Local Top Fuel racer Steve Read may have been involved in a 300 mph crash when his throttle stuck open while competing in Sydney just 11 days ago, but that won’t stop him competing at this weekends Spring Top Fuel Championships at home-track Willowbank Raceway.
Due to the safety features of these sophisticated racing machines, Read not only survived but almost without a scratch - with a fractured pinky finger all the damage that was done, although the same could not be said for the dragster.
With a Top Fuel racer on loan from Sydney’s Santo Rapisarda, Read is currently on-route back from Sydney with the borrowed dragster which he will prepare for the Event which will run this Friday and Saturday.
“These cars are built extremely strong, and have all of the best safety gear and everything did exactly as it was supposed to do,” said Read following the incident.
“With my experience in racing I was able not to panic, instead dealing with the situation to minimize the damage and use the crumple zone of 15 foot of car you have in front to take the impact which is what I did.
“I have been racing for 38 years, and that is the worst incident I have had, but the race car is built in a way to protect you and this just shows you that the safety elements in this sport are doing their job.”
The throttle on Read’s Top Fuel dragster jammed open during qualifying at Sydney’s Fuchs Australian Nationals on September 13, seeing it hurtle at over 480 kilometres per hour down the quarter-mile strip, fly through the air after hitting the sand trap, travel through the catch net and the tyre wall before coming to a stop when it hit the embankment behind the tyre wall.
Read estimates that his dragster, in the space of 7.45 seconds, traveled two standard drag strips (half a mile) and went from what he believes to have been close to top speed to a stop in less than four feet when it finally came to rest on the embankment.
The Spring Top Fuel Championships also host Top Alcohol, Top Bike and Pro Stock this weekend, while kicking off a new season for Queensland drag racing which will feature a bumper five major Professional Group One events, including the return of the International Nightfire New Year Series with two nitro spectaculars in January.
EVENT INFO: 2008 Spring Top Fuel Championships featuring the Top Fuel, Top Alcohol, Top Bike and Pro Stock Professional brackets – September 26-27, 2008
Other racing includes: Sportsman brackets - Competition, Super Stock, Competition Bike, Super Compact, Supercharged Outlaws, Modified, Modified Bike, Super Sedan, Super Street, Junior Dragster and Super Gas.
Ticketing: All ticket prices include paddock admission
You can now pre-purchase your tickets online – www.willowbank-raceway.com.au
2 Day Adult Admission Pass (26th and 27th September 2008) - Pre Purchase Only - $70.00
2 Day Student Admission Pass - MUST show ID (26th and 27th September 2008) - Pre Purchase Only - $50.00
Friday 26th September Bendigo Bank Adrenalin Club Pass - $60.00
Friday 26th September - Adult Admission Pass - $35.00
Friday 26th September - Student Admission Pass - MUST show ID - $25.00
Saturday 27th September Bendigo Bank Adrenalin Club Pass - $75.00
Saturday 27th September - Adult Admission Pass - $40.00
Saturday 27th September - Student Admission Pass - MUST show ID - $30.00
Saturday 27th September - Startline Club Seat - Price Excludes Admission - $14.00
Children 13 & under are admitted FREE
Schedule
Friday
Gates open at 8am
Sportsman Qualifying from 5.30pm
Professional Qualifying 6.30pm and 9pm
Saturday
Gates Open at 8am
Final Sportsman Qualifying from 10am
Final Professional Qualifying from 2pm
Sportsman Racing from 3pm
Professional Racing 5.30pm, 7.30pm and 9.30pm
TRACK LOCATION
Willowbank Raceway
Champions Way (off Cunningham Highway 5km past the Rosewood turnoff)
Willowbank QLD 4307
