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Drag racing back in action at Sunset Strip

Posted on August 26, 2011

READY TO RACE: Sunraysia Drag Racing Association stalwart Kingsley Kuchel is ready to race his new front-engine dragster for the first time on Saturday, September 3. His new dragster is one of a handful of new vehicles set to be unveiled over the coming months.

By BEN PISCIONERI

SUNRAYSIA Drag Racing Association is set to embark on the second half of its 2011 season next weekend with several new vehicles set to make their debut at the Sunset Strip.

The Association’s Kingsley Kuchel said the growth in new vehicles was a positive for the sport in Sunraysia.

He said it would mean not only more vehicles and more competitors at each event, but more for spectators to see given there would be more ‘high end’ cars racing.

“In Modified for example, ex Darren Morgan crew member, David Thornton, is building a Modified Altered that he’s hoping to have going by November,” Kingsley said.

“Also, from the Riverland, we’ve got Josh Voigt, who won the Modified bracket at the Tri Series last year, his older brother just bought another dragster as well, so in the next couple of months we’re going to see a big influx in the higher end classes and new cars.”

Kingsley himself is another driver set to unveil a new car, which will run for the first time in Sunraysia next Saturday, September 3.

The Sunraysia driver, who has been involved with the Sunraysia Drag Racing Association for almost as long as he’s been alive, has just taken delivery of a front-engine dragster from the United States.

Next weekend will not only be the first time the dragster has run in Sunraysia, it will be the first time it’s been raced in Australia.

The 350 cubic inch dragster was consistently running 9.5/9.6-second passes down the quarter mile in the United States, which should see it complete the one-eighth mile in just over six seconds.

While the increase in higher performing cars will be a boon for spectators, the Association is also keen to see the plethora of quick vehicles on Mildura’s streets out at the Sunset Strip.

He said next Saturday’s event would be the perfect opportunity.

“For higher-end competitors it’s a proper test day, but we also like to push the test days as a friendly race day for the younger drivers out there – like a race-your-mates type of day,” Kingsley said.

He said groups of friends could enter their cars and simply race each other throughout the day.

“They won’t necessarily have to race against the clock or much faster cars, they can just race each other all day if they wish,” Kingsley said.

“We’re really encouraging P-plater to come out, get them off the streets, encourage them to come out as a group and have some fun.”

While encouraging new racers to put their cars to the test, Kingsley said the first meeting back after the traditional mid-season break often brought out some of the faster cars.

“Being the second half of the season, a lot of cars get pulled down over the winter, so there’s a dragster coming over from Adelaide and a few other cars, some high-end competition cars, that will be looking to do some testing that have had modifications done over winter,” Kinglsey said.

Gates open next Saturday, September 3, from 8am. Racing starts from 11am.

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