As the drag racing year starts to roll on many racers have been utilising both public and private testing opportunities at Sydney Dragway to record some track time.
We will start with Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars, packing new fuel pumps for the class the Outlaw floppers sound and look even more angry, complete with gorgeous header flames. Rick Gauci behind the butterflies of the LA Hooker clocked a 5.81 best in very tricky conditions.
Shane Olive was also on the money with a 5.87.
New comer Glenn Moore made the first steps in his Outlaw Nitro Funny Car born out of his former Supercharged Outlaw ride. Moore struck the tyres on each pass but will look to do more testing this weekend at Palmyra.
Pro Stock Motorcycle surprise with Dennis Ackland returning to the fray aboard the ex Brett Stevens Pro Stock Harley now owned by Jason Grima, the team has picked up a sponsor and should stir up the bracket.
Ackland has only made a few test launches so far as they come terms the potential six second Harley bullet.
Emilio Spinozzi made his first appearance under the guidance of new crew chief Michael Marriot
With a low 1.01 sixty and 2.93 half track times, the Camaro will be on the numbers come racing.
Wayne Newby attempted a few passes in a late Friday night private test session.
Mark Hinchelwood also has been out testing some new parts in the Sainty Top Alky flopper.
It has been a while for Leonard Azzopardi who put in some solid early shut off passes.
The first round of the Pro Street Shootout series is this weekend and testing has been furious, Mick Duggan’s Nova has been on the show circuit over the past year but now it has hit the track. With Aaron Hambridge tuning Duggan has taken the first steps in licensing the absolutely gorgeous Outlaw 10.5 machine.
Matt Grubisa has gone for the Bumble Bee look with his Outlaw 10.5 Camaro and pumped out a 6.77 217mph best.
Steve Fowler ran Australia’s first aspirated Outlaw 10.5 six second pass with a 6.97.
Troy Papadopoulous has warmed to driving a turbo car, Troy is only subbing in the seat but rocketed to 6.37 and a 6.39 at 230mph, easily a new personal best for the car. He will be taking part in Sydney Dragway’s Blown vs Turbo battle this weekend.
More turbo action with Gerry Sarafoglou coming to grips with the Holden ute under the expert eye of C&V.
Mr Outlaw 10.5 has been putting down laps in a effort do chase those turbo machines.
Turbo machines like the rebuilt Moits Mustang following it’s devastating tyre exploding accident late last year.
Campo is also back hitting the two step hard.
How wicked cool is this!? Colin Walls altered though running a alcohol combination here has a nitro Donovan engine coming to chase some AA/FA records. The car has gone 7.0 in the USA with some pop in the tank.
Some Supercharged Outlaw testing with Alf Sciacca, Andrew Hodgson. and Steven Greentree
Though it did not all go to plan for Tim McCarthy during the burnout.
George Kanalis with a new car to the Supercharged Outlaw ranks.
With Jamboree on at Sydney Dragway there was no shortage of Sport Compact action.
First of it’s kind in Australia we believe (excluding Puerto Rican Jamboree tourists), small scale Sport Compact cars are very popular overseas usually running aspirated or nitrous rotary combinations. Alf Axiak now has this mini RX7 on track sporting a aspirated 20B already into the nines, the low nine second record for an aspirated rotary is under threat.
8.34 168mph for Michael Trovato.
9.66 134mph in the Steven Dimech/Myles McNaulty co-driven Mazda.
Tony Grgich has the skids sorted.
Adam Nuner high stepping RX3 into the low 8’s
Alex Cirtoski’s angry Skyline GTR looking for seven second timeslips.
Rigoli’s four cylinder projectile shot out a 6.92 at 198mph
Another team not seen for a while in Team Karam.
Gary Halpin’s 2jz Dato, Jason Both’s 20B RX7 and Anthony Maatouk’s RB30 Gemini just some of the variety in the scene.
It was everyway but straight for Peter Donchos’ Mazda wagon.
First time out for Saso Tanevski rotary Gemini.
Switching back to the more main stream rides, Peter Anastasopoulos took to the wheel of his Mustang for the first time.
You saw George Kanalis’ new Outlaws Commodore above, well here is his streeter, and it is one very unassuming sleeper when standing idle that reels off low nine second times.
Jonathon Woodward also has been back on track to continue to test their sweet Corvette.
More testing video highlights.
Images by CacklingPipes.com – Grant Stephens/Michael Wyllie/Neil Larsen
Check out more of the test and flog action in our gallery.
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