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Trials and tribulations - Sydney Track Champs Rnd 2


Drag News Australia

The good folks over at DNA ran this story on us

Reproduced with permission

 

Written by Grant Stephens
Friday, 29 October 2010 10:43

The new Track Championship Series (TCS) at Sydney Dragway is facing some challenges despite the success of round one. Competitor numbers were significantly down, notably from the Supercharged Outlaws teams over the reduction of prize money being the primary reason for their stance to stay home.

Prize money has not been the only reason, the move to extend the meeting to two days according to some racers has been difficult to adapt to with the close proximity of rounds. Racers finding it hard to make the extra time available to compete which caused the round to suffered when a number of competitors did not return for Sunday's eliminations. The addition of the new ANDRA teching system caught out 10 racers who had to pack up all resulting in extended downtime during the final day to allow for racers to turn vehicles around, these are gaps that need to be plugged in future events to produce a attractive promotional product.

The positive side is that the two day meetings relax the schedule significantly and allow racers more track time with some brackets receiving 5 qualifiers, Track Manager Ray Treasure is actively working through these and other issues with racers to build the Sydney Track Championship to a level equaling the other major tracks.

The weather laid down the final challenge to this round, Saturday featured howling Westerly winds reaching gale force numbers at times and freezing temperatures, while Sunday became very hot providing a challenge to racers to dial in to the conditions.

All in all, the meeting ran very smoothly, constantly well ahead of schedule the building process for the TCS though will be an arduous one in a state that should feature the premier Track Championship Series.

Nitro Nostalgia Exhibition

With Sydney Dragway trying to build features into the Track Championship Series (TCS), this round featured three nitro burning nostalgia cars making some testing laps albeit only on the Saturday to headline the event.

 

Taking a slightly different approach to nitro nostalgia racing, Dave Armstrong in his 392ci Donovan powered FED which was proving to be a real handful, the shorter wheel base made for some seriously crossed up passes. Particularly his last 7.18 @ 191 pass with the FED creating some very acute angles when the chutes hit, just the way the purists like it!

Sydney Dragway, October 30-31st, 2010

On show

The A.N.F.A. had 3 cars on display at the Sydney Dragway Top Fuel/Top Alcohol meeting this past weekend to help promote the upcoming Nostalgia Event on November 21st.

There was the Black Widow, Norm Longfield's F.E.D. and Graeme Cowin's '57 Chev Funny Car.

All the cars were in a static display in the large white building from the opening of the event on Saturday morning till the final pass on Sunday evening.

Mid morning Saturday, we moved the cars around a bit more for a better viewing angle for the public and because the cars are a little longer than most, this made for much better photo opportunities.

During the busy crowd times on the Saturday, Wendy and I put just on 25 kids and 12 adults in the car for photo opportunities. To say that every child was just awe struck would be an understatement. Plenty and plenty of photos were taken of the 'Widow, then when they had finished with their 'Thanks very very much kudos', they turned around and Wendy slapped a brochure on the upcoming November event into there still sweaty palms. Wendy and I both like doing these kinds of promo's as every child and every parent is super grateful as chances are, they have NEVER been up close and personal with a race car of any description. We get just as big a kick out of this as they do. Even the 'silly questions' are not taken as silly, as they really do not understand some of the intricate aspects of our car and sport, but after we explain the 'question' back to them, they nod with a better understanding of how the whole system works.

I think with all of the P.R. that we did on Saturday and Sunday, I that we have definitely had an effect on some people that hopefully will return to watch the REAL Kings of the Sport strut their stuff on Sunday 21st November.

If you hadn't been aware, this will be the first time outside of the U.S.A. (the birthplace of drag racing) that 4 cars on Nitromethane will go at it over 3 rounds of racing. Not for the faint-hearted.

Come along on Sunday 21st November and let your senses be assaulted! (Sort of like a radio commercial isn't it...).

Thanks to all of the people that we have hopefully converted into Nostalgia fans,

Sincerely, Steve and Wendy Turner....

For more pictures see Widow at Sydney Dragway - October 30-31, 2010 in the Gallery

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