Popular Sydney Top Fuel drag racer, Terry Sainty, will race in the (National Hot Rod Association) NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series this year after accepting an invitation to drive for Rapisarda Racing.

After a solid campaign by S&M Racing at Calder Park last month the Territory based Top Doorslammer teams of Matt Abel and Scott MacLean ventured to Portal Victoria on the weekend where they competed at the Slamfest for Wishes event.

Willowbank Raceway will be a constant hub of activity over the coming months, with Nostalgia, Pro Street, Sportsman, Top Fuel, Top Bike and Pro Stock Motorcycle racers all set to head to Queensland’s premier drag strip.

Rob Pilkington elevated his Force Equipment/Alutech team to first position in the WA Top Comp Championship standings on Saturday night with a runner up at Perth Motorplex.

 When it comes to Nitro Funny Car in Australia Peter Russo is something of an enigma, well known for his exploits at the wheel of one of drag racing’s wildest vehicles but rarely seen on the strip.

Willowbank Raceway would like to take this opportunity to clarify the status of its March 25/26 Top Fuel Championships event, in light of discussions currently taking place within the drag racing community.

Western Victorian motorsport fans are set for a feast of supercharged drag racing and action packed entertainment program at Portland’s Southcoast Raceway this weekend.

Mildura’s Darren Morgan has extended his lead at the top of the standings in the ANDRA Pro Series Top Fuel Championships following a thrilling victory at the Perth Motorplex last weekend. Morgan now sits on 372 points which is 74 points ahead of Andrew Cowin.

Supercharged Eliminator Supercharged Eliminator suffered some carnage through qualifying, like John Mol’s Commodore as something lets go underneath. Craig Russo was also having some drama in the Funnycar unable to crack the 7 second zone all weekend. Jason Cunliffe debuted a slick new Funnycar, but could not make it past round one losing to Shane Baxter. Mike Trahar was solidly into the sevens with the old doorslammer as he continues to come to grips with a blown motor. Cameron Ambesi was another of the new Outlaws to debut new cars. Likewise Jack Danaher has stepped up out of the Modified ranks to this gorgeous rail, running 6.80’s the “Strip Tease” dragster went to round two before falling to Doina Day. Bruno Matijasevic’s beautiful HG ran to the semi finals before also being stopped by Day. Doina Day made the event final. Meeting Day in final was Jason Maggs, two long days in the hot sun must of made both racers sleepy, Magg’s .345 reaction was made to look brilliant against Day’s .589. The Corvette’s 6.96 (6.68 DI) was enough to run down the dragster of Day’s 7.44 ( 7.35 DI) Top Eliminator Top Eliminator amassed 34 entries from all walks of racing life. Anthony Maatouk brought down their VL bullet. Bert Willemson’s wicked 8 second van turns heads George Hatzi had the wheels up again and again in the Charger. Catching the wheelstanding bug also was Idris Demaj’s RX4 Last event winner Leanne Braggs couldn’t repeat going out in the quarter finals. Ray Gould was back out with a new look in the altered. The iconic COME Racing Torana was out but problems ended their event early   Ron Hutchins Corvette would not launch straight, smacking the wall on one attempt. Wayne Cartledge fired a menacing warning to the rest of Group 2 with 6.97 B/DA pass, if legal it would be the first six for the class albeit unofficial. Jason Cavallaro scored a semi final position in their small block altered, outstanding performance considering the lack of racing against some season veterans in the class. The final featured two Group 2 racers who haven’t forgotten how to bracket race in Craig Geddes and Nino Cavallo It was Cavallo deciding this one at the lights with a superior 0.65 RT to Geddes .166 RT. Despite running a near perfect 7.711 (7.71 DI) Geddes altered could not make up the difference on the Dodge’s 8.071 (8.02 DI) Super Eliminator Super Eliminator had the largest bracket of the event with 37 entries. There was loads of wheels up action for the fans How cool is it to see a Ford Bronco hiking the wheels. Ditto Grant Murray’s nostalgic Vauxhall Viva Daryl Hepworth’s slick HG was one of the more consistent performers reaching the semi final. Pat Caruso’s immaculate LJ Torana ran 9.932 (9.80 DI) in the final However a 9.332 (9.20 DI) from Jason Hoctor’s high flying Cortina edged out the win courtesy of a better reaction. Street Eliminator Dino Cerere and Venice were part of a small South Aussie invasion at the event. There was no name for this driver but it was one cool Camaro Tony Barbara ended his chance of winning with fraction to quick -.003 red light in the final That left Andrew Voodz to motor on down in his LJ Torana for the win. Nostalgia The Nostalgia bracket really blossomed over the first event with 30 entries. It was packed full of some very cool rides How sweet is this launch from Ian Hick’s 10 second A Model? The bracket isn’t just for sedans and rods, Joe Cusmano’s little blown altered went to the semi finals where he pulled a unfortunate  -.001 cherry. Zoran Makarovski returned with wheelie bars after a near vertical wheelstand at the last event. This writers personal favourite ride of the event, Nick Prapas’ stunning Nova broke out in the final 9.781 (9.80 DI) The break out meant Elvis Barbieri claimed the money with a 9.613 (9.55 DI) Modified Bike There was a much larger 14 bike field this time around compared to last time. Graeme Morell with a old school Top Bike One time Top Bike rider Shane Walker was out on a Destroyer losing in the semi final to Corey Buttigieg Buttigieg on his Destoyer would move on to meet Adam Huntley in the final Huntley clean swept the event, top qualifying with a 8.93 and taking the event win on a holeshot 9.03 (8.90 DI) to Buttigieg’s slower reacting 9.89(9.80 DI) There was plenty of exhibition features happening, with Lukey Luke’s stunt bike, Peter and Debbie Gray burnout show and several jet powered vehicles. Next round of the Slamfest series will be from South Coast Raceway in Portland, Victoria.   Discuss the Calder Park True Blue Championship event here on the forum http://dragnews.com.au/index.php?option=com_agora&task=topic&id=163&Itemid=54   Photos by Cacklingpipes.com (Grant Stephens & Paul Drady)    

