Steve Aldridge stamped his credentials as a possible contender for the Direct Mining & Industrial Summer Slam championship next season with a stunning win at Perth Motorplex on Saturday night.
Aldridge’s Crown Security Plymouth Barracuda did not miss a beat at the WA Drag Racing Grand Finals. He qualified third with a 5.802sec. run and then used a personal best 5.765sec. time in the elimination round to defeat Stuart Moresby.
The run placed Aldridge into the final, where he would take on Frank Taylor’s Chev Chevelle. Taylor got the jump on the start line with a tenth of a second holeshot, but Aldridge quickly reined in the difference with another personal best, this time a 5.748sec.
The championship honours went to John Zappia, despite a rare loss in the first round when he had a foul start opposite Taylor. Earlier in the day Zappia recorded the quickest pass of the Summer Slam season with a 5.642sec. run.
After announcing his retirement from drag racing earlier in the week, Wayne Keys left on a perfect note with a win in Top Comp. Keys, who wrapped up the Top Comp State Championship last month, defeated Russell Ladbrook in the final for the trophy.
Todd Stacy romped to both the Super Comp event win and championship title in his Mazda RX7, defeating veteran Graeme Simms in the final.
Troy Thompson enjoyed one of the best nights of his racing career with a Competition Bike win aboard his turbocharged Suzuki Hayabusa. Thompson used a 7.76sec. run in the final to defeat Ross Green. Ross Smith was awarded the season championship after a dominating year, winning five out of eight events.
South Australia’s Mark Hunt was rewarded for his long travels to race in his Ford Customline, winning Supercharged Outlaws. Hunt defeated Darryl Mullins in the final, but it wasn’t all bad news for Mullins who took home the state championship.
Paul Downe rounded out a solid season in Top Sportsman with an event victory, overcoming Johnny Brecich in the final. Downe closed the gap to points leader Alby Bakranich throughout the event, but it wasn’t quite enough to stop Bakranich taking home the championship.
Kevin Boulton was perhaps the single most dominant racer of any division this season. He once again won Outlaw Radial, defeating Ben Pisconeri, and taking his tally to seven event wins and eight finals out of eight events.
Cory Treasure laid claim to the Modified event win, though his victory took something of a back seat to a close fought championship between Kasey McClure and Nicholas Wroe. McClure made it to the final round, where a win would have sealed the championship, but unfortunately her runner-up to Treasure gave Wroe the title.
National champion Martin Mirco seems practically unstoppable in Super Sedan right now. He notched his fifth event win of the season at Perth Motorplex and added the state championship to his national title, defeating Mick Fenton in the final round.
Modified Bike saw perhaps the most dramatic finish of any championship, with the title coming down to the final round of racing. Ian Read and Geoff Smith were separated by just five points coming into the event, and both riders made it to the final. The race was a classic, with Read scraping through by just five thousands of a second to defeat Smith.
Mike Wubbels won through in Super Street, defeating Adrian Pearsall. The title honours went home with Andy Oorschot.
Brodie Zappia rounded out his season in Junior Dragster with both a championship and a Grand Final victory, defeating Zara Board.
While the WA Drag Racing Championship has now wrapped up, Perth Motorplex will continue with drag racing for street cars and bikes at its Formula Tech Whoop Ass Wednesdays until June, plus a special Friday night event on April 16. For more information, visit www.motorplex.com.au
