Pro Modified Australia is set to unleash their eight round eighth mile Slamfest series in regional Australia beginning at Heathcote on January 21.
The concept and running of Slamfest was conceived and made to happen by current doorslammer drivers such as Peter Kapiris, Victor Bray and Maurice Fabietti. The idea was to bring racing to parts of the country where fans have not been exposed to the high horsepower action of a doorslammer.
“All three of us have race teams to run and businesses to attend to and the only reason we are involved at the level we are is to do our bit to reinvigorate drag racing in Australia at all levels,” said Victor Bray.
In a recent news release Group One racer Debbie O’Rourke mentioned that Slamfest will bring back the enjoyment and fun that should typify drag racing with many other racers have compared it to the “good old days of racing”.
“At the end of the day it’s all about the crowd and putting on a show for them,” said Fabietti.
Bray said there is still a competitive aspect to the show however. “That is true to an extent but when we are all there on race day everyone’s competitive nature comes to the surface,” he said.
“Remember we have guys like Zap, Benny and Gary Phillips attending these events and they know only one speed.”
Marcus Chambers is not a regular on the ANDRA Pro Series anymore but says Slamfest gives him a chance to learn more.
“It’s all about having fun for us but from a performance point of view it’s about going faster and learning more from every run and every race,” he said.
In the past many tracks have been cautious about staging a race that invariably has high cost risks associated with it. For some of the smaller tracks this would not be an option as this risk was unacceptable.
“The tracks have always borne the risk of a failed event which gave them the rights to any profits or loss that was created from that event,” Bray said.
Pro Modified Australia, with the blessing of the Doorslammer team principals, negotiates the financials of each event with the track operators offering them a less risky event by accepting the risk of low attendance through a rainout etc. in return for a split of profits.
“So far it has been a very successful method for both the racers and the tracks.”
Racers have their own motivation for wanting to go racing. For some it is to use the opportunity to run their car down the track, but for others it offers more. The Slamfest gives some the opportunity to race locally at tracks the ANDRA Pro Series does not yet reach.
“It suits us and our business but mostly it’s about racing in Victoria,” Chambers said.
Slamfest has grown which has interested more and more tracks in taking part.
“There are numerous race tracks throughout regional Australia and after some deliberation we started contacting them and ran a couple of events which worked out quite well and now each time we go back there the facilities are better than the time before,” Bray said.
“Our policy is that if we keep going back and running successful events that cycle will continue.”
Pro Modifed Australia sought to create a series that racers will enjoy running without the expense or commitment required when running in the ANDRA Pro Series.
“Slamfest brings value to me and my team. It means more racing events, more TV exposure and more value to my sponsors,” said Queenslander Russell Pavey.
Chambers shares the excitement.
“Everybody qualifies. Everybody is in the first round. Everybody gets on TV,” says Chambers
“This is great for the racer and his or her sponsors.”
The atmosphere and relaxed racing have brought together some unique raceday conditions rarely found in Group One racing. With the emphasis on a good show, racers have bandied together to create a series that both the crowd and the racers enjoy.
“The camaraderie in the pits and the benefits to the sport as a whole are what makes the events different from some others,” said Bray.
Fabietti again focused on the fun.
“It just happens to be we have a lot of fun putting on the show instead of worrying about politics and the pressure of getting points that are associated with Pro Series rounds,” he said.
Each racetrack is likely to throw a curveball at these high horsepower teams that in itself provides an opportunity to level the playing field.
“As a competitor, racing on local tracks means that the cars with the most horsepower don’t always win. The wins go to the teams that can adapt to the local conditions – it’s the wise versus the brave,” said Pavey.
As part of guaranteeing maximum opportunities for racers to put on a good show, Pro Modified Australia has ensured that track preparation is high on their agenda when conducting these rounds. Current Pro Series points leader and Slamfest stalwart Peter Kapiris recently had constructed a USA style traction machine for use at Portland. This machine with rotating tyre applicators will form part of the Slamfest track preparation at all tracks the Slamfest is conducted at with the machine becoming part of the travelling show.
