SON FOLLOWS IN FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS AT EIGHTH MILE OPENER
17 February 2015
Warwick’s Matty Loy will realise a life-long dream next weekend (Saturday 21 February) when he steps aboard his father’s supercharged Torana for Warwick Dragway’s opening round of the 2015 JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series.
The eighteen year old has been racing for ten years, first in the Junior Dragster ranks – claiming the 2010 JP Racing Eighth Mile Championship and runner-up honours for the Australian title in 2011 – before stepping up to the Modified bracket last year.
Following a successful 2014 which saw the apprentice diesel mechanic take out the Warwick Dragfest, two Queensland Drag Racing Championship events and Easter in the Country, Loy will now take over the driving duties of his father John’s Eighth Mile Outlaws machine for 2015.
“I have been helping maintain and tune dad’s 1977 LX Hatchback Holden Torana, which is powered by a 1500 horsepower supercharged big block chev, for the last few years,” said Matty Loy, who works in the family business, F.G Loy & Sons Earthmoving.
“I am so happy to have the opportunity from Dad to race it – it has always been my dream to race his car, ever since I was a little kid.
“I am very excited to be stepping up to the Eighth Mile Outlaws category, it is a great bracket, combining supercharged, nitrous and turbo sedans and open cars at regional eighth mile tracks, with tight and competitive racing that is still fun.
“I am really looking forward to getting into it, hopefully I can race competitively while aiming for a top five position in the points while racing at some great tracks in Australia – all while having fun of course!” said Loy, who thanks sponsors FG Loy & Sons Earthmoving and Warwick Panel and Paint, as well as his crew including John, Jenny, Brittany, Chris and Alex Loy; Darryl Freeman; Peter Slade, Ross Costello and Mark Herrmann.
Loy’s father John will be taking a break from racing in 2015 to concentrate on his son’s Eighth Mile Outlaws campaign, while also devoting time to the preparation of new car in which he will compete in 2016.
“I am very confident handing the car over to Matty, he is exceptionally passionate about his drag racing and he has always wanted to race the Torana ever since he started out in Junior Dragster,” said John Loy.
“He is already licensed in the car and has had some time in it, and with a good crew around him we are looking forward to the year ahead.
“While there is no racing for me at this stage as I am focus on Matty’s campaign this year, we are working on a new race car for next year – a ’57 Chev – to run in the JP Racing Eighth Mile Series in the Outlaw bracket and also possibly Willowbank Raceway’s new Donnelly Blasting Services QDRC Outlaws category.”
The JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series celebrates grassroots drag racing at some of South East Queensland’s great regional tracks. Kicking off at Warwick Dragway on 21 February, the series will then head to Willowbank Raceway on 25 April for round two. Ironbark Raceway will then host round three on 1 August before the final round gets going at Benaraby Raceway on 26 September 2014.
For more information on the 2015 JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series, including information on rules, how to enter and the points system, please visit to http://www.willowbankraceway.com.au
2015 JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series
DATES
- ROUND ONE – 21 February 2015 Warwick Dragway - Warwick QLD
- ROUND TWO – 25 April 2015 Willowbank Raceway - Willowbank QLD
- ROUND THREE – 01 August 2015 Ironbark Raceway - Roma QLD
- FINAL ROUND – 26 September 2015 Benaraby Dragway – Benaraby QLD
SPONSORS
- JP Racing - Series Sponsor
- FG Loy & Sons - Eighth Mile Outlaws Bracket
- RD Williams Excavator Parts - Modified Bracket
- Ice Slushee - Super Sedan Bracket
- John William Auto Sales - Super Street Bracket
- Queensland Nameplate Group - Modified Bike Bracket
- Diamond T Products - Junior Dragster Bracket
For more information or comment, please contact:
John Winterburn – Series Organiser
Phone: 0408 788 302
Email: jwinterb@bigpond.net.au