As 2011 was wound up and the new year arrived testing at Sydney Dragway has been record setting, here is a wrap up of all the action over the new year.
The final Full Throttle Friday of 2011 brought out the usual wide diversity of race vehicles Sydney has to offer.
Zoran Gajic ripped the quickest ET for the night with a 6.89|205MPH from the GAS Motorsport BMW.
Matt Gildon finally wound up the ‘Busa and broke into the seven second zone with a 7.95|175MPH
Andrew Musgrave had a rear wing bolted on in an effort to keep the turbo altered on the planet, a 6.93 at 182 MPH was his first 6 second time slip.
The Spinozzi Pro Stock team were back out as they continue to work on the nuances of Pro Stock.
A new car on track was Paul Thomas’ Escort though was a little wild getting down track.
Plenty torque demonstrated from Bill Hatzi’s and Craig Dixon’s HQ’s.
Scott Jarrett has gone the turbo route with his HJ, which was good for some high 9’s on a very soft leave.
For the VW fans there was Wayne Fenech’s beetle cranking out low 10’s.
Testing then moved to the last test and tune of the year.
On Graeme Cowin’s birthday son Andrew wrestled the Psycho III altered to a landmark 6.99 at 201MPH.
“It means the world to us to be able to run 6.99 @ 201mph on my birthday with Psycho 111 the car that means the most to us, it was like a blast from the past, the last time we ran over 200mph was in 1974(with the original car),” said Cowin.
And Graeme hinted we may be seeing more nostalgia Fuel Altered racing in the future from the team.
“Future plans are for Wendy and Myself with Psycho 111 is to enjoy the Nostalgia scene and hopefully have another car to match race sometime soon,” said Cowin.
Brett White started his licensing in the ex Brackham/Glenwright Top Alcohol dragster.
Geoff Gradden shake and rattled to some mid sixes in the Saratoga as he chases a tune up.
Bruce Leake debuted his gorgeous new GXP Pro Stocker, Leake once was the dominant force in Pro Stock but had electrical problems reducing his day to just a launch.
The Pro Street boys were out in force headed by Frank Mamone who uncoiled a 6.55 at 225 PB in Outlaw 10.5 trim.
Pistol Pete Pisalidis up from VIC with his 10.5 Camaro fought wheel spin for a 7.17.
Fellow Victorian Vince Morabito also had trouble hooking up his Radial Outlaw Camaro but did grab a 7.96|186 pass in the evening.
Another Victorian Pro Streeter to tow north was Steve Bezzina in his potent turbo street XW which has run 7’s!, today though only grabbed a 8.40 best.
Joe Geri had his Lexus powered Capri reaching for the stars.
Likewise Arthur Tsolovos was hopping madly in his LC Torana.
Since switching to turbo power Ali Rayan has been going from strength to strength, a 7.48 at 184 is tough but there will be plenty more to come.
Black belt fans are not forgotten, Sal Mancuso has made a welcome return and broken into the eights with his HR going 8.93|152MPH
Tony Avati has also gone the blower after ditching the laughing gas, a 8.40 was a PB for the new combo.
Michael Savage has finished building his HZ and had the wheels up on its first passes and good for low nines.
The iconic Blackjack Commodore of Des and Brett Curnow is now in the hands of a new owner, Modified racer Tim Nielsen was doing some seat time to sort the car on his behalf.
John Culmone has helped to replenish the local Super Stock numbers debuting a smick B/Gasser and was straight under the index 7.96 at 170MPH.
As usual the Sport Compact guys were out, George Rehayem was solid with a 6.85 at 202.
Dean Cordowiner powered to a 7.55 PB in the little Starlet.
Dominic Rigoli steered a customer’s Corolla to 7.69, such quick times from these short wheelbase rides.
Big launches from new comer James Toskas in the ex FIRDUP RX3.
Luki Soldatic is looking to break into the 8’s, with a 1.8L engine and front wheel drive!
Some wheels up FED action from Bob Sinclair.
Lee Schultz made his drag racing debut in the family altered.
Ex Junior pilot Rocco Romano continues to impress with his step up to Modified, and with a 7.58 PB is leaving many in his tyre tracks.
Stepping into his old Junior is Joshua Leonello under the watchful guidance of Joe Princi.
The New Year has kicked off with a nitro filled test and tune shortened by rain and a Full Throttle Friday.
Daniel Schultz continued his nitro licensing but struck the tyres around 100ft on his first run.
