Fastlane is produced by the Australian National Drag Racing Association LTD. Editor: Amanda Cobb (media@andra.com.au)
Design: Daniel Goonan - TwoSixOne Design ( www.twosixonedesign.com ) Photography: Mike O’Neill/HighRPM, Cackling Pipes, Josh Kutlin/Canoli Photography, High Octane Photos, Shaun Tanner and Red CentreNATS.
ANDRA recently relocated to a brand new co-working office facility in Glenunga, SA.
Situated not far from the Tollgate at the bottom of the South Eastern Freeway,
the new shared office will see no change from a membership viewpoint. The move was made when the current landlord did not offer a competitive renewal. No change has been made to any contact or
communication mediums, other than the physical address, which is now as follows:
ANDRA c/o Little City Coworking 62 Queen Street, Glenunga SA 5064
The ANDRA Board met recently with the ongoing debate about the legality of Pro Stock engines high on the agenda.
While it was acknowledged that the moving of head bolts has been a divisive issue, the rules needed to be improved to specify what can and can’t be done.
ANDRA extensively surveyed and consulted the Pro Stock
ANDRA members to gain a clearer understanding of our member’s wishes.
This consultation was conducted through both Pro Stock Associations and directly with individual active member competitors. The recent IHRA rule change was also considered in these consultations.
Consequently, the overall majority opinion of our members was considered and acted on by the ANDRA Board.
With exact wording of the rule update to be confirmed, the intent is that head bolts may be moved within the tolerances of the relevant head gasket.
For further details, go to https://www. andra.com.au/pro-stock-rule-change/
With racing now returning for the new season, we have a busy few months ahead.
That’s not to say that winter has been quiet by any stretch. Administering a national sport never lets up, and the offseason is a chance to catch up and reset for the new season.
Having just returned from Alice Springs for the second round of the ANDRA Sportsman Championship, it is great to re-connect with an enjoyable part of my role – speaking with and supporting our members.
The Alice Springs event is a credit to the Central Australia Drag Racing Association (CADRA) and the level of support that President Dan Hodgins receives from both club members and interstate volunteers is exceptional.
The week-long event including Nitro up North in Darwin, and the Red CentreNATS was a huge success, with good numbers of nominations received across all three races.
We now have a great opportunity to grow this and build on the success and good times experienced by those who were able to compete.
While in Alice Springs, we trialled a new Race Management System called My Race Pass. My Race Pass is available to competitors via the My Race Pass App
and will provide immediate race timing and time slips straight to your phone. The testing went well in Alice Springs, and we began to tell the competitors about it before qualifying was completed.
We will also be testing it at Mildura and will continue to develop and promote the system over the coming months.
The really cool part is that racers will have all of their time slips in one place and will be able to access them at any time.
In time, My Race Pass will be the one-stop shop for live timing, results, championship points, driver profiles, elimination draws, and much more – we will even be able to stream the commentary through the app, so you can set up a bluetooth speaker in your pit bay and listen to what is going on!
Teams and fans are encouraged to download the MyRacePass app on Google Play or the Apple App Store and set up a free account.
Of course, the biggest news at the moment is the return to Sydney Dragway on January 24 with Round 7 of the ANDRA Sportsman Series and some other features. It has been a long time coming, and we need to now make it work, so need your support.
The event will be held over one day, (Saturday), with Sunday being a raindate.
ANDRA Chief Executive Officer Tim McAvaney
And don’t forget the Test & Tune at Sydney Dragway on October 18, where we will be offering free techs to new members.
We anticipate that we will be able to grow the number of events in Sydney over the coming weeks and build on this exciting return.
Best wishes, Tim McAvaney
ANDRA Chief Executive Officer
The Australian National Drag Racing Association (ANDRA) Board is pleased to welcome Craig Baker to its ranks, filling a casual vacancy.
Craig was recently elected as the ANDRA Queensland Division Director and fills the Board Director position vacated by Wayne Downes.
The 57-year-old father of two adult boys, and grandfather to two more, currently
lives in Palm Cove in Queensland and has been a member of ANDRA and active license holder since the early nineties.
Racing predominantly in Modified Eliminator, Craig has raced at all of the major tracks around Australia along with many of the regional facilities, enjoying plenty of successes along the way –including the 15 gold and silver ANDRA Christmas Trees he proudly displays on the shelf at home, including three
representing National Championships (2013, 2017 and 2022). Aside from his racing career, Craig holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and is CPA qualified.
He has worked as Accountant and Finance Manager in the fields of Warehousing and Distribution, Retail, Manufacturing, Airports, and most recently Agriculture.
For the full story, please click here.
ANDRA was pleased recently to announce that the penultimate round of the ANDRA Sportsman Series will be run at Sydney Dragway on Saturday 24th January 2026 – finalising the season calendar (see below for the full dates listing).
The Australia Day weekend will see the one-day event feature round 7 of the ANDRA Series in addition to some Group 1 feature classes.
“This will be an event not to be missed,” commented ANDRA CEO Tim McAvaney.
“We are committed to returning to Sydney for our members and we are committed to providing great opportunities to Western Australian competitors who may elect to travel this year, with the Perth Motorplex currently having the drag surface replaced.”
More news about the event will be released shortly, particularly around what Group 1 categories will be featured, and licencing options for local NSW competitors who may wish to race with ANDRA on this special occasion. In the meantime, ANDRA reminds competitors that the ANDRA Test and Tune at Sydney Dragway is coming up on 18 October, a perfect way to prepare for this event.
