Piranha Racing - Supercharged Outlaws

FOR THOSE NEW TO DRAG RACING, FOLLOWING IS SOME INFORMATION THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO YOU.

As Australia's second oldest championship event which celebrates its 36th year in 2003, Willowbank Raceway's Winternationals has always had an aura about it for drag racers.

The high level of public interest which resulted form that move turned into a raging passion in 1997 when the Australian National Drag Racing Association (ANDRA) added to the prestige of the Winternationals by upgrading it again, this time making it the season decider for all Australian drag racing championships.

Since it switched from being a regional event to a national championship race in 1993, the Winternationals has achieved impressive results, with major milestones including its establishment as the biggest championship drag race in Australia, outstripping in competitor numbers Australian's oldest championship event, the Australian National Championships. It is also the biggest championship drag race outside of North America.

The Winternationals is renowned for horsepower-friendly atmospheric conditions and exceptional track preparation which combine to produce outstanding performances in all classes. And with Willowbank's long-established commitment to improvements in facilities it is no wonder the event is guaranteed success.

On the Queensland sporting scene, the Winternationls more than holds its own. The race is the biggest domestic motorsport event in the state (only the international Gold Coast Indy care race draws more people) and the crowd estimate of around 36,000 more than favorably compares with other big sporting events in the state such as rugby union Super 12, State of Origin and the Winter Racing Carnival.

The Ipswich City Council has continued to work with Willowbank and the Ipswich Events Corporation to try to promote the biggest event on the calendar of Ipswich's largest tourist attraction - Willowbank Raceway. The Queensland Government is also assisting with the Winternationals through its Queensland Events Regional Development Program.

With the Willowbank Drag Racing programs running on Channel 7, the sport has continued to gain a higher profile with the general public. As far as drag racing goes, the raceway has provided the best spectator seating in Australia, the best corporate facilities and the best pit layout and the stars of the show - the racers, just keep coming up with closer racing, higher standards of performance, and outstanding vehicle presentation.

While performance marks set at the Winternationals are often broken at other Willowbank events or at Perth's excellent Kwinana facility, world-class performances have been set almost every year since 1993.

The final day of the Winternationals has traditionally been a sell-out, but crowds are increasing on the last night of qualifying as the word spreads that the Saturday night show is one of the best entertainment packages on wheels.

Sometimes, many of the quickest times and speeds of the weekend are recorded during qualifying, especially during the evening when the night air conditions offer unrivalled horsepower advantages. Many Winternationals fans believe that for pure entertainment value, Saturday's last-ditch attempts by competitors to score places in their respective fields more than favorably compares to Sunday's final night of elimination's.

Willowbank's popular Supercharged Outlaws eliminator is one of the highlights of the Qualifying Night of Thunder.

The eliminator for superchaged cars is the event's exhibition bracket and elimination's for the 16 car field are run throughout the night. In all 470 entries nominated for this years Winternationals.

UNLIKE FOOTBALL OR A CONCERT, DRAG RACING IS AN ALL-DAY AFFAIR.

Drag racing, unlike a typical three-hour football game or concert, is an all-day affair.

Drag racing is also the most unique of any motorsport as fans have direct access to teams in the pits, watching from only a couple of metres, as skilled race crews attend to their machines.

Some of the most frantic action of the event takes place in the pits just after a vehicle returns from a race.

"Fans can watch as race crews pull-down engines and prepare for the next round, and if fans want to get a real feel of a nitro or alcohol-fuelled engines, Group One teams - Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Pro Stock, Top Alcohol, Top Fuel Bike and Pro Stock Motorcycle - test fire their engines about 45 minutes to an hour before their next race".

RACE REPORT LEXUS PIRANHA HOT ROD

We departed Wednesday after work using Russell Mackay's All Hours Glass Chev to tow the Lexus Piranha trailer to Maryborough. James, Zac and myself stayed overnight with Heather's sister Kay and her husband Neil (we call him the Hun). Early Thursday morning we picked up the mud guards and nose cone cover after Hans the paint doctor did some excellent art work. I could not highly recommend more - have a look at his web site - paintdoctor@bigpond.com. His contact numbers are 07 4123 1536, mobile 0417 768 372.

Following this we drove onto Dave Cole's - "Race Central" workshop at Oxenford on the Gold Coast where he did some work on the four link set up and some other adjustments and we then headed off to the track where the second car in Team Capricorn - Dave Ferricks, Noel Smith and Piranha Insurance Brokers - A/MD Dragster was already set up and a good time was had by all on Thursday night after we set up camp in the Supercharged Outlaw section.

We had a good day Friday considering the first run was aborted with a fuel leakage problem and later on the first full run down the track, not on the rev limitor, produced our first 7 second time and showed some of the tremendous potential in this car and engine combination. Nathan got a little bit greedy at the red light, however he still produced a great 7.926 time at 156.79 MPH/252.34 KPH.

We had another qualifying run on Saturday, but again our water problems meant the run had to be aborted. In the first round we initially drew Simon Hodgenson in the nasty bug, only to have that changed to Daniel Reid - a real tough competitor and nice young gentleman.

