Last weekends Westernationals saw John Zappia give a commanding performance in the 5th Round of the ANDRA Pro Series Top Doorslammer bracket, driving Craig Pedley's Striker "Crusher" Monaro into the winner’s circle and stamping his authority on the race to the finish line for the Championship.
"The win was fantastic", said a jubilant Zap this week, "It's our first win this season, and back-to-back Westernationals wins for Zappia Racing. We worked hard for it, but our confidence was high all through the event, which saw some brilliant crew turnarounds and my driving lifting a level".
Zap picked up the Pro Auto Service and Performance $1,000.00 cheque for Top Qualifying on the Saturday night, and reset his own ANDRA Top Doorslammer National Record to 5.815 seconds.
"This meeting is really a win for our Naming and Major Sponsors - Striker Crushing and Screening, United Industries, Fuchs, Force Tools Australia, Mickey Thompson, Beta Spuds, Southside Engine Centre and Noonan Race Engineering who have put their faith and sponsorship dollars behind our team and allowed me to purchase such top quality gear".
"The Crusher was on rails this weekend, thanks to the perfected four link we run with special Aurora aerospace rod ends, and the Santuff suspension setup. The car was launching straight and all I had to do was hang on for the ride. The combination of Mickey Thompson Tyres and Mickey Thompson Pro 5 Forged Billet Wheels complemented the suspension perfectly. The addition of Mi Camcorder’s digital camcorder has also assisted in fine tuning the suspension, observing my driving patterns, as well as improving security within the marquee”.
"The air was really strange during the meeting though. The odd combination of high temperatures, 2,500 ft corrected air and low humidity made tuning difficult. Quite a few engines suffered damage in the field, including one big bang for us. The data gained will make the next meeting with this combination much easier".
"Qualifying on the Saturday night began with a 6.069 et @ 238.09 mph where I had to pedal after experiencing blurred vision from tyre shake, and seeing the Karcher Chev heading into my lane. Back in the pits we discovered we had melted some pistons- so it was blower and heads off to replace those and a mad thrash on the Force Tools to get ready for the next round".
"With a revised tune, the next pass of 5.815 et @ 244.56 mph was a surprise - the quickest racecar with doors in Australian history. The third qualifier was almost exactly the same with a 5.818 et @ 244.56 mph - enough to back up the last run and secure the National Record from ANDRA. Both of those passes had excellent 60 foot times, as I perfected my staging technique".
"Round one was up against rookie Scott Maclean who made the trip from Darwin, who got me on the lights - but the Crusher hauled him in pretty quick. Around 1,000ft the car nosed over and probably went lean, but I held the boot into it until the TFX let go with a huge bang - with the rods punching a big hole in both sides of the block. We later found out we had a blocked nozzle which caused the piston to overhead and disintegrate ".
Southside Engine Centre guru Graham Jones led the crew on an engine change thrash before the next round, with Fabietti, Phillips and Judd the other round winners. "Definitely a weather factor in the tune" said Jones, "Our engines are now pretty much bullet proof with the Victory 1 Performance Valves, Noonan Race Engineering heads, CP Pistons, and other top class gear we use, and bearing life is pretty good with the quality of the Fuchs oils we use. It's a good thing we have a good inventory of engines in cases like this".
Round two saw Zap up against Maurice Fabietti, but in a stunning side by side five second race the Crusher edged ahead and took the win with a 5.828 et @ 244.56 mph to Fab's 5.955 et @ 242.58 mph. Judd took out Phillips in the other semi, setting up the much advertised battle of the wild wild west between local arch rivals Zap and Judd.
"I was wrapped with running a 5.828 on a brand new motor after the crew did an amazing job of swapping over that engine" said Zap, "That shows depth in a team when things like that happen. I was very confident for the final - we had just ran four fives in a row, with three pretty close together as low five eights. Judd was running high five eights throughout the meeting, so I knew I had to cut a good light and be at my best to turn the tables on Judd for this season".
