ROMA LOCAL GUNNING FOR MODIFIED SUCCESS AT EIGHTH MILE SERIES
3 August 2016
When the JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series heads to Ironbark Raceway this weekend (Saturday 6 August) for its third round of the year, 33 year old local Auto Electrician Paul Winkel will be part of a field of local racers looking for success.
The Roma resident is currently second in the RD Williams Excavator Parts Modified standings, and will be looking to put himself into the finals to establish his spot in the pointy end of the 2016 series tally.
“For this round, I would love to get to the finals. Winning doesn’t really bother me, but getting into the finals would be lovely to try and lock down those points and make sure I am there at the end – I would love to see my car on next year’s championship trophy, that is for sure,” said Winkel, owner of PTW Auto Electrical and Air Conditioning (formerly Rayners Auto Electrical).
“The RD Williams Excavator Parts Modified bracket has some pretty stiff competition, there are a lot of really good racers, so I will just be trying my best.
“We have changed a few things in preparation – we went racing at Winton recently and cracked a radiator, so there has been a bit of work done to fix that and also a few other niggling little things that have been bothering us. But now we are all set to go and chase after the points at home.
“We won the first round of this year at Warwick Dragway, and it was my first meet with my new car and I was pretty stoked to come away with the win. We had done pretty much nothing to the car, we had just bought it and then ran it, so we were very happy.
“We didn’t go so well at the second round at Benaraby, but hopefully things can be back on the upswing for round three!”
As a local racer, you could be forgiven for thinking Winkel will be counting on a home-track advantage, but that isn’t the case.
“Ironbark Raceway is certainly a happy stomping ground for me, but I don’t think there is any real home track advantage,” said Winkel, who is heavily involved with the track and in particular, its timing system.
“It is really great to have this Series coming to Roma – the JP Racing Eighth Mile Series is a very enjoyable series and is great for everyone, but especially us regional guys.
“For smaller drag racing communities like us, this kind of Series is a highlight on the calendar for us. It is exciting getting to race different people and also visit some of the other tracks when we can.”
Winkel thanks his crew (Tim and Brent) and his wife Tanya for their support, but at this upcoming round, he will be having to keep a close eye on one of his crew.
“My mate Brent who has been crewing with me has re-caught the racing bug after having raced years ago, and this weekend he is going to be my competition in the Modified bracket. He has bought an altered dragster, and I told him that he wasn’t allowed to beat me. He didn’t have much to say in response to that!” laughed Winkel, who also thanks supporters CF Performance, series sponsor JP Racing, series management and volunteers, and the staff and volunteers of all of the series’ tracks.
“Soon, more from my circle will be stepping in as well. My wife Tanya – who I must thank for letting me spend so much money on racing – may compete in my old car in the future at our local events. That car is currently fielded in the JP Racing Eighth Mile Series by Isaac Hughes, who I have lent it to following his stepping up from the Junior Dragster ranks.
“I am also looking at possibly stepping up to racing the Supercharged Outlaws bracket in this car next year, with a new engine which is currently in the build process at the moment. So there is plenty going on!”
The 2016 season is the seventh consecutive year of the Series, and alongside Winkel and his fellow RD Williams Excavator Parts Modified racers, will host the FG Loy and Sons Earthmoving Eighth Mile Outlaws, Ice Slushee Super Sedan, John William Auto Sales Super Street, Queensland Nameplate Group Modified Bike and Diamond T Products Junior Dragster categories.
For more information on the 2016 JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series, including information on rules, how to enter and the points system, please visit to www.willowbankraceway.com.au
2016 JP Racing Eighth Mile Drag Racing Series
DATES
• ROUND ONE – 20th February 2016 Warwick Dragway – Warwick QLD
• ROUND TWO – 23 APRIL 2016 Benaraby Dragway – Benaraby QLD
• ROUND THREE – 06 August 2016 Ironbark Raceway - Roma QLD
• GRAND FINAL – 24 SEPTEMBER 2016 Willowbank Raceway – Willowbank QLD
SPONSORS
• JP Racing - Series Sponsor
• FG Loy & Sons - Eighth Mile Outlaws Bracket
• RD Williams Excavator Parts - Modified Bracket
• Ice Slushee - Super Sedan Bracket
• John William Auto Sales - Super Street Bracket
• Queensland Nameplate Group - Modified Bike Bracket
• Diamond T Products - Junior Dragster Bracket
For more information or comment, please contact:
John Winterburn – Series Organiser
Phone: 0408 788 302
Email: jwinterb@bigpond.net.au
Web: www.willowbankraceway.com.au
Photo Credit: Grant Berry dragphotos.com.au