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John Zappia celebrates 23 years of sportsman drag racing this year, grounded in hard work, innovative engineering and wild driving that has earnt him cult status in Australia, and numerous World Records in the process. This week Zap formally announces his move to full time professional drag racing status in Australia due to new agreements secured with naming rights sponsors Striker Crushing and Screening, who have substantially increased their involvement in the team and drag racing.
Zappia Racing will move out of the "back garage" at Zap's home to brand new state of the art premises in Perth Western Australia, where the team will expand to a two car Top Doorslammer team and build a solid foundation for their professional and business endeavours of the future. The World Record holding Zap's Rat HQ Monaro will be duplicated, and licensed by Zap before handing over to rookie Top Doorslammer driver Craig Pedley, owner of Striker Crushing and Screening.
"I am very excited about the new developments" said a jubilant Zap this week, "But nervous as well. We have a long history operating from home, with our sportsman racing and blue-collar roots, but the opportunities with television and serious sponsorship backing have presented themselves right now, and we are going to give it a go. For years we watched Victor Bray here in Australia get significant sponsorship that enabled him to go on and win six Australian Top Doorslammer Championships, but we never thought it was possible for us to do the same. We now know that is possible thanks to Striker."
Striker Crushing and Screening are a manufacturer of large mining equipment, and have enjoyed significant success in business internationally. The recent resources boom in Western Australia has contributed to the success, and given the company the opportunity to support a local hero in John Zappia, and help realise some personal dreams for the Directors in the process.
"Like many West Australians growing up, I was a John Zappia fan at the old Ravenswood Dragstrip south of Perth." said Striker Director Craig Pedley, "He was such an inspiration to us all, sticking a funny car engine in a super stock car and running sevens and then sixes with such spectacular wild driving. Secretly I held a dream to one day do the same, and thanks to our success in business we are proud to extend our involvement in drag racing and Zappia Racing."
Zappia Racing have commissioned Sydney chassis builder Craig Burns of SCF Race Cars to build the chassis of the second HQ Top Doorslammer, after Zap visited their premises during racing at WSID this season. Craig is new to Top Doorslammer chassis building, but has experience building and setting up some hard hitting six second new technology cars in Australia, and has a solid knowledge of Doorslammer setups that aligns with Zap's chassis development knowledge gained in association with Santhuff. The chassis will be sent back to the new Zappia Racing premises in Perth, where a new carbon fibre body developed with the assistance of local aviation sponsors will be fitted, then all the trademark Zappia Racing technology will be fitted.
"The new car will be identical to the old both mechanically and in body shape, but with carbon fibre composite materials. We are proud of our tin top body, but it took a lot of work to produce, and is difficult to reproduce and repair. We expect the new car to be a five second car as well, and will eventually be very competitive in the Australian Top Doorslammer Championship" said Zap.
"Craig will undertake training in drag racing with local street meet appearances, training at Ken Lowe's school at Willowbank Raceway in Brisbane, and Top Alcohol licensing at Frank Hawley's drag racing school in Florida USA, before stepping into the new Striker Top Doorslammer. I will license the new car at local Kwinana Motorplex meetings, applying all the knowledge from our four year testing program on the original car."
"Drag Racing is on the cusp of some exciting exposure in Australia, and represents good value for money for our investment." commented Craig Pedley, "With the upcoming television coverage and depth of experience with Zappia Racing, we feel we have a solid future at the top of Group 1 racing here in Australia, and our staff and clients love the involvement and follow the team enthusiastically."
The new developments mark the second major step in John Zappia's drag racing career, after Rentco Transport Equipment Rentals Pty Ltd Managing Director Bob Shier came on as Naming Rights Sponsors in Feb 2005 helping launch Zap's Rat into the National Australian Top Doorslammer Championship. Rentco continues to support Zappia Racing with their Major Sponsorship package.
Zappia Racing are currently developing a range of new sponsorship packages to take advantage of the two car team, and recently released television coverage plans for next season by the Australian Drag Racing Association and other stakeholders in Australian drag racing.
