Cream of drag racing
Members of the Pegasus Bay Drag Racing Club rate this coming week-end’s drag racing as the most exciting ever in Christchurch. The event is particularly large because at the week-end of March 11 and 12 the Ruapuna Dragstrip will witness the return of the “North Island Invasion” incorporating the 1989 South Island championships. The Pegasus Bay Drag Racing Club in conjunction with 91 Stereo ZM and American Auto Parts will bring together the cream of drag racing in New Zealand. From 160 m.p.h. hot rods; ground-shaking 200 m.p.h. alcohol-burning Funny Cars; fuel-injected 150 m.p.h. Chev Corvettes, awesome Pro-Stock Camaros; drag bikes that can cover the quarter mile in only eight seconds; Top alcohol six second quarter mile dragsters, etc.
A notable return in the Funny Cars section will be the return of John Cole and the 1989 Nationals winner Alan Dunlop. Both cover the quarter mile in only 6.8 seconds at speeds of up to 204 m.p.h. In the Top Alcohol section dragster Eddie Fairbairn will be racing to defend the South Island in his American Auto Parts dragster. Racing him from Auckland is the first appearance of David Bright in his Donovan 417 cubic inch 205 m.p.h. Top Alcohol dragster. The fastest street-driven Hot Rod in Australasia is that of Euan Mark from Shannon. Mark set a new national record of 8.3 seconds at a
top speed of over 160 m.p.h. in his wheel standing AA/Hot Rod. In the altered dragster ranks the influx, is very dominant with a big group of North Islanders, but the number one man is Steve Hildred and his “Nice & Nasty” B/Altered. His beautifully-pre-pared race car is powered by a fuel-injected 350 Chevy. Wellingtonian Dave Green will make his first South Island debut in his 150 m.p.h. Chev Corvette. This robust-looking car,
powered by a big block Chevrolet motor, is currently the national record holder. As a result of the sheer volume of entries it has been necessary to make the event a two-day meeting. On both days it begins at noon with scrutineering. This is followed by practice and qualifying on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday. On Saturday scrutineering takes place for the first two hours with the
second segment of the day from 1.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. Sunday sees the racing start at noon and continue until 5 p.m. Other top North Island competitors are Malcom Price and his 130 m.p.h. Hot Rod; Matt Gibbons and his 426 Hemipowered Plymouth Dart which can cover the quarter mile in only 10.5 seconds.
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Press, 8 March 1989, Page 32
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424Cream of drag racing Press, 8 March 1989, Page 32
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