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Lamattina comeback set for January 4 and 5 at Willowbank |
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Tuesday, 01 January 2008 |
Miracle racer Phil Lamattina has pulled off the 'comeback of the
century' to be set to compete in the Night Fire Top Fuel Spectacular
and round four of the Australian National Drag Racing Association Top
Fuel Championship at Willowbank Raceway on January 4/5.
Lamattina miraculously survived one of the most horrendous drag racing
accidents in Australian Drag Racing history at Willowbank Raceway three
months ago, when his dragster snapped in half and burst into flames
travelling at close to 500 kilometres an hour at the QEC Australian
Nationals.
With his $300,000 dragster completely destroyed by the accident,
Lamattina will now make the ‘comeback of the century’ with his recently
acquired ‘state of the art’ McKinney Top Fuel Chassis from the USA –
but it almost didn’t happen for the Mildura racer.
 Unfortunately while the replacement plan ahead of December’s round
three at Western Sydney International Raceway went to plan initially,
Lamattina’s new racer did not arrive in Australia until December 21 due
to shipping issues, seeing the Mildura competitor miss round three of
the championship and be forced to race against time to have the
dragster ready for round four at Willowbank Raceway on January 4 and 5.
“It has been a pretty big ask of the boys to bring it all together
in time for the Willowbank Raceway event, with the dragster arriving
completely bare in a crate just two weeks before the event, and I have
to say a big thankyou to Theo from Pavtec for ensuring it all came
together” said Lamattina.
“Everything that is needed to make a race car had to be put on,
with about five guys working full time they basically built the car
from a bare chassis and it has been a great effort to ensure the
dragster is going to get to the starting line on January 4 and 5.
“The wiring, computer lines, fuel management system, clutch
management system, ignition, clutch, engine, seatbelts, dash, front
wing, rear wing, new tyres, new rims, and every other imaginable
component, nut and bolt had to be brought together in an extremely
short period of time.
“New Years Day will see the finished product loaded onto the
trailer for its trip to Queensland, where we hope to be on track and
setting up on Thursday afternoon the 3rd of January, ready for
qualifying on Friday.
“Qualifying will be our first real run in the car, and will be
interesting with all that has happened – I am pretty sure it will be
fairly nerve wracking for everyone involved.
“I’m not expecting to rotate the earth or anything with our first
time out, but hopefully we can get the car down the track one way or
the other and keep working from there. “
 Now that he has brought it all together, Lamattina will line up in
a field of nine competitors, seeing the drivers duke it out in
qualifying with only eight spots available in the eliminations.
Willowbank Raceway’s Night Fire Top Fuel Spectacular acts as the
Australian Championship Round of the Top Fuel, Top Alcohol and Pro
Stock Motorcycle categories, to be held over January 4 and 5.
The New Year Top Fuel extravaganza at Willowbank Raceway delighted
spectators during the 2007 running of the event, which saw the quickest
side-by-side pass in the history of Australian Top Fuel drag racing at
the time set when Phil Read’s 4.66 seconds (317 mph/ 511 km/h) proved
just too good for Allan Dobson who turned in a 4.71 second effort (306
mph/ 494 km/h) in the final.
The overall performance over the two days reaffirmed Australian
drag racing’s position as the best competition outside the professional
ranks of North America and continued to enhance the reputation of
Queensland’s Willowbank Raceway.
This January’s event also features a family entertainment package including fireworks, skydivers and free kids rides.
Willowbank Raceway Night Fire Top Fuel Spectacular
Friday January 4 and Saturday January 5, 2008
Qualifying Friday from 3 pm
Top Alcohol, Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorocyle Qualifying Rounds 1,2 and 3 at 5.00pm, 7.00pm and 9.00pm (approx.)
Qualifying and Racing Saturday from 1 pm
Top Alcohol, Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcyle Eliminations 1, 2 and Final at 5.00pm, 7.00pm and 9.00pm (approx.)
Family Entertainment Daily
Tickets (Available at the gate):
Friday:
Adults - $30.00
Students with ID - $16.00
Saturday:
Adults - $43.00
Students with ID - $30.00
Children 13 and Under are admitted free
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