"There has been many a late night back at the Vineyard, NSW workshop where the crew and myself looked at each other and wondered if there would ever be any reward for the hours and sleep deprived nights that we put ouselves through."

But it was through the tireless efforts of my crew, the unending support of my wife Mary and the support of our sponsors who stuck by us through thick and thin that pushed me through those dark moments Maurice reflected.

And did the reward come? AND HOW!

At one of the biggest events on the Australian Drag Racing calendar - the Summernationals at Western Sydney International Dragway - Fabietti and the Holden Genuine Parts team not only threw down the gauntlet sending out notice that this teams was not there to just make up numbers - but put a huge exclaimation mark on the event with a sensational performance that is still being talked about.

The first issue was to qualify in one of the toughest fields ever assembled. After many years of being Mr 'Number 9' Fabietti had his back to the wall in the final qualifying session needing to run well near his personal best - just to get in the field which he did moving into the bump spot (number 8) with a 6.17.

This set up a first round encounter with fellow Sydney sider Deno Brijeski who top qualified with a 5.95 second pass. Fabietti knew that Brijeski had the fire power to repeat his 5 second performance which he did - but the quicker reacting Fabietti won with a best ever 6.10 hole shot.

In the semi final he faced the 6.0 second Benny Bray but stunned everybody (including himself!) with a stellar 6.03 second time card to take the win and to move into the final against the seemingly invincible John Zappia.

In one of the greatest Top Doorslammer races ever Fabietti again won on a hole shot with the quickest and closest side by side Top Doorslammer race in history with Fabiettis tantalisingly close 6.000 beating Zappia's 5.99 to grab the gold Xmas tree.

Fabietti has not rolled into the Perth Motorplex this weekend with a realistic expectation of what could be a tough weekend of Top Doorslammer racing.

"Our team has reset our goals with the first being just to qualify given that 8 of the twleve teams on the property all have 6.0 or quicker capabilities" Fabietti mused.

"Once we have achieved that goal then - as cliches go - it will be one round at a time"