into a race car and felt the G-forces on the quarter mile for 1 4 long years, until recently during round seven of the NSW Championship at Sydney Dragway when he rolled through the water box once again.

The small block sung and the tyres spun as Carlsen remembered just why he loved the sport so much and his glory days of racing in Modified, Australia's much loved dial your own category for dragsters and altereds.

Carlsen himself would admit age is not on his side, but an emotional thought of giving that age meaning crossed his mind and spurred not just his comeback but also that of the car's co-owners.

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“I have always been passionate about the sport and never really let go, watching via social web and such on the progress of the legends and mates I had back then," he said.

“Then Norm McCormack (NSW Supercharged Outlaws racer) bumped into me about two years ago, I hadn’t seen him for about 12 years. As we chatted he said to me you’ll be back one day and to be honest that made me to start thinking a lot back then.

"But what actually made me return in the end is quite sad, my mate of 35 years, Ken Bracken (a part owner of this current car) lost his wife about two and a half years ago, they had no children and he found himself at 63 alone and lost.

"Another mate of ours, Geoff Siden (the third partner in

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the car), called me and said we needed to get out for a day with Ken and relive our past, so we went to Cowin's Rocket open day two years ago and had a blast. We laughed and bench raced and that put a sparkle back into Ken's face again. We then decided to attend the Nostalgia meeting the following day at Sydney Dragway.

"Sitting on the hill watching, putting shit on each other and reliving the times we raced, one upping each other, Ken just said he missed it, so without hesitation I said let’s buy a car. We all looked at each other, dismissed it and said no, we are too old now.

"Next car out through the tunnel was the Hurst Racing altered and it had for sale on it. I simply said let's go buy it. I am sure Ken and Geoff thought I was insane, but by the end

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of the meeting I was sitting in it and two weeks later after some negotiation we owned the roller."

Carlsen starting his racing life at Sydney's Castlereagh Dragway in the late 70s and early 1980s crewing on Bob Honeybrook's alcohol dragster and funny car which took him to Surfers Paradise on many occasions along with other venues around the traps before taking the step himself.

His 1956 Chev didn't exactly set the world on fire with tyre burning 16 second passes so he stepped into a six cylinder dragster for a while which was good for high tens.

During the dragster tenure Carlsen also began racing his street 1967 Camaro which was good for 13s at the time until Castlereagh closed in the early 80s.

Carlsen continued to race the

Camaro at Canberra Dragway, winning one of their Australia Day meetings and also had a few skids at Oran Park's temporary eighth mile track while the state racers waited for a new venue.

That venue came in the form of Eastern Creek Raceway and Carlsen advanced to a Modified altered.

"I bought an A/MA in the late 80s and ran Modified for a few years across the road (from Sydney Dragway) when the drags were run on the main straight there at Eastern Creek," he said.

"I managed to take out third place in the Modified track point score at the Creek at one point before we stopped racing there.

"I ran several times at Willowbank and Calder over the years as well – won the idiot award at Calder one meeting for dragging the chute the

Gordon Carlsen has enjoyed having his daughters involved with racing.

Image: cacklingpipes.com

whole way down when it fell out on the start line – had me buggered why the car had no top end on that pass.”

With the déjà-vu striking NSW drag racing again with the end of drag racing at Eastern Creek, Carlsen had to look elsewhere again for a steer as other opportunities were presenting themselves. He drove a Fiat Topolino for a friend a few times at Willowbank Raceway and crewed on the Canadian Dodge that came over and raced around the country in 1999.

Carlsen even had big plans to go pro at one stage.

Back in the late 90s readers may remember a planned shed-built Top Alcohol team perpetrated by Grant Hogwood under the WTF Racing banner, which Carlsen used on his Modified altered.

Before the time of instant messaging,

WTF?: Altered racing has been proven to be addictive. Image: Lee Davis/Western Auto Pics

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WTF Racing originally stood for Wild Top Fuel, alluding to future plans for the team.

First step in those plans was a Top Alcohol car and by then "WTF" had a whole new meaning.

"It worked for us at the end, as we used to say WTF in today's meaning, let's give it a crack, a bit of a slogan that keep the altered going down the track," he said.

However after a factory fire that virtually destroyed the race car before it got to turn a wheel in anger, the association with Hogwood soured and Carlsen had all the gear and nothing to race.

"So that’s why today I still have a license for Top Alcohol and all the fire suit and stuff, slight overkill for Modified but hey you never know what could eventuate one day,” Carlsen said.

With the Top Alcohol car Carlsen was going to drive gone, money had a new priority in his very young family, so he left the sport behind in 2000.

Fast forward to 2012 and Carlsen and company were now in possession of a race car in the shed and much preparation needing to be done.

