The Winter freeze abated for the Sydney Dragway test and tune last weekend in favour of a glorious Winters day that delivered a full day of testing.
The Rapisarda Top Fuel team with Lee Beard in attendance gave the team’s newest machine a shakedown stab in the late evening – the run ended in tyre spin almost immediately. We will see the Rapisarda team debut Top Fuel in the Top End in just over a week’s time.
Frank Mamone has stepped into a pair bigger shoes – Mr Outlaw 10.5 will be now steering a Barracuda in Top Doorslammer. Mamone took several shots at the track, being a victim of tyre shake each time.
Jeff Wilson also was continuing to search for that elusive tune-up to go A to B without shake.
Paul Mouhayet had no such trouble, leaving the big rubber on after last weekend’s record breaking 5.93 pass, the Moits team rattled off a 5.98, 5.96 and a 5.94 in succession – five second bracket car.
Troy Papadopoulos was not far behind Moits with the team’s best pass to date at a 6.07 – more impressive is the fact the Mustang is a tank weighing over 2900lbs.
Darren Hubbard is finding out about a few of the not so joyous moments running a blown Doorslammer, the newcomer popped the blower while licensing the ex Joe Cutelli Top Doorslammer.
Matty Evans’ FED looks magnificent in the Winter sun and had no issue punching out a 6.86 at 202mph
Meanwhile Evans’ partner Ally-Gator Stewart successfully licensed in Geoff Wright’s “Boss Bullet” Modified dragster with a mid eight second run.
There was one mishap of the day, Alf Axiak’s aspirated 20B RX7 got away from him after going a screaming 8.60 earlier in the day. Axiak was unhurt and the car looked to have held up surprisingly well.
On the topic of all motor Rotaries, Charlie Constanzo Datto 13B is quickest in Australia at 9.38 seconds.
There was a small Victorian invasion, Dom Luppino had no luck getting his Outlaw Radial Mustang downtrack.
Victorian counterparts Steve Buccella and Vince Raschilla had more productive days. Buccella pushed his nitrous Torana to a 8.07 and Raschilla with a sweet Mustang cracked his first seven with a 7.99.
Two wheel campaigners from the southern state Edgell Mallis and Jack Scholes also lapped up some track time.
There were some quick Sport Compact passes made too, Elia Hajjar motored to a 7.11 in his 13B RX3.
The Dentist – Andrew Maratos – carded a 7.25.
For Evo fans Ali Kaddour has a flyer, clocking 9.25 at 159mph.
Speaking of flying, a few guys attempted it. Alex Borg went 7.60 on his no-bar Hayabusa and Vince Rigoli 8.31 in the little turbo six dragster.
Matt Webber has a pretty serious Falcon XR6 street car on his hands uncoiling a 9.86 at 146mph.
And what is a Sydney event without some wheelstands.
Check out the gallery for some more action from the day by www.cacklingpipes.com
