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What a BIG weekend it was in Sydney Australia for the Summernationals, with Round 4 of the ANDRA Top Doorslammer Championship staged, contested and won. A record entry list, killer bump spot of 6.233et, and the top hitters well into the six "O"s ensured some excellent racing.
John Zappia and his Zappia Racing team were kept busy overnight carrying out repairs to the Striker Monaro, after the previous days tyre shake damage. After top qualifying with a 6.040et on qualifier number two, Zap encountered the dreaded tyre shake on launch. "We have not had to deal with much tyre shake on this car because of the combo we run, but it hit us bad for sure" said Zap. "The diff yolk exploded on launch causing damage to the tailshaft, and various components around the area. The team fixed all that overnight, but several gremlins were waiting to surface later in the event due to the shake".
Having worked on the car overnight to replace the diff and tailshaft the crew eventually started the car 25 minutes before being due in the lanes. On shutdown it was noticed that the motor would not turn over for a complete revolution. The crew had a quick look over the car checking diff, gear box, clutch and motor and found it was a mechanical fault in the engine. The crew pulled off the LH rocket cover and noticed the engine had popped a push rod. The crew decided to pull off the head and found a broken stud from the blower was sitting on top of number 1 piston. Luckily there was little damage to the piston and they quickly replaced a slightly bent valve and reassembled the head, manifold and blower. It’s a credit to the team that the crew were able to get the problem fixed in 25 minutes and get the car to the staging lane for the first round elimination against Stuart Bishop.
Zap disposed of rookie Stuart Bishop in Round One with a strong 6.043et @ 236.55mph to the Camaro's 6.180et @ 238.64mph, and considering the drama was a very good result. Zap was now looking forward to facing veteran Gary Phillips in the Semi Finals after Aaron Lynch was shut down on the line.
"What happened next was typical of our style of racing - no holds barred, and never say no." smiled Zap, "As the announcer was calling Top Doorslammers to the staging lanes for the Semi's, the crew were ripping the blower off again! The tyre shake had damaged the blower, manifold and studs. But in typical fashion, the boys thrashed for the second time having to drill out three broken studs and one that needing a helicoil due to stripped threads. We made the race in the nick of time to face up to Gary Phillips"
"Consequently we must have had a slight manifold leak, and the revs were a little high on startup. Staging against Phillips my engine temp was very high - the engine hit hard on launch and took off like a scolded cat. A 3.929et half track time tells you that the car was well and truly on a five second pass, before the blower burst panels went at 1,000ft. I nosed over for the remainder of the run to record a 6.118et @ only 200.65mph, but Phillips pipped me at the post with a 6.118et @ 235.31mph. It was Phillips .033 reaction time that won him the race - the best of the two day event. My .085 reaction time was not slow, just not good enough."
"That is the first burst panel to let go on us in five years with the Whipple, so it was a little disapointing. We had a lot of luck during the event, and unfortunately it just ran out. It would have taken a five to beat Brett Stevens in the final, and I reckon he is onto his set up now. Disapointing for my old mate Victor to miss the cut as well, but at this level of competition the pressure is on and we are right on the limit with these cars."
"We are still in contention for the Championship, and we look forward the Round Five at the Perth Motorplex and get some points back. There is less than 150 points separating the top 6 in the championship and with Brett Stevens getting his combination working so well it will make for some interesting racing over the remaining three rounds. We have done a lot of testing on our home track and hopefully gives us an advantage. Time to bring out the old five second Walt Austin engine!
Detailed run sheets and photos at Zap's Rat - World's Quickest Doorslammer. 5.922et. STRIKER Monaro Top Doorslammer
ANDRA Top Doorslammer Points Table
1 Gary Phillips 340
2 Victor Bray 300
3 John Zappia 273
4 Peter Kapiris 270
5 Steve Stanic 210
6 Brett Stevens 205
7 Ben Bray QLD 165
8 Robin Judd WA 148
9 Aaron Lynch 135
10 Grant O’Rourke 110
Zap pipped at the post in Semi-final
What a BIG weekend it was in Sydney Australia for the Summernationals, with Round 4 of the ANDRA Top Doorslammer Championship staged, contested and won. A record entry list, killer bump spot of 6.233et, and the top hitters well into the six "O"s ensured some excellent racing.
