For Chris Hall and Tony Bellert there will be absolutely no margin for error when it comes time to hit Willowbank Raceway for the Track Championship Season Finale on 16 November 2013.
Redbank Plain’s Hall and Toowoomba’s Bellert are currently tied for the top spot in the SuperComp championship chase at 49 points apiece with just one round of the championship left to run.
“I am really excited to be tied for the lead for this year’s Willowbank Raceway SuperComp Track Championship – it isn’t often that a Street 289 Rotor finds itself at the top with all of the high-tech racers,” said the 47 year old Hall, a construction supervisor and pilot of a rotor-driven Mazda RX7 series 7 13B Turbo.
“The highlight for me this year so far would have to be taking an event win against respected racer Christine Steffens in my rotor, it was a bit of an underdog victory for sure and to be congratulated by someone with her credentials was really fantastic.
“Now heading into the final round, the championship is definitely front of mind for me – for a rotor racer like me in my relatively basic race car to take a win against the high-tech competitors of this class who arguably have a bit of an advantage would certainly be a coup for me.
“I will certainly be doing everything I can – it won’t be easy, all the other racers are very fast and consistent and I know Tony is very good when it comes to reaction times at the start line and his car is top of the line. Having said that, I always head to the track with a positive attitude and I believe I can bring home a win for the rotors, especially if I can run consistently and deliver excellent reaction times.”
For Bellert, family will be on his mind when he fronts up for the season finale come November 16.
“The SuperComp Track Championship for me this year has been a bit of a mixed bag that is for sure, as we have been looking to sort out some issues with the car on the way to making more power,” said the 33 year old Bellert, an engine builder and driver of a 2010 Spitzer Dragster who currently holds the Willowbank Raceway track records for Elapsed Time and Speed in the Modified bracket.
“With the season finale now closing in, I really hope I can take a win in honour of my late mother, Bronwyn Bellert, who we lost to cancer in April.
“I am part of a racing family alongside my father Phil and my sister Kellie and we are all proud to race in her honour, so hopefully I can clinch this title for her and for all the people who have banded together to help us this year – especially my crew, my wife Natasha, and everyone else who has helped us out along the way including my sponsors DC Racing and TBRE Performance.
“I am definitely feeling positive and am getting ready to focus on simply competing at my best and being ready to race no matter who lines up beside me.
“Chris has been a consistent competitor throughout the season and there are some great racers throughout the field – some with fantastic racing budgets which I have to say I am envious of – so I am looking forward to seeing where the chips fall come 16 November.”
For Hall, his racing passion is also something in which family plays a key part.
“Racing is a huge passion for me and for my family – I even go circuit racing with my son at Queensland Raceway and Lakeside Racing, that is when I can tear myself away from the drag strip!” laughed Hall.
“While challenging there is just something about drag racing that is completely addictive – I am at Willowbank for almost every event including all the Test n Tunes each Wednesday and Saturday, I am a drag racing nut that is for sure!
“The guys that you get to talk with and race with really make the sport fun, especially guys like the reigning champion Peter Zelow. Our bracket is a funny one with cars like mine going up against much more sophisticated vehicles like Peter’s which makes it all the more challenging, but getting to race with guys like him combined with the great format which gives us plenty of track time really makes for a great championship.
“Supporting my drag racing passion day after day is my amazing family so I have to say a big thank you to them as well as the Mazfix Racing crew for all the hard work Archie Kajewski and the boys put into my car; my crew Peter, Brett, Stephen and Tamika; and Battery World at Indooroopilly for their support. And of course I can’t forget everyone at Willowbank and especially the staff and volunteers and also my fellow racers!”
For the 16 November Season Finale, gates will open at 7.00am, with qualifying from 10.00am, racing from 2.30pm and finals from 6.30pm, with all track champions to be awarded their trophy that evening at a special 7.30pm presentation on-track.
Leading the way to the season finale will beTony Bellert and Christopher Hall (SuperComp – tied on 149 points), Bill Fletcher (Allstar Batteries Supercharged Outlaws), Wade Moran (Knijff Earthmoving Modified), Rick Neilsen and Paul Doeblien (Powercruise Super Sedan – tied on 146 points), Blaze Hansen (Prime Signs/Speed Elec Super Street), Tammy Goldthorpe (Gasoline Alley Harley-Davidson Modified Bike), Dylan Leo (Donnelly Blasting Services Junior Dragster) and Simon Isherwood (Super Gas). In all brackets, only narrow margins separate the top competitors heading to the season finale.
