Read’s “Double” Highlights Aussie Memorial TF Bash
Top Fuel and Top Alcohol cars took centre stage last weekend during ANDRA’s Santo’s Cranes Super 3 Extreme Drag Race at Australia’s Willowbank Raceway…..
The event feature back-to-back wins for Queensland’s own Steve Read and also the fastest run in Australian Drag Racing history by U.S. import and 3X NHRA World Champion Larry Dixon.
Dixon’s incredible record run of 4.503 sec (1/4 mile) came one day after a dramatic incident on Friday night when while driving the Rapisarda Racing dragster Dixon sheared an axle which saw a wheel come off the car and sending it on a 360 degree spin down the track. The team thrashed to have the car ready for a safety check out pass later on Friday night and then loaded it for bear for Saturday’s qualifier, reaching a top speed of 534 kmh.
The run surpassed the late Scott Kalitta’s long standing mark of 4.517 seconds, which he recorded at Sydney Dragway in 2006. Dixon’s pass was also backed up with a later 4.543 second run meaning he reset the official national record.
At an event honouring the memory of Top Fuel racer Louie Rapisarda, who passed away in a racing accident at Willowbank Raceway in 1990, it was a poignant moment for the Indianapolis-based racer.
Driving for Santo Rapisarda – Larry Dixon ran the quickest run in Australian drag racing history last weekend
“Scott Kalitta was the quickest in the country and he lost his life in 2008 and it made me think a lot about him this weekend,” Dixon said. “Then obviously with Santo (Rapisarda’s) son Louie, it means there is a lot of good people we have lost in this sport, but they were at the forefront of our minds this weekend.”
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While Dixon’s qualifying pass had much of the attention, Queensland’s Steve Read proved consistency reigned over brute horsepower by doubling up, winning both Friday and Saturday night’s individual championship rounds.
Read was never out of the four second zone in all six passes of the weekend and his final round 4.766 secs during season Top Fuel round #7, proved too much for opponent Darren Morgan who spun the tyres early in his pass.
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“We managed to get it down the track smoothly each time,” he said. “In the past we’ve qualified really well and then had small things go wrong. Sometimes the right things happen and that’s drag racing.”
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As the highest point scorer overall for the weekend, Read also took home the coveted Louie Rapisarda Top Fuel Trophy. It meant a lot for Read, who drove for Louie’s father Santo Rapisarda for a number of years.
The Top Fuel points battle has taken an interesting twist, with Morgan’s two runner up results across the weekend meaning he is now tied for the lead with Phil Lamattina.
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In Top Alcohol national champion Gary Phillips took his Lucas Oils Funny Car to the win, defeating Steve Ham’s East Coast Lubes Funny Car in the final.
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Driving his Lucas Oil sponsored TAFC — Gary Phillips won Saturday’s TA feature.
After a lacklustre day one of the Santo’s Cranes Super 3 Extreme Drag Race, the current points leader stamped his authority over the field by top qualifying, running the quickest Top Alcohol time of the weekend and then winning each of his races.
The win allowed Phillips to extend his points lead over nearest rival Steve Reed.
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Friday’s event action (Top Fuel Round #6) saw Read’s consistency in Top Fuel unsurpassed as he found his way to a final round victory over national champion Darren Morgan.
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Read top qualified with a 4.90 second pass, defeated points leader Phil Lamattina in the elimination round with a 4.95 and then knocked out Morgan with a 4.80.
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It was a long time between drinks at Read’s home track, with the English expatriate’s last victory coming at Willowbank Raceway in 2002.
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“We came here very confident, especially when you get conditions like they were today. It was humid and the track was super sticky,” he said. “We did a lot of preparation in the workshop and that made it easier on the track. It was a question of making the car go down the track as smoothly as possible.”
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Homestate racer Steve Read won back to back TF titles at Willowbank Dragway
The 8000 horsepower, nitro-fuelled powerplant in Read’s dragster came back from each pass in near perfect condition, with Read explaining a small clutch problem was the only issue.
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“The clutch didn’t lock up totally in the elimination round so we need to have a look at that but otherwise the engine is completely fine, we were even able to reuse our sparkplugs,” he said.
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In something of a Good Friday miracle, Dixon reflected on his wild moment that night when he was able to straighten the car up and bring it to a safe stop without coming into contact with safety barriers or opponent Damien Harris.
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Dixon was still in high spirits even after the wild moment. “What do you guys think of them crazy American drivers?” he joked with the crowd in his interview post-race. “It’s actually really hard to do a spin and not hit a wall.
“There’s forces from above that try to protect everybody involved and I think the Lord took care of me on that run right there.”
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From experienced veterans to a complete rookie – Darren Fry defeated Rick Gauci’s Aeroflow Ford Mustang in the final of Top Alcohol, using a 5.67 second run.
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Fry only licensed in the Chev Monte Carlo-bodied Funny Car during the week and the win was beyond his wildest hopes and dreams.
Rookie driver Darren Fry won the TA title in his first race right after completing his license.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling, it all comes down to the great pit crew,” he said. “I never expected to go this far in the first meeting.”
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The Santo’s Cranes Super 3 Extreme Drag Race included the Louie Rapisarda Trophy, in honour of Santo’s son (a Top Fuel driver) who passed away in 1990. Thanks to a partnership between Rapisarda and Willowbank Raceway, a special commemorative trophy to the winner Read was made.
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“Not only did this event feature a memorial trophy in honour of my son Louie, but in Larry Dixon and Lee Beard we were able to bring in some top ranking NHRA-class experience to the race track with us this Easter – I think that is pretty special,” said a satisfied Santo Rapisarda.
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Posted by: Luke Nieuwhof
Photos courtesy of : ANDRA
