Racers from all over will descend on South Coast Raceway this Saturday and Sunday (February 3/4) for the latest round of the NDRC’s Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship – the South Coast Rumble.
Amongst them will be Super Sedan racer Brodie Tedesco, who is enjoying quite a comeback to racing after mounting her return this time last year after seven years away.
“Our NDRC experience so far has been awesome, and we have cracked a lot of Personal Bests so far,” Tedesco said.
“I am just so excited to race at more events and I am loving being a part of this new series.
“I have always been around and exposed to cars my whole life and racing is something that I will never get sick of, it is in my blood.
“I couldn’t think of anything else I would rather be doing. My fiancé Sean and I even got engaged at Mildura’s Sunset Strip last year!” she smiled.
Tedesco made her senior ranks debut at the 2023 Twilight Nationals, going all the way to the finals only two weeks after first testing her Gemini, following a previous racing career in Junior Dragster.
Now the 24 year old from Deer Park in Victoria has made the move to Super Sedan and is looking forward to new challenges, and hopefully a championship, ahead.
“The car was originally built to be a burnout car for my mum, but then later on she decided to go drag racing. She was kind enough to hand over the helmet last year so I could have a go and I am loving it so far,” Tedesco explained.
“I started out in Super Street and went runner-up on debut before going on to secure some personal bests, and then we decided to move into Super Sedan as I wanted to prove to myself that I can do whatever I set my mind to.
“I also wanted to see how much more the Gemini had in it – I got disqualified at Mildura earlier this season for going too fast so in that moment I thought, stuff it! Let’s go faster and go into Super Sedan and see what we can do.
“This bracket also gives me not only the chance to go quicker, but also to learn so much more and I am loving it.
“This weekend I would like to try for a new PB of 6.25 – at the last meeting we cracked a 6.27. I am also working on cutting a .000 light and if I could get to race my dad, Tony Tedesco, in a round that would be pretty cool too!
“Of course, the more points we can get the better – to take out the NDRC championship would be an absolute blessing, not only for myself, but also to show and reward how much hard work my dad Tony and fiancé Sean put into making my racing career happen. If I was to win it one day, I would dedicate it to them.”
South Coast Raceway is a personal favourite for Tedesco.
“I am so excited to go back to South Coast Raceway. The last meeting (South Coast 660) was my first time back racing in Portland after 11 years to the day! I was so nervous to start off with, but in the end I went home after a very close first round race with a PB under my belt which I was so proud of!” she said.
“We have been going to South Coast Raceway for a number of years and it is a track you cannot fault – the volunteers are amazing; the commentators are brilliant; and the facilities are awesome!
“It is the little things Dean and his team do that make all the difference, even going around with the water cart to ensure there is no dust. Dean and his team take a lot of pride in their work, and I am so grateful for what they do for us racers.”
Tedesco has been racing since the age of 12, competing in her ‘Brodstar’ Junior Dragster with her first ever win coming at Adelaide International Raceway in 2013 against Dave Roberts.
“Since then, we have made countless trips to Mildura, Portland and Sydney,” Tedesco explains.
“My mum was my biggest inspiration to start racing as she had raced for many years herself and I want to thank her for that, she really showed me that women can do anything.
“Dad also has shown me sportsmanship, instilling in me that whether you win or lose, you always go shake their hand and say good race. I still do this to this day, and I don’t think it’s something I will ever stop doing. I would like to thank him for all his years of supporting my racing career and for taking me from track to track in Junior Dragster and now the Gemini.
“My parents will always be my biggest inspiration and my motivation for racing.
“I would also like to thank my fiancé Sean for being my crew chief and for helping with the Gemini and the Camira; Sherry Tawaf for helping myself and dad over the years; and all the racers who have supported me throughout my journey!
“Everyone I meet and race with hold a special place in my heart – we are all family at the end of the day and to say I have family from all across Australia is pretty crazy!
“I would also like to thank past and present series sponsors, Summit Racing Equipment who have been a big part of my racing career, the Aeroflow National Sportsman Series, and Atlantic Oils at the Sunraysia Drag Racing Association.”
The South Coast Rumble at South Coast Raceway, part of the NDRC Western Conference for the Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship, will be held across February 3-4. For full event information and tickets, visit ndrc.tv