As the new season for the ANDRA Sportsman Championship gets underway, ANDRA has been so pleased to announce a range of sponsorship partnerships, including:
• Ballistic Performance Parts sponsoring Modified Bike
• New Gen Business Park sponsoring Competition Bike, JuniorDrag Bike, and Supercharged Outlaws
• Goodyear Racing sponsoring Super Street
• Gallagher sponsoring Modified
• South Australian Drag Racers Association sponsoring Super Sedan
Also announced has been the new ANDRA Racer Support Program, which already has participation from Ballistic Performance Parts, Powerplus Racing Fuels, and Atlantic Oils.
To learn more about these ANDRA Racer Support Program partnerships, please click here (Ballistic Performance Parts), here (Powerplus Racing Fuels), and here (Atlantic Oils)
If you would like to add your support to the series either as a bracket, racer support program, or contingency program sponsor, or would like to discuss other ways you can be involved, please email info@andra.com.au
ANDRA Technical would like to remind all Racers, Crew, Officials and Tech Inspectors of the following requirement which is detailed in the ANDRA rulebook.
All vehicles in competition must have a positive action ignition switch in
good working order, located within easy reach of the driver / rider. For cars. the “within easy reach of the driver” is of key importance and this must be checked during any/all Tech Inspections as well as by the driver / crew before events, and especially if any controls within the cockpit have
been moved / relocated due to vehicle maintenance and/or repairs after an incident.
To view the full technical bulletin, please click here.
The ANDRA Member Benefits Program has been created to offer its loyal members the opportunity to receive discounts to products from supporting companies. By joining the program, your business and products will be promoted to a performance-based target audience. Participating businesses of the ANDRA Member
Benefits Program receive promotion through ANDRA’s database of over 5000 members and race fans, as well as exposure through the ANDRA website and the regular MotorMail email newsletter. This is the perfect platform to launch new products, advertise monthly specials and any other sale promotions you may have.
If you would like more information on the program or want to complete your free registration, please visit www.andra.com.au/directory/andra-member-benefits-program
To view a listing of all ANDRA Member Benefits Program offers, please go to www.andra.com.au/directory/member-benefits-program-directory
As a valued ANDRA business partner, you can receive maximum exposure through the ANDRA Drag Racing brand and its events. Your company will be showcased whenever and wherever possible and there is a host of ways you can support ANDRA drag racing, including investment in the following:
For more information and to discuss opportunities, contact info@andra.com.au
WEBSITE RECOGNITION
MOTOR MAIL FEATURE –
MOTOR MAIL IS OUR MEMBERS ONLY NEWSLETTER, CONTACT US TO SEE AN EXAMPLE IF YOU DON’T HAVE AN ANDRA MEMBER LOGIN
FACEBOOK/X/INSTAGRAM RECOGNITION
ANDRA SPORTSMAN CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
ANDRA SPORTSMAN CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES SPONSORSHIP
THE PERTH MOTORPLEX IS ABOUT TO UNDERGO A MAJOR RESET WHICH IS SET TO SEE THE FACILITY ‘REBORN’ READY FOR AN EXCITING NEW ERA OF DRAG RACING IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
There is no doubt that in 2025, The Perth Motorplex has a lot to celebrate.
Not only does this year mark its 25th anniversary as the premier drag racing facility in WA and one of the best race tracks in the country, it has also seen Venues West confirm that significant funding from the State Government will see it continue to go from strength to strength for decades to come.
This funding will see a range of works undertaken around the venue between
now and early next year, including a brand new drag racing surface to replace the aging original track and further ensure the Perth Motorplex’s status as one of the best motor racing facilities in the country.
Also in the works is a state of the art LED lighting system, a brand new big screen, new toilet facilities, and other revamps including repainting the corporate boxes and timing tower to give the ‘Plex one impressive birthday.
Perth Motorplex General Manager Gavin
Migro, who now has been in the role for over a year, is excited about translating the success he and the team have enjoyed in the speedway half of the business to the drag racing discipline.
Migro has been at the Motorplex since it was opened and has been a big part of its success under various eras of management, including Gary Miocevich and the Miocevich Family, Venues West, and now ANDRA – through Evolve Facility Management.
Under his stewardship, the Motorplex has
now firmly established itself as a world leader in promoting speedway events, with the track winning a host of national and international awards, including Speedway Australia’s “Track of the Year” four years out of five, including the past three consecutive years, and recently International Promoter of the Year, on the back of the recent High Limit International event featuring leading American Sprintcar stars, including NASCAR Star Kyle Larson.
It has also been announced as a finalist in the Rockingham Kwinana Chamber of Commerce 2025 Regional Business Awards for Tourism and Hospitality.
Now, Migro and his team have their sights set firmly on drag racing – starting with this redevelopment which has been made possible following 12 months of dedicated work behind the scenes.
“This is an exciting time for Western Australian Drag Racing under Gavin’s leadership,” said ANDRA Chief Executive Officer, Tim McAvaney.
“We have all seen first-hand the success the speedway is enjoying and that is a direct result of Gavin’s skill set and ability to engage with the sport.
“Gavin has been able to gain the confidence of all stakeholders in speedway, and the results are proof that if everyone gets behind a common vision, anything is possible.
“Gavin is now demonstrating that same potential for drag racing and it is pleasing to see the sport slowly getting behind Gavin as they continue to see what Gavin is doing.”
The track works are being led by the
same civil engineering management team behind the original Perth Motorplex build in 2000, which has also played key roles in drag strip projects in Darwin, Sydney, and most recently at Tailem Bend in South Australia – now considered a benchmark facility in Australian Drag Racing.
