The Brisbane Jamboree, one of the biggest Sport Compact events in the world, is now well into its third decade and the 2024 edition hosted another two days of high revving, flame throwing action from machines showcasing drag racing’s latest engine technology and development.
Weather was unseasonably warm – even for South Queensland – throwing the tuning curveball to teams to tackle. Jamboree, headlined by Factory Xtreme for the import fans and Pro Mod for those in favour of eight cylinders still produced hot action.
Frank Tarabay made a stunning competition debut with his new 2JZ Camry ‘King Kong’ in Factory Xtreme. A car that was once driven by the late Lizzy Musi, King Kong remains a tribute to the famed racer, and Tarabay did her proud by top qualifying with a 6.007, cracked the car’s first five second run in round one of racing with a 5.97 and went on to defeat Collin Willshire in the final 5.964 to 6.172.
In Pro Mod which runs all out at Jamboree saw Paul Merry almost stick it to the big tyre cars while keeping the radials on the twin turbo Nova. Merry top qualified with a 5.92 after running Australia’ quickest radial tyre pass over the quarter in testing – 5.85. Unfortunately the Nova turned up to the final against Steven Smith wounded, after just bumping into stage, Smith pedalled his twin turbo Mustang to a 6.683 win with the Merry Nova remaining stationary on the line.
In Pro Turbo it was all Eddy Hawach, the 2JZ powered RX7 ripped a 6.46 to top qualify, then marched through the Chicago Shootout rounds with three win before taking down Jason Payne’s Nissan Skline in the final with a 6.521.
It was the world’s quickest 3RZ machine with Chris Tait getting the job done by top qualifying in Pro Compact on a 6.674. Come race day though young gun Peter Rehayem, who was making his competition debut behind the wheel the Pac Performance RX3 once campaigned by his uncle Rodney, defeating his more experience rivals and capping the event off with a 7.61 win over ‘The Ghost’ Tony Grgich.
Into the dedicated radial try classes and Guy Hall performed the double act by top qualifying and winning the event in one of the coolest cars going around, a blown Mercedes Benz 280S. Hall shot out a 7.382 in the final, too quick for the 7.691 from Steve Carkeet’s EH.
In the smaller tyre J275 bracket, Faith Cetinay hooked up his Supra to top qualify with a 7.115, but racing for the J-Trophy come finals time was Danny Lansdowne and Steve Farrelly. The pair of VLs, one with a long roof duked it out, but it was all over at the tree with Lansdowne long gone in the wagon for a 7.458 before Farrelly was moving.
In the Modified 10.5 final, Robert Cady was out of there with his RX2’s 9.59, something was clearly amiss with opponent Joshua Moore’s nitrous tray-back Falcon which could not make a pass.
Street 289 saw the Mohamed Salahem not just throw-down huge burnouts in his RX7 but nail the win in the final with a 7.663 over Chris Adam’s 9.004.
Modified Compact final was survival of the fittest with Martin Whelan’s VC Valiant and Ross Puliafito’s RX3 all striking troubles on their pass. Puliafito managed to roll to the stripe first with a 13 second pass for the win.
Nik Bence ran smack on his dial in for the All Motor final with a 11.553 on a 11.55 to have his little VW Beetle defeat Ben Wilkinson’s RX7.
A breakout to Zachery Anderson in his Falcon as he tried to mow down the holeshot from Michael Osborne’s Hilux handed the Street Compact final to Osborne
Likewise in the Euro Final, a huge holeshot to the VW Golf of Stuart Twidale had Hayley Menz’s Golf also break out in the final seeing the J-Trophy going home with Twidale.
Full event video coverage here:
It’s not long until the Jamboree team do it all again, with the show moving South Australia’s Dragway At The Bend for the Adelaide Jamboree on Oct 5. Full details and tickets at : https://www.jamboree.com.au/
Thanks to the team at Drag Photos for the event gallery.
