When the JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series announced the introduction of an Eighth Mile Outlaws bracket for its 2014 season, supported by FG Loy & Sons, it represented an opportunity too good to refuse for Toowoomba racer Rodney Hansen.
This Saturday 26 April, Hansen will be one of around 100 racers heading to Willowbank Raceway for the second round of the grassroots series – which will also include the Kenda Tires Drag Radial Showdown – after taking victory at the debut outing for the new bracket in Warwick in February.
“As a crew member for a couple of Modified competitors Jason Page and Ian Ham, I had kind of been sitting back waiting for something like the Eighth Mile Outlaws bracket to come along,” said the 46 year old mechanic and owner of Hansen’s Automotive and Gas.
“When it did, I jumped at the chance to be involved and it was great to see a good roll-up to its first outing in Warwick where I was lucky enough to take the win!
“We had a few minor mishaps in qualifying but thanks to my great crew of Jason Page, Corey Hess and my wife Sue, we pushed through and the racing came together nicely.
“To take the win was a bit unexpected in my first event in the Series after being involved on the crew side for a few years, but it was a really great feeling nonetheless – we do what we do for the love of the sport and the fun, and while it is always good to win we really do this because we enjoy racing, especially this grassroots style of racing which is being fostered by the JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series.
“It was also my first ever event win in this car in the fifteen years that I have had it – I have always had runner-ups but no wins, so that was a great feeling to break through for a bracket win.”
So what was it about the new bracket that enticed the motoring enthusiast who dabbles in drag racing as well as sprint racing?
“I think the Outlaws bracket is a really great thing and it has the potential to grow into something much bigger,” said Hansen.
“I really hope some more of the turbo and the nitrous-powered racers come on board, it is a great Series in the making I think.”
While the 2014 season has gotten off to a good start for Hansen, getting on track for round two will be something of a scramble for the team.
“My wife and I are actually going on holidays to Malaysia in April, returning late the night before the Willowbank Raceway round of the Eighth Mile Series. While the boys have got the car ready for me already and its simply a matter of putting it in the trailer and going to the track, it will still be something of a last minute scramble combined with needing to switch from holiday mode to racing mode!” said Hansen.
“It should make things interesting – these blown cars are always unpredictable, they can behave one meeting and then misbehave the next, so we will just take it as it comes and see how we go.”
Hansen’s T Bucket Altered was built by Brisbane’s Weldwell Engineering and is sponsored by Hansen’s Automotive, Gilroy’s Automatics, Peter Mac Truck Repairs, Jason Page Race Engines and Lowe Fuel Systems.
Hansen will be just one of an estimated 100 racers on-track at Willowbank Raceway this Saturday, with the FG Loy & Sons Earthmoving Eighth Mile Outlaws bracket to be joined by racers for the RD Williams Excavator Parts Modified, Ice Slushee Super Sedan, Queensland Nameplate Group Modified Bike, John William Auto Sales Super Street and Diamond T Products Junior Dragster brackets as well as the Kenda Tires Drag Radial Showdown.
This weekend’s second round of the 2014 Series follows on from the season opener held at Warwick Dragway during February, with the racing set to also travel to Gladstone (round three – 2 August) and Roma (final round – 27 September) before the year is through.
Entries are available on the day and spectator tickets will be available for purchase at the gate at $20.00 for adults and $18.00 for students with ID. Children aged 13 and under gain free admission. Gates open at 7.00am with time trials from 10.00am to 3.00pm and racing from 4.00pm.
For more information on the 2014 JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series, including information on rules, how to enter and the points system, please visit to www.willowbankraceway.com.au
2014 JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series
Calendar:
Round One – 8 February, 2013: Warwick Dragway, Warwick QLD
Round Two – 26 April, 2013: Willowbank Raceway, Willowbank QLD
Round Three – 2 August, 2013: Benaraby Raceway, Gladstone QLD
Final Round – 27 September, 2013: Ironbark Raceway, Roma QLD
Racing brackets:
FG Loy & Sons Earthmoving Eighth Mile Outlaws – new bracket for 2014
RD Williams Excavator Parts MODIFIED BRACKET
Ice Slushee SUPER SEDAN BRACKET
Queensland Nameplate Group MODIFIED BIKE BRACKET
John William Auto Sales SUPER STREET BRACKET
Diamond T Products JUNIOR DRAGSTER BRACKET