“The new drag strip at Perth Motorplex will be a complete rebuild, featuring a continuous concrete surface for the full racing distance and beyond the finish line – considered as the gold standard for drag racing facilities worldwide,” Migro explains.
“That’s 450 metres of concrete which is an extension on the existing surface that we have now, and then the asphalt braking surface as well which makes it 550 metres, which is really cool as it is a lot better of an outcome than we were expecting.
“With the funding we have received through the State Government and our landlord Venues West we are also going to replace the track lights for the whole venue to the new world standard of LED lighting.
“This is a safety improvement from our point of view as in the event of a power surge, they may flicker, but they won’t turn off. Or if you need to turn them off, you can turn them straight back on again. With our current set up, it takes 13 minutes for them to cool down before they can come back on again.
“This is going to be new world standard level sporting lighting, like what they have in football stadiums, with huge lux levels lighting our race track like never before, which is very exciting.
“All the corporate boxes and race control are being repainted as well and we will also have the opportunity to redo all our sponsorship signs on the drag strip as well, so we will repaint the walls once the project is completed.
“We are also excited to announce that once we reopen the drag racing part of the Motorplex we will have a new Super Screen in place replacing the existing unit which again is a world standard quality.
“That new screen will be in place ready
for the return of racing, which is great as our previous screen has had several issues and this will eliminate those things and provide better production values for our patrons watching the racing.
“Overall, we see these works as a great reset for drag racing in WA which will give us an opportunity to really showcase drag racing the way we know it can be and give it a rebirth to really excite the market.”
Another side to this impending reset is evolution and expansion when it comes to events, and also event coverage.
The Motorplex already leads the way with events like Motorvation, Monster Trucks, and of course the biggest drag racing event in WA – the Westernationals – and Migro says that when racing returns, ANDRA members and race fans can expect to see big draw cards and feature events; including some to be broadcast live on 7plus.
“We have been in discussion with some international competitors and will be looking at all aspects of the events to better showcase drag racing and to make it a more entertaining night of racing and encourage people to come back,” Migro said.
“On the broadcast side, thanks to the success of our popular Night Thunder TV program for the speedway, Channel Seven have indicated that they are interested in showcasing some drag racing events, so we are going to pursue that once we reopen and have a set calendar.
“This means drag racing showcased nationally and internationally with a world-renowned TV program, under world class lighting, and that is something very cool.
“As part of that, back in the Ravenswood days there was a TV program called Coming At Ya, and we are going to do a bit of a nostalgia trip where we will call the drag racing show Drag Racing Coming At Ya, so we are pretty excited about getting started on that.”
Migro and his team’s track record of creating great success from a reset is well proven with their work on the speedway side of the Motorplex and has been recognised with many awards both domestically and internationally.
“We are obviously really, really proud of all we have achieved and we know that this has all come about from us resetting the speedway product and the way it was delivered,” Migro said.
“Speedway went through a pretty
tumultuous time in the early days here and from my perspective I am forever grateful for drag racing as it really kept the speedway side here alive for a period of time when speedway was really struggling.
“What I am really proud of right now is that speedway is now able to help the drag racing side and I believe that we can certainly bring that same success to drag racing with this reset; creating a better showcase which we have every confidence that this venue can deliver.”
The reset has been made possible thanks to the well-developed relationships held by Migro and his team with all levels of Government and other stakeholders.
“We have a great relationship with the City of Kwinana now, so much so that they have become a sponsor and a huge supporter of us and also our great relationships with the Premier and the State Government are what has brought this recently announced funding and upgrades to our venue,” Migro said.
“We certainly appreciate everything our State Government, our landlord in Venues West, and the City of Kwinana are doing for us and are proud that these relationships are showcasing us and putting us on the map.
“Well over 12 months of discussions with originally the Premier and then the appropriate Ministers and then with Venues West preceded the announcement of our funding, so there has been a lot of work from myself and my team in the background to get these things done.
“Just the other day we were invited to a Venues West stakeholders’ breakfast. Venues West look after 14 stadiums in WA including the renowned Optus Stadium and the RAC Arena and in this room full of representatives from those venues and other sporting bodies like the West Coast Eagles and the Wildcats, they acknowledged what we have achieved with Track of the Year and International Promoter of the Year and played a video of what we do. That was very humbling to have that recognition from Venues West to say we are doing a great job for our respective sports.
“We are really excited and very proud and overwhelmed with how things have played out – we are the current custodians
of the venue and it is not lost on us what we can do now as an entertainment and motorsport precinct, and where we sit in the landscape in motorsport for WA.”
Understandably, the question on the lips of every drag racer and fan right now is ‘when will racing be back on?’
While understanding the desire to know exact timelines, Migro calls for patience with a view to making sure things are done right, rather than rushed.
“The tenders have gone out now for the project, and that is about a five week process for those to come back in and then be assessed.
“Then there will be a contractor period where they rally the troops, get their machinery and all those kinds of things, so timelines are a little difficult to pinpoint at this point.
“However you can rest assured that Venues West as our landlord and ourselves as a venue both want to get back to racing as quickly as we possibly can.
“At the same time, we can’t rush this and get it wrong.
“We have this wonderful opportunity to get it right with the right team in place and we just want to make sure that when we do open it is right from the get-go, and what we don’t want to do is make false promises.
“Even though it sounds simplistic and seems easy to do with a bit of concrete and a bit of asphalt, it is a lot more than that – this is the hallowed turf of drag racing in West Australia and we want to make sure we get it right to future proof drag racing here for the next couple of decades.
