FOR most of the spectators that rocked up at Sydney Dragway for the World Fuel Altered Challenge, this was a once-in-alifetime opportunity to see some of the most legendary cars to ever run down the quarter-mile. Of course, being fuel altereds, they usually travel a bit further than 400m as they squirrel and squirm their way to the finish line on short wheelbases powered by nitro-burning blown Hemis. But that’s what makes them so much fun to watch – you never know which way they’re going to go!
With passes in the low sixes at almost 250mph, they were not just there for show, either. In testing, Shane Olive had run a five-second pass in Psycho III, but rumour has it they backed off the tune a bit to give the Yanks a fighting chance.
While the fuel altereds were the star attraction, there was much more to see than just them – both on and off the track. The event was billed as family friendly, with trade stalls and a show ’n’ shine across the top of the grassed terraces.
This was a much better solution than having a spot in the car park; not only could the owners stay close to their cars, but if there was a break in racing, you could go for a wander and check out some truly awesome machinery. There was everything from a ’banger-powered roadster to a perfectly restored 50s Cadillac, with plenty in between.
On track, the main event was a field of 10 fuel altereds, including four that had been flown in from the USA by Graeme Cowin. This was a dream of his, and we’re all very grateful that he made it possible for us to see the cars run on an Aussie track. Having Pure Hell, Rat Trap, Bradford’s Fiat and High Heaven parked up next to each other in the pits was enough for me, but seeing them run down the quarter and do passes in the low sixes was truly a sight to behold. They were joined by two Kiwis: David Gauld in Nitemare and Morice Mcmillin driving Cowin’s Spooky. Sure, the latter is an Aussie car, but the simple application of a silver fern sticker
FUEL ALTEREDS SQUIRREL AND SQUIRM THEIR WAY TO THE FINISH LINE, BUT THAT’S WHAT MAKES THEM SO MUCH FUN TO WATCH – YOU NEVER KNOW WHICH WAY THEY’RE GOING TO GO!
on the body made it Kiwi-as. Berzerk, Chucky’s Toy, Agro, and of course, Psycho III flew the flag for the Aussies, making it a three-nation challenge for the very impressive custom-built trophy.
On top of the fuel altered action, there was a massive field of Vintage Gas cars, plus Wild Bunch, Street Machine and Pro Extreme classes to keep the fans interested between rounds. The Australian Nostalgia Racers crew lived up to their word and gave up their beer money to bring three killer gassers across from NZ: the Lark Ness Monster Studebaker, the Twistin’ Pistons Model A and the Pist ’n’ Broke Henry J. With other entries making their way from Queensland and Victoria, there was a 34-car field of dry-hopping, wheelstanding, bang-shifting gasser madness.
The Pro Extreme class lived up to its name, combining your traditional blown Doorslammers with twin-turbo Pro Mod-style cars and mental rotary and straight-six-powered imports. I’d love to see a bit of variety in the Doorslammer class; I reckon it would bring back some of that brand loyalty that has been missing from motorsports for a long time.
Unfortunately, rain put an end to proceedings a little earlier than planned, but everyone still had a blast and will no doubt be talking about it for years to come. Rumour has it that there’s unfinished business that needs to be settled, so it might be happening all over again next year. Let’s hope the weather gods are a bit friendlier next time around and leave it to the racers to bring the thunder!
ON TOP OF THE FUEL ALTERED ACTION, THERE WAS A MASSIVE FIELD OF VINTAGE GAS CARS, PLUS WILD BUNCH, STREET MACHINE AND PRO EXTREME CLASSES
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If you can’t quite make it out, the lettering across the front of Simon Adrichem’s Mr Shifter FJ gasser says: ‘It’s all about the show’. Damn straight, but if you can go fast while you’re looking bad-arse, all the better. With an injected 489ci big-block Chev and manual trans, the old humpy runs deep into the 10s
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John Rice’s T roadster is named American Graffiti and is about as nostalgic as you can get, with a drag racing history dating back to the late 60s. With an injected 327 Chev up front, the car wheelstands its way to low 9s, but has run as quick as 8.90@150mph! That’s one hell of a brave man
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This ’65 Chev looked like it belonged on the show floor, with its custom leather interior and sweet paintjob, but it popped wheelies and reeled off a bunch of 11sec passes. We might need to create a new class – 11-Second Limo!
