The 2011/2012 NZDRA drag racing season was wrapped up over the weekend with an end of season prizegiving in Hamilton.

The evening included plenty of mentions of exciting things to come next season, and a great time was had by all.

Our congratulations go out to the series winners.

TOP ALCOHOL
TA/FC Morice McMillin 381
TA/D John Neilan 216
TA/D Bruce Smith 66

TOP DOORSLAMMER
T/D Dave/ Chad Tully 237
T/D Trevor Tynan 153
T/D Russell Lowe 151

COMPETITION
DD/D Robbie Ward 100

SUPER STOCK (TOP STREET & SPORT COMPACT)
A/TS Jeff Dobson 366
CC/TS Roger Binnema 120
P/I Stu Lawton 108

COMP BIKE
AA/DB Ian Wilkins 270
B/AB Spike Allen 233
AA/DB Steve Whitham 193

SUPERCHARGED OUTLAWS
AA/D Paul Sattler 214
AA/D Graham Christisen 171
A/MA Ian Mets 103

MODIFIED
A/MA Gerald Smith 336
A/MA Ted St John 254
A/MA Paul Jacobs 212

MODIFIED BIKE
A/MB Alan Thoresen 379
B/MB Brian Reece 123
A/MB Hart/ Mulholland 106

SUPER SEDAN
SS/A Rhys Humphries 403
SS/A Rex Duckett 359
SS/A Lee Sherwin 351

JUNIOR DRAGSTER
JD Charlotte Keilty 302
JD Alana Bilby 260
JD Kieran Price 256

SUPER STREET
S/ST Trevor Dick 268
S/ST Graham Lilly 167
S/ST Mark Dudson 164

Thanks to Dave Saunders for the attached photos.

Plans to build an international standard drag strip halfway between Tauranga and Rotorua accelerated today with the presentation of a detailed proposal to a joint council committee that manages the TECT All Terrain Park.
The drag strip is proposed for a 380 ha designated motorsport area within the 1650 ha park. The feasibility study was jointly commissioned by the New Zealand Drag Racing Association and Te Matai Motorsport Inc, the body that represents seven motorsport groups aiming to build facilities in the motorsport zone.
Te Matai Motorsport chairman David Loughlin says the report, produced by Opus, confirmed a strong business case for the venue and was presented to the joint council committee to keep it informed of the development. He says the focus is now on securing funding, with the aim of beginning the two-year site preparation and development next year in the hope of hosting the first full year of events in 2015.
David says the project will be funded from a mix of commercial lending, trust grants and the drag racing association – with hopes that all funding will be confirmed by the end of the year.
The strip would offer an international standard track to attract top overseas drivers. It is expected to host 13 race meetings per year, including one international, two national and four regional events, plus other local club events and commercial activities.
He says the track will support and complement the only other dedicated drag strip at Meremere, and occasional drag racing venues at Taupo and Masterton.
The feasibility report, which was produced by Opus, costs the drag strip and accompanying development at $7.5 million to construct, but demonstrates that with its high benefit cost ratio (7.5) that the full capital cost of the development will be returned to the community within the first year of operations.
Dave says the study shows a high benefit cost ratio, returning $7.5 to the community in the first 10 years for every $1 invested – research that backs up the anecdotal belief that many visitors will bring money into the Western Bay of Plenty from outside the region.
“The money stacks up very well. But we want to stress that we are not asking for councils funds – we do not want one cent from the council, and we will actually be returning to them a portion of revenue on top of land rent.”
The park, which is currently covered by forestry and native bush, is managed jointly by the Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty councils. The park is located on State Highway 36, with access to the drag strip 29km from Tauranga and 27km from Rotorua. Resource consent for a drag strip has been granted.
New Zealand Drag Racing Association General Manager Chris Tynan says the Bay of Plenty’s sunny weather is ideal for drag racing because events can only be held when it is dry for safety reasons.
Chris says local racing events at the track could offer boy racers a chance to put their driving skills to the test in a controlled environment and cut down on illegal road racing. He says police in Auckland had noticed a drop off in boy racer problems the nights these events were held at Meremere.
“This is an exciting beginning to what will probably be the park’s largest single development.”

The NZDRA has just announced some important dates for the upcoming summer racing season and details on venues. Check out the full NZDRA press release below.

NZDRA Press Release

NZDRA is pleased to announce we have clarified our position moving forward and can post a calendar of events and at what venues they will be held.