“The end result will be an amazing world standard, complete venue; a wonderful thing which is exactly what the sport needs and wants – we are not just talking about great facilities, but also a great race track, and a reset which will see us get back to the early halcyon days here at the Motorplex.
be patient as the Government, Venues West, and the venue works through the processes required.
“We understand everyone wants updates and timelines and we will post updates when we can on our platforms, but I
guess it is a bit like waiting for Christmas – everyone wants to know what they are getting for Christmas right? But sometimes you have to wait to find out what the surprise will be! And it will be worth it!” he smiled.
“What I can guarantee you is that we are very committed to making sure that we make drag racing, great again.”
To learn more about the Perth Motorplex, visit www.motorplex.com.au
“It is going to be great for us and we hope everyone can get behind us as we make this happen, and we ask that you please
4,000 MILES, SIX WEEKS, 69 PASSES – AND IF IT HADN’T BEEN FOR THE RAINOUTS, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE: ANDRA MEMBER SHANE ‘POOH’ WYND SURE HAD A BUSY TIME RACING IN THE US RECENTLY
remind me to use it this time!” he laughed. While thrown a major obstacle right out
so that was awesome! We then went to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and dropped with a ten pack to a seven pack in the first round of the Gamblers Race for instance
– but man did I have a lot of fun, win or lose.
“Next up was a tour around Memphis before heading back to Bowling Green and then US 60 and then London Dragway, all in Kentucky, and did some more testing and then racing – including three days at London and two weekends at Bowling Green.
“So, all up it was Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Virginia, back to Tennessee and Kentucky – so five states, and around 4,000 miles. And if it hadn’t been for all the rain, we would have done even more racing.
Out of all his time on-track during this latest US tour, Wynd says if he had to pick a favourite, it would have to be his weekend at the TB Promotions Hundred K Race at Beech Bend Raceway Park across July 3-6.
“On the Thursday we raced for a 50k dragster. On the Friday, Saturday and Sunday, each day we raced for 50k in cash. On the Saturday night they also had a 100k race, but that was $2000USD to enter, so I didn’t enter that one – but for all the other races, I was double entered, meaning that I entered twice – you can double enter at most bracket races and even run in two classes, that is really cool.
“That whole event was covered by Motor Mania TV too which was great as with their live feeds, my parents in Perth were able to watch – they sat up all night watching – and my wife was messaging asking if that was me she could see behind the startline. I love that they have that kind of coverage as it means when I am home in Australia I can watch my
friends race all the time as well.
“Something else that really stands out to me is one of the one-day events at Bowling Green, there were 525 entries for a single day program and everything ran so very smoothly. They don’t have tow cars and no crew on the startline, and they run it like clockwork – it was something very impressive.
“There is no doubt about it, bracket racing in America is booming – every weekend tracks are packed, and you often get to race multiple events in a weekend; and I would love for us to evolve in that direction here in Australia.
Speaking with Wynd, the passion he has for the sport and his love of drag racing in the US is undeniable.
“The amazing thing about the States is the sheer number of tracks – for instance, within eight hours of Bowling Green in Kentucky, there is something like 50 tracks,” he said. “So far, in total in my US travels I have been to 18 and raced at 15, and I have plans to come back and do plenty more in the future! I am thinking about shipping the Ute over there next and making a serious assault with that.
“I have gone over and done this eight times now and each time I make new friends, learn new things, and make my program better. I can’t wait to race again and put some of those things into practice. “At this stage, I will be heading back once or possibly twice in 2026 – maybe if I ever win Powerball, I could move over there and have a couple of cars there to rent out to visiting Aussies, how cool would that be?! Fingers crossed!” he grinned.
“In all seriousness, I really do encourage every Australian sportsman racer to go
over and watch the sportsman racing over there, go and watch the real bracket racing and see what you can do to change your program and make yourself a better racer. And if you have the opportunity to cut some laps over there, definitely do that too! I really think there is a lot of potential for drag racing here to grow and I would love for more people to journey over there, experience it, love it, and bring some of it back here and keep on evolving and developing, both individually and as a whole.”
While he is already planning his next OS trip, ‘Pooh’ also has plans to race at home.
“I am looking forward to a couple of events at South Coast Raceway, including the ANDRA Sportsman Series rounds in December and January,” he said.
“There are other events I might go to as well, I am still figuring that out.
“This is probably a good point to make sure that I thank my wife, Kerrie – she is my number one, and when we had to get another engine on this latest trip, we had to take the money off the mortgage. I am so appreciative for her support – it is a funny story actually because when I was over there the bank locked her account because they thought she was being scammed because of the money she was sending over to me!
“I also want to thank my friend Tony ‘Spiro’ Norbert from Perth – he went over with me and he hadn’t raced for 10 years; my USA family, GET’M Performance, Jami and Trevor Wiggins, and their kids Eli and Grady; my good friend Joe Davis for helping me out with all his advice; and all of my USA friends that helped and pitched in on this latest trip.
“I also want to mention Wayne Bilbry, Steven and Amy Farrow, Daytona 1 Oils, Mike and Michelle Clayton, Van and Christy Greer, Steven and Gillian Leerentveld, and Marco Abruzzi.
“Finally, I have to give a special shout out to Larry and Shawn Johnston, for doing a killer deal for me on that replacement motor! This kind of tour is no small undertaking, and each and every one of these people helped me make it possible – I can’t wait to do it all over again next year.”
