Masterton Motorplex
DRAG RACING season 2021/2022
TEST & TUNE + OUTLAW 71
NATIONAL DRAG RACING CHAMPIONSHIP [DEC]
DRAGSTALGIA – WILD BUNCH WARS
MAYHEM AT MASTERTON
NATIONAL DRAG RACING CHAMPIONSHIP [MAR]
WWW.MASTERTONMOTORPLEX.CO.NZ
Welcome
TO ANOTHER SEASON OF RACING AT MASTERTON MOTORPLEX On behalf of the Members of the Board of Masterton Motorplex and all our hardworking volunteers, I would like to welcome you all to MMP and another great season of drag racing.
versus The Wild Bunch. You will also be able to enjoy these crowd pleasers at two of our other meetings.
As we do every year, MMP has again created another great programme of events with something for every taste.
Plus we have the 3rd round and the grand final of the joint National Drag Racing Championship, with all classes in attendance including the group one top door slammers and top alcohol.
A particular highlight will be the first ever “Mayhem at Masterton” which will see the Outlaw 71’s
As always, none of this would be possible without the volunteers, racers and crews who contribute
their time and energy out of love for the sport. I would also like to thank everyone who supports Masterton Motorplex by attending our meetings. Without you, none of this would happen. Here’s to a great season of racing at MMP.
Bob Wilton Chair Masterton Motorplex
Contents 2 3
Welcome About
Test & Tune + Outlaw 71 | 6-7 Nov 2021 4-5 6-7
Keeping the spectators entertained Profiles: Gerald Smith & Neil Morgan
National Drag Racing Championship | 11-12 Dec 2021 9-10 From promo girl to pit controller 11-12 Hard wired to win
Dragstalgia – Wild Bunch Wars | 2-3 Jan 2022 14
No racing without the paperwork
2 Masterton Motorplex 2021/2022 Season
15 Bringing back the good old days 16-17 Profiles: Kurt Goodin, Steve Milliken & Tony Marsh
Mayhem at Masterton | 12-13 Feb 2022 18-19 When two classes clash 20-21 The sound and the fury
National Drag racing Championship | 12-13 Mar 2022 22-23 24-25 26
Safety first for crash crew Profiles: Grant Briffault, Vanessa Lilly, Mike and Sharon Cload & Gary Sinkinson Keeping MMP in the groove
27
Health & Safety
About
A VERY FULL RACING SEASON AT MMP Just like that the Masterton Motorplex season is back. The 2021/2022 season will again showcase the continuation of the Joint National Series. This series includes all classes of drag racing, fighting it out over the season at various venues for the top spot on the NZ Drag Racing podium. Masterton Motorplex will be hosting two rounds of the National Drag Racing Championship (NDRC), firstly in December 2021 and then the Grand Finals in March 2022. The season starts on the 6th and 7th of November 2021 with Test & Tune plus the Outlaw 71 class. Following that, MMP hosts the first round of the NDRC in December. The Wild Bunch Wars will again return to entertain and light up Masterton Motorplex January 2nd and 3rd as part of the annual Dragstalgia event. From wild smoky burnouts to insane edge of your seat passes, the Wild Bunch is just that, so mark the two day event on your calendar. On 12th & 13 February, Mayhem In Masterton will be one meeting not to miss - the first ever Wild Bunch vs Outlaw 71 challenge. The season will finish up on March 12th & 13th with the Grand Finals of the National Drag Racing Championship. This is MMP’s eighth season at its purpose built track in Masterton, with work on developing the facilities a work in progress. As more and more trees are planted, the venue is taking on a park-like character which is making it more visually attractive but also providing shade for spectators.
Colin Johnson versus Dean Piper. Photo/Graham Meiklejohn
The next big goal is to replace portaloos with a proper toilet block for the racing crews.
All of these events are going to give spectators a greater variety of cars to watch, Bob says.
A spanner was thrown in the works when the New Zealand Fire Service was no longer able to attend meetings. This responsibility has now been passed on to the crash crew who have benefited from training provided by the fire service, says MMP Chair Bob Wilton.
This is a sport where we have to have the spectators. So we want to put a show on for them!
“In saying this, the fire brigade over the last seven years at the new facility have been very much appreciated. The drag racing community is in a positive mood, Bob says. “Covid has not stopped racers from being enthusiastic with more and more cars being built or brought into the country from Australia and America. There is definitely not going to be a downturn in cars and teams.” The 2021/2022 season at MMP will have a very full racing agenda, Bob says.