In an effort not to send out erroneous information the Board have kept correspondence to a minimum which may have concerned some members but plans are now well underway to give racers plenty of opportunities to race their machines as a National series is discussed with the NZDRA tracks.

Taupo Motorsport Park will be the host venue for the sports biggest event the NZDRA NZ Nationals, this event over the years has been shared with other venues, most recently by Masterton Motorplex although was generally hosted by Fram Autolite. With a new approach enacted by the venue management at Taupo the Board are convinced the organisers will do this event proud. NZDRA are expecting great support for all events at Taupo by lower north island racers while work is underway on the new NZDRA sanctioned Masterton Motorplex Drag strip. (more…)

Taupo International Dragway owners Top Fuel Enerprizes Ltd has just revealed that it will be changing the sanctioning body at the central North Island drag strip.

Following Fram Autolite Dragway’s announcement a couple of weeks back that it would be shifting, the Taupo Dragway will also be taking on the IHRA International Hot Rod Association as its sanctioning body. The change will take place for the next 2011/2012 season. The NZDRA will no longer have the role.

“We are excited for the fresh changes that will be taking place and know that the drivers will aslo appreciate the fresh changes that will be presented to them in due time. Taupo Motorsport Park are supporting us in our decision to move to the IHRA as the incentives to the drivers will make for a fresh approach to drag racing in New Zealand,” as stated in a press release from Top Fuel Enerprizes Ltd. (more…)

Fram Autolite Dragway has just announced that it will be changing the sanctioning body of its Meremere drag racing facility. Fram will not be renewing it’s membership with the NZDRA and all track sanctioning will change to the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA).

This comes as massive news for the Meremere Dragway and for the sport of drag racing in NZ, to find out more read Fram Autolite Dragway’s official press statement below. (more…)

The big boys of NZ drag racing came out for the Nationals last weekend at Fram Autolite Dragway in Meremere. The weather was fine and the racing was tight with the smell of burnt rubber wafting through the crowd and a symphony of tyre squeals to entertain all.

NZV8 was there snapping away a few hundred photos so check out all the day’s action in the gallery below and keep an eye out for a full event report in the next issue of NZV8 magazine.

Smits Group has recently announced their decision to sponsor Jon Bates’ Mazda B8’s team and his new Rislone Rotary Turbo Charged Dragster.

“This is a very exciting project, which will have both the V8 traditionalist and Import scene watching closely to see the outcome. We’re very pleased to be lending our support,” says Darlene Smits, Director of Smits Group.

Jon has been involved in drag racing in New Zealand and Australia for a number of years, teaming up with his brother Tony Marsh to build New Zealand’s fastest naturally aspirated dragster, which still holds two New Zealand records.

He has now purchased the 2007 Spitzer Dragster from Marsh, which has run 6.7 seconds at 320kph with 1,070hp, set to be the fastest naturally aspirated Ford Dragster in the world. The Dragster has been undergoing some major improvements and is now running a Curran Brothers racing 20 b Rotary Turbo Charged engine with in excess of 1200hp. It has been fitted with a carbon fibre body, Precision Turbo Chargers, Injector Dynamics Injectors, Microtec ECU, and A1 Power Glide Transmission. (more…)

If you love your drag racing and want to see all the big boys in action, or you want to see how the pros prepare and compete then check out this huge event on the NZ drag racing calender.

There are classes for all vehicles from doorslammers to street cars, V8s to imports, its all going to be there. The popular methanol-burning Top Alcohol Funny Cars and Dragsters are sure to provide some great racing action for the fans with new additions to the race division insuring plenty of 5 second 390kph action.

The other headliner class is Top Doorslammer, these 3000 horsepower machines deliver a wild ride as their pilots attempt to man-handle the wildest sedans on earth from the start line to the end of the quarter mile.

There are 11 other classes in total and one of the best parts of going to the drags is that access to the pits is included in the ticket price, so you can get a up close look at exactly what makes these machines tick.

The NZDRA Northern Nationals are on this Sunday (6 February) at Fram Autolite Dragway in Meremere. Gates open at 8am and qualifying begins from 9am.

General admission is $20 at the gate with kids under 12 rolling in for free.

To find out more go to www.nzdra.co.nz/

Earlier this month Alan Thoresen of Black Thunder Racing did a promotion on Kaihikatea Drive in Hamilton in association with Reyad’s Fruit and Veg Market and the Mad Butcher.

The promotion included the Black Thunder Team with two Kawasaki ZX14′s and “Lil Black Thunder” Price Brothers Motorsport with their Top Alcohol Dragster and a Junior Dragster, Morrice McMillan’s Top Fuel Car, and Brent Beere’s RX8 Street Racer.

