Perth Motorplex finally got to hear the sounds of some big, bad drag racing vehicles with its first test and tune of the season ahead of the Grand Opening on Saturday.
The first planned test and tune was rained out last weekend, while Friday night’s Shannons Fast Series event also felt the pain of the rain, leaving this as the only opportunity for racers to get some track time before the season proper begins.
Andrew Katavatis and the Beach Bomb team gave us a taste of nitro. We caught just the one pass before hitting the road but it was a solid 4.03 half track as the team aimed to get around a piston scuffing issue.
Alistair McClure is back in a short wheelbase car again, with this bright green BB/A seeing him with a manual transmission for the first time in a while.
Wayne Keys was in a dragster for what we believe is the first time ever in his drag racing career. He has been a long time sedan racer, first in Super Gas, then a AA/AP BMW, which was eventually rebodied as the Holden Monaro he sold at the end of last season. Keys will be giving his crew members each a drive in the dragster this season as a thanks for their years of service.
Sharon Sheehan had the CC/D out again but there seemed to be some idle issues on the two passes we saw, one of which was shut down while the car was still behind the bridge, the other just before coming into stage.
Chris Went has stepped up to Supercharged Outlaws with this Dodge Viper, purchased from Sydney racer Geoff Gradden. The car appeared to have plenty of mumbo, lifting the front end on each run.
Stuart Moresby popped the supercharger right after launching on this pass in his now pink Holden Statesman Top Doorslammer. If you look carefully you can see some sparks behind the front wheel and a tiny bit of flame just behind the blower.
Kyle Putland hit a PB speed of 207mph in a positive outing for the Hydraulic Technical Solutions A/A.
It was good to see a number of racers returning to the track after self imposed exiles until ANDRA returned as the sanctioning body. One of them was 2015 Modified Bike ANDRA champion Ian Read.
Russell Ladbrook had a new look for the Dodge Stratus AA/FC.
Enjoy the rest of our pictures in the below gallery!
