Masterton Motorplex Drag Racing

2023/2024

season

Masterton Motorplex

WWW.MASTERTONMOTORPLEX.CO.NZ

Masterton Motorplex just keeps getting better 2022/2023 was the best season for Masterton Motorplex since its purpose-built track was established in 2014, says MMP Chair Bob Wilton.

With bigger crowds than ever, Bob speculates that a lot of spectators were looking for somewhere to go post-lockdown, and decided to check out what drag racing in Wairarapa has to offer.

It was an exciting season of racing that saw Masterton host the 55TH Nationals and local man Dwayne Garret win the New Zealand Championship for the fastest door slammer. There were heaps of personal bests, and a few New Zealand records broken at the track. The big spectator numbers were not just nice to have. They also raised more money for further improvements to the track and its operation.

“It got us to the point where we have been able to start buying machinery to replace or upgrade what we were already using,” says Bob. This includes a large Kubota

tractor which will be used solely for rubbering the track, after MMP board member Steve Carlson kindly lent his for the past eight years.

The board also bought a new purpose-built scrapping machine from Australia, a job that previously had to be done by hand – this was hard physical work which took huge amounts of time and energy. A rubber was also purchased which is towed behind the tractor.

Masterton Motorplex is offering plenty of exciting competitions this coming season.

Dads Drags – “the ultimate street car showdown” – drew big crowds on Father’s Day last year and again this September when it kicked off the 2023/24 MMP calendar.

Test & Tune on November 4 and 5 is an opportunity for drivers and their teams to give their cars a trial run to prep for the big meetings later in the season.

As an added bonus, the Outlaw 71 guys and girls will be racing for early points in their own promotion class competition.

The SmokeFest Burnout Competition on Sunday

CONTENTS

2 3 4 5 6 8 9

Masterton Motorplex just keeps getting better Welcome Fast cars, smoking tyres, and a need for speed There wherever a hand is needed

TEST & TUNE/ OUTLAW 71

4 & 5 NOVEMBER 2023 PROFILE: Paul Sattler PROFILE: Dean Blackburn

2 Masterton Motorplex 2023/2024 Season

11 SMOKEFEST

BURNOUT

19 NOVEMBER 2023 14 NATIONAL DRAG

RACING CHAMPS/ GASSER MADNESS 2 & 3 DECEMBER 2023

16 DRAGSTALGIA/

WILD BUNCH WARS

6 & 7 JANUARY 2024 17 PROFILE: Gary Sinkinson 18 The wild ride continues for this bunch

19 November offers a chance to see some of the best of this sport from the lower North Island in action.

A highlight of the National Drag Racing Champs meeting on December 2 and 3 is the inclusion of Gasser Madness, one of the promotion class competitions that are finding favour with visitors to Masterton Motorplex.

This is followed by the return of Dragstalgia and the Wild Bunch Wars on January 6 and 7.

Last season’s first ever Mayhem In Masterton – The Wild Bunch versus Outlaw 71 – was a huge success and Bob expects the momentum to keep on rolling for this Mastertononly event.

The season will end with the National Drag Racing Championship Grand Finals in all classes on March 16 and 17 2024 when the best and fastest cars in New Zealand will be competing to be best in their class.

So, all in all, the chances are that this may be the best Masterton Motorplex season yet.

19 PROFILE: Mark Gemmell 20 MAYHEM IN

MASTERTON

10 & 11 FEBRUARY 2024 22 NATIONAL

DRAG RACING CHAMPIONSHIP

16 & 17 MARCH 2024 23 Double trouble with Robertson Racing 24 The wild child Wilton Foley Racing 26 PROFILE: Paul Raymakers

WELCOME TO ANOTHER SEASON OF RACING AT MASTERTON MOTORPLEX On behalf of the Members of the Board of Masterton Motorplex and all our hardworking volunteers, I would like to welcome you all to a great season ahead of drag racing at MMP. This is our 26TH year since the start of MMP and ninth year at our own purpose-built track.

