Interesting Drag Racing Developments

[exahsix]

Hey all,

I'm an avid drag racing fan, go to all the meets and have raced my own cars too.

My mate and I were at the Nitro championships at WSID a few weeks ago and were commenting on how we enjoy most categories (especially Top Fuel) but we were SO BORED at seeing Super Sedan or Comp Eliminator cars which were the same old cars we had been seeing for years. 40 year old Capris with 350's in them, Torana LJ's with Big Blocks, XY Falcons, T buckets, Altereds and all that sort of stuff. It just didn't feel like much new was going on in that part of the sport.

Now not everyone will agree with me, many of you enjoy those sorts of cars and that's fine.

Anyway, we decided to venture out to WSID today to see the Compac attack which mainly consists of Turbo cars, 4 & 6cyl and tons of turbo Rotaries. I must say I quite liked it as there were a greater variety of cars, FWD, RWD, AWD, Turbo and NA. And these were more modern body shapes, maybe a bit more relatable to my/our generation.

The most impressive car was the Gas Motorsports Toyota, fitted with the 2,000 horsepower 2JZ turbo motor. This thing absolutely hauls ass and is built to a very high standard. It's part of the new Pro/R category which seems to be gaining some traction. Along with Tony Wedlock's Pro/R and the Pac Racing car there are some pretty impressive cars going around, and with some hi tech setups. Pro/R uses a pro tree and is heads up racing so certainly makes interesting racing, kinda like watching Top Doorslammer grow up all over again.

We had a good look at the Gas Motorsports 2JZ car and had a bit of a chat with the engine builder. This thing uses a production block that is resin filled to stop distortion. Custom crank, rods and CP pistons from America. It uses a production head which retains the water cooling and a Dry Ice intercooler. Three injectors per cylinder, of 1750 cc's each, one squirting into the top of the runner and two into the bottom of the runner. These are some pretty big injectors. They use an engine driven fuel pump instead of an electric fuel pump. Motor is dry sumped and has the biggest turbo on it you have ever seen. 4 speed Lenco transmission, soon to be upgraded to an air shifted version.

So this chap was telling us that in January, there will be a Pro/R exhibition at WSID featuring up to 5 cars from the USA (including one from Puerto Rico) and 2 cars from New Zealand (300ZX with a V6 VG30 engine). He also told us he is building a new FG falcon XR6 turbo for this category. Brett Stevens is also building an FG falcon turbo for this category, so it looks like we will soon see a lot of cars around.

The FG will use the Barra motor, resin filled block with custom crank, rods and pistons. It will use the production head and you can only imagine the turbo system and fuel system on it. Remember the 2JZ is only a 3 litre motor, the 4 litre Ford would do well over the 2,000hp mark.

Anyway, they reckon the car is half built already, and they will start testing later this year. IT'll be awesome to see some 7 second (maybe eventually 6 second) XR6 Turbos around!!

PS We also saw the new Nissan GTR R35 in the flesh. Man that car is horn. Std 20's on it and a great champage/grey colour. This thing has 290kw at the wheels stock and they hooked a Haltech ECU to it to replace the std ECU. Got another 60kw at the wheels so this thing has 350kw at all 4 wheels. It ran 11's today and man did it look good doing it. For $160k so it should!!

[Buf-Phoon]

Great post Some mouth watering stuff to look forward to.

[senna_T]

I agree, today was great for racing fans! Definately some exciting racing with some very close calls. I was really looking forward to today and wasn't dissapointed at all.

I was glad to see an R35 on aussie soil with a bit of tuning done to it. Joe Signorelli from Gas Motorsports drove the car for its second run, and must have been very unfamiliar with it because he didn't use launch control, rather just rolling away from the line. That said it still did an 11.8!

[ZAP]

Funny you mention that.

I was watching the tintop drag racing from willowbank I had recorded today and they had the Pro FX class that had the Supra and what looked like a Camry running in turbo 6 class.

Watching this I thought that a I6 barra would make a good platform to run. Great to see that others have though the same thing. cannot wait to see them run, as it looks like a good class.

Also that GTR is the one my mate brought in to Oz for the owner of Haltech. It ran 11.1@124mph with the launch control and 11.8 without.

[Johnny G]

Good news Exah - great to see some thought going into "getting customers through the gate and interested in the sport". Much talk at the TinTops meet about this recently.... crowd numbers are NOT growing - and drag racing needs to find new hotbuttons apart from Top Alcohol, Top Fuelers and Top Doorslammers to get back in touch.

Hope they bring some of the show to W'Bank!

Keep us informed.

[exahsix]

Well the good news for you QLDers is that after the Pro/R class runs it's exhibition runs in Sydney in January, they go to Willowbank 2 weeks later to run an official round. Perhaps round 1 of a national championship?

[RegSpec]

And just look whats in store for next season after ANDRA has introduced new classes for inclusion at all national championship events........

ANDRA CHAMPIONSHIP DRAG RACING GOES HIGH-TECH NEXT SEASON – 14/04/2008

During the final rules meeting for the 2008/2009 season, ANDRA Championship Drag Racing took a significant step forward when the National Control Council implemented some major changes to the Group Two categories, including wider access to electronic fuel injection and the introduction of new categories and a new eliminator for cars using turbocharged four, six and rotary engines.

Super Compact Eliminator

A new Group Two bracket known as Super Compact Eliminator, accommodating eight classes based on the proven ANDRA Sport Compact programme, will be introduced from 1/9/2008.

