The Perth Motorplex 2023 year opened with their Night of Fire spectacular featuring flame throwing Jet Dragsters and the nitro breathing action of the Nitro Max series.
Nitro fuelled altereds, funny cars and dragsters make up the Nitro Max show. In round one Tim Stewart dropped low ET of the round with a 5.81 solo run in his funny car ‘Thumper’. Michael Brooks went down on a 5.94 with his FED, to a 6.02 holeshot from Shannon Taylor in Rory Taylor’s altered. James Kemp also had a solo in his fuel altered for the round clocking a 6.06.
Stewart dropped a 5.53 but wasted it on a red light against Taylor’s 6.13 in round two, Brooks was the only other car to record a pass in the round with a 6.52.
Taylor and Stewart had a cracking final, it was altered versus funny car with the nitro flames flicking up high into the night air, Stewart crossing the stripe first with a 5.59 to a 6.06.
In Nitro Bike, Benny Stevens was a class act, top qualifying with a 6.67, then cranking a consistent 6.68 in round one, before capping the night off with a 6.65 win in the final over Kevin Gummow.
Russell Ladbrook top qualified in Top Comp with his AA/Altered on a 5.81 index with a 5.83. However Ladbrook couldn’t get past Sam Treasure’s Hemi Express AA/Altered in the racing round. Treasure went through to the A-Final, but a lax reaction didn’t give the altered much hope against Moreno Gullotto’s turbo Soarer that scored the win with a 6.69 (6.66IN) to Treasure’s 5.85 (5.81IN).
The B-Final saw Bailey McClure in his very neat Torana – 6.56 (6.59IN) – defeat the Madison Brown ‘Boston Strangler’ funny car – 6.55 (6.45IN).
Daniel Natalotto clean swept Comp Bike, the B/SB ZX10R rider top qualified by a mile, and over half a second under the index with a 9.018. Natalotto held the advantage through to the final where he defeated Brett Ghedina’s Honda with a 9.16 (9.67IN) to 7.68 (7.78IN).
The blown dragster of Kasey McClure picked up the Supercharged Outlaws final victory over Donald Freind’s Holden ute that went next to nowhere on the hit.
A killer .003 light in the Top Sportsman final from Chris Roe all but sealed opponent Alby Bakranich’s fate. At the stripe Bakranich’s Monte Carlo pushed to make up the holeshot with both cars ending up with breakouts, and Roe still taking the win.
Nick Gardiner’s night ended badly in Modified when his altered lost an engine and went into a series of tumbles, though Gardiner was a little battered but okay fortunately, and the cool Topolino altered will be back they promise.
Jeff Acton’s dragster took the event win in Modified on the night, holding of a fast charging Paul Ryan with his FED.
The Zappia names was in the win column again at the Perth Motorplex, but this time it was young Brodie for Super Sedan. A big holeshot of the legend’s nephew with his Camaro, took Kyle Higgin’s XY to the stripe for the win with a 8.70 (8.66DI) against a 9.56 (9.54DI).
Another big field of Modified Bikes shook down to Ian Read and David Parrington in the final. Read’s Hayabusa lighting up the win light after Parrington lit up the red light.
Craig Caton strapped a big holeshot on Peter Forward in the Super Street final, and would not be heeded to the line for the win.
In Junior Dragster, Brock Moresby took a 8.153 (8.09DI) to the line to run down Beau Ferguson’s 9.061 (9.00DI) and claim the first event win of the New Year.
The show was highlighted by the Jet Dragsters of Ian Wood’s ‘Banshee’ Peter Dewitt’s ‘Iron Horse’ who thrilled the crowd the only way jets can. A brilliant fire show, body shaking burner pops and then the rush of the air as they blast pass.
Video footage of all the final runs.
Gallery courtesy of Phil Reeve.