We have a great few months of competition coming up with meetings to satisfy lovers of every class of drag racing.

possible without the volunteers, racers and crews who contribute their time and energy out of love for the sport.

I would also like to thank everyone who supports Masterton Motorplex by attending our meetings. Without you, none of this would happen.

Here’s to a great season of racing at Masterton Motorplex.

BOB WILTON Chair Masterton Motorplex

As always, none of this would be

WELCOME FROM MASTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL MAYOR GARY CAFFELL I’m delighted to welcome you to the 2023-2024 season of racing at Masterton Motorplex.

We are very proud of having one of only two purpose-built drag strips in New Zealand.

time to explore the other attractions in the District, from our awardwinning parks to the network of recreation trails.

I’m sure you’ll receive a warm welcome from our community.

Masterton Motorplex meetings are an iconic event, attracting fans from all over New Zealand.

Finally, good luck to all drivers and crews for what I’m sure will be an exciting season!

And there’s plenty more on offer in Masterton. If you’re visiting from out of town, I hope you can find the

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Fast cars, smoking tyres, and a need for speed Over the last year Masterton kindergarten teacher Sheena Given has been bringing speed to the paperwork that even drag racing can’t get away from.

A member of the Masterton Motorplex Board, Sheena’s main responsibility in that capacity has been as Registration Co-ordinator.

“Over the past 18 months the board has been refining the entering and race day signingin process, so that competitors only have to register once at the start of the season, with everything more streamlined, and with less paperwork,” she says.

Sheena got involved with MMP five seasons ago when she moved to Wairarapa to be closer to family.

“I moved here from Tasman. I have always had cars in my life and was just looking for something to do to meet people, and saw on Facebook that Masterton Motorplex was looking for volunteers.”

PHOTO - GLYNN HENDERSON PHOTOGRAPHY

As well as doing all the registration paperwork on Friday evening and Saturday morning at meetings, you will find Sheena anywhere along the track where she can help, often

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as a pit runner under Pit Controller Melissa Osborne. She also enjoys being part of the team of volunteers that make every season happen.

“I like being on the board and knowing what is going on. At the board meetings it’s all about finance, what we can do to improve the track, safety, the next big project.

One of our big goals is building a permanent ablution block in the pit, and we are gradually raising the money for that.

“Fast cars, smoking tyres, a need for speed, and the camaraderie” are what Sheena most enjoys about being involved with Masterton Motorplex. I’ve always been into cars and like being with other people who like cars. It’s a sport, but a different kind of sport. It’s a very social thing. It’s not something you can do on your own. You have to do it with mates and family.”

The only difference between kindergarten and drag racing is the price of the toys for the boys and girls, Sheena says.

“But it still offers the opportunity to get into racing for not much more than the price of entering. The Father’s Day drags is the ultimate time to come out and give it a try.

From there, you can get further into any class, and the sky’s the limit as to how far you want to take it.”

THERE WHEREVER A HAND IS NEEDED Born and bred in Masterton, these days Masterton Motorplex board member Allan Blithe resides in Porirua.

But he remains as committed to MMP as he did when he first joined the board 10 years ago.

Allan had first made acquaintance with the drag strip when it was still at Hood Aerodrome, where he raced his 1923 Ford T bucket in the modified class.

But frustrations after reaching the performance limitations of what was a road registered and WOF’d Hot Rod doing 9 second 1/4 miles at 150MPH, led to selling the car.

Still wanting to be involved though, Allan became the Drivers Rep and joined the Board.

“If it was not for the volunteers there would be no racing. I had enjoyed 10 years of racing so thought I would give something back to the sport and track.

“Since then I’ve been one of the guys doing clean up, driving the broom tractor, helping at the start line - wherever a hand is needed” “There needs to be a representative of MMP at the track overnight during race meetings, so I stay overnight as the ‘watchman’, I suppose.