Dragnews Australia will bring you updates from the Portland Slamfest this Friday and Saturday including the testing session Friday afternoon from 2pm.

Crew chief with Lamattina Top Fuel Racing Theo Pavlomanolakos will be leaving the team at the end of this season to spend more time with his family and business.

In a statement from Sydney Dragway it has been announced that Australian drag racing champion Jim Read has given his resignation from the Board of Western Sydney International Dragway effective immediately.

Weather may have been putting a dampener on works at Hidden Valley Drag Strip but with the sun shining for a few days over the past week construction teams have been able to continue in earnest.

The Lamattina Top Fuel Racing Team ended a spectacular racing weekend disappointed after finishing runner up in round four of the ANDRA Pro Series at Perth Motorplex. 

Darren Morgan strengthened his case for the 2010/2011 ANDRA Pro Series Top Fuel championship with a win in round four at Perth Motorplex.

Territorian Scott MacLean took out the second qualifying position at Calder Park’s True Blue Championships in Melbourne over last weekend.    

Sydney Dragway Chairman Sam Sofi today has issued another short statement announcing the latest members of the venues sub board

A thrilling last session saw Andrew Cowin edge into the number one spot after qualifying in round four of the Australian Top Fuel Championship at Perth Motorplex.

Hot on the heels of the announcement last week that all systems were ‘go’ for the March 18-19 running of the ANDRA Pro Series Top Doorslammer/Pro Stock double-header comes confirmation of a naming rights sponsor for the high-profile event. To be known as the Aeroflow by Rocket Industries Pro Series event, the announcement gives both Sydney Dragway and the facility’s litany of fans a fix of top level competition at the popular western Sydney venue.

Sydney Dragway has issued another statement from their Chairman Sam Sofi on the current situation at the track.

ANDRA Pro Series Top Fuel points leader Darren Morgan believes that a good run in this weekend’s Top Fuel Championships at the Perth Motorplex is vital in his bid to become the 2010/2011 champion.

Drag News is proud to bring you live updates from Perth Motorplex on January 28/29 as round four of ANDRA Pro Series Top Fuel takes place.

Since the NCC Strategic Workshop in July 2010, progress with the change to a limited company structure has continued. The first step has been to amend the current ANDRA Constitution to permit voting by Full Members on the company change.

Racers got in a small amount of testing ahead of the Top Fuel round this weekend at Perth Motorplex.

Sydney Dragway fired into life for the first time in 2011 with a Test and Tune for racers to blow out the New Year cobwebs.

Any uncertainty concerning the March Pro Series meeting at Sydney Dragway was removed today when newly appointed Sydney Dragway Chairman Mr Sam Sofi announced the meeting would go ahead as planned.  Mr Sofi said the meeting would now be held on Friday March 18 and Saturday March 19.

During the Test n Tune event at Sydney Dragway on the weekend (22/01/11) there was a silent auction held and various donations made from racers and fans throughout the day. A total of $876 was raised on the day and has been deposited into the Queensland Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal.

The board of Sydney Dragway has been suspended for six months and a full review is to take place into the company running the track according to reports.

A new entry was included in the 2011 ANDRA Rule Book regarding pre event (ANDRA Pro Series rounds) testing by Group One teams. This was an incorrect clause and the following change, effective immediately, has been made to ACR 5.27 on Page 174 of the ANDRA Rule Book.