The 2011 Queensland Street Car Magazine Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series has kicked into life with round one at Willowbank Raceway.
125 racers fronted for the first round of the grass root series which travels to four South Queensland tracks. Despite some precipitation which now seems part and parcel of drag racing events on the East Coast interrupting the day, the event was still completed.
All classes at the QSC Eight Mile Series run on a round robin with points be awarded for wins and losses, the highest points earners duke it out in the final.
Modified
Ben Diggles was nothing short of spectacular in his turbo 4 cylinder dragster, let alone quick, a 4.74 at 145mphhad him top qualifying.
Blaze Hansen won his first round match up against Diggles with his Hayabusa powered dragster before red lighting to Andrew Pinkstone in round two.
National Champion Kelly Corbett had to withdraw from the Westernationals due to train lines being cut by flooding. Venting her frustration Corbett unpacked her dragster from the container and had a crack at the QSC Eight Mile Series, and it nearly paid off for her.
Andrew Pinkstone was the spoiler however stopping Corbett in the final.
Super Sedan
Robert Bertolacci came out to play in his Mustang.
The Top RPM Motorsport Celica clocked a 4.37 at 161 MPH.
Neil Grayson though triumphed in the class defeating Darren Doeblien in the final with a killer 6.10 (6.10 DI) to Doeblien’s losing 6.40 (6.39 DI).
Super Street
One tidy little tray back warms the tyres in Super Street.
Jamie Gripske couldn’t earn a round win in the Gemini.
Big bad and blown Hearse of Joe Gosschalk was first round victim and didn’t contest subsequent rounds, but you complain about the skids.
Darryl Freeman was too good in Super Street with his Centura holding off Rob Price.
Classic
Randall Mohr’s FX Funnycar is one for the Nostalgia buff’s in the Classic bracket for Nostalgia style vehicles.
Ken Stevenson had his blown six pot FED working out the wheelie bars hard all day.
Pink was a bit of a theme in Classic.
Boyd lit up a cherry in the final.
Jason Donnelly put his Chev down the quarter the quickest in qualifying with a 5.41. Donnelly carried the good form into eliminations winning the bracket over Loughlin Boyd in the final.
Modifed Bike
Ritchie Paterson too the first round points in Modified Bike over Mark Woods.
Junior Dragster
Acacia Schwarz came out the victor in a double break out final with Edan Ward.
Testing
There were several Pro Stock cars making some laps in preparation for the upcoming Pro Series round.
Lee Bektash is leading the charge for the first 6 second pass from the breed.
The Tremayne’s also took the opportunity of some track time.
Stu Henry was testing in his Pro Street wheelstanding Capri.
Likewise Jason Andrews torque’s up his Pro Street Holden in preparation for the Pro Street Shootout.
Mark Slater was doing some testing in his A/GA Super Stocker with a 7.81 quarter mile best.
Round two will now head to Warwick Dragway on the 14th of May, before round three takes place at Benaraby Dragway on the 9th of July. The Grand Finale will then take place at Ironbark Raceway Roma on the 24th of September 2011.
Special winner and runner-up trophies are available for each bracket at each round, with the Grand Finale to see a special Crystal winner trophy plus $750 prize money awarded to the highest point score of each bracket, and a special Crystal runner-up trophy and $250 prize money to go to the second highest point scorer of each bracket.