“As always, this is a perfect time to extend our thanks to all our current and previous Board members,” says Bob. “These guys and gals are the ones that made it all happen. Without them there would be no MMP. They are a humble group of people that have made MMP what it is today. “Also to all our volunteers, past and present - MMP could not run these events without you. “And also thanks to our sponsors and supporters - without these businesses and individuals again there would be no MMP. “Drivers and crew – we thank you for coming to our meetings and supporting our track. “So thanks again to everyone – see you out there!” Masterton Motorplex 2021/2022 Season 3
TEST & TUNE + OUTLAW 71 | 6-7 NOVEMBER 2021
KEEPING THE SPECTATORS
entertained
“Drag racing is a great sport with awesome people, and being an announcer keeps me as part of the drag racing family.”
The drag racing memories of Todd Stevenson go all the way back to the sunny days of the mid-1970s when Todd and his teenage friends used to drive a Mini with a crate of beer in the boot to Meremere Dragway, south of Auckland from their hometown of New Plymouth. Todd went on to become a “social” drag racer, competing between 2005 and 2013. But his days of racing came to a sudden stop at the 2013 Nationals at Meremere when his street legal 9 second T bucket took a sharp turn left and he banged into the Meremere safety wall, breaking the car in half, but luckily not even leaving a scratch on Todd. He claims the driver ran out of talent that day. With no car to race, Todd took on the role of announcer for the Pegasus Bay Drag Racing Club at Ruapuna in Christchurch, a volunteer role that most people wish to avoid. “The announcer had quit and we needed somebody who knew the racers and the classes they raced in, so I figured I could help out.” For the past three years, Todd has also been part of the announcing team at Masterton Motorplex
business and drag racing activities. Part of the job of the announcing team is to give spectators relevant details about the competitors such as car and bike specs and times achieved. Announcer Todd Stevenson.
which also includes Gavin Doughty and “Spider”. Todd, an accountant and businessman, flies from his home in Christchurch to New Plymouth early in the week before a Masterton Motorplex race meeting. He spends a few days working in New Plymouth, and then travels to Masterton for a weekend at the track. He keeps a car stored in New Plymouth for his North Island
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4 Masterton Motorplex 2021/2022 Season
“This was particularly important before Masterton got its own timing lights and spectators didn’t know what the racers had achieved,” says Todd. The other side of the job is keeping spectators entertained. “Gavin has good eyes to see what is going on the track so he can keep people well informed about what is going on, on the track as the racing takes place. “I see my role as more entertainment. My job is to add colour to the results. Because I have been around drag racing since the seventies, I know a lot
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Before
After
The crash that ended Todd’s competitive career.
of the older racers and have a reasonable amount of knowledge about their history.” A good announcer can make a world of difference to a meeting, Todd believes. Inevitably there are pauses in the racing such as when there is a hold up because of oil on the track, or a broken down car.
“The announcers need to fill in the gaps. This is especially the case in the elimination rounds as the number of cars reduces each round, but a turn-around of an hour is required between races for some classes. So you end up with more space to fill. “This can be really tough for spectators and we are an
entertainment business. We want people to go and have an entertaining day, and to be excited about coming back to Masterton Motorplex again the following month. “Drag racing is a great sport with awesome people, and being an announcer keeps me as part of the drag racing family.”
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PROFILES
Gerald Smith 1923 T ALTERED ‘SUDDEN IMPACT’ A resident of Feilding, Gerald has been into racing cars since he was a young fellow.
“The gearbox is a dedenbear 2 stage powerglide and a new 9’’ diff with 3.7/1 gear ratio.
He got back into drag racing about 30 years ago, including winning the modified class in the NZDRA championship in 2012.
“The car has run a best of 7.19 sec and a best top speed of 191mph since we have raced it here in New Zealand.”
“That was in the previous Altered I raced called ‘Flowerpower’ - a 1927 T running over 150mph. “We also won the 2016 Supercharged Outlaw class with my current car, the 1923 T Altered ‘Sudden Impact’ - named after the movie in the Dirty Harry series starring Clint Eastwood. “This car I bought in from the USA in 2012. The car was raced as a
Photo/Jarod Carruthers Photography
nitro altered in the early 1970s very successfully with a hemi power package. “The car now runs a 509cu in dart Chev big block with afr heads and high helix supercharger, making approximately 1850HP and 1284 ft/ib of torque at 7000RPM.
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The highlight for Gerald now “is to compete with and against other like-minded drivers and crew, especially in the Outlaw 71 series, and to continue having fun. “Our goal with this car is to try and achieve a 200mph top speed before I retire. “I am one of the more senior drivers in New Zealand at 72 years of age.”
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6 Masterton Motorplex 2021/2022 Season
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PROFILES
AMINAL
Neil Morgan Upper Hutt’s Neil Morgan has been racing on and off since the early 1990s with cars he has built himself.
season of Outlaw 71, third the following season, with no placing last season.
He has been racing his current one, which he built himself over a five year period, since 2015 with a few changes along the way.
“It is a cool class with some really awesome people.” This season Neil will be using a new top end combo “that hopefully won’t take too long to get sorted when we come back out.”
