John Zappia simply blitzed the field in this years Castrol Edge Tin Tops with an amazing string of consistent 5.8 second passes, and won the ANDRA Top Doorslammer Final in Australia’s first side by side five second pass. The final win by Zap of 5.858 also resulted in him reclaiming the Australian National ET Record which he previously held.
“This was just an amazing weekend for the Zappia Racing Team” said a jubilant Zap, “The Striker Monaro was on rails all weekend, and we are so glad to have the win for our new Sponsors United Industries. Striker Crushing and Screening deserve all the credit for sticking with their Naming Rights package through these tough economic times, and the support from our other Major Sponsors Fuchs Lubricants, Force Tools, Mickey Thompson Tyres, Beta Spuds, and Southside Engine Center has been fantastic”.
With thirteen cars all hotted up and ready to qualify for eight positions, it was Zappia who sizzled the field in round one of qualifying. Having been shut down after the burnout due to Travis Conner damaging his engine, Zap was allowed to run after the Pro Stock qualifying runs, and rattled off a 5.886 @ 243.38mph to claim the top qualifier spot.
“The engine really never cooled down properly, and got pretty hot on that run. We had it backed down a little from the 5.83 tune from Perth, but it still damaged several pistons on the run. The crew were not able to get the car ready for the second qualifier, but the third was a nice straight 5.888 at the same mph of 243.38. That put us 0.083 ahead of the rest of the field, who struggled to get down the track, with any consistency”.
First Round saw Zap rattled off a 5.870 @ 245.77mph against a struggling Victor Bray who suffered severe tyre shake and had to button off. Second Round was up against Garry Phillips who also suffered tyre shake – Zap making the better of the conditions with a 5.895 @ 244.70mph to Garry’s 8.545 @ 108.91mph.
The Final was up against the two leaders in Top Doorslammer – John Zappia and Robin Judd. The battle of the tuners – Zap versus Rowland, and the battle of the drivers. Both Western Australians – home of the quickest blown alky cars in Australia.
“Juddy actually hole shot me with a 0.473 reaction time to my 0.524, and I could see him out in front up until half track. But the Striker Monaro came on hard in the second half of the track and I went round the outside and took the win by about half a car length”.
Zap’s 5.858 @ 246.58mph over Judd’s 5.946 @ 242.20mph reset the record books, and stunned the crowd who were all on their feet to witness one of the most memorable runs in Top Doorslammer history.
“It took until the Striker Monaro achieved 48 five second passes before we were able to have a side by side five second run in Australia – and what a race it was! We have now done ten 5.8 second passes, with the weather conditions governing any real advancement on the day. We had extra heat and higher corrected altitude to contend with here in Willowbank this weekend compared to Perth, but who knows what will happen in the next two rounds”.
“We stay in Queensland to service the car, then head down to Sydney for the Nitro Champs and Round 7 of the ANDRA Top Doorslammer Championship. With 556 points, we are now 156 points ahead of Judd on 400 points – a nice healthy advantage. But make no mistake – we are always out to win and do our best, and in Sydney make sure you turn up for some great Aussie Doorslammer action – every time I get in and drive Zap’s Rat, I drive to go the quickest, the fastest, and to win! Long smoky burnouts are pretty cool to do in a 3,500 horsepower monster, and Sydney’s track sure makes those Mickey Thompson’s belch white smoke like no other track”.
Many thanks to the Willowbank International Raceway management team and staff for putting on a fantastic event.
