John Zappia produced a winning performance in qualifying at the Tin Top's in tropical Queensland on the weekend, with super consistent runs in all three sessions - only to be beaten by the rain before the first elimination round. The rain persisted, and the event was cancelled by Willowbank staff.
"We ran the Whipple/BAE 5 second combo this meeting, as we knew the performance was enough to have a good go at the Championship. It was sad to be beaten by the weather, instead of my competitors." said an upbeat John Zappia after the event. "We top qualified easily, and as further prove we did it easily we rattled off a 6.01et on a private test session the day after the event. That was very satisfying and gets us closer to achieving a five second run at each track on the Doorslammer Championship series. The five second pass will hopefully be run in the final of the Winters. Only Benny Bray got close to the Striker Monaro."
"We ran 6.098 et @ 229.71mph in session one, then a 6.082 et @ 230.89mph in session two, and a 6.083 et @ 234.74mph in the third - pretty consistent really with a safe tune." Asked if he can actually tell on a run how quick the HQ Monaro goes, Zap says "Not really. On the last run I thought it was a huge run - I changed gears at the right revs, and it felt like it pulled hard - but was only a 6.083. Sometimes the quick runs feel pretty average in the car."
With a minimum 40 points awarded to all qualifiers (and Zap awarded Low Elapsed Time extra 5 points) under ANDRA rules for the Tin Tops, the Championship remains in the hands of Garry Phillips (500 points). All Phillips has to do is qualify to win the Championship. Best case scenario for Zap (416 points) would be for Phillips not to qualify, and to win the event for 100 points and gain 5 points for Low Elapsed Time - winning the championship by 1 point.
"I think we are maturing as a team, after stepping up our sponsorship levels in the last two years with Rentco Transport Equipment and Striker Crushing and Screening making a big contribution, not only financially but also with encouragement and added incentives. New parts and equipment have brought changes to our procedures and logistics - and to an extent that can upset crew rhythm a little, until the changes become engrained. Mechanics would understand how familiar we all get with our tools and ways of doing things. Striker has added an extra component to our value as an experienced team, and time is showing we are responding and becoming more professional. Watch the results in the next few seasons. That professionalism will consolidate and extend to other upcoming racing developments to be announced soon for our team. "
"The crew have serviced the car here in Brisbane at a Striker premises, then I head down to the Nitro Champs in Western Sydney to spectate, and eventually back to Willowbank for the Final Round of the Top Doorslammer Championship at the Winternationals."
We hope to see as many sponsors, friends and fans come to Willowbank to hopefully celebrate the end to a very good season.
Finals Field
John Zappia 6.082
Ben Bray 6.098
Victor Bray 6.221
Gary Phillips 6.225
Aaron Lynch 6.228
Stuart Bishop 6.323
Maurice Fabietti 6.387
Brett Stevens 6.483
28/04/2007 10:34 am 20Deg,80%H,1010mB,1223RA,(TT)26Deg
76 Right Lane GARY PHILLIPS 53 STUDEBAKER , 511
5066 Left Lane STEVE PACKMAN BA FALCON T/D , 521
#Tst RcNo 46_______Time Trials, Test and Tune (R) Right Win M:8.125
NUM CLASS HCAP REACT 60 330 660 MPH 1000 ET MPH
76 T/D 5.92 0.429 1.092 2.776 4.115 184.28 5.256 6.225 230.89 1
5066 T/D 5.92 0.588 1.069 3.620 6.897 67.30 10.516 14.191 57.86 1
Steve Packman
and our current Championship Leader Gary Phillips are
burning down the bitumen in this qualifying pass,
Packman posted his PB in WA recently and Phillips he
would gladly take this Top Doorslammer crown as he has
never achieved the championship in this bracket.
Phillips carries it all the way, Packman however left
aggressively and had a little trouble holding on to it.
