The Perth Motorplex drag racing season is open once again with the running of the WA Drag Racing Championships.
The event was highlighted with a big field of Top Doorslammers on site for the opening round of the Summer Slam. John Zappia defeated Daniel Gregorini in the final round, using a 5.70 pass in his Holden Monaro to get by Gregorini’s Camaro after Gregorini took the early lead.
After disappointing results in the 400 Thunder Series a week previous in Sydney, it was a solid day all around for Zappia who top qualified with a 5.77 second run and ran the quickest time of the event, a 5.66 pass in the first round of racing.
The honourable mention in the Top Doorslammer ranks had to go to Steve Aldridge, who finally cracked his first five second run after many years of trying. A 5.91 second pass in his Crown Security Plymouth was a fitting reward for his long efforts to join the front runners of the class.
While the impressive numbers wowed the crowd in the Summer Slam, Nitro Harley rider Mark Drew made the spectators hold their breath for all the wrong reasons. Drew scorched to a 6.41 second run at over 350kmh but then went into the sand trap, with both Drew and his bike tumbling hard. With the safety team on hand within seconds, Drew was carefully loaded into an ambulance and taken to the on-site medical centre and then to hospital to be checked out.
Top Comp was all about Sam Treasure in the Hemi Express. Treasure notched a new personal best time of 6.03 seconds to top qualify in the class before using a 6.07 in the final round to defeat Al McClure.
Super Comp saw Errol Quartermaine in career form, running underneath the national record with a 7.62 second pass under DD/Gas classification. Quartermaine defeated Ralph Lewis’ Ford Mustang in the final round.
Competition Bike was short on numbers but big on quality. Reigning champion Phill Paton proved too good in the final, defeating Ryan Learmonth.
Variety was the order of the day in Outlaw Radial, with everything from turbocharged Holden Rodeos to nitrous-assisted Valiant Chargers taking part. The final round came down to Wayne Smith and Goran Kojic, with Smith taking the victory.
Chris Roe scored a win against Alby Bakranich in Top Sportsman, Angelo Locantro got lucky against Jeff Acton who broke out in Modified, Mick Fenton defeated Laurence Adamos in Super Sedan, Paul De Klerk got by Brian Hotker in Modified Bike and Joel Trotman took out Lee Watson in Super Street.
WA’s fastest drag racers return on December 1 for the 45th Annual Goldenstate Championships.
Check out the photo gallery below. To order photos email luke@dragnews.com.au.
