Drag racers relish Weeks of Speed event

Many racers travelled a short distance at high speeds at the Gunnedah Airport last weekend, as the Tamworth Drag Racing Association (TDRA) held its first event for the year as part of Gunnedah’s Weeks of Speed festival.

The 1/8th Mile Drag Racing event drew 72 cars and three motorbikes for the two days of action, with the top speed being 207kmh.

With the race distance being only 201m, virtually all vehicles exceeded 100kmh from a standing start.

Many competitors came from the Hunter and Central Coast regions as well as the New England and North West areas, while there was also a regular from Temora who was among this year’s winners.

TDRA president Bill Ausling said, “This is what you call grassroots drag racing where you can see everything race, from your everyday ride to a specially built, blown engine drag car.

“We have our winner in group D driving a Mitsubishi Lancer and in Group A a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk.”

On day one, the racers had the chance to have six runs which enabled them to work out their vehicles and the track, and iron out any issues.

The following morning was the last chance, with three qualifying passes for drivers to work out their nominated time.

The racers were then placed among four groups, based on the times they ran that morning (while the bikes were in their own separate group). The racing format was ‘dial-your-own’ where the racer nominated a time they would run over the 1/8 mile, and they needed to run as close to that time as possible and be the first past the finish line without bettering their nominated time.

“This style of racing is all about consistency, not necessarily being the fastest,” Ausling said.

There was only 5.5 seconds difference between the 60 racers when eliminations began on the second afternoon, while there was less than a second in the split between each of the groups.

Ausling said a number of entrants returned after previously racing in Gunnedah, while the sport was growing as new drivers took on the challenge.

Ausling thanked Gunnedah Shire Council and all sponsors, as well as the volunteers and club members for their work.

The TDRA’s next event will be on May 10-11.

RESULTS

Motorbikes: winner Shawn Close of Muswellbrook, riding a Yamaha YZF R1; r/up Danny Pryce of Weston, riding a Dyna Harley Davidson.

Group D: winner Beau Robertson of Kootingal in a Mitsubishi Lancer; r/up Jack McNeil of Tamworth in a Ford EF Sedan.

Group C: winner Peter Grant of Temora in a Hambster; r/up Barrie Young of Tamworth in a ’57 Chev.

Group B: winner Bradley Michalski of Tamworth in a ’32 Ford Coupe; r/up Kevin Pryce of Seahampton in a HX Kingswood Wagon.

Group A: winner Warwick Googh of Red Head in a Jeep Trackhawk; r/up Sean Macpherson of Blackalls Park in a ’48 Ford Prefect.

Best Reaction: Bradley Michalski of Tamworth with a 0.007 second reaction.

Closest-To-Dial-in: Beau Robertson of Kootingal ran a perfect 10.750 on his 10.750 dial-in.

Steven Halliday from Edgeworth in a Holden Torana.

John Westbury from Rocky River in a 1998 single cab Toyota Hilux.

Tim Wales from Werris Creek in a Chrysler Charger CL Coupe.