With 150 cars entered for round three of the Queensland Drag Racing Championship the sportsman racing on offer was tough and great value for the spectators that made it to this event.
The shootout format made it a very close show with lots of tight racing coming from the masters of sportsman competition.
Peter Zelow was out to test his new TA/D but had issues on both passes he attempted, the first time rolling through the beams and idling down the track and on the second attempt being given the shut off signal before going into stage.
QDRC Outlaws, which allows turbo and nitrous V8s, had a turbo car heading the 13 car field after qualifying with Shane Seawright’s dragster on top after a 6.69/174.
Christine Steffans had a moment with her dragster brushing the wall.
The two finalists were Matty Watts, after having defeated Bill Fletcher and Shane Seawright, up against Chris Vanthof, who knocked over Josh Fletcher and Peter Merrigan.
Watts left with a .012 to a .013 which made it anyone’s race and it was Watts who got the nod in a very close finish, taking the win with a 7.18/178.31 win on a 7.15 DI over a 6.82/210.93 on a 6.74 dial in.
Super Comp had a small five car field but at the end of qualifying it was Tony Bellert’s A/DA at the front of the pack with a 6.853 on a 7.35 national index.
In round two of racing Justin Cook in his DD/APIA ute produced one of the best saves ever seen, whether by good luck or good management. The car got completely loose 200 feet out, completely sideways and over on two wheels, with Cook just saving it from rolling and turning turtle, all while keeping off the concrete walls.
Top qualifier Bellert threw it all away in the final with a -.077 red light giving an easy 9.38 win light for Kevin Magner.
Comp Bike had eight bikes entered with number one after qualifying being Daryn Schuster’s D/AB with an 8.376, a massive .72 under the index and .22 under the national record.
After easily defeating Jason Hammelswang in round one and a solo in round two, Schuster naturally progressed to the final against Andy Roberts, also on a D/AB, beating Michael Mitchell and Brandon Gosbell. With both bikes on a 9.10 index, even a holeshot from Roberts could not help a an 8.41 defeating an 8.66 in a good race.
Modified had a healthy 16 entries and the leader of the pack was Rob Harrington’s A/MD with a 7.08/189.02. All the Group 3 brackets had three rounds of racing which made things a little bit tougher to make it into the all important final.
In the Modified final it was Paul Doeblien after beating Kellie Kidd, Chris Reid and Katie Cunningham. He faced Heath Bellette who took wins against Caans Child, Mark Allan and Matthew Loy.
Bellette left a .024 red cherry at the tree to give Doeblien his maiden Modified win with a shut off 9.58 on a 9.16 dial in.
Super Sedan was a tough ask with a big 23 entries and some tough racers in the pack. Out on top after qualifying was Colin MacGill’s blown Commodore ute with an 8.06/176.72.
In the final pairing would be Daniel Morris’s Statesman after wins against Shane Carstens, Alan Woods and Phil Youlten, taking on Mick Briskey’s Chev after a solo in round one, losing in round 2 to Darren Doeblien and defeating Noel Green in round three but making it to the final by having the closest package overall against the other racers that also had two victories.
Morris left with a .037 at the tree to a .125 and even with a 9.457 on a 9.45 from Briskey he could not make up the difference at the start line as Morris powered on for a 8.369 on a 8.30 DI win.
Super Gas was headed by Dave Gauldie in his Cutlass with a 9.903 qualifier in a small but tough six car field for the bracket.
Gauldie was in the final with victories over Simon Isherwood, Patrick Barron and Dale O’Dwyer up against Isherwood who of course lost to Gauldie in round one but had victories against Gary Clarke and Kerry Boyde to make the final. Gauldie’s too quick 9.855 to a 9.889 double breakout counted for nought as Isherwood left a rare .008 red light at the tree to give the Cutlass the automatic win.
Super Street also had a very stout 23 entries which had Lucas Holz’s Torana on top with a 11.06 pass during qualifying.
The finalists were Shawn Taskis and second generation racer Morgan Whiting. Whiting left a -.112 red light on the tree to give Traskis an easy 11.178 on a 11.14 win.
Modified Bike also had a very good sized field with 22 of the two wheel brigade fronting up for racing with Kevin Cleeve number one with a 8.69/157.50. The two finalists were Shawn Soboll with victories over Ken Collin, Shane Ball and Dale Dobberman, lining up against Tammy Goldthorpe who beat Shane Ball, Dale Dobberman and Brett Mudney.
Goldthorpe had a tough ask on her hands leaving with a .113 light to Soboll’s stellar .001 leave and even with a closer 8.95 on a 8.92 she could not chase down Sobell’s 8.99 on a 8.93.
Caleb Oberg headed the 13 car Junior Dragster field with a 8.009 pass in qualifying. The two finalists were Eden Ward after defeating Kyle Langridge, Kyle Magner and a solo in round three, against Oberg with a solo in round one, a loss in round two against Kyle Langridge and a win in round three against Kyle Magner.
The win light came in Ward’s lane with a 8.034 on a 8.02 dial in for a holeshot win against a 7.957 on a 7.95 which proved to be a tight race at the finish.
Round 4 of the QDRC will be held at Willowbank Raceway on Saturday July 12 featuring Modified, Super Sedan, Modified Bike, Super Street, Junior Dragster and Super Gas.
Images by Blacktrack.com.au and Dragphotos.com.au. Report written by Mark Shields.
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