After nearly nine months out of the seat, Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Locky Ireland is back at the track this weekend for the Australian Nationals. Locky and father Johnny took time out to focus on business, with trips to India for Johnny’s Hog Shop and Vulture Race Engineering even on the agenda. Locky has been able to feed his competitive nature in the meantime by other means, taking to boxing in the Victorian Amateur Boxing Association. “I’ve always done boxing for the fitness so while I had the time off I decided to jump in the ring and have a proper fight, and will I go again, definitely,” he said. Locky hasn’t been the only one going through changes, with the Lucas Oils Pro Stock Motorcycle receiving a brand new Motec data system to help get the most from the bike at the track. “We would come back from a run and dad would ask how it felt and I would give him feedback to say it felt lazy out of the hole or the shift light didn’t come in as I went through the finish,” he said. “Then we would look at the plugs and that was as technical as it got.” A bigger 1640cc two valve motor will be in the frame rails for the event, leading the team to hope for some fast numbers. Locky will be joined on track by his dad, with Johnny teaming up for a partnership ride between Johnny’s Hog Shop Vulture Racing and Niki Z Racing. Johnny will be riding a Screaming Eagle V-Rod in Modified Bike. {fcomment}

Australian Competition Eliminator Championship contenders Craig Geddes and Alistair McClure just can’t be separated ahead of the season finale Australian Nationals at Sydney Dragway October 31 – November 2.

Sydney Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Wayne Newby got his first go in Top Fuel last night courtesy of Rapisarda Autosport International. Here’s a quick video of the pass: Post by Rick Gauci Racing. {fcomment}

When the Castrol EDGE Gold Coat 600 fires up on the Gold Coast this weekend, it will do so with a touch of drag racing’s dramatic flare thanks to the return of the Friday Night Drags, featuring O’Rourke Motorsport.

The California Hot Rod Reunion, held at Bakersfield’s Famoso Raceway, is an annual pilgrimage for old school racers and fans who seek to relive the glory days of the sport in the USA.

Several Australians are representing ‘down under’ at the annual California Hot Rod Reunion, held at Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield.

Perth Motorplex has opened up its drag racing season with its first FAST Series event of the year and first open test and tune.

The momentum continues to increase for the Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Car series with confirmation that Paul Shackleton-owned “Shack Attack” will be driven by US hot-shoe, Clint Thompson at the November 29 Night of Fire event held at Sydney Dragway.

It couldn’t have been any more perfect for Jason Simpson at the Benaraby Nationals last weekend. Racing in his first meeting of the year, never mind his first Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship round for 2014, Simpson claimed the honours in Super Comp, resetting the elapsed time and mile per hour records for G/GA over 1000 feet. “This was my first meeting back for this year so to qualify #1, win and reset both records was awesome,” said an elated Simpson. “The atmosphere was great and the crowd rolled up after work and really got into it, we had a lot of interest in the car from the Ford fans.” The weekend also represented another first for Simpson; his first time racing 1000 feet making his record setting performance even more impressive. “This was my first time running a 1000 feet so we now hold the eighth mile, 1000 feet and quarter mile records for G/GA with both the eighth and 1000 feet records at Benaraby. “The track was good and only got better as the day went on. The upgrades to the track are excellent; the braking area is a massive improvement with the new walls being done. Hopefully next time it will be quarter mile.” Although it was a small field, Simpson credited his fellow Super Comp competitors acknowledging he had to work hard to first take the number one qualifying position and go-rounds during eliminations. “First round I had Ross Bryant in the B/AA and being 1000 feet there was no backing off so I hit the index hard first round knowing I had the bye in the next round, the track was good both sides so lane choice wasn’t a problem. “The final was a close race, I had lowered my index more than Shane (Moran) and with near identical reactions I had to push it all the way backing up both ends of the record, 1.5 under and nearly 4 mph over the speed.” With a win in the bag, Simpson reflected on a great weekend of racing in Central Queensland paying homage to the track staff and officials who made the 2014 Benaraby Nationals a big success. “The track staff were great, always friendly which makes it fun to race there, the ANDRA officials did a great job all weekend and the Silver Christmas Tree looks awesome and is a great addition to the trophy case,” he said. The final round of the Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship now moves onto Sydney Dragway for one of the most prestigious races on the calendar, the Australian Nationals to be held October 31 – November 2. Image by Staunch Launch Photography. {fcomment}  

Six times back-to-back ANDRA Top Doorslammer champion John Zappia made history at the Fuchs Springnationals by winning his seventh championship in a row with a finals finish, the most titles any racer has won consecutively.