“The major issue we face is getting the tracks up to par. We don’t have 200-300 vehicles running down them during the meeting, so there is simply not the traction that we see at a Pro Series event,” says Fabietti.
“If there is no traction, then there’s no action.”
Many drag racing enthusiasts will make the comparison between Pro Mod in the United States and the cars currently running here. Many of these fans may believe that stepping outside of the ANDRA Pro Series may give opportunities for the introduction of new rules that allow the running of nitrous and turbo cars in the Slamfest series. For some of the drivers that are taking part in the series the answer to this was simple.
“Definitely not, we are purists,” says Fabietti.
“This has all been tried in the USA and all it leads to is grief. The turbo cars should come up with their own rules and race against similar cars. It would be a great bracket and be every bit as popular as Top Doorslammer,” added Bray
Having Slamfest events ANDRA sanctioned can only be seen as a show of support for the national sanctioning body, which up until recently was embroiled in turmoil over the direction the sport should be taken.
“ANDRA is the sanctioning body of Australian drag racing. No matter what has happened in the past the time has come to all pull together. Right from the inception of the Slamfest series three years ago we have insisted on ANDRA sanction whenever possible,” said Bray.
Fabietti said it was about safety.
“All tracks we race on must be as per ANDRA regulations, so this also includes all the safety aspects and minimum requirements that tracks must meet, otherwise we won’t race on them,” he said.
Pavey acknowledged the work ANDRA put in with regulations.
“ANDRA sanction is the key to a level playing field. ANDRA already have a sensible rule book and knowledgeable staff. The Doorslammer teams have a good working relationship with the ANDRA people – why change any of that!” he said.
Running competitively over an 1/8 mile as opposed to ¼ mile will involve a different approach to racing. With three second passes in mind and with some of the elite of the ANDRA Pro Series taking part, Slamfest is sure to reveal some interesting approaches from the teams.
“Good teams and good crew chiefs will always rise to the top no matter what. The 1/8 mile does actually place more emphasis on the reaction time so the drivers also need to be more on the ball,” Bray said.
“if you specifically wanted to set up for the 1/8th mile the sky would be the limit on the things you could change,” said Chambers
The ANDRA Pro Series has been an extremely successful in terms of attracting high quality teams and scintillating performances from the doorslammer brigade. The interest will be in seeing the effect that Slamfest rounds have on Pro Series events at the major tracks.
“It should add to Doorslammer events at these Pro Series rounds by drawing on the regional population wanting to see these cars and others run the full ¼ mile,” said Fabietti.
“Slamfest will help the surge in interest and growth of the Pro Series. It’s bringing drag racing to a much wider audience and that will pay off in TV ratings, corporate interest and fan appreciation,” said Pavey.
If Slamfest is a success there is talk of the series being expanded to running on the four major ¼ miles tracks. The issue of “overcooking the class” may come into play as many of the majors already see these cars two or three times per season.
“Our belief is that the series can be run anywhere. The situation is that there is a commercial reality at the major tracks that has to be addressed. Whether it’s 1/8th or ¼ mile events I believe the financial structure of Slamfest events could be a major advantage to the bigger tracks with the racers accepting more of the risk in return for a better possible financial return at successful events,” said Bray.
On the other hand Russell Pavey says he can’t see that happening.
“There is a strong demand for quarter mile racing and that needs to be met. The big four currently service that market and do it well,” he said.
The future rests with the success of the forthcoming series, support from the racers and tracks and most of all from the paying public. There are some grand plans for the future of Slamfest but only time will tell.
“Hopefully we can continue to develop the series and add more tracks. We have our eye on another three or four regional tracks and would like to add them as well as a couple of new tracks that are in the process of being funded or built,” said Bray.
“The aim of Slamfest is to have a short sharp event and keep if fresh, then the success of this series and the sport’s growth is guaranteed,” concluded Fabietti.
Provisional calendar for Slamfest is :
21-Jan Heathcote
4-Feb Portland
18-Feb Tasmania
8 April Mildura
TBA Gladstone
TBA Mackay
TBA Darwin
TBA Adelaide
