NEW Year’s Nitro at Willowbank Raceway loomed as a spectacular show for Top Fuel Australia featuring Top Fuel Dragsters for their first outing at the track in nearly two years.
The anticipation of the event was stellar and the stands were packed ready for two days of action showcasing the sport and the weather was perfect.
By Friday everyone had the shakedown passes, the track was sticky and pulling over 380 nm of torque, which in normal person talk is super sticky, like rip the sole off your shoe sticky.
This helps the cars grip to the track and run the record numbers that we consistently see at Willowbank Raceway.
The cars have an allowance of slip in the clutches so they slowly grip and then lock as the car goes further down the track and the tires that are only inflated to around 8psi have flex in the tire walls and morph into all kinds of shapes as the tire grips to the track under the full lockup in the clutch.
Friday did not disappoint and left the crowd wanting more from all the racers, and it promised to be another exciting day on Saturday.
Saturday, also known as race day, came with perfect weather conditions and everyone hyped for a huge night of racing.
Unfortunately, the event was marred with sadness when we lost a gentleman of the sport of Drag Racing in Sam Fenech.
Sam was one of the most respected and admired racers with over 20 years behind him and thousands of followers worldwide.
Sam was the sort of person that would give you the shirt off your back, the last dollar he had, stay back and miss a flight to make sure the fans had their shirt signed and just go above and beyond for all.
He was foremost a dad, a brother, and a husband and will be missed by not only his family but the entire drag racing community.
We send out our condolences to the family and friends of Sam and pause to reflect and honour him before we roll into a massive year. Vale Sam Fenech #godspeed125
