Perth Motorplex | WESTERNATIONALS GOLD!

The stage was set for a epic Westernationals at the Perth Motorplex with 187 racers facing the starter of the Labour Day Long Weekend. The event hosted not only the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series but also Top Doorslammer and Top Fuel Motorcycle competitors who battled it out for the inaugural West Coast Challenge Title. On top of all this 6 WA Top Alcohol teams put on an awesome exhibition of side by side 5 second passes over 6 exciting rounds!

11 brackets had a prestigious ANDRA Gold Christmas Tree up for grabs for their winning efforts. Sunday night fans witnessed the triumph for the below competitors, but like all good challenges comes fellow racers chasing victory also.

WA Top Alcohol – Best Reaction - Aaron Deery

WA Top Alcohol racers showcased 6 rounds of exhibition for a good cause over the long weekend, putting it all on the line for the best reaction time to raise money for their chosen charity and of course bragging rights! Aaron Deery was the front runner from the start and “Double-O Deery” lived up to his reputation with a stellar 0.012 to take it out!!!. All 6 teams chose a charity of choice to donate funds to, Camp Quality will receive over $1200 thanks to the efforts from the WA Top Alcohol teams and race fans.

Top Doorslammer - Daniel Gregorini – John Zappia (Runner-up)

Daniel Gregorini used a holeshot advantage to win to take home the Gold in the Final over John Zappia with 5.756 at 405.26 km/h managing to stay ahead of Zappia’s 5.753 at 406.35 km/h.

“This is so awesome and it is so good that ANDRA have looked after us and brought the meeting back. It was great to have it in Perth, and it is good to beat the champ” Gregorini exclaimed.

“It was my wife’s birthday on Wednesday and I asked her what she wanted and she wanted a Gold Christmas Tree, no pressure! It is Dad’s birthday today and he wanted a Tree as well and it is my birthday on the tenth,” he explained while thanking sponsors Scratch and Match Autocolour, Kerb Doctor, Atlas Shelving, Kendal Oils, Metalux Paints, Westcoast Siteworks, Signbiz WA, Dirty Detailing, Gforce Race Cars, Resolution Racing Services, Speed Torque, Go Print and PT Promotions.

“It was good also to have one of my crew guys Stewy here today with us after he spent all day yesterday in hospital with his little boy. My thanks goes to the track staff and all of the officials, it was an awesome event, awesome! And a special thanks to ANDRA for bringing back Top Doorslammer, this is great and it means so much – this is my second Gold Christmas Tree, so it has a friend now!” he laughed.

Top Fuel Motorcycle -Tony Wood – Wayne McGuinness (Runner-up)

Top Fuel Motorcycle saw first-time Kawasaki racer Tony Wood complete a solo pass to take out the ANDRA Gold Christmas Tree, due to Wayne McGuinness fighting issues in his highly decorated V-Twin Harley, he wasn’t able to front for the final despite pulling out all the stops. Wood mentioned the awesome feeling for himself and the team after years and years of hard work, with a special mention to dad Ricky and bike builder Steve Murray who recently passed away, saying it is very fitting to win something like this for him.

Competition - Trent Morrison – Ralph Lewis (Runner-up)

Top Qualifier and Competition bracket winner Trent Morrison is thanking the lucky stars above for the long awaited ANDRA Gold Christmas Tree. As a family of Drag Racing for over forty years the gold has always alluded them, however now with sealing the gold, they welcome the new challenge of setting the record going a tenth under the record at Westernationals but not backing it up. Team Morrison will set their sights on the coming events to set the a new record in CC Altered.

After returning to the hot seat after 2 years away competition Sam Gullotto sure did set the bar high, becoming the quickest and fastest LS-powered entry in the country with a 6.961s/211.94mph (341.09km/h) pass in round one of Eliminations.

Super Stock - Steve Norman – Todd Stacy (Runner-up)

Steve Norman walked away with victory as well as the D/GA ET and MPH record in Super Stock, resetting the marks to 8.347s and 160.66mph in an intense final against runner-up Todd Stacy.

“I have to thank Ray Treasure, all of the track staff and all of the volunteers – you make it so easy to go racing here and you have the best complex and management in Australia without a doubt. I would also like to thank Ryan, Lance, Gavin and Kevin for busting their guts all weekend,” Norman said.

“Thanks very much also to Todd for a really good race in the final – you made me hit the record! We have been at this Westernationals lark for the best part of 20 years and this thing (trophy) is right up there with the best of them.”

