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/

“Having been passed on by former owner, God, This ’55 Chevy has no Mercy for it’s new yet feisty Maori Warrior … The World’s Fastest Tiki!!!”

Chris Tynan, a man who has been on the Drag Racing scene for more than thirty years, is something of a legend is many racers eyes.  He described his own first drag racing experience as “The thrill of being on the edge of control “, at the age of 14. His own car, “Rat Attack” (featured here) is just as well known as he is, having owned her as a street car before doing a few modifications and tweaks over the years that eventually caused her to take away a few well held track records (some of which still stand unbeaten today), a few memorable half track burnouts and an infamous full-track burnout at meremere dragstrip.

After thrity odd years or so, Chris decided that it was time to send the old girl onto another loving home. She was gracefully sold off to Mike Reid, a pretty laid back type of guy, who has been racing since 1991. He took the old girl and gave her the same love Chris had given her.

After doing the picture of Nigel’s car and getting such good feedback, Ryan requested again if I would be able to do a picture of the car. He sent me some good reference photos and I got to work. A few weeks later this was the result! Ryan told me Mike loved it, and was really impressed with the way it came out. Also, combing through Ryan’s friends on Facebook, I found Mike Reid’s page, and lo and behold I came across the picture in his photo album. Another great way to put a smile on my face!

The old “Rat Attack” has now had a fresh coat of paint, white with a beautiful metallic black contrast where the Candy red once was. Good on you Mike for getting out there and doing what you love and thank you Chris Tynan for achieving what you have, and continuing to encourage others to get out there and do what they enjoy.

Coming up next:
The prettiest little ’32 Ford Roadster in the bunch..

Chris Tynan and the Century Batteries 55 Chev did it tough in the Nitro Champs at Sydney Dragway.

Despite a sensible maintenance program, all 3 qualifying runs were not fast enough to get into what turned out to be a relativity slow bump spot in Top Doorslammer at Sydney Dragway. With the final “bump” (slowest qualifying time in an eight car field) in the 6.40’s, Chris only had to run what the Century Batteries Chev has already run and he would be racing on Sunday — but mechanical gremlins dictated otherwise.

Q1 — Chris said “I had some fuel system changes suggested by Troy Chritchley that I was keen to try. On the launch, however, the transmission failed.” This resulted in a non representative ET for the team. .

“Maurice (Fabietti) offered replacement parts and we had overnight to repair, so we thought we had nailed the “bad” run early and were looking forward to Q2” said Chris.

Q2 — After the customary Tynan burnout (read long) the 55 Chev refused to engage reverse! Chris had no option but to idle off the end of the Sydney racetrack. “The reverser, which we tested in the pits, obviously has some damage as well. When I tried to reverse back —nothing.” said Chris.

More repairs ensued and the team were crossing fingers and toes by now!

Q3 - last qualifying session. Chris needed to run fast or not race on this run. The car sounded clean in the burnout but on launch — just a slow leave and a 7 second ET!

“It appears that one and then two spark plugs quit” said Chris. “Not sure why, as they were brand new, but they just stopped working” he continued. With 6 working cylinders, and two along for the ride, the Hemi engine would not make hp.

“To say the team are frustrated is an understatement, but we are also aware that the race car needs track time. Once we work through the mechanical issues we are confident of going faster.

The Century Batteries 55 Chev is now heading back to Victor Brays garage in Brisbane and the team is focusing on the next step, and if possible, track testing before the upcoming Castrol Edge Winternationals.

If you’re across in the Western Island of New Zealand (that’s Australia), you might have seen Wayne Rowe racing.

After his recent tragic passing the staff at Sydney Dragway spoke about an award to help remember Wayne, a pioneer in Pro stock and Doorslammer in Australian Drag Racing.

Wayne was the first Australian to exceed 200 miles per hour in a doored car and was known as a gentleman of the sport.

Not only did Rowe play in Top Doorslammer, but also enjoyed racing with distinction in Pro Stock for many seasons.

With the upcoming Nitro Champs, which will see Sydney Dragway (SD) celebrating the life of Wayne’s brother Andrew with the running of the Andrew Rowe Memorial for Super Stock it was decided after consultation with Ian Brown representing the Pro stock Owners Association that SD would now have a Wayne Rowe Memorial for Pro stock.

Just like the Andrew Rowe Memorial for Super Stock, SD will provide a perpetual plaque and a smaller trophy for the Pro Stock bracket winner who, at this year’s Nitro Champs will become the inaugural winner of the Wayne Rowe memorial.

In a further show of strength the Pro stock Owners Association has agreed to organise Australia’s best Super Stock/Pro stock commentator for the event: Michael Agius. He will be at the Nitro Champs doing commentary for both Super Stock and Pro Stock.

Photo courtesy of Fred Dwyer.