DEB O’CONNELL
BAROSSA VALLEY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
DEB O’CONNELL didn’t choose the drag-racing life – it chose her. Both her grandfather and father were at the forefront of straightline racing in South Australia, and several family members continue to race today. Yet while Deb’s fate was sealed early on, her dedicated 2002 AU Falcon racer, SONIC, is a fairly recent acquisition.
Racing appears to be a bit of a family affair, Deb?
My brother Peter and cousin Kieley both drag race – it’s great family fun in the pits. My dad Laurie O’connell and my grandpa
Ron O’connell were both part of Brooksfield Dragway; Dad was the chief timekeeper and later raced his Mk1 Cortina, TOP CAT, through to the early 80s. I always loved going fast, including competitive go-karting as a teenager. Then in 1998, I had my first taste of drag racing piloting Dad’s 351ci Clevopowered ZH Fairlane – it was heaps of fun! How did your SONIC AU come into your life?
I raced my hubby Mick’s gorgeous ’69 Mustang at the track a few times, but the stock 302ci Windsor wasn’t as fast as I wanted, plus the racing was putting stress on the car. That’s when we bought SONIC. I wanted a solid body to turn into a cool drag car, and it had to be a Ford – I’m a Ford enthusiast through and through. In 2019, we found this AU in Port Pirie for $1000. At first we kept it stock, including the factory sixcylinder, and my first race eighth-mile was a 10.4@71mph. Next, we added a Toyota SC12 supercharger, which got me down to a 9.5-second eighth.
What’s the driveline these days?
After it blew a head gasket, we swapped to a built Barra with a Yourmiles GTX3584RS turbo; it puts out 414kw [555hp] at the rears on E85. The transmission is a worked BTR with full-manual shift and a 3000rpm stall,
AFTER IT BLEW A HEAD GASKET, WE SWAPPED TO A BUILT BARRA WITH A GTX3584RS TURBO. IT PUTS OUT AT THE REARS ON E85
while the diff remains AU with a mini-spool and 4.1s.
What’s your PB in SONIC?
A 6.46@110mph on the eighth and a 10.29@131mph quarter-mile. Next, we want to improve the 60-foot times without resorting to a transbrake, so maybe we’ll add a little NOS and a Haltech system to allow for tuning at the track. With The Bend strip opening very soon, I’ll have a lot more racing opportunities close to home!
Safe to say you’re having fun, then.
I absolutely love racing SONIC – he’s such a blast. Twice I’ve been runner-up in Street Challenge at Whyalla, plus I made the Ford Nationals semi-finals before the event was rained out. One day, I hope to win a club round, and my big dream is a Christmas tree. For now, I’m focused on having fun, going fast, being consistent on the lights and hopefully getting into the nines very soon. Then I might move into Super Sedan.
Anyone to thank?
My hubby Mick is my number one supporter and my crew chief. Also thanks to Mum and Dad; All Gen Solutions; Sleeka Spares; Bridgestone Golden Grove; Transteer; Altorque Converters; Read’s Mechanical; Gawler Mechanical; and No Prep Performance.
IT’S RUN 6.46@110MPH ON THE EIGHTH AND A 10.29@131MPH QUARTER-MILE. NEXT, MAYBE WE’LL ADD A LITTLE NITROUS AND A HALTECH SYSTEM