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."