“I lock the gate, shut off the generator, and am the person to contact if there’s a problem, emergency etc.”

Allan got back into racing again last season with a new Modified class car based on a 1947 Ford Anglia, and is hoping to cure the new car blues and issues this season.

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TEST AND TUNE/OUTLAW 71 | 4 & 5 NOVEMBER 2023

Those unruly Outlaw71s are back again A bonus for anyone who attends the Test and Tune meeting at Masterton Motorplex on the weekend of the 4 and 5 of November will be the presence of the Outlaw 71 promotional class.

Organiser John Shepherd expects 16 cars at Test & Tune, the first of four meetings the class will run at this season. John is hoping for a bit better luck with the weather this season after two of the four were rained out last season.

“At MMP we had 15 cars turn up and had a good meeting. At Meremere we got 10 cars turn up

and got one qualifying round in, and then got rained out.

“At Motueka we had five cars travel down on the ferry, but it rained all weekend so no racing. But we had a great social time with the Southern people.

“At Tokoroa we had eight cars.

It was the first time ever that the Outlaws have been there. It was a great day entertaining the public.

“No records were broken during the season, but Dave Tunnell ran a personal best in his new dragster. “ John estimates that there are up to 25 Outlaw 71 cars that are eligible to run in New Zealand.

“The class is still gathering

momentum, with new cars and builds joining up. And this season we will have six new sponsors.”

The Outlaw 71s will also be appearing at Masterton Motorplex next February 10 and 11 for Mayhem In Masterton – the second year they will be taking on the Wild Bunch.

The Outlaw 71 name stems from the Supercharged Outlaws, with the competition open to cars running any conventional belt-drive type supercharger, typically known as the ‘71’.

Belt-driven Supercharged Outlaws had once been the norm, but as time went on alternative forms of supercharging were introduced such

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as turbo, pro-charger, nitrous oxide and nitro methane.

As time passed, the race fields grew smaller, but Gavin Doughty and Tod Aitken felt the class deserved a revival and got it going again in 2018. Since then, the Outlaw 71s have become a real crowd pleaser.

Superchargers are notoriously hard to control, and the faster they go,

LEFT: Outlaw 71 organiser John Shepherd.

PHOTO - GRAHAM MEIKLEJOHN

the harder they are to control.

The cars have to run faster than 8 seconds, but slower than 6.5 seconds over the quarter mile.

Qualifying is based on reaction time, and the competition uses the DialYour-Own format.

This is where the drivers nominate their own target time and then have to get as close to that as possible.

ABOVE: Gerald Smith.

This ensures the cars are all evenly matched, with the DYO handicap resulting in side-by-side finish line action.

This still incorporates fast actionpacked racing but DYO also tests the skill of the driver and crew to achieve perfect control of their car.

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TEST AND TUNE/OUTLAW 71 | 4 & 5 NOVEMBER 2023 PROFILE

PAUL SATTLER - VINDICATOR

This is Paul’s third year with the Outlaw 71 class.

“This class is similar to the class we were running in the USA, so the car fitted in well. They are a good bunch of people and always a lot of fun, which is what we like.”

Paul’s Outlaw 71 was originally built in 1965 as a Fuel Dragster and was retired in the early 1970s.

“I found the frame hanging in a garage in California. It was a professionally-built chrome moly framed car with its SEMA tag still on the frame.

“I shipped the frame back to New Zealand and spent the next 18 months restoring it, and upgrading it to the latest NHRA (USA) rule book.

PHOTO - RICH WELCH

Paul has been involved with drag racing since the mid-1970s. “I got to run a car competitively in the early 1990s with partnerships in a Model A Coupe, Model A Roadster Altered, Front Engine Dragster and then our own Front Engine Nostalgia Dragster Vindicator which I still run today. I have also built several hot rods over the years.

“We started racing the car in New Zealand about 16 years ago, winning three New Zealand championship titles and many other titles over the years.

