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Willowbank sees records fall at Mini-Jam |
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Monday, 03 March 2008 |
Willowbank Raceway played host to a record setting performance at the weekend,
with Brisbane’s Collin Willshire and his Datsun 1200 Ute becoming Australia’s
quickest four cylinder doored vehicle with a 7.86 second pass at 171 miles per
hour (275.197km/h) at the 3rd Annual Mini-Jam Sport Compact Group Showdown.
The Pro Compact competitor would go on from this milestone - set in the second
race of the Chicago Shootout style event and one of three seven second passes
(all Personal Best times) - to line-up for a 'David and Goliath' finale against
Pro Turbo stalwart Joe Signorelli when the categories were merged for the event.
Sports Compact Group Manager Ray Box said the finale showdown saw two of
the greats of the categories pitted together in an exciting finale for the fans
that had come out to watch some tough racing.
“To see Signorelli and
Willshire up against each other in the final in the merged McKern and Associates
Pro Turbo/Compact class was just great for the fans, a real 'David and Goliath'
battle,” said Box.
“Willshire had previously beat Signorelli in the
first round of racing, however his form over Sydneysider Signorelli wasn’t to
continue with the Brisbanite ultimately taking runner-up honours despite taking
the holeshot with his 0.535 second reaction time clearly bettering Signorelli’s
0.802 seconds.
“While Willshire looked to have it at the 330 foot mark,
Signorelli was able to come back and take the win with a 7.40 second pass over
Willshire’s 7.94 second effort."
While the McKern and Associates Pro
Turbo/Compact bracket had plenty of excitement, the action and indeed the
record-breaking was not exclusively held by the category.
“In the Outlaw
Sports Bike, two of the arguably quickest bikes in the country faced off in the
final, with Leonard Azzopardi - the reigning Outlaw Sports Bike Series Champion
- and Jamie Bezzina, lining up against each other,” said Box.
“With
Azzopardi returning to support the event aboard his ‘Quicksilver’ Suzuki
Hayabusa after recently running in the Top Bike bracket in Sydney it was always
going to be interesting, and on his way to the final Azzopardi also reset the
OSB MPH record during round two at 193.8 mph (311.890km/h).
“In the
final Azzopardi had the holeshot, however with some wheel spin off the line
Bezzina was able to come around and take the win with a 7.985 second pass.
"Speaking of records, Shane Crichton in the Turbosmart Street RWD
category also reset both the Elapsed Time & MPH records with a 9.592 second
pass at 156.09 mph, so it was an exhilarating day all round.”
Other
winners for the day were Ron Newton and his Ford Roadster in the Extreme class;
Darryl Parker and his Mazda RX7 in the Jett Racing Street 289 category; Rodney
Moore and his Toyota Corolla in the Toyo Tires Street FWD field; Anthony Faughey
and his Mazda RX2 in the Turbosmart Street RWD category; Anthony Bakalin and his
Mazda RX2 in the Custom Colourz Super Mod class; Dave Butler and his VW Beetle
in the Speed FM All Motor line-up; Shane Hackett and his Nissan Skyline in the
Northfield Car Sound Street AWD class and Sam Taylor and his Kawasaki ZX10 in
the Sports Bike category.
The Mini-Jam weekend served as a preliminary
towards Willowbank Raceway’s Tin Top Titles on April 18 and 19, 2008.
For the first time ever in Australia, a 16 car Top Doorslammer Field and
for only the second time ever in Australia a 16 Car Pro Stock field will be
hitting the track at Willowbank Raceway for the 2008 Tin Top Titles.
In
a usual event, fans would see eight competitors line up against each other for
the first round eliminations, but at the Tin Tops they will get to see the top
sixteen competitors in two of Australian Drag Racing’s powerhouse Group One
categories duke it out for the win – effectively giving them twice the amount of
racing than ever before.
This will be the first time ever that Top
Doorslammer has had such a large competitive field, and will be only the second
time for the Pro Stock category in Australia and the first time for
Queenslanders to see so many Pro Stockers up against each other.
The
April program will feature the penultimate round of Group One activity in Top
Doorslammer and Pro Stock categories as drivers enjoy one final hit out prior to
the season-ending Castrol EDGE Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway on June
5-8.
Four wheels and a roof to boot will be standard for most entries in
this quarter mile extravaganza, which brings together many traditional drag
racing categories coupled with a selection of unique race cars that enjoy cult
following among their loyal fans.
TIN TOP TITLES (April 18 & 19)
– featuring Jack Daniel’s Top Doorslammer and Travelaire Tours Pro Stock
Other racing includes: Lifestyle Carpets & Vinyl Super Stock,
Lifestyle Carpets & Vinyl Competition, S&S Competition Bike, Carpenter
Ford Supercharged Outlaws, Bailey's Brake & Clutch Modified, American Rides
Modified Bike, Slick Industries Super Sedan, Crossroads Freightlines & Car
Carrying Super Street, Queensland Diesel Spares Junior Dragster, High Impact
Promotions Super Gas, Perfect Print Perfect Light. Also racing are Sport Compact
& Pro Street brackets.
TICKETING: All ticket prices include
paddock admission
Friday
Adults $20
Student (must
show ID) $10
Saturday
Adults $30
Student (must show ID)
$20
Children 13 & under are admitted FREE
SCHEDULE
Qualifying Friday from 5.00pm
Qualifying and
Racing Saturday from 10.00am
LOCATION
Willowbank Raceway
Champions Way (off Cunningham Highway 5km past the Rosewood turnoff)
Willowbank QLD 4307
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