Jet car action ready to pop at Motorplex
Competitors at the weekend’s Nitro Slam did not hold back with no less than eight new track records set at the Saturday event on the 2nd of January.
Setting new track records were:
- Nostalgia Funny Car: Matt Abel, 5.427 and 428km/h (266.19mph)
- AA/AP: Wayne Keys, 5.860
- RR/SM: Michael Buckley, 7.315 and 301.35 km/h (187.25mph)
- C/GA: Rob Gaikhorst, 264.59 km/h (164.41mph)
- BB/AB: Michael Holister, 8.198 and 277.42 km/h (172.38mph)
- D/MB: Daniel Natalotto, 10.262
For Abel, it was not a surprise to eclipse the track record.
“The first two runs we had done prior had certainly shown it was going to run fast. I think the first pass may well have been faster, but it is hard to know as we didn’t get a time (due to a problem with the timing system),” Abel explained.
“The second pass was on-track to actually be faster than the first pass and the last pass, but it had the front wheels off the ground and was heading to the centre line, so I had to short shift and slow the car down.
“That last pass was certainly fast, and I said to Rory that is certainly the fastest pass I have ever done down the quarter mile! It was great.
“At the end of the day, I am just the person that puts the foot down and steers the thing. It all comes down to the massive efforts of the crew and the skill of Rory Taylor as Tuner, so my thanks goes to them.
“I would also like to thank our sponsors, Speed Torque, Bill Miller Conrods, Oil and Energy Pty Ltd, SignBiz, Red Line, Dean’s Autoglass, D&D Racing, Kendall, Kendall Motor Oils, Coverall Sheet Metal, DTM and Green & Gold.
“Finally, I would also like to recognise staff and volunteers at the Perth Motorplex and send a special thanks to the track crew – the track surface was excellent.
“We will be back in March for the next round of the BME WA Nitro Championship – I am certainly looking forward to the next one, I reckon we might be able to give Graeme Cowin’s national record a bit of a nudge!” he grinned.
For the full event wrap-up from the Nitro Slam event, please click here.
Drag racing returns to Perth Motorplex on January 23 for the Night of Fire featuring Jet Dragsters. For more information, see www.motorplex.com.au
Pics by High Octane Photos – above: Matt Abel; below: Wayne Keys, Michael Buckley, Rob Gaikhorst, Michael Holister and Daniel Natalotto
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