To say that Nathan was a little bit nervous would be an understatement. There was a good crowd and being his first competitive run in Supercharged Outlaws he qualified 15 out of 24. That is drag racing - things do not always happen they way you plan them. He cut a bad red light and afterwards he said and I quote "I just wanted to get it on" We are now looking for great things to happen.

Our water problems came back and Daniel well and truly dusted us. Hopefully next time we get to play we will have solved a few more of our teething problems. The team are very happy with the success that we have had and I would be confident in saying that it is Australia's fastest and quickest Lexus powered drag racing vehicle with tremendous potential still to be unearthed and we are only playing with the Horse power at 14% underdriven. Close on a 1000 HP out of 4 litres - 240 cubic inches and there is a lot more left in this baby yet.

We are a little bit disappointed to find out that there will be no Supercharged Outlaws for the opening of Western Sydney International drag way and as we are loathed to run in modified as there are too many runs and not enough turn around time and due to the quad cam and full alloy block and heads there is no where much to go in comp.

We will certainly be at the Nationals at Willowbank on 21st to 23rd November and are set to do some testing at Warwick prior to that due to the hospitality and great sportsmanship from the Loy brothers from Warwick - fellow Supercharged Outlaw competitors.

They say success is a journey and not a destination, well we are journeying down the road with a long way to go and we would not be where we are now without the help from mostly Rockhampton based drag racing enthusiast, friends and family. Greg McDonald - Go Mac engines drives up from Sydney every meeting, Dave Coles from Race Central, Ron Dormer, Geoff McDonald (Greg's son from Brisbane), Dave Ferricks, Noel Smith our co-crew chief, Zac "the backup bitch", Nigel no friends whose coil packs seem to work tremendously, Russell Mackay from All Hours Glass is certainly handy to have around and his help to fit the gas fridge in the truck was invaluable to us. On this trip Lachlan Tree came with us and again we do appreciate the help.

WINTER NATIONALS TV DATES.

Highlights of the 2003 Winter Nationals will be features on two Sunday episodes of Willowbank Raceways Drag Racing television programs. The programs can be seen on both free to air, Queensland wide on the 7 Network and National wide on cabel and satellite on Fox Sports.

Screening on the 7 Network is schedule for July the 13th and 20th. The shows will feature all the best action from professional categories of Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Pro Stock, Top Alcohol and Top Bike as well as highlights from other eliminators including Supercharged Outlaws.

One of the main reasons we choose to race in supercharged Outlaws was the exposure to our sponsors on National Television via cabel and satellite on Fox Sports and Queensland wide on the & Network.