"Judd got me on the start line and to sixty feet, but then the Striker Crusher rattled of another low five eight to take the win - 5.829 et @ 243.24 mph to Juddy's 6.079 et @ 241.28 mph. Fantastic racing for the fans, and topping off a great weekend for our team. We edged into second spot in the Championship, only 34 points behind number one spot held by Judd, and equal points leader in the $20,000 Karcher Tri State Challenge".
"Many thanks to all our local Perth Sponsors, supporters and fans who helped us celebrate the win. Merchandise sold like hot cakes, and fans took the opportunity to wear their Zappia Racing T-shirts with a winners’ grin. Interstate and International fans will be able to purchase merchandise online soon in the new online store. Special Thanks to Greg and Joanne from United Industries for their hands on help in getting parts ready for the engine swap. Also thanks to the many friends and supporters who got their hands dirty helping put various parts of the car together and taking pressure off the crew. Thanks should also go the Motorplex staff and track crew for the track preparation and the running of the event".
"I feel we are back in the winning zone now after this meeting, and our confidence is high in the race to the finish in this year’s ANDRA Pro Series Championship. You can see all the action on One HD in a few weeks in a high definition experience well worth watching”.
“The Westerns win gave us enough points to lead the local Top Comp Championship by 10 points, and we will round out the Perth season with two meetings (20th March and 10th April) to try and clinch Perth’s most coveted Championship. We then travel on to Sydney Dragway for Round 6 of Top Doorslammer at the Nitro Champs from 30th April to 2nd May".
Zap's battle in the Wild Wild West
This weekend is set to be the biggest battle in ANDRA Pro Series Top Doorslammer drag racing, as the quickest slammers in Australia fight for positions in the Championship at the 39th Annual Westernationals event at the Perth Motorplex.
Returning from a washed out Round in Sydney, John Zappia and his Zappia Racing Team are poised to enter the event as one of the favourites.
"We predicted that the Striker "Crusher" would be the best at putting the power to the track in Sydney" said a confident Zap this week, "We were right, and the pedaling 6.10 @ 239mph on a track all other racers found difficult to get down proved the point. We were disappointed with the washed out meeting for sure, but the extra points for quickest and fastest pass edged us closer to the top of the Championship table".
"It would have been nice to follow that up with a win, but I think this weekend will be our event. Our team’s confidence is high after coming off some good performances in Top Comp here in Perth, and I have a renewed confidence in my driving. I really drove the Crusher with my throttle in that first pass last event, and am getting better at all aspects of my game".
"We don't have that edge in performance we had for the last two seasons, so it's my driving and the depth of our experience as a team that will make a difference on race day. We know this track well, and have the data set to match any weather conditions that are thrown at us".
The Perth Motorplex has ramped up the advertising for the event, claiming it will be the battle of the two quickest men in Perth - Robin Judd and John Zappia.
"I think there is more than a battle between Robin and I this weekend. The field is hot and numerous teams are set to put down some good passes. If the conditions are right we could see another field with at least 6 sub 6 second cars competing. This will make for some very exciting racing and fans will be in for a treat both at the track, and on One HD television when broadcast by ANDRA Pro Series Drag Racing".
First qualifier for Top Doorslammers is on the Saturday at 6pm WST where fifteen teams will do battle. Five Perth based teams are joined by ten from other states in Australia, with several teams making their debut in the class. The second qualifier is at 8pm WST, and the final qualifier at 10pm. Eliminations are on Sunday with the first round at 6pm WST. The semi-final is at 8pm WST, and the Final at 10pm WST.
Zap in Sydney and confident
John Zappia has travelled the width of Australia in the Zappia Racing transporter from Perth to Sydney – a distance of over 4,100 km (0ver 2,500 miles) to compete in the Summernationals this weekend at Sydney Dragway, and is confident the Striker “Crusher” Monaro will produce the goods in ANDRA Pro Series Top Doorlammer Round 4.
“This is the first interstate trip for the new “Crusher” Monaro”, said a pumped John Zappia, “The fans will like the car, if the response from Perth is any indication. We have the new Mickey Thompson wheels on this car as well as the tyres, and they look the piece”.