“After seven years of racing in New Zealand, we fulfilled a dream and shipped Vindicator back to the USA to race at Nostalgia racing events in California - California Hot Rod Reunions, the prestigious March Meets at Bakersfield, Eagle Field Runway Drags, Nostalgia drags at Barona in San Diego, and a run in the American Nostalgia

Racing Association (ANRA) points series over the summer months at Bakersfield.

“We were also an invited guest to show the car at Ed Iskenderians 97TH birthday bash.

“After a seven year stint in the USA, we shipped Vindicator back to New Zealand and enjoy the events back home. We’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

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PROFILE

DEAN BLACKBURN MAXXED OUT RACING Dean and the Maxxed Out Racing team have been drag racing for 20 years.

“We raced another Altered which we owned from 2003 and sold in 2020 and then had a forced break due to an accident I had.

“Then we bought this Altered last year, changed the colour and had a complete new rear wing built.

“We have the previous owner driving this season as I am still recovering. We raced two meetings

PHOTO - GRAHAM MEIKLEJOHN

at MMP last year and the team quickly came to grips with the new car.

“We have been in Outlaw 71 since its inception because Tod, who is part owner in the car, and Gavin Doughty came up with the idea and started up Outlaw 71. It has been a

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successful class and a lot of fun to be involved in.”

“We ran a best last season of 7.15 seconds at 188 miles per hour.

The motor has been stripped and rebuilt over winter with a couple of small changes.”

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SMOKEFEST BURNOUT | 19 NOVEMBER 2023

Blowing off smoke & steam A burnout is the practice of keeping a vehicle stationary and spinning its wheels, the resultant friction causing the tyres to heat up and smoke.

The origins of burnouts can be traced to drag racing itself, where they have a practical purpose.

Drag racing slicks perform better at higher temperatures, and a burnout is the quickest way to raise tyre temperature immediately prior to a race.

They also clean the tyre of any debris and lay down a layer of rubber by the starting line for better traction. Burnouts eventually became a serious form of competition and entertainment in their own right. Burnout contests are judged on crowd response, with style and attitude being important factors.

One of the leading figures in organising burnout competitions in New Zealand is Masterton Motorplex Board member Brett Kenny.

Brett is organising the Smokefest Burnout Comp on Sunday November 19, 2023, as well as the Hardpark Burnouts on Sunday 21 January 2024 and Rapanats Burnouts on Saturday 30 March

PHOTO - RICH WELCH

Burnouts and drag racing have more in common than just the fact that they both appear in 2023-24 Masterton Motorplex drag racing calendar.

Smokefest organiser Brett Kenny.

2024, all of which will be held on the purpose-built pad at Masterton Motorplex which features a 20 by 40 metre pad with 12 metre long run-in. The Rapanats Burnouts has become one of the most popular burnout competitions in New Zealand. Capped at 60 competitors, last year that number of entries was reached just four hours after going online, Brett says.

Continued on page 12

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SMOKEFEST BURNOUT | 19 NOVEMBER 2023

A burnout enthusiast for many years, before he took up organising competitions, Brett understands what it is like for the competitors who come to Rapanats from all over the country for what is sometimes just a couple of minutes of burnouts.

“We have an open pad for people who didn’t get to the finals to blow off a bit more steam.

Sometimes it feels like that is when the best skids happen because there is no stress and everyone is just having a good time out there.”

PHOTO - GRAHAM MEIKLEJOHN

Continued from page 11

ABOVE: Tim Love.

BELOW: Bryn Playford.

The Smokefest Burnout Comp has a similar spirit, Brett says.

“Smokefest gets a good 40 or so cars from around the lower North Island and is more relaxed and fun – not so much a hard-out competition.”

Smokefest is a good opportunity to give serious burnout competition a go, Brett says. “You’ve got to start somewhere.”

