Words: Luke Niewhof
Pics: Phil Luyer – High Octane Photos
With a winner’s circle coveted by racers and stands filled with spectators, the Goldenstates has been a powerhouse event in terms of performances, especially since the move to the Motorplex all the way back in 2000. We thought it would be the perfect time to look back on some of the great moments of the Goldenstates’ headlining categories across the years.
2001 — Peter Kapiris sets world record
Victorian Peter Kapiris was one of Top Doorslammer’s originals, but his performances weren’t class-leading at most events. That all changed at the 2001 Goldenstates when his Studebaker decimated the record books at Perth Motorplex. Before that historic weekend, the quickest time recorded in Australian Top Doorslammer competition was a 6.17 by Robin Judd. Kapiris went 6.19 in qualifying, then a 6.14 in the first round of eliminations. But it was the semi-finals that would be remembered as Kapiris clocked an incredible 6.07 world record.
2004 — Ben Bray threatens the fives
After Kapiris’s groundbreaking elapsed times, the Australian Top Doorslammer scene was abuzz about the potential for the first five-second run. It would take three years for anyone to better Kapiris’s efforts and that man was Ben Bray. A 6.02 in his Super Cheap Auto ’57 Chevy at the 2004 Goldenstates went oh-so-close to the five, while the event win also went Ben’s way in an all-Bray final against his father Victor.
2006 — John Zappia brings world record home
Almost a year after Ben Bray’s 6.02, John Zappia became the first driver into the fives with a 5.967 at Sydney Dragway in September, 2005. A year after that, the WA drag racing legend was able to bring the world record home. In qualifying for the event, he nudged the record slightly with a 5.964, but then took a sledgehammer to the timing boards with a 5.922. It was the first time, anywhere in the world, that a drag racing sedan made two consecutive five-second passes.
John Zappia in the iconic ‘Zaps Rat’ at the 2006 Goldenstates – Photo by Phil Luyer – High Octane Photos
2009 — Jay Upton realises his potential
Jay Upton’s streamlined Top Fuel Motorcycles are an iconic part of drag racing in WA. It’s hard to believe that the first versions of the machine were tested in the nineties. The instantly identifiable white bodies were designed not for performance, but for safety, invented in the wake of US nitro bike legend Elmer Trett’s death. The aerodynamics proved difficult for Upton to perfect, but the 2009 Goldenstates was arguably the finest performance of his career. Runs of 6.11, 6.12 and 6.13 set a new national Top Bike elapsed time record and won the event.
Jay Upton on his way to the low 6’s at the 2009 Goldenstates – Photo by Phil Luyer – High Octane Photos
2011 — Gary Phillips experiences the highs and the lows
Australian Top Alcohol veteran Gary Phillips was ready for big things in what was already a celebrated career. He had a brand new Ford Mustang body on his Funny Car and conditions at the 2011 Goldenstates were perfect. In qualifying, a stunning 5.46/263mph pass was the quickest pass ever recorded in Australian Top Alcohol competition and the first official pass in the 5.4-second zone. Unfortunately disaster followed when the parachutes failed and Phillips rolled the car into the sand trap, destroying the body (but amazingly not tweaking the chassis at all). What might have been if Phillips had a few more runs on that special weekend…
Gary Phillips, before disaster struck at the 2011 Goldenstates – Photo by Phil Luyer – High Octane Photos
2012 — Victor Bray gets his five
There was a time when Victor Bray was one of the favorites to be ‘first to the fives’ in Australian Top Doorslammer. His Castrol ’57 Chevy showed stunning speed in the early 2000s, including a world record 245.23mph blast in 2002. After John Zappia ran the first five in 2005 it would take Victor seven years to get his own five-second pass, at the 2012 Goldenstates. A 5.96 pass in the semi finals was followed by a 5.95 to defeat Zappia in the final round. That event also remains the last time Victor stood in the winner’s circle in Top Doorslammer.
Victor Bray powered into the 5’s on his way to winning the 2012 Goldenstates – Photo by Phil Luyer – High Octane Photos
2017 — Benny Stevens’ first win
Benny Stevens was making headlines as soon as he twisted the throttle of a Nitro Harley, on a journey to become the world’s quickest amputee. That was a goal he achieved in his second season of racing, but it would be the 2017 Goldenstates where he achieved his first win with a 7.10 to defeat Mark Drew. Stevens followed up the win with a ‘shoey’ from his prosthetic leg, resulting in a classic Goldenstates moment.
Benny Stevens celebrates his first win at the 42nd GoldenStates at Perth Motorplex – with his own twist on the ‘Shoey’ – Photo by Phil Luyer – High Octane Photos ©
2021 — Stuart Moresby’s first win
Western Australian Top Doorslammer drivers have it tough, with some very serious competition in the scene. For privateer teams like the Moresby family, any win light is cause for celebration — let alone an overall victory. At the 2021 Goldenstates, Stuart Moresby drove the race of his life in the Dananni Hotshots Studebaker for a 5.91 win over Pino Priolo in the final round. Despite competing in Top Doorslammer for many years, it was Moresby’s first victory since his days of racing in Competition Eliminator.
Stuart Moresby on his way to winning the 47th Goldenstates. Photo by Phil Luyer – High Octane Photos ©
2022 — Damien Harris runs quickest ever time at Perth Motorplex
The introduction of Top Fuel to the Goldenstates in 2022 made it one of the biggest events on that season’s calendar. The kings of the sport were delivered ideal conditions and there was one man who took particular advantage — Damien Harris. The WA driver, in a Rapisarda Autosport International dragster, clocked a 3.774 (1000 feet) time to be the quickest person ever down a Western Australian drag strip.
2023 — The return of the Funny Cars
WA drag racing fans have had a long love affair with Nitro Funny Cars and they were treated to the first championship event in the state in 25 years with the running of the National Funny Car Championship. Five cars took part, including the giant Aeroflow team owned by Graeme Cowin. Morice McMillin won the event and made the quickest Funny Car pass in WA history with a 4.737 blast.
The Funny Cars make a triumphant return at the Electrical Group Training 49th Annual GoldenStates Drag Racing Championships at the Perth Motorplex. Photo by Phil Luyer – High Octane Photos ©
Want to see your own slice of history? Make sure you’re at Perth Motorplex on November 22 and 23 for the 50th annual Burson Auto Parts Goldenstates featuring National Drag Racing Championship rounds for Top Doorslammer and Top Fuel Motorcycle, plus the ANDRA Sportsman Series.
