$1000 Mega Shoot Out - (23/09/06)

A Fiery Start to Steel City ’s Racing Season   

             Steel City Drag Club started their season with a field of top quality racing, with Whyalla locals the victors on the night.  The headline bracket was a Shoot Out for a $1000 with 14 entry’s supported by 17 entry’s in a Street Car challenge that had a no quicker than 7.7 seconds for the 1/8^th mile track and a 8 bike field in the bike challenge.

The shoot out it was the altered of Bill Honan that lead the qualifying over the Dodge Challenger Super Sedan of Graham Shiell with a welcome return to racing of Bob Sherry in his trusty VN Commodore sitting in 10 position and Matthew Loller in the FC Holden Ute in the 13^th bump spot. Scott Hubner had the crowd on its feet when just after leaving the start line on a qualifying run a fire started in the engine bay of the borrowed WB Holden Ute. By mid track the flames were exiting under the rear of the car. When the car stopped in the braking area Port Lincoln ’s Shane Woods assisted in containing the fire with a fire extinguisher. The damage was minimal and did not stop Hubner racing as he was able to carry on competing after minor repairs in the pits. Anne Jones in her immaculate HR Ute made her way to the finals by a breaking out Scott Hubner in the first round then it was the top qualifier Bill Honen turn to break out to allow Jones to the semis. Mick Ainsworth’s Holden HQ was the next to fall with a close 7.53 to the winning run of 7.57 run for Jones. The FC Holden Ute of Matthew Loller made his march to the finals by a red lighting Matt Dickeson, the second round was the Holden HX of Lance Larcombe to fall to Loller. In the Semis Loller put a end to the first time racer Barry Jackson’s Chev powered Torana effort. It was a all early Holden Ute final with Matthew Loller’s FC coming out the victor over Anne Jones HR.

Matthew Loller

Barry Jackson

Hernan Tosti

      In the SA Street Car Challenge the fields was turned into two round robins and the winners facing each other in the finals Bracket A it was Shane Peters in the HQ Holden Monaro up against 460ci powered XY Ford of Terry Hoskins with Peters 7.89 the semis winner from Bracket A. In Bracket B after a few run offs to see whom got the semi berths it was Marion Rix in her late model Corvette up against the XC Falcon of Darren Murich and the Corvette of Rix going to the finals with a 8.08 run to Murich’s 8.88 losing time slip. The Final it was a victory to the girls with Marion ’s Vette taking the win over the half second off pace from Shane Peters Monaro.

Shane Peters

  The bike bracket it was Chris Bernard on his Kawaski into the finals with 3 from 3 wins but it was a major fight for the second final position with 4 riders all on 2 wins. Kieren Belamarie on his 600cc Suzuki coming out the victor of the semi finals show down but was unable to turn it into a finals win with Chris Bernard taking the win in the finals.  

Garry Busch had the Sundowner Hotel sponsored A1 Racing Camaro Funny Car owned by Greg Brown out for some exhibition runs. He almost reset the track record which Greg Brown set in May with this car. Michelle Donnelly came with her Junior Dragster to get more track time. Unfortunately Michelle had no one to compete against and was limited to solo runs. 

     The Next race meeting for the Whyalla track on the 9^th of December for a $3000 Mega Shoot Out held over two meetings. Supporting the Shoot Out will be the SA Street Car Challenge and the SA Bike Challenge