“My car’s name is AMINAL. It is a 23 T Altered. Runs in Outlaw 71 or Supercharged Outlaws. “It is inspired by American fuel altered The Winged Expressed and others.
Photo/Jarod Carruthers Photography
“In 2017 I ran a pb of 7.62 seconds at 175mph. In February 2018 I crashed at MMP which resulted in the car being repaired and returned to racing with some
handling issues which makes for good photos. I came close to my pb last season with a 7.67 at 175mph. AMINAL came 8th in the first
The engine is a 475 cubic inch supercharged big block Chev, burning methanol fuel, 2 speed powerglide transmission with a 9 inch Ford rear end. It has a carbon fibre wing on the top with twin parachutes out back.
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8 Masterton Motorplex 2021/2022 Season
NATIONAL DRAG RACING CHAMPIONSHIP | 11-12 DECEMBER 2021
FROM PROMO GIRL
to pit controller Melissa Osborne has one of the pivotal jobs during race meetings at Masterton Motorplex. As pit controller she has to make sure everything is running smoothly like a well-oiled machine. Melissa grew up in Carterton and started working at MMP as one of its legendary promo girls when she was 18. “I enjoyed it. It was fun at that age.” Melissa used to help her dad Bruce Osborne and brother Dwane who are both regular competitors at Masterton Motorplex, in Super Street and Super Sedan respectively, before they moved to Competition class with their Ford Pop while she became a pit runner.
Melissa keeping the pit under control. Photo/Graham Meiklejohn
Pit runners ensure dial ins are recorded and taken up to the tower ready to be entered when the car comes into staging.
controller from Hollee Wilton Foley five years ago which sees her in charge of the race order, calling classes out, completing random breath tests of drivers and crew and assisting with any other problems that occur in the lead up to racing and finals.
They also ensure all drivers are lined up in their correct pairings ready to race once they hit the track.
She makes sure the right classes are ready to race and in staging with their pit runner to avoid gaps in racing.
Melissa took over the role of pit
“I have the most fun job because I
The role of Pit Runners at MMP is to take care of their assigned class whether it be Juniors, bikes or competition cars and dragsters.
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get to interact with everyone - the pit runners, the start line, end of track, crash crew, track prep guys and of course the racers and crew.” Melissa works closely with Chair Bob Wilton and area steward Tony Van Helman, but says everyone has an important role. “Everyone needs to be amazing at their job, otherwise it is hard Continued on page 10
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Continued from page 9 for everyone else. All the different areas work well together. My little team of pit runners do an incredible job.” The Group One cars - top alcohol and top door slammer - are a particular focus for Melissa. “They require a bit more attention than the other classes because of the work involved in getting their cars ready to go down the track between each race. These cars are the ones that draw crowds, they put on a show and run the fastest ETs.” At times it can be frustrating for the drivers, like when they are ready to go but there is a hold up, says Melissa. “The adrenalin is there, especially on Sundays when we get into the competitive rounds. The pressure is on at the lights, especially when it is a big meeting with big crowds.” Melissa is friends with many of the racing teams and her partner Kurt
Melissa (left) with her pit runners Sheena, Georgiana and Immy.
Goodin has raced in the super sedan class, although he will be competing with The Wild Bunch this time round. “The drivers and their crews are a great bunch of people. My favourite part of the job is definitely being out in the pits giving everyone a bit of cheek. “There’s a great atmosphere on Friday evenings after registration and Saturday afternoon after the racing when everyone comes
together for a laugh and a drink or two.” The event Melissa is most looking forward to this season is the Mayhem at Masterton meeting in February which sees Outlaw 71 versus Wild Bunch. “This is going to be the meeting you don’t want to miss, two classes that always provide great entertainment, a big field full of blown alcohol cars. What’s not to enjoy.”
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HARD WIRED
to win
One of the regular racers in the Modified class at Masterton Motorplex is Grant Benvenuti in his Ford 23 T Altered. Grant also has one of the vital volunteer roles at the track as the person who sets up the timing system, thanks to his career in electrical engineering. “This is all done over a couple of hours on Friday night. It is reasonably complex but I’ve managed to turn it into more of a turnkey operation over the years,” says Grant. “It is more to do with hardwiring and data entry into the ‘Portatree’ software which MMP uses.” Grant also breaks down the timing system when the racing is over on Sunday, and posts the weekend’s results on the MMP website as
A big smile after a personal best run – 8.74 @ 153 MPH. Photo/Graham Meiklejohn
well as emailing it to the National Championship organisers for the national points series. “That takes three or four hours to go through and create all the documents and lists needed.” Grant also gives an introduction course to drivers who are going to be racing at MMP for the first time.
