Nostalgia Moment - 1995 Australian Drag Racing Nationals
One of the most memorable Top Doorslammer races of all time - in front of 55,000 people, John Zappia takes out the final from Brendan McSweeney by "mowing the grass" at Calder.
Zappia Racing on the road.
John Zappia and his Zappia Racing team are on the road with the Fuchs/Procomp Electronics Monaro, in their new transporter in between ANDRA Pro Series Top Doorslammer meetings.
On 26th August this year Zap and the team travelled to Adelaide International Raceway for the eighth mile Doorslammer Challenge, and finished with third quickest ET, and fastest mph for the event.
"That meeting in Adelaide was just fantastic" said a smiling Zap, "It had been seventeen years since we raced there in the Australia vs USA Doorslammer Shootout in 1994, and the crowd was huge and very enthusiastic".
"I managed some pedaling, sideways, out of shape 4.26 and 4.24 passes, and the blower belt came off in the third pass cutting the ignition off at 500 feet. Still went 4.40 though! Great to see the fans still love drag racing in South Australia - we will certainly be back to race there".
The Team headed back to Perth for the Top Fuel meeting on 2-3rd Dec at the Perth Motorplex, and ran in the local Top Comp bracket. The Fuchs/Procomp Electronics Monaro managed a 6.00 @ 247.25mph after a pedal from Zap, and in the second pass a fuel line came loose with a burst panel going on a lean cylinder".
"We were happy with the incrementals for the two runs - the second was on a 5.80 pass we feel before the incident. Many thanks to Fuchs and Procomp Electronics for assisting with the new graphics on the transporter. The feedback from fans and supporters was great, and we are really happy with how the Team presents now".
The team will next race in Perth on 6-7th Jan at the Nitro Funny Car event, where Zap will contest in the Top Comp bracket and further refine their quarter mile package.
Then Zappia Racing will head back east for the Slamfest Series organized by Pro Modified Australia - eighth mile racing on regional tracks. All Slamfest events will receive extensive television coverage with one hour shows on Speedweek on SBS, and Inside Speed on Foxsports plus stand-alone one hour self-titled Doorslammer shows on FuelTV, Foxsports HD and for international distribution. An additional 30 minute Full Noise show will also appear on Foxsports.
Heathcote Park Raceway will host a Slamfest on 21st Jan 2012, and is Victoria's leading regional motorsport facility located just 25km south of Bendigo, off the McIvor Highway. Built in 1975 the venue has hosted some of Australia's largest Drag Racing events and features one of the oldest and longest Quarter Mile Drag Strips in the country.
Fuchs South Coast Raceway in Portand on the southern coast of Victoria will host the next Slamfest on 3- 4th Feb 2012, and is proudly named the "best little drag strip in OZ".
"We have never raced at Heathcote or Portland, so we are looking forward to those dates. We set the track record at Mildura with a 4.02 @ 191mph, and we hope to improve on that and dip into the three's".
The next round is across the Tasman to Launceston Tasmania at the Tasmanian Drag Racers Association's Dragway Tasmania track on 18th Feb 2012. Zappia Racing last raced there a couple of years ago in Zap's Rat in exhibition runs, and the new "Crusher" Fuchs/Procomp Electronics Monaro will get a go on the newly updated track, including concrete start line and barrier walls.
After the three rounds of Slamfest Eighth Mile racing, the team will head back to Perth for Round Three of the ANDRA Top Doorslammer Championship at the Westernationals on 3-4th March 2012 at the Perth Motorplex, where Zap will attempt to rein in Peter Kapiris who leads the series with 279.5 points, and stop fellow West Australian Robin Judd who trails Zap (209.5 points) on 187.5 points.
John Zappia and his team wish all their sponsors, supporters, fans and the drag racing community a Merry and safe Christmas, and a Very Happy New Year.
Zappia Goldenstates Attack
Local Perth hero and National Top Doorslammer Champion John Zappia went to the final in the Goldenstates Championship at the Perth Motorplex last weekend and won runner-up, boosting his chances in the 2011/2012 ANDRA Pro Series Top Doorslammer Championship. He had to beat his strongest opponents Fabietti and Judd on the way to the final, with a showdown against Kapiris.
