The Atura Blacktown NSW Championship Series returned from its Winter hiatus at Sydney Dragway with another day of fast paced bracket racing.
The series into its fifth round of eight total and the contenders are making their presence felt in the championship chases.
Jono Roylance is proving consistency is the way to go in Top Sportsman by leading the points without an event win, Roylance was the victim of some tough racing in the semi-final, despite a .004 light was still run down on the stripe by the eventual event winner Brett O’Connor’s 8.153 on 8.14 run.
Conversely it was O’Connor’s start line game that got him the win in the final against Victor Tsatlogianis’ wheelstanding Torana with a .015. Tsatlogianis was let down by his reaction after carding a .002 in the semi-final, with even a tight 8.415 on a 8.40 at the line from the Torana unable to overcome his .139 tree. O’Connor taking the win with his nitrous Camaro.
It was a case of better to be lucky than good in Modified with Cheyne Williams taking his first ever win in the class. Williams won every race on behalf of his opponent red lighting – Chris Manks -.016, Brendon Luke -.002 and Peter Ilsley -.023. In the final he faced Allison Stewart in the Boss Bullet dragster, Stewart had top qualified with a perfect reaction but let the button go a perilous 3 thou too quick and Williams in the sweet looking Purple Rain altered would take the event win.
In Super Sedan, Jim Denaro stamped his dominance in the toughest of brackets with a third win of the season to give him a 40 point padding in the championship over Marco Tolomeo, the only likely other contender now for the title. Although David Gruber is still an outside chance lurking in third after reaching the final against Denaro, but couldn’t match the Cortina’s 9.335 on a 9.33 run.
Modified Bike saw a battle of Harley Destroyers in the final with Ron Adams taking on Joe Khoury. Cherry picking season was still in full swing with Khoury going red with a -.028 handing the win to Adams, but the runner up finish moves Khoury within 30 points of joint leaders Robert Simmonds and Sean Ricketts who went out in the first and second rounds of eliminations respectively.
Michael Walsh extended his championship lead to 40 points the best way he knows how and that’s by winning the event. In a huge Super Street field, Walsh fought his way to the final to face Daniel Malaquin’s Commodore who also unfortunately red lit his chances away in the final round.
A 9.902 in the Super Gas final had Vince Panetta on game, and coupled with a .002 reaction left little chance for Roy Romeo who broke out as a result with a 9.88. The win edged Panetta ahead in the championship by one round over Darryl Stephen.
There are no holds barred in the Junior Dragster championship with five racers within 20 points. Zac Refalo moved into contention with a win over a red lighting Georgia Fardella in the final, but still capped his run with an 8.047 on an 8.04 that would have been tough to beat.
Danny Stadelmaier is looking to rack up another track championship in Street Fighter, but his giant killing Echo went out early leaving competitors to eat into his championship lead. Making the most of the opportunity was David Jennings with his Commodore who took the event win over Don Zammit also in a Commodore.
Street Bike got off to an unfortunate start with championship leader Sharona Reddy having a moment in the braking area with her Honda and taking a tumble. Reports had Reddy a little banged up and sore, but we hope to see her back for the next round. However, her championship lead also took a hit with Belinda Mannix now joining her as equal leader and the conclusion of the event. The event win itself went to Brian Vernon in his first showing in the series this year aboard his triumph when opponent Phil Gardner red lit.
Ezio Cacciotti came out on top in the HAMBster Chicago Shootout rumble.
Extreme Bike weren’t awarded any points for their exhibition bracket this round but Ian Smith chalked up three wins with consistent mid seven second passes in the Chicago Shootout format.
Finals video courtesy of Madman Priductions
The next round of the championship is on October 19 at Sydney Dragway.
