John Zappia stunned the local Perth Motorplex crowd, and his competitors last night at the 2006 Goldenstates Championships with two stunning 5-second passes in his Striker Monaro. While the rest of the field blew tyres off, hit walls and generally struggled to get down lower than 6.2’s, John Zappia and his crew set a new level in Top Doorslammer racing in this country, having achieved three five second passes in his last four runs over two events.
The first elimination pass of the night saw Zap lay down a pedaling 6.320et @ 235.0 mph as Zap’s Rat headed right on launch. A tyre change and fine-tuning of the Santhuff suspension system was enough to prepare the car for the next run. Launching straight the car ran a 5.963et @ 235.5mph in the second qualifier resetting his own World Record and the first stage of the ANDRA Top Doorslammer national record.
Not one to go half measures, and spurred on by a $5,000 bonus challenge for another 5 second run by Striker Crushing and Screening executives, John Zappia presented for the third qualifier with excellent weather conditions and 200ft corrected altitude air, and stunned the crowd with a 5.922et @ 233.4mph pass to make drag racing history again.
“The first five tonight was achieved in the second half of the track, but we stepped up the car for the last qualifier and achieved our first sub 1.0 second 60ft time with a .997 launch. The car was really quick to half-track, but nosed over in third gear with the front universal joint failing and smashing the rear of the B & J Transmission apart - the mph was down to 233 . This car is amazing, and I can see it going even quicker” said an elated Zap.
ANDRA officials weighed the Striker Monaro after each run, and carried out a fuel test. The results were enough to declare a new Australian ANDRA Top Doorslammer national record of 5.922 seconds . John Zappia achieved top qualifier position, and meets veteran Peter Kapiris in round one today at 6pm.
The pits were a scene of huge crowds surrounding the Zappia Racing Team, as their local hero of nearly twenty years made good and showed the big dollar teams that hard work, very detailed research, and a huge local support team of sponsors, crew and supporters can achieve repeatable world class performances.
QUALIFYING ORDER - QUALIFYING ROUND 3
Pos No. Driver ET SPEED
1. 846 John Zappia 5.922 235.600
2. 1693 Robin Judd 6.176 236.220
3. 76 Gary Phillips 6.206 231.360
4. 1221 Victor Bray 6.223 234.980
5. 7 Brett Stevens 6.282 235.600
6. 3262 Gary Stevens 6.314 226.130
7. 1 Steve Stanic 6.317 231.360
8. 4 Peter Kapiris 6.347 224.430