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“There are around 20 or 30 new drivers at the beginning of the season and about three or four by the end of it. “We go step by step through the procedures on the track and I give them a few hints on how to race. Continued on page 12
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Masterton Motorplex 2021/2022 Season 11
total. He has been national runner up in Modifieds twice in “The Rattler.”
Continued from page 11 But I don’t give away too much as I might be racing against them one day!”
“I called it The Rattler because it is rather rattly and shakes a lot.”
Most of the new drivers race in the street classes of cars and bikes because they are more affordable for beginners, Grant says. “The first time can be quite intense, but the basic procedures are reasonably straight forward. They just take a bit of time to learn.” Grant enjoys being a volunteer and on the board of MMP. “I’ve always been a volunteer in various organisations over the years. You get what you put into it. “I enjoy being part of the core that makes it all work. It gives me a bit of a voice at board meetings, when I think there are opportunities to improve the venue and events.” Grant competes at most meetings “except when the car is broken, but it is reasonably reliable.” A resident of Lower Hutt, Grant
The car has an aluminium small block 400 cubic inch (6.6 litres) engine with two speed power glide transmission, and runs on methanol. Wheels Up. Photo/Graham Meiklejohn
has been involved in racing for 30 years, first as part of a crew. He eventually built his own racing car 15 years ago which he races in the Modified Class which is reasonably cheap to enter.
“I had it running on a carburettor up till now, but for this season I’ve changed to fuel injection to get more performance out of it - a bit faster and a bit more consistent. “I have also taken the opportunity to change the colour – it will be blue this season.”
“Not too much money has to be spent to build a car that is reasonably competitive.
During 2021/2022 Grant will be sharing the driving with his son Luca.
“It’s a handicap class so it is more about consistency and the driver working with the car, rather than just having the fastest car.”
“Luca used to race in Junior Dragsters and has come back after a few years. He’s hoping to eventually have his own car.
Grant has won three national events over the years and six in
“We haven’t decided who will drive when yet!”
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12 Masterton Motorplex 2021/2022 Season
Masterton Motorplex 2021/2022 Season 13
DRAGSTALGIA – WILD BUNCH WARS | 2-3 JANUARY 2022
NO RACING WITHOUT THE PAPER WORK
being completed
Behind every good drag racing board is a good track secretary.
the board. We don’t make any decisions without the 14 members of the board agreeing.”
Masterton Motorplex is lucky to have a particularly good one in Hollee Wilton Foley.
Last season was truncated because of Covid, but Hollee says the bank account at Masterton Motorplex is building up again, thanks in part to Masterton District Council generously increasing its contribution from $10,000 to $15,000 for this season.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Hollee has spent her whole life involved with the sport, given that her father is long time MMP Chair Bob Wilton. “It’s what we did as children growing up,” recalls Hollee.
As well as keeping financially solvent, money raised goes into continuing improvements at the drag strip.
Her husband Anton Foley competes in the motorbike comp, while their 17 year-old son Jackson has been competing in Junior drag bike class since he was 9 years old, now in the adult modified bike class.
The next goal is building a new toilet block for the racing teams which are presently using portaloos.
Jackson is the current New Zealand national champion in his first year in the adult competition for modified bike.
The club also wants to widen the end of the racing strip so it can accommodate two vehicles at the same time coming off the track.
Hollee Wilton Foley. Photo/Graham Meiklejohn
morning of meetings.
Hollee took over the secretarial role last January, after previously being a pit runner and then pit controller.
“It’s quite a different role and all year round. It is quite intense. It helps to have a background in drag racing and that works in my favour.
Being track secretary involves a lot of behind-the-scenes paperwork throughout the year such as making grant applications, as well as taking the registrations on the Friday evening and Saturday
The role of track secretary is an important one, Hollee points out. “Me and Bob do all the background work to present to
“This will make it safer for the towing cars as well as speeding up the return of the cars to the pit.” While being track secretary means a lot of work between meetings, Hollee does have the bonus of being able to participate in the meetings as part of the support crew for Anton, Jackson and some family friends.
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Dragstalgia racing at MMP last January 2020
bringing back
THE GOOD OLD DAYS
Dragstalgia features a range of “Nostalgia” dragsters. Nostalgia drag racing started in the mid-1980s when old racers started racing their front-engine dragsters, funny cars and super stockers again. The cars raced are a mix of restored originals and recreations of older cars.
Normally these types of cars compete in the same categories as everyone else. Dragstalgia - Wild Bunch Wars will include the F.E.D. Challenge. Front Engine Dragsters (FEDs) used to be the norm in drag racing until they were superseded by back engine dragsters which were safer as dragsters got faster
and faster. However, some dragsters missed the unique experience of racing FEDs. “They are scary and interesting to drive. You have more of an adrenaline rush with the engine in front of you and the tyres almost next to your face,” says MMP Chair Bob Wilton.
