GIRL RACER MINES POWER AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND'S MARCH MADNESS

17 March 2010

Angela Dow has always loved speed and playing with ‘big boys toys’, so its no surprise that during the day you will find her driving 350 tonne mining trucks as a heavy equipment operator at the Jeebropilly Mine and away from work, working on her Street Machine of the Year winning Pro Street Torana.

Dow and her immaculate purple pro street ‘blown’ 1977 LX Torana claimed the 2009 title by a landslide, and the 33 year old Mount Gravatt fast femme will take it to the track for the first time since its win this weekend for a massive weekend of racing at Willowbank Raceway.

While taking some time out to show off her high-powered machines both large and extra-large, Dow said that as the youngest of three girls, with her long blonde hair and diminutive frame, she is used to the look of disbelief when she tells people what she gets up to on and away from the race track.

“I’ve always been dad’s little boy – as the youngest of three girls with twin older sisters six years older than me I have always been the tomboy of the family,” laughed Dow.

“Dad was involved in powerboat and water ski racing when I was younger and I could ski by the time I could walk, which I think was the start of my love of speed and the thrill of ski boats and fast cars.

“People are often surprised enough to hear about my racing and the car – which is a joint project between me and my dad – but they are really surprised when I tell them that I drive mining trucks for a living.

“She is a pretty big and impressive rig…lots of fun to drive, but not quite as fast as the Torana though.

"Most wouldn't believe it, but this one we have here is actually a baby at only 150 tonnes, where the ones I normally drive are up to 350 tonnes!"

Dow’s Torana will get its first chance to stretch its legs on the race track since taking the Street Machine of the Year win this weekend at Willowbank Raceway.

Racing kicks off on Saturday with the filming of the 1320x reality drag racing program of Disruptive Studios – the producers of ‘Pinks All Out’ – the weekend will conclude on Sunday with the inaugural Street Machine Pro Street Nationals.

As a passionate Pro Street racer, the Sunday event is particularly close to Dow’s heart and as the only female racer to have raced and won in Pro Street, the 33 year old from Mount Gravatt will be one to watch this weekend, and not only due to her eye-catching racer.

“Willowbank Raceway is a great track, I have run my personal best – a 8.06 seconds at 171 miles per hour – there and I can’t wait to get into it this weekend,” said Dow.

“I was runner-up in Pro Street blown in 2006 and since then the car has been undergoing its rebuild which took two and a half years, so I am looking forward to getting back into it and being competitive in 2010.

“The ‘seven second’ pass is what I am aiming for at the moment, and I have plenty of motivation from watching all of the other Pro and Mod street racers stepping up and going faster than me while my car was having its rebuild over the last few years.

“This weekend is going to be an exciting time for the Pro Street Scene – it is the next big step forward for us as a category and everyone is looking forward to putting on a great show for the fans.

“Before we get racing Sunday however, there will be plenty of action lined up for the filming of reality drag racing show 1320x.

“I am really excited to see grassroots drag racing getting the step up it deserves, with almost 180 competitors set for action over the weekend – it is going to be mammoth.”

Close to 180 sportsman racers will converge on Willowbank Raceway for the two big events across the one weekend of March 19-21.

The filming of new reality drag racing show 1320x – from the makers of US hit ‘Pinks All Out’ - will be followed swiftly by the all-new Street Machine Pro Street Nationals.

Following March’s grassroots spectacular, the major event action continues for Willowbank Raceway with the ENZED Australian Top Fuel Championships (featuring Top Fuel, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Bike) on April 17 and 18, and the season-ending Castrol EDGE Winternationals on June 10-13.

For more information and to purchase tickets please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au

MARCH 19-21 OVERVIEW:

Friday March 19 – Test event for 1320x and Street Machine Pro Street Nationals
Friday March 19 will now be a test event for entrants of the 1320x and Street Machine Pro Street Nationals events
1320X entrants have FREE entry. Pro Street entrants who have entered Sunday only can also run on Friday and pay $40 at the gate to test on Friday.

Schedule:
- Gates open 12noon
- Testing 5.30pm – 9.30pm

Spectator Prices:
- Adults $20
- Students with ID $18
- Children 13 and Under Free

Saturday March 20 – 1320x
Schedule:
- 3 rounds Qualifying – 10am to 1.30pm
- 1320X Racing Non Qualifiers – 2.30pm – 5.pm
- 1320X Racing – 6pm – 10pm – Quick 8 and Final 32

Spectator Prices:
- Adults $25
- Students with ID $20
- Children 13 and Under Free

Sunday March 21 – Street Machine Pro Street Nationals
Schedule:
- Gates open - 6am