CASTROL EDGE WINTERNATS VIDEO NOTEBOOK

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CASTROL EDGE WINTERNATIONALS - VIDEO NOTEBOOK

AN AMERICAN JOURNALIST'S DIARY, DAY ONE - The email was simple and to the point.

“Would you be interested in coming down to cover our Castrol Edge Winter Nationals at Willowbank?”

Visiting Australia has always been one of those bucket list destinations. It’s always been one of those places you envision visiting but never really expect to happen.

Clicking on the respond button, my response was, “No races that weekend, would love to.”

Then it hit me. June for me would contain four consecutive weekends of drag racing starting in Englishtown and ending in Norwalk. Two of the three races would require flights and the one was in Bristol, just a two-and-a-half hour ride through the scenic mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee.

But this flight to Brisbane, it would be a monster.

This video will be a synopsis of the journey to Brisbane. You will get to see the interaction between myself and my youngest daughter, the camera hound Emily, and my cousin Philip. Cousin Philip is my “git-er-done” guy and usually a behind-the-scenes person.

Hope you enjoy the first of many video diaries.

IT'S AUSTRALIAN FOR DOORSLAMMER - Top Doorslammer: It’s Australian for on the edge of your seat drag racing action.

Second in the ANDRA pecking order, behind only behind Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer is the Australian equivalent of American Pro Modified. In Top Doorslammer, the rules mandate the engine must be supercharged. Currently nitrous-oxide injection and turbocharging is prohibited.

You do have a choice of screw [2700 lbs.] or rootes [2550] style supercharger.

Top Doorslammer, T/D in Aussie circles, began in 1995 as an Exhibition Class, from AA/Altered Production vehicles.

Victor Bray is a six-time champion in Top Doorslammer. He has run the class ever since it was introduced.

“I think the drivers down here would stack up quite well against those in the States,” Bray admitted.

Right now, Australian Top Doorslammer is one-dimensional, but there is a push for multiple combinations such as in the United States.

“We don’t have nitrous cars or turbos,” Bray explained. “A lot of pressure to bring the turbo cars back in … don’t know that we’ll ever happen again. The way those guys are running in the States, we are hoping they don’t let them back in.”

If the options are opened up, the Top Doorslammer division could become even tougher. Qualifying becomes almost as meaningful as winning the race. The keyword in the statement is “almost”.

“One you pat yourself on the back, the other, you get hammered and celebrate for months, said Peter Kapiris, No. 1 qualifier at the recent Castrol Edge Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway.

PRO STOCK DOWN UNDER - A doorslammer barrier has fallen in Australia.

Dave Newcombe drove his Ford Mustang to a 6.994 elapsed time [198.4 mph] to become the first of the ANDRA Pro Stockers into the six second zone during testing at Willowbank Raceway outside of Brisbane.

This run bodes well for Newcombe who is locked in a championship battle with Aaron Tremayne.

"It's very pleasing to set this time," said Newcombe briefly while preparing for another run. "It sets us up well for the weekend - we hope we'll be able to do something similar, if not a bit quicker during the meeting."

Newcombe was the quickest qualifier for the first two sessions during the originally scheduled Castrol Edge Winternationals, until Mopar racer Lee Bektash jumped to the top of the list with a 7.030 second pass.

Australian Pro Stock cars run a 400-inch small block engine and must weigh 2,300 pounds with driver. (For an explanation of ANDRA Pro Stock, as explained by Shane Tucker, click on the video above).

As in the United States, because the run was held outside of a national event format, it won't count as a national record. The current national elapsed time record is a 7.033 held by John Barbagallo and the current national speed record of 194.2mph (312.5kph) held by Peter Ridgeway.

IT'S BLOODY COOL MATE - In the grand scheme of motorsport aerodynamics, a 1957 Dodge Saratoga has as much aerodynamic advantage as a boat anchor. On Saturday afternoon at the ANDRA Castrol Edge Winternationals, a boat anchor has never been more proficient.

Peter Kapiris, a mainstay in Aussie Top Doorslammer competition, drove his lumbering beast to the top of provisional first session qualifying with a 5.859 second pass at 246.44 miles per hour.

Kapiris beat out 18 other drivers looking to find a spot in the provisional and rain-delayed field. The event is rescheduled for July.

“It’s pretty tough just to qualify in the show and this event, the Castrol Edge Winternationals is the biggest meeting of the year,” Kapiris said. “It’s just a big honor even to qualify because the competition is so tough.”

In this video feature from CompetitionPlus.tv, Bobby Bennett talks to popular Kapiris about his unique ride and racing in ANDRA's Top Doorslammer division.

DOWN UNDER PRO STOCK WITH SHANE - In the United States, Shane Tucker is recognized as one of the talented drivers in Victor Cagnazzi’s stable seeking a full-time ride in the tough 500-inch Pro Stock division.

Tucker, who calls Carbrook, Queensland, Australia home, has been racing in ANDRA’s Pro Stock division for the last six years. He’s the driver of the Monster Energy Drink-sponsored Holden [GM equivalent] Monaro.

“Tried for a while to get a ride with Victor [Cagnazzi] but the economic climate just didn’t allow it to happen,” Tucker admitted. “I’ve returned to my roots here.”

Tucker enjoys the differences between the two styles of Pro Stock. The least obvious difference outside of driver location is the fact the Aussie Pro Stock cars displace only 400-inches and weigh in at a svelte 2300 pounds with driver. The Aussie Pro Stockers generate an estimated 1,100 horses and cover the quarter-mile at 7.0-seconds.

Down under, Tucker epitomizes the Pro Stock image with his youthful look and tattoos. In the States, he might be mistaken for a racer coming from the ANDRA’s Top Doorslammer fraternity.

“I’ve grown up around Pro Stock my entire life,” Tucker explained. “My dad has raced the class for about 30 years and I grew up around it. I’ve always loved the naturally-aspirated small block cars, and even though I love the big block cars, this kind of racing has always fascinated me.”

Tucker describes the U.S. Pro Stockers as badass and pure power. He credits the experience abroad with helping him to become a better driver at home.

“Absolutely made me better,” Tucker said. “While I was in the United States I had the opportunity to hang out with Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Dave Connolly. I had some great teachers and certainly taught me great techniques.”