BIGGEST EVER QDRC SHOWING PROVIDES PERFECT PRECURSOR TO FINALE
13 October 2014
The penultimate round of the 2014 Queensland Drag Racing Championship (QDRC) at Willowbank Raceway – held on Saturday 11 October – was the biggest of its kind at Willowbank Raceway with 143 racers taking part.
Willowbank Raceway CEO Tony Manson said the venue’s management was pleased to see the QDRC going from strength to strength.
“This year we have made some changes to how we run this kind of event at the Raceway and the racers have responded enthusiastically, and this has certainly been demonstrated by the amazing support for the weekend’s penultimate round of the season,” said Manson.
“With entry lists like that seen at the weekend combined with the great racing we are used to from these racers, we are expecting the QDRC finale on 15 November to be absolutely fantastic.”
Taking victory at the weekend were Daryn Schuster (QDRC Comp Bike), Jake Donnelly (Donnelly Blasting Services QDRC Outlaws), Rob Harrington (Knijff Earthmoving Modified), Neil Maxwell (Powercruise Super Sedan), Mitchell Bauer (Prime Signs/Speed Elec Super Street), Paul De Roo (Modified Bike), Dale Duffy (Junior Dragster) and David Gauldie (Super Gas) brackets on Saturday 11 October.
Nineteen year old apprentice diesel fitter Donnelly found himself in a tight final race against Chris Van’t Hof for the win of the Donnelly Blasting Services QDRC Outlaws bracket.
“We qualified second behind Kate Harker with a 6.62 second pass, with the car running consistently through qualifying,” said the Tamborine resident, who thanks his parents Jason and Hayley Donnelly, his crew, Luke and Toby of M2 Motorsport, and the Willowbank staff and officials.
“In the first round we raced Bevin Buckby and got the ‘holeshot’ against him to take the win, before the second round was a bye for us where we ran the car out the back door with a 6.61 second pass on a 6.60 second dial-in. We then came up against Chris Van’t Hof in the final in what was a close race, and we ran a perfect 6.600 second pass on a 6.60 dial in – we were pretty happy with that to say the least!
“It is always good to have a win, especially racing against many of these tough competitors that are competing in the QDRC Outlaws bracket, for instance it was a tight race with Chris Van’t Hof and it could have easily gone the other way.
“The final should be a good meet, with the elimination format in play it will be tough, but I can’t wait for it – it will be a great end to an awesome season, I am loving the Outlaws bracket and the introduction of the turbo and nitrous cars and the (removal of the) 6.50 second cut-off which has brought out some fast cars!”
48 year old Gauldie of Kallangur felt very lucky to be in the Super Gas final, and came away with the Super Gas points lead by just one point from good friend Simon Isherwood.
“We were very lucky to be in the final because we only had two wins and got it by just 0.001 of a second,” said Gauldie, who thanks his wife Stacey, kids Cameron and Kristin, Village Motors Petrie, Matt’s Performance Paintshop, Zok Race Cars, Neptune’s Pool Care and also good friend Simon Isherwood for all of their help and support.
“Once we were in the final I knew I had to try very hard to cut a good light, because my last two hadn’t been very good by my standards and I had to keep myself in touch with Simon (Isherwood) who was leading at the time.
“This format is great, giving everyone plenty of close racing and it keeps it very close so you have to be on your game every time you go out on the track. Simon and myself have been battling all year and with both of us not getting our way throughout the year it has been a very competitive season.
“It now comes down to the final round, which seems fitting for such a competitive bracket!”
The final round for the 2014 QDRC will hit Willowbank Raceway on Saturday 15 November, hosting the QDRC SuperComp, QDRC Comp Bike, Donnelly Blasting Services QDRC Outlaws, Knijff Earthmoving Modified, Powercruise Super Sedan, Prime Signs/Speed Elec Super Street, Modified Bike, Junior Dragster and Super Gas brackets. Gates will open at 7.00am, with qualifying from 10.00am and racing from 4.00pm. For the latest information, please click here.
Before then however, Willowbank Raceway’s Street Series will hold its own finals, with the top eight of the Powder Puff bracket to have their finals shootout first on the evening of Wednesday 22 October as part of the Test n Tune event, followed by the shootouts for the Street Sedan and Street Bike brackets on Saturday 25 October as part of the Test n Tune event scheduled for that day. For full info, please click here.
Willowbank Raceway is Queensland’s premier drag racing facility, located 45 minutes from Brisbane or just a short drive from Ipswich, offering a year-round program of events for the entire family. For more information including a full event calendar, please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au