EAST COAST STUNNER
Words and photos by Jon Van Daal
9/11/06
For Americans the Labor Day weekend means only one thing – the U.S. Nationals, the high point of the NHRA schedule and the down hill run to the Finals. On the other side of the world, though, it was the start of the new ANDRA season - the East Coast Nationals being the biggest ever race at Western Sydney International Dragway in Sydney Australia.
The East Coast race had been moved forward to start on the last day of winter but luckily sunny skies and warmer than normal nights ensured that it was going to be a meet to remember. Around 420 entries had come from all states of Australia and New Zealand in what proved to be awesome competition.
TOP DOOR
This time last year John Zappia in his HQ Monaro coupe fired the shot that was heard around the world when he ran a race-winning 5.967 time, which is still the world’s quickest run for a doorslammer (Pro Modified). During qualifying he ran 6.08, 6.04 and
One of those who didn’t was Brett Stevens who had won the bracket at the Summernationals earlier at WSID. In the early hours of the morning before the race Stevens was involved in an “incident” with two members of another team. After the race a statement was released by Stevens which said in part, “I regret an incident happened between a fellow competitor and myself and apologise for my part in what occurred. After taking advice from the sports governing body ANDRA and the WSID management, I took no further part in the weekend's proceedings.
“It is a disappointment to my team, sponsors and fans alike that I did not compete in the first round of the Australian Championship. The matter is now undergoing investigation through the appropriate channels and once all alleged activities have been thoroughly reviewed, I have every faith that the matter will be properly handled and I accept whatever outcome is handed down.
I would also like to congratulate the rest of my team for their performances over the weekend.”
For Zappia he would keep the momentum going in the first round with a 6.022/240.38 drubbing of defending champion Steve Stanic who was only put into the field when Peter Lovering had his 6.20 qualifier disallowed before eliminations – but despite hole shotting his opponent he faded from half track on to record a losing 8.35. “Zap” then received a gift in the semis when opponent, Gary Phillips staged but on the green shut down and left him to solo. This saw the blue and white coupe streak to 6.018/ 240.77 mph times.
 This was the scene in Zappia’s pit before the final of the Top doorslammer bracket – pretty laid back, really. The weekend produced six runs all in the 6.0’s. Fantastic. |
Despite this when I approached him before the final he was upset because he thought the car could have run a five by then. ”Last night on the last 6.00 pass I burned three pistons and I reckon that cost us about three hundredths so I was sure we could have run a five”, the frustrated Westralian told me. “When I staged in the last race my dashboard light went out and I couldn’t see the tacho so I had to drive by the seat of my pants. When I looked at the time slip my 60 foot time was down a couple of hundredths so I was sure I could have run a five again,” he added.