"It was intended to be on track for the nostalgia meeting last year but we had a few issues and Ken had to have an operation and recoup so it took a bit longer," he said.

"The car is now powered by a 383ci small block, with a lot of stuff I still had from years ago bolted on, like some old Brodix heads, some headers that Noah had on the ark and so on."

Instead it was this year's round seven of Sydney Dragway's NSW Championship that set the scene for the return and despite a false start with the weather and coming to grips with a change in technology, Carlsen was soon back in the groove.

"Like new parents we bought the car out for the first time on September 13, only to have to wait another day till our debut (due to weather),” he said. “It was a 9.66 first pass with a .181 reaction and with it being 14 years since I last drove down a race track the car and driver were a bit shaky. Next pass was a 9.3 with a .051 reaction.

"It was just like I remember, the best being the people, the guys and girls that where there from Modified and other classes made us feel so welcome. It's been a while and we were so lucky with advice and help from others, we were chasing a fuel issue and without hesitation parts were being lent to us and advice offered.”

Going racing again gave Carlsen a chance to show his family the sport for the first time.

"The other thing for me was introducing my 17 and 19 year old daughters, Shaylee and Leah, to the sport - they have never been to a track,” he said. “They had heard Dad talk about it so many times and I think they thought I was full of it on many occasions, but to take them there, use them as the backup girls, let them be part of it and then to be told they had a great time to me is gold.

Of course my wife, Ciara who has been with me from day one is still there and still my main support.

"I would like to also say that the way the track staff and officials worked with us on our first outing was nothing short of sensational. My girls had no idea and half the stuff I had told them doesn’t apply anymore so I had given them a bum steer.

The starting line guy took them under his wing and by the third pass they were confident and having a blast, so my sincere thanks to all that helped us that day.

"Also I must also say thanks to Fiona Crisp, she was my first race opponent in 14 years, she kicked my butt and was at my car before I got out to shake my hand and thank me for the race.”

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S H E D B U I LT

SMASHER

Michael Ryan has created a Ford Falcon that is a stunning testament to backyard ingenuity, not only an immaculately crafted piece of machinery, but has the performance on the track to match.

Story by Grant Stephens.

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85

This is a race car that started life as a street car, all fun and games until the potential of the engine began to exceed the potential of the chassis.

Ryan decided it was time to go all in and start a total rebuild.

To the shed the car went for gutting and the commencement of what was planned as a long term project. This is the part of the story where you expect a project taking years, but obsession took over and in a fraction of the intended time, out rolled a car that looked like it could have been built by any of the leading chassis shops.

“The whole car was built here at home in my shed, the only outside work was the paint job, carbon tubs and work to the bonnet, which I made the moulds for,” Ryan said.

“The build as it sits now was done just so the engine’s potential was used.

“It was going to be a two year build but just a few months in I was smashing it, usually spending 24 hours a weekend on it for about 10 to 11 months.”

Apart from the colour and the car’s unique intriguing plumbing set up, little resembled the original ride.

“The car is still my old street car that I’ve owned now for 16 years but the only original parts left now are the steel body and doors,” Ryan said.

After a showing at the SuperNats, the new look [RBKILA] went testing for the first time at a recent Race 4 Real street meet at Sydney Dragway.

“I was very happy with its first outing, to run straight, steer and brake well and top it off with an 8.43 at 158mph on only 25psi,” Ryan said.

n

“It was going to be a two year build but just a few months in I was smashing it, usually spending 24 hours a weekend on it."

86

“It ran 8.9 with the same power when it was in a full street type chassis.�

Following that successful hit out and a few set up changes, a race debut at round seven of the NSW Championship was in order and so was a new 8.16 at 163mph personal best for Ryan, unfortunately the day ended with an abnormal parts failure.

"It looks as though the plastic guides

have caused the timing chain to break, it’s a double row chain and should last a lot of passes," he said.

"I was very happy with how it ran again with the four link (suspension) changes I made, and it spun off the line on the PB too, so it has plenty more left even without more power."

Once lofty goals for the car and for Ryan as a driver are almost within reach.

"The plan for the car is to run sevens and be the first old SOHC six to do so. I don't have any other plans for the car other than to just enjoy it with family and friends and set up the car to work even better, learning it all myself as I go along," he said.

Interesting plumbing is one of this car's calling cards. Images: cacklingpipes.com

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A crew member for Torrence Racing prepares their Top Fuel dragster for action by attaching the external starter motor.

VIVA LAS VEGAS Photo essay by Luke Nieuwhof.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway and its autumn NHRA event have become a must see on the world drag racing calendar.

Large fields of racers, championship deciding action and even an occasional meet up with Halloween provide for a stirring display of all the speed, colour and excitement that drag racing is famous for.

