> ARBY CHAT

SASSY MACHINE

VICTORIAN Mark Sass is in the final stages of modifying his VT Berlina in preparation for this year’s Street Machine Drag Challenge. The car is running a 427ci LS with a big Vortech V-28 112 blower off the front of the crank, backed by a TH400 and a nine-inch rear end with a four-link.

“The biggest challenge has been running the front-mount blower and keeping it streetable,” Mark said. “We don’t want to cut the car up; it still has the original K-frame, stock rails, no rear intercooler set-up and we have left the firewall stock.

“On 28psi boost it’s now showing 1300hp at the tyres, but the motor is capable of holding 35-40psi.”

In recent testing the car went 8.70@160mph on it first pass. Unfortunately, it ended up in the sand trap on the second pass, so it was back on the trailer.

“We have a long way to go, but we have designed this car purely to succeed at Drag Challenge and look forward to getting it there,” Mark said. “I want to run a seven.”

MAN ON A MISSION

EARLY testing at the Brisbane Jamboree saw Victorian Steve Bezzina’s 481X Pro Line-powered XW Falcon stop the clocks with a 7.03@210mph. That kind of trap speed on a 275 tyre in a basically stock-rear-end Falcon on leaf springs is one hell of an achievement.

“Obviously we’re here to run a six, but we are having some issues planting the power,” said chassis builder Joe Gauci. “On the first pass Steve got off it at 4.5sec, got back on until 6sec and got out of it.”

A loose fuel fitting saw the engine go lean on that pass, which damaged the head. This was replaced and the block repaired, ready to run the next day. Unfortunately the rain beat them, but a six-second pass can’t be far away for this weapon.

GRATZ FINDS FORM

AFTER hurting a fuel pump in the third round of the Winternationals in his Psi-equipped, Brad Anderson Hemi-powered Studebaker, Peter Gratz was back at the Jamboree to try and capitalise on the great track.

After running 6.45 and then 6.451 on a 6.39 dial-in at the Winters, the car was already hauling, but the tall first and second gear ratios in the Lenco were killing the 60ft and 660ft times. Ace tuner Gary Phillips was on the job, and after some ratio and fuel changes, Gratz managed a PB of 6.29@230mph.

“The car is heavy – around 2900lb,” Peter said. “A lighter car may be on the drawing board shortly by mix-and-matching some spares, but for now we will just keep chipping away at it.”

TAREE DRAGS

THE Mid-coast Council has approved an application to hold drag racing events at Taree Airport. The plan is to hold single-day events four times a year commencing early 2019. The events will be aimed at providing a safe alternative for young enthusiasts to use their car or bike off the streets. Racing will be a test ’n’ tune followed by DYO bracket racing over the eighth-mile, and to start with will be for streetregistered vehicles only; however, this may be reviewed over the long term depending on suitability of venue, safety and council requirements.

Stay tuned for more on this exciting development.