Zappia qualified third in the ten car field with a 5.920 @ 247.99mph that saw him pick up extra points for High Speed at the event. Top qualifier was in form Peter Kapiris with a 5.847 @ 243.90mph, with Judd second on 5.886 @ 247.93mph - the bump spot being 6.660.
"I am glad to get the points" said a reflective Zappia this week, "But obviously disappointed to lose the final with an engine problem. Peter was the man to beat all weekend, and congratulations to him on his win. The crew were kept busy on the Fuchs/Procomp Electronics Monaro with engine work, as a few small issues caused us some drama including an engine change for the final".
Zap did battle with Maurice Fabietti in Round 1, and went through for the win in a pedaling 6.025 @ 247.25mph to Maurice's all over the place 12.449 @ 68.96mph. Other winners were Kapiris 5.884 @ 245.23mph over Priolo 8.105 @ 127.47mph, Dack 6.068 @ 240.00mph over Gregorini 6.347 @ 230.76mph, and Judd 5.873 @ 246.57mph over Murray O'Connor with a 6.15@234.37mph.
Round 2 saw Zap up against his arch rival Judd - the two hard hitters from the West. In an anticipated close race it was Zappia's 5.983 @ 238.09mph that got the win over Judd's 6.156 @ 241.28mph - Judd having the bigger pedal after tyre shake. The other winners were Kapiris 6.270 @ 210.77 over Dack 6.390 @ 230.76mph in the other semi, and enjoyed the reward of top qualifying with a relatively easy passage through eliminations.
"That race against Judd could have been a season decider when you think about it for both of us - it's amazing how little events in a season can make or break a team. We hurt the engine on that run, and after an attempt to rectify it, I made the call to the crew to change the engine".
"This meeting had lots of highs and lows as records were broken and racers set PB's, but there were lots of racers that endured car or engine damage. We had our fair share of lows with two engines damaged in subsequent races, but our hearts go out to Gary and Debbie Phillips who went from the biggest high of running the first 5.4 in Top Alcohol, to running off the track and severely damaging the car and not being able to take any further part in the meeting".
Zappia and Kapiris met for the final and at the 60 foot mark it was all over as the blower burst panel blew on the Fuchs/Procomp Electronics Monaro, with Kapiris scorching to an event low 5.810 @ 247.25mph win, stretching his Championship lead after two rounds.
"There are four more rounds left in this ANDRA Pro Series Championship, and we have more to give in terms of performance. We will keep Kapiris and Judd honest, and if Fabietti gets the auto going, he may put pressure on all of us".
Zappia Racing heads over to Adelaide in their new Transporter (check out the stunning graphics on the trailer, thanks to Current Trendz Race Graphics) to Adelaide International Raceway for the eighth mile series on 26th November 2011. The event is being promoted by Racing ONN Promotions, is fully ANDRA sanctioned, and the Major Sponsor is Fuchs. Details can be found at www.racingonn.com.au
Zappia goes 5.777 - quickest Top Doorslammer pass in Australia.
John Zappia presented for the Fuchs Nationals - Round 1 of the ANDRA Pro Series Top Doorslammer 2011/2012 Series - and let everyone know why he is the Australian National Record Holder by recording the first "five seven" in competition, and claimed top qualifier position.
Qualifying for the event took a turn, after bad weather forced Sydney Dragway officials to cancel Friday night's first qualifying round. Saturday arrived with all contenders faced with only two chances to gain entry into the eight car field.
First qualifier for Zappia saw him launch right, shake and head for the wall. "I took a chance, hit second gear and turned the wheel expecting it to turn, but the front wheels may have been off the ground and I glanced the wall, and missed my first chance" said an upbeat Zappia.
"We fixed the damaged headers and adjusted the door, took a look at the tune, and made a few minor changes to try and get in the field. What happened next was quite amazing. A good launch that headed right a little caused me to pedal and correct, then it pulled so strongly through all the gears, but to be honest when the track officials told me I had run a 5.777 @ 250.74mph I was stunned. I had actually short shifted in second gear , so to run that time - Australia's quickest pass in a Doorslammer - and top qualify in the field was a highlight of the meeting".
