With Modified and Junior Dragster taking a break from the Boxing Day event at Perth Motorplex, there was a very manageable 150 entries or so allowing for four qualifying sessions across most categories.
This provided a very relaxed day of racing, just what many needed after Christmas.
The weather was in the low 30s and the crowd reasonably strong to watch racing that was high quality, if not high quantity. (above picture by Phil Blondel)
USA Jet Dragsters
Chuck Haynes hasn’t been to Perth Motorplex in a couple of years but the event proved the veteran jet driver still loves Australia and the Australians love him. Taking on Canadian Andy Beauchemin, Haynes ran passes of 5.23, 5.19 and 5.19 with a best speed of 310mph.
Andy 5.65, 5.54 and 5.53 with a best speed of 289mph.
Fans really enjoyed the spectacular brand of show these cars put on.
Top Comp
John McSweeney scored the first win for the Full Boar Racing Funny Car with a very quick 6.21 in the final against Rob Pilkington, who had the misfortune to kick rods out in his runner up. McSweeney dedicated the win to team owner Jeffrey Clarke and delivered this message via YouTube.
Rob Young had to do a bit more steering than he would have liked in the BB/AA.
Daniel Gregorini won the B Final with a 6.01 pass from his AA/AP Camaro. In one of the best races-within-a-race seen in some time, Gregorini is battling with Wayne Keys for the first AA/AP and first Rootes-supercharged five second pass…
…despite finishing the race second, Keys had the quicker time going 6.000. How much closer do you want to go to a five! Look out on January 6/7.
Maurice Brennan has not been able to get on top of his handling ills with the Commodore. Launching seems to be a struggle on nearly every pass for this car in recent events.
Ryan Moresby managed to get a representative time out of his Holden Statesman at last, cutting a 6.59 at 218mph in the elimination round. How cool do the last three pictures look by the way, Australian vibe or what?
Super Comp
Allen Puglia is now three finals from three events giving him a 40 point lead in the championship. A 7.15 on his 7.25 A/G record was a good pass for the final.
Colin Mortimore ran right on the G/GA record with an 8.37 in the final but it just was not enough against Puglia’s super tough Ford.
Andrew Katavatis went 7.15 in B/AA in the first round but a lazy reaction time saw him go down to Mortimore. To add insult to injury the parachute then failed to release and he went into the sand trap after the pass.
Graeme Simms was left frustrated after a first round red light.
Competition Bike
Ross Smith took his Suzuki Hayabusa to some of the best A/SB passes seen in Australia. The stock wheelbase, naturally aspirated motorcycle ran an 8.68 in qualifying, well under the 8.79 national record. He also won the event and has taken a commanding lead in the points series.
Ryan Learmonth went to his second final round of the season. He has a new motor on the way from Luke Crowley’s Pro Stock Motorcycle which should see this bike dip well into the sevens.
Stan Lisle used a 10.55 to qualify third on his D/SB. There will be plenty more in this machine as he perfects the riding.
The Northern Territory’s Phillip Miller brought his turbocharged Suzuki CC/CBI over to Perth for a play.
Super Sedan
Paul Downe has proven to be the man so far this season in Super Sedan. He is now four from four and has a massive lead in the points.
Goran Kojic paid the price for a .116 light in the final with Downe just too strong.
Tracey de Jager ran a new personal best of 8.96.
Alesha Adamos had a big save later in the night when her Skyline got loose and swung into the opposite lane.
Troy Slamar is licensing his gorgeous Ford Falcon currently. With a 990 cubic inch motor destined for the front eventually this will be a real monster in SS/A.
Modified Bike
Luke Nieuwhof top qualified in Modified Bike with an 8.28 on father Paul’s Kawasaki before going on to the final and winning his first event. (file photo)
Justin Townson reached the final but lost the all eight second race by mere hundredths of a second. (file photo)
Super Street
Nicholas Wroe took the win in Super Street with an 11.02 on an 11.04 dial in during a double break out race.