John Zappia and his Zappia Racing team were kept busy overnight carrying out repairs to the Striker Monaro, after the previous days tyre shake damage. After top qualifying with a 6.040et on qualifier number two, Zap encountered the dreaded tyre shake on launch. "We have not had to deal with much tyre shake on this car because of the combo we run, but it hit us bad for sure" said Zap. "The diff yolk exploded on launch causing damage to the tailshaft, and various components around the area. The team fixed all that overnight, but several gremlins were waiting to surface later in the event due to the shake".
Having worked on the car overnight to replace the diff and tailshaft the crew eventually started the car 25 minutes before being due in the lanes. On shutdown it was noticed that the motor would not turn over for a complete revolution. The crew had a quick look over the car checking diff, gear box, clutch and motor and found it was a mechanical fault in the engine. The crew pulled off the LH rocket cover and noticed the engine had popped a push rod. The crew decided to pull off the head and found a broken stud from the blower was sitting on top of number 1 piston. Luckily there was little damage to the piston and they quickly replaced a slightly bent valve and reassembled the head, manifold and blower. It’s a credit to the team that the crew were able to get the problem fixed in 25 minutes and get the car to the staging lane for the first round elimination against Stuart Bishop.
Zap disposed of rookie Stuart Bishop in Round One with a strong 6.043et @ 236.55mph to the Camaro's 6.180et @ 238.64mph, and considering the drama was a very good result. Zap was now looking forward to facing veteran Gary Phillips in the Semi Finals after Aaron Lynch was shut down on the line.
"What happened next was typical of our style of racing - no holds barred, and never say no." smiled Zap, "As the announcer was calling Top Doorslammers to the staging lanes for the Semi's, the crew were ripping the blower off again! The tyre shake had damaged the blower, manifold and studs. But in typical fashion, the boys thrashed for the second time having to drill out three broken studs and one that needing a helicoil due to stripped threads. We made the race in the nick of time to face up to Gary Phillips"
"Consequently we must have had a slight manifold leak, and the revs were a little high on startup. Staging against Phillips my engine temp was very high - the engine hit hard on launch and took off like a scolded cat. A 3.929et half track time tells you that the car was well and truly on a five second pass, before the blower burst panels went at 1,000ft. I nosed over for the remainder of the run to record a 6.118et @ only 200.65mph, but Phillips pipped me at the post with a 6.118et @ 235.31mph. It was Phillips .033 reaction time that won him the race - the best of the two day event. My .085 reaction time was not slow, just not good enough."
"That is the first burst panel to let go on us in five years with the Whipple, so it was a little disapointing. We had a lot of luck during the event, and unfortunately it just ran out. It would have taken a five to beat Brett Stevens in the final, and I reckon he is onto his set up now. Disapointing for my old mate Victor to miss the cut as well, but at this level of competition the pressure is on and we are right on the limit with these cars."
"We are still in contention for the Championship, and we look forward the Round Five at the Perth Motorplex and get some points back. There is less than 150 points separating the top 6 in the championship and with Brett Stevens getting his combination working so well it will make for some interesting racing over the remaining three rounds. We have done a lot of testing on our home track and hopefully gives us an advantage. Time to bring out the old five second Walt Austin engine!
Detailed run sheets and photos at Zap's Rat - World's Quickest Doorslammer. 5.922et. STRIKER Monaro Top Doorslammer
ANDRA Top Doorslammer Points Table
1 Gary Phillips 340
2 Victor Bray 300
3 John Zappia 273
4 Peter Kapiris 270
5 Steve Stanic 210
6 Brett Stevens 205
7 Ben Bray QLD 165
8 Robin Judd WA 148
9 Aaron Lynch 135
10 Grant O’Rourke 110