	RACE REPORTS: TEAM CAPRICORN - WINTER NATIONALS - 6TH - 8TH JUNE 2003 View gallery images from the event FOR THOSE NEW TO DRAG RACING, FOLLOWING IS SOME INFORMATION THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO YOU. As Australia's second oldest championship event which celebrates its 36th year in 2003, Willowbank Raceway's Winternationals has always had an aura about it for drag racers. The high level of public interest which resulted form that move turned into a raging passion in 1997 when the Australian National Drag Racing Association (ANDRA) added to the prestige of the Winternationals by upgrading it again, this time making it the season decider for all Australian drag racing championships. Since it switched from being a regional event to a national championship race in 1993, the Winternationals has achieved impressive results, with major milestones including its establishment as the biggest championship drag race in Australia, outstripping in competitor numbers Australian's oldest championship event, the Australian National Championships. It is also the biggest championship drag race outside of North America. The Winternationals is renowned for horsepower-friendly atmospheric conditions and exceptional track preparation which combine to produce outstanding performances in all classes. And with Willowbank's long-established commitment to improvements in facilities it is no wonder the event is guaranteed success. On the Queensland sporting scene, the Winternationls more than holds its own. The race is the biggest domestic motorsport event in the state (only the international Gold Coast Indy care race draws more people) and the crowd estimate of around 36,000 more than favorably compares with other big sporting events in the state such as rugby union Super 12, State of Origin and the Winter Racing Carnival. The Ipswich City Council has continued to work with Willowbank and the Ipswich Events Corporation to try to promote the biggest event on the calendar of Ipswich's largest tourist attraction - Willowbank Raceway. The Queensland Government is also assisting with the Winternationals through its Queensland Events Regional Development Program. With the Willowbank Drag Racing programs running on Channel 7, the sport has continued to gain a higher profile with the general public. As far as drag racing goes, the raceway has provided the best spectator seating in Australia, the best corporate facilities and the best pit layout and the stars of the show - the racers, just keep coming up with closer racing, higher standards of performance, and outstanding vehicle presentation. While performance marks set at the Winternationals are often broken at other Willowbank events or at Perth's excellent Kwinana facility, world-class performances have been set almost every year since 1993. The final day of the Winternationals has traditionally been a sell-out, but crowds are increasing on the last night of qualifying as the word spreads that the Saturday night show is one of the best entertainment packages on wheels. Sometimes, many of the quickest times and speeds of the weekend are recorded during qualifying, especially during the evening when the night air conditions offer unrivalled horsepower advantages. Many Winternationals fans believe that for pure entertainment value, Saturday's last-ditch attempts by competitors to score places in their respective fields more than favorably compares to Sunday's final night of elimination's. Willowbank's popular Supercharged Outlaws eliminator is one of the highlights of the Qualifying Night of Thunder. The eliminator for superchaged cars is the event's exhibition bracket and elimination's for the 16 car field are run throughout the night. In all 470 entries nominated for this years Winternationals. UNLIKE FOOTBALL OR A CONCERT, DRAG RACING IS AN ALL-DAY AFFAIR. Drag racing, unlike a typical three-hour football game or concert, is an all-day affair. Drag racing is also the most unique of any motorsport as fans have direct access to teams in the pits, watching from only a couple of metres, as skilled race crews attend to their machines. Some of the most frantic action of the event takes place in the pits just after a vehicle returns from a race. "Fans can watch as race crews pull-down engines and prepare for the next round, and if fans want to get a real feel of a nitro or alcohol-fuelled engines, Group One teams - Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Pro Stock, Top Alcohol, Top Fuel Bike and Pro Stock Motorcycle - test fire their engines about 45 minutes to an hour before their next race". RACE REPORT LEXUS PIRANHA HOT ROD We departed Wednesday after work using Russell Mackay's All Hours Glass Chev to tow the Lexus Piranha trailer to Maryborough. James, Zac and myself stayed overnight with Heather's sister Kay and her husband Neil (we call him the Hun). Early Thursday morning we picked up the mud guards and nose cone cover after Hans the paint doctor did some excellent art work. I could not highly recommend more - have a look at his web site - paintdoctor@bigpond.com. His contact numbers are 07 4123 1536, mobile 0417 768 372. Following this we drove onto Dave Cole's - "Race Central" workshop at Oxenford on the Gold Coast where he did some work on the four link set up and some other adjustments and we then headed off to the track where the second car in Team Capricorn - Dave Ferricks, Noel Smith and Piranha Insurance Brokers - A/MD Dragster was already set up and a good time was had by all on Thursday night after we set up camp in the Supercharged Outlaw section. We had a good day Friday considering the first run was aborted with a fuel leakage problem and later on the first full run down the track, not on the rev limitor, produced our first 7 second time and showed some of the tremendous potential in this car and engine combination. Nathan got a little bit greedy at the red light, however he still produced a great 7.926 time at 156.79 MPH/252.34 KPH. We had another qualifying run on Saturday, but again our water problems meant the run had to be aborted. In the first round we initially drew Simon Hodgenson in the nasty bug, only to have that changed to Daniel Reid - a real tough competitor and nice young gentleman. To say that Nathan was a little bit nervous would be an understatement. There was a good crowd and being his first competitive run in Supercharged Outlaws he qualified 15 out of 24. That is drag racing - things do not always happen they way you plan them. He cut a bad red light and afterwards he said and I quote "I just wanted to get it on" We are now looking for great things to happen. Our water problems came back and Daniel well and truly dusted us. Hopefully next time we get to play we will have solved a few more of our teething problems. The team are very happy with the success that we have had and I would be confident in saying that it is Australia's fastest and quickest Lexus powered drag racing vehicle with tremendous potential still to be unearthed and we are only playing with the Horse power at 14% underdriven. Close on a 1000 HP out of 4 litres - 240 cubic inches and there is a lot more left in this baby yet. We are a little bit disappointed to find out that there will be no Supercharged Outlaws for the opening of Western Sydney International drag way and as we are loathed to run in modified as there are too many runs and not enough turn around time and due to the quad cam and full alloy block and heads there is no where much to go in comp. We will certainly be at the Nationals at Willowbank on 21st to 23rd November and are set to do some testing at Warwick prior to that due to the hospitality and great sportsmanship from the Loy brothers from Warwick - fellow Supercharged Outlaw competitors. They say success is a journey and not a destination, well we are journeying down the road with a long way to go and we would not be where we are now without the help from mostly Rockhampton based drag racing enthusiast, friends and family. Greg McDonald - Go Mac engines drives up from Sydney every meeting, Dave Coles from Race Central, Ron Dormer, Geoff McDonald (Greg's son from Brisbane), Dave Ferricks, Noel Smith our co-crew chief, Zac "the backup bitch", Nigel no friends whose coil packs seem to work tremendously, Russell Mackay from All Hours Glass is certainly handy to have around and his help to fit the gas fridge in the truck was invaluable to us. On this trip Lachlan Tree came with us and again we do appreciate the help. WINTER NATIONALS TV DATES. Highlights of the 2003 Winter Nationals will be features on two Sunday episodes of Willowbank Raceways Drag Racing television programs. The programs can be seen on both free to air, Queensland wide on the 7 Network and National wide on cabel and satellite on Fox Sports. Screening on the 7 Network is schedule for July the 13th and 20th. The shows will feature all the best action from professional categories of Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Pro Stock, Top Alcohol and Top Bike as well as highlights from other eliminators including Supercharged Outlaws. One of the main reasons we choose to race in supercharged Outlaws was the exposure to our sponsors on National Television via cabel and satellite on Fox Sports and Queensland wide on the & Network.