Drags SHOWING OFF Meremere March 20th and 21st 2010 FANTASTIC RESULTS FROM MEREMERE FOR THE TAUPO CLUB. Big fat congratulations to Andy, Phil and Garry for taking out the season points (NZ1 in their classes) and they all had to win the NZ Nationals to get it, which they did!! Awesome to have three of our members so successful in this seasons drags. Whoop whoop!!! Really exciting racing, the nerves were a bit frazzled watching the racing on Sunday. Garry beat Rod Chesham in the final to win his first NZ title in Super Street - great stuff Gazza. The thing you've gotta admire, this guy drives his car to the meets ("trailers are only for boats and going to the dump" - quote from Garry) and reliable witnesses say Janie changes the tyres while Garry is off having a catchup with other drivers. Thumbs up to the dedicated crew of all these guys! Darryl managed to take out Ian Elliot (specially to help Garry out) but that bleddy 18" Bronco of Scotty Campbells... beat him. He came fourth on the points board though, not bad for a rookie! Phil did a great job to get ahead of Linda Zarodney to win the NZ title for the Super Gas class, AND he did a personal best time too. It was good that he got a chance to do some actual racing rather than exhibition which has been the norm lately due to a lack of cars in his class. Julie and Janet have also been dedicated crew members for Phil, following him to every meet and supporting him. The ever consistent Andy Chapman has beaten a lot of people over the last four years to gain his 4th consecutive NZ title in the Modifieds. The mans a machine! Even the guy on the loud speaker said something along those lines. We hear Trev Dick was runner up at the Mopar Nationals. Lost with a red light to Wayne Grimmer - bad luck Trev, but a good effort all the same!
Masterton February 21st and 22nd 2010 Again the Taupo contingent of Phil, Garry, Darryl and Andy (and their crews) made the jaunt down to Masterton. Saturday was the day of practise, again Phil was doing exhibition racing due to lack of competition in his bracket, but he picked up valuable points for showing up. Andy this time was over anxious to leave the line in his race and left a red light in his dust. Huge field of Super Street cars, around 60 started on Saturday. Darryl had a mishap in his first practise, broke his dif at the start line and it was a bleddy long push back to the pits. Thanks to everyone who came over and helped. (No photos of that as the photographer was pushing the car). The dif was ripped out and he managed to get it fixed in time to make the second run. Racing was delayed for a couple of hours due to Parry Hunts massive roll over. Both Garry and Darryl managed to get into Sundays racing after winning their qualifying races at the end of the day. Unfortunately both were out after the first race on Sunday morning. Did ya see Brynnies picture in the Petrol Head? - if not have a look at the Gallery/Drags/Random
Christchurch Southern Nats January 30th 2010 Really awesome to have the Taupo contingent down in Christchurch the weekend of the 30th for the Southern Nats. Awesome that Phil Hargreaves (and pit crew Julie and Janet), Garry Ellis, Andy Chapman and Darryl Robinson (and pit crew Lesley, Alexa and Georgia) went to race. It was a stinking hot day - to start with. Qualifying didnt get started until midday and racing at 4pm. Garry was going a tad slower than usual, in Andys tow car, the Holden Ute but managed to break out in the first round of racing.
Darryl made it thorugh to the second round but was over anxious to leave the line (as Phil puts it) and he left the red light was shining. The ute was trailered.
Unfortunately for Phil there were only 3 cars in Super Gas so couldnt race. He went all the way down there for some exhibition runs, although at least he got points for showing up.
The weather turned in a moment, and it went from steaming hot to a howling gale (!) and cool. The wind then afftected the racing for those using parachutes, it was eventually decided they'd do the 1/8 mile instead of the 1/4 mile. At last sighting Andy was still in the running.
-
- Good luck to Andy and Garry who are carrying on to Nelson for racing on the 6th of February.
- Andy was running some really good times, managed an 8.62 (correct me if I'm wrong on that) and Darryl did a personal best - 12.89 on the practice run on Friday night.
- Just an update on Darryls misfortune at the Summer Nats. The powerful gods came thru and gave him some points so all was not lost.