“Craig Pedley from Striker Crushing and Screening who owns the car has heavy business commitments here in Australia and overseas, and has so far not been able to get in the car to license. I like the car so much it will be hard to give it back, but looking forward to fielding two cars in the future”.
“This weekend is shaping up to be a thriller for Doorslammer fans. I have competed locally in the Top Comp competition at the Perth Motorplex recently – Australia’s toughest Blown Alky competition, and learnt a lot about this car and its potential. Let me just say that I am confident it can consistently run “five eights”, and we will see what the track and weather conditions bring”.
Back-to-back Australian Top Doorslammer Champion Zappia is running third in the current Championship, after final appearances in Rounds 1 and 2 in Zap’s Rat, and being knocked out in the first elimination in Round 3 in the Crusher’s first appearance in competition.
“This new car has so much potential. Our design of the chassis has proven successful on the track, and Zap’s Rat will be brought up to the same design spec before re-entering competition. All teams have found new power with certain modifications to the engine accessories, but I think we will prove to be the more consistent in applying that power”.
“I feel hungry for victory this meeting. Victor Bray always said it was harder defending your lead in a Championship than hunting competitors down, and after setting the standard for the last few years in performance, we are ready to take it up to those teams that have found form and stepped up. There may be a few wildcards in the field this meeting as well – newcomers and some old hands may prove deadly in competition”.
“Top Doorslammer will be very exciting this weekend. The Zappia Racing Team is pumped, and waiting for victory – they are used to winning and want more. Such a dedicated bunch of people that have worked tirelessly in the sport they love”.
“Fuchs are a Major Sponsor for us, and will be well represented this meeting. We use all their oils and lubricants exclusively on both our HQ Monaro race cars”.
“Special thanks go to United Industries and all our local sponsors who gave great support in our local Perth meetings. We ran a 5.950 @ 233.76mph and 5.896 @ 244.56mph to qualify eighth in a field of 15 in Top Comp at the Top Alcohol meeting last meeting, before crossing the centerline in the eliminator”.
Qualifying starts on Friday 12th Feb at 4.40pm EST, 7.10pm EST and 9.40pm EST where nineteen Top Doorslammer teams will contest eight positions in the field.
Eliminations are on the Saturday at 4.25pm EST, 6.50pm EST and 9.06pm EST. Fans can listen live on the internet by going to the Sydney Dragway web site www.wsid.com.au
Zappia Racing fans are welcome to visit the pits and talk to Zap. He especially likes signing autographs for young race fans, so check out the merchandise van for your race souvenir or clothing.
Zap ready for Motorvation
John Zappia will have both the Striker Crushing and Screening Top Doorslammer HQ Monaros on display this weekend at the annual Motorvation spectacular, with a good range of merchandise for race fans.
Motorvation is one of Australia's greatest Street Machine and Custom Car shows, and returns to the Perth Motorplex this Saturday and Sunday. Motorvation 24 has it all - a huge Burnout comp, Tint a Car Miss Motorvation, Alberts Car stereo Sound Off, Dyno comp, Crusiing, the Elite Pavilion and over 800 Street Machines.
"We enjoy this event as it's pretty low key for us" said Zap, "and we get a chance to talk to a lot of fans and other motoring enthusiasts. This is the first time ever both race cars - my old faithful "Zap's Rat", and Craig Pedley's new "Crusher" - will be on display together".
Zap comes off a weekend of Top Comp racing, where his performances at the event place him equal point's leader in the Championship on 365 points alongside Wayne Keys.
Friday night's qualifying at the Top Fuel event saw Zap haze the tyres on the hit, but recovered with a huge pedal and drove it out the back door for a 6.312 @ 237.46mph.
"Well that run was interesting. I made a very well educated prediction on the tune, and Gerry and I worked out the clutch setting we wanted - but the track was just not there and quicker than an eye can blink the Crusher lost traction. The second run was better after corrections to the tune and setup, with a 5.840 @ 245.23mph getting us back in the "five eight" zone again".
