A trip to the quarter-mile was exactly what the doctor ordered for Ipswich’s Tarrant family this evening, with the flood-affected family receiving some welcome ‘time out’ at Willowbank Raceway.
The Tarrants – mum and dad Tammy and Stephen and son William – saw their home completely inundated by the January flooding and continue to be impacted by the disaster, with Tammy recovering from injuries and their home in the process of being completely rebuilt.
In the lead up to March’s Top Fuel Championships at Willowbank Raceway, the management at the Ipswich drag racing facility heard about their plight and invited them to take a break with a drag racing experience on them.
This saw Stephen and William enjoy a start-line view for the racing action of the Top Fuel Championships on March 26, before Stephen enjoyed the experience of drag racing down the Ipswich quarter-mile first-hand this evening, with popular sportsman racer Christine Kilmister taking Stephen for a wild ride aboard her Super Street Holden HK 350 Wagon.
Willowbank Raceway is Queensland’s premier drag racing facility, hosting year-round racing including four ANDRA Pro Series rounds per year including the upcoming Castrol EDGE Winternationals (June 10-13). For more information, please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au
Quoteboard:
Stephen Tarrant
“That was fantastic, the kick when Christine put her foot down was just remarkable, it really took me by surprise,” said Stephen Tarrant after his quarter-mile ride.
“The adrenalin really kicked in after the burnout, and it was just great fun, Christine was fantastic to give me that experience and I can’t thank her enough.
“It has been really great to get in the car and to come out and watch the races a few weeks back, it is great to get away and do something different, and its pretty hard to be thinking about anything but the moment when you are hurtling down the race track!”
William Tarrant
“That was cool, it was great watching the racing and it was awesome dad got to have a race,” said William Tarrant.
“I told mum and dad that it is okay with me if they don’t rebuild the house, as long as they buy me a junior dragster!”
Tammy Tarrant
“I was very nervous watching Stephen having his run, but I am really glad to see that he enjoyed it so much, it has been so great for Stephen and Will to come out here, it really has made a difference and helped take their minds of everything,” said Tammy Tarrant.
“Every fifth word from Will since they came out to the Top Fuel Champs has been drag racing, he keeps asking for a Junior Dragster and seems happy for the house to stay the same if he gets a racer instead!” she laughed.
Christine Kilmister – Super Street racer
“It has been an absolute pleasure to meet Tammy, Will and Stephen today and to take Stephen for the ride today,” said Kilmister.
“I couldn’t be happier to be part of something that allows them to take some time out from what they have been through and are going through, Stephen seemed to enjoy it and was a great passenger!”
Steve Bettes – Managing Director, Willowbnak Raceway
“When we heard about what the Tarrants had been through we wanted to help out by giving them a chance to get out of the house and have some fun,” said Bettes.
“They deserved a break from their ongoing ordeal, so we were happy to be able to provide them the chance to come along for a trip to the Top Fuel Championships and for Stephen to have this first-hand experience tonight here at Willowbank Raceway.
“Ipswich has been through a pretty horrific start to the year, but now as we approach June hopefully things can start looking brighter.
“It is a busy time at Willowbank Raceway at the moment with Castrol EDGE Winternationals coming up in June, as the largest drag racing event held outside fo the US, racers and spectators will be coming from all over the country for the four day event, which will hopefully help further bolster the local economy as it continues to recover.”
UPCOMING EVENT INFORMATION: CASTROL EDGE WINTERNATIONALS
Feature racing: Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Top Alcohol, Pro Stock, Top Bike, Pro Stock Motorcycle
Also racing from: Lifestyle Floorcoverings Competition, Lifestyle Floorcoverings Super Stock, Super Compact, Competition Bike, Allstar Batteries Supercharged Outlaws, Knijff Earthmoving Modified, Powercruise Super Sedan, Speed Elec/Prime Signs Super Street, Modified Bike, Donnelly Blasting Services Junior Dragster and Super Gas.
Schedule
(Approximate and subject to change – visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au
for updates)
Friday June 10
On-track qualifying action from 9.00am – approximately 7.30pm
Pro Stock Qualifying at 5.00pm
Saturday June 11
On-track action from 8.00am – approximately 8.00pm
ANDRA Pro Series Qualifying from 12.00pm – approximately 5.30pm
Sunday June 12
On-track action from 8.30am – approximately 6.30pm
ANDRA Pro Series Qualifying from 12 noon – approximately 5.30pm
Monday June 13
On-track action from 8.30am – approximately 4.30pm
Opening Ceremonies – 10.30am
ANDRA Pro Series racing at 11.00am, 1.15pm and all finals from 2.45pm
Ticketing – tickets available for purchase from www.willowbankraceway.com.au
NB: General Admission = access to the spectator mound and paddock area
NB: Multi-day passes are available for pre-purchase through the Willowbank Raceway website only, no at-gate purchase of multi-day passes will be available
General Admission Tickets:
One-day passes:
Friday June 10 – Adult General Admission- $20.00
Friday June 10 – Student/Concession General Admission (Must show ID) – $20.00
Saturday June 11 – Adult General Admission – $50.00
Saturday June 11 – Student/Concession General Admission (Must show ID) – $42.00
Sunday June 12 – Adult General Admission – $50.00
Sunday June 12 – Student/Concession General Admission (Must show ID) – $42.00
Monday June 12 – Adult General Admission – $50.00
Monday June 12 – Student/Concession General Admission (Must show ID) – $42.00
Two-day General admission pass (available in Saturday/Sunday or Sunday/Monday format):
Adult – $90.00
Student/Concession (must show ID) – $75.00
Three-day General admission pass, including complimentary Friday General Admission:
Adult – $140.00
Student/Concession (must show ID) – $110.00
Reserved seating (price DOES NOT include admission), available for Saturday, Sunday and Monday:
Startline Club – $16.00 per day
Grandstand – $12.00 per day
For information on corporate options at the Castrol EDGE Winternationals, please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au