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PROFILES
CHAOS
1970 CHEVY NOVA
Kurt Goodin
Steve Milliken Hailing from Auckland, in 2018 Steve Milliken bought ‘The Hitman’ Chevy Master Sedan out of Australia which was painted in the now familiar “Chaos” candy-red.
Domiciled in Carterton, Kurt Goodin has been racing for the past six years, winning the 50th NZ Nationals in Super Sedan which had over 50 cars in the class, and winning multiple Best Burnout awards. It’s a family run operation with Kurt’s father Nigel bringing it over to New Zealand from Georgia, USA in 2014. “We have stepped up from Super Sedan to a blown alcohol combo
SOME SPECS
Winning is always nice, but “just putting on a show” is just as important for Steve and his crew.
•
A 1970 Chevy Nova, named NOVADOSE
SOME SPECS •
Supercharge Outlaw
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36 chev sedan carbon fibre body 540cui bb chev 14.71 litchfield blower
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7.1 at 193mph.
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Photo/Graham Meiklejohn
FORD MAVERICK
Tony Marsh Tony and son Anthony are best known for their exploits with a vast array of super-fast record setting dragsters. But after attending a Wild Bunch meeting at Meremere, Tony purchased the world’s fastest Ford Maverick, previously driven by NHRA top fuel pilot Scott Palmer.
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Masterton Motorplex 2021/2022 Season 17
MAYHEM AT MASTERTON | 12-13 FEBRUARY 2022
MAYHEM IN MASTERTON WHEN
two classes clash With 34,000 followers on Facebook, the Wild Bunch now has one of the biggest social media followings of any drag racing class in New Zealand. Not bad, considering their first race was less than three years ago. Thirty years ago, Chris Tynan and fellow members of the iconic class called Wild Bunch were an important part of the drag racing landscape, and left a lasting impression wherever they went. Amongst them was a young Ryan Sheldon who helped out wherever he could.
Wild Bunch racers Michael Franklin versus Mark Gapp. Photos/Graham Meiklejohn
Years passed but Ryan’s memories of the Wild Bunch never faded, and in 2018 he decided it was time to revive it.
the Wild Bunch and only holds three or four events in a season.
“A few of my mates had similar sorts of cars that are not necessarily competitive in the higher performance based classes. “We just wanted to get back to having fun, putting on a show, and go pretty fast along the way.” The first meeting of the Wild Bunch, held in April 2019 in Auckland, was a tester with just eight cars. This season Ryan expects to see 20 or more cars. Ryan is careful not to over-expose
“We don’t want to saturate the market. We want people to look forward and want to be at each of those select events.”
“Back in those days you made do with the parts you could find locally. Thirty years ago it was impossible to get parts from the United States because it was too costly and too time consuming.”
Luckily for Masterton Motorplex, it is going to host The Wild Bunch twice this season – at Dragstalgia on January 2nd and 3rd and Mayhem at Masterton on February 12th and 13th.
The Wild Bunch today is a specialist class with competitors having to meet certain criteria, the most obvious being that the cars need to have doors that open and close.
The original Wild Bunch were based on average road cars that were “modified on steroids” with whatever their owners could find, recalls Ryan.
What everyone is looking forward to this season is Mayhem At Masterton which will see the Mount Shop Wild Bunch come up against the Panhead Outlaw 71’s.
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“We are going to create a lot of match-ups beforehand,” says Ryan. “By then we will have stats on how the cars have been performing up until then so it shouldn’t be too hard to gauge who is close to whom.” This is going to create a bigger spectacle, closer racing and also some intense rivalries, Ryan predicts. “We’ve got a couple of rivalries going already. We all know each other already, but we don’t normally get the opportunity to race each other. “I’ve known people for 20 years in different classes who I have never raced before. “It’s going to be an enjoyable, fun couple of days. It won’t be as hard out as normal with the Wild Bunch.” There has been nothing to stop Wild Bunch cars to race in the
Ryan takes charge.
Outlaw 71 class up until now, Ryan points out. “Most of our cars have super chargers so we can compete in their class but not vice versa. You have to have swinging doors to compete in the Wild Bunch.” One of the reasons Ryan thinks the Wild Bunch is attracting more competitors is because the cars are
more affordable to race. “You don’t need to have as big a cheque book.” For the public the cars are relatable to cars they have may have seen on the streets. “The look is important and the crowd can identify with them. They look like the sort of cars their parents might have driven!”
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Masterton Motorplex 2021/2022 Season 19
THE SOUND AND THE FURY
of outlaw 71
The Outlaw 71s will be the featured class at two of this season’s racing at Masterton Motorplex – Test &Tune plus Outlaw 71 on November 6th and 7th, and the much anticipated Mayhem In Masterton on February 12th and 13th. The Outlaw 71 name stems from the Supercharged Outlaws, with the competition open to cars running any conventional belt-drive type supercharger, typically known as ‘71’ series of superchargers in their earlier years but still common in some race classes today. Belt driven Supercharged Outlaws had once been the norm, but as time went on alternative forms of supercharging were introduced such as turbo, pro-charger, nitrous oxide and nitro methane. As time passed, the race fields of
This season Gavin’s role has been taken over by John Shepherd, supported by Andrew Cload and Jimmy Patterson, while Gavin will still be involved from the MMP tower where he is part of the announcing team.
