As radial racing continues to explode – particularly in South East Queensland with events like the upcoming Kenda Tyres Radial Riot – the domination of turbo and nitrous cars are now beginning to face the threat of the black belt brigade.
One racer stepping up is Sydney’s Craig Hewitt.
Well known in the Pro Street ranks, Hewitt looking for competition has made the change to radial shoes for his blown Hemi Monaro formally campaigned in Pro Street Blown.
“Basically I’ve changed because I wasn’t confident about where APSA was going,” said Hewitt.
“So I still wanted to race heads up, so we made the decision to change to what seems to be the best racing outside of Group 1 – now IHRA Australia has Pro Radial as a class and a championship it was a no brainer.
Profab modified the Monaro chassis which is powered by a cast alloy 521ci KB Hemi with a 14/71 Jansen prepared Kobelco blower with Noonan heads. Hewitt said the engine has never been stronger with it now prepared by Sam Fenech at Westend Performance and tuned by Kon Michaloudakis. A Protrans built 3 speed Pro 400 now transfer the horsepower to the black top.
Hewitt shook down the new radial tyre set up recently at Sydney Dragway banging out a few soft low four second 1/8th mile laps – the distance Pro Radial is contested over.
Make no mistake, Hewitt will be racing to win.
“We haven’t changed class to make up the numbers. We are going to challenge for the number one spot, and try and win Australia’s first national Pro Radial Championship,” concluded Hewitt.
