July 2006. Zappia announces new Naming Rights Sponsors
John Zappia announced his Zappia Racing sponsors for the 2006/2007 Top Doorslammer Championship Season this week, with Naming Rights Sponsorship for the HQ Monaro secured by Striker Crushing. Zappia Racing had a stellar 2005/2006 season - the first national round season for the new Top Doorslammer team from Spearwood. The first legal five second pass in the world, setting the ANDRA National Record and World's fastest and quickest Tin Top records, stunned the world's drag racing community and was a highlight of achieving Championship Runner-up.
"Last season was a mixed bag for us in our first year on the road attending all rounds. Perth is a long way from most of the meetings, and stretches our sportsman budget" said Zap, "We had some reliability issues, and we are thrilled that Striker Crushing has come on board with a significant Naming Rights sponsorship package to allow us to address some of those concerns".
"Our achievements last season were a direct result of Rentco's Naming Rights sponsorship, and we are pleased to announce they will be staying on as a Major Sponsor for next season. We plan on running all rounds of the championship, and all local rounds at our home track - the Kwinana Motorplex".
Striker Crushing came on as a Major Sponsor late last season, as the company directors and staff were avid drag racing fans. "We are thrilled to be in a position to upgrade our sponsorship this season with Zappia Racing" said Striker Crushing Managing Directors Chris Lane and Craig Pedley. Zap is a small local Perth identity taking on the big teams, and we see parallels with our company. We started in 1998 as a small private company in Perth, and we have grown nationally to Brisbane and Melbourne. The large Mobile Rock Crushers we manufacture and sell here in Australia, Asia and recently into Europe to the Mining, Earthmoving and Construction industries are good performers - just like the Monaro Top Doorslammer".
"Rock Crushers and Screening Machines are used in a lot of industries in Australia - anywhere iron ore, road base, coal and earth materials need to be handled. We are the only manufacturer of Australian machines - all others are imported into the country".
"Our naming rights sponsorship with John Zappia should assist the team to continue to perform well and more consistently, with purchase of new engines and spare components. It also gives the team resources to travel to all rounds of the championship comfortably, and continue research and development to increase performance and stay ahead of the competition."
Zappia Racing continues to have strong support from Major Sponsors Rentco - nationwide heavy truck and trailer hire, Bazzas Precision Repair - precision motor vehicle repairer, restorer and refinishers, Fuchs Lubricants Australia - lubricants committed to moving your world, Trustek - steel roofing systems, Malibu Fresh Essentials - seven day growers market, Beta Spuds - local WA fresh potatoes, Southside Engine Centre - local engine guru Graham Jones, and Rocket Industries - the leaders in performance products.
"We are ready for Round 1 of the 2006/2007 Top Doorslammer Championship on 1st - 2nd September 2006 at the AC Delco East Coast Nationals held at Western Sydney International Dragway, NSW" - said Zap this week, "This coming season should see some exciting and close racing, with the Brays turning their fortunes around late last season, Steve Stannic continuing his good form and consistency, Brett Stevens starting his new Ford Falcons well, Phillips always at the top, and many other teams like Lynch, Judd, Fabietti, Kapiris and O'Rourke who are real threats on any race day."
"We have our plans locked in for the season, all our parts secured and on their way, and we just can't wait to race. Top Doorslammer is at a very exciting stage of development here in Australia, with larger fields and more top level cars being built. Our sponsors have indicated to us that sponsorship in drag racing gives excellent value for money compared to V8 Supercars and other forms of motorsport, where huge team budgets often preclude involvement on a scale larger than a very small sticker on the car."
"John also supports the new initiative by WSID to offer the "Pro Comp" bracket For Top Alcohol/Top Doorslammer Non-qualifiers at Group 1 events. Having high dollar cars sit in the pits after not qualifying in small eight car fields does not do the sport any favours and deprives sponsors of exposure and spectators of seeing better class fields throughout the event. We are entertainers as well as racers, and to have more opportunities to race in front of the crowd and sponsors is excellent and, if successful, will hopefully extend to other venues. Getting the indexes right between the classes will be the key, to ensure close competitive racing".
July 2006. Holden - Ford Show at the Claremont Showgrounds.
