Perth Motorplex | Gregorini joins elite ranks of quick Top Doorslammers!

Daniel Gregorini’s #youngblood Scratch & Match Autocolour Camaro became one of the quickest Top Doorslammers in the country on Saturday at Perth Motorplex following a personal best 5.653 second pass and a runner up in the Summer Slam.

The second qualifying session saw a charging run from Gregorini as he broke into the 5.6s for the first time with a 5.689/256.34mph. The team has been using small adjustments which produced the improvement in elapsed time.
“We have been working on our suspension settings and fine tuning the timing management of the car which has giving us great gains,” he said. “There is more to come but we have to take one step at a time. Being a driver/tuner I elect to make three to four passes and repeat before taking the next step, as that gives me more confidence in tuning and driving by making consistent laps.”
A stunning 5.656 run in an elimination round win against Ryan Moresby reset his personal best once again was quick enough to earn Gregorini a place in the A Final against John Zappia in a much anticipated contest.
“We elected as a team that win, lose or draw we would be happy with our weekend,” Gregorini said. “After running our first 5.6 second lap earlier in the night and then the 5.656 in racing, we decided not step it up and just go to the start line with our 5.65 tune up again and try to cut a light on John to win the race, or let John make a mistake. Once I was pre-staged I was held there for a very long time before John came into pre-stage. The converter gets angry and starts trying to pull on the brakes so I was pushing harder and harder to stop it creeping on me. Once John was in pre stage I tried not to let the car lunge into stage as I released the brake and I was so cautious I shallow staged. We both cut similar lights and John’s 5.62 against my 5.65 was the clear winner.
“At the end of the track both of us were happy that we put on a killer final for the spectators. The place was jam packed and as a racer that is spectacular to see.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t front for the final against John last time so this one was extra special. We both thrive off each other and just as I start getting faster and I think I’m on Zap’s tail he takes a step further. But I do think for every two steps I take he’s taking one so it’s getting very close between us!”
With a decade of experience in Top Doorslammer, Gregorini has developed an aptitude for tuning, but he said it would not have been possible without the help of car builders Jim and Jon Salemi.
“My tuning knowledge has come a long way in the 10 years I have been in Top Doorslammer but a big thanks must go out to Jim and Jon from Gforce Race Cars and Resolution Racing Services. When I first started I went from a Super Sedan car to a Top Doorslammer and I knew nothing, but these two guys took me under their wings and taught me the basics of Pro Mod racing and tuning. Maybe ten years later the apprentice has graduated! It feels great to receive their texts of congratulations and know that they still follow what we are doing.”
The next Summer Slam event takes place at Perth Motorplex on February 1, where Gregorini hopes to continue the team’s great form.
“Our budget doesn’t extend outside of WA right now so local racing in Perth’s Summer Slam is where we are at for now. I have been hammered with texts and calls asking if we will be going to Sydney for the Pro Slammer 400 Thunder meeting next week but while we went fast, we didn’t win Lotto!
“As a team we are so proud of our achievements, especially as our personal best at this time last year was a 5.85, and we have since dropped two tenths from that.
“We would love to hear from any corporates or small businesses out there who would like to join our network, which includes
Major sponsors :
Scratch & Match Autocolour,