The Australian National Drag Racing Association, [ANDRA] the governing body for the sport down-under is ‘alive and well’ according to recently appointed General Manager Brett Stevens. 

Established in 1973, ANDRA is on the road to recovery after a bitter and ugly dispute that engulfed the world of drag racing in Australia. 

Their woes began in 2015 when the major venues, Sydney Dragway, Perth Motorplex and Willowbank Raceway in Queensland established a breakaway body, the 400 Thunder series for the Pro level categories - Top Fuel, Doorslammer, Pro Stock, Top Alcohol, Top Bike and Pro Stock bike. 400T also dumped ANDRA as the sanctioning body for the sport in favor of the American based IHRA. 

ANDRA retained control of Adelaide International Raceway in South Australia and Calder Park Raceway, Victoria, and a smattering of rural tracks across the country was also dealt a savage blow when the Pro level categories elected to race only in the 400T series. Currently, both ANDRA and 400T have Sportsman Championship Series with racers able to run in either or both series.

ANDRA has developed a ‘grass roots’ Sportsman program sponsored by Summit Racing Equipment that has expanded to a successful nine round series culminating in a Grand Final meet at A.I.R in April. In late 2017 the American company inked a deal for a further three years to continue as naming rights sponsors for the series.

The appointment of Stevens, who has risen through the ranks from volunteer race official, followed by a stint as Competition Manager, to lead ANDRA is seen in many quarters as a move in the right direction for the beleaguered body. 

47-year-old Stevens, a one-time street racer, sat down with John Doig from Competition Plus Australia for his first in depth interview since his appointment as head honcho of ANDRA.

CompetitionPlusAustralia: How did you react when you were offered  the position of General Manager? 

BRETT STEVENS - It was a challenge and an honor. I have a photo of me sitting in a bassinet at Adelaide Raceway taken in 1975. It was a rained out meet and my dad and I are the only ones in the grandstand. So I’ve been around this sport literally all my life. I’ve seen the greats and know I'm hopefully in a position to be able to play a role in moulding the future of the sport.

CPA - When did ANDRA step back from running Group One racing?  And what is the relationship like between ANDRA and 400 Thunder?  

BS - Twelve months ago, at the ANDRA Nationals, we ran Group One that included Top Fuel, Doorslammer and Pro Stock. After that we decided, after talking to our member tracks, to step back from running Group One and concentrate on Sportsman Racing leaving Group One, or as it is known now the Pro Series, in the hands of 400 Thunder. I have known Kevin Prendergast, the General Manager of 400 Thunder, for many years and in the last couple of weeks I think I have spoken to Kevin probably more than my wife. We have a good working relationship. We seem to be able to sort through issues without either party getting upset. 

CPA- The Summit Racing Equipment series for Sportsman racers has been a bright spot for ANDRA with steady growth over the last couple of seasons. What are the reasons behind the success? 

BS - I think we have provided a consistent calendar. The racers and fans know that come July this year we will release a calendar that will include races at Hidden Valley in the Northern Territory, Alice Springs in Central Australia and regional tracks across the country. I believe that people race to win an ANDRA Gold Christmas tree and that goal motivates people. A Gold Christmas tree and the prestige attached to winning such an award is a major achievement. In the middle of January this year we had a great meeting at Portland, Victoria, that attracted 170 entries and next season we are looking to add two new venues to our schedule. We are also looking at the new track opening at Tailem Bend about an hour east of A.I.R. but nothing is in concrete at this stage.
Swan Hill Dragway in rural Victoria, despite some problems with the track surface and infrastructure, is also vital for the future development of the sport. The area is a major catchment zone for racers who currently need to travel the best part of a day to compete at Sydney Dragway.

CPA - One positive note from the split is that ANDRA appears to be paying much more attention to grass roots racing and Junior racers coming through the ranks.

BS - We are strong supporters of Junior drag racers and have always supported them moving from the category and into higher levels in the sport. What we want is to see them ultimately move into higher categories and even Top Fuel down the track. In 2010 Kelly Bettes, who is making her mark in Top Fuel, won an ANDRA championship in Modified and Shane Tucker, who races Pro Stock in the NHRA, won a JD title in 2001.

CPA - Calder Park Raceway in Victoria is often regarded as the spiritual home of drag racing and in the halcyon days of the 1980s and 90s hosted some of the biggest events on the Oz drag calendar including the ANDRA Nationals. However since the turn of the century the venue has almost disappeared from the drag racing landscape. The ANDRA Nationals in January 2018 were cancelled after teams threatened to boycott the meet due to safety concerns. Will we ever see Pro Series racing return to CP?

BS - I don’t want to see a return to the 90’s at Calder Park. I want to see an improvement. I think there are a large number of influencers that dictate what we see at Calder Park. There is still dispute over ownership of the venue and the current promoter, Peter Pisalidis, works with what he has got. There is infrastructure work that needs to be done. All the indications are that work will commence this year. 

CPA - There is some talk about introducing 1000 foot racing into other categories not just Top Fuel. What are your thoughts on the shortened race distance?

BS - I don’t want to see 1000 foot adapted across the board. ANDRA has run 1000 feet events for around six or seven years - cars for running over 200mph. Our view is the race distance should be based on the facility and the track. We have no issue with Top Fuel running the shorter distance.

CPA - Can you see a time when ANDRA and 400 Thunder bury the hatchet and the sport runs under a single entity?

BS - I believe so. It won’t happen tomorrow or even next year and we need to be mindful of that. Our view is and it’s something I hear from the racers is that we can’t handle two entities - ANDRA and the IHRA running the sport. At ANDRA we want to provide the best service to our members and member tracks with a long term goal of what’s in their best interests. We need to stop concentrating on the past. From the ANDRA board perspective we need to concentrate on what we are doing and not to worry too much about the future.

CPA - Copyright and the alleged use of the ANDRA rule book by 400 Thunder was a major point of contention and at one stage the issue looked like it was headed to the courts. What’s the current situation?  

BS - Lawyers haven’t been involved for over the past 12 months. It’s certainly not in the best interest of our membership to continue down the legal route. We still believe there are still some copyright issues but for the betterment of the sport we are not pursuing them. They call Doorslammer, Pro Slammer. We have offered them the opportunity to call the category by the traditional name of Doorslammer. There are no issues there.

CPA - Late last year Summit Racing Equipment extended their sponsorship for an extra three years. What does the deal include?

BS - The sponsorship is very important for our members. It provides around US$55,000 in end of season prize money that goes directly to our members. It means that the top five in 11 categories get prize money. They also have naming rights to some of our regional series as well as naming rights for our Junior dragster series. The money also goes to subsidizing license fees for every Junior racer.

CPA - Five years down the track where do you see drag racing in Australia?

BS - My view is that the sport and ANDRA go hand in hand. We need to show ourselves as industry leaders and it all comes back to a single word - cohesion. I think we were not innocent bystanders in what happened but we need to work very hard with all the parties for the benefit of the racers, spectators and sponsors.

CPA - How is ANDRA going financially? There are rumors circulating that paint a grim picture and that ANDRA is in all sorts of trouble?

BS - We budgeted this financial year for a small surplus which is the first time that has happened in recent years. It is no secret that we have had to cut our costs significantly but it is important to add that we have not raised our member fees. We have made cuts to our office staff numbers and are committed to doing the same job with less money.