NAME: ALIZA HARRIS
AGE: 14
HOMETOWN: SEAFORD, ADELAIDE
OCCUPATION: SUBWAY SANDWICH ARTIST, GROOMING ASSISTANT AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT
STARTED RACING: APRIL 2025
CLASSES COMPETED: B/JB AND A/JB
BEST ET & SPEED: 9.469 AND 73.42MPH
FAVOURITE FOOD: ZOOPER DOOPERS & ICE COFFEE
FAVOURITE TV SHOW: GRAN TURISMO
FAVOURITE ANDRA RACE TRACK: ALICE SPRINGS INLAND DRAGWAY (ASID)
What is it you love about racing in New Gen Business Park Junior Drag Bike?
“I love the thrill and the rush of racing; I’ve always known that I wanted to race bikes and drag racing stood out to me. As soon as I had my first pass at Mildura, I knew that I wanted to continue with drag racing. Not only did I love racing for being able to ride my bike but also because of the people I met and the support you get in drags is amazing, if it wasn’t for drag racing, I wouldn’t have met some of the most amazing people I know now.”
You took the Desert Nationals win – how did it feel to take out the ANDRA Christmas Tree? “I practiced different shifting techniques on the Test n Tune day and ended up sticking with one of those which made me more confident on the bike as well as more consistent. I got my PB for ET, MPH, and my reaction time as well which I was happy with. In the final Cooper Plummer and I were up against each other – he was dialled in at 8.82 and I was dialled in at 9.50. I got a 0.056 reaction and ran a 9.565, Coper ran a 8.934 and had a 0.121 light which gave me the win for finals. I wasn’t sure who won at first, but once I found out I won I was so excited and happy – I had already been excited to be in the finals, but to win was a whole other thing for me.”
Is there anyone who you would like to shine the spotlight on for their involvement in your racing?
“I would like to shine the spotlight on Geoff and Lucas Bergamin – if it wasn’t for them, I would have never been licencing at Mildura and wouldn’t have had the opportunity to travel to Darwin and Alice Springs for drag racing. Also, to my amazing sponsors Art With Attitude by Casper, Shaw’s Mowing Services, Procoat QLD Protective Coatings, and Piece of Shirt Clothing Co, who have supported me since the beginning of my drag racing and are always there for Schmick Racing. Also, my parents for allowing me to drag race and helping me with everything involved and everyone else who shows their support for me and encourages me to race. I wouldn’t be able to do it without all the amazing people I have supporting me, so a huge thank you to everyone who’s helped or supported me with my racing!”
What is it you love about racing in New Gen Business Park Competition Bike?
NAME: CHERYL BEDDOES
BASED IN: SYDNEY
OCCUPATION:
REGIONAL GENERAL MANAGER FOR WESTPAC
STARTED RACING: SEPTEMBER 2023
CLASSES COMPETED: MODIFIED BIKE & COMPETITION BIKE
BEST ET AND SPEED: 8.93 @ 148MPH
FAVOURITE FOOD: SALAD
FAVOURITE ANDRA RACETRACK: DRAGWAY AT THE BEND
“Every run you do you are always trying to go faster than the last, either improving the launch and 60ft, or the ET.”
You took the win at Alice Springs for the Desert Nationals - how did that feel? “Euphoric, especially given that it was at this same event last year that I competed in my first finals round and came runner up. To face my mentor and drag racing partner in crime, Joe Khoury in the finally also really made the win even more special.”
You were also on-track for the season-opening Nitro Up North just a few days before, and were the New Gen Business Park Top Qualifier there – how did you find the whole ‘northern swing’ experience?
“I just loved racing at both events. The vibe of the crowd was awesome, and the track and safety staff were great. We had travelled over a total of 8000km to race at both events and for us both to make a finals appearance was a dream come true.”
Is there anyone who you would like to shine the spotlight on for their involvement in your racing?
“I want to send a massive thank you to my drag racing partner Joe Khoury who has taught me how to maintain my Bike, including making clutch adjustments between rounds. Joe always keeps me safe, believes in me, and is always by my side (even if it is as my competitor). I also want to thank my family at home – without their support I wouldn’t be able to go away racing; Jimmy from TwinTunes Performance Dyno Tuning who does the tuning on my bike; Edge Creative Printing for the stunning wrap; and all the people I have met around the country along the way who I now call my drag racing family. And of course – the track organisers, volunteers, ambos, and fire crews for all of their hard work; and ANDRA for creating such a great series, incorporating regional tracks in the series is just amazing for the sport.
The Sunraysia Drag Racing Association’s Atlantic Oils Sunset Strip is set to host back-to-back ANDRA Sportsman Series rounds.
The action will start on September 2021 with the Sunset Nationals and will be followed swiftly by the Nitro Golf Centre Junior Nationals the next weekend (September 26-28).
The Sunset Nationals will mark round three of the 2025/2026 ANDRA Sportsman Series season, while the Nitro Golf Centre Junior Nationals event will see the Junior brackets only (Junior Dragster and New Gen Business Park Junior Drag Bike) earn points towards their ANDRA Sportsman Series calendar, in what is being dubbed round 3.5.
Thanks to the increased visitors the event brings to the region year on year, the Mildura Rural City Council (MRCC) is supporting the Sunset Nationals.
“The SDRA is proud to have the continued support of the Mildura Rural City Council through its Events Funding and Support Grants Program, which helps make these events possible and further cements Mildura as a hub for major motorsport action,” SDRA President, David Thornton, said.
“We have a long running and supportive
relationship with the Council and we are very happy to once again have their support as we get ready for the Sunset Nationals.
“This event is a highlight of our calendar every year and we cannot wait to host all of the ANDRA Sportsman Series racers across September 20-21.
“Conveniently, the 2025 Nitro Golf Centre Junior Nationals will take place the weekend after the Sunset Nationals, giving Junior competitors the perfect chance to double up on points, and potentially take home two ANDRA Christmas Trees in just two weeks.”
