Drag Racing Heaven of Troy: Darwin to Alice Springs
Palmerston Sportsman Drag Racer Troy Wittwer is making the most of the ANDRA Championship central swing to open the 2015/2016 season at Hidden Valley Drag Strip this weekend followed by Alice Springs Inland Dragway the next.
Wittwer will compete in Top Sportsman as part of the local Hidden Valley track championship supporting the ANDRA Drag Racing Series season openers for Top Doorslammer and Top Alcohol on Friday and Saturday nights.
He will then make the trip South for Round 1 of the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series at the Desert Nationals in Alice Springs to race in the Supercharged Outlaws bracket for an ANDRA Silver Christmas Tree.
This season Wittwer has stepped up from a 1968 Camaro to a former Top Doorslammer Studebaker previously owned and campaigned by Hidden Valley Drag Racing Association President Scott MacLean, with the goal of running high 6.5 second passes.
“I love the sport and raced a 68 Camaro with injected 588ci engine and won the ANDRA round in Top Sportsman at the meet (last year) in Darwin before Alice,” he said.
“My mate and l make the trip (to Alice Springs) every year, great way to get away from work have fun on the road trip but most of all we love the Alice track and the people you meet from all over Australia.
“Scotty (MacLean) upgraded his car so the chance to purchase the Studebaker came up and we pounced at it as a roller stripped it down to a frame and started again with new engine plates, pipes, transmission and so on. We’re now running a 540ci billet Rodeck 14/71, this is my learning motor, and changed the appearance of the old girl.
“And next season we have two BAE Hemis to step up to with countless spares. We would like to run Supercharged Outlaws at a few strips in Australia close to the high end of 6.50 for Outlaws, but small steps first.”
As much as Wittwer is looking forward to racing and honing his new race set up, he is as much a fan as anyone when it comes to Hidden Valley this weekend and credits the Government for the support they have given both his local track in Darwin and Alice Springs.
“Ken Lowe has been a great help with tuning and flowing and the general set up (of the car) so far, he is always willing to help us. But to be honest mate l would love to watch as a spectator on the hill!
“So many world class drivers Australia can muster in one place and all in the NT. And with the Top Fuel teams racing here for the first time ever in Darwin l believe the hills and stands will be packed for these guys to see great racing and great people.
“Both Hidden Valley and Alice are world class strips and they have proven this on the opening meets matching all the others and by doing this have encouraged other racers to build cars or import them lifting the standard in all classes at Hidden Valley.”
The flame throwing, nitro burning Rapisarda Autosport International Top Fuel dragsters of Damien Harris and Wayne Newby will make one pass on Friday July 17 with a further three passes on Saturday July 18.
Qualifying action for Top Alcohol and Top Doorslammer kicks off from 6:00pm on Friday and race day eliminations commence from 5:00pm on Saturday (local track championship Sportsman qualifying continues from 3pm Saturday).
Image: Edmund Foreman / High RPM
ANDRA Drag Racing Series - Round 1
Featuring Top Alcohol, Top Doorslammer & Top Fuel Exhibition
17-18 July 2015
Full event details at www.hiddenvalleydrags.com/events/andra2015