| Dobbo a Top Fuel coup for Willowbank |
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| Written by Willowbank Raceway | |
| Thursday, 04 January 2007 | |
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WILLOWBANK RACEWAY RELEASE - Following extensive 11th hour negotiations Queensland's Willowbank Raceway has confirmed it will have one of the fastest and quickest Top Fuel dragsters in the World, competing as part of the Night Fire Top Fuel Championships this Friday and Saturday night from 5pm.
Santo Rapisarda's 'Uplift Cranes' Top Fueler, which was piloted by American NHRA star Scott Kalitta in Sydney a fortnight ago, smashed all existing Australian speed and elapsed time records, running an amazingly quickest pass of 4.517 seconds over the quarter mile and reaching a mind-blowing speed of 332 mph (534.30km/h) Added to the event equation are the extraordinary exploits of reigning Australian champion Phil Read in becoming the country's first driver to move into the 4.50 second range (4.57 seconds), plus the return to Top Fuel racing of seasoned veteran Steve Read and the debut of Phil Lamattina in their team's former Australian Championship winning car and it's no wonder Willowbank Raceway General Manager Steve Bettes is excited. "In drag racing terms this is one of the more major coups for Willowbank Raceway in that we will now host many of the quickest and fastest Top Fuel dragsters outside of North America, all on the one action packed event program," said Bettes. "To the uninitiated, the increments set in Sydney are very much on par with what is currently being achieved in America's rich NHRA series. "We've got the Willowbank surface in tip top shape for ou r first big event of the New Year and it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see both the Rapisarda and Phil Read dragsters going even quicker this Friday and Saturday night. "The Steve Read dragster is an unknown quantity but was solid in testing so anything is possible and of course the Lamattina's need no introduction so all-in-all it's shaping as a must see event this weekend." Today's massive announcement is coupled with the fairytale nomination of Western Australian driver Allan Dobson to take the controls of one of the World's quickest drag racing machines. Dobson, who hails from Quinns Rocks in Perth is a fireman by trade, but now having secured this prized drive in Australian drag racing, he's sure to be the one smokin' come race time at Willowbank Raceway. "I'm just totally stoked to have been offered the opportunity to have a blast in the thing although I had to call on a few favours at work to have my roster adjusted to make the trip to Queensland," said Dobson. "I turn 50 this coming July so this is definitely an early birthday present and the best start to a New Year any drag racer could ask for. "To be taking control of such a proven machine, words can't describe how I'm feeling. "Probably my quickest ever run in a fuel car was during testing in the Greene Family Racing's 'Crank 'n' Stein Top Fueler where we unofficially ran a 5.20 second pass here in Perth. "I'm thankful of Santo and Jim Read for putting this deal together and there's no doubt it's going to be one hell of an experience racing back at Willowbank where I've enjoyed plenty of success in the past." Allan Dobson holds court as the first ever driver to break into the five second range in a Top Alcohol Funny Car at Willowbank Raceway during the 1993 Winternationals. He also won a prestigious Pro Comp event in Queensland and is a highly regarded driving proposition the World over. "I've been driving for more than 30 years and actually represented Australia in '94 at an International Top Alcohol challenge event in Fuji, Japan where I was ultimately beaten in the final by the team from Holland," added Dobson. "I've top qualified twice at the Australian Nationals in Nitro Funny Car in the 'Greene Machine' and was also running Top Alcohol Funny Car with the Gower-Howson Castrol team alongside Queensland favourite Victor Bray. "We usually only have a one-off opportunity each year to race in the Top Fuel National Championship round in Perth so this is a great opportunity to get more time behind the controls." |
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