MORE INFO ON ZAPPIA'S FANTASTIC FIVE

One of the Agent's operatives in Australia sent some more info on John Zappia's five-second lap. The air temp was 61 degrees and the track temp was 90, which is very close to the numbers we saw at Darlington when Mitch Stott got his five, and those at E-town, Houston and Rockingham when Pro Mods set records. A look back at history indicates that blown cars racing in sub-500-ft air, air temps under 70 degrees, and track surface temps under 100 degrees will be very quick and fast.  

A couple of other corrections: Zappia actually has a 513 c.i. engine, not a 523 and there are overdrive restrictions for Top Doorslammers. They are 47% for a Whipple, 108% for a PSI and 70% for a Roots. Click here for DRO  For more, see DRO's News & Analysis,
click here! [9-20-2005]

AUSTRALIA BANS THE WILLYS!

ADVERTISEMENT

The Agent got a note from Australian track owner and former Dragster Australia editor Dave Cook saying that one of their racers imported one of the nearly unidentifiable '41 Willys bodies that are popular in the U.S. Pro Mod/Top Sportsman classes and it was promptly outlawed as being too radical. Kudos to the Aussie racers for not waiting until it was too late to stop the madness.

Speaking of the Willys body, what do you suppose they will look like when the noses get extended 10-13 inches next season to meet the IHRA-mandated 45-inch maximum overhang?  [9-20-2005]

COUGHLIN GETS FIRST NMCA WIN

Troy Coughlin, using his Sonny Leonard EFI / Chevby Hemi Mountain Motor got his first National Muscle Car Association win at the event held Sept. 16-18 at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Valdosta, GA. Coughlin's '04 Cavalier was the only naturally aspirated car competing in the Denso Pro Street class. He ran a 6.77/205.07 to get the final round win over Kevin McCurdy's '01 Trans Am. It was the second NMCA event in which Coughlin competed. [9-20-2005]

GRUBNIC'S CHRISTMAS PRESENT!

The Agent has heard that "Aussie Dave" Grubnic and one of the Kalitta clan will engage in a match race in Australia on December 26th of this year. Known as Boxing Day in Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the day after Christmas has nothing to do with the sport of boxing. Shoot, we were looking forward to photos of Grubnic trying to drive in boxing gloves.  [9-20-2005]

KIRK TOPS HILL IN HOUSTON

After three straight final-round losses to Mike Hill in the last three consecutive events, Steve Kirk finally beat Hill Sept. 18, in the $20,000-to-win Outlaw 10.5 final at Houston (TX) Motorsports Park. In the all-Georgia final, Kirk's 2000 Camaro (shown) covered the eighth in 4.67 seconds, while Hill's 2002 Mustang ran an off-the-pace 6.02.