Drag News Australia event coverage from the Southern Nationals at Calder Park featuring Top Doorslammer, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle and the Aeroflow Sportsman Series. Coverage includes the live feed courtesy by MotorsportsTV.com.au and a news blog to keep you abreast of the results when they come to hand.
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EVENT NEWS UPDATES:
Event Wrap – Zappia and Bishop on pace at Calder Park
The ANDRA Drag Racing Series and Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship got off to an early start this morning as the sun began to shine and the track came around but the full race program was unable to be completed.
Similar to Friday night, safety concerns were raised as a result of rapidly dropping track temperatures.
Top Doorslammer found their groove earlier in the day over the 1000 foot distance as Stuart Bishop and John Zappia put down the pass of the day in the final qualifying session. Bishop top qualified on a 5.136 with Zappia close behind on a 5.270.
As it turned out they were due to face each other in the final after blitzing their elimination opponents.
Bishop said his form was down to the tune of the car as the auto transmission allows the team more room to dial back the set up for the shorter distance.
“We’re all so hyped up to run 5.80s that you get to a track like this and the track just can’t cope with that type of horsepower,” he said. “You can dial it right back and that’s where I think they come into their own.”
“I think it’s been great (at Calder Park). I’d like to see them spend some money and do the track up. I think the venue could be absolutely fabulous again with its proximity to Melbourne and the fan-base here.”
Unfortunately we would not get to see a Bishop v Zappia final but Zappia had some fun with what might have been.
“We got the maximum amount of points under the situation so we earned 97 points and Stuart earned 88 points and we feel we got the moral win,” said Zappia. “We came here to play a game and we won the most points.”
“The Fuchs Striker Monaro was flying all weekend and even though we had some tyre shake, flying over bumps and moving around all over the place, under the conditions we put a similar set up to Adelaide where we had run a 5.03.”
“When the sun came out today the traction got better and we we’re able to go 5.08 with a pedal and a 5.11 in the semis with a pedal at 222 mph.”
In other Group 1 action, Pro Stock completed the first round of eliminations with Lee Bektash making headlines for knocking out 2013 champ Jason Grima on a 7.115 from a 7.296.
Top qualifier Bill Kostias also went out in the first round with an NTR as Tyronne Tremayne crossed on a 7.279. The fourth and final matchup saw Rick Chilton post a 7.157 to defeat Nino Cavallo running 7.584.
Pro Stock Motorcycle completed one round of eliminations but did not stage a semi final though the action came thick and fast.
Australian number one Luke Crowley had low ET of the round on a 7.324 to defeat Lachlan Ireland on 7.694 and Phil Howard ran an 8.179 to defeat Scott White on a troubled 10.750.
But the drama came when Maurice Allen (NTR) defeated Tony Hinkley (NTR), after Hinkley took a tumble off the bike taking out the finish line cones. Safety crews reacted while Maurice Allen immediately pulled up his bike and ran to the aid of Hinkley who was okay and walked away.
As the night progressed and Top Doorslammer completed the semi finals, Group 1 would not get to see another green light once track and ANDRA officials deemed the surface to be unsafe due to the cold conditions.
Several elimination rounds were also completed in Round 5 of the Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship.
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Update – The Southern Nationals has been called to a close because of the track temperature. The track temp dropped some 15 degrees in the time it took to clean up following Rick Chilton’s wild Pro Stock moment, so in the name of safety the rest of the event is being cancelled.
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Update – ANDRA have cancelled the remainder of Top Doorslammer and Pro Stock due to the cold track conditions, more information as is comes to hand.
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PRO STOCK SEMI FINAL RESULTS
A. Tremayne 8.13 def. R. Chilton who crossed the centerline.
ANDRA have put a hold on further Pro Stock racing as they assess the conditions.
TOP DOORSLAMMER SEMI FINAL RESULTS
S. Bishop 5.20 def. B. Bray 5.74
J. Zappia 5.11 def. G. O’Rourke 5.99
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE FIRST ROUND RESULTS
L. Crowley 7.32 def. L. Ireland 7.69
M. Allen 7.51 def. T. Hinkley – Allen narrowly avoids the centerline but Hinkley lays the bike down in the braking area, reports are he is ok.
P. Howard def. S. White 10.75
PRO STOCK FIRST ROUND RESULTS
L. Bektash 7.11 def. J. Grima 7.29
A. Tremayne 7.21 def. J. Hedges 8.73
T. Tremayne 7.27 def. B. Kotsias
R. Chilton 7.15 def. N. Cavallo 7.58
Spinozzi qualified but withdrew allowing Tyronne Tremayne to slot in to the field.
