West Australian Kyle Putland joined his racing idols in the Top Fuel ranks officially at last weekend’s 48th Goldenstates Championship, with a highly commendable debut outing in the top nitro class.
Putland came into his hometown Perth event with tempered expectations, and realistic goals, but still ready to the fight to whoever was in the opposing lane.
“We know we’re not going to be the fastest car there, but we hope to be the most consistent and put on a show for the crowd.” said Putland before the event.
And the team certainly delivered. Putland turned the Worx Equipment around, rolling out ready to fire for every round of qualifying and racing, with the crowd rapturous for the homegrown team on every pass.
The mineshaft air conditions on a ice cold track, made qualifying a head scratcher for all the teams, not just the new guys on how to tackle and effective tune up.
“The first qualifier we had an air system fault and loaded the clutch to much on the hit of the throttle,” said Putland after Top Fuel Dragster did a wild hop, skip and jump off the line in Q1.
“The second pass we had a cold 20 degree track, and 10000HP with limited experience. We got to 60ft with a .891 which is a PB, but smoked the tyres straight after.”
Nevertheless the team still qualified 5th in the seven car field.
Putland drew the potent Rapisarda boys Wayne Newby and Damien Harris in rounds one and two respectively, while not illuminating a win light, the team still achieved goals, running a PB 4.34 and made the C-Final.
“What a weekend at our first Top Fuel Australia event. I couldn’t be prouder of everything we achieved as a team. We walked away with a PB of a 4.34 with broken blower belt at 3.3 seconds. We also made the C-Final which we lost against Phil Read,” said Putland.
“But launching at 3.6Gs, and then accelerating mid-track at 4.5Gs is something else.”
Suffice to say the bug has now bitten, and team plan to head to the Nitro Champs in Sydney, and if funding is found, contest other rounds.
“Massive thanks to my crew, those legends have been to all the crew nights preparing the car, and big days making it all happen,” Putland continued.
“My sponsors, without their support we would not be where we are, and my family Keira, Grayson and Stella, to do this with a 4-week old is amazing.
“To my idols, the other Top Fuel teams for being so welcoming, which started months ago when they found out we were entering this round, it has been so good to join the group.
“One other thing that blew me away was the support of the fans. Coming back on the return road and hearing the crowd cheering us on was mind blowing. I have never heard a crowd cheer us on like that. That really topped the weekend off. We can not wait to get back out there for some testing and our next event.