The team also promoted the sport of drag racing with NZDRA Banners and handouts, along with Fram Autolite Dragway Decals ,Castrol Decals and The Rock Radio Station helping with the promotion and providing giveaways.

Some of the public also got the opportunity to hop in to a Dragster/Junior Dragster or on one of the three Black Thunder Bikes.

The team got together with the idea of bringing Drag Racing to the people. ie If people don’t go to the drag strips to find out about racing…we bring it to them.

Reyads and the Mad Butcher provided a free BBQ and curry samples and through gold coin donations on the day money was donated to charity.

Whilst the poor weather was a deterent on the day, there were quite a number of visitors.

Responses such as …”It has been years since I went to a drag meet”, ” I wondered what drag racing was about”, “I always wanted to go and watch drag racing”, “Can we drag race our cars at the drag strip? – what do we have to do”? – all indicated that the promotion was successful and raised the awareness by enlightening the public about the sport of drag racing.

Other promotions will be planned as the weather improves with the objective of including more Drag Race Cars/Bikes/Teams for the local area.

With six-second 200mph dreams but only a shoestring budget, Top Alcohol was the only way this team was ever going to race

What you see in these well-framed photographs is an alcohol-burning, supercharged and injected Funny Car, built and campaigned on a miniscule budget by Morice McMillin and Ryan Sheldon, who choose to race in one of the most competitive yet confusing classes in a sport full of confusing classes. And they’ve done well. By travelling around the country they racked up enough round wins to take third in the NZDRA National point score, and ran a best of 6.73 at 211mph in their first season of running the car.

It’s a twisted, convoluted tail, the evolution of this team, but they met up years back when they both ended up crewing on Mark Thomas’s Top Doorslammer ute. Ryan has been around drag racing his whole life. He crewed on Thomas’s little green lorry from its eight-second beginnings in Wild Bunch racing before trotting off to the US for a few years. When Ryan returned, it was with a plan to campaign his own Doorslammer, and he purchased the big ’59 Chev of Reagan Porter. He also slid right back into his former position on Blobby Thomas’s crew, and set about buying an engine he knew quite well, the alloy 532 KB Chev out of the ute.

New to team FatMan then was the gofer, a cheeky little runt named Morice McMillin, who had also been around the sport most of his young life, and had proved not only able to take the tons of verbal abuse heaped upon him, but more than capable of throwing a few barbs of his own.

After a couple of years of this fun, Morice’s dad, Noel (yep, he’s also spent donkeys’ years in the sport, especially in the thankless administration side), surprised everyone including himself by purchasing an old Mustang-bodied funny car. It hadn’t been on a track for about a decade and it needed a chassis upgrade (as in a new chassis), but hey, the price was right and the thing came complete, including an injected big block Chev.

(more…)

40th NZDRA Nationals: Paul Stubber, an Aussie whos come over to New Zealand to compete in the Central Muscle Car Series with his Camaro. Paul joined the Kiwis at Eastern Creek for the Aussie Muscle car Masters and then competed against the CMC cars in the Trans Tasman Challenge. We catch up with Paul while competing at Pukekohe last weekend to check out his SS Camaro Muscle car.
Central Muscle Cars: Repairing the 3 CMC cars of Mandy Sinclair, Shane Johnson and Bruce Kett who all but wrote their cars off in a huge crash at the Aussie Muscle car Masters. The team from Moselle Panel and Paint offered to do it for free. This is the result.
NZDRA: The 09/2010 NZDRA Championship series began at Fram Autolight Dragway. We check out a Super Sedan Impala, and talk to Tony Christianson competing in his Altered 355ci,
Drag Race cams: try using racecams on a 250mph top alcohol drag car. If it looks like this, whats John Neilan feeling at the wheel. Also inside Wayne Grimmers Top Street Barracuda and Sam Levine’s Plymouth Duster.

