The 50th annual Goldenstates saw NDRC Top Doorslammer and NDRC Top Fuel Motorcycle championship racing delight an enthusiastic crowd at the Perth Motorplex at the weekend, as these competitors did battle in the second round of their respective 2024/2025 championship chases.
When all was said and done in these exceptionally popular group one brackets, it was Russell Taylor (Top Doorslammer) and Wayne McGuinness (Top Fuel Motorcycle) who claimed the A-Final victories over runners-up Brodie Zappia (Top Doorslammer) and Benny Stevens (Top Fuel Motorcycle).
In the A Final, defending Top Doorslammer Goldenstates champion Russell Taylor went back-to-back this weekend, taking the win over 19-year-old national level debutant Brodie Zappia with a blistering 5.645 second 409.26kph run over Zappia’s equally as impressive 5.849 second 389.48kph effort.
Making his runner-up result even more head turning is the fact the younger Zappia only recently licensed in the elite level bracket around a month ago, with the Goldenstates weekend marking not only his national debut but also only his second competitive outing in the bracket, following a championship-winning Junior Dragster career.
Running in the fives throughout out all of the weekend’s action, Taylor got the party started on Friday night, top qualifying with a 5.680 second, 408.13kph pass. He then set the scene early on Saturday with a solo 5.728 second 409.43kph pass in round one before lining up against Frank Taylor in round two. Frank Taylor, who had been struggling with blower belt alignment all weekend, had a wobbly start off the line, while Russell Taylor blazed down the track to the tune of 5.650s/412.30kph, over Frank Taylor’s 7.270s/220.89kph effort.
Brodie Zappia meanwhile made it to the A Final after also running fives in both of his previous All Run rounds, with a 5.941s/384.60kph effort over Matt Abel in round one and a 5.902s/384.96kph run over Maurice Brennan in round two.
The A-Final victory at home in Perth marks an excellent comeback for reigning NDRC title winner Taylor, who didn’t achieve the results he had hoped for at the start of the season.
“It is a good feeling (to get the win) – it is good to be back in Perth and get one under the belt again, after Adelaide’s season opener it was a bit of a Debbie Downer, so I am very happy to be here,” Taylor said.
“We can’t wait for the next round of NDRC, it is a great series.
“Thank you to all the officials and the crowd and all of the NDRC crew, without you guys, we can’t do this.”
In the B-Final, Andrew Cole took the win over John Zappia with a solid 6.020 second 365.79kph run over the elder Zappia (6.341s/275.66kph) after breaking into the fives for the very first time in round one (5.988s/389.61kph) over Peter Kapiris, before again going quicker in round two (5.951s/389.86kph) on a solo run to make his way to the B-Final.
Unfortunately for Cole, despite taking the B-Final victory, the night didn’t end in celebrations as expected when his Corvette made contact with the wall after the chutes were pulled, rolling onto its roof and sliding before coming to a stop next to the safety crews. Thankfully, Cole got himself out of the car immediately after the incident before speaking with first safety officers and then the big screen presenters soon after.
To claim victory in the C-Final, Lisa Gregorini first took a holeshot win (5.785s/400.33kph) in round one with a brilliant launch and a .091 time at the tree over husband Daniel (5.760s/393.20kph). The season-opener winning Gregorini then got a good launch off the line in round two to take the win over Peter Kapiris, who struggled at the start and had to be pushed back from the line. She was seeded to run against Shane Catalano in the C-Final, who took his first Top Doorslammer victory earlier in the evening, however, suspected rod damage prevented the Mik Waters Fabrication Charger from making it back out for the rest of the night.
In the D-Final, Matt Abel had a drive job on his hands to take the win with a 8.101 second 175.38kph solo pass, and it was also a successful event for Steve Aldridge, who ran one of the fastest passes of the second All Run session with a 5.842 second 385.45kph pass to secure his Top Doorslammer licence.
In the Top Fuel Motorcycle A Final, last year’s Goldenstates winner Wayne McGuinness joined Russell Taylor in making it two for two, taking the win over Benny Stevens after two rounds of All Run racing on Saturday night. McGuinness got the job done with a 7.867 second 247.03kph pass over the defending Top Fuel Motorcycle champion’s 9.169 second, 195.27kph effort, with Stevens having struggled with bike issues all weekend.
McGuinness had earlier enjoyed a solo first run after top qualifier Ian Ashelford, who ran a 8.479s pass at 194.07kph to claim those honours, was unable to make it out for racing. Meanwhile, Stevens lined up against Kevin Gummow, who made it off the line but ultimately went nowhere, giving the win to Stevens.
In round two, McGuinness delivered another impressive run despite struggling with clutch issues to take the win, running a 7.492 second 250.29kph over Stevens’ 9.626 second 174.14kph effort. Kevin Gummow was seeded to run in the B-Final, however, an explosion in the engine during the second All Run round ruled the Puma rider out of the finals.
After missing the second round of qualifying, taking the win was extra special for McGuinness this weekend.
“This win did not come without a lot of dramas, I will give you the tip!” grinned McGuinness.
“It was a typical Goldenstates for us with dramas all weekend, but we overcame them, and we got the win.
“It is always good racing Benny, and we tried to put on a good show and keep it interesting!
“We will be back for the next one – thank you to my crew and Resources Club for keeping me running all weekend.”
Also on-track at the Goldenstates was a full complement of sportsman racers, with their competition as part of the ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship also earning them points in the NDRC’s Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship.
Taking out the wins in the sportsman ranks were Daniel Natalotto (Lectron Australia Competition Bike), Doina Day (Huntsman Racing Supercharged Outlaws), Alby Bakranich (Top Sportsman Competitors Top Sportsman), Michelle Morrison (Modified), John Szabo (Super Sedan Competitors Super Sedan), Paul McNamara (Ballistic Performance Parts Modified Bike), Craig Caton (Goodyear Racing Super Street), Tahlia Martin (Langtree’s Machinery Services Junior Dragster), Rob Gaikhorst (Jackie Watt Consultancy / Fardella and Watt Racing Super Stock), and Jon Ferguson (Competition Eliminator) who took out the prestigious Gold ANDRA Christmas Tree trophies. For more on the sportsman racing, please click here and here.
The next opportunities to score NDRC 2024/2025 championship points will come at Portland’s South Coast Nationals (December 7-8, Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship), the Perth Motorplex’s Nitro Slam (January 4 – Top Doorslammer and Top Fuel Motorcycle), and Willowbank Raceway’s New Year Nitro event (January 10-11 – Top Fuel, XPRO Nitro Funny Car and Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship).
For the full listing of events, please visit https://nationaldragracing.com.au/calendar/
To learn more about the NDRC, visit www.ndrc.tv
