Well after a disastrous Winters warm up and Winternationals we decide to go up to Mackay to support the program for the doorslammers, be a possible reserve and do some testing and I am glad we went up even though it was an atrocious meeting for us. We did not get down the track at all, chasing ignition problems all night, change the magneto, change the points box and unfortunately Lionel could not make the meeting and when we run into trouble that is when we really need him and appreciate his help.

We have been fortunate that he has been at most meetings and when he is not and we are at Willowbank there is many people who will help you out if you just ask them. Special thanks in that category goes to John Payne who is always roving around and is a wealth of knowledge and a great assistance.

As we damaged the head at the Winternationals, Lionel had to do a fare bit of repair work welding the aluminium and remachining. We did not get the head back until about 9.30 on Friday night and it was two o'clock in the morning by the time Crofty, Nathan and assorted helpers had the car all put together - had five hours sleep, loaded it up in the morning and then headed off to Mackay.

One of our helpers Steve McIntosh drove up whilst Crofty and myself enjoyed my first drive in my new Mopar. After eight months of waiting at 5.30 p.m. on Friday I picked up the mighty SRT8, 6.1 Litres, 425 HP, 317 kilowatts for the younger generation, 20 x 9" rims and tyres and it will pass everything but a petrol station most likely but it is a real fun to drive. After our associated problems in three 60 footers at least the party afterwards with Victor and his crew was certainly well worth the trip up.

It was a good meeting for the Mackay club, a bumper crowd and I am sure Victor and Ben would have been happy with the merchandising sales. We were fortunate enough to have the company of Chris and Linda Hollingsworth who drove Victors apparel truck up from Brisbane to Mackay overnight on Thursday. One of the things that you get to enjoy in drag racing (like most other sports no doubt) is the friendships that you develop all over the country. If you are ever in trouble and in your in a town where a drag racer lives, he will help you out.

I guess that is the end of this report, nothing flash. Crofty was racing in mod bike but in the slower field this time and for the first time he had to wait and unfortunately the 3 second wait in the first round was too much and he cut a very bad red light. Never having done that before and until you are put in that situation, when they are driving down the strip away from you and you are waiting 3 seconds you just think you're never going to catch them and it is very easy to red light. Then he got a win and another loss but he is learning his craft before he steps onto the Hayabusa. At the moment the 600 is the training bike and Alan did say when driving his part of the way back from Mackay in the SRT8 that it was like the Hayabusa on four wheels.

As the testing at Mackay did not go real well, we will head off next to Benaraby on the 15th July where they have put on a $5000 to win meeting, not that we will be able to turn the car around in time, but we will certainly be able to do some more testing and go down to support them as it enables our local sponsors to see the car in action which we are always keen to do.

After Benaraby we will make a decision on whether we go to Palmyra for the Nostalgia meeting on the 30th July and simile the August Cruzin Nostalgia's at Willowbank. We are already committed to the motor show in Rockhampton on the 26th August and the week end after that it is off to Sydney for the East Coast Nationals and then only a fortnight break before we go back down to Willowbank for the Nationals - 15th - 17th September.

See you at the drags.

PETER PEIRANO

---

 

 

SEND IN YOUR FEEDBACK...

 

Name: Email: Your Feedback...