The Junior Nationals were first
established in 2018 by SDRA to promote and foster the next generation of racers. In 2024, the event expanded to include Junior Bike, and in 2025, for the first time, Junior Bike will compete as a full ANDRA championship bracket, a milestone that reflects the rapid growth of the event and its status as the number one destination for Junior racers in Australia.
“To host a points round for the Junior brackets of the ANDRA series (on the Saturday) at this event is a truly unique honour, as it is the only time in history that the Junior brackets have been given their own championship round,” David said.
“We are so excited to have the support also of the Nitro Golf Centre, a locally owned business operated by the Lamattina family, who are no strangers to drag racing.
“As some of the original members to race on the Sunset Strip when it was first commissioned, their passion for motorsport and the Mildura community runs deep.”
For more information, visit www.sunsetstrip.org or follow the Sunraysia Drag Racing Association on Facebook.
Red CentreNATS presented by LMCT+ brought an ultimate festival of wheels to the Red Centre across September 5-7. Showcasing top of the range street machines, elite show cars, hot rods, classics and exotics, Red CentreNATS once again got attendees’ adrenaline pumping with an action-packed program of drag racing, burn outs, show and shines, live music, Australia’s largest street parade, and more.
At Alice Springs Inland Dragway, the Heavy Hitters drag racing combined with the ‘Family Feud’ between Top Doorslammers’ John and Brodie Zappia and Daniel and Lisa Gregorini to bring plenty of high intensity drag racing action to the fore at the track that just days before, had hosted round two of the ANDRA Sportsman Series – the Desert Nationals (see pages 24-25 of this magazine for that event wrap-up).
In front of a packed crowd, the following racers took out the spoils at ASID on Saturday September 6 – congratulations to all involved on another fantastic show of drag racing talent as part of the ANDRA-sanctioned Red CentreNATS.
• 7-sec: Peter Coles, LX Torana hatch
• 8-sec: Lee Povey, VL Calais
• 9-sec: Dan Hodgins, altered
• 10-sec: Ray Baney, Compact Fairlane
• 11-sec: Mick Jury, HQ Monaro
• 12-sec: Matt Baney, Ford XD
• Bikes: Adam Rapp, Hayabusa
• Junior Bikes: Cooper Plummer
• Top Doorslammer family feud: Zappia Racing
Red CentreNATS is locked and loaded for the next five years thanks to the support of the Northern Territory Government! That means Australia’s coolest street cruising car festival is in Alice Springs all the way until at least 2030.
Entries for RCN 12 are on sale now – get your early bird entry in now at bit.ly/RCN12
The first ANDRA Christmas Tree trophies of the 2025/2026 ANDRA Sportsman Series were lifted at the Hidden Valley Drag Strip following a fantastic two-day drag racing display for Nitro Up North across Friday August 29 and Saturday August 30.
When all was said and done, it was Riley Kilvington (New Gen Business Park Junior Drag Bike), Cody Hunt (Junior Dragster), Shaun Boyer (Goodyear Racing Super Street), Bryan Finn (Ballistic Performance Parts Modified Bike), Gary Baker (The South Australian Drag Racers Association Super Sedan), Dan Hodgins (Gallagher Modified), Adam Rapp (New Gen Business Park Competition Bike), Tommy Turic (Top Sportsman), and Ashley Smith (New Gen Business Park Supercharged Outlaws) who took home the ANDRA Christmas Tree trophies in their brackets.
Taking the runner-up honours were
Cooper Plummer (New Gen Business Park Junior Drag Bike), Brooke Morrison (Junior Dragster), Neil Mellett (Goodyear Racing Super Street), Jason White (Ballistic Performance Parts Modified Bike), Darren Russell (The South Australian Drag Racers Association Super Sedan), Josie Hodgins (Gallagher Modified), James Low (New Gen Business Park Competition Bike), Peter Kirkpatrick (Top Sportsman), and Aidan Abel (New Gen Business Park Supercharged Outlaws).
The Ballistic Performance Parts Modified Bike and New Gen Business Park Supercharged Outlaws racers also had an extra reason to smile, with the winners and runners-up enjoying additional rewards as part of the new ANDRA Racer Support Program.
The winners in Modified Bike were rewarded with a $100 voucher from Ballistic Performance Parts while the
runners-up received a $50 voucher each, while in Supercharged Outlaws, the winner and runner-up were presented with a $100 and $50 fuel voucher respectively thanks to Powerplus Racing Fuels.
In New Gen Business Park Junior Drag Bike, enjoying its first round as an official ANDRA championship bracket this weekend, Perth racer Riley Kilvington overcame a challenging weekend on a borrowed bike in what was described as one of the toughest race days of their career to secure a hard-fought victory.
Kilvington broke out on the way to taking the win over a red-lighting Cooper Plummer in the final run of the night - which was a re-run following issues with the first running of their final. As well as the runner-up honours, Plummer also enjoyed claiming the Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park on Friday night.
To get to the final, Kilvington took wins over Immanual Gillatt and Cooper Plummer in rounds one and three of the Chicago Shoot Out format. Likewise, Plummer got the better of Aliza Harris in round one and Kilvington in round two, before a loss to Gillatt in round three.
In Top Sportsman, the home-track advantage wasn’t enough for runnerup Peter Kirkpatrick, who was shown the door in the final round by Tommy Turic. Turic, who also claimed the Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park on Friday, took the round two win over Darryl Stephen, after a bye in round one. Kirkpatrick also had a bye in round two, after taking the win over Leon Davies in round one.