28/04/2007 10:36 am
7 Right Lane BRETT STEVENS BA FALCON T/D , 521CC
952 Left Lane KATH STEVENS BA FALCON T/D , 521
#Tst RcNo 47_______Time Trials, Test and Tune (R) Right Win
NUM CLASS HCAP REACT 60 330 660 MPH 1000 ET MPH
7 T/D 5.92 1.052 1.053 2.974 4.366 181.45 5.518 6.483 231.36 1
952 T/D 5.92 0.000 1 F
Brett Stevens
and Mrs Stevens its an all Stevens Qualifying Session,
problems for Kath she will be pushed back so Brett will
go it alone, he leaves aggressively and makes a big pull
to the outside line, he drags her back, but that peddle
will cost him time.
28/04/2007 10:40 am 21Deg,80%H,1010mB,1358RA,(TT)26Deg
2639 Right Lane BEN BRAY MONARO , 511BAE
590 Left Lane MAURICE FABIETTI MONARO , 511 KB
#Tst RcNo 48_______Time Trials, Test and Tune (R) Right Win M:0.338
NUM CLASS HCAP REACT 60 330 660 MPH 1000 ET MPH
2639 T/D 5.92 0.517 1.013 2.684 4.023 181.30 5.160 6.138 235.97 1
590 T/D 5.92 0.606 1.115 2.856 4.239 174.42 5.397 6.387 233.89 1
Maurice Fabietti
and Ben Bray aghh don’t you just love the sound of
Monaro’s on full grunt early on a Saturday morning, both
are not in the hunts for the points this season, Bray
spent the first part of the season out due to an
injury. Fabietti is trying to qualify for his first
field this season. It’s a good pass for Bray he slots
into top qualifying position, both cars again leaving
aggressively off the start line, Bray the most
aggressive.
28/04/2007 10:42 am 21Deg,80%H,1010mB,1350RA,(TT)26Deg
2058 Right Lane AARON LYNCH 63 VETTE , 521
1221 Left Lane VICTOR BRAY 1957 CHEV , 534
#Tst RcNo 49_______Time Trials, Test and Tune (L) Left Win M:0.243
NUM CLASS HCAP REACT 60 330 660 MPH 1000 ET MPH
2058 T/D 5.92 0.707 1.046 3.153 4.626 172.02 5.816 6.802 229.36 1
1221 T/D 5.92 0.537 1.145 3.170 4.575 177.31 5.744 6.729 230.41 1
Victor Bray and
Aaron Lynch are out next pairing, interesting to see the
burnout procedure here today, the cars look like they
are skimming over the track but man oh man has this
track got some teeth and so early in the morning, it’s a
testament to such great preparation by the track staff.
Aaron Lynch has just returned from the US where he has
been testing his nitro flopper. Lots of gut wrenching
tyre shake by both racers, the door of
Brays come open
and then slammed shut again.
28/04/2007 10:45 am 20Deg,80%H,1010mB,1242RA,(TT)26Deg
846 Left Lane JOHN ZAPPIA 71 MONARO , 511
#Tst RcNo 50_______Time Trials, Test and Tune (L)
NUM CLASS HCAP REACT 60 330 660 MPH 1000 ET MPH
846 T/D 5.92 0.762 1.042 2.700 4.009 188.92 5.135 6.098 229.71 1
John Zappia
currently sitting second in the Championship, he has
recently rest the record back in December for this
field, very clean leave by Zappia and this is a nice
pass he has got it all the way and looked like he pulled
the laundry early, but this is an amazing time and
straight into top spot.
28/04/2007 10:48 am 20Deg,80%H,1010mB,1311RA,(TT)27Deg
167 Left Lane STUART BISHOP CAMARO 67 , 520 CI
#Tst RcNo 51_______Time Trials, Test and Tune (L)
NUM CLASS HCAP REACT 60 330 660 MPH 1000 ET MPH
167 T/D 5.92 0.735 1.121 2.912 4.283 188.13 5.434 6.402 233.77 1
Stuart Bishop
who recently won the Celebrity Race in Melbourne at the
Australian Grand Prix, lots of tyre shake and peddling
off the line.
