The last time Anthony Begley drove the Chemical Warfare Nitro Funny Car at the Perth Motorplex, he ended up on the front page of the West Australian with a headline-grabbing explosion on the startline. Now, he is looking to make a bang of a different kind at next weekend’s Goldenstates as he contests the new NDRC Nitro Funny Car Championship.
The local legend will be part of a field of 11,000hp flame-throwing Nitro Funny Cars – which are capable of travelling the quarter mile in just four seconds at more than 500kmh – taking to the track as the NDRC Championship for the bracket heads to the Motorplex for round two of its title chase across November 24 and 25.
With a very important upgrade now completed on the car, Begley is forecasting big things for his entry as he looks to bring home the goods at home.
“Before now, we have had the smaller American fuel tank in the car where they run the 1000ft distance, which meant that I was short around 12 or 13 litres of fuel when it comes to running the quarter mile here!” Begley explains.
“This means we have not been able to run the full distance which of course has stopped us going into the four second range, leaving us at 5.0s and 5.1s instead.
“I have done the times in this car in the States over 1000ft that equate to around a 4.70/4.80 second pass on the quarter-mile distance, so I know we can do it, and now we have what we need to make it happen,” Begley grinned.
“The four second barrier is definitely a key goal, that and a win. To take out the victory of course would be great, as a local every time I have ever won anything in WA it has been pretty special, to be able to do it in front of your home crowd and your family is always a really cool thing. And to represent WA, it would really mean a lot to get another Christmas Tree trophy here at home.
“It would be cool as well to snag a victory in the new NDRC championship – I reckon the NDRC is the best thing for our sport that has probably ever happened, and I think it is making drag racing great again and getting it back to where it should be.
“Hopefully in the next few years with the professionalism and dedication of the people behind it combined with the passion of the teams, we can make drag racing one of the biggest motorsports in Australia, as it deserves to be.
“We will be doing all the rounds this year across the country with the support of Merlin Doors, 89’s The Garage Door Specialists, Rad Shop Repairs and new sponsors Storm Roofing Australia, and I really want to encourage everyone to really get behind this and help make it all it can be – this is going to be the best thing for drag racing, I believe.”
With the rest of the Nitro Funny Car field travelling from interstate, Begley will be flying the flag for the locals at what is one of the biggest drag racing events on the WA calendar.
“Even before I was driving Chemical Warfare, it was a stalwart of the Perth scene ever since the Motorplex opened in 2000. So, while it may live in Queensland now with Rod, it will be really good to have it in competition again here at home,” Begley said.
“Growing up in Perth I have raced here a lot, and it is so good to be bringing the car back to Perth, especially as it has not been here since 2019 when it had the black and orange body and exploded on the startline, ending up all over the news.
“While it is the first time back for the car, there are no nerves or anything linked to that for me – I have done a lot of laps here since then in all kinds of cars including the Chucky’s Toy and Dark Knight funny cars, so it is not an issue.
“I am just really excited to have it back here,” Begley concluded.
The 49th Goldenstates at the Perth Motorplex will host not only the incredible Nitro Funny Cars, but also elite level racing from Pro Alcohol, Top Doorslammers and Top Fuel Motorcycles for the NDRC as well as some of Australia’s best sportsman drag racers across two huge days and nights of racing, which will also include plenty of entertainment, fireworks, a pit party, and more.
For more information and to purchase tickets, go to ndrc.tv
