Our sport took a terrible tangent last Saturday when fate dealt us all a cruel blow…..

The Australian and worldwide fast door slammer drag racing scene is humbled after learning the news of the passing of Sam Fenech at Willowbank Raceway in Queensland (Jan. 7th). 

Sam, who was an iconic racer, great friend to many and life and family loving personality, succumbed to injuries suffered after a high speed top end incident racing his Fabietti Racing Chevy Camaro.  Sam Fenech (from Sydney) was 55 years old.

While the outpouring of emotion is from everyone and everywhere — I too can personally attest to the very special quality of human being that Sam was.

I first met him during one of my very first trips over to Australia from Canada about a decade ago, and after that while doing media support for he and his race team on multiple occasions.  I am proud to say our friendship was both immediate and then lasting — despite the initial vast geographic distance between us.  

I can also say without any reservation that of all the many good people I have met within Australian drag racing, Sam (and his team) made me feel the most welcome.   When Sam first learned of my imminent permanent relocation from Canada to Australia, he was genuinely excited and encouraging to me about the news.

Last weekend at Willowbank truly started off as one of the best weekends of my life in drag racing.  I had numerous interactions, laughs and exchanges wth Sam throughout the event, right up to that fatal moment.

While there are no words to properly capture how we truly feel during these types of situations, I guess I can say with certainty that Sam left this plane of existence doing what he loved to do (go drag racing!)  I also know his memory and influence will be timeless and that I, like all who had the pleasure to meet him, will be better people for having known him.

Our thoughts of support are now for the entire Fenech and extended Fabietti Racing team families.  

Posted by Bruce Biegler