Western Victorian motorsport fans are set for a feast of supercharged drag racing and action packed entertainment program at Portland’s Southcoast Raceway this weekend.
Fourteen of Australia’s leading Doorslammer racers, lead by championship leader Peter Kapiris, will contest round two of the 2011 Slamfest Series supported by over a 100 sportsman racers and huge range of on and off track entertainment. The event is part of a huge weekend of activities in Portland raising funds for the Make a Wish Foundation.
A spectacular highlight will be a performance overhead by the Roulettes, the Royal Australian Air Force’s elite formation aerobatic display team that showcase Air Force flying skills to the Australian public in Pilatus PC/9A aircraft. Team members are flying instructors at the Air Force’s Central Flying School. Stunt- bike star Matt Mingay will be backed by a team of extreme motocross riders, burnout competition and post event rock concert to help keep the anticipated big crowd entertained from start to finish.
One of the Slamfest Series principals, Victor Bray, spent over a week touring Western Victorian centres and Mt Gambier in South Australia conducting displays promoting the event and was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm shown by fans in town after town.
“We were swamped everywhere we rolled the Sidchrome ’57 Chevy out of the transporter. Over the last few days I’ve signed thousands of posters, posed for more photos than Elle McPherson and talked to more people than a politician at election time. It’s great to see the interest in drag racing is so strong in regional Australia. That’s why we are so keen to bring the Slamfest Series to facilities like Portland.” commented Bray.
Slamfest Series leader, Peter Kapiris is hoping his winning streak on Victorian tracks continues at South Coast Raceway. “After not racing in our home state for a decade we’ve now won two in a row at Calder Park in Melbourne so it would be great to make it a hat trick at Portland. It’s a really good track and I’m sure we’re all going to be able to run quick there so the competition is going to be very tight.”
In addition to Bray and Kapiris other Slamfest competitors include Mat Abel NT, Peter Blake NSW, Ben Bray QLD, Deno Brijeski NSW, Marcus Chambers VIC, Dale Clothier SA, Maurice Fabietti NSW, Phil Glendenning NSW, Frank Mamone NSW, Peter Lovering, NSW, Scott McLean NT and Sean Misfud NSW.
All Slamfest events receive extensive television coverage with one hour shows on Speedweek on SBS and Inside Speed on Foxsports plus stand alone one hours self titled Doorslammer shows on FuelTV, Foxsports HD and for international distribution. An additional 30 minute Full Noise show will also appear on Foxsports.
The 2011 Slamfest Series will return to Mildura on April 2-3 for Round 3. The following event on the calendar is at North Queensland’s Palmyra Dragway in Mackay on June 25 before the Slammers head back to Melbourne’s Calder Park Raceway for the Grand Final in November.