Outlaw 71 organiser and competitor John Shepherd.
this group became smaller and split throughout the country but they had their own unique charm that founders of the class, Gavin Doughty and Tod Aitken, felt deserved a revival and got going in November 2018. Since then the Outlaw 71s have become a real crowd pleaser, as well as attracting more and more competitors.
The cars have to run faster than 8 seconds, but slower than 6.5 seconds over the quarter mile. Qualifying is based on reaction time, and the competition uses the Dial-Your-Own format. This is where the drivers nominate their own target time and then have to get as close to that as possible. This ensures the cars are all evenly matched, with the DYO handicap resulting in side-by-side finish line action. This still incorporates fast actionpacked racing but DYO also tests
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20 Masterton Motorplex 2021/2022 Season
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the skill of the driver and crew to achieve perfect control of their car. Superchargers are notoriously hard to control, and the faster they go, the harder they are to control. Since the series started, it has become a real crowd pleaser as well as attracting an increasing number of competitors. This season there will again be a broad line up of dragsters, altered and door cars with 26 cars registered so far, including six new entrants, says John. “Some competitors have made the move over to the 71’s from other classes, others have dug old cars out of the shed and then we have the new rides.” John describes competitors as a “dedicated bunch of enthusiasts who like super chargers and don’t like the other stuff.” The “71” comes from the name of the traditional supercharger that was common in the early years of drag racing (6:71, 8:71 etc). Although still often used, there are many other combinations available for performance vehicles.
John Shepherd versus John Hooper in Outlaw 71. Photos/Graham Meiklejohn
Outlaw 71 has no restriction on Supercharger (blower) size or type so long as it considered the conventional style of supercharging. Ironically, given that the Outlaw 71s will be competing against The Wild Bunch at Mayhem At Masterton, Wild Bunch cars that comply with the Outlaw 71 specifications can compete in the Outlaw 71 class, and many do when there is no Wild Bunch event at meetings they attend. “This is encouraged by the Outlaw 71 racers as they believe that the Wild Bunch racers are pussies,” says John, who will be racing his own car at both Outlaw 71
meetings in Masterton. “I stepped into supercharged race cars six years ago. Like everyone else, I like what the class has to offer in terms of prize money, race format, and being a fun social event. They sound good, look good, and have plenty of power.” “I like that it is racer return rather than elimination rounds. That means that even if you lose, you still come back out for another round. “So you get more races which is what most drivers want. And at the end of the day it puts on a good show for the spectator.”
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0276177026 Masterton Motorplex 2021/2022 Season 21
NATIONAL DRAG RACING CHAMPIONSHIP | 12-13 MARCH 2022
Safety first FOR CRASH CREW
Justin Hansen has been part of the team at Masterton Motorplex since he first started capturing images and writing meeting reports and features for motoring magazines in the early 2000s. That soon developed into looking after a broad range of MMP media. But these days Justin has a completely different role as he’s taken on the responsibility of looking after the crash crew and end-of-track crew. “We previously had a private firm providing the crash crew but they stepped away from drag racing meaning we had to set up our very own crew. “We’ve been constantly improving the equipment we use, the training we do, and the way we do things. We now have 13 on the team, plus a couple of extra volunteers waiting to join as well.” The crash crew members are each assigned to specific roles at meetings. The first of these are the members who are suited up all day, ready for any incidents that might take place.