Zap was joined in the top half of the field by Judd 5.868, Belleri 5.902 and Kapiris 5.913 - the rest of the field posting six second runs. Bump spot for the meeting was Sean Misfud with a 6.327.
First Round match up with Mifsud in the PSI equipped Camaro saw Zap win with a 5.865 @249.12mph over a PB 6.006 @ 238.34mph from Mifsud. Other winners were Judd 6.007 over a red lighting Victor Bray 6.267, Belleri 5.936 over Fabietii 5.971, and Kapiris 5.847 in a close win over Ben Bray 5.949.
"The weather and track condition definitely favoured the 5.777 run, and the first round run gave us more data to try and trim up the tune for round two against our good friend Peter Kapiris. Peter had some good form lately and running regular low five eights, so the race was on for sure".
"I staged and on the hit the car shook aggressively, blurring my vision. I hit second and when I finally got off it I found myself in the other lane. Peter ran the Saratoga right through for a 5.939 @ 253.90mph win to get through to the final".
In a previous run - Robin Judd got a lucky break when Mark Belleri broke a fuel line on a strong run and aborted - but his 6.112 @ 244.47 was enough to gain a finals berth. The final saw Kapiris 5.809 @ 256.02mph take out Judd 5.844 @ 248.57mph and take top points for the Championship.
"What a great meeting. We got to showcase our new graphics package of our new season co-naming rights sponsors, and run the quickest pass in Australia. Seems only yesterday we were rejoicing going the first five second pass - and since that time we have been able to knock two tenths of a second off that time. We would have liked to have backed up that time and reset our National Record, but that awaits another day. Hopefully we can do it at the Motorplex in the Goldenstates in front of our home crowd".
"This season is set to be a cracker - with some quick times coming from many teams, and a few other teams set to pounce later in the season. Now that we have run our first five seven, I am excited about trying to run consistent five sevens as a new benchmark. We made five eights the benchmark the last few seasons, and we hope to be consistent in the five eigths to five sevens and to keep improving".
Managing Director of Fuchs Lubricants Wayne Hoiles made comment on their new Co-Sponsorship: "Fuchs is proud to increase its support of Zappia Racing to joint naming rights of the team. It's a team with proven championship performance and represents the true Australian spirit of determination and setting new standards".
"We are very happy to have joint naming rights for this season with Fuchs Lubricants and Procomp Electronics" said Zap. "The race car will be known as the Fuchs/Procomp Electronics Monaro. We again thank Craig Pedley from Striker Crushing and Screening for allowing us to race his "Crusher" Monaro for the 2011/2012 season".
The management team at Procomp Electronics aim to support the team, foster the growing relationship, and identify their new product diversification. "Last season was a success with the relationship between Zappia Racing and the Procomp Electronics Team. Besides the success of last year's season on the track, the relationship has strengthened and grown into different areas of production and business operations. The Procomp Electronics Team has also taken on board new production-lines involved with the diversification of their new product range. Some of the new brands are Pro Fuel Delivery (Pro FD) and Traction Drive Systems (TDS), as seen on the door of John's Top Doorslammer. All in all the relationship is prospering and taking new ventures in the area of motorsport".
Zap commented this week - "We also welcome new German hand tools manufacturer Elora, tool distributors Alltools and our major sponsors in Striker Crushing and Screening, K-Trans Racing, Beta Spuds, Southside Engine Centre, Noonan Race Engineering and PPG Automotive Refinish".
"Also thanks to our Supporting Sponsors Santhuff, Victory1, B & J Racing Transmissions, Mi Camcorders, Current Trendz, Crow Cams, Aero Group - Avtrac Maintenance Tracking, Legend Boatbuilders, Taylor Tyres, Kounis Metal Industries, Bravo Resources, CIC High Performance Coatings, Aurora Bearings, and Track-Meter".
"We race again at the Goldenstates in Round 2 of the ANDRA Pro Series. We always welcome racing on our home track. The Perth Motorlex has found some extra bite in the track recently, and with some renowned great air at that time of year, we could see some record breaking racing. I certainly recommend fans get to the Perth Motorplex for that round. We could see a record bump spot as at least six of the race teams have already gone below six second quarter miles already this season".