Saturday’s win was a special one for Turic, having previously won in Darwinalso during a season opener. In New Gen Business Park Supercharged Outlaws winner Ashley Smith got the better of runner-up Aidan Abel in the final round. To get to the final, Smith raced through the first two rounds of elimination runs, sending Dennis Baylis and Glenn Bull
packing in rounds one and two, before a bye in round three ahead of the final match up against Abel. Abel, meanwhile dispatched Garthe McIntyre in round one, before doing the same to Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient Peter Coles in round two and Mark Hunt in the semi-
In Junior Dragster Cody Hunt took the win over runner-up Brooke Morrison. To get to the final, Hunt took wins over Taylor Horton (round one) and Lily Horton (round two) before lining up against Morrison. Morrison meanwhile enjoyed a win over Jay Coles in round one and a single run in round two, after Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient Angelina Kondilis was unable to make the round two run.
In Goodyear Racing Super Street Neil Mellett broke out, handing the win to Shaun Boyer in the final run of the night. To get to the final, Boyer first sent Connor Wahlqvist packing before a bye in round two and dispatching Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient Jamie Irwin in the semi-final. Mellet, meanwhile, got the better of Nicole Higgins in round one and Theo Karamandis in round two, ahead of a bye in the semi-final. Top Qualifier Irwin enjoyed a bye in round one and took the win over Claudio Petrilli in round two before being knocked out by Boyer in the semi-final.
In Ballistic Performance Parts Modified Bike a double breakout saw Bryan Finn take the win over runner-up Jason White when White went further under his Dial In. To get to the final, Finn first came out on top over Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient Ian Read ahead of the final match-up against White. White meanwhile, first successfully lined up against James Taylor before securing the runner-up honours.
In The South Australian Drag Racers Association Super Sedan Gary Baker drove around Darren Russell to grab the win and ultimate round bragging rights. Baker got the night started with a victory over Mitchell Sperrer in round one, before going on to clinch the win over Thomas Parry in the semi-final. Earlier in the night, Russell got the better
of Mark Busscher in round one and Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient Troy David.
In Gallagher Modified, husband-andwife racers Dan and Josie Hodgins faced off in the final round, with Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient Dan Hodgins claiming the win over runner-up Josie.
New Gen Business Park Competition Bike ran the Chicago Shoot Out format this weekend with Adam Rapp and James Low lining up in the final pairing, which would see Rapp go on to take the overall event victory over runner-up Low. To get to the final, Rapp enjoyed wins over Leith Darrach and Top Qualifier Medallion presented by New Gen Business Park recipient Cheryl ‘MsVrod’ Beddoes, however, Rapp was defeated in round one by David Denner. Low, meanwhile, won all three of the night’s earlier match-ups, getting the better of Joe Khoury (round one), Denner (round two), and Darrach (round three).
The non-stop on-track action across the evening also included the NDRC Top Doorslammer season grand final for their 2024/2025 championship season, along with racing for the local Street Car and Street Bike track championships and exhibitions from the Aeroflow Outlaw Nitro Funny Cars, Wheelstanders, and the high-flying High Air FMX show.
In Street Car and Street Bike, Shane Crow and Josh Schuit took the win over runners-up John Zelley and Anthony Long in their respective classes.
In NDRC Top Doorslammer, John Zappia took the event win ahead of runner-up Salim Matta, with the result also seeing Zappia triumph over Lisa Gregorini in the battle for second place in the championship behind champion elect Russell Taylor, who secured the big trophy at the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals in June.
ANDRA thanks the Hidden Valley Drag Racing Association and all of its volunteers and sponsors for an outstanding racetrack and a well-run event.
For full results from Nitro Up North, please visit www.andra.com.au/series/results/
Round two of the 2025/2026 ANDRA Sportsman Series, the Desert Nationals, has delivered no end of midweek thrills at the Alice Springs Inland Dragway on Wednesday September 3.
In an action-packed one-day racing format, competitors from all over the country tackled ASID first for qualifying and then headed into racing as they sought to claim the prestigious ANDRA Christmas Trees for their brackets.
In the fight for the Top Qualifier Medallions, presented by New Gen Business Park, it was Cooper Plummer (New Gen Business Park Junior Drag Bike), Taylor Horton (Junior Dragster), Michael Bridges (Goodyear Racing Super Street), Ian Read (Ballistic Performance Parts Modified Bike), Darren Russell (The South Australian Drag Racers Association Super Sedan), Bradley Hicks (Gallagher Modified), Cheryl ‘MsVrod’ Beddoes (New Gen Business Park Competition Bike), Tommy Turic (Top Sportsman), and
Tim Stewart (New Gen Business Park Supercharged Outlaws) who emerged victorious.
From there it was on to the evening racing, and when all was said and done, it was Aliza Harris (New Gen Business Park Junior Drag Bike), Taylor Horton (Junior Dragster), Neil Mellett (Goodyear Racing Super Street), Bryan Finn (Ballistic Performance Parts Modified Bike), Darren Russell (The South Australian Drag Racers Association Super Sedan), Dan Hodgins (Gallagher Modified), Cheryl ‘MsVrod’ Beddoes (New Gen Business Park Competition Bike), Darryl Stephen (Top Sportsman), and Mark Hunt (New Gen Business Park Supercharged Outlaws) who took out the event wins.
Claiming the runner-up honours were Cooper Plummer (New Gen Business Park Junior Drag Bike), Charlize Grivell (Junior Dragster), Matt Czerny (Goodyear Racing Super Street), Ian Read (Ballistic Performance Parts Modified Bike), Dan
Bader (Gallagher Modified), Joe Khoury (New Gen Business Park Competition Bike), Dean Tassone (Top Sportsman), and Tim Stewart (New Gen Business Park Supercharged Outlaws). There was no runner-up awarded for South Australian Drag Racers Association Super Sedan.
