The event was the official start of the new Perth Motorplex drag racing season, with Zappia versus Zappia a hot topic of discussion pre-event, the young Brodie Zappia would make his competition debut, continuing a family Top Doorslammer legacy.
Competing in Blown Alcohol Allstars, John Zappia and his nephew did square off in qualifying, with the iconic sight of two Zappia HQ Monaros side by side for the first time, but the pair were yet to face each other in competition by the close of the event.
Sam Treasure had his Top Alcohol Altered singing to top qualify with a 5.79 ahead of John Zappia’s 5.76 and Brodie’s 5.909.
Unfortunately for the event a timing gremlin looks to have entered the system with John dealt an instant red light in the racing round against Maurice Brennan, while Brodie knocked up his first win light in the HQ with a 5.84 over Danny Costello’s altered’s 5.88.
The instant red bug also bit Brodie in the final who never left the line, after a lot of deliberation no winner has been declared for the event.
The event was the opening round of the track championship for the Perth Motorplex, in Top Comp, Connor McClure top qualified in the brand new Slimer AA/APIA Corvette with a 6.44, McClure duelled with Madison Brown’s BB/FCA Camry into the night and came out victor in on a 6.47 in the final. Matthew Puglia survived the Chicago Shootout field to win Super Comp on a solo against a missing Errol Quatermaine in the final.
Competition Bike started the season with a monster 13 bike field, at the end of the night Michael Hollster’s BB/AB Kawasaki ZX14 strapped a holeshot on number one qualifier Daniel Natalotto and rode around him on the top end for the win. The seemingly unstoppable Kasey McClure was only stopped by an accidental foot in the beams leading to a disqualification in the elimination round of Supercharged Outlaws. McClure ended up taking the win in the B-Final with Peter Appleby’s Torana powering to the W over Vince Belldonna in the A Final.
Yvette Gregg made an almost completely triumphant comeback in Top Sportsman with her XE Fairmont after an incident at the end of last season. Roger Moorhouse’s big block HR defeating Gregg in the final. Ben Pisconeri was unchallenged in his Mustang to win Outlaw Radial. In Modified, Paul Garbellini had his final win gift wrapped by opponent Darren Griffin thanks to a red light.
John Szabo gave longroof fans something to cheer about after he took his Falcon wagon to the winner’s circle in Super Sedan defeating Tyron Begg in the final. A big Modified Bike field was whittled down to Chris Fryer versus Luke Seaton at night’s end, Seaton went red handing the easy win to Fryer to kick off his season on the right note. Super Street Track Champion Steph Gullotto continued on her fine run of form with another final round win as she outraced Daniel Brecich for another winner’s trophy.
In a tight final round, Kobe Ashleford edged out Belle Ferguson at the stripe to take the first Junior Dragster final of the new season. And Junior Bike made its debut in the West with he inaugural win going to Riley Kilvington over Seth Jarvis in the final.
The next event on the Perth calendar will be the 50th Goldenstates on Nov 22/23.
Check out the event in pictures thanks to On The Limit Photography and Phil Reeve.
