One direction for street muscle
Drag racing fraternity adapts well to changes as city treated to big display of automotive power on Sunday
They reversed the direction but it didn’t bring the speedometer needles down as the 33rd annual Street Drags for the Wanganui Road Rodders were a blast up Taupo Quay on Sunday.
In a new layout for street racing and burnout fans, the rallying point was moved away from the Heads Rd intersection, from where the vehicles headed south, to further down at the Liffton St intersection and instead racing back north.
Wanganui Auto Wreckers offered their area for pit lane, meaning there was not the dust found in the original location beside the rail tracks, while fans were able to watch the starts and use the Food Stalls in the Bullocks yard.
The new format proved a success for the 65 vehicles entered, just slightly down on 70 from last year.
“A great day,” said co-ordinator Grant Rivers.
“It made for a far [better event]. “We’ve got cars back in the 6s again.”
The Quay’s road has now settled back down since the tar was resealed in 2015.
Back in 2016, the fastest time anyone could manage as just over 7.9 seconds, but Whanganui’s Daren Breuer in his Impala was able to pull down a 6.854s lap, as wheel-spin is slowly becoming less of an issue.
Again, the Cam County Inc Hot Rod Club, who run the Wellington Port Rd Drags, showed up in good numbers to support their sister club.
However, Rivers was pleased to see an increasing number of firsttimers having a go.
“A lot of locals featured in the events,” he said.
“A lot of local cars in general that haven’t raced before.”
Rivers said a big thanks have to go to all the local sponsors, without whom the event could not go ahead.
This year the prestigious Ivan Jones Memorial Trophy for the best performed local went to Arron Wood, who had previously won it in 2015, the last street drags before the resealing.
As well as setting the fastest time
We’ve got cars back in the 6s again.
Grant Rivers
of the day, Breuer also took out the award for Best Presented Car, while David Hickford pulled off the best burnout in his Holden.
It was a good day for the Rivers clan as Nicole was the Fastest Lady award winner in her Mustang, and Adrian had the Fastest Import in his Nissan, although he was beaten in the V8 vs Import Challenge by the 1973 Plymouth Duster of Shaun Graham.
Hastings racer Chris O’Connor brought over his dragster to make a speed demonstration for the fans. ■ Results, more photos, Page 21