JACK DANIELS TOP DOORSLAMMER QUALIFYING ROUND TWO
28/04/2007 12:38 pm 21Deg,72%H,1009mB,1317RA,(TT)27Deg
5066 Right Lane STEVE PACKMAN BA FALCON T/D , 521
7 Left Lane BRETT STEVENS BA FALCON T/D , 521CC
#Tst RcNo 98_______Time Trials, Test and Tune (L) Left Win M:0.382
NUM CLASS HCAP REACT 60 330 660 MPH 1000 ET MPH
5066 T/D 5.92 0.583 1.080 3.175 4.738 159.92 6.008 7.039 222.11 2
7 T/D 5.92 0.673 1.136 2.947 4.357 176.47 5.555 6.567 221.35 2
Packman on track
beside the Boss Brett Stevens, now Packman had a bit of
tyre shake in the first session, so hopefully he has
that sorted. Stevens also experienced tyre shake but
was able to drive through it. Packman still shake
rattling and rolling off the line, Stevens also
experiencing difficulty, the car just doesn’t want to go
anywhere despite the fact that there was no tyre shake
for Stevens this time, he seems to have lost some
horsepower somewhere.
28/04/2007 12:41 pm 20Deg,70%H,1009mB,1159RA,(TT)27Deg
952 Right Lane KATH STEVENS BA FALCON T/D , 521
2639 Left Lane BEN BRAY MONARO , 511BAE
#Tst RcNo 99_______Time Trials, Test and Tune (L) Left Win M:0.744
NUM CLASS HCAP REACT 60 330 660 MPH 1000 ET MPH
952 T/D 5.92 0.910 1.129 2.912 4.294 177.30 5.478 6.587 190.36 2
2639 T/D 5.92 0.639 1.018 2.695 4.018 181.74 5.151 6.114 237.22 2
Kath Stevens and
Bennie Bray, Monaro versus Falcon, Bray number two
qualifier at the moment, Kath still having a problem
the car only wants to go backwards, the crew rocking the
car trying to get it out of gear, the starter telling a
patient Ben Bray to start heading in, Kath rights the
problem. Ben out like a bullet with the super charger
belt flapping in the breeze across the finish line, and
all that could be seen from Kaths car was a massive
tornado of clutch dust for a very ugly pass, but she
makes it into the field. Crew are still out looking for
her clutch its out there somewhere.
28/04/2007 12:47 pm 20Deg,68%H,1009mB,1256RA,(TT)28Deg
590 Right Lane MAURICE FABIETTI MONARO , 511 KB
2058 Left Lane AARON LYNCH 63 VETTE , 521
#Tst RcNo 100_______Time Trials, Test and Tune (L) Left Win M:3.587
NUM CLASS HCAP REACT 60 330 660 MPH 1000 ET MPH
590 T/D 5.92 0.633 1.028 2.993 4.996 112.22 7.260 9.786 80.24 2
2058 T/D 5.92 0.604 1.052 2.799 4.150 183.23 2.537 6.228 237.22 2
Aaron Lynch and
Maurice Fabietti both taking it to the crowd in the
burnouts, both out with tyre shake but Fabietti has the
worst of it, and is looking to straighten the car up,
Lynch a much straighter pass.
28/04/2007 12:50 pm 20Deg,68%H,1009mB,1130RA,(TT)28Deg
1221 Right Lane VICTOR BRAY 1957 CHEV , 534
#Tst RcNo 101_______Time Trials, Test and Tune (R)
NUM CLASS HCAP REACT 60 330 660 MPH 1000 ET MPH
1221 T/D 5.92 0.585 1.029 2.775 4.116 185.03 5.257 6.221 235.97 2
Victor 534ci
engine under the bonnet, and 15 kilos lighter after the
diet snapped a wheelie bar on the last qualifier, he is
sitting on the outside and looking to get into the
field. Lets hope this is a better run for the big
fella, as he hasn’t had a good season thus far. He
drives it through the tyre shake and a little clutch
dust blowing out, but he makes it into the field and
bumps out Kath Stevens convincingly.
28/04/2007 12:52 pm 19Deg,67%H,1009mB,1079RA,(TT)29Deg
167 Right Lane STUART BISHOP CAMARO 67 , 520 CI
#Tst RcNo 102_______Time Trials, Test and Tune (R)
NUM CLASS HCAP REACT 60 330 660 MPH 1000 ET MPH
167 T/D 5.92 0.531 1.077 2.852 4.216 183.67 5.360 6.323 236.22 2
Stuart Bishop on
another solo, he is currently sitting in seventh spot
and starting to look a little nervous in this spot, he
is looking to break into the top half of the field, this
is not a pretty pass lifting off the start line and tyre
shake but he has improved his standings moving up a
spot.