40th NZDRA Nationals: Paul Stubber, an Aussie whos come over to New Zealand to compete in the Central Muscle Car Series with his Camaro. Paul joined the Kiwis at Eastern Creek for the Aussie Muscle car Masters and then competed against the CMC cars in the Trans Tasman Challenge. We catch up with Paul while competing at Pukekohe last weekend to check out his SS Camaro Muscle car.
Central Muscle Cars: Repairing the 3 CMC cars of Mandy Sinclair, Shane Johnson and Bruce Kett who all but wrote their cars off in a huge crash at the Aussie Muscle car Masters. The team from Moselle Panel and Paint offered to do it for free. This is the result.
NZDRA: The 09/2010 NZDRA Championship series began at Fram Autolight Dragway. We check out a Super Sedan Impala, and talk to Tony Christianson competing in his Altered 355ci,
Drag Race cams: try using racecams on a 250mph top alcohol drag car. If it looks like this, whats John Neilan feeling at the wheel. Also inside Wayne Grimmers Top Street Barracuda and Sam Levine’s Plymouth Duster.

As the last round of the Century Yuassa Power Series, the Prestone Nationals was always going to be a big event. Infact, it was so big that qualifying took place over two days, before the finals were run on Sunday.

Without doubt the meet saw more entrants than any other this drag season, including many cars that have been unseen for some time. As you would expect form such a meet, there were a few mechanical incidents that saw drivers soon become spectators. Fortunatly there was enough action both on and off the track to keep the crowds happy during oildowns, including passes from Willy White and Karl Bonniface in their nitro funnycars.

With too many highlights to include here, a few that have to be mentioned was the debut of John Dillon and Rod Benjes Chev Baretta Top Doorslammer. The immaculately prepared vehicle was a bare chassis just three weeks ago, the DB Racecars team working around the clock to get it ready for licensing passes.

The Harcourts/Vernon & Vazey Truck parts Top Alcohol rail managed to break a streak of running 6.0-second passes by running a 5.991 @ 228mph.

For full results check out issue 61 of NZV8, on sale 10^th May. In the mean time, check out the shots in our gallery by clicking on the link below, thanks to photographer Adam Croy.

(more…)

Jonny Udy’s late model twin turbo Monaro. From the GT1 Race Series in Taupo Dwayne Carter’s ex-V8 Supercar BF Ford Falcon. We catch up with young top alcohol dragster Todd Vincent

Jonny Udy’s late model twin turbo Monaro. From the GT1 Race Series in Taupo Dwayne Carter’s ex-V8 Supercar BF Ford Falcon. We catch up with young top alcohol dragster Todd Vincent

After red-lighting the start, Dixon thought he’d try to pull an eight-second pass in his 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air against Doug Stewart’s Chevrolet Camaro. It all went wrong at the end of the strip, though

After comprehensively beating Bogaart’s FPV GT-P Falcon off the line, he suffers major mechanical failure that slams the Subaru into the wall.

The first season for the Morice McMillin/Ryan Sheldon Top Alcohol funny car had many highs and some better than expected results, culminating with a 3rd place finish in the NZDRA Top alcohol championship. The 09/10 season looks even better for the Hamilton based team with the announcement of Teng Tools taking over as naming rights sponsor for the team.

TengTools, already involved with the team as an associate sponsor were happy with the teams performance and exposure during the debut season” After a successful season last year we are proud to increase our involvement with Morice and his team. Quoted Teng Tools operations manager Stephen Cole”

The TengTools Funny car is now committed to competing in all 5 rounds of the Century Yuasa Power series Drag Racing Championships this season.¨¨The combination remains essentially the same as last season with only routine maintenance undertaken, giving the team a good baseline to start the season from and improve even more on the teams personal best set last year of 6.73 at 211mph (339 km/h).

The team have also been lucky enough to retain associate sponsors, Brad Penn oil, Nostalgia Motors, Mitsi Spares, Jonesey’s Garage and Horne Engineering for another season.

Fram Autolite Dragway, has just announced the Prestone New Zealand Drag Racing Nationals in 2010 as part of the CenturyYuasa Batteries NZDRA National Series. Fram Autolite Dragway has been NZ’s only purpose built stand alone drag racing facility since 1973, therefore was a natural choice for Prestone to come onboard for the granddaddy of drag racing events in New Zealand.

Prestone is part of the Honeywell Consumer Products Group as are the Fram and Autolite banner and is deeply involved with NHRA Drag Racing and Nascar in the USA so the concept to work with New Zealand Drag Racing is like second nature to the Fram Autolite and Prestone brands. “This lines up with what our brands support in the USA and we see this as added commitment to drag racing in New Zealand”, commented John Wallace, General Manager, Holt Lloyd Ltd, NZ & Australia for Fram Autolite & Prestone.

Fram Autolite Dragway enters a new era with Gary Bogaart as the new Track Manager with a structured board of management behind him. The proffesionalisim that is expected from this team makes for a perfect alliance with Fram Autolite and Prestone comparing the synergy these three brands have within professional motorsport worldwide. The Prestone New Zealand Drag Racing Nationals will be on 19,20,21 March 2010.