The class previously known as Pro Rear Wheel Drive will be expanded into three classes titled Sport Compact (SC). Turbo-charging, electronic fuel injection and transmissions up to five forward speeds permitted. Cars will be permitted to use full chassis, modified steel or composite bodies and existing Pro Rear Wheel Drive technical regulations, with weight minimums and engine types as follows;

AA/Sport Compact (AA/SC) 6 cylinder (4.0 litre max) 2400lbs minimum

BB/Sport Compact (BB/SC) Triple Rotor 2200lbs minimum

CC/Sport Compact (CC/SC) Twin Rotor / 4 cylinder 2100lbs minimum

The popular OZ MOD (OM) class will be expanded to separate the four common engine types into two categories. Turbo-charging, electronic fuel injection and transmissions up to five forward speeds permitted. Minimal body and rear chassis modifications are permitted, with a 29” x 8” limit on rear tyre size. The following weight minimums will apply.

AA/OZ MOD (AA/OM) Triple Rotor / 6 cylinder (4.0 litre max) 2400lbs minimum

BB/OZ MOD (BB/OM) Twin Rotor / 4 cylinder 2100lbs minimum

Sport Mod (SM) will encompass three classes with rear half chassis replacement and minimal body modifications permitted. Turbo-charging, electronic fuel injection and transmissions up to five forward speeds permitted. The following weight minimums will apply;

AA/Sport Mod (AA/SM) 6 cylinder (4.0 litre max) 2400lbs minimum

BB/Sport Mod (BB/SM) Triple Rotor 2200lbs minimum

CC/Sport Mod (CC/SM) Twin Rotor / 4 cylinder 1900lbs minimum

Class indexes based on previous performances in the ANDRA Sport Compact categories will be published July 2008. As part of the Rocket Allstars Racing Series, this new bracket will decide the Australian Super Compact Champion.

Electronic Fuel Injection Permitted in Group Two.

From 1/9/2008, electronic fuel injection (EFI) will be permitted in all naturally aspirated classes in Competition, Super Stock, Super Compact and Competition Bike, except C/Dragster, C/Altered and G/Gas. This change has been under consideration since 2005 and most vehicles using carburetors or mechanical fuel injection will be permitted to make the change. Management software complying with ANDRA limits will be mandatory.

ANDRA ANNOUNCES NEW GROUP TWO CLASSES FOR 2008/2009 – 14/04/2008

Competition Eliminator – New Classes

From 1/9/2008, two new classes have been added to Competition Eliminator for dragsters and altereds using turbo-charged rotary engines. RR/DI will cater for dragsters using two rotor engines, and RRR/AI will accommodate triple rotor altered. Vehicles in RR/DI, RRR/DI, RR/AI and RRR/AI will be permitted to use clutchless transmissions of up to five forward speeds. Weightbreaks and Class Minimums for the new classes will be confirmed by July 2008.

Also from 1/9/2008, three additional classes, AA/Altered Automatic, AA/Gas Automatic and AA/Altered Production Automatic, will be added to Competition Eliminator, accommodating vehicles using OEM automatic transmissions and torque converters, with Class Index concessions of .15 on the current factors.

Super Stock Eliminator – New Classes

From 1/9/2008, vehicles in Altered Production will be permitted to use US “spec” bodies. A/Altered Production will be moved into Super Stock Eliminator and two additional classes, B/AP and C/AP, with weight breaks of 6.0 lbs/cub and 7.5 lbs/cub respectively and an overall maximum weight of 2500 lbs for all three classes will be added. Parallel classes for vehicles using OEM automatic transmissions and torque converters will be included. The following Class Minimums/Records will apply, calculated from equivalent existing classes where possible;

A/AP

6.94

4.5 lbs/cub

A/APA

7.18

4.5 lbs/cub

B/AP

7.60

6.0 lbs/cub

B/APA

7.74

6.0 lbs/cub

C/AP

8.04

7.5 lbs/cub

C/APA

8.22

7.5 lbs/cub

A further six new classes will be added to Modified Production, to accommodate vehicles built on original front wheel drive platforms converted for rear wheel drive. Permissible firewall and floor-pan modifications will mirror current NHRA provisions and existing Modified Production weight-breaks will apply. The following Class Minimums will apply;

D/MP

8.710

7.5 lbs/cub

D/MPA

8.649

7.5 lbs/cub

E/MP

8.804

8.5 lbs/cub

E/MPA

8.664

8.5 lbs/cub

F/MP

9.090

9.5 lbs/cub

F/MPA

8.835

9.5 lbs/cub

Theres got to be something in there for everyone......and I can't wait to see how an XR6T engine combo would run in a rear engined dragster.....

[R-SPEC]

That GT-R sounds unreal.

I wish I had time to go to the drags again. I used to love going to Calder as a kid and eating 20 hot jam donuts.

[4runner]

Theres got to be something in there for everyone......and I can't wait to see how an XR6T engine combo would run in a rear engined dragster.....

Yeah Reg, I just wish I had the funds to build one. In a chassis like Paul Martini's CC/MD it would make for some quick Et's.

[senna_T]

Oh and for the Freezing my ass off! 12 degrees I think by around 6pm. Unfortunate that the night got called off early after that RX7 pin-balled down the end of the track. Apparently the track temp was down to ~13C