12 Masterton Motorplex 2023/2024 Season

PHOTO - GRAHAM MEIKLEJOHN

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NATIONAL DRAG RACING CHAMPS/GASSER MADNESS | 2 & 3 DECEMBER 2023

Gasser Showdown captures crowd imagination Dave Middlemiss has had a thing about Gassers ever since his mum used to take him along to the drag races when “I was still in my nappies.”

“They are the class I have always been drawn to – they’ve always been the most cool. Even parked up, they look like they’re doing 100mph. ” The Gasser type of hot rod car originated in the United States in the late 1950s and continued until the early 1970s.

Based on closed body production models from the 1930s to mid1960s, they are stripped of extraneous weight and jacked up using a beam axle or tubular axle to provide better weight distribution on acceleration.

NZ Vintage Gas was formed in 2018 with a group of eight Gassers, co-managed by Dave and Craig Mullan with the intention of the class being run by the group itself.

“We had a plan to get together where we could at tracks around New Zealand race against each other and have fun,” recalls Dave.

Running on empty.

PHOTO - GRAHAM MEIKLEJOHN

“We had a basic set of rules adopted from the Aussie Vintage Gassers, a racer return format, and family atmosphere in the pits.”

Masterton Motorplex was the first track to let the group race, at Dragstalgia in 2019.

“It was a great success with spectators and racers alike heading to the side of the track to watch the

Gassers every time we came out to run! We had a blast and knew then that it was going to be possible to continue. And we had a following that was causing a stir in the New Zealand drag racing scene.”

Next was a “NZ Rodder Gasser Wars Reunion Drags” at Tokoroa which drew the biggest crowd that track had seen in years, Dave recalls.

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LEFT: Gasser Co-founder and spokesperson Dave Middlemiss.

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“Nostalgia drags was next and that also went well. Once again the racers as much as the crowd were heading to the side of the track when the Gassers were announced.”

Craig stepping away from the co-management role, members have stepped up to help manage the group together, with Dave Middlemiss remaining as spokesman.

Since then, the number of Gassers has grown to around 60, “with 30 Gassers able to race if we could get them all at the same meeting!”

“We now run a five round points series - still managed by ourselves and still having fun. We enjoy putting on a show for the crowd as much as anything.

With the group growing and

PHOTO - GRAHAM MEIKLEJOHN

“Young fans, old fans, even people who didn’t know what a Gasser was and are now fans, are always welcome in the V/Gas pits.

“There’s a place to hang out, Gasser hero cards, merch and always that family atmosphere.

We are really looking forward to this season’s racing.”

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DRAGSTALGIA/WILD BUNCH WARS | 6 & 7 JANUARY 2024

Let the good times roll Dragstalgia with the Wild Bunch on January 6 and 7 is an opportunity to step back in time for just the price of the entry fee.

Nostalgia drag racing started in the mid-1980s when old racers started racing their front-engine dragsters, funny cars and super stockers again.

The cars raced are a mix of restored originals and recreations of older cars. Normally these types of cars compete in the same categories as everyone else.

Dragstalgia was one of the early promotional classes that got that particular ball rolling, being one of MMP’s most popular meetings of the season before other promotional classes like the Wild Bunch started to steal the limelight, MMP Chair Bob Wilton says.

PHOTO - GRAHAM MEIKLEJOHN

“Dragstalgia is where all sorts of old racer cars can come out, because at this meeting there will be a class for them.

“Often at other meetings there

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simply aren’t enough cars in their class to compete against.

Dragstalgia at MMP is the only opportunity you will get to see some of these cars, because they don’t fit into the classes at other meetings.”

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PROFILE

PHOTO - GRAHAM MEIKLEJOHN

GARY SINKINSON - 1963 CHEVY NOVA Gary hails from Feilding and drives a 1963 Chevy Nova with a supercharged big block chevy on alcohol.

“Our team is called Gazzanova Racing. Our fastest ET to date is a

7.2@198 mph. I have been running the Nova for four seasons with The Wild Bunch. Last season I won two of the three Wild Bunch rounds.”