'The Strip', as it is known, is set in the desert just outside the famous gambling city, surrounded by rocky mountains that provide a magnificent backdrop of scenery perhaps only behind Bristol and Denver on the NHRA circuit.

This year Drag News Magazine editor Luke Nieuwhof was there to capture some of the moments that make this event so special.

A relaxed Hector Arana pushes his Pro Stock Motorcycle forward for a qualifying session.

At 57 years old Arana says retirement is not on his mind.

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Top: A Pro Stock Motorcycle duel ensues between Adam Arana and Shawn Gann. Adam has announced this will be his last season in Pro Stock Motorcycle as he will be joining the US Coast Guard.

Left: Nitro methane from Brittany Force's header pipes glows yellow in the setting Las Vegas sun. Force was running a special theme commemorating her 2013 Rookie of the Year win.

Right: The Traxxas promotional models get into the Halloween spirit with a lovely student-teacher combination.

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Last minute tune up adjustments from crew chef Mike Green for Top Fuel driver Tony Schumacher.

A spectacular sunset accompanies the final session of Top Fuel qualifying.

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Pro Modified was a capacity field with some 30 cars attempting to qualify for race day.

If you've got it, flaunt it!

Bob Tasca lights up the night in the Quick Lane Ford.

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Group tour specialist, Ticket2Ride Global Adventures is pleased to confirm its 2015-16 program of action-packed US drag tours, including the famed NHRA Lucas Oils US Nationals at Indianapolis and one for the nostalgia fans – the California Hot Rod Reunion at Famoso Park Raceway, Bakersfield in October.

NHRA Wally Parks Motorsports Museum.

“Having run tours to many US events in the past, including the US Nationals and the Winternationals in Pomona, we’re confident these two great tours will deliver fantastic experiences and memories for drag fans,” said Ticket2Ride’s Alicia Slater.

US NATIONALS TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

2015 NHRA US Nationals Tour September 2 ­13, 2015 Lucas Oils NHRA US Nationals tour members will fly right into the heart of the racing action when they arrive at the home of drag racing, Indianapolis Raceway Park, on September 2.

From there they will experience five days of nitro-fuelled, mind-blowing action at the world’s ultimate drag race. The best drag racers from around the US and possibly even Australia will do battle at the “Big Go”, as its known, with some saying a win at Indy is as good as it gets in the drag racing world.

There are plenty of races within the race at Indy to keep fans glued to their seats as legends and challengers vie for drag racing glory across all professional categories.

In addition, our feature-packed 12day tour will visit Las Vegas, Los Angeles and such famous attractions as Venice Beach, Hollywood and the

“I’ve done Indy a few times and I can hardly wait to get on the plane myself,” said Ticket2Ride’s Chris Beattie. “Unless you’ve experienced Indy, you haven’t seen the absolute best drag racing action on the planet.”

- Five days of mind-blowing NHRA championship drag racing - Two nights in spectacular Las Vegas - Visit the NHRA Museum and John Force race shop and museum - Visit LA attractions, including Venice Beach, Malibu and Hollywood 2015 California Hot Rod Reunion Tour October 21 – 29, 2015 Wild, flame-belching Nitro Fuel Altereds dazzle with their crazy dance, Funny Cars waltz their merry way down the track and the most awesome racing machines on the planet, Nitro Top Fuel Dragsters light the night and pound the ground as they rocket down the quarter mile. Welcome to the world of NHRA Nostalgia Drag Racing, where the heyday of real drag racing comes back to life!

This is the California Hot Rod Reunion at Famoso Park Raceway, Bakersfield, which for 23 years has been the final race in the evergrowing NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series.

Tour members will get to rub shoulders with drag racing and hot

rodding royalty as the stars of yesteryear and today come together for the season closer – and better still, get to strut their stuff on the quarter mile!

In October 2015, Ticket2Ride will transport drag and hot rod fans to this automotive racing Mecca, offering three action and fun packed days.

Presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California in association with the NHRA Wally Parks Motorsports Museum, special attractions include: Event-long show of vintage race cars, hot rods and customs from all over the US and abroad Nightly nitro cacklefests Official California Hot Rod Reunion reception Three days of incredible action including qualifying, racing and eliminations CALIFORNIA HOT ROD REUNION TOUR HIGHLIGHTS - Three days of incredible nostalgia drag racing - Visit the NHRA Museum and John Force race shop and museum - Visit LA attractions, including Venice Beach, Malibu and Hollywood Pricing for the NHRA US Nationals Tour begins at $3920 Pricing for the California Hot Rod Reunion Tour begins at $3780 For more information, go to: www.ticket2ride.com.au or call 1300 557 410.