But returned to the Full Throttle Friday and blasted a 4.97 at 253MPH and a 4.92 at 276MPH to have his Top Fuel license signed off.
Phil Read had one stab at the track but smoked the tyre as the team iron out the new car.
Chris Stipanovich stepped up to a ex Tim Wilkinson car and the car looked strong in the early sectors clicking off at half track and still running 6.00
Also completing his licensing was Brett White running 6.16|189MPH.
Jason Hedges debuted his new GXP for Pro Stock, the stunning ride was on the money with a 7.14 best in very muggy conditions.
There was a host of other Pro Stockers taking the opportunity to make some laps while they wait for their season to resume, Perdikaris being the next quickest with a 7.17
7.21 for Bill Kotsias.
7.38 for Rick Chilton.
Bruce Leake was still fighting electrical gremlins and a 7.44 is far off the pace for the potential of his new GXP.
Maurice Fabietti battled shake and spin in his attempts at the track.
Paul Stephen had some new bits from Wayne Price’s Top Alcohol Funny Car bolted for sorting.
6.53 at 220MPH for Geoff Blake along with those awesome smokey FED burnouts.
Lindsay Churchill had a troubled run and John Babington made a couple mid 7 second runs in the Dodge.
Con Galatis has recently gone blown for Outlaw 10.5 but had a wild burnout smacking the wall, fortunately a steel body and some panel beating saw Galatis make a lap later on in the day.
Darren Parker travelled to test is B/APA Super Stock GXP for a 7.62
Local Super Stock racer Nick Panagiotlaris went 8.31 in A/MP a decade under the index and national record.
Epic flamage from Lee Docherty’s MX5.
Jason Both is finding some consistency with the RX7 with a quickest 7.20.
PAC were dialling in plenty of power to the MX6 but couldn’t hold the hammer down to the end of the track.
A 7.30 from Nick Tsoltoudis has the rebuilt getting back to performances seen before the rebuild.
A impressive 8.18 from Luki Soldatic steering his brothers car.
The sport compact guys are spectacular off the line.
Mark Trischendorf and Daniel Brunner added to the Sport Compact scene with their new cars, both still in the running in stage.
Another new car from the Kalaitzakis brothers in Victoria hit the track for some licensing, the 2JZ Supra just kept going quicker on every run to a best of 7.60at 177MPH
Another new car was this Valiant of Andrew Arena’s, with a engine that resembled a spaghetti incident.
Mod Street hard charger Daniel Sharban was another Victorian testing and manage a best of 8.09 in private testing.
Nick Leontios hasn’t had his Mustang out for some years, his first run ended in tank slapper when he travelled too close to the centreline before returning with 9.74.
Alan Smith has done away with the nitrous as well and gone blown as he targets Supercharged Outlaws.
Bozin Georgievski turned the wick up on his VL for an 8.48
Unfortunately luck didn’t favour Joe Meake, blowing our a rear cam seal and giving the wall a touch up, to add insult Meake was driving the car for the new owner who he had just sold it too.
Phillip Chain had his six pot Falcon hauling to a 8.68.
Mile Waldron had the Dave Stoker VW kicking the wheels up on each gear change.
Thomas Leake put the Hilux through two days of testing, despite continual bogging off the line he still carded a 8.77
Youseff Abraham had his very tidy turbo LJ into the nines for the first time with a 9.97 at 137MPH
We haven’t seen Tony “Pink Stuff” Dutton for 5 years, the Torana has always been spectacular off the line but wild slide Dutton experienced was not part of the plan due to a issue with cars rear end.
Matt Gildon carded another 7 second ET, though was a bit short of traction on this run.
Niki Zakrzewski has stepped up from her Screamin’ Eagle onto a Destroyer.
A unique HAMBster made its debut with Peter Grant at the wheel.
Caitlin Zammit was in disbelief at her new Junior, first pass ever for the car ripped a 7.58 which is just a bit to quick for ANDRA’s liking, the car was dialled back successfully on subsequent passes.
Paul Cosoleto and Lachlan MacCaskell joined the Junior Dragster ranks with their first laps on track.
That’s a wrap for a huge month of testing at Sydney Dragway, these events are well worth your time to come along and spectate and support the venue in a great days racing.
Highlight packages from these events courtesy of Madman Productions
http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=L2Uxwfj3ghk
http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=VeyLLLA2U0U
http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=rQPaYdmdXxE
http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=obpnMNbP0qI
