QLD DRAG RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS FOUND AMID SUMMER SCORCHER AT WILLOWBANK RACEWAY
17 November 2014
Forty degree temperatures were not enough to stop more than 120 racers battling it out for a final chance of QDRC glory at Willowbank Raceway at the weekend.
Amid 40 degree temperatures, nine Queensland Drag Racing Championship winners were found, with six of the title holders also taking out the final round victory in their classes.
By the end of a long and hot day at the race track, Jake Donnelly (Donnelly Blasting Services QDRC Outlaws), Tony Bellert (QDRC SuperComp), Rob Harrington (Knijff Earthmoving Modified), Paul Doeblien (Powercruise Super Sedan), Ken Collin (Modified Bike) and Dave Gauldie (Super Gas) had all taken double victories by winning their respective classes for the day and the QDRC season, while in Competition Bike, Prime Signs/Speed Elec Super Street and Junior Dragster it was Daryn Schuster, Lucas Holz and Tim Barron who took the title wins respectively, while Jason Hammelswang, Rob Winterburn and Maella Ward took the event win. For full results, please click here.
For 19 year old apprentice diesel fitter Donnelly, of Tamborine, the victory was a dream come true with the racer finding the win in his debut season in the Donnelly Blasting Services QDRC Outlaws bracket.
“I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that in our rookie year of Outlaws we could be contenders for a national championship and win the QDRC, but that is what happened!” said Donnelly.
“What can I say, our day at the final round of the QDRC could not have gone much better – we top qualified in 40 degree heat, won the final against tough racer Kate Harker and clinched the QDRC title for the bracket.
“I can’t thank my awesome crew enough for giving me a consistent ‘killer’ car, it has just been faultless and I could not have done this without their support.”
For 34 year old Toowoomba engine builder Bellert, the QDRC SuperComp title win was made all the more special by the fact that he was able to race his dad Phil in the final.
“What a year we have had racing, to have our season come to an end with us top qualifying, taking out the round win and the QDRC championship in SuperComp,” said Bellert.
“Making it even better was the fact I got to race my idol and my best mate – my dad Phil Bellert – in the final, after sitting down the bottom-end of the track listening over the track PA as he took the semi-final win – that was a pretty proud moment for me.
“I would like to thank all the staff at Willowbank Raceway for their good work, all the guys who ran in the SuperComp bracket this weekend, my wife Natasha, my dad, my sister Kellie Kidd and her husband Steve and our entire crew – thanks for all of your support guys.”
Meanwhile, the hold over the Super Gas bracket of Dave Gauldie and best friend Simon Isherwood continues – heading to this final round the pair were split with three title wins a piece, but now it is the 48 year old Gauldie who has the score board advantage after taking victory at the weekend.
“What an amazing reward after a long and competitive year – the entire team is really stoked to have our fourth title in Super Gas, we are just over the moon,” said Gauldie, a Sales Representative from Kallangur.
“This is my first title since the move to the bigger engine, it was a fairly major change for us for this year and I have to say thanks to Simon Isherwood and Zok Race Carbs for their help getting us through the learning curve on that one.
“Thanks to Simon also for the year as it was, to be able to run with him all year long and have it be really close makes this so much more rewarding, to come out on top at the end of the year is great but it could easily have gone the other way.
“Thanks also has to go to my sponsors Village Motors, Neptune’s Pool Care, Zok Race Carbs and Matt’s Performance Paint – I can’t wait to get back out there next year, I believe all the other gas racers are really keen to do well next year and both Simon and myself can see a whole new level of competition making super gas even tougher."
A full race calendar for 2015 will be released shortly at www.willowbankraceway.com.au. 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.