The Ballistic Performance Parts Modified Bike and New Gen Business Park Supercharged Outlaws racers also had an extra reason to smile, with the winners and runners-up enjoying additional rewards as part of the new ANDRA Racer Support Program, thanks to Ballistic Performance Parts and Powerplus Racing Fuels.
In Gallagher Modified, Dan Hodgins –also the President of CADRA, the host club for Desert Nationals – took out his second ANDRA Sportsman Series win in less than a week, backing up his Nitro Up North victory with glory in the Desert Nationals over runner-up, Dan Bader, who was unable to front after finding no
spark in the staging lanes.
On his way to the final, Hodgins had faced off against New Gen Business Park Top Qualifier Bradley Hicks before enjoying a semi-final bye, while Bader had successfully faced off with Josie Hodgins (round one) and Ashley Johnson (round two).
In Ballistic Performance Parts Modified Bike, Bryan Finn took the win over New Gen Business Park Top Qualifier Ian Read. Finn – who also won at Nitro Up North – had earlier taken a win from Dean Gunson in round one ahead of a semifinal bye run, while Read enjoyed a round one solo thanks to his TQ status, before dispatching Jason White in the semis.
Thanks to their efforts, in addition to their event trophies, Finn and Read were also recognised with a $100 and $50 voucher respectively from ANDRA Racer Support Program participant, Ballistic Performance Parts.
In Junior Dragster, it was a highly successful day at the track for Taylor Horton, taking out not only the Top Qualifier Medalion presented by New Gen Business Park, but also the event-winning ANDRA Christmas Tree trophy. Horton took out the win over runner-up, Charlize Grivell, after a round one bye and round two victory over Nitro Up North winner, Cody Hunt. Grivell meanwhile had taken on Lily Horton in the first round, before defeating Angelina Konilis in the semis.
In New Gen Business Park Junior Drag Bike, Aliza Harris took the win over Cooper Plummer – who had earlier in the day laid claim to the Top Qualifier Medallion, thanks to New Gen Business Park. Harris kicked off the racing with a round one victory from Bailey Paul before a semi-final bye run, while Plummer enjoyed his own solo pass in round one before delivering a win over Lawrence Raschella in the semi-final.
At the presentations, Harris and Plummer were presented with not only their trophies, but also a $100 and $50 voucher respectively from ANDRA Racer Support Program participant, Ballistic Performance Parts.
In New Gen Business Park Competition Bike, Top Qualifier Cheryl ‘MsVrod’ Beddoes took the win over Joe Khoury in the final following a Chicago Three-Round
Shootout format which saw her earlier enjoy a bye before wins over James Low and Leith Darrach. Khoury meanwhile had enjoyed wins over Archie Fabian (round one) and James Low (round three) with a bye in round two.
In Goodyear Racing Super Street, Neill Mellett took the win over Matt Czerny, after having earlier put New Gen Business Park Top Qualifier Michael Bridges on the trailer in round one. Czerny meanwhile had earlier successfully taken on David Fendt to advance to the final stand for the bracket in Alice Springs.
In the South Australian Drag Racers Association (SADRA) Super Sedan, Darren Russell walked away with the big trophy after a solo run in the final. In round one, Russell had enjoyed a bye run by virtue of being the New Gen Business Park Top Qualifier, before putting Tommy Parry on the trailer in round two. Parry had earlier defeated Alex Gkroidis in round one to make it to his semi-final match-up against Russell. Vaughne Pope and Nitro Up North winner Gary Baker were both seeded to run with the bracket this weekend, but were both unable to proceed past their first round match-up due to breakages.
In Top Sportsman, Darryl Stephen took out the ANDRA Christmas Tree with a win over Dean Tassone in the final. Earlier in the night, Stephen had taken on defending champ, Leon Davies, in round one, ahead of a bye in the semis. Tassone meanwhile had faced off against Lee Povey in round one before dispatching New Gen Business Park Top Qualifier and Nitro Up North winner, Tommy Turic, in the semis.
racers, with Mick Jury and Ian Andrews – who both top qualified earlier in the day – taking the wins in these brackets over runners-up Walter Naylor and Stephen Vandenberg.
For full results from the Desert Nationals, please click here
ANDRA thanks the Central Australian Drag Racing Association (CADRA) and all of its volunteers and sponsors for an outstanding racetrack and a well-run event.
The next stop for the 2025/2026 ANDRA Sportsman Series is the Atlantic Oils Sunset Strip in Midura, which will host round three on September 20/21 (Sunset Nationals) for all championship brackets, before their Nitro Golf Centre Junior Nationals the next weekend (26-28 September) also sees the Junior racers with an extra opportunity to score points towards their ANDRA Sportsman Series pursuits. For event information, visit www.sunsetstrip.org.au
For more from ANDRA, visit www.andra.com.au
In New Gen Business Park Supercharged Outlaws, Mark Hunt triumphed over runner-up and New Gen Business Park Top Qualifier, Tim Stewart, following a round one win over Paul Stephen. To book his place in the final against Hunt, Stewart had successfully taken on Nitro Up North runner-up Aiden Abel in the first round.
As well as their event winning and runner-up trophies, Hunt and Stewart also received a $100 and $50 fuel voucher respectively for their efforts, thanks to Powerplus Racing Fuels as part of the ANDRA Racer Support program.
Also on track for the Desert Nationals were local Street Car and Street Bike