J.D Shepherd when he viewed and organised the El Camino for me to purchase, which gave me the push to get back out there.”

Gary raced in his early twenties but gave the sport up to raise a family.

Gary ran the El Camino in Super Sedan for four years before acquiring his Chevy Nova.

“I was then conned back into it by

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DRAGSTALGIA/WILD BUNCH WARS | 6 & 7 JANUARY 2024

The wild ride continues for this bunch The momentum that has propelled The Wild Bunch to the forefront of the promotional classes in New Zealand doesn’t seem to have dissipated yet.

“Competitor numbers continue to grow, as does the class’s huge following both on and off track,” says organiser Ryan Sheldon.

“A few new cars debuted or returned, and a bunch of racers ended the season with personal bests.

“Crowds flocked to the races and went away happy with smiles on their faces and that’s all we can ask for. The class saw 25 cars compete across three events last season, and at the start of this season we are now over the 30 mark.”

A huge highlight last season, Ryan says, was the 52-35 demolition of Outlaw 71 at the Mayhem In Masterton event.

Wild Bunch organiser Ryan Sheldon.

“There was a lot of great racing across the two days which was enjoyed by everyone, young and old. Having 37 supercharged cars across the two classes was amazing, and by far and away the most ever seen at an event in New Zealand’s history - that was a pretty cool achievement.”

Was there an overall winner last season?

“I think the sport was the winner with the amazing show put on by all the guys across the season.

“Huge burnouts from the likes of Michael Franklin, Kurt Goodin and Dylan Deboo, with crazy fast numbers on the scoreboard from Tony Marsh and killer consistency from Gary Sinkinson, we had it all, with a few wild rides thrown into the mix.”

This season will see the class at the Wild Bunch Wars at Dragstalgia on January 6 and 7 January, and then returning for the second Mayhem In Masterton on February 10 and 11 where they will again take on the Outlaw 71s.

One of the reasons Ryan thinks the Wild Bunch is attracting more competitors is because the cars are more affordable to race.

“You don’t need to have as big a cheque book.”

For the public the cars are relatable to cars they have may have seen on the streets.

“The look is important, and the crowd can identify with them.

They look like the sort of cars their parents might have driven!”

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PROFILE

MARK GEMMELL - SHADWICK CAMARO Mark’s involvement with racing began in 1981/82 when he competed in a street car race at Meremere with a Vauxhall Victor with 350 Chev.

He later crewed for Mark Holland around 2003/04 and built cars and engines for other competitors for many years.

“In 2009 we bought the Shadwick original Camaro body off Mark Barnsley as he went to a carbon fibre body. I built the current car from 2009-2018 and debut in 2019. “[Wild Bunch organiser] Ryan spotted the car in our first season.

Because the car’s body had a history with the Wild Bunch, he asked us to join.

“I was chuffed but very reluctant, as we had only done a handful of meetings at that point. I also felt it didn’t fit the bill, being an NA car.

“Ryan convinced me otherwise and

we have had a ball over the last few seasons.

“I still feel a bit out of place. We will attempt to fix that in the 2024/25 season with a nitrous bottle.”

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MAYHEM IN MASTERTON | 10 & 11 FEBRUARY 2024

More mayhem coming to Masterton “The Wild Bunch and Outlaw 71 are the showmen and women of our sport,” says Ryan Sheldon, the man behind The Wild Bunch class in New Zealand, which will take on the Outlaw 71s at the second-ever Mayhem In Masterton meeting at Masterton Motorplex on February 10 and 11 2024.

“From huge burnouts to wild outof-control passes, they bring the crowds in the gate with the noise and excitement they create. From easily recognisable passenger-style

door cars that fans can relate to, to crazy looking pure dragcars in altereds, and dragsters.

“The fans love the non-stop action and the accessibility of the cars and drivers, as they are free to roam in the pits and check out the cars while they are getting ready before heading trackside.