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It was far from the quickest, but Paul Schembri’s ’58 Vauxhall Velox gasser was a pretty cool bit of gear. It’s powered by a bog-stock 292 Y-block, and Paul custom-made manifolds to adapt the 6V71 blower and six Holley 94 carbs, beadblasting them to match the finish of the blower 5
If there was a prize for prettiest gasser, I would give it to Ash Hayley’s ’55 Chevy, Haywire, even if it can’t do a wheelie. With its full steel body and glass ’screens, it could probably go on a diet, but still manages to run into the 8s 6
Randy Bradford’s Fiat Topolino was matched up against Spooky from the Cowin stable. I’m not sure who won the race, but I have to say, the Fiat gets extra points for style and handsomeness 7 4
Here’s something you don’t see every day: a hotrodded ’26 Dodge roadster. What you never see is one covered in vinyl. I made the joke that the owner must be a motor trimmer, and whaddaya know, the owner is John Viles, a well-known trimmer from the Central Coast. John said he was inspired by English luxury cars such as Alvis and Bentley 6 5 7
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After coming down from a huge wheelie, Stephen Biggs’ ’56 Chevy gasser developed a bit of a wheel alignment problem thanks to a bent axle. After a bit of persuasion with a bottle jack and some chains, she was good to go a couple of hours later 2
This is what you call a Model A Mono; yep, there’s only one wheel on the ground! I guess it’s one way to save on tyre wear 3
High Heaven was a beautifully presented car and the only altered at the WFAC sporting a big-block Chev rather than a Hemi 4
One of the wildest and best-looking gassers at the event was Bridger Frankland’s FB wagon, which now sports some era-correct signwriting. It put on a great show, with wheels-up launches thanks to its tunnelrammed BBC 5
Mick Sutton’s XL Falcon was one of the coolest Wild Bunch cars present 6
Shane Olive was piloting Psycho III and doing a great job of it. It’s a beautiful re-creation of the original, and looked right at home amongst the legendary US altereds 7
GT Norris brought his Pist ’n’ Broke Henry J gasser across from New Zealand to join in the 7 9 fun. He’s been racing it for 34 years in three different countries, having purchased the car while he was living in Bakersfield, California. He took it back to NZ with him and it’s now raced in Oz. It has run a best of 9.99@132mph with 440 Chrysler power
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It wasn’t all oldschool stuff, with Greg Tsakiridis from Mauler Racing leading the Pro Extreme charge in his twinturbo 8 Pro Line-powered Mustang. He is one of the driving forces behind the class, which is aiming to bring together blown, turbo and import cars to race each other 9
The Banshee Aa/fuel dragster sounded mighty impressive during the cacklefest. Ringing ears and teary eyes were a small price to pay to be so close to such a legendary and beautiful machine
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Ron Hope’s Rat Trap is one of the most-travelled drag cars in history, but its first trip to Australia didn’t go quite as planned. It all went well in testing on Friday, but race day proved a struggle, with a couple or rods deciding they’d had enough 2
The Murina Brothers Corvette is without doubt one of the most gorgeous cars to ever hit an Aussie drag strip. It was racing in the new Pro Extreme class that will mix blown and turbo cars along the lines of Pro Mod in the US 3
Steve Costa definitely won the wheelie competition with his Blaster ’57 Chev. On his first pass he got off the throttle, which made the car come down hard before bouncing up for an impressive double-wheelie! 4
Arguably the most famous fuel altered ever, right up there with Winged Express, is Rich Guasco’s Pure Hell. It suffered transmission gremlins on the second pass, but that didn’t stop the crowd loving every second they got to hear and see it run