Taupo Summer Nats January 4th 2010 Some good results (and some not so good) at the Summer Nats held here in Taupo on Monday the 4th of January. The weather started out a bit dodgy, when did we last get rain? and it had to come on Drags day. There were HEAPS of cars, and HEAPS of spectators, so a really good day once the sun came out. A bit windy which kept some of the dial in times lower than at Meremere.
Phil Hargreaves got to the quarter finals in Super Sedan, then he got a little "over anxious" to leave the line, and though he swore black and blue that light at the bottom of the tree was NOT shining when he took off, unfortunately the results said different. Bugger! (note there is no mention whatsoever of red lights). His DYO was 10.35.
Garry Ellis in Super Street, also saw that extra light no one wants to see, however being handicapped does have its advantages cos the other guy lit it up first so Gary carried on. He was running on the seat of his pants though with a .002 reaction time in one race. Congratulations Garry for making it through to the finals, coming in runner up. Will be interesting to see a change in points now.
Darryl Robinson had a bad day. Nothing to do with red lights, he broke out - but not really! His dial in time was entered by the officials as 15.4 rather than 13.4 - their error, not his. He disputed it, his opponent was happy for a re-run too, but the powerful gods in the tower wouldnt have it, despite the support of many of the lesser gods.
Gary Dick had a good run, he made to the semi finals on the bike, but he "fell asleep on the line" (his words) and the bike was trailered for the day. Another bugger!
Andy Chapman came out on top. He dialed in an 8.96 for the final and took it out, winning the modified bracket. Awesome stuff Andy!
Some photos have been put on - under Gallery/Drags/Summer Nats. Note the camera man was pretty interested in Phils car. Set the vid ready for it to come on telly. Thanks to all the members who came along to watch a full day of good racing!
Meremere Northern Nats November 28-29 2009 - Several of the guys went up to Meremere for the Nationals with plenty of ups and downs. Saturday qualifying was cut short, when the rain came in the afternoon so that put a stop to everything. Sunday started off pretty dismal, with showers, but the rain stayed away and racing started mid morning.
Darryl Robinson and Trevor Dick came up against each other in Round 1 of the Super Streets. It was neck and neck until the green light and Darryl raced off, but Trevor didnt. It wasnt fear of the Red Ford that stopped him, the rear universal on the drive shaft let go, so it was a long push back to the trailer. (See exhibit A) Prior to this photo being taken, he did a personal best of 11.4 so was stoked with that.  Exhibit A
Gary Ellis, drove the Holden up, with Janey and Georgia as his support team. He met Ian Harvey in Round 2, taking Ian out and moving on to Round 3 - the Semi's. Unfortunately Gary was beaten by the big old Bronco.
Darryl got a bye in Round 2 and managed to beat a V8 VW in Round 3. He came up against the Bronco in the Final and although both broke out, by 0.038 and Darryl ended up bringing the runner up trophy home.
Phil Hargreaves was there too, racing in the Super Sedans class. Unfortunately he was taken out in Round 2.
Gary Dick made it through to Round 2 on the motorbike. He also had a personal best of 11.39 - slightly better than Trevs - may the competition between those two continue, its quite entertaining!
Brinnie Hayes was going good all day, he got to Round 3, the semi's, in the Modifieds until half track then the motor hemoraged and put a stop to his racing. All in all it was great to see so many of the Taupo members up there, and Pete and Debbie came up on Sunday to watch. Several stayed for prize giving, which meant the long haul home was pretty late Sunday night. SHOWING OFF If you didnt know... Darryl attended the Fathers Day Drags in Meremere in September and TOOK OUT THE A BRACKET WIN. Yeah! Just under 200 cars started, with 56 in the A Bracket. He showed all those blokes north of the Bombays that the 289 Ford could do it. He'd be happy to show you his trophy if you want to see it. November the 7th meeting El Presidente Trevor took out his bracket in the racing up at the Track with an 11.74 run (114mph). Awesome stuff Trevor. Its rumoured Brinnie was pretty happy with his run the same day. Need more info guys!
|
