For David Willis and Simon Barlow, the weekend’s Twilight Nationals was a record-breaker, and for Barlow, it was also the maker of a championship tilt.
Willis reset the D/AB Competition Bike 660ft MPH record to 125.28mph, while Barlow reset both ends of the Modified record to 4.345 and 161.01mph as part of a clean sweep which also included taking out the ANDRA Christmas Tree Trophy and the Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier Medallion.
Barlow’s success at what was the penultimate round of the 2022/2023 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series was particularly impactful, as it propelled him into the box seat for the Modified championship ahead of the ANDRA Grand Final/Westernationals (March 4/5, Perth Motorplex). Barlow currently leads on 160 points, with a host of racers including Craig Baker, Josie Hodgins, Daniel Hodgins and Matt Ponton nipping at his heels.
“Our weekend couldn’t have gone any better. We ticked off every box, and while we were a little worried with the weather, Kingsley Kuchel and his crew did a fantastic job and the track was just perfect by race day and the car really liked it – it is a full credit to them, they do an amazing job and ran a great meet in trying conditions,” Barlow said.
“We are just trying to get the consistency in the car – Modified is such a tight and competitive class, it is hard enough getting a round win let alone an event win, so we have been working hard on the set-up and trying to be consistent and it is getting faster at the same time, and the record came as a by-product of those efforts.
“As far as the championship goes, we have decided to go to Perth and chase it full steam, with full intentions of hopefully bringing home the gold ANDRA Christmas Tree Championship trophy. There will be plenty trying to stop us from doing that as well, the class is so tight, so anything could happen – you can be the winner one event and a round one loser the next.
“I have a good team backing me so I am full of confidence, and we will be giving it our best shot. In the meantime, I want to say thank you to Phil and Mick Read’s Transport, Town and Country Solar, MV Automatics, Lawrence and Hanson Gawler, Just Muscle Cars, Wade’s Automotive Refinishing, and all of my long-term crew. And also, of course, my partner Sonia and my family for all of their support.”
Willis’ record-setting performance comes following a recent class change.
“We only recently made the switch from B/Street to D/Altered and I am still in the process of setting the bike up, so we came over early for the Test and Tune on the Thursday and did some tuning on the rear suspension which saw me very happy with how the bike was leaving the line,” Willis explained.
“Going into qualifying, it was very hot as everyone knows, and it was still a little ways off the index, but I was getting a lot more comfortable with the way the bike was leaving the line and the MPH was really good.
“We had a reasonable qualifying, a little slower than what I expected, but still mid-field, and I actually went over the MPH record during qualifying but didn’t realise it at the time.
“When it came to the racing on Saturday, in my very first run I went over the record and then again in the second round, before my last run of the night was my best of the evening with 125.7mph.
“This is my first time setting a national record and I am pretty happy with this achievement. I have been racing for a while now and I don’t have any sponsors, I just do it all by myself, and it feels really good to have the hard work rewarded – there is a lot more to come to I think, it has a lot more in it. The ET record is the next one I will be looking at!
“Thank you to Viv Coe from Coe’s Electrical in Port Pirie for the assistance in tuning the bike. All in all, it was a very good weekend for everybody; even though it was hot, it was a great weekend of racing – it is always good to get over to Mildura and have a run there.”
For the updated listing of 660ft records, please click here.
The final round of the 2022/2023 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series will be held at the Perth Motorplex, as part of the Westernationals across March 4 and 5. For event information, go to www.motorplex.com.au
For more information, visit www.andra.com.au