Competition Bike - Justin Townson – Brett Ghedina (Runner-up)

Competition Bike winner Justin Townson claimed the ANDRA Gold Christmas Tree at 48th Annual Westernationals from Top Qualifier Brett Ghedina, in a three-round shoot-out format. Townson thanks sponsors an volunteers for all their efforts.

“We have got a really good field over here and we have some tough competition. My bike has been tuned by one of the best guys in the country at the moment I believe – Brett Ghedina. I had had him in the final and unfortunately he had a small issue which held him back and the tune up that he gave me, knocked him out!

“I am extremely happy with everyone on board: ANDRA and Summit Racing Equipment for putting all their stuff together and putting on a great event as well as Ray Treasure, he runs a good and sharp style of racing and we have very good people over here. Essentially I love racing and just coming down here and having a bit of fun; and coming home with a Gold Christmas Tree is always a good thing!”

Supercharged Outlaws - Greg James – Jon Ferguson (Runner-up)

In Supercharged Outlaws, the battle came down to Greg James and Jon Ferguson, with Ferguson having to settle for being a runner-up for a third time when James proved too strong in the final. James had earlier emerged victorious from battles against Vince Belladonna (round one) and Mark Hunt before enjoying a bye in the semi-final while Ferguson had beaten last-round winner Paul Stephen (round one) ahead of a round two bye before facing Top Qualifier Alan Mahnkoph in his semi-final.

Top Sportsman - Alby Bakranich – Paul Downe (Runner-up)

In the Top Sportsman ranks, it was a heads-up final with Alby Bakranich and Paul Downe dialing in identically. Bakranich broke-out, but was saved from the loss by Downe who left too early at the tree. On his way to the final, Bakranich had earlier taken on Darren Saliba (round one), Nicholas Puglia and Top Qualifier Amanda Martin while Downe had emerged victorious from battles against Jake Lane, Vlado Turic and defending champion Jason Arbery.

Modified - Cory Treasure – Erin Healy (Runner-up)

Cory ‘Wonder Boy’ Treasure was exceptionally popular on Sunday night when claimed his first ever ANDRA Gold Christmas Tree for Modified at his Westernationals and his first season in the racing hot seat, a family no strangers to the Drag Racing world Cory mentioned his dad wanting one his whole life an they finally have one. After some up and down reactions on Saturday, Sunday saw Treasure come more consistent with good times ahead.

Super Sedan - Mick Fenton – Neil Scott (Runner-up)

Mick Fenton versus Neil Scott in the Super Sedan bracket’s Final, with Fenton taking out the victory to claim his first ANDRA Gold Christmas Tree. Fenton booked his spot in the final with wins over 4 other Super Sedan racers. Fenton claimed his first Gold tree after a rocky start on the first day with 4 red lights in a row, taking out the win on Sunday came as a pleasant surprises to Mick and fellow team mates.

Super Sedan Top Qualifier Dean Dawes was honoured at the end of event presentation with the Crow Cams Best Engineered Award for his immaculate Mazda RX3.

Modified Bike - Chris Moore – Rob Good (Runner-up)

The Modified Bike final stanza pitted Rob Good and Chris Moore against each other, with Moore taking out the big trophy when all was run and done. Earlier in the night, Good had taken wins from Zoe Nieuwhof (round one), Geoff Smith, Brodie Messenger, and Top Qualifier Gavin Dohnt (semi) while Moore had faced off against Hamish Cunningham, Bruce Jones and Dan Dycer before enjoying a bye run in his semi-final.
This was also Chris’ unprecedented 4th win in a row this season a feat we may never see again in this highly competitive bracket!

Super Street - Craig Caton – Ashleigh Wroe (Runner-up)

In Super Street, Craig Caton seized victory over Ashleigh Wroe in the highly competitive bracket. Caton had earlier successfully faced off against Cameron Lockett (round one), Ian Taylor, Paul McNamara and Mick Petrov while Wroe had emerged victorious from battles with Brett Connelly, Zachary Giles and her sister Kirstie Wroe ahead of a bye run in her semi-final.

Also recognised at the presentations on Sunday night was Tasmanian Supercharged Outlaws competitor Mike Evans, who was awarded the ‘Longest Distance Traveled’ trophy.

For full results from the Westernationals jump onto www.motorplex.com.au

See team return for the ANDRA Summit Series Grand Final 6th & 7th April 2019.