Western Australia’s Aaron Deery charges into the 400 Thunder Pro Alcohol championship round at the Home Group WA Westernationals this weekend full of confidence following a recent win at Perth Motorplex.
Deery found renewed performance and consistency in his dragster at the January 9 event in Top Comp and he said the team wants to put their competitors on notice that they are no longer ‘easy beats’.
Recent mechanical changes to the car have paid dividends for the long time dragster driver.
“The car has been running super consistent, our clutch program is working really well, we have come up with a lot of stuff for the clutch like our own fabricated floaters and stuff,” he said. “We haven’t really turned the wick up yet and now I am ready to. We will try and make the old girl go pretty fast.”
Deery said the level of competition he will have to face is high, including former world record holder Craig Glassby, recent Australian Nationals winner John Cannuli and many times Australian champion Gary Phillips. All of those drivers will be in Funny Cars, which enjoy a slightly different ruleset to the long rail dragsters such as Deery’s.
“I’m quietly confident but I also know these guys are real tough competitors and the Funny Car rules are quite good for these guys, but I am hopeful I can fly the flag for the dragsters,” he said.
Confidence is important as a driver and tuner and Deery said that is something the team has in spades since their event win.
“I’m fairly sharp on the tree (starting lights) so they will want to come with their guns blazing, the car won’t be slow no more and they will have to come to the party with the reaction times (response to the green light) – I am coming out firing,” he said.
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