22 Masterton Motorplex 2021/2022 Season
“They are the guys who are the first at the scene. They put out the fire if there is one, get the driver out of the car, and make sure they’re kept safe.” Then there are the “track spotters” whose task is to visually scan the track after vehicles have gone down it for anything that has been left behind such as a piece of chrome trim or bolt etc. “Over a season we end up with an eye-opening collection of bits and pieces!” They also check the start of the track after cars have done their burn out to heat up their tyres and then reversed back to the starting line, to see if anything has fallen off or any fluid or oil has been spilled. Some of the crash crew team are also located at the emergency gate midway down the track. This is where junior drivers pull off the track after their shorter distance, but also where the crew can quickly enter the track with an emergency vehicle, or remove broken-down vehicles from the track. The “chute packers” pack up the
Left: The chute-packing lanes during ‘rush-hour’. Above: A start-line fuel mishap from last season. Photo/Graham Meiklejohn
parachutes at the end of the track before the cars are towed back to the pit. And there is a specially modified quad-bike down there to help cars get off the track and around to the chute-packing area. “This has to be done reasonably carefully as you don’t want the chute to get tangled up, and any debris needs to be cleared out of the chutes before they’re rolled up,” says Justin. “They also look after the drivers down there, and there’s a massive amount of adrenalin. “There are a lot of highs and lows - there’s excitement when racers win and disappointment when they lose, but they always have smiles on their faces and it’s always a very exciting (and busy) place to be.” There is always the risk of an oil
leak on the track which is a regular occurrence, and more serious oildowns can run for long distances down the track. It is a part of the job of all the track crew to clean up the track, under the watchful eye of the Track Prep man Paul Rose, and the NZ Drag Racing Association Area Steward, Tony van Helmond, Justin says. “We put a compound on the spill and then sweep and clean it off. Then the tractor re-rubbers the track.” At the beginning of each meeting, all of the crew are involved in the safety preparations such as making sure all the fire extinguishers and other equipment are where they should be. Justin is immensely proud of his dedicated crew of 13 hard-working volunteers; Owen, James, Simon, Jake, Mike, Debz, Marc, Higgy, Brandon, Tam, Grant, Ryan, and Pete.
“I’ve got a really great bunch of people helping me and we’ve become a tight-knit group, keeping in touch even during the off-season. “They do whatever they’re asked to do, and are a hard-case crew who all volunteer their valuable time. “They don’t do it for money, they do it for the love of the sport, the fun we all have as a team, and want to make the facility as safe as possible for everyone. Like all of the racers, I’m really grateful to each of them for their involvement and commitment.”
Above: Justin Hansen helps a Junior Dragster following its run down the strip. Photo/Graham Meiklejohn Right: Track-spotters collection of parts from one season.
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PROFILES
BRIFFO-FED TAX TIME
Grant Briffault Hamilton’s Grant Briffault has been racing since 1977, building his own cars and fabricating parts. “I ran a 5 second pass in my top alcohol dragster, with not only a car completely built myself, but constructed in my garage, including parts I fabricate, as the engine is so rare.” This season Grant will be racing his Front Engine Dragster Briffo-Fed Tax Time. “Its tech sheet shows AA/ Dragster. However, when I built it I made sure it complies with the latest American specifications for Top Fuel Front Engine Dragster. It exceeds SFI Specs for Top Fuel FED. Grant is mainly campaigning in
Photo/Mike Peffers Photography
Super Charged Outlaws (Outlaw 71 Series). Among the highlights of the car so far was “using just a stock Big Block Chevrolet 454 block,
with specialist internal racing components, breaking into the 6 second zone in February 2021. That was an amazing achievement!”
Vanessa Lilly RIB RATTLER Vanessa lives in Papamoa while her car, Rib Rattler, lives in New Plymouth. At 26 years-old, Vanessa is one of the youngest drivers and only female in the SCO and Outlaw 71 class again this year. She did one shared season in Gerald Smith’s Altered, and half a season in Rib Rattler last year “not long enough”. “Rib Rattler ran a 7.5 and 190mph in Adelaide over 20 years ago, and has been in hibernation ever since, until we got it, says Vanessa.
24 Masterton Motorplex 2021/2022 Season
Photo/Graham Meiklejohn
“We bought it to New Zealand two years ago and gave it an overhaul, and got it to the track in January last summer for the second half of
the season. “We’ve still got lots to learn, as we had less than a dozen runs last season.”
PROFILES
Mike & Sharon Cload 69 CAMARO Mike and Sharon Cload live in Dannevirke and have been racing for six years with their 69 Camaro (69Time). The team consists of Mike (driver), Jason Ware (crew chief) Sharon (tow car driver) Michelle Ware (tow car crew) and Euan Mark (back up man). “I am an old drag racer from back in the days of Thunder Park Raceway in the Hawkes Bay, back then running a 454 Blown 62 Chevy Nova. “Highlights of my racing career have to be winning against the legend himself, Chris Tynan at a Wild Bunch meeting in January, 2020. Also winning the 51st NZ Nationals 2019 - 1st Top Street.”