Saturday's racing started with a compulsory qualifier at 6pm, and Zap was unable to better his time set on Friday going 5.854 @ 244.56mph, with 60 foot times a little slower.
"That put us 5th in the Top Comp qualifying list - 0.580 under my 6.420 handicap index., behind hard chargers Pilko, Minogue, Rowland and Gregorini who all ran six tenths or quicker under their indexes".
"I drew Shane Weston first round in his AA/D dragster and won with another "five eight" - three in a row! The 5.886 @ 243.90mph was too good for Weston's 5.935 @ 235.60mph, but not enough for a final's berth. Our good friend Jeffrey Clarke picked up the A Final win in his super hot AA/D dragster, and nearly managed his first five second pass, running 6.000 @ 229.59mph".
"We are pretty happy to run those three consecutive "five eights" - all within five hundredths of each other. Sets us up nicely for the ANDRA Pro Series Top Alcohol meeting on 29/30th Jan 2010, and the Top Doorslammer Round 4 meeting at the Summernationals in Sydney on 12/13th Feb 2010".
Fans are welcome in the main pavilion where back-to-back Top Doorslammer Champion John Zappia will be available for autographs and a chat.
Zap: Top Comp - how good can it get.
John Zappia - National Top Doorslammer Champion and National Record Holder remains committed to the local Top Comp competition this weekend, by presenting Craig Pedleys Striker "Crusher" Top Doorslammer at the ANDRA Pro Series Top Fuel Meeting. Top Comp is group two racing, and a local Perth Motorplex variant of the ANDRA Competition bracket, designed to foster blown alcohol racers emerging from sportsman racing into the professional ranks. It has produced champions.
Western Australia has an amazing heritage in blown alcohol racing, producing no less than 20 of the 28 set national blown alcohol et and speed national records (not including minimums not yet set as records). John Zappia is the known pioneer of blown alcohol racing in this part of the world, by plonking a funny car hemi engine into his original "Zap's Rat" HQ Holden in the 1980's and was the first into the sevens, first into the sixes, and recently first in to the fives in a doorslammer - creating a huge fan base and inspiring a generation of racers eager to catch up.
"I am proud of my fellow West Aussie blown alcohol racers" said Zap this week, "How could it be that I can top qualify in ANDRA Pro Series Top Doorslammer rounds with 5.9 second passes - but only qualify mid field in Top Comp in Perth, based on the performances of a bunch of teams that are hell bent on setting so many records?"
"We are joint leaders in the Top Comp Championship being equal with local stalwart Wayne Keys, after an B Final appearance at the Boxing Day meeting. A 5.921 @ 243.24mph and 5.941 @ 240.00mph during qualifying were only good enough for fourth in the qualifying list. Pilkington in the AA/ FC, and Gregorini in the AA/AP Slammer managed to go under their national records, and newcomer Jeffery Clarke was impressive in the BB/ D Dragster going 6.196."
"I drove around O'Conner in the first round with a 5.912 @ 242.58mph off a 0.006 to O'Connor's 0.004 reaction time but was only good enough for a B Final against Debbie O'Rourke. The final was a disappointment with insufficient air in the air bottle preventing me from shifting into top gear"
"Take a look at the quality here in Top Comp - you have myself, Judd - a previous National Record Holder, and Croker (AA/D National Record Holder) just going 6.02 in his new Camaro, leading Top Doorslammers with Murray O'Conner nipping at our heals in the stunning Falcon (and who claimed the AA/AP national speed record recently). Dave Simpson's new Mustang slammer is stunning and early testing has raised eyebrows.
"In Funny Car you have Pilko running below the national record, Debbie O'Rourke (who beat me in the B Final last week with a 5.937) doing well, Treasure with an awesome team, Begley and Glassby learning the ropes, and McClure has found form with a whipple. Rowland has entered his national record holding AA/A altered this event, and quick youngster Freer has joined Marchant and Clarke in the dragsters."
