With the Australian Nationals upon us, Sydney Dragway was a hive of testing activity both public and private over the past week, so here are some of the highlights.
Top Fuel saw Top Alcohol stalwart Wayne Newby step into a Rapisarda team car and proceed to license with the team fielding three cars at the Nationals. Newby ran a couple of 4.8’s and impressed official enough to have his nitro license ticked off. Lamattina’s also made some hits in private testing with experienced US crew chief Mike Domagala fitting in to oversee John Lamattina’s car.
Several Top Alcohol Funny Cars looked to make some laps, Steven Ham overcame a early blower popping run to bounce back and be quickest of the bunch with a 5.60.
Brett White is creeping up on the combination as funds allow and was next quickest with a 5.69
A 5.71 was Wayne Price’s best run.
Mark Hinchelwood put a 6.11 next to his name as the Sainty team develop their Top Alcohol program.
Never short on excitement, Rob Ambruosi was at it again. After a laboured 6.52, the chute deployment was late seeing Ambruosi perform a 180 degree spin in the flopper to avoid the beach.
With a 17th Top Alcohol Championship almost secured, Gary Phillips unveiled new livery celebrating Lucas Oil’s 25th anniversary, but had no luck in getting down the track in testing.
Also revealing new colours was Maurice Fabietti, the Holden Trade Club Monaro rattled off a easy 5.90.
Jeff Wilson and returning Steve Dupond from a recent testing crash attempted several hits at the track.
As too Top Doorslammer newcomer Johnny Roso in one sweet looking Camaro.
Bill Goonan looked strong to half track before shutting the Camaro down.
Pro Stock was all about Lee Bektash and his record annihilation which you can read about here:
Bektash belts out unofficial quickest and fastest Pro Stock pass
With Michael Marriot guidance Emilio Spinozzi banged out 6.98, 6.99 and 7.02 second runs.
Tyronne Tremayne’s 7.05 was the next best Pro Stock run.
Bill Kotsias carded a 7.08.
Bill Perdikaris went 7.10 and Chris Soldatos 7.11 as did Jason Grima.
Rick Chilton went 7.12, Bruno Cavallo 7.18 and Aaron Tremayne 7.20 with early shut offs.
In the two wheel ranks, Lachlan Ireland ran a 7.75, Scott White had mechanical woes aboard his Pro Bike, likewise Chris Porter suffered another engine grenade on his Harley.
In other testing, Con Soldatos rocked up in one nice A/AP GXP but didnt do a full pull though still went 7.96
Justin Russell made the action highlight reel for this wheelie bar snapping effort, and the tow car looks the part.
PAC Performance are still trying to find that breakthrough to the next level with the Mazda6 settling for 6.57 best in testing.
Pistol Pete Pisalidis went 6.82 in AA/APIA.
Rob Coote was hammering the Supercharged Outlaws 6.50 limit as he prepares for his debut race meeting.
A 6.06 has Rob Campisi back in the ballpark as they try and feed more power back into the twin turbo Hemi powered Mustang.
Meanwhile Steve Petrovski went 6.13 in his turbo Camaro.
And Johnny Briscas returning in a new Corvette following a car destroying crash a little while back will be mixing it up with the above two racers sooner rather than later.
Quick turbo cars are everywhere in Sydney, rent a driver Troy Papadopoulos shot out a 6.36.
Jason Stares doesn’t need turbos to go quick, a new engine saw his Corvette uncoil a 7.24.
Paul Russo’s Chev Belair looks the part and goes like it too with mid sevens.
Another racer coming back from a crash is Rob Camilleri. With the Pontiac fixed following a pretty big accident at Calder, Camilleri is primed to chase those DD/GA record setting performances again.
Katie Cunningham was not hanging around in her Modified dragster running 7.33, gives it some in the burnout too!
Jess Turner is in with a real shot of the Modified Championship.
All the way from Perth is David DeQuen with his E/AA running 7.38 and Jake Chaisty chasing the Super Stock title with his H/MSA Commodore.
Dominic Maiolo smashed his personal best with a 7.43 from RB26 powered Skyline.
Rocking up at the Race 4 Real street meet was Danny Younis is this tough as Capri, license plate says it all.
Steamed engine block anyone?
Some much needed good publicity from Channel 9 for a change for drag racing with the Today Show reporter taking a ride in the Fast Track dragster and the show promoting the Nationals.
Check out the finished story here: http://www.jump-in.com.au/show/today/videos/3865806103001/
Browse through our massive testing gallery, photos by Grant Stephens & Michael Wyllie – http://www.cacklingpipes.com
{fcomment}
