It was suppose to be the first of a number lead up test and tunes for the Nitro Champs, before the disappointing news of the events cancellation due to impending weather. The test and tune itself was heavily effected by weather – but we did get some runs in, so here is what went down along with a great photo gallery.
It was after lunch before testing was under way due to a wet track and early morning drizzle – the cold conditions did take the track time to bed in as well.
There were no fantastic numbers run from what runs the attending Group One cars did have. Terry Sainty had the cylinders mixing up badly off the line before lifting the blower spectacularly before 330 feet.
Also under the Sainty banner, Mark Hinchelwood and team were still pioneering the alky version of the home made Sainty bullet.
Mark Belleri was the only Group One car to make a full pass with a 6.003 at 225mph.
Geoff Gradden pedalled his Saratoga to a 6.32.
The Top Fuel Harley’s of Chris Porter and Michael Gregg took hits, coming up snake eyes on their run – Gregg’s 8.68 the quickest.
The Spinozzi Pro Stock team took to some tyre scrubbing with repetitious burnouts.
The turbo cars were out in force producing all the quickest runs of the day in other testing – the Corvette of Johnny Briscas the quickest with a 6.43 at 219mph.
Jeremy Callaghan’s Outlaw 10.5 Camaro looked good on a 6.63 best pass.
An ecstatic PJ Todarello carded his first six second ET – 6.885 at 202mph.
Gerry Sarafoglou looked to had run his first six in the LS1 powered ute, unfortunately leaving before the tree activated and having to settle on a previous 7.06.
Up from Victoria, Domenic Luppino could not find any bite from the countries quickest radial tyre car.
Jason Both had plenty of bite back out in his Rotary, except it headed him straight for the wall.
The Boss Bullet Modified dragster of Geoff Wright is back after a freshen up, Tim Nielsen took it for a skid before new pilot Ally Stewart – seen getting fitted up – takes over.
Former Junior Dragster racer Dee Oxley was also back in the seat of her dragster after an incident a while ago licensing.
The recently added A/Modifed Roadster class see’s one of the first new generation roadsters so popular in the NHRA now on our tracks with Garry Franks Mustang.
After turning turtle with his last ride, Matt Rice is now back on track with an aspirated rotary powered R100.
A couple of very tough genuine streeters – Michael Filipowicz’s little 289 cubed twin turbo Mustang hauled to a 8.77, and Quentin Feast up from Victoria smashed his personal best with a 8.34 at 165mph from his also twin turbo powered Torana.
Speaking of tough streeters, the APSA True Street army was well represented.
Daniel Jones had travelled up from Victoria looking for some pre Nitro Champs testing for Top Sportsman – the 565ci ute ran a best of 8.42.
Also making the long haul to Sydney was Bruno Romeo looking to throw down some laps in the ex Matt Forbes Super Gas roadster.
Max DeMain – stylin’ and profilin’
The two wheel racers were preferring the one wheel it seemed.
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Photos by http://www.cacklingpipes.com
