Trio to burn it up
WHEN a Townsville car enthusiast bought a ute well past its glory days with the idea to do it up, little did he know it would lead him to competing at the pinnacle of car festivals.
The 1978 Suzuki ute Jay Chun-tie restored for his Tidy Towing business has become a burnout sensation, which saw him hit the podium at the recent Red Centre NATS in the Alice.
Not only did Chun-tie finish second overall, he received a golden ticket to compete at Summernats in Canberra, which will see him compete against the best in January.
Reflecting on the five-year journey, Chun-tie was blown away by his success.
“It (ute) was originally built 20 years ago locally in Townsville. I saw it when I was younger, then to see it for sale 15 years later, I purchased it and wanted to get it back up to its former glory,” he said.
“We went (Red Centre NATS) last year for the first time and qualified into masters and finished fourth overall, which missed a ticket to Summernats.
“This year we qualified top five for a chance to step up to masters and came away with second overall.” Making the achievement all the more satisfying is the fact that ChunTie’s sister Lateisha in her bright pink VH Commodore fittingly named “Party Time” also qualified, as did fellow Townsville burnout master Casey Tolcher in his blue VK Commodore known as “HiRi2k” (pronounced high risk).
“We travelled up as a group (representing Townsville business LG Automotive and Dyno), and Red Centre NATS is unique because the Government’s on side with it, so they allow unregistered cars to get a temporary permit to drive on the road,” Chun-tie said.
“So it was an awesome opportunity for us to go cruising with family and friends.
“Lateisha had a good weekend and came second in the Burnout Championships, which also won her a ticket into masters at Summernats, so she’s got a ticket and I’ve got a ticket.
“Casey won the Burnout Championships and got a ticket to Summernats in the masters.
“So three of us from Townsville have a ticket into masters at Summernats and that’s about 10 per cent of the field.”
Chun-tie’s ute, equipped with an extended wheel base and mid-mount purposebuilt V8 exposed rear motor, puts out about 350 horse power.
Looking towards January when he takes to the big stage in the nation’s capital, ChunTie said he won’t “change too much” and expected things to be business as usual for his preparation and approach as he prepares to burn rubber while trying to avoid hitting walls surrounded by smoke.
Chun-tie said he was surprised by his ute, but would enjoy the ride while it lasts.
“It’s (ute) been together for three years. It surprised me more than anyone that its still together.”