TOP DOORSLAMMER FIRST ROUND RESULTS
B. Bray 5.26 def M. Dack – Dack is all over the place and across the centerline.
S. Bishop 5.15 def. Fabietti 6.38 – Fabulous strikes the tyres and Bishop is looking consistent again this event.
G. O’Rourke 5.64 def. V.Bray 5.62 – Holeshot win.
J. Zappia 5.08 def. Belleri – Low ET for Zap.
UNOFFICIAL FINAL QUALIFYING ORDER – (corrected results)
1. L. Crowley
2. M. Allen
3. P. Howard
4. S. White
5. T. Hinkley
6. L. Ireland
7. G. Wooster
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE FINAL QUALIFYING SESSION RESULTS
M.Allen – 7.705
S.White – 8.347
L. Crowley – 7.289
T. Hinkley – Crossed centerline
L. Ireland – NTR, stalled on line
G. Wooster – DNS, broken
P. Howard – 7.732
UNOFFICIAL FINAL QUALIFYING ORDER
1. B. Kotsias
2. N. Cavallo
3. A. Tremayne
4. J. Grima
5. L. Bektash
6. J. Hedges
7. R. Chilton
8. E. Spinozzi
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9. T. Tremayne
10. R. Cavall
11. A. Kolaroff
12. A. Selva
13. C. Soldatos
PRO STOCK FINAL QUALIFYING SESSION RESULTS
J. Hedges – 7.224
R. Cavall – 7.377
A. Kolaroff – 7.400
A. Selva – 7.520
E. Spinozzi – 7.326
N. Cavallo – 7.115
B. Kotsias – 7.115
R. Chilton – 7.313
L. Bektash – 7.176
T. Tremayne – 7.375
A. Tremayne – 7.127
C. Soldatos – 7.699
J. Grima – 7.134
UNOFFICIAL FINAL QUALIFYING ORDER
1. S. Bishop
2. J. Zappia
3. V. Bray
4. B. Bray
5. M. Dack
6. G. O’Rourke
7. M. Belleri
8. M. Fabietti
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9. P. Kapiris
10. S. Travaglini
11. P. Priolo
12. P. Carbone
13. T. Defelice
TOP DOORSLAMMER FINAL QUALIFYING SESSION RESULTS – 1000FT Distance
V.Bray – 5.322
T. DeFelice – 6.646
M. Fabietti – 5.629
S. Travaglini – Shut down
B. Bray – 5.327
P. Carbone – 6.385
P. Kapiris – 6.050
M. Belleri – 5.511
S. Bishop – 5.136
P. Priolo – 6.075
J. Zappia – 5.270
G. O’Rourke – 5.405
M. Dack – 5.388
FINAL QUALIFYING ORDERS – SPORTSMAN
FRIDAY UPDATES
Chilly conditions ends qualifying early
Qualifying for the Southern Nationals presented by Fiat Professional & Essendon Chrysler Jeep Dodge got off to a promising start today but ultimately weather dictated proceedings at Calder Park.
Each of the three ANDRA Drag Racing Series brackets, Pro Stock Motorcycle, Pro Stock and Top Doorslammer, each completed one qualifying run.
Several competitors found the chilly conditions challenging with ETs down on expectations. Aaron Tremayne currently sits first in Pro Stock on a 7.174 with a number of drivers stepping off early at half-track. Lee Bektash (8.722) is second, Richard Cavall (8.847) third, Emilio Spinozzi (8.962) fourth and Bill Kostias (8.962) fifth.
Pro Stock Motorcycle was much the same with Maurice Allen (7.360) currently on top, Luke Crowley (7.691), Tony Hinkley (8.665) in third, Scott White (8.804) fourth. All others did not register a time.
Top Doorslammer however saw some quick times over the 1000 feet distance as Stuart Bishop went ripped a 5.267 from Ben Bray (5.407), John Zappia (5.555), Simon Travaglini (6.054) and Victor Bray (6.066).
In the end the weather rendered the track unsafe and the decision was taken to call it a night as the rain began to fall.
ANDRA Competition Manager Brett Stevens said the decision was made in the interests of competitor safety.
“The track was becoming colder and at the time of the decision to call the event we were two degrees from the dew point,” he said.
“We felt it was best to call off the rest of tonight’s schedule and move tomorrow’s schedule ahead by an hour and a half to ensure all brackets are able to complete the qualifying programme in a fair manner.”
Several qualifying runs were completed in the Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship with Modified, Modified Bike, Super Street and Junior Dragster all seeing the track three times.
Super Comp, Supercharged Outlaws, Super Sedan and Super Gas each completed two qualifiers.
Tomorrow’s action will now be brought forward from 12:00pm to 10:30am in order to ensure qualifying is completed. Fans returning to Calder Park are urged to arrive early for a full day and night of racing.
GROUP ONE QUALIFYING SESSION ONE
Top Doorslammer – 1000ft distance
V.Bray – 6.06
T. DeFelice – 13.59
M. Fabietti – 6.37
S. Travaglini – 6.06
B. Bray – 5.40
P. Carbone – 10.91
P. Kapiris – 7.84
M. Belleri – 6.51
S. Bishop – 5.26
P. Priolo – 7.24
J. Zappia – 5.55 – Nearly scrapes the wall.
G. O’Rourke – 7.36
M. Dack – Shut down
Pro Stock – 1320ft distance
J. Hedges – 9.33
R. Cavall – 8.84
A. Kolaroff – 10.12
A. Selva – Shut down
E. Spinozzi – 8.96
N. Cavallo – 9.13
B. Kotsias – 8.96
R. Chilton – 9.70 – Has a major moment at quarter track, run DQ for touching car in stage.
L. Bektash – 8.72
T. Tremayne – Chutes fall out in the burnout and has caused significant damage to the spoiler.
A. Tremayne – 7.17
C. SOldatos – 9.23
J. Grima – 10.79 – Run DQ for touching car in stage.
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 1320ft distance
M.Allen – 7.360
S.White – 8.804
L. Crowley – 7.69
T. Hinkley – 8.66
L. Ireland – Shutdown
G. Wooster – NTR, timers set to 1000ft
P. Howard – NTR, timers set to 1000ft
SPORTSMAN FRIDAY RESULTS
PRE EVENT NEWS
– Scott White looking to go one step better
– Nostalgic return to Calder for TBR
– Who’s afraid of the big, bad Buell?
– Bektash carrying the hopes of Mopar faithful
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