“It’s the one event each year everyone comes to and wants to be part of, says John Shepherd, organiser of the Outlaw 71 class.

“And while it may seem serious, behind the scenes everyone pitches in to help each other out, like one big family, and then celebrates, win or lose, with each other afterwards.”

“There is a natural, friendly rivalry

between the two groups as a whole which plays out daily across social media platforms and even more so at the track.”

The format of Mayhem In Masterton will stay the same as last year, which was very successful, John says.

“Although this year we have a few new cars, and hopefully a few wildcards thrown into the mix to spice things up a little. There will be a bunch of interactive crowd stuff too, with T-shirt cannons and kids’ face painting, along with giveaways throughout the weekend.

“Time permitting, at some stage we may look to get all the cars out on track for a display and photoshoot together, which with nearly 40 cars will make for a cool spectacle.”

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20 Masterton Motorplex 2023/2024 Season

PHOTO - GRAHAM MEIKLEJOHN

“There is no individual winner as such. It’s a team-based concept, so every time you beat an opponent you gain a point for your team.

“Two different racing formats will be used. One is heads up racing where both drivers leave together and it’s first to the stripe wins.

The other is Dial Your Own (DYO) racing which basically means you have to nominate your time beforehand and run as close to it as possible without going under it, which makes for some super close finishes.

Come Sunday afternoon, the team with the most points wins the Marsh Motorsport trophy.

PHOTO - GRAHAM MEIKLEJOHN

The two classes will match up as evenly as possible for fast, exciting and close racing, with bragging rights to the winner, says Ryan.

Last season The Wild Bunch came out on top, 52 to 35.

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Masterton Motorplex 2023/2024 Season 21

NATIONAL DRAG RACING CHAMPIONSHIP | 16 & 17 MARCH 2024

New NZDRA Chair Tony van Helmond (left) and MMP Chair Bob Wilton.

PHOTO - DAVE FAM

Wairarapa’s new head of the NZDRA One of the goals of new NZDRA Chair Tony van Helmond is to bring back a bit of a shine to the Joint National Drag Racing Series.

The Joint Nationals sees members of the NZDRA and IHRA competing together in all classes through a series of nine meetings throughout New Zealand.

This enables there to be an undisputed national champion in all the drag racing classes.

It also allows the teams to race against the best in their class, and it is easier for meetings to attract enough entrants in each class so that they can compete.

“There seems to be less of a focus on the national series,” Tony says.

“There are still the same number of cars on the track, but spectator interest seems to have dropped off.”

22 Masterton Motorplex 2023/2024 Season

Tony suspects promotional classes like The Wild Bunch and Outlaw 71 may be stealing a bit of their thunder.

“The promoter classes are doing well. Smaller groups can promote themselves better to increase their appeal, and spectators often feel more of a connection with them.”

These things go in cycles, Tony philosophises, and he says there are plans in the pipeline to raise the profile of the Nationals once more.

Tony is the first Wairarapa person to become Chair of the NZDRA. Like so many figures in the drag racing fraternity, Tony first started following the sport as a teenager in the late 1970s.

A racer back in the day, these days Tony is also one of the Masterton Motorplex board members which he joined about 17 years ago.

He started at MMP helping with scrutineering when meetings were

held at the airfield. Tony is also an NZDRA Tech Inspector, doing safety inspections on all competition cars.

His job on race day is the NZDRA Area Steward whose duties include overseeing, scrutineering, observing license runs, ensuring all rules and safety procedures are followed, carrying out all accident and incident investigations and reports, and generally helping where needed, including track preparation.”

Double trouble with Robertson Racing Robertson Racing are running two cars at Masterton this season. They are: Jason Robertson in “El Chapo” Altered - A Fiat Topolino running in Supercharged Outlaw.

The engine is a supercharged 526ci Hemi which has a best ET of 7.02 seconds over the quarter mile.