"AA/AP is a tough class and national record holders Brennan will take on serious contenders Keys (former national record holder) and Gregorini, with Carboni resting his Camaro. Minogue in his CC/CA national record holding Falcon will test all after regularly going nine tenths under his index in past meetings".
"We will continue to present with the Striker Monaro and run 5.9's consistently, with 5.8's depending on the weather and track conditions. I have been attending to the usual unscheduled incidents in the last few meetings - something our team is very well trained for. It's all very well to have everything go right on a meeting, but history has shown us that wins can come from nowhere during an event. We never give up - always present for every race we can. Always give it our best - maximum burnouts and effort for the fans. It's our philosophy - go the extra mile on everything."
"My research and development to go 5.7 is well under way and may happen this season. I remember our plan to run the "first five' a few years ago was a huge dream for all of us, and that was an amazing achievement, Top Doorslammer has progressed as a class since then, and teams in Australia and the US have discovered the secrets of door car drag racing. Our improvements from now on in are in smaller increments, and prone to conditions being right. Make no mistake - we still get excited to be able to run consistent five second passes"
"So support our local racers who are the quickest and fastest in the county in blown alcohol this weekend, and enjoy the incredible experience of Top Fuel as a bonus. Racing starts on Friday and Saturday nights at 6pm."
Zap at the Top Fuel Event
John Zappia and his Zappia Racing Team presented the Striker "Crusher" Top Doorslammer on the 4th and 5th of December for the ANDRA Pro Series Top Fuel Event, competing in the Top Comp bracket. The Top Fuelers were stunning all weekend, and seventeen Group 2 blown alky cars battled it out for honours in the door cars.
"The track was a little tricky for us on the Friday night", said Zappia, "In the first qualifier the Crusher just blew the tyres off on the hit. I was able to pedal and recover somewhat with a 6.247 @ 239.36mph, but I had to tame this beast for the next pass".
"Second pass was the same with the massive power of the TFX Hemi overpowering the track, and I was unable to salvage anything from that run. So we had a little re-think on the tune overnight, and set up the car for the compulsory qualifier at 6pm Saturday night".
Zap lined the Crusher up for his pass at 6.30pm and kept the car together until it lost power in the last part of the run, but still managed an impressive 5.923 @ 233.16mph to place him sixth in the qualifying order by running 0.497 under his 6.420 index handicap.
"We had a blocked fuel injector nozzle on one cylinder, and it melted that piston completely - there was not much of it left, and took out another piston. So the crew had to complete an engine change for the next race, and they did it in record time".
"It was a real thrash getting the car to present for that run, and my hat goes off to the crew for a fantastic job. Under pressure the team can deliver the goods, with a combination of experienced hands with some new faces. Also not having to perform an engine change in such a short turn around for some 12 months made it even more impressive and shows what can be achieved with Zap's never say die attitude. The Force Tools did the job under pressure, with the tool boxes and their pre formed positions for tools"
The Motorplex management allowed Juddy and Zap to pair off against each other at the tail end of the field - the two quickest Top Doorslammers in Australia in a grudge match that had both racers pretty keen to get the first 5.7 second pass under their belt. Both have held the ANDRA Top Doorslammer National Record. Zap holds the current record at a blistering 5.828 set in June this year at WSID.
The win went to Judd in spectacular fashion as both drivers red lit - Juddy the least with a -0.018 to Zap's -0.028 reaction time. As it turned out Judd's Studebaker blew the tyres off on the hit and coasted through for a 7.996 @ 144mph - watching Zappia streak through for a losing 5.934 @ 241.93mph.
"The data we collected from the runs this meeting will count for a lot in the overall hunt for the Top Doorslammer Championship race. A 5.7 is not very far off provided all the conditions are right, as we move closer with our preparation".
"We have three more events here at the Perth Motorplex and Motorvation, before we head off east for the Summernationals in Feb next year. Hope to see all the fans on Boxing Day here in Perth for the Nitro Funny Car Challenge".
