South Australian Drag Racing Roars Into Life
The Spring Nationals at the brand-new Dragway at The Bend, featuring more than 300+ Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series competitors alongside group one racers for NDRC Top Fuel, Dananni Hot Shots Top Doorslammer, Top Fuel Motorcycle and Pro Stock Motorcycle, saw drag racing come back to South Australia in exceptional style at the weekend.
The October 21 and 22 event marked the grand-opening of the new Dragway at The Bend, which is part of the impressive Shell V-Power Motorsport Park precinct of the Shahin family.
Australian National Drag Racing Association (ANDRA) Chief Executive Officer, Tim McAvaney, said the event marked a milestone moment for Australian drag racing.
“35,000 race fans poured into Dragway at the Bend over Saturday and Sunday and were treated to a long list of incredible performances from some of Australia’s best drag racers across Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Pro Stock Motorcycle, and of course, the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series.
“I could not be more proud of all of the racers for their commitment and dedication to putting on the best show they could as South Australia enthusiastically welcomed drag racing back to the state with the opening of this world-class Dragway at The Bend.”
Sunday saw the sportsman racers launch straight into racing, battling for the chance to be able to call themselves the first ever Dragway at The Bend event winner for their bracket.
Vanz Pierano (Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster), Craig Geddes (Competition Eliminator), Shane Baxter (Supercharged Outlaws), Kim Fardella (Super Stock), Matt Rossow (Super Street), and Jason Hoctor (Super Sedan) took out the wins from runners-up Zayne Condello (Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster), Terry Waterman (Competition Eliminator), Kasey McClure (Supercharged Outlaws), Tim Triantafillow (Super Stock), Andrew Ricketts (Super Street) and Mick Aston (Super Sedan). Jason Young and Chris Dalton were also matched up for the Top Sportsman final, but the final itself was not run.
Modified Bike – Time Sheets
Competition Bike – Time Sheets
Pro Stock – Time Sheets
Top Fuel – Time Sheets
In regard to championship points, each sportsman (group 2, 3 and 4) entrant were awarded 20 points, to ensure fairness for championship contenders given the unavoidable weather-driven disruptions to qualifying.
The next round of the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series will be held at the Perth Motorplex’s Goldenstates across November 24 and 25, where they will race alongside the group one competitors of NDRC Nitro Funny Car, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Top Doorslammer and Pro Alcohol. For event information, visit www.motorplex.com.au
Summit Racing Sportsman Series Performs For Capacity Crowd at The Bend
The grand-opening Spring Nationals for Dragway at The Bend, featuring the latest round of the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series, saw more than 350 racers put on a show for a sold-out capacity crowd of 20,532 today.
By the time a weather (wind and dust) shortened on-track program was concluded this afternoon, Warren Smith (Super Gas), Cooper Plummer (Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster), Andrew Ricketts (Super Street), Sean Ricketts (Modified Bike), Tony Miskelly (Super Sedan), Simon Barlow (Modified) and Darren Saliba (Top Sportsman) had claimed the Decoglaze Glass Splashbacks Top Qualifier Medallions today for their respective brackets.
Sean Ricketts has never travelled further for a racing event and said the new facility is top class.
“The track and the facility here is top class to run at, I have really enjoyed the runs we got ot have, and it is a great thing for our drag racing community to have this track in South Australia,” Sean Ricketts said.
“There are trying conditions for sure, but my bike has run really well straight out of the trailer, and I got used to the tree pretty quick. The only thing I am wary of is my own mistakes, which cost me last time in Mildura!
“The crowd here today was amazing, and they couldn’t get enough of it, hopefully we can put on a good show for them tomorrow.”
The Spring Nationals action, including racing for the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series, will continue tomorrow (Sunday 22 October) at Dragway at The Bend. For event information including updated schedules, entry lists and more, as well as tickets, please visit www.thebend.com.au
The Australian National Drag Racing Association Ltd, or ANDRA for short, is the drag racing sanctioning body of Australia. The organization was created in 1973 from a more drag racing oriented faction of the Australian Hot Rod Federation. Today ANDRA sanctions races throughout Australia and throughout the year at all levels, from Top Fuel to Junior Dragster, on everything from temporary regional tracks to international standard facilities in capital cities. ANDRA and its members make drag racing a family-friendly, safe sport. So come along as a spectator or bring your street car to an “off-street” event and enjoy the excitement that is Australian drag racing. www.andra.com.au
