PowerPalooza is Perth Motorplex’s motorsport showcase, with drag racing, speedway, burnouts and monster trucks in one actioned packed day that is unrivalled anywhere.
Focusing on the drag racing part of this motorsport mecca, the event was the first round of the local Summer Slam Top Doorslammer Series.
There were eight blown beasts that took a hit at the one shot qualifier. John Zappia was on the money early in Zap’s Rat to land the top spot with a 5.75, ahead of Daniel Gregorini’s 5.82 and a 5.86 from Matt Abel.
The compacted racing program also only featured one round of racing to decide A and B finalists. Mark Chapman knocked off Stuart Moresby 6.39 to 6.54 to start the show, while Abel made short work of Ryan Moresby with a 5.96, to look good for an A-Final.
Kelvin Lyle lit up the win light against Gregorini, but a 6.04 couldn’t match Abel’s ET, leaving him precarious to not making the A-Final if the winner of the next race – that featured Zappia – could run quicker.
Zappia did indeed score the round win against Pino Priolo, but a bunch of wet pipes saw the Monaro labour to a 6.36, and miss the A-Final.
So, the B-Final it was for Zappia, and he sent a shot across the bow of the rest of the doorslammer field with a 5.69 win against Chapman’s Fury.
In a classic Top Doorslammer race, the A-Final delivered with a 5.82 to 5.84 victory to Lyle against Abel.
Greg Durack made some exhibition passes aboard his Top Bike Kawasaki weapon, carding a 6.85 best.
In other class results; Nigel Johnson took his Top Alcohol dragster to the win with a 5.71 in the Top Comp final against Madison Brown. Graeme Simms grabbed another win for his Toyota Supra in Super Comp, defeating Jayde Robinson. Rebecca Archer was too good in Comp Bike with a win over Phil Paton in the final. In Supercharged Outlaws Peter Appleby took a win against Jodie Mellitt, while Alby Bakranich grabbed the trophy from Phil Rowles in Top Sportsman. The win Super Sedan was claimed by Jodi Thorstensen against Martin Micro, and Modified Bike went to Luke Seaton who was too good for Owen Rose in the money race. Paul Garbellini took home the win is Super Street against Cameron Lockett and Junior Dragster closed out the racing brackets on display with Angel Bakranich defeating Seth Jarvis in the final.
Some flame and thunder was also on display.
The WA drag racing season goes into full swing now with Nitro Max opening the WA Drag Racing Championship a week before the 48th Goldenstates Championship which will feature round two of the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship.
Check out the event gallery courtesy of Phil Reeve.
