The Willowbank drag racing season fired up with round one of the Queensland Drag Racing Championships on St Valentine’s Day, though a number of delays turned the event into somewhat of a marathon with winners crowned after the strike of midnight.
Again this year racing will be contested over three Chicago shootout style rounds with the best performer meeting in a final.
Rob Nunn was the king of index racing in Super Comp at this event with his B/AP Cobalt (7.250 7.77IN), defeating Tony Bellert’s A/Dragster (6.999 7.19IN) in the final.
Super Comp’s two wheel equivalent in Comp Bike saw Peter Everett (9.786 10.26IN) overcome Brandon Gosbell (9.258 9.19IN)
An all blown dragster QDRC Outlaws final pitted a wheelstanding Nathan Pullen against Josh Fletcher, a 7.344 (7.33DI) too tough for Pullen’s 6.57 (6.62DI).
Kelly Kidd red lit by just three thousandths in losing the Modified final to Bob Frawley.
In Modified Bike Jeff Sutchliffe went red by even less as he was just one thousandth from perfect, in the other lane opponent Ken Collin was demonstrating ET perfection with a 9.990 (9.99DI) pass in claiming the trophy.
Two veteran stagers threw down in the Super Sedan final, Tony Whyatt cut a 8.886 (8.87DI) lap and was able to drive around Rick Nielsen’s 10.419 (10.38DI).
Lucas Holz chalked another win up for his Torana in Super Street with Mark Petersen bringing the red on in his lane.
A clash of National Champions Super Gas final was over at the tree with David Gauldie going red against Simon Isherwood.
A red light decided the Junior Dragster final as well with Dylan Leo presenting the win to Caleb Oberg.
In testing we saw a few Top Alcohol cars have a shot.
Gary Phillips was on the money off the trailer with his only pass of the day netting a 5.46 at 261mph.
The floppers of Steve Read and Darren Fry carded bests of 5.64 each.
Peter Zelow is continuing to become accustomed to a blown dragster, a 6.47 was his best attempt.
The Sydney Jamboree is just around the corner so there was a flurry for Factory Exteme testing, Scott Porter’s 6.50 at 224 proved to be the best of the bunch, Collin Willshire was also into the sixes with a 6.89.
Likewise the Pro Street season is due to launch next weekend in Portland, Stew Walsh was the quickest in Pro Street testing with a 6.88 at 201mph. Pocket rocket Nikki Hepburn repeated her six second form from Sydney with a 6.96 at 204mph from her crazy little Gemini.
Photos courtesy of http://Blacktrack.com.au
