2014 ANDRA Drag Racing Series Recap
Over 5,000 race fans flocked to the Valley to watch top class drag racing action as nearly 100 teams from across Australia descended on Hidden Valley Drag Strip for the ANDRA Drag Racing Series Presented by 7mate.
The headline acts of Top Alcohol, Top Fuel Motorcycle and Top Doorslammer saw a number of personal bests with John Zappia running a new MPH PB of 254.14mph and John Cannuli running a new PB of 5.577sec. Mark Drew's Top Fuel Motorcycle also ran an astonishing 235.35mph during qualifying.
But the excitement wasn't just for the traveling Group 1 teams.
Local Modified Bike rider Clive Mainland ran his first ever 7sec pass with a 7.998 @ 175.57mph while WA based Brett Ghedina ran well under the Australian BB/MB Modified Bike record with a best of 7.84 @ 170.82mph.
Into the finals and Steve Ham took out the Top Alcohol final over Gary Phillips, 5.567 @ 261.52mph vs 5.681 @ 260.46mph.
Mark Drew had no competition and took out the silver Christmas Tree with a 6.465 @ 211.73mph after Chris Matheson was unable to contest his semi final bye. Matheson was transported to hospital for observation after the lead came off his bike, but was later released.
While in Top Doorslammer John Zappia was handed the win after Stuart Bishop rolled the beams. Zap running through with a 5.877 @ 252.14mph.
Unfortunately mechanical problems stopped Rolph Danielson from fronting for the Outlaw finals, letting Adam Murrihy take his first win for the season with a 7.000 @ 186.64mph
Top Sportsman saw Troy Wittwer handed the win on a 8.598 with a 8.53 dialin after Grant Radcliffe broke out by 0.008sec, running a 8.622 on a 8.63 dialin.
It was an all Torana affair in Super Sedan with Chris Parris taking out the win against Dave Carter. Parris finished with a 9.685 on a 9.55 dialin against Carter's 9.583 on a 9.25 dialin.
Modified Bike saw the West Aussie's dominate with Tom Gartrell taking on Todd Johnson. Gartrell was handed the win with his 9.253 on a 9.1 dialin after Johnson red lit but still powered through with a 9.285 on a 9.24.
Gary Baker stepped up from Street Car into Super Street for the weekend and he's glad he did, pulling victory with a 12.453 on a 12.48 dialin while his opponent Shaun Boyer red lit on a 11.769 pass with an 11.7 dialin.
It was an all WA final in the Super Toyworld Junior Dragster bracket with Brodie Zappia defeating Australia's number 1, Brayden Naylor. Zappia had a holeshot win with a 12.032 on an 11.96 dialin while Naylor ran through with a 8.141 on an 8.09 dialin.
In other brackets Bob Czerniawki made it three from three for the season in the Street Car bracket, defeating Mike Brideson, while Mark Tattingham racked up his second win of the season taking down Jack Kyreos in Street Bikes.
Hidden Valley Drag Strip now goes into an extended break with Government construction scheduled for the remainder of the season at the venue. Racing will resume in 2015 so keep an eye out for the 2015 calendar to be released later this year.
TOP ALCOHOL WINNER - STEVE HAM
TOP ALCOHOL RUNNER UP - GARY PHILLIPS
TOP FUEL MOTORCYCLE WINNER - MARK DREW
TOP DOORSLAMMER WINNER - JOHN ZAPPIA
TOP DOORSLAMMER RUNNER UP - STUART BISHOP
OUTLAWS WINNER - ADAM MURRIHY
OUTLAWS RUNNER UP - ROLPH DANIELSON
TOP SPORTSMAN WINNER - TROY WITTWER
TOP SPORTSMAN RUNNER UP - GRANT RADCLIFFE
MODIFIED BIKE WINNER - TOM GARTRELL
MODIFIED BIKE RUNNER UP - TODD JOHNSON
SUPER SEDAN WINNER - CHRIS PARRIS
SUPER SEDAN RUNNER UP - DAVE CARTER
SUPER STREET WINNER - GARY BAKER
SUPER STREET RUNNER UP - SHAUN BOYER
STREET CAR WINNER - BOB CZERNIAWSKI
STREET CAR RUNNER UP - MIKE BRIDESON
STREET BIKE WINNER - MARK TATTINGHAM
STREET BIKE RUNNER UP - JACK KYPREOS
SUPER TOYWORLD JUNIOR DRAGSTER WINNER - BRODIE ZAPPIA
SUPER TOYWORLD JUNIOR DRAGSTER RUNNER UP - BRAYDEN NAYLOR