DANIEL SZABOLICS
DANIEL Szabolics’s epic twin-turbo big-block HQ Monaro broke the Street Machine Drag Challenge ET and MPH records twice on Day One of DC 2019, knocking out two epic 7.35@197mph passes to pip the previous record set by Frank Marchese at Swan Hill in 2018. “That was unreal; I’m still shaking a bit,” said Daniel back in the pits after his first pass. “I had to steer it through the top end, as the track was a bit challenging today at 197mph. I think I actually pedalled it, so Frank will probably yell at me once he sees the log.”
Powered by a Dandy Engines-built Dart Big M 632ci tall-deck big-block, the HQ uses twin 94mm Precision Pro Mod turbos to make over 2500hp at the hubs on 28psi, controlled by a Fueltech ECU. Sucking methanol at the track and pump fuel on the street, the 3800lb monster is all steel apart from the fibreglass reverse-cowl bonnet, and retains a full interior.
The 275 radials out back meant Daniel found himself leading the ultra-competitive Haltech Radial Blown class at the end of Day One, before the long drive to Mildura via Swan Hill rounded out the first day of competition.
Day Two and Three’s Sunset Strip in Mildura and Day Four’s South Coast Raceway in Portland proved to be less fertile hunting grounds for the big silver coupe, with its set-up favouring full-length quarter-mile tracks rather than the half-distance eighth-miles. Still, Daniel put on a hell of a show, running 5.29@134mph on Day Two, 5.17@139mph on Day Three, and 5.58@130mph on Day Four to stay in the lead of Haltech Radial Blown.
Sitting third Overall coming into Day Five at Calder Park, Daniel was keen to push hard and try to overtake Brendan Cherry for second outright. “The weather was just against us, really,” he sighed on Friday. “We’d get the car into stage ready to make a pass; then it would rain and we’d have to wait. That gets the ’box and converter hot, which isn’t a way to run fast times.” The 7.48@189mph he eventually ran was blisteringly quick, but wasn’t quite enough on a day where most blown cars set PB times.
Still, at his first attempt, Daniel finished DC 2019 third Overall and on top of Haltech Radial Blown, scored a Seven-second Club red hat, took the Quickest ET and Fastest MPH trophies, and got one of the most coveted awards: the Spirit Of Drag Challenge. Giving up a rocker arm to a guy who could ultimately beat you isn’t a ticket to winning many events, but it is a great way to win everyone’s respect, and Daniel gifting Harry Haig a rocker so he could stay in the game shows what a killer event DC is.