On the eve of the 2010 Nitro Champs at Sydney Dragway, the conclusion of the McDonald’s Rising Star competition was completed for 5 lucky young competition winners.
The promotion conducted through a number of western Sydney McDonald’s franchises gave 5 winners the opportunity to experience racing a Junior Dragster down the quarter mile under the tutorage of Phil and Bruce Read and over seen by the godfather of junior drag racing in Sydney the proprietor of J&C Mowers racing team, Joe Princi.
After tutorial in car operation and control along with drag racing basics, the 5 young winners with the assistance of Kim, Tabatha and Samantha Saunders from the Skips Racing Team were strapped in and given last minute instructions before attempting a tentative test run under the nervous watch of their parents. The cars provided by the J&C Mowers team were fitted with a remote control kill switch to ensure the upmost safety in the unlikely event something goes arrays.
After successful test runs heads up eliminations were conducted to determine to finalists to fight it out for the “Most Talented Driver” title, the final came down to a boy vs girl battle with Jake Collison taking on Kaitlyn King, with both racers now brimming with confidence behind the wheel. Kaitlyn deservedly earned the title dropping a astonishing .060 RT on Jake off the line and out ran him at the end with the quickest ET of the day a 9.70 to Jake’s 9.75 leaving Kaitlyn with a beaming smile she will bare for some time yet.
All racers were presented with trophies and prize packs from McDonald’s along with a tour of the Jim Read Racing pit and will walk away with a experience they won’t soon forget, and more than likely will be asking Santa for a Junior Dragster under the tree at Christmas this year. The success of this competition has created interest in the area of offering the oppurtunity for young aspiring racers to have a trial run in a Junior Dragster before their parents have to go to the expense of purchasing a car only to find out racing is not for their child, the creation of such a Junior Drag Racing program would reap benefits for the sport in potentially attracting new young competitiors with a no fuss entry level program.
Photos www.cacklingpipes.com
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