28/04/2007 12:56 pm 19Deg,67%H,1009mB,1085RA,(TT)28Deg
846 Right Lane JOHN ZAPPIA 71 MONARO , 511
#Tst RcNo 103_______Time Trials, Test and Tune (R)
NUM CLASS HCAP REACT 60 330 660 MPH 1000 ET MPH
846 T/D 5.92 0.723 1.044 2.677 3.983 188.13 5.116 6.082 230.89 2
John Zappia the
Prince of Western Australia sitting second in the
Championship chase, will he try for a ground breaking
five or will he be more conservative, this is a great
run, picking the front wheels up in a power stand at the
330 feet mark, what can this man do as he turned it off
early just before the finish line.
JACK DANIELS TOP DOORSLAMMER
QUALIFYING ROUND THREE
28/04/2007 2:58 pm 18Deg,70%H,1009mB,916RA,(TT)25Deg
590 Right Lane MAURICE FABIETTI MONARO , 511 KB
2639 Left Lane BEN BRAY MONARO , 511BAE
#Tst RcNo 196_______Time Trials, Test and Tune (L) Left Win M:0.256
NUM CLASS HCAP REACT 60 330 660 MPH 1000 ET MPH
590 T/D 5.92 0.607 1.044 2.752 4.111 175.78 5.277 6.266 232.92 3
2639 T/D 5.92 0.519 1.021 2.678 4.007 179.57 5.137 6.098 238.98 3
Gotta love these
side by side, wall to wall burnouts by the Monaro’s of
Maurice Fabietti and Ben Bray – totally awesome…they are
both out and look like they are on a mission, Bray
reaching for top spot but doesn’t quite make it…It’s a
good run for Fabietti as well.
28/04/2007 3:00 pm 18Deg,71%H,1009mB,922RA,(TT)25Deg
167 Right Lane STUART BISHOP CAMARO 67 , 520 CI
1221 Left Lane VICTOR BRAY 1957 CHEV , 534
#Tst RcNo 197_______Time Trials, Test and Tune (L) Left Win M:0.052
NUM CLASS HCAP REACT 60 330 660 MPH 1000 ET MPH
167 T/D 5.92 0.555 1.077 2.888 4.267 178.57 5.418 6.383 239.62 3
1221 T/D 5.92 0.507 1.046 2.834 4.244 180.29 5.404 6.379 230.89 3
Stuart Bishop
and the Big Daddy of drag racing Victor Bray, if Bishop
can get through the first part of the track it will be a
great pass, Victor bouncing and bumping and wheelie bars
shattering everywhere, neither improve on this pass.
28/04/2007 3:08 pm
7 Right Lane BRETT STEVENS BA FALCON T/D , 521CC
846 Left Lane JOHN ZAPPIA 71 MONARO , 511
#Tst RcNo 198_______Time Trials, Test and Tune (L) Left Win
NUM CLASS HCAP REACT 60 330 660 MPH 1000 ET MPH
7 T/D 5.92 0.508 1.093 3
846 T/D 5.92 0.590 1.051 2.703 4.005 188.60 5.128 6.083 234.74 3
John Zappia nice
big burnout, a very short business like burnout from
Brett Stevens, Kath is already out due to breakage, revs
are up, and Stevens is across the centre line and
chasing Zappia down his lane. This is a bracket car for
Zappia with another fine pass just like he was driving
down the Ipswich Motorway on a Sunday afternoon.
28/04/2007 3:11 pm 18Deg,72%H,1009mB,980RA,(TT)25Deg
5066 Right Lane STEVE PACKMAN BA FALCON T/D , 521
#Tst RcNo 199_______Time Trials, Test and Tune (R)
NUM CLASS HCAP REACT 60 330 660 MPH 1000 ET MPH
5066 T/D 5.92 0.674 1.080 3.085 4.625 164.11 5.878 6.922 212.37 3
Steve Packman
can bump Brett Stevens out of this field, hard off the
line but shakes, rattles and rolls as he takes a couple
of stabs at it
