Supercharged Outlaws racer Jodie Mellitt cannot wait to get on track for the Perth Motorplex’s Shannons Insurance Power Palooza event on Saturday October 31.
The unique event will provide a perfect opener to the 2020/2021 Perth Motorplex season by featuring a spectacular combination of ‘motortainment’ including drag racing, speedway and burnouts all in the one day in an action-packed five-hour show.
“The Shannons Insurance PowerPalooza event is great for showcasing our sport and also the world-class venue that is the Motorplex,” Mellitt said.
“We are really looking forward to putting on a show for the fans and to hopefully getting our new season off to a consistent start.”
The business owner of 21 years of Maddington’s The Sugar Smith has amassed a number of impressive achievements over her six seasons of racing in the Supercharged Outlaws (SCO) bracket.
Racing her rear-engine SCO dragster powered by a 374ci blown small block chev – the smallest engine in the field – the Lesmurdie (WA) resident has placed in the top three of the Perth Motorplex SCO Track Championship points in five of her six seasons and claimed the top spot in both 2018 and 2020. She is the only female to have claimed that honour in WA.
Mellitt has also taken home two ANDRA Christmas Tree trophies with victories at the 2016 and 2020 Westernationals, has won the West Australian Drag Racing Associations’ SCO and Fastest Female titles five times and has been awarded as WADRA’s highest female points scorer five times.
A love of fast cars is what first draw Mellitt to the track and she has never looked back.
“I am an adrenaline junkie – doing 200mph with your butt just three inches off the ground is a pretty surreal feeling!” she said
“Often with our engine being the smallest in the field it feels a bit like a David and Goliath battle on the track, but our little car gets it done!
“The Motorplex is my happy place, where the rest of the world just disappears.”
As she prepares for her seventh season, Mellitt has a long list of people she would like to thank for their support.
“I would firstly like to thank all of my crew for their hard work and dedication to not just myself but the sport as a whole, so thank you Heydan, Claude, Tavian, Chris, Brad, Jules and most of all my husband Tom, for keeping me safe and grounded,” she said.
“I also wish to recognise our sponsors who have helped us for many years – my thanks go to Heavy Automatics, Heavy Haul, The Sugar Smith and Connelly Images. I would also like to thank our new sponsors for 2020: Kwik Kopy, Kware and IGA Sanderson in Lesmurdie.
“Of course, I also must thank my family and friends for their support as well as all of the track staff, volunteers, camera crews and media staff – their hard work is unbelievable.
“Finally, I want to acknowledge track manager Ray Treasure – his dedication to all of the racers and the track maintenance is second to none and he always has a smile and a wave. So, thank you to Ray, and also to his friend ‘Sharpie’ who has helped him during COVID-19.”
The Shannons Insurance Power Palooza season opener at the Perth Motorplex will be held on Saturday October 31. For more information, visit www.motorplex.com.au
