MEDIA RELEASE - ‘STEVES’ READY FOR EASTER SUCCESS THIS FRIDAY, SATURDAY
16 April 2014
Confusion over similar sounding names is something we have all had to deal with. But imagine you had the same name as one of your competitors. This has been the unique bug bear of two racers who will line up this Good Friday and Easter Saturday for the Santo’s Super 3 Extreme Drag Race presented by Uplift Cranes and Titan Cranes at Willowbank Raceway.
For decades, Steve Reed and Steve Read have dealt with confusion and cases of mistaken identity. Only a single letter distinguishes the differences between their names, causing one to rely on a nickname based on his European heritage to allow him to stand apart.
“Obviously with both of us racing in Top Alcohol at the same time it was pretty confusing at times for spectators and for commentators, so ‘the Pom’ nickname came about to differentiate us and it has just stuck,” said Read.
Causing more confusion was the fact that both ‘Steves’ successfully raced in the Top Alcohol bracket for years, even taking back to back national championships. Today, the ‘Pom’ races in Top Fuel and clean-swept the 2013 running of the Easter event which the pair are currently preparing for.
“We had some great times back then - we were direct competitors, he won some and I won some, there was some confusion with our names from time to time, but the Pom name stuck and it all worked out,” said Steve Reed.
“Now that he is in Top Fuel there isn't as much confusion or competition, I think we both have a pretty good chance of success this weekend – we are similar kinds of racers, both focusing on consistency.”
Both racers will be on track this Good Friday and Easter Saturday for the Santo’s Super 3 Extreme Drag Race, presented by Uplift Cranes and Titan Cranes. Unlike the traditional drag racing format, this weekend's action will include two nights of championship competition with separate finals for both.
“At Willowbank Raceway we wanted to give the fans exactly what they want – they have been asking for a short and sharp show and we tried it last year and are going to build on it this year, Willowbank Raceway is really leading the way in entertainment for Australian drag racing,” said Steve Reed, a board member of Willowbank Raceway.
“If you are thinking about coming out this weekend, just do it - there is going to be theatrics, there is going to be tight racing, every category is going to be heads up pro start racing, it is going to be a great two days out!”
‘The Pom’ was quick to echo his counterpart’s comments.
“It is, the ultimate feeling in the world, these cars are the fastest on the planet, it is an absolute privilege to race them,” said Steve ‘The Pom’ Read.
“Just come out here and experience it, it’s a short and sharp program, the best race cars in drag racing, why wouldn't you want to be out here?”
The Santo’s Super 3 Extreme Drag Race, presented by Uplift Cranes and Titan Cranes, will come to Willowbank Raceway for Good Friday (April 18) and Easter Saturday (April 19) in 2014.
The second running of the event will again feature two rounds of ANDRA championship racing each for the brackets of Top Fuel and Titan Cranes Top Alcohol in the emerging ‘three-round’ format, with the Top Fuel pilots also set to once again fight it out for the added honour of the Louie Rapisarda Top Fuel Trophy.
Each night from 5.00pm to 9.30pm (approximately) these national show-stoppers will be supported by a fast-paced and action-packed program of entertainment including Top Fuel Motorcycles, Top Doorslammers, Pro Street and three closely-matched categories amid a flurry of on-track light and audio-visual theatrics. For information on the race formats, please see the ‘event information’ further in this release or click here.
Spectator tickets for the Santo’s Super 3 Extreme Drag Race presented by Uplift Cranes and Titan Cranes are now available at www.willowbankraceway.com.au with tickets starting at just $35.00 for adults and $30.00 for students/concession card holders with ID, while children aged 13 and under gain free admission. A special pre-purchase only two-day admission pass is also on offer until 16 April 2014. For more information, 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
UPCOMING EVENT INFORMATION: SANTO’S SUPER 3 EXTREME DRAG RACE, PRESENTED BY UPLIFT CRANES AND TITAN CRANES – 18 and 19 April, 2014
Featuring racing from: Top Fuel, Titan Cranes Top Alcohol, Pro Street, Super 8, Super 7 and Super 6, plus demonstration racing from Top Fuel Motorcycles and Top Doorslammers
For more information, full race schedules or to purchase tickets please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au
Spectator entry -Please note: Concession = age and disability pension holders only
Good Friday – 18 April 2014
- General Admission (Adult) - $35.00
- General Admission (Student/Concession) - $30.00 – must show ID
Easter Saturday – 19 April 2014
- General Admission (Adult) - $35.00
- General Admission (Student/Concession) - $30.00 – must show ID
Two day passes (available for pre-purchase via www.willowbankraceway.com.au until 16 April 2014 only)
- General Admission (Adult) 2 day pass - $60.00
- General Admission (Student/Concession) 2 day pass - $50.00 – must show ID
Schedule
Friday and Saturday 18 and April 2014 (All times approximate and subject to change):
- Gates open to public – 3.00pm
- On track action from 5.00pm until approximately 9.30pm each day
Race format
Top Fuel and Titan Cranes Top Alcohol
The Super 3 Extreme Drag Race concept will operate on the idea of two individual championship rounds in one event, with a winner to be crowned on both the Friday and the Saturday of the event. Racing will begin with the first pass for all cars at approximately 5.00pm followed by an elimination round for all cars later in the evening. From this round, the third and fourth quickest winners will proceed to the ‘B Final while the two quickest winners battle it out in ‘A Final’, as per the Special 3 Round Format ratified by ANDRA in 2013. Once the winner is crowned on Friday, the full field for each bracket will get ready to do it all over again on Saturday.
All other categories
All support categories will complete three qualifying passes on Friday 18 April, before Saturday 19 April sees all support brackets run a Chicago Shootout format with all competitors to race three rounds with the two best performing racers to make it into the final. At the completion of the bracket rounds, a count back will be made to establish the finalists.
The Louie Rapisarda Top Fuel Trophy Race
The Louie Rapisarda Top Fuel Trophy Race is open to all Top Fuel competitors at the Santo’s Super 3 Extreme Drag Race event and is in honour of Top Fuel driver Louie Rapisarda, son of Santo Rapisarda, who passed away in 1990. The special commemorative trophy will be awarded to the Top Fuel driver who at the end of Saturday’s racing has the highest accumulative points across Friday and Saturday’s proceedings. If there is a tie, the Trophy will go to the driver in the tie with the lowest elapsed time of the event. In 2013, the Louie Rapisarda Top Fuel Trophy was awarded to local Top Fuel veteran Steve Read of Raceview, who also emerged victorious on both the Friday and Saturday of the event’s ANDRA championship rounds.