Prices are subject to current US/Aud currency variations.

Would you like to feature your product here? Become an advertiser in Drag News Magazine. advertising@dragnews.com.au

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MR YES

Welcome to Mr Yes and Mr No. This month our anonymous contributors debate if ANDRA was right to get rid of Super Street in the latest rule changes.

Drag racing needs to move forward and in the case of our sport forward is faster. It's wonderful that we have allowed 12 second cars for so long but it is time to acknowledge that 12 second passes just aren't that quick anymore.

Top Sportsman will be the 'new' Super Sedan and entry level will become the high eight, nine, ten and eleven second cars, as it should be.

Think those eleven second cars will be cannon fodder?

Think again, there are some very tough racers in that lot and once they had the now legal delay box to the system they will be even better on the tree again.

I've heard claims that rollcage cars against non-rollcage cars is a bad idea, but the risk of a top end accident is minimal.

A lot of racers are attached to Super Street, it's their category. But at some point drag racing needs to do what is good for the sport and not just what is good for one group who like their own patch.

Some racers who have 12 second cars are going to leave national championship racing and that is a shame, but this is a national championship and as such has a high level of competition required.

Entry level racing is at street meets and local bracket events – national competition is far from entry level.

The idea that a racer with no experience before on a drag strip that happens to have a 12.9 second car can enter the Australian Nationals is ridiculous. National competition is for the very best, not for the guy who just wants to take his street car for a skid.

MR NO

Get rid of a bunch of racers, make your entry level super tough – sounds like a great strategy for growth right? To quote Borat – not!

Super Street has been the starting point for racers for many years to get their first experiences of national level racing and it is the first step on the ladder that eventually allows them to move up the category list.

It's a valuable source of income for tracks and for ANDRA, these are racers who dutifully pay their entry fees and memberships, race when asked and without delay and who ask for little in return. Nobody runs Super Street with the expectation they will become rich – they do it for a love of the sport.

With the elimination of Super Street the barrier to entry in the sport will be too high. We are asking eleven second street cars to battle with eight second Super Sedans fitted out with delay boxes and in some cases throttle stops who have been racing DYO for season after season. It's just not a fair fight. The safety considerations also deserve attention – a 160mph caged race car is in a much better position to survive an altercation with an uncaged, 120mph race car. Yes such accidents are rare and I am not a believer that a big difference in top end speed is such a bad thing, it's moreso that one car is built like a tank and the other like, well, a car.

The addition of Top Sportsman at the expense of Super Street is a step backward for the sport. We are telling a group of racers they can't race, all so another group of racers who already have brackets to race in can get their own playground (and theoretically higher prizemoney).

That just ain't right.

What do you think? Join the conversation on the forum at dragnews.com.au.

96

AARON RUSSELL Age: 30 Hometown: Wyndhamvale, Victoria Best ET: 6.40 Best Speed: 210mph Career Highlights: Winning Modified at Adelaide (Pro Series 1000) and getting license in Nitro Funny Car Family: Elise (wife), Nate (son, 4) and Joel (son, 18 months) Occupation: Warehouse storeperson Education: Werribee Secondary College Personal Car: VW Amarok Hobbies (other than drag racing): AFL, cricket, cars basically anything car or sport related.

Favourite Food: Chicken parmagiana Favourite Movie: Days of Thunder and Grown Ups Favourite TV Show: Sons of Anarchy Favourite Website: summitracing.com or racingjunk.com Favourite App: Facebook Personal Hero: Dave Grohl I'd Really Like to Race Against: My Dad (Stephen Russell) I'd Hate to Race Against: Nobody

Dream Drag Car/Bike: Can't go past Top Fuel I'm Really Good At: Eating I'm Really Bad At: Flying I Really Regret: Selling cars (wish I had the money to keep them all) Nobody Knows I: Am a clean freak Best Time of My Life: Birth of son and first win light in Outlaw Nitro Funny Car Future Goals in Drag Racing: Run a five second pass Sponsors: Vinyl Wraps and Graphics, Aussie Desert Coolers, Exhaust Bros, Showroom Finish Smash Repairs, BPE Motorcycles, Rocket, Aeroflow, Grub Performance and Advanced Engine Dynamics Crew: Stephen Russell, Kim Touhey, Doug Anderson, Ash Haley, Ben Brown

PROFILE

SHOT

Come on: Sometimes that win light is all that matters, as seen here with Brett Curnow's team.

Image: cacklingpipes.com

Tough loss: Life wasn't meant to be easy and neither was drag racing.

Image: cacklingpipes.com

Decisions, decisions: Rob Tucker contemplates Pro Stock tune ups.

Image: Luke Nieuwhof

CHUTES OUT 98

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