For further information please visit the Fram Autolite Dragway website.

NZDRA announced yesterday the introduction of the CenturyYuasa Power Series for the coming 2009/2010 Drag Season. The CenturyYuasa Power Series combines the 5 rounds that constitute the National Drag Series under an overall naming rights sponsor for the first time.

“This is a real turning point for the sport of drag racing in New Zealand”, commented NZDRA’s CEO Chris Tynan. “We have had a few bumps in the road recently but this really is a fantastic opportunity to take the sport to a new level”.

CenturyYuasa have had a long association with Drag Racing in New Zealand, having been naming rights sponsor of the New Zealand Nationals round for the last 5 years.

“We were really excited when the new NZDRA Board offered us the series naming rights” said Gerard Wade, National Marketing Manager for CenturyYuasa. “The new Board structure for NZDRA along with the new management structure has really given us the confidence to make this expanded commitment”

The upcoming CenturyYuasa Power Series will include:

• Round One: The Northern Nationals 28-29 November at Fram Autoloite Dragway in Meremere

• Round Two: The Kumeu Classic Car and Hot Rod Festival Summer Nationals 4 January in Taupo.

• Round Three: The Digga Southern Nationals 30 January at Powerbuilt Tools Raceway Christchurch.

• Round Four: The Central Nationals 20-21 February at Masteron Motorplex.

• Round Five: The Prestone NZ Nationals at Fram Autolite Dragway on 20-21 March.

“The commitment by CenturyYuasa to the upcoming NZDRA season will ensure we have the resources to gain maximum exposure for drag racing and the individual competitors” says Tynan. “We are very grateful for their sponsorship”

In a press release sent out yesterday, the New Zealand Drag Racing Association has announced its new management structure. Read the official statement below for all the details.

Press Release:

Drag racing in New Zealand has undergone significant growth over the past few years.

To acknowledge this growth and provide the support that racers, track officials and sponsors require, the New Zealand Drag Racing Association came to the conclusion that major changes had to be undertaken.

The first step in this process was to review the Constitution that sets down the guidelines and rules of the Association. Although serving the sport well in getting it to where it is today, change was required.  The NZDRA needed to bring the sport of Drag Racing into the more professional era that modern day Motorsport demands.

The intention was to bring in a group of professional business people that would form the new Board of Management that could guide the sport into the future.  To do this, a change would be required to the Constitution and would need the majority support of all NZDRA members.

The changes were made and a new Constitution was completed in July.  This was submitted to all NZDRA members for review and voting. The NZDRA are pleased to announce the new Constitution was resoundingly voted in with a massive 98% support from the members.

Chief Executive Officer of the NZDRA, Chris Tynan “It is with great pleasure that the NZDRA announce that, with the introduction of the new and improved Constitution, work can now begin in taking the sport of drag racing into the future.” Mr Tynan went on to say  “the new Board of Management are all successful business people in their own right and will bring a huge amount of experience and professionalism to the sport”.

“The NZDRA would like to take this opportunity to thank its previous Executive Members, who collectively, have served many years.  Without their diligence and guidance, the sport would not be at the level it is today” says Tynan.

when it becomes apparent to you, just as you’re about to chop up your daily driver to install wheel tubs and a 4 link which will make it a not so daily driver, you could be making a bit of a mistake.. what do you do??

Here’s what I did..

The New Zealand Drag Racing Association’s National Pointscore Series sees the top cars from around the country compete head to head for the national championships.

With four of the countries Top Doorslammers either racing overseas, or not racing this season, it’s the perfect chance for Top Street classed cars to step up and have a go at the big time.

The dates for the series are:

Round 1: 28/29 November @ Fram Autolite Dragway
Round 2: 4/5 January @ Taupo International Dragway
Round 3: 30 January @ Powerbuilt Tools Dragway
Round 4: 20/21 February @ Masterton Motorplex
Round 5: 19-21 March @ Fram Autolite Dragway

These are the biggest drag meets on the upcoming calendar, so make sure you book the dates now.

For more info check out www.nzdra.co.nz

Last weekend, the final round in the New Zealand Drag Racing Association (NZDRA) Series took place at Fram Autolite Dragway, Meremere. The Century Batteries Nationals saw some lightning quick runs and all the excitement you would expect when NZ’s fastest drag cars come together.

But don’t just take our word for it, check out the image gallery below for all the action from the meet.