ZAPPIA: CONSISTENT, NOT UNBEATABLE
Tue, 2009-08-04 08:01
It is difficult to argue the fact that John Zappia and his Striker
Crushing and Screening Monaro were unbeatable last season – with 
the West Australian undefeated on his way to his second consecutive National Top Doorslammer Title.
Ask the man however, and he wouldn’t use the term ‘unbeatable’ – instead, he says it simply comes down to consistency.
“We aren’t unbeatable – what we are is consistent, and focused, with good planning and also some good luck, and that is what allows us to win,” said Zappia.
the West Australian undefeated on his way to his second consecutive National Top Doorslammer Title.
Ask the man however, and he wouldn’t use the term ‘unbeatable’ – instead, he says it simply comes down to consistency.
“We aren’t unbeatable – what we are is consistent, and focused, with good planning and also some good luck, and that is what allows us to win,” said Zappia.
“This is the second year the team has put in the full-time effort, and we have 100 percent concentrated on getting the little things right and developing our race program so we are not caught out by little mistakes which have been made in the past, and we will be continuing to do that as we head into the new season.
“For a while we had what you could call a performance advantage, but by the time the Winters rolled around everyone had caught up and that showed in their times, but they weren’t consistent on race day and we were.
“We keep making little changes and working on that to make sure we stay consistent and ahead of the pack – at the Winters that change was working on my reaction times so I wasn’t vulnerable there, and I was able to do that.”
As always when it comes to ‘tall poppies’, everyone seems to have something to say about the Zappia racing outfit, but that doesn’t seem to bother the now two-time National champion.
“Unfortunately there has been some nay-saying lately on a number of issues, including the ‘burn-down’ of the Winters - which I maintain was not intentional and rather just part of my working on reaction times and wanting to stage second after a earlier experience - but there isn’t much I can do about that,” said Zappia.
“In my opinion a lot of the elements have been misconstrued, but I guess that is how things go and we will just keep focused on what we are doing.
“I think that is the best thing we can do to be honest, so we will just keep on minding our own business, and get our revenge on the race track.”
While Zappia and his team will be looking to continue their success, they will also be putting together a second race car for competition in the Top Doorslammer bracket for Craig Pedley, owner of Striker Crusher and Screening.
“We are working on the new car between Willowbank and Sydney’s event, and then after the Nationals we will concentrate on the second entry solely if we can so we can be ready for the October 10th event at Kwinana where I will give it a test,” said Zappia.
“Once I am happy that it is running hard and straight we will put Craig in the car and start his learning process, with the aim of having both cars competing at the local Top Comp meeting at Kwinana at the end of October, and the ultimate goal of having them both run at the Top Doorslammer Perth event in November.
“It will be a big job, but something that we are more than capable of and it will be great to see two Striker Crushing and Screening Doorlsammers out there – although they will be slightly different to the look people are used to seeing with the livery undergoing a slight overhaul over the offseason with Fuchs set to feature a little more prominently along with our other sponsors United Industries, Force Tools, Mickey Thompson and Noonan Race Engineering.”
Zappia and the Top Doorslammer category will be joined on track for round one of the ANDRA Pro Series by fellow Pro Series brackets Top Bike and Top Alcohol, as well as all the Rocket Allstars sportsman action from Group 2, 3 and 4.
the West Australian undefeated on his way to his second consecutive National Top Doorslammer Title.Ask the man however, and he wouldn’t use the term ‘unbeatable’ – instead, he says it simply comes down to consistency.
“We aren’t unbeatable – what we are is consistent, and focused, with good planning and also some good luck, and that is what allows us to win,” said Zappia.
It is difficult to argue the fact that John Zappia and his Striker Crushing and Screening Monaro were unbeatable last season – with
John Zappia in action at Willowbank during June's season-ending event (credit - www.blacktrack.com.au)
Ask the man however, and he wouldn’t use the term ‘unbeatable’ – instead, he says it simply comes down to consistency.
“We aren’t unbeatable – what we are is consistent, and focused, with good planning and also some good luck, and that is what allows us to win,” said Zappia.
“This is the second year the team has put in the full-time effort, and we have 100 percent concentrated on getting the little things right and developing our race program so we are not caught out by little mistakes which have been made in the past, and we will be continuing to do that as we head into the new season.
“For a while we had what you could call a performance advantage, but by the time the Winters rolled around everyone had caught up and that showed in their times, but they weren’t consistent on race day and we were.
“We keep making little changes and working on that to make sure we stay consistent and ahead of the pack – at the Winters that change was working on my reaction times so I wasn’t vulnerable there, and I was able to do that.”
As always when it comes to ‘tall poppies’, everyone seems to have something to say about the Zappia racing outfit, but that doesn’t seem to bother the now two-time National champion.
“Unfortunately there has been some nay-saying lately on a number of issues, including the ‘burn-down’ of the Winters - which I maintain was not intentional and rather just part of my working on reaction times and wanting to stage second after a earlier experience - but there isn’t much I can do about that,” said Zappia.
“In my opinion a lot of the elements have been misconstrued, but I guess that is how things go and we will just keep focused on what we are doing.
“I think that is the best thing we can do to be honest, so we will just keep on minding our own business, and get our revenge on the race track.”
While Zappia and his team will be looking to continue their success, they will also be putting together a second race car for competition in the Top Doorslammer bracket for Craig Pedley, owner of Striker Crusher and Screening.
“We are working on the new car between Willowbank and Sydney’s event, and then after the Nationals we will concentrate on the second entry solely if we can so we can be ready for the October 10th event at Kwinana where I will give it a test,” said Zappia.
“Once I am happy that it is running hard and straight we will put Craig in the car and start his learning process, with the aim of having both cars competing at the local Top Comp meeting at Kwinana at the end of October, and the ultimate goal of having them both run at the Top Doorslammer Perth event in November.
“It will be a big job, but something that we are more than capable of and it will be great to see two Striker Crushing and Screening Doorlsammers out there – although they will be slightly different to the look people are used to seeing with the livery undergoing a slight overhaul over the offseason with Fuchs set to feature a little more prominently along with our other sponsors United Industries, Force Tools, Mickey Thompson and Noonan Race Engineering.”
Zappia and the Top Doorslammer category will be joined on track for round one of the ANDRA Pro Series by fellow Pro Series brackets Top Bike and Top Alcohol, as well as all the Rocket Allstars sportsman action from Group 2, 3 and 4.
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