El Chapo was previously the Buck and Collett Altered driven by Glen Collett, bought in 2021, which runs in the Super Charged Outlaw and Outlaw 71 classes.

And Jordan Robertson in “Dirty Deeds” dragster - running in Top Alcohol.

Imported into New Zealand in 2018, the car ran in the USA in the Top Dragster class.

Initially, it ran 14-71 supercharger, and ran constant 6.8 second quarter mile times, says Neil Robertson.

PHOTO - GRAHAM MEIKLEJOHN

“We have upgraded many parts on the engine, chassis, transmission, rear end, and supercharger, the reason for this being a horror run in breaking parts. As we have upgraded one part the next weakest component breaks.

“Last season was particularly bad with the car not doing a full pass at all. It’s best time is 6.39 @218 mph.

“Our plan for this season is to ensure car is consistent and reliable, and we hope to be at all the MMP meetings.”

ABOVE: El Chapo.

BELOW: Dirty Deeds.

PHOTO - GRAHAM MEIKLEJOHN Masterton Motorplex 2023/2024 Season 23

NATIONAL DRAG RACING CHAMPIONSHIP | 16 & 17 MARCH 2024

The wild child Wilton Foley Racing Jackson Wilton is heading in to his 11TH year of drag racing.

Starting at just nine years old, Jackson attended a meeting at Masterton Motorplex International Dragstrip and took a liking to the drag bike class.

After talking with different crews, a young Jackson met with Ian Taylor, and the rest is history.

Ian Taylor built the first two junior bikes that Jackson was fortunate enough to ride; one being the 1979 KH 125 Kawasaki - custom chassis.

Jackson went on to win three National championships on his Junior bikes, with plenty of help and awesome mentoring he got along the way from Ian Taylor and Anton Foley.

Once Jackson turned 16 he was on a mission to get his Civil bike and car licence.

It was around the time that NZDRA introduced a new licence level for kids that had been in junior classes, and held a civil leaner licence, allowing them to compete in the Adult classes with a restriction of 13 a second ET (elapsed time).

PHOTO - GRAHAM MEIKLEJOHN

Jackson went on to win his first National championship in the Modified Bike class in 2021 on his 400cc Yamaha when he was just 17 years old.

With his goal to get as much seat time as possible, and turn on the Nitrous bottle, Jackson will be looking to be quicker than his current PB 8.8 sec.

With the will to go faster every season, Jackson rode a few different bikes, and managed to take the runner-up spot in Comp Bike, in the National Drag Racing Championship series for 2022.

With a few more changes planned, and with Jack feeling more confident each race, watch this space for new PB’s, and much more to come in the 2023/2024 season.

This year will be his second season on ‘After Burn’ - a 1990 Suzuki GSXR1100 base engine, with a Kosman chromoly ‘Funny Bike’ chassis, built by Ian Wilkins.

A mechanic based in Masterton, the 20 year old is supported by his super proud mum Hollee Wilton Foley and crew chief Anton Foley.

PHOTO - GRAHAM MEIKLEJOHN

24 Masterton Motorplex 2023/2024 Season

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NATIONAL DRAG RACING CHAMPIONSHIP | 16 & 17 MARCH 2024 PROFILE

PAUL RAYMAKERS - VENOM Wainuiomata’s Paul Raymakers has been racing for the last four seasons after a long break.

Paul re-entered the race scene with a 383 Chev-powered Holden Commodore, but last season raced his current ride – a 1975 Holden Torana.

“I bought the Torana as a roller in which I added my own touch, with my son Jordan over a one year period.”

Running in Super Sedan, the Torana runs a 498 stroked big black Chev, TH 400 transmission and a Ford 9 inch rear end.

“I have run a 9.1 @ 153mph at MMP, but with a few changes for this season, so hope to go a little quicker.

The class I am running in has a good

PHOTO - GRAHAM MEIKLEJOHN

variety of cars, engine combos, and races which I really enjoy.”

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28 Masterton Motorplex 2023/2024 Season