Photo/Alan Paterson
SOME SPECS •
•
69 Chev Camaro, (Name: 69Time) Running a 632 Pat Musi Naturally Aspirated Engine with Powerglide, & Strange Rear Best Time: 8.19secs @ 166mph
•
Currently in Top Street & Wild Bunch
•
51st NZ Nationals 2019 - 1st Top Street
•
Dragstalgia 2019 2nd Top Competition
•
NZ Championship Series 2019 - Runner Up in Top Street
GAZZANOVA
Gary Sinkinson A commercial beekeeper from Feilding, Gary has been drag racing for over 30 years. He raced in his early twenties but had to give it up to raise a family until John Shepherd encouraged him back into the sport, first in Super Sedan, then changing to Supercharged Outlaws in early 2020 with a newly imported Chevy Nova. “Our team name is Gazzanova race team. My biggest drag racing achievement was winning the 2021 Wild Bunch challenge at Meremere. “The car has had a few upgrades for the new season. We have changed up the supercharger to a 14 71 hi helix with a buzzard catcher and enderle spur pump so hopefully we can better our PB of 7.41@185 set last season. “The car still runs a powerglide trans and 4.1 ford nine inch rear end.” Masterton Motorplex 2021/2022 Season 25
KEEPING MMP
in the groove Paul Rose has been involved in drag racing since 1967 when New Zealand’s first track opened on an open cast coal mine at Maramarua, south of Auckland. Over that time he has been a racer, administrator and volunteer with Masterton Motorplex for the past 21 years including his present role as leader of the “track prep” team. “This involves the glue you see us spraying on the track - the sticky stuff that helps adhere the cars to the track. “I have a couple of helpers. Steve on the tractor - it’s his - and Warren who assists me when spraying.” The track prep team’s work generally starts a couple of days before a meeting - weather permitting.
The track is washed, scrubbed, broomed off, and sometimes scraped to remove old rubber from the racing surface - “the groove”. When dry, they spray the track with a compound called SLR to help hold the rubber to the concrete and asphalt. Then Steve spends 20 to 24 hours on the tractor rubbering. His job is to put down fresh rubber in the groove. “We will often spray again while this is happening, to build up the surface, but not too much. “On the day before the meeting, we start in the afternoon and give the groove more rubber and spray 100% LC7 traction compound, and let it soak in overnight.” On race day the three of them are at the track at 7am to put down more rubber. And depending on
Paul Rose. ambient and track temperature will spray again. Rain, wind, and oil are the track prep team’s worst enemies. “Sometimes, if there is an incident, we may spray or rubber again. After every two meetings we start all over again. This keeps the track in top condition for all racers.” Paul works with mentors in the United States to keep up-to-date with the latest technology, “just like all the race car owners do. “The products we use on MMP are “VP” traction compounds as we find they are best for our conditions.”
Open 7 Days from 3pm till late
• Great Atmosphere • Awesome Food • Friendly Service • Function Room • Separate Bar
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HEALTH AND
safety
Please see below for the restrictions for our venue. Please abide by the public health alert level rules, any signage we may have or instructions from staff. We will endeavour to do our part to keep everyone safe. There will be limited numbers in confined spaces (bathrooms/pit control/portacom) as well as in the seating areas.
The rules for events and entertainment at Alert Level 2 At Alert Level 2, there are no restrictions on the number of people that can attend an event at a venue, for example at a stadium, cinema, theatre, casino, concert hall or conference venue – as long as everyone can safely stay 1 metre apart. Attendees can be seated or standing. This includes indoor and outdoor event facilities, and both ticketed and non-ticketed events. (See the COVID-19 rules at: https://covid19.govt.nz/activities/events-and-entertainment/ ) If you are going to an event at MMP – the COVID-19 requirements are: • We strongly encourage you to wear a face covering when you are not eating or drinking. • Stay home if you are unwell or if you have been asked to isolate. • Scan in using the NZ COVID Tracer App, there are plenty of QR Code posters around the venue. • Avoid congregating or gathering at entrances or in small shared spaces such as the bathroom.
• If you need to pay for your food, drinks, or merchandise use contactless payment options if possible. • Follow MMPs safety measures on signage and any instructions from MMP officials and staff. • Maintain at least 1 metre distance from others if you are moving around the venue, especially at the food outlets, on the grandstands, and in the pits.
Travelling to an event at MMP while we are in Alert Level 2 If you are in an Alert Level 1 or 2 region, you can travel to other regions that are at Alert Level 1 or 2 to attend an event. When Masterton is an Alert Level 2 area, attendees will need to meet physical distancing guidelines, and keep 1 metre apart. (see the COVID-19 rules at: https://covid19.govt.nz/travel/domestic-travel/regionaltravel/#regional-travel-at-alert-level-2)
Contacts EVENT CO-ORDINATION | Bob Wilton | bobandgeorge@xtra.co.nz | 06 377 3803 or 027 449 4995 TRACK SECRETARY | Hollee Wilton Foley | admin@mastertonmotorplex.co.nz DRIVERS REP | Paul Cathro | paul@ifloorcare.co.nz | 027 442 2005 AREA STEWARD/TECH INSPECTOR | Tony van Helmond | 06 370 1044 or 027 780 0246 POSTAL ADDRESS | PO Box 2099, Masterton, 5842 FACEBOOK | Masterton Motorplex International Dragstrip WEBSITE | www.mastertonmotorplex.co.nz COVID-19 WEBSITE | www.covid19.govt.nz
Masterton Motorplex 2021/2022 Season 27
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