HARD WORK PAYS OFF FOR ZAP AS TEAM EXPANDS
John Zappia celebrates 23 years of sportsman drag racing this year, grounded in hard work, innovative engineering and wild driving that has earnt him cult status in Australia, and numerous World Records in the process. This week Zap formally announces his move to full time professional drag racing status in Australia due to new agreements secured with naming rights sponsors Striker Crushing and Screening, who have substantially increased their involvement in the team and drag racing.
Zappia Racing will move out of the "back garage" at Zap's home to brand new state of the art premises in Perth Western Australia, where the team will expand to a two car Top Doorslammer team and build a solid foundation for their professional and business endeavours of the future. The World Record holding Zap's Rat HQ Monaro will be duplicated, and licensed by Zap before handing over to rookie Top Doorslammer driver Craig Pedley, owner of Striker Crushing and Screening.
"I am very excited about the new developments" said a jubilant Zap this week, "But nervous as well. We have a long history operating from home, with our sportsman racing and blue-collar roots, but the opportunities with television and serious sponsorship backing have presented themselves right now, and we are going to give it a go. For years we watched Victor Bray here in Australia get significant sponsorship that enabled him to go on and win six Australian Top Doorslammer Championships, but we never thought it was possible for us to do the same. We now know that is possible thanks to Striker."
Striker Crushing and Screening are a manufacturer of large mining equipment, and have enjoyed significant success in business internationally. The recent resources boom in Western Australia has contributed to the success, and given the company the opportunity to support a local hero in John Zappia, and help realise some personal dreams for the Directors in the process.
"Like many West Australians growing up, I was a John Zappia fan at the old Ravenswood Dragstrip south of Perth." said Striker Director Craig Pedley, "He was such an inspiration to us all, sticking a funny car engine in a super stock car and running sevens and then sixes with such spectacular wild driving. Secretly I held a dream to one day do the same, and thanks to our success in business we are proud to extend our involvement in drag racing and Zappia Racing."
Zappia Racing have commissioned Sydney chassis builder Craig Burns of SCF Race Cars to build the chassis of the second HQ Top Doorslammer, after Zap visited their premises during racing at WSID this season. Craig is new to Top Doorslammer chassis building, but has experience building and setting up some hard hitting six second new technology cars in Australia, and has a solid knowledge of Doorslammer setups that aligns with Zap's chassis development knowledge gained in association with Santhuff. The chassis will be sent back to the new Zappia Racing premises in Perth, where a new carbon fibre body developed with the assistance of local aviation sponsors will be fitted, then all the trademark Zappia Racing technology will be fitted.
"The new car will be identical to the old both mechanically and in body shape, but with carbon fibre composite materials. We are proud of our tin top body, but it took a lot of work to produce, and is difficult to reproduce and repair. We expect the new car to be a five second car as well, and will eventually be very competitive in the Australian Top Doorslammer Championship" said Zap.
"Craig will undertake training in drag racing with local street meet appearances, training at Ken Lowe's school at Willowbank Raceway in Brisbane, and Top Alcohol licensing at Frank Hawley's drag racing school in Florida USA, before stepping into the new Striker Top Doorslammer. I will license the new car at local Kwinana Motorplex meetings, applying all the knowledge from our four year testing program on the original car."
"Drag Racing is on the cusp of some exciting exposure in Australia, and represents good value for money for our investment." commented Craig Pedley, "With the upcoming television coverage and depth of experience with Zappia Racing, we feel we have a solid future at the top of Group 1 racing here in Australia, and our staff and clients love the involvement and follow the team enthusiastically."
The new developments mark the second major step in John Zappia's drag racing career, after Rentco Transport Equipment Rentals Pty Ltd Managing Director Bob Shier came on as Naming Rights Sponsors in Feb 2005 helping launch Zap's Rat into the National Australian Top Doorslammer Championship. Rentco continues to support Zappia Racing with their Major Sponsorship package.
Zappia Racing are currently developing a range of new sponsorship packages to take advantage of the two car team, and recently released television coverage plans for next season by the Australian Drag Racing Association and other stakeholders in Australian drag racing.
